Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

With a sudden flick to her forehead, I eyed the young woman rubbing her head as she glared at me. Glancing around, I watched as Nora, Zed, Winfor, and Edain all walked out the river of death with a cold expression.

It would seem like something had broken inside of them during this time of slaughter. We had been battling for about two days straight, but It would be odd if something wasn't wrong. Nevertheless, we had to continue, and their mental health was none of my concern.

None of us said a word as we continued forward in silence. Hours soon turned into days before we arrived at the massive garden still damaged from the brief period When Yura and Ezra fought. Sending a subtle glance towards Yura, I felt a cold chill churn my skin as I turned away.

"Are you thinking of her?" Yura asked sweetly. Turning her soul-catching gaze towards me.

Gulping down, I swiftly shook my head. 'Damn it, why am I so scared...No why is she so terrifying. I'm a man...I'm a man.....Damnit

"Who are you talking about, " Nora asked, giving Yura a tight hug from behind, plumping up her massive buns between her arms.

Instantly turning red, Yura pushed Nora away as she pointed towards the massive door filled with hundreds of formations. "We-we need to break through that door-door." Exclaimed Yura with a shudder.

Gazing at the door, my mind turned fuzzy when the ring of bael abruptly gave off a dark demonic light. Suddenly all the formations surrounding the door vanished. Glancing at Yura in shock, she quickly nodded as we shot through the door.

As if entering an inferno, I saw Yura and everyone else surround themselves with earth qi. I, however, didn't bother to summon my qi as I had darkness around me at all times protecting me. Not letting my guard waver, I shot a little qi into my left eye, causing everything within this hell to grew brighter and more profound.

As we had entered a massive arena, I saw a profound white lotus hovering at the base of the arena pulsing with an ancient power. Each of its pedals seminally glowing with a sinful aura, yet beneath all of it held a holy aura that seems to contradict its existence.

"Flames of Hellfire," I muttered.

"Yes, a flame not created by demons, devil, angels, or the heavens." Yura continued, " No one knows how it came into existence. As no one has ever successfully fused with it."

"What!!" I bellowed, turning to Yura, who turned her head in shame, "Why the fuck are you telling me this now!"

"Because she has to follow the rules of this false heaven!" A powerful voice yelled,

Levitating above the Pure white lotus stood a tall warrior. His body was fully cloaked in golden armor as his hair seemingly matched his armor, while two radiant white wings expanded out, coving the very stary sky.

Drawing Dragonsbane, I spat in annoyance, "Are you the guardian, although you don't seem like someone who would follow the will of demons." I questioned, taking a long look at his majestic wings.

With a slight smile that seemed to captivate the very void around me, the angel nodded, "Correct, Child of Tenebrae. However, I am quite interested in you. A mortal with the will of a demon yet can never become one."

Eying me with a scrutinizing glare, he snapped as everyone but me fell to their knees. "Father has only allowed one to control these flames. So tell me, boy, will you go against me?"

So GOD is real; well, it's too late for me. My sins are too deep never to be forgiven. Lowing Dragonsbane, I nodded, "I do not fear death, for I know the darkness will welcome me back with open arms."

With a smile of approval, the angel snapped as I appeared before him, "You may call me Gabrial, but I think you already know that." Said the angel with an oddly familiar voice as he ruffled my hair.

"I hope you survive, Sene, because 'he' is awaiting for your ascension. Truck-Kun did a fine job, but the rest is up to you. But be warned never trust any of the mythology's you encounter, even if they are angels. They are but false images of my kind."

Nodding absentmindedly, I whispered beneath my breath, trying to guess our relationship, "Uncle?"

"Unfortunately not by blood, but this game is far more complicated than what you think. Even the words you are currently speaking are nothing more than illusions, governed into the heavens themselves by its new ruler. Do not even trust your mind as it's not truly yours yet. Continue on, Sene, for we are awaiting your rise."

With a kind smile that brought an unnatural warmth to my heart, Gabrial snapped, causing time to abruptly reverse, turning back just as we entered the massive door.

"Yes, a flame not created by demons, devils, angels, or the heavens." Yura continued, " No one knows how it came into existence. As no one has ever successfully fused with it." Yura said again, not aware of what just happened.

Gasping, I turned to her again, pausing in fright, not daring to even speak of what just happen. Something deep within my soul was whispering to me not to speak of what just occurred.

Looking at the shameful look of Yura, I patted her head, thinking of that profound feeling I just had. It was kind of like instincts yet even more profound.

"WELCOME HALF-BREED," A fiendish voice blasted out, shaking the will of everyone around me.

Glancing at the tall man with a terrifying katana, sitting in the lotus position, eyeing us like meat. Taking a deep breath, I grew solemn, stepping closer with Dragonsbane.

With a half-smile, the man with long crimson hair arose, placing his katana against his shoulder, "I am Karthronig, Lord of Gallreum." He introduced himself with a savage smile that contradicted his demeanor.

"I heard of you from father. Gallreum one of the most advanced worlds of the Western Supercluster." blurted out Yura with shimmering eyes.

"Fucking hell, why are you here, Yura? Your father will kill me if he finds out you're a part of this trial." Karthronig half-heartedly muttered, taking me by surprise.

"No matter, I have no choice as Lord Asmodeus and Lord Drar'ethiul has decried I kill anyone who enters," Said Karthronig regaining his cold demeanor as he swung his katana down, creating a massive gush of wind brutishly forcing us back. "If you wish to take the Flames of Hellfire, you must win Child of Bael.

Drawing our weapons, I saw Winfor alongside Yura charge out at an impeccable pace. " Take him out quickly. Karthronig is suppressing his power to the 9th stage of Qi Condensation." Bellowed Yua, while winfor to her side swung out with his greatsword.

Arriving before, Karthronig, Winfor raged downwards, causing a massive shockwave to blast out, only to watch in horror as Karthronig effortlessly caught his blade with his hand. "pathetic mortal," He disdainfully exclaimed, only to turn to Yura as she held her empty waist and back.

"Come forth, Sigfried," Yura bellowed as two longswords appeared at her side.

<cross blade=""> Yura chanted as she did a quick draw forcing Karthronig to block as he was blasted away. Her hair had slowly turned silver as she spoke, "Back me up,"</cross>

Not needing to tell me, I appeared right where Karthronig had just landed as I struck out, my blades covered in darkness and flames. The Clanks of blades resounded as Krarthrionig and I engaged with each other in a terrifying game of skill.

Yet, to my horror, blood gushed from my chest as Karthronig did an impossible sword stroke. His dark crimson hair glimmering as deep yellow flames gushed from my wounds. Screaming out in anguish, I dropped my spear as he tried to take advantage of this moment.

However, he suddenly gasped as I pointed towards his chest as a small jet black marble at my fingertips glimmered with darkness </impact>

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

WHile Karthronig was stronger than me, it appeared he only used a mortal type of flame, something I was completely immune to. Seeing his body blasted away, I almost puked blood at his unharmed appearance, bitting my lips; I quickly gasped as Nora appeared right above his body with a massive ax as she struck down with killing intent.

Karthronig had managed to efficiency block, but the force had forced him to slam into the ground on his two feet, creating cracks around. A disdainful smirk rippled around his eyes as he turned towards me, "These mortals can not harm me. This is the pinnacle of what we demons are capable of in the 9th stage of Qi condensation."

"Only you and Yura have the ability to harm me, so why don't I give your little pets something to do," Karthronig explained as a massive legion of demons appeared, bringing horror to our faces.

Edain and Zed had appeared behind Karthronig only to stop as hundreds of demons rain down, creating massive chaos on the battlefield.

Seeing me lose a little focus, Karthronig materialized before me, his blade flashing like flashes of light. Yet, with qi being pushed into my left eye, everything slowed as I blocked with extreme precision.

"You are not bad. If you lived in Gallruem, you would have definitely have been a Chosen." Express Karthronig with a cold expression. Smiling, I suddenly faded before his eyes.

Yura had said that my movement Arte would not work, but what about if I added the element of darkness to it.

With a surprise gleam, Karthronig split my fading form into two. A trace of shock filled his eyes as a mist of darkness appeared around him.

"You have Dao? Impossible! You are still a mortal...I can smell it" He bellowed as he struck out, hitting me out from his shadow. With a smile, I clenched my fist as the dark mist around Karthronig suddenly shot out like beams into his body.

With a look of fear, I saw Qi shot out from his body as he attempted to block my attack. Unfortunately for him, the mist was made like water droplets, and each of these droplets shot out a beam of their own. It was impossible to block such an attack.

"YURA!!!!" I screamed as an amethyst goddess surrounded by silver light descended down with her two blades, "Celestrial Demon Slash,"

Time and Space suddenly tore as a massive black hole suddenly appeared to my horror. However, Yura's blade Sigfried had suddenly created a barrier around me and everyone else as the demons experienced what is known as the Event Horizon.

Watching how everything vanish, I looked at the goddess still in battle position as she frowned, "He is still alive. Get to the damn Lotus and absorbed it."

With sword qi shimmering from her blade Yura alongside Edain, Zed and Nora, charged once the black hole faded. Standing there with his sword in the ground was Karthronig. All the flesh around his two arms had all but peeled away as he glared at Yura.

Fading into the darkness, I shot towards the Massive Lutas hovering off the ground. Karthronig had sent me a glance but was stopped by zed as he held two daggers. Slashing out with cold intent.

With sweat flowing like streams, I arrived at the massive Lutas before touching it without a care of what would happen.

"NOO," Bellowed Karthronig as he blasted Nora away with a swot of his long katana. Sparks flew like fireflies as Nora coughed a mouthful of blood and guts.

Not caring about Karthronig, I chanted the Demonic Sacerlage Mantra as the Lutas pulsed. Suddenly my nexus armor that had to seem to lost all its defense capabilities turned to ash.

With a scream filled with anguish, I tried to pull my arms away only to watch as my arms were engulfed into the massive Lutas. Yet to my horror, I suddenly felt my ver soul turn to flames as my eyes became unfocused.

I wanted to scream, but my body would not even listen; it was not long before I was completely consumed by the lotas. Losing all concepts of thought.