Monarch of Darkness, Arsene



At her words that carried her mischievous foxy grin, Lucifers gripping voice resounded: "Brother… Was there no agreement that no Archangel shall descend into my Hell?"

I gulped as unnatural pressure nearly forced me to my knees. Globs of blood pooled from my wounds and orifices, drenching my battered clothing. Lucifer continued in a lifeless tone: "Do you know what you've done?"

Blinding light scattered through the Dreamscape, pulling my vision away as I awake within my bedroom chamber. The sting of pain that I received from Dreamless's realm was present alongside Aurelia standing in front of me.

She shot me a giddy smile, glanced at the star-struck Ezra, and pulled me into a vacuum in space without warning as we appeared upon a world foreign to me yet covered by volcanic ash and brimstones, carrying a dense scent of sulfur that blanketed Heaven and Earth. I sucked in a deep breath, startled as Lucifer, Dreamless, and Metatron stood side by side.

"Zariels ability wouldn't have helped, at least not at your current level. You needed to look past that Dreamscape. Dreams true body was here on Aria all along. That bastard sure is fearless."

Aria? Is that the name of this world? But this feels like Hell. How? That name isn't one of the names of the Nine Layers.

"I've warned you all." Lucifer began, the flecks of gold blazing around him deepening as if he were the very Heavens. "Peace has existed for how long? During our last war… I fell many of my Brothers. Butchered them like the cattle they were. Do you really wish to repeat this, brother?"

Trails of sweat curled down the faces of the two Fell Gods as they stood before Lucifer. His presence was as commanding as the highest ruler.

That was until a burst of tainted laughter sprang into the wild. The flames, soot, and brimstone dissipated in a deep amethyst light as a male's voice resounded.

The world twisted, and there he appeared. A man with long black hair that stretched to his back, eyes like that of a phoenix blazing a smoldering red flame, and a charming smile that was as inviting as it was dangerous. Beneath his right eye, a complex sigil sat tattooed in black ink.

"Moloch," Aurelia said, startling me.

I'd seen him before, but… But never like this. "Is that his true form?"

Aurelia shook her head: " We perceive the angels based on what we can comprehend. When Mortals gaze upon Angels, they may see them with three lion-shaped heads. It all just depends. It's the same for you. What you see is an illusion. Angels are everchanging."

"That sounds like utter nonsense."

She grinned: " Perhaps. But it's true. Although it's a little concerning, Moloch is here. I'd rather not fight pregnant." she told me. " Tsk. Where the Hell is Zariel? He should have been here by now. Curse that Dumb-Dumb."

"I'm here." My brother's voice suddenly said as he stepped out of subspace, his expression pale as a ghost. "Sorry… I was held up by Shiva. He's in on this. Something is going on. Zero is on his way. Lets—"

"So everyone is here!" Metatron shouted, folding his arms with a false sense of security. Everyone could perceive. "Zariel, Aurelia, Samael, Moloch, and Gadreel."

"I hate this realm," Zariel muttered. "Why did it have to be Gadreels domain."

"Who?"

Zariel looked at me: "Not every Fallen is sane, brother. Many lose their minds, becoming enemies of both Heaven and Hell. Gadreel is one. Beelzebub and Belphigor might be evil incarnate; they at least know of Order. Gadreel is utter Chaos. There is no reasoning, especially not with the Fallen Angel of War. It was Gadreel that made it imperative that we stall the effects of Madness. He is our future."

I knew the Immortal realm slowed the Maddening we gods experience as we age, but… I never thought it would be this bad. I always thought Madness would just turn a good man evil or into a dick or something.

Hmmm. Maybe my definition of Madness is different from everyone else's. Everyone I know is crazy, but I can at least reason with them.

A chill climbed along my spine as a nasty sensation slithered up my robes. My skin stood on end, leaving me with a sensation of being exposed for some strange reason.

Crackles of laughter hounded the realm, peeling away my conscious will. As if I was being stripped, bloodlust gathered within my heart, deepening my connection with the spear of Abyssal Night.

Spasms ran along the ends of my nerves as I held my spear so tight blood pooled over the blade's edge as the urge to carve Aurelia's baby out flashed through my head.

"He's coming," Zariel warned.

But neither of the Fallen and Angels above seemed concerned. Rather they held onto smiles.

"You and Moloch would not be able to hold me. But Gadreel. Now that will be difficult. Dealing with Tarnish is always tough. Especially ones who do not care for their own lives. How I Ioath those bastards." Metatron robotically phrased. "But how do you know if he'll attack me? He might attack the weaklings below."

"SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR~"

Nearly blown off my feet by the inhuman shriek, blood gushed from my eyes, nose, ears, and mouth as the shockwave rattled my core.

Trouble, if not terrified, that the spear of Abyssal Night barely protected me, I knew that Dreamless was nothing compared to this Fallen. The difference between the two was night and day.

The Qi withering me from the inside out continued to accelerate the damage as I refused to back away. I wanted to see what would happen.

I wanted to see Gadreel.

"Can you fight?" Zariel asked me, startling me as I turned to him in surprise.

"Are you serious? You know I'm not suicidal like you, right?"

He shrugged: "If you stay, you fight. The spear… It'll protect you. Not to mention you have 'her' blessing, don't you? You better pull out all the stops. Or you're dead. Oh, and watch out for Dreamless. He's a low-ranked Ranker, but he's strong enough to one-shot you. Spear or not."

"Welcome to the big leagues," Laughed Aurelia shooting me a wink.

"Where the hell is Mephisto when you need him."

It was then Zariel snickered: "You're a member of the Order of Chaos. We are never alone, dear brother. One merely needs to call upon us."