AN: I gave it some thought and came to the conclusion that if this were animated, the voices for Genau and Ovidius in particular, I had an idea...

Genau has to be voiced by Ono Daisuke, the same guy who while famous for voicing Sebastian from Black Butler, Shizuo from Durarara! and Jotaro from Jojo Part 3; I want him to sound more like Nendou Riki from Saiki Kusuo no Sainan, all the while it sounds like he's growling and hissing at the same time.

Ovidius has to be voiced by Daisuke Namikawa, who is famous for his roles as Hisoka from Hunter X Hunter, Ulqiorra from Bleach and Tooru Oikawa of Haikyuu!...I need him to sound a lot like North Italy from Hetalia, while once in awhile adding in that edge he can have.

...And um, Atrocitus is voiced by Akio Otsuka, known as the voice of Blackbeard from One Piece and Rider from Fate/Zero.

But that's enough! Time for the story to head into ARC 4! Keep the reviews coming, they feed my soul!

Without further ado, Enjoy!

Chapter 15: The Wrong Side of Heaven?

ONE YEAR AFTER THE START OF THE ROYAL SELECTION…

The darkness of this cave kept it's secrets well hidden. The shuffling noises and sounds of knives being put away, actually revealed the true nature of this paranoia based secrecy.

Witch Cultists.

A small band of Witch Cultists used this cave as a home in order to move around without being noticed.

And with it, they would await orders from their Gospels, or for the arrival of a Sin Archbishop to frankly-

-BOOM!-

The side wall bursted in an explosion, sending some cultists flopping around like rag dolls.

They all got their weapons and magic ready...only to see the dust settle and three lights glimmer there. Everyone in that sect, instantly knew what was happening.

"Found you."

The dust parted and revealed Natsuki Subaru, floating in the air, his red ring glowing and covering him in red energy.

The same went for Ovidius and Genau, as the helmeted individual pointed at the shocked Cultists.

"Cultist scum! You have sinned far too greatly and spilled innocent blood for quite too long! You now face the judgment of the Red Lantern Corps!"

"...!"
"And now, you will pay for your crimes, through suffering and death. Till the last drop of blood and tears hit the floor."

Wasting no time, Subaru led the charge with a smile on his face. Using two chainsaw constructs he chopped his way through several of them, before they could even react. Two made it around him, only to have their throats slit by Ovidius and his Pesh-kabz blade constructs. He then turned to hsi side quickly and had his metia rod fire electricity sparks, frying three more Witch Cultists.

Fireballs hurled at them were stopped by a shield construct from Genau.

"Oh? Cultisssst ssscum?! Want to cook? I prefer cooked meat asssss well!"

Genau dashed at them, hurling out his blood in a frenzy, melting five more Witch Cultists. Seeing one was dashing away, Genau flew forward, cutting him off and bringing down a large warhammer construct atop of him, crushing this woman into a slab of meat and broken bones.

"Hahahaha! Too sssslow!"

Subaru then had a katana construct impale a Cultist, but noticed one was coming up behind him, so with a free hand, he created a curved blade construct, which did the very angle he wanted letting the tip of the blade stab through the attacker's eye. Genau had spike constructs fly out of his mouth, impaling more Witch Cultists to the interior of the wall.

In the end, one was left, his arms and legs bent into a awkward angle.

"Where are they?"

No answer back.

So Subaru stomped on his abdomen.

"Where are your Sin Archbishops?! Where are they hiding?!"

Silence yet again.

So this time Subaru kicked him across the head and stomped on his groin.

"ANSWER ME!"

A breathless laugh escaped his moans of pain.

And so, Subaru knew he would gain nothing.

"Alright, it's like that then?"

Subaru twiddled his fingers.

"Genau, eat."

Genau charged in and began his work, chomping down on the Cultist, who could barely even struggle, until finally...his struggling was no more.

Subaru sighed, but Ovidius gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"Hey come on now, we both know torturing them would have yielded nothing, so this is for the best."
"True, plus in the end we ended up killing more than we anticipated."
"See? Always got to look at the positive of any situation."

With Genau finishing his meal, Subaru looked out the hole of the mountain they made, and saw how desolate this place was. It was nothing but trees as far as the eye could see, not a man made structure in sight. Just the right place for roaches, as Subaru thought.

"Now then, let's get going."

The Red Lanterns flew into the air, leaving behind a small fire, which quickly spread, leaving any corpses still there...to burn brightly throughout the remainder of the day.

Arriving back, Subaru sat on the couch they brought into the Comfort Eagle Library.

"Subaru seems a little more exhausted today, I suppose?"
"Having to comb the areas near the border of Gusteko is tiring as hell. Plus, we can't go too far into Gusteko. Last time they freaked out when we killed some Cultits in one of their villages, just a pain in the a-s-s."

Beatrice sat back on the couch, kicking her legs.

Her dress was the same as ever, but now she had a purple scarf with elegant engravings on it.

"Any progress with the eventual mission to Priestella, I suppose?"
"The books you gave me on the matter, helped me understand it's history, but we still have Genau flying over it, every once in a while."
"I'd like to see it for myself."
"...If you go with one of them, I'll let ya."
"Excellent."

Beatrice beamed with joy.

While she had traveled with Subaru on some of his missions for some time now, she had still yet to see Priestella. Even being to high up mountains, gorgeous marble cities and snow covered plateaus, she had an innate desire to see the Watergate City.

"But when you get there, please don't go overboard with the drinking, 'kay?"
"WAH?!"

Beatrice went tomato red, tears forming on the corner of her eyes. The sight made Subaru chuckle.

"You are never gonna let that go, huh?!"
"My first kiss was still stolen by my loyal little spirit. Of course I am gonna tease you about it."
"Stupid, I suppose!"

She crossed her arms and laid her head on his lap.

"Don't angry people usually want to get away from the person that peaved them?"
"...Betty isn't like normal humans, right?"
"Guess not."

He softly patted her head, watching as Rem entered the room.

"Greetings Subaru-kun."
"Hey Rem, how have things been?"
"Good, all things considered."

Rem leaned her head down and gave a quick kiss onto Subaru's scarred area on his face.

"But Rem is happy to see you back, safe and sound."

"...Yeah."

Subaru used his thumb to rub across her cheek, which still had the scar from her participation in the Bloodstained Roses War, known by most as the Dragon Maidens War.

"You feeling alright, that dress isn't uncomfortable?"
"If Subaru-kun, doesn't like it, Rem can take it off."
"No, no...it's quite fine. You look great in it."

Rem smiled, being complimented as she wore a different maid dress compared to her usual one. In fact, it was the same one her former master Frederica Baumann wore. This in part, was to cover up Rem's burned arm from view, including a black glove to cover her hand.

"Um, Rem does wish to finish playing with you, but she has things to do."
"Oh okay, well I'll see you for lunch in a bit?"
"As always."

But as Rem bowed, turning around to exit.

"Hm, oh yeah Rem."
"Hm?"
"If you're trying to give a meal to her, don't worry. Ovidius is taking care of that."
"...Oh…"
"So just don't fret over it."
"...Rem will do so."

She hid her conflicted face as she closed the door behind herself. Subaru was left there looking over his ring, sighing loudly as he did.

Deep beneath the mansion, in a room filled with blankets, pillows and some books, the walls were like a mix of a cave and unfinished tile walls. Only one magic lamp drew light into this room. There, sat a woman.

Her hair a mess, her eyes dull and sunken, dirt covering her hands. She wore a simple white nightgown, her hands and legs chained, with a gem in those chains, to alert anyone if she had escaped.

Then she looked up, glaring at the sight before her

"Come on, don't give me that look. I brought your lunch today, nothing fancy, but it'll keep you going."

"..."

"I also brought you another water bucket and a clean 'waste' bucket, please don't get them mixed up. It'd be a disaster if you did, right? Hahahaha...ha...hmmm."

Frederica continued her glare, Ovidius simply gave his friendly demeanor.

"Look, the fact of the matter is simple. You continue acting like this, and everyone will hesitate in releasing you. Is that what you want? To stay here and rot away?"

"..."

"...Hahhh, here's the thing."

Ovidius placed the plate of food down and squatted down to see eye to eye with her.

"We have had ideas run through our heads this past year on what we could do. Natsuki-san suggested dumping you near Gusteko, but we know you'd just trek back here right?"

"..."

"Now, Rem-chan thinks we can just keep you more comfortable in an actual room than this little home of yours. But surprisingly, it was Ram who was the first against it, thinking you might try at some point pull something, especially with your vast knowledge of the mansion."

"..."

"Genau; well, that little guy thinks we should just kill you. But again, we don't want to upset the twin maids, since they do seem to care for you. We do have big hearts you know?"

"..."

"Personally…"

Ovidius was inches away from her face, his goggles reflecting the light of the nearby lamp.

"...We should just oh so carefully, pick out a piece of your brain out and make you much more compliant. I believe Natsuki-san called it a 'lobotomy', interesting right? Would you like that? Being a mindless simpleton, drooling and stumbling around without a care in the world for the remainder of your days?"
"...!"

Now, Frederica's face faltered, inside her heart, that was the kind of fate she dreaded. As if it was a fate in between being alive and dead.

In her soul, she hoped that was not to be her-

"BUT NAH! I suggested it to Emilia-san and she got incredibly angry with me, so I told her that I was scrapping it."
"...!"

He got up, peering down at the tired looking woman.

"You should really figure out what it is, you want to do. Time is pretty much going to run out for you, y'know?"

"..."

"Ram-chan will be here in about two hours, so take your time."

Ovidius began to leave. As he finally reached the door, he turned back one last time...he noticed tears dropping from her eyes, yet she made no sad expression.

"I can't blame you."

He said this as he finally left, closing the door behind him and then created a construct of the key for this door and locked it.

The sound of the locks clicking, echoed…

Emilia doted down some notes as she petted Puck with her other free hand. Sitting in her chair, she was pretty much composed, but it was evident there was work to be done.

"Is that right, Genau?"
"Yesssss, apparently it'ssss occured for a few daysssss now."

She then placed her feather pen back into its holder as she rubbed one of the long strands of her hair. Genau sat there as any dog would, as Emilia made a sour pout. Having learned that all hte candidates were having such a freindly meeting in the very gorgeous city she heard so much about...was usetting, especially since they were completely ignored. Denied such a friendly gesture.

"Still, it's a bit upsetting not to get invited."
"After that ssssstrong dissssplay you made at the Capital, you don't ssssseem like a sssssoft target anymore."

"I have to make myself seem, um, tougher."

She put her arms and flexed, making Genau chuckle.

Puck floated up and nodded.

"Lia does seem more capable than ever!"
"Thanks Puck."
"Ah, right. Genau, are you sure that it's a good idea for you guys to go that city tomorrow. Won't you being there freak out the candidates?"

Genau scratched his ears as he heard Puck's questioning.

"True….but I don't mind sssseeing their ssssscared facessss."
"Geez, that's just gonna cause trouble."
"The Red Lantern Corp, eatsssss trouble for breakfassst."
"...Really? Even after the sixteen pancakes you ate? Do you even have room?"
"...Wait, the grey rodent is right!"
"Rodent?!"

Puck pouted as Genau got up eagerly, wagging his tail.

"Ssssister Emilia! Grey Rodent! I gotta check if there issss some pancakessss left! Excusssse me!"
"Oh, if you see Rem or Ram, can you tell em' to make some appa pie for later?"
"Excellent idea! I'm off!"

Genau rushed out the door as fast as he legs could move, making Emilia giggle at the sight. Then she heard her feline spirit grunt.

"Geez."
"What's wrong Puck?"

Puck kept up his pouty face as he crossed his arms.

"Even a year later and he keeps calling me that. Hmph!"

Emilia saw his sour reaction-

"Bwahahahahahaha!"
"Ah come on Lia!"

-and she bursted into a joyful laughter.

Ram grumbled as she saw Genau exit the kitchen with an elevated expression.

"Damn beast, he found the leftovers."

After some time, she calmly walked back into her own room and found her work.

A slight drawing of the Red Lantern Logo.

She ripped it to pieces, as a form of therapeutic action.

Ram sat on her bed, feeling as if she were a prisoner in her home...no, she was allowed to come and go...but the pressure she would feel exhubriated in her life, meant otherwise.

She was a prisoner in her own world.

The life she knew, held comfortably, shattered when she allowed Emilia to bring a certain boy with them to the mansion.

"Natsuki...Subaru…"

And she's regretted it, ever since.

"...hate you."

Roswaal walked down the hall, before seeing Genau pass by him…making the Magrave, flinch in terror.

For it was a few months back, when he was exiting the bathroom, quite naked. Ram was there to give him his trunks to wear...but Genau showed up as well, noticing something he had never seen before.

"A meat log?"
'G-Genau?"

Roswaal turned around and saw Genau, staring at his crotch.

"Sssso the Ssssorceror thought he could hide food from me? Ha! Don't belittle me!"
"W-Wait, Genau-kun...um, listen to me, this is-!"
"-ALL THAT MEAT IS GOING TO BE MINE!"

And after 10 minutes of chasing, Ram yelling...the near disaster came to an end with the interruption of Subaru and Ovidius, with the author having to tell him what he saw was not a meat log, but…

"That'ssss dumb! Why would you want to get rid of delicious food or drinkssss from the body?"
"That's the natural process for most animals!"
"...And the baby making? Isssss….it ssssso you can eat it for emergency rationssss?"
"No, it's for continuing life!"

"Hmph! More livessss meansss more competition for food! How dumb can thissss get?!"
"My head hurts from all this…"

Roswaal sighed as he quickly made his way into his quarters, trying to leave those traumatic memories behind.

"Okay, on to the task at hand!"

Subaru clapped his hands, getting the entire ensemble of Camp members attention.

"Tomorrow, a team made up of Ovidius, Genau, Beatrice and one of the Lewes Clones will head into Priestella and spy for a bit. Hopefully, we can figure out where the Cult is hiding and later eliminate them."

Rem raised her hand.

"Um, Subaru-kun?"
"Yes Rem?"
"C-Can I go?"

"...Why exactly?"
"W-Well...it's just...Rem has never seen the Watergate City before, and it would be a lifelong dream of mine to-"
"-If you stay with Genau or Ovidius, then it'll be alright."

Rem seemed surprised, but a quick gentle smile from this man, let her know his blessings were hers.

"Very well, then Rem is excited for this!"
"I'm happy for you."

Ram herself, sat on a chair, sneakily glaring at Subaru as she clenched her fists.

"I'll go over some extra precautions, just in case something occurs. Especially since those nincompoops are there."
"The other Dragon Maidens, Barusu?"
"Correct. Other than Felt, we've had no contact with them since after Emilia being a total hottie bad ass in front of the Council."

Emilia could be seen blushing, as Rem gave her a thumbs up, along with Ovidius and Beatrice doing the same as well.

"They're having some kind of a get together there, but with us not being invited, it almost gives me an incentive to crash it. Still, I've learned to be humble about these things."
"Humble is a strong word to use, Natsuki-san."
"Bite me."

Subaru and Ovidius grinned at each other, even if the metal mask hid Ovidius' expression from the others. Emilia was quite jealous of Rem being able to go, but Subaru's fast eye stare, let her know that it was not the best idea as of right now. Ovidius calmly walked over to Subaru and whispered to him.

"Which Lewes Clone do I take?"

"Sagittarius."

"You think we need to go long range?"
"Maybe even use up the Finality Measure. Then again, these might very well be Sin Archbishops we're dealing with."
"If that's the case, then yeah, we'll have to do that."

With all things cleared up, the day slowly winded down, with everyone eventually doing to bed…

….but also-

Rem found herself sitting on a chair, cradling a small...baby in her arms.

She had long hair that flowed down her back so elegantly, it seemed almost divine.

"Mom?"
"Rigel, how was school?"

A young man, easily about to hit seventeen arrived and seemed happy to be home.

"Are things alright out there?"
"Class was a bit much, but all things considering, it was cool."

"Good."
"And Spica?"
"She went with Subaru-kun to visit your Uncle."
"Guess he needs a favor from Bruce, huh?"

Rigel sat across from her, smiling at her as if she was one of his few things to be prideful of.

"Mom?"
"Yes, my son?"
"...I love you so much."
"I love you too Rigel. Now, please get me some water, I need the energy to get food ready."
"Helping out with dinner today, hell yes. I'll be back."

Rigel rushed away, leaving Rem to smile with such fondness that-

"-Ah."

Rem awoke, in the middle of the night, face drenched in tears.

Her dream ended.

"Momma, are we gonna visit Uncle Garf?"
"Yup, it's been a while since you've seen him, so we'll be heading to Karagari to just see em'. Excited?"

The little girl, with jet black hair, pointed ears, hazel eyes in the shape of a familiar figure, with a light green iris, nodded with an infectious enthusiasm.

"Thanks momma!"
"Anything for my little Annerose."

Emilia stood there, older but with plenty of youth in her due to her Elvish ancestry and her hair tied into a long braid...smiled so happily at this young girl.

Emilia woke up, hugging a pillow, feeling so empty all of a sudden.

In that darkness of the night, Subaru stood in a lake of blood.

"Is this really the best course of action, Natsuki Subaru?"

Subaru turned his head, seeing a quite handsome young man, but looked familiar enough that it made him uncomfortable.

"This will lead to such a conflict, that lives could be lost! Is that not something that concerns your conscious? Please! Tell me."

This young familiar looking man begged him to stop. But a he turned his back he lurched forward.

"Then...I see what you are doing this for. This is...this is…"

He quickly turned around, his skin pale, eyes decrepitate and blood leaking out of them. He aged considerably and seemed crazed beyond comprehension.

Because he was.

Because this was Petelgeuse Romanee Conti.

"Your love for the half devil and the oni has begun leading you down a path of death and devastation, yet yet yet yet yet, YOU BELIEVE IT IS FOR JUSTICE?! HEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Ahhhhhh, my brain trembles at the sheer justification you have given yourself!"

Subaru then felt someone glaring from his back.

"Yeh, jus' look a th' damn shi' storm ya caused!"

Garfiel Tinsel pointed at him, with a face filled with disgust.

"My home is in a circula' state of panic, cause of an asshole like ya! Was killin' me really worth it in th' end?! Huh?! I be' ya won' answer me properly...so high an mighty that ya jus' have your head up yer ass!"
"..."
"Had to be anotha' way! Bu' ya jus' wen' ahead and got me axed off! If i' ain' me, a leas' feel bad abou' th' shi' you ended up destroyin' afterwards!"

Subaru turned around again, and this time it was Priscilla there.

"A mild disagreement with us lead to the deaths of thousands and the distrust towards your fellow camp members."
"...It was your own fault."
"There you go again, not taking full responsibility of your own sins! And you wonder why a beast like you is often mistaken for a Sin Archbishop?"

"Fuck off, if anyone is suffering from Pride, it's obviously you."
"Can't be prideful now can I?"
"Suppose not. Ya dumb bitch."

All three of them frowned at him, but Subaru raised his hands, fire beginning to break out around them.

"No matter what they think of me, as long as Emilia and Rem are safe, and my Red Lantern Corp stays on top…"

His eyes twinkled at them, with a red glimmer.

"...If the candidates die or the city burns to the ground, then I know things'll be-"
"-Subaru, do you hear yourself?"

For the first time in years, he felt sadness wash into his rage. Turning his head once more, he found the two people, he would hope would never see him like this, never hear of the violent actions he took and the burning path he undertook…

"Mom? Dad?"

They stood, there, as the fires began to engulf them.

"We-"

Subaru woke up, covered in sweat, but after taking a few deep breaths, he slowly but surely fell back asleep.

The three of these people, tried to forget what they saw that night, but it was evident, it might not be the case.

The morning came, Rem entered Subaru's room, and beamed with a warm smile, seeing the adorable sight in front of her.
Subaru was in deep slumber under some comfortable blankets, hugging Beatrice, who was also gently asleep. Genau laid there, tongue hanging out and all, laying over Subaru's feet.

"...I wish things were more like this."

Ovidius, Rem, Genau, Beatrice and the Lewes Clone code named Sagittarius, were outside.

Subaru shook hands with the reconnaissance unit leader.

"Good luck out there."
"No problem, but here, gander at this while we are gone for the day. Need an opinion on it."
"A book?"

Another one of his written perfections, not yet published or even read by anyone else besides him, he grasped the manuscript of sorts and noted the title…

"The Wrong Side of Heaven?"
"It details the concepts of good and evil, following the path of a single warrior, thrust into a war. He commits atrocities but also tries to help out when he can. Even when things spiral out of control for him."
"Philosophical text huh? Guessing from the title, it's supposed to question the way violence is used in the sake of justice and the like?"
"Very much so, right on the nose there."
"...Is this a offhand chance to speak out against what we do?"

Ovidius laughed out loud, patting him on the shoulder.

"Never. We're the good guys."
"Really now?"
"We may very well be on the unrighteous side of justice...but sometimes the will do something, can cost a price."
"...Damn smartie."

Subaru smiled at him, and thus Ovidius walked away, the rest of the group waving at them.

"Catch ya!"

A blood portal opened and they all walked through it, except Rem...who blew a kiss to Subaru, who quickly blushed seeing that. After a quick wink and wave, she rushed through the portal and then it closed behind them.

Emilia and Ram pinched his cheeks, leaving him to groan his own mistake. Roswaal and Puck simply laughed at him.

All the while, Subaru didn't take his eyes off the book Ovidius gave him.

Crusch, Felt and Anastasia sat at a table cheering each other with their cups clanking. These three teams enjoyed their time together. Reinhard was walking down the halls, passing by a quiet Wilhelm...and left it as that, neither one speaking to the other.

Mimi and Tivey were exploring the city streets, enjoying the splendor of the busy streets...when Tivey noticed the top of a building. He saw it...a blood portal opening and a group of individuals exiting and standing there. When he saw EXACTLY who it was he dropped his staff and fell on his behind.

"Tivey, what's up?"
"...It…"
"Hm?"
"It's them."

Mimi looked at the direction he was also, and flinched in panic.

There in the distance, she saw Ovidius taking a knee on the edge of the rooftop, with the others close by him.

"Brother Ovidiusssss, Ssssister Rem. Do you get a whiff of that?"

Both of them noted it too.

"Thanks to Natsuki-san's entrance blood ritual, I can definitely smell that dankness in the air."
"But we are not looking for drugs Ovidius-sama."
"I know, it's worse than that."

All of them frowned in their own, all except the Lewes Clone.

"We know they're here, but we need to still pinpoint where they are."
"Rem and someone else can explore these streets?"
"No, we shouldn't split up. Could lead to some complications...hmmm...for now."

His lenses shined, as if to ascertain the mischievous nature he was about to declare.

"Let's stop by and visit those assholes."
"The candidates, Rem doesn't see the need to-"
"-Well I heard that they were talking crap about Natsuki-san, calling him a creetan and coward-"
"-Rem now sees the need to speak with them."

Rem nodded with determination, and so Ovidius looked down at the Lewes Clone.

"And you?"
"...O….kay…"
"Then, Beatrice?"

Beatrice yawned, as she looked out to the city. Though it was obvious she was thrilled by the impressive architecture, she acted bored.

"If we get a tour afterwards, then Betty is perfectly fine with messing with some children."
"Cool?"
"...V-Very cool."
"Heh, so cool."

As the others were making it to jump down the not so high rooftop...Genau and Ovidius glanced at each other.

"Remember the secret mission?"
"What we are not to disssscus with the otherssss, not even Brother Sssssubaru?"
"Yup...should we start fighting, use the chance to kill Crusch and Anastasia, if Natsuki-san shows up, then kill their followers. That should get us ahead of the curve in the election, regardless which plan we choose."

"Either way, Sssssister Emilia will have the advantage."
"And when she does, so does the Red Lantern Corps."
"Exactly."

Landing down into the streets, they were unaware of Tivey and Mimi running off to warn the others of the oncoming arrivals.

As Crusch and Ferris were chatting away and laughing, the others in the room did so as they were getting ready to eat breakfast, a dish awaited them that was a specialty of Kararagi-

"MY LADY WE HAVE A PROBLEM!"
"Mimi? Relax tell me what's wrong."

Mimi and Tivey panted and heaved, as it was obvious that they ran with all their might.

But before they could find out anything...they got a knock on the window, a strange thing, as only their own camp members and staff were to be the only ones in that inn.

So Joshua, the little brother to Julius cautiously opened it, and just as he suspected, there was fear plastered on his face.

"No invite? Goodness the sheer disrespect we've been given...it really makes us mad."

Ovidius waved at them, floating in the air, along with the others, some helped to be there with others Red Lantern powers.

Everyone stood there, panicking as they saw one of the biggest threats staring back at them.

"Wanna have a chat? No? Well, I'm sure we can pass the time in other ways…"

Meanwhile, in the top of a tower...a completely bandaged up woman grinned happily out at the city in her view.

A woman, young in a scandalous outfit, licked her lips...as giant claw scratched her hair.

With cold white hair, this ordinary looking gentleman kept his speed and walked through the crowd, unnoticed.

A young boy, fangs in his mouth, bit into his hand, as tow shadows lurked close by.

Cloaked figures sank into the shadows of alleys and condemned buildings.

This insurmountable pressure, the feeling of a powder keg about to go off, with just a single action setting it all off...made Ovidius smile from ear to ear, under his metal mask.

"This is gonna be interesting."

Subaru read through the book, almost a quarter of a way done, but glanced out the window...remembering the blood prophecies and what they showed him.

The seven lights.

The fire.

The disaster.

"...We'll rise from it."

He grinned, slamming the book shut.

And so, the Red Lantern Corps, biggest spectacle was about to start.

ARC FOUR:

A TIME TO RISE

BEGINS.

TO BE CONTINUED...

AN: "A Time To Rise"...is named after the song Time to Rise by Westfield Massacre. Give it a listen, it'll keep ya a taste of what awaits. See ya again!