Asmodeus returned to the council of Demon Lords, swaggering with a triumphant grin. "Ladies and gentlemen," he gloated, "I've dealt with our Polo problem." He mimicked a jabbing motion, illustrating his supposed victory. "One spike to the throat, and poof, he was history." A chorus of roars echoed in the chamber, all except one. Satan, a figure so fearsome even his fellow Lords dared not challenge him, stood in icy silence. His stillness turned heads. "Why aren't you celebrating, Satan?" they asked. Satan cast a long, menacing look around the room. "Because he's not dead," he said, his voice as cold as winter's bite. "I'm certain of it." The chamber fell silent. Leviathan finally broke the silence, "And what makes you so sure, if I may ask?" Satan sighed, his eyes glazing over in thought. "Polo is among the strongest beings I've ever encountered. He's made a pact with a power so formidable that it could even overpower me. I highly doubt such a force would let him die so easily." They all stared at him in disbelief. "Do you know what this force is?" one Lord asked. "No," Satan admitted, his gaze piercing the room, "but I don't have a good feeling about this." The Demon Lords resumed their celebration, albeit with a shadow of doubt now cast over their jubilation.Meanwhile, let's journey back to Polo's past, to the deal he struck with Death. Polo, already deeply involved in the magical realm, stumbled upon Death's ring. Upon wearing the ring, he was obliged to take lives, a task that Death, who had grown weary, was testing to see if any human would undertake. To Death's surprise, not only did Polo accept the challenge without hesitation, but he also executed it flawlessly, becoming the first human to do so. Intrigued, Death asked what he desired in return. "I want to be all-powerful," Polo stated, "and I want some of your powers." Death, peering into Polo's heart and recognizing his pure intentions, agreed to his request. And thus, Polo became imbued with a portion of Death's powers. Ava turned on Jason, her eyes blazing. "You're a disgrace!" she spat out, contempt dripping from her voice. "Chasing after lust and women... It's sickening!" Jason, nonplussed, shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry to disappoint you, Ava. But then again, you're choosing to trust the word of a demon lord. So who's the real fool here?" Their spat was interrupted by the discovery of a small, secluded rest house nestled amongst the wilderness. Inside, they found provisions – food and water, enough for a couple of days. The empty hearth was soon roaring with fire, and they warmed themselves as they ate, weary from their adventures. When sleep came, it was fitful, punctuated with dreams of Polo. Upon waking, they found their hearts heavy with his loss. "Polo," Ava and Jason muttered to the empty room, their voices barely above a whisper. Their quiet mourning was abruptly shattered by the forceful entry of a formidable figure. The newcomer, donned in heavy armor, brandished a sword. "What's this? A pair of trespassers, I see," he thundered, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. Jason, always the impulsive one, let loose a wave of fire towards the intruder. But the man, Norvax, made a sweeping gesture with his sword, dissipating the attack as if it were nothing but smoke. "Listen, kids," Norvax began, sheathing his sword with a frown. "Invading my place, attacking me... You've got it all wrong." "We didn't mean to," Ava hurriedly explained. "We were teleported into this world. And our friend Polo... He was killed by the demon lord Asmodeus." The mention of Polo made Norvax stiffen. "Polo? You're talking about *the* Polo?" They stared at him, taken aback. "What do you mean, *the* Polo?" Ava asked, a hint of confusion in her voice. Norvax shook his head, looking as if he were trying to digest something unbelievable. "How on earth are you two associated with him and yet know so little? He's one of the Five." "The... Five?" Jason echoed, his expression mirroring Ava's shock. "Ssshhh... Enough," Norvax interrupted, holding up a hand. And then, with a mere thought, he disappeared, materializing beside a figure observing from a distance - Polo.

Polo and Norvax found themselves standing face-to-face, their gazes locked in disbelief. "No... no, you're dead. You are... you're dead to me," Polo managed to choke out, a feeling of shock overwhelming him.Norvax replied gently, "We had to disappear, brother, to keep you safe."Tears welled up in Polo's eyes, spilling over as he cried out, "My brother is dead! Who are you? What... what do you want?" The words came out in a rush, fueled by confusion and anguish. But as the realization of his brother's presence dawned on him, he collapsed into Norvax's arms, sobbing, "Say what you want to say..." Norvax returned the embrace, patting Polo's back comfortingly. Then he pulled away to explain, "When they attacked our village during the war, the onslaught was so brutal. They were using black magic on prisoners. Some kind of portal opened up and teleported me to this other world, where we are now. There was a war happening here too. The black magic they wielded seemed to manifest potently within one individual. That very man decimated the entire army that assaulted our village, wielding newfound powers of air and fire. I suspect that man to be Jason.

Polo was listening, tears still streaming down his face, nodding his understanding. Norvax continued, "I heard you killed Mammon, and now the demon lords are going nuts. What's that about?" Wiping away his tears, Polo replied, "Yeah, that was Mustafa... he kind of forced me. His soul was taken, and I had to kill Mammon. And here we are now." Seeing Norvax's sword, Polo's curiosity piqued. "What's up with that sword?"  Norvax glanced at the weapon. "Oh, this? It blocks any magic thingy."  Polo chuckled amidst his tears, "Cool." As they chatted, the brothers found a moment of comfort, a balm for the pains of the past. "I missed you so much," Polo confessed."Me too, brother," Norvax said, and they hugged once more. "So, one of the five, huh? Who's your power source?" Norvax asked. Polo responded, "Death." "Whoa," Norvax uttered, clearly impressed. "That's quite an advantage. It's ironic though, isn't it? Even with Death as your source, you didn't know I was alive." Polo agreed, "Yeah, it is. Who's your source, Norvax?" Norvax hesitated, his expression turning serious. "I don't think I am one of the five anymore, brother. I either lost my power or it got upgraded. I'm not sure. I have this sword now. Anyways, about your friends out there, it's better if they don't know you're here."Polo nodded, a knowing smile playing on his lips as he remembered Death's similar advice. He looked at his brother, a newfound respect in his eyes. "You sure gained experience, didn't you?" "Yep," Norvax agreed. "Let's talk about a plan."  And so, the reunited brothers sat down to strategize their next move. "Norvax, there are seven demon lords, correct?" Polo queried, his brow furrowing with the weight of their task. "No, it's five," corrected Polo gently, his eyes glancing towards his brother. "Satan and Lucifer are not separate entities." A look of understanding crossed Norvax's face as he nodded. "Ah, I see. So, the plan is for me to confront Satan, and you'll handle the remaining four?" Shock etched itself onto Polo's face as he spun to face Norvax. "You plan to face Satan? The strongest among them? Even I wouldn't dare to challenge him." A calm smile played on Norvax's lips. "Are you certain, brother? Satan is renowned for his cunning, and he is well aware of your return. But, he will not expect me, especially not from a distance. As for you facing the other four alone, are you not in need of assistance? You and Death had other suggestions, didn't you?" His gaze dropped to the parchment on the table. "Anyway, I have procured the summoning spell." His nonchalant revelation of possessing a devil-summoning spell raised Polo's eyebrows. "That's rather unnerving, you know," Polo commented, the humor dry in his voice. Norvax merely shrugged. "It's simply the way things are." As Polo was about to take his leave, a thought occurred to him. "Shall we have a little spar before we set off?" They assumed their stances, but the tension in the air wasn't due to an anticipated spar. It was a diversion, for they knew prying eyes were upon them. As they sprung forward, a silent pact formed between them: 'Let's fling each other as far from here as possible.' Norvax clasped Polo and hurled him towards the unsuspecting demon lords. Suspended mid-air, Polo enacted the summoning spell, pulling Satan into their plane. With a deft maneuver, he projected Norvax directly into the trajectory of the summoned Satan. The battlefield was now set, and the clash of titans was imminent. The comfort of their temporary refuge was shattered by an unwelcome reality. "Who was that man?" Jason inquired, his voice barely a whisper. Ava's gaze remained fixed on the vacant space where the armored figure had once stood. "I think... I think he knew Polo," she admitted. "Right," Jason's words held a bitter bite, "if Polo is even still alive." Without another word, Jason exited their dwelling, wandering off towards the nearby beach. He stared out into the unending expanse of sea, lost in the cruel dance of the waves. "Why does everyone just... die?" he muttered to himself, his heart heavy with remorse and self-blame. "If only I were stronger..."As if responding to his turmoil, a fierce whirlwind of sand and water erupted around him. Flames sprouted from his fingertips, joining the tempest. Before he could react, his own power consumed him. Ava, who had been watching the spectacle from afar, sprung into action. Tears streaming down her face, she sprinted towards the storm's epicenter, towards Jason. "You idiot!" she cried out, her voice echoing over the tumultuous sea. "You can't die now! You can't..." But there he was, lying lifeless in the midst of his own storm. Gathering him into her arms, Ava unleashed a desperate scream. She slammed her hand against his chest, demanding, "Wake up!" In that moment, a flood of realization hit her. She used to see Death because they were opposites. She was powered by Life - the antithesis of Death. This was why she had seen him, why she had been haunted by his presence. And now, with Jason on the brink of death, her purpose became crystal clear. Ava was more than just a healer, she was an empath. Able to soothe minds, catch glimpses of others' dreams, their fears, their deepest desires. Her strength burgeoned with each passing day, but it was now, with Jason's life in the balance, that she truly recognized the power of Life within her. As her revelation resonated within her, Jason stirred beneath her touch. He gasped for breath, his eyes snapping open. Ava, tears of relief mixing with her previous tears of desperation, explained her newfound understanding to him. Jason, meanwhile, was grappling with his own turbulent powers of fire and air. Polo's demise had served as a wake-up call, prompting him to abandon his immature behavior and focus on mastering his abilities. His playful demeanor had dimmed, replaced with a somber determination mirrored in his fiery gaze. He had become a force to be reckoned with, his powers blooming in adversity. The reason why Death advised Polo to conceal his survival from Ava and Jason became clear: it was crucial for both of them to receive their power upgrades, a progression that might not have been triggered if they knew Polo was still alive.Polo came face to face with Asmodeus first. Asmodeus, quaking with fear, wasted no time initiating an attack. A taunt escaped his lips amidst the onslaught, "Back for some more?"  His strikes were lightning fast, yet Polo's shield held up this time. In a swift counter, Polo gripped Asmodeus' face, the force of his grip sending shudders through the demon lord. He slammed Asmodeus into a tree, following with a fierce kick to the balls. "Lust on that," Polo spat out, leaving Asmodeus reeling in pain. Leviathan, another prince of hell, wasted no time in launching his attack. His teeth resembled those of a vampire, and his assault was such that it shattered Polo's protective barrier. Leviathan's unique ability was a goo-like substance that accompanied his physical strikes. This goo was potent enough to corrode any form of shield. Leviathan's face distorted, bloating like a balloon and his maw revealed a murderous array of gnashing teeth. Polo evaded the attack just in time. Asmodeus, recovering from the earlier beating, yelled out to Beelzebub. Satan, caught in disbelief, stared at the one before him. "You... You're alive!" Norvax's eyes, reflecting a well of unexpressed outrage, met Satan's. "You..." Norvax spat, his voice grit with anger, "I'll kill you, you son of a bitch!" His rage was palpable, his grudge evident in every word. Satan chuckled, clearly unimpressed. "Well, isn't that just adorable?" he mocked, only to be answered by Norvax's onslaught. A powerful punch sent Satan spiraling back, but the Demon Lord merely shrugged it off and rose again. "Is that all you've got?" He retorted, launching a storm of fireballs at Norvax. The latter, stripped of his sword, was knocked off his feet.  Norvax staggered upright, his weapon discarded. With sheer determination, he fought through the pain and threw a punch at Satan so forceful it shattered his own arm. Satan's laughter echoed through the battlefield as Norvax crumpled to the ground, his arm broken. But Norvax wasn't finished. With a roar of fury and a surge of adrenaline, he launched himself at Satan, landing another punch with his remaining arm, once again at the cost of breaking his own limb.  The force of the second punch, however, seemed to have an effect on Satan. His laughter faded as he clutched his bruised face, his eyes widening as they locked onto a new arrival on the battlefield: Jason. Jason's voice rang out, confident and filled with resolve, "Your death, motherfucker."