Greed vs Wrath

{ BACK TO THE PRESENT }

Something big was coming.

Boom!

The ground beneath Midas' feet exploded, launching Venus' limp body high into the air.

"YOU'RE NOT GUARANTEEING MY SAFETY URIEL!!!"

Midas bulked up some strength from his leftover emotional essence and used it to catch Venus safely.

"A Sin as strong as you would be a waste to die like this. I need to keep you around for the long run."

Midas dashed aside, this time avoiding the ground's explosions. These destructive forces were coming from Reed who grounded himself afar, pulsating his raging energy into the pavement with each shout and grunt.

"Why the fuck would you make Phase 3 about Reed…? 'Eliminate Reed Regardius'…? Why the hell would you do this Uriel?! This isn't part of the plan... If you can hear me in any way or form, this wasn't part of the plan!!!"

Midas' device unexpectedly buzzed. He took it out of his pocket, quickly checking it as he carried Venus with his other arm.

{ You've failed to uphold your end in mitigating the Sin of Wrath to make for an effortless capture. Therefore I have taken it into my own hands, and will be mitigating the Sin by sending every contender remaining after him.

- Overseer Uriel }

"Tsk!" Midas clenched his fist. He cracked part of the device's screen on the side he squeezed. "Fuck! Are you just abandoning the deal then?! What about the ultimatum?!"

His device buzzed once more. It was a final message from Overseer Uriel, sent exclusively to him.

{ I never said it was too late for you to still do your part. There are second and third chances at every opportunity you get. Follow through, and you can still receive what you desire. Good luck.

- Overseer Uriel }

Angered, Midas threw his device aside. It shattered upon impact with the ground.

"I'm getting what I want no matter what… I've already come this far…" He laid Venus' body to the side. "If Reed's what you need in order to give me what I need, then I'll give it to you…"

Midas closed his eyes, feeling a pulse of power heading in his direction. Focusing his inner thought on the concentration of rage that stood across from him, he could now manifest the energy it provided. It was like a flaming crimson ball—a singularity of pure wrath with no room for anything else. He hesitated at first, but after sensing that the pulse beneath the ground approached his feet, he grabbed it quickly.

"Argg—!!!" Reed's pulse stopped—both in the ground and in his heart. He felt as if everything he consisted of had just collapsed, shattered, and was swept away in the direction of the wind.

The wind blew towards Midas.

Afar, the Sin of Greed was rejuvenated beyond his limits. The energy he'd been filled with was almost too much. His eyes strained at the pressure of the pure emotion he'd absorbed, cracking red with bloodshot tears.

"Urg—!" Midas felt his own weight grow heavier. Immense power surged through his veins, which was too much for him to contain. He struggled with his decision, regretting taking all the emotional essence at once from Reed—who on the other hand stood still, dazed in a limbo. The beast's flame was momentarily put out, and he stood there nearly lifeless while voided of the rage that normally consumed and drove him. But he was still in a state of regaining his traumatic memories. Although the majority had already returned from his initial state of shock, some came late in aftershocks, such as a memory of being gang-beaten by a group of other kids his age.

~

"You fucking suck!" A kid punched him in the face. Reed fell to the floor, continuing to be kicked in the stomach as he hurled everywhere.

"The answers you gave us for the examination were all wrong. Now we're all gonna fail because of you! You fucking suck!!!"

One after the other, a total of 12 boys harassed the young Reed, bringing bruises and wounds to open across his skin. By the end of it all, a few of his internal organs were punctured.

~

The recently uploaded memory of Reed's unfortunate childhood brought a spark to his flame. Suddenly, he reignited.

"ARGHHH!!!" Reed shouted. The trauma and resentment at the boys who tormented him at school brought back his originating anger, which in turn brought forth the rest of his memories that were momentarily tucked away. Reed Regardius was back in his unstoppable state, more provoked than ever before. He charged energy in his position, quickly releasing it as his body surged forwards towards Midas.

Seeing the danger that advanced towards him, Midas readied his arm for a punch forwards, even if he couldn't handle the colossal energy he'd inherited.

"RAGHH!!!" Reed shouted.

"REED!!!" Midas screamed back.

The two now dashed towards each other with speed and power, all gaining momentum the closer they got to one another. Finally an inch apart, the two locked eye-contact in a suspenseful moment of death.

Death.

"Ah…" Midas was brought the realization. "Even if I land this hit on you, you won't die... Whereas for me…"

BOOM!

Both fists connected with each other's faces. In the sheer pressure of the fatal moment, each one of their faces were shredded off completely. Blood soared sky high, and bones cracked into piles of ivory splinters.

Death was present at the scene.