Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Hoisting Lilith's limp body onto my back, Little Arkanos slowly slipped onto my neck. Bearing a bright smile, she leaned over my head with a big childlike smile, " Papa, what are you going to name the baby if it's a boy?"

"I have no idea. I don't even want a boy." I gently conveyed, listening to Lilith's soft breath against my back."Has your mother told you what she will call her if it's a girl?"

Arkanos nodded while Ty wiggled herself between the handlebars of the Echo-X, bearing a giddy smile. Her eyes glowed, " Mama told Ty too!"

"Tsk, of course, she told you." My eyes rolled, "What is it?"

"Mama made us sign a contract stating we would not tell you," Ty revealed, and Arkanos nodded in agreement.

"She did say it has a part of her name," Arkanos added, sending a peck to my nose. She smiled and giggled.

"Are you four done?" Ezra interjected, " I swear, why are you even bringing them? Especially the unconscious one? You are going to a battlefield."

I glanced at Ezra but did not comment on her retort. She wasn't wrong, but everyone needed a starting point. I wasn't apprehensive about Ty, but Arkanos was different. She was still a star-lord, albeit an abyssal one, a first-generation one to boot. There was a bit of danger there, but there shouldn't be much danger with Ty and Freya alongside me. As for Lilith, well, that's why Avar is here.

Ren slowly rode up, "I personally don't care what you do, but I am curious about that mist. Something about it troubles me. What do you think happens when Heaven and Hell, two opposing powers, clash?"

His words spoke to me, and he wasn't wrong; I had sensed it too. That threatening pressure that day. I wasn't an avid user of Yin and Yang, so I couldn't truly grasp the complexities of their fusion.

I had started Yin training a long time ago, very long. But it was drowned out by the Flames of Hellfire alongside my lightning training. There just wasn't enough time back then.

Ren's expression darkened, " If Baphomet's battle against the Angels could reveal some valuable data, then it would be worth it."

Data?

"What do you mean?" I asked, somewhat interested in what he had to say. I noticed even Rey Nala and Avar peep their ears in our direction.

"Well, after you sold me to Baphomet," He started, shooting me a cold eye, "That mad man turned me into his disciple. Prodded and toyed due to this so-called pure heart. He had begun to rabble on regarding something that had caught my ear."

So that's what happened to him. But last time I saw him, Ren seemed to be 'eating' some mermaid. So guess it wasn't all bad.

"Baphomet, in his quest for knowledge, came upon a particular tome. That revealed information that—" He paused. "I don't know the specifics, but it had seemed it had consumed him, especially since it held hidden knowledge regarding Iluthath." Ren lifted his cold gaze to the skies, and the lines of his lips tightened.

"Did you know that the Bed of Chaos has a secret? Many, in fact. Those of old did not hide information on Iluthath but rather into the dense and far reaches of the Bed of Chaos, where the only viable means of travel meant entering Subspace where even Elder Gods could die or be lost to the passage of time. From what I know, although I can't confirm, this tome spoke of the fusion of energies." He grimaced and settled his gaze on me again, "So I wish to study the mist. To know how I am relevant to this matter."

My thoughts raced, and I thought of that form of Baphomet. I see why he was the first to step up. He wanted to test a theory. But why is the Mother of Demons, Lilith helping him do so? From what I know, using a blessing requires a deep attunement to your god and their willingness to help. Even if this 'Lilith' was generous with her gifts, it seems that something deeper is happening. Baphomet is plotting something, or he has discovered something that the Mother of Demons wishes to see.

A/N: End Game Events

Were the upper gods interfering?

"Seems you're a walking dead man," Ezra declared, her lips curling into a deadly smile. "Well, embrace the last few days you have. Baphomet is sure to find whatever he is searching for. He always does."

Ren's expression tightened, but he kept his serene expression, not allowing Ezra to push his buttons. "Just lead the way."

"Gladly," she remarked, burning off as we shot after her.

I noticed a dark, intent whisper in my ear, emitting from Ren hidden beneath a veil of calmness, directed towards Ezra, and I chuckled but didn't bother to involve myself. This could be a lesson I could teach this princess, whose arrogance seems to be growing each day.

For all intended purposes, Ren was a Member of the Order of Chaos. Truck-kun had seen to that the moment he died and entered her base of operations. While I will say Ezra has a good amount of power, I don't think she could handle Ren, whose ability to copy is monstrous. And that's just one of his abilities. Both should be lords in battle prowess, but I don't know how deep Rens' ability to copy lies. While Ezra has her royal ability, I have never seen it. It all seems rather interesting.

Whipping over the horizon behind Ezra for the next few days, I began situating my body the best I could. With this recent breakthrough, I needed to better grasp how powerful I have grown. Battle prowess is still the same, but the amount of this foreign qi within me had exploded. It was now brimming from out of my soul and no longer hidden.

"Papa," Ty suddenly said, pointing ahead, "Ty smells something."

Up ahead, Ezra slowed, and we followed. Noticing the smoke and the heavy scent of blood reaching my nose, crazed laughter rattled its way into my soul, stunning everyone.