"I'm older than you, Roswaal."
"What's stopping you from grasping for the perfect future like a greedy child?"
Those words haunted him. The image of that man, standing so tall, remained in his mind as well. No matter how hard Roswaal tried, he couldn't push the words or sight away. He gripped at his head, long since slick with sweat.
Roswaal smiled, his lips cracking as he whispered, "You'll be broken next time, Natsuki Subaru. Discover the gospel's solution on your own. Then all will be well."
All will be well.
Roswaal gripped his chest. A deep ache rose with every beat of his heart. His smile turned to a grimace. His shoulders slumped and his head drooped toward his legs. After a moment, he pulled his neck up, and stared out at the night.
Capella and her posse would be here now. Roswaal couldn't stop them. He was weak. And an idiot. So lacking in foresight that he needed teacher's guidance every step of the way.
"Because I'm a man like you."
"Shut up, Natsuki Subaru. We're nothing alike."
Natsuki Subaru was strong, brilliant, and daunting.
He shook his head and leaned back. As he rested against the headboard, he let his eyes drift closed.
The same scene stretched out before him, in perfect clarity. Subaru offered his hand. The sunlight catching on his skin. Why was the image so clear? Why was the memory as stark as the first time he looked into teacher's eyes? He even remembered the scent of dust and old wood. The itch of his bandages. Every detail was there.
Roswaal's arms dropped to his side, and his posture slipped.
He was too infirm to even sit up straight.
Subaru continued speaking to him, all words that played eternally in Roswaal's mind. He couldn't go a second without hearing them now.
His arms floated around, searching for something to grasp. "Teacher…please tell me what to do."
The gospel wasn't enough, he had to hear it from her, "Teacher, please."
Like always, she never answered.
Purple light bathed Subaru and Beatrice, holding them within the last moment of the Forbidden Library's existence. She looked upon it with sad eyes, "Mother…"
"Laugh about whatever fond memories you have of her," he said, "don't worry about anything bad. You'll make so many new ones that they won't matter."
Worrying about bad memories…it led nowhere good. It was best just to let go. He wished he'd figured that out sooner, but he hadn't, and he'd learned from it. If Beatrice needed help accepting that lesson, then he'd offer it without hesitation.
Yet when their eyes met, she didn't frown, she didn't denounce him, she didn't deny him. She smiled. Even without a contract between them, he understood that he was the only one who'd taken so long to learn. But he'd still learned, so it was time to move onto more important things.
Like saying, "You know, now that you're standing next to me…I've realized just how short you are."
At his words, the dignified spirit of the Forbidden Library lost her smile and gained a pout, "What a worthless waste of brainpower that sentence was, I suppose."
"I sometimes say a few that aren't worthless," he replied, a tad offended. He'd only called her short, not stubborn. Both equally true, though one slightly more annoying.
Her pout disappeared for the most part, and she held her eyes on him, "You have worthwhile sentences? Doubtful, in fact. Name them, I suppose."
He kneeled down, getting on her level, "Well…it's actually only one, and it's more of a question."
Beatrice's doubt turned to curiosity, and he let out his only meaningful sentence, "Can you help me out?"
"The answer is obvious, Subaru."
"You said my name again."
"It isn't a big deal," she looked away, holding onto her dignity brilliantly, "in fact."
"Well, you have no idea how happy it makes me." he whispered, remembering the scratches Beatrice used to tear in his neck whenever he'd touched her.
"You don't look happy, in fact."
He didn't know how well his face showed emotions, but he knew how to get to Beatrice, "Well then shouldn't you say it more?"
She crossed her arms and turned her head away, "Fine, but only because your face makes Betty sad because of how sad it is."
For the first time in a while, he faked anguish, pushing his face into a pout.
"Subaru," she whispered.
He let the expression go.
Beatrice's smile flashed, then vanished back into her scowl. What a brilliant expression, one he finally got to see after so long. He nodded, getting to business, "Thank you for that word. I wish that was all the help I needed, but there's one other thing."
Without any more delay, he explained the rest to her.
Once she heard it, she immediately answered, "Betty can do it, in fact."
"Thank you, Beako."
She offered a hint of a laugh, "Betty doesn't need your compliments."
"Huh, guess you won't get any then."
She blushed.
"You're cute, Beako," he said while leaning down to pat her head.
She crossed her arms, "Betty said she didn't need them, in fact."
"But you didn't say you didn't want them, in fact." He continued moving to tap her hair.
She didn't stop his hand, which landed on her head, she just offered a, "Hmph."
He mimicked her and gave his own, "Hmph."
Beatrice couldn't hide her smile this time, and their last moment in the Forbidden Library came to a close. The dimension quaked, howling like a dock slammed by immense waves.
Beatrice quickly acted, throwing her arms out in front of her. Black light poured from them, forcing him to close his eyes. It was a little lonely without her image in his sight. So he reached over to where she'd been.
Her hand clasped around his once more.
So this was what it was like to fix his mistakes.
"Subaru…"
The light faded, allowing him to look upon the world once more.
"What is it?" he turned to her, some light streaming in from outside this tube of shadow magic, enough for him to see her. He met Beatrice's gaze; her eyes were wide, and her jaw had dropped.
"Subaru…" She looked out across the land.
The rich plain glowed thanks to her magic. Trees bloomed with life. Stars glowed above. Quaint little Arlam stood in the distance, with its people coming out of their homes to see Beatrice's display.
"Subaru…this is why isn't it?"
He watched all the colors shimmer and mix, creating beautiful hybrids, yet none could even hope to wish to dream of holding a candle to Beatrice's hopeful gaze.
"Yeah, this is why."
She dashed through the collapsing Mathers mansion as paintings tore, evoking the image of her bones sharing that fate. Petra was wrapped in her arms, as the Sin Archbishop's screams chased her like the missiles he threw their way. She bent over, trying to get her sides around Petra to shield her from exploding debris. Her breath rushed in and out, almost as heavy as her legs.
A hallway crashed down behind her, and she rushed into the kitchen. When they got into the room, and out of the Bishop's attention, the little maid let out a sob into her shirt.
"Frederica-neesama what's…"
"Shhh." She put her finger to her mouth.
Petra nodded and kept quiet while she kneeled down behind the counters. Pots and pans lay around her, some with massive holes blown through them, others completely fine. Metal and dirt was everywhere. She used all her dexterity to avoid stepping on any silverware; too high a chance he'd hear them.
"Why are you running away?" the Bishop screamed, "I just wanted to engage in friendly conversation!"
Frederica tried to smell him—find out where he was—but he gave off no scent. And his footsteps released no sound. His voice was her only indicator of where the man was.
Using all the power of her demi-human blood, she focused her hearing. His words weren't far off. He was probably just outside, in the ruins of the dining room. Wood creaked in her ears, so loud. She had to suppress her wince at the screech of tearing beams. The wall between the kitchen and dining room teetered, then careened toward the ground.
"F—" she shoved her curse down and held onto Petra. As the young girl's tears leaked onto her maid uniform, Frederica scanned the room. If she'd had any time to breathe, she'd have mourned the complete destruction.
Glass from all the lights was shattered on the ground, and spices were splattered all over the floor, leaving a complex aroma in the air, one that didn't smell all that bad.
She couldn't weep at the loss of Roswaal's home, the man who'd given her so much. All that gratitude and goodwill meant nothing before the Archbishop.
If she stopped for a moment to reflect on everything she'd been granted here, then her loss wouldn't stop at property.
Her eyes looked for any place for them to hide, eventually seizing on a cupboard that was still standing. As the wall between her and the Sin Archbishop fell, Frederica ripped open the cabinet and shoved her and Petra inside. The diminutive maid fit in easily, but she herself had to grunt as she forced herself into the tiny space.
They barely shut the door as the Archbishop's strides rang out, and voice ranted, from somewhere nearby. Frederica wrapped her massive form around Petra, chuckling a little bit at her own scramble to get in. The noise was completely out of place, but…she wasn't the most calm right now. And her reason for laughing was so nebulous.
It was just: What would Garf think?
And she had less idea how to answer it than anyone.
She hadn't seen him in nine years, long years, full of letters never answered. Who was he now? Would he laugh at her? Would he try to help her? Would he charge wildly into the Sin Archbishop? Or would he run away?
"HEY! YOU DIDN'T SAY YOUR PROPER GOODBYES, WE'RE STILL IN A CONVERSATION!"
Petra almost yelped at the scream.
No more time to think about the brother she hadn't seen in years.
Frederica calmed her breathing, as she'd been taught, and tried to quiet Petra. The young girl hadn't received the same training.
And she was…hesitant about ever letting her old teacher educate Petra.
He had admirable qualities, but some…not so much.
The Sin Archbishop interrupted her thoughts, "HEY! I HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHERE MY CONVERSATION PARTNERS RAN OFF TOO! I CAME HERE TO SPEAK WITH YOU! THIS IS AN UTTER VIOLATION OF MY RIGHTS!"
Petra let out a tiny sob, but thankfully the bastard's screams drowned it out. She held Petra close.
The Bishop screamed. Glass shattered, wood splintered, and stone splattered. All the sounds combined as the man stepped closer to their hiding place.
His voice came, less than a meter away, "It is my right to introduce myself, face to face."
The cupboard exploded in a blast of force. He stared down at her. Yellow eyes which seemed so normal, but so full of fury. A pale face which glittered in the moonlight, and lay twisted, "I am the Sin Archbishop of Greed and most satisfied existence, Regulus Corneas."
Regulus reached to the counter behind him, and yanked a massive handful of wood off of it. Then he raised it into the air, ready to throw, "AND YOU ARE?"
There was no time for deliberation or planning. Frederica let instinct take over. Her jaws closed around Petra's arm, and her blood, thick with the rage of a beast, grew warm. Fur spread along her skin and her uniform ripped off. Red gushed from Petra's arm, bringing the girl pain, but there was no alternative. She just tried to not rip Petra's limb off as she bounded across the room on her hind legs.
"YOU DIDN'T INTRODUCE YOURSELF!" the man screamed, making the world roar behind her.
His power further ruined the mansion, throwing debris in all directions, some of which would no doubt tear her apart if she wasn't fast enough.
Garfiel's tiny form flashed in her mind, such an outdated memory by now. The boy would be nine years older than that, and she'd see what that looked like. Some spoiled and annoying Sin Archbishop wasn't getting in her way.
She dug her front paws into the floor, cracking wood and tearing carpet, then sprinted down the broken hallway. Paintings lay on the floor, ripped apart and covered in mud. The twisted frames carved bloody scratches in her paws as she ran across them.
Petra gripped onto her, yelling something she couldn't pick out. Greed's anger overwhelmed any sound.
Frederica sprinted through collapsing doorways until she and Petra burst outside of the mansion. Dirt blasted into the air, raining down on them, but Frederica continued. Her eyes were dead-set on the black ground dragon Subaru had rode here on.
It roared at Regulus. He roared back from behind her. The dragon readied itself for a fight. Frederica kept going toward it. Before she could make it there, a single pure tone rose above Regulus' blubbering, and light bloomed behind her.
A shadow wrapped around her, Petra, Patrasche, and Regulus, hoisting their feet off the ground and pulling them toward the sky.
"Hey! This is against my right to stand on the ground!" the Bishop screamed while flailing around.
Frederica roared as well, trying to escape from the tendrils of shadow.
"DON'T BOTHER ME!" Regulus shook his head, then flexed his body, shattering the blackness that held them and dropped to the ground. His legs punched through the dirt, till he was knee deep. From there he turned up toward Frederica, "You've consistently violated all of my rights."
She unhinged her jaw and let out a defiant shout, along with the ground dragon. Regulus leaned down and took some dirt into his hand, winding up for a throw. Right before the soil left his arm, another shadow touched him, and he vanished.
"What…" Surprise held her tongue, and stopped Petra's tears. However, the ground dragon was purring. Frederica hesitated for the first time, and her form began fading.
Her eyes widened further when a spinning column of purple light stretched into the sky, piercing the clouds themselves. Three beams reached out and linked with the magic already holding them, lifting them through the air, until they joined the main column.
Her instincts whispered, and she breathed out, understanding.
Once inside the light, they were all able to stand even with nothing below. The column had formed a kind of room. They were separated from the rest of the world, though they could still see outside, just through a faint purple lens. Frederica's beast form melted away, her teeth shortening, and her talons dulling back to nails. The magic quickly covered her in a reconstruction of her maid uniform, one made of violet crystals which somehow didn't scratch her skin at all.
"I'm sorry, Petra," she whispered, gesturing to the girl's arm, all torn up from her teeth.
Petra shook her head, and hugged her, "It's okay. Thank you."
She smiled and held Petra's hand. They rose along the column, moving at incredible speeds. Yet they were still. In perfect tranquility. Wonder pushed her hand out, and made her touch the edge of the light. It flashed, and they sped up. She glanced at Petra; the girl was staring around in awe. Her mouth had fallen open, and there were a different kind of tears in her eyes. Frederica smiled, and let the light carry them up into the sky. After a moment, they passed beyond the clouds.
"Woah…" Petra whispered as they changed direction, now shooting parallel to the ground. She gazed down and let her eyes run along the earth. They passed forests, grasslands, and cliffs. Almost the entire Mathers domain ran below them.
When Frederica glanced up, two people lay ahead.
On the left was a man of average height, he wore a black suit which fit him perfectly. There was a straightness to him; he stood tall, but with trembling knees.
Weakness and strength.
They weaved together in such an odd way to form this man before her.
Her attention drifted to the right, where a small girl stood, wearing a brilliant red dress. The purple light bent around it, and power radiated from her. Every bone, muscle, sense, and feeling in her noticed it. This whole column was that girl's construction. Sheer magical power exuded from her. Along with the same strength as the man, but her legs were weak, and she kept trembling.
Her eyes passed between them, to the place where their hands lay interlocked. Magic flowed from the girl; determination flowed from the man. They turned back to her.
It was Natsuki Subaru and Beatrice.
She had no idea what to make of it. But Petra had a few words, "Thank you, Subaru."
"No problem, Petra." He shifted his focus from the girl to her, his voice dropping, "Frederica, your co-workers might need some help with some mabeasts, you in?"
"Co-workers?"
"Rem and Ram."
She clicked her tongue, "Ah, we're going to Sanctuary, aren't we?"
Subaru nodded, staring off into the distance, "I have people to help."
With reluctance, Subaru let go of Beatrice and stepped over to her. He offered his hand, "So, can you help us?"
Frederica glanced back at Petra. Then three people filled her mind. A brother she wanted to know. A maid who lazed around at every opportunity. And another maid who rivaled her skills. Her answer was obvious. She took Subaru's hand without hesitation.
He raised her palm to the sky, "Thanks, Frederica."
As soon as he'd said that, he let go of her hand and turned back to Beatrice, "Ready for part two of the plan, Beako?"
"Betty's ready, in fact, Subaru," Beatrice said, a fondness there. One she'd never heard.
As they flew toward Sanctuary, Subaru whispered, "Thank you, everyone."
He looked over his shoulder. Frederica, Patrasche, and Petra had split off a few moments ago. They were going to win the battle in another location. He had a few obligations here though, and a subordinate who needed his aid.
A plot of land, devoid of trees, lay kilometers below. It was so far away that, even while squinting, he barely made out the little smudges of humanity below. As they approached, he reached over to the girl who'd helped him so much.
Beatrice stretched out her hand, and took his. She smiled at him, "Subaru."
"Beako. Take us down," he said. She nodded, and leaned forward while he held tight to her hand. After only a second, they were shooting straight toward the earth, wind whipping around them, blaring and howling as they approached. And yet, her grip was tight. Her magic kept him perfectly stable. And perfectly safe.
Once more he looked over at Beatrice, her face mired in concentration.
Beatrice was more powerful than he could have hoped. Any worries that had been building beneath the surface faded. He hadn't had to force them away, or down. They just disappeared as his faith in her rose.
"You know, you're awesome, Beako," he complimented, patting her head.
She pouted, but remained focused on her magic, "You know, you're annoying, in fact."
"I'm good at that," he mumbled.
"Betty can tell, I suppose."
Neither had anything more to say. They both held no doubt, and knew that the other felt the same. In their silence, all that remained was trust.
They'd need it.
Because back down on the ground the battle was coming into sight. Sparks were flying, metal was scraping, red was staining the dirt. By the time he noticed details, Beatrice's form exploded in light.
It consumed everything.
It was the same color as the massive spell which had once brought annihilation to Sanctuary, and turned him to a crystal statue—the one which had stolen his color. Yet now, the same light felt so warm, and was so vibrant itself. It washed away the bloodshed, and stopped the sounds of fighting, bringing total silence from below. As the magic hummed, his feet touched the ground, perfectly soft.
She squeezed his hand, and the column shone, disappearing and folding in on itself. It only ended when it all returned to Beatrice's palm, which was pointing to the stars.
A half-elf, bloody from fighting. A demi-human, drenched in sweat and garish wounds. A group of zombies, standing tall and unbothered even after all so much bloodshed. A pair of sisters, one short and young, the other tall and predatory. A Sin Archbishop, face twisted in insanity.
Each one stunned by their arrival.
But Emilia and Garfiel's surprise melted away quickly, growing to fondness and hope.
"A little slow, Cap'n," Garfiel coughed out.
"You are a little tardy, Subaru," Emilia agreed.
He dipped his head to the two red-covered fighters, "Sorry for being late."
"Shut it, meatbags," Capella finally pushed away her shock.
He turned. Hatred ran through him. As he took a step toward her, his hands balled into fists.
Till he remembered.
He couldn't repay her, not personally.
He calmed himself and stuck to the plan. Capella's excited look made him want to curl his fingers around her throat.
"This lovely lady's gonna have some fun with you." She slid closer.
He glared at her, then turned to Beatrice, "Nah, you won't."
"You can't run from this lovely lady, and you can't kill me," she said.
"Finally, something smart out of you," he admitted.
She smiled at Natsuki Subaru, at her entertainment. He was off-script. Beyond the behaviors Pandora had outlined in the gospel.
Time to have some fun.
"Of course this lovely lady said something smart. Everything this lovely lady says is smart."
The calm meatbag that was Natsuki Subaru shrugged, "Won't matter in a little bit."
Butterfly wings sprouted from her back, and her hands turned to talons, "Then c'mon, mama wants some entertainment."
She charged forward, and hit a wall of clear glass.
The impact threw her off balance. She shoved her foot into the ground and glared at whoever had done that. Her gaze landed on that little girl. A deep pit formed in her stomach, but she ignored it. The girl's palm remained outstretched.
Subaru stayed behind her, not a hint of fear in him. The only thing on his face was hatred for Capella. She'd change that, as she loved him and had her fun, then he'd love her.
"I really can't kill you," he admitted the truth, "so I asked a friend for help."
Then he turned away.
"Get back here, this lovely lady wasn't done speaking with you!"
"But I'm done speaking with you. Kill her, Beako," he called over his shoulder.
"You say that like this woman represents a challenge, I suppose," she responded.
Capella's rage bubbled, "This lovely lady's going to make you regret that."
She stepped toward the little cunt. The bitch didn't even flinch, all she did was remain bored. This lovely lady would fucking show her, trying to be bored at the presence of Capella Emerada Lugunica? What a joke. This meatbag would scream as she ripped her consciousness to shreds and sowed it back up again. And after all that she'd become exactly what that cunt desired, and the girl would come to love her.
It was only natural.
Capella's arms turned to talons once more, and a smile curled her lips up as she imagined tearing the little girl in half.
"Let's get this over with, I suppose," the girl sighed, waving her hand and forming a hundred violet crystals around Capella. What a joke, what idiot thought they could kill her?
She looked around at each one, "This lovely lady sees you don't have a brain in that bag of meat."
"Betty's is yet to be in question, unlike your brain, in fact," Beatrice snapped her hand shut, trying to deny this lovely lady.
All the shards pounced on her, coming to appreciate her radiance. It was natural; after all, she was so beautiful even objects wanted to worship her.
Capella's body flattened and flared, becoming a big kite to catch each shard. They bit into her, spreading crystal where her skin had been. She returned to normal, her bones snapping and refusing, her muscles tearing and joining, and her skin shaking off and forming anew.
After only a moment, she was perfectly fine, standing on crystalized grass that had once been connected to her. She grinned at the little Yin magic cunt, "Gonna take a lot more for this lovely lady."
The girl yawned, "Ahhh, this will be quite easy, in fact."
Capella's smirk revealed teeth; she was gonna make the meatbag eat those words.
Theresia and Kurgan rushed to join the fight.
But Emilia formed a prison of ice for Kurgan, and Beatrice easily fought both Capella and Theresia.
Meili retreated to hide among the trees while Elsa looked between Subaru and Garfiel for a suitable target.
"Elsa," he said, walking toward her and pulling out his whip. Deep within him, not in his abdomen or chest, a potent hunger that wasn't really hunger began to grow. Pounding his heart, making his stomach growl, and filling his mouth with saliva.
His lips moved on their own, forming the words, How Gourmet.
Light winked out, leaving him alone in total darkness. The shadows pulsed, and a boy stood before him, green eyes staring up. He reached out with bony fingers, covered in scars.
They landed on Subaru's hand, caressing him.
"Yes, very Gourmet."
The world returned, and Subaru steeled himself. They'd need every key to win this battle, even this one.
"Natsuki Subaru," Elsa responded to his earlier call, seemingly deciding to fight him instead of Garfiel.
The tiger boy stared at the woman.
As Kurgan burst from his frozen cage, Subaru called out, "Help Emilia, Garfiel. I'll handle Elsa."
Garfiel glared at Elsa, who had blood running down her chin, with little flecks of white bone interspersed. Tears swelled in the boy's eyes, but he nodded, and mumbled, "On it, Cap'n."
What was that about? Subaru didn't have the opportunity to find out, as Elsa was moving in. Her gaze stripped him down and pierced him. She reached into the chest covering of her dress, pulling something out.
It was a little toe.
"Where'd you get that?" he breathed.
Elsa giggled and popped it into her mouth, chewing on it. As he watched he let his whip's length drop to the ground, "I'm going to kill you, Granhiert. You'll never see my bowels, no matter how hard you try."
"Mama would be…displeased about me trying." She stared at him, trying to discern his motives while her teeth crunched down on bone.
He put his arms out to the sides, ignoring her casual cannibalism, "Why? She can just give me new bowels."
Her suspicion became a smile, "Then let's see your current ones."
She stepped toward him, licking her lips, yet stopped and tapped her chin. Her finger drifted closer and closer to her mouth, tantalizing herself. Elsa moaned as she pushed an index between her lips. A short crunch let her pull only half the length out.
She knocked her head back and chewed while Subaru wobbled from that hunger. A smile was spreading across Elsa's face, "Why didn't I try this sooner…?" She turned her focus to Subaru, where she held a hunger of her own, "Give us your bowels, I just have to taste them."
"You've hit a whole new low this time," he said as spirits appeared around him, using them he drew on mana in the atmosphere.
A blush appeared on Elsa's face, "Oh, a whole new low? Normally someone has to hit a low point first for that. I'm just trying out a new taste." She licked her lips and stared at the blue lights shimmering around him, "Looks like you're the one with something new. Spirit arts eh? A little more adept in combat than last time."
"A little," he answered as more spirits flowed around him. The hunger in his soul, the sinful craving, stirred. Like a sea monster within him. He stared down at his finger, remembering what Elsa had done to her own…could he—
The world flashed white, and strands of blonde were strewn everywhere.
"Onii-san?"
"This will be more rewarding," Elsa's voice rang out, returning him to the forest, "especially now that that look in your eyes is better."
"More rewarding? You sound like Ley." The name came easy to his mind.
"Ah, the Gluttony child, we've met once." The way her mouth hung open a tad and her nose scrunched made it clear she hadn't been fond of the meeting.
"Don't worry, he's dead."
She shrugged, but seemed a touch thankful, "Let's stop with the meaningless talk and get to the meal already."
He nodded, "Let's," then pointed at his chest, "Natsuki Subaru."
She giggled, "Elsa Granhiert, the Bowel Eater."
Right as the syllables left his throat, she was upon him, slashing and biting. He lunged away and yelled, "El Minya!"
A wave of flaming shards blasted toward her, turning her skin and muscle to glass.
But he hadn't been quite fast enough. She'd reached him, taking a shallow morsel out of his navel. But the shards had thankfully still caught her and turned her to a statue. He pushed her over, shattering pieces of her across the dirt.
Yet she regenerated—bones growing, muscle filling in and catching manifesting organs, and finally skin crawling over it all—only a few meters away from him. As she took her body's first steps, his hunger called.
Subaru surrendered to the Witch Factor.
A foulness seeped into him, ice in his nerves, fire in his soul, oil in his mind.
He had to eat.
"Do you finally understand us?" a voice whispered. For a single eyeblink, Ley Batenkaitos stared up at him, wrapped in dirty rags and covered in scars, with stringy muscle. Their gazes met.
He blinked and the boy was gone.
His stomach growled and he wobbled. Elsa was finally closing in, though her sensual walk, hips moving side to side, only carried her so fast. He didn't care for that, just the look in her eyes, there wasn't much to eat right now, but…
A meal could be prepared from her.
"Yes, eat. Gluttonous eating," Ley whispered from somewhere unknown, "Gluttonous drinking, consumption, devouring. Take it, eat it. Find the greatest meal to consume. The one with the most."
Something deep within the foulness reached out. A connection formed for the barest of moments. Ley's voice disappeared, as if erased.
"We do not want to hear him. It's something we do not like. We do not like it. Y'know, we don't like hearing that voice. Gourmet this Gourmet that, boooring. We just want to be happy, you understand? Please treat us well, and leave him dead. Can you do us that favor, Onii-san? We'd appreciate it. Just go enjoy what you stole from him. Enjoy eating with your own lips, ~tsu."
The voice disappeared, and he finally steadied himself. Just in time for Elsa's voice to come, "You're different now, in more than just combat power."
He looked up at her. The corruption was still flowing through him, like sludge pulsing through his veins, and evil in his arteries.
He took hold of it, "Hopefully this one's more useful than Sloth's was last time."
"Hm?"
"Nothing, just a little hungry."
"I had some little snacks earlier," she smirked, "they've shown me entirely new possibilities."
He ignored her words, and accepted his hunger once more. No voice rose from within him. No dead Ley to whisper things in his ear. Just pure silence, and the need to fill himself.
She bared, and dove at him. He leaped back, narrowly avoiding her once more. Only for her to pivot and lurch toward him. His lunge barely gave him enough space to live.
This wasn't winnable.
Elsa hunted his stomach. His eyes jumped around wildly, finding no way to escape.
Fuck.
He ducked down, forcing Elsa's jaw to miss his stomach and dig into his shoulder. No pain ran through him as he grabbed her neck.
"Mmh," she ripped a chunk of muscle out, then shoved her head for his face, like she was going for a kiss. But her neck dipped and her lips landed on his neck. Her teeth sunk in and she started tearing meat off, her jaws grinding as she tore skin and flesh then swallowed with a furious desire.
His hunger drowned hers out. Gluttony reached up. It was so…familiar.
This wasn't something to be afraid of.
It was just the past, for which there was only acceptance.
Subaru shoved his face toward Elsa, forcing her to rip a meaty chunk from his neck. Then he licked her cheek, and whispered, "Elsa Granhiert, I will consume your suffering."
He dove down to the ground. The last time he'd seen Roy, he was angered and starved, and his upper body was unclothed and shrouded in minor burns. He held Puck's crystal tight. It was one of the few reasons he'd managed to live this long.
"Where is he?" he asked the squirrel on his shoulder.
It called to the massive network of others it was in contact with, acting as an intermediary so his brain wouldn't explode from translating an entire forest of voices. After a moment, the animal answered him, "Coming along the proper path."
He nodded, and kept his eye on the little mounds of dirt in front of him, there were still little finger sized grooves left over from the digging process. There was a small cord running from them all the way to him. Hopefully, this one would succeed. About half his traps so far had been busts, and the ones that worked had been ineffective.
Because if nothing else, Roy was durable.
Otto had a plan for that.
"Puck," he whispered.
"Whatcha need?" The cat formed next to him, his fur disturbed from holding off Roy.
"Keep him in place out there." He gestured to the clearing.
"Gotcha." Puck gave him a thumbs up and floated into the center of the little clearing. He hovered above the mounds Subaru had made.
Laying down behind a dirt battlement Garfiel had constructed, he grabbed his chest. His heart was pounding. He'd have to rely on luck for this battle. And with how his luck was…this would probably not end well.
Yet Otto still waited for a Sin Archbishop to find him.
Subaru had asked for his help, so he had to try.
"He'll be here in a few seconds," the squirrel chattered.
He nodded and prepared his hand on the string. Roy soon appeared, sprinting toward him, mangled clothes whipping around as he crossed the distance. Branches snapped under the wind of his passing and the breeze washed along Otto.
The Bizarre Eating, hungry, and coming for him.
Roy soon reached the center of the clearing, deflecting an attack which Puck had already launched.
"Welcome back!" Puck called, hands raised in cheer, creating more icicles.
Roy stared at Puck, "What is your name? We know his, but what's yours? Give us yours."
He stopped, and crossed his arms, "Well, I'm Puck. Obviously."
Roy flashed his teeth in a wide smile and dove at the cat, who merely floated in the air, not attacking or defending himself.
What plan did Puck have? Otto couldn't figure it out, but Roy was being delayed, which was enough. He pulled on the cord, giving it the right rhythm. If he did this for long enough the trap would eventually activate. Though the exact timing wasn't something he or Subaru had worked out…so this was truly a gamble.
Back in the clearing, Puck stared down at Roy as the boy's hand rubbed his fur.
Gluttony belted out, "Puck!" and shoved his fingers in his mouth. For a moment, nothing happened. Until a violent wave of disgust ran along his face. The boy wobbled and vomited all over himself and the ground, almost slipping on it.
"Did you really think that was my name? You truly are so young and stupid," Puck said, cheer melting away.
Roy wiped his lips and stared up at Puck, "Eugh, give us your real name!"
"No," Puck responded, almost malevolent.
Roy whipped out one of his swords and slashed at Puck, "Then get out of our way!"
Puck waved his hand, shattering the metal of Roy's sword. Gluttony tossed the handle aside and pulled back his arm, "Palm of the—"
A glittering beacon flashed from the sky. Shooting down and connecting with the earth somewhere in the distance. All three let their eyes wander to it.
"Mama?"
"Lia…"
But they were both wrong. Otto grinned at that radiant beam.
Finally back, eh, Natsuki-san?
He yanked on the cord for what seemed like the hundredth time.
The ground glowed red.
Puck winked at Roy, then turned to a blue phantom and streamed back into the crystal, which was in Otto's pocket. Roy's eyes followed the trail right to him. When they did, a chill ran down his back at the thing hiding within.
For a moment, Otto understood Roy Alphard.
He wasn't a boy.
He was a force, hiding within the skin of a boy.
Something more controlled his movements. And it was looking at him. The red within the dirt continued to grow, but he needed to delay Roy a second longer.
So he got up to his knees, and tried some active distraction, "Looks like my luck was good this time."
Roy's lips fell open, drool dripping down his chin, "This time?"
"Well my luck is never good," he answered.
For a second that force within Roy subsided, and the boy laughed, "You unlucky? Stop making us laugh so much."
"I know it sounds crazy," he said.
"It sounds like you're feeling sorry for yourself," Roy glared at him.
"Do you have bad luck?" he asked.
Roy giggled once more, as if the very question was the funniest joke in the world.
The distraction had worked, as just then the fire stones touched off.
A massive boom rattled his teeth.
Oh shit.
He dropped back down behind the little wall of earth Garfiel had made. Glass shattered and flew everywhere. He hunkered down, covering his head and neck with his arms. Shards pounded his protective wall. A few went over, landing only a meter from him. Some dropped into his line of sight, glowing like embers.
What better way to get past Roy's durability than advanced Yin magic? Encase a lot of fire stones in Minya crystals, and results will come.
Except they didn't, that explosion was nowhere near how big it should have—
A final bomb went off.
Explosion rocked the trees anew, sending branches in all directions. New glass rained from the sky and shot everywhwere. Crystal shards embedded within trees, making snaps of bark. Somehow among all the ringing, a single wet squelch reached Otto.
Then, Roy's deafening screech.
He scrambled to his knees to get a look at the boy.
Roy was slouched down, hands over his face. Otto strained to see what had happened. Had it worked? Had the glass managed to strike a weak point? Most of it seemed to have bounced off Roy, but…he was crying so loud.
The screams didn't end.
Roy's hands fell away from his face. Blood dripped from his palms.
The boy looked up at the sky, and he found the injury.
A long piece of glass lay in Roy's eye.
Huh, so he was lucky.
Roy's form swayed back and forth, side to side; he started to fall. Until his muscles flexed and he stood, rigid and straight.
A whisper came from his mouth, one Otto barely heard, "Time to stand up, nii-sama. It would be unfortunate of you to die here. Indeed unfortunate. Quite unfortunate. Very unfortunate indeed. Stop fooling around, you know. You have to dote on us, even if you're quite embarrassing while you do it. You're the oooonly one you know, so even if you're pathetic we won't get rid of you. So keep upright and go, nii-sama, don't mess it up, you know, ~tsu."
In the next breath, Roy's form lost its solidity, returning to normal. He hunched over, but stared up at Otto. Blood poured from his skewered eye, while his healthy one captured him.
Hunger peeked through emerald green.
He gazed at Otto through a half bloody world. Pain stabbed him, and bile rose in his throat. He teetered. Passing out would be nice. But he was so incredibly hungry. And so…tired. Blood seeped out of him. He began falling.
Otto backed away from him, trying to get a read on him. That merchant's gaze, analyzing, picking him apart. Those hands, ready to take out some trick that would let Otto keep living. The crystal jingling in his pocket; Roy still didn't know what it was for. And that—
For an instant, connection bloomed within Roy.
And somehow, his hunger vanished.
On his left stood Louis Arneb. On his right was a foreigner, wearing a black suit. The man looked over. Roy met his eyes.
The forest disappeared, replaced by white. Memories pulsed alongside him in a long corridor.
Where the man had been, Ley Batenkaitos stood.
"Roy," Ley whispered, "Otto is very Gourmet. And you're hungry. Eat him, you got this, eat him."
Roy started to fall over as Louis observed, "Ah a new Onii-san got the Factor, ~tsu."
He had no idea what to make of their words, but he was hungry.
So he didn't resist when Ley stepped forward, desperation on his face. He held Roy's shoulders, so gently, and whispered, "Eat. Devour. Gnaw. Chew. Bite. Swallow. Consume the merchant. Consume him. He is food. Eat him up, Roy."
The words didn't sink in, he just fell toward the ground, exhausted and empty. Hands curled around his arms, and Ley lifted him, "Get up."
"Onii-san, stoooop bringing back our useless brother," Louis whispered.
Ley's words drowned out Louis', "Roy, maybe…"
Louis tried to interrupt, but Ley wouldn't let her, "Maybe we were wrong."
Roy's hunger grew, as did his tiredness.
But his brother wouldn't let him fall, "We shouldn't have tried to force Gourmet on you."
A little bit of warmth entered Roy's heart. His brother wouldn't let him go. Even in death, the annoying Gourmet wasn't letting him fall.
Ley's voice came a little softer now, "Your hunger is a part of you, Roy."
Maybe Roy had been too harsh on his brother. The only thing that granted him kindness. That man in the suit began to overtake Ley, his brother's voice was weakening, but Ley wasn't letting go easily.
"Roy…" Somehow Ley held on, "it's okay to be hungry, you don't have to be scared of it anymore."
Natsuki Subaru's connection to the Authority of Gluttony continued to expand. Ley was being forced out.
Tears came to Roy's good eye and he whispered, "Don't take our brother."
Louis' voice passed, "Stop bringing our brother back. Useless Subaru."
Ley ignored them all, and kept trying to keep Roy from falling, "Our mistakes already set Louis in her ways, she won't listen to us now, but if you care enough…then remember, don't be afraid."
"But, we are scared," Roy whispered.
Ley wrapped his arms around Roy. For a single moment, four souls all came together. Subaru using his Authority of Gluttony for the first time. Louis in the Hall of Memories. Roy in the Forest of Kremaldy. And Ley in the Garden of Shadows.
"We hate you, Ley," Roy whispered; he had no idea why he said it. It was just the emotions coming out.
"We know," Ley responded, "and we love you. Now face that hunger of yours, become it."
"How?" Roy met his brother's loving gaze.
Ley smiled, showing those somehow white teeth, "Stop being afraid, become unyielding, become unstoppable, become the Bizarre Eating."
Roy sobbed as the connection faded. Louis Arneb and Natsuki Subaru were forcing Ley Batenkaitos back.
He was losing his brother for the second time. At least he'd been able to hear Ley this time.
A last whisper came, "We love you, Roy."
The white melted away, letting the colors of the forest return as the call of bugs resumed.
Hunger roiled within as he stared at Otto, and stood up straight.
It was still so novel but…Ley was right.
All this time, he'd been afraid.
Terrified of the world around him.
Seeking meals just to feel full.
And yet no matter how much he did, he was always still hungry.
Roy couldn't reject his hunger, but he could embrace it.
He could eat not for the purpose of feeling full, but for the purpose of eating, of sheer consumption and quantity.
Otto regarded him with determination and anger. He didn't care, he'd eat Otto, no matter what.
He stepped forward.
Otto's eyes widened, "What happened?"
"We are no longer Roy Alphard."
"Then what are you?"
"We are the Bizarre Eating."
They activated their Authority, stepping forward and letting go of their fear, "Solar Eclipse."
She forced her breaking body to move. With every step, the bones in her legs cracked more and more. Each blast of wind into the wave after wave of mabeasts brought more blood.
It was never ending.
Red washed down her head and sprayed from dying mabeasts. Rem's morningstar continued to work death upon the beasts while Ram's wind sliced down any who got too close. They barely had any space now—maybe a meter between them and the nearest mabeast.
A few more moments and they'd be dead.
Yet neither sister gave in. There was still a way to continue.
No matter how small it seemed, they'd take it.
Courtesan bears roared as they came closer. Rem roared back, using mana and steel to hold them off.
But it was temporary. They needed more space, not just more time.
Thankfully, she had an idea.
Spending a precious moment, she stopped attacking, instead breathing in and out and bringing silence to her mind. Her eyes slipped closed and her Clairvoyance winked out. She had to be quick, but she couldn't rush. She wasn't impatient like Barusu.
Her steady breaths held her calm, and she reached for her shackles; the things that contained her strength. She'd already released the first, and the power it let free was no longer cutting it. She gripped the second shackle.
The next limiter upon her abilities dropped away. Magical strength exploded from within, along with pain, so much burning, fiery, pain.
Still, she forced her eyes open, and took stock of the situation.
The mabeasts were nearly upon them, saliva spraying from the bears and evaporating thanks to the gabou. Embers crackled, the heat evaporating all sweat.
A bear brandished its floral claws, and slashed at Ram. Her hand floated up, then snapped out and grabbed it. Her bones creaked like those of an old woman. But with Rem in danger, she ignored the tearing of her muscles and directed mana through her arm. A deadly storm of wind grew within the bear, deconstructing it. Viscera sprayed everywhere.
Ram ignored it, she didn't have the time to wash off.
"Rem, hold still," she ordered. Her voice came out cold.
Her sister didn't speak, but she kept her body perfectly immoble. Ram sucked in another breath; all calm had withdrawn, making it a desperate grab for air.
Which worked. New oxygen ran through her lungs as she pulled a piece of leather out from a concealed pocket in her uniform.
Courtesan bears and gabou sprinted toward her, claws flaring, teeth gnashing, temperatures rising. Less than a meter away now. No time! A hundred sets of claws slashed at them. Rem held still, even with so much bearing down on her.
NO TIME!
Ram jammed the piece of leather into her mouth and bit down.
Her hands snapped up, and she held them over Rem to safeguard her.
With fire approaching, her power flowed.
Death was here. No more stalling.
Mabeasts had reached them.
Their orchestra of roars fell upon dead ears. They were disgusting witch spawn, threatening her and her cute sister. She didn't care for their voices.
Her jaw tightened on the leather in her mouth. Iron blood washed from her gums. A wave of red liquid poured from her horn and flowed into one of her eyes. It snapped shut as her bones all chipped and, for a moment, her sweat turned red. Little rivers of blood appeared all over her skin. Her heart screamed and pounded, small cuts forming across it.
Every part of Ram screamed, building…until she let loose.
The horde of beasts exploded.
Blood shot into the air, organs poured from the sky, and loose bones dotted the ground. The wave of power continued, a wind which snapped trees and rocked even Echidna's tomb. The entire forest trembled, the unfathomable force destroying anything in sight.
Ram's collar shattered. Where was she?
Fog filled her mind, and her eyelids were so heavy.
Was she on the ground?
She flexed her fingers. They snapped.
Rem dropped to her knees and rolled her to her side as she vomited blood.
While she coughed the blood out, snapping ribs with each one, healing flowed into her.
It was too late though, new mabeasts were already poking their heads out of the torn apart trees below.
"Ram?" Rem whispered as some of Arlam's children, who were still hiding within the tomb, began to cry. Those walls had probably almost broken.
Ram hacked out the last of the blood, "That was stronger than expected…"
"Ram?" Rem's voice came again.
Delirium started to overtake Ram, and for one of the few times in her life her seriousness melted away, "Oops, opened the second and third on accident."
That showed her for trying to take off her shackles in the middle of a fight.
A small chuckle escaped Ram's lips. The pain seemed so distant right now.
Just like the sound of mabeasts approaching.
Rem frantically healed her as best she could. The sensation was nice and warm, "Thanks, Rem."
"You have to get into the tomb," Rem said, practically a demand.
"Why…? There's a lot of stars out there; Barusu likes stars. He gets so cute when he looks at them. So there's something up there worth seeing. Do you want to help me find it?" she mumbled. Why was her mind so foggy? She laughed once more, "How much blood do you think Ram is missing?"
"A lot," Rem answered and tried to drag her toward the tomb. So many mabeasts were coming. Almost the same amount as before. All courtesan bears and gabou. She kept giggling. Until the situation finally sank in.
Mabeasts were coming.
Rem and the inhabitants of both Sanctuary and Arlam would die.
She forced away the brain fog. The power of her three lost shackles let her push herself up. Well…her bones were starting to snap. But that wasn't enough to stop her from keeping Rem safe. With a grin, she pushed through all the pain and managed to get up to her knees.
Rem's hands clasped on her shoulders, "Stay still."
"Let me up."
"No."
She ignored her sister's words and pressed her feet into the ground. The throbbing in her legs was unbearable, but she had to bear it. With three shackles off, Ram easily overwhelmed Rem and stood.
Her little sister quickly realized she'd never keep her down, and instead just helped Ram stand.
As they waited for the battle to begin again, a light flashed in the sky.
They looked up at it while the mabeasts began climbing the steps up to them.
The light flashed again, seeming almost like a star.
A star which slammed down before them, and formed a beam which connected the earth and sky. Magic floated from it in little ribbons and wisps, giving off a soothing air. Three figures stood within the light.
The column melted away, revealing Frederica, covered in a crystalline smock, Petra, covered in dirt and mud, and Patrasche, somehow looking pure even with all that dust.
"Rem, Ram," Frederica dipped her head, "Subaru-sama informed me you required some help."
"So Barusu stopped being so lazy," Ram smiled.
There was some semblance of hope now.
She breathed out and put her shackles back on. Had Rem not been there, she'd have collapsed.
Frederica took only a second to discern what had happened. She had known them for nearly a decade after all, "I'll buy you time to keep healing her. Petra, get inside with the villagers."
The girl rushed inside as commanded.
Mabeasts screamed out, and Frederica cast a final glance at the twins as her snout lengthened, her eyes glowed, and the beast set in. Dropping onto all fours, she readied to fight the mabeasts, baring her teeth and readying her still growing claws.
She was about to pounce, until the mabeasts froze, and began ripping each other apart with ash and claws.
They stood side by side before a cylinder of ice which reached to the sky. Blades chopped through solid glaciation, bringing the walls tumbling to the ground. In the center was a robed man with eight arms. Two held steel cleavers. They glowed in the light of the moon. He raised his arms and crossed the distance between them.
Emilia created a spear of ice in her hand and shoved it forward. Kurgan twisted his body out of the way, putting himself in Garfiel's path. He punched, only for one of Kurgan's hands to snap around his arm.
"Let go of him, please," Emilia shouted as a blade of ice chopped through Kurgan's wrist, cutting the hand off and freeing him.
He didn't hesitate in throwing his shoulder into Kurgan's chest. The man didn't flinch and wrapped all five of his remaining free arms around him.
"You shouldn't grab people like that," the half-elf said as she pulled her arms back. A hundred blades of ice formed in the air, and frost wrapped around her skin. She shoved her hands forward, launching ice toward Kurgan. The Eight-Arms, now seven, tossed Garfiel to the side.
Garfiel tried to reclaim his balance before he toppled to the ground, barely managing it. When he did, he held his stance tight. He wouldn't fall. The people of Sanctuary wouldn't fall victim to the Witch's Cult.
Her icicles surrounded Kurgan and all shot toward him. The swordsman sliced down everything he could, while evading everything else. Her arms danced around as she directed the shards of ice and added new ones to the mix. He sliced through a large chunk of frost that came toward him. The icicles kept growing bigger as they orbited and shot at him. Kurgan lunged back, trying to avoid a barrage.
That wasn't happening. Garfiel pushed his foot into the ground, creating a barrier of earth behind the Vollachian.
Kurgan's back slammed into the wall, and hundreds of shards pierced his body. Emilia breathed heavily and rubbed her arms, they were covered in ice. Garfiel lunged over to her, right then Kurgan appeared between them, unbothered by the countless icicles sticking out of him.
She tried punching him in the back, but one of Kurgan's arms reached around and grabbed her head. He started twisting her neck, forcing squeals out of her throat.
That wasn't allowed either.
She may have looked the part of a witch, but that was all.
"Let go 'f her," he ordered, staring down the robed swordsman.
Kurgan turned his attention, along with four empty fists and two swords. She tried to break from his grip, but her ice-laden hands did little damage. He banged his shields together—the stumps where his fingers had been ached—and readied for Kurgan's assault.
Both men stood tall, and still for a moment.
Kurgan pounced.
Slashing for his neck, stabbing for his chest, punching for his stomach, a full assault. An unending one. With herculean effort, Garfiel batted aside attacks over and over again, desperately holding off all the man's attacks.
Blessedly, a voice rang out, "Ul Huma!"
A large icicle launched from the ground, aimed at the warrior turned zombie's head.
He evaded it with little trouble. Though she wasn't deterred, and created another lance to attack him with. He turned one of his blades and three of his fists on Emilia.
Garfiel looked at the girl, her purple eyes glowing. They nodded to each other, then struck.
Ceaseless attack. Shields striking swords, ice chipping, a robe flapping, and arms flailing; beginning to overwhelm defense.
Ceaseless, until Kurgan kicked Garfiel in the chest.
The force threw him on his back. He tried to get up and into the fight, but Kurgan had already turned all his attention to Emilia. The girl shoved her lance toward his face, in solitude the assault seemed so weak.
Because it was.
With a single motion, Kurgan raised a sword then struck down. Blade cleaving through the lance, and into her hand. Creating a new laceration.
And leaving Emilia without weapon, without aid, and without opportunity or room to breathe.
Kurgan's perfect opening.
He took it.
Garfiel screamed at his helplessness.
My amazing self's the Shield of the Sanctuary.
He'd throw away his helplessness.
Even if he had to throw away his reasoning.
He called upon the beast running through his veins.
Mana flowed through her. Theresia struck at her with her sinuous sword. She directed her palm at the swordsman, "El Minya."
A battery of flaming purple crystals flew at Theresia. The woman cut each one down, that robe still as she moved perfectly. Even she could admire that form, though she'd never held a sword.
It was a beautiful sight, though of course she had to ruin it, "Don't ignore this lovely lady, meatbag."
Capella swiped her claws, demented grin on her half transformed face. Transformed to what…well, even Beatrice didn't know.
"So boring, I suppose." She blinked, and teleported out of the Bishop's scaly reach. Shock appeared on the blonde woman's face.
"Let's get this over with, in fact." She didn't want to spend any more time than she had to with Capella. Beatrice wanted to spend all the time she could adhering to Natsuki Subaru's words. She'd make memory upon memory with him, and laugh about each one.
Theresia slashed at her. She teleported once more, and laid her hand on Theresia's back. Before the swordsman could turn she said, "Ul Minya, in fact."
The woman stopped moving as a ring of purple surrounded her, and a bright light manifested above.
Across the battlefield, wings burst through Capella's back, discarding skin all over the dirt and spewing mucous across her shoulders. Lust let out a scream, black flames coiling from her neck. They reached toward her.
"Pathetic, I suppose," Beatrice waved her hand, teleporting them into Capella.
The flames consumed the woman from within, but didn't kill her. Unfortunately, that left her able to speak, "DON'T USE THIS LOVELY LADY'S ATTACKS, BITCH!"
"Betty's not a bitch, in fact," she took hold of the massive well of mana she'd stockpiled over centuries of solitude, "El Murak."
A tendril of shadow snapped out and grabbed Capella. Then the limb disappeared, leaving the other blonde weightless. Though she didn't know that yet. Capella stepped forward, pushing herself into the air.
Her eyes widened as she levitated, "Oh, you spirit bitch." Her confusion melded into fury. "You're gonna pay for that when this lovely lady has her fun."
Beatrice ignored her and turned back to Theresia, who was still trying to break out of the Ul Minya. All the while, her hooded face remained locked on Beatrice. The spirit shook her head. She wouldn't laugh when looking back on the memories of this fight. Truly, a waste of time. She closed her hand, and the spell fired. To make sure of its success, Beatrice threw in a dozen El Minyas.
The brilliant light of her Ul Minya obscured the woman, but a faint silhouette remained, staring up into the sky.
Words leaked out of the robe, "Hey…do you know any Heinkel's?"
"Betty only knows Heinkel Astrea, in fact."
"How is he?" the woman asked, emotion swirling in her voice.
"Betty doesn't know him personally. Only the little Bubby mentions, and he doesn't care much, I suppose."
"Is he alive?"
"Yes, in fact."
"Thank you, and Reinhard?"
"The Sword Saint is alive as well."
The woman turned to her. Beatrice's attack began to fade as it drew toward conclusion. Inside the light was a crystal statue in the shape of Theresia. Her hood was gone, allowing a smile to show.
Within another moment, her form fell to dust.
She turned away from the woman, a bit sad at not getting to meet her in life.
"You can come down now," she looked up at the black dragon, floating up there with anger in its eyes.
"This lovely lady will—"
Beatrice ended the spell, sending the unprepared Capella to the earth.
While Lust embarrassed herself flailing around, Beatrice cast a quick glance over her shoulder. Subaru was engrossed in his battle with Elsa, while Emilia and Garfiel were busy with Kurgan.
She should move this battle. Capella was going to be disruptive otherwise. Turning back to the dragon, she put her hand up, and summoned mana.
They teleported deep into the forest. Capella screamed, and black flames shot toward her. A snap of her fingers sent them away.
As soon as they arrived in the quiet forest, removed from the other battlefields, she sighed in relief, "Thankfully, this fight has run its course, in fact."
Capella landed before her, bathing her in flames.
She waved her palm, creating a shield of Yin.
"Hm," she grunted.
This would be easy.
He stood a meter from Elsa. The woman stared at him, arousal and caution mingling on her face. He knew she could feel it. The link growing between them. Through instinct, he understood what the connection was for, but that didn't mean he could put it into words…yet.
She looked him up and down, but in the end focused on his face, "That look in your eyes…"
Maybe he should ask about it, she'd commented on it over many of his loops, "What do you mean by that look?"
"When we first met, your eyes…my, they were positively disgusting. You looked as if you weren't there, just thinking about a future that you'd never have. There was no lust for the battle, for you it was just the next that mattered."
"Ah," he grasped her meaning, "you're mad that whether the battle was won or lost it only mattered to you."
She grinned, the flesh of his neck staining her teeth, "Precisely…now, though…"
He tilted his head, "Hm?"
"You understand…" she paused to lick a bit of meat from between her teeth and swallow it, "…mmh, this is life or death. You have no Sword Saint in your pocket this time."
He pursed his lips, "Half right. I have no Sword Saint this time."
"So you still deny it's life or death?"
"No matter what happens today, it will not be the end for me." He'd die again and again, never letting go of anyone here, but everyone would remember this loop, "But…this battle is not something I'll let pass."
"Well," she shrugged, "no matter how delusional, you're invested."
"Yep." He snapped his whip, lashing Elsa's arm. No injury appeared on her. Instead, it tore into its mirror spot, right on his arm. The pain entered his awareness, though it didn't hurt. Subaru nodded. His subconscious had already figured it all out. Time to let his conscious mind catch up.
Elsa tilted her head at the complete lack of any injury, her grin fading, "How unsatisfying. Is your whip that…impotent?"
He lashed her again and again. She only stood there as his chest accrued lashing after lashing.
"You do have something up your sleeve, how interesting," Elsa let out a moan and crossed the distance between them in an instant.
Subaru barely ducked beneath her grab, and she did catch little strands of his hair. Though her body was unbalanced now, she was getting a bit careless in her ecstasy. He shot his empty hand out to the side and forged a knife of Yin crystals, jamming it into her thigh. The strike bounced off, and he gained a stab wound right where he'd tried to go for her. His thigh ran slick with blood.
She was getting more impatient by the minute, "What trick do you have?"
The girl put her arms out to the side, curious.
Subaru slashed across her chest, creating a deep laceration on his own. Agony consumed his mind and he groaned. He had Elsa's pain tolerance now, without her enjoyment of it.
"Show me," Elsa ducked down and sunk her teeth into the top of his knee, trying to tear his kneecap off.
The pain overwhelmed Subaru, bringing a yelp from him, but he held on. The hunger in his soul lessened, and he began to grow sated as she gave up on his knee and started gnashing his thigh.
Nowhere near enough though.
But before he could continue damaging her, Meili stepped out from behind the tree, and mabeasts roared behind him.
He flipped around, making Elsa yank a chunk out of his thigh. Capella screamed in the distance; he had no idea what she was saying. He ignored her, Beatrice could handle that. But she couldn't help with the courtesan bears sprinting on all fours toward him. The hunger in his chest called out. Subaru surrendered to it once more, and for a moment his very soul screamed. He closed his eyes. Blood jumped up his throat and he hacked it into the dirt.
His vision blacked out for a moment and he leaned down. Meili shouted something in the distance, and a massive fire of pain traced his back. Elsa had bitten a chunk out, throwing him onto the grass. Blood seeped from each wound; he needed to vomit. But not now. Subaru forced himself to his knees and turned to Elsa, chewing on the pieces of him she'd bitten out. It was here he became aware that all the courtesan bears were standing straight up, not moving at all. They stared at him while she leaned down, poised to cut him open.
The bears were…expectant.
Instinct took over, and Subaru gave a command.
Feed us.
All of the mabeasts obeyed, sprinting at Elsa. Each struck with both fists. She danced away from all the attacks. Except for one. The last punch, which hit her straight across the nose.
His vision turned red.
Liquid poured from his nostrils and as soon as he could observe the world again, she was staring at him.
Each of the mabeasts had stopped moving.
"Quite an ill-thought out ability you have there," Elsa commented.
"You haven't seen the last part of it," he desperately held himself up. Even kneeling was hard.
"Ooh, well let's see it," she groaned.
"Give me a second." He braced himself for the pain. Drummed up all the resolve he'd forged, and gave a single order.
All the bears listened and struck at Elsa. The woman didn't dodge. Each punch landed. A throbbing ache slashed Subaru over and over again. This wasn't a fight. It was a marathon he had to run. He barely remained kneeling. Bruises formed all over him. His insides ached.
A few voices spoke into his mind.
"Natsuki Subaru-sama."
"This is farewell, Natsuki-san."
"I don' need yer fuckin' help."
"Subaaaaru, you'll tell me what to do, right?"
Tears came to Subaru's eyes, but he maintained his fortitude. He lasted against the constant pain. She stared down at him with a waiting expression, "This has to be building to something good."
More voices berated him. A few figures even took shape. Reinhard, abandoned by Felt. Emilia, unable to move past Sanctuary. Otto, his back turned to leave. Garfiel, barely stopping himself from killing Subaru. Ram, so cold and distant.
Subaru dropped to his knees, his eyes drifting around. The mansion surrounded him.
"The grand aging of your soul, and your links with the Witch, shall one day become poison that will definitely consume you. Please, do not forget that. Reflection."
"So you were right, eh Clind?"
Even with all those words, so many holding so much truth, he held against them. He had to do this, for everyone in Sanctuary. They needed him. He continued filling his stomach with Elsa's suffering, compounding more and more within himself. He screamed, vomiting blood all across his shirt. A little bit even started dripping from his eyes.
His mind was beginning to shut down from the pain.
Yet somehow, he managed to stay awake.
He held, until he couldn't anymore. Until his mind was exploding from the pain, and it felt like the Rabbit was gnawing at his insides. None of the aching subsided or went away. It continued filling his stomach. The mabeasts were in a frenzy, laying countless injuries into Elsa. He gorged himself on her agony.
"Natsuki Subaru-sama."
"This is farewell, Natsuki-san."
"I don' need yer fuckin' help."
"Subaaaaru, you'll tell me what to do right?"
Phantoms continued appearing, one after another.
"Natsuki Subaru-sama."
"This is farewell, Natsuki-san."
"I don' need yer fuckin' help."
"Subaaaaru, you'll tell me what to do right?"
"Felt, where are you, why did you leave?"
"Why couldn't you wake me up? Why is Rem asleep? You were my hero."
There many were of his own corpses, piled to the stars. His stomach continued expanding with her pain. Beratement came from all sides. Hatred from so many people. All focused on him. Voices which were not there. People who were not there. They all continued appearing, until they were the entire world. Subaru let out a final scream.
Elsa groaned.
So much suffering roiled around within him. Too much. Nausea overtook him.
He could no longer stand this pain.
He was queasy.
He was sick.
He was gagging.
He was Bilious.
Bile was rising in his throat.
Subaru vomited.
All the suffering ripped away. The mabeasts stopped moving, and Elsa stood like a statue.
Most of the pain was gone, as was the link between him and the Bowel Hunter.
He breathed out relief as his pain tolerance returned. He checked on Elsa, and was stunned. She was staring deep into his eyes. No. That was wrong. She wasn't looking at him. She was gazing through him. To a far-off place.
"What did you…" Elsa cut off, tears running down her cheeks. Her breath came out so heavily as she stared around. "Why is it so cold?"
He could hear it in her voice: the breaking of her heart.
To consume all the pain of those he claimed to care for, then vomit back emotional anguish.
If that wasn't the description of his time with Echidna, then he didn't know what was.
She continued staring around absently, until she remembered her hand.
She looked down at it, her fingers covered in blood, with sharp nails. Her eyes landed on him, then slid back to the bloody skin, "Meili…I'm sorry."
She ripped her throat out.
Meili sobbed from somewhere in the trees.
He leaned back, as she pulled her esophagus out over and over while Meili wept.
Sighing, he relaxed. He dropped to his back, blood seeping out of him. Spirits floated above.
He knew this feeling. His eyelids drooping from the blood loss. All his burdens seeming so trivial for a second. The cold realization of failure that tried setting in.
Death was approaching.
He couldn't let that happen, not yet.
"Help…"
Nearly two hundred spirits circled the air above him—a vortex of blue lights—funneling power into him. His wounds began to close, and the bleeding stopped for the most part.
But Elsa was still spilling her blood. With each tear, she let loose a scream as she realized she was still alive. He couldn't comprehend what she was seeing or hearing, and he didn't care either.
Elsa Granhiert didn't deserve his sympathy.
He pulled in more and more mana to keep his injuries from worsening.
The noise of Elsa murdering herself came to a sudden conclusion.
Subaru let out another breath, "Huh, she went out that easy?"
He hadn't noticed the sound of grass crunching, until Elsa stepped over him, tears dripping onto his shirt, "What did you do to me?"
"Shit," he whispered.
She dropped to her knees.
Time slowed. Death was here.
Yet, he'd resist.
There was so much he'd done this time. He wouldn't let it all go to waste. Ram would remember his confession of love. Garfiel would remember how cool he'd looked. Emilia would remember his and Rem's belief in her. Rem would remember her sister admitting her flaws. Otto would remember his friend asking for help. Beatrice would remember their answer.
"Help!"
Elsa growled, and dove toward his stomach, intent on ripping his abs apart with her mouth.
Something chipped and her teeth bounced off it.
A thin shield of purple glass.
She glared at him as tears collected in her eyes, "You…I'll eat those bowels…"
Subaru ignored the venom in her voice and stared at the protective layer. He hadn't made that.
Then, his breath hitched as a brilliant warmth thumped from within his chest.
Within his mind.
Right at the back.
That rhythm. Such a familiar pulsing.
Right from the same old spot in his head.
Comfort radiated through him. He knew who to thank.
"Thanks…Nan."
For the first time in so long, the spirit answered, "I heard you needed some help, Subaru."
"Don't I always need some help?" he thought back.
"And I'll always give it. Ignore the few weeks I missed though."
"Already ignored," Subaru thought to his partner as he stood up.
The black spirit floated above him, so much power flowing through Nan into him. His injuries healed a little more, still not fully, but enough to stand. He held his whip tight. Elsa stared at him, water dripping down her cheeks. Hatred had paralyzed her for the moment.
He waved his hand, "El Minya."
She lunged back and deflected or dodged each shard. Subaru didn't care to make them hit her. Nan continued to pulse that same warm beat. A second heartbeat to calm him, one stronger than ever before.
Mana flowed through his contracted spirit, so much of it.
"This is a little more powerful than I remember," Subaru commented.
"Last time I was a quasi-spirit. Now I've matured a little. Anyway what's Ram-san up to?"
Subaru thought about that for a second, and did something he needed to. He reached out with his Authority of Gluttony, and searched for any mabeasts near the tomb. Nearly a hundred were closing in right now. He took control of each one, and commanded them to execute the others.
"Ram's good," he responded.
When he focused back on Elsa, standing ready to bite his stomach open, he said, "Time for a real fight. What do you say? Ready to fight a spiritualist and his contracted spirit?"
She glared at him with sadness, hate, and anticipation creeping in, "You make me want to eat you so badly."
"She's creepy," Nan commented.
"Ya think?" he turned back to her.
She walked toward him, like a starved beast.
"Time to retry our first real fight as partners," Subaru thought to Nan.
"The whale fight wasn't our best showing."
"This one will go better."
"We haven't really set a high bar," Nan agreed.
"Time to set a high bar then!" he shouted out.
And this time, he truly had faith in his contracted spirit.