AN: LONGEST CHAPTER YET! And possibly the final "What If" chapters. Loved doing these. Anyways, I hope everyone is ready for a trip through the multiverse.

AN Fun Facts: Song title for this one is from Bonnie Tyler./ There was going to be one other scenario written here...but I got tired, so I'll decide what happens to it. Oops.

ENJOY!

Special Chapter

Chapter Fifty Nine: Total Eclipse of the Heart

It is said that every decision made, can make an impact on the world and change the course of history for everyone around them. In this case it is true. For Natsuki Subaru, his decisions spread across time and space. Across what one would call a 'multiverse'...even if it was unknown to him.

Together, Batman and Subaru are known as the greatest heroes of the new generation. They have defeated beasts and madmen that entire armies never hoped to defeat. However, this brings up the idea that….had they never met, things would be different.

What would happen then...if Subaru or Batman were sent to the new world with the other never showing up?

What would happen then...if Subaru abused his Return by Death?

What would happen then...if Batman never met Emilia?

What would happen then...if Subaru ran away from his battle against Elsa?

What would happen then...if Subaru stayed in his original world?

These are questions that would be only hypothetical in theory...but it will still make you wonder-

-Make you ask.

BUT WHAT IF….?

Subaru took a deep breath as he looked over the mess around him.

"Got to find a better way of doing this, choking this guy out was too much."

Beneath his feet were the corpses of Ton, Kan and Chin, all three of them had been killed by this unassuming young man, they had earlier tried to rob.

Ton had a stick stuck through his neck, blood leaking out into the floor.

Kan was choked to death by Subaru.

Chin had his skull caved in, pieces of his brain strewn about.

Just make sure they were really dead, Subaru stomped on their necks.

Then he drags their corpses to the end of the alley, leaves them there, and exits the backstreets as if nothing happened.

What was happening?

Why was Subaru doing this?

How could he mercilessly slaughter these three men?

The answer lied in his ability of Return by Death, every time he died, he would go back some length in time...but where Batman had helped him in the original timeline...he was not summoned to this new world.

Subaru was alone.

And so he died eighty eight times.

Every time he perished, his soul crumbled away, until it was no longer the bright splendor it was before...but a bottomless abyss of darkness.

"...Another failure, huh?"

Sighing, Subaru narrows his eyes as he observes the grisly scene from a rooftop.

He's in a ward of the slums which is particularly run-down and abandoned.

Those trading blades with Elsa, and consistently being felled by her knives, are the Capital's guardsmen.

Information from a virtuous city person led them to detect the dangerous Elsa Granhiert, and following their attempts to arrest her, their lives lay scattered and slaughtered...being that he is the virtuous city person, the sight does pain Subaru's heart.

"Didn't think there'd be this big of a power gap between normal guards and Elsa..."

He does feel bad for the sacrificed guards, but Subaru will be ending this experiment here. He has no intention to hold back, but if Subaru ultimately fails and loses his life, those who died here will resurrect.

But a young man with fiery red hair and eyes as blue as pristine sky had arrived and faced her. He watched a completely banal slash births a maelstrom of light, the shockwaves destroying this section of the slums. The slash from the man called the SWORD SAINT is the exact definition of power.

Natsuki Subaru, eyes wide, observed this scene. With a tear on his cheek, his knees shaking…

"Why? Why did he do it…?"

He gritted his teeth as he glared at the man named Reinhard Van Astrea.

While Subaru had intended to end Elsa before she attacked Felt, Rom and the half-elf girl Satella...he made it look so easy. He literally had no idea how many times he had to suffer reliving this day over and over again.

"...you…"

Subaru snarled at the brave knight standing below him…

"Fuck you...Reinhard…"

He now had a new target...the man who stole his goal...the man he would do anything to destroy.

Subaru decided to help Elsa escape. He didn't like the idea of helping the woman who killed him so many times, but he wanted her help if he was intending on helping out Satella...and getting rid of Reinhard.

"Can you make a path to the southeastern section of the slums? I'll be able to reunite with my younger sister if you do. She'll treat my wounds and prepare an escape route."

"Sister! Hah, you have a sister, that's both on point and a complete tragedy."

Using the holy golden coins in Elsa's possession, Subaru bribes residents of the slums to interfere with the guards' search and lead them on an incorrect course. No problems.

"What I don't understand is your goal in this."

"Just wanted to put you in my debt. It might be helpful to have you around one day."

"A debt...How strange. When you are so eager to kill me."

Is what Subaru has to hear while lending Elsa his shoulder and helping her run away. Elsa's dark eyes look up at Subaru, trying to peer into his emotions. But she already nailed it and there's no need to peer. The answer Elsa gets from Subaru's dark eyes is exactly what she stated.

Subaru would like to kill Elsa right now if possible. But he will not manage to beat even a dying Elsa if he fails to consider the possible branches, and besides that, it's a hasty idea.

"I do want to kill you. And I will kill you one day. But not now."

"I see."

It's not even worth hiding. Subaru reveals his true feelings to Elsa. If Elsa were someone more prudent, she would kill Subaru right here to quell some future anxieties. But Subaru is confident that she will not do that.

It's a blood-soaked confidence, which Subaru gained through more than eighty deaths to Elsa.

"Wonderful. You and I are bound by loathing. One day, yes. You will prove yourself right. And it's very, very lovely."

"Let us meet again, yes?"

"See you, onii-san. Thanks for helping Elsa."

The blue-haired girl they meet up with takes charge of Elsa, and Subaru breathes a sigh of relief. This girl waiting in the hovel Elsa mentioned is very young, in her tweens. The two made their leave as Subaru went to check on the loot house.

He learned that Felt and Rom were taken in for questioning, while Satella made it out alive and well. Subaru was glad to hear everyone was doing just fine.

And now that Subaru knows Satella is safe, as he hoped—

"—Alright. What do I do now?"

Subaru scratches his head, aware that he has completely exhausted himself of goals. He was summoned to a parallel world, given Return by Death, utilized it, and saved an adorable kind hearted silver-haired half-elf. Though it took him eighty-seven deaths to achieve it.

"Ah, crap. Maybe I better've died, reset, and had Elsa tell me why she was trying to steal Satella's insignia...? Though really, I'd like to know more about Satella if I could..."

Standing before the frozen loot house, Subaru shoves his hands in his pockets and turns around. No one feels present. But Subaru's eyes see the several silhouettes standing there.

"So, could you guys teach me?"

All mundane looking people, with a moderate jumbling of ages and sexes, an incoherent group. If there was anything about these people that did cohere, it'd be their eyes.

All of their eyes were dead. Good for being steeped with madness, and pursuing crazed ecstasy.

And Subaru suspected that, if he looked in a mirror, his eyes would be the same.

It happened almost one month later that Subaru learned more about Satella.

"In the Royal Selection! A silver-haired half-elf! Backed by Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers! Not Satella, Emilia—!"

Swooping at the sudden rush of detailed information after a period of radio silence, Subaru claps his hands, looking overjoyed.

When Subaru first saw the bulletins posted around town about it, he mocked them as just being some stupid country election—when his eyes shot open.

The candidates consisted of five women—and one of them was the girl he was seeking.

"Royal Selection, the Royal Selection... if she's a candidate for ruler it means she has pedigree. Of course she does, think of how graceful she is when she's just walking around. Emilia, she's Emiliaaa..."

Learning her real name makes Subaru's heart feel light, as if it's sprouted wings.

"Natsuki Subaru! Beloved of disciples! Are YOU PRESENT!?"

"..."

A shrill voice like a strangled fowl echoes unpleasantly through the room, calling Subaru's name. Subaru grimaces, puts the bulletin he pinched from the Capital on his bed, reluctantly opens the door, and exits his room.

He leans against the closed door, waiting, when an unhealthily pallid man comes into view down the poorly-lit hallway.

"I had been SEEKING YOU! Why, why, why is it that you were here, INDULGING IN SLOTH!? When! We! Must! Follow the Witch's auspices, and answer to her love with diligenceeeeeeeeeeeee!"

"Cut it out with the false accusations, Pete-san. I'm just obeying the gospel's instructions. Gospel's telling me to spend my time here."

"What! The gospel so instructed you!? At this juncture, at this opportunity, in these circumstances, what cogitations must the Witch have, to instruct a disciple as devout as you to idle, even that slightest conjecture lies beyond! MY! FACULTIES!"

Not only is his screaming noisy, his movements are obnoxious too. Indeed a madman, this Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti. It truly does take an effort not to sigh.

"So, you have some business with my hermit self?"

"Are you NOT AWARE? Of the foolish event being conducted in this country!"

"Stuff happening in this country'd be... you mean the Royal Selection?"

"INDEED! The Selection! HOWEVER the problem does not LIE THERE! The Selection itself offers no importance, it is the one participating! That being, the silver-haired half-witch!"

So that he can lecture the ignorant Subaru, Petelgeuse presents the official notice for the Selection— the exact same thing Subaru has decorated the room with—and jabs his finger at it.

"WITNESS! This visage! This stock! Twin blasphemies against the Witch! This being is not one we may overlook! The time of the Trial is UPON US!"

"Trial?"

"EXACTLY!"

Screeching, Petelgeuse slaps the flyer flat against the cave wall before slamming his fist into Emilia's personal description, sending blood flying everywhere. This self-harming madman, intoxicated on pain and blood, has desecrated Emilia's paper image.

"If it coheres, take her! If not, forsake her! Should she be verified as a suitable vessel for the Witch, we shall accept her into OUR FOLD! The Trial must commence!"

"And you're asking for my help?"

"Yes, CORRECT! I have contacted others, but doubt those non-believers will respond! WRATH alone may present possibility, however she is presently distant from this nation... thusly! We alone shall depart!"

"Mind if I come along, then? I don't exactly know the details though, Archbishop."

"So you are kindly accompanying! Aaah! AaAaAa! How so very so very so very so very very

veryveryveryveryveryveryveryveryveryveryveryvery... JOYOUS!"

"That's getting way too enthused when I'm just saying I'm going with."

The wry smile Subaru gives is legitimate.

After nodding so many times his head could practically fall off, Petelgeuse snaps his legs back into proper posture and whips around, his back to Subaru.

"We DEPART IMMEDIATELY! I have already given my fingers instructions along journey here... we will reunify with them, and travel to Mathers' Domain. Then we shall follow the GOSPEL'S LEAD!"

"Roger...And also, what's the Trial?"

"A SOUND QUESTION. It is a test to ascertain suitability of the Witch's vessel... namely, a trial to determine whether the receptacle possesses the strength, the quality, and moreover the qualifications to host the WITCH'S SOUL!"

Subaru replies to the unhelpful explanation with a knowing nod.

"If the Witch Satella descends here, does the vessel...?"

"MARTYRED! HOWEVER, that is VENERABLE! So venerable that I would take the role were it possible! Were my person capable of befitting Satella's spirit, I would endure all iterations of inestimable suffering for my desire to SEE HER AGAIN!"

"So she gets erased. Does she now?"

Mumbles Subaru as he follows behind Petelgeuse, who has begun walking. It doesn't reach cackling Petelgeuse's ears, secluded in his own world as he is, that faint and quiet murmur—

"Oh, does she now?"

Neither does the madman notice Natsuki Subaru's dark smile.

He thrusts the sword into their skinny body, twists.

The feedback coming from the point of the sword informs him that he has just severed something vital. And with a thin rasp of breath—

"Don't think you're gonna believe me when I say this, but."

"Wh..y...?"

"I thought you were one of the better ones out of a group of unlikable people, Pete-san."

At Subaru's feet lies Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti in pool of blood. Petelgeuse, dying, his heart destroyed at Subaru's personal doing.

"It was a real effort setting this whole situation up. For how crazy you act, you're just a little too meticulous. Seriously, I got stuck so many times."

"What, are... YOU... SAYING?"

"I'm talking about all the trial and error it took for me to get here. I mean this goes for planning out my strategy too, but getting my trump card and stuff was seriously dicey. You have no idea how relieved I am."

Petelgeuse crawls, forcing strength into his powerless limbs. But he lacks the strength to get to his feet, merely creeping backwards, as if retreating from death.

"I couldn't see the Unseen Hands at first, was panicked about what the heck was going on. Dealing with your fingers was posing a bunch of trouble too... right now, I really feel like I accomplished something."

"Ghh, auhhh..."

The blood flowing from Petelgeuse is the last dregs of his life.

The black, invisible Unseen Hand.

Petelgeuse's confidants and reserve stock of bodies, the Fingers.

And the ability to migrate to those bodies, his life-extending Possession.

Making full use of all three, Petelgeuse had been the very picture of his beloved 'diligence' as he attempted to corner Emilia. Downing him had truly been a back-breaking effort.

In fact it took Subaru over four hundred runs of trial and error to get here.

"Which makes you the person I've spoken to most in the world. I know how crazy lopsided this is, but I feel like you're kinda a friend. Watching how you do everything you can to reach your goals, playing all the cards you have, I mean I have to say I was touched."

"What are you saying... what are you saying what are you saying are you saying areyousayingareyousaying?! Betrayer! Traitor who spurns the Witch's love! You cannot be, you cannot be, FORGIVEN!"

Petelgeuse reaches out his blood-soaked hand.

He's not doing it to activate Unseen Hand. There's no point to an invisible arm when it's perceptible. What Betelgeux is clinging to is—

—The terms for evil spirit, Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti, to hijack another's body.

The process for him to possess the bodies of those with groundings as spiritualists. There is only one person here who meets those qualifications—

"Your body is—!"

Mine! Is what Petelgeuse intends to say, but Subaru just sighs.

He leisurely walks over to Petelgeuse, and slams a kick into his dying face. The force of the blow dislodges some of Petelgeuse's teeth...stunned, Sloth recoils.

He hadn't be able to transfer to this supposedly-pilferable body.

Subaru's response comes not in words, but upon his raised left hand—where there, upon his fingers, floats a dim, red light.

It's an entity called a minor spirit.

Which has entered a contract with Natsuki Subaru who has groundings as a spiritualist, a cute tool for lighting dim pathways.

Evil Spirit Petelgeuse can only possess the bodies of spiritualists who lack contracts. Who could guess how many deaths it took Subaru before he figured that one out.

"It's been the longest three days of my life. Though from your perspective we didn't know each other very long at all..."

"NATSUKI SUBARUUUUUU!"

"You targeted Emilia...Regret it."

Petelgeuse spits a shriek of enmity, when Subaru kicks him in the chest and swings the sword down on his face. The blade plunges into Petelgeuse's skull, demolishing his brain and his life.

"Hmmhmm? Looks like you're already done too."

After a period of silence, a voice addresses Subaru. He turns around, to find a massive silhouette skulking through the shrub and bush—belonging to a black-pelted beast with a lion's head and four horrible limbs, approaching him.

Naturally, the one addressing him is not the beast. It's the girl mounted on its back, giving Subaru a flirty glance.

"Yeah, I'm all done. Thanks, Meili."

"No worries. You're paying us, and you looked after Elsa. But are you sure about this? I thought they were your pals."

"Have to wonder. If he hadn't tried to kill me at the end then maybe you could've called us friends with an age gap, but he tried to kill me so... unfortunately disqualified from friends, I guess?"

She puts her finger to her chin.

"Hrmmm. I'm not trying to kill you, so does that mean we're friends?"

"Following the logic, it does. You and me are friends, Meili."

"Ahh, yay! Now when you count Petra-chan and the others too, I have lots of friends!"

Clasping her hands together, the young girl happily rocks her shoulders as she sits atop the beast.

"Huh, I'm surprised. It's one hell of a thing to say this, but you actually have friends."

"I doo. I killed them all though."

Says Meili, smiling slightly, and not looking guilty in the least. Killed them. So they were probably people she was involved with through work.

Subaru learned she was sent to destroy a small town that was nearby the Roswaal Estate, completely destroying it.

He also learned…

"Sucks that the blue haired maid got cuaght up in all that."

"Blue haired maid?"

"Yeaaaaaah, I think her name was Rem?"

"Rem…?"

Subaru never heard such an odd name before...but he didn't care about this girl who wasn't his cherised Emilia.

"Well if she's dead then that's that."

"Yup, yup."

A few days after the Royal Selection began, a rather large change came to the territories of Lugnica.

The biggest change was that the front-running candidate for Ruler, Duchess Crusch Karsten, dropped out of the running...although the only one who understood the whole truth of the situation was Subaru.

Because all traces of this so-called "Crusch" have been erased from the world, eliminated alongside the fact of her having ever existed, revised by the world as having never been there at all.

Which means that the Royal Selection had now always been four people, that the memories of Duchess Karsten's supporters have been twisted, and they became allies of other squads.

"Man, the White Whale's fog's terrifying. Just going off erasing records of people."

From what he figured, Crusch, her butler Wilhelm and several other mercenaries were erased from existence.

But a change other the one irrelevant to everyone except Subaru also occurred. Which is—

"Royal Selection Candidate, Emilia. Who subjugated perennial tormentor of the world, the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of Sloth!"

The Kingdom is alive with the news, and apparently even foreign nations know about the achievement.

Even Subaru was surprised at what effective propaganda it is. A victory dovetailing from 400 years of death, claimed by Natsuki Subaru...which he transferred in entirety to the shady clown man supporting Emilia.

The question of how the Margrave would respond to negotiations to give Emilia the achievements was honestly a bet on par with subjugating Betelgeux, but—

"He was so cool with it it was gross."

Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers received Subaru's proposal, easily consented to it, and immediately announced that the Betelgeux subjugation was Emilia's achievement. Although feeling something fishy about him, Subaru has no qualms about Roswaal's actions.

When he met him at his mansion, he noticed a pink haired girl, seemed to be his maid...her eyes were devoid of light, as if something broke her spirit.

"Guess it's none of my business. No issues here. Do whatever you want, Margrave-san. So long as you're on Emilia's side, I'll dump myself on your side too. Just as you expect, the Ruler will be Emilia."

Subaru will do everything he can with his death-defying power to achieve that.

But if it happens that Roswaal has some foul desires or unbecoming thoughts about Emilia, then—

"All it means is another gravestone erected for Emilia's sake."

If he's going to keep operating in the shadows, unknown to Emilia, then he has no choice but to entrust the more public activities to Roswaal.

In exchange, Subaru will bring every single possible plan into fruition from behind closed doors. And for that purpose—

"Went out of the way to salvage you. Gonna be getting your help, Blue."

In the back of the cave sits a metal-barred prison.

Chained inside that cold space is someone wearing dirty clothes. Cat ears sprout from the head of this dainty, knight-uniformed girlish man, apparently.

While Subaru was running around putting things in order after Petelgeuse's death and the White Whale's rampage, he found these spoils and took the tool home.

But as of present, Subaru has had very few chances to behold the healing talents of the fabled Blue. Hell, he's not even healing his own injuries, just staring at the prison floor and weeping without end.

"...Someone, tell me. Tell me. Why am I... where's His Highness? What was I for? There was somebody. There had to be somebody. Everything's strange if there wasn't. But..."

"Man, I'm stuck. Gonna take some time for this one."

Crusch Karsten's knight is named Felix Argyle.

Which should be the same as this healer here, Blue.

"My guess was that when someone's erased by the Whale's fog, your memories compensate by changing in a way that doesn't feel awry, but... just look at this."

"Someone, someone tell me... His Highness, His Highness? His Highness, and, someone else...?"

"When they're so huge that you can't compensate for the missing memories, guess this's what happens to you."

When the missing person is such a massive part of someone's character, of course they'll collapse when that person disappears from the world. Which is why Blue has wound up mumbling over and over like a broken doll.

"But still, I did find a nice pawn here. Everything's fine. I'll fill your heart's fractures in for sure."

"Someone, please... tell me. I, why am I..."

"This time, I'll definitely figure out how to keep you from killing yourself."

Subaru smirks at the weeping Felix as the cat-boy claws at the bars he's in.

"I'm ready to die any number of times challenging you…"

All entrances to the mansion were boarded.

The doors are nailed shut from inside, and planks of wood cover all windows. Should he have been attentive enough to find the state of this shut-curtains mansion strange, perhaps he would have noticed it. Though naturally, Subaru arranged these operations with confidence that he wouldn't.

A raging inferno swallows the whole of the mansion, steadily burning it to cinders.

Regulus looked around as he saw the entirety of everything around him…

The many women who have spent a long time in agony in this mansion, too, lose their lives in the embrace of flame and smoke, their forms disintegrating into soot, indistinguishable as having ever been a person.

A gruesome deed…

"Fuck, fuck, fuck this inanity! #99! #114! Even #123 would suffice! Where are you!? Where'd you run off to!? Who do you think I am!? Leaving me behind while you go off and expire, what kind of irresponsible, selfish women are you!?"

His voice breaks as he screams like a child throwing a tantrum, this white-haired young man. White clothes garb his form, his banal face grisly like a demon's as he raves. He makes for a very strange sight inside this disastrous mansion fire.

"All of these accursed people, taking my limited assets and disparaging-"

"-I'd appreciate it if you could close your unpleasant mouth."

"Nuh!"

The frenzied man's face eats a kick from the foot which comes crashing in through a blazing wall.

Dizzied by the unforeseen angle of the strike, and moreover by the unforeseen attack, the man flies easily down the hallway. Even burning wall turns brittle, unable to withstand the collision with him as it shatters.

"This fire is the parting letter from your many wives. Spoken plainly, it seems that this is the end to these terror-born fetters of love."

The voice that replies to the astonished man is the same one he heard when he got kicked. The man jerks himself upright, crawls through the broken wall...for a woman garbed in black to come entering the burning room.

But a light impact and the sight of his arms, severed at the elbows and flying through the air, foils him. He looks down. Observes that his arms are missing.

"Immortal? Invincible? I forget which it was, but I know the trick to how it works. Now all you are is a very unpleasant insect of a person."

"...! A whore like you-"

"...!"

Forgetting about his missing arms, the man attempts to swear at the woman. But she doesn't let him say a word of it. She swings up her leg, sweeping in between his legs as he sits on the floor and proceeding to kick him in the crotch. The blow is strong enough to shunt him into the air as the woman flourishes her blade of death.

"As if I could stand this abject idiocy. ...I, I am the most perfected being in the world. Wanting of little, conscious of adequacy, humble and without avarice, that's how I live my life... and so, why do I, of all people, have to face heckling from human failures of your..."

"When you insult people like that on the regular, of course you're gonna get hit with the divorce papers, Regulus-san."

"Hauh!?"

Even turning around on his side is an arduous task for this man, when the sight of someone new cuts into his vision. A boy with dark hair and dark eyes who dons a dark robe...Natsuki Subaru.

"I never wouldda thought everyone'd collaborate so well to pull it off, Regulus-san."

"Why're, you here... no, then, you devised this, Pride?!"

"Could anyone else?"

The man, Regulus, finally catches up with what's happening as Subaru shrugs, mouth twisted into a grin. Belittled, Regulus's eyes house fury.

"Curse you, bastard scum! Do you comprehend what it is you have done!? Took my wives, my beloved wives! And in my presence, burned them dead along with my mansion! Do you comprehend the immorality and wickedness of your deeds! Wife-murdering prat!"

"Man that angle's so unexpected I'm too stunned to speak. ...Just saying, your wives offered their own lives for the anti-heart strategy."

Subaru chuckled as he looked down at the dying Sin Archbishop of Greed.

It wasn't just him though:

Capella was trapped in a large hole and had acid dropped on her.

Ley, Roy and Louis were all cursed, they threw up their organs in their final moments.

Sirius was ripped apart by an army of Ma-Beasts.

"They were content with dying so long as it got them payback on you. Man even I haven't really heard of verbal abuse bad enough to drive people to do that."

"Who would possibly believe that, nonsense... I, I loved my wives! And so they ought to love me back! Yes!? You don't think it's strange otherwise!? And still! Why have those damn women inflicted such suffering on me, that would indispose them as wives!"

"...You're being serious. That's the terrifying thing about you guys."

Mutters Subaru, looking irked as he averts his gaze from Regulus.

What his gaze lands on instead is the black silhouette which leaps from the burning mansion and lands in the garden. Elsa.

She brushes the soot off herself before noticing Subaru's look.

"Goodness, you were worried about me? Rest easy. I wasn't injured anywhere at all."

"I'm not worrying about you. Anyway, the heck's up with this. I didn't tell you to do this tasteless crap to him."

Subaru's lips twist into a frown as he points at the limbless Regulus.

"It felt like he'd be obnoxious if he had them... And wouldn't you want to convey what they said?"

"...Yeah. You're right."

Surprisingly, looks like Elsa can be considerate to people.

"GAAGGHH!"

Elsa stabs her kukri into Regulus's chest, using it to slowly raise his light body aloft. It's like he's some kind of food on a stick, blood streaming from him as he unremittingly thirsts for life.

"Instantaneous?"

"No...Throw him into a weaker part of the fire. We'll watch him burn."

"Very well, understood."

Elsa nods to Subaru's cruel instructions, not looking conflicted in the least. She proceeds to throw the cursing Regulus onto a pile of smouldering woodscraps at the edge of the blazing mansion.

His body burning, to be roasted in flames until death, the man's shrieks echo through the night sky.

Without their expressions changing in the slightest, Subaru and Elsa watch him die.

"An insect, for how their noise is calming, would be preferable to him."

Once the long, long, death wail comes to its end, Elsa gives her thoughts. And Subaru does agree.

"This, is…!"

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't want to do this. I really, really didn't."

Felix wathced from behind a wall as his trusted friend was betrayed. The knight dropped his glass cup as it shattered on the floor, he then tried to balance himself, but he fell over knocking the table over.

Caught in the fall, the glass and bottle on the countertop drop, shattering against the floor and dirtying the man's white uniform with an alcoholic reek.

His limbs fail to operate properly, his life slowly slips away. His lips fade to purple, his vision grows blurrier as he blinks and blinks and blinks, trying to drive away his impending demise. Subaru watches the man's frantic scramble for life from his seat at the table.

"Can agree with you being called Impeccable, Julius Euclius-san."

"You, cur..."

"But, if you were thinking more about your position, you would've best paid to be a little more mindful of others. You're the Knight of a Royal Selection candidate who's sitting at peak popularity. You gotta factor in that it's not just your master, you're gonna be targeted too. Though..."

Flax-brown cat ears and loveable features. Subaru gently draws their dainty shoulders closer to him, deigns to pat their head. By that alone, Blue's eyes relax in drunken ecstasy.

"Fe...lix, is... you...?"

"You know it took me some pretty good effort to capitalize on his grieving? Never thought I'd ever wind up putting in so much trouble for anyone's life except hers. Did pay off though."

"What, scheme are you…?"

"Has nothing to do with you anymore. Relax. My guess is, if you're gone then your master won't suffer any damages and things'll go good for her. Dunno what'll happen if she rallies herself though."

Julius's yellow eyes race through a chaotic medley of confusion and rage, sorrow and turmoil, grief and suspicion. But not a single one of those breakneck emotions means anything.

"An old friend calls you to go drinking, and on the first sip you get this. Trust is sure a sweet poison, Mister Impeccable. You drowned in it, and miscalculated."

"P...oi, son."

"It sure is nice to be someone anyone can be proud of. Life's so easy it's enviable. You're dead though."

Subaru squats down and peers at Julius's face. He isn't even looking at Subaru. He isn't hung up about the man who ordered his death. What does rest in his eyes is his concern for his friend, made to commit murder against his will, and his penitence toward his absent master...

"..."

"A knight to the end. Abhor it."

Spits Subaru as he looks down at Julius's dead face, silent forevermore.

"Did I do well, Subaru-sama?"

"You did great. Sorry for forcing you into it."

Blue quietly inquires of Subaru, standing at his side as Subaru watches Julius's death through. Subaru shrugs at him and gives him another pat. If doing this is enough to calm his unstable mind, then he'll pat him however many times.

"It's fine, so long as it helps you, Subaru-sama. After all, doing this was necessary for crafting the future that yourself and His Highness desired, right? Right?"

"Yeah, it is. That's why we couldn't have your friend stay alive."

"Yes..."

Blue's face is dull of emotion, but still his friend's death seems to fracture his mind as he clings to Subaru's sleeve, as if filling the void in his heart.

"-Oh, are you occupied?"

The entrance to a place nobody should be entering opens, and a delicate-looking man enters the store. For a moment Subaru does think about silencing the witness, but fortunately, there's no need to silence this man. He's an insider.

"You're sure on time."

"I am. Time is finite, and us merchants believe that time is money."

"Look at you still calling yourself a merchant, audacious. More of a death dealer."

"I truly have no reply to that."

The thin, grey-haired man who smells of cigarette ash, scratches his head in response to Subaru.

With his slick black suit and black tie he could look like someone returning from a funeral, but a closer inspection reveals the unmistakable scent of death upon him.

His features are gentle, as are his eyes, but the way he casts his gaze around his surroundings reveals clear wariness of others, and signals that he has survived slaughters. But most of all, Subaru likes his dreary eyes.

They were the eyes of someone who found no benefit in staying alive, had lost sight of all purpose for living, and nevertheless chose to keep being alive as an animate corpse. Eyes of a similar nature to Blue's.

"Your name's... don't think I ever caught it."

"I've never introduced myself, and neither do I intend to. Naturally, I have no inclination to ask for your name either, esteemed client. This way we can both relax."

"Well, you're right. Since it's not like we could ever be friends."

"Exactly. We'd become enemies the instant that something happens. And isn't what we see here the result of calling such people friends?"

"Yeah, that's true...Tell Russell thanks for me. Counting on you again for it. I mean you are his right hand."

"That man's right hand is at the end of his arm. What I am is a slave."

He sure thinks in clean rationalizations, thinks Subaru fondly of the man's realistic reply. While also feeling some regret.

If they could be friends, they'd surely be good ones.

Blue latched onto Subaru as he watched the man begin work on disposing of the body…

Even Subaru, with his situation, managed to form relations which could perhaps be called accomplices. Even though he knows that not a single cultist should be trusted, and that he shouldn't be getting more people in on it.

Meili Portroute…

"But haven't we been working together all the way, ever since the start? It makes me happy when you let me help you out with all this fun stuff, onii-san."

Elsa Grainhiert…

"I don't particularly intend to support you unconditionally, but even now, you're thinking to kill me should you get the chance. For some reason, I truly find it pleasant."

Felix Argyle…

"His Highness's dream will come true if you're here, Subaru-sama. And so I'll always stay with you. ...But, huh? Subaru-sama, when, where did you and His Highness become..."

The Death Dealer…

"Our relationship is surely just requests for dirty work. Accomplices? An asinine idea. The two of us are filial bankrupts who can't show their faces to their family. It'd be nicer to die if I could."

Roswaal L. Mathers...

"I've come far enough that one more step, just one more step remains before the wish might be granted. Iiiiiiiiiiiif that's what I'm doing it for, then I'll sell my soul to a demon. A demon called you, thaaaaaaaaaat is."

Subaru does not think his actions praiseworthy in the least.

Regardless, before he could even realise it, there appeared people who are endorsing his deeds. And perhaps that fact was his solace.

Using Return by Death's power, Natsuki Subaru struggles on, wishing to save Emilia.

Inferno engulfs the Capital. Subaru gasps in pain, staring up at the sky.

Subaru let his spirit contracted spirit free and with it raising it's power alongside Subaru, it grew to the power of being able to engulf everything in flames.

In his arms, Subaru cradles a motionless Meili. Her open eyes are devoid of life, staring at somewhere absent in this world. Her cheeky attitude, her unfittingly sugary voice, her tantrum-like behavior when treated as a child...nothing Subaru will ever see again.

After all. This is where Subaru arrived after Returning by Death.

Return by Death's spawn point can change, but Subaru has never gone further back than a previous spawn. This is where Return by Death's spawn point shifted, and being that the Meili in his arms is a corpse, her life is beyond saving.

Aware that he is only comforting his own heart, Subaru gently shuts Meili's eyes.

He bordered on breaking beneath the agony of death many times. But every time he did, a fire scorched his heart.

That very first inferno, the touch of those fingers, is what let Subaru reach this point. He is only one step away from realizing his deepest desire.

He made victims, sacrifices, to finally get here.

"You will go no further!"

The voice descends, vicious, from on high. 'Fire engulfs the Capital' had not been a figurative statement. The visage that appears atop that hill, as if amassing the furious blaze into themselves, looks dazzling.

"Reinhard, Van, Astreaaaa..."

"It seems that I don't need to introduce myself. I don't have much to say to you, either."

Reinhard's blue eyes pierce the kneeling Subaru through. The gleam in his eyes differs from what Subaru saw long ago, fraught with emotion as they are.

This man, who had remained calm when facing a butcherer, was, at Subaru….the emotion so intense as to be nigh indescribable, glaring with hatred. Subaru snickered seeing that look on his face, happily clapping at the knight in front of him.

"So you were capable of hating people after all, Sword Saint!"

"It surprises me as well. I didn't think these feelings were in me."

"So you found a new you. Congratulations. Happy birthday, Reinhard."

"Unfortunately, today is not the day of my birth. But it will be the day of your death."

Hit with Reinhardt's own breed of death sentence, a smile arises on Subaru's face.

Destroyed that unflappable face of his, and drew out the emotions buried in there.

Subaru knows that it's utterly pointless, but it's the only thing he can boast victory about.

"Don't make me laugh, Reinhard! Sword Saint! Sword of the Kingdom! You're a knight who protects the Kingdom of Lugnica?! Did you protect any kingdom at all!? How about telling me that!"

"...!"

Subaru shouts, arms spread wide, spit flying.

The two are facing each other outside the palace gates. Everything of the Capital visible from this vantage point is engulfed in flame.

This inferno is raging over the entire territory of the Kingdom of Lugnica.

No matter how strong Reinhard is or how superb a knight he is, what can he do on his own? He can do nothing. That is Subaru's conclusion.

"This is my gift to you! A trap I set to kill you!"

"To kill me...?"

"Yessss...How many times?! Do you think I've tried to kill you!? How many times, tens and hundreds and thousands of times, do you think I've faced you!? Poison, hidden bombs, marksmen, curses...nothing worked!"

"...!?"

Subaru's incomprehensible yelling leads Reinhardt's cheeks to stiffen in confusion. He wouldn't understand.

Nobody except Subaru would ever understand.

Subaru has already gone through every conceivable form of trial and error to kill Reinhard.

He studied Reinhard van Astrea, researched him extensively, tested every idea he could think of, fiddled with his plans, used every possible track he could imagine in attempts to kill Reinhard.

But no matter what methods Subaru used, Reinhard bested it. As if Natsuki Subaru's hideously weak brain, as if his very presence, could not effect him in the slightest.

Subaru sacrificed Elsa, sacrificed Meili, sacrificed Blue, sacrificed the man who perhaps could've been his friend, sacrificed the clown who proclaimed to be his co-conspirator and his maid, sacrificed the Witch's Cult, sacrificed the Sin Archbishops, committed every conceivable crime and injustice and iniquity there is, and still couldn't kill Reinhard.

And so...

Having no means to sever Reinhard's lifeline, Subaru decided.

"I'm killing who you are as a knight. I'm dropping your ostentatious name of Sword Saint to the earth, stomping my feet all over it, spewing spit and mucus on it!"

"All of this, only for that?"

"Only for that!? Yeah, I did, only for that! Only for that I used the lives of everyone there was, dropping you to the earth!"

He jabs his finger at Reinhard. The Sword Saint cannot hide that he's shaken. Subaru feels glee in seeing that.

"You're a hero, Reinhard. It's not possible for me to kill you. But I can kill a hero. This is how to kill you, Reinhard."

He worked his hardest, tried so many plans, sacrificed people, shed blood, accumulated deaths, and finally. With Meili having protected him and drawn out his survival, finally, Subaru has managed to confront Reinhard like this.

After piling so many sacrifices, finally, he has managed to stand on the same stage as Reinhard.

"...Why?"

The hot breeze blows away Subaru's previous momentum. His voice when he speaks is frail.

"Why are you so strong? Why are you so strong, that I had to let them die, to match it?"

Trembling voice, laced with sobs. Hearing it makes Reinhardt's face stiffen. He surely has no idea what on earth Subaru is thinking. Of course he doesn't.

He doesn't know why he's crying. How long has it even been since he last shed tears? Surely. That day, when he was brought to this world, was the last.

The tears from the day that brought Natsuki Subaru to this sight of flames were the last.

"I wish I'd been like you. I wish I'd been honest like you, been strong enough to save everyone like you. I think you're enviable. I think you're contemptible."

"You..."

Flowing out alongside his tears come Natsuki Subaru's true feelings.

"-I wanted to be you, Reinhard."

"-I don't understand you."

Reinhard discards Subaru's honesty as worthless codswallop.

And he's correct. Reinhardt, you hero, you are just always, always correct.

—Where did the mistake happen? At what point did Natsuki Subaru mess up?

Had Subaru met someone who could have led him down the right path, would that have happened? Would Subaru have been the hero? Could he have been?

He doesn't know. Though actually, he does. But nobody would be capable of understanding it. Which is why. Which is exactly why….

Natsuki Subaru has, for a long time now, been an unempathizable madman.

Reinhard narrows his eyes and stoops down. He isn't reaching for a sword. Meaning that not even he thinks a weapon is necessary to defeat Subaru. He's right, he's absolutely right. One strike from him will leave Subaru's flimsy body disintegrated.

The instant that Reinhard begins his charge, a black silhouette swoops in from aside. Discordant noise peals out as Reinhardt meets the silhouette's slash with his hand, held flat and open like a blade.

It's stupid. How can he meet a knife swung with that much momentum using his hand? The knife shrieks, shattering to bits. It's stupid. Why is the knife the one breaking?

"You truly are outside the norm, aren't you?"

Elsa, covered in blood, spins through the air before making touchdown on her hands and feet. Subaru thought she was dead.

He thought he had used her as a chess piece to create this situation, believed that her life had burnt to nothing, and had been acting with consideration to that. And yet.

"Apparently I didn't die. Though in this situation, it feels that I've arrived to visit death again."

"Elsa..."

"Then Meili is dead. My poor sister."

Noticing Meili resting on the ground, Elsa mutters a shade sadly.

But she switches her gears in the blink of an eye, turning to face Reinhardt properly.

"It seems you're my sister's enemy as well. Shall we dance?"

"You've already lost your weapon. And do you understand who exactly you are protecting?"

"Difficult subjects aren't my favorite. I do the things I want to do. This man behind me lets me do what I want to do. That makes him a prized customer."

Licking her lips, Elsa gives a reply based in logic that only murderers would understand. Reinhardt swallows his breath, and poises to take Elsa as his opponent.

"This will be the last chance for it. I had fun. It was wonderful."

"Elsa! I..!"

"Farewell."

Ever like her, the goodbye happens smoothly and without any consideration to Subaru's ideas at all. Immediately following, Elsa leaps with animalistic dexterity in a dance toward Reinhardt, the hero and butcher engaging in furious combat.

To be concluded in only a short time, Elsa Granhiert's last blood meal.

"Fuck!"

Averting his gaze from Elsa's battle and Meili's corpse, he breaks into a run down the hill.

The spillovers of battle echo behind him, distant.

Buildings collapse one after another throughout the blazing Capital, shrieks and wails echoing through this hell.

Children calling for parents, parents calling for children, men calling for women, women calling for men in the screeching pandemonium of this hell.

Yes. This is the hell that Subaru created. Created this hell, destroyed Reinhard's false image, and achieved his goal.

"Got to find her! Just need to-"

An icicle flies out of some smoke and stab him in his left shoulder, he falls over from the pain, but quickly shook his head.

"Damn it! Not going to die here!"

Subaru slowly stands up. He can't raise his left arm.. He should be in intense enough pain that he breaks into tears, but his brain isn't feeling it.

After all. If Subaru starts bawling now, here, it will ruin everything.

"-That's enough, villain."

The two face each other, burning city townscape on either side of them. Amethyst eyes blazing with duty and indignation meet dark eyes fraught with irrepressible joy.

"Emilia."

"You know me?"

Emilia's brows shoot up in surprise. Seeing it makes Subaru laugh. Exactly in line with his envisionments. No...exactly in line with his impression of her when they first met, and ventured around the Capital together.

Despite being known worldwide as the hero who took the Witch Cult's Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, Wrath, and Lust, evils which tormented people for eras, and exterminated them. And her track record would, on this day, in this instant, reach completion.

"Is something funny?"

"No, I'm sorry. Just, how to say, I'm happy. It's that thing, where you're, well. You haven't changed a bit, so it feels like I've been rewarded."

"What do you mean? When did you and I ever...?"

Emilia attempts a frantic search of her memories.

"Lia, it's no good. Don't take anything he says seriously."

"Puck, huh?"

But she is interrupted but the grey cat that appears on her shoulder...a spirit, which Subaru remembers well.

"How nice of you to call my name so casually. With how flamboyant your crimes are, how are you thinking of paying compensation enough to settle them?"

"I'll be paying compensation. Exactly what you want. There's no way for me to escape anyway."

"..? That's rather sporting of you. Suspicious."

Subaru unzips his track suit jersey and spreads his arms wide, displaying non-resistance. Track suit.

Yes the track suit.

He has taken that track suit which, until this very day, he kept sealed and now is wearing it. He had it in his head that if he was going to have a reunion with Emilia, this'd be the best.

"Everything I'm about to tell you is a crazy person rambling. Please don't remember it."

"Huh?"

"I'm the one who set the Capital on fire. And it's not just the Capital, this fire's meant to burn down the whole country. No one could safeguard against it. That's the nation, and knights who protect this nation, mishandling the situation."

Subaru's choppy speech confuses Emilia greatly. Puck looks lost on whether to stop Subaru's talk, but does abort his attack after seeing Emilia's situation. Grateful for that, Subaru continues.

"Reinhard's prestige as Sword Saint's fallen to earth. Since we don't know what started the covenant which is meant to be protecting the Dragon's Kingdom of Lugnica, the Dragon's no rescue either. That's something I tested heaps of times so it's definitely right. In the end, Reinhard and the Dragon are equal."

"Burning the country? You're burning the country? To try and destroy this nation?"

"No, wrong. I'm doing this to make you the Ruler. It's the only single way how."

"...!"

A smile arises on Subaru's face, while Emilia's eyes shoot open, thoroughly shaken. There is no way that anything Subaru's saying could be making sense to her.

"Flames of demise driving the nation to its destruction—the one to slay the culprit behind it won't be Reinhard, won't be the Dragon, it'll be you. With Priscilla and Anastasia running for it, Felt being burned away and Crusch erased from the world, they can't do anything. The hero who broke through four centuries of standstill and saved the world is you!"

"That, isn't... what on earth are you saying!? Stop it, I don't understand! I don't understand anything you're saying!"

Emilia clutches her head, blocks her ears, trying to keep Subaru's words out. Tears well in her eyes, and as he sees one trail down her pale cheek, a sweet shock strikes Subaru's chest.

Part of it is guilt for making her cry.

Part of it is from seeing that his actions have shaken her heart, and his consequent dark cheer.

"You don't have to understand. It's fine that you don't understand. Everything that comes next'll be settled when others boost you up of their own accord. Then you just have to grant your wish. That is the only reason I set the country on fire. All of it was for you."

"Liar, liar, liar! I mean, I... you, how come, you…?

With these things in mind, and knowing from the very beginning that he was wrong, Subaru got here. And so Natsuki Subaru laughs. Snickers. Smirks.

"Watch me, Emilia. See me, detest me, remember me."

"Who, are you? Who in the world, are you...?"

Asks Emilia, her voice trembling, as Subaru slowly approaches her with his arms open wide. Subaru closes his eyes.

It feels like he's been yearning for this forever. Yearning to answer that question in Emilia's presence, forever.

"My name is Natsuki Subaru."

"Su, baru…?"

Just hearing that weak call of his name is enough for a flood of emotion to surge through him. Emotion so great that, by that alone, Subaru is completely satisfied with having come here.

"Member of the Witch's Cult! I am the Sin Archbishop of PRIDE, Natsuki Subaru!"

Giving the greatest introduction he can, Subaru puts all his strength into his legs and kicks off the ground. Natsuki Subaru focuses all of his scattered strength into one point in his body for the final sprint of his life.

"I'm the man who burned the world, rocked the country, killed the hero, and-"

"...!"

"-you will kill."

Feeling the impact spear through his chest, Subaru smiles.

He falls to his knees, unable to support himself before collapsing, tumbling down. He never reaches Emilia as his body gracelessly pitches across the stone.

"Why?"

Subaru closes his eyes, ready to accept the end, when something prompts him to raise his eyelids. Emilia is standing right as his side, looking down at him. One of the tears streaming from her eyes lands on Subaru's cheek, making him open his eyes.

"Why?"

So he lets his final breath carry his answer.

"...I love you."

Death draws near.

Old, familiar death.

Every time that Subaru meets death, he is taken to a dark, lonely, unknown location. And it truly, truly is a lonely place, somewhere unbearable to be on your own.

Every time that Subaru met death, he was sent out of this place. Into that world of blood and anguish, tears and woe, and a very slight presence of love.

But it's fine now.

He's satisfied.

"..."

Subaru gets the sense that someone in this dark world has whispered something to him.

It is comforting, it is encouraging, it is confirmation, it is confession.

Definitely calling him.

Calling his name with kindness, with mercy, with love.

And so Subaru separates himself from the spiral of death, while accepting that distant presence.

Her voice...calls to him.

"Even if you reject me, I will never forget you."

.

.

.

.

.

Batman was leaped from rooftop to rooftop, browsing around as he was trying to take in this new world. He was browsing the slums of this city called Lugnica, he had just arrived and was completely out of it.

"Where do I go?"

He was now looking over at what appeared to be a small girl with blonde hair and a strange red scarf.

He thought about asking the girl for help...but decided against it.

Using his grappling gun, he fired away and left the slums.

Back at the outskirts of the city, he took a moment to notice that the sky had turned dark. It was already night time.

In the distance, he saw a large pillar of light rise up in the sky and destroy an entire section of a grand wall. He thoght about investigating...but some noises in the bushes nearby got his attention.

"Who's there?"

Out from the shrubbery emerged an oddly dressed man with long blackish brown hair that touched his brows. He had sleepy looking eyes...that were staring at Batman.

"I'll ask again...who are you?"

"Yaawwwwwwn. I can be pressured innnnnto thinking you're asking my name, wiiiiithout telling me yours?

The two men stared at each other...

"I am Batman. Now who are you?"

"...Hector. IIIIII am the Warlock of Tristitia."

Batman tilted his head slightly, as he was unsure of what that title referred to.

"So, I can take it you are not a good man?"

"Goooood….Baaaaaad...really, it's just principles."

"Sorry, but it's not that simple."

Batman then got a hold of some batarangs and had them ready for anything. Hector scoffed as Batman felt that his body was sinking into the ground.

"UGH!"

"This'll teach you to haaaaave some manners, I mean….it really isssss damn rude."

Batman realized that this man standing in front of him was using some sort of gravity manipulation powers. He felt his muscles were being torn apart by the force. He gritted his teeth as he glared up at the warlock.

"Sooooo you sorry?"

"...Yes."

Hector sighed as he seemed to deactivate his abilities...big mistake.

Batman rolled away from him and pushed some buttons on his gauntlet. He then quickly lobbed some smoke pellets which confused him greatly. But also annoyed him.

"Stuuuupid tricks like that aren't going to save you-"

The turrets on the Batwing fired at Hector, but the bullets were pushed down into the ground by his Authority. The strangely dressed man yawned as he began walking forward...then a missile fired at him...but the explosion was also crushed by the gravity manipulating powers.

Hector sighed as he blew a strand of hair out of his face, looking annoyed at what he saw as an unnecessary plight.

"Gossssssh, can't you just give it up?"

"Not a chance."

Batman leaped out in his Justice Armor. Hector once again activated his Authority, but…

"Huuuuuh?! How are you doing this?!"

Batman was walking towards him effortlessly, making the Warlock slowly walk back.

"My Authority….cannoooooot be beaten so easily-"

"-Sorry to let you know, but this suit was designed for inter-space travel, among other things...so I'm afraid your attacks aren't going to work-"

Hector clenched a fist and swung a gravity enforced punch at Batman. However he dodged it effortlessly and actually landed a striking chop to his neck-

"That attack was more fatal than you realize."

An alluring voice was heard.

Right then and there Batman's chop...caused Hector's neck to suddenly split open.

"Hakkkk! Hakkk!"

"NO!"

Batman took off his helmet and ran over to help the fatally injured warlock.

"Awaaaaay!"

But he was knocked aside by a powerful gravity punch, sending his body crashing through several trees before his body fell into the ground.

Hector continued to hold onto his neck wound, glaring at the trees behind him. Out stepping from the darkness of the forest, was a beautiful platinum haired woman, she was wearing only one white cloth over her petite body.

She is beautiful enough to be said to make others tremble with her beauty and that even God would hesitate to touch her.

Hector knew this girl very well and sneered at her.

"Yoooooou fucking bitch! You're going to betray me?!"

"Like you yourself said...it's about principles. And in the current situation I can see the turning of destiny."

"...?!"

"We saw the half-elf survive her ordeal, proving her worth. Now I have encountered a person that could help further our goals."

"Hooooow does that work, huh?! You're saying that weird guy earlier is going toooooo help us? He seeeems like a damn goody two shoes."

"True, but I can always...alter him a bit."

She smiled gleefully, making Hector release another gravity field around him. Crushing her body into smithereens.

"That was quite the annoying action! My goodness! I hope you didn't intend to kill me?"

"Whaaaaat doooo youuuu...?"

Hector's words slurred as the blood kept leaking out of his neck, his eyes drooped and he began to lose balance.

"Goodbye Hector, I will make sure to continue on without you...and I'll make sure to properly kep the title of Tristia alive."

Hector fell over dead.

Batman was rushing over and saw that Hector was now just a corpse.

"No….NONONONO!"

He fell to his knees as his mind began to fall apart. He had killed someone. A living person was now dead due to his actions. He gripped his face as he was guilt ridden for what he had done. He didn't mean to do it, but just like that, he killed the stranger.

"It is alright."

The woman began walking over to Batman, who got in a offensive stance, not sure of what the woman was up to. She smiled seeing him act so defensively.

"Relax, I am just here to help."

"No, stay back!"

"But why would I do such a thing?"

She suddenly got in front of him and held his hand tenderly.

"When I have been with you since the beginning?"

"...AGH."

Batman's mind was now being tampered with, but it was different than other attacks he would face, aiming at his memories. He felt he could see the night his parents were gunned down by Joe Chill. He cried his eyes out as he looked down at his parents corpses.

"It'll be okay…"

Bruce heard a voice echo behind him, and as he looked up, he saw the woman standing there.

"I'm here for you...my dear sweet Bruce."

"...Are you?"

She kneeled down and cupped his chin, she gently wiped away his tears as she affectionately revealed herself.

"My name is Pandora. I am the Witch of Vainglory...and I am your friend, Bruce."

"...?"

"Take my hand and I will help in our own shared goal."

"Goal?"

"Yes, my friend. My love."

She smiled tenderly as she took his hand and helped him stand up.

"We will make the world a better place."

"...Yes."

"But now you must see the mistakes you have made in the past."

"Mistakes?"

She nodded happily as she brought him in for an affectionate hug…

"Look and see."

Images flashed further into Bruce's mind as he saw the endless battles, the countless deaths he had to witness and the failures of the system to keep the criminals in check or even locked up.

What was the point of it all?

Was there any purpose to it all?

What was he supposed to do differently?

"Ah."

Then he figured it out.

KILLING. That was his mistake. The fact he never killed.

He kept throwing criminals in jail and they kept getting out scott free, just to rob and kill all over again. Pandora had always warned her of his mistake, but while he loved her opinion, he couldn't accept the idea. But even when she consoled him after Jason's original death at the hands of the Joker all those years ago, or when she comforted him in Alfred's passing or when Damian accidentally killed Tim, she was there.

She was. Pandora was always there for Batman. More than Catwoman. More than all of the Robins or even Clark. She hugged him, held him and kissed him when he needed it.

"Pandora…"

Now, he understood. He needed to help her, to make this world a better place. It may not be the world where he was from, but it was the one he needed to be a apart of now. Both of them were now trapped here, but he would stay close to her.

Close to Pandora.

Close to Vainglory.

Close to the woman he loved.

He felt the sadness in his heart evaporate as he gazed up at the woman peering down at him. And with that, a black sphere entered his chest and he was now further corrupted.

His memories violated by her Authority.

His soul altered by the Witch Genes of Tristitia.

"Come then...let us be on our way Bruce."

"Yes, let's get to work."

Batman took her hand and they made it to the Batwing, intending to take her...wherever she wanted to go.

Emilia was sitting in her carriage looking up at the night sky...only to be startled by a strange flying apparition that flew under the moon, flying away from the capital.

"Huh?! What is that?"

Ram looked as well as the booming sounds it made got her attention…

"What indeed?"

It was now over a month later and Pandora was meeting with Bruce, in their palace in the outskirts of Dunharrow.

"Ah, Bruce….what do you happen to be working on?"

"Well, I've been finishing my new suit."

"Really?"

He got up and showed her the laid out suit of armor he would now be using. It wasn't easy, but with help from Pandora and some hired workers, they created it. A suit that combined the Justice Buster, Justice Armor and the Insider Suit into one unique and powerful weapon. It was in the general shape of the Justice Armor, had the color scheme of the Justice Buster and had the three eyes much like the Insider Suit.

"What will it be called?"

"Hmmmm...how about the Polaris Suit?"

"Hehehe, I do approve."

She wrapped her arms around his waist and embraced him. He rubbed his palms on her arms and actually made a feverish smirk.

"We have to find the best way to get a hold of the half-elf, Emilia."

"The one featured in the posters about this Royal Selection?"

"Yes, she is the one who will be the key to our shared goal...with her we can create peace in this world."

Batman was now resolved to make his new home a perfect world...at any cost. For Pandora and the people who lived in this world.

Pandora took Batman to a surprise meeting with the Sin Archbishops in a cave south of the capital. He could see many Witch Cultists lounging about, some tilted their head at the sight of him.

Then, the Sin Archbishops arrived and they all sat a makeshift wooden table. Batman, now in his Polaris Suit, stood next to Pandora.

"And just who is this, Pandora-sama?"

Regulus raised his palm and asked for the identity of the strange man next to her. She smiled happily and introduced him.

"Ah yes, this is Batman, he is now the new Warlock of Tristitia and my new right hand."

"...! Then I am to assume that the previous Warlcok is dead? In less than a month a powerhouse like that was defeated? And by this man?"

"You are correct. He defeated him and now possesses the Witch Gene."

Regulus and the others nodded in agreement. However, Petelgeuse stood up as he stared at Batman.

"And just why should I care if this man is a new Warlock? Huh?! I am working to acquire the half-witch as we speak! All of it for love! LOVE! LOVE! LOOOOVE!"

Putting on an odd pose and pointing at Batman.

"How can you prove to us that we can entrust you with even-"

"-This should help."

Batman tossed two bags on the floor, Petelgeuse tilted his head at seeing this, not sure whatsoever what was inside.

The madman opened the bags...revealing two severed heads.

Scarecrow.

Meili Portroute.

"These two were causing problems in two separate towns...so I took care of them."

"..."

"Any problem that comes to my attention...or one that poses a hinderance to Pandora, I will see to it that its dealt with. Whether it's attacking a town near where we live or planning to attack a target that we're keeping watch over...it will be swiftly taken care of...got it?"

"Hmph, it would seem you are a diligent individual. BUT! What is your goal in this?"

"...The same as Pandora's."

The Sin Archbishops seemed to not understand what he was going on about, but Batman motioned them all as he walked around the table in circles.

"We all have things we want in this world."

He looked at each of the individuals and gazed as though he was searching their very souls.

"Regulus, you need to find a new wife?, don't you And I seem to recall you have been interested in the Dragon Maiden Crusch Karsten, is that correct? I could help with that."

"...! How did you know?!"

"I have my sources... The three members of Gluttony wish to consume memories of heroes...I can find you some, but I will need the White Whale to do it."

Ley and Roy grinned, as they both wiped off some saliva that was trailing down their mouth. Louis simply nodded.

"We all have our desires...and I'm willing to help you all with them...if you're willing to help me in return. Basic exchange. Willing to work with me?"

"...!"

"Are you willing to thrust the Witch's Cult out of the shadows and become the true dominant force of this world?!"

The Sin Archbishops were quiet….they hadn't known someone who was willing to work with the other Sin Archbishops or even want to unite them, but if successful, it would mean the birth of an elite force that could rival entire kingdoms.

"Very well...Batman was it? I accept your terms. I am not a greedy person, but I do need a replacement for #129, so I can work with you. If you can get me what I seek, then I am more than happy to comply."

Regulus gave a devious smiled as he slightly bowed his head.

Ley happily clapped his hands, excited to work for his next meal. Capella stood up and winked at Batman. Sirius laughed as she looked over them all. Petelgeuse gave it some thought, but even he had to admit, he would need help in capturing the half-elf Emilia...so he decided to work with Batman.

"Then the die is cast! We shall work as one, all for the sake of love!"

"Yes, it's all for love."

"Yes yes yesyesyesyes! Hahahahahahahahaha!"

Petelgeuse laughed gleefully as he danced a joyous dance, excited for what was to come.

Batman quietly spoke with Pandora who happily cupped his cheeks and gazed into his eyes.

"You are so wonderful Bruce. You are more capable than I ever thought. I think I can truly fall in love with you. No. I am in love with you. The love for you is haphazardly large and full of potential."

"...That's all I want from you."

Bruce smiled under his helmet….secretly clutching his Gospel. One that would lead him to a peaceful world.

The White Whales roared victoriously as they flew over the defeated armies of the Karsten and Hoshin camps.

Following the Gospel's instructions, Bruce set up a secret meeting with Russel Fellow in order to get Anastasia's camp to work with Crusch's camp...this was in order to get powerful warriors for Gluttony to feed on in order to enlist their help.

And of course, Crusch was needed for Regulus' cooperation.

All of this to prove his worth to them.

"Aughh, you fucker!"

"I'm surprised to see you moving around, but regardless, it's futile."

Batman in his Polaris Suit had his foot pressed on the back of a large demi-human. He was supposedly the commander of the Fangs of Iron mercenary group. Now he was in this state, his legs were broken, ankles tearing through the flesh of his body. The demi-human glared at him with an aura of hatred.

Not for himself, but for his co-commanders.

"NGHHH!"

Mimi and Hetaro were clutching the ground, their faces swollen, bleeding and unable to get up.

This was because Batman stomped on their backs and completely broke their spines.

"Fuck you! Bastard! Son of a bitch! I'm gonna slice you up into-"

His angry spits were stopped when Batman shot a Jiwald at his tail, severing it completely. Even Ricardo was unable to not feel pain from it.

"I was hoping to spare this day from more pointless deaths...but I do like your willingness to fight."

"Damn you! Fucking Witch Cultists! This was a trap the whole time!"

"Sadly this is true, but without Russel Fellows help, none of this would have happened...still to sell out so many innocent soldiers to us is the epitome of sad."

"Grrrrrrr…"

"Don't fret though, I had Russel taken care of by Sirius. Made sure to make it as painless in the end. I can at least do that for him."

"PIECE OF SHIT! DIE! BATMAAAAAN!"

Mimi tried to fire a sonic scream at Batman...but he quickly noticed this and used Ricardo as a human shield, obliterating his body...leaving nothing but a heaping mess of flesh and crumbled bones in front of Batman.

"That was stupid of you."

"Captain...Captain?! CAPTAIN! CAPTAIN! CAPTAIIIIIIN!"

Mimi held her head and began crying, spitting blood and regret for what she had done.

"El Ermac."

Batman was now behind Mimi and Hetaro...and right next to Roy.

"Here, why don't you snack on these guys, I'm sure they wouldn't mind losing their memories?"

"Hehehe, what a splendid idea! Then I shall….FEAST!"

Roy quickly ate Mimi's memories, leaving her in a confused state where she began mumbling to herself.

"Huh? Who am I? Who? Who? Who?!"

"Mimi? MIMI!"

Hetaro dragged himself on the floor to her...only to have his memories eaten as well.

"Huh? Where am I? What is this?"

"Who?! Who? Who? Who?"

Roy bit his lips as he looked down at them with a look of ecstasy, Batman turned his gaze away, letting Roy finish them off and erase their existences from this world.

Crusch and Ferris were behind Wilhelm as he tried his best protecting them from Regulus. Each and every strike was useless against Regulus. At this point, Wilhelm had only one sword left, every other one shattered when it struck the Sin Archbishop's body.

Regulus laughed off his attacks...then chopped off his left arm.

"Aughh!"

"Wilhelm!"

Crusch screamed as she saw Wilhelm's arm roll on the floor. Now one armed, he did his best to protect his master. He was enraged that the revenge he had been seeking for years, was just moments ago, almost in his grasp...but now it was taken away from him. A mere trap set up by the Witch's Cult.

"If this is all done with, I suggest you surrender and hand the girl over to me."

"I will do no such thing, Witch Cultist! I will see to it that they make it out of here in one piece!"

Wilhelm whistled and an unnamed jet black ground dragon charged towards Crusch. He hoped they could get on the splendid dragon and make it out of there.

A beam shot out and struck the dragon in the eye and killed it instantly. It's body shot to the floor and simply came to a stop.

From the fog, emerged Batman whose finger pointed at them and was glowing. Wilhelm roared at this man.

"Witch Cultist!"

"Oh dear that is not a-"

Wilhelm charged at Batman...only for him to activate his Authority and crush the old man with his gravity field. Wilhelm's eyes nearly popped out of the sockets from the pressure he exerted.

"-idea...Some people just don't listen."

Regulus rubbed the back of his as he watched the warrior being slowly crushed to death by Batman's Authority.

"I heard about you Wilhelm Van Astrea, I know that you did this all for the sole purpose of avenging your wife. I commend that. I really do."

"Silence! What would a filthy...Warlock like you know about...vengeance…?"

"Ha! Simple...I am vengeance! I am the night!-"

He raised his hands, the three eyes flashing brightly and leering down at Crusch, Ferris and Wilhelm.

"I am the Warlock of Tristitia! Lover of the great Pandora! BATMAN!"

Wilhelm then noticed an old wound he had on his shoulder was ripping open.

"Impossible."

He looked behind Batman and saw that emerging from the fog was a familiar face from long ago.

"Thearesia…"

She looked down at him, as she stood a good distance away from Batman, so as not to get caught by his gravity field.

Wilhelm had droplets of tears fall from his cheeks...not just of sadness...but absolute fury towards the Witch's Cult for using his wife's body in such a way.

Batman deactivated his Authority and watched as the broken man crawled animalistically on the floor. A face of absolute fury plastered on his face.

"BATMAN! WITCH'S CULT! I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU! KILL YOU ALL!"

"Sorry, I really am."

Batman aimed his wrist at Wilhelm, firing several batarangs from his wrist launcher. The batarangs stabbed both his eyes and pierced through his skull...his body fell limp, never to move again.

Crusch and Ferris openly wept as they saw this.

Batman suddenly appeared behind them in a flash.

"...HK!"

Batman punched Ferris square in the face, sending his body tumbling on the floor. Crusch tried to reach out for him, only for both her arms to be gripped by Batman.

"Ley, if you would?"

"OH YES! It's time to eat!"

Crusch screamed and begged to be released. As Gluttony reached his hand over...the brave Crusch began to truly panic.

"No…"

She knew what would happen next.

"NOOO! FERRIS! WILHELM! SOMEONE! ANYONE! HELP ME! PLEASE HELP-"

"-Thanks for the meal."

Ley then ate Crusch's memories.

She sat on the ground unsure of what was happening.

"Ah there you are my adoring wife!"

"W-Wife?"

"Yes, you are #129, my newest wife. I left you around here while I was occupied with some errands."

"I-I see."

Regulus helped Crusch up and took her hand. Regulus looked over at Batman, who was folding his arms.

"I thank you for this Batman. Now I will owe you a debt. And for that, if you are ever in my area, please do visit my mansion. I will be more than happy to entertain you."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Keep your metia around, just in case we need your help again."

"Don't be a stranger."

Regulus took his new wife by the and as they began walking away, Ferris screamed with all his might as he watched Regulus walking further and further from his vision.

"Crusch-sama! Crusch-sama! NYO! Come back! Come back! Don't leave Ferri-chan! Don't leave me...Don't-"

"-I'm afraid you don't have a say in this, Blue."

Ferris sneered as he looked up at the man responsible for his loss.

"Curse nyou…"

"Now then Blue...do you wish to forget or be forgotten?"

"...Damn nyou."

"That really isn't an answer."

"Ferri-chan's answer is this! Ferri-chan will hunt nyou all down! Every last one of nyou! Then Ferri-chan will get Crusch-sama back!"

"...Louis."

Loius appeared behind her as he nodded with understanding.

"...Make him forget."

"I will see to it then. Thank you for your struggles Ferris-chan."

Ferris watched in horror as Louis touched his face and moved it towards his own mouth.

"Nyo...Ferri-chan doesn't…"

"..."

"Nyo! PLEASE NYO! ANYATHING BUT THAT! I WANT TO REMEMBER CRUSCH-SAMA! HIS HIGHNESS AND WIL-JII! PLEASE DON'T!"

"..."

"I'LL LEAVE! I WON'T COME AFTER YOU! PLEASE DON'T!"

It was too late, Ferris had her memories eaten...Batman looked down at the near catatonic cat boy.

"Welcome to the Cult, Felix Argyle."

In the distance, they could another force of people charging right towards them...led by Julius Juukulius.

"One obstacle after another."

Batman pressed a button on his gauntlet...then the Batwing descended from the sky and fired upon the army, killing most of them. Julius was thrown off his Shaknar...only to watch him get blasted apart by a missile.

Julius charged at Batman, who used a gravity infused fist to clash with his sword. Tivey was out of it, after losing the memories of his siblings his mind was a mess...he was then spared such a miserable existence by Ley, who erased his existence.

Now all the Pearlbatons were gone...almost as if they never existed in the first place.

Julius continued slicing away at his opponent, but he dodged all his strikes, even blocking a few.

"You're good, had I met you in the past, you could have easily become a Robin candidate."

"I do not wish to hear compliments from a madman like you!"

Julius fired several beams of light at him...but Batman activated the Speed force mode and made it behind Julius. He then proceeded to strike him several times before outright punching him through the stomach.

"AUGHH!"

"That's the problem with you people...you aren't prepared for anything."

"...ER!"

"Meanwhile I am a meticulous person who likes to have a backup plan and contingency plan for everything."

Julius swung back, but Batman dodged his slice. He then activated Willpower mode and ensnared Julius with a energy fist and slammed him on the ground several times, before tossing him into the ground.

Julius breathed ragged breaths but as he looked up from the crater underneath him...he noticed a stinging hot feeling in his head.

"Augghh!"

"Relax, it's almost over."

Julius then slumped his head down and began to drool...murmuring to himself as he did.

"There there...that's how it's supposed to be."

Two small holes were on Julius's forehead, Batman secretly used his heat vision mode on the young man and targeted his brain with deadly precision.

Batman lobotimized Julius.

Ley took advantage and ate his memories...savoring the flavor of it all. Batman then took the Knight's sword away from him.

"You thought you were the savior of this kingdom? Of your friends? How wrong you were."

"NUhhhhhhhhhh…"

"In reality, Julius. In the great scheme of things, you weren't anything at all."

He then raised the sword over the head of Julius.

"Nothing but another stepping stone for Pandora and I."

He then sliced off the knight's head, ending the battle near Flugel's Tree.

Several knights made it to the Flugel's Tree and saw the carnage around them, the death and destruction intermingled with the savagery of it all. One of the knights found large vines that protruted out of the ground..next to them was a beautiful orange haired girl, with half her head caved in and her arms twisted into pieces.

"Look!"

One knight pointed at the tree, shocked at what he was seeing.

"What is that?"

"...It's a message."

On the Flugel Tree was humungous burning symbol...it was in the shape of a bat. The smoke from it flew high into the morning skies.

Now in Irlham Village, Batman used Al Ermac to teleport himself and Ley to meet up with Petelgeuse. They rounded up all the villagers...they were all fearful of what they intended to do.

However, Batman promised to let them all live on the condition they do nothing to help Emilia. They all agreed.

"So Batman, what is the plan then?! Now that you have forced us to spare these non-believers, I cannot help but question your motives."

"Simple. We are merely here to capture Emilia, that's all. No unnecessary killing, unless it is absolutely needed."

"...AHHHH! What DILIGENCE you have! Yes, you are quite the formidable ally. We shall strive for our love!"

"Let me stop you there for a second."

Batman gripped Sloth's shoulder and peered into his eyes.

"I am doing this Pandora. Not Satella. I have no purpose in reviving her. But I am willing to help an ally, and right now you are my ally."

"...!"

"Helping you get Emilia is beneficial to Pandora, so it goes the same for me. And if you get to bring back Satella in the meanwhile, then I am alright with that."

"Oh...you truly are a kindred spirit! Yes! We shall go on and profess our love to our beloved! Yes yes! Yes! Yes?! YESSSSSS!"

Batman glanced over and saw several children looking terrified of them. Included was a very cute girl with a red ribbon. He ignored her and moved on to the task at hand.

As the Witch's Cult made their way to the mansion, they saw someone standing in front of the gates.

It was a blue haired maid.

"That is as far as you go Witch's Cult!"

The blue haired maid then shot up into the air and flung a morningstar at them. Batman opened a tear in space and forced the morningstar through...it then impacted with the head of Petra's mother. Crushing it completely.

She screamed and wailed uncontrollably.

Batman took advantage and snapped the chain in half closed the tear.

She then kicked down at Batman, but he used his forearm and an energy shield to block the hit. She flinched in pain...only for Batman to fire several wrist batarangs at her, littering her body in them. She breathed ragged breaths as she kept her distance from him.

"In the name of Roswaal L. Mathers, Rem shall slay the scum that wishes to defile these lands."

"Rem, huh? Well sorry Rem...I already made it a rule to not divulge in mindless killing, so I'd appreciate it if you ran."

"HAH! As if I would run from you!"

Rem fired ice spears at him, but he activated his Authority and the icicles shot down into the ground, shocking Rem.

"What!?"

"Authority of Tristitia. Imposing Will of Justice."

"Damn you!"

A bright pink horn emerged from her head.

Batman deactivated his gravity field and let Rem get close...only for her to get struck by the Bind of Veils, tricking Rem into thinking she was killing Batman. He then grabbed her by the neck and snapped it halfway. Rem was now too injured to fight back and was laying on the ground breathing awkwardly.

"No use in fighting back Rem-"

"-Do not speak my name so easily!"

"Sorry. But I'm afraid it's over. Give up or I will be forced to-"

Before he could finish she rose her body and snarled at Batman, who looked over at Petelgeuse and motioned his head to Rem.

"AGHHH!"

She suddenly stopped and her limbs and head went straight…

"Authority of Sloth. Unseen Hand. THE PROOF OF LOVE!"

"ERR...Damn you…"

"Now then...time to end this."

Her limbs stretched and her neck began ripping.

"N-N-"

"Speak up we cannot hear you?"

"...N-NEE-SAMA…"

"Ah...truly a believer in love."

Her limbs and head were then ripped out of her body, leaving her torso on the ground. The detached limbs and head floated in the air for a bit before they fell to the ground. But Petelgeuse had an idea…

Ram was hurrying Emilia into the emergency exit as Beatrice was in the front killing several Witch Cultists who broke into the mansion.

"Ram, what's going on?! Who are these people?!"

"Emilia-sama, please make it to the exit and keep moving!"

Just then a large section of the hallway walls broke apart and out stepped the two Sin Archbishops and the Warlock himself.

"Cultists!"

"Oh! So this the Nee-sama we heard so much about! She looks just like her! MY BRAIN TREMBLES!"

Next to Petelgeuse floated Rem's decapitated head. With dried tears formed down her cheeks. Ram lost all color on her face. Tears flooded down her eyes at what she was seeing.

"No! No! Help! Nee-sama! I need to save Nee-sama!"

Petelgeuse began mocking Rem by imitating her, something that disgusted even Batman. Ram was furrowing her brows at the three men in front of him.

"I'm GOING TO KILL YOU!"

"Oh that bloodlust is quite the thing to see! Yes yes! Such love!"

Ram charged at Petelgeuse, but something slammed her into the wall nearby, then as she got up, she had her abdomen sliced up by Ley. As she screamed in pain, Batman slammed an gravity empowered foot to her face, causing a crater to form under her. Emilia tried to fire icicles against him, but Petelgeuse blocked them with his Unseen Hands.

Batman then looked down at Ram who screamed bloody murder at him...he could see that she was going to activate her horn, possibly like her twin sister.

"Imposing Will of Justice."

The gravity field began crushing her into place. She wailed and cursed him, promising a brutal death.

"And here I thought I was going to finally see Roswaal, but I guess he's more of a coward than I thought."

"Shut...your...mouth…!"

"You must really look up to him for you to be so mad about that….Still, it's sad to think he has essentially abandoned you all to die here, what an injustice."

"...He didn't…"

"Really? Then-"

He kneeled down to face Ram.

"-Where was he when we killed your sister? And where was he when began to destroy the mansion? Or...set it on fire?"

Ram looked in the corner of her vision to see that Cultists had begun setting the mansion on fire. She began to weep openly, realizing...in fact...some of what he said was true.

"The world is like that...bad things happen to people. Once this over, I will make sure to remember to honor your sacrifices. Your lives will have meant something to this world."

"...GRR!"

"With your deaths...countless others will live in peace. Be honored by that...Ram."

"DAMN YOU!"

Batman raised his palm as Ram was unable to move away or defend herself for what came next. She gritted her teeth to the man that was ready to end it all.

"Any last words?"

"Go...to hell…"

"Sorry, but I won't."

"RAGHHHHHH!"

"El Jiwald."

A beam of light fired from his palm and blasted her head away, leaving a burning spinal cord behind.

Emilia fell to her knees, unable to believe what she was seeing. She was so preoccupied by her battle against Ley and Petelgeuse, that she was unable to save Ram. Behind Batman Loius emerged from a door...holding a knocked out Beatrice in his hands.

"You got what you wanted Louis?"

"Yes, this a spirit we have been searching for, for quite some time, with her help a goal of ours will be finally completed."

"Glad to hear I helped."

Louis bowed a bit to Batman and he dashed away along with Ley.

Petelgeuse and his fingers now surrounded Emilia, leaving her no place to run away to.

"I'll defend myself if I have to!"

"Yes! Yes! YESYESYESYES! This is the very act of diligence, to survive and fight tooth and nail to the very end! Ah, yes….the very image of my love is finally here."

Petelgeuse had bloody tears roll down his cheeks as he was now more than prepared to enact the Trial against this girl. She would-

"You did good Petelgeuse...but Emilia has to come with us, unscathed."

"What?"

Petelgeuse turned around and was kicked into his fingers, just passing by Emilia. Then Batman dashed behind her using what was left of his Speed force Mode.

He then opened his palms to Petelgeuse and his remaining fingers.

"You were the perfect example of love's driving force...but love isn't enough Sin Archbishop, one has to have a sense of justice along with it."

"Curse you-"

A sudden tear in space opened up behind them, the rapid force of gravity left them, as they were now dragged into the portal.

"Go see your love, Sloth."

"AGHHHHH! Unseen Hand!"

Batman could tell he was using his invisible attacks, the same he used to kill the maid, so he jumped back and was even able to grab Emilia as he tossed an explosive batarang, straight at Petelgeuse, the resulting explosion sent him hurling into outer space. He launched one more Unseen Hand at Batman, but he swore he could almost hear him chuckling.

"Activate Teleportation Mode."

"Huhhhh?!"

Batman and Emilia then turned into blue light and disappeared from Petelgeuse's sight.

"BATMAAAAAAAAN!"



Petelgeuse and his Fingers floated out into the far reaches of space...where they would freeze apart and die, even when they were so close to their goal.

Now outside of the mansion, near the main gates, Emilia was set down as she looked up to see Batman and several witch cultists staring down at her.

"What do you want villains?!"

"We want you to help us secure our end goals, Emilia."

"And they are?!"

She finally got up and stood firm as Puck floated around her, ready to attack if need be.

"We want peace."

But they both were taken back by what he said. Even many of the cultists glanced at each other, as if they had no idea what he was talking about.

Batman raised his hands up and gazed at Emilia.

"We want peace, simple as that."

"Y-You're insane! After all the death and destruction you've caused?! You say you want peace?"

"Of course. Conflict in it's entirety breeds the times of peace, look at the near 400 years of peace lasted after Satella's defeat. Even then, there is sporadic events of violence and discrimination. Don't you think that needs to be put to an end?"

"...?!"

"We are going to bring everlasting peace to this world. But it will cost lives; peace and security always does, thinking it doesn't is foolish! Emilia, I want to bring peace and only through that will we be able to save everyone."

"But Ram...Rem…"

"We gave them a chance to run, it was unavoidable. Now you either come with us-"

He then pulled out a conversing mirror metia and showed her the images of Irlham Village.

"-There will be unforeseen consequences."

"The villagers! You've taken them hostage!"

"I'm only doing this for the sake of peace, if every one of them dies, but hundreds more can live in joyous splendor, then it will be with reason. Of course, we can avoid that if you come with us willingly."

"Y-You wouldn't go so far, if were willing to lose the hostages."

"...Oh, right...I guess we need a demonstration."

He pulled out a second conversing mirror and showed him an image of Witch Cultist in Kararagi. The cultist looked through a crowd and saw a dragon carriage riding by...inside was Anastasia Hoshin.

"Anastasia?!"

"Shhhhh, keep watching."

Then as the dragon carriage was making a turn...it quickly erupted in a humungous fiery explosion, which even sent bystanders nearby flying into the air. Emilia could hear the screams playing through the metia...while Batman just leered down at her.

The last thing Emilia saw on the metia was the cultist getting close to the wreckage...through the smoke and fire, she could see an unrecognizable slab of burnt meat underneath some white clothing. Then Batman closed the metia.

"Understand? She's not the only one...anything happens to me, I have ordered everyone to kill them immediately."

"My gosh…"

"Now...do you wish to help me save the world? Save your people?"

"How-How did you know about that?!"

She trembled before him, terrified of the man...no, monster standing before her. So willing to snuff out life, to betray or to even blackmail his way to victory.

"I'm Batman, gimme more time...and I will know all the secrets of this world."

He held out his palm to Emilia…

She almost gave him his hand, but she looked at Puck who floating near her shoulder. He shrugged his shoulders sadly, as he was unsure what to do.

"Roswaal has abandoned you, no one else in this world will help you Emilia...they are disgusted in you, fear you! But we can do what the Royal Selection cannot accomplish. Those days are over Emilia. Let us help each other."

"Help...each other?"

"Yes."

Emilia finally took his hand. Puck made a defeated expression and several of the Witch Cultists bowed to her. Unknown to them all, Bruce had a hideously wide grin plastered on his face.

He was the Vengeful Suzerain of Tristitia, Batman.

He was unsatisfied with the world that brought him his love, Pandora. He wanted a world that loved her, appreciated her and gave her care. She was there for him since his beginning as Batman. She was his first love. Even when other women came into his life, he still knew he only truly cared for her.

He loved her.

More than anyone.

More than Selina.

More than Alfred.

More than his son?

More than his parents?

Did he?

Yes...he did.

Now he led the Witch's Cult.

He transformed it from a mere rag tag underground organization, to a full fleged power in the world he resided in. Members were now trained more efficiently, learned the art of espionage and given much more direct missions based on their gospels.

The Sin Archbishops were now an elite force that would be sent out to fulfill various missions.

Regulus destroyed a city in Gusteko in order to retrieve a powerful magic ore.

Ley stole a piece of the Dragon Stone, equally dividing it amongst themselves.

Sirius was able to kill Gorilla Grodd, per the orders of Batman in order to gain bases in Vollachia.

Capella infected the nobility of Vollachia in order to obtain important items hidden in their palace.

All of this was for justice. For the peace of the world.

Wasn't it? Wouldn't this make the world a better place?

Batman thought so. Pandora told him so...so he accepted it.

Crusch Karsten dropped out of the Royal Selection and married Regulus. He was proud to announce that he was intending to move into her previous mansion for the time being.

Ferris was now brainwashed by the Witch's Cult and was their resident healer. He was more than happy to help his friends...his family.

Felt had run away from the Royal Selection with Rom...she was terrified of running into Batman as many of the other participants had.

The Three Stooges...seemed to disappear into obscurity, never to be seen again.

Reinhard was sent to find Batman, he did it to avenge his friend Julius, but he never found him...

Anastasia Hoshin was dead, burned to a cinder…

Priscilla and Al...disappeared…

Batman and Regulus later ran into an oni girl, one with brown hair and tired looking eyes...they killed her and tossed her body off the Great Waterfall. Unknowingly killing off the last remaining Oni in the world.

Where there was Batman, there was death and misery...there was hell following him.

Emilia was sitting in a table, now wearing a dark colored robe along with her usual outfit. Arriving through the door was a mercenary she had seen many times before.

"Ah hello, Deathstroke-san."

"Hey, I'm here to see Batman and his lady friend."

"Oh...well I haven't seen him around, let me see if Felix knows."

Emilia got up and tapped on a door. Out came a familiar cat boy with longer hair and a dark colored dress.

"Ah, Emilia-chan, what is it? What can Felix help you with?"

"Sorry to bug you. Have you seen Batman-sama anywhere?"

"Why yes, Papa Batman is currently with Mama Pandora at the moment."

"Oh...maybe they're too busy."

"Nonsense! I will go get them, stay here and keep him company. Felix will be right back."

Felix skipped away going to find Batman and Pandora.

Emilia decided to sit with Deathstroke and they chatted a bit about the state of the world. He mentioned how the kingdoms were now more cautious of each other and afraid of Batman, as they would the Sword Saint or the Dragon. Emilia...was concerned.

She now found herself forced to be aligned with the dreaded Witch's Cult. With that knowledge coming out public, the citizens of the world now saw Emilia as the biggest threat.

Playing on that, Batman publicly gave the half-elf the dubious honor of being the Sin Archbishop of Envy.

Felix was now using his magic to heal cultists and actually kill people. He was now given the title of Sin Archbishop of Sloth.

Deathstroke was forced to join after Elsa attempted to kill Batman to avenge Meili...only for it to end in her demise. His skills, inability to die and arrogant attitude made him acquire the title of Sin Archbishop of Pride.

Though they actually weren't the true holders of those titles, they used them as a scare tactic. And it worked...much of the time, villages and entire towns surrendered to Felix alone, based on his title.

Deathstroke spun a knife on the table as Emilia played with Puck...it was clearly obvious that last few weeks were so traumatic for Emilia that she simply gave up and happily joined Batman's team.

"So Deathstroke-san? What brings you here?"

"Just came back from a mission at a place called the Sanctuary."

"Sanctuary?"

Puck's face froze in fear as he heard something he didn't want to hear ever uttered.

"Yeah, apparently it was some secret place controlled by Roswaal L. Mathers."

"Hmmmm….interesting. What did you do there?"

"Went ahead and attacked it with Regulus."

"...Oh...I see."

Puck was silently listening...terrified of what came out of his mouth next.

"Was there anybody there?"

"Um, yeah in fact, there was Roswaal, some little girl clones and a yellow haired fang boy. Most of them were tough to deal with."

"Are they-"

"-Dead? Yeah."

Emilia and Puck lost their breath after they received their answer.

"I see…"

"The boy was freakin' tough. Luckily, I had Regulus there, otherwise I would taken longer to kill the guy."

"And Roswaal?"

"...Hahhhhhh, that guy was the worst. He fired a few shots and they started crying and shit, 'Oh, I have lost my path! I can't see her again! Woe is me!' He basically let me kill him."

"...Soooooo, tea?"

"Yes please!"

Emilia grabbed the cup and happily drank from it, Puck sat on her shoulder...with only Deathstroke noticing the fake smile he had on his face.

Felix finished informing Bruce and Pandora of Deathstroke's arrival. They both got up from their bed completely naked. Bruce was the first to start getting dressed...but was hugged from behind by Pandora. He could feel her warmth on his back and he rubbed her hands tenderly.

"'Morning."

"Good morning, Bruce. I seem to feel so relieved that we have finally acquire access to the Sanctuary. It is finally here to serve me."

"You sure...you don't feel some relief from last night?"

"...Pfft! Hahaha! Oh, you know how to make me so happy. That's why I treasure you."

Batman flipped around and laid on top of her, planting some kisses on her lips. She wrapped her slender legs around his back and pulled him into a passionate kiss. They both ended their embrace as Batman continued getting dressed and began putting on his suit.

"My love, our time is at hand. Once we get Emilia prepared, we will be ever closer to world peace."

"Hope it doesn't take too long."

"Not to worry. It's coming."

Bruce, now with his hair as a buzz cut and much more pronounced beard, smiled at Pandora.

"Then let's go beautiful."

Pandora blushed as she heard this and wrapped the blanket around her as a dress. She smiled brilliantly.

She stuck her hand out.

"Let us go, Bruce Wayne."

"Yes."

As he grabbed her hand...they both made the same wicked smile as Bruce put on his helmet, his vicious eyes lit up...signaling the start of a new day.

Bruce Wayne was now a force of justice in this new world. He would make it a grand place for himself and Pandora to live in.

He would fulfill his goals of creating peace and Pandora's dream of equilibrium.

If she wanted it, he wanted it.

If she hated it, he would destroy it.

It was love. For love. By love.

Batman even promised to spread this love to his old home, should he ever return there. If sacrifices were needed there, then they would be dealt with.

He was now happy. Truly happy.

Because no matter what…

"As long as you hold me and stay with me...I would kill the world itself, just to be with you."

.

.

.

.

On the other side of the spectrum of this world.

There is Natsuki Subaru, on the night when he was to be transported to the new world. Of magic, half-elves and onis...it never happened.

Something went wrong.

And now Subaru was still in his old world, living out his life like normal...not knowing that Batman had been there alone and encountered Pandora.

Subaru being freed from his vicious cycles of death...doomed another world to a figure of pure destruction.

It was a few weeks later that Subaru got into a long, dramatic, conversation with his parents. They convinced him to go back to school and restart his life.

Subaru contemplated it that night. As he looked out his window, he gazed up at the starry sky.

"Can I really do this all over?"

Just then, he gazed up and noticed two stars up above him. He was taken aback by their shining splendor...he noticed one almost appeared bright purple and the other blue. He smiled as he saw this, like it was almost a sign.

"Okay destiny, let's see what you got."

He raised a fist in the air as he declared he would definitely start over. He would make sure that he didn't let down his parent