Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Situated a ways away from the Coliseum, blazing a vibrant flame that lit the night skies, the winds billowed gently witht the rustling of sand against my cheeks and hair. The faint tremors of roar could be felt against the ground, witht the lingering scent of blood.

“Selor Ren: High God, with an affinity towards daggers, pared with a golden shield,” Valice mentioned as the carriage drew close to the Colosseum. Her voice seemed a little guarded as she spoke, yet for some reason, my mind seemed to only linger upon that girl who carries the will of the light.

For some reason, I could not remove her from my mind. A rival, Mephisto said. But can I have a competitor? Don’t I possess the Forsaken heritage? Don’t I have the power of Abyss at my beckon call? Am I not the Monarch of Darkness?

There were so many reasons I should not be thinking like this. To be conceited means a potential end to my rein, as the seconds lingered like hours and hours like days. I couldn’t help but begin to renounce Mephisto’s claim. Yet the indiscriminate whisper of my consciousness told me of my foolishness.

“Mr. Blackwater?” Valice commented, pressing her gentle hand over my shoulder as she stood outside the carriage worriedly. “Are you ready?” She asked, and I nodded, seeing no point in discussing my internal dilemma.

Following the Queen, who had not spoken a word, a tinge of heat slowly began to spread out from my heart the closer I got to the Coliseum. Like fire, the heat would course through my veins, brimming with excitement; my expression would not meet.

Slowly it was happening; the Sins were waking. And I was doing everything I could to resist its call. I was smiling more, acting out more, I even foolishly engaged in coitus. And yet the cold nebula within my mind allowed me to have a crystal focus mind when in battle or during schemes.

I was evolving. No, my soul was evolving. It was shedding its mortal flame and changing into something only the Abyss could depend upon.

Pausing just outside the room that awaited me, alongside the other gladiators, I touched my chest as the effervescent aura of the Abyss began to course through my veins. Images flashed through my mind like glimmers of the fading stars, reaching me both in the present and yet past.

I could see Lilith standing over a woman impaled by a sword of absolute black, and to her rear stood a man I’d never thought I’d see.

“Baphomet?” I said as he lifted his head as if sensing me.

“Arsene Snow,” He called back, grabbing Lilith’s attention, whose delicate brow scrunched, and her lips puckered up into a scowl.

“Mind your business.” She coldly spat as everything cut to black.

Startled by the sudden return of my sense to the Arena, Valice once more stood staring at me with a chilling glare that sent chills dancing along my spine. “You’ve got a job to do. Zone out on your own time!” She sternly warned as the gate to the next room welcomed me. “Make sure you win. I don’t need losers.”

Is Baphomet alive? No, that’s not possible. Now that I think of it. Neither Levi nor Azeroth made an appearance since. What did Lilith do? And what was that random connection to the Abyss?

My brow grew tight like a stone as I pondered the implications.

“And here we go!! From the very Void, he was birth. A being of indescribable coldness said to have formed from an icy flame, give it up, Ladies and Gentlemen, to the Blackhorse of it all! ILLB!!!!”

Noticing the gate open alongside the absence of gladiators, I knew that time had skipped by once again as I fell into a myriad of thoughts.

Taking a step past the gate, I reached far into myself into the frozen flame of my mind, allowing everything to grow vibrant and crystal clear.

Standing across from me stood a young man with long silver hair, alongside a set of such icy blue eyes; I could practically see the mountain of bodies he once stood: Shield and dagger in hand, he stood like a still god, watching me.

I came to a halt, and the moment I did, Selor Ren began to circle me measuredly. Feet soft and nimble like a feline, I could feel his muscles tighten as he readied himself to pounce. 𝑏𝑒𝑑𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑒𝘭.𝑐𝑜𝑚

I parted my feet against the sandy arena to ready myself; images suddenly began to flicker into my mind as I felt a weird force assault my mind. Startled by the sudden attack, my soul flame pulsed with a coming darkness that devoured this soul attack, and yet, to my surprise, I found Selor’s dagger, a mixture of silver and blue, near my neck.

“Astral Slash,” He said in passing as a blazing inferno of Azure flames sprung from his dagger.

My soul seized for a moment as I instantly figured this was one of Zariels techniques. There were many things I couldn’t remember regarding that time, but I’d never forget this one.

Astral Slash, a technique even Mephisto had praised for its versatility.

Due to their nature, all soul base attacks within the Astral Sea and on Iluthath were known as Astral Attacks. They were different from normal soul attacks due to the needing Astral Essense to work. Nevertheless, like Almighty Attacks that can’t be blocked, Astral Attacks held the same properties. The only way to survive was to have an artifact that defended you against them.

My Order of Chaos Mask held such defense, but that would give away my identity as a member, and Zero would slaughter everyone on this planet without a second thought, trial or not.

Narrowing my eyes, as the incoming blade was centimeters from cutting my neck and soul, I didn’t bother to Shadow Step but instead took a gamble. Pushing the Flames of Hellfire through my veins, I could almost hear Selor’s heart clench as he pulled back with sweat dotting his brow.

Using the illusion of fear against him, I darted towards this Astral Warrior.