Prince of Gluttony: Born from Betrayal

For a long moment, Cain simply sat there, his hands trembling slightly. The magic that had protected the book should have been impossible to overcome. Yet here he was, holding nothing, and yet feeling the energy of the book pulsing inside him as though it had fused with his very being.

[Gluttony has been activated]

[Skills have been Acquired]

[Skill: Ancient Language Proficiency]

[Skill: Basic Primordial Mana Gathering Technique]

[Skill: Primordial Magic Techniques]

Cain's breath caught in his throat. His mind reeled at the sheer weight of knowledge flooding him. Symbols and scripts that had been indecipherable a moment ago now danced clearly in his thoughts. He could feel the hidden structure of magic, the flow of primordial energy, and the ancient words that shaped it all.

It was overwhelming, a torrent of power and information, yet there was a strange clarity to it. Every new skill felt like a key, unlocking doors in his mind he hadn't even known existed. The taste of the book lingered faintly on his tongue, metallic and bitter, yet it seemed to have anchored the magic to him, binding the grimoire's essence into his very being.

Cain leaned back, his fingers brushing the empty table, trying to process it all. His pulse still thundered in his ears, but beneath the shock was a thrill he could not deny. Gluttony, activated. Knowledge, power, and magic now coursed through him in ways he had only begun to grasp.

He had only experienced this feeling twice before. The first time had been in the Abyss when he had consumed the spirit of Gaius and the other time had been when he consumed Jayden's broken sword.

This time was different. The book had not been alive in the same sense, yet it carried a presence, a will encoded in ink and parchment. As he absorbed it, he could feel the intent of its creator, the centuries of careful study, the meticulous layering of spells and knowledge meant to endure across lifetimes. Every word, every symbol, every arcane nuance now lived within him.

His mind raced, simultaneously exhilarated and exhausted. The Librarian watched him quietly, her ice blue eyes reflecting both pride and amusement. She had seen the skill manifest, seen him consume what should have been indestructible, and yet she made no move to intervene.

"You feel it, don't you?" she said softly, tilting her head. "The book is gone, but its essence is here. Part of you now. That is the true nature of Gluttony. It does not merely take. It integrates. It transforms. It becomes a part of you."

Cain sat back, his chest still heaving slightly as the last traces of the book's energy faded into him. The intoxicating surge that had made every symbol feel alive and every word pulse with meaning slowly dimmed, leaving behind a quiet, steady awareness. He blinked, letting the realization sink in. The power was his. Every piece of knowledge, every skill, was now a part of him. He had consumed it, and he was undeniably in control.

His eyes drifted to the rows of other ancient tomes lining the shelves, temptation flickering at the edges of his mind. He could feel the pull of countless secrets, each one promising new power. His fingers twitched almost involuntarily.

The Librarian's voice cut through the thought before he could act. It was low, sharp, and unexpected, almost a growl. "Don't even think about it."

Cain froze, eyes snapping back to her. Her gaze was ice cold, unflinching, and absolute. There was no trace of amusement this time. It was a warning and a command in one.

He swallowed, his pulse quickening for a different reason now. The thrill of Gluttony's hunger being sated lingered, but so did the stark reminder: power without discipline was dangerous, even for someone like him. He had control. But testing her patience was another matter entirely.

Cain inclined his head slowly, lips curving into a faint, wry smile. "Understood," he said softly, though the spark of curiosity in his eyes remained.

"I just have one last question. Please oblige me."

The Librarian's eyes flicked up, sharp and calculating. Her posture remained rigid, but the faintest crease of curiosity appeared between her brows. "One last question," she repeated, her voice steady, but the edge of patience was tempered by intrigue. "Make it quick. My time is not endless."

Cain leaned forward slightly, the empty table between them suddenly charged with unspoken tension.

"Where are the other Sins? There is 7 of us in total right?"

The Librarian's gaze sharpened, her posture rigid as she regarded him. For a long moment, she said nothing, as if weighing whether to grant him a truthful answer. The quiet hum of the library seemed to stretch around them, amplifying the tension in the air.

She then sighed, the sound soft but heavy, carrying the weight of years of knowledge and regret. "The ones I knew… they are all gone," she said quietly, her eyes distant for the briefest moment.

Cain froze, his pulse quickening. "All gone? How… how is that possible? You said their lifespans were practically infinite. Surely they couldn't just… disappear."

Her brow furrowed, and she leaned back slightly, her voice measured but edged with solemnity. "I remember what I said. Immortality is theirs… if they are not slain. But even the eternal can be undone. Death, betrayal, and misfortune have a way of finding even the strongest. The Sins are not invincible. Even they may fall."

Cain's mind raced, the implications sinking in. "Then… the others. There are still others, right? The rest of the Sins?"

Her eyes flickered, sharp and calculating, though her tone remained calm. "They exist, but they have yet to awaken. Their presence is dormant, waiting for the right conditions, the right moment. Some may never manifest. Some… may appear when the world demands it."

Cain swallowed, the enormity of the revelation pressing down on him. The Sins were fewer than he had imagined, the others lost to time, and yet the series was not complete. Danger, uncertainty, and potential power lingered like shadows on the edges of his vision.

"And you… you have awakened now," she said softly, her eyes meeting his. "The series stirs once more. Whether that is a blessing or a curse… depends on how you wield what you have taken."

Cain nodded slowly, the weight of her words settling heavily on his shoulders. He may have come to realize that he was a Sin but his path hadn't changed. He was destined for revenge.