In the private meeting room of the Occult Research Club, Rias sat, surrounded by Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko. Her expression was tense, and her eyes held a mix of anger and fear.
Akeno (anxiously): "Rias, are you sure about what you said? Leon... has become something uncontrollable?"
Rias (firmly): "Yes. I tried to recruit him as one of my nobles using the eight pieces, but the energy within him... was entirely different. The ritual failed, and I awakened dangerous forces within him. He is not as human as we thought."
---
Elsewhere...
As darkness engulfed the city, Leon sat atop a hill overlooking the dim lights below. The cold wind swirled around him, but he felt nothing. His crimson eyes glowed faintly, a testament to the transformation within. Before him, the screen of the Sins System appeared, glowing with a subdued light.
System: "Leon, your power is growing quickly, but you know it's not enough. You've seen firsthand how the world conspires against you. Rias and her companions won't leave you in peace. If you want to survive—and surpass them—you must continue awakening the remaining sins."
Leon (thoughtfully): "Sloth... and Lust. It's ironic that I need sloth to become stronger."
System: "Sins are not as they appear on the surface, Leon. Sloth is not mere laziness as everyone assumes. It's the moment when you need to stop and reflect, to analyze everything around you with clarity before you act. When awakened, Sloth grants absolute calm amidst chaos, a rare and formidable weapon."
Leon (with a faint smile): "And what about Lust? How could lust make me stronger?"
System: "Lust is not just physical desire—it's your deepest passion. It's the craving for creation, the yearning to explore new possibilities. Once awakened, it will unlock doors to powers you couldn't even imagine. Lust is the key to harmonizing the Seven Sins, making them work together instead of clashing."
Leon (with determination): "And how do I awaken them?"
System: "Awakening Sloth and Lust requires specific circumstances. For Sloth, you must find a moment of stillness amid conflict—a place where you can reflect and connect with the deepest aspects of yourself. But don't lose yourself in dreams or goals; balance is critical. As for Lust, you will need to confront your true desires, the ones even you hide from yourself—both mental and physical. Once you face these aspects, you'll be closer to complete control over your powers."
Leon: "And what about Rias and her companions? She knows what I've become and won't wait long before making her move."
System: "Rias will come, no doubt. But she doesn't know everything about you. You are no longer the person she tried to control. If you awaken all Seven Sins, you won't just be their opponent—you'll become something beyond their comprehension. Your power will be enough to erase any threat from someone of her level."
Leon (in a calm, yet ominous tone): "So, I have no choice but to move forward. I'll awaken Sloth and Lust and use these sins to change the rules of the game. If they think they can stop me or control me, let them try."
System: "Remember, Leon, the sins are neither enemies nor allies. They are extensions of your inner self. If you master them, you'll become invincible. But if you let them master you... it will be your end."
Leon (with a faint smile): "Then let's begin. I left fear behind a long time ago."
---
System: "Alright, Leon, if you want to become strong enough... You've proven your strength with Gluttony and Pride, but Sloth and Lust are harder than the rest. Let's begin with Sloth."
Leon (reflectively): "Sloth... does that mean I need to stop? To rest?"
System: "Sloth is not just rest. It's forced introspection, reflection on dreams or wishes you were denied and tried to escape from. Sloth reveals old wounds and forces you to accept them."
Leon (pausing, his expression hardening): "I know the right place. The orphanage where I grew up. Where it all began."
System: "A wise choice. The orphanage isn't just a place—it's an echo of your past. There, you'll face the weight of your memories and find balance between pain and apathy. Awakening Sloth requires finding peace amidst suffering and suffering amidst peace."
Leon (with resolve): "If I must return to that cursed place to become stronger, so be it. It can't be worse than being stabbed by a spear."
---
At the orphanage...
Leon stood before the rusted gate of the abandoned orphanage where he had spent his childhood. The crumbling walls seemed to bleed painful memories, and the wind carried echoes of the cries of the children who had lived there.
Entering with heavy steps, every corner of the place summoned harsh memories: the corner where children were punished, the cold bed that offered no comfort, and the ruined room that once confined his faint dreams.
System: "Here, you must find your way forward. A word of advice: don't let the memories or illusions drag you down."
Leon sat on the cold floor in the middle of a deserted hall, closed his eyes, and let his memories surface. He saw a beautiful illusion: his mother, who abandoned him, and his father, whose face he never knew, both embracing him on his birthday before candles on a cake.
His mother (softly, stroking his cheek): "My sweet little Leon, you've grown up to be so handsome. You'll break many girls' hearts."
His father (laughing, placing a hand on his head): "My little man, it's your birthday today. What do you want? Tell your dad—I'll get you anything."
Leon (silent, lowering his head): "...So, this is what you meant by illusions, huh?"
The illusionary parents looked at him with concern.
His mother: "Leon, sweetheart, what's wrong?"
His father: "Are you okay, son?"
Leon: "Nothing, Mom. Where's the knife?"
His mother: "Here. Cut the cake and make a wish!"
Leon (with a pure smile): "I wish for you both to disappear because this is disgusting."
---
What followed was a macabre confrontation with the illusion. Leon, now fully awakened, severed the chains of the false reality, emerging from the ruined orphanage hall with newfound clarity and calm.
---
Elsewhere...
In the Occult Research Club, Rias prepared for the next step, fully aware of Leon's escalating power.
Rias (determined): "We have to move now. If we wait any longer, we'll lose any chance to control him."
Akeno (hesitantly): "But Rias, are we ready? Leon seems to have surpassed everything we know about sacred gear."
Rias: "It doesn't matter how strong he is. We must subdue him before he becomes unstoppable. Otherwise, I don't know how this will end for us."
The storm was brewing, and Leon was now more prepared than ever to face it.