Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"So, " Ezra started, approaching the dais overlooking the bloodied and beaten disciples of the Holy Swords. "What are you planning now?"

My hand pointed towards the skies, a golden scarlet, tainted by a swirling vacuum of energy, at the eye of the storm. " We fight, of course."

"Your mad, " Avar acknowledge approaching with Lilith in her arms. "You barely escaped. What can you even do?" She offered me my wife, and I accepted her. " I don't understand your goal."

A small soul flame appeared in my palm, and the flames of hellfire licked over my skin. Warm as the caress of my lover, my gaze lingered over Lilith's warm cheeks and the tumbling of the tiny buns' heart.

"Did you know I was once a soul bender? But years ago, I did something that granted me a functional soul capable of using Soulforce. Do you know what that means?" My gaze lifted to her puzzled one. " It means that I can now make clones. True clones. I can divide my soul into separate entities to control various elements I have instead of the shadow beneath my feet."

Her brow arched. " Your point?"

I chuckled. Willing the flames of Hellfire to consume the soul flame as a luscious song screamed. Bellowing to the greater heavens, a pang of burning desire took root in my heart. And I continued. " It means that once I pay this debt, I shall use these flames capable of decimating even the King of Hell and join the war. I may even command this flaming soul to use the hollowing so that I could learn."

My gaze lowered towards the soul flame slowly being torn from existence, and my lips curled. In a matter of seconds, the icy touch of the Soul Flame's core touched upon the flesh of my palm, and with a crushing motion, the black aura that lingered in my soul turned a light grey.

I could not do this in the bed of chaos or any other realm in fear of some higher power coming after me.

The Art of destroying a soul, a core is impossible. Aside from the Flames of Hellfire and Abyssal Qi, I knew nothing in creation capable of doing so. And that scared me, especially when I became a God, where consequences were now upon my head. But we were now in the abyss, and I was free to do almost whatever I wanted. By the time I abuse this realm's power and return to the Bed of Chaos, I truly hope I will no longer be a King.

Shock flickered over the faces of everyone, but in seconds the grey aura slowly diminished to a snow-white and then an unmistakable translucent aura as I burned away five cores leaving nothing behind but a smile and a sense of calmness.

"Did you just—"

"Destroy cores? Oh yeah." I addressed and nodded yes to Avar.

Zero had said something interesting regarding Tarnishing, something that made me wish to experiment, but to do so, I needed opponents—what better way to train than to do so in the heat of battle.

"Recorded," Avar said, with none blinking icy blue eyes, staring at me with curiosity.

Focusing my mind on the four parts of my soul, I reached deep into myself, and a sliver of Flames erupted from my pours, consuming me in icy darkness that slowly expanded out. Running the Path of Abyssal Night, my heart swelled, with dominant might, that rippled out from my flames. Ensuring my control over these hellish flames, I snapped.

And from my smoldering flesh caught aflame, three copies of myself appeared, all carrying my devilish smile.

"If one Arsene can cause so much trouble, what about four?" Our lips parted in laughter, but I could feel the fear brewing in Cleo as she stared. I was a King for a reason. Despite me not using all my techniques or elemental manipulations as of late, my power was a force of destruction. Despite his Power, even Asmodeus needed to watch out for the flames of hellfire.

Wings weathered in flames of hellish night rose from my clone's back, and their eyes and minds became mine. Flaring my wings towards the skies, I pierced towards the scarlet, black skies and bolted towards Baphomet.

This was but the first skirmish, and I wasn't going to miss it.

,m A dark smile slipped over my lips, and from my soul, soul qi erupted like a storm of might as the path of abyssal night howled to life. Space rippled, and I focused my mind, pushing myself further than I ever had before; I took more than a few minutes to gather my Dao, and my body faded back and forth between reality and the dark.

Teleporting was not really doable in this realm. At least it wasn't for those without the path of Abyssal Night that bonded me to the abyss. However, teleporting long distances was a hard process, while short distances only took a few seconds. Nevertheless, it was still inferior to shadow stepping; we can't always have everything. At least not yet.

Stepping to Baphomet's side, a glint of shock rippled over his handsomely dark face, but in seconds as all three copies of me appeared, I smiled, " Wanna grant me your blessing? Let's see how much destruction we can cause."

My soul definitely couldn't handle the divinity Baphomet could bless me with, but I didn't need to control it; my body was forged of Hellish flames. There was a danger to me, but to the others, well, it was definitely worth it.

Abbadon pressed against his shoulder, and his eyes, a deep blaze of scarlet, hummed to life, "No more waiting?"

"No more waiting," I answered, pointing towards those of the Etherial realm; a blinding spear ripping with the seven sins erupted with a dark pressure that sunk deep into every living creature. "I need the challenge. And I need the souls."

The Beast King's eyes opened, lifted his hand, and the skin upon my body stood on end as the staff of the Great Demon Mother appeared.

"Then take her Blessing." He said, offering me the staff that sent a chill running through my spine, "And feel what true power is. Feel what it means to be a High God or even an elder God. Just be ready for those souls of yours to perish."

My laughter echoed, and my gaze locked onto Zantar, whose expression darkened at my appearance. My hands, without hesitation, reached for the Scepter of Lilith.

"Can do!"