The Eternal Shadow, Zantar

"What do you mean you have to go?" Larisa howled, drawing a bit of distance from me. It was pretty shameless, and damn did I feel shameless after just promising never to leave. But Lilith's booty is to die for.

"I'm still in transition," I explained, trying my hardest to come up with some bullshit. "It's just a night or two. I was able to upgrade my blood. So Master has me come in every few days or so."

"And what about Nira? Where is she? Why isn't she with you?" She blatantly asked with a bit of suspicion.

God damn, how would Richter act in this situation? Would he be the clueless hero? Hmmm, let's try that.

"What does she have to do with this? She is with Master, of course. What else could it be?" I explained as she stared dead into my eyes, trying to find deceit.

Backstepping away, with a bit of impatientness, I shot her a wink. "I will definitely return. Wait for me, my dear." I said, flicking away from sight. Weaving through streets, dark alleys, and homes, a pure misty darkness wrapped over me as I teleported back to my manner.

I frowned, noticing that everyone was here, except Lilith and that strange boy I saw. Yet just as I began to use the connection we shared, my eyes flashed with that of another within my kingdom of Midgard.

"You there. I want him screaming. Strip this idiot of clothing, string him up with chains, and pierce his flesh with seven hooks. "Lilith coldly commanded towards a young maid within my palace walls. Tossing the young man in her arms down like a broken doll.

Licking my lips, I rushed from out of my room and into the guest room, activating the inscription Tang Feng drew for me. I swiftly teleported away without a second thought.

A foolish mistake on my part as I had entered this damn forest again. "Screw you, Tang Feng! Screw you!"

Forced to use my limited divinity once again, I was teleported via the darkness into my throne. Yet a faint disturbance rang in my head. Frowning, I turned towards the horizon where the moon hung in the night skies.

Narrowing my gaze, I hovered off the ground and flickered to the source—a few kilometers off the surface of Midgard, a towering gate releasing an unfamiliar yet familiar aura slithered in the air, chilling my heart.

There was an ancient air to the gate, yet the closer I got, the more my skin began to throb. Halting my movement in the air, I didn't dare get too close.

"Just my luck. Just when things were getting good."

Standing in the air, with the warm summers air press against my flesh, the gates of the door sprang open. Revealing a sinfully handsome man that held both an air of angelic grace and a devil's charisma.

Behind his back was a raw, untamed darkness, reflecting a pair of wings that shook my soul. The strange man smiled in a scarlet, black suit and approached, "It's an honor to meet your acquaintance, Lord Arsene."

Placing his right hand over his chest, he saluted me with a semi-bow, "I am Zantar, or as you know me, the Shadow." He said, yet I knew this bow was not meant for me, but instead Zariel.

There may be enemies, but it would seem my little brother put in a lot of work to have even the Fallen Angels frighten of him.

Bearing a sinister smile that didn't appear genuine, Zantar's footsteps came to a halt an arm's length away. Studying me, he smirked, "Your brother truly did an amazing job. Vancurro was an anomaly, but you, are his masterpiece."

"is that right," I responded, staring into the eyes of pure cardinal sin. Asmodeus was a monster, an embodiment of sin, but this man. This thing was something else. He was like me, carrying all the sins. Is this what a fallen is like?

"Will you match the power of a fallen? Or will you fall short?" he suddenly said, placing his hands behind his back; his eyes fell off into the distance and back to me.

"Why are you here?" I responded.

"So direct." Zantar expressed, with a cunning grin," For your assistance, of course. We wish for the death of the False God and for the Gates of Illuthath to once again open its gates. It has been lost to time since Master Zariel gained his position."

"And what of Vancurro? Where did he rise to power?"

"Oh? Haven't you figured it out? The Fallen before my eyes, eerily explained. "Vancurro rose to power in the Astral Sea. It was quite the sight to watch, but it's a shame he failed to unlock the gates of Illuthath." He said, Leaving out a few details. I was sure.

"We already know that the Horseman Gates are necessary; in fact, we feel that interfering would be a bit pointless as we have quite a bit of faith in you."

Snorting with a bit of mockery, I sneered, "Seems like we are spinning in circles at this point. Then why appear before me? Why?"

"For you, of course? From what we have seen, you were affected by Zariels insanity; you are not what you were once was. So why don't you help me kill him?"

"Eh?" Widening my eyes, disbelief filled my eyes, "what?"

"No matter what he has given you, Zariel will forever be ahead of you. His gifts are merely boons he crafted from his power, something none can match." Zantar explained. Lifting his hands, he played his cufflinks. That held a strange sigil.

"Why do you think I would care?"

Cracking a condescending smile, he bellowed in laughter, "Come now, Arsene? Do you really think you are special? You hold the Sin of Envy within you. It's their power that has allowed you to exist, their promises to Father, that Father gifts you a cultivation manual. You are nothing without Lord Zariel."

"If the one will not Side with me, then I will turn to the All." I softly sated as the skies turned black as night. Storming the starey skies, a spiral sword intent so profound, a faint barrier wrapped around Zantar as a blade red as blood appeared.

"Then he shall turn to me! If The One cannot help. Then I as the Abyss, the All, shall grant him whatever he wishes!"