Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Unable to pull my eyes away from the gruesome appearance of Sene, plastered in lacerations, weakness ate at my bones. Mephisto wasn't a kind master. He was cruel, so cruel there were years when Sene could only scream in pain. He would sometimes be forced to fight with every bone in his body shattered. Forced to use laws he'd never touched but knew.

Every day Arsene would fight against a different demon or devil within the Mirrored Realm; so as not to make a heavenly phenomenon throughout Iluthath. And after a week in the Mirrored Realm, Mephisto would appear and test Arsene's progress.

He'd lower his cultivation to Arsene's level and destroy him. He made it look so easy that even I felt sorry despite knowing what was required. Arsene continued to rise to his feet.

Sene was by no means an absolute genius like others out there. Compared to their comprehension Sene does fall short. But so do many of the most powerful people in the Myriad Heavens.

Dripping blood over the ship's deck, I stared at Arsene's stand with a broken body on the verge of falling apart. No light could pierce through the void of his eyes as he stared at his opponent. A half-moon devil. One of my daughter's traitors.

Moon Elves were one of Luna's favorites. They went extinct in the Fourth Heaven and are even rare throughout the Myriads. But their loyalty is so fierce many devils don't bother trying to train them. But… there are always a few bad apples out there.

Moon Elves weren't the strongest. Shit, they weren't even part of the top one hundred. But they made wonderful guards. And if trained right. Race becomes irrelevant to some degree.

"Your parrying is becoming frustrating, m'lord," Alosrin said, in a fine-fitted form, pointing his elegant rapier carrying the crest of ouroboros over its finely crafted yet simple hilt towards Sene. He stepped forward with a fearsome speed that made even the peak Sixth tier Lordling fearful. But as Arsene took a step back and to the left, he dodged as the blade of Alsorin tore at his cheek. Arsene lunged forward and sent a cold stroke toward the elven devil.

DING!!!!

Alosrin frowned and raised his arm, covered in an armed guard, parrying the blow. But there was no joy or contentment in the elves' eyes. Only a growing frustration as he growled.

"You're worse than… Lady Ishar." He moaned, moving backward as Arsene rushed forward with the initiative. He sent a folly of blows forward, forcing Alosrin to guard.

"Do you see it? No, I'm sure you can't. Black Sabbath ensures all can fall for the user's illusion." Mephisto announced, making one of his usual checkups.

"You don't think I know? I know all Sene's tricks." I mentioned to him, staring at Arsene, pushing back a being far stronger, faster, and more skilled than him. "He's sealing his opponent's moves."

"Seems you don't know all his tricks. Arsene is sealing their anticipatory thoughts. Ever had your mind go blank at most random of times? Ever experienced simple confusion over nothing? Of course, you have. We all have at some point. Arsene is fusing darkness with his Black Sabbath. Seems he is leaning toward the Sealing Aspect of Darkness. A fine choice, instead of those stupid flames."

"You don't like his flames?" I couldn't help but mention, turning to him as he shrugged.

"He's not a fire practitioner. When you think of darkness, you don't think of fire. No matter if it burns or withers, I don't care. Fire is Fire. This right here is an Aspect I can respect. It's one that puts respect on your name."

"You know those things don't bother me anymore," I admitted. Recalling a time when such things tormented me. Back then, it felt like they were spitting on my pride. Darkness was an element of infinite possibilities. It could perfectly mimic any element. But… in the deepest reaches of my being held various abilities. One of the Strongest. The Aspect of Sealing.

If there is one thing every immortal like me, Mephisto, or anyone else fear is being sealed. It's a terrifying aspect that goes against the grain. How can a seal defeat someone stronger than its master? Throughout the history of the Myriad Heavens, if one could not kill your opponent, one would confine them to an area or seal them where the light doesn't exist.

What made darkness perfect for the Aspect of Sealing was its abstract nature. Darkness was everywhere. It could exist without the need for energy. Few Laws could do the same. And none of them are as powerful as me.

"He'll get there. His adaptation is a bitch to get around. And it's doing more wrong than good. He's adapting too quickly that his skill is taking a hit. I'm going to find Zariel to help seal that ability for now. Care to make an appearance?"

"Me? Arsene wouldn't take me seriously if—"

"What if you used your other identity? Or did you think I didn't know?"

A weak smile lifted over my lips as I rolled my eyes. "It wasn't a secret. I just prefer my first nature versus my second."

"When the Abyss weaved you into being. Darkness took over. But how could there be darkness without 'space'? You embody two laws." The little fallen said, lifting his lips into a teasing grin like he knew everything: Pompous ass. "I hear… there is quite a big bounty on your head with some of the major families?"

Blushing faintly, recalling my adolescent… even if it was only a few hell cycles ago, I pursed my lips. " They were bullying my people."

"So you stole all their children, money, and resources?"

Glaring at this bastard, I snorted. "You make it sound like I ate those babies. They are all being raised in happy homes under my influence. All of them worship me as the love of their lives."

"I like how you think that's not fucked up. But ok. Whatever you say, Aunty." Mephisto annoyingly phrased. " So, how about it? Care to show Arsene your second half?"

Snorting away, I shrugged. " Space is feeble compared to darkness. But yes… I'll show him a thing or two."

… He might even punish me later.

Licking the tips of my lips, I stared a the void within Arsene's eyes. Unable to stop my chest from hammering away.