Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Feet pressing into the sinking ruby sand, my cold icy eyes skimmed mercilessly over the audience, ensuring they knew the degree of my seriousness. As for the children, well. Despite my innate disgust for leaving behind evidence or potential enemies, they shall be left alive, Although the little one arm. I'll be taking it.

A sinister smile slipped onto my lips as the taste of brimstone melted within my mouth, "Three Weeks," I said one last time and took my leave, allowing the ever-silent audience to breathe.

This battle against Selor had been quite an eye opener. I'd never actually used my gifts as trump cards before. But instead, I always toyed with my enemy from the beginning by using my full strength just to destroy them. Unfortunately, it seems like that time is fading.

The battle with the angels earlier today was proof of that as well. Had that foolish angel used the Concept of Death point blank at me the moment my palm touched his spine, I might have just died.

It's the same with Selor, who I was sure held a powerful concept to use. But the moment my forsaken Qi rippled out, destroying his shield and dagger, the battle was over. He was so surprised that he didn't even have time to think as my weapon had already pierced his heart.

To follow the Path of Ren-Shii, I will need to change how I battle, especially with these higher-level monsters coming into play. I needed to adapt to this higher level of combat.

Walking through the threshold where Valice awaited me with a broad smile, she clapped her hands together, " you're going to make me tons!! Tons, I say!"

"One can hope," I gently said, narrowing my eyes at her greedy ones.

Everyone runs on desire. Whether it's to please their Lord and Savior like the Angels or to follow their basic instincts like the Devils and Demons, they must follow their desire.

It's a fundamental fact of life.

Desire or Intent is the purest form of life, and the Seven Sins are born from Intent. My Path… I think I'm figuring it out.

I'm starting to understand how monstrous the Path of illusions is.

Mephisto, that sneaky bastard, led me down quite the Path. To understand the Path of illusion along the lines of Mephisto meant miniplate the Intent of others. Lead them down paths; they would never tread. And what were Sins, if not unstoppable forces of nature? To desire is to live, to hate is to desire, and to love is to desire. Desire is the fabric of our world, and Mephisto, the Architec, is its manipulator.

And yet, what of my soul and its development?

"Mr. Blackwater, I've been wondering for a while, but what's going on with you? You've been fading in and out for a while now. And are you ever going to tell me your full name?" Valice softly inquired, losing the tinge of greed in her eyes.

"Let me meet Zena, and I'll tell you what I'm thinking."

A cry of laughter left Valice's delicate ruby lips, "You're funny. We've no power over Zena. That little girl is, without a doubt, a carefree angel that causes problems where ever she goes. I've never seen such a battle-hungry little girl before."

"Battle hungry?" I inquired as she nodded.

"Indeed. Zena does what she wants, from eating to sleeping to fighting like mad. She loves it! No one ever dies, but she didn't become a paragon without staining her blade a few times." She said.

"How did she go undetected by the Devils like Asmodeus? Surely they—"

"You just keep getting more and more interesting, don't you? Name-dropping the Ruler of Hell is no easy feat, my boy. Just who the hell are you?"

"Grand me an earlier audience, and this mask of mine will drop," I responded in a teasing tone that irritated Valice's brow. Her arms crossed over one another as she snorted.

"You've definitely got the arrogance. But fine, I'll see what I can do, yet again. As for the Second Consort—'

"Guess the king would be furious if I killed his kids, huh," I uttered so coldly that Valice folded arms dropped. Her eyes narrowed to that of a slit, and the air around her grew icy.

"They are innocent. Leave them be, Mr. Blackwater."

"Are they? Surely you've thought of killing them." I teasingly expressed, lifting my lips while taking a peep into her heart. Witnessing endless rage swirling into a vortex of pain and wrath, I could not help but chuckle. "You needn't hide it from me, or does your love for your husband outweigh your hate?"

A deadly silence permeated the hollow room, and I did nothing but enjoy the betrayal in her eyes, the torn suffering emanating from her heart.

She hated it. She hated looking at the little brats, hated the fact the king could have children with some whore but not her! She hated the look her husband gave her as she whispered not to worry about it.

And yet what she hated even more was the permission she gave for her husband to take on another.

A gruesome chuckle that could be misinterpreted as a teasing one left me as I patted her shoulders," I'm only kidding." I said, watching the self-loathing only grow. "At least till I'm not. You must only say the word."

"You would kill a child?" She whispered, peering up at me with a hollow gleam. "You would kill an innocent?"

"No one is innocent." I gently mused, " But that's really up to you, Mrs. Valice Black. I wonder what choice you will pick? Will you forgive yourself or rid yourself and Zanta of some potential enemies? Their lives are within your hands."

Manipulation, my dearest friend. How I've missed you, till the Dawn sets and the darkness rises, you will be the one to remain by my side.

Making my way past Valice as she fell into deep thought, I shadowed, stepped towards the carriage, took my seat, and spoke to the driver, " Head home; Mrs. Black has some unfinished business."

Gods, I'm hungry! I hope she makes the right choice.