November 22, 2025

Seven Sins System Chapter 724. This isn’t About Ego

One hour passed in a snap.

Mostly because I forced it to. No, seriously. I sat there cross-legged on the obsidian floor like some monk possessed, eyes closed, hands folded, breathing in and out like I wasn’t the walking embodiment of war crimes. My wrath core flickered faintly under the skin, glowing with restrained heat. The flame wanted to lash out. Burn. Devour. Destroy. But no. Not this time.

I was meditating.

With a headphone on.

Yeah. That kind of headphone. Cushioned. Noise-cancelling. Connected to some stupid mortal realm playlist that said “Nature Forest Lake – 1 Hour Deep Healing Relaxation.”

I shit you not.

Soft trickling water. Birds chirping. Fucking wind chimes. Somewhere in there, I think I heard a squirrel? Or maybe that was a raccoon fighting a cat. Who knows. The point is… I was doing my absolute best to stay calm.

Because I had to.

Because this meeting with the Court was not just diplomacy. It was politics on steroids. It was history, trauma, blood debts, divine grudges, and the future of two realms walking on a tightrope held up by wet spaghetti.

And yeah… I couldn’t afford to explode. Not here. Not now.

Even if the woman who we were about to see was the same one who banished the Ancient One to the old capital. The same one who forced my mother into a death spiral. Who indirectly caused my own madness and the death of the previous Lords of Sin. The crater left in her wake wasn’t just physical, it was written into the blood of our legacy.

But we needed her. Or at least… her cooperation. Because this cult? This hybrid-breeding, sin-mana-fusion abomination of a movement? They weren’t just screwing with the laws of magic. They were playing chess with extinction as the prize.

So yeah… I endured.

“Take a deep breath. Hold. And release,” the audio said.

I obeyed like a damn good little mortal-simulator.

And right on cue, the alarm I set chimed with soft bell sounds. Ding-ding-ding. End of session. My eyes blinked open.

And what greeted me?

Three demons from hell’s most wanted list staring at me like I just grew flowers out of my horns.

Lucifer swirled a bloodwine glass and gave me the most disappointed sigh I’d ever seen.

Asmo was already dressed. Tight purple tunic, gold-accented collar, no erection in sight, which was a miracle, and stood arms crossed like a smug prince who'd watched his favorite bro just commit betrayal.

Levi cringed from his corner, like he wanted to disown me.

I pulled off the headphone slowly, placed it beside the incense burner, and sighed.

“What?” I asked.

Luci cocked a brow. “You sure you still Azrael? The Lord of Wrath? The guy who once flipped a mortal temple because the tea was lukewarm?”

Levi leaned forward, his voice half-mocking. “El… you just… meditated. With… lake sounds.”

I stood up slowly, cracking my neck. “Yeah. Shocking, huh? But let’s be real, you know how this meeting usually turns out. Someone screams. A blade gets drawn. Or some. A halo gets cracked. A third realm gets caught in the blast radius. I need my calm and composure, alright? You want me to represent Wrath or reenact it?”

Lucifer sipped his wine like it was judgment juice. “I don’t know… I kind of miss the version of you that used to throw blades first and ask questions never.”

“Grow up, Luci,” I said dryly. “This isn’t about ego. It’s about survival. We aren’t ready if we break into war again. And these… cult bastards? They’re counting on our chaos. That’s how they hide.”

Asmo chuckled. “Well, color me impressed. You actually sound like a prince of something. Or maybe like a stressed-out mortal office worker.”

“Don’t tempt me,” I grumbled. “Mortal coffee addiction almost got me.”

Levi perked. “Ooh, the one with hazelnut?”

“Don’t get distracted,” Luci cut in. “We’re facing Puriel’s mom. The Radiant Matron. The one who thinks sin is a disease and we’re the plague. She sees us as walking nuclear codes.”

“Which is why I need to not look like one,” I pointed out, adjusting the collar of my robe. “If I walk in there glowing like a wrath furnace, she’ll call it validation.”

Asmo sighed and slid over a vial. “Here. Mana veil. One drop on your pulse points. Will dull your aura to heavenly standards.”

I stared. “Why the hell do you have this?”

He winked. “For infiltration. And seduction. Ever try bedding a paladin? Fun times.”

Lucifer nearly dropped his glass. “Of course you did.”

I took the vial and tapped it against my wrist. It hissed faintly. Like holy oil meeting demon skin. Fucker burned. “Ow.”

“You’ll live,” Levi said.

I rolled my eyes. “Easy for you to say. You’re basically made of mist and nihilism.”

I stepped to the mirror. My face didn’t show it, but… the anger was still there. Bubbling. Quiet. Ready to leap out like a predator if pushed. But I shoved it down. Like I always did.

Just before I turned to face the others, a ripple of static cracked the air.

Then a voice echoed through the room.

“Let’s go,” Diablo said.

No greeting. No warmth. Just that familiar rough tone layered with smoke and brimstone. The air warped behind me. A portal opened like someone had cut the realm open with a heated dagger. The scent of sulfur wafted in. Outside, distant murmurs of infernal horns called in rhythm. A sign the Lords of Sin were already gathering.

Luci straightened. “Showtime.”

Asmo clapped my shoulder. “Try not to kill her.”

Levi offered a half-smile. “And if you do, make it poetic.”

I took a breath.

Held it.

Then exhaled as the flames behind my eyes dimmed, just a little.

“I’ll try,” I muttered.

Then I stepped through the portal. Into the light. Into the fire. Into diplomacy with the same people who made me a monster… so I could save the realm from something even worse.