A group of warriors were in awe of the sight in front of them. A man walked forward, his flowing main of golden hair flowed in the light breeze. He walked forward, but the feeling of power was almost too much. Each step held authority and might and his stare, along with his smirk, told them he was the boss.

"Meliodas?.." The giant Diane asked her comrade. She got no response as he stopped. The demonic marks on him were large, with his sign of Wrath taking up most of his forearm now. Two large golden arms sprouted from his back in the fashion of wing. He stopped walking, and smiled at the group of people.

"Hey guys, it's good to see you guys again." His voice was deeper and more mature to fit his new appearance. The group seemed to tear up in happiness.

"Oh god, Meliodas! Your back!" Diane cried in happiness. King smiled at his old friend finally returning.

"It's good to see you old friend." Escanor went forward to greet his lost comrade but an arm was held out in front of him. He looked up, to see the face of Elizabeth, staring with great intensity.

"Your not Meliodas. Who are you?" She said sternly. Merlin seemed to realize something too and started to mutter.

Meliodas seemed to be taken aback. But that experisson turned into a villainous sneer. He crackled, throwing his head back. He looked back at them and his entire denmour changed.

The laid back and calm was gone, changed with hostility and malice. The rest of the group was surprised and took a cautious step back as an attempt to flee the eerie feeling.

"Of course I couldn't fool you goddess spawn. I suppose after all those millennia of memories of spending time with the traitor really benefited. It's a shame, I was planning on keeping you alive, just a bit though. Just enough to survive but for you to despise every second spent in agony." His tone was not that of a cheerful Meliodas, but rather a cruel and evil force.

"Oh gods.. No, how did he come back?" Mael said with very high panic in his voice. His hand ran through his hair as hsi body broke out in cold sweat.

"What!? Who is it?!" The talking pig known as Hawk squealed.

"His father, The Demon King. He used the Ten Commandments as a bridge to take over Meliodas's body. That.. That's why he wanted Meliodas to be the Demon King and not me.. Meliodas's power is leagues above my own." They looked behind them, to see that Zeldris was still alive but in critical condition. The newly discovered Demon King laughed.

"Ah, my worthless son. It's.. almost annoying that the Sins didn't kill you. But I think I'll enjoy killing all of you though. I do have a bone to pick with all of you, rather it be personal or just race wronged and stood in my way of my goals." He commanded. Diane drew her hammer and charged forward.

"You dastard! That's my friend your controlling!" She yelled as she charged to bring Gideon down on her head. The Demon King smiled and held out his hand. A ball of pure shadow condensed in his hand, complete with black electricity crackling around it. Diane's eyes widened as she realized what she just did but he body was already in motion. She couldn't stop and would be hit full force by that attack.

She knew, if that blast hit her she would die. No questions asked, no healing, she would just die.

But that didn't come as she ran into something. She rubbed her forehead and looked forward to see a pink wall of magic had separated them from the Demon King.

"Perfect Cube."

Merlin's quick thinking managed to give them protection before the blast was ever sent. A large cube completely surrounded surrounded them as Merlin collapsed. Escanor rushed to her side for support as her breathing became labored.

"Merlin!" Elizabeth rushed to her side quickly to see if she could heal her. She lightly laughed.

"Sorry, but I think I'm almost out of magical energy. The previous fights wore me out and with Chrono Coffin and how much magic I placed into this cube, I don't think I can last much longer after this." She said.

"Although, we have an issue Merlin." Gowther said. They looked at him and where he was pointing. They looked towards and gasp as Hawk tried to squeal his way in.

"GUYS! GUYS, LET ME IN! I DON'T WANT TO DIE FOR A SECOND TIME!" He yelled as every ran over to try and help him.

"Merlin, open the cube! We need to get Hawk in!" Elizabeth pleaded. Merlin just dazed, as if she couldn't even imagine that she managed to miss anyone but that was what she was thinking. She made the cube big enough and strong enough to protect them all but she failed to get everyone in there.

"Well well well, I must thank you. For a pathetic barn animal, you were useful for keeping an eye on my medling son for me. But, with my goal almost completed I have no need for you anymore." He whisked his fingers, dispersing and nullifying the orb of energy he was originally going to hit the group with. Hawk turned and ran the opposite direction to try and escape only for a black whip to wrap around him and pull him slowly back, his hooves desperately trying to find ground and stop him from being pulled back.

"Let me repay you for your years in as my eyes on this realm." The Demon King said as he tugged and Hawk went flying towards him. The Demon King spiked him into the ground with a single fist and the ground exploded into shards of stone and blood as Hawk yelled in pain.

"NO HAWK! NO, STOP IT!" Elizabeth cried, with tears falling freely. Everyone else had tears as they watched the Demon King ruthlessly beat their friend.

The Demon King smiled as he kicked Hawk up to hit him around in the air like some twisted form of a ball game. They watched in horror as Hawk and the evil king became blurs with the only trace of hawk being screams and trails of blood.

The sick game ended with Hawk lading in the crater from earlier but he was heavily bruised and bloodied. His chest barely rose up and down with a thousand yard stare.

Everyone's screams of mercy and tears went unheard as the king brought Hawk up with a sick smile. He brought his other hand up and stabbed as quick as he could, with enough force for dust to pick up

"HAWK!" Elizabeth screamed at the top of her lungs. The rest of the group fell on their knees with heavy tears.

"No.. No not Hawk." Diane cried. King went up and patted her shoulder. They started to weep for their friend, but something didn't feel right.

"Heh, you missed." A new voice said. The new presence's voice had a slick and smooth tone to it. It was the kind someone would pull when they wanted you to lose your surroundings and get lost in.

One they were all too familiar with.

The dust cleared, revealing a tall man. He wore clothing with cheetah patterns that seemed to tight on his form. He was hunched over, which just made his normal height seem vastly larger. His smile was in a warm glow as he stared at the man with red eyes. Hawk was under his arms, but their tears seemed more of happiness rather than pain.

"B-Ban.. You.. you came back.." Hawk mumbled. Ban's thumb rubbed Hawk lightly in a caring manner.

"Of course, what man would I be if I left my captains?" He said as he looked back at his opponent, who developed a tick mark.

"So, you meddling human came back. How troublesome." He forcefully said. Ban gave his smirk.

"Yeah well, I had to do something first before I came here so sorry you couldn't see my lovely face." He put his hand up, to do something he did best.

Piss his opponents off.

"And what.. Would that be?" He grated.

"Why, I forfeited my immortality so I could bring my lover back to life. So I managed to level out the playing for you, eh? I mean, I have to give my friend's father a chance. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't?" A gasp came from the Seven Sins and their comrades as the wicked king gave a smile of glee.

"But Ban! If your no longer immortal, he's going to kill you!" King pleaded. While his dislike towards the sin of Greed's antics were still there, he still didn't want him to die for the love and happiness his sister had from their time together.

"Yeah, but I think greed is the desire for more and then keeping what you get. And I'm never going to let Elaine go away again. I may not understand what Captain feels with Elizabeth, but you know for damn sure im going to fight for this world, a world which me and Elaine can be happy together." His look turned serious towards the king as he brought up his hand.

"Well I guess I could kill her for you, but you have annoyed me for over sixty years. I know all your tactics from your pathetic life meanwhile I have lived for millions of years, learning and plotting. You beating me is an impossibility." He brought his hand to slap Ban into the Perfect cube with deadly force.

But his hand stopped inches from his face and Ban didn't even flinch, in fact he just looked with a smile.

"Yeah well, I'm not going to fighting alone. You can feel him yeah?" He said. The Demon King looked at his hand in shock and tried to move it. It shook in response, seemingly resisting his control.

"Wait, what's happening?" Escanor asked. Most had a smile while King and Diane held his confusion.

"He's fighting back. Meliodas.." Gowther replied and everyone lit up.

...

Merlin grunted and used Escanor to stand. "Merlin, what are you doing?" Escanor pleaded.

"I have to help him. He's my friend. I can't just leave him." She tried to walk towards the wall but somehow Escanor of all people managed to keep her in place.

"Merlin, I know you're not in any condition to fight. You're far too weak and injured to fight that monster."

"Your right… But I can still help by giving this." She held out her hand and light solidified into a pair of chains and rods. There were four sections, connected by a small amount of chain. It had a finely crafted design wrapping around it, making it look more like an elegant tool rather than a weapon.

"Courechouse.. Where did you find that?" Escanor asked. Merlin gripped Ban's weapon tightly.

"When I went into the slums back in Liones for some spell ingredients, I found a thieves guild that had it on the wall. I used some.. Gentle persuasion to get it back." She said. She looked at Mael and tried to hand the weapon to him.

"I'm going to open the perfect cube to let Hawk in for Elizabeth and King to heal. I think your the only one here with the most magical power and stamina." Meal just smiled and turned her down. The group looked at the mighty archangel in confusion.

"I can't take it. I say your claim is off." He held up his hand and flexed it. "Agreed, I'm not as worn out as you guys, but my body is rusty. It's been three thousand years since I last used Sunshine, I guess you could say I forgot how to use it." He said.

"But, that one Cruel Sun you used was vastly more powerful than anything I could have used!" Escanor pleaded. Mael smiled.

"Yes, but with the Graces it is more important for your body to be used to the power and have experience rather than raw power output. My body hasn't had sunshine for a while, I can already feel my body weakening quickly from the amount of power in it. I won't last long if I go out there." He face turned into regret and Gowther felt a ping of guilt.

"But you Escanor, have more tolerance from having it all your life. Although you can't access the raw power due to your race, you have a higher control and tolerance than me. Not only that, but there is the issue of my age." He said.

"Huh? Your not that old!" Diane said.

"Im nearing my thousandth birthday, even before I became Estarossa. I suspect taking sunshine and exposing my body to it's true might gave me a few hours left before I die." He said ever so casually. The group gulped. With only a few examples, some even present, no race typically lived past 1000 and well humans were the ones outside of this since their lives were typically 120 or less.

"So then.. What will become of sunshine?" Zeldris asked weakly. Elizabeth was already by his side and healing him with her ark, so his injuries didn't look as sereve from just moments ago. Mael just smiled and looked at Escanor.

"I'm thinking about turning it back to you actually." Escanor gasped and pointed to himself.

"What me?! But your stronger with it! You managed to beat the Sinner with only one hit!" He tried to bargain. Male waved him off.

"Yes, but your body limits the power due to your race, so you suffer no real consequences from holding it. Not only that but you had Sunshine for what? A few decades?" He asked. Escanor nodded and Mael continued.

"Between the two of us, your body is the only one adapted towards Sunshine. The only difference is that Sunshine isn't restricted. And of course, there is my own personal opinion on humans." He said, taking a breath before he continued.

"In my personal opinion, I believe humans are the strongest race. Not in terms of power or lifespan, but emotion wise. Im sure Gowther can attest to this." Gowther nodded before he continued. "Humans have always had the strongest sense of loyalty and determination. I have seen human's flat out charge far stronger opponents not for pride, but rather to try and protect their lovers or friends. Can you tell me your not the same?" He asked.

Escanor sat there speechless. He just got complimented by one of the strongest people in the world but it didn't seem like he fit it.

"I don't deserve your praise. I-I ran away from my home.. Im supposed to be a prince but I ran because they labeled me a monster and a freak.." He mumbled.

"That's still true Escanor! Your still a great person!" Diane said with cheer.

"Yes, you may not see if but you are still a person willing to fight for the innocent. You were the one to fight Meliodas head on even though he had the power lead for a few minutes. Why did you do that?" King asked with a smile.

"Because I was the only one who could beat him?" He said.

"Even though Merlin had the magic spells to neutralize him? She even locked him in perfect cube, he wasn't going anywhere." Gowther said as he looked down.

"Personally I think you rushed in to try and save your friends and save Meliodas." Elizabeth added. Escanor looked at everyone.

"Escanor, I think you're blinded by your pride. How many times did you get up to try and show everyone you were the strongest?" Merlin asked. "How many times did you fight to defend me or the other sins?"

"I do that every battle.." He mumbled.

"Not only that, but back when Meliodas went to fight Drole and Gloxinia, you got stabbed with from a vine that carries a fatal poison. You still didn't want to die there or give up. Not many can say there were on death's footstep and say that they still didn't let that affect them." King added.

"It appears as if your friends believe my claim. Escanor, your more human than anyone else. And I believe Ban may need your assistance as well." They looked back as Ban shielded a blow from the king to protect Hawk. His clothing has heavily ripped, with only his pants and lower shirt still intact. He had a few bruises starting to form from the fight.

Meanwhile the Demon King looked like he was concentrating hard. His strikes would occasionally miss and he struggled to make some. Seemed his soul was focused on fighting Meliodas as well, as Meliodas also tried to make it easier on Ban. But there was no telling how much longer Meliodas could last since Ban couldn't focus on attacking due to his friends critical condition.

"Alright, I'll take back Sunshine. For my friends and for my home." He held out his hand and Mael took it. Immense magical energy flooded into Escanor as his muscles bulged and he grew in size.

In just mere moments, Escanor towered over all but Diane. He gave this aura that gave the group a sense of familiarity. Mael and him let go of each other's hands and Escanor rolled his shoulders. Heat was the final signal that the old Escanor was back.

Merlin snapped and Escanor bolted at incredible speeds out into a small but expanding hole in the perfect cube. Ban seemed to realize quickly and tossed Hawk into the ever growing hole. Mael quickly caught him as Escanor passed through the hole.

"Well, look who decided to show up! Thought I was gonna do this by myself to be honest!" Ban cheered. The King looked at him before Ban backhanded him and sent him flying into rubble.

"You've certainly gotten stronger." He nonchalantly said, holding out his hand and his axe Rhitta flew to it from it's close proximity.

"Well when you spend a thousand or so years in hell, I suppose I would get stronger." He said, staring down his old comrade as he Rhitta out to observe it.

"Hm.. Appears Rhitta has received some damage from the fight earlier. That could be problematic if this fight were to go for too long." He said.

"Well, I think the two of us could handle him. He packs a decent punch but nothing the two of us can't handle. Are you sure you are going to be ok with it being past noon?" He said as the two turned back to their foe rising.

"Yes, I'll be fine. It's just a lowly demon. Why should I worry?" He said, but it seemed more motivational rather than his usual pride. Ban knew why he would say that, for he had the same fear as well.

"Hmm.. how funny. Never in my millions upon millions of years I lived would i think the very thing stopping me from my goals was 2 measly humans." He said.

"Aw.. that makes me almost sad. I thought we bonded." He said. "I guess 60 years won't do that to an old grizzle. By the way, did you make captain's hair long just because your bald?"

"Ah yes. I see. I can see why you would want more hair on you head." Escanor said. The king seemed to grind his teeth. The two humans prepared to fight the enraged demon lord as he began to run to them.

All to save their friend.

So the "final" battle was changed and such.

Also.. for everyone asking about Asta's power levels and the post timeskip stuff... Yeah, Asta won't have negative power levels since that doesn't make sense with it. If asta had any negative stuff he would be weaker than Escanor's day form. Also anything with Spade will not (most likely) happen but there will be stuff in the ark that is used.

-Zalde