Chapter Text
Chapter 10: At the Mountains of Madness
Nothing.
Three more days out in the open after leaving the city with Yao, and so far, they had found no sign of the enemy, much to Reinhard's disappointment. At least things seem peaceful...
Felt groaned. "God, I'm dying of boredom…"
"Would you prefer we were under attack?" Felix asked.
""Would you pwefe we were under attaaack?"" Felt repeated what the knight said, before pointing back at Felix and said, "Did you hear that? That's what you sound like."
Fourier gasped. "Fillole!"
"What?" the younger blonde snapped.
"Look... things may be boring, but at least things aren't trying to kill us."
"Which is a good thing," Crusch added, as Julius nodded.
"Agreed. It's a good opportunity to take in the scenery and relax."
"Ah, yes. Enjoy the scenery. What a great idea, Juli. I'll just appreciate all the… grass," Felt sarcastically said, as Felix did a light karate chop on her head to admonish her.
"Better grass than water. Just... think of bad things that aren't happening to us right now."
Yao couldn't help but stare at the six of them. "You guys are a weird bunch."
Crusch snorted. "We get that a lot."
Yao chuckled in response.
"So…" Felt asked. "Where are we heading next to, again?"
"Right, I guess you weren't paying attention," the dark elf said. "Okay, to sum it up for you, a few weeks ago, a nearby mountain range we're heading to was split in half by… something."
Felt was… quieted by what she heard. No one in their group was capable of that kind of power was Reinhard, as the crimson-eyed blonde looked over to him. "Well, we know it wasn't Rein…"
Julius nodded at what she said. "But something as powerful…"
"That is a terrifying thought…" Crusch admitted.
"Yeah, I figured you'd be interested in that, so we're heading that way," Yao said.
"And you said... mountain range," Fourier said. "Not just a mountain?"
Yao nodded. "I mean, the impact sight was close to a mountain range, but only one of the mountains was actually split in half. The other mountains in the area were fine."
Felix let out a small gulp. "Yikes…"
"Who do you think it is?" Crusch asked the others.
"One of the Nine Colors, perhaps?" Julius suggested. "Or the other Godkin?"
Fourier nodded. "My money's on the Godkin."
"Yao, can you tell us what it was?" Reinhard asked.
"That's the thing, no one knows," Yao said. "Some of the local barflies think it was a rampaging elemental, or a rogue empyrean; one drunk dumbass said a hydra-dragon was responsible."
"Then it seems we need to investigate."
"Heh." The dark elf smiled. "I knew you'd be interested."
The group continued on the last leg of their journey. After a couple hours, the mountain range could be seen in the distance. Felix let out a low whistle. "I can see the gap from here…"
It wasn't just a measly gap, it was a straight-up valley, but way sharper. As Felt examined the damage, she muttered, "Damn... It looks like a mountain-sized sword split the thing…"
Crusch nervously added, "Or another bladed weapon…"
Reinhard nodded. "Let's get a closer look."
Half an hour later, they had arrived at the base of the mountain. Or, more accurately, in the middle of the split, with Team Natsuki having decided to camp within it for the night.
"The split is almost as big as the castle…"
"And it's also a clean cut," Julius added.
"As clean of a cut this size can be…"
Reinhard's final comment regarding the split seemed to worry everyone even further, Crusch asked, "Do you think that… whatever caused this level of destruction… is still around here?"
"It depends…" the Sword Saint said.
"Depends on what?" the green-haired woman asked.
"On whether this is the result of a rampage... or it's a warning."
"A warning?" Felt asked. "Against who?"
"Trespassers on its territory."
"So… what does that make us?" Felt asked.
"...Trespassers."
"Hmm…" Yao hummed, before asking, "So, do we set up a campfire?"
Everyone stared at the dark elf in bewilderment at how calm she could be, with the exception of Reinhard, who agreed with her. "Yes. It is indeed getting dark, and we could use a fire."
As the sun set, the seven of them sat around a campfire, as thousands of small, purple spirits came out from the ground. Something that the others watched in fascination. "Huh…"
"What is it?" Fourier asked his cousin.
"Is that normal here?" Felt asked Yao, the blonde
"Oh? Those little things? Yeah, but I'm more impressed by the spirit jellyfish…"
Fourier raised an eyebrow. "Spirit jellyfish?"
"Yeah, jellyfish that float above the ground as opposed to in water," the dark elf explained. "They're bigger than a man, and they glow white, unless you attack them. Then they glow red."
"Huh…" Felix hummed. "We don't have those back home."
The elven woman blinked. "What? Spirits?"
"No, those jellyfish spirit things. We don't have any of those."
"Ah." Yao shrugged. "Guess they're regional…"
Julius nodded. "Indeed…"
After having dinner, Felt yawned. "Welp, I'm calling it a night…"
Felix nodded. "Same."
One by one, everyone cleaned their dishes and prepared their sleeping bags… as Reinhard stayed awake to keep watch, just in case whatever created the split was still around.
Eight hours later, the sun had risen. Luckily, thanks to Reinhard, there was no incident during the middle of the night. Everyone woke up and had breakfast, getting ready for the day.
Felt, still semi-asleep, yawned as she asked, "Think we'll find anything today?"
"I do not know, Felt-sama," Reinhard said, as the team headed out. The seven of them hiked away from the mountain, back towards the grassy fields, but now with a few trees and bushes.
The crimson-eyed blonde smiled. "Finally, a little variety…"
"Hm?" Reinhard hummed, as he… was looking over at something else.
"Just glad to see something besides grass plains…" Felt explained the joke to the red-haired knight, who remained oddly quiet, his body stiff. "Rein? Hey, what's gotten into you –?"
"SCATTER!!!"
"Wha–?!"
Reinhard grabbed Felt, as the others jumped, before the earth they were on exploded, reduced to a smoking crater. Felix clicked his tongue. "Well, you wanted some excitement, Felt-sama!"
"WHO THE FUCK…?!" Felt screamed. "NO, WHY THE FUCK?!"
"Huh. You dodged my attack. Nice," a voice said. Out of the smoke, walked out a woman of elven descent, with nasty eyes, long black hair and clothes, carrying a giant scythe.
"Yao…" Reinhard called out to the guise. "Is this the half-elf you mentioned...?"
"Half-elf?" the scythe-wielding opponent repeated, confused.
The dark elf shook her head. "She's not a half-elf, her ears are too short…"
"I'm a quarter-elf, actually."
"What do you want with us?" Reinhard asked.
"I want you, Sword Saint."
"...For a fight, right?"
The black-haired woman smiled. "For now, yes."
"For what purpose?"
"I crave powerful opponents. And you seem quite powerful, Sword Saint."
"Great, a battle junkie…" Felt grumbled.
"Hm?" The quarter-elf looked at the people behind the Sword Saint, to see a knight, some ladies in fancy clothes, and… a pair of cousins who she recognized. "Oh, Lugunican royals."
"You know of our origins?" Fourier asked.
"I have eyes, human," the quarter-elf with black hair said, as she pointed at the group. "I can use them to recognize the Dragon Sword and two people with red eyes and gold-colored hair."
"Do you have enough common sense to see that attacking someone isn't a good way to introduce yourself?" Felt asked in anger. "Wait, who even are you, anyway?!"
"I am Altara, the Godkin of War, and daughter of Satella the Black."
Felt blinked. "Oh... well, shit."
"…We're about to die, aren't we?" Felix asked.
"Possibly… but I'm not going to sit by and let that happen," Reinhard said, approaching the Godkin. "We know that Satella is the most loyal of Pleiades' followers. His right hand."
"You've done your homework…" Altara said, smiling. "Yes, my mother has been there since the beginning. She was his first… and I am the product of that union, his eldest daughter."
"Why are you here?" Reinhard asked. "Why have you come for us?"
"I have come for you, Sword Saint. If I destroy you, I will be even more powerful."
"I don't think that's how it works," Felt said.
"Oh? Then let's test that theory!" Altara rushed forward and attempted to swing at Reinhard, who pulled out the Dragon Sword to block the strike. As the two of them began exchanging blows, the rest of the group was blown back by their power and the sudden winds.
Reinhard knew he had to be careful. He didn't know what Subaru's relationship with his children were, but he knew that slaying his eldest daughter would be a very bad idea.
"Should we do something?!" Yao asked the others.
"Nah! He can handle it!" Felt said, as she and the others ran for cover.
Hiding behind the hills, the six of them watched the fight, as Fourier pulled out a familiar blue crystal from his pocket. "Once the Godkin is down, we'll step in and trap her… with this."
"Well… depends on how long it will take to bring her down…"
Yao grimaced at the interaction between Fournier and Crusch. "Great…"
Meanwhile, within the Temple of the Pleiades, Satella had noticed that her beloved had walked into their room and looked around, almost like he was looking for something. Hm
"Ah! Master! Do you require something?" Satella asked. "Perhaps my body…?"
Subaru shook his head. From his perspective, he made a few gestures with his tentacles, trying to communicate that he was looking for their daughter, the quarter-elf named Altara.
"Do you require sustenance? Perhaps a sacrifice of blood?"
Subaru facepalmed before deciding to use his shadows to form a figure of Altara with a question mark beside it. Unfortunately, the silver-haired half-elf still missed the mark, as she said…
"Ah! You wish for us to seek out a demi-human with a long tail!"
Subaru gave a long sigh. It was a shame he couldn't write in Lugunican. He didn't even know the written language because no one could teach him due to the language barrier on his end.
Back on the other continent, Reinhard couldn't help but be impressed by the quarter-elf. She was holding her own against him very well. If he had any other sword, it would have shattered a long time ago. Hopefully, Altara wouldn't switch tactics and decided to strike at his limbs any time soon. While spirits did passively heal Reinhard should he ever somehow be damaged, he didn't know if they could regenerate a lost limb for him, and he didn't want to find out.
"AHAHAHAHA!!!" Altara laughed. "SHOW ME YOUR BLOOD!!!"
"I do not think I will!" Reinhard retorted.
The Sword Saint tried to jab her, but she dodged, bringing down her scythe on his arm. He managed to pull his arm away at the last second, but he still got a nasty cut on his hand.
"REIN!!!" Felt shouted.
"I am fine, Felt-sama!"
"HE WON'T BE FOR LONG!!! HAHAHA!!!" Altara laughed, as she charged in again.
Back at the temple, Satella finally figured out what her husband wanted.
"Oh, you're searching for Altara! Is that correct?"
Subaru nodded his head rapidly. He honestly hated these charades...
"I do not know where she is. But I can send out your thralls to search for her…"
So she's not here... Subaru surmised. Great…
Since the start of this week, Subaru felt something happen to Puck, and recently, that feeling was going on with Altara. Floating away, he decided he would find her himself.
Back with Team Natsuki, the red-haired knight couldn't help but admit that Altara might just be as skilled as Cecilus or Halibel. She was a child of Subaru, so it was to be expected...
Their fight was beginning to drag on. Reinhard needed to end this, and fast.
But then, suddenly… a black portal opened in between them…
"There you are, young lady!"
Altara's jaw dropped. "HUH?!"
…and Subaru walked out. "I've been looking for you all day!"
"Father…" the quarter-elf hissed. "What are you doing here…?"
"I know you can't understand me, but I had a bad feeling all week long…" the shadowy abomination trailed off, as he saw… "Huh? Reinhard? What are you guys doing here?"
"Fighting your daughter," the red-haired knight replied.
"...Did she attack you out of nowhere and demand to fight you?"
"Yes…" Reinhard said. "How did you know that?"
"It's what she does. Altara wants to be a big, strong follower for her dear old dad, or something, and since I can't guide at all, she thinks she has to kill strong guys to get stronger," Subaru said, sighing. He then turned around to face his daughter. "This isn't Dark Souls, young lady."
"LEAVE ME BE!!!" Altara shouted.
"Are we still in the rebellious phase? I thought she grew out of that."
"BEGONE, DAMN IT!"
"That is no way to talk to your papa!" Instantly, Subaru's shadowy arms grabbed Altara, dragging her through the portal. "'I'll make sure she's grounded for a long time."
"…Much appreciated," Reinhard said, smiling.
"Take care."
And with that, the Pleiades was gone.
Reinhard fell to his knees, sighing in relief. "Thank goodness…"
The others surrounded Reinhard, making sure he wasn't grievously injured, as Felt gave him a soft smile. "Yeah. Two down, who knows how many more of those monsters to go…"
Fourier pocketed the trap crystal, grumbling, "We haven't even captured any…"
Crusch smiled at her fiance. "I'm sure we'll get the chance soon…"
"I think we should head back home," Julius said.
Felix nodded in agreement. "Right…"
"In that case... Dushi-san, we thank you for your services," Reinhard said, bowing at the dark elf. "Without your assistance, we might not have been able to find the Godkin of War."
"It was nothing," Yao said, smiling. "Good luck heading back home."
It took about a whole week for them to return where Chamov and the ship was. Ironically enough, the metia he handed them buzzed once the second they saw his ship on the horizon.
"Hey, kids! The boat repairs are done! You can head on –"
"Actually, we are almost there," Reinhard said. "In fact, we can see you."
"...Even better. Alright, get over here and we can head home right away."
A little less than an hour later, the ship was leaving the Dark Continent. As the others were talking with each other about the adventure they had been on, Reinhard reminisced. This all started with a promise to a boy from another world that Reinhard would help him regain his humanity. And then he told his friends, who helped him uncover the secrets of this world and take down incomprehensible threats. With his friends, he could do the impossible.
Reinhard smiled. It didn't matter how long it would take, they would save Subaru.
Back at the Pleiades Temple, Subaru had dragged Altara into her room and dumped the quarter-elf onto her bed, surrounded by her stuffed animals. "YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!!!"
"Yes, I can. I may be an eldritch monster, but I am still your father. You're grounded."
As he walked through his portal, Altara screamed in rage. "AAAAARRRRGGGHH!!!!!"
Author's Note: And that's the end of the mini-series! The only references I've got are the purple nocturnal spirits that showed up in GATE and the Spirit Jellyfish from Elden Ring.
Sunny_side_Zero: I'm not sure I like the implications you're implying with the whole "dark" thing. Laugh all you want at your own sex joke, but the reason the rest of the world wasn't destroyed was because Satella and her crew were trying to offer it to Subaru on a silver platter. And to a lesser extent, because Subaru didn't want to do it.
Yue2801: Good comment. Hope you enjoyed the whole mini-series.
IsseixAtalanta77: Unfortunately, since this is the end of things for now, Fourier and Felt won't be meeting Capella. Maybe if this ever gets a continuation, but not right now.
Tacog_alaxtico: Aww, look at that, an emoticon! How cute!
LGKRO: Oh, wow. I can hear you clenching your teeth trying to use some different words. I wanted the Dark Continent to be basically as modern as a city could get in this universe, hence the club scene you found so hilarious. The dancing actually was unique, it was just that Crusch found it salacious, especially with her fiance looking at it. I can see that you're in pain, so I'll let you return to your normal vocabulary set… for now.
97Darth02Fury: Glad you enjoyed my demi-human cameos.
Ernand: I've never been a big fan of creating my own OCs, so I always imagined that if there's a fic where the Great Calamity never happened, or if it was a story that takes place before that, it would feature characters from the same genre, so that Isekai Quartet comment of yours wasn't too far off. Yao did actually deliver what she promised, as you can see. Looks like this story will remain within the Re: Zero domain… for now.
OmniVargas: Yeah, I wasn't being subtle with the Raphtalia cameo.
Roxon: Yeah, those are pretty much the highlights of the previous chapter.
YourLocalRomanian: Not "innocent," more… "never seen such a thing before."
Kifhjoofff: They heard rumors of a half-elf, but in reality, they got a quarter-elf. In hindsight, it would make sense if Antilene Heran Fouche (that's Zesshi Zetsumei's real name) was Subaru and Satella's kid, it would certainly be better than her canon parentage, but I didn't think of that. And besides, Altara holds a special place in my heart thanks to the fic she came from, so I wouldn't change it, even if I had the chance.
ChaozMatt: The money in principle is worthless, but the material it's made of has value. And even if she lied and ran off with the cash, Reinhard would track her down easily.
10FourKnox: If I ever need more characters for a fic and the ones available to me don't work, I'll use ones from a franchise within the same genre. Hence why all the isekai references. And given Subaru's reality-warping here, I've had plenty of opportunities.
Jerami: I didn't say that. I said that I might have heard that Echidna ordered Puck to protect Emilia in canon, I don't really know. But that won't be happening here.
Koroo: Tanya being one of Subaur's children would be a wild idea.
So! You all know I have created my own website where I've posted a bunch of my art, so, if you're interested in seeing that, visit https://eowen5.myportfolio.com/! And I'm pretty sure as you all know now, I have also made a Twitter account to post my art, so if anyone is interested in checking it out, https://twitter.com/ErnaloreProf is the link.
If you want more content, visit my Discord, the link is /3PFYSt8Dqz. You can chat with others, post memes, fanfic recommendations and prompts, role play, fan art, and we even have a writer's corner now! I'll also drop by with announcements and chat with you all every now and then! Also, if you want to add me as a friend, my username is Ernalore#8663! Just please make sure to follow the rules.
Thanks for reading, and once again, see you next time!
- Ernalore