Insight!

Name: Ace

Realm: Half-Step Immortal

Known Techniques: N/A

Known Affiliations: Heavenly Light Sect Master

Disposition: N/A

A Half-Step Immortal... as expected from the sect master of the number one sect in the Mortal Realm, Slifer thought, suppressing a grimace. This could get messy.

The Heavenly Light Sect Master's lips curved into a polite smile. "Let me take care of this little problem for you."

With a casual wave of his hand, the white-haired youth unleashed a torrent of pure, radiant energy. Slifer watched as the demons began to scream, their bodies consumed by holy fire. They writhed and thrashed, their forms crumbling to ash in mere seconds.

Well, that's one way to make an entrance, Slifer mused, eyebrows raised. Note to self: don't piss off the guy who can turn demons into barbecue with a flick of the wrist.

As the last echoes of demonic shrieks faded, Ace turned to face Slifer. His blue eyes sparkled as he offered a slight bow. "I believe proper introductions are in order. I am Ace, Sect Master of the Heavenly Light Sect. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Supreme Elder Slifer or should I say Sect Master?"

Slifer clasped his hands and returned the bow, his mind racing. The presence of the Heavenly Light Sect Master changes everything. I barely scraped by against Vowron, and that was with the System's help and the element of surprise. Ace knows I've defeated a Half-Step Immortal, so he won't let his guard down.

He forced a pleasant smile onto his face. "The honor is mine, Sect Master Ace. I've heard much about the Heavenly Light Sect."

And none of it good, if you're asking the demon crowd, he added silently.

A flicker of surprise crossed Ace's features. "I must admit, I didn't expect the master of two demonic sects to be quite so... courteous."

Slifer's smile widened. "Ah, you know how rumors can be. Greatly exaggerated, I assure you."

I'm only being nice because I don't want to waste credits fighting you, he thought wryly.

Ace's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Indeed. You know, little Zofia has said some rather interesting things about you."

Yeah, I bet she has. That First Supreme Elder of yours is one vindictive woman. Still can't get over her defeat, can she?

"Oh?" Slifer said out loud, keeping his tone light. "All good things, I hope?"

Ace's smile widened. "She mentioned that you might even be a match for me."

A chill ran down Slifer's spine as those piercing blue eyes bore into him. Why do all the powerful cultivators have to be the crazy ones?

Before Slifer could respond, Ace's smile vanished. His gaze snapped towards the depths of the Black Death Sect, his expression hardening. A moment later, Slifer felt it too – a massive surge of demonic qi, so potent it made the air itself feel heavy and oppressive.

"It seems there's a gateway between the Nether World and the Mortal Realm," Ace said, his voice low. "We should cut off the connection." Without another word, he shot off in the direction of the energy pulse.

Slifer turned to Leah and Val, who had been watching the exchange with wide eyes. "Stay inside the Ark," he ordered. With a wave of his hand, a purple barrier sprang to life around the vessel. "This should protect you against anything short of an Ascendant Realm attack."

At least I hope so, he thought as he took off after Ace. Who knew tinkering with that old relic would actually pay off?

As Slifer caught up to the Heavenly Light Sect Master, the oppressive aura of demonic energy grew stronger. It was a cloying, sickening presence that made his skin crawl. They came to a stop, hovering in the air before a sight that made Slifer's jaw drop.

A massive portal hung suspended in space, its edges flickering and warping. Through its swirling surface, Slifer caught glimpses of a hellish landscape – rivers of fire, mountains of obsidian, and skies choked with ash and lightning.

"Is this your first time seeing a portal to the Nether Realm?" Ace asked, his voice soft.

Slifer nodded, unable to tear his eyes away from the nightmarish scene.

Ace sighed. "It's quite a sight, isn't it?"

That's one way of putting it, Slifer thought. 'Terrifying beyond all reason' would be another.

Ace turned to face Slifer, his expression serious. "We need to enter and find what's keeping the portal open on the other side. Once we break that connection, the portal will become unstable and collapse."

Slifer frowned, eyeing the flickering edges of the gateway. "It already looks pretty unstable. Doesn't seem like the brightest idea to just walk right in."

Ace shook his head. "We've cut the connection on our side, but it'll remain usable until we destroy the anchor on the other side. That's the only way to shut it down permanently." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Unless... you never planned to deal with this portal?"

Slifer felt the weight of Ace's gaze. All I wanted was to subjugate another sect, gain some credits, and figure out what's been going on with these demons pretending to be Black Death Sect members. I wasn't planning on world-hopping again. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

Outwardly, not wanting to draw anymore suspicion onto himself, Slifer shrugged. "I didn't know what to expect when I came here," he said carefully. "But even as a demonic cultivator, I have some morals. I know better than to let the Nether Realm invade the Mortal Realm."

Ace nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. "If only other demonic sect masters thought the same," he murmured. Then, almost to himself, he added, "It's been a while since I paid the Nether World a visit."

Wait, what? Slifer's eyes widened. He's been there before?

Before he could voice his surprise, Ace turned to him. "Are you ready?"

Slifer took a deep breath, steeling himself. No, not really. But when has that ever stopped me? He nodded.

Without another word, they stepped into the portal together.

The transition was jarring. One moment, Slifer was surrounded by the misty gloom of the Black Death Sect. The next, he was assaulted by a wave of scorching heat.

As his vision cleared, Slifer found himself standing on a ledge overlooking a vast, hellish landscape. Rivers of molten lava snaked through jagged canyons of black rock. The sky above was a roiling mass of dark clouds, occasionally split by flashes of crimson lightning.

"Charming place," Slifer muttered. "Really nails that 'eternal damnation' vibe."

Ace, standing beside him, let out a soft chuckle. "The Nether Realm isn't known for its hospitality," he said, his eyes scanning the horizon. "We need to find the anchor point quickly. The longer we stay here, the more attention we'll attract."

Slifer nodded, trying to ignore the oppressive weight of the demonic energy that saturated the very air. "Any ideas on where to start looking?"

Ace pointed to a towering spire of obsidian in the distance. Its surface seemed to pulse with an eerie red light. "There. That's likely where they've set up the anchor."

"Of course it is," Slifer sighed. "Because it couldn't be somewhere nice and accessible, could it?"

As they began to make their way towards the spire, Slifer couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and he found himself constantly glancing over his shoulder.

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"So," Slifer said, partly to distract himself from the creeping dread, "you've been here before?"

Ace nodded, his eyes never ceasing their vigilant scan of their surroundings. "A few times. The Heavenly Light Sect has been fighting against demonic incursions since the Great War. And sometimes that means taking the fight to their home turf."

"Huh," Slifer mused. "And here I thought you righteous types just sat around meditating and spouting wisdom all day."

That earned him another chuckle from Ace. "We do that too. But someone has to keep the balance between realms."

As they picked their way across the treacherous landscape, Slifer's mind raced. This is way above my pay grade. I'm supposed to be reforming demonic sects, not hopping between dimensions!

Suddenly, Ace held up a hand, signaling Slifer to stop. In the silence that followed, Slifer heard it – a low, rumbling growl that seemed to come from everywhere at once.

"We've been noticed," Ace said, his voice low. "Prepare yourself."

Before Slifer could ask what exactly he should be preparing for, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble. Cracks spider-webbed across the obsidian surface, and with a deafening roar, a massive form burst from the earth.

It was a demon, but unlike any Slifer had ever seen. Its body was a nightmarish fusion of molten rock and living flame, easily the size of a small mountain. Multiple heads, each crowned with twisted horns, swiveled to fix their gaze on the two intruders.

Name: Tachion Demon

Realm: Peak Ascendant

Known Techniques: N/A

Known Affiliations: N/A

Disposition: N/A

"Oh, come on!" Slifer exclaimed, backing away from the monstrosity. "That's just excessive!"

Ace, however, seemed unperturbed as he slid into a fighting stance. "I'll handle this."

Before Slifer could protest (not that he was planning to), Ace sprang into action. His movements were a blur as he wove between the demon's massive limbs, each dodge seeming to defy the laws of physics.

Slifer watched in awe as Ace unleashed a barrage of attacks. Blades of wind sliced through the demon's rocky hide. Bolts of lightning struck with pinpoint accuracy, causing the creature to bellow in pain. Pillars of earth erupted from the ground, momentarily trapping its limbs.

So this is the power of a Half-Step Immortal, Slifer thought, his eyes wide. He's not even breaking a sweat against a Peak Ascendant demon!

Ace's expression remained calm and focused as he danced around the demon's attacks. It was like watching a master artist at work – each movement precise, each technique flowing seamlessly into the next.

The demon, for all its size and ferocity, couldn't land a single blow on the Heavenly Light Sect Master. Its roars of rage turned to howls of pain as Ace systematically dismantled it, piece by piece.

Finally, with a gesture that looked almost casual, Ace called down a massive bolt of lightning from the roiling sky above. It struck the demon dead center, and for a moment, the entire area was bathed in blinding white light.

When Slifer's vision cleared, all that remained of the demon was a smoking crater.

Ace landed lightly beside him, not a hair out of place. "Shall we continue?" he asked, as if they had merely paused for a brief rest.

Slifer blinked, still trying to process what he had just witnessed. "Uh, yeah. Sure. Let's... let's do that."

As they resumed their journey towards the obsidian spire, Slifer couldn't help but think about what he had witnessed. If that's what Ace can do to a Peak Ascendant demon, what chance would I have against him?

The thought was sobering. For all his schemes and System-granted abilities, Slifer knew he was out of his league here. As long as he was without a Card that could one-shot a Half-Step Immortal, he'd have to tread very carefully.

"I must admit," Ace said as they walked, breaking the silence, "you're really not quite what I expected, Slifer."

Slifer raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what did you expect?"

Ace's lips quirked into a small smile. "Based on the reports I've received, I was prepared to meet a bloodthirsty tyrant. Someone whose very purpose was embroidered in chaos and destruction." He glanced at Slifer. "Instead, I find someone who seems... reasonable. Cautious, even."

If only you knew, Slifer thought wryly. Aloud, he said, "Like I mentioned before, the rumors of my villainy have been greatly exaggerated. I may be a demonic cultivator, but that doesn't mean I want to see the world burn."

"Interesting," Ace mused. "And what do you want, Slifer? What drives you to accumulate power and conquer sects?"

It was a loaded question, and Slifer knew he had to choose his words carefully. "I suppose you could say I'm trying to change things," he said slowly. "The demonic sects have been stuck in their ways for too long. All that infighting and backstabbing... it's counterproductive."

Ace's eyebrows rose slightly. "You seek to reform the demonic sects?"

Slifer shrugged. "Reform, unite, improve... call it what you will. I just think there's a better way to do things."

For a long moment, Ace was silent, his blue eyes studying Slifer intently. Finally, he nodded. "A noble goal, if true. Though I imagine it's not an easy path you've chosen."

You have no idea, Slifer thought. Try explaining to a bunch of bloodthirsty demons that maybe murder and mayhem aren't the answer to everything. It's like herding cats. Extremely violent, power-hungry cats.

Their conversation was cut short as they reached the base of the obsidian spire. Up close, it was even more imposing – a twisting monolith of black glass that seemed to devour the light around it. The pulsing red glow they had seen from a distance was stronger here, emanating from symbols etched into the surface of the spire.

"This is it," Ace said, his voice low. "The anchor point. We need to disrupt those runes to destabilize the portal."

Slifer nodded, eyeing the complex array of symbols. "Any ideas on how to do that without, you know, blowing ourselves up in the process?"

Ace's brow furrowed in concentration. "The array is intricate, but not impenetrable. If we can identify the key nodes and—"

He was cut off by a bone-chilling screech from above. Slifer looked up to see a swarm of winged demons descending upon them, their leathery wings blotting out what little light filtered through the ashen sky.

Ace's expression hardened. "We don't have time for this. Slifer, can you hold them off while I work on disrupting the array?"

Slifer's eyes widened. "Me? But you're the one who—"

"I need to focus on the runes," Ace interrupted. "Every moment we delay, more demons will come through the portal in the Mortal Realm. Can you do it?"

Slifer swallowed hard, looking up at the approaching swarm. All at the Early to Mid Ascendant Realm, just how many credits would that be?

"Alright," he said, sighing to himself. "I'll keep them busy. Just... work fast, okay?"

Ace nodded, already turning his attention to the glowing runes.

Slifer flew up to face the oncoming horde of demons. He took a deep breath, centering himself.

Okay, System, he thought. Let’s see what you got.