Cain took a deep breath as he rose into the sky above the Ocean of the Blood Sun.
Below him, Morningstar, Satan, and Hades remained within the
crimson waters. Their expressions were cold and emotionless, yet the energy gathering inside their bodies was imnse, ready to erupt at a mont's notice if the situation demanded it.
Approaching from the horizon were three figures.
However, only one of them truly drew Cain's attention.
The man at the center radiated an aura so overwhelming that the sky trembled under its pressure. The earth below cracked and shifted, as if an entire army were marching through reality itself rather than a single individual.
It did not take long for the trio to reach the shoreline of the expanding blood ocean.
Leading them was none other than the Heartcram King.
His gaze was sharp and cold as it locked onto Cain. With a subtle gesture, he signaled the two Royal Blutlinie behind him to remain where they were before advancing alone.
Cain's eyes narrowed.
"He is powerful. Stronger than Eonar at his peak. If I am careless... I could die."
Without hesitation, the Blade at the End of Tis appeared in his hand. The On of Ti surged through his body, accelerating his perception, sharpening his thoughts, and enhancing his movent to a level where even small changes in the battlefield would be under his control.
The Heartcram King did not lower his guard either.
The mont Cain activated his power, he sensed the distortion in the flow of ti around him. His instincts scread a warning-if he stepped too close, he would fall into an invisible domain where the Scarlet King held absolute advantage.
Maintaining a safe distance, the king spoke.
"It took so ti, but I managed to learn about you. The mind behind the Ocean of the Blood Sun-the one who devoured the
Aztorus and Kalous Kingdoms."
Cain was not surprised.
He had revealed his title, and it would not have been difficult for a ruler of the Heartcram Kingdom to connect the appearance of the Blood King with the legend of the Scarlet King.
After a brief mont, Cain nodded, tightening his grip on his sword.
"Yes. And you are the leader of the kingdom that dared to interfere in my path... Abraham."
A calculating light flashed across Cain's eyes.
"Your Ancestor Power grants you a Water Body. A simple ability, often looked down upon. Yet you evolved it beyond its limits. You used it to kill your brother and ascend to the throne."
Abraham's expression did not change-but the temperature of his gaze dropped instantly.
He did not care about the ntion of his brother's death. What disturbed him was sothing else.
The knowledge of his Ancestor Power.
For a Royal Blutlinie, the Ancestor Power was the core of their strength. While Ons and techniques could expand their abilities, the ancestral chanism defined their true foundation. That was why such powers were guarded with extre secrecy.
In battle, ignorance could an death.
The encounter between Cain and the ice trio months earlier had already proven that.
"It seems my people were a little too talkative," Abraham said coldly.
Cain did not respond.
In truth, no one had spoken. He had simply peered into their souls.
Of course, he would never reveal that.
Nor would he reveal that if the battle turned against him, he was prepared to burn all the souls he had gathered and unleash the Soul
Sundering Technique that could kill the Heartcram King.
The killing intent around Abraham intensified for a mont.
Then, just as quickly, it disappeared.
All emotion drained from his expression, leaving behind only calm, sharp calculation.
"I investigated the events that led to the carnage," Abraham said. "If I
had been in your position... I would have done the sa."
Cain tightened his grip on the Blade at the End of Tis.
That response made him far more uneasy than anger would have.
Those driven by rage were easy to manipulate.
Those who remained calm when given every reason to hate were far more dangerous.
"To be honest," Abraham continued, "I do not particularly care about ordinary Blutlinie. But you killed three Royal Blutlinie. That is
sothing I cannot ignore."
As he spoke, his Ancestor Eye began to glow.
The sky groaned as if an invisible hand were pressing down on the
world.
Cain's own Ancestor Eye ignited in response.
Instantly, the vibrations that carried sound through the air slowed
and distorted, as if ti itself were thickening. The aura of the two powers collided, grinding against each other with increasing intensity. The pressure was so imnse that the three Royal Guards within the ocean-and the two Royal Blutlinie on the shore-could not help but adopt solemn expressions.
Abraham sensed the nature of Cain's Ancestor Power, and his instincts warned him of the extre danger it represented.
Yet there was no fear in his eyes.
"I require compensation for their deaths," Abraham said. "I cannot
allow my kingdom to be wounded without response. Otherwise, I would beco the laughingstock of the realm."
Cain's eyes narrowed.
There was room for negotiation.
He did not fear a battle-but if he could avoid a clash with soone of
Abraham's level, it would be the wiser path.
"How do you propose we move forward?" Cain asked.
Abraham took a slow breath, deliberately calming the pressure of his
aura.
"You raided the vaults of the Aztorus and Kalous Kingdoms. They contained several treasures and cultivation techniques that I have
long been interested in."
His gaze sharpened.
"If you hand them over, I will accept it as a token of goodwill. Our
conflict ends here."
Cain studied the man carefully.
If a portion of wealth could prevent a war with a power like the Heartcram Kingdom, it was a reasonable exchange.
Resources could always be gathered again. Cain could take them back
after growing powerful enough to kill the man.
He was just about to speak-
When his expression changed.
His eyes widened.
Every muscle in his body tensed.
At the sa mont, Abraham reacted as well.
Both n turned their heads sharply and looked toward the sky
above them.
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