For a moment, none of us said a word.
Silence. Pure, awkward, overwhelming silence.
We just stared at each other. The kind of silence that only happens when a reunion hits harder than expected, and everyone forgets what they were supposed to say.
Then something inside me snapped—no, bloomed.
"We're finally all together!" I shouted, heart pounding with joy. Without thinking, I dashed forward, arms flung open wide. "Group hug!"
I leapt with full commitment, eyes half closed, expecting a warm embrace of friendship and togetherness.
Instead… they all stepped aside in perfect sync.
THUD.
My face slammed into the dirt like a bag of bricks. My nose protested. My pride shattered.
"…It's nice to see you guys again," Wisdom said, utterly unfazed.
As I groaned on the ground, trying to remember how bones worked, Justice's voice rang out.
"Fearlessness! Let's fight!"
Before I could even push myself up, he charged forward and punched Fearlessness straight in the gut. Hard.
Fearlessness gasped, stumbled back, then smirked.
"Oh, you're asking for it."
With that, the two launched into a no-holds-barred brawl. Kicks, punches, yelling—it was a full-on clash of testosterone and unresolved tension.
While dirt and fists flew through the air, Creativity casually walked over to me.
"Oh-ho~" he said with a grin, already sketching. "What a dramatic pose, Akira. Truly inspirational. You lying there, defeated by gravity itself—it speaks volumes."
He snorted, laughed to himself, and kept drawing.
"Glad I could help," I muttered, still face-down.
Kindness, meanwhile, was losing her mind.
"Stop it! You'll hurt each other!" she cried, dashing between the flying fists of Justice and Fearlessness. Her voice cracked with desperation. "Please! No one needs to get injured right now!"
She tugged at their sleeves, blocked their punches—doing everything she could to restore peace. But it was like trying to calm a thunderstorm by whispering.
On the edge of the chaos stood Faith, arms crossed, calm and collected. She glanced at Wisdom, who was slowly running out of patience. Her eyes twitched. A subtle sigh escaped her lips.
And then—
"STOP!" Wisdom shouted, her voice slicing through the noise like a lightning bolt.
Everything halted. Even the wind seemed to pause out of respect.
Everyone froze.
Slowly, we gathered in a circle around her. The fight forgotten. The laughter paused.
"Finally," Wisdom muttered, brushing her hair back. "Now that we're all here, I can finally explain what I've been working on."
We all leaned in, anticipation buzzing in the air.
"I've been researching the demon we fought," she began. "Trying to understand why he was so powerful. At first, I thought it was just raw strength. But the way he acted… possessive, obsessive… it reminded me of something."
She took a breath, and her eyes grew sharp.
"He acted like a trait. An evil one."
A murmur rippled through the group.
"I believe… he represented Lust."
The word hit hard.
"I found ancient scrolls in the Library of Light," she continued. "They told of a time when Satan wasn't the only one hungry for power. He gathered other angels with the same ambition. Twisted them. Promised them power beyond comprehension."
I felt a cold shiver crawl down my spine.
"You know how God used his heart to create us—champions of the divine. What if the Devil did the same?"
Her voice dropped to a hush.
"What if Satan used his own heart... to create monsters?"
The group tensed. No one dared interrupt.
"I believe that demon was a fragment of Satan's heart. A vessel of sin. One of the Seven Deadly Sins. And if I'm right—at least 80% sure—then there are six more."
Gasps. Shock. Dread.
Everyone started talking at once.
"Six more?!"
"Are they even stronger?!"
"Why is it always seven?!"
"Can we take a break first?!"
But Faith raised a hand, and everyone fell quiet.
"Why are you questioning her?" she said calmly. "She holds the trait of Wisdom. Isn't that enough?"
Her voice was steady, her presence grounding. It made everyone pause.
Then Justice stepped forward.
"I believe in us," he declared. "We trained harder than ever. We carry the godly traits. We are chosen. God will guide us."
His words lit something in me.
My flame flickered. No—roared.
"We can do this!" I shouted. "Together, we'll overcome anything! Let's go!"
With burning conviction, I turned and took off running. It was time to face destiny!
"IDIOT!" Fearlessness shouted. "Where do you think you're going?!"
I skidded to a halt.
"We don't even have a plan yet! Get back here, moron!"
My flame fizzled out like a candle in the rain. With slumped shoulders, I shuffled back to the group.
All eyes turned to Wisdom.
Surely she had something brilliant ready.
She looked up and blinked. "Wait… You all think I have a plan?"
Everyone nodded slowly.
She scratched her head, awkward smile spreading. "Uh… Yeah. No. I don't."
The group collectively screamed in disbelief:
WHAT!