Chapter 30: Demon realm arc: A blade doesn't lie
Benimaru woke up to pain, skin aching—body sore.
Sitting on a large boulder was Meliodas, legs crossed—uncaring about the desolate wasteland they found themselves in.
Standing up immediately, the Ryota was on guard, already in a fighting position.
"Who are you?"
Standing up but not responding, a sickly smile appeared on Meliodas' face.
"Your torturer."
Before Benimaru knew it, he was sent crashing into a wall—arms raised to reduce damage.
Before he knew it, Meliodas appeared in front of him, hurling a barrage of attacks his way.
His demon mark materialized into sight, catching one of his fists, he headbutted him—causing him to stagger back slightly.
Benimaru spun around, kicking him into a mountain—but before the attack landed, Meliodas vanished.
Appearing at his back, a ball of compressed darkness in his palm—Meliodas slammed it into him.
Gritting his teeth through the pain, feeling the overwhelming weight of pure darkness on his body—tearing the backside of his clothes.
Grabbing his wrists, Benimaru slammed him into the ground—a resounding crack was made from the impact.
Charging his foot with lightning, he struck downward—aiming to crack his skull.
But at the moment of impact, Meliodas drew his sword, slashing his foot.
"FULL COUNTER!"
At that moment, a flash of light occurred—the light that had just aimed to kill Meliodas was redirected in waves.
Crashing into Benimaru like a freight train, it shook him beyond anything he had ever felt before.
A body-shaped hole appeared in the mountain behind them as Benimaru's body impacted it.
Eyes turning white, pupils dilating—limbs going limp.
Meliodas appeared beside him, smirking.
"You were good, but unfortunately… not good enough."
Raising his sword, he charged it with pure, undiluted Hellblaze—it was raging, yet somewhat peaceful.
Sword coated with the flame of hell, he thrust forward—his aim… the heart.
But at the last second, Benimaru's eyes snapped open, gripping a nearby stick in his palm—he countered Meliodas' strike.
"FULL COUNTER!"
A shocked expression etched itself on the Commandment's face.
That form, that control, the flow of demonic energy.
This was undeniably Full Counter.
Full Counter, an ability known by few, can reflect a physical or jutsu attack back to the sender at double the force.
But due to the nature of Benimaru's Perfect Copy, the force of his Full Counter is twice its normal output.
Making its total effect to be a whopping four times more powerful than its user's original effect.
Meliodas' slash was immediately sent back to him, his entire body burning from the effect of the Hellblaze.
The Hellblaze was known by many to be the fire so cold it burns, because of the specific effects it can have depending on its user.
His body blasted away a few meters back, burning with an intense heat that threatened to consume it all.
Benimaru fell on one knee, dissipating his Demon Mark.
His lips curved into a confident smirk, clenching his fist tightly.
"With Perfect Copy… I can beat anyone."
An arm slung itself around his shoulder affectionately. "Can you now?"
Benimaru's eyes widened. He glanced at the body of Meliodas—it disappeared into nothingness.
Meliodas, the man he had been fighting, the man he had killed—was alive.
Worst of all, he couldn't even tell when he appeared behind him.
His speed was massively higher than what he had just witnessed.
Clenching his fist tightly, he prepared to attack.
Cheeky grin on his face, Meliodas intensified his grip—forcing him to kneel.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
He looked Benimaru dead in the eye, smile never escaping his lips.
"After all… you could barely beat 0.1% of my power. What makes you think you can beat me?"
The realization hit like a bombshell to Benimaru.
This man, no… this devil, was matching him with less than one percent of his power?
It was absurd.
Feeling an involuntary gulp go down his throat, Benimaru smiled. "The enemies here were just so strong."
Seeing the smile on his face, Meliodas' eyebrow raised. "You're really a battle junkie, aren't you?"
He ruffled his hair, causing Benimaru to grin. "Yep."
THREE WEEKS LATER
Blocking a fist from Meliodas, his knee thrust forward, almost striking his abdomen—almost.
Stopping Benimaru's foot with his pinky, his body turned unnaturally.
Pulling him downward, Benimaru's body stuck under him.
With a serious look on his face, his fist inches away from the Ryota's face, Benimaru was calm, the same dead seriousness in his eyes.
"Why don't you finish it?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
Benimaru's foot was arched up, mere centimeters from the back of Meliodas' head.
Meliodas got off of him, his evil aura dissipating instantly—a kind energy filled the environment.
But Benimaru felt off; he had been feeling this for a while.
No way someone could just switch from a cold killer to a kind pacifist.
It wasn't possible.
Clearing his thoughts for a moment, he gripped the hand which had been offered—pulling himself up.
Benimaru remembered something; it had been bothering him for a while.
"When we first fought, you said I fought a clone, right?"
Meliodas nodded, intrigued where this was going..
Benimaru continued.
"But that didn't feel like any normal shadow clone, so what was it?"
Meliodas whistled lightly.
"So you noticed?"
The sound of unsheathing metal was made prominent, the sword at his back disappearing.
The sword wasn't large or overly bulky, with a yellow cross guard and a green handle—the pommel matching the guard.
A dragon symbol was etched into the blade and its handle—the Demon Clan symbol was as plain as day.
Meliodas twirled the sword around a bit.
"This is my Sacred Treasure, Lostvayne."
"Sacred… Treasure?"
Seeing the boy's confusion, he continued.
"Sacred Treasures are the greatest piece of weaponry, all with unique abilities to assist their user."
Meliodas smirked. "
And Lostvayne's ability," he struck air, creating a huge shockwave, forcing Benimaru to brace himself.
He entered a fighting position.
"Is to make identical copies of myself, and I can distribute my power however I wish."
That's too broken, I want a Sacred Treasure so bad. I'd look so badass.
Unable to contain his excitement, he asked for his own Sacred Treasure—causing Meliodas to pause for a second.
Meliodas placed a hand to his chin, thinking.
"It wouldn't be so hard to get you one, but…"
"But…"
Meliodas shook his head.
"The materials would be very hard to get; they aren't something that can just be mass-produced."
He hummed slightly
"They require metals found in the farthest ends of the demon realm. Only those who prove themselves are worthy of such power"
Benimaru frowned slightly, but he had to admit, the logic made sense.
"Besides, what weapon would you even want?"
Without hesitation, Benimaru responded. "A katana."
His voice calm and composed.
"Preferably a long one."
Meliodas raised an eyebrow. "That's a pretty specific choice."
His smile sharpened.
"Any particular reason why?"
Benimaru's face grew hardened, a serious aura encompassing the area.
"Because a blade doesn't lie, doesn't sin, doesn't steal. It is everything I strive to be."
A tiny smile graced his lips, contradicting his bitter statement.
"I know I'm not a saint, I'm not pure either. But I am just. I will not kill unnecessarily, neither will I take any joy in killing. For that… is a sin."
For a moment, Meliodas stared at him—then burst out in uncontrollable laughter.
"Sorry, I'm not laughing at you. It's just so ironic."
He tried to compose himself, barely stifling a chuckle as Benimaru's intense gaze remained.
"A demon trying to be pure is hilarious."
But Benimaru wasn't laughing.
Meliodas kept quiet, and for a second—they both stared at each other.
"You're serious, aren't you?"
No response.
Sighing, the Commandment of Love stretched his neck.
"I'll see what I can do."
He turned around, walking in the other direction.
"I'll tell the blacksmith to start production as quickly as possible. He's the best in the business."
Walking away, he waved his hand to Benimaru as a symbol of respect.
But the latter wasn't having it.
"Meliodas!"
The demon's ears perked, signaling him to continue.
"Who are you really? You seem like more than just a Commandment."
Meliodas' eyes darkened, causing Benimaru to press harder.
"What are you hiding?"
For a second, nothing. But then… a wave of oppressive demonic chakra flooded Benimaru's senses.
Eyes widening in shock as he was forced face first into the ground.
Meliodas' eyes lost all traces of warmth and care, replaced by a silent outrage—his eyes resembling an endless abyss.
"Listen here, kid. I will train you, spar with you, and help you grow stronger, but…"
His aura grew stronger, thicker—more powerful.
"Never should I find you attempting to pry into my life."
His hands shook violently as Benimaru slowly lost control over his own body—all feeling beginning to fade
What I feel right now. Is this…
Fear?