'It appears that an Albion has been destroyed,' said Fraudrin, folding his arms. He and the rest of the Ten Commandments were still at the edge of what had once been Danafall, waiting. At his words, Zeldris turned slightly. 'Two of them, actually. In separate locations.'

'Who cares about them anyway?' Melascula's voice drifted down like a poisonous fog. ''Cause to me they're nothing more than ancient toys.'

Galand started to laugh. His armoured body clanked with each cackle of twisted mirth. 'How amusing.'

'What is it you find so funny?'

'Who'd have ever imagined that even now there'd still be people daring to stand against the Demon race?' Galand got to his feet with a grunt. 'Right. Let's go.'

'You're not considering heading out there with your powers still depleted, are you?' asked Melascula, slight exasperation tinging her voice.

'Why not? It'd be a perfect warm up exercise. Or do you actually think they'll defeat me?'

Melascula sighed.

Zeldris stood up. Fraudrin blinked and the prince had appeared in front of Galand.

'Now wait a minute,' said Zeldris. 'Have you forgotten it was this kind of arrogance that lead to our being sealed up in the first place?'

It was impossible to see any emotion on Galand's face, only the wide smile. 'Well memory loss in old men can be rather severe.'

The vines wrapped around Gloxinia stretched, one reaching out to point. 'So, what direction are you going to take?' he asked with almost-genuine interest.

Galand stroked his chin. 'Hm ... let me see ...'

Zeldris sighed and folded his arms. Fraudrin was inclined to do the same.

'I noticed something north-west of here,' said Gloxinia, the vine writhing. 'For a minute there were Power Levels that were doubling the Albion's. The one south of us was strange, because that Albion seemed to self-destruct as if, somehow, its own power slammed right back into itself.'

'Hm. Hey, thanks a lot.' Galand patted Gloxinia on the head before turning to face away from the Ten Commandments. 'I'm ready.'

And with that, Galand disappeared, leaving behind a cloud of dust and a feeling of anticipation hanging in the air.

–

'The Ten Commandments,' said Arthur, a slight frown on his face. 'Locked away since ancient times. The hand-picked troops of the Demon King himself. They've all been freed from a three-thousand-year-old seal and that's caused these giant monsters to start moving again.' He leant down to stare at Meliodas. 'Is that what you're telling me?'

The remains of the Albion loomed over the city walls like a boiled egg in an egg cup, its top half cracked away not by a spoon but by Meliodas's attack. Citizens of Camelot crowded around, pointing up at it in awe and disbelief.

'Don't blame ya for not believing this at first,' said Meliodas, 'but everything I've said is true.'

'Indeed.' A knight behind Arthur spoke. 'If we hadn't seen that beast with our own eyes, it would have been impossible to believe.'

'To think that ancient Britannia once had monsters like that roaming the continent,' said another. 'It's terrifying.'

Diane frowned. 'If they made those things, then that means the Ten Commandments must be even stronger, right, Captain? And, if that's true, how will any of us stand a chance going up against that kind of power?'

'My goodness,' said Slader from behind you. Gowther was tucked safely in Slader's glove. 'Even the form of Hendrickson we faced seems almost sweet by comparison, right, Gowther?'

Gowther didn't say anything.

You watched as Diane grimaced and held her head. Surely you must have missed something when you healed her before. This wasn't normal. But before you could do more than open your mouth, a laugh full of pride interrupted.

'It sounds to me like you guys are forgetting something,' said Hawk, drawing everyone's attention. 'As long as we've got Meliodas's attack move, we'll be able to take anybody down. Right?' He punctuated his statement with a well-placed snort.

'Yes, that's right,' said Arthur, gesturing enthusiastically. 'Absolutely, Sir Pig.'

'Sir Pig, huh?'

'That attack was incredible!'

Meliodas laughed. 'It wasn't really my attack, though. More like Lostvayne's special ability.' He got into position. 'And it's called Physical Clone.'

With a swish, Lostvayne cut through the air and now there were five Meliodases standing around. They were all identical. Each one had their own Lostvayne and ring. Arthur quivered with excitement.

'I can't believe how many of him there are.' Elizabeth raised a hand to her mouth. 'Is all of this some kind of illusion?'

One of the Meliodases walked up to her and began to explain while also demonstrating he was not an illusion. The other four turned to you, the same smirk twisting their lips.

You raised your hands and took a step back. 'Easy.'

'Hey,' Hawk shouted, appearing between you and the Meliodases and stamping a trotter with each word. 'You are in public.'

Four different faces of disappointment stared at the pig. 'Aw, come on, Hawk.'

Right, [Y/n]? said four identical voices.

You patted your suddenly hot cheeks and tried not to listen to what Meliodas was saying or watch the memories he had chosen to think about.

'So if Meliodas's Power Level is up around three thousand three hundred and seventy, that means five of him would add up to over sixteen thousand,' said Hawk before the situation could derail any further (Arthur had opened his mouth to ask what would be an undoubtedly awkward question). 'Hold on. Other than the real Meliodas, the rest only have a little over four hundred and twenty.'

Merlin stepped forward. 'Allow me to explain. By creating a clone, the Power Levels are diluted, falling far short of the host's. For example, one clone's overall power would be half of the original's – or one thousand six hundred and eighty-five. If there are four clones, they'll have a fourth of the host's Power Level, which comes to four hundred and twenty.'

'If that's the case, then aren't they all pretty weak?'

You snorted a laugh. Meliodas stuck his tongue out at you.

'Well, yes, numerically speaking,' said Merlin. 'And yet Captain's Full Counter is a technique that, regardless of his Power Level, can deflect all magical power while using approximately zero of his own.'

'Oh,' Hawk breathed. 'That's cool.'

'There's no Sacred Treasure that's a better fit for the captain than Lostvayne.'

Meliodas laughed proudly again.

'Wait, wait, wait,' said Arthur, his arms waving again. 'Doesn't [Y/n] have one too? Surely that will bring up our Power Level.'

You grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of your head. 'Sorry, Artie, but mine's not nearly as cool as that.'

Arthur clenched his fists. 'Don't say that! It's got to be amazing. I'll bet you have ten clones, or ... or you'll turn into a giant.' His voice kept raising in excitement. 'Come on, show me. Please?'

Heaving a sigh, you turned to Merlin. 'I'll make Meliodas pay you back triple.'

'Hey,' said your husband loudly. But you didn't turn to him.

Merlin smirked. 'I'm holding you to that.' She raised her hand and clicked.

It appeared in your hand looking exactly the same as you remembered. A sword called Cosain, not as flashy as Meliodas's, but with a longer blade and more delicate looking. Its weight was perfectly balanced in your hand, its grip moulded to your fingers. You shivered and held out your other hand over the blade and whispered, 'Sacred Treasure Release.'

The power ran through your body faster than lightning. You could feel it crackling in your blood, begging to be released. One corner of your mouth tugged up.

'Ooo!'

You looked up to see Elizabeth, Arthur and Hawk staring at you with wide eyes.

'What does it do?' they all asked with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

You fidgeted under their gaze. 'Well, I don't know whether now –'

'Oh, go on,' said Meliodas. He was smiling at you proudly before turning to the others with his hands on his hips. 'It's super cool,' he bragged. '[Y/n] and Cosain together is like ... is like ...'

'You and booze?' said Merlin.

'Sword and shield?' said Arthur.

'Me and scraps?' said Hawk.

Meliodas nodded. 'Correct.'

Everyone turned to you again. There was no backing out of it now. You held Cosain out, the tip pointing away from everyone. The power started to build, fizzing just like you remembered.

There was a great rumbling in the distance, not at all like you remembered.

Arthur gasped. 'I see. So it's to do with the weather!'

'No.' You lowered Cosain and shook your head. 'That wasn't me.'

'So it is thunder?' asked Slader.

'I don't see any rain clouds,' said Diane slowly.

Another loud bang. And you felt it. Or rather, you felt them. Someone with a huge amount of magical power. They were coming your way. And they were coming fast.

Too fast.

A metallic sound like a sword cut through the air. The loudest bang yet. Whatever caused it had fallen out of the sky right in the middle of your group. Dust and stones flew. You squinted through the murk, looking frantically for Elizabeth.

I've got her, said Meliodas.

You relaxed slightly but almost as quickly tensed up again because the voice coming from the centre of the dust cloud was one you hadn't heard in three thousand years.

'Hm,' it said. 'Seventy-two steps, huh?'

'Captain,' said Diane from somewhere. You could only just make out the pink of her dress. 'Is this ...? No way. It ... can't be.'

The dust began to clear and you saw him. Just the outline at first, a bent shape that could have been a human behind a pane of warped glass. And then the details. The wickedly sharp blade in his hand. The bright cherry-red armour that wasn't armour at all. The wide, twisted smile with rows of pointed teeth. And neon green eyes that glared from unknown depths.

'I thought it would only take me seventy steps to come out here,' he said. His voice was like a single overgrown fingernail being dragged down your back. 'But I suppose I'm out of practice after three thousand years.'

'You're Galand,' said Meliodas, 'of the Ten Commandments.'

Somehow you managed to tear your eyes away from Galand's stretched body. You flitted to Meliodas's side, keeping Elizabeth behind you. Lostvayne and Cosain were pointed unwaveringly at Galand as he stalked forwards. A tiny whimper escaped Elizabeth and you gritted your teeth.

'It's been a while, Meliodas,' said Galand. 'Just as I suspected. It is you, isn't it?' His eyes rolled over to you. 'Still with your little toy, too, I see.' A mad laugh. 'To think, after all this time has passed, you'd still keep her around. And in those forms, just as the rumours said.'

You could almost hear Meliodas's teeth grinding. You heart beat faster. Your hands became cold.

'But how?' said Diane. 'How can an evil monster like this even exist in the world?'

'Merlin,' said Hawk. You didn't turn to look at him even though you were glad he was well enough to talk. 'I think my Magical Eye must be broken.'

'Why's that?' asked Merlin.

'It'sjust that this can't be right. A Power Level of twenty-six thousand?'

~~

thoughts on the new season??? (careful with spoilers)