Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Opening myself up to the changes plaguing this realm, a mystifying change rippled through the core of my being as my bones, hair, eyes, flesh, and more evolved. I was changing. And it wasn't by a little. On a fundamental level, I was evolving, as was my Shadowfell. They all could feel it. And knew to keep their mouths shut.

Still jittery with this sensation that felt both painful and pleasurable, I focused more on refining the blood laws within me as Lily had recommended.

"Can I ride with you?" Seraphina asked, galloping to my side with a pale expression. "This cold… It's eating away at my reserves."

"Sure, you not just horny?" I teased with a large grin.

Snorting cutely, Sera flicked me off. " Screw off, Arsene."

"Is that an invitation? As a man of culture, I'll take one for the team!" I chivalrously said, clasping my hands over my chest in a gentlemanly manner. "Seraphina, thou shall be bedded!"

'I hate you."

Laughing, I beckoned her aboard.

Seraphina snorted but still hopped on as Kuro sent the horse back into the void of darkness. The little fox stared at me with pure judgment.

"I'm telling master." She said, narrowing her eyes.

My lips twitched. " I'm a man."

"I'm telling."

"I'm a king…."

"She's going to kill you." Said Kuro. "I'm going to tell Lilith too."

A chill colder than this Eternal Winter ran through me as I groaned and ignored the little girl. "You're a dick."

Kuro nodded. " You taught me well."

Lost for words, Lily laughed. " You sure that's not your daughter?"

"I hear that. Although, she is practically adopted." I mused, with a small smile, slowing the horse. I gave Kuro some head pats, watching as she tilted her head with confusion. She reached her head up like a little cat, being met with affection.

"Just over that mountain, we'll…." Adrian paused as a wave of heat suddenly clashed with the cold.

pAn,Da n<0,>v,e1 The winds spiraled out of control as the clouds twisted into a spiraling frenzy that stretched far over the grey horizon. I stared with growing unease and caution.

"What the hell is that?" Said, Adrian

"The clashing of elements," Sera said, tightening her grip around my waist.

Dismounting my horse, I took to the skies and stared towards the south, north, east, and west, towards the terrifying desert to the northwest, the blistering winter to the south, and the disaster of the west, consumed with tornados and storms.

In the east, however, the direction we were heading seemed calm. It appeared like the most normal, but I was sure the east Provence would be ravaged by this destruction when this stalemate with the elements ended.

"What do you see, Master!" Adrian shouted.

"Hell," I answered, returning on horseback. " We got lucky. We best hurry and make it to sea before anything else happens."

"Wouldn't it have been better to have a starship?" Kuro mentioned, but I only shook my head. "The ships were designed for space, and even the ones meant to travel on various planets didn't account for this level of destruction by the Elements." Kicking at the Mare to continue forth, I pushed on. "Put it out of your mind for now. Time isn't on our side."

Galloping, unsure when the stalemate would end, I pushed out my killing intent to scare off any fool. I'd hate not making it in time and being forced to swim or walk over an ocean.

Keeping the pace for seven days through sheets of hail and rain, even I felt my energy drain. Despite adapting to the cold, the elements constantly grew stronger and adapting took energy.

"I see it!" Kuro shouted with excitement.

I nodded, seeing a port city with a dock filled with ships. My heart thundered as I held the reins to my horse tighter. "Keep pushing."

The horse could move at light speed, but Ilutathat was so goddamn big that it made transversing everything difficult.

Gods, I hope Arcadia isn't like that. I hate big worlds now.

DING!!!!

Pulling out the Holocube as it chimed, I frowned as the image of Avar appeared. "How far are you?"

"... Aren't you tracking me?"

"I am," Avar coldly said. "Make it halfway into the Calvor Sea, and I'll have a star cruiser waiting for you. One that can survive in this elemental hellscape."

"Just how far along is Genisis?" I hesitantly asked, and Avar severed the connection.

"It's super far along. Science is an amazing thing." Lily answered. "Long ago, before Zariel and his regime over Ilutahath. It was the people of Genisis who invaded the Overworld, slaughtering so many. Dozens of wars broke out. Killing so many that the other realms had to intervene."

"Why? Genesis doesn't seem like a civilization that cares much for war or territory."

"Of course, they don't," Lily remarked. "They do it to steal the genetic mutation ability of the Overworlders. Once they got it, the rest of the war was a formality. A scheme to hide that fact. By the time the Lords of the Overworld figured out what had happened, the war had ended, and a new World Order had begun in Genesis. One of cybernetics and enhancements."

Genesis… the realm created by sloth. A realm that could change everyone's lives with a single piece of technology if they wished.

"Compared to my Shadowfell. How do we stand against Genesis?" I asked lily.

"Flip a coin. You might have the advantage in genetics, but the people of Genisis have the advantage with technology that rivals paragons. It will be a good fight. But it's really up to leadership in the end."

"By the Holy Order of Ophelia! Halt!" Shouted a bannerman near the gates to the Port city.

"Shit… it's them." lily muttered.

"You know them?"

"Sadly. Good luck."

Intrigued by Lily's regard for these people, my eyes scanned the dozen or so guarded, armed like knights. Draped in silver-plated armor with ancient-looking runes over each plate.

"By the Order of the Bishop Knight, Lorell Grovnic, none are allowed entry. Turn away or be fired upon!" Bows grew arched, and arrows nocked, as dozen of guards stood with coldness in their eyes.

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