Blank whispers filled his mind. He had no idea what they were, he didn't have the capacity to determine them either. Tiredness clouded his mind too much for that. Though as he took soft breaths it faded.
Guilt rushed into him before he could take note of the sounds.
"Hk-" He made a sobbing sound. I'm sorry, Beako.
His breathing came in fits from there as he tried to regain his mental faculties. As oxygen flowed into his lungs he thought about the dream he'd had. The first part that came to mind was the pain from Typhon's power. That dream had been so life-like. But a life-like dream wasn't too crazy, so he didn't question it.
Aside from one detail. Why was Ram in a dream about the Witches? And why was she telling the truth…? A cough fell from him, eliciting an ache from his teeth, which he realized were all still there. That was odd, he remembered ripping some out, but they all felt normal, except for the pain in their roots.
How were they fine? It didn't matter, all that mattered was that dream. That was all his tired mind could focus on.
Was it me dreaming of Carmilla?
Subaru pushed out another breath. So that's what I want most.
He rolled over onto his back, then let his eyes open. The ceiling lay above him. He didn't let himself look at anything else. Maybe for now he could just lay here. Capella wouldn't come until later. He had a while yet. So for now he just wanted to rest, so that's what he did. Without protest from him, his eyes closed once more.
There was another reason he didn't fully wake up. He simply didn't have the will to do so. Maybe over the next little while, he could gather it. He tried to breathe steadily, but the back of his throat was filled with phlegm. Eventually, he got tired of it blocking his oxygen, so he coughed. The first didn't clear his throat so he kept coughing in an attempt to clear his throat.
It sounded less like coughing, and more like crying.
"Natsuki-san. Are you awake?" Someone spoke to his side.
Otto… He tried to summon up the willpower to push himself out of the bed.
"Otto, I-" He tried to speak but was interrupted.
"Barusu, are you alright?" A hateful voice.
"Subaru, you reaaaaally had us worried," Broken silver bells.
"Subaru-kun, what happened" An impulsive murderous voice.
"Mmh, finally up?" The voice of a tiger, ready to kill at a moment's notice.
Subaru's eyes snapped open, "No," He pushed himself back, slamming his spine into the headboard.
Ram, Rem, Emilia, Garfiel, and Otto all stood before him. They'd been waiting for him to wake up, so they could ambush him. But what were they going to tell him? Were they going to try and lie? Were they going to force him into something?
"Natsuki-san," Otto said, stopping him from asking himself any more questions, "What you said would happen, is going to come tonight."
Subaru's eyes darted around the group. Ram, Rem, and Emilia's dull eyes were on him, but Garfiel's were on Otto.
"What's happenin' tonight, Subaru?" Garfiel turned away from Otto and back to Subaru. Suspicion in his green pupils.
He tried to answer Garfiel, but no words made it out of his mouth. These were all the people who had chosen him, who was to say they wouldn't choose him again.
"Natsuki-san told me that two Sin Archbishops, a horde of mabeasts from the Augria Sand Dunes, The Bowel Hunter, a girl who can control mabeasts, and two master swordsmen, are on their way to attack Sanctuary. The attack will happen tonight," Otto explained to the group.
Distrust filled everyone's eyes at what the man had said. It was too far-fetched from them to believe, especially coming from the mouth of a man they'd all only known for a few days.
"Subaru," Emilia said, holding her hand to her chin, "Is this true?"
Subaru forced his mind to keep calm. Which was a struggle, and it took him a few minutes. Though after those minutes he was able to speak.
"Yes, it's mostly true," He said.
Otto tilted his head.
Garfiel's lips twisted into a grimace, "What do y'mean mostly?"
Subaru nodded, keeping his eyes only on Otto and Garfiel, "Otto left out the part where some force is going to destroy Sanctuary at sunrise tomorrow morning."
The distrust from Rem, Emilia, and Ram disappeared, replaced by a sense of urgency. But Garfiel still held onto his.
"How am I supposed t'believe you?" Garfiel asked.
Subaru put his eyes onto Otto, "They don't have to get involved."
"Natsuki-san," Otto shook his head, "If what you told me is true then we will need everyone in this room to help with my and your part of this."
"You're…" Subaru tried to think of some protest, but the plan would become so much more viable with everyone helping. Maybe this could work if he could get Garfiel on his side. Ram and Rem cared about Garfiel, so would support him. Emilia would support Rem. So even if they were working with him, they would be fine as long as Garfiel was helping.
"Garfiel," Subaru's voice was weak, "I need your help."
Garfiel crossed his arms, "What do you want me to do?"
"Help me defend Sanctuary," Subaru answered.
"Mmh," Garfiel moved for the door, "I need to go talk to someone."
"Garf, wait you idiot," Ram said to the boy as he passed her. Rem got into Garfiel's path, followed by Emilia.
"What're you doin', Ram?"
Ram grabbed his arm, then said, "Barusu has orchestrated the death of the White Whale and Sin Archbishop of Gluttony. When he says outlandish things, you can trust them. Much to everyone's surprise in contrast to all his idiocy he has very good timing and foresight."
What is she doing? Why is she helping me? Maybe she knows I'm too pathetic to lie about this. Is that it, do you hate me that much, Ram?
"He what?" Garfiel's eyes shot to him, "Are-"
"Listen Garf we don't have time," Ram said, "If you just trust Barusu nothing will go wrong. If he's lying then you can easily win a fight against him. If he's telling the truth then you'll be needed to defend Sanctuary."
Garfiel's mouth floundered, he tried to speak, but nothing came out of his mouth. He turned to Subaru, waiting for something.
Subaru didn't speak to him, he didn't even acknowledge him or anyone else. He couldn't face them, so he stared down at his hands. Though after a few moments he spoke, "Otto, could you get them caught up on everything, and show them where we'll be."
He didn't look at Otto's reaction, but he heard his voice, "Of course, Natsuki-san. Alright everyone, come with me."
Everyone left the room, he was sure of it. The silence made it clear no one was with him.
Though his certainty was misplaced. He became aware of that much when Ram sat right next to him on the bed.
The moment he took note of her his heart twisted. "Ram… why would you try to lie?"
Ram crossed her arms, then closed her eyes, "You really are an idiot, Barusu."
"I'm sorry," He whispered. He didn't know why he said it. Nor did he have any idea what he was apologizing for, he just was. Maybe that made the apology hollow, but he didn't know.
Ram opened her eyes, the dull red coloration landed on him, "Where did you get the moronic notion that you needed to apologize to me? You don't have to feel guilty, Barusu." He got the distinct notion she was talking about another guilt. His tongue licked his teeth, the ache told him exactly what she was talking about.
"I should feel guilt. I am guilty."
Ram shook her head, "I can see through your eyes Barusu, you haven't done anything near enough to warrant that kind of punishment."
"Haven't I?"
Ram didn't respond, only looking at him. For a single second, he thought there was warmth in those eyes.
STOP LYING! Those eyes, those lying eyes. He couldn't stand them, not right now. Please stop. He summoned up enough strength to stand up from the bed, turning away from her.
She moved to speak, finally having thought up a response, but he didn't let her get it out.
"You can stop lying, Ram. You can tell me how much you hate me, then you can be done with me," Subaru said, unable to turn around and face Ram while he said it.
"Barusu," Ram stood up, wrapping her arms around his back, then she laid her head against his back, "I don't hate you, and I don't want to be done with you."
She really does hate me so much. Ram was torturing him with slight doubt in his mind. The tiny piece that told him, maybe she wasn't lying. But that small piece was wrong. So wrong. Ram hated him.
"You're not going to stop this, are you, Ram?"
He could tell by how her head rubbed against his back she was shaking her head, "I'll never stop standing here, behind you…" Warmth filled her voice.
Always behind me, torturing me.
"I'll always be back here, supporting you. You're so incompetent that you need someone to help, so I'll do that."
Subaru's breath caught. Could Ram be telling the truth? Tears welled up in his mind as he thought upon that question. The answer was no. She wasn't telling the truth. She hated him, now she would stand behind him, to torture him. And there was nothing he could do, nothing he could say.
So he steeled himself and walked toward the door.
Ram followed Subaru out of the cabin. In that time she made a promise to herself. I will support you, Barusu. Always. Even if you don't notice me. Even if you try to run away from me, I'll always support you, always love you.
He pulled open the door, and the two made their way outside, where Ram made another promise to herself.
And once this is all over I'll destroy that part of you that doesn't trust me. I'll force you to trust in my words. Then once you do, I'll destroy that guilt. And if there's anything else that keeps you from smiling. I'll vanquish whatever keeps me from hearing your laugh.
Ram gritted her teeth and clenched her hands into fists. I'll rip away everything that keeps you from being happy, Barusu. I'm going to see a genuine smile from you. I will hear your laughter.
And at the end of it all you won't feel guilty. You won't hurt yourself anymore. Ram's nails dug into her hand, earning her a tiny pain, which she used to further solidify her promise.
"Hey, Ros," Subaru pushed open the door to Roswaal's bedroom.
Roswaal's eyes flicked to the dusk outside, "Is it tiiiiiiiime, Subaru-kun?"
"Yes, now come on, we don't have all that much time left," Subaru gestured for Roswaal to follow him. In response, Roswaal pushed himself up, then sat so his legs hung down from the bedside. But he didn't do anything more.
"Well then, couuuld you wait outside a moment," He motioned to his body, covered in bandages, and his face, which had no makeup, "I neeeeeeeed to get dressed. You can't have me fighting a Sin Aaaaaaaaaaarchbishop like this."
The man forced his voice to stay jovial as he spoke. Subaru nodded then left the room, but as he closed the door he said, "Keep it quick though, we don't have much time to waste."
Roswaal nodded to the boy. Once the door clicked shut he let out a deep sigh. He gripped his knees. "Mmh…" A short sound of pain emanated from him as he leaned down. He took his hands off his knees. He used his now free hands to grip his face.
I'm going to have to kill her. He tried to force himself to stand, but the dread and reluctance at the concept of killing her halted him. He couldn't do anything more than breathe into his hands. Somehow after a few moments, he pulled himself together and stood.
Reaching into a small wardrobe across the room from his bed he pulled out his jester regalia. With shaky hands, yet hands that still did what they needed to, he dressed. He moved for the door as he grasped a tiny bit of his mana. While his right hand gripped the handle his left passed across his face, using that mana to apply his makeup.
He pulled the door open to Subaru's face. "I am reaaaaaady, Subaru-kun. Lead the waaaaaaay."
The two men traveled to their destination in silence. Both walked on weak legs, but legs which still moved out of necessity. I'm barely even strong enough to do this. She's not even alive. He held his focus on the task at hand, but it was difficult.
Eventually, the two arrived at the church, where the residents of Sanctuary and Arlam had evacuated too.
"This will beeeeee difficult," The words slipped from Roswaal. His mask cracked for a moment.
"What do you mean?" Subaru tilted his head, "You can deal with them."
"I caaaaaan. And I neeeeeed to," He said.
"Yeah, you need to handle them while we keep Roy off of you," Subaru answered.
"Killing them will be easy, and I may need to do it. But that is secondaaaaary."
"To what?" Subaru's haggard voice asked.
Roswaal stood still for a moment, watching the sun fall toward the horizon. After that moment was over he met Subaru's brown eyes. In them, he saw exhaustion and self-loathing. A tiny hint of understanding glimmered in the boy's eyes.
"My primary goal right now," Roswaal dropped his speech pattern, "Is to put a friend to rest. You took care of the whale. Now it's my job to cut the final strings keeping her here. She always hated fighting."
A red-haired woman appeared in his mind. Her blue eyes piercing like the sword she wore on her hip.
Subaru didn't respond to that, instead he said, "They'll come for you soon."
After those words left his mouth, Subaru turned and ventured into the forest.
Roswaal watched his back as he left. Subaru walked in a way that almost looked like he was shambling. He seemed too tired to walk properly.
"I'm sorry for what you've had to face here in Sanctuary, Natsuki Subaru," He said, then turned back to stare at the sun. Soon it would descend, soon he would have to put Theresia to rest. Right now he had time to strengthen his resolve.
He needed it. After all, he was weak. He couldn't even cut down a friend's corpse with ease.
Garfiel laid prone, watching Subaru. The black-haired boy stood alone in a small clearing. Though in reality, he was not alone. Himself, Rem, Ram, Emilia, and Otto were all hidden in the trees around the clearing.
Subaru himself looked around his eyes crazed. The boy had said he would be acting scared and somewhat insane to lure in Capella, but he didn't know how much of that was an act, and how much was real. Maybe the boy was genuinely crazy.
His fist tightened. What if they were following a crazy man? What if he was intending to trap them? Or him? Maybe he'd swayed Ram and the others. Anger grew in Garfiel's chest. But he'd already come this far, he had to wait and see what happened. Ram had seemed honest. And she was hard to manipulate. Also, this guy may have seemed crazy but something about him made him feel more pitiable than dangerous.
In any case, Garfiel held himself from making any moves. As the moon started to rise above them large footsteps sounded out. There was a large group of massive creatures coming toward them. Subaru had explained that the first group coming would be the Bowel Hunter and a Mabeast User. So these were likely some of the courtesan bears which the Mabeast User had brought with her.
After a few minutes, the mabeasts showed themselves. Along with a little girl riding atop a gabou, the Bowel Hunter, and a white dove on the Mabeast User's shoulder. There was an unsettling intelligence in the dove's eyes. Garfiel remembered Subaru saying that was likely the Sin Archbishop of Lust.
So he was telling the truth.
His rage shifted from Subaru to those he was facing down. The people who'd come to the Sanctuary to destroy it. He held himself from making any moves. Subaru had been right so far. So when he'd said Garfiel couldn't handle what had come to Sanctuary, he was probably telling the truth. Even so, that was difficult to believe. So he had to force himself into inaction.
Subaru shied back from the bird on the girl's shoulder. In an instant, its bones twisted and its form grew.
"You're afraid," A blonde woman rose in place of the bird, "Is it recent then?"
Subaru backed away from her, putting himself up against a tree. Fear shone on his face, again Garfiel couldn't tell how much was an act.
Capella's smile tilted down into a frown, "Well you're no fun. Meili, call for him."
"Mama…?" Meili said, uncertainty running through her.
Capella twisted around, "Meili, call him, now," She ordered.
"Yes, mama," The girl nodded, closing her eyes for a moment, "I did it."
Capella smiled, "Good," Then met Subaru's eyes, "This lovely lady'll see you next loop, Natsuki Subaru. Come now Elsa, Meili, mama needs to have some fun during this loop."
The woman's body twisted into the form of a dragon. As her size grew Meili and Elsa jumped on. Then once the Sin Archbishop had reached the size of a full dragon they shot off into the sky. Meili's mabeasts chased after.
Once they were out of eyesight Garfiel and everyone else crawled out of their hiding spots.
"He's on his way," Subaru said.
"Guess you were tellin' the truth," Garfiel responded.
Subaru didn't answer him, instead he turned his eyes to where Roy would be coming from. Blue globes of light became visible around him. They flew off toward the direction Elsa and Meili had come from.
"Get ready," Subaru said, "He'll be here in about a minute."
"Witch Cultist," Rem breathed out in fury, then readied her morning star.
Ram backed away toward the edge of the clearing, holding her bag of magic crystals, "Don't be an idiot, Barusu, Garf."
Garfiel nodded at her words. Subaru flinched at them.
Minor spirits came into view around Emilia as well. And Otto did the same as Ram, backing away toward the edge of the clearing. He would be able to use the animals of the forest to provide support, but he would be useless in a direct fight.
Garfiel himself made sure his shield gauntlets were fastened, then got his feet into the right stance. He took care to feel his connection to the earth below him. The blessing of the Earth Spirits held his strength high. With that final check, Garfiel was ready for the fight.
Subaru pulled out a whip from his suit jacket, then held it in his right hand, "He's about ten seconds away."
Shards of ice grew around Emilia and Rem. Black crystals rose around Subaru. Garfiel's eyes snapped to the direction Subaru was facing. At the edge of Garfiel's vision, a dark-haired boy shot toward them.
Once the boy was almost there Garfiel heard whispers from everyone around him.
"Puck," From Emilia.
"Sister," From Rem.
"Gluttony," From Subaru.
Before Garfiel could say anything, Roy Alphard was upon them.
Roy went straight for Subaru, moving like a thunderbolt. Garfiel barely got his shields in the way. But he managed it, and Roy's swords bounced off them, sending sparks flying. Garfiel was forced to take a step back. For an instant he was off-balance. Roy didn't hesitate to take advantage of that opportunity.
"~TSU!" He shouted out once his feet touched the ground. In the next millisecond the boy was moving toward Garfiel, his swords raised.
He raised his shields using them to block each blow, but Roy didn't let up. He slashed at Garfiel again and again, his body undulating back and forth with the force of each swing. Garfiel had to respond in kind. Twisting and dancing with his own force he held his balance and parried each attack.
After a few seconds of being on the defensive Garfiel changed his strategy. As one of Roy's strikes forced him back, Garfiel pushed his foot into the ground. Keeping his eyes on the boy's wild smile and insane eyes he grasped his Divine Protection.
"Witch Cultist!" With a shout Garfiel brought a spike of earth out of the ground in front of him, aiming it toward Roy's chest.
The boy jumped back. As his feet touched the ground again crystals of magic flew toward him. They were Subaru's purple shards of flaming shadow, along with Emilia and Rem's shards of ice. Each one flew toward the boy. Roy's green eyes darted around scanning each attack.
He raised his swords to the ice, hitting them and shattering each one. But when the shards of shadow came toward him he didn't try to block them, instead he dodged with all he had. Garfiel waited, catching his breath. After a second Roy was caught in a trap. On one side he was faced with Subaru's attacks, but on the other were all of Rem and Emilia's.
Once he saw the situation he was in he shouted out, "This is boring, we want to EAT!"
He dropped one of his short swords, raising his fist toward Subaru's attacks, "Palm of the Fist King." His hand uncoiled, sending a blast into the shards of shadow, destroying each one.
Then Roy turned to the ice attacks, "Sword art, imitation of the Heavenly Sword."
He grasped his sword with both hands, putting himself in the stance of a sword fighter. Then he raised his sword into the air. With a slice he cut each shard of ice in half, destroying Rem and Emilia's control of them.
The attacks all fell to the ground, harmless. They all held back from attacking the boy. Waiting for him to make his move would be their best bet. They just needed to buy time for Roswaal to handle everyone else, then come to deal with Roy.
"Ooh, this is going to be filling," He said, "We are the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony, representing Bizarre Eating, Roy Alphard."
A wide smile split his face. In the next moment, he attacked once more. And the battle truly began.
Roswaal looked to the sky, watching as the moon rose above. Its light bathed him. He forced a false smile onto his face. It would be needed for the battle he was about to undertake. To focus himself he pulled breath into his lungs, then let it leave in a slow pattern.
After a few moments, he turned his gaze to the church. A great flapping sound interrupted him from gazing at the building. He pulled his mind together, forcing his fake smile wider. He turned to where a great black dragon landed before him.
Capella's eyes inspected him, then her dragon form melted away. Meili and Elsa stepped off of her back. Elsa's eyes passed over him with recognition.
The blonde-haired woman put her hand on Meili's shoulder, then said, "Call those two."
A shriek of bat-like mabeasts rang out. Roswaal didn't stop their signal. He needed them to come. Under no circumstances would he let a puppet of his friend see tomorrow. Not now, not in this golden loop. Not in his perfect chance to reach the future. Not when the best opportunity to make Subaru his guide to the future was before him.
"So you've come to battle," Capella said, raising her arms up to the side, "You do know this is not the final loop. Nowhere close, it is at best the fourth, or maybe even fifth."
Roswaal waited for a moment. Capella's eyes showed a hint of uncertainty. She knew if he truly decided to fight she would not be able to win.
"I doooooo not think that is the case," He said after that moment was over.
"Do not doubt this lovely lady, you meatbag," Capella's smile widened, "I know what loop Natsuki Subaru is in."
Roswaal shook his head, "You wouuuuuld be wrong."
Capella laughed to herself. Two hooded swordsmen appeared out of the forest. "So you really are going to fight, aren't you."
Roswaal nodded, "This is my beeeest chance."
Capella switched tactics, "You'll have to go through everyone here to get to me. You're wounded, which will make this fight less one-sided. And you'd have to kill this one," She gestured to Theresia, "Take off your hood."
The woman obeyed, pulling off her hood to reveal crimson red hair and brilliant blue eyes.
"I must put her to rest," Roswaal said, "She hates to fight."
Capella's eyes took on a determined glare, "You mean to fight this lovely lady then, even if you have to kill a friend and a child to do it."
Meili flinched at the woman's words.
Roswaal didn't say anything, eyeing Meili. He knew the only reason Capella was even going to fight was because he was wounded and she could use Meili as a shield.
"Well then come on meatbag, are you willing to kill a child to get at this lovely lady?" She asked, her form twisting. Butterfly wings emerged on her back, along with her right hand twisting into a dragon's claw.
"Am I willing to kill a chiiiiild?" Roswaal asked.
Capella's face twisted in a sick smile. Elsa pulled out a knife in each hand, then put a small part of herself in front of Meili. A horde of courtesan bears and a gabou stepped out of the forest. Kurgan brandished his two blades, getting his six other arms ready. Theresia got into a fighter's stance.
Roswaal didn't pay much attention to their preparations, instead he focused on the question Capella had asked him.
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
He looked down at his own hands. L.
"Am I willing to kill a child?" He asked himself the question again. His face fell and emptiness entered his heart.
Capella's twisted smile widened. Her strategy would likely be to use all of the people here as human shields, then make a run for it.
Roswaal met her eyes. She spoke, "Are you?" The way she asked implied she already knew the answer. She'd likely just been using it as a front to get him to hesitate on answering, giving her time to get ready to run or fight.
But he didn't care; he formed the answer anyway, "Yes."
Roswaal grasped his mana. Then in an instant shot his hands out his aim on Capella, who put herself behind Meili, "Al Goa."
A massive beam of fire shot from his hands moving straight for the girl. Elsa shoved Meili out of the way, putting herself in the path of the blast. Theresia and Kurgan moved to attack from the side, along with Meili's mabeasts rushing toward him. Capella kept herself back, away from the fight.
His spell pierced Elsa's chest, burning her to a cinder. He kept his eyes focused on Kurgan who brought his sword and eight arms down on him. Roswaal dodged out of the way of his strikes. Though it was difficult as pain wracked his still injured body.
He forced a clownish smile onto his face. He put his hand out in front of him facing Kurgan, "Al Fula."
A massive blast of wind leaped from his hand, consuming Kurgan in a storm of air.
In the next moment, he ducked under a strike from Theresia. He knew her fighting style well from his days as Julia.
When the woman next tried to strike at him Roswaal met her eyes, then whispered, "Thank you for being a good friend to Carol," He put his hand out before him, "Al-"
A mabeast slammed its paws into him, knocking him to the ground. Once on the ground, every opponent moved for him. Meili's mabeasts all moved in, along with Theresia, Kurgan, Elsa, and Capella, who'd decided this was her best moment to commit.
Roswaal shook off the dust of the mabeast's attack. One of his old wounds had opened, but aside from that, he was fine. When all the fighters converged on him he let out two words, "Al Dona."
A massive blast of earth appeared with himself at its center. Elsa and the two swordsmen were forced away, whereas Capella dodged out of the way. Roswaal used the time he had to stand up.
"This won't be as easy as you thought, meatbag, you're injured."
Roswaal shook his head, "I maaaaay be injured, but you cannot stop me."
He raised his hands, four orbs of mana rose above each palm. They twisted around one another and let off a brilliant light.
"Attack him!" Capella shouted out.
Elsa, Theresia, and Kurgan all threw themselves toward him, while Meili's mabeasts did the same.
Roswaal raised one hand toward Elsa, sending the orbs at her. Then he turned toward the mabeasts, flinging the blast on the other hand at them.
In an instant, both groups were vaporized. Though that still left Theresia and Kurgan alive. They dashed toward him ready to strike.
Roswaal turned to Kurgan, "Pictoucatte should have been your end, Al Goa."
A searing lance of fire burst from his hands, vaporizing Kurgan.
In the next moment, Theresia was upon him, attacking with her glimmering sword. He made sure none of her attacks touched him. Out of the corner of his eye, Capella's shape was molding into that of a dragon. He knew from that glance that she was planning to run from him.
Pain shot through his front, without paying attention he'd let Theresia land a strike on him. It was a shallow cut across his chest, but it bled profusely. Capella roared as he rested his left hand on the wound.
Theresia stood before him, regaining her balance before her next attack.
"I'm sorry you were forced into being a puppet for so long. You don't have to fight anymore." He said to her. No words came in response.
Theresia moved to attack once more, his head fell a bit. He gathered his mana together and raised his right hand. She moved to cut his hand off. This was it, time to sever the strings.
"Al Jiwald."
A bright light burst from his palm. Theresia had no time to dodge it, as she was already moving to hit him. Once the searing light struck her it grew brighter. The light reached a point where Roswaal himself couldn't see.
"Thank you for what you did for Carooooool." He thanked her, stressing the last vowel.
A voice emanated from the burning light in front of him, "Roswaal is that you?"
He didn't know how to respond, the voice picked up on this and asked another question, "Hey, is Carol alright?"
"Yes. She and Grimm are well."
"That's good. Thank you."
When the light from his attack faded the woman who'd been Theresia van Astrea was gone.
"Rest now, old friend," Roswaal said to the ashes of her robe.
Then he turned to the weeping of a small child. Meili was sitting on the ground, her mabeasts gone. Left here by Capella, who'd taken off into the sky and was flying toward where Subaru and his group were.
Her sobs grew greater the closer Roswaal got to her. He looked down at her. She met his eyes.
"Are you going to kill me?"
"You have no mabeasts left, you can't hurt anyone."
"Mama will make me anyway, I'm sorry," She responded.
"I will kill Capella. And the gospel does not mention your death. Run while you have the chance," He said.
The little girl nodded, quick to show she understood his words.
Roswaal stared down at her. Then his eyes flicked to Capella, he had a job to do, even if he was weak, he could not fail.
Weaving together magic in a complex pattern he launched himself into the sky, then propelled himself after the black dragon.
Subaru swung his whip at Roy. Gluttony ignored his attack and focused on Garfiel instead. So while Subaru's attack put a little scratch on his cheek he bore down on the tiger. It made the most sense, he had to remove the strongest fighter first.
But Subaru couldn't just let that happen.
"El Minya," He pushed his left hand out, throwing flaming arrows of shadow at the boy.
Roy finally responded to his attacks, dodging out of the way, then focusing back on Garfiel. He held his ground blocking every attack Roy threw at him. After a moment Emilia and Rem attacked. Then Roy kept his attention on them for a moment before going back to Garfiel.
That same pattern continued for almost a minute, both sides locked in a complete stalemate. Until a new voice rang out.
"El Fula!" Ram's words sent a great blast of wind toward Roy. Seeing it the boy started to move out of the way, but Rem, Emilia, and Subaru didn't let that happen so easily.
"Al Huma!" Rem and Emilia shouted out at the same time.
"El Minya," Subaru said, pulling mana from his spirits.
"Why did you like this so much, brother, it's a waste of time!" He shouted out as he dodged each attack with the skill of a thousand fighters.
Subaru ignored the boy's mad ramblings, instead creating more and more shards of magic to attack the boy with. Roy moved through each one with masterful precision and an impatient look on his face.
"We just want to eat, fighting just gets in the way!" Roy moved for Garfiel, who was holding back to catch his breath, given a break by Emilia, Rem, and Subaru's attacks. Though Roy wasn't able to get far before Ram threw another blast of wind at him.
"El Fula!" She stepped out from the trees into the clearing.
"El Fula!"
"El Fula!" She sent a barrage of attacks his way, knocking him off-balance.
After a certain point, the boy gritted his teeth and let Ram's wind hit him. Gashes tore in his chest. Blood shot out, giving Subaru, Emilia, and Rem their chance.
They bore down on him with magic of their own.
"We just want to eat!" Roy shouted out as he let some of Rem's ice hit him to not get hit by Subaru's attacks, "LET US EAT!" His green eyes were crazed, more so than Ley's had ever been. But as Subaru sent another El Minya at him he saw fear in the boy's eyes. A deep one. He had no idea what Roy was afraid of.
"Ah!" Garfiel shouted out, hitting his foot into the dirt. A spike of earth shot from the ground, aiming toward Roy. It slammed the boy square in the jaw, knocking a bit of blood out of his mouth.
"Not enough. Not enough. Not enough!" Roy screamed out, while Garfiel sent spike after spike of earth toward him.
"Ul Fula!" Ram shouted out, summoning a massive storm of wind around the boy.
A moment later Otto stepped out from the forest. Glowing orbs of white appeared around him. Subaru's spirits told him they were made of mana.
"Hit him with everything!" Subaru shouted out, "El Minya!"
"No no no no no no no no no no no no!" Roy shouted out.
"El Huma!" Another barrage of ice from Rem.
"We don't wanna do it, we don't wanna!" Roy's insanity grew more pronounced as their attacks approached him.
"El Fula!" A final attack from Ram.
"Not again not again not again not again!"
"El Huma!" A second burst of ice, this time from Emilia.
"We just wanted to eat, just wanted to eat. We just wanted to be full, let us be full, don't make us!"
"Get out of Sanctuary!" A shout from Garfiel, and a flurry of spikes.
"Please don't make us don't make us do it don't make us!"
All their attacks centered on Roy. The boy tried to get out of their way, but Garfiel used his Divine Protection to create walls of earth to trap him. Anytime Roy moved in a direction Garfiel would have a wall up before he could get out.
Across from Roy, Otto stood in the center of two globes of mana. He stabbed his hands into them, the white lights disappeared, leaving Otto only lit by Subaru and Emilia's spirits. The young merchant slammed his hands together, then pumped them forward, shouting, "Al Dona!"
As Otto's attack grew out in front of him and approached Roy the boy screamed out again, "We don't wanna. We just want to be Roy Alphard! We just want to eat and be Roy Alphard!"
Fear covered the boy's face as Otto's earth threatened to strike him. "El Minya!" Subaru unleashed his own attack to try and seal the boy's fate, or at least land some damage on him.
Roy's green eyes flicked to him, for a moment there was true terror in his eyes. Like a cornered animal with only one thing left to do, and an intense fear of whatever it was. At that moment time stretched out and Subaru heard a whisper from the boy, "Please let us stay Roy Alphard."
Subaru didn't know if the boy was talking to him, or someone else. But either way in a second Roy would be hit by Otto's attack. Right before that happened though, Roy's body disappeared. In its place stood a tall man, with muscles covering his body, and hair tied back in a brief ponytail.
No. Subaru recognized that man, and he knew what words would come next.
Roy raised his arms then pulled them back, gathering strength in them, his new body's muscles twisting with power. A moment later he slammed them out shouting, "Palm of the Fist King!"
Every bit of magic that they'd thrown at Roy vaporized in that instant. In the center of it stood that lone man. This was Solar Eclipse, wasn't it? That technique Ley had used to make all of his moves far more powerful.
"Our brother," Roy said with distaste, speaking in the third person, "Is too afraid of Solar Eclipse to use it, so we will be taking his place." Unless they weren't speaking in the third person.
"Who are you?" Subaru asked at the man's words.
"We are the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony, representing Satiation, Louis Arneb."
"Get out of Sanctuary!" Garfiel shouted, shooting a spike of earth at them again.
"Beli Heinelga," They said, changing into a hideous man. Garfiel's spike of earth bounced off the Archbishop's skin with no injuries.
Rem readied her morning star, ready to attack the woman, but a massive roar came from the sky, along with a great beating of wings.
"That woman," Louis said, tone hateful.
Capella dropped down from the sky, her form twisting back to normal, once her neck was human she said, "You bring the-" She cut off when she realized who she was speaking to, "You're-"
"Louis Arneb. I'll give my hungry brother back for the moment. He really does eat for only fun doesn't he?" After Louis asked that they switched to speaking only to themself, "Eats without thinking of the taste. Ley would be disappointed, wouldn't he? But Ley's gone now, so you can run wild Roy! Ley's gone! Ley's… gone," Their form twisted as if made uncomfortable by that fact
"Give me back my meatbag, you disgusting thing," Capella said. Keeping a bit of distance between her and Louis, as if cautious.
Louis stared off into the distance for a moment, before their form shifted back to Roy's. Subaru and the rest stared at the sight unable to figure out how to act.
"Roy," Capella said.
The boy snapped his eyes to her, "Mama?"
"Remember what I told you to call only under the worst circumstances-"
"WITCH CULTIST!" Rem's fury burst after watching all the insanity before her, "Al Huma!" A massive shard of ice careened toward Capella, splitting her head open.
A moment later the woman's head reappeared, and she stared off into the direction of the church where she'd come from, ignoring Rem completely.
"Bring it," Capella said to Roy.
"But it'll-"
"This lovely lady won't accept any protest, bring it here," She commanded. Roy bowed his head.
"El Minya!" Subaru threw shards of flaming shadow at the boy, trying to stop him from whatever he was doing. Capella put herself in front of the boy, expanding her skin to catch each attack. Once the purple crystal spread along her body she segmented off the crystallizing parts, letting them break to the ground.
"You have no attacks which will do anything to me, meatbags," Capella said, a smug smile on her face.
Subaru held his hand back to the group of fighters behind him, making sure they stayed still. He solidified his fading resolve. Crushed the half of his mind which wanted to lay down before Capella and cry out in fear and at his own memories.
"Yes," Subaru strained his ears, and at the edge of his hearing, there was a gust of wind. It was unnatural, not real wind. Something that might have seemed odd to others was coming, well it might have sounded odd to others. But over the millennia he'd lived he'd grown quite familiar with that sound.
"But, that doesn't mean he can't do anything to you," Subaru gestured toward the sky where that wind was coming from.
Capella's red eyes shot to it, then she manifested wings on her back, "Did you call it?" She asked the Gluttony right next to her.
"Yes, mama," Roy responded.
"Good," She said, "Now grab on, or be left here to die."
Roy grabbed on as the woman turned into a black dragon once more. Subaru's group didn't attack as they knew nothing they did would harm Capella. It was best to wait for Roswaal.
A second later he shot into the clearing, his feet pounding into the ground.
"Roswaal-sama," Rem's voice.
Roswaal pivoted on his feet staring into the sky where Capella had gone, "There are some mabeasts left ooooooover there, you can deal with them," He gestured toward the direction the mabeasts were, before shooting up after Capella and Roy.
Soon black fire joined orange fire as a battle began above.
"We should get movin' clearin' those out," Garfiel said, leading the way toward where Roswaal had indicated.
Subaru nodded. Gesturing for the entire group to follow as he moved after Garfiel. Silence hung over them. That wasn't unexpected though, he'd witnessed it back in Priestella when he'd protected the city with Reinhard. Normally after a battle with a Sin Archbishop back then everyone would take a few minutes to process the insanity they'd witnessed.
Though Subaru was desensitized to the ravings of Archbishops by now. Instead, he only had one question hanging in his mind.
Is this really it? He wondered if he dared to let relief enter him. After a few moments, he decided to allow it. A weight lifted off his shoulders. Maybe once this was all over everyone would stop lying to him. He could hope. At least Otto did care about him, right? In any case, he followed Garfiel toward where the mabeasts were.
Meili ran. Her legs pumping against the ground. She used bat mabeasts to guide her way along. Sometimes as she ran she would cast a glance behind her. That man. Maybe he could get rid of mama. She could run, right? Maybe this was a bad idea. A horrible one.
If mama found her… No, don't think about it. She forced herself to keep running. The choice was made. Now she had to follow through on it as far as she could. If mama found her again, it wouldn't matter how far away she'd made it. But there was a chance she could escape.
As Meili ran she wondered where Elsa had done. The woman hadn't been fully killed by that clown, but after one of her deaths, she'd hidden somewhere in the forest.
"Meili," Elsa's voice rang out. Meili was startled by Elsa's appearance while she was thinking about her.
"Elsa?" Meili walked up to the girl who, aside from a few parts of her clothes being ripped, was fine.
"Running away from mama?" Elsa asked.
Meili looked away but nodded.
"Yes this is the best time, come, we need to move," Elsa grabbed Meili's shoulder pulling her along, "That boy brought some mabeasts with him, it would be faster to ride on one of the gabou, get one."
Meili nodded. Her big sister was smart. So she should follow what she was saying, "Alright," She pushed a fake smile onto her face and reached out for some of Roy's mabeasts. Once she ran into the commands Roy had placed on the mabeasts she stopped running. She closed her eyes and concentrated on breaking past the orders.
It took her an immense amount of willpower before she made any progress. The strain on her mind grew as she came closer to breaking his control. "AH!" A yelp came from her as blood rushed out from her nose and her head pounded.
The boy's hold on the mabeast eventually came undone, "I got it," She whispered, opening her eyes. It was here that Meili realized she was in Elsa's arms. She'd probably fallen sometime during her attempt to wrestle control away from Roy.
"Is it coming?" Elsa asked, pretending to show no concern for Meili's state.
"Yeah, from over there," Meili gestured to where it was coming. It was the same direction she and Elsa had come from when they'd entered the forest. Using her Divine Protection she felt around for Roy's other mabeasts.
His group of gabou was back at where they'd started, he'd never brought them into the forest. But his group of courtesan bears was in the direction they'd gone. Right now they were in between the two groups of mabeasts.
"When will it be here?" Elsa said.
"In a minute," Meili said, trying to uncloud her mind. After a second she was successful and climbed back to her feet.
A scream rang out above her. Actually, it was a roar. Meili directed her eyes to the sky, Elsa did the same. A massive dragon flew above them. It was lit up by flames. Those flames came from a man dressed as a clown only a short distance away in the sky.
"Mama cannot win against him, however, he may pursue us when he's done with her," Elsa explained, "When is that beast getting here? It needs to be here soon."
"I'll check again," Meili said. She dove into her mind focusing on her Divine Protection. She reached out into the environment checking for mabeasts. She felt Roy's courtesan bears in the direction they'd run from.
Then she felt toward the other side, for the direction they were going. In the direction that Roy's gabou had been, she found she couldn't feel the gabou anymore.
"Huh?" She made an involuntary noise of surprise.
"What is it?" Elsa asked, looking around, trying to figure out what was wrong.
Meili tilted her head, feeling for the gabou she'd wrestled from Roy's control. It was gone too.
"Uhhhhh…" Meili looked to her sister, "Elsa, our fire horsey is gone."
"What do you mean gone?" Elsa's voice grew stern.
"I can't feel it anymore."
"Check again."
Meili nodded, holding her hand to the tree next to her. She reached back for her Divine Protection, this time making sure she had absolute focus. Once she was ready she quested out, looking for the gabou. But again it was nowhere to be found.
Except now Meili could feel another mabeast. It was odd. She'd never felt a mabeast like it before. She tried to take control of it, but there was a command controlling it. Not one from Roy though. But something she could not bypass. It was something she knew without even trying.
"Uhm Elsa," She met her sister's eyes, "The flaming horsey is definitely gone, but there's a different mabeast."
Elsa pulled a knife out of her outfit, "Is it coming toward us?"
Meili nodded.
"From which way?"
"That way," Meili gestured toward where the gabou had been coming from initially.
Elsa tilted her head and got ready to fight whatever was coming.
A few seconds later Meili checked on the mabeast's again. That one she'd felt. It was moving fast, she couldn't even see it yet. It was far. But she could tell it would be upon them in a few seconds. She reached toward the mabeast's mind again. Again there was that unshakable command, but this time Meili touched it.
"Oh…" Meili pawed at her stomach, she felt something odd. She couldn't tell whether it was nervousness or fear, or something else.
"Meili how close is it?"
Meili opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, a loud sound interrupted her. It was the chattering of teeth and the screams of animals. A stampede of squirrels ran toward them, then past them. Followed by other animals all moving as fast as they could in the direction that mabeast was coming from.
They tried to get a glimpse at whatever it was, but only heard the screams of animals a little ways away from them. There was a small hill in front of them, blocking whatever it was from their view. As more and more animals streamed over that hill a soft thud rang out.
Meili turned to the source, it was Elsa's knife hitting the ground. After a second Meili turned her eyes up to the woman, "Elsa?"
Elsa looked at Meili, there was a crazed look in her eyes. But it was not blood lust as it was normally, this was something else. Meili wasn't sure of it at first, "Elsa…?"
The black-haired woman, the Bowel Hunter, the woman who'd faced down the Sword Saint, the woman who'd resisted mama's torture for as long as she could… she was afraid. Not just afraid, terrified.
"Meili…" Elsa said, she reached down, grabbing the knife.
"Whatever it is, you'll kill it right?"
Elsa didn't respond.
"You'll cut out its stomach… right?"
Elsa didn't say anything.
"You'll protect me from it, right?"
Elsa nodded, pushing a smile onto her face, "Yes Meili, I'll protect you. You are my little sister after all."
The woman stepped behind Meili, placing her hand on the girl's shoulder. It terrified Meili how much Elsa's hand trembled.
"Meili…" Elsa grabbed Meili and slung her over her shoulder.
"Elsa?"
"Hold on, Meili," Elsa whispered, then launched the two of them to the right of the rabbit. Meili desperately held on to Elsa, trying to keep herself from being thrown into the jaws of the great mabeast.
"Mmh," Meili groaned from the strain, both of trying to hold on, and being tossed around by Elsa's speed. The Bowel Hunter sprinted away, throwing herself through the forest, away from the great rabbit.
After the sound of teeth clicking together faded Elsa slowed down a bit. Just enough for Meili to look up.
The Great Rabbit was scurrying toward the massive battle between the dragon and the clown in the sky. In its wake it left a path of devastation and death. Animal skeletons stripped of their meat lay there. They were just bones. Tears fell from Meili's eyes, and she had to hold in vomit.
"Are you going to stop, Elsa?"
"No, we need to get away from that thing, and Mama, we'll be travelling for a while."
"What'll happen to the people back there?"
"It doesn't matter, but I suspect they'll either run or die. One of the two," Elsa said as she continued to sprint out of the forest.
Meili didn't focus on those people. Only holding on to her big sister.
Subaru breathed a deep sigh. He and the others stood above the dead bodies of the courtesan bears, who had been easy to kill once they'd arrived. A bit of conversation started up among the group, but Subaru didn't listen to it, instead he looked up to where Roswaal and Capella were still fighting. Capella was incredibly resilient, and Roswaal was still recovering from his injuries.
That made it so the fight wasn't an easy victory for Roswaal. From the way it was going, Roswaal would still win, but it would take a bit more time.
"Is it done, Natsuki-san?" Otto asked, extricating himself from the conversation and walking over to Subaru.
"I think so," He responded.
A moment later screams of animals rang out, and a large stampede came their way.
The conversation fell away and all of them moved toward one another.
"What are they saying, Otto?" Subaru asked.
"Let me check," Otto closed his eyes, opening his mind to the animals, "AH!" A scream tore from his mouth, blood dripped down from his nose. He gripped at his head, "Oh no. No no no no no no no no!" He shouted out as blood fell from his eyes, the voices of the animals obviously overwhelming him.
"Moronic merchant," Ram shook Otto out of his ability.
The man opened his blue eyes, which were welled up with tears, "Natsuki-san… you lied."
"What?" Subaru tilted his head, sending his spirits off toward where the animals were coming from, but right as he did so a noise echoed across the clearing.
"What the fuck is that?" Garfiel asked at the sound.
It was the sound of chirping, and teeth clicking. Then a bit of gnashing and the screaming of animals who were being torn apart.
"That's the Great Rabbit," Subaru answered Garfiel's question.
Everyone paled at his words.
"ROS!" Subaru screamed out for the man above them. Everyone but Garfiel soon joined in screaming out for the man who was fighting Capella to come down and help them. But their screams were lost to Capella's deafening roars.
Subaru clutched at his head, "Have to do better next loop." He let out a breath, his strength fell away. His body sagged, and he almost collapsed.
And it wouldn't have really mattered if he did collapse. This loop was doomed, unless Roswaal came down there was no holding onto this loop. Subaru stared up at the fight in the sky one last time. Capella was using her body to block Roswaal's line of sight to the ground. Her way of doing it was expert as if she knew what to do without even having to think.
"We need to go," Ram said, "Garf put up a wall of earth, Rem, Emilia, get a wall of ice going alongside that, Otto get your fire crystals ready, and Barusu get your spirits ready."
The pink-haired oni launched into orders, trying to find some way to move past what was ahead. Otto nodded, pulling out one of the explosive devices he'd made. Garfiel similarly followed her orders creating a wall of earth with his Divine Protection. Rem and Emilia created their own wall of ice.
It's over. It's over. Subaru stared down at the ground. He moved to bite at his tongue, but as he looked around, he realized, there was no point. Everyone here would die anyway no matter what he did, so why end the loop himself. Maybe Otto wouldn't suffer if he did that.
As Emilia and Rem's walls of ice came into form the Great Rabbit appeared, its gnashing of teeth brought it straight toward the icy wall. They bit at it, trying to break through.
"Natsuki-san?" Otto's voice was shaky.
"Otto…?" He looked at the man. Otto grabbed onto his shoulders pulling him back. While Otto may have been able to face down a lot for his friends, those rabbits were another story entirely.
So you have a limit to your unquestionable desire to do anything for a friend. Subaru's eyes fell lower, and that last trust he had for the man waned.
As the rabbits bore down on the walls Rem and Emilia kept them up, but it wasn't long before they started to run dry of mana. Garfiel did his best to boost what sections of the wall were weakening but his Divine Protection couldn't do nearly enough.
Are you trustworthy, Otto? Subaru asked in his mind as he looked at the scared man. Maybe if Otto had a few more tools or been better prepared he could have faced down the Great Rabbit with no fear, but Subaru didn't take that into account. He didn't think of it. Instead, he looked upon a man afraid of being eaten alive, and he wondered if he could trust him at all.
"We need to run!" Otto shouted out, "There's no way to win here."
"You guys run!" Emilia shouted out, not a hint of anger or unhappiness in her voice, "I'll throw everything I have at it while you guys get out of here," She was speaking to everyone.
"No, we'll fight it off together," Rem said, using her horn to keep holding up the wall of ice.
"Well then, I won't be letting my sister's cute face get marred by some rodents," Ram said.
"I ain't gonna just run away when this thing is comin' for Sanctuary," Garfiel said, continuing to hold up his own earthen section of the wall.
The rabbits gnashed their teeth biting away at the ice of the wall, steadily tunneling through it. I should help. I should help. Subaru tried to summon up the resolve to rush to their sides.
"I choose Subaru," Garfiel's voice.
"I choose Subaru," Broken silver bells.
"I choose Natsuki Subaru," The voice of a stern pink-haired woman.
Tears welled up in Subaru's eyes.
"Die Witch Cultist!" Rem's voice, full of anger and hate.
His knees hit the ground, his hands touched the dirt. Tears fell from his eyes.
The rabbits burrowed their way through the wall. Ram cast a glance back at Subaru. For a single moment, there was an unquestionable faith in her eyes. Faith that he would get back up, and rush in to help them. Faith that he wouldn't give up. There was also warmth in those eyes.
Subaru knew that both were a lie. There was no question, they were a lie. There was no other possibility. That was all they were, a lie. If Ram's eyes told the truth there would have been hatred there.
It didn't matter either way, as Ram turned back to the rabbits.
Otto breathed in a deep breath, then whispered to himself, "Dammit."
Without any more hesitation, the merchant strode toward the group. Had Otto's fearful behavior been a lie? Was Otto lying? What was he lying about? What was going on? What was real? What wasn't? Subaru had no idea what was happening. He couldn't separate truths from lies.
Otto continued to walk forward, but he didn't make it to the group. As right before he could join them in line Emilia's spirits faded away.
"I'm sorry," She said, out of mana.
The great rabbit quickly chewed through her wall of ice, and the moment a few rabbits were on the other side, it was over. The ones that had gotten to their side of the wall multiplied rapidly. Within an instant the three that had gotten over became six, then a dozen, then two dozen.
They streamed out, before anyone could do anything they'd covered Emilia's legs, tearing at her.
The half-elf's screams rang out. Subaru did nothing as Emilia's legs were torn apart. Everything collapsed after that. Rem ran over trying to pry the rabbits off of Emilia, using her ice to keep a few off of her, but the moment one of the rabbits bit into her, it was too late.
That rabbit that had gotten on Rem multiplied, soon Rem's legs were similarly covered. Her screams joined Emilia's. Ram screamed out in rage, summoning a storm of wind to assault the rabbits.
Ram's attacks were incredibly strong, blasting down entire trees. It was the same level of strength she'd had in the fight against Ley, but as soon as a rabbit bit off Rem's horn, it was over. Ram's power vanished, and she dropped to the ground, unable to even move.
Garfiel tried to stop her from being ripped apart but he himself was covered in rabbits before he could even do anything. He was too tired from the battle with Roy and constantly holding up that wall of earth to truly fight.
Subaru stared at the group, unable to summon the resolve to bite his tongue off as they were all ripped to shreds. Otto tried to stop the rabbits that were covering Ram, but it was no use, and rabbits soon covered his own legs. From there they started making their way through him.
There was a look of terror and agony on Otto's face, all that courage that had been in those brilliant blue eyes was gone, leaving behind only dull subdued blue.
Screams covered the forest, tears welled up in Subaru's eyes, then stormed down his face. "Otto?"
The merchant looked over, holding a bag of fire stones in his hand. It was a small bag, but the explosion it would create would be potent. The merchant's screams tore out of him as he collapsed to the ground and rabbits chewed through his torso.
Otto's hand moved a little, squeezing the bag before his entire being fell into agony. The bag exploded, creating a massive plume of fire, which illuminated the night sky. Blood from Otto and the rabbits covered Subaru's face. Everyone's screaming stopped, except for Capella's shouts.
A massive blast came from the air. Capella's roars quieted, then the great beating of wings came. Capella was running. And Roswaal wasn't stopping her anymore.
No thoughts entered Subaru's mind. He didn't move, paralyzed.
After a moment words finally left his mouth, "Why'd you leave me alone, Otto?"
His fingers rubbed the blood and gore covering him, "Otto… you were lying, weren't you?"
Subaru stared down at his gore-soaked hands, kneeling in a pool of Otto's and rabbit's blood.
Each of the remaining rabbits looked at him. Their eyes glowing bright red. They ran toward him. Subaru wasn't afraid. The rabbits had killed him so many times, he was used to it.
But right before they killed him a glowing beacon of fire shot down from the sky, vaporizing most of the rabbits. Though a few survived at the edges of the clearing. In the center of that fire stood Roswaal.
"Natsuki Subaru," Roswaal walked toward him, a look of melancholy and anguish on his face, "Reset."
Subaru didn't respond to him, instead he whispered a name, "Otto."
"Reset," Roswaal said again, "Reset. Reset. Reset. Reset. Reset."
The rabbits multiplied soon returning to their same number as they ran toward Roswaal. When the rabbits covered his lower body and tore into him he made no sound of pain, he only kept saying that word, "Reset. Reset. Reset. Reset."
Roswaal was begging him. Subaru's mouth fell open. He focused on Roswaal. The man's eyes were full of despair and anguish. His lips made that word, but no sound came from his mouth. He'd lost the will to speak.
We aren't so different, are we, Ros?
Subaru stopped looking at the man, staring at the ground instead. It wasn't long before Roswaal's body hit the ground. The Margrave's eyes stared at him, still alive. A final whisper reached Subaru, "You'll have to reset, Al Shario."
The rabbits tore through Roswaal's face after that. They focused on the man who'd released a massive amount of mana. Ignoring Subaru. But once the rabbits finished with everything but Roswaal's bones they turned again to Subaru.
He didn't resist or scream out as the rabbits pounced on him, pulling his skin open and burrowing through him.
All he did was whisper one thing, "Everyone in Sanctuary is a liar, aren't they?" Despair rang out in his tone. Tears rolled down his cheeks, only to be lapped up by thirsty rabbits, who soon tore into his eyes.
It didn't take long for his life to drain away.
They're all liars. Everyone in Sanctuary. But Petra and Beako, they might be honest. I need to liberate Sanctuary. I need to get to them.
As the rabbits cracked open his skull he solidified a final reason to continue into his mind. Now he would move forward for Petra and Beatrice. The two remained in Subaru's mind, even as his life disappeared.