Racing through the streets, consumed with panic. My sights remained focused upon the mission at hand.

  Leaving a couple of blood smears around the city. The stars rose within the amber skies, and the sun fell from the horizon.

  "What is the point of this Arsene?" A cold, almost deviant voice uttered, In my ear. Not needing to turn to know the Snake was speaking, I continued on.

  "Loki, is this about our meeting?"

  "It was, but you seem to like to play with fire, Arsene. Why involve the King and Shadow?" Pressing his arms upon my shoulder, I came to a halt. Shifting my attention to Loki, I frowned as he released my shoulder, defensively arching them.

  Scanning my surroundings, Loki shook his head, "It's safe. Not even an elder god will know where you are." He promised, somewhat surprising me. I could not sense anything, and there seemed to be a few people around casually walking by.

  "Would you feel better in a bar instead of a dark alley? I would have thought you would have preferred alleys."

  "I do. They bring back a sense of nostalgia. " Recalling a few victims, I chuckled silently.

  Stepping towards the blood smear, he smiled, "This is confusing, Arsene. It's strange. NOt even the Shadow and King know what they mean. You don't mind telling your audience, do you?"

  I smiled, having nothing but amusement for Loki, "They are a trap and an escape; the true power lies not in the blood but the marking. Once its mark, it doesn't matter if one destroys it or not."

  Pulling closer to inspect, the blood smears further. Loki's finger passed over my wet blood; taking a lick, he turned to me, "But that is why we are confused."

  "We or you?"

  "We," He replied with a stare that shook my heart.

  Were they watching me now? Is this the meeting? Loki never had such a profoundness to him. He was laid back and mischievous. If he were solemn, it would not be for something like this.

  "What do you think a cultivator's greatest weakness is?" I asked, causing a frown to rise.

  "Willpower." He stated it to be a fact.

  "Pride." I countered. "It matters not what your race is; somewhere along the line, you will feel a sense of pride. I never read the bible, but isn't that how Lucifer fell? He thought he could do better? Although in his case, all the Seven sins were in effect with him."

  "Is there a point to this?"

  "To reach Godhood, I need to reach Midgard and claim it as my territory. Something I know will cause a great disturbance." I said, casting a heavy look towards the skies. "I am doing the same with Casia."

  "Impossible! to claim a territory, you need the loyalty of man. You need them to worship."

  "Or fear you," I said, feeling my own wickedness chilling my bones. "Let them fear me so much all the discussion will be about me. Who hasn't heard of me, Loki? Even with the Ring of Babalon upon my finger, my name rings like a fucking siren in this city."

  "Today, I summoned an Arch-Angel. You felt her power; you felt that burning judgment from her blade. Was it not me, a heartless monster without a sense of remorse, I may have fallen to my knees and prayed like I am sure many did."

  "So this was all your plan?"

  "Of course not. This was but the aftermath. You know there was a saying that has been ringing in my mind. I think it was said by someone named Zero, or maybe Zariel said it; who knows. But it went like so, 'In their despair, they shall hope, in their victory, they shall fall, in their success, we shall rise.'

  There was a faint shutter through Loki at my brother's name, but he hid it well, but his pupils shrunk to a fine tip.

  "Whatever I do, I will always make sure I gain benefit."

  Taking a step back, he turned to the skies, letting the salty air press against his face, carrying his hair with it. "The blood smears are just indications that you have been here. It's based upon the size of this city; you need about two thousand, correct?"

  Clapping my hands together, I chuckled, "But of course, I am a little more than halfway done. I needed it to be random, so I couldn't just stay in one district. I needed a bit of variety in my little adventure.

  "The gods that have claimed their own land and residents will not be happy." He remarked, but that was where the fear happens, and why I will only make this city my territory during the wedding where everything will happen all at once.

  "And what of Lilith?" He asked as I grew a bit surprised and suspicious.

  "I have no idea. That woman is a mystery when it comes to cultivation." I answered, "Although it is a shame, you are not here with the Shadow and King."

  Arching his lips, Loki chuckled, "why is that?"

  "Well, you may never find out, Snake," I said, throwing out some bait to actually have a meeting where I can see my enemy. I needed to at least see them, get a grasp of their aura or emotions."

  Slipping out from the alleyway with Loki trailing behind, I could not help but smile at the irritation present as the day upon his face.

  Sure they could come out and say there are here, but as I said before, the greatest weakness of cultivators is pride.

  "Before we call it a day, Loki. Tell me what the goal of the Shadow and King is."

  Pausing his step, I turned back to Loki's grim expression, "To open the gates of Illutath, of course."

  "Then I hope for a true meeting then, and not one where they hide behind you." I fired off, consuming myself into the world of darkness I left, entering the second layer of the shadow realm.

  Pushing through the endless river of darkness vaster than the entirety of the Bed of Chaos, a sense of comfort could not help but warm my soul.

  It was not long before my gaze fell upon others who were within this darkness.

  "Aegis, don't you think it's time we make a deal? A devil's deal, that is?"