* * * *
The barren wasteland of the gluttony trial dissolved into golden light, blinding Asmodeus momentarily. When his vision cleared, he found himself standing at the center of an extravagant city built entirely of gleaming gold and encrusted with jewels.
The streets were paved with coins that shimmered under an eternal sunlight, and towering structures of unimaginable opulence stretched endlessly into the sky. Every corner of the city oozed wealth, from fountains spewing liquid diamonds to trees bearing fruits of solid emeralds.
Asmodeus took a cautious step forward, his boots crunching against golden coins. The faint clinking sound echoed in the oppressive silence, a stark contrast to the overwhelming grandeur around him.
---
"Greed," he muttered, his voice laced with irritation. "How predictable."
But before he could take another step, the air shimmered, and a figure emerged from the haze. It was a mirror image of Asmodeus, but this doppelganger radiated arrogance and insatiable hunger. His golden eyes gleamed with a desire that seemed to swallow everything in its path.
"Well, well," the doppelganger sneered, his voice a twisted reflection of Asmodeus's own. "You've come to my city. I've been waiting for you."
---
"And who exactly are you supposed to be?" Asmodeus asked, his tone dry and unimpressed.
"I'm you," the figure replied, spreading his arms to gesture at the city. "Or rather, the part of you that craves it all—power, wealth, control. Don't tell me you've never wanted this."
Asmodeus scoffed. "Wealth and power? What use do I have for material nonsense?"
The doppelganger chuckled, a low, mocking sound. "Lying to me is pointless, you know. You don't want it for the gold or the jewels. You want what they represent—absolute dominance, the ability to bend everything and everyone to your will. Isn't that what drives you?"
---
For a moment, Asmodeus hesitated. The doppelganger's words hit closer to home than he cared to admit. Power had always been a means to an end for him, but wasn't there a part of him that relished the control it brought?
"No," he growled, shaking his head. "Power is a tool, nothing more. I won't be bound by greed."
The doppelganger smirked, stepping closer. "Then prove it."
---
With a snap of his fingers, the city began to shift. The golden streets writhed like serpents, rising to form walls that boxed Asmodeus in. Around him, the air filled with whispers—enticing promises of unimaginable wealth and power.
"All of this could be yours," the doppelganger said, his voice dripping with temptation. "Take just one step toward me, and you'll have it all."
Asmodeus clenched his fists, his crimson aura sparking to life. "Do you really think I'll fall for such a cheap trick?"
---
The doppelganger laughed, his voice echoing through the golden walls. "Cheap? Hardly. This isn't about gold or jewels. This is about your deepest desire—to stand above all, unchallenged. You're not fighting greed, Asmodeus. You're fighting yourself."
Before Asmodeus could respond, the walls around him collapsed, revealing an endless horizon of treasures. Mountains of gold stretched as far as the eye could see, rivers of molten silver carving paths through valleys of sparkling gems.
In the distance, he saw thrones made of diamond and obsidian, each one radiating power. Atop the highest throne sat the doppelganger, smirking down at him.
---
"Come," the doppelganger called, his voice resonating with a commanding power. "Claim what's rightfully yours."
Asmodeus took a step forward instinctively, his gaze fixed on the throne. The hunger for power stirred within him, a flame he had kept carefully controlled for years.
But then he stopped, his mind snapping back to clarity.
"No," he muttered, his voice firm. "This isn't who I am."
The doppelganger's smirk faltered. "Still resisting? How tiresome."
---
The golden ground beneath Asmodeus began to shift, the coins forming tendrils that lashed out at him. He dodged, his movements fluid despite the oppressive weight of the trial.
"I'll destroy this illusion," he declared, his crimson aura flaring brighter.
The doppelganger laughed again, but this time it was forced. "Destroy it? You can't destroy greed, Asmodeus. It's part of you. Deny it all you want, but it will always be there."
The tendrils wrapped around his legs, their weight dragging him down. He struggled against them, his aura flaring like a raging storm, but the whispers grew louder, threatening to drown him.
"Give in," the doppelganger urged. "Why fight it? You're only making this harder on yourself."
---
Asmodeus gritted his teeth, his determination burning brighter. "I've fought worse than you," he growled, his voice a low snarl.
He channeled his energy into his legs, shattering the tendrils with a burst of crimson light. He stood tall, his eyes blazing with defiance.
The doppelganger's expression darkened. "Fine. If you won't take the city, I'll bury you in it."
The golden city began to collapse, the treasures melting into a tidal wave of molten gold. It surged toward Asmodeus, threatening to consume him.
---
But he didn't flinch. Instead, he raised his hand, his aura condensing into a shield. The molten gold crashed against it, but his barrier held strong.
"You're wasting your time," he said, his voice steady. "This illusion can't break me."
With a roar, he channeled his energy into a single strike, aiming it directly at the throne. The blast shattered the illusion, the golden city crumbling into dust.
The doppelganger screamed as he dissolved, his form twisting and writhing before vanishing into nothingness.
Asmodeus stood alone in the void, breathing heavily.
---
"Three down," he muttered, his voice tinged with both exhaustion and triumph. "Let's see what's next."
The world shifted once more, the void giving way to the next trial.
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