Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

The darkness and the moon’s glow swelled, intertwining amongst each other the lake beneath my feet rippled. Soon the ripple turned to rumbles, and from the lake and moon came a throne—one silver, one black.

“Zilya,” I said, turning to her, but as I did, all that resided around me was darkness folding into itself. “Never mind then.”

Returning my gaze over the two thrones, the voice of Aegis sounded, “You have a choice. The Throne of Lunafreya, or Tenebrae.”

Simpled to a fault carrying the sigil of the tri-moon stood the throne of darkness, rising from the mirrored lake. From the moon stood a silver throne glowing with the sigil of an upside-down triangle holding a crest of the moon at its center.

Neither of them had a strong presence, but they made my blood crawl—especially the silver one.

“To use the light, to empower the darkness is the way of those of twilight. There is no greater power in Noctem Arsene. The light is there to feed the night to leave people with a false sense of security. They will strive for the light believing themselves safe.’ Aegis said. “But the only thing awaiting them in the darkness or the light is their death.”

“You sound envious for a prince.”

“I was, very much. The Order of Lunafreya was the strongest Arsene, especially the Knights of Twilight. Form I and Form V are a magnificent combination. You may not know this, but there can only be two. A rule of two, if you will. A non-control type can only learn two. Others have tried to break this rule, but not even chaos lords were able to do so, try as they could.” Aegis said.

Absorbing his words, I frowned and studied the two thrones, setting my gaze over the throne of Tenebrae. The throne was black as the night, carrying the crest of the tri-moons, the sigil of Luna, then the throne of moonlight, glistering a mellow light, holding the sigil of Tenebrae.

“I am darkness,” I said, drawing a deep breath, “That throne above is not mine. I’ll leave it for its rightful owner, a gift to Luna.” I approached the Throne of Night, and my fingers stretched over the misty exterior, passing right through without resistance. A bitter smile marred my lips.

“That’s right, Asmodeus has my throne.”

Releasing a breath of air, I glanced up and studied the Throne of Luna one last time, only to shake my head at the temptation, I was sure Tenebrae was stronger, but that didn’t really matter. Luna and Tenebrae made these thrones as powerful as they could within the laws of this Heaven. And I was about to sever myself from these powers.

“Shame if I was a Monarch of Moonlight. If such a thing exists, I would have picked you.” I said and took a step into the darkness of the throne of Tenebrae.

…

… 𝙚𝙙𝙤𝒗𝒆𝒍．𝒄𝙤𝙢

…

“Arsene Snow, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Balor thundered, arm bulging with veins protruding like angry dragons. His arms were crossed, hair long, and eyes a deep scarlet, blended with an emerald glow.

“You know me?” I said, narrowing my eyes, surrounded by deepening darkness that swelled with unending might.

He waved his hands, and seven spears of milky white crystals pierced their way up from the ground. Glowing with a strong power that tugged at my soul, my legs trembled at the power of origin emanating from these lances.

“Pick one Arsene, two even, three if you want, It doesn’t matter, but you will have to pay the price with each one you pick,” Balor said, placing his hands behind his back. He approached with slow, steady steps.

Something was wrong. Something was completely wrong with this scenario. Did… Did I walk into a trap?

“What type of price,” I said, playing along the best I could, fear building in the back of my mind the longer I stared at this monster, who carried a chilling smile.

“The price is your life, of course. Seven Concepts are before you.”

“Arsene, don’t,” Gurvel warned, his grip tightening around my shoulder.

Balor chuckled, “So much like your brother. The resemblance is downright uncanny. Hard to believe Yuki gave birth to you three demons; bless her heart.”

“You,” I hesitated to say, “You knew Yuki?”

“Every higher power has heard of her. She has even interacted with a few. Your mother was—”

…

…

…

Bellowing with a scream as shards of emerald light struck against my soul, the darkness unfolded before my eyes, and everything went still.

Everything was just black: There was no sound, no feeling, no senses, just nothing. It was just nothing. When out from that darkness, a warm voice seemed to fill me.

“Arsene, you are running out of time,” Lilith said. “If you don’t hurry back, you will miss it.”

I closed my eyes

…

…

…

“You’re a real bastard, Balor. It’s a good plan,” I angrily spat, glaring at the scarlet eye of this bastard, and placed my hands over the two crystal shards. “If you think you have won, then you, along with whomever you are working with, will pay. I will be back.”

“Aegis will watch over you,” Said Balor calmly.

“A babysitter? We will see how long he lasts as your pawn. I will not forget this. ” I coldly remarked, “When the Path of Iluthath is open, I promise, your end will come to an end.”

…

…

…

Snapping my eye open, I shot awake, and a fit of burning anger filled my eyes, seeping in under the right of wrath; I growled, “Balor, I am remembering. It will not belong.”

Lifting myself off the rubble, a silver rainfall of hair fell over my face. Blocking my sight, my hands pulled my hair back, removing it from my eyes when a wave of divinity slowly began to fill me. Penetrating my bones, the realm of Noctem trembled.

“There he is!!!” A howl thundered before I could get a grip of what had happened. “Arsene still lives!”

I arched my head towards the skies shattered and broken beyond repair. My heart turned cold with a dark flame from the very Hells. Smoldering at the destruction of my temple, my forest, and my skies, a fury took hold of me as I glared at the six lords in the skies.