A Random in Re:Zero

Loop 7 - Part 43

"AAAARRRGH!"

My arm was torn from my body and fell to the ground. Not content with that, the swordsman swung his sword a second time, and I was powerless to stop him, losing my other arm in the process.

"This son of a bitch is undermining my authority or something..."

Besides the immense pain of being dismembered, I had a strange feeling at my door, as if something were interfering with the use of my sloth factor. That would explain the anomaly just now.

When I realized that, I began to despair. Without my authority, without the revolver, and now without my arms, the odds of winning in this scenario were zero. My strategy failed.

Two more cuts left me without legs. Now I was just a useless torso. The swordsman placed his foot on my chest, and I remembered Lye Batenkaitos's death. He had been just as powerless as I was now.

"I swear I'm going to..."

His sword cut off my head before I could finish speaking.

Another loop to the trash.

"FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!"

Even the reset didn't take away the savage rage I felt. I wanted to kill that Doppelganger; I had to, or I'd never sleep peacefully again.

I returned to the mansion and this time used every weapon at my disposal. I tried to surprise the swordsman with the crossbow, but it didn't work: he always dodged the shots. Then I tried close combat with my daggers, but I was quickly disarmed.

I had the idea to use magic and stop him with El Shamak long enough for Elsa and Frederica to finish him off... Unfortunately, that's how I discovered that his sword was powered by Yin magic.

I was beheaded, dismembered, stabbed, and countless other things. The worst part was that when my body weakened and an opening appeared, the swordsman didn't take advantage of it, but waited until I recovered to resume the fight.

It was humiliating to lose against someone who was bored of beating you and expected you to put up more of a fight.

"You're a dirty cock-sucker, you know that?"

I was on the ground again, kneeling on one knee. My daggers had flown from my hands, and the Doppelganger waited patiently for me to get up and pick them up.

"Fuck you." I spat at the ground. "I don't feel like playing your game. If you're going to kill me anyway, just do it now."

As if my lack of spirit bothered him, the swordsman cut off my fingers, taking his time to make me suffer. However, I didn't utter a single cry of pain. I wouldn't give him that satisfaction, if my doppelganger could even feel anything.

Fortunately or unfortunately, my slow execution was interrupted by the unexpected appearance of Petra.

"STOP! LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

She shielded me with her body and bared her teeth at the swordsman, as fierce and menacing as a twelve-year-old girl could be. I would have felt gratitude if I had retained any feeling at that moment.

"It's okay, Petra... there's nothing to be done... Thank you for protecting me." I said with the most genuine smile I could muster.

"NO! HOW CAN YOU BE OKAY?! YOU'RE DYING!"

Petra was hysterical and hugged me very tightly, as if she wanted to contain my soul inside my body to keep me alive.

"I don't want you to die, Leandro!"

It was so painful to see her suffer so much because of me. If I were stronger, this wouldn't have happened.

"I'm sorry, but you have to trust me." I whispered as she clung to me, crying uncontrollably. "Everything will be alright."