Vale’s current confusion heavily outweighed his spite.

He didn’t even know where to begin to not only process everything, but also the implications.

There were supposedly six Sloths?!

Two of which inhabited one body — and that body was the one he’d met at the Council of Vice.

Both of those Sloths held a similar goal, but wildly different endpoints, leading them to become somewhat of enemies. Which also meant they wanted to direct the future in different ways. Hence fighting for control to speak at the Council of Vice...

’But then...’

Which Sloth had been saying what to him?!

Which one had told him the prophecy? Which one had kissed him? Which one had told him [Dominion] must not taste the water? Which one had just given a prophecy to Gluttony?

’Wait...’

Vale’s eyes widened in harrowing realization.

He felt he’d finally learned why he couldn’t speak about his prophecy...

’Because the other Sloth would understand what it meant.’

And since the prophecy would guide the receiver toward the other one’s goal...

’They’d either have to give a counter-prophecy or silence them.’

And Vale had a sneaking suspicion giving a prophecy wasn’t such a simple task, therefore they’d resort to the silencing methodology.

’Does Wrath know...?’

What about the others? Greed and Pride? Do they know?

’What a damn situation I find myself in...’

First, Vale learned his entire existence was the will of the Real Sloth. Yet, from what he understood, if he wanted to protect his people, following that Sloth’s prerogative would be the way to go. But that would also mean becoming everything that bastard oracle ever wanted — it would justify her marionetting of his life.

Something he felt reluctant to do out of spite and spite alone.

Then again...

Defying her will would also mean everyone would eventually die (unnatrually), including him and his Champions, assuming the facts given to him that led him to this conclusion were truthful.

’What oh what a conundrum.’

And that was only the overarching dilemma.

If Vale ever made it known he sided with one of the Sloths, or Diligence, who was ’allied’ with the real one, then the other one would undoubtedly seek his death to eliminate the volatile variable.

Meaning he’d have to fear for his life every time the witch opened her eyes.

’A fifty-fifty chance I’ll die then?’

What a terrifying gamble.

Vale, gripping his head as he sorted through his thoughts, asked:

"Well... I’d like to know which one kissed me, saying that I’d ’free her’."

Diligence’s eyes widened.

"So that’s how that happens!" Diligence coughed. "Ahem... I’m afraid for the sake of the future I cannot reveal what she did to you, but it was the Master of Vice."

’W-what?!’

That just made things even more complicated!

Wasn’t that Sloth supposed to be Diligence’s enemy?! Why wasn’t she foiling whatever she’d plotted?

Speaking of that...

’The hell did she do to me?!’

Vale shook his head, then asked:

"Sloth’s marked me, right?"

The reflection of Diligence nodded.

"Correct."

"How...? When?"

The reflection smiled.

"The first moment you appeared in this world... But don’t worry, you assumed correctly. She cannot see you within your ability; however..."

Diligence paused for dramatic effect, then added:

"She sees only through the eyes of the dungeon, not yours; she witnesses every happening inside. Even as you sleep. That also means the moment you step outside neither Sloth can watch through you; they can through others, but not you."

’W-wait... what?’

Vale stared dumbfounded at Diligence, then asked:

"Can you... explain?"

"It’s not something entirely necessary... on that basis, would you mind apologizing for insulting me?"

Without hesitation, Vale raised his right hand and muttered:

"I apologize."

Naturally, such a thing was a lie. She was fate’s bitch, and he was going to let her know. But he couldn’t let this opportunity to learn be drowned away by hubris.

"Oh, how easy. In that case... While typically oracles, like myself, mark the vessel, Sloth marks the soul. And your soul is inside the Dungeon Core, not your body, which is also why your Aether Core leaks when you leave behind the soul which regulates it."

’H-huh?!’

That was...

’Nonsensical!’

Was his soul remotely controlling his body or something?

Vale asked:

"How the hell is my body moving without its soul?!"

"You have a pseudo splinter of a soul which ties your vessel to the true soul. Though that splinter fails at every other typical task; however, it trades those typicalities in for being immune to soul attacks."

’Huh?’

He’d been told something impossible to comprehend.

’Man... I can barely process all of this.’

Once again, Vale froze as he ruminated on the topic...

"Diligence, what is the white expanse?"

"White expanse? You mean the inside of the Dungeon Core? Well, that is the physical manifestation of your Soul’s Realm."

Wait—

’Larry and the others are playing around in my soul?’

How invasive!

And...

"Then that means—!"

"Yes... that very black door in the core is her mark upon you. It also serves as a gateway to her soul."

Vale’s eyes were plastered open.

That wave of darkness he’d been greeted by when he initially spawned in Pandora?

In that darkness was Sloth. And Sloth had marked him.

’W-wait! Was she the one who took control of my body?!’

Leading it back to the Dungeon Core so she could mark him properly?

Vale didn’t exactly know how the marking worked, but he felt that had to be true.

’Seriously! What the hell has my life become?!’

***

Vale was a piece on a seven-way gameboard where all the players were sharing pieces and could see one another’s moves in advance — and each changed their move accordingly.

How were any of them supposed to win?

Well, the answer was oddly simple.

It was how Mias defied Diligence initially...

You foster a piece they can’t see and unleash it at the perfect moment. A moment so quiet that all the rest playing the game would think it was a simple, inconsequential move.

Each knew that fact, and each had made their first steps toward promoting their star pawns.