The dust slowly settled over the shattered ruins, carried away by a gentle breeze. The lingering shock from Full Counter still crackled in the ground. A crater marked the force of the spell reversal.
Néo, on one knee, face bloodied and breath short, pushed himself up with trembling hands. He winced and hissed through gritted teeth:
"…So, you came after all, Meliodas."
The Captain of the Seven Deadly Sins stood before him, calm yet unyielding, his back shielding Miranda, Rebecca, and the infant he had just saved. His gaze—soft at first—rested on Miranda, whose eyes fluttered open.
She blinked, dazed, and whispered:
"…Meliodas?"
He turned his head and gave her a warm, familiar smile.
"Yo, Miranda. Been a while, huh?"
She sat up slowly, still holding her baby close.
"Why… Why are you here?"
Meliodas turned his eyes back to the enemy, and his smile faded. His voice grew serious—steel hidden behind velvet.
"Before Zeldris and I left the port to return to Britannia… I told Zephir that if he ever needed me, I'd come. No matter the place. No matter the time."
He cast a glance back toward them.
"After all… you're family."
Miranda's breath caught. Her lips trembled.
"Meliodas… Thank you…"
But the Captain of Wrath was already stepping forward, sacred treasure Lostvayne in hand. With each step, his aura grew heavier—more suffocating.
"So you're the one behind all this? The abduction. The traps. The threats to my family…"
Néo, still reeling from the earlier blast, staggered to his feet, sword trembling in his grip.
"Meliodas… You shouldn't be here! This has nothing to do with you! Leave now, while you still—!"
But Meliodas didn't stop.
His golden eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. His demonic power had begun to rise, swirling faintly around him—but he held it back.
Watching from behind, Zephir clenched his fists, awestruck.
"So this is it… the real strength of Meliodas. If that counter had been aimed at me... I'd be scattered to pieces. And that was while he's still holding back…"
Zeldris, still bruised, allowed a crooked smile.
Rebecca stared in silence—trembling, but with awe sparkling in her tear-filled eyes.
Suddenly, Néo screamed in panic:
"STAY BACK!!"
He lunged at Meliodas, blade raised, demonic mark burning red-hot.
In a flash—
BOOM!!
Meliodas appeared before him in an instant—too fast to track—and drove a punch straight into Néo's face. The force of the blow sent the demon flying like a rag doll, smashing through a wall of stone and into the ruins beyond. Debris rained down from the blast.
Silence.
Only smoke rose from the crater where Néo had landed.
Meliodas lowered his arm slowly, eyes razor-sharp as he stared at the destruction.
"You target my brothers…"
"You threaten the family of one of my brothers…"
"And what? You thought I'd just stand by and watch it happen?"
He turned slightly, golden eyes half-lidded.
"…You underestimated me."