Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Unsure when my eyes snapped open, the heat of aura ran wild within my hidden chamber as the sense of death caught hold of me.

I… died? Me?

An aching pain swelled from my neck as I reached for my throat, where the blade struck my clone.

"That little bastard… she really killed me," I muttered, lost in the sensation of death, which I both understand but never experienced. Words couldn\'t even begin to describe it. It didn\'t hurt… not really anyway, aside from the ache in my neck, but the icy grip that took hold of me… was scary.

I shook my head, ready to rise from the alter I\'d used, only to frown, noticing a folded parchment. And a sense of alertness sank into my bones: \'Was someone able to get in here? No… I made sure that wasn\'t possible. I…

Pushing down thoughts that didn\'t reflect my reality, I opened the parchment and read its contents.

"Hiya Mepho!

It\'s me, Iza! Hehe, bet you didn\'t see this coming: This makes three! Three times I\'ve bested you! One in heaven, killing your favorite clone, and best of all, invading your bachelor pad. Fear the abyssal Queen.[Cue Evil Laughter] You have been defeated, old man! I, the Great Abyssal Queen, have obtained her revenge… kinda insuring you screw me over in the future. But it was worth it. Suck it! Fear this Queen… but due take it easy in the future. Iza\'s is super weak in the future. And on that note, do not go back to sleep. There is much to do.

I know about your plan for Father, Mother, and Zariel. But I recommend you not interfere with Zero. He, too, knows of your plan. And has taken steps to ensure it. Do not fight it. Shit is already fucked up in the future as it is. And my interfering doesn\'t help if I don\'t know all the butterfly effects I\'ve caused. As for the seed I planted… I\'m sure you\'ll find it. And I\'m sure you are thinking of planting it in me. But you can\'t. Black Abyss will protect me. You\'ll fail and fully awaken me instead. So find revenge another way. Iza is looking forward to it.

Regards

Baddest B, Iza

P.S: The Godwoods, find it, and make it your base.

P.P.S: Plant me a tree! To signify your defeat! IZA WINS!!!!

My eyes narrowed as I sneered; opening my palm, I reached for my left eye as the crescent arcs of lightning crackled against my palm, thundering with an almighty presence; my semi-omniscience whirled to life, identifying the so-called seed.

A slight ache ran through my left pupil as I pulled out a small bead of sorts, nearly identical to a small seed trapped between the Astral Plane and Shadow Realm, hidden by even my omniscience by a veil of abyssal qi.

"Son of Bitch… she really planted one in me!" I said, storming to my feet as my arms trembled. I growled, bursting into laughter at the absurdity. "I actually got played. Me! By a child no less."

"You\'re awake? But what\'s up with the creepy laugh?" A voice from down below my Alter caught my ear as I glanced toward Ishar, lined with cuts and bruises. The laceration over her chest and legs deep to the very bone.

Had she lost to Metatron? No… She shouldn\'t have lost. But she shouldn\'t have won with her level of skill and power.

"What happened?"

"I ought to be asking you that?\' She replied, scratching the back of her head. "You seem angry, but you\'re smiling. Arsene do something?"

I reached for my lips, startled by the curvature of my lips: I was smiling. Am I a masochist?

"His daughter…" I absently said.

"Oh! Oh my! Is Lord Mephistopheles going to finally get some? Hmm, if that\'s the case, I\'ll have to meet this Iza. How odd. Has she trapped my Master\'s Heart? She must be good. I—"

"Stop it." I snapped, flickering before her, my fingers flicking against her forehead. "I\'m merely impressed. Rumors like that are why many people believe I was in some relationship with that Bitch Lilith. Thank god she\'s dead. As for Izalith... the plan she used was very intricate. Feeling her madness, I didn\'t think she\'d have the mind for schemes."

"Could be her brother," Ishar said, rubbing her forehead.

"Well? What happened to you?"

"A sneak attack." She said, lowering her hand, the coldness in her red eyes bleeding through. "Some Arcangel I didn\'t recognize. She seemed like Metatons ally, but… that coldness in her eyes. I suspect she was returning a favor. That bitch got me good. She was very well trained. I came here to recover after hearing of your death."

An angel, not even Ishar, recognized… that\'s hard to believe. But it\'s not unheard of. There are bound to be monsters like Ishar and Amara amongst the angels. But I wonder who it is. I should ask my sister. She might know. I haven\'t met a single angel that her kindness hasn\'t enthralled.

"By the way… what\'s that your holding?" Ishar asked, peeking at the Seed Izalith planted.

I tossed it to her. My mind spun with a kind of embarrassment that I didn\'t quite know how to explain. I actually lost... Me. " Plant it in Sylvorlum. I\'d like to see what it turns into. Not every day one gets to see the tool of their defeat. I\'ll let this be a reminder—"

"Called it! You\'ve fallen for her…."

Flicking this idiot\'s head again, I growled. "Woman… are you alright in the head?"

"Ok-Ok. Then let\'s make a deal."

"Pass. You know I don\'t make deals with those of nobility in my Hell." I told her as I opened myself up to the realm, a spell of Claryvoiance active as a cross-shape light swelled within my pupils.

"Tch… Bully. But I\'m still going to meet up with her. I\'m interested in how she tricked my Lord." Ishar muttered. "I\'m going into seclusion. It\'s going to take a while to expunge this Seraphic Qi. Will you be good without me for a bit?"

Quickly finding Arsene, I was pulled back by Ishars words. It really was terrifying how strong she was. She is still a devil… but through sheer will alone, she can survive a hit from an Angel. The bane of Devils and Demons.

"Get some rest… I\'m heading to Godwood. It would seem Arsene is there."