Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Holding onto Vancurro, blood ran from our lips as we glanced down at Zariel gripping Aurelia's shoulder. Wet with blood, he turned to me, "Leave! Now. Take her!"

"Screw you!" Vancurro shouted. Pulling his arm away from around my shoulder, he leaned heavenly onto a tree, staining its bark red. "We got this. Take her and leave; we were the ones who screwed up. You were right."

Staggering to stand, Aurelia glanced up, staring at me, with her golden eyes that sparkled with light; I nodded, understanding her intent.

"Zariel." She muttered.

"Shh. "Hushing her, Zariel frowned, "You lost too much blood.'

"Forgive me," She whispered as I shot towards Zariel, stabbing my fist towards his head.

Not in the least surprised with his glowing silver eyes that could capture anything, he arched a single finger, stopping my fist with the slightest amount of work.

"what the hell are you..." Vomiting a mouthful of blood. His sterling eyes grew cloudy as he turned to Aurelia with her hand upon his chest and head.

"I am sorry. I really am, but you can't die. Not yet." She cried as a pulse of Divine Arcana rang like a golden star turning the forest we resided into ash in a single instance.

Searing our flesh, with its intensity, I groaned, cladding myself and vancurro in a domain of fire. Yet even then, we were a bit powerless before Aurelia's mighty spell that seemed to eat away at my domain.

Pailing a bit, knowing this could definitely do some damage, the golden light faded away like a misty breeze as we gazed at Zariel lying still in her arms. Seeing his bloody finger in her chest, Aurelia's already ashen face grew a deep shade of white.

"Take him; we will hold back Aldrich and the others," Vancurro muttered, passing a talisman on to her.

Doing the same, she looked up with confusion as I spoke, "Zero will understand. Just bring him back."

Nodding a bit bitterly, two wings of golden and black sprung from her back. Glistening with an unholy aura, she nodded with bloody tears raining from her eyes.

" I swear you two had better come back! Ok?!" She cried out, soaring into the air like a broken fairy.

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"So it's only you two? Quite commendable. "Aldrich softly muttered, covered in vicious wounds. Holding onto his shoulder that looked to be about to fall off, he stood still with three other bastards at the ready.

"You look no better than us," Said Vancurro standing with shaky legs. He glared as his eyes regained their beastal hue. Growling like a feral beast backed into a corner, he readied his glaive. While I prepared my spear.

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"DODGE!!!!" Vancurro howled as Merlins heavenly blade came crashing down upon me. Arching 'hallow' high into the air, my arms cracked, raining blood over my face as I roared. Slamming me down through the clouds, I tore through the surface of Zyphis.

Using my arcana to hold the lava-spewing from the land, the grim image of Aldrich appeared within my sight.

"Celestial Decimation," He howled as all light twisted away. Striking his blade towards my head, a radiant blade of Azure silver flashed, branding my lips with a bitter smile.

"NOT YET!!!!!!" Vancurro bellowed.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tearing me off my back with his ruthless kick. My vision grew jumbled as I flew through mountains and clouds. Regaining my footing in the air, I pierced through the clouds, only for my gaze to land on the tattered body of my brother.

"Van!" I screamed, racing towards his body, which seemed to have to experience the power of an explosion instead of a sword stroke.

His entire left part of his body looked to be torn away by the searing heat of Aldrich's horrendous strike. While the left part of his brain could be seemed hanging out seared to a crisp.

Speeding to him with all I had, I roared, only to see a red flash of a deadly katana head towards me. Lifting my spear, a pang of despair ran through my heart as the scarlet's blade edge severed my spear in half.

However, it was more than enough to change its direction, allowing it to only take an arm instead of my head.

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"Well done. You were but children in our eyes, but you battled like gods." Aldrich said, from high up, as I laid still upon my back. By my side, Vancurro held a weak smile.

"Will you send our bodies back to Zariel?" He asked, but I was not the least bit hopeful.

"I will." He promised as I lay in a pool of my organs hanging from where my stomach should be.

"Well fought,"

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Springing up from the bed in which I laid, a bitter taste ran through my mouth. It was a bit fractured, and a lot of important stuff was missing, but I died. I died protecting Zariel.

Breaking into laughter, tears ran from my eyes as I laughed and laughed. I didn't understand why, but I felt a relief I never knew I held.

"He made it. We didn't die in vain, I see." I muttered, tearing up even more.

Wiping my eyes, I fell back onto the bed with a bitter smile—my first death. To think I would die so... Wait, who died first? Me or Vancurro? Fuck!

Pursing my lips, I sighed, "Guess the only person who has that answer will be Aldrich. But there were four people: Merlin, Aldrich, and some guy with a scarlet Katana. who and where was the other guy?"

Shaking my head, I lifted my body off the bed, "I wonder if the Planet of Zyphis still exists?"

Glancing around and noticing the empty room, I pushed those thoughts down, knowing I would never truly remember everything.

Running my hands through my hair, a smile graced my lips. "If Vancuroo didn't kill Aldrich, it means he failed in some way. It seems like I will get that chance."

Pulling form out of my room, in a somewhat good mood despite reliving my death, I felt oddly joyful. There was a powerful energy running through my veins, growing with each second that passed.

Licking my lips, I pushed open the doors to my throne room and gazed upon the two cacoons two times larger than before.

Narrowing my gaze, I drew close, touching upon the one I knew to belong to Freya.

"I am waiting,"