Act 4, Scene 9
"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅!"
A man made of muscle emerges in a swirl of shadows, his vast form - oh who am I kidding, it's Heracles again. I know that Mordred said Arthur was gonna be a recurring player, and Dagon swore eternal revenge, but what's this guy's excuse for showing up so often, huh? It looks like it's his Berserker form again, which means…
"[El Fula]!" Ram cries, flinging a blade of wind at his throat as he lunges for her, stone axe-sword already swinging - but her spell glances harmlessly off his skin, and the next moment his blade tears through her body, dispersing it into another cloud of mist.
"Nee-sama, you'll need [Al Fula] for this guy!" I shout. He's immune to everything that isn't 'the strongest', after all.
Ram clicks her tongue in irritation. "Say it faster next time, Barusu!" Again, the stone blade passes through her body and she fades into existence to strike him from behind - her hand pierces through his back, finding the demigod's heart with a fountain of blood, his glowing red eyes dulling for a moment.
"He's gonna come back!" I shout as I see Ram start to turn her attention away. "He's got twelve lives, and he becomes immune to anything that kills him!"
"[▂▂▃▃▅▅----" Again, the soul-shaking howl rings out as he moves, even as Ram re-focuses upon him. Heracles's eyes gleam once more with light - and then he shuts them, whirling to face seemingly empty-air with ferocious certitude-
"▂▂▃▃▅▅■■■■--!!]"
The sound of tearing flesh rings out as his sword strikes something invisible, nine times in a single instant. Instantly, the star that is 'Ram' vanishes from my awareness. And then-
"-Arjuna."
Without any concern for the concept of overkill, Ritsuka pronounces my death sentence.
The vast form of Heracles launches towards me, certain to kill me - but before he can even reach me, a newly-summoned dark-skinned figure raises a single hand-
-and I'm launched out of the Simulator to crash land against a soft feminine form.
"Ah, too bad, Master. You really lasted for a while that time," Shaula notes as her arms snap around me like a bear trap. Well, I guess I'm not surprised she put herself here, but…
"Where-?" I start to ask.
"I'm here, Barusu." Ram's voice echoes in my mind - she's back to being a voice in my head, apparently. How does that even… no, let's not think too hard about it. "It's probably your delusions compounding on each other." That really doesn't sound healthy!
"Where what?" Shaula tilts her head quizzically.
"No, I figured it out…" I mutter, prying myself free of her grip and rising to my feet. There's still room for improvement, though. Ram wasted a bit of time adjusting to her change in form - if she can use her opening move before Skadi appears, we might be able to get a good enough pace to win. "For now, let's go in for round two."
"That won't be possible, Natsuki Subaru," says Recorder's voice - but I left my communicator in my room, so where- ah, it's one of those creepy familiars again. I guess he was aware from the start, then? "I'll spare you another pointless lecture on risk-taking behavior; as far as the results go, I cannot complain. We have verified the viability of the mystic code provided by Wallachia, and revealed the identity of yet another of Fujimaru Ritsuka's presumable seven servants. With that Figment combined with Rem and Arima Miyako, I believe we stand a significant chance of clearing the trial come tomorrow. That said, Wallachia's mystic code is inferior to the ones developed by Leonardo Da Vinci - it will probably take around eight hours to recharge. For now, you should get some sleep."
"...No, Recorder, that won't work. Wallachia's goal seems to be related to Rem, and seeing Ram the way her rumor turned out is a good possibility for the trigger for that," I say. "I'm pretty sure using this thing around Rem is a trap. That's not even getting in to how I could end up summoning her romantic rival…"
Recorder's familiar falls silent for a good few seconds, and I almost begin to speak again before he finally replies. "I am not one with a deep understanding of the human heart, and so I cannot make these sorts of decisions. From my records, it certainly appears to be true that Rem is mentally unwell, almost as much so as yourself, but I can by no means advise on the correct method to work around or overcome said problems. My Master is too busy to consult at the moment, though considering his own inadequacies I cannot say he would be a particularly useful advisor either. For the time being, I will… defer to your judgment on the matter." The end of his sentence is forced out in a way that makes it seem almost as if he's in physical pain. "However, if we remain stalemated here for too long, I will push you on this."
This guy can be reasonable after all, huh? "Thanks, Recorder."
He doesn't respond, and a few moments later the familiar melts into the shadows of the dark Watchtower once more.
"Hmmm…" Shaula gives a little hum, frowning as a look of thoughtfulness crosses her face. I hope she doesn't hurt herself. "Master, I don't really care that much about the pains of yet another silver elf girl, buuuuut… girls don't like it when you keep secrets from them, okay?"
"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind," I sigh. I don't really think it's possible for me to lose affection points with Rem at this stage, though. "...But if there's nothing else to be done tonight, I might as well sleep, right?"
***
I lived a modest life.
I lived a lavish life.
I lived a wastrel's life.
I lived a coward's life.
So why, why, whywhywhy-!
Again, I claw free of the mountain of books, hate towards that thing surging through every part of me as I lock eyes with him.
"...'Natsuki Subaru,'" He mutters again. "Hey, won't you replace me already? Just how many more do I have to read?"
"You won't get what you want from reading this stuff anyway, you stupid bastard!" I retort, and he gives a hysterical chuckle.
"No… no, I guess I won't, right? That's right!" One of his eyes, the same color as mine, flicks towards me while the other, a glassy silver, continues to stare lazily ahead. A mad grin flashes across his face for a moment, then it's gone as quickly as it game. "Hey… so if that's the case, why are you here, Natsuki Subaru? I'd already accepted it was too late, that I couldn't patch you together, so why are you suddenly here?"
"You're the one appearing before me, you damn Figment," I groan. I don't really have any verifiable evidence that he is one, but I'll take the lifeline Recorder extended to me. "Why don't you just call Sion into the next one of these dreams, I'd rather talk to her." There's no point in negotiating with this guy.
"No, hey, I don't get it…" he mumbles. "You're a hallucination, right? I patched you together, so…"
"I'm the real one, dumbass," I growl. "You already acknowledged as much - right, before I forget. Since you're not 'Natsuki Subaru', I'm calling you Algol, the demon star, from here on out."
"Algol, huh… yeah," He grins a smile that doesn't reach his hollow eyes. "I like that, it suits me. Say, if you're actually real or something, does that mean you're here to help? Sion and I could really use an extra pair of-"
"I'm here to kill you," I answer coldly.
"Mm… yeah, that's probably what 'Natsuki Subaru' would do about a guy like me," he sighs. "You know where to find me, I guess."
"Yeah. Just wait right there. I will, definitely, kill you," I mutter, and he gives a smile that reaches his eyes.