Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Heal yourself. If this keeps up, you\'ll lose." Lily remarked, "and don\'t forget about the blood laws. You\'re a Pseudo-Paragon, but—"

Noticing Beleth take a few steps in retreat, I frowned as my chest burned with a flame that couldn\'t be quenched.

"You\'re learning. You\'re learning too quickly. \'\' whipping the blood leaking at the corner of his lips, Beleth continued. "I wasn\'t prepared to kill a Pseudo Paragon like yourself, but with all those hax, you are a worthy foe. But I\'ll not be blinded by the sins."

My frown deepened. "You\'re going to flee? Like a coward?"

"I was already gravely wounded, thanks to your wife. My prince\'s life isn\'t worth reopening my injuries. Or gaining new ones" Beleth eyed me for a second and shook his head. "I won\'t kill you, Arsene, not today anyway. You surprised me this week, but it won\'t happen again."

Transforming into dark nodes, Beleth vanished before my eyes. Escaping to my dismay. Cursing, I glanced at the empty spot of Drar. He had escaped. Good. At least I set up a mole. All he\'s got to do now is feed me info.

My next target is Archduke Bune. The Blood Lord that\'s capable of cloning himself.

If I can get his soul, ill be able to unify my body and mind.

Glancing down at cuts and bruises, I shadowed step into the infirmary. I didn\'t even need to speak as various doctors began tending to my wounds.

However, the moment they got busy helping me recover, I fell into thought about the blood laws. If Bune could draw on his power with the blood laws, does that mean he could tap into his blood\'s full potential? Everything has equivalent and exchange properties to them. Even If I don\'t always see it, it exists.

Pondering the implications for a second or two, I reached deep into myself. Directly into the heart, thundering to deliver blood throughout my body. Constantly pumping blood in and out, I singled out a single droplet of blood.

I knew a little about blood laws, but I never cultivated them. Two of my Artes, Crimson Winds and War of Kings, were both Blood Artes. Despite all that, these two Arte demands were rather small. But it was unreasonable to just believe I could multiply my power by a hundred at any level. That would be impossible.

I mastered Intent cycles ago. And it upped my prowess, but now… Now with my blood laws, I hope it\'ll propel me into a Chaos Lord. Although, I\'m not too sure. I believe it\'ll require even more time.

"Lord Snow, we\'ve—" Arching my palm, halting the words ebbing from my doctor, I relaxed my muscles and focused upon a single drop of blood within my heart\'s center.

"It\'s not like that," A gentle voice, soft as lilies, sounded. "Your blood is constantly being refined, constantly changing. A single drop of blood will only hinder you. Peer at the whole."

Tenebrae!?

I nodded, accepting her words. Discarding my recent action, I expanded my senses to the majority and swallowed myself in the knowledge of my blood.

Hours ebbed into days and days to weeks; as I focused, falling into the cycling of my blood, I felt a harmony resonate with the core of my being.

And as if it was almost instinct, I pored a sliver of divinity in. It was barely enough to kill a Low god, much less an Elder God, but… I felt my body warm, and my eyes snapped open, startling the many gods tending to my body. I Shadowed Step onto the battlefield and stared dead at the hoards of Demons and Devils.

"More my Future Lover. Feed your withered bloodline. Feed the potential." The voice of Tenebrae urged, placing me under a spell as I followed her will that soon became mine. Divinity poured in, filling me. But for some reason, my Qi did not diminish. It did not vanish back into the ether to be recycled. No, my qi only cycled through my veins.

Wings abyssal in nature and darkness in utter harmony with my ShadowFell bloodline howled as gusts of divinity pulsed throughout the battle. Slowly the sounds of glass shattering signify the transcendence past this Fourth Heaven thundered.

\'To challenge a Fallen or Angel, one must master their bloodline potential. Now use it. And bathe this false Hell in your will, my lord."

My lips parted, and a growl followed by a roar of something so feral and ancient washed over this battlefield.

The fighting halted. And began as I fell onto the battle.

"Now believe in your intent!" Commanded Tenebrae!" Noctom is not a weapon of a King! Give life to your Pride and summon it. Give it form. You hold the Dao of Illusion and the power of Sin. Grant yourself a weapon that can bring a fallen to their knees!"

Blood filled my eyes as I howled, and I lifted my eyes to the dozen seraphic beings staring down at me from on high.

"You\'ve got the power Arsene. You\'ve always held power! Your bloodline potential held it. Summon your—"

"Pride, shatter thy chains from captivity, and heed my call! As Lord of the Abyss and King of Night. Come forth!"

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM~

Thunder crackled over this layer of Hell, killing both allies and enemies as the chimes of glass shattering thundered. Thirty-three times, it chimed as a spear fell from the Abyss into my hands.

Bathing within the power of my blood, webs of scarlet veins that seemed as menacing as the very hells ran along the edge of the shaft and edge.

"Pride," I named the blade taking it into my palm. I looked up to the King of Angels, to the true Seraphim. "Archangel Michael," I uttered, knowing him without actually knowing him.

"Enough… dismiss your Pride, Little Fiend." A chilling voice echoed, causing my fear to reel. I quivered.

"Hellmaster," Lily whispered frighteningly. "Don\'t cross him, Arsene. Release that weapon. Now."

"No." I thundered, lifting my head towards the faint shadow of a being standing beside Michael, with his arms poised behind his back. The being carried black hair with faint strains of white, almost as a testament to his age. He was tall, but his features, like Michael, seemed faded from my vantage.

"Release it, or I will kill you now, timeline be damned."

"Arsene… Hellmaster doesn\'t bluff. He will kill you. He is the strongest being alive. Do not mess with him."