Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

I think this is the first time I’d ever heard someone speak of Greyson’s wife; she was always a topic of taboo. He’d only mention it here a few times, never in depth.

The runes below Moloch’s right eye shimmered, drawing my attention, but I’d felt something off. “Don’t worry, boy, I’m not here to kill you. But you all being here is dangerous, especially since Belphegor is trying to steal Lucifer’s army.”

“He doesn’t know? Isn’t this his Hell?”

“Who said we’re in the Hells? If we were, you would not be this sane, even if Zariel had sealed most of your memories regarding them.” He said, and I felt my heart clench, forcing me to chant the Path of Abyssal Night to force down the memories of what had happened.

“So this is all for what?”

“Well, I’ve got what I want, and I’ve given a chance for Belphegor to take everything away without Lucifer knowing; this might actually save you from him. You know he his pissed at you,” He said when suddenly, I stared at Grey.

“Is he alive?”

“Who?”

“My Grandfather?”

Greyson’s bloody smile reached up as he opened his palm, revealing the embers of a soul,” I killed him the day we were leaving to the Abyss.”

“Father,” Eroma’s voice cracked as he whispered.

“It was a clean death,”

“Stop. Just stop it.” Eroma uttered, shaking his head as tears spilled from his eyes,” Moloch, will he always be like this?”

“Belphegor has corrupted a great deal of his mind, so it’ll take a few cycles to wash away his corruption, which is when I promise him I’ll—”

‘Good, and it will be that day you realize what you’ve done, Grey.” He said, cutting Moloch short, trembling where he stood, “I hope she is as forgiving as you once believed she was Grey: killing your Father, betraying your family, all this just to get her—”

Whipping my hand over Eroma’s neck with the help of the Will of the Abyss, the light filling his eyes went dead.

Catching this loyal soldier in my arms, still shedding tears over his lost Father, my heart couldn’t have felt more bitter regarding this entire situation.

“You’ll have to step your game up, Arsene.” Moloch suddenly said, “As a former Archangel, you must understand how terrifying the Law of Concordance truly is. It’s not something you can take likely.”

“So were allies now?”

“You make it sound like I did anything? If you want to blame someone, blame yourself or Belphegor. But it’s fine if you hate me; I’m a lord of Sacrifice, and who do you know loves to sacrifice? Whether it’s for good or bad, I benefit anyway. And the outcome is always bitterness or sadness.”

I stared at the Fallen, who had continued to smile, and my eyes narrowed, “I’m weak now, but no transgression against me will ever fade.”

“I’d hope they don’t. Until we meet in Arcadia,” He said when everything around me suddenly vanished, and I appeared in a large decorated room with a lather of gold. It was regal, as they come filled with a necrotic form that almost bent my soul, forcing me to bend a knee. ．

“How’ve you been, Arsene?” Lucifer’s cold icy voice reached out.

Startled, I looked down, noticing Eroma missing, and frowned, ” What have you done?”

“He’s fine; Izavith wanted him for some reason.” He explained, leaning on his chin in a slouch.

“I spoke with that bastard Michael whether I should kick your ass for your brother defiling my daughter, and you know what he said?”

“Knowing my luck, I think he said go for it.”

“Yup? So you ready?”

“This is some bullshit. Are you really going to bully me?!” I howled, taking a step back, cursing Zariels name to the deepest depths of Hell and highest of Heavens.

“Not yet, only stating something you’ve got to look forward to.” He jeered and leaned up from this simple-looking throne.

“So, you know all that happened?”

“I know, and I allowed it to happen because I have a plan of my own; I’d like to teach your son or daughter.” He said, startling me.

“Huh? We’re to be enemies. You even said you would gather an army to battle the Abyss.”

“I know what I said motherfucker, and I will, but there is something about this situation I don’t like. Mephisto is too much in control. So I’ll be granting you my assistance with the bun.”

“We’ve got Aurelia; I’m sure you gave her all your Artes and Spells,” I said, as Lucifer had seemed to be an overprotective father. I’m sure he’d restart the war with Heaven if she asked him.

“I did”

“Do you have any other fighting training experience?”

“Nope.

Fucking Hell, why is it all these peak monsters haven’t ever trained, anyone? Then again, I’ve not trained anyone before. Should I take on a disciple? Fuck no, so he can try to fuck my daughter? I’ll kill him, and if it’s a female, I’m definitely going to smash her. There’s no winning. As for my son, hmmm, that leaves the question, is anyone good enough to teach him? Same for my baby girl.

Izavith is something special, but Lucifer? He’ll turn my babies against me, which would make me proud, having to break their spirit as all parents have before.

“I can see fumes flying off your head,” Lucifer pointed out, giving a wry chuckle, ” believe me, if it weren’t to get closer to my daughter and possibly see one particular someone from the Forsaken Clan, I’d not be the least bit interested.

“Who?”

“None of your damn business. If Arcadia is what I think it is, we’ll all be entering a higher Heaven, so our power will be halved, and we’ll have to start back in cultivation, which isn’t really that big a deal. It’ll only take a few days for us to become supreme.”

Eyes widening, I flinched, ” That quick?”

“Arsene, the max Heaven I’m in right now is seven thousand and twenty-seven. Heavenly Dao has failed, so one must turn to Mortal Dao to take advantage of every Heaven. Do you think I’ve got time to be grinding each Heaven I come across?” he questioned, rolling his eyes, ” I run Hell, and the Origin Realm, the land once known as Eden.

“So it is infinite. The Myriad Heavens.”

“It’s all an illusion,” Lucifer said, carelessly shrugging his shoulders, making light of the situation, “And illusion so real that we believe its real when in truth the only thing that matters is this Realm. That’s why we named it Origin. The rest is just a game for Father’s amusement.”