Once again, we began, End was responsible for tending to the laws, while Izavith was tasked with protecting me in case End wasn't capable of regenerating the dead laws.

"Let us begin." End responded to the eerie silence.

Nodding with a sliver of sweat trailing down my brow, I stared at the golden shard shimmering in a deadly chaos that reminded me of the Abyss. I took a full minute to push down the trepidation within my soul and started once again.

All that was left of the remaining item End brought was put aside for my right eye. Right now… What is important is fusing the Abyssal Sin of Wrath and Pride. However, would that be enough?

No.

I needed to add Darkness. Aside from my fusion ability, I needed a balance to bind them together.

Opening my two palms, a rich evil overwhelmed my senses as an unfathomable energy coiled around my palm, stretching up my arm to my neck.

Ssssssss

I was reminded of the great serpent within Eden that caused the first Mortal Sin, but now a serpent's hiss was present, causing my skin to crawl with an uneasy sensation. It was sinister, without feeling.

But it wasn't just me who felt fear. I could see End and Izalith trembling. Their expression paled as they dared not look up.

Were they frightful of me? No. That can't be. Was something or someone watching me?

Wishing to lift my head, a gentle palm appeared in a flash of scarlet radiance, pushing my head down. "Don't Sene," Lilith warned softly, getting on one knee. Her cheeks were a deadly ashen as if she was on her last leg. She trembled: "Don't look. They won't harm you. I promise, but it doesn't mean you have the right to gaze upon them."

"...Who…"

"They are the beings that turned the Abyss into what it seems today: A Sea of Endless Chaos and Despair." She whispered. "They are… well, they are not what is important. Mind your manners and pride. You are in the presence of the Abyss's first creation. And they are curious. Continue your task."

When she rose back up, I could feel her gaze upon the skies, but she said nothing, only vanishing without a sound.

I gulped as my curiosity tugged at my soul while my pride stabbed at my rationality: I was Arsene. The man without equal. Was I really going to keep my head bowed? Was I—

Coughing up a mouthful of blood, I shuddered as my bones shattered into dust.

'They can read your mind to a certain extent. Watch yourself.' Lilith's cool voice resounded, "You fucking idiot.'

Wiping the blood away while using the ring of Breath to mend my injuries, I was at a hundred percent in a blink of an eye, but somehow the pain remained. Gnawing at my senses, I felt my blood run cold through my veins.

I sneered for a second and smiled when a peculiar thought flickered through my mind, only to fade as I sealed it away.

No one fucks with me.

Wielding the two sins, a radiant azure light shimmered like embers of light that swirled to life, gathering around my body and the two sins.

I began the fusion of Darkness that was my very body and the two sins when a cry of utter anguish sprang from my throat.

As if I had visited hell, I wailed as I felt each of my atoms disintegrate before my very eyes before appearing anew. The pain was so great and intense that my soul began to bleed a starry light that was my many souls fleeing my physical body. Only to be destroyed. Enhancing the pain, as I had to deal with not just the pain of fusion but the pain of losing part of my soul.

But I wasn't in control. Not in the way I liked. The moment the fusion began, I felt all my authority over my body died.

"END!!!!" I heard Izavith howl. But what she said next cut to black as everything flickered to Darkness. And back to light. The world continued to flicker as if I was in front of a broken Television.

I'd hoped that the pain would stop when I fainted, but there was no escape. No… even in this world of Darkness, the pain remained. But I was still left with some consciousness: And I still had two other powers to use.

Waiting for the light to return, I shouted once I emerged to the horrified expression of End and Izavith.

Unsure if I spoke with my soul or body, I shouted: "Jam the shard into my chest. Right, where my heart ought to be!" I quickly said as everything cut to black once again.

Hopeful those two Abyssals had followed my command, I activated my first ability to adapt, which originated from my Breath. Hopeful that such an ability would speed up the fusion, I bore the pain of the fusion of the two sins with my body. And made sure to prepare for the new addition to my physical body.

I had hoped that since the shard wasn't a part of my body, it wouldn't fuse immediately. Rather I wanted the shard added later to help my body reach the same resonance as the Golden Shard through adaptation. This way, the fusion would be easier and not as brutal as the fusion of the sins and Darkness.

When my vision returned, a horrid shout came my way: "Arsene, all the Shadow Fell fainted! Two-thirds have died!" End shouted, with Lilith by his side, leaning onto his shoulder with sweat trailing down her neck.

Behind her sat Ariel with a cold expression. It was one I never saw on her.

"Begin stage two," Lilith muttered, softly buckling at the knees.

"You mean three?" I said and looked up towards those unknown bastards.

If there was one thing I knew… it was how to piss people off.

"ARSENE!!!" Lilith howled when the skies turned into an abyss of utter chaos: Light died, as did the Darkness, leaving only an almighty pressure that reigned supreme alongside my laughter as it crashed into my body.

'GOT YA BITCH!!!!" I howled wildly, unlocking my previous thought.

Fusing the abysmal pressure into myself and everything else, I laughed, glaring up at the shadow of a smile I felt was beyond the realm of the Abyss.

'Don't… look… down… on my pride…Fuckers. I'm petty AF.'