"...Scheme 343 complete," chimed a mechanical monotone from Morty's eyepatch as he struck with a torrential slash.

The ground shook violently as a terrifying explosion tore through the halls of the royal castle in the kingdom of Lagunica. Dust and debris flew everywhere, turning the elegant room into a chaotic scene of destruction and dread.

This is it—the battle that shall decide the kingdom's fate hangs in the balance.

"Haven't you had enough? I highly suggest you yield, for I do not wish to resort to drastic measures,"

Amidst the obliteration of the royal castle, Reinhard stood. Tables and chairs scattered around him like broken bones, but he steeled himself.

In his right hand, he held the legendary Dragon Sword. The sword seemed to vibrate with a blue residual energy, causing a faint tremor to run up his arm. It was the aftershock of a terrifying attack that had sucked the mana from the surrounding area.

"Fancy trick, huh? Cute even, I'll give you that." Morty replied with a grin

Despite being struck by the Sword Saint's devastating attack and thrown across the hall, the boy up quickly. "But you know, this isn't even hurting me, right?" His previously pristine white clothes are now stained and dirty. But he showed no signs of pain or stress on his face, remaining stoic and calm even amid the massive crater and destruction surrounding him.

"Halibel, Cecilus. Flank him!"

"'I'll take his head!'"

"ya got it, Bud!"

Like a blur of blue lightning, Cecilius lunged to his right. Halibel, like a silent ghost, materialized at his left. He was suddenly surrounded, with Reinhard standing defiantly in the center.

The American boy with brown hair gave a slight nod. "You think this is going to end the way you expect?' his tone sounding very cocksure.

Reinhard ignored the barb. "Consider this your final opportunity to surrender. If you persist in resisting, I'll have no choice but to end you," Reinhard cautioned.

"Nah, I don't think so, Swordy. Nice try tho,"

Reinhard's expression twisted in surprise. He couldn't comprehend how such a seemingly weak and small individual dared to challenge them.

Despite tapping into one of his many divine protections, he couldn't detect any notable skill, mana, or magical aptitude from the man.

For all intents and purposes, he seemed like nobody special. However, Reinhard had a gut feeling telling him otherwise.

The manner the boy moved, the fluidity with which he dodged their attacks, and how he managed to hold them at bay with his strange destructive contraptions, especially against the elite three of the world, convinced Reinhard that this boy was somebody.

Somebody very dangerous.

"Very well," he conceded.

And so, with no other course of action, He exchanged a silent glance with his Cecilus and Halibel, a wordless understanding passing between them.

"In the name of the Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica and my beloved Queen Emilia Eclius, I shall end you," he declared.

"We'll see about that Swordboy! Show me what you've got!" Morty replied

A snarl ripped from Reinhard's mouth as he launched himself forward. It was rapid and swift like a predator pouncing on prey. Cecilius followed suit, both aiming for a swift decapitation. Meanwhile, the wolfman Halibel launched a volley of cursed kunais, aiming to pepper the eyepatch-wearing Morty with lethality. 'This should be easy,' or so they thought.

Suddenly, the ground below Morty shimmered, and a golden portal appeared, swallowing him whole. Reinhard attempted to strike forward, but his sword found nothing but empty air.

Reinhard's eyes widened as he glanced around, searching for clues. "Ceci― did you witness that?"

"Whoa, that was awesome!" Cecilius interrupted Reinhard, his voice brimming with excitement. "I gotta admit, that guy is seriously entertaining, especially compared to the last few skirmishes. It's a refreshing change from all the boredom lately."

"Cecilius, this is no game! Lives are on the line— hey! Watch out!"

Without warning another golden portal opened directly above the blue lightning, and a bizarre-looking device slipped down and latched onto his head.

"Argh! Get this thing off me!" he roared, attempting to claw the vicious gadget from his head.

Seeing this, Reinhard rushed towards Cecilus when he noticed him collapsing. However, before Reinhard could reach him, Morty materialized suddenly through a golden portal, his lethal auto blaster in hand.

*BOOOOOOOOOM*

Reinhard took cover immediately as plasma explosions bombarded the area.

"Hmm," Morty mused, touching his eyepatch. "He said he found me interesting. I wonder if that idea stays, especially now that he'll be serving me," he said, eyeing Cecilus as he rose. "Attack," he commanded.

Without warning, the blue-haired swordsman's eyes ignited with a yellow glow as he charged toward the Sword Saint.

"This can't be." Reinhard gasped as he skillfully deflected the swift strikes of the blue-haired assailant. He was bewildered by the sudden turn of events. Just moments ago, they had fought together as brothers in arms. Now, his companion was turning against him. "This couldn't be magic right?" Reinhard thought aloud

"Of course not. Are you dense?" Morty retorted as he continued to control the swordsman to attack Reinhard "I don't mess with mana or some cultivation nonsense. That's for weebs and otakus."

Reinhard raised his eyebrows as he continued to fend off the attacks from the blue lightning.

"Aw, Jeez! I forgot! You're not a Reincarnated to another world kind of guy, so that makes sense, but if you were Subaru or Kazuma, you'd get it,"

"I... don't follow," Reinhard responded, focusing on slashing and wounding Cecilus amidst the chaos.

"Eh, Don't worry about it." Morty retorted, unleashing a fresh wave of plasma fire. Reinhard weaved through the sizzling bolts, but Cecilius, still under Morty's mental grip, sliced at him again, this time drawing blood.

"Your Power bleeding ability now firing up?"

"I fear that's the case." The air crackled around him.

Morty, unfazed, met his gaze. "Don't be," he countered, a touch of grim humor twisting his lips. "You'll need every ounce of it."

A storm of kunai and shuriken whirred through the air. Each one aimed for the boy with the eye patch, but shimmering force fields flickered into existence around him, deflecting the deadly hail.

"Hey, Wolfy." Morty yawned. "why don't you get out of the shadows? I'll show you something cool."

A chuckle echoed from the shadows. "Nah, stealth's kinda my thing, y'know?" The voice had a playful edge despite the unseen figure readying another volley of weapons.

"Still think hiding's a good idea? Let's see what your precious vixen thinks about that." he then produced a jar, revealing a tiny, blonde fox-girl trapped within.

"Baby!" a chorus of outraged voices screeched. Ten figures, all seemingly identical fuming Wolf ninjas, materialized from the shadows, surrounding the eye-patched boy in a bristling ring.

"Clones? How intriguing," Morty remarked.

Halibel hissed menacingly, "Release my girlfriend, or I will flay ya until ya plead for death's mercy."

Morty chewed on the situation, his face a mask of indifference. Fear wasn't on the menu today, but a primal awareness crackled in his gut. This foe reeked of danger. To obtain a decisive victory, he must neutralize this wolf threat before Reinhard could overpower Cecilus.

And I have the perfect approach for this. Yeszir!

Morty threw his hands up. "fine. I'll let her go. But In one condition."

"What?"

"Kill all of your clones." Morty proposed.

The werewolf, Halibel, let out another low growl. "Why in hell would I do that? Ya think I'm some simpleton, kid? You got another thing comin'."

"No offense intended. In fact, I think you're quite sharp. That's why I'm proposing a deal. You let me leave here safely, and your girlfriend is free. Sounds fair, doesn't it?"

Halibel scoffed. "Hah! After what ya and ya'll little posse pulled, there's no way you're slithering outta here alive. Reinhard and I will see tha that personally."

"Fair enough, but I'd prefer to take my chances without your ninja clones lurking around, ready to ambush me at any moment. That, or I'll vaporize your girlfriend right here. Your choice, Wolfy," Morty threatened.

Halibel felt a knot in his stomach as he glanced at his girlfriend, a blonde vixen trapped inside a small jar. It was a desperate situation, but he had no other option. If he wanted to save her, he had to play by the eyepatch man's rules and hope he and Reinhard could come out on top.

Morty sensed the hesitation. He raised his blaster, charged it, and pointed it at the fox girl inside the jar. "So? No deal?" Morty added, his tone menacing.

"Fuck," Halibel clicked his tongue in frustration. He guessed he had little choice. "Fine... Ya win. But ya, better not play any tricks, or I'll quarter you myself," he threatened.

"Got it," Morty nodded. "Now, kill all your clones!"

Halibel nodded and immediately clapped his hands, his clones dematerializing at once.

"Perfect," Morty grinned wickedly. "Good boy... Now CATCH!" With a sudden, vicious movement, he flung the jar containing Halibel's girlfriend toward the floor using his bionic arm.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" With a pained and desperate cry, the wolfman of Kararagi sprang into action. Like lightning, he dove for the jar, determined to save the love of his life no matter what.

But he wasn't fast enough. As the jar plummeted, Halibel's eyes filled with tears, fear etched on his face. "N-no," he muttered silently as the blonde vixen hurtled towards her doom.

"Don't worry, doggy, I got ya!" Morty suddenly spoke and fired his portal gun at the floor just before the jar hit it. The jar fell through the portal, disappearing into who knows where.

"NOOO!" Halibel screamed as he followed his girlfriend into another world. Moments later, the portal closed, leaving the battlefield empty of the wolfman.

"Two down," Morty uttered, turning his attention to Reinhard and Cecilus locked in battle.

"Cecilus, please," Reinhard pleaded, deflecting lightning-fast slashes and stabs from both the dream sword and the fiend sword. "You have to snap out of this."

"It's Pointless," Morty spoke, observing the battle with a neutral face. "He's completely under my control now. He can't hear you."

Reinhard gritted his teeth, his movements growing more desperate as he attempted to breach Cecilus's mental barrier. "My friend, listen to me! You're stronger than this. Fight it! You are the Blue Light—" he began but was interrupted as Cecilus landed another slash on him, wounding his torso.

Creating distance, Reinhard jumped back, assessing the situation. It wouldn't be long before Cecilus closed in on him again, relentless in his brutal assault. Moreover, with each passing moment, the famed blue lightning seemed to lose its vibrance, becoming more mechanical, more lifeless.

"Very well," Reinhard uttered, closing his eyes in regret. "Forgive me, brother, for what I have to do."

Cecilus lunged at him once more, dream sword and fiend sword in hand, and in a split second, he was within the Sword Saint's range.

*SLASH*

Suddenly, a ray of blue energy shot up into the sky as Reinhard swung his dragon sword. Then, without warning, the entire area was engulfed in a fiery blue explosion.

Moments, perhaps just a minute, pass as the fiery blue light disperses and visibility slowly returns. When Reinhard finally opened his eyes, he was met with a grim realization: the mightiest warrior of Vollachia, who was once his opponent turned friend, had vanished.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

A deep sigh escapes his lips as he surveys the surroundings, observing a portion of the royal castle now obliterated.

A glimmer of hope flickered within Reinhard that their eyepatch-wearing adversary had also perished in his assault. However, his optimism waned as he caught sight of the figure again, entirely unscathed and unmoved.

"Wow, that was really fun. The most entertaining skill I've seen since last week, not gonna lie," Morty said with a smirk.

"You think this is a game?" Reinhard scowled, anger evident on his face.

"Nope, but it's fun," Morty replied casually.

"Fun?" Reinhard's scowl deepened, rage boiling in his heart. "You and your associates came to our kingdom, wreaking havoc, slaying people, and you consider this fun?" His voice was as cold as ice.

"Eh, Maybe not your cup of tea. But for me? Yeah, kinda fun." Morty shrugged, a casual grin on his lips.

"SILENCE!" Reinhard snapped, his voice cutting through the tension as he tightened his grip around the Dragon Sword. "Enough of this mockery. Your tricks end here."

"Alright, alright, I get it," Morty sighed, a smirk on his lips. "You're the hero, and we're some wacky villain and shit... But if you're really are up for it, just letting you know..." He trailed off, a glint of coldness in his eyes, "Let's just say not even close to running out of tricks."

Before Reinhard could respond, Morty activated his portal gun again, creating several golden portals around the battlefield. Out of each portal emerged various strange and menacing contraptions aimed at the Sword Saint.

Reinhard steeled himself. "No matter your schemes," he declared, determination blazing in his eyes, "I will stop you."

Morty's eyes narrowed. Without warning, the contraptions unleashed a torrent of destruction.

Superheated blue plasma rounds capable of melting flesh and bones, red blaster bolts designed to shock and dismember limbs, and disruptors firing phased energy that damages and destroys molecular bonds—all at once aimed at the Sword Saint

But with Otherworldy speed, the pride of the house of Astrea leaped and danced with efficiency and grace, managing to dodge most of the onslaught. However, some shots still found their mark.

"You sure you can still keep up?" Morty mocked as the golden portals closed, swallowing the contraptions whole.

Reinhard grunted, a flicker of pain flashing across his face. A chunk of his shoulder hung molten, a grotesque testament to the attack.

Yet, beneath the surface, a symphony of divine Protections surged, a chorus of gifts bestowed by the OD Laguna. The wound knitted itself back together, the searing agony receding into a dull throb. Even more unsettling, the ordeal seemed to fuel him, a fire rekindled in his core.

"Is that a yes?" Morty mocked him again, to which Reinhard nodded and took another stance, preparing for another attack.

"Fine." the eyepatch boy nodded back and retrieved a cube-like device with a button on top from his belt, which rapidly enlarged.

Without warning, he pressed it five times.

"Hi! I'm Mr. Meeseeks. Look at ME!" Suddenly, five blue creatures materialized out of thin air, their faces in a weird smile.

"Attack him."

"Aw jeez, man, you really don't know when to give up, do you?" Morty rolled his eyes as he took in the scene before him.

A hundred Meeseeks were attacking Reinhard all at once...And failing miserably.

"I'M MR. MEESEEKS! LOOK AT ME!" one Meeseeks screamed, thumping his chest. "CHARGE!" he shouted, leading another wave of Meeseeks to subjugate the Sword Saint.

With a manic look, Reinhard counter-charged, grabbing a Meeseeks by the neck and slamming it like a pillow. He smashed the ground with it in rapid succession. Once discarded and broken, he grabbed it by the leg and hurled it into a group of Meeseeks, neutralizing them.

"You know this is all pointless, right?" Morty chimed in as he continued pressing the Meeseeks Box, replenishing the number of Meeseeks.

"H-how come..." Reinhard stammered as he hacked at another Meeseeks with his dragon sword, simultaneously cleaving another. "H-how come these things don't die?"

Morty raised his eyebrows as he scanned the surrounding area, filled with decapitated and dismembered Meeseeks who were still miraculously alive.

"Yeah, they don't. Meeseeks are made to serve a singular purpose, which they will go to any lengths to fulfill. Then they stop existing. Until then, they're functionally immortal."

"Huh?" Reinhard asked as he grabbed two Meeseeks and smashed them together. "That doesn't—"

"Make sense?" Morty cut him off. "I know, but I didn't invent them, so whatever. Plus, they're pretty useful, so there's that."

Reinhard's eyes suddenly flared blue, mirroring the energy cracked around him. With a roar that shook the ground, he unleashed a torrent of power, resulting in an explosion that sent shockwaves through the battlefield, tossing Meeseeks aside like mere ragdolls.

"MORTY SMITH!"

As the residual energy from the blast began to dissipate, the crimson-haired sword saint emerged, his breath labored and his dragon sword dripping with Meeseeks essence. He fixed his gaze upon Morty, his expression a mixture of rage and resolve. "You're next," he growled.

"Heh, you're a real comedian," Morty chuckled.

Before Reinhard could advance, a sudden plummet in temperature caught his attention. His eyes widened with realization. "No... Her Majesty," he muttered, urgency in his voice.

"Finally," Morty remarked with a twisted grin.

With a firm tap on his eyepatch, he activated its built-in AI. "Initiate Scheme 343," he ordered, his voice resonating with coldness, "Override the space-time anomaly on Project 'Prime' Deploy psionic and temporal disruption protocols at once."

"Scheme 343 initiated," the AI's monotone voice responded. "Subject: Project Subaru. Subjection to resequencing space-time anomaly...Infusing psionic and temporal disruption...Scheme 343 complete."

"Excellent," Morty declared.

Suddenly, a massive snowstorm descended upon the area, blanketing the shattered remains of the royal castle with a pristine white carpet.

"Where do you think you're off to, swordboi?" the brown-haired American boy spoke, his hand auto blaster poised to block the sword saint's escape route to his liege. "Don't interrupt my friend; he's got a sweet date with his ex."

"If you believe yourself capable of impeding my efforts to aid Her Majesty, I assure you, you are gravely mistaken," Reinhard retorted confidently.

"Really now?" Morty struggled to contain his amusement. "We'll see."

The brown-haired boy then pressed the Meeseeks button on his wrist, his bionic arm tapping rapidly. It didn't take long for a hundred or more Meeseeks to materialize in the ruined hall, awaiting orders.

"I'M MR. MEESEEKS! LOOK AT ME!" a collective voice of Meeseeks screamed with enthusiasm.

Morty touched his eyepatch again, causing the collective Meeseeks to glow suddenly. "I've all given you the location of a mansion not far from here..." he tossed the Mr. Meeseeks box to one of the summoned Meeseeks. "That's the residence of a girl named Freya L. Astrea and Elizabeth L. Astrea..."

"Huh? What are you..." The blood drained from Reinhard's face. He froze, his hand hovering uselessly near his sword hilt.

No! By the Dragon...T-this couldn't be happening!

An evil grin formed on Morty's face as he locked eyes with Reinhard. "... I want you all to kill them," he uttered coldly.

Before Reinhard could even process his shock, a multitude of shouts erupted.

"YES, SIREE!"

"Can do!"

"Ooh, Okay!"

A vast swarm of Meeseeks poured forth from the castle, their collective goal crystal clear: to kill the sword saint's family.

Meanwhile, the lead Meeseeks kept hammering the Meeseeks box, pumping out even more of his blue brethren for the task ahead.

"Psst," Morty chimed in, interrupting Reinhard's shock. "So you're not saving your wife and kid?"

The Sword Saint's face crumpled into a horrifying mask of fury and primal terror. In a heartbeat, Reinhard was gone, darting off to chase after the Meeseeks who sought to kill his family. He could only hope to succeed in this endeavor.

Alone at last, Morty took in the scene around him. The gale and snow had only grown fiercer, blanketing the entire place with thick layers of snow. However, he didn't mind; his suit was so advanced that it could even resist the Hostile elements of the chaos dimension.

"Hmmm, let's see," he uttered as he observed his eyepatch. A HUD opened up, showing someone in first-person mode: a person whose eyes locked onto the scope of a futuristic rifle, its crosshair pointed at a silver-haired elf.

"I love it when a plan comes together."

Steeped in history, the Grand Kitchens of the Royal Palace in Lagunica boasts a legacy that stretches back to the kingdom's very beginnings. Built during the reign of King Farsale Lugunica, the 35th monarch renowned for his lavish tastes, the kitchen is said to have witnessed grand feasts featuring 50-course banquets in his honor.

Since then, it has remained in constant use, serving successive monarchs for state occasions hosted by Her Majesty or simply catering to the royal family's needs.

Within its grand cabinets lie countless artifacts, porcelains, and silverware of immense value, passed down through generations.

A team of 30 exceptional cooks of diverse races representing the kingdom's rich culinary heritage kept the Grand Kitchen a whirlwind of activity. Each day, the rhythmic clatter of pots and pans mingled with the fragrant sizzle of exotic spices, a symphony conducted by the master chefs.

During grand festivities, this culinary orchestra would expand, with the number of cooks tripling or quadrupling to cater to the multitude of guests and dignitaries who flocked to the palace from across the globe.

However, the current scene in the kitchen paints a starkly different picture—a picture of destruction, chaos, and death.

Bodies—both male and female, young and old, human and demihuman—littered the once-gleaming tile floor. Some lay frozen, victims of a magical apocalyptic attack. Others mercilessly dismembered, their ends clearly caused by a brutal plasma blast or a munition explosion. Scattered across the floor were multitudes of precious silverware, once polished to a mirror shine, now dented and bent, unfit for further use.

Priceless porcelains and irreplaceable artifacts lay cast aside. Glassware, once sparkling with crystal clarity, now lay cracked and shattered, with cold light streaming in from the gaping hole in the wall—damage likely inflicted by a bomb.

Suddenly, one of the frozen doors burst open, revealing a raven-haired man in a mysterious tracksuit with a black eyepatch in his left eye.

With both hands, He dragged two unconscious figures by their ankles, their forms scraping against the floor with a funny sound.

Reaching the inner bower of the Great Kitchen, he heaved with exertion, finally setting them harshly on a counter. With that out of the way, he immediately sat on one of the countertops, catching his breath and composure after the recent physical ordeal.

After recovering, he closed his eyes as all the events sank into him.

"I... I..." he spoke, his voice cracking with emotion. "I... I really killed her." A single tear fell from his eye.

Never in a thousand years had he imagined he would kill Emilia, the one he loved dearly. Heck, he would have preferred to kill himself than hurt her.

Nevertheless, He did kill her! By his own hands!

He ended her dreams, her happiness, and her life.

As guilt and despair threatened to overwhelm him once more, he shook himself. There is a time to weep, a time to mourn, and a time to break down. But that time isn't now.

Danger still lurks on the horizon. For all he knows, Reinhard or the others could still be alive. He had just escaped the accursed loop and had no desire to return to it.

With his portal gun out of action, he did the only thing he knew he could do.

"Morty," he spoke into his high-tech eyepatch, "Are you there?"

There was static. A couple of seconds passed, and Subaru thought Morty was gone, but suddenly,

"Yeah, I'm here," a voice responded. "How's your date?" it asked.

Subaru winced at the question. It wasn't a date; it was a massacre. Thus, he ignored it.

"Hey..." Subaru asked with a neutral tone. "You see... My portal gun got damaged...It wouldn't work...Can you extract us from here? I really want to leave this place."

"Why, what happened? Didn't work out?" Morty responded through the eyepatch.

Subaru didn't answer.

"I'm gonna take that as a yes?" Morty sighed. "Alright."

Suddenly, A golden portal shimmered into existence and came out Morty. Dirt and grime stained his clothes but without apparent damage. "Ready?" he asked, with a flat tone.

Subaru nodded grimly.

"What happened to them?" the brown-haired American boy inquired, eyeing the two unconscious figures. "Dead?"

"Unconscious," Subaru replied, his voice tight. "They're breathing."

"Got it," Morty said, effortlessly hoisting Kazuma and Climb with just one of his bionic arms. Aiming his portal gun with practiced ease, he fired another shot, a shimmering gateway opened in front of them.

Without hesitation, he launched the two unconscious figures through the portal, their limp forms disappearing in a flash of golden light. He then turned his gaze to the broken Japanese boy.

"Let's go."

Emerging from the shimmering portal, Subaru found himself in a medieval-style mansion, its cozy design and full furnishings greeting him warmly. His gaze swept the room, spotting Kazuma and Climb sprawled unconscious on the floor.

Meanwhile, Morty conversed with Aqua, who sat across the living room, casually munching on some food.

"...Ah, I see... By the way," Morty called out, catching her attention mid-bite. "Mind doing us a favor?"

Aqua looked up, her mouth still full. "Huh? What's up?"

"You're a Goddess, right? Think you could heal these two?" Morty gestured toward Kazuma and Climb.

"What happened to them?" Aqua inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"They nearly froze to death," Morty said with a neutral tone. "So? Could you heal them?"

"Of course! What do you take me for? I'm the goddess of water! Healing's my forte," Aqua replied confidently, then rushed to Kazuma and Climb, immediately working her magic.

"Good," Morty chimed in, then turned to face Subaru. "So?" he prompted, raising an eyebrow expectantly.

"Huh?" Subaru responded, bewildered.

Morty grinned. "How's it feel? Better? No? Exactly the same?" He glanced at Subaru. "Worse?"

Subaru's gaze fell to the ground, sadness, and despair evident in his eyes.
Observing Subaru's reaction, Morty shook his head and placed a comforting hand on Subaru's shoulder.

"Look, I'm sorry, dude, but I did warn you, remember? 'Love' is just a chemical reaction that compels animals to breed. Love is a scam, a fraud. It is to be ignored, cast aside. You don't need love," Morty said firmly before continuing, "Your kind, the Subarukind across the multiverse, are filled with simpfoolery and bullshit romantic obsession, also riddled with failures and betrayal."

Subaru looked up at Morty, a pained expression on his face. "Huh?" he questioned.

"Yep, I've seen it all, buddy! Emilia, Rem, Ram, Priscilla," Morty listed, not breaking eye contact with the raven-haired Japanese boy. "That green-haired duchess, the merchant... Felt...Milf Fox Yorna...Satella. There are still the others you haven't met, but it doesn't matter. They will all fail you, disappoint you, and your kind. They'll give you hardships, give you heartbreaks."

"Really?" Subaru's shock was palpable.

"You've seen it yourself," Morty replied.

Subaru's eyes widened, his face contorting in despair.

"But remember, you're not one of them. Break the cycle, Subaru. Rise above the others. Focus on science...Focus on power," Morty said coldly.

Subaru digested Morty's words. While they made sense, they left a bitter feeling in his heart. But Morty hadn't lied, and considering the actions of those around him, the possibility felt all too real—that his isekai life was bound to be a failure, destined to lead nowhere.

Hell! Screw this isekai life! If that's what's in store for me...Then I don't want it! I'll find my enjoyment elsewhere.

"Hmm, by the way, I'll show you something," Morty suggested,

"Huh? What's this?" Subaru spoke as he and Morty stood inside a barn.

In front of them were two chairs, one occupied by Lonestar Subaru and the other empty, once occupied by the great spirit Beatrice.

"The other Subaru, the one we abducted from that Lonestar dimension. I ran tests on them," Morty replied casually.

"Oh..." Subaru replied as he processed the scene before him. "By the way, where's Beako?"

"She's Long dead, dissipated into the air. She didn't survive the tests." Morty answered matter-of-factly.

"What..." Subaru's eyes widened in shock. "You ran tests on them that led to her death?!" Anger surged within him.

"hmm. Any problem with that?" Morty replied nonchalantly.

Suddenly, Subaru turned red, rage building inside him. He wanted to argue or even fight Morty for hurting the poor little great spirit.

However, he knew better. He stood no chance against Morty. Moreover, deep down, he knew it was his fault. He knew from the start that he would be stealing another Subaru's life and that it would lead to either killing that Subaru or displacing and getting rid of Beatrice, who's contracted to him.

"This was your plan, remember?" Morty chimed in. "You did this. You wanted this. You knew the risk and took it."

"I know..." Subaru replied, trying his best not to lose it, as he wiped a solitary tear on his face. "Anyway, what are we gonna do with him?" Subaru pointed to the Lone Star Subaru, who was still unconscious.

"We'll get to that later," Morty replied, then took out a spherical golden device with a pointy, sharp edge. "Here's his downloaded brain. His life and experiences from the beginning of his isekai up to now," he said as he handed the device to Subaru

Subaru's eyes grew wide as he realized what it was. "Y-you mean this—"

"Yep, using that, you will learn everything he went through in the past seven years. Cool, right?"

Subaru's eyes widened again, his face shocked. "How do I use this?" he asked.

"Just stick the sharp edge into your head, and you will lose consciousness and experience everything."

"…Even my…?" Subaru asked with trepidation, his fear shooting up tenfold. He didn't know if the penalty would still work, but he had to try. Closing his eyes, he said in a loud voice. "Even my…RETURN BY DEATH?!" He closed his eyes, expecting a squeezing hand or shadows hurting his heart.

But there was nothing.

Subaru counted and waited, but still nothing. Opening his eyes, he could see Morty smirking.

"Yes, Subaru. Even your Return by Death. You'll experience them all, every single one of them, every detail...Even the pain, the feeling," he said with a cold voice. "Good luck!"

A great relief fell over Subaru. At last, the curse of being unable to reveal to anyone about his ability was lifted and gone. How? He didn't know.
It probably had to do with him not being in Lugunica anymore. But before he fell into a train of thought, he brushed it aside; he still had something to do.

Closing his eyes, he held the brain data bank in his hand, the cool metal resonating in his trembling fingers. With a deep breath, he pressed it against his temple.

A faint tingle spread from the point of contact, followed by a rush of information so vast it felt like a tidal wave crashing against his mind. His eyes rolled back, revealing only the whites. His knees buckled, sending him crashing to the ground, with sleep taking him.

Waking up from a dreamlike state, Subaru found himself lying on a comfy couch inside the mansion in the countryside of Axel City. Looking around, he noticed Kazuma, now fully healed, chatting with Megumin.

"Subaru?" Megumin immediately recognized that he was awake. Without warning, the wizard ran and jumped onto the couch, embracing him. "I'm glad you're okay, Subaru," Megumin added, hugging the raven-haired Japanese boy tightly.

"Huh?" Subaru mused as he tried to piece together what had happened. "Oh..."

It all came back to him. He had used that brain-download device, which caused him to pass out and remember everything the Lonestar Subaru had experienced.

His happiness.

His love.

His fear.

His disappointment

and

His loss—all of it!

Rem. Prisca. Meili. Spica. Beako he thought, as vivid scenes from the other Subaru's life flooded his mind.

Regret. That guy's filled with regret and loss, and I can't help but pity him.

Other memories, both sad and horrifying, came, but he shoved them away. They were too painful and unbearable, even for the like of him.

Actually, he might want a beer to ease and numb the growing turmoil in his heart and mind.

"Hey Subaru, finally awake?" Kazuma chimed in. "You promised me a beer, remember? I say we go after you and Megumin embracing."

"Did I?" Subaru replied.

"Yep, you did, no questions asked," Kazuma snapped.

Subaru was about to respond, but another one joined their presence.
"How was it?" Morty spoke as he walked in front of Subaru. "You okay? Traumatized?"

"Uh, kinda," Subaru replied.

"You want me to do a—" Morty made a gesture of a gun with his hand and pointed it at his head. "—Mind Blower Ops or what?"

"What's that?" Subaru asked.

"It's a device we use to erase memories from a person's mind, especially traumatizing ones, lest they go insane," Morty explained.

Morty retrieved a gun-like device with two blue lighting apparatuses. "Just say the word."

"No! No!" Subaru exclaimed, waving his hands in refusal. "I'm fine... I think I can handle this. No worries," he said firmly.

"Alright, suit yourself," Morty replied, putting the device away.

Subaru, still embraced by Megumin, began to inquire, "Uh, where's the other Subaru?"

"Don't worry about him. Already sent him away back to his home," Morty replied casually.

"Huh? The Lonestar dimension?" Subaru asked, surprised.

"Of course not. With what you've done, they'd lynch him there, no doubt," Morty said as he settled onto one of the couches. "No, I actually sent him back to his original world in Japan."

"You did?!" Subaru exclaimed, shocked at this revelation.

"Yeah," Morty confirmed, standing up. "You'll need him one day. I also erased his memories, at least partially." He gestured for Subaru to follow him.

However, with Megumin still clinging to him, Subaru had to ask her to move first. "Megumin, I need to go," Subaru said with a smile.

"But..." Megumin looked at him with puppy eyes. "You promised to join me in my afternoon bakuretsu." She made a cute gesture, pleading with him to stay.

Subaru sighed at this. "Sure, but I need to talk to Morty first, alright?"

"I'll be gone for a long time, Subaru," Morty said as they talked outside the mansion.

"Huh? Where are you going?" Subaru asked, his curiosity piqued.

"First, I'm going to finish my mansion," Morty raised a finger. "Second, I'm investigating a device..."

"Huh?" Subaru asked, unsure of what to say. "Okay then."

"Oh, and I fixed your portal gun while you were asleep," the brown-haired American boy said as he prepared to leave. "Anyhow, everything you need is in the basement of this mansion. Weaponry, spare portal fluid, portal fluid ingredients—just enough to get you off your feet."

"Ah, I see," Subaru replied, scratching his head. "By the way, man, I know I've asked you this before, and I'll ask it again, but why are you helping me? Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful for it, Morty, but still, I have to ask...What's your angle?"

"My angle?" Morty replied with a poker face. "Hmmm, you'll know very soon. In the meantime, try to explore the multiverse more. I've added some interesting dimensions there...And, before I forget," he handed Subaru a piece of paper.

"What's this?" Subaru asked as he studied the paper filled with codes.

"Scan it with your Mortypad," Morty replied, already beginning to walk away, preparing to fire his portal gun. "It's a bunch of schemes. You'll need it."

"Wait..." Subaru said before Morty could leave. "Any tips on what I should do next?"

"Adelheid von Schugel, Eta Lloyd Wright, and a bitch named Silent Seven Stars," Morty said, turning to face Subaru. "Coerce them, force them, bribe—I don't give a fuck. But should you use them, I'll make your life easier, champ...Oh, and there's an elf named Frieren! She's a living battery, I swear."

"Ah..." Subaru's eyes widened as Morty's recommendations sank in. He wanted to ask more but decided against it; there were more pressing matters. "How about the mansion?"

"Eh..." Morty shrugged as he fired a golden portal. "Keep it. It's yours. I don't care." And just like that, the brown-haired interdimensional traveler stepped into the portal and disappeared, leaving a certain broke boy alone with his thoughts.

"Jeez,"

(Days later)

It was a Sunday afternoon in the adventurer city of Axel, and the sun was fast setting.

Inside the Axel Guildhall, the halls and tables bustled with people—laborers, adventurers, and traders—indulging in drinks and meals, unwinding after a grueling day's labor.

At one table, a gathering of eccentric individuals caught the eye of most patrons, earning disapproving looks from both men and women.

A raven-haired boy draped in a cape, attired in green garments with jet-black slacks, his left eye concealed beneath a bizarre eyepatch. Beside him was a chestnut-haired fellow donning a green cape over a white shirt and a blond knight adorned in iron armor. All appeared to be intoxicated and drunk.

Very drunk

"H-hey! F-fuck you, Kazuma! I ain't no simp!" Subaru drunkenly roared, stumbling from left to right. "I'm just U-unlucky! Is all!"

"Yeah, sure!" Kazuma replied, downing another mug of ale. "Hey, waiter! Another one!" he bellowed.

Suddenly, Climb lapsed back from his alcoholic coma. "I'M SOOORRY, PRINCESS RENNER!" he cried out, a mixture of sadness and drunkenness evident in his voice.

After their excursion to the Lonestar dimension, Subaru immediately shared the fate of Renner. It was as expected that Climb didn't take her death well. Now a mess, he had turned to alcohol to numb the pain.

"Damn, now I'm ready to die," Kazuma muttered, rolling his eyes and facepalming at the second-hand embarrassment.

Subaru wasn't any different. Because of the failure at the Lonestar dimension and after learning the fate of his counterpart, he also turned to alcohol for comfort.

"You two are losing it! Especially you, Subaru," Kazuma spoke as he chugged another ale. "The world is our oyster bro. Forget your waifus! I say we hit the multiverse!"

"And? Where to go?" Subaru drunkenly asked. "I-I killed Emilia, my Emilia." Subaru now started to sob as well.

"So?" Kazuma replied, his tone annoyed. "Just find another one, dude! Morty said there are infinite universes where there are Emilias, correct? I say we raid one of them."

Subaru's eyes suddenly grew wide.

Kazuma's right! Holy smokes. That's it!

"The Re-Forgotten Dimension," Subaru spoke as his intoxication miraculously subsided. Taking out his portal gun, he then searched for the coordinates. "Shit, it's here."

"Huh? What are you talking about, Subs?" Kazuma asked, raising his eyebrows.

"L-Let's go!" Subaru said, standing up.

"Huh?" Kazuma's eyes grew big. "Wait, this isn't wise-" he began to talk, only for Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness to suddenly arrive, cutting Kazuma off.

"Hey, hikki-neets! Where are we heading?" Aqua exclaimed, also drunkenly.

"Um... m-me a-and the boys are going on interdimensional adventures, Aqua! Wanna join?" Subaru drunkenly said and gave a thumbs up.

"Oh! Let me join as well, Subaru!" Megumin chimed in.

"I'd like to join as well, Sir Subaru!" Darkness also chimed in. "Y-you can use me as y-your shield!" she said, blushing.

"WAIT!" Kazuma started to shout, trying to stop a disaster in the making. "STOP!-" but Subaru cut him off.

"I SAY WE DO IT NOW!" he declared drunkenly.

It was dawn in a city, the sun slowly rising on the horizon as people began to stir. Shop shutters creaked open, restaurants flickered awake, and government buildings buzzed with pre-dawn activity. Multiracial military patrols marched through the streets, casting watchful eyes as sanitation crews finished their nightly sweep.

Suddenly, in a secluded alleyway, a swirling green portal appeared. Without warning, six figures tumbled out, blinking and disoriented, into the pre-dawn light.

The apparent leader, clutched in his hand a device like map, beckoned the group forward.

"T-this W-way!"

As they walked, first along the cobbled streets and then onto unpaved gravel roads, the group soon found themselves in the rural part of town.

"Hey, Subs! You're lost, aren't you?" Kazuma spoke, shaking his head.

"No! I know what I'm doing," Subaru replied, his speech slurred from drunkenness.

"Nah, you're lost and drunk. Come on, let's go home," Kazuma insisted.

"I SAID I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING!" Subaru roared with drunken stupor, his voice filled with rage and emotion.

"Alright, chill! Fine," Kazuma rolled his eyes.

They continued their walk. Minutes passed, and the road became more rural.

"Are you sure about this, Subaru?" Megumin chimed in.

"Yes, Megumin. I'm very sure."

Subaru's stroll wasn't steady; there were times when he almost fell, likely due to his intoxication. This didn't go unnoticed by Darkness.

"Sir Subaru, if you want, I can carry you," the knight offered.

"N-no thanks, Darkness."

The group soon found themselves standing in front of a grand necropolis, an eerie atmosphere enveloping the area with its somber tombs and looming shrines.

"A graveyard?" Aqua's voice broke the solemn silence.

Subaru nodded quietly, his gaze fixed on the iPad-like device in his trembling hands.

Following the dot on the map, he moved forward with a heavy heart, each step weighed down by anticipation. Despite the cool morning breeze, his body was drenched in sweat, and his stomach churned with unease.

Every breath felt like a struggle as he battled against overwhelming emotions threatening to consume him.

Finally, they reached their destination marked on the map. Subaru pocketed the Mortypad, his fingers trembling as he traced the letters engraved on the gravestone before him.

"Priscilla," the name escaped his lips in a whisper, carrying a flood of memories and emotions that threatened to engulf him in sorrow.

He knew this wasn't his Priscilla—hell, he didn't even know if Priscilla was his at all. But after delving into the memories of the Lonestar Subaru's mind and learning what had happened to Priscilla, whom he had bonded with and spent time with during his stint in Vollachia, he felt an overwhelming urge to do this.

Even if it seemed pointless, even if it felt stupid and pathetic, even if it was just a byproduct of him being drunk.

He had to do it. He just had to.

"Even the brightest stars burn out... They die and fade away," Subaru said, his voice heavy with melancholy. "I will never forget you until the day I die... I'm very sorry my kind is too weak to save you... I'm very sorry I am too weak to save you."

Struggling to hold back tears, Subaru sat up and raised his beer in front of her grave.

"Here's to Pris! The great sun princess!" he declared, his voice trembling with emotion. Soon, Subaru was a sobbing mess, clutching the gravestone of the girl who'd captivated not just the other him, but him as well.

Welp, it appears that I accidentally predicted Pris-tan's death! Check Chapter 8 of this story.

Btw, for those who are wondering how he knew and had a tiny feeling for Pris-tan. He utilized the downloaded brain of Lonestar-baru.

Furthermore, he drunk AF!