Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Lore Chapter

“He’s trying to destroy the Fourth Heaven? Why?”

Lilith looked at me funny. ” Why do you think so many gods are flocking to the Myriad Heavens? Why do you think they are trying to kill you and me? Why do you think the Gods down there are creating cathedrals or idols of worship? Mephisto is planning to fuse Arcadia and the Myriad. At least part of it. As for why… “She paused. ” I think it’s to even the playing field. Remember how hard it was to invade the Hells? Well, imagine billions of fragmented lands scattered throughout Arcadia. It would be impossible to defend against. Impossible to combat the spread of the various Pantheons.”

“I vaguely remember being told that….” I lightly teased, scratching my cheek. ” Although I can’t remember. Maybe I dreamed that.”

Bonking me upon the head, Lilith sighed and slipped off of me. ” Sene is a big dummy. You know. Having multiple women around you might be a good idea. You are getting more and more forgetful.” She groaned, pursing her full cherry lips. And looked me over with a lingering stare. “Tenebrae can handle Noctem, but the Abyss and the Myriad Heavens are two different planes of existence. This invasion into the Myriad wasn’t necessarily about avenging you because Uriel crossed a line, that limp-dick bastard. No. I was ensuring the Abyss had enough territory for when Mephisto was ready. We are ready.”

“And he told you this?” I mused. Unable to believe Mephisto would relay his grand scheme plan. He’s too secretive.”

“You realize I’m semi-omniscient.” She relayed. ‘ As are you. Most Gods don’t use that ability because it’s too much to filter. One could take a billion Hell Cycles just to cycle through a second of turning on that omniscient switch. You might also be able to do it if you expand your Hive Mind. You’ll need to become an Infringement God, though. Although there are some races out there that are Omniscient.”

My eyes went wide. “Really?”

She nodded happily, wiggling closer to me. ” Yup. The majority are artificial races created in Genesis. But naturals are found in the Ethereal Realm, the Land of the Dead. Tenebrae is also Omniscient. Although, she sealed such ability away as many do. It’s incredibly painful to be Omniscient. If even just semi.”

“I hear that.” Iliana chimed in. “I tried it once and was bedridden for days. Have you ever wondered why you never tried to see and be everywhere? You are one with the darkness, right?” She asked me, startling me for a minute.

She was right. I have had this ability for an incredibly long time. I think it started when I was a demi-god. But I never used it. It was almost like… I didn’t want to…. like the deepest part of my being resisted the urge without my consciousness knowing.

Was I somehow protecting myself?

When I became a god, I was able to focus my Semi Omniscient on my worshipers. But it was never to the Myriad Heavens. At most, I saw the entirety of the Bed of Chaos. Or at least glimmers. But that was probably my mind protecting me. I might have seen the entire thing. I just couldn’t process all that information.

“Angels… are they.”

“Yup. But only a few.” Lili answered, silencing me. She leaned in, glancing at Iliana like what she had to say was a secret.” But they are reserved for scholars. Bet you didn’t know this. But Mephisto once held the ability. But the day he fell, it was destroyed.”

“Your kidding,” I whispered.

“Yup. Mephisto was a scholar of sorts. But when he asked to Fall. It’s said that each angel lost something. The Father alluded to the Concept of Madness taking root within the Fallen, but when I learned of this. I knew it was something different. I—

“My lady…” Iliana interrupted. ” I can hear every word you are saying. I’m an Abyssal Fiend.” She said plainly. ” I can literally hear as far as the next galaxy away from us.”

Lilith leaned even closer, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips, and lowered her voice, doing absolutely nothing.

She’s so silly.

“What do you think Lucifer lost when he fell?” She asked me.

Recalling everything I knew about him. I frown. Lucifer, aka Samael. I shook my head. His virginity? I don’t know. We aren’t friends. I glanced at Lilith, to the amethyst in her eyes, glinting like twin flames.

“He lost his light. Lightbringer, they called him. Lucifer was an Angel of Purity. A warrior who Michael only rivaled. But when he fell. That light became tarnished, but not by the Hells or the Sins.”

Impatience waned over my mind hearing her go silent. But just when I opened my mouth, Lilith began. ” You might be wondering by what? What could make an Angel lose their light? How can the Angels lose anything? After all, the only one who can steal power from the angels is the One, the Father. But you’d be wrong. The Father doesn’t interfere in matters such as these.” 𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗼𝘃𝐞𝐥.𝗰𝗼𝐦

Again Lilith paused and turned to Iliana. “Leave us for a bit.” She told her, and I rose a brow.

Iliana, too, became startled, then poised, bowing as she left. Closing the door on her way out. Lilith began. “I think it was the same power that gave the Fallen their negative qi and gave the Teleth their power.”

“You think?”

“I did say I was Semi Omniscient.” She retorted cutely, snorting my way. “I don’t know everything. You know. And Gods can block Omniscient if they are strong enough. Anyway. Think about it. Balor was able to create a few variants of Angels and Fallen. But that power couldn’t have come from him. It came from a place where only entities like the One and the All can exist. When he sat upon the Heavenly Throne, siphoning its power. He came upon something not meant for us. ”

“So you think the Angels were—”

“Were created by the Energy Balor came upon.” Lilith finished. She smiled and giggled. ‘ Cool, Eh? It’s just a theory with minimal evidence to back it up. But I think it stands up. When an Angel Falls, they open themselves up to that unknown essence. That’s why Angels have fewer ‘natural’ abilities than the Fallen.”