The Demon Lord and his companions entered the mystical mansion, but beyond its grand doors lay an unimpressive hallway with a magical portal at the end. Without hesitation, the party stepped into the portal, trusting in the Demon Lord’s awesome powers to negate any threats that might arise.

  As the Demon Lord emerged through the portal, he realized his Archdemons were no longer by his side. Instead, he found himself surrounded by an endless expanse of a spatial void, reminiscent of the one he had traversed on his way to this new planet. Yet this void was different—it pulsed with divine energy. At its center sat a man upon a glorious, celestial throne.

  “So, the master of that brat outside is you. Finally, someone with power. I thought this whole planet was full of weaklings,” the Demon Lord said, his voice dripping with disdain as he prepared to pounce.

  The man upon the magnificent throne was the God of Dreams. His skin was pale, almost glowing with an ethereal quality, while his sleek, slightly wavy hair framed his face elegantly, styled in soft waves that exuded refinement. His eyes emitted a bright, glowing light, a testament to his divine awareness, and a third eye rested on his forehead, glowing faintly with wisdom. His calm, all-knowing expression radiated serenity and authority. He was dressed impeccably in a sleek, formal black suit paired with a crisp white shirt and a perfectly knotted tie. Subtle cosmic patterns shimmered across the suit’s fabric as he moved. His slender, refined arms rested gracefully on the throne, while swirling black tendrils and floating black spheres surrounded him, enhancing the dreamlike, mystical atmosphere.

  “I would typically greet those who enter my domain, but you do not deserve such courtesies,” Dream said, his tone refined yet dripping with contempt.

  The environment around them was an endless expanse of swirling cosmic energy, constellations and nebulae forming intricate patterns that pulsed faintly in the air. The ground beneath the throne rippled and shifted like liquid starlight. The throne itself was a massive, intricate construct of shadows and shimmering celestial light, pulsing with divine energy as though it were alive.

  “Like I care. So are you going to let me beat you to death now, or are you just going to monologue for a while?” the Demon Lord retorted, smirking. “The Ancient Demons loved to monologue before I killed them, but it was always the same: ‘You won’t be able to kill me.’ Then I proceeded to kill them. After about 600 times, it gets old.”

  Dream sighed, exuding an air of patience. “I have no such words planned, but I would like to ask you some questions first. So if you would be so kind as to answer before I send you back to where you came from.”

  The Demon Lord sneered. “I thought gods were supposed to be all-knowing. Makes sense you’re not, though. Had you been truly omnipotent, you’d already be begging me to spare your life.”

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Dream replied, ignoring the insult. “Can you remove that artifact concealing your true aura?” His tone, while polite, left no room for refusal.

  “Sure, why not,” the Demon Lord said with a chuckle. As requested, he removed the ring. Immediately, his true energy erupted, flooding the divine domain with a wave of malevolent demonic power. The air itself seemed to darken as the overwhelming energy burst forth from him.

  Dream’s serene expression shifted to one of disgust. “I see. You grew too powerful and were able to overwhelm the one who originally constructed the barrier. You’ve upset the balance. Now, my second question—did you kill her?”

  The Demon Lord laughed darkly. “Who? You’ll have to be a lot more specific. I’ve killed a lot of different people.”

  “That answers that question,” Dream said, though his words were not directed at the Demon Lord but rather spoken aloud in thought. His previously composed demeanor faltered as he appeared perplexed. “Why did she not seek us out…” he murmured.

  The Demon Lord’s brows furrowed, and he asked impatiently, “What are you talking about?”

  Dream’s glowing eyes narrowed. “She was supposed to find us if the unthinkable happened and Hell ceased to exist as a separate dimension. She was our final safeguard, yet she has remained silent—and you did not kill her.”

  The demonic energy swirling around the Demon Lord began to brim with violent intent, dark tendrils of power crackling in the air. “If you don’t start making sense, I’ll end this conversation right now,” he growled.

  “Very well,” Dream said, his voice losing its measured tone, “do as you see fit. It will not change the outcome. I will strip you of your power and return your wretched soul to damnation.”

  With that, Dream rose from his throne, his form glowing faintly as divine energy surged around him. The once-calm void now hummed with tension, and the clash of two titans was imminent.

  The expanse of the divine domain trembled as the Demon Lord and the God of Dreams faced each other. The swirling cosmos around them seemed to hold its breath, nebulae dimming and constellations flickering in anticipation of the battle. The Demon Lord stood tall, his figure exuding raw power and defiance. His mismatched crimson and obsidian eyes locked onto his opponent with unrelenting focus. He cracked his knuckles, a subtle gesture that carried a promise of the carnage to come.

  The God of Dreams, seated moments before on his grand, celestial throne, now stood with a serene yet commanding presence. Divine energy coiled around him like a living aura, the shimmering black tendrils and floating spheres flanking him radiating the infinite mysteries of dreams. His glowing eyes, including the faintly lit third eye on his forehead, bore into the Demon Lord with calm disdain.

  Without warning, the Demon Lord surged forward with explosive speed, his fist arcing toward the God of Dreams’ face. The ground beneath him cracked violently from the sheer force of his movement. The God of Dreams raised a hand, and shimmering black spheres materialized, swirling in a defensive formation. The Demon Lord's punch collided with one of the spheres, the impact rippling through the void like thunder. The sphere cracked and shattered, but the God of Dreams remained unshaken, his expression as tranquil as ever.

  “Is this all your strength amounts to?” Dream intoned, his voice laced with condescension.

  The Demon Lord’s grin widened, his voice a low growl. “I’m just getting started.”

  He launched another barrage of strikes—rapid punches and powerful kicks—each blow carrying enough force to obliterate mountains. The air around them crackled with the ferocity of his attacks. The God of Dreams moved with graceful precision, his feet barely seeming to touch the rippling starlit ground as he dodged and redirected each strike. When the Demon Lord’s foot swept upward in a vicious kick aimed for Dream’s ribs, the god phased momentarily, his form dissolving into black mist before reappearing behind his opponent.

  The God of Dreams stretched out his hand, and the cosmic energy of the domain obeyed his will. Tendrils of black light shot toward the Demon Lord, each one infused with divine might. The Demon Lord roared, his body twisting in defiance as he spun and unleashed a devastating roundhouse kick, shattering several tendrils midair. The remaining tendrils coiled around him, momentarily binding his limbs.

  “Your brute strength is impressive,” Dream mused, his tone measured. “But strength alone cannot conquer the infinite.”

  With a flick of his wrist, the tendrils pulsed, sending surges of energy coursing through the Demon Lord’s body. For a moment, his muscles seized under the onslaught, but then his malevolent energy surged outward, shattering the bindings in a burst of violent force. The Demon Lord charged again, his fist plunging toward Dream’s glowing third eye.

  This time, the God of Dreams raised both hands, and the stars around them coalesced into shields of light. The punch collided with one such shield, shattering it instantly, but the recoil forced the Demon Lord to slide back, his boots leaving searing trails in the liquid starlight ground.

  “Not bad,” the Demon Lord admitted, rolling his shoulders. “But you’ll have to do better than that.”

  The God of Dreams didn’t reply. Instead, he brought both hands together, and the cosmic expanse around them shifted violently. Nebulae twisted and condensed into radiant projectiles that launched themselves at the Demon Lord with blinding speed. The Demon Lord ducked, weaved, and leapt to avoid the barrage, his movements a blur of unrelenting precision. He closed the distance between them again, his fists igniting the air with their sheer velocity as they pummeled against Dream’s defenses.

  One punch finally made it through, crashing into the God of Dreams’ chest and sending him hurtling backward. His form wavered momentarily, divine energy rippling around him like broken glass. Yet, when he stood, his calm demeanor remained unbroken.

  “You are persistent,” Dream acknowledged, brushing nonexistent dust from his sleeve. “But you cannot defeat the infinite expanse of dreams.”

  Before the Demon Lord could retort, the God of Dreams raised his hand, and the entire void shifted. Shadows and light intermingled, creating cascading waves of energy that sought to engulf the Demon Lord. The waves surged like a storm, shimmering with divine brilliance, yet the Demon Lord faced them head-on, his body brimming with his unrestrained malevolent energy.

  As the waves crashed toward him, he planted his feet firmly and let out a roar that reverberated through the domain. With sheer force alone, he punched into the storm, splitting the energy apart like a blade through water. His fists tore through the waves, dispersing them into harmless fragments that dissipated into the void.

  The Demon Lord smirked, his aura flaring brighter. “You talk too much.”

  Dream’s serene expression faltered ever so slightly as he realized that this was no ordinary foe. The Demon Lord lunged forward again, his fists raised and ready to continue the brawl, even as Dream prepared to unleash the next phase of his divine power.

  The cosmic expanse shuddered under the strain of their unrelenting battle. The Demon Lord’s attacks came with devastating force—each punch and kick sending ripples of destructive energy through the divine domain. The God of Dreams countered with precision and grace, his celestial shields and black tendrils weaving into an impenetrable defense. Nebulae and constellations shifted violently around them, the once-majestic domain now trembling as it struggled to contain their clash.

  Though the Demon Lord’s brute strength tested Dream’s resolve, the god remained steadfast. His glowing eyes burned brighter with each deflected blow, and his form radiated divine elegance as he moved effortlessly through the storm of attacks. "Your strength may be great, demon, but strength alone cannot break the fabric of dreams," Dream uttered, his voice calm yet commanding.

  Stolen story; please report.

  The Demon Lord halted his assault momentarily, his mismatched gaze narrowing as his fists clenched. "You talk too much, god," he growled, his voice dripping with malevolence. "Let me show you what happens when strength meets power."

  With a guttural incantation, the Demon Lord unleashed a surge of malevolent energy, a dark aura erupting from his body like a tidal wave. The void around them darkened, its cosmic patterns twisting and writhing in response to his ancient demonic magic. He raised his arms, his hands tracing intricate runes in the air, each one pulsating with a crimson glow that seemed to burn through the fabric of reality. His incantations grew louder, resonating with a language so ancient that even the stars seemed to shudder.

  As the runes activated, his transformation began. His pale skin darkened into a deep crimson hue, black demonic runes spreading like veins across his body. His mismatched eyes blazed brighter, the red one igniting like fire, the obsidian one absorbing all light around it. His horns extended, their jagged edges gleaming ominously, and his claws lengthened, dripping with malevolent energy. The once-regal aura surrounding him transformed into an unbridled tempest of destruction. His voice deepened, resonating with the primal force of a being who had ruled hell itself. The Demon Lord’s demonic form was now fully unleashed, and his power surged to new heights.

  Dream's serene expression faltered for the first time, replaced by one of subtle concern. The god raised both hands, summoning waves of divine energy that cascaded toward the Demon Lord like radiant waterfalls. Each wave carried the dreams of countless souls, forming an ethereal storm designed to crush the demon’s overwhelming presence.

  But the Demon Lord, now in his enhanced form, met the storm head-on. With a single swipe of his claw, he tore through the waves, the divine energy shattering into fragments that dissolved into the void. He moved with terrifying speed, closing the distance between them in an instant. His fists struck like meteors, each blow carrying the weight of hell’s fury.

  Dream conjured his celestial shields to block the onslaught, but they cracked and splintered under the relentless force of the Demon Lord’s attacks. Tendrils of black light shot forth from Dream’s hands, aiming to bind and neutralize his opponent, but the Demon Lord’s aura burned them away before they could take hold. The god shifted, teleporting across the battlefield to regain his footing, yet the Demon Lord was relentless, appearing before him with unmatched speed.

  “You can’t escape me, god,” the Demon Lord snarled, his voice echoing like thunder. His claws slashed downward, tearing into Dream’s defenses and sending the god hurtling backward. The starlit ground rippled and cracked beneath him as he struggled to rise.

  Dream tried to counter with a blast of divine energy from his glowing third eye—a beam of brilliance that raced toward the Demon Lord with the intent to obliterate. But the Demon Lord raised his clawed hand, absorbing the beam into a swirling vortex of darkness. The divine light dissipated as he smirked. “Is this all a god can muster?”

  The Demon Lord advanced, his movements a blur of raw power and destruction. He swung his fists with precision, his blows landing heavily against Dream’s celestial form. Each strike sent shockwaves through the domain, the surrounding constellations flickering as though on the verge of collapse. Dream staggered under the weight of the assault, his once-composed demeanor now fractured.

  Summoning one final surge of strength, Dream raised his arms, creating a dome of starlight to shield himself from the Demon Lord’s fury. But the demon let out an unholy roar, his energy flaring as he brought both hands down in a devastating strike. The dome shattered, and Dream was sent sprawling, his radiant form dimming as he fell to one knee.

  The God of Dreams, brought to the brink of defeat, lifted his gaze to the towering figure of the Demon Lord. The swirling cosmos around them had stilled, as if holding its breath, awaiting the conclusion of this titanic clash.

  The Demon Lord looked down at his battered opponent, his crimson energy crackling around him like wild flames. “It seems your dreams are nearing their end,” he said, his voice laced with malice and triumph.

  The void quaked, the celestial domain now battered and fraying under the unrelenting malevolence of the Demon Lord. The God of Dreams, weakened and desperate, gazed upon the towering figure before him. The Demon Lord, his crimson aura raging like a tempest, emanated unyielding power as he stalked forward, his obsidian claws glinting with primal energy. Despite his calm exterior, his eyes burned with the fury of countless battles, each step a declaration of his supremacy.

  Dream’s glowing third eye flickered, its divine light dimming as his weakened form struggled to stand upright. He raised his trembling hand, the swirling black tendrils around him faltering as they sought to protect their master. Yet, he knew brute force would no longer suffice. He had one final gambit.

  With a silent incantation, the God of Dreams closed his eyes, channeling every ounce of his remaining power. The stars around them twisted and coalesced, forming a radiant vortex that surrounded the Demon Lord. Before he could react, the vortex expanded, consuming him entirely. The cosmos stilled for a brief moment as the Demon Lord was pulled into the depths of Dream’s divine realm—not his physical body, but his mind.

  In the depths of the hallucination, the Demon Lord stood on an ethereal platform, surrounded by a dreamlike expanse of radiant light and celestial beauty. The skies glimmered with golden hues, and the ground beneath him pulsed with starlight. Before him appeared Dream, his form now pristine and imposing, untouched by the wounds of their physical battle. The god’s glowing eyes bore into him with a hypnotic intensity.

  “This is what awaits you, Demon Lord,” Dream said, his voice smooth and melodic, carrying an air of persuasion. He extended his hand, the tendrils of cosmic energy around him weaving intricate patterns. “Imagine the power you could wield, far beyond your domain of chaos and torment. Ascend from king of hell to godhood. You could sit upon a throne in the heavens, ruling over existence itself.”

  The Demon Lord narrowed his fiery gaze but remained silent, his arms crossed over his crimson chest as he listened. The god’s words were potent, resonating in the depths of his mind.

  “You have already conquered hell,” Dream continued, his tone shifting to one of allure. “Do you not grow weary of it? Your realm is bound, limited by its chaos. But here, you could command the infinite—a ruler of rulers, a god of gods. It is within your grasp. All you must do is submit and serve me as my champion.”

  For a moment, the celestial domain shimmered brighter, the heavens seeming to beckon the Demon Lord. The illusion was crafted masterfully, tugging at the darker desires of ambition and supremacy. The God of Dreams smiled faintly, sensing his victory nearing.

  But the Demon Lord’s expression did not waver. Slowly, he raised his clawed hand, the demonic runes on his skin burning brighter as his aura intensified. He clenched his fist, and the illusion around him began to crack. The golden skies trembled, fractures appearing in the radiant platform beneath him. “Flawed gods,” he spat, his voice thunderous and dripping with contempt. “Always grasping at power, always desperate to control what they cannot understand.”

  The illusion shattered completely, the dreamscape collapsing into nothingness as the Demon Lord’s malevolence consumed it. The God of Dreams staggered back in the divine domain, his glowing eyes widening in disbelief as the Demon Lord broke free from his final gambit.

  “I am already in a realm of power above you,” the Demon Lord declared, his voice cutting through the cosmic void like a blade. “Above your weakness, your arrogance, and your pathetic existence.”

  In an instant, the Demon Lord closed the distance between them, his clawed hand darting forward to seize the God of Dreams by the throat. Dream struggled, his divine light flickering wildly as the Demon Lord’s grip tightened. The celestial throne behind him trembled, its radiant glow fading as if acknowledging its master’s imminent downfall.

  The Demon Lord lifted the god effortlessly, holding him above the ground. The cosmos around them twisted violently, constellations collapsing and nebulas imploding under the sheer force of the Demon Lord’s power. His mismatched eyes burned with triumph, his lips curling into a sinister smirk. The God of Dreams clawed at his captor’s arm, divine energy crackling feebly around him, but he was powerless against the unstoppable might of the Demon Lord.

  “You gods love to preach about your dominion,” the Demon Lord hissed, his voice low and venomous. “But in the end, you are just another mortal playing god.”

  With one final surge of malevolent energy, the Demon Lord’s aura exploded outward, drowning the celestial domain in crimson and obsidian light. The void quaked, the stars dimmed, and the divine domain succumbed to the overwhelming power of the king of hell.

  The Demon Lord’s clawed hand tightened around the throat of the God of Dreams, lifting him effortlessly into the air like a broken marionette. Dream’s glowing eyes dimmed, their divine light faltering as his struggles weakened. His celestial energy flickered like a dying star, unable to withstand the torrent of malevolent power radiating from the Demon Lord.

  Without hesitation, the Demon Lord reached out with his other hand, his claws glinting wickedly in the fractured light of the divine domain. With a sickening crunch, he crushed the third eye on Dream’s forehead, the glowing orb shattering in a burst of radiant fragments that scattered into the void. A guttural, triumphant laugh erupted from the Demon Lord, his voice echoing like the tolling of a bell heralding doom. “Look at you now, god,” he snarled, his mismatched eyes blazing with unholy fire. “Reduced to nothing but a vessel for my ascension.”

  The moment the third eye was destroyed, the divine energy of the God of Dreams began to flow into the Demon Lord like a raging river. Tendrils of golden light intertwined with the Demon Lord's crimson aura, the opposing forces colliding violently before the demonic energy consumed the divine. The power coursed through him, filling every fiber of his being with an ecstasy so overwhelming it bordered on madness.

  The Demon Lord’s laughter grew louder, more manic, reverberating through the collapsing domain. His body trembled as the divine essence merged with his own, his crimson skin glowing faintly as black runes pulsed with renewed vigor. He dropped Dream’s limp form to the ground with a thud, the once-majestic god now a crumpled figure of despair. The divine domain cracked like a mirror, fractures spreading across the cosmos as the balance of power shifted irreparably.

  Dream’s pale, ethereal face contorted with anguish as divine tears rolled down his cheeks. The luminous trails they left behind only emphasized the depth of his despair. His once-magnificent aura flickered and faded, his divine soul unraveling as it was devoured by the Demon Lord’s insatiable hunger. “You... you are an abomination,” Dream whispered, his voice trembling with both horror and defeat.

  The Demon Lord tilted his head, his deranged laughter subsiding into a low, guttural chuckle. “Abomination?” he repeated, his voice a deep growl. “No, god. I am evolution. I am what you could never comprehend.”

  And then, the Demon Lord did the unthinkable. Leaning down, he seized Dream’s fading form and opened his jaws wide. With sharp, predatory teeth glinting under the faint celestial light, he sank them into the shoulder of the God of Dreams. A sickening crunch echoed through the void as flesh tore and the forbidden act of consuming divinity was committed.

  The God of Dreams gasped, his glowing eyes widening in terror. The once-proud god, who had sat upon a throne of stars, now stared into the abyss of his own obliteration. His superior, serene demeanor shattered, replaced by a face twisted with despair and unfathomable dread. In his final moments, as his body cracked and splintered into fragments, terror was all that remained.

  The Demon Lord chewed slowly, savoring the taste of godhood itself, his mismatched eyes alight with perverse satisfaction. The fragments of Dream's form crumbled to dust, dissipating into nothingness, and the divine domain followed suit. The cracks spidering across the void widened until the entire space shattered, collapsing in on itself like a broken star.

  The Demon Lord found himself standing once more on the abandoned battlefield, the empty silence broken only by the sound of pouring rain. The blackened sky had been replaced by dark storm clouds, and sheets of rain drenched the desecrated land. Lightning flashed in the distance, illuminating the devastation for fleeting moments.

  The Demon Lord tilted his head back, allowing the rain to cascade over his crimson skin. His clawed hand lifted the bite of the God of Dreams to his lips once more, swallowing it with deliberate relish. A smirk twisted across his face, and his eyes glowed with unparalleled hunger for what lay ahead. His laughter, deep and rumbling, carried into the storm.

  He looked skyward, his gaze piercing through the downpour as if daring the heavens themselves to bear witness. “Bare witness, you flawed beings who call yourselves gods!” he roared, his voice shaking the storm around him. “Today marks the beginning of the end of your reign. Soon, all your power will be mine to wield. I will strip away everything you have and feast on your souls!”

  His declaration reverberated through the storm, the rain seeming to intensify as if the skies wept in fear. Thunder rumbled in acknowledgment of the monstrous will that stood upon the battlefield, a demon unchained and unstoppable.

  The Demon Lord remained motionless for a moment, savoring his victory. The storm raged on, but it was nothing compared to the tempest that now resided within him. His path was clear—the heavens themselves would bow, or they too would crumble into dust.