Chapter 2: An Uncontrollable Hunger
Subaru opened his eyes, looking around in panic while breathing heavily…
He is alive…
But what the hell is that Daphne girl in his dream…and one of the Great Demon Beast, that just sounds like one of the most heinous things he has ever heard!
Anyway, if what she said is right…he has died once, and with some weird power, he returned to this point before his death…
Well, the condition of using this power is sucked…shouldn't this come with some kinds of pian resistance or something. Sure, he used to play a lot of game when the main character died and respawn, but he has never exposed to such pain…kinda wonder if this what the character felt.
"For now…I will call it 'Return By Death'" Subaru mused to himself "Still, this is nothing like the isekai experience I'm hoping for!"
"Hey, kid! Are you okay?" A man with green hair called out to Subaru
"Y-yeah…" Subaru said…way to ruin the moment. Guess he should expect that by now, but he is totally looking like some crazed man rambling nonsense
"Anyway kid, want some appa?" The man asked
Right….he completely forgotten about that…what is that man's name? Kadomon isn't it? He heard it from a customer…
Now come to think of it…he can hear pretty well, even things he isn't supposed to hear. And he can realize distinctive smell from everything as well. Also, seems like his reflex and vision improved as well.
That girl said he is a…Demon Beast of Despair…the Spirit Wolf. Is that the reason for these weird buffs? Enhanced senses? Really? He is practically like a human with the sense of a wolf! Or is he already one?
"Kid?" The man called out again
'Oh! Damn it! I lost in thought again.' Subaru mentally slapped himself "Sorry, but I'm completely clueless on broke beyond compare!" Subaru said with an awkward smile
"Then get out of here then! You are blocking off my customer!"
"Okay, okay…" Subaru signed before heading off
'So as that girl said, I'm practically a wolf in human form…but I'm a human, right?' Subaru thought himself again before he suddenly catches a glimpse of something.
'Is that?' Subaru saw a girl with silver hair and white robes running in a hurry ahead of him
"Wait! Satella!" Subaru called out, only for the girl to turn her head back in shock
Satella seemed to be annoyed by the name…isn't this the name she told him, though?
Instead of, she gives him a reaction which he dares call…anger…Her beautiful violet eyes filled with hatred
"What are you thinking?!" The silver hair girl said, her tone is harsh and this makes Subaru flinched
He just stood there, shocked…
"I don't know who you are but you just called me by the name of the Jealous Witch! That name is considered the greatest taboo!" The girl said, sending him a look of fury
"You…I thought…that is your name?" Subaru said, unsure about his own words
"What?!" The half-elf said in shock, her glare intensifying "Look, I don't know who told you that, but that is NOT my name."
Subaru froze as he can feel the crowd whispering around them…
"That's right!"
"That's going too far, boy!"
But as the voice swarm around them, Subaru can see an orange blur passed behind the half-elf girl…
"You!" Subaru ends up blurting out, as she only took only a moment to look at him
"Who-Anyway, thanks for the opportunity!" And just like that, the girl quickly disappear from his sight, as the elf-girl suddenly put her hand down her waist
"What…my insignia…" The elf-girl looks at him furiously "You are working with her, aren't you?!"
With a hateful glare, the elf-girl turn his head and start chasing the blonde, who was now clearly out of sight…
Subaru stood there for a moment and ends up not saying anything, perhaps of shock…
"Damn it!" Subaru yelled in frustration, as now he was alone in the crowd, with people around clearly looks at him in disgust…
Needless to say, Subaru's effort to go after them was in vain…as now he is wandering the same alley, trying to find the path to the loot house…
"Seriously, I'm just pathetic being like this. This is totally unfair!" Subaru groaned
"What are you blabbing about!" And great, now stand before him was the trio that tried to rob him the previous loop
"Talk about good timing…" Subaru whisper to himself
"Now, now…hand over everything you got if you don't want to get hurt." The largest one of them said
"Like hell, I will!" Subaru readied himself into a fighting stance, he just needs to focus on this…
"Huh? How cute of you to think you can win." The smallest one said with a sarcastic tone
At that moment, Subaru begins to focus on the feeling when he first used his power…
What emotion was he feeling then?
Subaru remembers the elf-girl lying on the ground, her amethyst eyes, lifelessly looking at him as her white hair was soaked with red…
And at that moment, Subaru can only feel his anger…he was furious…
The trio suddenly flinched, as the boy, they were taunting a moment ago, now look feral with red eyes, and his nail start to getting longer into a claw, sharp and undoubted, can kill better than their dagger.
"Uh…I think we should get out of the" The largest one said before Subaru sprint at him with inhuman speed, which the thug almost doesn't have any time to react, but luckily his friend managed to push him out of harm's way…
That proved to be the right choices, as Subaru's claw dug deep into the ground, that would have certainly sliced the thug in half
"Oi! You could have killed him with that!" The smallest one said, but his words are coated with fear…
"Hnggg…" Subaru growled under his breath, before looking at them, his red eyes filled with emotion can only be described as hatred and insanity…like a predator looking at its prey…
What would their meat taste like?
It is surprisingly exciting…yes, they tried to mug him first, and now they face consequences. Surely no one would complain if they lost a limb or two, or maybe…
Subaru starts jumping all over the place, his claw dug deep into the wall as he approaches the smallest thug, aiming for his head…
Suddenly, Subaru felt a tingling in his shoulder and look to find a dagger embedded into his flesh…Subaru looks angrily at the thug, who looks kinda average compare to his two friends…
Annoying insects…
Subaru takes out the knife in his shoulder while looking with murderous intent…
Kill them all...make them pay...the world has no use for scum like them anyway...
"Oh no…" The thug said before feeling a force of wind approaching him…this blow is gonna be the death of him…he can't dodge, not with that speed, and he closes his eyes for the impact…
But suddenly, instead of at least feeling something, he heard a 'clank' right before his nose, as he opens his eyes to find the claw being blocked by a sword…
The sword appears to be gleaming with blue light, as the holder of it is none other than a man with flaming red hair and sky blue eyes…
It is the Sword Saint…
"Get out of here!" The Sword Saint said, as the trio give him a quick nod and immediately getaway...
*Reinhard POV
The Sword Saint quickly pushes the claw away from him, while getting a good look at the dangerous figure before him…
The Dragon Sword deemed this person worthy…and Reinhard can't afford to let his guard down… Reinhard can see the figure clearly…a boy with black hair, his face looks so feral along with his red eyes…the eye of the devil. Reinhard also can't help but notice a small strand of white hair in his head… this hair seems too unnatural to be in just one place…
The figure before him just hissed, staring at him with such eyes that can fill almost anyone with despair…
Despair…Reinhard felt a tingling of it, too…his Divine Protection pretty much shielded him from it, but its presence is strong enough to affect him…
"Please stand back…it's best for us not to fight," Reinhard said, if a fight was to break out, and apparently his individual was someone deemed worthy by the Dragon Sword, he doubts that this alley will survive without any casualties…
But his opponents seemed to not be affected by those words, not even one bit as just like that, the figure seemingly disappear into thin air…
Reinhard immediately turns back, blocking the claw with oblivious killing but he can't help but being stagger back, as there seems to be a mysteriously strong force behind it…
The figure keeps jumping around and hitting him out of nowhere, if it hadn't been for his Divine Protection, he would have died already…
This fighting style reminds him of a strong opponent he met before…Cecilus, the Blue Lightning. Although this style he is facing is a little bit slower, kinda crude the force behind it is insane.
Reinhard quickly studied his opponent's move again, and it has rather many holes in it, which is seemingly being covered up by the speed…like a predator attacking wildly at their prey, as Reinhard once again managed to block an attack, being on an inch close his face…
"That's enough!" Reinhard, now being completely serious, but the figure back with the help of the wind. The figure seems surprised, staggering back on the ground, stunned…
Wasting no time, Reinhard sprint onward, with a burst of speed from his Divine Protection of the Wind, as he felt his blade go right through the figure with blood spattering all over the place…
"Hng…wha-" The figure said before collapsing on the ground, as his blood covering the ground…
"It must be done…I'm sorry…" Reinhard said remorsefully
And like that, everything went dark…
Again, Subaru finds himself in the endless darkness, with the familiar girl with ashen hair looking at him, clearly disappointed…
"How boring…" Daphne said, rolling her eyes…
'So I…Return By Death…' Subaru thought before looking at the girl, narrowing his eyes.
"Well, I guess it is kind of my fault for not providing you enough knowledge…" Daphne said, and her coffin starts making its way to him. "You are a unique being…too unique even among the witches."
"So…what is even am I?" Subaru asked as doubt filled his mind…
Has he even considered a human anymore? That rage he felt, that thirst for blood, that intent to harm…
That intense hunger, they want to devour everything…it's not normal by any mean…
"You are a Demon Beast like I said, and one with intelligence…so far you are the second one with human form…" Daphne stated
"Wait…there is another one like me?" Subaru asked in a hopeful voice…he is not alone after all
"Yes, yes…so far, there are three known Great Demon Beast. It's the White Whale, The Great Hare, and The Black Serpent…all of them are exceedingly good in terms of strength…" Daphne stopped a little "And while not very popular, I guess there is another one, which is a creation of a friend of mine…The Crimson Scorpion, a Demon Beast with a human form, and while she is kinda weak in comparison to the prior, her being in human form is rather…exciting…"
"So she is-"
"The answer is no, I'm afraid…the last time I checked, she was guarding the Pleideas Tower, one of the most dangerous places in the world…" Daphne said before suddenly get close to him "Do you remember the man you fought before you die?"
Subaru only gives her a nod in response…
"He is the Sword Saint, Reinhard van Astrea, and easily confirmed as the most powerful man in the world…" Subaru felt shocked at that statement "Even him failed to get through that tower and compare to you, he must be ten times stronger!"
Subaru signed…of course, his life must be as hard as possible…
"While I was impressed by your effort to hold off the Sword Saint for a while, you are still weak." Daphne simply saying in a rather intellectual tone, like she is really analyzing what she is saying
"I can help you get stronger by teaching you the basics and maybe with enough wit, you can actually not die the next time!" Daphne said, her mood changed to indicate her heavy disappointment
"Well, sorry…" Subaru said, looking down in shame…he remembers losing control, he could certainly have killed those thugs had it not been for Reinhard's intervention
"Anyway, first I will teach you how your body works…" Daphne's attitude change yet again, being very enthusiastic about it "You see, as a Demon Beast, you are clearly attracted to the Witch's scent, which ironically is the one you have on your body right now. And you may not know yet, but you have the ability to make a contract."
"Contract?" Subaru asked, clearly confused…
"You see, normal humans can make a contract with the spirit if they have enough affinity…but you are special, do you know what you are?" Daphne asked
"Well, I'm the…Spirit Wolf?" Subaru said…that name is so confusing and while the wolf is the oblivious part, what about-"Does that mean I have a high affinity with spirit?"
"Nope! Kinda ironic because you are one already." Daphne said in a flat tone
"Wha-" A feeling of panic washed through Subaru's body"S-spirit? But I'm still alive!"
"Are you sure?" Daphne asked, her voice now being serious…
Alive…he is alive…he can't be-
"Well, that's the nature of you, the Demon blood in your body, along with your ability to return by Death comes with a toll…every time you die, you will become closer at being a spirit. Although the Demon blood prevents you from turning completely, it's only a matter of time now…" Daphne signed "You shouldn't even be alive in the first place…"
Subaru suddenly felt his knee getting weak as he collapses on the ground…no…it can't be like this…
"Well, relax, as long as you keep yourself from dying, you will be fine." Daphne comes near him, orders her pet to waver its leg to reassure Subaru… which proves to be ineffective. "Anyway, your unique being allows you to contract with both human and spirit…but unlike spirit, you don't have a 'nap time' but just to be sure, get enough rest. After all, you hold much mystery even your creator don't know about…"
"I know this can be a lot to take in…" Daphne softens her voice "But this might be a chance for you to actually do something…"
Subaru suddenly remembers the elf girl's emotionless eyes staring at him…he owns her so much and…he wants to protect her. But at what cost? He himself doesn't even know…..
"I…I don't want to watch her die again…" Subaru said as he's looking at the ground, his expression unreadable…
"Then?"
"I will do it." Subaru said, his voice filled with confidence "Please, teach me what you know."
A smirk form on Daphne's lips…this boy was truly fascinating…
And how odd, he reminds her so much of him…
"Alright…first, controlling your anger is important…losing control will likely cause harm to others or lead to your death, like the last loop."
"How?"
"Think about something that makes you angry the most."
Subaru thought about the Bowel Hunter, Elsa…her smirk, her laugh, her attitude…how she smiles in delight as she hurt the elf girl…no sign of remorse, pure madness…
Subaru thought about his helplessness as Elsa killed the elf girl, how he has frozen in shock as he watches the girl collapse to the ground, how his uselessness leads to his eventual demise in that loop…
Subaru felt his anger boiling inside, as his eyes turn into a crimson red and his nail once again stretching into a sharp claw…
"You are worthless," Daphne said flatly are Subaru look at her, hatred filled his eyes…
"Grrr…" Subaru grunted, trying his best to keep his anger in…
'Stay calm, Suabru' He thought to himself
"Useless…"
"Scum…"
"Idiot…"
Daphne now bombarding him with insult, as Subaru felt his anger grow as he desperately trying to keep them in…
But he failed, she charges forward attacking Daphne, which her coffin simply move to the sides…
"Control yourself, useless dog," Daphne said, her words sting like poison
Subaru charge again and before his claw reaches Daphne…it stopped.
"Huh?" Daphne said, surprised as well
Now, Subaru is using his right hand, grabbing his left hand tightly, preventing it from hitting Daphne…
Subaru can see the fire in his heart, burning, swallowing everything in sight…yet, he holds it off. Those feeling…those words are true…but, he intends to make them false…
"You will have to try a little harder than that." Subaru smirk as now in his eyes no longer a wild animal…he is human, or he was and he knows that.
"Impressive…" Daphne said…the boy actually managed to do it after all. She now can understand partly why Satella chooses this boy. However, it's not enough for her taste, she is very gluttonous after all :)
"Did I do good?" Subaru asked as he felt his eyes twitching a bit in annoyance…these words are harsher than he thought.
"Yes. Although I think you still have a long way to go, this will do for now…" Daphne nodded lightly "Now, try to turn back to normal…"
Subaru immediately followed as he closed his eyes, focus on the flame that burning in his heart. Subaru takes a deep breath and the fire seems to lessen a bit…
"Good job," Daphne said suddenly, distracting him from his thought.
Before he can even recognize it, his body has become normal again…it was kinda easy…too easy to be honest…
"Now…for the last step…hold out your hand…" Daphne ordered and Subaru has no choice but to oblige "I…The Witch Of Gluttony, from now on will be contracted to this being, and in return…share me your sense of appetite."
"What?" Subaru asked, dumb-folded
"Just say yes already!" Daphne shouted angrily
"Yes!"
"Okay…we have just made a contract," Daphne said flatly…seriously, this girl's mood change in a breeze. Was that supposed to be a good thing? No.
"So?"
"So?!" Daphne hardens a tone a little and Subaru yelps in response "From now on, I will act as a spirit, hidden in-depth of your mind. That will ensure we will meet the next time we here, or in your dream…beside that, you can't interact with me unless you are unconscious, or currently eating…"
"Why the latter?"
"Because of our contract, idiot!" Jeez, that still stung quite a bit "You see, my soul is currently still trapped so…anyway, being in the contract means I can taste again…of course in the dream world I still can but only those things I have eaten… I get bored after eating cookies for a lifetime."
"I can't see how is this gonna do me any good?" Subaru narrowed his eyes…this girl is super lazy, immature and-
"I can hear you! We're in a contract means I can know what you are thinking." Daphne pouted, making Subaru flinch a bit "Seriously! Of course, I can do more! I just choose not to…it only makes me hungrier. I will only help when you really need it, and my advice is will probably be enough to keep you from dying too much."
"Yeah…so basically I'm chained to you now?"
"That's an…understatement. But yeah." Daphne sees Subaru rolling his eyes "Oh come on, it's just circumstances!"
"You'd better prove to be helpful," Subaru grunted…instead of contracting with a benevolent spirit, he ends up a contract with a witch! Guess it's expectable, considering all the stuff he has gone through since he went to this world…
"Now…our time is getting short so let me give you a little bit of advice. Try to get that Sword Saint on your side and you will be fine against that Bowel Hunter. And don't lose control this time!"
"Okay, okay…jeez, you're just like an annoying little sister, except the fact that you are probably much older than me." Subaru scratches his head, clearly drowning in amusement
"Hmph!" Daphne pouted as Subaru felt the space around him turn white as he fades away from the depth of the dream…
"I wonder…if you are really him…" Daphne mused out loud now that there is no one left in the room
"Onee-san! I-I felt something off…something very off…" A girl with braided dark-blue hair said frantically
"What's up, Meili? Do you sense something dangerous?" A woman with black hair response
"I…sense a Demon Beast…a powerful one…"
"The one in the tower? Is it coming here?"
"No…it's something different…it is in the capital…"
"Interesting~"
The Bowel Hunter simply smirk in excitement…maybe she will encounter this being while doing her contract today…
A loud gasp can be heard in the secluded library…sit in the chair is a girl with drill blonde hair
"A Great Spirit is near, I suppose."
A former maid walking, in search of her mother…her eyes coated with emerald green and her hair covered in golden color…
"I wonder what is that feeling I have just now…"
"Hey girl, do you want to know more about Liliana?" An old man asked while noticing her spacing out…
"Yes, I just lost in my thought for a sec…" The girl closes her eyes, trying to focus…but that may not be something she can ignore… "Maybe I will come back another day…thank you for your help."
"You're welcome." The old man said wholeheartedly
Fate is a compelling force, and none of them know it is going to be twisted today…
Hey, I'm finished writing...jeez, I wish I could just telekinesis the world out of my brain, it would be much more helpful...
Well, when I told you this is my first fanfic, it's the first Re Zero fanfic...
Anyway, no promise for the next chapter (learn it the hard way) but I will write it if I'm still intrigued by this story