The Secret Sin

F i f t e e n

I apologise for making you wait, I started school and was busy. But I hope you enjoy this chapter.
~
What the?"
King gasps. Hendrickson chuckles evilly. Nobody else says anything.

"Look at that monster's corpse."
King continues, still none of us reply.

"So red and flabby, it gives me the creeps."
Diane says in disgust and fear.

"But it's impossible, it can't be what I think it is."
King says in horror. Meliodas and I share a look.

"Yeah, it's a Demon."
I say lowly.

"So they really existed then?"
King asks. I don't like this, not one bit.

"The magical power emanating from that corpse, matches what I sensed from Dale and the New Generation. It appears to be the root of this evil."
Gowther says critically. It's really not the root, so to speak. But it's the root of our current predicament.

"Twenty years ago, when these remains were found deep in the Fairy King's Forest, this journey began."
Hendrickson starts. King frowns at his statement, while Ban stands still.

"All that I have accomplished has been made possible by this Red Demon. Both the Old Generation and New, the experiments that gave us those compatible with Demon blood. The partial deciphering of the Dark Magic System, and now this!"
As Hendrickson finishes his little speech, he raises his arm and Darkness swirls around it.
The Darkness shoots out towards each of us but we block or dodge it, except Ban who lets it stab into his body. He coughs up blood but doesn't try to escape.

"At last, I myself hold the power of the Red Demon!"
Hendrickson gloats. None of us pay attention to him though.

"Ban!"
I yell at the dazed immortal. A playful smirk replaces the blank look on his face.

"If the Red Demon's powers are your only ace in the hole, you're best bet is to fold and walk away from the table. Cause I'm the one who killed that thing!"
Ban walks to Hendrickson and brings his fist down on his head. The Darkness disappears and Hendrickson is sent down as the ground collapses.
We watch his body disappear and debate whether to follow him or not. The Holy Knights look on in shock and confusion.

"Ban...?"
King says softly as the immortal picks his weapon up and slices the Red Demon's head clean off its body.

"You really killed that thing twenty years ago?"
King asks as he floats over to Ban.

"Who killed what and when isn't important."
Ban says dully.
Diane, Gowther, Meliodas and I crowd around Hendrickson's hole.

"Forget that, take a look at the size of this hole!"
I say in amazement. Meliodas nods in agreement.

"I detect a slight breeze which indicates a cave further down."
Gowther informs us in his analytical tone.

"Let's go then."
Meliodas shrugs and jumps.

"But I don't think I can fit down there."
Diane says sadly. I look up at her as the others jump. I flash a bright smile at her.

"Don't worry, you can stay up here and keep a lookout, okay?"
I suggest before jumping.

"Be careful!"
I hear Diane yell after me.
I land in pitch black and wave my hands around. Meliodas yells in pain.