Author Note: Yo, thanks for reading! Can someone do me a favor and post this chapter on reddit for me. Okay, well this chapter I think came out good. I should be able to pump out another one tommorow or at least I hope. Please remember to review, follow and favorite it greatly helps with my motivation. Have a wonderful and awesome day!

Chapter 6

The two figures stood perched on top of the brick apartment complex. The setting orange sun down casted with an orange glee, it tipped and relaxed along the capitol city of Lagunica. Tozka, she had her arms thrown over the railing as the harsh winds of the coming winter was fast approaching.

Tozka ditched her witch cult garbs. Now opting out for casual ware. She wore a long beige sweater and dark brown worker pants. She wore a harness that allowed her to store her two blades on her back, as well as having monetary defense with a reinforced metal chest guard and an animal leather shoulder guard on her right arm.

The clothes of a duelist. She turned around, her feet clamping along the roof as she approached Subaru, the formal half elf's knight. It was so cold that she was able to see her own breathing, though she liked the cold…it kept her focused.

"Archbishop." Tozka spoke up. Subaru was sitting cross legged on the floor of the rooftop. The young man's long black hair flowing in the breeze as he softly stroked his growing beard. Subaru's orange eyes pierced through the darkness of the impending night.

Tozka, she heard about the archbishops. There notoriety spread throughout the world in the worst of ways, they were rumored to have the abilities to even level cities. It was quite the shock for her to find out that there was one that was able to slay them…it was even more of a shock to find out that same man would be the appointed archbishop of Envy.

Subaru, he didn't seem to Tozka to want riches or to cause misery. Rather, at least to her, he held this sort of tiredness to him. The type of tired that Tozka imagined an old warrior would be tired after fighting in so many battles.

"…ah, that sounds really weird." Subaru spoke up. Getting up from his crouch, taking a couple steps forward as he stuck out his hand. "Please, don't call me that. Just Natsuki Subaru or whatever…"

She tilted her head like an observant owl. The warrior staring at Subaru's open palm for a second as the flap of his clock broke her concentration. He had…scary eyes, she thought. Her eyes even going towards his left hand, seeing the maimed fingers.

"Okay…Subaru." She spoke. They interlocked hands as Tozka didn't remove her cold gaze from Subaru's own scary eyes. Finally releasing for whatever felt like forever. Subaru turned around and began to walk to the edge of the complex. He peered over casting his arms over just like Tozka did before, the warrior following suite.

Tozka was the first to open her mouth to speak. Her brown eyes, the eyes of an eagle traced along the Hoshin estate. "Did Pandora tell you are mission?" She asked, Subaru nodding his head without taking his eyes off the field.

The Hoshin estate was large. It was maybe three or four levels of some ornate wooden building. Subaru read once in a newspaper that it used to be some old lords house and would be the new base of operations for the fang of iron and their involvement in Lagunica affairs. He would even suspect that this would be the "Permanent" headquarters if Hoshin did win the race.

'The race…' Subaru thought, for the first time in months, thinking about the royal election. An awkward laugh etched through the wind as he chuckled from the very thought. Their faces once again, they sparked like when two swords clung together.

Those faces, the faces which he wished to protect and fight for. Only, for them to betray him. His hand went down to his abdomen, a wound that Pandora healed for him. Though, the act bore a scar. Garfiel…

Sweat began to douse Subaru's brow, the pain of the act shooting through him like he was struck by lightning. His left palm went to his face, he could see through the parts where his fingers meant to be. Only to see opening in where the light would shine.

Pain…it was the same pain that he felt when Elsa used her blade to rip through him. Her ornate kukri ripping his bowels open as she sat there, she watched him bleed out like a gutted pig. She took enjoyment from it, she enjoyed watching him die slowly.

'Elsa…' The name caused Subaru to sink his teeth into his lower lip as he unconsciously drew blood. His scary orange eyes narrowing as he didn't part from his objective. 'That bitch, if I had Pandora's training back then, I would've been the one to put that animal down. She was nothing more than a monster, a rabid mutt like Todd that didn't care about the people that she crossed paths with. Good, I'm glad that she's gone…'

"Subaru…are you listening!" Tozka's voice arose, she snapped her fingers to further his attention.

"Yeah, okay…I'm fine. Continue." He finally finished speaking. The ex-knight trying to shake the thought out of his head, trying to deny those violet impulses as he took a deep breath. He didn't have time to think about them, he didn't have time to think about the past. Now it was the time for action…

Tozka took a deep breath, she aimed her finger like a gun. Aiming towards an area which Subaru could go into the estate. "Go through that opening, it seems to at least not have that many guards. After that, I don't really know what else for you to do there." She pointed towards the other roofs around them, the other complexes that surrounded the estate. "We won't be able to meet here once again, so I think we should meet up at that hideout after you recover that thing Pandora wants. Afterwards, we wait for Pandora."

Subaru nodded his head; it was a sound plan. Though…

"You're not coming with me?" He asked. The warrior shaking her head in response.

Tozka clapped her scabbard as she smirked. "Mine self, I am going to go on and practice. Pandora, she herself told me to not interfere. Mentioned something about impeding on your growth."

Subaru cringed in response. Face palming at the fact that Pandora was still making his life harder for him when all he wanted was to return home. 'Hell, I am still not even sure about this…at least I am getting rewarded with a clear goal at the end of this. Heck, this may very well be easier than putting Emilia on the throne.'

Subaru nodded his head. He began to center himself, as he parted from the girl. "Subaru, Pandora spoke to me about your training. She said that you were quite the swordsman that had years of practice…is that true?" She asked

'Years of practice…' Subaru thought. He remembered the time where he was in that strange dimension that Pandora forced him into, he could remember the tension of his gate and the deaths he would have. The nameless NPC's that he would dub would hold a variety of weapons and he would still have to hold onto that strange sword.

After the first couple of deaths, things began to change. Time or rather the lack of time became to distort and shift, it was almost like Subaru was in a deep sleep or a haze that he could never awake from. When he would gloss down at his hands he would feel off, feeling like there should be a sword there.

"Years…" Subaru repeated. Squeezing his fist into his palm, he wanted a sword…rather he needed one. He most likely in that passage of time could've been there for centuries but those memories were a haze, even then Subaru subconsciously knew that those teachings would forever be ingrained into him.

Subaru's light-yellow yang spirt began to appear. Tozka taking a step backward instinctively as she peered over Subaru's shoulder. "Your spirit." She spoke up, waking Subaru from his daze as he turned around. The spirit mere inches away from his face. Tozka had been to Gustopo, she saw spirits in the wilderness and read about them in her travels.

She read of how beautiful they were, how they made people calm when they were around and how they were borderline innocent in nature. '…Then why do I have such an ominous feeling, towards this spirit?' She thought.

Contracted spirts would appear as a sphere. In this sense a standard Yang Spirit would exist as an Orb the size of a marble. It would fit neatly within the palm of a small child's hand. Yet, Subaru's spirit was the opposite of normal. She had a glimpse of it when she saw it in the cave when Subaru first introduced it, though the spirit went through a rapid change.

Subaru's Yang Spirit was…wrong. Its size was the first thing to note, it was the size of a normal human's fist. Its yellow gleam was now tarnished, it was the color of a crimson sulfuric orange. Though, those were the least to note. The spirit was laced with uncontrolled mana, barbs of orange sparks radiated and collided along the surface of the spirts frame.

The spirit beckoned and electrocuted with power. Sparks radiated along the spirit, like a blacksmith to its forge. "Why…is the spirit like that?" Tozka asked, taken aback but as well curious for the strange thing she was seeing.

Subaru didn't take his eyes from the spirit. "My authority of gluttony. It awakened when I was transported to Volachia. I don't know why but the witch factor turned into this for some reason." He turned his gaze, finally staring into Tozka's feral brown eyes. "I…I have the ability to corrupt spirits. I can bend them to my will, break their resolve and forcefully dominate them."

"That's…" Tozka ran her fingers through her auburn hair. Leaning along the railing as the spirit began to silently float around Subaru, sparking around him like Subaru was the center of the universe. Almost like the spirit in its own way was a dead star.

"Witch Factors are powerful; they are stronger than divine protections and even magic itself. Though, to use that ability on a spirit is taboo…something that you can never go away from, that is why I was so against using it on this spirit." Subaru explained.

"Why?"

"When I do this…spirits, they become very hostile towards me for even attempting it. I must get them by surprise, also the fact that I am bending them to my will. When this happens, Tozka. I…they lose what makes them a spirit. They lose all their personality and what they could very well become, they just become balls of mana that I could draw on from when I need their aid. They follow me, like a slave without a soul to its master."

"…the tradeoff is how the spirit doesn't regenerate Mana like how a normal one does, when I exhaust them of their mana they die. I'm not sure what happens to them after…Though, I can feel it sometimes…maybe because it's due to my high spirit affinity. Yet, I can feel their pain at times…a reminder of how disgusting I am."

Tozka listened to his rambling. Peering her eyes in pure and complete shock. It was something else entirely, to see a man reduced to such an extent.

Know this Tozka, this man that you follow…he'll give you what you have desired for so long. Simply heed these words, I'll award you with that clarity you desire. All I ask, is simply obedience…

Tozka took a deep breath, doing the only thing instinctively she knew how to do. She hit him…the archbishop of Envy, slapping him across the back of his head. "Ow, what was that for!" Subaru cried out. Tozka, looking smug as she wrapped her arms around herself.

An air of confidence surging the airs around her as she parted her lips to speak. "Stop worrying so much, you had to do it right? To survive, you're a warrior now, so start acting like it." She lectured.

Warrior

The word clicked within Subaru's head though it didn't lodge. Sage…Knight…but the title of warrior didn't fit in right, though Subaru could feel the word stay there, looking for a place to stay and make a home for itself. It was strange.

Tozka turned around, waving bye to Subaru as he pondered that word again. "Warrior…" He repeated underneath his breath, chuckling underneath it as he used the fire escape to slide down and make his way towards the street level.

'More like a vagabond or a ronin. I lost all that mattered to me. No, I didn't…I still have mom and dad. There waiting for me to complete these tasks so I can go home.' Subaru thought as he began to pass through the street towards the Hoshin estate.

Tozka watched ahead. Her gaze fixating on Subaru's form as he blended into the crowd, his scarf tucked on his nose as he threw up his hood. The young woman throwing her feet off the railing as she eagerly watched to see what the archbishop was made of, and to understand if Pandora was actually speaking the truth about the boy's true purpose.

Forward

It took thirty minutes for Subaru to sneak into the estate, he was nearly caught by passing guards making their rounds. Still, Subaru got lucky and was able to crack open the window and squeeze his form through the opening.

When he was inside, he was shocked to find how empty it was. Maybe it was due to the Fang of Iron or Hoshin believing that no one would dare to enter their rooms, though Subaru did. He made his way through the halls; he had no real clue what he was looking for. He would crack open the doors and peer through them, sometimes even trying to overhear the people on the other floors or other rooms. He did get lucky when he began to walk down the hallway. Seeing a large wooden door that stood out from the others, the long and arching hallway spread out for him to see.

That was when he stopped for a second. 'Tozka, she left the rooftop. I don't know why but she's going somewhere.' He saw a blink of red light through the walls. He didn't think much of it, she was an ally, and it was his authority of greed, though he stopped in his tracks.

"…but I didn't activate, Cor Leonis." Subaru muttered underneath his breath. His authority of greed was something he had to activate, an ability he took from the defeated archbishop. It was an ability before that allowed him to see his allies and take their suffering onto him.

However, something was wrong with his authority. It was different, he didn't activate it, but he could still see Tozka. He knew where she was going and could partially know her location. He fixated harder on the connection, closing his eyes as through his closed eyes he saw it.

An Unseen Hand

It was invisible. It welled from his chest; he could only see it when he focused on the core of his authority. It snaked around, though he could tell that it was linked to Tozka. 'This doesn't make sense, how could cour leonis go through such a rapid evolution. How did it get strong enough for me to not activate it?'

Subaru ducked into a room. Sweat going down his brow as he needed to get his thoughts in order. His authority of greed worked with those that he required a deep connection with, people like Emilia or Rem he would form strong connections with. He had known Tozka for less than a day. Yes, there relationship was of comrades by circumstances but for such a bond to form and in such a short time…

Though, the weirdest part for him…the part that unsettled him was the unseen hand that erupted from his chest, the one that sank and contorted around Tozka's very own heart. He didn't feel weaker when using the authority of greed, taking the suffering of others, rather he felt stronger and more rejuvenated. Before he thought it was just the aftereffects of Pandora repairing his gate.

Subaru took a glance around the room. It was larger than he thought, as his eyes began to adjust to the darkness, he noticed his surroundings. It was a medium sized room, the size of your average bedroom. Though, it was more of a study. The room was filled to the brim with tables and notes.

Subaru approached, his eyes glossing over the notes. Lanterns decorated the room, papers and tablets were spread out, as Subaru approached, he was able to recognize the Kanji on the tablets. The language of his homeland.

That was when it clicked…these were the documents of Hosihin the great, the man that Subaru heard about that revolutionized and created a nation. An iteration, of his homeland. Subaru clicked his lips, a wave of anger funneling through him. It was a weird feeling that dawned on the false knight.

Subaru approached the middle table. The one with the largest desk. The one with the largest notes as he saw something in the very middle of it. It was a piece of long slender wood, though Subaru's eyes widened when he saw it. He played enough video games and read about them in school.

"A musket…" He whispered underneath his breath. The weapon appeared to be one, even though it was horrifically eroded due to the passage of time. Subaru, he picked it up. The weapon in his hands as Subaru felt the wood.

The weapon was old…borderline ancient. The wood was molting off, the brass of the gun was a piss yellow that if you flicked it hard enough Subaru assumed would break the weapon in half. It was practically useless. 'Why would Pandora send me here?' Subaru wondered as his gaze changed down to the table. Books, not just books but something else entirely.

Notebooks or rather journals decorated the tabletop. They were massive notebooks that were written entirely in Kaiju, Subaru noting the symbols as he opened the first page. "Hoshin…" He murmured as he read the words. Subaru, his eyes widening as he gazed around the strange room. The cogs of his brain finally working as he began to understand, as he began to realize.

Anasistas was collecting the journals and notes of Hoshin the Great. Though, she most likely couldn't read the ancient text. Subaru parted open one of the notebooks. The strange journals littered with information.

He parted the book as he carelessly flipped through the pages. Depictions of cannons powered on fire stones, war time strategies, new ways of farming and the power of mana stones. The construction of dams and new sources of power.

Things to revolutionize the world at large…if Anastasia got ahold of this then she would be able to change the world. Even then, why would Hoshin not implement this into Karagari? Why would he just put these in his journals and not reveal them to the world?

Subaru continued to flick through the pages, even more amazed after each turn of his page as Subaru couldn't help but stare jaw dropped at the notes and the diagrams for new inventions. "Good, you found them."

Pandora's voice…it echoed along Subaru's head as he put the journal back down. There were three of them. All neatly tied with twine, Subaru instinctively putting it back on top where he found it. "Yeah, I did…you want me to collect the musket and Hosihin's notes right?" Subaru spoke up, awkwardly staring around the room as he observed the ancient notes. "I don't know if I'll have enough space to fit…"

"I want you to destroy them…"

Subaru's jaw dropped. He stared towards the roof, almost like he could see Pandora's presence. "What…why?" He pointed down to the journals and the notes. "These are ancient text that Hoshin had, these journals and notes if deciphered could change the world."

There was a relative silence, it spread throughout the room and after a whole minute there was no voice. Subaru thought that Pandora heard his words and was now thinking, wondering if this was the right course of action.

"No…they are too risky. I want them destroyed." She spoke up once again. Subaru grinding his teeth, his jaw unlatching as he continued to speak. "Why…tell me why you want me to destroy them, tell me your plans or your reasons for this!" Subaru spoke up, only to be awarded with silence. "I don't understand how this can be bad!"

Pandora's voice echoed a second later. "I am not like Satella or the other witches. I am not like Emilia or the other candidates for the throne. Still, as the one that saved you, trust in me…I promise you, Natsuki Subaru that if you complete this mission I shall tell you the whole truth, I will answer any question you have and even tell you, my plans."

Subaru heard her voice, maybe it was false but he somehow, he knew she was telling the truth. Emilia, after all this time…even after their kiss and his devotion to her, she still never gave him an answer. He gripped his chest, his heart beating faster. The girl he died for, the girl he saved and bought up to the point where she could very well become king…she didn't even care to give him an answer, dragging him along like a dog to its master.

He hardly knew anything about her goals or her past. He never asked, though weren't they comrades? Even if they were not lovers weren't they friends, that wasn't just it. The rest of the candidates, the council of wise men had kept secrets from him. There was something there, something he knew they knew about, something imperative but he was always given he cold shoulder.

They would use him…then discard him like a spent torch. If he didn't have anything to offer, then they would have rejected him. His memories surged of the prior loops during the assault on the white whale, how they were willing to let Arlim village and everyone else in the Margrave Domain die because it wasn't there problem.

It took Subaru giving the head of the white whale on a silver platter for them to even think about aiding him. Satella and the other witches, even Roswell and Beatrice knew something. They always talked like he was special, they always spoke in code and never explained. This whole time…this whole time that SATELLA summoned him he still hardly understands his purpose.

Who was Flugel the Great Sage? Why out of seven billion people in the world, why was he summoned? Why was he gifted with the ability to Return by Death? Why does Shaula call him master and why does Satella love him?

These questions, always questions which he would wonder but when the conversation switched to them, he couldn't ask because he already knew the answer. Talks of Flugel would be shunned, even having a discussion with Satella would prove fruitless as she would just rant about her love for "Subaru" and for her pleads for him to love himself more.

He gritted his teeth, his gaze fixated on the open flame of a lantern. Someone must of left it on this whole time. Subaru, he took a deep breath. The young man reaching for it as…

"STOP!" A voice arose right behind him. It was a booming voice that nearly froze Subaru in his tracks. He heard the unsheathing of a sword, then it happened.

Memories of Todd coursed through his mind…a fever setting in him as he instinctively acted, it was almost like his body acted on its own, pushing itself due to muscle memory as the young ex knight reached for his axe. Subaru gripped onto the weapon, unlatching it from its own scabbard, he struck across the figures face.

The blunt backhanded piece of the axe dulled, and the sensation shot up from Subaru's arm as he watched the body go limp. His muscles tensed as his breathing went hollow, his eyes fixated on the body that slouched and fell.

A demi human…partially human with light grey wolf ears, his hair went down his neck and was wrapped in a ponytail, the fang of iron attire, was doused in blood. Subaru's hands were shaking, his fingers wrapping around the blade of the axe so tightly that his knuckles were going white.

He had hit the person with the guard of the axe blade. He wanted to render them unconscious but…Subaru kneeled down. The orange and white robe was now doused with blood, he turned the person over, his heart nearly shutting down as he saw the state that they were in.

There skull was caved in, almost like they were bashed in the head with a club. Subaru backed up, dropping the axe as it produced a massive clang. Here is the thing, Natsuki Subaru before was very weak. No matter how hard he trained within the Emilia camp, he would never amount to the same feats that someone like Wilhelm or Emilia could do.

Though, after the situation with his camps betrayal…everything changed. During that period where Pandora subconsciously locked Subaru in that room, forcing him to get stronger with the sword while she reconstructed his gate. It worked far too will…

In this new world, Mana is in the atmosphere. Those born, learn to control the mana in their bodies naturally speaking, almost like the body knowing how to breathe without command. This was how people like Wilhelm Astrea were able to commit their feats. Though, someone like Subaru…couldn't do that, though Pandora's healing worked far too well.

Not only healing Subaru's gate, but Subaru's body also gotten used to regulating the Mana that was outside of the atmosphere. Taking it in and using it as strength, basically almost like he was born in this new world. Though, like wise it worked far too well.

Subaru, during his time with Clind trained his body to the limits. Further powered by mana that flown freely through his body granting him strength that usurped even the elite of knights, with a newly reinforced gate and further powered by spirits. It changed him, though with great power…how would someone learn control?

Subaru wailed as he stared at the dead figure, the person that was simply doing his job as he was far to careless. He ended a life, a person that was merely doing his job because he failed to control the amount of mana he was using in his body. On instinct he caved the man's skull, if he had put more power and used the sharp part of his axe he may very well could of separated the man's head from his body.

Subaru froze up, his hands shaking as he didn't know what else to do. "Subaru…" Pandora cooed. Her words causing him to center himself as he collapsed to the floor. The false knight sinking as he was further racked with guilt, his sin present and would forever scar him. "Don't worry."

"Don't worry…" He repeated after her, his hands going to his face. His breathing shallow as he couldn't part his eyes. "I…I…I am a murderer." He stuttered underneath his breath.

"Yes, you are…you have committed a heavy sin, a sin that you shall carry with you forever." Pandora spoke up, Subaru felt something. Almost, it felt like Pandora's hands slinking along his neck and resting on his chest. "…you murdered him; you've crossed the path of no return. Natsuki Subaru, Archbishop of Envy."

Subaru pushed through his tears, bile rising as he threw up on the floor. Coughing up the remains as the smell stung his eyes. "You have a mission…remember?" Pandora continued to speak. Her words laced with bile but sweet like honey. "…to go back home to mother and father. Complete this mission, put one-foot in front of the other and do it, because…"

This Is Not Your World

Subaru got up, wiping his mouth clean of the bile. He picked up his axe, turning away from the body. It was his fault that he was dead, if he just followed orders and didn't argue with pandora he would've been out of there. His fault…his fault, Subaru gritted his teeth. The murder still fresh and would forever haunt him, even then…

He felt stronger, his body felt lighter. He expected the mana in him to dissipate rather after he killed him…it was almost like he was rejuvenated, his strength was complete, but his mind was suffering.

Subaru began to grab the notes frantically, grabbing them and putting them into quite a massive pile. He thrown them frantically on the middle table, maybe it was the adrenaline fueling him, but he got it done in less than three minutes. He grabbed the lantern, breaking the musket rifle in half and tossing it into the pile as well.

His fingers hovered over the journals of Hoshin the great, grabbing all three as he was about to cast them into the bunch. Instead, Subaru gazed at them…for a second, he chooses to follow his own actions, sticking the journals within his cloak.

He casted the lantern into the piles of literature and notes. Ancient notes that were written in his language by the late Hoshin himself, Subaru gazed at the smoldering remains as the fire began to quickly spread, it linked it's tendrils as the dusty wood as it began to instantly be set alight.

The smoke thickened the room. Subaru coughing as he began to push through the smoke, kicking the door open as he turned to his side. Numerous members of the Fang of Iron embarked from the side steps. Subaru's breathing was heavy as he held onto the Volachian War axe in his right hand. The robes of the fang of Iron sparkled as the fire of the room barked and bellowed, it would consume the mansion soon.

Subaru's feral orange eyes, his blood-stained axe made him look like a demon, an animal that emerged from the cloak of fire. They advanced forward, spears and swords engaged to cut down the previous half elf's knight. "I was wrong, Natsuki Subaru. You were not ready…" Pandora spoke up, Subaru still fixated on the roaming horde that was approaching him. "Though, you've completed your mission. You destroyed the notes…though you've been caught. Don't let a single one get in your way, Subaru. Cut them down, remember your mission and the result, push forward and cut them down. You're already a murderer, what's one more body along the foundation of your path… and the worst of all things, push forward and cut those that shall oppose your journey down."

Subaru bellowed charging with Todd's axe as the mana in his legs pushed him forward, his strength doubled as he felt the air leave his body, the insanity and mania the only thing fueling his uncertain steps forward. "Get out of my way!"

Warrior

Tozka, she wasn't paying attention. Her legs were off the railing as she kicked them, she liked the feeling of the air stinging her legs as she would stare down from the tall building. It was quite the shock and nearly caused her to fall when the fiery explosion ripped through Anistasia Hoshin's private estate. Glass broke and bellowed as the fire's burst free from every nook and cranny.

Natsuki Subaru, he busted out a second later. The young man's cloak was near in embers, his volachian war axe was dug into the dirt at his feet, though it was the blood that clotted his cloak was what drew the most intentions.

Subaru got up from his crouch, his breathing was tensed and rasped, the hood of his cloak was ether ripped or sliced off, Subaru's long hair was flowing in the breeze as he stared at the forming guards of the fang of iron that were beginning to surround him. "Get out of my way!" Subaru's scream rippled through the courtyard, animalistic and regret tore through his very own voice.

The guardsman, the fang of iron that were not in the burning building and even the good Samaritans that had tried to help put out the fire stopped for a second. The pain evident in the boy's voice. Though, it was someone that pushed through the crowd first.

A large demi human man, six foot nine and over three hundred pounds. His visible muscles tensed as his usual smiling face was twisted into one of a pained grimace, the pure anger he exceeded filled everyone with such a sense of dread people began to back up.

Subaru still had the large scarf that covered his face, the only thing Ricardo appeared to see was a muscular human male with long black hair and a very powerful athletic build. Ricardo, he looked at the boy once again. He stared at the strange weapon he had; he could even see the faint resemblance of Volachian Armor.

Ricardo parted his lips. His massive jaw unclenched as he stared at the figure. "Vollachian, you must be far away from home." He tilted his head, peering over the side as his muscles only tensed in anger. He saw the burnt corpses of his comrades, the lines of carved wounds. "…you've done this." He roared, his hand on his machete as he felt the leathery grip of his blade.

"They got in my way…I told them that if they interfered with my mission, they would get cut down. They choose to advance." The voice spoke, it felt familiar along Ricardo's ears. Even then he couldn't remember it.

He pulled out the blade, the other members of the fang of iron and the guardsman backing away. Subaru got up from his crouch as he still held onto the axe. His grip only tighter as he could feel his skin mold along the weapon. "You really don't want to do this, don't make me cut you down Ricardo!" Subaru screamed even louder, the fang of iron hearing his voice, hearing their boss's name coming from this assassin shocked all who heard it. "You've got Mimi and her brothers to worry about. Don't make me do this…don't give me that option, all I want is to go home!" Subaru pleaded.

Ricardo didn't say anything. It was shocking to say the least, it was obviously someone he knew, the voice felt familiar and they even knew about their team. Though, who would have wanted to wrong them. This person…

He wore vollachian armor, bearded a two-handed axe but was strong enough to use it with only one hand. He was strong enough to cut down his team and was able to stealthily destroy their base of operations.

Ricardo leveled his weapon. Subaru shook his head, pure fiery rage and pain sending waves through him. The guilt that he faced, the guilt he would forever hold would forever haunt him. Subaru channeled, drawing on his emotions in a furry. Ricardo watched him; indeed he was strong and was fast. Subaru, he leaped into the air. The mana in his legs welling and surging with power that fueled his adrenaline and hyper state. Even so, Ricardo was far more skilled.

He saw the way Subaru moved, almost like a baby learning how to walk. Almost, like he was so strong that he wasn't able to properly formulate his muscles. Maybe, Subaru was able to overcome the fang of iron that were in the building due to the fire and his superior strength. Even then, they were out in the open. Ricardo's swung forward in a mighty cleave, Subaru swung at the same time, both weapons clanging…

Subaru flew across the area, his body slamming along the brick wall of one of the apartment complexes. His whole left side soared with pain as he slumped down the wall. He bellowed as the axe head of Todd's weapon shattered, the blade falling to the side.

Ricardo moved closer towards him. Subaru, yes, he was strong, and Pandora's partial teachings made him more "advanced" but he still required training. In terms of strength, Subaru was just now stronger than your average frontier bandit.

Even Subaru knew how lucky he was for the axe to not be cleaved in half. Vollachian weaponry, really was something. Ricardo approached, Subaru's head filling with stars as his vision only became far blurrier. His body feeling useless as he fought for more control. He knew that one of his ribs had to be broken, he lost all the feeling in his left arm. He couldn't even touch the part of his shoulder and joint due to the pain that funneled through his body.

"Oi…big guy!"

Tozka's form shadowed Subaru. Ricardo staring at the girl in question, Tozka. Ricardo stared at the girl's form. Tozka approached, her footsteps reeking with killing intent. Some of the guardsman being fazed by it, unmovable as Ricardo stared at the girl.

"Missy, walk away." Ricardo spoke. The girl not being fazed as her lips twisted into one of a smile, her hands went towards her back, her long fingers reaching around and grasping onto one of the blades in her scabbard.

Subaru saw the way the orange light glossed over the bronze of her sword blade. She pulled it out as she leveled it with both hands. The sword was strange, the overall blade was sharp to its point. Though, it was the ripples that freaked out everyone.

It was a single edged dueling sword, almost like a rapier without the ornate guard. It was crude and utilitarian which contrasted with the ornate scabbard that it was contained within. "You're a captain right, Pandora promised that I would be able to fight stronger enemies…never knew that you would lead me to a truly strong warrior." Tozka smirked, her sneer piercing into Ricardo as the girl's fingers twirled the blade.

It was elegant in a way, almost like the sword dancers back in Karagari, there dances with various weapons. However, tozka was different the killing intent reeking off any beauty of a dance as her smirk only widened. "Ricardo, if that is truly your name. I must ask you…are you a warrior like mine self, a warrior beloved by the heavens itself?"

A warrior beloved by the heavens, a sentence that flew through Ricardo's mind. The word not lodging anywhere as he quickly shook his head in response. "No, I don't know what you're talking about."

Tozka saw more and more approach. More spectators for a duel, she smirked in response. She planted her left hand onto her chest, her words brash but not ceasing.

"A warrior beloved by the heavens, is a warrior that has fought for so long and has survived so many battles that he or she is particularly favored by them. I…a warrior of the Dead Horse Tribe. I have fought in battles ever since I was born, all I've ever known is to use these swords. It is who I am, I wish to know if you are someone that will satisfy my urge for battle."

Subaru watched Tozka. His eyes once again going towards her sword, he was staring at it and when he got a better view it was when he realized that it was strange in its own way. He didn't notice it before, though it was littered with these strange pricks that followed the overall blade. Thorns ordained the weapon, it almost reminded Subaru of those sacrificial knives and swords he read about in history books in High School.

Ricardo didn't utter a single words. Tozka, stretched her left arm. Her eyes bulging like she was in pain as she twisted and cracked, almost like she was stretching. Subaru, he was the only one to notice it. She tried to shrug it off, but he could tell that she was in pain.

He was going to activate Cour Leonis, but he stopped himself. Wasn't his authority already activated, and if so then why did he not receive his pain. It was almost like…

She could feel Subaru's own pain…like his will was stronger than hers, almost like he influenced her in some unknown way, something that she could not understand or fight against.

Tozka pounced, the weapon in her hands as she lashed at Ricardo. The Demi human instantly striking with a mighty cleave with his own. Though, the unexpected happened…Tozka dodged the blow, leaping away as she carefully caught herself back on the ground.

It was so fast that anyone could hardly tell what was happening as no one interfered. Ricardo slammed downward with an overhead strike, the large demi human producing a mighty roar as the ground caved underneath him. Tozka almost like a dance skidded away. Her fingers still tightly along her weapon.

Ricardo and she kept this dance up. The large demi human only able to produce massive slashes and slams even then, Tozka was quick. The girl was dangerous in her own way shape and form, her reflexes were so well toned that she was able to move accordingly towards Ricardo's blows.

That was when…

"Captain!" The fang of iron screamed. Ricardo backing up as he felt the pressure of Tozka's blade along his wrist. Instantly backing away with a mighty leap to separate the distance between the two. Ricardo, he stared at Tozka for a second. The girl still leveling her sword at him.

It was her speed and reaction time that was drawing this battle, it was furthering it and now he was beginning to get exhausted. He leaped back into the fray, Tozka dodging again, her sword dashing along Ricardo's massive frame as cuts rippled his other arm. None deep enough to cause lasting harm, she did prick his neck and lower chin but was pushed farther away.

Ricardo glanced down at his wounds. His eyes widening as he looked down at them, he was too distracted to even notice the pain and the amount of blood gushing on them. The girl, her weapons were serrated!

Ricardo began to analyze the battle more clearly now. Realizing that this girl was anything but normal. She hasn't been aiming for his vital parts before, rather she was aiming for soft spots that could cripple him. She aimed for his tendons on his arms, for his kneecaps and his throat. Her serrated blade causing bleeding.

"Now, I got you…" Ricardo murmured underneath his breath. The girl was fast, and her reflexes were top notch but even then, he began to understand. The girl was fast, but she had her limitations, she didn't appear to be exhausted.

Tozka's fighting style prioritized on "bleeding" the enemy. By exhausting them and making them lose their blood for them to get sloppy. Her fighting style resolved around the time she needed to spend and how long she was willing to wait before going in for the kill.

That was when she felt two massive arms grab onto her, wedging her away. Tozka, fought against Subaru's hold as the prior half elf's knight kept his grip. "What the hell are you doing…" She lurched forward, slamming her legs around like a child.

"Stop being an idiot!" Subaru screamed into her face. Tozka almost like she didn't hear him kept on rushing towards, trying to get back into the fight. "Don't you realize…our mission is over. You don't need to do this!"

Almost, like it was all that mattered. Though, Subaru was stronger. He grabbed her and tossed her over his shoulder, the pair running down the alleyway as the fires of the Hoshin Estate beckoned them, as the smoke touched the sky.