Chapter 1605: Sunstorm Oblivion

“Gu Eternal Swarm!”

The moment Reverend Madness uttered those words, something stirred on his back. In the span of a single heartbeat, billions upon billions of insects emerged, an endless tide of nightmare-fueled atrocities capable of blanketing an entire continent in mere moments.

Each twisted creature possessed not only unprecedented ferocity but also an aura so corrosive that the very fabric of space seemed to melt around them. Reality warped at their approach, and a malicious, hissing sound filled the air.

Their target was clear: high above, Cain hovered in the sky, colossal wings spread, surrounded by an ever-shifting corona of divine flames. Despite those waves of fire, known to be hot enough to melt even the flesh of powerful Divine Transcendence Masters, the swarm exhibited no fear. They launched themselves at Cain with shocking speed, weaving through the flames as if guided by a horrific hive intelligence, intent on devouring his flesh and soul.

A sharp light flickered across Cain’s eyes. Still, despite the encroaching swarm, he did not panic. He kept his halberd raised high while part of his consciousness climbed ever higher, reaching deeper into the domain of the Astral Supremacy Stars.

The swarm, of course, offered no mercy. The insects lunged from all directions—front, back, left, right—crashing into Cain’s giant draconic-serpentine form with tremendous impact. Their mandibles dripped venom potent enough to melt divine stones, and their serrated legs slashed furiously, each blow intent on rending his body apart.

Pain coursed through Cain’s veins as he felt the relentless assault. Although his endurance was immense—bolstered by the Concept of Power and a physique tempered by the Indestructible Herculean Technique—he could not entirely ignore the agony.

Black venom seared his flesh where it seeped into wounds, and vile mandibles tore ragged chunks of his scaled hide. Cain’s Concept of Life continually attempted to heal the damage, but the insects’ attacks were unceasing and surprisingly effective. Inch by inch, they tore at his defenses.

Yet Cain remained resolute. There was no wavering in his spirit, no second-guessing of his strategy. His decision to seek a new Astral Supremacy Star in the midst of a fierce battle was neither arrogance nor negligence.

In truth, achieving Liberación Total and merging with Leviathan placed overwhelming pressure on body and soul. He could not maintain this grand transformation indefinitely, and time was against him. Victory needed to come swiftly, and harnessing a higher-level star was the only option that made sense.

His soul force had advanced since first attuning himself to a Tier 8 Astral Supremacy Star, but that achievement alone was insufficient to leap into Tier 9 territory.

Fortunately, Cain’s willpower was strong enough to push his consciousness upward, higher and higher into the cosmic domain. At last, a thunderous crack resounded in his mind as if a barrier had shattered, revealing a sea of gargantuan stars. Each luminescent orb radiated so much raw power that entire worlds would have been instantly reduced to cinders if forced to exist nearby.

Cain’s mind swiftly adjusted, attuning itself to the Astral Supremacy Stars aligned with the Sun Star Power. He felt their blazing auras flicker across his spiritual perception. Each star carried a distinctive essence, an individuality that could dramatically bolster his might.

It took him less than two seconds before he found one particular star that outshone all the others. Not only did it hold immense power among them, but it also possessed precisely the edge Cain required to seize victory in this clash.

Unlike most stars, which maintain a stable and predictable form, this Tier 9 Astral Supremacy Star remained in constant motion. Its surface raged in a tumultuous display of golden fire and lightning-charged storms.

Tornadoes of plasma flared up across its swirling atmosphere, releasing surges of unstoppable devastation. Fiery hurricanes spun at unimaginable speeds around the star’s core, which pulsed like a blazing solar heart, exuding shockwaves that distorted the space around it. Occasionally, arcs of plasma erupted outward in vicious spirals, lashing out like living serpents before retracting back into the infernal star.

“Sunstorm Oblivion.”

The name reverberated in Cain’s mind like a solemn vow as he reached out to claim the star’s titanic strength.

In the chaotic battlefield, little was heard except the relentless skittering and hissing of Reverend Madness’s insect swarm, now fully engulfing Cain’s towering form. Far below, rivers of venom and clumps of torn flesh fell from the sky, painting a gruesome tableau across the sundered terrain.

A wicked smile stretched across Reverend Madness’s face. From his vantage point, it appeared as though his swarm had finally succeeded in overwhelming Cain. The victory was only moments away.

At that very instant, however, one of the distant stars flaring across the cosmic void glowed with renewed brilliance. Waves of potent energy cascaded from it, descending into the battlefield. Though intangible, these waves passed effortlessly through the churning cocoon of billions of monstrous insects, making their way to the figure ensnared at the heart of the swarm.

“The heavens rage, the cosmos weeps, and fire becomes the wind!”

Cain’s voice echoed from within the mass of writhing insects, and the sound alone made Reverend Madness’s heart lurch in sudden panic.

“Celestial Sunstorms—The Infernal Sky Burns!”

In the span of a second, an apocalyptic storm of golden fire exploded from within the insect cocoon. Flames roared in every direction, incinerating the swarm by the billions. The inferno scorched the remains of the ravaged continent even further, reducing the broken landscape to ash and sending shockwaves powerful enough to hurl Reverend Madness backward.

Quickly regaining control, Reverend Madness managed to steady himself in midair, though the scene before him was almost inconceivable. Where countless insect monstrosities had once clustered, there were now only charred fragments rapidly disintegrating in the sizzling air. And there, in the very center of this devastation, stood Cain.

Although injuries crisscrossed his dragon-serpentine body, they seemed inconsequential as golden fire and arcs of crackling electricity swirled around him in a magnificent corona.

In that brilliant illumination, Reverend Madness instantly recognized the power of a Tier 9 Astral Supremacy Star. The sheer presence emanating from Cain made the man’s insides twist with envy, and his bitterness exploded as he watched this young man eclipse feats that had taken him eons to achieve.

Still, Reverend Madness did not intend to concede defeat; his eyes burned with hatred that kept pushing him forward.

For his part, Cain remained indifferent to his ancient monster’s turmoil. He could sense an unprecedented surge of energy flooding his form, and he intended to make full use of it.

“Oblivion Absorption—Devouring the Fire of the Cosmos!”

With a thunderous roar, Cain extended his colossal arms and poured his will into the halberd. Instantly, all flames and heat on the battlefield, from flickering embers to raging infernos, funneled directly into the weapon. Glowing lines of molten energy spiraled along the halberd’s shaft. It radiated such intense heat that the very air around Cain seemed to ignite, forming a vortex of scorching winds.

Even from a distance, Reverend Madness could sense the terrifying level of power concentrating in Cain’s halberd. His eyes widened as he felt that his life was in danger.

“Time to end this,” Cain rumbled.