Elsa stood in the doorway, her gentle smile meant to comfort—but the oppressive wave of murderous intent rolling off her shattered any illusion of kindness.
The Bowel Hunter spoke softly, voice like silk dragged over broken glass.
"Since you've completed your end of the deal..." she said, her tone almost apologetic, "I'll make your death quick."
Her smile warped—stretching into something monstrous.
And in the blink of an eye, chaos erupted.
Subaru barely had time to register it—the world moved faster than his thoughts could follow. Elsa vanished—and reappeared—her blade flashing in quick, efficient arcs.
Shkkk. Shkkk.
The remaining patrons—those foolish enough to stay—collapsed around them, throats slit, stomachs torn open, entrails spilling onto the tavern's rotting wood floor.
Blood pooled like puddles after a storm.
Elsa stood right where she had before, a wicked, blood-soaked dagger twirling between her fingers. She licked a crimson smear from the blade, sighing, almost bored.
"Tch... Their blood isn't pleasant," she said. "They didn't take good care of their bowels."
Her purple eyes locked onto the survivors—Felt, Satella(?), Rom, and Subaru.
She lifted her dagger, pointing it at them lazily, as if selecting which of them would be the next to die.
Subaru gritted his teeth. He hadn't expected her to move that fast—but now he was fully on guard, sword drawn in a blur.
His gloved hand trembled slightly. Not just out of fear—this was adrenaline. This was reality hammering against his ribs.
Life and death.
Rom roared from behind him, charging forward with his club raised high. His face twisted into a furious snarl.
But the old giant was far, far too slow.
Elsa moved like a whisper.
In a blink, she slipped under Rom's swing and slashed upward, aiming for his stomach.
Rom twisted just enough—enough that it wasn't an instant kill. But blood sprayed anyway, the gash deep and ugly.
"Tch."
Elsa clicked her tongue in irritation—and then kicked Rom savagely in the gut.
The force launched him backwards through the tavern wall—crash!—sending him into a nearby loot house filled with broken crates.
Rom groaned, barely conscious, blood soaking the ground beneath him.
"Felt... run..." he croaked weakly, voice fading.
Subaru whipped his head back around—just in time to see Elsa right in front of him.
Her dagger arced down toward his throat.
CLANG!
Subaru raised his sword in a desperate block.
The impact nearly knocked him off his feet—sending both him and Elsa crashing through another weakened wall into the loot house.
Pain rattled Subaru's arms, but he gritted through it.
Without thinking, he drove his fist into Elsa's side—then unleashed a quick Void Blast from his free hand.
BOOM!
The dark pulse of energy blasted Elsa backward, smashing her through another stack of boxes.
Breathing hard, Subaru stumbled, checking on Rom.
Felt was crouched over the old man's body, shaking him, tears running down her dirty cheeks.
"Come on, old man, wake up... please..."
Satella(?) knelt beside them, her hands glowing a soft white-blue.
She pressed them against Rom's wounds, magic flowing from her fingertips. The gaping gash started to knit back together—slowly.
But her mana was bleeding away quickly.
Suddenly, a small form materialized beside her—the floating cat, its body flickering like a dying flame.
"We need to leave, Emilia!" the spirit snapped, desperate. "You can't save everyone—you'll only get yourself killed!"
Satella(?) shook her head, voice trembling but firm.
"Even if they stole from me... even if they caused all this... I can't just leave them to die."
The cat's form shimmered, cracks spider-webbing through his tiny body. He was being pulled back into the crystal—his connection fading.
"Emilia...""Please. Please listen. I can't protect you if you stay."
Satella(?) clenched her fists, focusing harder on healing Rom.
"I'll survive," she promised, her voice steady.
"I have to."
The spirit's final words, before vanishing into the crystal, were barely a whisper:
"Good luck... Stay safe, my daughter."
Satella's(?) hands trembled—but she didn't stop channeling her magic.
Subaru stood, his back to her, sword raised.
Across the ruins of the loot house, Elsa rose to her feet, blood dripping from her lips—but her grin was wider than ever.
"Mmm... you're not bad, little swordsman."
She twirled her dagger lazily.
"Maybe I'll take my time carving you up."
The moonlight broke through the shattered windows, casting broken shadows across the battlefield.
Subaru lowered his stance, eyes hard and cold behind his white mask.
"Try it."
And the real fight began.
Steel sang and shadows danced.
Subaru's blade clashed against Elsa's dagger, sparks flaring in the broken remnants of the tavern.
Elsa moved like smoke—darting in and out, slashing at exposed joints, probing for any weakness.
But Subaru wasn't the same naive boy he was minutes ago.His sword shifted, guarding high then low, sidestepping her quick cuts.Every step was lighter. Every breath more measured.He was adapting.
And after a few exchanges, Satella(?), still exhausted but unwilling to stand idly by, lifted her hand.
A blast of freezing magic lanced toward Elsa, forcing the assassin to twist mid-strike to avoid it.
Elsa clicked her tongue, growing irritated.A clean fight was one thing. Interference was another.
She narrowed her eyes—then deliberately left her arm exposed.
Subaru, sensing an opening, lunged.
His blade carved through Elsa's wrist, severing her hand clean off.
Blood sprayed.
Subaru's heart leapt—Was it over?
No.
With a savage grin, Elsa let it happen.
Before Subaru could react, Elsa's foot slammed into his chest.
WHAM!
He flew backward, smashing into a splintered wall.
Before the dust settled, Elsa blurred forward—not toward him, but toward Satella(?).
Satella(?) braced herself, gathering mana—but she was still drained from healing Rom.
Elsa's onslaught was merciless.Dagger strikes rained down like a storm. Satella's(?) magic shields flickered, struggling to keep up.
"Tch..." Satella(?) winced, barely blocking a vicious slash.
Her defense faltered—and Elsa was waiting.
The dagger cut deep across Satella's(?) side, another across her thigh.
A brutal kick sent Satella(?) crashing into the wall, a cry tearing from her lips.
Elsa moved to pin her down, planting a heeled boot on Satella's(?) chest.Satella(?) struggled weakly, but Elsa pressed harder, immobilizing her.
With a wicked, almost tender smile, Elsa raised her dagger—aiming for Satella's(?) eye.
"Goodbye, little witch." Elsa whispered.
SHNK!
A blade buried itself into Elsa's skull from behind.
It was Felt—small hands trembling, but fierce determination blazing in her crimson eyes.
"Get away from her, freak!" Felt shouted.
Shockingly, Elsa didn't die.
Her head jerked, blood gushing down her face—but she merely looked annoyed, as if a fly had bitten her.
Before Felt could react, Elsa ripped the knife out of her own skull and lunged, aiming to return the favor.
CLANG!
Subaru appeared between them again, slamming Elsa back with a Void Blast that rocked the tavern.
Elsa staggered across the floor, part of her head missing—chunks of skull and brain exposed to the open air.
But as they watched in horror, her body twitched—and the wound began to regrow, flesh knitting itself back together with sickening ease.
She stood, grinning wider.
"I'm done playing now," Elsa purred. "Let's end this, starting with you."
She moved faster than before—a black streak zipping around the ruins.
Subaru's breath froze in his throat.His eyes tried to track her—then something clicked.
Another flashback.
Ghost—his past self(?)—fighting Hornet, dodging, parrying, weaving through death at impossible speeds.
It wasn't brute strength that would win.It was rhythm. Timing. Reading her intent before she struck.
Subaru's body relaxed—then tightened like a coiled spring.
Elsa's dagger slashed.
He sidestepped smoothly, parrying with a flick of his blade.
She reversed the strike—he ducked under it, answering with a quick elbow strike that cracked against her ribs.
Elsa growled.
She rushed into close combat now, abandoning her assassin's patience.Daggers and fists clashed—metal singing with every impact.
But Subaru was superior now.
Sword swings flowed into kicks—Void Blasts weaved into palm strikes.He fought with a ferocity and precision that Elsa hadn't expected.
Her breathing grew ragged—her attacks growing sloppier.
Subaru feinted low—then with a roar, drove a boot into her gut.
BOOM!
A Void Blast exploded point-blank, launching Elsa up into the ceiling with a bone-crunching impact.
She crashed down in a heap, coughing blood.
But she wasn't done.
Elsa launched herself again—a black missile aimed at Subaru's throat.
Subaru braced to meet her.
But—
CLANG!
A flash of scarlet intercepted Elsa's attack.
Dust cleared—and Subaru saw her.
A girl with fiery red hair and piercing blue eyes, wielding a sheathed blade that was shimmered with an almost divine light.
She turned her head slightly, giving Subaru a small, apologetic smile.
"Sorry for being late. I'll repay you after this."
Facing Elsa, she lifted up a rusty sword with a calm, assured grace.
"I am Reina van Astrea," she said, voice ringing clear like a bell."Current Sword Saint. Bowel Hunter, your resistance is futile. Surrender—before I cut you down."
The air between them turned heavy—charged with lethal intent.
Elsa's smile faltered, for the first time... just a little.
Subaru lowered his sword slightly, heart hammering.
"Sword Saint...?" he muttered under his breath, eyes widening behind his mask.
The tavern ruins groaned as Reina van Astrea stepped forward, boots crunching on bloodstained wood. Her long red hair flowed behind her like a banner of war, eyes fixed calmly on the assassin who'd danced through death like a shadow.
Elsa stood still, chest rising and falling. A cut ran across her lip, blood trailing down her chin. The playful grin she wore earlier was gone—replaced by a low, simmering fascination.
"You're beautiful," Elsa whispered, licking the blood off her blade. "I can tell—your insides must be just as perfect as your face. Can I see them?"
Reina didn't respond. She stepped lightly to the side, her hand never once touching the hilt of the long, sheathed sword at her waist—Dragon Sword Reid.
Elsa blinked.A sword that remained untouched? Against her?
"You're not going to draw?" Elsa purred."What, am I not worth your real weapon?"
Reina's eyes didn't flinch.
"Correct," she said simply. "You're not."
Elsa's smile cracked.
In the blink of an eye, she rushed forward, dagger flashing in a tight arc toward Reina's neck.
CLANG!
A rusted training sword from the floor blurred upward—Reina's hand now gripped its chipped hilt. With the sound of shattering steel, Elsa's dagger split in half on impact.
Elsa flipped backward, landing on a table, expression stunned.
Reina didn't chase.
She stood there, holding the broken sword with a single hand, relaxed, indifferent—as if she hadn't just destroyed a master assassin's weapon with a discarded piece of iron.
"You murder civilians," Reina said. "You speak of organs like they're art. You don't deserve a blade forged in honor."
Elsa let out a soft breath, blood rushing in her ears.Her fingers twitched. Her heartbeat climbed.She liked this.She loved this.
"You're intoxicating," she whispered."Let's dance."
Elsa blurred, leaping across the room, launching a flurry of feints and slashes with a spare blade drawn from her thigh.
Reina blocked all of them—without moving her feet.
The discarded sword spun, deflected, and countered every strike. Each of Reina's movements was so clean, so minimal, it felt like she wasn't even trying.
Elsa pivoted around, trying to attack from behind—
CRACK!
Reina struck her across the ribs with the wooden hilt, sending Elsa skidding into a support beam, coughing.
"Your steps are too loud. Your intent—predictable," Reina said, voice devoid of malice. "This isn't a dance. It's a tantrum."
Elsa growled. Her fingers danced, calling on the magic in her cloak. Her speed tripled. She zig-zagged through the broken tavern like a whisper of death.
But Reina's eyes tracked her calmly.
A high slash—parried.
A low sweep—evaded.
A feint to the heart—countered with a spin and elbow.
Reina twisted her wrist, slammed the training sword into Elsa's leg—and as the assassin dropped to one knee, Reina drove her palm into her chest, sending her flying back through a pillar.
BOOM!
Wood splintered. Dust filled the air.
Reina stood in the ruins. Untouched. Unbothered.Not even breathing hard.
Subaru, Satella(?), and Felt stared from the sideline, eyes wide in disbelief.
"She's… not even trying," Subaru murmured.
The dust settled.
Elsa staggered back into view, blood trickling from a deep gash on her forehead. Her magic cloak shimmered—already healing her—but her face was contorted in a twisted grin.
"Hah... ha ha… you really won't draw your sword for me?" she rasped.
Reina stepped forward again. Slowly. Calmly.
"You are not worthy. And I do not unsheathe my blade for shadows who murder for pleasure."
Elsa chuckled.
Then something shifted.
Her grin twisted into a snarl—and without warning, she threw herself into the wall behind her, activating a spell woven into her cloak. A powerful magic surge blasted outward, collapsing the ceiling.
Reina shielded the others with one swift motion, debris bouncing off her back.
When the dust cleared—
Elsa was gone.
Only blood trails and broken stone remained.
Subaru stepped beside Reina, panting.
"She got away," she muttered.
The ruins of the tavern stood in eerie silence, the last echoes of battle fading into the twilight.
Reina van Astrea, her crimson hair catching the moon light, approached the battered group. She slid the battered training sword into her belt and looked them over with a sharp, assessing gaze.
"Is everyone alright?" she asked, voice calm but edged with concern.
Satella(?) nodded quickly, her silver hair catching the dim glow. Subaru, still tense from the adrenaline, nodded too, even though the ache in his body screamed otherwise. Felt, kneeling beside the unconscious Rom, just grunted.
Subaru's gaze shifted toward her. The young thief clutched Rom's hand, wiping dirt from his weathered face with the corner of her tattered sleeve.
Satella walked forward, kneeling beside Felt.
"Is he okay?" Satella(?) asked gently, her hands hovering above Rom's body, a faint blue light flickering in her palms. "I healed his wounds... there shouldn't be any lasting injuries."
Felt hesitated, looking between Rom's sleeping face and Satella's(?) soft, worried expression. The girl's lip trembled for a moment — pride warring with guilt.
"Tch… sorry," Felt muttered, her voice rough. "For stealing from you. If I hadn't, none of this would've happened."
Satella(?) smiled warmly, shaking her head.
"You don't have to apologize," she said. "I can't really stay mad at you anyway."
Felt stared at her, wide-eyed, like the idea of forgiveness was something completely alien. Then her expression shifted — her eyes lit up with a sudden, dawning realization.
"Oh! Right—!" she exclaimed.
She fished into the dirty pockets of her jacket and pulled something out.
Nestled in her palm was Satella's(?) insignia, softly pulsing with a faint, ominous red glow.
"I picked it up after you dropped it earlier," Felt said, extending her hand. "Guess I forgot with all the... stabbing and screaming."
Before Satella(?) could reach for it, a blur of movement cut between them.
Reina's gloved hand closed firmly around Felt's wrist, her blue eyes flashing with intensity as she stared down at the insignia.
The atmosphere shifted — tense, almost sacred.
"Where are you from, girl?" Reina asked sharply.
"How old are you? What is your family name?"
Felt recoiled, frowning.
"Huh? What's with the third degree? I'm fifteen, alright? And I don't have a damn family name — I'm an orphan."
For a long moment, Reina said nothing.
Then she released Felt's wrist and took a step back, her expression softening, though her eyes still blazed with purpose.
"...I see," Reina said quietly.
"Then my debt to you will be repaid in full. I will sponsor you, Felt. You are one of the royal candidates."
Felt blinked, completely stunned.
"Wh—what the hell are you talking about?! I'm not some damn princess! I don't even—!"
Her voice faltered as she saw the serious, unshakable conviction in Reina's eyes. The world shifted under her feet. She wasn't just a petty thief anymore.
Subaru watched the exchange from a few paces away, breathing heavily. The world around him felt slow — sounds warping, colors dulling. His body screamed for rest he couldn't afford to take.
"Hey… uh…" he muttered weakly.
Satella(?) turned toward him instantly, her smile fading into a frown of concern.
"Subaru?"
He tried to wave a hand, to say he was fine — but his limbs felt heavy, like they belonged to someone else.
The edges of his vision blackened.
His legs gave out.
Satella(?) rushed forward just in time to catch him as he collapsed, his head resting against her chest.
"Subaru!" she cried, panic breaking into her voice.
The last thing Subaru saw before unconsciousness swallowed him was Satella's(?) face — her amethyst eyes wide with fear, her voice calling his name.
Then—
Only darkness.