20 The Hell Seal

-Shen Wei-

"You have to be kidding me, right? How the hell are we supposed to fight that thing? It's half made of smoke, our guns are useless against that thing!" Da Qing said with worry, as he watched the huge monster. Every time the thing open it mouth with a piercing screech, some lava rocks will come out, like hot projectiles that were falling close to the black portal they were in.

"I will take care of that." Shen Wei said, but the dragon stopped him before he could step out of the repealing circle that was the only thing protecting them from stronger demons.

"No, you most restore the seal as soon as possible and all your energy most be concentrate in finishing the job and nothing else, otherwise we all die here. I will take care of the volcanic demon and the rest of you, just kill the weaker ones that comes this way and protect Shen Wei at all times." Lóng Hún advised.

"Can you take that thing on? You said it was one of the strongest." Shen Wei asked and the dragons smiled mischievously.

"It had been a while since I used my full potential. My powers are restricted in the human realm, but this is hell, so just focus on restoring the seal. I'm sure your beloved Kunlun will fully awake soon and pull us out of this wicked place." The dragon added.

"Oh gods... Yunlan! Yunlan!!" It was then that Shen Wei notice his absence. There was a hint of desperation as he looked around, but didn't find him.

"Don't worry, he is fine... actually he is way better than all of us right now." Lóng Hún reassured him, putting a hand over his shoulder.

"They are coming... more demons." Guo signaled at the distance, in were beast demons were running toward the portal, lots of them. The team surrounded Shen Wei and Guo and were ready to fire up, as soon as they were in range.

"Let the kid help you, Shen Wei... he is full of virtue, which can give you the extra energy you will need to complete the seal." Lóng Hún said and was about to go down the few stairs, when Shen Wei stopped him.

"Wait, how do I restore the seal?" He asked, not really sure of even how they end up been portal straight to the gate of hell.

"I'm sorry, but I can't help you with the restoration. That was something only you and Kunlun knew how to do. Read the runes again and see if you can remember what you did last time. Good luck, I need to go now..." The dragon said as he ran down the stairs and outside the protection of the portal.

They all stared as he changed form, back to that of his true self, but to their surprise, he took another dragon form. His body was huge and it was more serpentine like, his scales of two tones, light and dark blue. He open his mouth just before flying away toward the volcanic demon, freezing several smaller demons in an instant, then a lighting hit them and they shattered in hundreds of ice pieces.

"Oh wow, he can use ice too..." Zhu whisper in awe.

"Yeah, but still, more are coming." Lin said, as another wave of demons were heading their way.

"Okay, Wang and Sang, make a barrier with as many layers as you can around us. Zhu shoot as much as you can but also, ready your blade in case some demons escape our shooting ring. Old Chu, you do the same, but with your treads, the rest of us just shoot everything that comes close enough!" Da Qing instructed. As Zhao Yunlan's second in command, it was his duty to keep the others safe, until their Chief showed up again.

And so, the other begin to fire up rounds after rounds and both Shen Wei and Guo concentrate on the runes engraved on the black portal. Those from that side were shining red and Shen Wei try to ignore both, the team fighting as well as Long Hun's diversion. Luckily, he could read the runes on that side too and as he did, he understood what was needed to remake the seal.

"Is it also an incantation?" Guo asked, as he eyed back to the team with fear. His hands were trembling a bit, yet he didn't move despite the intense desire to crawl behind Old Chu's back.

"Yes, but it's a very complicated one and requires a lot of energy. I don't think I have enough... it may drain me fully."

"Can you use mine, as the dragon suggested?" Guo asked.

"I guess, yes... but Guo, I honestly prefer for you not to involve yourself in this. It can end up killing us both." Shen warned him, quite seriously. He considerate Guo like family, so if something happen to him, it will be his fault and no one else.

"But Shen Wei... It was my uncle who destroyed this seal. I just can't let you take the responsibility on your own. It's... it's mine too..." Guo said, nervously, yet there was determination in his young eyes.

Chu, who was close by and hear them talk, looked at Guo for a few seconds and just before turning back to shooting or use his treads, he smiled proudly. The kid had grown up well and his pure heart was even bigger that any mountain on earth and that just gave him another reason to risk his own life, so he could protect that he loved.

"Are you sure? There will be no turning back and I'm sure it will be quite painful..." Shen insisted.

"It's fine professor... just tell me what I need to do." Guo reaffirmed himself, his will unbreakable, which make Shen Wei smile too.

"Alright, put your hand over my shoulder. A long time ago you were also a guardian, so I guess when I begin the incantation, you will know how to transfer the energy you carry within yourself."

"O... kay..."

"Then ready yourself Guo and no matter what, don't let go of my shoulder."

"Ri.. Right!" He said before did as he was told, putting his hand over Shen Wei's right shoulder. Then, Shen Wei sighed and try to relax. All lives from their human side depended on him, so he stilled himself and concentrate harder, as he begin to recite the invocation in an ancient language forgotten by the pass of time, the power they held was evident.

As he spoke the words, Lóng Hún was battling the volcanic demon, evading his lava shots and also his fire and lighting. Hit it with ice was as useless as hit it with his own lighting, because all attacks simply went through the smoke and out without causing any real harm, other than make it angrier. Although his purpose was not defeat the demon, but to keep it from shooting lava balls to the small barrier.

The little he could see told him the guardians were fighting a good number of demons of all sizes, the barrier made by the strange woman, shining as some demon try to cross it or destroy it completely.

"Sorry I can't help you more..." He inwardly said, but he had his claws full with the hot smoke mass that had already manage to wound him, even if it could be consider a scratch on his strong scales.

However, everything changed and seems to move in slow motion in the moment the Ghost Slayer began writing the new seal over the old one. Even him felt as the air became heavier, charged with a very strong energy. Then, the demon in front of him screeched sending lava torrents toward the portal, but a long column of red and white light spiked from the portal, sending a devastating wave toward the demons who were attacking the barrier the lovers erected to protect the whole team and the seal.

The earth itself quake unable to withstand the power released, as a huge circle of golden runes formed over at least a mile from the portal both over and above the darkened ground, hitting the volcanic demon and himself, but as he wasn't a creature from hell, it did nothing to him. However, the demon in front of him exploded in such a way that it send him backward with a shockwave quite far from the column of light. On the demon place, it leaved more than hot ashes falling around for miles, but also a huge crater.

Back to seal, Shen Wei was going paler by the second, his heart beating faster than he thought it was humanly possible inside his chest. He was bleeding by the nose, as he keep performing the sealing circle, drawing it with his own blood over the circumference of the flaming portal. He knew the task was too much for his human body, yet the guardian's spirits that had crossed among with them, as well as Guo who surprisingly had an even bigger amount of white energy inside of him, were infusing him with more energy, yet, it still wasn't enough.

"Shen Wei!" He heard Chu shoot at him as he fell to his knees, but no one could help him. He felt dizzy and there was cloud of black smoke beginning to cover his lower half, like a half

made cloack. Guo screamed in pain behind him, but even so, the courageous young man didn't let go of his shoulder. That alone, make him endure his own intense pain and keep writing the powerful runes over the portal, as more energy begin to penetrate the black earth and widen the repealing circle by a mile.

Almost at the end of the new seal, he lost his sight and breath for a few seconds, then there was a ringing on his ear and he spited more blood. Right there he knew it was an indication that if he keep it up, even for one more second, he was going to die. As his vision cleared again and he panted in exhaustion, sweating like he had runes for dozens of miles, he felt another hand over his left shoulder.

Even before he turned his head to look at the owner, he knew it was Yunlan, because he fill his drained body with that strong, yet mischievous energy he gave him earlier. He try to smile at him, to reassure him he was still hanging in there, seen his concern so clearly on his beautiful face, but he was barely conscious.

"Go ahead, Shen Wei, finish the seal. I got you now..." Yunlan whisper as he try to heal him at the same time he begin replenish his lost energy. Then a golden light joined the red and white, creating a bright cooper one, that blinded everything, turning in ashes every single demon that was caught by it. Shen Wei draw with his blood the very last rune, remaking the seal stronger than ever, but fainted at the very moment his hand leaved the obsidian surface.

Yunlan took him on his warm arms before he could hit the floor, and as he embrace him, he portal them all, including Lóng Hún, back to the red tower in a golden portal. He was not a god, but he had awaken enough to help his exhausted lover to finish the seal and bring them back to where they belong.

"Guo!!!" Chu shouted, grabbing him as he too fainted and took him in his arms, bridal style.

"Lóng Hún... take the others back to the healing baths and take a good care of the kid. I will take care of Shen Wei..." The dragon assented, instantly portaling them back to the thermal waters.

"My Wei... sorry to be so late... but you will be fine very soon..." Zhao whisper, taking him on his arms and opening a portal right in the middle of the bath they shared in the morning with Lóng Hún.

He sat in the shallow water with him still on his arm and closed his eyes. The water around him begin to sparkle golden and soon after, the color returned back to his previously pale lover. He gently clean Shen's bloody face and as the warm water, filled with his energy touched his face, Shen Wei open his lovely eyes to look at his savior.

"Yunlan..." Shen whisper, half smiling at him.

"I'm here babe, rest for a bit... I will heal you back to health..." Zhao whisper back, still cleaning his blood away.

"You save me..." Shen murmur, touching Yunlan's face with the very little energy he had left. Zhao took his hand on his and kiss it tenderly.

"Of course I did... what will I do without you?" Shen smiled weakly.

"Be less shameless?" Zhao smiled widely.

"No... I will be lost, my Wei... but talking about been shameless..." He bend his head to give him a kiss that make Shen Wei forget his pain and fatigue alike. Lost in his arms and kissed, he barely notice as his body begin to recover. By the time he was fully heal, he was fast asleep on Yunlan's arms, with a peaceful expression on his lovely face.

"It's almost over, my Wei, rest for now... you deserve it." Zhao said as he portal him, clean and dry, back to their sleeping bag, in which he watch him sleep until he too, surrender to the blissful void.

AN: Somehow I did it! The tower arc is over, so we move back to another set, to finish this story.