Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Rising from my throne, I frowned at my name being called from across space and time. Standing at the head of the council table, Asmodeus eyed me and frowned as we stood within the same room with the Kings of Hell.

Breathing in the brimstone that burned hotter than fire through my nostrils, I growled, "All of you leave,"

"What the hell is this about?" Paimon remarked, crossing his arms firmly.

"War is about to start, and we have a leak. Yet you wish us to leave?" Beleth coldly declared, rising from his throne of brimstone, "This had better be good."

"All of you out," Asmodeus commanded like his words were law. The Seven Great Lords of Hell vanished without needing to be told twice.

"What a bunch of bitches." I snarled, "It's Arsene." I spoke, shaping my finger, causing a great screen to appear, pulling Asmodeus from his throne.

"What. The. Hell?" Asmodeus barked as space pulled around Arsene. Ripping him away from Alos, the Little Devil was thrown before our eyes. Taken back by the deadly pale skin and hollow gleam in his eyes, I shook, noticing the soul within his body.

"Arsene?" Said Asmodeus, a little shaken, just as I was. Never before had we seen something like this.

Standing still like the dead without any signs of life. A cold chill ran through my skin as he shifted his hollow eyes towards the King of Hell. Opening his palm, the familiar sight of the Flames of Hellfire sparked from his palm.

Burning with heat, capable of killing any one of us, the King matter of factly smirk, "Boy, are you challenging me?"

I frowned and took a step back as something stirred in the air. Sending Asmodeus a profound stare, our eyes grew wide with horror as the Hells themselves began to howl. Bellowing as if they were being tormented, when the Crest of Wrath materialized above his head.

"He is Hollowing," I remarked, knowing this to be one of the final and strongest techniques a soul bender possesses.

"Baphomet, look at that flame. He is using it," Asmo informed me with a shock as the hairs on our neck began to rise on end. "He is using a concept."

Howling like a derange dragon, bellowing to the heavens, the flames of Hellfire erupted, turning the very brimstone to dust. Shredding away the very nature of the Hells, Asmodeus and I did not bother to block. Only specific Concepts can stop Concepts.

Banishing the space around us to the void, the flames around Arsene cried the wars of flame as a scarlet glow began to rise from his body, towering over his flames. Our horror only grew as the generally set-in-stone concepts evolved.

"What the Hell is Crimson Wind! That is impossible!" Asmodeus howled as he drew Tel'ser, The Weeping Blade of Sin.

I nodded as well, watching the Concepts of Eternal flood crimson wings and the Flames of Hellfire, bringing it to new heights. It is as if there was Mutualism between that Arte and Arsene.

"You are to stand down, Asmodeus." The sinister voice of Lilith coldly announced, surprising us as she appeared within levatus. Hovering with an indifferent hue, the both of us frowned, noticing a reddish-black aura around her.

"You know what this is?" We both asked as Arsene wailed mindlessly, destroying the ninth layer of Hell; his flames enhanced by both Crimson Winds and the Concept of Eternity ran wild.

"Release me of debt to the Heavens, and I shall inform you all." Lilith softly announced grimly. Pulling out the Spear of Noctem, form empty space. "Sleep," She commanded as everything went silent. Dropping like a fly, Arsene fell limp, tumbling to the ash beneath his feet.

Touching her head, I shredded the ego, and Will of two high-grade souls, watching the debt she held towards the higher heavens fade to nothing.

"Four factors caused this. The Soul, the Hollowing, his Divine Relic, and The Path of Abyssal Night." she swiftly announced, flying closer to her husband, taking his still body into her arms with gentle care. She allowed him to rest over her lap.

"How is it possible for a soul bender to have a soul?" I inquired curiously, observing the color return to Arsene's skin.

"I don't know, but what I do know is that Arsene just touched on a new state of mind. The Hallowing strips the mind of emotions on the deepest level. This could raise a soul benders battle prowess by quite a bit in battle. However, Arsene ruined that by actually having a soul and adding foreign souls into a divine relic."

Covering my mouth, I burst into laughter, unable to help myself. "Now that is a brilliant Idea. Why have we never tried that?"

"I have." Asmodeus darkly chimed in, "All of them died, and their souls core faded from my hands. They were taken away."

"What do you mean taken?" I snapped with a hint of mockery, "Who the hell can take souls away from the Great Lord of Hell."

"The Arbiters of Fate took them. Cores fuel you devils, but they hold more meaning than devils like you can grasp. Arsene did something that broke the rules again. He was a mortal at the time, so no price, thankfully was taken, but if he enters the Hollowing once more, the Seven Sin, that is essentially what his Ring is made out of will fuel his actions this time it was Wrath, what do you think will happen if its gluttony.

Releasing a deep breath, Lilith sighed, dismissing the spear of Noctem back into a pocket dimension. She glanced up with scarlet eyes gleaming in worry, "The Concept of Eternity means endless. If he can make a singular power grow endlessly like Chrimson wings that somehow work on concepts, what do you think will happen when his hunger for power rises? Zariel is a real bastard giving him such an Arte. That is too much power to exist in the Fourth Heaven."

"Then we seal him, seal his ability to use the Hollowing?" I suddenly inquired, finding it odd that Lilith had such knowledge to begin with. It would seem these two are keeping secrets.

"The Path of Abyssal Night will ignore your seal like my abyssal Qi ignored father's seal." She stated, forcing me to recall all those years ago when Lilith's energy ran rampant.

"If the Seven Sin are imbedded into his Divine Core, then you must force him to not use the Hollowing, at least till his soul is strong enough to use. His soul is weak right now, and he is facing seven sins, along with whatever the Hell is whin his core. Use the Spear Of Noctem, and command him never to use it unless its life and death." Said Asmodius softly as he gazed out at his destroyed kingdom.

"And Lilith, your paying for all the damages."

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