Hey guys, long time no see, check out my other story, Grand Delusion, I'm about halfway through posting all the chapters!

Lineir's Darkness Lightning Slash bore down on the Mortal King with all the authority of the Heavens. Despite crossing cultivation realms, despite having broken his body in more places than he could count, the shattered Yin-Yang Iceflame combusted with Lineir's very soul created a technique so devastating that even an Undead King level fighter feared it.

"NOOOOO!" The Mortal King howled, his hand outstretched for Lineir's head, reared back as he desperately tried to ward off the strike. Xiao Gui's eyes grew round as the sword slowly, inexorably fell downwards, cutting off all avenues of escape. She reached out a hand as well, but tossed aside by her own brother, was helpless to save him. A cruel satisfaction filled Lineir's lips as he murmured.

"And so...revenge is mine!"

All were aghast at the sudden turnaround. A human saving them, then one of their Kings appearing and betraying him. The demons did not know what to think, but they understood one thing. This was a never before seen thing, someone crossing realms without a care. Or so they thought...Lineir's eyes burned with a fiery vengeance as his blade was about to reach the gleaming skull of the lich. He concentrated until his very existence was burned away and he became nothing but a flame of intent, focused on killing one thing. 

YOU!

KLANG

A blade appeared in front of Lineir in the final moment. All the fiery momentum, all that burning Lightning Qi flared around the black bar of metal and singed the Mortal King's whimpering skull. But he did not die. Slowly, a thin smile crossed his rotted mouth and he grinned wider than ever before.

"AHAHAHAHA! That's right human." He simply taunted and Lineir's own mouth twisted into a snarl as he pressed against the impeding blade, but he could already feel his strength was spent. He looked up into the eyes of the one who had come between him and his vengeance. The one who had taken the sum total of his life and cultivation and made it pointless.

"Why?" He whispered. The Three Step King's expression was profoundly sad as he simply replied.

"He is unworthy. But he is my son." The strongest King of the Hells brushed Lineir's sword back as the young man's aura and the Midnight Armor dissipated. Slowly, ever so slowly, Lineir keeled back, falling away as even the Black Blade receded, cracking apart into dribbles of blood and disappearing. Disdain filled the eyes of those in the Hells who knew the story. The Three Step King sighed. "I'm sorry."

The Mortal King seemed almost stunned that his father had actually stepped into a fight between juniors. However, as Lineir's aura grew weaker and weaker and he remained outstretched on his back, the lich became confident. He walked forward, ready to ransack Lineir's body. However, the Three Step King shook his head, and a thick sword intent blocked the smug lich's path.

"I want his body! His secrets are mine!" The Mortal King almost whined as he stared past the Three Step King with petulant greedy eyes. He eagerly probed Lineir's failing body, as if his Divine Sense could unearth the clues of his strength.

"No. He saved our lives. You will not dishonor the Hells any more than you already have." The Three Step King's expression was stern and a legitimate killing intent spilled out which caused even the lich, himself a King level fighter, to back up several steps.

"But father!" The Mortal King cried, but the killing intent did not let up. A few seconds later, Xiao Gui rushed over. The Three Step King let her through and though the lich wanted to protest, a fierce glare cowed him. With tearful eyes, Xiao Gui examined Lineir's body.

"What have you done to him..." She breathed as she saw the dying light inside his meridians. The Three Step King frowned.

"It's not just your idiotic brother's spell. The boy burnt his own Second Heart in that last strike..."

Kacha!

A sharp noise rang out as a chunk of the Three Step King's blade shattered and fell to the ground. Wordlessly, the Three Step King stowed his ruined blade on his back. Xiao Gui rounded on her father.

"You have to save him!" She cried. The inexplicably strong fighter of the Hell's expression softened as he looked at his daughter. 

"I don't know what this boy did to earn your favor, but I cannot help him. No one can. His Second Heart has completely burnt to ashes. If I'm not mistaken, he even burned your brother's Unending Rot away. All that is left is a hollow shell which will crumble away in time. Right now...the only thing holding him together is the conviction of his Third Heart."

Suddenly, a whooshing black portal erupted from Lineir's chest and the Midnight Pagoda appeared. From inside, the Solar Martial God flew out and all the watching demon's twitched. However, the Three Step King just sighed.

"I should have known you'd be involved, Old Solar." He said. "I'm sorry...I'm afraid I've ruined the gambit. This boy was a critical piece of the plan, wasn't he?"

The Solar Martial God looked around for a moment, but even surrounded by the assembled forces of the Hells, in the moment, he had eyes only for the boy on the ground. He made to gather him up, but even one of Humanity's Gods hissed as he realized the truth of the matter.

"You've...." He seemed aghast. "I can't fix this. His soul itself is in tatters." Then he didn't speak anymore. The Three Step King put his arm on the Solar Martial God's arm, stopping him from taking Lineir's body. Thin white strips of ashe began to peel off of the young man's body, little bits of him crumbling away. A faint moan could be heard beneath. 

"Why....why did you stop me? Master...I failed...!" Lineir's voice caused all watching to wince. The Solar Martial God gave a fierce glance at the Three Step King who replied.

"I'll take him. My spawn caused this problem, so I will see the boy through his last days. And even though I may have destroyed any chance of an alliance, I will make a promise. Should the Heavens come for you, the Hells will come as well. I know it is thin recompense, but it is all I can do." The Three Step King took Lineir into his arms, and this time the Solar Martial God just stood there. A second later, the Three Step King flickered and disappeared and Xiao Gui went with him. a terrible silence fell upon Deep Loss Cliff, and though the demons had won, a hollow feeling rang through them though they knew not why. All that could be heard were the echoes of a dying man's last words.

"Why!!"