Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"My…My baby girl… gots a lover?"

"... Not really a lover… Look, Iza is fucking weird. Do you know the head pat shit? Well, she does head bumps instead."

"Head Bumps? What the hell is that?" I mused, unable to help but feel a bit of weight off my shoulder. Good. My baby is safe… I got time.

"Head bumps is the act of gently pushing her head onto someone's shoulder, head, chest, etc., and gently pushing it with her forehead. Ever seen a dog mess around with its child? It'll brush its head over the little one pushing it onto the ground. Well, that's Iza."

"..."

Almost envisioning a little Lilith acting all Loli with her mischievous antic, a bit of a nosebleed trickled down my nose as I nodded in approval.

"Honestly, I choked it up to madness, but that girl is just weird. And grows weirder as time progresses.

"And who is this interest of hers? The not lover yet?" Preparing my mind for war, I glared skywards, hoping to catch sight of the bastard trying to steal my baby girl away from her Pop-Pop.

"You know you're a little weird too. It's a secret."

"Have I met him at least?"

"Perhaps. Lily will not say! All I can say is that he is… well, he compliments Iza in every way. It's odd, now that I think about it. He's her perfect match. Your son was the first to bring it up. The first to— well, you figure it out."

"No one is touching my baby girl." I coldly mentioned and shifted my eyes to Sharla.

'You can't stop this one, Arsene.' Lily whispered almost helplessly.

Memorizing the way in which Lily said those words to further analyze what she could have meant by that, I conveyed my will to Sharla. "For the next Seven Cycles, we will start expanding. Every territory we claim needs to be weaponized. We need soldiers. And I don't just mean humanoids. Gather beast. Send out excursions to explore Iluthath. I'll speak with Karr about more troops and resources."

Sharla, my loyal Shade, bowed very elegantly with ice between her perfect brow. " As you command, my lord."

"Good. Then send me a list of all battlefields that require my attention to my Holocube." Turning away, I entered the darkness and stepped to Zanris, resting in what appeared to be a dark incubation tank.

Almost as if Zanris was devouring nodes of dark bubbles from within the chamber, I couldn't help but be startled.

Have they already begun creating medicine and devices for Shadowfell? No, that can't be… right? If so, then I can afford to be a little reckless.

Reaching for the command panel that housed Zanris, my finger froze as my Holocube went off. Startled for a second, I conjured it into my palm as a hologram of my favorite mint hair admiral appeared.

"Well, if it isn't—"

"No time for that. I need your help." Avar Limm said shortly. " Master requires I take out the President of Genisis. And for me to take over. She is on Ilutahth. He also said you need to start making as many idols of worship as you can."

Startled for a moment, I frowned. When did he start worrying about that?

"Did he say why?"

Avar nodded. " It seems Lucifer and a few other Fallen are conjuring Idols from the higher realms. But he said you can ask Tenebrae to do so for you. For now, I need you in Genisis."

"I've got wars to handle."

"You're a Pseudo-Paragon. You got the power to handle just about any army. Make your way towards me. You've got a Dao Cycles. Or I'm going through in my plan, and you'll lose out on any spoils of war."

Disconnecting. I could only sigh, "It seems something is going down behind the scenes. They need to stop leaving me out of the loop. Lucifer and the others are creating idols of worship, huh?

Releasing Zanris, blinding flashes of red light and alarms rang as the liquid Zan was in began draining. Her eyes trembled and opened.

"H-H-Has Master come for another taste of Zan?" She cutely said, strung up on cords. She blinked at me with red eyes spiraling with greed.

"Afraid its business from here on out. Perhaps another time. We can even have Ezra or Freya join." I mused with arched lips. "You're in charge again. Now hop to it." I said, Shadow Stepping away.

Materializing outside my castle that seemed to have flared to life with my recent commands. I nodded in the affirmative and contacted my chancellor through the Holocube.

"I've been expecting your call, my Lord." Karr started with a grimacing expression. "And I'm afraid we can't afford to send more people to the Nines. The Main—"

"Forget the Main Worlds. Start a campaign to use not the main citizens but those outside our main control in Noctem. We've got the infrastructure and the money, correct?"

"We do. You're… idea of creating a new currency has been implemented. But the currency is still weak."

Nodding away, I nodded and thought about Lucifer and the other Fallen for a second. If people like Lucifer were creating statues of worship, then he must be planning on planting roots. He's planning on staying.

"Karr… I'm planning on relieving you of your duties." I calmly said, looking into his surprised eyes.

"Have—Have I done something wrong, my lord." He asked in a trembling tone.

"No… The person I'm sending you is named Tenebrae."

"Eh?"

"Yes… The Night Mother. And If I can. I'm going to ask her to invite her daughter Luna. You'll still have your position if they don't want to take over. Either way, I need you to listen to them. Screw separation of church and state."

Far in contrast to the look of disappointment and betrayal. The excitement in Karr's eyes glowed like a sun as he nodded away. " Of course, my lord!"

Disconnecting, I immediately contacted Tene through a prayer. " Tene you up there? It is I! Your loving, most awesome husband."

"I heard. But I don't understand why you want us to appear." Tene gently questioned, not even bothering with my antics. So hurtful.

"Because Lucifer is doing so. And if I think about it. Chemosh gave me a little hint in our last conversation. I think we need to make Noctem in the Fourth Heaven a base. And influential base. I'll start making idols on Iluthath, but I need you to handle Noctem. Think about it. The Pale Lord actually took over the Plane of Oblivian. There is no need for a person that strong to do so. I need you down here. You and a few powerful generals you trust. Same with Lunafreya."