As the cave sank deeper into the Sea of Correspondence, its purpose was fulfilled, for now, rciless felt the familiar tug of another source.
But this one was different, its power was unlike anything he had encountered before. It was vast, overbearing, and powerful to say the least, a force that called to him with undeniable authority.
The mont he sensed it, a recognition stirred within him, even though its use remained elusive.
It was the weird dagger he had inside him.
The very one Brunhilde had driven into his heart no so long ago with loving intent; the blade forged from sand, or so material so fine it seed like that, but it was otherworldly, to say the least.
Formless and suspended between reality and a dreamlike haze, his mind teetered between consciousness and unconsciousness.
And in that shifting state, he saw it.
Before rciless stood a figure, its form a stark contrast to anything mortal or mundane. The skeleton was wrapped in robes of immaculate white, the fabric cascading over its fra in elegant folds, as though crafted from the finest silks and adorned with a faint shimr that suggested a weave of stardust and moonlight.
The garnt moved with almost fluid grace, defying the rigidity of death that its wearer embodied, every thread speaking of wealth and tiless refinent. The robes were not re cloth; they were symbols of status, a declaration of opulence that transcended lifetis.
But it was the skeleton itself that drew the eye with an undeniable pull. Its bones, polished to a tallic sheen, glead with a purplish hue, as though forged from so mystical alloy. Each bone seed impossibly smooth, reflecting light with a glossy finish that pulsed in rhythm with an unseen force.
There was sothing uncanny about the way the purple radiance danced across its form, giving it an aura of vitality despite its lifeless nature. The bones exuded an ancient power, vibrating with an energy that was both srizing and unsettling as if the remnants of life had fused with the cosmos itself.
The skull was adorned with intricate engravings, symbols etched into the bone that pulsed with faint traces of energy, their anings lost to ti but brimming with significance. Hollow eye sockets glowed faintly, giving the impression that, though the eyes had long decayed, the figure still perceived everything with a level of clarity.
Even without muscles, skin, or a voice box, the figure's speech rang out effortlessly, reverberating through the empty white expanse.
The voice was rich, deep, and haunting.
"Hmm, it's been a long ti since I've felt... whole...
"And sane; at least partially... I am not hearing so many voices in my head at the mont."
But he stopped, currently sitting upon a golden throne as he looked at rciless... when he got up... I was a very tall figure... at least over 8 feet, about 8'9 in height.
"So you are the child Brunhilde was talking about."
The skeleton murmured, tilting his head as if studying rciless intently.
His voice carried an air of overwhelming pride and selfishness, almost unbearable, yet, like all the other sources within the Sea of Correspondence, he, too, was crucial for rciless' growth.
"Forgive my tone, young one."
The figure continued, a trace of politeness slipping into his words.
"It's common for those who are incompatible with the vestiges of sin to suffer from personality disorders. Sadly, I was cursed to bear not one, but two sins.... I was tricked, bested by my enemy to weaken by forcing more power upon ... that I could not control."
The man explains to rciless.
As continued.
"When a sin-user kills another, they inherit that sin's power, but it always aligns with their main nature or main sin power, as an equally powerful sub-ability of one of the main sin abilities...
He said to himself, recalling the past while rembering the basics and now explaining it to another.
"Well In my case, I was chosen for Pride not of my will, but the will of another. Although it made strong, Pride has always been seen as the weakest of the Nine Sins, and I, in turn, was known as the weakest of the Pride bearers."
He paused, a hint of bitterness creeping into his voice.
"A cruel twist of fate, wouldn't you say?"
"I never fully embraced the power—it was foreign to , never truly resonating, never truly aning anything within my core. My mastery was in energy manipulation... given that I was an energy practitioner, I was a grand master in the art of psyche energy."
The man explains to rciless, as he explains a little about his life.
He then continued; not stopping, but elaborating.
"I could dominate my enemies without ever calling upon the strength of Pride. But fate had other plans. Another sin-bearer was sent against ; just as incompatible as I was...
He said, a prideful hum coming from that last bit.
"Unbeknownst to at the ti, when I struck him down, I didn't just end his life, I inherited Vanity upon his fall, their plan was brutal indeed, who would have thought using another power to poison another? Hehehe.... humans sure are creative when they run out of options."
He said, in clear acceptance.
"But either way, the mont, I got infected with Vanity was when the erosion of my mind truly began."
"Hehehe...
The man laughed as he continued.
"I never thought I would end up as superhuman you know... but sin abilities sure sothing else."
He mused to himself, as rciless; formless as he was, he still listened intently albeit partially conscious.
As the man continues with his life story.
"Keep in mind that while I may have started weak, the transformation into a superhuman amplifies one's power to unimaginable levels. In essence, superhumans are akin to a type of esper. However, in earlier tis, they weren't classified that way. It wasn't until the rise of supernatural science in the early 60s that this classification beca the norm."
"You see, there were originally three types of espers. The first type, known as Paranorms, consists of ordinary humans who can manipulate various forms of energy from the known energy spectrum. This includes energies like chi, ki, cardinal energy, and even the dualities of negative and positive, malevolent and benevolent energy, among others. I think you get the idea."
"The second type of espers is officially known as Ocuulants. In ancient tis, they were referred to as witches, warlocks, devils, or heretics; essentially, any humans endowed with miraculous powers of a magical nature, whether derived from gods, demons, or devils. In simple terms, Ocuulants are individuals who draw their power from a supernatural source rather than a natural one, which I'll explain further in a mont."
"However, it doesn't even have to be of a magical nature; so individuals are simply born with these magical natures instead of borrowing them, and no one knows why or how they acquire them. Moreover, if soone is closely tied to or favored by a supernatural being, that can also grant them the title of Ocuulant-type esper." Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire
"This classification is entirely different from the newer type of espers, which have existed since the first generation of humanity but are only now gaining attention due to their increasing numbers. In simpler terms, superhumans are referred to as Apex Espers."
"Apex espers are humans who have evolved into superhumans either by the will of the entity known as Him or by being born into that state. They represent the pinnacle of esper power, as unlike other espers, superhumans do not need to undergo tedious processes to enhance their abilities. Instead, the constant use of their powers allows them to evolve into higher forms until they reach Ex rank."
"While there are levels above Ex rank, they are exceedingly rare and are known as Supre Humans. At this level, the only way to gain further power is through continuous evolution, which has no definite end. To be considered an Apex esper, one must be chosen for their potential by "Him," or born into it, to begin with, it is as simple as that."
A slight chuckle escaped the man's mouth, as he continued to explain further about esper type.
"Finally, the last category is known as hybrid espers. These individuals are any human or esper who possesses one or more esper traits. For instance, a superhuman with connections to the supernatural world or connection that allows them to harness the powers of a supernatural being or possess magical nature abilities."
"Additionally, energy users can also fall into this category. It's important to note that aside from Paranorms and Ocuulants, all other types are classified as high humans, indicating a higher quality of humanity. However, biologically speaking, superhumans are superior, making them the strongest type of esper—unless we consider hybrid espers."
The man explained as continued, his hands motioning in an exaggerated manner, clearly, he seed like the type that loved to be heard.
But he began his story on how he beca Pride.
"You see both and my wife were espers, I was a Paranorm, and She an Apex... she was the previous pride, and one the strongest Pride users they were... her na was Grace Lun. She was born a superhuman, inheriting her power from a bloodline steeped in the traditions of the elite; her family held the vintage of pride for over 48 generations... dating back all the way to the age of ruin."
Announced the man.
"Her grandfather, Licht Lun, was part of the Council—a predecessor to the current organization known as Gift. Through her family, she inherited the Sin of Pride, her own ability, with her own version of Pride different from her deceased grandfather, with Pride she could impose her ideals onto the world itself."
"Grace's ability was extraordinary...
His expression on that notion was full of pride, but at the sa ti, a sad tone followed behind it.
"You see, she could recreate any power she deed inferior to her self-worth and bless others with it. She could casually reshape concepts and ideas, changing their aning while leaving their essence untouched....
"She could even copy and pass aspects of her own being to others, altering them fundantally. Her Pride wasn't just about selfishness; it was a force that could rewrite reality itself, bending it to her desires...
"Its greatest weakness however is her ntality... the mont she starts thinking her standards of perfection aren't enough then that's how it is. Her ability essentially works at its best if she knows what she is dealing with beforehand, to clear any potential doubt."
The man said.
"It's astounding how a woman this powerful could simply perish. She had the ability to diminish others at will, simply by believing they were beneath her. While the abilities of the Sin Series superhumans are formidable, they are not invincible. They can be incredibly challenging to confront, but they are not unbeatable, provided you know what you're doing. Sin abilities have the capacity to shatter the established rules of superhuman power, which is why they can only be countered by higher-grade powers that similarly defy those rules."
The man explains to rciless in great detail.
And then continued once more.
"In her final monts, before she was slain by Malhartd Votrhos, one of the top five Ex superhumans in the world itself, back in the day; she perford one last act of defiance. On her dying bed, she transferred her essence, her powers, and her experiences to ."
"It was more than an inheritance, it reshaped my existence, changed my race, and made sothing else entirely... but the thing is, I'm not compatible with the Sin of Pride."
He blatantly admitted.
Ironically in a proud manner.
"The truth is, I was never ant to receive this power. Sin powers can only be passed down to another superhuman; or, by definition, anyone who possesses an Eden."
"This is how it was transferred through her family lineage until it eventually reached . However, due to the unique nature of her power, which allowed her to manipulate her standards of perfection, essentially redefining how things should be versus how they actually are."
"She managed to convert into a superhuman. In doing so, she reshaped my very being into what it is now."
"And now, Malhartd Votrhos is still out there, one of the few capable of challenging even the divine order. My wife's sacrifice has given the strength to stand against him and those who would tear this world apart, to so degree at the ti, and with the help of others I manage to get my revenge."
"Or so I thought. You see, I don't know much about Malhartd's abilities, but he has the power to possess the bodies of others. Specifically, he was ordered by Sigma-C, the leader of H.A.D.E.S., who was trying to gather other sin bearers to take their powers as his own."
Said the man.
"But transferring sin powers isn't an easy task. That bastard Malhartd has a twisted ability; from what I understand, he can clone his consciousness and infect the bodies of others, connecting them like a web."
He explained.
"This ans that at any given ti, one vessel can hold hundreds of different abilities."
"Tragically, he took possession of our eldest daughter's body Cassie, and used her as a hostage, ordering Grace to kill herself with one of his death-inducing daggers while simultaneously passing the superhuman power of Pride onto Cassie. Now, what do you think my wife did?"
He asked rciless who replied.
"Comply."
"Pfft as if."
The man jokingly said.
"My wife as loving as she is to her own... was too prideful to be bested like that... as such she outwitted him."
"She was cunning you see.
The man stated as mories of the past flushed through him.
"When Malhartd forced her to take her own life, she did just that, but also faked her death; at least to a certain extent. Because of her unique powers, she managed to recreate a false version of Sin of Pride, tricking Malhartd into believing that the transfer had been successful."
The man admitted with a prideful nod.
And continue to explain his story more.
"But those daggers are no ordinary weapons; they drain life away, either instantly or over ti. So much so, that my wife couldn't use Pride to save herself due to the weird and unexplainable rule-breaking nature of those cursed blades. However, just before she died, she passed on the Sin of Pride to . And that is how I beca the next bearer of Pride."
He explained and then confird further upon this information further by saying.
"Naturally, before I was sealed away by Sigma-C, I had already obtained a different version of Pride. However, because I lacked a truly prideful deanor, I was incompatible with it. As a result, the power I received was defective and weak."
"My ability revolves around creating reiterations, essentially, I can view the world around as if it's unfolding like a script, even seeing events that have been forgotten. I can rember what others have forgotten, and even when ti is reversed, I remain aware. I have the power to loop events, even on a universal scale. But there's a catch: I can only focus on one event at a ti."
"In situations where multiple things are happening simultaneously, I can't fix or change them all. This ability truly shines in one-on-one confrontations, but against multiple or especially strong enemies, it's nearly useless."
"Sure, I can see past events within an area, tap into the mories of others and replay them, and manipulate space-ti to a degree. On paper, it's a power that should make unbeatable."
"But in a world like this where strength is perverse, being rley unbeatable just isn't enough. And trust when I say this young one, this world is full of illogical monsters hiding in every corner, even in places you would never expect; whose definition of strength is just in another dinsion of definitions altogether."
"To make things worse, every reiteration I create cos at a cost. I lose pieces of my emotions, mories, and sotis even my lifespan. The more I use this power, the more it drains ...
"If there are no mories or emotions left for it to consu, it takes from my physical life instead. So, you can imagine how many mories I had to accumulate over the years just to use the power of Pride. A year's worth of mories, countless emotions; I've had to build them up just to keep going.... and honestly, it is the reason I barely use it."
His voice trailed off, showing a glimpse of the man's forr hope before he continued.
"Vanity, on the other hand, is a power far stronger than anything else I possess. It grants the ability to perceive the aning behind explanations, essentially allowing to absorb knowledge at an accelerated rate."
After he said that he continued, once more.
"What might take soone a full day to learn, I could master in re monts; equivalent to gaining ten years' worth of knowledge and experience in an instant. Naturally, this elevated my intelligence to abnormal levels, making a master of countless disciplines. But Vanity, for all its power, was like a slow-acting poison."
"Just like Pride, it was incompatible with , and instead of enhancing my potential, it accelerated the corrosion of my mind. The more I used it, the faster I deteriorated, until I eventually beca almost completely inactive, unable to function."
And then he ntioned its greatest source of use.
"This ability pairs perfectly with Pride, as I can take what I've learned and apply it to my reiterations on a massive scale, should the situation demand it. With Vanity, my ability to manipulate knowledge and experience is unparalleled, and when combined with Pride's reiteration, it becos a dangerous tool in my hands."
The man said, but he made sure to make rciless see how dangerous H.A.D.E.S was.
"But that is my story; sorry if I bore you; you're probably going to be the last one to hear it anyway. After all... you are the next successor...
Said the naless man, as he continued.
"If both Pride and Vanity fall into the hands of Sigma-C, the multiverse will be dood. Even Wilhem, the strongest superhuman who surpassed her daughter Rule-B, hehehe... I'm not sure how he fairs, to be honest."
The skeleton's mind seed to be unraveling at the potential probability but without present information on Wilhelm, it was hard to say.
On the other hand, rciless presence was anchored there, as he soon began to think to himself.
This source was different from the others. It didn't ask complicated questions or require difficult answers. Instead, the figure made him listen to a life story and began to ask him one last request before passing his power to rciless.
As such he took a seat back on his throne.
His last word before the questions he had for rciless being.
"Well, that's my story. To be honest, my only real regret in this life was not being able to do more in order to make a difference. But the truth is, so of us just weren't made to carry these Sins; it is as simple as that."
"But let not waste any more ti now shall we? So here is the first question.
"If you had the power to change the world."
The skeleton asked, his voice growing distant.
"What would you do, in selfish pride, to make it better?"
rciless considered the question for only a mont before allowing his deepest desires to speak.
"Freedom. I would free this world from the chains of the divine. To cast it into an age of pure self-interest. There is no need for gods, no need for pity or suffering. Blind hope is a crutch. In this new world, the law of the jungle would reign supre. No action would go unpunished, for those with power would carve their own destiny."
He said his answer firmly in its aning.
And continued.
"Revenge would be their justice, and hate... hate is a powerful motivator."
"I would drive this world into lawlessness, where anyone can seize their future. The strong would have the right to rule, and the weak would have no place in this world. To suffer is to grow, and to grow is to suffer. It's a choice; fall and be free of misery, or rise and rule above all...
"That is the only law this world needs...
The skeleton remained silent for a mont, his hollow gaze staring at rciless. He could feel the intensity of Pride and Vanity reacting to rciless' answer; resonating with him in ways they had never with anyone else.
Even Sigma-C hadn't invoked such a response.
Though he did not agree with rciless' ideals, he knew now that the boy was more suited to bear these sins than Sigma-C could ever be.
"I don't approve of your ways."
The skeleton said, his voice thick with regret.
"But perhaps you're right. The weak should never take on the tasks ant for the strong. If only I had been more ruthless, maybe I could have saved countless lives. Maybe even my own daughter and my wayward son. But I failed, and I failed miserably."
He exhaled a long, tired breath.
"This power is yours now, rciless. But show so benevolence, here and there, even in your twisted way. My na is Faust, and I hereby na you my successor."
At that mont, both Pride and Vanity transferred to rciless, assimilating into his being. Faust's skeletal form suddenly erupted in purple and golden flas, his body and soul consud by the inferno of his own sin.
But before he was entirely erased from existence, he managed to speak one last ti.
"Please if it's not too much to ask... I have a younger daughter. A kind soul... and a son, lost in his self-destructive ideals. Save him if you can. And my daughter... she is with G.I.F.T. I trust them, but this world is falling into darkness. If ever you et her, when the ti cos, be a guiding light for her."
"I was never the father my little ones deserved... not like I was for Cassie. After she and their mother died, what was left of our family drifted apart. I feared that if I stayed too close, the sa fate that took Cassie would claim them as well. Sotis, to truly love soone, you have to beco a stranger."
rciless' voice reverberated through the air, powerful and smooth, as the dual forces of Pride and Vanity found perfect harmony within him. In that pivotal mont, the two essences converged, feeding off his manipulative tendencies and selfish subconscious thoughts.
His mind, already consud by an insatiable hunger for control, allowed these dark forces to rge seamlessly, amplifying his ego and sharpening his will.
The dying man before him pleaded to save his children; it was a noble request, no doubt. But nobility had no place in rciless' heart, not when it conflicted with his desires. Still, this man had passed down a power, a gift worthy of acknowledgnt.
For that, at the very least, rciless would offer a token of gratitude. He spoke the words the dying man longed to hear, not out of compassion, but because it was practical, after all, whether the man's children lived or died depended entirely on their value to him.
"My my how touching, how noble of you to carry such burdens even in your final monts."
rciless said softly and continued.
"You have suffered greatly, haven't you? But rest assured, your heart has not gone unnoticed."
He pauses for a mont, allowing a brief, sorrowful silence to linger in the air.
"As for your daughter and son, I will see to it that their paths are touched by a guiding hand... just as you wish."
rciless continues.
"And though you feel you have been absent, love is a strange and powerful thing, isn't it? Sotis, being distant may have spared them more pain than you know."
His voice was a whisper filled with false reassurance.
"In the end, love is not defined by presence alone, is it? Perhaps, in your own way, you did protect them."
"Sleep now, and let your worries fade. Leave the rest to ."
rciless said, to which Faust inwardly smiled, and said.
"Then I will leave them in your capable hands, new inheritor of the sin of Pride and Vanity."
And with those final words, Faust vanished, his existence erased by his own will.
And so, Undeterred Vanity and Self Righteous Pride t their end when expressed through Faust.
And now a new Dawn of their definition had begun.
This day Undeniable Vanity and Profane Pride were born in place of the forr.
anwhile, rciless was kicked out of this domain; and back into the Sea of Correspondence.
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