Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Spitting the last thick bit of the slimy vomit from my mouth, I chuckled, "you would kill one of your biggest allies so soon. Has Oswin not been teaching you, my dear Yura." I asked, a hint of mockery in my tone.

Summoning my spear, I saw her draw her sword as a profound qi burst from her body. However, it was drowned out by my sinister black qi. While she was clearly stronger, my qi had fused with the Dao of Darkness; it had for more substance. However, she could kill me with a simple wave of her blade.

With golden eyes gleaming with a devouring light, I spoke, "Make your choice; we can battle, " I said, lowering my stance, "or we can be allies because I assure you our enemies know about the both of us."

"What do you mean," She shouted, a hint of panic in her tone.

"They somehow found out about me nine years ago; that attack was only the beginning. On my way back home, a wave of Spirit Realm soldier attacked." I stated, my gaze never leaving her amethyst eyes.

Biting her lips, Yura lowered her head, a hint of fear apparent in her eyes. Confused; I didn't comment...at least not yet.

"Who are they," She asked, her words sounding less chilly.

"The light of Ashna, a cult of madmen and unkillable immortals, according to my uncle. He killed their god before, but she always seemed to come back."

A light sigh of relief flew from Yura, greatly startling me. I knew she was not from the royal family, but it would seem she is hiding more behind that cold gaze.

My mind slowly grew colder as I thought of another group that could be potentially hunting Soul Benders. Gripping my spear tightly, I made a mental note of that before awaiting Yura's decision.

"Fine, but I will make one thing clear. I will not be your pawn, nor Ach-Demons Greyson tool. I shall kill both of you if I find out I'm being toyed with." Yura coldly said, her sword swirling with cold qi.

With a smirk, I turned around, "Shall we begin this slaughter...my dear Yura." I asked, enjoying the breath of fresh air that hung in the air.

Yura was, from what I could tell, at the first stage of Earth Realm. A great accomplishment, yet something was telling me there was more to it.

Rushing through, Serein, I smiled with a bloodthirsty expression; how long has it been since I could feel the warm thick sensation of blood over my skin. The sensual feeling of existence as I sliced into a carcass. The sweet screams as my victims would beg for mercy. How long has it been?

I really missed the modern world, the feeling of cool AC against my skin. The ability to travel around the world. But what I truly missed the most was the feast I had after a hunt. With my constantly monitored movements, it was almost impossible to eat, making life a true nightmare in a sense. Not to mention that recurring dream of me covered in jet-black flames.

"Ahooo!!!!"

Suddenly a loud howl sounded as I saw a pack of silver wolves a few hundred meters away. A deep hunger shining from their eyes, they stared at us with desire. Grinning savagely, I stabbed my spear into the ground before summoning my bow from my spiral bracelet mother had gifted me.

The bow's two limbs were sharp as a blade shimming with a cold light, while a purple string magically appeared as I nocked my bow. Qi flooded my arms as the wolves fell into my cruel sight. Releasing my arrow formed with black qi, a massive boom sounded as my arrow rushed through the skull of an unsuspecting wolf—brain matter splattered like a glass of crimson liquid falling from a table staining the ground red.

Not letting up, I shot a few more times, brutally killing five more wolves instantly. Yura to my side flickered, appearing in the middle of the pack. Her sword dancing with elegance bringing death and despair from all those that saw her blade.

For the first time, I saw her smiling; the light of the world seemed to vanish as she gazed happily at the gore that surrounded her. Chuckling, I charged forward with my spear piercing through anything I saw.

Spinning my spear, I created a barrage of death as a mist of blood blanketed my body. Stained in blood and gore, I grinned, licking the raw, unfiltered blood on my face. As if pose by a demon, I laughed as I gazed at the slaughtered packed of wolves.

Yura eyed me for a few seconds but didn't speak as she began carving into some of the wolves, pulling out a small black stone. Helping her, we each gathered around twenty before dividing it by ourselves.

These wolves were only rank one demonic beast, something a blood realm cultivator could kill. Wiping the blood from my body, I smiled, taking some meat with me. We would be in this forest for a week, and I didn't bring any food aside from some spices in my spiral bracelet.

However, I suddenly sense an arrow flying through the wind towards my head; pushing off the ground, I leaped out the way, rolling on the grassy plain before staring at someone a few hundred meters. Dressed in all black was a man standing on a tree gripping a great bow, but my attention was on the dead wolf that was quickly beginning to dissolve into itself.

Summoning my bow, I nock my bow firing in quick succession. Yura had charged forward but stopped as I shouted, "Stop, it could be a trap. We are in an area we have no idea of the landscape."

"Let it go...at least for now." I coldly said, pulling the arrow from the rotting carcass.

With a light sniff, I scoffed, "Night Rose," an expensive and potent poison only available to those of the aristocracy.

I knew that this was not the work of Ashna but rather some student. The poor planning, much less the pathetic attempt to kill me. Sneering, I smiled, knowing that of all things, poison was truly the least deadly weapon to worry about.

With a highly adaptable body, I would always recover from something as simple as poison. Turning in the direction, I saw the assassin fleeing. I grinned savagely, allowing him to escape, at least for now.

Yura didn't speak but slowly began diving deeper into the Forest of Serein. Following behind her, I pushed my senses to the max, not allowing myself to be surprised again. That arrow had been a little too close for comfort.

No attacks occurred again, but I did get the feeling that we were being watched. After every battle we had, I would feel the flicker of qi rising far from behind us. Ignoring the pathetic attempt to shadow us, night descended, swallowing everything in darkness.

Yura had made a small fire before taking out a massive rice ball the size of a toddler's head, eyeing it like how the wolves stared at us. My eyes grew wide as I saw the goddess of many open her mouth wide, taking a massive bite with a childish grin on her face.