Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Turning to the crescent moon upon Midgard, I felt rather reminiscent of my time within Tensen Lumireis. Compared to its three moons, I found Midgard lacking in that regard. Yet as the cold air of Midgard caressed my cheek, my smile grew.

Looking at my phone, I shook my head, "Three months and nothing. Oh, Yura, you are killing me." I whispered to the air.

Pushing my body off the rather large boulder, I leaped into a river of crimson ignoring the sounds of cracking bones beneath my feet. My legs tracing over the crimson lake as a whimper enter my ears.

"Oh? I could have sworn I killed everyone." I muttered, peering around the eerie Forest of Melimiota with curiosity. Listening to the pulsing of a single heartbeat, I drew closer towards the sound like a wolf hunting its prey.

Fading into the dense mist of Melimiota, I watched as a youthful merchant shivered, falling to his knees as he begged, "Please, spare me! Please! Please!" he cried out, soiling himself as he looked around in a disheveled manner.

Appearing from this eerie mist like a phantom of death, my fingers gently hugged his shoulder, yet the man did not dare turn around, "Please, please," he once more begged. Feeling his heartbeat through his shoulder, I could not help but be impressed at the powerful pulsing of fear.

"What is your name?" I asked in a hollow tone against his ear for him to clearly hear.

"Val of Remora, your excellency!" he said in a fearful tone as my brow shot up in surprise.

Sending the man a rather dull smile, I spoke in a gentler tone, "My father is also called Val. Tell me then, Val, where is the nearest city?"

Pointing me in towards the falling moon, he spoke, "Ten days by foot, my lord, and you will arrive in a small port city of Remora. Population around five million.

"Good, you can leave now," I lightly said as I faded away—my laughter echoing out as he shot off into the distance. Staring at the fool running, I summoned my bow, giving it a good nock. An arrow formed by darkness materialized, tearing all life within a five-meter radius away.

"You truly are a monster, Arsene." A voice came from behind. Despite the interruption, my focus was never broken as the arrow of darkness shot through the eerie mist. Watching as Val collapsed into a mist, I chuckled, enjoying the sweet taste of another soul entering my soul space.

"I never claim not to be one." I uttered, turning to the crimson fox sitting upon the branch beside me." So tell me, Ezra, what can I do for you?"

"I am worried about Lilith." She said as I shook my head,

"Lilith is fine; I can say that with one hundred percent certainty," I claimed with a vibrant smile; we were, after all, connected.

"Arsene, you should not be so casual regarding this. There are Nine Realms, and we only have our claw bearly in one. How do you—"

Placing my fingers upon her sweet lips, I smiled, shaking my head, "Why are you so worried, Ezra? Everything has been going well; aside from the few cults within Hallr, we control millions. Not to mention those terrifying runes Mare created. Why are you so apprehensive?"

Sending me a deep glare, Ezra shook her head before removing my fingers upon her soft lips. "I will drop it for now, but I feel like something is wrong."

"As do I, but Lilith has not contacted any of us. There must be a reason for that. Why worry what we have no control over?"

Releasing a deep mist of hot air, the little minx arose, "Fine, I will take your advice. Also, the Vanir Clan sent a messenger here. They are looking for you; word has already spread that you are traveling Midgard."

Smirking, I laughed, stretching my arms, feeling a little sleepy, "Good, they need to worry, anyway I need to go. Treasure hunting is quite exciting.

Rolling her eyes, Ezra smirked, "Why is it every time I find you. You are doing something different, first working as a detective, then a cook for some low-grade restaurant, now this. What are you trying to achieve?"

Lowering my gaze, I hid my smile beneath the darkness of my shadow, "Instead of worrying about me, should you not be worried about Hallr? I hear you were outvoted a few days ago."

Letting out a seductive smile, Ezra traced her lips with her finger," Yes, I wanted to know who was against me. Many of my spies are observing my allies, watching how they will react."

"You're not watching your enemies?" I questioned in a confused manner, yet inwardly I was rather impressed. Many focus far too much on enemies but miss the true danger that surrounds them.

"Kinda, I know they are my enemies, so not much will change on that front. What I want to know is how many rats are in my court."

Releasing a deep grin, I chuckled, "Seems you are learning. Head back; I will check in on you at the end of the month." I said, patting her head as I leaped off the tree branch with an excited smile.

Suddenly small dark nodes began to pulse from my body, consuming me like a mist as my body shot through the forest of Melimiota. Moving faster than lightning with the element of light at my fingertips, I enjoyed the piercing winds against my body.

Many things had changed during this time. With three months of continuous training with the elements, I finally achieved the Realm of Dao in Fire, Lightning, Wind, Blood, and illusions. In comparison, my other Dao, like light and earth, began to grow rapidly.

Earth was a rather interesting concept. Personally, I was not much interested in learning earth bending, but Gravity was my goal. To control such a force was a massive dream of mine.

As for my darkness element, I don't know. It was always strange. While I knew I was in the second stage of the Dao comprehension, I felt it was in another stage of its own. The darkness that I used was far different than most.

However, things really took off when I began increasing my qi cultivation. While my battle prowess didn't increase due to it, my connection with nature began to grow. Consuming all the resources Anna gave me, I had reached the seventh stage of Earth Realm during the first month.

The two months proceeding my breakthrough, I was able to bump up my cultivation with hard work and the small resources I got from killing to the peak of Earth realm. Either way, I had decided to use only qi cultivation from now on.

My body cultivation had rocked to so much I had to actively hold it back, a decision I found to be magnificent. The souls I collected within the prison had all activated, pushing me up the peak of Life Gate. While I could break through any time, there was more to this realm that was filling my body in an endless stream of Vital energy.

Every day I would grow stronger as I struggled to suppress my rising vital qi. During the first month, Lilith's body cultivation activated, consuming me in abyssal runes as if knowing my intent. It suppressed all my vital qi, allowing me to grow strong without worrying about breaking through. Every day I would break through invisible shackles I knew no man or demon were supposed to as I felt a heavy suppression force rising along with my power from the heavens themselves.

"I wonder if this is how Abyssal Demons train?"