Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Clenching my fist shut, as Zax's words ripple through my very soul, I felt the Astral Force within me surge from out of my soul like the embers of a flame. Containing my emotions that had seemed out of my hands, I found myself back in control after a few short seconds.

"Yeah. I got this," I said, slapping my hands over my cheeks as images resurfaced through my mind. "I've got this."

"Of course you do; Hell is rock bottom after all. One can only rise stronger once they fall here." Zax gently said to me, taking a step back, "It's why most fallen are stronger than most Angels. It's why Demons and Devils remain one of the top ten strongest races. Those that live in hell can only rise after they suffer. It might not be instantly, it might even take chaos cycles possibly longer, but those that rise will be known."

"And what of those that regress?" I said as a familiar taste found its way to the back of my throat. A taste my pride no longer allowed me to have.

Zax smiled, " I was speaking overall, Master. Your ego might have slightly declined, but hey, it's as Moloch always says, everything comes at a price. One must sacrifice for power. Your not a good person, Master. But compared to most demons and devils, you're pretty neutral. It makes me wonder what's going on in that head of yours?

Me too.

Everything seems colder, and these images!

Shaking my head, ridding myself of these visions appearing one after another in my mind, I looked around, studying the long hallway filled with pillars on each side, piercing up towards the ceiling.

"Where are we?"

Zax's expression grew perplexed as he shook his head, "I've no idea, but this Aura feels different. You think something is going on?"

I frowned as my mind slowly grew cold, allowing me to think clearly. Moloch was playing both sides; he was helping both Mephisto and Belphegor. That is the only reason why the Balforgren were using another Fallens blessing. But if that's the case, aside from fucking me, what was Greyson's involvement?

Closing my eyes, I chanted the path of abyssal night, which cooled my mind even further; I closed my eyes, and as I did, I found myself once more in the Heart of the Abyss, where Izavith seemed to be once again. Surrounded by a nebula of scarlet darkness, she spoke.

"I'm lost, master, confused even." She started both bitter and excited, " I've seen the serpent eating its own tail, striking from—What are you doing here, Arsene?"

I stared at Izavith, who slowly turned to me with a looming eye, "Is this your confessions?"

"Perhaps. And it involves your child and me." She said, lingering with a look of expectation and longing. "I'm to be their master."

"Huh?" A little taken back, I closed in, " There, Master? Are you qualified?"

"Excuse me?"

"I'm not talking about power, Izavith; I'm talking about mentality. If you are to be their Master, how can you be their servant? I'd assume that was a wet dream for you generals."

She flashed me a smile that startled me for a bit, "perhaps, and it makes me wonder. I've never trained anyone, never so much as passed down skills to another."

"Have you told Lilith?"

Izavith shook her head, " I don't even know where to start. But let's change the topic; why are you here?"

"I needed a peaceful place to think. I'm in the origin realm right now, and I'm a little lost both mentally and physically," I said slowly, finding myself explaining what happened.

"So you are at a crossroads whether you should fall into further depravity or power through this pain? Well. I say fall," she said, shocking me where I stood. Izavith stood up and scanned me with cold indifference," I'll kill you if you harm them kids, so I'll say this once. Get this little phase out of your system. Kill, fuck, do whatever you need to do to get your mind straight. I don't want some crazy bastard like you near the future kings or princes of the kingdom of the Abyss."

Amazed by the determination in Izavith, I couldn't help but smile," I'd say the same thing if you're going to be training my babies. Rid yourself of that indecisiveness, or it won't just be me you'll have to deal with; it'll be the Abyss itself; you've got a massive undertaking ahead of you."

"I don't need you to tell me that," She said, vanishing, leaving my heart somewhat lighter.

Peering up at the empty red darkness swirling in a void of nothingness, I closed my eyes and collected myself.

…

…

…

Opening my eyes to the dark violet skin of Zax standing idly like a cold sentinel, I felt Abyssal-Chan touch against my skin, enhancing my senses. I was quick to pick up Eroma's presence.

I pressed towards my uncle, who I was sure was approaching Grey.

God knows what is going on there. I had a feeling that I needed to see what was happening. I needed to know what would cause Moloch to side with the depave fallen demon?

My feet echoed through the extravagant halls that reflected my image; I continued chanting my mantra before the sweet scent of blood awakened me from my trance. Startled by the scent, my eyes came into focus as I glanced at the pillars stained by a mist of red.

Below the mist, I saw a small pool of blood followed by a trail.

"Master?" Zax said as my footsteps came to a halt.

"It doesn't smell like Eroma, but the blood is young. Very young."

"That is because they belong to aborted children."

"Huh?"

"To sacrifice your unborn child is to send them to Moloch," he explained, and a chill ran down my spine. " Most are taken under his wing and cared for, but a few are once more sacrificed for some reason."

"Jesus, surely your joking? If I had almost gone insane, what the fuck about unborn fetuses?" I snapped, unable to believe that this was the result of something so—what the hell.

"Those we refer to as Godless are sent to Asmodeus, who worships Lucifer. Those who don't convert will be tormented for eternity, without a second chance," He explained.

"But the children don't have a—"

"And? Age is irrelevant. A soul, whether it's had the time to live or not, doesn't make a difference; if they don't go to Moloch, they go to Asmodeus to be converted or tormented."