Chapter 1607: A new gift from the Red King

Cain’s face was pale, exhaustion coursing through every fiber of his being. Though he had dominated the battle from the moment he triggered Liberación Total, it had cost him a lot. Every ounce of power, every shred of endurance, had been pushed to its limits to defeat the ancient monster.

But in the end, it had been worth it. Victory was his.

As he finally descended to the ground, his heavy breaths slowing, his eyes settled on the broken and charred remains of Reverend Madness. The once-mighty Archdeity lay scattered, his form ravaged by battle, barely clinging to life.

Cain exhaled deeply. He had seen many formidable enemies before, but none had clung to life as stubbornly as this one.

“I have to admit…” Cain’s voice was calm, devoid of mockery. He was merely voicing his thoughts aloud, not intending to humiliate his fallen opponent. “When it comes to survival, the Gu Path is undeniably superior to mine. If I were in your condition, I would have perished long ago.”

He wasn’t being sarcastic. It was a simple truth. The Gu Path was an unyielding, monstrous road of longevity and resilience, allowing Reverend Madness to endure far beyond what any other being should have survived.

Still, this was the end.

Cain lifted his hand. His voice held neither rage nor cruelty, only calm certainty. “It was a good fight. I learned a lot. But now, it’s time to finish it.”

Just as Cain was about to make his move, a hoarse voice echoed through the ruined battlefield.

“Wait! I can be of use to you!”

Cain’s eyes narrowed as he halted his attack. Reverend Madness’s body was too mangled for him to even articulate words properly, yet he forced his energy to form the sounds.

Reverend Madness’s eyes glowed with desperate determination, and in the next moment, a powerful aura of survival surged from him. If there was one thing that defined his very existence, it was his unyielding will to live.

“I am ancient, Cain. In my soul exists a realm of knowledge and power that you cannot yet imagine. You are strong—your talent is beyond compare—but you are young. Your path has only begun. With me by your side, you will rise unimaginably fast.”

Cain’s expression remained unreadable, yet he did not move. Reverend Madness saw this as an opportunity and pressed forward, fearing the moment would slip away.

“I promise you—within less than one hundred thousand years, I will help you reach the Archdeity Rank! If I fail… you may take my life.”

The ancient entity’s voice trembled, not with fear, but with resolve. His lifespan had spanned hundreds of millions of years, yet now Reverend Madness was reduced to bargaining for his survival. But he wasn’t done yet.

“I know you cannot trust me, but we can form a soul-bound pact. You will have complete control over my existence. You will be able to peer into my mind at all times, making it impossible for me to betray you.”

Cain’s eyes flickered with genuine intrigue. He studied the broken figure before him; then his gaze glowed with golden light.

A second later, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. “You’re actually speaking with truth in your heart…”

Through The Flow, Cain was able to peer into Reverend Madness’s emotions, sensing no deception—only genuine sincerity. The Archdeity was truly willing to submit.

A slow smile began creeping across Reverend Madness’s burned and battered face. He could see it—Cain was considering the offer.

To follow a monstrous genius like Cain would bring immeasurable benefits. If he played his cards right, he might even regain his lost power one day.

Of course, if an opportunity arose in the future—whether to regain his Archdeity might or find a superior master—he would take it. But for now, he made sure to seal those thoughts deep within himself, ensuring that not even a flicker of deception surfaced in his soul.

Cain tilted his head as if pondering the offer. “…Having access to your mind and wealth of knowledge would indeed be a boon to me.”

Reverend Madness felt a flicker of hope ignited within him. But then… Cain smiled.

And the moment that simple smile appeared, a bone-chilling terror gripped Reverend Madness’s soul. Every instinct in his body screamed in pure, unrelenting dread.

A horror so absolute flooded his being that, for a brief moment, the idea of taking his own life felt preferable to whatever was about to happen next.

Before he could react, Cain’s figure vanished. In an instant, he reappeared, stomping down viciously on Reverend Madness’s broken chest.

A shockwave of force erupted outward as Cain’s foot crushed into the ancient entity’s ribcage, sealing his energy entirely.

“Luckily, I don’t need to trust you. Or go through a soul-bound pact.”

The horror within Reverend Madness intensified, a sense of unavoidable doom pressing against him. Something far worse than death was coming, and he couldn’t stop it.

A strange feeling washed over Cain as if he was about to fulfill something profound. Though he did not understand why, deep within his soul, a sense of absolute fulfillment took root.

It was as if what he was about to do next was something he had done before—in another life. Cain felt a strange, blissful nostalgia, gazing up at the sky.

“You know… I am a Reincarnator.” His voice was calm, almost reflective.

Reverend Madness’s eyes twitched in shock, but Cain didn’t care. He wasn’t speaking to the ancient monster—he was talking to himself.

“I don’t remember my past life. But I know it must have been glorious.” A mysterious glow flickered in Cain’s eyes as he continued.

“I don’t really know how, but I’ve inherited abilities from that past life. The first emerged after one of the most meaningful battles of my life when I lost something incredibly important.”

He paused, remembering his fight against the Atrox Champion—when his path had only just begun.

“It allowed me to devour the mind and will of others… and in a way, it guided me down a truly bloody path.”

Then came the second ability. “The next one came to me in a moment of crisis. It allowed me to sense the flow of the world—to understand the interconnection of all things.”

He recalled his battle against the Blood King when he had first discovered The Flow.

Cain exhaled, glancing down. “It’s been a long time since I obtained anything new. But after the evolution of my willpower, a new ability from my past life has finally awakened.”

His golden gaze locked onto Reverend Madness, and his smile grew wider.

“Do you want to see it?”