Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"There shall be no retreat, my sister! We will destroy that blasted gate!' Were the words that foolish angel said." I repeated, shaking my head with a smile. "Seriously, who announces their plan at the beginning of the battle."

A/N: Siege of Alos Part V

To say I'd not been surprised by the angel's plan would be a lie, but that had given me an idea. Why not use this as an excuse to prepare the Bed of Chaos, even Iluthath, for my children? While also giving the Arbiters the finger. They would not even know what the hell happened. But the blame would lay with the Angels.

Informing Duke Gusion and the eccentric Berith was but a simple task. The moment Seraphina and this Casteel were blasted off the planet's surface. Everything fell into place as I relayed a few ploys for the Devils of Hells to follow, and follow they did without revealing a thing.

These Horseman Gates were part of the Natural Order of Creation. That was why they existed not just in the Bed of Chaos but also in every other Plane. Arsene had taught me many things, and that was never to underestimate your enemy. To say I was not a little contemptuous was a lie regarding the idea of an angel without the full text of the Laws of Concordance destroying my gates. The Gates of The Apocalypse were supposed to be indestructible, but nothing is impossible. Sene showed me that. Killing two Elder Gods was proof enough of that.

While baseless claims were not my idea of strategy, in this instance, it worked well for my interest.

Death had not fully refined Lord Zariels blood, but even a little was enough to destroy the entirety of the bed of chaos. He was that powerful, and it was enough to allow the Gates to repair itself, but not before allowing the Abyssal Qi from the very core of the Abyss to wash over the Bed of Chaos.

"A Baptism of Chaos," Death had said, pale face; he walked towards me and peered up at the hologram. We watched hard as the Pale Gate was smashed open by an elegant spear of azure, appearing almost entirely of ice, a slew of Abyssal Qi flooded creation.

"Yes, and now, if Zariel approves of our race, they will be able to form naturally in the Bed of Chaos." I amusingly stated, touching my stomach near my womb, feeling my cheeks grow hot, "And my children will be able to grow up without any inhibitions."

"They will only form if Arsene takes the throne of the Bed of Chaos." Death informed, but it was irrelevant. His tone was bitter, having to rely on someone I knew he considered insignificant. A thought shared by many in my home. Not that I bothered to correct. Arsene will prove them wrong.

"He will kill Aldrich one day, that I am sure of. It's only a matter of time, but for now. Let's just take this win."

Death nodded and bowed his head, "But of course. Forgive my grievous attitude."

Letting my smile slip, I narrowed my eyes and glanced toward Death, watching his bow deepen, "Don't you think there needs to be a punishment?"

"A punishment?" Death muttered and peered up in confusion.

"Why yes. Accountability needs to ensue. My gates have been destroyed, Death. And now it's affecting my Abyss if this is not an act of hostility against us. Then I am a fool not to see it. We have sent out invitations, allowing the Bed of Chaos to visit our home in peace, but the Angels of the Seven Heavens have taken it upon themselves to harm our home." I coldly responded, lifting my gaze to the horror written over Casteel's expression, and smiled.

"I left Seraphina alive because Arsene has seemed to already sunken his teeth into her. In this battle, she has seemed hesitant, reflecting on her combat skill. I see no reason to have her killed. We will punish the Angels for this act of aggression in the best way I see fit."

"What is thy wish, Master."

A cruel smile slipped over my lips as I chuckled, "Will the Abyssal Qi, surging through the Bed of Chaos. Connect to the Hive and create for me a Guardian. Use all you can, and make an unstoppable monster whose sole mission is to protect the Abyssal Gates."

"And what of Zariel?" He asked, but I merely shrugged.

"We were attacked, and it's not like this Guardian is there to kill aimlessly. Their sole focus is to defend. Casteel will be the sacrificial lamb, is all."

I had to thank Sera personally for this lovely gift. Raziel's grace has blinded the Angels, and they have forgotten who they are. A shame, really. They are going to suffer needlessly once more.

"Yes, my queen," Death grimly muttered, vanishing from my senses, leaving a smile over my lips.

"I wonder how many Archangels are left?" I muttered, coldly watching the surprise turning to terror on Sera and Casteels' expressions.

Madness seemed to creep into the naive Sera as she cried, "It's a trap! NO!"

Staggering with a bloody chest, she vomited a mouth full of blood alongside bits of organs. Tears seemed to fill her eyes as she stared at Casteel at the heart of the Baptism. Wrapped in a glow of Sacred Flames he had hoped would save him, he tried to flee.

But Death had acted relatively quick. And he was not in the least bit alone. All of the Horsman Lords were helping, harnessing the Great Power, the Core of Reality, the heart of Abyss. The Abyssal Qi within the bed of chaos began to fall like snow over the Realm, trapping everyone in a nightmare they were sure never to wake from. A horrid intent pressed past the Abyssal Gates.

Those of the Abyss cannot leave these gates, but it has been proven more than once that other things could leave. The Blade of Morningstar, That artifact Asmodeus had taken, and the clothes on Ava's back. It was all in the Abyss.

This was going to work, and by the looks of it. It was working.

Twisting and mending from a single string of abyssal Qi into a tall metal Golem that held round gaps all around its skeleton, an eerie feeling touched my heart as I gazed upon the Guardian that was to be my Gates Protector. Slowly a blaze of Black-Red rose from the gaps of the metal around the Guardian's skeleton. It blazed like a demon from the hells and stirred itself awake.