GREED had had enough of Aeternus. So It attacked him immediately with a shout. A tendril of green poison-looking energy extended out of the cloud that is the demon god of greed and lashed at him.
This thin and string-like tendril of energy fell on him in the most harmless manner but he isn't deceived. He is sure that he will be cut in two if it touches him. All of his clones and avatars will not be spared from the damage either. GREED will be able to reach every one of them.
Death came for him abruptly. But the tendril was knocked aside by another tendril before it reached him. It is a red fire whip that belongs to the God of wrath.
The two whips clashed in a violent explosion. The explosion produced shockwaves that shook all the thrones and the demon kings sitting on them. The shockwaves also struck the surface of the energy sea below and made it create high-rising waves. This turbulence passed through the energy sea into every plane in the abyss.
Every demon felt a sudden spike in the concentration of sin energy followed by a sudden drop. They also felt a spike in their emotions mostly anger and greed. This shift in sin concentration and emotions continued over time. They will reduce until the concentration returns to normal. That is if the energy sea is not agitated again.
"Don't test me." WRATH roared in unbridled anger.
"Or what?" GREED asked menacingly.
A fight is about to break out. The other demon gods that were watching the show had to interfere immediately. A fight will surely happen once WRATH becomes angry. So they have to placate him.
The demon gods all began to argue amongst themselves. Some of them, headed by GREED don't want to swear to stay away from the demon kings. They have several reasons for their vehemence. It has to do with the restriction of their freedom and demon gods don't like restraint.
There are also some benefits involved that swearing that oath will hinder. The others are willing to make the sacrifice of swearing the oath so that they can get a chance at becoming world-enders. Swearing the oath will actually make the demon kings be at peace and be more productive which is a good thing for them. But it is not a good thing if they want to get Aeternus.
Aeternus continued to sit calmly. He appeared to be at ease while he was shaking within. If he had sweat glands, he would be sweating profusely right now. His sweat glands will be gushing out with salt-laden water to cool his body but it will not be enough. The heat of the abyss will make nothing ever be enough. The presence of angry demon gods that want to murder you after thoroughly turning your existence inside out is just icing on this very very hot lava cake.
"That was close." He said to himself.
He almost died right now but he didn't. He knew what he was doing so he knew it was a possibility for him to be attacked and to die. But he did it anyway. He continued to pressure the demon gods despite GREED's warnings.
WRATH tried to fool him but he wasn't fooled. What WRATH said about not having any obligations towards each is a convenient way to sidestep the major issue. In a way, WRATH was saying that everyone is on their own. That wasn't okay with him so he pushed further. His safety is the major issue so he can't allow it to be sidestepped.
WRATH had to answer Aeternus's questions but that doesn't mean it had to answer every question. It spoke to great lengths about freedom, absence of tasks, and no obligations in hopes that the demon kings would feel assured that they aren't swearing to do something that they don't know about or will be forced to do.
If the demon kings only need to vote to form the coalition and they have no responsibility to the coalition, then there is little to no problem with swearing. But Aeternus wasn't assured. He knows his life is in danger. So he can't be assured. He had to pressure the demon gods to grant them their safety.
So he ignored the threats of GREED. After all, what's the worst that can happen? It is that he will be attacked. That is no different from his current situation. He will do anything to avoid it including dragging the other demon kings into it.
Now, if he isn't given his safety, no demon king will feel assured to vote for the coalition. They know that if the problem of their safety is so important that a demon god wanted to kill him to shut him up about it, maybe they shouldn't be so eager to swear the Oath since it won't change their situation with demon gods and it won't eliminate the danger that they pose to them.
The demon gods argued amongst themselves for a long while. Then WRATH asked Aeternus, "Are you saying that you won't vote if we don't swear the oath to cease all violence between demon gods and demon kings apart from self-defense?"
Aeternus shook his head, "I never said that. I will still vote. I just said that it would be best if the demon gods swore not to attack us. It will foster unity amongst the rulers of the abyss and help us be ready for the era of conquest."
The demon God understood more than what he said. Aeternus will certainly vote. That much is certain. But if the oath is not sworn, then he won't vote for the coalition to form. After all, there is another option other than "yes" in a vote.
"Who else is of this opinion?" WRATH asked the other demon kings.
No one said anything. They maintained their silence but their silence spoke volumes. They are definitely of the same mind as Aeternus but they aren't going to say so. It is for the same reason that they want the demon gods to swear the oath. They are afraid of the demon gods. So they will vote, but they won't vote for what the demon gods want.