Trinity Arc

by Ancient2

Three crossing souls. One lead by glory, one by vengeance, the last by redemption. All come together as one to the Far East Branch, each touching the life of the other and the Den members. Three God Eaters starting as strangers, then slowly turning into friendship. Leading each other slowly to grace, may their God Arcs guide them to Serenity.

25. Chapter 25

The Legend of Odin

"You guys okay? Ooo, you look terrible." Kota asked them in concern as the returning team was gathered into the Sick Bay for medical attention, hissing out the last part as he looked them over.

"..." The team was beaten, but made it back alive. Thanks to the surprising help of Fukushu and Rie. They were bandaged and wrapped up and left to their own devices by the medical staff as they licked their wounds from the salty sting of having their ass handed to them by an advanced Aragami never seen before.

Alisa had finally come to and was lying on her sickbed while the others on the team beat themselves up a little on the inside while the rest of the team had come in to check on them once they had heard the news of their rough-and-tumbled return to the Den. Dr. Sakaki had come out of his lab to personally investigate what had happened to his Ace Team, locking down the Sick Bay from all others except for the First Unit once he had figured out who had delivered his God Eaters back to the Den. Rie had morphed back to a more humanoid form once they had reached the Den, but still had to remain on a low key to keep attention away from his Aragami limbs from the Branch. He and Fukushu had remained on the opposite wall from the door, leaning along it as they all discussed and recapped what had happened.

"Che, shut up, Kota." Soma grunted at Kota before growling to himself. His clinched fists tightened on top of his legs as he looked down on them. "Next time I'll tear that Aragami to pieces."

"I wouldn't count on that." Fukushu countered back, breaking in the bad news to him. "You guys had the unlucky honor of bumping into a wasteland wonder."

"?"

"What do you mean?" Lindow quarried to her, concerned that a powerful Aragami had nearly taken out his comrades and was still wandering about the Branch's outskirts.

"Before any of that, can you all explain to us what had happened?" Dr. Sakaki interrupted, trying to get as much data about this new appearance as much as he could. "And please, do not leave anything out. I want to know to my full capability of what we are dealing with here."

"..." Yuu stayed quiet for a moment as he gathered his thoughts together. "It came out of nowhere, once we were done taking out our targets... It just jumped out of the twister, our radars couldn't even detect it. That thing just attack us, no provocation or hunger involved in its actions. It just did it to do it."

"Are you saying that it attacked you guys without the intentions of devouring you?" Dr. Sakaki pondered for more detail.

"I can't honestly say, it did have a Devouring mouth like a God Arc inside its chest plate but it didn't feel like it wanted to eat us just attack with it. I only saw it once, but... Its moves were calculated and well thought out. This Aragami was highly intelligent. A humanoid Aragami riding another Aragami that looks like an six-legged large horse. Both highly armored with concentration Oracle Cells. And seems to work as two bodies, two presences, yet one mind."

"It was also Bolt-base, and carried weapons. Both a lance and shield, either one a potential threat in its hands." Karen explained further. "There was style and technique to its form... I've never seen anything like it displayed by Aragami before."

"It paused for a moment before trying to kill us. Seriously..." Soma pondered aloud as he thought about the last moments in the fight. The Aragami just stared at them before charging up its lance for a finally attack as if it had seen enough, as if it was not pleased with the result. "What the hell was that thing?"

"Hmm, a humanoid Aragami working in two parts; highly advanced in fighting moves; and a powerful lightning elemental." Dr. Sakaki summed up, recapping what had been gathered about the new Aragami so far. It wasn't much, but he could still theories with it. "Perhaps its another form of Singularity..."

"?!" The First Unit members gasped in alarm as their eyes opened wider.

"I thought Shio was the only Singularity?" Soma shot back at Dr. Sakaki.

"We don't know that, nor can we honestly prove that." Dr. Sakaki pointed. "There are many possibilities out there that we don't even know about. Other rare occurrence of Aragami that have devoured so high up in the food chain that they have grounded to a halt in their evolution. This New Aragami might be one of them..."

"So... there might be other intelligent Aragami still out there, Doctor?" Alisa summed up in a question.

"Exactly!" Dr. Sakaki replied in excitement, barely able to contain himself. "Can you imagine what they would be like? What characteristics of personalities could they possibly take form?"

"You wouldn't want to find out for this one." Fukushu responded back, drawing attention from the others. "This one is trouble."

"Can you tell us more about it, Fukusu-san?" Sakuya respectfully asked, hoping to get more answers from the older woman.

"Not much I'm afraid." Fukushu honestly admitted, shrugging her shoulders. "We've been hearing about this guy stirring up trouble along our borders. We came to investigate. It seems that this Aragami takes control over the other Aragami like a general and orders them around. They've been attacking in strategic units and have slowly been moving towards this area. We've been following their trail for a while now."

"Any idea on what they could possibly want?" Kota asked her.

"Tsk, I don't know. It's been breaking the Aragami up and sending scouting regiments so far." Fukushu hissed out in annoyance, more to herself for her lack of intel. She hated when she wasn't in control. "If the scouts would come back, they would move."

"Do you guys have any past experience fighting this thing?" Yuu asked, slightly pleading for a positive answer. "Any tips?"

"Nope. Sorry." Rie replied, scratching the back of his head. "This is the first time we've actually encountered this Aragami. It's a rare appearance that has oddly decided to become more active recently."

"Dammit," Yuu hissed out in frustration. "It's been out in the wastelands all this time, surely somebody must have seen it. Anyone you know? Anyone at all?"

"Hm, well..." Fukushu pondered, looking up to the ceiling as she thought. Tapping one of her fingers on her chin from her crossed arms before looking back down at them again. "The only person who has had a recorded encounter with this Aragami and lived to tell about it was Shōkan."

"?!"

"Oh yes, she had a distinct report about the whole thing; had her positively shaken for days." Fukushu elucidated, recalling the memory from her mind. "She even thought up the name for the Aragami too, an interesting one at that. She called it, Odin."

*** The next morning ***

"Yuu, Karen." Shōkan greeted to them with good cheer. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Your sis and brother-in-law are in town today." Yuu responded, making small talk. "Said they'd be helping us with this sudden 'distinct' problem that has made its way to our area. Something that you have been... acquainted with?"

"Oh? Do tell." She tilted her head in curiosity.

"We were ambushed recently, by an Aragami the likes of which none of us in the Branch has seen before." Karen elaborated. "A giant humanoid Aragami that rides on an Aragami horse, bred for war. Highly intelligent and highly blood thirsty. You happened to give this Aragami the name Odin."

"!" Shōkan's eyes widen in surprise at the familiar name suddenly thrown at her, only for her to play if off as her eyes cooled down again as she leaned back a little. "Ahh, so you met Odin and his noble steed, Sleipnir."

"?!" Both of them gasped at her recognition.

"So you did see this Aragami before?" Yuu replied, hinting for more detail behind his words.

"Yup. It's an experience that I never wanted to have again." Shōkan said, curling up inside herself as she rested her head on her knees. "In all my life, there were only three instances where I truly thought I was gonna die. First time was when I was twelve in the Militia facing Cocoon Maidens. Third time is obviously what led me here. And the second time was when I was thirteen when I ran into Odin that fateful day in the wastelands."

"..." They stayed quiet, waiting for her to explain more.

"It was madness. How military tactical he was, it wasn't natural. Long distance advantage and the high ground on his side. His bolts were quick and would fry you on the inside. He didn't even need to have to have a reason to attack you; he could just look at you from afar, rub off you the wrong way, and just strike you.

"And it's not like he acted alone. Oh no, he could summon other Aragami in the area to his beck and call. He didn't just take charge over the Aragami like an alpha, he commanded them like a king. Aragami would flock to him like a beacon in the night. He would say nothing, but would give orders to the Aragami that followed them like an army. Without him, they were chaotic and scattered; but with him, they were strategic and destructive. They showed signs of loyalty to him 'literally' to the death. I have never seen anything like that before in the Aragami..."

"So this thing is a Leader then..." Karen concluded to herself.

"No. It's not just a Leader... This thing is a War god."

"Please, Shōkan, can you tell us more?" Yuu pleaded with her. "This 'Odin' Aragami nearly killed us, and is still wandering around the Branch."

"Well you better come up with some way to deal with him, quick. Because he doesn't hang around an area for too long, unless he has a plan for it." Shōkan shrugged her shoulders, lean back again as her hands gripped to her bent legs kept her from falling over. "And I can assure you, all his plans involve a bloodbath, Aragami or not."

"That's not enough, Shōkan-san. Can't you give us some strategic styles you've picked up about him. Anything at all; like, if he'll ever separate from his horse companion?"

"God help you if he ever gets off that horse. That's when the lightning really comes down, and his movement is unfiltered."

"But you must know something." Yuu insisted. "Why did it come all the way out here to the Branch? What does it want?"

"... I can not honestly say." Shōkan sighed out, closing her eyes for a moment. "However..."

"?" Karen and Yuu leaned their heads a little closer, itching for her to continue the thought.

"He does tend to follow in his name." She leaned in again, rubbing her finger on her chin. "I do have a book that might can help you."

"?!" A book, with info on an Aragami? They hardly believed that.

"Where is the book now?" Yuu questioned. It wasn't much to go on, but it was all they got at this point.

"In my room, in the Den. It should still be around my bed, if my memory serves correctly." Shōkan answered, her eyes looking up in thought before looking back at them. "I bookmarked in a place that might help you, but also look up the 'name' if you can."

"What's the name of it?"

"Oh I think I've helped you long enough." Shōkan replied, closing her eyes and resting the side of her head on her knees as if to sleep. "Soma should know, he's seen the book before."

"!" This had been a first time that they had been booted out instead of them leaving the Resonance on their own. Shōkan wasn't Resonating anymore, as if she put a wall up so she could rest.

But they had no time to question her weird behavior. They had to find this book, and time was possibly on the clock. Speed-walking their way back to the Den, they entered the Entrance which had somehow come alive again during the time they had been absent.

"Hibari, what's going on?" Yuu asked the Mission Assistant as they approached her desk. Resting his arm on it while Hibari was typing through her computer. Listening to him, but not looking at him as she continued to do her job.

"Small beacons of Aragami were detected in various Sectors along the Anti-Aragami Wall." Hibari explained to him as she assigned Units to multiple sectors around the wall to handle the situations. "No real harm, but still alarming. These Aragami had just suddenly come out of nowhere, and just started roaming the wall in pairs of two. They're not really attacking it, they're just... circling."

"If they're not really attacking, isn't there no reason to call up alarms?"

"We can't risk them changing intent. We have to keep them away from the Walls in case of all scenarios, for the sake of the people." Hibari said with a determination that was usually seen in Tsubaki.

"Understood then, do you need any help?"

"Negative, the First Unit is on standby in case of other Missions arising this morning." Hibari decline with a nodding head as she kept on typing and listened in on her headgear to the other teams. "The Defense Team will take care of the threat."

"Alright then, call us if you need anything." Yuu nodded to her in response, waving a hand to her in good luck as he headed up to the higher floor level of the Entrance with Karen in tow. Just as they were heading for the Residential Elevator to look for Soma, their favorite three members of the Third Unit came out of the elevator doors.

"Well look who decided to wake up so early in the morning. I'm a little surprised to see you up so early, Yuu." Gina sighed out in tease with her charming voice, brushing a few stray bangs out of the way.

"Eh-heh, you know me. The early bird catches the worm." Yuu nervously chuckled with a hand rubbing the back of his head.

"You've never said that before in your life." Gina called him out, ending his bluff. Making him sweat harder as she made him sound lazy; or a horrible morning person, which he was.

"Are you heading out, Gina-neesan?" Karen question, noticing them moving more as a team than as friends.

"Yeah," Shun answered for her. "We've got to take care of some Fallen Chi-You that have been loitering around the Walls."

"Souka..." Karen replied with a heavy breath, nervous for her cousins with the sudden spike in Aragami activity, especially with that Odin still stalking around. But, they were God Eaters, and they were trained to fight. Danger was just part of the job. So, she sent them her blessing. "Good luck."

"Thanks." Shun proudly smirked, rubbing his cheek with his finger as the smirked reached to his eyes.

"Before you guys go, have you seen Soma anywhere?" Yuu asked, seeing if they could cut the search time short.

"Yeah, he's having breakfast in the Mesh Hall with the others." Karel answered, waving some stray hair out of his face and brushing it back with a hand. "As their Leader, you should have already known that."

"Right, sorry. I guess I did, but it's good to get the info checked by others from time to time so you don't fall into routine." Yuu smirked, already knowing that their was no bite in Karel's words just blatant honesty.

"Whatever you say." Karel sighed out in reply. "We're off to get some paydirt."

"Good hunting." Yuu waved them off as they passed by to enter the Mission Elevator, Karen vouched for nodding farewell instead. Once they were gone, Yuu turned his attention back to Karen. "Let's head of the Mesh Hall so we can grab Soma."

"As you wish." Karen complied, following along side him into the elevator heading to the Mesh Hall's Floor.

The place wasn't as crowded as it usually was in the morning. Most God Eaters were probably already sent out on missions by Hibari to take out the Wall stragglers; the others that had stayed were quickly eating their rations to head out to their post. That's when they spotted Soma, sitting at their usual table with their other team members. Silently stabbing into his meal with his fork while Kota drastically illuminated a long joke with gesturing hands. The others were listening, but Kota was having a hard time getting the joke out with all the laughs he kept halting his sentences with. Feeling bad for interrupting Kota's banter, Yuu cut in.

"Hey, Soma. Get up, I need you." Yuu said, gesturing to the door with his thumb to say they were heading somewhere.

"?" Soma quirked an eyebrow at his words, but silently stifling a relief sigh at finally getting an excuse to get out of their. Kota had been telling his joke for over ten minutes, and didn't seem to be heading for the punchline anytime soon. "What do you need?"

"We need you to identify something for us." Karen answered in turn. "Apparently you're the only one that will recognize it when you see it."

"(Sigh) Fine." Soma replied, rising up from his seat. Tossing the rest of his meal in the trash before putting his hands in his pockets and joining the two of them.

"Do you need any help?" Kota offered, asking if they should tag along.

"No, I'll give you all the detail if we find anything once we all meet up with Fukushu and Rie." Yuu shook his head and waved his hand in decline of Kota's offer.

"Alright, so we'll see you later?" Kota nodded, staying in his seat.

"Same time as planned." Yuu nodded back in confirmation. "So we'll catch up with you guys later."

Giving them a small wave back behind him as he walked away with Karen and Soma following, Yuu lead them out of the Mesh Hall and back to the elevator.

"So where are we going?" Soma finally asked as they entered the elevator.

"We're going to break into Shōkan's room." Yuu said cynically with a smirk, teasing at Soma a little.

"What?!" Soma grunted out.

"Relax, she told us to." Yuu laughed a little at his reaction, waving off a little to say that he had been kidding. "Shōkan said there was a book in their that would help with that Aragami guy."

"So you two went to see her today?"

"Yeah. Fukushu had said yesterday that Shōkan has encountered this Aragami once before. We were hoping that she might have more information for us." Yuu explained. "She had even named the Aragami he was riding as well; apparently she called it Sleipnir."

"Hn..." Soma just took that in acceptance as they headed for the Rookie's Floor. Yuu gave the Floor a look around as they entered into the hall.

"Boy, it's been a while since I've been on this Floor." Yuu said, admiring the hallway. "Takes me back."

"Tst, can you focus a little." Soma groaned out at his Leader's antics. He was behaving like an old man visiting his childhood area. "We need to find this thing, so we can get it over with."

"Heh, right." Yuu smirked, stopping at Shōkan's door as he used his Leader's Access Code to bypass all locks to open her door. Flickering on the lights as they came in.

The place had been undisturbed since Shōkan had last been there, but still somewhat empty. Shōkan never really brought much to the Den with her, nor did she spend frivolously on trinkets. The place wasn't decorated with any photos or mementos, just like how Shōkan had wanted it, no trace of her left behind. The only thing present were her spare clothes still hanging up in her open closet and a few stray books scattered about her room. Some resting neatly on her bookshelf; a few strays laid on her desk and dresser top right by the lone plant she kept healthy and strong. The plant wasn't looking too healthy now, with the long absence of Shōkan's care. If nothing was done about it soon, the plant would die.

As they looked around, Yuu and Karen had mostly focused on the area around the bed, just like Shōkan had told them. Only to noticed a few scattered books, lying on top of the bed, all with bookmarks in them. Soma gave the area a look as well, his eyes locking on to one book that drew his attention onto the bed. He walked around the dresser to stand over by the bedside, looking down at the books before grabbing the one with the green hard cover in golden printing on it with a tree on it and serpent bordering that was biting the end of its tail.

"I know this book... she had read this before..." Soma said in reminiscence as he looked to the cover.

"That must be the book." Yuu gasped out with enlightenment. "Quick, hand it over."

"What do you want with it?" Soma questioned, lightly handing the book over to Yuu who had sat it down on the dresser as they all sat around it to try and read along with Yuu. Karen had dragged the coffee-table over so she and Yuu could sit on top of it. While Soma vouched for sitting on the edge of the bed on the other side of them, slightly swatting the other books out of the way to make room.

"She said that there was something inside here that could help us." Yuu explained flipping through the pages, heading for the Index.

"The Creation of the World- Norse Mythology is going to help us?"Karen pondered aloud.

"It does kinda make sense. Maybe she named the Aragami like she did for a reason." Yuu shrugged off, making up his own assumptions as he went along. Finally he had found the name Odin that he was looking for while skimming through the Index. Turning to the page, he began reading aloud for the others. "Ah, there we go... Odin.

"King of Asgard, god of war and death, as well as a sky god and the god of wisdom and poetry. Also heavily associated with magic. Odin rides on an eight-legged horse called Sleipnir-"

"Heh, looks like Shōkan was off. I only counted six legs on that Aragami." Soma smirked a little to himself.

"And carried his famous spear called Gungnir." Yuu continued on, only to be interrupted by Soma again.

"Wrong again, Shōkan. That thing technically had a lance."

"He also has a precious arm ring called Draupnir-"

"Is that a nice way of saying he wore a bracelet?"

"Do you mind?" Yuu groaned out, tired of being interrupted.

"Sorry." Soma apologize, looking away as he recalled being called out for interrupting once before.

"Just as precious were his two ravens, Hugin and Munin, who tell him all the things happening around the world." Yuu continued on. "Odin only has one eye, because he sacrificed one to drink from the fountain of wisdom."

"Did any of you notice any smaller flying Aragami gliding around him anywhere?" Karen pondered, bringing up a legitimate question.

"No... and the Aragami had both eyes present too." Soma answered, disproving her suspicions.

"Anyway, it goes on to say that half of the souls of heroes slain in battles would be guided by Valkyries, the battle maidens, to Odin's hall, Valhalla. While the other half belonged to the goddess Freyja." Yuu summed up for them as he skimmed through the personal bio of Odin in his mind, seeing it as not so necessary info. "Says his wives were Frigg and Jord, the Earth. And his eldest son was Thor, god of thunder."

"He had two wives. Hm, talk about greedy." Soma shrugged off, not really getting how Shōkan could still like the Norse mythology as the lesser dicks of mythology if their main god couldn't be faithful to one woman.

"That's not the half of it." Yuu added in, keeping a finger on his page while quickly skimming through the Index to find the goddesses' names before flipping over to their page and giving it a quick read. "Apparently Frigg was his main wife, goddess of marriage, motherhood, managing of household, keeper of the domestic arts, and goddess of the sky. She has the power of prophecy, but tells no one what she knows. She is the foremost goddess of Asgard and is often confused for Freyja, the foremost goddess of Vanir. She participates in the Wild Hunt, Asgardreid, along with her husband. And is the only other one other than Odin permitted to sit on his high seat Hildskjalf and look out over the universe. Her children were Baldr, Hodhr, and Wecta; and her stepchildren included Hermod, Heimdall, Tyr, Vidar, Vali, and Skjoldr. Thor is either her brother or stepson."

"What?" "Nani?" Soma and Karen said at the same time in disgust.

"Says here that according to the poem of Lokasenna, Frigg is the daughter of Fjorgyn, the masculine version of 'Earth'. While the female version of 'Earth' is Thor's mother, Jord, whom is the personification of Earth. Frigg's mother is not identified in the stories that have survived, which hints that Frigg was possibly birth by 'Earth' as both the father and the mother." Yuu explained, doing a quick read while he summed it up. "Meaning that Odin not only married the mother but hooked up with the daughter."

"[Disgusting]." Karen huffed out.

"And the other stepchildren?" Soma pondered slightly curious.

"Birth during the marriages, since Thor is his eldest son." Yuu shrugged off, turning back to the page about Odin. "Probably during his war campaigns, but that's not important now. We need to get back to Odin."

"What more is there?" Karen questioned.

"Not much more," Yuu replies, reading on. "Says here that Odin was one of the foremost practitioners, along with the Freya, of magic known as Seidr."

"Seidr? What's that?"

"..."

"Yuu-san?"

"Apparently... it's sex magic."

"What?!"

"Yeah..." Yuu nervously answered in embarrassment. "Certain aspects of Seidr were sexual in nature, leaving many scholars to argue that it was very likely that it actually involved sexual acts. Various scholars debated the nature of Seidr, some arguing that it was shamanic in context, involving visionary journeys by its practitioners. Either way, both genders were practitioners of Seidr, although females were widely more attested. Usually the magic was seen as emasculating in traditional society. But Odin still did it for the thirst of knowledge, that he was prepared to sacrifice his honor."

"Ugh, please, no more." Soma groaned out, covering his eyes in embarrassment as if the darkness of his lids would wash away what his mind had just processed.

"Is there anything else that you might find of importance on Odin?" Karen groaned out, going through the same thing that Soma was.

"Yeah..." Yuu said, turning serious again as he looked down to the book. "That Odin would one day be swallowed by Loki's son, the wolf, Fenrir."

"?!" That got their attention again.

"Says here that it would happen at the fate of the gods, Ragnarok, the battle at the end of the world." Yuu reads, skimming his finger along the sentences before coming to a halt. "And that's how it ends..."

"Is there more?"

"I just told you that's how the section ends." Yuu said back to Soma, closing the book. His eyes half-lid a little in annoyance at having to repeat himself.

"No, there's got to be more. I mean, something has to explain why this Aragami in here. Enough for Shōkan to even mention the book." Soma insisted. "Odin had did much more in his battles than what you had summed up for us. Read another page. Try looking up Ymir."

"Mm-okay, if you insist." Yuu shrugged out, opening the book again to look through the Index to find the page. "Ah here we go. Says here that Ymir was the father of frost giants, he was killed by Odin. His blood pouring out and drowning all the frost giants, all except for Bergelmir and his wife. From his body, Odin created the world. His blood, the seas; his flesh, the earth; his skull, the sky; his bones, the mountains; his hair, the trees. The rest of his body grew an ash tree named Yggdrasil, the tree of life. From its roots, birthed the world. And from its branches, covered life..."

"..." They both waited, but Yuu did not continue.

"And...?" Soma insisted. "What else does it say?"

"There's nothing more; just a little about the purpose of the branches, roots, and three rivers; and something about an eagle on top of the branches who despises a dragon at the roots of the tree and a gossiping squirrel who causes their hatred to forever burn; and three Norns that live by its well. It's just... this has got me thinking..." Yuu said, starting to space out as he sank into his thoughts.

"What?"

"Do you think that... Odin is here to destroy the tree?"

"?!"

"I mean, mythology aside, the tree is consider dangerous threat to the Aragami. What with the hormones it's releasing out in the area. And... It's halting Aragami movement in the area. That might cause strife since they are somewhat leashed in their roaming..." Yuu added on, sinking his worries deeper and deeper into his core, along with theirs. "Do you think, he came all this way to eliminate such a liability?"

"..."

"I don't... I don't want to think about that right now..." Karen tiredly sighed out, suddenly drained from the information. They all were.

"Let's not jump to conclusions yet..." Soma sighed out, rubbing his forehead between his fingers.

"Right..." Yuu easily replied in agreement, not willing to face the answer to his question as of yet. "Let's just look at the spot she bookmarked."

"Is it going to be any help?" Soma asked as Yuu flipped to the page.

"She said it would. Something about that it would explain the Aragami more." Yuu responded before opening to the page. Seeing that it was nothing but verses, a poem if anything, he read it out loud to them.

'Onward into the heart of the battle

Fought the sons of Odin

Outnumbered many times

Still - they fought on'

"What is this? It doesn't explain anything." Soma grunted out, slightly in frustration at the false lead. "This is getting us nowhere."

"Perhaps there is more in the verses, a message hidden inside the words perhaps." Karen insisted before looking back to Yuu. "Keep reading, please."

'Blood poured forth from their wounds

Deep into the earth

Vultures waited for the broken shells

That once were bodies'

Broken shells? Perhaps, if they were going to try relating these verses to them, they could say that the broken shells were fallen Aragami. But that was probably stretching it.

'Thus Odin alone would choose the day

They would enter Valhalla

And in their hour of need

He sent forth onto them The Berserker Rage'

"..." They weren't liking this new tidbit of info. If they were relating this to their current assumptions then this was saying that this Odin Aragami could give its following Aragami their own version of a Burst.

'Now gods embed

They rose up from the ground

Screaming like wild animals

Such is the gift of absolute power

No blade or weapon would hurt them'

"Regenerative cores..." Soma growled out, saying what everyone else was thinking. Frustration and hidden fear in his core at the possibility of countless Aragami foes rising back up after defeat, even after they had extracted the core, just due to possible close proximity of this Odin Aragami.

'They killed men and horses alike

And all who stood before them died that day

Hail Gods of War.'

"..." They all sat in silence for a long time after that, not moving an inch or turning a head.

"I'm out." Yuu finally broke through the silence, closing the book shut and raising his hands in surrender.

"Me too." "Agreed." Soma and Karen instantly agreed, rising up from their seats.

"We'll brainstorm all of this with the others, see what we can come up with." Yuu suggested, kicking the coffee-table back to its previous place then headed for the door.

"Right, maybe they'll make better sense of this." Soma added in with agreement to Yuu's plan.

"Alright, let's adjourn for now." Karen replied, following the boys out before stopping. Looking over at the lone plant in the room, she contemplated what her next course of action was before finally deciding to go for it. Grabbing the pot, she took the plant as she headed out while Yuu waited for her to exit before locking the door again.

"Karen?" Yuu pondered in her actions, not fully believing that she would be stealing something from her comrade's room. It was against her character.

"It will die if it continues to remain neglected in that room." Karen explained her actions, holding the plant a little closer to her. "Besides... I don't think Shōkan-san would have wanted that."

"..." The boys just look at her in minor curiosity and admiration.

"I'll look after it for her."

"I'm sure she would like that, Karen." Yuu smiled at her in approval.

*** Later that day **

Things had taken a turn for the 'bizarre' among the God Eaters in the Den. The Aragami had been acting up, and had taken upon themselves an unusual case of habits never displayed before. The God Eaters didn't have a clue how they should take all this in. Was it a sign of backwards evolution among the Aragami that was making them pickup unintelligent surviving habits? Or, was it a sign for the worst to come? A heavy air had clouded over the area as they went about their day.

Something was making the God Eaters sit at the edge of their seats and made their hairs stick up, and they didn't like it.

"Brendan-san, how was the mission?" Karen greeted them as they came from the mission elevator just moments before she had surfaced from the Residential Elevator to restock with the Merchant. His team was soon to follow after him. "Tatsumi-san, Kanon-san, I trust that everything went well."

"Heh, as well as it can be with two Gboro." Tatsumi chuckled out, scratching his cheek with a finger.

"I actually had very few misses today." Kanon cheered out in excitement, shaking her fists close to herself in giddiness. "Those hunks of meat didn't stand a chance."

"Hm," Karen smiled at her antics, giving in to Kanon's contagious warmth. "Very good, Kanon-san. I am glad all is well."

"Hmpf, yeah." Brendan nodded to her in agreement before cupping his chin with his fingers as he wandered into thought. "Although..."

"?" She tilted her head in curiosity at his words, waiting for him to continue with what he had to say.

"The Aragami had been acting a little... strange during the mission."

"Strange how?"

"Hm, not much, only minor things that most wouldn't even notice." Brendan explained to her. "They didn't even try to confront us when we were spotted. And they even started to run."

"Oh, Brendan, that's just what all Aragami do when they realize that they're no match for their opponents. You're thinking too much into this." Kanon insisted, waving off Brendan's suspicions.

"But that's impossible. We hadn't even confronted the Aragami yet." Brendan insisted. "I know it sounds strange, and possibly far fetched, but it almost seemed like the Aragami were looking for something as they ran off. And suddenly they stopped, as if giving up on life. They didn't even put up a fight against us."

"Hey, that's a good day in my book." Tatsumi said to his comrade, trying to ease him. He tapped his hand on Brendan's back in a cheer-up gesture. "Try not to read too deep into a good thing, Brendan."

"Still..." Brendan had bowed his head down, but not fully accepting on letting the subject go.

"..." But Karen listened, reading in every word and detail Brendan had given as a tale to add down onto her team's own growing suspicions.

"Well, we better get going. We've got a dinner to catch up on, and a well deserved meal after the day we've been through." Tatsumi said, wrapping an arm around both of his teammate's shoulders as he led them towards the Residential Elevator, passed Karen. "Catch you later, Karen. The Mesh Hall is calling, and I'm here to answer."

"Um, yes... G-good day, Karen-chan." Kanon nervously waved as she was dragged along by her Leader, hastily saying her 'see you later' before being carted into the elevator.

"Yes, good day to you, Karen." Brendan nodded to her in farewell before the elevator doors closed.

"..." She had paused to look at the closed elevator doors, only to have her reflection look back at her as she contemplated the information she had just received from her fellow God Eaters. Gboros searching along the wall... Aragami that had just given up and died. That was not adding up well.

Coming down from her pondering for a moment, she went down to the lower level to do what she originally planned to do before she got too caught up in her mind. Restocked and ready for the day and tomorrow, she headed back up the stairs to go down the Residential Elevator to the Lab Floor to reconvene with the others. Only to be halted half way to the Elevator when the Third Unit had made their way out of the Mission Elevator.

"Oi, what a day." Karel sighed out tiredly, running his hand down through his hair. His eyes squinted in annoyance. "I can't believe we let that Aragami get away. (Sigh) This cut into our pay."

"I'm heartbroken that I let my lovely flowers run away." Gina sighed out, her tone not hinting to any true emotions but still held a hint of playful teasing to it as she cupped her cheeks. "Oh, what greater tragedy is there than this?"

"Gina-neesan, Karel-san, Shun-niisan, how did it go?" Karen asked in curiosity. She could actually detect the distress in her cousin's nonchalant tone. None would have picked it up, but Karen had know her for years. It was an honor, that only a few would learn about Gina, including her team.

"Pfft, one of our Fallen Chi-You had gotten away." Shun puffed out in annoyance at the situation. His little cousin slightly easing his frustration, but not all the way. "It was bad enough that they kept running from us, making us run nearly all the way around that damn awful Wall."

"We didn't run 'that' far around the Wall." Karel corrected, calling out Shun's over-exaggeration before frustrating himself even more.

"Yeah, well it sure felt that way!" Shun huffed out at his teammate, crossing his arms before turning his head back to Karen. "Anyway, one of our targets got away. After a while they had stopped running along the outer side of the wall, only for one of them to break off into the wastelands while the other covered its escape by holding us off. It was willing to die so that the other could get away..."

"..."

"Seriously, what the hell was wrong with those Aragami?" Shun insisted, not knowing what was happening with the Aragami but was still on edge about it.

"(Sigh) We have no idea, nor will we ever truly know." Karel sighed out, brushing some hair out of his face as he tried to calm down his teammates growing anxieties. "We'll probably just write them off as abnormals."

"That only makes me feel even worse." Gina pouted in her charming voice as she vouched for only cupping one of her cheeks as her head leaned in to her hand. "To think I let such a rare Aragami slip through my fingers. It's positively lamentable."

"Hn, I'll tell you what. I'll treat you to a soda." Karel offered to her with a charming smirk. "What do you say? That aught to cheer you up."

"Hm... a rare gesture of charity from the money pinching Karel. How could I possible refuse?" Gina pondered aloud to herself, cupping her chin between her fingers in thought before turning her head to face Karel. "Lead the way then."

"Heh, I knew you couldn't resist." Karel smirk grew wider, but held more warmth, as if he had caught a big jackpot.

"Hey, if you're treating, buy me something too." Shun added in, walking along with his team to the elevator.

"Tst, no way." Karel blatantly said no with a smirk. "Buy your own drink."

"What? Hey no fair, I bought you a drink last time!" Shun angrily pouted.

"Heh, well that was then and this is now." Karel replied with the same logic of a child.

"Ugh, you're such a cheapskate!" Shun huffed at his teammate before turning back to Karen. "Hey, you want in, cuz?"

"Hm, no, I better head over to my previous engagement." Karen shook her head in decline politely before giving her older cousin a warm, small smile. "You go on ahead and have fun."

"Hmpf, all right, suit yourself." Shun shrugged off, unable to fully hide the goofy smile that was coming on his face at the fact that Karen had smiled back at him. "Let's go guys, I don't want to be caught in the dinner rush."

"See you later, Karen." Gina gave a small wave to her cousin before heading into the elevator with her team.

"Catch you later, kid." Karel gave her a quick two fingered salute before the doors closed on them, leaving Karen alone again to herself as she waved farewell to the Third Unit. Her smile slowly slipping away as she was left alone with her thoughts again.

"..." Her hand slowly lowered back to its place on her side as she stared off at nothing while her mind wandered. Taking the less traveled way, she decided to take the stairs down to the Lab Floor.

Her footsteps echoed through the stairway and bounced along in her head, her mind blank as her conclusions set in. She did not like this, not at all. Her gut was getting a bad feeling about this whole situation, and her father had taught her to always trust a gut feeling.

Not long after she had found her way to the Lab Floor and out of the echoing stairway. The hallway seemed to stretch out before her as she relented to join the others to add up their information with hers. It felt like stalling would halt all the evidence from happening, but that was a false truth. The things that were to come would come anyway, regardless if she was ready for them or not. The course of action at this point was to be prepared for them, no matter how much she would rather chose not to. But this was something she couldn't handle alone. She would need some help from her team. That was why they all trusted each other, they all needed one another. As long as they were together it always felt like they could never lose.

Taking a deep breath, Karen opened the left side door from Dr. Sakaki's lab and walk in. The others had already gathered there, waiting for their last member.

"Ha-ha, good." Dr. Sakaki chirped in greeting from his seat by the monitors with his usual fox grin. "Well, now that everyone is here, let's get down to business."

"And what exactly is our business here?" Kota asked with his hands resting behind his head as he kicked one of his foot around in slight boredom.

"To stop Odin by whatever means possible." Soma answered Kota from his spot, leaning on the wall with his arms crossed.

Sakuya and Lindow and taken their spot on leaning on the table close to the corner of the wall where the monitors rested by. Alisa and Yuu had scooted some chairs over towards Soma and Kota. Alisa sat properly like a lady with her legs crossed, while Yuu sat backwards on his chair and rested his arms and head on its back. Fukushu and Rie had vouched for leaning against the opposite wall of the four God Eaters, Rie taking on his more humanoid form. Moving away from the door, Karen vouched to lean on the wall with the rest of her team, taking the spot close to Yuu's chair.

"Which seems like an impossible feat as it is, we don't even known much about this Aragami." Alisa commented.

"Well, based on the info we've learned from Shōkan's recommended reading, Odin is an advanced Aragami capable of controlling other Aragami in the area and distributing Burst." Yuu informed to the group.

"Aw cripes." Kota groaned out in alarm as the other in the room, aside from Karen and Soma, widen their eyes in shock horror.

"Is there anything else we need to know about this thing?" Lindow groaned out, aching with the thought that it couldn't get any worse.

"It can also initiate core regeneration to fallen Aragami in the area." Lindow stood corrected, it could get worse.

"Hmm, this could pose much of a problem." Dr. Sakaki commented aloud to himself while rubbing his chin before turning to face Yuu again. "Why haven't you said anything about this before?"

"Me and Karen had went to get info from Shōkan this morning, she didn't say much. Just pointed us to a book that would give us the information we needed." Yuu answered. "Other than that, she only said one thing."

"And what's that?"

"... Beware when Odin steps down from Sleipnir."

"Who?" Kota asked with a tilted head in confusion.

"The horse-like Aragami that 'Odin' was riding." Soma huffed out the answer, silently telling Kota 'don't interrupt' with his eyes.

"Apparently this Odin Aragami had a long range advantage and advance intelligence on military tactical strategies and fighting." Yuu further explained.

"Hm, it has a very high charisma more than you know." Karen added in, interrupting Yuu's briefing. They all turned towards her with curiosity.

"What do you mean?" Yuu question, hinting for her to explain more.

"I've been recently hearing disturbing things from the other units who were taking care of the stray Aragami around the Walls." Karen replied, continuing on. "The Aragami seemed to move in pairs, which isn't as odd in itself, but it was their movement and behaviors that caused for more attention."

"..." They remained silent, waiting for her to continue explaining before interrupting with comments.

"The Aragami weren't attacking weak points in the wall, nor were they hunting, they were scouting for weak points in the wall."

"?!"

"I've been digging into the information I have gather while on my way here." Karen continued. "On each encounter between different groups, the Aragami did not engaged the unit and instead vouched for turning and fleeing. Staying close to the wall perimeter but keeping their distance from the God Eaters. It was only then, when they had ran along the wall long enough before they had given up running all together and didn't even put up a fight when the God Eaters finally reached them."

"Whoa, are you saying they didn't even fight back? They just gave up and died?" Kota asked with a raised hand, not believing what he was hearing.

"That's what I said. Or rather, that's what they had said. You'll probably read more about in the reports that will come in from the Missions, Dr. Sakaki. But that's not even the strangest part."

"What, are you going to tell us that one Aragami sacrificed himself self while the other got away next?" Soma huffed out in a joke, not expecting Karen to confirm his ranting.

"That's right, it did."

"?!" They all widen their eyes in shock.

"One team had encountered a two team Aragami that had ran along the wall from them, just like the other teams, only for them to stop abruptly. Having one of the Aragami fight back the God Eaters for the other one to get away, before giving up and accepting its fate."

"..."

"These are not mere actions of mindless Aragami. No, these are primitive military tactics of scouting the area. Where various teams were sent out to scout the area, sending some form of sign of weak points along the enemy's territory back to their camp. Usually the scouts died for the cause to prove that the area wasn't safe for the other soldiers, while the more secure areas were confirmed by the scouts that had returned back." Karen explained with her knowledge of ancient military tactics. "With an advanced Aragami with intelligence like Odin calling the shots, I think that it is possible for the Aragami to form such a basic barbaric form of scouting patrol."

"Hmm, it's not a far stretched theory, nor can we throw out other possibilities." Dr. Sakaki commented after Karen had paused in her info. "But if what you're saying is true, then the Aragami may have possibly found their weak spot in our Wall."

"And have possibly already made it back to inform their boss." Soma concluded with a growl, not liking how the situation was turning.

"W-well what are we going to do?! Are they going to hit the area that we just repaired?!" Kota question with building panic.

"No, no." Dr. Sakaki replied with a shaking head. "The area that the God Arc Soldiers had smashed through has already been sealed and strengthened. That sector of the wall is most likely the strongest point of the wall at this time. If anything, it's probably the area that we haven't upgraded as of recently. I'd like to know where the team had seen the Aragami get away."

"I have know idea where. Only that it was Gina-neesan and Shun-niisan team's mission." Karen replied. "But if the number of scouting parties is anything to go by, Odin can possibly hit us with a massive army of Aragami to spare."

"And if what you are saying is true, they have already found their point of attack already and are ready to take action." Sakuya said, gasping out in worry.

"Great that's all we need, an assault close to home." Lindow groaned, his body tensing up in anticipation. He had almost lost him home nearly twice now- thrice if you count his home near the Tranquil Temple, but that time he had actually lost it- he was not going to let it happen again. Not when a bright future laid so close before him.

"But what exactly are these Aragami trying to accomplish?" Kota question the main source of the situation. "This Odin Aragami has been around for a while now and has never bothered with us before. What would make him go out of his way to confront us now after all this time? Let alone bring a whole army to do it?"

"..." Yuu paused for a moment before answering, looking back and forth at Soma and Karen before they gave him the eye contact to go on ahead and say it. "... We think... that he's trying to destroy Ymir's tree."

"?!" They all knew what he meant. They knew that he was talking about the giant white ash tree that hosting Shōkan inside it.

"The tree is considered a massive threat to the Aragami population, with what those pheromones can do." Yuu explained to the others in the room. "Maybe the tree is too much of a liability that Odin cannot leave standing..."

"We've got to stop them before they reach the wall?!" Alisa insisted with determination.

"How? We're dealing with an Aragami that can distribute burst and revive devoured cores."

"Kota is right. We need to plan our steps careful before hastily throwing ourselves into battle." Dr. Sakaki replied, pushing his glasses back up on his nose. "Now, if we were able to halt the Hannibal's regenerative core we can do it again with these Aragami."

"That's right." Yuu nodded in agreement. "And as long as we keep the Aragami away from Odin, we'll be okay. I'd even bet that they even function as a bee hive. If we kill the Queen-bee the rest should stop functioning."

"That is a good idea, Yuu." Lindow commented in praise. "Destroy the engine and you destroy the machine."

"Yes, but that is something that we cannot do alone against such an Aragami as powerful as this." Sakuya added in, keeping her team from getting carried away before they got themselves killed with overconfidence. She turned back towards Fukushu and Rie who had been quiet throughout most of the conversation. "Rie-san, Fukushu-chan, is there anyway you can call in for backup like last time?"

"Hn, no." Fukushu replied with closed eyes, shaking her head. "That would be impossible."

"After the last incident with the Branch, most of the Rouge cities had called back their civilians until further notice when it is considered safe to reactivate immigration between the Branch and the cities. Without any of their own in danger, the other cities won't lift a hand to help out, even our own city. This fight would be consider more on a personal level. So you guys are going to have to settle with just us." Rie explained for Fukushu's lack of words before Fukushu looked back up at them with eyes burning with determination and fingers digging in to her crossed arms.

"I will not send my men to die for a fight that is my own. This is a situation beyond their level, domination cannot be acquired from such a standoff leader that we are up against." Fukushu insisted. "Why would I send others to handle my own fight? I need to protect what is mine, so I will guard this Branch with my arms, for the sake of the tree that has rooted on your soil."

"Hmph, as flashy as you are and as much as we appreciate the gesture, what could you possibly do to stop the Aragami from progressing towards us?" Soma blatantly pointed out. "You don't have a God Arc to extract the Aragami's core, let alone any weapon to deal permanent damage of the Oracle Cells."

"I've got a mean shot that will stop them in their tracks." Fukushu replied, not halting a second from Soma's negative on her stance in the battlefield.

"And I've got an appetite that still sends fear to the Aragami in the wasteland." Rie added in, sticking up for his wife as they worked as a team. Placing an arm around her shoulder as they stood up together. "You can count of us to get the job done. Those Aragami are not getting past those walls."

"Well, that's good to hear." Dr. Sakaki grinned in good cheer before bringing everyone in the room down a notch. "But let's not jump to conclusions yet."

"?"

"Sure, the evidence heavily hints towards this massive conflict encountering the Branch. But it's not enough evidence to make a solid conclusion with." Dr. Sakaki insisted, calming everyone down from their battle fever. "We need to gather further information before assuming such a situation."

"But, Dr. Sakaki-"

"Although," Dr. Sakaki pointed out, interrupting Alisa's cut-in, getting usually serious. "It would be foolish to blatantly ignore the information we have before us. I say we should still prepare for the worse to come while still holding back until further notice. You guys stay on standby for now, but still... be prepared for anything."

"Sir!" They all said in approval, except for Fukushu, Rie, Karen, and Soma, who had just vouched for nodding.

They would hold off on their move, for now. But still, they would be prepared and train for what is or what was to come...

*** The next day ***

The alarms had went off, calling for all the God Eaters for an immediate emergency meeting in the Entrance. It was late in the morning and most were just getting ready for lunch to come around. The day had gone slow mission wise, as if all the Aragami in the area had suddenly disappeared.

So the sudden alarm had caught most of the Den off guard as they rush to make their way into the Entrance, filling up all of the space on the lower floor level while Tsubaki took up the upper level with Dr. Sakaki and Gen as she looked down to address the gathering God Eaters. She was more serious than usual, and her face had a haunting grim to it.

"Radar monitors indicated... that massive movement of Aragami are heading our way." Tsubaki announced waiting for everyone to silence or for her words to sink in the others couldn't tell. "In 2400 hours, the Den will be attacked by a thousand Aragami."

"!" Murmurs began to rise among the God Eaters, as panic began to build up in the crowd. Some of them began to enrage in fear, others had just openly cried over the situation. Things were looking grim, there was no way their numbers could handle such a concentrated amount of Aragami at one time. The First Unit listened in enraged knowledge, they knew that the Aragami army gathered up would be big but they weren't expect it to be this big.

"I am not going to lie, the situation may seem grim. Even so we're still going to have to confront it with all our forces. Those Aragami will not breech our Walls!" Tsubaki said out to them with determination before calming down to a more gentle tone, a tone she rarely showed in her steadfast attitude. "You are our strength, our last defense. The people are counting on you, your families are counting on you. I am counting on you all! You must fight, you must all come back alive. Fight to survive, fight to live, that's an order!"

"Yes ma'am!" They all shouted in union, Tsubaki's speech lighted a fire in them to strive for victory, to fight to live. The fire wolf of Fenrir had waken up inside of them, and they were prepared for battle.

"Good!" Tsubaki nodded in approval. "Unit Leaders, report to the Director's Office for immediate briefing. The rest of you go prepare yourselves for tomorrow. Go see your loved ones and take care of your things that you need to take care of. Do not leave any regrets behind when you go into battle tomorrow."

"..."

"That is all. Dismissed!"

"Ma'am!" They all scattered.

Some headed out of the Entrance front doors for home, others headed right back to the elevators and stairs to carry on about their day. And some had stayed on the Entrance Floor do gather their supplies needed for tomorrow from the Merchant. Either way, business was booming for him today. But most had stayed together in groups or pairs, most likely saying the things they need to say or to spend as much time as they could with the people they grew attached to over their time in the Den.

But Karen had other things in plan. Standing in silence for only a moment longer as the crowd broke apart, she turned around to head out the Entrance door, leaving her team.

"Karen, where are you going?" Yuu asked in concern, grabbing her arm before she could get too far away. She turned her head to look at him for a moment before answering his question.

"To see what I can do," was all she answered in reply before gently pulling her arm out of his grip and walking out the door. The others had stood there puzzled for a moment at her answer before coming back to themselves as Kota started to walk for the entrance exit as well.

"Me too, I'm heading out." Kota responded, turning around for a second to look at his team while nervously scratching the back of his head. "I wanna see my mom and sis again before the big fight breaks out. I'll see you all later tonight."

"Alright," Yuu nodded to Kota in acceptance of his choice.

"Take care, Kota." Sakuya wished him, hoping that he would have a safe trip heading home to the Outer Ghettos.

"Hm, thanks." He grinned at them before turning around to continue heading out. "Catch you guys later."

They had all watched as he headed out, subconsciously making sure that he made it out of the Den okay with their own eyes. After he had gone out of their sight, they had returned to the situation at hand.

"Heh, after my Briefing is done, I guess I'll head out as well. See how the orphanage is doing while I can."

"Leader..." Alisa sighed out in concern.

"Hey, I'm not saying I'm going to die. I just need a little pump up to remind me what I'm fighting for." Yuu assured to her, making sure she didn't read anything wrong in his words. But then his grin disappeared as he turned serious as he faced the rest of his team. "We're not going to die tomorrow. We're gonna survive and fight for another day, so don't run away from living."

"!"

"I'm heading off to the Director's Office. You guys take care of what you need to get done." Yuu instructed them as he headed up the stairs to the upper level of the Entrance. "Kota and Karen will come back in their own time."

*** Sometime later with Karen ***

She had marched her way to the Sector housing the giant God Eater tree with a determination in her steps. This wasn't a casual visit, it was a proposition sojourn. Depending on how things went down would alter how the battle would course tomorrow.

With a determined heart she stood in front of the tree, pressing her bare hand on its trunk without hesitation.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't my dear friend, Karen, come to pay me a visit." Shōkan greeted her with a grin as Karen had came into her realm through a Resonance. "(Hiss) Ooo, yikes, what's got you all worked up? Making a face all scrunched up like that, this will never do, you'll get wrinkles if you keep that up."

"There's been an issue that has come to our attention."

"Hm?" She tilted her head at Karen in curiosity.

"Our info has gathered that Odin has made plans to attack the Branch in an all-out war. His army of a thousand is making their way here as we speak. They'll be reach us by tomorrow."

"Whoa, and you gathered all that from the notes I've left you with. Jeez, I was only trying to warn you to watch out for Odin's special abilities. They can be a real doozy." Shōkan replied with a quirked eyebrow, not fully believing that the Odin she knew would put all his cards out on one go like this. This was out of character for the Aragami, this was almost desperate. "What could he possibly want to go through all the trouble like this?"

"He wants to tear down your tree."

"..."

"Shōkan-san?"

"Well... If I die, I die... it's just a matter of going someplace else."

"What...?" Karen couldn't believe what she was hearing, the wild and stubborn friend that she knew was accepting her fate without even putting up a fight.

"Why do you look so surprised? This was bound to happen eventually, whether by the Branch or the Aragami, it doesn't matter. If I get chopped down, I get chopped down."

"I don't think you're listening to what I've been saying. They are coming here to destroy you." Karen said slowly, even using her index fingers to point down at their exact location since she didn't believe Shōkan was understanding what she was saying. "They will stop at nothing to reach you. People are going to die."

"(Sigh) There's nothing I can do about it as I am now. It's just a simple tragedy of fate I cannot control."

"I cannot believe what I am hearing right now."

"Oh? Is there something that you would like to add?"

"You could help us."

"(Laugh) Help you? How?" Her shoulders shook as she laughed, she couldn't believe that Karen would even suggest such a thing.

"I don't don't, it's your body, you should know how it works better than any of us!" Karen hissed out, growing enraged at her comrades aloof nature about the situation. Everyone was going to risk their lives because of her, and she did not seem to care. What had happened to her while in this darkness that she had grown apart from her fellow man? Surely it hasn't been that long that she had broken all ties. Her humanity should still be in tact. "You've had enough time to learn! You've had enough time to heal! You should be able to do something! Anything!"

"In case you haven't notice, I'm ROOTED to the ground." Shōkan nearly growled out, growing vexed at Karen's choice of words. A vein popping out on her forehead as her face scrunched up in temper. "And what exactly do you expect me to do?!"

"I want you to get off your Ass and stop Bitching, Shōkan!"

"?!" Her eyes widen in surprise at her friend's roar. She had never really heard Karen talk like this, let alone let out the big swears. "Did you just say my name without any honorifics...? Did you just call me a bitch...?!"

"I'll call you whatever is necessary to get you to stop spewing out this bullshit and cease this defeated attitude!" Karen roared out with persistence. "I'll say whatever I need to say for you not to give up! I need you to fight!"

"Fight with what?! What do you want from me, woman?! To throw branches at them or something?!"

"I want for you to not take this life for granted!"

"I'm already dead, Karen!"

"No you're not! You're still here! I can reach you! I can talk to you, I can see you and feel you with my hands!" Karen insisted reaching out to her without every really touching before pulling back her hand to her body. Clinching her fist to her heart. "But if you give up, that's it. Game over. We'll never be able to reach you again. Once your gone, that's it, you're really gone."

"..."

"I know you're here. I can feel you." Karen continued on, her rage calming down. But her hands started to shake due to the adrenaline from her anger. "You are here. Your family is here. And if you give up now, it's all gone. All that we love and hold so dear could one day disappear without warning. You know this as well as I do, it has happened to us before. All that's left behind is the fear that if we get too close to what we have left, we'll lose it all in a heartbeat."

"..." Shōkan began to calm down as well, her facial features relaxed again once more.

"Can you reminisce? Can you recall, or has your time in this tree eaten away at your memories? The joys of your life? The people that you cared for?"

"Che, of course I remember! It's not like I've gone brain dead."

"Hmph, maybe you are so blessed to a point where you can't remember anything about yourself."

"Tst, how dare you!-"

"As a matter a fact, just hear me out. The fact we're alive right here and now, you've taken for granted while you've been stuck in here of the strife that's happening out there. You've detached yourself from the worries of the world, even your family's."

"What the hell do you know?!"

"You've lost your Hope, that's what I know for sure!"

"?!" Play on words, using her family against her. 'Hmph, clever move, Karen.'

"All that we love and hold so dear, could one day disappear without warning! I know that for a fact, we've almost lost you as proof!"

"!"

"You know the closer we get to something, the tougher it is to see it. We nearly took you for granted and nearly lost you. I'll never do that... never again..." Karen honestly confessed, telling Shōkan the things she never got to say when Shōkan still had her normal body. Tilting her body to Shōkan, she bowed to her. "Forgive me, my friend."

"Hmph..." Shōkan couldn't help but smirk and chuckle at the audacity of the situation they had turned to. "An apology? For a means that doesn't have a real form or a physical offense? Your sense of chivalry amuses me. Some people may call the kindest deeds such as this an act of mere hypocrisy."

"Never mind them, they've lost their faith. You shouldn't give in to what they say." Karen's head bolted back up to look back at Shōkan at her hateful words.

"Could you still say that kind actions to others isn't an hypocrisy, even if it was for a selfish cause?"

"I'd rather have such a hypocrisy over heartless honesty."

"Then you are a fool!" Shōkan roared, tired of Karen's meaningless arguments that were leading them nowhere. "Everyone tells you from time to time to never give up like a damn scene from a movie! They tell you to stand up for yourself as though it was always that easy! Well life isn't easy, my friend, it's HARD. It's cold, it's brutal, and it's cruelly unfair!"

"What the hell happened to that courage that I use to see in you through your eyes, Shōkan? It's like you buried its light in your darkness that you surround yourself with! Choking it out with your self pity!"

"!" That one struck a nerve, for Karen to openly call her a coward was a low blow. She had given up enough in this life, even her own body, couldn't she even get her rest a bit without other begging for more. Didn't she even deserve that much?

"I use to look up to you, you know... I wanted to be brave like you..."

"?!"

"You were so strong... so determined... I honestly believe nothing could stand in your way from reaching your goals. That spirit of yours was so contagious and overflowing that it would leak into others around you. Your ambitions was Just, your will was pure. It made me strive to try just as hard as you whenever I looked into your eyes." Karen honestly confessed before she looked back towards Shōkan with hurt-filled eyes. "I looked up to you, and now look at you! A mere fragment of what you once were. A poor excuse of a dim light that use to shine as bright as a lighthouse. A coward that has given up and died instead of charging through like a bull with a fight! A singular existence that use to DEFY the odds against her!"

"..."

"Well fine, give up and quit, I don't care!" Karen huffed out in rage, turning her back to Shōkan. "I for one will not give up without a fight. The enemy is at my door... and I will not allow them into my house and destroy all that I have left."

"..."

"So just sit back and watch." Karen hissed as she walked away from the God Eater of the tree and into the darkness, cutting off the Resonance. "I'll show you what you use to be."

*** A little later with Kota ***

It had taken him a little while to reach his home in the Outer Ghettos. Sector E26 was a little ways from the Den if you were walking on foot, regardless if you were a Gods Eater or not. But he had made it, giving the door a quick knock to not scare his mom and sister as he used his key to let himself in.

"Hey guys, I home!" Kota called out, to greet his family inside as he walked right on in. Searching around before finding to the two of them in the kitchen. His little sister, Nozomi, sat at the table watching tv while their mother cooked over by the stove. Both of them turned their heads towards his direction at the sound of his voice. Both of them brightening with warm smiles at his presence.

"Welcome home big brother!" Nozomi greeted him, getting up from her seat to engulf him in as big of a hug as her small body could give him. She was still so small compared to him, only reaching just under his chest as she tilted up her head to look up at him.

"Hey, sis. How's it going?" Kota chuckled down to her while hugging her back, giving her a big smile as she brighten him up.

"It's been great. I've miss you, Kota." She cheered up to him, getting up on her tippy-toes to get as much level with him as she could. "Do you have any great stories to tell us?"

"Tons of 'em! It's gonna take me all day to tell them all!" Kota replied, spreading his arms out wide to exaggerate how big the amount of adventures he had was.

"Welcome home, Kota." His mother warmly greeted him, wiping off her hands on her apron as she approached them a little closer. "I didn't expect for you to have your time-off so soon."

"Yeah, well, things came up at the Den. I'm getting the day off today."

"Does that mean you get to stay the night?!"

"No, Nozomi. I have to head back before nightfall."

"Aww," Nozomi pouted, lowering her head in disappointment.

"Hey, don't worry kiddo. You have me for the whole day." Kota rubbed the top of her head, trying to cheer her up again. "Now why don't you gather some show-and-tell for me of what you've been doing while I've been gone and I'll tell you about all the adventures I had with the God Eaters."

"Okay!" She chirped, perking right up again as she fists pumped in excitement just like her brother would, before running off to her room to gather some things. Kota laughed a little at her enthusiasm, but his mother could see that his smile was not reaching his eyes as she looked at him.

"Something's wrong, isn't it?" She blurted out as soon as her youngest child was out of the room.

"?!" Kota turned all the way around to face his mom, surprise at how easily she caught on to him. His eyes had widened before he had calmed down again. "Heh, how can you tell?"

"I'm your mother, I can sense these things about you." She smirked a little in pride at this, before warming up again to comfort her son. "Now tell me what's wrong, Kota."

"..." He turned his head, looking to ground as he was unable to make eye contact with her anymore. "There's going to be a huge battle tomorrow, and it's gonna take the whole Den to take it on."

"..." She remained silent as she allowed him to continue, to let it all out. Only stepping forward to walk closer to him, reaching up to be in front of him as she gently wrapped her arms around him and pull him into an embrace like she would when he was feeling troubled as a child.

"I'm not gonna lie, mom. I'm really scared." Kota confessed, resting his head by her shoulder as she rubbed the back of his head and his back. "I don't know if we can win this thing... I don't know if I'll ever see you two again...!"

"... Do you want to see us again...?" Her voice was barely louder than a whisper, but they still pierced at his heart.

"!" His head shot up as his eyes widened at her words. "Of course I do, mom...!"

"Hn," she smiled at him and place her hand under his chin to tilt his head up to look at her. He had grown so big, and yet still felt so small to her. He was only a boy, who had been thrown into the world of God Eaters. But he was strong, she had no doubt that he would grow into a fine man, just like his father. "Then we will see each other again."

"!"

"Now... be brave. And don't give up fighting. Don't you ever give up fighting." His mother gently instruction, commanding him like the mother she was to him. "Come home to us, okay. Once this is all over."

"Okay, mom..." He pulled into her embrace again, hugging her back as she gave him the hug he really needed to face tomorrow. "I promise..."

*** Around the same time with Yuu ***

The Briefing had run long, but not as long as he was expecting it to run. It seem like the basic battle plan. Get in, get out, win the fight. How hard could that be? Those three veterans made it seem easier said than done. He was not going to be a downer and say they didn't have a fighting chance; but, he was not going to openly lie to himself and say that this was not going to be a hard fight. Many good God Eaters would most likely be lost tomorrow in the fight, but many more lives would be lost if they choose not to fight.

It was the hazard of the job. He was prepare to give up his life in the line of duty if he had to. If this was going to be the last setting sun he would see again then so be it. But still, he did not want to leave behind any regrets.

And that's why he found himself here, in front of the old building that he had parted ways with those many months ago to become a God Eater. The place hadn't change much; the old plaster was still pealing off to reveal the brick structure underneath. A small porch light shined by the door while two other lights revealed the walkway in the twilight sky by the crosswalk intersection. The building was still quiet, quite humbling really, with its little light warming the insides and gently shining through the windows. It always made him feel peaceful whenever he came to this place, it reminded him of home. But then he would realize he never really had a home, this was as close to a home that he has ever had. That is, until he joined the Den.

The front door had creaked open as if the occupant had already heard him coming. But how could that be? His footsteps were as quiet as a mouse. It was almost as if the person on the other side of the door felt him coming. The head of a middle aged woman, past her mid-40s, peeked an eye around the door before opening it all the way once she recognized that it was Yuu in the dimming sunlight. Her eyes were a chocolate brown, and her hair was the color of mocha. Stray strands of her long hair were starting to grey, she was looking a bit pale with exhaustion, and the crows feet around her eyes have grown since the last time he had seen her. But she still had that warm glow that he remembered her by.

"Yuu? Come in." She gave him a warm smile as she opened the door wider and made way for him to pass.

"Mother Mio, it's good to see you again." He greeted her back with a warm smile as well. She was the head of the orphanage and practically ran everything by herself. The Branch would send an agent every now and then to check and see if things were running smoothly, but the rest of the days she was taking care of the children by herself. And she had plenty of love to go around, so most who had to take residence there would call her mother, even the ones who had grew out of the orphanage would still come back to visit her. She was an amazing woman, practically a saint.

"Well, hurry up, dear. The sun waits for no one." She gently lectured to him as he just stood by the door frame. Pushing him to hurry up and come on in. Kicking back into gear, Yuu quickly made his way past her and into the building were she had closed the door behind him once he had gone through.

"So, you finally decided to pay us a visit did you?" She teased him with a smirk, placing her fists on her hips to make a fake pouting gesture.

"Mother?"

"Well, come on. Sit down, I'll make some tea." She gestured him to follow her into the kitchen and have a seat at the long table, housing many chairs in order to feed many mouths. She had walked over to the stove and turn on the flame over the kettle.

"..." He stayed quiet for a moment as he silently obeyed her. Taking a chair across from her so he could look at her.

"Hmpf, glad to see that you're doing well." She smirked back at him, turning her head a little to look at him from the corner of her eye. "No injuries or anything?"

"Hn, no." He shook his head. "I'm fine."

"Well with the line of work you've taken on, I was afraid for the worse." She sighed out in her worries. "God knows what those Aragami are capable of."

"Mother, I'm fine." He chuckled out, waving his arms around to prove it. "See?"

"I know, dear. But I can't help myself not to worry."

"How are the others doing?"

"Still around. Even more mouths to feed now. With all those sudden excessive Aragami attacks there will never be a shortage of children left behind from the calamity." She tiredly replied, reaching into the cabinet to pull out two cups, only to reach into another cabinet to pull out a tea box. Grabbing two teabags to put into the cups.

"Oh mom." Yuu gently groaned out in concern. Mother Mio was an amazing woman, but she was just one person. There was no way for the world to expect her to take care of so many children by herself, her body would break down eventually from the stress. She was too good for that, too kind of a person to know her limit.

"Oh-ho-ho no, my work is here. This is my passion. (Chuckle) Don't worry." She shook her head at him as she gently laughed, already picking up that he was worrying about her. It was quite humorous really. He was the one fighting off Aragami everyday, and here he was worry about her taking care of a few more children. "(Sigh) There are plenty of little angels looking for a home. And I'm ready to open my arms to receive them while they wait for their perfect fit."

"You're the best, mom..."

"Oh aren't you sweet." She smirked, turning off the stove as the kettle began to whistle. Pouring the hot water into each of their cup of tea and handing one over to Yuu as she sat down at the head of the table right next to his chair. "They've been playing around that giant tree that sprouted up a while back, recently. The children have practically made the area into their own playground."

"..." He stared into his cup, looking at his reflection as the weight on his shoulders were finally coming down on him. Mother Mio saw this, and she waited a moment to say what she needed to say.

"Listen to me, Yuu. We are a family. No matter how strange, or large we are, we're still a family." She said seriously in her soft voice, looking directly at him, silently forcing him to look up into her eyes. "You are a big brother. No matter where you go or what you do, this will always be a home to you, and we will always be one. We will protect you from the things that you can't protect yourself from, and you will have to protect us from the things we can not as well. Do you understand?"

"..." He looked back down at his cup, into the eyes of his reflection. "I understand what you're saying. But I don't know what will happen when it comes to that. I don't think I can do this on my own... I don't how this 'll end, it scares me..."

"If one of us should fall, we all fall. So in a way, you will never fight alone. For we are still apart of each other."

"... Thanks, mother." He said, tightening his grip on his cup handle before looking back up at her with a renewed fire in his eyes. "I think I got it..."

"Hm, good... Now, do you have time?" She asked him, patting his shoulder as she got up from her seat, taking her cup with her. "I'm sure the other children will be happy to see you."

"Where are those little scamps anyway?" He quirked an eyebrow at her as he leaned an arm on the backrest of his chair.

"Well, they should be heading back in pretty soon. Only in their own time." She chuckled under her breath, those kids were so full of energy and so unpredictable, coming back whenever they tired out. As long as the got back in before sun down, she'd let them have their fun. But just as she said it, she could hear them marching in from the back with their chaotic foot pattern, and their vocal volume. "Ahh, speak of the devil."

The heard had made their way in, coming into the kitchen when they spotted Yuu sitting at one of the chairs. A few of the faces were new, but most of the faces he could recognize in a heartbeat. They smiled and ran to him, the youngest jumping into his arms. He was barely able to catch her in time before she crashed hard into his chest.

"Yuu! Yay!" She cheered, squeezing him in her bear hug. The others not really caring that she was already there as they jumped Yuu to join her in his lap.

"Yuu's back!" Came the clatter of kids ranging from 8 to 2. All happily bouncing around Yuu, as they found a piece of him to hug.

"Hey, guys! (Chuckle) Ease up a little, will yah? You're squeezing the life out of me!" He laughed out in joy, giving them a squeeze back as he tried to rub each of their heads while some of the kids even tried to play-wrestle with him. He had needed this, he needed a reminder of what he was fighting for...

*** Later that Night ***

The First Unit had gathered again at a bar close to the Den, taking up one of the booths. Other Units doing the same thing, sharing a drink or a meal with their team before the big fight tomorrow. Karen had already made it back to the Den and had left along with the others to claim their spot at the bar. Ordering their drinks as they waited for their other two members.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late." Kota apologized as he made his way in, looked around the bar before he spotted his team and came over to their booth.

"Heh, there was never really a set time, kiddo." Lindow waved him off in no worries, before gesturing for the empty spot on the other side of him and Sakuya. "Have a seat and call up a drink."

"Heha, thanks." He smirked as he nervously let out a laugh before taking his seat, looking around to realize one of his teammates was missing. "Hey, where's Yuu?"

"Pfft, headed out from the Den the moment the Briefing was over." Soma answered, twirling his glass of soda in his hand in boredom.

"He's probably visiting his orphanage for a while." Alisa suggested. "I guess he'll be here in his own time."

"Or I can be here now."

"!" Yuu nearly startled Alisa out of her seat as he popped his head from the other side of their booth by Lindow's side. "Oh, Leader! Don't do that, you nearly scared the death out of me!"

"Are you saying that I almost made you immortal, or that there's a skeleton with a scythe inside your body?" Yuu teased with a quirked eyebrow as he slid into a seat beside Kota at the edge of the booth.

"(Gasp) You're the worst Yuu Kannagi!" Alisa pouted with a big blush, crossing her arms as she looked down at her drink.

"Aw, come on, Alisa. Don't be that way, I was only kidding." Yuu pouted to her, before smacking his hand on the table to get the waiter's attention. "Waiter, a can of First Love Juice, please!"

The waiter nodded in compliance as he slipped into the back to get Yuu's beverage.

"So, are you ready for tomorrow?" Soma asked Yuu, taking a swig of his drink before leaning back into his seat.

"Heh, no, not really. But tomorrow is coming anyway."

"I can't believe it's all coming down to this." Sakuya sigh out dishearten, cupping her glass between her fingers as she stared at the ice. "A massive assault on the Branch. Carnage."

"I don't think we're ready for a fight of this number..." Alisa honestly admitted, giving in to the distraught.

"No one ever really is." Karen pointed out, tightening her grip on her can of First Love Juice. "But still, we fight anyway."

"Right." Yuu nodded in agreement before the waiter had passed by with Yuu's drink, placing it on the table before continuing on his way. "Hey, we've been through tight situations before. We're gonna pull through on this one too."

"Pfft, yeah, we survived those by the hairs of chin." Soma scoffed out, having hard biting back from rolling his eyes.

"None of us have hair on our chin." Alisa pointed out in audacity that Soma would accuse even one of the girls of such a thing.

"Lindow might tho." Kota added in for good humor, it worked for lightening up the mood a little.

"Heh, yeah. A daily hassle that comes along with plucking off loose feathers." Lindow puffed out, barely containing a laugh as he sipped his glass of beer.

"Hey, where's Fukushu-chan and Rie-san?" Yuu questioned, noticing that their hidden quest were present in their merriment.

"Heh, they didn't want to come out." Lindow smirked from behind his glass. "Said they would rather plan some things out with Dr. Sakaki."

"Besides, you know we can't bring Rie out like this." Soma pointed out, baffled that Yuu would even suggest other wise.

"Ahh, seems kinda rude to be out on the town without them."

"I wouldn't exactly call this out on the town." Soma countered.

"Still, it would have been great if they could have called in reinforcements." Sakuya commented. "It feels like we're fighting alone on this."

"Don't let it get to you, Sakuya." Yuu comforted to her. "Even if we are fighting this alone, we still have each other. Against unbelievable odds we still held up along side each other countless times before. Regardless of the turnout, we're all we've got, there can't be nothing that could tear us apart."

"..." Karen stayed quiet for a moment, before crushing her empty can in her hands. Placing her tab on the table before scooting out of the booth.

"Karen? You heading out already?" Yuu question, a little disappointed that she was calling it early.

"I must prepare..." Was all she said before tossing her can into a recycling bin and headed out the door.

The walk back to the Den wasn't a long one. Since the bar was close by it wasn't that much of a commute. The first thing she did when she got back was head down to the God Arc Hangar. Most had already upgraded and checked their God Arc for maintenance with Licca, so the place had cleared out. This was the best time for her to get some personal time with her God Arc and her equipment.

Heading over to the Terminal she upgraded her equipment: leaving her Control Unit as Medic, but vouching for stronger Upgrade parts. Her first Upgrade had been taken off for a Sniper Ace, a top notch equipment that was rare to come by, let alone to gather all the material to craft it. The same applied for her second Upgrade, Desperate Attempt. Each Upgrade took some very special Aragami Crystals to craft, and had very great advantages while still carrying some big flaws. Her shield speed and swings speed would slow down from the weight, but her attack power would increase dramatically when she is brought to the brink of death, which she hoped that it wouldn't come to that. Her Oracle Points would be significantly higher, and her bullets consumption wouldn't be as much on her Oracle Points, not to mention the Trigger Happy bonus would even cut that in half. All in all, she could say that those were some pretty good upgrades.

With the time on her hands, she decided to craft some bullets like she had planned while she was graced with this rare quiet before the storm. Going into the Bullet Crafting in NORN, she decided the first thing she would do was craft an efficient Recovery Bullet so that her team wouldn't be caught off guard like last time.

She had literally created her Recovery Bullet into a bomb that would scatter out and heal a heavy amount of HP, but the cost of such a bullet had limited the use of this bullet to a few shoots per mission due to the massive OP drainage, even with the Upgrades. Not to mention that since the bullet would scatter about when fired, it was imperative that she has a clear shot to be able to effectively use the Recovery bullet due to its lack of guidance. As she had given life to her creation, she had given it a name. And she called it Recov96, to remember how much HP it could restore at its peak shot.

For her next bullet, she wanted to a make bomb type that would stick to the enemy. The first initial shot she created to go off with a partner and stick to the target, given them a moment pause before five other large bomb fragments would go off at close range. It would be like fireworks, Gina would love it, it would make all the lovely flowers that she loved bloom so divinely. This bullet would work best against high or floating targets, bring them back down to the ground. One or two well-placed shots could even be enough to shatter any Camlann variant's needle, or stagger any Sariel variant if shot correctly. And she was a damn good shot, it ran in the blood. She was pleased with this bullet, and had christened it Type P S-Bomb V1.

The last bullet she would put into her arsenal for tomorrow would do various damage with one round shot, making every fragment count as she mercilessly gave the target no break. This destructive bullet would latch on to the target and if aim properly would do massive damage on its vital parts. One shot not even a second after the other would go off and scatter off in burst-fire bullets after the initial homing bullet before ending it all in a large radial shot. This one didn't nearly take as much OP as her Recovery Bullet, but it still did more destructive damage in comparison. If she were to shoot this bullet at an angle it would allow the bullet to arc harmlessly over or beside her allies while attaching on to the target. It could also be used to force-move a comrade out of the way of the target Aragami's close range attack if necessary. Such a destructive bullet could literally do Internal Organ Destruction on an Aragami if they truly had any, so she vouched for calling the bullet, IOD V2.

Her Bullet Slot ready, with four empty slots to spare for Aragami Bullets, she was content with her creations and various regular manufactured bullets. Her equipment was up to her standard, all that was left was to check over her God Arc. Everything seemed to be in order, Licca had did some touch-ups while Karen was out that day. She must be tired working on all those God Arcs at once, Karen would have to thank her once this was all over. But now wasn't the time, Licca needed her rest and she honestly deserved it. Cause even as she looked at the Hangar Slot next to her, she could see that Licca had even touched-up Shōkan's God Arc as well.

"..." She stared at it as the Forbidden Iceblade told a silent story of longing to return to its God Eater and taste the feast of battle once again. It was lonely, and felt neglected as other God Arcs rushed into battle while it would have to be left behind. "Sorry. But... your God Eater is being a butt right now."

"..." It said nothing, she wasn't really expecting an answer anyway. Giving her God Arc one finally trace with her finger, she grabbed its handle with her hand and rested it on her shoulder as she turned around to head back up the Mission Elevator.

"Although... I'm sure she'll come around sooner or later." With that she left the Floor and headed up to the Training Center, getting one final training workout before the big day, since she couldn't afford to tire herself out in the morning.

She had worked on her basic, getting use to her heavier weight to increase her melee swing speed to a more tolerable speed control. Her shield would still come out slower than she would like, but she would just have to live with dodging and parrying the attack that would come at her. She had worked on her tiers, even found the inspiration to come up with new ones as the realization of tomorrow was finally sinking in to her. She would not panic, nor would she be scared, she would be calm and face tomorrow like a flowing river. Maybe go a little wild while she was at it. There would be plenty of Aragami to go around that much was sure, what was the harm of having a little fun with the ones that came her way?

Tired and sweaty, she had returned her God Arc to its hanger before going up to the Entrance to gather her necessary supplies for tomorrow. He was nearly out of stock, and tired from the day's rush. But that was the price she had to pay for waiting until the lines had calmed down, at least she could make the rest of the items she would need in the Exchange Inventory in the Item selection in the Terminals. Or possibly just pull out the items she needed from her Storage. Buying whatever she could, she heading back down the Residential Elevator to take a shower in the Rookie Floor's Female Community Shower.

Once she was clean again, she headed back to her room to meditate, emptying her mind of chaotic thoughts as she let go. Finally feeling at ease with herself, she bowed to her altar in respect for her Shomen and Sensei before her. Moving to her Terminal to pull out of storage the items she would need for the fight, synthesizing and creating those that she did not have on hand (but had the materials to synthesize). Organizing them to the priority she would need them, she undressed and got into bed. Now all that was left was for tomorrow to come...

*** The next morning ***

Dawn had approached over the horizon. Karen was awake.

Her eyes shot open as she pulled the covers back and stepped out of bed. Not caring for her modesty, she slipped on her black Sniper Coat over her bra, barely buttoning up two buttons on it. Only to slip in to her black Sniper Pants and put on her beanie hat. Looking to the plant that she had adopted from Shōkan's room, she gave it some water from her filter before caressing its leaves with gently loving care in the hopes that it would grow strong in her affection. Turning to the photos at her makeshift altar in greeting of the new morning. Prepared for the day, she stepped into her heel boots and walked out the door...

Let the games begin.

*** Author's Notes ***

The quote from before appears at the end of the song The Sons of Odin by Manowar. But I believe that it is an actual verse from Norse mythology.

Upgrade 1 = Sniper Ace (Rank 10, DLC) [Oracle Up L.; Trigger Happy; Frugal; Melee Speed Down]
Upgrade 2 = Desperate Attempt (Rank 10, DLC) [Guard Speed Down; Survival Instinct; Wild Instinct; Prepared]

OMAKE 2:

It had been a few days since the launching of Dr. Sakaki's romantic novel, Devouring Love. Sales were going off the roof, and the books never stayed on the shelf for long. It was a best seller in a manner of days after its release. It had become a favorite among the female population with exotic, tragic love, bordering on the taboo. Trinkets were soon created over the novel, and t-shirts proudly were displayed on the tops of fans. Fukushu and Rie had become a famous hit and their fans didn't even know that they were real.

A proud supporter of Dr. Sakaki work, Yuu had been one of the first to receive a copy; straight from Dr. Sakaki himself, he even signed the cover page for Yuu. Alisa and Sakuya had a copy of their own as well, but Alisa was a little more shyer about openly admitting that she was a fan of the novel. Karen on the other hand, still slightly traumatizes from seeing the novel's inspiration birthed before her very eyes wouldn't have anything to do with the wretched thing, let alone touch it. She still cringed a little inside whenever she would see a female God Eater boldly reading the novel out in the open around the Den. It was even worse when they would talk about it in groups and squeal around the bathing quarters. Bath-time was a sacred time meant for silence, peace, and tranquility; not a time to chirp around like hens. It irritated the poor Sniper Samurai and she was starting to lose her patience. This in turn lead her to hang around the guys more, much to her cousin Shun's joy and dismay. At least Gina wasn't part of the increasing fan group, Kanon on the other hand had jumped on the wagon.

While things hustled and bustled around the Den, Yuu had taken his shift of looking after Shōkan's tree for the day. He had a smirk on his face as he looked up at the tree, a smirk that said that he had something good up his sleeve. With a book in his hand, he pressed his other hand on the tree to Resonate with the God Eater within it.

"Hey, Yuu. How's it- Good God, Yuu, what are you wearing!" She gasped out in sudden appall and shock at seeing the T-shirt under his open Formal Top coat. It was a regular white t-shirt, nothing to raise alarms about; it was what the t-shirt said that made her so hysterical. On the shirt was a black heart with blueish hewing along the lining, with corrosive fire consuming and surrounding it. Inside the heart was written in purple jagged calligraphy, 'FuRie Forever'. Shōkan was baffled on how she was suppose to take all this.

"What do you think? It's a popular line-up based off of Dr. Sakaki romantic novel about your sister and brother-in-law." Yuu chirped proudly, stretching out his shirt so Shōkan could read it clearly.

"What?!" Her eye twitched at this, and a vein was starting to form along her forehead. How did Dr. Sakaki have time to make such a thing? WHY did he make such a thing?!

"Isn't this great! Your sister is famous!" Yuu proudly praised to her.

"No, this is not a good thing! How did Fukushu even approve of this?! How did Dr. Sakaki even gather information to make this?!"

"Ohh, Dr. Sakaki had a distinct first-hand view of inspiration between two lovebirds that had created the novel."

"He what?!" Her face started to redden, not by anger but from embarrassment.

"Don't worry, Fukushu-chan didn't seem to mind it at all." Yuu assured to her. "As long as Dr. Sakaki didn't use their full names, and didn't use their faces."

"That still doesn't make it any better!" Shōkan pouted with a roar. "It's still so weird! And very, very wrong!"

"It's not so bad. I actually like the novel." Yuu smiled at her, pulling out the book that he had been hiding behind his back and waved it in his hand at her. "Want me to read it to you?"

"!" Her eyes widened in horror.

"It's no trouble. We've got all the time in the world." Yuu insisted to her, flipping through the book to find the perfect spot to start. "Here, I'll even read you a small section from the book to prove it to you."

"God, please, no!" Shōkan cried out in mental woe. There wasn't anywhere she could run. She was stuck there, forced to listen to Yuu's narration. No matter how far she went away into the darkness, Yuu's voice would still echo through out the plain, drowning out the dripping water. And she couldn't force him out of the Resonance, she was too mentally distress to even focus enough to do that.

"Let's see... Ah, here's a good part. 'At long last, Fukushu was united with her husband again. Not the spirit of the man she loved trapped in the body of a beast, but actual flesh. She ran to his side, falling to her knees as she clutched his hand between hers.'" Yuu read from the novel, ignoring Shōkan's tossing and turning as she tried to drown out the words with her thoughts as she covered her ears. "'At last he was returned to her: her long lost friend, her soul mate, her beloved...'"

"Oh God, this is so cheesy." Shōkan complained, as the whole thing felt like torture to her. She'd give anything to make it stop. "This is horrible!"

"'Rie-kun, at last, you have returned to me'." Yuu said, horribly bombing his impression of Fukushu's voice. "'It's been so long since I have seen your face.'"

"What?! That doesn't even sound like Fukushu! She would never say something like that!"

"'Fukushu, at last... I can hold your face again without fear of maiming its beauty with my claws.' Rie said as he gently caressed her cheek with his free Aragami hand. His claws lightly tracing her flesh, fitting her cheek perfectly in the cup of his hand, no longer monstrously bigger than face." Yuu continued reading, taking his voice too deep to even resemble Rie's.

"What is this crap you're trying to feed down my throat?!" She cried out, gripping her head in horror as she squeezed strands of her hair in her clutches. "Please, no more!"

"She gasped as she looked at his face, into his eyes. 'There's that smiled that I've love so much. Oh, how I've missed that.' Fukushu sighed out, her eyes half-lidded warmly as she cupped his hand on her cheek with one of her own." Yuu continued to read on, much to her protest. "'There something in the way... you look at me. It's a truth that I haven't seen in your eyes in a long time.'

"'Only for you, Fukushu.' Rie replied back warmly as he pressed his forehead against hers, refusing to break eye contact. 'Regardless of what I am, this is where I belong; this is where I want to be, by your side.'

"'Rie-kun.' Fukushu gasped out with a blush as he leaned back to get a better look at her blushed face. She tried to turn her head away in embarrassment, but the hand on her cheek brought her eyes back to his.

"'Don't look away... please look at me.' Rie pleaded to her. 'I am filled with the sweetest emotions as I look into your perfect face.'

"'Rie-kun... I... I love you...' Fukushu blushed out, shyly getting the words out of her. 'I never could understand why someone like you would have wanted to stay by the side of someone like me, for all these years...'

"'No Fukushu-chan, it is you that I have loved all along.' Rie insisted to her, daring her to tell him wrong with the determination in his eyes. 'Your the home my heart searched for so long. The light that shined through my lonely nights. And the way that I was, where people would run and hide at the sight of me, you stayed by my side. I had been afraid to show you such a monstrous side of me that I had become. It made me want to run and hide, afraid that you would reject this other side of me. But I couldn't... the nights would be lonely without you. Can you forgive this selfish side of me...?'

"'Rie-kun...'"

"You sick bastard!" Shōkan hissed at Yuu as she realized he wasn't going to let up.

"She paused, leaning into his hand before turning into its palm to kiss it. 'It is you that has become the home that I have searched. I've known just who you are. And I know you hold my heart. No one else can have it, no one else can gently caress it the way you do; no one can melt away the ice that surrounds it, only you.'

"'Fukushu-chan...' His hand slid from her cheek to cup under her chin and tilt it up to look up at him as he drew in closer. 'I miss this... I miss us...'

"'Rie-kun,' Fukushu gasped out as their lips finally caress for the first time in many years. Their eyes had closed to cherish the moment. It was like fireworks had exploded all around them and the sweetest taste came from their lips as their innocent lips became wild with passion. Opening her eyes half way again, she was reminded of the other viewers in the room. Embarrassed, she slightly pushed Rie away from her, putting some distance between them as their lips broke apart. 'R-Rie-kun, wait. T-The others are watching.'

"Smirking at her, Rie scooped an arm around her waist and pulled her back closer to him. His lips barely a centimeter away from hers as he brushed the swelling flesh with his breath. 'I want them to watch, Fukushu.'"

"Oh come on! If anything, Fukushu would be the forceful one; not a shy, little maiden this novel makes her to be!" Shōkan roared out, ready to puke as this story was starting to get a little to intimate than she was comfortable with knowing about her sister. "Yuu, please... if you stop now, my sanity may yet survive..."

Yuu inwardly smirked as he relentlessly continued, pretending not to hear her. "The kiss became more aggressive, causing Fukushu to forget about the others in the room as she was lost in the wild passion of those fiery lips. She moaned out as the hand on her back began to soothingly rub along the flesh, making its way under her shirt to make contact with flesh, giving Rie access to slip his tongue in between those lips to explore her delicious cavern."

"Dear God, strike me down..." Shōkan pleaded to the above, looking up in the hopes that some divine lightning would strike down her tree. But it seems that the heavens had their own twisted sense of humor as well as they left her to wiggle and thrive in her pain.

"Suddenly the hand that had snuck behind her had silently made its way upward and unclapped the straps of her bra, giving her supple bosoms the air to breath. The others in the room could only watch in shock as things got hot."

"This is Cruel and Unusual!"

"Then that said hand made its way towards the front as it began to cup one of her breast while the other curled its fingers into her hair to dip her head back further to deepen the kiss."

"This isn't a Romance Novel, this is Dime-Store Smut!"

"She gasped out a moan at the delightful surprise of the cold contrasting feeling of his hand on her warm voluptuous breast. Her tongue joining in alongside his in her sudden burst of excitement. Slowly he had guided her onto her floor, covering her with the warm, protective embrace of his body."

"Please, No More!"

"'Mmm, I love how you wrap your arms around me. You cuddle so good.' Fukushu moaned out between their air breaks."

"AAAHHHH!" Something inside Shōkan cracked, but Yuu couldn't hear it as he was loss in his own reading.

*** Co-Author's Notes ***

Well... What can I say? It WAS begging to happen.

My co-author immediately picked up on the fact that I left out one particular spot and she pounced on the opportunity... This the birth of our follow up omake. Let's see what other shenanigans we can come up with to lighten up the ends of the next chapters... *snicker*

-Sanguis

P.S.: Brownies and cookies to anyone who figures out where exactly I got the inspiration for the first omake.