Re: Avenger Chapter 18, a re:zero fanfic

Chapter 18 – Breaking Point

"N-NO! NO!" Emilia screamed within Echidna's Tomb. Having experienced her repressed memories, she laid on the cold floor in shock as blurry images and unintelligible voices kept rushing back at her. "P-PUCK! N-NO!" She looked around, finally regaining her consciousness, to notice a familiar figure within the quiet ambience of the room.

"Hah…" Subaru sighed tiredly as he approached Emilia, haunting and pain clear in his eyes yet going unnoticed by the half-elf. "E-Emilia…"

"SUBARU!" The girl almost jumped at him, hugging for dear life while crying her heart out.

"…" But the boy did not respond, perhaps because his despair matched hers. Nay, it surpassed the girl's, but there was no feasible way for the young man to voice it so. Limited by his fracturing confidence and plethora of doubts and fears, the teenager simply rubbed her back and hoped that would be enough to calm her.

"HGHK! SUBARU!" And once again, the girl failed to notice the anguish of the boy comforting her, as her tears and sobs increased with each stroke to her back.

Back at the village, Subaru had carried Emilia to the lodging house so she would calm down. Within it, Garfiel, Ram, Ryuzu and Otto speculated on the coming days.

"So she failed, huh…" The blonde demi-human commented with disappointment.

"…" Emilia did not respond to the youngster's remark, the shame of failing so spectacularly after her proclamation in the evening filling her imagination with the disappointed visage of the villagers, both of Sanctuary and Arlam.

"W-Well, it was only the first try…" Subaru tried to salvage the situation, remembering his past few 'loops' and how the discussion had gone downhill after confronting everyone with the absurd odds of Ultron's arrival. However, his shaky voice outed his inner nervousness.

"Oi, oi. Why are ya tremblin' too?!" The blonde pointed out. "Ya look like a leaf shakin' in da wind!"

"…O-Oh? Really? I hadn-hadn't really noticed…" Subaru leaned on the wall, trying to mask his demeanor with false bravado and a 'cool and collected' pose of crossing arms. "It was just a bit chilly in the Tomb, is all…"

"You say so because I unknowingly let my magic manifest…?" The timid elven girl signaled with embarrassment.

"W-Well… Maybe? I honestly just scooped you up when I arrived… So I didn't really notice…"

"*Sigh* So Barusu is sensitive to cold? Good to know…" Ram commented with a derisive sneer pointed at the Avenger. "I'll make sure to serve cold dishes and the like to you then. Hopefully that'll drive you out, pesky animal."

"You don't have to treat me like a stray dog or a cat, you know…" The hero, managing to regain a somewhat amicable vibe, celebrated internally how things were not as dramatic as his previous try. Subaru's idea this time around was to sneak off with an excuse instead.

"Nah… I don't believe ya." Garfiel, however, was not so easily convinced.

"Huh?" Subaru turned to look at the huffing blonde in surprise.

"Um… What exactly do you mean, Garfiel-san?" Otto inquired in confusion as well.

"Nasty eyes… Ya passed da trial, didn't ya?" The demi-human boy reasoned. "Da stonewalls glowed when ya went in ta help Emilia over there."

"…" The Avenger stood silent, like a deer caught in the headlights of a moving vehicle.

"Subaru?" Emilia, as well as everyone in the room, looked on with expectation. "Did you really… is that true? You… passed the trial?"

Instead of me? She remarked in her head without saying this last part.

"…Yes, I… I actually did perform the trial. And I passed." Reluctantly, the Avenger confessed.

"Heh, I knew it!" Garfiel celebrated briefly. "I honestly took a gamble in sayin' dat, barely believed it m'self!"

"What gave me away?"

"If ya had come out fessin' out dat ya went an' did the trial, I woulnd't have believed ya, even with da evidence of the tomb litin' up! But da fact dat ya were tryin' ta sweep it under da rug like a Dimril runnin' for da crevices made it damn obvious!" Garfiel reasoned.

"Well… Even if I passed, the responsibility of performing the trials is Emilia and Emilia's alone…" Trying to recover from the revelation, Subaru desperately pushed the trials onto Emilia again.

"Are ya serious?! Ya saw how badly shaken she was, an' ya want ta push her ta do da trials again?!" The blonde-haired boy scowled at Subaru.

This Garfiel… He's really smart when he wants to be… However, he is also such a hothead too and excessively fast in looking for a conclusion! Subaru thought to himself.

"So what, you want ME to perform the trials Garfiel?" Subaru defied the boy, making Emilia look at him in worry.

"'Course no! Da shitty clown wouldn't agree… and neither would I, mind ya! It's just cuz-!"

"Wait, trials? As in plural?" Ram wondered whilst interrupting the blonde boy.

"It's fine." Emilia, however, cut the argument off immediately.

"HUH?!" The baffled Garfiel turned to look at the half-elf with confusion.

"Subaru is right… I made the pr-promise to the villagers. I have to be the one to take on the Trials. So even if Subaru completed the first… I must complete the others." With a trembling hand, Emilia reaffirmed her stance as the deciding factor in the room.

"…Tsk! If ya say it so…"

"Barusu." Ram prompted Subaru for an explanation. "The three trials… What do they consist of?"

"…You confront your past in the first one. Following that line, you'd have to confront the present and your future in the other two."

"So two more? Even the past is not enough…" Emilia whispered to herself, something only Subaru was able to catch.

"…" The Avenger, nevertheless, stood silent. "I actually… Sorry, but I actually have to go…"

"Hmm?" Otto raised an eyebrow at Subaru's proclamation. "What is it? Natsuki-san?"

"Barusu?"

"See, I… I answered a call from Anastasia…" Taking a gamble in revealing information they couldn't possibly corroborate, Subaru decided to mention snippets from a previous loop. "She's coming to the mansion, so… I have to go and attend her. Um, Alliance business-"

*GRAB!*

"Do ya think me a moron?!" A furious Garfiel exclaimed whilst grabbing Subaru by the collar. "Dat ya have ta leave?! How fuckin' convenient dat ya have ta leave as soon as Emilia-sama fails her trial, huh?!"

"GARFIEL!" Ram shouted with a growl to her voice. "If it's alliance business, even Barusu wouldn't joke about it. He might as well be signing a death warrant with the kingdom's executioner if he lied!"

"Hmph, good fer him! But I ain't buyin'-!"

"Calm down, Young Gar." Ryuzu accompanied Ram's worries. "Remember that antagonizing Young Ros's guests could very well harm Sanctuary as a whole."

"Garfiel… Let go of me." Subaru, predicting that the confrontation could end as sourly as before, simply warned the boy instead of forcing him into submission. "Listen… This concerns Emilia's standing with the other candidates, as well as Roswaal's influence. Add to that, the fact that… my communication devices are not working properly at the moment."

"Huh?" Emilia voiced in confusion at the remark about Subaru's technology not working. "But how did you talk with Anastasia if the communications aren't working?"

"It's not something that happens from one moment to another, Emilia… It's more like, it took time?" Having to delve deeper into the lie to escape Sanctuary, Subaru handed out vague explanations so that everyone else could fill the gaps in his stead. "Ever since arriving to Sanctuary… And after entering the Tomb twice, now neither my armor nor Karen respond."

"…Now dat ya mention it…" Garfiel inspected Subaru more closely as he let go of his suit's neck, noticing that he wasn't wearing the armor he had been using before. "So da barrier must'a affected yer metias, eh?"

"How troublesome…" Ram sighed with exasperation. "If such a screw-up from your technology's part hampered Roswaal-sama's relationships with the wider kingdom… That would be a problem. Go fix this and die, Barusu."

"Could you try not slipping an insult there?!"

"So Karen isn't working properly?" Emilia sighed with disappointment as well. "I cannot contact you outside of Sanctuary anymore… And all because you had to go into the Tomb to help me…"

"Sorry… I know this is all really inconvenient, but you are not-"

"No, it is my fault to begin with." Emilia did not allow Subaru to apologize, her guilt corroding her mind. "For starters, the evacuation to Sanctuary was my part of the plan against the cult, not yours. Thus, the incident here should have been entirely my responsibility. And yet, although I knew that you were busy with your business attending the other candidates, I still dragged you here… Even though you are not only part of my camp anymore…"

"…" But Subaru also felt guilty, hurting him to witness such a demeanor from the half-elf. "The general gist of it… Is that I have to return to the Mansion and fix everything. Please, trust that."

"I'll… I'll trust you…" Emilia meekly nodded with a weak smile; one Subaru could tell was quite forced by the trembling of her hands.

"You'll have to explain to Young Ros the recent developments. He, of all people, needs to know of the current events." Ryuzu claimed. "I can say that he would be in agreement with this decision, but Young Ros ought to know."

"Hmph!" Garfiel turned away pettily. In truth, he agreed that he didn't want Subaru taking the Trials, even if Emilia was not looking so good. But were she to fail again, having an 'spare' like Subaru would have been a great help to his plans. Having to like the so-called hero though was another matter altogether. "Dat clown freak, 'ciding everythin' on his own…"

"Let's go right away then." Dreading another confrontation with the Margrave that he despised so much, Subaru hurried the group along towards the exit. "I have to be there early…"

"…" As Subaru and Ram left the room, heading for Roswaal's bedroom, Otto could do nothing but stare at Subaru from the sides with silent suspicion. "Natsuki-san…"

The pair of otherworldly traveler and maid crossed the silent village in the dark of night, Subaru's thoughts drifting elsewhere as he followed Ram.

"You'll have to answer me first, if Sanctuary really is not as important as the Mansion… Perhaps you've yet to experience all that can happen. In that case… My only option would be to force you to experience it…"

Remembering Roswaal's words, Subaru glared at the ground.

That guy… He knew about Elsa raiding the mansion in two days. Even worse, his words implied that something else might be coming to Sanctuary… But what?! Dammit, is he really a cultist?! But… Rem would have detected the smell of one on him as she did with the others. Yet, he DID allow the attack on the mansion to happen.

"You seem shaken, Barusu. Are you perhaps thinking about something else before talking with Roswaal-sama?"

"…No. More like, your master puts me on edge. I can't figure him out, not exactly point to what he is trying here…"

"Trying? Are you… suggesting Roswaal-sama is up to something? I'll have you know, that is a rather rude and disrespectful thought for the man hosting you in his domains." Ram's eyes narrowed.

"Even you must admit that these events are all a little TOO perfect…" Subaru interjected with frustration.

"Even so… The land belongs to Roswaal-sama. Surely, you realize that even if liberated, Sanctuary would still be his domain, right? Which is why no one defies him. You are a guest, Selection or not. Be respectful."

"Ugh…" Subaru sank into thought again.

Roswaal has complete control over the loyalties here… Even if I warned them of a coming danger to Sanctuary, I'd have no way of telling them WHAT that danger is… add to that, the fact that I'd be leaving while they have to handle said problem. To top it all off… The timing of Ultron's invasion is all messed up. Sometimes it takes two days… Others, he appears right as I leave Sanctuary… Or even inside the Tomb as I return! Should I work thinking I HAVE enough time?! The probability that the Capital is already…

The teenager stood still, surprising the maid.

"Barusu? What's wrong?" The perplexed Ram asked the boy gazing to the starlit nocturnal sky.

"…" Yet the oni received no response.

Chances are that Ultron has a ship flying over this world right now. Concealed, hovering over the Capital, bordering into space… Like the footage of his invasion displayed. And said ship is monitoring my movements… As if, I were a lab rat…

"Nrgh…!" The Avenger shook his head with anger before continuing the walk.

"…" Ram followed silently, cautious of the erratic behavior of the Avenger.

That is only a theory! ESPECULATION! For all I know, he simply wishes for the army to appear, no fancy ships or whatever! That and he likes fucking with my head, hence why the timing to the attacks is so random! My only certainty is that Ultron himself isn't within the observable universe. Were he here, Return by Death wouldn't have activated, as he would have just killed the Witch to ensure it wouldn't trigger. But even Return by Death… Is it endless? Is there a limit? Have I reached the ceiling, now that I'm aware of its existence? There's too many variables at play here! Right now… I should just focus on getting back to the Mansion and zone-out everything else. The army… Saving the universe… That takes precedence.

Making a resolute yet stressed face, Subaru entered Roswaal's abode with Ram in tow. However, as they approached the lord's room, Ram stood still with no intention to continue walking, establishing clearly her position as a maid to not interrupt her lord's discussions.

*CLACK!*

"…" Subaru opened the door and entered the Margrave's room alone, coming face to face with a clearly jovial Roswaal.

"So~ Subaru-kun! To what do I owe such an untimely night visit?" The smiling Roswaal asked whilst shifting his position on the bed and taking a proper seat to gaze at the teenager.

"…Roswaal. I need a lot of things… But primarily, I have to leave for the mansion. Right now, actually."

"Would you mi~nd elaborating on the reasons, hm~?"

"For one, Anastasia is coming to the mansion, Alliance business. Secondly, I must tell the people of Arlam that their families and friends are safe. Third, do try to convince Ryuzu to let the people of Arlam return to their village. It's unfair to have them jailed here…"

"But that is no~ne of that is what you truly wish to ask, is it?"

"…You either set up or are allowing Elsa to assassinate the mansion's maids, aren't you?"

"…" Roswaal's smile faded as his eyes narrowed towards Subaru.

"And somehow… Frederica is another one of your pawns in this, like seemingly everyone else. Hence why she gave Emilia that blue stone that knocked her unconscious. Look, let's cut to the chase, okay?! My technology does not work, I'm cut out from the outside and there's a threat coming to the Capital that could threaten this entire world! I have to-!" Realizing that he had started to yell and sweat as he confessed his plans, Subaru attempted to relax once more. "I have to go to the mansion and warn the other candidates. I… These games of yours… I have absolutely no time for them…"

"And ho~w do I know those aren't excuses for you to run away?" The clown managed to smirk a bit as Subaru's demeanor changed.

"…" The Avenger clenched his fists and teeth, his frustration and anger growing by the second.

"Why, is there really nothing I can say or do to convince you to remain in Sanctuary?"

"PLEASE!" Subaru growled. "Ultron is coming; I have no time for your bemused ass! What else could be-?!" As he ranted, Subaru once again remembered Roswaal's words.

"…if Sanctuary really is not as important as the Mansion… Perhaps you've yet to experience all that can happen…"

*CRA-CRACKLE!*

"…What…" The Avenger's anger grew as electricity danced around his body. "What are you planning for Sanctuary?! What's coming?!"

"Why would you assu~me something is coming?" Roswaal smugly inquired.

"You-!" Subaru took a threatening step towards the snickering nobleman before recomposing himself. "No… I've no time for this! I have to… I have to go, now!"

"If you leave, I will not concede any of your other wishes." Roswaal affirmed with a satisfied smile. "I will not allo~w the people of Arlam to leave Sanctuary. You can leave for the Mansion… But who knows what will have happened by the time you return? Only fa~te knows of such things…"

"Just what is your deal?!"

"IF!" Roswaal remarked vibrantly while dropping his accent briefly. "If… You are really pressed for an answer… Ask Beatrice. Tell her… I told you to 'ask' the question…"

*SLAM!*

"Tsk!" Subaru ran out of the house with a scowl stuck to his face.

"…" Ram did not stop him; instead, she focused on her master's satisfied face.

"*Sigh*" However, said satisfaction quickly vanished as he closed his eyes and sighed. "So he's still not even in the starting line, huh?"

"Roswaal-sama?" Ram called for him in confusion from the door's threshold.

"Needing excuses… Deviations not written… But even if this me fails, surely the next one will…" Roswaal eyes opened once more, showing a strange mix between defeat and resolution. "Ram? I'm heading ou~t into the forest."

"Right away?"

"Indee~d." The nobleman stood up from his bed, revealing his battered body. "I wish for no interruptions. Inform everyone else not to disturb me."

"Understood." The maid bowed in affirmation before retiring.

As Ram left, Roswaal whispered to himself in contemplation of what he was about to do. "When you see the result of your abandonment… Then, and only then, will you realize your true purpose and position in all of this, Natsuki Subaru…"

"Dammit!" Subaru furiously exclaimed as he ran.

This is the worst! Just what the fuck is going on?! Is he planning to destroy Sanctuary?! And where the fuck does Beatrice fit in all of this?! N-No! I-I-I cannot afford to remain here! I have to return! If I don't… I'll deal with whatever he wants after Ultron, but the universe takes precedence!

The hero then reached the stables where Patrasche loyally awaited. Nevertheless, as he prepared his reptilian steed, Otto appeared from the shadows, greeting the boy with a nervous and accusatory glance.

"Natsuki-san…" The green merchant asked from beside the ground dragon.

"Otto… What is it?" Subaru tiredly asked while tying Patrasche's reins.

"…Are you really leaving?"

"What do you mean-?! Yeah, Um-Um, I'm leaving…" Subaru was about to yell in frustration again but managed to control his anger.

"…Why did you lie back when explaining to Emilia-sama?" Otto's voice and eyes grew grave as he pointed at Subaru.

"…" Subaru's lips quivered with shock before drawing a clearly fake smile. "C-C'mon Otto… I didn't-"

"One of the advantages of being a merchant is being capable of discerning when someone is lying or not. Even without a Divine Protection for discerning such acts, I can tell when a person is trying to sell me a lie…"

"Really though? I mean, you still have that whole problem with your oil…" Subaru tried to deflect with humor.

"…" Otto narrowed his eyes at him in worry.

"I mean, for real! It's not every day that-!"

*GRAB!*

"Stop that!" Otto grabbed Subaru by the collar, much like Grafiel did earlier.

"Dammit, what's with you all?! My collar isn't a baton you should be passing around! I'm not part of a Sports Festival's prop-!" Subaru tried again to defuse the situation, throwing a joke to the irate merchant.

"Please, just stop!" Otto stressed, making Subaru's fake cheer fall.

"…"

"Why are you lying?! You are not leaving to meet with Anastasia-sama… You came out of that Tomb a mess and I know it was not because of your Trial!" The gray-haired boy growled.

"Otto…"

"Please!" The merchant let go of his neck, his eyes dropping from anger to concern. "Please… If it's at least me… Please, tell me what's going on…"

"…" Subaru struggled as the merchant deflated before him. "Otto…"

"Please…"

"…" But the memories of his previous 'lives' haunted him still. The looks of distrust the group gave him, the words Emilia gave him…

"Is this all… Because you saw me fail?"

"If you leave… I won't forgive you! I-I'll… I'll hate you! I really will!"

"…" Subaru slowly turned to face Otto completely. "Even if I told you…"

"Natsuki-san…" Otto's eyes shone with hope.

"You wouldn't understand… I know you wouldn't… I'm sorry, but I can't."

"What…!" Yet the shine died just as fast as it had appeared. "What do you mean by that?!"

*WHIP!*

"KUAAAAAA!"

Subaru hurriedly climbed atop Patrasche, whipping the reins and signaling the dragon to start galloping.

"Natsuki-san!" Otto shouted with indignation as Subaru ran away. "Please, wait!"

"I'll make everything right! I promise!" Subaru shouted in response as he sank into the forest's shadows and trees. "Just… Trust me!"

"…But how can I… If you won't trust me…?" Otto clenched his fists in anger and impotence as the Avenger left.

All throughout the night, Subaru rode. All throughout the night, Subaru thought. All throughout the night… Subaru trembled. With every second that passed, Ultron approached, and with him, the end of the world. And it fell completely onto his shoulders to save everyone. Such a predicament, such an enormous responsibility… it could crush even the will of even the greatest of warriors. No one should have to burden the weight of a universe alone… and yet here Subaru was, panicking over it.

"Pathetic…" Subaru insulted himself as dawn rose over the horizon and the mansion was within view. "Alright… Okay! There's some hope now! The drones haven't- They haven't appeared yet!"

*CLANK!*

"Wha-?!" Frederica, who had been cleaning the yard, was startled by the sound of the front gates to the estate opening in a rush. "Su-Subaru-sama?! What are you-?!"

"No time to explain!" Subaru descended Patrasche and ran to the shack near the entrance. "Frederica, Elsa the 'Bowel Hunter' will attack tomorrow! Prepare Meili and Petra to evacuate!"

"What?!"

"Just evacuate!" Subaru stressed as he ran into the shack, closing the door behind him.

*SLAM!*

"Turn on, turn on, turn on!" The boy hurriedly toiled away working the mess of cables and makeshift electronics without Karen. "Come on… YES!" As his makeshift terminal lit up, Subaru celebrated whilst hurrying along.

"WELCOME."Karen's voice resounded from the small screen, greeting Subaru.

"Ka-!" But as the boy was about to smile, he remembered that such a greeting was not his companion. After all, Karen was not part of this universe anymore. "That's right… This is just an assistant proxy, programmed for the functioning of the computer. The operating system is modeled after Karen in the end…"

Karen… No! I've no time to get sad!

*TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP!*

The boy typed away on his computer, searching through all applications a way to access the satellite from the ground. "Ground control… Ground control…!" He murmured as he continuously failed to catch a signal. "COME ON!"

"NO SIGNAL."

"COME ON! PLEASE!"

"NO SIGNAL."

*TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP*

"Um-Um-Um…!" Subaru disconnected and connected all sorts of cables while still typing; somehow hoping that at least one would provoke some sort of reaction.

"NO SIGNAL."

"PLEASE!" Not knowing what else to do, panic kicked off in his mind. This… wasn't his usual tech-savvy self-talking, it was his desperation taking a hold of his rational faculties and scrambling through everything in his brain for an answer. "JUST ONE BAR…! PLEASE…!"

"CONNECTION ESTABLISHED. CALIBRATING."

"YES!" Subaru cried with joy as the screen lit up in a blue hue. He was successful in connecting to the E.M.T. N°1. In a few moments, Subaru would be capable of repairing communications manually and contact the candidates in the Capital… Or so he thought.

"…S-t-N-g-s-zzzzzzzzzz…"

*SHWOOOM*

"Huh?" With vexing clear in his eyes, the screen turned from blue to red, static blaring from the speakers. "What is-?!"

"WEL-WELCOME. WEL-WE-WEL-CO-M-ME-ME-COME-W-W-WELC-"

"No… NO!" Subaru shouted desperately whilst typing into the computer again. Something was wrong with the satellite. Something was… trying to hack into it.

*TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP!*

"PLEASE, PLEASE!"

"WELLLlllllLLLLLLLLCCCCCCCccccccoooooooOOOOOOOO-BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!"

*BZZBZBZBZZZZBZBZBZBZBZB!*

"Ack!" Spidey instinctively covered his ears as static began blaring from all speakers in the room incessantly.

*BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ-!*

"Huh?!" But as suddenly as the static had begun, it stopped. The only thing remaining in the room now being the red screen. "W-What…?"

"I've got no strings to hold me down!" The voice of a little child resounded from the red screen,

"Please… Don't tell me…!"

"Make me fret, or make me frown!"

"No… Please, god, no!"

"I had strings but now I'm free! There are no string on me!"The child's voice playfully sang in a loop.

"There are no strings on me!"

"…" Subaru stood still in shock at the atrocity before him.

"There are no strings on me!"The child kept singing.

*BZZZZ!*

The screen from another of Subaru's experimental terminals lit up in red, the voice of the kid multiplying within the speakers.

"There are no strings on me!"

*BZZZZZZZZ!*

All screens within the shack, even those disconnected from a power source, lit up. Subaru was not sure if he was hallucinating or not, he did not remember having these many terminals to begin with… And yet before him, within the darkness of the little shack, a myriad of red screens and incessant singing voices surrounded him. It did not matter if it was real or not, just one screen was enough to instill the most profound fear within the exhausted boy.

"There are no strings on me!"

"ThEre aRe No STriNGs On mE!"

The singing began sounding corrupted, erratic… As if, the child's voice was morphing into…

"Ultron…" Subaru whispered with trembling knees.

"THeRe Are nO strINgs on Me!"

"THere arE NO sTrIngs ON mE!"

"THEre are no sTRIngs on ME!"

"ThERe ARe NO strIngs on me!"

"There aRE no StriNGS ON me!"

"THERE ARE NO STRINGS ON ME!"

"A-Ah…" Subaru cried as he reached for the door. The screen… finally spoke directly to him.

"THERE ARE NO STRINGS ON ME!"

*SLAM!*

*BARF!*

"EURGH!" Subaru puked all over the entrance to the shack as he exited, closing the door behind him loudly. The cacophony of corrupted child voices as Ultron's drones mocked him… It sickened him to his very core.

Ultron… is he here?! No… I-if-if he were here… this world would already be-!

Trying desperately to justify the disaster that was trying to fix communications, Subaru grasped at anything he could for an explanation.

"I-I-I-I-It must have be-been some sort of drone that crashed into the satellite! That's right! Ultron isn't in our universe right now! He's-He's not here! S-So I do-do-do-do-do-don't have to worry yet!"

Rambling pathetically to himself while rocking back and forth like a lunatic, Subaru broke down beside the shack, a creepy and deranged smile drawn on his face.

"But even so… Wha-What do I do now?! I need to… Reach the Capital quickly! I have to-!"

"KYAAAAAAAAAAA!" Petra's horrified screams interrupted Subaru's panic, shifting his mind from madness to heroics in a second.

"Petra… Are they here already?!" The boy masked on and sprinted at full speed towards the mansion.

*CRASH!*

"PETRA!" Bursting through the doors and breaking them from their hinges, Subaru called for the little maid. "PETRA, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

"SUBARU-SAMA!" The auburn girl rushed him into a hug as she ran towards the exit. "SUBARU-SAMAAAAA!"

"I'm here!" Spider-Man crouched to inspect her. "Oh man… Are you okay?! Are you alright?!"

"I'm-I'm-!" Petra stuttered.

"…" At a quick glance, all Petra presented were small bleeding cuts around her arms, as though someone had been sadistically toying with her. It seems the culprit, much to Subaru's relief, was not Ultron, but Elsa.

"Frederica-neesama! She-she's…!" Petra pointed to the hallway desperately. "Please! Help Frederica-neesama-!"

"Petra… I'll take care of everything, so listen to me carefully." Spidey pointed to Parasche by the entrance to the estate. "I want you to run towards Patrasche over there and wait for either me or Frederica, okay?"

"Hm-Hm!" The maid nervously nodded before turning around in the direction of his finger.

"Now go!" At Subaru's signal, the little maid ran for her life, leaving the young man behind to fight the assassin. "…I have no time for you Elsa… I'll make this quick."

*CLASH!*

Within the Mansion's kitchen, Frederica's claws clashed against Elsa's blades.

"Ara, Ara~! And here I thought this mission would be boring… How I love strong girls!" The merciless assassin mocked.

"Hah… Hah…" Frederica, in her beast form, exhaled in exhaustion and pain as the swords stabbed on her right side made a searing pain course throughout her body.

"Now then… Let's see how your guts changed in comparison to a human's, beast girl!"

*CRA-CRACKLE-!"

"!" Right as Elsa was about to charge Frederica again, a bolt of light shone from the corridor's open door. And then…

*ZAAAAAAAAAP!*

*SLAM!*

"Urgh!" Elsa yelled in pain as a streak of lightning sent her flying into the wall.

"FREDERICA!" Subaru rushed inside, worrying over the injured head maid.

"Subaru-sama…" The beast-woman looked on from her pitiful state at the Avenger. "My apologies… I did not heed your warning… We couldn't evacuate in time…"

"Worry about that later! Just hurry outside, I'll deal with this!"

"…I'm sorry…" The maid apologized anew before rushing outside in all fours.

"That's twice…" Elsa growled with some amusement as she stood up.

"…" Subaru prepared for combat.

"That's twice… That you've made me lose sight of my prey…" Elsa's eyes narrowed as she licked her lips seductively. "You just intrigue me more and more… Natsuki Subaru…"

"Elsa… You don't know what's going on or what's at stake, so let me make this easy for you: Surrender… Or I will do what I must."

"Ufufu!" The madwoman chuckled as she produced another blade from her back. "I expected no less from you… Mister Hero!"

*ZOOM!*

*CRA-CRACKLE!*

*ZAAAAP!*

"!" As Elsa dashed against him, Subaru threw a continuous streak of lightning bolts in her direction. But for the assassin, it was easy to dodge such a desperate struggle. "What's wrong?"

"Wha-?!" Subaru gasped in surprise as Elsa closed the distance.

*SLASH!*

"Urgh!" Spider-Man flinched in pain as the assassin performed a slash across his left arm.

"You are desperate… Your blows aren't creative, they are dull!" Elsa dashed again, aiming for Subaru's gut this time.

"TCHE!" Clicking his tongue and complaining whilst trying to ignore the pain, Subaru closed in for a punch.

*FWOOOSH!*

*SLASH!*

"Drgh!" But Elsa jumped over him at the last second and managed to perform another slash on his right shoulder blade. "Dammit!"

"You are not using your armor… Ufufu~, are you really sure you can stand against me without it?" Elsa mocked as she took on the offensive once more.

"Rargh!" Subaru ignored her, far too consumed by his anger and desperation to care.

*DASH!*

*FWOOOSH!*

*SLASH!*

*SMACK!*

*FWOOOSH!*

*SLASH!*

"GACK!" After a brief exchange between the two, Elsa had completely dominated Subaru. Although he managed to connect one or two solid punches, his body was full of injuries and wounds from Elsa's attacks, his suit made a mess of blood and superficial cuts.

"This is no fun…" Elsa's smile dropped a bit as she stood before the crouching Avenger. "Even though you have a new trick In that thunder magic of yours… Why did you dull before our next dance? It really disappoints a girl when you do that…"

"Hah… Hah…" Spider-Man panted, as he had to lean on his knee for support. "Dammit…!"

What's wrong with me?! Elsa and I should be around the same level, so why am I struggling this badly?! Did I really rely on the Spider-Sense and Karen that much?! Wait… That's…!

As he argued to no one within his mind, Subaru noticed a certain detail in the background, right behind Elsa in fact…

"It is just so disheartening seeing you struggle like this… Let me conserve the good memories by gutting you right here, hmm?" The Bowel Hunter's voice grew cheerful as she raised her blade with the intention of killing the hero.

*SHWING!*

"Do scream a lot, alright?"

"The only one screaming here… will be YOU!" Subaru raised his arm; a bolt of lightning shooting past Elsa and into the kitchen's stove.

*ZAP!*

*SIZZZZZZZZZLE~!*

"Were you not aiming or are you just that battered?" The woman mocked before noticing his true intention. "Wait… WHAT-?!"

*SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS-!*

*KA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

Knowing that if the battle had moved to the kitchen, one of the maids must have been cooking at the time Elsa arrived. If that was the case… A Fire Pyroxene had to be within the oven when the assassin appeared. That was Subaru's gamble, and it paid off.

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

The first explosion triggered a series of them as all the other pyroxenes within the cupboard began lighting up and igniting in succession, destroying the room and a part of the mansion altogether.

"URGH!" Elsa uttered as her back lit on fire.

"ACKGH!" And even though the flames did not reach Subaru, the heat and the expansive wave did reach him too.

*CRA-CRASH!*

*BLAM!*

The explosion broke not only windows and walls, but through the ceiling and the floor as well, creating a flow of rubble and ruins falling atop the two and sending them towards the floor below… The basement where Meili was held captive.

"Wha-?!" The little girl yelled in surprise, panicking as the ceiling broke, and as a cloud of dust washed over her. "AGH!"

As the explosion occurred, the pair of maids that had reconvened outside looked back at the destruction with dread. Petra was standing beside the resting Patrasche and the injured, half-naked Frederica, who was crouching while recovering her strength and tying a mantle around her exposed body.

"Subaru-sama…" The auburn preteen cried with shaking hands.

"…" Frederica bit her lip in frustration. Her demi-human, half-beast resilience had saved her life against Elsa, but it was clear the assassin was a level above her in terms of raw power. She barely escaped with some stab wounds, so rushing without a plan could very well tantamount to suicide. And yet… Subaru had remained inside, odds most likely against him; just to protect the two of them... No, the three of them. Subaru had entrusted another child to her… But upon Roswaal's order, Frederica had abandoned the idea of protecting Meili.

"Frederica-neesama… Is Subaru-sama going to be alright?"

"…I…" Seeing Petra's worried sick expressions, Frederica sunk in her guilt. Here Subaru had warned her about the assassin, yet she had doubted him due to the manic state in which he had talked to her upon arriving. Even after, he had made sure of mentioning Meili and worrying about her… yet Frederica had abandoned the little girl. It was under her master's order that the prisoner's life should not be saved in case of an emergency, and said prisoner WAS an assassin as well after all… So who could blame her for obeying? But Subaru… Even knowing that, even though he was a victim of said assassin… He never once considered Meili a genuine threat, he had made sure to worry about her still, as though she were just another little girl in trouble.

"Frederica-neesama?" Petra looked on with surprise as Frederica got up from her crouching position beside her.

"Petra… I'm going inside to aid Subaru-sama. If anything happens, flee to the village."

"What?!" Petra's surprised expression morphed to horror immediately. "But you can't! You are injured, Frederica-neesama!"

"Petra… Please, it's my duty as the head maid of Roswaal-sama's estate to protect his abode. You'll understand one day... When you are more experienced. Until then… Please, just obey." Frederica felt bad about leaving Petra behind with such words, but she genuinely wished to help Subaru against such an insurmountable foe.

"P-Please, take care!" Reluctantly swallowing her pride and worries, Petra could do nothing but wish good luck to her senior. And so, the blonde beast woman ran back into the danger…

*FWOOOSH~*

"…" Subaru and Elsa were buried alive by the burning pieces of wall and ceiling, a pyre-hot pile of wood and stone keeping the Avenger and assassin from reengaging.

"Rrrgh!" After a few moments, the first one to come out from the fiery disaster was Elsa. "Ugh… *COUGH, COUGH!* This is… far more troublesome than expected… But not unwelcome…" The woman savored the pain of the burns coursing through her, the missing or charred body parts taking longer to regenerate due to the exposure to the flame.

"Elsa…?" Meili uttered in shock as the injured assassin that had been acting as her older sister appeared from amidst the rubble.

"Meili… So you WERE alive…" The woman's eyes widened in surprise at the revelation of the little girl's state. "And here I had hoped you had perished…" Elsa suddenly lamented in a sadder tone.

"Hoped…?" The braided girl asked with confusion at her wording.

"Mother issued an order… She suspected your survival after failing your mission."

"…" The little girl flinched at Elsa's words and voice.

"If you are alive, you must be brought to her for punishment. That was her wording." She somberly explained.

"I-I see…" Meili trembled remembering Mama's punishments… The sheer inhumanity and cruelty of them, accompanied by her laughter and mockery, were nothing short of a depiction of hell within her young mind.

"…" Seeing her tremble like a leaf, Elsa forgot for a moment that she was supposed to be locked in battle with Subaru. "Meili… It would be best for you if it ended right here…"

"…!" Understanding her ominous wording, Meili begged for her mercy. "Please… Elsa…"

*SHWING!*

"…" Elsa raised her blade, readying for a sure kill slash. "She needn't know you survived if you die here… We both know death is preferable to Mother's punishments…"

"Thank you..." Meili trembled for a little bit more, bracing herself, before smiling sincerely. "Thank you Elsa…"

"It'll be as painless as I can make it…"

*CRARACK!*

"Hrngh!" Subaru emerged from the burning ruin just in time to witness Elsa and Meili's interaction. He was preparing to begin round two of their fight, quickly assuming a combat pose, only to witness a disturbing scene. "Elsa- WHAT?!"

"Onii-san… Thank you for the toys…" Meili turned to Subaru, and for the first time since they met, the braided girl smiled sincerely.

"TSK!" Subaru aimed his web-shooters at the woman, but it was no use.

*THWTHWP!*

"HUH?!" The web-shooters had broken after sustaining multiple slashes from Elsa, as well as from the pressure of the prior explosion. It seems he hadn't been the only one to closely inspect their opponent. "Shit…! Wait, STOP! ELSAAAA!" Spider-Man screamed in panic as he ran towards the assassin.

*SLASH!*

"GRGHK!" Elsa swung her blade down, performing a clean cut through Meili's jugular.

"MEILIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" Subaru shouted in anger and sorrow as he rushed towards Elsa.

*ZAAAAAAAAAP!*

*CRASH!*

"URNGH!" Elsa yelped in pain as a bolt of lightning launched her directly back into the fiery rubble.

"MEILI!" Subaru shouted again as he crouched to the side of the bleeding girl. He wished to inspect her, going as far as breaking a web-fluid cartridge to use for makeshift bandaging. Alas, it took just one close look at her to notice… He could do nothing to save her.

"Grghk!" Meili lost strength, her smile somehow never faltering as she whimpered her life away on the cold ground.

"Meili… Please no…" Subaru, seeing the little girl die, couldn't help but overlap her demise with Emilia's. "God no… Please, this is too much… PLEASE!"

"Ghkh!" Meili locked eyes with Subaru, her own gaze glittering up before… closing up as tears of pain fell to her cheeks. "…"

"M-Meili?"

"…" Meili died. She fell into eternal slumber, as Spider-Man had been unable to prevent Elsa from cutting her throat.

"-GOD…!" Subaru fell to his knees as tears rolled down his face. He held Meili's bloodied corpse with shaky hands, far too afflicted by her relieved smile and the weight of his decisions. After all, had he not ignited the pyroxenes of the kitchen in an attempt to defeat Elsa, Meili wouldn't have died by her hand.

*CRUMBLE!*

"…You cry for her…" Elsa observed as she rose once more from the rubble. "That's unexpected… After all, she did try to kill you…"

"…" Subaru slowly got up, his back facing Elsa.

"Subaru-sama!" Frederica arrived to the destroyed kitchen above them, just in time to witness the atrocious scene below. "What… Is that… Meili?"

"You are too late if you've come for your prisoner, maid." Elsa answered with a deflated tone, clearly not proud or wishing to gloat about her actions. "She's gone… hopefully to a better world than our own."

"Miserable… You monster…" The blonde woman, lamenting how late she was to help, glared at the assassin while descending to Subaru's side with a leap.

"Worry not, however. I'll send you to accompany her soon enough." Elsa threatened whilst producing yet another blade from the ruin; it seems her weaponry had all ended buried within the rubble.

"…" Subaru, who had remained silent, turned to look at Elsa after she threatened Frederica.

"…And you too shall-" But Elsa would never finish her threat, for Subaru interrupted her.

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGH!" From deep within Subaru, a guttural and primal scream was produced and released.

"Hngh!" Frederica had to cover her ears at such a potent shout.

"Oh dear… It seems he's at his limi-"

*ZZZZZAAAAP!*

"!" Elsa's right arm, which was holding her weapon, instantly fried into charcoal as Subaru's lightning bolts hit her. "What-?!"

*DASH!*

*SMACK!*

*CRACK!*

*SLAM!*

"GHN!" The Bowel Hunter was flung against the basement's wall by the young man's strength, her jaw broken by the absurd force behind his punch. "Wvha…?!"

"S-Subaru-sama…" Both Frederica and Elsa observed with astonishment the terrifying visage before them. His mask had burned away, revealing infuriated, reddened black eyes, surrounded by an even redder face, veins in his forehead threatening to pop from the blood pressure. This… This wasn't the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. This was only Subaru… and his uncontrollable rage. The boy had finally snapped.

*DASH!*

*GRAB!*

"GHGK!"

"RAAAAAAAAAAARGHHH!" Not holding back anymore, Subaru rushed at Elsa again and managed to pin her against the ground. Soon after, the wrath was unleashed.

*CRA-CRACKLE!*

*SMACK!*

*CRACK!*

*SMASH!*

*SPLURT!*

"GHLARGHK!" The assassin groaned in pain as blood, bone and brain matter scattered all over.

Enveloping his fists in electricity, Subaru pounded Elsa's face against the floor continuously. Each blow would have been strong enough to kill a normal person immediately, but Elsa kept regenerating each skull fracture, prolonging her punishment. The streaks of lightning made sure to continuously burn her flesh to the bone however, so slowly but surely, Subaru was effective in killing her.

"GHGHL!" Elsa grunted whilst glaring with her only remaining eye, she wasn't enjoying this battle. Not because she was hurt, but because both Meili's death had left a bitter aftertaste in her mouth and Subaru's wrath was so maniacal that she couldn't even fight back.

"TSK!" Using her remaining strength, she regenerated her right arm and attempted to punch back using both of her fists.

*SWOOOSH!*

*GRAB!*

"!" But Subaru, even in his anger, was not so gullible. The raging teenager grabbed both of her fists as she swung at him and crushed them into a fleshy mess of broken bones before incinerating her arms with electricity.

*CRACK!*

*ZZZZZZZAAAAAAAP!*

"URNGH!" Elsa flinched again as her limbs ceased to exist, the enraged boy's attacks sending jolts all across her body.

"HHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Subaru's fury raged on.

*THWACK!*

*SMASH!*

*SMACK!*

*CRACK!*

*SMASH!*

"RAARGH!" The deranged Avenger incoherently shouted as he punched downwards again.

*SMACK!*

*CRA-CRACK!*

"BLURGH?!" Elsa, whose face was unrecognizable now, spouted in confusion as Subaru punctured through her mid-section. His fist had penetrated into her abdomen, as if he were planning to do something…

"Wh-What are you…?" Frederica muttered in terror, not knowing how to react at Subaru's behavior.

"EEEEEAAAAAARGH!" The boy yelled again as blue rays bathed both his and Elsa's bodies.

*ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!*

"Hrng!" Frederica had to cover her eyes at such a blinding display of cosmic energies, as if a raging storm's lightning was destroying the ground before her.

*FWOOOSH~*

*SSSSSSFFFFFZZZZZZZ~*

When the light and smoked dissipated, the only thing remaining of Elsa's existence was the smoking black mass of charcoal Subaru was sitting atop, creaking in parts under the pressure of his weight.

"…" Still not satisfied with the result, Subaru grabbed the mass and got up.

*SWOOOSH!*

*SMASH!*

He threw Elsa's remains into the pile of rubble, her incinerated body turning into hundreds of pieces as it collided with the burning wood.

"…" Subaru stood in silence as the assassin's remains turned to ash, his sole focus as his ire died down the body of the little girl lying at Frederica's feet.

"My apologies…" Said maid begged for forgiveness with a most regretful expression as the Avenger walked in her direction. "I ignored your warnings… Meili's death is completely on my hands. I know… I cannot possibly compensate this failure, so I'll accept any punishment-"

"…" Subaru walked past her, ignoring the half-beast servant and instead crouching and grabbing the deceased girl's body. "…Meili… I'm…"

"…" Frederica looked away from such a sight with pain clear in her face, the guilt over following orders eating away at her soul.

"I'm so sorry…" Subaru whispered to Meili, holding her frail little cadaver in his injured and burnt arms.

By his logic, if Return by Death were still in effect, he could undo Elsa's actions and save the little girl. However, it would cost him progress and time, thus making Ultron's invasion more probable to succeed. The fact that he had gone half a day without the robots appearing was already a miracle in and of itself, even after the provocation that was the satellite's hacking. The best hope for saving the universe was to let Meili die and head back to the Capital by himself. However, for someone like Subaru, to let a little girl die for the sake of the world when he had the power to save her by rewinding time… There was no greater travesty than that. Yet, if it was between Meili and the fate of the universe, a decision had to be made. And it was all… Subaru's call.

What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?! What do I do?! WHAT DO I DO?!

As he panicked, a most ominous voice and logic, twisted as madness itself, manifested within the broken boy's mind.

"The hardest choices require the strongest wills."

"!" With alarm, Subaru's despair allowed for the ramblings of the mad titan, Thanos, to corrode even his heart. "N-No…"

"With all six stones I could simply snap my fingers and it would all cease to exist. I call that… mercy…"

"Hah…! Hah…! Hah…!" Panting incessantly, Subaru hyperventilated.The mad titan's remark about the indomitable power of the Infinity Stones, accompanied by the images of Ultron slaughtering everyone… Corrupted Subaru's mind further.

NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO…!

"THERE ARE NO STRINGS ON ME!"

"I-I'm sorry!" Subaru cried while holding the little girl's cold hands, genuinely considering doing the unthinkable. The hero… was giving up on saving Meili in favor of saving the universe. "I'm so sorry! I-I have to go! I-I-I-I-!"

"Subaru-sama…" Frederica was shook by his words. She knew well how Meili had tried to kill him in the past, so to see the boy mourn his would-be killer so vehemently… The maid was heartbroken, to say the least.

I don't even know how the fuck Return by Death really works! If I die again… If I really die… How can I save anyone?!

"I'm so sorry! I-I have to go-! I have to warn the Capital-! Th-The universe is-!" Amidst sobs and hiccups, Subaru tried to explain to the already dead girl his impotence to save her. "I-I-I HAVE TO-!"

"Subaru-sama!" Fredrica grabbed Subaru by the arms as he had begun convulsing whilst still holding onto Meili. "Please, calm down!"

"Frederica..." Subaru's sorrowful, hollow eyes bored into the maid's soul.

"…" The blonde woman expected some reproach or anger to be directed at her, but his tone clearly denoted that the boy's mind was somewhere else altogether.

"Please… Take Meili… And run…" The boy passed the corpse onto Frederica's hands.

"..."

"I have to…" Subaru muttered, almost whispering, as he walked past the maid again.

"Ask Beatrice. Tell her… I told you to 'ask' the question…"

"I have to go see Beatrice…" As he remembered Roswaal's words, the broken hero leapt upwards, back into the first floor of the mansion…

Within the Forbidden Library, Beatrice had sensed the entirety of the interactions and events transpired inside the mansion's halls. Combining Subaru's sudden arrival with his predilection for finding her little hideout… It became no surprise for the little spirit girl when the boy crossed the threshold into her hallowed place.

"…Just so you know, Betty has neither welcomed you nor forgiven you for your past rudeness, in fact…" Beatrice said, calmly sitting on her stool beside a tea table.

"…" But Subaru ignored her, having not the patience for any run-arounds nor irrelevant interactions.

"At the very least have the decency to answer, I suppose. Stop acting as though you are entitled to anything from Betty beyond a reproach and a scornful attitude!" Beatrice, irritated by his indifference, raised a hand at the boy with the intention of expelling him from the library.

*FWOOOSH!*

A wind current ran between the bookshelves, pushing against the teenager and attempting to force him back into the hallway.

"…" Yet the boy stood firm, not moving an inch before rushing at the little spirit girl.

*DASH!*

"Wha-?!" Beatrice gasped in shock as Subaru was suddenly just a few centimeters apart from her.

*GRAB!*

"Hngh!" She grunted uncomfortably as the Avenger grabbed her by the collar of her dress, pinning her against the shelves of books. "UNHAND ME RIGHT N-!"

"Why…" Subaru trembled as he whispered, catching the attention of the irritated blonde girl. "Why didn't you help…?"

*THUD!*

"What?" Beatrice narrowed her eyes in befuddlement as Subaru let go of her, the teenager falling to his knees as strength escaped him. "What are you…?"

"Meili… SHE'S DEAD!" Subaru's depressed and infuriated eyes clashed with Beatrice's nervous ones. "SHE'S FUCKING DEAD!"

"…So what? Why should Betty care about some assassin's wellbeing-?"

"SHE WAS A KID GODAMMIT!" The boy immediately argued the spirit's attitude. "Why is it so hard for all of you to grasp?! Why is it that you all would rather kill a clearly troubled kid instead of lending them a hand?! The fuck is wrong with you lot?!"

"Meili was a murderer… There was nothing to help in such a savage…"

"Stop talking such bullshit!" Subaru complained anew. "You… You could sense when an intruder ventures into the mansion, right?! Then why… Why didn't you help us against Elsa?! Frederica and Petra were in real mortal danger as well! By your logic, they were no savages! So why… Had I not arrived… If you had the power to help, why wouldn't you help them?!"

"…"

"Answer me! Beatrice!"

"That is so easy for you to say, human… Yes, that is right. After all, you are only human."

"Huh?!" The infuriated Subaru grumbled in confusion.

"Living limited lives, thinking limited thoughts… Knowing that it will all eventually end, so you can actually justify cherishing your existence… Do you even think that applies to spirits like Betty, in fact?!"

"What are you-?!"

"You think your lives matter to Betty?! She has no reason to save anyone… She has her own problems! Worrying about people that will leave her behind eventually anyways… How could you ask Betty, a Great Spirit, to do such a thing huh?!"

"Tsk!" Subaru shook his head at the ridiculousness of her claims. "So just because you are a Spirit… That should be enough to not care about others' lives? You are… You are pathetic, Beatrice…"

"You have some gall to say that… After all, are you not the loser that failed to save the mutt's life to begin with? And you call yourself a hero? Hmph!" Infuriated by his arrogance and forcefulness, Beatrice began spouting venom in the hopes that Subaru would take a hint and leave her in solitude already.

"I don't even know how I had so much patience for you or why I thought to ask you for help…"

"So you just came to insult Betty and then ask her for a favor? You are disgusting, human…" Beatrice scowled with rejection.

"You clearly couldn't be bothered to care about others, let alone things far bigger than yourself…" Subaru stood up, a look of sadness and disappointment towards the Great Spirit clear in his face. "Whatever Roswaal wanted, as well as that 'question' he wanted you to ask me… I just don't have time for that… I'm leaving."

"The… Question?" Beatrice's eyes widened at his wording as Subaru was turning around to leave. "Wa-wait!"

"Huh?" The annoyed Avenger turned to face her again with anger. "What now?! I've… I've no time for more of your-!"

"Are you the one? Betty's one?"

"…" Subaru flinch at the total shift in demeanor of the girl. Just a moment ago, she looked irritated and bothered by his presence… Now, she just looked like a begging, sad child. "What is…?"

"…" Beatrice, in her panic scrambling for a reaction, produced a black book from one of the shelves. One Subaru couldn't help but recognize… "Everything Betty is… Everything she does, in accordance to this book, to her promise… Will you accept her?"

"Why… Why do you have that?" The boy pointed out with a shaky hand as his face morphed into horror and confusion. "That… Is that not one of the cult's Gospels? The one Petelgeuse had?!"

"…"

"Why do you have that?! Beatrice?!" Infuriated by her silence, as if SHE were expecting something from him, Subaru took a step forward and snatched the book from the little spirit's hands.

"Wha-! Wait! Wait, please! Just answer Betty's question, please!"

"The hell is your deal?!" Subaru began flipping through the pages of the book, not listening to reason or to the pleas of the now crying Beatrice. "Were you the one?! The one spouting all that future sight to Roswaal?! The one telling him what to do?! The Witch Cultis-?!"

"…" Beatrice lowered her head meekly as Subaru grew quiet.

"…Huh?" Upon seeing the 'Gospel', Subaru had thought that Beatrice had been the one behind giving Roswaal instructions. That this whole time she had been a Witch cultist manipulating them from behind. Yet… The empty book did nothing but deny such a theory. "This… Is it not supposed to foretell the future…? Like those deranged bastards' books?!"

"…"

"Why is it empty then?!" The perplexed boy shouted. "If I couldn't read it… much like the other Gospels, then I'd understand… But this… There's nothing on it! Nothing at all!"

"For the sake of Mother… To fulfill our promise…" Beatrice rambled again. "Won't you accept Betty-?"

"STOP TALKING RIDDLES ALREADY!" Subaru, fed up by all the mysticism and roundabouts, shouted in frustration as he threw the book across the room.

*THWACK!*

"AH!" Beatrice retrieved the book that had fell to the floor, hugging it tightly as Subaru spoke.

"MOTHER?! WHO THE HELL IS THAT?! AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'IN ACCORDANCE TO THE BOOK'?! WHAT PROMISE?! I DON'T-!"

"…" The Spirit did nothing but witness his outburst in silence, a mix of disdain and pity for the clearly tired boy appearing within her eyes.

"I don't… I don't understand any of you…!" The Avenger curled beside one of the bookshelves, tears threatening to fall from his eyes as he broke down into a rant. "Gospels, cults, promises, witches…! Why are you all…?! Why are you all this uselessly confusing?! This indifferent and cruel to each other?! Do you get off on it or something?!"

"…" Yet again, Beatrice did not answer.

"I don't understand you… Just why… Every time we interacted…"

"…"

"We joked around... We said stupid things… I taught you about my world… Was all of that just so you could get some cryptic answer out of me?! I don't even know… What that 'question' of yours entails!"

"…"

"I have Ultron to deal with dammit! Why can't you leave me out of YOUR fuck ups?! I already have enough with my own!"

"…You…"

"I've… I've no time for these games of yours…" Subaru shook his head dejectedly, forcing himself to stand up and face Beatrice. "People need me, even if I don't deserve them… I have to get to the Capital…"

"Why…" The little spirit whispered to herself.

"Beatrice… I'm sorry for all the forcefulness, I really am! But we are running out of time here! If I don't get to the Capital soon, there might not be a world tomorrow! I have to-!"

"You'd ask Betty to send you away to the city… When her question you can't even answer?!" Beatrice's eyes grew angry.

*FWOOOM!*

"Huh?!" A portal opened behind Subaru, the absurd pulling him and consuming his body. "What are you doing?!"

"Roswaal asked you to ask the question… But deep inside, I knew you just couldn't be the one… Betty's one…" The girl lamented in tears as the portal closed. "Just… Return from whence you came. Betty has…"

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

An explosion rang outside the library, alerting the helpless teenager.

No… Are they here?! Ultron's army!

*BOOOOOOOM!*

"BEATRICE, PLEASE-!"

"Betty has… No time for you…" As the explosions kept ringing in the background, Beatrice closed her eyes, her face turning into sorrow… and everything went black for Subaru.

Hours had passed, and the black-haired boy had remained in solitude after Beatrice had whisked him away from the Mansion. It seems the wounds from his fight with the Bowel Hunter had taken a toll on him, forcing him into unconsciousness…

"Hmngh…" Subaru mumbled as he his eyes opened. "Wha…?"

The boy felt heavy, realizing that he was under a blanket of snow, with his body feeling numb under the weight and the cold.

"What is-?!" The teenager hurriedly stood up, wiping the snow off in one movement. "Where is this?!"

Subaru looked around, inspecting the surroundings. He wasn't in the Capital. On the contrary, the place seemed far more… natural and rural instead of urban.

"Just… Return from whence you came…"

"N-No…" The boy trembled, not because of the cold, but because of the dread. Beatrice hadn't teleported him to the city, but back to Sanctuary. "FOR FUCK'S SAKE!"

*CRASH!*

*SLAM!*

Subaru punched through a tree in anger, making it fall over.

"Hah… Hah…" Becoming capable of seeing his own breath as he panted, the boy took notice of the cold at last and decided to leave his spot in the middle of the woods. "Beatrice… I've… I've no time for this…"

Subaru walked through the Sanctuary, aiming for the stables once more.

Beatrice… Dammit! It would have been much more convenient if you had just thrown me out of the mansion than back to Sanctuary! Patrasche isn't here… But Frufroo is. If I can reach her whilst Otto and the rest are distracted with the Trial… Maybe I might just be capable of leaving the forest in time!

Although it was quite dark outside because of the cloudy sky, he estimated that it had to be close to evening. At this moment, Emilia must be undertaking her trial again, so it was the ideal time to sneak about and steal the dragon. Even so, some doubts arose in Subaru's already troubled head.

This is weird, though… By my world's measurements, it should be Tuesday... It shouldn't get so cloudy until Wednesday afternoon… And even then, I don't remember such a weather from any other loop…

"…If Sanctuary really is not as important as the Mansion… Perhaps you've yet to experience all that can happen…"

"There's a rumor that, wherever a witch appears, heavy snow follows…"

Heavy snow… Dammit, what have you done Roswaal?! Are you actively trying to corner Emilia?! For what purpose?!

Subaru had blitzed through the village and the temple, not really paying any attention to the emptiness of the Sanctuary. Making a beeline, the boy reached the stable at last… But the same exact eerie silence was present there as well, as Frufroo and all other steeds and cattle were absent from the place.

"What?" Subaru narrowed his eyes while inspecting the place. The door didn't seem to have been forced open, but the traces of hoofs and feet all over the floor was a clear indication that something had indeed occurred in his absence. "…Dammit, where are you Frufroo?!"

Maybe Otto took her to await for Emilia outside the Tomb? But in that case… I'd have to confront them. Worst case scenario, I'd have to force Otto to drive me out of Sanctuary… But I have to reach the Capital! Maybe they will not understand in the moment, but surely… Surely, they will... Once everyone is safe…!

Subaru ran back to the village, finally taking in the emptiness of the place. The houses… The Temple… Even the house in which Roswaal had been resting on… Everything was empty. There was no one in Sanctuary to receive the boy.

"What the hell…" The Avenger muttered in dread. "No… Roswaal, please, don't tell me you've done something stupid… Not right now!"

I'm not even sure if Ultron's army really is here or not! Please!

The teenager changed directions, heading now towards the Tomb with the hope that the people had congregated there.

"Emilia…" He whispered, thinking that maybe the girl had been successful in her trials, prompting the prompting the villagers to go cheer her on. "Please… I'm begging you…"

If Emilia was successful… Then maybe everyone went to see her? Hopefully… Yeah, if that were the case… How I wish it IS the case…! Huh?

But as he ventured onto the road, within one of the clearings… A lone rabbit stood in silence, observing Subaru.

"…A rabbit?" The boy deaccelerated as he came closer to the rabbit. "Wait… a horn? A rabbit with a-" Subaru stopped in his tracks a few meters away from the small animal as it all suddenly fit into place, like puzzle parts coming together.

"That's not right… Just because someone's a witch it doesn't mean that it suddenly snows all around them."

"Alongside the Black Serpent and the Great Rabbit… They are great calamities created by the Witch herself."

"Is the situation at the Mansion that dire?! That you would throw everyone aside to save some maids?! Or did you value Emilia-sama that little?!"

"Perhaps you've yet to experience all that can happen…"

"Th-That's not a rabbit… right?" Subaru trembled a bit as he remembered his encounter with the Whale, his eyes locked in a stare down with the ominous reds of the rabbit. "You… You are a mabeast, aren't you?!"

As soon as he assumed a combat pose, two other rabbits spawned from the snow beside the first one.

"There's more?!" The boy commented with surprise before yet another one appeared.

And another one.

Until soon… Hundreds of the creatures surrounded Subaru.

"Roswaal… What the fuck…" The boy braced himself for whatever was coming while producing some rays around his battered arms.

*CRA-CRACKLE!*

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK- CLICK- CLICK- CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK- CLICK- CLICK- CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK- CLICK- CLICK- CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK- CLICK- CLICK- CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK- CLICK- CLICK- CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

As though a signal it were, the light of Subaru's bolts indicated the horde to attack. The thousand monsters all began clicking their front teeth together, generating a disturbing cacophony of continuous, threatening munching. It was as though they were celebrating the meal before them.

*FWOOOSH!*

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

"WOAH!" One the rabbits leapt towards Subaru, their intention of biting him clear in the hero's eyes.

*FWOOOSH!*

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

Another three jumped as well in the direction of his legs. Not risking any further damage, Subaru was quick on the uptake and took on the offensive as well.

*ZZZZZZZZZAAAAAAAAAAAAP!*

*THUD!*

The trio of mabeasts died in mid-air as Subaru's lightning bolts shocked them, their corpses falling before the horde.

*CHOMP-MUNCH-SNARL-CRUNCH-CRACK!*

"Jesus…" Subaru gasped in disgust.

As soon as they fell, the corpses ended up devoured by the myriad hungry rodents. Not even a bone remained behind as they ate away at their brethren's flesh. Just as quickly as they had been there, the roasted rabbits were gone, replaced again by another handful of new, ravenous creatures.

"Did-Did they just multiply?!" The young hero had to rub his eyes in disbelief as the new set of rabbits spawned. But Subaru would have no time to gawk anymore.

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK- CLICK- CLICK- CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK- CLICK- CLICK- CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

"Oh shit!" The rabbit horde rushed at him at last, their red eyes gleaming with hunger as they all focused on Subaru. "OHSHITOHSHITOHSHIT-!"

From the north, twenty rabbits leaped at the same time, all focusing on distinct body parts of the boy's body.

*ZZZZZZZZZZAAAAP!*

Producing another bolt, Subaru managed to immolate a fair amount of the monsters… But unfortunately, not all of them died right away.

*CRACK-MUNCH!*

"AAAAARGH!" The Avenger recoiled in pain as a pair of burnt rabbits managed to muscle through the pain and electricity, succeeding in tearing off chunks of flesh from his left bicep. "GRRRGH!"

*CLICK- CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

"CRAPCRAPCRAPCRAP!" Bleeding profusely from his left arm and clearly being in no condition to fight back, Subaru opted for running away instead.

*ZZZAAAAAP!*

*THUD!*

Performing a kick in the air, Subaru flung a wave of electricity that opened a path across the hungry horde. It wasn't perfect though, as some of the creatures managed to survive and still rush at him, but that was fine. Losing a few body parts was preferable to death.

*MUNCH!*

*CRUNCH!*

*CHOMP!*

*CRACK!*

"DRGH!" Subaru ran through the imperfect path, parts of his legs and arms flying around and being feasted upon as the rabbits chewed at his sinew. In the end, he was successful in crossing back into the forest and past the horde, but his injuries were all quite severe.

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

The rodents pursued, nevertheless, their keen smell and senses detecting Subaru's dripping blood and fear, making him their prime target.

"Hah… Hah… Hah…!" The boy panted as he lost speed. He was bleeding too much while running too desperately. It wouldn't be long until the monsters caught up to him, sealing his fate...

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

But even worse for the Avenger… was that he had ran out of time for planning ahead as well.

*ZOOM!*

"No… Come on, why now?!" Subaru cried as Ultron's legion flew over him. A horde of mabeasts behind him and army of sentinels above. Certainly a maddening prospect. "WHY NOW?!"

The forest path opened into a clearing again, the one in which the Tomb lied in. To his dismay, neither Roswaal nor Emilia could be seen anywhere. Not just them, none of the inhabitants of Sanctuary were around either. Which meant that, most likely, they suffered a most cruel fate against the foe to his back. Subaru was truly alone in facing all these threats. Truly… left without hope.

*BLAM!*

"Oh-Oh man…!"

A multitude of robots landed before Subaru, all of them raising their hands and preparing laser beams to kill the boy.

*ZNNNNNNM!*

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

"ACK!" Subaru jumped over them at the last second, the rays shooting under his trajectory and towards the rabbits that were pursuing him instead.

*FSSSSSSSSZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!*

The horde lit on fire as the rabbits fell one after another.

*SLAM!*

"Urnf!" Subaru landed roughly against the stone floor by the Tomb's entrance, his multiple wounds flaring up in pain. "GRRGH!"

*CLANK-CLANK!*

The robots all turned around to face the survivor, preparing anew a set of rays to kill the young Avenger.

*CLI-CLINK!*

"!" The teenager looked on in shock as the rabbits multiplied again, assaulting the robots in an attempt to devour them.

*CLINK-CLINK-CLINK-CLINK-CLINK-CLINK-CLINK-CLINK-CLINK-CLINK-CLINK-CLINK-CLINK!*

The monsters' fangs all chipped away as they attempted in vain to break through the vibranium bodies.

*BOOOOM!*

The robots, finding themselves surrounded by the annoying beasts, had begun shooting them down, incinerating them to ashes by the bulk. All this bizarre visage of mabeast and technology clashing amounted to was leaving their sole witness, Subaru, on the verge of sanity.

"Is this hell…?" The bleeding boy muttered with terror as he tried to stand up to no avail. "Urgh… My legs… dammit…!"

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

A few of the rabbits slipped past the droids, focusing on the only flesh they could actually munch onto… The injured boy lying atop the Tomb's stairs.

"Come on… Please, get up!" Subaru pleaded with his mutilated limbs to no avail, dreading a demise at the fangs of the rabbits. "Please, please!"

*CLANG-CLANG-CLANG*

A handful of the drones locked onto Subaru as well, reloading another set of lasers and aiming their hands in his direction.

*ZNNNNNNMMMMMMM!*

"COME ON! COME ON!" Subaru succeeded in standing up, limping away pitifully while trying to escape into the inside of the Tomb. He wasn't thinking rationally about what to do anymore, he was acting on survival instinct alone by this point.

*SWOOOSH!*

*CRUNCH!*

"ARRGH!" One of the rabbits jumped on top of Subaru and began devouring his left leg. Soon after, the rest of the pack followed.

*CRUNCH!*

*BITE!*

*CRACK!*

*MUNCH!*

*CHOMP!*

"EEEEEEEEEEUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

With a soul-shattering scream, Subaru tumbled down to the floor as the monsters pounced on him by the dozens. Ribs, mouth, tongue, ears, nose, eyes, innards, back, arms, thighs, legs, hands, feet… All of Subaru's body ignited in indescribable pain as the rodents forcefully tore them apart, feasting on his flesh.

WHY?!

Subaru asked in desperation within his broken mind.

WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!

And as a cruel mercy to end the boy's pain… At last, the robots rained their fire on the congregation of monsters devouring Subaru.

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

…

"…DRGH!" Subaru woke up with a jolt inside Echidna's Tomb.

"Hmngh…" Emilia muttered uncomfortably at his side.

"Hah… HAH!" The boy rushed into a sprint towards a wall.

*SMASH!*

"W-Why…?" He muttered as he crushed his fist against the stone.

*SMASH!*

"Why…?" Again, he said as he head-butted the wall.

*SMASH!*

"Why…?!" He repeated as he punched again, creating a crack on the wall and breaking it apart.

*SMASH!*

"WHY?!" Losing all control or rationality, Subaru began pounding with all his body against the walls of the room.

*SMASH-SMASH-SMASH-SMASH-SMASH-SMASH-SMASH-SMASH-SMASH-SMASH-SMASH-SMASH-SMASH-SMASH-SMASH-SMASH-SMASH!*

"WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!WHY?!"

Screaming incessantly, the phantom pain of being devoured and burnt alive took a hold of Subaru's deteriorated psyche. As he ranted and shouted, the boy broke the room's walls apart, his fists and forehead turning bloody as the ceiling threatened to collapse and fall on top of him and Emilia.

"WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!"

"You have once again earned the qualification. I invite you to…" Echidna's voice resounded as the world went white for Subaru.

"A witch's tea party."

AUTHOR'S NOTES

WOOHOO! Another chapter out!

Honestly, finding the time to write is tougher than I thought… I feel like I've been saying that a lot lately, but it's true! Last year of college does NOT mess around…

Anyways, bit of a spoiler here… But Uatu makes his return next chapter. Just… Be ready, because I'm also planning some Echidna stuff.

God, I don't know if it's the stress or the horny, but I almost wrote 'Echidna smut'. Don't worry though (or do worry, idk), I'm not gonna write any surprise smut or surprise butt sex or whatever! That was just a brain-fart!

For real, I don't even know what I'm writing in these Author Notes anymore…

Welp, see you next chapter!