Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

For this reason alone, I supported Tenebrae regarding the Shadow Proclamation. To control the Gods in a way that restricted their innate need to kill someone who could surpass them to the reckless plans they held for the world around them. 

A change needs to occur. Especially since the Shadow Proclamation restricts Mephisto. Most of that bastard\'s schemes originate with gossip amongst the mortals. I could not believe how much Gods track other Gods through Mortals when I learned of this. If there was ever one thing most gods worried about, it was their subjects. Those that bend a knee to them. And there were more mortals than there were Gods. 

Mephisto had grasped this concept early. And it was this that allowed him to manipulate Gods he had no contact with. 

\'Gods are like parents, Zariel. If you want to manipulate the Parents, you go after the children, who can\'t tell the difference between right and wrong.\' He once told me. "From there, the children will slowly alter the perception of the parents, and in turn, society.\' 

"Are you ready?" Vancurro questioned, approaching me with a long scowl. He folded his arms, glancing up at Arsene and his little duet with Mephisto a few parsecs away. "I still can\'t believe I\'m stuck on prep." 

"It\'s a solid plan," I told him, shifting my gaze to Izzy approaching. His stained wrist wet his blood, similar to ours. 

 "I don\'t like schemes," Vancurro said. "Zero might have approved of it, but schemes are borning." 

\'Said the man actively fucking bitches behind his wife\'s back. How many schemes are you running." Izzy said, rolling his eyes. 

Van went red. "I\'m a loyal man now." 

To that, I turned to him, ready to call him on his bullshit, when I heard Izzy laugh. "If you say so. But you have been saying that for years now. I\'m just saying don\'t Wife someone up if you are going to cheat." 

"I, too, agree." I joined. I couldn\'t understand Arsene or Van\'s fascination with putting their dick in everything that walked. It\'s weird. Aurelia is already a handful. 

"First off. I\'m not talking advice from a fucked up excuse of a man. And you." He pointed to Izzy. "The last bitch you was dealing with, lowkey, was hated by everyone in the group." 

"Hmmm. But you still cheated." 

"I… Explored around. I even got permission once." He softly said, as if to excuse his behavior. 

"Good for you… I guess?" Izzy said, but I could hear him trying to hold back the words he wanted to spit in Van\'s face. Izzy was always like this, though. Cheating had always been a touchy subject for him, especially with his soap opera-type lifestyle. One would think with time, his love life would improve, but I must say Izzy is the most unlucky person I know to date. 

How do all twelve girlfriends end up cheating on you? And how is he still friends with all of them? Shit doesn\'t make sense to me. Maybe there is just something wrong with my head. Problems like this are above my level of EQ.

The void suddenly trembled, revealing an obsidian black mask. Sensing his frown, I glanced around. "What\'s wrong? Everything is up and running."

"I don\'t like scheming around Mephisto. He plays too many games." Zero said, sighing. He placed his hands behind his back and looked towards Arsene. "When you created Paragon… you almost died due to the backlash the Myriad Heavens brought." 

"Hmmm." I nodded, touching my heart where the scar that stretched over my chest remained. I thought of removing it, but it was a symbol of my achievement. There were few things that made me feel proud, but creating the Realm of Paragon was one of them. "But there is a big difference between me and Arsene. When I created Paragon, I was still considered a Mortal. Arsene has past that realm." 

"Hehe! That\'s why truck-kun is here!" The little lass cheered, leaping out of the void like a nimble cat. She landed on my shoulder, pointing towards Arsene with fever in her pearly green eyes. 

"And what have you been up to?" 

"Me?" My Little Sis asked, pointing to herself. She giggled mischievously. "I was poking at Arsenes little one\'s cheeks. So fluffy. I even planted the Path of Rebirth in Ves. He\'s so lucky." 

"I hate that power of yours." Vancurro insisted. "It\'s unfair to fight against. No matter what happens, you just keep coming back." 

"Jealous? I\'m not the one who keeps dying." Truck-Kun cheekfully pointed out. 

Van snatched her off my shoulders, pulling her by the cheeks. " You little brat. You\'re lucky you have that ridiculous skill. Because your sword skill is—" 

"Also broken?" Izzy said. " Literally. She can force you to experience the same rebirth. Truck-Kun is the ultimate support." 

"Hmph-Hmph! Praise Truck-Kun, for she is the ultimate support character!" The little girl roared, jumping out of his hands and onto Zero\'s shoulders. She smiled, patting him on the mask. "Hiya Zero. How have ya been? Have you found yourself a woman yet… Or a man?" 

Zero kicked her off his head and into my arms. He ignored her as the Qi around him began to shimmer off the surface of his flesh. "Get in position. I\'ll hold off Mephisto if it should come to that. The rest of you, just be ready to face tribulation." He vanished into a fine mist of qi. 

"Big bully~," Truck-Kun said, brushing her bottom. And her frown deepened as her voice grew solemn. "Arsene really has grown, eh? Not only does he have kids now. He\'s even competing against you." 

"Competing, eh?" I messed up her hair, smiling. "The real competition will not begin until Arsene becomes an Archaeon." And my eyes slid to Van, to Izzy, and Truck-kun. "It\'ll all be a race once this new path opens up." 

Van chuckled, clutching his fists together. The eagerness in his eyes was nearly infectious. " I can\'t wait. If this path is as good as you say. I can\'t wait to surpass your bitch ass." 

"I second that," Izzy remarked, grinning. 

\'Truck-Kun too!\'