Can I have Your Daughter?

Chapter 18

Meliodas felt the dark energy that made up his demonic power surge forward and engulf him. He had managed to keep himself in check, but now, this was beyond him holding back. He would kill Prince Atlas if it was the last thing he did...

"Ah, did I make you angry, Sin of wrath? Perhaps I'll get to see some of that famous anger that your country seems to fear so much?" Atlas twisted Ammit around in his deft fingers, swinging the curved blade in circles like it was nothing more than a small stick. "Wow... such a scary look." Atlas chuckled, preparing himself for the next wave.

Meliodas' grip tightened around Lostvayne, and in a flash, he was clashing with Atlas once more. The surge of his demonic power increasing his speed, making his attacks just as fast as the prince who could alter time.

The scythe swung around and locked blades with Lostvayne, sending sparks flying, "Well, Meliodas, I underestimated the power you could release. I can't wait for Ammit to swallow your soul and power. It'll make my goals that much easier. My assent to the throne will be glorious!" The bloodlust in his smile was unnerving. But it told Meliodas everything he needed to know about the man. He had seen his kind. Far too many times before. Power was his treasure; his calling. He didn't care who was in the way or who he'd have to kill to get it.

"You can't possibly hope to rule a kingdom like this! How could you possibly believe this is how a ruler should act?!" Elizabeth yelled, and Atlas turned his attention on her, long enough for Meliodas to push the scythe back and swing another attack.

Atlas really seemed to find her words funny as he began to chuckle and then laugh deeply. "Kingdom? I have no intention of ruling Direneth. Such a weak and pathetic country can never quench my thirst." He had no trouble keeping his defenses tight against Meliodas' attack, while sparing a dark grin Elizabeth's way across the room, "Once I have your souls, no one can stop me from taking over all of Britannia!" He let out another dark and hearty laugh that again echoed through the entire castle with the clashing of their weapons.

All of Britannia? This guy was insane! There was no way any kingdom would let him get away with this! How the hell did he plan on taking over the entire continent? With the power of the sin of wrath and a druid priestess? It would make him strong... but strong enough to take complete control? Meliodas didn't want to give him the opportunity to find out. They would end this here.

That being said, Meliodas could feel his demonic power slipping from him. The black mark disappeared from his forehead as his energy reserves were sapped. He wouldn't give up though. Elizabeth was his strength, and he would do anything to protect her.

"You won't get away with this." Meliodas heard her voice harden with resolve, and it gave him the strength to continue to fight. "We won't let you. And even if we were to fall here... Everyone else will stand against you. They've done it before. The people are stronger than you. You will never succeed." Elizabeth's words seemed to strike a nerve with the prince as his grin faltered and his defense failed for a mere fraction of a second. Not long enough for Meliodas to take advantage of, because Atlas had managed to regain the upper hand over him.

"Princesses should be seen. NOT HEARD!" Atlas lifted his other hand past Meliodas, and before he could even blink, Atlas had activated living shadow again.

"Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth screamed as her feet lifted from the ground, and her body tensed like a heavy hand was wrapped around her, suffocating her. Meliodas broke Atlas's defense, swinging around to slice through his arm, but was parried with the reverse blade of Ammit. Atlas was quick to dodge, and counter every single attack Meliodas made. It was like the man had four arms instead of two, and every clash of their blades sent sparks flying into the air.

He was too fast. And the holy treasure in his possession gave him power over time, even if it were only seconds... it was long enough that it could mean disaster. Even with the power of his own sacred treasure, Lostvayne, Meliodas knew he wouldn't be able to keep up with him. Meliodas had already suffered a few blows from the scythe, and while normally these wounds would be superficial, something even king would scoff at, the scythe's power was already taking its toll on him. Even unleashing his full demonic energy, he was quickly being drained.

With a dark grin Atlas snarled at Meliodas, "Say goodbye!" he shouted, and a shockwave vibrated from his hand and blasted the ensnared Elizabeth with the full extent of his dark power. She was sent flying backwards, as the pressure of the blast alone was enough to explode through the thick brick of the castle wall. Elizabeth was struck hard in the head with a piece of falling stone, and fell unconscious at the edge; tipping and sliding with the ever disintegrating castle floor.

Meliodas didn't hesitate. He dashed blindingly fast across the floor and slid to grab her wrist before the stone floor crumbled and disappeared beneath both of them. He held on to her wrist tight, as his other arm, still holding his sword, reached up quick and latched around the long metal beam jutting from the innards of the demolished floor.

There was quiet as the dust settled around them, and Meliodas huffed as he tried to hoist her up, but couldn't. "Elizabeth!" As he looked down, he was greeted with the staggering plummet below. There were jagged rocks that climbed the mountain to greet this side of the castle, and just beyond that was a waterfall crashing into white rapids below its depths.

Elizabeth's slender wrist was slowly slipping from his grip, "Elizabeth! Can you hear me?!" He growled again trying to pull her up closer to him, but his body couldn't muster the strength. He had used so much energy fighting Ammit's power. Looking down, his eyes widened as a steady stream of blood now flowed down Elizabeth's face from a deep gash on the crown of her head.

The air changed and Meliodas' head whipped around just as Atlas stepped into the light to look down on them and the generous mile dive below them. He was chuckling to himself, the sound resonating through the castle above, and in the darkness below. "So persistent..." He mused, his raven hair swaying and picked up with the wind generated by the crashing waters.

Meliodas gritted his teeth, and could do nothing but watch as Atlas brought his weapon up, poised for the kill, looking ever like the grim reaper, prepared to claim their souls.

"Now, Die." The scythe came down fast, the full extent of Ammit's power behind a single swing. This was it. His only chance...

Meliodas released his hold of the metal beam. The next few seconds were all he had to make a stance.

In those few precious moments of flight, he swung his own sword up, sending all of Atlas' power right back at him, with every bit of energy he had left, "FULL COUNTER!"

Atlas' face contorted into anger and pain as his own power combined with the power of Ammit bore through him with searing pressure. He let out a cry that echoed through the castle and into the canyon as the flash of light and pure energy consumed him and the remaining crumbled floor he stood on. The explosion sent rubble flying and walls crumbling around them.

Now they were falling.

The wind roared past them. Meliodas pulled Elizabeth into his arms and held tightly to her, feeling her soft labored breaths against his skin as they fell head first to the depths.

"M-Meliodas?" He heard her soft voice above the deafening wind passing them by and the quickly approaching white rapids below. He held her even tighter, lacing his fingers in her hair and pulling her face close to his neck to protect her.

"It's alright... I've got you. And I'm never letting go." He whispered to her. He wasn't afraid as they fell into what felt like oblivion. He would hold on to her no matter what. He closed his eyes as he braced himself to be her shield.

"I love you..." He heard her whisper against his skin just before they crashed into the icy river.