by IMERPUS RELUR
---
The Forgotten Sanctum wasn't a place.
It was a restriction.
A wall in reality coded to keep certain beings out — or worse, keep others from ever realizing they could enter.
IMER stood at its edge, eyes locked on the glowing glyph etched into the void:
> [PRIDE]
[Access Denied: Authorization Level — Divinity Required]
[Attempting Entry May Result in Existence Overwrite]
He smiled.
"Good."
Then he walked through.
---
The moment he crossed the threshold, the System screamed.
> [!! CRITICAL WARNING !!]
[You are attempting to access a sin reserved for Deific-Level Entities.]
[Rewriting Forbidden.]
[Initiating Divine Rejection…]
His body bent.
Not in pain — in erasure.
Lines of code tried to delete his name, his shape, his very presence.
> [Error: IMER is not a recognized identity.]
[Erasing: Ego… Form… Memory…]
He dropped to one knee.
This wasn't like Envy. Or Wrath. Or Despair.
Pride was protected by something ancient.
Something that believed only God had the right to confront it.
---
"Why are you here?" a voice asked.
He looked up.
It wasn't a monster.
It was him — again.
Not twisted. Not envious.
Perfect. Divine. Radiant.
The version of IMER that would've become the Architect's chosen if everything had gone right.
"You're not real," IMER whispered.
"I'm what you should've been."
The golden IMER raised a hand. "Pride is not for mortals to hold. Turn back."
IMER stood.
"I'm not here to hold it," he said.
"I'm here to rewrite it."
The golden self narrowed its eyes. "You've rewritten sins. But this one rewrites you."
---
The temple around him began to shift.
Images of worship. Of glory. Of being worshipped.
Countless beings bowing to the name of IMER — not him, but the one who stood opposite him.
The golden self smirked. "This is who I could've been. A god. Perfect. Obeyed."
"But not real," IMER said softly.
"What?"
IMER's fists clenched.
"That version of me has no cracks. No pain. No glitches."
He stepped forward.
"And without those… I would've never wanted to change anything."
---
The System stuttered.
> [Unknown Response Detected]
[Integrity Loop... Broken]
[Pride Seal... Fracturing…]
The golden self looked down — a crack had formed on its chest.
"Impossible," it whispered.
"You're not perfect," IMER said.
"You're the version that never dared to be human."
The crack spread.
The divine illusion trembled.
> [Pride Sin Identified]
[True Form: Self-Worship Built on Systemic Hierarchy]
[Rewrite Option: Deconstruct Ego—Rebuild Identity]
---
IMER walked into the collapsing throne room.
No fists. No powers.
Just one truth.
"I don't want to be worshipped."
The golden self dissolved.
"I want to be real."
The Pride Lock shattered like glass.
---
> [You have rewritten the Fourth Sin: PRIDE]
[New Trait Unlocked: SYSTEM AGNOSTIC – Immune to Divine Classification.]
[New Skill: Reversal Protocol – Use enemy superiority against them.]
[Status Update: Your presence now registers as undefined.]
---
IMER stood alone in the aftermath.
He wasn't more than a god.
He was less than defined.
And somehow, that made him infinite.