I do not own Seven Deadly Sins or any of their characters. As of now, I've started the manga, and am about halfway through the fight with Hendrickson.
Final Battle
Oswald landed on his feet just as Meliodas tore into Hendrickson, who was pinned between a pair of massive stone fists, rapidly, smashing the fists and sending Hendrickson crashing to the ground. As Hendrickson pushed himself up, Oswald walked forward, sword at his side. Hendrickson rounded on him, grinning wickedly, and lunged, slashing. Oswald deflected the slash and returned one of his own, Hendrickson catching his arm, only for Oswald to slam a knee into Hendrickson's groin, sending him staggering backward. Then, he jumped, spinning and slamming a foot into Hendrickson's chest, sending him exploding into the cliff behind him. The cliff crumbled instantly, revealing a massive, heavily obese, red-skinned demon hanging from hooks and chains in a chamber just inside the cliff.
"What the hell is that?" King gaped.
"It's so fat!" Diane said.
"No way," Ban breathed. "It can't be."
"It's a Red Demon," Oswald said calmly. "It's the source of the Demon Seeds that mutated the New Generation."
"That explains a lot," Meliodas said.
"Oh Hendy, where'd you get that thing?" Ban asked sweetly.
"Twenty years ago, I found this corpse in the burned ruins of the Fairy King's Forest," Hendrickson said. "Since then, I've been using it for my experiments. And after all that time, I finally found success. I was able to create this recreation of the demon's power!"
Tendrils of darkness shot off of his body, lashing out at Oswald and the others. King, Meliodas, and Oswald avoided the tendrils, and Diane blocked it with Gideon. Ban, however, allowed himself to be impaled.
"One down!" Hendrickson grinned, only for Ban to sprint forward along the tendril.
"If the Red Demon's power is your only ace-in-the-hole, then you'll never win," Ban smirked. "BECAUSE I'M THE ONE WHO KILLED THAT FAT FREAK! ! !" He slammed a fist down on Hendrickson's head and sent him exploding down through the ground rapidly.
"Nicely done Ban," Oswald said.
"I detect a slight breeze," Gowther reported. "There must be a subterranean cave further down."
"Let's go," Meliodas said cheerfully.
"But I don't think I'll fit," Diane said.
"You stay up here and keep watch," King said as he, Meliodas, Gowther, and Ban dropped into the hole.
"I'll stay up here too," Oswald said, turning away from the hole just as the rest of the kingdom's Holy Knights arrived, Gilthunder, Guila, and Dale at the front.
Oswald opened his mouth to speak only for his entire body to lock up, his skin feeling like he was being stung by a thousand wasps endlessly. He forced his body to unlock and spun toward the hole, forming Heaven's Shield just in time for the ground to explode, the concussion shattering two shields and sending him skidding backward, Diane barely resisting being thrown from behind him. Meliodas and Gowther landed on either side of Oswald on their feet as Diane caught King, who was out cold, and Ban's lower half crashed to the ground behind Oswald. Oswald allowed his shield to fade and watched as the thing setting his senses off walked out of the dust. It was Hendrickson, except that his entire body was an ashen grey, like stone, with cracks over his right shoulder and left forearm. On his back were a pair of short wings, both probably two feet at most, and from his head, standing straight up, were a pair of horns. His lower body was covered by darkness, with claws on the ends of his toes, and his eyes had turned black with yellow irises and slit pupils.
"Meliodas, please tell me he didn't ingest the blood of a Grey Demon too," Oswald said.
"He did," Meliodas nodded.
"Shit," Oswald swallowed hard. "Mixed with his already monstrous power, he's got to be pushing Commandment level by now."
"Probably," Meliodas nodded. "After this fight, you and I are going to have a serious talk about your history."
"You'll have to wait," Oswald said. "Ban and I have some unfinished business first."
Meliodas nodded and both crouched, readying themselves as Oswald condensed his Heaven's Shield to the side of a normal one beside his left forearm, using it like a normal shield. Hendrickson looked around slowly until he spotted Elizabeth. Meliodas took off instantly.
"He's going after Elizabeth!" Meliodas shouted. "Don't let him near her!"
He stabbed at Hendrickson, but the sword barely broke the skin before stopping. Hendrickson backhanded Meliodas and sent him blasting along the ground. Gowther moved to attack Hendrickson, but Hendrickson appeared behind him, smashing his head off of his body, the head bouncing away as the body collapsed.
"Lord Hendrickson!" A Holy Knight shouted. "Please stop! You are under suspicion of betraying the kingdom! If you continue to resist, we'll have to attack you!"
"You won't be able to scratch him," Oswald said taking a step forward only to stop as a tiny orb of darkness appeared beside Hendrickson's head. "Oh no."
More began to appear in a cloud around Hendrickson before Hendrickson swung his arms outward, the orbs streaking into the sky and beginning to fall like snow.
"Dark Snow," Hendrickson said as Oswald began to duck and dart around the orbs, careful not to touch any.
"Don't let them touch you!" Oswald shouted.
"Why?" a Holy Knight asked, just before one hit his chest and his entire body turned black as he collapsed, dead.
"He's dead!" Gilthunder gasped.
"It's a death spell!" Oswald shouted.
The other Holy Knights began to dodge around the orbs as best they could, only for Hendrickson to shoot forward, jumping and ripping two Holy Knights' heads off on the way up, then two more just before landing. Oswald growled in annoyance.
"Heaven's Shield!"
A giant shield formed over the battlefield, starting low and moving upward, the orbs that hit it dispersing, more beginning to form and fall above the shield, failing to break through.
"Get him!" Oswald shouted.
"Overpower!" the Roars of Dawn leader, who was covered in gashes, shouted, Hendrickson freezing.
Then, the Holy Knight slammed his massive blade into Hendrickson, launching him. The Roars of Dawn member with the katana, Simon the first one called him, spun, slashing Hendrickson twice across the back and hurling him again just before a Holy Knight that wore blue and had silver hair sent several massive ice spikes exploding into Hendrickson's abdomen before forming a massive blizzard of sharpened ice chunks, which slammed into Hendrickson and launched him into the air. Guila and Gilthunder stepped forward, Guila blasting Hendrickson from below as Gilthunder blasted him with lightning from above. However, as the dust began to clear, Hendrickson stood before them, completely unscathed and face empty of emotion.
"We didn't even scratch him!?" the Holy Knight that controlled ice gaped.
"You don't have the power to," Oswald said, walking forward, finally having blocked the last of the Dark Snow. "None of you are powerful enough. Leave this to us."
"We'll handle things from here," Meliodas said. "So, are you going to show us what you can really do?"
"I don't have much choice," Oswald said, reaching up and ripping his shirt off. "There. That's better."
Meliodas opened his mouth to ask what he meant, only for a pair of wings to suddenly burst out of Oswald's back in a spray of blood, both reaching out about the length of his arms before flapping once to flick the blood off of themselves. Oswald sighed in relief and cracked his neck, opening his now golden-brown eyes, displaying the triskelion in the center of them.
"Think you can keep up Meliodas?" Oswald asked.
"You know, that actually explains a lot," Meliodas said. "Let's go."
They both shot forward, Hendrickson making no move to stop them. As they neared him, Oswald's blade began to shine and Hendrickson shot to the side, barely escaping his slash. Meliodas reached him a moment later, black flames rolling along his blade and it tore into Hendrickson's side. Hendrickson shouted in pain, staggering forward, and Oswald landed in front of him, slashing upward at him. Hendrickson's right hand's claws extended and he deflected the blade with them before kicking Oswald, sending him bouncing backward several times before he flipped, wings snapping open and stopping him. Then, they flapped and he shot forward again just as Meliodas bounced past. Hendrickson shot forward, stabbing his right hand at Oswald, who flipped out of the way, slashing Hendrickson across the chest as he passed. Hendrickson roared in pain, the sound deafening, shaking the ground from volume alone, then flipped, slamming a kick into Meliodas, sending him blasting into Gilthunder. Oswald shot toward Hendrickson again, but Hendrickson appeared behind Oswald, grabbing him by the left wing and the back of his neck.
"Fuck!" Oswald cursed, just before screaming in agony as a ripping sound and a series of cracks and crunches echoed through the air, his wing tearing free.
Hendrickson spun, slamming it into Oswald's head and Oswald exploded into the ground, plowing a trench into it before stopping, sobbing from agony and rolling off of his back, his remaining wing broken in multiple places.
"Oswald!" Meliodas shouted. "Damn you Hendrickson!"
He shot forward, spinning around Hendrickson's slash before slashing Hendrickson from the right hip to the left shoulder, black flames exploding out of the gash, which crossed the still-present one Oswald had left, and sent Hendrickson flying backward. As Hendrickson crashed to the ground, the ground suddenly exploded upward in a massive, star-shaped pillar. Oswald grit his teeth, pushing himself up to his knees and screaming in agony. Everyone except King looked over at him in confusion just as his right wing emitted a series of cracks and crunches, jerking and twitching outward until it was fully extended again. Then, in another spray of blood, a new left wing burst out of his back. Oswald began to pant and gasp for breath for several seconds before standing.
"Dark Nebula!" Hendrickson said, a massive explosion of darkness going off, obliterating the pillar and surging outward.
"Heaven's Shield!" Oswald snarled, a massive shield forming over them all.
The explosion slammed into it hard, smashing through the shields rapidly until only the flower was left before finally halting. Finally, the explosion faded and Hendrickson exploded through the flower, touching down before streaking at Oswald. Oswald shot forward as well, sword once again shining, and slashed at Hendrickson, his blade crashing into Hendrickson's claws, both of them halting, the ground below them cracking as they fought to overpower each other. Then, Hendrickson's fist exploded into Oswald's chest, sending him flying backward again.
Oswald flipped, landing on his feet just as Meliodas split Hendrickson down the back with his flaming sword. Hendrickson staggered forward and spun, his left foot flashing up and smashing into Meliodas's jaw, sending him flying backward. He crashed to the ground beside Elizabeth as Oswald reached Hendrickson, only for Hendrickson to fold forward at the waist, his right foot swinging up and exploding into Oswald's chin, sending him flying. Oswald flipped, spreading his wings out to the sides just in time to crash down flat on his back, barely avoiding breaking his wings.
"Dead End," Hendrickson said, firing a massive sphere of darkness at Meliodas.
Oswald stood, only for darkness to begin to fall from above again. He shouted in rage, forming a shield above them all again, watching the Dead End fly toward Meliodas, who moved to stand in front of Elizabeth, the sphere moving too fast for them to dodge. Then, Hawk was suddenly in front of Meliodas. Then, the sphere hit. There was no time for goodbyes. There was no time for an escape. There was no time for anything. Oswald knew that attack was supposed to be a bit slower, but Hendrickson had sent it across the distance in little more than the blink of an eye. The explosion's concussion sent Holy Knights flying in every direction, though most of the stronger ones managed to stay put. As the smoke began to clear, it left Hawk standing protectively in front of Meliodas, completely black. The small tag in his ear broke off and fell to the ground before Hawk's body collapsed to its side. Elizabeth began to sob instantly, reaching out to Hawk, begging him to speak, to wake up. When she didn't get a response, she began to sob even harder, laying against Hawk.
"The Master's dead?" Ban roared, finally regenerated. "How dare you...do that...to such a...good person!? YOU PIECE OF SHIT! ! !"
Just then, light exploded from behind Meliodas, the force of it sending Hendrickson skidding backward, bits of his body breaking off. Oswald fell to his knees, the Heaven's Shield above them fading, thought the Dark Snow had ended, and simply stared at Elizabeth. It couldn't be. He had thought it was a coincidence. But yet, as he stared at her, the hair covering her right eye blew out of the way and he stared at the golden iris and triskelion design in it, the one that all members of the Goddess Race possessed. It was her. It was the Elizabeth.
"So it's awakened," Hendrickson said. "The blood that flows through the veins of the Druid Priestess."
The light around Elizabeth condensed, forming the silhouette of four wings. Elizabeth began to speak, but Oswald's brain failed to process the words. It was struggling to grasp just who he was staring at. He was aware of Hendrickson trying to attack with a Dark Nebula, and aware of Elizabeth unleashing a wave of light that completely overpowered Hendrickson's attack and then flooded outward over the capital. He was aware of his wounds vanishing. Then, his body began to respond again. He flew over, landing in front of her and dropped to one knee, placing his opposite hand on the ground and bowing.
"Oswald?" Elizabeth blinked. "What are you...doing? Sir Meliodas?"
"I'm here," Meliodas said from beside her, the other Sins all gathering around as well, all of them healed.
"You all were badly wounded," Elizabeth breathed. "So...how..."
"Elizabeth, haven't you realized?" Diane asked.
Just then, several of the knights who'd been wounded and near death woke up. Elizabeth turned to Hawk hopefully, but Hawk remained as motionless as before.
"The dead are gone," Oswald said. "Even a Goddess can't bring them back so easily."
Elizabeth began to faint and Meliodas caught her as Oswald's skin began to crawl. He stood, turning away from them as Hendrickson stood from off to the side, smoking but fully regenerated. He turned toward them and Oswald stepped forward, raising his sword.
"You will not lay a hand on Her Highness," Oswald snarled. "Meliodas, let's end this."
"Don't go giving me orders just cause you've got wings," Meliodas said, stepping up beside him. "I'm still stronger than you."
Both shot forward, Oswald's sword shining as black flames rolled along Meliodas's, his Demon Crest forming as he tapped into his demonic power. Hendrickson shot forward, pulling his arms back, only for both to suddenly be ripped out of socket. Then, Meliodas and Oswald's blades tore through Hendrickson's torso in an "X" as they passed. A moment later, Diane's hammer slammed into him, launching him backward. He exploded into a cliff before shooting forward again, both arms resetting themselves in time to block Oswald and Meliodas's blades. He flipped, kicking both down into the ground before Chastiefol stabbed into his chest, smashing him into the cliff again. Then, as Hendrickson exploded off of the cliff, heading straight for Elizabeth, Oswald crashed down on his back with both fists, blood spraying out of Hendrickson's mouth. The assembled Holy Knights cheered as Hendrickson exploded into the ground, and Oswald caught his sword as it fell past, then dropped, stabbing downward at Hendrickson. However, Hendrickson had rolled out of the way. Before he could retaliate against Oswald, however, Meliodas slammed a foot into his face, sending him spinning away. Hendrickson bounced once before flipping and landing on his feet, snarling in rage.
"One last strike?" Meliodas asked as darkness began to gather on Hendrickson's hands, forming massive claws.
"Don't let those claws touch you," Oswald warned. "Even without breaking the skin, they'll kill you in an instant."
Meliodas nodded and they both exploded off the ground, streaking forward. Hendrickson roared, charging at them, staying low to the ground, claws poised to strike. Then, they were within range. Hendrickson's claws flashed out at them, only for his arms to both spin into the air as Oswald grinned up at him from where he was sliding. A half second later, they had both passed Hendrickson, Oswald sliding between Hendrickson's legs and splitting him up the middle to mid chest, and Meliodas splitting him halfway across the chest. An explosion of light and black flames went off instantly and what little was left of Hendrickson was sent spinning away from the city. Oswald sighed, standing and sheathed his sword, glancing at his wings but deciding to let them stay for the time being. Though, he did retrieve his shirt and rip them holes before pulling it on, hiding the mark on his shoulder. All around him, Holy Knights were cheering and celebrating. The battle was over. They had won.
"So, Oswald," Meliodas said, Oswald turning. "Just who are you, really?"
"I'm a mistake," Oswald said. "A nobody who was abandoned and shunned. When I said you were my hero, I didn't mean as the Dragon Sin of Wrath. I meant as the rebellious son who chose love over his clan, and who fought with everything he had to protect Her Highness, and who has had to suffer witnessing her death countless times ever since thanks to the curse."
"I see," Meliodas nodded. "So that's who you are. I heard the rumors, but I didn't think they were true."
"Some of them were," Oswald said. "A lot weren't."
Meliodas nodded. "So, what's this business with Ban?"
"You-know-who from the Horn of Cernunnos told him she could revive his dead girlfriend Elaine if he killed either you or me," Oswald said. "He chose me."
"I see," Meliodas nodded. "Did he believe you when you told him she lied?"
"Maybe," Oswald said. "I guess we'll find out if he attacks one of us later."
Meliodas nodded, then turned. "Well, I'm going to check on Elizabeth. Oh, and don't bow to her again. It's weird."
"But she was the only one who never treated me like a monster," Oswald said.
"She knew you?" Meliodas asked, glancing back.
"Well, more like I met her one time," Oswald said. "She healed my wounds, then left and I never saw her again. When I met you all, I thought it was a coincidence."
Meliodas nodded thoughtfully and walked away. Oswald sighed, looking around at the corpses, thankfully not nearly as many as there could have been, maybe six or seven total, before turning and heading back to the city to check the damage there.
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