Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Holding my tongue on the verge of going off, I stared at the chest cavity of the elven man, "Is this what you will be doing to grandfather?"

Greyson's expression could not have gone paler. I knew he said he was prepared, or so he claimed before but seeing it was another story.

"Y-yes. I must rip my father's heart out and offer it up as a price." He muttered, losing strength the longer he spoke.

Pulling into his room, I snapped, swallowing everything in a withering force. Turning everything to ash, I sighed, "There is no formation grey. You almost killed everyone.

Blood ran from his nose as he stared at the ash in his room, and then to me with a hollow stare, "Could you do it? Kill your father?"

Resting on the ground near Grey, I sighed, "I am a different creature than you, uncle. Soulbenders are more emotional than most. You had promised me that I would feel that way one day, but I was a devil back then. I never did, and I still don't as a Shadowfell."

"The closer I get, the more it hits me. I was never one to hesitate, to hold my blade back against my enemy or allies."

Hanging his head low, I did not need to turn to know tears were flowing from his eyes, "What the hell am I going to tell Eroma or Val? The man who gave me everything I was going to take away for my own selfish gain."

There were no words I could share with Grey, as I could not understand such complex feelings. To me, it would have been a simple choice. I don't think I would hesitate, but Grey didn't seem like it either when I first saw him. But killing the one who gave you everything to you was a steep price.

"Uncle, are you going to quit?" I uttered darkly, peering into the bleeding heart of a man who seemed so weak.

"Quit? Arsene, do you know how old I am?" He asked, surprising me for a bit. "I have studied your blood, Lilith's blood, my own, and my wife's blood. I have spent countless cycles, running tests, going over different possibilities."

"Form there, I spent another thousand cycles simply trying to comprehend something most have been trying to do for far longer than I. I will say I held an advantage due to Lilith's blood, but even so, I still could not find the answer. Although I know, I am close.

Running my hands through my head, I could, sitting next to Greyson, feel the pressure upon his soul. The man was cracking.

"Then listen to a man far older than you." I mockingly jeered, "I want you to tell Eroma. Tell him as to relieve the guilt you are feeling. We both know you are going to go through with it, but it will soon come down if your brothers will, forgive you."

"Kill their father to raise my dead wife. Don't you think that is asking for too much? I would be a selfish bastard."

"And I am a self-righteous asshole. Who gives a fuck. I will say, though, you would make a perfect devil. Betrayal runs in their blood." I whispered, rising to my feet. "Do not perform any ritual here. You need to be alive to see your wife."

Greyson only grew paler.

My words were definitely not a compliment to be called a devil. To betray one's family was despicable. Even for me. But am I not the one endorsing this shit? What does that say about me?

"What is it you wanted, Arsene?"

"I need to head to Midgard to claim my territory," I hesitantly answered, unsure whether to leave Grey alone or not. But Lilith nor I could not stay here, not when he was so unstable. "Can you summon Tang Feng? I spotted him today when the angels attacked?"

Glancing at the ashes resting near him, Grey bitterly nodded, "Yeah, sure. "

Pulling a golden talisman with a star shape crest, Greyson crushed it into dust. Suddenly a large storm brewed within his room. Space cracked, startling everyone at the abrupt entry as a middle-aged man stepped through with a large smile upon his face.

"Greyson, my boy, how has it been? I just finished my meeting with Yura. Oh, you're here to Arsene? Good to see you again, boy." he greeted in a bit of a joyful and annoyed tone.

"It has been a while, old man. How have you been?"

"Well, angels are flying around my airspace, so not fucking good," he answered vengefully, with a smile that didn't quite me his eyes. "Why? What is it you need?"

"Come now, Grandfather-In-Law, it's only a matter of time before Lilith and I are married. And a bun is placed in the oven."

Rolling his eyes, he turned to Greyson and frowned, "Go clean yourself off; you smell like shit." he coldly commanded, banishing Greyson through space before he could speak a word in defense.

Damn, I need to learn how to do that. I should increase my understanding of the laws of space. I would definitely just be banishing people left and right. All these bitch ass enemies of mine will be more fearful of me.

"I didn't think he would get in one of those states once again." Said Tang Feng, shaking his head, "You shouldn't have given him that damn tome."

"He is my uncle. However, I wonder how things will end." Sighing at the mess I made, I continued, "Anyway, I need to connect to Midgard."

"You at the peak of False God?" He asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

"No, but I am close. It's only a matter of time. But first, I need to prepare everything needed to perform the ritual of naming a territory.

It was so annoying, but my power was still rising without any inkling of stopping. Once I finish preparing all the rituals, everything should be prepared by then.

Tossing me a gemstone, the old man smiled, "I remember when I first became a god. Now that was a day to remember. I hope yours is as memorable as mine."

HOlding the amethyst gem in my hand that sparkled like a star, I shifted my gaze to Tang Feng, "What does this do?"

"You didn't use the Shadow Realm due to fear of an angel or maybe of another being potentially watching the shadows, right?" He said as I nodded. "This is a gem that will take you to Alos, from where ever I drop you off. It's two ways so you can come and go as you please between the two realms."

"Why the hell didn't you give me this when we first got here!" I shouted, calling straight bullshit.

"Not like you had a place to stay, plus I needed to draw the formation down to link it to the gem. You needed a safe space which you didn't have at the time." He mockingly declared, causing a smile to rise upon his lips.

Screw you, old man!