Sin Rouge was quieter than unsual
Less celebration.
More… tension.
Everyone felt it.
Not because something exploded.
But because Ouroboros stopped expanding.
And Hell noticed.
Hell always noticed hesitation.
Malerion stood in the war room with the inner circle. Screens glowed, maps hovered, strategy boards covered the walls. The neon from outside flickered against the glass.
Quill worked fast, eyes narrowed, fingers darting across holographic controls.
His voice finally cut through the room:
> "We've got movement."
Not chaos.
Cold, sharp warning.
Everyone looked up.
Malerion straightened slightly calm, but alert.
Quill continued:
> "Multiple factions. Wrath gangs, a few minor Lust syndicates, and two independent Overlords. All probing borders."
Skit froze mid-step.
Bit swore under his breath.
Doona tightened her grip on her ledger.
Liz's eyes narrowed, posture snapping into predatory stillness.
Dreg grinned the wrong kind of grin.
> "So. They finally think we're weak."
Rafe spoke next calm, analytical:
> "We expanded fast. Too fast for Hell's comfort. When we stopped, they didn't see caution."
"They saw fear."
Verosika leaned against the railing beside Malerion, arms folded, tail flicking annoyed, but not afraid.
> "Hell's full of opportunists. You stop climbing, they assume you're falling."
Malerion's jaw tightened slightly the only sign of irritation.
> "They're testing us."
Quill nodded.
> "And they're coordinating. Not as allies… more like scavengers rushing toward the same carcass."
Liz spoke quietly, voice cold:
> "The Watcher did this."
Heads turned.
She continued:
> "He wanted expansion. Malerion refused. So he put blood in the water."
A beat.
Silence.
Then Verosika scoffed.
> "Coward move. Can't fight directly, so he stirs chaos hoping someone else does the work."
Dreg slammed a fist into his palm.
> "Then we break every fucker who crosses the line."
Rafe raised a brow.
> "Efficient. Primitive. But not strategic."
Doona added:
> "If we retaliate blindly, we'll confirm we're unstable."
Skit nodded rapidly:
> "So we can't look scared"
Bit finished:
> "But we can't look hesitant."
The tension in the room shifted sharpening, aligning, focusing.
Everyone waited.
Until Malerion finally spoke:
> "We respond just enough."
His voice didn't rise.
It didn't need to.
Everyone listened.
> "We do not expand. We do not retreat. We reinforce what is ours decisively."
Dreg's smile widened into something feral.
> "Permission to crush anyone who steps over the line?"
Malerion nodded once.
> "Only those who make the mistake."
Quill zoomed the holographic map, highlighting three blinking red areas.
> "Wrath border. Lust docks. And the old sinner overlord's territory."
Bit frowned.
> "The one Dreg wiped out?"
Verosika corrected without looking away from Malerion:
> "The sinner overlord Dreg wiped out."
Doona murmured:
> "So someone wants that territory back."
Rafe's eyes narrowed.
> "Or someone wants to see how fast we bleed."
Liz tilted her head.
> "Either way they're underestimating us."
Malerion stepped forward, gaze sweeping his people not with distance, but with ownership.
Not possession.
Responsibility.
> "This is not war. Not yet."
A pause.
> "This is a demonstration."
A slow, dangerous shift rolled across the room morale tightening, confidence sharpening.
Verosika met his eyes.
And something unspoken passed between them.
Not fear or doubt.
Alignment.
> "So," she murmured, voice low, dangerous, amused,
"how loud do you want the message?"
Malerion didn't smile but his tone carried one.
> "Loud enough only fools ignore it."
Dreg slammed his fist into the table.
> "Then let's hunt."
Everyone moved.
Plans formed. Units deployed. Signals lit. Engines roared.
Hell thought Ouroboros paused.
Thought hesitation meant weakness.
But Sin Rouge was waking up like a wounded animal with teeth.
And somewhere in Envy Ring…
watching through networks and shadows…
The Watcher smiled.
Not satisfied ir victorious.
Amused.
> "Good. Show me what happens when the serpent bites."