Sorry for being lazy lately...
HELLO! This chapter, Arc 5's finale, is finally out!
After around 5 months and a half, we're at the end of Arc 5!
Arc 5.5 will start on Feb 17, with Capella's Valentine Special coming on Feb 14~!
Thank you all for supporting me along this journey, and I hope you'll all accompany me until the end of this!
Y/N POV
"So, what are you two doing here?" I asked the fallen warriors, both renown throughout the world.
Kurgan, the blue-skinned Eight-Arms, is known as Vollachia's War God, only to be slain by Regulus when he flattened the city of Garkla 14 years ago.
Theresia van Astrea, Lugnica's previous generation Sword Saint, was slain by Pandora during the their Subjugation of the White Whale.
Both great warriors who died around the same timeframe, both resurrected by the Witch Cult, and both now apparently stuck and contained within the artificial domain for deceased souls:
The Necropolis.
"You are..." Theresia said as she turned towards me. "Ah, the Y/N boy, right?"
"Yes, Theresia-san. May I know what's going on here?" I asked them, and surprisingly, the blue giant decided to answer first.
"I saw her strength, and I decided to fight her to see if she's truly as good as they she is. I mean, her husband was a heck of a monster, so I wanted to test her out. However, she didn't really want to fight, and that's how we got here."
"Ah... I see. Well, you can't really expect someone to just willingly fight with you all the time, right?"
"Hmm. I suppose you're correct. But you know, living in a plain plane of existence like this is kinda dull, don't you think, kid?"
"Ah, I see your point." I nodded before I drew a tiny circle into the air, drew an alpha symbol, and inputed some world generation code as it started making grass and some animals. Using my authority, I began to make a table, chairs, and food as they settled onto the newly lit grass, brightening the atmosphere up.
"Is this better?" I asked them, and surprisingly, the two adversaries nodded. However, Kurgan was still raring for a fight.
I took up his offer, with Theresia standing aside as the judge. I opened up the screen that allowed me to browse my abilities, and the Periodic Table showed itself as I smiled at the new element unlocked.
"I do indeed love a little explosion." I smiled as I gave Kurgan the signal to start, and he rushed forward with his Demon Cleavers, ready to strike.
"Element number 37. Rubidium formation."
The alkali metal spawned out of thin air before embedding into the glasses of water I made earlier, decorating the path that lead Kurgan to me. As they reacted, tiny explosions sounded across the battlefield, creating some chemical smoke. I smiled before taking out my three swords, and clashed into the four demon cleavers that Wilhelm fought against in his younger years. I realized why that Kurgan is such a tough enemy to beat, while some might just say that more arms are just more of a hassle, his movements are fluid.
Kurgan's quadra wielding is giving me some hints on how I might utilize 4 or more swords in the future. Every slash he does hits the target, while his unused arms are tucked in tightly, only to strike when the opponent is grabbed.
Realizing his fighting strategy, I smiled and sheathed all three of my swords before putting them back. I then activated my authorities, and knew what exactly to do.
"Imperceptible Extensions- Phase Two: Shields."
The shadow arms manifested along with the handguards, and they deflected the incoming blades before grabbing the arms that held the Demon Cleavers. After prying them out of the way, I activated my third Authority of Sin.
"Rage Pulse!" The EM waves exploded out of my brain and sent a shockwave towards Kurgan, which knocked him back as Dragon's Blood started healing my broken arteries and veins. The backlash still exists here in the spiritual world, but at least it doesn't actually damage me.
Kurgan got up after my last attack, and charged towards me so fast that I didn't even realize his large body could achieve this kind of speed. The four Demon Cleavers swung towards me as they closed in like fangs, but I showed no fear, only greed.
Greed for more protection.
"Prudence's Barrier - Second Shift: Hemisphere Frontier."
Half a dome formed around me as the Cleavers crashed into them, shocking Kurgan's arm back using the third law of motion, and his eyes reflected fear as he recognized Regulus's ability, as he was the one who killed him.
Aha. Fear condition is achieved. Now let's do this.
"Authority of Pride - Dominator's Domain."
A thin layer of energy spread out around me in a ten-meter radius, and Kurgan was right inside it. A giant wave of bloodlust emanated from the surroundings instead of from myself, pressuring Kurgan into the ground with the same force as an Ul Vita. Theresia, who was inside of the domain's vicinity as well, stood shaking although the aura wasn't even directed at her. I quickly turned the authority off, and amazingly just like Deceit, I suffered no backlashes when using it.
Maybe I really was compatible.
"Ha..." Kurgan huffed as he kneeled on the ground, his Demon Cleavers supporting him as he recovered from the effects of my Authority of Pride. "You truly are a formidable opponent. And probably, so are your friends. I heard from the woman over there that you fought head on with the Sin Archbishop of Greed and came out unscathed. Those Sin Archbishops are dangerous people. I've heard that just a while before Greed besieged Garkla, a warrior in Vollachia encountered the one who called himself Gluttony, and he came out barely alive."
Now that I think about it, the Witch Cult was extremely active during the period of time 14 years ago. Pandora took care of Theresia, the White Whale was deployed, and Regulus annihilated Garkla. Petelgeuse and Sirius started their respective killings, while Gluttony also showed up in Vollachia.
Before I could continue that thought further, I remembered my original purpose for coming here. "Uh... now that all the fighting stuff is over, I need to discuss something with you guys, which is, you know, my original purpose for coming here, I guess."
"If it's Y/N's request, I will gladly oblige. After all, you temporarily quelled my family's inner turmoils at my last moments, so I am very thankful for that." Theresia said to me and give me a smile of support, which I returned.
"I will agree with any proposals as well. You clearly have the strength to back up whatever you say. As the War God of Vollachia, I approve of your actions."
Having the two souls recognized my worth, I proceeded onto the next stage of the plan. "Then, if it's not too much to ask, can you two be my training partners for a bit?"
"Huh?"
"Well, as good as I am with fighting and things, I'm still not at the level where i can compete with absolute beasts without sustaining a lot of damage. So that's why, I want to ask you two, the people who have immense knowledge in the field of swordsmanship, to train me."
"I see. Are you similar to Cecilus, then?" Kurgan suddenly brought up a name that I never expected to hear, since Cecilus was not famous back in his day.
"You know Cecilus Segmunt?"
"Not really, but through my vague memories in the cult, I've heard people talk about him and his immense desire to achieve the title of the Heavenly Sword."
"My ambition isn't exactly to do that, but it could come as a byproduct of my hard work. I suppose you are okay with this arrangement now?"
"We have absolutely no objections." Theresia clarified. "Though, I am very grateful to you for letting me see, just what kind of world you could create using your powers and wit. You are truly an extraordinary individual, and I wish you the best of luck on your future endeavours."
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After exiting the Necropolis, it was already daytime when I woke up. Checking with Chid-chan that everyone was okay in the battalion, I paid a visit to Crusch, who has recovered according to Ferris, which was some good news indeed.
"Is Crusch-san in here?" I asked Felix, who was standing outside of the door.
"Oh, Y/N-san! Of course, come in, Crusch-sama is much better today in terms of physical and mental condition. Of course, it's somewhat all thanks to you..."
"Give yourself some credit, Felix. You are probably the most loyal person to her in her entire camp, and the one who will stay by her side forever. You've done a great job attending to her for the past few days, as my healing can never recover emotional damage, nor could it ever surpass the one named 'Blue'."
"You're being to humble, Y/N-san!" Felix said before opening the door to allow me inside. Seems like his happiness returned. When Felix is not in a good mood, his actions can be actually quite scary.
I saw Crusch on the balcony of her room, and Felix left us right after I entered, which seemed quite unusual, considering that he will usually stay by to 'protect his master from being hit on', which I wouldn't, but it's still strange.
Approaching her slowly, I landed my elbows and arms onto the balcony's ledge as well. "Beautiful, isn't it?" I commented on the scenery of the Water Gate City, now prospering once again, just 2 days after the incident.
"Oh, you're here, Y/N!" Crusch exclaimed a little too loudly. I seem to have a weird passive sneak skill or something, because people tend to not notice me when I just arrive next to them.
A/N: My family always tells me to be loud when going into their room, or else they can't even hear me when I walk in. Kek.
"I must thank you again for my recovery. Felix told me that you had sucked the poison out of me using magic, and he repaired my flood flow. Your own arm is also black now, is it not? I'm sorry that you had to take that burden for me."
"Uh... Crusch-san, you might want to look again."
'Ey? Your arm...it's okay?"
"Apparently Capella's Dragon Blood only affects those who are compatible with it. The results are miraculous if they meet a compatible user like me, which can regenerate as fast as she could, or it could be disastrous like how it affected you. To be honest, it's a gamble that nobody should take, since there's no way to know if you're compatible or not."
"So you took the risk knowing that you might be crippled like I once was?"
"Well, Pure Truth told me-"
"But what if that ability didn't exist? I could never forgive myself if I made someone sacrifice their own life for my own. That is something I do not wish to see."
"I still would've done it."
"Huh?"
"If I didn't have Pure Truth, I would've still saved you. There's nothing wrong with saving people who needs saving, and we're talking about me here. Don't worry about the what ifs, Crusch, because that's another story in another timeline. You're here now, so you have no need to worry for my safety. We're all here, aren't we? I told you, my goal is to achieve a happy ending, and I will."
Crusch Karsten was somewhat baffled at the words the boy just uttered.
Truly, maybe even Fourier would be proud of this boy.
"Thank you, Y/N."
"Hm? Did you say something, Crusch?"
"Nothing really... but I just want to you to know, I just don't wish for you to be..." Crusch trailed off, and pushed Y/N out of the room, much to his surprise. After closing the door, she sighed at her lack of courage to say the words she really wanted to say.
"...taken away from me, ever."
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I left after Crusch kinda evicted me from her room, and I just naturally assumed that she wanted some privacy. Meh, I mean, she's still recovering. However, what was she about to say...?
I think she'll say it eventually, so there's no need to rush her on anything. It couldn't be that important., or else she would've said it already.
Not thinking much of it, I made my way back to the Battalion's headquarters (our inn), and lied down on my bed, thinking about the vision Pure Truth gave me. Also, Echidna's Book of Wisdom is restored, so anything that Pure Truth misses, her book will fill me in.
There were three important things.
The first lies in the Fifth Regional Capital of Picoutatte, where I have to go and resolve an issue regarding a corrupt noble's daughter. Another thing that lies in Picoutatte is the hidden remains of Valgren, who has been turned to ash by Volcanica. However, it seems that due to the hidden organization known as Schlizirkel, an organization that Solace used to be part of, has successfully recovered parts of Valgren's flesh and scales before he was completely destroyed. With the ash that they gathered from 40 years ago and the flesh and scales, I can revive a chess piece that will aid me greatly.
The second lies in the city states of Kararagi, where the Great Spirit of Wind is going to attack. I remembered that her attack should be canonically somewhere during Arc 4.5, but since Subaru never went down the Sloth path, it might've been delayed or rearranged somehow. This is also a great chance to get Palmyra a Great Spirit of her own, since I don't have the affinity for wind, nor do I have any need for it.
That leaves the third.
I don't know what exactly it is, it just pointed towards the unusual mountain in the northwest of the map: The Jimuna Volcano.
I've seen it before on the official maps of Re:Zero, but nobody ever explained what the place is nor was there any theories. Which means I'm stepping into the complete unknown here.
All the better. In my eyes, the adventures is what makes my experience in this world fun. And as always, we will conquer it.
We even have a former Sin Archbishop in our side.
"Gahahahaha! Sphinx, that idea is marvellous!"
I shocked myself back into the waking world as I heard the shrill laugh, and found myself in a very desperate situation.
I found Capella's solid Dragon Blood bindings around myself, and I was wrapped like some kind of chicken wrap from McDonalds. Sphinx and Capella was leeching onto me with absolute... I don't know how to describe it, but maybe lust would be a good description.
"Yay! Y/N body pillow acquired! Okay then, I'll share him with you, Capella-chan!"
"Thanks, Sphinx-chan. Oh, Y/N, you're awake~"
"What exactly is happening?"
"Oh, we're going to have a very fun night~"
"Wait, wait! Yabai! Yabai! YAMEEEROOOOO!"
The curtains fall on the stage of Water Gate City, accompanied by the shrieks of the Liberator, unheard to all. Alone on a control tower of Priestella, a woman with her fox scarf stood there, gazing at the moonlight's reflections across the water of the lake.
"It seems... that that time has come."
"Hm... it seems out Y/N-san got himself into trouble again... no matter, as he could sort it out, I believe."
"This is what you wanted, right, 'Mother'?" Eridna said to the figure behind her, who smiled as her hair fluttered in the moonlight like white streaks of light, and regarded her creation.
"I wish for nothing but to see the great future my contractor could build. That is all. As for you, Eridna, I hope you could go to great lengths to achieve something that could make me proud, too."
The Witch and her first daughter meet for the first time in years, and begins their long chat as the final tremors were quelled.
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"Hmm... every archbishop except for Gluttony fell, huh."
A lone woman walked through the paths in her domain, pondering about the recent endeavours of the unique boy.
"It seems I have to pay you a visit soon, or else you will ruin my plans too much, interesting boy."
For the first time in decades, the Witch of Vainglory started a large-scale plan.
Pog. Arc 5 is over!
I've been lazy lately, so I will apologize for my sloth. The update schedule of Thursdays and Sundays will start again until our hiatus, and I hope everyone enjoyed my content so far!
Thank you for your support, and see you on Monday!