"What did you just say?

" Talia let out in annoyance, already irritated by the way Wrath addressed them.

His condescending eyes and superior air surrounding the area he dominated made her glare at him.

Shamac and Ana were too absorbed with the strange existence, something Talia failed to perceive.

"Perhaps you did not hear me. Very well, I will repeat myself...

" Wrath muttered, lightly staring at Talia.

"My name is Wrath, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, Lord's Hexarion's Generals. You will be in my care until the master returns. Be quiet and rest while we await his coming. Failure to comply... Will result in-

"

"Hey, mister! Where is Lord Hexarion?

" Talia let out, not allowing him to complete bus words.

"Is this girl daft?

" Wrath asked himself.

He looked at the other two slaves. They were both clearly aware of his existence and refused to utter a single word. But this woman kept defying him like his authority meant nothing.

"Interesting...

" Wrath grinned.

"To think Lord Hexarion keeps a loud cur such as yourself to wag her tail... My Lord never ceases to amaze me

" He mumbled.

Upon hearing this, Talia got furious at the stranger she was meeting.

The only thing she knew was that the being was a slave, the same as her. His use of words got on her nerves, and his sudden comment made her flare-up.

"Hey! What the hell are you say-

"

"Be quiet!

" Wrath commanded.

Her body instantly froze, covered by crimson-colored energy which followed around her.

Talia's skin felt like it was boiling while her insides felt cold and numb at the same time.

"W-Wha...?!

" She thought to herself.

She couldn't move or speak, just standing in a suspended state.

"Bitches like you should only bark when required to... And you have been clearly ordered to remain quiet.

" Wrath said, narrowing his glowing eyes.

"What the hell?! This guy...

" Talia gritted her teeth.

Suddenly, her body became shrouded in a black substance, eating up the crimson energy enveloping her.

"Rarghhh!

" She yelled, breaking free from Wrath's hold.

The glistening darkness on her body slowly entered into her again, disappearing from sight.

Now with a look of anger, she frowned at Wrath, clenching her fist with rage.

"Interesting... So Lord Hexarion granted you a Treasure from his Void Aspect collection. You must be fortunate...

" Wrath said in observation.

"Will you zip it! You attacked me first, yet you call Hexarion your master? What a joke!

" Talia replied, glaring at Wrath suspiciously.

Shamac and Ana quickly looked at Talia with warning expressions. The two were well aware that the being in front of them was somehow related to their master, though they didn't know to which extent.

"Talia, calm yourself and-

" Shamac cautioned.

"He attacked first! I'll call this payback!

" Talia replied immediately.

Before Shamac could respond, her body glimmered and a sudden burst of crimson energy flowed from her.

"Be grateful, I'll be breaking my fourth seal for you!

" She said to her opponent.

Wrath, still standing, sighed and looked away. He returned to his throne and brushed her aside.

"You're too loud. Quickly express your tantrums. I'll allow you to please yourself for five minutes. After that... You will be entirely silent.

" He said to her.

Veins of suppressed anger appeared on Talia's forehead as he disrespectfully addressed her.

"H-Hey, that's going too-

" Shamac protested on behalf of Talia.

His 'simp' self overwrote his rational conclusion concerning the superiority of the being he was addressing.

Wrath shot Shamac a dirty look, and words immediately stopped proceeding from his mouth. One glance was enough for his common sense to return.

He instead turned to stop Talia, who was already brimming with her fighting spirit, air forming around her.

"Talia... Reconsider this... We still don't know what's happening here!

" He cautioned.

"I don't care!

" She replied.

She couldn't tell anyone, but deep down Talia felt frustrated.

Not only was she unable to defeat the Executioner alongside Shamac, but she couldn't also fulfill her revenge on Gratiana. Hexarion's command to her didn't go fulfilled.

She clenched her fists and glared at Wrath.

Perhaps he was right in calling her a dig and giving her such a condescending look. However...

"I-I... I was the first...

" She thought to herself.

As his first slave, surely... She didn't deserve this treatment.

She knew she was being selfish and prideful, but... She had to prove herself.

"I'm not stupid, Shamac! I know he's strong...

" She told him, refusing to look at the young Hybrid's concerned look.

"B-But...

" She muttered, looking hesitant.

She didn't know how to explain to Shamac that this was a battle for pride. She had to redeem herself and prove to the being before them, as well as herself, that she wasn't totally worthless.

"You don't need to say any more...

" Shamac cut into her thoughts.

Quickly turning her face, Talia shot him a surprised look.

"... I understand perfectly. I also feel the same...

" Shamac muttered.

He too failed.

He was unable to defeat the Executioner, a General of the underworld.

"This one also calls himself a General... Maybe...

" Shamac thought to himself.

He was being stupid, but he decided to go along with Talia.

Besides...

"He insulted one of our own. What kind of man would I be to let that slide?

" He smiled.

Shamac's words brightness Taia's face as she beamed in response.

"Yeah! I guess you're right... Thanks... Shamac

" She smiled.

He grinned and nodded, looking at Wrath's disinterested posture as he sat on his throne and watched them.

"Whenever you're ready!

" He said.

Ana looked at her two partners.

"Idiots

"

Perhaps it was due to her extrasensory capabilities as an Apostle, or her connection with Hexarion after he merged part of his energy with hers, but she was well aware of the vast difference that existed between them and the enemy.

Besides...

"Ana, what do you say?

" Talia smiled, interrupting the woman's deep thought.

She slowly looked at Talia with an absent-minded expression, unsure of what to tell the expectant Fairy.

"I-I can't...

" She muttered.

Ana didn't know how to tell Talia or Shamac... That she...

"I understand! It's fine... Two is plenty enough!

" Talia said with a disappointed smile.

They were unable to battle and defeat Gratiana together, so Talia was slightly hoping that this could replace the intended epic conclusion.

Ana's throats clogged, unable to respond to Talia's words as she drifted forward, away from the Apostle. Shamac looked at Ana's saddened state and reached out his hands, wanting to ask her the cause for her depression.

"Shamac... We're doing this now!

" Talia said.

Shamac quickly dropped his hand and turned back to Wrath, moving forward to next Talia's pace.

"Hold on, Ana... I'll be back soon,

" He thought to himself.

Ana couldn't bear to watch the painful sight of the two fighting against such a monster. They had no chance of winning, however... That wasn't what hurt her the most.

Even though it was something foolish to do, she still wanted it...

"I want to fight with you guys too...

" She muttered to herself.

But she couldn't. The reason was as a result of the decision she made in her final bout with Gratiana.

"... But, I can't! I can't use Grace anymore...

" She cried within.

As a result of overexerting her Realm Of Limbo, just as Hexarion had warned... It collapsed beyond repair!

When she woke up and found her arms healed, she had a rising hope that perhaps her 'Realm' had been fixed too.

But... Much to her disappointment... It wasn't.

"I'm useless in this fight... I'm so sorry everyone... I'm so sorry...

" She cried within herself.

The only thing that made her useful to her god had been stripped from her. Even now, her friends were to fight an impossible foe without being able to rely on her strength.

The feeling of powerlessness she had... Brought her into a state of melancholy.

For the third time in her life, she became broken once again.

"god... Lord Hexarion... I'm now useless... I'm so sorry...

" She continuously chanted within herself, lost In the deep abyss of despondency.

......

"I'll make you eat your words!

" Talia growled at her opponent, with Shamac by her side.

Wrath rolled his eyes and made a disappointed sigh.

"You still have two minutes... If you still have a fit to render, do so now... Child

"

This final statement initiated the fight Talia geared up far.

Her red wings appeared behind her in an instant as she took flight and charged towards Wrath.

"T-Talia, wait!

" Shamac yelled, chasing after her with his Shadow Armor on.

As Wrath watched them approach, he couldn't help but feel disappointed by the sight.

"Uncoordinated, inexperienced... And most of all... WEAK! Lord Hexarion must have had to endure so much to have been in the company of such fools.

" Wrath thought to himself.

"Well, that time has surely come to an end... Now that I, the first of us seven has been returned to master, he'll surely seek out the rest. Once that happens.... He'll no longer require these insects

"