Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Chapter 44: Gate of Fire

Slowly opening my eyes, the scent of ash flooded my nose, causing cloudy black tears to rise. With a harsh cough full of ash, I rose from the pavement, clutching my stomach. In a hurry, I weakly rushed to the kitchen, glaring down at the cooks that were present with a happy smile, "Thank god Alice hired you all, cook me something," I shouted, feeling my vision slowly beginning to fade again.

"Yes, my lord...we have been looking for you for three days." A young cook exclaimed with worry.

"Just cook; we can talk later," I commanded as I grabbed an emerald colour apple biting down with lustful fever. As the burst of sweet and sour filled my mouth, the hunger within my body grew even stronger.

Staring at the five cooks in front of me, I began to salivate...damn it, it's been fifteen years. I just want a little taste. Is that so much to ask for.

Watching the cooks rushed to prepare me food, I joined in, helping them cook faster before digging in. I didn't even bother looking to see what I was devouring as my hunger never left. Clutching my fist, I coldly demanded, "Do we have any ranked three or two monsters."

Shaking their heads, I scoffed in irritation before rushing out of my house to a local restaurant that served such products. My hunger was quickly rising, and my control was slowly beginning to fade away.

"Hello Ashen Prince, would you like a..."

Rushing past the waiter in a rather upscale restaurant, I arrived before the kitchen busting in with desperation. Not caring for the chefs, I began devouring all the meat radiating a powerful vital Qi. Whether it was raw or cooked, everything fell into my stomach as the hunger faded by a little.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Staring at the wide eye chefs and waiters, I smirked before continuing to feast. This young master was starving. Like a savage beast, I consumed their entire stook of food before looking at them angrily, "Is this all you have." I shouted feeling my stomoch acids searing my insides.

"..."

"Damn it, here," I said, throwing a million Fel towards them before charging into the next restaurant with fever. Restaurant after restaurant soon fell prey to my hunger before I finally felt alive again.

"What the hell was that?" I shouted aloud while staring at my oversize stomach.

Walking back to my home, I looked at my chefs, "Go buy rank three ingredients. Speak with Alice if we are going over the budget." I said, walking back to my room.

Looking at myself covered in ash and food, I smiled bitterly before taking a quick shower. Three days had passed during my culcivation sesession, and I have finally reached the fourth stage of Qi Condensation. A rather outstanding achievement to do within my time span. Yet, my qi was perfectly stable.

Putting on my school uniform, I left, thinking about what happened to Yura. There was no trace of the young lady, and I was rather curious of where she went. Wasting no time, I arrived before homeroom, studying the young woman lazily sitting at her desk reading some documents.

"Instructor Victoria, I need your help," I said with a solemn expression, "My body is acting differently..."

Growing red, Victoria shook her head quickly, "Speak to your parents about that!" She shouted, turning her head with a rather silly blush.

"....Damit, I'm not talking about puberty," I yelled angrily

"After my cultivation session, I awakened with a deep hunger. I went to five restaurants devoring everything they had in order not to die from starvation." I explained.

Opening her mouth wide, she nodded, trying to hide her embarrassment, "Oh...sorry," giving a slight cough, she continued, "I head in the Forest of Serien you opened the Gate of Truth."

"Arsene, body Cultivation is rather rare in Asterion, so it's not surprising if you don't know all the stages and effects of what happens. To put it simply, you have simply reached the first stage, called the Gate of Fire." She slowly explained.

Touching my chin, I frowned, "then what is the gate of truth." I asked, not understanding.

"The gate of truth is nearly the name of the entire Realm. Most people think opening the gate of truth is the same as opening a stage, but it is just the name in reality. It's just a door allowing you to cultivate your body."

"The realm of truth is broken up into five stages, Gate of Fire, Gate of Man, Gate of Life, Gate of Death, and finally, oddly enough, the Gate of Truth. My guess is that you just open your Gate of Fire."

Gasping at the new information, I scowled. It would seem that I can't just rely on all the Snow's knolege. At least not anymore; there are far too many things I need to learn.

"Thank you," Giving a bow of gratitude, I beamed, "Instructor is the best,"

Trying to hide her blush, Victoria pushed me out of the room, "Go cultivate, you only have two days...also, the King sent an envoy you are to show up in his court after the tournament." She quietly whispered with a reverent tone.

Giving a slight nod, I left having a new understanding of what was going on with me. Returning to my home, I laid on the couch feeling a little tired.

"Your back," A familiar voice announced.

"Yura...where have you been," I asked, turning to her soul steering gaze.

"I was invited into the S class; I just met with the five instructors." She indifferently commented

Rolling my eyes at this blatant unfair treatment, I looked up the ceiling, "How is the competition," I curiously asked.

"I have no competition," Yura arrogantly declared, her body pulsing with Earth Qi.

With a hollow Laugh, I arose, staring into her deep, amethyst eyes, "Really now?" I questioned with a profound smirk,

Not bothering with me, I watch the young girl shrugged, walking away without a care in the world. With the sway of her hips, I licked my lips, admiring the graceful view before shaking my head...what's wrong with me?

A heavy heat began rising within me but soon cool as Qi filled my body. Looking down at the looming or maybe rising sword of Damocles, I left before humiliating myself.

A/N: >_

Walking back down to my underground cabin, I focused my mind before entering the flaming Inferno again. With the heavy warmth around me, I drew Dragonsbane before resuming my training.