AN: Someone wanted the MC to give a sliver of hope to those he tortures, before dashing it all away. Well, he does just that, but the torture is psychological, instead of the normal physical stuff.

As always folks, thank you for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, either let me know down below, or in my PM box.

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'How interesting,' I murmured softly within my mind. From what I had gathered, "plotlines" are simply the quests given to each individual, or group, to complete once summoned. The "plotline" for this world is to defeat, or kill, the Demon Lord/King. Though, of course, the Demon Lord of this world wasn't exactly a simple being, as I would find out later.

"It seems I had forgotten the other world, in favour of this one," my voice rumbled softly to no one in particular. How strange it was, to be reminded of the world of Azzarath after not setting foot on that plane for a very long time. However, "I do not remember there being a box such as that." I felt, at that moment, I may be returning to a different world, once my time on this one was up.

As strange as that was, I did not wish to leave this world called Terra, as I had something of a family I had dreamed of having. Though, of course, I would need a bride to stand by my side, but was lacking in candidates. My mind sighed at this thought, then subsequently shoved it into the back, as I returned to the chaos that was the war.

All around my skeletal form were the bodies of the dead and dying upon red and brown earth. There were pockets of groaning humans, monsters, and dragon-men strewn about in various conditions. Such as a human trying desperately to push in his intestines, or a dragon-man hyperventilating as it clutched at the large spear in the centre of its chest. There was also a slightly comical scene of a few humans and dragon-men running from a humanoid monster dragging its torso towards them. Its other half seemed to have been pinned under a large creature with armoured leather plates about its body, and had pulled itself apart in order to free itself to continue fighting.

It would have been commended for its efforts, if it didn't expire after grabbing onto the leg of a crying human male. This male, armed with a small dagger, frantically stabbed at the already dead creature's arm, desperate to escape. It then stopped, however, once it noticed the shadow looming over its body. Turning slowly, the human stared upon my visage for a brief moment, eliciting a scream from its lips, before I raised up a clawed foot, and flattened the male.

An audible squishing sound ensued from this, one that reminded my person of squeezing an over ripened fruit within my grasp, as well as the grinding of iron on bone. "Pathetic," I grumbled sourly, as human and dragon-man alike fled from my person after such a display. "Is there no one left to challenge my person?" My voice thundered across the field of battle, and many simply stopped their warring to stare upon my being for a time.

"I will fight you, monster," came a voice from within a cluster of humans. This voice came from an older human, whose face was scarred and held a milky-white left eye. There was a long and jagged scar traced over this human's eye, causing my person to become curious as to what sort of creature attacked it. However, such a question was left unsaid, as this human stood before my person in silvered platemail armour. The design of such an armour was not of the common sort, but one that seemed to have been molded to fit the human's body perfectly.

Such a thing was only possible if, "If you've used one of my Enchanters to craft the armour," my voice came out in a murmur, as my eyes flickered over the male's form. "You've stolen the designs of my soldiers' armour, human," I accused, to which the human grinned sheepishly, then shrugged haplessly at my accusation.

"It seems I've been found out, and by the monster that calls itself a 'god', no less," the male chuckled, hoping to goad me. However, it frowned when it noticed my body was not budging from its position, "Bring me the heads," it called out, and a few humans appeared carrying a wooden crate towards the both of us.

This create was then dropped in front of the scarred human, who then opened it to reveal the severed heads of the Undying messenger and its guards. "Do you like what you see, monster?" The human sneered up at my skull, "Others will soon fill it, and I'll make sure we find a box large enough to fit yours."

"Pathetic," my voice rumbled.

"What?" His own was startled, as his eyes narrowed.

"You are pathetic, human, if you believe me to be goaded so easily by such a display," one of my clawed hands waved dismissively at the box full of severed heads, before it pointed at the scarred human in question. ">," I intoned, and noticed it had failed.

"Surprised, monster? This armour is made of the combined metals of mithril and orchium, which cancels out all magicks."

"Oh?" Mentally, I raised an eyebrow at this, then reached down upon the ground, whereupon a foreclaw and thumb-claw from one hand gingerly lifted up a small rock, just as the humans were laughing, believing my person was kneeling in defeat to their savior. However, their "savior" was now staring wide eyed at a newly formed hole near its heart. Who then turned back towards my body with a stiff motion, before collapsing upon the ground.

"General," shouted the group of humans, who rushed towards the now fallen silver armoured human. This exclamation caused my mental self to raise an eyebrow at the scene.

"So you are the former High General's brother. A pity you both turned traitor in the end, as I would have enjoyed using the both of you to further my own."

"Monster," exclaimed a few from within the Grand General's group. who then rushed towards my person with weapons held high. However, they were all struck down by bolts of darkened lightning from the sky. Above our heads was the Lich called Brutus, whose body had been cleaned of flesh, but sported a rather large hole in his chest, along with strips of cloth hanging about his bones.

The Lich floated down from his position, and seemed to be carrying a body in his arms. "A gift for you, My Lord God," his arms were raised above his own skull, showing my person the still living body of a small boy-child who appeared to be asleep. The child wore a simple yellow and brown tunic over a tanned pair of trousers and brown pants. What features were visible upon its face was similar to the male in front of us. It had a square shaped head, the formation of a cleft chin, and a beak like nose beginning to form. However, unlike the general, this child's hair was a pale auburn, with streaks of gold and silver highlights. It truly was a sight to see, but alas, I could not claim it for my own.

"Who is this, Brutus, and where did you get it?" His own pinpoints of emerald coloured lights within his skull stared briefly upon my own crimson pair, before flickering away.

"That's my son," coughed the Grand General, who struggled to stand, as a priest frantically healed his wound.

"Oh?" My voice became filled with a sadistic joy at this turn of events, which caused the body of Brutus to quiver with excitement. "You have brought a grand gift, Brutus, and must be commended for it. If you have a single wish, then let us hear it, for if it is within my power, then I shall grant it."

The Lich stood tall, as one of my lesser clawed hands gingerly took the living body of the unconscious general's son. "My wish is to see what My Lord God will do with the human's offspring," he hissed, turning to glare down upon the human who struggled against others as he tried to reach for his son.

"Brutus," he turned towards my person with a bowed head, "You will see it regardless of your wish. Choose another."

"Then...," his skull cocked to one side, as a boned forefinger tapped his human-like teeth in thought, "Then my wish is to stay by your side for all time."

"For good or for ill, Brutus, you shall stay as my right hand until oblivion takes us all." I did not know what the impact of my words could have meant to the Lich, as his face was naught, but a skull's, and they are forever grinning upon the world. Nor did I noticed the energies passing between us at that time, binding his person to my own. His skeletal frame, however, shook with excitement, as his eyes flared briefly with more life than was possible, before becoming the pinpoints they once were.

Turning back towards the humans in question, my voice was a sneer filled rumble as it escaped my being, "Humans. Never fear, for you will have your child once more," the general stopped struggling, but was still tense as his gaze flickered before my eyes and the body of his child. "Brutus, awaken the child, if you would?" My clawed hand pushed itself forward, until it was near the Lich's own body, who then lightly stabbed his own forefinger into the arm of the child.

The child awoke to pain, and cried loudly as it struggled to grip its arm, just as Brutus retracted a now bloody forefinger to his person. "Nathan," cried out the general, who was desperately trying to reach the boy-child with an outstretched arm, "It will be alright. Father is here for you."

"Father," cried out the small human, who desperately tried to struggle against my grip, but to no avail. For at most, the child simply twitched its shoulders, whilst its head shook from side to side.

"Watch, human, as I release him to you." He watched as my clawed hand placed itself a little above the ground, but did not open. "Human, know that I do not harm children, and instead love them as though they were my own," my grip then released the small boy-child, who fell to the ground, and began to rise albeit shakily.

"However," the clawed hand that held the child gently pushed it towards the general, who opened his arms to receive him. Unfortunately for them, there was a pair of small holes in the child's lower back, and a trickle of blood marred my own bones. "However, human, this is not my child, nor do I love and care for him."

"Father? I hur-," the boy-child's body stiffened for a moment, before it began to melt as my own poison began to course through its small body.

"No," wailed the general, hugging the boy-child's melting body to his chest.

"Kill them, Brutus," one of my clawed hands waved at the humans who were now staring at the scene in shock, "but keep the 'Grand General' alive. I wish to gift him to this 'All Mother'." The Lich then followed my orders, summoning his own magicks to create the same sickly green mist as before.