Lowly Ascent

Although the battle of souls could be said to have lasted for almost an hour, it had not been half that amount in reality.

Even so, by now, all the Marked were killed by their respective fellows and peace returned to the ranks of the Righteous Faction. Cain's heart ached on this matter.

'Damn it, the original just used a trump card like that. At least I know the value now, seeing it used. A quarter of the righteous faction must've died...'

In Cain's mindscape, the Demon of Desire was locked back up until Cain would release him, this was part of their deal. The Demon of Desire didn't wish to be let out before so many people, it was a soul without a body. It was in both of their favor to remain like before, for now.

Around Cain, melted buildings and destruction were left in his wake.

'So the cores were unleashed. Heaven did nothing? Or perhaps I was right in this place being separated from the territory....'

As he thought deeply on the matter of heaven, Fang Yuan came forward, hopeful.

"My disciple, are you better now? What happened before, was it a backlash of the power of time? You seem better now!"

Cain indeed was like before, the colors of green and red dispersed. Only his torn clothes were left as a reminder. Best of all, his eyes were green, instead of red.

'Luckily the Thousand-Faced Spider is useful now, I can even change the color of my eyes, hair, and skin!'

Cain put on an act, "Master? I...I'm free?"

He internally laughed, 'Oh Fang Yuan, how would you react if you knew your poor disciple was dead, devoured because of me! How fun!'

Fang Yuan couldn't read Cain's thoughts, his eyes shining.

"Hahaha! My disciple, your back, I told you I would succeed!" He turned to the crowd far away, yelling, "I succeeded, I have recovered my Disciple! The Heavenly Sword Saint's Disciple is saved!"

Cain could hear low cheering. The righteous faction wasn't so stuck up, many knew the situation of the Imperial Demon. Fang Yuan hid nothing from his sect. It was why no one besides the Inquisitors searched for the Imperial Demon with urgency. Everything paid off and now there was another expert in the ranks of virtue!

It didn't matter if a few people died, everyone who did proved how unworthy they were to be there. Of course, revenge wasn't out of the question but such thoughts would be put on hold.  

Following behind Fang Yuan, the master and disciple returned to the righteous group.

Finally, Cain met the Sect Leader of the Beast Master Sect, a Fusion Stage Powerhouse who single-handedly saved his sect from internal destruction.

'He looks familiar, like one of the residents from that ocean.' Cain scrutinized the sect leader, his skin was darker and his eyes were clear. But that was before the sect leader got a close look at Cain.

As Thomas's hand reached out to shake Cain's, a greeting of acceptance into morality again, he froze.

"No....this isn't possible....it can't be.."

Thomas's face contorted into surprise and fear. Memories resurfaced, of blood, of war, and of destruction. The memories were an experience Thomas would have nightmares over, his confusion of that time even greater than when he would drink.

"H-How can you be here.....why here...why now...."

Cain stared, his instincts were telling him he knew this person.

'Is he someone from that Ocean?! It makes sense, everyone was ejected....but who is he...'

Thomas removed his hand, regaining his composure, unsure of himself. Cain made no moves, making him second guess if that demon was in front of him.

Everyone surrounding the two whispered, Fang Yuan frowned and asked, "Beast Master, what is the problem?"

Beast Master was a title of the Sect Leader, someone who dominated all beasts, no matter how strong.

Before Thomas explained, Cain raised his finger in understanding.

"Ohhh, I know who you are now. The fat drunk! You're different from before."

Cain didn't care if he blew his cover or not, at this point, he could make do with it or not. Knowing he could unleash his full power whenever he wished; his arrogance was limitless. The territory couldn't stop him in this place.

Hearing the words come from Cain's mouth, Thomas mentally collapsed. Although Cain was once a friend, he understood something wrong with him, and by Cain's current demeanor, he was right to be fearful.

"I-I'm not weak anymore, I'll kill you!" Losing reason, Thomas's muscles bulged, and his fist broke air as the screech of a phoenix resounded.

Cain laughed and disappeared. Everything was sent back into chaos.

"What's happening? Why did the Beast Master attack?"

This time, Zoe yelled, "The Imperial Demon isn't from the Seven Provinces, he is an outsider who came here to destroy everything for power!" She threw everything on the table.

Those words, no matter who they came from, sent everyone into a panic.

Outside the Provinces? Came here to destroy everything? We must kill him!

These thoughts became definite when Cain chuckled, "So you found out, no matter, it's too late now!"

"Ahhh! The Imperial Demon Tricked us! Run!"

"No, don't come here! Arrghh!"

"Please, Lord Imperial Demon! I beg you to not- urgh!

Cain slaughtered every cultivator he came across, and blood soared through the sky as Bloodletter advanced! Becoming an 8th Tier Divine Treasure! He was unstoppable!

"Disciple.... you're not my disciple! What did you do to him, did the Time Lord fail?!" Fang Yuan was hysterical, his hopes smashed by Cain's actions.

And he became worse as Cain said, "Poor Sword Saint, your disciple is gone! Dead! I killed him when the power of time was affecting me! You killed him!

"No no no no no no no no no! This can't be, you're lying, you lie!" Spiritual fluctuations amassed as sword energy flew from Fang Yuan's body, injuring those around him.

Like the Beast Master, he lost it as well.

"Hehehe! Isn't this fun!" Cain was having a blast.

He used his powers from cultivation, as long as he wasn't forced he wouldn't strain himself.

A sword strike came from one direction and the roar of a mystical beast from the other. Cain stopped his killing spree and teleported away. A marble structure nearby gained a titanic hole.

His two attackers came forward again, Thomas, a past crewman of the Red Titian, now a Fusion Stage expert, and Fang Yuan, the Heavenly Sword Saint, the master of the dead ego of Cain.

"This will be fun, let's see how long I can last with only so much strength!" As he journeyed through the lands, Cain never lost his bloodlust he gained so long ago. 

...

Before a colorful haze, a beautiful young man appeared.

"The sun is in the right position, time to go through!"

It was Edward Chambers, he didn't leave yet. Although he was truthful when he said he wished to leave, he still needed something.

The core! If he wanted to retain the majority of his powers over time, he needed the core! The object the Architect used to become something similar to a God!

"If I can get the core, I can leave this place and search for my way home! Unfortunately, no one knows where the core is but I'm positive the answer lies in the control tower! But this will be slightly dangerous, there are multiple Marble Giants with the strength of Fusion Stage experts in the tower. Only the first 20 floors are meant for inheritors, the rest are important floors used for operating the city and are on lockdown."

Entering a part of the mist, the sunlight melted the color in the fog, making it gray. As long as Chambers stayed within the gray fog and activated the relays along the way, he would not die and instead make it to the control tower, reaping the rewards.

"I will get the core, I will return home!" He reaffirmed himself.