The Eighth Sin Of Chaos and Mystery

Chapter 30: The Courage Charm (2)

3rd person's pov

Meliodas and Gilthunder were still locked heavily in battle, Gilthunder had remembered something from when he was younger. In particular, it was a conversation between Meliodas and Gilthunder as a child. The conversation was about charm, which Meliodas had agreed to teach Gilthunder. "Lil Gil, you won't have any regrets going seriously against me, right?" Meliodas asked, "Your eyes are to discern evil, your mouth to speak the truth, your heart is filled with righteousness, and your sword is to purge evil. I won't forget the Knight's Creed. The Eight Deadly Sins have turned against that teaching and betrayed the kingdom. And I'll say this again, I am stronger than any of the Eight Deadly Sins!" Glthunder stated, he was not going to back down but in the back of his mind, he thought about Tsubaki. He knew that she didn't want to be against them and he knew that she had nothing to do with his father's death, it just made him wonder why she stuck with Meliodas this whole time when she could have gone to find him. Arthur ends up severely injured from his fight with Hendrickson, he was tired and worn out. "Oh, so you're able to dodge that," Hendrickson smirked, as Arthur panted and kneeled beside Meliodas. "I... wanted to buy more time but... I'm ashamed..." He trailed off, Meliodas brushed it off, and Hendrickson called for Viviann to join him. 

"Oh my, I'm glad. I've been called too." Viviann smirked, "I'll deliver any last words you have for your criminal as a special service." 

" Lord Meliodas won't lose." Elizabeth said.

"She's right. He might have a lot going against him but we don't call him the Captain of the Eight Deadly Sins for nothing. Don't underestimate the strength of my Captain. Cause he will win." Tsubaki stood her ground, she wanted more than anything to go with the mage but she needed to stay with the Princess. Tsuyu could see that her sister was worried about the numbers against Meliodas but she wanted to stay close to Tsubaki, King Bartra, and the Princess. it was better for her to stay there in case anyone tried to attack them, especially since Tsubaki was still healing from the effects of Viviann's spell. "You can keep praying for him, in your papa's warm embrace," Tsubaki growled as Viviann left the room. When Viviann arrives, Meliodas tenses as she had been the one to grab Tsubaki and Elizabeth. He knew that she must have also been the reason that Gilthunder had been so eager to fight against the Eight Deadly Sins, especially when one of them was his childhood best friend. 

In the distance, King, Diane, Howzer, Kei, Toshio, and Gowther had sensed Meliodas's fight. "What a shock wave... even at this distance!" King exclaimed, "It appears Captain is currently fighting against three opponents." Gowther explained, "King, please hurry and go help Captain!" Diane pleaded, she worried about his safety but she also worried for Tsubaki. None of them had been able to sense anything from her for a while, which worried them. "I can't just leave you here." King exclaimed, "But!" Diane started, "He'll be fine. It felt like he purposely received that attack just now. Captain is waiting for something." King exclaimed. "Gowther, have you been able to sense Tsuyu or Tsubaki?" Kei asked, he looked concerned. "A little while ago, I did. But it seems something is blocking me from being able to sense them now." Gowther explained, Toshio cursed under his breath, hoping that his sisters were right. "They'll be okay, Toshio," Howzer spoke, Toshio looked at him in curiosity. "Your sisters are resilient. Hell, Tsubaki survived the downfall of your town, being attacked and kidnapped after escaping and losing her best friend. She survived on her own for a while before she was reunited with Captain Meliodas. She's a fighter. And so is Tsuyu. I'm sure wherever they may be, they are doing just fine." Howzer had confidence that Tsubaki was fine. 

"I hope you're right."

~

Margaret escaped from the room she had been placed in and climbed up the side of the tower to get a better view of the battle between Meliodas and Gilthunder, she didn't want him to fight against him when they weren't in the wrong. She thinks back on the promise that she and Gilthunder made as children after Tsubaki and her siblings had moved away from the capital. "Hey, Gil... You were always kind and warmhearted, when you were young, you took an oath.." She trailed off, "I swear on my pride as a knight that I will always protect you.." Gilthunder's voice echoed in her mind. "...not knowing that I became a binding curse that tormented you. For ten years, you've lied and hurt your own heart for my sake... And now, you're trying to hurt the person you admired the most. Please, I beg of you... be freed from me. Please.. don't betray your hero!" Margaret jumps from the tower, hoping that this will free her and Gilthunder from the curse set on them by Viviann and Meliodas spots her. He sends an attack her way, leaving him open to receive attacks from Hendrickson, Viviann, and Gilthunder. Meliodas's attack destroys the demon of the curse, freeing Gilthunder who reflects on something Meliodas said to him as a child. "When things get tough, too hard for you and you have no one to rely on, recite this charm." Meliodas stated, "Okay," Young Gilthunder nodded his head, "I am stronger than any of the Eight Deadly sins!" Meliodas shouted with passion, "I am... than the Eight Deadly Sins... I am stronger than any of the Eight Deadly Sins. And I'll say this again, I am stronger than any of the Eight Deadly Sins!" Gilthunder recited, when he sees the curse is now broken, he is relieved to finally be free. Gilthunder holds an unconscious Margaret in his arms, "You have released me from the curse that bound me for so long, thank you, Meliodas." Gilthunder said. He cuts off Hendrickson's arm, now joining the side that he should have been on the whole time. Tsubaki would be happy to know that Gilthunder was now fighting for their side and no longer on the enemy side.

"Gilthunder, what do you think you're doing?!" Hendrickson asked. "You turned your back on me!" 

"I didn't betray you, I was never on your side to begin with!" Gilthunder exclaimed with such passion and command.

"Gil!" Viviann exclaimed.

"Bastard!" Hendrickson cursed.

"Meliodas, please leave this to me. I've waited for a long time to get revenge on my father's murder." Gilthunder attacks Hendrickson, seemingly defeating him once and for all. Margaret wakes up and the two share a tender moment, the to finally having a chance to love one another. 

"Thanks, you really helped me out." Meliodas smiled at Arthur, "No, it's all thanks to her." Arthur pointed to the mage that he had brought along with him. 

"How.. When did you know?" Viviann asked, becoming panicked.

"About Lil Gil? When we reunited back at the White Dream Forest." Meliodas shrugged. "W-What?" Viviann stammered, "I realized he was being watched, and someone had been taken hostage." Meliodas explained, "That's absurd! There's no way you could have known from the very beginning! Not even that wolf sin could figure it out! And you were fighting all out against him!" Viviann shouted. "Lil Gil was risking his life for the woman he loves, risking my own life too is what bonds two men." Meliodas stated. "Unbelievable!! I will not allow things to end this way!" She shouted angrily. She didn't want to give up, not when she had been so close. "Where is this?" Arthur looked around, noticing that their surroundings had changed. "Now, in which world do you want to die?" Viviann screamed, but she was interrupted by someone much more powerful than her. "Haven't I told you enough to fix that habit of losing yourself to anger... Viviann." The magician spoke, looking very annoyed with her former disciple. "That mark on your neck.. That crimson pig.. You.. You are.." Viviann stammered, realizing she was in big trouble now. "Huh... So she's been with Arthur this whole time.. Who would have thought?" Meliodas thought. 

"Boar's sin of the Eight Deadly Sins, Merlin!"