Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Staring at the sword that seemed like an ordinary sword except with a black edge, I was unsure but said nothing. Laevatein did just cut apart a contract of the Hells. And yet the sword shattered… What the hell happened?

“Will you be leading your people?” I inquired, looking at the day’s journey to Iliya from where we were. I’d decided upon this mountain range for various reasons, one being it was a good distance away from the war that was about to commence, and based on how I set up the formation I saw in the mural, it stands to reason—

“Lucarious del Lazarus.”

Startled for a second, I looked around, taken back that I didn’t feel the slightest amount of intent. I lifted my head, noticing no one around, and my eyes landed upon the icy expression of ‘Richter.’

“Brother,” I gently conveyed, narrowing my eyes. “You’re finally here.”

“Indeed, but the prospect of gazing at you once more is all the more rewarding,” Richter said, his silvery eyes brimming with an ancient force. “How long has it been? How many cycles? You probably don’t even know my name.”

“Short-term memory. Don’t feel bad. I forget most things anyway.” I said, chuckling somewhat derisively. “Let me guess? Are you Titus?”

“Him? My crowning achievement. Nay. But I am his father, child of—”

“Yeah, I don’t really care. Do you know where to go? Or do we have to cripple you now or later? You pick. Balor’s legion will be here soon, and I’ve no time to deal with you.”

Richters brow scrunched with displeasure, “that tongue of yours is what got you killed. ”

“I would have thought it was my big dick. Did I plow your wife too?”

“Sene,” groaned Lilith.

“Fine. But can I assume Richter is dead?” I carelessly asked.

“He is me, and I, him, our souls have fused due to Lord Chemosh and Arawn.” He said, causing my eyes to narrow. My mind flashed back to that traitorous junkie and the sleeping head.

Could there be any relationship between him and that extra head? What is odd is that these creatures cursed by Zariel are supposed to be insane, so how is it that the traitor was able to speak so fluently? In fact. Zariel didn’t even seem surprised to see Kaius so normal. Why is that?

If Kaius had run and was probably the sole target of Zariels wrath in Iliya, then everyone else was perhaps collateral. Including the head, I saw—the supposed Chaos Lord.

I hope that’s not the case. I truly do.

Richter smiled. “I’ll go along with this little ploy set up by the higher beings but Lucarious. I’ll be seeing you soon. You and the spawns you carry by this Avatar. The legacy of House Lazarus will never fade.”

Dissolving in a sea of floating embers, I frowned deeply. “He’s going to be a problem. A big one. I hope he’s not a Paragon.”

“That man’s soul.” Lilith started strangely.” It’s different. There are two of them.”

“Two?”

She nodded. “Yeah. One in Iliya and then here. What the hell is he?” She questioned, turning in the direction I felt him materialize in, just south of Iliya’s border. “I have got a feeling Chemosh did some strange necromancy or forbidden soul technique.”

“Either way, we’ll have to deal with that later. When the Gates open. Once this is over, we’ll be free of responsibility. Well, kind of free.” I added, peering down at the slight baby bump.

“This is such a mess.”

Lilith smiled, leaning onto my shoulder, “Yeah, but that’s what happens when you keep making enemies. I wonder if our kids will have that issue?”

“It’s part of the Snow Linage, my dear. Or at least my bloodline. Zariel is just a bitch compared to me.”

“Bet you won’t tell him that.”

“I bet you I won’t.”

Laughing a bit at myself, the air suddenly began to tingle, and our gaze soon swept over the horizon near the west, where a horrid amount of demonic Qi bellowed at the Heaven.

At the forefront stood Asmodeus gripping a demonic-looking greatsword blazing a rich black and red flame. By his side stood Levi wielding a spear-carrying a forbidden power over its edge.

Trailing behind these two Soviegns stood the Kings, then Princes with a massive legion of bloodthirsty devils and demons, gripping the skulls of those they’d won in combat. A rancid scent followed their trail as they approached the abyssal Fiends.

Towards the East, however, light began to wane as Seraphic and Nectoric Energy twisted into that of a mystical creature baring its fangs.

Leading them, however, wasn’t Zantar nor Balor as I’d thought but rather Raziel carrying the same lifeless gleam in his eyes.

“They gave him the throne, and yet he still sits upon it,” Lilith said.

I nodded in agreement, surveying the first-class angels of archangels and wielding the same look as their ruler. “Indeed, but have you noticed?” ｂ𝚎ｄｎ𝚘ｖ𝚎𝚕．𝚘𝚛𝚐

“What? The absence of relics?”

“Yeah, they were boasting about weapons gathered from ages past, yet their swords and weapons seem the same.”

“True, or it could be in their soul.” Lilith countered, causing a threatening pressure to weigh on my brow. “You think there’s more? The Horseman gates only stole about ten or twenty percent of each realm. I tried to target more of the stronger people.”

“Yes, but they were preparing for war; why wouldn’t the archangels have such relics on their person? They knew the demons were stronger. At least at the time.” My stomach dipped, and my eyes narrowed in a measuring light. “Guess we’ll find out soon. Freya, what of Seraphina?”

“Currently with Aegis. They are preparing the formation. Ren and Einar are acting as a defense. They are just waiting on your call, Master.”

Sweat dotted my brow, and my heart quickly began to hammer. This was going to be close. So close.

“KNEEL FILTHY DEMONS!!!!” Raziel thundered, caring the King’s Crest between his brow, “YOU STAND BEFORE ABSOLUTION!!!”

Asmodeus’s expression hadn’t even swayed for a second as his gaze swept towards the two Paragons making their way into the skies above Iliya. Wielding a power far above average Paragons, the two abyssal fiends suspended themselves in the skies.