Impending Doom

POV: Sloth

I swallowed dryly as I felt apprehensive from the mere thought of the potential destruction this boy could unleash with his Aspect.

In the moment of realization, I didn't waste anymore time idling in my thoughts as I rushed towards the boy with the sole purpose of killing him, approaching him quickly as the his eyes widened from my sudden actions, which was laced with urgency as I tried to smash my fist into his face, however, the boy blocked my attack with his forearms crossed as he slid backwards across the ground from the impact while I continued to rush towards him frantically.

I have to kill this boy now!

As I approached him, the boy tried to slash my chest, however, I dodged his attack with a quick side-step as I landed a sharp right hook into his ribcage, his expression tensing with pain as I then followed up with a heavy left hook into his jaw, but his next actions left me appalled as the boy barely budged an inch, my fist resting on his jaw as his eyes brimmed with determination.

Are you serious?!

The boy then matched me with his very own right hook, smashing his fist into my chin as I was left disoriented momentarily, wobbling sideways as if I was a drunkard until the boy marked my torso with several slashes, bringing me to my senses through pain as he then pierced through my abdomen with his sword, causing me to spew out blood from my organs being punctured as my vision began to blur.

I'm sorry Wrath, but this might be the end.

Through sheer desperation, I tried to grab the boy as he parried my arm away with his own before taking a step back, leaving his sword within my abdomen as he began attacking me with a variety of different martial arts until he ended his relentless onslaught with a spinning back kick into my solar plexus, seizing my breath while pulling out his sword in the midst as the impact sent me tumbling backwards through the boreal forest until I landed against a rugged rock, coughing up blood mixed-phlegm as I tried to move a single muscle, but my battered body refused to oblige to my desires as the boy approached me with a sole purpose.

"This is your last chance. Where are they?" The boy asked with a harsh, yet demanding tone as the boy's cold gaze fell upon me, arising a perturbing sensation within me as his eyes conveyed a frightening message.

Any hesitation and I will kill you.

"You're right. That's why I'm going to take this wishful thinking of mine and make it into a REALITY!" 

I see now.

Those are the eyes of someone who's experienced the cruelty of this world.

If I knew of your origin prior to our fight, I would have avoided you, but I wonder…

"Sorry, but I truly don't have any idea what you're talking about." I replied casually as I struggled to pull out my box of cigarettes from within my trench coat, but to my disappointment, the box was empty as I sighed before the boy smashed his foot into my face, burying my head within the rock I laid against as my consciousness quickly slipped away from me.

Will your righteousness falter in the face of violence itself?

As my consciousness faded away, I glanced to my right and watched the pink haired boy cut down Envy as several thoughts of regret clouded my mind.

It's a shame that I won't be able to see your dream come true, Wrath.

POV: Aria Akari

After Envy was defeated, I shifted my focus back to healing Sarah until she regained consciousness as Everett groaned in pain, clenching his forearm tightly as tears began to well within his eyes.

"Let me see your arm." Arthur said, deactivating his Aspect and sheathing his swords into their respective scabbards before he pulled out a roll of bandages from a pocket within his jacket as he began wrapping Everett's wounded forearm.

"Thank you." Everett said unsteadily after Arthur finished wrapping his wound as Arthur then placed his hand onto Everet's shoulder.

"I underestimated Lust. You almost lost your life because of my arrogance and for that, I apologize." Arthur said earnestly as Everett was left speechless from his unusual behavior, prompting a smile from me until Arthur directed his attention towards Rai, who just defeated Sloth as Arthur narrowed his eyes skeptically.

"What's wrong?" I asked with concern.

"It's nothing." Arthur replied as Sarah began coughing, grabbing my attention as she slowly opened her eyes, prompting a joyous grin onto my face as she slowly raised herself into a sitting position.

"Sarah!" I cried out as she smiled, activating her Aspect as she began to heal herself.

"Thank you, Aria." Sarah said coarsely as her purple aura flowed steadily around her wound, healing at speeds significantly faster than my own Aspect as Rai approached the group with a nonchalant expression.

I sighed with relief, grateful that everyone survived as Everett began pestering Rai with questions of his fight against Sloth, but as they conversed, a sudden thought came across my mind as I tried to recall the moments I focused my attention towards Rai during the time he was fighting Sloth.

He defeated Sloth, but how come I couldn't see his aura?

The density of one's aura depends on their strength, but despite how weak Rai is, there's no way he should be able to completely hide it.

Even among the strongest heroes in the world, who possess extreme control in manipulating their own aura struggle to completely hide their aura.

Rai may be stronger than he shows, but there's no way he's able to completely hide his aura, meaning…

"You okay?" Rai asked with concern, noticing me gazing at him as I nodded quickly, flustered from being caught staring at him.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine." I replied, taking a deep breath to regain my composure as I glanced at the wound on his thigh that bled profusely through his joggers.

"Do you want me to heal your wound?" I asked as Rai shook his head.

"No, I can just wrap it with bandages, so save your energy. I know you're almost at your limit." Rai replied as he began unwrapping the bandages around his left arm before taking a seat onto a nearby log.

How does he know that I'm about to reach my exhaust limit?

As Rai wrapped his wounded thigh with bandages, I was unable to resist glancing at him as his enigmatic nature sparked my curiosity, making me wonder what kind of character he truly was.

"We should go while we have the chance. Is everyone ready?" Arthur suggested as everyone nodded except for Rai, who stood from the log and faced into the distant forest that led further into the mountains.

"Rai, what's wrong?" Arthur asked as Rai continued to gaze into the distance before answering.

"There are innocent children locked away somewhere within this forest. Take everyone with you and tell Ryan that I made the decision to stay." Rai ordered as his demeanor shifted into a cold one filled with resoluteness, however, Arthur clicked his tongue in annoyance and began walking towards him.

"What are you saying, Rai? Don't be irrational. We may have defeated five members of the Seven Sins, but if their leaders show up, we don't stand a chance against them in our current state." Arthur said as he approached Rai, grabbing the collar of Rai's jacket as he brought his face closer to his own.

"I don't know what you're hiding from us for you to be this confident in your capabilities, but use your head, Rai! I'm strong, but I'm not stupid enough to believe I stand a chance against the two of them in my current condition! And by the off chance you are stronger than me, there's no way in hell you can take both of them on your own!" Arthur added with a raised tone as he released Rai from his grasp, however, Rai wasn't pleased as he clicked his tongue in annoyance and grabbed Arthur by the collar of his shirt, glaring at him with a cold, infuriated expression.

"So you expect me to just abandon them, Arthur? They wouldn't be in this situation if it wasn't for these worthless heroes that exist! Have you ever wondered why we, students, are sacrificing our lives instead of an S-Class hero in the first place?!" Rai replied as his grip on the collar of Arthur's shirt tightened.

"It's because they don't give a damn about anyone else other than themselves! Are you oblivious or are you just going to ignore the fact that all it would have taken was a single S-Class hero to defeat the Seven Sins and yet, they decided to send inexperienced students to fight against these monsters! While they relish in their fame and power, they want everyone below them to take care of their own problems! I don't care what the rest of you do, but I refuse to allow myself to fall onto the same level of what you all consider "heroes"." Rai added harshly as he released Arthur from his grasp and began walking further into the forest.

Rai… 

There was a moment of silence until Arthur unsheathed his swords and activated his Aspect, releasing his Aspectual Force as Rai turned around with a sigh.

"It seems there's no other way." Arthur said as Rai unsheathed his sword, their eyes locking with one another as they refused to come to a compromise.

"What are you guys doing?! We have to escape now while we have the chance!" I shouted anxiously as Everett and Sarah stood behind me, watching nervously as Rai's eyes sharpened icily.

"He's already made up his mind, so I'm going to take him back by force." Arthur replied as he positioned himself into a two-sword style stance while Rai remained still.

"I gave you an order." Rai said to Arthur as a cool breeze blew through the forest.

"And I'm rejecting it." Arthur replied, tightening his stance as he took a deep breath, watching Rai's every move with intense focus as Rai remained unfazed.

No, no, no! 

We have to leave now! 

Please…

Please don't fight!

As their actions left me apprehensive, I held my breath from anticipating disaster until the two of them sheathed their swords as Arthur deactivated his Aspect and rubbed the back of his head with a sigh.

"I spoke out of place. It's your call." Arthur said as Rai glanced at into the distance of the forest before shifting his eyes towards us.

"No, that was my fault." Rai apologized as I sighed with relief.

Thank god.

"We're leaving. If we knew where the children were, it would be a different story, but we don't have the luxury of time on our side." Rai said as everyone nodded in agreement.

We began following the trail that led us into the forest, walking cautiously as Arthur and Everett led the group while Sarah and myself trailed behind with Rai watching our flank.

It's a blessing that everyone survived.

If Arthur wasn't here with us, I'm not sure what could have happened, although…

I still don't understand how Rai was able to defeat Sloth.

Even if I was distracted, I would have noticed his aura and yet, I couldn't see his aura nor was I able to sense his Aspectual Force, despite Arthur's Aspectual Force conquering the area, which means that he was able to defeat Sloth, a Level 3 Threat villain who is on par with at least a C-Class hero without the use of his own Aspect.

Rai isn't of nobility, therefore, he doesn't have the blessing of a naturally strong body, although, he could also be an anomaly like Arthur, but regardless of his lineage, I'm ranked 20th within the academy and even with noble blood running through my veins, I doubt I could come out nearly unscathed in a fight against Sloth, nonetheless win against him without the use of my own Aspect.

As my curiosity began to get the best of me, I turned around to check on him, who seemed to be deep in thought as he gazed into the palm of his hand, however, I felt my blood freeze in trepidation as I noticed a tall man standing behind Rai with a spiteful glare towards him, prompting a reaction of confusion from Rai as he directed his attention towards me.

"Aria, what's wrong-"

"RAI, BEHIND YOU!" I screamed anxiously as Rai immediately turned around, retreating towards us as everyone activated their Aspects instinctively with the exception of Rai.

"Who would have thought that five kids would be enough to defeat my comrades?" The man asked rhetorically with a dry chuckle as I watched the man with extreme caution.

Despite the man's carefree expression, we all could sense the maliciousness hidden behind his cheerful grin as the tension in the air was nerve-wracking.

This is bad.

This is really, really bad!