I lay on the cold stone floor of the ruins, my chest heaving, sweat and tears mixing on my face. Every nerve in my body screamed, every part of me burned with the memory of what had just happened. What… what did I just do? My hands shook, and my stomach twisted. I had wanted power. I had begged for it. And yet… I hadn't thought about the cost. I hadn't realized the weight I would bear. I hadn't known I'd have to endure that… that kind of humiliation.
My mind raced, replaying every moment. I wanted strength. I wanted to matter. But this… this feels like everything I am has been ripped open and tested. I pressed my face into my hands, wishing I could disappear into the shadows, wishing I could take back the choice I had made so recklessly.
Then a voice, smooth and playful, cut through the silence.
"How was it, Renji?" Pride's voice. My head shot up. "Didn't you just say you wanted power? Why are you still sitting there?"
I didn't answer. I couldn't. My body ached. My mind was scattered. The memory of their presence pressed down on me even now. The invisible weight of the Seven lingered, wrapping around my thoughts like chains.
"Why don't we do it again?" Greed's voice came next, teasing, taunting. I froze, a chill running down my spine. "W-what?" I stammered, my voice barely a whisper. Fear gripped me tighter than hunger ever had.
Sloth's slow, deliberate tone followed, calm yet menacing: "I still have a lot of energy left, so why don't we do it again?"
Tears began falling without my control. My hands trembled, my knees pressed against my chest. The ruins felt colder, darker, smaller. No… please… not again… The memory of being bound, lifted, and pressed by their energy flashed before my eyes. I thought I couldn't survive it once… I didn't know I could endure it twice.
Then Gluttony's voice, smooth and mocking, brushed over my fear. "Hey… we're just joking. No need to cry."
I swallowed, still shaking, trying to calm my racing heart. But my mind was a storm. They're just joking… but I can still feel it… I can still feel them… inside me, around me, claiming me. I can't escape it… I can't.
I pressed my face against my knees again, sobbing quietly, feeling the weight of their presence and my own choice pressing down on me. I had wanted power… and now I understood just how deep the cost ran.
A while later, Greed spoke, his voice calm but commanding.
"Since you've passed the trial, all of us—the Seven Sins—will be yours. And you will be ours."
I remained silent, my chest still heaving, my hands trembling as I sat on the cold stone floor.
"You feel it, didn't you?" Gluttony's smooth, teasing voice cut through the quiet. "Different powers… now part of your body. All of it, flowing through you."
I swallowed hard, still unable to speak. My mind spun with the memory of the trial, and yet… something had changed.
"Don't worry," Sloth added in his slow, deliberate tone, pressing lightly against the air around me, making my shoulders relax. "This is only the beginning. You'll learn how to use it at the right time."
Lust stepped forward then, a playful smile hidden behind his mask. A soft glow formed around his hands, and before my eyes, a set of clothes appeared, folded neatly as if by magic. The robe was simple but elegant, dark with silver embroidery that traced intricate patterns along the edges. A belt fastened neatly around the waist, shoes that seemed perfectly fitted, and a long, flowing cloak completed the set. He knelt slightly, offering it to me.
"Here's our little gift for you," he said, his voice soft but confident.
I hesitated, staring at the clothes. Before I could reach for them, one of the Seven—I think it was Pride—stepped closer. His hand glowed faintly as he extended it toward me. A wave of warmth flowed over my body, and I felt the pain of the trial melting away. My skin no longer ached; every muscle loosened as if the wounds I hadn't seen had healed. Even the fatigue that weighed down my chest seemed to vanish.
I blinked, amazed. Slowly, I stood, my legs still shaky. Everything felt… light. My body was mine again, but stronger. And yet, somehow, I could feel them inside me—their presence, lingering and protective, a quiet pulse of energy.
I picked up the clothes with trembling hands, hesitating for a moment before slipping them on. The fabric was soft but firm, the robe draping perfectly around my shoulders. The belt cinched snugly at my waist. My fingers touched the shoes and cloak, feeling the care and precision of their magic.
"Th… thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Then Wrath's sharp, teasing tone cut through my awe. "Now then… why don't we start the training?"
"Training?" I muttered in my mind, my heart leaping. I was still scared of them, still unsure what they might ask of me next.
Wrath smirked, a shadow of mischief in his tone. "Don't worry. This is the way to become stronger."
I swallowed hard, the weight of my fear mixing with the strange thrill of anticipation. Somehow, somewhere deep in me, I knew my life had changed forever. And the path ahead… the path with the Seven Sins… was only beginning.
I stood awkwardly in the ruins, still catching my breath, the new robe clinging to my shoulders. The Seven formed a loose circle around me, their masks catching the dim light and their presence pressing in all at once.
Pride stepped forward first, voice smooth and commanding. "Renji, magic isn't just about strength. It's about control. Feel it. Let it flow through you, don't fight it."
I closed my eyes, trying to listen to him. I could feel a hum beneath my skin, a pulse that wasn't mine alone. It was soft at first, a warmth spreading from my chest to my fingertips. My mind wavered. How am I supposed to control this? It's like… everything in me is alive all at once.
Greed circled behind me, teasing lightly. "Balance isn't easy, little one. You think power is instant? It fights back. But don't worry—we're here to show you." His presence brushed my shoulders, subtle but unmistakable, like a weight I couldn't ignore.
I flinched, but also… I felt reassured. Somehow, their energy surrounding me was teaching me even without words.
Sloth's slow, deliberate tone came next. "First, you must sense it. Not force it. Close your eyes, feel the flow, feel each of us within it."
I shut my eyes again, trying to focus. My hands tingled, my chest ached with the pulse of their energy, and yet… I could feel it shaping me, threading into me. Every nerve felt alive. Every thought was sharper, but heavier. It's overwhelming… but… it's mine now?
Envy's whisper cut into my mind, teasing and sharp. "Don't be afraid to test it. You might surprise yourself." His voice made my spine shiver. I can feel them… all of them… watching me.
I stretched my fingers, willing a small flame to appear, just as Pride had taught me. A faint spark flickered in my palm and then vanished. My eyes snapped open. "I… I did it?" I gasped.
Wrath smirked, circling closer. "Yes. That's the start. But don't stop. Push it further. You need to feel the full reach of your power." His aura pressed against my back, sharp but guiding, like a hand on my shoulder even without touching.
Gluttony's voice rumbled softly, teasing yet comforting. "Don't worry if you falter. We're all here. You belong to us now… and that includes learning from us."
I stumbled, my mind spinning with the flood of their presences. But at the same time, I felt something else—connection. Even in my fear, there was warmth in their attention, a pull that made me want to focus, to try again. My fingers sparked, then danced, then formed a tiny swirl of light hovering in the air.
Lust finally stepped closer, extending a hand without breaking the playful smile in his voice. "Good. Keep your mind open, your body steady. The more you let us guide you, the stronger you'll become."
I nodded, swallowing hard. "I… I'll try." My voice was small, but determined. Their energy pressed around me, heavy but protective, and for the first time since the trial, I felt… not alone.
Pride's voice rang out once more. "This is only the beginning, Renji. Every step, every lesson, every pulse of power… we will be here."
I felt their auras brush against me, subtle but intimate, like invisible hands shaping me. My chest tightened, my stomach fluttered, and yet… I didn't want to pull away. Their attention, their guidance, their presence—it was overwhelming, yes, but also comforting in a strange, undeniable way.
I lifted my hands again, focusing on the pulse in my chest. A small flame appeared, brighter this time, dancing in my palm. I looked up, and all seven of them were watching, smirking behind their masks. Pride's smirk was sharp. Sloth's gaze was calm. Lust's smile was playful. Greed's eyes glimmered. Wrath's aura pressed closer. Envy and Gluttony lingered near, teasing and guiding.
I realized, even trembling and exhausted, that I was learning. And more than that—I was forming a bond with them, a strange connection that both frightened me and made my chest ache with anticipation.
This… this is only the beginning, I thought, my heart racing. But I'll endure it. I have to… and I'll become stronger. Somehow… with them.
And even as I stood there, trembling, the ruins silent around us, I knew that the Seven Sins weren't just my guides—they were my world now.