"If the heroes run and hide, who will stay and fight?" - Saitama


"What... the... fucking hell..?!"

Subaru Natsuki tapped his foot erratically as he sat down alone in an increasingly and unsettling familiar alley.

After being rebuked by Sa- No. Not Satella for calling her a name that really didn't seem to have belonged to a well-liked person, if her and the surrounding people's reactions were anything to go by.

But that wasn't all! Felt was nearby and had taken the opportunity to steal the insignia again(?)!

And before that... He was in front of the appa guy's...

A haunting sound seemed to fill his ears at the moment, sounding like a whispery chant barely hidden by the chime of what sounded like a pendulum clock.

It was a brief instant, but the tune instantly rooted itself into Subaru's brain, seeping through his skull and rendering him incapable of ever being capable of forgetting it.

The next instant, he'd completely forgotten it, leaving trying to recover the lost thought in complete futility.


Opening Theme 1: Redo - - www. youtube watch?v=0Vwwr3VGsYg

Droplets of spilt blood were shown, monochrome in color only for time to seemingly reverse, pulling them off the ground.

The same was shown for a familiar plastic bag and Devil Fruit, both slowly rolling back until they flew off the ground as well.

The same phenomenon happened to what looked like Subaru's disemboweled corpse, time rewinding as his body buckled before doing the slow reverse of a fall.

Shown from behind, all of the spilt blood returned to Subaru's abdomen along with the Devil Fruit and plastic bag returning to his hands, standing up after his stomach was seemingly returned to normal, along with appropriate colors replacing the monochrome as Miasmic Mist surged into existence to surround him.

~I'm trapped by my own past, losing my way~

Subaru wandered through the immensely dark and thick mist, his face glitching around him. Maybe close by or immensely far away, the same was for Emilia and Felt. As the three were briefly shown together, Elsa Granhiert's glitching figure loomed threateningly over them, with her bloodthirsty smile fixated on the sole male present.

~Please tell me it isn't true!~

Beatrice was shown inside the Miasmic Mist as well, stoic as brief glimpses of her library appear at her side, only for her attention to be stolen as a bioluminescent butterfly fluttered past her, causing her to desperately and futilely reach for it.

~I'm not really sure if I can control it all at will~

Ram and Rem appear next to each other in the Miasmic Mist, with the former looking straight ahead while the latter bowed her head.

~The sky grows hazy~

Standing before the twins, Roswaal L. Mathers's glitching form stared off into the distance, an enigmatic smile on his face.

~Where can I find the right path?~

The World glitched, revealing glimpses of a burning village and monstrous hooded figures wielding blades against beings with glowing horns protruding from their foreheads.

~The only precious thing left in these hands, is an unforgettable memory...~

Subaru and Emilia stood before each other with many lesser spirits surrounding them both. However, a hand composed of the Miasmic Mist suddenly attacked and popped Emilia out of existence, causing Subaru to recoil in fear and look around in confusion.

~Over and over again~

Another Subaru tapped him on the shoulder and smiled as he walked past him, leaving his temporal double behind as it disappeared as well.

~I shout that I'll protect you in the end!~

Emilia was standing in a white mist while multiple Subaru's were walking around her. However, there were differences in them despite the similarities. One was older with his longer spiky hair tied back in a ponytail while dressed in simple blue clothes. One was dressed extravagantly with a cocky grin. One was dressed in a butler outfit while possessing an immensely stressed look. One was a madman dressed in the manner of a villain who wished to be slain by his preferred hero. One was also a madman who reeked of directionless insanity born from the guilt of murder. One was a white haired version possessing the worst madness of them all and unknowing of his own name.

~The love I grasped amidst this rewind...~

Everything disappeared out of existence and only one Subaru remained screaming in frustration.

~Yeah, I'll never let it go!~

Emilia and Subaru faced their backs to one another while they spun around, with Felt, Ram and Rem being present as well.

Making separate appearances, Puck stuck out his tongue, Rom hefted his club, Reinhard and the appa vendor gave their different smiles, the three thugs... just appeared.

~Feelings studding the sky become a wish that can only be granted once~

As the capital's road appeared to rush past, the words 'Re:Zoan' flickered into existence, first in Japanese, then in English, finally in Lugnican.

~So I entrusted it to the next version of myself~

Subaru was shown running away from the dark fog and trying to reach another smiling version of himself, except that guy looked a bit older, had white hair, fang-shaped teeth that glimmered and was dressed in light combat wear, along with a staff with a pearly orb at the end on his back.

Another Subaru was shown running behind him and trying to reach the happy ending before the first one. And after him was a desperate third who sported draconic features from his Devil Fruit, only barely managing to touch fingertips with the One Who Smiled.

~That promise we once made will become a guiding light~

Subaru stumbled through the Miasmic Mist and briefly closed his eyes from the shining light before him.

~I make a vow that exists for your sake... until the very end!~

Standing in the light were the figures of Beatrice, Rem, Ram, Felt, and Emilia, waiting patiently for him. Subaru smiled and began walking towards his happy ending, but a dark hand stopped him, penetrating through his back and causing him immense pain as his heart was grabbed.

~Turning even my tears to strength, I'll find the futures I'd always desired~

As the hand squeezed, time began to rewind through the whole events, Subaru screaming and writhing the whole time.

~And tie them together!~

A flash of a purple edged blade.

The rattle of chains attached to a spiked mace.

The rumble of an immense, black, clawed and scaly hand.

And Subaru was harshly disemboweled, returning to where he started from the beginning of the scenario.

Alone in his death.


"M-Moving on, let's check out the inventory." Subaru shook his head and looked through his bag. Just like he had suspected, everything was present.

The bag of potato chips? Unopened and therefore, not eaten by Old Man Rom.

His phone? A quick search revealed none of photos he had taken of Felt, Rom and Elsa.

His clothes? Uncut and unstained by his blood.

His Devil Fruit? Present in his hand and still uneaten.

Well, he should get to fixing that.


[Confirmed.]

[Zoan-type Devil Fruit acquisition successful.]

[Acquisition of Devil Fruit has induced paralysis effect whenever sufficiently dowsed in water.]


"Now, then..." Subaru got to his feet. "I've got to get going!"

"Going somewhere?"

"If you don't wanna get hurt, cough up whatever you've got!"

Blinking in surprise, Subaru gawked at the three thieves blocking his way. "Would you stop it already?! No one is this damn persistent!"

"You think you can mouth off to us?" The leader of the group brought out his blade as he glared at Subaru.

Subaru balefully stared at the blade before him before pointing his hand forward. At his will, a large orb of water swirled into existence and hovered before his palm before blasting forward and slamming into the trio, literally washing them away from his sight and into the nearby river passing through the city.

Huffing in satisfaction at the sight of three soaked thieves hauling themselves out and running away, Subaru went back to his previous goal.

Chasing Not-Satella down.

"I need a better name for her than 'Not-Satella'." Subaru muttered as he skidded out of the alleyway only to slip and fall into the river himself.

"Eh?"

Subaru panicked as his body slammed into the water and promptly started to sink as his limbs disobeyed his will to move.

Fear built up in him as Subaru felt the dirty water enter his nose and mouth, clogging them up as all of his swimming experience and muscle memory failed him, refusing to paddle, to move, to flail.

Devil Fruit users become paralyzed when dropped in 'still water'.

Subaru would've screamed if he could but even that was denied.

'I can't breathe.'

He could feel the water filling up his lungs and stomach, making it feel oddly full and like it was about to burst.

'I can't breathe!'

Everything was getting darker down here, even as bubbles full of precious air escaped his unmoving lips to float upwards to the surface.

'I can't breathe!'

Just as the last of Subaru's vision faded, Subaru caught the sight of something breaking the water surface. A person in white.

'I can't breathe!'

Just as Subaru started to convulse, the person in white was almost close now, enough that even the darkness couldn't dim the magma red that was their hair...

'I can't bre-'


"GAH?!" Subaru gasped throatily as he came to, laying flat on his back and surrounded by a few civilians, along with his savior kneeling beside him.

"I'm alive?!" Subaru swiftly sat up, noting his soaked clothes.

"Thankfully." The redhead next to him stated with a smile, the crowd around them dissipating as soon as it was clear that the person in distress had been saved. "Are you alright, though?"

Subaru blinked and then turned to acknowledge the person who had just saved him from dying a third time.

It was a tall guy with striking red hair and a large sword by his hip. Even to Subaru who was very much attracted to girls, the guy was handsome enough that he couldn't help staring.

The fact that his hair still had some water that glistened in the sunlight didn't help.

"I-I-I'm okie!" Subaru squeaked, much to his embarrassment. "I was in a hurry and slipped on something that I had actually caused! Sorry about the trouble, though."

"It's no problem, at all." The redhead stated calmly, waving Subaru's worries away with a smile. "As a knight, I wouldn't have ignored a civilian in peril, especially as it was immediately clear that you couldn't swim."

Biting back the pain and shock of losing something as vital as his swimming skills due to his new superpowers, Subaru just looked at the guy in disbelief. 'What a super earnest guy! Compared to everyone else I've met so far, this guy's a practical saint!'

"Even so, thanks for coming to save me." Subaru got to his feet and whipped his hands, smiling as every bit of moisture in his clothes was drained out to splash onto the ground. "My name is Subaru F. Natsuki and I'm super grateful... Um... You are...?"

The redhead tilted his head curiously. "Do you... not recognize me?"

Subaru tilted his head as well. "Um, am I supposed to?"

"...no, you don't have to. In fact, a complete stranger like you might actually a welcome change of pace for me today." The redhead smiled in a soft and relieved manner. "My name is Reinhard van Astrea. As we are simply meeting each other today for the first time, you may just call me Reinhard."

'He closed our social distance like it was nothing…' Subaru thought with a hint of nervousness. "In that case, you can call me Subaru. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Rein!"

Subaru put out his hand for a handshake, which was instantly accepted, marking the first of many bromances the Otherworlder would create in this world.

"Anyway, Subaru… You have quite the unusual hair, apparel, and name. What nation are you from?" Reinhard sounded excited as he asked this, noting the uniqueness and high quality of Subaru's tracksuit and sneakers. "At the moment, Lugnica is a bit more restive than in peacetime. If you have a problem, I'd be glad to help you."

Subaru's face lit up before dimming. "Actually, I might be in need of some advice..."

"What is it that troubles you?" Reinhard asked, noting the shadowed despair in his new friend's eyes.

"What... do you do when you have a... friend who is in trouble and is about to head into something worse?" Subaru tried to put his words into a scenario that made sense. "You know bad things are going to happen to them but you can't do anything because they wouldn't appreciate your interference. And to be honest, it's not like I would walk away unscathed from it. In fact, I'd lose just as easily. But still..."

Memories of the deaths of Not-Satella, Felt and Rom flashed through Subaru's mind.

"Even though I knew them for such a brief period, I don't want them to suffer!" Subaru pounded his fist against the wall behind, causing Reinhard to note the small crack that formed from the impact. "Isn't it crazy? As scared as I am, I'm somehow even more against just leaving them to their fates! I can't just ignore it all!"

"... I believe that you've just answered your own question." Reinhard stated with an acknowledging smile. "But if you still desire an answer, I shall instead ask you this: If you consider the consider the consequences of what will happen to you if you help your friend, what will you regret more? Helping even if it meant your demise or your friend's scorn? Or not helping and assuring that the demise you foresaw would absolutely come to pass?"

Well...

When put like that, there was really only one answer Subaru would take.

"Hey, Rein." A confident smile slowly filled Subaru's face. "Are you free today?"

"As a matter of fact, I'm actually off duty today." Reinhard easily returned the smile. "Is there danger that requires my... intervention?"

"Maybe." Subaru mulled it over, remembering how Elsa had triumphed over him and the others. "I still plan on doing my best to avert the danger so hopefully, we don't come to blows in the slightest. But even so, if you had the time... would you mind taking a walk around the slums around, say, right around sunset? The view from there's amazing without any high buildings blocking the way."

"I see..." Reinhard chuckled to himself. "That is interesting news. I've always had an appreciative eye for nature, after all."

Subaru nodded and started to walk away before stopping for a moment. "By the way... I'd appreciate it if you could deliver a message."

"I'd be glad to, of course. To whom? And what?"

"Well, I don't know her name, but… have you seen a girl with white robes and silver hair nearby?"

Reinhard entered a thoughtful pose as he consulted his memories. "White robes and silver hair?"

Subaru suddenly turned around and pointed at Reinhard with a wide smile. "She's also extremely gorgeous!"

Not giving the slightest attention to Subaru's simp attitude, Reinhard bluntly replied. "No, I haven't seen or met someone with such a description."

"Then, if you do see her, tell her not to go near the loot house, no matter what." Subaru smiled confidently. "I'll find what she's looking for and bring it to her myself."

"Very well. If I see her, I shall relay your message."

"Thanks. I'll repay you one day!" Subaru quickly turned and ran to the loot house. "Later, Rein!"

"... yeah. Take care." Reinhard continued to look at Subaru as he ran.


[Confirmed.]

[Zoan-type Devil Fruit acquisition successful.]

[Acquisition of Devil Fruit has induced paralysis effect whenever sufficiently dowsed in water.]


"Well, with so much evidence staring at me right in the face, there's no denying what's happened to me." Subaru mumbled as he ignored the horrible taste of his Devil Fruit and kept chewing. Once done, he carelessly tossed away the stem, continuing on to his destination. "I died. Twice, in fact... And the fact that it happened multiple times with me before that appa vendor like some checkpoint means... a time leap! I'll call it {Return by Death}!"


[Confirmed.]

[Authority of PRIDE updated.]

[Authority of PRIDE: Return by Death appended.]

[Synthesis at 2.7%]


"I actually got a time-leap ability, and it only activates when I die. The precondition being pitiful is so typical." Subaru chuckled to himself before suddenly stopping with a frown. "No. This is bad. Reeeeeeeally bad. If I'm correct on my count, I've... died twice now. This is Take #3. If it weren't for this ability... I would've died only once like a normal person... There would be no redoes... Plus, dying hurts! It hurts a lot! With my Devil Fruit and this power both being granted, is this world actually on super power ninja turbo neo ultra hyper mega multi alpha meta extra uber prefix on the Difficulty Scaaaaaaale?!"

Subaru held his arms up for a whole five seconds before lowering them in defeat. "This world... probably isn't even One Piece, huh?"

Clapping his cheeks and uncaring of the people in the street staring at him, Subaru hurried!


"Felt's den, huh?" The guy who had helped out with directions in Subaru's first loop mumbled as he chewed through the crackers he'd been given as payment. "Two streets down that way- By the Dragon, this tastes awesome!"

"Thanks so much! I appreciate it, bro!"

"Don't mention it, bro." The guy raised his free hand in usual greeting. "Live strong."

Subaru sped up his walk as the sun began setting. "The question is whether Felt will return there… I'd rather catch her before she goes to the loot house and trade her my cell phone for the insignia-"

*BUMP!*

*BOING!*

"Whoa!" Subaru bumped into someone while he was walking with his eyes on his phone. The collision was surprisingly soft, though...

"Oh, dear!" A familiar voice spoke out just as Subaru steadied himself. "I'm sorry. Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's my faul-?!" Subaru put his phone down to apologize, only to freeze at the sight of his killer once more.

Before him… was Elsa Granhiert. She giggled a bit. "What is the matter? You don't have to be scared. Even though your shoulder collided with my chest, I won't do anything to you."

"I… I'm not scared…" Subaru fought the instinct to either take a step back or swing his fist at her. "What gave you that idea?"

"Your scent. When people are scared, I can smell their fear. Right now, you're frightened." Even though her smile didn't diminish in the slightest, Elsa's eyes narrowed as she stepped closer. "You are also angry, yes? At me."

Once again, Elsa's tongue licked her full red lips as she giggled.

Subaru looked at her with wide narrowed eyes with his body shaking.

"It's fine. I am a little curious, but this is not the time to start a commotion." Elsa smiled and walked right past Subaru.

"That's not a very nice thing to say… if you're too scary, that beauty will go to waste-" Subaru turned around as he spoke in confidence. But then he stepped back and flinched in surprised fear as Elsa instantly returned into his personal space with a wide smile on her face.

"Oh, very good. Conceal your hostility, and you will be even better. Soon enough, your killing intent might be honed into something spectacular~" Practically pressing her body against his, Elsa stood with her nose touching Subaru's and her hand holding the one he held protectively on his belly. "Still..."

Subaru hitched a bit as Elsa dipped her face into Subaru's collar and took in a deep breath. "Intoxicating~ I don't know why... but your scent makes me want to completely know you in all ways~"

With Elsa so close, Subaru found himself nearly choking from her own scent. It wasn't that she smelt repulsive. If anything, she smelt like honey. The super sweet and potent kind that made a guy think they'd choke and die of sugar overdose from just taking a little taste.

As Elsa's hand curled into claws that gently scraped against his hand, Subaru froze as Elsa actually bit and nibbled his ear a bit before retreating. "Well, I shall be going now. Something tells me we shall meet again."

Subaru remained frozen as he watched her walk away, once she was far away from him, he quickly let out the air in his lungs. He then blinked when he noted a sudden tightness in his pants and looked down.

"I'm really fucked up." The red on Subaru's face wouldn't be disappearing for a bit as he readjusted his pants. "What kind of guy gets turned on by their own murderer when she gives him a nibble like that?!"


Subaru walked up to a small, rickety house that had a tree covering it. "Someone actually lives here?"

Subaru stepped closer with a worried look on his face as he looked about. "Elsa hasn't already been here and trashed it, has she?"

"I-It's fine, I'm sure… I don't smell blood." With a tiny applications of his Devil Fruit, Subaru's senses surged to new limits. From what he got after recovering from the brief sensory overload, nobody was bleeding nearby at least. But to his embarrassment, he could actually still smell a bit of Elsa on himself. "But it does smell like garbage."

He looked around the small broken dump and was startled by an angry Felt glaring at him from behind. Now that he got to see her much closer than before, Subaru could actually note her appearance.

Being shorter than him, Felt was a slender girl with fair skin and medium-length golden hair with a black bow. She had red eyes and wore a black tube top which complimented her modest chest and exposed a bit of cleavage, a scarf almost as red as her eyes, a brown sleeveless vest, a pair of similarly designed gloves & brown shoes and black pants that were incomplete on the left side for whatever reason. Narrowing her eyes in suspicion, Felt grabbed the hilt of the knife hanging off the back of her belt. "What do you think you're doing, peeking into someone's house?"

(KingVessel: For someone who claimed to be 15, Felt actually looked a bit more of a 13 year old in my opinion, so I've made her look older.)

Retreating from the house, Subaru came out and laid eyes on the blonde thief, sighing a little in relief at her unharmed state.

"Sorry but there's nothing worth stealing in there." Felt unsheathed her blade and aimed it at him. "Beat it, creep!"

"W-Wait that's not what I was doing!" Subaru waved a hand erratically as he denied that accusation.

"Shut up! Don't argue!" Felt tried slashing at Subaru with her blade, only for it to clang harmlessly against Subaru's transformed hand. "What?!" Felt tried to take a closer look at his features. "You're a Demihuman?"

'Demi-Human? No, not the time.' "Just hear me out." Subaru replied, idly noting that his grip on her weapon was much stronger than Felt could handle as she tried and failed to pull away from him. Releasing her blade, Subaru waved his hand and slowly transformed it back to normal before her eyes. "I don't any trouble. I'm only here to buy what you stole today."

Felt narrowed her eyes at Subaru in suspicion before lowering her blade as well. She didn't go as far sheathing it, though. "You aren't associated with my client. Are you a business rival?"

"Call her a rival, or call her the one who killed my parents… or even the one who killed me!" Subaru snarled while clenching his fist. "I know that I probably don't make sense to you, but would you be willing to deal with me?"

Felt shrugged as she finally sheathed her blade. "Well, I'm only interested in selling to whoever pays most. If you have an offer that might be profitable, I'll listen."

"Very shrewd… I have something worth more than twenty holy coins. I want to buy your insignia with it." Subaru took his phone and took Felt's photo again before showing her. "It's what everyone wants these days, a metia. It's a one-of-a-kind item that can capture any moment in time. So, you interested?"

"You don't seem to be lying." Felt leaned in to observer her face. "Is that supposed to be me, though? I'm way prettier."

Subaru took a long look at the features of the girl before him before closing his phone. "If you look this nice without any makeup, you'd be a hit back in my old school. Heck, maybe my whole hometown."

"Of course, I would. Well, it is unusual. I'll give you that. But twenty holy coins? Not likely." Felt shook her head. "I'm not so stupid as to unquestioningly believe everything a prospective buyer says."

"Well, of course not." Subaru nodded in agreement. 'Someone like that would get scammed a lot back home.'

Felt nodded and looked up at Subaru, her mind made up.

"At the far edge of the slums is a loot house. The fair thing is to have the codger who lives there, Old Man Rom, appraise it."

Subaru cursed under his breath. "So, it still comes to that…"

Taking a look at the sun's current position in the sky, Subaru quickly took Felt's hand and pulled her along with him as he walked. "Alright, lead the way. Come on, let's go. On the double, quickly! We'll have him take a look and get out of there!"

"H-Hey! Hey!"


Emilia huffed as she strode through the slums, her mind flashing back to the mean boy she had met earlier in the city.

"Lia." Puck peeked out from her hair. "Are you still thinking of that lad back then?"

"Sorry, Puck." Emilia pouted sadly. "Because of my appearance, I know that being confused for the Witch of ENVY should be usual for me... but that meanie flat out called me Satella! Nobody has ever been that cruel!"

Puck was silent for a bit. "I don't think he was being cruel."

"...huh?"

"The only thing that stopped me from attacking him back then was the utter lack of malice from him." Puck explained. "Remember? The boy didn't show any signs of hatred or fear towards you and was rather confused and distraught when you rebuked him on the spot. Like he had genuinely believed that to be your name."

Emilia frowned as she thought back to that moment.

"I'm sorry for only thinking of myself. I'm glad you're all right, Satella."

"He... said that he was glad about me being alright..." Emilia slowly spoke, with her anger fading a bit and allowing her to recall his words much clearer. "Now that I think about it..."

"The whole situation was bizarre. Despite his decision to call you such a vile name, he couldn't even react against your anger. Like he had never even known the consequences of even just stating that name out loud." Puck crossed his arms. "Besides, the only reason we thought of heading for the loot house in the slums were because of his ramblings, right?"

Emilia sighed as the loot house came into view. "I know, Puck. After I retrieve my insignia, I'll track him down and have some words with him. If there's a chance he had mistaken me for someone else or that someone had tricked him into doing so, I'll have to apologize."

Puck hummed as he went back under the Half-Elf's hair. "True. He did look like a foreigner. Maybe some of the thugs like the ones we ran into pulled a mean trick on him."

Emilia hummed as she knocked on the door. "Maybe."

"Don't open it! W-We'll be killed!"

Emilia raised an eyebrow at the voice, even as the door was opened regardless.

"Kill you? I wouldn't do something so terrifying." She stated as she stepped inside, her eyes solely on the black-haired boy from before. Despite her earlier conversation, Emilia still found it difficult to stop the glare from forming on her face.


Chapter 02: 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕂𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥'𝕤 𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕖𝕗'𝕤 𝕔𝕝𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕥 & 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕒𝕝𝕗-𝔼𝕝𝕗'𝕤 𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕞𝕪(?)


KingVessel: I've done what I can! The OP was inspired by 'Heroes Never Die; It's Hero Time' by CreateGunner1209. Great stuff. Really hope that I can get a TV Tropes page if any of my Fanfics get as impressive.