Chapter Text
Back at Norman's hideout
"You what??" Lucas said
"Yes, I made a new promise with *demon speak* He claims that the Queen of the demons has somehow sent me here, and that to go back to my own world, she would have to die." Escanor said.
"How on earth did you get through the 7 walls tho? And you BEAT HIM UP?" Ray asked in pure disbelief
"I know I don't look like much now, but during the day I'm quite strong. Apparently even stronger than the so called God of this world.. but he promised to fulfill Emma's wish of sending you all to the human world, and I would be sent back to my world. If the Queen is dealt with"
Emma began to speak "i.. I don't really like the idea of killing the queen… and putting you at risk. But.."
"It'll be fine Emma. My strength greatly surpasses hers, I'm certain of that. And I'll make sure she's the only one that dies. You have my word.. besides I already made the promise, and there's no other way for me to go back to my home. I'm sorry."
"Yeah Emma, he's right. We want to go to the human world, and Escanor wants to go back to his world. If we sent him to our human world he wouldn't feel at home. So this is for the best." Ray said, comforting Emma.
"I know. I trust you Escanor. Make sure no one else dies okay?"
"You have my word Emma."
Meanwhile around the corner.
Norman looking through a crack in the door, quickly closes it.
"What are we gonna do boss?" Cislo asks
"The plan must begin tonight instead" Norman says calmly
"I don't care how strong this Escanor is, or if he made a new promise. The royal family must die.. Vincent."
"Yes boss?" Vincent replies
"Let's get going, we can get there before Escanor, he's powerless at night. So by morning tomorrow we should arrive and hopefully have the entire family including the queen dead." Norman said
"Of course, ready when you are boss"
"Then let's go.. Emma, be careful. I know you trust Escanor.. but can we?"
Escanor retired to his room. Ready to rest up for the night, as they were to leave before dawn, to get Escanor there with all the possible daylight they could get. He was gonna miss this place, Emma was so sweet and kind. He felt like she was his daughter. In a way he wanted to stay. But he had his own friends back home that missed him. They would need his strength. And they were his. He climbed into bed and drifted off to sleep
"Escanor, can you hear me?" A familiar voice said
"Hm?? Who's there?" Escanor called out.
"Its me, *demon speak* I cannot see you, and likewise you can't see me. But I can hear you, and you me" he said
"Oh.. I see. What is it you want?"
"I forgot to warn you, the Queen. She somehow had taken my most powerful ally, a dragon. After seeing your strength I know you are capable of fighting it, but it is my strongest ally by far. Be careful. And when you encounter him, place your hand on his face. I can move through you, and get him back on our side"
"So you wish for me to bring him back to you? Okay, I can do that"
"Thank you Escanor. I promise to hold true to my word, just kill the queen. If anyone can. It's you" the voice then faded away and Escanor could no longer communicate with The One. But it would seem this would be his toughest bout yet.
But he was more than ready.
"I still don't know Ray" Emma uttered
"Emma. Escanor knows his way around a fight. He'll be alright, plus i know you don't want the queen to die, but if Escanor doesn't, Norman would continue on his plan to kill the entire royal family"
"Yeah.. I know. It's just. It doesn't seem fair, why does she have to die so we can live?"
"We don't live in a perfect world Emma… sacrifice has to be made. There is no one path through life, that's good and just and does no harm. Besides, our situation changed drastically with Escanor coming in"
"That's true. Previously we were just dealing with only the people that lived here. And now we have someone from a different universe, I still can't grasp that."
"It makes no sense.. How many worlds are out there?"
The two decided they should get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day..
Meanwhile
"We're here. Outside the capital" Vincent said
Norman walks up to the cliff face "right at dawn"
"Geelan. Begin the attack. The rest of you, on me" Norman orders
Geelan and his demon clan go off, and Norman and his squad go a separate way.
Just before dawn, back at the hideout
Lucas and Yugo storm in and announce that Norman and his gang are gone
"Yeah!! They must have left last night!! We gotta hurry!" Yugo shouts
Don, Gilda, Emma, Ray, and Escanor all nod in agreement and begin to make their way to the capital city. They arrive at about 7 am to see the city in shambles.
"Norman must have begun his assault! Damn him!" Ray says
"You all get the demons to safety.. I will go to the castle to stop Norman and defeat the queen." Escanor says
"Be careful Escanor" Emma says grabbing on to his pant leg.
Escanor turns around and kneels before the girl "don't worry. I will be back alive. And so will Norman and his friends." He says with a smile.
Emma tearing up wraps her arms around Escanors neck in a hug, and Escanor returns to hug.
"I'll be back" he pulls away and leaps down the cliff face heading to the city at breakneck speeds
He enters the town and is greeted by a demon soldier who holds his weapon at Escanor "STOP RIGHT THERE HUMAN!" the demon orders
Escanor knocks away his weapon and grabs the demon by the face before launching him towards the castle. He then leaps in the air onto the demon, and rides the screaming demon into the castle like a surfboard.
*shatter*
Escanor and his surfboard. Land in the throne room of the castle.. before the queen. And a lot of dead demons
The royal family, Escanor assumed.
He stands before the queen
"My.. thats quite an entrance" the queen says
"Boss.. there's Escanor. What should we do?"
"This isn't part of my plan.. but let's see what happens, if he can kill the queen then Zazie won't have to risk his life.. but if not then he can wear her down further. Making it easy for Zazie" Norman says "so let's just observe for now"
"Demon queen Legravalima, allow me to introduce myself, I am your doom. I am Escanor, the last human you will ever meet"
The queen starts cackling "you truly are arrogant."
Escanor joins in on her cackling with a hearty laugh of his own.
Vincent, watching through the crack of the door. "Is this guy serious? He's just.. laughing with her?"
Just then the queen, fed up with Escanors laughs charges at him full speed, faster than light and sends Escanor flying up through the roof. The queen leaps up and knocks Escanor back down at blistering speed, then rushes down at him. Only to be stopped mere seconds before reaching him as Escanor leaped back up and with one swing of the axe decapitates her.
"NO WAY!" Norman said.
Escanor and the queen land back in the throne room
"Quit playing around Legravalima. I know you can do better"
The queen regenerates her body "you… you'll pay dearly for that!" She launches at Escanor again and the two trade blows at blistering speeds. The queen scratches Escanors face, leaving just a tiny cut.
"Seriously, I expected more from you." As Escanor punches her gut, sending her flying across the room crashing into the room before crashing on the back wall.
"Why… you! Hehe. Fine. Take this!!" She swipes her hand through the air and a dragon comes through the air, and lunges at Escanor knocking him back through the room near the throne.
"Hm, your pet packs quite a punch" Escanor says
The queen breaks into laughter "beat this Escanor!" She gloats, as the dragon lunges its head towards Escanor once again
"There is no need" he extends his open hand out stopping the dragon. The dragon calms itself. And Escanors arm and the dragon begin to glow
"What? No!!" Legravalima bellows.
The dragon, no longer under the control of Legravalima flies around Escanor. Ready to assist him
"There is no need for you to be here friend. My strength alone will be sufficient. Go now to your master, I will make her pay for what she did to you" Escanor tells the dragon. The dragon simply nods, and returns back *demon speak*
Escanor turns a sharp glare towards Legravalima "now, where were we?"
"You bastard. Fine! I can more than take you myself!" As she once again charges at Escanor and Escanor stands there ready to meet her. She slashes several times at Escanor, who remains unaffected.
"Just what exactly are you? Escanor!"
"I said it earlier" he swings his axe cutting her in half "I am your doom."
Legravalima regenerates the damage yet again "you cocky litt-" before she can finish Escanor buries his axe into her face, then throws her across the room yet again.
He holds out an open palm as a sun forms above it
"Cruuuuel sun!" He says and throws it towards her. It connects and Legravalima screams in agony. She is seemingly defeated. Just then
"RAWWRG!" Zazie lunges out from the door and rushes Escanor, who just stands there and takes the hit from his swords.
They break on impact
"Norman. Can you hear me?" Escanor calmly calls out, as Zazie is left flabbergasted at what just happened. Norman and the rest of his squad enter the throne room
"I don't know what you are Escanor, and why you think we should trust you. You're unnatural. And far too powerful" Norman says
"Then you should know it was pointless to attack me
"Tch." Norman seems caught off by that
"Regardless you don't have to fear me. I made it a promise to your friend Emma, I will not harm any of you. I promise this"
Emma and Ray run in. Emma looks distraught by the many corpses around the area "Escanor… you"
"I didn't do this. They were here when I arrived, it's not safe for any of you to be here, I do not know where she is. But the queen is not yet dead"
Ray and Emma turn their attention to Norman, and then realize Zazie had attacked Escanor.
"Norman! Then it was you that did this! Why? You knew that Escanor was going to resolve this!" Ray shouts and the two make their way towards him
"You two trust him so easily, he's so powerful! He could eviscerate us in an instant if he was brainwashed" Norman claims
"My mind is far too strong for such a simple trick as mind control young Norman, my convictions and my heart are never conflicted. I vowed to protect Emma and her friends and nothing can stop that" Escanor explains
"Yeah, see nor-" Emma starts to speak, but suddenly queen Legravalima reveals herself in a larger form
"ESCANOR!! If I can't kill you… then I'll kill the ones you care about!!" As she makes a deadly strike towards Emma.
"I don't think so" Escanor quickly makes his way towards Emma standing in between her and the what would be a fatal strike on Emma, but on Escanor felt more like a sting.
"I vowed to protect these children. And it'll take more than some pitiful being like you to stand between that promise and my strength"
"Escanor!" Emma cries out
"GO children. Norman, cover them and leave. This is going to get intense. It's no longer safe!" Escanor orders
Norman, wanting to disagree. Realizes that Escanor is right, either Escanor dies or the queen dies, of they kill each other. But it will all be for nothing if he let's Emma and Ray die. "Right. Cmon everyone! Let's go. Good luck Escanor.." they all leave
"Grr! Just what are you?"
"Are you as deaf as you are weak? I've said it many times. Or perhaps you simply lack intelligence. I am lion sin Escanor, a human, the one who stands at the pinnacle of all races. The savior of this world. And they refer to me as, The One" he said as he slices off Legravalima's arm
"How dare you! You think you can just call me stupid? You will pay.. YOU WILL PAY" She regens her arm and forms a fist, and begins to pummel Escanor.
The punches are strong enough that Escanor actually has to block them. Finally, a challenge. But not enough of one. He steps aside from the barrage of fists, and leaps towards the queen
"I see you Escanor!" The queen launches a tentacle at Escanor, grabbing him and entangling him "I got you now! Ah hothothot!" Shes forced to let go of Escanor who heated up his bodily temperature
"You have me now? It's not very becoming of royalty to lie you know?" He says and laughs
"You disrespectful little shit!" She launches several sharp projectiles at him, Escanor dodges them effortlessly, one of em barely cuts his skin. And he catches one and throws it back.
"Nice try Escanor! It'll take more than that to kill me"
Escanors strikes at the queens several times and she screams in pain with each strike, before slamming Escanor down with a decisive blow.
"I've had enough of this! You'll die now" She says, and releases a strange gas around the room
Escanor rises to his feet, and realizes he's unable to move "hm? What is this tactic? Why can't I move?"
Legravalima laughs uproariously "oh my dear Escanor! Is that fear I detect in your voice? Yes…. You are paralyzed, you cannot move, as strong as you are. It does you no good now does it?"
"Hm, you're right. I am fully unable to move"
Legravalima smiles "haha.. I got you now. Do you know why you're here Escanor?"
"No, but I would like to know"
"Heh. Very well. Before I eat you you should know. It was me Escanor. I saw you from your home world, you looked delicious. So strong. So powerful, I figured.. if I could consume you… I would be… invincible"
She drops her head in front of Escanor "now.. it's time for my snack.. You're gonna die Escanor, and then I'm gonna eat, Emma, Ray, Norman, and all of her friends. And you can't do anything to stop me" she opens her gaw.
It's noon..
"Who decided that?"
"Hm?"
"I'm paralyzed?" He upercuts her bottom jaw forcing her mouth shut. "Who decided that?"
"WHAT? NO! IMPOSSIBLE!!"
"I'm powerless? Who decided that? Emma and her friends are gonna die? Who decided that?" Escanor begins to grow in size, bringing the castle down upon both of them, becoming the size of the castle itself.
"I can't stop you? Who decided that?! Who are you to decide such matters? You are but an ant believing yourself to be a dinosaur, these people never elected you as their hierarchy, and you know nothing of my power and dedication to the ones I love. In fact, you know nothing at all."
The queen can barely contain herself, but refusing to go down. "NO!!!! NO ESCANOR!!! NO I WILL KILL YOU!!! I WILL KILL!!!! YOU!!!!!" As she lunges at Escanor yet again
"How does it feel? To be looked down upon, by a human? Your worthless life ends here today. I am the one.. who decides. Die." as he lunges a finger at the queen, it hits her and she gets smashed back on the ground and burns up under the heat of Escanors power
"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! THIS.. THIS CANT"
"No more will you harm anyone." Escanor says, as he begins to shrink back down to normal. As he returns back to normal size he is greeted by the many demons of the town, and Emma and her friends
"She has no power over you anymore" Escanor stated
"Escanor!!" Emma says beginning to run up to Escanor, but Escanor stops her
"Keep your distance Emma. My body reached incredible temperatures. You would burn up getting too close" Escanor says
"Y..you did it.. you defeated the queen.. we can go home now! You.." she falls to her knees as mujika stands behind her, and smiles
"Escanor, youve done a great service to the demon race. We thank you. From the bottom of our hearts" Mujika says, as Sonju stands behind her. Speechless
"You're welcome." Escanor says and smiles.
Later outside of town
"The promise can now be fulfilled, between me and The One" Escanor says "what comes next?"
"Well first, we have to go back to Grace Field House. That's where the human world gate is, and then can go back, and then send you back as well." Ray says
"Then we should do that, it's what you've all fought so hard for. I still have plenty of daylight left, and I can still fight if needed." Escanor says, they all nod.
Grace Field House 3pm
Escanor walks in, and breaks down the gate with ease "attention all demons!" He calls out
"My name is lion sin Escanor, I've defeated several demons in my time here. Including your puny queen, leave and let us through, or perish here as fools"
Demons start to appear before Escanor, and. A human.
"My my Escanor, you're quite strong." The suited man says "but I'm afraid you're not getting through me and my demons, as a Ratri I cannot let that happen"
"If you think you're safe because you're a human you're mistaken, I will strike you down should you come between us and be a threat. You and your entourage are nothing to me. Step aside and let our promise be complete"
Emma and the others gather behind Escanor
Peter Ratri signals at one of the demons to strike Escanor, the demon does and puts his entire being into the attack. And Escanor remains unfazed
Escanor shakes his head, "do you demons really want to listen to this man, your friend here is proof that you are all no match for me. Now I ask again, step aside. Or I will kill each and everyone one of you" he says
"Escanor no you cant!" Emma cries out
"I'm sorry Emma, but I will do what I must. I promise to make it quick, none of em will suffer."
The demons all look amongst themselves, and step away from Peter. None of which are willing to die for him
"YOU USELESS FOOLS!" Ratri yells out
"A wise decision, come on everyone. Lets go" Escanor leads the way pushing Ratri aside, as Emma passes however he grabs her and puts a knife to her neck
"HOLD IT ESCANOR! OR SHE DIES…"
"Guys go on!! Without me!!"
As Escanor gets ready to act, suddenly a gunshot is heard.
A gun aimed at Peter. Shot right through the forehead. Everyone turns to see who shot the gun.
"Mom..?" Emma's voice shakes
Isabella drops the gun. "Welcome home my children." She starts to cry "I heard the news. I heard that we can be free… I" the kids all fun towards her. As Lucas and Yugo walk up to Escanor
The kids explain who Escanor is, and what he's done for them. And the promise he made.
"Escanor, you took care of my children when I couldn't. Thank you. I wasn't a good mother to them, but I'm glad you were there as a father for them. Thank you.."
"You're harsh on yourself, you were a victim in this too. And while I'm sure there's scars that will never heal with these children, I also believe in time they will forgive you. And you can be there for them normally, as a mother, not a warden." Escanor says
Isabella smiles softly at him.
"Well everyone. I'm afraid this is goodbye. You do not need my strength anymore, and instead.. you will need hers" he points at Emma. "And you will need her guidance" he points towards Isabella. "Tho I am leaving you in body all, know that I stay with you in heart"
Emma bursts into tears and run towards Escanor to give him a hug, and all the other kids crowd him and Isabella to all collectively say their goodbyes.
"Goodbye children." He looks towards Norman, who approached him.
Norman outstretched his hand
Escanor grabbed it and shook it
"I'm sorry I didn't trust you. I didn't wanna let you leave with that unspoken. You were what these kids needed more than anything"
"You were long forgiven Norman. These kids will need you, Ray, and Emma now more than anything. Guide them, and comfort them should they ever miss me."
"I will Escanor"
"Escanor. Thank you. You saved all our lives so many times and never once did you ask for anything in return.. we will never forget you, and never be able to repay you." Ray said
"Ray. If you wish to repay me, all of you, promise me you'll live your lives as best as you can. Love and look out for each other. Do this, and your alleged debt is repaid. I was happy to help you all. Remember, I stayed behind to help you."
Ray nods and backs away
"Escanor!!" Emma calls out "we.. we love you Escanor! We will never forget you!!"
Escanor tears up a little "I love you all too. Take care everyone. Promise me."
The children all nod
"*demon speak* we are ready to make the promise!" As Escanor said this two portals open before them, Escanor stands in front of one, and the others stand before the other one.
Escanor and Emma take one last look at each other, Isabella looks over as well, and as does the child with them. Phil.
Escanor smiles and they return the smile, as they walk into their portals.
"Well well well. Welcome back Escanor" Merlin says, standing over the man
"You've been gone quite a while buddy.. seriously did you have to stay behind to help those kids. Sheesh, we missed ya dummy" Ban says
Escanor rises up, "its good to be back my friends. If you met those kids.. you'd understand. I have so many stories for you all"
"We look forward to hearing them." Melidos says as he smiles "welcome back buddy!"
Escanor smiles, and looks towards the sky. Be safe Emma.
In the human world
A few days after being found by the Ratris there
Emma is sharing a meal with her family, they're laughing and having a good time. When Don walks in with his shirt stuffed to look like abs and a fake mustache with a toy axe "Hey look everyone! I'm Escanor! *doing his best Escanor voice* I will be the one, that decides.. die" as he falls over raising the axe
They all laugh and fondly remember their strange companion.
"Now Don. DO you think Escanor would like you imitating him?" Isabella says standing over him
Emma smiles. She dearly misses him, as she's sure everyone else does, but Escanor was invulnerable, wherever he's at now. She's sure he's okay, just then she heard a voice
"Be safe Emma"
"Escanor?" Emma said, but there was no one. She smiled.
He's still thinking about us.