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FICTION

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Chapter 23: Whale's Problem, Whale's Solution

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Warning: This chapter has a bit of uncommon gore. Whales are nasty, especially magically-demonic ones.

Subaru has never read Moby Dick, but he was quite sure nothing in it would have prepared him for fighting a massive flying white whale.

Then again, he doubted anyone in that group knew what they were doing- even the garrison looked uneasy and unsure of what to do, with their commander limiting their current ideas to 'kill the whale' and... nothing else. It wasn't much- actually, it wasn't even enough to soothe any worry within the city that they could actually stop the monster. Emilia wanted to be brave for them, but she couldn't really find a solution to her own dread and no one could blame her for it.

The White Whale had lived long enough to be seen as the kind of monster that couldn't be brought down, its legend providing for an extra fear factor beyond its mighty form. Elsa's wounds confirmed not just that the Whale was on its way there, but that its controller was not something they could face directly and they would be lucky if she didn't take part in the attack. Something else to say was Emilia's odd reaction to the mention of a young girl with white hair wearing a white cloth with blue details.

It seemed to trigger a sense of recognition in her, but she shrugged it off when Subaru inquired if she had seen her before. She recognized Pandora, but it was something not even she could exactly remember from where. At this point, Barusu didn't care much about it. In fact, the only issues he was supposed to face where two: Rem being somewhat miffed that her chance to trick him into sex had failed, and the fact that Elsa was giddily milking his genuine concern for her to further enable the maid to be annoyed at him.

She just had a gift when it came to planning a time to push him into her chest while the maid was around, but never once did she try that with Emilia. Perhaps she feared the chances of getting iced up by the half-elf, but... there was also something she was pleased about. Subaru wasn't as upset about this behavior because, in his mind, she sort of deserved a break for losing a limb for merely scouting around. She told them enough and her loyalty was unquestionable in this topic, but there was also a hint of delight in being coddled up through his usual mannerism. She appreciated- not too much, but she definitely liked the attention.

All preparations were set, but Subaru had to headbutt a lot with the captain of the garrison for a specific reason.

"We are a group made primarily of swordsman, using bows and arrows wouldn't-"

"It would help, dammit! It's a flying target and we have a few mages, that's literally basic warfare."

It was stupid. Why would you use swords against a flying creature? In the end a compromise was set and Barusu felt like they had a chance to fight. Admittedly, it was a fool's dream at this point. The whale came, the forward scout running back in town with a frightened look before joining the defenders by the wall. The whale soon loomed through the darkness of the clouds it created.

Arrows were hurled, some enhanced, some not. Magic was not meant to pierce through the beast's natural armor, but the spells that ensued prior to the physical volley was meant to 'tenderize the meat'. In layman's terms, the beast's skin was weakened just enough to allow some arrows to stick through. And it was indeed the case.

More spells, this time using the arrows while Emilia assisted by freezing the whale's gills and sealing off its means to breathe. This move was one Subaru had planned and asked Puck if it was feasible due to the Whale's natural defense to magic. Technically? No. Practically? It could be done if the user focused on individually keeping the spell over its gills.

Struggling, the monster faltered in its flight and then ended up losing altitude. A most inglorious fall onto the ground soon unfolded, with the renewed warriors rushing through to stab the downed beast. A folly by all means, but one driven by desperation and anger. They knew the monster could kill them and more if they didn't do something, with their commander drilling that notion deep in their Gods-fearing skulls.

The whale trashed around, slamming against buildings indiscriminately and wounding numerous between combatants and civilians. It was a bloodbath, but the monster wasn't being spared either as numerous gashes were appearing through its thick white skin. It roared, but it was not a magically-powered strike- but a call against pain. A roar that came as the animal knew its death was approaching. The brutality went on for a while, but Subaru was perhaps stunned by its last move before seemingly dying before the vicious onslaught it was being subjected to.

Emilia noticed, Rem too, Elsa did try to move in, but she couldn't find a chance to strike due to its massive size. The half-elf struck with a few Ice Shards that stabbed and widened its visible wounds, while Rem's chain with the spiked ball end failed to change its course despite the power the strike packed when the thing hit it.

It shifted towards him, the ground shaking and the monster pace stunning him in a cold stupor that distracted him. A mistake, he called it, and one that the whale eagerly enjoyed as it opened its mouth and swiftly swallowed him. Good news is that Emilia wasn't taken in that quick desperate attack as Subaru purposely pushed her away from its trajectory, bad news being that he was suddenly pulled down the beast throat and into its stomach. The trip was unpleasant, and the destination even more hideous than anything he could have predicted.

Subaru hadn't read Pinocchio, but he was quite sure being within a whale's mouth wasn't supposed to be so horrible on his body. Gaseous acid tore into his clothes as his skin burned slightly. He felt the air ravaging his lungs and his eyes turning red and puffy at the atrocious gas. He felt everything in here was trying to kill him and a single misstep landed his left foot in a pool of acid.

Excruciating pain broke his thoughts, with his brain blazing as he saw his foot cooked to the bone- causing him to feel anything there and fall on the warm but unpleasant surface of the stomach that wasn't touched by the acid. A temporary reprieve since the acid's level was increasing within that belly, the monster was ready to digest him as the last thing it would do in its miserable life.

His brain hurting, his soul screaming and his world decimated by the pain and terror. But as he faltered, as he died again while he realized his efforts were rendered useless by someone that could bypass his loop power, a saving grace manifested within a single quiet voice that fluttered into his mind and left him perplexed and yet mute.

"Someone... here? No. Not here 'here'. It's... there. The whale? How?" There was a pause within the disjointed questioning. "Oh- Oh my. Someone that was swallowed by it? How peculiar- a planned prey turned into a predator. Amusing, but also disheartening. How did this happen?"

There was no means for him to respond, but the voice didn't seem to care.

"This doesn't feel right. Echidna? No, she is not that stupid. She wouldn't have a reason to waste effort in that- my creation is mine, who would be so stupid to-"

"K-Kill it," A fool's gamble, but Subaru committed his last breath to these words.

"Oh, kill it? You want to kill the Whale? The Hakugei? My creation? Why?"

Silence greeted the voice again, Subaru could feel his own heartbeat faltering.

"I see. Someone turned it into something different. Something it wasn't meant to be. The hunger hasn't been dealt with, it has expanded. That silly brat, she doesn't get it. She doesn't want to get it. But how could she since hunger is not her only fear?" There was a pause, then a hum. "I see, I see. Fret not, you... ehr, Satella's beloved? Yes, Satella's beloved seems fitting- Still, I believe I have a solution to this. But remember, hunger is the main concern through the whale. Nothing else, so please... give it a proper duty for once. Lest I have to suffer my curse even more than before."

His palm burned slightly, but his arms had long gone numb so he could barely perceive it. He was beyond the chance of survival, and he knew it but... He now knew that there was hope for... the future. Or rather the past.

The burning of the acid and the horrible stench of human flesh sizzling against the demonic liquid further confirmed how little control he had for his body when he couldn't even feel much pain and little reason to react- no strength, no will to do anything about it. He knew this loop was as good as over, but the next one- that was going to be... interesting.

He stretched his arms, got up from his chair, and started to make his way back to his room. The first clue that something was up came when he noticed the door was not closed by key. He had purposely closed it by key to avoid any surprises. He stopped by the handle, thinking if this was some sort of joke from Elsa or perhaps a cheeky nightly visit from Emilia but... he pulled away, glancing at his palm as the mark of the Whale was on it. Their bond existed despite the loop and now- now he could do something with this!

This time, Pandora wouldn't know what hit her.

AN

Subaru will be on the move for a lot of conversations next time. Specifically on understanding who gave him the mark, and why she said the Whale was her creation. The reason why 'she' was able to communicate with him is tied to a biological/magical element within the whale that will be made known by the next chapter. It's a bit of a non-canon element, but I think that someone like Daphne would have wanted some sort of mean to know what the fuck her flying meal is doing while it wasn't around or on her plate.

Also, I have a new story on QQ which is set in Cyberpunk Edgerunners/Cyberpunk 2077. 'Clean Meat' SI ends up becoming the new bane of Arasaka and anyone that really is fucking Night City. More on the new story 'Cyber (Not) Gangster 2076'. Links are available easily on my discord server.

REVIEW Q&A!

A J Savage: I established a role that anytime the length of the chapter is mentioned, I would make it shorter compared to how it was planned. You get what you get, so that's it. I have other projects to follow and no one has ever lamented over its 'size'.

InfiniteCringeMaster: Same as above.