Nakaba Suzuki is a bit of a madman. You’ve probably noticed that if you’ve spent any time with Meliodas and the gang. Just when we thought the story of Britannia was wrapped up with a neat little bow—demon king defeated, curses broken, everyone married off—he drops Seven Deadly Sins Four Knights of the Apocalypse and flips the script. It’s not just a sequel. It’s a complete tonal shift that’s left a lot of the old-school fandom scratching their heads while a new generation dives in headfirst.
The transition from the original Nanatsu no Taizai to this new era isn't as seamless as some people claim. Honestly, it’s jarring. We went from following a bunch of overpowered, legendary outlaws to a sixteen-year-old kid in a green cape who didn't even know what a Holy Knight was. But that's exactly why it works.
Percival Isn’t Meliodas (And That’s the Point)
If you're looking for a Meliodas clone, you aren't going to find it in Percival. Meliodas was a mystery from chapter one. He was already the strongest guy in the room, hiding a dark past and a literal god-tier power level. Percival? He’s a "hope" type. He’s naive. He grew up on a floating island called God's Finger with his grandpa, totally isolated from the political mess of Liones and Camelot.
The story kicks off when his father, Ironside, shows up and kills his grandfather. It’s brutal. It’s dark. It immediately sets the stakes for Seven Deadly Sins Four Knights of the Apocalypse by showing that the "heroes" of the previous generation might actually be the villains this time around. Or at least, that's what the prophecy says.
King Arthur Pendragon is the biggest shocker here. In the original series, Arthur was the wide-eyed kid with boundless potential, the "Chosen One" who Meliodas mentored. Now? He’s the primary antagonist. He’s built a kingdom called Camelot that only allows humans, and he’s terrified of a prophecy stating that four knights will destroy his world. It’s a classic "die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain" situation. Arthur’s descent into extremism feels earned if you look at the trauma he endured during the Holy War, but seeing him as the bad guy still feels like a gut punch.
The Power System Shift
Suzuki changed the way magic works, or at least how we perceive it. In the original series, it was all about "Power Levels." Remember those? The scouter-like numbers that told us exactly how much "Combat Class" someone had? Those are basically gone.
Now, magic is categorized by its nature. You’ve got:
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- Hero types (like Percival), whose power grows based on the hopes and feelings of those around them.
- Enchantment types, who imbue items or themselves with elements.
- Healing types, which are pretty self-explanatory.
- Abstention types, which are rarer and deal with negation.
This makes the fights way less about "my number is bigger than yours" and more about how these specific abilities interact. Percival’s "Hope" magic is incredibly volatile. It can create tiny clones, heal wounds, or even act as a massive destructive force, but it only works if his friends believe in him. It’s cheesy, sure, but in the context of the Seven Deadly Sins universe, it’s a refreshing change from the constant power-scaling creep of the previous series.
Who Are the Four Knights?
The prophecy mentions four specific individuals who will bring about the end of the world. We know them now, and the lineup is a mix of new faces and "wait, I know that kid" moments.
First, you have Percival, the Knight of Death. That’s an ironic title for a kid who is basically a walking ball of sunshine. Then there’s Tristan, the son of Meliodas and Elizabeth. He’s the Knight of Pestilence. Tristan is a mess of contradictions—he has the wings of a Goddess and the darkness of a Demon. He’s constantly struggling to balance those two halves of his heritage, often feeling like he’s failing both.
Then you get Lancelot, the son of Ban and Elaine. He’s the Knight of War. Lancelot is easily the "coolest" of the bunch, acting as the powerhouse of the group. He spent time in a mysterious realm called the Lake, and when he came back, he was basically untouchable. He doesn't even use a real sword half the time because he’s too strong for them. Finally, there’s Gawain, the Knight of Famine. She’s a relative of Arthur and holds the power of "Sunshine," the same grace that belonged to Escanor. But she isn't Escanor. She’s arrogant, struggling to control a power that’s clearly too big for her body, and honestly kind of a brat.
Watching these four try to work together is a disaster. They aren't a cohesive team like the Sins were. They’re a bunch of teenagers with god-like powers and massive chips on their shoulders.
Why Arthur is Actually Terrifying
We need to talk about Camelot. In Seven Deadly Sins Four Knights of the Apocalypse, Camelot isn't just a city; it’s a pocket dimension created by Arthur using the power of Chaos. It’s a "perfect" world where no one has to suffer, as long as you’re human.
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Arthur’s logic is twisted but understandable. He saw his kingdom destroyed, his people slaughtered by demons and goddesses, and he decided that the only way to protect humanity was to isolate it. He’s essentially trying to commit a slow-motion genocide of all other races. The way he uses the "Chaos Knights" to do his dirty work shows how far he’s fallen. These knights aren't necessarily evil people; they’re humans who have lost everything and see Arthur as their only savior.
This creates a moral gray area that the original series didn't always explore. Back then, it was mostly "Demons bad, Sins good." Now, we’re looking at a world where the "Hero King" is the one causing the most suffering.
The Connection to the Original Sins
If you’re reading this for cameos, Suzuki delivers, but he’s stingy with them. Meliodas is the King of Liones now, and he’s much more mature (mostly). Ban is the King of Benwick. We see them, but they aren't the ones solving the problems anymore. There’s a real sense that their time has passed.
One of the best moments in the series is seeing how the old characters have aged. Diane and King have a whole brood of giant-fairy hybrid kids. Gowther is still... well, Gowther, acting as a protector for a village of demons. But the series is careful not to let the old guard overshadow the new kids. When Meliodas shows up, it’s a big deal, but the focus remains on Percival's journey.
Is the Animation Doing it Justice?
Let’s be real—the original Seven Deadly Sins anime took a massive nose dive in quality after the first two seasons. The infamous "white blood" and the Meliodas vs. Escanor fight that looked like a PowerPoint presentation still haunt fans.
Thankfully, the Seven Deadly Sins Four Knights of the Apocalypse anime, handled by Telecom Animation Film, is a significant step up. It’s not Demon Slayer or Jujutsu Kaisen level, but it’s consistent. The character designs are vibrant, and the movement feels fluid. They’ve captured the "adventure" vibe of the early manga chapters really well. If you dropped the original series because the animation got too painful to watch, this sequel is a safe place to return.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Timeline
There’s a common misconception that you need to have watched all 100+ episodes of the original series to understand what’s happening here. Honestly? You don’t. Suzuki wrote this in a way that functions as a standalone entry point.
Sure, you’ll miss some of the emotional weight of seeing a grown-up Tristan or understanding why everyone is scared of a guy named Zeldris, but the core plot—four kids trying to stop a mad king—is self-explanatory. The manga actually does a better job of explaining the lore of Chaos than the original series did in its rushed final arc.
- Start with the manga if you can. Suzuki’s art is incredibly detailed, especially when it comes to the monster designs and the vast landscapes of Britannia.
- Don't expect the Sins to save the day. If you’re waiting for Meliodas to swoop in and Full Counter every enemy, you’re going to be disappointed. This is the Knights' story.
- Pay attention to the prophecy. It’s not just flavor text; every word of it is being subverted or fulfilled in ways you wouldn't expect.
The series is currently ongoing, and the stakes are ramping up. We’re moving away from the "monster of the week" format and into a full-scale war between Liones and Camelot. It’s messy, it’s emotional, and it’s a lot more complex than the simple "save the princess" plot we started with years ago.
If you haven't given it a shot yet, stop comparing it to the original. Let Percival be his own weird, hopeful self. The world of Britannia is much bigger than just seven people, and the Seven Deadly Sins Four Knights of the Apocalypse is finally showing us the rest of it.
To get the most out of the current arc, keep an eye on the official releases on platforms like Kodansha or Netflix. Following the weekly manga chapters is probably the best way to avoid the massive spoilers that are currently flooding social media, especially regarding the true nature of Percival’s origin, which is a massive twist even veteran fans didn't see coming.