“How… how did you come to wield demonic power?!”
Ascalon’s question echoed against the room’s walls ominously, startling everyone with the implication behind his words. A maniacal laugh escaped Ian’s lips, increasing in volume and horror. Lilithra, most of all, gasped in both shock and fear, knowing too well that demonic energy was one of the most dark, hideous powers one could possess.
She understood the gravity of the situation very well, even better than most, as demon blood coursed through her veins—though she lacked any of the power associated with her heritage. Her very existence resonated with Ian’s grotesque power, making her body tremble and her confidence waver. Her mind was flooded by memories of her mother—a true demon—and she felt like a child, small, weak and helpless, just like in the past.
But, amidst the creeping despair, she felt a gentle relief push against the dark. Ascalon’s passive skill kept her from falling too far into the depths of terror, and she looked at him with teary eyes. Ah, the brilliant knight, his mere presence a beacon of hope and righteousness! But now he looked fierce, somewhat desperate.
It was a given. Lilithra recalled how Ascalon seemed to have a history with demons. Thinking about her own horns, she felt a sting of pain in her chest, but she quickly shook her head from side to side, knowing it was no time to feel bad about herself. Ascalon was the one suffering, and she needed to stand by him no matter what!
Meanwhile, the rest were feeling the intense malice from a distance. Selorien gripped his daggers tightly, a profound sense of dread gnawing at the back of his mind. Ascalon called that power ‘demonic’, and the elf agreed wholeheartedly. “And they call Lilithra a demon…” Selorien whispered to himself, baffled by the situation.
Escarlata, as experienced and skillful as she was, focused her full, undivided attention on Ian. The energy radiating from him caused her to deem it a most dangerous threat, her whole demeanor changing to that of a ruthless, killing machine. She was so on edge that if anyone approached her, they would be cut where they stood. Though, for now, she assessed the situation in complete stillness.
As for Lyra, she kept imbuing her energy onto her brother as she fought the scary thoughts in her mind. Levi’s complexion had improved somewhat, his wounds mostly closed and his face showing a bit more color—but Lyra was at her limit, as her stamina was all but gone. She stopped for a moment, struggling for air and placing her head on Levi’s torso.
“Levi…” She whispered weakly, her shaky voice drawing Ascalon’s attention. Her brother feebly raised his hand, patting her head, and they both smiled warmly. The sight made Ascalon’s chest feel warm. He thought that, amidst the incoming horror, they were to be protected at all costs. Resolution ignited fiercely in his soul, causing him to recompose himself and face Ian once more.
At that moment, Ian stood tall, letting out a relieved, long sigh. “Yes… this is it… this power.” He raised a hand, a hideous, strange amulet in his palm. “What manner of creature have you become? Ascalon asked with clear disgust, narrowing his eye at the weird trinket. Ian simply chuckled, amused by the knight’s question.
“What am I…? Well… Henceforth, you shall call me by my new, true name.” Ian’s voice distorted, sounding as if he had become a completely different person—or being.
“I am the seat of Greed! Anything and everything shall be mine!” He declared, his dreary voice spreading a wave of malice around him. He raised the strange amulet high, and Ascalon’s emblem resonated wildly in response, stirring in his pocket with what the knight could only assume was anger and disgust.
Ascalon frowned, a chilling notion settling in. Wrath and Greed… where they mimicking the cardinal sins? But why, for what purpose? Though mimic may have been the wrong word, for the demonic power that permeated the air was very much the real deal.
But as much as Ascalon wanted to keep questioning the man, Ian—no, Greed—leaped down from the pile of corpses. The air around him crackled with dark energy, his laughter echoing through the room as he descended with terrifying intensity. His intentions were clear—he wanted a fight, and a fight he would have.
Though that was easier said than done. Ascalon remained shackled by his worry for both his friends and the city above him, after all. Yet even if he made sure to hold back, the L’adariel’s ‘monster maid’ had no qualms with going all-out—her sole focus was protecting the young master.
In the next moment, Greed landed with an unnatural weight, many of the floor slabs around him cracking, his energy sending a ripple through the room. While everyone recoiled at Greed’s maddening landing, Escarlata lunged at him with an uncanny burst of speed.
As she cut through the air, both her hands drew long, thin blades from within the sleeves of her dress, their sharp edges reflecting the blurry surroundings. She reached her target in an instant, thrusting forward with precision—a powerful dual strike aimed at the man’s chest, propelled by her momentum.
But Greed only chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement through the sockets in his mask. As Escarlata’s blades approached, Greed moved with careful, fluid motions. His body twisted like a serpent as his feet shifted on the cracked ground. He lowered his center of gravity, his knees bending as he turned slightly to the side. In a shocking turn of events, both of Escarlata’s blades barely grazed his skin.
Her eyes widened in disbelief, as her attack was meant to take the man by surprise and decide the battle in a single move. Yet he had avoided it narrowly—and worst of all, deliberately. Such precise dodging was no mere chance, and she knew it too well.
Meanwhile, the rest felt both shocked and alarmed. It was twice now that Greed had avoided Escarlata’s attacks, and that was utterly worrying. The maid who they felt was the closest to Ascalon’s strength was thwarted once more. Selorien felt especially shocked, as the one that knew her the best. Lilithra, on the other hand, gulped with nervousness but gripped her banner tightly.
Feeling the gravity of the situation, Escarlata slammed the ground with her heels, the force of her jump blasting the ground beneath her. Escarlata meant to jump back and regain some distance, but before she could, Greed’s voice sent an icy chill down her spine. “No, no. Not this time.” He growled in a deep, ominous voice, as his figure blinked forward.
Greed’s hand reached out with terrifying speed, his fingers clasping tightly onto Escarlata’s right leg. The sudden pull of his grasp made her not only lose her momentum entirely, but also crash with her back to the ground, the impact forcing the air out of her lungs.“Ugh!” Escarlata whimpered with a hushed but sharp tone.
It was unsettling to see the usually impassive maid being forced to yelp in pain. A wave of unease spread across the group, prompting Ascalon to quickly dart in her aid. Selorien snapped out of his shock and stepped into the shadows, while Lilithra raised her weapon high. “Be brave!” She activated her usual skill, a newfound strength encompassing their allies.
But, as the knight advanced, Greed cackled in delight. “Mine!” He declared while Escarlata’s body glowed momentarily green. Confusion and wariness took over Ascalon’s expression as Exemplaris shot forward, its pointy end aiming to pierce Greed cleanly through.
The attack hit deep and true, the great lance skewering the masked man’s torso without resistance—perhaps a little too easily. Escarlata took the chance to get up, though her dumbfounded expression took Ascalon by surprise. Meanwhile, Lilithra felt both excitement and relief well up, thinking that Greed had been cleanly vanquished. But Ascalon knew something was wrong.
Before the knight, Greed’s body suddenly flickered and dispersed into a mass of intangible shadows.
His laugh could be heard, echoing across the room from beneath his mask—no, it was not exactly echoing, it was really coming from different parts of the area at once. Everyone witnessed in shock and horror as a multitude of Greed clones started to dash around the room, their maddening giggling heightening the sense of despair.
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Realization hit them all at once—Greed was using Escarlata’s skill, somehow.
Lyra, who had regained a sliver of her stamina, stared in complete terror as one of the masked figures stood before her and Levi. She quickly shielded her brother, who struggled to remain conscious, his teeths clenched. The cat girl could feel an intense stare, her whole body freezing over, Ascalon’s fear protection waning with every passing breath.
The knight himself felt a rush of urgency sweep over him, seeing the two he wanted to protect at evil’s mercy, and burst toward them in hopes of helping—but in his way stood three more versions of Greed, their imposing presence making him grit his teeth as he tried to break through.
Lilithra, being the closest to Lyra, felt the adrenaline coursing rapidly across her body, her heartbeat thundering in her ears. She had to help them, but her body wouldn’t move. The malice seeping from Greed’s body stirred her memories, and the face of her mother flashed vividly in her mind.
A long-forgotten fear gripped her body, her hands shaky and her breath quickening. “Move!” She muttered in frustration, through chattering teeth. “Move!!!” Lilithra shouted, her body finally obeying her command. She quickly drew her arms back, carrying the banner with her, and immediately pierced forward in a powerful thrust.
But Greed didn’t even flinch, sidestepping to avoid the incoming attack without deeming it necessary to look at it. At the same time, he placed a hand on Lyra’s head. For a moment, the cat girl anticipated a soft, gentle caress. But the memories of the ever kind Ian were pierced through by a weird feeling of emptiness, followed by the sharp pain of her hair being pulled at.
“Auugh!” Lyra whimpered meekly as Greed lifted her effortlessly. Her body glowed with an eerie green, just like Escarlata had moments before, and the man chuckled under his mask before hurling the cat girl through the air with absolutely no mercy.
Lilithra followed Lyra’s airborne body with a panicked gaze. Without missing a beat, the horned girl threw her banner to the ground and leaned forward, ready to move. In the next second, she ran behind Lyra, her legs carrying her at a speed she didn’t know she could even muster. Just before Lyra’s frame hit the ground, Lilithra leaped forward and reached out, catching the falling cat and cushioning the impact with her arms.
“Agh!” Lilithra gasped in pain as Lyra's weight slammed into her, the force of the impact squishing her into the stone beneath them. Her arms throbbed under the strain, but she let out a relieved sigh as Lyra recomposed herself.
“Lilithra!” The Felinae exclaimed, sitting on the floor and helping her friend up. Lilithra smiled awkwardly as she stood up, pain still present across her body, while Lyra’s eyes darted toward her previous position. “Levi!” Lyra recoiled in angst, seeing how the Greed that had thrown her was standing over her brother, one foot pressing cruelly on his face.
Amidst her anguish, her eyes caught a yellow streak. It was Ascalon, charging toward Greed with three other copies following closely behind. He had managed to outrun them, though a moment too late—once again, he was thankful for his friends’ presence, as they were covering for his blunders.
Ascalon reached the Greed that was tormenting Levi. “Oh?” He muttered with curiosity, before being pierced clean by the ruthless Exemplaris. The man flickered, melting into a shadow before disappearing while Ascalon swiftly turned, delivering a sweeping horizontal strike to his pursuers.
Two of the pursuing Greed back stepped in order to avoid the hit, while the remaining one simply laughed as the attack crossed through him, erasing him from existence. “Curse you and your tricks, Greed!” Ascalon barked, his tone a mix of frustration and annoyance.
Greed was proving to be a problematic foe, and Ascalon lamented his weakness. If only he didn’t need to hold back, he could be of better help to his friends. Just as he thought that, one of the Greeds that had avoided him stepped closer, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Ascalon flinched as a weird sensation spread through his body, a strange sense of loss invading his mind. He pulled away from the masked man while simultaneously thrusting forward, piercing him cleanly with his lance.
But it was too late. While Greed vanished into nothingness, Ascalon saw his body glow eerily a moment before a screen materialized in front of him.
The sinful skill - Covetous Grasp - Has stolen some of your power.
Beware what you believe is yours, for Greed will come and claim it all!
—Skill info—
The seat of Greed’s unique skill.
Rank: Not applicable. - Not applicable.
Potential: Not applicable..
Attribute: Demonic.
Effects:
When Greed touches a living being, one of the following effects activates:
Stat claim: Steals a random percentage of the target’s stats. Has a chance to steal multiple parameters at once.
Skill devourer: Steals a random active or passive skill. Has a chance to steal multiple skills at once.
Selfish intention: Steals vitality and stamina. Has a chance to absorb twice the amount.
Dishonest growth: Steals experience and levels. Resulting stats are automatically allocated.
Additional effects:
* Duration of the effects depends on both Greed and the target’s stats and levels.
* All of the effects have a chance to become permanent.
While Ascalon studied the details of the skill, his emblem quivered furiously, as if it shared his anger at the thief. But what alarmed Ascalon the most was the mention at the very beginning. “Sinful skill…?” Ascalon murmured, his sole eye focusing on the Greed that was closest to him. The clone tilted his head, and Ascalon could picture him smiling under his mask.
It was clear now. Greed wasn’t merely pretending to be a cardinal sin—he was channeling something far darker. Somehow, he had tapped into the raw power of the ancient, long gone archdemons—a thought both terrifying and alarming. Ascalon felt his heart pounding with dread and a sense of duty, as this was no simple foe; it was a threat to be utterly eradicated.
“You blasphemous wretch…!” Ascalon snarled from behind clenched teeth, a profound feeling of hostility erupting from within. He gripped Exemplaris tightly, and with a burst of raw strength, he lunged at the Greed before him.
Meanwhile, Lyra and Lilithra hurried to his side, both intent on protecting Levi. “Let’s get him further away!” The horned girl suggested with a worried tone, and her cat-eared friend nodded frantically.
As bitter as it was, they knew they would be of no help as they were. Lyra was at her limit, having barely any strength left and doing her best to carry Levi on her back. She was so glad her brother was so small and light—though she knew better than to say that to his face!
Lilithra, on the other hand, knew she would get in the way. Greed exuded such a powerful aura that even she could feel it, physically, sticking to her skin like something vile. It was a hideous, nauseating feel—thick with demonic energy. Trying not to succumb to fear, she ran along Lyra, trying to protect her from incoming danger while they relocated Levi to safety.
The remaining two were now engaged in combat with various copies of Greed. Escarlata had composed herself and was holding her own against two clones, though she found it incredibly difficult to gain the upper hand. Everytime she tried to push further, a premonition would strike—a fresh memory of Greed’s hand claiming something of hers. Thus, it remained a stalemate, one clearly in favor of the sinful.
On the other side of the room was Selorien, who had been grabbed once already, his dexterity stat having been drastically reduced. He felt agitated, cornered, yet still wanted to keep fighting against the single Greed that taunted him with his presence.
It was strange. But even stranger was the fact that some part of him didn’t even mind the challenge, thinking he could still turn it around, that he could claim victory over his foe. It was quite greedy of him.
It was then that a voice echoed through the room. “Be brave!” It was Lilithra’s skill, though it came from a different mouth—a malevolent, mocking voice. Both Selorien and Ascalon turned toward the sound, their hearts leaping as they saw another Greed grabbing Lilithra by the neck, her small figure struggling to break free.
At his feet lay Lyra, heaving under the weight of her brother, a swollen cheek painting the scene that had just unfolded. Seeing the two of them in such distress, something snapped inside Ascalon.