Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"Spirit of War?" I repeated. "What the Hell does that even mean?"

I'd never heard of such a term, not even in Baels Archives. There was nothing.

"Spirit of Fire, Spirit of Death, Spirit of Life, and so forth is terminology that we use to describe certain elements. For example, fire. No matter if you go to Iluthath, Hell, Heaven, The Badlands, or Elysium, the concept of fire will remain. There will always be fire. There will always be heat. The dao might take different shapes, being cold or carrying an additional ability not innate to the Element of Fire."

"So take the Spirit of War. We can apply such a concept to many things. You can't have a war without motives like Hate, Lust, or Greed, for that matter. It's a fundamental truth. And I'm only awakening what's already hidden in plain sight. Devils and Demons have never liked each other. Lilith, that little whore wanted it that way."

"You wasn't saying that when you were eye baning her." Arwan attested, and through the mist, I could just about imagine a cheeky smile on his face.

"You've got a lot to learn, my disciple. My words don't discriminate. Bitches out here in the higher realms, be tens. Of course, I look."

"Too bad your game is one."

"I'm saving myself for Nyx."

"You're simping, Master."

"Bullshit. There are tons of women that'll think it's sweet. You must still be a virgin, my disciple. But corny shit gets you places. Look at the math. I've got a graph."

"Is that why you are always missing?"

"I do have a life outside Life and Death. And just saying the whole 'life' aspect involves sometimes living it up."

"But you have no game!"

"Semantics."

Staring in disbelief as this conversation slowly began to devolve into— Gods, I don't even know. I sighed. Seeing there was no other reason to keep on talking. Chemosh doesn't seem concerned at all about his brother.

But is it fate or indifference?

"Hey! I've got a body count of four—"

"That's not something to brag about!" Shouted Arwan

"Let me finish! Four million!"

"You said you were a virgin!'

"I lied bitch!"

Progressively knitting my brow as this conversation carried on, I couldn't help but walk away. Gods. I hope he's not a Ruler of a Layer in Hell… That would be interesting, to say the least. Chemosh and Arwan do seem chill, though.

"I wonder how he fell?" I muttered, glancing back at those two fools appearing as though they were about to get into a fistfight.

"He's best friends with Gabriel before and after the fall." Lily suddenly brought up. "His fall was unique, to say the least. Chemosh was always the most quirky of the bunch. He did things at his own pace. Right now, he's fooling around, but his genus is said to rival Zariels. It's just he focuses too much time on hundreds of different things, never mastering any. But… he became known as the False Prophet."

"False prophet?"

"Hmmm. Chemosh was said to be the only person to sit on his Father's Throne during his youth. Don't repeat this, or you might be struck down. Only Mephisto and Ariel are aware of this. But Chemosh was the first Angel to be kissed by Madness. It tore at his body till the tips of his once radiant wings became tinged with night. It got so bad that the Father had to seal away the Madness but warned that there would be a price for his disrespect."

I flinched at those words. " Price?"

"Yep. Madness isn't technically evil or Good but brings chaos to the mind. It twists abstract concepts into something unimaginable. It's both a Gift and a Curse. And as you know, age doesn't matter. Accountability is for all." She phrased, releasing a weary sigh. "Chemosh was given time to live somewhat peacefully as the Madness slowly ravaged his body and soul. He fell just at the right time alongside his brothers. Although, he did choose not to fight his Madness, seeing it as a new path."

"A mad scientist, huh." Shaking my head, I shifted my focus back to the never-ending battle before my eyes. Consumed in flashes of light followed by death and explosion. Shouts and desperate wails acted as fuel for the Demons at the front line but a suppressive to my people.

Shifting my gaze to Adrian beside Ezra, becoming a little overly chatty with what's mine, a dark smile slipped over my lips and instantly fell as the hairs upon my neck rose.

My heart began to hammer as all my instincts screamed.

The Hells became silent. Despite the war happening no more than a few hundred meters away from me, I felt the sound dwindle to nothingness, as only the sound of a thumping noise echoed through my ear.

Thud-Thum, Thud-Thum, Thud-Thum, Thud-Thum

A heartbeat?

Feeling the winds contract and expand in rhythm to this mysterious heartbeat echoing like thunder, a strange evil slithered over my soul… over my neck, prophesying my death.

A slit suddenly split the skies piercing through the layers of Hell like hot butter, creating a pillar within the heart of this war.

Tremors shrowded the Hells in dust, leaving only a Seraphic Essense that felt fouler than Necrotic Qi. It made my skin crawl and my stomach churn as something slowly began to appear.

"The Teleth! Are they joining this war? No… They'd never side with Demons and Devils." I hoped, staring as four-winged angels appeared, followed by two more, and then three.

".... Ezra… Retreat." I hastily signaled to her. "Retreat now…"

"A~

"RETREAT!!!!" I howled.

"A~R

Glaring as the Twelfth Teleth appeared in the formation, my heart hammered like drums as I summoned Noctem into my palm.

"A~R~E~S

The pillar of light bathing the Hells in Seraphic Radiance gradually began to bleed, a rich black light that withered the pavement into some sort of living Amalgamations flailing with tentacles covered in thorns and blades.

Avenos shuttered uncontrollably.

"A~R~S~E~N~E!"

"A~R~S~E~N~E!"

"A~R~S~E~N~E!"

"A~R~S~E~N~E!"

"A~R~S~E~N~E!"

Soaring up into the bleak skies of Avenos set ablaze, my heart became cloaked in the Abyssal Sin of Pride as I watched as the Twelve Angels parted. Abyssal Flames flared like a burning black sun searing away allies and enemies alike.

I stared at a figure… a beast of Angel and Fallen, stepping through the pillar of light. An Abhorrent Abomination.

"Balor."