Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Making my way out of the cave, as the foreign darkness faded away, allowing others to enter or see, I quickly saw the blood stains near the statue of Tenebrae. Knowing they were dead, I couldn't help but be remorseful that I didn't allow other people to come with me.

I did suffer a bit of a loss with Zax, but I did, however, make it up with a new spear and Lily. And despite her filthy mouth, she was more of an asset than Zax. It was a nice trade overall. Let's hope he's as useful to them as Lily is to me.

Pausing my step on my way up towards the surface, I frown at the sound of marching heading my way. My eyes had narrowed, and I stretched out my senses that were unrestricted by this darkness.

Catching sight of the small battalion of disciples through my divine sense rushing my way led by an unfamiliar elder, my frown only deepened as I pushed out further, catching sight of Victoria with a stoic expression. I continued on my way, noticing Ezra's missing presence.

In a few minutes, the sounds of footsteps came to a swift halt as an olive-colored reptilian humanoid covered with scales and two horns protruding from the top of his skull stood with his spear pointed at me.

"By order of the White Rose, you are to leave behind the object we found. Failure to comply will result in losing your head, alongside your compatriots." The Olive colored man shouted. "You have till the count of five! Do not court your death, boy!"

He said it!!! Finally, I was waiting a lifetime for someone to say it again! I love when they say I'm courting death. Fucking idiots.

Opening my palm, a gate of Noctem appeared and snapped open, revealing Ezra lying with a busted lip on the ground. Rolling my eyes, I glanced at Victoria a few ways away and back to Ezra.

"Oi wake up. Oiiiiii~!"

Lids trembling, the little devil's eyes slowly opened with a bit of confusion in her eyes. " You good?" I asked, noticing the befuddlement behind her long lashes.

"H-H-How is that possible!" Said the Olive Colored reptilian. " She was in route to--"

"Shush. I'm speaking with my little devil." I conveyed, hoisting my hands in the air. " Now, what did you do? No way someone here can knock you out."

"Masters potential side piece was quite feisty today. And I may have pushed a few buttons. Bitch is crazy."

"You two good now?" I asked, not really wanting to hear complaining when we reach the Guiser Planes. It is too much of a hassle to get people who don't like each other to work side by side.

"Master, allow me to handle Ezra. She just needs a push." Ezra gleefully said, licking her busted lip. She smiled. "She's madder at herself than she is at me. I can convert her."

"Convert? Convert her how?"

"In my bed, of course," Ezra said, looking at me with a challenging grin. "Have you seen those legs?"

"Stop this nonsense at once, kneel, or I'll have your heads!"

Ezra's brow creased, and without a second thought, an obsidian greatsword materialized in my hand, bringing about a pressure that made my heart pound. I handed it to the wide eye, Ezra.

"From your Father," I said as her arms trembled as she took the weapon into her palm. "Make him proud," I added, Shadow Stepping past the battalion of dead men to Victoria's side.

We locked eyes, and I didn't bother to ask what happened. It wasn't any of my business, and I could see the pain written over her face the longer she looked at me. There was clear confusion and anger, alongside an array of so many emotions I don't even think she understood herself.

Gods, women are so confusing in the way they get lost in their emotions. Then again, men get so prideful at times; it's crazy, but still. I can't imagine being a female.

"I will not apologies." She stared, rising to her feet.

"Do you see me asking you to? You're a grown-ass woman. Do as you please." I said, noticing the sense of release trickle away from her tense shoulders. "Now, can you tell me what the hell is happening? Why is the White Rose Sect trying to kill us?"

"I didn't ask. One of the elders or disciples, I don't know, put a dagger to my neck and died the moment he did. I didn't ask questions. I figured you'd like to find out the reason on your own."

"Perhaps. Having a mini army of Shadowfell could come in handy." I said and stared at the indifferent sparkle in her eyes and then smiled, sensing something cold in her. "How about you change them into Abyssal Fiends?"

"Eh? Why?" She said, her gaze slowly showing a bit of color.

"Don't worry about that. But as representative of the Abyss, I command you, Victoria Lionheart, to kill and convert every Sect member. Bathe the Eben Forest in blood. And return it to life."

A chilling glow I'd seen many times in a devil flickered through Victoria as she bowed, nodding her head. "As you command."

Lips pressed tightly together, Victoria's long silky black hair glowed a sinister light as she flashed, like a devil of the night, her blade whipped through the confines of space, bathing the forest floor a majestic scarlet.

By the time Ezra had made it to me, covered with a few light injuries around her body, the skies were covered in ash carrying the cries of the dead. Victoria's way of killing was not like mine; that was brutal; instead, it was quick and clean.

She killed with cold indifference without the slightest change in expression. Even as I peered into her heart, it was hollow. Completely different from the array of emotions I felt beforehand.

"You think she's alright? Mentally that is?" Ezra asked a little ironically.

"No idea. I don't know much about Victoria aside from what I knew before I became a devil. We haven't had much contact since then." I explained. " Lilith would know. But all I see is potential that hasn't been used properly."

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