The Augria Sand Dunes stretched endlessly ahead, every step draining strength as scorching wind and shifting sand wore the group down. Emilia, Subaru, Beatrice, Ram, Meili, Anastasia, Julius, and Patrasche had already survived countless dangers just to get this far.
After surviving the Mabeast attack, none of them even had time to catch their breath.
Then—
needles rained down from the sky.
White, piercing volleys fired from the direction of the Watchtower itself, tearing through the storm and turning the entire desert into a battlefield again as everyone scrambled for cover.
And in the chaos, the ground beneath all of you collapsed.
There was no time to react as everyone fell straight into darkness below. ———————————————————————
When you wake up, you realize you’ve all split up into groups. You ended up with Subaru, Ram, Anastasia and Patrasche.
Subaru: “…Ugh… my head…”
Ram: “Tch… finally awake, Barusu.”
Subaru: “Wow. First thing I hear is you. Great start.”
Anastasia: “At least we’re all alive. That’s what matters, right?”
Patrasche lets out a low rumble, and Subaru immediately relaxes.
Subaru: “Yeah… you’re okay too, right girl?”
Anastasia: “She seems fine. Strong dragon.”
Subaru: “That’s my girl.”
Ram: “Tch.”
After a moment, you guys begin walking further into the darkness. Anastasia is riding Patrasche to conserve energy.
Anastasia: “Thanks for carrying me, Patrasche. I appreciate it.”
Patrasche gives a soft rumble.
Subaru: “She’s basically saying ‘you’re welcome’, right?”
Anastasia: “I think so.”
Subaru: “That’s actually adorable…”
Ram: “Disgusting.”
Subaru: “You’re just jealous she likes me more than you.”
Ram: “Tch.”
Eventually, you reach a fork in the path. Left or right.
Subaru: “Ha! They know humans would probably pick left. That means we go right.”
Ram: “…That is the dumbest logic I’ve ever heard.”
Subaru: “It’s logic!”
Anastasia: “Honestly, we don’t have a better plan.”
Subaru: “Right it is then.”
You take the right tunnel. At first, it’s normal. Then the exhaustion starts building.
You keep walking.
Eventually, a wall blocks the path.
Subaru: “…Seriously?”
Subaru places his hand on it, and it vanishes instantly.
Subaru: “…Huh?”
Ram: “…What did you do?”
Subaru: “I didn’t do anything!”
You keep moving forward. The tunnel gets longer.
Heavier.
Everyone is visibly tired now. Patrasche looks tense.
Subaru: “…I don’t like this…”
Then another wall appears. A dead end.
Subaru: “…No way.”
Subaru touches it.
Nothing.
Subaru: “…Open.”
Nothing.
Subaru: “ALL THIS WORK WHY NOT OPEN AT THE THIRD ONE!!!”
Anastasia: “Woah woah! Yelling won’t help!”
Subaru punches the wall.
Subaru: “Shut up!”
Ram: “Tch…”
Subaru: “AND WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?! YOU’VE BEEN DOING NOTHING BUT ‘TCH’ THIS WHOLE TIME!”
Ram: “Barusu… you’ve been nothing but useless.”
Subaru freezes.
Subaru: “WHAT WAS THAT BITCH?!”
Ram: “Because someone has to say it. Ever since we fell in here, you’ve done nothing but lose your composure and make everything worse, Barusu.”
Subaru’s breathing sharpens.
Ram: “ You act like you’re carrying everyone, but without the others here, you’re completely pathetic.”
Subaru: “…Shut up…”
Ram: “Tch. If Emilia-sama could see you right now, even she’d be disappointed.”
Subaru’s expression completely breaks.
Subaru: “SHUT UPPPPP!!!!! Invisible Providence
An unseen force slams directly into Ram, launching her violently into the cave wall.
The impact echoes through the tunnel. Ram falls forward dazed, coughing
But Subaru immediately rushes her.
Anastasia: “Subaru?!”
Subaru tackles Ram to the ground, pinning her beneath him as both hands clamp around her throat.
Subaru: “WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO SAY EVERYTHING, BITCH?!?!?”
Ram grips at his wrists, still stunned from the hit as Subaru violently shakes her against the stone floor.
Subaru: “I CAN’T HEAR YOU!!!!”
(The tension is so extreme that everyone has fallen into a kill-or-be-killed mindset.)