Across the field, the Sins has collected together, everyone trying, with difficulty, to recover from the tremendous hit that had just been dealt. Not only that, but Hendrickson seemed absolutely unfazed by anything that had occurred- whether it be previous attacks or the damage you had dealt beforehand. He stood before them, black dots of demonic energy with the horrifying potential to kill anyone, or anything, they touch, spreading across their skin with impressive speed and torturing each of their cells as it murdered them without remorse or bias. The last second or two of their life would be ones of extreme and unimaginable pain- a burning and unholy death. Five of the six sins present were still recouping or trying to manage Hendrickson and assess the situation, while the sixth tried to defend the defenseless Holy Knights of Liones- attempting to protect them from the murderous orbs of the demon by countering it with her own demonic abilities and protecting them. However, you had found yourself in a tricky situation, now having been hit by one and attempting to not die from its power.

Your scream echoed loudly in the field- a scream which was seldom heard, even by your companions, which had been by your side for a considerable amount of time- although, only a small fraction in the grand scheme of your 3,000+ year life. Still, nevertheless, you were not one to scream- even if you felt immense pain. After those 2,964 years, you had been irregularly pain tolerant- even compared to Sins like Ban and Gowther.

Your scream very quickly caught the attention of three men- who all swerved their heads to find where it was originating from. All six of their orbs widened immediately, and without needing to consult one another or even spare a glance, they rushed over to your side. The girl who you had protected stared at you in horror- for you had truly just given up your life to save hers. She couldn't believe it. She thought you were just saying that to make her feel better. The girl, absolutely terrified and feeling extremely guilty, rushed to your side as well.

"Lady (y/n)!!" She shouted, alarmed and terrified for your wellbeing. She had learned much about you from a short, but knowledgeable interaction with Holy Knight Guila. You were her favorite Sin by far from the story she had been told- and even after slaughter of all of those Holy Knights, her friends. In fact, she looked up to you even more after that. How could one person be so powerful? She knelt by your side, already feeling anxiety swirling in her core as tears pricked at her eyes. "Lady (y/n!! Lady (y/n), please get up!!"

Your screaming hadn't ceased, and your skin was blackening with tremendous haste as the demonic power came into effect. As soon as Scarlet had knelt by your side, the three men came rushing over, all staring down at you, horrified.

"Fuck!" Meliodas shouted, unsheathing his sword as he stared down at you. His face was in a grimace- he could only imagine the agony you felt, if you had such a severe reaction. He raised his sword up, thoughts whirling. If he cut it off in just the right spot...

I can't believe I let her go... I'm such an idiot! He cursed himself, momentarily deterring his focus from his goal of stopping the spreading, Hasn't she been through enough?! And now, because she was bent on fighting Hendrickson and protecting the Knights and I gave into her, she might die!

King stared down at you with wide eyes. What was happening..? He wasn't as versed in the attacks of demons as you and the captain were, but from what had happened to the few Knights who had been hit, and how you were reacting, it was quite obvious that it was not good. He couldn't move- his entire body had frozen as he stared at you and the unfamiliar girl leaning over your screaming form. The only word that could escape his lips was a small mumble of your name, "(y/n)..?"

Now Ban... Ban was a unique case. For while Meliodas felt that he was guilty, and King was filled with tremendous dread- Ban absolutely knew this was his fault, and a feeling of despondence he had never felt- nor understood- washed over his mind in a wave of realization.

Why had he picked Elaine?

Was he truly going to risk losing his best friend for something that might not happen?

Was he truly going to risk losing you?

He would never admit it- but those two days where you guys had been together. Officially together. They were two of the best days of his otherwise miserable life. He wanted Elaine back- he wanted her back with all of his heart, and that would never change. He would always want her back. But... did he want her back to be him..? Or... did he want to be happy again... with you?

You breathed heavily, shrieks and loud groans of pain coming from your form as you shakily raised your non-dominant hand and slammed it downward, it open in a stiff, open-handed cut. It sliced through your upper bicep, cutting almost the entirety of your dominant arm off in one fell swoop. You gasped, your brain still wracking with the unbelievable pain you had just endured- even if it had been for a fraction of a second, it felt like an eternity. It was as though every one of your nerves had been set on fire, and was slowly- and very painfully- burning to a crisp. You lied back down on your back as demonic marking appeared and formed a new arm in seconds, watching as your old one- along with the sleeve of your cloak- turned black, charring and dying. Unrevivable. Incurable. Gone.

You chuckled breathily, still panting as you stared up at the sky. You vaguely noted the girl hovering over you, as well as your three comrades surrounding you in a sort of circle.

"Hey... what's your name...?" You breathed.

"S-Scarlet..." the girl mumbled, quickly wiping away a tear that had fallen.

"Cool name... your parents must be... pretty smart," you chuckled, turning and grinning at her as you heaved. "D'be a real shame if they didn't get to call you that again."

"Lady (y/n)..." her face scrunched up, more tears threatening, quite persuasively, to fall- you had truly just risked your life for her. For what? All because you had supposedly murdered her? (It sounds very extreme, I'm aware, but she had downplayed it in her head so much, you would think she was talking about you accidentally bumping into her, then apologizing profusely).

"(Y/N)!" Ban exclaimed, running up to you. Your face immediately hardened. You couldn't take it. You couldn't take him. Not right now. You had almost just died- you weren't about to allow him to ruin such a heartfelt moment between you and this girl.

"Fuck off, Ban."

Your voice was stony, and had a strong subtext very, very prominent anger. Meliodas and King glared at him- they knew. Scarlet also glared- not because she knew what he had done, but because he was pissing off someone she very much looked up to. Ban was taken aback. It had been awhile since you had addressed him by his name (in a serious fashion) and not one of your ridiculous nicknames. For the first time, he realized how much he enjoyed it when you called him 'Tree Legs' or 'Gigantor'.

It was also when he truly realized how hurt you were by his choice.

His inner turmoil was raging. How devoted was he to Elaine? How much did he truly want her back? Did he really want her over you?

"(Y/N)!" King spoke immediately after a good few moments of collective glaring at the Fox Sin. He rushed to your side, reaching down to help you stand. You waved him off, getting to your feet with relative ease- you weren't a child or a weakling, a simple attack and a few moments of pain couldn't knock you down for more than a second or two. After screaming for what felt like so long, you were still trying to catch your breath, though.

It had been awhile since you used your voice in such a way, give yourself a break.

"Are you okay? What happened?" He demanded.

You chuckled sheepishly, "Y'know those death-dot thingies..? Well I may or may not have been hit by one while trying to protect her..."

You pointed your finger in the direction of the small, red-haired girl beside you. She huffed, mumbling to herself about how you shouldn't have done so, as she looking over your new arm and glanced at your old, discarded one. She noted how muscular you were for a woman such as yourself. Meliodas and King stared at you, and spoke with simultaneous anger and older-sibling protectiveness.

"You what?"

"I nothing-of-importance'd, that's what," you huffed, crossing your arms and puffing your cheeks out. You began to walk toward the battlefield with Hendrickson once again. "Now, lets go fight a mean guy-!"

"Uh, no, hold your fuckin' horses, there," Meliodas grumbled, grabbing onto your hood and stopping you from walking. You made a pouty face, turning to look at him. Ban glared- never would he admit it, but he enjoyed that face only when it was directed at him.

God, what the fuck's wrong with me? Why am I having second thoughts now?

"Oh come ooooonnnnnn," You whined, gazing childishly at the short blonde, "I'm not a kid. I'm alive, see! All's well, that ends well!"

"You're sure acting like a kid," Meliodas said bluntly, making that 'stupid' face he always makes. He stared up at you, and you swatted him in the head. He grinned, "My point has been proved."

"Oh shut u-" You started, but you were cut off by a massive outpouring of magical power. Everyone turned in the direction of its origin, finding several Holy Knights attacking a singular source- who you all assumed, correctly, was Hendrickson.

"Overpower!"

"Gale Sword: Ring!"

"Killer Iceberg!"

"Thea's Will!"

"Blizzard Excel!"

"Arsenal Outpour!"

"Undergrowth!"

"Brilliant Detonation!"

"Iron Hammer of the Thunder Emperor!"

The booming noise of Gilthunder's voice, followed by the equally as powerful shout of his thunderous attack shook the ground, finishing the wave of powerful attacks that had surged one after the other at Hendrickson. Surely, they all believed, that finished him off. If the powers of several formidable Holy Knights couldn't finish him off, what could? The Eight Deadly Sins sat in the back of their minds, but they knew the six of you were weakened. At your full power, this would've been child's play, but now? It was questionable as to what the outcome would be.

Out of the dust that resonated from all of their attacks came Hendrickson, his skin gray and veiny and his eyes dark and unfeeling. He came prancing toward the large group of Holy Knights, staring with his head cocked to the side, but without any emotion painted upon his features. His body and magical signature were terrifying, sure, but his presence and the ominous aura of his gaze made it seem much worse than it truly was.

"He is not dead, but we as Knights have an obligation! We shall protect our kingdom with our lives, as we are the legendary Holy Knights of the Kingdom of Liones! Each of us has the power of more than one-thousand men! Let us prove this true!" Gilthunder's voice rang out over the army of Holy Knights, who now seemed unsure of their chances after their first onslaught failed.

"Stop!" Meliodas's voice boomed much louder than Gilthunder's as he stepped forward, approaching Hendrickson. Gowther and Diane had now joined you, King, Ban, and the captain, prepared to face the threat before you. The captain had to speak but a few words to convey his point- and while they seemed to form just a normal phrase, they were a surge of hope to every Holy Knight that stood in the large field of destroyed homes and the remains of the Castle of Liones.

"We'll handle this."