She thought that she was a monster before, especially with feeling a suddenness of isolation and loneliness of the fact that she was no longer one of the normal people in society. Then again, could she even consider herself as normal?
But it was too late now. Baring with an overwhelming height with imperial red leathery skin covering her huge form, she was now the demon that Hendrickson had planned for her to be to kill her only friends, the only people who she could trust with her life.
Come on, wake up!
Her inner voice kept screaming out to catch her attention, but she was long gone. From her half lidded eyes, her form was practically useless to get through to. Her own demons had finally taken over for her sins, deception especially. Even if she wanted to struggle, she would soon come to realize that she was weak. She gave in to her own anger, her own hatred.
She had given up…
Within a matter of minutes, the horde of knights that were still inexperienced to fight such an incredible force had disappeared. From running away in panic to actually dying on the spot, all that was left was the strongest to face the destructive creature: the Sins, Hendrickson and Gilthunder was who remained to see the outcome of what could be the final battle.
The demon attacked the first sight of living beings, slashing it's large clawed hands at the Sins, to which they jumped out of the creatures reach.
A demon? That was impossible! Every single one of them were sent off into another world at the end of the Holy War. Except one that escaped through. The one that Ban had killed in order to protect Elaine. Somehow, they must've done something with the corpse of that red demon to turn Kaya into one.
"So, what's the plan, Captain? It's not like we can kill her!" Ban asked with a comment that even Meliodas couldn't disagree with. After all, despite the fact that she led them into a trap and a fight that they couldn't ignore, it seemed to be that there was a story being it all, one that was far more complicated than just a basic betrayal. Judging by Kaya's expression, she was forced to do so, even with feeling guilty through every second of it.
"We will lead her away from the town and then attack the larger form..." Meliodas said to the rest of the group. "Just don't hit her human form."
With nodding in an understanding fashion, the rest of the Sins did their usual business. Diane attacked the demon head on, whilst the other Sins attacked from the sides whilst the giant held her own against the evil entity's direct attacks.
Whilst the others did what they could to distract the enemy, Ban went in to grab the human girl to pull her out.
"Kaya!" He called out to her.
No response…
With a desperate sigh, he grabbed onto her form tightly, giving her a quick yet gentle tug to try her pull her out. The red mark remained on her face, but he didn't care about that. Part demon or not, she was still important to him. He hoped after all of this, she will be alright.
Damn, she was stuck in good. Even with his strength, he wasn't able to pull her out to get her to safety.
"Ban, look out!" Diane shouted to alert the Fox Sin of oncoming trouble.
He perked his head up to notice a large hand prepared to strike down on him to remove him from it's gigantic form. However, before he could get crushed under the palm of it's hand, it abruptly stopped the moment that it's limb got attacked by King's sacred weapon.
The demon roared fiercely in both anger and pain, it's attention kept on the Fairy. With so, he could easily direct him away from the citizens and out of town.
And that was what precisely happened…
With escaping out of town with the threat of destruction out of reach, the Sins could finally use their full force to take on the beast.
Meliodas used his 'Counter Attack' ability, Gowther used his weapon 'Herritt', whilst the other Sins attacked the demon profusely. Up to this point, it seems that the Sins had the upper hand, however the battle was not over yet. In fact, it was far from over…
Just as the demon was on it's final step, Hendrickson had came out of nowhere.
"No! How dare you take down what belongs to me!" He said, an impatience set in his tone from not just by the fact that his sure way of taking out the Sins was failing, but from the fact that they were able to over power her in such a form.
Meliodas turned his attention towards the Holy Knight.
"Guys, you take care of the demon! I'll take on Hendrickson." He called out to his team mates, however judging by the screams and grunts of the battle pursuing, it was obvious that they didn't hear him at all. But his next opponent on the other hand...
Hendrickson laughed at his comment.
"Oh, that's cute. You really think that you can handle me? I know your tricks, Sin. You won't be able to beat me, or my little helper over there..." He stated, emphasizing over to the over grown demon that the others were having trouble keeping under control.
Of course, it became clear as day as to what happened last night. Meliodas was not happy at all.
"So, I suppose that you are planning on killing her after all of this is done?"
"Of course. After all, all of this is to bring back the glorified name of the Holy Knights. War is a costly thing. Only the strongest will survive!"
A frown was evident on the Blond's face, his bright green eyes narrowed in anger and disbelief.
"Then that means that I will have to stop you at whatever cost..."
A smug smirk grew on the man's face, awaiting patiently for his opponents first move. Meliodas was quick, one of the best fighters to have ever been knighted. He would have to be especially careful of him. One wrong move and he was finished…
Meliodas attacked first. Hendrickson unsheathed his own weapon within a matter of seconds, quick enough to protect himself from the direct blow despite the fact that he was forced back a few feet.
The two of them held their own in a battle of life and death, to see who was the stronger one, the prize being the fate of the black haired maiden.
Whilst the new battle came to life, the one against the Sins and the demon was sure to end rather quickly, and in the most least expected fashion.
Whilst the others had been struggling to keep the demon in check, Ban had been trying over and over to bring the human side of Kaya back to reality.
Wake up…
But wait, that wasn't her voice…
Come back to me…
Ban?
She slowly began to regain consciousness, her dull, half lidded eyes slowly opening a little more to show response, which reassured Ban that she was okay. A softened smile edged on his face as he drew he closer to him.
"Don't worry, we will get you out of this as soon as possible..."
Just as he said so, a bright light shone down on them from the sky, the entirety of the area turning white, to the point where they couldn't see one another. In fact, all the others could hear were the sounds of roaring. It was the demon, and it was in pain. But then again, the cost of pain was worth saving both Kaya and the rest of humanity. The roars wavered into echoing, which soon faded into silence.
Within minutes of the white light blinding them, everyone came back to their senses. There was nothing there but a crater. No demon, and no Kaya…
Ban wiped his eyes to clear the blindness, his glance moving around. Nothing…
"No..." He muttered with a shocked look. "Not again… This can't be happening!"
At first, he thought that along with the demon life form, the human was disintegrated in the flash, but it didn't make sense. If they were gone, then he should have been as well. With the exception of some wounds that were practically healed already, thanks to him immortality, he was fine…
But the evidence pointed that she was gone…
Or so he thought?
Back at the Boar Hat, Gilthunder had entered, holding the unconscious form of the human girl, her form covered up with his cloak since she was indecent. Luckily she was still breathing, even with the amount of burn marks around her chest area...
At first, he would have gladly slaughtered the girl where she stood, but now, after realizing what his superior really wanted to do with her, how the fact that she only did this for the sake of her parents, who were either against her, or dead. He surely had to give her credit, even if she chose a life that was risky.
After all, not everyone could endure though that without going insane.
Just as he entered, he was met with the fierce glare of Hawk, who simply stampeded around in alarm.
"What are you doing here with her!? Where are the others!?" He yelled out, snorting here and there.
Gilthunder didn't pay much attention long enough to answer his questions. Instead, he glanced at the pig in front of him before proceeding to walk by him, as if he had nothing to say to him. Of course, this riled up Hawk even more than previously, to which he hurriedly followed along behind them.
But what he seen next made him believe that his assumptions were wrong.
"Hey, I'm not done ta-"
Before he could finish off his sentence, his sights immediately were set to the Holy Knight setting down the female onto a bed, merely just so that she could keep warm and comfortable until she woke up.
"H-Hey, what happened?"
Gilthunder turned to him, the cold glance that he once gave had finally disappeared.
"Hendrickson forced her to drink demon blood and turned her into one… If I had known that, I would have just let her go, even if she is a criminal..." He said, shaking away the distaste in his tone.
"The others are fighting Hendrickson as we speak. I managed to sneak into the field and bring her back her to get treated without getting noticed."
Hawk simply remained silent, only moving his head slightly to emphasize a nod. By that point, he realized that the knight in front of him wasn't a threat to this day, not until she made a full, healthy recovery. Hopefully with the demon blood, that would be soon enough…
Kaya slowly began to stir from her slumber soon enough, only her lips parting slightly to show movement. Her body felt heavy and weak, pain rushing from head to toe. She could barely even open her eyes.
A croaked groan became just barely audible, as well as a question.
"Where am I?" She whispered, her blurred glance moving over to her left. She noticed silver armour and bubblegum pink hair. She knew precisely who it was…
"Gilthunder… Come along to take me out once and for all?" She asked at first. It was then that every memory before being transformed into a demon flooded back into her throbbing mind.
That's right…
Her mother was dead, her father had betrayed them. Anything after giving Hendrickson what he half deserved was all just a blank though, smothered in a thick layer of darkness when she lost consciousness.
"Go ahead… It's not like I can fight at the moment..."
Gilthunder shook his head, his arms becoming crossed just like a strict parent would, even though the two of them weren't that far off when it came to age.
"Tempting… But no… I like my opponents to have fighting spirit so it's worth it in the end… Besides, I can tell that you're hurting. I understand that I'm the least of your problems at the moment, especially with what Hendrickson put you through… However, that doesn't mean that I am letting you go freely. I will hunt you down and end you soon enough, just not today. Rest up, the others should be back soon enough."
However, that 'soon' turned out to be 'at any moment'…
Before the knight could leave peacefully to let the other rest up and regain her strength, the door to the room slammed wide open, breaking it off of it's hinges in the process.
Ban and Meliodas rushed through first, a terrified King getting pulled through behind them. Gowther simply took his time and came in seconds later at his own pace, whilst Diane simply looked through the window.
"You're alive!" Ban beamed with glee and excitement as he rushed over to her side, picking her upper part of her body up, holding her in a tight embrace. Perhaps a little too tight for her liking.
Kaya cringed a little from feeling her internal organs getting squashed together at a rapid pace.
"H-Hey… It's nice to see you too… But can you let go, I can't breath..." She said, her voice hoarse and gravelly.
"Hmm, oh right." He said with a grin, loosening his grip so she was sat up comfortably. He had such an excitable look on his face. It was adorable to say the least. Although if it hadn't been for the fact that his cheeks weren't flushed at all, she could make a presumption that he had been drinking again.
But this time it was different. He was genuinely happy to see her, just like all the rest of the Sins. Even Gowther who showed a small sliver of a smile.
"Hawk had told us that Gilthunder took you here…" Meliodas stated, although there was a sense of worry in his voice considering how he did almost kill her on the spot once and then handed her over to the higher ups but judging by her expression, she seemed to be just fine. It never hurt to ask though…
"I'm fine, just a few burn marks is all… Besides, he said that he will lay off the attacks until I've fully recovered, so there's nothing to worry about..."
"And the mark across your face?" King responded back.
At first, she completely forgot about it until King brought it up once again. She raised her arm shakily, the tips of her fingers lightly touching the mark that king had questioned about.
It was still there. She could feel the heat radiating off of it. With a sigh, she finally responded to his remark.
"Looks like it's permanent. It doesn't hurt and I can still see clearly. I'll just need to keep a close eye on my temper in case it goes out of control again… No pun intended..."
"And we will make sure that nothing like that happens again… And we will also get back at your old man, that is a promise..."
Kaya nodded in agreement to his comment. She knew well that the moment that her father turns up once again, she will give him what he deserves, however she had already made her decision the moment that they met once again.
She would kill him on her own...
