We all have things and people we want to protect. We go to great lengths for them as they would do for us. This is true.

  I came here to fight my enemy for the things that I love, and the things that he would die for.

  We showed off our best techniques, showed our full strength, and even boosted our qi to the maximum. In the end, we have both fallen at each other's hands.

  Do I blame him? No.

  He fought and died for what he believed in and I did the same.

  Our paths were just slightly different only because I am from the demon race and he is a human. This war was inevitable. It has been going on for generations without count, sweeping through all the lands of both the human and the demon realms.

  What will it take to end it?

  When will humans stop trying to kill us just because we're demons?

  What matters in the end, is the heart of the being. They think they're righteous, going around purging demons and yet they fight amongst themselves with pure greed. Absurd.

  I raise my bloody hand full of cuts at the twinkling stars. Seeing them so harmonious makes me feel so jealous.

  But then I remember that within those stars are gods of the two races. They just watch as these killings go on without intervening just because they bring balance.

  Is this what Dao is all about?

  All these hundreds of years I have spent cultivating to my level and yet I seem to not have achieved any significance.

  The irony of life. Of power. Of the words.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  If so, then I should just die and never be reincarnated for the ending might never change.

  Bit by bit, my eyes close.

  I give up everything, ready to crush my core so that my soul may perish.

  But before I can do this, someone shakes me.

  "Divine Lord? Divine Lord?"

  Who is she?

  Who is she calling?

  "So noisy," I murmur and immediately, a wave of energy explodes from my body, knocking her away.

  I hear her yell as she rolls far from me. But in a few seconds, she is back by my side shaking my body as if she intends to rearrange my organs.

  "You're alive. Master, you don't know how worried I have been all these days."

  'Master?'

  I force my heavy eyes to open. When they do, I am greeted by the sight of a damp cave ceiling.

  There is a fire burning a distance from us, warming up the place. But before I can sense more of my surroundings, the noisy girl once more starts shaking me as her tears fall on my face. "Master, I missed you so much. I thought they had really killed you. You weren't breathing and your heart had stopped beating. Master, please don't do this again."

  "Who...who are you?" I ask feeling confused.

  Why is my body hurting so much more than I remember? Other than that, my Dantian feels overcharged and in such chaos.

  It feels as if I might explode any moment now.

  "It's me, Xing'er."

  I search through my memories. There has never been anyone in my long life with such a name. I am not a divine Lord, I am a demon lord.

  As these conflicting emotions and thoughts collide, my head is suddenly filled with foreign memories. They flood my mind without any warning, bringing with them a splitting headache that makes my Dantian even more unstable.

  The excess energy in it keeps growing chaotic with each breath that I take.

  I can feel it leaking out in strong waves. The cave we're in starts trembling and cracking as it is unable to withstand the energy.

  "Master!" the little girl cries holding on to my hand. "I'll transfer it right now. Hold on."

  What is she talking about?

  I just want this frustrating headache to go away.

  While I fight the memories invading my head, warm soothing qi starts flowing into my body from my hand. It travels fast through my meridians to find its way into my Dantian. Slowly, the chaos subsides, but I fall back into the void again.

  This time, it lasts for a little longer.

  It may be so, but I now have an understanding of what happened. This body that I thought was mine, isn't.

  It belongs to...a god.

  Is this the Dao's way of mocking me? Is it trying to punish me?

  As for how this divine lord died, it is still unclear in the memories. But the little girl should know. She is 'his' dragon and the most loyal servant he ever had.

  As to what led to 'his' death, all I can find in these memories is a barrier. It is as though the body is protecting its former owner's secrets.

  Should I even bother?

  Is he occupying my body right now or has his soul perished?

  'Mmm... I should find my body soon to confirm the truth.'

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~