Night had fallen over the gathered camps—Emilia's, Anastasia's, and Crusch's. The battlefield was set near the legendary Flugel Tree, and the air inside the massive tent was thick with tension.
Inside, the key players were gathered around a large map laid across a wooden table. Candles flickered, casting shadows over the faces of warriors, strategists, and commanders.
Subaru stood with his arms crossed, taking in the sight. He had been through countless battles, but sothing about this one felt... different. Maybe it was the sheer scale of the operation, or the fact that, for once, he wasn't planning to rely on Return by Death.
Wilhelm was the first to speak, his voice sharp as a blade. "The White Whale is not an ordinary beast. Even if we gather all our forces, a confrontation will still be a gamble. We must make use of strategy, not just brute force."
Crusch nodded in agreent. "This battle is not simply about slaying a monster. Its death will mark a shift in power across the kingdom. We must ensure victory with as few casualties as possible."
Anastasia smirked, her eyes glinting. "Heh, sounds like y'all are getting a bit too serious. It's just a big ol' overgrown whale, yeah? We hit it hard enough, it dies."
Subaru sighed. "If only it were that simple." He reached into his coat and pulled out a set of cards. The Sin System had already given him a ridiculous mission, and he wasn't about to take any chances.
"The White Whale fights in three phases," Subaru explained. "First, it appears within the mist, using its stealth to disorient us. Second, it starts preying on individuals, picking them off while sowing confusion. Third, if it feels cornered, it will summon its clones."
Ferris shivered. "That's way too much for a single creature."
Subaru smirked. "Which is why we won't be fighting it in a 'fair' way. We're going to humiliate it."
Wilhelm raised an eyebrow. "Explain."
Subaru spread the cards across the table. "We're going to break its legend."
Julius then spoke, looking at everyone. "Am I the only one questioning how he knows all of this information".
[Echidna spoke in Subaru's mind. "3... 2.. 1.. and here cos a stupid answer from Crusch or Emilia that saves your ass"]
Crusch, without missing a beat, crossed her arms and spoke confidently. "Subaru's intuition and unconventional thinking have led to multiple victories before. If he says this is how the White Whale operates, I have no reason to doubt him."
Emilia nodded, smiling slightly. "Subaru always cos up with the best plans, even if they sound strange at first."
[Echidna sighed in Subaru's mind. "I swear, you have the world's dumbest luck when it cos to explanations."]
Subaru coughed into his fist, rolling with it. "Ahem. As I was saying, we're going to shatter the White Whale's legend by making a complete fool out of it. We bait it, counter its mist, and force it into an open battlefield where it has no advantage."
Anastasia tapped her chin. "And you said we'd record this?"
Subaru nodded. "Yep. If we can capture footage—either with magic or Kararagi's tech—it'll spread fast. No one will fear the White Whale if they see it getting toyed with."
Wilhelm's expression was unreadable as he listened, but his hands clenched slightly. He had waited decades for revenge. If this plan worked, not only would he get his long-awaited retribution, but the White Whale's reign of terror would be erased from history.
Julius sighed, rubbing his temples. "As ridiculous as it sounds, it is a sound plan. If we control the battlefield, we control the fight."
Subaru smirked. "Exactly. And for the finishing blow..." He turned to Wilhelm. "That honour is yours."
The old swordsman looked Subaru in the eye and nodded. "Then let us begin the preparations. The White Whale's ti is over."
Julius then looked at Subaru as he spoke. "I have questions for you Subaru".
Subaru looked at them as he spoke. "What is it".
Julius then spoke. "It's about your soul Witch's Edge". He looked at Subaru's sword, which was now in dagger mode. "It is one for the 10 Swords of power and brother to Reinhard's Dragon Sword; its Special sword technique is called Witch's Edge - Curse Dominion can cut to anything, even dignity".
Crusch rembers the spar she had with Subaru when he first got the sword as she rembers him accidentally cutting what she was wearing at the ti. "We don't talk about that"
Subaru then spoke looking at him. "Where are you going with this?".
Julius looked as he spoke. "Doesn't that an you can cut the soul?"
Subaru blinked as he spoke in his mind. "When were you going to tell the sword you Girls made can do that".
[Pandora spoke with kinda a nervous voice. "After this eting"]
Subaru looked at Julius her was so thankful for his Poker face, activating [Witch Lie] to make it more believable. "I guess so"
Wilhelm's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. "If that is true... then it changes everything."
Subaru raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
Wilhelm looked at him, the weight of decades of vengeance clear in his eyes. "The White Whale's existence is unnatural. If your sword can cut even the soul, it may be the key to ensuring its complete eradication."
Subaru sighed. "Well, it's not like I tested it on souls before."
Julius remained skeptical. "Even if you haven't, its nature as one of the Ten Swords of Power suggests that it may be capable of such feats. You should try."
Subaru internally groaned. [Echidna whispered in his mind. "You should have read the fine print when we forged the damn thing."]
["Excuse for not assuming my sword could cut concepts," Subaru retorted.]
Pandora cleared her throat in his head. ["Technically, it cuts more than concepts—it cuts the essence of things. That's why it can sever dignity. Or, uh... clothing."]
Crusch cleared her throat loudly, as if reading his mind. "Again. We don't talk about that."
Subaru sighed and waved his hand. "Alright, alright. So what, do we test it out or sothing?"
Julius nodded. "We'll find a way. If it truly works as theorized, then it may ensure the White Whale's death is absolute."
Wilhelm, for the first ti in years, allowed himself a small, grim smile. "Then let us make preparations. This ti, it will die."
After the eting was done, Subaru took a breather, as he was near a lake near the Flugle tree, as he just looked at the moon.
Subaru took a deep breath as he spoke. "You can co out, I know you are there". He said jokingly as then he Rem ca out of where she was hiding, and he spoke in his head. "Ok, what?".
[Minerva just spoke in his head. "That was convenient"]
Rem hesitated for a mont before stepping forward, clasping her hands together. "Subaru-kun... I wanted to talk to you."
Subaru raised an eyebrow, still seated by the lake. "About?"
Rem looked down, her expression uncertain. "You're planning sothing dangerous again, aren't you?"
Subaru sighed. "Rem, everything I do is dangerous at this point."
She frowned. "That doesn't an you have to do it alone."
Subaru looked away, staring at the reflection of the moon in the water. [Echidna whispered in his mind, "She's not wrong, you know. But you'll still try to carry everything, won't you?"]
["Shut up," Subaru replied ntally.]
Rem took a step closer. "I can feel it, Subaru-kun. You're bearing too much on your shoulders again." She knelt beside him, her eyes filled with unwavering devotion. "If it ever gets too heavy... let carry so of it."
Subaru glanced at her, surprised by the sheer sincerity in her voice. His usual deflective humor faltered. For once, he didn't have a sarcastic remark.
After a mont, he sighed and gave her a small smile. "You really don't give up, do you?"
Rem shook her head. "Never."
Subaru chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Alright, alright. I'll be careful. Promise."
Rem smiled, satisfied for now. But deep inside, she knew Subaru far too well. Even if he promised, he would still push himself beyond his limits.
And so, she resolved to be there, no matter what.
[Satella then spoke in his head. "You know Subaru, it is not good to tell Half Truth to People"]
Subaru ntally sighed as he replied to Satella. "It's not a lie. I said I'd be careful, and I will. That doesn't an I won't take risks."
["You know that's not what she ant," Satella whispered softly. "You always bear everything alone, even when people want to help you."]
Subaru clenched his fist slightly, staring at the lake. He knew she was right. He always had a bad habit of keeping the worst of it to himself—his burdens, his plans, his suffering. Even now, Rem saw through him.
[Pandora then chid in. "To be fair, he did activate Witch Lie when he promised, so it was technically the truth."]
[Minerva groaned. "That doesn't make it better!"]
Subaru rolled his eyes. "Geez, I can't even have a quiet mont without all of you in my head arguing."
Rem blinked. "Did you say sothing, Subaru-kun?"
Subaru quickly shook his head. "Nope. Just talking to myself."
Rem tilted her head before deciding not to question it further. "If you say so..."
She then sat beside him, her presence warm and reassuring. The two of them sat in silence, gazing at the moonlit lake, each lost in their thoughts.
Subaru knew the battle ahead was going to be brutal. But for now, just for this mont... he allowed himself to rest.
Subaru then walked away and returned to his tent; as he was looking at the Witch's Edge, the world of Julius now repeating in his head as he looked at his sword. "Cut the soul of sothing, cut through concepts like Pandora said, just A Muramasa Blade".
[Typhon spoke in his head. "Muramasa Blade?".
Echidna then spoke. "Checking Subaru morys right now"]
Subaru sighed as he sat down, still staring at the Witch's Edge. "A Muramasa Blade... a sword that doesn't just cut flesh, but concepts themselves."
["Sounds like sothing ridiculous," Daphne yawned. "But also really, really fun."]
["No, no," Echidna interrupted, sounding intrigued. "Muramasa blades in his world are said to be cursed, to cut more than intended, to bring about unintended consequences. If this sword is like that... Subaru, you could be wielding sothing far more dangerous than you realize."]
Subaru frowned. "More dangerous than a sword that can already cut dignity? Great. Just what I needed."
[Typhon giggled. "That ans you can cut more than just bodies, Subaru! You could cut lies, fate, even existence itself if it's strong enough!"]
That made him pause. "Cut existence itself...?"
For a mont, his grip on the sword tightened. What if—just what if—he could use it against Satella? Against the Witch of Envy? If he could cut through sothing even she couldn't regenerate from...
[Satella's voice, soft and sad, whispered in his mind. "Subaru, don't go down that path..."]
Subaru inhaled sharply and closed his eyes. "No. I won't. Not yet."
Shaking his head, he put the Witch's Edge down beside him. He had a battle to focus on first. Testing this sword's true limits would have to wait.
["You're not a shitty person, Subaru," Minerva sighed. "You're just an idiot. But we all knew that already."]
[Satella's voice remained soft. "It's okay, Subaru. I understand... but please, don't hate ."]
Subaru closed his eyes, running a hand through his hair. "I don't hate you, Satella. I just... I just want to find a way to fix all of this."
[Echidna scoffed. "And you think cutting through concepts is the answer? That's a dangerous road to walk, Subaru. You might end up cutting sothing you can never bring back."]
Subaru exhaled, feeling exhaustion settle in. "Then I won't use it unless I have to. But if there's ever a mont where I need to—where there's no other way—"
["Then we'll be there to stop you," Minerva said firmly. "You're not alone, idiot. Don't try to carry everything on your own."]
Subaru chuckled dryly. "You guys sure love lecturing ."
[Typhon giggled. "It's because we care, dummy!"]
Lying back, Subaru stared at the ceiling of his tent. Tomorrow, the battle against the White Whale would begin. He had plans, backup plans, and even a ridiculous overkill mission from the Sin System.
But even with all of that...
He couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get far more complicated.
To be continued
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