Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

“Sorry about that,” I lightly said, shaking my head with a smile. Glancing down at Ty and Arkanos, running around the domineering throne room that felt almost like I was standing within the depths of hell, my eyes fixed themselves on Hades, “where were we?”

Hades released a strenuous breath of air and sighed, “Lilith, I am tired.” He said, resting his eyes for a moment. He continued, “My memories are coming back, and I am allowing them to return.”

“And this means?” I asked, patient for an answer. Ever since I met with Hades, I felt something off about him. There was an invisible pressure about him that sent my heart into trepidation. It was like I was standing near a lord far above my father, far above Paragon.

“It means I wish to ascend, to leave this lower heaven, and begin my journey to—”

“Are you screwing with me?” I snapped in response, narrowing my eyes, ” you are not even an Elder God.”

The Lord of the Underworld’s eyes saddened, ” Quite so, but such things are irrelevant when the Lord of Absolution, Zariel Snow, owes me a favor.”

He had my attention. Now how does he know about Zariel?

“I wish to ascend, Lilith Snow.” He said, emphasizing my surname. “I have done enough for your family.”

“And if Nyx doesn’t wish to?” I calmly ask, and Hades’ expression pained.

“That will not change my decision,” Hades said with a sour look. ” You must understand, Lilith, my people, my loyal soldiers that stood side by side with me, are all there waiting for me. I have made them stay long enough. If Nyx doesn’t leave with me, I shall wait for her in the higher heavens. But I have done enough for the Snows. Opening up this realm has allowed me to understand that.”

“And your successor?” I calmly ask, very much disappointed in this outcome.

“My daughter will take over. most of the Chthonian Gods lack compared to what I once was, even Nyx at her prime. I was the first to overcome my fate and make a name for myself that didn’t stem from my family. Their disgusting history will not be shared with me anymore.”

“And the Underworld?” I probed.

“A gift to Arsene,” He said, as my eyes grew wide, “I felt he became the Lord of Noctem. He has my congrats, but I am sure that he has yet to taste the divinity that realm has brought. There are a few more years until a Dao Cycle occurs, and only then will he get a taste of true power. He should be able to break through into an Empyrean God instantly.” I nodded, and Hades gave a warm smile over his hard features. ” You are here for those objects Zariel sealed, right?”

“Indeed.”

“I would say forget it, as they are too powerful to use, but—”

“Then why did they leave them here?” I hastily pointed out.

“They didn’t leave them. ” Hades said in a low voice. “Those Divine Armaments were exiled, Lilith, banished to the lower realm where their Heavenly Might could never be used again. Surely you must understand. I am sure there are some things throughout creation simply so powerful that various Myriad Gods banished them into your Abyss. It’s not that Zariel didn’t wish to take these Artifacts, but they were bound to the Lower realm by a higher power. So like what the Angels did, the Silver Devil sealed them, allowing only his blood to access them.”

“Or someone with the keys too,” I revealed, lifting Riverfall.

“Yes.”

Releasing a sigh, I studied the lone king upon his throne, resting with a trace of melancholy between his brow. I spoke, “I will summon Nyx, but you don’t mind if I lead your armies to pillage the other realms that are now defenseless due to a lack of a great army.”

“My generals trained quite a few monsters. They will be at your disposal when my daughter takes over.” He calmly said, and I smiled.

“Good,” I uttered, beckoning to the kids playing around. Focusing my mind on the abyss, I quickly found the Goddess of Night. Seizing her with the pull of my mind, I yanked her out of the Abyss. And before everyone, a well of abyssal qi exploded. “I will be seeing you soon, Hades, or maybe not. Same with you, Nyx,” I said, teleporting before the Goddess of Night understood what had happened, taking Ty and Arkanos with me to the Safe that contained these Divine Armaments.

We stood in what appeared to be a wine cellar, and icy darkness coiled around my children and me.

“Mama,” Said Ty, pulling on my sleeve. “Ty can smell something that smells a bit like Papa!” She explained, pointing towards a particular wall, free of any shelves or containers. Appearing no different from a normal stone wall, I held onto Arkanos hands, ensuring she didn’t runoff.

As much as I would like, I was not a real Snow. While I am sure the spirit would recognize me, I could not say the same for Arkanos. Ty was different; she shared the same blood as Arsene. To say she was his clone would not be far off.

Ty ran towards the wall and jumped, giving the wall a high five. She smiled and turned to me, “Mama, what’s behind this wall—”

Under my watchful eye, the very wall slowly began to melt, revealing a massive door with Seven Key Holes. The Door itself was a glossy gold, shimmering brighter than any gold I had ever seen before. Feeling the Dao of Death and Extermination pouring around the door, I quickly pulled Ty away.

Fear ran through my body as I glared at the seven keyholes, ” What the hell is this?” I muttered, feeling the ancient force. Shaken by the power, I shook my head and summoned the Gate of Death. “Sorry, hades, but I am taking all your wine. This place needs to go bye-bye. ”

Opening the Gates of Death, A powerful devouring force exploded, taking Ty, Arkanos, and me into the abyss once more while I allowed the Gate of Death to devour this sealed doorway slowly. Zariel’s power was surely strong back then, but it should not be enough to suppress the power of the Abyss. Zantar will be on a wild goose chase trying to find this gate. I just need to continue to act clueless.𝗯𝐞𝗱𝗻𝐨𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝗼𝗿𝐠