"Hey! Brother! How long do you plan on sleeping!? You know how hard it is to fight, dodge, ride, and protect yourself with only one arm!?"
A man shouted, somewhat stressed, on the battlefield…
No. At this point, it was too much to simply call the terrain a battlefield.
The plains, full of despair, left no room for rest or hope of survival for anyone who had not yet been consumed in battle at that place.
The moment the whale's threat had… Tripled, the hope and determination of most of the warriors had fallen to the ground without remedy.
"Don't give up! Don't lower your heads!"
A certain green-haired royal candidate shouted with force. Refusing to simply let herself die in this battle just like that.
Crusch, through her strength, determination, and words, tried to keep the spirits and courage of all her forces afloat. Trying to ensure none of them dared to falter at this moment.
But it was simply too desolate a scenario to have the same energy.
It wasn't just because the whale's threat had multiplied into three beings in an instant. Which was already a critical blow in itself.
If they couldn't defeat one when she was alone, how could they face three of them at the same time?
In addition to that, the low energy was also due to the great number of men they had already lost and fallen in battle up to this point.
There were dozens of men they didn't know or remember their names. But everyone noticed that they wore the same armor and uniform as all the warriors.
Even if they didn't recognize them, they knew those were their former comrades, already forgotten by the world. And they didn't know how strong or valuable they were before being defeated.
If right now, without having the best strategy, there was a possibility that several of their best men had already been defeated. And they hadn't even realized it yet.
"Ughh. The situation is starting to get a little complicated… It would be a good time to awaken your sealed and hidden power, brother."
Aldebaran couldn't help but laugh and joke a bit using video game and anime terms and logic. In an attempt to relieve all the stress and effort this battle was already inflicting on him without anyone noticing.
"Roahhhhh!"
"Argh! What, hasn't devouring several humans been enough for you yet?"
He said while doing the best he could to avoid dangers, being practically useless while carrying his brother who hung from his only arm.
"Gyaa!"
"Argh!"
Aldebaran feels a strong pull coming from a black earth dragon that had positioned itself beside him. Which, in turn, was carrying a blue-haired maid girl.
"Subaru-kun! Are you okay?"
Rem was mounted on Patrasche, while looking with concern at her hero's unconscious body. While the earth dragon tried to bring her master as close as possible to protect him.
"The Bro must have hurt the back of his head in one of the whale's attacks. It's not that serious but he's unconscious."
Aldebaran explained, while Rem tried as best she could to hold Subaru in her arms without losing control of Patrasche's reins. Although she had two arms, it was still somewhat difficult to do considering the current situation.
"Ngh…"
And she feels her hand quickly fill with blood as she touches the back of her hero's head. Making an involuntary noise and increasing her concern even more.
"He's bleeding a lot… If I take him immediately to Felix, he-"
"Don't even think about taking him to the wounded."
The voice coming from the Sun Princess stopped the maid's words in an instant.
Priscilla had set aside—Just a little—her confident and proud behavior. At least in part. Now she kept her guard up at all times. Giving orders to her men who were trying to fight. Besides running to dodge and attack the whales floating in the air.
"The Plebeian somehow attracts the whale to his position, doesn't he? What do you think will happen if you take him to be healed at our most important and weakest point!?"
As if scolding a stupid girl, she shouted forcefully, while attacking from a distance with her Yang sword towards the air.
If the whale dared to follow Subaru, and attacked where all the wounded men were, recovering, plus the Royal Healer… They would no longer have any chance of victory.
"Roahhhh!"
The triple sound heard in the air once again, made everyone tremble in anticipation for a few seconds. While they remembered the horrible and desperate situation they were in.
"We won't hold out if they keep devouring us like this!"
"I will not accept losing this fight!"
The sound of an Old Man and a Wolfling resonated in the air, as both attacked two of the three whales on their own. One to the left. The other to the right.
Each was even more upset and frustrated now. One for almost having been devoured due to his carelessness, if not for being saved by the one-armed man. He could have died at this point because of his fault.
And the other furious about the critical situation he was in. The whale was about to devour two of his Kids. With that fear almost realized, he simply could not be calm now.
"Roahhh!"(x2)
As the sound of pain coming from the two calamities was heard, blood spread across their white skin. Staining both the warriors' clothes and the grass and ground.
The only thing that could be considered a positive point, was that the whales seemed to have weakened a bit.
The fact that there were now a total of three whales in the air, and yet, they could barely keep them at bay and not have been completely devoured yet, was proof of that.
But with just that point, it wasn't enough to feel secure in their victory yet. The two of them, along with all the warriors who could still fight, fought more with guts, spirit, and stubbornness than with a real chance of winning.
It almost seemed that the moment the boy who was most confident and who cheered the group the most had fallen... was the moment everyone began to fall into despair.
"Subaru-kun, Please wake up."
Rem, having accepted the fact that it was impossible to take her hero to Felix to heal him in the fastest and most efficient way possible, tries to do the best she can to heal him herself.
Bringing his body closer to her own, and trying not to lower her guard or lose balance on the earth dragon, she brings her hands to the back of his head, trying to concentrate as best as she can on healing his wounds. It was difficult to do all these things at once. But she wanted to and had to do it.
She thought that if there was anyone who could come up with a plan or a solution to this problem, it would be no one other than the hero who rested unconscious in her arms.
But for that, first he would have to wake up. And with him asleep, they couldn't leave him alone either. They had to fight while carrying him or-
"Roahhh!"
"Ngh…!"
Rem can't help but frown and grit her teeth when she sees a blast of the Whale's Fog heading forcefully and quickly directly towards her.
"Dona!"
But before being forgotten by the world, A wall made of earth is generated on the ground at the same time Aldebaran shouts, Raising his hand towards the blue-haired girl, and saving her by a hair.
"That was close."
He couldn't help but sigh when he managed, just barely, to save the maid and his bro from being erased from everyone's memories… He didn't expect it to work so well.
"Still. I'm impressed that just one Dona was enough. Am I getting faster?"
"More talkative, you mean. Stop chattering and attack too!"
Said Priscilla, While launching several fire attacks from her Yang sword aimed at the two whales closest to the ground. Avoiding any direct attack towards everyone as best she could.
"If we let the Whales recharge energy and launch more fog attacks, this is over… we must…"
Rem's thoughts ran frantically inside her head. If her hero wasn't present, at least she would have to ensure she survived until he woke up.
But what could they do now? Without a clear plan, With less than half the forces, and without really time to reorganize and think…
"Hahhh!"
The battle sounds of Wilhelm and Ricardo intensify, As they tried to do the best they could on the white skin of the whale. Cutting and tearing apart everything in their path.
"Ngh. It feels weak. But even so, it doesn't stop fighting."
"Yes. Even though it's weaker, we are also weakened. And most don't have enough ability to walk on it and attack."
Rem observes their efforts while healing her hero from the ground. Feeling direct frustration towards herself for her inability to have done anything until now.
"I haven't done anything more than support with a few ice spells since the battle started. I must… Ngh!"
Making a decision, she finishes healing as best she could in that period of time. While releasing her hero onto her earth dragon.
"Patrasche! Aldebaran! Please take Subaru-kun to where Lady Priscilla is! Tell her to make sure to protect him!"
Swallowing her own pride at having to rely on someone as unpleasant as her, Rem could do nothing but leave her hero in her care.
The orange-haired girl may not have earned her respect or appreciation, But she had to admit that her combat abilities were superior to most. She could trust her to defend him.
"H-Hey! Where are you going!?"
Aldebaran raised an eyebrow inside his helmet upon seeing the girl's impulsive attitude and decision. Who no longer seemed willing to stay on the defensive.
"Wilhem-san and Ricardo-san are too tired to hold back the whales just the two of them alone. I haven't fought physically yet so I still have plenty of energy."
Bringing the dragon close enough to be level with the one-armed man, Rem forces herself to leave her hero resting with his wound already healed in his arm.
"I trust you. So now Rem… Will fight until you recover."
Those were her thoughts as she moved away from the boy she loved.
With that Determination in hand, Rem jumps from Patrasche's back, Landing on the grass, only to look up.
Straight at one of the two whales. Precisely the same one Ricardo was mounted on.
Gathering all the strength she could release from her horn on her forehead, and channeling it into her legs, she takes a great leap until she lands on it.
"Rem-san!?"
"Arghh!"
And pulling out her Morningstar from somewhere, she starts attacking several mouths found on the whale's skin at the same time. Not wanting to give it a chance to use its filthy fog to counterattack.
"Ricardo! Please go help Wilhelm hold back all the fog the other whale is generating!"
Shouting that order forcefully, She doesn't stop moving the entire chain with force and precision across the length and width of the body she was on.
"Hmph. So the servant finally wanted to show some action and usefulness."
Prisca, who continued attacking from the ground, couldn't help but look at Rem with something… acceptance finally in her actions.
"I know I can't defeat you. But when my hero wakes up, Believe me. This battle will be over for you!"
Throwing the chains once more, Rem declared with total confidence and certainty that, somehow, Her hero would come to save her once again.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"…"
"Pss. Pss…"
"Eh!?"
In a completely different place…
A completely different person…
In a completely different time…
A girl is surprised when she suddenly hears a small noise in the darkness calling her.
"H-hello?"
She replied with a slightly trembling voice.
She, Being trapped in that place, couldn't help but feel a little scared. Of course, it wasn't exactly strange to be trapped in that room. Not as much as it would be for others, At least.
But being honestly unable to see clearly around her, and with her bare feet trembling a little from cold and fear in equal measure… she simply couldn't help but be nervous. Much less when she doesn't hear a response to her greeting.
"…"
She takes a breath while breathing deeply. Approaching a corner of the room. The darkest corner there was. While trying to keep her body calm.
The room she was in was almost completely dark. She had grown accustomed to such Darkness. But still she wished there was something more than just a small window that barely let in sunlight.
Knowing she wouldn't get any more response or benefit from hesitating and trembling, she slowly approached the end of the room. Hoping that-
"Buuuu-!"
"Ahh!"
When she turns around the last pillar of the room, she is quickly pushed back with force. When a small boy of about 6 years old throws himself at her, hugging her.
The boy, was smaller than her. But still, the surprise that overtook her, and the momentum he had, made her unable to avoid falling and rolling back a few times.
Finally stopping when she ends up lying on the floor, with the boy sitting on top of her. Smiling childishly.
"Heyyy!"
And he didn't look sorry at all for his greeting today.
"S-Subaru! Don't do that!"
She exclaimed, trying to quickly hide her expression of surprise and amusement. She forced a frown, pretending to be angry at the way the boy had dared to push her and make her fall.
"Hehe. Come on. You know you like it when I surprise you. Admit it!"
"I will not. Stop scaring me every time you come to visit me. It's not funny!"
"Ah no? Then why do you have that smile on your face?"
He said tilting his head slightly to one side while raising an eyebrow and not stopping smiling for a single second.
"…It's nothing."
She tried as best she could to hide that smile, which her body, unable to follow her orders, was making of its own accord.
"You're happy to see me, aren't you?"
"Shut up!"
And even though she shouted, even then that smile did not disappear from her face. Only managing to make the boy sitting on her laugh even more.
"Haha. Okay. Okay. Sorry. Sorry, I'm getting a bit carried away."
With those words, The little black-haired boy stands up beside his friend, While offering his hand to her to help her up.
"Just so you know, I'm also happy to see you."
And he says with that innocence. That always warmed the heart of this beautiful lady.
"…I'm also happy to see you. Just don't throw yourself at me like that every time you appear."
Accepting his hand with confidence, she stands up. Brushing off a little dust she had from falling.
Once she does, the height difference becomes even clearer. Having to look slightly down to see the boy's face.
It wasn't that it really bothered her. It was just curious how someone younger than her could make her feel… things.
"We're trapped in this room again? Awwww. I was hoping to play outside with you today."
Subaru says, while looking at the already familiar, but not fun, dungeon where he always came to play with his friend.
"Yeah, Well… I guess I brought it on myself. I accidentally broke a vase in the mansion and… Well, they decided I'd spend a few days here."
She replied with slight sadness. Although she was relatively used to being locked in this place for hours, and sometimes for days, it wasn't that she enjoyed her stay here.
Although, the boy she spent time with there was definitely worth it.
"For breaking a vase? They're really hard on you, aren't they?"
He said raising an eyebrow, while considering that her parents were very harsh or too exaggerated when punishing her.
"No. They're not. They love me. They only do what they do because they want to discipline and take care of me."
Although she didn't seem to share the same opinion. Or at least she wasn't so convinced of it.
"Hmm. When Subaru breaks something at home by accident, his parents punish him by making him stand in a corner for 15 minutes, I suppose. But they never lock him in our dungeon."
"…Do you have a dungeon in your house too?"
"Nope! That's why they never lock me up there!"
He said laughing, making the girl unable to avoid letting out a sigh between her teeth, somewhat amused by the boy's attitude.
"Anyway. I don't think they'll let me out of this place for a few hours, so I doubt we'll be able to play outside, Subaru."
"Heh. Don't worry. I'm always prepared for situations like this! So I brought several things to play with you!"
The boy said with excitement, while trying to cheer up the girl in front of him.
He already knew how boring she surely would be spending all day locked up here. So it was normal for him to prepare to entertain her when he visited.
"Oh! Really? Tell me. What do you have?"
And it has an immediate effect. Because although she wouldn't admit it so openly, she always looked forward to the gifts and the visit of her friend from the room.
"Well, let's see… Hmm. I brought some cheap candies I bought at a store near my school. Lately I've been buying a lot of these for my friends. So I hope you like them as much as they do."
He said, remembering some friends he had made in recent months. And directly giving a small chocolate candy into the girl's hand.
The girl takes it confidently. At this point, she had come to have full confidence in all the sweets her friend brought her every time he visited.
And she always liked them.
So, removing the wrapper which she was already used to, she puts the candy in her mouth in one bite. And the flavor… explodes.
"It's a little… It's really sweet!. It's very good!"
"Hehe. See? I told you. We can eat these for a while."
He spoke while also eating an identical candy.
"Oh! But that's not the only thing I brought."
He said with excitement, while placing on the ground the backpack he always carried everywhere. His faithful school backpack!
Although in this case, he had made sure to empty all the pencils and notebooks and boring things that weren't good for playing.
Instead…
"Look. I brought a stuffed animal!"
He pulls out a small sewn doll… It was very small and didn't seem to be made by a professional.
It was a small plush of an attempt at a human. Black hair and dark brown eyes… although one of those buttons seemed about to fall off. But that wasn't important.
The girl couldn't help but compare the doll and its owner. Turning her gaze from one to the other while observing the similarities.
"Is it you?"
The boy smiles even more when he sees that she was indeed able to guess. At least that meant he got a somewhat decent result.
"Yes! Lately Subaru and his mother Naoko have been practicing sewing together in the afternoons."
"Ohhh? You like sewing?"
"Well, actually I started to give toys to my Nee-san for when I'm not with her."
He replied while handing the doll to her hands so she could examine it more closely.
"And I'm practicing and improving little by little… I'm still not satisfied with the result enough to give her one. But I still wanted to show you."
"Well, it's not bad for one of your first attempts."
The girl smiled, seeing and touching the toy in her hand. While looking at it as if it were a high-value object and very important to her…
"I wish he was doing it with the intention of giving them to me."
Although she couldn't help but feel a little jealous of whoever that 'Nee-san' girl was. But she had no right to complain.
"Do you have more like this?"
"Uhh, Actually no. Subaru only makes dolls of himself for now. He's afraid of making one of his friends and ruining it."
He said, scratching his head. He only wanted to give things to his friends if they were truly worth giving.
So until he perfected his sewing skills to a level that surpassed decent… he would keep practicing until he achieved it and gave it.
"Hmm. Well, I wouldn't complain at all if you gave this one, or even if you just tried to make one that looks like me."
She believed that with just the fact that the boy she liked tried so hard to make a toy or gift thinking of her, it would be enough to fill her with joy.
Or at least, that's how it happened for her.
"Really? Well in that case maybe next time I'll bring you one of you… I don't promise it will be cute, But I'll try."
Those words encourage Subaru to keep improving. He already had a new reason to keep striving now, after all.
"Great!"
And she couldn't be even more excited about that.
But returning to the initial topic…
"The last thing I brought were some little knight and princess toys."
He said, while taking out a small collection of toys and medieval games he had gotten recently. While placing them carefully and slowly on the floor, in an orderly manner so the girl could see the whole picture.
And he smiles at the surprised face she was making at this moment observing all the toys in front of her.
"Hmm? Where did you get these?"
"They gave them to Subaru for being the fastest in the elementary school athletics competition. I won first place!"
Subaru was proud of it. At 6 years old he was a very outstanding boy in his homeland. He prided himself on honoring his surname.
"I was hoping to play with this with you. It'll be like a Role-playing game. I'll pretend to be your knight. And you'll pretend to be my real princess."
"Pretend?"
The girl stopped for a few moments at that word her friend had used.
Partly because he had called her 'My Princess'… That made her heart beat a little faster.
But the word pretend…
"Subaru? I am a real princess."
"Exactly. That's how you do it!"
Subaru was impressed at how well she seemed to pretend in this Role-playing game. Almost as much as his nee-san.
"No. Wait. I meant…! Well okay. Let's play!"
She wanted to correct him for a second. But thinking about it? She just wanted to play with her friend as much as possible to worry about those details.
"Great! Then… I'll be the knight trying to rescue you from your evil parents. And you the beautiful princess waiting for me. Unless you want to switch, of course."
"Natsumi Schwartz could be useful here."
"It's not necessary. I have no problem being the princess… But is the evil parents part necessary?"
"Oh, I just came up with it from a book and series I saw recently about knights and princesses. I'm not smart enough to think of a deep story so… I thought it would work."
She didn't know if she felt comfortable with that But… The mental image of a knight Subaru holding the princess and escaping from the Royal castle…
For some reason, it sounded like something she wished would happen. Even though she had no real reason to think about it.
"Well. Then, My knight… Shall we begin?"
"Yes!"
And during the next few hours, they were involved in the exaggerated poses and reactions of a small child giving speeches as long as a certain friend.
Although she didn't mind at all seeing him get excited talking and acting for his own fun. So did she complain?
No. Not at all… She loved it more than anything.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hours later, the two of them were taking a break.
They hadn't done much more than act, talk, and do various poses and random scenes the whole time.
But they had gotten so excited and both had gotten so into their roles, that they simply got carried away.
So in the end, both were exhausted. But completely satisfied with the entertainment they had both obtained.
So right now, they're just lying back against the wall. While recovering energy and simply… in silence, enjoying each other's company.
"…"
She couldn't help but stare at Subaru for a few seconds. She could see his cute and innocent face with eyes closed, tired from playing. Satisfied from playing...
She simply didn't understand this boy at all.
From the day he appeared, those days only expanded. Asking where he came from, Why he acts like that with her, what his goal is…
And those doubts… only multiplied into other areas.
Even coming to compare and question the boy's actions with those of her parents. Thus seeing the… great difference between the kindness of both.
Don't misunderstand. She loved her parents. More than anything. She wanted to be the best for them. That's why she always agreed to follow their orders and punishments.
It's just that… this boy didn't seem to be as direct as them. He didn't force her to act in a way that he liked. Nor did he punish her when she disagreed with him.
She was beginning to question between her parents and her friend… who was truly the best influence for her.
Did he also have something hidden? Some reason to approach her? Something to justify why he was so… different?
"Hey."
Gathering courage to speak, she looks directly into his eyes. With slight stuttering and trembling, still she decided to confront him.
"Hmm. Yes?"
He replied with slight laziness, while slowly opening his eyes before focusing his full attention on her once more.
"You, uh… Why and how do you come to visit me every day?"
Not really knowing how to formulate the question she so wanted to ask, all she could do was approach with those almost whispered words. Although in a place as dark and small as the one they were in, it was enough for him to hear.
"Oh? You're curious?"
He seems surprised by the question. Although not exactly being defensive.
"A little. You're the first boy who sees me without… seeming to want something more than just having a good time with me."
"Huh? But isn't that how all friends and family should be?"
Her words made him make a slight face of surprise and confusion. While with innocence he tried to ask something that according to him, was absurdly obvious to doubt.
"…Just answer the question."
She doesn't respond directly. She just wants to know more about the boy. She didn't need to show all her thoughts. Not yet, at least.
Another few seconds pass before Subaru, who had fallen silent and with a finger on his chin thinking, responded again.
"Hmm. Not even I am too clear on how I manage to visit all my friends… Nor who new ones I'm going to meet."
"You already have several friends?"
"Oh yes! In fact recently I'm trying to help a Giant take care of his human baby. That little one sure causes a lot of problems."
He said in a childish and yet mature way. As if he were talking about the mischief of a little sister he had. He couldn't help but feel a bit like an older brother.
But back to the point…
"Honestly I don't exactly know what it is that makes me appear in these places. And truthfully? I genuinely don't really care as long as I meet more incredible people like that."
"…"
She doesn't exactly know how to feel about those words… She didn't know if she should feel better or worse than when she had that doubt eating at her mind.
"So… Just because something 'summons' you? Is that the only reason you play with me?"
Feeling a little sad, she accepts that fact. Admitting that-
"No no. Not at all! That's the reason I manage to come here. Not the reason I Want to come here!"
"Huh?"
Although her thoughts momentarily stop in confusion when the boy speaks again. Who tries to explain upon seeing his friend's face.
"Of course. I don't know what brings me here. But whoever or whatever it is, I definitely owe them a favor! So I can keep playing with you!"
"…Why?"
She simply still couldn't understand it. She couldn't understand the emotions and thoughts this boy seemed to want to express with her.
What does he gain? What does he achieve? Why would he want to come visit her in a place like this?
Why?
Why?
Why?
"Because we're friends! Isn't it obvious!?"
"…"
"Friends play. Chat. Eat. And love each other. And I love you! So it's normal that I want to spend time with you, right?"
Speaking with a smile, he expresses as if it were the most obvious thing he had ever explained. Hoping the girl could understand what he really meant.
"You don't want something more? Something more… than just spending time with me? You must have an extra reason to bring so many things and try so hard to make me smile."
"Hmm? Really?"
He crosses his arms for a second. Closing his eyes as if he were considering something very seriously for the first time since he arrived at this place today.
It only lasts a few seconds before he responds again.
"Oh Yes! I think I do want something from you!"
"…And that is?"
"I want you to be more selfish!"
"Huh?"
It was countless times now that the girl was surprised and stuttered at the boy's responses. She simply can't help it when every word from his lips makes her reconsider her whole life.
"Look. I don't really understand it very well. But I feel you have that aura that makes you think you deserve to be locked up here. And it bothers me! A lot! From what I've seen of you. You don't deserve it!"
"…"
"You deserve much more love than you've been given. You deserve much more than what you've received so that's why… If you want to give me something. I want you to smile more. To live more! Life locked up here is very boring. So try to have fun when I'm not here. How about that!?"
"…"
"Subaru will try to visit you as many times as he can. Take it as a promise! So every time he does, receive him with a bigger and prettier smile every time he comes, okay?"
Finishing his little speech, he looks into the little princess's eyes, who seemed to have moist eyes for some reason.
"In that case I… Also want something from you."
That was finally her response, while still hesitating and trembling slightly.
"Hmm? Of course. Subaru will try to do anything for you. I suppose. What do you need?"
"…"
Taking another second of silence, while she thought about what she wanted at that moment.
"Hug me."
It was something childish. Something small. Something that most would barely consider a request.
But still, it was something she demanded. A simple whim. Something she considered… selfish.
It was the first selfish decision she had made in a long time.
"Hmm? That's all? Of course!"
And yet, the boy didn't hesitate a second to grant it. He was used to giving hugs at that age.
So even though the girl's body was larger than his, he still tried his best to wrap his little arms around her.
"…"
She imitated the same gesture… Wrapping her arms around the little boy and pulling him tightly to her own body.
This wasn't the first hug a man had given her, but still…
She felt this hug had more Love than she had ever received.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Lugu…nica…"
"Hah!? You can talk now?"
Waking up very slowly from his little faint, the first thing a certain black-haired boy hears, is a shout from a girl beside him.
"E-Eh? Prisca?"
"It's about time you woke up, Plebeian."
Priscilla says with her teeth slightly clenched while still running and attacking the air. And at the same time making sure no attack from the whale or the fog was able to reach her friend.
"Where am I…? I passed out?… What was I doing…?"
Even as he began to recover his strength very slowly, Subaru was confused when he opened his eyes.
He could feel his body and the breeze hitting him from the front. It took him a few seconds to understand that they were running, carried on Patrasche and Prisca.
It took him a few more seconds to remember what he was doing before fainting… The mansion, the loops, The whale, the battle, Hetaro and…
"Ngh!"
It took him a few more seconds to finally recover and realize the truly desperate situation he was in.
In an almost reflexive movement upon being able to regain control of his body, even if partially, He breaks free from his friend's grip, And sits on the back of his loyal companion. Gripping the reins tightly.
"W-What happened while I was unconscious?"
And once he manages to remember the full situation, he asks for an explanation with slight terror of everything that had happened while he was not awake.
"Onii-san!"
While he was still searching with his gaze for all the information he could, the voice of a little girl who had approached his side calls his attention.
"Mimi-san! What happe-"
His first reaction was to ask about the situation he was in. But seeing his little sister's face made him stop momentarily.
Mimi had a dirty face. Covered in mud and some drops of blood. He couldn't tell if it was from her or from any other wounded person or beast. But he didn't like seeing her like this.
And even so, when he looks at her… he can't help but worry about his other Demi-human brother.
"H-Hetaro! What happened with-!"
"He's okay!"
She responded, calming his anxiety. Although she still seemed very worried, as she bit her lower lip.
"The whale's attack only hit the liger he was riding and not him directly… But the shockwave was still too strong at that distance. I had to take his body to Felix so he could survive."
"…Onii-sama."
Subaru couldn't help but frown at her explanation and what had happened to his brother. At least a part of him was relieved that, according to Mimi's words, His older brother was going to survive this battle…
But the fact that he ended up seriously injured just trying to save him was…
"Tsk. I swear I'll kill you, White Whale."
Redirecting his anger from himself towards the enemies in the sky, he thinks with frustration and determination. While raising his head to look at…
"Rem!?"
"Arhhhhh!"
Diagonally to the right, he could see the blue-haired girl fighting with all her might while she was on top of the whale.
Throwing her weapon forcefully across its entire body, she avoided the vast majority of fog attacks the whale tried to launch.
But still, Subaru could see and feel Rem's labored breathing each time she started a new attack. He knew she was reaching her limit.
"She was the one who healed you while you were unconscious. At the same time, she prevented you from being hurt by any other attack. And she started holding back one whale by herself. With slight help from me and the duchess."
Prisca explained Rem's participation in combat… Showing for the first time a bit of respect towards her. Something that impressed Subaru a little. But that wasn't something to focus on right now.
And Looking to the opposite side, towards the other whale close to the ground.
"Arggg!"
"Rahhh!"
He could see Wilhelm and Ricardo, Both almost completely bathed in blood, while they ran on opposite sides but with the same intention. Cutting all the mouths trying to expel fog to eliminate everyone.
"Since there are two of them, they can completely hold back the whale… But at the same time, the whale is holding them back by not letting them rest for a second. And on top of that, there's still one whole whale left."
Subaru didn't need to be a genius to realize that the current situation was, at the very least, hopeless.
They already had a big problem facing one whale. But facing three with little strength?
In a battle of attrition, all odds were against them. If any of the three whales managed to launch a new Fog of Elimination attack, at that moment the battle would be lost.
And it seemed that could happen very soon if he didn't do something to change the situation already.
"Come on, come on. Think! What can you do? How can you win?"
He forced his mind with frustration to work. While he could hear a small voice in his head screaming for him to just give up, it still wasn't enough to make him want to throw in the towel. Not yet.
If he did, he would be trampling on the effort his brother made to save his life.
"Minya!"
While he raised his right hand, Launching several darkness-filled crystals towards the whale where Rem was mounted, he kept asking and trying to come up with any viable plan that could give them a chance of victory.
"The whale was supposed to be a single enemy, right? Was that false information?"
"The idea that the White Whale is not a single enemy, but rather a Race or a family, is not something that has been considered before."
Prisca responded, while supporting from the ground with her sword towards both whales.
"The fact that we didn't know about the existence of the other whales before the battle… I'm sure there's a Cat in the bag, Onii-san."
Using one of the 'Subarisms', Mimi also gave her opinion. While watching what she could do with her crazy strength.
Several troops had already fallen. Her brother she trusted most and who fought by her side was incapacitated. And she by herself wouldn't be able to stop the whale alone.
The most she could do would be to block one or two fog attacks that might come near them. But besides that…
"There has to be some trick hidden somewhere."
Subaru looks up, watching the three whales in search of a solution. There had to be something he could use.
The right whale that Rem was holding back.
The left whale that Ricardo and Wilhelm were attacking.
The whale at the very top, watching without attacking.
"…Huh?"
Why wasn't it attacking?
"We can barely defend ourselves against two whales. If she came down and attacked, we would definitely be lost."
And even though the enemy knew this possibility very well, She refuses to lower her altitude.
"Pris? While I was unconscious, did you cut the whale's skin directly? Or did you see anyone tear out the eyes of the other two whales?"
Priscilla raises an eyebrow while still running beside him, not exactly understanding what the Peasant was thinking, but sensing it would be something useful.
"No. Besides the three of them, no one has gotten close enough to cause severe damage like that. My divine being has been attacking from the ground while protecting you."
If that was the case… Why did the three whales have the same burns as the first one at the start of the battle?
And why did all three have the same missing eye that Wilhelm had torn from only one of them?
"...Of course! That's it!"
He couldn't help but shout as the pieces clicked into place in his head. Drawing the attention of the two girls beside him.
The oldest technique among the hundreds of enemies Subaru had played in video game form in his homeland.
"The White Whale is not a family or a race. It's the same whale that decided to split into three beings!"
It's true that the information itself might not change anything in the fight yet. But if he already knew how the technique itself worked… he could already develop a countermeasure plan.
"If it split, it means each part has only a third of its power. That's why we've been able to hold it back for so long."
Subaru didn't want to underestimate the strength of all his companions at all. Much less those who were attacking right at this moment.
But it was simply impossible for him to believe that with the current forces they had, they were able to hold back and without visible major losses during the time he was unconscious.
Even when there was only one, they lost large troops even attacking together.
"She decided to lose power in battle to increase the production of fog."
Seeing that physical attacks weren't as effective, And seeing that the Fog of Elimination was the best way to finish off all the warriors, The whale decided to split and focus all its energy on attacking again with fog.
At least, that was the conclusion Subaru managed to reach in his analysis.
With that in mind…
"Crusch!"
Subaru shouted towards the green-haired girl, Who continued attacking the whale from a distance with her intangible sword.
"Order your men to keep the whale Rem is attacking at bay! I just need to buy a little time."
Subaru could see how Crusch's expression tightened in slight doubt, not knowing what he was really planning. But she quickly regained her composure and agreed.
"All Troops! Concentrate on the right whale!"
"Yes!"
All the mages and knights still present on the battlefield heard and obeyed the duchess's order. Concentrating their swords and magic on that particular target.
Their individual forces were nowhere near their strongest warriors. But if they all attacked together, they could hold it back for several minutes.
"Rem. Get down! I think I have a plan!"
"Yes!"
And at her hero's request, The blue-haired girl couldn't refuse to listen either. While she felt the rest of the warriors start attacking the ground where she was, she jumps to where he was. Landing right on top of Patrasche behind him.
"I hope I can gain enough time for this."
And once she was reunited on his back, Subaru headed to a small control point with the closest friends he could. Determined to end this once and for all.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"It split, you say?"
"Yes."
In an area relatively far from the battle, Subaru had regrouped with his friends. At least those who could move and who weren't battling.
There were only Mimi, Aldebaran, Crusch, Rem, Prisca, and Subaru himself.
Wilhelm and Ricardo, as undoubtedly two of the strongest in battle, could not afford any time to rest from attacking the whale. If either of them withdrew from combat, the most likely outcome would be an immediate defeat by the fog.
And the rest of the knights and men led by Prisca and Crusch concentrated on the other whale. They weren't as strong as Wilhelm, Ricardo, or others. But combined, their strength managed to gain precious minutes in stopping the second whale to come up with a plan.
So deciding the end of the battle would fall to no one but the six of them.
"The wounds the three whales have in the same place confirm it for me. Besides, that would explain why it's easier to hold back each one individually compared to the start of the battle. Where our best attacks couldn't defeat it."
"I see… A desperate dirty trick to attack and take cover."
Priscilla said with a smile. Satisfied with the Peasant's analysis, and at the same time confirming once again how weak the enemy they were facing truly was.
"I can see the logic behind those actions. But even so, knowing its power has been reduced, it won't be easy to kill all three whales."
Crusch put more gripping force on her sword, while observing the three whales equally. Even if each one was much weaker, they were still three. Honestly, she didn't see a feasible plan to defeat them.
"I don't think it's necessary to kill all three whales to achieve victory. Is it, Bro?"
Aldebaran sensed what his friend was thinking. He had also been in the same world as him. So if he followed the same logic…
"It seems you already understand my point, Pal. That's right. Killing the copies wouldn't do any good. We just need to kill the original."
"The original?"
Mimi didn't really understand everything her brother wanted to say. But it didn't matter. She just needed him to tell her how to attack or what to do in battle. She trusted him enough to believe in his words.
"The one flying highest. I wondered why it didn't come down to attack and now I understand. It doesn't want to risk being defeated. It knows that if it dies, everything ends."
He finished explaining, while looking with renewed strength in his eyes at the enemy that had caused him so many problems already.
"…But it's very high and doesn't seem to have any intention of coming down. I doubt Lady Priscilla's or Lady Crusch's swords can reach from here. And even if they do, I doubt it would be enough to end the battle."
Rem said with a bit of frustration. Even if the number of enemies to defeat had been reduced to just one, it was still out of their reach.
Neither her spells nor long-range attacks… Would be enough to defeat it from the ground.
"It's weaker now. If we manage to land a combined attack from just the two of us directly on its head, it will be enough to defeat it.And to bring it down… Well, I have a slightly far-fetched plan… honestly, I'm very scared to put it into practice and I think I'll need all of you for it to work."
When he finished saying those words, Subaru lowered his head, stopping looking at his enemy.
And turning to look at the faces of all his friends who had lent him strength in combat… He felt a little ashamed to ask even more of them. But given this situation…
"…Would you like to hear it?"
He finally finishes asking with slight doubt towards all of them. Not exactly knowing what answer he would get the moment he explained the plan.
And yet…
"Rem will accept any plan Subaru-kun believes will work."
"Mimi will listen to Onii-san!"
"Speak already, Plebeian. What do you have to entertain me?"
"The bro is the only person capable of uniting so many for a crazy plan, isn't he?"
"I suppose it's our only option. Retreat is a card we can't play."
He receives a response of pure trust from all of them… Something that would make him shed a tear at any other time.
But he will take care of thanking them at another time
For now...
"In that case. Listen."
Let's end this.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Roahhh…!"
From the highest point in the sky, the main whale observed the battlefield. It was divided into two clearly differentiated zones, separated into equal parts by the great tree that rose in the center. Curiously, the imposing canopy of the tree marked the exact boundary between them.
From its aerial perspective, it could see all the warriors fighting against it. A useless, desperate effort. All their movements were clumsy, their attacks could barely hold it back. They posed no real threat.
And yet, it had to admit: they had achieved something. They had forced it to go on the defensive, to make the decision to split into three beings in order to expel fog together and finish off the humans who had risen against it.
"…!"
But when it directed its gaze to the ground, right in the center of the two battles, an image caught its attention.
A girl, who seemed to be just a simple human, was concentrating all her mana into a powerful spell.
The whale could feel it even from that height, through the parts of itself that were closer to the ground. The mana the girl was gathering was of a considerable level… That would undoubtedly be the girl's last attack before finally running out of strength.
"Roahhhhh…"(x2)
"Ngh…!"
As if they considered her the only long-range threat left, the other two whales fixed the girl as their target. Even going so far as to ignore the warriors clinging to and attacking their bodies.
Sensing the danger she could pose, the two beasts expelled, without hesitation and with the forces they could muster, two fog attacks directed at her. Two attacks approaching from different directions.
"I won't let you!"
"Dona!"
But the attacks were undone in an instant. A one-armed man raised a wall of earth that intercepted one of the blasts, while a little cat girl let out a shout that transformed into a pure air wave, dissipating the other.
"Al hyuma!"
The blue-haired girl shouted. She concentrated all the mana she had left in the palm of her hand and, with a slow but firm movement, began to build a long lance of ice. Its tip, sharp as a promise of death, protruded with a cold gleam.
The frozen weapon exceeded ten meters in length. Its tip pointed directly at the center of the White Whale floating at the highest point.
Even from a distance, its power was threatening. An attack of that magnitude, even if it didn't kill her, would undoubtedly cause considerable damage.
"Please…!"
With a final shout that seemed like both a plea and a challenge, she concentrated all her strength and launched the enormous ice lance towards the whale flying above them all.
Her target was the center of the White Whale's torso. The frozen projectile tore through the sky with brutal acceleration, propelled by a force that seemed capable of splitting it in two. But even with that speed, the whale managed to dodge it. The attack grazed the air where it had been just a second before, disappearing into the distance.
If that was her final decisive attack… it was a pathetic last attempt. If that was all they had left to face them, then their defeat would be—
"You know? I have to say it feels really bad seeing you up close."
"…!"
A noise accompanied by an unpleasant smell forced it to slowly look away. It felt a presence right above it.
"Hello, little friend… Enjoying the view?"
When it looked up, it saw a human standing on its own body. He looked at it as if he were a father about to give his daughter a lesson.
"Even though I was the one who decided on this plan, I'm still scared to be here."
Thought Subaru as he tried to stay steady. The wind was blowing hard against his face, and the whale's terrain under his feet made it difficult to keep his balance.
He channeled mana into his legs for stability, but not even that could calm the vertigo gripping his chest. Since he was little, he had feared heights. Every time he found himself in a situation like this, he couldn't help but tremble…
"What am I talking about? I've ridden a dragon. This is nothing."
He scolded himself stubbornly, though his knuckles were already white from gripping so tightly. He raised an arm upward.
"I don't think this will be enough to really hurt you. But I have enough hatred to want to attack you… Minya."
"Roahh!"
The whale let out a roar of pain when the human embedded several darkness crystals across its face and skin. They didn't have enough force to pierce through, but still, they caused enough pain to produce those noises. At the same time, it grew enraged by his provocations.
"You want to eat me? I don't think I taste very good. But if you want to try that badly…"
Subaru swallowed. He took a deep breath. And then he jumped.
Leaping from the whale's crown, falling directly in front of it. For a few seconds, their gazes met. Only for a moment, before gravity began to do its work.
"Try to devour me, you idiot! I can return by death-"
And then he played his final card. He shouted into the air. And at the same time, felt an intense pain, as if someone were squeezing his heart with all their might. Causing him to let out a groan of pain as time resumed its normal course.
"Nghh… I'll never get used to this."
The unpleasant smell intensified. The boy's provocation, combined with its own fury, was enough for the whale to give in to its most savage instincts. It dove down, descending diagonally to devour that insolent one who dared to challenge it from above.
The speed at which it descended far exceeded the black-haired boy's fall. Its jaws opened wider and wider, getting closer to him…
But it didn't manage to devour him.
When the altitude was low enough to be at the level of the other two whales, something happened.
"Arghh!"
"Arhhh!"
Two warriors who had accumulated mana in their swords launched themselves from the sky. In an instant, they reached the altitude of the whale and the boy plunging down.
While Subaru continued his fall towards the ground —being caught at the last moment by Rem, Aldebaran, and Mimi, who held him between the three—, the two women landed right on the White Whale's head.
"It really worked… I can't believe how formidable you are, Natsuki Subaru."
"Well done with this little spectacle you've offered me, peasant. Let me give you something worth seeing in return."
And then…
"Die!"(x2)
"Roahkkkk!"
They drove their swords with force into the center of the beast's forehead. Both channeled all the mana they had left into their single objective. To finish off the beast once and for all.
The White Whale let out a deafening roar. But this time it sounded different. It wasn't fury or hunger. It was pain. Authentic, gut-wrenching, animal.
Its body began to convulse violently, shaking the two warriors who clung to their swords embedded in its skull.
"Don't think you're getting away this time…"
Concentrating their strength once more, they pushed their weapons downward. Crusch cut vertically, opening a deep wound that spread across the beast's face. Priscilla, for her part, let her flames seep inside the whale's body, cooking organs, burning everything in their path.
"Die for everything you have devoured!"
It wasn't just them who shouted. It was the thought that crossed everyone's mind on the battlefield as they saw the beast writhe with its last strength while the two candidates attacked without mercy.
Simultaneously, they released all their stored energy.
An explosion of white light burst from the whale's forehead, expanding in concentric waves that shook the air itself. The creature let out a final howl, a sound so heartbreaking it seemed to come from the deepest part of its being. Its body trembled violently… and then went still.
Its speed, frantic until the last instant, did not stop abruptly. Its enormous body dragged across the entire plain, leaving deep furrows marked in the earth, making the whole field tremble in its wake.
"Ngh!"
Wilhelm and Ricardo let out a grunt of surprise when they noticed the moving ground they were on began to shake differently. It wasn't the sway of swimming in the air. It was something more definitive.
In a swift movement, they jumped from the whale they were on and landed on solid ground.
And when they looked up at the other two whales…
“…They're disappearing.”
Both slowly faded away, becoming increasingly translucent until they simply ceased to exist. As if they had never been.
The only whale still visible was the White Whale. Motionless, inert, under the feet of Crusch and Priscilla.
"…"
The silence lasted several seconds. As if no one was prepared for the battle to have ended that way. As if everyone expected the beast to rise again, for the fog to return, for everything to start over.
But it didn't happen.
It was then that a certain boy, still held in the arms of his companions, raised his fist with what strength he had left and shouted:
"Victory!"
Crusch, still on the whale's body, heard that shout. A smile crossed her face. She raised her own fist in the air for all to see.
"We've won!"
The battlefield erupted in cheers.
The hunt was over. The Great Beast that had terrorized so many for centuries… had been defeated.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Notes:
Well...that's the end of the whale.
Mmm...I didn't like this chapter as much as the previous one. But I hope it didn't feel too forced or like it didn't feel comfortable to read.
By the way. about Flashback Girl...you probably know who she is if it's not obvious. And curiously, it's not the first time I've mentioned it in my fic. The most attentive people will know what I mean.
Well? Now that the whale is over you know what's coming
The next chapter will be more dialogue and talk than action. But you're going down, Peltegeuse! Xdd
In the end. What did you think? We're already at the end of arc 3, I think? We have to see how this continues.
Leave your comments. Bye bye!