The Human Beast
Ok, I am just going to establish a few things first…. As you can probably tell this is my first time writing a fanfic so I may get things wrong from time to time, I'm by no means an incredible author, just a newbie who happens to have some time on his hands so beware of the upcoming bad writing. Criticism is welcomed as it will improve my writing (probably not but oh well). As for why I'm writing this… well I just did it for fun lol.
ALSO.. There are a few things I'd like to apologize for, the first and obvious thing is sorry for the terrible writing. This is my first time writing a story and I'm not going to lie to you, I was pretty nervous (I mean who wouldn't be?). If a character is OOC please let me know so that I can change it to what best befits them. I'm fairly confident in my grammar and spelling but if there is a word that is misspelled or an action that doesn't make any sense as to what they're doing, then I'll do my best to convey it into what I intended it to be. ALRIGHT that's enough of my yapping, I'm sure you came here because this story probably piqued your interest so without further ado go ahead and read!
Chapter 1: Back to Zero
He was surrounded.. No matter where he looked, he kept seeing a ball of white fur with beady red eyes staring back at him. He tried to stand, to run away from the nightmare that was going to ensue but he couldn't.. Afterall, how could he run when all that was left of his right leg was a bloody stump? The boy knew what was going to happen and his brain couldn't fathom it. Without realizing it, he was hyperventilating with a look of pure horror on his face as he was on the brink of insanity and before he knew it; the army load of man eating rabbits swarmed him on all sides, leaving no room to escape. He braced himself with the little bit of sanity he had left from his inevitable death and little did he know that this was going to be his worst death yet… Pain erupted in every part of the boy's human body. Subaru screamed his lungs out as the great rabbits crunch and chew his still alive body from the inside out, finally breaking his mind and body both figuratively and literally.
The hideous feeling of a few rabbits eating their way into his chest and stomach area was so gut wrenching that he was pleading for death yet he couldn't have it. The great rabbits ripped and ravaged the poor boy's flesh with ease; making new holes or ones that he already had, which were his mouth and unfortunately his rectum. Every organ in his body was savagely torn to shreds and he had to endure EVERY SECOND OF IT. Fortunately enough for him, the one and only rabbit that had been happily feasting on his face managed to crack his skull open, revealing one of the most vital parts of his body and with one disgusting mixture of a bite and chew; his whole world had gone dark. The all known feeling of death's embrace was not uncommon to the teenager, and it for sure as hell wouldn't have been had he not be standing there in a dark void. Not familiar with the current event that was currently unfolding, he terrifyingly muttered,
"W-what in the he-..." Subaru's word fell short as a booming voice that was so strong it reverberated inside his chest said,
"So weak yet so much potential you have in you…" the voice spoke solemnly
"W-what…?"
Why was this happening? Why was he here? Why hasn't he returned to the tomb? Was this some kind of trick? Who is this…. thing? Was this just another nightmare? What did it mean when it said he had potential? He tried to rack his brain for answers but his thoughts were abruptly interrupted.
"No normal human would be able to pronounce my name… So just call me, Zurok. As for what I am? Well.. let's just say that I'm a powerful being, One that far suprasses who they call, the "Sword Saint". I believe the current holder of that title belongs to Reinhard Van Astrea…" after a pause to let this information sink in the boy's head, it continued.
"I brought you here because I simply couldn't stand the sight of your pitiful self and that gruesome scene… and no, this isn't some sort of, "trick" or nightmare.."
Did he just read his mind? No way.. Feeling like his thoughts were violated he stood there in shock and just like that, all but one question was answered. There was another thought in his head
'WAIT WHAT!? If he's actually stronger than Reinhardt… is he also stronger than satella as well!?'
Noticing Subaru's demeanor going on edge, the being before him speaks out in an attempt to ease the boys worries.
"Do not be concerned boy, I have no ill intent on you, or for anyone for that matter."
Feeling relieved that this… thing wasn't out to get him or those he cherished, he relaxes a bit. What felt like hours was a few long seconds, after standing there motionlessly he gains enough courage and resolve to say,
"Wha-what exactly do you mean I have potential..?" Subaru said slightly stumbling on his words
"Why, to make everyone you care about happy I suppose, but the one thing you lack in is power… as you stand right now, I wouldn't be surprised if a grown up Petra would be able to manhandle you." The voice known as Zurok responded, saying his last sentence with a sigh.
Feeling his pride being jabbed at, Subaru couldn't help but yell out,
"Hey! I'm not that weak… am I.?" the boy said defeatingly, losing the little bravado he had in his voice.
"Lift your head up Natsuki Subaru, even for a mere human you continue to surprise me. Everything that this world has thrown at you, you give it all your body's worth… you have achieved and completed feats that surely even surprise the gods. For someone who lacks in power and skill, you always hold true to your words and always somehow achieve a "happy ending" even if it's temporary…. No normal person would be able to reach where you're at Natsuki Subaru, for they would surely have been driven into insanity.. So lift your head held high, and be proud of the feats you've accomplished."
Having a brief flashback of Wilhelm's encouraging speech that lifted his spirits before the archbishop of sloth battle, The corner's of Subaru's mouth slightly pulled up.
"You know, someone once told me something similar…" Subaru lightly shook his head, he had to get back on topic!
"Anyways.."
After getting somewhat used to his environment; he picked himself up from the ground and did a few stretches to ease the pain in his body.
"For someone who's gotten eaten alive just a few minutes ago, I sure do feel eerily calm" the teenager acknowledged.
"That would happen to be my doing, wouldn't want to discuss with an insane person now do we..?" the entity revealed.
Doing a few more stretches on his legs, the boy voiced out,
"I have a feeling that isn't all as to why I'm here."
"RIght you are.. Now, let me explain my other reason as to why you're here.." the voice said.
'Another reason? I thought he only brought me here to stop me from going insane, what else does he need from me?' the boy thought
"I don't need anything from you Natsuki Subaru in fact, I have a gift"
"A gift.?" the teenager repeated, no longer surprised that he had heard what he was thinking about.
"Correct, although I don't want to do this against your will." the voice replied.
'Against my will? What the heck is he trying to give me?' Subaru thought with a hand on his chin.
"Allow me to explain, well, to put it simply I'll give you the power you so desperately desired"
Subaru's mind went blank. Why? This being, that Subaru for the life of him could not tell was giving power.. to HIM..? To someone as helpless and hopeless as HIM?
The corners of the teenagers eyes watered. This was the best thing that could possibly happen to him right now! Just as he was about to thank and cry out in happiness to Zurok, he was interrupted once again,
"HOWEVER! It will not be in the way you wish it to be, but it is power nonetheless, will you accept it Natsuki Subaru? Will you form a contract with me?"
His hope of gaining the power he wanted was shot down immediately as he thought solemnly,
'Contract huh? Wonder how many times I heard that..?'
After giving the contract some thought the teenager spoke out,
"Depending on what you say I'll either agree or refuse your offer, first of all, what is this power you'll be granting me?"
"I'll give you the power to transform into an unstoppable and fearsome beast" the voice responded, not skipping a beat.
"Huh?" Subaru's mind went blank for the second time.
"Wait, so something similar to Garfiel and Frederica?" Subaru responded as he briefly remembered Frederica transforming in front of his very eyes to protect the mansion and garfiel…. No, he didn't even want to think of that. Zurok noticing the change of thoughts goes back on topic.
"Yes, although you technically won't be demihuman, just a human with demi human like qualities. Nothing about your person would change"
Subaru understanding where this was going couldn't help but ask.
"Ok, so what kind of beast would I be? A lion, gorilla, bear?" The boy excitedly said as thoughts of him smashing the ground in the middle of a battlefield in his gorilla form and decimating a group of enemies with one swipe of his enormous bear paw manifested in his mind.
"You'll be taking the form of a wolf" the voice told him, shooting down all the things Subaru thought he could be.
'Oh, so just your typical RPG werewolf huh…?' Subaru couldn't help but deadpan.
"Exactly" Zurok answered the boy's thought, Subaru doubled back and before he could ask how he knew what RPG even was, the voice continued.
"Starting things off first, you will be set back to the very beginning of where you first started, in the middle of Lugunica…"
'What?' Subaru thought dreadfully, will everything he worked so hard for be in vain? Was all the blood and tears he had shed were for nothing?
Just as it seemed like he was going to refuse the entity's offer, Zurak somehow convinced him not to. Did he want him to make the contract?
"Subaru"
Hearing this, the boy stops what he was about to say and stands there semi shocked. For the first time since he came in here, he used his first name… the voice once again continued,
"If you go back, you can fix all your mistakes. All the things you thought you couldn't take back will be there again, not to mention also being able to see Rem again.."
That seemed to catch the nasty eyed boy's attention as he quickly turned his head towards the root of where the voice was heard with hope.
Zurok, Clearing his throat says.
"Ahem, now let me give you details of our contract." Finally getting down to business he explains,
"Well obviously, you need to know how to transform. To do so, you'll feel a part of you that wasn't there. Give in to it and you will transform. However, if you wish to transform certain parts of your body; then only partially give in, it's a lot easier said than done but before you know it, it'll feel natural after doing it many times. Once you take form your attacks speak for itself, your coat will make you RESISTANT, not IMMUNE but RESISTANT to weapons and magic although not entirely. Of course it goes without saying that your senses and strength will heighten and that also applies when you're not in form. Form or not you'll be a lot quicker and lighter on your feet than you already are and just like a demihuman; like I've said before, you would be able transform parts of your body although it won't be as effective if you were to take it into full form… you'll also be able to use the authorities of the fallen archbishops… if you didn't know already, whenever YOU kill an archbishop you receive their power. As of right now, you currently only hold the Authority of Sloth: Unseen Hand. To use this new authority, you merely have to concentrate, or give in to that sin. An extra ability that I'll grant you is to slow down time for a few seconds. This will only apply to you, as you'll seem like you're teleporting to other people, it can only be used once a day so don't use it needlessly.. although the list goes on, I think I would like to see how you figure it out on your own"
"U-uh, I-" Subaru felt overwhelmed by the amount of things he may be able to do and before he could respond, he was interrupted when Zurok forgot to mention,
"Oh, It seems I forgot to mention something.. The last gift I'll grant you is, 'The Divine Protection of The Moon' to put it simply, whenever the moon is out you are a lot stronger than you are in the daylight but specifically on the full moon is when your abilities get to shine" Zurok explained, seemingly saying this proudly.
Not letting the details of the contract get the better of him, he worryingly yet grimly asked,
…..
"What's the catch? Surely something this amazing has a disadvantage.."
"Perceptive I see… Well, the downside is that there'll be times that you will transform out of your own will, not only that but if you let anger or rage build up inside of you, you'll take form and slaughter anything that moves and everytime you transform… the miasma that surrounds you will get stronger. Other than that you'll be discriminated against by others viewing you as 'different' or a 'monster'".
Subaru knew that this contract was too good to be true, but it was a chance that will save his friends and Rem…
a vivid scene of a smiling Rem and Emilia appears in his mind…
If he accepts this contract, surely he can….. Wait.. What is Zurok getting out of this?
On cue the voice responded with,
"I just want to see how far you can get with the new abilities I'll grant you, well that is if you accept it."
"Huh?" a confused Subaru just managed to squeak out.
"Allow me to explain.." clearing his throat he proceeds
"I simply want to see you succeed and be happy, after seeing everything the world has done to you and all that you have achieved… I've been a bit fond of you.." the voice muttered the last part to himself.
Subaru once again gives the contract some thought.
'Ok.. if I accept this, not only will I be stronger, I can finally save the people I cherish, solve problems that I normally couldn't have done on my own and can finally be seen as Emilia's knight…' a tear escapes out of the boys eyes.
'Rem, I can finally see her.. I won't make the same mistake again' he determinedly thought.
'But..' remembering the disadvantage of being a werewolf, he mentally panics as he thinks,
'If I go berserk… will I be able to control it…? Will I hurt the people I worked so hard to keep safe..?" As his thoughts start to haunt him, all of it vanishes when he sees a flashback of everyone in the mansion happy.
"No.." Subaru thought out loud smiling while looking at both of his clenched fist
[Thank you for saving me Subaru..!] tears flowed freely on the half elf's face.
"I won't let that happen!" he managed to yell out determinedly.
[My time has been stopped, it was you who melted my frozen heart..] a certain blue haired maid declared.
Although Zurak wasn't physically there, the proud teenager can tell that he was smiling.
"It seems like you've finally resolved yourself... Natsuki Subaru, Will you accept my contract?"
….
….
…
….
….
…..
"Yes!" the boy declared with everything that he was worth.
A bright light escapes out of his chest, the last thing Subaru managed to hear as the white light enveloped him.
"The contract has been formed, Good luck... And goodbye for now..."
…..
….
"Subaru Natsuki"
…..
…..
The bright light dissipated and Subaru blinked several times, rubbing his eyes until he was finally able to see.
His hand held a bag of his old world's snacks and there he was.. in the middle of Lugunica, his back towards the all familiar water fountain
…..
"I'm back…" Subaru nostalgically smiled.
And that's it for chapter 1! What did ya think? Was bad, good? Was it not as bad as you though it was? Write a review voicing your thoughts. I'll see ya in the next chapter! (if I continue that is) bye bye!
P.S Zurok? Really? Sorry lol couldn't think of a name so I just came out with that.