"An Alpha-Oga Overgod True Depravita..."
In the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe, those words ant only one thing: a life-and-death enemy. But here, in the Crimson World, such beings were counted as allies.
Cain was not particularly surprised. If the Demon King had been capable of shaping ylin into the True Depravita of Original Sin, then surely he possessed the power to evolve others. The process was neither easy nor common-it required unfathomable energy and mastery of cosmic power-but if anyone stood at the summit high enough to achieve it, it was the Demon King himself.
Zarazel, the True Depravita of Fear, studied Cain with eyes like hollow voids. After a mont he gave a slow nod and turned back to the sea of glowing chains and screens before him. His voice was low, resonant, a whisper that seed to scratch against the soul.
"I assu you've co here for targets," he said. "Sharpening your strength, honing your Neo-Demon path before you march into the Third Realm with the Enlightened One."
Cain and ylin exchanged a glance, faint surprise flashing in their eyes. The man seed to know every step they planned to take. But Zarazel rely flicked his gaze toward them.
"It is my duty to know everything that happens in the Second Realm."
Only then did he finally step away from the shifting screens and approach them directly. His presence was suffocating, but Cain stood firm, eting that abyssal gaze with calm.
"The Demon King's orders are clear," Zarazel continued. "You are to move freely, and I am to give you whatever assistance you require in your endeavors." His grin faltered, replaced with a sharp sigh. "I still do not understand why Master favors you so highly. In truth, I believe he places too much faith in you. But while I may question his
decisions and disagree with them, I will not disobey them."
ylin's lips tightened. She knew Cain well enough to fear how little patience he usually had for condescension. But when she looked at him, she did not see anger. She saw sothing far stranger-a faint smile, almost sympathetic.
Cain understood. He had commanded wars himself, carried the burden of a word as vast as the Second Realm. If soone had ordered him to assist strangers whose power was below his own while he led the Scarlet Kingdom inside the Everstrife Empyrean World, he too would have been frustrated.
Not to ntion that Zarazel's role was even heavier. He commanded the entire Second Realm, and also had to take into consideration how his moves could affect the battlefield across the rest of the Crimson World.
The True Depravita of Fear noticed that faint smile, and in his hollow gaze a flicker of approval glimred. Emotional control was impressive. Of course, the task was still annoying, but he would fulfill it to the best of his capabilities.
"Very well," Zarazel said. "Tell what you need. I can spare a squad of ArchDeities to aid you, or assign escorts to guide you through safe zones. Equipnt and treasures are scarce, but I can provide healing elixirs and enough escape talismans to guarantee survival in any corner of the Second Realm."
Cain shook his head imdiately.
"No. We need no assistance. Our equipnt is sufficient. As for healing drugs and escape treasures-give us what you would ordinarily provide to warriors undertaking the most dangerous missions. Nothing more."
At those words, ylin smiled faintly. They had no intention of taking the easy road. If they were to shatter their limits, they would do it under the pressure of true danger, not coddled by endless safety nets.
"What I do require," Cain continued, "is information. I want a list of enemy ArchDeities-their locations, their abilities, the Oniric Truths they command. I also want records of enemy army movents, so I do not corner myself where there is no escape. And finally, the deploynt patterns of our own Life Path forces, so I do not clash with them by accident."
Zarazel's grin widened into sothing sharp and genuine. "So. You intend to beco a shadow-a silent assassin who moves outside the war's formations?"
Cain's smile matched his, cold and confident. "I've grown a little tired of leading armies and orchestrating endless clashes. ylin and I will suffice for what we intend. Just give the intelligence I asked for, and leave the rest to us."
For the first ti since their arrival, Zarazel's expression softened into sothing resembling amusent. "Good. Very good. If that is all you need, I am pleased to oblige."
It was obvious he approved. Cain's plan not only required no diversion of troops but would actively weaken the enemy's backbone. With two predators of Cain and ylin's caliber hunting outside the front lines, the Path of Freedom would bleed far more quickly.
"You will have what you seek," Zarazel said, nodding toward them. "The information will be prepared shortly."
Cain and ylin clasped their fists in salute, their movents sharp and respectful. With that, they withdrew to a corner of the Heart of Sin, leaving Zarazel once again before his storm of screens.
The True Depravita of Fear spread his awareness across the Second Realm, watching battlefields shift, armies clash, and strategies unfold. Every decision he made rippled outward to millions of warriors. His task was endless. And yet, he did not forget Cain's request.
Not long after, a ssenger arrived before the duo, bearing a space ring. Inside, Cain found a starry crystal containing intelligence reports on enemy ArchDeities-nas, locations, abilities, and Oniric Truths-
as well as enemy troop movents and allied deploynts. The ring also contained what Zarazel had promised: healing treasures, escape talismans, and vials of potent elixirs, enough to survive dangerous situations.
Together, he and ylin activated the starry crystal, their souls plunging into its depths. Sowhere within its vast web of information lay their next prey, their next battle, and the next step toward the strength they needed if they wanted to thrive within the Red King's Sacred Dinsion.
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