Howdy Folks!

Back at it again. I would have had this chapter out earlier but ya'know how things is sometimes.

thanks bunches for those kind reviews =)

I'll do my best to maintain the quality of this story going forward. that being said, I hope you enjoy this much larger than what I normally put out chapter.

(I don't own West of Dead; I don't own Re:Zero)

"I wish people who say: "I'd rather die" would actually die before they say it. So that they'll know how I feel." - Subaru Natsuki, Re:Zero

Enter, Pursued by a Quixotic Quest

So…

It's been a pretty eventful loop. Subaru isn't sure what it means though.

He just started figuring out he was Returning by Death. And then outta nowhere something entirely new and unseen from his other loops just…appeared!

Someone from his world. Granted it seems like there's a little more to the story than what he's heard from Mason so far, but honestly? It just feels good to have someone helping.

He hopes anyway. He glanced to his side, a little hesitance seeping its way into his bones once more as his eyes landed on the wild west themed specter. He shook it off as quickly as it came. But still studied the being next to him. His burning skull wasn't blinding but it was bright. Enough that it banished some of the darkness within the dimmer areas they walked through.

One thing Subaru felt the need to note about him was the way he walked. It was with slouched shoulders. He had an almost sluggish movement to his limbs. His arms hardly swayed when he walked. One of them hidden beneath his crimson poncho. Nonetheless, they were kept by his side as they trekked along.

The unlikely pair strolled down the near empty dirt roads of the slums. They had moved quickly through Lagunica. Alley hopping with as much speed and subtly as they could manage. Which was apparently a lot since no one noticed them.

The sun was half dipped over the horizon bathing the sky in practically every warm color the mind could conjure. Mason's head was turned to the painting in the stratosphere as they walked along. Taking it all in.

Crimson, pink, and orange rays of light bled onto the ground and the buildings around them. It was beautiful.

Bled.

He shivered. His hand instinctively went to his gut, thinking of his last death. Last couple of deaths really. A pain he never wants to experience again. The last seconds of life is something you aren't supposed to have time to ponder about. And Subaru had this realization not long after the pieces started fitting together and he figured out what the fuck was happening to him.

He blanched slightly and breathed in a shaky breath through his nose. Mason took notice. He turned his head back to Subaru. He would be lying if he said that he didn't slightly jump at seeing the front of Mason's black skull fully reveal itself once again. But, to his credit, he did his best to suppress it. I mean come on! It is a little bit scary!

"You doin alright, partner?" You know what was really freaky? Watching the guy's jaw slightly move and hear a phantasmal voice emanate from within his mouth. How could he even speak when he doesn't have anything that makes it possible for people to speak!?

"Yep! Never better!" He said a little too fast.

Subaru imagines that if Mason had eyebrows, one of them would be raised. As if to question what was up with him. He let out a short sigh.

"You're a little unnerving sometimes is all." He admitted.

Mason leaned back a little and nodded his skull slightly. As if to say 'ahh, I see what you mean'.

"I mean don't get me wrong I'm glad you're helping me and all! It's also nice to have someone here from my world too." It makes trusting him easier. And also the fact that he's been far more cordial than his appearance or voice would let on.

"I understand. A mite at least. Ain't too many folks out there that wouldn't be put out by my looks. Even though I ain't all that." Mason said. Subaru could only rub the back of his neck and turn his frowning face to the dirt below. For some reason talking with someone from his world makes him think of home. He should be excited in this new world full of new opportunities. Even if the only ability he's gained so far is a dumb one. Subaru could see Mason notice him looking downcast in his peripherals.

"Look, let's focus on your mission, kid. We'll get this insignia back to its owner. Then we can try and figure some things out, if we can. I promise." He emphasized the final words in that sentence. His eerie deep voice added more weight and strength to the words. Subaru knew deep down, despite logic dictating he shouldn't, that Mason was someone he could trust. He couldn't explain it. Like there was some kind of…

Yeah, he couldn't explain it at all. There was something strange. He just couldn't put his finger on what it was. Like having a word on the tip of your tongue, so close to saying it but your brain just refuses to kick in and utter it.

Nonetheless, things are different this loop, he can feel it. Maybe he should just trust what his instincts are telling him.

So with a deep breath, this time steady and determined, he looked back up and faced Mason as they journeyed onward.

"Alright, sounds like a plan to me."

"Good." Now all they had to do was hurry to the loot house. They had already wasted some time taking a scenic route through the city's alleys. There was no chance of intercepting Felt before she got to Rom like he was hoping.

But they would have to make due. He knows where the loot house is. So, to recap his to-do list real quick, his goals would be convincing Felt and Rom that Mason wasn't a threat. Persuade them to give him the insignia with his phone as a trade, and then make everyone, including Felt and Rom, leave before Elsa shows up. He glanced at Mason, and once again he was staring at the sunset.

How hard could that be?

…

Hopefully he didn't just jinx himself.

Just a few minutes later. They came up on the loot house Subaru was keen on finding. After seeing the conditions of the slums it's not hard to imagine why some would turn to thievery to survive. Mason understood this, although he didn't like it. And, in some instances, wouldn't tolerate it either. But sometimes there just ain't no right answer to things. People shouldn't die for upholding the law, and punishin those that don't have a choice instead of helping them ain't fair.

The outlaws in Purgatory though? They had a choice. And they chose to follow the Preacher. All of them paid dearly for it.

Mason clenched his fist. If one were to look hard enough, they would see the ghost of an expression resembling wrath on his black skull. Like his orbital bones were forcefully furrowing under the sheer weight of his rage. He breathed in and out slowly again. Refocusing his attention.

The sunset's dwindling light was touching the entrance of the slightly dilapidated structure in front of both him and Subaru. Mason turned his head to look behind him and stare once again at the colors he thought he would never see another time.

Sunsets are always captivating. Whether it's your first time seeing one or your thousandth, it never ceases to leave a fella reverential of the very sky itself. The sound of Subaru walking up the wooden steps to the door of the loothouse quickly drew his attention back to what was in front of him.

"Before we go barging in I'd like to know what we're doin if they see me and get some less than friendly ideas?"

Subaru halted his raised fist to the door which was about to knock. Before turning back with a thoughtful expression.

"I was just going to say you're cool and hope they don't attack you." Mason sighed. Subaru didn't flinch at the sound this time, thankfully.

The kid is optimistic, he'll give him that. But maybe it's the best they can do, hope for the best and prepare for the worst. There ain't no real easy way to reveal somethin like him to another person.

Hopefully Subaru's word is enough.

"Alright, fine. No way around it so we might as well get it out in the open right quick."

"I could tell them you're my undead thrall, hopefully dark magic or necromancy or whatever isn't anything people find taboo here or something..." Mason quivered slightly at his words.

Necromancy, that was a damn ugly word. Some of the creatures he fought in Purgatory could be considered abominations of that very practice. It was also probably something the Preacher dabbled in.

Mason huffed. His thoughts keep unpleasantly drifting back to his murderer.

"We don't need to tell anyone anythin cept that I'm friendly." He said firmly.

He reached up and knocked his gloved hand on the door himself before Subaru could. Loud pounding resonated through the air. A moment passed…

Then another…

Subaru, as impatient as he was, began pounding on the door rapidly without pause. Mason facepalmed. Did the world lose manners while he was dead?

Predictably, the door swung open not long after with a shout. Subaru, surprisingly, didn't budge from his place by the door though.

"Alright quit that racket already!" A giant of a man stepped out of the door. For a moment Mason was shocked. But the feeling of surprise quickly faded, he fought fellers just as big and some even bigger than the man in front of him. So the intimidation factor has already done been quelled from exposure therapy.

"Pardon mister, you mind if we come in and talk a spell?" The giant, before Mason had spoken, was focused on the kid. And at the sound of the lawbringer's unearthly voice, turned and let his gaze fall upon him.

Predictably, Mason could see the fellas eye's widen with alarm. He was frozen from the shock it looked like. Well, from what Mason understands anyway. It weren't like the expressions of the folks he encountered earlier, he could see the fear written on them clear as day. This was a little different. More like a suspended alarm.

He made sure to raise his hands in what could, fingers crossed, be perceived as a gesture of 'I mean no harm'. Subaru chimed in as well.

"Hey now Rom! Relax this guy's cool. He isn't going to attack or hurt anyone."

"It's the truth, partner." He seemed to not be able to form words for a few seconds. Making noises that could only be construed as confused beyond belief. Before he turned and looked at Mason for a good long minute. Somethin in his look was piercing. Like he could see right through the Plainwalker before him and know if his intentions were impure. Mason bore the look with confidence.

Before eventually the moment passed and Rom turned his gaze to Subaru. Not without hesitancy of course.

"You sure this thing ain't going to cause trouble? And hang on, how do you know me? I'd remember meeting your sorry ass."

The questions were all answered as quickly as they came.

"Yes, I'm sure. I heard about you. And I wanted to buy an insignia off of Felt before she sells it to her client. I know she's going to drop it off here soon. I have an item in my possession that is worth more than 20 holy coins and I'll exchange it for the insignia. So can we please come in? And quickly?" the kid peered down the road as if keeping an eye out for somethin.

The giant blinked at the words and seemed to narrow his eyes and make a humming noise that mirrors that of suspicion. His gaze switched between Mason and the kid for a few moments. As if weighin in on the pros and cons. Eventually, however, he acquiesced to the kid's request.

"Fine, I'll take a look at what you have and see if you're tellin the truth. And you better be tellin the truth." Subaru smiled as Rom sighed and rubbed his bald head. He looked at Mason for a second and furrowed his brow. Before shaking his head and turning around to walk back into the loot house.

Mason could hear him grumbling about how he was too sober for this. The old gunslinger had to agree with that sentiment. And they both followed after him into the musky and dimly lit interior of the building.

The faint smell of wood rot hit Mason. Of course, it wouldn't make sense for him to smell anything, but then again all his other senses are intact along with his taste as he discovered earlier. Just another thing to chalk up to the supernatural.

As he expected, the building was full of presumably stolen goods on display. Suits of armor. Shields. So this old giant was just a fence then. He lagged behind the pair as they walked in and started examining them. Particularly the armor.

The armor of a knight. He ain't ever met a knight. But it would be an interesting meetin for sure. A knight was meant to be a warrior trained in warfare. Mason was a soldier in the Union during the war. Yet another part of his life he only has bits and pieces of. He served at a young age…maybe 19? 20? Most volunteers were young. So it wouldn't be a surprise.

Grey coats had some of the best military minds of that time leadin their armies. But the tide turned later in the war when the north started pushing back in Gettysburg. The Union boys cut Lee's army down by a third. Faint flickering memories of gun smoke and bloody bayonets being run through the stomachs of confederates rose from Mason's mind.

Bad business. Mason was glad the Union prevailed that day from the reb's invasion.

Lee was ridin high after Chancellorsville and got arrogant. Humility and wisdom are important.

An idea Mason had plenty of time to adopt from his time in Purgatory. It's never easy, and you can't get too full of yourself. Because you'll never know when a wendigo will surprise attack you and rip you to pieces around the next corner. Which may or may not have happened once or twice.

Then it's back to the saloon. And he has to start all over again. But it ain't like him to just give up when the goin gets tough. He got better, smarter, more precise with every death. He refined and honed his sixth sense. Learned his enemies with time. And mastered taking all of them down.

He forced himself out of his thoughts and started paying attention to the conversation Subaru and Rom were having.

Subaru had pulled out something from his pocket and was showing it to Rom. he talked like a huckster. He demonstrated what it could do, calling it a 'metia'. It was with minor awe that he discovered what Subaru was holding in his hand was a camera. Yet far more advanced than he ever thought possible. The most recent camera that was on the market, that he can remember from before he died, was the kodak camera. He remembered readin kodak's slogan in the paper. 'You press the button, we do the rest!' It was blockier in comparison, portable, simple. Not as good as the one Subaru has though.

"Well, sorry I called you a liar kid." Rom started holding the small camera between his two massive fingers. Wide eyes studying it.

"But…yeah this is impressive, I know most would spend around 20 holy coins on it. Maybe some collectors out there who would pay even more."

"That a lot?" Rom, surprised, turned his gaze to Mason.

There was a moment of silence. Subaru's eyes darted between the two a little nervously with a dumb look on his face.

"...Now, I could already tell you ain't from here. But what the hell even are you? I ain't ever seen anything like you before." Rom ignored Mason's question and casted more suspicion on him.

"Complicated. I'm not alive, if that's what you were wonderin."

"I wasn't. That's pretty obvious." Mason shrugged at Rom's words. There wasn't much more to say that he would believe or even understand. Rom sighed. Sounding tired and aged.

"Well I got a pretty good sense about these things, and that sense is telling me you're friendly, so I guess it doesn't matter." Mason nodded in agreement and thankfulness.

"Felt should be here soon so you both can sit around I guess and wait till she gets here. Just so you know I can't make the decision for her, but this is a pretty good deal. I'll make sure to let her know that."

"Thanks Rom." Subaru said gratefully with a thumbs up.

"Why the hell are you thankin me!? I ain't done anything." He drank from his mug and waved the kid off.

Mason walked over to Subaru. Sitting in a chair next to him at what he assumes is the bar in this dump.

"How much is 20 holy coins exactly?" He reframed his question that never got answered.

"I'm not sure exactly but I know it's a lot. My phone is what's called a metia here and apparently, it's incredibly rare." Which means it's priceless, naturally.

That must also be the name for the camera it seems. Interesting. Home seems like an even more distant dream now than ever before. A lot more has probably changed than just the names for cameras.

He glanced at Subaru and he seemed a little fidgety. Mason sent a quick look at Rom and saw he was preoccupied drinking himself into a stupor.

He turned back to Subaru and spoke in a low voice that hopefully didn't carry itself to Rom.

"Do you know anythin about this client you mentioned earlier? The one who's also tryin to get this insignia." He froze from his jitters. The kid blinked and turned his eyes to Mason.

"Yeah, she's…" he peeked down at Rom and spoke a little quieter.

"Her name is Elsa, She isn't good news. As soon as Felt gets here. We need to negotiate quickly then get out with them in tow." Dangerous then. Hmmm.

He nodded. Mason was beginning to get a better understanding of the situation at hand. Time is a factor here. And Subaru seems to think Elsa will likely show up soon after Felt and try to hurt all of them.

Not while he's still kicking though. He breathed again. Don't get arrogant. Things here are different. There's no telling if this Elsa woman is even more dangerous than the Preacher…

Actually…he very much doubts that. Ain't nothing comes close to being so fanatical and corrupt that one literally becomes injustice itself. A 30 foot tall giant humanoid with the Preacher's golden face plastered on it, wings, and destructive magic at its clawed fingertips. Hellbent on judging souls when he has no right to. And claiming in some twisted sense that it's God's will.

Still, he ain't gonna let his guard down. He needs to be cautious. Lest this end up like the damn wendigo situation again.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Subraru froze up again, a nervous look on his face as he faced the door. Mason did the same. Standing and putting his hand on the grip of his colt single action army in his holster. Ready to draw at the first sign of trouble. Although, his sixth sense hadn't really been sending the signal that there were any malicious beings nearby.

Rom stood and walked to the door nonchalantly. Then he spoke.

"For a rat?"

"Poison."

"For a whale?"

"A harpoon."

"To the noble dragon lord we are-"

"Shitbags." What the hell is…?

Rom opened the door and there stood…

"That's a child." Mason tilted his head in bewilderment. His hand slipped away from his revolver and began pointing at the blonde girl in front of him in disbelief. The girl stood there in shock as well staring at him wide eyed and with fear.

"Yeah, Felt's a kid. Forgot to mention that." Subaru breathed out next to him. Relieved it wasn't who either of them were expecting.

He turned to Subaru.

"Well, maybe you should stop forgettin shit like this."

"Hey, I'm sorry alright! But I've had a stressful day! So could I get a little slack?" Mason sighed. Dropping his tensed up shoulders and turning his skull up to the ceiling in slight exasperation.

"Wha-What is-Rom what the hell is that!?" Rom followed where Felt was pointing with anxious overzealousness.

"Oh him? I dunno, just a friend of this kid here. They want to buy an insignia off of you." He waved Mason off as if it wasn't a big deal. Hell, he'd take what he could get. It's nice not having folks stutter and babble before him for a change.

Felt blinked at the words as her dinner plate eyes still remained glued on Mason. Then she turned back to Rom.

"Wait, what?" Felt responded as she walked in hesitantly and Rom closed the door behind her. The old giant sighed.

"We want to buy the insignia you stole. We have a metia we're willing to trade for it that's worth more than 20 holy coins." Subaru said. Her eyes widened as she snapped out of her tentativeness almost immediately at the price laid out before her.

"Woah woah! Is this a scam old man?" She turned to Rom even more dumbstruck than she was when she laid eyes on Mason. It ain't that much money is it?

"No, I had a look at the metia. It's real and the price is real too. Don't know how much anyone else would pay for that insignia but I doubt it's as much as the kid is offering."

Felt stood there. She was thinking. Or trying to, but her eyes kept flicking to Mason. He could already guess what she was going to say.

"This is…can you please just tell me what that thing is even?" She gestured to him. Oh that's just dandy.

"He isn't here to hurt anyone, look can we just make the deal already. You know what we're offering, are you going to take it?" Subaru started. Sounding a little frustrated with the runaround. Felt looked at Subaru and furrowed her brow.

"Before I've even heard my clients offer? Uhhh no. If you and my client are paying this much for it then it's probably worth more than it looks."

"You heard Rom. ain't no one round here gonna pay more than what we're offerin." the street rat crossed her arms. As she walked over to the table in the middle of the room. Just on the other side of both Mason and Subaru. She pulled out the insignia and inspected it a little more closely before flicking it and catching it in her hand.

"I could probably get way more from an open bidding than-" Felt was interrupted by Subaru.

"No! You don't understand! Why go through all this hassle when you can just take what I'm offering!? Also no, your client can't go above what I've put on the table." Subaru interjected rather heatedly.

Felt's eyes narrowed.

"And how exactly do you know that?" She asked. Mason let his sight linger on Subaru for a few moments. Watching as the kid's voice failed him in that moment.

It was odd. He tilted his head as he looked at the young man. He could feel a little of his homesickness earlier. Another facet of his sixth sense and the curious way it worked near him probably. Strangely it made trusting him easier. It was as if they were…

No, that's a thought for another time. Right now they need to get this insignia.

Another knock at the door startled everyone present.

"That sounds like it's for me." Felt got up and moved to the door.

"No, don't open it!" Subaru protested with fear burning in his eyes.

Mason moved quickly. Grabbing Felt by the shoulder and pulling her back gently but with enough force for her to stumble back.

"Get back." He said firmly. She made a noise resembling that of disagreement until she heard and saw who had pushed her aside. Then she remained inert with an alarmed look on her face.

Mason walked to the door. His sixth sense gave no signs of anyone wicked behind the door. But he remained ready.

Mason's hand once again rested on his gun. He breathed in once more. Centering himself. Everyone remained unmoving and said nothing. Then he opened the door.

"...Ah shit." Mason resisted the urge to sigh, for fear of disturbin the silver haired girl in front of him. The one Subaru had described as being the owner of the insignia they were currently in the means of acquiring for her.

Still, she was rightfully not expecting a dead man with a flaming skull to answer the door. She jumped back into the open area just outside the loot house, a little rattled. Held her hand up and summoned spikes of ice in the air.

She can use magic it seems. He put his hands up in surrender.

"Easy now, I ain't aimin to hurt ya." She hesitated at his words. Mason stepped down the stairs just outside the loot house. Subaru and the others followed.

"Oh crap." Felt said. The silver haired girl with white clothes locked on to Felt.

"You! You stole my insignia." She said.

"C'mon don't you know when to quit!?" Felt responded petulantly.

"I'm sorry, but this is too important. Do as I say and I won't hurt you." She remained in her ready stance with the sharp ice spikes hanging in the air. Felt is just a child. It wouldn't be right to hurt her. Especially since all she did was steal to survive.

"Ain't no one here need to hurt anyone." Mason remained as placating as possible. Trying to prevent violence.

"She ain't just your run of the mill magic user…" Rom commented. Yeah, Mason figured. Not a lot of souls in Purgatory know ice magic. Most use plague or fire magic. Or they just claw, hack, and shoot at you till you're dead.

"Alright everyone calm down. Listen Sa-I mean, we were just trying to get your insignia back." Subaru added in the hopes of getting the young woman to stand down. She looked at him. And narrowed her eyes in disbelief.

"Hmmmm…" Someone hummed right next to Mason's head. He jumped and swiveled his skull. It was a little cat.

"Ya know I don't sense any malice from anyone Lia. Not even the scary undead guy." It floated closer to Mason's skull. He ain't never seen the likes of this thing before. Then again that seems to be the case for most things in this world.

"Careful round the fire. It burns." Mason informed the cat as he leaned back slightly from it. The silver haired girl, Lia, watched on in fascination.

"Really Puck!?" she asked the cat, a little surprised.

"Yeah, so what are you exactly? I don't think anything like you is even supposed to exist." Puck asked. That's a hell of a thing to say to Mason too. It said it could sense malice. Can it read minds? Is it an empath? He met some souls in Purgatory who had the keen ability to sense others emotions. Coincidentally, this ability seems to be manifesting itself in his sixth sense. But has only worked so far with Subaru.

Wait…

He titled his head as he came to a peculiar realization.

"You're a hob. Ain't ya?" Puck put his paw on his chin as he floated away slightly in thought.

"Yeah…not a lot of people call us by that though." Puck responded. Lia lowered her hand and the ice in the air dissipated rather quickly. She seemed a little perplexed by the interaction. As did everyone else.

"Puck is a name for evil sprites, not benevolent spirits. I reckon folks would get mighty frightened of you if you keep up the false advertisin...or did I completely misjudge your character?" Puck's eyes widened in surprise before a smirk spread across his face.

"I kinda like this one Lia." It floated around Mason with an even more critical eye than before. Mason ignored him and went back to talking with the silver haired girl.

"What the kid said was true. We just wanna get your insignia back to you."

"But…why? I don't recall meeting either of you before." Yeah, he'll have to ask the kid what the deal is here. Mason thought he was her friend or somethin but it seems like they ain't even acquainted.

It doesn't sow distrust in him and Subaru's alliance. Mason feels certain the kid has a good reason why he did this. From what little time he's spent with him and from what his sixth sense has been sending out occasionally. Subaru seems like a genuine kid. He shook his head and dispelled his thoughts as he walked and got at least a few feet from her.

"Reckon that's somethin you should talk to him about." He thumbed behind him to Subaru. Then he froze.

His sixth sense flared again. And this time?

It wasn't good news. Mason shoved Lia back on the grass just before a grotesque looking blade struck the air where she was standing from seemingly nowhere at all. Mason drew his revolver quickly. Aiming at the person who appeared.

"My oh my. How did you see me coming?" A sultry voice sounded out.

A woman, dressed in black and purple seductive clothing. Lia rushed to her feet as Puck joined her.

"Mason, that's her!" Subaru cried out. That was enough for him.

Mason pulled back the hammer.

"I suggest you get on your knees and put your hands on your head, unless you want a new hole to breathe out of."

"Oh that sounds intriguing. And you look tantalizing." He didn't like the sound of that.

She slashed out at him. She was fast. Really fast. Mason just barely backpedaled. And it was mostly due to years of experience being up close and personal with bastards who liked to try and stab him up close. But she was on another level.

He quickly raised his gun and fired twice. He aimed for the center of mass. Elsa wasn't expecting it obviously because the bullets impacted her. Two holes were now in her belly. They leaked blood. She paused for a moment with wide eyes and a smile before she reached down and swabbed at it with her hand then licked the blood from her fingers. Then her flesh knitted back together.

Mason gaped for a moment. Alright. Guess he'll have to do a little more than that.

He fanned the hammer. Elsa expected bullets this time and cut most of them out of the air. Much to Mason's surprise.

Her reflexes were too good; he'd have to catch her off guard somehow.

Suddenly, ice spikes started flying at her and Elsa began dodging the hob's magic. Having someone help him in a fight is a nice change of pace for once. His nimble hands reloaded as he watched the woman do cartwheels while dodging and batting away ice spikes from the hob.

Then he spun and holstered it. He had another weapon that would likely do more lasting damage to someone who heals.

He pulled his infected blade out. A purple garish knife. Whose blade was wavy like a slithering snake. And dripping with a plague enchantment.

He had doubts about rushing into a melee fight with someone who obviously outclassed him in that aspect. But it was all he could do. She could deflect bullets and regenerate for god's sake! If he waited for the right moment however…

Now! He rushed in. her back was turned as she focused on hitting away more spikes that were aimed for her. Mason lunged out and tried to cut her. She had turned to him last second, her reflexes were still too fast for Mason. She sidestepped and grabbed a hold of Mason's left arm that was holding the knife.

This was her first mistake. Mason could see where this was going. He twirled the knife in his hand to a backhand grip.

Predictably, she attempted to pull him closer to her in order to cut him with her freakish blade. This was her second mistake.

Mason rolled with it. And once he was close enough, used the momentum to headbutt her. Another attack of his she didn't expect it seems. She let him go and reeled back in surprise. Half of her face already suffering from third degree burns. Mason dodged back as she swiped at him again. But she managed to slash him.

"URG!" Mason grunted in surprise as he gritted his teeth and put pressure on his side. Black blood was oozin out.

"How lovely, you hurt me twice now." Elsa said. He stood up a little straighter.

"Three times." He showed the infected blade, dripping with blood. Elsa's eyes widened once more as her leer fell to the gash on her leg. The wound was emitting a heavy purple vapor. And if memory was servin Mason, it should be stinging like crazy. The wound healed much slower than her other injuries.

In this brief moment Mason had while Elsa was preoccupied scrutinizing her wound, he checked on the others. Subaru, Rom, and Felt were staying out of the fray. The girl, Lia, was using her magic along with the hob to help Mason. He unclasped his flask from his belt and lifted his head back, drinking the green potion. Doubtless, the only thing he can ingest without destroying it in the process. Instantly his own wound began to restore itself. His charm helped increase its effects, making it so that he didn't need to drink as much. But it still took half of the elixir to heal him. It's not going to be a sustainable fallback.

"Everyone who can't fight, I suggest you leave." Mason pointed to Felt and Subaru specifically.

"That sounds like a good plan to me." Rom said. He was going to herd the other two away.

Before anyone could move to safety though the moment of reprieve seemed to have ended. Because Elsa dashed for the group.

"I'm gutting everyone here!" Elsa said, resolute in her desires.

Mason wasn't fast enough, but luckily the hob and Lia were casting more ice spikes in her direction, slowing her down. Enough so that Mason could get into another knife fight.

He slashed at her with the plague knife. She leaned out of its path. Then she retaliated with her own attack. Attempting to bisect him from the gut. Mason wasn't able to dodge out of the way entirely. Black blood sprayed out and he shivered in pain. But he's been through worse.

He quickdrawed up close. And fanned his revolver. He aimed for her head. She eluded the bullets, only one grazed her cheek. But Mason was just trying to sidetrack her. He holstered his gun and drew his second blade, the unquenched one, quicker than the eye could see. This blade had a fire enchantment on it. He thrashed out again duel wielding his pair of enchanted knives, this time at the same moment the hob and the girl launched their ice magic at her.

This had to be it. She was cornered. But the smile spread across the woman's face before Mason realized he had indeed made a mistake.

Subaru was feeling useless. Again.

But it's not like it could be helped. If he had jumped into the fight, he would be more a burden than some help. But as both Puck and, who he now learned was named Lia, cornered the sadistic gut slicing bitch with Mason. He began to panic. Because he could see the confident smile on Elsa's face. And he knew it wouldn't end well.

"NOOO!" He screamed out hoping to stop his ally. But it was too late. Elsa flipped over Mason and the ice magic that was aiming for her hit the grass where she was standing. Then she stabbed Mason in the back.

"AUGHH!" He screamed out in ghostly pain and anger. There was a stillness. Subaru watched in horror as Mason burned away from existence.

"Well, that is interesting." Elsa stated with mild intrigue as she watched.

It was like watching paper burn. It spread up throughout his body and took his existence with it. And he disappeared from sight. No trace of him left. Like he hadn't even lived at all. Like he was just painted out of existence. He had died.

…

Subaru was enraged. His only ally in this world, and she had killed him. He wanted to kill her. And he was about to stand and try to do just that before he felt like he was being dunked in lava. He screamed out and clawed at his scalp as he balled up on the dirt.

He didn't know if anyone was looking or paying attention to him. Because he couldn't hear anything. His vision caught a glimpse of what was happening to him. His body was burning away the same way as Masons. He was disappearing! He screamed out in fear and pain. He tried to escape what was happening to him. He didn't want to die again. It hurt. He crawled around in the grass. All in vain.

Before he could register it, his vision was black. And he had died once more.

Dark.

Dark.

Dark.

That's all it was. That's all Subaru saw. He thought for a moment that his eyes were just closed, and he would open it to see himself standing next to the appa man again. But that wasn't the case. He was laying on the ground, his hands feeling dirt beneath him. He sat up in the darkness. Waiting for his eyes to adjust.

He breathed shakily. Fear wracked him. Minutes passed with his ass remaining planted on the ground and his eyes frantically searching for anything he could see.

Eventually he did see it. Dirt walls. Stone coffins. A tomb. His tomb? He started hyperventilating. He saw lanterns hanging in the darkness above. They were very dim, too dim to mean anything in this darkness.

Footsteps caused him to freeze. His breath halting. They were behind him. He tried not making a sound. Hoping whatever it was would pass by him without seeing him in this darkness. Then the footsteps halted a little behind him.

"Howdy kid." He gasped, turning to see Mason standing there in all his glory.

"Welcome to Purgatory."

DUN DUN DUUN!

as before, let me know your thoughts. I like hearin what ya'll have to say.

till next time.