A/N: REVIEW FOR IT FEEDS THE ENGINE OF CREATION!~!
Sorry about that.
I didn't have any internet for the past few days, which delayed me from updating and responding to you all. Damn storms! I've been hard at work on this, and its good to be back at it again.
As for the delay, well I can explain. I had this all revved up and ready to go, but I lost it!
So lets address that, eh?
Its been some time since the last chapter and DAMN did the manga and anime get ahead. I almost feel bad for King now, having Naruto swoop in and steal Diane from him. Ah, at leas they're happil y together in the manga. Speaking of which, did some more research on Matrona and she's a fucking beast. Also...rather scary all things considered.
But hey, reviews are what keep me writing for you all!
ALL ABOARD THE NARUTOXDIANE SHIP!
...with just a hint of Matrona.
Alright, more than a hint.
I'm back and rearing to go!
Remember, Naruto's barely considered human in this...
...he's also empowered by a literal goddess.
Using her powers corrupts him.
Don't piss him off.
Also, no complaining please. "Oh, look, he updated, now he won't for two more years." Bollocks. Respectfully, bollocks. I had ten thousand words for this chapter but I lost them all when my laptop went down. I busted my ass to get this story up and running again and I WILL be updating again at that. I'm not going to leave you guys and gals hanging for years on end again. That was the old Neon. This is the new one. I've got an update schedule-had one since January-and I aim to see this story through to the end. Now, with that said.
...hope ya enjoy!
Minor bit of verbatim regarding a certain episode here...
...and OH does someone get their comeuppance in this chapter...
...and any God of War comparisons are deliberated and intended of course.
I swear, that game has me in an absolute death grip and it isn't letting go anytime soon...
"No. I am so very tired of people like you in this world. You lot call yourself knights, yet you commit the most despicable acts. And for what? Glory? Fame? All so you can rise above your station? Worm. No, you're less than a worm, and we must be better than this."
~the Sin of Despair.
Sinner
What is a sin?
If you asked a scholar they'd call it an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. For example, a sin in the eyes of God. One could even take it a step further. Pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony and of course, lust. They are the Seven Deadly Sins-figuratively and literally-thus one might consider these sordid seven sacraments the very height of corruption. Eight, if one includes the oft-unnamed sin of despair. Yet this isn't true. I know the Sins. They're good people. They're not villains.
Which then begs the inevitable question.
Who deems what a sin is?
Who was it that first set down those nigh-infallible rules of right and wrong? Who decided that humans were oh-so-superior? Who was it that divided morality into the realm of black and white? Into night and day? Who was it that deemed there could never be gray? Who declared that pride for the sake of another is a sin? Who deemed greed ugly?
Was it the gods?
Demons, perhaps?
Or was it humanity?
By that very definition I'm already a...
...Tch. I said it. Such misfortune...
(...Scene Break...)
"Its my victory, then."
Matrona grit her teeth until she felt something crack in her jaw. She struggled with all her might, to no avail; try as she might the giantess couldn't budge the boot crushing down on her head. Indeed, for all her flailing she only made the situation worse and found her face thrust deeper into the dirt. Despite her indomitable strength and peerless mastery over the earth, despite being many times the size of her opponent, she'd lost. Her strength meant nothing in the face of this adversity, couldn't budge him. Even now her right hand ground against his body while he held her left at bay, towering fingers crushing against his seemingly frail frame. It was absurd!
What manner of demon was this?!
How was he this strong?!
"So," a rough voice rumbled in her ear, "Will you listen, now?"
Pain flared in the chieftain's skull, bright and sharp and horribly clear.
Violet eyes craned upward to find searing white eyes glowering at her. Not blue. White. What sorcery was this? No human should possess such strength. None could equal the unassailable might of a giant. Even the fabled Knights of Liones laced such raw physical prowess. Thus is stood to reason that the being who'd bested couldn't be human. Not with that horn. Ah. A member of the Demon Clan, then? Weren't they extinct? Strange as it might sound, the idea of losing to a demon after hours of combat rankled her pride less than that of a human would...but in the end it proved no less galling. She'd never lost a battle before. To have been beaten so badly and by an outsider at that...there was no greater shame.
"Just. Stay. Down."
A bloody scowl.
"Never."
"Pity."
Naruto's body blurred into a streak of liquid gold, striking out at multiple vulnerabilities in unison. Never in the same place twice. Lungs, chest, knees, throat, torso. His attacks shattered what little remained of her defenses, battering into her body with relentless abandon. What little power she mustered was swatted aside like a gnat, spires of earth crumbling again and again until...
...abruptly, they ceased.
"Enough!" he growled. "You're beaten. I'm not going to kick you when you're down."
Scissoring her legs, she lashed out at him, only find the knife point of his hand leveled against her eye.
"You don't understand! This is our way of life! The humans provide us with combat and compensation!" A muscle jumped in her forehead as she fought to raise her gaze, her weary body pushed to its very limits merely by that minute movement. "And we giants provide them with our strength. This is how we coexist. We giants are a proud army. It's our duty to seek out combat. It is our dream to die in combat. Its in our nature to find life in war. That's why you give your best to your opponent. That's the greatest respect you can give to a warrior!"
"And yet you lost to me in the end." the Sin of Despair replied. "What does that say about your vaunted pride?"
When she couldn't muster a response, he took his foot from her head.
In disbelief, Matrona was left to gawp at this act of mercy.
Left to languish amongst the rubble.
"We're leaving, Diane."
"What? Oh, right!"
Exhausted as she was, she could only loo on in mute disbelief as the Horned One turned his back on her and nimbly leaped onto Diane's shoulder. Her fellow giantess had observed the battle in stoic silence-only a fool would interfere in single combat-and now the blond's sudden movement seemed to reactivate the brunette. Startled, she reached up to steady the wayward warrior with a hand. He muttered something unheard and with a nod, her charge turned to depart. Something in Matrona's chest wrenched at the sight. Not just at the thought of Diane leaving, but...!
Her arm stretched out, grasping at the girl's ankle.
"Matrona?!"
"Wait! Kill me!"
Naruto finally stirred.
Weary eyes regarded her.
...no. I don't think I'll be doing that."
"We giants live only on strength and pride! To lose and have my life spared by one such as you would be even more shameful!" When he made no move to reply, she bulled on ahead heedless of his stony expression. "You've bested me before the entire clan, demon! You can't just leave! Finish what you started so that I may have honor in death!"
Blue eyes narrowed at the word "demon" but he made no move to refute her.
"Then find and face me again when you're stronger. If that's all...
Her mind scrambled, seeking a solution.
Indeed, Matrona refused to let it end like this. There could be no closure in such an end. A strange emotion had bloomed in her chest, and for the life of her she couldn't bring herself to understand it. This was not fear, nor was it anger, or even something so petty as spite. The idea of letting the one who'd bested her escape, no more than that...she wanted to face him again.
"Please! We'll be participating in the suppression of savages by the Lioness Knights tomorrow morning. Join us!"
Naruto scoffed.
"And why should we?"
"I wish to determine whether or not this was a fluke with my own eyes." she begged, steadying herself on shaky knees. "Do so and I'll allow you and Diane to depart without contest. I swear on my great ancestor Drole!"
Diane's once staunch resolve wavered.
"Maybe we should hear her out."
The blond blanched.
"I don't think...
(...Scene Break...)
Naruto hissed out a low breath.
...why did we agree to this, again?"
"There, there. Just calm down. Relaaaaax."
Diane's hand settled over his horned head with infinite care, her large fingers rubbing his scalp with surprising gentleness and reassurance. The blond's sullen expression didn't waver in the least under her ministrations, yet as the giantess looked on the tension gradually drained out of him, leaking out of his body like a broken sieve. She didn't blame him for pouting; a small part of her felt the same. She'd listen to Matrona on a whim, but even now her heart wavered, wondering if she'd truly made the right decision. Surely nothing would go wrong, right?
...right?
"We've been waiting for you, Fang of the Land, Ms. Matrona!"
Her bright gaze shifted, turning away from the object of her affections towards the one who'd just spoken. In hindsight, he stood out from the sea of shoddily-armed and armored men only by the sheer quality of his armor and nothing more; that weaselly face and beady eyes did little to inspire trust. Even as she gazed upon him, those keen eyes turned searchingly toward her companions.
"And who is that behind you?"
Matrona flinched.
"This is my clan's best fighter, Diane. The other one is a mercenary who...volunteered his services. I can vouch for both of them."
Naruto harrumphed like an old man.
"Vouch, she says! What a bunch of bull-
"How noble of you!" the Knight spread his arms wide in benediction, enthusiastic voice overriding the blond's muttered complaints. "That's reassuring! I am the Holy Knight of the Kingdom of Liones, Gannon! I look forward to working with you."
Upon her shoulder, Naruto stiffened.
"Something stinks."
Diane frowned.
"Weh?"
Matrona's gaze strayed toward the great sea of ballistaes arrayed at their feet; each primed and ready to be fired at a moment's notice. From his perch on her shoulder Naruto leaned forward, sniffing. Whatever scent he found there must've made his nose curl, for his expression darkened even further. Diane shifted uneasily in place. Something felt...wrong about this. Gannon seemed entirely too eager to please, and if Naruto's sour mood was any indication, it might well be a facade. If Matrona was at all concerned by the surprising amount of artillery, however, she did precious little to show it.
"And? Where are the savages?" she posited. "I sense no one."
"It seems they've hidden themselves with the aid of a powerful mage." Gannon admitted with a helpless shrug. "We can't seem to find them."
At this, Naruto finally perked up from his sulking.
"My. That is troublesome."
She knew that voice.
Diane stiffened.
"Oh, no."
In a liquid movement Naruto dropped from her shoulder, cloak fluttering in the breeze of his descent. Alighting in a pointed crouch before the holy knight, the horned blond took three swift steps forward and clamped a hand down upon the man's armored shoulder. A beat of awkward silence passed between the two men, broken only the sound of a distant breeze. Leaning past Gannon's face, the whiskered warrior inhaled deeply. From her towering angle Diane couldn't see the expression her companion made, but it must've terrified Gannon, for the holy knight's visage drained of all color. She knew that look. It was...
...fear.
"You reek."
The knight bristled.
"I...beg your pardon, sir?"
"I said you stink." the hand on his shoulder tightened imperceptibly as the horned blond continued to whisper into his ear, clawed fingers buckling the tempered steel in their grasp. "Of lies, falsehoods and, ah, yes," he inhaled again, "Petty greed. Tell me, why would a "holy knight" have the stench of a liar?"
"How did you-
"I've always been good at reading people. But you," Bright eyes regarded him with a hint of dark humor. "I don't even need the cloak to read you. So? What's your real reason for calling us out here? No, wait. Let me guess-
His gaze shifted toward the ballistas.
"Ah."
"Erm...ah! I hear something from there!" Flailing, Gannon thrust a finger at a distant tree!
Quick as a thought, Matrona spun and flicked two fingers upward in the direction of the distant oak. Not a moment passed before it erupted in a column of earth. Rent it asunder, the might birch found itself uprooted and rent asunder, flung aside as though it weighed no more than a branch. Perhaps this display of strength emboldened Gannon; perhaps he believed he could still pull off his ruse so long as the rest of the party had yet to catch on to his ruse. Whatever the case, he quickly spun about and thrust his arm in another direction.
"Quickly! I hear a voice from over there, now!"
Matrona lunged at the ground even as Naruto spat a warning.
"Oi! Wait a second! The bastard's trying to-
With a startled grunt she staggered as the earth gave way beneath her great leap; even as she made to fling herself away the soil fell away and revealed the gaping pitfall underfoot. Wordlessly she tumbled into it, seemingly helpless to prevent a series of large boulders from tumbling atop her.
"Matrona?!"
A raucous cheer went up.
"Yes, we did it! She fell right for it!"
"You betrayed us?!"
Gannon sneered.
"How did you like my magic power, Hollow Sound?" the knight cackled! "Even a pitiful magic, if you use it the right way, can trounce an enemy of that size. After all, its a far greater achievement to defeat one giant over a thousand petty savages." confident in his scheme, he carelessly flung his arms to the side. "Especially when it it means putting an end to that Berserk Fang of the Land. Now, men! Lets finish off-bweguh?!"
Whatever else he might've said withered as a pair of clenched knuckles barreled into the side of his face.
Divested of his arrogance-and more than a few teeth besides-the arrogant knight tumbled across the ground like a skipping stone. Even as he flew an invisible wave of concussive force sailed out to crunch against his stunned facade, tendering his once handsome nose little more than a gaping red tear in his visage. From there momentum seized the day and hurled his battered body into a nearby ballista. The sheer force of the impact splintered the medieval contraption into countless pieces, sending men and timber sprawling alike.
"Where...where did that come from?" he lisped, palming his ruined face. "I didn't see...
"No." a rough voice boomed. "Your kind never does."
Reeling upright, he beheld the culprit.
"You...?!"
"Me."
The Horned Man had lowered his hand, fingers still clenched into a fist at his side. Blank pupils regarded him with cold fury, pure as the driven snow, Sharpened canines bared in a wordless snarl. Had his eyes always been white? Gannon wondered about that. There was something decidedly different about his gaze now, as though a switch had been irrevocably flipped somewhere deep inside of him. No words were exchanged. No quarter given. He simply began walking towards them. As one, the closest ballistae leveled on him, only to inexplicably implode upon themselves. An entire line of the weapons vanished in a cone of flame, and the men with them.
"Right. Going to murder the rest of you now." craning his neck, the blond glanced over his shoulder. "You okay back there, big girl?"
...yes."
To his dismay, Gannon found the Fang of the Land had already extricated herself from his brilliant trap. Standing astride a towering spire of earth beside her comrade, the giantess sneered down at him in silent scorn. Utterly unfazed by his deception, she flicked a stray strand of hair out of her eyes and leaped to his side. Eyes like blazing violet amethysts narrowed upon him with the weight of a thousand worlds. The very earth seemed to quiver beneath the force of her landing, trembling before the terror of what was to come.
"You underestimated us, human. We giants can manipulate the very earth itself."
Naruto cracked his neck.
"Might wanna close your eyes now, Diane."
"What?! No! I can fight, too!" the brunette steeled herself.
"Thatta girl!"
Gannon saw the shared look between them, and knew what it meant for him and his men. Death. Now that the trio had grown wise to his scheme their guard would be up; worse, those two seemed keen on wiping the lot of them out in recompense for their temerity. He was no fool. Not one of his men could engage a giant in a contest of raw strength and expect to emerge the victor. Least of all himself. No, if there was to be any chance they needed to rely on those special quarrels and pray for a miracle. If word of what he'd done here reached Liones, he was finished.
If it had come to this, then...!
"D-Damn you! Fire! Fire! FIRE!"
To his dismay the giants reacted instantly to both his shrieks and the assault. Pillars of earth rose to intercept the ballista bolts as they launched, one after the other. What little reached them of the initial volley clattered harmlessly against unyielding stone. Still, their defense held strong and with each passing moment the reaper winnowed away at their own forces with ruthless precision. The sounds his men were making back there in the ranks...it curled his very blood in his veins. Damned demon! Damned giants! How dare they put up such a fight! Didn't they know their place?!
"All we need is one hit!" he railed!" Get them!"
There!
A stray bolt arced towards the brunette.
Spying it, she braced herself.
"Heavy Metal!"
To his great delight the Fang of the Land intercepted the quarrel with her own body, thrusting an unprotected leg between her student and the bolt. Inwardly, the coward rejoiced. Yes! A direct hit! Had she known about the poison? He supposed it didn't matter now. Her death was all but certain. As he looked on the heavy quarrel bit deep into her thigh and sank into her flesh, where the toxin would no doubt swiftly take root. Already she'd lost her color and began to swayed on her feet.
Almost instantly, she slumped.
"Stupid giants! This poison can take down a dragon." he crowed, unaware of the silent shadow creeping up on him in the fog of battle. "It certainly works fast. Even if it can't pierce a body that's been turned to steel, one small scratch is all it ta-
"You talk too much."
Strong arms locked around his head from behind.
A startled croak leaped from the knight's lips as he bucked against his captor to no avail; his adversary's grasp was iron and he lacked the strength to break free. No! Not like this! He'd been destined for so much more! He was meant to rise above this, to eradicate those filthy creatures! Someone roared at him and his thoughts blurred into agony as two fingers plunged deep into his vision. Half his vision darkened as he found himself divested of his right eye, even as the vice around his windpipe ground away at his life. Already what remained of his vision began to swim; black stars dancing across a pale haze, draining all color from the world.
"Why?!" he croaked out a snarl, struggling against the limb crushing the breath out of him. "Why do you even care?! You could've walked away! They're only...giants!"
A low growl answered him.
"And you're only human. A piss-poor one at that. What's the difference?"
"I can make you rich beyond your wildest dreams!" the Holy Knight hissed, his face purpling, fingers frantically seeking purchase where none was to be found. "If you kill me, you'll turn the entire kingdom against you! It doesn't have to be this way! Just let me go!"
He could fee it now, the bones splintering in his neck.
"No. I am so very tired of people like you in this world." a godless hiss echoed in his ear, sharp and biting. "You lot call yourself knights, yet you commit the most despicable acts. And for what? Glory? Fame? All so you can rise above your station? Worm. No, you're less than a worm and we must be better than this."
"Curse you!" Feeling the cold brush of death, Gannon at last railed. "You filthy sinner! A thousand curses...upon you! May you never know peace!"
With a sharp wrench, his hands tightened around the knight's head.
"If that's my fate then so be it. You won't live to see it!"
Squealing, the man gave one last desperate struggle.
"No! Don't! Please-
Crunch.
A distant pop filled his ears and he knew no more.
He never saw the rest; didn't feel his corpse flung to the ground. Didn't taste the dirt in his mouth. Didn't see those blazing white eyes round on the remaining knights. Didn't hear their screams. By rights it was a mercy; he'd died a quicker death than he deserved. Within moments he was gone, his final thoughts those of a petty man. At least he'd managed to fell the Fang of the Land. And that horned fool would be hunted to the ends of the earth for this, and his allies with him. He'd be infamous for that, at least...how little he knew.
Thus, he never witnessed the events that transpired after his death.
"No, no, no! Don't you fucking die on me, you hear?!"
"So long as Diane...lives...
"BULLSHIT!"
Kneeling before Matrona's prone form, Naruto found his thoughts in chaos, as did Diane. Perhaps, had they been more aware of their surroundings, they would've made certain to wipe the enemy out. Instead the survivors of Gannon's force were forgotten and thus escaped. They fled for the hills; their comrades left to rest on earth spikes, others impaled upon crude spires of twisted steel and timber, the rest crushed to a bloody pulp. Indeed, the events of this day would be twisted by others, resonate throughout the world, and cement their legacy. But for now neither paid that any mind.
They were focused solely on the dying woman before them.
"Tch. Diane! Hold her still! Do not let go. Understand?"
Blanching, the brunette nodded.
...r-right!"
Without a thought, he ripped the quarrel from Matrona's leg and placed his lips to the wound. As Diane looked on his tan flesh seemed to recoil from the venom, taking on an almost ashen hue. Did he really think he could simply suck the poison out of someone so large? Perhaps sensing this, Matrona bristled and immediately sought to shake him off. For his part the whiskered warrior held fast, pausing just long enough to turn and spit...rather, he made the attempt. Instead he turned and heaved himself, bodily retching.
"What are you doing?!"
"Saving your life, you dolt! Just...give me a second...
"Idiot!" she bucked, throwing him back. "Stop! Don't! You'll die...too!"
"Shut your trap. You don't get to "die" because of some damned death flag." For all her struggles the horned warrior simply brushed the giantess's weak efforts off and set his lips back to the wound. "I've dealt with worse shit than this." Again he turned to spit, only narrowly managing to restrain his gag reflex. "I can do this! I'm not losing another comrade! Do you hear me?!"
"I said...stop!" Matrona pleaded with him, feeling herself weaken by the second. "If you keep at it you'll just go to the grave as well! This serves noth-!"
"AND WHAT'S SO WRONG WITH LAYING DOWN MY LIFE FOR SOMEONE I CARE ABOUT?!"
The ferocity of his reply momentarily stunned the chieftainess.
Tears gathered in her violet eyes.
His response made no sense; no, it baffled the warrior chief to the point of incredulity. They scarcely knew one another; indeed, only yesterday they'd nearly fought to the death. So why? Why go to such lengths for her? If she died then Diane would be free. Why risk his own life for hers? It was inconceivable. Yet...she wanted to live. She was a warrior. Destined to die on the battlefield. But that tiny, unhardened part of her heart still balked at the idea of her life ending. Even now the last of her strength abandoned her, taking with it her resolve and her strength. And yet...
...something awoke within her.
"Uzumaki Naruto...you truly are...an absolute fool...
"Tell me something I don't know, sister! Now, this is going to hurt!"
Snatching up a fallen blade from the battlefield, he inspected it for fractures of any sort. He admittedly knew little of field medicine, but he did remember this much. The poison couldn't be allowed to reach the rest of her body. With a grimace, he raised it high, testing its weight and balance. Diane realized what he intended at once and averted her eyes as he heated the blade with a jutsu. Still, the blond almost hesitated a moment. Wavered. It had to be a clean cut. He couldn't afford anything less. Neither could Matrona. If he botched this she might well perish on the spot or worse, suffer a long, wasting death unworthy of such a warrior.
'Like hell I'll fail! Absolutely not!'
Blue eyes narrowed to slits.
Then he cut down.
Hard.
Sheer agony burned Matrona's world white.
It was the worst pain she'd ever known, bar none.
For all her resolve, for all her strength, she still screamed.
A/N: Ohohohoho! Did I just do that? Whyyy, I think I did!
Poor Naruto. Now he'll wind up looking even more like Kaguya...
Now onto clarifications. Its heavily hinted here that Naruto isn't normal.
He also has an awful drawback to his newfound abilities that he can't control.
Those abilities taint him, make him more ruthless and exacting towards his enemies as a whole.
In short, his very PRESENCE corrupts those who aren't of stout heart and mind. At present, he isn't even aware of it. Prolonged contact with him will, quite literally, drive you mad. Gannon was only around him for a few MINUTES and he was already starting to panic and freak out. Folks like the Seven Deadly Sins and Matrona would be immune of course, seeing how they're stronger than most, and they've got good hearts. Others who aren't that strong, or those with wicked hearts already, well...you'll see.
As to pairings...hmm...Merlin...Guila...or, lets see...
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...
...Would You Kindly?
And of course enjoy the previews! What is happening?! Sheer madness, that's what! I also realized something. Why follow canon? If I'm going to tell a story about the Seven Deadly Sins and Naruto-two of my favorite animes of all time-then gosh darn it, I want to keep it interesting!
Bombshells coming soon! In no particular order...
(Previews!)
...allow me to travel with you."
Staaaaaare.
"What?! Stop looking at me like that! I merely wish to see more of the world!"
"Yes, yes, and here, ladies and gentlemen we have a prime example of a tsundere-
CRUNCH.
"Was that stomp really necessary, Matrona?"
"Hohohohoho! I felt that!"
"Gah?! Just who the hell are you?!"
"You may address me as Lord Escanor, demon."
With that, the blazing light of the sun filled Naruto's vision.
"You're sinners! Both of you!"
"And?"
"By order of the King of Liones, you're under arrest!"
"Oh, that's cute. Try and take us in then, if you're so brave!"
"Urk!"
"Yes! Let me see that terrified expression of yours!"
"M-M-Monster!"
"Funny. The only monster I see here is you." his hand tightened around their throat, clawed fingers squeezing relentlessly in spite of their frantic attempts to escape. "You tried to plunge everything into despair. That was your sin. From one demon to another...no one will miss you."
Despite their struggle his grip only intensified.
"Your soul is mine."
R&R~!