Kai dreamed of clouds. Not normal ones. They weren't drifting, or soft, or distant. They pressed down heavy, rolling slow like whales through a sky made of syrup. Every time he tried to move, they leaned closer, pinning him with weight that wasn't cruel—just inevitable.
And in the middle of it all sat Zoma.
The God of Sloth wasn't what Kai expected. No thunder, no throne, no flaming eyes. Just a man-shaped bulk reclined across a stone pillow, skin pale as marble, robes loose, crown tilted like he couldn't be bothered to wear it properly. His chest rose and fell once every long minute. Even the blink of his eyelids felt delayed.
"You," Zoma said, voice stretching like honey being poured. "You fight. You run. You wear yourself down."
Kai shifted, or thought he did. His limbs felt buried in cotton. "That's… life," he muttered.
"Not yours anymore." The god lifted one finger, slow as moonrise. "You were born to stop. To wait. To rest. Embrace it. Laziness isn't weakness. It's rule. All things sleep eventually. I grant you that crown."
Kai wanted to argue, but his jaw wouldn't open right. His eyelids drooped. He felt himself folding, the whole world curling inward.
"Rest," Zoma whispered. "And when you wake, you will belong to me."
---
Kai woke to someone shaking his shoulder.
"Kai! Kai!" Matt's voice, sharp and panicked.
Kai groaned, blinking through grit. Matt stood over him, hair wild, eyes wide. "You were chosen by the Sloth God like two seconds ago!"
Kai yawned so wide his jaw popped. "Huh? Oh. No, no. Just a dream." He rolled over, tugged the blanket higher. "Go away."
"Kai—"
But Kai was already asleep again.
---
The next time he woke, two pairs of hands were shaking him. Neo on one side, Matt on the other. Their faces hovered close, too close.
"Wake up," Neo said, voice urgent. "Something happened. Your resonance is… wrong."
Kai squinted at them, bleary. His head felt heavy, like he'd drunk an ocean. He tried to say "I'm fine," but all that came out was another yawn.
Neo frowned, shaking him harder. "Kai, listen—"
Then it happened.
Kai's eyes met theirs.
Neo froze. Matt blinked once. And then both of them slumped forward like marionettes with their strings cut, heads bumping against Kai's shoulders as they slid down into sleep.
Kai's breath caught.
"What the hell…" he muttered.
For once, he didn't feel like laughing.
---
He sat up slowly, rubbing his face. His chest hummed with something new. Something heavy, soft, patient. He dragged his Soulprint forward, watching the glowing runes shimmer in the dark like embers.
Everything looked the same. Stats, burdens, guardians. But one thing was different.
[Lineage: Sloth]
Kai stared, heart thudding. And then more text unfolded, glowing faint.
[Nimbus Cloud]: Summons a floating cloud that heals wounds and hovers nearby. Generates a protective field that stops projectiles and fire.
[Restful Gaze]: Those who look into your eyes fall asleep indefinitely unless reawakened by your touch.
[Ruler of Sleep]: You may travel into the dreams of others. Your reach will grow.
Kai blinked once. Twice.
He whispered the words out loud, lips dry. "Nimbus Cloud. Restful Gaze. Ruler of Sleep."
It didn't sound real. But the weight in his chest said otherwise.
His eyelids dragged lower. Sleep tugged at him with a sweetness he had never felt. He'd never loved sleep. Never trusted it. In the pit, sleep had been weakness. In the Lawless City, it had been danger. He'd taught himself to live half-awake, to survive on exhaustion.
But now—now it felt like the most natural thing in the world. His body ached for it, begged for it. His soul tilted toward it like a compass to north.
Kai rubbed his temples. "This isn't good."
Neo and Matt were still out cold, leaning on each other against the wall. Their breaths were steady, peaceful. Too peaceful.
"Wake up," Kai muttered, shaking Neo's shoulder. Nothing. He pressed two fingers to Matt's chest, then his forehead. Still nothing.
Finally, he touched Neo's hand, pressing intent into the contact. Neo jerked like a wire snapping, eyes flying open. He gasped, clutching his chest.
"What did you—" His gaze darted to Matt, then to Kai.
Kai raised both palms, defensive. "I didn't mean to."
Neo's face twisted. "You put us to sleep."
Matt snored. Loudly.
Neo slapped his friend awake. Matt blinked, confused. "Why does my head feel like it's full of feathers?"
Kai exhaled. "Because apparently, I'm Sloth now."
The words hung heavy in the room.
---
For a while, none of them spoke. Neo rubbed his scar. Matt just stared at Kai like he was looking at a stranger.
"You're serious," Matt said finally.
Kai nodded, sluggish. "Soulprint changed. Sloth lineage. Came with powers." He rubbed his eyes. "Can't stop yawning."
"Powers?" Neo asked.
Kai pointed at Matt. "That."
Matt grimaced. "That wasn't funny."
"It wasn't a joke."
Neo stood, pacing. His face was tight, calculating. "A god chose you. That isn't… small. Concord's going to come knocking the second they know. They don't ignore lineage changes."
Kai dropped his head back against the wall. "They don't have to know."
As if to spite him, a knock rattled the door.
All three froze.
A voice followed. Polished, official. "Kai Apolix. Concord requests your presence."
Kai groaned, dragging the blanket over his head. "Called it."
Neo swore under his breath. Matt shot to his feet, hands balling into fists.
Kai sighed. His eyes felt like anchors. All he wanted was to sleep. To curl up, drift down, let the new weight in his chest swallow him whole.
But the world wasn't going to let him. Not now.
---
The knocking came again, firmer. "Kai Apolix. Open the door."
Neo leaned close, whispering. "You can't ignore them."
Kai peeked from under the blanket, glaring. "Watch me."
Matt groaned, dragging him upright. "Don't be an idiot."
Kai's head lolled against his shoulder. "Idiot? Or prophet of naps?"
"Both," Matt muttered.
Another knock, louder.
Neo straightened, shoulders squared. "We have to answer."
Kai looked at his Soulprint again, runes glowing faint under his skin. Sloth lineage. Nimbus Cloud. Restful Gaze. Ruler of Sleep.
He had two new attributes
Tired
Always tired
Time immunity.
Retain memory from timeloops and time stops
He yawned so wide his jaw cracked.
"Fine," he muttered, dragging himself toward the door. "But if they don't bring coffee, I'm putting the whole damn Concord to sleep."
And in his chest, Zoma's whisper lingered: Rest. Rule. Repeat.