An absolute silence fell over the arena. The dust slowly settled in the hazy air after the devastating exchange between the young man with crimson eyes and Julius . The crowd watched the two men, grievously wounded and inert, lying on the ground after what was more akin to a duel to the death than a mere knights' confrontation.
In the silent crowd, still reeling from the speed and brutality of the final blow, only one thought echoed How had this young man, this commoner, managed to bring down a knight of such rank? Who was this boy? Where did he come from? Had he cheated? Why did this man remain in the "half-devil's" camp? Was he that future knight of Emilia's camp, whom the Great Mage Roswaal had spoken of?
The other Royal Selection candidates reacted with a mix of conflicting emotions. Some were intrigued, others amused, and others still profoundly surprised.
Priscilla Barielle, clad in red and black, her scarlet eyes and orange hair, shattered the silence with a voice tinged with absolute arrogance.
Priscilla : "I told you, merchant, you'd be very surprised by the outcome of my toy. He even managed to make me lose my boredom!"
With a satisfied and chilling smile, she continued
Priscilla : "That fight was far more interesting than I'd hoped. A good-for-nothing who managed to humiliate the greatest of Knights! That's what I call a true spectacle!"
Anastasia Hoshin, hands clasped, was lost in thought. A smile appeared on her face.
Anastasia : "It was a sword duel, not an exchange of fatal blows. Your toy, as you call him, is either a suicidal idiot or a genius who doesn't value his own life. That's not an asset; it's pure self-destruction."
Crusch Karsten, whose expression was both disapproving and calculating, analyzed the deadly turn of the fight.
Crusch : "This duel was useless and stupid. This man achieved his goal, but by proving his madness. He is a man of principles broken by a man without principles... Interesting."
Felt, eyes wide with admiration and worry : "I didn't know Onii-san had gotten this strong since last time!"
Emilia, who had remained silent until now, felt her heart torn by two pains: that of Subaru, covered in bruises and unconscious, and that of Trizz, now unconscious and vomiting blood.
Emilia : "Why do you do this for me?"
Tears threatened to flow.
Emilia : "Why, Trizz... why do you put your life on the line so easily?"
She felt a distance growing between her and Trizz. He hadn't fought for her; he had fought for Subaru. And in doing so, he had revealed a part of himself-that of calculated self-destruction-that she absolutely did not understand.
On Reinhard van Astrea's side, his usual calm had shattered. Panicked, he collapsed next to Julius's body, who was eviscerated and suffering from severe hemorrhage. His ordinarily impassive expression was replaced by consuming guilt.
Reinhard : "Healers! Come quickly, it's urgent!"
His voice, much more authoritative and broken than usual, echoed throughout the arena. The magic-doctors arrived in two groups.
One rushed toward Reinhard and Julius. The other hastened toward Trizz, whose unconscious body lay inert on the beaten earth, vomiting blood. He was barely conscious, an eerie smile plastered on his face, proud of having succeeded in his move despite his physical failure.
Julius, eyes still fixed on Trizz's body, weakly murmured
Julius : "Reinhard... he... won... The terms of the contract were clear. I let myself be blinded by my pride. I had to remain a knight to win, but he won by losing everything."
Reinhard, heart heavy: "This fight is a draw... Look at your state and Trizz's. If I had stopped this fight in time, you would never have fallen so foully..."
( Skip in Time... )
POV: Trizz
I expected anxious and panicked voices, but everything was still black. My body was heavy with fatigue, my mind still hazy.
???: "Nyou! This idiot practically broke his body. I'll leave him to you to heal. I'm going to join Julius."
My consciousness faded again...
I opened my eyes to a wooden ceiling and a bed far less soft than the one I had at Roswaal's mansion. No need to look: I was in the commoners' treatment area. What a drag...
I pushed myself up to sit. There were white bandages stained with blood on a table. My clothes were covered in blood, which explained the urgency. I saw that they had treated part of my body. Fortunately, my regeneration allowed me to heal faster.
A proud smile spread across my face as I thought back to the fatal attack that had eviscerated Julius.
"Julius, the greatest of Knights? Or the greatest of idiots? He's so stupid he let himself be blinded by his own pride. Now he'll live with the humiliation of having been shot down like a dog by a commoner. I would pay a fortune to see his mistress's horrified face after seeing his pitiful state, caused by an unknown commoner. The Knights' Order and Crusch are ridiculed by a simple commoner who pushed an elite knight to abandon his code of chivalry to win a simple bet."
Me : "I feel so good. Well, there are still some parts of my body that aren't healed, and I can feel the pain... How many hours was I unconscious for?"
I stood up to leave. The hallway was more luxurious than my recovery room. With a sigh of annoyance, I walked down the corridor.
"Where are Emilia and Subaru? The anime doesn't show where Subaru is after the fight, just a time skip to him being at Crusch's mansion."
Me : "Maybe to find Emilia, I should head towards Crusch's mansion or the inn..."
I continued walking, lost in thought, for several minutes. I stopped dead when I heard knights' voices talking. I moved closer to listen to their conversation.
Yellow-Haired Knight : "I wonder when Julius-sama will be healed. Still the fault of some savage who entered the selection hall with Priscilla-sama."
Blue-Haired Knight : "Priscilla-sama sees what in that suicidal commoner? We are Imperial Knights! We are the ones who have the right to that privilege!"
He raised his voice in anger.
Blue-Haired Knight : "But no! It was that commoner bastard who dared to fool around with Priscilla-sama's entourage! If our paths cross one day, I'll carve him up like butter!"
"I've drawn the wrath of the knights and nobles because of Priscilla. What a damn shame! I need to avoid the guards... Damn that bitch."
Yellow-Haired Knight : "The half-devil's face was full of guilt. I feel a little sorry for her, having to see her two bastards injure themselves so severely."
Blue-Haired Knight : "We don't need to feel pity for a demon who is the same species as the Witch. She'd better keep her two rabid dogs on a leash!"
"Who is he calling rabid dogs?! After my victory against the Cult, they'll see who the greatest hero of Lugnica is!"
Yellow-Haired Knight : "I heard they sent the other bastard in a carriage to Crusch-sama's mansion. Why did Felix-sama insist on keeping that suicidal idiot here?"
Blue-Haired Knight : "I heard rumors that this commoner could regenerate, and Felix-sama kept him here to experiment on him..."
A cold rage and an icy fear pierced me. A cold sweat began to run down my forehead.
"I understand why I was still here! He wants to use me as a guinea pig for his experiments. He can go to hell! I must leave this place as soon as possible."
I ignored the mix of fear and rage that the rumor about Felix had triggered. Panic was a luxury I couldn't afford. The knights had revealed two crucial things , Subaru was on his way to Crusch, and my regeneration was known. Staying here meant becoming a dissection object for an overly curious kitten.
After leaving the door, I hurried down the hallway looking for an exit. I noticed a few guards in white clothes in front of a door.
These clothes remind me of Mimi's, so they are Anastasia's mercenaries. Julius and perhaps Anastasia are behind that door.
I launched one of my Quasi-Spirits (Tyler), who blinded the mercenaries with the "Jiwald" spell.
Mercenaries : "What's going on! Call the guards! There's an attack!"
I took advantage of this panic to use "Shamak" to escape the area as quickly as possible.
I hope this works. I don't have too much time to waste with all these guards.
I then activated my Authority. But, even with my mana at 55%, my endurance was far too low, at 37%.
In the hallway, before finding the exit, the gaze of one of the triplets landed on me. He was sitting on a chair in one of the hallways I had just passed.
"Oh shit! I need to leave this cursed place. I have no choice I'm going to combine "Aka" and my Authority to flee as quickly as possible!"
Before one of the triplets could react, I cast "Shamak" again to blur the area. I then left the hallway with superhuman speed, but at the cost of an unbearable pain in my chest.
(Skip in Time: 2 Hours Later...)
The memory of the "Crusty Crab," that familiar and iconic emblem of my world, flashed. A wave of nostalgia for my childhood washed over me.
"Holy shit, they built that place here!"
I felt a warmth rise to my eyes. A laugh mixed with tears of pure joy escaped me. Maybe this place would allow me to accomplish part of my mission, even if it still depended on Emilia.
"Oh well, I'll come back here if this loop fails," I murmured, the pain in my body taking over again.
I reached the gate of the Karsten Mansion, each step an brutal effort that tore at my raw ribs. The push from Aka and the forcing of my Regeneration had wreaked havoc. My forehead was no longer merely damp; it was covered in abundant cold sweat, and my clothes, already soiled, bore new bloodstains that had soaked through my shirt. I was exhausted; every fiber of my body was screaming.
I ignored this throbbing pain, focused on my path to the main door. My entrance had to be shocking and dramatic. I played the role of a person on the brink, and I knocked.
The door opened, not to a guard, but to Rem.
Rem's usually smiling and serene face gave way to an expression distorted by horror and absolute panic.
Rem : "Tr... Trizz-sama... what on earth happened to you!"
I remained silent for a few seconds, letting her take the full measure of my condition the sweat, the blood, the pallor, the trembling.
I forced my voice out, hoarse and weak:
Me : "I... I'm fine... don't worry about me... where are Subaru and Emilia?"
She couldn't even answer. The sight of my reopened wounds and my trembling body froze her. She held out her hands, but seemed uncertain how to help me without breaking me further.
Rem : "Yes... he's inside. But... you... did you flee? The castle... Felix-sama told Emilia-sama he would heal you..."
Me : "He just wanted to do strange experiments... on my body because of my Regeneration... everything's fi..."
I collapsed voluntarily, calculating my fall to force her to act. Rem caught me just before I hit the ground. Carried by a strength she didn't know she possessed, she dragged me inside the mansion and gently laid me on a bed.
Rem : "No! Don't say that! I'll go get Emilia-sama! She needs to see you! And heal you!"
She rushed out of the room, her face still ravaged by panic.
"Great. Maybe I could also steal Rem from Subaru... but have Subaru and Emilia finished their argument?"
Rem returned, her face still plagued by worry, bringing Emilia with her.
Emilia knelt by the bed. She was already devastated by the argument with Subaru, but the shock of seeing me in this state was a fatal blow to her fragile emotional balance. Rem then left the room, leaving us alone.
Emilia : "Trizz! What... your wounds... I thought you were with Felix to be healed... Felix said your wound was fatal!"
Her trembling voice was a mix of guilt and fear. All her attention was on me. My instinct told me it was the moment.
My voice was weak, but my gaze was intense
Me : "It doesn't matter right now, Emilia... Is Subaru okay?... I forced my body back... to see if you were safe..."
Emilia : "But that's absurd! You put yourself in danger! Why is it... my fault?"
"Finally, that's the word I was waiting for."
I used all my strength to grab her hand. My voice became soft and confident again
Me : "Never say that. You acted nobly. The duel... it was my fault... If I had been much more serious... with Subaru, if I had stayed at the castle... I wouldn't have been able to keep my promise..."
Emilia : "A promise?..."
Me : "Yes, my promise to Beatrice... I can't leave her... alone at the mansion..."
Emilia : "It's just a promise. You can't... force yourself this much for... a promise..."
Me : "Are you ready to break... a promise with Puck... because you were weak?"
Emilia : "No... You leave me no choice... I will heal you, and you will accompany me to the mansion."
She paused, her eyes filling with tears.
Emilia : "With everything you've done for me... do I owe you a debt..."
Me : "..."
"So I arrived after Subaru and Emilia's argument. This is my chance! Emilia can become dependent on me and complete this part of my soul contract with Roswaal."
Emilia : "Answer... please."
Me : "Of course not! Why would you owe me anything? You are one of the most important people to me."
I took a deep breath and continued, with a soft and warm voice:
Me : "I'm not Subaru... I don't know how to express my emotions with compliments, nor how to approach others, for fear... that I might be different from you."
The tears that Emilia had been holding back since she asked me that question started to run down her face. A slight smile appeared.
Emilia : "Th-thank you, Trizz. You're not different from us. Sorry for not paying... more attention to you."
I raised my hand to wipe away the tears flowing down her cheek.
Me : "Let's start over from scratch... My name is Trizz, future knight of the new ruler of this country, best friend of the most courageous woman I have ever met in my life. And you, Madam?"
She wiped the tears from her cheeks and stood up, with a stronger and more confident voice:
Emilia : "I am Emilia, the Half-Elf! Candidate for the throne of Lugnica! I swear to make all races equal for a country without discrimination! And the best friend of one of my future knights!"
Tears still fell, but this time, they were tears of relief. Then, she grabbed my hand with a magnificent smile that made me blush.
Emilia : "Th... thank you again for always staying with me and for being the only loyal friend I've ever had before... Thank you."
"I understand why Subaru fell in love with Emilia; she is magnificent and cute... To hell with Subaru's feelings! Now, I'm the only person she has, besides Puck..."
Me : "I'm the one who should be thanking you for your kindness..."
AUTHOR : I was a bit lazy when I wrote this scene so if you want me to improve it, report this part (I respect criticism to improve this fanfiction)
(Skip in Time...)
The sun was beginning its descent, painting the sky with crimson clouds that recalled the color of my eyes.
Rem stood outside, her face ravaged by worry. Subaru was still in the room, guilty of the argument with Emilia. I walked with difficulty toward the carriage.
Rem : "Trizz-sama. You're leaving so quickly... I'm sorry I couldn't heal you before your departure. My Water Magic..."
With a still weak voice, I interrupted her
Me : "Don't worry, Rem. You were perfect. I have an urgent need to ask you something."
I leaned slightly, forcing Rem to move closer. My crimson gaze was fixed on her, intense and filled with desperate gravity.
Me : "Subaru is your responsibility. You are his shield, his anchor. You've seen what happens when he is left alone. Do not leave him, not for a second."
I coughed, holding my hand firmly on my ribs, the pain contorting my face.
Me : "... If you must choose between him and the world, always choose him. Promise me."
Rem, overwhelmed by the weight of this request and the image of the martyr before her, nodded without hesitation, her eyes glistening.
Rem : "I promise you, Trizz-sama. Subaru-kun will be safe. Rest. Emilia-sama will take care of you..."
I gave her a soft and grateful smile, designed to make my situation even more dramatic and to heighten her guilt.
Me : "You are the best, Rem. Take care of yourself."
I climbed laboriously into the carriage, where Emilia was already waiting for me. Heart heavy, Rem moved away to look after Subaru. I, now facing Emilia, let go of the facade of strength and slumped against the cushions, exhausted.
(Skip in Time...)
The carriage started moving, the regular sound of the wheels creating a familiar and reassuring rhythm. Trizz had succeeded in his maneuver.
Emilia looked at me, her newfound resolution fading before my physical distress.
Emilia : "Trizz, lie down. I'll start. Even if you say my magic isn't suitable... I can't let you suffer."
She approached, concentrating her Water Mana on my external wounds. Water Magic, usually soothing and regenerative, hurt me because of the Yang forcing. I winced, letting out deep groans, but I had to resist to maintain the illusion. My face was now contorted in barely simulated pain.
Me : "Leave... leave me. I'm okay..."
Emilia : "Don't talk nonsense! You are injured!"
I took her hand, forcing her to interrupt her spell, and gave her a painful but sincere look.
Me : "Emilia, listen. I'm fine... I can regenerate with a little time."
I lay down, my breathing hacked. Thanks to the roman , I was going to weave a perfect lie.
Me : "You can do it, Emilia. You have an affinity with Water and Fire Magic. Do it very gently. Focus on the energy, not the wound. Slowly reignite my Mana, don't force it. It's a Yang process. It's like trying to revive a flame with water; you need to be precise and delicate."
"In reality, I was giving her instructions for a minimal mana exchange that would do nothing, but which would make her indispensable in my eyes. She was now the only one who could "heal" me."
Her eyes shone with concentration and a new determination.
Emilia : "I can do it! This is the first time I've managed to heal tissues so quickly! Thank you for the advice, Trizz!"
(Saute dans le temps...)
We arrived at the Roswaal Mansion. Emilia was sleeping, peacefully exhausted, in the carriage. We met Ram who was waiting for us, her face displaying a mix of boredom and contempt.
Ram : "An imbecile, covered in blood, pathetic appearance, smell of abundant nausea, and on top of that, a pervert."
Me : "WHAT! I almost died during a duel to save the camp's honor! And that's how you treat me!"
She looked me up and down, then coughed, a dry little sound to put me back in my place. I took a breath, hurt by her tone.
Me : "Is Emilia's room ready, and where is Beatrice?"
Ram : "Emilia-sama's room is ready. And Beatrice-sama is still in her Library since you left the mansion, Frizz."
Me : "Thank you... "Frizz"?"
Ram : "I couldn't invert your name without it turning into an abomination. So I found a name that suits your suicidal character."
Me : "My suicidal character? It's not my fault, the greatest idiot in Lugnica ran at me!"
Ram frowned slightly, confused.
Ram : "Frizz, what did you do in the Capital?! Answer, or I'll make your injuries truly fatal."
I started rubbing my cheek, awkwardly.
Me : "Subaru and I faced... Julius at the Selection..."
Ram : "WHAT?! Julius, the greatest of Knights?! Why are you and Subaru stupid enough to accept that duel!"
Me : "Calm down, Emilia is sleeping. It's not my fault, Subaru insulted all the Imperial Knights at the Selection, and Julius challenged us."
Ram put her hand on her hip. Her face turned an frightening pallor, and her cold tone was full of sarcasm.
Ram : "Julius. The Perfect Knight. Challenged by the imbecile Barusu and... you, Frizz. You used self-mutilation as a tactic. You have sullied the honor of Emilia-sama's Camp in plain sight of the entire Capital. Explain yourself. Now. Your excuse better be worth the fury that Roswaal-sama will rain down upon you."
Me : "Ram, stop focusing on honor. I'm here because I have a reason... Roswaal entrusted me..."
I hope this works, or Ram will decapitate me...
Ram let out a dry, short laugh, full of contempt.
Ram : "That Roswaal-sama would entrust you with a secret of such importance? That is the biggest lie I have heard today, Frizz."
I moved closer to Ram, speaking in a much quieter tone so only she could hear
Me : "He couldn't do it himself. He made me promise to be here. He ordered me to put my life in danger, not to beat Julius, but to guarantee my return to the Mansion."
Ram : "What is this "hidden will" of the Master that you risked so much to accomplish, Frizz? Speak quickly."
Me : "The Witch's Cult. They are attacking Arlam village and the Mansion. The day after tomorrow, around zenith. Roswaal tasked me with preparing the defenses in secret before he returns, and only one person is capable of helping me without panicking: you."
Ram's face shifted from disbelief to a cold fury mixed with pure terror.
Ram : "The... The Cult? It's..."
Me : "You don't have time to check. You don't have time to doubt. You don't have time to wait for the Master. If you have any respect for Roswaal, for Emilia, for Beatrice, you will put your anger aside and obey me."
I leaned against the wall, exhausted, but my gaze did not leave her, asserting my authority.
Me : "Ram. Your first task is to ensure the Arlam Village is empty. Go tell them a major, violent fire is expected and they must take refuge in the high forest until the evening after tomorrow. Now."
Ram stared at me for a long time. The logic and the authority of Roswaal (even if false) finally overcame her contempt and her fear.
Her voice was low, hoarse. She no longer looked at me, fixing her gaze on the door.
Ram : "Very well. I will take care of the "fictitious fires" in the village. But if you lied, Frizz, not only will I make your wounds fatal, but I will personally inform Roswaal-sama of how you mocked his name."
Exhausted, I walked through the corridor, opening every door to find Beatrice's Library. After a few minutes, I found the Library. Inside, the little girl with butterfly eyes, Beatrice, was sitting on a stool, a black book in her hand.
Beatrice, in a sharp and cold tone:
Beatrice : "You're back. So late, in fact. I barely noticed your absence. Your presence is as loud as your disappearance. And why are you in such a state, I suppose? You look like you've been chewed up and spat out by a Mabeast, in fact. It's disgusting."
I approached her, limping, and knelt before her, ignoring the pain tearing at my ribs.
With a soft and proud voice:
Trizz : "I'm sorry I'm late. As planned, you are now the center of my world."
Beatrice blinked. Her mask of pride faltered. She hated to admit it, but the sincerity of my words touched her deeply, even if she would never show it openly. With a sniff of annoyance:
Beatrice : "Just because you're kneeling doesn't mean I'll forget you left me alone for several days, I suppose. Now, get up. You're going to bleed all over my precious tomes, in fact. I suppose you must bore me with your tales from the outside."
I stood up, leaning on the bookshelf behind me.
Me : "I need to talk to you, Beatrice. What I did in the Capital was necessary... to be here. To keep you from suffering."
Beatrice's gaze tried to soften before becoming defensive again, but there was a marked hint of sadness.
Beatrice : "I'm not suffering. And I don't need any of your schemes to protect me, I suppose. You broke your body for a stupid Half-Elf and an imbecile. Your actions are foolish, in fact, and inconsiderate!"
The word "inconsiderate" shows she sees an act of self-destruction that hurts her.
My tone became grave and much more urgent
Me : "I have information. The Witch's Cult is on the move. They are attacking the mansion in two days..."
At the word "Cult," she stiffened. Her eyes widened slightly in shock.
Beatrice : "That's not possible... How do you know, I suppose..."
I moved closer to her with a softer tone:
Me : "I'm not lying. And I can't leave you alone to face this. I promised to protect you. But to do that, I need all the power of this Library. I cannot break my promise, Beatrice."
Me : "Beatrice. Roswaal is absent. Ram cannot defend the Mansion alone. Emilia is weak. You are the last line of defense. You will help me prepare the defenses, and when the time comes, you will open the Library's door for me. I am not asking you to fight, but to protect your home and let me take care of the rest."
Her gaze of pride struggled against the fear of losing Trizz, her apprentice. She clearly saw the almost suicidal determination in my eyes.
With a long and heavy sigh
Beatrice : "The Cult... Always the Cult, in fact. Very well. If you are foolish enough to let yourself be killed here to keep a promise that no one else would have kept... I suppose... What are your demands, Trizz? Tell me about your 'stupid traps', I suppose."
Then, with a much calmer and more vulnerable voice, she approached me.
Beatrice : "Promise me you'll come back alive..."
With a proud and confident smile, I gave her a hug. I felt her warmth, and she squeezed me tighter, driven by fear.
Me : "I promise you, Beatrice, I'll return."
(Skip in Time...)
After six hours of sleep, my body had finished its regeneration. I had recovered about 80% of my Mana and 87% of my Endurance. I had entrusted the protection of the village and the mansion to Ram and Beatrice. Fortunately, I had retrieved a sword from Crusch's mansion before leaving.
I plunged into the forest bordering the village. After a few tens of minutes, I spotted a dark silhouette, sitting on a tree branch. It was her.
My tone was serious and sharp. I had no time for pleasantries.
Me: "The attack is scheduled in two days. We act now. The Cult has set up camp in the eastern forest area. We're going to eliminate them and deter them from attacking the Mansion."
Her smile was terrifying. Her cutting blade (cuti) gleamed faintly in the gloom.
Elsa: "The hunt is open, Trizz-kun! I truly like your approach, both rapid and bloody. I feel our hearts will beat in unison tonight."
Meili emerged from the shadows, sporting her usual innocent smile.
She's truly skilled for her age. If I hadn't watched the anime, she would have tricked and killed me with her Mabeasts.
Meili: "Onii-san, it's been a long time since we last saw each other. I see your eyes have changed color again. I'm happy to work with you, my Mabeasts are ready!"
Meili called forth three of her Mabeasts. They resembled enormous demonic dogs with fangs dripping with greenish drool. We silently headed toward the Cult's area.
When we arrived, about ten cultists burst out of the ground, blocking our path.
I jumped off the Mabeast and lunged at the nearest cultist, piercing his heart with a quick, clean strike. He collapsed, blood spurting from his body, his limbs twitching in a final attempt to rise. Elsa attacked the rest of the remaining fanatics.
I stared at the cultist Elsa had just shredded half of his body was sliced in two, his organs and entrails lay on the ground, twisting in a grotesque attempt at survival, bathed in a pool of blood. A sickening stench of death and rusted iron filled the air, causing a wave of nausea.
I felt sick. The bile and the little food I had eaten rose in my throat, but I managed to contain them.
Trizz, pull yourself together! You risk dying if you just stand there lamenting! Get back to it immediately!
Meili, who was silently observing me after the cultists' death, spoke in a low, almost childish voice:
Meili: "Is this your first time, Onii-san? Killing? That surprises me. Don't worry, it will fade with time. Your body will get used to it. You just need to kill again and again."
Me: "Thank you... Meili. I'll take your advice..."
She smiled at me. But more cultists began to appear, emerging from the darkness behind the trees. A few of the Cult's Fingers also showed up, their eyes filled with religious madness. I manifested my two Quasi-Spirits and used "Shamak" and "Aka," drawing on my mana reserve.
Elsa danced in the chaos of the Shamak, her blade severing heads and limbs with brutal grace, blood gushing like a fountain. Meili unleashed her Mabeasts, those small demonic dogs that tore at the flesh of the disoriented fanatics.
(saute dans le temps...)
After eliminating 73 cultists and 2 Fingers, the relative silence was broken only by the sound of the Mabeasts devouring the flesh, livers, pancreases, and entrails of the dead cultists. The air was unbreathable. I felt worse and worse. The urge to vomit was much stronger, but I forced myself to suppress it.
I had 20% of my Mana and 12% of my Endurance left. Damn it, I need to finish this massacre as quickly as possible before I collapse.
Elsa, her body smeared with blood, displayed a predatory smile and a cold laugh. Blood dripped from her blade.
Elsa: "That was a magnificent dance, Trizz-kun! Such a beautiful... butchery! My heart hasn't felt this light in years!"
A piercing, mad voice, full of fury and disappointment, resonated above us. It was a man with greenish, corpse-like skin, his gaze filled with pure dementia: Petelguel Romanee-Conti, Archbishop of Sloth.
It was a man with greenish, corpse-like skin, his gaze filled with pure dementia: Petelguel Romanee-Conti, Archbishop of Sloth
Petelguel: "PRIDE! PRIDE! HOW! IS IT POSS-IBLE! SLOTH! SLOTH! WHY DO YOU DESTROY MY BELOVED ONES?!"
His bloodshot eyes trembled with rage. He had appeared atop the ancient ruins of a stone temple.
Petelguel: "THE TIME OF SELECTION HAS COME!"
He launched his Invisible Hands at Elsa. She was violently thrown into the forest, leaving a trail of blood on the ground. Her laughter was silenced in a muffled scream.
Meili's eyes widened in horror and fear. She shrieked
Meili: "Elsa!"
She was snatched by the Invisible Hands the next second. Her silhouette was literally sliced in two. Blood flowed like a river, and her vital organs fell to the ground with a dull, sickening thud.
It was too much. I lost my footing and collapsed to my knees, vomiting all the undigested contents of my stomach, mixed with yellow bile. The last vestige of my human decency shattered in the face of the horror.
Meili was dead.
Petelguel writhed with joy and pointed at me with his gnarled fingers.
Petelguel: "YOU! PRIDE WHO REJECTS THE WITCH'S LOVE, DESTROYS SLOTH! I MUST KILL YOU! YOU SHALL BE MY SACRIFICE TO THE WITCH'S LOVE!"
My body was dead weight. I had no Mana left. I had wasted all my resources eliminating the cultists. I couldn't even lift my sword against the Invisible Providence.
Suddenly, ten more cultists surged from the darkness. They had been on patrol and returned to surround me, my body utterly exhausted.
The cultists began stabbing me relentlessly. The only thing that came back to my mind was a cold hatred and a sense of vengeance for the next loop.
A cultist then pierced my heart.
Trizz was dead...
END OF CHAPTER IV