[Arc5] - 69. To Act First
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The attacking enemy exuded an oppressive aura that paralyzed others with fear at a mere glance—an instinct akin to how predators in nature respond to their prey. Galand had long been accustomed to humans displaying such pitiful behavior before him.
Three thousand years ago, humans to Galand were no different than insects—whether to crush them underfoot or not made no difference. However, if the insects swarmed and infested the space he had claimed as his own, he wouldn't mind conducting a thorough extermination, using the opportunity for a satisfying meal.
The once abundant magical energy saturating the continent of Britannia had now seeped into flora and fauna. Souls, once bland like plain water, now carried a hint of flavor akin to soy sauce, offering something new to the palate.
As an elder among the Demon Clan, Galand would occasionally reminisce about the past like any other old man. Back then, Meliodas was a formidable and savage force, an ideal candidate for the next Demon King. Unfortunately, he betrayed the Demon Clan and ran off with a goddess.
The aged Galand didn't have the energy to roar and rage like the younger ones, but he could still deal with what needed to be dealt with. Since Meliodas was no longer as powerful as he once was, what better time to kill him than now?
The Demon Clan had no shortage of members who wanted to eliminate Meliodas. As an old man, Galand couldn't compete with the younger generation, so he decided to act first. After killing Meliodas, he could have a nice meal and head back to prepare for a full-scale purge.
"Meliodas, you used to mix with the Goddess Clan, and now you're mingling with humans. Your standards just keep dropping," Galand said casually as he approached Meliodas. The youthful-looking King and the unassuming Cyd standing beside him were completely ignored. Even Escanor, wearing Merlin's magical glasses, didn't warrant acknowledgment.
"Meliodas, how does it feel to see an old acquaintance?"
Leaning on his battle axe, Galand bent forward. His clown-like face seemed forever fixed in a smile, but the depths of his narrowed eyes revealed an abyss.
"Hmm, not much," Meliodas said, crossing his arms and tilting his head in thought. After a moment, he added seriously, "Galand, you're just as weak as ever."
"Weak? Gahaha!" Galand froze for a moment before throwing his head back in laughter, clutching his head. "True, I've never been the strongest among the [Ten Commandments]. I'm just an old Demon Clan member who's lived a long time. The new generation of demons, like you, are ridiculously strong. But…"
Galand's laughter abruptly ceased as he tilted his head slightly, his pitch-black eyes staring through his fingers at Meliodas.
"You probably couldn't even defeat a Gray Demon now. Mixing with humans has truly…"
Before Galand could finish, Meliodas leapt up and punched him. The tiny fist first struck Galand's hand, but with a sickening crunch, it twisted his protective shell and slammed into the side of his face, distorting it.
The unexpected blow left Galand stunned. Spinning on the spot a few times, he ended up facing Cyd.
"Hmm, it's a bit asymmetrical," Cyd commented before punching Galand's other cheek, making him spin again. This time, he stopped facing Meliodas once more.
"Nice one, Cyd. Now it's symmetrical," Meliodas said, high-fiving Cyd.
"What… what's going on? You shouldn't have this level of strength!" Galand shouted, clutching the twin marks of shame on his face as he raised his axe in anger. "You dare deceive me, the [Truth] Galand?"
"You simply fail to understand the greatness of the sun. But you're truly foolish, coming all this way just to die. You're like a moth drawn to the fire."
A sudden wave of heat surged behind Galand, making his heart tighten. He instinctively swung his axe backward, but his attacker was faster. Before he could change his strike, his body was cleaved in two.
"Hmm, slightly tougher than tofu," commented the now-inflated Escanor, holding his sacred axe [Rhitta] in one hand while stroking his chin with the other.
"Hmph! Don't think this is enough to kill a Demon!" Galand snarled as black fluid, not blood, gushed from his wounds. The substance, similar to Meliodas's expanding black markings, reconnected his severed body.
"You must be suppressing your strength, aren't you?"
Galand narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized the group. Meliodas was undoubtedly hiding his power. But to his shock, the white-haired human and orange-haired human were also concealing immense strength. Even the fairy, who hadn't made a move, seemed to be hiding power.
He had acted impulsively, thinking this would be a mere warm-up, but it was turning into a life-or-death battle.
"Meliodas, don't underestimate me! [Critical Over!]"
A violent shockwave radiated from Galand, and the grotesque, human-faced guards on his elbows and knees began to wail. His once slender limbs swelled, and his armor became far more menacing.
The ground rippled like waves, and the previously calm Meliodas retreated behind Cyd with a smirk.
"Your turn, Vice Captain. I'm done here."
"Ha…" Galand exhaled, his now light-green eyes radiating fury. His formerly wiry frame had transformed into a hulking, terrifying form.
The old generation Demon Clan members relied on raw power rather than flashy magic. The older they were, the more brutally straightforward their strength. With [Critical Over], Galand had doubled his original power.
"Die!"
Galand swung his axe at Cyd, generating a shockwave so immense it tore the earth apart before the blade even made contact. Dust and debris filled the sky—a cataclysm born of a single person's might.
Boom!
The ground was shattered, and even the Holy Knights who were watching the battle from a distance were rolled over several times by the impact that was suddenly caused.
"Hey, hey, hey, so those at the bottom of the [Ten Commandments] are so powerful? Then the others must be so monstrous." Ban managed to steady himself. The power displayed by Galand subverted his imagination, but the smile on his face was relaxed.
Amid the chaos, a pure white figure stood unmoved. A golden trinket on their belt flapped wildly in the storm.
"We're heroes who specialize in taking down monsters."
"This… this can't be!" Galand exclaimed, staring in disbelief. His devastating attack had left Cyd's clothing torn but hadn't even scratched his skin. His attack was definitely not weak to this extent. The ground next to the white-haired human's feet seemed to have been plowed, which was proof of it. However, he did not even cut the skin of the white-haired human in front of him!
"This is impossible! You're hiding something, aren't you?"
Cyd shrugged. "I've never relied on my body's durability, but if it stopped working, I'd be quite troubled." Pointing at Galand's back, he added, "Also don't attack bystanders casually. Your opponent angry because you turned your back on him."
"By the way, there is still half an hour until noon."
Galand turned sharply. The orange-haired human had grown even larger, now towering over Galand, with one hand on the ground and the other raising the axe toward the sun.
At that moment, the axe and sun seemed to merge, transforming into one. The orange-haired human now resembled a giant wielding the very sun itself.
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
Overwhelmed by instinctual fear, Galand dropped his axe and fled. Even the ancient demons are unable to withstand the terror of facing the [Sun].