Great Deadly Sins
Whoosh…
The wind whipped through my hair, as I plummeted down the massive structure.
Every second the ground got closer and closer, until I could even make out the individual goblins in the vast army below.
For a moment I even regretted leaping off the tower, but I quickly pushed that thought aside.
This was cool as hell!
『 Vanish 』
As the ground loomed just a couple dozen feet away from me, I disappeared, reappearing behind the nearest goblin and slicing through its neck with a clean, swift motion.
⌜Devourer⌝
❖ You've killed a Lv. 15 Goblin Swordsman…
» +3 Endurance
A system notification appeared in the corner of my vision, making me smile.
However, I didn't have time to dwell on its rewards…
Hundreds upon hundreds of crimson eyes locked on me.
'Curses…'
Momentary dread washed over me.
Even though I was confident in my abilities there were quite a lot of enemies surrounding me.
This was going to be difficult…
***
[ Somewhere far away ]
The room was dimly lit, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows across the aged stone walls.
An ancient wooden table stood at its center, surrounded by seven chairs which were occupied by a figure in each.
Each of the positions represented a different value or rather a great sin.
Seated at the head of the table was Pride, an imposing woman with an aura of superiority that was palpable even in the darkness.
The flickering candlelight highlighted the sharp contours of her regal attire, adorned with gold and precious gems.
Pride's gaze was cold and unwavering, her posture immaculate, exuding an air of absolute authority and confidence.
To Pride's immediate right sat Envy, a slender man wrapped in a deep green cloak that seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly light.
Envy's eyes glinted with a jealous intensity, constantly darting around the room, never settling.
His fingers, long and delicate, drummed incessantly on the table, as if counting the blessings of others that should have been his.
Across from Envy, Wrath's presence was almost tangible, a seething mass of barely contained fury. The figure was muscular and scarred, with fists clenched so tightly that the knuckles shone white in the dim light.
The air around Wrath seemed to crackle with anger, and his eyes burned with a ferocity that promised swift and brutal retribution.
Next to Wrath, Sloth reclined lazily, barely managing to keep her eyes open.
Her clothing was loose and rumpled, a stark contrast to the sharp attire of Pride and Envy.
Sloth's head lolled to one side, and every movement seemed to take an eternity, as if even the act of breathing was an unbearable effort.
Opposite Sloth, Greed hunched over the table, fingers adorned with countless rings, greedily caressing a small pile of gold coins and precious stones.
Greed's eyes were dark and hollow, fixated on the treasures before him.
His expression was one of perpetual hunger, a desire for more that could never be sated.
Beside Greed, Gluttony was a figure of immense girth, her body spilling over the edges of the chair.
Plates of food and goblets of wine surrounded Gluttony, and her hands were constantly in motion, shoveling morsels into her mouth.
Gluttony's eyes were glazed with indulgence, and her breath came in heavy, labored gasps.
Finally, to the left of Pride, Lust sat with an alluring grace that seemed to ensnare the senses.
Lust's clothing was revealing, designed to accentuate every curve and line of her body.
Her eyes smoldered with a seductive fire, and a knowing smile played on her lips.
These were the Demons of the Seven Deadly Sins, the natural enemies of all living things in the mortal realm.
"…"
Pride's gaze swept the room, her eyes settling on each of the other Sins before she began to speak.
Her voice was as cold and commanding as her presence.
"We have a situation that requires our immediate attention…"
She announced.
"One of the Sword Saints has begun moving towards the Shadowblight Empire."
The room fell silent, the gravity of her words sinking in. Envy's fingers stopped their drumming, and he leaned forward, eyes narrowed.
"Which one?"
He asked, his voice tinged with jealousy.
"The one known as the Shadow."
Pride replied, her tone laced with irritation.
"His presence has forced us to retreat a little to avoid drawing his ire."
Wrath let out a growl, his fists clenching tighter.
"Why should we fear one man? Let me handle him. I'll rip him apart!"
Pride shot Wrath a sharp look, silencing him.
"We cannot afford to be reckless. Shadow is no ordinary warrior. He is a Sword Saint, and we must tread carefully around him."
Greed's eyes flicked up from his pile of treasures.
"Retreating means abandoning our gains. I don't like it…"
He muttered, his voice a harsh whisper.
"None of us do!"
Pride snapped.
"But we have no choice. For now, we must avoid confrontation."
Lust leaned back in her chair, a sly smile playing on her lips.
She purred, pointing towards Wrath.
"Let that angry muscle-head fight him, and then we strike when he's vulnerable."
Sloth's head lolled to the side, her eyes half-closed.
"There's another matter…"
She drawled, her voice sluggish.
All of the eyes turned to her, some annoyed that she was changing the topic and some curious to see what the lazy Demon had to say.
"One of the Dark Magicians under my command has informed me that the stronghold near the port of the Shadowblight Empire has fallen."
Pride's eyebrows furrowed, and she clicked her tongue in frustration.
"Damn it. This is problematic. We cannot do anything about it yet, not with Shadow so close. We will have to delay the investigation."
Envy's eyes darted around the room, his jealousy palpable.
"So, we sit and do nothing?"
He spat, his voice dripping with bitterness.
"For now, yes."
Pride said firmly.
"We wait. We watch. And when the time is right, we will act. But not a moment before."
The room fell silent once more, each of the Sins lost in their thoughts.
All of them looked at each other menacingly, but none spoke.
It was obvious that none of the Great Sins liked each other.
They were just bound by a common goal.
Nothing else…
It was tense.