All the monarchs of the seven sins turned their attention towards the location where Alex released the energy of the sky beings that shouldn't be within their realm. It disgusted them—especially the monarch of Pride, Lucifer.
Yet, what intrigued them was not how this lesser demon suddenly obtained the power of a high-ranked demon, nor was it how the Asura heir harnessed the power of the sky beings. It was what Alex said to them as they watched.
'...even if you tried, not even your senses will find me.'
How was this even possible?
No matter how hard the Monarchs tried to sense him, they couldn't. All they perceived was a hazy figure. They were supposed to be all-powerful, where nothing can escape their dominion of sin. Yet this supposed heir of an Asura and Fallen Angel could?
'That stench,' The monarch of wrath began calmly as half his body remained submerged in Lava, while his upper half was bare and visible. Broad shoulders and thick forearms flexed as he leaned back comfortably in the small pool of boiling liquid fire. Occasionally, scraping away at the cooled lava droplets that turned to tiny rocks off his bronze skin.
'It came from within your dominion, Lucifer.' The monarch of wrath narrowed his eyes. Irises burning a deep, molten orange.
'Oh, Bravoooo Asmodeus,' Lucifer rolled his golden eyes, sarcastically clapping his perfectly sculpted hands to no one in particular.
He sat nonchalantly on his throne, appearing impossibly symmetrical—every feature sculpted as if divinity lingered too long in his creation. Hair, a pale gold like platinum blonde, fell in loose waves past his shoulders—skin luminous but cold, like polished marble warmed by distant sunlight. Narcissus couldn't possibly compare to a being of his standard.
'Obviously, everyone else came to that conclusion. Do tell…did a tickle of pride slip into your wrath from that deduction?' Lucifer replied to Asmodeus using the telepathy the monarchs use to communicate with each other.
A technique possible when those who can form their own domain. When two or more domains overlapped, it was possible to communicate through thoughts alone.
'Pft Hahahahaa,' The Monarchess of Lust laughed through their thoughts, smooth like velvet that even the monarchs swoon when they hear it. 'Tickle of Pride? That's a good one, Luci.' She laughed again, causing her dark garnet-red eyes to shine brightly for just a moment. They were almond-shaped and framed with thick eyelashes. Naturally, staying rimmed in kohl to make them pop. If one weren't careful they would be lost in a daze, almost hypnotized.
Her skin was soft and smooth like moonlight over porcelain. Hair a deep, blood-wine red. In the dark, it blends into the night, but when kissed by sunlight, it blooms into crimson. It falls into thick, heavy waves past her waist, almost too lush to be natural. When she moves, it trails behind her as silk dragged through flame.
'Silence, Lilith!' Asmodeus roared, causing pillars of lava to erupt around him as he got angry at the sarcastic jabs made by Lucifer.
Asmodeus calmed down by taking a breath and continued speaking in a calm voice. 'I sense remnants of lust energy that isn't from any of the clans of your subordinates, Lilith, but a False Seraph. A fallen. One of your kind, Lucifer.'
'So? What of it?' Lucifer questioned unbothered.
'What of it?' Asmodeus repeated, annoyed, stepping out of the pool of Lava and equipping a set of clothes from the storage ring on his left hand. 'We know the child is in your domain, yet you do nothing, Lucifer.'
Lucifer scuffed before he replied 'Do nothing? You definitely lack smarts, Asmodeus. We all let our perceptions go and found nothing. Not even I, the strongest of you all, could perceive anything but a hazy veil surrounding the boy. So tell me then, what do you suggest?'
'Simple,' Asmodeus said as he shrugged, 'Let us kill all the False Seraphs. The Nocthyrion clan. Easy peasy.'
All the other Monarchs snapped their heads towards Asmodeus, shocked, but what happened next didn't surprise them.
'What did you say?' Lucifer questioned as his golden eyes grew bright and the sin of wrath began to emit from him with ease.
The sky darkened as Lucifer rose from his throne slowly and turned to face the direction of Wrath's domain. Cracks formed around Lucifer as his anger manifested into heavy gravity that seemed physical and warped the space around him like a black hole. If his angelic being was the bringer of light, it only made sense for him to become the devourer of light as a Fallen.
"Did you forget who I am? Did YOU forget that I led a rebellion against Hades, the previous sovereign of this realm? Did YOU forget that it was I who fought him head-to-head while you lot could barely handle high-ranked demons? HUH?!
I am the Crownless King of you Monarchs! You lot only exist cause I let you.
So if ANY of you dare step foot within my domain with the intent to eradicate MY SUBORDINATES…'
Lucifer sent his essence of pure killing intent that materialized into a physical shadow beside Asmodeus that finished the sentence with a demonic voice, "It'll be my pleasure in having death embrace you in eternal slumber."
The materialized shadow reached out and lightly touched the monarch of Wrath on the shoulder.
BOOM!
"Starting with you."
Asmodeus fell to his knees. Sweat formed on his forehead as his breath caught in his throat. Not because he was scared. It was because he tried to resist the gravity pressing on him, but still couldn't move.
"Under—understood…Lucifer." Asmodeus strained to get out.
"Good," the materialized shadow of killing intent responded before dissolving into the shadows.
'Anybody else plan on entering my domain without my permission!'
'No, Lucifer.' The other monarchs of sin replied. Belphegor, the monarch of Sloth, was the only one who remained silent as he decided to go back to sleep once Alex's presence disappeared from his senses.
'Hmph, fools,' Lucifer thought to himself as he released his pressure and sat back down on his throne still pissed, removing the pressure.
Mammon, the monarch of Greed, cleared his throat.
'How about we play along with the boys' game?' Mammon says, rubbing his hands together like a villain coming up with an evil plan. The sound of metal scraping against each other from the rings adorned on each finger.
Compared to the others, Mammon was always impeccably dressed—clothes tailored in black and gold. Hair was chestnut brown, so deep in darkness that it practically looked black at a glance, while his eyes shone a metallic amber.
'Why does the boy get to create a game? Why must we play his?' This time, the Monarchess of Envy, Leevyah, pitched in. Her envy was almost palpable in her voice.
Leevyah's figure was tall and slender, her frame long and fluid, as though her bones were shaped for water rather than land. Her skin carried the faintest undertone of sea-glass green, while her hair fell straight and dark down her back, emerald glints shimmering through it like scales beneath ink. Leevyah's eyes were her most unsettling feature—a vivid, unnatural green like something watching from beneath still water.
'Game? *crunch* Is there *crunch* food? *crunch* *crunch*. I do love a *gulp* gamey meal.'
This was, of course, Beelzebub, the Monarch of Gluttony. Always chowing down on a meal and never putting on the weight for as much he devours.
His skin is warm bronze, smooth and almost radiant, paired with thick black hair that catches faint iridescent green hints in the light. His dark amber eyes seem inviting at first, but linger too long, and hunger reveals itself beneath the warmth. His lips are full, often curved in an indulgent smile that shows just slightly sharpened teeth. He dresses in deep burgundy and gold, velvet and brocade clinging comfortably to his powerful form, smelling faintly of wine and overripe sweetness.
Mammon ignored the thoughts of Leevyah and Beelzebub as he continued his own thoughts.
'If you will allow, I do believe we can use the boys' so-called game to track him down. Sure, we already know he is within your domain and shares the Nocthyrion bloodline. However, even though we can't sense him, that doesn't mean we can't watch those he is surrounded by. And I might have the wildest of ideas heheheee. Shall I proceed, Lord Lucifer?' Mammon asks.
'I'm interested in this idea. You may proceed.' Lucifer says, giving his permission. He made a goblet appear, poured himself a cup of wine, and set the bottle down. Lucifer was intrigued and wanted to hear this plan.