An intense vibration shook the hill and echoed throughout the capital. The sound of an engine could be heard in the distance. Suddenly, beams of purple light began to form on the Genesis, starting from the base and stretching to the top. The light seemed to emanate an extraordinary power, which was felt throughout the area.
The weapon fired a massive beam of light towards the Rift. The beam was so colossal that it illuminated the entire area. It only took a few seconds before the beam reached the vortex, colliding with the surrounding energy, and spreading out like water on tile.
Gradually, the Rift was covered by light. The process was quick, but the sheer size of the vortex made it seem like it took forever. The energy surrounding the vortex seemed to be getting weaker and weaker.
In the building, Dora was in a tank filled with a greenish liquid.
Several devices to allow him to breathe and measure his physical activity were connected to him.
In front of the tank, Agiel, Gloria, Eryl, and nine Holy Knights were watching.
Some scientists activated a mechanism in another room, and little by little, the greenish liquid turned red, then orange.
"And you're saying that'll be enough? Nothing more? Just bathing inside?" asked Gloria.
"Yes, this small operation was prepared as an emergency for this specific situation. According to Eryl's report, greed can absorb any type of energy and increase its level. The property of this substance is to replicate the energy particles present in the blood drops, so like I said, you only used one drop of your blood, but this tank is filled with your energy."
Agiel explained, with a satisfied expression.
"The premise is simple: Greed is currently divided into two beings, regardless of who is in control: the Sin and the Avatar. The Avatar can awaken at any time, but we are talking about the Sin of Greed, he would never let such rich energy to waste. Little by little, it will absorb all the energy particles and increase in power."
One of the holy knights, a boy with short blue hair was nodding.
"Can this really increase his power? I don't doubt the power of the Queen's blood but is it comparable to soul stones?"
"Not only comparable, but even better, for now. The Queen's blood is filled with a variety and quantity of energy beyond our imagination, stronger than what Candace fed him with."
"Hm? Stronger than souls stones?"
"... What I mean is, let's just talk about basics. There is a rule for emissaries to never try to assimilate soul stones beyond their level. If an E-rank absorbs a soul stone from an A-rank Rift, for example, the difference in power will parasite him. His body will convert the soul stone, but since the power is immense, it will block his power until the stone is consumed. This is why Candace doesn't just create S-rank Rifts... but now the particles surrounding Greed are beyond S-Rank, plus, the energy has the signature of an Avatar."
"Like the black crystals in the undead Rift..." Eryl whispered.
"Exactly, this is literally an overdose of energy that we've created, but Greed's natural ability is the absorption of energy, so we can only hope that he won't take days to be at his breakthrough point. Until then, we can only rely on the Genesis."
They watched the tank with various feelings. Some worried about the capability of the genesis to block a Rift of that size, others about the concept of feeding a Sin with greater power, knowing that his last action was an attempt to attack the Queen.
Eryl, on that second side, was thoughtful.
(... A Sin on the level of the Queen shouldn't be raised this way... This is too dangerous, Candace wasn't wrong to try to restrict him.)
The Queen groaned and turned to look at the Rift in the screen.
"If this keeps that way, maybe I should go too with him. I don't feel like leaving him all by himself in that Rift, there's always a possibility that he kills and absorbs anything coming from there."
***
Meanwhile, farther away, the nobles woke up in a train station.
They stood up difficultly, wondering what had happened, and noticed Elizabeth, Candace, and Peters.
"... Peet?" Mercy murmured.
Peters raised his head and gave her a remorseful look.
They came closer, troubled by the defeated eyes of Elizabeth and the dean.
"What's going on?... What happened?..." Iris asked looking around. Next to her, Zuri shuddered.
"Where... Where's Dora? And Midgard?"
The three lowered their heads, a reaction unmissable for Freya.
"Alright, what's happening there? Elizabeth? Dean? What happened to Dora? Where are we?!"
"Greed... is alive." Peters broke the silence.
The group looked at him confused. Was Dora alive? What a terrible way to not say that he wasn't getting massacred.
Zuri rushed to him and shook him by the arms.
"Alive? What alive? Where is he?! Where's Midgard? Tell us what happened!"
Mercy joined her, both giving a hard time to Peters.
"The Queen, What did she do? Why are ya silent?!"
"Listen, please... This is going to be complicated." He turned to Elizabeth and Candace as if pleading for help.
Elizabeth gave him a look of despise and sighed.
"They're pretending that the Sin was in control of Dora, so they've captured him. Since the Queen tried to kill Midgard, Dora sent her... made her disappear. This guy right here did a great job in knocking him down."
"Ugh!... you don't need to..." he noticed Mercy's eyes filled with incomprehension and looked away.
"Listen... I understand what you all feel... This guy was surely a good pal, but there were two problems with him, and problems like big enough to not ignore them. We trusted him because we believed that the Sin couldn't manifest at will... But if this thing managed to take over the body just like this, voluntarily or by anger, it means that there was a literal walking bomb among us."
"... What are ya blabbing about? Dora is a nice guy! Ya know nothin' about him! How could you..."
"The same nice guy who has cut one dude's fingers because he touched him? The guy who destroyed the life of an idiot student and claimed to let him enjoy a life of misery?"
"That... That was only because they... They..."
"Mercy please, don't say that they provoked him. That's even worse because it screams like an excuse to kill!"
Mercy clenched her fists, trembling.
Peters facepalmed and looked at all of them, by their burning gaze, he knew that talking would lead to nothing.
"... Look, even if you have your convictions the Queen deemed him a threat. Everyone is on your side, we, the Holy knights, this man Agiel. We might have acted horribly, but if the Queen had taken all the initiatives by herself, there would be a dead body among you!"
"Yeah, of course." Candace laughed. "Imbecile, stupid, freaking... Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!... everyone is weak?... I asked to train everyone, everyone! But she was the one who refused... she wanted her so-called personal knights to be the strongest... She keeps insulting me, but she still wants to use me... imbecile... imbecile..." tears of rage beaded in her eyes. Elizabeth put a hand on her shoulders with a comforting smile.
"... I had a great plan... Ely, I knew Dora wasn't ready, but I had an idea... Midgard said that Players are incomplete without Avatar, so they are definitely stronger... This imbecile Queen, Envy and Pride..."
Peters flinched and looked at her with astonishment.
"If we could make them join forces just for this... just this Rift, we would have a chance... if we fail everyone will die... I'm sure at least one of them will want to prevent that..."
Her tears became uncontrollable and she let her little body collapse into the arms of Elizabeth who had stooped down.
"I was wrong... I was so wrong... even if it's because of his nature, at least Dora... No what am I saying? You saw his family? He's not just doing this for the power... he cares about them, he is ready to fight for them... he is the only one who understands... You were right again, Ely, maybe I was just projecting my hate for this idiot onto him..."
Elizabeth hugged her. Peter sighed, giving them enough time for the dean to properly expel her frustration.
"I think it was actually better to not be able to say it. The Queen is easy to anger today and very unpredictable. Just because you talked about restricting Greed she took a terrible decision. You were all unconscious but the Queen first ordered to send you all in the Rift just like that... you already know how this world works, you know the weight of her words... Mercy I tried anything to keep you away from me just so you won't have to deal with her!... And you still managed to find another one just like her."
Mercy squeezed her arm, looking aside.
"No one follows this Queen because we want to, but we know what she's capable of... Agiel found a way to save you all from being sent there, but it came at the cost of sacrificing Anesidora and his Player."
They stayed silent for a bit, looking at each other.
Cid, the only one unaware of the secret of the Avatars was completely lost but did his best to listen more than talk.
Elizabeth laughed ironically too, eyes fixed on the bottom.
"So basically the plan is that we run away, far away from the danger, and we let Dora deal with the Twilight of Gods... Surrounded by idiots who will kill him because they have no opinion."
Peters rolled his eyes and fixed Mercy.
"The Queen never asked us to let you go, we're putting everything on the line to give you a chance. I'll be honest, I don't see how we're gonna deal with this Rift, I don't see us win, so I really think that leaving the kingdom would be better. You will take the train and go to the south. If we lose, you'll have more chances to survive, and if by miracle, by a really unpredictable miracle, we win, the Queen might lose interest in you so you will come back. I'll make sure, on my name, to protect Anesidora's life with my own."
He stood firmly, the wind starting to blow.
* * *
In the building, the Queen was still watching the Rift.
Like hypnotized, she observed the gigantic mass of energy, her eyes shining.
"Maybe I should just give it a try?"
"Hm?" Eryl glanced at her.
The Queen took a few steps, not taking her eyes off the screen.
"The more I look at it, the less I feel endangered... I am Gloria, Avatar of Gluttony and very first Sin, I devoured a Player and submitted another one before reaching my peak. I am stronger than one thousand years ago... so why not give it a try?"
Everyone in the room looked at her with a growing anguish.
Her eyes shine brighter, again and again.
It was only for a short period, about a few milliseconds, but she felt a goosebump.
As she stared at the Rift, the Rift stared back.
"What are you doing?! Stop, you idiot!" A scientist scolding another one took her from her daydream.
She glanced at a man, surrounded by two other scientists who tried to keep him from doing a manipulation with a computer.
Agiel noticed them too.
"You three, what are you doing?"
"S-Sir Agiel...! S-sorry, this... our colleague is..."
A metallic noise echoed through the room's speakers, drawing all attention to them.
"The fuck man?!" The older scientists shouted while the second walked away.
The one responsible, a young scientist, frail and trembling with fear, slowly turned towards the Queen.
"I... I'm sorry..."
Agiel walked toward him, keeping an eye on the Queen who frowned.
"Gentlemen, please, could you refrain from such antics? You're supposed to be the finest of the kingdom both in talent and attitude, so... Is that vocal communication?"
The scientist, trembling more, nodded.
"We... received a calling... and they're asking to use loudspeaker..."
"... Why would you obey that? Who gave you the permission?!"
*Because I asked him to.*
A single sentence echoed throughout the chamber, capturing the attention of everyone present. Agiel stood frozen in place, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. The Holy Knights were similarly stunned, their mouths agape as they gazed up at the speakers. The scientists all stood up in unison, their eyes glued to the source of the voice.
It was clear that the voice had come from somewhere beyond normality. The sound of the Queen's fan hitting the ground was the most significant indication of this fact. The Queen herself was visibly shaken by the communication, and even her maid, who had been standing by her side, seemed taken aback by this sudden voice.
The Queen slowly raised her head, her eyes still shaking, and her hands trembling with emotion. All eyes were on her as she tried to compose herself, and it was clear that everyone present was waiting with bated breath for her response.
"... Pride?"