The battle against Kunimitsu, Nia, and Khoi vs Hoolay sparked a wave of confidence in the raiding party, and with Hoolay's retreat, the shogunate troops and the vision wielders get a morale boost as they focus on their battles. Most of the Abyss order's minions were faltering, especially with the arrival of Durin supporting the shogunate, the said dragon was hovering over the island and unleashing attacks that targeted the Abyssal monsters. Right now in an abandoned arena, the Children of the Pyro Archon and the First Fatui Harbinger, Il Capitano, were facing off against an extremely strong Abyssal creature called the Twin Marionettes. The three fire children were there to destroy the monster that took their father while Capitano wanted to get rid of the entity before it became a problem to the Tsaritsa.
Escanor: "CRUEL SUN!!"
He forms a massive fireball and throws it at one of the ballerinas, only for it to slice the attack in half and explode behind it. Koleda zooms behind the ballerina and is about to smash her hammer against its head but it ducks and points its sharp foot toward her stomach, but Escanor hits it away and chases after it. Kotori summons her large mechanical axe claymore and transforms it into a cannon.
Kotori: "Camael, Megiddo!"
She fires a large condensed beam of pyro energy at the entity, it spins around and dodges it while gracefully dancing.
Kotori: "You're not getting away!"
She controls the beam and redirects it toward it, slightly surprising the ballerina and it lands on it, causing an explosion. The entity bursts out of the smoke and gets closed-lined by a massive iceberg made by Capitano. The Ballerina emerges unscathed and does a pose.
Capitano: "Hm, quite the resilient one. Commendable."
The other ballerina appears behind Capitano but he turns around and kicks it into the sky.
Escanor hovers above the stunned abyss monster and lifts his axe.
Escanor: "SUPER SLASH!"
He coats his weapon with fire as he slashes the ballerina, the impact sending it crashing to the ground. The second Ballerina spins around with blades on its skirt toward Koleda and she parries the entity and hits it on the legs, knocking it down and smashing its head in the dirt.
Koleda: "BURN!!"
She erupts her pyro energy around her in a sphere, covering herself and the ballerina in fire. Capitano assists her by unleashing an icy aura that combines with her fire field, making a Melt reaction and inflicting tons of damage to the entity. Escanor and Kotori tag-team the other ballerina and pin it down as they use their godly powers' full force to incinerate the monster.
Escanor: "DON'T STOP!!!"
Kotori: "BURN THESE BASTARDS TO HELL!!!!!"
Suddenly, abyssal corrosion spreads on the ground as the twin marionettes blast everyone away and stand up. The three young gods look on, baffled that the wounds caused by them on the marionettes are healing at an alarming rate. The twins hold hands and spin rapidly, firing millions of abyss spikes everywhere, causing massive destruction to the surrounding area. The fire children hide behind cover while Capitano forms a large cryo wall to block them.
Capitano: 'Seems like they're done playing around. What fun...'
The ballerinas then unleash a massive abyssal shockwave, launching everyone to the rocks. Escanor hits his head on a boulder, falling unconscious.
500 years ago, a week after the Cataclysm
A young Escanor is seen walking through the halls of his home late at night, yawning. He passes by a door that has a crack open, and he peeks inside to see his mother, the Pyro Archon Mavuika, and his father, Zepar, sitting by a bonfire.
Mavuika: "Dear, are you sure it's wise to face the abyss alone? Especially those...unknown Abyss Ballerinas? They already killed most strong warriors...I don't want to lose you..."
The man sighs and turns to her.
Zepar: "I'm positive. I have to make sure this family is safe. My nephew is struggling in the Abyss by himself and I can't sit by and let him suffer."
Mavuika lowered her eyes, and on her lap was a baby Koleda, sleeping. Zepar brushes his hand over his child's hair and smiles. He looks at Mavuika and places his hand on her cheek.
Zepar: "I will return. Once I do, I promise we'll get married, ok?"
Mavuika blushes but she smiles either way.
Mavuika: "Yeah...I would like that..."
Zepar nods and kisses her. He walks out of their home as hydro energy gathers around him.
Zepar: "I will drown the Abyss the lowest depths of the sea...I will not leave my family, my brother turned tail and ran from his responsibilities, I WILL NOT!"
Zepar flashsteps, leaving Mavuika and the kids...little did they know, that was the last day they saw him.
"On your feet!"
Escanor feels himself being shaken and he opens his eyes, meeting the empty gaze of The Captain in his view.
Escanor: "S-Sorry..."
Capitano: "It's fine. Right now your sisters are fighting for their lives there. It seems Vepar and his group managed to defeat that wolf abomination, it disrupted whatever those ballerinas were doing."
Escanor stands up and recalls his axe to him, he takes a look at the sky, toward the sun, and smirks. Kotori fires her cannon at the ballerinas, but the abyssal monsters dodge the attack and launch a dark beam from their fingers, hitting Kotori and launching her into a boulder. Koleda zooms past the abyssal monsters and slams her mechanical hammers on the ground, causing a fiery explosion as Capitano flies above and unleashes a barrage of ice spikes, causing an elemental reaction of Melt and doing some damage to the ballerinas. Kotori shoots out of the boulder and flies past the marionettes, slamming her halberd down and causing a giant explosion. Koleda holds her weapons in an X formation as geo-energy gathers to her and she causes a volcanic eruption mixed with her pyro powers and geo-vision. The Ballerina lunges out of the flames toward Koleda but Kotori smacks it away, sending it down Capitano.
The First Fatui Harbinger heel slams the abyssal creature as he unleashes a bombardment of ice spikes onto it. The ballerinas zoom into each other, joining hands and unleashing a tornado of abyssal energy attacks at them. Capitano forms ice walls to shield himself and the Pyro siblings from the attacks.
Escanor: "Now the time has finally come!"
The sisters and fatui harbinger look behind to see Escanor covered in an aura of flames as he points at the sun.
Escanor: "It's High Noon! Let's end these monsters!!"
Capitano: 'Interesting...'
Escanor zooms at sonic speed as he brings his axe down, causing a massive slash that cleaves the beach and unleashes a tidal wave of flames. One of the ballerinas kicks Escanor's hand, knocking his weapon out of his grasp and it grabs it, but unfortunately, the weight of the axe pins the abyssal dancer down.
Escanor: "That was foolish. My Divine Axe Rhitta is a battle axe adorned by the sun, bearing the name of a maiden. A mere abyss monster like you that rides around the shadow of darkness isn't worthy of touching it. A shame, you two are as unlucky as you are foolish."
He snatches the axe and cuts the ballerina in half, making both of the entities screech.
Escanor: "AND THAT IS THE SIN OF PRIDE."
As he said that, the symbol of a lion burns onto his back. Abyssal energy reattaches the ballerina's upper half as it spins around with blades on its skirt. Escanor blocks it with his axe and forms a sun in his hand, sending it toward the abyssal creature.
The impact sent it roaring into the ocean, and Escanor turned his attention to the other ballerina, seeing it rushing toward him. He smirked as he stomped and formed his hand like a sword, bringing it down as a line of fire formed in front of him, blocking the ballerina.
Escanor: "DIVINE SWORD...ESCANOR!"
A large slash forms on the marionette's body, and then it erupts with purple blood as it coughs a waterfall, abyssal energy emanating from it as it tries to heal itself. The marionette screeches and spins its blades, charging at him.
Escanor: "You won't defeat me...DIVINE SPEAR ESCANOR!"
Escanor thrusts his finger and impales it, unleashing a massive burst of flames that erupt behind the abyssal dancer.
Escanor: "PIERCE THROUGH...!"
His finger stabs through the ballerina, sending her far back. It emerges right away, clenching its wounds.
Black Veil Marionette: "WHO...DO YOU THINK YOU ARE...?!"
Escanor: "Oh? You can talk? Saves me the trouble of getting information out of you."
Black Veil Marionette: "YOU ARE JUST A LITTLE MAN...HOW DO YOU HAVE SO MUCH POWER?!"
Escanor: "Heh...want the answer? Fine then..."
His flames surround him as his eyes glow, the fire burning the ground around him.
Escanor: "I AM HE WHO WAS BATHED IN THE GLORIOUS RADIANCE OF THE SACRED FLAME, THE ONE WHO STANDS IN THE PINNACLES OF ALL GODS! THE ONE WHO SHINES LIGHT ON HIS PEOPLE, DISPELLING THE DARKNESS OF THE ABYSS AND MELTS THE EVER-WINTER! I..AM...ESCANOR."
The ballerina growls as abyssal gathers around her and it roars, bulldozing toward him, but it stops when the sheer heat of Escanor's aura stops them in their tracks. Escanor's eyes turn into bright orange flames as he lifts his hand, forming a sun in his palm.
Capitano: "Fascinating...the sun is at its highest peak, which increased his power."
Kotori: "Little fun fact about Escanor, my mom gave birth to him when she was in the sacred flame. It's why someday, he will become the next Pyro Archon and the most powerful Pyro Archon."
Koleda: "Not many warriors can beat Escanor in Natlan."
Capitano: "Hmm..."
The ballerina backs up instinctively.
Black Veil Marionette: "YOU WON'T STOP THE ABYSS...IT WILL CONSUME ALL OF TEYVAT AND WE WILL BE PARADING ON YOUR CORPSES!!"
Escanor: "You say the Abyss will devour everything...? Who decided that? Your darkness will swallow up my light, Who Decided That?"
Kotori: "Oh boy here we go again..."
Escanor: "I will be the one, to decide..."
The other marionette, the Gray Veil Marionette sees its sister about to get the worst sunburn of their life.
Gray Veil Marionette: "Oh no, SISTER!!!"
Escanor: "Die."
The Black Veil Sister screams in terror as Escanor throws the sun at it, sending her flying as it curses at him and the heat melting its features. The other sister collides with it, trying to push them back, but they both get sent into the ocean, causing a massive explosion. Escanor powers down and stumbles a bit.
Escanor: "Well...that was a lot, it passed High Noon but I had to keep my power up and running...We won't be seeing them for a while, which I'm glad. A shame I didn't get any answers about Father from them. I won't be able to walk for the time being, I'll just end up burning everything, my only choice is to stay here for a while..."
Capitano looked with awe, he was intrigued by the young god's power. Despite him being the First Fatui Harbinger, he can't help but respect the power Escanor has. Above the battlefield, the same witch lady is seen staring with surprise and interest as she grins.
???: "Wow...that was something."
The raiding party hears the defeat of the twin marionettes, it boosts their confidence as they hold back the monsters. Kunimitsu sees the explosion in the ocean and smiles.
Kunimitsu: "Nice job, Escanor."
Khoi: "The hell was that?"
Kunimitsu: "Don't worry about it. Let's focus on eliminating the last remaining monsters and defeating Scaramouche."
Nia and Khoi nod as they follow him. On top of the mountain, the Kamisato Siblings and Kazuha continue to battle Scaramouche. So far, they have been able to land some hits, but his attack is hurting them pretty badly. Due to his Gnosis, his strength is on par with a god's.
Scaramouche: "Is this the best you worms got?!"
He unleashes multiple giant lightning bolts toward the trio, making them dodge them. Kazuha runs around him, unleashing his anemo vision and slashing Scaramouche, but he blocks it with his arm covered in electro energy.
Scaramouche: "So weak!"
He grabs Kazuha's face and throws him aside.
Scaramouche: "So much for the last member of the Kaedehara Clan..."
Ayato appears behind Scaramouche but the Fatui Harbinger grabs his blade.
Ayato: "Tell me! Why would you do this?"
Scaramouche: "It's simple really, I want to become a god. It's my birthright."
Ayato: "I've read into hidden documents relating to the Raiden Gokaden, you must be the one who caused its downfall and the Kaedehara's fall from nobility. Kazuha is part of that clan, the same clan that took care of you all those years ago!"
Scaramouche: "THEY WERE NOBODIES TO BEGINNING WITH!!"
He attempts to headbutt Ayato but he pulls back and jumps away, Ayato's Hydro Vision glows as he holds his sword to his face.
Ayato: "Mind the deluge."
He forms a large field as hydro attacks rain down on Scaramouche. He forms a barrier to block the attacks but Kazuha appears behind him and slashes his back. Scaramouche grits his teeth as he stomps his foot, his appearance changing to how the Raiden Shogun puppet looked.
Scaramouche: "I will make sure you insects don't get off this island alive!"
He swings his massive blade, sending a flurry of electro slashes at them. Ayaka waves her fan, sending a wave of cryo and destroying the attacks. Kazuha swings his blade, unleashing his elemental burst that swirls Ayaka's cryo energy, making a snowstorm. Scaramouche zooms right out of it and the three puppet arms to his left form electro orbs and fire them at the trio. Ayato sprints toward the Balladeer and locks blades with him. He forms an electro attack in his hand but Kazuha kicks his arm as Ayato slashes Scaramouche's shoulder.
Scaramouche: "DAMN YOU!"
He emits a shockwave, pushing them away.
Scaramouche: "BURN TO OBLIVION!!!"
He unleashes a hailstorm of electro-attacks. Kazuha uses his anemo vision to blow them away. Ayato and Ayaka stand side by side as they unleash their elemental bursts together.
Ayaka/Ayato: "Kamisato Art: Shoumetsu/Suiyuu!"
Their attacks combine and slam into Scaramouche, but he breaks it down.
Scaramouche: "PATHETIC!"
He slams his fist into the ground, emanating a massive electrostorm that electrocutes the trio, putting them down.
Scaramouche: "You really think you have a chance against a god?! You're nothing but mortals. Worms at my feet. And for the punishment for defying a god, I'll end your miserable lives."
He lifts his giant sword to cut them down but a shadow looms over him, he looks behind to see Kunimitsu with his eyes now dark purplish-red with an abyssal mark on his forehead, around him was condensed abyssal energy taking into physical mass.
Kunimitsu: "TRILLION DARK!!"
He unleashes the orbs at Scaramouche, bombarding him relentlessly and causing the Fatui Harbinger to scream in pain, destroying his current form and reverting him to his original state. Scaramouche groans in pain, attempting to get up. Kunimitsu lands in front of his friends.
Kunimitsu: "You guys ok?"
Ayato: "Yeah...just a little hurt..."
Kunimitsu: "I'll get ya to the medical team."
Kazuha: "What about him?"
He points at Scaramouche.
Kunimitsu: "I'll hand him over to the elite team to keep him chained."
Kunimitsu's eyes widen to the size of plates, and so do Ayato, Ayaka, and Kazuha's. Vepar looks in the sky in the short distance to see a massive shadow in the clouds, flying straight to the island.
Kunimitsu: "No...this can't be happening..."
End of Chapter