Subaru's words hung in the air. "Subaru-dono?" The swordsman tilted his head. His smile disappeared.

"I failed. Everyone died because I failed. Everything went wrong. I hadn't prepared well enough. I couldn't even ki-" A shadowy hand grasped Subaru's heart. It doesn't matter. I'll just fail again anyway. "Kill myself. You got eaten because I failed. Almost everyone died because I failed." The hand of the witch began to crush Subaru's heart. "It all went wrong. Just because I couldn't die. And it's all my fault."

"Subaru-dono what happened?" Wilhelm's voice held a tone of sadness. His face was twisted in concern.

Subaru tried to speak further but the hand on his heart held his throat shut.

"Love me, love me, love me." Subaru wanted to yell about all of his failings but the witch kept his mouth from opening.

"They need to know…" He pleaded with the witch.

"They won't love you like I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you." Subaru pushed against Satella's voice.

"THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT A FAILURE I AM!" He screamed at the envious woman.

He could feel something in the witch shift. For just a moment all the envy drained from her voice. Satella's shadowy hand released his heart.

"If you insist, my love." A soft whisper. It sounded like the voice of someone who was exhausted after a great battle.

As Satella's shadows retreated he noticed jealousy from the witch once more. Though even with this resurgent jealousy the witch did not try and grasp his heart again.

With his heart released and his voice freed Subaru screamed the words he'd desperately wanted to say.

"I FAILED!" Subaru screamed, "I COULDN'T EVEN USE RETURN BY DEATH!" He screamed out the name of his power. Tears flowing without end from his eyes. Subaru waited for something to happen. For the witch to caress his heart. Or for her to crush his one more. But Wilhelm only stood there shocked trying to figure out what Subaru was talking about. And no shadowy limbs grasped Subaru's heart.

Although a moment later his punishment began.

It began with a dull thud in the grass. Wilhelm's head turned to investigate. His eyes widened even further than they already were. Subaru followed his gaze sluggishly.

Subaru's eyes remained the same as he looked at the sight before him.

At the body of Felix Argyle which now lay dead in the grass.

On the opposite side of the knight's body, a green-haired duchess saw Felix fall.

"Felix!" Crusch rushed over to him or tried to. Before she had even got halfway to Felix's body a hand of shadows reached into her chest to crush her heart. She collapsed to the ground not long after.

Subaru watched with a tired gaze as a multitude of hands reached out of the ground. Everyone on the battlefield saw them. They were not the unseen hands of Petelguese. Many of the soldiers turned and attempted to escape from the shadows.

After a few seconds, a great shadow grew from the ground to encircle the battlefield. Once the soldiers saw this many of them formed up into a turtle formation in an attempt to defend themselves.

Appendages made from shadows reached out for the gathered soldiers. The men raised whatever defenses they could. But the witch easily batted away the strikes of the men. Then her hands reached into the torso of each soldier.

Crusch's men began to fall. Their hearts destroyed by Satella. Once they had been destroyed the hands began to seek out other targets. It didn't take them long to find the rest of the fang of iron and Julius.

Subaru didn't have the resolve to direct his vision that way. One of the hands reached for Subaru and caressed his heart. "Come to me, my love." Another appendage soon wiped away the tears that tumbled down his face.

Subaru heard the sound of a sword being drawn. He tiredly shifted his gaze. Two meters away Wilhelm stood with a sword drawn. The sword demon jumped towards Subaru and slashed apart all the shadows he could find. Grass crunched to Subaru's right. It was the sound of footsteps.

He flipped his eyes to the sound. A pink-haired maid was walking towards him. She was surrounded by a shield of wind. Any shadows that got too close to her were violently dispersed by her shield. Though she had to move slowly to keep the shadows from overwhelming her defenses.

This shield of wind caused her pink hair to flare outwards, and in a rare glimpse at her forehead, Subaru could see that the stump where her horn had once been was glowing brightly.

Subaru noticed all of this with a tired expression. And after a second his eyes fell. He lost sight of Ram and retreated into his own mind.

I failed. I'm worthless. I hate myself. So what is the point? What's the point in standing, or moving? Why would I move from this one spot? I won't accomplish anything anyway. I didn't have even a single success after Sanctuary. That isn't going to change now.

"Yes, my love, you are right nothing would change. So just stay here, with me." Her voice was soft. Though it held a tone of possessiveness. "Love me. Love me."

What's the point of getting up? Subaru remembered a moment in the sanctuary. Where he'd been surrounded by shadows. The handkerchief that Petra had given him to tie around his hand grew rigid and sharp. He had reached up seizing it from the air, then he had jammed it into his neck.

He remembered feeling pain from the injury. Though something like that would only tickle him as he was now. Blood had spurted from his neck. He had rejected Satella.

What is the point anymore? No matter how much I struggle I'm just here, at the same point. Nothing has changed. I'll just fail again and again. He noticed that his vision had dimmed.

Then he tiredly looked around him only to notice that he was bathed in shadows. The sun, and the outside world, had been blocked out entirely. Though he still heard a noise from outside. It was the soft sound of grass being crushed beneath a person's feet.

A single pink light pierced through the shadows. If Subaru were to guess where the light was coming from he would notice that the light was about forehead height. Though he barely cared. In his current state he was only able to offer it a passing thought. What is that? It doesn't matter I'll fail anyway. Wind gusted outside of the shadows. That- Never mind. It doesn't matter-

"Love me. LOVE-"

"AL FULA!" A stern voice cut through Satella's words. Her shadows were blasted away by magic.

The darkness stopped blocking Subaru's vision. Ram. As soon as the oni's red eyes caught sight of Subaru she leaped forward once she grabbed onto him, she carried him bridal style.

The oni's eyes jumped around searching for a way to escape. Before she could take too long to think the witch grew angry.

Satella's shadows suddenly reached to grab her. In response to this Ram just as suddenly launched herself away before they could get to her.

She arced through the sky to land on the ground ten meters away. Then she ran towards the massive barrier of shadows that lay before her. Ram looked at the barrier assessing her options. She reached into her gate. Her eyes lost a tiny bit of their hope when she realized that her mana was almost depleted.

Her hope and resolve dimmed. Then she flicked her eyes to Subaru's face. She could easily determine that it was the face of a man in the depths of despair, but it seeing his face still gave her resolve. I will not let you die… Ram remembered the tortured screams that had come from Subaru's mouth not minutes before. I won't let you die anymore. Ram's heart pulsed with warmth.

Her resolve grew only for Subaru to drag it down with his words.

"Ram. Just drop me."

Ram's feet slammed into the ground as she approached Satella's wall of shadows.

"No."

"But I'm worthless, there is no point in keeping me around. You could escape without me."

"Barusu you aren-" Ram tried to speak but Subaru interrupted her.

"I took Wilhelm's advice. I stood up, but I failed." He explained. I failed. I failed.

"Really Barusu?" She continued to run. As she spoke she hid the fatigue and worry from her voice. She was running out of mana. But new words rose in her chest. Pushing past her shortness of breath.

"You think you're worthless because you failed?" Her voice was thick with disappointment. And something else. Worry. Subaru's tears stopped for a second at her mixed tones.

"What do you-"

Ram was only a few meters from the wall of shadows. She ignored Subaru and used her mana to leap over the wall. She propelled herself completely over it with jets of wind.

When Ram landed on the other side she continued to run. But she flicked her gaze back to Subaru.

"How many times did you stand?" Her voice sounded less disappointed. Less worried. A third emotion had overshadowed those two.

Subaru hesitated. Only for a second before he let out his pain.

"It doesn't matter how many times. No matter how many times I repeat I'll just end up back there! I'LL JUST FAIL OVER AND OVER AGAIN! So yes, I'm worthless." He screamed. As the word left his mouth he flashed back to one month ago. To his second loop that followed the hours of hell at the hands of Rem. Back to when he'd faced the first trial of the ruined Sanctuary. Every member of the Emilia screamed why. He didn't have a real answer for any of them. He'd failed each of them. One-hundred-million tries and he failed. Because in the end, he couldn't smile.

Because if he couldn't smile in the end, then he couldn't say it turned out alright. If he couldn't make it turn out alright after one-hundred-million loops. Then it would never turn out alright. And it was better if Subaru just laid down and didn't get back up. He was worthless.

"I'll just go back to that place where I couldn't smile." Ram slowed to a stop at his words. She set Subaru down. He remained there on his knees. Unable to stand.

Ram used her mana to shield them from the shadows that surrounded them. And she used her willpower to hide the immense anxiety that filled her. Her mana was running out after all. Though it was melted away by the anger that Subaru's words sparked in Ram.

"Is that why you failed?" She dropped him to the ground.

"If you can't smile in the end did you really succeed?" Subaru defended himself weakly. Ram crossed her arms. A shadow slammed into her dome of wind. Though it bounced off harmlessly.

"You are right, Barusu." The disappointment had entirely faded from Ram's tone, and now it was replaced by something Subaru barely understood.

"Exactly I failed." Subaru's tears stopped, not because he had been able to stop himself from crying but because he had no more to give. His eyes were dry, empty.

Ram pulled him into her chest. "Yes Barusu, you did." A smile grew on her face. She felt her mana run out. I won't let this moment end! She switched to her od and drew on that to fuel her shield of wind. Warmth grew in her chest at her closeness to Subaru.

"Exactly-" He started but Ram interrupted him.

"But that doesn't mean you are worthless, or that you can't succeed." The warmth in her chest lit into a great fire.

"How do you know? I can't smile, and I'll never smile so how can you know?" Ram's od melted down to half. The force of Satella's shadows were incredibly taxing. Normally Ram might've been averse to burning her entire lifetime to enjoy a single moment, but standing here with Barusu held in her arms it felt right.

"Because I've seen you start to smile. I've seen your lips tilt upwards. On their own, without any input from you. And if you can start to smile, then all it really takes is more time, and you can truly smile." Ram smiled. A true smile.

"I can't make myself smile." His tears returned, "I'M SORRY, BUT I CAN'T!" He screamed.

Ram stroked his hair. "I know, Barusu. I'll make you smile instead." Subaru's tears stopped.

"If you ever struggle to stand Barusu, just ask me. Together let's succeed."

"But you won't-"

"I know that I won't remember this conversation," Subaru froze. "And one more thing before you go. You are the single greatest moron to ever curse the face of this earth." Ram's od burned away. She dropped to the ground. A warm smile on her face as life left her. Subaru had no idea what to do. His face was filled with confusion.

Ram noticed this confusion and words drifted from her, "Idiot… Barusu." After the words had left her weak voice Ram's eyes closed.

Subaru stared down at Ram's body. Ram. Shadows slammed into him. Surrounding him. Embracing him. He pushed his tongue through his teeth.

"LOVE ME, LOVE ME, LOVE ME!"

"NO!" Subaru screamed in defiance as he slammed his teeth through his tongue. Red blood poured out of and down his throat.

"Why do you reject me, my love?" The witch asked. Subaru's mind faded. No answer to her question came into his mind.

Subaru's eyes snapped open. Wilhelm stood in front of him a small smile on the old man's face. Subaru turned his head from the man. He turned towards a pink-haired maid. He met her eyes. A new resolve filled him.

He thought of her words. "Together let's succeed."

It's ok Ram, you don't need to suffer with me. A small voice whispered into his mind from his sub-conscious. But is that wrong? No. Subaru's conscious mind responded. I still need to take on everyone's suffering. I just need to find a new method for it. One where I can smile at the end.

He thought of Emilia and Rem. I can smile for them. Subaru ignored the lack of conviction in that thought. And strode to where the soldiers were gathering for his strategy meeting.

When Subaru got into the gathering of soldiers he sat in the center of the circle silently. He did not address the men. Instead, he lowered his head and closed his eyes.

None of the surrounding combatants disturbed him. They knew that Subaru was planning. What they did not know was what he was planning about.

But inside of Subaru's head, he was searching for a way to overcome the obstacle before them. Ley Batenkaitos.

Inside of his mind lay a central thought. I need more strength to defeat Ley. He knew that no matter what strategy he used the combatants he'd brought with him in the last loop would never be enough. He needed more strength. It would be a problem if he didn't happen to be on a battlefield full of capable fighters. A large portion of which he hadn't brought with him last time.

He opened his eyes for a second. Once he had done so he vigorously searched the green field, until he found a different shade of green.

Crusch Karsten stood across the field with half of the soldiers. There it is.

"R-Ram." Subaru twisted his head to the maid. His eyes glowed in the sun thanks to the tears that hid behind his eyes.

"What is it, idiot?" She asked. Her voice was soft, caring, making the insult she'd thrown at him fall flat.

"Can you get Crusch to come listen in on this?" He requested. His voice cracking slightly.

"Yes, lazy Barusu." She responded to his request with a nod.

"Th-" His voice cracked once more. Thoughts rushed through his mind. Can I really move forward? What if I'm doing it wrong? What is the right thing to do? How do I take on their suffering? What if I fail? What if-

"Barusu?" Ram asked him softly. The soldiers that surrounded them remained quiet. Their eyes however were not silent.

The eyes of the soldiers were whispering with anxiety. This was the same man who'd jumped off the horn of the white whale not two hours ago. If their new opponent could do this to Subaru then what kind of threat did they face. And how could they possibly stop it? The new words that came from Subaru's mouth did little to ease their worry.

"Th-hank-k y-you." Subaru finally finished voicing his gratitude. He was barely able to stop the cracks from overwhelming his voice. I need to keep going. Need to. I have to take on their suffering. He tried to resolve yet it felt hollow in his mind.

Ram stood up from the group and strode off to get the royal candidate. She tried to keep her eyes off of Subaru due to the tears that had formed in the corners of her eyes.

A few minutes later she returned with the duchess.

"What is it, Natsuki?" Crusch asked him. Her voice cut through the air with an authoritative edge to it.

Subaru raised his hand signaling that she needed to wait for a moment. "Sorry, but I need to think first."

With that, he returned to a state of deep concentration. "You can move forward, can't you?" Wilhelm's words rang out in his mind. I have to. He thought the phrase with some semblance of resolve.

Now time for a plan.

"Hmmm." Crusch examined the boy's plan in her head. "It is a good plan; however, I will assert that it is far too reliant on chance for my taste. Though I am unaware as to how I would fix it." She closed her eyes to analyze further.

"Felix can fulfill his end. I can, probably, fulfill mine, but," Her eyes seemed to pierce into him. "Can you fulfill your end?"

Subaru stared back into her eyes. His own gaze may not have been filled with resolve but there was certainly a hint of it there. "I have to." Crusch stared at him for a moment. Eventually, her eyes softened.

"Very well. Then I will agree to this plan, simplistic though it is." The two nodded to each other. "Well then soldiers come with me, I will be giving you more detailed orders." She belted out. Every combatant followed the woman, except for Ram and Subaru.

"Barusu?" Ram stared into his eyes. Her voice filled with concern. So much of it suffused her that she forgot to add an insult to her words.

Subaru ignored her words. His mind was focused on something else at the moment. He was focused on his end of the plan. He stared into the horizon. The sun rose to his left filling that eye with golden rays of light. Once more he ignored reality and concentrated on his mind.

Two faces appeared in his head. One was a short woman her hair an azure blue. The other was a woman with shining silver hair.

What if I…

Hours after the Subaru had come up with his plan Crusch Karsten, Wilhelm van Astrea, Ricardo Welkin, the Pearlbaton triplets, Julius Juukulius, and Ram all traversed the forest of the Mathers domain. An air of tension hung over the group. It infested their steps and their expressions. Even the once confident Crusch had been deeply unsettled by Subaru's descriptions of Gluttony.

The only two immune to this effect were Ram and Wilhelm.

The old swordsman walked confidently through the forest following the woman who'd promised him revenge. His steps were absent of all fear. This was not because he was brave. The sword demon had another reason. He thought upon that reason. When he did so a red-haired woman appeared in his mind.

Theresia. A soft smile graced the old man's face. No matter what happens, I will meet you in death. The prospect of death offered Wilhelm no fear. Because he knew that his wife waited on the other side. So the outcome of this battle did not truly matter to Wilhelm, as long as he was the only one to die.

His piercing eyes examined each of his comrades. I must not let them die. Resolve melded with his calm. Theresia's face appeared in his mind once more.

I love you, Theresia.

Ram, the only other who walked without fear, had an entirely different reason. Unlike Wilhelm, it was not that she didn't care if she died in fact it was the opposite. The oni wanted to live. Needed to live. A black-haired boy flashed in her mind.

His eyes glowed with calm, resolve, and warmth. His lips were tilted upwards, not a true smile, but the start of one. I will see you again, Barusu.

Ram stepped out of the forest and into a clearing. Right behind the rest of the group. The fighters quickly fell into formation.

Julius stood at the front, Crusch was at his right shoulder, Wilhelm at his left. The Pearlbatons stood behind these three. The triplets were formed in a straight line. Ricardo brandished his sword and planted his feet behind the trio. Ram readied herself right next to Ricardo.

The eight fighters had decided on this formation earlier in the day. The sound of swords leaving sheathes resonated across the clearing. Each sword pointed ready towards a ruined structure. A cave waited beneath. Inside that cave rested a great beast. A hungry beast. Possessing insatiable gluttony.

They'd come to confront this beast. Their goal, to delay him as long as possible without taking any casualties. It was an impossible task received from a black-haired spiritualist.

Crusch looked to the group. "Ready yourselves." She commanded in a firm tone. Her fear evaporated as adrenaline rushed through her.

A slap of a child's foot resounded from the cave.

Ram readied her mana. A trail of blood dripped down her face.

Another slap. The group's muscles loosened. All of them feeling adrenaline in their bodies.

The triplets looked at each other. Their eyes began to glint with resolve.

A third slap.

Ricardo looked down at the trio of demi-humans. His eyes softened, then they hardened quickly.

A fourth slap.

Julius stood at the front of the group. His fear had melted away thanks to the calming voices of his buds. And from the two faces in his mind.

The first his younger brother. Yellow eyes that matched Julius' own, just like their shared hair color. Joshua Juukulius.

The second face was his master. Her blue-green eyes stared into his own. Her lilac hair tumbled down her back. "Julius-kun." She spoke his name with a smile.

The knight's fear melted away. Anastasia-sama.

Six spirits orbited around his sword. They hummed a soft calming rhythm.

A fifth slap.

Crusch raised her sword. Her mind focused on her gate, and the mana that was flowing through it. Two men entered the duchess' mind. One was a demi-human boy. Catlike ears rose from his head. Felix. Her muscles loosened.

Then a new face replaced Felix's. Red eyes glowed in Crusch's mind. Blonde hair glowed within her heart.

"Fourier." A whisper escaped her mouth. The candidate's sword began to glow with mana.

Another footstep. This time it was accompanied by heavy breathing. "Haaaaaaa. Huuuuuu. Haaaaaa." Slow breaths emanated from the cave. A silhouetted figure strode into view.

Wilhelm stared into the cave. So that is Gluttony. He commented on the shape of the boy. The archbishop let out a terrible aura. A tiny hint of anxiety entered the man's stance. He was anxious about the prospect of the people around him being hurt. Not himself.

"Do you love me?" A beautiful woman asked him. Her blue eyes glowed with love as she looked into his eyes.

Outside of his mind, Wilhelm's eyes grew piercing. He let out a breath of air. He gripped the two swords in his eyes with resolve.

I love you, Theresia.

A body shambled into the sunlight. Brown hair tumbled down his shoulders. His massive mouth was twisted into a smile. Emerald eyes searched the group. He brandished two blades strapped to his arms.

Ram's red eyes stared into the eyes of Gluttony. But she did not see green eyes. No, she saw brown eyes. Glowing with warmth. Natsuki Subaru's eyes filled her vision.

A soft breeze circled around the pink-haired oni. A smile grew upon her face.

Gluttony stepped towards the group. He licked his lips in hunger. "We are the sin archbishop of gluttony," Subaru's face faded from Ram's mind. It was replaced by the twisted face of Gluttony. Looking into his eyes she felt no fear. After all, Ram had a reason to live.

Warmth bloomed in Ram's heart. Barusu I-

"LEY BATENKAITOS!" The boy leaped forward. His body disappearing for a second. In that second he was able to move across the entire battlefield. His wrist blades slammed into Julius' upraised sword. Ley's hair flared outwards around him.

The battle began.

A few kilometers away Felix stood in the center of Arlam village. He was desperately trying to get the villagers to leave with him and his men, but they continuously refused the demi-human's pleas. He was so discouraged at this point that he wasn't even registering his own words.

The villagers could tell that the boy didn't truly care about them, at least subconsciously. Their agitation built upon itself as Felix's hollow words continued to fill their ears.

I need to get them to safety for Crusch-sama, but how? Felix thought to himself in desperation.

Subaru stood a hundred meters in front of the mansion. His body was heavy as he forced himself towards the great residence. He'd left Felix, Patrasche, the fang of iron, and Crusch's soldiers in Arlam to evacuate the villagers. Though he could only guess at how that was proceeding. I need it to go well. His neck twisted backward. His eyes looked in the direction of Arlam.

He tried to force his eyes back to the mansion. But something in his body blocked him from looking at the manor. Subaru's teeth shoved through the skin in his lip. The taste of blood burst into his mouth. He used the tiny amount of pain he felt to overcome the block in his body and point himself back towards the Roswal mansion.

Once his eyes landed on the residence crushing dread rushed through him. What if I-

"You can move forward can't you?" Wilhelm's words. I need to keep going. Rem and Emilia's faces flashed in his mind.

Subaru struggled to reach the mansion. He could barely push his feet in front of him. The residence approached slowly.

Dirt crunched under his feet. His eyes felt heavy. He approached the veranda where Emilia and Puck often sat, but right now it lay empty.

A phantom Emilia appeared in the veranda. Her purple eyes glowing in the morning sun. Subaru knew that it was a hallucination as soon as he saw it. But it didn't stop a massive pit from forming in his stomach.

Dirt crunched once more as Subaru moved on from the apparition of Emilia. He soon reached the massive doors of the Roswal mansion. His fingers grasped the handles. His Rem appeared in his mind. Not the one from this timeline, but the one who'd told him to stand up when he was at his lowest.

Emilia also appeared. Her shining silver hair waved through his mind. Subaru tried to push the doors open but his arms wouldn't budge. The massive pit in his stomach kept him from entering.

He remembered when Ram had kissed him. And the warmth he'd felt for her at that moment. For a single loop, Subaru had been happy, and now that his memories were back he knew how far he was from that.

Emilia-tan. Even in his own head, something was off about how he said –tan. I'm going to see her again. I should be happy. But no emotions of joy or happiness entered Subaru's heart. Only dread. He didn't feel like a man coming home to see his beloved. He felt like a man putting his head into a guillotine.

Julius parried Gluttony's strike. Ley's body was thrown back half a meter, but before he could land and get his footing Crusch dived in for an attack. Her sword glowed green with magic.

Ley's foot touched the ground. He leaped a few meters to his right. Narrowly avoiding Crusch's strike. His smile grew slightly. Maybe they- Wilhelm brought his sword down towards Ley's head.

"Ahhhhh." The man sighed in recognition of something exquisite. He activated Lunar Eclipse and yanked his body away from the weapons of the three sword wielders.

His eyes darted around staring at the group. They seemed unafraid. Ley's smile stretched as far as it could go. "GOURMET!" He screamed it at the group.

Their eyes tightened as they gazed into the depths of Ley's insanity. Gluttony's eyes met each one of theirs. His instincts screamed into his mind. Gourmet! They are Gourmet! The way they looked into his eyes. Meeting his hunger with resolve and confidence. Excitement and resolve bloomed within him. Louis must have these meals.

He fully activated Lunar Eclipse. Dorkell. His brown body shot towards Julius. We must prepare this meal well. He grew closer to the purple-haired night. Hunger panged in his stomach as he raised his swords above his head.

Julius executed a masterful block. "NES!" The spirit knight shouted out. A black orb flew from around Julius' sword and began to circle Ley's head.

What is this? Ley stepped back from Julius. He raised his arm blades into a blocking position. The black spirit pulsed violently.

"Now." The knights commanding voice cut the air. Ley watched as Wilhelm, Ricardo, and Crusch surrounded him. Though he noticed that his eyes were sluggish. He tried to move them to find out where the maid and the triplets had gone. But they were not in his vision. Behind then.

He attempted to twist his neck and body, but neither budged. His muscles were frozen, trapped. The spirit. Ley's eyes flicked back to where Nes was pulsing.

"Ready?" Crusch's imperious voice rang out from the left of Ley. The heads of each person nodded. Crusch nodded in response. "Attack." She ordered.

Time seemed to slow for Ley. Ahhhhhhh. Satisfaction and anticipation rose in his chest. Heinelga. He activated Lunar Eclipse. Though Heinelga's were not the only memories that Ley used. He used many others to give himself the magical talent to break Julius' paralysis.

Nes pulsed more and more violently as Ley tried to break her hold on him. Julius' glowing sword approached Ley's forehead. Crusch swung from his left. Wilhelm from the right, and Ricardo from the back. Ley didn't know this but the triplets and Ram were behind Ricardo ready to attack Ley at a moment's notice.

The combatants remembered Subaru's words. "Don't let him get any of his attacks in. Once you truly begin the battle then keep him pinned down at all times." His tactical advice had been useful in coming up with this strategy.

Which was essentially to paralyze him and then keep him busy until Subaru could evacuate the mansion and the village. A simple plan but Subaru had agreed that it was the best they had.

The plan unfolded quite quickly once their weapons approached Ley's body. The child offered no resistance to these attacks he quite literally couldn't do to Nes' paralysis so instead, he activated Carnivores Beast. His body stiffened. Crusch and Julius' blades began to glow with mana.

A second later five swords, two with Wilhelm's dual-wielding, slashed at Ley. Pain shot into his mind. INCREDIBLE! His mind was trembling in utter pleasure as he realized how Gourmet his opponents were. A few seconds into the battle and they'd already managed to get him into such a difficult situation.

Little cuts formed all over his body from the sword strikes. And he could tell that Carnivorous Beast was being overwhelmed already. His green eyes snapped around. A smile grew on his face. I need to hold back less if I am to prepare them properly. The cuts on his body widened. Well then. With a decision in mind, Ley reached for his authority once more. Dorkell.

The blades of Ricardo, Crusch, Wilhelm, and Julius all slammed into the ground. They searched around confused. Unlike the three Pearlbatons who'd watched what Ley had done. He'd teleported outside of the circle. He was now about ten meters away. The trio inhaled as much air as they could.

Ley watched the three demi-humans prepare their attacks. Beautiful. He unstrapped his arm blades. Time for the true preparation to begin. The lips of the Pearlbatons parted. Their muscles tightened as if they were holding back a great tide. Ley held his arm blades to the side. With both arms raised he held a sword in each hand.

The Pearlbatons threw their chests forwards. Ley let his old weapons drop to the ground.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" A thunderous scream tore from the trio and towards Ley. Dorkell. He grasped the memories of the Leaper, and he slammed his left foot into the ground. His body disappeared for a second and then reappeared ten meters to the right.

Once he landed his eyes darted around the group. There is that group in the center. Then the maid and the little demi-humans on the outside. To get them to go all out we need to separate that group. Destroy their plan. Then their desperation will appear. The pink-haired maid pointed her outstretched palm at him.

"EL FULA!" A great blast of wind shot towards Ley. This will be an amazing feast.

The boy grasped Dorkell's ability once more. His body seemed to fade from existence, then a second later he manifested in the center of Crusch, Wilhelm, Ricardo, and Julius. His eyes flashed at the four fighters. A glint of insatiable hunger in his eyes. They seemed to shine like emeralds. Lunar Eclipse.

He pulled his palms into his body. The four fighters realized that Ley had teleported into the center of them. Their eyes widened and quickly narrowed. Each of their weapons turned to strike at Ley once more.

Carnivorous Beast. Glee filled him at the prospect of eating every person he was fighting. He infused mana into his arms. The five blades closed in on him once more. Palm of the Fist King. He shoved his arms outwards.

Subaru continued to stare at the closed doors of the Roswal mansion. I need to move forward. Need to. Just like Wilhelm told me. He thought of the old butler. His eyes imposing and piercing. Yet they gave off a grandfatherly air.

He tried to push the doors open, but his arms still did not budge. He was frozen. What if-

"Live, idiot." Ram's words. As he heard them Subaru felt a drop of strength entering his muscles. I will move forward. He shoved his entire body into the door. The wooden slabs creaked open. He stepped forward.

His body froze. What if- STOP! Subaru forced his leg to take another step. I need to get Rem, Emilia, and Beatrice out of here. But what if… He forced his consciousness to focus on reality. Ignoring the thoughts of his mind.

He walked towards the dining room. It was the most likely place for Rem to be right now. Roswal was at the Sanctuary already, and Emilia- What if… I- A slap echoed down the hallway. His head recoiled from the sudden strike that had been dealt to him by his own hand. I need to keep going.

He forced his body forward once more.

After a few minutes of walking, Subaru reached the dining room. He could hear the sound of cutlery being arranged from the other side of the door.

Rem. He looked at the door. His eyes were unblinking. They would've seemed like the eyes of a corpse if not for the well of tears that hid behind them. Tears that were ready to pour out at any moment.

"Barusu," Ram spoke in his mind. Her voice filled with a false contempt. Subaru grabbed the gold-colored handle and pushed open the door of the dining room.

Waiting behind it was a woman with azure hair and matching eyes. She wore a maid uniform and a floral hairband. She turned to him. "Subaru." She said his name with a stern tone.

Rem. He stared into her eyes. Subaru didn't notice the twin trails of tears that were rolling down his face. Or the trail of snot that ran from his nose. His knees buckled. The boy barely remained standing as he looked at Rem.

Subaru didn't register any of this because he was caught in his own mind. In his own memories to be more precise. The memory of his heart skipping a beat. He'd experienced that not long ago. When he'd lost his memories his heart had stirred whenever Ram looked at him. The memory was recent enough for Subaru to realize something.

His heart had not stirred in the slightest when he'd looked at Rem. I… His knees finally collapsed underneath him. He returned to reality for long enough to stare into Rem's eyes.

"I love you, Subaru-kun." Rem's words from so long ago. Subaru felt nothing when he heard them. Even when the words were from his Rem. He felt nothing but grief. His tears poured faster.

I don't love you, Rem.

Crusch was blasted away from Ley. The shockwave from his attack slammed into her. She watched as her vision went from looking forwards towards Gluttony to looking up at the sky. After a few seconds, she slammed into the ground with a thud.

"Haaaaa." She wheezed. The candidate tried to force breath into her lungs but the wind had been knocked out of her by Ley's attack. She stared around, her mind slowed down by the blow to the head she'd received when she'd collided with the ground. Julius and Ricardo were close together. The spirit knight had stood up already, and was now guarding the wolf-like man as Ricardo got his bearings.

Ley was marching towards the purple-haired knight. A wide smile plain on his face. Where is-?

"Crusch-sama, you need to get up." A grizzled voice called down to her. The duchess immediately forced her mind into reality. Wilhelm. The sword demon's wrinkled hand hovered in front of her vision.

Crusch's gauntlet chinked as she grasped it. Wilhelm lent his strength to her. "Heh." She panted as she stood. She had not been expecting that move from Gluttony and had been late in defending herself. Natsuki warned us to always be prepared. I'm an idiot. She mentally scolded herself for her lapse in judgment.

She was snapped from her trance by a scream. "UL CLARISTA!" Her eyes flicked to Julius. The knight held his glowing sword ready. Blue spirits floated around him. Opposite to him stood Ley. The archbishop was licking his lips. His face was engulfed in ecstasy.

Julius' muscles tightened. Ley stood right in the way of his sword. His eyes glinted as he stared down Julius' glowing blade.

"HIT US ~TSU!" He seemed ecstatic at the prospect of facing down the knight's strike. Julius set his jaw and brought his sword down a massive ray of rainbow-colored light slammed towards Ley.

"CARNIVOROUS BEAST!" Gluttony screamed. The spiritual sword strike slammed into Ley. A massive upwelling of smoke rose around the battlefield.

Crusch covered her eyes and held her breath to ward off the smoke. She didn't need to do this as Wilhelm slashed his sword to cut through the smoke. It blasted away with a rent in the air.

As the ash was blown away the candidate reassessed her surroundings. Her gaze jumped to the left. Pearlbatons. She registered that the triplets were now standing a meter to her left. With a twist of her neck, she noticed Ram standing two meters to her right. And she knew that Julius and Ricardo were in front of her.

Now, where is Gluttony? She mentally asked herself. Her amber gaze probed where Gluttony had once stood, but it was covered by smoke. After a second though the smoke was blown away by a light breeze of her own making.

Where Gluttony had once stood-Crusch's eyes widened-he still stood. His skin was untouched aside from a few scratches. His tongue was hanging from his mouth. "This will be an incredible feast." He muttered to himself.

"Everyone!" Crusch's confidence cut through Ley's menacing aura. "It's time to go all out!" He is just as strong as Natsuki described.

She gripped her sword tightly and infused it with mana. It glowed a lime green. Similar in color to Gluttony's eyes. One blow… Her muscles tightened. Gluttony shifted his gaze from Julius to Crusch. Crusch slammed her sword arm to the left. Slashing her weapon with great ferocity. A HUNDRED FELLED!

A blast of air was sent screaming towards Gluttony's body. Once Crusch was able to recover from her swing, which only took a few seconds, she jumped into battle.

Ley watched delightedly as Crusch and the others all charged in to aid Julius. "Mmmm." He groaned to himself in anticipation. The slash of wind sent by Crusch slammed into him. He'd been previously ignoring it because he'd thought it had been useless. And he was right. It hit his skin and was dissipated immediately by his durability.

However, he was slightly worried about all the fighters approaching him. Lunar Eclipse. He preemptively grasped his authority.

Crusch's sword slashed down at him. Carnivorous Beast. He blocked her strike with his forearm. As she was recovering from her swing Ley took this window of time to analyze the battlefield.

His green eyes darted around. Wilhelm was behind Crusch. His twin swords were raised. He will join the battle in a moment. His gaze flicked to the other side of the candidate. Three triplets were rapidly approaching him. Hmm. They will not take as much preparation as-

"AHHHHH!" A scream emanated from a grizzled swordsman. Twin blades slammed down towards Ley. The archbishop activated his authority. Palm of the Fist King. He slammed his palm forwards into Wilhelm's swords. But before Ley could reach Wilhelm's blades he heard a feminine shout.

"UL FULA!" It was a stern voice. Ley turned his head into the direction the sound came from. Standing there was a pink-haired maid. Her eyes a gleaming red. She may be the most Gourmet of all. That was what his instincts told him after a quick glance at her expression. His hunger overcame him. DORKELL! He leaped or tried to, but he was interrupted by the storm of wind that now surrounded him.

"Aghhh." He sighed. Though the noise was unable to reach past the screaming wind. Which was now tightening around him. "She is true Gour-"

"AL CLARISTA!"

"WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"ONE BLOW A HUNDRED FELLED!" Multiple attacks all activated simultaneously around Ley.

Time seemed to slow. Behind him he could feel the gathered spirits of Julius' attack. In front, he could see the green mana of Crusch's strike. To his left, right, and above he could hear the screams of the Pearlbaton triplets.

As Ley looked at all the strikes he thought to himself. We need to use Solar Eclipse. We can't let Louis be alone.

Each attack neared Ley. His skin began to tear from the sheer amount of mana being thrown at him. We don't like to use it, but we must.

Blood sported from new cuts that were forming on his skin in this frozen moment. He reached for his authority.

SOLAR ECLIPSE! He braced himself and reached for a name. HEINELGA! New memories slammed into his own. New desires began to paw at him. Though with enough effort he could ignore it.

His body morphed. CARNIVOROUS BEAST!

A maid with light blue hair looked down at Subaru. His knees had given out soon after he'd stepped into the room. The witch's scent had kept her from approaching him.

Rem had remained looking at him for a few moments. Until a voice resounded in her mind. "Barusu is a good person." Her sister's voice. Rem remembered Ram's arms wrapping around her. Rem's aversion to the scent seemed to melt away.

She rushed over to Subaru. "Subaru," It was difficult to be this close to him with the memories of fire crackling in her mind.

"Barusu is a good person." Ram's repeated words held back Rem's inferno of memories and guilt. The blue-haired oni reached over to Subaru, and used some of her healing magic to make sure he was ok.

When he noticed the girl words emanated from Subaru's mouth. "Oh, hey Rem." His voice was quiet. Mournful. He turned his gaze towards the floor. Dejection radiated from him.

"Are you ok?" Rem asked, concerned. Subaru turned his head back to her. Tears clawed behind his eyes. "Can you stand?" She questioned. At this question tears leaked from his eyes. He didn't break down, but he did crack.

"I can stand." His voice sounded empty. He forced himself to stand. He hadn't even gotten his knees stretched out before they buckled. Subaru's body collapsed towards Rem. She was able to catch him easily.

He can't stand on his own. Rem braced herself and wrapped his left arm around her neck. Propping him up with her body. "Rem will help in that case."

"Th-hank you." His words sounded empty. Like his mind wasn't fully there. Rem watched as he forced himself up once more, but this time, thanks to her, he was able to stand. Subaru began to walk in the direction of Emilia's room, Rem walked with him.

Rem and Subaru walked towards Emilia's room. After three minutes they had only crossed half the distance. Subaru was trying to force his body to go faster, but it wouldn't budge. He couldn't summon any extra willpower or resolve.

His eyes moved to the left. To Rem's face. Nothing in Subaru responded. His heart didn't beat any faster. The room didn't brighten, and when he looked at Rem's face he did not see the glow of someone he loved. Instead, he only saw a woman's face.

And his emotions were exactly the same, maybe there was a little gratitude, but there was no love. Rem. Rem. Rem. He thought of his Rem. The one who'd always been there for him. His emotions did not change.

His love for Rem was gone. Tears leaked from his eyes. I don't love Rem. If I don't love Rem then wh-

He forced the thought away and continued walking towards Emilia's room. Her silver hair floated through his mind. His tears fell faster. I need to keep going. Need to.

But what if I…I…I…don't- STOP! He forced himself back into reality. What if- He pushed the thought away? What if I- He shut himself off from his mind and turned his eyes to Rem.

Rem's face was scrunched up as if trying to block out a bad smell. She's suffering. Even if I don't… New tears fell from his eyes. Love her, then I still need to take on her suffering. So I should get to Emilia-tan as fast as possible.

Outside of his mind, he summoned up some resolve and increased the speed of his strides. Only I need to suffer, right?

After another couple of minutes, Subaru and Rem reached the door to Emilia's room. He reached out to the door. His legs seemed to grow more stable. He stepped forward independent of Rem. The woman watched with a curious expression on her face. On the other hand, Subaru's expression had a hint of hope. Maybe if I see her then I'll…

He grasped the handle of the door. His hand was trembling with anxiety. I what if I… What if… He tried to open the door, but his hand wouldn't budge. Something in his subconscious was holding his hand, and keeping him from entering the room.

He twisted his neck and focused his eyes on the maid behind him. "Hey, Rem, c-can you h-help me open this." His voice quivered. What if-

Rem nodded in response. She stepped over, reached her right hand out, and pushed the handle down. The door clicked open and began to creek open. Subaru stared forward his body petrified. What if I…

He mustered up all of his willpower to push the door the rest of the way open. Once the door fully opened his eyes darted around. A glint of hope appeared in his eyes. Though it was overshadowed by a fear that bordered on terror.

It wasn't long before his eyes stopped on the form of a silver-haired girl. There she was. In the center of the room. Emilia. The hope in Subaru's eyes diminished. Her hair. It didn't glow as it once would have.

Emilia turned to inspect the door. Her eyes widened when she saw Subaru standing there. This gave him a perfect view of her purple eyes. He stared into them. They didn't glow. They seemed dull, though Subaru knew that this was no fault of Emilia. Her eyes just looked normal now.

Subaru's heart seemed to catch. The hope in his eyes grew so faint that it would be nearly impossible for all but a few to see. Subaru's knees grew weak. No. No. No. No. No. No.

Emilia tilted her head her eyes filled with concern. "Subaru?" Her voice sounded average. He couldn't describe it as the sound of silver bells. He could only describe it as normal.

Tears overflowed from Subaru's eyes. His knees gave out. Please. Please. Please. I want to love her. PLEASE! Please. A trail of snot rolled from his nose. I need to love Emilia, because if I… If I… If I don't…

He began to sob. If I don't love Emilia then why should I keep getting up? Why? Please just let me love Emilia. He looked at the girl through blurry eyes. Nothing stirred in his heart when he looked at her.

Please, just let me love Emilia.

Crusch had watched as Ley's body morphed, then all of the attacks they'd thrown at the bishop had bounced off. Now he was staring at them. With his new eyes. They were filled with an insatiable hunger. She could tell that his body was quivering.

"Our preparation is nearly complete, ~tsu." Gluttony turned his body towards Tivey Pearlbaton. "You are almost at your limit. We are excited to see how delicious you will be." Ley's built-up power in his legs.

"He has to touch someone and then lick his hand to eat them." A memory from their planning session earlier this morning played in Crusch's mind.

Crusch jumped towards the small demi-human. She directed her amber gaze to her right. Gluttony's body disappeared. Crusch turned her eyes back to Tivey. Need to reach him. She desperately pulled her sword up and readied her mana. The sword began to hum.

Ley appeared next to the demi-human before Crusch had even covered half the distance between her and Tivey. He looked over to her a smile on his face. Tivey tried to jump back but Ley grabbed him with ease. He moved faster than anyone on the battlefield could track. He rubbed his hand across Tivey's face.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Mimi and Hetaro's voices screamed out. Their bodies moved on pure adrenaline. They knew what would happen if they let Ley lick his hand. Crusch slashed her sword sending a wind blade at Ley.

"Don't let him lick his hand!" Crusch shouted out. Tivey looked at the battlefield his eyes were exhausted. I need to get out of their way. He thought to himself. He infused what little mana he had left into his legs and launched backward. All the fighters jumped into battle against Ley.

Ley's body shifted back to normal. His brown hair flared out as Crusch's wind blade slammed into him. The attack dissipated. Ley's skin remained untouched.

"Ahhhh!" Wilhelm slashed horizontally at Ley with the sword of his right hand. Ley fuzzed, and after a millisecond disappeared. He reappeared behind Wilhelm.

Ley took his palm and aimed it towards Wilhelm's back. "Palm of the-"

"Ul Clarista!" A rainbow sword strike came from above Ley's head. Julius had leaped above Gluttony and was now falling downwards. His sword was raised above his head. And now he was slamming it down towards Gluttony.

Ley redirected his palm to above his head. So that instead of trying to shatter Wilhelm's spine he would attempt to break Julius' sword. He pulled his arm back coiling it into him. He infused his arm with mana.

Julius' sword came within inches of Ley's face. Now. He shoved his arm upwards.

"EL FULA!" The voice of an oni.

A blade of wind slammed into Ley's arm knocking it away. His guard was now dropped. Carnivorous beast.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Twin screams blasted Ley from both sides. They're overloading Carnivorous Beast quite easily. Well. It seems we must use Solar Eclipse to win this fight. Normally Ley would've found that idea distasteful but this meal was worth the risk.

Ley's eyes jumped around the battlefield. Welkin. He identified Ricardo standing guard above Tivey to make sure that Ley couldn't get to him again. Ley would've eaten Tivey if he was able to but he didn't have the time. Right now he had to focus. Focus on Solar Eclipse.

Heinelga. He activated his authority. His body switched to another shape. Carnivorous Beast. Ley's skin felt tighter. The simultaneous attacks of Julius and the Pearlbaton's now barely scratched him.

Time for the feast to begin. As the rainbow light of Julius' strike blocked him from being seen he raised his hand to his lips.

"EL FULA!" Ram's voice screamed out. She could see what he was doing using her clairvoyance. Ley noticed this, and thanks to all the memories contained within him he identified the technique easily. She will be delicious. He smiled.

"Tivey Pearlbaton." Ram's attack slammed into him though it harmlessly bounced off. The same with Julius' attack. The light from his strike had still not faded so Ley was free from being attacked.

Ley stretched out his tongue and ran it up his hand.

Tivey Pearlbaton was devoured.

After Ley gulped down the meal he turned his attention to the next person that was at their limit. He shifted his form to that of Dorkell. His eyes darted around. He gazed into the eyes of his opponents. None of them have lost resolve. But one of them has gone all out and is out of the fight.

His hungered gaze twisted back to her. She wore the uniform of a maid. Blood cascaded down her forehead. She breathed ragged breaths.

Ley's smile reached its maximum width. "We shall enjoy this FEAST!" He leaped towards Ram. Hunger panged in his stomach.

Natsuki Subaru lay on his hands and knees. Tears poured from his eyes and onto the floor. "Subaru?" Emilia's concerned voice entered his ears. But he was too engrossed in his own mind to respond.

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? "Heeeeeeeeey, Subaru it's okayyyyy." Emilia's voice sounded calming, but it had no effect on Subaru. Please, please, please. I'll do anything. I'll do anything. Please. Please. Just let me love Emilia. Please. Please I need to love Emilia.

Emilia ran her hands through Subaru's hair in an attempt to calm him down. Once his breath would've caught if Emilia did that, but now he just continued crying his tears of loss.

The two remained like this for barely a moment before they were interrupted. It was a sharp inhalation of breath from behind them that shook Subaru out of his trance. Subaru pushed his body upright and hesitantly turned back to the maid behind him.

Rem's right arm was clutching her chest. She breathed in massive heavy breaths. Her eyes turned to him. "What is happening to my sister?" Her voice was sharp.

"She's buying time for the evacuation of this mansion and Arlam village." Subaru rattled off his explanation with a robotic tone. What is the point? What's the point of getting up? What is the point?

"Rem has to go help sister." Her eyes seemed resolved.

"First I need to evacuate everyone here." The plan that Subaru had drilled into his mind flowed forward from his subconscious. But his conscious mind was still asking why.

"Well, then we need to go get Betty." The voice of Puck called from Emilia's crystal. Emilia kept running her hands through Subaru's hair. Guilt twisted her face.

"Beako." The nickname tumbled from Subaru. When he heard the word he'd uttered his body froze. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard. "Beako." He muttered it again to see if he could hear it again.

And he could. Subaru could hear a light tone of warmth in his own words. "Beako." Hope thrummed in his heart.

Subaru pushed himself off of the floor. Now he was only on his knees. He attempted to stand up but his legs refused to budge. I need to take on Beako's suffering.

"Can you help me walk, Emilia-t-hgk!" His throat tightened. Please. Why can't I just love her?

"Subaru?" Emilia sounded lost like she was confused. It's all my fault, isn't it? Guilt and hatred towards herself stormed through her.

"Lia…" Puck whispered into her mind he sounded just as lost her.

Subaru tilted his head up at Emilia again. His lips parted to speak. "Can you help me walk, Emilia?" Subaru's voice sounded defeated as he spoke her name.

Emilia tilted her head. Confusion wormed its way into her alongside her guilt. She hesitated for a second before nodding her head. "Yes, I can, Subaru." She grasped his right arm and draped it around her neck.

With Emilia's help, Subaru was able to stand. Beako. Subaru tried to push his legs forward, but they refused to budge. He recalled one-hundred-thousand memories. Beatrice alone in a library. Her body twisted in on itself. Her will to live gone.

Beako! Subaru summoned up as much willpower as he could, but his legs still didn't move. Why? Beako! I need to take on Beako's suffering. But no matter how much he tried Subaru could not budge.

"I can't walk on my own," Subaru whispered. He turned to Rem. "Can you help me walk?" Rem looked back she seemed hesitant. "If we can get Beako then we can go help, Ram."

Rem nodded quickly. Her mind made up with just one name from Subaru. She grasped his left arm and wrapped it around her neck. Beako. Beako. Beako. Subaru tried to force his legs to move, but they still did not.

"We can carry you if you need it, Subaru." Emilia's voice held a tone of desperation. I need to help Subaru. I have accrued a massive debt. He must look like this because of me. So I need to repay him. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes.

"Thank you, Emilia," Subaru whispered softly. A slight tone of hope shone through in his voice like a pinprick of light in the darkness. Subaru turned his eyes to the open door and the hallway that waited ahead of him.

Thanks to Emilia and Rem's strength Subaru moved towards the hallway. Once he was outside and in the corridor he was able to find the forbidden library immediately. Two doors down on the left an average door seemed to call to him. Subaru heard a phantom rhythm.

"That one." He gestured his head towards the door. Emilia and Rem quickly carried him over. Once he was at the door he stared at it. As if trying to bore a hole through it with his eyes. He dropped his arms from Rem and Emilia's necks. He turned his head to Rem, then to Emilia. The women who'd once been number one and two in his heart.

Now he barely felt anything other than loss when he looked at them. Loss for the feelings destroyed by his own choices.

"I'm sorry." No voice told Subaru that it was better to thank someone than apologize. He shifted his eyes back to the door before he could take note of their responses.

He grasped onto the faint ray of hope in his mind. And with an incredible effort, he raised his right arm to the door. It took him an even greater amount of willpower to push the door open. But he managed it, barely.

The wooden door creaked open to reveal a great library. A crying girl sat in the center of the room. Opposite the door. At the sight of the girl, Subaru forced his legs forward. Hope formed cracks in the despair that had overtaken his mind. He shut the door behind him. Closing the world off from him and Beatrice.

The door clicked shut. I need to take on Beako's suffering. As he stared at the lowered head of the keeper of the library resolve seemed to return to him. It was nothing like the resolve that had filled him the last time he'd come to this reservoir of knowledge. But it was something, and Subaru seized it.

I must take on her suffering. He stepped forward. But how? He stepped forward once more. Beatrice stirred from her position. What is her answer? With a third stride, Subaru was now an arm's reach away from the spirit of this library. Beatrice's neck straightened. Her butterfly-shaped eyes met Subaru's own.

Subaru stared into her eyes, and he saw a memory. It was his own memory.

He was alone in a mabeast infested forest. Ulgarm were circling him. He tried to deny something. But he couldn't. As the mabeasts pounced on Subaru he uttered some of the most important words he'd ever spoken.

"I can't keep these burdens a secret, no matter how much I want to." His own words rang out in his mind as he stared into Beatrice's teary eyes. I need to be honest. Beatrice's eyes overflowed with tears. Subaru reached deep into his mind. He pushed past his overwhelming despair and his tiny hint of hope. Towards the deepest reaches of his heart. Where his feelings for Beatrice lay. He grasped his love for Beako.

I know her answer.

"Have you forgotten-"

"No," Subaru mustered up as much resolve as he could. He was sure he looked pathetic, but at least not as pathetic as what he was about to say. "I have not forgotten your answer."

"Then why are you here?" She forced the words through the tears.

"Because I have your answer." Resolve grew in Subaru's eyes. The despair that had once been there was starting to be replaced. I can keep going for Beako.

Subaru stretched out his hand. "I will be your answer." I must keep going. For Beako. Three new words rose in his chest. They felt like the right words. The perfect words.

Beatrice's eyes widened. "Beako," His voice called down to her. "Choose me."

Ram watched as Gluttony rocketed towards her. Time had slowed down for Ram thanks to the massive amount of adrenaline surging throughout her body. But all of this adrenaline didn't help with the fact that she was out of mana. And her body was in an immense amount of pain due to the extended use of her oni form.

She tried to summon up any remaining mana, but her body was almost completely drained. She hadn't gotten a mana injection since before the battle with the white whale. Subaru had simply not had the time to spare while he was involved in planning this entire operation.

Outside of her mind, Ram searched for any way that would allow her to escape the jaws of Gluttony. Her eyes darted around, but it was difficult to see through the blood that dripped into her eyes, and the fact that her brain was moving faster than her eyes could respond certainly didn't help. I need to get out of the way. The oni decided on her plan.

Ley drew closer. His wide smile seemed insane and insatiable. Ram tried to move but her body would not respond. It took a lot of willpower just to keep herself standing. I must make it out of this fight alive.

Images appeared unbidden, though not unappreciated, through her mind. They were images of two faces a black-haired boy, and a blue-haired man. Barusu and Ros. I must see them again. Resolve burst alight within her, though most of that resolve was focused on seeing Subaru once more. Right now Roswal seemed almost secondary to the young maid.

Gluttony reached out his left and right arms. His palms extended so that he could rub his hands across her skin. The determination that existed within Ram sent warmth surging through her. I will see you again Barusu. Ram's instincts screamed that she had to move to the right. At this moment she trusted her instincts. Something she didn't normally do, but with the brown eyes of Natsuki Subaru filling her mind it felt right to trust her heart.

Ram launched her body to the right. Ley's eyes shifted following her. He seemed shocked that she'd been able to move. Though it did not look like Ley considered this a bad thing. Ley's foot slammed into the ground with a thud. He snapped himself after Ram with just the muscles of his foot and ankle.

Ram found a tiny hint of mana somewhere deep within her mind and pushed herself away from him with a wind blade; however, unfortunately for Ram, this was not enough. The fingers of Ley's left hand were able to just barely graze her cheek.

"Don't ignore us!" A massive demi-human screamed as he slammed his massive sword down onto Ley. Ricardo's sword was on its way to cleave down on Ley's turned head when the archbishop snapped into the direction of Ricardo. Ley's form shifted.

"Carnivorous Beast!" He shouted with glee. Ram watched this as she tried to distance herself from Ley. She felt a little guilty about retreating from the fight, but she knew that she could do nothing right now. At least not without Subaru and his mana injections.

This feeling that there was nothing she could do was further accentuated when Ley caught Ricardo's blade with his palm. Ley slowed for a second to flash his smile. The combatants that could still move, which was all of them except Ram and the forgotten Tivey, realized that this opening Ley gave was pivotal. Each of them jumped in without fear.

Ram watched from the sidelines as Ricardo's sword was shoved away by Gluttony, who quickly shoved his left hand into his mouth.

NO! Ram realized that Gluttony had just barely been able to touch her. She tried to force her body to move but it wasn't responding. She was truly out of mana. No secret pockets hidden deep within her mind could help her now.

"Barusu, I'm sorry." She whispered softly.

"Ram." The oni could easily hear Ley's muffled whisper. Then she watched as Crusch quickly swung at Ley, and how he just as quickly ducked beneath her sword strike without hesitation. Ley pulled his hand out of his mouth with a spray of saliva.

"A shame we only got the name." He whispered as a strike from Hetaro bounced off of his body with no effect.

Ram felt something rip from her chest. "Ahh!" She hissed sharply as something was stolen from her. Barusu? Please let me remember you. Ram desperately tried to plead for her memories of Subaru to remain only for her to realize that she still remembered everything. Subaru had described that you would know immediately if your memories were being eaten or not.

I don't feel anything other than that emptiness. She mentally probed that deep feeling of loss within her chest. What happened? He ate something. Then was it my name? She remembered Subaru's explanation. That if your name was eaten then no one would remember you.

She thought of a black-haired boy once more. Barusu. Please remember me. Tears leaked from Ram's eyes as she thought of Subaru forgetting her. Then her tears poured faster as she remembered who else would forget her. Rem. She thought of her younger sister. Rem. Please remember me. Please. I don't… I don't want to be forgotten.

Ram turned her cloudy red eyes to watch the battle between Gluttony and the remaining fighters.

The battle had quickly hit a sort of lull. The fighters that surrounded Ley were all staring at him. Their guards raised. They each took sharp deep breaths.

"Yes, we will give you a second to catch your breath. It will be better for the meal in the end. But after this, there will be no breaks. It will just be an amazing battle and then an even greater feast." His arms stretched toward the sky in a pose of victory. The cultist's eyes glowed with a disgusting light.

After a few moments, Ley dropped his arms and looked the surrounding fighters in the eyes. "Are you all ready? Because it is time to begin the feast. DORKELL!" His body's shape changed. Then he moved at incredible speeds and slammed his fist into Hetaro.

Next, he slammed his two hands onto Hetaro's face. "AHH!" Hetaro released a shriek as he stared into Ley's eyes.

"You are at your limit. HOW GOURMET!" Ricardo tried to jam his sword into Ley. Instead of dodging the strike, Ley whispered a name. "Heinelga." His body transformed once more.

Ricardo's sword slammed into Ley and bent. The bishop's skin was impregnable. Ley ignored it when Mimi, Crusch, and Wilhelm attacked him. Their attacks all bounced off of Gluttony's body they didn't have enough mana to overwhelm his Solar Eclipse. Ley brought his right hand up to his mouth.

"Hetaro-" Ricardo grabbed Hetaro's exhausted body and pulled him away from Ley. "Pearl-" Crusch, Wilhelm, and Mimi all moved back. "baton." Ley's tongue began to reach towards his hands.

"Gluttony." The voice of a knight called out from a few meters in front of Ley. The sin archbishop shocked to hear Julius' voice lifted his head in the direction that he'd heard the voice coming from. But when he looked he couldn't find anyone. All he could see was a slight shimmering of the air.

Ley now realized something. Ever since he'd devoured Tivey Julius had been missing from the battlefield. His eyes snapped open. We underestimated them. THEY ARE EVEN MORE GOURMET THAN WE THOUGHT! Elation filled Ley at this realization.

"Well come out, we would like to see our new most excellent feast." Julius' knightly code begged him to drop the deception at this moment. And realizing that it was no longer needed anyway the spirit knight allowed Ley to see him.

Ley watched as the shimmering light transformed into a brilliant knight. He was glowing. Hundreds of minor spirits surrounded him. "Thank you, Nes." He whispered to a black dot that hovered above his head.

"WE ARE AMAZED! This feast will be incredible ~TSU." Ley stared into the yellow eyes of Julius Juukulius.

Julius stared back a look of disgust plain on his face. "Julius Juukulius." He introduced his name.

"Ley Batenkaitos." The sin archbishop responded with his own name.

Upon hearing this Julius set his jaw and spoke to himself. "Now my knightly honor allows me to truly begin." The blue light that had been surrounding Julius split, refracting into its base colors. Red, blue, yellow, green, yellowish-white, and black with a glow of purple.

Julius raised his sword above his head. Ley made no attempt to dodge. He remained in place. An excited look on his face. A rainbow beam of light shot from Julius' sword and into the sky.

"AL CLARISTA!" The spirit knight brought his sword of rainbows down upon Ley.

Kilometers away from the battlefield Beatrice stared up into Subaru's eyes. Her eyes were wide. His were narrow. It was almost the same position they'd been in when they'd made their bet. He is my answer? She thought of his solution. Can he really be Betty's answer? Can he be what gives Betty meaning?

Tears stopped pouring from Beatrice's eyes. With her new clearer vision, she stared into Subaru's brown eyes. They were filled with resolve. She had seen Subaru's willpower had grown as he'd spoken to Beatrice. Hope had flourished in his eyes.

"Betty's answer…?" She muttered. A glint of hope appeared in her butterfly eyes.

"Yes, I will be your answer, and you will be mine." He responded.

"Your answer?"

"I need you Beako, so that I can stand up each day, and then I can help you stand each day," Subaru spoke honest words. Words directly from his soul.

Words that resonated with her. She felt that same understanding between her and the boy. And once more with the boy, Beatrice didn't feel alone. She felt like someone could understand her pain.

Mother abandoned me. And he knows what it's like. He could… He could be Betty's answer, I suppose.

Beatrice stretched her small hand towards Subaru's. But when she gazed at his hand, and she realized something. She hadn't truly looked at his hand in detail since they'd made their bet. And now she was looking at his hand once more.

Now she noticed the calluses that had grown there. His hand is different. Beatrice's eyes filled with tears. He changed. If he changed then he isn't immortal.

Beatrice snapped her hand back. Subaru's eyes widened and filled with tears. His resolve cracked like a plate dropped on the floor.

"You can't be Betty's answer," She started to sob, "Because you will leave Betty alone, I suppose."

"Why?" A tortured word came from Subaru. His eyes had lost any of the hope that had once been there now they were just filled with despair.

"Why, Beako?" His knees bent and buckled. His body collapsed onto the tile of the library.

"You're not immortal, are you? You can die, I suppose." She looked into Subaru's eyes, her own eyes desperate for him to deny her assumption.

"I can die." He mumbled in confirmation.

"Then you will just leave Betty alone." Subaru turned his eyes to her. His once sharp and scary-looking brown eyes were now dull, blurred, and cloudy. "Betty cannot accept an answer that will leave."

"Beako, please." He reached his hand out to her. A pathetic expression on his face. "Beako, I need you. Maybe you don't need me, but-" He was cut off by the spirit before he could finish.

"No, I don't need you. I need an answer. One that will not leave Betty alone in this place again!" Beatrice's anger burned through. But soon it was crushed by despair.

"But Beako I… I need you." He plead for her to come with him. His hand was still raised. "Beako, please." Beatrice looked into his eyes.

All hope that she once had for an answer was crushed in those eyes. This boy in front of her. He did not understand her. He couldn't find her answer. Because it could never be found.

She grasped onto her dress. Her fists tightened scrunching the fabric in between her small hands.

"You are not Betty's answer I suppose." Subaru's eyes looked pained. His tears stopped. This was only because he had no tears left to give.

"Beako, please." He kept his hand raised. It was trembling now. Beatrice raised her hand. Wind began to fly around it.

"Goodbye, Subaru." Beatrice's voice sounded crushed and faint while she uttered those words. A blast of wind shot from her hands.

Subaru rocketed back towards the doors of the library. At that moment when the two of them looked into each other's eyes, and they had one final understanding.

Both of them needed an answer. And until one of them had found one then no answer could be given to the other.

Subaru's back slammed into the door. Emptiness filled him.

He landed outside of the door. Rem and Emilia were standing behind him. Puck was floating above the half-elf's shoulder.

"Subaru?" Emilia's voice called to him, but Subaru just stared at the closed door. No tears fell from his eyes. He was left alone with one thought. If I can't take on Beako's suffering, then why should I get up. There is no reason anymore is there.

I have nothing to stand up for.

Pain shot through Ley as Julius' attack slammed into him. His eyes widened. This could kill us. We've made a severe miscalculation. We prepared the meal too much. We allowed them too much freedom. His arms began to melt away.

Louis is going to be left alone. Ley's eyes narrowed. Willpower glowed within him. We will save you, Louis.

The sin archbishop anchored his mind using his desire to save Louis, and then, he activated Solar Eclipse to its greatest extent. Ley Batenkaitos brought thousands of names together.

Julius stood opposite to where Ley had stood. Dust filled the air around him making it difficult to see very much. The breeze also bore a slight chill. This was due to the incredible amount of mana he'd drained from the atmosphere.

Now he was desperately trying to keep all of the minor spirits he'd gathered to stay with him. After all, Gluttony could have survived his attack.

"Julius-dono." Wilhelm forced his tired body over to where Julius was standing. Crusch followed close behind him.

"We should make sure he's dead." Hetaro stepped forward. Fire magic grew around his palms. None of the gathered combatants thought that this was a bad idea. They all nodded. It was best to make sure.

"Goa." A crackling ball of fire shot into the dust.

"Hetaro Pearlbaton." A deep and soft whisper. Emanated from a few meters away from their group.

"Gluttony." The word fell from Crusch's mouth. She raised her sword. Though she only had enough mana left to give it a soft glow.

They all heard the slapping of saliva. Then something hit the floor with a dull thud. Every fighter turned their eyes to the source of the noise. It was a small demi-human that looked identical to Mimi.

All of them continued to stare at the body in confusion. Gluttony watched them grow anxious as the dust cleared. After a few seconds, he used his mana to bring a gust of wind to blow away all the floating dirt.

Crusch was the first one to see Ley. If the body he now wore could even be called that, or if it could even be called a single body. It was a monstrosity of overlapping forms all compiled together in one frame. Ley turned his necks staring at Crusch.

Ley smiled thousands of smiles at the candidate. Horror mixed with resolve in her eyes.

Ley turned from the duchess and towards Mimi. "It's time we complete the feast of triplets." His body slammed forward.

Mimi's eyes widened. "Nooo!" She shrieked as Gluttony jumped towards her. Ley appeared in front of her. He flashed a thousand smiles at her and smashed his palms through Mimi's face. The strength of his Solar Eclipse made it so that he accidentally folded her jaws in. Her mouth was filled with her jawbones.

"HHHHHHHGGGGGGHK!" Mimi tried to let out a scream but it was muffled. He could hear blood bubbling in her crushed mouth.

Ricardo tried to stop this from happening but Ley flicked his eyes to the dogman and whispered to himself. "Do not interrupt our feast." A massive wall of ice rose up to surround Ley and Mimi.

Mimi's throat made another horrible attempt at a scream. Ley removed his hands from her face with a smile.

"We need to breakthrough!" Crusch's commanding voice rang out from the other side of the wall.

The wall of ice shook as multiple attacks slammed into it.

"Mimi Pearlbaton," Ley spoke in response. Then he raised his right hand to his mouth and licked Mimi's name and memories off of it. With a bloodcurdling shriek, Mimi's body collapsed to the ground.

The attacks from the outside stopped. Partly because the attackers had mostly run out of mana but mostly because they no longer remembered why they were trying to stop Gluttony. He was only hiding alone behind a wall of ice after all.

Ley gulped down Mimi's existence with a thousand satisfied smiles. He had used Solar Eclipse to utilize every single person he'd ever eaten at one. Now his body looked horrifying. He kept this form because the time for the feast was at hand. He had enjoyed an exhilarating battle. And now it was time to reap the reward.

"Time for the final appetizer." He exerted his mana once more. The wall of ice that had once existed shattered into dust within an instant. He turned his overlapping eyes to where Ricardo stood.

Ley jumped forward, moving at an incredible velocity. Within two steps he had crossed the three meters that had separated him from Ricardo. Once he'd reached the demi-human he grasped him in a tight hug. With the demi-human partially subdued Ley activated the familiar power of Dorkell.

Then he leaped into the sky. Rising a hundred meters in a second. Creating an impossible distance between him and any interlopers.

"Ricardo Welkin." Ley grasped Ricardo's face in his hands. The demi-human was too paralyzed with fear to speak. And he knew that he could do nothing to resist this new overwhelming power that Ley had gained.

"HEYYYYYYYYYYYY!" Ricardo screamed with his last breath.

With Ricardo's name and memories in his grip, he dropped the canine-human. Letting him fall to the ground. As Ley fell through the air alongside him he used his strength to bring his right hand up to his lips. Then he shoved his hand into his mouth.

Ricardo Welkin was devoured easily.

A few seconds later Ley watched as the ground rapidly approached. His eyes pinpointed the three meals that remained. Crusch, Julius, and Wilhelm. Time for the entrees.

Ley slammed into the ground with a great thud. His legs absorbed the force of the fall. The same could not be said for Ricardo's body. Which slammed into the ground a meter to the right of Ley. The demi-humans body exploded from the force of the impact. Blood and viscera sprayed all over Ley's left side. And to Ricardo's right the fallen triplets were also drenched in his remains.

Ley stepped forward towards his entrees. Wilhelm stared at him. No fear in his cold piercing eyes. I will save you for later. His thousands of overlapping eyes locked onto Crusch. He walked past Wilhelm ignoring the sword demon.

Crusch stared at him with terror in her eyes.

"Fourier." She tried to stand her ground by raising her sword. Ley reached forward. Julius' blade slammed down onto his wrist.

When Ley's wrist impacted Julius' sword the sword bounced off. Ley then grabbed the knight's sword and yanked it towards him. He ignored Wilhelm shattering two of his swords on the back of his neck. With Julius' right side now in range Ley shoved his right fist into the knight's shoulder.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" The man screamed in pain as his bones melted under Ley's touch. He had no mana left to infuse his body with, so he had been defenseless against Ley's attack. The knight fell onto his backside clutching at where his shoulder had once been and trying to hold his arm in place.

Wilhelm slammed his final sword into the side of Gluttony's neck. Ley found it amusing that he had not yet heard more than pained shouting. A fitting end to this great battle. His opponents have gone all out and realized that they were still powerless and then being unable to speak as they were consumed one by one.

Ley smiled. A fragment of Ricardo's bones slid out of his hair. He readied his leg to kick. He heard Crusch's armor clinking behind him. The bishop ignored it and slammed his foot into Wilhelm's knee. Wilhelm's knee was ground into dust by Ley's kick. The sword demon quickly crumpled to the ground.

"Now," He turned back to Crusch. His eyes glowed with anticipation. "We will enjoy this feast, thank you!"

"Please." Crusch's stern attitude collapsed as a gore-covered monstrosity grabbed her face. She dropped her sword and tried to hit Ley's hands off of her with her fist. But this resistance was unnecessary Ley released her of his own will after a few seconds.

He raised his right hand to his mouth. "Crusch-"

"AHHHHH!" The grizzled voice of Wilhelm resounded behind Gluttony. He could hear the man try and hobble his way over to Ley. Wilhelm's right leg made loud cracks as the unsupported leg bones began to snap. The archbishop turned around to see a man with blue piercing eyes. Ley raised his left hand.

"Let us eat in peace." Ice reached up and encased the lower half of Wilhelm's body. The swordsman struggled in an attempt to move, but his legs were not strong enough to break the ice.

"Crusch Karsten." He muttered the name once more.

"No, I still need to end the contract with Volcanica, for Fourier." Crusch rambled in desperation. Her mind was growing less and less rational as her erasure at the hands of Gluttony grew closer.

But Ley ignored her rambles and pleas, licking the name and memories of his hand.

Crusch Karsten was devoured.

Ley Batenkaitos turned to where Julius was clutching his arm. Or had been. Now his body remained sitting, though he was extremely limp. He was in shock from the pain. Ley rubbed his hand along Julius' face.

"Julius Juukulius." Ley licked his hand with glee. He'd been waiting for these meals ever since this battle had started after all.

Julius Juukulius was devoured.

The spirit knight fell to the ground. His body truly going limp.

Ley impatiently turned and grasped Wilhelm's face. He shoved his hand into his mouth and chewed on it lightly so that he could fully savor him.

"Wilhelm van Astrea." His voice was muffled.

The sword demon fell limp in his pillar of ice.

Finally, Ley turned to where an oni maid was desperately trying to crawl away. With his enhanced senses, Ley could hear her whispering.

"Barusu, Barusu, Barusu." She whispered it over and over again. Warmth and desperation filled her voice. Ley moved faster than Ram could detect and rubbed his right hand on her face.

"You are the most Gourmet." Ram turned over. Her eyes hateful, but not afraid as she gazed at him. They even looked a little serene.

That serenity came because Ram knew that there was no way out of this situation. It was either fall to Gluttony or use her od and shave off most of her life to win. She chose to fall to Gluttony. Because she had faith in a black-haired boy.

"Ram." Ley touched his tongue to his hand.

Ram looked up at the twisted form of Ley Batenkaitos, and she smiled. "Barusu will save me." She whispered it to herself, and she believed it.

Ley's smile grew. INCREDIBLE. She has a spirit so strong that it cannot be defeated even by a situation such as this.

He licked Ram's memories off of his hand. His body began to tremble in ecstasy as he consumed Ram.

Subaru continued to stare at the doorway into the forbidden library. He'd been like this for nearly fifteen minutes now. No interruption had come from Rem, Emilia, or Puck.

In his mind, he continued to whisper to himself. There is no reason to get up anymore. No reason at all.

He stared at the door. Beako. Beako, why? Why? Beako. Beako. I needed you, why? Please Beako. He reached his hand out to the door. New tears formed in his melancholic eyes. BEAKO! He slammed his fist into the door. BEAKO! WHY? PLEASE BEAKO! Subaru's head itched with desperation, but Subaru knew of no way to fix it, so he slammed his forehead into the door in front of him. He ignored the pain as he'd grown so good at doing and slammed it into the door again.

After the second head-butt Rem grabbed his shoulders and pulled him away from the door. "Subaru. This is not the time we have to evacuate the mansion right?" Rem's voice sounded off. She sounded happy. Truly happy. As if her crushing guilt was gone.

"Yes," His tired mind began to rattle off the plan once more. "I need to evacuate the mansion, then make sure Arlam is evacuated, and then meet up with Ram's group."

Once he'd finished with his explanation his undivided attention focused on the empty room that he could see through the holes he'd made in the door. Beatrice's library was not inside. It was only a storage room.

"Wait Subaru," Rem's voice, a voice free of perceived inferiority, "Who is Ram?"

Subaru's eyes widened. Ram? Ram? No… I need to die. But what would change? There would be no point. I'd just fail again.

"Moron." His memories insulted him. A thousand different insults are slammed into his mind. Those insults all carried a tone of familiarity and of warmth. Ram. It won't matter. Ram. It won't matter. But if it doesn't matter then it's fine to die right?

Ram. Her name was the only response to his question.

Subaru pushed his tongue through his teeth. He began to push his jaws down. He braced himself for memories to stop him, but none came.

No whispers from Otto.

No whispers from Wilhelm.

No whispers from Rem or Emilia.

And no whispers from Ram.

Subaru shoved his jaws through his tongue. He held the blood within his mouth. Trying to keep the others from noticing anything wrong. He suppressed his emotions as much as he could so that he didn't alert Puck. And he forced his face to remain the same.

After a few minutes, he felt his consciousness fading. Ram. He forced himself to stay conscious. He couldn't alert anyone to his injury until he was past death's door.

"Subaru?" Emilia's voice sounded guilty as she tried to talk to him.

In response, Subaru turned his head and collapsed to the floor. Blood poured from his mouth. Rem, Emilia, and Puck's eyes shot open. The two healers both rushed down to try and save Subaru. It didn't take them long to notice that he was already too far gone.

His soul was currently leaving his body. It was too late. Tears filled the eyes of both women. Puck looked down at the body. He was angry that Subaru had made Emilia look so sad.

Subaru's eyes snapped open. Wilhelm stood in front of him. A slight smile on the old man's face. The two men were standing opposite each other on the periphery of the site with the battle against the whale. Wilhelm looked at Subaru as if expecting something from him.

But Subaru wasn't thinking of Wilhelm now. Right now he was looking for Ram. His eyes darted around the field of grass. He quickly found her standing two meters away from him. Subaru looked over her small frame. As if searching for something. Something he was desperate for, something he needed.

His eyes turned to her face to continue his search. Please. Please. Please. Nothing happened to Subaru as his eyes grazed across Ram's face. Eventually, Subaru met Ram's eyes.

He stared into her sharp red eyes. And he felt nothing as he looked into them. I don't love Ram either.

Just let me love one of them. His knees gave out under him. Please I just want to love them. Tears poured from his eyes. Words leaked from his mouth.

"I have no reason to keep going." Subaru looked up into the blue sky. "Why should I get up anymore if I don't love them?"

Natsuki Subaru's resolve gave out.

And I hope you enjoyed it. Also before any of you fucks tell me that Ley is too op again I want you to go re-read the last loop of arc 6. Where it is implied that Ley in his full Solar Eclipse form would have a fighting chance against Regulus. Even if Regulus was at full power with all of his wives still alive.

Also, I made a discord server so if ya just want to chill and talk about the story then pop by.

discord . gg / cDgk2EpKpg Pop that into your search bar and you get an invite. Or you can pop by my profile on Reddit where I have a link posted.

Anyway, see ya guys next chapter.