AN: And so...ARC FIVE IS COMING TO AN END... Song title this time is from "Blood, Sweat and Tears". Enjoy.

ARC Five: Trials of the Sanctuary

Chapter Forty Two: And When I Die

Batman tried to punch Deathstroke but he easily evaded it and tried to slice his head clean off. Batman saw this and quickly tilted his head...but the blade tore his left cheek open and blood sprayed everywhere.

Batman then twisted his body and slammed Deathstroke in the face with a knee.

As Deathstroke used the momentum to leap back, he fired his submachine gun at Batman who quickly began running away from the bullets. The snow flew high into the air as Batman kept running, blood flying out of his wounds, pain plastered on his face.

Batman then rolled on the ground and tossed a Batarang which struck Deathstroke's hand, forcing him to drop his gun.

He then stabbed his sword into the ground.

"Huh?!"

Deathstroke then got into what one would say was a running start stance-

"FULA."

He then used textbook capoeira kicks in the air...turning the movements into wind blades, which were heading straight for Batman.

He tried his best to dodge them all, each one getting closer and closer to slicing him apart.

The wind blades were so strong they sent dirt, snow and even pieces of the ground to blast apart.

A house caught by one, had been sliced apart.

Batman leaped around dodging, the fatigue of his previous battles starting to catch up with him.

"BASTARD!"

Deathstroke then noticed Garfiel leaping into the air behind him, so he did a spinning cartwheel kick behind himself, sending a wind blade at him.

Garfiel caught it and tossed it away, but noticed too late that Deathstroke was now next to him with his sword aimed at his throat.

"NGH!"

Garfiel swung his leg to kick the blade away, and so he did.

Only for Deathstroke to pull out a spare handgun and shoot him twice in the ribs.

"AGGHHHH!"

Deathstroke took advantage of the newfound pain Garfiel endured and kicked him back down to the ground. Deathstroke kicked the air and caught his falling sword, doing his best to dive stab the downed young man.

Garfiel rolled away, but as he did, Deathstroke saw this and did the unthinkable.

While falling he kicked his sword and it hit Garfiel in his shoulder.

Garfiel now had a sword stuck in his shoulder as Deathstroke landed on the ground and charged at the injured foe with his second sword.

Otto ran forward and tossed a magic stone at Deathstroke. Seeing this, he stopped his momentum on the ground and made sure to use his sword.

Everyone watched in slowed down time as Deathstroke used his sword to quickly balance the magic stone, guide it and simply tossed it back at Otto.

Otto watched in horror as the magic stone landed in front of him and exploded, sending his now unconscious body flying away. His body rolled on the ground as the villagers screamed in terror.

Deathstroke saw that Garfiel was attempting to get up and he dashed forward tossing a grenade at him. Garfiel was now upright, but the grenade's explosion sent him up for a moment...his feet now longer touching the ground.

Deathstroke sliced him from the collarbone down to his hip.

Frederica screamed as she saw Garfiel fly back, as blood escaped his wound.

Deathstroke then yanked out the other sword from Garfiel's shoulder as he prepared to behead the young man.

Batman then scorpion kicked Deathstroke in the side of the head and punched him in the stomach. Deathstroke tried to slice him up, but Batman parried each strike at astounding speed. Batman saw his chance and hit Deathstroke a few times before he realized a punch was too wide.

"Oh crap."

"Too tired to think straight Batman?"

Batman was able to jump back, avoiding a fatal injury...but he was sliced twice on his chest.

"AGH!"

Batman spat blood as Deathstroke was ready to kick a wind blade, in an attempt to finish the fight, but Batman ducked down and was able to veer his body close to Deathstroke's side and let out a powerful punch to his ribs. The punch sent him flying for a bit, before Deathstroke pulled out a knife and attempted to slice down at Batman's head, it missed.

But Deathstroke planned for this and pulled a small trigger on the ballistic knife, it fired and hit Batman in his shoulder. Batman then punt kicked Deathstroke away who somersaulted back into fighting position.

The two men glared at each other.

Subaru stood there frozen, looking at his two friends who were both now in no condition to fight.

The fear crept up on him slowly as he realized that everything relied on Batman.

Beatrice was now out of mana.

Emilia was tired from the fighting.

He was in no condition to fight.

Ram and Roswaal were spent.

Frederica was the only one who could fight, but he recalled in the previous loop that she got killed by him.

If Batman lost...most of them would most likely get killed.

"C'mon you got this!"

Subaru held Beatrice's hand tightly as the two of them watched the battle continue.

Emilia ran over and began healing Otto first. She looked over and saw Garfiel being helped up to his feet by some villagers.

Emilia had a concerned expression as she saw Batman and the armored man called Deathstroke continuing their fight.

Blow met blow.

Hit was countered with hit.

Blood fell to the ground.

Batman was doing his best, but he was stabbed in the leg with a knife.

"BATMAN-SAN!"

Batman punched Deathstroke twice in the head before he stabbed him in the hip with a Batarang. The two of them hit each other in the face with a punch to the face.

Emilia held her breath as she continued watching the two men fighting with everything they had.

Then, Batman tackled Deathstroke through some gravestones and into the village. Deathstroke leaped on top of a building and began firing his second submachine gun at Batman. He used the housing to protect himself. Batman then tossed an explosive pellet onto the roof and made Deathstroke jump off and attempt to jump to another. But he was then tackled into another house and they crashed through the rooftop and through the second floor.

Deathstroke fired his submachine gun around him, trying to lure out Batman out of hiding in the debris.

Deathstroke noticed too late as Batman kicked away his gun and kicked him through the door of the house back outside.

The assassin then pulled out his handgun and fired into the house entrance. But Batman made it back to the roof and tossed...his last explosive Batarang he had, on him. It made Deathstroke move slightly, giving him the chance to strike him with a powerful corkscrew punch to his temple.

Batman was pistol whipped in the head but had enough time to disarm him. But was stabbed in the side with Deathstroke's sword.

The villagers stood frozen as they watched the fight, they were afraid, but they couldn't believe the skill of these two fighters as they fought with everything they had.

The speed.

The strength.

The tenacity.

All was laid bare for them to witness.

One was trying to save them all.

The other was going to kill them all.

They prayed for the man, the one who they had been frightened of for some time. But now they could only show respect for, he fought with his life on the line to save them. Complete strangers. He would die to save them all.

And so…

Batman was now breathing ragged breaths as his vision was now blurry. The loss of blood was starting to creep in as Deathstroke now decided to end this fight.

He lunged at Batman with his sword, striking again and again, but each hit missed…

"UL MATAR!"

Batman's hand glowed and he hit the sword snapping it into pieces.

Deathstroke took advantage and kicked him in the side of the head, sending him flying into another house adjacent to them. He then lobbed two grenades into the house, the house exploded into a mess of wood and glass.

Out from the cloud of dirt Batman tossed a piece of a support beam at Deathstroke. He dodged it, but saw him quickly toss several pieces of glass at him. He blocked his face but was kicked in the abdomen and rolled away.

Batman spat out a large amount of blood as he glared at Deathstroke...who finally pulled out his secret weapon...his electric staff.

Spinning it around a few times, he then quickly leaped at him.

Batman tried to dodge, but Deathstroke spun the staff around, hitting the man several times. Then, he jabbed him in the chest with the end of the staff and pressed a button. It released countless volts of electricity through his body.

"AGGGHHHHHHHH!"

Batman knocked it away from his chest but was then hit by a projectile electric bolt from the staff. He was sent flying back with a powerful force.

Batman slowly got up.

Deathstroke calmly walked as he hit Batman again and again with an electric bolt. Batman began to lose his balance as Deathstroke stepped up his pace.

"Finally! I can be the one to say, I KILLED THE BATMAN!"

"Nghhhhh."

Batman felt his energy beginning to slip...he was too tired-

"You can do it mister!"

Batman heard a voice and turned his sight to behind himself.

He saw everyone at the entrance of the village. The villagers. His companions. Everyone standing there."

"Get him mister!"

"You can do it!"

"Kick his ass!"

"We believe in you!"

The villagers were cheering him on. Even with his grisly wounds. His horrible posture.

They believed he could still win.

Even his allies were hoping in his victory.

Petra.

"Get him Batman-sama!"

Otto.

"Come on! You are way stronger than him!"

Garfiel.

"As soon as I heal up I'll help ya! For now kick his ass!"

Ram.

"If you can defeat my master, this man should be nothing to you! WIN!"

Emilia.

"Please! Please win!"

Beatrice.

"You can defeat that man, I suppose!"

Subaru…

"...BATMAN! WIN!"

Frederica…

"We believe in you!"

Batman felt energy come back into his muscles as he ran forward.

"As if petty prayers are going to help you beat me!"

He fired another shot at him, but Batman dove under it and got close enough to unleash a powerful uppercut on Deathstroke. Sending high up into the air. He yanked away his staff and repeatedly struck him with it.

Then Batman threw it away and used his taser in his gauntlets to attack Deathstroke over and over again.

With that, Deathstroke roared in frustration.

He punched him in the side of the head. The impact sending snow under their feet flying.

Batman hit him back. More snow was sent flying.

Again.

Again.

Again.

More.

More.

More.

Every hit was met with another, until was a simple battle of trading blows.

Blood flew everywhere as they continued with everything they had.

Deathstroke put everything into one last punch, as he crashed his fist into the side of Batman's cheek. His sliced cheek opened further and Batman felt his mind falter.

Then Batman got his balance back, twisted his body and put everything in it.

His tightened muscles made blood fly out of his body. Every single wound opened up as he quickly clenched his hand into a fist.

His eyes seemed to shine as he let out an animalistic yell and punched Deathstroke, with enough strength that his helmet cracked.

The steam of the cold air escaped Batman's mouth as he sent Deathstroke flying back into the house they flew out of originally.

A massive crashing sound was heard as the whole house shook.

Batman breathed raged breaths, like an exhausted beast, his eyes squinting, trying his best to keep them open.

Subaru was hugging Beatrice tightly as he watched the whole ordeal.

"Stay down…"

As if to dash his hopes away, Deathstroke dashed out from the doorway and lunged towards Batman.

"DIE!"

Deathstroke pulled out a knife, ready to kill him off. Batman slightly tilted his body and watched as Deathstroke fell next to him….the knife falling out of his hands.

"...over."

Batman whispered as he looked down at the knocked out Deathstroke.

Batman tied him up and looked up at the sky.

He then glanced back at everyone and began slowly walking to them. Step by step, more blood dropped from his wounds. Subaru and the others walked forward to meet him.

As they all were now inches away from him. They could get a closer look at his horrible injuries. Then, Batman fell forward.

Subaru caught him as everyone huddled around him.

"Batman-san?! BATMAN!"

"...We...won..?"

"...Yes. We did it. Everyone is safe."

Emilia and Garfiel began to heal him. He closed his eyes as he let the cool air around him relax his tired muscles.

That was it. The battle ended. Fate was defeated and the Sanctuary was finally freed.

Bruce awoke as he felt something comfortably soft under his head. He opened his eyes as he tried to adjust his vision around him.

"You're awake?"

He looked up and saw Frederica smiling at him.

"This…?"

"I was told by Ram that was a comfortable position for people...is that wrong?"

Batman quietly sighed as he realized what she meant. She was giving him a lap pillow.

"No no. It is relaxing...thank you."

"You are most welcome….and I'm sorry."

"Hmm?"

"I-I couldn't do anything to help you and we just didn't do anything but rely on you. I'm sorry-"

"-Stop."

"Huh?"

"Frederica. If I was the only one this injured in this fight, then I'm glad for it. And you guys healed me up, so I'm thankful in that respect. There is nothing to apologize for. If you want to repay me…live."

"Live and keep living. I want to see you around. Okay? Just do that for me please?"

Bruce held her hand with his own bandaged hand and put on a small smile on his face.

Frederica looked down at him and smiled, a few droplets falling from her eyes.

"Yes. Understood."

Bruce took a deep breath and relaxed as he glanced over and realized he was entirely covered in bandages.

With this, Frederica informed him of the meeting the others had without him.

And the results of it…

1.)Roswaal would continue to support the Emilia Camp and use his finances and influence to help in any way they can.

2.)Subaru would eventually become Emilia's knight through Roswaal's authority.

3.)They wouldn't tell any of the villagers that Roswaal was behind any of these events as to continue to get their support. Even though they knew Batman, Petra and Garfiel would be against it.

4.)They would relocate to another mansion until the original mansion was repaired.

5.)Roswaal was forbidden to trying similar incidents by Contract with Emilia and Subaru..and by threat of Garfiel.

6.)And so-

"WHAT?!"

"I know Batman-sama...but it was decided by Subaru-sama and Emilia-sama so..."

"TAKE ME TO HIM….NOW!"

Subaru was finishing talking with Roswaal as he gave him a threat of destroying everything if Subaru messed up in the new loop.

However…

"You threats don't scare me anymore."

"Huh?"

"As long as Batman-san is here...you'd best be scared yourself."

Roswaal seemed a bit angered by this but put up a msile as he left. He was helped by a returning to move as he was still critically injured from Batman's attacks.

Then he slightly flinched as he saw Frederica helping lean Bruce on her shoulder. His eyes narrowed at the man in front of him. Roswaal swallowed his spit as he smiled.

"Are weeeeee even?"

"Hm…"

As Roswaal was now next to him, Bruce simply nodded...before head-butting him in the nose.

"NGH!"

"Now we're even."

Ram frowned for a bit before letting out a sigh and carrying Roswaal away.

Frederica gave Bruce a small scolding, making even him apologize to her.

Now, Bruce was facing Subaru.

"Subaru…"

"Yes…?"

"...Did you really do it?!"

"Uhhh...well-"

"-Did you really hire Deathstroke as a second bodyguard?!"

"...Yes."

"Do not say that with such a straight face please."

Batman sighed at the actions they all did while he was passed out.

"Why did you do that?"

"Well, I figured that since he seemed strong it was the best idea."

"..."

"Also, he told me that since he and Mieli failed their mission and got Elsa killed, people would probably come after them. So when we made the Contract, he asked us to house the two of them. So with this, we have more muscle on our team!"

"Err. And you're paying him?"

"Double each month what they paid him for this job."

"Who's paying for it?"

"Roswaal."

"Well at least there's one positive to all this."

Frederica sighed at Bruce's comment.

Just then, Deathstroke appeared behind them.

They all flinched but soon relaxed as they saw he had his helmet off.

"Unbelievable. He was such a capable fighter with just one eye."

"Never underestimate a person from their wounds my dear."

Slade Wilson looked at Batman and began to laugh...seeing him unmasked.

"Huhahaha! I don't believe it. Bruce Wayne is Batman...figured as much."

"...!"

"No worries, even though I'm being paid by that painted weirdo, I am under contract with the kid and the half-elf."

"Why agree to all of this?"

"...Simple. YOU."

"...?"

"If I stay close by I can have a chance to finally take you down some day...and besides...You people seem to be targeted all the time, so I might have some interesting fights in the future with you all. Thrill of the hunt Batman...thrill of the hunt."

"...You won't ever kill me."

"...We'll see."

Deathstroke began walking away as he headed down the hallway.

Bruce asked to Frederica to leave them alone for awhile as they continued talking. The two of them looked down at the body of Echidna, looking much older than the one they met in the Tomb.

"They said she was looking into the secrets of immorrtality."

"Immortality huh? Typical of people like her I guess."

"Also, I learned a bit about Roswaal."

Subaru then told him about the fact that Roswaal was using his descendants to jump from body to body in order to find a way to bring back Echidna.

"...Disgusting."

Subaru smirked as he figured that would be the very thing he would say.

Subaru helped Bruce out of the Tomb. Once they reached outside they found everyone waiting for the two of them...the heroes of the Snactuary.

Batman smiled as he saw everyone safe and sound.

Later, Subaru leanred that through his Contract with Beatrice, they could only use certain spells once a day and that most of his mana would go to her for just simple regulations.

"So I just got little girl as a parnter?"

"...Oops, I suppose."

"That's not cute at all!"

Subaru's yell was drowned out by a sound Subaru heard only once during his multitude of loops...

Bruce was laughing.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

He laughed at the two of them...who also joined in on the laughter.

And with that….a new day was set on the horizon.

"He already gave me a name, after all. I think I'll call myself Omega."

Emerging from out of a tunnel, the Lewes that was trapped inside the giant jewel had now emerged and was looking out at the lush forest around her.

With Emilia freeing the Sanctuary, she was also freed and possessed by something...

She smiled excitedly as she thought of Subaru and Batman, the two men who she had high expectations for.

Along her path, the girl sights a ring of flowers, and smiles. She plucks a flower petal, sniffs its scent, pops it in her mouth.

Even beautiful flowers shall wilt. Why must the flowers wither? Are even the beautiful memories shared between people destined to wane?

"-Ahh, why must love fade?"

Echidna...the Witch of Greed had now returned to the physical world...ready to quench her thirst for knowledge.

The battle had ended...but the world moved forward as yet another conflict, could easily be on the horizon. But for now, our heroes would rest, as the days of peace they yearned for would come...even if it was momentarily.