Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

The ominous gray skies darkened with an onslaught of cascading rain hammering over my body as I stared at Kuro and Adrian doing their all to keep this ship alive.

The growing bodies had long turned ashen with endless downpours eating them away like withered prunes. Their limbs trembled as the cold dug deep into their bones. Were it not for Seraphina's Seraphic Healing, I was sure they would have died by now.

They were using everything in their disposal to combat the elements. Especially Adrian, who was abusing his 'wish' ability to repair damage to both his body and the ship.

They wouldn't survive for another decade, much less a cycle.

BOOOOOOOOOOOM ~

Crackles of lighting shrieked like arcs of light hitting against the ocean's surface. Shockwaves struck against our ship like a battering ram tearing apart the oak as oceans of water splashed over our face, blinding us, as blood spilled from those weaker than I. A mist of blood washed into the air as the radiation of the shockwave tore apart my disciple and Adrian's flesh.

I frowned. Seeing enough, I raised my palm, ready to dismiss the storm. However, just then, a terrifying force froze the turbulent winds and the piercing rain alongside the oceans.

The elements trembled and cowered with a fear I'd not felt in a long time. It felt old. Ancient even. As if born with the primordial ooze. Goosebumps prickled my skin as a domineering pressure showered the Calvorian Sea.

"A-A-Arsene?" I muttered.

The darkness of Iluthath trembled, while the darkness of the bed of chaos alongside all twelve realms shuttered, in place as a growl so feral I watched one after the other as billions across the realm fell to their knees, bleeding a river of blood from every orifice. A horrendous aura shrieked over the endless Abyss of the twelve Realms, revealing a Supreme Lord that demanded respect.

Laws receded, one after another, as dead laws throughout the realms cowered in fear.

Banishing Sera, Adrian, and Kuro from off the ship, slowly being eaten away by Arsene's aura alone, the grim echo of footsteps entered my ears as I switched to my other persona and stood in wait for his arrival.

"Safi," Arsene called, arriving on the deck with scales blacker than night, littered with abyssal runes. A terrifying tarnishing aura surrounded his flesh, sending unease throughout my body.

The last time I felt like this was when Zariel challenged me. The day he severed the Weave of my being, leaving me at his mercy. It was like a blade to my neck. Had Mephisto, Lucifer, Shiva, and dozen of other Pantheons not come to my aid, I would have faced a true death.

Swallowing a gulp as those memories came flooding back, I glared at the Abyssal Form of Arsene. Unsure where this sensation was coming from.

"Marvelous!" The trickster cried, appearing like a ghost with a simple shortsword one would find in any low-grade realm like this one. Mephisto revealed a rich smile. " Harmony between blood and soul. You are on the verge of Paragon. But Paragons isn't your goal is it."

The scales over Arsene began to bleed a scarlet flame as his eyes blazed. " No."

Mephisto's fiendish laughter sprang over the realm like a ghoulish cry, filled with a desperation I'd never seen before. Not from him, at least. There was a gleam of madness that sent alarms off in my head. So much so that I drew 'Evernight' from the void of my heart.

Laws died one after the other as the Calvorian Sea parted and tore apart, shifting into endless valleys.

"What are you doing, Mephisto," I coldly asked, pointing my stone-cold black katana toward Mephisto. My palms tightened over the silvery grip forged from Lunafreya's core.

"Easy, Tene," Arsene said, sending a tremor dancing along my spine.

He knew!?

"Mephisto isn't after my head. He's… just excited, aren't you."

"More than I've been in a while, disciple." The serpent said as two wings appeared, one baptized by an infernal aura of Hellmaster, the other an endless glory of the One.

Mephisto stood like any true Nephilim who'd found balance, pointed his blade towards Arsene, smiled deeply, and took his stance.

Arsene, on the other hand, nodded. His scarlet eyes narrowed when suddenly his eyes glowed a vibrant color similar to Zariel when he used the Weave. He opened his palm, drawing on a sword and a spear in each hand.

The sword was a majestic red, seemingly painted by the will of carnage. The blade carried a fury that sent tremors racing through every fiber of my being. So much so that I felt myself grow angry simply by staring at it.

On the other hand, his spear seemed to purge my anger, allowing me a clear mind as a sense of superiority swelled within me. Tarnishing my mind, I could only raise my head, unsure how Arsene, a living entity far weaker, far small than me, could control my emotions.

"I'll referee." The grim voice of Zero announced as he appeared by my side like a phantom. His masked self was seemingly colder than before. "You better not lose control, Mephisto."

Arsene lifted Pride and Wrath and took his stance just as Zero stepped between the two. He was not smiling like his opponent. In fact… I couldn't feel any emotion from Arsene. Almost like he had carved away his humanity, an arrogance that I'd only seen in the Abyssal Lords, reflected through my eyes.

"This battle will last for exactly one standard minute," Zero announced, lifting a finger. "Time dilation not included. Clear?"

"Clear."

"Clear."

Hearing the two agree without breaking eye contact. I couldn't help but be taken aback by Mephisto's fascination. Very few things made Mephisto emotional. I've seen him all my life. I raised him to some degree. Clothed him when he needed it. Fed him when he was hungry. But I'd never seen him like this.

This couldn't be about a fight, and it isn't about Arsene. It simply can't be. Arsene is too small right now. Chaos Lord, and Paragon, while important, shouldn't get such a rise out of him. What does he see that I don't?

I glanced at Zero… Is that why he's here? Acting as an arbiter of this battle? He's trying to find something.

"FIGHT!!"