The Demon's Lover (Meliodas)

Chapter 43

Estarossa stands up as Meliodas stands next to Ayano with his arm around her waist.

"I apologies for calling you a coward" Estarossa says laughing "You are without a doubt, thee Meliodas. The son whom the current Demon King still speaks of, the demon whom even the four archangels fears and the older brother whom I looked up to"

"Don't give me that crap, Estarossa! Even you accept him, I won't! I absolutely will not!" Zeldris shouts trying to stand up "Meliodas! The only reason you even want the Demon King's power... Is so that you can dispel the curse that's been placed on you  and that woman, isn't it?!"

"That's right. That's why I came here, to take the power that our father, the Demon King, had lent to you" Meliodas answers "It's what will make Ayano happy as well as myself. Though, just now, I realized.. I hadn't expected it.. But even if I took that strength you've borrowed, it wouldn't have the power to free this curse"

"Shut up..." Zeldris punches the ground still trying to get up "Shut up!!" He gets up and goes to attack Meliodas "The one that's going to be Demon King... is me!!" 

Ayano puts her hand out and a barrier forms, knocking him back.

"You were already suppressed" Ayano says "don't further make a fool out of yourself"

Meliodas goes behind Zeldris, grabbing his right arm, placing it behind his back with his sword, "Zeldris.. I know the reason why you're so obsessed with becoming Demon King"

Ayano watches curiously as Meliodas whispers something to him before letting go of Zeldris.

"..Fine" Zeldris crosses his arms "I suppose I'll help you"

"Aya" Meliodas walks over and pulls her into his chest "don't worry, we're gonna break the curse"

Ayano smiles and hugs him "I know"

Meliodas nods and holds her with one arm before facing his brothers "When our father, the Demon King, decided to bring the vast, chaotic demon world under his reign... He split his own strength in half and granted it to his servant with the plan to take control all of it at once, but the power was so great that it could even threaten his own position. 

So our father devised a much more efficient method of controlling the demon world without ever granting any one person too much power. He split that power into 10 fragments and granted it to 10 warriors" Meliodas explains "Those warriors became the Ten Commandments"

"..not including me right?" Ayano asks

"Of course not" Meliodas replies "don't be stupid

Ayano looks annoyed

"Zeldris, Estarossa... I want you two to go recover all of the Commandments. With all of the commandments recovered, I will be able to gain power on par with the Demon King," Meliodas commands

"Ooo" Ayano looks bored "a shortcut"

"Is something like that even possible? Recovering the commandments?" Estarossa asks

Zeldris calls for the any recovered commandments and holds three commandments balls in his hand, "I've already collected the commandments from the traitor Gowther... Gloxinia... and Drole" he makes them disappear.

"Seriously! Lemme see!" Estarossa runs up like a child going for sweets. He leans into Zeldris, "How interesting... Hurry up and tell me how to recover them, too," He says and Zeldris looks at him frowning, "What's that face for? It never hurts to have more help around, right?"

Zeldris walks to Meliodas and Ayano

"But what are you planning to do, Meliodas? Gowther wasn't loyal to the Demon King, and neither were Gloxinia and Drole, so those were special cases, but, everyone else has sworn their fealty to the Demon King and has great loyalty to him... If they refuse, you won't be able to just take it" He says