Divine Emperor of DeathDivine Emperor of Death
"My name was Lilliana Rayton." Her eyes glazed, "I was called the Soul Devouring Demoness back then, so I nearly forgot my name. I come from an old family in the Greater Realms. Unfortunately, I was a Divergent, so my mother threw me away and escaped with her lover. I killed her, though. She was delicious as much as father was… hehe~"
"Greater Realms, you say?" Davis's gaze flickered with high interest, "Do you mind sharing what kind of cultivation stages come after the Empyrean and Autarch Stages? I'm curious."
"Pff-ahaha!~" Abruptly, Lilliana Rayton threw her head back, laughing.
Her gurgling laughter practically spilled more blood from her neck, making it a gruesome sight. It honestly made Davis feel uncomfortable.
"Do you not even know that? It seems that you truly are a peasant from the Lower Realms."
"What do you mean?" Davis waved his hand, acting offended, "Learning the name of the next cultivation stage is far more taboo than others committing calamitous crimes? What kind of bullshit is that?"
"Indeed." She cackled, "However, it's not a great taboo in the Second Layer or the First Layer, but in the Third Layer— the Mortal Layer, it is an absolute taboo. Even if a person from the upper layers descends and tries to spread the word about the secrets or even the slightest hint of the name of the next stage after the Empyrean Stage, they will have sinned greatly as it pertains to the protection of the Mortal Layer, enough to bring them powerful heavenly flames to their tribulation and increase the strength of their tribulations by one or more times depending on the damage done."
"No one is stupid enough to do that, not even evil entities like me. They would be harming the person they're giving the information to. Moreover, the more time they spend in the Mortal Layers, the less they remember about it until it turns into a vague memory that they might not even recall."
"But I still remember it! I'm in another dimension, after all. Actually, I won't forget it because I'm already in the next stage. Haha!~ Silly me, I'm already an old woman who forgets a few matters occasionally… Aaaa~ ooo~ noo~
Bloody tears flowed down her eyes.
"…"
Davis's heart couldn't help but tremble as he saw her moan and groan pitifully. Perhaps she really did go crazy after being sealed for so long, only slightly having a hint of sanity. He couldn't fathom being locked up here for more than a billion years, much less twenty or thirty billion years.
Just thinking about the solitude he would have endured, much less the pain from being impaled by these numerous weapons, was already enough to shake his head vehemently in intense fear.
It was a fate Myria and he shared. It would be very difficult to kill them, so they would most likely be sealed.
Davis clenched his fists, never intending to allow such a future to come by. His gaze turned wrathful and determined.
Abruptly, she gasped and gazed at him with wide eyes, "It's my turn. Where is that bastard Celestial Transcendent? Is he still alive? Is he still alive? Is that bastard still alive!? Ahhhhh!~~~"
She scowled at Davis, intense hatred being thrown around as her aura fluctuated heavily.
'So she is done in by the Celestial Transcendent…? This isn't good… If he learns of her presence, he might come here… Wait… maybe he already knows and thinks she wouldn't be able to get out. After all, she is still sealed in a dimension…'
"Yeah, he is still alive. I almost died to him when I encountered him."
"Oh?" Abruptly, she turned calm, slowly gazing at him again, "What happened?"
"It's my turn now." Davis smiled wryly, "Where are you sealed? I mean, what kind of dimension is it?"
"Tch~" Lilliana Rayton clicked her tongue. No, she practically destroyed it with a click, causing blood to spurt from her mouth.
But it quickly reformed.
"Back then- I was a Level Six Divine Exalt, a powerful one since I had so many worshipers that I painstakingly collected throughout the ears. The remnants you see are actually my faithful and vivacious believers who have given up their undying faith in me, only leaving behind their everlasting connection to me. Ah, such reverence~"
Lilliana Rayton quivered. Her cheeks turned a healthy shade of red than the ghastly and wretched appearance she had. Her lower body practically twitched as she seemed to be imagining wonderful times.
On the other hand, waves rose in Davis's heart.
He could feel karmic burden falling on him and also her, but that was secondary.
Divine Exalt.
That was the name of the next stage after the Empyrean Stage. The name itself raised a grandiose feeling, creating countless imaginations of how such a being would stand on top of everyone. His heart intensely craved such a figure, imagining himself there so no one would dare to stand against him.
'Wait…' Davis abruptly came out of his reverie, 'Worshipers…? Faith Laws…? The Law that was said to be sealed and banned in the First Haven World by the World Master? Why haven't I seen a single hint of it here in the Mortal Layer of the true immortal world…?'
Davis wondered, but Lilliana Rayton abruptly continued.
"Anyway," Her voice was nonchalant, "… that bastard was also at a similar level- a Level Six Primarch, but even then, he was way stronger than me, so much so I wanted to make him mine. But neither of us could catch each other, so we played a lot. Suddenly, he became way more powerful and became known as the Celestial Transcendent throughout heaven and earth. I thought it was the end of me and escaped to a Minor Dimension called the Shadow Dimension. However- he, he tracked me down like I was a prey and killed me! But I-I-I can't die because I-"
Lilliana Rayton screamed and seemed to be reliving a nightmare. She mumbled with wrath, but she suddenly stopped at the right time, making Davis grumble inwardly.
She freaking smirked at him as she inclined her head as though she was doing it on purpose.
"In any case, I can't die, and he called a few people to have me sealed. These Divine Exalt Grade Armaments belong to them. I've been sealed in the Shadow Dimension ever since before a rift finally opened again… Those motherfuckers~ Hehe~ I swear I'll hunt them down if it's the first thing I do after regaining my powers~"
"…"
Davis's eyes were wide. So, the next stage after the Autarch Stage was called the Primarch Stage.
The Divine Exalt Stage and the Primarch Stage.
Were these stages the end of the Immortal Step or the beginning of something anew?