The Four Guardians

Stood in the centre of the demon realm. Surrounded by the standing buildings and empty streets. Ren, along with several other members of the jester masks, including several new members and some old ones that shouldn't be there. They stood looking towards the tower where the guardians lived, with Tempus slowly walking towards them.

"What do I owe this p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e?" Tempus shouted to them as they stopped moving with the space of several houses between them.

"We've come for the creator's body," Ren said, cautiously looking around at the area that was new to him. "Sophia said Brio's body was under there."

Tempus turned around to look at it. He looked at it as if he was trying to feign ignorance.

"What do you mean?" He replied sheepishly.

"Shut it."

"Can I ask?" Tempus said to Ren who was about to approach but halted promptly. "How is Wrath alive? He should be sliced into two? And why's the tiny Envy girl here? Also, why does Greed look like he wants to cry? So many questions… so little time..."

"Wrath was created thanks to the Necronomicon. He's dead…"

Ren spoke as if he was a different person. His anger that he was filled with before was turned into arrogance, something that Tempus saw on himself.

"Very well… Where's Mane?"

"Dead." Ren didn't hesitate with his answer. Tempus shouldn't have been shocked to have heard it but his body trembled at the possibility.

"Enough talking," Ren said as Wrath stepped forward, wielding the Necronomicon in his hand. "Shall we begin?"

The earth shook as Wrath lifted his hands, the street was torn apart and the tower collapsed in seconds. Out from the rubble, a blue crystal emerged. A crystal which magnified the light that passed through it, causing the beams to summon several fires.

Inside the crystal lies a body. One that was in perfect condition. A man who looked no older than a teenager rested inside it. This man was Brio.

"All we need is the sword and your time powers," Ren said holding his hand out. "We can let you live if you hand them to us."

Tempus looked at the 7 people that were in front of him. 6 sins that wielded powerful weapons and 1 man who stood above them all.

"Not happening."

At the end of Tempus' words, Greed dashed forward. He ran across the hundred feet that separated them as if his legs were about to break, regardless in less than a second he was in front of Tempus.

Tempus, already aware that he can't look Greed in the eyes, dodged his initial punch and countered by sticking his fingers in Greed's eyes. Only to find empty sockets.

"What the hell?" Tempus said as he collapsed to the ground with his eyes slowly closing.

"We found a way to give Greed his powers without the need for a catalyst." Ren stepped forward as it was over. Or so he thought…

Tempus, who was asleep for exactly 2 seconds, had woken up. Sweat poured down his face as he struggled to stand, kicking Greed away before he could react.

"Impressive… To wake up that quickly… what did you see?"

Tempus didn't respond to Ren's question. He watched as his breath became uneasy and his bones grew tired as if they were quickly ageing.

Greed walked back to join the rest of the group before the next person stepped out. A woman with long midnight hair that dragged across the ground jumped around off the remains of what little stood of the Demon Realm.

She darted around with Tempus watching her every movement. Occasionally, going in for a gentle touch which Tempus could easily dodge.

"I don't know what your power is…" Tempus said, "but please rest here for a moment…"

Tempus flooded the world in ice. The person they called L.u.s.t, was frozen in place with her hand only centimetres away from her target.

But before Tempus can jump away, out from behind the block of ice that L.u.s.t inhabited, Envy jumped around, recreating Tempus' ice magic but with fire. Melting the ice as they both retreated back to Ren.

"See?" Tempus said, trying not to ruin the typical arrogance others perceived him as. "Isn't so easy."

The next person was about to step out. A man smaller than most with a long trench coat pulled out a solid black reflective feather before being halted by Ren.

"Don't worry…" He said, "I'll take it from here."