Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Raged continued to build the closer I came as weapons became drawn. Bow grew nocked, gleaming under the rays of deadly light. I stood before an army poised for combat and skidded my gaze over low to high gods glaring with bloodlust. Ignorant that a true death was awaiting them.

"Master." Ezra worriedly called from my rear. "Should we not negotiate first?"

Taking a step forwards as rush commands echoed, I followed the cobblestone toward the Wall, ignoring those who wished me dead. I needed an army. I needed demons and devils. While I'm sure, I could kill about anyone within the Fourth Heaven. The Fourth and Fifth Layers of the Thirty-Three Heaven are fusing. There are sure to be plenty of Gods who reserve the right to face me.

"Arsene Snow." a regal voice that sent a dark chill dancing along my spine called. Darkness sprang through my bones in a protective cloak as I looked a little ways past the gate towards a dark skin man cloaked in a tailored black and red suit. He was tall, with such refined muscles his suit seemed more like a cage.

"I have been looking forward to meeting you." He said, lifting his lips into a half smile that revealed a fang. "The Fallen speak quite highly of you."

"Master… I don't know who that is." Ezra said softly.

"How rude of me. My name is Buer, reigning president of the nines during this… transition." He said, narrowing his golden red eyes that seemed to compliment his lion-like features.

"... you're… a devil?"

"Fallen." He stoically corrected in an unamused manner.

"You don't… have their aura."

Buer's half smile deepened. "I'll take that as a compliment." He said, arms folded behind his back. He approached. "Fallen are liars. Foolish children who still cling to their father's mercy. Not me. I'm not one to hide my desire."

Interesting.

"Who sent you?"

"None of your concern." He replied with a crass grin. "What is important is your arrival. Come. Follow me. There is much to discuss."

I glanced at Ezra, who shrugged. Knowing we didn't really have much of a choice, especially since Buer was far stronger, we followed.

"Do you remember earth? I'm sure you've reincarnated there before." He continued with a strong voice as we followed through the cobblestone streets stained with blood. "Did you know civilization on earth was mirrored after the Hells? The towering buildings, technology, the science. Everything there we of the Nine Hells made."

"Good for you. Why does that matter?"

Buer glanced at me. "Tell me then, why is it considered a sin? If saving lives, empowering someone day-to-day, or warning of an incoming extinction is good. Why is it considered a sin? Sloth, they call it."

"Are you a God of Sloth?"

"No." He said sternly, in a thick voice.

"Perhaps because it goes against the natural order," I thought aloud. "People die less, and they live longer. But there is a big issue. People begin to feel entitled. Entitled to life, to rule over others. You begin to feed others' desires, and that desire only grows. Hence sin."

Buer nodded. " I agree. It's an interesting sin. People like Beelzub and Belphore are madmen when it comes to Sloth, which is why they have been tasked by Lucifer, Mephisto, and more to help… remodel this growing realm. A great task that might change Arcadia as a whole. But to do that, we need you."

"Oh? Me?" I pointed, intrigued by the idea.

"You are the furthest thing from an angel or anything orderly. You believe in order, but one that is predicated on chaos. You can keep Noctem as you like, but we need the other realms to fall. We need them dead or to bend a knee."

"So I'm to be your pawn? What is it that I would get out of this?"

Buer chuckled. "It's interesting you say this. Your brother, Zariel, is no ally to the devils or fallen. He is the middle ground. The Arbitor of good and evil. We want you to challenge him. We want to make you his opposite. If he's the Protector, we want you as the Avenger. We are even prepared to be eternal allies."

Pausing in the middle of the street, silent as the dead, I stared dead at Buer's back and frowned deeply. " You want me to challenge my little brother?"

Buer held his step and turned to face me with a cheeky half-smile. "No. That is a losing battle. We merely want his ear. We want his bias. We want him to turn the other cheek when we step out of bounds."

"Interesting," I mused.

"It is. And best of all. You will earn a seat at the Fallen's table. You will earn the right to be a president, count, viscount, duke, prince, king, or ruler of whatever Layer of Hell you manage to seize. Don't think of this as a betrayal. After all, your not working against Zariel, your more… forcing him to side with us more often."

That's quite a grey line. An interesting grey line. That will surely annoy the angels. But there are risks. Not to mention I don't like the Hells.

"You already have a king… right there. And she carries the Asmodeus Bloodline. Although if she does become a king, she'll need to use her true name. A deal breaker for most devils."

Glancing at the ashen expression of Ezra, I frowned. " True names are taboo for devils, aren't they?"

"Yes." She said softly. "It's comparable to the shame of walking the streets naked. It leaves you exposed not just in terms of vulnerability but also mentally."

"Correct. But since all other legacies are to be terminated. It's a law that those that carry any royal title within the Hells be required to use their true name. After all, if you can't handle the dangers of exposing your name, you can't handle the job."

"And who made up that rule?" I asked.

"I did." He replied with an imperious smile. "But it was enforced by every ruler to date. The Nines is a complex bureaucracy of death and decay, cupped with an overlay of contradictions. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's have dinner. There is much to discuss."

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