Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Chapter 348: Temple of Endless Darkness - Concept

"Another time, I believe we have a more pressing manner. How long have you been here?" I uttered darkly. The Life Span of God should be endless in a sense. But one thing I know is that they should not be frail like Gurvel. He had no muscles, just a boney skeleton. Should I cut his finger, I was sure no blood would flow.

"I do not know, but it's less than a cycle, but my body tells a different tale, doesn't it." He weakly informed. Barely able to stand, Gurvel placed his hands around his back within his robes that hung loosely. Trembling with each step, he continued. "It's curious. I have lived for Seven Dao Cycles, yet I am about to die. Merely by standing in the presence of this temple.

"Guessing escaping is not going to happen," I muttered, following behind as we approached the veil of darkness hiding the temple beneath.

Gurvel reached out and nodded. Bitterness, apparent as day gleaned from his hollow eyes."Yes, escape is impossible. I do not even know how I came here, but here I am... My Dao was not even darkness, you know, but rather destruction."

Placing his boney hand upon the veil, a gentle force pushed his fingers away, "I do not have long, my boy. It seems like we are destined to perish together." He uttered softly, falling to his knees, shattering them with ease. Keeling over, I walked to his side.

Tracing my eyes over his trembling body, I turned towards a ripple of darkness, acting somewhat like a lake. Drawing closer, my hands pressed upon it. Witnessing the flow of elegant ripples spreading out, my fingers were also knocked away.

"It's like a Lake."

"Yes." He whispered from below, "Like the Mirrored Lake you and I found. That seems to be the only clue."

Looking down at my shadowy fingers, I clenched my fist, feeling the humming sensation. Along with something else, something attempting to look for food. Like a snake, it slithered throughout my body, leaving nothing unturned.

Observing the Sliver of Darkness within my body, I turned to Gurvel, "That sound was it you're doing, was it not. To keep others away."

"Yes," He wheezed to say, "My qi can escape, but I cannot. I did everything I could to escape, but when I figured I could not, I made traps to keep others from falling as I did. "

"Sitri! Soloman, Areon!" I shouted out. But I could not feel anything.

"It's useless, boy." Gurvel grunted, "We are in the Abyss, one formed of darkness. There is no hope of escaping. I have tried everything."

"What Concept do you think resides in there?"

"I do not know. It could be anything. Concepts are the core of everything. When they gather together, Dao is formed. So out of the almost endless Concepts, the Monarchs used Seven." Gurvel faintly stated, growing silent.

Hearing his heartbeat growing weaker and weaker, I knew he would not even survive a week, much less four.

Placing my palms back onto the veil, I attempted to study the... Mirror of Darkness in front of me. If it acted like the Mirrored Lake, why not treat it as such.

Pushing me away once again, I frown, sensing another sliver of darkness enter me, joining together with the one from before. It grew larger when I felt my life force beginning to drain.

"Oh! I see so that's why he is like this." I whispered before an idea hit me.

SUcking the qi from the air into my palm, the Crest of Darkness began to take form. Watching the swelling flow emblem, I could feel the sliver of darkness within me quiver rushing to my palm. Soon the birth of a dark ember shone like a faded star, sucking the very light away.

Placing my left hand upon the veil, I did not feel rejection but instead accepted as a large ripple began to echo like lost bells. Its sound was captivating, holding vibrations that sent my understanding of darkness to another level.

Space soon began to distort, revealing a void of nothingness, a void of darkness. That hid behind creation. With each ripple, the ember within my hand would grow till all that was left was a lamp housing a small black flame.

The Flame did not appear profound, neither did the lamp, but as its light shone, the ripple around the room vanished, leaving only a temple entirely formed by black crystals in my view. It was magnificent, mighty, and captivating, yet, it somehow appeared to be dampened by the light of darkness within my palm.

"You did it?" Gurvel whispered from behind me.

Not in the least survive by his timely awakening, I did not attempt to show emotions. He was, after all, far stronger than I even in that state of his. A single slap could kill me with ease.

"Yes, want to come? or will you remain here?" I said, stepping forward towards the crystal temple that honestly looked more to be a palace than a temple.

"I shall accompany you," He hastily said, attempting to hide his intent, unaware of my mortal Dao. Gurvel was weak, not even able to use his divinity. Peering into his heart was but a simple task. I knew all too well his intent to escape this place.

Struggling to stand, he took my arm as steams of endless darkness flooded my lamp. Revealing all his fruitless attempts. Appearing as he aged a few years back, his shriveled hair grew a bit in color and texture, while a hint of muscles could be seen beginning to return.

Hiding a smile within my eyes, I strolled towards the entrance. Shadowing my steps, Gurvel's heart began to thunder uncontrollably as he could not hide the relief.

"What is your name." He asked,

"Abaddon," I told, without lie.

Standing at the entrance, the words of Noctem whispered into my ears, "Eternal," It said, revealing nothing but a single text.

"You see something?" Gurvel inquired with his mighty voice.

"No need to scream!" I jokingly said, watching a faint blush grace his cheeks.

"Sorry, it's been so long since I felt this good."

"But no, I don't see anything, just thinking of home," I softly said, stepping past the entrance of darkness and into something new altogether.

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