The Devil Decends

Peering up at the grey skies, clouded by the sheets of snow raining over Segriem, Zariel laid still over the icy ground. His face ashen, and his eyes unfocus from splitting a part of his soul.

Struggling to maintain bitter consciousness, he bit the tip of his tongue till the sweet taste of copper raced down his throat, staining the lining of his lips red; he growled. "Master, I need your help,' He remarked, unable to hide the shame within his heart. Never before had he needed to ask for help." I have no strength to enter Zyphis. I would not ask if the situation wasn't dire."

"You think she will not survive?" Sephtis questioned, already knowing the answer. He had been monitoring Aurelia's progress ever since she entered the Redwoods. "If I send you, you will be at risk. I cannot protect you if you encounter a Karmic Warrior."

"Dearil, will not attack me. My presence will be swift, and I do not plan on staying long. There are no rules stating that I cannot join this trial more than once or late, for that matter. I will stay only long enough to see Aurelia through this so call Tower of Sorrow." His majesty Zariel painfully informed, turning paler the longer he spoke, "Send me an Elixer of Soul Mending,"

Beyond the stars that governed the very Heavens, hidden by the laws of creation, laid a lonesome Lord resting grimly upon his mighty Silver Throne. He had long black hair that fell freely over his shoulders. His face was a bit boney, but there was an indescribable handsomeness, capable of attracting even the most guarded of souls. Narrowing his eye, that shone two different colors of a chaotic scarlet on his right and a tranquil azure on his left.

he released a heavy sigh, Sephtis, the New Lord of Order, rose from his mighty Eternal Throne and placed his hands behind his back. "Zariel, I hope you understand the nature of your existence; it is not just you at risk. The Fact that a Chaos Lord has remained indifferent till now is foreboding, but you must be aware that your power is, without a doubt, feared by all. I shall send with you my fourth champion and disciple, Eilin Fel. See that you watch your tongue around her. It was your sin that led to the extermination of her family."

Indifference washed over Zariel from down below. Lying above the snow slowly devouring his small stature, a glint of mockery crept its way into his heart. "Do what you think is best," He said, but his crass tone did not go unnoticed by the Lord of Order.

Nevertheless, Sephtis could not be bothered to correct his behavior. He had long excepted the cold young man's mannerism. However, he knew that Eilin wouldn't. Finding a foxy smile dripping with anticipation, the Lord of Order flicked his gold tip sleeve. Forcing the fabric of space to splinter above Zariels head, a spherical bottle filled with a mysterious milky white liquid swirling with various faces of men and women materialized.

"I shall watch over your body. However, I hope you know what you are doing." He said softly, watching as Zariel reached for the Elixer of Soul Mending, hovering over his head, popping the cork from off its head. The faint sounds of sorrow raced over the courtyard. Shaking the hearts of all those who had the misfortune of hearing its cries.

Ignoring the mournful howls echoing from the potion within his hand, Zariel did not hesitate to swallow the milky substance that held no taste or scent—sensing his very soul beginning to mend and heal. A warm glow slowly returned to the Young Lords' face; however, a look of relief did not appear upon his face as he rose to his feet.

Taking a huge breath, the sword held in his hand began to bleed a dark, almost sinful aura. Tainting the very snow, the color of coal, a pressure, so grave, and deprave raced from out his blade as it began to morph, shedding its original form—a thick black ooze slipped from the blade's edge and onto the snow. The heavy sounds of sizzling began to echo like ghastly howls turning the snow to ash. When a long ice-cold black Katana was revealed within Zariels hands, spanning about two and a half meters in length, a fiendish blade appeared.

"Severance," Zariel uttered the name of the second form of his blade. "Push comes to shove. I may jump all the way to the final ninth level," he revealed, cracking a deprave smile filled with bloodlust.

Drawing in a mighty breath, his fingers danced over his head as a sigil appeared between his brow. He closed his eyes as his soul left his body.

---

The winds had begun to pick up around the silent night of the Redwoods. Stirring the hearts of many, they peered up without exception through the scarlet leaves that reflected a crimson moon through their eyes.

Many did not know when it happened or how it occurred, but the faint sounds of laughter touched by the Hells sounded throughout this silent night. Tarnished by the deepest sin and broken beyond repair, the glow of the moon began to die as a set of silver eyes that glistened brighter than any star appeared from out of the blackened moon.

Striding out from the shadows of the moon of Zyphis. A silver glow raced over Zariel's body, lighting the Redwoods with a majestic radiance. A desolate silence so deafening overcame the very void, as none dared to move, much less thing.

Crackling with crazed demonic laughter, the Silver Devils' eyes shimmered with a bloodlust that withered the very trees. Seizing the heart of man and gods alike, he bore down upon the Redwoods and then up at those who dared to watch from lands far away.

His laughter ceased, and a thin smile touched his lips. He could feel it, even taste the bitter vengeance, the hatred beginning to seep over the Realm of Zyphis. Yet none dared to speak. None dared to move as they stood locked, unable to believe their eyes.

'He has returned!' They thought without exception.

Tightening his grip around Severance, he glanced down over this still, hollow night and spoke.

"I, Zariel Snow, have returned."