Re:Zero - Reincarnated on a Co-op Route

The two boys ran at full speed through the dark forest. The deeper they went, the more oppressive and dangerous the environment became. The growls of the wolgars echoed around them, mingled with the rustling of branches and leaves. The fetid stench of those Mabeasts filled the air, adding to the sense of menace.

Kaoru slowed down and raised a hand to signal Subaru to do the same. They both started walking, their steps careful.

"Be careful not to step on a branch by accident," Kaoru warned, glancing sideways at the boy.

"We don't want one of those things to jump in our faces."

He walked over to some bushes and knelt down with slow movements, carefully pushing the branches aside to inspect the area in front of them. The first thing he noticed was a large fallen tree trunk. But as he looked closer, he saw something else: the silhouette of a pair of feet.

"That's her," he muttered.

"Let's go," Subaru said urgently, taking a step forward.

They both approached quickly. Kaoru knelt down beside the small figure and checked her breathing. "She's alive," he confirmed.

"I'll carry her," Subaru said and bent down to pick her up.

But something wasn't right. Strange sounds began to echo around them, breaking the tense silence. Kaoru looked up and scanned the dark forest. Then he saw them.

Three Wolgarms emerged from the bushes, growling low and baring their fangs. Their eyes glowed with wild hunger.

"A trap?" he thought, squinting. "They left her alive to lure us here?" His mind processed the situation as cold sweat broke out on his back.

"Shit, shit! Why are they so big?" exclaimed Subaru, instinctively backing away. "This is bad."

Kaoru, wasting no more time, drew his daggers in one swift swing from the back of his servant's suit. The metal gleamed faintly in the dim light.

"Protect the girl, Subaru. I'll try to take care of them."

"Hey, don't be a hero here! We have to escape," Subaru replied, gritting his teeth.

"It's no use," Kaoru retorted, not taking his eyes off the slowly approaching beasts, their snarls growing louder and louder.

"You think you can outrun a Wolgarm? And you'll be carrying Meili besides. All you'll get is both of them killed."

Subaru clenched his fists in frustration, but he knew Kaoru was right. Quickly, he took off his jacket and wrapped it around his left arm as a makeshift protection.

"Fine, but don't think I'm going to stand still."

Two of the Wolgarm lunged at Kaoru at the same time, while the third slunk towards Subaru. Kaoru, wasting no time, hunched down and activated the flow method, concentrating her mana.

The first Wolgarm leapt towards Kaoru, its jaws open in an attempt to reach his face. Kaoru rolled to the side just in time, dodging the attack, and got up nimbly.

The second Wolgarm gave him no respite, lunging at him with a direct leap. Kaoru pivoted on his right foot and launched a high roundhouse kick.

THUD!

The impact was solid, sending the beast rolling to the side with a grunt of pain.

Meanwhile, the third Wolgarm took the opportunity to attack Subaru from behind. The creature jumped, but Subaru reacted in time, turning and raising his arm protected by his jacket. The Wolgarm's fangs sank into the fabric, but Subaru resisted the pain. Taking advantage of the closeness, he grabbed it by the torso, straining every muscle. With a cry of exertion, he spun and impaled the Wolgarm against a sharp branch protruding from a nearby tree.

CRUNCH!

The animal howled piercingly as its body convulsed.

Kaoru, meanwhile, was facing the first Wolgarm that had charged at him again. This time, Kaoru did not hesitate. With surgical precision, he raised his dagger and plunged it straight into the beast's skull.

SHLK!

With a quick twist, he cracked open the Wolgarm's skull, killing it instantly. The body fell to the ground with a thud.

Subaru was still pressing against the impaled Wolgarm. The creature struggled for a few more moments before becoming completely immobile. Subaru stepped back, panting.

The second Wolgarm, recovered from the blow, lunged toward Kaoru with brutal speed. Before he could react, the Wolgarm's jaws closed tightly around his leg, knocking him to the ground.

Kaoru let out a grunt of pain, feeling the heat of blood gushing from the wound. "Shit!" gasped Kaoru, gritting his teeth.

Without hesitation, he raised his dagger and plunged it into the Wolgarm's neck.

SLASH!

With a swift, brutal movement, he swung the blade and sliced through the creature's neck. The wolgarm let out a last groan before collapsing on top of him, dead.

Kaoru pushed the beast's body aside and sat up, gasping for breath, his leg burning with pain. Blood ran from the wound, staining the ground.

"Kaoru! Are you okay?" asked Subaru, rushing over, alarmed by the scene.

"Don't worry, I can heal anyway." He sat up and began to use his low-level healing magic. A faint white glow covered the wound as the bleeding slowed.

"Is Meili okay?" asked Kaoru as he continued to work on her leg.

"Yes, she's fine. She's still breathing," Subaru replied, looking at the little girl with concern.

Kaoru struggled to his feet and leaned against a nearby tree for a moment.

"We should go before more come." 

Subaru nodded. "Yes, let's get out of here."

---

As they prepared to leave, the forest was filled with an eerie glow. Dozens of red eyes emerged from the bushes, illuminating the darkness with a wild ferocity.

Kaoru clicked his tongue and immediately tensed his body. His eyes scanned the dark surroundings as he tightened his grip on his daggers.

"Great, just what we needed... Dozens of Wolgarms," he muttered in frustration as he positioned himself.

Subaru, for his part, could barely contain his panic. He clenched his teeth, his breathing quickening as he instinctively positioned himself in front of Meili, his arms spread wide in a desperate gesture to protect her.

And then, like a death roar, the wolgarms charged at them. A clatter of broken branches and snarling filled the air as the creatures went on the offensive.

"I guess this is the end, huh? We'll have to do it all over again," Kaoru muttered as he braced himself for the worst.

One of the Wolgarms, faster than the others, leapt straight at Subaru, its fangs ready to rip his throat apart. Subaru could barely react, closing his eyes and waiting for the fatal blow.

CRACK!

Suddenly, the Wolgarm's head exploded in a shower of blood and bone fragments. A huge iron ball had impacted with devastating force, pulverizing the creature's skull. Blood splattered Subaru's face as the beast's body fell on top of him, crushing him to the ground.

"Just in time!" exclaimed Subaru in relief as he tried to push the corpse off of him with a groan.

An elegant figure descended onto the battlefield. Her blue hair waved gently as she did a subtle twirl, holding her skirt in one hand. In the other, she carried an imposing iron ball connected to a chain. Rem had arrived.

"The children are already safe in the village. I see your efforts to make time were effective," Rem said calmly, despite the tension in the atmosphere.

Kaoru, without taking his eyes off the Wolgarms surrounding them, spoke quickly.

"Subaru, take Meili, and let's all get out of here now!"

But just as he was about to move, he noticed something. Two Wolgarms were lunging fiercely at Rem from his blind spot.

"Rem, behind you!" Shouted Kaoru urgently.

Rem spun with deadly precision. Her right arm, wielding the iron ball chain, swung in a violent arc. The chain spun with alarming speed, guiding the iron ball toward the Wolgarms.

SMASH!

The impact was brutal: the torso of one of the Wolgarms was literally ripped in two, spraying viscera and blood into the air. The creature's remains crashed into a nearby tree, leaving a trail of destruction.

The second Wolgarm, enraged by the fall of its companion, seized the opportunity to pounce on Rem's left side. But before he could reach his target, Rem met him with a powerful punch straight to the muzzle.

CRUNCH!

The impact was so strong that the beast's skull collapsed, burying its head in the ground with a thud. The creature instantly stopped moving.

"How strong!" exclaimed Subaru, thoroughly impressed at the sight of Rem's prowess.

"Are those appropriate words to say to a girl, Subaru?" Replied Rem with a faint smile as she shook the blood from her iron ball.

However, they had no time to relax. Dozens of Wolgarms emerged from the bushes, completely surrounding them. Red eyes filled the space, forming a circle of death around the group.

"We are completely surrounded. There's no other choice: we have to split them up."

Rem looked at Kaoru, hesitating for a moment. "That's too risky. If you do that, I won't be able to defend you from all those Wolgarms. Do you understand that, Kaoru?"

"Yes, I know that very well, but conditions are precarious. Desperate situations call for extreme plans." He pointed toward a direction in the forest. "I'll run over there and lure as many Wolgarms as I can. It won't be hard; this witch scent I'm carrying seems to be a magnet for these things."

Rem frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the plan. But before she could protest, Subaru interjected.

"Let's do it, but try not to die, okay?"

Kaoru turned to look at him, with a faint smile. "I won't die. Count on it."

Rem wasted no more time. He raised his iron ball and swung it hard.

WHAM!

The ball hit the ground, causing a deafening roar and raising a cloud of dust that obscured the Wolgarms' view.

"Now!" She shouted.

Kaoru shot out, running at full speed into the forest. The Wolgarms, attracted by the strong scent he gave off, began to chase after him. One of them leaped towards him, opening its huge jaws to bite his arm, but before it could reach him, a sharp ice shard pierced its skull The creature fell dead instantly.

"Thank you, Ram!" shouted Kaoru without stopping.

Meanwhile, Subaru had already started running towards Arlam village, carrying Meili in his arms. Rem was following closely behind them, using his iron ball to keep any Wolgarm that tried to approach at bay.

SMASH!

CRACK!

Each strike of her weapon was devastating, leaving a trail of bloody corpses in its wake.

---

The plan had worked. Kaoru, running at full speed, had managed to lure nearly half of the Wolgarms towards him. The howls and growls of the beasts echoed behind, filling the forest with a wild cacophony as they pursued him like a hungry pack.

"Shit, what was I thinking? I'm not a fucking hero! How do I get rid of these dogs?" he thought frantically, gritting his teeth as he dodged low-hanging branches and leapt over treacherous roots.

The flow method had already taken over, activating like a survival instinct. His body reacted faster than his mind could process, making him more agile and swift as he avoided obstacles in the terrain. Despite the danger, a crooked smile crept across his face. Adrenaline flooded his system, making him feel reckless.

"Go, go, keep running, you damn dogs!" he shouted as he sped up, leaping over a fallen log. Behind him, the pack of Wolgarms pursued relentlessly. Snarls. Howls. Heavy footsteps. The creatures' red eyes glowed like embers in the gloom, full of hunger and ferocity. Their drooling mouths dripped saliva as they ran with a single purpose: to tear him apart, disembowel, and devour him.

"Don't look back, don't look back, don't look back, don't look back..."

He repeated to himself like a mantra as he ran. But the sound of paws hitting the ground and the roars getting closer and closer made him mentally reel.

"Think, think! How can I take down a horde of Wolgarms in one fell swoop...? Fighting is a resounding no. As soon as I stop, they'll dismember me and I'll end up in Wolgarm shit. Lose them? Not feasible either. They don't get tired and run as fast as I do"

"Shit!"

That's when he saw it. In the distance, a cliff loomed as a possible salvation. The ground near the edge was full of deep cracks, clearly unstable. His mind, at last, began to work on a plan. If he could neither fight nor flee, the only option was a trap.

"If I can't beat them hard, I'll bring them down by their own stupidity," he thought as a malicious grin formed at the corners of his lips.

"Come on, you fucking shit dogs, you want meat, then come and get it!"

With the plan in mind, Kaoru ran even faster towards the cliff, ignoring the burning in his lungs and the pain in his legs. The chase became even more chaotic. The Wolgarms roared with greater intensity, their predatory instinct intensifying as they sensed their prey was cornered.

The edge of the cliff was getting closer and closer. Kaoru could feel the ground shaking beneath his feet as the Wolgarms followed en masse, the weight of the horde causing the cracks in the ground to expand.

"Just a little more... Just a little more," he thought, gritting his teeth as the cold air from the precipice hit his face.

Suddenly, five Wolgarms leapt toward him from behind, their fangs gleaming in the pale light. He saw them from the corner of his eye and knew it was time.

"Shamak!" he shouted, extending his hand back.

Thick black smoke shot out of his hand, enveloping everything around him in an oppressive sphere. The Wolgarms were completely blinded and deafened, grunting in confusion as their running continued, unable to stop. The smoke pushed them over the edge without their being aware of the danger.

The ground beneath their feet began to collapse. The edge of the cliff broke away with a terrifying roar, taking Kaoru and the horde of Wolgarms with it. The earth shook as a huge section of the cliff slid down, falling over 50 meters to a bed of sharp rocks.

BOOOOOM!

The impact was deafening. The ground shook with such force that birds in the nearby trees flew away in disarray. The roars of the Wolgarms were instantly silenced, replaced by the sound of bodies shattering against the rocks.

Kaoru, however, had managed to cling to a branch protruding from the cliff wall at the last second. His body hung precariously, trembling from the effort. He had multiple lacerations on his arms and legs, and his hair was caked with dirt and dust. His face was a mixture of exhaustion, shock, and relief.

He looked down and almost vomited. The ground was littered with mangled corpses. Limbless wolgarms, torsos split in two, bodies impaled on sharp rocks, others literally made into ground meat. The sight was nauseating.

"I think... I think I'm going to throw up. Yuck..." he muttered, struggling to maintain control.

With slow, painful movements, Kaoru began to climb up the branch, panting with each attempt. Fatigue hit him like a wave, and the absence of adrenaline made his body feel heavy. The flow method had already deactivated, leaving him completely exhausted.

Finally, he managed to climb to the edge of the cliff, crawling along the ground like a living corpse. His lungs burned as he inhaled air desperately, and his muscles screamed for rest.

"Ugh..." he let out a groan as he leaned back against a nearby tree, resting his back against the trunk. His breathing was ragged, and sweat trickled down his forehead.

"I really thought I was going to die..." he said between gasps, closing his eyes for a moment.

He checked his pockets but noticed something important. "What I was missing... I lost one of my daggers. Possibly it was during the fall."

"I'd give anything for a cigar right now. Shit."

He pulled off the top of his tattered suit, leaving him with a bare torso. With his left hand, he began to use his low-level healing magic, slowly closing the lacerations that scarred his skin. The process was slow and painful but necessary.

"I hope Rem and Subaru made it back to town without too much trouble," he murmured.

"I was able to do my part and ease their way back... I hope they're not looking for me. I can get back on my own; I just have to..."

A grunt of pain escaped his lips as he pressed a particularly deep wound near his abdomen. He closed his eyes in frustration, leaning his head against the tree.

"I need a break... Damn it"1 

That's when it all went to shit. Very fucking shitty.

The bald-headed puppy, the Mabeasts that had caused so much trouble in the village, was there. In front of Kaoru. He was not alone. A large group of Wolgarms surrounded him, as if they were his personal army. The cub seemed to be the leader, its oppressive yellow aura making the air feel heavy. His eyes glowed with an insatiable hunger, and a mischievous grin formed at the corners of his muzzle.

Kaoru looked at him, incredulous, sweat trickling down his forehead. "Oooohhh, you gotta be fuckin' kidding me! You motherfu—!?"

Before he could finish cursing, the ground beneath his feet exploded. An avalanche of dirt threw him through the air like a rag doll.

"WHY DOES ALL THE FUCKING SHIT ALWAYS GET MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHH!!?! 

He screamed as he flew over the trees, spinning out of control.

The impact knocked the wind out of him, and as he continued to be projected through the air, a single thought crossed his mind:

"Being Kaoru Shimizu sucks from all sides."

------------------------------------------------------------

[Subaru's POV]

"Meili! My pretty Meili! Oh, my... thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you," exclaimed an old woman, hugging the girl with tears in her eyes. It was Milde Arlam, the village chief.

"And the other children?" asked Subaru, anxiety still reflected on his face.

"They are fine," Milde replied, wiping away tears. "The petite blonde girl is removing the curse from them and healing them. She's a sweetheart."

Subaru let out a relieved sigh and smiled. "I knew Beako would help us with this!"

Rem, standing next to him, smiled weakly, though she was visibly exhausted. Her body was covered with minor and some more serious wounds, and her breathing was heavy. She had fought dozens of Wolgarms to protect them, and though she didn't have to resort to using her horn, she was at the limit of her endurance.

Suddenly, her legs gave way, and Rem collapsed to the ground. Subaru reacted immediately, holding her up before she could fall completely. "Rem!" he cried out, his heart in his throat.

"I'm... fine..." she murmured, though her tone said otherwise.

"You've done enough. You've protected everyone, Rem"

"But... Kaoru is still in there. It was thanks to him that I didn't have to resort to pulling out my horn.... We have to help him," Rem insisted, trying to get up.

Subaru shook his head. "I'll go. Leave it to me."

"No... don't go alone.... You'll get killed... Let me go with you," Rem replied, her voice heavy with concern.

Subaru looked straight at her, with a mixture of determination and seriousness unusual for him.

"You'll stay here, Rem. You don't have to keep struggling. I'll get that fool out of there if he's not already in pieces."

"But..."

"Rem..." Subaru softened his tone, taking her hands gently. "Trust me. I can do this."

Rem's eyes filled with tears. Her heart pounded, and her breathing became erratic.

"I trust you...but I don't want anything to happen to you," she said, her voice cracking.

Subaru smiled, reminding her warmly, "I promised you that when we got out of this, we'd chat. We'd ask each other everything we don't know about each other, until we can't talk anymore."

"Subar-"

"Maybe I'm a coward who's afraid to face situations, a crybaby who can't stand the path I'm on, a weakling who can't fight without asking for help," Subaru interrupted, his tone full of sincerity.

"Kaoru can be a bastard, a cynic, and an unscrupulous womanizer. He is superior to me physically... (and virilely too)." A bitter laugh escaped his lips before he continued. "He always ends up helping me with all my problems, even when I don't ask him to."

"But this time... I want to try to be something more than that. To be something more than what I've always been."

Subaru gently squeezed Rem's hands and looked into her eyes.

"Rem, let me be the hero this time."

Rem went blank, her tears falling silently down her cheeks. She didn't know what to say. Her chest felt heavy, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Finally, she nodded with a shaky smile.

"Yes."

"Please, Subaru, save Kaoru," she said in a voice full of hope. At that moment, she looked at Subaru in a different way. That boy, whom she had foolishly suspected in the past, now seemed to radiate a different light. She knew she had been wrong. How could she, how could she have doubted someone like him?

Natsuki Subaru was her hero.

---

It was then that Ram appeared running towards them, her face full of anguish. "Ram!"

"Nee-sama..." muttered Rem, barely managing to focus on her.

"I told you not to try too hard!" scolded Ram before hugging her tightly, not intending to let go. "You're covered in wounds, you idiot."

"I'm sorry, Ram," Rem replied weakly.

Subaru, seeing the scene, cleared his throat to change the subject. "Hey, Ram, if you're here, where's Emilia?"

Ram looked up. "She rushed to help Beatrice with the children. Some are still weak, but they're out of danger."

Subaru let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness... That's good to know."

"Nee-sama..." muttered Rem, clinging to Ram's arm. "Please go with Subaru."

Ram looked at her sister with concern, but nodded. "I understand. I'll go with him. But you need treatment too. You have too many wounds."

Before they could respond, a tall villager with a long sword at his belt came rushing toward them. His expression was one of gratitude and urgency.

"Thank you so much for all you have done" he said, bowing deeply.

The man looked up, with a serious look.

"Isn't the tall, long-haired boy with you?"

Subaru, gritting his teeth, replied, "He's still inside the forest. He helped us escape by splitting up the Wolgarms. We were thinking of going back to help him."

"I see..." The villager nodded before taking off his sword and extending it towards Subaru.

"Then please take this. It is my sword. It was handed down to me from generation to generation in the village."

The longsword was made of iron, with a sheath and strap. It appeared to be of good quality, though ancient.

"I will carry the blue-haired girl with the other two young ladies," the villager said, carefully carrying Rem on his back.

"You guys save the boy."

Subaru and Ram exchanged glances and nodded. Subaru put on his sword, adjusting the strap at his lower waist.

"Let's go!" said Subaru, with determination.

Ram followed him immediately, and they both ran into the forest, running into the darkness in hopes of saving Kaoru.