Everything was a blur.
My half-opened can't focus on anything; my world was slowly spinning round and round. I can't feel my body; I can't move a muscle. I feel weak to the point of passing out, but for some reason, I feel that if I decide to give in now, I'm not too sure when I'll wake up again.
"...leader...!"
"...hang in there!"
"...don't you dare die!"
I can hear faint voices coming from all directions, but I can't seem to tell to whom those voices belong. I tried to move my head to see who those people are, but everything was hazy and my eyes are starting to close. I can tell at this point that it's only a matter of time before I pass out. I tried to reach out to something, but to no avail. I was simply too tired that keeping myself awake was already a chore.
This isn't good. I don't know what happened, but nothing god comes into mind. Why can't I help but think that this is going to be the end of the line for me?
Soon, everything faded to black and I succumbed to unconsciousness.
I slowly opened my eyes and found myself staring at a familiar white ceiling. I can't remember when, but I'm positive somehow this similar scene has happened to me before. I tried moving, but my body won't respond. It feels like this body is not my own; it's too heavy.
I looked around, and soon I realized that this is a familiar territory. This is the place I love, the place I protect, the place closest for me to call home -the Fenrir Far East Branch. To be more specific, I'm in the sickbay. I don't know what happened, but I suddenly remembered the incident when the base was infiltrated by a swarm of Aragami, and at the conclusion of that event, I found myself waking up to this place. Could it be that something similar happened to me this time, and this is where I ended up again?
I was able to ounce enough strength to bring half of my body up. At that same moment, I saw a familiar face sleeping peacefully on the side of my bed. She really looked worn out -she must be looking out for me the whole time I was asleep. I'm starting to think that I'm making everyone around me too much.
I stared at her for a little while, until I noticed that she was starting to wake up. She lifted her head and looked back at me, half-awake. I flashed her a little smile.
"Good morning Alisa." I greeted her.
It was only after hearing my voice that she realized that I'm awake now. Her eyes widened and jumped on me, wrapping her small arms tightly around my still-weak body.
"Hey, hey, easy there." I told her. She quickly eased up her tight grip and pulled back. Her face was slightly flushed and her eyes were a little watery, clear signs that she was worried for me.
Suddenly, Alisa hammered her clenched fist helpless arms. "Just try acting reckless once more and you'll have it coming from me."
Alisa's words were much more threatening than any Aragami I'd encountered. After hearing those words, and I instantly believed that she meant those words. Girls can be really scary sometimes.
I then noticed that she the tears welling up in her eyelids were already trailing down her cheeks. I guess not only her, but everyone was worried about what happened. However, I still can't remember what happened to me that got me ending up like this.
"How long was I out?" I asked Alisa.
She wiped the tears off her face and calmed herself down. "Well, you were asleep for almost a month now."
Wait, did I hear Alisa right? I was in this state for a month?
"It didn't look like you were waking up anytime soon, so I was just surprised to see you suddenly up and about." Alisa added, but I barely heard the rest. I was more occupied trying to remember what happened that past month, but the only thing that comes to me is a blank memory and a shooting pain in the head.
And then the pain in my escalated into something worse. My chest started to tighten, it felt like my heart was being ripped off my body. I suddenly had difficulty breathing, and started to sweat profusely. My painful moans were died in my drying throat and everything around me was starting to go black.
I don't like this unpleasant feeling.
"Hey, are you okay? Does it hurt somewhere?" I can faintly see Alisa's concerned look probably because my face was agonizing in pain. "Hey, stay with me!"
Soon, the pain was unbearable to the point that my body gave out and I passed out once more.
Within the shadows was a man standing.
There was something weird about his style of clothing, fashioning a black shirt and a red necktie underneath a white coat. He was wearing gloves to cover his hands, and his hair was neatly fixed. It was unusual because it seemed like he was going to attend a formal meeting of some sort, but since the Aragami invasion happened a couple of years ago, no one never looked this neat and well. It's as if he's living in a world free of Aragami, just like how the old times were.
I can't see his face, but I can tell that he was looking at me. And for some irritating reason, he was smiling. No, it was wrong to call it a smile. He was grinning at me. I don't know why, but his smirk was making me feel like he's looking down on me. And then he slowly faded out. I tried to follow him, but my legs were slowly consumed by the darkness. I extended my hands out just so I can reach him, but slowly, he faded away into the void.
I woke up breathing heavily. I was sweating profusely. I know I just woke up from a strange dream, but I can't seem to remember what that dream was about. I looked around and Alisa was there, still wearing that concerned look on her face. I noticed that Soma and Kota were present as well, and I was being surrounded by numerous medical staff. I quickly sat up and tried to calm myself down.
"What happened?" I asked everyone around me.
"Well, you looked like you were in some kind of pain until you passed out a couple of minutes ago." It's good to know that I wasn't out that long.
I was already sleeping for an entire month; I feel like I don't want to sleep anytime soon. I know that the God Eaters of the Far East Branch are reliable and skilled, but I can't just sleep here all day while they're out there risking their lives to protect the people from the Aragami threat everyday.
The doctors conducted a series of tests on me. In the end, I'm not returning to the front lines anytime soon. They were going to monitor my status for the time being, and no one can tell when I'll be able to return to active duty again. I don't like the idea of keeping me here in the sickbay while the Aragami threat can come anytime soon. I know in my current state, even if I'm the leader of the First Unit, I'll just be dragging them down.
Soma came inside the sickbay. I can tell he came here with questions, but I don't know if I can provide the answers.
"What happened that day?" Soma asked frankly. As always, he's not beating around the bush.
Ah, how I wish I know the answer to that as well. As of now, I have zero idea what transpired that day. Not a single memory comes to mind. The only thing I can remember was the time I woke up, which was just hours ago. I have been sleeping for a month because of that incident. I want to know. No, I need to know. I have to know.
I couldn't answer Soma, I could only look down irritated. I can tell he understands that I don't know what happened myself. It's a good thing that Soma's sharp and I don't have to explain everything to him.
"There's some people here who likes to meet you. Maybe they can help you jog your memory a bit." Soma told me, before leaving the room to call out the people he was referring to.
Two people came inside, one boy and one girl. They were two of the newest New-type God Eaters that were transferred here in the Far East Branch.
"If I can remember correctly, you're Wallace Maxwell and Maria Scarlet, right?" The two of them nodded their heads. It was easy to tell that they were uncomfortable being in the same room as me, but I don't know what makes them feel that way.
I suddenly remembered something. That day, I was asked to take the two New-type God Eaters and accompany them on their first mission. Normally, it was Lindow's job to teach the new recruits the essence of survival and what it takes to be a God Eater. On that day, Lindow and Sakuya were working on a mission together, and that made me the perfect candidate for the job. I had no reason to refuse either.
My train of memories stopped there.
"I was ordered to accompany the two New-type God Eater on their first mission. Those two New-Types are you guys, right?" I asked them, trying to confirm if my memories are correct. The two of them nodded. "Unfortunately, that's all I remember."
Soma had a serious look on his face.
"In the middle of the mission, you suddenly requested for immediate backup. You said you were under attack by a strange group of unknown Aragami." Soma told me. However, no matter how hard I try to remember, I just can't seem to remember.
"Um, sir, are you sure you don't remember?" The New-type boy asked me a strange question. If there was a new breed of Aragami involved, I'd already be discussing this with Director Paylor. "You managed to kill a few of those new Ogretail-type Aragamis and drive the swarm away, but..."
I don't like the pause in the boy's words. Something feels off. It's giving me the feeling that I did something I shouldn't have.
"You ordered us to retreat to our starting point and wait for the backup to arrive." Maria added. However, I still can't remember anything.
"While we were retreating, we saw you engage a mysterious man." Wallace continued. I still can't remember anything after hearing all of these. Instead, the sharp pain in my head is starting to return.
"When backup arrived, they found you unconscious on the ground, sustained near-fatal wounds and busted your God Arc to the point that it's almost unusable. We're asking you this because we want to know whatever the hell it was that's capable of doing this to the leader of the First Unit." Soma added. After hearing all of these, the pain in my head only intensified that I can no longer understand what they're talking about.
I minced in pain, and the medical staff stormed inside the room.
"What are you doing here? No one is allowed to visit him for the time being. Please leave the room immediately." The doctors told Soma and the others. The two complied right away and exited the room; Soma stopped by the door and turned back towards me.
"I know this is asking too much, but we need you to get your memories back ASAP. We have to prepare as much as possible for whatever it was that did this to you." Soma told me. I know; after hearing all of those things, I also feel the same.
Soma then left the room, and after the doctors were able to make sure that I was fine, they left the room as well.
Three days have passed, and I was no one came in to visit me. It was easy to hypothesize that I'm being quarantined for the moment. I don't know why they're doing this to me, but the Far East Branch must have a reason for doing so. The only time someone enters my room is when a medical staff checks up on me or brings me food. They don't stay inside longer than five minutes. They don't even talk to me. I hope there's nothing wrong with my body.
After spending two more days of complete isolation, I was finally cleared to leave the sickbay. I've been waiting forever for this moment. I quickly changed to my white Fenrir Formal uniform and headed towards Director Paylor's lab.
As soon as I opened the door, the first thing I saw was the members of the First Unit, together with Lindow and Tsubaki. Alisa, Kota, and the others still have that worried look for me, but I shrugged all of it with a light smile. Director Paylor was wearing that deceiving smile as always. It seems he's still consumed in his work like always.
"How are you feeling now?" The Director asked me. I headed towards the seat on the side, and the others sat together with me.
"I don't think I'm a hundred percent, but I feel good." I replied. I hope that removes the worry off these people's faces, even if a little bit.
"That's good, that's good." He replied, although it didn't seem he was listening to me. He was still busy breezing through the stacked paperworks on top of his desk. It must be this hard being the Director of the Far East Branch. "So, you still don't remember anything that happened in that incident?"
"I'm afraid so." I answered. Don't worry, getting my memories back is high above my priority list as of now. There might be a very important information regarding the new breed of Aragami that attacked us that day that I could share if I remember the events that transpired that day.
Director Paylor averted his attention from the work stacked into his desk and turned to us. A video suddenly flashed right before us. My eyes were in awe with what I saw -remains of the new-type Ogretails that I think I slashed down. For some reason, they share a striking resemblance with the Corrosive Hannibal.
"These Ogretails look like me way back when I was an Aragami." Lindow was trying to make light of the situation, but everyone in the room understands the gravity of the situation we are facing right now.
The information about the Corrosive Hannibal is currently exclusive to the Far East Branch. However, for these new type of Ogretail to appear means that these Aragami were devouring Corrosive Hannibals. I don't think it's possible that Ogretails are capable of taking down a Corrosive Hannibal, even if they attacked it in swarms. It could only mean that someone is hunting down the Corrosive Hannibals, and the Ogretails get the remains. The question is, who is doing it? I'm sure Director Paylor instructed all God Eaters of the Far East Branch to avoid engaging Corrosive Hannibals, since little is known about them.
"I'm sure everyone understands the gravity of the situation here." Director Paylor commented. The dead silence that surrounded the room means all of us completely agree. "However, there's a more pressing matter at hand at this moment."
Suddenly, I felt the air inside the room suddenly get colder. For some reason, I felt that this was going to be about me, I just don't know why. The Director stood up and slowly approached me. His face crept closer and closer at me.
"Are you sure you don't remember anything?" Director Paylor asked me one more time. I don't understand why they keep asking me the same question. They're not believing me?
I remained silent and stared back at Director Paylor's eyes. After a few moments, he backed up and he was wearing that deceiving smile once again.
"There's no easy way of telling this, so I'll tell you frankly." He paced the room back and forth for a while, before stopping and then turning towards me. "I don't know why, but your heart is infected with Aragami cells. I'm afraid you're going to die soon."
I think I didn't quite hear that right.
The silence that filled the room was deafening.