Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

It's finally happening.

Standing on the platform, just outside Master's magnificent castle, I gazed out at the hundreds of thousands of High Gods and Elder Gods. Their faces were livid with excitement and concern.

The Nine Hells were not made for mortal minds to grasp. There was a trial period for anyone to get accustomed to its laws. And that's why the Bridge of the Damned was so important. This was the Zone. All souls the Devils captured would appear; this is a law created by Lord Lucifer. Should the soul be forced in deeper without getting accustomed, many devils found the soul could burn away by the Flames of Hellfire.

Where these souls would end up was a mystery after their apparent destruction. Many, like myself, believed they would move on to a higher plane, but some thought the souls would just die.

In any case, there was only one truth: Noctem needed the Bridge of the Damn to Invade the Nine Hells.

The first Lord who Governs over the First Layer of the Nine Hells is known as Arakiel. It was even said when he fell from Heaven as a Fallen, the intense heat of the One's judgment was so great it burned away his almighty wings, turning them to ash.

The day he struck the first layer, the ashes of his wings snowed from the ashen skies. To this day, his Heavenly Wings continue to burn, tearing at the flesh of demons and devils who walk the First layer of Avenos.

(A/N: I can't remember or find the name I used for the First Layer of Hell. I lost ninety percent of my notes a few months back due to a system failure. So, the First layer of Hell is now Avenos.)

Rivers of Blood had run from his body, bleeding into the many layers of Hell, but none like Avenos. It was said within the Infernal Text that through his blood, the layers of Hell were opened up for the Fallen to transverse and that all five rivers in the Hells were formed through him. Granting life to the once-dead Hells.

But of all the Hells, it is Averos that is the most chaotic. It is a hellhole of chaos. There were many rumors biblically that Lucifer wanted to dethrone Arakiel. As for what happened, I cannot say. But Averos is a godless hell.

Due to the Bridge of the Damned, Devils can't stand being near it. It's like stepping into holy light. It burns. So many are forced to wait outside its Infernal Gates, waiting for the lambs to be taken to their respective levels.

While Father had managed to create some Devils who could withstand the terror of the Bridge, they shouldn't be a problem. At least, that's what I hope. Who knows what the current king of Avenos has done?

Madness breeds power and innovation.

The Devil King of Averos ought to be Beleth. By his side, he stands with Prince of Hell Alzimar and alongside Archduke Bune.

I wonder who will be there to greet us. If Beleth is smart, he'll be there personally.

Hearing the crowd's cheer hitting my cheeks, following the howls of approval, I, alongside Freya, took our leave from the podium to allow the various dukes to show their approval.

We were all set. All that was left was to move out.

"Can we still not find, Master?" Feya whispered on our way toward the castle, where a ship awaited us in the hanger bay.

"Nothing," I whispered back." Master just vanished, yet again. And Lilith is weeping alone in the eastern tower. It's a shit show in there."

"I was hoping for better news."

"Same. But we already got the go-ahead. I'm sure we'll see each other in Averos."

"He's not the one I'm worried about. It's the maniacal woman who's pumped up on hormones. Do you think Lilith will kill us? You're her sister."

"If it were me... I'd kill us." I admitted.

There was nothing wrong with being selfish. The fact Lilith hadn't killed us yet was a miracle. At least to me, it was. I would have killed Lilith, Freya, and everyone else when they approached Master if we were married.

"Just focus on the Hells."

Freya's lips puckered for a second, and she nodded. " Fine, but I feel like we need to do something before Lilith snaps. You know Master forgives many of her transgressions."

Stopping outside the Hanger, I sighed. " Nothing we can do. Those two are something else. Our lives are in their hands. We knew this when we slept with Master."

Stepping into the hangar doors, I glanced at the dozen elite soldiers boarding various warships.

"What took you so long?"

Startled, I glanced over at Victoria, approaching with a dark grimace. "Let's go. Zagan is about to die for attacking the Eben Forest." She said darkly.

"None of your people died. Lilith got them out in time."

"Irrelevant." She replied, " I put in a lot of work and fortifications around my land, and now all those runes are destroyed. That bastard signed his death warrant."

Not bothering to reply, I pulled my gaze away from her and onto the teleportation rune that would take me directly aboard Noctems Flagship.

I stopped inside the portal, and light-filled my eyes, pushing me through space as I appeared onboard Noctems greatest ship, said to have weaponry that could harm or kill Paragons.

Making my way toward the Helm as soldiers one after the other saluted, we stepped inside the Bridge, watching various Shadowfell all rise to attention.

"Admiral on deck!" Shouted the Commander, a shade by the name of Drax.

"Are you all ready?" I steadily asked, sensing a dark Aura billowing through the air around my men.

"Yes, Sir." Said Drax.

Nodding steadily, I pushed out my senses into the vacuum of space. My blood began to bubble as I called upon my infernal lineage to draw open a Gate of Hell.

Space began to tremble and bend as a black stone gate materialized out of thin air, bringing about the grim scent of brimstone to my nose.

Knowing what I was smelling was Arakiel's smoldering wings burning for all eternity, my heart seized with fear and trepidation, alongside excitement, as I looked on with anticipation.

"To Avenos!"

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