The silence that followed Escanor's scream was thick with tension. A thousand emotions seemed to flicker across his face—shock, confusion, guilt, and a deep-rooted fear he couldn't hide. His trembling hands still clutched Merlin's leg as if anchoring himself to reality, to a moment he couldn't believe was real.
"You're alive?" he whispered, voice hoarse and breaking.
Ban grinned widely, tapping his bare chest with a smug expression. "Sure am, buddy. Took more than a little solar beatdown to take me out."
"And me," Meliodas added, his voice light but eyes serious. "Next time, maybe check for a pulse before mourning us."
Escanor stumbled backward, his body shaking. "I... I thought I killed you. I felt it. Your bodies—"
"You didn't," Merlin interrupted gently, kneeling beside him. "You only lost control for a moment. The rest of us had it under control."
Escanor's knees gave way, and he collapsed into the rubble, clutching his head in both hands. "No. No, I don't deserve this. I should be alone... I should've stayed hidden..."
Ezra watched silently from a few steps behind, the quiet hum of the system's interface still faintly flickering in his peripheral vision. His heart ached seeing Escanor like this—not the proud, invincible Lion's Sin of Pride, but the broken man beneath the sunlight, a man at war with himself.
"You didn't hurt them," Ezra said gently. "And if they've come back, knowing what happened, maybe it's because they still see you as one of them."
Escanor glanced up, eyes filled with disbelief.
"You don't understand. I killed before—my family, strangers, knights. People I meant to protect."
"And yet you saved me," Ezra said, walking closer. "I don't know what they see in you yet. But I know what I see. I'm still breathing because of you."
The others remained silent, letting the moment sink in. Diane knelt down beside Escanor and gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder with her massive hand. "You've suffered enough alone. It's time to come home."
King hovered beside her, arms folded. "Meliodas wanted us to find you for a reason. You're one of us, Escanor. Whether you believe it or not."
Escanor looked up at Meliodas, whose expression had softened.
"Will you come back with us?" Meliodas asked.
Escanor's throat tightened. "Even after everything... you still want me?"
Ban chuckled. "We've all got skeletons, man. Yours just happen to glow."
Slowly, Escanor stood. His posture was still shy, almost hunched, but there was the beginning of something else behind his eyes—hope.
"I... I'll try."
Ezra felt something stir within himself as well, a warmth that had nothing to do with his powers. For a moment, he forgot about systems, quests, and labyrinths. This was real.
Merlin turned to Ezra. "And what about you?"
Ezra blinked. "Me?"
"You've seen things no ordinary person should've. You have strength—whatever the source—and you helped calm him. That counts for something."
Ezra looked at the ground, then at Escanor. "If it's alright with everyone... I'd like to stay by his side."
Escanor turned to him, surprised. "Why?"
Ezra smiled. "Because I think we both have curses to overcome."
Silence again, but this time it was filled with something new: understanding.
Meliodas nodded. "Then it's settled. We've got a long journey ahead of us. Let's get moving."
The next few days passed in a blur. The group returned to their old hidden base on the outskirts of Liones—an abandoned hilltop fortress concealed by enchantments. It wasn't much, but it was home.
Ezra quickly found himself falling into rhythm with the Sins. Meliodas taught him how to brew ale and recognize battlefield terrain. Ban gave him tips on hand-to-hand combat and endurance training. Diane offered strength-building exercises and King, despite initial distance, opened up about magical theory.
But it was Escanor whom Ezra spent most of his time with. During the day, Escanor kept his distance, his proud and boastful persona re-emerging as the sun shone overhead.
Yet, at night, he changed. He was quiet, thoughtful—almost melancholic. And it was during those moonlit hours that Ezra truly got to know the man behind the power.
One night, as they sat under the stars, Escanor stared into the campfire with haunted eyes.
"You said you wanted to be my student. Why?"
Ezra poked at the fire with a stick. "Because I admire you. Not just your strength... but how you carry your burden. You think it's a curse, but I see it as potential."
Escanor laughed softly. "You're a strange one."
"You've seen my stats, haven't you?" Ezra asked with a grin. "I'm not normal either."
Escanor smiled faintly, then shook his head. "I can't train you."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't control this power. It controls me."
Ezra leaned back, watching the flames dance. "Then let's figure out how to take it back."
Escanor looked at him for a long time, then gave a single nod. "Alright. We'll try."
And so began Ezra's true training. It wasn't just physical. It was emotional, spiritual—a path of discovery and healing.
Meanwhile, the system continued to reward him. Every few battles with wandering beasts or rogue knights triggered Labyrinth Mode, and though Ezra couldn't use the other features of his system yet, he grew stronger bit by bit.
He expanded his party slots, eventually acquiring a third character: [Twigo the Brave], a powerful tank unit in the early game with one of the highest raw HP stats Ezra had ever seen.
Ezra's current party:
Main: [Dungeon Raider] Gamer ShinSub 1: [Undead] Prisoner BanSub 2: [Twigo the Brave]Sub 3: Empty
He had learned to utilize skill chaining between Shin's attack buffs and Ban's lifesteal, with Twigo's taunts absorbing damage. Even without full control of the system, his adaptability in real combat was rising fast.
Merlin took interest in his unusual abilities.
"You say you summon powers through a system no one can see," she said during one of their practice duels. "Would you permit me to study you?"
Ezra gulped. "Define 'study'."
"Nothing painful. Just a few tests."
"...No dissection?"
"Only if you die."
"Comforting."
Merlin was the only one who seemed to grasp the alien logic of the system—though she didn't know the full truth. Ezra kept his origin secret, not out of distrust, but caution.
He wasn't ready to tell them he was from another world.
Time passed. The Six Sins—now with Escanor—continued fighting corrupt knights, rescuing villages, and investigating the growing threat of the Demon Clan.
Ezra remained their hidden blade, never at the forefront, but always watching, learning, preparing.
And all the while, the countdown ticked.
[Countdown to the Main Story: 135,542 Hours]