The Seven Demon's Tamer

The suffocating aura that greeted them the instant they emerged from the portal made them all tense up.

It wasn't just the sensation of being in the presence of powerful individuals—it was as if the very air itself had been infused with concentrated energy that pressed down on them from all directions.

"This is..." Leo started, but found himself unable to complete the sentence, his legs trembling as he struggled to stand up straight.

The sensation was unlike anything he'd ever experienced—worse than even his first near-death experience in combat.

Brok and Mara, on the other hand, simultaneously crashed to the ground on their knees, breaking both the ground and their knees upon collision.

"Oh, come on!" Brok struggled to voice out his complaint, his voice barely above a whisper.

"First we get teleported without the right to speak like luggage, then we watch superhuman martial arts demonstrations, and now the air itself is trying to crush us!"

Mara was in far worse condition than Brok. Her face was literally as pale as snow itself as she struggled for breath.

Her emerald eyes had partially lost their vibrant quality, and beads of sweat dotted her forehead.

As the weakest member of their group in terms of raw power, she was bearing the worst of whatever supernatural situation they found themselves in. It was like being a mouse in a room full of elephants—except Master Sung and the others weren't elephants.

"What is this power?" Leo managed to gasp out between heavy breaths, his voice strained and hoarse.

His hands were clenched into fists so tight that it felt like he was trying to stop himself from trembling but just couldn't. His typically carefree demeanor had been replaced by something that looked like... intimidation.

For someone who had made a career out of defeating summoners despite not being one himself, he just couldn't help but find the oddness of this aura terrifying. He was used to being the one who made others nervous, not the other way around.

Master Sung peeked at their struggle with careful attention out of the corner of his eyes, his interest clearly piqued by their reactions, but concealing it perfectly from Ryder.

What caught his attention the most wasn't Mara's obvious distress, nor Brok's dramatic collapse; he already knew how weak they were after all, but Leo's visible trembling.

Leo—the legendary summoner slayer who had built his reputation on being unshakeable in the face of supernatural threats.

Master Sung had formed a good impression of Leo based on his reputation, assuming the man would have what it took to withstand even more pressure than this. For once, it seemed, he had underestimated someone.

The fact wasn't lost on him though; people tended to forget that despite Leo's incredible feats, he remained completely human—no familiar bond, no gamma energy enhancement, just purely formulated techniques he developed and the ability to manipulate his life energy.

But then again, upon closer inspection, Leo wasn't handling the situation half badly. He was managing better than even Brok, an orange-marked summoner, which gave Master Sung a rough estimation of Leo's capabilities—somewhere around the level of a weak red-marked summoner.

The three exclusive members—Koji, Yuki, and Mika—showed no signs of discomfort whatsoever, standing casually and observing the pathetic allies they were meant to respect.

Logically, it made perfect sense that Yuki and the other two wouldn't be affected by what must have been the natural pressure of their dwelling. Their homes were located in this Tian district after all.

"This," Master Sung explained with a straight face, "is the natural atmosphere of the Tian district."

"Every member who has achieved Tian rank naturally emanates an aura that reflects their power level," he continued. "When dozens of such individuals at the Tian level are all gathered in one location, their combined presence creates what you're experiencing now—an oppressive aura that can be... overwhelming for the noobs."

With Leo struggling to keep his head up, he and Ryder observed their surroundings, withstanding the crushing pressure.

The architecture of this area wasn't quite like the Fan district, which was built up in relation to traditional craftsmanship, nor the Luo district, which had seamlessly blended old and new perfectly.

***

The Fan district had been impressive in its display of ancient masterpieces and handcrafted structures with minimal technological intervention.

The Luo district had combined traditional and modern elements equally, like honoring the past while embracing the future simultaneously.

But the Tian district was something else entirely. It was completely dominated by magic in its most fantastical, impossible form—something that seemed straight out of the most imaginative fantasy animations ever drawn.

Floating buildings drifted through the air like massive ships on an ocean, their foundations completely disconnected from the ground yet somehow stable and secure.

Living statues moved with purpose through the streets, their stone faces animated with expressions that shifted between various emotions.

Magical barriers floated in the air with texture like soap bubbles made of light, suspended in the air and performing a function neither Ryder nor Leo could guess.

Some rotated slowly on their axes, offering different views to their inhabitants as the day progressed.

"I can see you all feel oppressed by this energy," Master Sung started as he turned his gaze towards Ryder, who had his fists tensed in endurance, causing his veins to bulge.

He was in better condition compared to the others; however, that doesn't cancel out the fact that he was being oppressed by the presence.

"This presence is perfect just the way it is," Master Sung continued. "It serves as continuous training for newcomers who need to adapt to higher levels of power."

"Living and carrying out ordinary daily activities under such pressure like this naturally strengthens both the physical body and perception, giving dwellers greater awareness of the energies possessed by their own bodies."

"What we intend to teach you from the Tian district isn't martial arts like those you learned from the Luo," Master Sung explained. "This is something of another level entirely—showing your power attained from your familiar to the fullest, which means learning to connect yourself with its affinity."

"Accomplishing that requires the manipulation and control of inner energy, which most of you currently cannot do—except for Leo, of course, who has been doing exactly that for years without realizing the full implications."

"From the condition you all are in right now, I don't think we can proceed due to the pressure this energy is displacing on you."

He paused, seeming to consider their options while watching Mara's increasingly desperate attempts to get back to her feet and Brok's cursing at the invisible forces trying to crush him.

"However, I can give you a suggestion," Master Sung spoke in all seriousness. "You all should dwell here until you are able to adapt to this environment."

"Those who start from your current level and eventually are able to adapt to this environment become exponentially more powerful automatically," he said, trying to lift their hopes with the potential gains they could get from the situation.

"The pressure acts as constant training, forcing your body and mind to develop resistance and eventually mastery over energy manipulation."

Ryder and Leo managed to nod their understanding, though the gesture took considerable effort. Meanwhile, Brok and Mara were still struggling just to follow the conversation.

"How long does it take to adapt?" Ryder asked.

"That depends entirely on the individual," Master Sung replied. "Some never adapt at all and eventually need to be kicked out, while others—a rare few—can adjust within days."

"It's already clear that Leo will likely be the first to adapt," Master Sung added with dismissive confidence. "After all, he's already capable of manipulating his internal energy, particularly the pure life energy which no summoner can ever achieve."

"I'll leave you all to work on adapting," Master Sung announced, turning to walk away while the other exclusive members trailed behind him, perfectly coordinated in a row.

"But before I go, I should introduce you to the supreme ruler of the Tian district."

Just as he finished speaking, a massive structure suddenly began to descend from the sky, casting an enormous shadow over them that made the already oppressive atmosphere feel even more overwhelming.

Everyone subconsciously tilted their heads upward to stare at the descending structure, which had apparently been floating above them all this time without them paying attention.

As it settled to the ground with surprising gentleness for something of its size, doorways appeared in its surface, complete with stairs that unfolded like red carpets welcoming important guests.

They all stepped onto the platform that descended—though "stepped" wasn't an appropriate description of how Brok and Mara entered, since they had to be essentially dragged inside by Ryder and Leo, their legs having given up any pretense of supporting their weight.

Just as they'd entered, the structure began to rise upward again, returning to its position floating in the sky like a balloon that had momentarily touched down to pick up passengers.

Master Sung and the three exclusives took the lead, walking forward while Ryder and Leo both assisted Brok and Mara.

As they walked into the structure, they were in awe at what they could see. Unlike the other districts where the supreme leader's residence touched the sky and covered a lot of space, this one was different—it was a simple dojo.

A simple hut located at the middle of the massive rock structure that descended to the ground for them to climb on. Around it were petals and orchids, forming gardens around it.

One particular figure caught Ryder's attention immediately—a woman standing by the entrance of the hut, her eyes fixed on them as they approached with the intensity of someone who could see far more than visible appearance.

She was tall and lean, with black hair that seemed to billow even without the intervention of wind, and eyes that glowed with a faint red light.

"That's Akira Tian," Master Sung said, following Ryder's gaze. "She's the supreme leader of the Tian settlements, if you guessed."

It seemed like the higher they ventured into the guild hierarchy, the less obvious fear and respect the district leaders showed toward Master Sung. The Fan leader had prostrated himself immediately, the Luo leader had shown deep respect while maintaining some dignity, and now this woman stood casually, observing them with the kind of confidence that made Ryder and Leo exchange glances.

Upon reaching her, she gave a quick bow to greet. "It's been a while, Master. You're welcome."