There were mixed reactions between the five of us. Gowther, to all of our complete and utter surprise, just stared at the friggin thing- wow, never would've expected that reaction, *le gasp*. Anyway, now that I'm done expressing my absolute love for him. Meli was glaring between it and Hendrickson, his eyes flickering to the man every so often before returning to the corpse, which was really creepy by the way. I mean, they look weird alive, dead they just look... dead. Shut up, you know what I mean. King was probably the most animated of all of us- his eyes were wide, and a droplet of sweat had formed on the side of his head, and I'm imagine on his hands, since he had notoriously sweaty hands. Ba- fuck- Jackass stared at the demon, eyebrows furrowed slightly and a small bit of his sharp teeth showing. He was obviously displeased with the sight, as any normal person would be, which surprised me, because he isn't a normal person, he's a complete and total douchebag. I had taken in a gasp upon seeing it, and yes, it was quite surprising, but I had a more urgent question in mind.

What was Hendrickson going to do with it? Because it doesn't sound good.

"This is a Gray Demon... Discovered a few years ago. Isn't it magnificent? He genealogy and biology of demons of all sub-races are still shrouded in mystery, but one thing we can say for certain is that a Gray Demon is a higher form of life than a Red Demon," He reached up, injecting a needle into the corpse and extracting a small amount of blood. He looked up at us as he positioned it near his arm. My eyes widened even further. "I wanted more time to conduct research, but you have left me no choice."

He stuck the needle in his arm, injecting the blood directly into his bloodstream. King shouted, "Wha... what..? What are you doing?! You can't be serious?!"

With just the blood of a Red or Gray Demon within him, he wouldn't pose much of a threat. Sure, it'd be a bit of a challenge either way, more-so with the Gray Demon blood, but we'd be able to defeat him. However, with both, that's more of a threat- a dangerous threat. Two types of Demonic abilities in your system? That's never good- even if they're the two lowest level demons. Their powers will amplify each other- meaning he'll have significantly more power than one or the other, or both combined numerically.

Which means Meli stands less of a chance- he only has a fraction of his powers, which means he's currently only as powerful as I am, probably less- not to mention he's really hurt. Jackass is immortal, sure, and he's killed a Red Demon, sure, but both combined? No way. King and Diane are both injured, and even though they have their Sacred Treasures, they'd both probably be in a bit of trouble. Gowther? Wild card. Mental abilities don't work all too well on demons, but it depends on who and what you're dealing with. Hendrickson will probably be devoid of emotion afterward. And then there's me. I probably could take him on alone- and no, I'm not bragging or anything. I'm not injured, I have my Sacred Treasure, and I'm a way higher level (and much more dangerous) demon than the two demons he took blood from, even if they're amplifying each other. My best chance is to take him out before he transforms.

I turned my focus to him.

He transformed.

Goddamnit, (y/n)! Why must you overthink everything?!

Before I could do anything other than criticize myself, the man next to king (he-who-must-not-be-named, but with a killer bod, an actual nose, and hair) charged at Hendrickson's whose hair had become short again and the demon markings disappeared. What's with all these 'powerful transformations' involving hair changing? I mean geez, this isn't Tokyo Ghoul... Ha, I wish! Author, get on that. No buts! Hendrickson had jumped up, charging his fist down at the man.

"Wait, Ban, don't-!" Meli started, but a loud explosion, along with a serious fluctuation in power, came from the direction of the two, cutting him off. Jackass's body had been cut directly in half, only his legs left standing before us.

"Is that Hendrickson?" King asked, looking at Meli and I. Shit.

"No," the captain said simply, the smoke clearing, showing that Hendrickson had changed again. What the fuck, Nakaba? "Not anymore."

His skin was now a light gray, and instead of pants (ew. Ever heard of decency, madame? We don't want to see your lady-bits), demon markings covered the entirety of his bottom half. Although they were no longer a deep purple, but solid black, meaning the blood of both demons had fully amplified and unified within Hendrickson's body. He had small, probably useless, wings on his back, which were also light gray, and horns coming off of his forehead. His sclera was now pitch back, and his irises were yellow. His nails had grown much longer, and his magical power was much more prominent, and menacing, than before.

"Haha! You fools!" Hendrickson spoke, "Did you truly believe you could defeat me with a blow such as that?"

"Meli..." I mumbled, making his attention turn toward me, but his eyes remained on Hendrickson. "I want you guys to get back."

"What?" He demanded.

"I'm going to attack him."

"No way," he growled, "(Y/N), you'll get hurt if you face him alone. I know you can beat him, but it's not safe! Trust me, you'll get really hurt."

"I'm not an idiot, I know that!" I sighed, "But. We can't fight him down here. If I attack him, he'll retaliate with his fullest ability because he knows I'm stronger than him. Thus, we can get into a more open area where all of the Holy Knights are. We can use them to distract him. The numbers might put him off, or at least give him more to deal with. Thus, we'll have a better chance of beating him."

"That's a terrible idea, and you know it," he growled, walking in front of me and glaring. "He'll kill all of them."

"Not if we can get to him first," I retorted.

"No," he commanded, "I'm not letting you."

"Look, Meli, it's our only chance!" I growled, "Who cares if I get hurt?! You guys can stop him in your own! If I'm out of commission, King or one of the Holy Knights can heal me."

"And if it kills you?" Meli asked. My face darkened, and there was a dreadful silence.

"It won't."

"If he attacks all seven of your hearts at once, you know he'll beat you! You won't use your full power, and we all know it! This is suici-"

"Meli. It won't kill me. And if it does, then fuck me," I looked at him, flashing a toothy grin. "Wanna bet on it? I survive, I buy the supply of drinks for the next week. If I don't, you get my wallet anyway!"

"(Y/N), I can't-" He started, but I stuck my pinky out at him, giving him a determined stare.

"Bet."

He stared at me for a moment, and is stared right back. His inner turmoil was so obvious, but this had always been our system. Bet on it if shit goes down. His eyes were determined and his face stony, but I could tell he really didn't want me to do it. Still, he sighed, plastering a semi-unsteady cheeky grin on his face and interlocking his pinky with mine.

"You have to wear the uniform for that week too," he grinned mischievously.

"Wait, what?! That's wasn't the deal-"

"You already pinky swore, no take backsies!" He grinned, swiping his hand away from mine. I couldn't help but smile back at him as he stared up at me. I rolled my eyes, turning back toward Hendrickson.

"You asshole," I grinned, winking at him. He winked back. I jumped up and down, waving my hands before cranking my neck loudly. I mumbled to myself, "Welp, here goes nothing..."

I charged forward, going as fast as I could. Hendrickson's eyes widened upon seeing me, and he extended his hand toward me to attack. I dodged out of the way at the last second, speeding behind him and kicking him down so that his attack connected with the floor. The whole area shook. I tossed him up with my foot, jumping up and colliding my knee with him stomach, then flipping over top of him and punching him downward.

Just buying them time. That's all you're doing, (y/n). You got this. What could go wrong?

"C'mon Hendy, you've gotta do better than that!" I grinned, landing on the ground next to his body, which was laying, spread-eagle in a crater.

"Insolent fool..." he growled, standing up. He looked angry, but he quickly switched back to his poker face.

"Shit, (y/n), look out!" Meli's voice called, distracting me. I looked back at him, then returned my gaze to Hendrickson, eyes widened upon seeing his attack already surging toward me. I put my hands up in a 'X' in front of my face, uselessly attempting to defend myself from the attack. A surge of wind came toward me, and there was no way I could block anyone else from the attack. I was sent flying backward, bursting through countless levels of rock, continuing on my track even when the walls behind me ceased. I tumbled on the ground, rolling until I skid to a stop. The thought vaguely entered my mind, entirely uselessly and unimportantly, that it was a wonder how my clothes managed to survive through all of this.

Ugh, you idiot! Why must you think of the most random things at the most inopportune times?! You literally just got your ass handed to you by a low-rank!

Well, I guess that's what could go wrong.

"Lady (y/n)...! Are you okay?!" A Holy Knight came rushing to my side, one that I didn't immediately recognize. My eyes widened upon seeing her. She was one of the Knights from before- the one who had weapons all around her. But didn't I..?

I grabbed two battle axes from her collage of weapons before jumping and spinning mid-air. I threw one across the room, it chopping through two of the long-range bois before clattering to the ground, then, once I was facing downward, dug the second one into sword-girl's face, a sickening, but also satisfying, crunch echoing as she fell limply to the floor. The weapons surrounding her fell to the ground as well, clattering against the cement floors as the metal made contact.

"Wh...at..?" I mumbled, squinting my eyes as I stared at her. "But I...."

"O-oh! Uhm... we have a member with a duplicate power... they can duplicate powers and bodies of other people..." she spoke quietly, hesitating before kneeling by my side. "You didn't hurt any of us... not really... some people are kinda scared, though..."

And you aren't?! Bitch, you must be crazier than me.

Although, it doesn't kind-of make sense... I don't really remember very many bodies falling down with me when I fell into... My lips pursed and I swallowed thickly. When I fell through the floor. It kinda checks out.

"Oh," I said simply, standing up. I smiled down at her, since she was unexpectedly short, sweatdropping, "I would say sorry, but I'm sure you wouldn't believe me... But if it counts for anything, I didn't want to hurt you guys- er, your duplicates." I chuckled as demon marking appeared, healing the wounds on my arms and the various scrapes over my body, gesturing to the scene. All of the Sins were hurt, recovering from the attack, including Diane, somehow. "I had a previous commitment to attend to."

"I-It's okay...!" She said quickly. Wow, for a fighter like she is, she sure is quiet. And shy. "I get it... you're right in not exactly liking us Holy Knights... we did frame you for treason..."

"Don't worry about it, kid!" I grinned. Why the fuck am I the one telling her not to worry about it? I literally murdered her and all of her friends right in front of her! "I should be apologizing! But, I'll do that after..! I kinda have to..." I gestured vaguely at the situation in front of us.

"W-wait!" She spoke up, just as I was about to walk away. I raised an eyebrow, signaling I was listening. "Princess Elizabeth... we, uhm... found her here... what should we do..? She's unconscious..."

"Do you have a healer?" I asked, to which she nodded. "Have them look at her and see what her condition is. Now I have to g-"

"O-one more thing..!" She spoke up, and I looked at her again, more urgently, and slightly more annoyed. Look, I owe you, but annoying me is one way to get yourself off that list real quick. "I-I just wanted to say thank you... for not giving up on the kingdom after all of us gave up on you guys..! Everyone who was in that room understands now... they know why you did what you did- er, what you thought you did... We aren't mad... they're just a bit scared because they know what you can do now..."

I smiled to myself, hardly noticeable, I'm sure. I stared at her with a moment, and once she began to fidget I grinned widely, throwing a thumbs up her way. "Still, I owe you guys! I'll protect you with my life!"

I turned around and sprinted through the clouds of dust that had formed, charging forward into the battle. Behind me, I heard faintly. "Th-Thank you, Lady (y/n)!!"

Ha, don't sweat it kid... but you're way too forgiving to be a Holy Knight.

Although, I guess that might be what the kingdom needs. A few forgiving Knights.

I came through the dust, determined. However, as soon as I came through my eyes widened, and the heartwarming experience that had just happened completely left my mind, fucking off somewhere. Meli was in a crater, coughing blood as he stood shakily, glaring at Hendrickson as he struggled to even hold his sword. Gowther was off to the side, skidding across the floor. It seemed his head had come off, but I couldn't tell for sure. Hendrickson was now staring at me, or, more accurately, the Holy Knights behind me. He held both of his hands up, and small, dark blobs of demonic power were appearing around him with quiet pops. My eyes widened as they continued to duplicate, and I stumbled back.

I'll protect you with my life!

I turned around and began sprinting, charging toward the gigantic group of Holy Knights. I skidded to a halt in front of them, my eyes wide with panic as I surveyed them, counting vaguely.

"374 Knights just where I can see... shit..." I mumbled, then raised my voice louder, hoping it echoed so that everyone could hear me. "EVERYONE! PLEASE! GATHER TOGETHER! I CAN'T DEFEND YOU ALL LIKE THIS!"

There were murmurs of confusion, and everyone began looking around. The popping was getting closer. I scanned the crowd desperately, but made eye contact with a familiar pair of bright blue orbs, and they seemed to immediately sense my panic.

"Everyone! Listen to (y/n)!" Gilthunder boomed, and everyone started to listen. Tch, of course they listen to him and not me... it's not like I'm a gazillion times more powerful than them (and him) or anything...

They all began to cluster together, huddling into smaller, more manageable groups. I sighed, but noticed overhead that small spots of darkness were appearing. I'm almost out of time.

I began casting spells like nobody's business, forming squares of Purgatory Containment around every group of Holy Knights I could. Gilthunder insisted on staying out of one until everyone else was safe. I moved as fast as I could, but they still seemed to be falling faster than I could cast- and using a main ability so recklessly is bound to be depleting my magical power like nobody's business.

Loud screams of panic started to sound and that's when I knew I was too late and needed to move faster. I casted the spell again, beginning to pant at the unreasonable exertion. I glanced across the field, finding that girl standing next to Elizabeth and a Knight that was kneeling over her. There was a roof of weapons above them, but she seemed slightly panicky as they began to turn black and disappear. Still, she replaced them almost immediately. At first I was relieved, but then I noticed a small, black dot falling down over her. It has gotten past her roof, and was now gliding down to her person.

My eyes widened, and I darted over as fast as I could, diving forward once I reached her. He eyes widened, both because she saw me and the small attack at the same time. I outstretched my hand, seeing the small orb hovering just above her widened eyes.

I'll protect you with my life!

I landed heavily on the ground, screaming in agony as the black orb made contact and my arm began turning a deep purple and burning like all hell.

"Lady (y/n)!!"