Zeldris stood outside, gazing at the Demon Realm, lost in contemplation.
He didn't want to say anything to Gelda, like usual for Zeldris when it comes to things like dreams. They never bothered him much before, but now they feel different. Like something incredibly wrong, because he keeps seeing them again.
Galland. Melascula. Both with changed forms. Galland had seemingly ditched his suit and became bulky with greyish skin showing. Melascula had changed her hair to black and her clothing was newer.
In a pitch-black void, their once boastful and confident selves now silent and tranquil. Just remaining still as they stared at him with large bound grins. Even for Galland with his unusual expressions, his smile to Zeldris was beyond unnatural. For hours in his deep sleep, Zeldris felt as if his legs had become stone. Unable to move or even speak to the deceased demons, only growing more and more unnerved and confused with them doing the same. Silent, not moving. Same thing for 12 nights in a row now.
What torments Zeldris' mind the most is trying to find the reason why. Why, sixteen years after the Holy War finally ended, has Zeldris' slumber been bombarded with dreams of his once comrades? He pounds the castle wall, snapping himself back to reality. He wipes away the sweat from his face with his hand, takes a deep breath. Perhaps his mind is being influenced by the amount of grievances in his soul; it hasn't been long since the beloved Percival had gone away. For the first time in his centuries-long life, his heart has been completely crushed. However, his position still stands. He can't stop working to keep the Demons' spirits up as the king. To make the Chaos Army pay.
He can deal with petty nightmares a different day.
It was near night and the higher ranked Demons had gathered in a room for a specific meeting. Zeldris was planning what the demons were to do to continue fighting the Chaos Knights with the Six Knights of Black. Though not exactly at the level of the Ten Commandments in terms of power, they were a relatively useful crew. Schwarz was enrolled as their captain; both him and Zeldris held a strong sense of respect for each other. Good news was told as the brainwashed demons Arthur had held for almost a month had been freed and successfully returned safely. However, Zeldris' eyes had unusually shot open widely when he heard Schwarz recall something that Percival had told him. Galland and Melascula were reportedly revived by Chaos. Forced by brainwashing to fight against the Four Knights of the Apocalypse, only to be slain in combat once more. Zeldris sat still, only listening as the same picture repeated in his head. Galland, Melascula. Just staring at him. Zeldris once again shook it off, trying to keep focused. "Schwarz. You said they were killed once more?" He asked cautiously. "It's unfortunate, my lord but yes. They were merely puppets for this "King Arthur" to control." Schwarz responded.
King...Arthur?
The name alone sounded familiar enough. He thought back to the days during the takeover of Camelot. A day after Meliodas had been stripped of his emotions, Camelot Castle had been entered by a young man. The true ruler of the kingdom in fact. Arthur, one who had thought he could beat the highest ranking demons, was dealt with long ago by Cusack's ability.
What exactly did Arthur have to do with Chaos?
The meeting passed with few but perhaps necessary actions to take. They needed to strike back hard if anyone associated with Chaos returned.
Zeldris once again tried to push the thoughts of his dreams out of his mind but now, it's all he could think about. What were the two commandments doing in his dreams before he even found out about their apparent revival?! "Zel." He heard his lover call out from behind; "Please lie down, you've been quite pale since speaking with the Knights of Black.". "...Yes." Zeldris murmured. He slipped into bed, alongside his beloved Gelda. "What's gotten you so troubled? This doesn't seem like you at all." Gelda asked, starting to stroke his hair. His usual stubborn restraint on showing fear was starting to slip and she only wanted to know why.
They were alone in the room, it was quiet. Just enough for Zeldris to finally let out his grievances. "For two weeks...I've been having this same dream every night. I'm in this pitch black darkness, unable to move. Right ahead of me is my old comrades that Schwarz mentioned. Galland of Truth and Melascula of Faith. Both just smiling as they look at me with these cold stares. It's just them being mentioned after 12 nights of this same dream; it just creeped me out." Zeldris explained. "Why are they appearing in your dreams in particular? From our talks from back then, you didn't seem to think too much of them." Gelda said. "I...I know..." Zeldris muttered, looking to the side. "Zel?" The vampire uttered. Zeldris didn't respond, he no longer wanted to speak on this. Gelda slowly grabbed his chin and pulled his view back over to her. "Zel, things like this have been happening since our dear Percival departed. Could it perhaps have something to do with your nightmares?" Gelda asked. Zeldris then hesitated to speak, much less breathe.
However he was able to release just a little. "I don't know, Gelda. I really don't know." He squeezed out. Gelda wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. "Try to get some sleep, Zel. The storm in your mind will eventually pass through with time." Gelda assured. Zeldris nodded slowly, giving his lover once last squeeze before the two broke away to begin their rest.
Zeldris took a deep breath, releasing it as he shut his eyes.
His vision faded into darkness, then converted into back that darkness. He was back in this same nightmare.
The black void-like area had stayed unchanged, once again filled with this sense of emptiness. Zeldris' eyes turned left to right, for once taking the time to take in his surroundings. It was cold, the air was heavy which made it difficult to even breathe, along with this never ending feeling of being watched.
However, what had caught Zeldris' attention the most was that for the first time in these strange dreams, he was able to move. His usual petrified joints were able to bend. Curious, he took one step, then took another. It was as if he was learning how to walk again; kinda pathetic but there he went. For the first time, he was making his way through the endless darkness.
He treaded for what seemed like hours. His eyes not seeing anything; his ears not hearing anything but his own footsteps echoing throughout the distance. He took another look down at his feet to see what he was even walking on. He clenched his fists in frustration as he realized the ground as dark as the sky. However, Zeldris stopped moving entirely when he noticed his sudden change in appearance. The black ashy like outfit he wears as the Demon King had vanished. What replaced it was his old crimson red body suit, fit with the metal gloves. His old outfit? "What the..."
Heavy thuds suddenly pounded behind him, fiercely stepping across the ground. He turned quickly to see what it was but all his eyes caught was once again the endless darkness. "Who's there?" He called out. No response. Now that he knows he isn't alone, his guard is raised higher than ever as his eyes dart left to right. A sudden woosh in the wind from behind tickled his ears, making him look the other direction. Once again, nothing in sight. "Galland?! Melascula?! I know someone's there! Show yourself this instant!" He called out loudly, his voice echoing through out the air. All was then silent, both Zeldris and the ambience.
FLASH! A beacon of light flashed above Zeldris. It was almost blinding how quick a
The quietness was then slowly beginning to fade with giant thuds coming from the north. Pound, pound, pound the sounds made. From the darkness stepped not Galland nor Melascula but what seemed like something else entirely. It towered over him, this abomination. A mix of his once comrades' features. A merged being of Galland and Melascula. The main body and legs were Galland's but the chest was instead a giant head with his face smiling widely. To the side just slightly below, there was Melascula's head alone; it stared deep into Zeldris despite the fact her eyes being what seemed like a separate black void of their own. Two arms, one muscular and built with pulsating veins while the other being what Galland's used to be. On top was its own kind of monstrous. A multitude of Melascula's arms in various gestures with her torso straight in the middle, physically attached. The head on it was instead that of her snake form's. At the back, it was her snake tail, seemingly ready to snap at Zeldris. It stared down at the demon, almost lifeless in its posture but Zeldris couldn't resist feeling the aura coming from it.
He stood stiff, matching the being with the same intensity. His heart started to pound, this feeling of uneasiness matched with the idea of this thing being possible was throwing him into putting his guard more up. "You like what I've created?" A voice said calmly from behind. Zeldris quickly turned to see a familiar orange haired young man, "Arthur...".
"I'm glad to see you remember me, Zeldris." He said with a smirk; "After all, I could never forget about you." Zeldris didn't once take his eyes off the man before him, knowing full well of the threat he posed. "So you're the one behind these dreams of mine." Zeldris stated. "Certainly. That way I get to see you front and center with no pestering from other demons." Arthur explained. "Then why use Galland and Melascula? What the hell did you do to them?" Zeldris asked.
"Used them a calling card for you which obviously worked. As for the being behind you, I call it "Mela-Galland". One of my personal favorites of my creations." Arthur explained, nearly chuckling as he spoke; "For being such disposable weapons, they make quite the appearance when merged together, wouldn't you say?" Zeldris didn't respond, just kept to his thoughts. Arthur, however, continued on with his enjoyment of his work; his words seeping with a satisfaction filled sense of superiority. "Your nephew made quick work of it in battle but it was quite the display. Seems Mela-Galland took on the sacrifices' tendency to cower at the thought of painful death." Arthur analyzed.
"What do you want with me?" Zeldris interrupted, having enough. The smirk dropped from Arthur's face, solidifying the annoyance now showing in his eyes. "What do I want?" He repeated rhetorically. He took a deep breath, calming himself as he only laughed lightly. "What I was is proper compensation. From the Ten Commandments. From you, Zeldris." Arthur stated. Zeldris knew what that implied but he needed to know more. "What are you planning?" He asked.
"Well, I was thinking one day about how my conquering of Britannia shall be done. I had my planning taken care off, I gathered a brave army of those ready to do what needs to be done, and lastly, my goal front and center. However, there were some separate thoughts that I had endlessly bothering me." Arthur explained, starting to waltz around as he spilled his thoughts. Zeldris followed suit. Both walked around each other, keeping distance as Arthur continued. "Things like how I failed to protect my kingdom from Galland's attack, from your takeover, from Mael's destructive force. How unfair that you all got off so easily, despite all that you've done."
As Zeldris thought. Arthur was here for him. "If this is for revenge for everything that happened in the war, why revive the dead?" Zeldris asked, his voice raising. "To put it simply, people such as yourself haven't face the true retribution you all deserve. I may despise all races that trample upon humans but I do believe in atonement, and I'm going to make sure you all go through every last bit of it."
Thud! Thud! Mela-Galland finally makes a move from behind Zeldris, throwing a punch. Zeldris quickly dodged and lunged forward, kicking Mela-Galland back a far distance. He turned to Arthur, then sprouting wings of darkness. He flew forward at high speed to ram into Arthur. However, the Chaos King's focus didn't falter as he grabbed his sword and swiftly sliced Zeldris' chest open. Zeldris fell to the ground, then quickly getting back up despite his injury. Arthur then waved his hand, the ground below suddenly turned into water. The darkness turning to waves, the waves turning into hands trying to grab the demon. Zeldris quickly flew up to avoid them but was met with Arthur above to slash him once again with his sword. Zeldris fell back down for the watery arms to grab him.
They pulled him down to the then formed ocean, submerging him with their grip. The second the water touched his wounds, the danger he was in was truly realized. He wasn't giving up yet! With all the energy he could muster, he boosted up from the water but only so far with the water grabbing onto his body with all its might. Arthur flew down from the air. Zeldris could see it all in his cathartically enhanced smile, he was enjoying this. Arthur flew down further, then grabbing onto Zeldris by the back of the head. With little effort, he forced Zeldris back into the water but this time, being kept there by Arthur.
Zeldris thrashed all he could within the Chaos King's grasp but nothing was working. He couldn't hold onto his breath for much longer as it slipped out through his mouth and nose. This is it. He can't escape from the man holding him down. His lungs were starting to fill with water...
Gelda, as she slumbered, started to feel a tiny stream of water touching her cheek. Then another. Then two more. Her eyes crept open in confusion only for them to shoot open when she saw Zeldris thrashing about. Water shooting from his mouth, nose, and even his eyes. "ZEL!" She screamed. She shaked him around, trying to find the source
of the attack on her lover. She then saw his eyes, it was barely moving. Zeldris was barely able to fightin his dream, he was still asleep but dying! She knew what to do then, she moved to his neck and bit down. Once his blood was in her system once more, they were connected. With it, she was then able to enter his mind...
She entered the void, seeing the void Zeldris had described to her. Although to her, it didn't seem like they were in some illusion thought up in the mind. It felt like an entirely new world itself. She looked down to see Arthur drowning Zeldris, whose thrashing was drawing to an end. She flew down quickly, reaching a hand out to grab Zeldris. To her surprise, Arthur had suddenly let go to her take him but his attention was now on her.
This being she never met, Arthur stared deep in her soul as if he knew everything about her. His face wasn't even human like to her. His eyes wide and obsessed with seeing the agony before him, his smile showing his inner joy. She grabbed Zeldris lifting him out of the water and with that...
Zeldris and Gelda were now awake, free from the nightmare. Zeldris rolled out of bed, falling onto his knees with arms in support. Zeldris could do nothing but regurgitate the water he was drowning in. A total of five long miserable heaves before he could finally breath completely again. His eyes were bloodshot red with the vessels noticeable. His heart pounding intensely as Zeldris rolled over, then laying on his back. Gelda picked his head up gently, her face filled with panicked worry. "Zel, who was that?! Who was drowning you in your dream?" Gelda exclaimed. "...Arthur." Zeldris murmured. "Who?"
"King Arthur. King of Chaos...and it wasn't a dream. He took me to an entirely new world." Zeldris explained, taking heavy breaths. "Zel...what does he want?" Gelda asked. "...he's coming for me, Gelda."
"He's coming for the Ten Commandments."
