AN: Can I get a hell yeah?! Yes, a new chapter is here, due to them finally reducing one hour of overtime at my job, I can get a little more time to work on this! Who needs a social life or adequate sleep, anyways...oh wait, now I'm sad.
Ahem, besides that. Lots of interesting note here is that each chapter, may or may not, be focusing on a character's journey throughout the Multiverse, with various effects and consequences for the worlds they visit.
In contrast, one or more of our heroes is going to get their biggest adventures yet in this Arc. Even as confusing as having multiple of the same character running around.
So be ready for that!
But enough of that, here we go! Ladies and gentleman, dogs and cats, fishes and octopods!
ENJOY.
Arc 8: Crisis of the Multiverse
Chapter 43: Devourer of Life
Nijino helped Subaru to sit on his behind, and used a cloth construct to wrap around his stump of a leg, closing off the wound and stop the bleeding. It wasn't a complete cure or anything, it was the best thing, at least for the moment.
"Hang in there Subaru, just gonna close it shut, 'till we can get it fixed up."
"Wh-Who are you?"
"Um, well, I'm not from this world, like you? I guess?"
"You, you were, uh, you were summoned to a parallel world like me?"
"Nnnnnot exactly."
But she sensed danger and checked over, seeing Rem quickly get back up, armed with her Morningstar, her oni horn summoned as her eyes glimmered bright energy.
"Rem sees now that this rat here had an accomplice!"
"Rat? What the hell is wrong with you Rem?"
"What? Did he tell you what Rem is named?! What else has he told you?!"
"Nothing, nothing you haven't told me before!"
Rem narrowed her brows more.
"Why would Rem associate themselves with a Witch Cultist? Rem hasn't spoken to him with any favorability whatsoever! You and him are just filth members anyways!"
"Dumbass, do I look like a member of that creeps club? Besides, notice the lack of smell on me? Do I have the Witch's Scent?"
Rem sniffed, glaring at Subaru, then did the same for Nijino. The maid was stunned by her sniffs as she could Nijino waiting.
"No, no there is no scent on her."
"See? So I can tell you-"
"-But that is not enough!"
"Huh?"
Rem gripped her chain, fuming with malice, as her bright pleasant blue eyes became harsh and beastial, reflecting the images of her prey and the sudden interrupter.
"Being even remotely associated with one of those scum is the same sin as any other. Rem will save her home from further damnation, so I will kill this man, but not before making him spill any info he has from the people who hired him!"
"Subaru isn't working for anyone, we both know that!"
"STOP TALKING LIKE YOU KNOW ME!"
"I DO KNOW YOU REM! You're part of this group, of this family, like my gullible little sister!"
"BE QUIET! REM HAS ONLY NEE-SAMA!"
"No, you have me too. You told me so much about yourself...all the little talks we had, the dinners we shared, the hair cuts you gave me, and the little trips we had."
Rem and Ram noticed Nijino begin to tear up.
"Rem, when it's your birthday, you never liked to celebrate it, because your survivor's guilt would eat at you."
"S-stop…"
"You have penchant of being afraid of superstitious things, like ghosts and the like."
"N-No, you're lying."
Rem was trembling at this point, Ram was wide eyed at what this stranger was saying.
"I-I also know that you love to collect romance novels, your collection is under the bed in a wooden box."
"Stop, stop it!
"Rem you love to go with Ram to shop, as if showing her off to a crowd, proud of the person you look up to."
"Stop it! STOP IT! BE QUIET!"
"You get annoyed when this, Garfiel-fella, tries to put the moves on your sister."
Rem clutched her head, screaming insanely at her.
"How are you doing this?! What kind of trick is this!? YOU WITCH! STOP IT!"
"I know just as well as Ram, and maybe more than Emilia, or Beatrice, or Frederica, or Roswaal!"
"HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL THIS?!"
"Rem, I know you and everything about how you thought before and now. Like…"
Nijino took in a deep breath, letting her mind clear itself of anxiety and just say it.
"Like, how your village was destroyed by the Cult."
"..."
"Or how your sister lost her horn-"
"-SHUT THE HELL UP!"
An icicle was fired, but barely missed Nijino's face, which didn't faze her whatsoever.
Rem was huffing and wheezing, upset, scared and confused at who this woman was and how she knew so much.
"Who are you?"
"Nijino Josho, I'm a Red Lantern...and…"
Giving some thoughts about what she was to say and do, her mind raced, but the collective ideas in her head ceased. Nijino knew it was a gamble, but she had to try.
"I'm from the future."
"F-Future?"
"Yeah, a future that has been harsh, maybe a bit unfair, but we had good moments together. So many birthdays, and parties, outings and-"
"-Impossible."
"Huh?"
"If you implying that Rem would be close to you, maybe it's possible I'd believe you. Yet, you referred to that man by his name, showed care about him and expressed fondness, kindness to him...HIM, a WITCH CULTIST."
"Rem, I already-"
"-No! My nose doesn't lie, he's a Witch Cultist, a dirty rat sent to spy on Emilia-sama and plot our eventually deaths!"
"He isn't! Subaru would never harm you or Emilia!"
"Then what is my fate?"
Nijino swallowed some air, nervous about what to say next. But Rem's glare was more than enough to make her realize, lying now would do no good.
"Your…"
"Hm?"
"...Your body is destroyed."
"My body?"
"We house you soul in a gemstone, like the one Emilia uses for Puck. It was the only way to prevent you from fully dying."
"And the others? Nee-sama? Roswaal-sama? Beatrice-sama?! EMILIA-SAMA?!"
"Ummmm, well…"
"TELL REM!"
Subaru held his stump leg, also wishing to know.
"Okay, listen."
"Your sister loses an arm, but is still alive. Roswaal is killed by Vollachia's Blue Lightning. Beatrice loses her body as well, but her soul is transferred into the body of Echidna. And, Emilia becomes the King Of Lugnica. All of this results in, or causes, the World War."
"...Go on."
Rem's request was eerie, almost bereft of any clear emotion.
"The World War, is when the surrounding nations declare war on Lugnica, all of our forces gather together and we become victorious in the war."
"...And? How many perished in the pointless fight?"
"M...Millions."
"I see…And Natsuki Subaru, what is his involvement?"
"He, pretty much leads the charge, helping to start and end the war."
"Rem has heard enough."
Nijino noticed the ominous way Rem was staring at her, becoming cautious of what was happening next.
"Rem understands now."
"Do you?"
"Yes of course, it is clear that this future you speak of is either one of two things. A delusion brought on by some semblance of madness you have, or, you are telling the truth and what you speak of is in fact reality."
"It is!"
"Then Rem understands what she must do."
Rem smiled, a completely terrifying smile, devoid of any shred of happiness or the slightest joy, but creeping etching madness.
"Rem mus prevent that future, that is why she was born into this world."
'What?"
"Rem has a duty to ensure that the millions lost will be prevented, on account of him. I must snip away the cancer that is Natsuki Subaru, only then will Rem and her beloved home be safe from harm."
"No no no no! That isn't-"
Finally, she realized she had been mostly focused on Rem, and lost sight of Ram, but quickly spun around. She used her ring to levitate Subaru out of the way, as Ram tried to use wind magic to cut his head off. Nijino then created a shield construct to block an attack by Rem's Morningstar. Rem jumped forward and tried kicking her, but Nijno spun on the floor using a capoeira kick to redirect her away. Rem flipped, and while upside down fired ice spears from her palm, only for Nijino to use another shield construct to block them.
Noticing that Subaru was alone and Ram saw him, Nijino slammed her fist onto the ground, creating a wall construct between them. Ram hopped over, but Nijino raced forward and tackled her to the ground, farther away from Subaru. They wrestled on the ground, but Nijino sensed an attack, and jumped off.
"UL FULA!"
A swirling windstorm around Ram, which could have easily sliced others to bits, but Nijino knew her too well to fall for it. Ram pulled out a wand, but Nijino shot it out of her hand. The Red Lantern jumped back and had to dodge various attempted Morningstar strikes. Rem got close and tried punching her, but she lowered down so low that she was able to punch Rem on her sides.
"Ow!"
"Ah, Rem, I'm sorry!"
"Get away!"
Rem tried to karate chop her down, but Nijino hopped back, then with extreme gymnastics, she bent her leg over her head, blocking another upcoming strike. Flipping back and floating, she had Rem wrapped up in chain constructs.
"Sorry Rem, but this is for the best."
"Fool!"
She fell on her back, watching as Nijino ran towards Ram, who tried to let her have some jab combos, but she dodged them quite finely. Until, she dodged a powerful overhand punch, leaning down on one foot.
"Ram, please forgive me."
She did an amazing ballerina spin on one foot, landing a devastating kick on Ram's jaw, knocking her out completely.
"NEE-SAMA!"
"Subaru, we have to get you out of here!"
She grabbed Subaru and flew away, his yelping echoed in this forest, until they got far away enough. Rem struggled as she tried to break free, but indeed she was barely able to break through the chains. Rushing to her sister, she began to use healing magic, but could not stay, she had to chase after Natsuki Subaru and Nijino Josho. She sniffed as she ran, trying to find the scent of the evil that he was. The strong stench of the Witch of Envy, combined with the knowledge that he would lead to such loss of life, completely ensured Rem's clarity on the matter. She would finish the job and kill him, and maybe even kill the woman with him. Her future was hers to decide, not somebody else's, and for sure not one that would lead to her master's death or pain for her older sister.
Jumping through some shrubbery, her chase ended...sort of.
Nijino hurried and found it; another fissure in space, like the one her Ring was informing her about in the middle of a clearing in front of a big tree.
"Alright we found a way out!"
"To-To where Nijino-san?"
"Aw, it's cute how you call me that! Ahem, but we're heading to my world, get you some help there!"
Subaru panicked, as he felt that the mansion was in danger by whatever cursed him in the previous loops in this timeline.
"No! The mansion is in danger! There is a curse master somewhere around here, they might harm Emilia!"
"No dice Subaru, if you enter that mansion and the two Oni Sisters come back, they'll mark you as a traitor, probably kill you even."
"But Emilia-"
"-Look, Emilia is a good girl, but at this point in time, she is such a gullible dummy that'll believe anything from anyone."
"No, I have to-"
"-You ain't going to be anything with just one leg, are you?"
Subaru clammed up when he heard that, still reeling from the pain of where his leg used to be. And soon he sobbed…
"But I'm supposed to-"
They got through the fissure, dissipating into particles of light and entering the fissure completely. Rem landed right next to it, scrutinizing it up and down.
"What sort of magic is this? Is it like Beatrice-sama's Door Crossing?"
However, she noted that this strange occurrence was shrinking. Contemplating if she could trust this, interpret it as a trap or a complete illusion...she had no time.
If she was to protect her home from the terrible future that these two would help in creating, she took the leap of faith. Rem jumped into the fissure, disappearing the same as those two.
Ram woke up later, holding her head in pain as she looked around.
"Rem?"
No one was there, and she became frightened by not seeing anyone around.
"Rem? REM?! REM!"
She hurried off in search of her, running through bushes, hopping over tree trunks and hopping on boulders to get to where she sensed Rem went.
Finally, she made it to a clearing where there was a large tree, but that's where it ended. The trail went cold.
"No...Rem? Where are you, hey! Hey where are you?!"
Nothing. Not a scent, not a presence, not even her Divine Protection could locate her anywhere. It was as if, she disappeared off the face of the world. And right away, Ram fell to her hands and knees, completely sobbing in agony.
"Rem."
She yelled.
"LITTLE SISTER!"
Her cry echoed in that uncaring world, leaving not a shred of sympathy for her.
Going through the tunnel of light and colors, Nijino tried to focus as she held onto Subaru…
"AL HUMA!"
"Oh crap!"
A gigantic iceberg flew out at them, crashing into the sides before evaporating. She tried to guide herself, but ended up hitting her head on the top of this fast moving place. She along with Subaru faded away into another timeline.
"You won't get away!"
Rem tried to jump in after them, but a sudden surge in gravity sent her flying to the right side, being sent somewhere else entirely.
.
.
.
.
"Oof, I think we're somewhere safe?"
"What the hell?"
Subaru rubbed his eyes, realizing that they were in a forest, one he had never seen before, covered entirely in fog. The conclusion he had wrought in his fractured mind, was that he was in another world. The idea never crossed his mind that there would be other worlds out there, or if he could wind up being summoned to another one, let alone taken away to one. He held his sides, which were still incredibly cut open, bruised and bleeding profusely.
Nijino noticed this and hurried to add on more wrapping constructs. A little grunt from Subaru is what she could hear.
"S-Sorry, I hope they aren't tight."
"N-No, it's fine. Um, Nijino-san?"
"Yup?"
"H-How come you saved me?"
"Duh, I already told you guys, I know you from my future."
"But, you're a really pretty girl, I can't imagine you'd being that good of a friend with me."
"Don't sell yourself short Subaru, ahaha."
"...Besides, it seems to me that attractive girls only want me dead or just as easily ignore me."
"Hey…"
It was evident Subaru was completely stressed and heart broken. He could still remember how much of those painful words Rem shouted at him, the way everyone in the mansion treated him like he was a pest. No one had trusted, not once, no matter what he did. And the thought of Emilia coming to hate him, even after everything he had done, truly scarred his heart.
She rubbed his head, looking down at his stumped leg, thus extending the wrapping to become an artificial leg construct.
"Let's see if you can stand."
"O-Okay."
He did struggle at first, but eventually he got the hang of the leg and could stand.
"There, see, almost as good as new!"
"If you can call it that."
"I know, but I don't know any healing magic, so we have to make due."
"But for now it's great, thank you Nijino-san."
"...It really is adorable."
"Hmmm?"
"Nothing, nothing at all."
With a smile, she nodded at Subaru, making the young man blush a bit. He looked away nervously, letting Nijino enjoy the bashful antics of this younger Subaru.
She glanced around, also wondering where she was. Using her ring, she used radar to detect anything surrounding them, only to find that-
"Okay, there's one of those fissure things nearby, as well as two people heading towards us."
"I thought you couldn't use magic?"
"It's not actually magic, it's my Red Ring."
She showed off her Ring to him, as Subaru got a closer look at it.
"How's it work?"
"It seems to channel my rage and anger, fueling the abilities that can be used, you saw some of them just earlier."
"Wow, so your world made this?"
"Eh, wrong there. It's also from another world."
"WHAT? H-How many worlds are there?!"
"Tons! An old friend of ours suggested that there could millions!"
"Whoa, then...how do I get back to my world?"
"Which one?"
"With Emilia, with the others at the mansion-"
"-No way, I can't send you back there."
"W-Wait! You can't just decide that, maybe, just maybe I can reason with them!"
"At this point, I can! They think I was your partner, and that you were really a member of the Witch's Cult."
'But I am not!"
"I know that, but combining with the fact that you waited to attack someone, hit Rem and ran away from her, had me retrieve you and in turn beat up both sisters, before running away again? Well, how does that look to you?"
"Th-Then, I'll tell them I can see the future, that I've died several times!"
"Nope, they won't believe it, especially since Rem is so intent on killing you, you'd be dead before you got to the front steps."
Subaru was completely crushed by her analyzation, but it was quite true what she was explaining. He was so dead set on preventing the painful future that would inflict him, yet here he was in a new world, far away from Emilia and the others, all the pain and anguish he was forced to experience...WAS POINTLESS.
With his efforts completely stomped to the ground, he wanted to cry. However, Nijino hugged him, startling Subaru.
"N-Nijino-san?"
"Don't worry, I'll take care of you, even if it's just for now. I'll take good care of you."
"Why? Why are you so nice to me?"
Nijino's face became flushed with red, and she took one of her hands and cupped his cheek.
But before anything could occur, she heard footsteps behind them.
"Hold that thought Subaru, we've got company. Either they're enemies and I'll kill em quick, or they're friendlies and they can help us out."
Nijino moved away and towards the two approaching silhouettes.
"Hey, can you guys spare time?!"
"Hm? Hey Master, someone is up ahead."
Once they breached through the fog, a snap of a violin string went off in Nijino's head. The Red Lantern gritted her teeth, eyes narrowed to a suggestively nerve-wracking point.
"YOU."
"Hm, what's with the nasty look for lady?"
Shaula was standing their hands on her hips, and next to her was Natsuki Subaru.
He had completely white hair, a blind left eye and a slight scar on his forehead. With his more simple attire was his long light brown cloak. He smiled at her, scrutinizing her up and down.
"So tell me, how do you know Shaula?"
"Know her? W-Wait, Subaru what are doing with her?!"
"You know me?"
"In a sense yes, but I don't think I wanna know what exactly differs here."
This Subaru scratched his ear, looking behind himself.
"Hey do you guys know her?"
Emilia shook her head.
"Nope not a clue."
Beatrice flicked her wrist.
"Of course not, Betty would've mentioned if she had, I suppose."
Ram humphed at him.
"There Barusu goes again, acting like he's the boss...but no, Ram does not, so hurry up and get lost."
Petra tilted her head.
"Not really, I can't recall ever meeting a girl like her."
Roswaal played with a strand of his hair.
"Noooot at all, noooot a single encounter comes to mind, I'm afraid."
Frederica crossed her arms.
"For a second I thought I did, but it is not the case."
Garfiel scratched one of his teeth.
"Ain' anybody from th' Sanctuary, tha's fer sure."
Otto looked her up and down.
"She is quite gorgeous, I'd be hard pressed to forget about a woman like that."
Julius shook his head.
"I am not familiar with this lovely lady, I am sorry."
Meili put her hands on her hips, dumbfounded.
"Not anybody I know. Nope, nothin', not a clue."
Crusch did not know, nor did Wilhelm, or Felix.
Anastasia, Tivey, Hetaro, Mimi, Ricardo, the Villagers of Irlham, the denizens of Priestella, the Suwen Family, Lugnican Knights, Clind, Annerose, Sarah Remendis and her family members, no one knew.
"Well, this is interesting."
THEY WERE ALL HALLUCINATIONS.
Victims of Subaru and Shaula, who had them all killed. He did so, for as he lost his memories during their adventure in the Pleiades Watchtower, instead of going through an easier or more profound means of returning his memories...he began killing people who knew him. In turn, reading their knowledge and memories in their Book of the Dead. All of this to bring back Natsuki Subaru, the old one. A vain, psychotic strive, that could only be accomplished by the most vile of minds.
Not once in his entire thought process did he think of using the powers of the Tower to restore his memories instead. No, he was too addicted, too corrupted, as he saw murder as the only solution to everything.
"Shaula, let's see if we can kill her real quick."
"Aye aye, sir!"
She flung a spear of light at her, but Nijino created a sphere construct around herself, which broke apart the attack. She then jumped off the ground and began using kicks to try and back her up. Shaula threw punches in return, the bursts of air from their attacks made Subaru move away from them. As he did, he turned his head, getting a good luck at himself...himself?
"Huh?"
"What the hell is this?"
The mind warped Subaru of Gluttony, stared back at the Bandaged Up Subaru, both of them completely lost for words at what they were looking at.
"No way, no way."
The Memory Eater, a name that was sometimes given this Subaru stepped closer and poked the other Subaru in the face.
"So you're real then, huh?"
"Yeah, but why is there another me?"
"Don't know."
That's when he smiled, rubbing his fingers on his neck.
"Maybe I should find out."
Shaula backlfipped, and began rapidly flinging Magic Needles, forcing Nijino to fly across the forest, dodging blasts and spears as she used trees as cover. She was up in the air, and dived down, creating armor constructs around her legs. She landed a strike, but it was shown to be blocked by Shaula's forearms. But with immense prowess, she began kicking away, utilizing the strength of her own bicycle kick.
Shaula swatted her away, but ate a giant fist construct, shoving her away. Yet her feet were planted down, dragging across the dirt, cutting through it. With a powerful bear hug, she destroyed the construct.
Nijino relented, pulled something out and put it around her neck.
"Guess I don't have a choice in the matter."
Her Aeon Armor was quickly crafted over her body, having not been used since The Tower Siege. She hurried and swung her body low under another two fast jabs, she had swung her foot right next to Shaula's fist. Instantly, a construct of some sort of mechanical lock-in device was created, slamming her trapped fist to the ground. She tried another punch, but Nijino used her other leg to do the same, until Shaula's hands were trapped on the ground, and Nijino was doing an expert legs split. With a loud grunt, she hopped up, freeing her legs and getting back up to standing position.
She created violet energy swords on her hand stabbing them at Shaula's face. They broke apart, but hit Shaula's head back. Not letting her get her bearings, Nijino created a gigantic boxing glove construct and punched her in the face, sashing the construct to pieces. She hopped away and began firing crimson and violet beams from her Ring. Being showered by beams and being unable to move, Shaula fired bright yellow beams from her eyes, knocking Nijino away. Shaula crushed her fists free of the constructs and ran with full rage in her heart. Nijino quickly created three separate shield constructs in front of her, but Shaula quickly punched them to pieces, before landing a heavy corkscrew punch on her.
Nijino was sent flying, but rolled with the impact and quickly got back up. She turned around...and saw the Memory Eater choking Subaru.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!"
She used her ring to levitate the Memory Eater away, then up in the air, and tosse him towards Shaula.
"Here you can have this one!"
"MASTER!"
Shaula caught him, and watched as Nijino quickly grabbed Subaru and flew up into the air with him, leaving a long red streak behind them.
"Shaula, bring them down!"
"No problem!"
Like a machine gun, she fired countless shots of Hell Snipe's into the air, forcing Nijino to dodge them all, while using a free hand to blast oncoming ones with purple flare like attacks. Up and down, sharp turns and quickly dives helped in securing their safety.
"We gotta get outta here! Subaru!"
"But where?! The other me and that crazy chick won't let us go that easily!"
"Hang on!"
She quickly descended, as the shots were trailing her spontaneously. She could see it, a fissure in space, which had just appeared.
"We're going for it, hang on!"
"WHOOOOOOAAAAA!"
Subaru screamed in terror as they made a massive and fast paced nosedive. One blast nearly knocked them out of their path, but Nijino kicked the air, and fixed their course. Once she saw, she took in a deep breath, going even faster, until they made it and safely got through the dimensional portal.
Not too long after Shaula and Subaru found the fissure.
"They went into that Master!"
"Okay, we're going too!"
"You sure?"
"Yeah, we need to find out who that woman was, why seemed to know the both of us...and why there was another me?"
"...My master's wishes are my command! I'll follow to the deepest pits or the farthest reaches, that's the love I have for ya!"
"Right, right, good for you."
"So mean, jeez!"
She held onto him, and quickly hopped forward, becoming particles of light, and disappearing into the fissure in dimensions.
.
.
.
.
.
They found themselves flying in a tunnel of light and colors.
"Where the hell is this Shaula?!"
"I don't know, maybe it's some kind of magic I don't know about?"
A sudden fluctuation in gravity caused them to quickly descend and they found themselves touching the bottom of this tunnel. They instantly disappeared, teleported into another world.
.
.
.
.
.
Nijino and Subaru caught their breath as they found themselves in a dark forest somewhere, in the middle of the night.
"I think we lost them, but damn what was up with that Subaru? So creepy and nauseating, kinda reminded me of a Sin Archbishop."
"Why is this happening?!"
Nijino glanced down as Subaru was on his hands and knees, crying uncontrollably.
"Subaru?"
"Why?! Why is this happening?! First Rem tries to kill me, even when I was trying to save them! Then, another version of me, a bad copy of me, tried to kill me! And this future you keep talking about...about me losing friends and causing a World War, why!? None of this makes sense!"
"P-Probably not."
"Damn it, why is this happening to me?! Does God hate me that much?! Why did I get summoned here!? Why does this have to happen to me?! Why?!"
Nijino quietly watched as Subaru sobbed and banged his head on the ground, but could take no more. She used her Ring to levitate him to her, grabbed his shoulders, and kissed him.
It was this Subaru's first kiss, especially when Nijino went more adult with the kiss, swapping spit and using her tongue in ways he was stunned by. Their lips parted and saliva split between their mouths, she helped him sit down and laid her head on his lap.
"Lap pillow?"
"I usually do this for you, but I'd like a turn."
"...You, and me, are we?"
"Sort of, we're more physical if anything. Then again, I wouldn't mind having a baby with you."
Subaru's face went bright red, but shook his head and calmed down.
"I mean, there is Emilia-"
"-Forget her, she's not here right now, and the one I know is already head over heels for my version."
"C-Cool, so there's always been a chance. But, is your Emilia different?"
"...Everyone is, it hasn't been easy for us, we've changed, even if only slightly."
"How?"
Nijino nuzzled her head on his legs, looking up at the stars glimmering in the sky, a questioning glance at the moon, but ending with a half smile.
"I was a slave before I met everyone."
"...Oh."
"I had a really bad life, pure exhaustion, pure agony and pure misery on all accounts. I had always been jealous of the couples that walked out in the open, covetous on those with families they could rely on, and envious of being able to smile freely without fear of reprisal. I envy within me, shrouding what was my heart, almost taking it over."
"And then?"
"I met everyone, the Ring did that for me. It was then, that I had what I truly wanted. It wasn't easy by any means, I had to bleed and get injured for it all, for sure. But, I had people I could rely on, finally. I earned a right to smile and laugh, with people joining me in that happiness. No reprisals, no harsh words, just pure acceptance. And, even though I only got to share Subaru...I won't be jealous of that."
Nijino placed a hand on his knee.
"I can take you with me."
"Go, with you?"
"Of course, no one would hurt you, not as long as I was there. You'd be a brother with the other Subaru, if that makes sense. They'd accept you, I know they would. And most importantly, the love you were starved for, the one you had for Emilia, I would shower it on you. Hm, how does that sound?"
Subaru was quiet, looking up to the stars as well. He took time to contemplate her offer, about how things were and were transpiring. He figured that since he died two times there, if he died once more, it'd be his final life. And in a place filled with people who apparently didn't trust him whatsoever, save for Emilia, he was up against insurmountable odds. He felt jaded, he felt incomplete by it. The fact that he had to die for people that according to Rem, thought he was an enemy rather than a friend, was palpable to betrayal.
He was sure that it was Rem that cursed him, and probably only him. So he came to a rushed conclusion, that the world he was from, was different. That no matter what he did, Rem and the others would not trust him, and he would die a meaningless death having accomplished nothing.
But here, and now, he was offered an escape.
Here and now, a beautiful woman confessed herself to him.
Here and now, it'd be a moment of truth.
From there, he'd decide…
"What if, let's say, we had a kid?"
"And, like, he looked too much like me?"
Nijino shot up and hugged him nice and tight, kissing his cheek.
"Yeah! I'd accept him, or even 10 of them!"
"10 is asking for much! What kind of libidio do you think I have!"
"I'd force you."
"Nijino-san, Nijino-san, that was scary!"
"...Pfft, ahahahaha!"
"...Ah, Ahahahaha!"
The two laughed as she they continued to hug each other tightly, it was quite a picturesque moment.
Nijino, smiled tenderly, knowing the last of the envy in her heart had faded away.
Subaru smiled, with droplets of tears dropping down his cheek, finally feeling the love he desired.
The stars were their only audience in that beautiful moment.
After that, they were both back on their feet, and pushing through the shrubs and bushes. However, one would see that Nijino lead the way...as she held Subaru's hand. Soon enough, they had reached a clearing in the forest, a rocky terrain under their feet.
"Hey, do you know this forest by any chance Nijino-san?"
"Kind of, maybe? It looks like we're at the border of Lugnica and Gusteko?"
"Oh I think I read that, that one is the most northern nation right?"
"Yeah, the closer you get to it, the less grass one would find, which explains the floor."
Kicking away a pebble, she peeked around until she found it.
"Over there."
The fissure in space they were looking for.
"Looks to be shrinking already."
"We should be inside then. I'm getting goosebumps in checking out...my, well, new home."
"Of course, and I'll give you the grand tour."
Together, they got within a single step away from it.
"Ready?"
"Yeah."
Clenching their hands together, entwining their fingers, they took that step and went through the portal.
"Oh my, what's this?"
Someone had arrived, their shadow in front of this peculiar occurence in front of them.
"How curious, I wonder what it could be? I don't think I heard about there being a trap or anything of the sort. My cloak isn't reacting to it either, so not magic. Hmmmm, how interesting."
Getting closer...they pulled out a kukri knife, and proceeded to touch the fissure.
In time that slowed to a crawl, the blade became particles of light, and following soon her arm.
Yes, her's.
In an instant before she became particles of light...her identity revealed.
ELSA GRAINHEIRT, could only widen her eyes at the unknown situation.
Now she had disappeared into the portal, her mission to retrieve a feral child who could control Ma-beast, had failed. And in this world, Meili would continue to live her wild life with the Wolgarm, having never been found by Elsa, which was now a world where she would no longer have further involvement.
It was as if, for them, she had disappeared without a trace.
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Jolokia was surveying the damage as the other Red Lanterns followed him outside, flying into the air. It was clear, that even though Exogenesis ground forces were defeated, the rogue Spirit, Longinus was causing problems. The giant spirit would let out sonic screeches, attack with multiple beams from his floating crown of power, resulting in damage all over the place.
"I shall not allow the Red Lanterns another victory! This sin you beckon upon this world, must be put to an end!"
Jolokia growled at the sight, with Petra grabbing his shoulder.
"Jolokia-san, wh-wh-what about the others?"
Jolokia snapped his head back, seeing the clearly dazed and depressed Petra, knowing full well her concerns about Subaru and the others.
"For now Petra, grrrr, we have to push back that infernal spirit, and make sure we can work safely to get them back."
"But.-"
"-Please, grrrr, if we lose the Tower, we may lose the means in getting them back!"
"O-Okay!"
Petra wiped away any stray tears and mustered a brave face. With that, all of them flew fast towards the battle. Jolokia and Moussaka gliding across the sands, avoiding the large explosions happening all around them. Jolokia used his battleaxe to try and cut his massive leg, but it didn't do much. Moussaka fired a multitude of Metia Rod constructs at him, accompanied by surviving Zeppelins. Raining attacks upon him, Longinus stomped his front foot, shooting sand all over the place, firing a single thin beam that resulted in destruction for a few of the surviving Zeppelins.
Linnea got on his head and began using curved blade constructs on his eye, but he shook his head and threw her off. Beams of crimson beams flinging all over the place, as a new battle for the Tower erupted.
Rosenrot smacked his hands free of sand, and then took hold of his weapon.
"Now then, we should get moving, I do declare. You two will be my useful hostages, regardless of the danger behind it."
Arms tied up in vines, Felix snarled at him, with Linnea being free as she held her slumbering baby.
"I do not wish to kill a wee little child who knows not the sin that applies to life itself, but I will do as I must accomplish the goals set before my lord. However, killing the mother or her friend, is another story, I do declare."
He stabbed his weapon on the sand two times, sending up gusts of sand.
"Now let us move, I do declare."
Felix and Liliana did so, and they began to walk forward, Rosenrot not far behind. Felix looked ahead, and in the distance could see the heated battle going on ahead of them. He figured that though they could easily get killed, Rosenrot appeared strong enough to survive. Knowing the duty he had in escorting Liliana out of there, he did not want to fail her, or his duty.
So he fell to his knees, Rosenrot shaking his head at this.
"Hey now, I barely touched you, can you really be this weak?"
He reached over to grab him, but Flix jumped up and tackled his arm, trying to push him.
"Liliana-san! Run! GO GET OUT OF HERE!"
"But-"
"-RUUUUUUN!"
Liliana ran for it, down a small dune and kept running. Rosenrot watched as she ran, knowing full well he could kill her without a hassle, but he had something else in mind.
"Felix Argyle, you did this knowing full well you might die, I do declare."
"Figures you'd guess right, I'm a bit of a daredevil in my own right."
"Oho, now that is something to commend! To sacrifice yourself for the sake of a comrade is commendable, praise worthy even! Yet, it interrupts my plans and I cannot let that pass off as nothing, now can I? No unfortunately not, I do declare."
He slammed his arm down, breaking free of Felix's grasp, with the audible sounds of broken bones and torn ligaments, Felix was unable to do anything now.
He watched as Liliana was getting farther and farther away...he smiled, knowing he truly did something spec-
CHUNK!
"Haughhhh! Hakkkkk! Ughhhk!"
Felix gasped bloody air, as half his neck was sliced off, he used his broken hand in an attempt to close the wound.
"Oh, I hardly used any strength in that strike, but I recall that your Divine Protection of Water gives you a healing factor. Let us see then, I do declare."
Sure enough Felix's neck was beginning to heal, and Rosenrot shook his head.
"Goodness, such an ability, belonging to a weak and fledgling person such as yourself, it breaks my heart. I can only imagine the suffering you must have gone through because of it, I do declare. Poor soul."
He raised his weapon only slightly over his neck wound, emphasizing how he was putting no effort into these strikes on him.
"I RELEASE YOU."
He stuck the axe down, cutting his neck again, but Felix kept his painful breathing going, somehow. He looked to see his fingers, from the hand he used to hold onto his wound, were sliced cleanly off. His mind flooded with the thoughts of his girlfriend, the Red Lantern Corps., and the city he called home. Nothing but warmness in his heart.
CHUNK!
Another strike, and his head was hanging on by shreds of skin and tendons, completely detached from the torn spine, due to his Divine Protection still trying to save his life. His eyes darkened…
He saw Subaru giving him a thumbs up, and he saw Anastasia wink jokingly at him.
Emilia complementing his suit, Genau tilting his head in confusion, Wilhelm sitting with him in a bar, Ovidius handing him a book and Beatrice laughing with him. He could Nijino going shopping with him, Frederica nod acceptingly at him, Saggitarius follow him closely, Attero leading him somewhere and Mimi eating ice cream sloppily. Petra and Felt waving hello to him, and Jolokia with Moussaka giving him a cheers at a restaurant.
Yet, two images, faded and sketchy.
Two people of royalty?
One with golden hair, and with green hair, a woman?
He had one last thought on the matter...
"Ow, hukkkk, did, I...do, hukkkk, eno-"
CHUNK!
With a small tap of his foot, Rosenerot watched Felix's head rolled away.
"In the end, even the power you were born with, could not save you. Such is the cruelty of life, I do declare."
Felix's head rolled to a stop as the last of the light in his eyes was extinguished. The young man who started a new life after getting his memories wiped away, was no more, the last shackles to this mortal coil...severed completely.
Liliana continued to run, until gigantic vines sprouted out of the sand in front of her, ceasing her running. She was about to turn around, but did hesitate enough to see Rosenrot jump on top of the vines, looking down at her.
"I'm afraid, I need you to come with me, Liliana Masquerade."
Shrieking in her throat, she turned around to run...right as a large venus fly trap-like plant opened its mouth under her foot, biting off half of it.
"KYAAAHHHH!"
"That's what happens when you ignore a demand, I do declare."
Liliana made sure to fall on her back, as to not hurt the baby, which began to cry.
She hugged the baby tight, as Rosenrot hopped down and walked over to her...a red beam struck his head. He stumbled back, more out of shock than anything.
Right in front of his green slit...a bumblebee in a Red Lantern uniform was buzzing around him.
Then, Bulldozer, the small rat Red Lantern, came over and used her ring to get Liliana and her child out of there. Right after, several Red Lanterns could be seen hovering in the air, glaring down at him.
"Accursed Red Lanterns? So this world is filled to the brim with you, I do declare."
Moussaka then walked forward aiming his Ring at him.
"I don't know how we missed an Exogenesis member, but I can assure you that it won't be a mistake that'll last much."
"Exogenesis? Fool! I am Rosenrot, Spirit of Punishment and member of the Anti-Life Society, I do declare!"
Everyone looked at each other in confusion, not having any idea who he was or what he was talking about.
"My lord Scarecrow has crafted me in order to be a sword that carves life out and allow nature to grace this world, and any other world!"
"Okay then, Rosenrot, whatever you say."
"...Simply put, I will be taking this Tower, and putting it to good use."
Every Red Lantern aimed their Ring at him.
"Not likely."
"Hmph, you're all dead, you just do not know it...YET!"
He charged, using his weapon to smash and deflect the many beams that fired out at him, ready to battle everyone to get to the Tower.
He would fulfill his destiny.
"Master look at all this!"
"This is crazy shit right here."
Shaula and the Memory Eater Subaru, were on a dune, watching the insanity going on in the Augria Sand Dunes.
"What we do now?"
"Hmmmmm?"
Subaru consulted with his hallucinations.
Emilia considered it too dangerous.
Beatrice pondered if they should try tricking them.
Ram told him to go near the giant bird beast and see if he doesn't get killed.
Roswaal suggested waiting for the battle to die down.
Garfiel urged him to Shaula to push through the fight.
Petra told him to run away.
Frederica mentioned using Shaula as a human shield.
Otto strategized in using the chaos of these battles to push through and make it to the Tower.
"Good idea Otto, we'll go with that."
Subaru nodded and explained the plan to Shaula.
"Aye aye sir! I'll guard you so good, not even sand will be able to touch ya!"
"Yeah, you do that, if that is even possible?."
Subaru smiled from ear to ear, the monstrous fiend and his vacuous tool of a guard, made a rush forward. The Tower, their goal in all this, stood far and high from them.
In the abandoned city of Mirula, a bit away from the sand dunes, it was a deserted inn town made of simple cobble and concrete, considerably smaller than Lugnica's main cities. Still a considerably far from the madness of battle which was occuring, a single hand gripped a wall, and smashed pieces of it.
"I can smell you, I know you escaped to here!"
The Rem who was after Subaru, growled in anticipation, even as she ignored the nonsensical battle occuring in the distance.
"Rem will kill you, no matter what!"
She hurried off, with her Morningstar in hand, racing off, running with full force and intensity to the place she knew she had to be. To end him...
"NATSUKI SUBARU!"
Rem was intent on ending his life, once and for all.
Sitting on a boulder that was on the other side of the desert, Elsa got up and licked her lips.
"Goodness, my goodness. Look at all the fun everyone there is having!"
Flipping the kukri blade up, and then back to her hand, she grinned eagerly.
"I wonder what kind of fun I could have there? Maybe…"
Smiling, like a devil.
"...I can find some bowels to take."
Smiling and walking forward, the Bowel Hunter, a Devourer of Life, entered the fray. The madness occurring at The Tower, was out of control with no end in sight. Worlds were colliding, evil was descending, and the Augria Sand Dunes, would never be the same again.
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Wilhelm ran, as Felt was barely keeping up.
"Will-jii, hey! Hey!"
"I must not wait, not again! Not again, I won't let this happen again!"
He flew up to the sky and so did she, and what they saw earlier became very clear.
"Gwoooaarggghhh!"
The White Whale was hovering over this decimated subjugation group, and as Wilhelm readied his sword and the energy of his Red Ring together. He screamed, his eyes shining blood red, leaving crimson trails of light behind.
"NOT AGAIN!"
Felt readied her fists, as she too was ready to fight.
Then, Wilhelm yelled the name of that person. The one he had to save, the one who he needed to save, the one whose death started his slothful destiny that would occur for years to come.
He needed, to break the curse.
"THERESIAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
That shout, made a woman of fiery crimson hair, powerful yet gentle blue eyes, wearing a white dress and armor, famous for her, look up. Theresia stared at the source of this yell, noticing two red streaks of light blasting towards the beast.
"Huh?"
Nothing would prepare this woman, for what was to come, or the horrors she'd forced to learn.
{TO BE CONTINUED…}
AN: So Wilhelm is about to get his shot at meddling with other timelines, hooray!
For some fun information:
-Rosenrot's manner of speaking with his "I do declare,'' is not just a poor man's attempt at giving him a speech quirk like Ferris or Beatrice. It's actually based on the character Gilbert Dauterive from "King of the Hill", I remembered vividly his Southern accent, but mostly him using a term at one point, I DO DECLARE. It stuck out to me as a child.
-Rosenrot's voice in my mind is the voice of Sosuke Aizen from Bleach, and Vanilla Ice from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, played by Show Hayami. For his suave, but menacing tone.
-Rosenrot's design is mainly inspired by the final boss of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Abyss. His 1st form design combined with his color scheme of his final form. And then I added all the spikes on his body by implementing the costume aesthetics of the Marvel Comics character Penance (Robbie Baldwin).
- Originally it was meant to be Petelgeuse that was to come back into the fray and end up near the Tower instead of Elsa, but after realizing I had nothing further planned with him, but just be an annoying adversary, I dropped him. Now, it was Elsa I decided on, as I wanted to see what she does without the interpersonal attachments with Meili or connection to the Assassination Organization.
-There was a plan to have Subaru and Nijino visit the day Subaru embarrassed himself in front of the other candidates. But it just ended up being a dumb, pointless slaughter, with Crusch, Felix, half the Council and Markos being killed. I felt it being pointless, so I dropped it.
-There were plans to have Liliana and her baby killed in this chapter, but I already had an unborn child killed in a previous arc, so I didn't want to be predictable. Or be an asshole, so DROPPEd.
And that's all!
I hope everyone has a great weekend, and be safe.
Next time? Chapter 44, "Flesh and Soul"!
Buh Bye!