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Witch Of Vengeance

In the ethereal expanse of the dreamland—a timeless, surreal realm filled with endless rolling hills of silver mist—three figures sat within a field of luminous black roses. The atmosphere shimmered, tinged with the strange stillness of anticipation.

Echidna, the Witch of Greed, rested elegantly on her favourite throne-like chair crafted from intertwined, blackened vines. Her dark gown flowed seamlessly into the void, her calculating gaze fixed on her two guests.

Typhon, the Witch of Pride, sat cross-legged on the ground, her youthful face resting in her hands as she looked up at Echidna with a mischievous glint in her eye. She looked like an innocent child, but her sharp presence betrayed her sinister curiosity.

Daphne, the Witch of Gluttony, was more withdrawn, encased in her monstrous coffin of flesh and bone, only her eerie yet oddly beautiful face visible. Her soft, dispassionate voice occasionally interrupted the quiet, adding an unsettling touch to the air.

The conversation revolved around one peculiar name: Natsuki Subaru, or rather, Natsuki Suzune.

"Echidna," Typhon piped up, her voice sweet yet laced with malice, "why did you do it? Why turn Subaru into that... hollow doll of a girl? You know how much Satella adores him—or should I say, adored him?" She giggled, her smile wide.

Echidna tilted her head, her silvery-white hair cascading like a waterfall. A sly grin tugged at her lips. "It was an experiment," she said plainly, her voice calm yet dripping with intrigue. "I was curious how Satella would react to seeing her precious Subaru stripped of everything she loved about him. His determination, his humanity... even the Authority of Return by Death. Now, she must contend with Natsuki Suzune—a woman who feels nothing, who carries no fear, and who moves forward with ruthless precision."

Daphne's voice emerged, soft and dragging, as though she had all the time in the world. "You made her... cold. Empty. A perfect tool... but why? What do you gain, Echidna?"

Echidna leaned back in her chair, interlocking her fingers. "Gain? Must I always gain something? Sometimes, my dear Daphne, it's simply about satisfying curiosity."

"Curiosity?" Typhon mocked, her voice sing-song. "You mean stirring chaos. Satella hasn't moved yet, but you're hoping she will, aren't you?"

Echidna's smile didn't falter. "Satella has always been irrational when it comes to Subaru. It's only a matter of time before she can no longer ignore what I've done. Watching her wrestle with her emotions over Suzune will be... fascinating."

Daphne blinked slowly, her voice quieter than before. "You think... Suzune will provoke her? But... isn't Suzune... too strong now? Even Satella might hesitate."

"That's the beauty of it," Echidna replied, her eyes glinting with delight. "Suzune is an anomaly, a paradox. Stripped of Return by Death, she's no longer bound to Satella's whims. And yet, she carries the Witch's scent. She's not entirely hers, nor entirely free. Satella will have to decide whether to embrace or destroy her, and in doing so, she'll reveal much about herself."

Typhon laughed, clapping her hands. "You're so cruel, Echidna! But I like it. Poor Satella won't know what to do with herself."

Daphne tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "And what of Suzune? Does she... even care about any of this?"

Echidna's smile grew sharper. "That's the question, isn't it? Suzune is no longer the Subaru we knew. She's a blank slate, driven by logic and strength. But even a stoic doll has limits. Perhaps, somewhere deep inside, a fragment of Subaru remains. If that fragment stirs... it could change everything."

Typhon hopped to her feet, spinning in place like a gleeful child. "I can't wait to see how it all plays out! Will Satella cry? Will she rage? Or will she finally show us what's truly in her heart?"

Echidna watched her with an amused expression, then turned her gaze back to the misty horizon. "The pieces are in place. Now we wait."

The three witches fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Somewhere beyond the veil of the dreamland, Natsuki Suzune walked a path of her own, unaware of the storm brewing around her. And in the deepest recesses of the world, Satella, the Witch of Envy, remained still—watching, waiting, and perhaps, planning.

Û~Û

Suzune was riding the lizard dragon through the forest, her expression as cold and stoic as ever. The rhythmic thumping of the beast's claws against the ground was the only sound breaking the otherwise eerie silence. She had a goal in mind—a single, unwavering purpose—and nothing, absolutely nothing, was going to stand in her way.

At least, that's what she thought.

Her dragon suddenly halted, hissing as two figures stepped out of the shadows. Suzune's sharp eyes immediately darted to them. One was a short man with a tan complexion, sharp teeth bared in a grin, and a wild, unkempt look about him. The other was tall, unnervingly pale, with snow-white hair slicked back and dressed in an immaculate white wedding suit.

"Oi, oi, Onee-san!" the shorter man called out, his grin stretching unnaturally wide. "What's a beauty like you doing out here all alone?"

Suzune's eyes narrowed. "I don't have time for this. Move."

The pale man chuckled, stepping forward with a theatrical flourish. "Ah, but where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself!" He placed a hand on his chest, his voice dripping with exaggerated grandeur. "I am Regulus Corneas, the one and only Patriarch of Justice and Order!"

The shorter man's grin widened even further as he jabbed a thumb toward his chest. "And I'm Roy Alphard! Nice to meet ya, Onee-san!"

Suzune didn't even blink. "Good for you. Now move. I have better things to do."

Regulus stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with a strange light as he appraised her. "Oh, my, what a beauty you are. Truly a rare gem in this dull world."

Suzune's gaze hardened. "Don't expect a thank you. Now, move, anaemia."

Roy burst into laughter, clutching his stomach, while Regulus's smile froze for a moment. But then, he chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. "Such feistiness! Such spirit! You're perfect." His smile widened unnaturally. "You'll make an excellent addition as my sixty-seventh wife."

Suzune blinked, her expression unchanging. "What?"

"Did I stutter?" Regulus said smoothly. "You'll be my wife. A radiant jewel in my perfect, untainted collection."

Before Suzune could reply, Roy leaned forward, his sharp teeth glinting as he asked, "Nee-san, what's your name?"

Suzune's voice was as flat as ever. "Natsuki Suzune"

For a brief moment, Roy's grin faltered. He tilted his head, looking genuinely puzzled. "Natauki Suzune? Hmm... something's wrong about that name. Nee-san must be lying!"

"Move aside, freaks," Suzune said, her tone unchanging as she nudged the lizard dragon forward.

Roy's grin returned, but his eyes were sharp now, dangerous. "I don't think so, Onee-san."

Regulus, on the other hand, simply stood back, his unnerving smile unwavering. "Oh, I wouldn't mind letting you pass, but... perhaps I should reconsider. After all, what kind of husband would I be if I let my future wife walk away?"

Suzune's patience, if it could even be called that, had run out. With a swift motion, she directed her dragon to leap. The powerful beast soared into the air, aiming to clear the two strange men entirely.

But Roy was faster than he looked. He lunged at her with a speed that could only be described as monstrous, his hands outstretched like claws.

Suzune didn't hesitate. Her foot shot out in a lightning-quick kick that connected with Roy's chest, sending him hurtling back into the trees. The sound of bones snapping echoed through the forest as his limp body crumpled to the ground.

Regulus laughed, his voice rich with amusement. "Oh, you're a fiery one, aren't you? I like that! But don't think this is over. I'll find you, my dear Suzune. You'll come to me soon enough."

Suzune didn't even glance back at him. Her dragon landed gracefully on the other side, and she continued on her way without a word.

Behind her, Regulus looked down at Roy's broken form, his face twisting in disgust. "What a mess. Your recklessness has cost us, Roy. Now we'll have to go back and postpone the trip. Honestly, some people have no sense of timing."

Roy groaned, his body twitching as he attempted to sit up. "She's strong, that Onee-san..."

Regulus scoffed, adjusting his pristine white cuffs. "Yes, she is. But strength alone doesn't make one invincible." He smirked, his expression cold and calculating. "I'll deal with her. In my own time."

And with that, the two faded into the shadows, leaving Suzune to continue her journey unimpeded—for now.

Û~Û

Suzune halted a few metres from the cave, the air thick with a nauseating blend of despair and madness. Her sharp gaze fixated on the dark maw of the cavern, her expression unreadable as memories clawed at her mind. This was the place. The place where Subaru Natsuki had been tortured, where Rem's life had been cruelly extinguished. The weight of the past threatened to pull her down like a chain around her neck.

But Suzune shook her head, banishing the intrusive thoughts. She had no time for weakness, not now. Adjusting the fraying cloak she had scavenged along the way to replace the ridiculous maid uniform, she strode toward the cave. Her steps were deliberate, heavy with resolve, as if every footfall crushed the haunting echoes of her past underfoot.

Inside the cavern, torchlight cast flickering shadows on the jagged walls, revealing a gathering of black-cloaked figures. Their murmurs blended into a chaotic symphony of fanatic devotion, their words thick with reverence for something vile and insidious.

At the forefront stood a man whose very presence seemed to twist the air around him: Betelgeuse Romanée-Conti. He was perched precariously on a jagged outcrop, his wild eyes darting about as his body contorted in spasms of manic energy. His voice echoed through the cavern, a frenzied sermon spilling from his lips.

"Devotion! Absolute, unwavering devotion! That is the path to salvation! The love of our Witch is all-encompassing, all-consuming, all—"

His words faltered when his gaze landed on Suzune. The room fell silent, the cultists shifting uneasily as their leader's attention locked onto the cloaked figure at the entrance. Betelgeuse's trembling hand shot out, a single finger pointing at Suzune as if accusing her of some unspeakable crime.

"You... You!" he howled, his voice rising to a shriek. "That smell... My head trembles! My body quivers! Are you—are you Pride?"

Suzune stepped forward, her voice cold and measured. "Maybe," she replied, her words slicing through the air like a blade. She took another step, and the cloaked figures nearest to her bristled, forming a human wall between her and their deranged leader.

"I am Natsuki Suzune," she continued, her tone steady, yet carrying an undertone of something menacing. "The Witch of Vengeance."

A ripple of confusion passed through the cultists. Murmurs spread like wildfire, their collective madness momentarily overshadowed by uncertainty.

"What? What's a Witch of Vengeance?" one cultist whispered.

"Never heard of that," another muttered, their voice tinged with fear.

Betelgeuse's crazed grin widened. "The Witch of Vengeance, you say? Ah, how fascinating, how exhilarating! But vengeance is—"

Suzune interrupted, her tone cold enough to freeze the air. "Authority of the Witches: Heavenly Restriction."

Before the cultists could process her words, chaos erupted. The air grew impossibly dense, suffocating and crushing. One by one, the black-cloaked figures fell, their bodies collapsing like marionettes with their strings cut. Suzune moved through them like a reaper, each step bringing death to those foolish enough to stand in her path.

One cultist lunged at her with a dagger, but Suzune's hand snapped out faster than the eye could follow, gripping his wrist and twisting. The sickening crack of bone was drowned out by his scream, which was cut short as she drove the dagger into his throat. Blood sprayed across her cloak as she pushed his body aside without so much as a second glance.

Another tried to attack her from behind, wielding a rusted sword. Suzune ducked under the swing with inhuman precision, her movements fluid and deliberate. She grabbed the sword mid-swing, ripping it from the cultist's hands and driving it into his chest in one swift motion. The blade pierced through his heart, and he collapsed in a heap.

The remaining cultists hesitated, their fanatic resolve wavering as they watched their comrades fall like wheat before a scythe. But hesitation was a death sentence. Suzune moved faster than they could react, her fists striking with enough force to shatter bones. Blood painted the cavern walls as she dispatched them with ruthless efficiency, her expression never changing.

One by one, they fell, their cries of devotion turning to screams of terror. Suzune didn't stop. She didn't hesitate. Every strike was calculated, every movement precise. Her cloak was soaked in blood, but not a single drop of sweat marred her brow.

When the last of the cultists fell, the cavern was silent once more, save for the sound of dripping blood. Suzune stood in the centre of the carnage, her figure illuminated by the flickering torchlight. She was a vision of destruction, her braided hair streaked with crimson, her hands coated in the lifeblood of her enemies.

At the far end of the cavern, Betelgeuse remained. He hadn't moved from his perch, though his wild eyes were now fixed on Suzune with an intensity that bordered on reverence.

She turned her gaze to him, unblinking and unyielding. Only he remained. And for the first time in his deranged existence, Betelgeuse felt something he couldn't quite place.

It wasn't fear.

But it was close.

Betelgeuse Romanée-Conti remained perched on his jagged platform, trembling with unbridled excitement. His manic grin stretched impossibly wide, the whites of his eyes glinting with a madness that refused to waver even as Suzune stood before him, drenched in blood, her expression cold and unyielding.

"My beloved Witch!" he howled, his voice reverberating through the cavern. "Your servant, your humble Finger, shall now test your worth! I must! I must! My devotion demands it!"

With a flick of his fingers, Betelgeuse unleashed his Unseen Hands. Invisible, malevolent appendages emerged from thin air, writhing and clawing toward Suzune like grotesque spectres. Their sheer force displaced the air, creating an audible rush as they tore toward her.

But Suzune didn't flinch.

As the first Hand reached her, Suzune's own hand shot out, meeting it with a resounding *

crack. The invisible appendage shattered like brittle glass, its fragments dissipating into the air. Another Hand unged at her, only to meet the same fate. One by one, she cut them down with her bare hands, her movements precise and deliberate, as though she could see them clearly.

Betelgeuse's grin faltered. "No, no, no, no, no! This cannot be! My authority—my blessed gift! How can you—"

He didn't get to finish. Suzune closed the distance between them in a single bound, her fist connecting with his face in an earth-shattering blow. The force sent him sprawling across the rocky platform, his body crumpling like a ragdoll.

"Unworthy," Suzune muttered, her voice devoid of emotion as she loomed over him.

Betelgeuse scrambled to his knees, blood streaming from his nose and mouth. "Please! Mercy! I am but a humble servant! Devoted! Pure! My head trembles at the thought of—"

Suzune's foot came down on his chest, silencing his rambling. The sickening crunch of ribs echoed through the cavern as Betelgeuse screamed in agony.

"Devotion doesn't excuse evil," she said coldly.

She pulled him to his feet by the collar, her strength rendering his struggles meaningless. With one swift punch, she sent him flying into the cavern wall. He collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood, his body convulsing from the pain.

"Stop! Please, stop!" he begged, tears streaming down his face. "I am nothing! A worm! Spare me, Witch! Spare me, Suzune-sama!"

Suzune didn't stop. Her fists pummelled him relentlessly, each strike a testament to her unyielding resolve. His cries became weaker, his pleas more desperate, but she continued, her expression as cold as the ice outside. Blood splattered across the cavern floor, pooling beneath his broken form.

Finally, when he was barely conscious, Suzune dragged his limp body to the centre of the cavern. She grabbed a chain hanging from the ceiling and tied it around his neck with practised ease. With a powerful heave, she hoisted him into the air, suspending him like a grotesque trophy.

Betelgeuse convulsed, his body jerking violently as the chain tightened around his throat. His wide eyes rolled back into his head, and with one final spasm, he went still.

But Suzune didn't relax. A chill ran down her spine, and she turned sharply, her eyes narrowing. Something was wrong.

Suddenly, an ethereal force surged through the cavern, and Suzune felt it—a malevolent presence clawing at her soul, trying to force its way inside her. She staggered, gripping her chest as Betelgeuse's body dangled lifelessly above her.

"Ah..." Suzune's voice was barely a whisper. "So, this is how you plan to survive."

It was his spirit, vile and twisted, seeking to possess her. Betelgeuse's voice echoed in her mind, a deranged laughter that sent shivers down her spine.

"You cannot escape me, Suzune-sama! I will become one with you! Together, we will—"

Suzune didn't let him finish. Her hand glowed with raw energy as she focused all her strength into a single strike. She brought her palm down against her chest with enough force to shatter the invading spirit.

"Begone," she said, her voice icy and commanding.

A deafening scream filled the cavern as Betelgeuse's spirit was obliterated, his essence scattering into nothingness. The oppressive weight in the air lifted, and Suzune stood alone, bloodied but unbroken.

She glanced up at his lifeless body, now nothing more than a husk. Without a word, she turned and walked out of the cavern, the sound of her footsteps fading into the cold silence.

Û~Û

Author Note: SuzuBaru has done it again!

Next chapter: Moral Steps

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Till next time!