Chapter 144: Sin Of Pride: Sol
In a throne room meant for an emperor, a lone throne sat upon the only elevated platform in the hall. It was reached by a flight of a hundred stairs, and behind the throne was a massive golden carving of a lion’s face lodged into the wall.
Seated upon the throne was a young man barely twenty, clad in golden armor, with spiky orange hair adorned with golden ornaments. His presence alone radiated brilliance. The youth himself was a radiant light capable of blinding anything that stared at him for too long, and the golden halo hovering behind his head gave him a godly presence that simply could not be found anywhere else in the underworld.
Beside this man was a seven foot tall lion standing on all fours, its golden mane flowing like sunlight. It lay beside the throne, staring at the timid demon fledgling delivering news to its master.
"The new sin of lust is human and he killed Duke Haborym?" Sol’s dull eyes gleamed with passion he had lost after five century long years spent in this God business.
Amongst the seven sins, he used to be the youngest, but now he had a little brother, and even better, he was also a human like him.
"You finally won’t have to feel lonely here anymore, My Prince." The lion’s voice boomed from its body despite its mouth remaining closed.
Prince Sol smiled at those words. He came from an earth where humans were nothing more than livestock to supernatural beings. He fought a lonely war to put humans at the top of the food chain, committing racial cleansing in a world populated with over ten intelligent supernatural races coexisting with humans. Vampires and werewolves were the least of his problems.
By the time he finally achieved godhood and ascended to the underworld, he found himself isolated. Amongst all the princes here only he was human. While Lin Qui was technically human, he was from an earth where neanderthals wiped out homo sapiens, so they were not really buddies. They simply coexisted peacefully.
But now he had a younger brother, and a capable one at that.
"It’s a pity when the news of this reaches Prince Vespin, he will abandon the frontlines and murder that boy." The lion sighed heavily and almost immediately Prince Sol’s visage turned cold.
"That bug wouldn’t dare!" He growled as his eyes revealed a golden flash.
The lion smiled from the corner in satisfaction. It planned to push his master to act and not just observe from the sidelines.
Prince Sol had stayed clear of the political scene in the underworld. He believed tricks were for children and that his overwhelming might would grant him the favor of the elders. However, it knew that was not the case and this mindset was bound to lead to his inevitable failure. That was why the news of another human brought him great pleasure, because this was exactly the motivation Sol needed.
Prince Sol’s infuriated gaze returned to the tiny black demon with a lanky frame, two exaggerated horns and a tiny tail that looked more cute than possible.
"Keep tabs on which planet my little brother runs off to. I will take a quick trip to block that bug’s path. I’ll buy my little brother a year. If he can beat Duke Haborym, he should be able to hold his own by then." Prince Sol sounded like he was talking to himself, and even when he was done, he fell lost in thought.
The fledgling planted its head on the ground in a gesture of deep bow just to get his attention. It was not unusual for Prince Sol to scorch his subordinates when he felt they were not showing enough respect. He burnt his first wife alive in front of the entire underworld the very day she spoke back at him during the festival of blood.
Only Leo, his spirit beast, spoke to him freely without repercussions, mostly because the spirit beast had been by his side throughout his mortal struggles.
The main problem was that Sol was human, so he had no regard for demon life. He outwardly showed his disdain. He talked down to them and looked down on them. It was crazy because it was like being a lone black racist man in a country full of whites. It took god level audacity to be racist openly to your host nation, but that was how bold Prince Sol was. If not, he would not be worthy to bear the title Sin of Pride.
"Your Eminence... We have determined the human has no plans of leaving his planet. He killed Bathin and still remained, then he took the initiative to attack Duke Haborym when he invaded the world. As we speak, Duke Haborym’s twenty six legions are yet to return. The Asuras fear he may have either wiped them out or have taken control of them after killing their general!"
Buzz!
Leo rose up abruptly in shock and even Sol’s eyes widened in surprise. Despite their peaceful coexistence, his dislike of Lin Qui stemmed from the latter’s complete reliance on tricks and schemes. He saw it as a coward’s way of fighting.
Honestly, Prince Sol would not have taken much interest in him if it were not for the fact he fought and won against Duke Haborym in direct confrontation. He believed this Prince of Lust might be different, and he was right.
"Hahahahahahahaha! Finally a real man emerges!" Sol laughed out loud with a proud smile.
The room shook under his thunderous voice and the fledgling began to tremble under the weight of his laughter.
"Good! Very good! Fine!"
Sol rose to his feet, his armor clanking loudly as he stood tall, easily over seven feet despite looking so young.
"Five years... For being a man I will buy him five years." Sol decided as his face turned stern.
His gaze snapped to the bowing demon and his expression twisted in disgust.
"Write a letter to the bug. Tell him Emperor Sol commends his dedication in the fight against the heavens at the frontlines of Belread. Tell him he must remain there for five years and continue striving for the sake of our great cause. But should he decide to go against my request, he will see me before he sees my little brother!"
Leo simply watched with a weak smile on his puffy face. He was used to seeing Sol threaten anyone and everyone into submission. Apart from the Sin of Wrath, no one else among the princes dared trade blows with him.
He was a terror no prince wanted to cross paths with.