Demon Lord's Reincarnation

Ren's overwhelming might was now on full display and it was an amazing sight to behold. The sheer power of his aura was enough to kill any weakling that would come close to him. In his current state just being in his presence could harm you. It was a good thing that his control over the different energies in his body was good enough that it didn't affect Valdel and Lara.

As Ren continued to gather more power, his muscles were bulging and his veins looked like they were going to pop out of his body. The power he was trying to control grew more and more, which made him tremble in excitement.

The shine of the silver moon behind him grew brighter and brighter. The blood that was being drained from him turned into energy and fused with his mana and Spirit Aura, making the blood-red aura coating him look even more vivid. The fusion of the four different energies within him created a whole new thing that made a frightening power burst forth.

The power from the fused energy was so extreme that it was difficult to control. It was even harming its master. Ren could feel his very skin being shredded by his own power, but it was also quickly regenerating because of the same power. The pain he felt was intense and would've been unbearable to most people, but to Ren, this pain meant more power, power on a scale that he never knew he could exhibit.

Yet despite gaining such strength, Ren felt that it wasn't enough to break the door in front of him. So Ren continued to gather even more power and concentrated it into the blade of the death scythe.

When Ren felt that he could no longer control it anymore, he smiled that vicious smile of his and swung down the death scythe at the door made of pure energy. The moment his death scythe made contact with the door, there was no sound, no loud explosion, not even the sound of something being hit. The death scythe was just inches away from the door but it did not move despite Ren trying his hardest to bring it down.

It was like the death scythe was hitting an invisible wall that could not be broken. Not only that but Ren felt that something was absorbing the energy from his attack. The blood-red aura that was surrounding him was being sucked into the door. Even his full-powered attack was not able to even touch the door, let alone open it.

Yet despite what was happening, Ren continued to put more strength into his attack. He could feel his hands trembling as more power was being drained from him. After a few more minutes Ren could no longer hold onto the scythe and let go of it as he collapsed onto the floor.

"Ren!" Lara dashed towards Ren, so did Tsukiyomi, Valdel, and Silika who turned back into her human form.

"So even that wasn't enough. Heh, this is getting even more exciting. After I'm done resting for a bit let me try again." Even though he was on the ground unable to move a single finger, the smile on Ren's face never disappeared.

"No, you won't be able to do it, Ren. After that attack, I have a better understanding of the power of that door. It absorbs energy, and it seems like it can absorb a limitless amount of it. I think the only thing that could damage that door is an energy source similar to what it's emitting. Knowing this I retract my earlier statement, even if Leo was here he wouldn't be able to force his way in either."

Hearing Silika's explanation made Ren frown. 'A similar energy?... That would mean only the original incarnation can break through that door using force.' Ren sighed as he knew that the original would never move for as long as it wasn't related to the ORIGIN.

"There must be another way, surely," Valdel spoke trying to remain calm.

"There are only a few ways to get through that door. If I had my full power as the former Goddess of Death, as long as her soul is still there I could've open that door and bring her back... But... In my current state, I'm not able to do that." Silika sighed as she spoke those words. She was lost in thought for a few seconds before she continued speaking.

"The only other way to get in there is if you're dead. Still, that won't work either. Even if you die and get into the door, you won't be able to meet Lara as that door is separated from time and space. Look right now, many souls are still passing through but you don't notice them."

Silika tapped the ground using her death scythe, it then showed the view of millions of souls surrounding them entering the doors.

"Everything is happening at the same time, but not. In here time and space are distorted, they are personalized for the people who enter. So even if we try to enter once we die we won't be in the same place as her."

"Then how?! I want to save her, I promised that I would do that."

"Can you not move on and accept that she has died? Everything dies, everything has an end, well almost everything... Death is just part of the natural cycle of things, it's not like she's gone forever. Once her soul is cleansed then she will reincarnate, same as you when you were Kir and now you're Valdel."

"I understand that... I do, but... I cannot accept it. I'm here, I'm so close to saving her and I want to do it no matter what. It's hard to explain but it is what I need to do, I owe her that much." Valdel spoke his tone melancholic. "So tell me, do you have another way? Do you have a way to save the person I want to save?"

"As expected of a friend of Ren's, how selfish of you. Wanting to save those that weren't even asking to be saved." Silika looked at Valdel and saw the determination in his eyes. "What are you willing to give in exchange for your friend's life?"

"Everything, I'm willing to give my everything."

"Then I have a way for you to bring her back."

"Really what is it?!"

"First I want to know if you have her body?"

"We don't have her body, but I can recreate it with my alchemy," Lara responded to Silika's question.

"Alright then, I just want to make sure, are you really willing to give anything to bring her back?"

"Yes!" Valdel answered without any hesitation.

"I see... With my current power, I cannot open the door on my own, so I need to trick it. I can let you slip through the door for a few minutes, but only your soul may pass through that door. Once you enter, I can control the location and bring you to the place where Lara is having her soul cleansed. You will only have a little bit of time, so once you enter you need to quickly bring her back to the door. Unfortunately, only one soul can get back out, meaning you need to stay in order for her to get out. Knowing this are you still willing to save her?"