A/N: Why was this chapter so hard to write? I've been trying to complete it for months, it's been driving me insane. ARGH!

Let me know your thoughts down below

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My fingers fumbled on the hilt of my blade but I didn't have the strength to pull it free. I searched in all directions for the man behind the voice, settling on the rubble as he drew out of the shadows.

"To be honest, the new generation are just the worthless riffraff that failed to become Holy Knights. They're filled with contempt of those who are truly powerful and rage at themselves for being inferior. This ancient curse will only intensify those feelings and in time, it will consume them completely."

He had the same black patterning as Meliodas did in demon form. My heart raced. I'd felt the ferocity of Gilthunder's final attack and here he stood, looking no worse for wear. There didn't even seem to be a scratch.

"It can't be!" Kind exclaimed.

"So you're still alive, Hendrickson," Meliodas stated.

I could read it in Hendrickson's eyes and smug smile – he was the cat that got the canary.

"Hendrickson?" Howzer questioned, most likely not quite believing his eyes that the half naked man marked with demon standing above him was the same conniving Grand Master who gave them orders.

"He looks different to before," Elizabeth stated and Meliodas threw out an arm to keep her behind him.

"Looks like he's got the demon blood in him too," Meliodas answered. The woman with purple hair stepped up beside Elizabeth as Gilthunder stepped forward, sword at the ready.

Leraj slid himself between me and Hendrickson, one arm out to keep me back as well. It rankled me but when he cut me a side glance with eyes flecked with red, I snapped my mouth shut pretty quickly. I'd never seen Leraj's eyes with red before. Perhaps I'd never paid any attention to his eyes or maybe this was something new, unlike his usual tricks and abilities. And if it was something new, perhaps Hendrickson was suddenly more dangerous than before, more dangerous than Meliodas in demon form.

"What an incredible blessing!" crowed the Grand Master. "When one is truly compatible with demon blood, it augments your strength and amplifies their magical powers. All that research and experimentation was worth it!"

I tensed, tingles and sparks in my hands and feet.

His crazed grin fell from his face. He levelled us with a serious glare, pointing in Meliodas' direction. "Now hand over Elizabeth. Do so and as one demon to another, I'll let you live."

"I'm not like you! See, you're not a human or a demon. You're nothing but a fool," Meliodas said.

He calmly said, "I can't say I wasn't expecting that."

"Were you expecting this too?" King suddenly said, Chastiefol hovered in a hundred tiny blades in the air around Hendrickson.

King hovered behind Hendrickson, Chastiefol in dagger form encompassing the Holy Knight.

"Naturally." A familiar green sword whizzed through the air and King had to counter fast.

"Back up?! But how?"

I gnashed my teeth together at the sight of Helbram.

"I just watched you die! Helbram!"

"There's no use talking to him. He's been dead for quite a long time now. If I'm not mistaken, you're the one who killed him, runt."

"What did you do to my friend Helbram?"

"King, no!" Diane called out, a lapse in concentration making her struggle with the demon.

My head whipped back and forth between everything that was happening, helpless. Leraj pressed his arm against me, shifting us slightly as small debris rained down. I grabbed his arm, and he threw his glance at me briefly before turning back to the confrontation overhead.

Sorry, Leraj, but I only need a little bit.

"I hear the bodies of fairies don't rot even after their death. For nearly 200 years, this corpse had been a goldmine on the black market. One day, it fell into my possession and I gave it temporary life. A forbidden technique of the druids, Enslavement of the Dead. But I'm sorry to say that one can only be revived twice. With each resurrection, the soul deteriorates further and his functions are greatly diminished."

"Wait, that's cruel!" King began to sob. "How could you!" The final word came out as a howl of agony.

A quiver ran over my shoulders and I bowed my head.

"Come now, don't weep for him. What we have before us is a glorious opportunity. A third occasion to kill your friend!"

Helbram surged forward and headbutted King in the face, knocking him backwards.

"It appears that the show is about to begin!" Hendrickson outstretched his arms wide.

I raised my head, the mana curling in my sternum, pressure that wanted out.

My fist collided with the centre of his chest, a shockwave of noise ricocheting off the buildings before he went flying. I shook out the pain, flames curling around my left forearm, stinging my eyes. Hendrickson disappeared in a shower of exploding mortar and rising dust.

"Move!" Leraj grabbed me by the upper arm and violently yanked me out of the way, switching our positions. The sword blow intended for me sliced a hair's breath from my face and drove into Leraj's right shoulder. He went careening backwards with Hendrickson close to follow and inertia sent me stumbling onto my knees.

With a snarl, I clambered back on my feet only to be sent flying, Hendrickson's fist in my gut. I hit rubble and collapsed forward, spluttering up blood. The effort it took to raise my head was astronomical. Leraj was on one knee, holding the gash on his shoulder and watching me.

"Who's next?" Hendrickson asked. Meliodas and Gilthunder were already in action. Hendrickson gave a chuckle. "Well done, Vivian."

Meliodas and Gilthunder spun around. The mage that had kidnapped Elizabeth and Hawk back in the tavern had Elizabeth and the woman trapped with her staff.

"No, don't!" I screamed at the two men, pushing myself off the feet and sprinting at Hendrickson.

Gilthunder collapsed with a massive gash along his entire spine and Meliodas keeled forward, blood spurting out of his chest. I hadn't even seen Hendrickson strike. Everyone was screaming names and I hesitated when I ran past the two bodies.

Half a second was enough time for him. I blinked, mid step, and his blade was there, slicing diagonally.

Leraj landed a flying kick into his ribs, throwing him off balance. I crashed into the demon and he caught me, swinging me round to dispel the momentum.

"You okay?" he asked into my hair.

"Never better. Thanks for catching me," I rasped, the last of the strength I'd stolen from him draining away. My legs trembled but lucky he had a tight hold on my waist.

"What, no thanks for saving you just then or letting you steal my previous strength?"

"Maybe when we aren't in the middle of a fight."

"Stay here," he said, releasing me gently. His eyes flashed red and then he disappeared. No, not disappeared.

Leraj's sword clashed with Hendrickson and just as quickly danced away, twirling through the air with a dazzling speed. I could barely focus on his movements as he struck hard and fast, shoving Hendrickson backwards. Back and forth, back and forth, swordsmanship at its best.

"Gil." The plaintive cry got my attention. I shambled over in Elizabeth's direction. Vivian still had a hold of the girls, eyes focused only on the bodies. I ripped the staff from her hands and she jerked back.

I threw the staff away expecting her to fight but she did nothing except stand there and cry.

"Elizabeth, are you okay?" I grabbed her by the shoulders. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she nodded. "And you?" I asked the woman. She responded the same.

"Sir Meliodas?" Elizabeth slipped out of my grasp with the woman on her heels calling to Gilthunder. I followed in their wake.

"Enough games!" I heard Leraj yell.

"Games? Who said we're playing games?" Cold metal crushed against my windpipe. My hands flew to the forearm against my throat, a strangled shout forcing its way out, as I was tugged into his chest.

Hendrickson let out a breathless chuckle beside my ear and I froze.

"Let her go," Leraj seethed, gripping his sword in both hands. The red in his eyes glowed bright but underneath that were sallow cheeks and dark rings.

My heart thundered in my chest, tongue dry. My eyes flickered between Leraj and Elizabeth. Stalemate. The resolve in Leraj's eyes hardened and he stepped forward. His forearm tightened and I choked, hands trying to pry it off. Something hot brushed against my ear and I flinched automatically before letting rip a painful growl as the heat scalded my skin.

"Don't."

It wasn't Leraj who said it though, even though I could tell the tortured look on his face basically etched the words in the air before him.

"What are you doing, Elizabeth?" implored the woman, grabbing at Elizabeth but she merely shrugged her off.

Elizabeth rose, trembling with rage and fear. "That's enough. Let her go. Let them all go."

"No, Elizabeth! Don't do it. I'm fine, I can get out of- argh!" He pressed his hand closer to my cheek.

"That's enough! I will go with you as you wish but in return, do not lay a hand on any of them." She stepped forward.

"That's a good girl. I was only going to let Meliodas live, but I'll toss Estra and Gilthunder in as a bonus." The flame cancelled and the arm dropped away. I fell forward onto my hands and knees then onto my stomach, no strength left to rise. I watched as he held a hand out to Elizabeth.

"N-No!" Meliodas cried. "Don't...go... Elizabeth!"

"Lord Meliodas, let me save you all every once in a while too. Please... don't forget the promise you made to me."

Black tendrils sprouted out of Hendrickson's arm, coalescing into a solid form. It unfurled, revealing a skeleton wing. He took Elizabeth in his arm and launched into the sky, Meliodas screaming her name.