...
{3rd Pov}
How did this happen?
Why did this happen?
Could it have been prevented?
Where was Reina?
Was it my fault?
Subaru's mind was a chaotic mess of swirling questions and painful doubts as he stared at Beatrice—his precious spirit—who, despite still being alive, was not recovering her lower half of the body.
"S-Subaru… Subaru…" Beatrice panted weakly, her breath ragged as Subaru held her close, gently patting her back in a desperate attempt to comfort her.
"I know," Subaru whispered urgently. "You took care of me when I was unconscious, right? You did so well, Betty. You're my little adorable imouto. I'm so lucky to have you as my spirit!"
With a determined expression, Subaru focused his magic, pouring his Authority of Lust into her wounds, trying desperately to heal her injuries.
Aqua was helping him too, lending her own healing power, while Gloria and the other spirits hovered anxiously nearby, their faces marked with worry and fear.
'Why the hell isn't her lower half healing?!' Subaru's thoughts spiraled in frustration. 'My Authority of Lust can resurrect anyone. It can restore them to their peak condition! It healed Ram's lost horn, it restored Echidna's lost soul—so why is it failing me now? Why is it not working on Beatrice?'
His entire body trembled violently as he saw tears welling up in Betty's eyes, tears of agony and helplessness.
"Subaru… it hurts," Beatrice whimpered, her voice breaking. "It hurts so much… I—It's hurting…"
She grasped his clothes tightly, her small, fragile frame pressing closer to him in search of comfort, clinging to him as if he were the only anchor she had left.
Her words, the pain in her voice, shattered Subaru's heart into pieces.
For the very first time since arriving in another world, he felt utterly useless.
Suddenly, a loud sonic boom echoed through the air as Reinhardt charged towards them with terrifying speed and resolve.
Subaru had randomly teleported several kilometers away earlier, but Reinhardt was relentless. His entire being was locked onto one single goal: to judge Subaru, be the jury, and execute him.
There was no hesitation, no mercy.
"Gloria! Hold him back! I'm still healing Beatrice!" Subaru shouted, panic tightening his voice.
Without hesitation, Gloria nodded and silently floated up into the air, positioning herself between Reinhardt and Subaru.
"Die, you mongrel!" Reinhardt bellowed, and suddenly, hundreds of golden orbs materialized in the night sky above.
They morphed swiftly into a variety of weapons—spears, lances, halberds, swords, axes—each shining brilliantly as they were blasted toward Reinhardt at an incredible speed.
Normally, as mere projectiles, these would have been rendered useless against Reinhardt's Divine Protection.
However, because they were made of pure light—essentially Yang Magic given physical form—and combined with their immense velocity, faster than Reinhardt's natural reaction time, he was forced to slow his charge and carefully defend against the onslaught.
While Gloria kept Reinhardt occupied, Subaru and Aqua worked tirelessly to heal Beatrice, pouring all their power into her.
But it was all in vain.
Even Subaru's Authority of Lust was only keeping Beatrice alive—it was sustaining her, but not truly healing her.
If Subaru stopped using his power, she would begin dying from her injuries immediately.
That meant Beatrice was trapped in a state of constant, unbearable pain, her lower half missing, her body broken and incomplete.
Desperation filled Subaru's mind as he scrambled to think of a way to save her.
'Think, Subaru! Think! Why isn't she healing? Why isn't my power working?'
He refused to accept defeat.
He had to find an answer.
Because if he didn't, Beatrice—his precious spirit sister—would continue to suffer endlessly, and he would lose her forever.
'That man… it has to be Reinhardt,' Subaru thought, narrowing his eyes as his mind frantically analyzed the situation.
His gaze fell back on Beatrice, still trembling in his arms, her lower half missing—an agonizing sight that made his stomach churn with helpless rage.
'This can't be explained by normal means. Her injuries aren't healing. Not even the Authority of Lust is working properly, and that's supposed to override everything, including death itself. Even Divine Protections… So why is it failing now?'
Subaru clenched his jaw tightly, trying to suppress the overwhelming frustration boiling within him. The gears in his mind kept turning, frantically trying to piece everything together.
'It must be more than just the Divine Protection of Death,' he continued thinking, pushing himself to consider deeper mechanics. 'That Divine Protection alone wouldn't be enough. The Authority of Lust should cancel out its effects, especially when I'm directly channeling it. So what else is in play?'
He dug deeper into his knowledge, the puzzle slowly coming together in the midst of chaos.
'Reid… that damn sword, he must have attacked her with that! It's said to be capable of severing anything—regardless of its nature. Not just flesh or magic—but even abstract concepts. If that's true, then it didn't just injure Beatrice… it must've done something far worse.'
A grim realization dawned on him.
'It didn't just destroy her lower half… it erased the concept of her lower body's connection to the rest of her being. It's not about healing flesh anymore. That connection—spiritual, physical, conceptual—it's been severed at the root. It's like she's been rewritten to be incomplete.'
His eyes widened slightly, but the sound of Beatrice sobbing snapped him out of his thoughts like a slap across the face. Her whimpering, her fragile voice whispering how much it hurt… it pierced his chest like a dagger.
She wasn't just injured.
She was suffering in a way she couldn't understand—and worse, a way he couldn't immediately fix.
Her body shivered against him, her small hands clinging to his shirt as if it were the only thing tethering her to the world. Her eyes were swollen with tears, her lips trembling.
"Subaru…" she whimpered again, her voice barely audible.
The pain in her tone made Subaru's fists clench until his nails dug into his palms. Rage bubbled inside him, but it was mixed with helplessness, guilt, and desperation.
'I won't let it end like this. I won't let her suffer another second more. There has to be a way to bring her back—to fix what that sword destroyed.'
He needed to try something different, and quickly.
Without hesitation, Subaru stopped using his healing magic. Instead, he shifted focus, drawing on his own Aura—his life force energy.
A brilliant, rainbow-colored aura began to envelop both himself and Beatrice, shimmering and glowing warmly in the dim surroundings.
Using this energy in tandem with Capella's Authority of Lust, Subaru began to recreate a new lower half for Beatrice.
"Arghhh!" Beatrice gritted her teeth, the pain evident on her face as the new lower half slowly took shape, and even the clothes she wore started to form again around her body.
"Betty… please, bear with the pain," Subaru said gently, stroking her hair with the palm of his hand, trying to soothe her as best he could.
Within just half a minute, the transformation was complete. Beatrice's lower half was fully restored, healed as if nothing had happened.
She took a deep, shuddering breath and panted heavily before whispering, "It doesn't hurt anymore."
Relief flooded Subaru's heart, and at last, he allowed himself to relax. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the forehead.
"I—I thought I was going to die," Beatrice murmured, pressing her face against his cheek in gratitude and exhaustion.
"Don't worry," Subaru reassured her firmly. "As long as I'm here, I won't let even death take you from me."
He glanced over at Gloria, who was still struggling to hold back Reinhardt's relentless assault.
"Betty, I know you're tired. Sleep inside me for now. I'll get justice for you," Subaru said softly.
Beatrice smiled faintly before converting into her spirit form. She was barely able to keep herself upright, and once anchored to Subaru's spiritual core, she quickly slipped into unconsciousness.
"Gloria! Return!" Subaru ordered his Yang Spirit. Gloria immediately withdrew, returning to his side. She exhaled deeply, relieved to see that Beatrice had been healed and was now safely resting within Subaru's spiritual anchor for the spirits.
"Father, be careful," Gloria warned. "That man is definitely the Sword Saint. While the mana vacuum he forms is weaker than Reina's, he is still a force to be reckoned with."
Subaru had already understood this fact. Reinhardt had stopped just a few feet in front of them, his expression cold and calculating.
"You are indeed a Great Spirit of Yang," Reinhardt said, his voice laced with disdain. "It's quite regrettable, though, that you are contracted to someone like him."
"You can't even compare to the dust on my father's shoes," Gloria shot back indignantly. "And that says a lot about you, considering that even this concubine treats you like dirt—despite your title as the Sword Saint."
Part of Subaru wanted to know why Reinhardt was wasting time talking instead of attacking them immediately, like some third-rate villain dragging out a dramatic monologue.
But Subaru forced himself to stay calm and focused. He would use this opportunity to gather information from Reinhardt, however he could.
"You're the one who hurt Beatrice," Subaru said flatly, keeping his voice steady and neutral.
Reinhardt met his gaze and replied coldly, "Yes. She tried to stop me from apprehending a criminal, and I had no choice but to execute her."
Subaru's brow furrowed. "May I ask what crimes I'm supposed to have committed?"
Reinhardt's expression darkened into a frown. "I don't know what game you're playing. Perhaps this body you inhabit doesn't retain any memories? Is that part of your abilities?"
Subaru's attention sharpened at the way Reinhardt spoke to him, as if this was not his original body but some kind of secondary vessel—something detached and not entirely himself.
With the capital engulfed in flames behind him, and Reinhardt glaring at him with unyielding hatred, it was quite easy for Subaru to figure out exactly which timeline he was trapped in. The signs were all too clear.
"What happened to the other Natsuki Subaru?" Subaru asked, eyes fixed on Reinhardt's cold expression.
Reinhardt answered without hesitation, his voice low but firm. "He died at the hands of Lady Emilia. I suppose that's to be expected, given that she has already killed the Sin Archbishops of Sloth and Greed before."
Subaru's mind raced as he processed this information. 'It's definitely the timeline involving Pride—or at least a very similar one,' he concluded instantly.
Trying to gauge Reinhardt's next move, Subaru teased, "You're being surprisingly talkative for someone who clearly hates me. Judging by the way you're staring, I'm still wondering—why aren't you attacking me yet?"
Reinhardt's response was calm but filled with lethal intent. "Indeed, I want nothing more than to kill you, and I have no qualms about it. However, a part of me wants to see you judged publicly, held accountable for your crimes before everyone."
In that moment, Subaru finally understood why Reinhardt was behaving the way he was. First, he wanted to capture Subaru alive. And second—he was dangerously confident.
Reinhardt was the strongest man in the world. Even he knew the extent of his own strength. The Reinhardt standing before Subaru now was prepared to unleash all of his abilities if the situation demanded it.
No wonder he was so certain of his victory.
Knowing the reasons behind Reinhardt's attitude, Subaru couldn't help but think to himself, 'That is actually very stupid… Such arrogance usually belongs to characters on the verge of being humbled by reality.'
Deciding to push things further, Subaru said, "Very well. Before you make your move to capture me or deliver your version of justice, there is one last thing I want to ask. I know Beatrice—Betty—would have tried to speak with you, and seeing as you're willing to listen to me, I assumed you gave her a chance to explain herself as well?"
Reinhardt nodded slightly. "Indeed, she did. She shared the absurd story about how you two come from a different timeline, and how my 'female' version is deeply in love with you and serves you loyally."
Subaru's neutral expression faltered, crumbling momentarily. "Then why?" he demanded, voice tinged with frustration. "Why did you attack us? Why hurt her? I know you have Divine Protection that distinguishes lies from truth."
Reinhardt pointed his sword deliberately at Subaru, his eyes sharp. "You have deceived me many times before. You have escaped my grasp repeatedly and even exploited the weaknesses in my Divine Protection to assassinate Lady Felt, whom I serve. Why on earth should I trust someone connected to you?"
Subaru chuckled darkly before fixing Reinhardt with an intense glare. "If what Beatrice said is true, it would mean there are two Beatrices in this world. Visiting Roswaal's mansion would have cleared up the truth for you—unless you simply didn't think to do that."
Reinhardt shrugged slightly, his voice calm but dismissive. "Even if there are two Lady Beatrices, it could very well be another one of your abilities. Perhaps the one at the mansion is just a fake."
"And what makes you think I'm not the fake one?" Subaru shot back with biting sarcasm. "I could be a clone too, for all you know. After all, I'm pretty sure you noticed I don't have the madness of the original Natsuki Subaru you encountered before."
A slow, confident smile spread across Reinhardt's face as he held his Dragon Sword carefully in his palm. "It's very simple. My Dragon Sword remains unsheathed, and it recognizes you as a worthy target. When I encountered that clone of yours earlier, it gave no such response. Therefore, it means you are the real Natsuki Subaru."
Subaru's laughter bubbled up uncontrollably, his expression shifting rapidly between amusement and scorn.
Then, his gaze hardened as he looked directly at Reinhardt. "Your hatred blinds you, Reinhardt. To be honest, I was just trying to extract information from you. Why you attacked me or hurt my Beatrice doesn't matter. What matters is that you nearly killed my Betty, and you made her cry."
Without hesitation, Subaru sent a telepathic command to Gloria. "Gloria, get inside me."
The Yang Spirit immediately obeyed, retreating and merging with Subaru's spiritual core.
Subaru's expression turned icy cold. "When I'm done with you… not even your ashes will remain."
To be continued...
(A/N: Don't forget to drop some Powerstones for this fic!
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We've already reached Chapter 131—and wow, Chapter 130 was probably the saddest chapter so far. One guy is completely traumatized. 😂 Honestly, I'm even considering skipping Chapters 126–130 in the WN because of how heavy they are.
Also, we're already in a different timeline—far ahead of the current release—and Chapter 130 alone hit 9k words!
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