WebNovels

Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Six Catalysts & Seven Deadly Sins

What is this?

 

He wondered.

 

In this state, Narvel felt his body continuously get stronger, as though there was no limit.

 

As if he were a life form above others.

 

This thought crashed into his mind, and somehow, possessed him.

 

Right at that moment, the door to his room opened.

 

"Why do we have to come here?" Tomas's voice broke through. "The normie is probably still in a coma, what would our presence do to help him?" He complained as he stepped into Narvel's hospital room.

 

Behind him were Agnar, Nyla, Sera, and their captain, Armand.

 

Seeing them step into his room, Narvel's brows arched. What are they doing here?

 

It couldn't be possible that they suddenly care for him. They've only been teammates for a week or so, surely they haven't come to check up on his condition.

 

Just as they stepped in, they all looked at Narvel and paused.

 

Even the lackluster anxiety-filled Agnar, couldn't help but pen his mouth in shock.

 

All of them could sense Idra coming from Narvel.

 

"What happened here?" Tomas wondered out loud.

 

Someone he considered to be annoying, the number one normie he despised, is somehow wielding Idra.

 

"Have you… Awakened your Ego?" Nyla frowned as she asked, her voice was unsure.

 

Awakening one's Ego isn't a strange thing, there are many who awaken every day in different Star Domains in the Milky Way Galaxy, however, the age of awakening has its limits. The probability of awakening under the age of eighteen is very high.

 

But once a person is older, it drops to 10%. And then after surpassing twenty, that path is done and sealed.

 

At least there are no public records of Egomaniacs who awakened after the age of twenty.

 

"Or have you always been an Egomaniac and you've been hiding it from the Government?" Tomas uttered. His mind went back to the night of the attack when Narvel jumped down from the top floor of the building.

 

No normal person would do that without thinking twice, Exoshell or not.

 

To Tomas, this was a more believable explanation.

 

"That's highly unlikely," Sera chipped in as she approached Narvel. "His pupils… they're different." She pointed out.

 

Armand had an inkling as to what was happening to Narvel, well not anything to do with his awakening, rather, why his pupils had changed. He kept his distance, not even warning Sera to stand back.

 

He remained silent because he wanted to see what Narvel would do.

 

But after a few seconds had gone by and Narvel hadn't done anything, he calmed down a bit.

 

"It is highly likely he recently awakened. Moreover, his Catalyst could be a Deadly Sin." Armand revealed and Sera quickly jumped back.

 

In this age, the term Catalyst described the spark that triggered an awakening—the fracture point of the soul that birthed Idra, the power of Ego itself.

 

But not all sparks were equal.

 

That spark is what births Idra in the core of a person. The Idra powers their Ego, helping it shape its form.

 

And although they are called Catalysts, it is just a general term coined for them.

 

There are Six Catalysts and Seven Deadly Sins. The Six Catalysts generally refer to Anger, Wrath, Shame, Fear, Jealousy, and Resentment, with variations that are tied back to these six.

 

For instance, under extreme anger, one's Will could spark and awaken their Ego. For such a person, their Catalyst would be Anger. For each Catalyst, there's an existing opposite, but that's a case reserved for the stronger Egomaniacs.

 

As for the Seven Deadly Sins, they're considered to be the bizarre cause of awakening, even to Egomaniacs themselves.

 

While the Six Catalysts are Will sparks from intense emotions, the Seven Deadly Sins are Will sparks from intense desires. One would wonder the difference between the emotions and desires and although it is only a thin line, their effects differ greatly.

 

In their essences and natures, Desires are drives of the Ego—what the soul and the Ego wants… they are also corruptive and expansive. To consume, achieve, or dominate. They are outward-projecting forces that could distort the mind and reality of the awakened to fulfill the soul.

 

As for emotions, they are states of being—what the heart feels and what it reacts to. They are introspective, the inward-reactive energies that refine or destabilize the self. Unlike the Deadly Sins, they are transformative and reflective.

 

Their Emotions define the Ego's tone, shaping how their power is expressed rather than what it seeks… The Six Catalysts are more stable than the Seven Deadly Sins, where the latter tend to fall into utter madness.

 

They're considered to be the true berserkers of this era. And on the power scale, the Deadly Sins as a catalyst, is a notch above the Six Catalysts.

 

So while there are many who see the Deadly Sins as an unstable and dangerous path, if one desires power, it is the most suitable path…

 

"I knew I shouldn't have come here," Agnar muttered.

 

He had wanted to remain at home after what had transpired two nights ago. But Armand summoned them all. Even after ignoring the man's calls and texts, it didn't stop Armand from bringing the team to his apartment to drag him out.

 

I did all the work that night and yet he can't let me sleep in?

 

Agnar was considering retiring from the Police Force. He had chosen the bounty hunter division after graduation because he knew that it was the division with the most freedom. He could choose to use his time pursuing or hunting down a criminal, or he could just laze around and he'll still be paid a salary.

 

His life was set.

 

Avoid people.

 

Avoid the outside world, that way, his anxiety and fears would plague him. And yet, two nights ago, because of what transpired, another phobia was added to his list.

 

I should have just slept in… at least I don't accumulate phobias in my sleep. Should I look for an empty hospital bed and take a nap there?

 

His mind wandered elsewhere.

 

"Your mind is being eroded by a desire." Armand said to Narvel, "Take deep breaths and try to control it, if not, you might give in to the madness and go berserk."

 

Narvel understood, he had a fair knowledge of the concepts and factors of Egomaniacs, however, he refused to believe that his mind was being corroded.

 

He knew what the Seven Deadly Sins were, however, he didn't have any desires that pointed to one of those sins exactly. In fact, apart from freedom, there was nothing else within him.

 

Or so he thought.

 

My mind is still functioning as usual. His eyes darted around the room a bit.

 

In his sight, Narvel could see cloud-like forms of energy slowly engulf the bodies of his teammates. Each was distinct in its own way and produced different levels of pressure. While the greatest pressure came from Armand, it most unique were Agnar and Nyla.

 

Especially Agnar's.

 

If anything, Narvel didn't want to look at his. It made him somewhat wary.

 

His teammates were circulating their Idra, preparing to take Narvel down as he hadn't responded to Armand's directives. They all thought that his mind had already been completely eroded by a Deadly Sin.

 

"Stand down normie, we don't want to hurt you," Tomas uttered slowly. From his expression, it was easy for Narvel to figure out what he was thinking.

 

They think I'm abnormal?

 

Upon that thought, Narvel snorted, forcefully calming the energy that was building up in him. He had since figured out that he could suppress it with his mind, but because he was relishing in this buildup it filled his body it, he let it continue.

 

Now that he was being treated like the abnormal one in the room, he didn't like the feeling… especially when it came from Egomaniacs.

 

As he suppressed the Idra, his eyes slowly regained their usual black color, and the desire to be free cooled down.

 

"What the hell are you guys doing here?" Narvel asked, with his annoyance evident in his tone.

 

"Huh?"

 

The way Narvel reigned in his Idra made them doubt if he had just recently awakened. It was as if he had always had control over it.

 

"We came to check up on you and that's how you welcome us?" Tomas replied.

 

"I don't recall asking to be checked up on," Narvel muttered as he relaxed on his bed.

 

"See! I told you guys that we should have left him under the rubble. He's an ungrateful prick."

 

The others ignored Tomas.

 

"I brought them here so we can clear a few misunderstandings about what happened on the night of the convention." Armand pointed out.

 

"What? You think they're all being watched?" Narvel asked.

 

"…Yes. Including myself."

 

"What!?" They all exclaimed in shock.

 

None of them had sensed being watched by anyone. Armand hadn't even told them anything.

 

Narvel chuckled, as though unsurprised by this. "That's normal."

 

"Are we being watched as suspects?" Sera thought out loud.

 

"No, they're watching you guys to see if you have an idea of what truly transpired two nights ago." Narvel started. "Have you guys told anyone what you think happened that night?"

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