Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Intrigued couldn't describe my genuine curiosity towards this Path Tenebrae mentioned. Is this what being a Monarch of Darkness entails? To use any and all elements, concepts, and Authorities related to Heaven, sounds kind of like an Abyssal Fiend.

"Why didn't you say anything?" I inquired, eagerly waiting for her response.

Tene sighed within my arms, somehow giving up on resisting. She rested her head against my chest: "Because you lacked the qualifications from the start. Your soul was beyond damaged, which distorted your comprehension, and most importantly, you lacked the ability to enter the Realm of Spirits."

And she paused, sucking in a deep breath: "Even if I gave you an object that allows you to enter the Realm of Spirits, you'd have died an earlier death. Arsene, the Realm of Spirits, is a domain that stretches far beyond Zariels and your perceptions. I'm not trying to underestimate you or your ability to be a complete 'hack,' but you lacked the foundation necessary. The Path of Darkness, by my estimation, can only be learned by children due to the simplicity of their minds. You can do the same due to the Path of Abyssal Night, but learning will take far longer than a child would."

Peeping down at her moist eyes filled with anxiety for some reason, I flicked her head: "Do you think I'm going to abuse you or something? What's with that look and reaction?"

And a mischievous smile appeared on her tender lips: " I hear guys like when women show such bashful sides. Was I wrong?"

I pointed to myself and chuckled: "I have no idea. It felt awkward like you were genuinely scared of me. Perhaps I should talk to more men. Or maybe you just talk to weirdos. If anyone saw what happened, they'd think I was abusing you."

Tenebrae's cheeks grew plumped as she glared. "I guess I still have more research to do in order to make more babies."

'...'

I swear! I'm going to have to live the life of a hermit. Why is it always about babies with Lilith and Tene? No more babies! No more! I've enough to last a lifetime!

"Don't you want a girl next time around, Sene?"

Images flashing of a beautiful doe eyed baby girl raising her arms towards me, asking for hugs with her small arms, flickered through my soul.

I smiled: "Well… NO! No more!"

Laughter sprang away from Tene as she reached up on the tips of her toes: "It's not up to you, sene.' And her tender lips grazed against mine, and she pulled away, smiling. " Now… are we done?"

"Wait… one more question." I suddenly said. " The Realm of Spirits. What's it like in there?"

Tenebrae closed her eyes: " Think of the Oceans back on Earth. Once you open access to the Spirit Realm, you'll be submerged in an oasis of knowledge. But it's something you must experience for yourself. Dive in a few times to wet your feet. I'm sure you'll not regret it."

Vanishing without another world, despite getting me a little hard with her seductive act, I snorted and fell to the ground with my limbs sprawled about. I peered up a the moon and focused my mind as the Path of Abyssal Night hummed to life with the echoes of my will.

And as if a small ember had awakened within me, ripples similar to a droplet of water in the middle of a lake pulsed over the moon. And before I knew it, the winds grew heavy as though I'd been submerged by a nameless force into a great abyss.

"What a strange sensation," I muttered, my words echoing with a distinct regality I'd never intended to use. It was proper, strong, cold, yet warm. And yet such a tone echoed from my lips.

Surprise coveted my lips as I stood to my feet. I stared at the cherry blossoms, seemingly immersed in a strange airy liquid. No. It wasn't a liquid, yet it felt like it. The texture was the same, but it wasn't. Was this Qi?

Confused, a sudden irritation entered my eyes in the form of sweat. And before I knew it, beads of cold sweat raced over my body as I felt my Qi begin to be devoured at a monstrous rate.

Ten Seconds!

"Shit…" I cursed in a regal voice, and in a single moment, I conjured the Abyssal Flame. Only to be frozen in place. Starstruck by the small budding flame that shimmered like an ember.

As if this domain had auto-corrected my flame to my will, a peculiar formation of insight entered my soul as I ogled the perfect flame that captured both my pride and wrath, my regality and savagery.

The flame was a contradiction, bleeding a power that shouldn't belong. And yet here it stood, a flame that defiled the laws around me. A flame… An Infringement Flame. No... It was even stronger!'

"Master, stop!!!!" The voice of Freya howled as she suddenly appeared and grabbed me by the head before ruthlessly slamming my skull into the ground, breaking me out of the Realm of Spirits. "Master! Your arm! Your Arm!!!!"

Through a rain of sweat, a painful growl of torturous agony rattled through the back of my throat, slowly becoming a cry and then a howl as I grabbed hold of the stub where my arm should be.

"What happened!" I howled, shivering as the pain continued to grow, throbbing with anguish I was sure only existed in Nine Hells. "And why does it still burn!"

"I warned you to be careful," Tenebrae said as she reemerged. "In the Realm of Spirits, all your abilities are more of a handicap than an asset." And she squatted down, placing something in my mouth that slowly liquidized the instant it touched my tongue. She smiled " I figured you'd do something like this. Whether I warned you or not… You are pridefully stupid."

Unsure why I laughed, despite the agonizing torment emanating from my arm, I did. as the light within my eyes began to dim. Tene ran her fingers through my hair. "The Spirit Realm is rejecting you and distorting your perception of reality. You're lucky. Most people die. If not for your adaptation kicking in at the last second, you'd be dead."

"Master! You ok?" Loli Freya shouted, but the words on the tip of my lips didn't sound as my mind fell into oblivion.