…

  {3rd Pov}

  "What the hell..." Subaru muttered in disbelief, staring down at the weapon in his hands.

  He could feel it—an overwhelming power, dark and ancient, radiating from the bde. It wasn't just any sword.

  No, he instinctively knew what it was.

  It was the Yin Sword.

  One of the strongest weapons in this entire world.

  He also instinctively understood its true power—

  The ability to cut through space itself.

  Before he could process any further, the door to the room exploded open with a loud bang, kicked clean off its pce.

  "Zero! Are you okay—" Reina barged in, but froze the moment her eyes nded on the sword in his hands.

  Her expression twisted into shock. "That sword...!"

  Subaru flinched at her sudden entrance. "What happened?" he asked, concern in his voice.

  Reina gnced between him and the sword, then let out a sigh, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I sensed something intense… a powerful spatial distortion. I thought something bad had happened, so I ran here."

  "You didn't think to teleport?" Subaru raised an eyebrow.

  Reina's cheeks flushed slightly as she bit her lip. "I… panicked, okay?"

  He chuckled softly. "You were worried about me?"

  "Hmm," she nodded with a small smile.

  A warm feeling bloomed in his chest. "Anyway… take a look at this weapon."

  Reina's expression shifted to seriousness. "It's definitely one of the Legendary Swords… but which one?"

  Subaru held it up with a gleam in his eyes. "Undoubtedly, it's the famed Yin Sword."

  "Yin Sword?! I have some secret knowledge about it… If I'm not wrong, it can cut through space," she said.

  "Damn," he whistled.

  "How did you get that Sword?" she asked curiously, then added immediately, "Of course, if you don't want to tell me, it's absolutely fine."

  "No need to hide. For a while, I've been feeling a certain tug… as if something was calling me. At first, I dismissed it, but after a while, when the feeling grew stronger, I focused and somehow summoned this sword," he expined to her, and she nodded.

  "Impressive! To summon a Legendary Sword means your affinity with it is extremely high! Even my affinity with the Dragon Sword isn't that great!" she said, looking at him with admiration.

  "Hey, Reina, can you see if you can unsheathe your sword, considering me as an enemy?" he asked her, wondering if he was worthy.

  "Okay," she nodded and grabbed the hilt of her weapon, pulling it out. It came out smoothly, unsheathing itself.

  The Dragon Sword was excited and just by the virtue of being able to hold another Legendary weapon, he was considered a worthy opponent to beat.

  Reina quickly sheathed her sword, but it trembled in displeasure.

  She snorted. "There's no way I'm using you against Zero. Behave, or I won't wield you again," she said, and the sword calmed down.

  She turned to Subaru, smiling, while he stood there, speechless.

  'She just threatened the Dragon Sword—something that can cut concepts like butter—as if she were scolding a child… Damn! That's why she's the GOAT!' he thought.

  "Hmm, let's see if I can unsummon this sword and summon it again," he said, attempting to unsummon it.

  He took a deep breath, eyes narrowing as the energy around him shifted.

  The Yin Sword melted back into his shadow like it had never existed—just a whisper of power in the air. He flexed his fingers, still feeling the weight of the bde in his hand even though it was gone.

  "Okay… that was sick, feels like I'm the Shadow Monarch!" he muttered to himself, trying to py it cool, but the grin spreading on his face gave him away.

  "Who?" Reina tilted her head, confused.

  "Just someone who deals with shadows," he replied, not wanting to expin further.

  Her curiosity was left hanging, unaware of the legend she'd just missed out on.

  "Anyway, Reina there is a favour I want to ask" he looked at her seriously.

  She became serious as well "What is it? I will do anything you want me to" she confessed.

  "Can you help me get the Life Sword? If I am not wrong, some Noble has it" he asked, the famed Sword cut through the opponent's very soul and destroy it.

  It was a very powerful weapon, and Subaru thinks he should have some affinity with it considering he has awakened his Aura, though not as great as Yin Sword.

  'My affinity is Yin and Earth, does the magic affinity I have gets stronger as well?' he thought seriously.

  'Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense why I can summon this weapon now, when I couldn't before,' he thought.

  Not to mention, he had only felt a connection to the weapon after dying at Roswaal's hands, an event that had unlocked his Ki and Aura, increasing his abilities.

  "You want another one of the Ten Swords of Power?" Reina asked casually. "Hmm, I can search for them using my Divine Protections."

  Subaru blinked in disbelief. "Wait, all this time you could've searched for every lost Sword of Power and found them?"

  Reina stuck out her tongue mischievously. "Teehe~."

  "Well, even if I had found them… It would've been useless, as they can only be wielded by those deemed worthy," Reina expined. "Not to mention, Reid is the strongest sword, so I never felt the need for another."

  'Then how the hell did I die under her watch?!' Subaru thought, wondering if it was just his typical Subaru luck.

  'Yeah, that's probably it… Subaru's luck is to die,' he sighed in exasperation.

  "Okay… So, can you get them?"

  "My Divine Protection of Probability Prediction tells me that you're only compatible with the Life Sword," she replied. "The rest would require a sacrifice to bond with you."

  "Well, I only have two hands… So, can you get the Life Sword for me?" Subaru asked, feeling a bit ashamed of how demanding he sounded.

  "Anything for my future Lord," she replied with unhinged devotion.

  …

  Within the next five days, she successfully retrieved the Life Sword for him. It had been in the possession of a noble named Count Reedback. The moment Subaru grasped the bde—it recognized him, forming a bond on the spot.

  The sword resonated perfectly with his aura, amplifying it with ease.

  "I should head out now… Emilia and the others have already returned to the mansion. Only Rem and I are still here," he said, giving her a sincere nod of thanks.

  "Hm. I've been assigned a task by the Council of Wise Men," she said, her gaze steady. "I won't be around for a few days, but if anything happens—anything at all—call me. I'll be there."

  He nodded and, without thinking, pulled her into a hug. She blinked in surprise but soon wrapped her arms around him, holding him gently.

  "Thank you, Reina," he said, voice low. "I swear I'll become someone worthy of being your Lord."

  A soft smile touched her lips. "I'll wait—for the day I can finally devote myself to you."

  His gaze lingered on her, caught in the depth of her blue eyes.

  He nodded, offering his farewell before stepping into the carriage.

  then turned toward Rem. "Let's go, Rem," he said softly.

  Rem gave a small smile and took the reins, guiding the carriage forward.

  As Subaru sat back, his gaze drifted to the two swords strapped to his belt—the ordinary fine sword and the Life Sword.

  His mind was set he would face the Great Whale without relying on any legendary weapon.

  Sure, using them now might help him defeat monsters, but what would happen in the future? When he'd face enemies like Pandora, who could manipute reality at will?

  When it came to battling the Archbishops of the Witch Cult, Subaru still wasn't sure if his death would create an alternate timeline. But he figured it was better to die now, while training, than face those foes in the future.

  The Great Whale, though terrifying, was a worthy opponent for him to hone his skills. It would allow him to train his Aura, Ki, and Psychic energy all at once.

  Still, to be safe, he had written a letter. That way, if things went wrong in the alternate timelines, someone would know what happened.

  "It's terrifying to think that my deaths might create alternate timelines…" he thought. "But there's nothing I can do about it. I know I'll die someday, if not now. It's better to die sooner than ter."

  Fear? Yes, he was afraid. But so what? The world wouldn't care whether he was brave or scared—only that he was strong.

  He had once believed that, even if he wasn't incredibly strong, having Reina by his side would guarantee his safety. However, after dying at Roswaal's hands, he realized how wrong he had been. Reina might be one of the strongest in the world, but she wasn't omnipotent, and he couldn't expect her to carry his burdens if he was incapable of carrying his own.

  "I promise... after this, everything will change," he muttered. It was now a matter of kill or be killed.

  Rem stayed silent as she drove the carriage. As evening fell and they passed the Flugel Tree, a dense fog began to roll in.

  "The weather changed suddenly," she commented, but Subaru just grabbed her shoulder and handed her a letter.

  "Give this to Emilia... preferably Puck, and then run," he instructed as he stepped down from the carriage.

  "W-What's going on, Master Zero?" Rem asked, concern in her voice. Subaru drew his sword.

  "The White Whale is here. I'll hold it off while you deliver the letter to Emilia. That's an order," he said, his voice cold, commanding.

  "The White Whale? How do you know?!" she asked, her voice tinged with worry, but Subaru's resolve was clear.

  "Run. And fulfill your duty as my maid!"

  Rem bit her lip, nodded, and without further hesitation, she urged the reins, and the carriage surged forward.

  A chilling roar, "Mooooooahh!", echoed through the area, and a wave of mist sprayed toward him. He swiftly dodged it.

  Subaru took a deep breath and chanted, "Ul Fura!"

  A fierce windstorm erupted around him, sweeping the mist away and finally revealing the massive, menacing whale.

  It locked eyes with him, its gaze cold and calcuting, as if seeing him only as prey.

  "Ready to die, bastard?" Subaru growled, channeling his Ki to strengthen his body, then his Aura to empower his sword.

  As the fog thickened and silence fell over the forest, Subaru stood still—his heart pounding. This wasn't just another fight. This was a decration. A message to the world and to himself.

  "I'm done running."

  He gripped his sword tighter. The Life Sword hummed faintly, as if responding to his resolve. He wasn't deluded—he knew this creature could kill him. But if he backed down now, when would he ever stop running?

  The White Whale dove, soaring toward him with incredible speed. Subaru waited until the st possible moment before teleporting onto its back, just as it was about to engulf him.

  "Ahhh!" he screamed as he drove his sword deep into the whale, sshing as he quickly ran along its back.

  The White Whale shrieked in pain, tilting its body at a sharp 90-degree angle as it flew upward. Subaru gripped the sword tightly, hanging on for dear life.

  "Die, you bastard!" he yelled, releasing a burst of fire bullets, "Ul Goa!" The fmes scorched its back.

  Smoke rose from the whale's back as it let out a bone-chilling shriek. Subaru narrowed his eyes, steadying his breath—not from exhaustion, but focus. His aura pulsed around him, burning hot with resolve.

  He wiped the sweat from his brow, then froze.

  There were more.

  But just as it was ascending, two more whales appeared, swooping in and releasing thick mist.

  "Shit!" Subaru dodged the first mist attack, then the second, and barely avoided the third. But the fourth came too fast.

  He tried to teleport, but his mistake came too te.

  The mist spread through his body like icy poison, Subaru felt his senses fade—one by one. Sight. Sound. Pain. Then—stillness.

  But just before everything turned dark, a single thought crossed his mind:

  "If I die now… then next time, I'll win."

  Natsuki Subaru had died for the seventh time (*128).

  …

  "Gah—!" Subaru gasped for air, lurching forward in the carriage.

  "Master Zero?! What's wrong?!" Rem pulled the carriage to a halt, concern etched across her face.

  "I-It's nothing," he muttered, steadying his breath as he gnced around, recognizing the familiar surroundings.

  'Just before the White Whale fight? Tch, convenient timing,' he thought. A cruel smile tugged at his lips. "Alright, you bastard. Let's make this count."

  The memories of his st deaths burned like hot iron in his brain—but this time, he wasn't just fighting to survive. He was fighting to win.

  He closed his eyes for a moment and tested his energy—Aura, Mana, and Ki. All three had been amplified, nearly fourfold. A noticeable leap in power.

  'No doubt about it. Both the quality and quantity of my energy have doubled. That means the overall growth after each death is nearly quadrupled,' he thought, gripping the seat lightly as the carriage moved forward.

  As Rem guided the reins, Subaru closed his eyes and focused. A moment ter, a bde of solidified aura formed in his hand—shimmering, sharp, and overflowing with power.

  'So I've finally learned how to shape my aura… Not bad. With enough control, this could become deadlier than any forged bde.'

  Time passed quickly.

  As the giant silhouette of Flugel's Tree came into view and the mist began to gather, Subaru's expression hardened.

  He turned to Rem and handed her a sealed envelope.

  "Take this letter and head straight back to the mansion—don't look back, no matter what happens. That's an order."

  "What's going on, Master Zero?!" Rem asked, confused.

  Subaru's eyes narrowed. "The White Whale is here. If you don't want to die—run!"

  He leapt off the carriage, nding with purpose as Rem stared at him, stunned.

  "Go!" Subaru shouted at her.

  She stared at him, fingers trembling as she gripped the letter. She didn't argue—she knew better now. This wasn't the Subaru who joked and stumbled. This was Master Zero.

  Rem clenched her teeth, hesitated only for a moment, then snapped the reins.

  The ground dragon let out a sharp roar and surged forward, the carriage tearing away into the mist.

  A deafening roar thundered overhead as the White Whale descended from the clouds.

  "Tch—piss off."

  Subaru shot himself into the air with super speed, the shockwave rippling behind him. Suspended mid-air, he caught a full view of the White Whale.

  "Al Goa!" Subaru unleashed his strongest fire spell, releasing a massive fireball that struck the White Whale, burning its upper body and causing it to roar in pain.

  *Booooommmm*

  Instantly, two new White Whales appeared and flew towards him. He teleported above the back of the original, but the whale shrugged its body, throwing him towards another.

  Subaru flipped mid-air, swinging his sword and piercing through the doppelganger's eye.

  *Spshhh*

  "Mooooooooooooo!" The beast roared in pain and unleashed Mist of Elimination, which Subaru easily dodged.

  "Die, you bastard!" Subaru yelled, creating a massive scythe made of aura. He swung it with all his strength, striking the whale.

  The whale staggered mid-air from the sheer force of the attack, but Subaru didn't relent. He charged forward, sshing through its flesh relentlessly.

  As the second whale appeared, opening its massive jaw and diving toward him, Subaru teleported above it, swinging his scythe to sever its horn.

  The beast roared in agony before disappearing, but just as Subaru thought he had finished off one clone, another appeared, completely unharmed.

  'You're kidding me?!' Subaru thought, staring at the new clone in disbelief.

  "I need to kill the original one!" Without wasting another moment, he shifted his focus to the whale hovering above him.

  In an instant, he teleported above it once more. Gathering all his strength.

  The scythe shimmered with radiant energy, carving through the clouds like a god's punishment. The sky lit up as blood and mist sprayed like fireworks. he swung the scythe, throwing it with a fierce determination.

  The scythe spun thousands of times in a single second, slicing cleanly through the whale's head and down to its tail.

  "Al Huma!" he shouted, conjuring a massive ice projectile and unching it at the whale.

  Suddenly, the whales below vanished—only to reappear right next to him.

  'What?!' His eyes widened. He quickly unsheathed his sword, cloaking it in aura, and sshed at the approaching beast.

  The original White Whale was injured by the blow, but Subaru found himself trapped between the two clones. With no choice, he teleported again—just in time to make them crash into each other.

  But the moment didn't st. The White Whale's eyes rolled back, and its clones re-emerged—one diving at him from above, maw wide open, and the other surging up from below.

  "What kind of bullshit is this?!" Subaru shouted in frustration, forced to teleport again. The whales mirrored him, chasing relentlessly.

  "This is not a tag, you fat sea cow!" he yelled mid-warp, teeth clenched. "Stop cheating with your stupid mist hacks!"

  This game of deadly tag continued for several moments—until he realized he'd been driven extremely high into the sky.

  "Fall down!" Subaru roared, forming another scythe made of aura. He hurled his sword toward the original and grabbed the scythe mid-air as he plummeted toward the clone.

  The moment he reached it, he swung.

  *Booomm*

  A bst echoed through the sky as the clone was smmed downward.

  But before he could breathe, another White Whale appeared above and swallowed him whole.

  "Dammit!" he yelled as its massive jaws crushed down, tearing his body in two.

  His upper half plummeted through the air while his lower half vanished inside the beast's stomach. He was still conscious—wracked with unimaginable pain.

  His nerves screamed in agony, his mind desperately clinging to consciousness. He couldn't breathe, couldn't scream—just watch the sky fall around him as his life slipped away

  His Spirits, panicked, fled his broken body and tried to cast spells—

  Only for the second whale to devour him completely.

  *Natsuki Subaru has died for the eighth time (*256).

  …

  "Should I just use my legendary sword?" he muttered, caught once again in the jaws of the White Whale.

  This time, he barely survived—only to keep fighting and die once more.

  *Natsuki Subaru has died for the ninth time (*512).

  …

  Subaru gasped for breath, utterly exhausted.

  The White Whale gred at him, its body heavily wounded. He had sin its clones dozens of times by now.

  But his strength had reached its limit.

  His Ki and Aura were completely drained.

  His body gave out, colpsing in mid-air.

  The strain from overusing his power was too much.

  *Natsuki Subaru has died for the tenth time (*1024).

  ...

  He had died around four times to the White Whale. Last time, if not for overdrawing his Aura and Ki, he would have killed it.

  Now, he finally understood the price of using them. Ki was life energy—it regenerated over time, but in the end, it was still his vitality.

  And though his vitality had increased thousands of times, if he overused it—especially his Aura, it would still kill him.

  'This time, I'll kill it in one hit,' he thought, eyes sharp with resolve.

  Rem was already gone. The White Whale appeared, roaring as always.

  But this time, Subaru didn't make a mistake. He teleported above it and formed a sword of pure Aura in his hand.

  However, unlike st time, he didn't try to create a massive sword to cleave the beast in half.

  Instead, he focused—funneling both Ki and Mana into the bde, unleashing it all through the Aura sword.

  A blue light pierced through the heavens, bsting away the clouds. It was visible from the Capital and even Mathers' mansion.

  Even Rem, who was driving away, saw the spectacle in awe.

  "Master Zero... is that you?" she whispered in disbelief.

  Meanwhile,

  "This Ends Now!" Subaru roared, swinging the sword downward.

  "Fuck-it!"

  "CALIBURRRRR!"

  The beam shot straight through the White Whale, cleaving it in half.

  For a moment, silence fell—before the beast crashed to the ground, its body split cleanly into two. With another strike, Subaru obliterated what remained of its life.

  He panted lightly. That strike alone had cost him a quarter of his Ki.

  Thankfully, he still had 95% of his mana left.

  He nded on the ground with a thud, creating a small crater.

  Staring at the corpse of the White Whale before him, awe and a deep sense of accomplishment filled him as he colpsed on his back.

  "I-I did it," he whispered, tears welling up in his eyes. "Hell yeah!" he shouted in celebration.

  "Master, you did it!" a sudden voice called out, making him jump.

  "W-Who?" he muttered, manifesting his aura defensively—when five glowing bobs of mana emerged from his body.

  "It is us, Master!" the Fire Spirit replied.

  "My spirits?" he asked in disbelief.

  "Yes! Out of nowhere, our abilities increased and we became True Spirits!" said the Water Spirit.

  "Hmph! Except Earth, who's got the strength of a newbie spirit, the four of us are nearly Great Spirits—with me being the strongest," the Yang Spirit boasted proudly.

  "Yes, that's the case, Master," said the Wind Spirit in a calm tone.

  "Damn it... I was the weakest before, and even now I'm the weakest," the Earth Spirit mourned.

  The Yang Spirit suddenly rubbed against Subaru's cheek and said, "You lowlifes should all call him Master, but as the strongest, I will call him Father." She rubbed against him more intimately, visibly blushing.!

  "W-We want to call him Father too!" the Water Spirit protested.

  "Father? Umu! That sounds better," the Fire Spirit nodded enthusiastically.

  "I love Father," the Wind Spirit said softly.

  "Me too!" added the Earth Spirit.

  "Hmph! Mongrels, know your pce! Only I deserve to call him Father!" the Yang Spirit snapped. "When this concubine marries our Father, you shall grovel at my feet!"

  Subaru suddenly froze.

  'What the fuck?!' he thought, as all five Spirits started arguing—spells and elements flying everywhere like an indoor battlefield.

  'Wait a minute… If my spirits get stronger too, then does that mean—' His eyes widened in realization. He quickly reached out and grabbed the Life Sword.

  "Its aura intensity has increased… at least sixteen times!" he excimed, stunned. He then summoned the Yin Sword—its power had clearly amplified as well.

  "I must've saved an entire world in my past life as Ayan to earn an ability like this…" he muttered, rubbing his misty eyes.

  "As for my Natsuki self? He must've been a bonafide devil."

  (A/N: Typical Natsuki Subaru—berating himself as usual XD)

  "Al Goa!"

  "Al Shiha!"

  "Al Fura!"

  "Al Dona!"

  "Al Jiwald!"

  One by one, the Spirits unleashed their most powerful spells, tearing through the area. The shockwaves from the magic collided, and the massive aftermath swept Subaru off his feet like a ragdoll. He flipped through the air before crashing into the muddy ground with a painful thud.

  The Spirits froze mid-air, sensing a chilling pressure rising behind them.

  They slowly turned—only to see Subaru standing up, soaked and bruised, with an aura so heavy it sent chills through their cores.

  "All of you… here. Now," he said quietly, but the calmness in his tone only made it more terrifying.

  The Spirits trembled and floated over instantly, their glowing forms dimming as they lined up before him like scolded children.

  "Listen carefully," he said, eyes cold. "No more infighting. Got it?"

  They all bobbed in sync, their lights flickering nervously like kids nodding in css.

  Then his face broke into a smile. That alone was enough to make them rex again—even Yang Spirit, who had been clutching her metaphorical pride.

  'Father is so scary when he's angry…' she thought, puffing slightly.

  "Also," Subaru added, raising a brow, "you're not allowed to call me Father anymore."

  Their lights dimmed immediately.

  "W-Why? Did we do something wrong?" the Water Spirit asked in a small voice, clearly disheartened.

  "If… if this concubine has offended you, please forgive me for my transgressions…" Yang Spirit murmured, trying to sound dignified despite being visibly shaken.

  "Umu! You created us in a way! So please let us call you father," the Fire Spirit said, her voice full of sincerity.

  The other Spirits nodded eagerly, seeing their gloomy expressions. Subaru sighed, realizing he couldn't win.

  "Fine, you can all call me father," he said, and the Spirits erupted with joy, their lights shining brightly as they cheered.

  "Now, calling you Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, and Yang is stupid," Subaru said, catching them off guard. "So I'll give you all new names."

  "Names?!" the Earth Spirit excimed, his tone excited.

  "Fufu, father, name this daughter! I shall bring you glory!" Yang Spirit chimed in, almost proudly.

  "I want a good name as well," the Wind Spirit added, sounding hopeful.

  Subaru chuckled lightly and nodded. "Let's start with the Fire Spirit," he said, eyeing the excited little spirit. The others clicked their non-existent tongues in mild dissatisfaction.

  "Your name shall be Agni; it means God of Fire," he said, and the Fire Spirit jumped in joy, her light fring with excitement.

  "Then comes Water," Subaru continued, and the Water Spirit trembled with anticipation.

  "Your name shall be Aqua; it means water or God of Water," he announced, and the Water Spirit danced in joy, the ripples of her form glowing brighter.

  "Next is Wind. Your name shall be Sylphy, it means Spirit of Wind or Wind itself," Subaru said, and the Wind Spirit smirked, clearly pleased.

  "Now I choose Earth," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Your name shall be Gaea; it means Mother Earth," he added, and Earth Spirit puffed her chest, pride glowing in her light.

  "Hmph! I may be st! But my name shall be the most glorious!" Yang Spirit decred, her tone dripping with pride.

  "Yes, st is Yang," Subaru agreed with a smile. "I shall name you Gloria, for you may bring immortal glory to me."

  With their new names, the spirits felt a sense of satisfaction, their lights glowing brighter than ever before.

  "Father, what should we do now? You have defeated the White Whale?" Agni's voice had a mixture of admiration and awe. Subaru was still catching his breath from the battle, his heart pounding in his chest.

  He gnced down at his hands, now trembling slightly from the exertion.

  He felt the weight of victory, but it was still too early to feel relief. His mind was racing, thinking of what came next. There was no time to bask in glory when the Witch Cultists were still out there, waiting to destroy everything.

  "We must move quickly," he muttered to himself, barely audible. "There's no rest for the wicked."

  "First, let's catch up to Rem and then deal with the Witch Cultists," Subaru replied, his expression serious. His focus shifted, now that the most immediate threat was gone.

  The spirits, with newfound power, felt the connection between them and Subaru deepen.

  "This concubine loves being inside her father," Gloria's voice rang out, and Subaru nearly stumbled, his face flushing with embarrassment.

  "Phrasing!" Subaru muttered, his frustration clear.

  As Gloria's teasing only made Subaru more flustered. "Fufu, Father, why are you so flustered?" she asked innocently, her voice dripping with pyful mischief. Subaru sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck in exasperation.

  "If you don't stop calling me that, I'll start to think you're serious," he said with a half-joking tone, though a part of him felt uneasy.

  Despite his growing fondness for the spirits, he wasn't used to such casual, affectionate banter. Maybe that was a side effect of being thrust into this strange world, but it felt... comforting.

  In a twisted way, it helped him feel less alone.

  The spirits giggled, their ughter echoing in Subaru's mind, but he quickly shook off the awkwardness.

  He sighed and steeled himself. The battles ahead were far from over, and there was still much to do.

  With a determined expression, Subaru took his stance and began to run, the ground beneath his feet trembling with each powerful step.

  Booooomm*

  His current speed was nearly 24 times that of sound. The moment he ran, shear friction caused his clothes to burn.

  "Fuck! Aqua, help me!" he said as he came to a halt and started patting his clothes, trying to stop the fmes.

  Aqua summoned water and dropped it on top of him, putting out the fire and making him wet.

  "Fantastic... Half of my clothes are now ash," he grunted and used Aura to cover his body and clothes.

  "If I become naked after this..." he didn't finish and ran again, breaking the sound barrier. This time, his clothes didn't burn, and in a second, he stopped near the carriage.

  "Master Zero!" Rem excimed upon seeing him.

  His figure shimmered, cloaked in a faint rainbow glow from the intense Aura still crackling around him. Behind him, the ground was torn apart—the aftermath of Subaru's sheer speed and force.

  Seeing the destruction he caused, he said with a casual shrug, "I don't have any Divine Protection that lessens the damage caused by my speed." (Haha)

  Rem stood there, staring at him in disbelief. The sheer force and speed required to leave that kind of devastation… Even Ram with her horn wasn't capable of such power.

  Subaru climbed into the carriage, his movements smooth. "Let's go."

  "Master Zero…" Rem asked, still in awe. "Was that blue light you? And what happened to the White Whale?"

  "That lightshow? Yeah, that was me. As for the White Whale—it's dead. Lying in four pieces on the grass," he answered ftly.

  Rem gasped. "Y-You syed the White Whale?"

  She couldn't believe it. That monstrous creature had been a pgue for over four hundred years. Countless warriors, even the previous Sword Saint, had failed to defeat it.

  "Yeah, you'll see its corpse ter—if it's still there. For now, we've got bigger problems," Subaru replied, his tone shifting to something more serious.

  "Bigger problems?" Rem asked, confused.

  "The Witch Cult. They're targeting Roswaal's territory," he said matter-of-factly.

  Rem's eyes darkened with hatred. "The Witch Cult? Why would they attack?"

  "Because for them, the White Whale is a sort of pet. So, the Witch Cult is involved," Subaru said, and Rem shuddered, the full weight of the situation sinking in.

  "I will kill all of them. You can help, of course, but I'll handle the Sin Archbishops," he expined to her, and she nodded.

  "As you command, Master Zero," she replied, her role as his personal maid still intact.

  Her perception of him had shifted. She had heard of how he defeated Julius, one of the strongest knights in Lugunica, and had seen him hold his own against Wilhelm, the Sword Demon.

  Even without Lady Reina's intervention that day, she knew she would have lost.

  (A/N: Nah, she would have decimated him before getting decimated)

  She also felt guilty for her earlier assumptions. In truth, Roswaal, too, bore a simir scent to that of the Witch Cultists. The knowledge that Subaru was carrying something as dangerous as the Witch's Curse made her look at him with newfound respect.

  She drove the carriage as he spoke, "Give me the letter I gave you."

  She handed it back to him. He opened it, then burned five of the six pages, leaving only the first. He wrapped it up again.

  "Hey, can any of you send this letter to Emilia?" he asked his spirits, leaving Rem confused as to whom he was talking to.

  "While we cannot take physical form, we can use magic to lift it," said the Wind Spirit.

  "Umu, Father. Sylphy would be the best choice to send the letter. She's the fastest of us, and her element won't harm it," Agni added.

  "Master Zero, who are they?" Rem asked, keeping her eyes focused on the road.

  "Mongrels, we are his proud children and contracted Spirits," said Gloria, her voice ced with pride.

  Subaru's eyebrows twitched upon hearing Gloria's words. She sounded like a combination of Gilgamesh and Priscil, all wrapped up in one.

  "Master Zero's Quasi-Spirits have already become True Spirits?" Rem gasped in surprise, her breath catching in her throat.

  'H-He is so strong,' she thought, a sense of awe overwhelming her.

  "Give me the letter, Father. I remember Emilia and the path. I'll deliver it to her and the Great Spirit," Sylphy said, taking the letter from Subaru.

  The letter was soon encased in an orb of swirling wind, and with a powerful gust, Sylphy shot into the sky, breaking the sound barrier with her Wind Magic.

  Before long, they arrived in Arm Vilge, and the night had already settled in.

  "Rem, stop the carriage. Let's evacuate the vilge," Subaru instructed as he hopped down from the carriage.

  "Did you see that pilr of light?" one vilger whispered.

  "Yes! It reached the heavens. What was that?" another added.

  "Was it Lord Roswaal doing?"

  The vilgers had gathered outside, discussing the strange pilr of light that had illuminated the sky moments earlier.

  Perfect. This was exactly what Subaru had hoped for.

  He stood on the fountain's wall in the vilge center and raised his voice. "Excuse me! Everyone!"

  The vilgers turned their attention to him, curiosity piqued.

  The vilge chief stepped forward, recognition in his eyes. "Sir Zero, it's you."

  Subaru gave a small nod and said, "Now listen to me, everyone. As you know, I am Lord Roswaal's guest, and currently, I am acting as her bodyguard."

  "The pilr of light you saw earlier in the sky? That was my doing. I was battling the White Whale," he expined, his voice steady and authoritative.

  "White Whale?! Is he telling the truth?"

  "Isn't he a friend of the Sword Saint? He must be strong, right?"

  "Still… Can we really believe him?"

  The vilgers began murmuring among themselves, doubt and tension rising in the air.

  Subaru raised his voice, firm and commanding, "Everyone! Focus. I have reason to believe the Witch Cult was behind the White Whale. Which means—they might attack this vilge next."

  Gasps and cries broke out.

  "Witch Cult?! Here?!"

  "Why would they come all the way here?"

  "It's that half-elf's fault, isn't it?"

  "If anyone should leave, it should be her!"

  "Why should we suffer because of her?"

  Accusations flew. Panic mixed with prejudice. Subaru's expression darkened, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd.

  "Idiots… fools… utterly stupid," he muttered under his breath.

  Without another word, he closed his eyes and summoned a sword of Aura. It gleamed with a radiant light that drew every eye. In one smooth motion, he leapt down from the fountain's wall and struck the bde into the ground.

  A blinding pilr of light burst upward, piercing the sky. The clouds above scattered from the force, as if the heavens themselves had been split open.

  Gasps of awe, fear, and silence followed.

  When the light faded, Subaru spoke, voice sharp as steel.

  "I'll say this only once. I have no obligation to protect you."

  "The only reason I'm standing here, willing to fight the Witch Cult, is because of Emilia."

  His eyes swept over the stunned vilgers.

  "So the next time you dare speak ill of her—remember who's risking their life for yours."

  "I am her friend—and she cares about your safety!" Subaru's voice echoed through the crowd. "You mock her. Accuse her. Shun her. And still, she chooses to care for you!"

  The vilgers flinched, guilt washing over their faces like a cold wave.

  He took a breath, then spoke again, firm but composed, "I'm requesting that you evacuate—preferably to the Mathers Mansion, where you'll be safer. But if you refuse… then consider that request an order."

  Uneasy silence followed. One man hesitantly raised his hand.

  "B-But how can we be sure we'll be safe… even if we evacuate?"

  Subaru gave him a warm smile—but to everyone else, it felt like a chill had swept over the square.

  "You'll be as safe as a mouse in front of a cat… if you stay here."

  The man went pale and lowered his hand.

  "I believe in Sir Zero!" Petra stepped forward, her voice small but clear. "He saved us from the Wolgram beasts!"

  Subaru blinked, then gave a faint chuckle. "Thanks, Petra… how ironic. A kid being smarter than the rest of you."

  He patted her head, and she turned red, trying to hide her smile.

  (A/N: Lolimancer strikes again.)

  "Hmph, I believe in him too," the Vilge Chief added, stepping beside her.

  "Alright then!" Subaru cpped once. "Everyone, grab whatever's important and gather here. Be quick—we don't have much time."

  The vilgers finally began moving, urgency rising in their steps.

  Just then, two figures appeared through the crowd—Ram, her gaze sharp, and Emilia, slightly out of breath but calm.

  "Zero!" Emilia called out, hurrying over.

  Puck floated beside her, his sharp eyes gncing around. Sylphy, meanwhile, flew up and nded gracefully next to Subaru.

  "Father! I completed the task you gave me!" Sylphy reported with pride.

  Subaru crouched slightly and gave her a pat, pulling her into a hug. "Good girl."

  She let out a happy squeal as he rubbed her head, practically glowing with joy. The other spirits behind him exchanged envious gnces.

  (A/N: They are literally balls of mana; how do they even give envious gnces?)

  Puck, however, narrowed his eyes.

  "Boy... just what is your Spirit affinity?" he muttered in disbelief.

  He could feel it—an overwhelming connection to the spirits, far beyond anything he'd ever sensed. It wasn't just high—it was unnatural. At least a thousand times stronger than Emilia's. He'd noticed it briefly during the Royal Conference, but had dismissed it and now Subaru had Spirit affinity stronger than what he had back in Capital..

  "No wonder these quasi-spirits became full-fledged Spirits… Are you even human?" Puck asked, eyeing Subaru suspiciously.

  "Puck!" Emilia scolded gently, but her concern was clear.

  "Zero, are the Witch Cultists going to attack us?"

  Subaru turned to her calmly. "Yes. The Witch Cult is moving. I've confirmed it. I also killed the White Whale—it was likely acting under their influence."

  The crowd around them stirred with unease.

  Emilia's expression hardened. "Then we really do need to evacuate the vilge."

  "I was pnning to take them to the mansion," Subaru replied, "but if there's a safer pce, I'm open to suggestions."

  "Master Zero," Ram spoke up. "Lord Roswaal ordered the vilgers to be sent to the Sanctuary."

  Rem nodded beside her. "Yes, it will be safer there, and it's already prepared."

  Subaru paused for a moment, thoughtful.

  'So he's still pying that card... Fine. The Sanctuary is a good option, and Emilia needs to go there anyway. That pce holds the key to her growing as a person.'

  His gaze shifted to Emilia for a moment. Their bond was stronger than it had been in the original timeline—but even now, he could sense a wall inside her. A past she had yet to accept. Without facing it, she'd never grow beyond her hesitation.

  'And if things go south, I can always call in Reina. I've got two of the Swords of Power now… that alone changes the whole game.'

  A small smirk tugged at his lips.

  'Honestly, I almost feel sorry for the bastards who show up next.'

  After only four deaths, Subaru Natsuki—no, Zero—was already becoming one of the most dangerous existences in the world.

  "How are we supposed to fight the Witch Cult? We don't even have an army..." Emilia asked nervously, her voice trembling just a little.

  Subaru looked at her, then raised one hand dramatically. "Don't worry—for I am here!" he struck a confident pose.

  Before anyone could respond, shadows began to stir at his feet. His own shadow deepened, stretching unnaturally across the ground as tendrils of darkness coiled upward.

  A bck bde slowly rose into the air, radiating an ominous aura. A chill ran through everyone's body.

  He caught it with ease.

  "The... Yin Sword?!" Puck gasped, floating back instinctively. His usually calm demeanor was shattered in an instant.

  "The Sword of Darkness... one of the Ten Swords of Power?" Ram whispered, her face pale. The legends said only the chosen could wield such weapons—and those chosen were never ordinary.

  She turned toward Subaru—no, Zero—her eyes wide with disbelief. "If that's true... then you've become one of the strongest existences in the world."

  Subaru gave a half-smile, not confirming it—but not denying it either.

  'And if they only knew the bde on my belt is another legendary sword... heh. Let's save that reveal for ter,' he mused silently, amused by the thought.

  "I'm strong," he said simply, stepping forward. "Strong enough to fight the Witch Cult on my own. I've already sin the White Whale—the blue pilr of light you saw earlier? That was me."

  He stopped in front of Emilia and gently pced a hand on her head, ruffling her silver hair.

  "You don't have to worry about the fight, Emilia. Just focus on getting everyone to safety. I'll take care of the rest."

  Her breath hitched. The warmth of his hand, the quiet certainty in his voice—it made her heart flutter. A blush crept up her cheeks, and her violet eyes met his.

  ( t/n: Emilia's cheeks are as red as Subaru's Aura! Haha Must be a sign.)

  That dependable figure, that calm confidence... it etched itself into her heart without her realizing.

  Puck narrowed his eyes the moment he saw the faint blush on Emilia's face. With a small burst of mana, he flew forward and gave Subaru's hand a sharp kick.

  "Hands off my daughter, boy," Puck growled, floating between them protectively like a furry guardian.

  Subaru blinked, withdrawing his hand with a sheepish smile. Emilia gred at Puck in embarrassment. "Puck! That wasn't necessary!"

  "Okay, okay, Father," Subaru muttered dramatically, rubbing his hand. "Anyway, I'll leave her in your care."

  "Of course. She is my daughter," Puck snorted, his tone almost mocking.

  Subaru smirked. "Yeah… my bad."

  Then, turning toward the gathered vilgers, his expression shifted to one of commanding calm.

  "Alright, everyone! Slight change of pns," he announced. "By the orders of Lord Roswaal, you'll all be evacuated to the Sanctuary. You'll be under the protection of Rem, Ram, and Lady Emilia."

  There was a bit of murmuring, especially when Emilia's name was mentioned—but not a soul dared to voice doubt aloud. Not after seeing that insane sword beam Subaru had fired into the heavens.

  The Fuck-it-Calibur—as it was quickly dubbed in hushed whispers—was burned into their minds.

  While there were those still wary of the half-elf, the support of both Lord Roswaal and this terrifying, dependable young man named Zero was more than enough to seal their approval.

  "Very well, begin your evacuation," Subaru said. "And say—there won't be any issues walking in the dark, right?"

  One of the older vilgers chuckled nervously. "Uh, w-we have nterns, sir. We'll manage."

  "Good," Subaru nodded. Then with a teasing grin, he added, "Because if you trip and break something important, you'll just become more luggage."

  The vilgers gave weak ughs, and the tension in the air finally began to ease.

  "It would have been better if there were more people to help with the evacuation," Ram muttered, arms crossed as she observed the crowd forming.

  Subaru tilted his head. "More people? Oh right…"

  He raised his hand and calmly spoke, "Agni, Aqua, Sylphy, Gaea… Gloria."

  Five distinct fres of light shimmered around him, forming into graceful, radiant figures—each representing a different element. The vilgers gawked as the spirits emerged one by one from his body, shimmering with mystical energy.

  "You guys help with the evacuation and follow Emilia's instructions. Keep everyone safe."

  "But Father…" Gloria pouted, pressing her fan against her lips in exaggerated sorrow. "This concubine wishes to incinerate mongrels alongside you…"

  Subaru chuckled, gently patting her silver hair. "I know, I know. But trust me—helping them is helping me. If the vilgers are safe, I won't have to hold back when I start slicing cultists like onions."

  "Then… I'll burn them in spirit," Gloria sniffled, floating toward Emilia.

  The others—Agni crackling with fme, Aqua gliding like a ripple, Sylphy darting pyfully through the air, and Gaea calmly hovering with grounded grace—all nodded and moved into position.

  The vilgers looked on, jaws sck.

  "He… He's a Spirit Arts user?"

  "Not just a Spirit Arts user—he commands five?!"

  "And they listen to him?!"

  Petra's eyes sparkled like stars. "Sir Zero is amazing!"

  As the st of the vilgers gathered their things, the wagons were loaded, and children were rounded up, Emilia stepped forward. She wrapped her arms around Subaru tightly without warning.

  "Promise me—" she whispered, voice trembling, "Promise me you won't die."

  Subaru blinked, caught off guard by the sudden hug, but smiled gently as he returned it.

  "This time? Nah," he replied with that ever-confident grin. "You'll see me again before dinner."

  With that, they parted. Emilia hesitated a second longer, then turned back to help lead the vilgers, fnked by Ram and Rem, with the five spirits floating protectively around them.

  As their figures grew smaller on the dirt road, Subaru let out a long sigh.

  "Now then," he muttered to himself, resting a hand on the hilt of the Yin Sword.

  "It's time to wait… and welcome our guests."

  ...

  It was the next day. The Witch Cultists had finally arrived near Arm Vilge.

  When Subaru appeared before them, they immediately halted—bowing in unison, assuming he was an Archbishop.

  "Wait a minute, stay where you are," he commanded, and they obeyed without question.

  "There's something I want to check," he said, fshing an evil smile.

  They didn't respond. Then, without warning, all of them clutched their heads in pain, screaming in agony. For a few seconds, it was a mess… until they eerily froze.

  A moment ter, they stood up—still, silent, robotic.

  Subaru smirked. "Oh? It worked."

  He had used another of his psychic abilities: Telepathy. Not just to communicate—but to break their minds.

  Now, they were nothing more than puppets. His puppets.

  Peering through their memories, he quickly located five of the ten Fingers of Sloth.

  "Good. Follow me," he ordered.

  They nodded stiffly, falling into line behind him like lifeless dolls.

  One by one, he broke into their minds, and before long, half of them—including six of the ten Fingers—were already under his control.

  He had silently given them a command: the moment he sends a psychic pulse, they would turn and attack the rest of the Witch Cult.

  Then, a familiar, deranged voice rang out—

  "Welcome, fellow believer! I am Sin Archbishop representing Sloth—Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti!"

  A maniacal grin twisted his face as he tilted his head, twitching.

  "You… you don't happen to be Pride, do you?" he asked.

  Subaru chuckled. "No! Nah! Nein! I'm not Pride... I'm Envy."

  "Envy...?" Petelgeuse's smile twitched, and his eyes narrowed instantly.

  "Introducing myself properly!" Subaru spread his arms wide, a mocking grin on his face. "I am Sin Archbishop, representing Envy—Zero."

  Petelgeuse's face contorted.

  "Impossible! She loves me more! More! More! More! More! More! More! You're lying! Lying! Lying! Lying! Lying! Lying! Lying!"

  "Lying? I'm the one the Witch of Envy loves most, you know?" Subaru said, his voice dripping with arrogance. "I've even met her. She hugged me... panted like a dog before me…"

  He leaned in with a smirk.

  "She even kissed me—over and over—while whispering how much she loves me."

  Blood poured from Petelgeuse's mouth as he bit his fingers in agony.

  Sloth was now experiencing the pain of a man whose beloved had been NTR'd in real-time.

  "DIEEEEE!" he roared, summoning dozens of Unseen Hands in a frenzy.

  But Subaru dodged them effortlessly.

  Petelgeuse's eyes stretched wide in horror. "Impossible! How can you see them?! How can you see her love for me?! Only I should be able to see them!"

  Subaru gave a zy shrug. "Simple. Like I said... she loves me more, Cuck."

  That word broke something inside him.

  "DIIIIEEE!" he shrieked, summoning hundreds of Unseen Hands in his madness.

  But Subaru didn't flinch. He raised the Yin Sword.

  With a single swing, the space before him fractured—a devastating blow followed as space and time tore apart from the ssh, disintegrating all the unseen hands in an instant.

  "Al Minya."

  The moment the Yin incantation left his lips, Sloth's body froze.

  A beam of light hit him, and in a second, his whole body turned into crystal, frozen in glowing, silent agony.

  He knew Petelgeuse was once a Great Spirit, and that the Sloth Witch Factor was the reason behind his madness. Subaru wanted to help him recover someday—but until then, he had to keep him sealed.

  So, he used the strongest Minya spell, freezing even his soul in crystal.

  The Witch Cultists had already been commanded to kill each other. Soon, the entire Cult would be wiped out.

  'I wonder... can I absorb Witch Factors like the original Subaru did?' he thought.

  But then—cracks spread across the crystallized Sloth.

  "You've got to be kidding me..." Subaru muttered.

  A moment ter, something smmed into his consciousness.

  …

  Subaru stood face-to-face with Sloth, the deranged Archbishop now inside a strange realm. The ground beneath them was pure white, and the sky above glowed a haunting orange.

  It was Subaru's mindscape—his inner world shaped by his soul.

  "Impossible! Why! Why! Why! Why can't I control you?!" Sloth howled, cwing at himself, blood staining his already twisted face.

  "Why does she love you more?!" he screamed, voice cracking with madness.

  Subaru let out a sigh. "You've got strong mental willpower for someone so far gone. You want to see her that badly? Fine."

  Just as he began to prepare, he muttered, "I can return by de—"

  But before he could finish, everything around him froze.

  Darkness swallowed the world. The air turned heavy, cloaked in purple-bck fog. Subaru and Sloth were pulled into a new space.

  Across from them stood a silhouette, her form barely visible through the mist.

  Sloth's eyes widened in disbelief as he turned and saw her.

  "M-My love…" he whispered, tears pooling in his eyes. His arms stretched out in desperation, aching to feel her embrace.

  "I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you!" she repeated over and over, voice emotionless, robotic—like a broken doll stuck on one phrase.

  A smile crept onto Sloth's face, blissful and hopeful… however she ignored him.

  She wasn't reaching for him.

  She walked right past Sloth—without a gnce, without a word—as if he didn't exist.

  He stood frozen, disbelief twisting his face, while she came to a stop just in front of Subaru.

  Subaru couldn't move. His body was locked in pce by the sheer weight of her presence, his heartbeat thundering in his chest.

  This wasn't Satel.

  This was her.

  The Witch of Envy.

  The monster who plunged the world into chaos four hundred years ago. The Demon King no hero could defeat. The being who sughtered millions without hesitation, whose cruelty extended even to children.

  The witch who had to be sealed away by the Three Great Heroes—not sin, for even death couldn't cim her.

  She was that same terrifying figure.

  Yet before Subaru…

  She wasn't a monster.

  She was a girl.

  A girl starving for affection—his affection.

  Subaru gulped. Slowly, cautiously, he lifted his hand.

  She reached out first, gently taking his hands in hers and guiding them to her cheek. Then, with a soft purr, she nuzzled into his touch like a cat, violet-bck eyes gazing at him with bottomless love.

  "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you," she whispered over and over again, her voice trembling like a broken record stuck in obsession.

  Subaru exhaled slowly, steadying himself. He took a step closer.

  Then, gently, he reached out his left hand toward her head.

  She halted, eyes wide, as if the world itself had paused.

  And when his hand nded softly on her head—pat—her breath hitched.

  She started panting.

  Like a dog.

  Then without warning, she threw her arms around him.

  "Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!" she cried, her voice filled with desperate glee as she buried her face in his chest, nuzzling him, inhaling his scent, clinging to his Aura like a lifeline.

  Off to the side, Petelgeuse stood frozen, shattered.

  The woman he adored—worshipped—was now clinging to another man like a lovesick animal.

  His pupils shrank. His jaw quivered. And finally, his knees gave out beneath him.

  Tears streamed down his face as he screamed, "WHY?! WHY?! WHY?! WHY?! WHY?!"

  But Envy didn't even gnce his way.

  To her, the world held nothing of value… except him.

  Except Subaru.

  And just then, an idea sparked in Subaru's mind. A dangerous, reckless idea—but maybe, just maybe…

  'It's risky… but it might work.'

  He narrowed his eyes and spoke, cing his voice with just the right amount of disdain.

  "Envy… I heard you love that man."

  She froze mid-snuggle.

  "No, No, No, No, No, No," she mumbled, her tone rapidly spiraling into panic.

  "Really?" Subaru asked coldly. "Then prove it. Separate his Witch Factor from his soul."

  Without hesitation, the air darkened.

  Thousands of shadowy hands surged forth, writhing like serpents, and violently seized Sloth.

  Petelgeuse screamed in agony as one massive, spectral arm reached into his chest—then tore his Witch Factor out like ripping a ghost from a body.

  "Arghhh!" Petelgeuse screamed, his voice raw with agony before his body went limp, and he passed out cold. Envy's hands tossed him away like trash, ejecting him from the Shadow Garden without a second thought.

  "Good girl," Subaru said, trying to keep his composure.

  She squealed at his praise— breathless. Then, like a dog begging for affection, she started panting again and stuck out her tongue as if she was about to lick him.

  "H-Hey, stop… It's time for me to go," he said, clearly disturbed.

  (A/N: If i get a beautiful woman like Satel as my waifu, I am never letting her go)

  But she didn't listen. Her tongue slid over his fingers instead, her eyes never leaving him.

  Subaru, feeling the situation spiraling out of control, quickly suppressed his aura. A pull shot through his core, and the next second *Snap* his soul snapped back into his body, leaving the Witch of Envy behind.

  She stood there, eyes wide and lips trembling.

  Then she pouted.

  *Yandere Eyes*

  ...

  Subaru gasped, lungs heaving as his senses came back online. His eyes scanned the ruined ndscape before something caught his attention—a faint shimmer on the ground.

  A Glintstone.

  Inside it… was a Great Spirit.

  He blinked. 'How the hell did that even form?' he questioned internally. It was way too convenient. Maybe it was due to his broken Spirit affinity? Or maybe, just maybe… that's how the world worked around him now.

  He decided not to question it.

  "So... that was the Witch of Envy, huh?" he muttered to himself, gripping the stone. The pressure of the Great Spirit inside pulsed faintly against his palm like a heartbeat.

  And then, his mind fshed back—to her licking his fingers with maddening affection.

  "Damn… she's hot," he said under his breath, and immediately questioned his sanity.

  Purple skin, ethereal eyes, presence of a walking apocalypse. Yep. His Screws were definitely loose.

  Suddenly, his senses fred. Two powerful sources of miasma—both approaching, fast. Roughly a kilometer away.

  No time to waste.

  He pocketed the Glintstone, cloaked himself in his aura, and with a crack of dispced air, burst past the sound barrier.

  In less than a second, he arrived.

  And there they were—two monsters in human form.

  Regulus Corneas, the Sin Archbishop of Greed—an arrogant man with gleaming silver hair and a smile that screamed superiority.

  Beside him stood Lye Batenkaitos, Sin Archbishop of Gluttony—eyes wild and hungry, licking his lips like a beast starved for taste.

  Subaru's eyes narrowed.

  Things just got interesting.

  "Aka, Mr. 'Don't Infringe on My Rights', and Mr. 'I Eat Everyone's Memories and Existence,'" Subaru muttered, gncing between the two.

  "Who might you be, tsu?" Lye asked, startled by Subaru's sudden arrival.

  His eyes darted to the broken trees behind Subaru—the entire path had been demolished. Subaru had arrived like a storm.

  "Introduce yourself!" Regulus demanded, his voice sharp with arrogance.

  Subaru grinned and spread his arms theatrically.

  "Very well. I am the Sin Archbishop—representing Envy! Zero!"

  Both men froze.

  "…You are Envy, tsu?" Lye tilted his head, confusion twisting his features.

  Regulus, however, only scoffed, satisfied as long as his "right to introductions" had been met. "I am the Sin Archbishop of Greed, Regulus Corneas. The most fulfilled existence in this entire world!"

  "Wait, Regulus—he's lying!" Lye hissed. "The Witch of Envy still lives! How can he be her Archbishop, tsu!?"

  Regulus' eyes narrowed, dangerous. "You're infringing on my rights… To lie about me, when I—I!—have just given my name truthfully!"

  He stomped.

  The soil beneath his foot unched forward like missiles, tearing toward Subaru.

  But Subaru simply sidestepped. Calmly. Effortlessly.

  "You two are the ones infringing my rights," Subaru said with a zy smile. "I just syed the White Whale. I just sealed Sloth. I deserve some peace, damn it. But now I'm stuck here pying with two more maniacs!"

  Air froze for a moment—Lye blinking rapidly, Regulus grinding his teeth.

  A storm was about to begin.

  "You killed Whitey? Tsu," Lye narrowed his eyes.

  "How dare you consider yourself superior to me?! Do you not know that I am the most fulfilled existence! I am the most perfect! You even dodged my attacks! You are infring—" Suddenly Regulus froze.

  Lye stopped dead in his tracks.

  Even Subaru stood motionless.

  In a sudden burst of anger, Subaru had summoned the Yin Sword and hurled it forward at Mach 20. The bde cleanly sliced through Regulus' arm, severing it completely. It hit the ground with a dull thud.

  There was no blood. No pain. It simply happened—as if space and time themselves had been cleaved.

  "Damn..." Subaru muttered, shocked at the result. He had expected the sword to bst Regulus a few hundred meters away, not actually separate his limb.

  "Impossible," echoed Lye Batenkaitos, his voice trembling.

  "Impossible! Wait—my hand! I can't feel it anymore!" Regulus shouted, grabbing his detached limb and desperately trying to reattach it. But no matter how hard he tried, it remained disconnected.

  Though there was no pain, no blood, the horror in his eyes was unmistakable.

  Meanwhile, Subaru's mind kicked into overdrive—his thought process now running 1024 times faster than normal.

  "Let's see... The Yin Sword can cut through space. Yin magic deals with time-space manipution. Space and time are deeply connected… So now that the Yin Sword is 16 times stronger—it can cut through both space and time?!" he thought, his eyes wide in disbelief.

  On top of everything else, the Yin Sword could even cleave through shadows. Subaru had just realized how utterly broken it was.

  He smirked.

  At this moment, Regulus Corneas was royally screwed.

  "Die! Die! DIE!" Regulus snapped, madness warping his face as he kicked the earth. The ground ruptured, sending chunks of dirt rocketing at supersonic speed.

  ( T/n: Well, someone having a bad day.)

  Subaru calmly summoned the Yin Sword back into his hand—it flickered into his grip like a loyal servant. With a blur, he sliced through every projectile mid-air, each cut echoing with the hum of space itself being torn.

  Then he vanished.

  His body accelerated so fast it detonated the air around him into a shockwave—and in the blink of an eye, he was behind Regulus.

  Ssh*

  And then the Sin Archbishop of Greed's body colpsed—his limbs severed, torso split cleanly down the middle. Like a puppet with its strings cut.

  His eyes bulged in disbelief, mouth agape—but no sound came. The voice of Greed, silenced.

  Lye stood paralyzed, watching the strongest of the Sin Archbishops reduced to little more than butchered meat.

  "Lye Batenkaitos, was it?" Subaru turned to her with a cold glint in his eyes.

  "Let's strike a deal. You walk away alive—and in return, you tell me where Regulus kept his wives."

  The Archbishop of Gluttony flinched, visibly trembling. "O-One condition! You must vow not to harm me!"

  Subaru clicked his tongue.

  He had no intention of letting him go forever… but for now? He'd py along.

  He considered using his psychic powers to extract the information directly, but that risked dragging his soul into the Corridor of Memories—and encountering her, the third sin Archbishop of Gluttony. Louis Arneb was not a gamble he wanted to make right now.

  "Fine," he said slowly. "Let's make a vow. I—wait, do I have to say my real name?"

  "Nope!" Lye chirped. "As long as your intent is true, the name doesn't matter~tsu!"

  "Well then…" Subaru raised his hand. "I vow that as long as Lye Batenkaitos provides me with the correct location of Regulus Corneas' wives, I shall let her escape this time."

  "Also vow that none of your allies will chase me down either!~Tsu!" Lye demanded, bouncing nervously like a rabbit ready to bolt.

  Subaru's eyebrow twitched.

  'This damn shortie… he really caught the loophole.'

  "…Fine," he grunted.

  The vow was sealed.

  And the moment it was, Lye practically sang out the location and bolted—vanishing into the horizon like a scared alley cat.

  Subaru sighed, turning back toward the wreckage.

  Scattered across the ground were the neatly sliced remnants of Regulus Corneas. His body was hacked apart—four limbs, bisected torso, even his skull was split. And yet… he lived.

  His brain may have been cleaved, mouth incapable of speech, but his Authority still lingered—unbroken. Not even the Yin Sword could override that frozen moment in time.

  But Regulus was useless now. A broken thing clinging to life.

  With a flick of his fingers, Subaru wrapped the mangled pieces in a veil of telekinesis and hovered them beside him like grotesque trophies.

  Then, with a fsh of light, he vanished—teleporting back to the mansion.

  'I still have a long road ahead…'

  To be continued...

  (A/N: How was the chap? Far better right? I got a person for proofreading... and this is the result! I hope you all like the chap. There might be a few inconsistencies, so do ignore them!)