The sky stretched endlessly, split between two forces. On one side, darkness consumed everything it touched, devouring the city and sky alike. On the other, tiny points of light sparkled like a distant galaxy, battling against the void.
Reinhardt had drawn the Dragon Sword from his waist. Only this legendary weapon, the most revered sword in the world, could contain the full force of his power. He knew this was not the Jealous Witch's true body, yet her presence and the destruction she had wrought upon thousands of lives were enough to enrage him.
A hero entrusted by the people, Reinhardt's duty was to protect the kingdom and uphold its prosperity. Had he discovered the threat sooner, fewer lives would have been consumed by darkness. Now, fury burned in his eyes, cold and unwavering.
Gripping the Dragon Sword tightly, he raised it to the sky. Instantly, a swirling galaxy of radiant energy appeared around him, forcing the encroaching darkness to recoil. Space itself seemed to fracture like glass.
Reinhardt swung, the galaxy on his blade descending as if to cleave the heavens from the earth. The collision of light and darkness was silent, yet immense. Both forces gradually dissolved, leaving only a sorrowful, fading echo in the void.
The world shimmered with a dazzling light. When it cleared, a yawning spatial rift remained, a void stretching infinitely beyond the capital. Reinhardt stood before it, grim, aware that while he had neutralized the Jealous Witch's shadow, a portion of the city had been lost. Responsibility weighed heavily on him.
From afar, Lucien Graves watched, his expression unreadable. Reinhardt's reputation was well-earned; this was truly a fighter among the overpowered. Even as an important supporting figure in this world, Lucien recognized the danger. Reinhardt's single strike was beyond his capacity to block.
If not for the Phoenix's Blessing protecting Reinhardt, perhaps Lucien could have devised a plan. Now, he dared not provoke him. The sheer destructive power of that blow alone was terrifying. Lucien even suspected Reinhardt had restrained himself to minimize collateral damage; otherwise, the capital might have vanished entirely.
As if everything reset, Lucien awoke in his bed for the 102nd time, Priscilla sleeping soundly beside him as usual. Lighting a cigar, he exhaled a plume of smoke, brows furrowed.
The Jealous Witch had appeared twice already. Another death reset had occurred. Lucien tallied silently: Natsuki Subaru had already died—directly or indirectly—128 times. Could he truly not be killed?
Lucien's frustration grew. No reincarnators or transmigrators had been located, leaving the world disappointingly barren.
"Damn it, I don't believe it," he muttered, irritation rising. The idea that Natsuki Subaru could keep returning from death was maddening. The Jealous Witch, despite her obsession with Subaru, had failed to end him permanently.
Lucien vanished from his bed and appeared at the tavern. Natsuki Subaru sat on the floor, vacant-eyed, like a hollow shell. A flick of Lucien's Finger Pistol formed a bloody hole in Subaru's forehead, and he collapsed, staining the floor red.
For days, then weeks, Lucien repeated this routine, killing Subaru relentlessly. Wake up, kill. Wake up, kill. The loop persisted, the same cycle day after day. For a month, he lost count of the deaths.
Strangely, the Jealous Witch did not intervene. Perhaps her previous appearances had drained her strength. Lucien continued, another month of relentless repetition.
Finally, the Jealous Witch appeared, attempting to awaken Subaru's spirit. Lucien had expected a formality, but she hesitated, not attacking immediately, as though wary of something.
It had to be Reinhardt.
Seizing the opportunity, Lucien vanished into the sky. The darkness reappeared, and Reinhardt, the overpowered hero, resolved the situation effortlessly. Time reset once more.
Months passed. The third, fourth, and fifth months blurred together. Lucien roughly estimated he had killed Natsuki Subaru at least one hundred thousand times over five months. He had never seen the sun set or the moon rise; each reset lasted only a single minute.
Yet this time, upon arriving at the tavern, Subaru was gone. Lucien's previously numb eyes sharpened, scanning for any trace.
Where had he gone?
Was he transferred by the Jealous Witch? Lucien's frustration erupted. Five months of monotonous repetition had nearly driven him to madness. He grabbed a cigar instinctively, only to find none remaining. Fifty boxes had been consumed.
Lucien's rage peaked, his will threatening to fracture, yet he controlled himself. Then, relief came unexpectedly.
"Successfully hunted Re:Zero—Starting Life in Another World's Child of Destiny, Natsuki Subaru. Reward: 4 Dice rolls, VIP Luck +1."
"Hoo..." Lucien exhaled, a tension he had held for five months finally dissipating.
Indeed, no one was truly immortal. If once wasn't enough, thousands or even tens of thousands of attempts would eventually succeed. The world might push a person to the brink, but Lucien's willpower was extraordinary. He had finally outlasted both the Jealous Witch and Natsuki Subaru, wearing them down until their collapse.
Now, a glimmer of excitement returned. He eagerly rolled the dice, letting fate guide him. The model airplane jumped two spaces, activating VIP Luck.
"Luck increased by fifty percent. Explanation: Within ten minutes of using this one-time consumable, luck is enhanced by fifty percent..."