The Invincible Hero 92 Birth Of An Overlord

"Great Fiend?" General Maek asked confused.

"Yes, I used to be a Great Fiend until my little brother over here freed me, HAHAHA," said Paneneko.

Turning his head away from Paneneko, Lorne looked back at Tower.

"Big Bear, what's going on? The two of you just awakened, I don't understand why it just happened. I awoke hundreds of years ago," said Lorne.

"I don't know exactly why it took us so long but I suspect we are different from you," said Tower.

"Different, how?" asked Lorne.

"Let me ask you a question, I know you have Malkus' memories; but do you feel his memories?" asked Tower.

"Feel his memories? I don't understand," said Lorne.

"I think the difference between us and you is we combined with the soul of our new bodies while you did not. It seems like you remembered everything about Malkus but you aren't like Malkus at all," said Tower.

"Why would there be a difference?" wondered Lorne out loud.

"I think I might know the reason. The karmic ropes we were attached to had to do with your life. You entered this world and there was already a body ready for you, one without a soul because the real Malkus was already dead when you came here.

More than likely Tower and Paneneko weren't dead when the souls of Big Bear and the Great Fiend entered them. The reason they didn't immediately remember who they are is because for the last several hundred years, their souls have been going through the process of Soul Melding," said BS42.

"Then the reason they didn't wake up when I did is because they were slowly combining with the original hosts soul. That means that Big Bear and the Great Fiend are no longer just Big Bear and the Great Fiend. Right now it's Big Bear Tower and The Great Fiend Paneneko," Lorne said with realization.

"Correct, they are combined souls. Their personalities have probably gone through a great change and they are a new ent.i.ty with unbelievably powerful souls. You aren't their match when it comes to soul strength," said BS42.

"Why did the two of you awaken now? Why not earlier or later?" Lorne asked Tower.

"I awakened because of Paneneko, I don't know what caused him to awaken," admitted Tower.

"It's this place," said Paneneko.

Lorne studied Paneneko for a moment waiting for him to continue.

"As soon as I entered the secret realm I began to feel the Fiendish energies and my soul began to awaken. I felt like I was struggling with my sanity. New skills and abilities began to appear in my mind. Abilities beyond anything we studied in the sect.

Killing or capturing the Fiends here was like child's play. I was enjoying bullying these Fiends. I kept thinking something wasn't right. I thought of myself as Paneneko, but I began to suspect I wasn't really Paneneko or maybe I was something greater than Paneneko. I wasn't just Paneneko.

I wondered through the Maze collecting Fiends, I don't know why, and then I came upon this Fiend fighting Tower and B'riri. Just as I got here I saw him knock out B'riri and right after he knocked out Tower.

I was enraged, I was happy, I was scared, but most of all I WAS AWAKE! Now, I have this little pest in front of me to tell the world I am back! I will destroy the Fiends for all the misery and fear I felt. I will destroy them because of my righteous anger, I will destroy them because I am a Cultivator.

Paneneko walked steadily forward to the Fiend General Maek who was s.h.i.+vering in fear.

"Why are you so afraid, Fiend?" asked Paneneko with a vicious smile.

"I...I...don't know...are you truly a Great Fiend? You feel like a cultivator but you have an aura of a Fiend," said General Maek.

"I was a Great Fiend and I stood at the pinnacle of power. Now, I have returned to being a cultivator and I will destroy the Fiends," said Paneneko.

"No one can destroy the FIends, there are too many of us and even if you kill us we'll just be reborn in a hopeless cycle," said General Maek.

"That is where you are wrong. I won't destroy the Fiends through endless killing. Like you say, that would be a never ending battle. Instead, I will bring salvation to the Fiends, I will free all the Fiends from the Fiend Fate. Once a Fiend is free of the Fiend Fate they will never want to walk down that path again even at the threat of total annihilation," said Paneneko.

"Is what you're saying true, you can save us from the Fiend Fate?" asked General Maek who was no longer the imposing monster he had been.

"Salvation is at hand brother, join me and we will free all the Fiends from the Fiend Fate. We will save the Fiends and establish an Empire of our own. I will be the Emperor of this Empire, an Overlord of the Multiverse and you will serve me! Salvation for absolute loyalty!" Cried out Paneneko.

Lorne became startled by Paneneko's declaration. It was good he wanted to destroy the Fiends, but why was he suddenly speaking about conquering the multi-verse, why is he still speaking like a Fiend?

Paneneko, you're still going down the wrong path! You aren't a Fiend anymore there's no need to continue the mad dream of conquest. Free the Fiends, but don't become one more despot," argued Lorne.

Lorne was sitting up at this point. His bones were already mended thanks to BS42. Other injuries were still a problem, but Lorne was quickly recovering.

"Little brother, you have misunderstood something. Perhaps this is why you constantly walk in doubt and confusion," said Paneneko.

"What are you talking about?" Lorne was confused.

"Don't forget I have all the memories Paneneko has gathered over the last few hundred years. I completely understand you. Paneneko was always curious about you, at first it was because you were his older brother, but eventually it was because you weren't his older brother. He hated you for a while but eventually came to admire you. I must admit, I feel affection for you now and I don't know if it is because you freed me from the Fiend Fate or because of Paneneko. I feel brotherly love towards you regardless of who you are.

As a brother I cannot stand to see you struggle so much. Let me reveal the truth to you. I will explain why you suffer as a cultivator. Are you ready for the truth?" asked Paneneko.

"Ok...," Lorne was unsure of what Paneneko would say but he was curious.

"The reason for your confusion and doubt is very simple, you are not a cultivator, you are a hero," Paneneko said very simply.