Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Chapter 69: Castle of Brimstone - Abyss

Making our way out of the library, Yura, Edain, and I shot through the Castle of Brimstone, heading deeper in from where we left off. The Blood Knight had already left this area heading somewhere unknown to us.

His presence was very threatening to me; unlike the other being we fought before, he was the most skilled; even with his powerful body, he didn't allow anything to hit, much less hurt him. His every move was hidden in a vale of mystery.

Stepping through the bloody torture hall, I could see Edain's face twist as he glared at the hundreds of demons still torturing other poor souls. Their screams seem to trigger cruel memories as he clenched his fist.

Yura gripped his shoulder as she shook her head, causing me to smile, "you two seem to know each other well. How did you meet?" I asked, knowing how cold Yura was, before my transformation. It was rather offputting to see her so close to someone...other than me.

Sending me a suspicious look Edain, patted the little girl's head as we headed deeper in, "we met when we were about nine years old. I had foolishly challenged her to a dual when Grimlor first took her to the special class." he bitterly explained.

"And I kicked his ass so bad; I made him beg," Yura finished, making a cute victory symbol. Her head was raised high as she passed her hand through her silky hair showing off her body as her two girls jiggled.

Blushing, Edain glared at her before turning towards me, nodding in a defeated manner, "I lost miserably; after that, we became friends. Grimlor had told her to join the special class, but she refused for some reason."

"So as the years passed, I along with Nora slowly became family with this little Yura." he lovingly said, "Although she didn't really have a relationship with the others from the class."

Pausing, I looked at Yura, beaming in joy, "...Why didn't you go live with him or Nora...Why come to me" I shouted out in anger.

A cold killing intent suddenly filled the dark void around us as Edain glared, "What?"

Gulping, I could feel a powerful aura far stronger than Zool pulsing from him, "Yura, can you explain." I said, not willing to anger this person anymore.

"He can cook really good." She curtly said, beaming in joy, "plus, he has a comfortable bed."

"WHAT!!!" Both Edain and I bellowed.

A sword made from ice suddenly formed as Edain smiled coldly, pointing it toward my throat, "I didn't do anything," I quickly explained.

"Damn it, Yura, explain better," I shouted as the darkness around us began to trembled due to my lack of concentration.

Tilting her head cutely, she chuckled, "But it's good, it's better than the room Oswin gifted me."

Explaining everything to Edain, I could see a sigh of relief as he smiled, "This girl is going to kill me, one day."

"Me too," I whispered beneath my breath, cursing her name.

Laughing aloud at the mischief, Yura suddenly paused, growing more serious as she pointed towards the massive hole or a rather pool in the distance.

Standing there stood a man dressed similar to Sagthillath, draped in skeleton-like armor. His eyes gleamed with a crimson hue as she spoke, "Come closer, Boy?" a woman's voice cold and metallic-like iron sounded.

Drawing our weapons, I dropped the dark vale from around us before stepping closer. Turning her head, I could see amusement as she eyed Dragonsebane for a few seconds mumbling something in an inaudible tone.

"Who are you?" Yura asked, her sword seemingly hovering over my head, ready to cut any who stared at it.

"So it really is you, huh? But no matter, I am here to gift you something." She lightly said, "A gift from Lord Bael himself."

Throwing me a small demonic-looking dagger, my heart and blood began to burn as I held this blade in my palm, "It will allow you and your little party to survive the trip down. I wish you well; Lord Bael is placing all his hope on you."

Flickering away, I suddenly saw Edain drop to his knees, hyperventilating as sweat dripped down his neck. His body shuttered as he clenched his arms, trying to stop the shaking.

Gulping, I stared into the large abyss in front of me; a primordial fear consumed me as Yura stepped to my side, holding my shoulder, "Do not look at the Abyss of Hell; only those in the realm of gods have that right."

Yet, my eyes never left; while there was fear, I could feel the darkness calling my name as if even without this blade, I would be safe. The voice slowly became stronger as I felt my soul pulse with fever.

Gritting my teeth, my vision slowly went dark as Yura cover my eyes, "Ignore it, Arsene, you will die even with that blade."

A gush of wind suddenly blew through my wet head as I turned to Yura, confused yet grateful before we stepped towards Edain. He seemed to have gotten better, but there was something obviously wrong as he kept shivering. His hollow dead eyes radiated a deadly qi as he curled into a ball, mumbling in an inaudible voice.

Remembering the being within the Shadow Realm, I chuckled before turning back to Yura, "I'm going to go get the others; wait with him."

"Don't...Do you know what's in the Abyss?" asked Yura. A frightening glare could be seen from her gorgeous face as sweat trailed from her body. "That dagger might save you for a small second, but no mortal can survive the Abyss."

"We have no choice!" I yelled, feeling the pent-up pressure, "even if we search the top of the castle of Brimstone. It's all but clear that these monsters monitored everything we do. What are we to do, aside but head deeper in? "

We were stuck; either we head towards death within the Abyss or die at the hands of Sagthillath. This Trial was impossible. Clenching my hair, I looked into the swirling darkness again. Hearing its beckoning soothing voice. I spoke in a chilling tone.

"Tell me about the Abyss?"

Biting her lips, Yura looked up, "From my memories, the Abyss is a plane that inhabits Chaos. Elder Gods fall like ants, and people like us are dead just from the winds." Yura bitterly explained, "There are only two beings who journeyed through the abyss and lived, The King of the Nine Hells, Asmodeus and Serpent Of The Abyss, Leviathan."

Eying me for a second, Yura gazed towards the swirling Abyss with a horrified pale expression. Her shoulders trembling as she gulped, "Only those two are known for traveling through the Abyss, for a couple of lifetimes. Living to tell the tale, as far as I know...only their myth has survived no one else. "

Staring into Amythest, I frowned; I didn't know why but I felt she was lying. Not about Asmodeus and this Leviathan, but about something else. Yura did not seem to truly fear the Abyss but was rather acting? There was a deep, intriguing gleam as I felt she wasn't trying to convince me but rather herself.

With her brow soak in sweat, yura gulped, licking her lips as she clenched her fist shut with a small tremor, muttering something I couldn't quite make out.