The Burning Fiend

180 years had passed since Linley had left the Yulan Plane by the time Reynolds returned with his family to the island within the Forest of Darkness, both Yale and George had brought their wives with them and lived with Reynolds's family as they all trained together.

George's wife had a slight chance to become a saint magus as she was already a rank 8 magus, she decided to follow Reynolds advice and started training as a warrior as it was likely that she became a saint warrior before managing to reach the 9th rank as a mage. Yale's wife was a 50 year-old water magician of the 5th rank with almost no chance to become a saint magus, so she also started training as a warrior motivated by the chance to attain eternal youth and felt motivated by Jenne perseverance as their talent in water elemental magic was similar.

Yale seemed to have grown out of the self guilt with the help of his wife and he loved her dearly, Reynolds was surprised and sometimes wondered what had happened to the Elder Brother who had introduced him to the 'game' but now seemed to have lost the battle to a kind girl, George often looked at the couple with a kind proud smile as if thinking that the heavens were fair after all, but was startled from time to time as Catherine woke up from her pondering as if she had just heard a prayer in the distance. "... shameless womanizer... one day I will teach him..." She often muttered things of the sort while looking at Reynolds with grievances making George wonder what had his youngest brother could had done to the High Priest.

Reynolds had become friends with Harry, one of Beirut's children, and they often sparred together helping Reynolds to understand more clearly the way deities fought. Harry had two divine avatars at the God level, his darkness avatar had fused three laws while his wind avatar had fused the four low level laws making the power of both avatars almost equal.

Reynolds had trouble fighting both avatars at the same time as they were protected by high level soul defensive artifacts making his 'soul erosion' effect useless and limiting the effect of the 'illusion' attribute of his flames, so he often ended in a stand still situation. "Reynolds how is it that your body is so hard? My fists hurt every time I punch you!" The annoyed Harry was nursing his left fist after a brawl making Reynolds chuckle. Harry had not inherited Beirut's and Bebe's physical traits and his avatars were normal God level avatars.

"I was lucky I guess... say Harry, have you been to the Infernal Realm?" Reynolds eyes were shining in hope of obtaining information and now it was Harry's turn to chuckle. "Yes I spent a few thousand years there and became a 6-star Fiend". His voice carried pride and smugness after seeing Reynolds's exaggerated excitement but his face fell when he heard Reynolds saying. "Really? A 6-star Fiend? That is so awesome! I have no idea what that is supposed to mean but sounds cool". Reynolds face was mocking at the end of his speech making Harry's face turn into a mixture of red and black.

"You disrespectful brat! A 6 star Fiend is the level of a Highgod who had fused three laws!" Harry screamed at Reynolds with annoyance causing Reynolds to chuckle again. "So you managed to do that thanks to the artifacts your father gave you?" The matter of fact response almost gave Harry a heart attack due to the anger and growled at Reynolds who laughed with glee. "All right, all right... don't be angry... I'm sorry, ok?" But his apology wasn't very convincing as he could not stop laughing.

Harry sighed in frustration and wondered how it was that he ended becoming friends with this madman. "Tell me Harry, so my level would also be a 6-star Fiend? I guess that is quite a good level for someone who is visiting the Infernal Realm for the first time, isn't it?" Reynolds was looking at the distance as if imagining the Infernal Realm.

Harry sighed again and shook his head before answering. "Well not really, I guess that with the strange attributes of your flames you are actually a 7-star Fiend. That is equivalent to a Highgod who had fused 4 laws, the reason I'm able to play against you is due to my soul defensive artifacts are strong enough. But even a high level soul artifact would be slowly eroded by your flame and those are very rare even within the Infernal Realm".

They continued their conversation and Reynolds soon took a bottle of wine out of his interspatial ring making Harry smile with approval.

---

10 years passed and the one with the greatest progress within Reynolds family was Rosarie who managed to find the fusion point between 'Ice' and the 'Water Elemental Essence' and she calculated that it would take her around 50 years to complete the fusion and become a Fullgod. This made Koral a little frantic as the 'Ice' mystery was of a higher level than the 'Flame Body' and she might lose her advantage and even maybe the position of elder sister. Reynolds enjoyed the situation thinking of rewarding one while comforting the other and having a wonderful time by doing so when the time come, Catherine seemed to have seeing through his intentions and often muttered. "Shameless womanizer".

---

Two identical young men were floating in the air while looking in concentration to the purple haired youth in from of them. "Reynolds I think you are holding back... what is it?" Harry's voice seemed curious while Reynolds blinked. "Well I have and idea of a new attack that is both material and soul based but I'm not sure if it would injure you even with your artifacts". Reynolds said while holding his high level artifact spear on his right hand.

"Is it? Show me". Another voice startled the two as they saw Beirut appearing there. "Lord Father!" "Lord Beirut!" Both Harry and Reynolds greeted him and he smiled. "Reynolds show me attack you mentioned, don't worry you will not be able to hurt me. Harry stand behind me." The absolute confidence was apparent on Beirut's voice reassuring Reynolds as he and his spear turned into dark purple flames.

Reynolds focused his spiritual energy and his divine sense as he used the three fused laws and thrust his spear in Beirut's direction. For a moment nothing seemed to happen but Beirut's eyes shined as he released an energy shield to guard Harry, after a few seconds the air seemed to burn as Beirut closed his eyes as if enjoying a warm breeze.

Reynolds attack traveled in the air as radiation but carried the power of the three fused laws trying to burn both the flesh and the soul of his intended target. Beirut's body was at the sovereign level and he was wearing a sovereign level soul defense artifact nullifying the attack, Harry on the other hand might have received serious damage as his defensive artifacts might not being able to resist the attack or at least would not last more than three of such attacks. Beirut nodded with content as he said. "Good, anything below a 7-star fiend would surely die for that unless protected by high level artifacts in which case you would have to try three times before killing them. How many times are you able to produce that attack?"

Reynolds blinked and closed his eyes pondering. "Two times is my current limit I guess". He said a little discouraged but then chuckled and shook his head. 'In time I will become stronger, no need to be greedy'. "That seems about right, anyway is a good attack". Beirut's voice remained in the air as his body had already blurred and disappeared the next moment.

"Brat you cannot use that attack while we spar, I don't want to have to go and beg Lord Father to repair my artifacts!" Harry said with reluctance making Reynolds chuckle.

---

Another 10 years passed with the same life routine and Reynolds's family and his friends enjoyed life while training. One day Reynolds was teasing both Jenne and Windsor while they both protested without much strength and giggles betrayed their fake struggles, suddenly Reynolds suddenly stood up looking towards the distance.

On the valley where centuries ago Linley had turned into a dragonblood warrior, a spatial distortion reveled a group of deities that started laughing like maniacs as soon as they appeared. The group had 85 people, three of them were Highgods and the other 82 were Gods and Demigods all of them looking at one of the three Highgods with fear and respect.

"Brother and my dear son C.h.e.s.ter... we have finally escaped the Gebados Planar Prison! It was worth spending a century and half looking after the rumors of the disappearing deities. I nearly went mad when that fool Adkins and Lord Bluefire escaped 200 years ago, but now our time has come. Let's go and find about this world." The speaking Highgod seemed refined and calm in his speech but a cruel glint shinned in his eyes that made the other deities tremble in fear.

"Yes King Odin!" All the deities replied with smiles as they fell into formation behind the three Highgods that started making his way towards the O'Brien Empire, soon they arrived at a small city and Odin commanded. "Find a few people to get information about the Yulan Continent. I want to know about Adkins and Lord Bluefire... and Lord Beirut of course." A few Demigods flew towards the small city and did as they were told.

A few hours later the Demigods returned and started reporting to their Master. "King Odin, Adkins is dead... he was apparently killed by Lord Beirut, there were rumors of a battle between Highgods within the Forest of Darkness two centuries ago and no one ever heard from Adkins since then." One of the Demigods reported and waited for Odin's nod before returning to the formation.

"King Odin, there are three great empires within the Yulan Continent. The Baruch Empire that was founded and protected by Linley Baruch, but he left two hundred years ago and his brother Wharton is the current protector, apparently he is only a God. The O'Brien Empire and the Yulan Empire were conquered by Adkins and Oerph but a few decades ago another God killed Oerph and his followers claiming both empires. They call him the Divine Fire Snake but I don't think he is Lord Bluefire as he was said to have created a new continent over the South Sea more than two centuries ago."

Odin's smile grew as he said. "Then it looks that the three empires are ours for the taking, which one is closer to us? Let's make a little demonstration by destroying a few cities and killing anything above saint level". His sinister laugher was soon joined by all his followers and then they flew towards the O'Brien Empire.