Deep within the Cave of Eternity, shadows trembled.
Torch flames bent backward as if bowing to an invisible force.
Ancient runes glowed with a faint blue, then flickered violently.
And at the center of the cave…
Two figures stood facing each other.
One was an old man with a long white beard, holding a cracked wooden staff.
The Wizard.
Weak.
Fading.
And the other—
A grown man with eyes burning with obsession and hatred.
Dr. Thaddeus Sivana.
His chest rose and fell rapidly as he stared at the floating glowing orb pulsing with sickly purple light.
The Wizard's voice trembled:
"Sivana… STOP. Don't touch that orb! It holds the Seven Deadly Sins—do not free them!"
But Sivana's grin stretched wider.
"Old man… you rejected me."
His fingers twitched, hungry for power.
"You told me I wasn't worthy."
He stepped closer.
The Wizard tightened his grip on the staff.
"I protect you from corruption," the Wizard growled.
"You lack strong will and goodwill. So You are not chosen."
Sivana exploded in rage.
"CHOSEN?!"
He lunged forward—
his hand grabbing the glowing orb before the Wizard could move.
The orb vibrated violently in his palm.
HUMMMMMMMM—
The entire cave shook.
"SIVANA, NO!" the Wizard roared.
But it was too late.
The orb cracked open like an egg, releasing a flood of dark, swirling energy.
The Seven Deadly Sins — monstrous shadows — spiraled around Sivana like a storm.
WRATH
PRIDE
ENVY
LUST
GREED
GLUTTONY
SLOTH
Their voices whispered, hissed, laughed, screamed…
"USE US…"
"FREE US…"
"BECOME US…"
Sivana's eyes widened with unholy joy.
The shadows surged toward his left eye, forming a swirling vortex of darkness.
SHIIIIING—
The orb melted into his flesh.
His left eye glowed violet-black, veins spreading like lightning cracks.
"Ahhh— HAHAHAHAHA!" Sivana screamed in ecstasy.
"I CAN FEEL IT— I CAN FEEL EVERYTHING!"
The Seven Sins roared with him, sinking into his body, merging with his soul.
The Wizard staggered backward, horrified.
"Sivana… they're consuming you! You are a puppet—"
Sivana stepped forward, eyes glowing like a demonic god.
"No, old man…"
He raised his hand.
"I am finally FREE."
A blast of lighting energy shot from his palm—
BOOOOM—
The Wizard was thrown across the chamber, crashing into a pillar.
He coughed blood, but raised his staff weakly.
"You… are not worthy," he whispered, voice failing.
"You never were."
Sivana's jaw clenched.
His face twisted with fury.
"You will regret rejecting me," he snarled.
"I will become what you denied me."
He walked toward the magical staff, hand outstretched.
The Wizard's eyes widened.
"No… NO… he must not touch the Staff of Eternity—!"
Sivana stretched out his glowing hand—
But in the last fraction of a second…
The Wizard summoned his remaining strength.
With a thunderous roar:
"BEGONE!"
The staff slammed into the ground.
A golden shockwave erupted—
WOOOSHHH—
Sivana screamed as he was flung out of the Cave of Eternity, hurled through space and time.
The cave trembled, stones falling from above, the runes losing their glow.
The Wizard collapsed to one knee, panting.
"Another failure… another corrupted soul…"
He looked up weakly.
"choosen one … where are you…? I do not have much time left…"
The cavern dimmed.
The torches flickered.
The Wizard's final attempt to hold the Seven Sins at bay had failed.
A storm was coming.
And somewhere far away…
Arin Aether had no idea that destiny was shifting and that he himself was now a possible successor to the Wizard's throne.