Pain shocked through Subaru, the sharp whip of the wooden sword throwing him across the arena. He coughed up blood as he impacted the harsh stone wall, collapsing at its base. His arms trembled as he attempted to raise up, only to have them swept out from under him.
"You really never know when to give up, do you?" Julius taunted, the purple-haired knight slowly approaching the bloodied and bruised boy, sword twirling in his grip. "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't decided to disrespect the knights of Lugnica." He grabbed Subaru by the hair, lifting him up to look him in the eyes. "You, a warrior? How pathetic." Julius dropped the black-haired boy in the dirt, beginning to walk away. "How ashamed your lady must be, to have a servant such as you." Julius said in disgust, turning his head away from the near-unconscious Subaru.
Subaru layed there, pain jolting throughout his body with every shuddering breath. He looked at the retreating figure with blurred vision, consciousness slowly fading. "N-No dammit...you don't just get to walk away…" He muttered, before his tired eyes flashed open once more, filled with…rage. It coursed through the very fabric of his being, overriding his pain as visions flashed through his mind. A once great city, burned to ashes. Corpses stacked by the thousands. An arena, with only him standing in the center. Subaru began to raise himself up again, smoke beginning to rise off his back.
The crowd began to point with fearful expressions at the rising boy, their murmuring drawing Julius' attention back to Subaru.
He sighed. "You insolent brat, I'll do you mercy and make it quick." Julius said, drawing his wooden sword, and strolled back towards the black-haired butler.
The steady footsteps of Julius pierced through Subaru's consciousness, clearing out the fog that had settled over Subaru's mind. 'I will defeat him.' Blue energy began to swirl around Subaru, his wounds rapidly healing. 'I must defeat him!' The shirt Subaru had been wearing erupted in flames, causing the crowd to cry out in shock.
"Subaru!" Emilia shouted out, her hands flying to her mouth in fear for the boy. She began to run down to him, only to freeze in shock.
Across Subaru's now bare back, was a large glowing rune, glowing with power, glowing red lines etching their way across his skin, forming a multitude of unfamiliar symbols. Subaru himself began to grow, muscles bulging as he snarled in rage. The mysterious necklace he always wore swung slowly with every step.
"S-Subaru, just what is this…" Emilia whispered in fear, backing away from the seemingly hostile figure. This wasn't Subaru, it was someone else, something else. A being of rage and hate replaced her kind butler, and it truly scared Emilia. Puck floated besides her, eyes trained on the boy, ready to defend his daughter.
Julius sneered. "So is this your true form? A minor enhancement? How futile." He said in contempt, dashing towards Subaru, and slashing down with the intent to knock out the boy. A massive wave of dust exploded out from the point of impact, causing the crowd to lean forwards in their seats, trying to see what happened.
As the dust cleared, the audience could only watch in bated breath, searching for the victor.
"It has to be over, right?"
"That butler wouldn't be able to withstand a blow that powerful from a knight."
"Hhmf, the boy should have known when to give up."
The crowd muttered, confident in their knights' abilities, only to have their eyes blown open in horror when Julius was sent flying out of the dust, slamming into the stone walls of the arena with a pained grunt.
A tall, menacing form began to emerge from the cloud, each footstep bringing with it...the sense of doom. Gone was the fit, average heighted black-haired boy. What emerged was something more. Bulging muscles rippled under the torn uniform, towering height looking down over the fallen knight. Rage filled eyes glared single-mindedly at Julius.
"Just what...was that…" Julius groaned out, the last thing he saw was Subaru standing motionlessly, then a massive impact to his cheek. He looked up in anger at the slowly approaching figure. "How dare you - think you can disrespect a royal knight?" He snarled out, slowly getting to his feet as ragged breaths escaped his mouth. He picked up his sword, and lunged at Subaru, his anger overriding his logic.
"H-He's not holding back."
"Stop! You'll kill him!"
"Dear dragon…just what has become of you, Julius."
Julius heard none of this as he let out a feral cry of rage, swinging the wooden blade down, aiming to carve in Subaru's head.
Suddenly, Subaru's muscled arm darted out, smashing through the wooden blade as his hand wrapped around the knight's neck. Julius began to choke, his arms slamming against the iron hard grip of Subaru, with no effect. Subaru brought the struggling knight closer, and stared directly into his eyes in disgust. "This is the state of your knights? Disgusting." Subaru's now scratchy and deep voice echoed throughout the stadium, causing the knights watching to draw their weapons in anger, jumping down into the arena.
"How dare you!" One of the spat, his knuckles white against the hilt of his sword. "Release him at once!"
Subaru grunted, hoisting up the unconscious knight. "Sure." He said, throwing him at the gathered knights, scattering them like bowling pins. Subaru cracked his knuckles walking towards the fallen soldiers, before suddenly freezing and whipping around, muscles tense. "How did they already find me?" He muttered, before raising his voice. "EVACUATE THE ARENA." His voice boomed out. "IT IS NOT SAFE HERE." His voice did little to calm the crowd, who began throwing insults at the man.
"You really think we'll listen to scum like you?!"
"Leave our knights beaten and bruised and you just think you can leave?!"
"How dare you try and command us!"
These obligations were soon quieted, replaced with cries of fear. In the middle of the arena, a large black circle, tinged with red began to appear. Subaru had his hand clenched around his necklace, ready for combat at any moment.
Emilia watched in fear for Subaru. While his appearance and demeanor had changed, his desire to help people seemed to still be there. She raised a trembling arm, determination running through her veins as ice spears began to form. "For the time you protected me in my time of need, I will return the favor." She said quietly, but Subaru still looked at her in confusion, somehow hearing from the distance between them.
Metallic, echoing footsteps clanged out of the portal as a lone figure began to emerge. Dark green metal armor covered parts of the ashen-grey skin, purple veins webbing across its body. Two large horns arched up from its bald, spiked head as glowing red eyes locked onto Subaru, unending rage reflected in them. Air wooshed out from the hole in its face where a nose should have been. A serrated metal mask covered its mouth, seemingly bolted onto its face. A large black metal rod scraped the ground as he dragged it behind him, one hand on the weapon, and its other hovering over a sheathed metallic weapon at its side.
A deep, menacing voice cracked out from under the mask. "So you've returned. After your futile hiding, you have finally accepted your fate. My eyes have been opened to the truth, O Great Slayer." The being taunted, it and Subaru began to circle each other, eyes never leaving their opponent.
"Slayer?" Julius muttered, slowly rising into a sitting position against the wall. "Just what happened?" His consciousness was slowly returning, the only thing his blurred vision could see was two figures, standing tall as they slowly circled around.
"You were never one of us!" The figure spat, and in a flash of red light, a massive axe-head appeared out of the staff, energy seemingly pulsing through the rune-engraved blade. "You were nothing but a usurper, a false idol. Let me help you to see, my King." He said mockingly, blasting towards Subaru, axe swinging in a horizontal arc, aiming to cleave him in half.
Subaru jumped back, and with a snap, ripped the pendant off of his necklace. In a flash of light, held in Subaru's hand was a sized-up pendant. While before, it looked like little more than an odd trinket, with its size increased the purpose became obvious. In another eruption of red light, clutched within Subaru's hand was a massive, glowing broadsword, ending in spiked edges that gave off small red sparks. Subaru held the weapon in a two-handed grip, the ease of which he wielded it making it apparent that he was familiar with the weapon.
The two warriors watched each other in caution, knowing one wrong step would lead to their demise. For just a moment, the world seemed to stand still, a collective breath being held as the forces of dark and light stared each other down.
With a feral cry of rage the marauder swung his axe, conjuring a wave of violent red energy that flew towards Subaru.
Subaru dashed forwards, feet pounding the ground as he sprinted at the incoming attack. He flicked his blade towards the incoming projectile, sending it careening off course into the arena wall, leaving a scorched crater. Subaru clenched the hilt of his sword as he swung, muscles rippling as the shining blade ripping through the air towards its target.
The demon snarled, intercepting the strike with a hasty parry. The red blades glowed brilliantly as the two forces struggled against each other, vying for dominance. With a blast of wind, the two launched backwards, Subaru flipping through the air and landing gracefully while the beast remained standing, its feet dragging through the dirt. The ice projectiles launched by Emilia were sent rocketing back at her, the instant response from Puck preventing the girl from being impaled.
Glowing red eyes locked onto the trembling half-elf. "You would best stay out of this, puny girl." Growled out the demon, "You will only make your own death more painful. After all, the mighty Slayer has not yet regained his strength." The beast said in sick amusement, looking at Subaru's panting form.
Subaru grunted, eyes filling with an otherworldly rage, a presence of sheer terror flooding the area, spilling out into the streets below, panicked civilians picking up those who had fallen unconscious.
The demon's red beady eyes widened, it's stance shifting slightly, muscles tensed into the perfect position. There was no more taunting, no more testing, this would end it.
Subaru's muscles bulged, a ripple of red flowing throughout his whole body. His left hand was spread below him, legs in a sprinter's stance, his brilliant red sword held to his side. He snapped his eyes up, and with an explosive burst of speed, propelled himself rapidly at the frantic demon, who had barely been able to raise it's axe in an attempt at a parry.
But it's defense was too rushed, too weak, and it's axe went flying out of it's hand, Subaru swirling his blade, deftly chopping off the pale-skinned monster's arms, its screams of agony bringing Subaru a sick satisfaction.
It fell to its knees,glaring up at Subaru as he slowly approached. Subaru snapped his balde under the creature's jaw, mere centimeters away from its neck, and leaned in.
"How did you find me?" He growled out, the beast involuntarily shuddering. Subaru pushed the blade a little closer, the red-hot edge sizzling and bubbling the skin at its neck. "Answer the question."
The demon gave a weak chuckle, wrath and rage swirling in its red ruby eyes, glittering in the dying sunlight. "Hell is coming, O Great Slayer, and this time - you will perish, and your precious homes shall burn." The demon spat, glaring up at Subaru.
Subaru snarled, "Your fate has been decided then." He pushed down, the demon feebly struggling as the blade further pushed into his neck, letting out a soundless scream as his head was liberated from his body.
Subaru stood slowly, the body of the Marauder slowly crumbling to ash and scattering into the soft breeze around him, the gray smolder alighting with the soft glow of the afternoon sun, a seemingly halo of light forming around him.
"S-Subaru?" Emilia asked tentatively, standing cautiously a few feet away from the blood-stained warrior.
He turned his head slightly, a soft smile gracing his face, "Hey, Emilia-tan." But his eyes rolled back into his head, and he collapsed to the dirt, dust clouding around his body.
And so the sun set on the day, but what would this mean for the world?
END