The Southern Vaults glowed with a sickly golden light, their walls pulsing like veins filled with molten desire. Every step closer made the air heavier, thick with promises whispered by unseen voices.
Kael's breath came ragged. "It feels like the air itself wants me to take… everything."
I clenched my fists, Origin Power swirling. "That's Greed's domain. It doesn't rage like Wrath or whisper like Envy. It tempts. It convinces you that what you have is never enough."
The scarred woman spat. "Then we'll show it that freedom is enough."
The Covenant moved forward, but the vault doors groaned open before we reached them. Chains of gold spilled outward, dragging across the stone. From the shadows, Greed emerged—towering, draped in treasures, its body bound by ornaments that pulsed with hunger. Its eyes glowed with endless desire.
"I am Greed," it whispered, though the sound shook the vault like thunder. "You are Null. You carry what I do not. And I will take it."
The System screamed inside my mind.
[System Notice]: Entity Manifestation Complete.
Designation: Greed.
Status: Active.
Directive: Null must be terminated.
Warning: Covenant corruption risk.
The corrupted surged forward—citizens clutching coins, jewels, scraps of gold, their eyes hollow, their voices desperate.
"Give us your power…"
"Share your Origin…"
"You have more than us… give it…"
The Covenant fought, blades and staffs striking, crystals pulsing with defiance. But Greed's corruption was relentless. Every strike against the corrupted scattered coins across the ground, and every coin whispered louder, tempting the fighters to claim them.
Kael faltered, his hand trembling toward a shard of gold. I caught his wrist, forcing him to meet my gaze. "Don't. Greed wins when you believe you deserve more than freedom."
He swallowed hard, nodding.
Greed's laughter echoed, chains rattling. "Your Covenant is fragile. Desire will hollow them. You cannot lead broken souls."
I raised my hand, Origin Power blazing. Light and shadow twisted together, forming a storm that stripped the vault of its glow. Coins dulled, jewels cracked, chains rusted. For a moment, Greed faltered.
"You strip me of wealth," it growled. "But hunger cannot be silenced."
I stepped forward, my voice steady. "Then let hunger meet freedom."
The clash began—Greed's chains against my Origin storm, corruption against defiance. The vault shook, treasures collapsing, walls splitting. The Covenant fought beside me, battered but unyielding.
The System trembled.
[System Notice]: Critical Error.
Multiple Entities active.
Cycle collapse accelerating.
Designation: Sloth stirring. Location: Northern Abyss.
Four Sins awake. Wrath, Envy, Pride, Greed. And now Sloth stirring. The cycle was breaking faster than ever.
Greed's chains lashed out, wrapping around my arm, pulling me toward its endless hunger. I clenched my fist, Origin Power surging, shattering the links.
"I am Orion Vale," I said, my voice unyielding. "Null. Origin. And I will not bow."
The vault erupted, light and shadow colliding with gold and hunger. The battle had begun.