Hello everyone, I hope you like this chapter.
Chapter 6
BACK INSIDE THE GUEST ROOM NARUTO WAS LAST ASLEEP IN
"So, they were trying too kill Lady Elizabeth?" Spoke the very shocked Naruto who sat on the bed, staring at Meliodas who stood in front of him, Elizabeth, Hawk, and Diane who sat outside awake, yet she had a lost expression on her face. Naruto just looks down in shame at how he almost failed to save the Princess yet again.
"They retreated for now, from the looks your back up so now we can go find Ban, he's currently held up in Baste Dungeon which is close to hear." Hearing that, Naruto didn't really react but think about what has transpired within his mind, those two beings, the mysterious voice, and meeting Death itself. Yet what bothered him was the images that traveled through his mind.
(IT'S ALL HIS FAULT!)
(IF IT WEREN'T FOR THAT HIM, WE WOULD HAVE HAD HER!)
(KILL HIM!)
(HE STOLE HER FROM US!)
(HE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A CURSE FOR US!)
After remembering those words, his head throbbed with the seal on his stomach burning a little and just placed a hand on his chest.
"You ok Tomato, you look sick?" Hearing that, he just looks up with surprise at the confused Hawk which worried Elizabeth while Meliodas just looks at Naruto and clearly saw him put up a fake smile.
"I was sleeping for awhile so I'm just not yet fully awake. But it's ok, let's just hurry up and get the Sin of Greed, Ban." Once said he stood up in front of them all before he walks towards the door with the others soon following behind. In a matter of minutes, Naruto, Meliodas, Elizabeth, Diane, and Hawk were crossing over the bridge towards the dungeon but during that time they left the building, Diane seemed to be depressed.
"Hey Diane, something wrong?" Questioned the Sin of Wrath who surprised the Giantess yet she shows a fake smile.
"Nothing at all, just a bit sad I wasn't much help in the battle." She told the Sin honestly yet still showed sadness for sone reason that she wasn't explaining. Suddenly a ring was heard that very much surprised Naruto who looked around at where that came from but can't tell where it was.
"There's a Holy Knight, here!" When Diane shouted that, he looks up to see that she was looking down at them in anger.
"What's she talking about—" He was stopped there by her mentioning them but were forced to jump away with Naruto picking up Elizabeth and Meliodas Hawk in order to dodge the kick.
"What the heck's gotten into you, Diane?" Just after asking that, Elizabeth tries speaking to her yet doesn't hear her.
"I'm warning you, here and now that I'm not gonna lose again!" Just after saying that, Meliodas noticed her eyes.
"Somethings changed about her eyes!" Hearing that, Naruto follows his gaze and also noticed that they changed.
"What do we do now?" Once asked, not a moment later he realized he wasn't holding he Princess anymore and looks to see the Sin running away with her in his arms.
"We run!" Spoke the retreating Sin and caused Naruto to sweat drop but when he turns around he saw Diane raising her right foot before he grabs Hawk and runs after the Princess and the Sin of Wrath.
"YOU COULD HAVE JUST SHOUTED RUN AND NOT DITCH US!" Naruto shouted at the leader of the group, glancing back at the Sin of Envy hot on there tail. One by one they dodged attack after attack and with those attacks, explosions were made. The group soon enough found themselves running down a hill, away from the rampaging giantess. Meliodas was the first too notice that up ahead was a a father and his son on a walk.
"Oh, crap! Bystanders!" Shouted the pig with Meliodas shooting at the two too run, which they indeed did. After minutes on end, they finally secured a hiding spout from Diane, within a trench.
"Please, help?" Spoke the tearful man, sitting next to Naruto was was next to Elizabeth, Meliodas who was holding the kid, and Hawk.
"She's gone nuts, that's for sure. Look after this kid for a sec, okay?" Spoke the Sin who hands the crying child to Elizabeth.
"What were the two of you doing out here?" She Questioned the tearful child with a gentle tone.
"We're shepherds, on our way back from the pasture. Please, I don't want anything bad to happen." When Naruto heard the child say that, for some reason he got this odd feeling in his gut that the kid was lying.
"Don't worry, everything will be okay. He can fix this." Spoke the Princess who watched as the Sin of Wrath stands before Diane but suddenly spoke in confusion.
"Hey, big guy! Was it you who cast that weird spell on Diane?" Hearing that, Naruto's eyes widen in realization at him also falling under the same spell as Diane. Without a moment sooner, the two start too clash with one another.
"This is hard to believe, but Meliodas is caught in the same spell as Diane right now." Spoke Mr. Porky just before they ran like hell from the soon to be wave of rising rock pillars heading there way. Naruto was holding Elizabeth with his right arm while his left the kid. By the time they stopped, the group was already far enough from the battle that was taking place.
"This doesn't look good, if it continues then one of them will—..." He stops there and glances at the Princess to see she was very worried but that was when Naruto heard it again, a ring sound vibrating through the air which his gaze shifts over to the kids staff, on it was a bell.
"Hey kid..." Hearing that, said boy looks at the serous gaze of Naruto.
"Mind letting me see that staff of yours?" When he asked that, the kid faces him while gripping the staff.
"I'm...sorry but this was the last thing I was given by my mother, I don't want anyone to touch it." Hearing that, Naruto's eyes merely narrow.
"I wasn't asking to be denied, give me the staff right now!" He said in a more assertive tone but the kid merely shows tears before hiding behind Elizabeth who looks at Naruto seriously.
"Naruto, why are you—" She was cut off by Naruto speaking yet again with no kindness.
"Elizabeth, get away from him right now!" Naruto shouted at her, causing said girl to flinch just before the two noticed a large black cloud heading towards the group.
"That's...a large swarm of huge poisonous insects!" Hawk shouts in shock and not a moment sooner the red-head dashes over Elizabeth, quickly skidding too a stop right as his left palm slams into the kids stomach, sending the boy rolling away from the group and shocking the Princess at the cruelty of Naruto. Naruto was about to defend them when all of a sudden Elizabeth starts to run towards the kid but was stopped by Naruto grabbing her by her arm.
"ELIZABETH, WILL YOU—" He was cut off by the girl who looks at him tearfully with anger.
"CAN'T YOU EVEN SEE WHAT YOUR DOING, YOUR ACTING JUST LIKE THOSE HOLY KNIGHTS THAT TOOK OVER THE KINGDOM!" With those words, she caused Naruto to mentally freeze as his pride was hurt. With that moment of hesitation, the Princess pulled away from Naruto so she could immediately run towards the kid and hug him protectively. Taking aim was all the insects that let loose a barrage of acid out right for her.
"WIND WALL!" Screamed Naruto just as a large wind barrier formed around the Princess and the kid, protecting the two from the acid that was forcibly dispersed. By the time the wind wall disappeared, the two were completely fine much to the Princess's happiness at seeing the kid was all right.
"Are you...ok...Lady...Elizabeth?" When she heard that, the Princess turns slowly to find Naruto on one knee with his left arm extended out towards her. He was hit by the acid attack in order to react fast enough to protect her. His shirt falls off, only pieces with his pants badly damaged. What seemed to have been hit mainly was his back that was damaged the most, steaming from the acid hitting it. Seeing this, the Princess just stood there in disbelief as well as horror, thinking about the days that went by of Naruto protecting her and ending up bed ridden and unconscious.
"You are a courageous Princess yet also an incompetent one." Hearing that, Elizabeth turns slowly to be met with the Holy Knight Ruin that took the place of the kid.
"Your protector, even if he is a failure of a Holy Knight Apprentice...he still saw past my illusion. Even if you thought your actions were just, your still too blame for the condition you put him in. He could have left without a scratch if it weren't for your selfishness in needing to protect the weak." Spoke Ruin who was staring down at the Princess who just stares up at him in disbelief.
(So...if it weren't for me then he wouldn't be in such a condition...if it weren't for me looking for the Seven Deadly Sins he wouldn't be put in such situations...it's all my fault.)
Remembering what she said, she felt truly helpless and that even with Meliodas's words that had her take a step forward, seeing her selfishly not listen to Naruto had caused him to once again be her shield, causing her to feel like she took two steps back. She was snapped out of it by the Holy Knight who grabs her by the hair, lifting her up, face to face.
"You could say your Sin is using others as sacrifices for your own selfish desire! HA! THE SIN OF SELFISHNESS—" He froze there at seeing Naruto was nowhere to be seen and just as he noticed, something slammed into his right side with such force it sent him skipping on the ground with the Princess falling until an arm wraps around her waist to stop her from falling.
"She has no Sin for my well being, because it's my duty to protect her." Spoke the serious Naruto who was staring at Ruin standing up.
"Impressive, but you still have a lot to learn!" While he said that, behind him appears Golgius with his sword drawn up high with Elizabeth's eyes widening as she was about to say something when the moment the sword closed in on his back, it was caught instantly much to the shock of Golgius who met the gaze of Naruto.
"In order to protect the Princess from you three, I made her worry..." With those words the Holy Knight disappears but couldn't jump back because Naruto's left hand was already wrapped around his neck, causing the invisibility to be released to reveal himself while surprising Ruin.
"Back off." With those words, he slammed his left foot directly into the Holy Knight's armored abdomen, gaining many cracks before he was sent flying back in a straight direction from the impact of the kick, watching this scene was a shocked Ruin who simply stares at Naruto in shock at the pure power of his kick before he lets go of Elizabeth and starts walking towards Ruin while he spoke.
"I'm sorry Lady Elizabeth for worrying you yet again..." Apologized the teen who's back was facing Elizabeth and slowly her eyes widen to see his back was still steaming but not from the acid but the melted skin regenerating fast.
"But Don't worry, I won't lose this fight but...please..." As he said that, he looks back at her with an innocent smile.
"Don't you ever, ever doubt yourself and your decisions you make because that is something I never want to see from you." Hearing those words, the Princess's eyes just widen as she remembered what Meliodas said.
(Besides, Naruto isn't dead and he'll continue getting stronger... I know for sure, Naruto will one day embody what it means too be a Knight of Honor and Valor.)
As she thought that, Naruto glances over to Hawk who was standing on the sidelines.
"Watch over Elizabeth for me." He told the pig with his gaze then shifting over to Friesia.
"Don't even think about it." He told the Knight who froze at the cold gaze, not being of any regular civilian. Seeing that his gaze was off him, Ruin took his chance to leap for Naruto with his staff brought up high in the air. He swung down full force yet was caught by one hand, causing a triple crater to form yet he stood his ground, much to his shock.
"Compared to Gilthunder, you're far weaker then him." He told the shocked Holy Knight who couldn't believe that this guy was kicked out from being a Holy Knight. Ruin goes for an uppercut with his right fist yet the protector just turns his body right while he moves to his left, getting on the right of Ruin in order to deliver his own fast uppercut to his chin. The impact sent him high into the air with blood leaking from his mouth, due to comping down on his own tongue and severing it before that hit dented his helmet until it slammed into his chin.
"He's fast, not only that—" His thoughts were silenced when he looked a little down to see Naruto was directly in front of him in the air with his right fist pulled back, having dark-green wind swirling around his arm.
"Typhoon..." As he said it, he swung his his fist full force at Ruin who brought up both of his arms, blocking he punch yet what came next was a massive wind blast, being consumed by a large typhoon of wind that sent him flying across the forested area and towards Baste Prison with the wind being so strong that the bell on his staff was ripped off. With that attack it felt like a storm was taking place for everyone nearby. The trees, grass, rocks, and water were all being pulled towards the direction of the massive wine blast with Hawk screaming like a child next to a wide eyed Elizabeth. Seeing this, Friesia just stood there dumbfounded at what she was hearing, until she heard cracks to find not only a pissed of Diane cracking her knuckles but also an annoyed Meliodas. By the time Ruin stoped, he had made contact with the Prison from having been launched directly into its wall with nearby soldiers just standing there in shock.
"This makes no sense, he was reported as being weaker then an Apprentice Holy Knight's level, yet—" He stops there at seeing a shadow blocking the sun off him and just looks up to meet Naruto's gaze.
"...how is he this strong?" Thought Ruin who stood up slowly and immediately swung his staff full force into Naruto head, resulting in said staff being broken in two with Naruto's head receiving minimal damage, looking like he was slapped very hard. Naruto merely looks back at Ruin before he stretches his neck, gaining several cracks as it moves back into place.
"Ow..." Naruto muttered, feeling less pain then the acid that hit his back. Naruto just pulls his arm back again, seeing this the Holy Knight moves his arms up to protect his face yet left his stomach wide open so that Naruto could send a single punch right into it, the moment it made contact the abdomen area of the armor received many cracks before it started falling of, like a glued vase falling apart slowly.
"Impossible...how could you break my armor with a single blow? Well done, Ex-Apprentice...BUT I'M NOT DONE YET?!" Shouted the Holy Knight who flexes his abs that turn dark in color with all the broken pieces falling off from the sudden increase of muscle mass.
"THIS ARMOR IS NO MORE THAN A THIN OUTER SHELL! MY FLESH IS MY TRUE ARMOR, MANY TIMES HARDER THEM STELL! EVEN IF YOU'VE BECOME STRONGER THEN ME, AT YOUR LEVEL YOU CAN'T—" He shouts victoriously, but couldn't finish since Naruto had hopped a few feet in the air to be at his height with his left arm drawn back.
"Yet your face isn't..." While he said that, he swung full force right into the Knight's helmet. Denting it unbelievably bad, causing large amounts of blood too leak out from the helmet as he fell backwards, screaming in pain as he tries pulling the helmet off that been dented into his face but it wouldn't come off. Watching this scene was a disappointed Naruto, who just stares down at him with nothing but disappointment.
"You dare touch Lady Elizabeth with your dirty hands and speak to her in such a foul way..." As he said it, he approaches the Holy Knight raises his right hand.
"M-MERCY!" Hearing that stopped Naruto who just stares at the bleeding and beaten Holy Knight before turning his back to him. Seeing this his eyes widen, immediately he starts thanking him all the while reaching for his staff and the moment he grabs it he launches himself for Naruto with it raised but in an instant the red-head turns around with his right hand being covered in magic before piercing through the abdomen of the Holy Knight who's eyes widen as more blood leaks out from his helmet.
"You asked for mercy yet you attacked me the moment I turned my back to you...not only that but you dared grab the Princess in such a way! You are not Holy, nor any kind of true Knight!" With those words he pulls his arm out of his abdomen, leading him to falling forwards and landing on Naruto's left. Watching this were the completely shocked soldiers who watch as Naruto starts walking away from the Fallen Knight. In a matter of minutes, Naruto had arrived to find both Friesia and Golgius unconscious and restrained. With them were Meliodas, Diane, and Elizabeth, who were waiting for Naruto too return.
"You taken care of that Holy Knight?" Questioned the Leader of the Seven Deadly Sins which he gives him a thumbs up.
"Relax, he received a sever punishment for not being a true Knight." He told the group before looking back at the Prison.
"The Sin of Greed, Ban is in there...I will take Elizabeth back while you two go on ahead." Once said the two were surprised but Meliodas just nods.
"Yeah, the Prison could have more Holy Knight's so its best you two return, we can handle the rest." Hearing that, Naruto just smokes before they heard a shout and turn to find a civilian being forced to walk towards them by Hawk.
"This guys a soldier from Baste, he knows where the Sin is!" Hearing that, the Soldier tried too disagree but was met with the gaze of the three.
"Hears a question for you, would you want to be beaten by Holy Knight's or by the three of us who beat said Knight's?" Questioned Diane who scared the shit out of the man, before long Naruto was walking back with Elizabeth while Hawk led the way, during the walk the Ex-Apprentice has his hands behind his head, enjoying the piece and quote from the battle that had taken place. While they were walking, the Princess was looking down at her feet.
(CAN'T YOU EVEN SEE WHAT YOUR DOING, YOUR ACTING JUST LIKE THOSE HOLY KNIGHTS THAT TOOK OVER THE KINGDOM!)
Remembering those harsh words she spoke to Naruto, she tried to speak but before she could he spoke instead.
"It's ok, you don't have to say anything." Once that was said, she immediately looks up at him in shock with Hawk looking back at the smiling Naruto.
"From where you were standing, it looked like I became a heartless person and tried harming a child. I should have explained more to you, instead of through my actions in a situation like that, and for that...I'm sorry for scaring you." Hearing that, she just stares at him in shock due too wanting to apologize but he did instead.
"But—" She tried saying, only to be met with a hand in front of her face which surprises her but more at the fact he was speaking to her again by like a child.
"Nope, not gonna here it! Already apologized to you so forget about it!" Hearing that, Elizabeth stops with total disagreement of her face.
"But I insulted you, if I had only listened to my father—" She was cut off by Naruto.
"Well, the situation was something he didn't expect so you listening to me was out of the question, besides I could have been controlled by the Holy Knight who could have made me attack the kid, causing this entire thing to happen. Me being unprepared was what caused this and your not to blame." While he said that, he didn't really make sense of the completely obvious lie and that lie caused the Princess to puff her cheeks and pout as she gave Naruto a glare.
"We both know that's an obvious lie!" She accused the Ex-Apprentice who turns away with his hands behind his back. Watching this scene was a sweat dropping Hawk who found there argument to be odd yet entertaining since this is the first time he's seen the Princess disagreeing with someone nonstop.
"Don't know what you mean, all I'm—" He was silenced by the Baste Prison in the distance collapsing all of a sudden. Watching this scene was Naruto who's jaw was dropped just like Hawk on his right, on his left was a once again shocked Princess who was sweating beads of sweat.
LATER THAT DAY, that VERY NIGHT AT THE BOAR HAT
"Ah, so that's what you did to ol' Ruin! Ahahahah, gotta say that was pretty awesome, I heard a lot of commotion and crying about some red-head beating the shit out of one of the four Holy Knight's!" Shouted a very tall, muscular man with pale skin, who possesses a set of well-developed abdominal muscles. He has short, spiky, pale blue hair and thin black eyebrows, as well as a pair of scarlet-red eyes. On the left side of his jaw and neck, he has a large scar. Hr wore an outfit that he had stolen that very day, on there way towards the Boar he suddenly disappeared and reappeared with a stolen set of clothing. Currently at this moment he was drinking alcohol next to a brightly smiling Naruto who was scratching the back of his head sheepishly at the praise.
"Thanks!" Naruto said with a smile to the Sin of Greed who sat in the bar with him as well as Meliodas, Elizabeth, Hawk, and Diane who was outside. Without drinking another bottle, the Sin of Greed stood up slowly before facing they surprised Princess which he gives her a half bow.
"So you must be the Princess I've been hearing about, sorry for not introducing myself earlier your Highness, I wanted too enjoy myself for a bit after being jailed for so long. But let's all be friends, the five us." Spoke the Sin of Greed but he was corrected at there being six.
"Are you out of it, Captain?There are only five." Spoke the Fox's sin.
"Um, no there's six of us! Did you go insane for all those years, trapped in a dungeon?" When he heard that, Ban's gaze slowly shifts down to the Pig the moment he asked who spoke.
"I did." Spoke Sir Hawk of scraps, scaring the shit out of Ban.
"THAT PIG IS TALKING?!" He shouts while stumbling back, offending Hawk at his he just found out now.
"Did I really go crazy in that dungeon, there's no way a Pig can talk like a person! Wait, you're King, right? That must be it, you were cursed into being an actual pig!" When he said that retarded answer, Diane could be heard outside face-pacing herself.
"I heard that King's dead, well that's the rumor, anyway..." Hearing that, Ban understood before looking back down at Sir Hawk.
"I'm warning you, I'm no ordinary Pig. I'm Sir Hawk, Captain of the Order or Scraps Disposal!" When the Pig said that, Naruto spits out his alcohol all over Meliodas from him unable to contain his laughter. Yet, instead of getting annoyed, the two just watched as Ban became amazed of Hawk's fake status. When Naruto's gaze shifts over to Elizabeth he couldn't help but look away with his back facing them all as he starts approaching the stairs where he begins walking up them. Watching this was Meliodas who soon enough follows him up the stairs where he lay in the guest room, staring at the ceiling on the bed. When he heard knocking at the door, he sits up to look at the opened door where Meliodas stood.
"Yo, something wrong since your not down stairs having fun?" Questioned the Captain of the Sins who saw the look on Naruto's face being depressed.
"Its not that I'm sick or anything, just realized something as well as remembered something." Hearing that, Meliodas was confused by what he means.
"You see...I thought about what you said that night involving Elizabeth." When he heard that, the Sin of Wrath's eyes widen as he continued.
"The sudden question very much surprised me but I didn't go deeper into my thoughts about that. That was until after hearing Elizabeth insult me...sure, I've been called worse before but that didn't really bother me but when Elizabeth unsuited me, it wasn't some uncomfortable feeling but actual pain and hurt, from my heart. Her words, to me they cut deep, deeper then any blade I've ever felt. As I thought about her words causing me pain, I remembered want you said and that was when I went into deep thought during my fight with Ruin. It was by then I came to the realization that...that you were right." When he said that, the Captain of the Sins looks away as he continued.
"Without really realizing it, I found out that I was madly in love with Lady Elizabeth...when I realized that, I felt a great anger boil inside me from his Ruin treated her, causing me to show no mercy against him." After saying that, he sat up and not looking at the uncomfortable Sin but at his feet. What he said next caused Meliodas great shock.
"But my love for her, I know it can never happen..." When those words were said, he immediately looks at him to see the look of a man who has made a decision despite what his heart wants.
"Not only have I made her worry for me nonstop, but I still fail in protecting her. If it weren't for you, she would have been killed twice. That is why, I am truly unworthy of such a Lady as Princess Elizabeth." Spoke the depressed Ex-Apprentice, thinking of himself as unworthy for the Princess. Hearing him say that, Meliodas just turns his back to Naruto as he remembered the words Mash spoke to him.
(SHUT YOUR MOUTH YOU DEMON, IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU TWO OUR KING HAD FALLEN! IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE TWO OF YOU, HE WOULD...!)
(YOU TOOK AWAY THE ONE WE ALL CARED FOR AND DESTROYED OUR HOME~~!)
"I...see...well, I'm gonna see how the others are doing. Don't want Ban to drink all the booze." Once that was said, he walks out of the room while thinking of a single man. As he was walking down the steps, he was thinking about the past from 3000 years ago and with those thoughts, a single man appeared in his mind. That man, was a figure that created many legends for his valor and courage, and a part of his very name was inherited by the new King of Camelot. While he sat on he bed, unknown to them all a single person was watching them all from afar. She was in her late teens with a slender physique and soft, white skin. She has "finely textured" golden hair that seems "as if sprinkled with gold dust." She wore a tube top that exposes her abdomen and a crimson leather jacket. Her dark-green eyes were fixated on the Boar Hat but more so the ones she was after, inside.
xxxxxCHAPTER ENDxxxxx
NEXT TIME, THE KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE ARRIVES.