Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Stricken by horror, my organs felt like they had been twisted and prodded. Blood ran from my nose, and my body flew, piercing through planets, moons, and debris—pain embedded itself into me; try as I could to defend myself. Before my eyes, the Sacred Flame around Safi, blazing with radiance, was devoured with the slightest bit of effort; before the terror of the Necrotic Blade, I knew to belong to the Fallen.

Baring this anguish, I bore down to Safi, bath in a blaze of flames. I could hear her screams, her hums of mercy. I ignited my sacred light once more, fueling my Sacred Flame with more Divinity than I would have liked. But I was successful. Safi was safe.

“Brother!” I cried, peering at the debris surrounding me by the remains of an unlucky planet that entered my trajectory. My bones chilled as I saw nothing but corpses mangled beyond measure appear in my sight.

Was this what we were meant to do to all of the Bed of Chaos? What are we going to do?

“I’m here,” Casteel said, his tone shaken. Whipping into my field of vision, he growled, a little beaten, but his injuries slowly began to fade. “What an attack. How is it possible for a devil to use Necrotic Blade?”

“You forget who he is. Bael was known for his knowledge. Of all of the Kings of Hell, he was the best caster. To copy one of the Fallens Low-Grade Circles should not be hard. But I am sure it’s not the True Necrotic Blade. Like our Sacred Flame, his has to be fake, an imitation.” I explained, flashing back to that gruesome experience.

“Let’s go. I am sure Berith will not follow after us. And Sister.” Casteel suddenly said, drawing my attention that remained locked on the bodies of this nameless planet. “You are distracted. Banish such thoughts, or let them fuel your blade. Distractions kill.”

I clenched Safi tighter; nodding, I bitterly turned to Casteel’s piercing blue eyes. I had wanted to retort his claim, to say he was wrong. But this is wrong. All of this is wrong. Are we not being’s of peace? Peacekeepers were meant to keep the Devils and Demons in line. We, the Angels of Heaven, were meant to lay judgment in death. Why are we even here interfering? Why is it when I look at these bodies of children, women, and men, I feel nothing? Nothing but regret, not sadness, not turmoil, just regret? Am I not just a demon dressed to be an angel?

“SISTER!” Casteel growled, glaring profusely. “GET–IT–TOGETHER!”

Shooting me one last stare I never thought would come from my own family, Casteel shot off, and I shadowed his movements. Piercing through space, the hum of my Divinity exploded with such power I whipped past Casteel with a tremendous jerk of energy, appearing once more on the broken planet of Alos. I cleaved my blade down with the power of Ren-Shii.

Berith did not seem surprised as he lifted his scepter. I Met his expectations as my wings grew ablaze, and the halo above my head expanded. Etching out far and wide through Alos, my Divinity spiked, so much so I saw the faint surprise in Berith. But his serene expression did not dim; it only grew as he spoke his incantation.

“Infernal riposte,” he coldly remarked, and all the power of Safi seemed to slip from my blade as the dagger made a sword by the enchanting flame of the necrotic blade, transferred over from his wand to his sword.

I struck out once more, not letting myself be taken off guard again. I became quick to fuel my Sacred Flame, sending explosions sounding off left and right as we clashed. Blazing heat-stamped past my cheeks searing my skin as we battled. Berith did not use his sword like it was a sword, but rather a nimble dagger it was. His blade was quick but carried the power of a greatsword but the speed of a small dagger.

Injuries were quick to cover my flesh, filling my body with the foul power of the necrotic blade, tainting my pure self. Anger was quick to build. Fueling Ren-Shii, I suddenly gave a sidestep, gathering more momentum at the forward stroke of the sword. Berith grunted, knowing a parry was not in his best interest, but there was nothing he could do as my blade whipped with the power to shatter an entire realm, ready to tear off his neck.

Blasting Berith off his feet and out of sight, I cried, “CASTEEL!”

Piercing down from space into the tattered atmosphere of Alos having just arrived. My heart seized as Duke Gusion seemed to appear out of the blue. Without a sign of movement, much less disturbance from the Laws of Space. Gusion halbert exploded with such a deadly might I saw the very end of the world.

“NO!” I cried; seeing the surprise of Casteel, I knew he was about to die. The Keeper of Time had just appeared.

Spiral Laws were locked down by my brethren. No one could teleport but us, but Duke Gusion had done that without even us comprehending how.

Gusions’ demonic halbert flashed, but the Duke only seemed to smile as my brother glanced at me, “Forgive me, sister, but we must destroy this Gate. For the Heavenly Father!” He said in a soul whisper.

Not understanding why he had said this, everything suddenly changed, and piercing pain ran through my chest. Blood gushed from my eyes and mouth as I stood shell-shocked, peering up at the indifferent expression of Gusion as his halbert ran through my chest.

Casteel had switched places with me.

“Let him be, Prince Seir. “Gusion uttered calmly, “Lilith wishes to see what they are about to do.” Pulling his blade out of my chest, I staggered back, and he chuckled, “Go. It will also seem like Lilith wishes you to keep your life.”

“Did I miss the show?” Duke Berith chuckled, appearing from my very shadow; he smiled, patting my shoulder, “Girl, you are far too green. Killing you would have been a game. Get some experience in this war, and come back. I would love to have a better fight.” 𝗻𝐨𝐯𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

“W-W-What is going on?” I grimly asked, passing the Sacred Flame over my chest to mend my injuries. They turned towards Casteel, pulling out the Cryos Spear bellowing in laughter; he arrived at the Gate of Death. It was then I realized they were all smiling.

“It was a trap,” I muttered when an explosion of Abyssal essence washed over the land, piercing through the void into the Bed of Chaos.

“Lilith Snow said thank you.”