Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 316 Arsene Vs. Lilith I

Curious about what Mephisto could want from Reina, Altair could only scratch the back of his head, unable to conceive of anything he might need from her. He'd considered perhaps it was the Duke Lord of the Second Layer of Hell, but he renounced the idea, realizing that Mephisto did not necessarily need to go through Reina to speak to a Duke, much less a Prince or King of the Hell.

Mephisto was the Eight Monarch of the Nine set across the Nine Layers of Hell. He didn't need anyone's permission.

Altair sighed, peering towards the aimless skies. He had found himself meeting more and more monsters that couldn't fit in any one box. Was Mephisto an enemy? An ally? Perhaps both. He sighed again, pulling himself together before deciding to return to his cave.

In the light of dawn that began to crest the horizon, the stench of rot ensnared his being as a supple palm seized him by the throat, lifting him several inches off the surface of the Lake of Rot he appeared in.

Altair grimaced and pulled into this strange realm to see Azura's pretty face, cold as a white winter, glaring at him. Bounded by her iron grip, he didn't react or rather couldn't find his mana once more sealed beneath her will. He almost smiled as the Vale permeated his being.

Azura seemed to have noticed because her grip tightened. "Do I amuse you, boy?"

[Goddess of Rot, Azura has recognized your existence]

'What the?' Altair thought, trying not to react. The system shouldn't exist in this realm.

[Goddess of Rot, Azura has seen through you]

Before Altair could comprehend the System Messages, Azura's palm tightened, drawing blood as she spat, "Did I not warn you that you would be Defiled if you touched the Brand of Cain?" Her eyes were a strange bone-chilling blue, far in contrast to the scarlet they always held, radiating a baleful might.

"I've no idea what you're talking about." Altair strained, using the Vale to pronounce the words correctly with his windpipe about to be crushed. "I was in battle. I'm sure you were watching me. You know what happened."

Azura's grip tightened, threatening to snap his neck. "What energy are you using? How does it possess the Almighty?"

"Woman!" Altair squeezed out, clutching Azura's palm tightly, hoping to relive grip. It didn't. "I don't even know what Almighty is!"

"You expect me to believe that!"

"I don't care!" Altair roared, Vale Qi flaring.

Azura's brow lifted in astonishment, but her palm didn't lessen. The Lake of Rot was her domain, turned corporeal. Nothing could exist within it without her knowing. And yet, a strange wisp of energy had escaped her senses. She tried to grab it, but as her palm reached forward, the Vale Qi eluded her touch—another surprise.

"Impossible..." She looked at him, a flicker of recognition filling her azure eyes. "Y-Y-You truly Tenebrae's child. Blood of her Blood." Her lips etched upwards as she grinned. "Who is your—"

"So you were in this foul realm," a coldly cruel voice said, stunning the Goddess of Rot.

Azura's pupils shrank as a silver-haired woman appeared, clutching her palm that was holding Altair's throat.

"Lilith!" Azura questioned, her breath turning elongated.

Abyssal Qi flared, tearing asunder the presence of the Lake of Rot, forcing Azura to release Altair as she pivoted back on guard.

"How?" Azura said, Almighty Qi rising across her being. "How are you here?"

Lilith didn't look at Azura, gliding a palm across Altair's cheek with a tenderness neither of them expected.

Eroma paused, turning to Altair, his nephew. "Little Bro... You really have no idea, do you? Lilith is batshit crazy, especially when it comes to Arsene. And I mean crazy. She has placed a multimillion Hit on several of Arsene's concubines. Several of them almost succeeded. Discover exclusive content at empire

If Aynaet weren't a King of Hell, she'd be dead."

"Is... Is she that strong?" Altair asked, growing a little frightened.

"Yup. Lilith has no mercy when it comes to infidelity. Especially since she 'ordered' Tenebrae not to carry his child after they eloped. It was an order that came down from the highest order."

Altair frowned. His frown only deepened when he felt a strange restriction around his mind, holding back his state of 'knowing.'

'Was this too a part of Lilith's power?' He wondered.

"What are my chances of living?" Altair finally asked. He'd prepared himself for this day the moment Zero and he came up with the likelihood of Lilith capturing him. But unease still slithered down his spine.

"Enough talking to the prisoner." A cool voice came from out of the void as the Empress emerged like an apparition. A candid smile stretched across her face as she studied Altair Blackwood Snow.

She circled him, appraising him like a slab of sapphire. Behind her, Damaris tilted her head a little curious.

"He doesn't smell like Arsene. Nor does he have his blood."

"I'm not surprised. But it's definitely Sene's child. Look at him. The genetic constellation is definitely there." Said Lilith, her eyes glowing brighter.

"He's cute."

"Sene is cute. Of course, Sene's kids will be cute. Our own are both tens."

Damaris rolled her eyes. "My Grace, I think you're hallucinating again. I don't see it." She looked closer at the boy, tilting her head. "Are you sure he's an outer god, too? He seems..."

"I never said he was an outer god..." Lilith mused, finishing her appraisal. "He's a bit more than that. Isn't that right? Snow."

"I'm not a Snow," Altair said.

"Perhaps. But you are Arsene's Bastard, are you not."

Altair gritted his teeth but saw no more reason to lie. He nodded. "I am."

"Your mother... Is Tenebrae dead yet?"

Altair looked stunned. "How do you—"

"So not dead. Hmmm. Strange. Tenebrae should have died having broken my Command." Lilith mused, a cruel grin rising across her lips. "I did warn her."

"Huh? But doesn't Mithra have a kid? Why would Tene die having Altair?" Eroma asked, in the voice of Altiar frozen in place. "They're both Primordials."

"I-I-I don't understand." Altair stammered. He felt dizzy. Trapped in an endless fog. "What does mother dying have to do with breaking your command?"

Lilith smiled, nestling Altair's pale face in her small palm. "Everything, darling. It was the Abyss that gave her existence. She is the Night I wove to clothe myself. The only reason she possesses sentience is because the One granted her a soul. But it was I who gave her life, and I who took it away..."