Chapter 58: Thundering Troubles
~Third POV~
After Diane finished wailing on Meliodas and Mash lifting his [Huma] spell, he explained everything to Diane with bumps on his head shown from being beaten, "So you see… Elizabeth is searching for the Seven Deadly Sins to put a stop to the Holy Knights."
Diane slumps down after getting her emotions out of her system apologizing for thrashing him into the ground, "Oh… is that it? I completely jumped to the wrong conclusion… sorry about that."
Mash and Hawk both looked at the ground responding curtly together, "That's putting it lightly!"
Glaring at Elizabeth Diane gets a closer look at her with a questioning tone judging her with her eyes, "You sure you're not in that kind of relationship with the captain?"
Elizabeth meekly replied yes as Meliodas chimed shocking Diane of the news in a blunt tone, "Don't forget neither are you and I."
Diane was shocked by the news as Mash took the chance to question her with a raised eyebrow, "Wait… I thought you said that both of you loved each other. Was I mistaken from that Diane?"
Diane bashfully looks away with Meliodas understanding now why he asked if he loved her previously mentioning it before jabbing his thumb at her, "Oh! So that's what you meant back then huh? Nope. It's completely one-sided on her end."
Diane felt like she got shot by a metaphorical arrow piercing her heart hearing those hurtful words slumping down into depression.
But returning to business Meliodas asked in a curious tone eyeing her about his question, "Listen, Diane. I wanted to ask you about what went down 10 years ago."
Diane looked confused scratching the back of her head till she realized what Meliodas meant explaining herself remembering the event, "Hm? Oh, yeah. That big Memorial Day when the Captain of the Holy Knights called for us?"
However, that was when Meliodas dropped a verbal bomb surprising those around him with his news, "The thing is… I don't have any memories of what happened that day."
Upon explaining what he remembers Elizabeth soon asked in a shocked tone, "So the Seven Deadly Sins were framed for the murder of the Captain of the Holy Knights?! And one of the Seven Deadly was a traitor?"
Understanding the situation and Meliodas' wish to know what happened Diane stomped her foot to the ground wishing to join the party in an angry tone, "Give me your worst Holy Knights and traitors! I The Serpent Sin of Envy, Diane will help you out, captain! Let me make this clear, Your Highness. I'm only here to help… with anything that the Captain needs!"
With everyone collected for the upcoming journey ahead Mash's eyes the storm being formed above them as everyone soon notices.
A giant thundercloud is formed above them. Rumbling could be heard from the thundercloud as the lightning began to cackle and rumble above them till…
*CRACK*
*BSSHT*
Everyone soon gets caught in an electrical binding as Elizabeth tries to get free but feels the effects of the lightning zapping her body system, "My body's… starting to get numb…"
*Clang*
Clanging sounds could be heard as Gilthunder makes his appearance known with his armor giving himself away in a neutral tone, "We meet at last. Seven Deadly Sins!!"
Everyone yelled in surprise to see a Holy Knight appear, "A Holy Knight?!"
Elizabeth felt surprised as Meliodas explained that the issues with the water supply back in Bernia Village were because he did that at first, she denied it. But seeing the expression of Gilthunder and chill running down her spine had no choice but to believe.
Gilthunder soon began to speak eyeing everyone present in a neutral tone talking to Elizabeth letting her go of his Magical Power, "Elizabeth. Your safety is the kingdom's top priority. But I have no such interest in that. Whether you live or die means as little to our command as a grain of sand. Be gone. My business is with The Seven Deadly Sins… and as for you."
His eyes soon turn towards Mash calmly examining the situation as Gilthunder asks in a neutral tone, "I see you joined with The Seven Deadly Sins to capture them?"
Mash merely grinned shaking his head and answering Gilthunder's question in a neutral tone remaining calm, "Nope. I lied just not to be forcibly recruited. But seeing as I'm their cook and made some friends you can tell where I stand."
Gilthunder remained neutral before returning his attention towards them releasing Mash in the process, "Whether you join of your own will or not doesn't matter. Like Elizabeth, my business is with the Sins not you. Be gone."
Gilthunder begins to march forward as Elizabeth attempts to stop him putting on a brave face thinking they are helpless, "I won't let you touch them! Release them of this spell and let them go!"
Marching forward towards Hawk he soon kicked the pig forcing Elizabeth to flee after his concern as Mash sent one of his 'hands' to catch his fall.
Meliodas tries to see the situation of where this is going as Gilthunder soon asks them a question, "Do you know why the Holy Knights are after The Seven Deadly Sins?"
Meliodas answered they didn't know as Gilthunder explained to them in a serious tone providing them an answer, "Half of us want to purge your traitorous knighthood for plotting to overthrow the Kingdom. And half of us want to prove our strength in a fight against you former 'legends'. I fall under both."
Gilthunder soon explained his reasoning for wishing to kill and defeat Meliodas to be able to surpass his father as he raised his hand to free them of their binds for a fair fight, "Fine. Then I'll remove those binds and we'll see."
However, Meliodas smirked answering his request with a cheeky grin, "Nah, don't bother."
*Pop*
*Pop*
Breaking out of their electrical bind Meliodas cheekily responded, "If I wanted to, I could've done that from the start."
Moving forward Mash merely eyed Gilthunder intently from afar as he soon interrupted the conversation bluntly speaking out loud catching the Holy Knight's attention, "Of the remaining 5, the whereabouts of three are unknown. But two have already been taken care of. The Fox Sin of Greed is under strict confinement in Baste Prison. The Grizzly Sin of Sloth is in the Capital of the Dead… so that's where they are huh?"
Gilthunder soon gazed intently at Mash questioning him how he found out vital information instantly in a stern tone, "Wha- what? How did you know such private information? I'm positive such details weren't spread so – ack!"
*Clang*
Kneeling Mash came forward as Gilthunder suddenly felt his heart was stopped by an unknown force as he moved forward answering in an honest tone, "Simple. I read your mind looking from afar to get all the info in your head about the information. The relevant ones I mean. And I wouldn't move if I were you…"
Gilthunder soon tried to stand but soon felt his heart ached questioning Mash of his actions interfering in a confused tone, "Ack! I thought your Magical Powers were related to Earth… are you a Wizard – "
Before he could continue Mash used his [Unseen Hands] to phase through his body grasping at his heart and directly responding in a spiteful tone, "Yeah… you see I don't take kindly to people hurting my friends. So out of spite, I'm a do you dirty ripping you off your fight Gil. So… see ya later."
*GRAB*
Diane soon grabbed hold of Gilthuner with an annoyed tone grunting at him, "Sorry but not sorry."
*WOOOSH*
Tossing Gilthunder away before he could do anything or retaliate, he was flung away by Diane's strength as Mash whistled at the scene, "Whew… seems like that's one guy gone. So, Bossman… do I get a raise for doing a splendid job?"
Meliodas seeing this grinned cheekily responding making Mash's face freeze at his response in a cool tone, "Why yes! A very small raise!"
Mash merely clicks his teeth as Meliodas confirms the info Mash provides in a curious tone asking a request, "So with Gilthunder's reaction we can assume the info is correct. But on a side note, can you check my memories to see…"
Before he could finish Mash shook his head explaining the extent of his [Telepathy] skill in a neutral tone, "Sorry but not possible. I can search all I want but I'm not very proficient enough to delve that much in years so sorry Boss Man."
Meliodas sighed in defeat finally responding on their next course of action earning a yay from Diane in a casual tone, "Well! It's settled! First to Baste Prison to fetch Ban!"
Raising an eyebrow Mash asked out of curiosity's sake for the reason heading their first in a curious tone, "Any particular reason you decide on Baste Prison Bossman?"
Meliodas shrugged responding to the actual reason in a casual tone causing Mash to sweat a bit from his words, "Cuz it's closer from here. Either way, someone's tracking our every move. I mean, little Gil went above and beyond to find us in that forest that Holy Knights are supposed to avoid."
Mash curtly nodded his head agreeing but soon Hawk and Elizabeth returned with the pig yelling out angrily, "Now you look here! What the hell did you do that for?! You swine!! Next is my turn!!"
Elizabeth yelled out loud looking at the group asking in concern only to stop mid-way seeing the missing Holy Knight, "Are you three okay – huh?"
Meliodas walks near Hawk smelling him and correcting his piggy companion in a neutral tone, "What do you mean 'your turn?' you swine. You're the only swine around here. And you smell delicious."
Hawk squeaked hiding behind Mash yelling at Meliodas for even having such an idea, "AH! What do you mean I'm delicious! I'm a precious member of the Boar Hat! Right Mash?"
Mash curtly nodded his head relieving the pig only to make an anime-style drop listening to his words as he grinned jokingly, "Of course! Hawk is a very important member… as emergency food that is. No one can take that privilege away from him!"
Hawk cried out loud behind Elizabeth annoyed at being treated like a roasted pig, "You two are jerks! And what the hell do you mean a privilege of being emergency food you jerk!!"
The two merely laughed a little with Mash apologizing offering to heal up Hawk as an apology, "Hahaha… sorry. My bad if I took that joke a bit too far. Come here and let me heal up as an apology."
Hawk hesitated but relented letting Mash heal him seeing the burnt skin of his return with everyone watching him with confused expressions all having one thought, 'Is Mash a Druid?'