Prologue to War - Ashna

Taking a deep breath, I activated the Demonic Sacerlage Mantra. Engulfing Qi from the air like a black hole before removing various books from my bracelet. Aside from the Flames of Hellfire, I was able to collect thousands of books from Drar'ethiul's Realm.

"Should I start with Artes or History?" I asked aloud. Pondering for a second, I decided upon Artes. History is useless if I can't defend myself. There are too many things that could go wrong with my plans. I needed to grow strong quicker.

Smiling, I transferred the entire Lybary within the Ring of Bael before dividing it into two sections Artes and Lore. I did not need to learn these artes but rather expand my imagination. A concept cultivator didn't seem to understand. They would just seek Artes from books, without thinking for themselves.

Hours quickly began to pass as I began reading through the various Demonic Artes that could benefit me, recording all of them within my mind palace. Ranging from Demonic Arts to training a demonic Body to various weapons, I studied every manual.

I had realized I need to learn how to battle without my spear. There will be times where an enemy will be too close for Dragonsbane. The Spear is an amazing weapon, but it's not perfect. However, that will not stop me from turning into a perfect killing machine.

A few days began to pass as I continued to Absorb qi from heaven and earth while also soaking in everything I was reading. Unfortunately, my peaceful time came to an end as Shadow appeared, "My lord, they are here."

With a cold gleam that seems to chill the air around me, I flickered outside my mansion. A rather vicious light shone from my eyes as I stared at the heavenly ranked man hovering with the gentle breeze of air.

"Arsene," the man said with a voice that wasn't his own, "We meet again. I truly didn't believe you would be such a torn in my side.."

"Ashna," I coldly said as I heard a soft feminine voice sound from within the rugged man, "How are you alive?"

"Oh?! Didn't Greyson that fool tell you?" She asked with a frosty tone, "I took..."

"I meant why did the Lord of Hell let you live? Both Bael and I can't seem to understand his will, but what about you?"

Horror flared over Ashna's rugged puppet as she quivered, "...Y-Y-Y Your a demon...YOU'RE A DEMON AND A SOUL BENDER...YOU NEED TO DIE!!! ATTACK!!! ATTACK!!!!," Ashna bellowed in hysteria.

Smirking demonic qi began rising from my body as I looked at hundreds of lights raining down like armageddon upon my estate.

BOOM!!!BOOM!!!BOOM!!!BOOM!!!BOOM!!!

Blast, after Blast, stormed into my estate, yet a contemptuous gleam radiated out as I stared at the massive starlight barrier protecting my estate.

"Shadow, activate the formation, and where the hell is my ship?" I coldly asked as Yura, Nora, Zel, Winfor, and Edain rushed out.

"It will arrive within ten minutes, my lord." Shadow respectfully declared, "and the formation will begin promptly."

Suddenly a massive magical formation filled the very heavens covering Pendragon with a sinister light. Looking at the midnight moon, I watched as all light was removed, consuming everything in darkness.

"Arsene, you will not succeed." Yelled Ashna as an even larger formation appeared from her palm, "You have yet, to comprehend the Arte of Circles. Comf..."

"Foolish whore," I countered as five more formations formed, each of them suddenly connecting to one another. "I have prepared for years. NOW DIE!!!"

Space twisted as the starry skies died out. Be it sound, wind, light. Everything faded as five beams of grey light fell like damnation.

<Ignitation>

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

*CRACK* *CRACK* *CRACK*

Blasting away my barrier, I felt a powerful shockwave rush through my body, yet I stepped through as smoke and ash filled the heavens yet again.

"I have paid good money, kill that puppet," I yelled towards my heavenly ranked mercenaries as I step forward, Dragonsbane in hand as demonic laughter-filled air. "I enjoy slaughtering you, Ashna. I am not like Grey. I will burn this fucking world just to have the pleasure of ripping your skull from your body."

"Zel, Winfor, and Nora, you will be a team. Yura, Edain, your with me." I yelled, "The goal is to survive for nine minutes."

Shooting forwards, I found a Qi Condensation cultivator wailing as he glared at his missing arm. Throwing Dragonsbane through his skull, I rushed forward in a blur of shade, summoning my bow, releasing twenty Arrows fueled by darkness. Each of them turning my enemies into a fine mist of gore.

Arriving at Dragonsbane, which I had tossed earlier, I began twirling it around as a tornado of blood arose in the air. Yet, just as I was about to move, a dark sword flickered towards my head.

Sneering, Yura appeared, parrying instantly while her blade suddenly twinkled, severing the enemy soldier's head. Watching as a guiser of blood exploded out, I roared in laughter.

<Crimson Wind>

WIth my skin turning crimson, the winds began to pick up as the various blood around the area began to twirl around me. Consuming my body in Darkness, I became a sinister black flash the slaughtered hundreds before they could comprehend what was going on.

Like a bolt of black lightning, I raced through the battlefield filled with ash and death. My body never stopping as I would step on-air or the heads of my enemy, exploding their skulls with a sadistic stomp.

"DIE" A roar filled with anguish screamed as seventh-level Earth mastered tired to cleave me in twain. Unfortunately for him, while I could not defeat a seventh-stage Earth realm master, I was more than capable of fleeing from one.

With a cruel smile, I watched as his blade pierced into me, only to gasp in horror. Fading away, my real body materialized next to the soldiers behind him, skewering them through their hearts as blood-drenched my face.

"Oz?!" a poor soldier whispered in dreed before my left hand slapped his head off his body. With indifference, I was about to fade away, only to be surprised as Yura, covered in blood, arrived at me.

Her amethyst eyes holding a profound light, "Watch carefully. This is how soul force feels," she said as a subtle air filled her body.

Yet as I pushed my senses deeper into her aura, I felt something that I knew I should not have felt. Like my soul was about to break apart, I could see darkness, a darkness unlike anything I knew. It reminded me of the Abyss yet more complete.

"Soul Force is an ancient force, but it is extremely limited," she explained as she moved like a ghost. Multiple afterimages tracing behind as she arrived before Oz. Yura did not use her sword but rather tapped Oz's head as he suddenly disintegrated into nothingness. Gulping, I could feel sweat trickle down my head as I Stared into amethyst. Frowning, I touched my heart. Somehow understanding what Yura had said, I...."

Night? Yes, night...Night. Touching my left, I lowered my arm as a horrifying aura began filling my mind.

<Realm of Eternal Night>