"huh?"
/What the hell? What is this? /
Just a moment earlier, she had been with Rem and Subaru, staring down a giant beast. Now she was back in the capital.
/ What is going on? /
Ram opened the door hesistantly. She didn't understand what was happening. She was sure she had died, but this didn't seem like the afterlife. She walked down the stairs slowly, still expecting to wake up in front of Puck. But she didn't wake up.
She entered the lobby of the hotel, and through the open doorway, she could see Roswaal and Emilia, sat down eating breakfast. Ram's eyes widened. Here was Emilia. Ram had seen her die... yet she sat here, looking unbothered by what had just happened.
"Emilia-sama! Are you alright, you...you..." Ram was speaking loudly, but stopped when she saw Emilia was fine. The half-elf had a confused look on her face, not understanding Ram's concern.
"Ram? What's the matter? Yes, I'm fine..." Emilia's face had gone from befuddled to concerned, Ram looked quite shaken. Ram just stood there for a moment, looking down at her friend and her boss casually having breakfast together.
The way they were sitting. What they were eating. The people aroud them. Ram was getting a massive sense of deja-vu.
/ This is the morning right before Roswaal leaves. What is happening? /
She let out a quiet 'excuse me' and quickly walked out of the hotel. If what she thought might be happening was correct, then there was a way to check. She headed down to a busy roundabout just down the road. It was lined with busy shops and vendors. Some people were crowded around the daily notice board. She shoved her way through the crowd, she needed to get a better look. There it was. The date. If she wasn't dreaming, then somehow...
/ I've gone back in time. Or maybe, I've had a vision of the future somehow. / she thought to herself. A vision of the future...
Ram stood like a statue among the crowd, trying to rationalize what had just happened to her.
/ That wasn't a dream, or a hallucination. That was real. If I'm to trust my senses then... I've gone back in time. /
And if that was the case then...
/ There is going to be an attack by the witch cult. /
For some reason, she remembered what Rem had told her a few minutes ago. "We'll do it together...". The way she had said that, it didn't sound like she was scared. It sounded hopeful.
/ I don't understand. /
Ram put those thoughts out of her mind. She walked back towards the hotel, and she saw Roswaal standing in front of the building.
"Ram. I'll be leaving nowwww. Pleaseeee, take care of the princess for me."
"Wait!" Ram responded instinctively. "Roswaal-sama, you cannot leave yet."
"Hmmmm. What's wrong Ram." Roswaal looked confused.
"It's the mansion, I have a bad feeling about it. Please, cancel your arrangements, and let's go back with Emilia-sama."
There was a look of surprise on Roswaal's face. / Does she know? /
Suddenly, Roswaal had a very scary expression. "Ram. Did you read my book?" He asked simply.
Ram had to be cautious. The way Roswaal looked, Ram thought that one wrong move might actually kill her.
"No Roswaal-sama. I just... I just know. I know that the witch cult is going to attack." Ram had given up on trying to explain herself, the story was too ridiculous.
"Ram. Did Subaru tell you about this?" The odd voice he usually spoke in couldn't be heard.
/ Subaru... Him and Rem were the ones who knew about the witch cult in the first place. This is connected. / Ram's eyes widened. / How did Subaru know? /
"No, Subaru didn't tell me." Ram lied. "It's just a feeling. A really strong feeling." Somehow, she felt that if she had said yes, it would have been over.
Roswaal looked Ram up and down a few times. He had an unreadable expression. /Subaruuuu, using my own pawn against me are you? /
Roswaal smiled at Ram. Subaru was completing his task of defeating the witch cult diligently. Somehow, he had even managed to get Ram as an ally.
/ This is promising. I may be the Roswaal who lives. /
"I seee..." Roswaal's usual way of talking was back. "Well, if that's it then I'm afraid I still must gooooo."
"Wait, you're still leavin-" Before Ram could finish her sentence, Roswaal had blasted into the air with incredible speed. The blowback from his takeoff blew dust into Ram's eyes.
/ Why did he go? Roswaal-sama would no doubt trust me. / Ram's mind was working in overdrive. / He knows that Subaru knows about the witch cult. And the way he left so casually... / The clues started to coalese in Ram's mind. / Is it possible that master is leaving it, because he knows that it won't be a problem... Because he knows that Subaru... / She thought back to how Rem had pleaded to go back to the mansion with her. / Not just Subaru. Subaru and my sister will come get me to fight Betelgeuse. /
Ram was confused. Regardless, she decided to trust in what she had just experienced. / There's no that wasn't real. /
With that, she made her way back to the room, and saw Emilia getting ready.
/ We'll do it... together! / Rem's words rang out like a bell in her mind. The maid felt that she had to get back to the mansion. She looked to the girl in front of her...
"Emilia-sama." Ram slowly knelt in front of the girl. The greatest sign of respect in this world.
"Ehhhh Ram, what is it?" Emilia asked her, surprised at the gesture.
"I must urge you to come back with me to the mansion at once. I fear everyone there, and in the village, is in grave danger." Ram had to convince the girl in front of her.
"I saw it with my Clairvoyance." She lied. "There are witch cultists preparing to attack."
"I don't believe it." Emilia looked a bit scared at the mention of the witch cult. "Is that really true?"
"Yes. I'm certain of it. If we don't hurry back, my sister and Barusu... they'll be annihilated." The last part of her sentenced was spoken quietly.
Emilia turned to a book on her desk. It was her calendar. She flicked through it, seeing that her itinerary was packed. Today, there were several important events planned. She looked back at Ram.
/ Still... This is more important. / The way her maid was acting left little doubt in Emilia's mind. If Ram was so convinced, than Emilia had to believe her.
"Alright. Ram, I'm trusting you. What do we do?"
*Scene Break*
The room was silent for a minute. They both just sat there, shaking off the panic. There was no crying this time though. Surprisingly, being flash-frozen had been the least painful death so far.
"I love you too." Those words broke the silence between them. Rem squeezed his arm.
Subaru looked at Rem, who still looked a bit dazed. He could see a faint blue glow being emitted from her forehead.
"Rem, your forehead. It's lighting up." Subaru said.
"It's my sister... I can't tell what, but she's feeling some strong emotion." Rem responded.
The sensation of hugging Ram still clung to Subaru. It hadn't even been a minute. / Ram. I tried to bring her back. This strong emotion... Is she looping with us now? /
"That didn't happen last time... Rem, do you think she still remembers?" he asked quickly.
"Rem can't be sure but... Rem thinks that it is likely." Rem said this with her eyes closed, trying to tune in with the emotions she was receiving.
Subaru laid back on the bed. It was all too much. He needed a moment to rest. Rem must have been feeling the same way, as she wordlessly layed back on top of him. He put his arms around her, closing his eyes.
"That's good. If Ram knows, that could buy us a lot of time." he remarked. He felt Rem nod in agreement.
Subaru just relaxed for a while, and he felt a sense of gratitude. He reflected that this was a good save point. It was calming to just sit with Rem after being traumatized.
Some time passed, and the contact with Rem made Subaru feel revitalized. He was more determined than ever to stop this disaster. He had learned a lot in the last loop, so this time...
/ I'm sure I can do it. I'm going to save them. All of them. / He thought to himself.
"Rem. I want to talk to Beatrice. She might know how to defeat that guy." Who he was referring to was obvious.
"Mmmm." She murmured the affirmative. "If we have faith that sister will return, then you should do that." she stated.
Rem continued "In the meantime, Rem will evacuate the villagers. Rem sees that this won't be as quick a battle as we thought."
Subaru tried to get up, but Rem's weight stopped him.
"Just stay with Rem here, she isn't ready to get back into it. Not yet." Rem's eyes were still closed as she said this.
Subaru smiled, then let out a yawn.
/ Maybe just a few more minutes then. /
He closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
Some time passed.
Rem finally lifted herself from the sleeping boy. She could see that he needed some rest. They had been awake for 2 days now, and going non-stop the whole time.
"Talk to Beatrice-sama when you wake up." She whispered. "Rem will take care of the rest."
Rem got dressed and left the room. Walking a familiar trail down to the village. When she got there she could people setting up their stalls for the day, heading out into the fields, and walking to their stations. Rem went to the center square, and stood up on the podium that was there.
"Attention!" She yelled out. The villagers turned to face her. "I have been informed that witch cultists have been spotted in the area, and there is reason to believe they will target Arlem."
Rem spoke emphatically, lest anyone take her lightly.
"By the authority given to me by Roswaal L. Mathers, the lord of this land, I must ask you all to evacuate with me to his residence."
"What's this all about!" A villager asked. Rem could hear the annoyance in his voice.
"It is as I have said. You must gather everyone right now, and we will go to the estate." She pointed at the mansion. "There, the great spirit Beatrice will be able to protect everyone."
Maybe it was a bit presumptous of Rem to assume that, but she had full faith in Subaru. She knew the words "great spirit" would get the attention of the villagers.
"Great spirit..." "Protect us, from what?" "I don't think she's joking..." A crowd had gathered around the maid, and she could hear their mumbling.
In the crowd, she spotted Muramusa, the town elder and defacto mayor. She got off the podium and walked towards the senior gentleman.
"Muramusa." She curtsied. "Rem has it on good authority that an attack is imminent. Please help in gathering the villagers. Once everyone is accounted for, we can depart for the mansion."
The elder seemed to inspect Rem for a moment, before giving a smile. "I see... This does sound quite serious. Tell me though, is evacuating really necessary? Some of our men here can also fight."
"It is absolutely necessary." Rem interjected. "You may think you're strong, but against the cult, you will all die." Rem said this with such certainty that it shocked the village head.
"I see..." Muramusa took his turn to stand on the podium.
He spoke out loudly to the crowd "You heard her. If the margrave is offering us protection in his mansion, then as loyal subjects, we had better take him up on it!"
Whispers could be heard among all the villagers, but they seemed to trust their leader.
"Assemble everyone here, and we shall depart promptly." He finished.
The order was given out, and although it took a few hours, the villagers in their homes and at their work were all collected, and brought to the plaza. Once everyone one was accounted for, the march back to the manor started.
Rem stood at the back of the group, once again on the trail, but this time with all the villagers in tow. In front of her, there was a group of kids. But there was one girl standing alone, like an invisible wall divided her from the rest. This was...
"Meili?" Rem called out.
The girl turned around to face Rem. "Onee-san?" A look of unease creeped onto the little girl's face.
Rem hadn't thought about it much, but it had been Meili who caused the mabeast incident. / How did I forget? This girl is dangerous. But... /
Rem pulled the girl to her side, giving her a stern look.
"It looks like you never got punished for what you did." The comment seemed to have an effect on Meili, who knew what was coming.
"No! Onee-san, it wasn't me!" Meili looked as if she were about to cry. "That doggie was controlling me! I didn't think it was dangerous!"
"Don't lie to me little girl. Rem-Rem might be nice, but she isn't stupid." Rem grabbed Meili above her hand, and pulled her aside from the group. They stopped walking.
"I know it was you who let in the mabeasts." She said seriously.
"No! No! It wasn't me! I promise! WAahhaa!" Meili was throwing an absolute tantrum.
/ She is just a child in the end... / Rem thought to herself.
Still, Rem was angry at her. "Don't contradict me!" She wagged her finger at Meili. "When we get back to the mansion you are going to apologize to everyone, you understand!"
"I'm sorry! I'm Sorryyy!" Meili could barely blurt out an apology over her crying.
"In the meantime, be honest with Rem... Can you control the ulgarms?" Rem asked her.
"No no I can't, I can't..." she protested.
"I said to be honest! Now you will tell Rem or there will be consequences!" Rem scolded her. Rem remembered how it had played out, and Meili had definitely summoned the dogs.
"Okay! Okay! I'm sorry. I can talk to the doggies, so let me go!" Meili tried to remove her hand, but Rem's grip was ironclad.
"Stop struggling Meili. For now you're going to be staying with Rem." Rem dragged the girl forwards, who fought back kicking and screaming.
By the time they got to the mansion though, the girl had tuckered herself out. Her eyes were darkened to where you could see she had been crying, and her face was downcast.
"Now Meili you are going to stay with Rem here." She pointed at a couch in the main room. "And when Subaru-kun comes back, you are going to apologize, okay?"
"Yes Rem-Rem." Meili sniffled, she had given up. "Meili will say sorry."
* Scene break *
Subaru stood outside the door for a moment. Mentally rehearsing what he was going to say. He put his hand against the door. He hesistated. He opened it.
"Why are you so shacken I suppose?" Beatrice asked him this as soon as he entered the library.
"Beatrice..." Subaru said.
"Yes what is it? Betty doesn't want to read to you now."
"No, Beatrice. That's not it. It's something else..." Subaru's voice was a little hoarse. This made Beatrice look up at him. She could see he was upset.
"Do you know about the witch cultist known as Betelgeuse?" He asked her directly.
"Betelgeuse... Betty knows the name I suppose. He is another artificial spirit, like Betty. He can possess people's bodies, and they act as a host." She responded.
"An artificial spirit? No way..." Subaru thought back to the villager who attacked Emilia. "Then he must've been possessed."
/ But how do I defeat him then? If he can just go into someone else? /
"Beatrice, you have to believe me. Betelgeuse is going to attack us, how can he be defeated?" he asked her pleadingly.
Beatrice looked intensely at Subaru. Closing the book she held in her hands.
"Yin magic, that's sufficiently advanced, could destroy an evil spirit I suppose." she responded.
"Yin magic..." Subaru remembered that Beatrice was a practicioner of Yin magic. She had told him about it the day he brought Rem to the library - although that hadn't technically happened.
"Beatrice, you use Yin magic, don't you."
"Guhh." Beatrice let out a sound of surprise. "I do I suppose." She tried to play it off cool.
They both knew where this conversation was going.
"Beatrice, help me. I'm powerless to stop him by myself. I need you." Subaru extended an arm to Beatrice. "Please."
Beatrice looked conflicted. Unsure whether or not to grasp Subaru in return.
"Beatrice must protect the forbidden library, and the mansion by extension. If an evil spirit were to arrive here, Betty would have to deal with it swiftly and without mercy I suppose." She didn't grab onto Subaru, but that response was good enough.
Subaru grabbed Beatrice and twirled her above him. "Beatrice! Beatrice! Thank you! Beatrice!"
"Let me go I suppose!" Beatrice blasted him, and Subaru fell onto his butt with a loud thump.
Subaru chuckled. "I guess that's my fault. Isn't it Beatrice?"
"Everything is your fault I suppose!" Beatrice said, annoyed.
"I deserved that..." Subaru looked at her, "But when the times comes tomorrow, I'm going to be relying on you Beatrice! So please prepare yourself." Subaru got up and bowed towards the spirit.
"Betty is always prepared. I take the contract very seriously I suppose." She smirked.
"After this is all over, I'll owe you one. So think about what you want." He told her.
"What Betty wants..." This comment seemed to catch her off guard.
Subaru gave her a bright smile and a thumbs up. "Yup! Whatever you want."
/ What does Betty want? / She thought to herself. She looked down at her book.
With that, Subaru left the library, smiling to himself.
/ This time, you'll stay dead Betelgeuse. /
He came downstairs to see all the villagers assembled in the main hall. There must have been nearly 300 people standing shoulder to shoulder. In the corner of his eye he saw a flash of blue. / Rem. /
He walked towards her, and saw she was sitting with a little girl with blue hair. / Meili... Isn't she... /
"Rem!" Subaru waved and called out to her.
"Subaru-kun!" Subaru approached the two sitting girls.
"Subaru-kun, Rem doesn't know if you remember this girl, but she has something she'd like to say." Rem looked at the girl. "Meili?" She asked leadingly.
"...i'm sri..." Her voice was pathetically quiet.
"Say it louder. So he can hear it." Rem told her.
"I'm sorry!" she yelled out, she had started crying again. "Big sis said I had to put the doggies on you! I'm sorry you got hurt."
Subaru recognized what was going on. He remembered Meili had been the one who had summoned those dogs. Rem must have found her in the village and brought her to apologize.
/Technically, she's responsible for me dying. Twice. / he thought himself. / Still, when it's just a little girl, it's hard to stay upset. /
"Meili. You could of hurt a lot of people, not just me. That's no good." Subaru was trying to scold her, but he was failing miserably. Even if she had killed him, he didn't have the heart to tell off a child.
"Subaru-kun. Rem was thinking that to make it up to us, Meili might be able to help us tommorrow." Rem said. "Meili can control all of the ulgarms in the forest. Quite convenient, don't you think?"
Subaru put on a surprised look. Rem walked up closer to Subaru. "Rem doesn't want to bring Meili into this either, but her ability could help us. A lot. Rem promises to keep her in the mansion, with everyone else."
Subaru sighed. When it came to fighting, Rem had a higher IQ than him.
"Just make sure she doesn't get hurt. If she does, I'll feel terrible." He responded. He didn't know if it was right to involve a kid, but Rem was right. Meili could probably take care of all the cultists herself. Except for Betelgeuse, obviously. And they needed every advantage they could get.
Meili just looked up at the two adults talking. She was surprised. She had expected a beating, but the black-haired boy in front of her, Su-su, was just smiling at her.
"You're funny Su-su." She had brightened up now. All the fear she had felt with Rem left her body. "Such a weirdo." She teased him.
"Now Rem... we should discuss a plan." Subaru started walking upstairs, trying to get somewhere quiet to talk. Rem and Meili followed him. They had much to discuss.
* Scene Break *
The sun had set, and it was night now. Rem and Subaru were staring out the window, when they saw a carriage ride up towards the mansion. The one steering was a familiar girl with pink-hair. It was the person they had been waiting for - Ram.
They went downstairs to greet her. Ram had brought Emilia with her, as well as a blonde woman Subaru didn't recognize.
"That's Frederica. She used to be a maid at the mansion, but she left a bit before you arrived." Rem told him.
The girl's sharp teeth freaked Subaru out when he saw her at first, but she seemed nice enough, so Subaru got used to it quickly.
After greetings were exchanged, Ram turned towards them. "Sister, Barusu." She had a serious expression. "I need to speak to both of you. Now."
Rem and Subaru brought her to the kitchen. They had a pretty good idea of what she wanted to talk about, so this had to be private.
Once they entered, the questioning started.
"Tell me you two. Do you remember what happened to Emilia?" Ram asked, crossing her arms.
Rem and Subaru nodded their heads. "She was killed by an unseen hand, and then Puck came out." Subaru answered her.
"So then you remember Barusu." She looked at Rem. "And sister too, by the looks of it. I... really did go back in time, didn't I?"
Rem answered her. "We all did. If Rem is being honest, this is not the first time she has gone back in time either."
"Not the first time!? You're kidding me." Ram's eyes were as wide as saucers.
"No. That was the uhhh..." Rem counted on her hand, holding up all her fingers but her thumb. "The fourth time that Rem has gone back with Subaru-kun."
"Four times?" / Just what kind of power is this? /
Subaru, seemingly reading her mind, answered her question. "It's called return by death. Every time I die, I get sent back a few days, to do it again." He paused for a moment. "I have a theory, that physical contact during my death can allow me to bring others back too. That's what was happening with Rem, so I figured I might be able to bring you back too. It looks like it worked."
"Such a power... Even Roswaal-sama couldn't hope to match it..." Ram was shocked. but continued nonetheless. "So return by death... That's how you knew about Betelgeuse last time, isn't it? Subaru had already been killed by him."
"That's correct. But if everything goes to plan tommorrow, I shouldn't have to reset again." Subaru answered her.
Ram took a moment to digest all the information Subaru had given her. She turned back to face Rem.
"Rem, when we first met Subaru, and you started crying... That was a reset too wasn't it? You were crying because he had died." All the pieces were starting to fall into place for Ram.
"That's right. Rem and Subaru had known each other for almost two weeks before we ever technically met." Rem said.
"And that's how Barusu got you into bed so quickly!" Ram realized aloud.
Rem started blushing profusely. "Sister, it wasn't that quick..." she said quietly.
"Ahhhh. It all makes sense to me now! I knew my sister wasn't some kind of slut!" Ram was just teasing now. Rem turned even redder.
"Sister, that's not funny!" Rem protested.
Subaru decided to stop this, before Rem exploded with embarrassment. "In any case, Ram is all up to speed." He turned to Ram "Now we can talk about what happends next."
Rem, Ram and Subaru discussed the plan. If they did this right, it would be the end for Betelgeuse.
* Scene Break *
Subaru was in the cave for the third time. Just outside, Ram was hidden, waiting for him. It was the next day now, and the afternoon had just started. Right on queue, Betelgeuse entered.
"It's good to see you Betelgeuse." Subaru said those words for the second time now.
"Tell me boy. Who might you be."
Subaru introduced himself as pride. Once again, Betelgeuse did not require much convincing. He ordered away his guards and Subaru was left alone with the archbishop.
"So your Gospel... Where is it Betelgeuse?" He asked casually.
Betelgeuse wrapped his arms around himself and violently frisked his own body. He reached into is cloak, and pulled out a book.
"Why, here it is pride-san. The Gospel! My Gospel! The proof of Love!" Betelgeuse screamed.
"Very good." / Easyyyy boy. / "Now, before I can give you this message from the witch, I need to check something alright? Can I take a look at your Gospel?" Subaru asked politely. He did not want to trigger the man in front of him.
Betelgeuse gave him a suspicious looked, but still acquiesced.
Before Betelgeuse could even say anything, Subaru snatched it and sprinted towards the exit.
"Wait! Where are you going! My Gospel!" Betelgeuse began to chase after him.
Subaru couldn't afford to say anything. He had to move quickly.
He could see the daylight shining as he made his way outside.
"Ram! Let's go!" he yelled out.
Ram burst out from the bushes, and began running with Subaru. Before they could get far though, Subaru spotted Betelgeuse, flying above them, and catching up quickly.
/ No way... Is he riding those things? / Subaru saw that giant unseen hands were carrying Geuse through the air.
Suddenly, three of the purple arms exploded towards them.
"He's attacking!"
"Clairvoyance!" Ram shouted. Subaru vision went a bit red, and he turned his face to see the arms fast approaching.
"Fula!" Wind shot out from the girl standing beside him, destroying two of the hands. Subaru managed to dodge the third one before it crashed into the ground.
The forest was difficult terrain to traverse, especially running, but they couldn't stop.
/ I can't afford to slip up! Ram... No... Everyone is counting on me! / Subaru continued to run wildly towards the mansion.
Two more arms blasted towards them. "Ram! On your left!". Without even turning to look, Ram swung her arm behind her. Another wind blade emerged and sliced one arm, but the other arm managed to hit its target. The fingers of the unseen hand slammed into Subaru's shoulder, and he felt a sharp pain as the invisible force dug five new holes into him.
"AHhh!" The pain was immense.
"Keep going Barusu! We'll be there soon!" Ram encouraged him.
Subaru had to concentrate on the arms behind him, as well as the ground in front of him. If he messed either of those things up... / Not good! / He gritted his teeth.
/ If I fail now, if don't have the resolve... Then all of it would be for nothing! / An image of Rem smiling flashed through his mind.
He wouldn't let him. He wouldn't let Betelgeuse do whatever he wanted. He would stop him. Right here, right now, in this loop.
He could see the mansion emerging on the horizon ahead of them. The forest around them was thinning out. They were getting closer.
Betelgeuse let out a final, desperate attack. Five arms, in all directions, burst forth from him.
"Dodge!" Subaru shouted.
The arms slammed all around them, Subaru and Ram felt the ground shake beneath them as Betelgeuse's authority connected with the earth. He swiftly skirted around the five arms as they attempted to surround him. He saw one connect with Ram on her back, but she didn't slow down. Wind magic manifested itself from her, shielding her body from the worst of the damage. Still, Subaru could see blood oozing from where she had been hit.
/ Almost there... / Subaru could see his friend's faces coming into view.
He took a deep breath.
"MEILI DO IT!" He screamed at the top of his lungs.
A few hundred meters away, Meili nodded.
"Okay." She raised her arms to form a 'V'. "Doggies! You can come out now! It's chow time!" She yelled out.
The whole forest erupted with the sound of howling, soon followed by the sound of screams. The ulgarms had been sent into a frenzy, attacking anything that moved - notably, witch cultists. The witch's smell made them even more delectable prey. Betelgeuse's guard was being torn apart, literally limb by limb.
Subaru and Ram finally reached the mansion, Betelgeuse hot on their tail. Beside them, Rem, Emilia, Meili and Beatrice were all assembled.
"We need time! Emilia, Barrier!" Subaru ordered.
"Hai! EL HYUMA!" Emilia shouted. A massive ice barrier, nearly as tall as the mansion itself, erupted out from the ground.
Betelgeuse slammed into it, like a bird flying into a window. He tumbled off his hands, and fell to the ground unceremoniously.
In the meantime, Rem had started her meditation, her horn fully on display. Ram turned around to face their assailant, with a red aura enveloping her.
"Beatrice!" Subaru squatted down and pointed to his back.
"This is stupid, I suppose!" She said.
"Just do it!" Subaru retorted.
Beatrice let out a quiet 'I can't believe this' but walked to Subaru's back, and sat on his shoulders.
"Sorry about the blood, Beako." He apologized.
"It's fine, I suppos- What did you call me?"
"Beako. It's like a nickname for Beatrice." Subaru said happilly.
Beatrice just punched him a little on the top of his head.
"Okay Emilia! Your job is to protect Rem. Me, Ram and Beatrice will take care of the rest."
"Yessir!" Emilia gave a salute.
Betelgeuse was now standing again. Suddenly, twenty unseen hands appeared behind. The way they fanned out behind him reminded Subaru of a peacock's tail. The unseen hands all slammed into the barrier, destroying it.
/ This is it... /
The ballerina of death shot out at Betelgeuse. Innumerable unseen hands rushed towards her, but Ram swiftly avoided them. She tore through each and every one with medical precision.
"How can you see it!? No one must see it!" Betelgeuse raged.
"It's all over for you now you cultist! All your friends are dead, and I'm going to kill you!" Ram screamed at him. The bloodlust in her voice was palpable.
"It's just like Barusu said. This is what you get, you psycho!"
Ram ran towards him at incredible speed, running past each new unseen hand as it collided with the ground behind her. You could see the path she had run, as the unseen hands dug out the dirt from her trail.
Subaru looked at Rem. Rem was actually taking all the blowback from this power, and he could see her getting paler, and a sweat had broken out on her face.
Subaru had to end this, quickly.
"Hey Geuse! Look over here."
"Huh?"
Subaru held up Betelgeuse's notebook. The words "THE END" had been spelled out in large font, using Subaru's blood.
Subaru threw the book as far could, it landed some distance away from the archbishop of sloth.
"This is it! Guard me, Ram!"
Subaru rushed in as Betelgeuse tried to get his book, taking advantage of the distraction. Ram followed him pace for pace.
A slew of purple arms were cast towards him, but the wind blade from beside him cut them all.
Subaru closed the distance. Two more unseen hands burst out from Betelgeuse. Subaru caught them himself, holding one in each hand, struggling with all his strength to hang on to them.
"Beatrice! NOW!"
"AL LAZMA!"
Beatrice held her arms out in front of her, forming a diamond shape by touching both her hands together. A bright purple lazer shot out from that space, and penetrated through Betelgeuse as if he were air.
"It's not possible! MY DILIGENCE!" Betelgeuse snarled.
The area around where he had been shot started to turn black. This blackness soon spread from there, and Betelgeuse's body began to turn to ash.
"MY FINGERS! MY FINGERS! WHERE ARE THEY!" He cried out painfully.
"By now, they've all been turned to dog food, hate to break it to ya." Subaru's gaze turned cold. "This is the end, Betelgeuse."
Before he could fully disintegrate, Subaru made sure to kick him in the teeth, as hard as he could. He smiled when he saw a gushing trail of blood burst out.
"I told you, didn't I?"
That was the last thing he ever heard. Betelgeuse Romanee-conti had been defeated.