Day's over!
With excitement and unprecedented ambitions, Natsuki Subaru travels around the Captial of Lugunica with a boost of determination in his step. He ignored all those who eyed him dumbfoundedly or enviously. This was his redemption arc, his comeback after failing to meet every expectation of him back in his world.
He marveled at the medieval architecture that the kingdom was founded on. Then, he clutched his plastic bag of items as he internally screamed: It's just like what I thought it would be!
The pre-eminent amount of happiness that bubbled in him was unthinkable; never did he imagine that the universe would bestow him with a bountiful gift such as this, a gift that would allow him to become something better, something astonishing, something to be proud of.
Each breath he inhaled gave him a sense of newcoming as if the world was telling him that it was his time to shine. To glow brighter than those who inhabited this world for millennia. Yes, that's exactly what the world was telling him. That was his purpose, and he will fulfill it beyond measure.
But there was one thing that itched in his mind: Just what were his powers? Where was the girl who summoned him? Why was he teleported in the middle of a plaza? Although that itched in his mind constantly, he never worried about it. After all, the world was his to conquer now. Everything will be answered in due date.
As Natsuki Subaru walked with his chest puffed out, he heard a scream, a yell that warned everyone to jump out of the road. The roar of a fuming ground dragon coursed through the vivid streets. Everyone rushed out of the way.
Everyone did, except one.
Natsuki Subaru stood idly on the road. As if tempting the mouth-fuming ground dragon to run him over. He was tempting fate, and he was doing it pridefully. He didn't need to worry; this world was made for him. It will bend to him. It will submit to him.
He curled the edges of his lips into a smirk that yelled: Come at me!
He then threw his unoccupied hand in front of the roaring danger. He summoned every ethereal feeling that he felt accumulating in his being and roared out a: HA!
An insurmountable feeling burst from his chest. He felt it. He felt his power! He coursed through his magical veins and flowed through his fingertips with absolute ease! Everyone from the sidelines screamed; it must be because they were amazed by his staggering talent. Yes, those screams were yelling out in envy. Natsuki Subaru believed it so.
While all this occurred, he had his eyes shut. In both fear and arrogance, his power was great. Unquestionably so, he feared that his eyes might not be ready to witness such greatness. Such incomprehensible nonsense was only standard for Subaru.
So when he opened his eyes and saw the salivating ground dragon maw gaping with flat teeth coursing the edges. He felt surprised. He didn't feel an inch of horror touching him because he had no time to comprehend the happenings in front of him.
With the sound of a: "Ehh?" Natsuki Subaru lost the front portion of his brain, his eyes taken from his as well. The drugged ground dragon didn't stop their mayhem and continued to sprint while grinding the flesh he partook. The ground dragon's talons smashed into Subaru's chest, making the chest cavity collapse with a horrifying squish.
Soon the ground dragon past the dead boy. A roar of affrighted crowds rang out as the carriage wheels spun the boy's body and broke each fiber and bone in him. A leg tore off and spun in the air before hitting the ground with a twisted ankle and a bone protruding outwards into the world.
The body of Natsuki rolled with the carriage wheel still. It has become a mess of gore by now. Muscle fibers and bones splatter the pavement beneath while crushed organs skidded across the ground. The underneath of the carriage became a mark of death as slick red blood coated it. Intestines decorated the end of the carriage like a wedding get-away car.
Some teared waterfalls at the sight, others blocked the children's line of sight and growled disgust at the view, and others threw up every content that was held in their stomachs. Quickly the guards came and built a barricade with spikes, and then the murderous ground dragon crashed into said spikes. Wooden fragments and debris flew and arced around the street.
Blood rivered down to the ground from the fatal wounds. The guards arrested the reckless driver with a harsh look, and then a clean-up crew came. Everyone gossiped about the boy's death. Some called the boy an idiot for not heading the caution of the driver's word. Others cried and sympathized with the boy's death. And some blew out a breath of bewilderment before resuming their daily lives.
Soon, nightfall struck, and the moon peaked its cycle. Silence smeared the kingdom as darkness concentrated on the Slum dwellers. Only the moon's ray of sympathy shone brightly at a lone building, through an ajar hole that sat on top of the roof. The sympathetic beam showered on a lone hand. Its petite, lithe fingers clutched at nothingness as if seeking warmth that was not there.
An emerald gem that hung from the half-elf girl's neck rang with a low hum, glowing softly with a green hue. Beating as if it was alive.
It began to beat faster.
…
And then.
…
A pillar of white sprang to the skies. Condensed with hatred and lost meaning, the pillar of white expanded, making the surrounding clouds cycle around itself and transforming them into blizzards.
The residents of the Slums screamed out but then were hushed with an insurmountable frost. Their glacier bodies stuck out as snow piled onto the ground. Their faces contorted in everlasting anguish.
The pillar of white ceased, dissipating into the condensed air of hate. And what came out of that pillar of white was a colossal titan, its fur wavering in the ice cold air. The titan glowed yellow enmity and looked past the Capital and narrowed at the castle that sat on top of a mountain. The titan had lost all meaning. It chose to die at the hands of a hero, for only the hero could kill it.
As the blizzard of death grew and distorted the surrounding world in piercing white. A man's silhouette walked out; A hand on the pommel of the『Dragon Sword』that sat on his waist, only to be taken out when the sword deemed the foe worthy enough. The man's fiery red hair did not waver in the frost as if protected by the gods.
The titan and God's chosen one meet eye to eye. One leered with anguish while the other felt only pity.
?: "So, you finally came『Hero』."
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Subaru: "Huh?"
Natsuki Subaru blurted out. He stood dumbfounded at the fruit stall he once saw. The fruit vendor spoke something questionably, but the words did not enter Subaru's ears. Natsuki Subaru was preoccupied with something much more horrific at the moment.
Just what did he see?
Slowly, he starts to feel his body. Rubbing his stomach, torso, sides, legs, arms, and head. Everything seemed to be in place, not a misplacement to be found. He then follows his arms down to his palms. His palms staring at him, and him staring at his palms.
?: "Hey kid. Are ya gonna buy or wha't? And stop that mombo crap. It's gonna scare away my customers."
With the voice of the fruit vendor disrupting his existential crisis, Subaru's arms went limp. With wide eyes, Subaru spoke his first words to the fruit vendor, who seemed to be impatient with Subaru's stupor.
Subaru: "Just—What happened?"
The question that came out of Subaru seemed to baffle the fruit vendor. He rolled the stalk that stuck out of his mouth to the other side and spoke with bafflement.
Fruit vendor: "Huh? The hell's you talking about, kid? You right in the mind?"
Natsuki Subaru simply gave a blank star as he blinked. Was he alright? He didn't know that himself. That answer was elusive to him and will be for many years to come. Instead of answering that question, Subaru spoke another question.
Subaru: "What happened to that pillar of light? Why is it day?"
It seemed that the greed in Subaru had struck out and forced him to give out two simultaneously ambiguous conundrums. The fruit vendor's expression only twisted more into bafflement as he heard both requests.
Fruit vendor "What the hell are ya talking about?"
Subaru: "I'm talking about the pillar of light when it was night."
Fruit vendor: "Look kid, I ain't got a speck on what you're spewing."
Subaru: "But–It all happened. After– – –After I di–."
Before Subaru could finish his statement, a callous hand stretched out. An appa within its palm was shown to the blank Subaru in good gesture. It weaved around in front of him as if asking Subaru to take it.
Fruit vendor: "Look, I don't know what's your deal is or why you have that expression on ya. But take this appa with you. It's all I can do."
Subaru: "-"
Subaru took the appa without question, his mind still adjusting to the horrors he felt and witnessed. Just what were that pillar of light and that titan? Did that girl have ties with that titan? Just where was that lone building located? Did he truly die?
That last question seemed to be pushed to the back of Subaru's mind. He didn't want to answer it or give it thought, so instead, his mind gave him an alternate answer, a safety net for his fragile mind: 'I just saw the future.'
Subaru: "Thank you."
Subaru replied as he hastily left the stall and vanished into the bustling crowds. His eyes were static with excitement. He finally learned of his isekai power. How joyous he must be.
Fruit vendor: "Yeah, no problem."
The vendor whispered out as he eyed the back of the mysterious boy. Just what happened to him? He was normal and behaved as a boy should, but in just a bat of the eye, the boy named Natsuki Subaru changed. And horrifyingly so.
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Subaru grinned ear to ear while the edges of his smile twitched from excitement. He sat on the stairs of a shady alleyway, but that didn't matter to him, for Subaru had finally done it. He had found out about his isekai-given powers, even if by accident it was an overwhelming achievement.
Subaru: "Hehehe."
He giddily stuck out his arm and examined it. After all, it was the law that if the protagonist of an isekai found out one power, then the next one should present itself brightly and arrogantly.
He blew air out of his nostrils as if he was a kid who had found a new exciting toy to play with. Then with his fist squeezed shut, he announced his first isekai-given power to the world.
Subaru: "This power shall be called『Augur』."
『Augur』'One who predicts or foretells the future.' A great name for an even greater power, it explained his power to the T. Ecstasy shocked Subaru's body through and through as he repeated the name『Augur』as if enchanted by the name.
He was so enthralled by the name that he didn't notice the three silhouettes that stumbled into the alleyway. Their mouths grinned malice as they saw a prey fit enough to mug from.
Thug one: "If you don't want to get hurt, then give us watcha' got!"
The smallest thug out of the mishaps spoke. He stretched his measly malnourished arm out and waved his hand around as if gesturing to comply. Yet to his surprise and vexation, Natsuki Subaru kept peering at his hand. As if he had an unfathomable construct in his clutches.
Thug two: "Oh? How about we clock your nose in and leave you choking on your blood."
The lankiest out of the trio of hopelessness spoke out in aggression. But, seeing that the boy was so enchanted by nothingness, he spoke nothing but threats. Yet, Natsuki Subaru did not flinch in the slightest. No. Rather, Subaru placed both hands on his knees and stood up, a smirk widening on his visage.
Thug three: "I'm warning ya, I'll break everyone bone in ya!"
The last thug, the biggest out of the three, spoke. He cracked his knuckles, gesturing that his threat would be fulfilled if the boy did not comply. The thug's lip lifted into a growl, trying to intimidate the intrepid boy.
Yet. after all the tyrannization they spouted out, Natsuki Subaru simply yawned and spoke: "Yeah, yeah. If you really wanted to, you would have already beaten the shit out of me."
Subaru spoke out without a shred of uncertainty. From all the countless Light novels and manga he viewed, he knew that thugs like these held no power to back up their flimsy threats: 'Ha, They're all bark and no bite.'
Subaru: "But because you've threatened the likes of me, the future hero of this world, I'm obliged to pummel the fucking shit out of you guys!"
Subaru snickered at the end of his declaration. He watched as the trio of worthless trash became stumped by his words of heroism. A moment passed, and Subaru felt a tinge of worriedness. The tension was high, after all.
For Natsuki Subaru, at least.
But just as that high tense silence instantly appeared, it vanished just as quickly with fits of unrivaled laughter soon following its disappearance. It was the prideful boy's turn to be stumped. He watched in utter confusion as the trio of laughing failures held their stomachs and howled with no end. Tears began to leak and streak their cheeks.
Just what did they find so funny?
Subaru: "just why the hell are you guys laughing?!"
Thug one: "Hahaha! You think!"
Thug two: "That you're going to, hahaha!"
Thug three: "Gonna beat our asses? Hahahaha!"
As the last bulking thug finished the sentiment between his fellow compadres with a ludicrous laugh, Natsuki Subaru's proud mien wavered with utter embarrassment. His face became red, and his eyebrows furrowed in anger.
Subaru clutched his fist in anger and spoke with absolute belief: "Laugh all you want. I'm still going to beat your asses!"
With a swift motion, Natsuki Subaru lands a hand on his face. His right eye peered out to the world through the slit between his fingers. He closed his left eye, and his right eye stared intensely at the trio as if towering over them.
Subaru: "Face my wrath, my power! Face the future of your demise!『Augur』!"
He yelled out the name of his new ability, and his voice trembled the air around him. He felt it, the accumulation of his ethereal sparks surging towards his eyes. Yes, the power that came from his soul burst forth and tainted his eye with visions of the future!
…
The thugs snickered between themselves as they watched the boy's incredible stupidity antics. They watched as he yelled and peered out of his hand. Nothing worth mentioning even came forth from that yell. In the end, they felt saddened for the boy's mental health in a twisted way. Just who raised him to believe such ferocious thoughts about himself?
Thug three: "Hehe, ok, ok. Enough shitting around. Just give us your shit, and we can go our separate ways, ya?"
The bulkiest of the three declared the offer with pity echoing in his voice. He was the most sympathetic out of the three, even if he did pummel a few to the brink of death. But that was just his way of life, the only way he sought fit. Even so, he had a code of not hurting the mentally retarded.
Thug one: "Just hand it over nice and easy, ya freak!"
The smallest of the bunch spoke out. Now with the conclusion of Subaru's craze antics, he felt safer than ever. There was no way a mindless, boastful, witless such as the boy would ever be able to hurt them: 'Just look at clothes! Definitely, a stupid noble kid running off of mommy's love.
Thug two: "Or don't. I've been itching to peel someone off for a while now."
The lankiest and most malnourished of the trio announced. His eyes prowled at Subaru as if the boy was the juiciest prey he had seen in ages. The thug's tongue slithered out just like a snake and drenched his lips in saliva.
Yet the stupid fool did not respond to the requests that each thug made. Instead, his eye was peering into nothingness. To an outside observer, it would seem as if the boy had lost it. But that was far from the case.
Subaru: "Ghaa!"
The trio watched as the boy hunched over, saliva spewing out of his mouth as he desperately breathed for air. Quickly, the boy wiped his mouth with his sleeve and peered over to the trio with now tired and ominous eyes.
Thug three: "Tch, can't believe his taking it this far."
The bulkiest thug muttered. Now that his fit of initial laughter dried out, he had a better view of all this. With a shake of his head and a 'Tch.' he glared at the boy disappointedly. He summarized all the boy's actions as a craze.
Subaru: "Why did it change? Doesn't matter. I know how to win now."
Subaru fumbled out as he collected his bearings. A flash of images filled with loss, death, dangers, and winnings had thrown him off his mental course. His ability had changed, but the concept was identical. He saw the future. It was scattered, but he saw it and absorbed it nonetheless.
Thug two: "Well then, it seems that our sheep won't be submitting anytime soon~ How about I just cut the cake already!"
The lankiest thug yelled out his favorite phrase and sprinted manically towards the recovering boy. Seeing this, Natsuki Subaru smirked and quickly formed a battle stance which was a boxer's stance. A classic he learned when he was young.
The lanky thug shouted an insult toward Subaru, which he completely ignored. This was his time to show these low lives how amazing he was! The lanky thug simply laughed but hadn't taken out any weapons.
Subaru: "I'm going to show you who you're dealing with!"
The lanky thug reached out for Subaru's collar, but Subaru anticipated this and weaved underneath the thug's trajectory and clenched his fist into an upward swoop. The pathetic lanky thug 'Guack' out as his head swiveled upwards.
The lack of weight and impact of the uppercut had made the lanky thug fly off the ground. But Natsuki Subaru wasn't done with his punishment. Subaru threw his left arm out and gripped the thug's chain. He yanked it towards himself and coiled back his right arm.
PACK!
The sound of nostrils breaking aired out in the alleyway. The lanky thug has been jabbed with a horrifying force that when he flew and struck the ground, his body skidded across the brick pavement and landed between the boy and his thievish comrades.
The now surviving duo looked towards the scene dumbstruck before blinking the bafflement away, yet it was already too late. Natsuki Subaru had already made his way toward them. He bent his knees and threw out a low-hanging kick toward the smallest thug.
A 'Thuk' blew out. The small worm flew into the wall and lost consciousness. His head pulsating in pain to which a massive red mark was forming. Subaru wasted no time and spun toward the last thug and weaved towards his right, just out of the way of a massive boulder of a fist.
Thug three: "I tried to play nice, yet yo–!"
Before the last surviving low-life could finish, Subaru had jabbed his liver. A grunt of pain came hurling out, yet the thug did not surrender to this perceived craze boy.
Subaru held a smirk all this time, and it only grew more prominent with each passing moment. Effortlessly, he dodged out of a grab and pulled the arm towards himself, leading the bulking mass to fall onto him. Subaru took this opportunity and arced his arm upwards into an uppercut.
A meaty thunk rang out. The thug twisted his face in pain while Subaru swiveled out of the bulking mass fall. The dazed thug fumbled on his feet yet managed to orientate himself to face Subaru.
The last thug held a fit of despicable anger to which Subaru only taunted at: "And here you guys were. Thinking of me as an idiot. Tsk, tsk, tsk, you guys should have taken that opportunity while you had the chance."
Subaru waved his finger scoldingly; he educated the foolish group and told them to grasp the opportunity of attack from the beginning. The last survivor didn't heed his advice and sprang towards Subaru once more.
The bulking thug threw out a right hook to which Subaru weaved under but then shimmied himself to throw out a left hook. Subaru swerved to the side, out of the attack's range. Subaru held eyes of absolute knowledge as if he knew each course of attack the thug would take.
Thug three: "Just die already!"
He shouted out in absolute rage. This was a moment in countless moments where he lost all reasoning and started throwing punches, jabs, and hooks until it all became sluggish movements.
Subaru countered each throw with a weave, never missing a beat. He felt the boulder of a fist graze his hair each time he swiveled out of an attack; it gave his heart a rush of excitement like never before.
Subaru: "Sorry, but dying is out of the agenda!"
The thug's movement became slow. It was unparalleled to his attacks from before. Finally, his breathing became ragged with exhaustion; just why wasn't any of his attacks connecting to this weasel?!
Subaru chuckled at the thug's stupefaction and anger: "Like I said! You're dealing with the newborn hero of this world!"
Subaru shouted out this declaration as if it was a known fact. The thug had none of it and threw out his final punch with enough speed to knock out a man cold. With the glint of finalization, Subaru threw out his hand and pushed the bulking arm to the side. Subaru took this opportunity and threw an uppercut that sent the thug's jaw flying to the side.
The thug's mind went blank as his body began to fall forward to the ground, yet Subaru wasn't done. Subaru gripped the man's braids and dangled his head in front of him. With a look of utter resentment, Subaru clobbered the thug's jaw. Spit arced to the side, Subaru back knuckled the thug's jaw once more, and spit arced to the other side.
This repeated again and again and again and again and again and again and again.
Spit arced and splattered to the ground and onto Subaru's waist. Blood came bowling out of the thug's nose as a high pitch clank hit the ground. Teeth were littered underneath him. Subaru's fist and sleeve became coated with the ignorant thug's life.
Subaru: "Stupid son of a bit-ch!"
Subaru spitted out that insult through his clutched teeth. An unadulterated expression of resentment took place in his innocence. But as he continued to thrash the thug to near death, a maniacal crackle came bursting forth.
But that all stopped as a high-kick from a slender gangly leg came smashing through the air. Subaru gave a 'Guagh!' as he came hurtling towards the ground. A loud thud rang out as the back of his head connected to the pavement below.
He felt numbness at first. He touched the back of his bleeding head and tainted his rocking fingers with his own life essence. And then the explosive pain came forth. He gave out a shrill as he clutched the seeping wound. He writhed in agony and spazzed his legs from the sheer pain of it all.
His spit went flying out as he gasped violently. Tears started to well up in his shut eyes as he tried to overcome the pain. The being who had done this to him glared death at him as they jumped over a building and began to run.
?: "Came ba—"
A female voice sliced through the air with a hot vengeance, but the boy couldn't even decipher what had been spoken. He was agonizing over his pain and pride to do so. A tear fell and ran over his nose, where the imprint of a sole and bits of dirt were seen.
?: "We shou—"
?: "They're no—"
Another voice joined, its tone undefining as if it had no sex to categorize on. It spoke a 'nay' at the end of each of every sentence it spoke. Their gazes fixated on the mess that was spewed in the alleyway: Bodies with blood leaking, teeth scattered, and minds blanking into unconsciousness.
?: "-There on–"
?: "-Sure you aren—"
?: "-Emp—!"
Subaru, who ground his teeth in sheer anguish, became more relaxed as his body mitigated the pain. Unknown to him, his body was reverting. Reverting before he attacked the trio of hapless idiots. The onlookers argued between themselves without realizing that the boy's spilled blood wormed its way inside him. Soon the opening of his skull began to shut as fragments of skin and bones began to collide together, reforming the boy's wound.
?: "Let's go already!"
?: "Alright Lia."
The female voice shouted out her anger and stormed off, yet her eyes were conflicted with emotions. Nonetheless, she chose her decision and vanished from the turbulent alleyway. Her eyes trembled with doubt still.
Subaru moaned as he opened his eyes; the tears that leaked had vanished as if they had retraced their steps back into Subaru's eye. He pushed his arms out and leveled himself to view his surroundings. No one was around him except the three thugs he conquered. And then, with a huff, Subaru rose up, stumbling a bit but quickly regained his composure and snapped his neck to the side with his hand.
He swore he had heard two people arguing before him. He frowned at that fact. Why hadn't they helped him? He was distraught and writhing, yet they argued as if nothing of value was lying before them. A irk downcast only expressed his frown more lividly.
Subaru: "Well, it doesn't matter. I just finished my first compulsory event."
Subaru muttered as he laid eyes onto the incapacitated thugs below. His lips curled into a smirk, the sense of superiority rose once more and his ideal of himself being the chosen hero became cemented into his heart.
Subaru: "But since I got that vision about the pillar of light, then that must mean there's another compulsory event nearby. My time limit seems to be at night near a slum, maybe around twelve pm?"
Subaru scratches his head, and then a bulb of light illuminates over his head: "Ah, I have regeneration?"
He spoke as he felt the small gap in his head closed as if it was never there. A puff of pride and knowing came out from him: "Only makes sense, although it's a slow-acting regen. Easy fix, just have to grind my way into having instant regen."
The ends of his lips tilted upwards to a smile. He brushed himself off and then cleaned his nose, yet there was no imprint or dirt on it as if it was also reverted back before he had fought the thugs. But Natsuki Subaru still remembered, his eyes turned scorn as he vowed to take revenge on the one who wickedly stomped on him.
With his vow finished, Natsuki Subaru walked out of the alleyway. His groceries were clutched in his right hand. His actions are forever printed in the minds of those thugs.
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Subaru: "『Augur』!"
A flash of future movements, talks, gossip, anger, trading, negotiations, fights, and lust stormed in his mind, for Subaru had seen all the future events in a split second and more. He had seen what will happen and what could happen. Timelines of possibilities were introduced to him as mere flashes.
Subaru: "Gaack!"
He bent forward past his knees and held his eyes in his grasp. It wasn't pain that he felt. It was more akin to a flash of numbness. A distortion of his emotions and senses. He breathed heavily before going back to stabilization.
With a deep breath, he erected his back and gazed at the onlookers with a smirk. Said onlookers were creeped out by the action and hurriedly returned to their daily lives. Subaru shrugged this off and leaned back into the bench he sat on.
From the alleyway, he traveled aimlessly until he found a plaza with a gorgeous fountain in the middle. Even though he was resting his tired feet, his mind was still working. He called out his ability of future sight repeatedly, trying to analyze the feat and tinkering with it until he got a solid foundation on it.
And in an astonishing conclusion, Natsuki Subaru had found the epiphany of his ability: "If I activate the ability, then I just see a bunch of futures, but if I objective in mind, then the clusterfuck narrows down to the objective. Removing all other futures that don't participate in the objective's future."
Subaru nodded to himself for his exquisite breakdown and explanation of this profound ability. He laid his eyes on individual bystanders and muttered out『Augur』. Flashes of that person's future and possible futures steamed into Subaru's mind. He grunted and squeezed his eyes tight until the flare of numbness vanished.
Subaru: "It's amazing that I'm able to remember all those details and not get my brain fried."
『Augur』The ability to view the future and possible futures of whatever you wish had a passive ability that immensely helped its user keep composure. Although unnamed, the passive allows Subaru to view an indefinite amount of futures in a fraction of a second without frying his brain to mush and without losing sanity. One could say that flash of numbness each time he used『Augur』was the passive cleansing his mind from insanity.
Subaru: "But this can't be the end of my powers. I'm sure I have others; I just need to discover them."
After all, he was the chosen hero for this world. He wouldn't have been summoned and given this outlandish power if he wasn't. Yes, he was the hero, the rising star who would defeat the evils of the world. He adamantly believed in that belief. So that's why he's so pressed on what other abilities he may have hidden in his body.
Subaru: "I have slow regen, future sight—Wait, didn't that regen also fix my nose?"
Surprised at the discovery, Subaru's fingered the outside of his nose. He felt no dent or imprint on it, nor did he find any bent. He then rubbed the back of his head. He felt no dried blood as if there was never a wound for blood to seep. Subaru blinked in flabbergasted; he collided the evidence and came to a theme about his powers: Time.
Both abilities: One passive and the other active, each relating to a recurring theme.
Subaru's lips stretched into a smile; he lifted himself off the bench and began to walk. The word『Augur』came falling out as he vanished into the crowd of civilians.
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The reeking smell of depravity and desperation billowed from the lifeless ground, and the stench of pity and shit polluted the air. A fine line separated this place and the prosaic society that laid behind the line. The boy who wore a tracksuit that symbolized death lowered his lips into a frown: "The separation sure is grotesque."
It made his heart bleed to see the cruel reality that plagued this world. No matter which world he goes to, the same problems will always fester deep in the core of all beings. Greed, Wrath, Lust, Sloth, Gluttony, Envy, Pride. These sins will always be a part of man. There was simply no escape from it.
Subaru: "But I'll change it."
But he was the exception. He'll change the course of every living thing in this world. He'll become the『Star of Change』. That was his unyielding destiny; he was certain of it. So when he crossed over that line, a bright unwavering smile shone brightly on his mien.
The poor discrepants that tottered around the Slums gave a mystified gaze at the boy. Just why was a boy, cleaned from contamination doing here? It was for something evil; they were sure of it. Drugs, unsavory contracts, prostitution, rape, or even killings. Name it, and the poor dwellers have seen it all. So it was no wonder that their baffled eyes soon turned sour or hastily veered away.
Subaru: 'I'll save you all. Just wait for me.'
Subaru kept his gaze glued in one direction as if he knew where to go. He straightened his posture and strolled with so much pride that a man could see the sin flowing out of him. But he had to do so. He had to show an example to all the lower class of society of what a hero looked like.
Soon, he stopped his march and examined the lone building with scrutinization. He leaned his head in all types of manner as he peered at each crevice and withered board the building had to offer: "So this is where the pillar of white exploded at."
He muttered as he gazed at the red hue that colored the sky. The sun was setting, and Subaru should have felt a err right about now, but he didn't. The dogma that he was the hero had already twisted his sense in unbelievable amounts. Not even the smell of blood that pooled on the ground deterred him from entering. The inside of the building was only dimly lit by the red hue the sun casted.
Subaru: "『Augur』."
He whispered out as he let out a "Gha" Shortly after. The images of the assailant lurking in the shadows, watching him, praying on him, flashed before him. The nearly infinite amount of futures played before, and most led to death, with the exception of a few.
Subaru: "Elsa Granhiert. That's your name, ain't it."
He gave out a rhetorical question. Subaru already knew the assassin's name; he was just buying time until sunset. Shortly after he spoke the true name of the assassin, a voluptuous silhouette strolled into the scene and out of the shadows. She had a slender finger on her plumb lips in awe and curiosity. Her chest was caked with a dark hue of red.
Elsa Granhiert: "My, my, my~ And to steal my thunder away. To who do I owe such a pleasure to, I wonder?"
Elsa Granhiert spoke sluttishly. She eyed Natsuki Subaru from shoes to the hairs that stood from his combed-back hair. She wasn't impressed by the display, but the vanity that surrounded the boy was alluring. Surely, the boy could impress her with his words rather than his physique, and for that reason alone did Elsa Granhiert allowed the boy to speak without getting gutted.
Subaru wiggled his waist and pompously rolled his hand. The stench of iron and shit should have shocked him, made him throw his stomach acid. The three bodies that lay motionless with their bowels flowing outwards on the ground should have him explode with unconditional terror.
Subaru: "Name's Natsuki Subaru. The『Star of Change』! Pretty cool title, if I say so myself. Your title also suits you pretty well.『Bowel Hunter』. Disemboweling every prey you've caught, can't say I endorse that type of killing though."
At the end of his introduction, Subaru lets his arm gracefully fall back into place next to him. Elsa simply smiled at the title the common folk had given her; it reminded her of children's stories where the big bad monster would come eat them if they misbehaved. But what truly caught her attention was the glint in Subaru's eyes. It was as if he was trying to impersonate an all-knowing being. Trying to play as the knowing hero who won't falter.
Elsa Granhiert: "So that's your persona? My~ I wonder how such a view can be so twisted. No matter—"
Elsa Granhiert licks her lips as she vanishes in thin air and reappears inches away from Subaru's bowels with lustful eyes. A blade only produced in Gusteko was centimeters away from his skin.
Elsa Granhiert: "-I'll be delighted to see your bowels either way!"
But then the entirety of Natsuki Subaru vanishes in thin air without leaving a trace of where he went—As if he was simply never there. Elsa's eyes shot up with perplexity as she rose up from her prowling stance. The sound of breathing snagged her attention. She twirled around with her weapon tilting downwards.
Subaru: "You say twisted, but I'll title it as my calling."
Subaru sat at a stool that was idly seated near the counter of the building. A giant with its throat pierced by a broken glass sat hunched over next to him. The giant's stomach was cleanly cut through with expertise so as to let all the intestines slither out with ease.
Elsa Granhiert: "My~ I wonder what you've just done. Mind if this pretty lady some insight~?"
Elsa spoke as she licked her lips hungrily; the glint in her eyes spoke volumes of the insatiable bloodthirst that had welled up in her. Her body went back into a prowler pose, and her legs kicked off with disastrous speeds that the wooden boards underneath her shattered and scattered in the air.
Before Subaru even took another breath, Elsa's blade screeched through the air and was once again centimeters away from disemboweling Subaru. Her eyes widened in anticipation, so much so that the white in her pupils grew comically.
With no indication that the boy had vanished, Elsa's blade exploded the counter and stool with colossal power. Her eyes scrunched up in irk as she twisted her body to relocate her prey. She gave a 'Tch' as she saw her prey crouched down, playing with the strands of hair from a dead half-elf.
Subaru: "Seriously. Your way of killing is just too cruel."
Subaru sorrowfully declared. His eyes were disconsolate as he let the back of his hand graze the half-elf's cold, colorless cheek. The emerald gem that hung around her neck pulsated as it neared the epitome of night.
Subaru: "Don't worry. I'll save you and everyone from this cruel fate."
He muttered out. Elsa's blade roared as it tore through the air and reached Subaru's throat. It was a hair away from tearing the fragile meat of Subaru's throat. His adam apple trembled in fright. But then he vanished. Elsa snarled at this ridiculous chase of cat and mouse; She twisted her body but found no one behind her. She cranked her head to the side, yet no one was there either, not even the bodies she had slew. Not even the bowels were present; the only indication of there ever being death was the dried blood that crusted the boards.
The nonsensical events that circled her changed her demeanor; gone was the visage of a legendary sultry assassin. The wild, disemboweling beast has entered the stage with a trembling fury.
Subaru: "Sorry for the wait—"
Subaru, who appeared opposite of Elsa, had his eyes closed. In a fraction of a second, he felt the tip of the blade tearing into his gut. But just as quickly as Elsa had burst towards him. He vanished.
Subaru: "Ah, damn it! You've cut through my tracksu—"
Subaru had held onto the opening of his torn tracksuit, but Elsa impeded his disdain by exploding toward him. Her blade's tip once again tore the upper layer of his skin before he vanished.
Elsa was tired of this man's nonchalant gest. Each moment when her blade meets nothingness triggers a rupturing emotion.
Subaru: "You know, cutting someone of—"
He ceased to exist in the present once more as Elsa's blade tore a small cut to his side. He reappeared in a different spot. The wounds that were inflicted ceased to exist as well as the gaps in his tracksuit. It was as if time reverted on itself to please him.
Elsa Granhiert: "I would like it if you stopped this chase of cat and—"
She lunged at Subaru with speeds incomprehensible to a normal human mind. The side of her blade managed to cut through a layer of skin on his neck; blood splintered out on her blade as Subaru vanished once more.
Elsa Granhiert: "-Mouse."
Subaru: "Damn, that was a close one. Luckily it's meaningless when I can just revert."
Elsa stomped in the direction of the star and glared at him. Just what outlandish meaning is he spewing? Her eyes jumped to his neck and spotted no injury. Subaru simply rubbed his hair in disappointment as he gave a vexed stare at Elsa.
Elsa glimpsed at her trusted blade and found not a speck of red taint on it.
Subaru: "But in the end, it won't matter if I tell you, huh."
Elsa glared back at the boy and eyed him skeptically.
Elsa Granhiert: "Oh? Willing to talk, too bad. I'm in a sour mood."
She went back on the prowl as she crouched towards to ground to prepare for another lunge. But the image of Subaru vanished as her vision blackened into nothingness. She lets out an "Ah~" as her eyes abruptly split open. Blood spewed out as the juices that were kept hidden behind her eyes river outwards.
Subaru: "Auug, that felt nasty to do. Also, thanks for the cool-looking blade, Elsa. I'll take it as my first loot from a boss."
The moon was nearing its peak. Elsa's eyes regenerated back in a grotesque manner; bubbles and tethering nerves collided together. She rose from her crouched stance and bit her lip in ballistic anger.
Elsa Granhiert: "You think you can get away from me!"
Subaru: "Well, I'm just gonna be standing here. You're the one that's going to go back in time."
Elsa Granhiert: "What?"
Subaru toyed with the blade as he continued his explanation.
Subaru: "I'm able to loop time the day over when the night has peaked its cycle—"
Elsa gave a baffled look as if she didn't believe an ounce of truth he was spouting. Instead, she pounced forward but only fell downwards with her chin hitting the bloodied boards. The searing pleasure of being sliced stormed in her. She pushed down on the ground and tried to pounce once more, but the function of her legs ceased. Because she had no legs, they were across from her with the entrance of the wound squirting out blood. She would have basked in the pleasure had the boy not interrupted her.
Subaru: "You see, Elsa. I've come to learn a few new exciting facts about myself."
Elsa pursues the boy's rant. Subaru was walking towards her methodically while spanking his palm with the blade.
Elsa Granhiert: "Oh~ And just what ar—"
Elsa lets out a moan as her arms become severed, and lays across from her. Her regenerated legs were also once again sliced apart by the boy. Subaru, with a hateful glint, yanks Elsa's braids upwards so that they could meet eye to eye.
Elsa wore a mask of blood on her face; her eyes were dark and tranced with revelry. Subaru's black eyes held contempt and aversion for Elsa's doing and figure.
Subaru: "I'm able to control time, bend it to my will. Just like this fight. I was simply stopping time and moving out of the way of your attacks; It was courtesy to my『Augur』that I found out I had such a mechanism under my belt."
Quickly, Elsa's amputee's parts began to grow. Tendrils of blood and meat spun around the emergent bone that grew at a frightening pace.
Slice
And then it was ruptured off once more. Subaru's sneakers became caked in blood as Elsa's razes spluttered red hue everywhere. A bit even coated his sleeve. But as time progressed, time regressed, and soon the tainted parts became cleansed.
Subaru: "But it seems that we've ran out of time. That titan that's hiding in that necklaces is going to come out in the next few moments. Not that it matters, time will just be reverted before it can cause any damages to the Slums."
Subaru's grasp falters, and Elsa's head collapses to the ground. Subaru rose up and walked outside for the preparation of the time loop he mentioned. Only he would be outside the jurisdiction of the time loop. Wherever he takes will come with him, and wherever he stands, he shall be there.
Soon, a pillar of white sprang into the clouds.
—And then, the night turned to day.
Ayoo. I've come back with another fic. I made this off of Aditya's prompt in the Reactionest server. But the big question that everyone (Just me) is asking 'Will you follow up on this fanfiction or drop to write another one?' Well dear readers. I assure you another chapter will come, after that, we will see. Yeah, I'm making no promises on upholding more chapters. I still have Re:psychotic (Everyone probably forgot about or even knows) to do.