Regret

The moment Zariel had vanished with little jin in arms, my eyes swayed toward the old man cleaving down an axe wrapped in a strange profundity. He was quick but not even close to the speed I held during the war for the Abyssal Dew. Unfortunately, with the rise of Iluthath that now stood on the realm above the Origin Realm, speed such as this felt… painfully slow.

It had been two Chaos Cycles since that day. Two painful cycles that allowed me to train constantly within that domain. That war had shown me how weak I truly was. The only reason I was alive was due to my Authority. Were it not for that, a wave of qi or shockwave from the clanking of swords and sabers would have ended my life in a blink of an eye.

I was so stupid. Honestly… I should have researched what Authority was when I first used it. What a nasty habit I have. But then again, I had no master, guide, teacher, or anything. Back on earth, I had read novels about MCs being ambitiously focused, but I call bullshit.

Lifting a finger towards the oncoming axe, a tinge of annoyance sprang through me like a lightning bolt.

"Screw those characters with abyssal focus. That's some bullshit." I snapped, stopping his axe without any effort. I glared at the man, at the insect caring a sliver of Forsaken Qi in his heart. "What do you think?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Well? Were you super focused in your youth? Did you make the best decisions?"

He shuddered. "S-S-Sir," and he took a few steps back. "I—"

"Answer the question. It's been on my mind for a while: How does everyone have such amazing focus, but I, Arsene God Damn Snow… can't even find the time to review his techniques? To get in tune with who I am? My God, do you know how long I had Authority? The damn Authority of the Darkness? TOO FUCKING LONG!!!!"

Stuck between wanting to pull my hair out and, better yet, my eyes, a lamentful wail crawled front the back of my throat into the forest of dawn, banishing the light to eternal darkness. I stilled, my shoulders trembling.

I've battled within the Infringement of Time for so long. Learned so many things about Blood Laws, Darkness, and more. I swear I'm an idiot. My God… from the moment I was born into this life, I had the power to wipe out a legion of demons and devils. I could have faced a Prince of Hell… Ok, maybe not a Prince, but I could have been such a powerful force of nature.

"Fuck my Life," I muttered and glared at the old man. "You there, I'll ask once. And if I don't get a proper answer, I'll sever all your tendons and implant one of the Godwood trees inside you to eat away at the core of your existence until your sea of consciousness is nothing more than a nightmare of hate and pain."

A chill of fright ran through the elderly man. He dropped his axe, his muscular physique seemingly thinning as he stared at me. He fell to his knees, planted his head against the floor, and spoke: "Great Demon King, I beseech thee—"

"Just answer my question," I told him, rolling my eyes. Unsure why anyone would ever bow their head toward another. It was such a strange concept, especially towards an enemy. Is life so good you must beg for it?

Is death not a new beginning? Or is the unknown so unsettling?

A/N: Hmmm, it's odd how instincts work.

"My Lord I—"

Sensing hesitation, an orb of destructive light sprang into my palm, withering the countless trees, leaves, grass, and animals around me. I felt the white of my eyes begin to be eaten by the darkness as I glared with a fury of that of a demon. My scarlet eyes blazing a swarm of abyssal flames.

Blood swelled from the man's eyes as the sheer pressure of my being fell like the rain, tearing him from his knees to his stomach. He cried, wailing as every ligament began to be torn apart. I watched with absolute coldness as his eyes bubbled and popped while his teeth became stained, slowly beginning to rot with pestilence.

I pointed the orb toward his head, my fingers positioned like a gun.

"It's the maiden!!!!" he howled, vomiting a slew of blood.

"Good. Now die. I'll get all the information from your death: insignificant insect." I coldly said when an arm pressed against my shoulder. A sinister bell of Alarm sprang through the core of my being as my eyes swayed towards… "Mephisto? What the hell are you doing? Although, I knew your bitch ass was alive. Who's going to kill a snake like you?"

Dismissing the subject of this idiot's death, I tilted my head. " Well? Why are you stopping this king from killing this man."

"You are still new to the Myriad Heavens, little disciple." He cheerfully said, his lazy eyes gently turning towards the old man. "Look carefully at his soul. Do you see that crest? The second someone tries to touch his soul, or he dies. His Soul Flame will return towards its master."

"And? It's not like I'm not a master at soul manipulation."

Mephisto laughed, " A master, you say? Zariel is a master." He told me, slapping my shoulders. "You are a master at killing. There is a difference. You bend and break while Zariels controls. You are way too young to deal with marked souls at this level. But it is… curious, isn't it? This forest?"

Annoyed, I folded my arms and glanced around. "It is. It almost seems alive… no, Alive isn't the word… it feels—"

"Sentient?" Mephisto said. "Well, you're not wrong. It's gaining awareness. We are currently standing in what may be a living creature one day."

A sense of awe sprang through me as my aura receded back into my soul. I allowed the light to pierce the veil of darkness. And a sense of regret suddenly overcame me. As I stared at the beautiful scene of what lay around me, enhanced by what Mephisto told me. Despite my age... I hadn't seen much. There was always someone trying to kill me, and I was always on business. I was constantly busy.

"I'm going to bring Lilith here. Tenebrae too. I'd forgotten how happier it is to be with another. That Infringement of Time really fucks with the head, doesn't it?" I muttered.

"I rarely use it. Once you get to our level… The Perception of Time becomes the greatest enemy. Although, in your case, I think you might welcome the Madness." He told me and squatted towards the sprawling mess of blood and organs that was the old man.

Practically all his bones and organs were nearly crushed into oblivion from my aura. He was on his last leg.

"Well, little boy," Mephisto said in a teasing voice. " Can you tell us about The Maiden?"