Chapter 119 - Envy's Test
Chapter 119 – Envy’s Test
To feel envy, one needed desires. And Cyanide, did not have any desires. He had no wants, no dreams, no purpose. He was born to be a weapon, and he fulfilled that role perfectly. Other than that, though, he was nothing else. While biologically speaking, he was a human, in reality, he wasn't. All humans had desires of some shape or form. Cyanide did not.
Of course, there was one exception.
He wanted a challenge. That can come in any forms. Someone strong enough to stand up to him, a world filled with new possibilities previously unobtainable on Earth, and a near-death experience.
But all of those things couldn't be shaped into envy. Cyanide's desires are a bit special. He doesn't care about whether someone else experienced the same things he was searching for. The reason? He was too self-centered.
Naturally, that wasn't a great thing most of the time. But in Cyanide's case, it wasn't an egotistical kind of self-centered. It was simply the fact that to him, someone else's life didn't matter. To him, another human was just a life. A life that would eventually taken, possibly by him if said human somehow ended up becoming a target. As such, he didn't care about what happens in their life at all, as all will succumb to death anyway.
As such, feelings of jealousy or envy did not affect him in the least. That's why, while his allies were busy fighting, he decided to go straight for the Sentinel of Envy in the tree. Trying to break apart their fights was completely and utterly pointless.
Lust watched as Cyanide did so, carefully observing him and his thought process. He was unorthodox yet ingenious, that was for sure. Normally, anyone else would probably try to stop the fighting between his allies. But not this man.
Walking straight towards the tree, completely unaffected by the visions his allies were having, Cyanide wrapped his hand around the vines trapping Envy inside, and tugged on them harshly. Instantly, they tore apart, and inside, the drone's display flickered green a bit, before stabilizing. The machine then rose up and floated into the air, narrowing its eye a bit.
"… You. Why are you not affected by the visions? Jealousy is the most dangerous emotion of all, and all humans are prone to it."
Cyanide's reply was simple, blunt.
"I'm not human."
"… Scanning… scanning… scan complete. Your biological signs all indicate towards you as being human. Explain."
"Save it, Envy," Lust interjected, flying to her side. "This one… is special."
"… Lust," Envy murmured. "So, he freed you too?"
"Yes. He's also acting as my current vessel—though I would much rather prefer someone more… lustful, his soul is like a blank slate. It can accommodate any of us, hence why I am using him right now."
"I see… how interesting. A blank slate of a soul… I have never witnessed such a thing before. Analyzing possibilities… … … none found. All humans have some sort of inclination towards a certain sin, or multiple sins. A completely blank and fresh slate is impossib-"
"Like I said, Envy, he's a special case," Lust cut in, tired of her sister's talking.
"… I see. Understood."
"… If you two are done talking, mind getting rid of your stupid test?" Cyanide asked, glancing at his allies briefly before turning back to Envy. "They're about to kill themselves if this goes on. I don't care too much about the others, but I don't want to have to find another body for Luna."
"…" Envy fell silent for a moment, glancing at the still-fighting members of the group, then ultimately blinked and turned away. "… Fine."
Instantly, Ragnar, Luna, Dianna, and Kirika all froze. They were stunned momentarily as the visions disappeared and they snapped back to reality, and they all glanced around briefly in confusion at what exactly they were doing.
"… What the… was I fighting you?" Ragnar arched an eyebrow at Luna, switching his eyes between her and his own sword.
"It would appear so," Luna said, readying her various weapons once more. "Not that I mind. Never liked you much, anyway."
"W-Woah!" Ragnar hurriedly backed up, not wanting to fight her, but Luna dove towards him at insane speed, razor-sharp sawblades protruding from her back.
"Di-"
Suddenly, Cyanide appeared out of nowhere even faster than Luna, and struck her on the head.
"Ouch-!"
She ducked to the ground, holding her head painfully.
"Ow… Cyanide, that hurt…" She whimpered, but Cyanide showed no sympathy.
"Don't go looking for trouble, or the punishment will be worse next time."
"Understood…"
"… She does not seem to be human," Envy commented. "What is she?"
"An AI given physical form, using a Warden's body," Lust replied. "As a return favor for freeing me, I helped give her a physical form at the request of that man."
"Error: Unacceptable logic. Since when have you been one to return favors, Lust?"
"It was also part of the deal we made," Lust explained. "I help him do this, and he serves as my vessel to fight against the GM."
"… I see. The Warden that was supposed to be guarding me appears to be missing. Did you defeat it?"
"No," Lust said, sinking into thought. "And that is what concerns me… the Warden that I had expected to be here was already missing for whatever reason when we arrived here. It's almost as if… the GM wants the Sentinels to be freed once again."
"Impossible. Logic error. Why go out of his way to seal us if he is going to just release us again like so? He knows we will be seeking revenge against him."
"That is what I am confused about as well, Envy," Lust said with a mechanical sigh. "But regardless… for now, you must choose a vessel."
At this, Cyanide and the rest of the group all turned their attention to them, as Lust continued.
"The eight sins, just like the eight affinities, link with one's soul. As such, each sin also has a respective element tied to them. Lust is Psychic, and Envy is Wind. And as you are right now, man named Cyanide… you cannot hold two Sentinels within you. As such, Envy requires another vessel. One amongst the remaining three of you."
"Kirika is the only one with a Wind Soul Affinity here," Luna said with a shrug. "The answer should be clear."
"Not exactly," Lust replied. "Just because the soul affinity matches with Envy's element, does not mean she is a suitable candidate. Some finer requirements need to be met—for example, one's capacity for that sin-"
"No," Envy cut in, staring intently at Kirika, who could only blink back in speechlessness.
"… She'll do."