Chapter 89: Inner Darkness
"What's going on?" Waraki questioned, not understanding what the hell's going on with his friend. Julius and Kyda were both also unsure of what just happen, with the finest knight slightly recognizing the attire Subaru was now wearing.
It took Rem and Ram a few seconds before realizing that Subaru was being possessed.
Priscilla put away her Yang Sword as she was intrigued by this new development.
Vanitas looked around for a moment as everyone was just stunned by him, forcing him to choose a target to test out his new vessel.
Considering that the current threat is the one winged angel, he smiled as he said:
"Here I go!"
He swiftly moved towards Sephiroth's position as he attempted to slice the one winged angel's head off only for said opponent to block the attack.
"Amazing." Both Sephiroth and Vanitas said, both excited for the battle that's about to start.
"Try not dying." Sephiroth said as he pushed his opponent back. Right when he did this, he took the opportunity to swing his blade right at Vanitas's face only for the keyblade wielder to block away the attack.
"Don't think I'll make it that easy."
As Vanitas said this, he moved his left free hand towards his opponent's direction as he summoned a barrage of fireballs.
"Die."
All of the fireballs were shot towards the one winged angel's direction, wanting to go all out with this vessel to test and see what's his limit.
Sephiroth looked at this attack with a blank expression before easily deflecting each attack.
Right as the last fireball was easily dealt with, Vanitas had suddenly appeared right within combat range with his keyblade closing in his chest area.
As the keyblade wielder was one tip away from landing a hit, Sephiroth teleported out of the way.
Vanitas realized this and quickly turned towards his right side to block away the one winged angel's attack.
"That little trick won't work on me."
"Then I shall give you a proper challenge."
Understanding that this won't work, Sephiroth and Vanitas prepared themselves for a long gruesome battle.
The two smiled with excitement as well as malice as the two began to clash weapons with such intensity that everyone could feel the force behind this attack.
"Subaru!" Beatrice shouted as she tried to go towards her contractor only for Naoko to stop her.
"Hold on little Beako."
"B-But...Subaru..."
"We have to wait and see." Kenichi said in a serious tone, understanding the little girl's feelings of wanting to help his son...but he knows something's wrong here. "Do you know what happened to him?"
"N-No. He suddenly just went all mad, I suppose."
"Hm."
Kenichi lowered his weapon as he began to think on what could've caused such an outcome.
As he was thinking of many possible reasons, he observed the keyblade his son was currently wielding, having a theory that it has to be from an Organization member.
'Could it be possible that...?' He paused his thinking as Vanitas in Subaru's body managed to land a hit on the one winged angel's chest area with enough force to send him flying a few feet away from him.
Sephiroth was stunned by this for only two seconds before teleporting right in front of Vanitas and landing a kick on him.
Vanitas was shocked by this and yet he had a sadistic smile on his face, finding this encounter fun.
He looked at Sephiroth before spitting some blood to the side. Once he did this, he and Sephiroth charged at each other and continued to clash weapons.
"What the hell?"
"This is...uncanny."
Al and Tiga were both caught off guard by this, Tiga shocked to see the power of a keyblade wielder all the while Al knows damn well that this isn't something Natsuki Subaru can pull off. He knows the boy is strong but not that strong. Arakiya, Kyda, and Yorna all looked as Sephiroth and Vanitas in Subaru's body were giving it their all, clashing their weapons multiple times, each much fierce than the last. Rem and Ram wanted to join in to knock some sense into Subaru, help their friend go back to normal but they were stopped by Waraki.
"What are you doing?"
"We need to let this play out." The knight said...though he was a bit reluctant when saying this.
"What? Why?" Rem questioned to which Waraki had a response.
"This is the best chance to allow everyone to rest. We are all still tired from all the fighting, so take this chance that whatever is possessing my friend to hold that monster back."
The oni sisters didn't like this but as they look around, they know that everyone was tired out from all the fighting. With the biggest ones in need of this being Cloud and Sora, considering that they were the ones who had to fight a multitude of heartless with a few divine generals and Xehanort added in.
Cloud overheard this and realized that what Waraki was saying is true, this was the best chance he had if he wanted to gain some strength, especially considering that Sephiroth will eventually turn his attention towards him.
'...sorry.' Cloud felt guilty in allowing Subaru to buy them time to rest...but it is something they all desperately need.
He turned towards Sora to see what he thinks about all of this only to see that he was just stunned. The keyblade master took a moment before figuring out what exactly was the cause of this.
The second voice speaking at the same time as Subaru immediately told him who was controlling his best friend and apprentice.
"Vanitas..."
How could he have allowed this? How could Subaru not tell him that he was dealing with Vanitas? Why did Subaru succumb to darkness all of a sudden—? That last question immediately told him everything he needed to know. Subaru had looped once again and had just lost it, meaning something terrible had happened prior to dying.
Knowing this information caused the keyblade master to fall on his knees, feeling useless as he couldn't do anything to save anybody in the previous loop.
'I...really am a hopeless friend...'
Louis noticed this, prompting her to hug him in an attempt to comfort the boy that had saved her life.
Sora looked at Louis for a moment before turning towards Vanitas possessing Subaru's body, watching how he was on par with Sephiroth.
The two continued to clash with Al and Julius thinking separately on how they can help Natsuki Subaru.
They know that he's being possessed by one of the Organization members at this point, having recognized the keyblade Vanitas was currently using.
The two prepared their own plans to help all the while Arakiya turned her attention to Priscilla, wondering what the sun princess was thinking.
Priscilla had her fan near her face as she observed the fight for a bit, wanting to see how long before either side slips up since this was an even fight.
As they were on even terms of strength, the two fought for a good ten minutes before Otto and Garfiel arrived in the battle.
"What th'?! Whose fightin'?" Garfiel questioned, not having recognized the one facing Sephiroth for a few seconds until... "Wait, is that—?"
"...Subaru-san."
Otto and Garfiel arrived to the battle worried for everyone's sake only to see that Subaru with an odd attire was going toe to toe with the one winged angel.
"I know Cap'n's strong...but somethin' doesn't feel right 'bout th's."
"Yes, there's something off about him."
The two knew that there was just...a bad feeling when seeing Subaru in such an attire.
The two looked at the keyblade their best friend was wielding and knew that this was a hint that something was wrong.
"Subaru-san's possessed."
"What? But how?!"
"I don't know...but that has to be it."
Otto had a strong gut feeling that this was the case, knowing that his friend wouldn't use such an attire, let alone a keyblade that spells evil.
Garfiel prepared to just jump in between the battle only for the merchant to grab his arm.
"Hold on, Garf. We need a proper plan. Especially when 'he's' involved."
"...yer right."
Garfiel cooled himself from jumping into battle, knowing that if he tries to help Subaru as well as fighting Sephiroth, it will only end with him being killed.
"Ya want me t'fight th't monster while ya talk some sense onto th'cap'n?"
"...no, I don't want you fighting that man on your own. I think we should ask for some help." Otto said as he noticed the others were all watching the fight. Garfiel turned towards the others that were watching the fight, noticing that many of them were exhausted.
'I see. They're takin' th's time t'rest.'
Although he didn't like how Subaru was basically buying everyone time to regain their strength, he understood that this was a good strategy.
Otto and Garfiel eventually spotted Sora, seeing that he was down which prompted the two to quickly approach him while keeping some distance from the fight to not draw the attention of either fighter. Once they were within the keyblade master's position, Otto was the first to say:
"Sora-san, are you okay?"
"Yea, you okay master?"
"..."
Sora didn't respond, he just stood there on his knees, guilt-ridden by the situation. Garfiel and Otto noticed this and knew that there wasn't much they can do to help their friend right now, not when the other is in immediate danger. Otto turned towards Louis to ask her:
"Can you take good care of Sora-san?"
"Yes, we can~tsu." Louis responded, excited to help out.
Otto nodded before looking around to see who could help them in taking on Sephiroth while they try to knock some sense into Subaru.
Eventually both the merchant and the shield of sanctuary spotted Cloud, prompting the two to quickly go and approach him.
"Cloud-san, we require your assistance." Otto said once they were within range of him. Cloud turned towards the merchant and the demi human boy, having just noticed the two.
"What are you two planning?" He asked, curious to know what exactly they want.
"We need t'save th'cap'n. So help us separate him from th't monster."
"Hm."
Cloud looked at Garfiel for a moment before turning towards Subaru and Sephiroth's direction.
He paid close attention to the fight before seeing that Natsuki Subaru has those yellow eyes, the same ones an Organization XIII member would have.
He closed his eyes as he began to think how the last person Sora and the others were facing was Xehanort, the leader of the Organization before Sephiroth arrived.
Once he thought of this connection, he opened his eyes and quickly started to get back up on his feet.
He knows that this small amount of rest time isn't going to help him in a drawn out fight...but compared to what he was prior to Subaru taking on Sephiroth, he's much better for it.
"We will need some more help. I can take Sephiroth on alone...but not for long. Not in this state." He hated admitting this...but he needed to be honest if he wants Otto and Garfiel's plan to succeed. As he said this, someone joined their conversation.
"Then allow me to join in this quest of yours to save Natsuki Subaru."
The three turned with Otto and Garfiel being surprised.
"Reinhard van Astrea!"
A few minutes ago:
Reinhard and Young Xehanort continued to clash weapons, both being in equal terms with Young Xehanort starting to get pushed back thanks to the new divine protection that was added to the Sword Saint.
'Divine protection of friendship, the literal power from the strong bonds with those closest with me. I must thank them when this is all over.'
As Reinhard thought this, he began to use his swordsmanship skills to start cornering the keyblade wielder, having seen the two are equal in terms of power...but their swordsmanship might make the difference in this fight.
As he swung his sword with style, Young Xehanort attempted to counter each and every swing only for one of the Sword Saint's attacks to have manage to cut a very small portion of his hair once he was pushed to dodging the attacks.
"!"
"You should surrender while you are ahead."
Reinhard warned Young Xehanort as he saw that he was finally on the advantage of this fight between the two. Young Xehanort was surprised for only a few seconds before his facial expression turned serious with his eyes showing more killing intent than before.
"Time—!"
Before he did his ability to change the tides of battle back to him, the two stopped on their tracks as a sudden darkness was felt from this distance. An extreme darkness that was enough to catch both fighters' attention.
"Hm. So you've return after a long time of defeat." Young Xehanort said as he recognized whose darkness scent he was sensing.
"...Natsuki Subaru." Reinhard was worried for his friend's sake as his connection with him through his divine protection had suddenly got cut off. This caused the Sword Saint to be hesitant since he wants to see what happened to his friend but at the same time he has a sworn duty to stop this evildoer.
Although this was a dilemma for the Sword Saint of Lugnica, Reinhard recalled how deep his bond with Subaru is, considering he along with Sora were the first two real friends he had made. He turned around and began to leave the battle with Young Xehanort, catching the Organization member's attention.
"And where do you think you're going?" The keyblade wielder sharply asked.
"I'm going to help an important friend." Reinhard spoke in a calm yet serious tone, determined to save his friend. As he was leaving, Young Xehanort looked at Reinhard with an annoyed look before preparing to attack his back side.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The Sword Saint spoke while continuing to walk away. "Just because my back's turn doesn't mean I can't avoid the attack."
"Is that so?" Young Xehanort tested this by turning his keyblade into a whip before throwing said whip towards the Sword Saint's direction. Just as it seemed like it was about to hit, Reinhard easily dodged it without having to look back.
This was something that caught Young Xehanort's attention, prompting him to revert his whip back into the keyblade. He didn't like how effortless his opponent avoided his attacks, prompting him to charge right at him before realizing that Reinhard had his main sword glowing.
"You should've retreated when you had the chance."
Reinhard didn't hesitate to use his most powerful attack on his opponent, knowing that this should be enough to eliminate him. As Reinhard goes for the swing, someone comes in for the save on Young Xehanort.
"You."
"As if I'll let you die here."
Xigbar quickly managed to pull Young Xehanort just out of range from Reinhard's attack, avoiding the massive explosion and raw power of the strongest of Lugnica. Once the two Organization members were just out of reach, Xigbar threw Young Xehanort into the corridor of darkness that was nearby them.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting you out of here. The old coot said this fight of ours here is done."
Young Xehanort remained silent when Xigbar said this, allowing himself to leave the battle if that was the case. As he gets up and enters deeper into the darkness, Xigbar turns towards Reinhard who hadn't noticed him just yet. Xigbar gave the Sword Saint a cold stare before turning around while saying underneath his breath:
"Good luck with saving him now."
As he says this, Xigbar leaves. Reinhard turned towards the direction the corridor of darkness was located just as it disappeared.
'So, he left this battle.'
He lowered his sword as he knew that as a knight, letting someone like him go is unacceptable...but right now he needs to prioritize in saving Natsuki Subaru. If he's going to accomplish something in this battle, it's to save his friend.
'Don't worry Subaru, I'm on my way.'
Reinhard looked at the two and smiled, happy to see some friendly faces before turning his attention towards the battle taking place. His face turned into a serious one, immediately knowing the situation that's presented in front of him.
"He's being possessed." Reinhard affirms when saying this, seeing the true person controlling his friend's body. "We need to save him."
"I agree." Garfiel said as he smashed his fists together, smiling as he's excited to save his captain almost the same way he had saved him. Reinhard nodded before turning towards Cloud, telling him:
"Together we will face the possessing Subaru is facing."
"..." Cloud wasn't sure how to respond to this, but he did nodded, showing that he understands what comes next. He gets his sword ready as he and Reinhard begin walking towards the location where Sephiroth and Vanitas possessing Subaru is taking place.
As the two warriors prepare to interrupt the fight, Otto turns to notice Julius and Waraki both preparing to also join in as well as Al, Arakiya, Yorna, and Kyda.
They didn't like to have Subaru taking all of the heat against such a threat.
Otto turned towards Subaru's parents' direction, having noticed that Kenichi was observing the fight real closely.
As this had his attention, he turned towards Garfiel to tell him:
"Come with me, Garf."
Garfiel turned towards the merchant and nodded before following him towards Kenichi's direction. As they walked towards Subaru's parents' direction, Reinhard and Cloud were slowly walking towards Sephiroth and Vanitas's location. The two had stopped as they were giving each other a chance to breath, both fighters excited for more.
"You aren't that boy, are you?"
"No. I'm not that pathetic false keyblade wielder. He was just a means to an end."
As he said this, many that were ready to join in paused, noticing the words Natsuki Subaru had said.
Those that already suspected something had possessed him knew that their suspicions were right, making it even more dire to save their ally and friend.
Before everyone joined in, Cloud shouted:
"Hold on, allow us to separate them first."
Sephiroth and Vanitas both turned towards Cloud, having heard him speak. Before either could act or respond to what the warrior had said, him as well as Reinhard both charged at Sephiroth and immediately began taking him on.
"Otto Suwen. Garfiel Tinsel." Cloud shouted, "Now's your chance!"
The two were surprised he even remembered their names before nodding at his direction, seeing that this is their chance. Otto turned towards Garfiel to tell him:
"Go and knock some sense into Subaru-san."
"On it!"
Garfiel was one of the first few to jump straight into combat with Natsuki Subaru, seeing that he needs to knock out whoever's possessing him in order to free his friend.
Vanitas was surprised by the demi human boy's sudden appearance right towards his position and yet he smiled as he finally gets to claim one of his vessel's friends.
"Watch Natsuki Subaru, this is the price you will pay for accepting the darkness!"
"Let th'cap'n go, ya bastard!"
Garfiel goes for a swing only for said fist to be parried by Vanitas's keyblade.
"Pathetic."
"tsk!"
Garfiel was annoyed when his opponent said that, prompting him to quickly go for a second attack.
Vanitas easily blocked this away as well yet what surprised him was when he sensed Waraki and Julius suddenly join in and attack from his blind spots.
"I recognize that weapon anywhere, you're that asshole organization member, aren't you?!" Waraki shouted, remembering when he, Subaru, Kishida, and Yabuto faced off the keyblade wielder known as Vanitas. Julius didn't say anything since he was determined to save Natsuki Subaru.
"Clarista." As the finest knight said this, his sword becomes imbued with his six quasi spirits' power. This allowed him to clash his sword with Vanitas's keyblade, both giving it everything they got.
"You will go down and I'll free Natsuki Subaru."
"I'll also help free my friend!"
Both knights shout in determination before attacking in different directions as well as in unison.
Vanitas was able to block away these attacks without much effort, knowing that these opponents aren't enough to provide him a challenge.
Perhaps Garfiel could be a somewhat challenge...though not one that could satisfy him.
As he was going to finish the two knights out, Garfiel jumped in front of Waraki and Julius to block away the keyblade wielder's attack.
Although it was enough strength to crack his shields, Garfiel remained standing as the shield of sanctuary.
"Ya ain't beatin' them th't easily!"
"Oh really?"
"Yes really." Another voice spoke as he swung his blade towards Vanitas's direction. This prompted the keyblade wielder to block away said attack. Once he did this, he looked and saw that it was the warrior with one arm.
"A cripple is fighting me? Are you joking?"
"Don't look down on me!" Al shouted, annoyed by the words said by the one possessing Natsuki Subaru. "Your luck won't win this fight."
Vanitas's sadistic smile turned into a serious expression as he quickly swung his blade to silence the fool that decided to join the fight as well only for said fool to block his attack.
Vanitas was surprised by this, prompting him to go for another attack only for said attack to be blocked away as well.
"Impressive, for a cripple."
"Keep talkin' like that and I'll make sure to cave your head in."
Vanitas smiled as he continued to throw a barrage of attacks, each in the means to overwhelm his opponent.
As he threw each of these attacks without a second of hesitation, Al with his ability was able to counter them all.
'So long as the territory doesn't break, my luck will shine through.'
Al was confident that he'll find his opening, regardless if it takes hundreds, millions, billions of times to reach. Vanitas with each attack realized that he might've found an opponent worthy of going all out on. As he began using all of his power, Al immediately realized something.
"What the?! The territory!"
This realization that his territory, his ability had been broken all of a sudden, which gave Vanitas a chance to land a hit on his chest area.
This with the force behind it was enough to send Al flying a few feet away, knocking the warrior out.
"Hm. Now that's disappointing."
"Don't ya dare look down on him!" Garfiel shouted as he went on the offensive against Vanitas, being able to keep the keyblade wielder on his feet. "He's a true warrior!"
"Who gives a shit about a true warrior when they lose."
With that said, Vanitas was about to overwhelm Garfiel only for Waraki and Julius to block away some of the attacks, allowing the demi human boy to quickly block away the rest. With these three barely holding their own against the one possessing Natsuki Subaru, others start joining in with Rem and Ram being the first two.
"El Huma!"
"El Fura!"
A combination of wind and water magic to push Vanitas away from the trio, forcing the keyblade wielder to be alone for the two maids to take him on together.
The two close in on Vanitas and began to put pressure on him, with Rem being on the offensive with her morningstar while Ram was on the defensive, providing her sister cover.
With the two working in sync, they were able to keep Vanitas on the defensive as he was beginning to slip up. One of Rem's attacks nearly hits him in the face, only grazing it and causing his left cheek to be cut.
"!"
"Sister, be careful. That's still Barusu's body."
Rem nodded at her sister, having also realized that she needs to be careful. Killing Vanitas would also kill Subaru...and then he would loop back. Rem knew that something must've happened in a previous loop for Subaru to accept the darkness.
To have Subaru deal with that all over again...would be cruel. Rem changed her way of fighting by putting away the morningstar and deciding to fight in close combat.
"Be careful, sister."
"I will, sister."
Rem had those memories, the feelings of her without the memories of that night, the memories of a new person.
It is weird since...well, she merged with the version of her that had no memory of Rem and yet she loved Sora.
Both love Sora, the boy that saved them in many ways.
Perhaps that's why it's easier for her to not have an overwhelming feeling of hatred for the witch's cult, her other self never did.
Perhaps that's why she can feel a bit like an equal to her sister, because that's what the other her was striving to do.
Perhaps that's why she can fight in close range without her usual weapon, because she has the memories of the version of her that was trained to fight in close range as well as learning to control her oni form.
This gave her the opportunity to throw a flurry of punches towards Vanitas, each one strategically landing where she wanted to force Vanitas on the defense while Ram prepared to use everything she had to land a hell of an attack that should knock their opponent out.
'Dammit Barusu, why do you always get yourself into this kind of trouble? Moron.'
Ram knew that had this not been Subaru that she was attacking, she would've made sure her attack was killable.
Because in this particular scenario it's someone possessing Subaru's body, she's forced to nerf herself.
As she prepared to throw her attack and Rem being able to keep Vanitas in check, eventually the keyblade wielder had enough of this farce.
"Okay, you are annoying me."
"Shut up and let go of my friend!"
Ram just barely manage to land a hit on Vanitas though this feeling felt odd.
She knows she did landed a hit as she felt Subaru's face get punched but it also feels like she hit thin air.
Before she could truly process any of this, she suddenly felt something hard hit the top of her head.
"Sister!" Ram shouted as she saw Vanitas in Subaru's body suddenly be from being punch by Rem to landing a hit on Rem's head with the tip of his keyblade.
Rem was barely conscious from this attack, feeling the top of her head bleeding.
"That was a good attempt. Had that landed, this vessel would've been damaged."
"..."
Rem fell and hit the ground with enough force to cause a small crater. Garfiel and the others were all stunned by this, with Ram barely being able to keep her anger in check.
"How dare you hurt my sister!"
Ram charged right towards Vanitas's position and began to use her oni form to push her opponent back, trying her best to not use all of her power since that would surely kill Subaru. As Ram was keeping the keyblade wielder occupied, Otto and Kenichi observed from a distance.
"Aren't you going to help Subaru-san, Kenichi-san?"
"...not right now." Kenichi spoke determined. "It isn't the right time for me to act."
"Wait but everyone's acting right now." Otto responded.
"Yes, we should also act, I suppose." Beatrice added as she desperately wants to save her contractor. Kenichi and Naoko look at each other before turning towards Beatrice and Otto.
"Not yet." Kenichi said as he kept his arms crossed, knowing that going in now will just result in his and Beatrice's death. After a few seconds of silence, they all noticed Ram slowly overwhelming Vanitas, forcing him to teleport away from her. Seeing this made Kenichi say:
"Just trust me on this one, we will bring back my amazing boy."
As he proudly said this, Garfiel jumped up to where Vanitas was located and quickly landed a punch on him.
"Ya ain't gettin' away from my amazin' self!"
"Tsk."
Vanitas looked at Garfiel with an angry expression before pointing his keyblade right at his direction.
"Let's see you dodge this!"
A barrage of fireballs was shot right at Garfiel's face.
He saw this and quickly tried to block away the attack, but he was caught by some of the fireballs.
"Fuck!"
As he shouted this, Vanitas took the chance to use all of his strength to land a hit on the demi human boy's chest area to send him flying to the ground violently enough to knock him out.
"The nuisance has been silenced."
As he knocked Garfiel from the fight, he turned his attention towards Ram to see here swiftly approaching him. He looked at her with a bored expression before dodging the attacks she was throwing towards him.
"If this is the best you can do, then die where you stand."
He didn't knock Ram to the ground the same way he did to Rem, sending her flying to the ground.
"If that's all you can do, then I should just end you all." As he said this, he turned towards Sora's direction, having just noticed him. "Unless some pathetic hero decides to finally do something."
"..."
Sora realized that Vanitas was speaking to him, yet he didn't respond or move.
Louis got in front of Sora while looking at Vanitas with a serious and determined expression.
"You won't harm him."
Louis said this with confidence, ready to face the possessed Natsuki Subaru. As she was ready for battle, Arakiya and Yorna both slowly approach Vanitas's position, catching the keyblade wielder's attention.
"You two? Can you divine generals really do anything against me?"
"Don't look down at us." Yorna spoke proudly as she was ready for battle.
Arakiya remained silent, not really caring for some petty insults...though seeing that it's an ally being possessed by some outside force, she can sympathize with Subaru.
Despite this though, she knows that holding back could get her killed.
"For the sake of Prisca-sama, I'll defeat you."
The second she said this, she fired a powerful and dangerous water attack directly towards Subaru's face. Vanitas barely dodged this attack, surprised by how fast Arakiya was able to fire that water attack.
"Impressive."
Although he meant the words he said, he wasn't satisfied anymore since they were all just annoyances at this point.
He'd rather be fighting Sora at this point, wanting to torture the one that sides with the light.
He watched as Arakiya jumped right towards him and initiated their fight with the second divine general. Arakiya tried to land a kick on Vanitas's head only for the keyblade wielder to easily block away the attack with his keyblade before moving his free hand towards her direction.
"Let's try this technique on you."
Having used the power that was unique to Natsuki Subaru, he manages to force the sloth witch factor to listen to him.
He created a shadow over the real hand facing Arakiya before having it go towards the divine general's direction.
He used the unseen hand to grab the second divine general's throat, catching her off guard.
"Wha—?!"
"Seems like this power does listen to me. Interesting."
Vanitas was fascinated by the ability he can use, knowing that this power is closely related to darkness. He gave a sadistic smile as he began to question the divine general:
"What good are you divine generals when you're this weak?"
"hgk!"
"Let her go!"
Yorna shouted as she quickly jumped up to try and land a hit on him.
Vanitas didn't care for this divine general, having a feeling that she's not that strong.
He used the unseen hand to throw Arakiya towards Yorna's direction, causing both divine generals to collide and to fall towards the ground.
"Let's end this fight, I wish to—"
"Don't look down on us!"
Garfiel shouted as he got back up, coughing up blood.
Julius and Waraki were standing right next to the demi human boy with Kyda joining the three, also ready to fight. Arakiya and Yorna both got up as they still had some fight left in them.
"Hm. What a nuisance you all are."
As Vanitas said this, he slowly floated back to the ground.
Once his feet had touched the ground, he didn't hesitate to move rapidly towards Garfiel's position first, viewing him the biggest threat out of them all.
Before he could kill him this time, Arakiya got in between the two and was barely able to block away the attack while receiving a serious wound on her arm.
"tsk."
"Hm."
Vanitas was annoyed at Arakiya's interference but before he could do something, he blocked away Julius and Waraki's unison attacks.
As he turned towards the two knights, the shudraq warrior started her assault on the keyblade wielder.
Her skills were unique as Vanitas was blocking these different like attacks.
Unlike Julius and Waraki, Kyda was attacking with her body, using a barrage of kicks and a couple of punches to keep the keyblade wielder on the defensive.
With the addition of the two knights and their skills on the offense, Vanitas would have to put effort into the fight...if this fight was purely a battle of skills.
Because of this power gap, Vanitas would eventually turn the ties to his favor fairly quickly by forcing the sloth witch factor to create a giant unseen hand.
He uses this unseen hand to grab Arakiya and quickly slam her to the ground with enough force to knock her out.
Julius, Waraki, and Kyda were all shocked by this sudden attack.
"What the?!"
Waraki was surprised before receiving a sudden punch to the face, causing him to be knock the hell out. As the red haired knew was sent flying a few feet away with a broken nose, Julius was shocked by this since he knows that the one possessing Subaru is using his Invisible Providence ability.
Before he could think for a counter, he could feel that he's about to get his only for Garfiel and Yorna to jump in and protect him by pushing away the attack with their combined strength.
"I ain't done." Garfiel spoke both in a weak yet aggressive voice.
"You won't get away with possessing that boy." Yorna said in a stern tone.
As the two were the next ones to attack Vanitas, he looked at Garfiel with an annoyed expression before attempting to use the unseen hand to knock the boy out only for another fighter to join in.
"Ora! Ora!"
"Huh?"
Before he was able to counter, he received a punch that was hard enough to send him flying. Garfiel and Yorna looked shocked as they witnessed Kenichi suddenly appear.
"That was my greatest punch." Kenichi spoke to Vanitas with a proud voice before pulling out his sword. "Hope you were able to see it, son, because you won't be able to feel what my full strength is a second time."
"Tsk." Vanitas gave him a cold look before slowly standing up tall.
"Oi! Cap'n! Snap out of it!" Garfiel shouted once he was standing next to his stepfather, wanting to help reach his best friend and step brother. Kenichi's smile and calm expression shifted into a serious one. He patted Garfiel in the shoulder while telling him,
"Unfortunately, Garf, that right there isn't Natsuki Subaru."
"Correct. I'm not Natsuki Subaru. His heart has become a part of mine now."
"What?"
"Huh?"
Julius and Garfiel were taken aback by this while Kenichi just gave the boy that is possessing his son a cold stare.
"Come on Natsuki Subaru, don't let this idiot possess you like that!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, wanting to reach his son. Vanitas scoffed at this before telling Natsuki Kenichi:
"Don't bother. Your voice won't be able to reach him where he is. His heart is now a part of darkness, just as all of you will be in a moment."
"I don't think so." Kenichi said smugly as he turned towards his back side to see the person he had noticed finally join the fight to saving his son. Vanitas looked with a blank expression, seeing just another annoyance joining in while Garfiel was surprised to see her.
"Princess..."
Emilia looked at Garfiel for a moment, before turning towards the others to see that everyone was injured by what seemed to be Natsuki Subaru, her knight and fiancé. She walked right towards this 'Natsuki Subaru' before pointing her hand towards him.
"Let him go, you villain."
("Come on Natsuki Subaru, don't let this idiot possess you like that!")
'...dad...?'
Subaru's mind felt like it was drifting in an eternal like slumber. He was unsure where he was at first until he finally managed to open his eyes. He looked around and starting to think to himself:
'This place is oddly familiar.'
He noticed that he was floating once he finished his thought though it wasn't for very long as there was land a few inches away from him.
Once his feet had touched the ground, he observed his surroundings closely before realizing where he was.
"This is...my heart."
The last time he recalls being here was assisting his master in defeating the spirit of Petelguese.
As he recognized that he was back in his heart, he realized that something else was here as well, an annoyance that's been there since the Pleiades watchtower.
"Vanitas..."
He looked down and saw that his outburst had given way for the Organization member to combine with his heart close enough to be the host of his body.
He didn't like this since Vanitas could basically tarnish his reputation by doing villainous things, which could harm Emilia's reputation in the process.
As he was thinking this, he noticed Vanitas with his iconic keyblade slowly floating from the darkness into the light, a few feet away from him.
He gave him a glare while Vanitas began to speak to him:
"Our union is almost complete. This body will be mine."
"..."
Subaru was silent for a second before pulling out his Rebirth keyblade out to point it towards his opponent.
"Like hell you'll get this body."
Vanitas smirked when he heard the boy say this, finding it laughable.
"Hahaha. Do you really think you can do anything against me?!"
Natsuki Subaru looked at his opponent with a disgust look, hating the Organization member for hijacking his body but also for how arrogant he's acting.
"It's my body, meaning I have home field advantage."
"That may be true, but you aren't a worthy keyblade wielder. It's already bad enough that the keyblade had chosen you to be its wielder."
"Still on about that?" Subaru questioned as he raised his eyebrow. "Man, you really are a salty brat."
Vanitas's smile had gone away as he commented to the boy's comment:
"For all that bravado you speak, we both know you are still in his shadow. You still are just the pathetic apprentice that can't save anybody. That allowed those to die and only die when he feels like he screwed up. Now that's the peak of cowardness. At least when I die, I accept it."
"..." Subaru had anger when he heard this, since majority if not all of his deaths weren't because he wanted to run away and fix a mistake he had made.
Yes, he has fixed bad timelines such as losing Sora, Emilia, Rem, Ram, and all those he cares about.
All he ever wants is for everyone to have a happy ending.
His future wife, his contracted spirit, his parents, his step siblings, his friends, his master, and all those innocent lives that would be lost if he hadn't had Return By Death.
He looked up towards the pitch darkness while beginning to say in a calm gesture:
"I know that I'm not as strong as Master Sora, Emilia-tan, Garfiel, Rem, Reinhard, my father, or mother. I know I'm not as smart as Otto, Beako, Ram, or even that damn Roswaal. I'm the useless idiot that can set everything right after I die and coming back." Subaru paused for a second as he looked at his keyblade, starting to think of the person that gave him this power to rewind everything.
'Satella.'
"If it wasn't for her, then I would've been gone long ago. That's why I'm grateful for everyone." He looked back at Vanitas as he pointed his keyblade at him once again.
As Subaru pointed his keyblade directly towards Vanitas, outside in the real-world Emilia looked at the eyes of the person possessing her Subaru with a determined look.
"Free my knight."
"You think I will just because you asked?" Vanitas questioned as he found Emilia's demands amusing as well as pathetic. "You both are pathetic people."
The atmosphere began to freeze up a bit as Emilia did not like the way Vanitas was speaking about Subaru.
Though her anger was rising, she knew that she had to keep herself in check since harming Vanitas would also harm her knight. She stood tall as she began to tell Vanitas:
"I will save him. No matter how hard it'll be, I will save my dearest knight."
As Emilia had said this in the real world to the Vanitas possessing Natsuki Subaru, in the station of awakening, Subaru said to the Vanitas there:
"My name is Natsuki Subaru, the knight of Emilia-tan, the successor of Sora, and the one who will carve my own path."
Author's note:
Right in the end game baby. I was going to post this tomorrow but since today (March 8th) is my birthday, I thought "Why not?". Anyway hope you all enjoyed the chapter.