Skit: If people in anime actually took their bleeding serious.


It had been a long three years in this world. The Royal Selection would be over soon, but that didn't mean that all the threats in this world had been vanquished.

Hector, the warlock of Melancholy, had reared his ugly, apathetic head.

And it was up to Subaru to stop it.

[Hector]: "So, you finally located me? Then I guess it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say–"

[Subaru]: "Enough talking! Scrap!"

As he launched himself at the warlock in front of him, Invisible Providence shot out from his abdomen for a surprise attack.

However, simple Sloth was no match for pure Melancholy.

Hector, in a bad mood as usual, caught the unseen attack in his palm. How bothersome.

[Hector]: "I wasn't done talking. "

Subaru wasn't listening. From what he had gathered, this guy was part of the reason the Sanctuary was attacked all those years ago. In some form or another he had hurt Echidna and by extension, Ryuzu, Roswaal, and Beatrice, and he wouldn't let that slide.

He wasn't the same weak, self-destructive person he was three years ago. He was an amazing guy who did his best, found a girl he liked, and he was proud to be a Natsuki.

On top of that, all the authorities he had gained from tackling the witch cult had made him quite the capable fighter. He had learned to hold his own pretty well, though he still worked best with Beako by his side. Unfortunately, she was handling a different part of the plan.

In a flurry of blows, multiple unseen hands flew around the melancholic man. Their power and speed were nothing to sneeze at. His constant training had finally paid off.

With a powerful blow to the gut, Hector was sent flying backwards into a clearing.

[Hector]: "You actually managed to land a clean hit on me. That's impressive."

[Subaru]: "Oh that's just the beginning! There's more." That was only a taste of what he could do. Lust, Sloth, Greed, Wrath, Gluttony, Pride. Which power should he utilize first?

[Hector]: "Oh I hope so. In fact, as much as it pains me I think I'll have to use thirty percent of my– blerh!"

He coughed a bit. That was weird.

Hector directed his vision downwards to find a small pool of blood staining the ground.

Subaru, not dropping his battle stance, was ready to get back to the action.

Taking a finger to his mouth, Hector was shocked to find that blood was trickling out from it. How interesting.

[Subaru]: "Alright, you ready."

This boy had some nerve.

[Hector]: "Am I ready?"

[Subaru]: "Yeah! All this waiting got me bored. You ready to continue, Melancholy?" He knew just the technique to use to get the drop on him, too.

Hector stared at him like he had gone mad.

[Hector]: "Um, no. I'm pretty sure you just broke a rib and punctured a lung. Why would I be ready after that?" Hector was used to doing the hurting, not exactly being hurt.

[Subaru]: "It's just blood bro, c'mon." What kind of evil villain gets scared of a few scrapes?

[Hector]: "No. It would be 'just blood' if I cut my lip or my nose or something. This is internal! Something internal is happening."

Subaru dropped his battle stance. What was with this guy? What a letdown. He had dealt with so many insane, homicidal nutcases that someone with actual concern for their well-being was incomprehensible. This had genuinely thrown him for a loop, no pun intended.

[Subaru]: "So you're done fighting then?" But what about his techniques? He wanted to try the 'Pain Reflux' or the 'Infinity Enrapture' he had recently come up with.

[Hector]: "Yes! In fact, I'd appreciate it if you called the hospital or a healer for me, actually. I'm afraid to move from this spot! I might mess something up."

To say that Subaru was disappointed would be an understatement. All that traveling and investigating for this. Why was he even a warlock? And he still hadn't gotten to use his new techniques dammit.

Attempting to convince the warlock back into fighting, Subaru continued on.

[Subaru]: "It's not that serious. Look, it happens to me every fight. Look."

He punched himself in the ribs.

And blood spewed from his mouth.

He was used to a little blood from his battles. After everything that he went through, the hellish loops and unimaginable pain, a bit of blood was the least of his concerns. It hardly even registered on the concern-o-meter. Constantly battling enemies a thousand times stronger than him had given him a monstrous tolerance for pain, so he was used to his organs feeling out of whack. If he had a gold coin for every time he broke a bone or had mortal wounds, he'd be richer than Roswaal.

[Subaru]: "See, look. Now what? I'm gonna stop fighting now? I'm gonna stop fighting because of a little blood." It was unthinkable. If he gave up after something like that, he would've never ended up helping Emilia to begin with.

Hector, on the other hand, was flabbergasted. Was this kid crazy? Such indifference to his own injuries, maybe he was the real melancholy.

[Hector]: "How are you still alive?"

[Subaru]: "This can't be happening. You're weak."

The warlock was stuck in denial.

[Hector]: "Why are you still alive? Why? How is he still alive? How?"

Unbelievable. The two opponents were awestruck, but for two completely different reasons.

[Subaru]: "Bro, c'mon. You're weak. You cannot be this weak. I came all this way to fight somebody this weak. Felix could've handled this."

With a huff of resignation, the black-haired boy marched away. What a waste of time.