I Will Eventually Embark On The Path Of No Return Called A Hero

[Arc5] - 36. I Will Bear Your Rage

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This was, without a doubt, hell.

The true tragedy is not living in a world of suffering but experiencing happiness in that world, only to watch it shatter before your eyes, piece by piece.

Is this despair coming at him?

No! It's anger!

He couldn't speak or think. The only thing he could do was rage.

"To be honest, I'm pretty good at handling kids, but Captain, you only look like a kid on the outside, don't you?"

Someone had stepped into his nightmare, but he couldn't recognize who it was.

Does it matter who they are? No, it doesn't—destroying them is enough.

"Roooaaarrrr!"

Without reason, left only with rage, Meliodas attacked the moment Cyd stepped within his range. How vast was Meliodas' attack range when he was in this berserk state? Cyd didn't know. The instant he entered the ruined city, a black beast lunged at him.

"Come, Meliodas!"

Cyd set aside the [Reforged Pandora] and charged forward. But in the next moment, Meliodas smashed him into the distant mountains, and blackened beastly fingers burrowed into Cyd's muscles.

"It hurts, you jerk!"

Cyd didn't defend; he raised his fist and punched Meliodas in the head. The fighting spirit sparked Ares' blessing, and scarlet magic marks spread across Cyd's body from the point of his punch, the sudden surge of power blasting Meliodas away like a cannonball.

"An immortal body, but can't you pack a little more punch?" Cyd smacked his chest and assumed a fighting stance as he watched Meliodas get back up.

"Roar with all you've got, Meliodas! Are you really alive if you can't even be angry?"

Cyd and Meliodas clashed like two wild beasts, their faces inches apart. Cyd raised his head and slammed his forehead against Meliodas'.

"Roar! Rage! Fight! Just like we agreed—when you lose control, I'll be the one to stop you, to bear your anger!"

"This isn't some heroic talk!"

"Roooaaarrr!" Meliodas bellowed like a provoked beast.

Black claws tore into Cyd's immortal body, but the scarlet-magic-covered fists smashed them to pieces in the chaotic storm. Blood spattered wildly, indistinguishable as to whose it was.

"What's wrong, Meliodas!" Cyd locked Meliodas' upper body with his elbows and knees. Blood-soaked white hair covered one of his eyes. Meliodas' body sprouted spikes like a porcupine, piercing Cyd's body and causing him to wince.

"Is that all the rage you've got?"

"Is he crazy? He's actually provoking Meliodas," Zaneri muttered, covering her mouth as she watched the trial through a mirror. Cyd sounded so casual, yet he was clearly at a disadvantage, his heart pierced and still talking like that.

"Hah, I thought the Vice-Captain was smart," Ban crouched by the mirror, his voice nonchalant though his gaze remained fixed on it. "Turns out he's a fool too."

"Yes, he is a fool." Medusa tugged at her hood. "A fool like him isn't reassuring, but a fool like him will definitely keep his promises."

"Boom!"

A black beast claw pierced Cyd's abdomen, the vicious force sending the earth behind him rippling like an ocean.

With hollow eyes, Meliodas twisted and flung Cyd, who only managed to stop after digging a trench hundreds of meters long.

"Cough!" Cyd spat blood, staggering as he stood and took a deep breath. He pointed his thumb at himself. "I'm the Vice-Captain of the Seven Deadly Sins—I won't let you take another step forward!"

Behind him lay the devastated city of Danafor. If Meliodas destroyed it again, his vow would become meaningless.

But could he do it? Meliodas' current power was nearly equal to Escanor's at noon—absurdly strong. Beating him was a challenge, let alone…

No! It's not a matter of "can"; it's a matter of "must"!

"Come on, Meliodas!"

Meliodas appeared in front of Cyd like he'd teleported, both arms effortlessly piercing Cyd's abdomen.

A storm replaced Meliodas' roar, unleashing a blast as fierce as a dragon. Even with an immortal body, Cyd felt himself being torn apart by the impact.

If Meliodas went through him, the entire city would likely be destroyed.

Everything would reset; Meliodas would never awaken from this nightmare. But it didn't matter!

Because…

"I'm right here!"

Cyd's eyes hardened as he wrapped his arms around Meliodas and lifted him. The once-direct attack was deflected downward, and the full force of the blow bore entirely on Cyd.

"Aaaahhhh!"

Both Cyd and Meliodas roared as their powers clashed, intertwining and shooting skyward.

"Meliodas! I can't change the tragedies of your past, but…"

Countless black claws extended, holding Cyd firmly in place, as thirteen crystals on his wristband shone brilliantly.

"Together, we'll destroy every tragedy you face now and in the future!"

"Boom!"

The city-destroying power exploded downward, yet the impact formed a perfect crescent around the city.

If it takes a "hero" to save them, then let him be a "Pure White Hero," just for a while.

Rain began to pour suddenly. Cyd lowered his head, breathing heavily as the rain washed away the blood and filth from both him and Meliodas.

"Didn't I protect them from you, after all?"

Someone had stepped into his nightmare. He almost believed that abandoning emotion would resolve everything. But now, he realized… he really could awaken from this nightmare.

"This is annoying. It's actually raining," Meliodas muttered, pressing his head against Cyd's stomach and staring at the ground, his vision blurred. If not for the rain, he would know for sure he was crying—crying for the one he would always love, no matter how many times he fell in love with her.

"Cyd, I have one last request."

"I know—goodbye, right?" Cyd exhaled, placing a hand on Meliodas' shoulder with a sigh. "Fine, fine, I've come this far. Would it kill you to let me complain about my injuries if it weren't for this immortal body healing me?"

"Alright, alright, I'll give you a raise."

"Is this about pay? And Seven Deadly Sins doesn't even get allowances."

"Then I'll give you a break."

"Sure, a break for you guys."

Cyd and Meliodas exchanged their usual banter, and the smile returned to Meliodas' face as they walked up to a young girl lying still.

Cyd released Meliodas and stepped back to sit quietly a short distance away.

As he looked down at the girl who had lost her breath, the smile on Meliodas' face grew strained. His anger faded, leaving only sorrow. He couldn't hold back his tears, though he bit his lip to stifle any sound of weakness—it wasn't the time for that.

He didn't know what to say. 106 times… This was the 106th time he had witnessed her death. Each time, she would return to life and they would meet again. A tragic fate…

Three thousand years. No matter how many times, Meliodas would always fall in love with her, for she always looked like the same person.

After all these times, it was time for something different. This time, he wasn't alone. He couldn't selfishly stay in the past.

And so…

Meliodas cupped her cold face in his hands, his tear-streaked face breaking into his usual sunny smile.

"Goodbye, Liz."

It was time to go.