Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

A blockade, huh? Weak. Well, that's to be expected. They sent a child to negotiate. They didn't take us seriously in the first place. We should have killed the boy. This is what happens when I show mercy.

Withering away any impurities over my kingly body, I couldn't be bothered to show much concern. While ten paragons are a lot, it's not like—

"And… you have a visitor."

"Me?" I pointed a little taken back.

Sharla nodded meekly. "A mister Richter is here to see you."

My blood went cold, and without hesitation, I pushed out my senses to the lobby, towards a silver hair golden eye man bleeding a terrifying celestial qi. He sat with his eyes closed, which opened the moment my intent reached him.

A familiar smile appeared as he rose. "Surely you do not fear me still, boy? We are family. You are the last line of House Lazarus."

"Send him in." I calmly said to Sharla.

The little shade bowed, and without hesitation, I banished Zanris to her chambers and withered away the scent of sex and fluids hanging about before I took a seat.

Poise upon my throne, the air grew thick and heavy. Like a mountain was upon my chest. I stared, if not glared, at the possessed Richter stepping in. With a cunning smile on his lips, he looked around with hints of disappointment visible.

"Is this how you live as King? Its… deployable. Where is the grandeur that kings are to carry themselves with." He shook his head and shifted his swordlike eyes that seemed sharper than the finest blade. "No. Tell me, how does it feel to live once more?"

"Who are you," I asked.

"We are family, my boy. Family doesn't vanish despite reincarnation. Your soul will carry your noble blood. One only needs to look inside."

My frown deepened. " So you're not willing to tell?"

"Names hold power, my child. They hold great power. Especially if you wish to challenge Moloch."

"The Fallen of Sacrifice!"

Richter nodded. " Indeed. When Gods die and carry unpaid debt, their souls go to him. A nasty Principality. But his all-encompassing power is something to be feared… and challenged."

"You… a fourth-level being wishes to challenge Moloch!"

"Fourth-Level? Ha! Funny. I was to be your Mother's husband, fool." My jaw opened, but before I could reply, Richter continued. " Odd how I turned out to be your Great Grandfather. Odd indeed. It's as if the Fates were involved. My grandson, for some reason, got to her first. Serves her right for killing me."

"I… I don't understand."

"How do you think the forsaken bloodline existed on Iluthath? We were banished, fool. Seven of us existed on Iluthath to protect the Entrance to Arcadia. But your Mother single handily killed all six of us. She managed to enter the Pool of Reincarnation to heal… but the rest of us… We lost our way… and our memories."

"Her injuries. So you caused it!"

He snorted. "Your Mother managed to hunt us all down; by the time I regained my mind, she was on her third child, and I was on my deathbed… I'm sure you can put everything together after that."

So that's what happened.

I sucked in a breath of bitter air, and my throat tightened as pangs of sorrow tugged at my heart. I know… My children were involved, but by how much… I don't know.

"I have no issue with you, boy. Your Mother won fair and square. Although, I wonder why they allowed such a bloody murderer in the Myriad Heavens in the first place. That might be the biggest mystery to me." He grunted, tracing his finger on his neck as if running his hand over an invisible line.

"Murderer?"

"That bitch was a bloody psycho. She's killed more people than the days I've lived. Realm Killer, they called her. She would fall like a bloody Fallen over the land, and terror would reign."

"Watch how you speak about her," I coldly warned. " Chaos Lord or not, I'll kill you."

"You? Please. You've already had an issue with the Hell, and now Winterpool is after your head." He chuckled and folded his arms. "Which brings me to why I am here. Moloch."

"The hell would I get involved with him?" I replied, sinking deep into my throne. I stared at Richter as if he was stupid.

"Because, my boy, once you open pathways to Arcadia. War will commence. A war that will ravage the Abyss, the Myriad Heavens, and Arcadia. The only ones who will win will be the strongest."

I almost spat. "The bloody Hell does that have to do with me? I've got Tenebrae, Zariel, and much more behind my back. We will survive."

"But what if you had a true source of power? What if you had a predominant family behind your back? Your wife is with child, and if one of them is born with the Lazarus bloodline. All Hell will break out. A child of the Abyss and a Forsaken to boot! Such a child could destroy the Forsaken Progenitors."

Storming to my feet, a bloodlust I kept at bay with all my heart fractured the Heavenly Laws as it bled out of my pores. "I'd rather burn in the nines for all eternity. It was House Lazurus that committed atrocities against my Mother. When we arrive in Arcadia, Zariel, Zhu, and I will burn that fucking family to the ground. Not even the fucking dogs will be allowed to live. You and everyone you love and know will fucking die by our hands. Realm Killer? I'll kill your entire Karmic line!"

Richter sneered. "unfortunately, it's not up to you. On their sixteenth birthday, the day the Rite of Heaven and Earth is held, a Heartstone will be born, and with it, the bloodline of a single forsaken lineage will awaken." He turned, taking his leave. " Moloch will come calling one day… and you will come before me, boy. I promise you that."

I spat in response and fell back on my throne, fuming as an uncontrollable killing intent clung to me like rot; withering the stone around me, Sharla was forced out, leaving only silence.

"You did the right thing." Said the voice of Zariel from the great beyond. "Those that carry the blood of Lazarus will all die."

"And if it's one of my kids?"

Zariel's voice grew colder. "Then they are Snows. It will be the snow bloodline. House Lazurus is dead, brother. I won't settle for anything less. I'll keep an eye on this one… He could be useful. He'll lead us to that family."