Zax - The Return

The city was burning. Screams followed by the shelling of explosions seemed the norm, as men after men charged toward Arsene with tears pouring from their eyes. Trying to hold back the demon from slaughtering everyone, going as far as to pull soldiers from around the fortress to subdue him.

But from out of a nightmare, Arsene's mental state seemed only to deteriorate as he began to slip back and forth between consciousness. The bloodlust was going to fade soon, but I might be wrong. My Lord has taken the power of Abyss and Hell; even while unconscious, his battle prowess should return to what it once was, if not soar to greater heights.

"Well?!"

"Well?!"

"Well?!"

"Well?!"

Arsene froze, lifting his head, gnawing on the bloody bones of an Overworlder; he twisted as though he were an owl to look at the four humans smiling back at him. Their bodies were clean, their expression sincere, but I could feel the mark of the Badlands imprinted on their souls.

Standing shoulder to shoulder, a hint of surprise seemed to wash over me as I could feel the silver-headed one gripping a silvery scythe, with the crest of a clock at the cross rodes between the pole-arm and blade.

A Time Lord. This one seems dangerous. He's infinitely close to the Realm of Paragon.

"A Beast of Beast," the scythe carrier casually remarked, pulling out a cigar from his pouch. He lit it with his fingers and smiled. "I'd not seen such a thing in a while. Feasting on these things can't bode well for your digestive system."

"That can't be what you're worried about?" Another with spiky blonde hair and caramel skin pointed out.

"You're such a prude, Yerevan." The Time Lord said as his gaze bounced from one body to the next. "You guys gather some exp; I'll handle him."

"You sure, Iserth?" Yerevan asked, seemingly aware of something dangerous about Arsene.

"The boss has this," A pale-skinned woman with a vicious scar taking up the greater side of her face added in. She carried a sword and shield with an azure blue eye tainted with scarlet light. She would have been quite the beauty if not for that ghastly scar. One would need a bag or fall under a great spell to hit that."

"Rose is right," Iserth said, turning to the last man I'd not recognize, " you guys have fun. I'll deal with this beast."

"G-O-D!" Arsene startlingly corrected, making me jump in surprise, whipping the blood off his lips. He looked down at his hands stained with blood.

Impossible!

"So he speaks!"

"This doesn't seem like Iluthath. Wait, how am I alive?"

That tone?! His mannerism. Is this Arsene before he died? The hell is going on in Arsene's soul to allow him to return. That shouldn't be possible.

"Iluthath?" Iserth muttered. "I don't know what foolishness you speak of, but prepare yourself. A cannibalistic bastard like you needs to be put down."

Arsene lifted his eyes, surveyed the red ocean, and frowned, " I'd like some answers, but I guess a battle is more than welcome. You don't seem to be a Blood Lord or a Chaos Lord, and from your stench, you are definitely from the Badlands. However, it doesn't seem fair. What is a God doing fighting an immortal?"

Iserth brow jumped," My friend, you seem to be from a different era."

Arsene frowned and glanced down at the Spear of Noctem. "I see. But I guess that doesn't matter. A deal is still a deal, isn't that right, Mephisto?"

A deadly cold chill rippled through my heart as I staggered back, watching the layers of space quake under the pressure of a great Lord. And the laughter of the Great Serpents echoed, steering the souls of Angels and Devils alike.

"What an unexpected surprise; welcome back, my boy." Lord Mephistopheles sinful voice, filled with his usual playfulness, sounded like a glorious spring of nectar. " It has been too long, but a contract is still a contract. You will have my blessing, at least for now."

The old Arsene made a deal with Lord Mephistopheles, by the Hells!

"Shall we begin then?" Arsene questioned, and from the skies, an emerald bolt of necrotic qi crackled, shattering and erupting like stars.

Fear took hold in my feet, and at that moment, I felt something aking to a snake tighten around my throat.

"Baels little pet and My brother's whore working as one." Lord Mephistopheles said, reaching into my ear, "you'd better hope this change is not permanent and fades before Zariel barges into my home. That bastard knows nothing of my deal with his brother. And I'll like to keep it that way. The dead should stay dead."

"Y-Yes, my Lord." I staggered to say, falling to my knees.

"I'm sure you have questions regarding our deal, but it's not for you to know. And if my brother's whore asks, tell her nothing. I want her to sweat."

"But I don't know anything."

"Then you can play your part even better." He said, and his presence vanished, leaving me covered in a heavy sweat.

Damn It! My Queen is sure to torture me.

Picking myself off the marble floors, the bitterness of brimstone stung the tip of my tongue. Shifting my gaze back to Arsene, when all of a sudden, a roar I felt come past the Thirty-Three heavens and beyond bellowed.

"MEPHISTO!!"

Filled with the madness of the Hells, I knew the Silver Devil was furious.

"AHAH, so my little bro is alive. That's good." Arsene sang, "Seems everything went somewhat as planned." He stared at Iserth with a large smile I'd never thought I would see on Arsene before. 'This form might be temporary as it seems the other me is the one governing it, but one last battle is more than welcome. Prepare yourself—"

"It's Iserth Ardel," he said, sending his scythe back into his soul and creating one out of Qi.

"Well, I am Arsene Snow of House Lazarus." He said as arcs of necrotic lightning flickered off his body. He smiled as his eyes turned from a scarlet to deep gold like they once were. Seraphic qi flickered about, and the wings upon his back became a mixture of heaven and hell. Carrying properties from the Fallen, his feet hovered off the ground.

The Time Lord's eyes widened, and he smiled, readying himself, "It's an honor."