Solitude in the Dark

Episode 9: Fest der Völlerei

She gestures in the air and casts illuminated runes creating a temporal rift. "Let's go, we need your friend to be treated immediately," she says as she carries the lifeless Hayan in her arms easily and carefully.

As they leave the place, Cloud walks to her and bows his head down, "Ma'am, I apologize for—"

Before he can even apologize, she stops him, "I understand, it's fine, don't even bother. If I were you, I would do the same for my friend. Anyways, drop the 'Ma'am' the name's Estrella. I was told you'd be staying with us, so why not start by knowing me first?"

Passing through the elegant doors of the Embassy, they are greeted by a familiar face. With crossed arms, "You three took a while to familiarize the country," he said.

An ominous presence surges and rushes upon him like a wolf. Cloud rushed to throw a fist at Raphael. He propels himself forward and strikes him with a tremendous punch. A dominant shockwave erupts throughout the Embassy that catches everyone's attention. In his purple eyes, "Hayan could've died! Why did none of you arrive sooner?!" he demanded. As he continues to employ power, the bracelet rattles violently as it struggles to restrain power.

Raphael, unfazed by Cloud's umbral aura. He casually catches his fist with no effort, "Settle down, he's still alive, he did his duty to protect, and he fought for the safety of the mass, there will always be a cost." he straightly said.

Cloud extends his hand and tears the fabric of reality apart pulling a spear. But Raphael is fast enough to strike, knocking him out. He swiftly catches him before he drops unconscious on the ground. With Cloud releasing such raw mana his bracelet chips some of its durability.

Raphael sighs carrying the weight of Cloud. "Can someone carry this guy?" he requests to the Radiants in the glamour marble corridors.

A towering Radiant with broad shoulders and muscular physique strides forward "I'll do it, boss!" the Radiant greatly said and carried Cloud carefully in his arms.

"Thanks, Ody. I never doubted you Minotaurs."

Estrella sparks a smirk as they continue to walk "Yeah, can you do your job as an Archangel properly, please? I don't have all day to fill all of your responsibilities," she cracks a laugh.

He scoffs and rolls his eyes, "Like you could handle any of my responsibilities," he banters back. "Please deliver them to the infirmary, I have matters to attend to," he adds.

"Alright, alright." she concurs.

.....

.....

Somewhere in an abandoned warehouse. The site is desolate, and the sound of deafening silence chokes the place. A rich long table of gold with empty plates and hollow cups extends up to a hungry Seven Deadly Sin, slamming the table, hurling everything after hearing dreadful news from the two Schattens. Dying of hunger, the sin of gulosity, sitting on a throne preserved from the old era, "You two are useless! You make Gluttony mad, very mad!" he tantrums.

"We apologize, my Lord, a Radiant stepped in the way, she was too powerful for us. She left us no choice but to let the child go, intending to take our lives. Forgive us, we really—"

As they apologize for their dear life. Envy beside Gluttony, rolls his eyes hearing such an excuse, with a slight gesture the two shut their mouth without delay. "Gluttony, what happened to you? What is that laziness I am seeing? Why let these idiots go out to fetch a lump of flesh that you know will not satisfy your hunger? I rarely see you—or should I say never, see you eating with great numbers,"

"Gluttony, don't have the appetite anymore. Gluttony on sabbatical." Gluttony mutters.

"Do you even know what 'sabbatical' means?" Envy responds. He stretches his palm to the two planting them in place, paralyzing them with an overwhelming energy, then he clenches his fist crushing them with their own flesh ending their lives instantly, squashed, their bodily fluids sprayed at the table, straight to Gluttony's face. "Will that cure your loss of appetite? Look how savory that is," he persuades smirking.

Gluttony lashes out, "I DON'T WANT IT!" Anger flared as he pounded the table once more, unleashing a furious outburst.

Envy snaps his fingers unveiling the spell that is masking Gluttony's true appearance, exposing the opposite: from a gobbling blob to nothing but skin and bones, his eyes could pop out from their sockets at any moment, a breathing rotten corpse, a frail body, too weak to even exert a force. The place trembles as the sheer presence of Envy dominates, "Enough of this!" he raises a strong brooding voice. "Look what you've become! Nothing but a mimic of your former self! You've gone weak! Nothing but bones! Useless! Do you think the Sovereign will spare you if he discovers your waning strength?! Weakness will be not tolerated by the Sovereign! We are the pride of the Schattens! Your weakness is a disgrace! You should be grateful after those ten years you're still alive with me. Cherish it, or else the given will be taken!"

Words that cut sharper than a double-bladed sword. Gluttony quiets down with deep breaths, and strong pumps from the heart, loud enough to be heard by Envy.

He has no more to say to such an inferior creature, he shatters the reality, "I hope that next time I'll be in company with you, I will not see the same feeble being that claims to be a member of the Seven Deadly Sins, you're nothing but a tree with shallow roots." He said as he left the place.

Silence fills the warehouse again. Pondering on his throne, only he and the empty table. Laid upon his eyes the remains of the underlings mushed to pieces, he kneels in front of it, takes one of the limbs and gnaws on it, slowly, every juice from it is never wasted dropping on the ground, he slurps it leaving nothing and devours it with such joy rises to his face. He consumes all of their parts with a smile glimmering, seizing each of their limbs and eating with his enormous bites, stuffing one after another. In his finest feast. "Schattens!" he exclaims like an animal.

One word and a horde of fiends from the shadows emerge for him. A lethal temperature storm of ice surges from the feet of Gluttony. Even in his frail state, with that small meal, he regains a fraction of his immense strength in one fell swoop every Schatten numbs from the freezing temperature unable to move any muscle. Now the table is set, he extends his palm outwards to the Schattens rooted in the frozen floor, clenches it and pulls it towards him, every Schatten is instantly crushed and killed by the unseen force as their bodies swarm towards the Seven Deadly Sin to be consumed. Crushed by the heavy bites, their blood and fluids splattered and poured like rain as he savors every single flesh left and right. Scorching flames burst out from his mouth roasting the bodies to the fullest craving for more.

They were twenty-one and only five were left alive to watch their allies be eaten by their own master.

Gluttony gazes at the survivors with insatiable eyes that seek for more. "Go! Gather a feast for my name! Or else you will be laid upon this table!" he commanded, growling as loud as a thousand bears.

His thirsty tongue knows no limits. His insatiable hunger is to be the most dangerous, he consumes mercilessly, succulent meal only to give a fraction of satisfaction. Nothing escapes from his unquenchable hunger; no flesh is left unfinished nor untouched. Gluttony hungers for everything.