Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

“HAIL!!!!” A thunderous wail crackled, fracturing the laws! As Both Devil And Demons, entities so foul it made even Teleth seem no different than Angels, materialized. They Roared: ‘WE LIVE TO SERVE YOU SOVEREIGN OF DARKNESS!’

The Abyssal Armor warmed, probably saving my life from their war cry.

I released a gruesome smile of carnage, allowing my true bloodlust to leak. I became wrapped in the Aura of Abyss And Mryrid as my bloodlust drowned the noise of the Hellspawns. Enticing their bloodlust. They turned silent, and my gaze swept to Lilith: To the Queen of the Abyss.

Her eyes were poise, and her lips arched, but the coldness she carried seemed no different than that of mine when a coldly calculating voice stirred me.

“Well, it hasn’t been that long, but you’ve truly changed.” The familiar voice of Richter said. “Your mother would have been proud. It would seem that foul bloodlust is hereditary. Who fucking knew? I am here to assist. Not to fight you: I’d rather the Serphim not have the Chaos Drew.”

My gaze lifted toward the sky, toward the winged man: Wings of obsidian, eyes of hellish scarlet light, and a halo of damnation crowning his head.

I’d forgotten Richter had joined the Hells. Seems the ancestor from Arcadia is abusing his demonic body. 𝘣𝑒𝑑𝑛𝘰𝑣𝘦𝘭.𝘤𝑜𝑚

‘Through war, we rise!” he said, and the image of mother resounded through me like a fleeting dream. They tore at my consciousness.

“I’m not calling you Arsene, dummy! I gave you a name, you know.’ And she smiled, flicking my head, her silvery blue eyes narrowing, with the flecks of emerald shimmering. ‘ But it’s through war we rise. If you want to go by such a name, you better challenge my rule, my dear sweet Lucarious. Defeat me, and you may do as you, please. Where’d you even hear about such a name, you silly child? Now then, shall we go check on your baby brother? Zariel must be hungry!”

A/N: Lucarious was Arsene’s first name if you don’t recall.

A throbbing ache and warmth stirred but slowly became drowned as Pride shimmered with scarlet flame, a flame that seemed different from the Abyssal Flames that carried no emotion, only utter Oblivion. This new flame was far different: It was dark, cold, vicious, and consumed in hate like a vengeful demon.

Wrath blazed off the Spear of Pride as that memory fragment awoke within me. Its power was so mighty I felt the Abyssal Armor shudder under its might.

I turned, holding my rage with sheer willpower, and glared towards the skies; one after the other, I saw star ships, gates, vagabonds, and more appear one after the other to side with the Angels. In a mere few seconds, All Twelve powers within the Fourth Heaven had gathered. All of them gathering within the majestic skies of Villium.”

“Lilith… I’m leading this charge.” I told her.

“Oh? You wish to be the commander?” She said, raising her palm, halting Vita, who was about to refute my request. “Why?”

“You know why. Those of the Abyss are not me! That’s all.”

“You arrogant bastard!” Vita said.

“It’s fine,” Lilith said, amused. “Then what is your first order Commander in Chief?’

“My QUEEN!”

“Enough!” Lilith coldly said, “Or do you think I’d let my husband lead if I wasn’t sure of his capabilities? You think me a blind woman?”Her gaze swept over Vita and Damaris. ” I am the queen of the Abyss. Or did you forget?”

“Vita, Damris, Lilith, if you are able, I want you to kill Archangel Uriel. I’m not sure why Iliana and Cyra aren’t here, but if they are, mount a killing blow. Damn the timeline. We’ll correct any mistakes in real time later on. The future tells us ‘Uriel still lives, but I’ve other thoughts.”

Lilith nodded. ” We can do that. But what about—”

“Vita will be in charge of also leading her people while she battles. You will handle the southern sector, do not lose sight while in the heart of battle. You have a Hive Mind. You ought to know everything your people do.”I continued and turned to Ishar.

“You’ll be my second in command; Your command is my command.”

“And what of us?” The Void shuddered. And my eyes went wide, as did the others, as Thirteen men stepped out. Each was carrying a black mask with a number engraved at the top.

One approached, and I could just feel his smile: Vancurro.

“Now, this is a treat… I’ve not felt this excited Since the battle of Heaven’s End, where we put Tenebrae on the defensive,” he said, the dark tent of his Mask deepening as though stained with blood. “It’s been a while.”

“The Order,” Ishar muttered, and for the first time, unease stirred. And her gaze landed on Zero. “What are you doing here?”

“To slaughter, of Course.” Zero said. “We of the Order of Chaos felt that the Heavens were acting unjustly, so we decided to bring Chaos where there is Order. By right of the God of Order and Chaos, Protector of the One, we are here to stop the Renegade Angels.”

Eh?

“ZERO!!!!” Metatron bellowed like a thunderous god of vengeance, fracturing the laws of this strange anomaly of a realm in the known Myriad.”YOU!!!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR CLAIM!”

Behind the Mask, I could feel that snake smile. “Of course. Why else would we be here? We live to serve the Protector. Or are you defying his rule?”

‘My word carries a lot of weight within Heaven, brother.’ Zariel telepathically said, his masked self staring toward the amassing army of Angels. ‘And while I can’t tell them what to do. My word is something of the Highest power. And it’s well in my Authority to Grant any Angel a true Death. Zero declaration merely tells them that any Serphim that dies will experience a True Death. No matter how much they fuss. The Angels are out of line, acting on greed.”

‘But so too are the devils.” I replied.

“Those two do not equate to each other. Angels are beings of Order. Pure, unfettered Order. They are not to act out of fear or emotion but in rationality. And what I’ve observed gives me the right to do what I’m doing. But this is a one-time thing, Arsene. The Father is not pleased with the current events taking place. And honestly, neither am I. I’m only doing this because you are my brother. The Angels and I are wrong. And I’m abusing my power. And that can’t happen.”

‘Hey! Arsene!” IX said. I’d recognized the voice… Aurelia. “Remember what I said, right?”

I nodded… The Heavenly Throne.

“Well!” She pointed, releasing ephemeral wings of black and white light. A sword carrying the same foul aura of the Teleth appeared in her palm as death, pure death, as if the God of Death, Azazel, had descended, shrouding Heaven and Earth in his palm. Aurelia removed her Mask, and a grin so foul and dark a cold chill crept up my spine as the gentle winds feathered her cheeks. She looked up. “It all begins here. All of it. And Aurelia will take it all.”

‘… the Sin of Greed.’