Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Blood spewed from my lips, trailing down my chin like a pillar of light while I rested in the lotus position, forcing my senses to cling to my infernal linage, embedded in my soul and blood—I pushed myself to connect to the Hells. Slowly, I lost my sense of self before a flame, cold and black, humming with such a unique resonance I knew there was nothing in creation that held the same song.

Surrounded by the hazy glow of Abyssal Night, the Flame of Hell, sizzling with the Seven Sin, grew ablaze and reached out. Receptive to its song, the hissing of the serpent's temptation trailed over my soul. Fueling my connection to the Hells, a coldness so profound and immeasurable seeped from my pores.

The Hells called, and I listened.

I accepted its knowledge not found in the Heavens of Man but from something greater. Something so strong, so grand, there was no understanding of its true nature. Like the Abyss or the Seven Heaven, the Hells held their laws: The Seven Sins.

I took a pull of air, releasing brimstone as I breathed, and opened myself to the Powers of The Hells. Dark, lethal, menacing, the Dark Flame clung to me, and I, the Flame. Empowering my Pride, Lust, Wrath, Gluttony, Envy, Greed, and Sloth memories of times seemed to be dragged from the corner of my mind.

I stood head arched, bearing down at my enemies, allies, and everyone else. Contempt burrowing deep in my heart, I stood like a king, anointed by the darkness, not of Tenebrae, The Night Mother, but by the Abyss.

The image changed, flashing to the lustful moans of Lilith, piercing her fangs into my neck. Her shoulders were dripping with sweat, and her arms coiled deeply around my waist. She called to me, and I to her over and over in a chorus of passion, eternal as the stars shone, till once again, the image revolved to burning fire scorching my fellow man—screams of mercy, the pleading of repentance I could never find, song to me. I was lost in the madness, blood racing down my cheeks, palms tearing through flesh only to fill my stomach to my heart's content at those at my mercy. Taking them for all they held dare, leaving what little was left, I stood still over a pool of creation, a lake of scarlet.

I opened my eyes, my injuries mended, my mind sharp, and my heart cold.

Zilya held me in her sight, blade ready. She parted her legs and beckoned to me, "Seven Hundred fifty years, I have waited. Show me that force. Show me your skill, boy."

Pulling myself up with my mind, I stood to my feet, and the Spear of Pestilence flickered into my hand. I did not cast Crimson Winds nor War of Kings, as they would do little good to overpower my enemy in a battle of skill. The Path of Abyssl Night whisked over my flesh, tightening my body to its maximum potential. Empowering me with the grandness of the abyss and night, the forsaken power of both hell and my bloodline became at war, fueling the Seven Sins.

Zilya dashed, arriving at me in an instant. Trusting my instincts, I sidestepped before her blade could move; a greedy initiative came over me, and slowly the mind of the Knight of Twilight. My blade whipped towards her neck. Zilya pivoted backward, losing her momentum with a soul attack not meant to affect her but rather the laws around us. I was not strong enough to affect her, so I needed to affect the natural order, distorting the laws with my bloodline and the sin of greed. I could potentially act before my enemy had any idea what transpired.

Dashing forward while she was in mid-air, Pestilence stretched ahead, ready to skewer her tender flesh; Zilya did a swift somersault mid-air, dodging seamlessly, when suddenly, her spear whipped towards my head. I swiped my spear at the cross-guard at her spear, and a piercing ring blasted me backward. Shaking the realm we resided in, I skidded over the mirrored lake when a swift shadow step positioned me just above her head.

Not even turning her head, the night of twilight arched her head as I plunged my spear down. Seeing her smile, she opened the palm of her left hand, and a sword, bright as the moon and deep as the night, appeared in her hand.

"Congrats on becoming a King." She said. "That sin of Greed, combine with your bloodline, is monstrous. Yuki would be proud."

Disturbed by her words that seemed to shake my world, the hairs upon my neck stood on end, but I refused to retreat. Holding my position, a slew of sword light danced while her spear parried mine.

There was no time to block, and retreating would only delay the inevitable. So I followed the path of envy. Copying precisely what Zilya did, I crafted a sword of abyssal night and a radiant evil unfolding, smothering the aura of my spear. We squared off as I went from novice to master in a few swings of my sword. Incorporating my new style into my sword, a vast and endless sea of embers filled my sight, blazing with an enamoring glow. We fought and fought, with me usually coming out on the bottom. But I had forced her to draw her off-handed weapon, a feat I dare say was an achievement.

"Let's stop here," Zilya said, holding her sword to my neck. "You know what you need to do?"

Nudging her sword away with the tip of my fingers, I nodded, "yeah."

"Good." She said, dismissing her weapons with a flicker of light. "For the most part, you passed. Even after I destroyed you for a few thousand years, you still didn't break. You are not very ambitious, but it seems that has not dampened your will.' She said, bearing a smile of anticipation and longing. "When we meet again, I hope you are as connected to the Abyss as you are to the Hells, if not more. You have an opportunity never heard of coming up soon. From what I know, every lord in the higher planes is watching."

Finding a smile, I shrugged, "Lilith seems to have her plans; I just need to survive."

Zilya shook her head, "Arsene, your brother has tons of enemies, same with Vancurro, who tried to steal this land after killing Aegis. All of them will be watching, lying in wait to strike, or did you forget that the abyss is without the Father's rule? He will do nothing to interfere." She said, staring sternly, "This festival of Lilith is going to change everything."