Brother

As I lie on the ground, exhausted, someone claps their hands. I lift my head to find someone dressed from head to toe in diamond knight's armour. He continues to clap his hands as I lift myself from the ground.

"What a wonderful spectacle," he says. "You outperformed Satan in quite a unique way." Deep inside the abyss of his mask, red eyes glare at Satan. "Do you yield, Satan?"

The ice around Satan starts melting. After a few seconds, cracks appear in various spots around him and he breaks free from the spell. He looks at me and smiles, "Yes, I yield."

"Good. Then, we can start making our way to the castle."

"I'm sorry," I say, confused. "Who are you?"

His eyes move to me. "I am The Greedy Mammon—one of the seven mortal sins."

"I see..." I scan his body. From head to toe, he's covered in diamond. "Why—"

"Why am I covered head to toe in diamond armour, you ask?"

"Well, yes but—"

"No need to concern yourself with such measly worries. I wear this armour because it is the most expensive armour ever constructed in this realm. You see, I am the Sin of Greed, Mammon. Everything in the seven realms belongs to me. But I am constrained to this realm for the time being. So, I must satisfy my greed through this armour. Once I am free from this restrain though, I will—"

"Do no such thing," says Satan. "We are not to harm the humans, remember."

"Ah, yes. Orders from above."

"From above? Do you mean Lucifer?"

"He is the only being I will serve," says Mammon, glaring at Satan. He looks at the castle above us, "For he is the only True God worthy of my respect."

Satan clicks his teeth, "The only one, you say? You're right. He is the only one. The only True God I hate with all my heart."

"You should learn to let the past go, Satan."

"Let it go?" Satan's mana spikes. "He was the one who took everything from me! Why should I let it go!"

His mana is much greater than when he fought me. So, it is as I assumed—he did not take the fight seriously.

Mammon's mana spikes as well. "Satan, I told you, I serve only one man. You were never my king and you never will be."

"Maybe if I put you in your place, you will understand why I remained King for millennia."

They glare at each other, clashing with their mana and glares.

Before their stare-down escalates further, a spiral of gold stairs appears from the castle. Mammon and Satan follow my gaze as we hear footsteps coming down. "What do we have here?" asks an angelic voice. "Mammon, Satan, why do you fight?" Each word is like a beautiful musical note—soothing to the ear. "Mammon, did we not discuss this? Satan has been King for millennia. As such, he has the second highest authority in my realm." The footsteps slowly inch closer to the ground. "And Satan, why do you vilify me? Someone who was once a part of me has so much animosity towards me—I wonder why? Is it because I came down from above to claim my rightful place as ruler of this realm? Is it because I defeated you in a fair fight to claim that spot? Or is it because of the love I show to you despite your clear disdain for my existence? I can't seem to pinpoint the exact reason why you despise me so. Maybe," he continues, spreading his white wings coated in a warm, golden aura, "your sin is the cause of this wrath." The man finally comes into view. A tall, slender, handsome man, with golden hair and blue eyes, looks down at me. Most of his body is covered in a golden silk robe, save for a portion of his upper chest and his bare feet. His eyes move to Mammon, who bows. Then they fall on Satan, who refuses to bow. The man's expression grows grim. His eyes stare daggers through Satan and his warm mana pierces through the cold shell Satan hides in. It seems to work, as Satan takes a knee. "That's more like it," he says with a smile. "Now," he says, turning his gaze back to me, "Welcome, my dear brother, to my realm."