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"What're you sighing about, huh?" the shortest of the three snapped, his rough, gravelly voice betraying his nerves. "You make me sick." The little guy had a bowl haircut and an expression that made her think of a bitter lemon someone had half-chewed and spat out. He was trying to look brave, puffing out his chest as he sneered at her, but his voice quivered just a little.
"Oi, leave her alone," rumbled the largest of the three, a massive brute with a voice like a mountain grumbling down to an avalanche. "You don't wanna mess with her. She might… curse you or something." His hand was so big it could crush her skull like a melon, but there was a flicker of fear in his eyes as he looked her way. She suppressed a smirk.
The third man, Chin—recognizable by his purple-tinted hair and his perpetually scowling face—kept his distance. He grumbled, trying to keep up a façade of indifference, but the slight shake in his clenched fists betrayed him. "Look, girl," he said, spitting the word like it was poison, "I'm only helpin' you because I don't want you messin' with us. Try anythin' funny, and I'll cut you down myself."
Subaru raised an eyebrow, smirking at the bravado barely holding him together. "Oh? Are you three really gonna keep talking to me like that? Just don't be surprised if your kids end up, you know, a little… different."
All three men flinched, averting their gazes, and Chin's face turned an unhealthy shade of pale. Subaru could barely contain her laughter. They were scared, alright. It wasn't every day you saw a group of seasoned street thugs stumbling over themselves to get away from a girl without a weapon in sight.
The big guy leaned toward Chin and muttered, "Can't we just… leave her here?"
Half an hour earlier, though, things had been a little more chaotic.
It all started when Subaru, still shaken and a little bloody, tried to sprint toward the loot house to find Felt. She was so focused she barely noticed the figure rushing around the corner—until they collided, sending both sprawling to the ground.
"Ow…" she groaned, struggling to her feet. But her breath caught in her throat as she recognized the purple-haired thug sprawled out before her, rubbing his head and muttering curses. This was the same guy who'd threatened her life in the last loop, the one who'd practically foamed at the mouth to slice her up with his knives.
Chin's face morphed from irritation to horror as his eyes met hers. His gaze flickered uneasily over her pale skin, the unnerving contrast of her black eyes with white irises. He looked spooked, like he'd just stared into the face of a nightmare he couldn't shake.
"What the—who are you?" he stammered, backing up a step as if her gaze itself was laced with poison.
"Is something… wrong?" she asked, dusting herself off with a smile that, judging by his reaction, only made things worse.
She watched the other two, equally unnerved, exchange glances with him. She couldn't resist; they were practically trembling. So, keeping her expression serious, she took a dramatic step forward.
"Yo, Chin," she called.
He froze, the color draining from his face.
"H-how do you know my name?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. The others stiffened, their eyes widening in shock.
She grinned, folding her arms casually. "I know a lot about you three. More than you'd think." She added a hint of menace to her voice, enjoying how they squirmed.
Chin recovered, scowling and brandishing a pair of knives from behind his back. "Take one step closer, and I'll—"
Ignoring him, Subaru pulled out her SuperPhone, holding it up like she was revealing some ancient relic. She took aim, her finger hovering over the button.
"What's that thing?" Chin asked, eyes narrowing.
She smiled sweetly. "Oh, this? Just a little device that can trap souls. Or at least… curse them for a few generations."
The men froze. "W-what…?"
And with a click, she snapped a picture. The flash lit up their bewildered, horrified expressions. Chin's eyes widened in terror, the little guy practically jumped a foot back, and even the big man looked genuinely unsettled.
"See?" Subaru held up the phone, showing them their image trapped in the device. "Now I've got your 'moment' right here. I could delete it—or, you know, I could let the curse set in."
"W-what do you want?" stammered the dwarf, trying and failing to sound aggressive.
"Oh, it's simple. I just need you to help me get into a certain place without any… issues."
"If you are so powerful, then do it yourself!"
Gritting all her male pride aside, she gave them an innocent puppy look, blinking her eyes a few times before saying. "A beautiful girl shouldn't walk on the streets alone,"
"We're not your bodyguards!"
She sighed dramatically. "Such a pity…" she was about to 'delete' the photo when Chin yelled.
"Stop!"
She gave him a nonchalant look.
Chin gritted his teeth, looking between the phone and Subaru, who was doing her best to look innocent. "You'll let us go if we help?"
"Cross my heart," she replied, barely containing her glee. She could tell he was out of options. Reluctantly, Chin tucked his knives back in, giving her a resigned nod.
Physically, she was significantly weaker than before. Whatever her powers were other than Return By Death or RBD, were probably not something flashy or lethal. Probably.
Back in the present, she watched them lead the way to the slums, glancing back to make sure she wasn't about to conjure a curse on their backs. They seemed genuinely freaked out, which was… satisfying, if a little hilarious. It felt good to be the one in control for once.
As they reached the loot house, Chin knocked on the door, a gruff voice answering from the other side.
"For a rat…"
"Poison," Chin replied.
"For a white whale…"
"A harpoon."
"To the noble dragon lord, we are…"
"Shitbags."
The door creaked open, revealing Old Man Rom, towering over them with his arms crossed and a distrustful glare fixed on Subaru. The old giant looked her over, suspicion etched deep into his furrowed brow. His massive, calloused hand tightened around the door, as if ready to slam it shut if she tried anything.
"That… lady's got business with you, old man," Chin muttered, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at Subaru.
Rom's dark eyes narrowed as he looked her up and down, assessing her silently. The silence thickened, stretching into something almost tangible, something that weighed heavily on her shoulders.
Ō~Õ
Subaru leaned against a creaky wooden beam, casting a wary look at the hulking figure across from her. Old Man Rom was something straight out of a nightmare, his weathered skin stretched over muscle like old leather, his face a map of scars and lines that hinted at a life filled with violence and hardship. Shadows danced around him in the low, flickering firelight, casting his hulking form in a mix of darkness and grim light, amplifying the tension in the room.
With a casual shrug, Subaru decided to break the silence. "So, about that insignia Felt swiped… She didn't steal it just for the fun of it, right? I mean, not exactly a kid's toy she's carrying around."
Rom grunted, shifting his weight and letting out a heavy sigh. He cast a sidelong glance at the door, almost as if he was expecting someone—or hoping no one was listening. His voice came out low and gruff, carrying a hint of reluctance. "Kid's got bigger dreams than this dump can hold," he muttered, his eyes momentarily softening. "She hates the Slums, see? Always talking about how she's gonna leave it all behind, find somewhere better." He huffed, a strange mix of pride and regret flashing in his eyes. "When someone came around offering a heap of money for that shiny little trinket, well… she thought it was her ticket out."
Subaru raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "And this mysterious client? Who are they?"
Rom scratched his cheek, his rough fingers tracing a deep scar. "Some woman. Never caught the full name. Think it was… Elsa? Something like that."
Just as Subaru opened her mouth to pry further, the door creaked open, and in strode Felt, looking smug as a cat with a fresh catch. She didn't bother with passwords or caution; her confidence radiated from the triumphant grin she flashed as she held up the shimmering insignia between two fingers, letting the golden surface catch the dim light.
"I got the thing the client ordered," she announced with a hint of pride, glancing around the room like a queen displaying her trophy. She froze when her eyes landed on the odd collection of people huddled around Subaru, her expression turning suspicious as she eyed Chin and his thugs. "And what are these idiots doing here?" she snapped.
The thugs shuffled uncomfortably, throwing glances at Subaru as if hoping she'd give them an out. Subaru simply smirked, enjoying their discomfort, and kept her eyes on Felt, who glared back at her.
"What're you lookin' at?" Felt shot, crossing her arms defiantly.
Subaru just shrugged. "Actually, I was wondering… if you'd be interested in selling that insignia to me instead."
Felt blinked, the smug look replaced by surprise and suspicion. She took a cautious step back, her hand clutching the insignia tighter. "And how exactly do you know I'm planning to sell it?"
"Let's just say I've got a knack for picking up on these things." Subaru's grin widened. "Besides, my offer might be worth your time."
Felt scoffed, holding her head high. "Ten Holy Gold Coins. My buyer's offering me ten Holy Gold Coins. Can you even beat that?"
"Oh, I think I can go higher." Subaru reached into her coat pocket, feeling the familiar weight of her phone. "Behold," she said with a flourish, pulling out her Nokia SuperPhone and holding it up in the firelight, "the Nokia SuperPhone."
Chin and his thugs leaned in, their eyes going wide with interest. The phone's sleek metallic casing glinted as Subaru tapped the screen, causing the display to flash with impossibly sharp clarity. She held back a grin as their jaws dropped. "Check it out. 8K display. Flashlight. A 'camera' that captures everything in perfect detail. And, if that doesn't impress you…" She tapped the screen again, opening up 'Temple Run.' "It's even got games." She opened another app. "This is 'Genshin Implact Offline'. Endless entertainment."
The thugs looked like they'd seen magic. Chin scratched his head in awe, his eyes wide. The dwarf-like thug just gaped at the screen, reaching a tentative hand toward it.
Subaru let the tension build a little more, and then, with a knowing smile, she pulled up the picture she'd snapped of Chin and his goons earlier—their faces caught in a mix of shock and horror.
Rom let out a low whistle as he took the device, his rough hand turning it over carefully. "Haven't seen metal like this before… not ever. It's a thing of wonder, this metia. If I had to guess, it's worth… about a few hundred Holy Gold Coins, at least."
Before Felt could respond, the heavy wooden door suddenly swung open, slamming against the wall.
"Nobody is trading MY insignia!"
Everyone turned in surprise as a slender figure strode in, her long, silver hair flowing behind her like moonlight on water. Her violet eyes flicked around the room, intense and searching.
"Satella?" Subaru blurted out, unable to hide her surprise. "You're here already—"
The girl's face twisted in confusion and frustration. "I'm not Satella!" she snapped, her voice taut with anger. There was a sadness there, too, as if Subaru had struck some hidden nerve.
Subaru's stomach dropped. This wasn't right. She'd thought "Satella" was her name from their last meeting, but… if she didn't recognize Subaru now, then—
"Uh, yeah, I think we're just gonna head out…" one of Chin's thugs muttered, shuffling toward the door. "Don't wanna get wrapped up in any witch mess or whatever."
"I told you, I AM NOT A WITCH!" 'Satella' yelled in frustration.
Subaru stood up, trying to look confident and friendly. "Now, now, let's not lose our cool. Take a deep breath like this— and say—"
Just then, there was a sudden blur, a flash of deadly movement slipping through the doorway before anyone could react. A heavy thud hit the floor, and something rolled across the dusty ground.
A head.
"It appears I'm late…" came a smooth, unsettlingly calm voice. "But… more prey to hunt, so I can't exactly complain."
Subaru felt her blood run cold as she looked up to see a tall woman, draped in revealing black clothing that clung like a shadow. She smiled—a chilling, predatory smile—as she wiped blood from the gleaming blade in her hand, licking it with relish.
"Who… who are you?" 'Satella' asked, voice trembling, her wide eyes locked on the blood-slicked blade.
The woman's gaze shifted, lazily appraising each of them in turn, as if picking the next item off a menu. "Oh, me?" She tilted her head with a sadistic grin. "Elsa. But some know me as the Bowel Hunter."
"Why did you kill that man?!" Felt yelled.
"Oh, him? He was on the way."
Subaru felt her heart hammer against her ribs as she tried to push the silver-haired girl toward the door. "You need to get out of here—now. Run!"
But 'Satella' didn't move. Her eyes were fixed on Elsa, uncomprehending. "What… is going on?"
In the corner, Felt's face had gone ghostly pale as she backed up, clutching the insignia to her chest. "H-Hey! I did what you asked! I got your stupid insignia! Aren't you supposed to pay me—not… kill us?"
Elsa's dark eyes gleamed with wicked amusement. "I only came here for one thing," she said, her gaze flicking between each of them. Her eyes settled hungrily on 'Satella.' "But it seems I've stumbled onto a bonus."
In one swift, fluid movement, Elsa lunged at 'Satella,' her blade flashing in a deadly arc. But just as the blade was about to connect, an ice wall exploded up from the ground, blocking Elsa's strike with a frozen shield. A small figure floated by 'Satella's shoulder, a spirit with the form of a smirking cat.
"Well, well," he chuckled, surveying the chaos. "Looks like we've got ourselves a little party." Then, his gaze fell on Subaru, and his smirk faded, replaced by a look of recognition and surprise. "You? You look and feel quite peculiar… What are you doing here?"
Subaru winced, forcing a sheepish smile. "Uh… yeah… me?"
The silver-haired girl—'Satella'—turned to Puck, her face filled with confusion. "Puck? What's wrong?"
"That smell…" But Puck's gaze remained fixed on Subaru. Without warning, he raised his paw, summoning a storm of icicles that shot toward her. Subaru barely managed to dive behind a table as the icy projectiles shattered against the wooden surface.
"Puck! Stop! I'm not your enemy!" she shouted, her voice desperate.
But then a scream split the air. Subaru peeked over the table's edge, and her heart seized in horror. Felt, Rom, and 'Satella' lay sprawled on the ground, their bodies limp, pools of blood spreading around them. Blood gushed from a wound in 'Satella's' abdomen, staining her dress red.
"Lia!" Puck cried, halting his attack, his voice thick with anguish.
Subaru's gaze shifted to Elsa, who stood over the bodies, her blade dripping with fresh blood, her face a mask of twisted satisfaction. "Oh, I've always wondered what it would feel like to spill the blood of a spirit…"
But as Subaru's mind reeled, the entire room erupted in an icy blast that sent her flying backward. She hit the wall hard as it splintered around her, burying her in a pile of rubble and debris. She could barely move, her limbs heavy and numb from the freezing cold.
Shivering violently, Subaru blinked, her vision blurring. She could barely make out the sky through a gap in the cracked wall, though it wasn't the blue sky she was hoping for. Instead, it was a cold, bleak white, swirling with snow and ice, like the world had been cast into a frozen wasteland. The wind howled through the broken walls, biting into her skin, and every breath she took felt like inhaling shards of ice.
Then, she heard it—a deep, rhythmic thudding that shook the ground beneath her, like the heartbeat of something colossal. She forced her head up, squinting against the freezing wind, and her stomach dropped as she saw a towering figure approaching through the blizzard. It was a monstrous, bear-like creature, its heavy footsteps leaving frozen craters in the ground, its breath clouding the air in thick, white puffs.
"You've returned," the creature rumbled, its voice as deep and endless as a glacier. Subaru's heart pounded as she realized it wasn't a stranger. That voice—it was unmistakable.
"P-Puck?" she managed, her voice barely a whisper, hoarse from the cold.
The creature loomed closer, its eyes glowing with a terrifying intensity that chilled her to the core. It looked nothing like the playful spirit she'd seen just moments before; this was something ancient, something wild and wrathful, with a rage that radiated off him like the icy wind.
"My daughter is gone and I remember everything," he snarled, each word laced with fury and sorrow. His voice cut through the storm, filled with a bone-chilling finality. "And now, I will keep my promise. I'll destroy the world— starting with you."
"N-no… I didn't… I would never…!" Subaru tried to protest, struggling to get the words out as her teeth chattered uncontrollably. But Puck didn't seem to hear her—or didn't care. He took another step forward, his enormous claws tearing into the ground, his breath freezing the air around him.
With a single, brutal swipe, he lifted the shattered remnants of the wall that had pinned her down, flinging it aside like it was made of paper. Subaru was exposed now, her body barely able to move from the crushing weight of fear and cold.
"P-Puck," she stammered, her voice shaking. "Please… I didn't… this is a misunderstanding!"
But Puck's eyes blazed with an unforgiving light, a fury that seemed to come from some ancient, primal place. He extended a massive paw, his claws glinting in the dim light as he enclosed her in his icy grip, lifting her off the ground. She struggled, kicking and clawing, but his hold was unbreakable, his claws digging into her sides with a relentless, bone-chilling pressure.
"Please… I'm begging you…" Subaru's voice cracked, tears freezing on her cheeks as she looked up into those unforgiving eyes. "I… I just wanted to help…"
Puck said nothing. His massive jaws opened, and Subaru's scream echoed through the frozen wasteland as he lifted her toward his maw. She could feel the frigid breath of death closing in around her, feel the sharp, icy teeth pressing into her skin.
And then everything went dark.
Subaru Natsuki died a second time.
The world faded into silence, and then, just as quickly, reality snapped back into place with a jolt.
"Miss, you okay—"
Subaru gasped, her eyes snapping open as she found herself back in the marketplace, the familiar sounds of vendors shouting and children laughing filling her ears. She stumbled backward, heart pounding, her mind reeling as she looked around, disoriented. People bustled around her, oblivious to the horrors she had just witnessed. It was like waking from a nightmare, only to realize that it was all terrifyingly real.
She was back.
Back to the beginning.
Ō~Õ
[SYNCHRONIZATION FULLY COMPLETE]
[MATCHING FOUND]
[FULLY COMPATIBLE]
[AUTHORITY OF GREED: ACTIVE]
Ō~Õ
"Aww, my cute little kitty is killing me? I wonder if he is influenced by her… now that makes things more interesting. Subaru-kun, this time, let's do this together, okay?".
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TBC
Author Note: A bold move, right? Let's see where this takes us. Oh, and what do you think about Puck's actions?
Drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words inspire me to write faster, better, latger and with more depth.
Till next time!
