The air in the room was thick with tension. The impact of Garfiel's punch still echoed through the chamber, a reminder of the sudden hostility. But despite the force behind it, Venom had stopped it with ease, his transformed arm gripping Garfiel's fist like a predator toying with its prey.
Venom's thoughts drifted in amusement. Wow, I gave a cool dialogue. I wanted to say this so many times.
Subaru, hearing his thoughts through their shared symbiotic bond, sighed internally. Stop showing off, Venom.
With a sharp breath, Subaru spoke first, hoping to defuse the situation before Garfiel did something reckless again. "Garfiel, he's not a demon. He might look like it, but Venom is not our enemy."
Anastasia, arms crossed, nodded in agreement. "Child, Venom is our benefactor. He's helping us."
Julius, ever the cautious knight, rested his hand on his sword hilt but did not draw it, watching Venom with wary eyes. The golden-haired warrior, however, was not so easily convinced. Garfiel's glare remained sharp, his body tense and ready to strike again.
Venom chuckled and, with a deliberate motion, withdrew the transformed arm, letting Garfiel's hand go free. The symbiote stretched slightly, its tendrils retracting into Subaru's form, though the presence of the alien creature still lingered.
"...You look the worst out of all of us," Subaru muttered, taking in Garfiel's appearance. His blond hair was matted with blood, his clothes torn in too many places to count. The exhaustion on his face was undeniable.
But Garfiel's focus remained locked onto Venom, his sharp eyes filled with suspicion.
Venom grinned, his jagged maw curling into something between amusement and mockery. "Stop looking at me like that, little cat. We are a good hero."
The jab made Garfiel's eye twitch. "Who the hell are you callin' a cat, ya talkin' blob of black goo?!"
"Oh? This 'talkin' blob of black goo' could kick your butt any day, stripes."
"You bet?! Keep that nasty tongue away from me, bastard!"
Hearing this Venom Transfromed totally by not giving Subaru a chance to talk and ready to teach this cat a lesson.
Before the argument could escalate, Anastasia exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples. Her patience had officially run out. "Enough. We are in a crisis, not a circus. Stop acting like kids."
Venom retracted slightly, his massive form shrinking down as he merged back into Subaru-though his head remained out, grinning like an impish shadow clinging to the boy's body. "Sheesh, so serious. Fine, fine."Subaru sighed
"I don't know how you're gonna handle these two," Anastasia muttered, side-eyeing Subaru.
"Don't worry," Subaru replied, a smirk tugging at his lips. "They'll learn to be friends. I'll make sure of it."
But both Garfiel and Venom scoffed at the idea, neither willing to acknowledge the other as anything more than a nuisance.
Venom's thoughts slithered into Subaru's mind. Fat chance, buddy. That little cat thinks he can take us? Ha! We'd eat him for breakfast.
Subaru internally rolled his eyes. Please don't eat my allies.
He shifted his attention back to Garfiel, whose expression had softened slightly. The beastman's fury had subsided somewhat, though his exhaustion was still painfully evident. His body was in rough shape, far worse than the rest of them.
"...Anyway, we're all alive," Subaru said, breaking the silence.
Garfiel exhaled through gritted teeth. "Right. My amazin' self and Captain survived, so that's all good 'n well, but we can't even celebrate it. F#ck it all." His voice carried bitterness, the weight of their struggles evident in every syllable.
Anastasia, standing beside him, allowed herself a small, knowing smile. "Garfiel, look around. Venom saved all the victims. They're human again."
At her words, Garfiel's head snapped up. His sharp gaze darted across the room, finally registering the sight before him. Dozens of people-once grotesquely transformed into monstrous forms-had returned to their human bodies. Some were still trembling, some were silent in shock, but all were undeniably alive.
Then, as if his body moved on instinct, Garfiel rushed forward.
His feet pounded against the floor as he reached a specific figure among the newly restored victims. His knees hit the ground with a heavy thud.
The others followed his gaze.
Venom's voice slithered out in recognition. "Oh, we know him. Fake dragon."
Subaru's brows furrowed. "The one who was turned into a black dragon... is he...?"
Garfiel's hands clenched into fists. "Good... good... He didn't die."
Subaru watched as Garfiel stared up at the man in front of him, his expression unreadable.
Venom's tone turned eerily neutral. "His mind's been damaged. It'll take months, maybe years, for him to recover his sense of self. But at least the snack is alive."
Garfiel's shoulders shook. He didn't respond immediately.
Then, after a long pause, his voice came, strained yet firm. "...My amazin' self thanks you... thank you for savin' him... He must be saved... otherwise..."
Julius, observing the exchange, spoke in a measured tone. "He's been like this for a while now. Apparently, it appears to be someone he knows."
Subaru frowned. "An acquaintance? Garfiel, is this someone you know from the city?"
But Garfiel remained silent.
His hands trembled. His throat bobbed as he fought to suppress something deep within himself.
Then, Subaru saw it-the slight, desperate quiver in Garfiel's shoulders.
Garfiel was trying his best not to cry.
Without a word, Subaru stepped forward and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"...It's okay."
The words were simple. But the weight they carried allowed the dam to break.
Garfiel sucked in a sharp breath. His body hunched forward, his hands gripping the unconscious man's clothing tightly. A ragged sob escaped him, raw and painful.
No one spoke. No one interrupted.
They simply stood there and let him cry.
After the tense moment between Garfiel and Venom, the group left the young beastman alone to process his emotions. The air in the main hall was thick with exhaustion, but there was no time for rest. Every moment counted in this chaos.
As Subaru walked through the hall, Venom's voice echoed in his mind.
"Subaru, buddy, I think I need some time to synthesize with dragon blood."
Subaru frowned. He had thought Venom could absorb anything without issue.
"What? I thought you could do it easily."
"Hah! Buddy, normally I can. But this? This stuff is like expired food. All rotten and weird. It's not even pure dragon blood-every part of it acts differently. I need to clean it up before I absorb it."
Subaru felt a chill crawl up his spine. If even Venom found something off about the blood, then there was no doubt-it was connected to something beyond their understanding.
Before Subaru could press further, Anastasia's sharp gaze turned toward the entrance of the hall.
A burly, familiar figure stepped inside-Ricardo. His heavy boots thudded against the floor as he waved a hand in greeting.
"Yo, you came back," Venom commented, his voice carrying an amused edge.
Anastasia's expression remained composed, but there was a flicker of relief in her eyes. "Ricardo, welcome back. How's the situation outside?"
Ricardo exhaled sharply. "Does this look like a happy face, miss? It's pretty bad. It's prolly worsenin' with time. Those bastards know how to make a mess."
"Hah! Villains are always good at makin' trouble," Venom quipped, though there was a sharp undertone to his voice.
Ricardo ran a hand through the fur on his head, irritation clear in his posture. He began issuing commands to members of the Iron Fang, sending some to reinforce the perimeter while others were given a chance to rest.
Subaru, watching the exchange, felt something gnawing at him. There was something Venom wasn't saying.
"Wait, what do you mean the Witch Cult's making trouble?" Subaru finally asked. "I mean, I know the situation's already bad, but... is there something else?"
Before Ricardo could answer, another voice cut in.
"The broadcast, Captain. It was that goddamn broadcast."
Subaru turned to see Garfiel descending the stairs, his usual aggressive energy subdued. The red marks beneath his eyes were proof of his earlier tears, but he ignored them, his expression hardening as he stepped forward.
Venom let out a dramatic sigh. "Subaru, don't worry about having a slow mind. That's why we're here! Remember that bitch who played with you?"
Subaru's breath caught. A name surfaced in his mind.
"Capella..."
Julius, who had been silent until now, opened his eyes. "Venom is correct. The way the Archbishop of Lust phrased her words was deliberately poisonous."
Ricardo crossed his arms. "Thanks to her, the people at the shelters I visited had their spirits crushed. It's hard to get 'em motivated when they think the fight's already lost."
The weight of their words sank into Subaru like a stone. He clenched his fists.
Capella had played her role perfectly.
Earlier, during the battle, she had broadcasted a message across the city. She had listed out her demands and announced Subaru's defeat at the hands of the Witch Cult.
To the ordinary citizens, the news was devastating. The ones who had no combat ability were completely demoralized, and those who could fight now hesitated.
Everyone understood what the battle for City Hall had meant. They had powerful fighters on their side. But if even they had failed-if even Subaru and his allies had been crushed-then what chance did the others have?
Capella's words had been a dagger aimed at the heart of their resistance.
The city was theirs for the taking, and she knew it.
Ricardo's voice carried the weight of grim reality.
"Thanks to the records in City Hall, I found the locations of all the shelters in the city and visited the nearby ones one by one. But... you can guess how that went."
His words reaffirmed Subaru's worst fears. It wasn't just a logistical nightmare-it was a psychological war. The people weren't unmotivated because of Ricardo's efforts. They had already lost the battle in their hearts. And it wasn't their fault. It was the Witch Cult's doing.
They had crushed hope so thoroughly it was almost impressive.
Subaru clenched his fists. "Maybe Priscilla and Liliana could-"
He stopped mid-sentence, the weight of reality crashing down on him. Two people alone couldn't change the minds of thousands. It was too much.
"Hah! Buddy, let's be real. That ego queen ain't wastin' her precious time playin' hero," Venom quipped, his tone dripping with mockery. "She'll stick to that weird little butler of hers before liftin' a finger for anyone else."
Subaru groaned. As much as he hated to admit it, Venom had a point. Priscilla's arrogance meant she rarely involved herself in matters that didn't serve her immediate interests.
Anastasia, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke.
"Without determination, we won't have courage. The next fight'll be dangerous indeed..."
Her tone was calm, measured, in stark contrast to the storm brewing in Subaru's chest. He looked up, and she met his gaze with knowing eyes.
"Ooooh, Venom likes you, saleswoman," Venom suddenly said, his voice filled with amusement.
Anastasia tilted her head slightly at the odd remark but didn't let it distract her.
"Even if we fight, we have no chance of winnin'-puttin' that thought into everyone's mind encourages them to give up without a fight. What do ya think'll happen next?"
Subaru exhaled, already knowing the answer. "They'll give up, fall into despair, and become depressed... is that what you're getting at?"
Anastasia chuckled, though there was no warmth in it. "If they just wanna hug their knees and cry, that'd be almost childishly endearin', don't'cha think? But that won't be the case. If ya lose the option to fight but the will to live doesn't vanish... what's left?"
A creeping unease settled over Subaru as he pieced together her meaning.
"Ohhh, ohhh, wait, wait, I got this one-" Venom cut in. "You're sayin' we got ourselves a 'sacrifice-your-buddy-for-survival' kinda deal?"
The horror of the realization struck Subaru like a blow to the stomach.
Capella hadn't just demoralized the city-she had poisoned it.
By stripping the people of their belief in resistance, she had left them with only two choices: surrender or turn on each other.
As if to drive the point home, Anastasia clapped her hands together. "The answer to their salvation's already been given, in the form of a request, no less. Thus, it makes sense that people would show up, who'd be tryin' to fulfill those demands out of desperation. That goes for the owners of the Artificial Spirits and the Book of Wisdom. And it wouldn't be odd if even those 'lovers and married couples' started poppin' up."
Subaru's stomach twisted. "But not everyone would go to those extremes, right!?"
"Certainly not. There are some who'd refuse to trade their survival for the lives of others," Anastasia admitted. "Those'd instead seek a way to flee the city. No matter what, there'll be plenty of panic, and we won't be able to get anythin' done in the confusion."
Venom let out a dramatic groan. "Uggghhh, civil war's gonna break out at any minute, huh? Classic bad guy move. Gotta respect the dedication to bein' the worst."
The thought alone made Subaru's blood run cold.
Once panic took hold, the already fragile balance would shatter. The city would tear itself apart-not because of direct force, but because the Witch Cult had planted the seeds of destruction in their minds.
And worst of all?
They had the power to flip that switch at any time.
Subaru gritted his teeth, fists clenched at his sides. He could already see it-panic spreading like wildfire, consuming what little unity the city still had. Fear would rot people's resolve until they turned on each other, and the Witch Cult wouldn't even need to lift a finger.
And if that happened, there would be no coming back from it.
"Before that happens... could we somehow visit everyone and motivate them?" he asked, desperation creeping into his voice.
Anastasia sighed, folding her arms. "That's not very realistic, is it?"
Her words struck him harder than they should have. It was just like her-cold, pragmatic, unwilling to waste time on sentimentality.
"Then the actual problem is that this situation's too damn pessimistic!" Subaru shot back.
"Heh. Listen, bug boy," Venom interjected, his voice slithering with amusement. "You wanna change all these scared little people? Easy. Just find someone really good at pep talks. Like, uh... us."*
Subaru blinked, surprised. "Wait, what?"
"What? We're inspiring! Heroic! Magnificent!" Venom flexed dramatically, tendrils writhing around him. "C'mon, haven't ya seen how people love a big, scary monster speech? We'll have 'em begging to fight!"
Subaru almost laughed. It was a stupid thought, really. And yet... maybe not so stupid.
Panic wasn't an enemy you could fight head-on. It was a creeping thing, burrowing into people's hearts. And the only way to beat it? Hope.
"Venom's right!" Subaru suddenly declared, his voice gaining strength. "We're preparing for a counteroffensive! Just knowing that much-that we have a plan, that we're fighting-that alone is enough to keep people from giving in to despair!"
Anastasia tilted her head, unconvinced. "I think we should be prepared for some damage as a result, at least. I don't think it's worth the effort, and they'll get carried away with their antics again."
Something about the way she said it made Subaru scowl. It was too detached, too dismissive.
"Wait, wait, Anastasia-san. That's not what I have in mind at all."
She sighed, rubbing her temple as if exhausted by his stubbornness.
"We should at least expect losses this time," Venom added, his voice unusually serious. "This ain't a comic book. People are gonna die."
"That's exactly what we're trying to avoid," Subaru shot back.
Anastasia's expression hardened. "Natsuki-kun's ideal of refusin' to sacrifice anyone-admirable as it is-ain't realistic. Our forces took too much damage in the first stage of the battle. We won't pull through without takin' some losses. Isn't that obvious?"
Subaru flinched. The first stage... and the second... yes, he had lost people before. That much was true.
But that didn't mean he would accept it.
"That doesn't mean we have to keep letting it happen!" Subaru's voice rose. "The whole point is to find a way where no one else has to die!"
Venom gave a slow, approving nod.
Anastasia, however, remained unmoved.
"If we were about to launch one final, victorious strike, I'd agree withcha," she admitted. "But that ain't the case. The only people who should be put on the boat are those who still have the will to swim, even if it sinks. Puttin' those who will drown on board ain't a winnin' strategy. They'll just be deadweight."
Subaru's breath hitched. "--! Winning or losing--!"
Anastasia's eyes flashed dangerously. "And if we lose, all of us drown! If you don't care about winnin' or losin', then let's talk about livin' or dyin'!"
Her words struck like a hammer.
"Natsuki-kun, your philosophy of taking no losses is really too naïve!"
Subaru clenched his fists.
She was wrong.
She had to be wrong.
But if she was... why did it feel like he was the one being cornered? a firm hand shot out in front of him.
Julius.
The knight's expression was unreadable, his gaze not on Subaru but on Anastasia. He stood still, poised, as if weighing every word carefully before speaking.
"Anastasia-sama," he began, voice measured but firm. "I understand your feelings. But I must agree with Subaru. Even if preventing your worries is impossible, I would rather face them head-on. Damaging our morale... that is exactly what the Witch Cult wants."
Subaru's breath caught in his throat.
"J-Julius!"
Julius... was siding with him?
The man he had butted heads with countless times, the so-called Finest of Knights, the embodiment of discipline and rationality-he was standing against his own master to support Subaru?
For a moment, Subaru felt an unfamiliar surge of confidence. He wasn't wrong. If even Julius agreed with him, then there was no way his ideals were foolish.
But Anastasia didn't flinch. If anything, her fingers idly caressed the scarf around her neck, her expression unreadable.
"Do you think I enjoy talking so loosely about taking losses?" she asked, her voice calm but carrying the weight of frustration. "I don't even know for a fact that the other shelters will fall into chaos. It's just a possibility. But even so, there's no way we can chase down every little problem, one by one."
Julius opened his mouth to respond, but Anastasia pressed forward.
"You're not a child anymore, so you understand, don'tcha?" she continued, eyes sharp. "Our resources are stretched thin. The only way to handle the Witch Cult is to put everything into offense. And even then, we've only got so much to work with. If we spread ourselves too thin, we'll be left with nothin'."
Julius' jaw tightened. He said nothing, but Subaru could see the way his fists clenched behind his back, his knuckles turning white.
And then-
"Unlike other so-called knights, we are not afraid to get our hands dirty," a deep, growling voice cut through the air. *"We agree with her."
Subaru turned to see Venom's hulking form shifting restlessly from his own Body, tendrils writhing with barely contained energy.
"You wanna save everyone, Buddy, but we know better. Sacrifices are inevitable. Some must fall so others can rise!"
For a split second, Subaru felt like the floor had given out beneath him.
Venom... agreed with Anastasia?
A lump formed in his throat. He had expected Julius to take issue with his plan, but for Venom to side against him to instead-it left a hollow ache in his chest.
Because deep down, he knew why.
Even if he didn't want to admit it, even if the very thought of it made his stomach churn, the truth was clear.
The weight of saving even one life was immense. To save even one person was an uphill battle. And the more lives one tried to protect, the more fragile the situation became.
Just like a basket overflowing with appas.
The more you held, the more likely some would slip from your grasp. The more weight you carried, the likelier your own strength would fail.
And if your arms gave out completely, everything would be lost.
"We're talkin' about winning here," Anastasia pressed, her voice steely. "We need to compromise as adults instead of railin' on like spoiled children. A Knight's reputation shouldn't be so cheap that ya can't see the difference, right?"
Julius closed his eyes.
Subaru could see it-the tension in his shoulders, the way his breath slowed, the rigid clench of his fingers.
Julius knew.
He understood.
And yet, even knowing that, he lowered his head, silently accepting Anastasia's words.
Subaru gritted his teeth.
No.
No, that wasn't how this was going to end.
"Giving up here means that the pride of a knight will be sullied," Subaru declared.
Anastasia let out a sharp breath, as if exasperated.
"Hey, Natsuki-kun, have ya been listenin' at all? You're actin' just like you did back at the Royal Castle. You've come a long way, but you're a Knight now too, y'know."
Subaru lifted his chin.
"Yes, I'm a Knight now," he agreed. "And because I'm a Knight, I'll never give in!"
The more appas you held, the likelier they were to fall.
But they weren't carrying fruit.
They were carrying lives.
Lives that screamed and sobbed and mattered.
And Subaru would rather break his arms than let even one slip away.
Subaru took a step forward, his breath steady despite the fire burning in his chest.
"This is something that's mattered to me from the very beginning." His voice carried across the tense air, firm and unwavering. "I still act at the mercy of that ideal. The morals of this world have not affected me that much yet."
Anastasia narrowed her eyes, fingers grazing the fabric of her scarf as she watched him closely.
"You're sayin' somethin' mysterious again..." she mused, though her voice lacked its usual teasing lilt. Her tone was more measured now, careful. "But the fact of the matter is, during the battle against the White Whale, and the battle with the Witch Cult afterward... people died. For sure, there were casualties in those fights."
Her words cut deep, but Subaru didn't waver.
"Natsuki-kun, did ya say anything like this regardin' those fights too?"
Subaru clenched his fists.
"Don't treat me as a fool, Anastasia," he snapped, his voice rising despite himself. "Their deaths were tragic, but those people were prepared to die in battle, even if they did not want to die. They understood what they were doing. There's a big difference between those who were prepared and innocent civilians, who are not!"
It was unreasonable. Illogical, even.
But this was what he believed.
It wasn't about numbers or strategy. It was about what was right.
The people of this city-the merchants, the artisans, the families-should not be forced to prepare themselves for death. They weren't soldiers, nor should they be expected to become them. It wasn't their obligation to see their homes as battlefields.
"Even if it's wrong, people will be attacked even if they're unprepared," Anastasia pressed. "And when that happens, won't those people have to be prepared?"
Subaru shook his head.
"No. It's only logical that those who have prepared themselves for battle will be met by others likewise prepared for battle." His voice didn't waver, filled with certainty. "That's what Knights are for. It's their duty to protect those who aren't prepared to protect themselves!"
That was the kind of Knight he idealized.
That was the kind of Knight he had pretended to be, back in the village, standing before wide-eyed children who had clung to his every word. To them, he had been a hero, a fearless warrior who stood against the impossible.
And, if only for them-if only for Emilia, who had watched him with those bright, hopeful eyes-he wanted to be that Knight.
"As Emilia's Knight, I want to fight for Emilia." His heart pounded, his voice strong. "But that doesn't mean that no one but Emilia matters."
He turned his gaze to Anastasia, meeting her calculating eyes head-on.
"Anastasia-san, as your Knight, Julius fights, above all, for you. But he doesn't want to stop there. He's not satisfied with just that. That's the nature of a Knight."
A small smirk played at Subaru's lips.
"They'll stop at nothing to look dashing and valiant."
Anastasia didn't respond. For the first time since their argument had begun, she was speechless.
And Subaru wasn't done yet.
"Julius especially," he continued, flashing a grin. "He could be on the verge of death and still be putting on that cool act of his, because this bastard is the Finest of Knights. In other words, he wants to look way cooler than anyone else."
Julius stiffened, his already rigid posture becoming even more pronounced. A rare look of embarrassment crossed his face.
And then-
"Your embarrassed face with Ye-Ye Ye ass hair cut looks cute-so much, it makes us wanna eat you!"
Venom's deep, growling voice rumbled through the air, his sharp grin widening into something downright unsettling. The symbiote's tendrils writhed eagerly, his amusement barely contained.
Julius turned pale.
Subaru snorted.
Anastasia, for her part, was stunned-a rare sight in and of itself. Between her stunned silence and Julius's uncharacteristic awkwardness, Subaru couldn't help but feel triumphant.
A grin tugged at his lips.
It probably wasn't the time nor the place, but damn it, it felt good.
"Defeating the bad guys is a simple enough goal."
Subaru's voice echoed through the dimly lit hall, his fists clenched tightly. The weight of his words pressed down on his chest, but he didn't falter.
"But deciding to live with the guilt of making sacrifices is ridiculous. Everyone must be saved. Every villain must be defeated. Even if you don't succeed, you have to set out with that idea, right?"
His heart pounded. He knew how naïve he sounded. How absurdly unrealistic his ideals were. But if he let go of them-if he accepted that sacrifices were necessary-what made him different from the Witch Cult?
A low, rumbling chuckle filled his mind.
"I am now lucky to have you as my host, Subaru."
Venom's voice carried an odd warmth, something rare from the usually snarky, chaotic symbiote.
"I agree with you. If we start to sacrifice innocent people, then we are no different from those Witch Cult freaks. I'm happy to see you fight for those who can't. Let's live as Good Guys. It's the more satisfying way to live-way better than living with regrets."
A grin tugged at Subaru's lips. Hah. Even this guy gets it.
Choosing to accept sacrifices from the start was not the same as failing to stop them. He understood that this mindset could easily be dismissed as self-satisfaction, as arrogance, but-
"--To live for your own satisfaction is the most human way to live. I completely agree with you, bro."
A new voice.
Subaru froze.
"What."
Even Venom sounded stunned.
Everyone's heads snapped toward the entrance of City Hall. A figure stood there, casually leaning against the doorway, his presence both relaxed and unnervingly natural.
The man scanned the room, blinking at the attention suddenly thrown his way. Then, with a sigh, he raised his hand in mock surrender.
"Hey, looking at me with such enthusiasm is a little off-putting. I know my seductiveness isn't exactly at its prime, so I don't know how well I'd meet all your expectations."
Subaru's breath hitched.
"--Al."
There he was. Al.
The man who had vanished after leaving the hotel that morning. He looked perfectly unharmed, his usual casual demeanor intact.
From the side, Anastasia tilted her head, her fox-like smile curving slightly.
"Well, someone's back earlier than I thought."
Al's helmet turned slightly toward her before shifting to the rest of the group. His gaze flickered around the room, scanning each face one by one.
"Are these the only familiar faces here? Weren't there more this morning?" He paused, his posture stiffening slightly as his attention landed on one particular figure. "Wait... who the hell is this?"
Venom immediately puffed out his chest-well, as much as a symbiotic mass of darkness could.
"We are not a this," Venom declared, his deep, distorted voice carrying an exaggerated sense of pride. "We are living beings!"
Al blinked.
"Ooh, sorry, pal. Didn't mean it that way. Name's Ai."
Venom tilted his head.
"We are Venom."
A sharp shift in the atmosphere.
Garfiel, who had been silently watching, narrowed his eyes. His sharp gaze locked onto Ai with undisguised suspicion, muscles tensing instinctively.
Venom rumbled. "This guy... he's got a weird air to him."
Ai raised his hands in mock offense.
"What, bro? Do I smell bad?"
Venom let out an amused snort.
"No. We are not saying you smell bad. But you... somehow resemble Subaru."
For a fraction of a second, Ai's eyes flickered beneath his helmet. A brief shift, subtle but undeniable. But just as quickly, he masked it, changing the subject with a forced chuckle.
Venom felt suspicious on AI. His instincts are saying AI is different and can't be taken lightly.
"Also, who are you?"
It was a clear dodge, a deliberate attempt to steer the conversation away. But Venom, ever the performer, was more than happy to oblige.
The symbiote spread his tendrils dramatically, his deep voice booming, "I am a High Spirit! The Dark Spirit! The Great Venom of Darkness!"
Ai let out an impressed whistle.
"Wow, I'm lucky to meet such a great spirit."
Venom chuckled darkly, pleased with the praise.
"But I have more respect for you, buddy. Because you are working under the Ego Queen. If it were us, we would just shit on her and leave that job."
Subaru choked.
Ai, however, let out an exaggerated laugh.
"Don't talk like that, bro. She's not that bad."
Venom scoffed.
"Disagree. But whatever. So, where are the others?"
Subaru sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Crusch-san and Ferris are upstairs," he muttered, shooting a tired glance toward the door.
Despite the unexpected reunion, something still felt... off. Ai's reaction to Venom's words. That flicker of something behind his helmet.
Whatever it was, Subaru had a feeling this conversation was far from over.
"What are doing here anyway?" Subaru asks him.
"Well, when the commotion started, I decided to turn ass and find a place to hide for a bit," Al admitted casually, rolling his shoulders. "When things settled down, I took a peek outside, heard the broadcast, and figured the City Hall was the place to be. Thought you'd be involved, bro. And if not, at least someone here would know what's going on."
The sheer nonchalance in his voice grated against everyone's nerves. This was a man with the strength to fight, yet he had chosen self-preservation over aiding in battle.
Garfiel's golden eyes narrowed. His sharp fangs were bared in irritation, a deep growl rumbling from his throat. "Oy, captain. Is this bastard tryin' to provoke us or somethin'?"
Venom somewhat agrees but he is too busy in Analysing AI.
Subaru lifted a hand to pacify him. "Wait, wait, Garfiel. He's Al, Priscilla's knight... well, more like her subordinate. He's been around since the Royal Selection started."
"Technically, I ain't a knight, bro," Al corrected, waving a hand dismissively. "Just a lowly servant of the Princess. No noble titles here." His tone, dry and amused, only seemed to annoy Garfiel further.
Anastasia let out a long sigh before clapping her hands together sharply. "Alright, enough. You're all bein' seriously too annoyin'." Her round eyes flicked toward Al. "Ain'tcha just like your master? Appearin' outta nowhere and messin' with the mood. If you're lookin' to start a fight, cut it out."
"Wow. That stings, Miss Anastasia," Al replied, tilting his head. "Unfortunately, this is just how I am. Tends to rub people the wrong way, but hey, it keeps me alive."
Anastasia glanced at Subaru again before folding her arms. "Things are complicated enough already. My plans won't change. If sacrifices are necessary for victory, I'll accept that. But if Natsuki-kun insists on refusin' losses, then he'd better come up with a damn good plan to avoid 'em. I'd prefer to, if possible."
The room fell into an uneasy silence. Then-
"I wanna read his brain," Venom's voice rumbled through the space, cutting through the tension like a blade. "Lemme touch his brain."
The declaration made everyone freeze.
Subaru whipped around. "Venom! What the hell!?"
Venom, however, was unmoved by Subaru's outrage. His massive, inky black form rippled, his large white eyes narrowing at Ai, who stood unmoved. "This guy... he smells weird. Like Subaru. But wrong. There's somethin' in him. Somethin' chaotic."
Venoms thinks 'Who knows this Guy might be some secret Villain!! It's better to get rid of him before it's too late!'
Garfiel sniffed the air, his gaze sharpening. "My amazin' self agrees with the black goo. His scent's familiar to Captain."
Venom thought 'This little shit!. Wait, until you became our lunch one day'
Ai's helmet-covered face tilted slightly, unreadable, yet his presence exuded a subtle shift. He wasn't surprised. He had expected this scrutiny.
Subaru stepped between them, raising a hand to stop the brewing confrontation. "Alright, guys, that's enough. This is really rude. Ai's a friend."
Just as the focus was closing in on Ai, he decided to throw out a verbal grenade to escape the situation.
"Oh, by the way, bro," Ai said, tilting his head toward Subaru, voice casual. "Got a message for you. Seems there's a lovely bride waiting for her charming prince to whisk her away before her wedding. Man, wish I was you."
The words hit like a lightning bolt.
Subaru's eyes widened. "From Emilia?!"
Venom's voice boomed beside him, vibrating with excitement and disbelief. "FROM EMILIA!?"
AI thought in his head 'This is close Call! SENSEI didn't say anything about Venom. I need to be very careful around him! Until I reach my goal!'
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Notes: Hello everyone! Thanks for the support. I love you guys. Rezero fandom is chill unlike Fate. Where only ships and Shirou is matter. Anyway, I don't plan on leaving this story.
Actually I'm planning to end this story at maximum 50 chapters but after reading Rezero Novel, I changed my mind. It was Peak!!! So I'm not saying this series is not connected to my Marvel Crossover series but I'm planning to continue this story in long terms.