Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"Should we go?" Yura questioned in hesitation, "...It might be the others."

"We should. I need more pawns...I mean help."

Sending an annoyed glare towards me, Yura snorted, "You really are like Duke Greyson, scheming at every little turn," She exclaimed, marching ahead with anger in her steps.

"Arent you a soul bender, should you not be like that," I returned, wondering what really makes a soul bender.

"That's not what soul benders are," she said with a pause, "While we are smarter, there is more than just talent and intelligence. If we ever make it out this small island, you will understand or maybe if you finally awaken."

'we'....damn it is she planning on following me everywhere. Damn you, Mother! You invited her to our home. Now she believes we are family.

Pausing, Yura raised her right arm, signaling for me to stop. She pointed towards four young men strapped to a wooden cross. Their hands and legs were pinned by large iron spikes as they laid bare in a pool of their own flesh that was slowly dripping like sweat from their bloodied bodies.

"Fucking Hell," I muttered in shock as Yura covered her mouth, horror visible on her face.

Opening and closing their mouths, I saw the various veins and muscles visibly throbbing over their skinless forms. Their very eyes balls were all but stain crimson as they were forced to watch one another suffer.

I must say that these demons really had an imagination. Taking a look around, making sure no one was around, Yura and I stepped closer as one of the young men's gaze seem to capture our presence. Fear, Hope, and Despair all registered in a single gaze.

"Yu-ra - Yura, run...run," he weakly whispered, "You-You are no match. We-We were no match,"

Clenching her fist Yura shook her head, "Ed, save your strength." she muttered with sorrow. " we will get you out of here."

"We can only save one, Yura." I interceded, "The rest will have to die,"

Hope seemed to gleam from ed's eyes, but it suddenly went dark as he bellowed, "Ducked!!!"

Not needing his input Yura suddenly parried a ruthless crimson swipe from behind. A ruthless grimace swallowed her gorgeous face as killing intent became visible. Rising from the depths of her very bones, a faint blackish Aura engulfed her.

"You will pay!" screamed Yura, to my horror as I felt a primordial fear rising from my soul.

"I knew I sense someone, but who would have guessed there are two half-bloods? How lucky, " said Dromore, with a cruel crazed smile beaming from his lips.

"Amazingly done, My Lord," Zool praise, lightly clapping his hands elegantly, "But allow me to take care of this Arsene, Your Grace. No reason for my lord to dirty his hands on a low-rank demon."

Drawing Dragonsbane, black flames consumed my form as I stared coldly at Zool, fixing his gloves as he eyed me with contempt.

"Just leave him alive, Zool." said Dromore without a second thought, " Young lady, has anyone ever told you that you have very bewitching eyes?"

A slight smile appeared as a terrifying intent engulfed Yura and her sword, "A low-grade filth daring to speak to me. " she screamed in disgust, shooting at Dromore like a black flash.

BOOOOOOOM!!!

A massive shock wave exploded out as Dromore was blasted away, his entire right arm in Yura's clutches as she quivered in rage. Amethyst qi flooded her body as she shot towards Dromore, who was beyond frightened.

"True Sword Intent...You're a Soul Bender," He bellowed with fear.

In but a moment, Zool had lost his concentration seeing his lord injured; taking my chance, I shot forward, appearing in front of him in an ashen flash. Dragonbane stabbing forth as Zool easily dodged, yet to his surprise, my body faded as I appeared right behind with Dragonsbane already piercing through his spine.

Blood gushed from his mouth as he twisted his head around like an owl, "HOW!?' yelled Zool, while his left arm slapped me away before I could react.

A slight sting went through my skin, but aside from flying back, I was perfectly unharmed. Realizing he was far weaker than the blood knight, I sighed a breath of relief. Yet, my joy quickly vanished as my spear wound began to twist, closing by itself as his body began to transform.

Grinning ferally, I saw an abomination of a creature that held no eyes but rather loose yet tight skin that draped over where its eyes should be with razor-sharp, shark-like teeth. It had a bald scalp with crimson skin, standing over five meters tall. It had four arms, each three-meter long with long claws shining with a sharp light.

Squealing in a high pitch that brought blood to my ears, Zool shot towards me with speed far quicker than anything I had seen before. Yet, even though it was fast, my eyes still tracked its movement as his claw came towards my neck. With a single step and a tilt of my head, I dodged as a small fine line of blood flowed from my neck.

"A Blood Fiend?" I muttered as the Mark of Sacerlage supplied me with knowledge. A beast that ate the flesh of its victims. They held a terrifyingly high healing factor and stamina—no major weakness aside from the brain and heart.

With me being too close to the beast to use Dragonsbane correctly, my left arm shot out, beating against Zools chest as an explosion of flames consumed both of us in an inferno. While also making sure my flames came in contact with ed and the others.

Roaring Zool bellowed, "MORE MORE MORE!!!"

With the scent of burnt flesh filling the room, Zool begged for more. Infatuation gleaming from his abominable form as his mouth shot open. Knowing what could potentially come, I flickered away as a massive beam of light shot down.

Gulping, I looked down only to be surprised that the floor was not melted, much less damaged. Not taking any more chances, I pointed my hands towards Zool as the flames around him began bending, consuming him in a sphere of flames.

Taking out a pill from my bracelet in a hurry, I shot them quickly towards the four defenseless men in the nick of time as Zool shot through the flames like a raging bull. Slamming into Dragonsbane and me with a lustful look.

"How can you fight me half-blood?" He questioned as blood poured from my mouth, "Even with this realm's restrictions, I should be around Earth rank. WHY ARE YOU SO POWERFUL?"

Twisting my body, I distributed most of the force away, but I could still feel many of my organs shift when we came in contact. Not answering his foolish question, Dragonsbane shot forth employing the chaos aspect of my technique.

A raging inferno of spear attacks struck into Zool's mighty body, who didn't bother to dodge as he struck down. With all four fists, each from different angles. Dodging the first two, I clenched my fist, creating a cloak of darkness around me as his two other fists struck directly into my chest and rib.

Trying as hard as possible not to be blasted away, I ignored my shattered ribs, smiling savagely as I bellowed, <Chrimson Wind>."

As if a tornado had been transported inside this chamber, I watched as Zool try to make distance only to fail as I appeared in front of him in an instant, severing one of his arms with a crescent arch of Dragonsbane. Blood rained over me, but to my surprise, his blood suddenly began twirling around me, not returning to its original owner.

While Crimson wind was lacking in the concept of blood and wind, it was still a powerful Arte even if it held millions of flaws at this moment.

"Die, Carnage of Blood!!!" yelled Zool as a ball filled with crimson qi that could kill me in a single attack struck out from his three arms. Weaving thought is arte with extreme precision and speed; I appeared right over his shiny red skull plunging Dragonsbane covered in flames through his skull.