The atmosphere is thick with dark energy in the heart of the Demon World, where the Demon Castle looms ominously. Deep within its chambers, All For One is meticulously working on a device surrounded by hellish machinery and glowing symbols. His expression is calm, yet his eyes gleam with sinister focus. The device he's working on is the key to maintaining his autonomy—keeping Mundus, the powerful demon lord, from completely overtaking his consciousness.
All For One: quietly, as he works "I've come too far to let Mundus take control… this device must be perfect."
The room is filled with the sounds of gears turning and demonic energy crackling through the air. Arcane runes flare up on the device as All For One adjusts its core components, fine-tuning it to suppress Mundus's influence. A brief wave of dark energy flows from the device, sending a shiver through the air, but All For One remains unfazed. He knows that without this device, his power—borrowed from the demon lord—could consume him entirely.
All For One: with a smirk "Mundus… your strength is mine, but your will? That I'll keep under lock and key."
The walls of the castle seem to hum with the sheer force of demonic power, almost as if Mundus himself is aware of what's happening. But All For One's mastery over this world's dark technology has allowed him to suppress the consciousness of the ancient demon lord thus far, and he isn't about to let it slip. Not now, when he's so close to bending the power of the Demon World to his will.
All For One: darkly "Once I've perfected this… no force, neither in the Demon World nor the human world, will stand in my way."
He pauses for a moment, eyes narrowing as he senses something—a disturbance in the air, as if Mundus himself is testing the limits of the device's hold. For a brief moment, a voice seems to echo through the chamber, low and malevolent.
Mundus (within All For One's mind): growling "You cannot hold me forever… I will reclaim what is mine…"
All For One's smile falters for just a second, but he quickly regains control, tightening his grip on the device. He intensifies his work, reinforcing the barriers that keep Mundus's consciousness suppressed.
All For One: coldly "Try as you might, Mundus. I'm not like the others. I'll use your power to achieve my goals, and once I've had my fill… you'll be discarded like the rest."
The device hums with new intensity, and the dark voice of Mundus fades once again into the recesses of All For One's mind. He can still feel the demon lord's presence, lurking just beneath the surface, but for now, the device holds strong.
All For One: grinning "Soon, I'll control not just this world, but all worlds."
He steps back from the device, admiring his handiwork. His next move is to eliminate any remaining threats, including those in the human world—Hawk, Ellen, and the legacy of Toshinori. But for now, his mind is focused on consolidating his power over the Demon World. With Mundus's strength at his command, All For One is prepared to unleash a new reign of darkness.
All For One: to himself "Let's see how long the humans can survive against the full force of the Demon World…"
Izana is standing by the window in his room, still lost in thought about his brother's disappearance and the troubling mysteries surrounding Toshinori's fate.
The idea of entering the Demon World has been on his mind for weeks, but the gates have remained closed ever since Toshinori was declared dead.
He wonders if there's even a way to breach those boundaries now. Suddenly, he feels a strange sensation in his chest. A familiar presence stirs within him.
Izana: confused "What the—?"
Before he can finish his thought, Raven—the entity bound to Izana's very soul—emerges from his body like a dark, shadowy figure.
The energy around Raven moves like liquid, similar to Venom's symbiote-like form. His presence, although familiar, always surprises Izana.
Raven: calmly "Relax, Izana. There's no need to worry about that gate."
Izana turns around quickly, his eyes wide, but not with fear—just surprise at Raven's sudden appearance.
Izana: raising an eyebrow "Raven? You're awake? And what do you mean, 'no need to worry'?"
Raven, still flowing like dark liquid around Izana, settles into a more solid form. His voice is always steady, but there's an edge of knowing in his tone, something that usually puts Izana's mind at ease.
Raven: nonchalantly "Even though my memories are a little… fuzzy, I've been through something like this before. We don't need an open gate to enter the Demon World."
Izana stares at him, incredulous. He crosses his arms, skeptical of Raven's confidence.
Izana: half-smirking "Wait, let me get this straight—you're telling me we can just waltz into the Demon World, no gate, no ritual, just like that? You're an angel power holder, Raven. I thought angels couldn't even step foot in that place."
Raven's eyes flicker, as if amused by Izana's reaction.
Raven: chuckling "You're underestimating me, Izana. Technically, I hold angelic power, but I'm not exactly your typical angel. There are… loopholes. Trust me, I've slipped between realms before. We can do it again."
Izana scratches his head, still finding it hard to believe. Raven's calm attitude never ceases to surprise him, especially in situations like this.
Izana: sighing "You always make it sound so simple."
Raven moves closer, his shadowy form intertwining with Izana's own energy as they continue their casual banter. Despite the gravity of the situation, their dynamic always carries a sense of camaraderie.
Raven: with a smirk "That's because for me, it is. You're overthinking it again, as usual."
Izana shakes his head, a slight grin appearing on his face. Even in the face of the unknown, Raven's unflappable attitude gives him a strange sense of reassurance.
Izana: teasingly "You'd better not be bluffing. If we get trapped there, I'm blaming you."
Raven: playfully "I'll take that risk. But seriously, we'll find the way. I may not remember everything clearly, but something tells me I've got the knowledge we need locked away somewhere."
Izana looks out the window once more, the thought of entering the Demon World still heavy on his mind. But with Raven by his side, it feels more possible, more real.
Izana: muttering "Alright, then. If there's a chance… we're going in."
Raven nods, his form solidifying once more.
Raven: grinning "Now you're talking. Let's see if we can't stir up some trouble down there."
Izana smirks at his words, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety bubbling within him. Whatever lay ahead, they were going to face it together, as always.
The answers they seek might be buried deep in the Demon World, but now, they had a plan—or at least, Raven's version of a plan.