Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"Is this really necessary?" I begrudgingly moaned, tilting my head back to the smiling Izavith, pushing me on a wheelchair. Beautiful as they come, without a shred of imperfection, she nodded.

"But, of course," She said, pointing towards my tummy. "Look how big you got. You're like a whale!"

"HEY! I'm still hot!"

"Of course, you are," Izavith swore, bobbing her head up and down."You are like a hot whale!"

"When did you get so rude?" I snapped, placing my hand over my stomach, which made me look like I was with child.

I must say, having a child is far more different than I ever imagine. I didn't know why, but I could feel its emotions, love, and tiny heartbeat. Rewarding wasn't the word, but if there was ever someone I could just love with unconditional love. It was this little one, still cooking. Neither Izavith nor I knew the sex, which was strange, but I couldn't complain. I no longer cared what sex my child was, having spent so much time with it. It no longer mattered. 'He or she' would be loved either way.

"I'd heard you were having dinner with Zariel and Aurelia; how was that?" I asked, recalling a conversation I picked up when I felt Izavith enter Zphies with Zariel.

"I think it went well. It was my first time cooking, and Aurelia did help me out. She's such a sweet girl." She said, wheeling me into the dimly lit conference room where all my Abyssal children resided.

Welcoming me with hugs and kisses as they should, I smiled, eying their faces that I'd not seen in years. Tears seemed to creep into my line of sight, blurring their faces.

"Mama, no crying!" Arkanos sang, crawling up onto my knee; she smiled with pearly white teeth and rested her head against my stomach. She then lifted her head to me, with glistering red eyes, "Arkanos heard him!"

'So you want a boy, huh?" Izavith said, lifting her lips. " That would be a little interesting; he'd be the cutest Lil baby boy ever!"

"AAAh~ I just wanna nibble on his tiny feet!" Ava moaned, leaning her head onto mine. " But have you decided what the name will be if it's a girl?"

"I have. It'll piss Arsene off too." I remarked. " or maybe not; I know he wants a girl." Shaking my head, I slid my eyes to Victoria, who seemed to stare at my stomach. "Do you want to feel?"

"Later," She whispered, but I could see the envy, the longing. " W-we have news on Arsene."

"I felt when he landed on the planet after his first trial," I said, glancing at Izavith, who kind of went behind my back and forced Arsene Hellfire Flames against him. Even if it was at the request of Zariel and Aurelia, she went too far. Or maybe Zariel was out of line asking something of my Izavith without my permission. He had no right to do what he did. The only one who can make my Arsene suffer is me!

"What has happened to him? I've been busy preparing my army. In fact! Didn't I give you orders to head to the four provinces to speak to each head? What are you all doing here?"

"It's not like we wanted to go against your orders, but we decided to seek you out when we got a report on your husband."

My brow arched. Arsene and I promised that I was not allowed to use my 'Rule' to know everything he does, and I've stuck by those terms for the most part. Despite my longing for him, these past few years flickered by faster than I thought. But I had done well to restrict myself.

Resisting the craving to peer into my infinite knowledge of all things that take place in my realm, I waited for them to continue.

Victoria stepped forward, " There is a video—"

"Play it," I coldly said.

Startled for a moment, Victoria glanced at Elsa, who nodded and snapped her fingers, forming a small virtual screen. Watching Arsene in a meditative state, my heart began to quicken, as did my child's heartbeat.

Almost as if it were aware of who that was, I felt my skin tingle with a longing sensation. Noticing the particular events that took place inside a fortress, a coldness trickled its way into my heart. Watching my fool of a husband act like a simpleton made my blood boil.

Whose fucking idea was this?

"Izavith, what is the meaning of this?"

"It would be his trials. I've nothing to do with it. You have my word," She swore, bowing her head. "But—

"But what?"

"If he keeps losing intelligence, he might reach a layer known as the Hollowing or, God forbid, he touches on the next level. He's not ready for that. I needn't tell you what happens next. Arsene was already difficult to stop when he first entered the Hollowing, but if he makes it now, with the Spear of Noctem fueling his desires, I dare say, you may not have a choice but to call upon an army to stop him."

"You think it'll get that bad? If paragons see him—"

"If a paragon sees him, they will not be able to get past his tarnishing flames of hellfire. Not to mention his Qi has Almighty properties. He'd be safe for the most part, but—

"There various artifacts in this world could allow people to pierce through at least one of his defenses." Elsa joined in, crossing her arms.

Izavith shook her head, "Afraid that will not help. Before a Forsaken, all artifacts lose meaning. It'll be destroyed in seconds, if not instantly. Not to mention his Concepts, if he were to use them, like he did last time with Lilith and Asmodeus, god forbid what would happen."

"How does one fight that?" I asked.

"You have to simply push through the torment of the Flames of Hellfire that will burn you. You have to hope your QI and body are strong enough to allow you to sustain yourself. There is a reason why we don't include hacks into battle prowess. They simply break reality." Izavith indifferently said. "I say you leave him be. Arsene is a grown man, is he not? Let him figure it out on his own. If I'm right, he may just garner respect from my ladies, Great Generals, myself included."