Basking over the blackened stone ground, carrying the heavy scent of blood. Demonic qi whisked through the air, clawing at all signs of life.

  "I need a promise, Arsene." Idun coldly informed. "A promise you will not subject this land to Hell any more than you have."

  "Or what?" I said softly, not a bit intimidated.

  "I kill you." She claimed, as I chuckled, having heard such things before.

  "The Goddess of Innocence is baring her fangs. How interesting, you would show me them, but not Thor. The father of his two sons who hunted your daughter to have a taste." I deliberately said, enjoying the glint of anguish.

  Snickering at the deadly silence, I pushed towards where the altar once was, now only a flat, barren wasteland.

  "Then there is what Thor did to you and many more. Did you ever get your memories of what happened? I saw everything in Sif's broken heart. The drug wiped the memories, but I am sure a god like you could easily gain them back."

  Idun turned away, with disgust gripping her shadow as she shuttered, "When I learned of what Sif did. I-I I got them back." She said with a broken heart. "But that is why I will not allow you to summon these demons upon our land, in our domain."

  "But Thor still lives, does he not? I am sure his conquest has not slowed. Tell me, why allow him to live? You would stop me, but not him?" I cruelly questioned, peering deep into that broken heart she held.

  I could hear her pleas to Thor, her cries for mercy, and the memory of a husband. I could see it all as she cried his name, over and over wishing it to be over. She had remembered everything, his sour breath that burned against her skin, the taste of the chilling air, even the moon that only served as lighting to show her sin. To display the day she broke.

  Losing her commanding aura. Idun's eyes bled with tears. "I…… I forgive him, but I am not strong enough. I am not strong enough, and I can't tell them. I can't tell them all he did to me!"

  Releasing a breath of air, Idun picked her gaze from off the ground and turned to me, "but I can stop you. I will not turn my home into hell."

  "But I will open this gate beneath my feet, and you little Idun will do nothing." I coldly said, somewhat impressed by the little woman. Sure I could break her now, it would be easy, but she could prove helpful down the line.

  I would be a fool not to see that I have been losing a bit of control; Idun can help me. Although I may have to get a taste myself, such a pure maiden, even after what she experiences, she still stands by her divinity—not allowing it to be tainted like her daughter.

  Opening her hand, an azure vine rose before weaving into a marvelous rapier filling this grim domain of darkness and death with life and hope. Shimmering over the night, the fairy gaze grew determined.

  "The Demons and Devils will not harm this land, Idun. And think before you attack, what do you think would happen if Asmodeus or Baphomet were to learn of my death? Much less Lilith? Raising Midgard to the ground would be the least of your concerns. He allowed me to take Sitri, a prince of hell soul. It should be obvious we are in league together."

  Shaking my head, I toyed with the hair near my ears and smirked, watching the pale glow flash across her cute cheeks.

  Gulping hard, the divinity around her began to wither, "Y-You will not summon them?"

  "Oh, I am going to summon them, but this pantheon is off-limits; the same can be said for all my other territories. Who the hell wants demons to destroy the hope I offer? I need people to believe and worship me. Just as they do in Midgard."

  "All demons and Devils that exit this Gate are forced to sign away their rights to Lilith and me. Why do you think that none of them really went on a rampage when the demons were upon this land?"

  "Then you must not have heard what your grandfather had your demons do? How much blood fell in Svartálfar? How many dwarves, elves, and many more are dead?"

  Shrugging my shoulders, I rolled my eyes, "Yet another reason you couldn't kill me. My demons are always watching, although I loath the fact of asking for help. Look, Idun, I am not asking your permission; the fact I still have you alive is my pride speaking. You are useful, and I want all the Nine realms under my control."

  "Blood is going to fall, and it will not be long before it's the Asgardians who will be begging me to stop. Nevertheless, I don't plan on summoning normal demons and Devils. I need a top-grade army, not mindless drones." I cooly said, biting the tip of my finger to draw blood with a smile.

  Letting it rain over the ground, the blackened stones beneath my feet suddenly grew hot, gaining a scarlet hue. Yet as the demonic Qi began to stir, a small crest appeared, carrying an unknown type of energy I had never felt before.

  It held an ethereal azure glow that seemed to devour the rising demonic Qi. Narrowing my eyes, Idun whispered, "Soloman."

  "The man who appeared without warning, whose intention I cannot understand. It does beg the question, what is your relationship with him?" I asked with a half-smile, not bothering trying to destroy the crest just at the tip of my fingers. At least not yet.

  Idun approached and shook her head, "No relationship, but who had not heard of the man, to survive Asmodeus's scheme. From what I had heard, he was able to trick the Great Overlord, but it came at a great price."

  "It always does," I added, taking hold of the chest that seemed to breathe a foreign divinity. Smiling, a trace of my divinity touched upon it.

  Shooting a touch of darkness through its azure glow. A great profoundness withered the crest of Soloman away. Devouring away its life, a faint voice echoed.

  "Till the stars align, and the Abyssal War washes the stars. We shall meet and upon that day, the final day…… Till then, show me the Power of Noctem, Arsene Snow."