The tropical breeze wafted through the open windows of the parlor, stirring the linen curtains with a gentle hand as Leila sat across from two of the most formidable beings in existence.

The villa, nestled on a secluded island, was a paradise. It was also where she had been reforged.

The woman known as the Sin of Sloth lounged on a chaise, embodying the very essence of her namesake with an elegance that seemed effortless. Her serene expression and the way she sipped her tea masked the depth of power that lay within her, power that Leila had come to know and respect deeply through her training.

Joining them was a man who contrasted sharply with Sloth's relaxed demeanor. The Sin of Gluttony was a stick-thin figure dressed in a pinstripe suit that hugged his slender frame, complete with a top hat - which sat on the table before him - that added an air of eccentricity to his appearance. Despite his name, there was nothing excessive about his physical form. His almond eyes, however, held a glint of insatiable curiosity and intelligence, speaking volumes of the kind of gluttony he embodied - one that devoured knowledge, experiences, and perhaps, on occasion, more tangible fare.

Leila had gotten to know the man well and found him pleasant. He had a peculiar habit he adhered to with religious fervor: his tea time. Regardless of the situation, whether amidst the chaos of battle or the tranquility of their current setting, he would pause for tea every few hours. During one of these tea breaks, Leila found herself discussing her progress with her mentors.

"I would say that it's reasonable to retain the upper projection. Within two months, Leila should achieve the S-rank, major disruptions notwithstanding." Gluttony said in his reedy tone of voice. "At this point, we can completely scrap the lower projections."

Leila smiled to herself. Despite all that had happened to her and the way her life had been flipped upside down, she still grabbed the opportunity thrown at her with both hands and made the best of it.

"The previous data shows that we should expect a flex in performance about now, but I haven't noticed anything like that," Sloth responded, granting her student a proud smile.

"Have there been a lot of others before me then?" Leila asked. She had wondered for a long time, and while she had put together an idea of the Deadly Sins' efforts, she felt confident they wouldn't rebuke her for asking at this point.

"We had a few, but churning out powerhouses like yourself requires not only our attention but, at times, years of dedication," Sloth remarked, her voice as calm as the sea that bordered their island. "Your advancement in just seven months is nothing short of remarkable, Leila. You've proven to be an excellent investment."

Gluttony paused in his meticulous preparations of the third cup of tea to answer, "Not everyone has been a success story like you, my dear. A few, unfortunately, had to be... put down. The path to power is fraught with peril, and not all who embark on it survive well enough that they can be unleashed upon the world."

Leila nodded soberly. People changed when they were given power, and becoming an S-rank, a being capable of deciding the fate of entire nations on a whim, meant that great care had to be applied.

It was something she had suspected. There were hints that others had lived in the tropical villa before her, and Sloth hadn't kept it a secret that she was using data from previous attempts to guide her growth. "I'm grateful for the help and happy to have satisfied your expectations. I can't say I'd like to do this forever because I want to return home, but it was enjoyable."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Sloth's smile widened at her enthusiasm. "And we thank you for it, Leila," she said warmly. "However, take your time getting to where you need to be. Surprisingly, few problems in upper North America - which will become your designated area - require your intervention."

This piqued Leila's curiosity. "Have you or Gluttony been solving the pressing ones? Or maybe Pride? I know he was there a while ago," she ventured, her gaze shifting between her two mentors.

Sloth's smile took on a fond quality, her eyes twinkling with a hint of pride. "Not directly, no. Someone surprised me with his grit and stubbornness," she admitted, the fondness in her voice unmistakable.

Leila's mind raced, piecing together the clues she had been given during her time with Sloth. The woman had always been somewhat reserved when discussing her personal connections, yet there were moments, like now, where her fondness for specific individuals shone through. Leila had gathered enough hints to conclude that Sloth must be deeply connected to someone she might know. Given the eye color they shared, Leila suspected it was James.

Despite not knowing the specifics of their relationship, Leila felt incredibly proud of Team 0's leader. His actions, indirectly mentioned by Sloth, seemed to have had a significant impact, contributing to the stability of all.

The sins operated as shadowy guardians of humanity, after all. If they considered something beneficial, it meant it was big.

Considering his track record, Leila suspected James might have gotten mixed up with another Shard of the Abyss.

Pride had been there the last time to handle it, but it seemed like the young man had been enough in this occurrence.

Leila's thoughts were interrupted as the conversation shifted towards future plans. Gluttony, who had just poured himself another cup of tea, began discussing their next moves with a focus that told her the issue was serious.

"Our problem brewing in Mexico is getting worse, but that can wait a while since Towers is there to handle the worst of it,” Gluttony said, adjusting his top hat with a flourish. "There's a mess in Giza that demands our immediate attention."

Intrigued by the mention of the site in Egypt, Leila leaned forward. "Has a pyramid's dungeon opened again?" She remembered the first time such an event had occurred—a wave of monsters had emerged, killing hundreds of thousands before it was cleared. The ordeal had been a terrifying demonstration of the power such dungeons held.

Sloth nodded, her expression grave. "It appears so. A new tomb has been discovered, and it seems to be escalating towards S-rank quickly. It could represent a global threat if it's not dealt with soon."

If it's growing that quickly, it means either someone has tampered with it, and I doubt it's possible since the groups capable of doing that wouldn't escalate to S-rank, as they'd lose control, or it's a Shard of the Abyss.

Dungeons where a Shard of the Abyss gathered were notorious for becoming exponentially stronger quickly, often spawning a single, mighty commander. This commander would then lead its minions out of the dungeon to conquer the surrounding land.

They become almost impossible to handle if they are left to grow in power. They haven't inducted me in all the secrets yet, but I was taught this. The Shards are remnants of lost worlds, which influence the dungeons to become a corrupted copy of themselves. I don't know if they understand their nature, as they haven't explained anything of the sort yet, but even what little I know is enough.

Sloth had once explained why it had taken her so long to clear the Mariana Trench dungeon. She had spent years warring with a Mermaid tribe made of murderous, genocidal creatures that would have scoured the oceans of life and imposed a blockade on every country on Earth had she not been there.

Sometimes, Leila wondered just how much more she wasn't in the know about. Even what she had learned in the last few months was enough to stun her.

Sloth and Gluttony rose from their seats as the discussion drew to a close. "We'll address the situation in Giza first," Sloth said, her voice unwavering. "Once that's handled, we can focus on Mexico and other issues. The problem there is not Shard-related, but it is growing beyond the normal administration's ability to handle."

"Are you talking about the undead?" Leila asked. It was well known that an S-rank dungeon had taken over a significant portion of Mexico, but she had been assured by Sloth that there was almost no chance of it expanding more.

Gluttony stopped in his tracks, "It's not something you need to worry about yet, but yes, we have reliable information that something is stirring up the Great Tomb."

Ah fuck. If it's not unfathomable horrors from across dimensions, it's human stupidity. Why would anyone poke around a necropolis of that size? Do they want to kill everyone?

"But we don't believe it will result in a significant escalation. It's just momentary retribution. The Boss there should understand the stakes well enough." Sloth tried to calm her down.

Leila sighed, "It's not the undead being irrational I'm worried about. Humans do that on their own often enough."