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Chapter 15 – Fallen Angel's Cry

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Gelda tilted her head innocently, " I told you that I got ordered to usher all of you away from him? He must be with Lady Faust right now".

King shouted indignantly, "whose fault is this, you think?!".

Hiding Gelda behind him, Meliodas waved his hands "now, now, calm down, King. It's unlike she could go against Faust as her familiar, right?".

Ban shrugged, "well, the Cap'n is right~ we can deal with her later. For now, what should we do to save Lucifer and stop Faust?".

Diane waved her hands frantically "what should we do now? I can feel the Holy Knight is coming this way, we have to fight them-".

Elizabeth was quite panicked "-but we can't let my brother alone with Faust. Otherwise, he could die!".

Tristan raised his hands, turning his head back and forth between Elizabeth and Iseult "calm down, mother. Also, Iseult, honey, what in the world are you doing at this urgent situation of us?".

Iseult lifted her hands in praying position, kneeling on the ground, "trying to contact that workaholic older sister of mine since I could not contact my father".

"I can hear you clearly! Wait a minute. I will be there right away, in a second. Geez, why should it be today of all day?".

They were surprised when they heard Merlin's voice that somehow sounded so child-like. It turned out that the voice came from the Communication Orb on Escanor's hand. The one he got from Merlin secretly, it seemed.

Escanor shrugged cluelessly, "I also have no idea about what happened to her. She replied to your message after asking me to".

Ban grinned suggestively, "I'm here more wondering why and how you could have had the communication tool from Merlin. Have you finally won over her heart and been together with her already, huh?".

Elaine reprimanded him for being so mean "Ban!".

Hawk snorted, "OI! Be serious! One of us could have died as we're speaking here!".

Gelda narrowed her eyes, "the enemy is here. Focus".

There were three of them. Muscular man with mustache cladded in armor. Long straight raven-haired woman with both eyes closed, arm-plates, and rapier. Short straight purple-haired woman with a sword that shorter than the raven-haired woman.

Meliodas tucked his hands behind his head "well, well, well, this is surely troublesome..".

Ban rolled his eyes to Gelda skeptically "you did mention the Holy Knight was coming our way, but you didn't mention that there are three of them".

Gelda crouched and groaned, covering her mouth and nose with a strangled sound like she choked on something disgusting and was about to puke "...I was unsure. The smell of Demon blood coming from them mixed with humans presences rather confusing for me. Not to mention, their mixed blood smell bad like the rotten fish that is kept for a week in the locked storage without the fresh air. It gets worse as they come closer like this".

Meliodas remembered that as a Vampire, Gelda had the best sense when it came to smelling something. Tapping his fist on his palm, Meliodas tried to lighten the mood, caressing his chin with a suggestive smirk, "oh, I see. I was about to joke that if you were in an extra-marital pregnancy because of him, then I would have no choice but to kick his butt and give him a good lecture for getting you pregnant before your marriage".

Gelda snorted mockingly, pointedly lifting her forefinger to Meliodas "oh, you... Don't group him with a pervert like you. Once I get better, I'll strangle you".

King facepalmed, "Captain, but seriously... What's the plan?".

"well, well, well, as Elizabeth said, we can't let Lucy alone with Faust. So...", Meliodas caressed his chin thoughtfully before lifting Elizabeth bridal-style, even using this chance to burrow half of his face to her breasts "retreat for now! Son, I leave your aunt Gelda in your care and Iseult's".

Despite his grumbles, Tristan did what his father asked him. Lifting Gelda over his shoulder, Tristan pulled Iseult's hand, "father, why did you always give the difficult part to me?".

On Meliodas' hands, Elizabeth casually chirped, tapping her forefinger on her cheek "well, you know your father, son. How about this? Since it's needed and we have no necessity to keep the secrecy, you and Iseult can break your seal".

Just like a fish got into the water, Tristan's eyes lit up like a child for excited about getting new toys "really?!".

Wrapping her arms around Ban's torso, Elaine asked while they were flying, "do you have a plan?".

They dispersed into two teams in the end. The first team would go looking for Lucifer, while the other one would stay to fight the Holy Knights. The latter would follow and catch up with the former afterward.

Diane lifted her hand as they were running away, "but who will fight against them?".

Gelda lazily plopped her head on Hawk's body as the pink pig kept running, "but it's not like they will let all of us go easily, you know?".

Just like what Gelda said, Jericho leaped and slashed Ban with her sword. Strangely, Ban's wounds could not heal.

"How dare you!", Elaine reached out her hands to Jericho "Wrath Of The Golden Wind!".

The result was unexpected. Jericho was blown away by the strong wind, flying backward and going through several pillars of green crystals. The others stared at Elaine in shock.

Elaine looked down at her hands in bewilderment, "...since when did I become this strong?".

"let's save the explanation for later!", Iseult exclaimed from below, healing Ban "be careful. One may be down, but it's still needed to take down two more!".

Jericho came back in a rush, swinging her sword to Elaine, but got blocked by King "do not think so!".

"don't you dare to lay your finger on my sister!", King shifted his Chastiefol into its Guardian Form "not in my way".

"go. I've got this", Escanor cracked his knuckles and his neck, tilting his head right and left "I alone am enough to take them down".

"allow me to assist you. Not that I don't trust you, Sir, but I want to check something on them, and to save our time, it will be best to send them back to the human realm", Tristan raised his finger, "but can you break my seal first, honey?".

"of course. But before that", Iseult lifted her hands to the side, and her golden eyes started to shine brightly "Valkyrie Mode: On".

Iseult's clothes disappeared and changed into a white dress cladded with a full set of golden armors securely covered her body. Even a shield and a sword appeared on her hands. Tristan explained to them that it was Iseult's magic power, Valkyrie. When they were on the battle, Iseult could summon and exchange her armors, shields, and weapons that she had put safely somewhere in her private weaponry.

"prepare yourself, Triss", Iseult moved her hands to create the magic circles on the air. Crossing her shield and weapon in front of her face on top of the magic circles, she cast the talisman "I release Thee!".

Once the talisman touched Tristan's back, Tristan's red hair turned into silver. His eyes also changed into the unique heterochromia eyes, one green orb-like Meliodas' and one blue orb-like Elizabeth's. Three pair of white-feathered wings sprouted out of his back. As the wind blew his long straight silver hair, Tristan looked behind over his shoulder "go! Find father and mother in law! Save them!".

Escanor lifted his pointer finger "I may give a little help".

It turned out into the three-against-three battle, though Escanor said himself that he alone was enough to fight them all. Jericho had scoffed at it. Guila felt intrigued. On the opposite, Twigo was offended. Though, it was not Escanor, Iseult, or Tristan who successfully defeated the three of them away in the end.

Someone with a child-like, girlish voice sounded mocking them "I am surprised, it took you all this long just to take down these three Holy Knights".

They saw this certain someone cast the magic spell to create the Perfect Cube which protecting Meliodas and the group. Not only that, with a snap of her fingers, she sent the power to the three Holy Knights that sending them away.

"that should be enough to send them away back to the human realm", a little girl with shoulder-length short raven hair who wore a sleeveless navy-blue dress turned to them, a pair of golden eyes glinted with mischief and self-confident "no one injured, right?".

King, Diane, Ban, Elaine, Hawk, and Escanor stared, really stared at this little girl who came down flying to them.

Wait.

Could it be she…

As if confirming their suspicion, Elizabeth spread her hands to hug Merlin (in a child form) tightly "Merlin! You're so cute as always!".

"what happened? It's unusual for you to use this form", Meliodas smiled and ruffled Merlin's head "though, I don't mind at all, as long as Elizabeth likes it. Not to mention, looking at this form of yours, is quite nostalgic, Mer-bear~".

Merlin pulled the strands of Meliodas' cowlicks "shut up".

"ow! Ow! Not my hair, Mer! It's so mean of you!".

Kinda the opposite with her words, Merlin cuddled against Elizabeth's chest and hugged her back, mumbling "that's your fault for treating me like a child".

"wait, seriously, what happened to you, sis?".

Turning to her little sister, Merlin answered "remember Morgan?".

It clicked on Tristan's head "oh, you mean that young apprentice of yours, the young King of Camelot Kingdom's older sister?".

Merlin told them that Morgan just created a potion to turn someone into a child and when they tested it, it was a success "the potion's effect will be worn off in about a half-hour further. I could have just waited for longer until the potion's effect is worn off because, with all honesty, I do not want to appear in front of all of you like this, but it's urgent. Our parents' life is in danger. I can't risk their life no matter how ridiculous the circumstances I have been into right now".

Tristan shrugged, unable to understand it "what's the matters? We already know this form of yours".

Meliodas nudged Tristan's stomach with his elbow, side-glancing to Escanor "Triss".

Iseult deadpanned, "well, I'm grateful it doesn't come out like this when it comes to me, but you're so insensitive when it comes to other people's feelings sometimes. There's no way a woman would want to appear in their ridiculous state, such as turned back into a child's body, especially not in front of someone she loved".

Tristan boldly declared, "I wouldn't mind if it happened to you".

Iseult blushed furiously, thanks to his bold words.

"they're right. I think it's so cute of you", Escanor praised encouragingly. When he earned Merlin's stare, Escanor gulped nervously "um, did I do or say something wrong?".

"no, just thinking…", Merlin clicked her tongue, blushed slightly "I would have kissed you if I hadn't been in my child body".

Diane, Elaine, and King jaw-dropped. Ban openly laughed his heart out loud. Escanor cleared his throat and blushed furiously.

Elizabeth smiled innocently "you can do it later, right?".

Tristan said in disbelief "mother, I expected it coming from father instead of you of all people".

Meliodas waved his hand "trust me, son. Even I never expected it when the first time she boldly seduced me passionately".

Back to their main problem, all jokes aside, they went looking for Lucifer and Faust. Though, in the halfway, Guila attacked them. Unlike Twigo and Jericho, Guila was a bomb user, so she had more endurance to the blast. When Guila raised her rapier to attack Merlin and Iseult, both Escanor and Tristan were ready to protect them, but someone attacked Guila beforehand. When Escanor pulled Merlin into his embrace and Tristan stood in front of Iseult, a certain someone went flying to tackle down Guila and sent the flying kick from beside.

Silver hair. Red eyes were gleaming like Ruby. Death scythe on her hand and a black cloak with dark markings shifted all around her body.

Whoever saw her in this state, could have mistaken her as the Grim Reaper.

Guila groaned in pain, pressing her palm on her bruised hip "who are you? What's your—?".

Not giving her the chance to finish her words, Faust kicked on Guila's stomach and stomped on Guila's torso after Guila rolled to the side, lying flat on her back. Leaning her scythe on her shoulder, Faust smiled cruelly "that's not good at all, you know? Do you think, to whom you directed your weapon? Oh, if you wondered the reason why I stopped you, every mother would not need the reasons to protect their children, wouldn't they?".

Iseult dropped to her knees, leaning to Tristan who supported her. Looking straight to the figure who stomped on Guila's body, Iseult blinked away her tears "…mother".

Ignoring the trail of blood rolling down from her head, Faust looked up and smiled motherly to her youngest daughter "wait there, Iseult, I will make it quick".

When Faust pulled the red-hilted dagger from the scabbard on her hip, Guila curled into a ball on the ground "no! Don't eat me!".

No wonder Guila thought it that way because the dagger in Faust's hand was the 'Cursed Weapon'. The Dagger of Bathory, The Lady In Red. It supposedly belonged to the Vampire Clan. Now, it made sense to them why Faust had freed Gelda.

Gelda instructed, "stop her! Whoever gets hit by that dagger, they will die after all their blood and life-force get sucked by that dagger!".

Before Faust stabbed the Bathory's Cursed Dagger to Guila, Lucifer, in which his body covered with blood from head to toe, stopped Faust using the chain that shined fluorescently "don't get it wrong, Faust! Your opponent, your prey is only me!".

Elizabeth gasped, horrified "brother!".

"ah, there you are. Finally, you come out of your hiding place. Now, shall we stop our 'hide and seek' and finish our fight?", Faust smirked maniacally and lifted her hand. She threw several blocks of ice at him "Right!".

Looking at Lucifer's body that was pierced by the blocks of ice, Merlin used her teleportation. She appeared in front of Faust, spreading her arms to the side "mother, stop! Don't kill father!".

Panting, Merlin gritted her teeth. How she hated her weak state right now. Considering her body was still in a child's body, her magic power was also limited. Long story short, even if she wanted to fight, she would be no match for her parents.

"oh, my '—'. Don't be afraid, honey", cupping Merlin's cheeks, Faust leaned her face and kissed her forehead briefly "I won't let your father steal you away from me, ever".

Usually, Merlin was able to stay calm and wisely decide what to do, no matter what kind of circumstances they were in. However, listening to her mother's sweet, alluring, and reassuring words when she was still in her child form, the result was unbearable and it was overwhelming, even for her. Merlin dropped on her knees and her face blanched, like all blood drained out of her entire body. Merlin's pupils dilated, she saw the fires burning her hometown. The lightning struck the earth, along with the storm roared. The scattered corpses smelled bad. She cried and cried for help, no one came to save her until—

—Escanor pulled her into his warm, tight embrace and said right beside her ear "Stay with me, '—'! Even if all worlds turn their back against us, I will never betray you! I promised you that much! That's why, as I promised, I'll always come back to you no matter what!".

"no way… '—'? You…", Merlin came back to her senses, blinking her tears "could it be… do you remember?".

"Recently, yes. It seems some pieces of memories from my past life came back swiftly", Escanor smiled bitterly before he carried her on his shoulders "let's talk over everything later. For now, let's save your parents".

"wait! Before that—", a 'POP' sound came along with the smoke as Merlin turned back into her mature body. Swinging her legs, she casually asked "oh, my. Should I stay here, on your shoulders, or should we change the position?".

Escanor cleared his throat and instantly changed their position. Carrying her bridal style, he blushed furiously "…let's just change the position for my sanity's sake".

Merlin chuckled "whatever suit you, then".

As usual, Hawk let out his snarky comment "lovebirds, save it for later, in your bed".

When they arrived at where they felt Lucifer and Faust's presence, they saw Faust embedding the Death Scythe in her hands to Lucifer's torso.

When Faust earned back her sanity, she cried as Lucifer pulled her into his embrace. Holding his body, Faust wailed "NO! Not again!".

"don't… cry…", Lucifer choked as his blood came pooling in his mouth. His vision blurred like hell as he lifted his hand "remember… I regret… nothing…".

Faust hugged him and cried harder "NO!".

After Merlin pulled Faust away from Lucifer, Elizabeth and Iseult cried as they healed Lucifer, begging to him to survive it.

"Is there really nothing I can do to save them?", Meliodas gritted his teeth, and surprisingly, as he pressed his palm on his chest, an Orb with the light as bright and warm as the sun appeared on top of his hands. Bewildered, Meliodas also had no idea about what was this Orb, neither he knew nor understood about why on the earth this Orb come out of his body. He only felt ticklish and tingling sensations when he pulled it out of his body "this…".

Faust broke her hug from Merlin's grip "That! Put it into Lucifer's body!".

Even if he didn't know what was this Orb and what happened, Meliodas obeyed her with the hope that it could save Lucifer "got it!".

Lucifer closed his eyes as he felt the sensation of something warm wrapped around him when he sank into his deepest slumber. At a time like this, he only remembered his beloved family instead.

Isolde asked with so much innocence as she leaned her head on the edge of the bed "it probably hurt?".

Merlin scoffed to the already obvious answer of her question "of course, it hurt, SO MUCH".

Lying flatly on his stomach, Lucifer closed his eyes slowly after Elizabeth ushered the sisters to leave and play with Meliodas because Lucifer needed to rest. The last thing Lucifer could hear and feel was the conversation between Elizabeth and Meliodas about how high his fever that made Elizabeth worried and how Meliodas tried to comfort her.

As a punishment for what he had done to Stigma, Supreme Deity punished Lucifer on the spot. While the wings on his back were pulled off of his back by his mother, Lucifer could barely register anything. He only heard his mother had said, vaguely "sorry, but this is for you as well".

Lucifer scoffed at that with severe laughter, ignoring the tears that went streaming down his face freely out of his eyes like the flowing river due to the excruciating, burning pain on his back. Clenching his fist on the bloody, muddy ground, Lucifer glared with so much grudge, hatred, and pain, for his mother didn't even show remorse even the slightest "it's for me... or for the sake of Goddess Clan, huh?".

Why, mother? How could you have done this to me?

It hurt.

It hurt..

It hurt…

It hurt!

The pain is unbearable.

Enough.

Just kill me already, mother.

Instead of being alive in a living hell like this, I want to die.

Let me die.

"you are not allowed to die. Not yet, my idiot guileless son".

"...mother?".

When Lucifer opened his eyes, he was welcomed by Faust and Elizabeth's tear-stained face, and the bear hug "LUCIFER! / OLDER BROTHER!".

Both Merlin and Iseult joined the bear hug, ignoring the fact that the others witnessed this, too "FATHER!?".

"...Merlin? Isolde? I'm… still alive?", looking around in bewilderment, Lucifer couldn't help it "what happened?".

"don't say it like you regret that you survive, you moron", Meliodas smacked him on the head, patting Elizabeth's back as his lover continued crying on his embrace "you scared us like hell. Just prepare yourself".

"oh, God… I can't believe this…", Faust sobbed and smiled tearily "your mother saved you".

Lucifer couldn't believe it "…what?".

Faust squeezed his shoulders "don't you remember it?".

Oh, right. Even if it was a brief moment, for several minutes, Lucifer had entered the Celestial Realm and met them. How could it have happened?

A/N:

And... cliffhanger again? not even sorry :P

Yeah, Lucifer, I know it's gonna be hard for you to believe.