A/N: Sorry it took so long, but a new chapter for the story is finally ready. And this time, after Meliodas and Zarathos' bout, Elizabeth will take on Roxy while Diane fights Howser. :)
The Seven Deadly Sins: Sin of Vengeance
"A Long-Standing Feeling"
Play Super Music: "Desperate Plan (0:59/1:42)"
First, it showed Diane's sacred treasure embedded into the side of the rock formation where the fighting festival is before Lovehelm shouted, announcing the start of the 2-way duel with Diane removing the cloak and knocking Griamore off the ring before Elizabeth exposed Shin as a fraud, disqualifying him, before Diane landed in King's arms and giggled, practically getting King excited as he squealed in joyful surprise before then showing King's loss to Cain as he was practically humiliated before Diane only gave him a kiss in the cheek.
Narrator: "To secure Diane's sacred treasure, the group joined the fighting festival. With each of the contestants skillfully fighting for their own goals, the festival's intensity grows with each electrifying match."
"Thank you for trying to get my Gideon back.", Diane grinned, making King blush in a dreamy state.
"That was totally worth trying to get her Gideon back for…", King muttered in awe.
"He won.", Zarathos smirked before then showing Howser running up the hill in excitement.
"I've finally got a chance to see the power of the legendary sins up close and personal! YAHOOOOOOOO!", Howser shouted as he then jumped back up into the festival.
End Super Music: "Desperate Plan (0:59/1:42)"
Meanwhile, Diane shouted to Meliodas.
"Capt... I mean, Zeldris! Go get him!", Diane shouted.
"Hey, Estarossa! If you screw up and lose this match, I'm gonna give you such a pinch!", Elaine shouted.
"Heh, like heck I'm gonna lose this one.", Zarathos smirked in response.
"Time for the match to get underway!", Lovehelm shouted before Meliodas and Zarathos stretched.
"Sure would be nice if we can get more space to fight, much less move around.", Zarathos commented before Meliodas chuckled a bit.
"Hey, what's so funny?", Zarathos puzzled.
"I was thinking back to the old days. We had about that much space then, didn't we?", Meliodas asked.
"Yep, but I have learned a lot back then.", Zarathos spoke before he then shouted out while raising his fingers.
"Perfect Cube!", Zarathos shouted before lines formed on the ground of the ring and more appeared, forming a big cube.
"Oh, my! It looks like this fight just became a cage match, folks!", Lovehelm shouted.
"By the way, this isn't going to be like last time.", Meliodas smirked.
"Oh, yeah? Well, how'd you figure?", Zarathos smirked before he then leapt up for a strike only for Meliodas to block it.
"Don't think I forgot about the last time.", Meliodas retorted before it then flashed back to when the Demon King arranged this fight as a rite of passage.
"My sons, this is the test to see which one of you is worthy to be my heir apparent. The winner of this duel will be my heir. Are the two of you ready?", the Demon King asked.
"Yes, Father.", the two boys responded.
"Well, this will be interesting. Hey, Zel who do you think will win?", Estarossa asked.
"Obviously, it's Meliodas. Because he is our elder brother.", Zeldris responded.
"No way. I think Zar is going to win. He's way stronger. What about you Melascula, Rajine, and Derieri?", Estarossa responded.
"I honestly agree with Zel.", Melascula responded.
"I agree with you, Est.", Rajine responded.
"Bottom line: I don't care.", Derieri responded.
All of you be quiet. Your brothers are about to fight.", the Demon Queen urged.
After 3 whole hours of fighting, though, Meliodas is defeated and Zarathos is the winner.
"Enough! Zarathos is the winner! I'm disappointed in someone I call my eldest son.", the Demon King spoke before flashing back to the present.
"Holding a grudge, were you? Up to now, you didn't strike me as the vengeful type. That's usually my thing.", Zarathos responded.
"Well, I gotta have something to settle, don't I?", Meliodas asked.
"Heh. I can at least respect that kind of revenge. Nothing worse than losing a fight.", Zarathos smirked before he then smacked Meliodas to the ground.
"Is that Zeldris guy down?", one of the citizens spoke.
"Does this even count as a fight?", another asked before Meliodas got back up.
"Heh. Not too shabby.", Meliodas smirked.
"Good. I wasn't trying to be.", Zarathos smirked back before he then tried punching at Meliodas again, but got blocked every time, no matter how fast he got with his strikes, even starting to give off smoke.
"So, this is the power of the Seven Deadly Sins... They're fightin' like a couple of monsters.", Howser thought excitedly before Meliodas then kneed Zarathos in the chin, knocking him back before Zarathos landed on the ground and slid back with Meliodas then charging for a strike only for Zarathos to block the attack before Meliodas landed, prompting Zarathos to perform a leaping spin, knocking Meliodas back.
"Whoa! These guys are totally crazy!", one of the citizens shouted in surprise.
"This ale is going fast, guys! Get it while you can!", Hawk shouted as Meliodas then panted for a moment and stood up.
"That's odd. Where'd he go?", Meliodas puzzled before Zarathos closed in and struck him in the gut, Meliodas surprisingly unmoving at the moment, in pain as he was.
"You shouldn't have let your guard down like that.", Zarathos smirked before letting loose a purple flame from behind as it seemingly gashed out from behind and went through Meliodas before fading, resulting in Meliodas getting blown back by the blast up to the edge, although Meliodas stopped himself.
"Whoa. That was too close.", Meliodas spoke.
"You see that, King?", Diane asked.
"It's getting harder for the captain to follow Zar's movements now.", King nodded.
"So, you think his stamina is starting to win out, then?", Elaine asked.
"Maybe. But I think his power is steadily growing as he fought, too. Matter of fact, it got nearly close to shooting through the roof.", King stated.
"What are you trying to say?", Elizabeth asked.
"Zar's magical ability, Dark Coercion is able to heighten his own physical skills like speed and power until he's twice as powerful as his opponent at a steady pace while also intimidating his opponents with chills of fright.", King stated, worrying Elizabeth.
"I'm warning you, brother. Try anything again and things won't end so well for you.", Zarathos warned as faint, dark purple mists emanated and swirled around him, practically making Meliodas shake his hands uncontrollably with slight twitches, puzzling him before Zarathos stomped toward Meliodas, crushing the ring and forming small craters in the process, prompting Meliodas to lunge forward and attack Zarathos with a punch only for him to grab his fist and glare at him.
"Just remember, I warned you.", Zarathos spoke.
"Oh, boy.", Meliodas spoke before Zarathos then began smashing Meliodas to the ground repeatedly as if he were a ragdoll.
"I don't believe it! Estarossa's beating Zeldris like a rug! Look at that raw power!", Love Helm shouted before Zarathos finished smashing Meliodas to the ground, although he bore no reaction.
"Mmm, kinda went a bit too far, don't you think?", Meliodas only asked calmly, surprising Zarathos before Meliodas then punched him back in the gut, pushing him up into the air.
"It looks like things have turned around, folks! Strong as he was, Zeldris has just taken Estarossa aback with a strong defense and an equally strong punch! and shot him up through the air!", Love Helm shouted before Zarathos recovered and then descended down back onto the ring.
"Hurry up and finish him off, already!", Diane shouted.
"Um, Sir King, what's going on with Zarathos?", Elizabeth asked.
"It appears Meliodas had been holding back for most of the match, almost as if he was testing the waters with him.", King responded.
"Now, what was that for? I said don't hold back!", Zarathos shouted before powering up further.
"HEY! I may not be in love with him, but if you do anything more to the captain, you're never gonna hear the end of it! Big trouble, understand?!", Diane shouted.
"I can't make any promises. But I will hold back just enough to finish this and leave him walking away by the end of the day.", Zarathos assured.
"Yeah, well, don't think I'll make it any easy for you.", Meliodas smirked before he then began forming a dark purple orb behind him while motioning his right arm toward it from behind, coating his right arm in the black flames, astounding the crowd before he then created a slash of black flames toward Zarathos, who quickly deflected the dark blaze toward Meliodas, who widened his eyes in surprise before it exploded on Meliodas, blasting him back, sending him crashing toward a wall on the mountains nearby, making the group gasp before the flames were doused into smoke.
"Can't believe he'd land a finishing blow like that. Aren't those guys supposed to be on the same team?", Howser spoke in surprise.
When the smoke cleared, Zarathos is left standing.
"How'd you like that?", Zarathos asked, surprising the others as a tiny piece of debris landed on Love Helm's head.
"What the?", Howser puzzled.
"Look at that! Estarossa is standing all alone in the ring! Where is Zeldris?", Love Helm asked.
"He's right over there.", Zarathos assured, pointing to Meliodas, who had dozens of bruises and scrapes all over him, but thankfully, not too bad.
"Aw, man. I thought I had you on that one...", Meliodas groaned with a weak grin.
"This is incredible! It can only mean...", Love Helm began.
"I won this round.", Zarathos grinned.
"Estarossa's onto the next round!", Love Helm shouted as the crowd cheered.
"I pulled it off! I sold every droplet for the semi-finals! Way to go, me! I'm the best there ever was!", Hawk squealed excitedly as he flapped his ears.
"Hey, you see that?", King asked before Diane, Elizabeth, and Elaine nodded.
"The fight was over really fast, but I think I saw something kinda strange.", King spoke.
"Well, I could see how it all played out. The Captain let loose a trail of dark flames etching toward Zar. But as he did that, Zarathos grabbed a chunk of debris and used it to perform a full counter at the exact same moment. And then, a second later... the captain's body was sent flying out of the ring. I remember seeing Zarathos with that same dark prowess before back in the Necropolis.", Diane guessed as it showed Meliodas turning loose the dark flames toward Zarathos, who opened his purple blank, glowing eyes before using a dark claw to grab a chunk of debris and used it to perform a full counter, knocking Meliodas off the ring and into the rock wall on the mountain before it went back to the present with Zarathos catching up to the others.
"Hey, guys. What's up? I told you I'd hold back just enough to knock him out.", Zarathos asked.
"How you holding up?", King asked.
"I'm doing better than okay.", Zarathos grinned.
"Let's get goin'. Bein' able to see an awesome like that one sure gets a guy pumped up.", Howser grinned.
"Well, it'd be rude to keep him waiting.", Zarathos spoke.
"Oh, no! I'd better hurry!", Diane exclaimed before she hurried over to the ring as Elizabeth followed with Meliodas looking to Elizabeth with a chuckle, puzzling her.
"Don't even try it.", Zarathos warned, sending chills up Meliodas' back as Howser, Roxy, Elizabeth, and Diane stepped up.
"I know you can do it, Matrona!", King cheered.
"Yeah, and try not to do anything too crazy, okay?!", Elaine shouted before Elizabeth and Diane turned with a grin as Zarathos gave two thumbs up.
Meanwhile, Veronica and Emilia were looking around when they heard Grimoire's voice.
"Princess Veronica! Princess Emilia!", Grimoire shouted.
"Where is she?", Veronica asked.
"I've searched everywhere. There's no sign of her.", Grimoire responded before Veronica tensed in worry, thinking back earlier on what happened.
"I will lure the Seven Deadly Sins to the town of Vizel.", Hendricksen spoke.
"Through what means?", Girmoire asked.
"I'll put up Diane's sacred treasure as an extra festival prize.", Hendricksen responded.
"What about our sister?", Veronica asked.
"I'm confident that Princess Elizabeth will be right by their side.", Hendricksen responded.
"Ellie's here. She must be near the arena.", Veronica guessed.
"How can you be sure?", Grimoire asked.
"I'm not basing it on what Hendricksen said. I can just sense it.", Veronica responded.
"Then, I'll continue the search.", Grimoire spoke.
"Please do.", Veronica responded before they parted ways with Emilia following her, passing by a person with green hair.
"We'll find her, Big Sis Veronica. I know it.", Emilia assured.
"I hope so. Because I don't know what we're going to do if we don't.", Veronica responded.
"Hey, buddy. Would you mind settling on something? The Festival's Semi-Final Round will be starting any minute.", the shopkeeper urged.
"The Sin of the Sleeping Forest. I've read this one before. And even dangerous men would like this title. But this one is...", the man began before the shopkeeper sighed.
Act II
Meanwhile, Meliodas was getting dragged off by Hawk.
"Well, that stinks. I got sloppy. I can't believe I forgot all about that ace of his. Oh, well. Guess it's really no wonder I lost like last time.", Meliodas commented.
"Forget that for now. You got two feet, so why don't you use 'em?", Hawk asked.
"Well, I would, but I used so much of my demon energy, I'm all pooped out. That, and you give the best piggyback rides.", Meliodas responded.
"Well, did it occur to you that I don't like giving heavy piggyback rides?", Hawk asked before he suddenly picked up a scent.
"That smell...", Hawk spoke.
"Wow. You really can smell scraps from miles away.", Meliodas spoke.
"It's not scraps. A storm's coming.", Hawk corrected before Meliodas sat up.
"Well, now that you mention it, I can sense that, too.", Meliodas responded.
Meanwhile, Lovehelm announced the start of the next round.
"Let the first match of the semi-finals begin!", Lovehelm shouted before Elizabeth glared at Roxy, who smirked at her, while Diane and Howser looked at each other before the latter noticed something and pointed it out, prompting Diane to look at her chest below.
"Isn't Howser a gentleman, everybody? He just pointed out to Matrona that her button came loose. It sounds to me like the crowd isn't too happy about that.", Lovehelm spoke.
"How am I supposed to fight if I have to keep looking away from her?!", Howser retorted.
"Could Howser really be pure of heart with a face like that?", Lovehelm asked.
"Whatever. I usually had this much showing anyway.", Diane spoke as she buttoned her one spot back on.
Then, the gong rang before Howser charged toward Diane and sent forth a rushing wind at Diane, who gasped before she dodged it.
"Rising Tornado.", Howser spoke, surprising her.
"Whoa! If that hits me full force, there won't be anything left!", Diane spoke in worry.
"Well, I'm glad you get what you're up against, but... Just lie back and leave everything to my magic hands. I promise it won't hurt. I'm gonna make you feel like you're flying.", Howser grinned.
"Hey, I hate to barge in, but isn't that sexual?", Zarathos asked, making Howser blanch out before turning to him.
"No..., no, it's not!", Howser argued.
"Really?", Diane asked.
"You've got it all wrong! I'm just trying to get it over with because I don't like hurting girls, no matter how tough they are.", Howser explained before continuing his attack as Roxy then started to go after Elizabeth, who then started to dodge Roxy's attacks, quickly starting to get the best of her as she tried to hit her while getting angrier.
"Look at that! Matrona's still on the defensive and Roxy is really starting to lose it as she hadn't even landed a single hit!", Lovehelm shouted.
"Why won't you just let me hit you?!", Roxy shouted.
"Got no choice. I really wish I didn't have to back a woman into a corner like this.", Howser spoke before he then made two tornadoes next to her.
"Tornadoes have formed at both Matrona's right and left! And there's no more space behind her! She's been cornered!", Lovehelm shouted.
"Not good.", King spoke in worry.
"Whether you jump up or dive down, my tornadoes will cut into the ground or climb up into the sky!", Howser shouted before Diane yelled.
"Hang on, Diane!", Zarathos shouted.
"Looks like this is check ma...", Howser began before Diane stopped his fist with her hand.
"Impossible... You said there'd be nothing left if my tornadoes hit you full force.", Howser spoke before promptly getting slapped.
"I meant that I didn't want to ruin these clothes I borrowed. Jerk.", Diane responded.
"This is getting interesting. Been a long time since I've been able to really bring it.", Howser commented before making a wind-like disc.
"You better run if you don't want to die.", Howser warned before pushing the disc forward.
"Whirl Shock!", Howser shouted before the blast hit Diane, making her yelp, although she was unmoved.
"Diane, no!", King shouted before Diane just stood puzzled as a small debris of rock hit her in the head as it fell.
"Didn't expect that.", Diane spoke.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth was still dodging Roxy's attacks, although barely able to do so as they picked up in speed.
"Die already!", Roxy shouted before she was grabbed by her hands, shocking her.
"What?!", Roxy shouted.
"It ain't over yet!", Howser exclaimed before he then put his hands on the ground and summoned a big tornado.
"What the heck is going on?! I'M OUTTA HERE!", Lovehelm shouted in fright as he jumped off while Roxy started to get caught in the tornado as well.
"What do you think of the most powerful storm I could make?!", Howser spoke.
"Wow. That guy's tornado is amazing. I can't even see inside it.", Zarathos commented.
"I think Diane's in big trouble!", King spoke in worry.
"Yeah. If even one of her feet gets off the ground, she'll lose.", Meliodas stated.
"Bet if I were up there, I could totally take him.", Hawk commented.
"Yeah, let's not chance things", Meliodas responded before Howser spoke up.
"It's time to fly!", Howser spoke with Diane struggling to hold on before Roxy was smashed inside the tornado.
"Victory is mine!", Howser shouted, making Diane and Roxy shout with a scream, although only the former stopped screaming and gave a glare to Howser before converting her body's consistency to metal.
"Heavy Metal!", Diane shouted before she went down and landed on Howser by the gut, also effectively causing Roxy to fall onto the ground away from the cracked ring just as Lovehelm recovered, got up, and saw the outcome.
"Wh-What happened?! It looks like both Howser and Roxy're out cold! Our winners for the first round of the semi-finals are Matrona and Liz!", Lovehelm announced with Diane rushing over to Howser and picking him up.
"Hey! Are you okay?", Diane asked.
"My butt got kicked, is all...", Howser groaned.
"Guess I kinda lost it and fought for real.", Diane spoke.
"You're not the only one.", Elizabeth retorted, pointing to Roxy.
"Yeah. Sorry.", Diane apologized.
"I got one of the Seven Deadly Sins to go all-out with me. It's actually an honor.", Howser smirked, making Diane stammer in surprise.
"What are you talking about? I'm just a normal girl who's passing through town.", Diane fibbed.
"Uh, yeah.", Elizabeth agreed.
"You two aren't fooling anyone.", Howser spoke.
"He already knows about us?", Elaine spoke in worry.
"What do you think they could be talking about back there?", Zarathos pondered.
"Hey, Diane! You get away from that guy right this minute!", King urged.
"Oh, geez.", Diane sighed.
"Diane... I knew it.", Howser spoke before Diane dropped Howser to the ground and ran off, but not before turning around to him.
"Hey, wait!", Howser exclaimed.
"Really sorry.", Diane apologized before Howser gave a glare at her.
"I can't even believe it. There's somebody out there who could take down a Holy Knight like that?", Taizu spoke in surprise.
"The world may seem big, but it's smaller than you think. Guess I'd better go back and make sure I'm right about all this.", Cain laughed in response as he took his leave.
"And right now it's time for the 2nd match of the semi-finals! Estarossa vs. Caine!", Lovehelm shouted.
"Do your best out there, Zar.", Diane grinned.
"Please be careful.", Elaine requested.
"Just leave it to me.", Zarathos assured.
"Promise me you'll avenge me, okay?", King asked.
"You got it.", Zarathos responded as he stepped forward.
"We're betting on you, man!", one of the crowd spoke.
"Give us another awesome fight!", another added.
"Don't lose, Grandpa!", another spoke to Caine.
"Make sure that guy doesn't beat you!", another added.
"Go for it, guys!", another shouted.
"I have to say, you really are the spitting image of him. I had my suspicions the second that I saw your face, but when I heard that your name was Estarossa, I knew my hunch just had to be right.", Caine spoke.
"Come again?", Zarathos puzzled.
"The truth is, your Zarathos' son. That is the case now, isn't it?", Caine asked.
"Actually, I am Zarathos. Zar for short.", Zarathos responded, making Caine blanch out in shock.
"You're talking nonsense! There's no way Zarathos could be a whippersnapper like you!", Caine exclaimed before Zarathos whispered to him.
"It is me, but I'm using a different name. It's a long story.", Zarathos responded.
"If Zarathos were alive today, he'd be a middle-aged man in his 40's or so.", Caine guessed.
"Gaah! Why is it so hard to believe!", Zarathos growled in frustration.
"Well, all right, I believe you.", Caine spoke.
"What? Really?", Zarathos puzzled.
"I recognize that kind of temper anywhere. If it's true that you really are the same Zarathos I used to know all those years ago...", Caine began before then moving in to kick against him only for Zarathos to notice and block them, surprised as he was, before Caine then jumped away and took off his coat, revealing a sort of clothing with the symbol of Danafor on it.
Play SAO Alicization Music: "Coercive Power"
"I swear I'll never forgive what you've done!", Caine finished, making Zarathos gasp as he saw the one symbol of the town that reminded him of the events that haunted him for the longest time.
"That crest...! It's Danafor!", Zarathos exclaimed.
"Father only spoke of it once. That's where I was born.", Elizabeth spoke.
"Wait. If you have that crest, are you really...?", Zarathos began before Caine started his relentless assault.
"What possessed you to destroy the whole kingdom?!", Caine shouted, firing a fireball at Zarathos, making him wince in agony, not from the attack, but from those harsh words.
"A direct hit!", King exclaimed.
"Zar!", Diane shouted.
"What possessed you to kill all my people?!", Caine shouted next as he fired another fireball at Zar, making him tense louder than before and clutch onto his head and started to shed tears.
"Just look at that, folks! Estarossa can't counter Caine's strange techniques!", Lovehelm shouted.
"Come on, what are you doing?! You've gotta fight back now!", Diane urged.
"I don't think he can. This battle isn't just physical. It's on a totally personal level, too.", Meliodas spoke seriously.
"What possessed you to kill Emmy, the women you loved?!", Caine shouted, making him gasp before thinking back to when Emmy died in front of him before another explosion occured, making Zarathos scream in agonizing pain from the trauma of said memories before Cain then raised his hands and made a big fireball.
"What possessed you to betray every one of us?!", Caine shouted as he then launched his fireball toward the writhing Zarathos.
"It's huge!", Diane spoke in worry.
"Dodge it!", King shouted before Zarathos looked up with a vicious glare, his eyes glowing primal red with naught but his irises in a glowing red color.
End SAO Alicization Music: "Coercive Power"
"DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT HEEEEEEEEEER!", Zarathos roared in sorrow as his voice was now distorted, causing a massive eruption of dark purple flames from his back, not only forming a fireball with dark flames that's 10 times as big as Caine's fireball, but also destroying it in the process as the fireball even became a dark flaming skull, which roared, turning the weather dark and violent as a thunderstorm then appeared, frightening almost everyone as they clamored in fear as Caine stood in worry, especially the sins.
"Oh, no! It's that scary look again!", Diane whimpered.
"Darn it! It's just like back at the necropolis!", Meliodas as he thought back to the last time this happened before it went to the present where Jericho (who was just starting to reel back in pain with a gasp), Guila, and Gale were in the air.
"Hot...! My insides are burning...!", Jericho grunted before noticing a sudden dark storm near a certain area.
"That's odd. A thunderstorm?", Jericho puzzled.
"Indeed. And apparently, not just any other thunderstorm.", Guila responded, gesturing toward the dark skull, making her and Gale gasp.
"Whatever went on down there, it must've set him off like last time.", Gale guessed before it went to the arena with Lovehelm being quite frightened by such dark display.
"OH, MY WORD! I'VE NEVER SEEN SOMEONE GET THIS WORKED UP BEFORE!" Lovehelm shouted.
"You maniac! Are you really going to lose it that much?!", Howser exclaimed to himself in surprise and worry as he braced himself, focusing on Zarathos.
"I tried to save her! I tried, but I failed! All because of that dastard, Fraudrin! Don't you understand?! He took her away from me! Away from all of us!", Zarathos shouted in a deep voice as he began to emit dark purple lightning around him as he once again found himself on the verge of losing control and giving in to his rage.
"Estarossa, stop! I know how painful that memory was to you, but you have to calm down!", Meliodas urged before Zarathos then prepared to attack only for him to stop himself and instead pressed his hand against his head where the pain resided and tense.
"Listen...! If I could go back and stop myself from doing it, believe me, I would but I can't...! And now, I have to live with that sin for the rest of my life...! But even then..., there is one thing I can do about it... I will keep fighting for everyone that lost their lives that day! And more than that...", Zarathos began in remorse as he closed his eyes and started to calm down, the intensity lowering to the point that the storm became mild, before opening his eyes, which are now back to normal and no longer frenzied while his deep voice morphed back to normal.
"I'm going to find the monster responsible and make him pay. For Danafor.", Zarathos finished before the dark flames on his back vanished along with a dark flame skull just as the clouds parted, the weather turning back to normal.
"What the? What was with that storm just now?", one of the audience spoke.
"I-It went away.", another added before Zarathos took a deep breath as dark purple lightning arced around him for a moment.
"You managed to control that temper before it could take over you. Without a doubt, you're the same Zarathos I knew, all right.", Caine spoke.
"And it took me a while, but I remember you, too, Caine Barzad.", Zarathos grinned.
"You finally remembered, huh?", Caine asked.
"Yeah. Although it was only a little bit. The rest of it came back when you spoke those harsh words back there. Not gonna lie, it was jarring, but it did help me remember that much. For better or worse. Now, I remember that you used to go by the name Barzad the Flame when you were with the Holy Knights. You even used to wear a whole suit of armor, too if I remember right.", Zarathos responded.
"That so? I don't recall that.", Caine spoke.
"Well, it may've been a while for you.", Zarathos responded.
"Zarathos, can I really trust what you said before? You didn't betray us? You didn't betray all of Danafor?", Caine asked.
"No.", Zarathos responded before Caine suddenly sobbed happily as he hugged Zarathos.
"I'm so glad that you didn't turn on us! I wanted to hear you say those exact words for so long.", Caine sobbed.
"Y-You have?", Zarathos asked.
"When I came back to the kingdom after finishing my mission, everything was gone. And there were these rumors flying around about you destroying Danafor! But somewhere deep down, I always wanted to believe they were lies!", Caine sobbed.
"Good for you.", Zarathos grinned.
"What's going on here?", Diane puzzled.
"Beats me.", King responded.
"It really is a huge relief. I'm glad I ran into a comrade-in-arms from the old days who's still alive.", Caine grinned.
"You don't know how much of a relief this is for me, too.", Zarathos grinned.
"And about this Fraudrin... As soon as you find him somewhere, you make that Fraudrin dastard pay for messing with Danafor. Make it happen, 'Captain'.", Caine spoke, making Zarathos gasp and grin.
"You got it!", Zarathos grinned before Lovehelm stepped forward.
"Um, 'scuse me. What about the fight?", Lovehelm asked.
"I'll be forfeiting the match.", Caine responded, surprising Lovehelm.
"What's this? Caine just admitted his own defeat! The winner of the festival's 2nd semi-final match is Estarossa!", Lovehelm shouted.
"You sure about this?", Zarathos asked.
"Of course, I am. You're the same old hothead, aren't you?", Caine asked.
"What?! I'm not a...", Zarathos began before stopping himself.
"Oh. Well, you're right. But as strong as you are now, do you think you can handle yourself fine out there?", Zarathos grinned.
"Hey, I'm not some frail old man. But I suppose I'll just take things easy now and see what happens in the finals.", Caine spoke before Zarathos grinned.
Then, later, the final match arrived.
"It's time for the final round of the Vizel fighting festival! It's been a parade of unbelieavable fighters this year and this final match will feature the very best of the best! All right, fighters! Time to step into the ring if you please!", Lovehelm announced before Zarathos, Elizabeth, and Diane stepped forward.
"Oh, wait. I'd like to forfeit this one. I don't want to hurt one of my friends. Or any for that matter.", Diane spoke.
"I don't believe this! Two forfeits on one festival! Well, that's a first! It would seem that the only finalists here are Estarossa and Liz!", Lovehelm announced.
"Why, Matrona...?", Zarathos groaned.
"Sorry. But I just don't feel comfortable fighting her.", Diane responded.
"Yeah, well I just had to relive the trauma of losing her. How do you think I feel?", Zarathos retorted.
"So, uh... I guess we'll get the sacred treasure no matter who wins. So, llet's have a good match, okay?", Elizabeth asked.
"Yeah..., a good match.", Zarathos responded, both equally nervous for each other before they dashed toward each other and clashed with their right arms.
Meanwhile, the trio of Holy Knights were clsoer.
"How much further to Vizel?", Gale spoke.
"You really shouldn't get so worked up, Jericho. It won't be long.", Guilla stated.
"We're closer to where that dark skull appeared. Just be patient.", Gale added.
"I can't wait anymore. I'm ready to release the full extent of my new power.", Jericho spoke.
Meanwhile, the same person with green hair and glasses was reading a book to a sort of armored being apparently known as Gowther.
"And so, the three children lived in hope that one day, their father would return. The End.", the stranger spoke.
"The children...?", the armored being spoke.
"Right. The knights' children are in this story.", the stranger explained.
"They...wait?", the armored being asked.
"Yes.", the stranger spoke before it then showed a wanted poster for Gowther.
A/N: And there you have it. Looks like things are getting interesting now. :) Feel free to leave a review about it if you like but if there are any changes that are requested for improvements, please let me know and I'll be more than happy to put them in. Tonight, I need some sleep. :)