Kira stood at the highest point in her district, looking down at the twisted streets below. The green, eerie glow of her eyes mirrored the envy that churned in her soul. She had everything she could ever want—control, followers, the power to bend nature itself to her will. Yet, it wasn't enough. It never would be.
Her fingers gripped the edge of the stone balcony, the envy pulsing through her veins like venom. She had transformed into something far more powerful than she had ever been, yet her eyes still wandered to what others possessed. She could feel her fellow Sinister 7, could sense their immense power radiating through Corintopia. It made her sick with longing. Junna's dominion was vast, filled with warriors eager to serve their mistress. Cusi bathed in his endless wealth, while Cormac commanded the devotion of countless followers. Even Dmitri, with his brute strength, seemed to bask in his newfound abilities.
And then there was Tel-Nu.
Her grip tightened as she thought of him. He had the power to wipe them all out without even breaking a sweat. His strength, his control over the very fabric of reality, was something Kira could barely comprehend. That was what gnawed at her most—the fact that someone else, something else, had power beyond hers. The power she needed.
"Why do they get it all?" Kira muttered under her breath, her words laced with bitterness. "Why them? What makes them so special?"
The shades that served her scurried below, their twisted forms a reflection of her envious nature. They were a constant reminder of her control, but that control felt small, limited, compared to what the others had. Compared to what Tel-Nu had.
She could feel the pull of envy in her chest, a relentless tug that never ceased. Kira had always been ambitious, always driven to be better, to surpass those around her. But now that ambition had twisted into something darker. Now, she wasn't just driven—she was consumed by envy.
Her district was well-organized, filled with resources and warriors trained to the brink of perfection. She had spent years building it up, ensuring that no one could rival her position among the Sinister 7. And yet, it wasn't enough. Not when she looked at the others. Not when she felt the immense power of Tel-Nu looming over them all.
"They don't deserve it," she whispered, her eyes narrowing as she gazed out at Corintopia. "I deserve more. I've earned it."
Her thoughts drifted to Junna, the embodiment of Lust, who had always garnered the attention of the masses. Junna's followers were loyal to a fault, and her territory was the second largest of them all. But it wasn't just the size of her domain that grated on Kira's nerves—it was the fact that Junna had always seemed to command respect so effortlessly. She never had to fight for it. People just gravitated toward her.
Kira hated that.
She had spent her entire life fighting for recognition, clawing her way to the top. She had worked for everything she had, and yet Junna always seemed to eclipse her, as if it were her natural right.
And then there was Cusi, with his hoard of wealth. The Sinister 7 rarely spoke of it openly, but it was clear that Cusi lived in luxury beyond anything the rest of them had. He bathed in riches, surrounded by treasures and gold while the rest of them struggled to build their power in more practical ways. Kira could barely stand it—the thought of him hoarding all that wealth while she scraped by with just enough to keep her forces well-armed and supplied.
"I could use that wealth," she muttered to herself, her eyes gleaming with envy. "I could expand my influence tenfold if I had what he did."
The envy continued to gnaw at her, deeper and more painful than before. It wasn't just about the wealth or the respect—it was about power. Pure, unadulterated power. Tel-Nu had it. The others had pieces of it, and she wanted it all.
She wanted to be the strongest. She wanted to be the one the others envied.
A shadow passed across her vision, and Kira turned her gaze to the horizon. Even now, she could feel the oppressive presence of Tel-Nu, distant but unmistakable. The power he held, the ease with which he could erase them all from existence—it haunted her.
How could one being hold so much power?
Her teeth clenched in frustration. Tel-Nu didn't deserve it. He had no right to that kind of strength. Not when she was here, scraping and clawing for every scrap of power she could get her hands on. It wasn't fair. None of it was fair.
"He doesn't deserve it," Kira spat, her voice filled with venom. "I deserve that power. It should be mine."
Her eyes burned with envy, glowing a bright, eerie green as her emotions swelled. She could feel the envy coursing through her, twisting her thoughts, pushing her further into the darkness. The others thought they were all working together, that they had some unified goal. But Kira knew the truth. The moment Tel-Nu was dealt with, the alliance would crumble. They would turn on each other, and when they did, she would be ready.
She would take everything.
Her gaze shifted toward Junna's territory, and she sneered at the thought. She had no intention of playing second fiddle to anyone, not anymore. Junna's influence, Cusi's wealth, Cormac's followers—she would take it all. They were merely holding onto her future power, and they didn't even know it.
And then, once she had all of Corintopia, once she had taken everything from the others, she would go after the real prize: Tel-Nu's power.
Her mind filled with visions of wielding that kind of strength, of bending reality to her will, just as Tel-Nu did. She could feel the weight of the universe in her hands, could see herself standing above all others, a goddess in her own right.
"I'll have it all," she whispered, her voice dark and full of promise. "One way or another."
The shades below scurried about, oblivious to their mistress's internal turmoil. They continued to patrol the streets, their grotesque forms moving in the shadows, ready to report any sighting of Tel-Nu. But Kira's mind was already elsewhere, lost in her envious fantasies of power and control.
Her eyes burned with a green flame as she thought of the future. The others didn't realize it yet, but soon enough, they would. Kira wasn't content to be just another member of the Sinister 7. She wasn't content to rule over a single district while the others basked in their own wealth and power.
No, she would take everything. And when she did, she would show them all what it meant to be truly powerful.
Her lips curled into a wicked smile as she stared out at the dark, twisted city below. Tel-Nu's power would be hers. The others' territories would be hers.
It was only a matter of time.