Rey sat in stunned silence as the team continued their rest break, his mind reeling from implications he was only beginning to process.

Lucifer.

The name carried associations from Earth mythology—the Morning Star, the Fallen Angel, the entity who challenged divine authority and was cast down for his rebellion.

But this wasn’t mythology.

This was a revelation about the true architect behind Rey’s current situation.

Something about the name resonated within him.

’Tell me everything,’ Rey commanded through his soul-bond with the Prince. ’I need to understand the full context. Who was Lucifer? What is this world really? And what role am I supposed to play in whatever plan he left behind?’

The Prince of Darkness’s consciousness stirred with unusual gravity.

’Very well, Master. But understand that what I’m about to reveal challenges the fundamental narratives both Aether and Nether societies accept as absolute truth.’

Rey’s attention sharpened. ’I’m listening.’

The Prince’s voice resonated through their connection with a weight that suggested ancient knowledge long suppressed.

’This world—what mortals call the Land of Aether and the Land of Nether—is actually a single unified reality known as the True Realm. It exists as the pinnacle of existence, the highest layer of reality where the most powerful entities reside and the fundamental laws governing all lower realms originate.’

Rey processed this carefully. ’So Aether and Nether aren’t separate worlds but divided territories within a larger whole?’

’Correct. The division is political and theological rather than dimensional. Both territories exist within the True Realm’s boundaries, separated by ideology and divine allegiance rather than actual spatial barriers.’

The Prince paused before continuing.

’In the beginning, there were Six Ancients—the primordial Gods who created Ancient Majik and established the fundamental rules governing reality as it exists. Each Ancient possessed mastery over one of the Six Arts, being the first practitioners and ultimate authorities of their respective domains.’

’The Six Ancients were:

’Lucia, Ancient of Spirit—embodying the principles of elemental forces and natural phenomena.

’Ciel, Ancient of Order—representing structure, law, and organized reality.

’Aegir, Ancient of Soul—governing consciousness, identity, and the fundamental nature of existence.

’Klaus, Ancient of Curse—controlling corruption, degradation, and transformative destruction.

’Sif, Ancient of Null—embodying negation, erasure, and the void between existence.

’And K’haos, Ancient of Chaos—representing entropy, mutation, and uncontrolled power.’

Rey felt recognition stirring.

’These are the Gods both Aether and Nether worship. But if there were originally six, why do Aether territories only acknowledge five?’

’Because of the Great Schism,’ the Prince replied. ’The event that divided the True Realm and created the current ideological conflict.’

The Prince’s consciousness carried something approaching sorrow—unusual for an entity typically devoid of emotional expression.

’According to Aether theology, K’haos grew ambitious and jealous of his siblings’ power. He led a rebellion against the other five Ancients, seeking to dominate the True Realm and establish himself as the supreme deity. The five Holy Gods united against him, defeated his forces, and exiled him to the depths of reality where his corruption could no longer threaten ordered existence.’

’But the Nether perspective differs,’ Rey observed.

’Fundamentally,’ the Prince confirmed. ’Nether theology teaches that K’haos was the strongest of the Six Ancients—his mastery over Chaos made him more powerful than any individual sibling. The other five grew jealous and fearful of his capabilities, recognizing that he could potentially challenge their combined authority.’

’So they conspired to eliminate him,’ Rey concluded. ’Ambushed him when he was isolated, used their combined power to overwhelm what they couldn’t match individually.’

As someone who spent a great deal of time in the Land of Nether, he was somewhat familiar with this.

Naturally, he never put much weight into the theology.

Until now.

’Exactly. According to Nether beliefs, K’haos managed to fend off their coordinated assault—proof of his superior power—but was forced to retreat rather than face destruction. He established his own domain and gathered followers who recognized the truth of his persecution.’

Rey considered both narratives carefully. ’And the actual truth?’

’Unknown to me,’ the Prince admitted. ’I was created an incalculable number of millennia after these events. Both sides have legitimate arguments, and both interpretations explain the current state of reality. Whether K’haos was an ambitious rebel or a persecuted victim remains one of the True Realm’s greatest mysteries.’

The Prince continued his explanation.

’Regardless of the Schism’s true cause, the result was clear division. The five Holy Gods—Lucia, Ciel, Aegir, Klaus, and Sif—established Aether territories where their followers could practice Ancient Majik according to ordered principles. K’haos established Nether territories where his followers embraced Chaos as fundamental power rather than corruption to be suppressed.’

’And both sides developed celestial servants to enforce divine will,’ Rey added, recognizing the pattern.

’Angels and Devils,’ the Prince confirmed. ’Chosen from exceptional Aether and Nether practitioners respectively, elevated beyond mortal limitations through direct connection to the Ancients they serve.’

"I see..."

’This elevation isn’t merely a power increase,’ the Prince explained. ’It represents a fundamental transformation of existence. Those who ascend to Angel or Devil status gain:

’Vastly increased Ether capacity—hundreds or thousands of times greater than mortal practitioners.

’Enhanced mastery over the Art of their patron God—approaching levels that would take mortals millennia to achieve.

’Virtual immortality—as long as their connection to their patron Ancient remains intact, they cannot truly die. Injuries that would destroy mortals merely inconvenience them. Even apparent destruction results in eventual reconstitution rather than permanent death.

’The only ways to truly kill an Angel or Devil are to sever their connection to their patron Ancient or destroy the Ancient itself—both effectively impossible under normal circumstances.’

Rey absorbed this with cold calculation. ’Which explains why they’re considered untouchable by mortal standards. They’re not just stronger—they operate under entirely different rules of existence.’

’Precisely. And among Angels and Devils exist elite classifications—the Archangels and Archdukes. Twelve of each, representing the absolute pinnacle of celestial power below the Ancients themselves.’

The Prince’s voice carried reverence as it continued.

’But even the Archangels and Archdukes pale before the true power of the Ancients. Because the Gods possess something that transcends normal Ancient Majik—the Authorities and Ethereal Conceptions.’

Rey’s attention sharpened further. ’Explain.’

’Mortals utilize Ancient Majik through Arts—structured systems of Techniques organized by Sequence complexity. Even the most powerful mortal practitioners are limited to specific Techniques within specific Arts, bound by the fundamental rules governing how Ancient Majik operates.’

’The Ancients transcend these limitations through Authorities—absolute dominion over their respective Arts that grants infinite power and perfect mastery. They don’t merely use Spirit Art or Chaos Art—they ARE the fundamental principles those Arts represent.’

’Spirit Authority belongs to Lucia—she embodies all elemental forces simultaneously.

’Order Authority belongs to Ciel—he represents law and structure in their purest forms.

’Soul Authority belongs to Aegir—consciousness itself bends to his will.

’Curse Authority belongs to Klaus—corruption and transformation operate at his command.

’Null Authority belongs to Sif—negation and void answer to her alone.

’Chaos Authority belongs to K’haos—entropy and mutation are extensions of his essence.’

Rey processed this carefully. ’So, attempting to fight a God using their own Art would be futile. They have absolute mastery—any Technique a mortal could execute, the God could counter perfectly or simply override through superior authority.’

’Correct. Which is why even Archangels and Archdukes cannot truly challenge the Ancients despite their vast power. Authority represents categorically superior capability.’

’But you mentioned Ethereal Conceptions as well,’ Rey pressed, his eyes narrowing.

"What are those?"