Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

The air generated by my qi was burning against my lungs as I desperately tried to inhale, grasping any last shred of life I could.

This battle was going to be the end of The Last King of Elysium.

Wiping the blood staining my lips, the bitterness of all I'd succeeded in began to race through my mind, bringing only a hollowness to my broken soul. All I've done, all I've achieved, was it all worth it?

Zariel had allowed me to live, not in pain like Gauis or the other one, I was free of pain, but in a way, it made me wish for death for so long. Vancurro got revenged on the one who killed him; I could have killed him back then but chose against it.

Maybe through that mercy, I did not suffer physically like the others. I was forced to my knees by Zariel, forced to kneel before a man who was once my greatest rival, to a man I respected the most.

I can still recall that pained look he shot me, filled with tears after our battle, the look that landed me where I am now. I was never one who was bloodthirsty like the others that bastard resurrected all those years ago to kill the silver devil, and honestly, I never wanted to fight him.

Pity was the only thing I felt towards him, who did nothing but suffer a fate he didn't deserve.

The death of Arsene back then was a mercy I performed; the shattering of his soul, however, was a mistake. I should've stopped. But there was no way to change the past. It was that day that marked my end with the Snow Family.

A day I regret to this very day. Even with Arsene now alive, I knew that it was only through my mercy towards the snows, whether it was towards the sister or the other, I spared Zariel took mercy on me. By giving the one, I loved a quick death, shattering her soul, and forcing me to call him Master for all eternity.

It was the greatest humiliation I've ever faced.

​ The once-proud king of Elysium, Aldrich, Born within the Sea of Elements, was forced to his knees and made a thrall to suffer till the rebirth of the one I killed. It was stolen before my eyes: My Pride, My Soul, My thoughts, My love, my cultivation, all was shattered in a blink of an eye as the silver devil marked me his thrall.

Struggling to stand as my body grew heavy, I stared at the bloodied and beaten Fallen on one knee while I stood high, covered in wounds tainted with the Necrotic Qi that vanished into nothing, as did most of my injures with the help of Truck-kun Blessing.

"You two are quite powerful." I relayed, shaking my head.

"Aldrich," Balor barked, staggering up to his feet as his grievous wounds continued to pour blood.

"I will protect Lilith Snow from now on," I said, turning my back," I've not much time left, so till this festival ends, I'll continue to protect her and the children she is creating?"

"You're going to regret this," Zantar remarked.

"You are bringing shame to the Fallen name, " I said, recalling the golden goddess, who held a noble pride regarding how she carried herself. " Not only did you lose, but you did so while outnumbering me."

"Three blessings you carry." Balor pointed out, but what did it matter?

Did I not earn these blessings? Angels and Fallen do not get blessings due to how powerful they are compared to creation, but I stood my ground with a shattered heart, with the torn treasure I managed to salvage, and three blessings from people whom I both hate and respect.

"You two disappoint me, " I weakly said, coughing up bits of my heart. I turned to look at the twisted looks of the two fallen.

"Lilith is protected."

'Why! Lilith's got two potential Chaos Lords by her side. Why does she even need you! Just kill us!" Said Balor, pointing his halbert at me, demanding I answer.

"And where were those two when you attacked? They may or may not be chaos lords, but I know they lack experience, and assassinations can be deadly to even the most powerful people. There's nothing scarier than a desperate bunch of idiots."

My eyes were growing blurry, but I did not allow myself to fall, nor would I kneel before another again; I had promised myself at least that much.

'You will not save anyone! I swear to you, Aldrich. Lilith Snow, Daughter of the Abyss, will die this day! No one can save her!" Balor barked as waves of necrotic qi began to twist in the confines of space.

There was a bitter smile on my lips as I chuckled, peering down from space towards Lilith in the arms of Arsene.

I envy you, my boy. I truly hope you can stop yourself from being a pawn from another, whether it's from your brother or these two idiots; I hope you can break free.

"If you do not leave now, I will detonate." I calmly said, " Arsene is a Monarch of Darkness, and I knew a few of his passive abilities, so he'll live, and as for Lilith, well, as you say, she's protected. You've lost today."

"Master," said Zantar, picking himself up.

Shaking my head, knowing they had no more new moves, I flickered before Arsene standing with his wife in arms. "Things are about to get a lot more hectic, and I don't have much time left."

Slowly turning pale, as he stared at me, I could see a grave backlash approaching, "You need to put aside this little game between you and Lilith for now and work together; Balor and Zantar are gunning for her head. I can stop them one more time, but I suspect next time we meet, they'll have everything they need."

"You killed me."

I chuckled, " And you killed me back."

Arsene looked a little confused, but I was sure with time, he would understand. He would understand how his death marked the end of my own.

Patting his shoulders, I glanced back at the wreckage of destruction and sighed, " This is only the beginning."