CHAPTER 402: SELECTING ISLANDS (PART-2)

Beautiful and deadly, the second island bled with life. Glistening with silver pools and emerald marshes, a vast wetland extended from its centre to the coast. Unusual flowers bloomed in a riot of colour, their enticing scent concealing the poisonous substances inside. This would be the ’Hall of Venoms’ territory, the Island of Venoms.

Far to the north, a craggy island rose from the waves like the back of a slumbering titan. Its rocky plains were scattered with the remnants of ancient battlegrounds—broken spears turned to stone, banners petrified by centuries. Not only that, but it was also filled with the ancient intent of war and battle, making a perfect place for honing the will of battle.

He chose it without hesitation as the Island of War, the stronghold of the ’Hall of War’.

Soft, enigmatic, and elusive, the fourth island was not like the others. Initially, it appeared to disappear whenever he got close, shrouded in dense, swaying fogs that shimmered dimly with hallucinations.

The island’s actual shape—a graceful fusion of gardens, terraces, and secret sanctuaries—was only revealed when he cut through the spiritual energy’s veil.

This would be the Island of Veils, seat of the ’Hall of Veils’.

The fifth was raw and untamed. Volcanoes jutted like jagged teeth, their mouths glowing faintly with molten fire. Rivers of lava carved black scars across the land before vanishing into the sea in great clouds of steam. Even the air trembled here, heavy with the promise of destruction.

It would become the Island of Wrath, home to the ’Hall of Wrath’, where warriors would be forged in heat and fury.

The sixth came at last, larger and more majestic than all the others combined. Mountains crowned with snow rose above endless valleys; rivers shimmered under golden sunlight, and the aura of the land was vast and eternal, as if it had existed since before the sea itself.

The moment he saw that, he decided it would be the main island, but unlike other islands, he cannot fully understand its unique circumstances, as it is completely different from other islands. Because it was filled with mysterious energy that was just like the legendary power of chaos.

Because of this, before opening the secret space, he came to this island to see whether he could truly unravel its secrets.

"This feeling is similar to the boundless sea but many times stronger." Apollo said as he and the guardian landed on this island.

The Guardian said nothing, but his fur bristled. Something about this island makes him feel different.

Here, he could sense almost every law in existence—woven together, overlapping, breathing as one. The Law of Fire curled faintly in the warmth of the rivers. The Law of Wind whispered through the icy ridges. Even the Laws of Death and Time lingered like distant echoes in the earth below.

In this place, the comprehension of laws felt... easier, faster—like standing at the very heart of creation.

And yet, despite his unmatched spiritual strength, Apollo’s senses could not penetrate deep into the island’s core. There was a veil—impenetrable, absolute—that even his spirit could not pass. The deeper he tried to reach, the more the island seemed to resist.

"Let go and let’s see what is hidden within the depth of this island." As he said, he followed his senses and tried to find the area which had the most dense and concentrated of this mysterious power, similar to chaos.

He started his steady advance with the Guardian without hesitation. They seemed to enter a new world with every step. Every breath was laced with strands of countless unknown laws, and the air became heavier, almost tangible.

The further they went, the more the land itself seemed to respond—trees bending subtly as if leaning to watch them pass, the ground thrumming faintly beneath their boots.

All paths converged toward the centre, where the energy gathered in crushing concentration, as if the entire island’s heartbeat resided there.

At the exact heart of the land, half-hidden by a curtain of ancient vines, lay a small cave mouth.

It was unassuming at first glance, barely wide enough for two men to walk abreast, yet the moment his gaze settled on it, the chaotic aura swelled like a silent roar. The energy here was denser, heavier, as if the very air resisted being breathed.

The mouth of the cave seemed to drink in the surrounding light, its shadow unnaturally deep.

"This is it," Apollo murmured, his voice low but certain.

Without another word, he stepped forward, ready to descend into the unknown.

The cave was weird, filled with the power of chaos that seems to suppress anything. Chaos is beginning a universe, and everything in the universe came from chaos, so whether it was normal elemental laws or a stronger rule like space or destruction, they were still a bit suppressed.

Only his eternal sword rule, which seemed to not belong to the universe, didn’t seem to be suppressed.

"Hmm, at least my sword isn’t suppressed." He sighed in relief, as he didn’t know what he might face below. So it was better everything about him wasn’t suppressed.

The two of them advanced into the old, stone womb of the island, their footsteps slow and deliberate. The walls were etched with faint, shifting patterns—chaos made visible—yet when Apollo tried to focus, they melted away like ripples in water.

Ever since coming to Rion, they had learnt that its beauty was a mask for danger. And here, deep in this island’s heart, that truth was written into every shadow.

As they walked deep within the cave, the aura of chaotic power continued to strengthen, and at some time it reached the level that was not different from the legendary power of chaos.

Their divine essence, which was countless times stronger than the Void god or True god, seemed stuck. They weren’t able to mobilise any kind of power, as in front of chaos everything was meaningless.

Finally, the narrow tunnel widened, and before them opened a vast chamber, hundreds of metres across. The walls shimmered faintly, not with light, but with the ebb and flow of something ancient—something uncountable.