After Gustaf fell unconscious, Monroe glanced over her shoulder as Guila appeared behind her while ready to attack. However, before Guila could bring her rapier forward to send an explosion at Monroe, her rapier was jerked back by an unseen force. Monroe blinked seeing Ban there using Snatch to pull at Guila's rapier, but the Holy Knight held tightly to her weapon.
"Sorry about that," Ban said. "Gotta stop ya right there."
"Ban!" Meliodas exclaimed.
Now they were all back together besides Elizabeth and Hawk who were hopefully somewhere safe by now. Oh, and King.
"It's Ban the Fox Sin," Guila said. "Could you kindly let go of my rapier?"
"Hey, I take offense at that, Lady," Ban said. "I'm not touching anything of yours."
He then curled his middle finger, which tugged on Guila's weapon much harder. Guila had to use two hands to keep hold of the weapon, but she didn't let go.
"Oh, I see." Guila said. "This is your magical ability: Snatch. Very well. I'll give you something more appropriate for a sneaky thief like yourself."
She sent a small explosion his way that sent him flying backwards. He crashed into the ground while gagging out blood as his wounds healed. Guila walked towards him as Monroe frowned.
'I know they don't have their sacred treasures, but they're stronger than this,' Monroe thought. 'Why are they holding back?'
"I had heard you were indestructible, but that should keep even you out of the fight for a little while." Guila said to Ban.
She then had to dodge Meliodas as he tried to kick her feet from out from underneath her. He then went to force her to use her power on him, but she just smirked before letting out a small burst of smoke, which blinded Meliodas. He was then sent flying by one of her explosions which sent him right into Diane's bosom when the giant girl tried to catch him.
"Even if your Full Counter can potentially guard against all my attacks and reflect them, it still doesn't pose a threat to me if you can't anticipate their direction and timing." Guila said looking rather smug.
Guila then had to dodge an attack from Monroe, who had sheathed her weapon, and went to go for her head. Ban watched as Monroe threw her fist forward to punch Guila, but Guila moved back then sent an explosion Monroe's way. Monroe jumped back to avoid the brunt of the attack, but still ended a little burned. Monroe didn't seem to concerned with the minor injury as she and Guila watched each other closely.
"Oh, finished with Gustaf already?" Guila asked. "Where is he, hmm?"
Monroe silently pointed in the direction she left Gustaf's body as it was starting to disappear, which meant he was returning to the other plane.
"I see," Guila said. "Seems a little lineate of you though. Leaving him alive."
"Would you rather I kill you?" Monroe questioned. "It can be arranged. Though doing so would leave Zeal without his sister. Do you really want that? Didn't you become a Holy Knight to protect him?"
Guila's expression shifted from the smug smiling one it had been to a tense one. Her lips turned down and her brow furrowed as she remembers telling Monroe about her brother. It was the day she was introduced to her.
—FLASHBACK—
"Guila, this is Monroe." Hendrickson told the ravenette as he pointed to Monroe. "A former pupil of mine."
Monroe, who was taking a break from her training, looked up at Hendrickson with a slight frown on her face. Before turning her blue eyes to Guila. Her gaze softened slightly as her brow quirked curiously.
"Monroe, this is Guila." Hendrickson told his former student. "She's one of our new apprentices."
Monroe nodded to the ravenette as she sat her sword down to the side to lean against the wall next to her.
"She'll be given to Helbram for most of her training, but I was hoping you could give her a few lessons." Hendrickson. "With your flexible swordplay and unique fighting style, I think you'd be an excellent challenge for her. Someone she could learn a lot from."
Monroe didn't reply at first as she looked the girl up and down. It was enough to make Guila want to squirm. She's heard a lot about Monroe. There weren't a lot of female knights and out of those few, only Monroe has reached the Diamond Rank.
"And why do you want to become a Holy Knight, Guila?" Monroe asked. "Power? Prestige?"
"I want to protect my younger brother," Guila replied. "His name is Zeal."
Monroe tilted her head to the side at the reply before her expression changed entirely as a smile broke across her face. Guila was a bit stunned to see the happy form of expression.
"I see," Monroe said then started heading for the training circle. "Let's get started then, shall we?"
—END OF FLASHBACK—
For two years, Guila would go and see Monroe once or twice a week for more lessons. Never once did Guila beat her. Never once did Guila ever make her break a sweat. It had been so frustrating, but now things were different.
"I don't think you need worry," Guila said as she held her weapon out in front of her. "I'm not the same person you used to beat during training. I'm stronger now."
"Oh, is that so?" Monroe said. "Then are you just holding back or what? Come on, show me what you've got."
She motioned Guila forward and while the girl acted calm and collection, Monroe knew better. This next attack would definitely be a big one. A desperate show of power to try and get Monroe to hesitate. Because that's just how Guila was; full of insecurities and if she's backed into a corner, she'll lash out with everything she has to try and gain more control.
"Very well," Guila said as her lips turned up into a smile. "Now take this: Bomb Shock!"
She threw a giant flare at Monroe who prepared to receive. However, she was snatched up by Diane who tucked her and Meliodas against her chest and curled up.
"Diane, what are you doing?" Monroe demanded.
Though before the giantess could reply the explosion went off with a monstrous amount of power.
'Guila, wasn't hold back with that one,' Monroe realized. 'I might have actually gotten an injury from that one.'
The smoke from the explosion then started to clear as Diane loosen her hold on the younger girl and Meliodas.
"And what do we have here?" Guila questioned. "Even if my explosion wasn't at full power, I'm impressed you didn't just go flying with the pressure wave."
Monroe frowned wishing Diane had just let her handle it. She understands her friend was probably just trying to protect her, but she could have taken care of it.
"The strength of you giants is truly something to behold." The woman said.
Diane ignored Guila's words as she looked down at Monroe and Meliodas who were still in her grasp.
"Hey, Captain, Roe, are you two okay?" Diane asked.
"Yeah, thanks a lot, Diane," Meliodas said.
"I appreciate it, but I had it." Monroe added as she jumped down from Diane's hold.
Diane apologized though she was just glad Monroe was okay. That attack looked like it really could have hurt, and Diane didn't want to take the chance.
"If you were going to take the hit, you could have shielded me a little." Ban complained.
"No," Diane said with a shake of her head.
Ban rolled his eyes then looked to Monroe when she held out her hand to him. He took it and allowed her to help him up.
"Captain, I'm not going to make it," Diane told the blonde dramatically as she sat him on his feet. "Send me off with a sweet kiss."
Monroe gave Diane a deadpanned expression at her little act as Ban smirked and wiped the blood from his body after his wounds healed.
"Just rest a little," Meliodas brushed Diane off. "You'll be okay."
Diane pouted as Guila looked at this band of misfits with a bit of disappointment on her face.
"This is the legendary order?" Guila asked as Meliodas and Ban prepared to fight.
She then stiffened when the boys ran forward. Monroe frowned as Guila easily defended against them. Guila even managed to stab Ban through the neck causing him to cough up blood. She looked as if she might use explosion on the sin, but then Chastiefol stabbed Ban through the chest to blow her backwards. Ban coughed up even more blood as he looked back to see King standing on his weapon as it remained in Ban's chest.
"Hello, Ban." King greeted.
Monroe frowned with a sigh leaving her lips. King had to have a better way to step in than that.
"Now, come on." Ban complained. "What's the big ideal, King?"
"Well, isn't it obvious?" King retorted. "I'm here to save you."
'And the first thing he does is stab Ban through the chest to get to the target?' Monroe thought in exasperation. 'Was King always so ruthless?'
Monroe decided not to give it much thought since she was already getting a headache. This entire day was one frustration after another.
"Well, isn't that special?" Ban mocked with a condescending smirk. "Thanks a lot, Pal."
"Oh, think nothing of it." King said. "Anything for the Captain and Diane. And Roe too, of course."
"I see." Ban said. "But not for me though, huh?"
"No, not really." King said. "But my sister cares about you a lot."
Before Ban could reply, Guila blasted herself out of the debris of crystal King had left her in, which brought the group back to the matter at hand.
"Whoa," Ban said in sarcastic awe.
He still didn't seem too worried about the spear in his chest as Guila stood up.
"It's true your betrayal isn't completely unsuspected." Guila said. "Yet, King the Grizzly Sin, I am rather disappointed."
"Well, that's an unexpected thing to say to me." King said as he shrugged. "I didn't ever swear I'd be your life long partner in whatever your plans were. The realm wanted to defeat the Seven Deadly Sins, and I wanted to see Ban destroyed. We had mutual interests for a while, but that's no longer the case."
"Blah-dy-blah-dy-blah." Ban cut in. "I'm really tired of you walking behind my back."
Not to mention it was slightly uncomfortable having a spear rammed through his chest.
"Poor King," Guila mocked as the end of her rapier started to smoke. "An entirely predictable excuse."
She then put flaming orbs in the air with the use of her weapon, which didn't set well with Monroe.
"Shot Bomb!" She called out while sending the flaming orbs at the group.
King just moved his finger forward with his Chastiefol flying out of Ban's chest opening his wound even more. Monroe reached out to steady him as King quickly used Chastiefol to deflect the bombs before they could get too close to the group. After the bombs were taken care of, Chastiefol stopped its fast pace spinning rotations.
"How magnificent." Guila said. "The Spirit Spear Chastiefol. Forged from the Holy Tree located in the Fairy Realm. More durable than steal. Possessing the awesome powers of the Holy Tree itself. Your magical ability can summon all those properties—Disaster."
Chastiefol stopped at its master's side as King was looking at the Holy Knight unimpressed.
"This should make things a bit more interesting." She said while pointing her rapier at them. "Please, feel free to attack me five on one."
Monroe scoffed because she highly doubted, they would need to do that. One Sin alone was enough to deal with her. However, three out of the four here were dicking around for some reason. But now King, who has actually kept his sacred treasure like a good boy, is here, and is more than enough to defeat Guila. And he definitely wouldn't play around.
"No," King said as he floated past the others towards Guila. "One-on-one will do."
Guila looked skeptical as she tilted her head to the side to look at King. Though it was hard to tell if she was really looking since her eyes were so squinted it looked as if they were closed. In fact, they might be.
"Seriously?" She asked.
Ban and Meliodas exchanged a glance before seeming to just give the situation a shrug. Meliodas sheathed his weapon with a smile before he and Ban sat down.
"Alright, King, go for it!" Meliodas cheered on.
"You know, I'll kick your ass if you lose." Ban added.
He then looked at Monroe as she sat down next to him to watch the fight about to happen.
"Aw, Captain, a kiss before I slip away," Diane begged.
All she got was a pat on the cheek from Monroe as the group of three in front of her only seemed concerned with King's fight. This had Diane pouting a bit, but she was curious as to how the fight would go as well.
"As you wish," Guila said with a chuckle as she held out her rapier. "So, whenever you're—!"
She never finished her sentence as King sent Chastiefol forward. The weapon sliced through Guila's hair as a cut appeared on her cheek. Monroe could tell from her body language that the younger knight was starting to realize her mistake in underestimating King.
"Now, that's no good." King said. "Try to dodge a little."
He sent Chastiefol back at Guila who barely had time to dodge the attack. The spear hit the ground hard and with enough force to crush the crystal and send it flying. If it had hit Guila, she would have lost this match in an instant. King didn't give Guila much time to think as he sent Chastiefol back at the young knight. Guila had to struggle to parry his attacks as he simply moved his hand to control his weapon. As she kept losing, Monroe could see the desperation grown on her face. And knew what was coming next.
"Brilliant Detonation!" Guila said as a large flaming orb appeared above her head.
This had Ban and the others looking a little nervous, but King didn't seem nervous at all.
"Don't like that." Ban said as he moved to stand up while pulling Monroe with him.
The large flaming orb broke into a hundred or so smaller ones to start firing down at the group. King remained calm even as the orbs got closer.
"Chastiefol, Fifth Configuration," King ordered with his weapon transforming into a hundred or so spearheads. "Increase."
He snapped his fingers, which sent the spearheads forward to set the small bombs off sooner, so they couldn't reach the group. Monroe stared up in awe since she's never seen one of the Sins going all out up close before. She's never seen the sins truly battle. She's seen them get into tussles or battles that they ended without having to use their full strength, so she's never seen anything like this before. Monroe then watched as King rained those spearheads down on Guila who couldn't be moving after something like that.
"Hey!" Hawk called out as he and Elizabeth joined the party. "You were raising a ruckus!"
"Nobody got hurt did they?" Elizabeth asked.
"We're all good." Meliodas answered for the group as Diane and Ban smiled at the princess and their brave Captain of Scrap Disposal. "There's no need to worry."
Elizabeth looked relieved to hear that as Hawk came to a stop, so she could climb off his back.
"I'm so glad." Elizabeth said.
Before anyone could become too relaxed, Guila was miraculously able to stand out of the ruble, and she didn't appear to be too happy, which had the group stiffening.
"At a range as close as this," Guila began as she charged at King. "Not even the power of the Spirit Spear can save you from me."
However, before Guila could reach King, Meliodas got between Guila and her target to use his Full Counter against her.
"Back at ya." Meliodas asked.
Guila gasped in shock then had to take the attack head on as it hit her with twice the amount of force. As the explosion engulfed her, Monroe could sense Guila's presence disappearing.
"I can't sense Guila anymore." Diane said.
"The force of that blast probably sent her back to the living world," Elaine said as she appeared beside Ban and Monroe. "You all came here as flesh and blood, but she and her friend only seemed to be here in spirit only."
Hawk then started freaking out as he started realizing that his ears were disappearing. The others noticed the same was happening to them as well, which had Hawk and Elizabeth worried.
'Time to go back,' Monroe realized as she willed her body to start its return to the land of the living.
As a member of the Apostles, she could stay here as long as she wanted, but if she didn't start returning with the others, it'd raise questions.
"The Necropolis senses that you don't belong here," Luigi said as he and Ellen appeared. "So, now it's beginning to push everyone out."
The group—besides Monroe—looked at the two children as they stood before them glowing.
"That was great." Luigi added. "You saw who you hoped too."
"What are the two of you doing here?" Ban asked.
"Hold it, do you mean you were from here this whole time?" King questioned.
The two kids just smiled in reply, but that was enough to answer Ban and King's questions.
"The cooking you did for us was really yummy." Ellen said to Ban. "Thank-you so much."
"Sure." Ban said with a soft look in his eyes.
Monroe smiled as she looked up at Ban's face with his expression making it seem as if he was at ease. As if a burden had been lifted while they were here. This of course, reminded her of why he had wanted to come here. Monroe looked to Elaine as the same time as Ban as the fairy girl smiled.
"It was good to see you, Ban." Elaine said.
"Later, Elaine." Ban said in reply.
Elaine nodded before looking to King who was looking to the side with a bothered expression.
"Thank-you, brother." Elaine said to King.
King whirled around to try and speak with his sister, but it was too late. He disappeared with the group. Monroe stayed behind a few more moments as she and Elaine turned towards each other.
"So, you must be the reason why Ban is immortal." Monroe said. "I don't know the whole story, but if you were the maiden guarding the fountain of youth and you're here and Ban is alive and unkillable, you must have saved him."
Which would explain why Ban was so eager to see Elaine. Why he wanted to come to the Necropolis no matter what.
"Yes," Elaine replied with a nod. "A demon attacked the forest and no matter what myself and my husband tried, we couldn't win. Eventually Elénaril fell at the hands of the demon. Ban tried desperately to save me, but we both ended up on the brink of death. He insisted I take the fountain and save myself, but I lived a long life and found love."
Monroe gave the fairy a sympathetic look when seeing a sad expression fall over her face for a brief moment. Though Elaine shook her head to push away such sad thoughts.
"Ban hadn't had such a joy like that, and I knew how much he wanted to find at least one thing in his life to make him truly happy." Elaine continued. "It's why he had come for the fountain in the first place, so I forced him to drink it. If one of us was to be saved, I wanted it to be him, so he could keep living to find someone he could love just as much as I love Elénaril. I'm happy to see that he has."
She smiled at Monroe as she spoke, and the younger girl blushed at what Elaine was implying.
"I think you're mistaken," Monroe said as she shook her head. "Ban doesn't…he'd never see me in such a way."
She looked down sadly as she said this but looked back up as Elaine floated in front of her and placed her hand on Monroe's shoulder.
"Ban loves you…more than you know." Elaine assured the silverette. "You'll see it eventually, which is why you need to tell him how you feel and what that mark on your neck means."
Monroe absently reached up to touch the mark on her neck at Elaine's words.
"He won't reject you, so you have nothing to fear." Elaine told Monroe. "Not matter what happens, Ban will stay at your side because the person who means the most to Ban in this entire world is…you."
"Even if you are correct, there's so much going on right now." Monroe said. There isn't time for such things."
Elaine looked softly at the troubled girl before blinking when Monroe suddenly smiled.
"It is good to finely meet you though," Monroe said. "I've heard so much about you from Elénaril, I feel like I've known you for a long time, Elaine. I hope we can talk again sometime."
"Yes," Elaine said as she smiled as well. "I would like that."
Monroe then disappeared in a flash of light to return to the plane of the living. Once back with the others, she blinked in confusion when seeing Meliodas drawing on the face of Guila as she was sitting against a tree tied up with Gustaf—unconscious.
"What are you doing?" Monroe questioned with a tilt of her head.
The group whirled around to look at her as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Mo, there you are~" Ban said. "What took you so long?"
Monroe couldn't look the man in the eye as Elaine's words rang through her head. It was almost enough to make her blush, but she ignored the heating of her cheeks as she tried to act natural.
"I'm not sure," Monroe lied. "Elaine wished to speak with me. Maybe it's because of that that it took me longer to return?"
Ban tilted his head as he wondered what Elaine could have wanted to say to Monroe. Before he could ask, Monroe kept talking.
"Now, back to my previous question." Monroe said as she looked pointedly at Meliodas.
"Nothing," Meliodas said grinning. "Just making sure they can't come after us."
Monroe's brow quirked because Meliodas had to know rope couldn't hold Holy Knights long. But she shrugged in the end.
"Whatever makes you happy, I suppose." Monroe said.
Monroe then looked to Gustaf knowing the fool might come after again—thinking he can save her from the path she has chosen. She sighed while taking her sword off her waist. The others watched curiously as Monroe stabbed the sword—sheath and all—into the ground between Gustaf and Guila. Elizabeth gasped.
"Monroe, what are you doing?" Elizabeth questioned. "Father gave you that sword."
"Yes, he did." Monroe said nodding. "His majesty gifted me this sword once I became a Holy Knight. It was—is—the greatest honor I have ever received. This sword marks my beginning as a Holy Knight. Let it—for now—mark my end as one. Gustaf and Guila will take this back with them, and hopefully it will deter anyone else from coming after me thinking they can save me. The fewer Holy Knights—Holy Knights I fought alongside of—I have to fight the better in my opinion."
Elizabeth brows furrowed while understanding why Monroe was doing this, but she also knew it had to be hard for Monroe to leave her sword like this. She had been so happy when Bartra had given her that sword. It had brought such a joyous smile to Monroe face that people hadn't seen in so long.
"I will get it back," Monroe assured Elizabeth. "But after all this is over."