Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"Go fuck yourself!" I shouted, flicking my wife off as I stormed out of the room. Izalith! She branded my baby girl's soul with such a disgusting name. Branding 'MY' baby girl such a name is—

FUCK!!!!

Screw Izavith or Vita or whatever her damn name is.

Pushing through the doors to my throne room, I ignored the various nobles of my court as I took a seat upon my throne, brimming a shade of Nodes of Darkness and Ash.

"My King," They said, but my frown only deepened, seeing them bow. I didn't really understand why my mood had plummeted even more seeing them so weak, but I sneered.

"Dukes, Marquess, Earls, Viscounts, and Barrons, you all bow like lowly bitches. How disgusting. Look at you. Where is your spine? Where is the challenging aura? At least Darkmane had fucking balls." I scuffed, ignoring the ugly faces. I continued. " What the hell are you even doing in my court?"

"We have reservations about the war e—"

"Reservation? State your name. I don't even know who you are." I interrupted. "And speak with your damn head raised. You're a fucking man, right? What the hell is going on in my Kingdom?"

Foolishly gritting his teeth, the boney man with the crest of the moon branded over his brow said, "I am Earl Niall Relevan. And My King, we have reservations about the war effort within the Hells."

"You might be Noctems first king, but—"

"We stand alongside a dozen or so people against the Hell War, my King." the Earl quickly said, cutting off a young-looking boy with similar features to him.

"Your son?" I asked.

"Viscount Roland Relevan," said the young man, somehow testing my patients today.

"Your acting like a whiny bitch," Lily suddenly called me out.

"Screw you two! You knew about the name, didn't you!'

"Didn't you want to call your child Dio or Exodia?"

"Screw you! Those names are awesome! And don't interrupt me when I act like a king." I mentally replied, shifting my focus back on this idiot.

"So all of you are against me entering the first layer of hell?" I asked very slowly to see every last one of their reactions.

A few heads dipped.

"Yes sir." the Earl said, and my eyes swept to the silent Dukes, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Who idea was it to use this idiot?"

Seeing no one step out, I frowned," You all realize if I want, I can use the Throne of Darkness to find out the answer, right? Don't make me ask again."

Watching two dukes whose names were at the tip of my tongue step out, I smiled, thinking for a moment. " Duke Telvian and Dorrium, correct?"

They bowed their heads with cold expressions that made my smile deepen. " I remember you two in the meeting a few years back. Now, this is a surprise. Tell me, what is it you disapprove of?"

"Permission to speak without judgment or risk of death?" The brave Telvian asked.

"Go ahead."

"I think this war is pointless. Even if you're the King, ruling the Nines hells is no major benefit. Even if we, by some miracle, manage to win. What is the price we pay?"

"Oi, the rest of you. Fuck off. From now on, if I see anyone below a damn marquess in my court. I'll gut you." I coldly promised, and without hesitation, all of them vanished. All but the two dukes.

"Seven Dukes in total. How interesting. I originally thought it was just darkmane, but you two gained some balls. Even Layla showed defiance. What took you two so long? Oh, never mind. What makes you think that the Hells will leave you alone?"

Duke Dorrium, with his serpent-like features, frowned, "Why wouldn't the records have shown that—"

"Records? We have Seven Fallen from higher Heavens on Iluthath. Don't you understand? We are already at war. Look what happened on Iluthath two hundred years ago. Layla is blind, and Darkmane lost an arm. Tell me have they recovered?"

None responded.

"I want you two to go to the Bed of Chaos and spread your Divine Sense to get a grasp on what happened. Speak to Mimir or Freya, and they'll tell you all that happened in the Abyss. Because obviously, you two are ignorant. It's every man from themselves." I said, shaking my head, and sank deeper into my throne.

"Dorrium, I want you to take over the intelligence side from Mimir. Learn about the Exholted Wheel. Telvian, you'll join Freya in the raid against the Hells. If I had to guess, I'd say Ezra and Freya will attack the Bridge of the Dammed."

"Bridge of the Dammed?" They said in unison.

"It's where souls first go to be judged in hell. It determines which layer you go to. While I know you two have concerns, you'd best get your facts straight next time. Now go away."

Taking their leave without another sound, I watched the door to my throne room close, and a dark silence filled my ears.

"Lily… Is there a way to speed up how fast I get a body? It's becoming irritating. I can't even shadow step without almost dying."

"You could die."

"I'm almost always dying. I can't be out for another hundred years. The Bridge of the Dammed is our only option. For anyone who wants to invade the Hells, one needs to get past that accursed Bridge."

Lily hummed in response," I know all about the Hell Bridge forged by the wing of Lucifer. It was even said that when he was first cast from Heaven. He tore his wing from his back in a fit of madness and hammered a bridge into existence alongside Beelzebub.

"It's said that those who wish to invade the Nines must face his Eternal Madness. In the Origin Realm or Higher, his power is so terrifying that even some Fallen don't dare be careless and activate the runes. Such a power could easily kill an archangel if careless."

"Holy shit! I didn't know all that."

Lily sighed. " Of course, you didn't. It was because Lucifer was ashamed of what he did. Despite hating his Father at the time, he still respected him, and what he did had desecrated both the Father and the Angels, his brothers and Sisters."

"You'd think the truest Devil of them all would not have such emotions, huh? How curious. " I shook my head. " I need my new body, Lily. I don't care if my soul isn't fully adapted to it. I don't have time to wait."