Chapter 62. Shadows Beneath the Light

[Arc5] - 62. Shadows Beneath the Light

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The Great Holy Knights' scheme has been shattered, with everything he spent decades building destroyed in half a day. The New Generation of Holy Knights, upon whom he placed high hopes, was effortlessly defeated, and even the hidden berserk mechanisms within them were discovered.

The reason is simple: their enemies are the [Seven Deadly Sins], powerful and unconventional. What should have been a battle through each level ended with an all-out attack on the enemy's base, each member stronger than the bosses.

The mastermind behind the scenes, upon encountering the bizarre yet powerful combination that is the [Seven Deadly Sins], likely felt despair. But the mastermind is already dead.

Even though he is dead, the remnants of the New Generation, rendered useless, have still caused some trouble.

"Write in the report that 'due to the demon blood, they had to obey Fraudrin's orders.' Merlin, make sure it reads like that."

"Vice-Captain, are you a soft-hearted person?" Merlin, who controlled the quill remotely to write the report, raised an eyebrow. Since she often recorded experiment data, she handled bookkeeping and information gathering herself.

Glancing at the new generation of Holy Knights lying defeated around her, Merlin leaned back in the air and lazily said, "These people drank the demon blood voluntarily, opposed us, and chose to stand with the Great Holy Knights on their own."

"They're young with promising futures, but they chose the wrong path. Perhaps they were just looking for a shortcut, which in itself isn't wrong. It's just a shame they went astray." Cyd crossed his arms, leaning against the broken wall, contemplating. "To resist the temptation of demon blood and elevate one's power to the level of a Holy Knight shows they have the potential. They just lost their way."

"His Majesty knows everything, but you know how lenient His Majesty can be—he'll probably choose to forgive minor transgressions."

"I'm just keeping the records; a few fake entries won't hurt." Merlin shrugged, directing the quill to alter the report. At that moment, Escanor walked over carrying [Rhitta].

"Miss Merlin, I checked, and nothing is missing from your lab."

"Is that so? Well, thank you." Merlin carelessly completed the report, holding it up to Cyd with a casual wave. "Vice-Captain, let's go see His Majesty. It has been ten years, after all."

"Please don't use teleportation—it would be rude to appear suddenly." Cyd sighed, already exasperated by Merlin's audacious nature. Only someone like Bartra could handle Merlin's tendency to waltz in and out of the palace.

"Meliodas, could you say something about... Release Elizabeth's hand this instant!"

In a split second, Meliodas had attached himself to Elizabeth like glue, and despite his antics, Elizabeth didn't react as most women would but instead blushed, letting Meliodas hold her.

"Princess Elizabeth, I know you endure this out of respect for Meliodas, but if there's anything you're uncomfortable with, let me know—I'll punish him for you!"

"It's fine, Lord Cyd. I'm just a bit troubled, really… nothing more." Elizabeth shook her head vigorously, evidently afraid Cyd would punish Meliodas, and she turned away, clinging to Meliodas to shield him from Cyd.

"So please, Lord Cyd, don't be angry with Meliodas."

Elizabeth, it's not Meliodas I'm mad at, but the king, who's running toward us at full speed with the fury of a demon.

"Meliodas, get off my beloved daughter now!"

Although confined for days, seeing Meliodas clinging to Elizabeth like a leech made Bartra throw aside his cane. His white hair stood up as he rushed forward.

"Hey, Bartra, you seem in great spirits," Meliodas greeted him cheerfully, though still holding onto Elizabeth, a fact that Bartra tried to overlook.

"I saw a bleak future—my beloved daughter abandoning me because of you!" Bartra, elderly as he was, clutched Meliodas and shook him vigorously. "You're the culprit, aren't you?"

"Technically, I'm one of them." Shaken back and forth, Meliodas pointed toward Gilthunder, who was helping Margaret approach, along with Veronica and the tall men trailing her.

"Bartra, your daughters may soon leave you for happiness."

"Urgh—" Bartra clutched his heart and stumbled back; nothing could be more agonizing.

"Come now, Bartra, take it easy." Cyd patted Bartra on the back, genuinely concerned he might be shaken to death by Meliodas.

"More importantly…" Cyd lowered his voice, "what about the signs of the Holy War?"

"Weakened; we might avoid the Holy War altogether." Bartra glanced instinctively at Meliodas. He knew Meliodas wanted to end the curse completely, but doing so required the Ten Commandments and a Holy War, and now…

"It's okay, Bartra." Meliodas touched the broken sword on his back, brushed his nose, and smiled indifferently. "As long as Elizabeth is happy, that's enough. Watching her brings me all the happiness I need."

"Is that so? That really…" Cyd looked to the sky, an inexplicable sense of dread growing within him.

Something unseen and unnoticed by anyone continued to creep in the dark corners they couldn't detect.

What does one do against a powerful enemy they can't defeat? Resist? That would only be like a moth to the flame, achieving nothing.

So… one must feign death, survive as one who is already dead.

In the dark underground chamber, the charred figure of Vivian lay on the cold ground. Compared to Meliodas's [Hellblaze], Escanor's power was straightforward.

"Who would have thought I'd be burned twice in one day?"

Vivian had withstood Escanor's attacks, forcing the reluctant Gray Demon within her to regenerate her body with demonic energy and demon blood, and then teleported away at the last moment.

More importantly, the [Coffin of Eternal Darkness] was still in her possession.

Vivian touched the disk hidden on her, letting out a small sigh; even the simple act of breathing caused searing pain now.

"Ah… where is this place?" Vivian barely lifted her head, her vision filled with a giant glowing horn and the sound of an elevated voice.

She paid no attention to the words spoken; her mind was consumed with a single insane thought.

To unseal it requires the blood of a Goddess… And since the Goddess Clan exists as spiritual forms, they, like demons, can possess humans, granting them divine physique.

Having once lost her body, she now knew exactly how to handle it.

Vivian slowly grinned, raising her head and begging the glowing horn, "Please… save me. I'm willing to give you… my body."

[We are not like demons, seizing bodies. This is only temporary. After reclaiming the key from Meliodas and hiding it beyond his reach, we will return your body. This is for your world's peace. The Coffin of Eternal Darkness must not be opened.]

"Must not be opened…?"

As the divine power entered her body, transforming her eyes into the goddess-like form, Vivian smiled twistedly.

"That won't do. I'm opening it."

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