The five ArchDeities of the Path of Freedom could only stare in shock and horror as their ultimate attack—the colossal Apocalyptic Dragon born of their combined essence—vanished into the body of the Enlightened One. One moment, it had been an unstoppable tide of annihilation; the next, it was gone, dissolved into serenity.

And things only grew worse from there.

The Enlightened One guided the vast energy calmly, as though it were no more dangerous than a river flowing into the sea. He drew it downward into his stomach, where it revolved in perfect harmony, stripped of its connection to the five ArchDeities. No longer their weapon, it became pure, unshackled power.

That power then flowed into his right arm, condensed into something terrifying in its simplicity—energy that was no longer bound to destruction, but refined, ordered, and utterly controlled.

"Redirection."

The word left his lips like the strike of a divine bell.

A single beam of light erupted from his hand, tearing across the sky. It carried with it not chaos, but purpose. Cause and effect woven into a singular stream of inevitability. The blast fell upon the five ArchDeities like judgment itself, shaking the earth and shattering the heavens.

The sky cracked open. The ground split. Seas rose into walls of foam as the world trembled beneath the apocalyptic wave.

When silence returned, the rain of fire faded, and the dust dispersed, there was nothing left of the five. No flesh, no bone, no soul echoes—only ruin.

Of course, Cain knew that did not necessarily mean they were dead. Even if body and soul were shattered, an ArchDeity's True Name endured within their Divine Kingdom. As long as that remained intact, they could be rebuilt. To destroy a True Name was a feat so rare it bordered on the impossible unless you had a unique tool like the Scarlet Throne. Still, the fact that the Enlightened One had erased them so cleanly spoke volumes.

The monk-warrior took a long, steady breath. His eyes, moments ago so cold and absolute, softened as he clasped his hands together. Compassion returned, and with it, harmony.

Then his energy spread outward—not to destroy, but to heal. Fires were extinguished. Broken land was soothed. Wounded ley lines stabilized beneath the calm pulse of his will. Only once the devastation was undone did he turn his gaze toward the horizon.

Cain and Meylin stiffened as those eyes fell upon them.

They had both fought countless enemies. Together, they could have defeated the five ArchDeities just now. But it would have demanded everything from them, every hidden card, every ounce of strength. And even then, it would not have been so swift, so decisive.

The rumors of the Enlightened One had not been exaggerations. If anything, they had underestimated him.

But what shocked Cain and Meylin more than raw strength was something deeper: the Enlightened One's attunement to the frequencies of the universe. He had not simply wielded power; he had harmonized with cause and effect, bent the Flow of reality itself.

"So this is his mastery of the Flow…" Cain thought, his scarlet eyes narrowing.

The Enlightened One moved, gliding through the air with tranquil grace, until he stood before them. The three figures regarded one another in silence, the battlefield's echoes still lingering in the air.

"Scarlet King. Seven Sin Empress." The monk's voice was calm, steady, reverberating with both respect and unshakable authority. He bowed slightly, hands clasped.

Cain and Meylin mirrored the gesture. "Enlightened One."

The moment of courtesy passed, and the monk's serene smile turned toward Cain.

"I have been waiting for you," he said. "I expected you would visit me before returning to the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe. But it seems you chose to wait until you stood at the ArchDeity Realm."

Cain's lips curved into a faint, awkward smile. He had indeed waited, thinking to meet the Enlightened One from a position of strength, so that he could demand answers rather than merely request them. But after witnessing that display, Cain understood the truth. His current power was still far from enough to force anything from this man.

"Well," the Enlightened One continued, "you are here now. That is what matters. Please accompany me to my home, so that I may properly receive you. I promise, your questions will be answered."

Cain and Meylin exchanged a glance.

Entering the Eternal Kingdom of an ArchDeity was no small matter. Their Divine Kingdoms were extensions of their very essence, domains where they reigned supreme. To walk into one was to place yourself inside their palm. Still, the Enlightened One was said to be on their side. Even if he was not, Cain and Meylin were confident that if it came to the worst, they could retreat.

The Enlightened One's domain was one of the smallest in the Second Realm, so it did not take long to arrive. But as they crossed the threshold into the Eternal Kingdom, Cain and Meylin could not help but pause in astonishment.

Billions lived here. Men, women, children—all filled with clear eyes, steady wills, and independent spirits. Yet, despite their individuality, they moved together as though they were one.

Cain's eyes narrowed, golden light flickering within them.

These people were not moving randomly. Their steps, their breaths, even the smallest gestures—each followed subtle rhythms. They moved as leaves carried by wind, each motion guided by unseen currents.

It was not submission. It was harmony.

Cain clenched his fist. Every one of these people was weaker than him—yet they had achieved something he had long sought. They had not merely perceived the Flow of the universe; they had allowed it to course through their very bodies.

Cain had mastered the Flow to a very high level. He used it to read the movements of his enemies, to perceive the currents of their energy, pierce into their souls, absorb their strength, and return it as a killing blow. It was a weaponized Flow, bent to his will.

But he had not yet allowed the Flow to pass through his flesh and blood. To become one with it.

The monks here had done so.

Of course, Cain's goal was different. He did not wish to merely move with the rhythm of the cosmos. He sought to forge it into a blade, to seize it, command it, and use it to ascend.

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