The Realm of Absolute Victory, an eternally scarred landscape echoing with distant explosions. Archdemon Bakugo stands on a shattered obsidian pedestal, his hands sparking furiously. His Lieutenant, Kaminari (The Jester), is struggling to power a large, arcane generator.

KAMINARI (The Jester): (Strained, voice shaking) "Archdemon! The Pride Sphere—it's over-pressurizing! I can’t handle this wattage, it’s tearing the conduits apart! I told you we needed better focusers!"

BAKUGO (Archdemon of Pride): (Snarling, refusing to look down) "Shut your whining, Jester. If your damned electrical Quirk can't keep up with my genius, then power through it! That Sphere needs to be twice the size of Icy-Hot’s latest trinket by the end of the hour. NO ONE outshines me!"

JIRO (The Auditor - Entering from the shadows, Midoriya's Agent): (Calm, slightly cynical tone) "A sound issue, Archdemon Bakugo. The structural integrity of the realm's foundations can only handle so much amplification. You are exceeding the Ninth Realm's resource allotment, per the treaty Midoriya signed."

BAKUGO (Archdemon of Pride): (Turning, a furious glare) "Get out of my realm, Auditor. Tell that pathetic, Quirk-stealing little Archdemon of yours to stick his nose back in his 'Ascension' trash! I AM THE PINNACLE! And if this realm cracks, I'll just forge a new one from the rubble of yours!"

URARAKA (Archdemon of Debt - Voice echoes distantly from the ethereal plane): (Worry tinged with authority) "Bakugo! Control your output! If you destabilize the currency of the Nine, the Weightless Fields will collect your debt in full—and you know the price of pride is always soul-crushing!"

BAKUGO (Archdemon of Pride): (A final, thunderous shout, unleashing a massive blast) "SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU! NONE OF YOUR RULES APPLY TO ME! DO YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR PLACE IN THIS HELL?! BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO REMIND YOU!"