I was once hailed as the greatest hero to ever step on earth the savior who struck down disaster and calamity-class monsters and demons that threatened the balance of our world. Alongside with my comrade, we stood as the final defense between mankind and oblivion.
Even with awakeners they are no match against the increasing danger, day by day monster gotten much stronger, until the appearance of the very first calamity-class monster around the globe.
So, the Gods choose seven people to hold the divine powers.
We were known as the Blessed Ones, the mortals chosen and favored by the gods themselves. Together, we bore the divine duty of the Seven Virtues, each representing a sacred aspect of the heavens. Our mission is to vanquish the encroaching darkness and preserve the frail light of humanity.
Among them, I was revered and feared as the strongest.
They called me Caritas, the Virtue of Charity, said to embody the essence of all virtues combined. For within me flowed the boundless compassion of the divine… and the terrible power that came with it.
Even they showed me friendly smiles, but I still felt unease, I ignored that feeling until:
One day, my comrades informed me of a strange disturbance near the city.
My phone rang…
Bzzzt… Bzzzt…
I picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Caritas, there's an urgent news. A monster has appeared near the city, it's location is the Forhun Mountains."
(Starled), I stood up. "That's close here. I'm heading there now."
Ending the call, I hurried toward the door, a faint smirk forming on my face.
"Oh ho…"
But deep inside, unease stirred within me.
Why would a monster appear in that area? It's protected by the Holy Barrier… unless..
I chuckled softly. "mmm. Perhaps it's a strong one"
After a few minutes, I arrived at the mountain where Bondone, the Virtue of Diligence, was already waiting. He was still on the phone when he noticed me.
"Caritas," he said, "they confirmed it's inside the mountain."
We entered cautiously. The air was thick and cold, the silence unsettling. After several minutes of walking, I felt something wrong.
"Bon," I called out, "why aren't any monsters around?"
He smirked.
Oh,oh,oh…Caritas… so innocent as always or should I say Frans? Or is it Francis now? A suitable name for a naive person like you.
Before I could react, a strange devise on the ground began to glow, draining my energy rapidly.
"Hey!" I gasped, but the crushing pressure stopped my words.
Why are they doing this? What did I do wrong?
Calyen… the virtue of temperance… Bondone… and even Humanitas, the virtue of kindness…
A mocking female voice echoed through the cavern.
"Why,why, oh why, dear Caritas? I know what you're thinking, "why did they do this to me?" hahaha… Let me answer that for you, it is because of you."
My eyes widened.
"Scarlet…? (cough), blood spilling from his mouth. I never thought the virtue of humility herself would be part of this…
"Ugh… Why are you all doing this?!" I roared weakly. "DO you even understand the power the gods entrusted to us?"
They only smirked.
"Oh, dear francis," Scarlet whispered," even without you, this world will continue as it always has, No one will know what happen to this day, except us."
Their faces twisted into cruel smiles. Rage boiled within me, but I could no longer move or speak.
As scarlet swings her hand,
A portal tore open before me, a swirling inferno of fire and shadows.
"Farewell, Frans," Bondone sneered as they shoved ,e into the burning gate.
Their laughter echoed as I fell.
"hahaha! No one will find your body… even the gods will be blin dto this, thanks to the relic that you've found"
I closed my eyes as my body weakened. But death never came.
When I awoke, I was surrounded by flames and demons.
Their swords and claws gleamed in the darkness as they closed in.
Despite my broken state, I clenched my fist.
If I'm going to die, then I'll die fighting.
I battled with everything I had. As I struck down each demon, I felt something strange, their energy flowing into me, empowering me. My wounds healed, my strength returned. Confused but desperate, I kept fighting… and I slaughtered them all.
Days passed. Weeks. I rose through the depths of Hell itself, until the Vices of the Underworld challenged me.
"You, foolish human," they laughed," You dare invade our domain?"
I smiled faintly.
"Are you afraid?" I said, "I fight not for power… but for my own survival."
Enraged, they attacked. The clash of steel and fire echoed through the abyss. One by one, I defeated them until silence reigned once more.
Then, from the darkness, a presence emerge. Vast, suffocating, divine and demonic are alike flowing in him.
"Oh ho… what a sight," the voice said
I trembled."Who are you?"
It ignored me, scoffing."Weakling… all of them."
"Hey! I'm talking to you"
Its gaze finally fell upon me.
"You, human," it said coldly, "I challenge you to a duel, if you win…"
"…I will grant you my power."
The ground trembled as the entity stepped forward, a towering figure wreathed in black fire, its eyes burning with golden arrogance.
"Tell me, human" it spoke, "What drives you to climb from despair?"
I steadied my breath, summoning the last ramtants of my strength. "Because… I refuse to die without honor in battle."
It grinned."Then show me that defiance."
Our clash shook the very foundation of Hell. Each strike sent waves of energy that tore through the crimson sky. My sword burned with divine light, his claws with internal might. I fought with fury, with rage, with pain… yet he moved like a god, unharmed and untouchable.
Soon, my legs faltered. My body screamed in agony. He could have ended it with one strike… but he didn't.
Instead, he stopped… his claws inches from my heart.
A faint smile crossed his monstrous face.
"Interesting… You remind me of who I once was."
Before I could understand, he guided my hand, thrusting my own blade through his chest.
I gasped. "Why…?"
Black ichor spilled, yet he laughed softly.
"Because I am Pride… The first and powerful sin. I could have… but your resolve outshines my arrogance. That deserves to live on."
He gripped my shoulder as his body begun to fade into light and shadow.
"Take my power, young lad. Let it twist or redeem you… the choice is yours."
His final whisper echoed like a curse and a blessing.
"What's the use of victory… if one forgets what they fight for?"
Then he was gone.
Silence consumed the internsal plain. I fell to my knees, trembling as his essence poured into me. Light and darkness collided within my soul, the sancity of the divine and the fury of the damned fusing into me.
Then, a blinding shockwave burse forth, shaking the depths of hell.
Across the underworld, the sins and acient demons froze in disbelief, their hearts seized by fear. For within that surge, they felt it… an aura that bore both pride and divinity, radiating with enormous power.
And from that momment, I was no longer who I was…