Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

It was all gone. The three's, the birds, the winds, everything was gone, the moment that hellish flame appeared. It came as a breeze and left behind an inferno. It was gone, the very land of Sa'ar was gone, and in its place was a raging inferno and the screams of those that perished: Erics, people, the primates, the birds, none were spared as the flame blew with the breeze reaching the seas.

"Lerna," I whispered to the very first realm of hell.

"A Legend," Said Tala, dropping her graceful mask. "She cast a legend instantly. May Hel grant them peace within Valhalla."

"There shall be no peace, for these lost souls," Lori said in a voice that was not her own. "Shall we begin, Tala?"

Shooting a deep stare past the image of Lori towards the depths of a voice speaking, Tala nodded, regaining the grace she once held. "Do we have a deal?" She asked..

"Do you think you have a choice?"

"I am prepared to die. Do not simply assume I do not know what I risk. I am not one of your lambs," Tala said ambitiously. Reviling a hungry glint, I had thought I would only see within the power-hungry eyes of a devil.

"Lori told me you wish for a weapon to kill Demons and Devils." She said, causing Tala to scuff.

"What is a weapon if the Ashen King has Gods by his side? " Tala scornfully said, pointing towards the hellish landscape around us and then towards us, who were protected by a divine barrier. "What I want, dear Ashna is power. Not some weapon to grant me temporary power, but a power that will allow me to battle the Devil himself."

"What you ask is the impossible," Ashna stated without a hint of hesitation. The Demon Race was, after all, one of the strongest to walk the Bed of Chaos.

"I do not think so. It doesn't take a genius to figure out you are working with other Gods. From what I hear, an angel himself dared to speak with the Ashen King. Now tell me, why would an Angel speak to a devil if not to kill a devil of greater importance? Then there is Andor. Need I say more?"

"No. But all I can do is grant you an audience." She said, cutting straight into the heart of the matter.

Carrying a sinister gleam, Tala licked her cherry lips, "that is all I ask," she answered, tossing her a small glowing orb, "within that holds all of the Qi I could muster within the past five hundred years. I believe it should be more than enough."

'That woman... That woman needs to die.'

"Indeed," Said Ashna waving her arm to create a small portal, "it's your chance."

Stepping without taking a second to look back, I did not break my cover. While Tala could become a potential threat, my goal was to find out about Ashna's plan.

"Such an interesting woman. Who would have thought such a marvelous gem would exist here." She muttered, glancing towards the sea of destruction. Shifting her attention towards the lambs, her lips arose in a revolting arc.

Clenching my palms not to vomit, in disgust, soul force began to spin within my body. Cooling myself, the seconds began to trickle before a powerful divinity seemed to blanket all that was left of Sa'ar with its grace.

Making various hand signals, the magical rune followed by complex circles began to take form within the skies consumed by flames and ash—her golden light became like a vibrant star. My heart began to seeth with such a sinister flame; I felt my soul beginning to bleed with endless anger.

"Grey, calm yourself; this was your plan!' Elsa whispered within my head. 'your chance is coming. From what I can see, she is trying to summon something. Could it be her real body? Isn't that what you wanted"

"Can you take control of it as Arsene did? with Sitri, to get the demons here?" I coldly inquired, sending a spiritual message back using soul force.

"No, but I can cripple whatever enters. But you understand, our goal is to destroy that cursed staff?"

"And how many weapons have you ever destroyed? Destroying a weapon could take days. It requires immense power, and doing it instantly is not likely to happen. Just follow what I asked and deliver me control.

Completing a sting of complex hand gestures, the large circles containing endless formations and inscriptions came into reality before breaking off into seven circles spiraling around us.

Taking out an orb that demons use to take souls, a dark smile appeared upon my lips as I looked up at Ashna, holding a grand expression of victory. Tossing into the pocket of those baffled at what was going on.

"Arsene... By the Gods, you will never see the light of day again." She said as the spiraling circles suddenly began to pick up pace. Feeling an odd sensation upon my body, I narrowed my eyes at the soul starting to be absorbed from everyone's body, including their life force.

Hearing these poor fools screaming out in anguish, I simply stared as my gaze crossed with Ashna. Widening her eyes, she giggled in delight. "Grey seems we will see each other once more."

Holding a sinister grimace, I nodded, "Indeed,"

"You are not here to stop me?" She asked, baffled as to what I was scheming.

"Why would I? I am here for one simple thing, and till you descend, why would I stop you?"

"Even if that means I kill Arsene and your entire family." She grimly stated, causing a dark smile to rise.

"Indeed," I curtly replied, allowing the souls to rise within the air. Completely aware of the Abyssal energy mixed into the souls of all. That was being taken away.

Elsa had said Abyssal energy could take the form of anything. So why not soul energy with a slight twist? I was merely a distraction within a distraction to by time.

Holding her icy eyes upon mine and mine upon hers, the body of Lori began to burn with holy light slowly. Starting with her feet that hovered off the ground, her legs began to smolder, revealing embers and ash that began to stretch upwards towards her neck and face like webs.

Watching the life of Lori perish, the faded image of a goddess began to appear to form the skies onto the land. She seemed far different from when I last saw her, but there was a familiar aura embedded into the root of her. Her skin was a few shades lighter, and the bone structure was all different. It was like she was a completely different person. Even her height had changed.

"Like it? I didn't like how I looked, so I returned to my original form," Said Ashna, with her body still transparent. Watching a brand new face and skin appear, I could not help feel disgusted at what she had become. "I tell you this form is far better to have sex with. Want to give it a go? It's so much more... tantalizing and tighter, if you know what I mean. Your wife sure has a voice on her. I tell you, her moans are some of the best I can release. Her body is perfect for a good fuck!"

Feeling my heart twist, I did not allow that blasted bitch to relish this moment. Masking the budding hell within my soul, I simply smiled.

"Ashna, I promise you. Your end will not be pretty. The end you will have will be so cruel. Lord Asmodeus may even give me a noble title within the Hells.