A.N.: And I'm here with another story! Another pet project that's gone off the deep end (Yes, more roleplay, but I find it fun). As I'm picking up where Chaos left off, I recommend reading up there before jumping into this, otherwise it's just gonna be confusing.

Fair warning: the chapters in the original are HUGE.

Make sure to follow, favorite, leave a review, and enjoy!

The Castle of Nightmares looms over the field as Necromorph approaches another of his siblings, one in the guise of a desert warrior.

"Sandman, I've got something I need your help with."

The Nightmare turns and stares with blank white eyes, his clothes fluttering in the desolate wasteland wind. "Ah, the Weaver of Demise asks the Nightmare of Sands for a fortuitous task? Speak of your woes and your wishes may or may not be granted."

Necromorph sighs. Of course he's speaking in riddles again… Then he clears his throat. "There's someone I need taken out of the picture. Problem is he knows about me, and has a stupidly good counter ability. But, if you can take him by surprise and knock him out…" He runs a finger across his throat.

Sandman nods. "This task at hand which you gleefully presented shall be done. This duty we shoulder shall be a fun one."

"Ha! I can always count on you, Sandy!" He pats Sandman on the back with a smirk. "Make ready; we're leaving in a couple hours. We'll use your spatial distortion to cover the distance."

With that, the Plagued reenters the Castle, preparing for his second assault.

Back at Central Command, Subaru and the others arrive at the medical tent and place Rem on a cot inside, with Subaru himself pacing around with worry.

Visha sighs. "I don't get it. She should've been fine. It was only a scratch."

Subaru shakes his head. Though he doesn't know the full extent of Necromorph's Decay, a scratch may have been all it needed. He looks at the field medic. "Doc, how's it looking for her?"

The medic pushes up his glasses. "If I were to hazard a guess, it's a viral infection, but not one I've seen before. Probably the same one running through the soldiers outside." He gestures to some of the infected roaming about mindlessly in their holding area. "So far, we have no way of treating it. We can only hope she doesn't end up like the others and pulls through."

He looks at Emilia and Subaru. "Has she ever been seriously sick in her life? Even just a cold or the flu?"

Emilia shakes her head. "No, not since I've known her."

Subaru nods an agreement. "It's the same with me. I've never seen her like this." The only time he can recall is when she was afflicted with that curse, a time he'd much rather forget.

The medic nods and sighs. "I see. I'll do what I can for her, but I won't make any promises." He turns around and looks over his medical instruments.

"Thank you. I really appreciate all you're doing for us," Subaru says with a bow.

"Don't thank me yet," the medic responds while examining a morphine syringe. "Do you know if she's in any pain?"

Subaru can't say for sure, as he was never injured by one of Necromorph's minions. "I… don't know. I'm sorry."

The medic nods and looks over her body. "She doesn't appear to be, so I think we can avoid using this for now."

Visha looks at Subaru. "I'm sorry about this. I thought she would be okay, really."

Subaru shakes his head. "None of this is our fault. It's…" He clenches his fists. "His." It comes out as a growling hiss fed by a growing anger from within.

At that moment, Rem stirs and groans quietly.

"Rem!" Hearing her wake snaps him out of his rage, and he runs to her side. "Rem, don't worry. Whatever it takes, we'll get you better. You can count on it!"

She manages to open her eyes, catching sight of him and smiling. "Subaru-kun…"

Seeing Rem smile makes him do the same. He stands and nods at the medic. "We'll leave the rest to you, doc." After that, he turns and leaves the tent, letting the professional do what he needs to.

I swear, I will save you.

At that moment, Grantz approaches with an irritated look. "Hey, you. You're Barusu, right?"

"Huh?" He looks up to see one of the soldiers from the battle. "Uh, it's Su-" He stops, figuring the use of that moniker means she's here, too. Thus, he goes along with it. "Yeah, that's me. What's up?"

Grantz sighs. "Figures. Some pink-haired girl's asking about you. No matter what we tell her, she won't leave. I'm guessing you know her?"

"Yeah, that would be Ram. I'll talk to her, don't worry."

"If you say so." He hears someone approaching and, looking back, sees an irate maid accompanied by a nervous-looking merchant. He winces. "Good luck," he says before walking back to his post.

"Barusu."

The Oni storms up to him and grabs him by the collar. "Where's Rem?" she growls.

He can tell she's serious, her glare piercing into his soul.

"Something… happened to her during the fight. She's being looked at by a doctor in there." He nods to the infirmary tent.

Hearing this, she lets him go and rushes inside, pushing past the medic and nurses despite their protests. She kneels next to the cot with tears forming. "Rem…"

Rem looks at her sister. "Hello, nee-sama…"

"I assume you know this girl, then?" Tanya asks after watching the pink-haired individual barge in. There's a connection between them, she thinks.

Ram nods, looking at Tanya. "We're twin sisters, the last of our race. She means everything to me."

After hearing they aren't human, Tanya carefully looks over all the newcomers.

She takes note of Emilia, specifically her ears. Based on her own memory of fantasy-themed content from her old world, she figures the girl is some kind of elf. Then there's the creature they rode in on; it looks like some kind of dinosaur or dragon.

"What kind of place did you people come from?" she asks.

Emilia is the first to respond. "The Kingdom of Lugnica, specifically the Mathers Domain. We've seen some of your soldiers near Arlam Village recently."

Tanya nods. "Yes, we just found out about that village a few days ago. We sent some scouts to survey the area and report what they could find out. What is Lugnica like, anyway? Something tells me these two aren't human." She gestures to Rem and Ram. "And based on your appearance, I assume you aren't, either. Is your kind normal where you come from?"

Emilia shakes her head, then seems to reconsider. "If you mean demihumans, then yes, they're quite common. Our specific kinds are not, however. Rem and Ram are Oni, and I am a Half-Elf."

"I see," Tanya replies. So my suspicion was correct, then. You really are a madman, Being X. "So other species like you are normal in this country. Ever see anything like what we encountered?"

"No, not that I can recall. I've heard of dark magic… I think it's called 'Necromancy?' But I've never seen it in person."

Tanya nods. "Yes, I've heard of that as well," she says, recalling her former life once again. "It's an ability that allows the user to revive the dead as playthings. In the right hands, place, and time, it can create an army the likes of which the world has never seen."

She then has a thought. If such a power does exist in this world, and the Empire can master it, they could amass thousands upon thousands of soldiers for warfare. They'd be unstoppable.

That's a topic for later, though. "So, this Necromorph person is a mystery, then. On to other ma-"

She's cut off by Rem, who suddenly gasps and starts twitching, as if having a seizure. Her skin turns a mottled grey and her hair becomes less vibrant.

Ram recoils in terror. "REM!" she screams.

As Rem's spazzing ends, she sits up slowly, her eyes opening to reveal dead, yellow irises.

A rustling sound creeps into their haven, the appetite for agony of a nightmarish creature yet to be sated. The dangers of the present are far from abated, their screams and pain assuredly fated. The Bringer of Night Terrors reaches out and whispers:

"Fall to your slumber, erode your worries, and into insanity dive deeper. [Sands of Terror]."

"Wha-" The Sands overtake Emilia, and she falls into a deep, disturbed slumber, collapsing.

Subaru hears a body slump over. Turning, he sees Emilia laying on the ground. "Emilia? What's wrong?!"

Then that same feeling of drowsiness comes over him. He notices the strange sand billowing around the tent as everyone else begins to fall.

"Huh… what… is this…?" He falls next to Emilia, barely conscious.

Ram falls under the influence too, collapsing next to her sister's cot. The rest of the tent's inhabitants follow suit.

Necromorph enters the tent with Sandman in tow. Several of the soldiers are converted to undeath as his necrotic mist shrouds them. He chuckles. "I'll leave the souls and survivors to you, Sandy; I'm only interested in the bodies."

Just before he completely falls asleep, Subaru catches a glimpse of his enemy's arrival. His rage surges. "N… ec… ro…!"

"Hm?"

Hearing a familiar, annoying voice struggle to say his name, he looks down. His vile features contort into what passes for a satisfied, evil smile. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Natsuki Subaru himself. Oh, I have so many plans for you and your little friends."

Subaru struggles, but can no longer speak. With a final effort, he shoots Necromorph a glare, then falls asleep completely.

The Nightmare stares with inconceivable intent, his emotions as unknown as whatever lurks in his eyes. A calm before a storm, confusion and innocence that makes one reborn.

Exactly as a nightmare.

Satisfied with the results, Necromorph looks at him. "I'll take the undead and these four," he says, gesturing to Subaru, Emilia, Rem, and Ram. "You can have the rest." He clears his throat. "[Return to the Nightmare]." A portal appears and swallows them as they vanish from the base.

Emilia stirs upon hearing the groans of mindless creatures. The sound is familiar, though she can't quite place it. She lifts her head and opens her eyes.

The sight is horrifying.

She's in some kind of graveyard, a low mist filling the area. Chains dangle from trees and a ceiling too far up to be seen. Undead roam aimlessly, moaning and clawing at whatever gets in their way, be it a headstone or another zombie.

She tries to move, to escape, but her lunge is stopped dead. She's shackled to the wall.

A familiar voice speaks, void of all emotion: "Oh. You're awake."

Looking up again, she sees Rem standing before her, staring with dead yellow eyes. "Rem, where are we? What happened to you?" she asks, desperate for answers.

"You are my master's prisoner. He asked me to keep you and Natsuki Subaru here under strict supervision." Her voice is a calm yet menacing monotone sound, as if the soul speaking through her is no longer her own.

Subaru starts to wake up as well. His eyes slowly open, and the first thing he sees is Rem standing over him and Emilia. The sight of her standing steals his attention, preventing him from noticing her eyes. "Oh, Rem! Great, you're looking much better now!"

She sneers at him. "Quiet. You have no right to speak with me after interfering with my master's plans."

"Your… master?" he asks. He tries to get up, but finds himself confined by the same kind of chains holding Emilia. Taking notice of their situation, his eyes widen. "Rem, what do you mean by your master? What's going on here?!"

"You will find out soon enough, prisoner."

Emilia can hardly understand what she's hearing. "Rem, please, tell us what's going on. We're your friends!"

Rem's eye twitches. "Friends?"

Her expression slowly shifts to one of rage.

"You? My friends? You… you insolent, arrogant…"

She snaps.

"WHAT HAVE YOU EVER DONE FOR ME?! I WAS ALWAYS THE ONE AT YOUR BECK AND CALL! AND HIM?!"

She points at Subaru.

"WORTHLESS! THERE'S NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT HIM! HE HAS NO SKILLS OR TALENTS; HIS ONLY PURPOSE IS TO GET IN THE WAY! IN OUR WAY!" She glares at them both, daring them to respond.

Subaru, speechless, looks down at the ground, realizing everything she's saying is true. Then he lifts his head and shouts, "Necro! I'll kill you for doing this to her! Show yourself!"

"QUIET!" Rem yells, moving to slap him.

"That's enough," another voice says.

She stops, turning to see Necromorph in the doorway and bowing to him. "Hello, master. I trust you are well?"

"So far," he replies as he enters the graveyard, stopping in front of Subaru and Emilia. He smirks. "How are you two today? Enjoying your stay for the time being?"

Subaru glares at Necro, staring him in the eyes. "What have you done to Rem? Bring her back, you bastard!"

"She's my servant now. No turning back kinda thing, you know how it works." He gestures to the zombies. "Same goes for them, and her." He points upward to where several chains converge on a single point, a lone figure suspended from them.

Ram.

Seeing Ram suspended from chains, beaten and battered, is enough to make Emilia cry. "Ram! Ram, can you hear me?!" she yells, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The girl can only respond by groaning weakly, a chain with a metal spike protruding from her chest.

Subaru starts thrashing wildly, the shackles cutting into his wrists and refusing to budge. "Rem, Ram! I'll save you from him, one way or another! I promise!" he yells.

"Cut it out," Necromorph says with a swift movement of his hand. The chains holding Subaru yank him back into the wall, fully restricting him. "You are through getting in my way."

"Subaru!" Emilia cries. She turns and growls at Necromorph. "You won't get away with this! Puck, stop him!"

Nothing.

Necromorph giggles.

He chuckles.

His chuckles become demented, maniacal laughter.

Subaru starts to get freaked out. "What's so funny? And why isn't Puck coming out?"

"See for yourself!" he responds, pointing to another section of the graveyard.

There, in his true form, shackled by his wrists and neck, is Puck. He's leaking mana, and necrotic power seeps into his body, forcing him into a deep slumber.

Subaru's shoulders slump in defeat. "Why… why are you doing this…?"

Emilia's in shock. Her father chained and beaten, Subaru and herself imprisoned, Ram subjected to what can only be torture, and Rem turned against them. She can't help but cry. "No… no, no…"

Necromorph gets his laughter under control. "Yes, yes, yes! You finally get it! There's nothing you can do; I'm unstoppable now. And you? HA! You're hopeless! Now observe!" He turns around to face Ram, his arms raised.

"Oh, hear me, child of life! Your suffering is at an end! All that is living must die, and now, so do you! Be not afraid, for in death, you are made new! Join with me, and be…

"[REBORN BY DUST]!"

Necrotic energy bursts from his hands in lightning-like beams and strikes the base of the chains, racing upwards towards Ram. It reaches her, and she screams in agony, throwing her head back as her eyes widen. It lasts for a few mere seconds, then her heart stops.

She dies.

Her corpse goes limp, held only by her prison turned tomb.

The chains lower her to the ground, then release her. She sinks to her knees, catching herself from hitting the ground.

"Ram," Subaru whispers, wondering if it's at all possible to survive that. His expression becomes enraged. "Necro, what have you done to her?!"

He doesn't answer, instead looking over his new servant. "Rise, Ram, and greet your master."

She obeys, opening her eyes to reveal the same yellow that Rem has. She kneels. "I am at your command, Necromorph-sama."

Now he addresses Subaru. "You want to know? I've made her Reborn. She's mine for all of eternity."

He grits his teeth. "Why are you even keeping me alive? If you hate me so much, why don't you just kill me and get it over with?!" He hopes he can goad Necromorph into killing him and forcing a reset.

Necromorph only scoffs, however. "As. If. I know about your special power: rewinding time by getting yourself killed. That means I won't let you die." He snaps his fingers. "Rem. Ram."

They both approach.

He points at Subaru. "Break his limbs and gag him." Then he points at Emilia. "Kill her."

Rem nods, then looks over Subaru and cracks her knuckles.

"Don't you dare touch her!" he snarls. "Emilia-tan, I'll find a way to save you, I promise!"

Then Rem throws four swift strikes at him, aimed to render his limbs completely useless.

They connect.

He screams in agony as his knees and elbows are shattered, slumping over in his bindings.

"SUBARU!" Emilia cries, trying to reach him. "No… please…" She looks at Necromorph, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Please, stop this! I'm begging you!"

It's Ram who answers: "Don't worry. It will be over soon." She draws a knife from a nearby shambling soldier, holding it in a reverse grip as she raises it slowly.

Rem tears her uniform sleeve and gags Subaru, preventing him from biting his tongue.

Emilia can't help but stare in horror as Ram slowly walks towards her, backing into the wall. "No… Ram, please don't do this…"

Subaru can only watch, unable to move or speak.

Ram doesn't stop.

"It's too late for that." She raises the blade.

"I don't take orders from you."

It falls.

Emilia's eyes widen in shock and agony as the blade slips between her ribs and stabs into her heart. She gasps, trying to speak and weakly scrabbling at Ram's arm and wrist, but her strength soon fails. Blood drips from her mouth as she collapses, slumping against the wall. Her heart stops.

It's over.

No… Emilia-tan… Subaru looks down, defeated. There's nothing more he can do here.

Necromorph scoffs after observing the altercation. "I expected her to fight more. Oh, well." He calls the twins back to him and looks at Subaru. "Now I need to find a way to keep you alive… Hmm…" He points to the twins. "You two, stay here. Make sure he doesn't try anything. Contact me if he does." He turns to leave, looking back one last time with a wicked smile.

"Enjoy your stay."

A.N.: Man, I loved roleplaying that scene.

This concludes the first part of Reborn into Darkness, the first chapter of Corruption. Owing to how long the chapters are in the RP, I'm breaking them up into more reasonable chunks for my documentation. Seriously, this thing is a beast.

Speaking of beasts, I have a huge, messy battle to look forward to. Oh, boy...

And don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Battle for the School. It's just kinda hard to get around to actually writing it when my own school tends to get in the way (Isn't transferring fun?).

Oh, I almost forgot. I have a little special something in the works for this story. It might be next chapter, it might be way down the line, who knows?

I hope you enjoyed, and I'll see you next time!