Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Twisting the door open, a burst of laughter couldn't help but escape as I gazed at the black hair damsel bounded by chains. Her brow and clothing were drenched in a heavy sweat, revealing all the curves I had missed before. Beside the door, I saw a small incense burning, releasing a strange type of smoke that didn't seem to leave the chamber the moment we opened the door.

"You!" Cleo uttered, ready to race in, but Freya's hands were quicker, pulling her back.

" Don't," Both Rey Nala and Ren uttered in sync.

Lifting her head slowly, having heard voices, the expression of Aiza seemed blank, with a set of cloudy eyes. I was unsure what this fog of smoke that didn't seem to obstruct my view did.

But a string of drool slipped from her mouth. "C-C-C-C"

Clapping my hands together, I burst into laughter, "Aiza, is that you? What the hell happened?" I started, pushing into the fog of smoke under the surprised eyes of everyone.

Enforcing my body with Soulforce, I instantly felt a heavy soul-crushing pressure try to crush my spirit. My feet paused, and a hint of surprise crept into my mind. But under my soul defense, the Devouring Dark Soul swallowed everything that affected my soul and turned it into fuel; I felt like I was standing between Heaven and Hell.

But I will say the soul was confusing. There were no ranks to them. Despite my soul arte devouring everything it touched, I had felt my soul progressively getting stronger, and I had no idea if there was an upper limit. I had asked Freya, but even she didn't know, stating that the soul was one of the biggest mysteries throughout the Bed of Chaos.

Lifting my hand, a pulse of darkness came like a black hole, and in a single instant, the fog within this room vanished into a ripple of darkness. However, I didn't destroy the incense, not yet. My goal was not to take Aiza out of this cage. I was sure Asta would attack me if I did. I already stomped on their pride; doing so again, inside their home, in their dungeon, was akin to disrespecting Asta and the entire clan.

Swatting down, I snatched hold of her tender chin and lifted her flawless face marred by weakness to meet my gaze. " What happened?"

Grunting, she jerked her head, trying to free herself, but my grip tightened, and my eyes slowly turned colder. I didn't need anyone from the court of Nox anymore. Each day, I felt an influx of Divinity channeled to me or the Artifact of Vaevictus. Mimir was destroying the Bed of Chaos on his own, turning Aiza's people, along with the rest, into my acolyte. I could hear their screams from deep within the abyss, and I was sure she could.

Slapping her cheek, I washed away the fog in her pearly eyes, and my lips curled upwards. "Aiza, it's so lovely to meet you again."

Her body shuttered, and once more, she tried to jerk her head out of my grasp, but my grip only tightened. " Don't make me kill you," I softly informed, ensuring the words I spoke were only shared with Aiza and me. I didn't need to deal with a hysterical Cleo, but based on her blood; I was sure she would kill her own master under very-very high circumstances.

"Arsene!" She squeezed out, and I couldn't help but slap her cheek gently like I would Lilith's booty.

"Good, say my name."

"Where is my master!" Cleo screamed but was restrained by Freya and Rey Nala as she struggled to rush in.

"How would she know?" I snapped, rolling my eyes, " She is caged like a little dog. Drooling like a retard waiting for a sippy cup." My gaze shifted to Aiza's furious ones, " You lost. I don't know your plan, but you lost Aiza. You tried playing the long con but underestimated my growth and my ability to make allies. The Court of Nox is over."

Aiza thrashed over the chains, her gaze slowly darkening, as I continued, "I gave Mimir and my Duke special instruction when it came to your family, based upon what happened here. So tell me, honey. Should I give the order to exterminate your entire family?"

Her body stiffened, and my scarlet eyes glowed, looming over her with a sinister blade to her neck. "Do what you want. You probably don't even have a way to communicate past the veiled set in the abyss."

​ Cracking into laughter, I nodded, " Christofer said you say that." I relayed, shaking my head," So I told Mimir just to go ahead and outright slaughter your family down to the very animals. We will keep the kids. After we wipe their souls with the waters of reincarnation, they will be pretty helpful, don't you think?"

Glancing back at Cleo, who couldn't hear a thing. I snickered and leaned close to Aiza's ear, " Wanna know a secret."

"If you don't kill me now, I will be coming for you, Arsene," Aiza venomously barked, regaining a bit of strength. " I don't know why you are targeting me, but I swear I will kill you!" She swore, but such words were empty like most of my enemy's threats.

"It didn't have to be like this, Aiza. But ever since I met you, unease about everything you did made my skin crawl. You should have killed me or turned me into a thrall the moment we met. You, like the other leaders of Nox, were far too arrogant. But who can blame you? The allure of power causes just that." I sighed and pulled away, my gaze slowly growing dark as I gazed at Aiza. I could ask Freya to kill her, even Ty. I could even do it myself with the flames of hellfire, but—

But I wanted the honor of breaking Aiza till she has nothing. Till her spirit shatters and she comes crawling to me, for mercy. Right now, that pride in her makes her think she is something. But I will make damn sure whatever she believes in is turned to ash, leaving only the agonizing taste of brimstone for her to suck on.

My gaze lingered upon her defiant eyes, which pooled a hatred I was all too familiar with, and a chilling laugh left me.

"Lovely"

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