Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Having received a full update on the situation with the Angels, I gave Seraphina a nod of recognition.

Arch-Angel Uriel. Haven’t heard much about him, but him being here is definitely evidence the Myriad gods were descending into the Fourth Heaven. The banishment of these traitorous angels is sure to stir the twelve realms.

Seraphina hardened her gaze near the small campfire we’d started. ” I want to look for my brothers and sisters. They don’t deserve this.”

“I think Uriel was absolutely right in doing what he did. In fact. I’ll call it justice if such a thing even exists. We both know it.” I said to her, observing the sinking of her lips alongside the loneliness pressing against her shoulders. “They were traitors through and through.”

“They didn’t know.” Sera pressed, tightening the grip of her fist

“Doesn’t mitigate the crime.” Firewood crackled and smoldered. Winds billowed like knives over our flesh as a silence pressed over the Realm. “A traitor deserves death. And Uriel saw to banish instead of kill. This is their second chance. Whether they became Fallen is up to them.” 𝐞𝗼𝐯𝐞𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Seraphina’s eyes closed and opened after a long while. “Goodnight, Arsene.”

Merely nodding, Sera walked away under the grimacing shade of snow, and I chuckled with wry amusement as she faded. The firewood covered in my abyss flames crackled again, heating the campsite.

“She is too naive. But I guess it comes with the territory of her nature. But this Uriel is quite forgiving. Although, he did slaughter millions in the Heavens. I’m sure they deserved it. If it were me, I would have killed every single one of them and started over.

Glaring at the campfire, blistering a chilling heat, I focused my heart and mind together. Embellishing in the flow of my blood through my veins, the heat on which my body burned, I pushed aside outside forces and focused on my inner self.

The body of a human was practically limitless. While there start from infancy weak, they could grow into monsters with cultivation. Some are even capable of rivaling angels and beings like me. It all depends on talent and willpower.

Throughout my life, I have ignored one fact. And that was the body growth of the body through cultivation. It wasn’t something I needed to ever think about. Steal Qi from Heaven and Earth, and you get stronger. But I never wondered how. Why does Qi make me stronger? Why does my body grow with it? The answer: Blood Laws.

Everything about Heaven and Earth was connected in one way.

Sensing the ecosystem within my body come alive, inviting the world from the outside in, I finally began to understand why people had various affinities to different elements. The soul had a lot to do with it, but so did the body.

Life began with the soul, which gave birth to the body: This was the beginning of all life forms.

Returning to myself, cloaked in a fog of blood light, glistering under the moon’s glow, a cold icy breeze caressed my cheek. And the echo of a lone crow echoed the song of death as I looked upwards with a sense of authority in my heart.

The coldness plaguing my flesh for years melted away as the outside elements I didn’t accept receded.

As if I had gained control over every aspect of myself, from the atoms to electrons spinning, a sense of control gripped me.

“It won’t be long until I become a Paragon or, better yet, Chaos Lord. I’m close. To both of them.”

“Can you instant adapt now?” Lily asked.

“I think so. But only if it’s in the Realm of my understanding.” I replied, confused as to why she asked. Lily seemed all-knowing. “You can’t tell?”

Giggling within my soul, Lily spoke.” Not anymore. You pushed me out. You pushed everyone out. If I want to know everything about you, I’ll have to forcefully break in, and that’s too much trouble.”

“I think I understand what fusing my body and soul together now means. It’s like going back to Origin, but inverse. The soul comes first, then the body. I need to trigger a change that’ll allow my body to awaken the core of my soul. This way, I’ll awaken a rebirth and become a Paragon.”

Exhilaration marched through my heart as I struggled not to smile. “After so many years, so many cycles. I’m here.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. You need to refine your blood laws like you have your darkness. Have patience.”

I nodded, noticing the rising sun over the horizon. I rose, listening to the cracking of my bones fortifying themselves with this sudden sense of enlightenment.

A challenging glint flared over my heart. ” Lily, how strong is this cold? What layer of heaven?”

“It’s pretty much fifth. Why?”

Opening myself up to the world, a blast of ice consumed me but melted almost instantly as an array of information flashed over my mind. The cold melted into nothingness as my body instantly adapted to the cold.

Heaven and Earth trembled as pillars of black light flared like stars over the dawn. Two pillars shot up from Kuro and Adrian’s shared tent and hundreds of continents away. All of my Shadowfell changed as their innate adaptation began to strengthen.

“I guess my race will also be a race with a bullshit ability.” I mused gleefully. “I wonder if they can Instant A—

“They can’t, but maybe the paragons or high-rank Shadowfell might be able to when they get stronger,” Lily said, cutting me short. “Try to hide your progress Arsene. No one knows what happened. Before Shiva or Zariel force you to seal your ability to give your people any physical or spiritual changes. Progenitors are dangerous for this reason alone.”

“Yeah. I get it. But survivability is needed right now. I just gave my people a chance of survival in this eternal winter. Even if they don’t have instant adapt, I’ve enhanced their adaptation… In the future… I’m going to make myself immune to everything in creation. Only Almighty abilities will be able to harm me.”

“Spoken like a true Chaos Lord.”

Somewhat proud, I looked up, sensing the intent of confusion and dismay in the skies. Knowing various Myriad Gods were monitoring me. I rose my middle finger.

“I’m coming for you all.”