Greed's chains lashed out, golden links snapping through the vault like serpents. Each strike carried the weight of endless desire, dragging the Covenant toward its hunger.
Kael cried out as one chain wrapped around his leg, pulling him toward the vault's glow. I surged forward, Origin Power blazing, shattering the link before it consumed him.
"Stay focused!" I shouted. "Greed wins when you believe you need more than freedom!"
The scarred woman struck, her blade cutting through corrupted husks clutching coins. The one-armed man's staff cracked skulls, his voice steady despite the chaos. The Covenant fought, battered but unyielding.
Greed's laughter echoed, chains rattling. "Your Covenant is fragile. Desire will hollow them. You cannot lead broken souls."
I clenched my fists, Origin Power swirling. 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 shook the vault, treasures collapsing, walls splitting. My Origin storm collided with Greed's chains, each strike echoing like thunder. The Covenant fought beside me, their bond burning brighter with every blow.
The System screamed.
[System Notice]: Critical Error.
Entity Awakening Detected.
Designation: Sloth.
Location: Northern Abyss.
Directive: Null must be terminated.
The ground trembled, a distant rumble spreading from the north. The air grew heavy, not with hunger or rage, but with silence. A lethargy seeped into the world, slowing breath, dulling thought. Sloth was stirring.
Kael staggered, his voice weak. "It feels… like my body doesn't want to move."
I gritted my teeth. "That's Sloth's touch. It drains will, not strength. If it awakens fully, the world will stop."
Greed roared, chains surging. "You cannot fight hunger and silence. You cannot fight us all."
I raised my hand, Origin Power blazing. "Watch me."
The vault erupted, light and shadow colliding with gold and hunger. Wrath roared in the distance, Envy whispered in the depths, Pride stirred in the spires, and Sloth's silence spread from the abyss.
The cycle was breaking. The world was collapsing.
And I smiled. "The Origin Path was never meant to be easy. But it was meant to be free."