Re: Zero The Great Sage

...

{3rd Pov}

[Loop 2]

"It hurts! It hurts so much! Why don't I just die already?" Subaru thought in unbearable agony. His body was writhing in pain, and tears flowed freely from his eyes as his consciousness slowly slipped away. Everything around him became blurry as his life faded into darkness.

Lying close to his lifeless body were two more corpses. One belonged to Rom, his stomach ripped open, internal organs spilling out grotesquely. The other was Felt's body—her head had been completely severed. It was an unusual sight, considering that Elsa usually preferred slicing into her victims' abdomens. She took pride in her twisted methods and rarely deviated from them.

Elsa, standing amidst the bloodshed, licked her lips with satisfaction before turning and walking out of the building. She noticed that Emilia had already managed to flee the scene.

"It's not like me to let people escape alive… But I suppose they're already on the main road by now," Elsa said with a disappointed sigh. Still, she had accomplished her objective, so she saw no reason to continue the chase. With nothing more to gain from staying, she decided to leave the area.

At the same time, Puck, weakened and fading fast, had barely succeeded in transporting Emilia to the main road before disappearing from view. He had expended all of his energy protecting her.

Emilia stumbled into the open, disoriented and panicked. Fortunately, she was still wearing her enchanted robe, which helped conceal her true appearance. Passersby noticed her sudden appearance, and some cast curious glances her way, though none recognized her race and decided to ignore.

"No! Zero!" she cried out in desperation, her voice cracking under the weight of panic and dread. Tears threatened to fall, but she pushed them back as she ran toward a group of nearby knights that she found.

Spotting them, she rushed forward and quickly explained the dire situation in the slums—how a killer was on the loose and people were dying.

However, the knights didn't react the way she had hoped. 

When they heard that the incident had occured in the slums, the Knights had already decided to ignore it. After all people died there everyday, why should they care and dirty themselves by going there?

"The slums?" one of them repeated, narrowing his eyes.

"We'll need time to mobilize a proper unit before entering that area. The killer you described sounds like the Bowel Hunter from Gusteko. We're not risking our men tonight. The earliest we can move in is tomorrow." he said acting as if he had made a smart decision, masking his disinterest in helping her.

Emilia stared at them in disbelief. Wasn't it their sworn duty to protect people? How could they just ignore what she was telling them?

"What are you talking about?! My friend is there! He's dying! We need to save him now!" she shouted, her voice filled with urgency. But the knights stood there unmoved, emotionless and indifferent.

Then one of them squinted and looked at her closely.

"Wait a second... Your hair—it's silver. And your eyes… they're purple," he said with suspicion, reaching out and pulling back the hood of her robe to reveal her face.

As soon as they saw her pointed ears and her distinctive features, realization dawned on them.

"A half-elf!" one of the knights exclaimed, drawing his sword as he stepped back in alarm. Around them, pedestrians halted and gasped. Fear began spreading through the crowd.

Emilia recoiled, startled. She quickly tried to hide her face again, pulling the robe's hood up in a panic.

"A silver-haired half-elf… No wonder you came to us with this story," the knight said with disgust. "You're trying to deceive us, aren't you? Are you working with the Bowel Hunter? Is this some kind of trap?"

"No! That's not true!" Emilia protested. "If you're not going to help, then I'll go and help him myself!"

She turned to leave, but another knight grabbed her arm tightly.

"You're not going anywhere. We suspect you're collaborating with the Bowel Hunter and trying to lure the royal guard into an ambush. You need to surrender—now!" he barked at her.

"Let go of me!" Emilia cried, struggling to free herself. But the knight only tightened his grip.

"If you resist," he growled, "we'll execute you right here in the street."

"E-Execute me…?" she whispered in disbelief. Her voice was faint, as if she couldn't process what she'd just heard.

The people nearby watched the scene unfold. They saw the knights abusing their authority, but none stepped forward to stop them. No one said a word.

The humans around her didn't care. Prejudice against demi-humans was deeply ingrained in society. And Emilia—being a silver-haired half-elf who bore a striking resemblance to the infamous Witch of Envy—was despised even more than most. Even the other demi-humans who might have helped someone else didn't dare lift a finger for her. They, too, felt uneasy at the sight of her.

Emilia stood frozen. Her thoughts raced in circles. Was Zero already dead by now? Was his pale, broken body lying in that blood-soaked wooden room?

She wasn't weak. If she really wanted to, she could fight back against these knights. But without Puck beside her—without his comforting presence—she felt emotionally overwhelmed. If she attacked them now, it would only reinforce the public's fear of her. They'd see her not as a victim but as a dangerous half-elf who lashed out at authority. That was the last thing she needed.

She was torn, unsure whether to resist or comply. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, another hand appeared—this one grabbing the wrist of the knight holding her.

"I would suggest you keep your filthy hands off my lord's guest," a stern voice said with calm authority.

"Ram!" Emilia gasped, overwhelmed by a wave of relief. A flicker of hope ignited inside her.

Ram stood tall and poised, her expression unreadable. "Lady Emilia," she said in her usual dry tone, "I warned you about wandering off on your own. And now look at the mess you've gotten yourself into."

While she wasn't particularly close to Emilia, and in fact maintained a certain distance due to her appearance and resemblance to the Witch of Envy, Ram was no fool. She could see the bigger picture unlike her younger sister. And right now, she knew Emilia needed help.

In fact, if it hadn't been for the complete absence of Witch's Miasma from Emilia, Rem would have likely attempted to kill her the very moment they first met. Rem's hatred toward anything that even remotely resembled the Witch of Envy ran deep, and a silver-haired half-elf would have triggered an immediate and violent reaction.

It was only due to a strict combination of circumstances that Rem suppressed those instincts. Firstly, she had received firm and direct orders from her Lord, Roswaal. Secondly, Puck had made a very deliberate and intimidating show of magical power, warning her not to act rashly. And thirdly, Ram had chosen to remain constantly on guard, always keep watch at her sister.

Only after all of this did she abandon the idea of killing Emilia.

"Who are you?!" the knight barked, clearly agitated as he tightened his grip. Behind him, three other knights stepped forward and unsheathed their swords, readying themselves for confrontation.

Ram, however, remained entirely calm. Without any hesitation, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a polished emblem. Holding it firmly in front of her, she presented it to the knights with an expression of cold confidence.

"I am a maid currently carrying out official duties under the Noble House of Mathers," she stated flatly. "At this moment, I am representing the authority of Lord Roswaal L. Mathers himself. You are attempting to arrest the most important guest of the current Lord. May I ask, what justification do you have for such a reckless and unauthorized act?"

Her strong posture, unwavering voice, and the imposing presence she carried with her caused the knights to falter. They glanced at one another in hesitation.

Their eyes dropped to the emblem in her hand. As knights, they had undergone formal training and were expected to be familiar with the major noble houses of the kingdom. Among those, the House of Mathers stood out prominently—on the same tier as the Karsten House and the Astrea House. The emblem's authenticity was undeniable.

The tension suddenly shifted. The knights instantly released their hold on Emilia, their foreheads beading with sweat. Their aggressive stance vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Emilia, still shaken, quickly began explaining everything to Ram—the entire situation, including the horrifying events at the slum.

She even admitted that her insignia had been lost.

Fortunately, the knights remained unaware of the true nature or significance of the Royal Insignia. They didn't recognize its shape, design, or magical properties.

The average citizen certainly wouldn't have known either.

When Ram heard this, she didn't react visibly or draw attention to it in front of the others. She kept her expression neutral, understanding immediately what had actually been lost.

Internally, however, Ram was frustrated. How could things spiral out of control so quickly?

First, she had somehow managed to lose Emilia—or rather, ahem, Emilia had carelessly separated from her during a crucial time.

Then, she had wasted time by strolling around—ahem, completely hindered—by a particularly annoying and loud individual wearing a ridiculous helmet who kept interfering.

After that, she had been leisurely searching ahem, diligently and tirelessly searching for Emilia all across the area at a perfectly acceptable pace.

And now this? This complete disaster was what awaited her?

Nonetheless, Ram took control of the situation almost immediately. She issued direct orders to the knights, invoking her authority under the Noble House of Mathers. The knights, now aware of the power Ram represented, didn't dare refuse. They complied and accompanied her and Emilia toward the slums.

Unfortunately, their arrival came far too late.

By the time they reached the location, the damage had already been done. Emilia stood frozen in shock as she looked at Subaru's lifeless body. The blood, the broken limbs, the vacant stare in his eyes—it was too much. The corpses of the other two victims, Rom and Felt, only made the horror worse.

Subaru's death shattered her. Emilia broke down in front of everyone, unable to contain her emotions any longer. Her mind spiraled into despair as she realized what had happened. Her insignia was missing. Subaru was dead. And worst of all, the thought kept echoing in her head—if she hadn't run away, if she had stayed behind, maybe… just maybe, Zero would still be alive.

Overcome with self-blame and guilt, Emilia collapsed to the ground in tears. Her sobs echoed in the quiet, bloodstained air. All she could do was cry, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Ram, seeing the emotional collapse, sighed quietly but stepped forward. Despite their distant relationship, despite her usual cold demeanor, Ram gently wrapped her arms around Emilia and allowed her to cry into her shoulder.

At that moment, she didn't speak, didn't scold, didn't judge. She simply held Emilia, supporting her like a child in need of comfort.

Ram felt only a faint trace of pity for the boy's fate.

She looked at his corpse for a few seconds longer than necessary, then turned away.

In her mind, her thoughts were cold and blunt, as always.

'What an idiot,' she thought. 'If only he hadn't interfered, he would still be alive. He brought this on himself. In the end, this is the result of his own foolishness. I suppose he deserved this death.'

Ram didn't soften her judgment. She wasn't someone known for her empathy, and even now, faced with such a senseless death, she remained unwavering in her views.

Later that night, Reina arrived at the scene.

It was her day off, but she had been patrolling nearby out of habit when she heard whispers of the incident. Curious and concerned, she made her way over.

When she reached the area and saw the aftermath—especially the body of Subaru—something unexpected happened.

Everyone around watched in stunned silence as tears poured down Reina's cheek as if they had their own will.

She didn't understand why.

She didn't even know his name, had never once seen him alive. And yet, the moment she laid eyes on his lifeless body, an overwhelming, hollow feeling consumed her.

Her chest felt tight, as though something essential had been ripped from it. The grief that overtook her made no sense—but it was undeniable.

The night passed slowly.

Emilia was inconsolable.

Ram, observing from a distance, silently reached a conclusion of her own. She knew Roswaal well enough to predict his response.

Now that Emilia had lost the insignia, failed to fulfill her mission, Roswaal would likely discard her. In his eyes, she would be useless. Just another failed pawn.

Strangely enough, Ram didn't consider that a bad outcome.

In fact, she thought Emilia's failure might be a blessing in disguise. If Roswaal abandoned her, then Emilia would no longer be a part of his twisted plans. She would be free—no longer manipulated as one of his pieces on a grand political chessboard.

Meanwhile, Reina remained behind long after the others had gone.

She stayed near Subaru's corpse for the entire night when it was brought to the Knights' base, never leaving his side.

Guilt weighed heavily on her, even though she didn't know why.

She hadn't spoken to him, hadn't met him, hadn't even been involved in any part of the events that led to his death.

And yet, looking at his body felt like looking at the embodiment of something precious that had been lost forever.

A deep sorrow consumed her.

"Who was he?" she whispered to herself, still staring at him. "Why… why do I feel this way?"

Her knees trembled. Her hands shook. And her thoughts, usually sharp and composed, were now jumbled with emotion and confusion.

"O-Od Laguna," she finally muttered, her voice cracking. "Please… grant me a blessing to revive him."

She had never dared to ask such a thing before.

The very concept of resurrection bordered on heresy. She had always believed that bringing back the dead was beyond even the most powerful divine protections.

But her heart wouldn't allow her to simply walk away.

She had already been given two incredibly powerful divine protections by Od Laguna—one being the Divine Protection of the Phoenix, and the other being the even more terrifying Divine Protection of Adaptation. She understood full well that she had the potential to receive any power she requested if she truly wanted to.

But she had always restrained herself.

She considered herself a monster, deep down. If she ever began to use her connection to Od Laguna purely to gain power, she feared she would become exactly what she hated—a power-hungry parasite who stole abilities without thought or care.

A disgusting woman driven by nothing but greed.

This time, though, she was desperate. She begged—not for herself, but for a stranger she didn't even know.

But Od Laguna remained silent.

Reina waited. She stood there in stillness, her hands clenched in prayer.

Minutes passed.

The silence didn't break.

Then she felt it.

Something was wrong.

Her connection to Od Laguna—something that had always felt absolute—was beginning to fade. The presence, once so strong and divine, was growing distant. But that wasn't all. The world around her… it too was changing.

No—erasing.

"W-What is happening?" she panicked, stepping backward as the scenery around her started to shimmer and dissolve. All across the land, people began to feel it. Confusion, terror, and awe spread like wildfire as the very fabric of existence started to unravel.

Reina, in a last-ditch effort to understand what was happening, activated every divine protection she had. Her body glowed with layers of magical power, and her senses reached out across the world. She analyzed the flow of mana, time, and space—and then finally understood the truth.

Time itself was being erased. 

"N-No! I can't let this—" she shouted, but her voice broke off as she watched in horror. In front of her, Reid—the legendary Divine Sword that had once slain thousands of dragons and stood at the peak of combat in the world—crumbled into dust and vanished. If even that weapon could not survive, then nothing could.

The world around her collapsed rapidly, vanishing in chunks like broken glass being swept into darkness. And yet, she persisted. Somehow, she remained. The only things left in that void were herself… and Subaru's lifeless body.

For some reason, seeing that his body still remained intact gave her a strange sense of relief.

She stopped resisting.

There was no more point. With her strength spent and her emotions hollowed out, she simply closed her eyes and gave up.

And then, she too faded—vanishing from the world as though she had never existed.

Satella appeared beside Subaru's corpse in this destroyed reality.

She looked down at him silently. Something stirred in her heart—longing, grief, and an unfamiliar tenderness.

"Why… did she felt longing for him? Flugel never mentioned her and she had never met him" Satella asked herself aloud, confused.

Inside her, the entity known as Envy began to rise—angry, desperate, jealous. Envy screamed that only she could have Subaru. No one else was worthy. No one else was allowed near him.

Satella ignored her counterpart, and thanked the Great Sage that she hadn't taken control of over her.

When she observed Subaru's body which had healed completely, him being merely unconscious.

"He's… getting stronger?" she whispered, astonished. "Is he… regaining his abilities?"

Relief washed over her. She had been prepared to reveal herself to him if he had died again—to form a contract, to grant him her powers directly, so he wouldn't keep dying helplessly.

But now, maybe it wasn't necessary.

He was Becoming stronger and perhaps regaining what had been lost.

Satella remembered Flugel's words clearly—Don't intervene unless absolutely necessary. That was what had stopped her until now. And that was what would continue to stop her.

For the time being, she decided to hold back. She wouldn't meet him.

Without touching him, without speaking, she used their shared link with his authority to rewind time once more. Subaru's consciousness was pulled away from the corpse. Reality folded over itself like a page being turned in a book.

Once again, Subaru awoke near the familiar fruit stand—the Appa Stand—completely unaware of everything that had transpired.

Satella, in turn, returned to her prison in the Watchtower, where she would remain locked away.

Had it not been for the shared connection of the Authority of Envy, even she would have been erased with the timeline.

That is show strong Subaru's version of Authority of Envy was.

Satella expectantly watched her husband silently praying 'Husband I know it! You can do it! Show them the greatness of the Great Sage!'

'I love him, I love him, I love him, I love him, I love him...' Envy stirred within her.

Satella replied to her annoyed 'Shut up!'

'You shut up!' she received the Witch's reply.

Satella blinked her eyes stunned... did the Witch just?

To be continued...

(A/N: Why I am receiving so few power stones? Bruh do you not want the chaps?

This chapter is 10.5 and the one promised when the chapter 10 will be finished, officially the chapter 10 of this fic has been finished, although it is only the raw version.

For the released, our story is just on the starting bits of the chapter 10.

But anyway! How do you like this story?

It is not an parody but totaly the cannon of this fic, it shows what has happened in these failed loops.

Again 3k words. Man why cannot you appreciate my hardwork?!

I Will go on hiatus for a week! No two weeks! If you keep ignoring my fic! Hmph!)