Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Crawling towards the doorway with a dead, probably sleeping Levi still on the bed, I pushed the door open with a gentle push of Astral Force, allowing a well-deserved breath of fresh air to billow through this hot-ass room.

I smiled, and my head slammed against the icy ground. "Good God, never again. Never again." I promised, lying quite literally to myself. When those parasites pop out, my wife and I will fuck even harder than this. Asmo, you lucky bastard. You taught this one well.

Jesus, my cock is numb.

"Zax water. Tons of it." I said, knowing he was listening each time I called his name.

"Of course, Master," Came his reply as music to my ears.

"Are congrats in order, my lord?" He said, holding a jar as he lifted my head, pouring the water into my lips. " Two cycles. Quite an accomplishment."

Cool liquid cooled my burning body, allowing sweat to begin pouring once more, and after five minutes of seamless drinking, I nodded. " Yup. Thanks to you, normal cycles seem like a snap. I never did thank you for that."

A crooked smile appeared, but Zax did not beg as I suspected, nor did he blame anyone; he merely nodded. "Do with me as you will, my Master."

"What did you think of the Pale Lord Loli?" I asked, putting his punishment to the back of my mind.

Zax frowned and bowed his head deeper. "Powerful, my lord, far more than Lord Bael. She seems on par with the Fallen or a full fledge ilthad."

Mentally chanting the Path of Abyssal Night to recover a bit, I pushed myself out of his arms and frowned in confusion. " What do you mean full-fledge?"

"The Ilthad did not randomly appear, my lord. While they only appear in the Fourth Heaven, a few have separated themselves from the main colony to start their own. They are one of the major families within the Myriad Heavens." Zax informed me as I returned the jug of water to him, which never seemed to run dry.

"It makes sense, but what could have made the few break off from the main colony to start their own? Are they different than the original?" I asked, but Zax shrugged.

"No idea." He said, " Not much is known of the inner mechanics of the Ilthad. And torture or soul-devouring techniques don't work on them as their lord protects them. We've no idea: It was said that the fallen had been so curious they almost wiped them off the map; if not for the angels, the Ilthad within the myriad heavens would have been wiped out."

So secretive even to the end, eh? Guess I'll not get anything out of them. It doesn't matter.

Pushing further out of the room, I could feel an entire week had gone by, and best of all, it looked like no one had tried to contact me. Thank god because I was not going to answer. Booty is far more important.

Calling Freya on the Holocube, I instantly smiled, seeing her face, "Master, where have you been? We've been thinking of you all day!"

"And, I, you. How'd you like a baby in you?" I kindly offered, somehow feeling it was now my mission to put a baby in every woman I mated with. However, Lilith is sure to kill them. Not my problem, though.

"I'll pass, Master, although it is tempting. But Lady Lilith will kill me, but I'm sure Ezra will love the idea. Her fingers have been screaming for you each night. It seems she's awakened a liking to your touch."

A prideful smile marred my lips, " Nice. But tell me, what's been going on?"

"All the Shadowfell are now within the city, but...." She paused and bowed her head ever so slightly. " But it seems like the angels have gathered a large army. Larger than anything I've ever seen. It's massive. Almost everyone is gone. The city is almost deserted."

Shadow stepping to my knight, I looked at her with a dark grimace. And then up into the dark skies, within the training courtyard.

Closing my eyes to see what Iliya looked to be, I, too, saw an endless sea of monsters and abyssal fiends. Dragons of all kinds and monsters I'd never even seen before stood both on land and by air.

"They are pushing to end this game now. It seems Zantar and Balor don't want me to grow stronger," I said, knowing if I don't do it now with the sacrifice they are about to make, I might not be able to open the gates to Iluthath. "Are my armies mixed in that mess up there?"

"Yes, Master."

"Even Layla?"

"I'm right here." Said my very own dutchess I needed to have a taste of. Good god, Arsene, you need to get a grip. Booty can come later. "I figured you were up to some evil shit, so I stayed away."

"Evil? Well, maybe," I said, closing my eyes and connecting to my shadow hidden behind the second consort. I've great plans for you, Layla. How could I allow you to die?"

"Allow me? Like killing a Paragon is so easy." She spat, clearly annoyed. " When the Gates of Iluthath opens, what does that mean for Noctem?"

"Well, a slight change of plan happened, but nothing changed much. There'd be a trading union soon. We just need a bit more time." I said as my shadow began to relay all it had heard over this week.

Pondering the implications of the fallout later, I sucked in a long breath and sighed. " Go get the children of the Court of Nox ready. It looks like it's time to open the Gates of Iluthath.

"And what of me?" A voice that made my spear arm tremble for blood called.

"Gauis Winterblack," I calmly said, tilting my head to the traitor who caused my death near the entrance of the courtyard standing with two large wrinkles beneath his eyes. "So you stuck around."

"I am immortal," he weakly said, cursing the very nature of his being beneath his breath. "I am an immortal who longs for his death. Who longs to have an end? Please, Lord Lucarious del Lazarus. I ask your forgiveness."