The Seven Deadly Sins.

Pride. Greed. Lust. Envy. Wrath. Sloth. Gluttony. The Seven Deadly Sins... They sound rather cool and mysterious when you hear about them. Yet, they are known to be the very vices from which other sins are born, responsible for mankind's downfall when practised in excess. But what if they are all a test of our morality and standards? What if their very existence is meant to test us, to see whether we fall or stand firm? If that were the case, then wouldn't they simply be fulfilling their purpose in life? And wouldn't our failure only prove how right they are to challenge our morality? "Humans..." "They never cease to amaze me. What pitiful creatures. To think God created them to be above us..." Pride scoffed. "Useless." "Nothing amuses me more than watching their thirst for possession being put to the test. Who wouldn't want to claim everything they desire? Toying with them is truly entertaining." Greed laughed. "See who's talking. You're the one who makes them see meaning in their desires, convincing them that they need to have it all." Lust remarked. "Oh, really? Listen to the seducer, speaking as though he's some saint among us." Greed replied mockingly. "I merely awaken their innermost desires, offering them the pleasure they long for and a taste of satisfaction that keeps them coming back for more." Lust defended himself. "Even so, giving man a few minutes of pleasure is nothing compared to the satisfaction Greed offers when he finally achieves everything he desires." Wrath commented. "And what about you?" Lust asked. "What do you offer mankind, if not unending hatred and burning anger?" Wrath chuckled. "Unlike you deadly sins, who offer mankind something to cling to, I destroy the very core of its humanity." His expression darkened. "I give man more reasons to hate everything around him. Tell me, why should he cherish anything in this world when this goddamn universe does nothing but cause him pain?" Envy nodded in agreement. "I quite agree with Wrath. Man doesn't deserve to be happy or satisfied." He leaned back, a bitter smile forming on his face. "We are beings far greater than they are, yet, unfortunately, we find ourselves beneath them. And it makes me sick to think that such an incompetent creature is the very thing that challenges me." He chuckled. "People are nothing more than emotional tools. Toys to be played with. All it takes is the right words, a carefully crafted scenario, and a lie presented as truth. They fall so easily, never even realising they've been manipulated." "Well, would you look at that..." Pride smirked. "The very sin that wishes to take everything from man has finally spoken." "Shut it, Pride! What do you know beyond feeding man's ego? It's because of you that mankind believes itself to be almost above every other creature." Envy snapped. "What's there not to value about me?" Pride replied, unfazed. "Making man look down on his fellow man gives me immense pleasure. But what's even more amusing is watching him ascend to a position of power, only to convince himself that he stands closer to God." He smiled arrogantly. "Nothing amuses me more than watching man reach such heights, only to bring about his own destruction." "Why should man burden himself with useless pursuits when he can simply eat, drink, and waste his days away?" Gluttony spoke, taking a drink from a bottle of beer. "What do you know beyond eating and drinking, you fat creature?" Pride remarked. "Ouch, Pride... That hurts." Gluttony replied sarcastically. "But just as Wrath said, man lives in a world filled with pain and sorrow. My job is to help him forget his worries, even if only for a little while, through his excessive appetite." He took another swig from his bottle. "Just as the desires of the heart that Greed feeds on can never truly be satisfied, neither can the appetite of the stomach." He grinned. "Besides, mankind should be grateful that we are part of their lives. Without us, what would they even be?" "Wrong, Gluttony." Sloth interrupted with a yawn. "And the lazy one has finally spoken." Greed commented. "Yes, I am lazy. And I make man find pleasure in comfort, for there is nothing truly worth achieving in this life." Sloth yawned again. "Just as Solomon once said..." "'Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.'" He rested his head against his hand. "Why should man struggle for anything in the first place when there is beauty in simply being comfortable?" Pride burst into laughter. "Look at us... Being so proud of the roles we play in the lives of men." "What's there to be proud of, Pride?" Sloth asked, letting out another yawn. He paused for a moment before continuing. "You feed on man's ego, giving him reasons to exalt himself above every other being in this world." His gaze shifted towards Greed. "As for you, Greed, you make man desire everything he can possibly attain. Money, fame, power, status, reputation... You make him chase these things until he forgets the very essence of living." He turned towards Lust. "Lust... You seduce man with his innermost desires, offering him a sense of satisfaction whenever he fulfils them, only to leave him longing for more." His eyes moved to Envy. "Envy, you despise mankind. You toy with their emotions, taking pleasure in their misery and sowing the seeds of conflict wherever you go. Wars, hatred, and endless rivalries... All because you cannot stand to see another possess what someone else lacks." Then came Wrath. "And you, the deadly Wrath... You wish to burn everything in sight. Knowing that man has endured so much pain, you feed on his hatred until he sees no reason to love, forgive, or show kindness. You strip away the very essence of his humanity." Finally, he glanced at Gluttony. "And then there's Gluttony... My supposed twin, who makes man merry and helps him forget all his sorrows through endless indulgence." Sloth paused. "And then..." "...there is I." His voice remained calm, almost indifferent. "I seek nothing but comfort. After all, what is there in this world that makes man worth dying for?" He shrugged. "Because, in the end, man dies and meets his Creator." A faint smile crossed his face. "We, the Seven Deadly Sins, are simply beings who seek to destroy the lives of men by bringing beauty and desire into them." He looked around at the others. "We are nothing special..." "We are merely part of a shiny darkness that man has refused to turn a blind eye to." He paused. "Because what glitters..." "...can never be ignored."