Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

There had been reports of two Dukes of Hell and a single prince sent to each of the Four Horseman Gates. But Berith, the Fallen Lord, and Keeper of Time, Gusion, are here. These two, on their own, were monsters in their own right. Their power is said to come close to a King, if not surpass some Kings.

When Bael, the once-proud King of Hell, fell, his duke, Berith, had been banished, under the order of Lord Asmodeus, commanded to fall into the shadows to protect this duke from the other Princes and Kings. The last I'd heard of Berith was that he had become a reclusive Lord. He had not participated in the War of Demon and Devil. So not much is known of him. The same could be said of the Keeper of Time. He, too, had rarely made an appearance in the last war. When he did, he would not battle, only give out orders.

'We are outclassed.' I relayed to Casteel through a soul whisper. 'If we are to battle them, we need the First-Class Order. We are both Second Class, Archangels. Aside from the prince, we will die if we engage.'

I hated this. Why did Casteel, this hot-headed fool come here? My elder brother, Casteel, was not meant to lead. Powerful as he may be, he had a one-tracked mind. A feature I would have said to be important in the past. But that would only be my pride talking. I don't know what we are to do as a whole, but I know what we can do now.

'We need to retreat and tend to the men." I continued, but Casteel was quick to reply.

"No! They brought out such monsters. The proof is before our eyes, Sister. We just need to destroy that Gate. It's the Pale Gate that might stop this prophecy." He pleaded, glancing at me hard. "I have taken the Cryos Spear, Sister. This very spear was endowed with true power by the Higher Heavens. We are Elder Gods. We should be able to show its true power and destroy that Gate that is hindered by the Fourth Dimension. All we need to do is push past these Devils."

I clenched my fist," They will die, you know," I relayed grimly, feeling the invisible knife twisting in my heart, "Our brethren that have survived will die if we fight."

"For the greater good! For Raziel, The Heavenly Father!" He cried, but all I felt was emptiness. Was this the right thing? Abandon our brethren to face such a risk? If we fought, death was sure to be around at turn. "Sister, I need you. our home needs you."

I took in a heavy breath—raised Safi, my longsword that blazed with the radiance of the Sacred Flame, and took the first stance of Ren-Shii. Cold icy fury raced through my mind and heart.

"Thank you, Sister." He affirmed, but I felt nothing but disgust for what I was doing. But through the force of Ren-Shii, that humiliation, that anger fuel my sword and mind.

Following after me in the first stance of Ren-Shii, Casteel carried a smile unbecoming of our kind. Lost in his emotions, fueled by Ren-Shii, the form meant for demons, I held my tongue. The Second Form was known for being evil by man, my brethren included, but I had always seen it differently. I had seen that even we angels could grow angry. I was not in the least an exemption. I was always bad at controlling myself. Most of my brethren had taken a liking to the first form Serian, which required a calm mind and a heart for peace, and bliss. I was not like that. While I, too, enjoyed peace. When action was required, I was the first to act. I was the angel of retribution, after all.

"I missed the last war," Berith remarked, finding a calm smile on his serene expression. Matching his fellow duke in calmness and poise, he continued, "Honestly, I have no interest in this war, but I do find this Lilith and Arsene interesting. That boy seems on a route to allow my King to rise once more. So for that very reason, I will put a stop to this nonsense."

"A devil with honor?" Casteel mocked, sneering almost involuntarily, "Your kind only knows to betray. You all will be bettered dead than alive."

"Yes, that is very much true, but we abide by the law, just as you. Few things we respect, but if our kings ask us something, we will follow it to the letter. The respect they garner will be the respect I will give. You who committed taboo is nothing more than,' Berith paused then laughed, "Well, that would make you no better than demons, who care nothing but war and chaos."

My cheek stung at his words. The more I hear it, the more I wish to meditate on that single truth. Are we wrong?

"But no matter, shall we?" He challenged, dismissing the small cupcake back to the confine of his spiral ring. Pulling out a scepter entirely made of wood, carrying leaves at its head, horror and fear rippled through my soul, as the calmness of Berith only grew when he summoned a small average looking dagger appeared in his off-hand. He, alongside Duke Gusion, entered the First Form, one used by most of my kind, Serian.

Bael's duke maintained his smile, and his eyes glowed. Witnessing a could of fog-filled his sights, I barely saw when he blinked in between Casteel and me. My instincts screamed, but retreat did not exist in the path of Ren-Shii. It was a weakness but a blessing as well.

Whipping his dagger, the flicker of his sigil hummed its song above his head. Slashing Safi out with all I held, I heard the very words I never thought possible.

"Necrotic Blade," Duke Berith coldly said, as the emerald flame of the purest evil, the very first of sins, coiled around his small dagger carrying its sinful song. The blade extended.

When our blades connected, the Ruins of Alos shattered, and the world spilled. My brethren that were around this world were torn away to shreds, as were the demons below.. Emerald hell flashed over this world, taking away life as if the very Lord of Death spawned into creation.