The world spun into webs, twisting into shapes that slowly spelled the words, the technique Mephisto imparted within my soul.
"Infringement of Time"
A cool chill sooned followed by the scarlet lettering within my Mind's Eye as a seemingly endless influx of knowledge fell like rain upon my soul.
"Become a Chaos Lord soon. And never speak of this technique unless you are with Tenebrae or Abyss." Mephisto said, dissipating into nothingness the moment my eyes regained focus. He was gone.
This Technique… Amazing. How in the Nine Hells?
"Sene? You alright?" Lilith muttered, drawing near with a worried look. "You look pale."
Infringement of Time… A heaven-defying technique that creates an Astral Realm within the soul by shattering laws governing this realm of reality. This monstrous technique allows me to create perfect clones from any time in history. All I need is a name, a time, and an image. And I infringe on the timeline.
"Holy shit! Holy Shit. Holy Shit!" I replied over and over for a good ten minutes before awareness kicked in. "Lilith…"
"I guess this vacation is over then." She moaned, halfheartedly grimacing as the earlier excitement dimmed. "Oh! Sorry, Sene. I didn't mean to put you down. You know I care if you get stronger… It just seems every time we are alone. Something happens. First Metatron, then Mephisto, now this Mysterious Technique."
She sighed, but before she could speak, I flicked her nose. "Silly, you forget I, too, have a Hive Mind. And while most of my soul is occupied by the Five Higher Tier Soul Flames, I have a few million that can train Mephisto, and Zariels technique, which I think was made for an Infringement God.
There were quite a few warnings with this Technique regarding the length of time, the ability of the opponent, and more that could lead to me permanently crippling my soul if I got greedy. Calling any of the Sovereign lords into this Astral Realm I make would result in my spiritual death and the crippling of my soul. But in this realm, time didn't exist. I was free from time itself and could train indefinitely.
Infringement of Time was the perfect training tool. Not only could I create clones of my opponents I could potentially strengthen them based on my wishes. I could run various operations based on anything I wanted: Attacking an entire planet, winning political favor, I could do anything.
Although, this technique would be annoying to use with my Hive Mind since knowledge couldn't be transferred constantly. Rather, it had to be taken in intervals due to time not existing within the dynamic of this spell.
I smiled, lifting the little lass off her feet, when I noticed a sigh escape her lips. One of frustration and dismay. "So that's what he meant about a challenger."
Startle, a bolt resounded through my mind. I paused, raising my palm. A Holocube appeared and activated, revealing Tenebrae's dark expression.
"We've got a problem."
"What did I tell you, Sene." Lilith began, neither furious nor sad. But disappointed. Which somehow made me feel worse. Fuck. I miss the days we were just wandering through Midgard.
"What is it," I asked, feeling I already knew the answer.
Tenebrae hesitated for a moment. Placing her palm over her cheek, she stared. "You have a challenger from the Higher Realm. He's a Mortal Grade like you but significantly stronger."
"And why should I accept this Challenge?" I couldn't help but ask, not seeing the benefits.
Lilith snickered. "Please. You're so prideful. Do you think someone stronger than you would matter? And to put things into better perspective, that challenger probably holds some grudge towards your family. Your brother is kind of a monster."
I snorted, "Of course he is! I raised that little shit right." I agreed, flickering into the darkness with Lilith by my side. We transverse the cosmos arriving in Nocturne in less than a second. A tinge of anger suddenly sparked through my eyes.
Tene said he was significantly stronger. I wonder…
Pausing for but a moment sensing the aura of Oblivion swarming the night, dishonoring my home. The tips of my lips curled up the moment we materialized within the palace.
"Hey, Sene," Lilith said, stepping to the side. She looked me over. "Rankers aren't easy foes. Most are Paragon, and around seven percent are Chaos Lords. If you fight, use everything. Zariels Weave, Mephisto Black Sabbith, my Path of Abyssal Night. Use it all if you kill him. You can say with absolute certainty you can kill Zantar."
"What are the rankers?" I coldly questioned, heading for my throne. But not before dawning some light armor. Nothing heavy, but enough that it could tank me hitting a few planets without knocking the wind out of me.
"Think of the 33 Heavens as a tower of sorts. The higher you go, the stronger you get. Rankers are… they are people who dare to challenge people like you. People with bloodlines that defy the heavens. They are those that challenge The Devils, The Demons, the Angels, the Forsaken, and the Fallen."
Coldness swayed over my heart, and as I stared at the doors leading to my throne. I pushed them open, my icy gaze locking onto Tene as I took Lilith's words. She smiled, rising from our throne.
"My King." She welcomed me.
"Empress of the Night," I replied, my eyes swaying left to right, searching for the bastard shrouding my realm with his foul aura.
"Has Lilith already spoken to you of the Rankers?"
I nodded.
"Good." She vibrantly said. " Then… you are aware how disrespectful he is being?"
"I am," I told her, feeling her rage from where I stood.
The thinly veil smile over Tenebrae's tender lips dipped into something sinister. "Do not hold back, Sene."
"ARSENE!!! SNOW!!!!!" Came an overwhelming might bellowing towards the night.
So my brother's enemies are finally showing themselves.
"Rankers, huh?" I sneered, flashing out of my castle into the encompassing night. A dreadful coldness radiated from my soul as Noctem blazed into creation; smelting with divine might, my fingers came clamping down upon my spear, and my realm shook.
Stars dimmed and faded under an overwhelming terror of Noctem and myself. I did something I never thought I'd do out of fear of breaking the One's Laws. I fused Pride into Noctem, drawing out every ounce of power. Sheer unyielding Qi shredded the flesh off my arm, yet it did not bleed as darkness covered my injuries.
I stared at my opponent, a tall man with the bearing of a king. His jet black hair hung to his back while he carried a peer of golden phoenix-like eyes. A smile branded his face, contorting his otherwise handsome expression into something hideous.
"I-found-You," He seethed out, bellowing in a crackled of laughter.