Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

“So, “I softly began growing more solemn, ” How does this work? These trials you spoke of? I assume a battle?”

“One of them is, but the rest are more parameter checks.” He conveyed, clearing his throat, ” Oh, I seemed to have forgotten to give my name. I am Zax.” He said, “It’s not my full name, but it’s good enough for a being of your power and mind.”

“The hell is that suppose to mean?”

“The time it would take for me to pronounce in a way your little mind could grasp, the dawn of chaos would wash away the stars, creating it anew.

“Dawn of Chaos?”

Zax begrudgingly sighed, “How is it you are even a potential candidate to be my new master? The Dawn of Chaos is what happens when a Chaos Cycle occurs. As you should already know, a chaos cycle is what keeps every Heaven alive. However, when a single Drew of Chaos is born, what is known as the Dawn of Chaos will occur, which can destroy existence or empower it. It’s a flip of the coin. No one knows the deciding factors.”

That’s a little concerning. Would I survive?

“So aside from you bragging about how long your name is, what of the trials?” I impatiently asked, glaring at the horned imp standing with his stern expression.

“That impatiens will be your undoing. But I expect nothing less from a man such as yourself. The one patience schemer. Now, nothing more than a slave to his sins.” Zax uttered with the contempt in his tone that was drowning me where I stood.

My eyes rolled, “Whatever you say,” I said; there was no point arguing. While Zax might be right in some regards, can I truly be a slave to my sins? I’m not a crazed beast like Baphomet is sometimes, nor am I fucking left and right. Sometimes, my pride may get the better of me, but is that so wrong? Is it so bad to do whatever I want? It was freeing to be myself. To care not about others and just whatever I wanted. How many people, cultivators even, can say they are as free as I am. I have the power, the resources; I have it all. Call me a slave all you want, but in the end, I will soon be your master.

I smiled and slid my gaze to the throne Zax stood beside.

“There will be four trials; each meant to push you to your limit or kill you,” Zax said straightforwardly. “Each trial will be based on a hundred to a billion years time limit.” he lifted three fingers” How much do you know of the three powers.”

“The Mind, Body, and Soul. Although, in my opinion, the soul and mind are the same things,” I casually said.

“Then you will be a fool. But that’s to be expected from someone who cares more for raw power than the intricate ways of the Arcane Arts.”

“You talk a lot of shit; you know that?”

“What I do know is that you are a naive brat who has been granted many things and bearly had to work for anything. Your wife, body, blood, cultivation technique. However, this Trial will be something that will push you to your limit.”

“Are you high? I have quite a few feats, you know. ”

“Schemes and nothing more.”ｏｖ𝚕．ｃｏ𝚖

“Do you talk to bael like this?” I uttered, watching Zax nod.

“My King was not so grand when he was first birth into this world. Like you, he was but a sack of useless shit a pig wouldn’t gorge upon, no matter how you prodded it. ”

Jesus Christ.

Zax’s stern glowed with awe, and he continued, ” however, with time, he acquired knowledge, working under the Great Serpent Lord Mephistopheles, and became a King of Hell. And you can be the same. Despite your trashy cultivation, I see the potential my master sees.”

Fuck this guy!

“I shall explain each trial now.” The first Trial is the body, in which we play upon your weakness.” he said, and I smiled. but it quickly faded as he noted my smirk, “Izavith came to me as one final fuck you, for apparently screwing Freya, behind her ladyship back, and said that she will grant me access to the elemental nature of the sun of the abyss.”

No! No! No! No! No! No! No!

Screw you, Izavith! Are you trying to make me your enemy! Well, you have succeeded. This is war! One day you will rue the day you crossed me! When my baby is born, just you wait. I’m going to have you clean its shit!

Fucking Hell! I cannot catch a break!

“Your next trial,” He said, finding a smile on his lips, amused by my tormented expression, ‘ I will temper your soul. In this stage, we will wither you down until your soul generates Astral Qi. in this stage, If it doesn’t, you die, and I go back into hibernation. So please do die.”

“Hurry it up! Old man,” I snapped, unable to wait for me to plunge my spear through this bastard’s throat.

I swear everyone I meet are ass holes. Is it me? Do I just attract bastards? I miss ordinary people; they are just respectful to everyone. There like foolish little lambs.

“And lastly of the three will be the Trial of Knowledge—the mind. You needn’t worry. You will have unfettered access to Baels and Soloman’s infinite wisdom and knowledge.

“Wait, what? Wisdom? What are you—”

“It was Bael who granted Soloman his knowledge. In return, Solomon would convey that knowledge into wisdom. A fair deal that led to Soloman tricking the Ruler of Hell, Asmodeus. And as a joke, Bael made it so that all lower versions of Asmodeus would revolve around that dreaded case. The Trial of Knowledge is the longest Trial, as you must read, the entirety of Baels knowledge and Solomon’s wisdom.”

“And the final Trial is what? A battle against you?” I grimly said.

Zax shook his head, ” No. it will be a battle against Bael himself. An honor if you should die by his hand. Please find the time to clean your neck. I wouldn’t want my master’s blade to be dirtied.”