When Kael sat on his new throne, he felt something inside him shift uncomfortably.
The weight of all those gazes...
The shine in foreign eyes studying him...
He wasn't used to so many people watching him in silence.
It made him feel small, clumsy, out of place.
His hands trembled slightly. His throat burned.
He couldn't bear it.
He stood up immediately from the throne, causing several people to look at each other in confusion.
— I-I... the Demon Lord... —he began, but his voice trembled. He coughed, clearing his throat—. I, the Demon Lord, have returned. And I swear on my life that I will not abandon you. I am determined to govern this kingdom as best as I can... with help.
Kael looked around. He searched among those present for a firm figure.
And upon seeing her, he pointed without hesitation, though inside he had no idea what he was doing.
— That woman.
The woman with silver hair—as silver as the shine in her eyes—stood completely surprised. A murmur ran through the hall, like a silent wave.
She took a step forward.
— My lord... your words honor me. But... are you sure that I should be your personal assistant?
Kael, with no one else in mind and his heart pounding like a drum, nodded.
The entire hall fell silent.
The woman bowed her head gracefully.
— Very well, my lord. If those are your orders, then they will be carried out. From this moment, I present myself as your personal assistant. My name is Serenna Kaeloria. If you need me, do not hesitate to call me.
The soldiers struck their weapons against their shields, making the hall rumble like a thunder of loyalty.
Little by little, the governors and representatives of the kingdom began presenting themselves before Kael, swearing loyalty to the new Demon Lord. One by one.
Until the enormous throne room was completely empty.
Only Serenna remained, standing beside him, and two guards watching the door.
The silence was uncomfortable. Tense.
— My King —said Serenna, breaking the quiet—, tomorrow the warriors must present themselves.
Kael frowned.
— What warriors?
— The warriors, my lord. The Seven Deadly Sins. Those who return every time a Demon Lord is born or resurrected. Have you never heard the prophecy?
— Prophecy?
Serenna sighed softly.
— Ah... then you haven't heard it. Allow me to explain the basics...
But before she could continue, a notification rang in Kael's mind.
«System message: The Seven Deadly Sins will not delay in arriving.
Guardians, Demon Lord's warriors approaching.
End of message.»
The echo faded slowly.
Serenna continued:
— Every thousand years, a new Demon Lord appears... or so it is said that he resurrects. And that King is always accompanied by seven warriors. Warriors who will never betray him, who will fight by his side until death.
They are called the Deadly Sins.
Their destiny is to gather. It has always been so. It always will be.
Kael remembered the demi-human who had fought protecting the demonic soldiers. That fierce warrior who had faced the hero without hesitation.
— Wait, Serenna... then the Seven Sins will arrive soon, right? How will I know who they are?
— No one knows exactly, my lord. Only that each one possesses a unique, strange weapon, impossible to replicate. Their weapons are manifestations of the sin they committed in life. They cannot use anything other than that weapon... or the magic that those weapons allow them.
That is all we know.
— I see... And can the sins be of any race?
Serenna paused thoughtfully.
— I believe so. Race doesn't matter. If someone was cursed by a sin, they will come to you.
The room fell silent again.
Until the doors burst open.
They opened from the outside inward, with force, as if a storm had burst into the hall.
Seven figures crossed the threshold and advanced with firm steps.
Serenna reacted immediately.
She positioned herself in front of Kael, drew a short sword and faced them like a warrior ready to die right there.
The newcomers stopped a few meters away, observing the place with fierce calm.
— You! —shouted Serenna— Who are you and how did you enter this place?!
One of the men smiled with dangerous arrogance, as if the entire castle belonged to him.
Kael looked at them carefully.
And there he saw it.
Among them was the demi-human.
The warrior from before.
Agnitus.
— Lower your weapon, Serenna —ordered Kael.
She hesitated for a moment, but obeyed.
Kael took a step forward.
— You must be... the Seven Deadly Sins, right?
Upon hearing that, some smiled with pride. Others remained serene, but none denied it.
One of the men laughed softly.
— That's right. Though I fend for myself. I don't know who the other six people who came with me are. We barely met at the castle entrance.
The others looked at each other, as if sharing the same thought, preparing for what was to come.
Then Agnitus stepped forward.
He was the only one to kneel.
He planted one knee on the ground and lowered his head with absolute respect.
— A pleasure, Your Majesty —he said in a deep voice—. I am Agnitus, of the demi-human race. Known as the Sin of Wrath. It is an honor to present myself before you.
The atmosphere tensed. The air seemed to change.
Another of the young men smiled and stepped forward, proud.
— I see, I see... so you're a sin too. No wonder those gauntlets are so unusual —he laughed lightly—. Well, my Demon Lord, allow me to introduce myself: I am the Sin of Greed, Aurum, of the dragon race.
He was tall, elegant, and carried himself with confidence.
Bright golden hair, intense yellow eyes, and a dragon tail swaying behind him.
A woman stepped forward after him.
— I am the Sin of Lust, of the succubus race. My name is Seraphyne, Lord King.
Her crimson pink hair fell in waves down to her hips, and her wine-red eyes held an irresistible seductive glow.
Her pale skin seemed to shine softly.
The next one presented himself without much ceremony.
— I am the Sin of Gluttony, my name is Gorgos, of the human race. A pleasure.
His body was that of a sturdy young man, tall, with black hair and completely dark eyes with a white point in the center.
Then another woman advanced.
— Ahh, my turn, right? I am the Sin of Pride, Magnus, of the angel race. A pleasure, sir... Demon Lord.
Her white wings opened slightly, shining.
Her pure white long and perfect hair, adorned by a small golden star.
The next woman advanced with a playful smile.
— Hahaha... a pleasure, Demon Lord. What pretty eyes you have, hehehe.
I am the Sin of Envy, Viridia, of the elf race.
Her emerald green hair fell to her shoulders, and her eyes of the same shade seemed to sparkle with mischief. She was beautiful, though of a more delicate figure than the others.
Finally, a skinny young man walked slowly, almost dragging his feet.
He carried a black cushion with an inverted moon symbol.
— Hello... I am the Sin of Sloth. You can call me Dormius, of the vampire race.
His dark, soft hair was messy, his gray eyes carried deep bags, and his huge black cape seemed like a blanket hugging him.
Thus, one by one, they all presented themselves before Kael.
The Demon Lord took a step forward and, with a slight smile, spoke:
— A pleasure. I am the Demon Lord Kael. You can simply call me Kael. All the formality is not necessary.
It is an honor to meet you.
At that instant, a system notification illuminated his mind.
«You have met the Seven Deadly Sins.
It is time to start leveling up.
Tomorrow, at 9:30, you will receive a mission. Please complete it.»
The system fell silent.
And so did the room.
Everyone watching their new Demon Lord.
And thus, the true beginning of Kael's reign began to take shape.