Gone was the impressive speech Lex had planned, along with all the additional theatrics. The moment he laid eyes on the Kraven and saw the immensity of the negative karma they carried, all the sin they had committed not just against other living beings, but against the universe itself, a deep disgust rose out from his chest in a way he had never experienced before.

This was truly a unique situation, because even compared to those who suffered from universal rejection, the Kraven seemed to evoke more disgust from within him. But Lex, despite listening closely to his instincts, was not one to blindly follow them either. He tried to discern the true, genuine source of the disgust he felt, and why.

It wasn't hard. Almost as soon as he paid attention to the matter, he realized that besides his own hate for Kraven, the disgust he felt came from the strong connection he had built with his universe. After all, Lex bore an immense amount of positive karma, and had been digesting it for a long time.

All beings with such immense stores of positive karma could be considered favored children of the universe, having better luck than others, and more likely to encounter treasures and valuable resources. Of course, if one didn't have the corresponding strength, that opportunity may turn into a one way street to death, but what did that have to do with the universe?

In this specific situation, Lex could tell that his disgust was coming from his connection to the universe. Upon paying closer attention to this feeling, he came to another realization.

It seemed that, looking upon the Kraven, he could see the original purpose this race had in the universe. They weren't necessarily evil - they existed as the detritivores of the cultivation world, meaning they would feed to the spiritual equivalent of dead matter, and turn them into something useful.

However, somewhere along the way, they had either mutated, or had been genetically engineered into their current form. Now, they only consumed endlessly and produced nothing, not adhering to their original spiritual ecological role in the universe, and only destroyed. But as a result, they were easy to strengthen up to a certain level, and could reproduce quickly, making them the perfect cannon fodder for wars on a larger scale.

In essence, someone had created an abomination of a race, and the universe did not appreciate it. Besides promoting some inherent disgust in him, the universe would probably award him with immense amounts of karma for eradicating them.

He had jokingly set up the stage to call himself the Glorious Savior, and later on, Justice, but it seemed that he really would be carrying out justice as far as the universal scales were concerned.

Now that he understood the situation better, Lex focused on the task at hand. Sooner or later someone would come to stop him. While his original goal was just to kill Belail, since there was so much positive karma waiting for him to reap, he wouldn't mind altering his plans just a little.

Hundreds of Earth Immortal Kraven roared at him, finally sensing the true danger that Lex posed, yet not smart enough to consider retreat. They attacked together, wanting to overwhelm him, but Lex was long beyond the point where he could be threatened by ordinary Earth Immortals.

He summoned Naraka, his sword freshly sharpened using the blood of Defilers, and channeled his sword intent, greatly amplified by his sword. Previously, whenever Lex employed a Domain, it was always through his use of the laws relating to defense, since his comprehension of them was the best. Not this time. This time, Lex used purely laws related to his sword and sword intent to blanket the city, creating a Domain the mere presence of which was akin to the full strength attack of a normal Earth Immortal.

All the attacks flying towards Lex were nullified, and the entire city suddenly vanished under the erosion of sword intent, only the strongest of defensive formations managing to protect some integral parts of the city.

"I remember, Belail," Lex's voice echoed over the now barren expanse, heard only by the few survivors of a previously densely populated city. "I remember that day, so many years ago, when you attacked my tavern. A single attack from you destroyed what I held so precious, and brought me to the point of despair. I wonder if my arrival today allowed you to feel today what I felt so many years ago."

Dozens of Kraven worked together, resisting the oppressive onslaught of his newest Domain, and unleashed a powerful attack of their own. Once, the Kraven had seemed so strong, so impressive to Lex. Now...

Lex waved his hand, not bothering to use any Lawcraft, and clashed with the attacks using only Naraka. His blade, ever his faithful companion, cut through the attacks like tofu, and ended the lives of those few Kraven.

A few miles away from Lex, within a highly secure bunker that had managed to survive Lex's Domain, Belail looked outside with great remorse and reluctance. From that very day that he had felt the Innkeepers might, he knew this moment would come. He had done everything he could to try and avoid it, but he was never allowed to leave this realm. He had been forced to work at the beck and call of those accursed Hellions, and now, he would be forced to face his reckoning.

"Come now, Belail, answer me. Have I managed to recreate that feeling, or do I need to put more effort into it?" Lex asked, as he slashed forward.

A white streak of sword intent cut through the defensive formation around the bunker, then cut open the bunker as well, revealing Belail, the Kraven.

He was much smaller in size than other Kraven, but that didn't mean he was weaker. In fact, Belail was so strong that he could resist the influence of Lex's Domain all on his own. But that was it. That was the extent of his strength.

All those years ago, when he had first faced a Kraven, the mere presence of one had nearly crippled and killed him, and now...

Lex sighed. Something like this wasn't even worth reflecting on.

"Come now, Belail, don't be so afraid. I'm not going to kill you just yet - our reunion is not destined to be so short and quick," Lex said, holding out his hand. The Kraven prince's body flew towards Lex, as if summoned, until Lex was holding the Kraven by its neck. "No, I need you to witness what comes next." From start to end, the Kraven prince had not uttered a single word, nor had he been able to mount any resistance.

Whether it was out of anger, or disgust, or for theatrics, for the first time, Lex displayed complete and utter supremacy, and gained a deeper understanding of his tenet.

That small growth pushed the Pineapple to the point of breaking. In a few minutes at most, his tribulation would begin.