Chapter 2331: The Demon King’s power
The moment Hanzo saw Zanko being dismantled within that scarlet dimension, horror seized his heart. Without hesitation, he flashed into the distance, burning his own life force to flee as fast as possible. Fear overrode all reason; survival was the only thought left in his mind.
Cain merely glanced at the escaping Neo-Angel. He made no attempt to pursue. Once he was certain he was completely alone, the tension left his body all at once. His knees nearly buckled as blood began leaking from his eyes and nose, staining the ground.
"The rise in my soul force helped me greatly," Cain muttered, his voice strained, "but using the island’s Matrix is still too much for me."
Taking several deep breaths, he steadied himself and began focusing on recovery. The immense flow of life force pouring in from Zanko’s remains surged through his body, reinforcing his battered form. Cain knew he could not afford to linger for long, but he also understood how vital it was to be at his peak in a place as dangerous as Origin Island.
"I’m getting closer and closer to the core of the island," he thought grimly. "Encounters will only become more frequent. I need to be careful. Even if I can defeat Middle Alpha-Omega Overgods, there are even stronger warriors among the forces of the Freedom Path."
Once his condition stabilized, Cain moved to a more secure zone and fully committed himself to healing. As he did, a meaningful light crossed his eyes as memories of his connection with the Matrix resurfaced. Linking with the island’s rules had granted him an overwhelming burst of power—but it had also provided a flood of information.
"Someone altered the rules of Origin Island," Cain realized. "The timeline for its closure is much sooner."
Although he had no idea who was responsible, he could not help but feel satisfied. His objective was to prevent anyone from using the Eternity Gate, and the faster the island closed, the better. Whatever unseen hand was accelerating the process, it aligned with his own goals.
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Just as Cain had predicted, battles across Origin Island intensified as warriors of the Life Path and the Freedom Path drew closer to the core.