The Eminence of a True Monarch of the Shadows

[Third Person's PoV] 

"Lucifer… I'm entrusting you with the most important task," Cid said, his tone serious and unwavering. "You won't be alone. Bellion will leave some of his men behind, but you are in charge. Do you understand?"

Lucifer knelt on one knee, his fist pressed firmly to the ground in a bow. "My Lord, I am deeply honored that you would trust someone like me with the safety of your young. I will not fail you. You have my word."

"I don't need your words. I need your actions." Cid let out a sigh, closing his eyes momentarily. "I'll set up precautionary measures, but you, Lucifer, will be the very last line of defense. You are my fastest soldier. If things go wrong, your priority is to take them away at your utmost speed. Do you understand?"

"You have no need to worry, my Lord. You will emerge victorious," Lucifer replied confidently, his voice resolute.

Cid gave a small nod before turning to walk toward his children. "You already have your orders," he said firmly as he approached them.

Celeste looked up at her father with watery eyes, while the twins clung to Alpha, crying softly, sensing the tense atmosphere. Cid knelt in front of Celeste, his expression softening as he gave her a gentle smile.

He reached out, brushing her cheek with his forefinger. "What's with the long face, princess?" he asked tenderly.

Celeste's lips trembled, tears streaming down her small face as she stretched her arms toward him. "Dwddy…" she whimpered, her voice fragile and filled with sorrow.

Cid leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers to establish their mental connection.

"I understand what's happening, you know…" Celeste said, her thoughts heavy with emotion. "You're going to war… War isn't good. I'm scared, Daddy. I don't want to lose you."

Her tears flowed freely now as she clung to him tightly, her small body trembling.

Cid ran a comforting hand through her hair. "Lose me? Oh, come now, silly," he said softly, his voice filled with warmth. "Do you know who your father is? I'm the strongest in the entire universe. This will be over before you even notice. You might blink, and I'll already be back. So how about sending me off with one of those killer smiles, huh?"

Celeste looked up at him, her face caught between a shaky pout and a fragile smile.

Cid chuckled, using his hand to gently wipe her tears away. "Good enough," he said.

Celeste sniffled before adding, "I know Mommy is going with you too… So, promise me you'll take care of her, okay? Make sure nothing bad happens to her." She held up her tiny pinky. "Pinky promise me."

Cid smiled, wrapping his much larger pinky around hers. "I promise, princess. And just to seal the deal…" He kissed his thumb.

Celeste giggled through her tears, imitating his action. "Sealed with a kiss," she said with a small laugh.

Her expression turned hopeful. "Can I talk to Mommy too? I… I want to say something to her."

Cid kissed the top of her head. "Of course, princess."

Gently, he carried Celeste to Aurora, who stood nearby, giving them space. Handing their daughter over, Cid stepped back and made his way toward Alpha, who looked as miserable as he felt about the parting.

Alpha was the first to hand her children to Lucifer. "You better take good care of them," she said coldly, her voice steady even as dry tears traced her cheeks.

Aurora followed shortly after, her demeanor just as cold but far sharper, exuding a dangerous edge. Placing her daughter in Lucifer's enormous hand, capable of cradling all three at once, she whispered with venomous precision, "Not. A. Single. Scratch."

Lucifer nodded solemnly, cradling the crying children. The twins reached out toward Alpha, their small hands trembling.

"Mama!!" they cried, their first words piercing the heavy air like a dagger.

Alpha gasped, covering her mouth to stifle her sobs. Her knees threatened to give way, and she leaned heavily on Cid, who wrapped a steadying arm around her shoulders. As they began to walk away, Cid's voice was low but firm. "You can turn back, you know. I kind of want you to… stay with them."

Before Alpha could respond, the twins' second words cut through the tension. "Dada!!" they shouted, their tiny voices cracking with desperation.

Cid closed his eyes, his jaw tightening as he fought to keep his composure.

Alpha shook her head, wiping her tears. Her gaze, filled with love and resolve, met Cid's. "Ever since we met, I've followed your every step, walking right behind you as you led the way. This won't be any different. I'll always be behind you, wherever you lead."

"Go join the others while I finish setting up the last precautions," Cid said, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead and then Aurora's.

Without another word, Alpha and Aurora sank into their shadows, disappearing from sight. Cid took a deep breath, his figure rising into the air before shooting upward, piercing the atmosphere until he reached the void of space.

Floating in the vast expanse, he stared at the green planet before him, its beauty contrasting with the weight of his mission. Closing his eyes, he slowly spread his arms wide.

A wave of darkness erupted from him, a cascade of shadows spreading outward with Cid as the epicenter. The stars dimmed, their light swallowed as his power consumed everything in its path. As the darkness extended to the edge of the solar system, Cid brought his hands closer together, his movements deliberate, his focus absolute.

The silence was deafening as he clasped his hands. When he opened them again, a miniature solar system swirled within his palms, its delicate twirl a testament to his mastery over darkness and shadow. He had encased the entire solar system within his shadows, safeguarding it in case things spiraled out of control.

Turning his gaze to the right, Cid narrowed his eyes. "He's unleashing his mana to summon me. His troops are in position, and he's ready for war. I underestimated how quickly he could mobilize… but it won't matter."

The shadows surrounding him retracted, swirling and wrapping around his body. They coiled tighter and tighter until, with a final pulse of energy, Cid vanished into the void. 

…

Cid slowly froze the ground beneath him in the heart of the Monarchs' realm. He stood tall, clad in his dark shadow armor, a seamless blend of his Shadow Garden attire and the ominous essence of his power.

His gaze rose to meet Antares, who floated high above, exuding authority. Behind Antares stretched a vast, terrifying legion—millions upon millions of monsters. Flying dragons, demonic beasts, and colossal giants that seemed to scrape the clouds formed an unstoppable force. The other three Monarchs perched atop high vantage points across the battlefield, silently observing the impending chaos.

"Ashborn…" Antares intoned coldly, his piercing eyes locked onto Cid, hands clasped behind his back.

"Antares…" Cid replied in equal measure, his tone frigid and steady. "I trust you appreciated my gift."

Antares extended a hand from behind his back. Though humanoid in form, it bore a charred blackness, pulsing faintly with sinister energy. "I must admit, I wasn't expecting such ingenuity from someone like you. It was… enlightening, to say the least," he remarked before tucking the hand away again.

"However," Antares continued, his sneer deepening, "I owe you my gratitude. Thanks to you, those meddlesome Rulers are no more. I'll repay your kindness—by taking your life."

Cid chuckled, the sound carrying a sinister edge. He had cleverly masked the energy signatures of the Rulers, fooling Antares and the other Monarchs into believing they were dead. His laughter also mocked Antares' threats. "That is," Cid replied smoothly, "if you can."

Antares wasted no time. He unleashed his [Dragon Fear], a crimson, oppressive force that erupted from his being. The aura materialized into the spectral figure of a massive dragon, its terrifying visage bearing down on Cid.

Unfazed, Cid retaliated with his [Conqueror's Haki]. A black, shadowy figure resembling Ashborn, clad in a dark flame-like crown, rose from Cid's aura. With a single stroke of its blade, the spectral king sliced the dragon's neck cleanly, severing its form.

The two oppressive forces clashed violently, battling for dominance. The air thickened with tension as dark clouds gathered, blotting out the light. Space itself began to quake and fracture, unable to bear the intensity of their powers. Lightning crackled across the battlefield, tearing through the skies.

As the chaos reached its zenith, both Cid and Antares withdrew their powers simultaneously.

Cid took a deep breath, his eyes closed, and exhaled with a commanding voice: "Arise. Come forth, my army. Come forth and serve once more."

His shadow expanded, spreading across the ground like a consuming abyss. From this sea of darkness, millions of Shadow Soldiers began to rise—creatures and warriors Cid had slain and absorbed over the past fifteen years.

But these weren't the only beings to emerge. From within the shadows, women clad in Shadow Garden uniforms also rose, their forms materializing like the dead rising from the grave. Among them were the Seven Deadly Sins, standing behind Cid with solemn expressions, and the Seven Virtues, whose angelic wings and radiant appearances radiated an aura of determination.

Claire, Beta, Delta, and Eta emerged as well, their transformed Monarch forms exuding overwhelming power.

Antares' expression twisted into fury as he roared, "KILL THEM ALL! RIP THEM LIMB FROM LIMB! I'LL DEAL WITH ASHBORN MYSELF!"

"Show no mercy," Cid ordered coldly.

Iron let out a booming war cry as he charged into the fray, leading the assault.

Beru screeched murderously, his voice echoing across the battlefield: "FOR OUR MONARCH!" With a powerful beat of his wings, he shot into the sky, heading straight for the enemy.

The Monarchs' army responded in kind. Dragons roared in unison, their deafening cries shaking the ground as they surged forward.

The two forces raced toward each other, unstoppable in their momentum. The clash was inevitable, and the battlefield trembled in anticipation of the carnage to come.