Kei stood in the middle of a sun-scorched training field, blinking under the blinding noon light, and asked the universe a simple question:
"How the hell did I get roped into a demon battle royale?"
The answer, of course, was Pride.
Aris stood at the edge of the field like a general surveying her troops, arms folded, suit pristine even in the wind. Her gaze swept across the six other girls like she was conducting a war—one she expected to win without breaking a sweat.
"Training is essential," Aris declared. "And we cannot properly cohabitate if we don't know each other's combat thresholds. So today, we spar."
Kei raised a shaky hand. "Quick question. Why am I here?"
"To learn through observation," Aris replied. "Also, you'll be the moral support. Or a hostage. Depends how inspiring you are."
Vel lounged nearby on a grassy slope, legs crossed, licking a strawberry lollipop like it was her sword. "I vote hostage. His screams are adorable."
Rika cracked her knuckles, looking positively thrilled. "Been waitin' for this. Let's see which of you actually packs a punch and which one's just full of pretty words."
"Did someone say punch?" Mav adjusted her gold-accented fingerless gloves. "Because I brought a spreadsheet of weak points."
Nebu yawned. "I voted nap."
"You always vote nap," muttered Aera, tightening the straps of her combat boots. "I'm just here to prove I'm not the weakest. Again."
"Amateurs," Aris said with a toss of her flawless hair. "Let's begin."
The moment Aris raised her hand, the air itself seemed to shift. Kei could feel the electricity in the atmosphere crackling, as if the entire world was holding its breath. Aris was a creature of command, and she was about to show why.
"Let's begin," she said, her voice carrying a dangerous calm.
Before Kei could even blink, Mav—Greed—was already in motion. She raised her hand and with a snap of her fingers, a swirling vortex of golden light appeared around her. Coins, infused with dark magic, flew out in a storm, spiraling like blades toward Aris. Mav smirked, her voice laced with mockery.
"Catch me if you can, Your Highness."
Aris didn't flinch. Instead, she extended her arm, and a thin beam of golden energy shot from her hand, slicing through the air. The coins dissolved into glittering motes as Aris moved with fluid grace, effortlessly deflecting them as if she were swatting away mere flies.
"This isn't enough to make me bow, Mav," Aris said, her tone colder than the ice that began to form around her feet. Her magic was a manifestation of her pride—an aura of towering, regal power. The air rippled as if a crown were slowly descending around her.
But Mav wasn't done. She flicked her wrist, and the golden coins reformed into a massive storm of wealth. She focused, and the coins became molten, burning with a fiery intensity. With a wave of her hand, the storm shot forward, forcing Aris to raise her shield.
Aris's golden aura expanded, forming an impenetrable barrier that reflected the molten coins, sending them clattering harmlessly to the ground. Aris let out a small chuckle.
"Cute. But you're going to have to do better than that."
Rika, the embodiment of Wrath, growled from the side, eager for her turn. She clenched her fists, her eyes burning like embers. "Enough with the talking. I'll show you how it's done."
She slammed her foot into the ground, and a shockwave of fiery magic erupted from the impact. The air ignited around her as flames spiraled up, twisting into serpentine shapes that hissed with violent energy. With one motion, she sent the fire dragons charging toward Aris, their scales shimmering with raw destructive force.
Aris's expression darkened. She raised both arms, and the golden aura around her blazed to life once more, weaving together into a shield of shimmering light. The fire dragons slammed into the barrier, but they couldn't break through. The barrier was powerful, but Aris's expression tightened with effort.
"I see how it is," she muttered. "Fine."
Aris stepped forward, and the golden light around her expanded, morphing into sharp tendrils that shot toward Rika like spears of light. Rika snarled, dodging and weaving, but one tendril found its mark, grazing her side with a searing strike.
"Damn it," Rika spat, clenching her jaw, but the burn seemed to only fuel her rage. "You really want to play like that?"
She raised her hands, calling forth an explosion of fire that erupted in a massive burst. The flames twisted, forming into a firestorm that rolled across the field, scorching the earth as it rushed toward Aris. The intense heat caused the ground to crack and smoke, but Aris remained unshaken, her magic weaving a shield of gold that blazed brightly.
For a brief moment, it seemed as if the two would clash with ultimate force, but the arrival of Lust interrupted their focus.
"Enough, you two. You're going to burn the field down," Lust said, her voice languid, but commanding.
She raised her hand, and a circle of golden light appeared, swirling with soft, hypnotic energy. Lust's magic was subtle, but it was effective. With a simple flick of her wrist, the firestorm slowed, the flames flickering out like candlelight in a breeze.
Rika hissed in frustration, but Lust wasn't done. Her eyes flicked to Aris, then Mav, then Rika, and with a seductive smile, she whispered something under her breath. A cloud of pink mist swirled around her, and suddenly, the tension in the air shifted. Lust's magic seemed to wrap around their minds, her presence becoming intoxicating. The magical pressure on the battlefield lightened, as if the sins were momentarily distracted by a wave of longing and desire.
"Focus," Lust purred, walking closer to Kei. "Don't you feel it, Kei? The power of allure? It's a weapon as much as fire or gold."
Kei blinked, shaking his head. "I—uh, yeah, sure. But maybe you can not make me a target here?"
Lust smiled knowingly, but before anyone could react, another voice broke through.
"I'm not here for all that. I'm just here to watch and eat," Gluttony said, stepping forward, a massive sandwich in hand. She took a huge bite as she observed the sparring. "You guys do your magic stuff. I'll just...heal."
And heal she did. Gluttony's magic was unlike the others. With each bite she took, her magic seemed to weave a restorative aura around the field. A healing light pulsed from her, swirling in a circle around the combatants. Those who were injured—whether from Aris's spears of light or Rika's fire—felt the gentle, nourishing energy wrap around them, their wounds slowly mending.
Meanwhile, Envy stood in the back, her eyes flickering between the others, her green eyes sparking with competitive fire. With a small flick of her fingers, she summoned a series of shimmering illusions around her—people, places, things—each one vying for Kei's attention.
"Focus on me," Envy whispered softly, her voice like velvet. "I'm what you really need."
Kei stumbled backward, overwhelmed by the whirlwind of magic around him. His head was spinning with the magic, the fire, the golden storms, the healing light, and now these illusions all vying for his attention.
And then, just when he thought he was about to pass out from sensory overload, Pride raised her hand, commanding attention with a single gesture.
"That's enough," Pride said, her voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. Her magic surged with unmatched authority. In the blink of an eye, the entire battlefield fell silent, all eyes on her. Her aura, like a crown of stars, shimmered with power.
"Let's call this match to a close," she said with a serene smile. "We've proven our point. Kei's survival is a testament to his resilience."
Kei, who had been hiding behind a boulder, was finally able to breathe again. He stood up shakily, his limbs still trembling from the sheer force of their combined magic.
"Uh...can I... go now?" Kei asked, his voice weak, his body aching from the chaos.
"Oh, sweet little human," Lust purred from behind him, her voice almost teasing. "You can run, but you can't escape. Not from us."
Kei gulped.