The Sorcerer Killer's Third Chance (JJK x Re:ZERO)

Old Habits Die Hard

Toji tightened his grip on the Playful Cloud, his muscles tensing, but his will faltered for a brief moment. Seeing her standing there—calm, poised, weapon in hand—was something he hadn't expected. Of all people, it had to be her.

He exhaled sharply, trying to ground himself, but the situation felt more absurd with every passing second. "Seriously?" he muttered, his voice sharp with irritation. "What's this about, Rem? You couldn't just stick to tea and chores?"

Rem remained utterly composed, her blue eyes fixed on him with a chilling calmness. "This is my duty," she replied simply. "It is my role to eliminate threats to Roswaal-sama and this manor."

"Threats?" Toji repeated, incredulous. He let out a short, humorless laugh. "You've got some twisted sense of priorities, kid. I haven't laid a finger on Roswaal—or anyone else for that matter."

"Your presence alone is a disruption," Rem replied evenly. "It's clear you are not who you claim to be, and I cannot allow someone as dangerous as you to remain."

Toji scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Dangerous, huh? Look at you swinging that spiked death trap around and calling me the dangerous one."

Rem tilted her head slightly, her tone as unshakable as her demeanor. "It is precisely because you are dangerous that I am here. If you surrender now, I will ensure your death is quick and painless."

The words hit like a knife, not because of their cruelty, but because of the utter detachment with which she said them. There was no malice in her voice, no anger—just an icy resolve that made Toji's skin crawl.

He clenched his jaw, glaring at her. "That's generous of you, really. But I think I'll pass."

Rem remained still, her expression unchanging. "You are prolonging the inevitable. It would be better for you to accept your fate."

Toji's grip on the Playful Cloud tightened, his knuckles turning white. He forced himself to grin, though it lacked its usual confidence. "Sorry, but accepting fate isn't really my thing. You want to take me out, you're gonna have to work for it."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, the first crack in her otherwise serene demeanor. "So be it."

Toji exhaled slowly, his mind racing even as he readied himself. He couldn't deny that seeing her as his opponent made this more difficult than he wanted to admit. But there was no room for hesitation now—because one way or another, this fight wasn't going to end with him on his knees.

"Alright," he said under his breath, gripping his weapon tightly as he shifted his stance. "Let's see what you've got, maid."

And with that, Rem's calm expression didn't waver as she yanked her weapon free from the Playful Cloud with an almost unnatural force. The chains clinked sharply, and in one fluid motion, she swung the spiked ball toward Toji with deadly precision.

Toji sidestepped the first strike, the weapon slamming into the ground beside him with enough force to send dirt and debris flying into the air. The sound echoed through the forest, but Toji barely registered it. His focus was locked entirely on her movements.

She didn't relent. The spiked ball swung again in a wide arc, the chain whistling through the air as it came dangerously close to his face. Toji ducked, then shifted to the side, each motion deliberate and smooth. Despite her calm demeanor, her attacks were fierce, precise, and relentless.

Still, Toji couldn't help but notice something—something beneath her composed exterior. Her face was as expressionless as ever, but in her eyes, there was a flicker of something more. Something raw.

Anger?

He dodged another swing, the ball narrowly missing his head and smashing into a tree behind him. The impact splintered the trunk, sending shards of wood scattering across the forest floor. Toji leapt back, giving himself more space to maneuver as he watched her closely.