AN: And this time, we have a very strong chapter! Title is simple, but I got a good sense of it from the song of same name by The Temptations.

Anyways! Come one and come all! Time for the destruction to continue, so please...ENJOY!

Arc Four: A Time to Rise

Chapter 19: Memories

The soft bell like tone echoed through the room, catching their attentions. An answer was given in that moment, within that dark foul smelling experiment ground.

"Ram."
"...Well?"
"...I trust him."
"Are you insane?!"

She softly shook her head, tapping the back of her neck, where that scar she received in the Battle of Ladrima; which was the final campaign in the Blood Stained Roses War.

"I've seen firsthand, how much Subaru has had to struggle. Even when I pushed him away, thinking it would keep him safe, he still plunged headfirst to help me. He's been hurt so much, that it rebounds and aches my heart. Me and Rem have a few scars here and there, but Subaru is covered in them."

Rem touched her gloved hand, still scarred and burnt from her participation in the battle. Emilia shook her head and continued.

"Ram, we should understand one thing more clearly."
"And that would be?!"
"The ring. That ring came to Subaru and he saved all of us, from so many disasters, but its changed him. He's not the same, even I can see how it's affecting him! This room is proof of that!"
"...HUH?!"
"He's...a kind person, but he makes mistakes. He can be a kidder, but he's genuinely caring to everyone. THIS ROOM IS PROOF, THAT INSTEAD OF NOT TRUSTING HIM, WE SHOULD BE HELPING HIM! We should work together to get it off of him, before it's too late!"

As Emilia blurted out her thoughts and feelings into that yell, she panted, out of breath.

"Emilia-sama, are you insane?"
"...RAM?"
"You must be insane to think that formulating a plan to be rid of Barusu's ring, would ever come into fruition."
"W-What?"
"That ring is probably the only thing assuring his safety right now. He's made enemies out of the entire Witch's Cult and has antagonized almost everyone in the Royal Selection."

"I'd do whatever it takes to keep him safe! He's earned it!"

Rem nodded in agreement, showing her commitment in keeping her beloved person safe, even at the cost of his power. Yet, Beatrice was the one who scoffed at the idea.

"Betty thinks you are all fools, I suppose."

"One of the main matters we discussed when Atrocitus was here, was the functions of the ring. The capabilities and such, I suppose. But, one of the pressing issues that came up, was how if the ring should come off. He informed us that the ring can not be taken off by normal means, I suppose."
"Then surely-"
"-Another problem, was this, I suppose."

Emilia flinched as Beatrice's demeanor changed, arms crossed and eyes furrowed.

"Removing the ring will instantly kill the host."

Ram's eyes widened.

Rem's eyes sunk a bit.

And Emilia tried to focus, but she trembled in pure horror.

Subaru, could not be saved.

"Why?"
"The ring replaces the host's blood and heart, pumping them full of the energy his rage inside gives off, I suppose. If you remove it, you leave him a walking mass with no insides, he'd die in an instant, I suppose."

"No...I can, get Ferris-"

"He's a member of a Camp that he has publically threatened multiple times, I suppose. You really think he'd help?"
"I-If..No...BUT HOW IS THIS IS EVEN FAIR?!"

She stomped her foot down as tears began forming on the corner of her lovely eyes.

"He's had to suffer like this, and now, he can never know peace?! He has to keep fighting?!"
"A Red Lantern is filled with rage, once he kills the Witch's Cult, he'll turn his attention elsewhere, I suppose."

Ram nervous squatted down, reaching eye level with her.

"Has...has he said anything about us-"
"-Rest assured, he intends no harm against anyone here or in the territories his Corps has acquired, I suppose. In fact as you have just seen, they typically do quite well in the long run under their watch, I suppose."
"An empire built over blood?!"
"Most empires are, aren't they?"
"Tsk! Defending him so admantaly! It's obvious he's a danger to us all! If none of you will do something, I will! Knowing Emilia-sama and Rem, they've given up on trying to get the ring off now! So how about I just go and-"

SLAP.

Ram was rocked by a surprise hit...but by Rem.

She fumbled to the ground, holding her cheek, burning red and hot to the touch.

Staring up, she saw a distraught, teary eyed Rem, trying to breath as she did something so unlike her.

"Rem will never…"
"Rem?"
"Rem will never forgive Nee-sama if she touches Subaru-kun!"
'But…"
"No! Subaru-kun is Rem's precious love! Even if my dear Nee-sama is the one trying to do it, REM WILL STILL FIGHT ANYONE WHO TRIES TO TOUCH HIM!"

Out of breath, Rem's yell echoed throughout the experiment grounds.

Even Emilia gave a apologetic stare at Ram, but it was also a kind of glare that warned her not to trifle with Subaru. Their eyes almost brightened by the darkness of the place they were in, Ram lowered her head, defeated.

"I'm sorry Ram...but with that, how can we truly trust you?"
"...Rem was the only one…"
"So you never trusted me? You had no confidence in me?"
"N-No."
"Well...Thank you, for at least being honest about it."

Puck floated over, before walking down to look at Ram.

"I was always worried about my Lia getting involved with people like Roswaal. But it's clearly obvious he wasn't the only one I had to be cautious about."
"Great Spirit-sama."
"I recall once, that Roswaal declared that the actions of his staff would do the same as if he was the one who did it. That your actions would be equivalent of his own. So it's easy to understand right?"
"...Ah."
"If you touch Subaru, and upset my Lia...I will work with the Red Lantern Corps and we will crush you and your master."
"He...he isn't-"
"-A problem in the future can be taken care of in the present tense...correct?"

Ram was completely silenced by his harsh words, and now her hopes were dashed.

She was alone.

Everyone had chosen to be by Subaru's side, not giving her a chance to defend herself.

She was painted as the villain.

Such misguided anger had now stifled their relationships.

A sister who could not trust her own blood.

A master who was guided away from her.

And others who would back away.

She was alone.

And so they began moving out, leaving behind that eerie atmosphere.

Yet, it was that very same cat like spirit that stayed with the defeated Ram.

"I do apologize for how this turned out for you, child."
"...I thought, it would be different."
"In convincing Lia and your sister?"
"No! I mean, all of this, the chain of events."

Holding her face, holding back any tears that would try to escape.

"Bar...Natsuki Subaru was a man of good timing. That's all I ever saw him as, an individual who found himself at the right place at the most pivotal of times. So, I had this inner hope, and some expectations with him...that he'd save my master from his obsession with that witch! That the very same observant nature of his, would find a way to bring him out of that void. But now! Now...he's under the influence of that ring! He's ensnared my sister and master in the palm of his blood drenched palms!"

"...I see."
"I have this horrible feeling in my stomach. Like, things were supposed to be different, that it...wasn't supposed to be like this."

Ram felt herself shake in regret and disappointment, all the while Puck just watched her, not speaking, or heck, not even showing true remorse for this woman. That was until he sighed, discontentedly.

"I too thought Subaru had potential."
"Huh?"
"There was some shred of hope, an idea that Subaru would be the one who would help guide Emilia. She seems to like him enough, in that regard. But, it is obvious my expectations once again betrayed me...and now Lia has become different as well. They all have, as if the ring itself has cursed everyone it comes close to."

"Ah…"
"The Sanctuary. It was as if the events at that very place, were supposed to help my Lia. I feel it too you know? That everything that has happened was supposed to be different, that the results would have been a more positive outcome for everyone. But like you said, it's too late, nothing can change now. Thus, we all have to accept it, and so do you."

Ram, slowly got up looking down at the Great Spirit, with only a single tear running down her cheek.

"Never."
"...Stubborn child, but I can't force you. Still, I can warn you…"

His blue eyes narrowed and suddenly turned an ominous yellow.

"Lia and your sister are under Subaru's guidance now. If you try anything, they'll act...and knowing the care they have for you, you'd probably end up like that Frederica child...or frozen to death by ME."
"...I know what could await me."
"Than tread lightly, the status quo has changed. Things are moving in a way, that even I'm not sure what'll occur."

Floating up into the air he began flying away, his eyes returning to their normal color.

"We all have to keep our wits about us, if not, things will only get worse after today."
"What do you mean, after today?"
"...You'll see."

He finally flew away, trying to catch up to the others.

Ram stayed there, hearing the gasps of the dying man that no one had bothered to deal with. She swung her arm and a windslice shot out, cutting the captured individual's head clean off.

She hung her head low, staying in that dreary place as she muttered…

"Why?"

That question, in reality, was beyond her scope of understanding.

Breaking through two walls Subaru guarded himself as Ley continued his barrage of slices and strikes. Subaru then created a sledgehammer construct and clashed it with his twin blades, he hopped over and tried to kick Subaru across the head. But two Wolgarm constructs jumped out and tried to bite him. Forced to jump back and slice them apart, he noticed too late that Subaru created a giant fist construct and punched him into main hallway. But before Ley could kick off the undestroyed wall, he dodged a sudden green air slice attack, which sliced through the wall. It was Crusch, who followed after them, her sword shining green. Ferris was not far behind, flinching as she saw Subaru create a staggering amount of barb wire constructs which scrapped across the walls and cut up pillars.

Ley then slammed his foot down, causing earth spikes to shoot out of the ground. Using his ring, Subaru encased himself in a red aura, blasting through the attack with no issues. Finally face to face with him, a dark aura surged around the little menace. Zipping through the area, skipping around like a flea, breaking the ceiling, walls and more pillars. Subaru narrowed his eyes, his ring shining brightly. Crusch sensed the attack and used her sword to clash with Ley two times, he dashed behind her, but shockingly...it was not Ferris who prevented the attack.

But a red spartan shield construct.

Subaru flew over her shoulder and fired a beam from his ring.

Ley spun around it and...launched a windslice at him.

Crusch countered with her Sword Art and the two attacks collided mid-air, sending out a monstrous explosive boom.

Subaru went toe to toe with Ley, the Sin Archbishop bicycle kicked him, only for Subaru to use his arms to block them.

Crusch sprinted under and tried swinging her sword up to cut his neck from below, but Gluttony side stepped it.

Subaru then made a pillar construct, attached to his arm, and swung it at Ley. The impact caught him and he crashed into the floor. Crusch leapt into the air and impaled at the very spot.

Ley zipped out of the floor, cutting open her back.

"AUGGHHH!"
"CRUSCH-SAMA!"

Ferris rushed over but Ley saw him, getting his wicked expression, to become more dreadful.

His hideous smile…

Dashing to the cat knight, he then sensed it...pure ferocity.

The Sin Archbishop ducked his head, dodging a curved blade construct.

Ley jumped up and sliced Subaru's chest.

He retaliated by stabbing him in the shoulder, with a kitchen knife construct.

Another retaliation. Ley fired a earth spike through Subaru's calf muscle.

Once again, retaliation. Subaru created brass knuckle constructs and socked him across the head.

Ley's eyes went almost pitch black, Subaru's turned bright red with the scar on his face shining bright yellow.

"SUCH A MEAAAAAAL!"
"FUCK OFF AND DIE!"

Such splendorous speeds.

Mind numbing strikes, sparks dancing around them.

The sounds of metal clashing.

Blood sprayed across the room, covering the walls, spilling onto the floor.

Some of which splashed across Crusch's face, thankfully missing her eyes.

The two blurs to her vision, one purple, one red...landed onto the opposite walls. Ley panted happily as blood seeped out of his mouth, a nauseating aura surrounded his very being.

Subaru groaned as blood leaked out of a cut at the top of his eyebrow, forcing him to shut his left eye.

Ley once again disappeared from view, reaching out to touch Subaru's face. In reaction to this, Subaru created bull horn constructs, that forced him to spin out of their way and zip back down to the ground. Dissipating them quickly, he slammed his fist to the ground, causing stalagmite constructs to sprout out of the ground, forcing Ley to dodge them one by one.

Subaru then flew after him, only for Ley to dash back after him.

Once again trying to touch his face.

Subaru growled at him, backflipping in the air and kicking his hand away. With that, it was like the second round started and they both attacked each other at high speeds.

Crusch was healed up by Ferris, as they both watched the two clash. Until they finally stopped, both of them struggling with twin blades, their feets planted onto the ground, chunky blood escaping from both of their mouths, blood squirting from their wounds. Both of them glared at one another in their struggle.

Now Ley actually dashed behind Subaru, forcing him to spin around with a curved blade construct.

But Ley was closing, way too quickly in fact.

"Shit! I can't make it! What happens when he touches my face?! Does it have to do with his Authority!?"

Running out of options…

Defeat imminent…

He searched around, as time slowed to a crawl.

The palm reaching out to him.

Subaru, had one last idea.

"I saved you right? Just now? You owe me then, don't you?"

Subaru smiled.

Even Ley was slightly unnerved by it.

A smile that practically reached ear to ear. His eyes glimmering with a thought in his mind.

"Karsten."

Using his ring, he quickly levitated Crusch and brought her to be right in front of him.

A human shield.

Ley saw this, something suprising, an action he had not seen in years. A selfish act of self preservation.

And he laughed wildly.

"Ahahahahahaha! What a choice! A grand choice! To save yourself for even one second longer, you hand us a snack instead!"

Touching her face, she felt a sense of horror fill herself.

The fear that comes from the unknown.

Ley drooled blood and saliva as he stared at his palm.

Subaru watched carefully.

"Using Karsten like this, I should be able to see what the Authority of Gluttony does."

Subaru watched, Ferris ran with all his might and Ley licked his palm.

"CRUSCH-SAMA!"
"FERRIS!"

Both of these long time companions, reached for each other.

Then...nothing.

Crusch fell to the ground, the ring letting her go. And Ley hopped back, salivating.

Subaru raised his one good brow.

"What, she seems fine? Did nothing happen? Is it like, a timed effect?"

Just then, he heard a thud. He turned his head to see Ferris on his knees, clutching his head, hair amess and eyes baggy and confused.

"Where…?"
"Hm?"
"Where is my lord? Why am I here?"
"Huh? The hell happened to Argyle?"

Crawling along the floor, he searched around...Crusch calling out to him.

"Ferris! What's wrong?!"
"Huh?"

His eyes stared back at her, but also...did not acknowledge her.

"Does anyone know where my lord is? Where is the prince?"
"Ferris! It's me! Crusch!"
"Huh?"

His stern yell echoed throughout the halls.

"Who are you?"
"Huh?!"
"Who are you? Do you know where the prince is? Wait, there was someone else? Who is it? Where are they?"

Instantly, Subaru blocked a strike by Ley and grinned.

"I SEE! Your palms after licking them! It affects memories!"

"Sharp of you to see, Natsuki Subaru!"
"Not smart telling me how your tricks work!"

Subaru charged him trying to slam down a warhammer construct at him, both arms used to their limit.

The impact destroyed the ground, and sent Crusch rolling across the ground, further away from Ferris.

Ley landed next to the lost and distraught Felix Argyle. His eyes scanned around, fearing this unknown environment, his mind making no sense of what was occuring.

"The prince! WHERE IS THE PRINCE?! HIS DREAM! SOMEONE AND ME, HAVE HIS DREAM TO SHARE!"
"Ohhhh! A dream, huh? Let me get...A TASTE."

Ley touched Felix with his other hand, Subaru slowing his flight in the air ever so slowly. Ley could see that Subaru was in no rush to save this person, as the images of Felix mocking him as powerless during that first loop and his mistreatment of him during the third loop circled in his mind, voice echoing.

Ley licked his palm, and Subaru did nothing to save him.

Felix slumped to the ground, drooling and eyes shaking.

"FERRIS! FERRIS!"

Crusch got up and swung her sword, hoping to hit Ley with her sword art...but nothing happened.

Total fear smothered on her face, she cringed, internally shrieking as her very own power was gone from this world.

Felix sat up, his wandering eyes scanned the world around himself.

"Ferris! Ferris, are you alright?!"

Calling out to him, she saw him turn his head, looking at her.

"Wh-Who are you?"
"Huh?"
"Is...IS FERRIS MY NAME?"

Her world, crashed.

Her eyes nearly went white.

Tears dripped down her noble face.

What she had, was now gone.

Her power.

Her status.

Her friend.

Nothing was left for her, in this world that now abandoned her.

Subaru took advantage, creating a spear construct which stabbed through Felix in his shoulder and into Ley's side.

"UGGGGGAAAHHHHH!"
"GAGH! NO FAIR!"

Subaru dissipated his construct and swung his new one. A gigantic axe which carved through the ceiling, sending rubble down on top of them and separating this group with Crusch. Crusch watched as she found herself alone, and so she rushed to the wall of rubble and tried to dig through it.

Fear.

She overheard Subaru say something about memories.

Fear.

She saw Ferris look not like his usual self.

Fear.

She was alone.

Fear had gripped her very being.

She broke through some of the rubble and looked to the other side, clearly noticing Felix stumble in a hurry away from Subaru fighting Ley.

"Ferris! Ferris! Come back! Please! PLEASE!"

Felix took one look back.

Then he left, getting away from the battle unfolding before him.

Crusch slumped to her knees, tears now completely drenching her cheeks.

"No...I...don't know what to do."

Crusch Karsten was on her knees. Crying.

Unaware of what to do next.

As if by some mercy.

A single source of light shined on her from above.

"A curse…"

She stared up to the light, as if they only one listening to her was the very source of it.

"A curse upon you! You demon! You will burn in hell! You will suffer in complete damnation for all the lives you have ruined! Drowning in the blood of the innocents you have slain! Even after death you will suffer the endless pains we have had to endure! Damn you! DAMN YOU! CURSE YOU! NATSUKI SUBARUUUUUU!"

But at this point, that was all she would be getting.

Now that her name, was erased from the entire world.

Subaru tackled Ley through a wall and then six buildings, before they both fell exhausted into one of the riverways.

Ley was clearly using his newly acquired healing magic, from the memories he stole from Felix.

But as he wiped his cheek and raised his arm out...it was viciously melted away by Subaru's napalm blood, hurled right at him.

The young Sin Archbishop looked at his melting flesh.

That split second decision was all Subaru needed and he heabutted him, with a Al inspired metal helmet construct. It dissipated and both of them launched their attacks against one another, Subaru firing his second Revenga Art at him, while Ley sliced away at him, to the point where the already blood filling water was almost dyed red.

At this point, using lightning speed, Ley zipped behind Subaru and sliced open his back...only for spikes similar to the dorsal fins of Godzilla to slam him into the walls of the Riveryway. Subaru spun around and clawed his face before punching him twice in the face. Ley screamed out in anger as he shanked Subaru with a broken piece of the wall, before Subaru sliced his arm clean off with a one handed chainsaw construct.

Ley headbutted Subaru, breaking his nose.

In a fit of rage, Ley launched a fire blast at him, but Subaru flew through it. The image of a blood drenched, flame covered white eyed Natsuki Subaru; even filled Gluttony with panic.

So he bit into his shoulder, hoping to draw enough time to heal himself and get an extra second to strike.

"Sooooooo, you like to eat, huh?"

Subaru bear hugged onto his back, holding him in place.

He spit some of blood on the cheek of Ley's.

He couldn't hold out as the blood melted his flesh and he opened his mouth.

Moving his head back…

"THEN LET ME EAT TOO."

….Subaru bit into Ley's neck, crushing his adam's apple into paste….

Ley gurgled a bit, but Subaru gave him no chance, and tore away the flesh with his mouth, tossing him into the water.

Subaru, chewed, his mouth filled with muscles and blood, before swallowing some of it and spitting out the rest.

Subaru walked over to Ley...and pressed his foot onto his face, into the water.

He struggled, so Subaru squatted down, pressing his weight further and gritted his blood soaked teeth as he continued.

Finally…

Ley stopped struggling….

And his body became rigid.

So Subaru made his attempt known and kicked his head in, several times, until he felt nothing but the water, ground, and some sticky substance under his shoe.

He spat at his body and kicked it away, letting the current take it away and out of sight.

"Hahhhhhhh…"

With one big breath.

"YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!"

Raising his arms into the air, Subaru applauded, for he succeeded in killing his second Sin Archbishop.

Ovidius dodged one of the shots coming at him, just as Genau ran around him hurling his blood out. Roy jumped over, but got bodied by Ovidius, before being slammed back to the ground by Genau. Seeing their moment, Mimi and Tivey jumped into the air and let out their signature sonic scream. It destroyed the ground, but Roy hopped out with only some dust on his clothes.

"Nice of you all to tenderize yourselves before we get some nice bites into-"

Genau flew back to be next to Anastasia, as Ricardo charged forward swinging his large and mighty sword at Roy. He missed every strike, but Ovidius flew under him and created a mace construct which bounced off from a strike with one of his twin blades.

It would seem that they did not feel too bothered by Genau being so close to her; that is until they get rid of Roy.

"Al Fula! Huma! Dona!"

Roy stomped the ground and a massive wave of stolen magic tore through the ground, making a small earthquake occur. Most of them lost their balance, except Julius whose glowing sword struck at Roy, who ducked under it.

"Fell Goa!"

A firestorm erupted from the tip of his sword and tried to engulf Roy, who forged rock armor around himself, running through it. He got rid of the armor and as a black aura surrounded him, and his already hideous eyes blackened...he zipped around and stabbed Julius twice in the back. Julius spun around and kicked him, before swinging his sword, in an attempt to injure him. It didn't work and Roy used mana to strengthen his arm, punching Julius across the face. Julius sliced Roy across the forehead, before aiming his palm at his face.

"Fell Huma!"

A barrage of tiny ice spears shot out like a machine gun, riddling a nearby building in holes, but not Roy.

The Sin Archbishop got ready to swing his sword-

Alone with the Royal Candidate, he now had the chance…

"You there, ssspeak."
"Huh? What do you-"
"Not you. The sssscarf."

She trembled when she heard that, and backed away as Genau took two steps closer.

"I know the ssssmell of a sssspirit more than anyone here. I know that there is an Artificial SSSSpirit around your neck."
"...Uh…"
"ANSSSSWER ME! WHO ARE YOU?!"

With the atmosphere becoming dire, the fox scarf...finally spoke.

"No choice I see."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Echidna, and as you well, 'sniffed out', I am an artificial spirit contracted with Ana, here."
"Tell me, are they after you?"
"I am not sure of that."

Genau flinched when his ring started to beep.

"Ssssubaru what issss it?"

With a red holographic image of Subaru's face appearing…

"Genau, what's going on over there?"
"We are facing the SSSSin Archbishop of Gluttony, and we confirmed they are after an Artificial SSSSpirit."
"WHAT?! I just killed Gluttony right now?!"
"But thissss guy is obvioussssly...wait...thissss guy said he repressssented Bizarre Eating, what did your guy ssssay?!"
"OH! He offhandedly mentioned he represented Gourmet!"
"Then there issss more than one Gluttony...but we're dealing with one right now, and Brother SSSSSubaru has killed the other."

Roy overheard that and instantly became confused.

"Ley is dead?!"

But he used a barrier to cause a light beam Julius fired to break off and cut several buildings in half. Mimi and Hetaro fired balls of light at Roy, but he swatted them away, and soon got pushed back by a stream of lightning by Ovidius. Genau continued his conversation.

"Well? Genau, what's the spirit's info?"
"It'ssss contracted with Anasssstasia Hoshin and I'm guarding it for now."
"And?"
"It calls itsssself; ECHIDNA."

The world went pitch black all around Subaru, his body turning pure white, his one open eye...having it's pupil turn bright red.

Static sounded off in his head. His heartbeat muffled by this stiffeling noise.

The world, back to normal...Subaru gave his answer.

"KILL IT."

Anastasia backed away, trying to-

-too late.

Genau launched himself at Anastasia, knocking to the ground as he got on top of her. She screamed, thinking Genau was going to brutally end her life.

Ricardo turned around.

"Ojou!"

"Ricardo! Don't get distracted!"

Julius yelled this at him...but a beam of light shot out by Roy fired out at Ovidius, who brought out a large shield construct.

The beam broke into pieces, passing by Julius, slicing open Hetaro's cheek...and…

"Auh…"

Ricardo's eyes went white...as a perfect bloody hole appeared on the top of his head, just above his eyes.

Ovidius peeked back, whispering ominously.

"Oops."

Ricardo's body fell over, like a tree being cut down and blood shot out of the top.

"Chief?"

Mimi fell on her behind, watching with staggering eyes.

"Chief?"

Calling out to him, he didn't move.

Getting his fangs on the scarf, he yanked it off and shook it around, much like a dog would with a toy. Now he tossed it to the ground and drooled excitedly.

Anastasia reached out for.

"Echidna!"
"Ana, listen to me-"

Hurling out his viscous, boiling, napalm like blood, right on top of it...Genau burned the scarf into cinders.

Anastasia watched as the light blue flares danced around the Wolgarm.

He took in a deep breath and roared.

"BWROAAAAAAARRRRR!"
"...What is happening?"

She glanced over seeing the corpse of Ricardo.

The memories of the time she was a child, growing up, her business ventures with him and eventual travels with him in Lugnica...they eroded in her mind.

"Why is this happening?"

A smile, one devoid of happiness and instead filled with despair; matched the tears pouring out of her eyes.

"This is a joke, right?"

Genau and Ovidius were given the most important information.

"Both of you! Be careful of Gluttony touching your face, his Authority affects memories; either your own or erasing your existence from other's heads! But try to...use it to your advantage."

Both Red Lanterns had their expressions become stern as the hologram dissipated.

Julius seeing his master on the floor distraught, pained him. Yet he had to focus, even if he could hear the sniffles of the Pearlbaton triplets, but as he dodged a palm thrust by Roy...he lost his balance.

The back of his foot, hit something.

He looked down...and saw a cube construct, which quickly dissipated. Furiously rearing his head, he saw Genau...who winked at him.

His face was touched by Roy's palm, as he backflipped and licked it.

Just before it happened, and Julius had his name erased from the world...Ovidius nodded gleefully and Genau grinned in sinister ecstasy.

"Hold on! We just have to get out the door!"

The civilians trapped in one of the shelters below the city, were attempting to stop the water that was rushing in. The crack they were holding up against, was breaking more and more.

Even when some used Earth magic to cover it, or water magic to freeze it...it did no good; more of that immense water surged in.

The knights stationed there made a mad dash to open the main entrance...only to find it wouldn't budge.

"What is this?! IT WON'T OPEN!"

What they did not know...was that one of the building destroyed in Genau's fight with Regulus fell on top of another building, which landed on top of the entrance; the weight of both made them trapped.

To make matters worse of course, the meteor that Genau brought down upon the block, broke apart the foundation of an entire section of the Watergate City. The entire pier area was flooded, drowning many and sinking boats onto the stones that held the walls of the shelter.

It was disaster stacked upon disaster.

Now the knights tried to push past the door, with more innocent men helping out, the women and children waiting on the stairs that led up to it.

BUT!

They were making a good push, as the doors actually moved.

With happiness in their hearts...they pushed the doors, all the men letting out proud roars as they did it.

And flames began entering the shelter.

Two men caught on fire before they shut the doors.

"Oh god! We can't get-"

As the knight screamed this out...the damage downstairs, finally gave way and the wall bursted. Water flooded in.

Any screams was quickly muffled by the splashing, attempts to run were crushed by the power of the flooding waters and all hope was washed away.

Everyone found themselves thrown around like ragdolls, some were killed slamming into the walls, other were crushed by pieces of the wall.

As the waters filled the shelter, now they were being swung into the roof of the shelter, slowly being crushed into it.

The elderly died first, too old to handle the strain or the blows they received.

Children were next, too small and fragile to handle all the water inflating their organs.

Soon it was the weeping, exhausted, and broken adults left.

Some, who lost their children, actually swam into the waters, to drown themselves...the grief too much to bear.

And in her struggle, a yellow haired, green eyed woman...lovely in complexion, but clearly drained of power, was up to her neck in water, her head touching the ceiling.

The water kept rising.

"Augh! COUGH! COUGH! RAFIEL! FRED! WHERE ARE YOU!?"

She sunk her head into the water...and instantly screamed, not caring about water entering her body.

The bodies of her children were at the bottom, crushed under rubble, making them unable to move, and thus drowned.

Her adorable little boy Fred.

Her gorgeous girl Rafiel.

She could not understand it...just a few hours ago they were busy eating their meals, waiting for their father to return home.

Then the sirens sounded off, the booming noise of explosions could be heard. Once outside, they saw the smoke and heard the screams.

Many that ran with them explained the escalating war between the Witch's Cult and the Red Lantern Corps, and how it was now erupting in their fair city.

Holding her son in one arm, and holding the hand of her daughter in the other...they ran for their lives. Hoping things would settle down. They could see the meteor that Genau guided and watched in stunned horror as it crashed down; shooting out a shockwave that made them lose their footing. Glass broke and smoke filled their lungs. As they got up, their area was now shrouded in the dust of debris. Still they held each other's hands, braving through the smoke and the sounds of conflict. Behind them, they heard people screaming as the waters flooded the streets, taking them away.

Screams for hope.

Screams for prayers.

Screams for the Dragon to save them.

Screams to have this war end.

Screams cursing the Witch's Cult.

Then they made it...to the shelter.

Now….

Her head slammed back onto the ceiling...and with that, something awoke in her.

"My...children…"

Another boy and girl...ones that she left behind.

"G-G-...F...F-F…"

A boy too young to understand, and a little girl who had a proud nature to her.

.

.

.

.

Reala Thompson finally remembered her lost children.

"GARFIEL! FREDERICA! PLEASE-!"

Now the water reached her face, then over it...swallowing her up, her struggles in vain…

Her memories, sunken into the darkness, along with her life.

Frederica, sitting alone in that dark, damp and cold cave deep beneath the mansion, sighed sadly.

What else was there to do?

She would think of the times training her adorable apprentices, those lovely twins.

Serving the master that she respected and adored.

The grandmother that raised her, smiling purely.

Her brother...her brother...her brother.

Tears trickled down her eyes, her teeth bit into her lips.

Pure anguish.

Now she saw those sisters, scarred and tired.

Her master, not fully himself; an arm missing.

Her grandmother, ragged and personally locked away from the outside world.

Her brother…

It made her cry.

Weep.

Groan.

All she could think of, chained up and left there...was her-

A Blood Portal opened in front of her.

And just as quickly, chain constructs wrapped around her and flung her through it.

She let out a simple grunt as she skidded across the pavement, finding herself in a city being torn apart by a great battle.

She got on her knees, trying to get her bearings and hopefully give an earful to the Red Lantern who brought her here.

Her eyes met something else.

A vile looking young man, blood dripping down his face and his palm quickly reaching her face.

He touched it and with a quick backflip, licked it mid-air.

"Hey now tell us...why would you give us this nice looking treat? Ovidius-san?!"

Ovidius waved his finger back and forth.

"No no, I'd rather shove my foot up your rear; so much so, that the sweat on my knee, will quench your thirst."

"Hahaha, too funny!"

His eyes returning to normal hideous glimmer.

"You didn't answer our question though. Why give us this Frederica Baumann?"
"She's been a hindrance to my plans for quite a long time. So why not fix the situation, right?"
"Ohhhh, so devious."
"I prefer calculating."

Both opponents charged at one another.

The golden haired woman slowly raised herself, gazing around. Scared, worried, nauseous.

Her jade eyes looked out to the red clad warrior fighting against a scary looking young man.

And finally…

"Where am I?"

The issue of Frederica Baumann, was neutralized.

"Who am I again?"

Because she no longer existed.

Subaru blasted through several walls right as he entered a long corridor, leading to a main door. He noticed an odd sound and glanced up, seeing a mass of human sized flies.

Seeing them fly at him, he activated Revenga Art 2 and fired his assault rifile construct right at them, slaughtering most of them. He then slammed his fist into the ground and thorn constructs broke through the floor and impaled the remaining ones. Flying past the falling corpses, he then saw...Emilia.

"Subaru, hey...tell me if-"

He immediately shot her through the head with a beam from his ring.

"What the hell is wrong with y-"

Again and again, he fired beams at her, making almost sixty percent of her body littered in nasty looking holes.

"MOTHERFUCKING WORTHLESS BAG OF SHIT!"

Her fist turned into a large monstrous purple claw and slammed down, but Subaru got away from it. After the rubble of smoke cleared, he shot through it, and this time it was Rem.

"Subaru! Why are-"

He slammed her face apart with a baseball bat construct.

Tendrils shot out of her injuries and attacked Subaru, but he dashed back, all the while hurling out his napalm blood. Protected, Subaru watched as the woman morphed into a short girl with blonde hair, barely any clothing and ruby red eyes. Two nasty looking black boils growing behind her and a long strand of hair, that nearly touched her feet.

She looked like Felt in some regards, but he was disgusted by aspects of her.

"Hey, where is the love you owe me, you stained asshole?"
"I got none for someone like you...you…"

A vein popped in Subaru's head, his scar glowing bright yellow and one good eye shining red like a wild animal.

"YOU! YOU DARED TO USE MY EMILIA AND MY REM'S LIKENESS TO GET TO ME! YOU FUCKING WHORE SLUT BITCH! I'M GONNA KILL YOU SO BAD THAT YOU'LL WISH YOU DIED AS A CHILD!"

"I ain't scared of a threat by-"

Again, she was interrupted by Subaru slamming a pillar construct on her, leaving a bloody mess, before hurling out more of his blood at her, starting a fire that was engulfing the room, breaking windows and causing sparks. Those sparks began to burn the bushes and flowers outside, quickly getting the city hall into a blaze.

This woman escaped up to the roof, breaking through it, giant black butterfly wings helping her up. But Subaru broke through as well, surrounded by a red aura, covered in flames. Drool escaping his mouth, along with blood floating out of it, he glared at her. And so did she.

His hazel eye.

Her red eyes.

Both locked onto their opponents.

The city around them, falling apart.

Waters splashing around, Julius lost his footing before he glanced over. This time, it was Genau taking on Roy.

"Hey you, what are you doing here?"
"Huh?"

Ovidius tilted his head as he spun his head back, staring at the knight.

"What's a Royal Knight doing here?"
"Cease the ridiculous quandaries! Why would you ask a foolish question?!"
"It's not! I really want to know, why you're here!"
"I'm Anastasia's knight, I go where she goes!"
"HUH?!"

He pointed at the violet haired knight.

"Bullshit."
"Excuse me?!"
"Anastasia Hoshin doesn't have a knight!"

Irked by his response, he quickly checked his master, who was on her feet walking to Ricardo's corpse.

"Anastasia-sama, are you alright?!"
"Hm? Um, well yeah."
"Thank good-"
"-Hey, who sent you here?"
"What? I-It's me, Julius!"
"J-Julius?"

Her next words...stung into his heart.

"Never heard of a knight with that name before."

His zipped around, and saw it.

Mimi, didn't recognize him.

Hetaro didn't either.

Nor did Tivey.

He turned back to Ovidius.

"YOU DID THIS!?"
"HUH?! How would I do something to you? I don't even know who you are!"
"I am Julius Juukulius a proud knight of Lugnica and servant to Anastasia-sama!"
"Ohhhhhhh…"

His goggles glimmered for a second.

"Are you now?"

He made his ring fire a beam behind him, in a curved line.

The debris flew around them, obstructing the others views of them.

Julius suddenly got himself caught on some chain constructs, and flew off.

He struggled against and even tried to summon some of his spirits to help him. Yet feared gripped his soul when not a single one of hsi contracted spirits, came out to help him.

He then got shoved into that bloody riverway, but started getting up. He looked around readying his sword for action-

"Sorry, but I have to make sure."

A seething pain, his chest hurt, a panic filled his heart.

That was because, his heart was in danger.

He looked down and saw a short blade construct had gone straight through his chest.

"GAHK!"

He spat out blood as the construct broke apart.

He fumbled around, swinging his sword around violently, frantically.

Ovidius then moved forward, putting a hand over his mouth.

"Shhhh, it's okay. Don't struggle, it'll only hurt more if you do."

"Ah, wh-why?"

He then shoved a knife construct through the back of his throat.

"Because if what you say is true, it's my duty to stamp out support for Hoshin. Afterall, I am a member of the Emilia Camp, right?"

Feeling his spirit slipping from him, he spun around and grabbed Ovidius by the collar.

It was too late.
He began slipping down, loosening his grip.

"Well Juukulius-san, it's obvious you have been erased by Gluttony, too bad. So sad."
"Y-You...ack…"
"After today, you will be forgotten completely, but I will remember you. Remember...the day I set you free, no more worries, no more struggle. I can assure you, that your family will not grieve."

He pushed him to fall back into the blood drenched waters.

"In fact, no one will."

The river's current pulled him away, his bright yellow eyes losing their brightness.

"Goodbye...unknown knight."

Ovidius waved at him, flying away.

Julius looked up at the grey colored skies, smoke and sparks dancing in the air. His breath shallow, the pain barely there.

"Is Joshua okay...are my family...oh yes...was I…"

Even his thoughts stopped.

His breathing stopped.

His body stopped. Piled next to Ley's.

In fact, a plethora of bodies were bunched together, stuck against the hole where water flowed freely into the reservoir. But his body somehow made it through, it continued and continued, floating away. Days later, his body would fall off the Great Waterfall, never to be found again.

Sipping on the blood he got from Julius, he felt his sword skills increase exponentially.

A secondary prize for his contributions.

Landing in the streets where the defeated Hoshin Camp was, still grieving over Ricardo; Genau charged at Roy.

Roy began to laugh.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

So did Genau.

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

And in the end, Ovidius followed in the laughter, flying toward the fight.

"AHAHAHAHAHA! HAHHHHHH! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

This was the maddening spectacle to be seen, by those who had lost that which was dear to them.

And Ovidius gripped his fist, remembering something Subaru ordered him to do.

And his ring began glowing bright.

Wilhelm, out of breath and with cuts on his cheeks and the back of his neck, stumbled to the point of interest. He kneeled down and reached out his arms.

Picking her up, he removed her hood.

It was indeed his wife, Thearesia Van Astrea.

Somehow, used as a puppet by the Witch's Cult, he had defeated her.

But not with his skills alone, no, the injuries she sustained in her fight with Subaru helped turn the tide of battle for him.

"I'm sorry Theareasia."

She looked up at him, even if her own sword was through her chest. She had the energy, enough spirit to gaze up at him, and gently touch his cheek.

"Wil...helm…"
"Yes, it's me."

He softly hugged her into his arms.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do more. I wish things had gone differently, I just...I just wanted…"
"Wilhelm, I love you, so don't worry, I'll always forgive you."

She softly kissed his cheek, making him loosen his hug and stare into her pure blue eyes.

"I love you."
"Hehe, I know...I always...knew…"

She disintegrated into dust, leaving nothing in his grasp. Her ashes flew away from him, leaving him in a tear filled stupor.

Where did all this wrong?

Who could he blame? To hate for his misfortune?

Was it the kingdom, who sent her on the mission that killed her?

Was it the Sword Saint lineage, forcing a role upon her, that she did not want?
The White Whale? For being the reason behind her death?
His son Heinkel? He was the one who was supposed to be sent to handle the whale, so was this his doing?

Reinhard? He took her Divine Protections when he acquired it while he was a young boy, did he do this?
The Witch's Cult? They seemed to be controlling the White Whale, and they used her corpse as a puppet, did they deserve his ire?

No.

In the end...he hated himself.

Resolving himself to a master he could not remember, who was asked by the desperate Natsuki Subaru for help. He did nothing then, and lost his chance to kill the White Whale.

He was not able to get the Kingdom to try and find the White Whale, and in the end his efforts were worthless.

He did not do his best to stop his wife from going in his son's place.

Undiligent.

Lazy.

Weak.

...Slothful.

Words that echoed in his mind.

The biting of his lips prevented him from saying these words.

Blood dripped onto his torn white gloves, and so did his tears.

In the end, he was filled anger and fury against the Witch's Cult.

But more than any kingdom, organization, corps or monsters.

He loathed one person in particular.

"Damn..it."

He hated himself.

And he always would.

Opening his eyes...he saw it.

Sparkling.

Ominous.

Radiant.

Frightening.

It was...

"Beautiful…"

{Wilhelm Van Astrea. You have great rage in your heart. YOU BELONG TO THE RED LANTERN CORPS.}

TO BE CONTINUED...