Re:Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu (LN) - Volume 20 - Chapter Pr1

Prologue    

  A Rhapsody in the Moonlight 

1 

His senses were dominated by blood - its taste, its color, its smell. 

It's very different from drowning in water. The sweat is sticky, restricting your freedom of movement. You cannot see anything, not even the air bubbles escaping from your lungs. 

Garfiel drifted in complete darkness. Even the moon, which had seemed to mock him only moments ago, was gone. 

When a large, shapeless, scarlet mass engulfed him in the middle of the fight with Kurgan, he immediately guessed whose doing it was. Lust. For a moment it even crossed his mind that perhaps this thing was alive. If there were chimeras and living corpses running around the city, why not. Blood could also suddenly gain consciousness. 

Well, actually... That wouldn't be surprising. It's just a shame that this thing has consumed me and I can't breathe! 

His senses were useless in this situation. All five only registered blood. Fortunately, he had one more. 

Good thing the Chief told me about that 'sixth '! 

It suddenly occurred to him that he had just let himself get wrapped up in unnecessary considerations once again. 

You think too much, too much, too much! Again! 

He knew that during a fight he should turn off any thoughts that might distract him, but somehow he never managed to do so. Doubts kept his heart tethered as if on a leash, and to fight well, one must free it. 

He moved his arms and legs, trying to grab for something, but to no avail. He was only losing precious oxygen. He sank lower and lower, until he reached the bottom. He felt the chances of victory disappearing. He was not able to gather himself, to find the strength necessary to change something. Defeat awaited him. 

Then he remembered three people. The pink-haired girl he loved. The red-haired cat. The black-haired boy who may not have been infallible, but Garfiel trusted him anyway. 

Among all the unnecessary thoughts that cluttered his head, the memories of these three characters were the hardest to dismiss. 

His eyes flared again. 

- Aaaaaaa! - he screamed. Blood rushed into his throat. He screamed, screamed, screamed. He tried to bite and scratch. 

He always thought too much. Even when one move could decide life or death. He constantly had some regrets and obsessions in the back of his mind that stubbornly came back at the least opportune moment. 

He swam, but was unable to get to the surface. He felt very small, like he was stuck in this mass of blood precisely because his legs and arms were too short to reach its limits. Maybe if he was taller, it would be easier for him now? 

If I was bigger... 

Driven by survival instinct, he began to change. A shiver ran through his body, his bones changed shape with a snap, his limbs grew to enormous size in a few moments. His body became covered in golden fur, his nails and teeth grew and changed into sharp claws and fangs. It was now so large that it reached the surface. 

Then the bubble of blood he was in burst. For a moment he was convinced that he had died, that his life had escaped him with that explosion. 

The cobblestones were stained red. He lay in the crimson liquid, panting like an animal. He stood up shakily, but something knocked him off his feet. A fist the size of a child's head struck him in the mouth. Immediately after that came a second blow, this time to the side, and then another, to the stomach and another to the lower abdomen. The calf, weighing several hundred pounds, flew high into the air. 

At any rate, his insides were shrinking with pain, yet he felt much better than when he was drowning in blood. 

He spun through the air to land safely on four paws. It occurred to him that he was in the square in front of the control tower, but he didn't see the Sword Demon or the Sword Saint anywhere, nor did he hear the sounds of their battle. 

They must have moved somewhere further away. I wonder how long I was sinking. It's hard to say. 

Garfiel whined, opening his fang-armed maw. In the moonlight, he spotted Kurgan standing nearby. 

He wrestled himself to the ground, ready to take the enemy's attack, but then realized that he was not his only opponent. He swiped a paw, sensing that something hostile had just thrown itself at him from the side. He didn't even look in that direction. He didn't need to - he knew this opponent was already dead. His claws ripped at something, and he heard a canine whine. 

A chimera with a sword instead of a paw attacked him. The rest tightened a circle around him. They seemed to be waiting for whoever dared to approach the control tower to threaten the occupying Archbishop. 

How cruel she is... After all, these freaks don't stand a chance, they're just cannon fodder... 

- HAAAAA! - he roared, grabbing the head of the creature he could reach most easily. 

The chimera’s skull cracked into pieces, blood and brains splashing in all directions. The other monsters didn't care about their companion's death. They immediately jumped over his corpse. Without hesitation, they went into a fight in which they had no chance. As if something had dulled their instinct for self-preservation, as if they did not feel such an elementary need to survive. 

Their very existence was an insult to nature. So Garfiel kept on killing. 

He did not know where these bizarre creatures came from, but he felt instinctively that he must destroy them. Not out of disgust or contempt, but out of a sense of duty. 

Obviously Kurgan wasn't going to stand by and watch the great tiger massacre a herd of chimeras. When Garfiel sensed his aura, it was too late. A hail of blows rained down on him. He didn't even have time to think about dodging. He couldn't stay on his feet. His opponent slammed him into a nearby wall. 

One of the chimeras decided that this was a great time to rip the intruder to shreds. She threw herself at the disoriented tiger, but it was not to be harmed. 

Kurgan interrupted her. A swift blow from the Eight Arm turned the unsuspecting creature into a wet spot that didn't really stand out against the blood-soaked cobblestones. 

The remaining chimeras immediately focused their anger on Kurgan. An uneven fight began. The giant didn't even have to make an effort. He swatted at the hapless creatures like flies, breaking their spines in the process. 

He's not doing this to help me... He's just pissed at something that's getting in his way... And these stupid creatures just mindlessly throw themselves at him. They don't even realize they're dealing with someone super-powerful," Garfiel thought, gathering himself to continue the fight. - They will all meet a sad end. 

He roared, moving to attack. He jerked the body of the nearest chimera and tried to attack Kurgan, but the giant, though busy destroying the stubborn monsters, immediately blocked his blow with one of his left hands. Immediately after, the silent giant's fist struck him in the stomach. The other seven arms smashed the skulls of the leaping chimera. 

Blood splashed around, chunks of flesh flew through the air, bones broke with a clatter. 

Why do we do it? Why do we kill? Why do they have to die? 

During the fight, Garfiel was filled with doubts. They were in his claws, his fangs, his blood, his eyes. They squeezed his throat. They coursed through his entire body. But while his mind produced more troubling thoughts, his instincts rejoiced. The predator was in its element. 

Unfortunately, Kurgan got the better of him again. With a giant hand, he grabbed Garfiel's muzzle and pressed his skull against the wall. The boy's eyes went white and the shock paralyzed his body. It occurred to him that he was about to die. 

Maybe that's a good thing... 

Kurgan's hands immobilized his paws with a powerful force that crushed his bones. A cry of desperation caught in his throat. Death was getting closer. 

If he doesn't let go, I'm dead. 

In an instant he lost his energy, his strength left him. He weakened, began to shrink... He got the idea that this way he would free himself from the murderous grip. And as soon as his feet touched the ground, he activated the blessing. pa o: 

The cobblestones under Kurgan's feet jumped, his large body wobbling. Of course, it was just a trick that couldn't hurt someone like the War God. The giant immediately regained his balance, but that split second gave Garfiel a chance to counterattack. 

- Haaaaaaaa! 

He grabbed his enemy by the waist and pushed him against the wall with all his might, praying that Kurgan wouldn't have time to hit him in the back. The giant collapsed into the wall of the control tower with such momentum that he punched a hole in it and his body fell inside the structure. 

The tower was shaking in its foundations. 

I just damaged the metia that has protected the City of Water Gate for hundreds of years... 

He darted after Kurgan into the dark interior. His Eyebrows dilated cat-like, adjusting to the conditions. He made a quick dodge, allowing his opponent's fist to only lightly hook into his cheek. 

He blocked the next blow with his right hand. Unfortunately, he had not yet had time to fully recover from Kurgan's blows, so he clenched his teeth in pain as blood gushed from his crushed hand under the force of his opponent. 

That's tough. The right one will hold for now. Meanwhile, I'll cure the left one soon, and then the legs! 

He felt his bones knitting together, his muscles renewing themselves. One by one, he was getting his body in order. But too slowly. 

Garfiel punched and was punched, kicked and was kicked. In the cramped space each blow had the power and effect of a firecracker going off. To make matters worse, the chimeras had come in behind them and were persistently and unsuccessfully trying to hurt them. 

Garfiel continually bounced off the walls, ceiling, and floor. However he tried, none of his attacks made the slightest impression on the giant. Kurgan stood unmoving, using his bare fists to repel the chimera’s fangs and claws and the blond's blows and every now and then adding something of his own. 

With one such fist strike, Garfiel took to his feet to harness the force of the recoil and soar high into the air. Piercing more ceilings, he landed on the top floor. 

She's supposed to be here, right? Right upstairs? 

The blond shook out his eyes, looking around the empty room where there was no sign of Lust. 

This is where all the Archbishop should be. But she's not here. So... ...the walking dead, the Sword Saint, Eight Arm Kurgan, and all those flocks of chimera, it's all... a hoax? She's got us all fooled! She was just pretending to be here! 

Garfiel recalled what the Archbishop of Lust had put out during the transmission broadcast by the metia and felt disgusted. 

Where could she go? Probably where she could do the most harm... 

- Shit...! I know!" he quickly reached behind his belt. 

Garfiel wore a headband that was flexible enough to withstand even a transformation into a giant tiger. In it he kept the most necessary items, such as a magic mirror. He was about to turn it on when an arm burst through the floor and grabbed his ankle, then pulled him down. 

He tried to resist, but the floor cracked and began to crumble. He looked down and met Kurgan's blank stare. 

He felt a violent jerk. The eight-armed man dragged him a floor below, and then began to spin him so that the boy's head flopped against all the walls. Shards of wall flew through the air and Garfiel groaned, feeling like his skull was about to explode. 

As soon as there was a chance, he jerked as hard as he could. He managed to kick his enemy so that he slammed into the wall. 

The tower trembled and began to collapse. They fought on, oblivious to anything. Someone had to die today. 

Kurgan struck again and again, his eight arms giving him a crushing advantage. Garfiel was fighting for his life. He took the first blow on his shield. The second he dodged in mid-air. The third he countered with a kick. The fourth with a block using both arms. The fifth he braked with his own fist. The sixth shattered his jaw. The seventh hit him in the stomach, but the blond was prepared for it. The tense muscles acted as a shield. The eighth got him right in the face. The blond lost consciousness. 

He only woke up on the cobblestones outside the tower. He was lying on his back. He was panting heavily, blood was dripping from his mouth and his eyes were turning white from the pain. Fortunately, he had a blessing. He immediately began to draw strength from the ground to heal his wounds. 

Kurgan stood beside him. He looked down at the barely alive boy. 

He was the hero Garfiel had always admired, the man who was once called the War God, the legendary hero, the warrior who single-handedly changed the fate of the always humiliated Great-Hands. 

The blond man stood up slowly. His pulse was pounding in his ears. He looked at the powerful enemy and bit his lip. 

He could have killed me and more than once, but he didn't. Besides, he didn't even use his gun! 

He felt the bitterness of humiliation. His warrior pride was suffering. It even occurred to him that it would be better to just die outright than to endure such humiliation. And yet... 

He adjusted the shields on his shoulders and got into fighting position, bared his bared fangs. 

He had been thinking too much. Even now he seemed to hear countless familiar voices that made his heart grow warm. They were hoarse and full of pride. It made his courage grow within him. He could hear them calling him. They told him that he must defeat the enemy, he must give advice, he must think of something. They helped him overcome his weakness. 

Enough of the good stuff! 

He smiled broadly and his eyes lit up with a new light. 

Kurgan twitched. Slowly, he raised his tree-trunk-like arms and reached for the blades strapped to his back, the Demon Cleavers, the famous tools of destruction shrouded in legend. 

Garfiel interpreted it in his own way. 

- So until now I was just a puppy for him, which must be chased away. I have a saying for that: after winter, it's time to fly out of the nest! 

Silence answered him. 

- Thank you," Garfiel said. He did not explain what he was grateful for. 

He just attacked.