Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"Man the sails, and be ready to board!" The Captain bellowed from below, startling me awake. Pushing my weary arms upon the ledge, I hoisted myself up, peering towards the considerable shadow of a ship behind a thick mist.

"Bloody hell, how long was I asleep?" I whispered, pulling qi from the air to help rid myself of my drowsiness. It was pretty tiring to move like an average human, and souls did not work in this form, so I had to do things old school.

Taking a swig of rum, the Captain spat upon the ground, "Ya ready, boys!" he hollered, pulling a silver scimitar from his waist. "We may even gather a few more for our collection. I hear an elven royal is on board."

"Captain, are we going to use it?" The First Mate whispered for only the Captain to hear, unaware that the darkness of reality was my family. Soul benders did not have Divine Sense, but who needed them when you could create your own.

"Aye, Semal. But do not approach her or my target. We only have a single chance, and the Scepter of Remtela will only work once a day." Said the Captain, to my surprise. Having never heard of such a weapon.

Blowing like a fierce breeze, the ship of Harthorn approached, a magnificent vessel in the distance. Eyeing the Crest of Yggdrasil, I knew this ship belonged to the elves. It was large, appearing more like a military vessel than one that belonged to pedlars. However, aboard told a different story.

Children, the elderly, and many others that looked to be refugees of war could be seen cuddling next to each other, surrounded by several warriors. They were elves but did not appear to belong to any army, but instead, runaways or shady-looking characters.

Allowing the ship to approach a virtual image via my darkness formed deep within my soul, allowing me to see and hear everything all at once. Flickering towards the refugee ship, I pondered if this was indeed what Harthorn was looking for.

However, my thoughts were irrelevant as the two ships touched. Excited at the slaughter that would happen, the pirates bellowed in a challenging war cry charging. I would like to say this was a sad sight, but slaughter had become quite a sight within Midgard.

"Do not fret, for the Guiding Light of Ashna will illuminate our path!" A female warrior faithfully screamed, gripping her longsword. She was reasonably pretty but lacking as an elf—something rather strange, for her kind. However, her words had my heart icy.

Storming towards the pirates, she was like a true warrior, relinquishing her elven heritage whose battle style consisted of graceful poise. She was brutal and downright vicious—a one-man army.

Slightly dodging a blade heading for her head, the Elven Female twisted her body; lowering her center of gravity, she severed a man in half, bathing in his blood in an instant. Not in the least fazed, she continued with a righteous heart.

Disgusted by the very sight her this filth, a shadow spear appeared within my hands, but I held my burning rage down. Now was not the time. There are two unknowns right now. This woman and the other elven royal.

"So you must be Lori, The Holy Flame of Ashna!" Harthorn grimly shouted, hiding his trembling hands behind his back. He was only within the realm of Nascent Soul, while Lori was overflowing with the incredible power of Dao Seed.

I could battle Harthorn, but Lori would be a little tricky. I only had my spirit Qi so killing her will be difficult. Not impossible if the terrain is right, but there is a low chance.

"Captain!" A man approached from behind, holding a peculiar staff. It was that of a silver skull glowing with a dark mist. The scepter was not tall but relatively short, similar in length to that of a small child.

Sensing the hidden power of one within the Realm of World on board. A darkness crept beneath my eyes, pulling at my will. Shadow stepping behind the man that held the Septer, I severed him in half with a shadow spear. Not revealing my face, I took the staff.

Gripping the scepter radiating a powerful divinity, I felt a particular Will trying to split me in half. Scuffing at such a power, a hellish intent felled my mind quelling the Scepters intent.

Meeting the icy gaze of Lori and the horrid eye of Harthorn, I slowly stepped past the pirate captain, with my face hidden by my darkness. Approaching Lori, my intentions remained hidden in a vale of mystery as I strolled past her without so much as a second glance.

"Halt!" she commanded, but her words fell upon deaf airs. My cultivation was hidden by those with a comprehension below mine. And only a false god or true god could have a grasp of my level. Not to brag, but I was a badass! My greatness had no bounds.

"Why not come out?" I coldly told, knowing she was watching—THe hidden royal. "I will be boarding this ship," I commanded, not caring if they agreed or not.

"Who are you?" Lori scornfully demanded, ignoring the trembling Pirate who had served his purpose.

"Why not ask your God?" I softly said in a voice unlike my own.

Unable to control her emotion, the air chilled, causing a heavy frost to consume both vessels. Not in the least bothered, the shadows of darkness protected me on their own. Proceeding past the refugees, I spoke without concern.

"You may call me Abaddon."

Entering the lower deck below without any issue, I found a secluded room. Pulling out my phone when a virtual image of Grey appeared in front of my face.

"Greetings, uncle," I softly said, knowing he would wish to appear once I told him.

"Already checking in? It's only been a few days. " He gracefully beckoned towards a faceless to pour him a glass of wine.

"I met an apostle of Ashna just now."

Freezing in place, his expression twisted into a deformity of anger and loathing. Rising from his chair, he fumed with a sinister eye. "Can you handle it?" He asked, surprising me at his rational behavior.

"I can. If I find any clues on her whereabouts, I will relay them to you."

"Remember your objective... My revenge can wait, but Lilith cannot. Find your way to Yu'drol." He painfully said.

"Understood, Uncle." I warmly said with a graceful bow.