Chapter 44

Countdown to Despair (絶望へのカウントダウン, Zetsubō e no Kauntodaun) is the 44th chapter of Nanatsu no Taizai.

Character(s) in order of appearance

 * Elizabeth Lyonesse
 * Hawk
 * Veronica Lyonesse
 * Griamor
 * Ban
 * King
 * Hauser
 * Marmas
 * Geera
 * Jericho
 * Helbram

Fights and Events

 * King vs. Geera & Jericho
 * King vs. Helbram

Short Summary
After Meliodas has been sealed inside the Goddess Amber, the group recovers from their dumbstruck state with Veronica triumphant over having succeeded in her coup. She gets into a fight with Elizabeth over the gem which is broken up in Veronica's favor by Griamor trapping Elizabeth with Wall and then is turned again into Elizabeth's favor by Ban sneaking up behind Veronica and taking her hostage. At a different location, King deals with Geera's and Jericho's stubborn attacks but easily dominates them and eventually prepares an attack to kill them which is thwartened out of nowhere. The judge introduced as Love Helm turns out to be the assailant and not only has saved Jericho and Geera from their impending doom but also reveals himself to be the Holy Knight Helbram who then proceeds to surprise attack a stunned King.

Long Summary
After Meliodas disappears, Elizabeth and Hawk, greatly shocked, Veronica grabs the Goddess Amber, and concludes that Meliodas was a monster, since the stone affects only demonic beings. Not believing so, Elizabeth tries to resist with Meliodas' broken sword, asking Veronica to undo her spell, which, Veronica replies, she is not able to do. As she keeps refusing to accept Veronica's claims that Meliodas was plotting evil schemes, and was taking advantage of her naivety, and refuses to return to the castle, Veronica orders Griamor to form a barrier around Elizabeth with "Wall", something that, he says, not even a meteor can destroy. Much to the three's surprise, however, Ban suddenly wakes from his unconsciousness, intending to break the barrier. Meanwhile, in the area where King, Geera and Jericho were fighting, King, levitating above the ground, mentally states that he cannot feel Meliodas and Diane at all.

He turns around to see his two opponents again standing up, and questions them as to what the Holy Knights have done to his fellow three Sins. When they ignore him, he merely turns around and begins to float away. Before King can finish his statement that he will kill the two the next time, they, interrupting him, attack together, with Geera releasing flares towards him, and Jericho attacking him with multiple cross slashes. After both the very powerful attacks reach him, he is revealed to have dodged both by moving very high up, and as he completes his sentence, a giant plant attacks the Holy Knights, which Geera theorizes to be another form of Chastiefol. King, confirming so, declares that it is the "Form Four, Sunflower", and, mockingly stating that the two were strong, but needed much more training, has the end of the plant bloom, revealing a flower, which then releases several projectiles towards his opponents. Much to his surprise, however, just as he does so, the giant plant is vertically cut into two, and as the greatly powerful projectile attacks connect, Chastiefol, which has returned to its standard spear form, is revealed to be broken.

While King wonders as to who damaged his sacred treasure, he finds Love Helm, the referee of the Fight Festival, still in Byzel despite him have evacuated the latter away himself. The referee, commentating a little on the battle, proceeds to reveal that he had rescued Jericho and Geera by hiding them under his cloak. He then jumps, which results in his cloak spinning and becoming black, from which a dagger attacks King, who realizes Love Helm's true identity; he is revealed to actually be the Holy Knight, Helbram.