Re: Avenger

by Just-Another-Marvel-DC-Geek

CONTINUATION IN CROSSOVER SECTION The arrival of a certain young hero shows the world of the Od Laguna just how small it truly is. Basically, Subaru is MCU Spidey and the Re:Zero cast meet Marvel Multiverse madness. Sounds fun, right? (First fic. Shamelessly posting in both regular and crossover sections for reach.)

34. Chapter 28

Chapter 28 – The Arrival

*Whooooosh~!*

The soft-swaying winds of the morning echoed through the surroundings of the destroyed Mathers Mansion, remains of snow and debris sprayed everywhere along the grounds of a decayed yard.

"And so, Betty's promise shall forever remain broken, I suppose…" Beatrice lamented as she sat on Otto's carriage, basking on the light of a new dawn whilst the rising sun in the horizon washed over everything with its light.

"So it would seem…" Roswaal contemplated as well as he approached her, the pair looking at the destroyed building with a complex mix of defeat and sorrow.

"I'm sorry, Mother." The Great Spirit mumbled an apology.

"You don't look as distre~ssed as I thought you'd be, however." The Margrave pointed out as he sat beside her on the back of the stationed carriage. "I'd da~re say you look relieved, if only slightly."

"Betty could say the same about you, I suppose." Beatrice shook her head. "The Rabbit's appearance was your handiwork, yet its destruction came by your hand as well, in fact. Wasn't your lineage's desire to see my Mother once more at last, I wonder?"

"…" Roswaal looked away from her, his own stomach in a knot over his erratic actions. "May I ask you something?"

"…"

"Was Subaru 'that' person after all?"

"…Hmph! As if Subaru deserved that position!" Beatrice denied vehemently. "But Betty does not care if he is or not anymore."

"How so?"

"Betty has chosen Betty's Subaru above that person and the Forbidden Library." The Great Spirit finally managed to smile. "All Betty is lamenting here is the loss of knowledge, not her decision in fact."

"But why?" Roswaal pressured, wishing to understand.

"Subaru… He insulted 'them' for leaving Betty behind, for not existing." Beatrice remembered Subaru's recent words lovingly. "After such an audacity… Subaru then begged Betty with tears in his eyes, not before bowing though. He said that Betty would be too busy with him around to feel sad over the Library or her promise, in fact. He asked Betty to save him. That he needed Betty of all people to save him, in fact. That he was hopeless, unable to save anyone if Betty was not there to save him. That it HAD to be Betty."

"What an arrogant, uncaringly selfish beggar…" Roswaal chuckled with a bittersweet smirk.

"Betty never said she dislikes such uncaring arrogance, in fact." The Spirit puffed her chest with satisfaction at the retort, taking it instead as a compliment.

"But won't you regret it?" The mage continued. "If he wishes to return back home one day… Won't he leave you behind? You'll never be his priority that way-"

"Do not mistake things, Roswaal." Beatrice shut the notion down immediately. "Betty did not choose him so that she could become Subaru's priority. Betty chose to make Subaru Betty's priority, Betty's number one."

"Hmm…" Roswaal looked back at the girl with both longing and surprise. "I see you haven't changed at all, then."

"Huh?" Beatrice gazed at him with confusion, Roswaal's yellow eye suddenly changing into blue.

"Even when teacher was around, I suppose you and I never talked enough. Not as much as I would have liked."

"Y-You… Teacher…" Beatrice shook for a few moments as the realization hit her. "Roswaal…?"

"I was always Roswaal." The Margrave affirmed.

"Tha-That is not what Betty-!"

"I am Roswaal, Betty." Roswaal smiled again, his demeanor and the air about him changing completely. "The Roswaal that lived with you and Ryuzu during those days of old, learning and smiling beside teacher."

"…You transferred your soul, I suppose." Beatrice concluded with shock.

"Teacher's theory on immortality was incomplete." The mage explained patiently as he reminisced on Echidna's teachings. "You cannot simply transfer souls between two different mediums, there has to an adequate receptacle. In my case… Said recipient came through my bloodline; from ancestor to descendant throughout the centuries."

"Roswaal…"

"Am I not quite inhumane, in that regard?"

"…" Beatrice slowly raised her hand as she looked into the eyes of the nobleman, and then…

*SLAP!*

"…It stings quite a bit, even through my other injuries." Roswaal responded as he assimilated the slap. "Do you hate me that much?"

"Don't mistake Betty's revenge for the destruction of the Forbidden Library with your disgusting, self-serving desire for punishment in fact. You looked pretty punished and unsightly already, so Betty's judgement is just a slap on the wrist in comparison to what you deserve, I suppose." The girl pouted as she averted her gaze away from him. "But for the moment…"

"Beatrice…"

"Welcome back, Roswaal."

The little girl welcomed the return of her long-gone friend with an unseen smile as the pair's vision drifted into the sunrise above the snowy tree line…

"The Margrave and Beatrice-sama sure are taking their time discussing things…" Otto commented as the group huddled over before the front yard's shack.

"Leave them be, Otto." Emilia reassured with a smirk. "I'm sure they have a plethora of things to discuss… It has been a rea~lly long time for that pair of friends."

"Friends in what way? Those two…" Garfiel turned to look back to Otto's carriage. "Nah; doesn't matter…"

"Emilia-sama." Frederica prompted as she pointed at Emilia's hands. "About the crystal…"

"I'm sorry, Frederica." The half-elf apologized. "I know it belonged to you, but Puck is residing in it at the moment…"

"No, it doesn't matter." The head-maid smirked in response. "I'm not complaining, Emilia-sama. If anything, I'm glad…"

"Huh?"

"We all knew about your 'less than amicable' discussion with Puck-sama…" Frederica explained.

"For not saying 'totally justified freak-out'." Mimi carelessly uttered.

"But if you are to conserve the crystal…" The maid continued.

"It's because I wish to talk to Puck once more." Emilia admitted with a resolved face. "I… I wish for him to atone, to stand by my side one day and live to make up for such a thing. Otherwise, I won't forgive him!"

"Hoh~!" Otto smiled in surprise.

"Ta force a Great Spirit ta obey yer whim like dat… Nice one, Princess." Garfiel, too, smirked at Emilia's confidence.

"Hmph… For the moment, instead of focusing on Puck-sama, I'd rather Barusu told you the specifics behind his erratic actions these past few days, Emilia-sama." A mostly recuperated Ram pointed out from beside Frederica. "When in the blazes is he doing inside that ruined shack?"

"Hold on, Emilia-sama doesn't know?" Frederica frowned. "Now this is troubling…"

"Huh? What don't I-?" Emilia stared in vexation at the maids for a few moments before the realization finally dawned on her. "Oh… What Subaru was doing beforehand?"

"Huh? Oh yeah! I dunno either!" Garfiel admitted with an oblivious smirk. "All Cap'n told me was ta beat up Roswaal! Though, I 'spose we're waitin' for Roswaal an' da Spirit ta return for dat…"

"And couldn't you gather something from what WE told you?" Tivey shook his head.

"From before AND after you beat us up?" Hetaro accompanied with pettiness.

"What did you say?" Frederica scowled with apprehension at her brother as the Pearlbatons spoke.

"Huh?" The blonde boy looked at the cat demi-humans strangely. "What are ya-?"

"Are you about to pretend our bandages aren't your fault?!" Getting defensive, Hetaro protested to Garfiel's apparent confusion.

"Look at Mimi! She looks like a walking roll of toilet paper!" Tivey hounded as well while pointing at his sister. "Whose fault is that?!"

"Garfiel…" Frederica mumbled the name with reproach, making her sibling tremble in place.

"E-Err-!" The boy in question looked around with worry, sweating bullets.

"*Sigh…* And after Frederica struggled with an assassin here and sent mercenaries to Sanctuary in order to save you…" Ram sighed with disappointment.

"O-Oi! I didn't know-!"

*BONK!*

*BONK!*

"AYAAAY!"

"YOWWWCH!"

"Will the both of you stop pestering him?!" Mimi yelled as she smacked her brothers over the back of their heads in one swing of her staff.

"Why are you defending him?!" Tivey cried.

"Does Mimi have to spell it out for you?!" The girl screamed as she raised her staff once more, beginning a pursuit after her siblings.

"Mimi! Stop~!" Hetaro yelled as he and his brother began running circles around Garfiel in an attempt to avoid Mimi's wrath.

"…U-Huh…" Garfiel nodded in awe at how the little feline defended him from her brethren's accusations.

"Oh my…" Frederica stared at the interaction with amusement. "It seems something interesting happened when I wasn't looking… Fufu!"

"Aren't you glad, Garfiel?" Ram huffed with annoyance. "You seem pretty popular now."

"Erhm, I mean-!" The embarrassed Garfiel attempted to protest. "I mean, it's not as if- Ram, I-!"

"Well, it looks like someone is in trouble on more than one front." Otto giggled at the sight.

"Hmm, yes…" Emilia however, remained pensive.

*SLAM!*

"ALRIGHT!" Subaru celebrated while exiting the shack hurriedly, a brink to his step. "I did it! I fixed it! WOOHOO!"

"Umm… Subaru?" Emilia tilted her head at the strangeness of the hero. "What are you…?"

"What are you prancing around like a monkey in heat for, Barusu?" Ram insulted with a deflated expression and dead eyes, disinterested by Subaru's antics.

"Oh?" The Avenger stopped the moment he heard Ram speak, turning around to a bewildered audience. "H-Hey…"

"Subaru." Emilia said again. "About before, what did you fix?"

"Ah, that…" Subaru turned around to look at the shack. "Remember when I told you that the satellite wasn't working? Well, I fixed it!"

"Really?!" The half-elf answered with an awed smile.

"Sure you won't just bust the thing again? Heh!" Ram teased with a derisive smirk.

"Oh, Ha-Ha neesama!" The young hero answered in mockery.

"This satellite or whatever, was it like yer armor Cap'n?" Garfiel asked back.

"Technology from beyond the Great Waterfall, Garf." Frederica explained as she remembered Subaru's holographic imagery.

"Now, now…" Subaru sighed before continuing. "The reason the satellite above us was busted was because Ultron had hijacked it. But it seems that now that he has a fixed time frame, he doesn't much care about it anymore…"

"Ul… tron?" Emilia raised an eyebrow, the name sounding foreign to her.

"Who?" Likewise, Garfiel scratched his head.

"It seems to be the vi~llain Subaru-kun feared far more than myself, Garfiel." From behind the young teenager, Roswaal responded.

"Tsk! Don't need YA ta tell me shit…" Garfiel stepped aside reluctantly as the mage walked in.

"Subaru." Beatrice walked up to the Avenger with glee.

"Oh! Beako!" Subaru quickly picked up the Great Spirit with a wide, toothy grin pasted on his face.

"UUUUWWWWAAAAAaaaaaaaAAAAAAA~!" The little girl squeaked with flailing arms as Subaru spinned her around. "P-PuT mE dOwWwWwWwN!"

"You are so cute! Beako~!" The hero mumbled like a child, ignoring her complaint.

"Subaru!" Emilia prompted, stopping the playful duo. "What about 'Ultron'?!"

"Ah…" Subaru immediately paused. "Sorry… I got caught up in-"

"N-No, it's no bother…" Emilia apologized as well. "It's just… The name sounds awfully foreboding…"

"Hmm…. How to explain it…" The Avenger set Beatrice down with preoccupation as he pondered on his next words.

"T-Talk from the beginning, I suppose…" The Spirit recommended tiredly as her head still spun around.

"Right! So… Garfiel, so you know how I come from another world, right?"

"'Tis what ya claimed, and I found it hard ta believe it in da begginnin', but…" The blonde boy scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I 'spose yer tellin' da truth now."

"Good… Because I'm not the only one." Subaru gulped as he spoke with dread.

"Subaru…" Emilia frowned as she noticed the paler tone of the boy in the sunlight.

"Hmm…" Roswaal, too, felt flummoxed by his sudden change in demeanor.

"What ya mean, Cap'n?"

"Are you referring, mayhap, about Aldebaran?" Emilia theorized.

"No one says 'mayhap' anymore, Emilia-tan… And, yeah, I guess Aldebaran too, but…" Subaru struggled as his hands trembled.

*Grab…*

"Beako…" Beatrice grabbed Subaru's trembling hand, reassuring him.

"Betty is here for you, so yammer away about your foe without fear Subaru." The little girl smiled at him.

"…Right!" Subaru dried his wet eyes, as Beatrice consoled him. "So… Ultron. He's… He's a villain from my world, and he's coming here in a couple of days. Specifically, Saturday night, descending over the Capital to… To destroy the world. Your world."

"…!" It was Emilia's turn to gulp nervously now.

"…Ya know? Dat ain't funny Cap'n…" Garfiel found Subaru's words hard to believe.

"Preposterous." Roswaal attempted to protest the notion.

"I know it sounds nuts, but it's the truth." Subaru affirmed, not backing down. "If… *Sigh* If you need a unit of measurement, to know the level of the threat we are facing, then I'm bold enough to say neither the Witch of Envy nor Reinhard have anything on Ultron. With the- The Infinity Stones in his possession, he is nigh unstoppable… If we don't work together, at least."

"…And you believe this, Beatrice?" Roswaal asked in a serious tone, dropping his accent.

"Absolutely, in fact." The Great Spirit nodded. "Betty believes in Betty's Subaru, no matter how absurd the affirmation may be."

"And you?" The Margrave turned to look at the rest of the group.

"I found it farfetched in the beginning, I won't lie…" Otto rubbed the back of his head with shame. "But I'm willing to believe in a friend, Margrave."

"Barusu may be an annoying, unsightly, pitiful being at best…" Ram insulted relentlessly. "But he has a knack for sensing danger, and unfortunately, he's yet to be proven wrong. Ram is simply trusting his bad luck."

"Roswaal-sama, with all due respects…" Frederica bowed apologetically. "I'm personally more inclined to believe in the man that saved my life than the man that manipulated myself and my junior into a position of danger."

"We are just obeying our boss. I mean, she and the other candidates must know of this already…" Tivey affirmed as he rubbed the spots in which Mimi whacked him.

"Not to say we don't believe in Subaru…" Hetaro commented as he patted his demolished back.

"But we totally believe in Boss-bro!" Mimi loudly affirmed.

"…Damn! There really was a boatload o' shit goin' on in da background, huh?!" The amazed Garfiel shouted in alarm. "Stronger dan Reinhard, eh?! A monster from Cap'n's world! How ain't dat excitin'!"

"It's anything but exciting for everyone but you, Garf…" Frederica shook her head in disappointment. "Although I do suppose the notion of an otherworldly being is always a source of excitement, regardless of the dangers."

"…" Roswaal sunk into his thoughts at the notion, mumbling inaudibly. If Subaru's word was true, then his very existence might have been a contradiction to the book. "Vexing indeed… Just how derailed was it all, truly? Maybe since the beginning? But then again…"

"…" Emilia, too, was silenced into thinking by the Avenger's words and actions. Subaru had fought Elsa, Roswaal AND the Great Rabbit all while knowing such happenings were occurring. It alarmed and disappointed her simultaneously to understand how ignorant to the circumstances she had truly been. Alas, it was not the time for shame to take hold of her. "…The satellite is fixed, right Subaru?"

"Huh?" Subaru looked at Emilia with confusion. He honestly expected a barrage of questions or intrigues, if anything, to corroborate his story. However, the half-elf insisted on focusing on the task instead. "Uh… Sure!"

"Good." Emilia turned to look at everyone else. "With two carriages full of people… It should take between a phase or two cycles to arrive to the Capital. Not to mention our injuries…"

"If I may?" Otto raised his hand to make a suggestion. "It might be arrogant before the threat approaching to do this… But in our state, we could hardly fight it Emilia-sama."

"This is true…" Ram affirmed as she stared at Subaru, Garfiel, Roswaal, Frederica and the triplets. "It'd be fair to say that anyone is at their best, Emilia-sama."

"I thought so as well…" Emilia came to a conclusion after hearing Otto and Ram's observations. "We'll rest back at Arlam until the next day. However, we shall travel to the Capital tomorrow night. Before that though…"

"Huh?" Subaru stared back in surprise as Emilia locked gazes with him.

"Subaru, if you fixed the satellite, I want you to arrange a call between myself and the other candidates, posthaste." The half-elf commanded.

"Umm…" Subaru and Beatrice looked at each other with surprise before the Avenger could respond. "…Sure!"

"…Good." Emilia breathed with relief as her shoulders relaxed slightly.

"I-er I'll have to do it manually, because-"

"…I'll always be on your side Subaru, no matter what!"

"…Because Karen isn't around." Subaru lamented. "A-Actually, I need to go get something from my bag first. Can you wait here a quick sec?"

"Ah-! Subaru…" Emilia reached her hand to no avail as the boy ran toward Patrasche, leaving her and Beatrice behind.

"Was it just me, or Natsuki-san looked a bit pale just now?" Otto mentioned as Subaru walked off.

"Boss-bro did seem a bit rattled, actually." Mimi put a finger on her chin as she pointed out. "Maybe he finally got tired?"

"He's been through a lot, especially considering the circumstances." Frederica commented. "He's the one that's been everywhere doing everything to save us. Not to mention the Kingdom, too…"

"Damn, Cap'n had it tough…" Garfiel regretted with frustration.

"Betty's Subaru needs a hug from Betty, in fact." The Great Spirit then turned to look at the half-elf. "To be noted though is how you surprised Betty quite a bit just now, girl. You managed to hide your fear and shame dexterously whilst ordering everyone around, in fact."

"…Is it that obvious now?" Emilia shook her head as her fists began trembling.

"You may have grown confident, yet you are still a scaredy girl behind the façade of strength." The Great Spirit explained.

"Emilia-sama…" Frederica worried as she took notice of the girl's panic.

"It is fine, really." Emilia dismissed her concerns. "I… Well, I am the one that asked Subaru to keep me in the dark during my Trials, so I could focus on them. I guess I have no one to blame but myself for the ignorance…"

"There was a good reason to that, Emilia-sama." Otto rebutted. "You said it yourself; had you known of the dangers ahead, we might not even be here right now."

"Even still…" Emilia sighed.

"I don't believe ya should be ashamed of showing some fear, princess." Garfiel encouraged.

"Garfiel…" The candidate was shaken by the blonde boy's accurate words.

"I mean, yer ashamed over showin' weakness when Cap'n was carryin' everythin' on his back, right?" The boy concluded with understanding. "I get ya, I get ya… I totally get dat! But… Ya know? I don't think Cap'n would mind!"

"Need Ram point out you've seen Barusu cry as well, Emilia-sama?" Ram huffed despondently. "Back when he sullied your thighs with his mucus? When he first arrived to the Mansion? Not that he isn't that still, but he looked like the most pitiful eyesore to have ever walked the land back then."

"You could tone it down a little, Ram…" Frederica shook her head at Ram's words, disillusioned by her fellow maid's unabashed mockery of Subaru.

"Heh!" Ram chuckled, nevertheless.

"…If it's because you wish to be a good leader for your Camp, I don't think there is any fault in that." Hetaro mentioned in passing as he went to board Otto's carriage. "Ah~, I hope there's hambulgars in the village."

"Hambulgars! Mimi too, Mimi too!" Following behind, Mimi boarded as well, chanting in hunger.

"That's how we see it at least, Emilia-sama." Tivey nodded in affirmation as he followed his siblings. "Make room for one more!"

"…Hehe! I guess you are all right…" Emilia giggled at the memories and words of encouragement, fond of them. "Gosh, it feels like ages ago since that lap pillow happened... Now I feel rea~lly silly for worrying about appearing strong before Subaru!"

"I guess that should solve the leftover confidence issues now, Emilia-sama." Frederica nodded with a smile. "Now then, Ram and myself shall retire back to the village, along with everyone else. If you'll excuse us…"

"Od knows Frufroo could do with the rest, right girl?" Otto commented as he stared at the blue ground dragon. "Honestly, Puck-sama… Cold climate isn't that good for ground dragons; I'll have to make a pyre next to the stables tonight for you and Patrasche to rest peacefully."

"GUAAAAGH!"

"We'll see ya back in Arlam, princess!" Garfiel waved as he boarded the carriage behind Otto.

"Hmm, I'll see you then everyone." Emilia nodded before turning to Roswaal. "What about you, Roswaal?"

"…I can wait to rest, my bro~ken bones and other injuries can be treated when I'm in repose later... But first, I suppose it a~ppropiate to contact the other candidates beside you. If o~nly due to the formality of it."

"…Betty must point out at every turn that said accent of yours is despicably annoying, in fact." Beatrice shook her head.

"GIDDYUP!" Otto exclaimed as he whipped Frufroo's reins.

*WHIP!*

"GHUAAAAAAHKGH!"

"Huh?" Subaru raised an eyebrow as he saw Otto's carriage depart. "Otto and the rest are already…"

"They went ahead to prepare things, Subaru." Emilia responded as Beatrice left her side, approaching Subaru with open arms. "If I must admit, I'm famished…"

"Ah, I see!" Subaru noted as he picked up Beatrice. "Perhaps they really needed the rest more than I thought."

*Hug!*

"If anyone needs a measure of respite, it is Betty's Subaru I suppose." The Great Spirit hugged the gladly surprised Subaru.

"Now, what's with YOU all of a sudden, eh?" The Avenger wondered. "You are getting awfully chummy with me now!"

"Hmph! Betty simply thought that Subaru needed the comfort of a big sister's hug, in fact. Nothing more." The Great Spirit haughtily explained.

"Big Sister?" Subaru looked confused at the notion. "If anything, shouldn't I be the big brother?"

"Oh please!" Beatrice immediately protested with a cute pout. "Betty has lived for quite a long time, in fact! Ten if not twenty of Subaru's lifetimes I suppose! Thus, the position of 'Older Sibling' falls squarely on Betty, not Betty's Subaru."

"…You know? Saying that while pouting like a six year-old isn't very convincing." Subaru teased with a smug grin.

"Mgrrrrr!" Beatrice clenched her teeth in frustration as her cheeks turned red.

"Now then, Su~baru-kun?" Roswaal announced, disrupting the adorable moment and disgruntling Subaru. "If you may…"

"Yeah, yeah…" Subaru grumbled as he looked at the Margrave with disdain. "*Sigh…* Follow me."

Within the shack of the ruined Mathers Mansion, Subaru and Emilia, alongside Roswaal and Beatrice, fiddled around with the machinery constructed by the Avenger in an attempt to communicate with the Royal Candidates in the Capital…

"Hmm…" Subaru grumbled with disappointment as he glared at a green plaque lying on his desk. "So it's a no-go, huh…"

"Subaru? What are you trying to do?" Beatrice noticed with an estranged face.

"I was…" The Avenger grabbed the plaque, disconnecting it from the cables it was attached to recently. "I was trying to reactivate Karen."

"Karen?" Said Emilia as she stared at the motherboard, perplexed by Subaru's words. "Is that…"

"So… Similar to how you can have Spirits inhabit certain pyroxenes, Emilia-tan, A.I.'s like Karen can reside on motherboards like this. I mean, apart from this thing, normally you'd also need an ABSURD amount of other stuff; like the Terabytes of RAM which the Iron Spider possessed, alongside the energy of the Mini-Arc Reactors to run the Power Servers that-"

"What would you need Ram for?" Emilia frowned in confusion, her head spinning as Subaru continued talking. "Rather, what is a Mini-Arc Reactor? Power Servers?"

"No, I don't need Ram for anything! I meant I'd need… You know what? It's a whole bunch of terminology that I'm afraid would sound weird if I stopped to explain each and every single one." Subaru shook his head tiredly. "Sorry… Nevertheless, the gist of it is that 'Karen's' consciousness is resting inside this thing right now, Ultron put her in there… She's kinda asleep."

"Subaru was trying to reactivate it, I suppose. Karen's situation would be similar to Bubby's current state, I suppose." Beatrice confirmed as she gazed into Emilia's blue crystal with longing, understanding some of Subaru's explanation due to the lessons on Earth the Avenger had previously imparted on her. "However, lacking most of those essentials the previous suit possessed…"

"Accompanied by the fact that Ultron's tech is so top of the line…" Subaru pocketed Karen's motherboard back into his bag. "I can't bring Karen back with the stuff in here. I need tech with a bit more of a 'kick' in all specs…"

"I'm sure this all must be frustrating for you…" Emilia lamented before she took notice of Subaru's words. "Wait… You said 'Ultron's' technology…"

"Yeah, Ultron's tech-"

"Ho~w did it ever come to happen that Ultron took Karen away, Subaru-kun?" Roswaal inquired with suspicion.

"…Ugh…" Subaru grumbled as he recollected the perturbing memory.

"Subaru…" Beatrice reassured.

"Subaru." Emilia reaffirmed her question. "When… Did you realize Ultron was approaching?"

"…When Emilia first took the Trials and I went into the Tomb to rescue her…" The Avenger explained with trouble. "That's when Ultron appeared."

"…He…" Emilia felt floored by the idea of what happened. "When I first… I was unconscious then…!"

"It was immediately after I passed my first Trial." Subaru continued. "While you were unconscious and still taking yours, and Ram, Garfiel and Otto were awaiting outside… Ultron teleported into the Tomb, ignoring all of Sanctuary's and Echidna's barriers, and snatched the Iron Spider alongside Karen…"

"WHAT?!" Roswaal shouted with indignation. "Some bastard… The Sanctuary?! Inside Teacher's Tomb?! Just like that?!"

"Ugh… I am just such a dunderhead…" Emilia's fists shook with anger as she imagined Subaru fighting for his life against a monster, all while she uselessly struggled at his feet with her own memories. "How shameful…!"

"Mother's resting place… Monster…" Beatrice, too, bellowed in vexation. "But how? If he entered the Tomb, then he should have faced a Trial, in fact-!"

"Well that's the thing; Ultron is not a living being." Subaru admitted, interrupting her panic. "Maybe… I should explain in detail once we contact the candidates…"

"And how is that going?" Emilia wondered with preoccupation.

*Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap!*

"With the satellite unburdened by Ultron's vigilance, I should be able to complete the call…" Subaru mumbled as he typed away on his makeshift computer. "In three, two, one… GO!"

Meanwhile, in the Kingdom's Royal Castle, specifically within the Throne Room…

*SLAM!*

"THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS, REINHARD!" Bordeaux Zellgef, one of Lugunica's elders, shouted furiously as he slammed his fists against the table.

"…" In response, the Sword Saint bowed his head nervously whilst kneeling.

"You ask us to obey the word of THAT third-party brat in regards to some 'phantom' invader?!" Bordeaux pointed to Subaru's letter in his hand with disdain. "The exact SAME brat that barged in here over a week ago to insult everything that this Kingdom stands for?!"

"Back then, Subaru just-" Reinhard attempted to rebuke, but it was no use.

"SILENCE!" The elder bellowed as most of the other elders around him nodded in approval. "You will speak only when told to speak, Reinhard!"

"…My apologies." Reinhard apologized with frustration.

"This moterf…!" The Royal Candidate supported by the Sword Saint, Felt, grumbled inaudibly as her face grew red.

"Tsk! Coming all the way here just to make a fool of himself?" Reinhard's father, Heinkel Astrea, huffed dejectedly as the elder berated the Sword Saint. "Might as well have kept the whole 'end of the world' bullshit to himself…"

"Oi!" Felt protested in response to the insult. "Ain'tcha Rein's father?! Believe in your son a little! Why are ya being so mean, huh?!"

"Cause the power finally reached his head, 'Felt-sama'." The man nonchalantly rolled his eyes, all the while speaking in a derogatory tone. "He's just looking for a scapegoat to-"

"Scapegoat for what, huh?!" Felt yelled wrathfully. "We are just tryin' to tell ya'll that a REAL big bad guy is coming to the Capital!"

"Under the instruction of a foreigner with unknown motives, Felt-sama." Marcos interrupted as everyone turned to look at the blonde girl's outburst with tired faces.

"Big Bro's motives are clear as crystal, grass-head!" Felt insulted the Royal Knight.

"Felt-sama, whilst I sympathize with your trust for the man that saved your life from the Bowel Hunter, the fact remains that his circumstances are rather dubious at best-" Marcos genuinely attempted to appease Felt's anger toward him, but it was to no avail.

"Oh, please! Ya are just suspicious of Big Bro because he ain't some uppity walking uniform like yourself!" Felt complained yet again, not holding back her tongue.

"…" Marcos felt displeased with the comment, being that he actually didn't dislike Felt as the majority of the council did. He was one of the few higher knights that did not look at the common folk with indifference, after all. "All I fear is that Natsuki may be manipulating you, Felt-sama."

"Just let Big Bro explain himself!" The blonde girl attempted to protest again.

"And may you not explain his intentions better yourself, candidate Felt?" Bordeaux glared at the girl with annoyance as he inquired. "Taking into account that HE is not here to do so?"

"Only if ya promise to stop yelling like a panickin' whore with a stick up her ass the moment I dump the info, moron." Felt mockingly affirmed as she glared back at the elder.

"Felt-sama-!" Reinhard turned to look at his liege with disbelief; her language when within the context of such a hallowed room was shocking, to say the least.

"WHY YOU-!" The mortified Bordeaux attempted to spew venom once more, but not before one of the elders stopped him mid-way through.

"…The council is all ears to what you may wish to bring forth for discussion, Felt-sama." Miklotov McMahon, another of the elders, nudged on more calmly than his fellow did.

"At last! Someone with a head on his shoulders!" Felt sighed with apparent relief as Miklotov acknowledged her word.

"…Damn gutter rat." Bordeaux clenched his teeth as he lied back down on his chair.

"…I'll pretend I didn't hear that, just this once!" Felt pointed to the indifferent man before looking back at the council. "But it is as ya'll read in Big Bro's letter; a villain from his world called 'Ultron' is coming here to wreck everyone's asses! We gotta build an army to-!"

"And you seriously expect us to believe a monster that can 'supposedly' manipulate the world to his leisure is coming here to kill us all?!" One of the elders pointed out.

"And to build an army like this… Do we even have a timeframe for this 'supposed' attack?!" Marcos sternly growled at the mention of a defense force.

"This is just another ruse from that brat Natsuki to stir up the pot!"

"Yeah!"

"How do we know he's not just some opportunist parading around as an otherworldly visitor?!" Bordeaux argued again.

"He seemed pretty upset about the previous demi-human war forty years back, how do we not know he isn't attempting to stage a revolt of some sort?!"

"I concur with that notion!"

"He's an instigator!"

"Oh, you fuckin' lot-!" Felt grew angered by the comments of the outraged elders, who were trying viciously to stick non-existent crimes on Subaru's name.

"Heh. Thought it'd end up like this." Heinkel chuckled smugly at his miserable-looking son's failure and Felt's wrath. "Enough of the farce, let's just go-"

"But Natsuki did indeed slay the White Whale, gentlemen." Miklotov interrupted the decadent hollering with a veridic truth.

"…" Marcos almost bit his tongue in surprise at the sudden defense, unable to refute it.

"Miklotov?" Bordeaux turned to look at his fellow elder with confusion.

"…Keh!" Heinkel turned his head away from the elder, disgruntled by the declaration.

"…" Reinhard just remained in silent awe; each time the achievement was even mentioned, he could not help but feel giddy about it.

"…Y-Yeah! That's right!" Felt smirked excitedly, nodding energetically as she remembered the news. "Big Bro slayed the White Whale! And after that, he-he slayed a Sin Archbishop too!"

"Not to mention that under his instruction, less than a week after said incidents, Knight Julius Juukulius fought and apprehended the vicious murderer nicknamed 'The Bowel Hunter'. Why, Reinhard here escorted her to the Prison Tower personally, immediately after Julius' arrival to the Capital." Miklotov continuously numbered Subaru's feats with a smirk as he caressed his long beard. "And if Reinhard's word is to be believed…"

"Subaru and Emilia-sama are currently engaging the Great Rabbit in Mathers' territory!" Reinhard beamed a brilliant smile toward the elder defending Subaru.

"Hrngh… That last one is still a supposition!" Bordeaux dismissed with exasperation.

"The point is that, Subaru Natsuki, the so-called hero 'Spider-Man', has successfully vanquished foes that the Kingdom was unable to slay; and not just in recent years mind you, but whole centuries, as it is in cases like the Whale and potentially the Rabbit." Miklotov explained with careful consideration. "Whilst his most recent warning sounds… Outlandishly cartoonish, to say the least, the man has done enough for the wellbeing of our Kingdom, as well as the safeguarding of our Royal Candidates, to guarantee that we hear his plea out. That is my personal take on the matter, gentlemen and Candidate Felt."

"…Hmph! Lenient as always, eh Miklotov? Or is this just some stratagem of yours?" Elder Bordeaux scoffed in complaint. "I'm not about to give the time of day to someone who isn't even here to begin with-!"

"EMERGENCY CALL! EMERGENCY CALL! EMERGENCY CALL!" A sudden computerized voice silenced Bordeaux's argument, disrupting the reunion.

"Uwaaa!" Felt shook her left wrist in alarm as the bracelet handed to her by Crusch the previous night had begun lighting up in many different spots. "What's going on?! What's going on?!"

"The metia… That voice is-!" Reinhard remembered Karen's voice from back when he first met Subaru.

"What is that?!"

"An Spirit?!"

"Candidate Felt!"

"Tsk! Won't you silence that devilish thing already?!" Bordeaux asked of Felt with anger.

"EMERGENCY CALL! EMERGENCY CALL! EMERGENCY CALL!" The bracelet continued blaring, irritating the other elders as well.

"Is this a game to you or something?!"

"Is this a prank you are playing with some unseen Spirit or jester?!"

"I-I'm trying to-!" Felt panicked as she pressed all of the lights in hopes of finding a button, not understanding the design of the apparatus as she had disregarded Priscilla and Anastasia's explanations.

*Click!*

*FWOOOM!*

"Ah-! Felt?! Is that you?!" As soon as Felt managed to find a button to properly press, a holographic screen appeared before the baffled candidate, the knights and the council. "So Crusch managed to give it to you then! That's good!"

"BIG BRO!" Felt shouted in awe.

"S-Subaru!" Reinhard smiled as well.

"This is…!" Bordeaux's eyes grew wide in astonishment at the technological marvel before him. Likewise, the rest of the council and Marcos followed suit in their stupefaction.

"A metia from another world!"

"A moving image in the air?!"

"No mirrors needed?!"

"Wait… isn't he in the Mathers territories?!"

"Just how far does THIS thing works?!"

"Keh! This is the brat, eh…" Heinkel glared at the image of Subaru with a complex mix of emotions swirling within him.

"Natsuki!" Marcos yelled sternly, regaining everyone's attention. "What exactly… Just what is the purpose behind your message?!"

"Yeah, about that… totally not funny story by the way, but-" Subaru attempted to answer the question, only for his speech to be interceded by the princess to his side.

"Ah! First! A-allow me to first inform the council of the events transpired just now in Mathers territory, Subaru!" Emilia announced with rosy cheeks, flustered by her accomplishment.

"Candidate Emilia?!" Bordeaux flinched as the half-elf appeared on-screen.

"Esteemed Council of Elders! I, Emilia, Royal Candidate to the Throne of the Dragon's Kingdom of Lugunica, would like to make an official announcement!" The girl smirked proudly as she boasted before the elders. "By hand of Margrave Mathers and myself, the Great Rabbit has been completely and utterly exterminated! The voracious horde of old is no more!"

"WHAT?!" One of the elders stood up, refusing to believe her testimony.

"Absurd!" Another backed as well.

"As if you could have done that!"

"The half-elf…!"

"How stupid must you think us to-?!"

"It is true~ in fact, my dear councilmen." Roswaal appeared from behind Emilia, his plethora of wounds alarming the elders.

"Roswaal…!" Marcos stiffened in surprise as he and the rest of the council witnessed the battered state Margrave. "Those wounds…"

"A bypro~duct of a hard-earned victory, Ma~rcos." Roswaal smirked, not noticing Subaru's petty glare looking in his direction.

"*Sigh…* While I hate to say it so… It is true that it was Emilia-tan and Roswaal that eliminated the Rabbit… I was mostly just there to act as bait." Subaru grumbled in discontent by the technicalities of the situation. Unnoticed by the council however, was how the silent Beatrice held his hand under camera's purview, hidden from the holographic display. "If you need proof, I can dig in the ice for one of the broken carcasses of the rabbits."

"I repeat my words, esteemed council! Under a layer of ice spells, the Margrave and I have successfully put down another of the Three Great Calamities for good!" Emilia continued pronouncing.

"About time you performed a duty worth mentioning, half-elf. At last, it might seem thou art finally taking the position assigned to you with some measure of seriousness." Priscilla's amused face appeared within a miniature screen in the upper right corner of the hologram, surprising everyone.

"Candidate Barielle?!" Marcos made a confused expression as the Vollachian spoke.

"Hmm… As someone that has engaged said calamity in the past and has witnessed firsthand the mayhem its mere existence posed, I surmise this as a rotund victory for the entire Kingdom, Emilia-dono." The satisfied face of Crusch appeared right below Priscilla's miniature, congratulating Emilia on a job well done.

"Crusch-sama!" Another elder flinched at the presence of the Duchess.

"And I'm good to assume that my little ones made the job easier, right?" Finally, just under Crusch's portrait, Anastasia's face appeared with a smug smirk. "Are Mimi and her brothers faring well, hm?"

"Apart from some scratches, they are rosy as peaches." Subaru affirmed. "We sent them ahead to Arlam so they could rest for a while."

"Good!" Anastasia nodded with relief. "Now then, to matters of a more… 'Strategic' nature. In regards to Ultron's arrival-"

"Hold on!" Bordeaux protested, much to the chagrin of the five Candidates. "Are all five of you out of your minds?!"

"Excuse me?" Crusch frowned in response to Miklotov's accusation.

"Now, that's not very nice! How dare you!" Anastasia groaned with a bored face.

"Are you looking for a beheading, elder? I did not know you were in a rush for your grave…" Priscilla teased with a disillusioned demeanor.

"Candidates! Please, take this seriously!" Bordeaux pleaded. "The fate of our Kingdom rests in the shoulders of you three-!"

"AHEM!" Felt mumbled loudly the moment the elder ignored her and Emilia. "You mean 'you FIVE', don't cha?!"

"Kuh!" Bordeaux glared at Felt as she accused him.

"Elder Bordeaux, please be reminded that the Insignias and the Dragon's Tablet both recognized five candidates." Emilia reprimanded as well. "I am quite aware of your distaste for my candidacy due to my race, but that is no excuse for you to act as though you were ignorant of it. It's unprofessional at best and at worst a disgrace to your title as one of Lugunica's pillars in these trying times."

"The gall-!" Bordeaux's face was beet red as he swallowed an irate scream, all whilst glaring into Emilia's amethyst eyes.

"Seriously…" A trickle of sweat rolled down Marcos' forehead at the proud proclamation of the half-elven princess.

"By the Od…" The other elders murmured with one another in shock of the elf's bold comeback.

"This woman…!"

"Half-devil acting as if…!"

"Tsk…!"

"Emilia-dono…" On the other hand, Crusch and the rest of the candidates were amazed by the change in attitude that Emilia exhibited after the defeat of the Great Rabbit.

"Mine goodness! One would doubt if the girl speaking before us at the moment was the exact same fool that stood here shivering just over a week ago! Haha!" Priscilla fanned herself excitedly as she found the debacle most hilarious.

"Wow… Just… Wow." Anastasia raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise.

"Damn! Big Sis!" Felt stared at Emilia's image with sparkles in her eyes.

"Oof…" Subaru mumbled, bewildered by the prominent presence of the girl beside him. "E-Emilia-tan is on fire today…"

"Hmm…" Even Roswaal was concerned by her changes. "Quite different indeed…"

"If there is a reason for a change in my demeanor, then I'd suppose the real culprit would be Subaru." Emilia turned to look at the boy beside her with a sincere and beautiful smile.

"Emilia-tan…" Subaru felt flattered at the idea before her choice of words dawned on him. "Hold on, why did you say 'culprit'? You talk about it as if it were a bad thing!"

"Teehehe!" Emilia chuckled at Subaru's distressed words.

"If this really came to be because of Natsuki's interference…" Miklotov smiled gladly, interested in the Avenger's capabilities. "Well then councilmen, I think it wise to heed the Royal Candidates' concerns and allow the so-called 'Spider-Man' to explain himself now. Who is willing to back said motion?"

"…"

"Mngh…"

"…"

"Kuh…"

"…Geh…"

Begrudgingly, realizing that all five Candidates to the Throne were clearly willing to back Subaru regardless of his dubiousness, the majority of the elders rose their hands in the air. They could not risk endangering their positions and the standings of their families before their potential rulers; one of these girls shall be their superior one day, whether they liked it or not.

"This is some…" Bordeaux sweated buckets as a sudden headache assaulted him.

"…" On the other hand, Marcos stood tall and judgmental of Subaru's next words.

"S-So… My turn to talk now, huh?" The hero awkwardly stepped to the forefront as the camera panned toward him. "Okay, okay… Umm… SO! Ultron is-!"

"Hold on!" The Royal Knights' Captain objected.

"Oh, come on! I haven't even started yet!" Spidey huffed.

"If you are just going to prattle about what we already gathered from your letter, then it is pointless to talk." The knight dismissed.

"…Uuuhhhhhhh…" Subaru paused for a few seconds.

"*Sigh…*" Priscilla shook her head in disappointment. "Begin from what WE do not know, mongrel."

"Oh! Yeah! I can do that!" Subaru rubbed the back of his head apologetically as Priscilla guided him. "Alright! Ultron is coming on Saturday night! Specifically? When the sun comes down!"

"Two days from now… At the end of Fire Time on Saturday…" Crusch put a finger to her chin, remaining pensive as she processed the information.

"I have a doubt." One of the council members raised his hand. "Your letter said this 'Ultron' possessed nigh unstoppable powers. How can you affirm this?"

"Have you fought the monster before, Natsuki?" Bordeaux asked with boredom, annoyed by Subaru's mere presence.

"I actually have, in fact." Subaru raised his right hand, showing off to everyone the scarred provoked by the Infinity Stones. "And I know of the power he wields from firsthand experience."

"…" Reinhard examined Subaru's hand closely within the image, nervous by the six circular burns that surrounded his knuckles and the center backhand.

"Oh, please!" One of the elders growled. "You mean to say YOU have survived such a brutal-sounding menace?!"

"It was a team effort, I'll admit." Subaru sighed as he reminisced. "I… I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the rest of the Avengers."

"Who?! The 'Avengers' or whatever? That a team of yours or something, eh?" Heinkel huffed with disinterest from the back.

"Heinkel…" Marcos raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Umm… Who are-?" Subaru found himself befuddled, ignoring who the man was.

"Go on then; call them then!" The irritated man interrupted Subaru, ordering him instead.

"…I'm trapped in this World, I cannot call the-"

"Then you talk lies." Heinkel scoffed with a derisive smirk as he produced an alcohol-filled canteen from his back pockets. "This is a waste of my time, waste of my LIFE. I'm leaving…"

*Creak~!*

"Ah-!" As Heinkel left the Throne Room, Reinhard attempted to reach a hand to no avail for the broken man. "Father…"

"…Awkward…" Subaru cringed, barely understanding what had happened as silence followed.

"…U-Um…" Emilia disrupted the aura in the room by raising a question for Subaru. "Subaru?"

"Yeah?" The Avenger gazed at her.

"I am… Well actually, I'm still a bit on the dark here when it comes to Ultron…"

"Ha!" Priscilla laughed the moment Emilia pronounced her ignorance. "Well look at thyself, half-elf! And here I thought you'd be more respectable at last… Were you so focused on some rodent you ignored everything else?!"

"…That was not my sole concern…" Emilia gave a quick side-glance to the smirking Roswaal before continuing. "But yes, I was. As you would surely know, fending off a Calamity is no easy task, Priscilla."

"*Cough-Cough!* Back to topic, however…!" Crusch interrupted the banter, feeling pressed for time. "Subaru-dono, please."

"Ah, thanks Crusch!" Subaru nodded with a surprised smile. "So, Ultron… Much like Karen, he is an Artificial Intelligence, A.I. for short. His army, as well as his own body, is made of Vibranium; Earth's most versatile metal. And Ultron's army is not like the ones you know; his soldiers do not tire. Even if you maim them or behead them, or even if you try to gut them, they are cold steel only. They won't rest until you utterly destroy them."

"An army of steel…" Emilia bit her lip, picturing an invasion of armored monsters already.

"But those are the least of our worries." Subaru spoke with dread, infecting everyone else with it as well. "The main source of trouble are the Infinity Stones here…"

"And WHAT exactly are these stones, young man?" Miklotov inquired. Even after reading the letter, he needed any bit of knowledge available to grasp the scope of the threat.

"So what I'm about to say is what I got from talking it over with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange and my mentor, Tony Stark, as we strategized on how to counter them." Subaru moved on to explain. "In the beginning of the Universe, when there was nothing but an empty void, an explosion commonly referred to as the 'Big Bang' occurred… And from said explosion, Six Elemental aspects of existence were born, concentrated into six gems that scattered across the newly formed stars."

"Hmph, bunch of…" Bordeaux shook his head as he whispered, not believing a word.

"Whoa…" Emilia sounded breath taken by his explanation. "I know you once showed me your mentor blow up beasts the size of the Whale before… But this sounds rea~lly amazing, Subaru…"

"The…"

"What?!"

"H-Hold on! Big Sis!" Felt shouted as Emilia ignored everyone's bafflement at such an off-handed statement. "What did you just say?!"

"Oh? About Subaru's mentor?" Emilia turned to look back at the confused group on-screen.

"Tony Stark, otherwise known as Iron Man, split a Chitauri Leviathan in two during the 'Battle of New York' back on Earth." Subaru explained in a prideful tone.

"Back when Subaru had access to Karen, before Ultron disrupted his technology, he showed me and Roswaal the 'recordings' of his homeland." Emilia attested to Subaru's technology.

"O-Oh!" The elders murmured to one another, awestruck.

"A monster the size of the Whale…"

"Incredible…"

"No, it has to be a ruse…!"

"I don't believe it…"

"Disregarding the accomplishments of a man WE DO NOT EVEN KNOW IS REAL…" Bordeaux cut the chatter off as he grumbled. "Natsuki, continue on with your 'Fairytale' of an excuse."

"I'll just assume you want me to continue talking, so I will." Subaru rolled his eyes at the clear offence of the elder. "Continuing with the Infinity Stones… It's pretty cut and dry, really: a single one of them is enough to destroy a world. All six? Universal-level devastation."

"Destroy a world…" Marcos growled silently, glaring at Subaru. "Just how absurd of a…!"

"Each Infinity Stone controls an aspect of everything that surrounds us. The Blue Stone, Space. Purple, Power. Red, Reality, Orange, Souls. Green, Time. Yellow, Mind." The Avenger numbered while signaling to his right hand again. "Having wielded them for but a few seconds myself in battle, I was able to attest for their might. As well as having some measure of understanding of them, even if not of their totality."

"You mean to tell us your scar was a product of using such absurd powers yourself?!" Miklotov sounded intrigued, if not fascinated.

"Using them WAS what flung me across the Universe and into your world, elder." Subaru affirmed with a nod. "I felled a most terrible enemy using the Stones… But the power was so absurd, the energies teleported me to an alleyway of your Capital."

"The alley in which we met." Emilia assured. "Back then, Subaru was covered in battle wounds…"

"Felt-sama and I can attest to that!" Reinhard advised as he looked at his liege for support.

"That's right!" Felt nodded furiously in agreement. "Big Bro was an ugly mess of nosebleeds and bruises when we met!"

"Honestly; I count my lucky stars the Stones didn't make me explode or launch me into space after using them…" Subaru sighed with relief, remembering his first day in the Kingdom.

"But now, those items are in the possession of a monster intent on destroying our World." The Duchess stressed.

"Correct…" The Avenger scowled towards the floor as the memory of Ultron decimating Roswaal and the Kingdom flashed through his head.

"Natsuki-kun." Anastasia spoke up, shaken from her pensive state after listening to the entirety of Subaru's explanation. "How do you propose we engage an enemy like this?"

"Doth thou have a plan, boy?" Priscilla wondered as well. "You ARE the one most experienced with the foe, after all. Surely, thyself possesses an idea on how to counter the menace if you've fought it off before, right?"

"I have one concrete suggestion. Even if it won't guarantee victory, it should give us an opening…" Subaru scratched his chin as a droplet of sweat rolled down his face.

"Trust in the soul."

You really are cryptic for NO reason other than to annoy me, you Witch…

"…" The words of Echidna echoed in Subaru's mind as an idea he could not yet reveal popped inside his head. "We need to create a stage for the fight, so we must evacuate the entirety of the Capital outside of the city."

"…"

"…"

"…"

The hall fell into silent confusion at those words.

"…Huh?" Marcos made a confused groan, breaking the quietude.

"An stage for an invasion?!"

"Empty the city?!"

"Are you serious?!"

"Is this guy nuts?!"

"Are you saying we USE the citizens as bait for an invading army?!" Marcos bellowed with genuine anger.

"Dammit, this is why I told you all this brat was no good!" Bordeaux huffed as he pointed at Subaru.

"WAIT!" Crusch sounded intrigued by the idea however, emitting a loud order as she wished to inquire more. "Natsuki… Continue!"

"Thank you, Crusch." Subaru thanked with a smug and confident smirk. "As I said, we must create a stage for the invasion: Let's empty the city by evacuating the entire Capital."

"And what then?! What after, huh?!" Bordeaux yelled wrathfully.

"Ultron's forces won't break down the City gates as you think; they will invade from above instead, descending upon us from a flying vessel in space… Specifically, from above the Royal Castle." Subaru pointed upwards. "His soldiers will fly and rain down on the Capital, destroying it… Their foremost command is to kill as many people as possible, so they'll target large congregations."

"So if we push all people outside of the city, or at least as far out as the Slums…" Crusch smirked with satisfaction.

"We can ensure zero civilian casualties as the inner layers of the city turn into a battlefield for our soldiers." Priscilla concluded with surprise. "My, my… It sounds simple, but in theory it works boy!"

"Then, we just need to fi~ll the Residential District with soldiers and mercenaries to co~mbat the invading army…" Roswaal caught onto Subaru's plan as a cunning smile appeared on his face. "While the Sword Saint himself enga~ges the main threat within the Market, Noble and Ro~yal districts. Ample space for a ma~tch between monsters, I assume."

Although that is not all I intend…

Subaru thought with a devious smile of his own, keeping quiet of his other hidden idea…

*SLAM!*

*SLAM!*

*SLAM!*

*CRRA~CK!*

"You…!" Bordeaux and some of the other elders stood up hastily, slamming their fists hard against the table underneath them and cracking it. "DO YOU EVEN REALIZE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?!"

"E-Elder, calm do-!" Reinhard attempted to appease the council members fruitlessly.

"HE'S TRYING TO TURN THE CAPITAL INTO A WARZONE!"

"NOT EVEN IN THE WORST DAYS OF THE DEMI-HUMAN WAR DID THAT HAPPEN!"

"JUST EXECUTE THIS BASTARD ALREADY!"

"…I'm afraid I agree with the youngster, my fellow councilmen." Miklotov spoke up again.

"HUH?!" Bordeaux glared at the bearded man. "Miklotov! Are you dementia-ridden already?! Or are you just that interested in treason, you senile old fool?!"

"I can assure you Bordeaux, my faculties are all there." Miklotov dismissed the insults with a sagely voice. "I am simply saying that the council lost this battle from the very beginning."

"H-How do you mean, elder?" Marcos asked with confusion.

"One of these maidens shall become our future ruler, yes?" Miklotov signaled to the hologram and Felt with an open palm. "If the otherworldly visitor already convinced them, then we have no choice BUT to obey their unanimous demand and deploy the Kingdom's armies."

"The only other option would be the gallows for treason, huh…" Marcos face palmed with frustration as he shook his head with defeat. "I was an idiot; this wasn't a debate meant for us to discredit Natsuki before the candidates, it was an ultimatum for us to obey… The decision was taken from the start!"

"…" Bordeaux almost bit his tongue off, as he understood his position. Likewise, the rest of the council members that were outraged by Subaru's statements sat down and shut up.

"We did call it a strategy meeting, mind ya!" Anastasia snickered. "My mercenaries and the followers of House Juukulius offer themselves ta cover the western outer rims, gentlemen!"

"My forces and men shall cover the south, then." Crusch announced, following the mauve merchant's proposal.

"And like the majestic rising sun of dawn, mine divinity shall set ablaze the east." Priscilla haughtily claimed.

"Then my forces, along with Felt's, shall guard the northern zone of the Residential District and the Slums." Emilia affirmed.

"Yeah! I'm followin' Big Sis ta battle!" Felt raised an eager fist.

"I wouldn't say I'm looking forward to seeing you in danger, Felt-sama…" Reinhard frowned, however. "This is not an everyday foe we are facing…"

"We members of the Emilia Camp, along wi~th the mercenaries lent to us by Anasta~sia-sama, shall arrive to the Capital on the very day of the inva~sion, however." Roswaal advised in advance. "We have wou~nds to be attended to first before we could se~rve as assets in the coming co~nflict."

"Acknowledged." Miklotov nodded as Roswaal finished.

"Just make sure to come, Margrave." Priscilla gestured with her fan to Roswaal on-screen. "You are the one currently housing the 'brains' behind this operation in the end. It would be pointless if the boy isn't there."

"…Then, the Royal Knights shall spread themselves across the Residential District in squadrons to assist the Candidates leading them into battle." Miklotov ordered to the Royal Knights' Captain. "Marcos? Instruct your men on the evacuation procedures immediately."

"…" Marcos stared at the elder for a few seconds before his vision drifted to Bordeaux.

"…" With a slight nod, accompanied by an infuriated glare toward Subaru, Bordeaux gave a silent order to Marcos.

"…It shall be done, elder." Marcos bowed respectfully.

"Everyone! You have your instructions laid clear! In two days' time, a calamity and his army shall descend upon us!" Crusch announced with a strong military presence.

"The number of soldiers itself does not matter, taking into account the enemy commander's powers." Priscilla continued, pointing out to Reinhard with her closed fan. "Thus, the real duty of the army shall be buying time for our own 'Powerhouse' to defeat Ultron before the Capital falls under siege."

"…" In response to the trust placed upon him by Subaru and the candidates, Reinhard gripped the sword by his hip tightly, his acute gaze growing focused on it. "I will not fail, I swear…"

"This is a battle for the survival of not just our Kingdom, but our world itself!" Emilia stressed with an equally commanding voice. "Be prepared to put everything on the line! And we promise to you, as Royal Candidates to the throne of our nation, the armies of Lugunica shall live to see dawn victorious!"

"YEAH!" Felt eagerly cheered, the confident aura radiated by Emilia on-screen filling her little body with bravado.

"You've heard the candidates…" Marcos grumbled as he walked towards the exit. "EVERYONE! MOVE OUT!"

A while later, during the afternoon after the extermination of the Great Rabbit, within a rundown house in Arlam…

"Ugh…" Subaru held back a relaxed moan as he lied down on a hastily put-together bed. "That feels MUCH better… Beako's healing magic is the best… I can feel my broken tooth regrow…"

"Of course it is the best, I suppose." Beatrice puffed her chest proudly, sitting on a stool beside the bed. "Betty's Subaru can rely on Betty to always nurse him back to health, in fact."

"Hehe…" Subaru chuckled.

"What is it, I wonder?"

"Nothing… It's just…" The boy looked the Great Spirit with sincere gratitude. "You really did a 180° on your attitude towards me…"

"B-Betty apologizes for pointing Minyas at Subaru beforehand, in fact…" Beatrice bowed down her head apologetically.

*Pat!*

"Ah~, I'm not mad about that at all, Beako… I think it's nice." The hero patted her head gently. "I was being an ass back then anyways."

"Hmm…" Beatrice pouted at the language. "Betty's Subaru might be insufferable, but he is not in fact an 'ass'."

"I'd rather you didn't say such a filthy word, Beako…" Subaru grumbled with disappointment. "But then again, that one's on me for teaching you to say nasty stuff…"

"Hmph! Then Betty's Subaru better apologize by hugging Betty lots afterward, I suppose." Beatrice smirked mischievously, as if she had won the lottery.

"Yeah, yeah… After a good nap…" Subaru hugged the bed's pillow tightly, his eyes blinking lazily as he fell prey to Morpheus' arms. "*Yawn~!* Hey, Beako…?"

"Hmm? What is it Subaru?"

"I have to fix my suit tomorrow…" Subaru slurred almost unintelligibly. "Can you… Help…"

"Subaru…?" The Great Spirit said the boy's name, but he did not respond.

"…" Subaru fell asleep, his face looking quite peaceful for the first time in months.

"…Of course Betty shall help you fix your equipment, in fact." Beatrice smirked as she cupped the unconscious Subaru's cheek in her tiny hand, gently pinching it. "You promised Betty would be too busy to feel lonely after all, you bad boy."

*Creak~…*

"Subaru? Dinner is almost ready. Are you-?" Emilia entered the room, wondering about the Avenger.

"Shh! Shh!" Beatrice glared at the girl as she pointed to Subaru on the bed urgently.

"Ah…" Emilia covered her mouth in surprise.

"Betty's Subaru has already gone to sleep, girlie." Beatrice huffed in murmurs.

"Oh… He must be rea~lly tired then." The half-elf lamented in whispers.

"Although… Betty wouldn't be surprised if Betty's Subaru was actually pretending to be asleep in order to avoid the pink maird's horrid cooking, I suppose." Beatrice commented.

"Hehe! Seriously…" Emilia giggled in response to the joke. However, as she stared at the sleeping hero, she frowned once more. "…Subaru rea~lly was a mess of wounds, huh?"

"You tease as if you weren't an emotional one yourself." Beatrice glared pettily after Emilia's comment. "Your hands shuddered all throughout the call, yet you kept quiet about it. Didn't you decide you would show Betty's Subaru your weaknesses as well? What was that whole show during the meeting with the Candidates then, I wonder?"

"Saying and doing right away is still a bit…" Emilia gazed away from the Spirit, feeling embarrassed. "I-I promised to show Subaru, yes, but he wasn't the only one there! I remind you-"

"Hmph! So the half-elf can tell a little lie too, eh Bubby?" Beatrice glanced at the crystal dangling from Emilia's collar. "Which reminds Betty…"

"Hmm?" The half-elf looked back towards Beatrice as the Great Spirit looked at her intensely. "Beatrice…? Is there something on my face?"

"…" Beatrice pondered on the words left behind by Puck, wondering if the reaction of the half-elf would wake up the tired Subaru. In the end, however, she decided to tell her anyways. "…Bubby left a message for his daughter-figure, in fact."

"A message… From Puck?" Emilia held the pyroxene with worry. "*Sigh…* Mo~! What did Puck do this time around?"

"To quote Bubby's exact words…" Beatrice stood up, facing Emilia completely now. "'Subaru is a swell guy, but I don't like him! I REAAAAAAAAAALLY do not like him! He's a wolf in sheep's clothing, if I've ever seen one!'"

"Puck…" Emilia shook her head with disappointment. "Just what were you-?"

"Betty is not finished yet with Bubby's message, in fact." Beatrice interrupted. "Learn to listen to your elders properly, girlie."

"M-My apo- Er, I mean, thanks for the correction, Beatrice."

"As for the last part of the message…" Beatrice continued then. "'If he ever tells you he loves you, just know I love you a billion times more!' …That's it, I suppose."

"…" Emilia froze in place, her eyes fixed on the sleeping Subaru; the hero was blissfully unaware of the shock coursing through the girl at the moment.

"…Half-elf? Girlie?" Beatrice mumbled, disturbed by Emilia's surprised state as she gazed at the sleeping Subaru ominously. "Are you-?"

"EH?! LOVE?! WHY LOVE?! I-I MEAN, ME?! AND SUBARU?! HUH?! HE- HE WOULDN'T-!" Emilia blushed in confusion. "I-I mean-! Subaru doesn't love me! Hmm! He doesn't! Why would Puck say such a thing?! Is he joking?! Yes! Geez! He must be joking! Seriously, that Puck rea~lly is such a prankster! What a nincompoop! Sheesh! I mean, Subaru would have to be a simpleton to fall in love with me of all people! Hmm! Yes, he doesn't-!"

"Maybe he doesn't love you, but Betty does not condone you calling her contractor a 'simpleton' just because you are embarrassed, half-elf." Beatrice growled with annoyance as Emilia made rapid, unthoughtful excuses.

"Ah! I see now!" Emilia nodded as she came to a hurried conclusion. "Puck meant to say as a friend! Hmm! So Subaru loves me as a friend, huh…?"

"No, no. If Bubby spoke about Betty's Subaru's love, I am quite sure he meant to say a more 'romantic' connotation of the word, in fact. As couples of lovers do, I suppose." Beatrice denied the claims vehemently. "Betty surmises Bubby was worried that Subaru was in love with you, precisely because he has performed the impossible in order to save you time and time again, half-elf."

"…Eh?"

"Think about it a little, in fact!" Beatrice grumbled whilst rolling her eyes. "Would someone REALLY go out of his way to slay calamities and Sin Archbishops just to save a 'friend'?"

"Bu-But that was just because Subaru is a hero…" The elf justified meekly.

"So is the Sword Saint, yet you don't see him making an enemy of nobles and merchants just to support and save a friend, right?" Beatrice made a disillusioned face before the excuses. "Then again, Betty's Subaru is just a genuinely good person in his heart. Betty's personal theory is that Bubby is simply confused, I suppose."

"…B-But I do-do-do not quite understand all that, Beako! You are sending me mixed messages!" Emilia worried further nevertheless, her heart troubled on whether she should believe Beatrice's theory or Puck's affirmation. "I-I mean… Err… What does it even mean to 'love' someone in the first place?!"

"…Why would you ask that of Betty, I suppose?" Beatrice felt weirded out by Emilia's questions.

"Because I do not understand what 'loving' someone romantically… might… mean…" The half-elf mumbled almost inaudibly. "I-I-I-I mean, isn't love what impulses couples t-to kiss and make babies?!"

"…" It was now Beatrice's turn to freeze in shock at such words. "…What did you just say?"

"That couples in love k-kiss to make babies!" Emilia yelped, red as a tomato. "Is that the kind of 'love' Puck is worried about?! Because I-I-I don't think Subaru would li-like to k-k-k-kiss someone like me…"

"…" The Great Spirit's knees wobbled with every word spouted by the candidate; Emilia's ignorance was so absurd yet spoken with such assurance, that it made her question reality for a few seconds. "In fact, Betty thinks there are some other issues to solve here than just your 'ideas' of love, half-elf…"

*Grab!*

"Huh?!" Emilia wondered with abashment as Beatrice held her hand. "Beako?! Where are we going?!"

"To where that Frederica maid is currently at, I suppose." Beatrice affirmed, irked by the entire conversation. "You are delving into topics Betty cares not to explain herself, I suppose… Moreover, your desperate yells and squeals are not only testing Betty's patience, but testing Betty's Subaru's sleep as well."

"…Isn't that just admitting you are passing the problem onto Frederica because I exhaust you, Beako?" Emilia wondered all of a sudden.

"WHOSE PROBLEM IS THIS TO BEGIN WITH YOU IGNORAMUS?! AND WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU CAN CALL BETTY BEAKO, IN FACT?! THAT IS BETTY'S SUBARU'S CUTE NICKNAME FOR BETTY, NOT YOURS!" Beatrice squealed as Emilia questioned her again. "ENOUGH QUESTIONS! GET OUT!

"Mooo~m… Turn down the volume…" Subaru complained groggily as he dazed between dreams and the waking world.

"He woke up?!" The still red Emilia flinched as she heard the Avenger's voice.

"See?! You are disturbing Subaru's sleep, half-elf!" Beatrice murmured with irritation.

"But you are the one that-!" Emilia attempted to quip back uselessly.

"Mo~m…" Another drowsy moan followed.

"Out with you! Out!" Beatrice dragged the still confused Emilia out of the room in-between Subaru's sleepy moans.

The next day…

"Hmngh…" Subaru grumbled as he and Beatrice walked hand in hand towards the shack, his mind drifting elsewhere.

"What is it, Subaru?" Beatrice noted with displeasure her contractor's troubled face.

"I-I'm just thinking, Beako…" Subaru grumbled with exhaustion. "Didn't Emilia-tan seem kinda… Distant this morning?"

"…"

"I mean… When I woke up today, her face was so red I thought for sure someone had dropped red paint over her… Her ears even reminded me of strawberries." Subaru explained with a confused expression.

"Hmm…"

"Not only that, when I passed Emilia the ham during breakfast she went all 'Uwaaaa!' when our hands touched, and then she went and hid her face behind her hands… Is she actually feverish or something? Maybe I pushed her too hard with the whole Rabbit ordeal… Although, Frederica and Roswaal wouldn't stop sneakily giggling their faces off at the sight. It pissed me off a bit, I won't lie. I didn't expect Frederica to laugh at Emilia."

"I wouldn't worry about it, I suppose…" Remembering how Frederica spent the entirety of last night teaching the 'birds and the bees' to a very, absurdly embarrassed Emilia, Beatrice simply kept her thoughts on the matter to herself. "Bubby really was a prankster…"

"…" With a monotonous face, Ram observed the distant conversation from under the village's entrance. "Is Emilia-sama genuinely considering Barusu something worth fussing over sexually now? As if it wasn't enough with cute little Rem… *Sigh…* What a twisted world we live in nowadays…"

"Ra~m." Roswaal called for the maid's assistance from behind. "A moment of your attention, plea~se?"

"Roswaal-sama…" The oni maid turned to look at her master with surprise, only just noticing his presence.

"Oh my, you seem rattled by my appearance, my dear Ra~m." Roswaal pointed out with amusement. "Is there something uncomfo~rtable in my face today, hmm?"

"Not at all, Roswaal-sama." Ram apologized profusely. "Ram did not mean to offend you in any way."

"Yes, I know that." Roswaal reassured, understanding her real intention.

"I simply… Ram wondered as to why you haven't returned to bed still." The maid spoke with worry as her master's disheveled state was obvious even through clean clothes.

"Ah… You mean my ba~ttle wounds." Roswaal pointed to the many patches plastered over his face and forearms. "Whilst Garfiel was ki~nd enough to heal my broken bones amidst his to~rrent of insults, I am afraid he refu~sed to treat my burns and other bruises."

"Tsk… I suppose he must still feel quite irritated…" Ram scoffed bitterly.

"We~ll, he does make a point; he hea~led my most grievous injuries already and anything else I should just 'power through like a proper man'…" The Margrave smirked as he remembered Garfiel's order. "…"

"Is something else on your mind, Roswaal-sama?" The maid wondered again.

"I was just thinking if we'll have another day like this in the near future…" Roswaal grumbled as he dropped his accent.

"Roswaal-sama…"

"If what Subaru-kun speaks of is true, then even the might of Reinhard could potentially fail against our future foe…" Roswaal stared melancholically into the sky, in the direction of the Capital. "But if we do indeed come out victorious… I shall be put to trial for treason regardless under the pressure of Subaru-kun's new influence over the Candidates and the testimony of the Iron Fang mercenaries…"

"But if that happens-!" Ram sounded alarmed as she attempted to protest.

"Emilia-sama will lose her standing in the Selection without any backing, and the hopes of my dream coming to fruition will forever crumble…" Roswaal cut Ram off as he continued talking. "Ram?"

"Yes, Roswaal-sama?"

"You said that you love me; that you do not wish for me to become an empty shell… right?"

"…Yes."

"Good… If your desire and mine are to remain intact, or at least possess a sliver of hope…" The Margrave produced an envelope from his jacket's inner pocket. "I want you to send this letter via pigeon to the Miload Manor, posthaste if possible."

"Miload… Annerose-sama, is that right?" Ram inquired. "But for what-?"

"To ensure Emilia-sama's future, and thus, my dream's last hope…" Roswaal assured. "Annerose and Clind will know what to do thereafter…"

As Emilia's group finally rested properly, most of their wounds recovered and their fatigue at its lowest possible, the night of departure towards the Capital finally arrived…

"Everyone ready?!" Subaru asked from atop a luxurious carriage pulled by Patrasche, where Emilia, himself, Ram, Beatrice and Roswaal rode on.

"Everybody ready here, Natsuki-san!" Otto gave a confident thumbs up to his friend from his carriage's driver's seat; inside it awaiting Frederica, Garfiel, Mimi, Tivey and Hetaro.

"Subaru-sama!" Petra called from the side of the carriage, the entirety of Arlam and Meili congregated behind her. "T-Take care! Please, come back safely!"

"I have my lucky charm right here, Petra!" Subaru raised his fist in the air, tied around it Petra's white handkerchief. "Don't worry, I'll return for sure after saving the world! You'll see!"

"I seriously think Onii-san has lost his ma~rbles; end of the world… Hah…" Meili tiredly rolled her eyes as she whispered through her teeth.

"Don't think I didn't hear that!" Subaru pointed to the assassin.

"G-geep!" Meili yelped in surprise as the hero managed to catch her careless mumbles. "Grr…"

"Make sure to take care of Meili, Petra-chan." Frederica gently reminded from Otto's carriage. "She has to eat properly, not just meat and nuts."

"Like Frederica says, make sure she reads and writes properly." Subaru teased. "I want a bookworm to welcome me by the time I'm back, Meili!"

"You do understand that I can just call some mabeasts and escape from this place, right?!" Meili protested, to which everyone in the village just frowned. "Maybe I can make them tra~mple on you all in Onii-san's absence…"

"It's sort of troubling that you still hold the idea of escaping…" Subaru sighed tiredly.

"Don't worry, Subaru!" The brothers, Dyne and Cain, reassured the Avenger. "Everyone in the village will make sure to keep Meili in check!"

"Huh?" Meili turned to look at the loud boys with disgust.

"Yeah! She won't go anywhere unchecked until you return, Subaru-sama!" One of the adults assured as well.

"We'll make sure to care for her properly, Subaru-sama." Milde, the elder of the village, accompanied too. "Meili-chan might be a rambunctious kid right now, but we won't give up on her."

"…" Meili found herself surprised by the eager reactions of the villagers to taking care of her.

"It takes a village, eh…" Subaru smirked. "See that Meili? Arlam does care a bit about you. Even if you threaten the villagers again, it won't have any effect when they know you are just a lonely brat at the end of it all."

"I-I'm not lonely! I'm-!" Meili blushed in slight embarrassment as everyone simply smiled kindly at her. "I'm serious! I'm not just some puppy for you all! Oi! Take my threats seriously!"

"Ha! Meili?! Your façade of ruthlessness is falling apart!" Subaru chuckled with joy.

"Seriously though… Thanks for all your support everyone. I'm rea~lly sorry for all the trouble we have caused for you, taking care of us when you are already busy as it is. However, I promise both Subaru and myself shall return to help you fix everything else left once we have performed our duty!" Emilia opened the window of the carriage, overlooking all the smiling villagers directly as she expressed her utmost gratitude.

*WHIP!*

"GUAAAAGH!"

"KUAAAAA!" Patrasche and Frufroo roared as Subaru and Otto whipped the reins. Immediately after, the carriages moved forward and left the village behind.

"FAREWELL! SUBARU-SAMA!" The many villagers shouted with glee.

"SAFE TRAVE~LS! FREDERICA-NEESAMA! SUBARU-SAMA!" Petra encouraged from beside the annoyed Meili.

"GOOD LUCK! EMILIA-SAMA!"

"THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING! SUBARU-SAMA!"

"SEE YOU SOON! EMILIA-SAMA!"

"…SEE YOU ALL SOON!" Subaru shouted back with a smile.

"I'm a bit sa~d that no one bid me a personal farewe~ll." Roswaal commented with a neutral smile. "I AM the lord of these la~nds after all."

"I get the impression they just didn't like you that much, if under your administration their village was decimated." Subaru answered pettily, ignoring Ram's glare.

"Need you be reminded, Barusu, that your reckless fighting style is what produced the most damage upon those villagers livelihoods?" The maid deadpanned immediately as Subaru finished speaking. "So commit seppuku as a means to ask forgiveness, Bug-rusu. Pardon… I meant to say Bug-Man."

"Don't ask me to lay down my life when I'm the one driving this carriage!" Subaru complained pitifully. "More like; respect my hero name! Don't confuse it with that curse word you use as a nickname for me! It's Spider-Man! S-P-I-D-E-R-HYPHEN-M-A-N!"

"Eh?! But Bug-Man is so much more accurate!" Ram sounded genuinely shocked as she mocked Subaru.

"OI!"

"Ah… Maybe…" The maid pondered for a few seconds with a concerned face. "So you mean to say… My apologies, Barusu…"

"Oh?" Subaru felt slightly worried when Ram began apologizing to him in a meek voice. "I-Is Ram finally-?"

"Your real sexual deviant villain alias was Bug-Man-Child all along, right? My most sincere apologies for the confusion…"

"FOR THE LOVE OF-!"

"…Hehe!" Emilia giggled at the interaction with amusement.

"You seem chirpy, girlie." Beatrice noted. "You've been for the past couple of days, in fact. It's a tad odd considering the direness of our situation…"

"I must say, I think so too as we~ll, Emilia-sama." Roswaal interjected. "Are you ignoring your nervousness yet again?"

"No, it's not that Roswaal… It's just that- When faced with such a grandiose menace as the one we are tackling, I wager anyone would feel nervous… And I am nervous; I can say that for sure." Emilia admitted with reluctance. "But… With Subaru and everyone else by my side…"

"…" Roswaal and Beatrice turned to look at the bantering pair of Ram and Subaru.

"I don't feel like losing anymore." Emilia defiantly claimed.

"…" Roswaal was left to think on those words. "I don't 'feel' like losing… Huh?"

Thus…

Finally…

Over half a day later…

As the group of the Emilia Camp arrived to the Capital, a few hours before the Calamity scheduled descent…

*PUSH!*

"WHAT'S GOING ON?!" A man shouted in anger as the knights shoved him towards a mass of people congregated around the edge of the city, in the slums.

"OI! ANSWER US!" Another man complained as he was pushed as well.

"…" The knights remained silent, a stoic façade displayed on their faces as they faced the mob.

"-HEY!"

"-ANSWER US!"

"THIS IS RIDICULOUS!"

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!"

"I WANT TO GO HOME-!"

"-YOU CANNOT DO THIS TO ME!"

"DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!"

"WE ARE NOBLES, OD BE DAMNED-!"

"-WE ARE MERCHANTS, ASSHOLE!"

"YOU CAN'T JUST THROW US AGAINST THE MASSES!"

"ARE YOU LOT INSANE?!"

"YOU CANNOT GROUP ME WITH THIS TRASH!"

"WHO ARE YA CALLIN' TRASH, YA SHITHEAD?!"

"SLUMDWELLING PIECES OF-!"

"FUCK OFF!"

"IS THIS A REVOLT?!"

"-WE ARE NOT CATTLE, DAMMIT!"

"I'LL KILL YOU, YOU 'NOBLE' FUCK-!"

"-RETURN ME HOME RIGHT NOW!"

"HEY!"

"MY BROTHER WORKS FOR THE CANDIDATES! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!"

"-THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!"

"MOMMY~!"

"-AN EXPLANATION FOR THIS MADNESS! NOW!"

"Hrngh…" As the yells, protests and discontent filled the air, one of the knights containing the mob groaned. "This plan is insane… Can we really trust that foreigner's word?"

"Hey, it's the Candidates' decision to trust him. Best we can do is just obey."

"And I'm saying: Didn't he just scam them or something?!"

"Who knows?! It's not our job!"

"Well, I don't want to do something this stupid anymore! It's the entire population of the Capital we have grouped here! A melting pot ready to explode!"

"Look, I get you, but-!"

"It won't be long until they start to kill one another…!"

"…And it's all that 'Spider-Man's' fault…"

"Hey!" Kadomon perked up as he overheard the knights' argument. "What did ya just say?!"

"…" The knights did not answer.

"My family and I were hounded out of our fruit stall by you guys outta nowhere! Ya said this is Spider-Man's fault?!" The fruit vendor found himself confused by the statement. "That's ridiculous! That's the boy that slayed the Whale and Sloth, right?!"

"Dear…" Raksha, his wife, tugged on his jacket with preoccupation. "The crowd is scaring Plum…"

"Hmm…" Their daughter, Plum, was on the verge of tears as she tightly hugged her Spider-Man plush for comfort. "Daddy… I'm scared…"

"Agh…" Kadomon grumbled.

"Hmph! This is all that idiot's fault." The knight finally answered Kadomon's question as he glared at the doll on the girl's arms, regaining the vendor's attention.

"Eh?!"

"That brat… He said there's a flying army about to invade the Capital from above the Royal Castle, so we had to evacuate everyone from the inner city to avoid civilian casualties…" The knight explained.

"Oi! Hush!" His fellow knight warned with a nervous face.

"I'm not shutting up about it, it's ridiculous!" The knight continued protesting. "I mean, think about it! If an army really was coming, wouldn't we at least have seen it's main bulk in the distance already?!"

"…Ugh. I can't… I can't argue with that…"

"An invading army… From above?" Kadomon stared toward the Castle in the distance with nervousness. "Kid… Just what's going on…?"

"MAKE WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" A teenager shouted so loudly, the mob of people actually scattered away from the main road in fear.

*SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEET!*

*ZOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

"WOAH!" One of the knights shouted in surprise as two carriages blitzed right through the entrance gate to the city.

"MOVE! MOVE!"

"HOLY MOTHER OF-!"

"GYAAAH-!"

"LOOK AT THE ROAD, ASSHOLES!" As the carriages left, advancing onto the Residential District, a man from the mob shouted with disdain.

"H-Hey…" The knight Kadomon had been talking to recently pointed to one of the carriages. "Wasn't that emblem Lord Mathers'?"

Returning to Subaru and company…

*SKREEEEEET!*

"KUAAAAAAA!" Patrasche roared as the carriage came to a halt.

"Good girl!" Subaru complimented the ground dragon by scratching her snout energetically.

"Kuuuu~!" The dragon purred with satisfaction, much like a cat.

*Crea~k!*

"Subaru!" Emilia disembarked the carriage quickly, followed closely behind by Roswaal, Ram and Beatrice.

"Yeah! I know!" The Avenger acknowledged. "There's a blockade up front! That must be the main army!"

"Haha!" Garfiel roared as he disembarked from Otto's carriage. "So my amazin' self's stage has finally been laid down, eh?! This battle will go down in da annals o' history!"

"You are not the one that will fight the greater foe, Garf." Frederica reproached as she descended behind him.

"Boss-bro!" Mimi shouted. "Otto here said that he'll be taking Mimi and her brothers to the western blockade, where Ricardo and Julius are!"

"Yeah! You do that, Otto!" Subaru commanded.

"I-I'll be back as soon as possible, Natsuki-san!" Otto squealed as he whipped Frufroo's reins again. "Let's go!"

*WHIP!*

"GUAAAAAAGH!"

"See ya later! Brotto!" Garfiel waved goodbye at the departing carriage. "Alright Princess! Cap'n! Where's the melee at?!"

"It's not here yet, Garf." Ram dispiritedly huffed. "Did you not pay any attention to Roswaal-sama's explanations?"

"For the moment, we should o~rganize ourselves with the soldiers in waiting." Roswaal pointed to the blockade of knights in front of the road leading to the Market District, all of them looking at Emilia expectantly. "We are unfortunately the la~st ones to arrive onto the battlefield, so we are pre~ssed for time for surveying the fo~rces."

"Roswaal is right, Garfiel." Emilia nodded, acknowledging the Margrave's concern. "Marcos himself, the Captain of the Royal Knights, seems to be waiting up ahead; we shouldn't dawdle about any longer."

"A'ight then!" Garfiel smirked confidently as he glanced at the green haired commander gazing at his group some twenty meters ahead. "Tell ya what, Cap'n! I'll race ya ta grass-head over there! Loser's rotten Banassi guts!"

*Dash!*

"Garfiel? You are disturbing Emilia-sama's-" Frederica tried to chastise again, but her brother got the better of her as he ran away. "H-Hey! Garf! Wait up!"

"Seriously… This kid is way too excited…" Ram shook her head with exasperation.

"Oi, oi. This isn't a playground Garf…" Subaru advised fruitlessly as he picked up Beatrice and rushed behind the blonde boy.

"What a pointlessly annoying feline, I suppose." Beatrice shook her head at the antics of the half-beast boy.

*Dash!*

*PUSH!*

"Oi?! What gives?!" Garfiel growled in anger as the knights pushed him aside and began encircling Subaru and Beatrice behind him. "Ya wanna go, fucker?!"

"Marcos?!" Emilia angrily asked in confusion of the Royal Knights' Captain as she approached behind Subaru. "What is going on?! What are you doing?!"

"Emilia-sama… This brat has overstepped in affairs of the Kingdom time and time again! Disrupting public order with this little stunt here is not short of treason!" Marcos shouted at Subaru as he and his knights blocked the way.

"Not to mention the nobi~lity's credence, Marcos?" Roswaal added, proving the knight's stance.

"…So you understand too, Roswaal." Marcos responded hastily.

"The nobility?" Emilia remarked without understanding.

"Under the threat advised by Su~baru-kun, the nobility must had been evacuated quite ha~stily alongside the common folk, Emilia-sama. We ba~rely had two days to organize ourselves…" Roswaal explained pensively.

"So all the people that were bundled together by the outer circle, near the slums…" Frederica concluded in surprise.

"So they managed to evacuate everyone properly… That's good." Subaru smiled, ignoring the nervous and angry glances of the knights surrounding him.

"Noble and commoner alike, thrown together like cattle because of some miscreant's whims!" Marcos continued bellowing. "You understand the position that places us knights, right?!"

"I understand that your higher-ups might have put pressure on you, thinking that I'm manipulating the Royal Candidates into some sort of revolt Marco-Polo." Subaru looked back at the Captain with relief. "I'm sorry I've caused this much of a disturbance, but at least this ensures the city itself is empty. Well, apart from the soldiers and mercenaries blockading the Residential District that is."

"Marco…Polo?" Marcos was confused for a second by the nickname given to him by the Avenger, but regaining his composure, he shouted at him once more. "Just what are you getting at?! Evacuating the entirety of Lugunica's Capital… There is nothing but mass panic birthed from such a choice!"

"Seriously! How troubling and noisy you lot are in fact…" Beatrice huffed with annoyance after allowing the knight's rant.

"And who, pray tell, are you supposed to be?" The equally annoyed Marcos asked in exhaustion.

"Betty is Subaru's Betty, I suppose." Matter-of-factly and proudly, confusing the knights further.

"B-Be… Huh?"

"…Who?"

"U- A child…"

"That doesn't explain any-!"

"Beatrice is a Great Spirit of Yin I've recently contracted with." Subaru smirked as he patted the little girl's head. "She's here to save us all, you see."

"Great Spirit?!" The knights that had been complaining previously shook in place, their surprise skyrocketing.

"A Great… Spirit?" Marcos had to rub his temples as the headache assaulting him reached its peak.

"Hmph! People have not an ounce of respect in this city…" Beatrice shook her head in disappointment. "Betty's Subaru told your Royal Candidates and Council of Elders already, didn't he? That there is an imminent danger coming to the Capital? So make way, in fact. The longer we waste time discussing here, the less we'll have to organize a proper defense."

"U-Uh…" Some of the knights, respectful as they were of the beings known as Great Spirits, began moving aside for Subaru with shame.

"…" But Marcos, in the awkward position imposed on him by the upper chaste of Lugunica, could not afford to simply bow down and obey so easily. "ENOUGH!"

*SHWIIING!*

"Subaru Natsuki!" Marcos exclaimed with ire as he unsheathed his blade, pointing it at the hero.

"C-Captain?!" The knights looked at their superior with surprise as they moved onto reaching for their own weapons. "Err-!"

*SHWING!*

*SHWING!*

*SHWING!*

"These fuckers-!" Garfiel growled in irritation, baring his fangs at the knights who blindly followed Marcos act and drew their swords at Subaru as well.

"So you are willing to risk your life for this, Marcos…" Roswaal raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Must be a real pro~blem for your position that Su~baru-kun does what he wants so daringly, eh?"

*SWOOOOOSH~!*

"Marcos! Sheathe your blade at once!" Emilia protested wrathfully as the air around her grew colder sporadically. "You and all of your knights! Right now!"

"My apologies, Emilia-sama." Marcos simply dismissed her concerns as he glared directly into Subaru's eyes, not noticing however his men's fear for the half-elf. "I have a duty, and said duty implies seeing this ruffian apprehended posthaste!"

"You lowly-!" Beatrice angrily raised her hand, summoning her own Minyas.

*KRA-SHINK!*

*KRA-SHINK!*

"Emilia, Beako, Marcos…! This is not a wise idea-!" Subaru attempted to explain to deaf ears as everyone threatened each other.

"Silence! You will speak not another word!" The knight denied his advice completely. "Subaru Natsuki! By the authority conferred to me by the late Royal Family and Elder Bordeaux of the Council of Elders, I, Marcos Gildark, hereby place you under arrest-!"

"SO I SEE YOU'VE GATHERED YOUR ARMY, AVENGER."

"?!" Everyone froze in place, falling into a brief silence as an all-encompassing voice rung across the land.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Did- Did you just hear that-?"

"Like inside my head…"

"Huh?"

"What the hell…?"

"A voice?" Emilia asked whilst she turned her head around, scanning the surroundings in confusion.

"Subaru?" Beatrice noticed how Subaru's grip on her tiny hand tightened slightly, cluing her into the seriousness of the situation through the alarm displayed by her contractor.

"He's here!" Subaru mumbled as his Spider-Sense yelled at him inside his head. It was impossible for him to mistake that voice, after all…

"…Natsuki, is this your-?" Catching Subaru's reaction with frustration, Marcos attempted to inquire. However, it was to no avail, as a figure suddenly covered the stars and moonlight in the night sky, replacing suspicions with dread.

*FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

Turning around slowly…

Looking upwards…

Above the Royal Castle…

Floating above them all…

Staring directly at Subaru…

Gasps of surprise and aghast expressions followed alike…

"…WHAT?!"

"GOOD LORD!"

"ARE YOU ALL SEEING THAT?!"

"BY THE OD!"

"IS-IS THIS A DREAM?!"

"NIGHTMARE, YOU MEAN!"

"WHAT EVEN-?!"

"MY-!"

"DRAGON BE DAMNED…!"

"KYAAAAAAAA!"

"THE HELL?!"

"HOLY-!"

"A-A-A-A-A-A-!"

"OH SHIT! IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE!"

"MOTHER OF-!"

"MO-MOMMY~!"

"NA-NA-NATSUKI! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"

Marcos, alongside the entirety of Lugunica, witnessed in absurd shock a titanic red face in the sky speak to Subaru.

"Holy sh…!" Garfiel almost fell backwards as he witnessed the metallic monstrosity over the Capital.

"By the Od…!" Frederica, too, shuddered before the impossible visage.

"…?!" Roswaal scowled, realizing finally that Subaru's claims were no mere machinations to see his downfall nor were they the ramblings of a madman.

"The machine…!" Beatrice scowled in anger as she witnessed at last the reason behind her contractor's distress.

"Su-Subaru!" Emilia turned to look at the Avenger anxiously. "Is that-?!"

*Shove!*

"ULTRON!" Subaru bellowed as he shoved Marcos out of the way, glaring back at the machine scowling down at him.

"THE TIME HAS COME…" Ultron smirked as he continued speaking to everyone present simultaneously. "FOR THE END AT LAST."

AUTHOR'S NOTES

So… My grandmother passed away.

I really have nothing but appreciation for everyone's condolences for my dog's passing, as well as all the support I received about my grandmother. Much like the last chapter, I write mostly as a hobby to distract myself, so it's been a great pastime considering my recent circumstances. However, I will think about taking a break (An actual hiatus) before moving onto the next Story Arc once I finish this one.

About the chapter itself… Not much I can say I'm afraid, except that at last Ultron has arrived! Next up, the battle to protect the Kingdom of Lugunica and the universe begins at last!

Smell ya'll later!