Chapter 44

Countdown to Despair is the 44th chapter of the manga, Nanatsu no Taizai.

Character(s) in order of appearance

 * Elizabeth Lyonesse
 * Hawk
 * King
 * Meliodas
 * Ban
 * Geera
 * Jericho
 * Diane
 * Hauser
 * Marmas
 * Veronica
 * Griamor
 * Hendricksen

Long Summary
Hawk cheers King for his victory. King, wanting to interrogate Geera and Jericho, hands Hawk the responsibility of looking over Meliodas, Ban, and Elizabeth. King, deducing that the attack on him was to divert the Sins from the Holy Knight's actual goal, questions his opponents as to what their goal is. He declares that the Holy Knights will never defeat the Deadly Sins; Geera retorts back, declaring that the latter will annihilate the former. Somewhere else, Diane, after reaching the area where Gideon was kept, finds that it is not there now. As she wonders on her next course of action, Hauser walks up from behind, declaring that he is arresting her for murdering Zaratras and plotting to overthrow Lyonesse.

Hauser doesn't believe Diane's claims that she did not commit the crime; he believes that getting Gideon and taking over Byzel was the first plan of their new plot. When Diane, in response, points that it was Geera's attack that damaged the town, the Holy Knight replies that they are Hendricksen's subordinates, and he does not know of their plans. Just as, Diane, noticing a civilian trapped under the debris from the village, runs to his help, Marmas also walks up to her and Hauser, and states to the latter that he is here as the leader of the New Generation. He moves in two clubs in strange ways, using a technique to multiple gravity in the area where Diane is by ten times. Seeing the civilian she is carrying to also be affected, she throws the man to Hauser, as the earth collapses due to her increased weight, caused by the increased gravity.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Hawk hide behind a house. Just as Elizabeth hangs the pendant that Veronica gave her earlier around the unconscious Meliodas' neck, Veronica and Griamor find them, having heard Hawk's noises. Veronica, surprised, questions Elizabeth on her having shrunk, as Elizabeth returns to her normal size. After Veronica gives Elizabeth some of her clothes, she states her intentions to take Elizabeth back from Meliodas, and notices the pendant she gave Elizabeth on his neck; Elizabeth immediately replies that it was her who gave it to him. Seeming to smile slightly, Veronica then states her intentions of taking Elizabeth back to the capital of Lyonesse, before the battles intensify, and grabs her sister's hand. As Elizabeth continues to refuse, Meliodas separates the two, much to Hawk's cheering, and proceeds to declare that he will protect Elizabeth with his life. Angered, Veronica retorts that Elizabeth is treated as a criminal due to Meliodas, and demands that he return Elizabeth.

When Meliodas replies, again trying to convince her that he will protect Elizabeth, Veronica comments that Hendricksen was correct, and remembers about Hendricksen giving her the pendant, and convincing her that she was the only one who could rescue Elizabeth. He had stated that the third princess was likely to have been brainwashed, and had explained that the pendant was called "Goddess Amber", which will affect demonic beings within a few feet. Since Meliodas is close to the stone, Veronica chants an incantation, due to which the stone shines brightly for a moment, and Meliodas then mysteriously disappears.