"It might be a game, but it's not something you play." - Akihiko Kayaba
[Cram Transmit transferring to final stage.]
[Coordinates: Royal Capital, Dragon Kingdom of Lugnica.]
[Interjump Inertia protection in place.]
[Acknowledging Foreign Character.]
[Additional Factor secured.]
[Starting World Transfer.]
[Beginning Conversion.]
[Instantaneous Transmit beginning in 3... 2... 1...]
"[Ul Sekai!]"
"I've been summoned into a parallel world?!"
Natsuki Subaru's scream of excited disbelief could have reached the Heavens as the young Japanese instantly set about exploring the area he had been teleported into.
He learned lots of things, some significant, some embarrassing, all realistic yet fantastical. Subaru was somehow capable of hearing the local language and speaking it back and the only reason he knew it wasn't Japanese was due to all the unreadable signs, posters and writings he'd seen around.
He would've definitely known to not step into a public women's bathroom if he could read the signs.
Also, the food of this world was pronounced different despite looking (and probably tasting) exactly the same as his world's and his money was totally useless as well.
An hour later, Subaru sat alone in an alleyway, completely soaked to the bone from falling into a river and waiting to dry off. "Is this how its supposed to be? Wasn't I summoned into a parallel world?! Where'd my protagonist status go?!"
Subaru dug up his thankfully waterproof phone and started looking through his contacts. Nothing new there. "My phone still works but it's now mostly useless without service! Plus, my starting gear's- wait a minute."
Subaru stared at the little bag at his feet, just noting the large lumpy shape underneath the snacks he had both back in Homeworld. A quick search unearthed it to be the weirdest fruit he'd ever seen. "There is something, after all! No wonder I couldn't use magic back then if I hadn't eaten this... this... Holy crap!"
Gaping at the large apple shaped fruit, it was black in color with scaly features and bluish luminescent swirls on the scales, with stems that resembled horns.
"N-No way... a Devil Fruit..." Subaru cradled the frui- no, treasure in both his hands. One Piece was one of the most famous manga back in Homeworld and if this was really what he thought it was... "Wait. Which one is this? Paramecia? Logia? Zoan? And even then, DF abilities need lots of control... Plus, I don't even know this particular one..."
Obviously, the fruit offered no answers, it's appearance subtly displaying it's eldritch nature as every swirl seemed to shift and roll whenever Subaru stared too long at them.
"...this actually explains a bit." Subaru hummed as he surveyed the fruit some more. "If this is all I'm getting, the Difficulty setting of this world must be crazy high. Does this also mean that Haki might be available as well...? Well, down the hatch with you."
Subaru brought the fruit up to his mouth and bit into it. His taste buds were instantly assaulted as the fruit became like chewable ash in his mouth, along with the addition of spices and burnt rubber combined to exist as the worst thing in his tongue's memory.
Inexplicably, Subaru kept biting and chewing, being compelled to swallow rather than puke until the entire fruit was gone. As soon as he was finished, the compulsion vanished, leaving Subaru free to express his disgust. "Bleargh! So gross! Kid Luffy was right! Why does something so powerful taste so shitty?! Also, why the hell do I know what ash and burnt rubber taste like?!"
[Confirmed.]
[Zoan-type Devil Fruit acquisition successful.]
[Acquisition of Devil Fruit has induced paralysis effect whenever sufficiently dowsed in water.]
Shuddering, Subaru raised a hand and clenched it repeatedly. "Nope. Don't feel anything. Let's just hope I don't fall into another river or I'm screwed."
"Oh? I think you're screwed anyways." Subaru looked forward with a raised eyebrow as three ragged looking young men approached him with evil smirks, the middle one with grayish pink hair even having a piercing on his protruding tongue. "If you don't wanna get hurt, cough up whatever you've got!"
With a cocky smirk from the leader, Subaru was picked up by his shirt.
"CRAP!"
A voice suddenly shouted from behind.
"Move it, move it! You guys outta my way!" A blonde girl ran through the alley, shouting in a panic.
"A cute girl in torn yet light clothes? I was expecting a cute witch girl for my Summoner but your character type ain't bad eith-?!" Subaru's words derailed as the girl stopped to blink at him in confusion.
"Summoner? I dunno what you're talking' about, but I'm busy! Sorry, live strong!" The blonde girl blurted out in a hurry and shot Subaru an apologetic smile and an encouraging thumbs up before displaying incredible agility as she climbed and jumped over the wall to the alley's end, leaving Subaru to be mugged.
"Wait, what? What?!" Subaru gawked in shock before turning to the equally stunned thugs. "Hey, that didn't make you decide to be less hostile toward me, by any chance, did it?"
The fat one grew angry and cracked his fingers. "Actually, it rained on our parade and made things worse."
"Yeah, of course..." Subaru laughed nervously. 'Just calm down, Natsuki Subaru. You're now a Devil Fruit user. Just believe in your new power and swing!'
And in a moment, the black-haired boy delivered a swift hook towards the tallest and fat thug standing on the right. "You lumps of EXP!"
"You bastard!" The silver haired thug pulled out a pair of knives, causing Subaru to panic and wave his left arm towards him.
There was a sudden burst of steam as Subaru's swung arm transformed, blowing away the remaining two thugs and filling the alleyway in mist. Cracks instantly spread out across the walls as something too big for the space pressed against them.
"Shit! Was that magic?! Who does that guy think he-?!" The smallest thug cut himself off a massive clawed and scaly hand slammed down next to him. The steam slowly cleared away to just slightly reveal a scaly head the size of his entire body looking down on him. "...is?"
"Still hostile?" The voice that spoke from the creature's lips still sounded like the guy who they'd just been accosting but much, much deeper. With a sudden implosion and some electrical crackling, the fog rushed inwards to reveal Subaru again. "Luckily, I'm a forgiving guy. Scram."
The three thugs instantly made their exit, although Subaru was still surprised when the leader slowed down to carry the smaller and slower one who fell behind.
"Guess 'Honor amongst Thieves' is a thing here..." Subaru murmured as he sat back down on his previous spot. For a few seconds, he sat in silence until he started to tremble with excitement as he clenched and unclenched his hand, enjoying the ripples of bluish green scales across the human skin of his forearm. "Also, Carnivorous Zoan ability confirmed... and the weird mist means that it's MYTHICAL!"
Subaru laughed out loud, elated at hitting the Devil Fruit rare jackpot. He was just about to leave and go find a private stretch of land to properly experiment when suddenly-
"Excuse me."
-he halted as the most beautiful girl he had ever seen approached him in the alleyway.
A beautiful silver-haired half-elf with skin as white as snow and eyes so beautiful as they shined with their amethyst color. Witnessing her beauty, Subaru's eyes almost sparkled as he looked at her with admiration and awe.
"Did you see a blonde girl pass through here?" The royally dressed girl queried, her stern tone still managing to convey grace and kindness. "She stole something of great importance to me."
Subaru thought back to the blonde girl who had passed by earlier. "Blonde girl, short, long red scarf, super agile?"
The half-elf stepped forward in eagerness. "So you at least remember her appearance. Where did she go?"
Subaru thumbed towards the wall behind him. "Over that wall. Still, I'm kinda new in this... area so I don't even know the name of the large street behind you, not to mention where she might've gone."
"I see..." The girl sighed in disappointment. "Even so, I can't let my insignia get taken away like that."
"Insignia?" Subaru questioned with a confused expression as he shook his jacket and put it back on. "You mean one of those badge things that shows your affiliation?"
"It has a red jewel in the center and it's this big." The girl explained with her fingers measured together in the shape of her desired item.
Subaru shook his head apologetically. "Sorry, but if she had something like that, she definitely wasn't carrying it in her hands."
"There's no helping it, then." The girl sighed in disappointment again. "Thank you for your help, sir."
"Wait a minute." Subaru raised a hand to get the girl's attention as she started to walk away. "If you don't mind my company, do you need my help in searching of the girl? Let me help you."
"Even if you remember her appearance-"
"What happens if I see her again?" Subaru cut her off. "I don't know how I'd contact you. Plus, you strike me as someone who needs help but isn't sure on how to ask for it."
"Wh-What?!" The girl's stern expression broke down into adorable panic as she was easily seen through. "No, I'm not!"
*POOF!*
"Sorry, Lia. He's seen right through you." A cute little cat with a satchel and an earring in it's left ear poofed into existence from the gem on her collar, giggling as it floated unassisted between the two. "This is why I've always told you to stop being so insincere."
"Wow!" Subaru gawked at the cat in surprise. "A familiar?! You must be a pretty skilled mage."
"Normally, I'd bite you in half for even considering the great me as a lowly familiar," The cat spoke in a cutesy manner despite the threat in it's words. "but since you're clearly praising my Lia, keep them coming. By the way, I'm a Spirit. Remember that, boy."
"Please be quiet." The silverette gently tapped her finger on the cat's head, causing it to fall silent with a smirk. With that done, she faced Subaru. "You're strange… I can't repay you if you help me."
Subaru's smile widened as he held a finger up. "Then… I'm going to help you out for my own sake, too… let's see… yeah! One good deed per day!"
The silverette looked away with a conflicted look on her face, turning to the Spirit as it flew to land on her shoulder.
"I don't sense any malice. I think you can just accept his offer." The Spirit looked at Subaru with a smirk as he teased. "After all, he looks like a very reliable meat shield to keep between you and ruffians."
"That's what you want me around for?!" Subaru glared at the cat in outrage, sharp fangs replacing his human teeth for an instant.
"I mean it, though. I can't do anything to thank you." The silverette affirmed one more time, trying to convince him to stay away.
Subaru simply chuckled and thumbed his chest. "No problem, just leave it to me."
Despite his words, it was far more difficult to find her than Subaru thought.
He and the girl searched through congregated areas, nearly entered a restricted area but was hastily stopped by her who pointed at a sign with the still undecipherable language above it which most likely stated DO NOT ENTER, used a hand drawn picture of the girl, even nearly mistaking a younger lookalike for the thief.
"I talked big, but isn't this town too huge to find one girl in?" Subaru murmured as he and the Half-Elf rested on a high balcony, the Zoan himself slumped on a ledge with disappointment clear on his face.
"It's the capital of Lugnica. You didn't even know that… umm…" The Half-Elf paused and gave Subaru a sheepish look.
Ah.
"That's right. We haven't asked your name yet." The Spirit cut through his partner's silent embarrassment without a fuss as he addressed Subaru. "Should we introduce ourselves?"
"Oh, yeah, You're right. I'll introduce myself first, then." Subaru got up and did a weird pose with his finger pointed at the sky. " My name is Natsuki F. Subaru! Not only am I clueless, I'm also broke beyond compare! Nice to meet you!"
"When that's all you say, you really do sound hopeless." The cat remarked before floating from the silverette's side. "And I'm Puck! Even though I look small and cuddly, I can still splatter the streets with your body parts! Nice to meet you!"
...wait, what?
Puck suddenly accelerated towards Subaru only to be met with his hand and began to shake it with his entire upper body.
The Silverette blinked in surprise. "It's very unusual to see someone who can touch a spirit so casually. Where are you from?"
"Well, following the usual pattern, a small island nation to the east." Subaru answered with Puck copying him as he crossed his arms. 'Did I imagine that bit about Puck's introduction?'
The Silverette frowned as she mentally consulted her geographical knowledge. "Lugnica is the easternmost nation on our continental map. There is no nation to the east."
"No way, really?" Subaru gained a shocked face, unaware of Puck still copying him. "There's nothing east of here?"
"You have no idea where you are, you have no money, you can't read, and you have no one who can help you." The silverette counted Subaru's problems down, her stunned look transforming to one of pity. "You might be in an even more precarious position than I am… um, Subaru, was it?"
Subaru blushed from hearing his first name pass through her lips. "Yes, that's my name."
Puck finished playing around and flew up to face Subaru. "But when I look at you this way, you seem pretty well-built. You still smell weird for a human, though."
'He probably means my Devil Fruit power.' "I do work out and exercise everyday." Subaru clenched his hands. "For a shut-in who's gotta guard his home, that much is a given."
"I'm not sure I understand what a 'shut-in' is, but that means you're from a respectable family, right?" The girl questioned as she approached and took his hand in her fingers, ignoring his flustered surprise. "Your fingers, too. They're very pretty and smooth. They're evidence that you don't live as a peasant at all. And your muscles don't look like the kind gained from work or combat."
Subaru stepped back from her and changed the subject. "U-Uh, anyway, I know your cat's name now, but I haven't heard your's yet."
"My name?"
Subaru nodded excitedly. "Yeah."
"I am..." The girl looked off to the side as a breeze blew through and slowly carried her hair about. "...Satella."
Subaru blushed from the fairytalelike name, completely missing Puck's dropped jaw.
"I have neither a middle initial nor a family name. You can just call me 'Satella'."
"I see… Satella… That's a nice name." Subaru honestly complimented, causing Puck to now look at him in surprise. 'I guess 'Lia' must be a shortened nickname from that.'
"You really are some far-off foreigner." Puck muttered before he flew close to Satella and disappeared into her hair after whispering these words in slight reproach. "You have terrible taste, Lia. This boy has yet to lie to either of us."
Subaru who didn't hear Puck's words, grew confused at the guilt on her face before deciding to change subjects. "Well then, time to get back to asking around!"
"Hey, Subaru..." Satella pointed at a little girl who constantly tried and failed to get the attentions of the people passing her by. Do you get the feeling that that child is lost?"
"Uh, but what about our questioning?" Subaru asked after noticing her. "Weren't you in a hurry to catch that thief?"
"That's also important, but if she's lost, we have to do something, right?" Satella pressed brashly.
"...well, it's not like you're not wrong, Satella." Subaru faced the girl again, missing Satella's guilty twitch again. "Still, you're such a nice girl! Just remember to sort your priorities straight next time, okay?"
Satella flinched, a heavy blush dominating her cheeks. "I-I can get my priorities straight!"
"You sure?" Puck's voice teased from her hair as Subaru approached the little girl, causing Satella to groan and follow after him.
"How best not to sound like a pedophile..." Subaru murmured as he reached the little girl. She looked up in relief only to blanch at his scary appearance, with the position of the Sun darkening his face a bit and intensifying his already scary eyes. "Hey, there!"
The girl flinched back, turning to her left only to find Satella squatting there with a kind smile on her face. For some reason, that prompted a worse reaction as the girl stepped back and clutched Subaru's pants for comfort.
Ignoring that with the countenance of someone too used to that, Satella's smile didn't waver in the slightest. "I'm sorry if I scared you. So, what's the matter? Aren't your mama and papa with you?"
Although she was gentle with her, the small child seemed to be frightened of Satella and began shedding tears into Subaru's leg as she clutched to it tighter.
"Um, uh... Please, don't cry..." Satella started to panic, trying to calm the little girl down to no avail. "I won't do anything to you, all right?"
Suddenly, Subaru's left hand patted the top of the girl's head as he crouched down and displayed a coin in his spare hand between the two girls. "What I have here is one grooved-edge ¥10 coin."
Surprising the two girls, he clenched his hand tight. "I will now clutch it tightly in my hand. Tight, tight, tight… like that! And now imagine that! " He opened his palm to reveal it was empty when it should have had the coin in it. The girl looked amazed at Subaru to which he gave a gentle smile.
"Where did it go? Well, it's right over here." Subaru's left hand, which had still been rubbing the girl's head, came down and opened up to reveal the missing coin.
The girl smiled with awe and astonishment but looked up at him with an asking look. Satella was boggled as well. "How?!"
"You can have this. Its rare, so take good care of it." Subaru chuckled and extended his coin to the girl.
The little girl smiled brightly and took the coin. "Thank you!"
Subaru smiled in satisfaction from her reaction only to raise an eyebrow from Satella's intense stare. "W-What is it? Is it about that 'priorities' stuff I said earlier?"
"How did you do that trick with the coin?"
"Is that what was bothering you?!"
"I see. You got separated form your mama, huh?" Subaru assured the little kid with a charming smile as he and Satella walked her throughout the marketplace. "Hey, it'll be fine! Just leave it to me and this young lady here. We'll find them for you in no time. "
They walked some more until they finally ran into the girl's mother.
After waving off the mother's grateful thanks, the duo took a short rest on a bridge arching over a fountain pond.
"Even as we searched for that girl's mother, the thief didn't pop up again." Subaru muttered as he watched the water flowing below his ledge. "But, hey, we successfully got a lost kid reunited with her mother! Are you satisfied, my fair lady?!"
He finished with a finger snap, which prompted Satella to cross her arms. "Indeed. Now we can continue our search with our minds at ease. Anyway, why did you help me right after rebuking my priorities?"
"I could say I just wanted to show off my magic trick, but that would be a lie. I told you, finding your insignia is my one good deed for the day!" Subaru charmed with a pose and smile but Satella instantly refuted him with a raised brow.
"Then, since you helped the little girl, isn't your one good deed over?"
Subaru recoiled from that rational response. "That comeback was way too logical! Come on, it doesn't hurt to do more than one nice thing in a day right? I just got tomorrow's out of the way. My plan is to get a week's worth of good deeds taken care of early!"
"...Subaru, you're the type that basically wastes your whole life, aren't you?" Satella refuted again with a look of pity aimed at the boy.
Subaru slumped forward and moaned. "You're the last one I want saying that to me."
"You aren't a bad boy, though."
"Why are you treating me like I'm younger than you again?" Subaru sighed as he drew his finger across the rough texture of the stone he was resting on. "I doubt there's much age difference between us."
"I don't think making guesses on that will help you. I'm a Half-Elf." Emilia looked down with a dark expression suddenly covering her face. One of sadness and frustration.
Subaru looked up at her, instantly noting the ears he had seen right from the moment they met.
"Now I get it." He whispered in an astonished tone, causing Satella to surreptiously grip her knuckles tight. "No wonder they were smaller than I thought! To think a girl who blood is only half Elven could still be so cute!"
"Eh?"
"What?" Subaru asked in confusion as Satella stared at him with a stunned expression.
"'What'? Well, I mean... I'm a Half-Elf..." She stuttered.
"Yeah, I heard you."
Satella stood up from the ledge and looked away from the confused boy. Then, she held her head in her hands as she suddenly lowered herself to keep him from seeing her blush.
Subaru became even more confused when Puck flew out of her hair and punched him in the face softly.
"What'd you do that for?" Subaru asked, eyeing the Spirit which hadn't even removed it's fist yet.
Puck removed his fist and trembled as it hunched inwards in midair. "I just had to do something about this tension!"
Subaru touched Puck's nose with the tip of his and smirked. "I can't accept being hit for a reason like that. Though I forgive you because it was squishy and cute."
"I didn't hit you out of anger or anything. The opposite, in fact."
"Subaru, you're such a dunderhead!" Satella turned around and glared at him with her cheeks still burning red.
"Dunderhead? Who says that in this day and age?" Subaru suddenly gasped as he tapped his fist into his palm. "Oh, wait. Judging by the usage of wagons and carriages being used everywhere, this should be around the Medieval Era... Did that word even exist yet around this time period?"
As Puck tilted his head at Subaru's strange words, Satella took advantage of the distraction to calm down as she stood back up. "Now that we're done resting, we should resume our search."
"Hang on!" Subaru stopped the Half-Elf from leaving. "Running around without a plan never ends well. That's a basic rule of searches!"
"A basic rule of searches?"
"Yep." Subaru nodded, unminding of Puck taking a seat on his head and starting to sniff him again. "You revisit the crime scene several times over. Where was your insignia stolen?"
"You see, it seems the crime happened right around here, so I came back to this fruit stand after bravely telling her to leave it to me." Subaru continued in a Holmes-like manner, sweatdropping as they found themselves right before the fruit vendor he had bothered earlier in the day.
The fruit vendor was not amused. "What? I thought I had a customer but, but it's just you, broke kid?"
"Do you really want to keep that attitude going?" Subaru remarked. "Haven't you noticed something different from before?"
"What?"
"Just look at the pretty girl I brought with me!" Subaru gestured to Satella. "Ain't she got a 'regular customer' vibe?"
"Um, Subaru..." Satella gained a slightly embarrassed tone. "You seem to have some weird expectations of me, but I don't have any money, either."
"Huh?! Seriously?"
The vendor was really unamused right now. "So, what did you want to say to me, now that I have two broke customers?"
Subaru turned to face the vendor with a sheepish expression. "Actually, we're looking for someone and we hoped we could ask you some questions… "
"That was a sarcastic way of telling you I don't have time for losers with no money!" The vendor snapped at Subaru in anger, before gesturing to Satella as well. "Get outta here, the both of you!"
"Onii-chan!" A cheerful, childish and familiar voice called out, causing everyone to look to the side and see the little girl and her mother from earlier waving at them. "Thanks again for your help earlier."
"What brings you two back here?" Subaru asked the mother.
"It's my husband's shop, so we were just stopping by."
"Husband?" Subaru looked at the vendor and then the daughter, noting the similarities in hair and eye colors. While the girl had a similar facial structure to her mother, he now knew where the rest came from.
"Hey, there's my girl." The vendor himself instantly calmed down as his daughter came in close for a hug. He then looked to his wife in surprise while thumbing the two beside him. "Wait, you know these broke losers?"
"Our little darling got lost and they found her." The wife replied, causing the vendor to glare at them again.
"Here, lady." The girl approached Satella with a flower and presented it.
"Please accept it." The mother implored. "She wants to thank you in her own way."
"Thank you." Satella accepted the flower and clipped it to the front of her dress.
The vendor cleared his throat to gain their attention. "Sorry about all that earlier. You both helped my daughter, so I want to thank you. You can ask for anything."
The two smiled brightly at one another but Satella's smile turned into a proud, superior smirk.
"There, you see?" The Half-Elf rested her hands on her hips, cocking her head back into a smug visage. "That came back around and worked in our favor! And to think you were complaining about priorities earlier?"
Later in the late afternoon, Subaru and Satella, with Puck riding her shoulder for her protection, found themselves walking though a rough and impoverished neighborhood, nothing like the rest of the capital. People with worn out clothing and nasty glares stared at them both as if they were food.
"The atmosphere, air, and the attitudes of the people living here are awful. Felt felt-" Subaru briefly halted at that accidental wordplay before continuing. "Felt felt way too peppy and bright to come from a place like this. Are we in the right place?"
"It might be that Felt girl." The vendor examined Subaru's drawing of the thief, uncaring as his daughter played about on his back. "She's well known in the slums. Dunno where she lives, though."
"Maybe someone will tell us if we ask." Satella suggested only for both Subaru and Puck to disagree.
"No one would sell out one of their own, so I don't think that would work." Puck spoke as he drowsily rested against Satella's head.
"That's true." Subaru thought back to the three thugs from before, who had made a point of not abandoning each other to a threat. "Plus, just like that apple- I mean, appa vendor kept reminding us, no one's going to do anything for us when we're both still broke. Maybe we should comeback another time."
"Whether you stay or leave, you should decide quickly." Puck yawned. "I'm almost out of time."
Subaru looked at Puck, confused. "You're what? Out of time?"
"I have a cute appearance, but I am a Spirit. It takes a lot of mana just to physically appear." Puck leaned forward drowsily before rising up again. "So at night, I return to the crystal I was summoned from and prepare for the emergence of the Sun. On average, my ideal staying time is from about nine to five."
"9:00AM to 5:00PM? You sound like a civil servant." Subaru remarked. "Employment terms for spirits are more strict than I thought..."
"We'll be fine without Puck. We have to move forward." Satella stayed resolute.
"Yeah. But sorry… I'm at my limit… " Puck yawned again and began to fade away.
"I feel like I'm watching a ghost pass on." Subaru whispered as the spirit became more and more translucent.
"Sorry to work you so hard, Puck." Satella smiled at her Spirit. "We'll handle things from here, so get some rest."
"Don't do anything reckless." Puck warned to the girl as he rested on her opened palms. "If it comes down to it, use the Od to summon me again."
"Don't worry." Subaru reassured, raising his hand to briefly transform it to become scaly and clawed before returning it back. "If anything happens, I have transforming abilities to help her out."
"So that was what I've been smelling on you. Even though I don't smell Demi-Human blood in you, you possess transformation abilities. In all my years of existence, I've never seen magic like that before." Puck remarked before shaking his head as he threatened to disappear midsentence. "I guess I can leave the rest to you, Subaru. Take care of my Lia until morning arrives."
Puck glowed into aqua light before suddenly bursting into several balls of light that amazed Subaru before vanishing into Satella's gem.
"Hey, I haven't been alone with a girl since I was in grade school!" Subaru whispered while heavily flustered as he and Satella walked deeper into the slums.
"Don't get any weird ideas." Satella warned instinctively and narrowed her eyes at him. "It's not like your weird transformation magic but I know magic as well."
"I-I won't!" Subaru hastily replied as he and Satella passed over a small bridge. "Anyways, unless we do something to pinpoint her location, the only way we're going to find Felt in here is through a surprise encounter."
"I'll ask the lesser spirits." Satella answered while stopping on the bridge.
"Lesser spirits?" Subaru tilted his head.
"Lesser spirits are beings that haven't become spirits yet." Satella explained. "They grow over time, gain strength and self-awareness, and then evolve into full Spirits, like Puck."
Satella lowered her head and whispered some undecipherable words that Subaru couldn't even hear, leaving him to stare in awe as tiny blue flashing lights surrounded Satella as she glowed similarly to them.
It was now nighttime, with the atmosphere now eerie enough to worry Subaru. Without the usual flashing lights of his home city, he had underestimated how dark the world could be without sunlight.
"It's getting lonelier and lonelier." Satella fretted, a slightly raised hand at the ready for any sudden surprises. "I've been seeing less and less people."
"In places like this, it's generally a bad idea to be outside by this time unless you're strong enough to fight off threats." Subaru commented as he surprisingly felt like he wasn't in danger. Was it the Zoan Beast in him? After One Piece had come in with the Alabasta and Enies Lobby arcs, the question of Zoan Devil Fruits having a secondary consciousness in them had sparked serious debates and arguments over the forums, with the reveals of Zoan weapons and Chopper's Monster Point. He made a point of following through on that tidbit later. "Does Felt really live in a place like this?"
"The lesser spirits said they saw someone who looked like Felt coming in this direction… " Satella muttered.
Subaru hummed in response, staring at a man who briefly stared back before passing them by. "Hey, bro! Does a girl named Felt live up the way?"
"Huh? Felt?" The man suddenly gained an amused and understanding smile. "Nothing that way but Old Man Rom's loot house. Did Felt steal something from you guys? Well, go ahead and try negotiating to get it back. Live strong."
'Live strong...' Subaru blinked as the man said the same goodbye greeting as Felt did and walked off. "Hey, Satella, is there a special meaning to those last words he said? I remember Felt saying that as well when she ran past me earlier."
Satella shrugged. "It might be a popular saying around here. Still, that proves that she definitely lives around here, at least."
An incredibly beautiful woman with dark hair hummed silently in the loot house, idly flipping her one of her Kukri Knives as she heard noises from outside.
"Don't come in until I say it's all right, Satella."
'Satella?' Elsa Granhiert snapped to full attention as the door opened, a young Human man casting an immensely bright light onto the ground from a small tool in his right hand.
"Excuse me."
Elsa slunk to the shadows as the boy's light shone only before him, allowing her to easily sneak into his blind spot.
"Now, am I walking into a demon nest or a snake pit? In a fantasy world, either is totally plausible… This is all stolen loot?"
The Bowel Hunter smiled in amusement as the boy didn't look over the counter. If he did, he would have found that blond child's disemboweled corpse, her beautiful intestines spilling out of her. However, he definitely didn't miss the old man's brutalized body as blood still drippled from it's missing throat.
Elsa stealthily strode towards him from behind, resisting the urge to giggle as she let her breath wash over his ear. "Oh, dear. You found that? Well, I have no choice... but to see your bowels as well."
A black blade flashed, only to create sparks rather than rend flesh.
Elsa gasped in surprise as the boy suddenly transformed. He had nearly doubled in size, with aquamarine scales all over his arms, back, outer torso and legs, along with four horns on his head, claws on both hands and feet and a long tail.
"Well... well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well." Elsa flipped her weapon in excitement. "I've never met someone like you. Are you some Demihuman? I've never seen a dragon type before. What color do your intestines have? I want to know~"
Elsa surged with her knife forward, clashing it against the creature's arm as she tried to slash his stomach. It seems that her usually reliable blades truly couldn't penetrate these scales. Also, the boy's new form displayed immense strength, crushing everything as it tried to keep her away. Just one hit from him would absolutely snap her like a twig.
How fun~!
A chunk of ice nearly took her head off as the Half-Elf broke through the door and entered the battle. Interesting but not as fascinating as the dragon hybrid before her. Still, she probably shouldn't indulge too much and cause too much noise in the area.
That Sword Saint was rumored to be patrolling nearby, after all. Unlike his comrades, he was one of the few knights not prejudiced against the peasants and would definitely come running if he heard of trouble.
Elsa instantly accelerated, appearing as a black blur all over the house. The two below her couldn't keep up, allowing her to easily pass by the Half-Elf's front.
As the Half-Elf's blood spurted out of her stomach, the dragon made a beautiful scream of despair that resounded through Elsa's heart, although she did have to increase her efforts-
Elsa suddenly ducked into the cover of her cloak as a blast of water smashed into her magical cloak, the liquid instantly soaking her.
The dragon cried and roared as he kept breathing his attack onto her until he ran out of breath. The instant he stopped to breath in, a blade instantly stabbed through his unprotected mouth. Before he reached the ground as he tilted back, Elsa was already straddling him, gleefully ripping his torso apart to get to the treasure within.
"You were such fun!" Elsa gasped as she held up his bloody guts up to their owner's face, watching as he slowly transformed back to human in the pool of his own blood. "Too bad you were still too weak against me. We could've gone for more rounds~"
Natsuki Subaru died.
mineminemineminemineminemineminemineminemineminemineminemineminemineminemine
In a void, the Zoan Devil roared defensively before the little ball of light that was it's owner's soul.
However, it was for naught as more of it's form faded away, already being reincarnated in the nearest suitable fruit.
*FWOOM!*
*CRUNCH!*
*FWOOM!*
*FWOOM!*
*CRUNCH!*
*CRUNCH!*
*CRUNCH!*
What seemed like thousand arms of corruptive darkness pierced through the dragon's body in numerous places, hastening it's disappearance.
It faded away mournfully, unable to do much due to it's Unawakened state, leaving a pale female, who possessed tainted, purple lips and was wreathed in haunting darkness, to kneel before the luminescent form of Subaru's soul and gently caress it in her arms.
"I l*ve y**" With that, she grabbed the soul right at the heart.
And squeezed.
[Player has died.]
[Authority of PRIDE activated.]
[Error!]
[Previous Character Data detected.]
[Initiating Synthesis.]
[Synthesis at 0.6%]
A voice could be heard. A shape could be seen but it was blurry to Subaru. Still, it slowly became comprehensible to him.
"What's the matter, boy? You look like you've seen a ghost." The appa vendor appeared from beneath the blurriness, holding out an appa and speaking with Subaru as if it was his first time meeting him.
Subaru slowly looked up at the man and raised a hand to his ear in confusion. "What?"
"I asked you about the appa. The appa! Do you even have money?"
Subaru held up both hands now in utter confusion. "What?"
"Don't 'What' me! The appa! Are you buying it or not?" The man asked while glaring furiously at the boy.
"Oh… No, like I said, I'm broke beyond compare…" Subaru shook his head and muttered in bewilderment at the sudden turn of events and environment.
"The hell? If you're just browsing, then move along. I run a business here. I don't have time for window shoppers!" The vendor yelled and waved Subaru away.
Subaru stood in the middle of the street as he checked his bag and his surroundings in the beautiful market at noon.
Noon?
"What's going on? Wasn't it nighttime just a minute ago?" Subaru had a haunted look on his face. "And that woman..."
Subaru choked as the memory of a blade carving into his stomach hit him. He swiftly looked down and raised his clothes to find his belly uncut and perfectly healthy. "The wound on my belly is gone… "
-A splash of blood. The tumbling fall of Satella's body as she painfully bled out-
"Oh, right! Satella! Damn it, didn't Puck ask me to take care of her? I have to get back to that shop!"
Subaru burst into a panicked run from the street, ducking into an alleyway where… he found the three same thieves from before.
"Hey, why do you look so spooked?" The small one taunted.
The grey haired one spoke afterwards. "If you don't wanna get hurt, cough up whatever you've got!"
"You guys… did you see me again and decide to get revenge?" Subaru growled out with a nasty glare on his face. "You called your boss or senpai to handle me?"
"Huh? What're you talking about?" The grey haired one asked. It truly seemed as if he had never met Subaru before. "Are you nuts?"
"Don't worry about it." The fat thug took over, greedily extending his hand. "Just leave everything you've got on the ground and we'll let you go."
"Alright, fine. Everything I've got, huh?" Subaru sighed as he put his bag on the ground for the three. "I'm in a hurry so I don't even care."
"Now act like a dog." The smaller one gained a cocky smirk, mistakenly believing Subaru to be a cowardly weakling. "Get on all fours and howl 'Help me!'."
It was too much for the stressed Otherworlder.
"Don't get cocky, you bastard!" Somehow remembering the grey haired to be the most dangerous, Subaru started with him and attacked with an uppercut that launched him off his feet.
With that done, Subaru switched to the annoying brat and kicked him into the wall hard enough to crack it.
Along with the guy's ribs too.
The larger thug snapped out of his stunned surprise and charged at Subaru, hurling powerful but awfully slow punches towards him, leading the latter to keep dodging until he managed to grab the thug's arm.
"Don't underestimate a truant kid with too much free time." Subaru squeezed tight with his left hand, causing the thug pain as he felt his wrist nearly get crushed. "After watching Bleach a lot and swinging a wooden sword around all the time in fantastical imitation, my grip strength is over 70kg!"
With that said, Subaru cocked and extended his fist into a leopard fist, pushing out his fore knuckles and sinking it deep into the fat thug's chest like a blade's point.
The poor thug instantly went down, clutching his chest as he wheezed helplessly.
"I'm in a hurry!" Subaru snarled as he grabbed up his bag and left. "Don't you ever get in my way again!"
"Don't freak out… don't freak out, don't freak out!" Subaru psyched himself up and knocked. "Is someone in there? Someone... Someone's in there, right?! Please answer me! Please!"
As he knocked and banged on the door in rising panic, it suddenly opened up, revealing the same dead old man he had seen bleeding on the ground last night.
It was... last night... right?
"Shut yer trap!" The huge man loomed over a stunned Subaru and lifted him up like a little cat. "You tryin' to bust down my door, when you don't even know the signal or password?!"
"I'm Natsuki Subaru, a passing by delinquent on a mission..." Subaru nervously replied, noting how the man's arm hadn't shaken in the slightest from his weight. "By the way, can you please put me down?"
Subaru sat inside the building at the bar with was most likely Old Man Rom, still spooked as he slowly munched at his Devil Fruit. 'Even my Devil Fruit's back... Still horrible, though.'
"What're you all fidgety for? Are your balls chafin' ya that much?"
"I'm not worried about the position of my privates!" Subaru comically replied. "Don't start the conversation with potty humor! It's scary considering how medicine for that probably hasn't even been invented yet! Then again, if this is some unknown island in One Piece, it might exist elsewhere..."
"You're already interrupting my evening booze." With that said, Rom went back to guzzling down his drink. "You'll kill me if you start talkin' about boring and weird stuff now."
"Don't drink while the sun's still up." Subaru idly repeated one of his father's advices. "You'll die young."
As Rom yawned uncaringly and went back to drinking, Subaru looked down to his hand. Idly transforming it to scaly and back, he looked back up with some conviction. "Actually… this is gonna sound dumb but… have you died recently, Rom?"
The old drunkard stared blankly at that before slapping a hand on top of his head as he burst into a laugh. "Well, I admit I'm an old man at death's door, but I ain't really died yet."
"Okay. Then have you seen a girl with silver hair?"
"Silver hair? I ain't seen anyone that conspicuous."
Subaru looked down in confusion after that answer. 'Was it all a dream? Then exactly how much was a dream? How did I then know to come here? And why am I in this world?'
Subaru flashbacked to all the people he had met so far. 'No, there's some realism to this. I'm no Fanfic writer, so I definitely couldn't have come up with so many original characters in my wildest dreams. Plus, the Devil Fruit is the only thing that actually links all this to One Piece, which never showcased serial killers like that woman in it's scary parts.'
Rom finished his drink and started to pour another. "So what are you doin' here, anyway?"
Subaru snapped out of his thoughts. "Oh… I'm looking for an insignia. It belongs to a silver-haired girl that I hanged out with earlier. I don't know why but it's important to her. I think she said it had a jewel in the center."
"An insignia with a jewel..." Rom took a gulp as he pondered before replying. "Sorry, but I ain't got anything like that."
"Are you sure? Try to think! Maybe you're just old and senile!" Subaru pressed on with a desperate look on his face.
"If I can't remember it when I'm at my best with booze in me, then the only explanation is that I don't know. But…" Rom gained a smirk on his face. "I've got someone bringing in goods later. I'm told it's some fine loot. There's a good chance it's what you're lookin' for."
"Is the one bringing it in a girl named Felt?"
"What?" Rom seemed surprised. "You even know who swiped it? Of course, whether you'll be able to afford it is another matter."
"Ha!" Subaru pointed at himself proudly. "It's no use trying to size me up. I'm broke as they come after all."
"There ain't no use talking about it, then." The old man shrugged and sighed at the letdown.
"No, no, there's still the option of trading." Subaru clicked his tongue and wagged a finger at the man, causing him to look at the boy's bag with some interest.
"Now that you mention it, you've got some unusual stuff there."
"That's right, for example this is a corn potage snack." Subaru picked out the small snack and pointed at it like a salesman. "It's super tasty!"
"That's food?" Rom opened it after it was handed over, eating the yellow chips that popped out. "I see! What an odd flavor! These would go great with booze!"
'Really? Who knew?' Subaru crossed his arms in victory. "Right? Right?... Hold up! Don't just start munching on them!"
Rom did not stop munching. "Well, I dunno what you plan to trade, but you'll have to come back after Felt gets here- mmn~! This is good!"
As the time soon reached sunset, Subaru sat in front of the building, idly staring at a pair of poor kids that eyed him up from afar, their hungry eyes mostly fixed on the bag beside him.
"I guess, in any world, there are always people with money and people without." Subaru noted as he noticed the lights already shining from the city up the mountain. "It sure is easy to see the difference here."
"Hey, what're you doing there? You're in my way."
Subaru blinked as a shadow blocked the sun from hitting his face. He then turned to see the blonde thief, as expected. "Felt!"
"You know me?"
"Of course I do! I've been waiting for you!"
"What for?"
"Wait, are you saying you don't remember me?"
Felt bent forward to inspect him. "Have we met? Y'know, I'm a busy woman, so unless you left a huge impression on me, I definitely wouldn't even bother to remember you."
Subaru groaned as he remembered when he'd first used his Devil Fruit in the dream...? Urgh, it hurt his head to think on it. "Well, forget that. I want to negotiate for the insignia you have."
Felt thought on it before smiling at that. "...oh, so that's it, huh? Alright, I'll hear you out."
With that said, Felt stepped up to knock on the door.
"For a rat…"
"Poison."
"For a white whale…"
"A harpoon."
"To the noble dragon lord, we are… "
"Shitbags."
'That's their password?' Subaru thought as Rom opened up to welcome Felt in. 'Well, I'll give full points for uniqueness, at least. Plus, are white whales a thing here? Ah, other world, other animal species.'
After some back-and-forth ribbing between all three of them, Felt finally got down to business. "Okay, well, why don't we get right down to business? How much will you pay for it?"
"You don't waste time…" Subaru deadpanned. "Before I answer, you do have it, right?"
"Of course I do! See?" Felt showed off the insignia with its ruby dimly glowing in her hand.
After handing it over to Rom for some inspection, Felt turned back to Subaru and gloated. "This one's got a jewel on it, so I had to work pretty hard to get it. If you can pay me enough to match my effort, we'll both be happy."
"I have no money." Subaru instantly admitted.
Felt gawked before replying heatedly. "Then we have nothing to discuss!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I may not have money itself, but what I do have are things worth money." Subaru fished out his phone and showed it to them. "What I have here is a magical device that can capture a moment in time for everyone, everywhere… Behold, the 'cellphone'!"
"What is that?" "Never seen one of those before."
Subaru simply opened it and activated the camera function. "Take this! Nine shots per second: Continuous Shot!"
The phone instantly flashed repeatedly, blinding the two as their pictures were taken several times in an instant. After he was done, he displayed their photos, idly noting Felt's already red eyes glowing in them.
"That's me and Felt's faces." Rom was hooked immediately. "What sort of magic is this?"
"I told you, it's a mystical item that can freeze a moment in time." Subaru explained. "With this, you can capture moments in time and store them in here."
"I see. That's amazing!" Felt exclaimed in astonishment.
"Never seen the like." Rom agreed as he eyed the device with increased interest. "Is that one of the 'metia' I've been hearing about?"
'Does he mean 'media'?' Subaru raised an eyebrow. 'I'm starting to think that I might not be the first Otherworlder here...' "Metia?"
"It's the name for devices that let people who haven't accessed the gate to use magic like real Magic Users." Rom explained as both teenagers turned to face him. "Apparently, the original meaning is the 'object that fell out of nowhere'."
"That's a meteor!" Subaru retorted in shock. "Those are cool to watch but dangerous if you're near their landing zone!"
"I'm more concerned with the price." Felt clarified. "What can I get out of this metia?"
"Well, it's my first time actually seeing one for myself." Rom answered firmly as he appraised it. "But I'd say there's no doubt it'll fetch more than that insignia."
"Then that settles it! This cellphone for the insignia! Negotiations complete!" Subaru reached forward for the insignia but was promptly denied by Felt snatching it from Rom's palm. "Hey!"
Felt held it securely in her fist. "Nope. Not yet. You're not the only one I'm negotiating with for this."
"Huh?"
"Besides, I nabbed this insignia because I was asked to." Felt returned the insignia back into her clothes. "My client told me I could get ten holy coins for it."
Subaru leaned back in disbelief. "You already had a deal with the one you stole it for? I don't know what ten holy coins would be worth, but… "
Rom interrupted Subaru. "That metia you've got is worth at least twenty holy coins… no, there are probably fanciers out there who'd pay more for a thing like that."
'This can actually count as a collector's item?' Subaru's eyes widened in surprise.
"Really?!" Felt shouted with an excited expression. "That means I can get away with overcharging for it!"
Subaru shook his head and asked. "So, when and where are you meeting the client?"
"Don't worry. Negotiations will be held right here." Felt assured. "If I tried to handle them alone, I'd be sunk if a client decided to bilk me. But with Old Man Rom here, I don't have to worry."
As Felt nodded in satisfaction, a knock on the door sounded, gaining everyone's attention.
Felt went to check who it was, leaving Subaru and Rom together.
"Are you okay with letting her use you like this?" Subaru whispered, as Felt left them to check the door.
"Well, it ain't like we're total strangers." Rom replied as he stood up from his stool. "I've known her for a long time, so I'll help her out."
Subaru chuckled wryly at the sight of Old Man Rom grabbing a huge wooden club with nails studded into it. "Oi. Oi. Even I'm going to shudder if someone looks too much like a barbarian before me."
"Well, have you not seen the area around here?" Rom set the club down, hiding it behind the bar. "Everyone around here is just desperate to survive. It's common for youngsters to join forces with others in similar situations, to keep themselves alive. But Felt ain't cut out for that. That's why I gotta look out for her."
"I was right. It was for me. Over here. Care to sit down?" Felt entered and with her... was...
"There seem to be several outsiders here." A seductive, smooth and familiar voice spoke pointedly as the owner of it entered behind the little blonde…
'Huh?' Subaru blinked as the sexiest and most dangerous woman he had ever met walked in... 'Do I... know her...?'
A well endowed, black-robed lady with violet eyes and jet black hair stood before the three with a stretched smile.
"Well, I'd be in trouble if you bilked me." Felt replied. "We weaklings have our own brand of smarts."
"I know this older fellow, but who is this young man?" The lady inquired gracefully and smoothly as she stared over Subaru's form.
"This is your rival. He's the other person negotiating with me." Felt answered sternly and introduced the two.
'Why do I feel terrified?' A chill ran down Subaru's spine as he and her locked gazes. "Um, do we... know each other from somewhere?"
"No." The woman replied with a small shake of her head. "Our shared hair color is actually pretty rare so I would definitely remember if I had met someone with your appearance."
"I see..." Subaru gulped. 'Black hair's rare in this world...? No, wait. That's not important right now. Why do I feel scared and angry at this chick?'
A blade stabbed into his mouth. A hand dug into his intestines and pulled them out. A woman in black straddled him with a blade in her hand, although her face was weirdly grayed out.
"I-I'm Subaru, by the way."
"Elsa." The Woman in Black curtsied.
The Woman in Black placed her down her glass of milk, musing as she took the time to sensually lick her moisturized lips. "I see. I understand the situation now."
"So that means you two will be bidding against each other. I don't really care who gets the insignia, so I'll sell it to the highest bidder." Felt finished explaining.
"I think I like that personality of yours." Elsa nodded her approval and gestured to Subaru. "So how much did this young man bid?"
"I'm putting up this metia. Its the only one of its kind in this world." Subaru took a quick photo and displayed it. "That muscly giant tells me that its worth no less than twenty holy coins."
"A metia..." The Woman in Black took a moment to admire her stunning visage. "As it happens, my client provided me with some extra funds, so you can be assured that I'm prepared to sweeten the deal."
"The client… So you were asked to fetch it, too?" Subaru inquired with narrowed eyes.
"That's right. The client is the one who wants it. Would you happen to be in the same business?" Elsa asked with her own narrow-eyed look aimed for Subaru.
"Being in the same business as me would mean they're unemployed!"
"..."
"..."
"...so, this unemployed guy has named a price that puts him far in the lead." Felt decided to move things along and passed Elsa the ball. "What price is your client putting on it?"
Elsa dropped a bag filled with silver coins on the table, making everyone look at it in shock.
Rom counted the coins. "Twenty, exactly. "
"These are all the holy coins my employer sent me with." Elsa stated assuredly, causing Subaru to ponder this world's currency system once again. "Are they not quite enough?"
Subaru frowned as he observed the coins. 'These aren't Beri...'
"You're a man! Don't make that pathetic face!" Rom chided Subaru's self-disappointed expression. "I told you, your metia is worth no less than twenty… "
Subaru looked up at Rom with a hopeful expression, missing Elsa's brief confusion, then realization.
"As I see it, victory in this deal is leaning toward the young man." Rom spoke to Elsa now. "Sorry for you and your employer, but you'd better bag up those coins and leave."
"Yes!" Subaru jumped up in excitement, making everyone look at him weirdly. "Wh-What? What's wrong with a little victory pose? I'm psyched!"
"No one said anything. Go as crazy as you want." Felt shrugged and looked bored as Elsa returned the coins into her bag. "I don't care as long as I get my profit."
"Uh, sorry, Elsa-san. You'll probably get in trouble, huh?" Subaru smiled sheepishly at the lady and rubbed his head.
"It can't be helped." Elsa sighed in disappointment and shrugged her shoulders. "It was my employer's fault for trying to underpay."
Standing up and drinking the last of her milk, the Woman in Black placed the now empty glass on the table and sighed once more. "Well, this deal ended in disappointment for me, but I shall take my leave now."
Licking her lips clean again, Elsa paused to look at Subaru. "By the way, what do you intend to do with that insignia?"
"Oh, I'm going to find it's owner and return it to her..." It was at this moment that Subaru knew... he'd Fucked Up.
"So..." Elsa's pleasant smile twisted into something dark and terrifying. "You're with them."
Subaru was suddenly pushed to the ground by Felt, too focused on her evil grin to have noticed the blade that would've disemboweled him. "Wh-What?"
"Do you want to die?!" Felt shouted at him in anger.
"Oh, my. You've got good instincts." Elsa appraised as she held a blade to where Subaru once was. "Then again, you wouldn't have been worth hiring if otherwise."
Her attention was caught when Rom picked up his club and smashed the place where she once stood. After dodging the first strike, Elsa jumped high and in the air to dodge the other strikes, leaving Rom to crush and break the chairs and tables she would land on and jump off immediately.
"This is my first battle to the death with a giant!" Elsa giggled childishly as she nimbly avoided all contact with the heavy strikes the giant was giving.
"Quiet, little girl! I'll grind you up and feed you to the rats!" Rom shouted gruffly.
Subaru and Felt watched as Rom and Elsa engaged in a battle of strength versus speed as the Woman in Black dodged and jumped out of the way of the old man's impressively strong hits.
"This is bad!" Subaru looked worried as even he could tell that Elsa was far beyond Rom's league. "We should help out!"
Felt, however, was confident. "Don't worry. There's no way Rom-jii will lose."
"Take this!" Rom reared back for a powerful blow, but before he could land the hit, Elsa finally attacked him with her blade, cutting his upper arm and everything below clean off.
"Rom-jii!" Felt shouted in despair as his severed limb fell near her, splattering her with blood.
"Damn it!" Grimacing at his wound, Rom charged at the lady. "At least I can take you with me!"
*BRAK!*
A lightning bolt streaked towards Elsa, forcing her to dodge out of the way. All of the others turned in surprise and shock (KingVessel: No pun intended.) to see Subaru with his right arm extended, the limb transformed into a scaly form with lightning sparking off it.
'I thought I only got water abilities... Wait, now's not the time.' "Didn't you say that you've been helping her out for a long time?!" Subaru yelled as he charged up lightning into a ball and shot it at Elsa, causing her to dodge again and keep at it as Subaru continued firing at her. "Don't you dare stop now! Felt, grab him and get out, right now!"
Felt snapped out of her daze and grimly nodded, rushing towards Rom in an instant. Curiously, Elsa ignored her, giving Subaru her full attention as he went into his Hybrid form.
"I've never seen magic that utilized lightning before!" Elsa giddily exclaimed as she suddenly charged forward, slamming her blade against Subaru's hastily raised arm, grinning further as it grinded on his scales. "And what a transformation, too. Do you possess Beast blood in you?"
"I never thought I'd say this to a hot lady like you, but you're too close!" Subaru broke away from the hold and promptly headbutted her. As Elsa reeled back, he instantly got behind her and grabbed her tight. With a roar, Subaru heaved the woman up and slammed down as he bent over backwards, burying her head into the wood.
As he leapt back, Subaru noted with some relief that Felt had disappeared with Rom. 'I should get ready to run away, too-'
Subaru blinked in surprise as Elsa twisted about and used her long legs to pull herself upright. "Woah, you've got flexible legs- wait, how are you still conscious?!"
"I am simply a lady who's built different." Elsa cracked her neck and started to twirl her knife about rapidly. "Now then, shall we continue, Su~ba~ru~?"
Subaru flinched as he once more remembered dying to this woman before noting a tidbit, allowing his expression to lighten up a bit. He raised a hand and beckoned. "Come, Elsa."
"Only if you're good enough~" Elsa excitedly spoke as she charged at him.
Subaru readied himself in a fighting stance with a new look of patience on his face. As expected, Elsa swiped her blade in a sideways slash towards the area of his guts.
Predicting this, Subaru changed his stance just before she swung and narrowly missed the blade that was about to bisect him as he jumped backward.
Before she could react, Subaru spun and bludgeoned her with his manifested tail as it sparked with electricity, actually causing Elsa damage as she skidded back and coughed up blood before falling to a knee.
"Ah… that was nicely done~" Elsa smiled, her creepy arousal easily displaying itself despite her broken arm and the electricity still shocking her system. "Too bad it's over."
Subaru felt pain… and looked down...
A bloody line on his midsection...
His bowels...
They were cut open...
"Are you surprised? I opened your belly when we passed by one another." Elsa raised her other hand to reveal a second blade. "This is the one thing I excel at. "
Subaru feebly tried to hold his guts in place as he fell on the floor and started to bleed out of the cut belly he now possessed. As his blood formed a pool on the floor around him, Elsa took delight in stepping closer and kneeling beside him to watch as he struggled to stay alive.
She then grabbed one of the intestines that had slipped out, a sadistic smile blooming to life. " As I thought... your guts have such a lovely color!"
Subaru struggled to stay conscious as he looked up at her through painfilled eyes. 'It hurts… it hurts… it hurts… it hurts...'
"Does it hurt? Are you suffering? Are you in pain? Are you sad? Do you want to die?"
Subaru coughed. 'Die? Am I dead? Am I still alive? When will I die? When will I die?'
"Slowly, slowly, slowly, slowly… "
'I'm scared… I'm scared... I' m gonna die...! I'm gonna die...! I'm gonna die!'
"Yes, you're slowly losing body heat…" Elsa's spare hand turned Subaru's head so that she could look him in the eye. "You're slowly growing cold…"
As Subaru laid there, sobbing in pain and terror, memories of all the previous events played through his mind. It was as if his life flashed before him.
Until…. Darkness.
'Oh… I didn't even see Satella this time.'
[Subaru has died.]
[Authority of PRIDE activated.]
[Synthesis at 1.4%]
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A faint voice. A blurry image.
"What's the matter, boy? You look like you've seen a ghost." The appa vendor... again. "Boy? You okay?"
"Ah…" The boy uttered as his unfocused eyes rolled into his head. "I have no idea what's going on anymore."
Subaru fainted as the man looked on with shock. When next he awoke, it was by a splash of water to the face.
"Are you okay, boy? Here, forget the money. Just take these." The man showed uncharacteristic worry for Subaru as he handed the boy an appa and a cup of water.
"Oh... Thank..." Subaru was about to take them but then he noticed someone walking past behind the merchant…
A silver-haired girl…
His eyes widening, he stood up but fell on his knees from his headache. Gritting his teeth, He stood up again and ran after her, ignoring the appa vendor.
"Wait! P-Please wait!" Subaru shouted as he ran after the silver-haired girl, gaining the attention of the many people standing around him in the marketplace. "Wait! Satella!"
Subaru didn't notice how everyone looked at him in complete shock and horror as he ran after the silver-haired girl. What he did notice was her stopping. "Please don't ignore me! Dying and not doing what you said were my fault! But I was desperate!"
Satella kept her head down. Subaru caught his breath and continued to ramble as he caught up. "I went back to the loot house after that, but I couldn't find you… "
Everyone was looking at them. Satella didn't turn to him.
"I'm sorry for only thinking of myself." Subaru said as he regained breathing and smiled sincerely to her.
Satella still didn't turn to him… keeping her head down.
"I'm glad you're all right, Satella." Subaru spoke softly with a tone of happy reminiscence and gratitude… but his expression changed to one of hurt and confusion as soon as he saw the way she looked at him.
The silver-haired, elven beauty finally turned and looked back at him with an intense glare filled with hatred.
"What are you thinking?" She asked pointedly, rigidly and in a heated tone. She was completely furious with him.
Subaru recoiled in surprise. Everyone was looking at them as she spoke with him.
"I don't know who you are but don't call me by the name of the Witch of Envy!" 'Satella' spat with an angry tone, staring at Subaru with focused hatred and surprising fury. "What are you thinking?!"
Subaru's confusion grew to horrific levels, unable to say anything.
There was only his reflection in her purple eyes.
And her reflection in his black ones.
Chapter 01: 𝕋𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕦𝕞𝕒𝕟 & 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕒𝕝𝕗-𝔼𝕝𝕗, 𝟜𝟘𝟘 𝕐𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕤 𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣
KingVessel: P.S. On a personal note, does anyone think that the Uo Uo no Mi actually helps against the weakness of Seastone and the like, considering it's an aquatic type Zoan Devil Fruit? I mean, Kaidou got captured 40 times by the Marines. There's no way somebody didn't suggest "hey, can't we just drown him or something?".
