Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Unsure when it was that I awoke from my slumber, but a sense of relief rippled through my mind as a deep wiery yawn caught me off guard.

I haven’t yawned like that since I was a mortal. Gods, it’s good to think of those days. The good old cannibal Arsene was so chill… kinda. Such simple times. I worked, hunted, and ate. I had money to do just about anything I wanted. I had no enemies, no lover to nag me, not that they do now. But I had everything.

Peering up over Tia’s lap as she rested against the bark of a tree, a quint sensation of peace fluttered through my heart. And I felt myself being pulled into deep thought.

I hated being a king despite being such a good one. I find it so restricting. I hate being responsible for people’s lives. I didn’t give a single damn if they lived or died. But the Path of a King… it’s the one true path, isn’t it?

Be it mortals or gods. There exists a hierarchy, be it socially or in regard to cultivation. It’s a concept people, much less wild beasts, can’t escape from.

Those that want to rise through the realms of cultivation must seek the highest path. And what is higher than the King? A god, perhaps, but even gods have the same hierarchy. Doesn’t it seem rather peculiar? It’s as if we mirror the Father.

There he sits on a throne. To us, he is a god, a king, a supreme being, and more. It’s silly, honestly, how we try to imitate it. But I guess that’s why the Path of the King is considered a Mortal Dao.

But the Path of the King, I loath it yet enjoy its perks. I…

Suddenly chuckling recalling all those novels I once read about cultivation, I laughed: “Honestly, it’s so silly comparing my path to theirs. I don’t make sense, not truly, that is. I’ve always gone against the rules. Breaking whatever was laid before me. Honestly, the path Aurelia and Lucifer takes would have been better. Rebellion, the ultimate path of freedom. That describes me to a T.

If they said I couldn’t jump ranks, I jumped it. If they said I couldn’t kill that person, I killed them out of spite. No one could tell me what to do… Not without getting burned themselves.

“I wonder how far I can go? How many rules can I keep breaking?” I mused, feeling Freya shift from on top of me. Her small arms sprawled over my chest as she snored quite loudly.

I smiled and peered past Tiamat to the blossoms and above towards the skies blanketed by night.

I hated my path, but I don’t regret it. At least, I don’t think I do. But I think it’s time I go my separate ways with Tene. I can’t continue ruling like her. I need to change it all. Tene will rule her kingdom Evernight, but I will rule mine. I will change it all.

I want a city of sinful order. I don’t want my subjects to die, but I don’t want them to be heroic bastards. I merely want them to… live without restrictions. Just like me… I want them to rebel so I can both crush their spirit and reward them.

Tenebrae taught me many things about how to be a king. But now I need to be one. I need to be one that I enjoy: A cruel, Lazy, rich King with all the bitches. Hehe.

Lifting myself off Tia’s thigh, a refreshing wave shrouded my mind, deepening the beauty of this heaven. Colors that seemed transfixed in nature began to change, revealing their ethereal nature wrapped in a mist of their life force. Within the night skies, I felt Tene’s aura alongside mine… And another.

Somehow intrigued yet annoyed that there existed yet another sensation. I felt the Authority of the Abyss within me stir alongside my intent to destroy. But I… refrained from doing so. As if compelled by hesitation.

I’m still unsure if this person is an ally or an enemy. Although either way, I still want to kill them. Guess we’ll see.

” Congratulations are in order.” The voice of Tiamat rang, jarring me from thought. I turned to her as a coniferous gleam shimmered through her serpent-like red eyes. “You became an Immortal. Congrats.”

“… I feel the same,” I muttered, “Well, I feel slightly more enlightened.”

Tiamat nodded. “As you should. The path of Immortal isn’t based on Qi but knowledge and enlightenment.” She said, rising to her feet. ” The Realm of Immortal is a realm where all your knowledge will pore into your Qi.”

“Pour into?” I muttered as my knowledge gifted about such things by Tene was a little too much for me to go through. I was still sifting through it. It’ll take a Hell cycle just to go through at least one percent. If not longer.

“Yup. The more knowledge within your soul, the purer your Qi will become. Until your body begins to beak due to the sheer power of it all. For people like you and me, it’ll take a long, long time due to our bodies being so powerful. But that just means we’ll be powerful in the future.

“Your an immortal!” I shouted as my mind whirled with wonder and awe.

“No shit… Think about it. How would I be able to kill nearly two third of a bunch of Rankers without being an Immortal?’

Scratching my cheek, allowing my mind to whirl with thought, I smiled wryly as I’d never actually wondered what realm Tia was in. Thinking about it now, what realm are Lilith and Tene? They are avatars, after all.

They ought to be strong without being strong. 𝑏𝑒𝘥𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑒𝘭.𝘯𝑒𝑡

“Arsene, you big dummy!!!!!” A thunderous roar fell from the heavens. ” How dare you show killing intent towards our child!”

Unable to see even when the fist from empty space emerged, a blinding haze of stars blinded my vision as Tene appeared. Her beautiful obsidian raged indued eyes bled a sinister light.

I was torn off my feet, and as my nose cracked, I whipped over the horizon, crashing into a small island mountain range. Blood pooled from my nose as Tene appeared, angrily glaring at me.

She stomped. “You will not harm my baby!”

“The hell is up with you, woman… Fuck that hurt.” I snapped, rubbing my glorious nose. “Wait to destroy the joy of my breakthrough. What the hell are you talking about… Huh? Baby?…….. Oh, Shit.”