Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Studying the somewhat large formation that was far more complex than any formation I had seen. Tang Feng rose from his knees, from having hand-drawn the construct.

"Sorry. That took a while, but once you reach godhood, you will realize you are more restricted than you previously were."

"I have been wondering, but why is that?" I patiently said a little unsure why everything needed a price.

"You are without any training wheels in a sense. The stronger you grow, the more you defy the heavens. There comes the point where you must pay the price the heavens must carry."

Creasing my brow, I could not help but grow confused, "What does that even mean?"

"You are the perfect example," He said, "You are so powerful, so heaven-defying, that is the price, Arsene. Everyone below godhood will be free of a sacrifice or a cost. That is due to the Bed of Chaos or, in a way, Aldrich paying it.

"In the vastness of space, Aldrich is all-powerful in the bed of chaos. Shit, I have even heard a story he could match even the Prince of Noctem." Tang bitterly said. "The usual way Aldrich will pay the price is by creating a new race or allowing the bed of chaos to birth a heaven-defying genius."

"Or dividing the price by raising the talents of various people instead of giving it to a single one." Turning my gaze away from the Formation, Tang Feng nodded.

"And that is how most of the prices are paid. There are also Heavenly Treasures, Natural Disasters, and much more, but it all comes down to Aldrich discretion."

Clapping his hands clean of chark. My mind raced upon that thought. Did Aldrich get manipulated by Zariel, and does he know Zariel was using him?

"You ready?" Said the Celestrial King.

"Yeah."

Reaching to grab onto my shoulder. Everything abruptly twisted, blending into a cloud of chaos, my stomach began to churn, and my eyes began to water.

"you're doing this on purpose," I strain fully barked. Why the hell was this ride so strainful.

"This is how ruff it will be when you become a god: no training wheels, boy. The heavens law will reject you. No matter how much you manipulate the Dao, it will forever be your enemy from now on." He warned with a bit of care hidden under his breath.

"I have the darkness, and it's darkness beyond the confines of this Heaven. Same for my flames." I replied as my feet suddenly cracked against the ground. Sending a shockwave through the earth, a wave of dust and debris showered my vision.

It was bright, and the air was a bit crispt with the time of spring upon the land. Standing in a middle of an unfamiliar forest, a bit of dread whispered its way into my heart.

"Good luck Arsene. I hear this is one of your weaknesses. I hope thor doesn't find you." Crackling with laughter, Tang Feng vanished, leaving me utterly stranded in an unfamiliar land.

"FUCK YOU!!!!" Stomping my feet, I kicked off the ground leaving unsure what god was watching. While Midgard was under my rule, I was not even close to the peak.

Taking the time, I made sure to skim over the surroundings and connect to the darkness to scan my surroundings. Seeing nothing but forest and various monsters, I cursed the entire bloodline of the celestial house.

Cloaking myself in darkness, I found a secluded space and clasped my hands together as if to pray. "Freya! I need your help... I'm lost."

There was an eerie silence that brought a bit of tear to my face, but just as I felt like Freya would not respond, her pearly laughter echoed in my head. "Your back! And how the hell did you get lost? You own Midgard."

"Stop playing and get me the hell out of here!" I hastily said.

I was not going to be lost for days or weeks just because of some foolish shit. Midgard was massive; it could take years just to reach back to civilization. And using the Shadow Realm would not help as things might have changed.

"It almost sounds like your begging? Wait! Is Arsene Fucking Snow begging?" She mocked. Gritting my teeth, Freya's laughter only seemed to grow.

"Freya," I warned.

"Oh, let me have some fun." She cheerfully said, appearing at my side in an instant. Watching the vibrant flame of beauty that dimmed the grace of Gods, I sighed.

"You here to fulfill your promise to me?"

"Promise? Oh, do you mean to break you from your confines, or is it help you torment Odin? It's been a couple of Dao Cycles for me, so I don't remember much."

Freya's lips curled down, and the wildlife around me began to wither away. It was as if her discontent was affecting the divinity around her.

"Both." She stated, crossing her arms.

Meeting her cold stare, I could still feel her devils heart quaking with fire. She was a little angry, but did she forget I was not even a god? I swear even the angels sometimes seem to forget I am not all-powerful.

"I can break you out of your change of repetition by turning you into my race. You would be the second Shadowfell to exist. As for Odin, since you will have my blood, which holds an endless stream of bloodlines, fused together, I will say you can enter the Hells."

"What of my cultivation? what I would be doing is essentially breaking my legacy." She hesitantly whispered, but I merely shook my head.

"How so? I am only giving you freedom from the restriction of your legacy. It will still be yours. In fact, I would say let's do it before I become a god so that there is no price I must pay. Let's leave Aldrich a surprise."

The hesitation upon Fraya's lips could not be clearer. "Freya, let me break it down for you to understand. Even if you lose your cultivation, you would be turning into a race stronger than devils. Your talents and comprehension would spike; I say this is the best deal you will get."

Arching my lips, I circled my favorite god, hovering off the barren ground, "Between the two of us, there shall exist a bond of sire, but you will not be my slave. Your comprehension of the Dao will be the same, plus you will gain my darkness and flame attribute.. I say you will be a monster amongst gods."