The Nymph's Redemption: Acantha's Journey (7ds fanfiction)

Chapter Twenty-Eight: A False Hope

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As they all walked along the road to battle, the nymph made her way down to the ground and stood at the side of Gowther, Hawk and Elizabeth. As demons started to sweep the area and bring their demonic energy with them, the knights below fought with all they could. The nymph looked down and could see the blinding corruption in how carelessly they battled the creatures. Elizabeth had to heal their wounds and talk to the demons. Gowther and Acantha kept a look out from where they stood as Diane and King assisted in the larger demons. The nymph nervously fidgeted with a lock of her hair, twisting and rubbing her finger against it as a way to distract herself. When the demons were cleared out, Sir Deathpierce didn't even have a scratch on him. He kept saying how it was Sir Ludociel's doing. Acantha scrunched her nose at just the mention of the man she had quickly grew unfond of. Gowther seemed to notice this. "Acantha is there something you have against Sir Ludociel that has made you bitter at even the mention of him?" He asked his nymph friend.

Acantha was about to answer but Hawk decided he would answer for her. "That stinky archangel tried forming some weirdo blood contract! And Acantha even tricked him!" He said and huffed a bit. Gowther paused, his glasses glaring over. "You tricked Sir Ludociel into giving you information?" He asked, a little surprised. The nymph just nodded and fixed her bangs. The goat sin blinked a few times. "Apologies Acantha but I must admit that was rather foolish considering you had none of the sins with you." He scolded, flicking her forehead. Acantha rubbed the spot and sighed. "Yeah but I didnt really know how else I could get the information I needed. It was kind of... Spur of the moment." She stated.

Diane giggled and picked up Acantha by the back of her clothes. "To be honest I think it was super awesome you were so bold like that." She said. Suddenly there was an intense aura that was speeding at them. Everyone went on guard as Diane put Acantha onto the stable ground. In came Derieri, her impact with the earth causing clouds of dust to blind everyone temporarily. When the dust did end up clearing, Derieri started to approach Elizabeth but... She seemed different. There was no ill intention in the way she stood. Even her facial expression held no aggression. Sir Deathpierce didnt understand this though. He got his sword ready and ran at Derieri. When the holy knight took a swing, his blade shattered upon contact with the commandment of purity's skin. Where Deathpierce just stood there, Derieri continued walking to Elizabeth. "I... Had no where... To go..." she went on, her voice breaking with every sentence. She almost seemed like she was gonna tear up any minute.

The ginger nymph stood at Elizabeth's side as a means to protect the princess incase anything were to happen. Even if nothing were to happen, it was clear Derieri had encountered something that even she was traumatized from. There was another incoming powerful aura. This one was even worse than the one Derieri gave off. It was Estarossa and he seemed to have completely lost it. Any calmness he once had was gone and all that remained in his eyes was malice. Everyone was affected by the impact of Estarossa's entrance. "I've finally found you! And look! Its Elizabeth too!" He laughed a haunting maniacle laughter. Acantha didn't like this situation at all and got into a defensive stance in front of Derieri and the princess. Even if she couldn't be of much help, Estarossa struck a feeling in her she hadn't felt since that day she was in jail. The way he carried himself was just disturbing... Estarossa didnt even care about Acantha. To him she was nothing more than just a bug to be stepped on. He could easily reveal it all right now but he figur ed it would be more satisfying to see it happen when everyone was in a weakened state. The looks on their face when they realize Acantha was never on their side this whole time and they can't do anything about it, just the thought of it got the demon all fired up.

Estarossa summoned a dark demonic hound like creature that surrounded the girls in a ring of darkness that blew away any humans that stood in its path. He landed in front of the girls but was quickly interrupted when  Elizabeth used Ark on the silver haired man. This sent him flying. "Lady Acantha! Get to the tavern and put Melascula in your bag of holding! It'll be safer to have her there! She's in Lady Merlin's office!" She exclaimed. Acantha listened and nodded, using her power to go into her more powerful form. She used her wings to quickly fly out of the circle and into the tavern where she ran as fast as she could to Merlin's office. When she got in, there Melascula layed in her vile. The nymph grabbed the glass bottle and put it in the bag of holding where it seemed to disappear into the cold void of the bag. By the time she got back outside, Estarossa was already back and confronted by Sariel and Tarmiel. Acantha barely had a moment to speak before it felt like she was being swallowed up by sand, feeling Diane's larger hand hold onto her protectively. It was silent and everything felt weird. It was like she was suffocating without actually feeling the suffocation in her lungs. So what was this? And was this Diane's doing?

After only a minute, it seemed like things above ground were okay to come out. A giant rush of wind pushed on her until she was spat from the sand like entrapment. She felt herself hit someone yet only she was the one who landed on the ground. The nymph looked up at saw Derieri look down at her. Acantha blinked a few times before a hand being offered to her by the demon woman. She gave a tiny smile and used Derieri to get to her feet. Unfortunately though, Estarossa wasn't dead yet. Though thankfuly in that moment, the two archangels took on the weight of defeating the one who killed their comrade, Mael.

Acantha watched yet felt someone's attention on her. She noticed it was Derieri and she seemed kind of guilty. "Are you alright?" The green eyed nymph asked the short haired woman. Derieri scratched the back of her neck. "I just want... To apologize..." She muttered. The shorter girl was confused and tilted her head. "What for?" She asked and raised an eyebrow. Derieri seemed to be trying to force words from her mouth. "That day at Vaizel. When we killed Meliodas, I called you a runt... And even tried killing you... I assumed you were weak and stupid... And... I just... Want to say sorry for all of that..." The woman seemed to be doing her best. Acantha wasn't going to be rude or push for a better apology and just accepted it. "Dont worry about it. When you've been treated like dirt for as long as I have been... You eventually learn to ignore it." She said. Derieri seemed somewhat relieved about this and Acantha gave an empathetic look. "Want to consider us comrades?" She asked and put her hand out. The demon chuckled. "Bold for a nymph, a divine creature second to the goddess race, to call a demon her comrade. I guess anything is possible now.." Derieri said and shook the pale girls hand.

The entire area fell silent. It was an eerie silent. "Does this mean they killed Estarossa...?" A knight asked as the two archangels flew down. "Yes. And now that Estarossa is defeated, we can move on." Sariel said. Thats when everyone gave a disturbed look. "Uh... What's.. That behind you?" Howzer asked. The duo looked behind them and saw Estarossa completely corrupted. "Wow! What the hell?! His power level is 88,000!!" Hawk exclaimed. "You archangels. Come on. Come play with me some more." Estarossa was practically foaming at the mouth over this. It definitely creeped out Acantha. "That is... Gross..." She commented, unsure what word to even use to describe this version. What she thought would have been such a calm and collected Estarossa turned out to be a corrupted and creepy version. Derieri quickly looked at Acantha. "Wait a minute! When the others and I fought you! Your power level was at 70,000!" She read the girls power now. "The hell??? Its so low now?? Why?!" She exclaimed. Acantha looked at the woman. "It only raises to such high levels when I'm in that form! But it takes a toll on my energy and spirit. If I tried fighting Estarossa, even with whatever power level I'd be at... I'd have no chance to even scratch him..." Acantha said.

Sariel and Tarmiel tried to fight Estarossa but all he ever did was heal and laugh it off. The only thing anyone could do was watch. It would be fruitless for anyone to try anything... Estarossa went to consume Monspeet's commandment and Derieri ran to try and stop him. The commandment of love merely hit her away and sent her flying into a mountain. Acantha quickly went to Derieri's side in case anything happened to her. Everyone had to retreat as Estarossa revealed himself. Everyone was in shock. The demon man quickly snatched Elizabeth and flew off, leaving everyone in a cloud of dust. While the humans retreated for now, those who could fly, chased after him. This included Acantha who flew by the side of Derieri, King, Sariel and Tarmiel. As they flew, Tarmiel looked at Acantha. "May I pick your brain, as the humans say, for a moment?" The angel asked. Acantha looked at him, simply nodding in response. Tarmiel smiled a bit. "You're on a journey to find out about your past correct? I've read into your soul and must say you have come quite a long way. And you can easily leave the battle to figure this out on your own, so why stay and risk dying with unanswered questions?" He asked.

The nymph furrowed her brows. Of any question he could ask he questions her reasoning. "Its simple really. The sins brought me in from a bad spot in my life. They fed me and gave me the experiences I never thought I'd ever get in my life. And though I can't give them much in return. The least I can do right now is be there to help save my friends and the one I care deeply for. After all of this is over and Britannia is safe... I'll be leaving and going to the locations I've learned from Ludociel." She answered. 'And whether I leave the sins as a friend or traitor will depend on if I even return...' these words played over and over in her mind.

The angel was satisfied with this answer when their attention was caught at an ancient goddess arena. Estarossa was being consumed by all this demonic power and was doing something to Elizabeth.
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Word Count: 1881