Towards the sky he looked though there was not much to see but the still packed ice that divides the fourth and fifth layers of the abyss. With a grunt of pain, he looked down to his mutilated body, his lower torso having been completely incinerated by the Aubades aptly named incinerator. "Ah what a pity," he thought to himself grievously. To lose such a body that had been blessed by the abyss itself.
However, before he could further lament his situation a young figure approached him, one he knew well. They were the epitome of the word adorable, with chubby furry cheeks and long ears reminiscent of those found on rabbits.
Ah yes, they went by the name Nanachi once his adorable assistant turned runaway, he had feared they would fall into the deepest pits of despair unable to cope with both the blessing they had been gifted and the curse their friend had suffered on their behalf. And now much to his joy they stood above him triumph shining in their golden eyes once filled with admiration, caution and ultimately fear.
But after what they and their friends had achieved, he knew he owed them proper praise so with his own organs protesting as if demanding his silence, he spoke, "you…have surprised me child. You managed to get the severed arm to function. Y-you exerted all of your strength used your wits and each of you took action most brilliantly," for a moment he paused his body screaming he knew the familiar embrace of death would claim him soon but he could not let it take him now not till he'd had his say and so he continued his voice soft yet plagued with pain, "Truly moving."
For a moment they stopped contemplating what to say before raising a fuzzy hand "Yeah well that's enough of your blabbering," they demanded. Still riding the ecstasy of victory, they continued, "and from the looks of it no one's coming out to protect you this time which must mean you no longer have any Umbra Hands left to fight us, leaving us free to destroy the remaining facilities including the Zoaholic."
For a moment they pause catching their breath, their small form trembling, "there are so many of you now we couldn't kill you even if we tried…but your disgusting aspirations end here it is over." They looked to him desperate for a reaction. They wanted him to hurt to scream out his rage, but he have none to unleash merely pride.
"Oh, heavens no! Your prayers, your ardent desire to choose your own paths and push forward they've surpassed even my own." He exclaims his excitement allowing him to ignore his pain temporarily.
He coughs under the strain yet he continues to push his body beyond its limit determined to tell his beloved former assistant all he had to say before his temporary end, "although it is most regrettable this body has been destroyed… crossing paths and having the opportunity to clash with you has been an unparalleled joy the fact that you will all continue on beyond this place is now my new aspiration."
Nanachi's eyes narrow in frustration and disgust, "it's totally pointless saying anything to you, you're sick and unbelievably pathetic. It's funny I've longed for the day we'd kill each other in battle but now…"
Their form encloses in on itself shuddering, he knew why. For a long time now, death had seemed the simple next step for Nanachi once Mitty had finally passed there would be simply nothing left. But now friends such as Riko and Reg Nanachi had found new meaning and with it a new fear of death for themselves and those they hold dear. Simply put, Nanachi had once again found love and camaraderie and feared losing it.
How unbecoming it would be to die now and leave Nanachi in this state of paranoia. Using the last of his strength he reaches forward with his own arm covered in fur though his was ashen white reflective of the Sea of Corpses he called his home. Gently as not to cut them with his own claws he places his palm upon their shoulder ignoring their subtle flinch at the contact.
Gently he coaxes them, "ah Nanachi, it pleases me things did not turn out that way come now raise your head up high." Doing as he instructs Nanachi looks up their eyes welling with barely contained tears. "Child may your journey overflow with both curses and blessings."
Gasping Nanachi slowly reaches for his arm hesitating for just a moment before grasping it. With new vigour they wrench it free of their shoulder looking down upon him with eyes now filled with newfound strength. "You can shut up now," they exclaim their voice now strong and filled with unwavering courage.
Finally succumbing to his injuries, he gives a final chuckle before softly whispering "you are tr-truly adorable." The last sensation he felt was of his own claw impacting the ground before his vision was swallowed by darkness.
The Zoaholic was a truly marvellous relic, he had acquired it for himself through some unsavoury means but the benefits it provided was too great to ignore. Those under its care were capable of transferring their own souls into the vestiges of others. True immortality and all it took was the loss of one's humanity and sanity. To him it was a necessary sacrifice to ensure the survival of the human species to save them from a threat two thousand years in the making. Every deal, every irredeemable action had been made for this goal no matter the price, wherever it be his own humanity, his own men, his own daughter. It had all been to protect humanity.
Yet as he stared at the familiar road, the various stalls and the bustling of humans and demi-humans he couldn't help but pause a terrible sinking realisation settling within his stomach. He recognised this world, from a long time ago the pain he had endured here only to be cast aside by the whims of the Jealous Witch Satella. Now back he'd once again been forced to abandon those who needed him. His sacrifices both those he made and those he forced on others, had all been for naught. He felt his body clench his tail coiling ready to strike like a whip. It had been a long time since he felt anger and like a terrible sickness it spread across his body.
For a moment he thought he'd explode when a voice called out to him "excuse me are you ok? I sense you are feeling abnormally strong feelings of anger." Turning to face him the man that stood before him seemed to be the very personification of what a knight should be: with a straight and powerful stance, elegant clothing, a most deadly blade strapped to his hip and conventional handsomeness with his crimson hair and icy blue eyes it would be hard to label him as anything but a knight. Yet anyone who is familiar with this appearance would know that this is no ordinary knight, this is the exalted Sword Saint Reinheart van Astrea.
He knew him well and of his formidable power, "my apologies for alarming you I merely allowed some frustrations to leak through", he bowed ever so slightly. Chuckling Reinheart was quick to placate the stranger, "please there is now need to bow, though I must admit I was also drawn by your strange garb. Are you perhaps foreign to Luginica?"
"Why yes I am, it is my pleasure to meet the legendary Sword Saint himself, my name is Bondrewd the Novel." For a moment Reinheart seemed almost disappointed before he spoke again with his usual politeness, "please call me Reinheart Sword Saint can be a bit of a mouthful," he smiles hopefully, "if you are new here I'd be happy to accompany you today happens to be my day off."
"His power will certainly be of use for what's to come," Bondrewd thinks to himself "that's right if I am back here then that means she is too." Bondrewd remembered her well, the first person to help him even at the cost of her own desires and someone he swore to protect. Is that why he'd been brought back here? To uphold his promise? No, such a thing would be out of character for the Witch of Envy though maybe not so out of character for Satella.
With a sigh Bondrewd turns to Reinheart, "I thank you for the offer, but I believe I'll be fine by myself," for a second Bondrewd allows the news to sink in Reinhearts face remaining neutral masking his disappointment. Knowing of this, Bondrewd continues, "that being said I believe need of you will arise at the loot house this evening," Reinhearts perks up before narrowing his eyes, "and what sort of need exactly?" he asks suspiciously his hand now lazily hanging on his sword.
Bondrewd pauses knowing he had to be careful of his phrasing, "it has come to my knowledge that a very dangerous individual has crossed into your kingdom," Bondrewd allows this knowledge to settle in, carefully gauging Reinhearts reaction. Seeing as he still has his attention he continues, "an assassin who goes by the moniker the Bowel Hunter."
Hearing this Reinhearts eyes open in alarm before looking at Bondrewd carefully, "A dangerous opponent indeed, I thank you of this warning Bondrewd" he gives of a pleasant smile Bondrewd simply nods his masked head before speaking up, "In the meantime, someone is in need of my help I will meet you at the loot house in the slums this evening before night," Bondrewd backs away Reinheart simply nodding his head before moving on himself.
"Strange I sensed absolutely no malice at all. Stranger still my Divine Protection of Wind Reading indicated he told no lies when he warned me of the Bowel Hunter. Did he intend to stop her himself and just invited me on a whim or did he plan for me to be involved? He acted almost familiar like he knew already I would agree," Reinheart questions himself. "For now, as he seems to hold no ill intentions, I'll trust him, but what was that intense feeling of rage earlier and how could he just suppress it like that," with a sigh Reinheart looks to the sky. "Truly you are a strange one Bondrewd the Novel."
"My my how intense," Bondrewd mutters to himself walking down the dingy alleyway of the capital city. It had been quite a long time since he'd been forced to wander the slums most would find such an endeavour dangerous but to Bondrewd who'd happily made his home within Ido Front directly above the sinister callings of the Abysses sixth layer it was a breath of fresh air.
Pausing for a second he looks down at his apparel thinking to himself, "It would appear I am inhabiting my combat body, before it was blessed," he gave his tail an experimental twitch noting that the damaged tip had also been healed. His mask too had been repaired and his gauntlets containing his shaker needles and Sparagmos seemed to be in complete working order. Carefully he places his right hand to his belt feeling the vague outline of a cylindrical object. "Marvellous with you here I am not so shackled by her will," Bondrewd says softly, stroking the object before carrying on through the alley.
Finally, he reached his destination, a small space located within the alley just outside of the primary market district. He only had to wait a few seconds before just like clockwork a voice called to him. "Hey you! Creepy guy with mask," three men emerged, their presumed leader steps forward, backed behind him are both his significantly larger and significantly smaller friend. "H-hey now I'm going to only ask this once but you best hand over everything you got," he announces louder than what he intended, his voice wavering with slight nervousness.
For a second Bondrewd considers their words "Hm I am afraid I have no money to give," he takes a step forward, his tail lazily swaying behind him. Seeing his advance, the trio take a collective step back. The larger turns to the leader tugging on his arm, "come on man he's not worth it," before the trio could continue their argument the sound of running footsteps fills the alley way, "Make way!" a small teen exclaims expertly moving through the three men before passing Bondrewd, "weird get up," she states with a small grin before in a new burst of speed she ascends the nearby wall before disappearing.
"Such marvellous speed truly enviable," Bondrewd chuckles before turning to the trio only to see that one of them having gotten over the sudden interruption had drawn a pair of daggers, "listen I'm done playing hand over that mask of yours, looks nice and expensive," he demands pointing his dual daggers at the masked figure. Just before Bondrewd could reply the alley is once again filled with the sound of running footsteps, "stop right and there and return what you stole thief," a voice like silver bells commands.
"Huh," the muggers turn around allowing Bondrewd to see her. Silver hair, eyes shining a deep amethyst and pointed ears representative of one with elven blood. Bondrewd already knew her name, Emilia. She had once been the love of his life and the one he most wanted to protect back when he had a different name, before he was Bondrewd the Novel or the Sovereign of Dawn back then he was only known as Natsuki Subaru.
Thank you for reading my first Fanfiction I've wanted to put this idea out there for quite a while now. Please know I do this to improve my writing so I welcome any criticism. Hope you enjoyed and as of writing this Happy New Year.