I don't own Re:Zero or any of the characters.
To War
Ian nodded mutely to Wilhelm and Crusch as they reached the rendezvous. The forces had assembled without any trouble. All that remained was war. Ian stared in the direction of City Hall. Soon. Soon, he would reach his goal, the thing he'd received his Gospel for. All that remained was a single battle. One that he actually found himself looking forward to. All of their preparations, all of his hard work. It was all for this. And it was all ready.
"Have any of you heard much about Lust?" Crusch was asking as Ian rejoined the present.
"My apologies," Wilhelm said. "I have very little information. Sloth and Greed are much more famous, but both of those have been encountered by Subaru and Ian."
"I have some," Ian said. "Mostly rumors, but ones that might put things in perspective a little."
"Please," Crusch said, motioning for him to speak.
"From what I've heard, Lust is the head of the assassin organization that the Bowel Hunter belonged to prior to her death," Ian said. "Aside from that, all I know is that she's the epitome of a sadistic monster. Anyone who's not her is, at best, garbage. More commonly, they're insects."
"Lovely," Ricardo grimaced. "And you want to fight her with your maids?"
"Not my maids," Ian said. "Roswaal's. And yes, I'll be fighting her personally, because my ability will give me the best chance to win without knowing her abilities before hand."
"He's right about that, I suppose," Beatrice said. "His ability, if used to its full extent, made him able to battle both Gluttony and Greed at the same time, mortally wound Gluttony, and survive Greed. He's the best option."
"Alright," Crusch nodded. "We'll leave it to you."
Ian nodded, and they all continued on. Finally, they stopped just shy of the plaza where Garfiel had fought the two corpses earlier. Garfiel pulled his shields on, Ricardo drew his machete, and Rem and Ram both drew their weapons.
"Are you three ready?" Ian asked, not taking his eyes off the plaza.
"Yeah," Garfiel said.
"Ready," Ricardo nodded.
"Yes," Wilhelm nodded, on hand on his sword's sheath. "I'm ready."
They all started forward, and within a handful of steps, the two primary targets fell toward them. Before they could reach Garfiel, who was in the lead, Crusch drew her sword and slashed in one fluid strike, sending out her Hundred Man Strike. Except, the targets deflected it, a feat even Gluttony had failed to do. Both landed safely and adopted a defensive posture. The three meant to fight the guard dogs charged, Wilhelm and Garfiel at the woman, who was easily the more dangerous of the two, and Ricardo at the giant. Except, it failed instantly. Theresia used Garfiel as a shield from Wilhelm, then drilled a knee into Garfiel's face, shattering his nose, before slamming a pair of kicks into Wilhelm that launched him. Garfiel struck but missed, and retreated toward Wilhelm. As the woman pursued them, Ram sent an Ul Fura at her to force her back.
At the same time as they were being brutally repelled, Ricardo was almost instantly overpowered by the giant. He managed to use the giant's own strike to lop off an arm, but the giant ha shed his cloak to expose his extra arms and slammed a punch into Ricardo that hurled him. As the giant chased him, Ian and Crusch slashed, sending matching Hundred Man Strikes into the giant's chest, carving only shallow gashes into him. He leapt backward, abandoning his chase, and instead picked up his severed arm, holding it to his stump. His flesh mended with wet, sucking sounds, as did the gashes in his chest. Ian narrowed his eyes as Ricardo retreated to them again, as did Wilhelm and Garfiel.
"This will be hard," Garfiel said.
"Chaotically, grudgingly, this conspiracy has arrived!" Capella's voice suddenly cut through the air. "What kind of garbage pieces of meat like you can, so foolishly, ugly, superficially dare to live? In the words of this elegant, patient lady" She began to cackle.
Everyone's head whipped around, searching for her, only to see nothing.
"Where are you looking, you dull, dimwitted pieces of shit?" Capella taunted. "It's because of this foolishness that you can't be saved. Come on, open your dog eyes wide, and think hard with your empty heads. Then maybe this gentle lady will show mercy to your filthy souls!"
Ian's eyes rose slowly, trailing up the City Hall before stopping, staring unwaveringly at the black dragon perched atop it, cackling in Capella's voice.
"Really, that face!" it cackled. "That stupid face! Did you save it just for me? If so, this kind lady would give you foolish apes praise! Or would you prefer saliva? You'd be very happy with my precious saliva! For you pieces of rubbish, it must be a coveted treasure, right!"
No one moved, except to stare up at the dragon. No one spoke except for it.
"Then, once more!" Capella said. "This lovely lady is the Sin Archbishop of Lust! I am Capella Emerada Lugunica! Die! You rotten slabs of meat!"
Ian stared, his mind memorizing what he was seeing. Its wingspan was the width of the building, its body bigger than the domed section at the center of the building upon which it perched. It had golden claws, teeth, and horns, with the horns sticking out to the sides of its head, only to immediately turn forward at a sharp angle, curving upward slightly. The rest of its massive body was the color of onyx.
"Being ravished by your heated gazes isn't exciting at all, you meat creatures in heat!" Capella taunted, or maybe she was serious. "Ah! This is awful, being seen by people like you who can only think of sexual gratification! So I won't approach you!"
"I haven't heard any mentions of this before, but can dragons speak?" Subaru asked.
"Having lived for so long time, dragons are extremely intelligent and can understand human language," Wilhelm said. "Lugunica's patron dragon Volcanica, who tied a covenant with the kingdom, can of course communicate with mankind through language, but his expression isn't terribly rich. I've never heard of any other dragons having that ability."
"That's not a dragon, Subaru," Ian said. "It's Lust. She's a shapeshifter. It's the only explanation."
"She can shapeshift into a dragon!?" Subaru gaped.
"I'm willing to bet she can become anything she wants," Ian said. "That complicates matters."
"Is there anyone here who's fought a dragon?" Subaru asked.
"Yes," Wilhelm said.
"Wilhelm?" Subaru asked. "Seriously?"
"Nearly 40 years ago, I was sent to subjugate an evil dragon named Valgren who appeared to Lugunica's south." Wilhelm said. "The incident caused much diplomatic tension because of its proximity to Vollachia."
"Setting the diplomatic ramifications aside, how was the experience of fighting a dragon?" Subaru asked.
"More than ten percent of our knights were sent to the battle, and, although the crusade succeeded, forty percent of those knights died," Wilhelm said gravely. "The crusade succeeded, but the result was considerable. It's ability to fly, it's endless stamina, were things that we should have taken into better consideration."
"Any suggestions from one experienced dragon hunter to a soon-to-be rookie?" Ian asked.
Wilhelm's head snapped around, his mouth actually falling open. "You can't seriously still mean to fight her alone!?"
"That's right," Ian nodded. "Dragon or no, I'm still our best hope."
Wilhelm hesitated before nodding. "Ground her. And beware of the dragon's breath."
"Right," Ian nodded. "Fire."
"Valgren had three heads, each of which needed to be removed before it died," Wilhelm said. "This one is both smaller in size, and also possesses only one head."
"Right," Ian nodded. "Thanks." He took a breath. "Wolf."
Wolf formed beside him.
"You'll be staying with Subaru and Beatrice," Ian said. "Help them fight as needed. Same agreement as with Aria, use my Mana if you need to, but warn me first."
Wolf nodded, reverting to a ball of light and flying over to Subaru and Beatrice, hovering over Subaru's left shoulder, Beatrice looking over his right.
"My, my, my, you're all so disgusting," Capella said. "You're beaten and miserable, and, aside from my reinforcements, you're facing a Sin Archbishop! You rotten creatures should hang your heads and channel the meekness of mice, and yet you're acting all normal? Was putting you with all the other insects wrong?" She began to cackle.
"Stop fuckin' around!" Garfiel shouted. "What can ya do 'gainst our numbers? My amazin' self'll go up there 'n crush ya!"
Capella merely laughed. "The barking of this rabid dog is hurting my sacred ears. Or, rather, I made a mistake. You're not a rabid hound, you're only a puny kitten! Meow, meow, meow. Don't be angry just because that kitty you were with died!"
Garfiel was taken aback and shaken. "Bastard, how'd ya know my amazin' self's a demi-human?"
"Huh?" Capella drawled. "How do I know that? Don't think so highly of yourself, not even a single of one your hairs interests me. I could tell that you were a filthy half-breed the moment I saw you! Go die the way you lived, as a degenerate beast! What a stench! What a stench! You slabs of meat all smell rotten! Moldy, rotten, garbage meat! Preserved meats from the trash! Ah, disgusting!" As her gaze moved to Crusch, however, her voice became softer, almost gentle. "But mixed with all that refuse is quite a slab piece of meat! So attractive, perfectly in line with tastes! This meat smells like the finest of meat! What beauty! That body! That appeal! Ah, I really, really, really want to break it with my own two hands!"
"That's enough!" Crusch said firmly, Capella's head pulling back slightly in surprise.
The two glared at each other for a long moment before Capella's sight shifted to Ian as he strode forward, Rem, Ram, and Elena all falling in behind him. Both guard dogs moved to stop them, only for Wilhelm to intercept Theresia, and Garfiel the giant. Garfiel and the Giant both fought brutally, their battle chaotic and destructive. Completely opposing their battle, Wilhelm and Theresia's battle was one of pure, beautiful, perfect swordsmanship, both at the absolute pinnacle of skill, to a level that Ian doubted even Reinhard could match, despite his overwhelming power. Ian ignored both battles, striding calmly toward City Hall.
"You disgusting insect!" Capella spat. "You think you can handle me!?"
Ian ignored her, glancing back at Crusch. "Come on. They can handle this."
Just as she stepped forward, however, Capella roared, a massive flood of pure black flames flooding from her mouth. Ricardo leapt into the air, unleashing a deafening roar of his own, coupled by a blast of condensed magic, which scattered the flames. Anything they hit was incinerated almost instantly, but the worst part was that the flames remained. They swelled and spread, seeking more fuel, even those bits that landed on water. Ian nodded to himself. It was correct so far. Everything had matched up to what he'd read in the Gospel. Which meant the last ace in Capella's sleeve, the true nature and the true extent of her shapeshifting, was also correct. As was his method for forcing her to kneel. He stopped, looking up at Capella as she sighed heavily.
"Time's up, I have to go make the next broadcast, so I'll go back inside," Capella said. "Talking to you is just a waste of time, and I'm in a hurry! You all just stay here and die, along with that rather lovely piece of meat! Go rot in hell!" She turned, retreating behind the building.
"If she makes that broadcast, the city's doomed," Ian growled.
"Right," Rem and Ram both nodded.
"We need to move!" Crusch agreed. "Ricardo, we'll leave helping them to you!"
"Right!" Ricardo nodded, everyone else who wasn't fighting running for the building.
The two guards both turned to chase them, only for Ricardo to use his roar to slow them long enough for Wilhelm and Garfiel to catch them again. Then, the duels resumed. Ian ran hard for City Hall, the others all following. After a moment, they entered City Hall, looking around. It was deserted. However, just as they entered, they stopped. There was a young boy with brown hair hanging loosely around his head and in a braid behind him, his entire boy covered by a tattered rag wrapped around his body, identical to Lye Batenkaitos's, with daggers strapped to the backs of his wrists, identical to Lye Batenkaitos's , nd that bore the same crazed, inhuman eyes and sharpened teeth as Lye Batenkaitos. Ian, Rem, and Ram instantly raised their weapons.
"So happy, very happy, so very happy, so very very happy, because of this happiness, such happiness, incredibly happiness, such incredible happiness, such incredibly incredible happiness, deserves a feast!" the boy rambled endlessly. "Feast! It's been a really suffering wait, with this empty stomach! So the first bite must be delicious to make up for it!"
"Name yourself!" Ram ordered. "Now!"
"Oh my!" the boy grinned. "You'll do nicely! We are the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishops of Gluttony, Roy Alphard!"
Ian narrowed his eyes.
"Gluttony!" Crusch gasped.
"Lye Batenkaitos is Gluttony," Ian said.
"Yes," the boy nodded. "And so are we. We three are Gluttony."
Ian's whole body went rigid. "Are the other two here?"
"Oh no," Roy said. "This is my feast!"
Ian nodded, raising his swords. The Gospel didn't mention Gluttony. He'd have to make it quick.
"Leave this to me," Julius said, slowing to a stop beside them.
"What are you doing here?" Ian asked.
"My spirits told me they sensed danger," Julius said, readying himself as he stepped toward Roy. "I'll deal with this. You all go and handle Lust."
"Remember what I said about Lye Batenkaitos's power," Ian said.
"I will," Julius nodded. "Go."
Ian nodded. "Good luck, Jules."
"And you," Julius nodded. "Lolimancer-"
"Don't call me that name!" Subaru snapped.
"Take Valkyrie and follow the others," Julius said, nodding to Crusch."
"Right," Subaru nodded.
"Ana, Brina, Lexi, let's go," Ian said, the three girls behind him nodding.
They all started forward, and Roy moved to meet them. However, before he could, Julius aimed his sword at Roy and his spirits fired a beam of magic into him, sending him blasting through the banister and put of the others' way. Ian began to run, as did the others, as they ascended the stairs quickly. As they reached the fifth floor, they stopped, staring at a path onto the roof below the domed room where the broadcast station was. Ian mutely pointed to Subaru and Crusch, then the stairs. Subaru nodded, understanding instantly, and ran up the other set of stairs to the roof. As he did, the other four continued up their staircase to the door, stopping just shy of it. Then, they waited. After a moment, glass shattered inside and Ian took a breath as Crusch cried out at something.
"Crusch!" Subaru shouted.
"Right!" Crusch responded, just as Ian and the others entered through the door.
There was the dragon, crammed into a room much too small. It tried to spread its wings, but as it did, Crusch slashed, severing a wing and a front leg. The dragon roared in agony. However, as it writhed in pain, Ian spotted a young girl chained at its feet. Subaru shot forward, grabbing the girl and snapping the dragon in the back with his whip.
"Wait!" the dragon shrieked. "Wait! I'm not-"
"No need to answer!" Crusch shouted. "This is retribution for the disaster you've wrought on the city!"
She struck again and again, mangling the other wing before ripping open gash after gash in the dragon's body. Then, finally, it crashed out of the window opposite where Subaru and Crusch had entered, falling the the ground with the wet sound of a piece of raw meat hitting a wall.
"I'll go confirm the situation," Crusch said, going to the window to see if Lust got up again. "Subaru, can you take care of this child?"
"We can handle things here, I suppose," Beatrice said.
Crusch nodded as Subaru set the little girl on her feet.
"It's alright," Subaru said. "That dragon just now was killed by the superheroine, though not easily. Where's everyone else?"
The girl tried to speak, but no words would come out.
"Although it's hard to believe, we're here to help," Subaru said. "We came in here to save you, but we need to hurry before the bad guy comes back. Can you help me?"
"There's a room...over there," the girl said, pointing to a door. "Everyone's in there."
"Is it locked?" Subaru asked, Elena already crossing to the room, Rem and Ram turning to it as well.
Subaru followed Elena to what had to be the actual broadcasting room, since this room, though large, was empty, like a waiting room. Ian watched the door carefully. He had a sinking feeling that the dragon had been trying to say it wasn't Lust. And if that was true, Lust could be behind the door. He stopped, a few steps toward it. Lust could be behind the door, but she could also be the little girl.
Just as he began to turn, Subaru opened the door and Ian froze. Inside the room, he could see a fly. One the size of a human. He could barely see into the room, but he could guess there were dozens inside just by Subaru's stunned expression. He swore, beginning to turn just as Crusch shrieked in agony. He spun, staring as the little girl cackled in Capella's voice and stomped on Crusch's back, Crusch vomiting blood as her eyes rolled back.
"Stupid, stupid!" Capella sneered. "You dregs, the meat in your heads simply isn't enough. You actually tried to match me in a battle of the wits? Who put the sugar into your brain and melted your cerebrum!? It's me, Capella!"
"What the fuck did you do to her?" Ian demanded.
"I indulged in my bad habit a bit," Capella sneered. "I tried to see if she would beat my blood."
Ian skipped backward just as the door opened. He spun, launching himself backward and shoulder-checked Crusch, sending her tumbling out of the way of Capella's spray of blood, also avoiding it himself. However, just as his feet hit the floor and everyone spun, his whip sword's extended blade wrapped around her throat, the edges and monofilament wire biting into her skin even before he yanked and retracted the blade. As it shot back toward him, it constricted and easily sliced through Capella's body, sending her head flying upward, a stunned expression on her face, in a spray of black blood. Everyone stared at Capella in shock.
"She can transform her body into anything she sees fit at will," Ian said. "She can become a dragon, or a little girl, or she can make her blood a deadly poison to everyone except her. She can transform others into a dragon, or human-sized flies. This cunt is more dangerous than any of the other Sin Archbishops besides Regulus Corneus."
"But...she's dead," Subaru said. "Right?"
Just then, Capella's body jerked before a new head grew, the last one steaming and smoking as it dissolved in the two seconds it took her to grow a new head. And as soon as she'd grown it, she was screaming, clutching at her throat as she all but scrambled away from Ian.
"W...What did...you..." Capella choked out, her voice hoarse from pain.
"I took certain preparations in case I fought someone stronger than me again," Ian said. "And now, I'm going to absolutely slaughter you."
Capella's eyes widened even more and she retreated further before tumbling out of the shattered wall where the dragon fell. Ian grinned, striding toward it, Rem and Ram making no move to follow.
"Ian, wait!" Subaru said. "You can't fight her alone!"
"Watch me," Ian said, looking back at him. "I've been preparing for the next Witch Cult fight for a year. Finally, I'm ready."
"What preparations?" Subaru asked. "Your spirits?"
"Rage," Ram said. "As a side effect to receiving a blood transfusion from me, he gained a demon's bloodlust and rage, much like Rem during the Wolgarm incident. However, he never allowed his rage to fade. He kept it bottled up and restrained, controlled but protected, for a year. Now, he has reason to unleash it."
"And that's only one," Ian said. "The other preparation is on my blades." He held them up, light catching on a clear fluid coating them. "It's a toxin extracted and enhanced from the fangs of those snake Mabeasts that were with Elsa and Meili. It blocks all nerve endings except pain receptors, which it enhances the sensitivity of ten-fold for twelve hours."
Subaru and Crusch stared at Ian in shock.
"The Witch Cult thinks they know pain? They think they know Hell?" Ian snorted, a wicked grin spreading over his face. "I'm going to show them Hell. I'm going to make this cunt's entire existence an unbearably agonizing torture for sending Elsa to kill Rem and Ram!"
"This is a vendetta!?" Subaru gaped.
"Does it matter?" Ian asked. "I'm still the most powerful here."
Then, he turned back to the front and tipped forward.
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