Myths Reawakened

At Pride’s frosty, ruthless words, Gluttony’s and Wrath’s expressions crumbled. Envy and the other demon lords were also surprised by Pride’s merciless reaction.

The crime didn’t warrant the punishment!

The Seventy-two Demon Lords were Hell’s faces. In Hell, power was law. Anyone with raw power could become part of the Seventy-two Demon Lords—but not the Seven Demon Lords.

The reason was simple: they made the rules, so they were above the rules.

Since the seven acquired their corresponding Seven Deadly Sins, the Seven Demon Lords had never been replaced. They would forever be the great demon lords, and the only way they could go was up, becoming the great demon god. Any of them dropping down and becoming corpses was an impossibility.

If Pride insisted on killing Gluttony and Wrath, subjecting the Seven Demon Lords to the rules, the precedent would make it possible for him to undergo the same experience. Envy and the other demon lords all considered Pride’s action unwise. He should’ve discussed the matter with them first.

Wayne, who had infiltrated the demons’ ranks, was surprised that Pride had actually spoken up and followed their plan.

Aren’t you a demon? Why are you so concerned about Hell’s fate when you aren’t the great demon god?

That further cemented Wayne’s suspicion that Pride was about to ignite his divine fire and become the only great demon god in Hell. It was because Hell would be his Divine Realm that he could not tolerate Gluttony and Wrath after they corrupted Hell.

That also disproved the theory that Pride was a spy planted by Heaven. It might seem like he had taken out two of the Seven Demon Lords and given Heaven a greater advantage, but actually considering the issue would show that Pride was protecting Hell by cutting off the harmful ailment.

However... two would have to fill the vacancies after Gluttony and Wrath were taken out. As a predetermined candidate, Wayne became even more confused about Pride’s stance. He alternated between considering him Heaven’s agent and Hell’s guardian.

Whatever. Maybe he’s just looking for a good time. A thrill-seeker could do the most absurd thing.

“Pride, stop your preaching,” Wrath said sarcastically with a dark expression. “We’re demons, and demons follow no rules. Just say it if you see us as obstacles and worry that we’ll surpass you.”

“Corrupting Hell?” Gluttony chimed in for his boatmate. “Once I become the demon god, Hell will follow my image. I’m only turning Hell into my ideal in advance.”

“That’s why I called you ignorant!” Pride crushed the crystal to pieces. “Corrupted by Mechanical Augmentation, you’ve lost your caution and can’t see anything beyond the possibility of reaching godhood. You forget that there is no free lunch in the world. You’re no longer the Seven Deadly Sins that you were. Hell tolerates no outsiders!”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say.” Gluttony scoffed, turning to the other demon lords. “What do you think? Pride will not allow anyone to grow stronger, you see. He’s coming after us today, and he will go after you tomorrow!”

“Haven’t you realized it? In Hell, Pride will only allow himself to become the great demon god!”

“Hear the excuses he’s used. Gluttony and I want to corrupt Hell and turn you into slaves? How scary. He’s clearly talking about his own wishes!”

Gluttony and Wrath went back and forth, making Envy and the other demon lords show visible concern.

They had a point.

Wayne looked at the demon lord in his embrace. Lust had an approving look on her face, obviously worried that she would become Pride’s tool in taking out the dissenters. She planned to detach herself from the plan.

And she did. Standing with Envy, Greed, and Sloth, she refused to get involved in today’s mess.

Oh hell, she’s way too quick to change sides!

Wayne rolled his six eyes and one chest eye, seeing how difficult Pride’s life was. It was truly impossible to carry these demon lords.

Pride scowled. He knew Lust couldn’t be depended on, but he hadn’t anticipated how unreliable she could be. In his original plan, he wouldn’t be the one to make a move. He should be the overseer while Lust and Bat Demon, his ‘replica’, went after Gluttony and Wrath with the other demon lords as witnesses.

Wayne would be the main attacker, while Lust would be the deadweight as she pretended to attack. That would show Wayne the experience of working with incompetent fools, and the Anointed One’s plight would be prime entertainment to Pride.

That was how the leading man should live!

However, Lust didn’t even put on a front. She withdrew from the match altogether.

What can you do aside from raising your hips and dipping your waist? You put on no performance at all. No wonder the Anointed One wants nothing but your body!

Pride insulted the vermin and turned to the self-satisfied Gluttony and Wrath, ignoring the four demon lords staying on the sidelines. “Fine, then,” he said coldly. “It’ll be a one-on-two fight. I’ll personally take care of the traitors of Hell.”

“One on two? Can you do it?” Wrath narrowed his eyes. While he made the sarcastic remark, though, he wasn’t really confident. Despite both him and Gluttony having gained new power and become changed demons, they were facing Pride. Nothing was guaranteed.

“Why? Are you scared?” Pride raised an eyebrow. “I smell fear from you. You’re scared, aren’t you?”

“Nonsense. With Wrath fighting alongside me, I have no reason to be scared of you!” Gluttony shouted to disperse the fear in his heart, pumping himself up.

“I approve of your fighting spirit. I’ll give you a grand funeral that befits one of the Seven Deadly Sins.” Pride swung his arm to point at Wayne. “Bat Demon, my replica, pick one and leave the other to me.”

The demon lords looked at Wayne in surprise. Except for Lust, they all wondered if Pride was joking. Was Pride giving himself a way out because he was scared?

Under the demon lords’ gazes, Wayne slumped on the chair, his head drooping like he was dead. Gluttony and Wrath were too powerful. The replica didn’t want to die, so the main body should take care of everything!

Pride’s face twisted with rage. What the Heaven? Was this guy really the Anointed—

Oh, no. Was the Anointed One planning to destroy Hell by pitting the three great demon lords against each other, and Pride had fallen into the trap in a moment of carelessness?

“Hahaha—” x2

In contrast to Pride’s dark look, Gluttony and Wrath burst out laughing.

“Look at your replica, Pride. He’s the smart one.” Gluttony’s laugh distorted his face.

Wrath’s eyes gleamed. “I get it now. After seeing the information on Mechanical Augmentation, you realize how powerful Gluttony and I have become. Because you’re afraid and have no help, you have your replica admit his weakness and pull out of the fight.”

Gluttony’s eyes lit up as well.

The assumption that they would be bullying the weak raised the two demon lords’ morale. Pride wasn’t a big deal, they thought. They had made the mistake of being overly cautious. They should’ve been more arrogant.

Envy burst out laughing from the sidelines, too. “I get it now. When Pride acquired Mechanical Augmentation, Gluttony and Wrath had already gotten much further. Worried that he would be controlled, he dared not go down the same path. Also worried that he wouldn’t be able to defeat Gluttony and Wrath, he gathered us, trying to talk us into fighting by his side!”

He cackled harshly. “Do your best, Gluttony and Wrath. If you defeat Pride, you’ll become the head of the Seven Deadly Sins. You will be Hell’s future!”

The three demon lords’ laughter rang across the meeting venue.

“Hahaha—” x3

“Nicely said, Envy!”

“I didn’t expect you to make us laugh without telling a joke.”

“Bastard, who are you calling a clown?”

“...”

╰⋛▔皿▔⋚╯

These demons, Pride groaned inwardly. He wanted to kill himself.

What had he said before? It wasn’t that he wasn’t hard-working enough or that he didn’t want to get better. However, with these vermin around, how could anyone manage Hell well?

“Cut the crap. All of you, piss off. I’ll take care of the two traitors on my own.” Pride waved and grasped the boneless Bat Demon. “Gluttony, Wrath, my replica and I will take care of you. Only the winners will get to live.”

He hurled the unreliable Anointed One at Gluttony and Wrath.

You choose which of you will take on him!

All of a sudden, the steadfast alliance cracked. Neither Gluttony nor Wrath wanted to be the first to confront Pride, hoping that their bestie would be kind enough to test the waters. With a howl, Gluttony moved to take on Bat Demon, but Wrath tripped him.

When Gluttony looked up again, Wrath had already grabbed Bat Demon and jumped off the island.

“Bastard!”

Gluttony’s face twisted with rage. Putting himself in Wrath’s shoes, he could already foresee Wrath getting beaten up by Pride’s replica while shouting that Bat Demon was too strong. Only when Gluttony was close to getting beaten to death would Wrath defeat Bat Demon, with ‘difficulty’.

Such were demons. Since both of them were demons, Gluttony wasn’t going to fall for the trick.

“So, you ignorant fool will be my opponent.” Pride took a step forward.

Gluttony took two steps back. “Pride, Wrath and I aren’t a united front. You know how evolution works. He and I are mortal enemies. Let’s take care of him together. Once everything settles, I’ll leave Hell and become a god in Heaven. I promise not to compete with you to become the great demon god of Hell.”

“You talk too much.”

Pride’s eyes glinted with black light. When he appeared again, he was already by Gluttony’s side.

Raising his hand, he clutched Gluttony’s neck easily, tearing space and vanishing from the island with him in tow while Gluttony looked at him with a slowed reaction of shock.

Rumble!!

Space rippled with volatile black tides as crimson lightning struck the island repeatedly, also hitting the well-worn long table and chairs. The furniture, whatever they were made of, wasn’t damaged at all. Once the rising smoke dispersed, only the charred spots proved that lightning had struck.

“Hahaha, great fight. Hell was too dull before, and this is a much-needed commotion.”

Envy pulled a chair and sat down—not his chair, but Pride’s.

“Dull?” Sloth said with a smile. “I disagree. You’ve been telling jokes!”

“Bastard, I’ve been letting you off easy. Are you asking for a duel?” Envy’s eyes widened. He had to say that Pride’s seat was really something. The view here was much better.

“I’d love to, but I’m too lazy.” Sloth pulled open a screen of light with a wave, showing the battle between Pride and Gluttony.

As the four spectating demon lords had expected, it was a one-sided fight where Gluttony was overpowered by Pride. Not even the real-time evolution of Mechanical Augmentation could help.

Every time Gluttony became stronger, Pride did, too. It was as if there were no limit to Pride’s power.

While Pride took on two demon lords and Envy argued with Sloth, Greed and Lust were the only two doing nothing. Greed said with a frown, “Don’t even think about it, Lust. I’m not paying you.”

(눈_눈)

Damn fatty, do you have eight tentacles? If not, shut up. You’re not getting any!