Hey, y'all. I wanted to start this chapter out and explain why I've been gone so long. I'm not asking for your pity or anything, but I think you, as readers, deserve an explanation.

Over the last few months I've been experiencing a long string of depressive relapses. Once things seem to get better, I get another thing piled on top of my already heavy load. I am constantly surrounded by negative energy, and only get three to five hours of relief during theatre.

As I am typing this, my day has been particularly shitty. I guy I was practically dating, but never really, told me that he has never had feelings for me and was only using me cause I'm a good kisser and make him horny enough for other girls. After school theatre also got cancelled for nearly a month, and my school had added an extra week to our break. Our teachers are piling on the work and making it seem we won't have much free time. My parents are very close to getting a divorce, and they take it out on me, telling me I'm a disappointment and not worth the financial drain nearly everyday.

Again, I don't want pity or anything. I'm just trying to explain why I've been gone.

That being said, I don't think any of that is an excuse anymore. I have taken enough time, and I think I'm stable enough mentally to get back to my usual routine. I can't promise they will be frequent. But I will begin updating again.

I am so sorry for making all of you wait so long. However, my mental stability comes before writing, as much as I wish it didn't.

Thank you for waiting for me.

———

"Terribly sorry for coming in on such short notice, dreadful etiquette, I know~"

"Oh? Another demon?" Galland asked, looking you up and down. "Are you part of those idiot Sins as well?"

"Another demon?" You purred, looking him up and down. "Galland! You shouldn't talk about yourself that way! I'm sure there at least one defining trait somewhere within that completely boring personality of yours!"

You grinned, teeth bared and eyes glinting with mischief. Galland growled in irritation, pulling his Halberd closer and poising it for battle.

You laughed, "That's the weapon you're using?! Please, you're going to have to try harder against me, honey. I'm not a piss-ant mini-boss like Ban. I'll give you some time, though! Prep all you want!"

"Those are strong words for such a low-level demon," Melascula snapped, "I don't even recognize your aura, you're so insignificant."

Your eye twitched, your grin never faltering. A burst of flames bloomed upward from behind you. You took a step forward, and both Commandments widened their eyes, staggering at the force. You forced your magical aura upon them.

"Insignificant? I wouldn't say that, sweetie," you hummed, another step, "You really don't remember me? I'm hurt~ We used to be partners, darling. I must say, though- I've had better sex with humans."

"Wh-what is this force?" Gallon breathed, looking hesitantly over at his partner. Melascula was struck, a deer in headlights.

"I-it can't be..." she whispered.

"Oh? But it can!" You cackled, stomping your foot down at looking threateningly at the two of them. While they were above you, it seemed that you towered ominously over them. You bowed, making eye contact and never breaking your horrifying grin. "Allow me to introduce myself! My name is (y/n) (l/n). I am the Raven Sin of Despond- the Eighth Sin of the Seven Deadly Sins. Oh! And I'm the last of the Tenebris Demons~"

"Tenebris..." Garland mumbled, and then his eyes widened, peering down at you with hesitation and mild fear.

"The one and only!" You cackled, throwing your arm up in the air and posing. "Literally..."

You smiled, removing yourself from the pose. You pulled out your whip as you did so, cracking it against the rock on the floor of the cave. Galland flinched, another wave of powerful magical energy surging at him.

Behind him, from within the confines of the vault, Jericho sighed in relief, laughing and beaming as she lay on the floor. Ban was swinging in and out of unconsciousness, and Elaine was nearly immobile, but she was still paying attention.

"Alrighty, Gally! You said I could start, right? Perfect~"

Melascula whipped her head in the direction of Galland, who began to speak in protest. Before the both knew it, you had him on the ground, whip tied around his neck and tightening as it burned into his armor. Your deep eggplant-toned eyes baring into the holes in his armor. He let out a gag, reaching for his weapon, which had been abandoned as you tackled him.

You jammed your knee into his stomach, feeling two of his hearts burst under the force. You then slammed your foot down, getting a third.

"Critical... Over...!" He choked out, and you rolled your eyes. You grinned manically and pulled out an absolute cancel orb from your pocket, slamming it into his chest and crushing a fourth heart in the process.

His partner watched in horror, staring at you, on top of such a massive force, taking him on with ease. She could barely move, both fear and anger washing over her. One fact accounted for both of these.

Before the Holy War, you were her intended replacement.

"Four!" You spat, getting closer to his face. "Is this really all you can do? And you're one of the Ten Commandments? Maybe I should go straight to the Demon King since his little power posse is so pathetic!"

His arms swung up, a fleeting effort against the burning strangulation and slow extermination of all of his lifelines. It tapped against your arm, the demon marking all over your body snapping to protect you. The attack was weak. It could kill a few humans sure, but he was grasping at straws.

"Come on, Galland of Truth!" You squealed, "Aren't you revered for your immense physical strength? What is this?" You cackled, slamming down your other leg and crushing two hearts. Blood spurted from his mouth, "You should be a challenge!!"

"Enough," the voice of Melascula sounded, and one of her tentacles reached out and wrapped around you, slamming you into the wall.

You giggled, the rubble falling around you as you gracefully went back to the floor.

"Inferno- Spear."

Where Galland lay wheezing on the floor, clutching his wounds and grasping for his weapon, a spear of flame shot toward him. It impaled his final heart, making his eyes widen and entire body go numb. He collapsed to the floor without a moment's hesitation.

"Ahh finally, she steps up," you purred, "I was beginning to think you were gonna chicken out~"

"Galland is a fool, a weak one at that," the demon said, smirking at you. "You'll find your death to be slow now that you've killed one of my comrades."

"Will I?" You hummed, raising a teasing eyebrow before looking down at your nails. The rock atop Escanor began to shift, his body becoming larger below it. You glanced outside. "Well, loose-lips, as much as I'd love you fight you, I shouldn't waste my time on such frivolous efforts. I'm sure my comrade would love to dance you with you, though~"

Her eyebrow twitched at the name, but she quickly moved behind you, placing her hand upon your back.

You inhaled, choking on air. She smirked from behind you, whispering in your ear. "I'm sure you'll taste delicious~"

"Oh, I do, honey~" you purred, your neck bending all the way backward so you could look at her as you grabbed her wrist and snapped it. "But take me out to dinner first!"

You kicked her to the side, a powerful roundhouse that snapped all of her ribs as she was sent flying into the wall of a cave.

"Did you forget, darling?" You grinned maliciously as you stalked toward her. Stopping in front of her body, which was healing itself on the floor. She glared up at you as you kneeled down, grabbing her chin lightly with two fingers.

"The Tenebris don't have souls."

You giggled, pushing her back. You heard her bones snapping into place as she rose from the ground. Chuckling, you turned to Escanor, a glint in your eye.

"(Y/N), it's been a while," the large man said, towering over you, nearly double your height. "You seem to have gotten much more powerful since I last saw you. You may be second to me now."

"Awww, Escy, don't make me blush~" you teased, winking at him. "I'm sure it's been a long time sinc should had some fun, so hows about you be a doll and take care of her for me? I need to heal the others."

He laughed broadly, "I do need to stretch my legs, don't I? She should be no problem."

"You've always been my favorite," you beamed, blowing him a kiss before hopping over to the safe.

You glanced to the side before opening it, looking at the plethora of alcohol, perfectly aged, sitting at the bar. You looked over at Escanor, who was giving his usual spiel to Melascula.

"They'll live," you hummed, skipping over to the bar and carefully selecting nine different alcohols. You sat down on the bar, popping one open. "Probably."

You chugged them down as Escanor handled Melascula behind you. He did his whole ePiC hErO sPeeCh as she tried to take his soul and consume it. The whole light god thing or whatever. He had done it many times, so you were pretty used to it.

Enjoying a wonderful bottle of whiskey, the screams of Melascula in the background, you grinned widely.

Ahhh it's been such a long time since (y/n) has let her demon out, it feels good to be back, you thought, savoring the final drop as her shrieks ceased.

"(Y/N), it's almost noon," Escanor said as he walked over to you.

"Ahhh, yes, very exciting," you purred, "Are you planning on fighting me next, Escy?"

"As long as you are a comrade, I have no intention of wasting my time."

"Always a confident one, you!" You cackled, rolling onto your stomach atop the bar. "I'm assuming you're going out to finish up some business?"

"Yes. Stay here until I return, that's an order," he relied, turning away, but not without giving you a glare.

"Wouldn't dream of it, darling!"

You waved broadly as he jumped through the roof of the mountain this cave was within, heading off to do whatever it is he had to finish. You hopped off the counter, dusting off your outfit as you walked to the safe.

You looked down as you swung open the door, finding Ban holding Elaine and Jericho attempting to stand. Within you, there was a feeling as though you had been punched in the stomach. You growled lowly as you looked at the two holding one another, quickly regaining your composure as you turned to Jericho.

"Jeri, hun, just stop," you sighed, flicking your index and middle fingers toward her. Her entire body glowed with lavender magic, lifting her up off the ground for a few seconds before releasing her. All of her wounds had been healed and her energy replenished. "There, see? Good as new."

"(Y/N)!" Jericho beamed, running up and hugging you. You raised an eyebrow, looking down at her as she smiled up at you. "Thank you so much, I though we were dead!"

"Oh, darling, anything for you~" you winked as she pulled away from you. You turned your attention to Ban and Elaine.

You stared at them, eyes narrowed. They didn't even seem to realize you were there.

Jericho glanced between the three of you, noticing the subtle anger in your cocky expression. She broke the silence after a few moments, "Y... you're going to heal them, right..?"

"Why should I?"

The question shocked everyone in the room, but you still stared down at them, raised eyebrow and small smirk. You picked up Ban's chin with your foot.

"Ban is weak. He's of no use to me. Besides, he's done quite a number on (y/n)- so much so that I could come out," you stared down at him, aura now ominous instead of playful.

"You day that like you're not (y/n)..." Jericho mumbled.

"That's because she's not," Ban said, "Demons work differently than humans. Their powers make them different people."

"Oho! Look at you!" You squealed, now pressing your foot against his throat. The punching sensation was much stronger now. "Mr. Intelligent now, are we? But it's too easy to kill you, why shouldn't it hurt your little girlfriend instead?"

Ban growled, suddenly protective, "If you so much as look at h-"

"You'll, what?!" You cackled, "Kill me? Like you could! What if I left you both here to rot while I took the only valuable fighter with m-"

Suddenly you were choking, and you inhaled sharply. The "real" (y/n) didn't want this to happen. You clutched your throat in agony, falling to the floor, gasping for air.

"No..!" You wheezed, eyes flickering between eggplant and their normal, (e/c) hue. "You can't... you can't let him keep doing this!"

Jericho and Elaine watched in horror as you gasped for breath, while Ban stared in distain. This... other version of you- it had always hated him. He didn't see you like this very often, but he made sure to keep his distance when he did. You two together- when you were like this- is never a good mix.

Suddenly the choking stopped, and you were gasping for air. Your head shot up, fear in your eyes as you looked at them.

"Oh, no..."