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.
Overwhelming Power
King nodded and the Black Hound, Oslo King called him, grew until he was big enough to swallow Diane. Then, he lay down, opening his mouth, and Oswald quickly ran into his mouth and through the swirling purple portal at the back of his throat. Of course, as soon as he was through, it was pitch dark and he tripped over something. He groaned, holding his foot for a moment before standing, a flame dancing to life in his hand. He was in what looked like a basement. However, as soon as he was facing away from where he came in, the ceiling of the tunnel ahead of him exploded downward, forming an opening through which a man with long brown hair and red armor dropped, staring at him as Oswald stared right back, skin crawling. Then, an older man, the same that had fought Meliodas when he lost control, dropped in behind him, staring.
"Who the hell are you?" the man in the red armor demanded.
Oswald's eyes rose to the opening, staring at Guila and Jericho, who stared right back. "I'm just a blacksmith. Guila, I heard your father made it home safely."
"He did," Guila nodded. "And he mentioned a blacksmith who helped him come home."
"Small world," Oswald said.
"You're the one who did it?" the older man asked, his odd leaf scimitar in hand.
"That's right," Oswald said. "I'm just trying to find my way out of this basement right now."
Just then, there was a blast of air and dust and Oswald sighed heavily as Diane's upper body appeared out of a tunnel behind him, getting stuck about halfway through the portal.
"I'm stuck!" Diane complained. "King, try pushing me through from behind!"
"You overestimate him," Oswald snorted, having seen the looks of longing and hopelessness King sent Diane's way when she wasn't looking.
"So you're with the Sins," the man in the red armor noted, drawing his own sword, Oswald doing the same.
"I was really hoping to get you all out of here before one of them tried to come through," Oswald said. "Especially after sensing your power."
"You don't seem overly powerful," the man said. "And you don't recognize me, so clearly you're not much of a threat."
"Don't let him fool you," Guila said. "He's got some ridiculous magical abilities."
"And he's good with that sword," Jericho said. "Be careful Grandmaster Dreyfus."
"Dreyfus?" Oswald asked. "Head of the Holy Knights in Liones?"
"That's right," Dreyfus nodded.
"Just my luck," Oswald sighed. "I just got here and I'm already about to die."
"Allow me," Jericho said. "I owe him for the last time anyway!"
She shot forward, sword pulled back, only for Diane's hand to grab Oswald around the waist, yanking him back as she swung Gideon, the entire side of the building, apparently a mansion, they were in exploding. She set Oswald down as they stared at the Holy Knights, all standing on pillars of stone, except Jericho, who was unconscious, being held by the ankle by a Holy Knight with pink hair, silver and blue armor, and a zig-zagged sword with the end split and crossed.
"Passing out when the battle's only just begun?" the Holy Knight asked. "Pathetic."
He dropped Jericho, who flipped, kicking off of his pillar and landing on her own.
"Shut up Gilthunder!" Jericho snapped.
Gilthunder slashed his sword several times before stopping with it upside down in front of himself, his pure Holy Knight magical energy spiking rapidly. "Thunderbolt Execution."
"Heaven's Shield!" Oswald said, holding up a hand, his shield flashing into existence just before a massive wall of lightning as big around as two of his shield crashed down on it, parting around it and missing him and Diane.
Oswald fell to one knee and his free hand instantly, sweat forming within seconds as he grunted in effort, struggling to hold the blast back with only three shields and the flower left. Then, another Holy Knight raised a long drill-like lance and a pitch black tornado joined the lightning, blasting through the three shields instantly, the flower beginning to crack as Oswald fought to hold the attack off. Finally, just as the flower was about to shatter, the building above Diane ripped free and she was sucked out of the tunnel, only to flip, slamming Gideon into the ground.
"Ground Gladius!" she shouted.
A massive, jagged blade of stone exploded up from the ground, slamming into the Holy Knight that had beaten Meliodas, before continuing to grow until it was about two hundred feet tall. She sighed, Oswald letting the shield fade, then stood, dusting himself off and wiping sweat off his forehead.
"You guys really are monsters," Oswald said. "Guila and Jericho can't compare to the real deal, that's for sure."
"Jericho was right about your magic power," Gilthunder said. "That barrier was quite impressive."
"You're the first person in a very, very long time to break through it completely," Oswald said. "You're scary."
"Even now you do not budge an inch," Dreyfus said. "Your courage is truly commendable. Especially for one who is not even a knight, let alone a sin. Serpent Sin Diane, allow your death to ring the bell that ushers in a Holy War."
"Our deaths won't do shit," Oswald said. "Hendrickson unleashing the Demon Clan as he plans to, on the other hand, will definitely start a war."
"He plans to what!?" the Holy Knight with the wind power asked.
"You might want to stop him," Oswald said.
The Holy Knights, minus Dreyfus, all grit their teeth, preparing themselves for a fight. Oswald shrugged, turning slightly and holding his sword at the ready by his side.
"Suit yourselves," Oswald said. "We'll give you only one chance. Give Elizabeth back to us and we'll be on our way."
Gilthunder smirked. "Why would we-"
"Give our friend back to us right now!" Diane demanded.
"The princess is your friend?" Dreyfus asked. "Nonsense."
"Ground Gladius!" Diane shouted, slamming her hammer down, only for the massive stone blade to slam into Dreyfus's sword blade and part around it a few inches before stopping.
"No way!" Jericho gasped.
"That much power in one sword?" Guila gaped.
"You truly are worthy of your title," Oswald said.
"Magical power emanates from one's own indominable will, mind, and experiences," Dreyfus said. "I shall annihilate all those who would thwart the realization of my ideals, and forge onward! The name of my magical power, born of my will, is Break!"
The Ground Gladius exploded apart and Dreyfus pulled his sword back beside himself.
"Now die!" Dreyfus shouted, stabbing at Diane.
Oswald jumped, his shield once again flashing into existence, only for a beam of light to shoot off of Dreyfus's blade, punch completely through the shield in the blink of an eye, then shave off a layer of skin along the outside of his arm before stabbing Diane through the right side of her abdomen. It wasn't a fatal spot, but it would bleed a lot if not tended to.
"Amazing!" Guila breathed.
"This can't...be real!" the Holy Knight with the wind powers gaped.
"You deflected my attack," Dreyfus noted. "Not bad."
"You're a monster," Oswald said, flexing his arm, wincing at the pain his missing skin caused, though it wasn't deep enough to bleed much. "No one has ever punched clean through them all with such ease. You're barely even human."
"Well that's to be expected from the greatest Grand Master in the kingdom!" a high-pitched voice said as a small creature consisting of a helmet with a pair of horns, a red cloth hanging from it, and a pair of twig-sized arms and legs, flew down from the top of the remaining Ground Gladius where the older Holy Knight had been impaled a moment before, now missing.
"Sir Helbram, you managed to survive that?" Jericho asked.
"You see, my substitution spell kicked in at just the right time," the creature said before a cloud of dust shot off of it and it transformed back into the Holy Knight. "Some of my men died in the impact, but I can always replace them."
"You make me sick," Oswald spat.
"Helbram, is the princess in the kingdom right now?" Dreyfus asked.
"Who knows," Helbram shrugged.
"You do," Oswald accused. "You're the one who stole Meliodas's sword in Vaizel. the same sword that's a key to the Coffin of Eternal Darkness, which was used to seal away the Demon Clan. And you're also probably the one who sent that teleporting Holy Knight with the metal mask to steal Elizabeth and bring her back here without anyone knowing."
"That's nonsense," Helbram said.
"No, he's right," Diane said, struggling to stand. "It was one of your people who took away our friend."
"Oh, she survived," Helbram said.
"Just stay down!" the Holy Knight with the wind powers pleaded. "Give up already!"
"Giants are a lot tougher than any of you puny little humans give us credit for!" Diane shouted, charging, only for Dreyfus to use his attack, Silken Skewer, a second time, this time punching through her right leg.
Then, as Diane was falling, Dreyfus slashed upward.
"Demolishing attack!" Dreyfus shouted, a massive explosion of white energy exploding out of the ground below Diane, launching her away and sending her crashing down in the city.
"That's the direction of...No! Zeal!" Guila sprinted after Diane instantly.
Oswald allowed her to pass, keeping his eyes on Dreyfus, who was watching him as he pulled a small blue orb off of the back of his armor's collar.
"I am Holy Knight Grand Master Dreyfus," Dreyfus said, voice magically relayed through the city. "People of Liones, listen to me. We've been infiltrated by traitors known as the Seven Deadly Sins, and they've begun ransacking the kingdom. The Holy War of ancient legend is finally about to begin! But have no fear. Liones will be guarded by the power of the Holy Knights! For those who can fight, take up arms and make your stand!" He put the stone away and turned to Helbram. "Go and ensure our villain plays her part."
"Of course Grand Master," Helbram bowed before turning and flying after Diane with Jericho.
"Now, to deal with you," Dreyfus said. "You're not one of the Seven Deadly Sins, but you are one of their allies, so I cannot allow you to live. However, I shall make it so you never existed, that way your name will not be slandered in such a way as to label you a villain."
"I think I'll just survive this battle instead," Oswald said, crouching and readying himself. "I rather enjoy being alive."
"That is not an option," Dreyfus said, also readying himself.
Both remained motionless for a moment before Dreyfus moved to strike. However, as he did, the ground between them erupted into a sea of flames and Oswald spun, sprinting away as fast as he could.
"He ran away," Gilthunder said. "Shall I chase him?"
"No," Dreyfus said. "Let us go and deal with the Sins for now."
The other two nodded and turned toward Diane again, following Helbram and Jericho.
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