Re:Zero Flaw If

Subaru shouted, jumping out of his seat. "WHAT! Why would you assume I'd demand to go? And second, how dare you not let me go? This is important to Emilia! I want to be there to help her!"

Rem stepped in to help Subaru. "Roswaal-sama, there are many people in the capital that helped Subaru. He can thank them while he accompanies Emilia-sama."

Subaru smiled and gave Rem a thumbs up before turning back to Roswaal. "She's right, you know. Some people in the capital have been a big help to me, so I need to let them know I'm alive and well."

Roswaal looked amused. "We planned on you receiving treatment from Felix, one of those who were here earlier and one of Lugunica's finest water mages."

"You mean the cat girl? She can heal people?" Subaru asked, surprised.

Everyone went silent, and Roswaal said, "That's a guy."

"Trap..." Subaru muttered quietly.

Roswaal continued, "Like I was saying, you were only going to get your gate healed, but now you may accompany Lady Emilia. She is the one who got you said healer."

Subaru turned to Emilia and started praising her. "Awww, Emilia-tan got a healer just for meee?"

Emilia blushed and replied, "W-well, it's partly my fault you haven't fully healed yet. I'm just paying a debt."

Roswaal interrupted Subaru before he could talk again. "We can't forget about Los-kuuuun. He will also accompany Lady Emilia as our show of force to the other candidates."

Los nodded in approval, and Subaru and Emilia exchanged a look. Roswaal smiled and said, "Now prepare yourselves to leave. Ram, you will stay and tend the mansion."

The next day, Los sat down with Subaru and Emilia in a carriage being steered by Rem. Roswaal opted to fly overhead to survey the area and save a dragon carriage. Roswaal had earlier told Los to stay out of Subaru's way once they were there, as Subaru needed to be on his own for something. Los, who had no intention of getting in Subaru's way in the first place, nodded curtly.

Coming back to the present, Emilia asked, "Los, what was that spell you used to destroy those mabeasts? I've never seen anything like it."

Los looked at his hand and replied, "Well, I'm not sure, but I think the general base for my power is a black energy representing 'negation,' or the ability to contradict or deny. A white energy that allows me to attack nonphysical things, such as the space between two objects or an ability. And my red energy allows me to use it on a wide area of effect, and everything within that area will be negated."

Emilia nodded and then asked, "So what did you use on the mabeasts?"

Los replied, "Firstly, I used my black and white negation to make the 'space' between the beasts have never existed. When this is used somewhere the target is, it mimics the effect of them being sliced. Since I sent the attack a hundred times, the beasts were cut to pieces. Secondly, I saw more beasts further back. Rather than slash them individually, I decided to use my absolute negation, which is the red and black energy, to destroy the entire area they occupied. I shot it out in a fan shape to be most effective at destroying the beasts while protecting the village."

Emilia nodded again and said, "Thank you for explaining. It's a shame we don't know what this magic comes from."

Subaru looked down and said, "I just wish I could have been more of a help."

Los looked at him and said, "It's not a problem. This situation suited my abilities perfectly. Your intellect will be useful soon, I have no doubt."

Subaru looked slightly relieved by this but didn't speak.

The carriage stopped at a fancy-looking building, and Los helped take the small amount of luggage to everyone's room. Subaru waved goodbye while cackling, and Emilia called, "Goodbye!"

Los and Rem were left alone as everyone went their separate ways. Los looked at her before saying, "I'd stay, but there are some people I'd like to look for."

Rem nodded and replied, "There's no issue here. Go ahead."

Los thanked her and waved goodbye. He then zipped up into the air and began flying around. He saw the city bustling but didn't see anyone looking up. He sighed and landed on a rooftop, then he heard a voice behind him.

"What did I tell you about flying around the city?"

He looked behind him. There, with his usual smile on his face, was Reinhard van Astrea. Los raised an eyebrow and waved hello.

"I heard you saved a village, but when I went over to check, I didn't expect I'd find a massive scorch mark on the earth. Just what kind of attack was that?" Reinhard asked.

Los shrugged and replied, "I don't know myself."

Reinhard smiled and said, "Care for a little spar before the Royal Selection? I'd love to see what you're made of."

Los nodded and pointed at a mountain a long ways away. "We should do it over there."

Reinhard nodded in agreement, and Los shot off. It took him about 20 seconds at top flight speed to arrive, and when he did, Reinhard was already there. "The terrain is uneven here," remarked Reinhard.

In response, Los crackled with black, white, and red energy. He held out a hand, and instantly an area between the mountain and another mountain close by was flattened perfectly into a cubic arena.

Reinhard grinned, and this time they both shot down towards the arena, arriving at the same time. They faced off. Reinhard stood, signifying he was ready. Los nodded and waited for a move, but Reinhard simply stood, arms crossed. Los smiled and decided to try a new move...

Los and Reinhard faced each other, the mountain air thick with anticipation. Reinhard stood with his arms crossed, his ever-present smile tinged with curiosity. "Whenever you're ready," he said calmly.

Los crackled with energy, his hands forming two orbs of pure black and white negation. He slammed them together, and they began to mix—unstable, crackling wildly. In his mind, he shaped the energy into something new, something devastating. The negation energy multiplied itself, creating a positive mass—an attack that, if left unchecked, could spiral beyond control.

He barely had time to react before Reinhard moved. With a single, almost casual kick, he sent the imaginary mass skyward, where it collapsed in on itself, forming a black hole. The gravitational pull warped the air, tearing at the ground beneath them. Los barely had time to process what had happened before Reinhard, defying all logic, drew his sword and slashed the black hole itself. The space around it twisted violently—and then, impossibly, it was gone.

Reinhard landed lightly, flaunting his blade. "The Dragon Sword Reid," he said, his voice steady, but his eyes alight with something rare—excitement.

Los exhaled and flexed his fingers. "I think I might have something to rival that."

Reinhard's smile widened. "Oh? Please, do show me."

Los concentrated, merging the black and white negation energy once more. This time, instead of an amorphous mass, he envisioned a weapon—a sword unlike anything that had ever existed. The energy took form, and from the rift in space came a blade. It had no defined shape, no clear edges. The sheath was a deep abyssal black, and when Los grasped the hilt and drew the sword, the blade was a shifting, distorting anomaly, an absence of light and form itself.

It supposedly weighed an infinite amount. Yet, in his hands, it felt as light as any ordinary weapon.

He swung it experimentally. The arc of the swing traced across the ground and over the second mountain. For an instant, nothing seemed to happen—then, with an eerie silence, the path he had cut simply ceased to exist. Reality itself had been erased where the sword had passed.

Reinhard's expression shifted into something far more serious. He raised the Dragon Sword Reid, its edge gleaming. "One collision," he said softly.

Los nodded. The moment stretched into eternity before, in an instant, they closed the gap.

Their blades met.

The force of the clash was unlike anything either had felt before. The sheer weight of Los's infinite-mass blade pressed against the unbreakable Dragon Sword. The earth beneath them shattered, torn asunder. The wind from the impact roared, flattening the surrounding terrain and blowing the distant mountain away like sand before a tidal wave.

All of this happened in less than a second.

Then, they broke apart.

The landscape was forever changed, but both swords remained intact. Los sheathed his blade, and Reinhard followed suit. There was a moment of silence before Reinhard exhaled, a bead of sweat trailing down his face. "I cannot believe you created such a weapon."

Los chuckled, feeling invigorated. "Neither can I."

For a brief moment, they simply stood there, grinning at one another. Then, with a firm handshake, they turned and departed for the capital, going their separate ways, but both knowing they would cross blades again someday.

Arriving back at the room, Los was greeted by Rem. "Master Roswaal left a message for you. Once Emilia-sama has left for the castle, you are to go there as well. Tell the guards you are Los of the Emilia camp, and they will let you in."

Los nodded, thanked Rem, and departed. He leaped into the air, soaring toward the castle gates. The guards were startled as he landed effortlessly before them. One immediately pointed his spear at him. "W-what is your business here?"

Los regarded him calmly. "I am Los of the Emilia camp."

The guards exchanged a look before one of them nodded. "You're allowed in."

Inside, another guard tapped him on the shoulder. "The ceremony has already begun, so please don't interrupt. Head straight until you reach the throne room doors. You can take a seat in the hallway until they open."

Los thanked the guard and proceeded forward, admiring the grandeur of the palace as he walked. Upon reaching the ornate, gold-decorated doors, he took a seat in one of the luxurious chairs nearby. He barely had time to settle in before a familiar voice rang out.

"Hey! It's you! What are you doing here?!"

Looking up, Los saw a familiar figure—Felt, now dressed in noble attire, though her expression remained as wild and defiant as ever.

Los remained seated and responded evenly, "My name is Los, and I'm with the Emilia camp."

Felt scowled, folding her arms. "Shouldn't you be in there with them, then?"

Los shrugged. "I would be, but it seems Roswaal didn't want me interfering with something."

Felt nodded in understanding, though she still looked irritated. "Well, good luck with whatever you're here for. I have to go inside and play 'royal candidate' even though I don't wanna be one! The nerve of these people!"

Los swore he could see steam practically coming out of her ears as she threw open the throne room doors. A general gasp echoed from inside before the doors shut, sealing the noise away.

Leaning back into the chair, he sighed, hoping for a moment of rest. That was, until another familiar voice rumbled nearby.

"Hey! It's you."

Los groaned slightly and looked up again—this time at Rom, Felt's guardian. The old giant eyed him curiously. "Los, right? What are you doing here?"

Los deadpanned. "Same answer I gave Felt."

Rom scratched his chin before leaning in slightly and whispering, "I'ma rescue Felt. Wanna help?"

Los raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, can't get kicked out. I have to stay here."

Rom grunted in understanding. "Alright, then. Just close your eyes—I don't want any witnesses."

Los, confused but not particularly interested in arguing with the old man, obliged. He closed his eyes, leaning back in the chair as he heard Rom shuffle away. A series of clanking sounds followed, punctuated by occasional grunts of exertion. This went on for several minutes before silence fell.

Los opened one eye. Rom was gone.

He closed his eyes again.

Then—

BOOM!

A massive explosion jolted him upright. The throne room doors burst open, and Rom was dragged out by two guards.

Los, seeing this, simply gave a small wave.

Reinhard, standing inside, spotted him. "Los? Why are you sitting out there? Come in here."

Los stepped into the throne room, scanning the assembled nobles and candidates. Roswaal nodded to him, then turned to one of the elders at the front of the room. "Now that you are here, please reintroduce yourself and your affiliation."

Los bowed slightly. "I am Los of the Emilia camp."