[Arc5] - 60. Thief Caught
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In the end, Cyd was still isolated within the [Perfect Cube].
After all, using Liones as a gamble was out of the question—Meliodas explained as much afterwards, almost convincing Cyd. Incidentally, the biological bomb capable of erasing Liones from the map merely made Cyd's hand tremble slightly, leaving him blackened white palm completely unharmed.
"How is this even possible?!" Fraudin, barely clinging to life, coughed up blood, his eyes fixed on Cyd, who was furiously shaking Meliodas by the face.
"There's never been a human like this on the continent of Britannia!"
"Repeating the same thing twice is pointless." Meliodas, rubbing his deformed face, lifted the [Lostvayne] and approached the nearly lifeless Fraudin. "Although I plan to take your life, before that…"
Meliodas stomped on Fraudin's face, leaning down with a cold expression.
"Where is the fragment of the [Coffin of Eternal Darkness]?"
"Do you think I'll tell you?" Fraudin summoned his last strength, pressing his head against Meliodas's face, his menacing gaze fixed on Meliodas's calm emerald eyes.
"The seal will be broken, and victory in the Holy War will belong to the Demon Clan!"
"Such a loyal last word." Meliodas straightened up, lifting the [Lostvayne] high, his emerald eyes void of any emotion.
"Now to avenge Liz!"
Just as Meliodas swung down the [Lostvayne], a figure vanished from the shadows.
"[The Coffin of Eternal Darkness], the sealed Demon Clan, and…the Holy War." Vivian, who should have been dead, slowly walked into Hendrickson and Dreyfus's lab, her face covered with a strange, grayish tint and a chilling smile.
Fraudin had been experimenting with demon blood, using the Holy Knight's body to study it. Demon blood could greatly increase magical power but at the cost of one's consciousness being seduced by darkness. With no other options, she drank the blood of the gray demon.
Ultimately, she survived. Though her body endured endless cycles of destruction and regeneration, the pain seemed trivial if it meant reuniting with her knight and grasping at a future together.
The only issue was an unwelcome presence within her—the gray demon was still alive inside her!
Thanks to her deep obsession with her knight, she wasn't overpowered, but she now felt compelled to fulfill the demon's will—breaking the seal on the Demon Clan.
"This isn't so bad. While you're busy dealing with the other [Ten Commandments], I can be with Gilthunder in the skies, having healthy children." Vivian's twisted smile widened as she moved toward the lab table, where the gray demon inside pointed the way.
"If I die, Gilthunder, you'll be with me. Every drop of blood, every strand of hair belongs to me—not…Margaret!"
On the lab table lay a fragment of the [Coffin of Eternal Darkness], a disc carved with symbols of the Goddess Clan. However, it was incomplete—two parts were missing: a key and blood.
"You never expected I'd survive, did you? Enjoy your fleeting celebrations, for oblivion awaits." Vivian took the disc. The key was with Meliodas, and though she couldn't steal it now, she would snatch it the instant he let his guard down!
Barely containing her smile, she opened the door to a blinding light, imagining her beautiful future with her knight.
"Little girl, you're took something you shouldn't."
It wasn't sunlight, but a man as radiant as the sun—Escanor.
"I only wanted to check if those two impudent Holy Knights had taken Lady Merlin's belongings, but I ran into a rat on its way out." Escanor squinted down, his massive form casting a thick, scorching shadow.
"You're lucky; it's past noon, so you won't face the version of me that would make you feel unworthy. Hand over what you stole. I dislike threatening women."
She'd been caught.
Vivian lowered her head. The man had seen her face. Once he described her to Meliodas and Cyd, they would realize she wasn't dead, and the kingdom would soon find out that a fragment of the [Coffin of Eternal Darkness] had gone missing.
Teleporting could get her away, but if she fled now, it would all be over. Neither the demon inside nor Merlin would spare her. Her dream of a beautiful future would be shattered again.
Her only option was…
A fierce glint appeared in Vivian's eyes, black lines rising and writhing on her skin like living creatures.
"Another soul corrupted by darkness. You're really pityful." Escanor shook his head in pity.
Would Escanor, of all people, feel sorry for someone? At least, not in the daytime. His words simply meant…
"I feel pity that you exist in my world."
Such was his arrogant proclamation.
Vivian's head dropped, and when she looked up again, her gaze was lifeless, her expression disdainful despite looking up at Escanor.
"Human, step aside."
"Oh? Have you lost your unconsciouness to the evil creature? It seems I overestimated you. It will end as soon as possi---" Escanor tilted his head, and before he could finish, Vivian reappeared behind him, her beastly claws shredding a piece of fabric.
"I don't have ti—urk!" A massive wound suddenly split from her left shoulder to her right hip, black blood spurting like a fountain.
"When did this happen?" Clutching her wound, Vivian staggered, disbelief in her gaze as she looked at Escanor. She'd been inches from his back; all she had to do was raise her hand to pierce his heart, yet her chest wound screamed at her—don't move!
"I dislike hurting women, but if a little kitten ruins my clothes, she must be punished." Escanor turned, patting the fabric marked by three claw marks. "After all, this was a gift from Miss Merlin. So, just a small lesson."
Had her body not been overflowing with demon blood, she would be dead already!
"I never…!"
"Tut, tut." Escanor shook his finger, cutting her off with a sigh. "You outdated folks, as the Captain says, repeating oneself ruins the value of a statement, so…"
"Be swallowed by darkness!" Vivian poured all her magic into a consuming darkness.
"Hmm, it'd be troublesome if Miss Merlin's lab were damaged." Escanor cocked his head, raising a finger toward Vivian.
"[Cruel Sun]."
A sphere, calm yet scorching like the sun, hovered. The dark energy dissipated just from its proximity.
"Begone."
Escanor extended his finger, sending the small sun colliding into Vivian, her face twisted in horror.
"Fate of the great Demon Clan, hear meee—!"
The small sun soared into the sky with Vivian inside, the force pressing her into it as they climbed.
"[Explode]."
At a safe height from Liones, Escanor snapped his fingers, causing the sun to explode outward, clearing the clouds and spreading sunlight across the city, warming its streets.
"Hmm, the weather is just right to welcome us back."
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