Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"Good God," I weakly uttered, releasing a long sigh as I stared at the rage-induced angel filling the heavens with death. "Why is it I can never catch a break? Can\'t he just die?"

Peering into his soul that seemed like a tattered mess, the laws of darkness coursed through my eyes as I glanced at Valice, watching with a smile.

Xentrix wasn\'t the first person I fought that was immortal; this world is filled with them. And with this Fools broken soul, trying to rise above my darkness is a fleeting dream.

"Banish," I snapped, brushing my fingers through space with a teasing smile as the Mad Angel before my eyes were cast into the shadow realm. I fell to my knees, gasping for sweet air, as my lungs felt like a pair of hands was squeezing the life out of them.

"I didn\'t think you\'ll live," Valice expressed, walking towards me with a cheery smile, " You did well nevertheless; battling angels with concepts is no easy task." Offering her hand, I took it as she jerked me to my feet, " But whoever did these injuries were no joke; they had to have been a paragon." She pointed out, eying my soaked clothing with the utmost scrutiny. "So was it?"

"It was; that ass hole was testing me. I got my ass kicked, but the real damage came from the attunement I hold with a specific Power."

\'Attunement?\' She whispered, studying me with a look of amazement. "You hold attunement? I\'d thought only the devils would have such a power."

I smiled and narrowed my eyes, " Oh, I don\'t know. I\'d assume you also had an attunement towards Lady Mithra."

Eyes widening, flaring with a spiraling glint, She frowned, " You know too much for your own good. How is it you know of Lady Mithra?"

"The same reason I know about Zena la fay, quite a cute name, isn\'t it?" I said almost to tease but mainly to probe for more information.

There were still many things I didn\'t know about Aether and its legendary nature. Bael had written a few things but mainly went into detail about their spells, not their history.

But he had mentioned a few things regarding the Sovereign Elements, stolen from Aether by the various realms. These elements would later become catalysts for various higher beings to speak to others and grant the person of their choice the powers of a Monarch of that specific element.

Aether had been furious but held little power to combat it. At the time, they were in the midst of civil war and didn\'t have the manpower to spend time or money recovering the Sovereign Elements.

"So tell me does Zena has the Sovereign Element of Light?" I didn\'t feel it in her at the time, but it makes me wonder. Where exactly is it?

Valice frown only deepened, " You\'ve got guts; I\'ll give you that. Zena doesn\'t have the Sovereign Element. It is currently on the other side."

"Other side?" I repeated.

"Hmm, to open the Gates to Iluthath, one needs the Sovereign Element of Darkness. But what most do not know is that the Sovereign Element of Light must be the guide to the Monarch of Darkness to the other side.

\'Light can only shine within the darkness.\'

\'A misnomer, but on a base level, you are correct.\'

"Misnomer? Do explain."

Valice chuckled, " Zena had said you were a child of Tenebrae, so I expect you to hold some attachment. Tell me, as a human, could you see the bonds that tie creation together? Can you see the blinding rays of light filling you with its nutrients?"

"No."

"And that\'s my point, Mr. Blackwater, because even if the darkness might enhance the glow of the light, the light can exist without it. It\'ll just be blinding radiance so grand and majestic that your lowly mind will fail to grasp its subtle grace."

I swear, ever since I got into the cultivation world, some bitches have been asking for the smoke. Did this bitch really just talk down to the darkness?

"Have you ever been baptized before?"

​ "Excuse me?"

"These hands about to bless you."

I have never hit a bitch because of anger, but times are changing. Let\'s go! LET\'S GO!

Valice chuckled and peered up towards the small fleet of Star Ships, and a few Echo X from Genesis appeared one after the other till House Black was utterly surrounded.

"I\'ll handle this, just keep quiet," Valice said before lifting herself off the ground towards the Angelic camp, glaring at me as though I were the anti-Christ.

I swear I only eat people who deserve it. Ok, that\'s a little cap, but I swear I cook them to perfection. One will never find fault with my cooking. I\'ve never even wasted food except when Truck-kun killed me.

My poor fridge had just been filled too. All that meat was being marinated and was ready for consumption. Gods, I swear she could have killed me the next day, and I would have been happy.

Fuck!!!! Little sister, you cut me deep.

You Little Traitor!!!!!

Wiping the tears threatening to fall, I cleared my throat, carrying a little tickle, and fell back into my cold persona.

Glancing towards the Genisis Sector gathered around Valice, my senses suddenly picked up on someone sneaking close to me.

Glancing towards my rear, I saw a teenager of all things. A little girl with somewhat short dark blue hair, with a long strand hanging near the corner of her left cheek; A look of panic could be seen in her dark, starry eyes as she peered right into my soul.

"I request sanctuary." She hastily said, clenching my robe, stained by my blood.

Her hand backed up immediately as she peered down at the scarlet pigments her small hands held. " How? You weren\'t hit."

"True, but other factors are at play; who are you hiding from?"

"Please help me! Your the Monarch of D—"

Covering her mouth before she got me killed, I maintained a graceful appearance and smiled, " You can stay with me, but I want answers."

"Thank the Stars! Thank you! Thank You, Thank you! I\'m Lara Snark, maiden of— Sorry, AHHH! I almost told a secret! Bad Lara! Bad!"

...An airhead or an idiot?