The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order Chapter 2381 Curse Eater Race—the ruling race of the Tenth Empyrean World

"Where am I?"

The query reverberated within Cain's thoughts for just a fleeting second before he ruthlessly pushed it away. The essence of this location held no importance. The crucial factor was that his adversary had picked this arena—and that single detail compelled him to depart from it without delay.

Behind him, the Chaos Wings ignited fiercely, the Power of Chaos rushing forth as Cain sought to link with his followers, aiming to utilize them as anchors for his teleportation. For a short instant, his innate instincts steered him, just as they had every time before.

Then astonishment surged across his gaze.

"Even if this were an entirely different Empyrean World, the Power of Chaos would still allow me to connect with them. But now... they're foggy. I can feel them, yet I cannot connect."

Cain's scowl intensified as realization dawned upon him. This realm proved far more perilous than it seemed at first. It wasn't simply cut off—it deliberately disrupted his core bonds.

In the following moment, his wings thrashed with immense force, propelling him upward into the heavens. He soared swiftly, ripping through the shadowy atmosphere until—abruptly—he collided with an unyielding barrier.

A colossal, unseen dome.

The collision triggered waves across the void. Cain paused in mid-flight, his eyes sharpening as he reached out his arm. A Zero-State Spear formed in an instant, warping the fabric of existence nearby. With no delay, he thrust it ahead, driving it against the dome's barrier.

Fissures radiated out in a network of ruin.

But almost as soon as they surfaced, the cracks started to mend.

The destruction couldn't surpass the dome's rapid recovery.

"It's useless."

The statement drifted up to Cain from the earth below.

His stare descended icily toward the terrain, fixing on the elderly figure positioned there. The Immortal Knight displayed a broad grin as the wound in his skull at last closed up, tissue weaving back together without a trace.

"As long as I am alive," the elder went on, "this place will keep regenerating itself."

Cain dropped down.

The atmosphere exploded with a deafening roar as he plunged with full might, cracking the soil under his boots. Clouds of dirt and fragments burst outward while his icy gaze locked onto the Immortal Knight.

"So in order to leave this place," Cain stated flatly, "I need to kill you."

A crimson aura exploded from his frame, overwhelming the area with crushing force. The Immortal Knight gripped his hands tightly under the weight of Cain's might pressing upon him, but he refused to back away. Rather,

he held his ground.

"That is correct," the elder answered. "However, it will not be as easy as before. In this place, I can finally show you my true self."

Cain observed intently as the change commenced.

The elder's flesh scorched and sloughed off while his physique altered. His posture straightened, sinews expanding as vitality flooded back into him. Within mere heartbeats, he became a man at his peak—dark locks, robustly muscled, his aura far more oppressive than earlier. Yet that marked just the start.

The very next instant, two pitch-black forms arose from within him.

One loomed almost double the man's stature, its shape enormous and hideous. Eyes blanketed its whole surface, gazing in all directions. Its

countenance hid behind an odd vertical helm. A sword jutted from its left forearm, whereas its right limb bulged with features resembling faces.

The second form was slender and nightmarish, like a warped jester. A mask divided between joy and grief shrouded its visage. Extended strands hung slack from its palms, quivering subtly—strands that appeared able to sever whatever they encountered.

"THUMP."

As soon as the three fully appeared, bolts of lightning tore through the dome's shadowy confines. Overwhelming force squeezed inward, as

if reality itself sought to breach the barrier.

Cain's eyes tightened fiercely. Within the stormy onslaught, he

sensed something more profound.

"You are a Godslayer Human," Cain declared, his sight moving among the

three, "and those two carry the aura of Depravitas. Each of you has a soul... yet you are only one entity?"

Sozing's eyes expanded a touch before a faint grin curved his lips.

He inclined his head.

"As expected of someone we went to such lengths to kill," he remarked steadily. "Your instincts are exceptional, young man."

Cain brushed aside the compliment. A spark of insight lit his eyes.

"So I did kill someone with my spear using my Chaos Art," he murmured deliberately. "However... there were three more left behind."

Upon hearing those words, the grin faded from Sozing's expression.

"Yes," he conceded. "You did. You killed Onori."

As the name echoed, murderous fury burst from the two Depravitas. Cain showed no response to their fury. Instead, he kept examining them, the precision in his stare intensifying.

"After my experience becoming a hybrid myself," Cain pressed on, "I can detect it in others. This is not just a technique. You are a race."

Sozing remained quiet for a few moments before eventually affirming with a nod.

"You are correct," he stated. "I am not truly a Godslayer Human—not anymore. And they are not Depravitas. We are something else."

A sense of honor and gravity emerged in the gazes of all three as they declared

in unison.

"We are the Curse Eater Race—the ruling race of the Tenth Empyrean

World."

"Curse Eater..."

A subtle grin pulled at Cain's mouth as he shook his head.

"It seems no one in the universe has good taste when it comes to

names."

The short comment merely unleashed a sliver of the vast tension coiling inside him. His features hardened once more right away.

"Able to inhabit the same body. Multiple lives. Same core essence," Cain noted. "Yet I detect slightly different personalities... almost like

multiple personality syndrome."

Sozing grinned and inclined his head.

"Correct again. We are one, but we are also ourselves."

He motioned toward the gigantic figure.

"I am Sozing."

The imposing Curse Eater voiced next.

"I am Bako."

At last, the jester-like form cocked its head.

"And I am Hako."

Cain gave a single nod, his eyes shimmering softly as probing brilliance flared inside them.

"Given all this conversation," he observed coolly, "and the fact that you are

clearly trying to stall for time... it makes me think that the longer I remain here, the worse things will become for me."