Author Note: Sorry if this isn't as good as the others I was in a rush. Thank you for reading and have a wonderful and awesome day!

There was a resounding splash as a curtain of dark black droplets flung into the air. Subaru's body pivoting as the clang of steel echoed throughout the cavern. Subaru leveled the old sword with his right hand. The blade held limply by his side as he gazed down at the different figure.

Subaru did not know…hundreds or maybe even a thousand of loops. Even as the sting of pain began to vanish, the bits of time and ash blending forth into an uncontrolled and unsurpassed lack of knowing.

The figure was different from before. Loop after loop of constant failing taught Subaru the way of the sword, in turn. Subaru lifted the sword down, the blade cutting through the air itself as the figure blocked it with his own sword.

The figure launching itself to the ground in a steady roll as Subaru got ready to swing again. The figure dodging the young archbishops blow, Subaru before would have had lost the battle, letting such an opening.

Though…he was far stronger than he was before. Subaru felt the mana well up in his legs as he slammed himself into the air. The shockwave from his mana empowered legs and his years of training sent him flying.

Subaru lifted the blade with both hands. Grasping the handle as he swung down, his muscles tensed as he felt the strange sensation of skin and bone breaking underneath his blade, vibrating throughout the sword, and shooting through him like violent tendrils.

The body crumpled underneath Subaru. The dark black tar of water being decorated with a crimson glee as the separated body crumpled throughout the tide of water. Subaru stared around…it wasn't a rare thing for Pandora to spawn in more for an ambush.

Subaru gazed down at the figure…the attire matching those of the guardsmen of the Lagunica armies. Though…something felt off. Subaru's eyes grew hazy as he plunged the blade into the floor. Subaru's vision began to distort, seeing faint static as he reached out with his left hand, trying to grasp onto the air as he struggled.

A second later…

His eyes opened wide. Sweat flying off Subaru as he gasped for air. Subaru's nasty eyes scanned around the new and unfamiliar area as he struggled to see. Though, things were different. There was no white light, and he could tell that he was in a smaller room.

'Did I…did Pandora release me?'

Subaru heard the steady clap come together in unison. The sound hurting his ears as he turned towards it. The figure…Pandora, the strange silver haired being that gave him the option to head back home.

She was standing up as she softly clapped. A grin plastered across her face, Subaru slung his legs off the strange platform, a rough bed of stone. His bare feet connected with the cold stone of the floor as it revibrated through his core.

"P..d…a…"

Subaru's voice etched like a steel knife. His voice sharp and unrefined as he struggled to form the basics of sentences.

Pandora stopped clapping as she tilted her head like a confused owl. "I suppose that all that time you spent alone, did you forget how to speak?"

Subaru…even his pride didn't want to make him admit it, but he still nodded his head. Pandora emptied out a sigh as Subaru tried his best to speak out more words. She took a step forward as Subaru's eyes locked onto her.

"I took you out of the simulation due to your trials nearing completion." She sighed as the words emptied from her mouth. Subaru watching without uttering a word. She shook her head at the state her archbishop was in as she pointed outside of the cave.

Subaru got up from the rough stone table. His legs shaking from the fresh feeling as he began to move out of the cave. His hand going to his eyes as he felt the fresh waves of sunlight grace the stone floor of the cave.

He turned around as he glanced at Pandora. The girl softly grinning as she glanced at him, the boy was already used to follow orders from those stronger than him.

"Subaru…I wish for you to contract with a spirit."

Subaru's eyes widened from the sentence. His hands going to his chest, memories running through his brain like rough bitter waves. Going into him like shards of glass. "Beatrice…she cancelled the contract."

He spat out the final words as Pandora tilted her head at him. "Ah…your voice is back. Though, I didn't ask why you aren't contracted with a spirit but to contract with a new one." She tilted her head more, almost crooked like as Subaru's face remained unchanged. "Would that be a problem?"

Subaru shook his head. His mind whirling with thoughts as he tried to figure it out. He wanted to go home more than everything, he already knew that there was nothing for him here anymore.

Subaru's fingers twirled into a steady fist. His nasty eyes fixated with a resolve as he remembered his goal once again. "Okay, I will…to make it back home and complete this mission."

Subaru began to turn around. To leave the cave, though the moment his foot touched the light of the sun…

"Ah, Subaru…I forgot one thing."

Pandora pointed her finger up, like a child when they had a question for there teacher. "Make the spirit yours, though not by contract."

Subaru stopped in his tracks turning around once again. "Not by contract?" He repeated after the witch spoke. 'I don't understand. You can only use a spirit's power by either being talented enough to call on minor spirits or make a contract.'

A sigh erupted from the witch. "Don't you remember…Subaru?" She pointed her finger at Subaru's bare chest, his heart feeling a weight to it that nearly made it skip a beat. Subaru didn't like the feeling. "How you survived in Vollachia…how you used the power, the power you ripped away from the Archbishop of Gluttony?"

Subaru's eyes widened as he remembered what she was talking about. The ability he only used once when there was no other option, the ability he had to use because all the loops led to his death.

"No!" Subaru planted his foot down. The sound of flesh smashing along the floor echoed along the caverns. His hand cut through the air like a blade as he pointed his own finger at the witch. "I didn't have a choice back then, there was no other option. I could make a contract with any normal spirit right now…"

Pandora simply shook her head. Kicking off the rock she was sitting on as she began to approach Subaru. "Pandora what are you…"

Subaru felt like he was flying. His body being flung into the side of the cave. Blood sprouting free from his mouth as he struggled to move around. His muscles tensed as he wiped the blood from his lips.

His eyes forced to be glued to the floor…Subaru already knew that Pandora's authority was at work as he saw her walk towards him without a care in the world. Simply holding that half grin she always wore.

"Archbishop…did you forget what your goals are?"

She planted her mouth next to Subaru's right ear. Her screech forcing him to clamp his eyes shut. "Naoko and Kenechi, did you already forget about them? If they found out their son was able to return home, but decided to stay for some half elf whore that beat and degraded him, I wonder what they would think? Better yet what would they think if there son didn't hold the resolve to do one simple act?"

Subaru's breathing quickened. His fist curling inside of him as the bitter memories of what Emilia said and did to him was fresh in his mind. Subaru threw himself up off the floor. His feet clamping away as he walked. The boy making his way out of the cave. "Ah, what an interesting one you are…Natsuki Subaru."

Pandora spoke softly. Her eyes dragging along the edge of the cave as the darkness around her began to stir.

"You've watched it all unfold didn't you…Tozka."

The figure stepped out of the darkness. The witch cult garbs clung to there figure as they watched the nasty eyed boy depart. The cowl clung to them as the red printed lines that resembled eyes tracked the boy's location.

"Much defiance in that one, is he truly the Archbishop of Envy." Tozka spoke. The figure moving to the side of Pandora as they peered through the opening of the cave. The greenery of the lush trees and flowing grass catching Tozka's eyes.

"Yes…" Pandora simply spoke. Lifting herself up as she began to walk back into her spot. "Are they here…the rest of your flock?"

"Yes…just as you commanded. I also followed your orders to keep it as secret as possible." Tozka followed the witch as she explained. "The others shall arrive here shortly, though may I ask why the boy holds such a role. For one with such defiance…to hold the role of envy…"

"Tozka…" Pandora simply spoke. Tozka gulping in fear as she feared that she spoke out of turn. "I have already told you of the importance of the Archbishop…even one such as you can feel it. You shall serve him… until I release you."

"You shall fear him when you learn who the boy truly is…of his feats. If Subaru learns of your choices and sins…he may very well end your life. But whatever fear you hold towards Subaru, know that if you disobey me, that my punishment will make you beg for the death that has long hounded you."

Tozka bowed slowly. The garbs touching the floor as the end of the short sword clung to Tozka's waist clamped into the ground. "Okay…I shall follow him and do as you command."

Tozka bowed. The figure's drapes falling to the floor as Pandora simply watched the person grovel at her feet. "You will not find blind obedience a difficult master, once again you shall embrace it. You are different, you are loyal like a beast. I suspect the guilt you hold squirms within you gives you strength."

Pandora sighed as she pointed to the end of the cavern. "Now leave me murderer…a moment is fast approaching, and I wish to not be disturbed."

Subaru

Subaru was clutching his left arm. His skin was cooked, roaring burn marks scorched within him though the boy could not even scream. The pain distracting but Subaru had been through far worse. His eyes directed solely on it…

A roaring ball of light…a spirit. Subaru glanced down at his arm once again. At first, he thought it was some sort of fire spirit. Though, the spirit when he tried to break it's will didn't use fire magic. Instead opting out for heat rays.

A yang spirit…

Subaru's eyes locked around it. The thick cloud of smoke building up around him as the spirit fought back against him. A battle between wills, the spirit hoping to stay the same while Subaru hoped to corrupt it.

The heat rays fired at him graced trees. A steady forest fire slowly beginning, it was already hard to see as Subaru began to wave the smoke away from his vision.

Though…as Subaru stared down at his hand a thought began to arise. 'Was this…worth it?'

He already knew what it was like to break a spirits will. Bending another to his will, it was wrong, and he knew it. He tried to even save the spirit that he broke but it was already too far gone. 'Why am I fighting? For a slim chance of getting back home even though I won't be the same anymore.'

Subaru's eyes locked around the forest. 'Is this really worth it to make it back home?'

Though…

"Subaru!"

Subaru's eyes widened as he looked around. The thick cloud of smoke causing him to get into a defensive position, though he already knew the owner of that voice. The same voice that had beaten and degraded him that day.

Subaru's lips opened, a sneer forming as he grunted out the owner of those words. The name of the woman he cared for and saved. "Beatrice…"

He could hear her sigh from relief in his mind. His breathing turning rapid as his heart was beating against his chest, more memories of the day he wished to forget popping into him as he struggled to try to repress and forget.

"Betty…Betty is so glad to know that you are…"

"HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU IN MY HEAD BEATRICE!" Subaru's roar echoed throughout the forest. Not caring for the feral spirit. Her voice to Subaru was much more of an impending and disgusting presence instead of that creature.

Beatrice gasped as Subaru could imagine the tears rolling down her cheek. "Betty…Betty…when you tried to make a new contract with a spirit. Parts of our old contract reawakened, Subaru if you make a new contract then our link will be severed completely."

"Severed completely." Subaru laughed, a disgusting sneer etched with bile dripping down his maddened laugh. "You already severed it…you beat me and split our contract right in front of me. After everything I did for you, after I saved you…I could have had understood if you didn't want me as a contractor anymore…but what you did to me!"

"Please Subaru…something was wrong with all of us that day. We can't explain it, but please come back to us!" He could hear Beatrice sob in his head. He could see her strange eyes well up with tears. "If you come back to us then we can definitely figure out what happened…please!"

Subaru was about to relent, let that old Subaru take over. To once again abandon his own feelings and let others stronger than him take the lead. Though, as the thought entered his head…

"To think you could save me from my loneliness I suppose, all you gave me was false hope and lies in fact. From here on out, the contract shall be broken, I will never understand why I choose you."

Subaru's breathing came out rasped, his hands forming fist as his heartbeat along his chest. His eyes tinted red from the thick smoke as he remembered those final words.

"No…"

Subaru stared at the spirit in the middle of the forest, his feet connecting with the ground as the purpose of his mission was reiterated as he realized how this world was not his own.

"I…refuse!"

Subaru leaped towards the spirit. His left-hand glowing as his authority of gluttony began to charge. His left hand catching the spirit as he fell into a tumble, his body being thrown into a loop as the spirt fought desperately against his iron hold.

The spirt burned in his left hand, the spirt scorching it as Subaru saw smoke arise from this closed fist. The boy howled from the pain but the hatred of the betrayals he suffered, of the prior deaths etched along his body as he fought against it.

The bright purple glow began to emanate. Subaru began to force everything he had into the spirit. His rage towards the people who betrayed him, the guilt he felt for leaving his parents behind and finally his hate…his hate that nearly consumed him as the memories of the girl he saved began to overclock him.

Though the spirit's fight was not finished yet. Even though Subaru's authority of gluttony allowed him to corrupt such things the spirt was not ready. In a last-ditch effort, the spirit knew, it's body began to charge as powerful beams of light shot forth through Subaru's hands.

A ripping sensation flew around him as a mighty roar etched along the burning forest. His left hand…the little, ring and middle finger were blown off as Subaru poured everything he had into the spirit until a blast of purple light consumed both.

Until…there was only silence.

Them

"How much longer!" Tozka screeched. The hooded figure softly crouching as they began to spread their limbs. Pandora watched the eccentric member of the cult stretch as she remained undisturbed, her gaze shortly falling towards the entrance of the cave.

The two witch cult sentries stood near the door. There shadows blending in with the setting sun and the darkness following. Tozka raised head towards the door as something began to form, almost like a shadow.

The cultist assigned to the door went to intercept the figure. Though in response like a blast of movement. They were blown away like ragdolls, there bodies flung to the cave walls. Not enough to be fatal, but enough for them to draw out their daggers.

Though…

"Wait…" Pandora simply commanded. Raising her hand as the cultist halted their attacks. Her eyes locked onto the lumbering figure as it continued walking towards them. Tozka pulling out the strange short sword.

"Archbishop Natsuki..."

The title repeated from her mouth caused the cultist to kneel instantly. The prior two fearing what the archbishop shall be due to them from there prior engagement.

"Have you completed your mission?"

Subaru did not speak. Simply raising his left hand, burns decorated it as numerous burn spots littered around, some parts were so burnt off to the point you could see the bit of muscle and even bone.

Though it was his hand…nearly shrouded in black. His fingers shot off like laser beams as his thumb was horrifically broken. Though, it was the thing clutched within it that Subaru exposed, Pandora's grin extending as he shown her his prize.

The spirit…before was like a pure ball of energy. Small but refined in its own peaceful way, though now. Subaru moved what remained of what his left hand was.

The spirit now turned into a fiery star, pulsating with a new fiery glow, like a freshly destroyed star. "You truly are something…Natsuki Subaru."