With the gift Tiamat had bestowed upon her, ylin could now elevate the strength of her body at an astonishing pace—perhaps even surpassing Cain’s speed.
Cain couldn’t help but smile as he watched her receive the treasures. His grin wasn’t tinged with jealousy; instead, it was genuine joy. For all his ti roaming the multiverse as a solitary force, he had co to realize that having a partner—a true companion on the path of cultivation—made the endless grind far more aningful. It lifted the burden, and brightened the path.
After all was said and done, Tiamat’s gaze turned to Bahamut. A small, affectionate smile curled on her lips as she saw the love and devotion burning in the dragon’s eyes.
"The Demon King did not leave you anything," she said softly, "but how could I let one of my own children leave empty-handed?"
With a wave of her hand, Tiamat conjured a massive golden heart. It pulsed with overwhelming energy—rich with the life force and essence of the Third Realm.
Bahamut’s eyes widened, and his body trembled, a deep, primal resonance shaking him to his core. He could feel it—the heart was a perfect match, an offering of power that could reshape him entirely.
"This is an Eternal Dragon Heart. Fuse it with your body, and it will refine your physique, elevate your soul force, and push your evolution to the next level."
Bahamut caught the heart with trembling hands, awe and gratitude radiating from him in waves. He bowed deeply to the Dragon Empress, his voice low and reverent.
"Thank you... Your Highness."
Tiamat smiled warmly, nodding with the quiet grace of a mother watching over her child.
"Go now. Explore my Eternal Kingdom, choose a place to call your own, and fuse the heart with your being."
Bahamut’s eyes narrowed slightly, understanding the deeper aning behind her words. Tiamat had sothing more private to discuss with Cain and ylin, and she was tactfully dismissing him to give them space. The dragon, ever wise, bowed once more, then turned to Cain and ylin.
"It was an honor to have shared this journey with you."
Cain and ylin exchanged knowing smiles, understanding the subtext. Though their paths were parting, the bond of friendship they had forged would not fade with ti.
"The honor was mine," Cain said, inclining his head.
"Farewell, Dragon Lord," ylin added, her voice steady yet warm.
Bahamut offered them one last, wide grin before silently taking his leave, his figure vanishing down the golden corridors of the Eternal Kingdom.
Once Bahamut was gone, Tiamat’s expression shifted—her usual warmth replaced by a serious intensity. She fixed her gaze on Cain and ylin, her voice firm and direct.
"The Demon King asked to protect you upon your arrival, and I have fulfilled that duty. But understand—my responsibility ends here. From this point forward, you stand on your own."
Cain and ylin’s eyes sharpened as they absorbed her words. They were not naive. They understood that most relationships in the cultivation world were founded on mutual benefit, not charity.
The Dragon Empress had protected them, but she would not continue to do so without reason. And that was fine.
Cain and ylin were pragmatic—they approached relationships like negotiations, always seeking clarity and fairness. They would make exceptions for beings like the Demon King or Bahamut, who had proven themselves allies beyond transactional ties—but otherwise, they preferred to keep things objective.
Tiamat noticed the way they processed her words, a small, approving smile gracing her lips. She nodded slightly and continued.
"You have already bound an Oniric Truth to your True Na. Your next step is to forge your Divine Kingdoms. But understand—this is no simple task. You will need a vast amount of Origin Power, and you will have to fend off the other Divine Kingdoms that exist within the chaotic void surrounding the Second Realm."
Cain and ylin nodded in understanding. The chaotic void beyond the Second Realm was imnse, but it was not infinite. Claiming a foothold there would not be easy, especially without allies.
Tiamat’s gaze hardened, her next words heavy with intent.
"I know you two will not wish to beco my subordinates, and I will not ask you to. Instead... we can strike a business deal. I will grant you the Origin Power necessary to forge your Divine Kingdoms, and I will offer you my protection from the other ArchDeities in the chaos."
Cain and ylin’s eyes narrowed slightly, the weight of her offer sinking in. To receive enough Origin Power to create their Divine Kingdoms—and protection from ArchDeities—was a monuntal gift. But they knew it would co at a steep price.
ylin remained silent, letting Cain take the lead in the negotiation. When it ca to strategy and cunning, the Neo-Demon was unmatched.
Cain’s gaze locked onto Tiamat’s, his voice calm but sharp.
"And what do you want in return?"
Tiamat’s eyes glead, her lips curling into a fierce, almost predatory smile.
"As soon as your battle power reaches the Half-Step ArchDeity level, you will beco my paragons in an Eternal War."
Cain and ylin exchanged a look, awe and amazent flickering across their faces. They knew Tiamat wasn’t a peaceful ruler—but to prepare for an Eternal War? That was bold, even by their standards.
An Eternal War was no ordinary conflict. It was a clash between ArchDeities with Eternal Kingdoms—a battle so ferocious, so catastrophic, that even the Oga Wars of the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe paled in comparison. These wars were not fought by proxies or mortals; they were direct battles between the rulers themselves, where each blow could reshape the fabric of the universe.
Cain stared at Tiamat for a long mont, then nodded—only to shake his head a mont later.
"We can beco your paragons... but the price must change."
Tiamat’s gaze sharpened, a glint of intrigue in her eyes.
"If you seek more Origin Power, that is impossible. I can only provide enough for two Divine Kingdoms."
Cain nodded, acknowledging her words.
"I don’t seek more Origin Power. What I want... is sothing else."
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