Deep within the underground chambers beneath Castle Liones, a room lit dimly by torches flickers with ominous energy. The stench of something ancient and wrong hangs in the air. Hendrickson stands before the towering corpse of a grotesque creature—its blackened skin etched with long-decayed sigils, its claws still sharp despite decades of death.
Before him kneel three Holy Knights—Friesia, Golgius, and Twigo—all once considered failures, now granted one final chance by Ardyn, who believed the project could be their path to redemption. Guila and Helbram flank Hendrickson like twin shadows.
"This… is the corpse of a demon," Hendrickson begins, his voice carrying the weight of ancient knowledge. "It was discovered twenty years ago in the Fairy King's Forest."
Golgius scoffs. "Demons? I thought they were just stories used to scare children."
Hendrickson's eyes narrow. "Then you are ignorant of the truth. The Demon Clan is very real. This one's origin and killer are unknown, and yet, it bears unmistakable traits of that cursed race—sealed long ago by the Goddess Clan after the Ancient War."
Twigo steps forward, uneasy. "Then why summon us here? You said we'd gain new power… not learn folklore."
Hendrickson turns, drawing a long black knife from his cloak. With a swift motion, he slices into the demon's body. A viscous, glowing black blood seeps out, unnaturally thick, pulsing faintly with an inner light.
"Drink," he says, filling three silver goblets with the blood. "When this corpse was first discovered, it was surrounded by hundreds of dead crows. But one survived—only to transform into a monstrous beast moments later. This blood enhances power, vastly. If you are compatible… you will transcend the limits of humanity. Just like Guila."
Guila steps forward, her eyes glowing faintly with that same unnatural energy. Friesia hesitates, gripping her goblet tightly. Golgius remembers the scorn from Ban and gulps down the blood. Twigo, pride stinging from his humiliation at Meliodas' hands, drinks in defiance.
The pain is immediate. They scream.
Friesia collapses to one knee, veins glowing under her skin before stabilizing. Golgius thrashes before suddenly stilling, breathing deeply, as power surges through him.
But Twigo—
His body bulges grotesquely. Muscles swell, skin rips. His eyes bulge from his sockets.
"No! He's rejecting it!" Helbram calls out.
Twigo roars, a guttural, monstrous sound… then explodes, his remains splattering across the chamber walls. Silence.
Guila steps forward, placing a hand on Friesia's shoulder. "Welcome… to the new order."
-----
In contrast, the mood shifts.
Meliodas, Ban, King, Elizabeth, Diane, and Hawk approach the outskirts of the bustling merchant town of Vaizel. Market stalls overflow with strange goods and exotic wares.
"Vaizel's annual flea market," Meliodas says with a grin. "You'd be surprised at what turns up here. Everything from enchanted stones to cursed toothbrushes."
Elizabeth tilts her head. "You really think your Sacred Treasure might be here?"
"There's a rumor of a weapon no one can wield. If it's what I think it is..." he trails off.
Diane frowns as the town gates loom ahead. "So I can't come?"
Meliodas pats her arm. "Sorry, Diane. Giants aren't allowed in the city after, well... that incident."
She groans. "That was one time!"
Elizabeth offers gently, "Let's go gather some cooking herbs. I'll stay with you."
King perks up. "I can—"
"No thanks," Diane snaps.
Rejected, King deflates.
-----
The rest enter the city. Meliodas, Ban, King, and Hawk are soon lost in the crowd. Booths of magical items and strange charms surround them.
"How are we supposed to find one weapon in all this?" Ban mutters.
An old man, swaying slightly from drink, overhears them. "Lookin' for weapons, are ye? Might wanna check the Fight Festival. No weapons allowed inside... but lots of strength on display."
"A tournament?" Ban grins.
Meliodas lights up. "Now we're talking."
King, however, frowns. "This sounds barbaric."
"Exactly!" Meliodas says, fists clenched in excitement. "C'mon Ban, I've been itching for a good brawl."
Ban stretches, grinning. "Hope you're ready to lose, captain."
As the two walk toward the arena, laughter in their step, the tension of the dark dealings beneath Liones remains unknown to them.
The storm is coming.
Here's the next chapter in your story, continuing the Seven Deadly Sins arc during the Vaizel Fight Festival, weaving in Ardyn's looming presence as things start shifting beneath the surface.
-----
The crowd roared in anticipation as the Vaizel Fight Festival began. A towering rocky arena dominated the landscape, surrounded by cheering citizens, merchants, and travelers from across Britannia. Flags waved, drums boomed, and ale flowed freely as Hawk loudly hawked his "legendary" tavern brews from a high vendor stall overlooking the arena.
Meliodas grinned, already shedding his outer jacket. Beside him, Ban stretched with a wolfish smirk, ready for blood or brawls—either was good enough.
"Gideon…" King muttered, eyes locked on the giant war hammer resting on a stand in the center of a ceremonial dais. "It's definitely Diane's sacred treasure."
Meliodas nudged him with an elbow. "Then we're definitely winning this thing."
Before King could retort, a heavy presence loomed behind them. Taizoo, the reigning champion of the past three festivals, stood like a wall of muscle and intimidation. Grabbing Meliodas by the collar—and inadvertently lifting the much smaller King too—he growled, "This isn't a place for kids. Go home before you get broken."
Before either Sin could respond, a powerful wind surged through the arena, tousling cloaks and banners alike. A man stepped forward, placing a hand casually on Taizoo's bicep.
"That's enough. It's a festival, not a battlefield," said Howzer, smiling brightly. With a gentle push, he lowered Taizoo's arm effortlessly. "Strength comes in all forms. Age isn't everything."
"Wait a minute..." King squinted at Howzer. "That's one of the Platinum-ranked Holy Knights…"
Ban laughed. "Guess he's off-duty today."
Meliodas cracked his knuckles. "Let's have some fun."
A mysterious girl with vibrant green hair and a thin veil covering half her face stepped into the roster line. King noted her presence with unease—something was strange about her aura.
The announcer's voice boomed: "WELCOME, competitors! This year's Vaizel Fight Festival will begin with the Preliminary Event—the Boulder Toss!"
Gasps and cheers rang out. A massive boulder, nearly 10 meters in diameter, was rolled to the edge of the cliff. The goal was simple: toss it the farthest. The strongest would move on to the battle bracket.
-----
Dreyfus stood by the grand stained-glass windows, watching clouds drift over the kingdom. Ardyn leaned against a stone pillar, arms folded. He had already reported on the barbarian defeat and now waited for orders.
"You heard about Vaizel?" Dreyfus asked, voice calm.
"Yes," Ardyn replied. "A festival. A good place to test steel without killing."
Dreyfus didn't smile, but there was something contemplative in his tone. "I wonder if the Dragon Sin will be there."
Ardyn raised an eyebrow. "You believe the rumors?"
Dreyfus turned toward him. "I believe Meliodas never acts without a reason. And if Gideon's in Vaizel… that might be the bait."
Ardyn didn't respond immediately. Then he asked, "Shall I go?"
Dreyfus paused, then shook his head. "Not yet. Let Hendrickson keep experimenting. Observe from afar."
The mention of Hendrickson's experiments made Ardyn's gaze darken slightly. Though he had endorsed a few candidates for the "Limit Project," his instincts had started to sour. Power without discipline was a dangerous game.
-----
Deep within the dungeons of Liones, Golgius and Friesia stood before a mirror, each now changed. Their magical auras had become far more potent, their eyes glowing faintly with traces of demonic residue.
Friesia flexed her fingers, calling forth a swarm of tiny venomous insects with ease. "It worked."
Golgius nodded, cloaking himself in near invisibility, then flickering back. "It's intoxicating…"
Helbram clapped from the corner. "Our new generation. More are coming. Ardyn was quite generous with his recommendations."
"Why?" Friesia asked. "He's not like Hendrickson or you."
Helbram grinned. "Because even he seeks answers. He just doesn't know he's helping build the future yet."
-----
One after another, the competitors hurled the boulder off the cliff. Taizoo's throw was met with thunderous applause, nearly breaking the record. Then Howzer stepped up, removing his outer vest.
The wind swirled. "Let's see what these arms can really do."
He hurled the boulder with a single, twisting strike—like a tornado had lifted and launched it. It soared, vanishing into the clouds, and the crowd erupted.
Meliodas casually stepped up next, as did Ban and King.
"Bet I throw it farther," Ban whispered.
"In your dreams," Meliodas shot back.
King sighed. "Do I have to?"
The mysterious girl walked forward silently, eyes glowing faintly behind her veil. Her throw barely lifted the boulder—but it floated mid-air for several seconds before gently drifting down the cliff. Magic? Or something else?
The announcer shouted: "Congratulations to our finalists! Tomorrow begins the Combat Tournament Bracket!"
-----
Ardyn returned to his study that evening, laying out ancient scrolls beside a half-finished magical schematic. He rubbed his temple, staring at a diagram of Ley Lines and residual demonic energies beneath Liones.
"Whatever Hendrickson's awakening… It's not human anymore," he murmured.
He turned to a small sealed container on his desk. Inside it, a faint drop of black blood hovered in stasis.
He stared into it with solemn eyes.
"Power without understanding is destruction."