"Something is coming this way, its power is on level with a Sin," declared Ratella, flying up into the air, surveying the surrounding area.
He flew high enough to be out of range for the soldiers below, allowing him to talk freely with Liliana.
"Have you sent someone this way?"
I told Sloth to intercept the unit, and Lust is wandering around this area looking for fresh meat, so whether we find you or not is up to her. I much prefer Sloth over Lust, which is why I have been ignoring her many attempts at contact.
"Is Lust really that bad?"
"Yes, she is a cruel, vindictive woman. Her cruelty is on par with Pestilence. If she encounters you, you can expect the soldiers to turn against you."
"How come you even sent a Sin to intercept us in the first place? Wouldn't encountering one be more convenient?"
"I suppose it would be, but I want you to capture Sloth and bring him into the castle, so destroying it will be easier. I've already told him of my plans, so he'll put up a fight for a while before surrendering. Do not let that virtue kill him. I'll reveal myself if he comes close to death."
"I won't let him die, so there is no need to worry. I won't let Sarian out of my sight, so he won't have the chance to kill Sloth."
"Thank you, if we lose Sloth, our warpower will be weakened, and I cannot allow that."
Ratella lowered his altitude, scanning the surrounding area for an encroaching figure. Eventually, his eyes catch sight of a small figure dragging his feet and walking sluggishly towards the unit.
He softly landed next to Sarian on the ground. The figure of Sloth was growing clearer by the minute. His approach was slow and long-winded, only adding to the soldiers' nerves.
"Sarian, Sloth draws nearer," declared Ratella, grasping the attention of everyone.
Sarian's eyes twisted with anger, an unbridled fury replacing all sense in his brain, the feeling causing his blood vessels to burst, painting his eyes bloodshot.
"I'll slaughter that bastard for what he did to my father!"
The surface of Sarian's bow shielded itself in multiple barriers of light, its power growing exponentially, matching the fury corrupting his mind.
Five arrows appeared out of thin air, knocking themselves into his bow, their size increasing to match the number of arrows.
Letting go of the bowstring, the arrows flew at an alarming speed towards Sloth. After his first volley was fired, he replaced the arrows and let another fly in quick succession.
Sloth faced a large volley of arrows, their intent to rip the light from his body, not leaving him a second to react.
"This won't be that easy. Keep firing, Sarian," exclaimed Samael, his mounting anxiety evident as the foe loomed behind them.
Liliana had been warning Sloth of the incoming attacks, allowing him to react before they met their mark. He set up a field of low gravity around him, disrupting the arrow's trajectory and causing it to miss its target completely.
Despite this, Sarian still sent volleys of arrows in his direction at the still approaching Sin. His field matches his current position.
Sairan's anger had clouded his judgment skills; he couldn't recognise that his current approach wasn't working. The only approach his mind recognised was sheer force and overwhelming power as the best way to victory.
Ratella had no plans on engaging Sloth, only stepping in when the situation got dire. If he started fighting, he might end up killing the Sin, clouded by his own bloodlust.
"Sarian! This isn't working; try something else or give orders. Return to us!" shouted Samael, shaking the man, but he didn't react, his hearing locked onto Sloth's footprints and the humming of shifting gravity.
"Is that any way to greet a visitor?" asked Sloth, now close enough to be heard by the soldiers.
Sarian was still locked into firing volleys of arrows, completely devoid of any reason, now leaving the unit in disarray.
The situation was becoming unstable, and there was no way for the soldiers to approach Sloth without getting riddled with arrows; the constant barrage was useless against Sloth.
"All soldiers! Assume a defensive formation! Plant your feet and shields into the ground," ordered Samael, his mind well-suited to tactics, able to grasp and adapt to a situation.
Sloth's gravity manipulation soon spread throughout the unit, except for Ratella, whom he avoided. The mounting pressure reduced most of the unit to their knees, only avoiding falling by their earlier orders.
"I'll kill you, filthy murderer. My father's death is on your hands."
Sarian ditched his current strategy, dropping his bow on the ground and summoning swords of pure light, lunging forward towards Sloth.
"I don't even know who you are. Can you remind me who your father was? I've killed a lot of fathers, and my mind isn't what it once was."
Sloth looked totally unamused by Sarian's anger, his presence here only being out of obligation for his position and the fear of attracting the ire of Liliana.
Sarian didn't make the Sin falter for a second; he had seen much scarier people in his lifetime. Liliana is the greatest source of dread in his long life.
Ratella merely observed the conflict between the two, paying no mind to the struggles behind him, apart from placing one of his wings above Lilia and Samael to shield them from Sloth's gravity.
His action released them from the mounting pressure crushing their bones. The other soldiers weren't so lucky and would have to withstand it until Sloth's attention was fully on Sarian.
"Thank you, Ratella," exclaimed Lilia, drawing closer to him. "What do we do?"
"There is nothing we can do right now. We'll have to just trust in Sarian to slay Sloth."
Samael nodded at Ratella's words, drawing their gaze back towards the opposing pillars.
"You killed my father, Serian Valhorn, the virtue of Temperance!"