Leon returned home exhausted, his body groaning under the weight of the energies that had surged through his being during the rituals. The place was unusually quiet, as if the universe itself had paused for a moment to catch its breath after what had transpired. Leon sat on the couch, closed his eyes, and tried to comprehend what had happened. But the system didn't let him wait long.
System (calmly): "Welcome back, Leon. I must say, I didn't expect you to show such resilience."
Leon (tiredly): "Don't start with the congratulations now. You were there. Tell me. What exactly happened? How did you manage to awaken both gluttony and pride at the same time? That was... madness."
System: "Certainly. Madness, but calculated. You were lucky, Leon, because the conditions needed for the sins to fully awaken are rarely met. But Rias, unintentionally, gave you an irresistible combination."
Leon (suspiciously): "Combination? Explain."
System: "Let's start with Rias's first mistake. She used eight chess pieces containing unique evil energy. These pieces are designed to revive the dead and turn them into servants. The problem? Pride cannot tolerate the idea of being subjugated. It is simply unbreakable and unyielding. When Rias tried to make you her servant, she triggered pride within you in a way she didn't expect."
Leon (muttering): "Pride... It felt like something deep inside me was provoked, as though it had been waiting for the right moment to emerge."
System: "Exactly. Now, let's move on to the second element: the corpse of the creature with the appearance of a fallen angel, and the amount of evil energy from the eight pieces. Here, gluttony intervened. Souls linked to gluttony cannot resist tasting rare or exceptional energy. And this corpse? Something new, even for gluttony. Its presence was enough to awaken this sin and cause it to react."
Leon (softly): "One corpse and eight evil pieces... and I was the medium."
System: "A perfect medium. When Rias tried to control you through the pieces, instead of merging her energy with yours as planned, it caused chaos. The pieces were fueling gluttony with destructive power while pride resisted submission. The result? A confrontation between the two forces within you. Fortunately, you managed to keep them under control, at least for now."
Leon (whispering): "I didn't know I had that kind of power. It felt more like directing a natural force than merely imposing my will."
System: "That's because you were touching your true depths for the first time. Gluttony and pride are not just external forces. They are extensions of yourself, aspects of your personality. Since you've awakened five sins, let me explain them to you:
1. Pride: As you noticed, it's the essence that makes you refuse to bend or submit. It's your arrogance, your sense of dignity, and your ability to stand tall despite every attempt to break you. But it's dangerous if you unleash it without restraint, as it could lead to destructive vanity.
2. Gluttony: It's your desire to have more, to go beyond your limits. It's the constant hunger for power, knowledge, or even battles. Gluttony can push you to reach the impossible, but it can burn you out if not controlled.
3. Anger: A chaotic force, but pure. It's your sense of distorted justice, your desire to take revenge on everything that has wronged you. Anger can turn you into an unstoppable force, but it may blind you to the truth.
4. Greed: It's not just the love of possession, but the desire for control. Greed can give you the will to take everything you need, but it may cause you to lose your humanity.
5. Envy: This side is more dangerous than it seems. It's your feeling of inadequacy, comparing yourself to others, and wanting to surpass them by any means. Envy can make you ambitious, but it could drive you to destroy everything in your path."
Leon (sighing): "So, these sins aren't just enemies. They're tools, but also traps. I need to be careful."
System: "Exactly. The sins reflect your truth. They are neither inherently good nor bad; it depends on how you use them. That's what makes you unique, Leon. You have the opportunity to become their master, rather than their servant."
Leon (determined): "If they are part of me, I'll learn to control them. I won't let them control me."
System: "That's the key. Balance. The sins will always push you to test yourself, and the world around you will force you to prove that you can control them."
As Leon processed what the system had said, thoughts began to form in his mind. These powers were not just challenges; they were an opportunity to redefine his place in the world.
Leon (softly): "What do I need to do now? The world won't give me much time to understand all this."
System: "What you need to do now is simple, Leon. To complete your true potential, you must awaken all seven sins. As you've noticed, gluttony, pride, anger, greed, and envy have awakened, though at their first level. But there are two sins that are still incomplete: sloth and lust."
Leon (with curiosity): "Sloth? Lust? How can they be sins of such power?"
System: "Let me explain the relationship between the seven deadly sins. These sins are not separate powers, but interconnected in an endless cycle. Each sin feeds the other directly or indirectly. For example:
Pride makes you believe you deserve everything. This can lead to greed.
Greed fuels gluttony in your desire to own everything.
Gluttony generates envy toward those who have more.
Envy creates anger toward those you cannot overcome.
Anger can lead to sloth when you become incapable of controlling it.
Finally, lust represents the deep desire that can throw everyone off balance, and it's the starting and ending point of this cycle."
Leon (curiously): "How do I awaken sloth and lust?"
System: "Each sin awakens when its specific conditions are met. Sloth is not just idleness; it represents the need to pause and reflect amidst chaos. Lust, however, is not just a physical desire; it's also your deep longing for creativity and the openness to boundless possibilities. The conditions you've encountered so far haven't been suitable for them, but that will change soon."
Suddenly, the system's display appeared before Leon:
==================== Sins System
Pride: Level 1
Ability: Royal Presence (increases charisma and forces enemies to hesitate before attacking).
Gluttony: Level 1
Ability: Absolute Nourishment (converts surrounding energy into sustained strength or healing).
Anger: Level 1
Ability: Fury Burst (greatly increases offensive power and speed when angry).
Greed: Level 1
Ability: Forced Possession (can absorb resources or energy from the environment or enemies to enhance strength).
Envy: Level 1
Ability: Point of Superiority (precisely reveals the enemy's weaknesses and increases efficiency against them).
Lust: Level 0
Ability: Inactive.
Sloth: Level 0
Ability: Inactive.
====================
Leon (determined): "So, this is the beginning. But I feel there's a deeper layer to each ability. Do these sins evolve?"
System: "Of course, Leon. Each sin can grow over time. When the sins reach higher levels, they gain new abilities and become more powerful. However, the stronger they get, the harder they are to control. Balance, as I said earlier, is key."
Leon (confidently): "If this is the path I must walk, I'll face every challenge and awaken sloth and lust. I won't allow myself to be stuck in the middle of this path."
System: "Excellent, Leon. The next step will be discovering the right conditions to awaken the remaining sins. Get ready, because the challenges ahead will be more difficult and complex than anything you've faced so far."
While Leon was lost in deep thought about his next steps, events elsewhere were unfolding unexpectedly. In a dimly lit room of the Occult Research Club, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. His friends, Akeno, Koneko, and Kiba, sat around a large table, their faces filled with worry after Rias's prolonged absence.
Then, as if the very fabric of space had torn, a blinding light suddenly appeared in the center of the room. A glowing, energy-charged teleportation circle flickered before them. Before any of them could comprehend what was happening, Rias emerged from the circle, but she looked to be in a pitiable state.
Rias, who was supposed to be full of confidence and strength, appeared completely shattered. Her eyes were filled with terror, and her body was shaking violently. She couldn't even stand on her feet and collapsed to the floor in front of her friends. Akeno, who had been watching the scene with growing concern, immediately ran to her side and caught her before she hit the ground.
Akeno (worriedly): "Rias! What happened? What's going on?"
Rias (in a weak, exhausted voice): "I failed... the ritual... the eight pieces are destroyed... I can't stop him... I created him... Leon... Leon is... he... I created a monster."