Acedia, the Demon King of Sloth, was a figure of contradiction in the infernal hierarchy. Among the demon kings, he was infamous not for his power or his conquests, but for his indolence. His days were filled with long stretches of lethargy, his throne a sanctuary where he languished in idle dreams, preferring sleep to strategy, apathy to ambition.
The others in the circle of demon kings often scoffed at his languorous ways, dismissing him as the weakest among them, not because he lacked the potential for power, but because he was simply too lazy to pursue it.
Unlike the other demon kings who commanded legions of fearsome minions, Acedia had no army of his own. He was content without the weight of authority that came with maintaining a horde, finding even the act of leadership to be a tedious chore. Only one other demon king shared his distinction.
After all, what need did he have for underlings when the effort required to manage them far outweighed any possible gain?
Yet, despite his indifference, Acedia held a unique position. He was one of the few who took orders directly from the King of Hell, a role that granted him an unspoken respect, albeit begrudgingly, from his peers. They recognized his cunning, buried deep beneath layers of slothfulness, and the fleeting moments of brilliance that occasionally broke through his fog of apathy.
These glimpses of potential made him a puzzle, one that could have been formidable if only he cared to exert himself.
But Acedia never did. He preferred the shadows of his throne room, content to let the world pass him by while he drifted in and out of a hazy, half-aware state. For Acedia, there was no greater bliss than surrendering to the weight of his own indolence, letting it drown out the noise of ambition and conflict that consumed his brethren.
Now, however, Acedia's usual calm was shattered. A sharp pain radiated from his arm, jarring him from his stupor. Elias's grip tightened around the demon's forearm, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination. "Finally, I have you in range," Elias growled, his voice laced with the edge of triumph.
Without a moment's hesitation, Elias conjured a lance spear of pure fire, its tip glowing with an intense heat as he drove it toward Acedia's head.
Elias undid his stone armor with a casual wave of his hand, the rocks crumbling away to reveal his confident stance. He stared at Acedia, unflinching. "Kill me? In that vessel? You don't have the strength to kill me," Elias declared, his voice was steady "Not now, not ever."
Acedia's expression darkened, his pride stung by Elias's audacity. The demon king's fury boiled over, his form trembling with barely restrained wrath. He lunged forward, his hand curling into a claw, ready to strike. But Elias moved faster.
With a sudden burst of speed, Elias gripped Acedia's arm even tighter, his fingers digging into the demon's flesh with such force that Acedia winced in pain. Elias's grip was like iron, unyielding and relentless. The tables had turned, and it was now Acedia who was trapped, held fast by an unnatural strength.
Elias wasted no time, unleashing a barrage of powerful blows upon the demon king. Each punch connected with a resounding impact, the force of Elias's strikes sending shockwaves through the sky. Acedia was driven back, his form crumpling under the relentless assault. Blow after blow rained down on him, each strike delivered with the precision of a seasoned warrior or in this case, a seasoned gamer.
The sky above them rippled with the aftershocks of their battle, the air crackling with energy as Elias continued his assault. Acedia, the Demon King of Sloth, found himself overwhelmed, unable to keep up with Elias's onslaught. Each hit sent tremors through his body, rattling his bones and stripping away the indifference that had defined him for so long.
For the second time in his existence, Acedia felt the sting of true fear. The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning—Elias was not just a nuisance or a passing threat. He was a force to be reckoned with, a rising power that could not be ignored or dismissed. Acedia's lazy arrogance had blinded him to the danger Elias posed, and now he was paying the price.
But even as he endured the pain, a dark resolve began to form within Acedia. He was still a demon king, and his pride would not allow him to be bested so easily. As Elias drew back, preparing for another devastating strike, Acedia's eyes flickered with a dangerous light.
"You...you may have the upper hand now, Elias," Acedia gasped, his voice ragged but defiant. "But you've made a grave mistake. You've awakened the wrath of a demon king."
'Oh please, just shut up'