Chapter 76: Shock!

Chapter 76: Shock!

~Hendrickson POV~

How could I let this happen!!!

*BAM*

Slamming my fist to my desk I groaned pinching the bridge of my nose. No, no, no… how could such a thing occur?

If I had no idea of a spy from the New Generation I wouldn't believe it. But it's starting to become more and more believable every second.

Rubbing my head I'm trying to prepare everyone for the Holy War. Everything is so close at hand preparing everyone with my experiments. And to make matters worse the power of the Goddess Clan has been felt.

I can feel it in my demon blood. The New Generation soon spoke out feeling the pain of the light of a white wing angel. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't felt it.

The Goddess Clan member… alive in the flesh or possession. Regardless this warrants a search than the Seven Deadly Sins.

Everything I and Dreyfus plan to obtain the blood of Elizabeth a member of the once-believed Goddess Clan… at least we thought she was the only one we could draw blood from…

This… these changes everything. Despite the setbacks and backups of the Red Demon Blood saved the appearance of this unknown Goddess Clan member…

My New Generation needs to search for this rogue Goddess Clan member. Or at the very least investigate this matter.

I would've sent Helbram and his Knights. No… I shook my head those knights especially his prized pupil Gulia are a failure.

She failed even to encounter the Seven Deadly Sins. Much less confront them because they lost to that Mash Bastion from the reports – hold on.

I paused considering a passing thought… he appeared in Gilthunder, Weird Fang, and Gulia's reports of messing with their plans. And numerous Magical Powers to boot if these reports are to be accurate.

Hmm… no matter. I shook my head as to why I should be concerned about one simple man.

What's a single man to do what I and Dreyfus have done in the past 10 years? We have amassed an army of Holy Knights no person or group can hope to stop us.

This is merely a step back for sure. But I made sure to store some Red Demon blood for emergencies like these if they occur. The thought of using the Grey Demon crossed my mind only to shake off the idea. No.

They aren't ready yet in that short time just yet. Regardless though this is one issue I can't ignore…. I must have all my men search for the unknown Goddess Clan member.

The Seven Deadly Sins while formidable aren't the primary target. I'll request my faction to search around Britannia for the fake or unknown Goddess Clan member as the main priority and have the Sins as a secondary issue.

Everything must be complete for the revival of the Demon Clan. Then only then will the Holy Knights have purpose again…

/////

~Third POV~

*SWOOOSH*

Away from Vaizel Village, The Seven Deadly Sins stopped on their way searching for their Sacred treasures and other members to train to sharpen the skills they dulled over the past 10 years.

Now King is attacking Ban and Mash with his Chastiefol [Form 5: Increase] with small kunai knives targeting the two as they dodge practicing their senses avoiding them in a real-life dangerous situation for Mash and Ban merely warm-up practice.

*THUNK*

*THUNK*

*THUNK*

Avoiding all of them with their agility it was obvious that Ban was superior and Mash trying to catch up. Doing a backflip as one of the kunai was aimed at Ban, he soon slammed his hand onto the ground, swiftly kicking the kunai back to King.

*WHACK*

*Zzzzzip*

*TING*

King easily stopped it with his [Levitation] ability changing his weapon back to a pillow with a snap as Ban complained to him, "Are you holding back on me, King? Show me what you've got! Do it like you really wanna kill me!"

Mash soon took out the kunai that was stabbed into his body flinching using [Healing Magic] to recover the wounds as King commented on them with a raised eyebrow, "Like I wanna kill you… right. And how do I do that when you can't be killed?"

Ban grinned slyly at King's comment extending his arm in a joking tone as the kunai in his back popped out of his body already regenerating, "Even if you can't kill me… you can make it so I can't fight. Like when you turned me to stone."

*SPLAT*

Ban was soon stabbed by Mash using his Shadow Blade. Ban seemingly didn't care pointed his thumb jabbing at Mash in a cheerful tone, "See…? At least this guy gets it."

Removing his blade from Ban's back unknowing of the Sins collecting his blood in his [Sub-Space] replied pouting at the scene, "Not like we could kill you Ban. It would take at least a weapon to destroy or slice the soul to put you down. Or I don't know cripple you? Feed you in pieces to an animal? Freeze – Ah! My face you jerk!"

*BAM*

Ban quickly smacked Mash to the face with his fist grinning a bit wider with King giving a deadpan expression, "That's an awfully specific way to kill or cripple an immortal man Mash. I mean it's not like any of us have a soul-killing weapon – "

But to their surprise, Mash chimed in with genuine honesty ignoring the hit with his [Battle Flowing] skill, "I do. I have one if I ever met with an evil immortal bastard… or now considering immortal prick…"

Both blinked with Ban greedily eyeing Mash stuff as he used [Snatch] to take his Shadow Sword with an amused look, "Hmm… still a good sword. You wouldn't happen to bring that soul-killing weapon on you by chance good old pal?"

*SPLAT*

Using the [Shadow Manipulation] on the blade connected to his Od (Lifeforce) slice and diced Ban's hand manifesting back to Mash's hand with a deadpan expression, "And let you of all people take it? No way man – Seriously you took my Shadow Sword? Again?!"

Proving his point Ban stole his Shadow Sword twice on his other hand with an innocent grin on his face with genuine surprise and praise, "What? Is it a good sword? The craftsmanship is well-made. Could match or surpass Dub's work or the Sacred Treasures easily. Perhaps both even."

King's eyes widened as Mash got his weapon back destroying another one of Ban's hands thinking to himself in surprise, 'They're that good huh? Ban is usually one for appraising good things when he sees them. A weapon that surpasses the Sacred Treasures huh? Now I'm just curious how he got his hands on it but perhaps another time.'

Shaking his head King soon eyed Ban asking a direct question as he twitched noticing something off about him, "What's wrong, Ban? You're not acting like yourself. It's like you're purposely trying not to think about something."

*Zoooom*

Quickly Ban grabbed King by the head tossing him immediately to a nearby rock. Fortunately for King, he managed to use [Levitation] to stop his fall landing on his pillow with Ban exclaiming, "I just want to crush the Holy Knights as soon as we can and take back the Kingdom. That. Is. All."

King raised an eyebrow at his words surprised with Mash taking a seat on the sidelines listening to their conversation, "Take back the Kingdom? That's a surprise, coming from you. I thought you've got no interest in what happens to other people."

Ban snorted a comment at King being the same with King closing his eyes and replying in a nonchalant tone, "Fine. But I don't care. I'm going to help Diane out. That's all."

Soon Ban dropped a verbal bomb alerting King catching his attention and explaining himself in a serious tone, "I'm after the Trumpet of Cernunnons, that sleeps beneath the Kingdom. Don't get me wrong. I'm going to be saving the Kingdom. It's the least they can compensate me with. I'm going to have the Goddesses resurrect Elaine. They're gods, so they should at least be able to do that!"

But it was at that moment Mash couldn't help himself but sigh at such an arrogant claim causing Ban to glare at him with a serious tone, "And what do you find so funny you shitty cook?"

Drawing attention to himself Mash explained in a calm tone apologizing for Ban's assumption getting both their attention, "Oh sorry. Sorry, but that was a very weird thing you said. Do you think the Goddess Clan are gods because they can resurrect the dead? Sorry to burst your bubble but they can't do that."

Ban curtly responded clenching his fist that reviving his lover in Mash's eyes he considers funny using his [Bloodlust] directed at him, "Oh? Do you find my situation of wanting to revive Elaine using the Kingdom's treasure disappointing? It sounds like as if you know them… wait a second…"

Listening to his words and seeing Mash's face it clicked instantly in Ban's head as Mash explained an alternative that made King shocked by his words, "If you're looking for a way to free your lover Ban, I suggest going after Hendrickson. From what I know he used a forbidden secret called the [Enslavement of the Dead] to bring Helbram back from the Dead. The Goddess Clan can't revive the dead but can reincarnate the person if they were close to the passing."

Mash explained this with his Gamer Ring off with Ban looking at King who curtly nodded soon asking in a suspicious tone at him, "What he said so far is the truth… I can tell that much but how do you know that?"

Mash easily deflected the suspicions by claiming he knew after reading about it from Helbram in his disguise, "Easy. I read Helbram's mind using [Telepathy] to figure out much to my shock in his tiny disguise."

Ban looked towards King with his [Heart Reading] ability detecting no lies curtly nodding and shocking him with the news.

Ban slowly backed off his [Bloodlust] thanking Mash for the info getting into a battle stance with a goofy grin with his fist tightened, "In that case thanks then. Seems like I have another reason to join Saving the Kingdom, but I can't let the fact you are mocking Elaine pass. So… I'll vent my anger and frustration by beating you to a pulp so come on, let's keep going! Come at me, bro!"

*VOOOM*

Instantly closing the gap Mash returned using his memories of Roswaal stance of the [Flow Method] and [Battle Flowing] to nullify and counter Ban's fighting style each going blow for blow redirecting or taking strength.

*BAM*

*BAM*

*BAM*

Meanwhile, King observes the two-clash thinking to himself with a defeated knowing gaze with a conflicted tone, 'Sigh… I suppose I must thank Mash again. Seems like meeting Elaine again would be close at hand. But after what the captain showed…'

King choosing to interrupt their brawl soon asked forcing Ban to pause at his words listening intently with a narrow glare, "Ban. That's not the only thing that's off about you. It's the Captain… isn't it?"

Ban froze as did Mash backing off as he glared at King causing him to sweat as he continued with his line of reasoning, "I'm also mixed up inside about it. The Captain that we all saw the other day… and more than that… his ominous magical powers that were like Guila and the others' and yet so far beyond them… what if the Captain is a –"

Ban soon proceeded to grab King the collar choosing to deny such claims as King tried to reason with him. Soon enough it escalated with Ban leaving to clear his mind leaving the two behind.

King soon asked Mash with a knowing glint to get his answer in a genuine curious tone, "So then mister know it all… is the Captain a Demon?"

This made Mash raise an eyebrow at King's question answering him in a confused but curious tone, "Why ask me? You expect me to know the answer?"

King on the other hand simply raised an eyebrow being the observant person he was to deduce Mash in front of him in an accusing tone, "You seem to know lots of things. Very convenient things to be exact. Almost too exact knowing our past and constantly convenient timing… it just builds up you know? Makes me guess if you're an ally or enemy perhaps?"

Understanding and surprised Mash ultimately agreed surprising King with his words stunned his admitted explaining himself in an honest tone, "True. I won't deny that much. I'm suspicious if you managed to notice. But I will say this… I'm not an enemy. I genuinely want to help my friends out."

Mash confessed with the Gamer Ring off when King sighed using his [Heart Reading] to see him being genuine as he continued, "Besides even if he was a member of the Demon Clan. Does it change the fact that the same Meliodas you have known for years? Everyone has their reasons why they keep things a secret or don't ask about the past. Isn't that your guy's rule?"

King rolled his eyes but a glint of conflict is shown in them debating with himself as Mash left the Fairy King with his thoughts.

While he left a few distances away Mash merely smirked thinking to himself in a confident tone, 'That was easier than I thought. I managed to obtain enough blood from Ban to finally begin using [Purge] to eliminate the human blood from the Fountain of Youth inside of him for me to gain. All in all, it was a pretty good day.'