The blood-soaked skies above the Thirteen Hells trembled.
Amid the shattered throne hall, corpses of demons and generals lay strewn like broken puppets. At the center stood Xiong Shen, the Demonic Emperor, his black armor cracked, his eyes glowing crimson with fury and betrayal.
"You dare…" His voice echoed like thunder, trembling the underworld itself. "You dare to stand against me, Liang…?"
His younger brother, Liang Shen, stepped forward, face devoid of remorse. "You lost your way, brother. Seeking war with the heavens? You would've dragged us all into ruin."
Beside Liang stood the three traitors—Xiong Shen's most trusted disciples. Once loyal, now swords drawn.
"You were like sons to me," Xiong Shen growled. "And you… my own blood."
Liang sneered. "Then die as a fool."
With a roar that cracked the mountains, Xiong Shen gathered the last of his demonic qi into his core.
"If I must fall… I'll take you with me."
BOOM!
The thirteen realms trembled. His body disintegrated in the infernal explosion.
But the soul… lingered.
A faint blue light shot toward the mortal realm. Toward a weak boy, lying unconscious in a slum of Shang City.