Orion's face twisted with fury. "You dare mock me?" He raised his arm, qi gathering for another attack...

Zack pointed his finger at Orion in a gun-like motion.

The Origin Realm expert flinched, his eyes widening as unpleasant memories of their previous encounter flashed through his mind.

"Well, would you look at that," Zack drawled, his tone dripping with mock surprise. "Seems like you got your arm back. Fancy another go? I'd be more than happy to relieve you of it again."

Orion's face contorted, rage and fear warring across his childlike features. He took an involuntary step back, his hands clenching into fists.

Lucious watched the exchange with confusion. It was clear that this Orion, despite his Origin Realm cultivation, was intimidated by the masked figure in black. No, more than intimidated - he was terrified.

Just who is this guy? Lucious wondered, his grip tightening on his life-saving treasure. If he can scare off an Origin Realm expert with a mere gesture, he must be at the Peak of the Origin Realm himself. Maybe even...an Ascendant?

The thought sent a chill down Lucious' spine. He'd thought himself powerful, a big fish in this backwater pond. But now, faced with these monstrous existences, he felt like a minnow among sharks.

Orion seemed to come to a decision.

"I won't forget this!" With a last venomous glare at Zack, he turned on his heel and shot into the sky, fleeing with as much dignity as he could muster. Which, given the circumstances, wasn't much.

Zack watched him go, a smirk playing on his lips beneath the mask. Then, slowly, he turned to face Lucious.

Lucious fought the urge to squirm under that inscrutable gaze. His hand never left his medallion, ready to activate it at a moment's notice. If this came to a fight...

"Alfie," the masked man said abruptly. "You can call me Alfie."

Lucious blinked. Alfie? What kind of name was that for an apex predator?

"What do you want from me?" Lucious asked warily.

"Want from you?” Alfie laughed. “My dear boy, I want nothing from you. Rather, I want for you."

At Lucious's blank look, he elaborated. "The Moon God Sect is after you, Outsider. If it weren't for my timely intervention, you'd be on your knees before their King right now."

Lucious's face darkened at the thought. Him, Lucious, Legacy Disciple of the Black Rose Sect, kneeling before some two-bit ruler from a backwater realm? The very idea was ridiculous.

"That King of theirs," Alfie continued, his tone almost conversational. "He has a real bee in his bonnet about you Outsiders. Seems determined to get his hands on you, dead or alive."

"Why?" Lucious asked, despite himself. "Why does he care about Outsiders?"

Alfie was silent for a long moment, and Lucious got the distinct impression he was being studied, assessed. Weighed and measured like a prized steer at market.

"That," Alfie said at last, "Is a very good question. One you will have to find out yourself.”

He shook his head, as if dismissing the thought. "But that's a matter for another day. Right now, we need to focus on keeping you alive and out of the Moon God Sect's clutches."

"And how do you propose we do that?" Lucious asked, a note of challenge entering his voice.

Alfie laughed again. "Simple. A Nascent Soul cultivator like yourself, all alone in this big bad realm? You might as well paint a target on your back." He paused, letting the implication hang in the air. "But if you were to join me, well. No one would dare trouble you then."

Lucious's eyes narrowed. This was starting to sound suspiciously like a recruitment pitch. "And just who are you, exactly, that you can make such bold promises?"

The masked man spread his arms wide, as if presenting himself for inspection. "Like I said, I'm Alfie."

That doesn't answer my question at all, Lucious thought irritably. But something told him pushing further would be unwise. This Alfie seemed like the type to share information on his own terms, if at all.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Lucious sighed, releasing his grip on the life-saving treasure. "Fine," he ground out, the word tasting like ashes in his mouth. "I'll come with you. For now."

Beneath the mask, Zack smirked. Hook, line, and sinker.

With a casual flick of his wrist, Zack tore a portal in the very fabric of space. Lucious stared at the shimmering rift, his eyes wide. Such a feat should be impossible for anyone below the Immortal Realm. Just how powerful was this Alfie? How could such a being be inside the Sealed Realm?

Zack gestured towards the portal with a mocking half-bow. "After you, oh mighty Legacy Disciple."

Lucious shot him a dirty look but stepped through the portal without another word. Zack followed a heartbeat later, the rift sealing shut behind them like a closing eye.

***

While Lucious was being shown around the Fiery Mist Sect, no doubt probing for information about his mysterious benefactor, Zack sat on his throne, lost in thought.

The people of this realm are nothing more than pieces on a chessboard, he mused, tapping his fingers against the armrest. And those from the Main Realm? They're the more powerful pieces. The rooks, the knights, the bishops.

A slow smile spread across his face. And now, I've secured myself a bishop in Lucious. Oh, he's not fully under my control yet. That will take time, and more than a little careful manipulation.

But Zack knew the ways of demonic cultivators. Knew that above all else, they respected strength. As long as he maintained the facade of the mysterious, all-powerful senior, Lucious would not dare to openly defy him.

It's a start, he thought with satisfaction. A foundation upon which to build my-

A urgent knocking at the chamber door interrupted his musings. Zack straightened up, schooling his features into a mask of inscrutability.

"Enter," he called.

The door burst open and Finick rushed in, his face flushed with excitement and anxiety. "Senior, I bring news!"

Zack raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Pray tell, what has you in such a tizzy, Sect Master Finick?"

"There's been unusual activity in the border region between the Sun Palace and Celestial Blade sects."

Zack cocked an eyebrow. "Unusual how?"

"A dramatic increase in security, as if they're guarding something of great value. Our spies have noticed covert troop movements, whispered conversations... It's like they're preparing for an attack. Or perhaps hiding some new treasure."

Zack tapped his fingers on the arm of his throne, frowning thoughtfully. He recalled a piece of knowledge gleaned from Hallibur, one that seemed especially relevant now.

Whenever Outsiders entered the Sealed Realm in significant numbers, it was said that long-lost inheritances would reveal themselves. Ancient cultivation sites and secret scriptures, hidden caches of spirit stones and rare herbs...all manner of priceless resources.

While these so-called treasures were ultimately just a smokescreen to mask the Realm's true value, they were nonetheless power and assets Zack couldn't ignore. If Sun Palace and Celestial Blade really had stumbled across some newly-emerged inheritance...

He rose from the throne, his black and silver robes swirling around him like a living shadow. "Finick, gather our top Core Formation disciples. Have them prepare for an expedition." He paused, considering. "Oh, and inform Lucious that his presence is required as well."

Finick bowed again, so low his forehead nearly brushed the floor. "As you command, Senior!"

As the sect master scurried out, Zack reached for his mask, settling it over his features with practiced ease. It wouldn't do for Lucious to realize that the mighty Alfie and the Black Rose disciple Zack were one and the same, now would it?