Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"How are the Ilvarins doing? Are they in position?" I asked from within the tattered crypt of my disciple\'s castle. The scent of moss and scat was faintly present in the air as my words echoed through the image of the Maiden of Blood.

"... Yes. But are you sure? The Ilvarins have it out for you. They ought to know Arsene is your disciple by now."

I laughed: "You underestimate Zero; he\'ll counter some of my plans once Arsene is captured. Zariel might even join his darling brother."

\'That means Aurelia will join. Zariel and her are joined at the hip."

"Yes. But Pandora\'s box is more than enough to hold them." I announced, holding back a cruel smile. "The box will not hold them back long. Zariel is quite overpowered as he is now. That\'s why I plan to gift the box to the Ilvarins. Think of it as protection."

"I\'ve never met those who carry the Blood of Storm," Ishar mentioned, a passing thought, no doubt.

"Stormbloods, eh?" I muttered, twirling my fingers through a strand of hair, and my lips curled down. "I do foresee some issues. Few among the Ilvarins carry the Blood of Storm. Thank the Father for that, and with the rate of incest happening within the Box of Pandora, they should be weaker."

"I think the opposite. You sealed them, My Lord. You tore them from their home that withered and rotted with the passage of the elements. You broke the will of generations, all for what?" Said Ishar calmly.

I don\'t even remember anymore. How many eternities ago was that? Compared to most races, the Ilvarins were relatively secluded. But they didn\'t deserve what I did. At least, I don\'t think they did. Did I seal that memory?

"Ilvarins were molded from pure energy. When we last met… sixty-five percent of their bodies were made from raw untapped energy. That number is sure to have dropped with the new generation. The old generation… they unsettle me."

"Your fault, no doubt," Ishar told me with a sly smile. "Well? What\'s the plan? They were released a while ago. I\'m sure you can slaughter them if you so choose."

"No… they\'ll be the Snow Families\' shield."

"Shield, you say!" Ishar spat, bursting with laughter. "My Lord, you sure are funny. Zariel and Aurelia are nearly in the realm of the untouchable. All there is to worry about is Arsene and Lilith."

"Yes-Yes. I know, however, with Arcadia opening. Changes are bound to occur. New techniques are going to be learned. And with new knowledge comes confidence. The Seraphim are bound to challenge me sooner or later; it\'s in their nature. As I said, once Zariel breaks apart Pandora\'s box, which shouldn\'t take long. I suspect Metatron and a few others to attack. A war like the one when the Angels first fell is bound to happen again."

"You believe it\'ll be that bad?"

"The Seraphim, the highest grade of Angels, the leaders, are in civil unrest. I can only imagine their people." I shook my head, served my surroundings within the crypt, and began again. "Heaven\'s Gate is but one organization in Heaven. The biggest, but there is only one. The masses will deal with Metatron. It\'s only a matter of time. They\'ll reel him in. But we need to start preparing now."

Ishar glared at me for some inexplicable reason, sighed, pursed her lips, and sighed once again. "You\'re going to have me do all the work, aren\'t you?"

"Oh, come on, you like work!" I righteously protested.

"I want a vacation. A Chaos Cycle of Relaxation."

… "That\'s out of—"

"It\'s not a request… My Lord." She said, narrowing her ruby-red eyes. "I\'ve slaved for longer than any King. I\'m tired. I\'ll take care of the War effort. But I\'m going on vacation."

"Half a Chaos Cycle!"

Eyes turning into puppy dog eyes, a sensation of pity overwhelmed me as I sighed. I do abuse her. And it\'s only one Chaos Cycle. If she starts right after the preparation for war, this could work: "Fine… One Chaos Cycle. But should anything major happen. I want you back."

She grinned, almost like a toddler beaming with childlike innocence: "Kay! Hehe. Thanks, My Lord! It seems Truck-kuns doggy eye attack affects even you. She\'ll be happy to know."

Of course, it was Arsene\'s Sister. I swear that girl causes more problems them her brothers. I\'ll have to keep her away from Iza and Ves. That\'ll be the only way I can groom them how I please.

I smiled: "I think I\'m going to reignite the Blood of Storm resentment."

"My Lord?" Ishar said, a tad bit confused.

I chuckled: "It\'s been a while, and those Stormblood bastards are always fun to deal with. Wanna come?"

Drawing in a large breath, a blinding flash of images whipped through my mind as I peered through the eyes of those who carried pride in their hearts.

And there was none more arrogant than the Blood of Storm.

Stormbloods had many faults, but from what I could remember, they were ahead of their time. They were too far ahead. It made them arrogant. They were so arrogant they protested against me for some reason.

"Found them," I told myself aloud. And lifted my eye to Ishar:" There in the Astral Sea, in a pocket dimension."

"My Lord… is this necessary?" Ishar asked me hesitantly. " They only just reemerged from their long exile. If you attack, you\'ll only cause them to join Metatron."

Bellowing in laughter, I waved over her concern: "Ilvarins hate angels. They hate them with a passion. Ilvarins always wanted the angels to see them as equals, but not once did the Seraphim do so. They were mistakes. Trash the Father tossed away in his mission to create humans."

"The angels didn\'t tell them that, right?"

I sneered: " Tell them? Nope. They didn\'t even talk to the Ilvarins. Much less acknowledge their existence. They ignored them completely. At least the humans got the chance to be scorned by our kind. Ilvarins weren\'t even allowed in the seraphim presence less they be killed on the spot."

"Your kidding." Said Ishar in a stony voice. "Were the Angels that uptight?"

"I guess they were." I mused, thinking about it for a bit.

I wonder if I ever was like that. I should ask Tenebrae sometime.

"Well, let\'s go toy with them," I said with an excited voice. " You coming? I might need a wingman."

"Sweet baby Jesus," She cursed. "Yeah… I\'ll go. Anything to get out of work."

"Sweet!!!! And if there are still dicks let\'s invite them to the Council of Omnis, lol. They\'ll drive everyone mad!"