The ultimate sin

Chapter 18

Kam awoke to find Gloxinia pacing furiously back and forth, his face painted with frustration. The first thing Kam heard was Gloxinia's sharp voice cutting through the morning stillness. "Kam, are you crazy?" Kam rubbed his eyes, groggy and confused. "What?" he mumbled. Gloxinia stopped in front of him, his wings fluttering erratically. "You declared war on literally everyone!" Gloxinia shouted. Kam shrugged dismissively. "So what? They're not going to kill me." Gloxinia shook his head, a mix of exasperation and genuine fear flashing across his face. "They might not kill you, but they'll have no problem killing me. I've been dead before-it's not something I want to repeat!" Kam smirked, but before he could retort, Gloxinia interrupted. "We don't have time for this. If you want to survive, we need to train now. Fast."

Gloxinia took a deep breath, his usual calm demeanor replaced by urgency. "I didn't want to do this, but it's the only way for you to gain power fast enough," he said, motioning for Kam to lay down. Kam raised an eyebrow. "What are you planning?" Gloxinia didn't answer directly. Instead, he began to chant in a language Kam didn't recognize. "Dorukimoto Hekatokobe Nokutasen Kieto!" The air around them shimmered, and Kam felt a sudden surge of energy. A ball of light materialized above him, glowing with an intensity that made him squint. Before he could react, the light shot into his chest, and everything went black. When Kam regained consciousness, he was no longer in the training field. The first thing he noticed was his outfit-a red jumpsuit. The second was the unmistakable landscape of the Demon Realm, but something was off.

Kam quickly realized he wasn't in the present; he was in the past. More importantly, he was inside his father Zeldris's body. The realization hit him like a hammer, and before he could fully comprehend the situation, Monspeet appeared, his expression grim. "Zeldris, stop standing around. The Archangels are ripping through our forces!" Monspeet barked. Kam blinked, confused but instinctively following Monspeet into the fray. As they approached the battlefield, the true horror of the Holy War unfolded before Kam's eyes. Thousands of demons clashed against the radiant forces of the goddesses, their cries of pain and fury filling the air. Above it all, the Four Archangels hovered, their divine power radiating like a second sun.

Kam could barely breathe under the sheer pressure of their presence. Sariel and Tarmiel descended first, their grace and confidence exuding an air of invincibility. Kam gripped his sword, feeling the immense power surging within Zeldris's body. He knew he was outmatched, but retreat wasn't an option. Monspeet unleashed a wave of Hellfire, forcing the Archangels to split up. "Stick to me, Zeldris," Monspeet commanded. Kam nodded, trying to push aside his fear. Sariel was the first to strike, his speed blinding. Kam barely managed to block the attack, their swords clashing with a force that sent shockwaves across the battlefield. Tarmiel joined in, attacking Monspeet with a torrent of water magic.

The battle was chaos. Kam struggled to keep up with Sariel's relentless assault, each strike pushing him further back. Monspeet was faring no better, his flames struggling to break through Tarmiel's water-based defenses. Kam gritted his teeth, summoning every ounce of power within Zeldris's body. His demonic mark flared to life, and he unleashed a barrage of dark energy slashes. Sariel deflected them effortlessly, his smirk infuriating Kam. "Is that all the Demon King's son has to offer?" Sariel taunted. Kam roared in frustration, pushing himself harder. He managed to land a glancing blow on Sariel's shoulder, but it wasn't enough to slow him down.

Monspeet activated his True Fire ability, engulfing the battlefield in flames. The intense heat forced Sariel and Tarmiel to retreat momentarily. Kam used the opportunity to catch his breath. "We can't win this," Monspeet muttered, his voice filled with frustration. Kam shook his head, determination blazing in his eyes. "I'm not running," he said firmly. Monspeet sighed but didn't argue. The two prepared for the next wave of attacks, their resolve unshaken. Sariel and Tarmiel returned, their combined power overwhelming. Kam activated Ominous Nebula, creating a vortex of destruction around him. The swirling energy caught Sariel off guard, forcing him to retreat.

Tarmiel, however, stood his ground, his divine power clashing with the vortex. "You think this will stop us?" Tarmiel said, his voice filled with righteous fury. Kam didn't respond, focusing all his energy on maintaining the attack. The ground beneath him cracked and crumbled, the sheer force of the vortex threatening to tear the battlefield apart. Monspeet took advantage of the distraction, launching a concentrated blast of Hellfire at Sariel. The Archangel dodged, but the attack forced him to split his focus. With a surge of energy, Kam closed the distance between himself and Tarmiel, their swords clashing with a deafening roar.

The battle raged on, each side refusing to give an inch. Kam's body ached, the power of Zeldris's abilities pushing him to his limits. But he refused to give up, determined to prove his strength. Monspeet redoubled his efforts, his flames growing more intense with each passing moment. Together, they managed to push the Archangels back, their combined strength creating a fleeting glimmer of hope. But Sariel and Tarmiel were not so easily defeated. Sariel unleashed a devastating beam of Ark, aiming to obliterate everything in its path. Kam narrowly avoided the attack, retaliating with a powerful dark energy slash.

Tarmiel countered with a torrent of water, creating a barrier that blocked Kam's attack. The battlefield became a chaotic dance of fire, water, and darkness. Kam pushed himself harder, his movements becoming more fluid and aggressive. Monspeet provided support, his Hellfire keeping the Archangels on their toes. Kam managed to land a solid hit on Tarmiel, his sword slicing through the Archangel's armor. Tarmiel winced but didn't falter, his divine energy surging as he prepared to counterattack. Kam braced himself, knowing the battle was far from over.

Summoning every ounce of power, Kam pushed Ominous Nebula to its limit. The vortex grew in size and intensity, pulling in debris and weakening Tarmiel's defenses. Kam saw his chance and charged forward, his sword aimed directly at Tarmiel's heart. The Archangel tried to block, but Kam's strike was too fast. The blade pierced Tarmiel's chest, his divine light flickering as he fell to the ground. Sariel cried out in rage, his power surging as he prepared to avenge his comrade. Kam stood his ground, his resolve unshaken despite the overwhelming odds.

Before Sariel could strike, the battlefield shifted. Kam felt a pulling sensation, and the world around him dissolved into light. When he opened his eyes, he was back in the training field with Gloxinia. "You're back already?" Gloxinia asked, surprised. Kam nodded, still processing what had happened. "That was... intense," Kam said. Gloxinia smiled grimly. "That was the first Holy War. It was horrible, but it shaped the world as we know it." Kam took a deep breath, feeling the surge of power within him. "What's my power level now?" he asked. Gloxinia checked and smiled. "72,436," he said.

Kam grinned, the thrill of his newfound strength filling him with confidence. "I'm invincible," he declared. Gloxinia shook his head, his expression serious. "Relax. Even with your power, me and you combined would still get destroyed by Meliodas." Kam's grin faltered, but his determination remained. "Then we'll just have to get stronger," he said. Gloxinia nodded, his wings glowing faintly. "That's the spirit. But don't get cocky. Strength alone isn't enough in this world." Kam nodded, ready to continue his journey. The scars of the Holy War lingered in his mind, a reminder of the battles yet to come.