Sans lay unconscious on the ground until a blue light began to wrap around his body. Was it an aura… or some kind of magic?What Sans didn't know was that the world he had always longed for was now in his hands. A simple human, turned bearer of supernatural powers, was about to rise on Earth: Sans, the hero.
Sans: (slowly opening his eyes) Mmh… what…? What is this…?
A magical energy surrounded his body. His strength had doubled. The young man who previously couldn't even lift a thirty-kilogram box without tiring… could now lift cars.
Shion: (running to him) Are you okay!?
Sans: Yes… or at least I think so. Actually, I feel much better than just moments ago.
Shion: (worried) I mean, are you physically okay… there's a blue light around you.
Sans: Maybe that shadow gave me powers… but I'm scared. Maybe it's something bad in the short term, right?
Shion: We don't know yet. Maybe we should check what's happening outside.
(Above, Azrael's clones undo Hanzo's celestial creation magic, producing a clash of forces barely perceptible from ground level.)
Sans: (looking up at the sky) Did you see that?
Shion: See what?
Sans: Something… something moved across the sky so fast I couldn't even move or think.
Shion: Maybe it's related to your new power.
(In truth, what he had seen was one of Azrael's clones, fighting tirelessly against shadows imbued with anti-magic that countered omniscience.)
Shion: Also… I feel like the city is in terrible shape.
(She turns her head. Her face goes cold.)
Shion: My God… what happened to the city…!
Sans: (horrified) Good heavens… what happened here?
Cadavers lay in the streets. Shadows were dissolving into nothing as if sliced by invisible cuts. Buildings reduced to rubble, cars smashed, cries for help echoing from every corner. Chaos reigned.
Sans: (clenching his fists) I have to do something… I don't know how to control this power, but maybe I can face one of those shadows… or not?
Shion: (in a small voice) Maybe…
(Suddenly, a shadow appears in front of Sans.)
Shadow: (mocking) Do you think a miserable human will stand against me?
(The shadow strikes him brutally, sending him flying several meters and tearing his jacket.)
Sans: (gasping on the ground) Am I alive? God…
Shadow: It seems the magic our master gave you is taking effect. Good…
(The shadow fades away.)
Sans: (shouting, confused) What the hell is going on here!?
—Meanwhile, in the Domain of the Realms—
Azrael: (exasperated) I'm tired of your pathetic secrets. We are companions… tell me your damned names at once!
Crescent Sun 7: (cold) Fine… my name is Elaine.
Crescent Sun 6: I am Alexander.
Crescent Sun 5: And I'm Sofia, friends!
Alexander: (smiling) Nice name, Sofia.
(Elaine looks at him with a spark of jealousy.)
Azrael: (nodding) Alright… that will do for now.
Hanzo: And I am Hanzo.
Sofia: (smiling) Nice name.
Hanzo: (a little uncomfortable) Thanks… I guess.
Azrael: My clone is massacring more shadows.
Hanzo: Mine too. Although clones are dangerous… they have a soul of their own. They obey only because they are loyal to those who created them.
Azrael: I know that all too well.
Hanzo: Also, my clone tried to summon the Divine Spear.
Azrael: (indifferent) Let him have his fun.
Sofia: (laughing) What a party pooper you are, Hanzo.
Hanzo: (shrugging) As if I'd let a clone use my spear… you'd have to be crazy.
Azrael: (smiling) Ah… guys, I'm off with Nevaeh.
(Azrael disappears, leaving only a breeze.)
Hanzo: (sighing) Ah…
(Crescent Sun 3 passes by at high speed and sees the scene with a half-smile.)
Crescent Sun 3 — Saphira: (joking) Are you still playing at clone nonsense...? Two of a kind, maybe…
Hanzo: (laughing) Don't scold me, hahaha, I was too lazy to fight.
Crescent Sun 3 — Saphira: (mildly scolding) Your role is to be a Crescent Sun; what makes you think you have the right to be lazy? Ah… you have no cure. By the way, my name is Saphira. Nice to meet you.
Sofia: (smiling) What a lovely name. But why do you introduce yourself like you don't know us? Sit, let's order juice, friend, and talk about girls.
—Meanwhile, Azrael and Nevaeh elsewhere—
Azrael: (approaching) Hello, love… tell me, how are you?
Nevaeh: (looking at him, calm) Sit by my side.
Azrael: (sitting) Of course.
Nevaeh: (soft voice) I honestly missed having a moment with you… alone.
(Azrael leans closer to her.)
Azrael: (smiling) No kidding…
(Nevaeh draws close and kisses him on the cheek.)
Nevaeh: (blushing) You don't know how much I love you, do you?
Azrael: (taking her hand) And I love you too, my dear.
—Meanwhile, one of the Monarchs found the body of the former Crescent Sun 2: he lay annihilated and humiliated after fighting Azrael.
Monarch: (kneeling beside the body) Submerge in the ashes… young warrior… Kage no fukkatsu.
A shadowy light wrapped the body. The former Crescent Sun, once dead, breathed again — he had returned to life.
Monarch: (looking at him) What is your name?
Meliodas: (struggling to sit up) My name is Meliodas…
Meliodas had once been a formidable warrior, but before facing Azrael he had been poisoned with a specialized toxin: it didn't kill him, but it stripped away much of his power.
Meliodas: (with contained fury) Cursed king of the elves… I thought it was a peaceful realm… it's rotten! He poisoned me before I died. Just as I fought Azrael I felt my strength drain…
Monarch: (frowning) So you fought Azrael, huh? I see. Your powers have been restored; don't thank me.
Monarch (thinking, quietly): Though he's so powerful that I cannot undo or fully control the spell now, he will be alive again as before… besides, I have enhanced some of his abilities.
Meliodas: (clenching his fists) I will kill that fool with his dark powers… He will pay dearly, that monster.
Monarch: (coldly) Yes… the time has come for you to avenge that insolent one. I have granted you anti-omniscience magic, so it will be impossible for them to know anything about you. Also, that magic doubles your strength and raises your power.
Meliodas: (challenging) Let me test it.
Monarch: (shaking his head) I don't recommend it. If you try it here they would notice immediately. Remember we are in Shadowfel; the realm is empty but Azrael has a keen perception and can sense if anything goes wrong here. Besides, he likely rules here now and, of course, he is probably Crescent Sun 2 since he served alongside 1.
Meliodas: (furious) That dark being… Azrael…?
(The earth trembled under his rage.)
Monarch: (warning) As I said, I advise you not to cause a scene here.
Meliodas: (demanding) And you… how did you know where I was and who I am?
Monarch: (shrugging) I don't owe you that information. But I can tell you this: my master knows everything.
Meliodas: (expectant) And you won't introduce me to your master?
Monarch: (with a short laugh) Eh? Do you want to die? Not even I can see him in person; he is in a place beyond my understanding.
Meliodas: (murmuring) I see…
And so Meliodas and the Monarch began to sketch their future offensive: they planned how to strike Azrael and the Suns, sharpening vengeance, strategy, and the dark advantage that anti-omniscience provided.