Re: Zero: We Are Venom

The journey to city hall was eventful. Along the way, Julius couldn't help but glance at Subaru's newfound abilities, a mixture of awe and caution in his expression. Subaru, cloaked in Venom's black tendrils, moved with agility and ferocity, slashing and pummeling demonic creatures in their path. When Subaru bit into one of the creatures and consumed its head, Julius froze mid-stride.

"Subaru," he began, his voice sharp, "what in the world are you doing?"

Venom answered before Subaru could. "Eating, obviously. These things are… delicious. You want some?" His tone was a mix of pride and mockery.

Julius's face contorted in disbelief, but he opted to drop the subject. "NO..I… I won't ask further."

However, Subaru, sensing something off, asked, "Hey, Julius, are you okay? You've been quieter than usual."

Julius hesitated before forcing a polite smile. "I'm fine. Let's focus on the task at hand."

Venom, ever perceptive, muttered mentally to Subaru, "He's lying, partner. But I'd bet it's nothing we can't handle later."

Changing the topic, Julius said, "The flood, while destructive, ended up aiding us. It forced the Witch Cultists to retreat, allowing us to secure city hall. Some good came out of it."

Subaru nodded reluctantly. "True, but it's still a mess. If it wasn't the Witch Cult's doing, then who caused it? And why were the casualties so low compared to what you'd expect from them?"

Venom hummed thoughtfully. "If the Witch Cult did cause the flood, they might be dumber than we thought."

---

When they reached city hall, tension hit them like a wave. Felix stood in front of Wilhelm, his voice raised in anger.

"You're useless!" Felix yelled, his face twisted in grief and fury. He grabbed Wilhelm by the collar.

"Ferris, stop!" Ricardo barked, stepping forward. He tried to intervene, but Felix ignored him, his emotions boiling over.

"You should understand that the responsibility for that blame does not lie with a single person here," Ricardo said, baring his fangs in a warning.

Felix turned on him, his voice venomous. "Shut up! I don't want to hear your stupid wordplay! An outsider shouldn't interrupt!"

Wilhelm, stoic as ever, bowed his head deeply. "From the bottom of my heart, I apologize."

"An apology?!" Felix snapped, his voice cracking. "At least give me an excuse! Give me something! Tell me you were powerless, that you couldn't do anything! Just saying you're sorry doesn't mean anything!"

"Ferris," Ricardo growled, "you're creating a pointless commotion. Can't you see how much Wilhelm-sama regrets this?"

"Regret?!" Felix screamed. "What's regret going to do? It's pointless! Useless! Why—why did no one think to rescue Crusch-sama?! Why was she left behind?!"

Before Felix could strike Wilhelm again, a black tendril shot out, wrapping around Felix's wrist and stopping him mid-swing.

"What the—?!" Felix gasped, stumbling back.

All eyes turned toward Subaru, Venom's dark tendrils retreating back into his body.

Venom took the moment to pose dramatically. "Never fear, citizens! For I am the Great Venom, hero of darkness and devourer of demonic evil!"

The room fell silent, save for the sound of weapons being unsheathed.

"What is that?" Felix hissed, his ears flattening, his instincts sharp.

Ricardo stepped in front of Felix protectively, baring his fangs. "Is this thing a Witch Cultist?"

Even Wilhelm's eyes hardened, his hand hovering over his sword hilt.

Subaru held up his hands defensively. "Whoa, whoa, hold on! He's not the enemy! He's my… uh… contracted spirit! He saved me from the flood, okay?"

Felix's eyes narrowed, still unconvinced. "You expect me to believe that?!"

Julius stepped forward, his voice calm yet firm. "Ferris. It's true. Venom may be… unconventional, but he's been a tremendous help in fighting the demonic creatures. I can vouch for him."

The tension in the room lessened slightly, though suspicion remained.

Subaru sighed and stepped between them. "Look, Venom isn't here to hurt anyone. He's helped me, helped us. Right now, we need to focus on working together, not fighting each other."

Felix glared at Subaru but Wilhelm stepped forward, his expression softening. "Thank you for saving Subaru-dono. If he vouches for you, then we will trust you. I apologize for our earlier hostility."

Venom waved a tendril dismissively, his voice surprisingly understanding. "Nah, it's okay. I get it. Crisis situations make everyone tense. You're all just doing your best."

The tension eased, but only slightly. Felix, however, still sobbed bitterly, slamming his gloved hands against the ground in frustration.

"Am I supposed to be Blue…?!" Felix cried out, his voice cracking with despair. "I can't even do anything right now…! Useless, useless, useless, useless, useless…"

His words turned inward, and his anger, once directed outward, now tore into himself. His shoulders shook as he curled in on himself, cursing his own helplessness.

The room remained silent, unable to console him, until Venom's voice cut through the air like a knife:

"We can save Crusch."

Everyone froze. Felix's sobs stopped as he raised his tear-streaked face. Julius frowned, his tone skeptical. "Venom, please. Don't offer false hope. Leave it be."

Venom's eyes glinted, the tendrils on Subaru's body rippling with confidence. "I'm not lying. I saved Subaru from the same kind of attack that Crusch got. Look at him—alive and kicking, isn't he?"

The memory hit Subaru like a thunderbolt. He grabbed Venom's arm, shouting, "He's right! That bitch Capella dropped dragon blood on Crusch, just like she did to me! If Venom saved me, he can save Crusch too!"

The horrific image of Crusch coughing up blood, her lifeless body slumping to the ground, flashed in Subaru's mind. It had been an attack unlike any other, one that left no visible wounds but inflicted unimaginable damage.

Felix scrambled to his feet, rushing toward Subaru. He grabbed Subaru's collar with both hands, his voice trembling with desperation. "Is that true?! Please—please save Crusch-sama! If there's even the smallest chance, I'll do anything!"

Ricardo, Wilhelm, and Julius exchanged glances, their skepticism giving way to cautious hope. Wilhelm stepped forward, his voice steady. "If you truly can save her, then I entrust her life to you. Please, do what you must."

Venom turned toward the hallway. "Let's go already. Time's wasting."

Felix immediately gestured for them to follow, his steps frantic as he led the way to Crusch. Julius, Ricardo, and Wilhelm trailed behind, their expressions a mixture of hope and doubt.

As they moved, Venom's voice echoed in Subaru's mind, casual yet calculating. "Subaru, we're going to need every drop of that dragon blood Capella left behind. If we consume enough of it, I'll grow stronger and gain new abilities. It's a win-win."

Subaru's mind raced, his internal voice uncertain. "You're serious? That's… I don't even know what to say to that. But if it can save Crusch and others…"

Venom's laughter echoed darkly. "That bitch Capella left us a gift and didn't even realize it. Dumbest villain in the game. We're going to take her mess and turn it into power."

Despite the weight of the situation, Subaru couldn't help but feel a glimmer of grim determination.

---

They entered the room where Crusch lay, her condition worse than Subaru remembered. Felix rushed to her side, clutching her hand tightly.

"Crusch-sama…" Felix whispered, his voice breaking.

Wilhelm stepped forward, his jaw clenched as he looked down at her frail form. "If there is any hope, I beg you—save her."

Felix hesitated, his hand trembling as he let go of Crusch's. He stepped back, his tear-filled eyes fixed on Venom. "Please… save her."

Subaru stepped toward the bed, his heart sinking as he took in Crusch's frail condition. She turned her head weakly, her single uncovered eye widening in recognition.

"M-Master… Subaru…" Her voice was faint, a shadow of its usual strength. "I… apologize for my unpleasant sight."

Even in her dire state, her thoughts were of others. Subaru clenched his fists, angered at the sight of her suffering yet moved by her resilience.

"You shouldn't be worrying about us, Crusch-sama," Subaru said, forcing a reassuring smile. "Just focus on yourself right now."

Venom's voice, though unseen, added softly in Subaru's mind: "She's tougher than she looks, but that blood is killing her from the inside. It's worse than I thought."

Crusch's body was riddled with dark veins pulsating with the taint of Capella's dragon blood. Her skin had blackened in places, and a bandage wrapped around one of her eyes, hiding the mutations underneath. Her breaths were shallow, labored, as though every moment conscious was a struggle.

Nearby, Felix knelt by her side, his voice trembling with fragile hope. "Crusch-sama… Subaru says he can save you. You don't have to suffer anymore. He brought help."

Crusch blinked, her gaze flickering toward Subaru with confusion. "Save me…?"

Subaru straightened, his expression determined. "Venom, it's time. Let's end this suffering."

The black mass of Venom began to emerge, flowing from Subaru's body like liquid shadow. Crusch flinched instinctively at the sight, her one visible eye narrowing in apprehension.

Venom's form loomed over her, but his tone was unexpectedly gentle as he spoke. "We're here to help. I'm Subaru's contracted spirit. You can see the truth, right? Look at me carefully. I'm going to save you. Just trust me."

Crusch stared at him for a moment, her exhaustion palpable. Finally, she turned her tired gaze to Subaru. Her lips moved faintly, forming a single word: "Okay."

Venom's tendrils extended carefully toward her neck, touching her skin lightly before beginning their work. The black veins that marred her body started to recede, and the taint of dragon blood was drawn from her, absorbed into Venom's form.

Her breathing steadied. The darkened patches of skin faded, revealing her natural tone beneath. Within seconds, the horrific signs of Capella's curse were gone, leaving Crusch whole once more.

Venom pulled back, retracting into Subaru's body. "Treatment's over," he announced simply.

Crusch sat up slowly, removing the bandage around her eye. She blinked, her vision clear and unclouded. Her strength had returned, and she seemed almost like her old self again.

Felix couldn't hold back his emotions any longer. He threw his arms around her, burying his face in her shoulder as he sobbed uncontrollably. "Crusch-sama…! You're back… You're really back!"

Crusch placed a hand on his head, a warm, comforting gesture. "Thank you, Ferris. I'm sorry for worrying you… and everyone else."

Nearby, Ricardo, Wilhelm, and Julius were stunned. Wilhelm, in particular, looked as though a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Ricardo broke the silence first, his voice rough but full of relief. "Well, I'll be damned. You really pulled it off, Venom. I don't know what to say, but… thank you."

Julius nodded, his usual composure returning. "Indeed. You've done something incredible today. On behalf of all of us who failed, thank you."

Wilhelm stepped forward, bowing deeply toward Subaru and Venom. "From the bottom of my heart, I offer my gratitude. You have saved not just Crusch-sama but all of us. We owe you a debt we can never repay."

Subaru scratched the back of his head, trying to downplay the praise. "Hey, it wasn't just me. Venom's the real hero here."

Venom's voice boomed with mock pride. "You hear that? Hero. Finally, someone gets it!"

Venom observed Crusch quietly after the treatment was complete, sensing her body's recovery but also the lingering tension in her expression. His voice echoed with surprising calmness. "I think you need time to recover from the stress. Even if your body's back to normal, the strain you've been through won't just vanish overnight."

Subaru nodded in agreement, a soft smile on his face. "Venom's right. Rest up, Crusch-san. There's no rush. We'll talk everything over once the rest of our group gets here."

Ferris, his emotions still raw, chimed in. "That's right, Crusch-sama! You need to rest now more than ever. Please, don't push yourself anymore."

Crusch looked at them all, her expression softening. "Very well… I'll do as you say. I leave the rest to you all, for now." She leaned back onto the bed, her exhaustion evident but her trust unwavering.

The group quietly left her room, stepping into the hallway. As soon as the door closed behind them, Ferris turned to Venom, his face serious, and bowed deeply. "Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for saving Crusch-sama."

Venom crossed his arms, his tone shifting to a sly, playful one. "Don't thank me too quickly. I didn't do it for free."

The group froze, confusion spreading across their faces. Subaru's eyes narrowed in suspicion, his mind racing. "Is he about to mention the dragon blood…?"

Venom's chuckle rumbled like thunder. "I did it because I just proved one thing—Venom is the world's best healer. Better than Ferris. And that title? It's worth more than any money you could offer."

Subaru groaned, exasperated. "Seriously? That's what you're going with?"

Ferris blinked, then sighed with a wry smile. "I… can't argue with that. I failed to save Crusch-sama when it mattered most. You succeeded where I couldn't. The title is yours."

Ricardo barked out a hearty laugh, clapping Venom on the back. "World's best healer, huh? You've earned it, big guy. No one's gonna argue with results like that."

Wilhelm nodded solemnly. "Indeed. Titles are earned through deeds, not words. Venom has proven his worth here today."

Ferris forced a small smile, though his eyes were still shadowed with guilt. "Just make sure you don't let it go to your head, you big slime."

Venom tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Who, me? Never."

He then grew serious, his tone firm. "If you're really thankful, prove it with your actions. Go help the survivors. Tend to the wounded, protect the shelters, and clear out any of those demonic pests still lurking around."

Ricardo, Wilhelm, and Ferris all straightened at his words, determination lighting their faces.

Ricardo cracked his knuckles. "Got it. Time to kick some tails and keep the people safe."

Ferris nodded, his confidence returning. "I'll do what I do best. The survivors need all the help they can get."

Wilhelm's voice was steady, filled with quiet resolve. "The least we can do is ensure that no more lives are lost."

The three of them departed, leaving Subaru, Venom, and Julius alone in the corridor. Julius turned to them, his gaze steady.

"Impressive work, Venom, Subaru. You've given us all hope when it seemed impossible." He gestured down the hall. "Anastasia-sama is waiting for us on the fourth floor. I'll take you to her."

Venom's tendrils retreated as he returned fully into Subaru's body. Subaru gave a nod, his shoulders relaxing now that the immediate crisis was resolved.

"All right," Subaru said, cracking a small smile. "Let's see what Anastasia has in store for us."

With that, the three of them began making their way toward the next chapter of their battle against Capella's chaos.

As they ascending steps to the fourth floor, the tension in the air grew heavier. Venom's voice echoed in Subaru's mind, his tone sharp and observant.

"Listen closely, Subaru. That Julius guy… he's under Sirius's Authority."

Subaru froze momentarily before continuing up the stairs. His heart sank as he mentally replied.

"What? Are you sure?"

"Positive," Venom replied curtly. "Think about it. His behavior has been off ever since we met him after the flood incident. The signs are there—he's fighting himself. You need to help him. Make him clear his doubts and hatred. That's the key to breaking free."

Subaru swallowed hard, stealing a glance at Julius ahead of them. The normally composed knight walked with his head slightly bowed, his posture betraying unease.

"You can talk freely," Subaru said aloud, his voice breaking the silence.

Julius glanced back at him, his expression faintly troubled. "…I apologize for not fulfilling the role you assigned to me."

Subaru raised an eyebrow. "If you say so, but honestly, I don't have a problem with it. I already know how it feels to fight the strongest opponents and fail. It's not exactly a fun experience."

Despite Subaru's attempt to lighten the mood, Julius bowed his head further, shame etched across his face.

But the sight of his calm demeanor only served to ignite something in Subaru. His fists clenched, and he growled, "Bastard, how the hell can you be so calm!? We lost so soundly to that lot! How can you not be angry!?"

Julius's head snapped up, his usually measured tone breaking into a roar. "—Of course I'm also boiling with rage!"

He sharply swatted aside Subaru's outstretched arm, leaving Subaru momentarily stunned. For a moment, silence filled the stairwell. Then Julius's gaze wavered, and his voice softened.

"…Apologies for my unbecoming violence. It seems that I am yet to be mature enough to control myself."

Venom's voice cut through the moment with a mocking tone. "Apologizing again and again won't change what happened, fancy knight."

Subaru folded his arms, smirking. "Yeah, right now you're acting like a kid who lost a game and started crying about it. Get a grip."

Julius's eyes narrowed at their combined scolding. He straightened his posture, his voice colder than before. "Neither of you seems to fear death, do you?"

At that, both Venom and Subaru instantly grew serious, their mocking tones vanishing.

"We fear death," Venom said from Subaru's back, his voice rumbling.

Subaru nodded, his expression darkening. "You don't get it, Julius. My fear of death is exactly what drives me. It's what makes me work harder to survive, to find a way forward no matter how painful or terrifying it gets. You think I'm not scared? I'm terrified—of losing the people closest to me, of failing them again."

His voice trembled slightly, but his resolve was unshakable. "That's why I move forward. Even if it's painful, even if it feels impossible. I don't let that fear stop me."

Venom extended a tendril toward Julius in a gesture that was both firm and oddly reassuring. "He's right, knight. Fear isn't weakness. It's a reminder of what you're fighting for. So stop moping around and use it to drive yourself."

Julius stood silent for a moment, his golden eyes searching Subaru's face for any sign of insincerity. Finally, he exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

"…You are… an unusual man, Subaru Natsuki." His voice regained some of its usual refinement, though it was tinged with quiet respect. "Perhaps you have a point. I will… reflect on what you've said."

Subaru smirked, nudging Julius lightly with his elbow. "Good. Because if you're going to keep calling yourself my rival, I'm not letting you stay this pathetic."

Julius sighed, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I see. It seems I still have much to learn from you… and Venom, apparently."

Venom chuckled, his tone lighter now. "Don't forget it, fancy knight."

The three of them resumed their ascent, the tension between them easing ever so slightly as they approached their next destination.