Endless Nightmares

Subaru found herself sitting back in the carriage, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of her doomed companions. The gentle sway of the cart, Puck perched on her head, and Rosewall's detached calmness—it was all there, just like the previous times.

But Subaru wasn't okay.

Thirty seconds. That was all the time she had before the mist came rolling in, thick and suffocating. Before the monstrous roar echoed, the White Whale looming over them like a divine punishment. And then, death—swift, unrelenting, and inescapable.

She had lost count of how many times she'd been hurled back to this point, but by the fourth reset, the repetition had begun to break her.

Puck nudged her gently, worry etched on his small, furry face. "Lia? You're looking pale. Are you okay?"

She didn't answer, her hands trembling uncontrollably as she gripped her knees.

"Emilia-sama, you're sweating quite profusely," Rosewall remarked, his tone mild but his gaze sharp.

Subaru opened her mouth to respond, but her throat felt dry, her tongue heavy. She tried to summon words, any words, but her mind was locked in a loop of dread.

"Ah, she's just panicking," Aqua said, waving her hand dismissively. "Don't worry, I'll heal her!"

The woman leaned forward, glowing light forming around her palms. But before she could do anything, it began again.

The mist rolled in.

The air grew thick and cold.

And then, the roar.

Their bodies were erased like they had never existed.

Subaru was back.

The carriage creaked, the forest stretched endlessly around them, and she sat among her companions as if nothing had happened. But she knew better.

Her lips quivered as the seconds ticked by.

"Lia?" Puck asked again, his voice softer this time.

Thirty seconds later, the mist came.

Thirty seconds later, they were gone.

Subaru was back.

Thirty seconds later, the mist came.

Thirty seconds later, they were gone.

The resets continued, relentless and unchanging. Each death was a reminder of her failure, each reset an invitation to try again. But nothing she did worked.

She tried warning them.

"No one leave the carriage!" she screamed the third time, her voice raw with desperation. "Stay together! Stay close!"

The whale appeared.

The whale killed them all.

She tried to run.

"Get down, leave the cart, and run!" she yelled the fifth time, dragging Kazuma by the arm while Aqua shrieked beside her.

The whale's mist consumed them before they got ten steps away.

She tried to fight.

Megumin had unleashed her explosion magic with everything she had. The light from her spell had illuminated the sky, and the White Whale had seemed to vanish into nothingness.

But then, the whale exploded—its death throes a destructive force beyond anything Subaru could imagine. The blast ripped through everything, and her body disintegrated before she could scream.

By the seventh reset, Subaru wasn't even herself anymore.

Her hair was a tangled mess, her silver strands clutched in her hands as she pulled at them. Her violet eyes were wide, unfocused, and brimming with madness. She muttered incoherent words under her breath, rocking back and forth in the carriage seat.

"Lia—what's happening? Talk to me!" Puck pleaded.

Kazuma waved a hand in front of her face. "Hey, uh, Emilia? You okay? You're kinda freaking everyone out here."

Rosewall's brow furrowed, though his tone remained neutral. "This isn't like you, Emilia-samaaa. Care to explain what's going oooon?"

Subaru barely heard them. She screamed, clutching her head as if trying to block out the sound of the whale's roar that hadn't come yet but inevitably would.

And then, the mist arrived, and they were erased once more.

By the eighth reset, Subaru could only laugh—hysterical, broken laughter that made her companions recoil in unease.

"Lia?" Puck whispered, his small paw trembling as he touched her cheek.

"Emilia-sama?" Ram's voice carried a rare note of concern.

Subaru didn't respond. She just laughed and laughed until the White Whale came again and ended it all.

Another reset and Subaru was laughing again.

Ram yanked the reins of the carriage to a halt, her crimson eyes narrowing as she handed them over to Darkness. "Here. Take these."

Darkness's face lit up with delight as she clutched the reins tightly, her cheeks flushing. "Oh, the weight of responsibility! The sheer danger of driving a carriage amidst such peril... What did I do to deserve such an honour?!"

Ignoring the knight's melodramatic outburst, Ram climbed into the carriage, her stoic demeanour giving way to something sharper, colder.

"Ram?" Puck tilted his head, sensing the unusual tension in the air. "What are you doing?"

Ram spat on her fist and cracked her knuckles, the sound echoing in the silence. Her expression was calm, but there was a fire in her eyes that made everyone inside freeze.

"I've been waiting for this for ages," she muttered.

"Ram~?!"

"What are you—"

Before Puck could finish, Ram swung her fist, delivering a solid punch straight to Subaru's face.

The impact sent Subaru reeling, her laughter abruptly silenced as her head snapped back. She slumped against the side of the carriage, stunned.

"Lady, what the hell?!" Kazuma yelled, peeking out from behind Rosewall.

Darkness, still holding the reins, let out a low, guttural moan. "Why… Why wasn't it me? Oh, the thrill of being punched by such a strong, disciplined hand... What do I have to do to deserve such exquisite pain?!"

Subaru blinked, dazed, her cheek throbbing. Puck bristled, his fur standing on end as he floated closer to Ram, ready to retaliate. "You mindless Oni, have you lost your mind?! Do you even understand what you just—"

"I'm fine." Subaru's voice was hoarse but steady as she sat up, holding her throbbing face.

"Lia!" Puck gasped, his concern etched on his small face.

Subaru waved him off, her laugh weak and broken. "I'm fine. I needed that, I think…"

Ram, however, wasn't finished. She grabbed Subaru by the shoulders, shaking her violently. "Fine?! Fine?! You brought us into this mess, and now you're hyperventilating like some spineless coward before the White Whale even shows up?! What kind of leader are you supposed to be?!"

"Ram, stop it!" Puck growled, trying to pull her away, but Subaru raised her hand, signaling him to stand down.

Subaru chuckled hollowly, her voice tinged with madness. "You don't get it… None of you do. I can return by d…" She hesitated, her throat tightening as an invisible force wrapped around her heart, cutting off her words. The sharp pain sent her eyes wide with shock.

"I love you."

The phrase echoed in her mind like a curse, a reminder that she couldn't speak the truth about her power. The truth that she could come back. That she always came back.

Just then, the air grew heavy.

The mist rolled in, dense and suffocating.

"What's happening?" Kazuma's voice cracked as he peeked out of the carriage, only to retreat in terror.

"The White Whale is here!" Ram shouted, her grip tightening on Subaru. "Do something! Anything!"

The carriage erupted into chaos.

Kazuma dove behind Rosewall, clutching at the margrave's coat like a terrified child. "This isn't what I signed up for!"

Rosewall's serene expression never wavered as he flipped another page of his book. "You're a mercenary. Isn't this sort of thing in the job description?"

"Shut up!" Kazuma snapped, his voice muffled.

Darkness, meanwhile, was still at the reins, her eyes glazed over as she muttered incoherently about noble sacrifices and the beauty of martyrdom.

Aqua screamed incoherently, her arms flailing. "We're doomed! We're all doomed!"

"Explosion!" Megumin's voice rang out as she began chanting her spell, her hands trembling as she wove the immense magic together.

Amidst the chaos, Ram's voice rose above the rest. "Emilia-sama! Take responsibility! You're supposed to be the leader here!"

Subaru blinked, her breath hitching.

The leader?

She glanced around the carriage, at the terrified faces of her companions, the encroaching mist, and the ominous roar of the White Whale somewhere in the distance. Her chest tightened, but this time, it wasn't from fear—it was from realisation.

She was the leader.

Megumin's chant reached its crescendo. "Explooo~sion!"

A blinding light descended from the heavens, the force of the spell dissipating the mist momentarily as it struck the massive form of the White Whale. The carriage shook violently as the explosion illuminated the forest, revealing the creature's grotesque form.

The whale let out a guttural roar, its body massive and imposing, its single, glowing eye filled with malice.

The ground trembled as debris flew everywhere, the force of Megumin's spell knocking everyone off their feet.

Ram shielded her face, her voice carrying over the chaos. "Did she… Did she do it?"

Subaru squinted through the smoke and debris, her heart pounding as she spotted the massive form of the White Whale lying motionless on the ground.

The carriage was silent, save for the crackling of the dissipating magic.

"Did we win?" Ram whispered.

Subaru's lips parted. "I promise… that I'll win, next time."

"Emilia-sama?"

And then, the White Whale exploded.

The shockwave engulfed them all, a blinding light followed by deafening silence.

Subaru gasped, finding herself back in the carriage once more.

The sun shone through the trees, the air calm and serene. Everything was exactly as it had been before—before the chaos, before the death.

Her hands trembled as she clutched her knees, her breathing shallow. She looked around the carriage, at the familiar

Û~Û

Twelve more resets and Subaru had tried everything but thirty seconds was barely enough time to plan, explain the plan and act according to the plan.

So she decided to get petty.

Û~Û

Subaru straightened up, her trembling hands hidden behind her back as she stared at the group with newfound determination. A lie—just one convincing lie. If it worked, maybe, just maybe, they could escape this nightmare.

"I can see the future," she declared.

The carriage jolted as everyone turned to her, their expressions ranging from disbelief to mild amusement.

"What?!" Aqua squawked, her eyes wide.

"Cool," Megumin said, twirling her staff nonchalantly.

"Who kills me?" Darkness asked, her voice tinged with excitement.

"My, my, Emilia-samaaaa~," Rosewall drawled, a smirk creeping across his face.

Subaru raised her hand, cutting off further questions. "The White Whale attacks in twenty-five seconds."

"What?!" Kazuma exclaimed, nearly falling over himself as he scrambled to look out the carriage.

"Get away from the carriage!" Subaru ordered, her voice firm.

There was a beat of hesitation before Ram's sharp voice snapped them into action. "You heard her! Move!"

Everyone leapt from the carriage, stumbling onto the grassy terrain. Subaru wasted no time, turning to Rosewall. "Cast a barrier around us."

Rosewall arched an elegant eyebrow, about to reply, when Aqua stepped forward, puffing out her chest. "A barrier? Hah! Leave that to me! My barriers are impenetrable!"

"Oh. Cool," Subaru muttered, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

Three seconds later, the mist rolled in, dense and ominous, swallowing everything in its path.

But as Rosewall raised his arms, a shimmering, translucent dome encased them, keeping the mist at bay. The group stared in stunned silence as the mist clawed at the barrier, unable to penetrate its surface.

Subaru exhaled, relief flooding her system. "Aqua," she said, her voice steady, "you have the power of water, right? Can you summon a pond of water?"

Aqua grinned widely, her confidence palpable.

Megumin, Kazuma, and Darkness exchanged uneasy glances, their faces pale.

"A pond?" Aqua chuckled, her laugh growing louder. "I can summon an ocean itself!"

Rosewall raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

Aqua clasped her hands together, her voice echoing with divine authority. "Behold the grace of Aqua, the goddess of water!"

As her enchantment grew louder, the group collectively gulped.

And then… nothing.

"Emilia-sama—" Ram began, her tone sharp with criticism, but she was cut off as the ground beneath them rumbled.

The earth shook violently, the sky darkening as a deafening roar tore through the air.

Then, the heavens exploded.

Torrents of water cascaded from above, crashing into the ground with unrelenting force. The entire area flooded within moments, the newly formed waters stretching as far as the eye could see.

Rosewall's barrier floated like a bubble, holding the group safely above the chaos.

Inside the barrier, everyone was in stunned silence, their faces pale as they watched the ocean-like expanse grow around them.

"What's the plan now?" Ram asked, her voice tight with suppressed anger.

Puck floated closer, his fur bristling. "Seriously, Subaru, what are we supposed to do with an ocean?"

Subaru stared at the water below, her chest heaving as she tried to steady her breathing. She swallowed hard, clenching her fists. "The White Whale is a whale. A creature attracted to water. It'll come. And when it does…" She paused, her voice lowering. "It's my turn."

The group exchanged wary glances.

"Your turn to do what?" Kazuma asked, his tone laced with scepticism.

Subaru ignored him, stepping closer to the edge of the barrier. She extended her hand, mana swirling in her palm as she gathered her strength. Her silver hair whipped around her face, her expression resolute.

"I'm going to do it."

"Do what?!" Aqua asked, panic creeping into her voice.

Subaru pointed at the churning waters below, her fingers trembling. Her voice rang out, clear and unwavering.

"Schneesturm!"

A brilliant blue orb of mana shot from Subaru's trembling hand, streaking through the air like a comet before slamming into the water with a sharp hiss.

For a moment, nothing happened.

The ripples in the water settled into an eerie stillness, the group holding their breath as the oppressive silence grew heavier.

Then, a low, echoing rumble filled the air.

The water below began to shimmer, a silvery-blue glow spreading outward in breathtaking waves. Ice began to form, creeping and crackling, racing across the surface with unstoppable speed. Spires of translucent frost shot skyward, jagged and beautiful, catching the pale light in a kaleidoscope of dazzling hues. The ground beneath them shimmered with frost, turning the once muddy and chaotic battlefield into a hauntingly majestic frozen expanse.

The temperature plummeted, their breaths visible in the air as the icy tendrils expanded further.

And there it was.

The White Whale, mid-roar, trapped in a crystalline prison of ice. Its colossal form loomed within the frozen wasteland, its furious eyes glaring down at them, unable to move.

"We did it!" Kazuma whooped, his fist punching the air as Aqua cheered beside him.

"I-I actually didn't expect that to work," Aqua admitted with a nervous laugh, but her grin betrayed her excitement.

"Ha!" Megumin huffed, crossing her arms. "Of course, this is the result of my presence!"

Ram stood frozen in place, her mouth slightly agape. "...That was Emilia-sama?"

Puck nodded, a proud grin on his face. "She's got a few surprises up her sleeve, huh?"

But Subaru wasn't celebrating just yet. Her sharp eyes focused on the massive, frozen figure. Slowly, she raised her hand and pointed at the spot where the White Whale was trapped.

"We need to kill it."

The group blinked, their smiles faltering.

"Wait, what?" Kazuma's hand dropped to his side. "It's not dead yet?!"

Subaru shot him a look. "It's a whale. You think freezing it is enough to kill it? We need to finish the job before it breaks freeee!"

Ram groaned. "Of course not. That would've been too easy…"

Subaru turned her attention to Megumin, a knowing smile creeping across her face. "Megumin, this is your time to shine."

Megumin's crimson eyes sparkled as she struck a dramatic pose, her staff raised high. "At last, the power of the greatest arch-wizard shall bring forth ultimate destruction!"

Subaru clapped her hands together, laying it on thick. "Only you, the mighty Megumin, can handle something this powerful. That explosion magic of yours? It's legendary."

Megumin puffed out her chest, her pride swelling. "Of course, it is!"

Kazuma groaned, already sensing where this was going. "But can she kill it in one shot?"

"Not with my mana reserves alone…" Megumin admitted reluctantly.

Aqua turned to Kazuma with a mischievous grin. "Well, Kazuma can give her his mana, can't he?"

"Eh?! Why me?!"

The others ignored his protests as Aqua grabbed his wrist, forcing his hand into Megumin's.

"Do it for the team, Kazuma!" Subaru cheered.

With a resigned sigh, Kazuma slumped. "Fine! Just don't drain me completely, okay?! And Aqua, give me some of yours!"

"...fine."

Mana swirled between them, a soft glow enveloping both Kazuma and Megumin as energy flowed from one to the other. Megumin's aura began to intensify, her hair rising slightly as the sheer power radiating from her grew almost palpable.

She raised her staff, her voice echoing as she began her chant. The ground trembled beneath them, dozens of intricate magical diagrams materialising in the sky above. They glowed with blinding light, spinning and shifting as Megumin's voice rose to a fever pitch.

"Explooo~sion!"

The first explosion struck the frozen whale, the light so intense it turned night into day.

Then came another.

And another.

The sky erupted in rapid, cascading bursts of light and fire, each explosion more powerful than the last. The air vibrated with the deafening roar of the chain reaction, a symphony of destruction that left the group awestruck. The frozen wasteland transformed into a battlefield of blinding radiance, the shockwaves tearing through the air with unstoppable force.

The final explosion descended like a meteor, an unstoppable pillar of energy slamming into the icy mass and shattering it completely.

The light lingered for a moment before slowly dying down, leaving behind a thick veil of steam that hung heavy in the air.

As the steam dissipated, the group stared at the sight before them.

What had once been a forest was now an empty wasteland. The trees were gone, replaced by cracked, scorched earth. The ground was dry and barren, a desert where a thriving forest once stood.

Remarkably, Flugel's Tree remained untouched, standing tall amidst the devastation.

And the White Whale…

"Fish fry!" Darkness exclaimed, her voice cracking with delight.

The massive beast lay charred and lifeless, its once fearsome form reduced to a smouldering, roasted husk.

Subaru collapsed to her knees, a shaky laugh escaping her lips. "We did it. We actually did it…"

Megumin slumped against Kazuma, utterly spent but grinning ear to ear. "That's what you call ultimate power!"

Aqua sniffled, tears streaming down her face. "I did my part too! My water saved us all!"

Ram sighed, crossing her arms. "You're lucky we survived your ridiculous stunts, Emilia-sama."

Puck floated closer to Subaru, his eyes twinkling. "Not bad, Lia. Not bad at all."

Subaru nodded weakly, a smile tugging at her lips. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, they had finally won.

Rosewall cancelled his barrier as he looked around. "Emilia-samaaaa~, you did defeat the White Whale… and you… essentially transformed the Elior forest into a… desert."

"Oh fuck…I mean, shit," she cursed, avoiding Puck's fatherly glare. "Does that cause any problem?"

"I doubt it willll. But if it does… then I'll just have to buuy it!"

"The forest?"

"Indeeed~!"

Û~Û

Author Note:

EmiBaru is really capable, right? Only a few dozen loops later, she finally fried a fish!

Should Team Kazuma be Emilia's official underlings? Tell me.

Coming Soon: Archbishop's Wife…?

Coincidentally, my other story: 'Stone-Faced But Friendly' is also in the same arc. Check it out. Dattebayo.

Thanks for reading this chapter. Drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words motivate me to write better, larger and with more depth.

Till next time!