Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Locking eyes with Kain as Andor seamlessly sidestepped to my rear, my inner voice resounded with its sirens call.

“Lost. Lost. Two Weak. Two Strong. One Missing.”

I know. I know.

“Kill.” It uttered in its childlike voice.

Pivoting my arms to my back before Andor’s blade could move, my right hand, taking care of Kain, struck out like a whip as it copped one of the techniques I once saw Arsene use.

I believe it was called Shadow Slash?

Blood spilled over my eyes and lips as Kain’s neck was dug into before he could grasp what had happened. At the same time, my blade blocked Andor’s attempt to harm me.

Master Mephistos’s blessing was all about trickery and illusions. His power allowed me to recreate the image of a person in my mind and fuse with them, granting me their body, bloodlines, and battle prowess. The only downside was that some of the almighty techniques would be too much for me to use. Although If they use it, so could I.

My heart was hammering under the dark mist generated by my Master. Still, as I turned my head towards Lilith, covered in scales, as her aura began to run wild, I felt something akin to Arsene’s aura slowly cover her body as her sword pierced through the air like a whirlwind.

Surrounded by two High Gods and Baphomet, she spoke,” Severing Chain.”

As if hell had opened up, Lilith became like a tornado whipping her blade in every direction, releasing vicious arcs that would make the angels weep and the devil’s wail.

A blood mist had covered the young demoness, as only Baphomet managed to survive, as she released a demonic roar filled with an almighty essence that pushed me away.

Piercing my bade into the earth to hold my ground, I could only groan as blood trickled from my lips as one single roar came like a truck over my chest.

Appearing by my side, she grabbed me, and we vanished, leaving nothing behind but the image of Kain’s throat bleeding out. I didn’t even get to finish him!

“Betrayal! Betrayal!” My archnemesis, slash inner voice uttered.

“Arent you forgetting two people?” I calmly asked before slapping her head as she had already reached the surface.

“Shit!” She snapped, ” you know what! Fuck them. I’ve got to go.”

Watching Lilith vanish, I laughed and looked back down to the spiraling stairs, ” I’ll help you out a bit, Arsene. Just to see what’ll happen.”

Willing the darkness to touch over the two Celestial bodies, I dragged them from the cathedral to my feet; when my Master’s voice echoed in my mind. ” Come to me.”

“He calls. He calls! Go! We must go!” ｂ𝚍ｎｏ𝚟ｌ.

Swallowed by the darkness, I appeared in the outreach of the abyss and bowed my head towards my Master while Arsene laid still.

“Master?”

“I need you to take care of Arsene for me.” He said. “I need to prepare for his training.”

I smiled, lifting my head slowly, “Would you like some entertainment as you train him?”

My Master’s lips arched, ” What do you have in mind.”

“With a little illusion, we could make Arsene a Gladiator. The Capital is housing one, for slaves and various other adventurous people.” I explained, sliding my gaze to the unconscious man.

“Hmmm, now that’ll be interesting. And with Arsene’s injuries, he’ll be a mortal trying to fight a God. That will be interesting.” He uttered. ” Set it up. I’ll be there in a few days. And keep up your appearances to Zantar and Balor; my brother will say nothing. He knows you are more valuable than two fallen.”

Vanishing before I could ask what happened to Lilith, I smiled, pulling Arsene over with a slew of Astral force, ” Sorry, but this will be fun. I mean not for you, but I’ll have a good laugh or two.”

Arsene, the Slave.

That Has a nice ring to it.

Taking hold of Arsene by the arm, my eyes widened as I froze, almost pulling off his entire arm.

Taken back by how soft he was, I couldn’t help but tremble at what had happened. His entire arm was oozing a guizer of blood, not to mention the wounds covering his body.

Slipping a few pills, known as Celestial Blood, down his throat to help harden his body, I gently took hold of him. only to become amazed as his hair turned black, eyes a translucent gold, while the demonic look he retained vanished.

Arsene looked like an average person; even his bone structure seemed to change slightly. It was like looking at a new person.

Knowing it was my Master’s doing, I teleported away into the Ares Colosseum, named after the God of War. Although, I don’t know why. This incarnation of him hasn’t done shit.

Ignoring the gathering of various people from all regions around the Exalted Wheel, I walked up with Arsene in my arm, towards the back, “I’d like to register a slave.”

The receptionist, a local girl who I was sure, was born during this era, shot me a smile. ” Name, cultivation, and age.”

“Name: I like little boys. Cultivation: Empyrean Prince, although injured. And lastly, his age is about half a cycle. Quite the genius.” I said with the largest smile.

Telma blinked and lowered her eyes towards Arsene’s handsome face, ” h-h-his name is ‘I like little Boys?'”

I nodded, feeling so naughty.

“Sir, that’s—”

“I’ll pay triple the fees for training and branding: food and other needs this slave might need. As I’ve said, he’s injured, so he’ll need some high-grade medicine. Send it over to the council of twelve.”

At the mention of the council following showing my identity card, Telma straightened up as though I was from inspection.

“Yes, sir, we’ll make sure, Mr. I like little boys is well taken care of. But with a name like that, he might—”

“Oh, we are counting on that.” I replied, cutting her short, ” Don’t worry about it, and forget ever seeing my face.”

Telma nodded solemnly, ” Sir, yes, sir!”

“Lovely. Now care to take me in the back?”

Nodding again, she rushed behind the counter and beckoned me towards the dungeon below.

Here’s to not letting Arsene know this was my doing. Hmmm, I’ll blame it on Lilith. This seems like something she’d do.