God Eater 3: The Twin Devils

by E2Moto

God Eater 3 AU story. Instead of one main protagonist, what will happen if there are two protagonists who are brother and sister instead? How will this twist affect the original story of God Eater 3? Rated 'M' for violence, and possible slight profanity.

18. Chapter 18: The Hounds and The Wolves

Disclaimer: I do not own God Eater, and any contents already in the game.

---

Author's Note: Another long chapter.

---

Chapter 18: The Hounds and The Wolves

"Y'all ready for breakfast?" Trista grinned. "I can think of one where most of my boys hang out. It's a good start for you guys to know the rest of the pack."

Hugo laughed, "Sure. I heard you run one hell of a unit."

Then Trista snickered, "I promise you won't be disappointed. The best unit in this Port."

"Daddy! Daddy Daddy!" Phym clutched his hand.

"Hm?" Jerad turned to her as they crossed the bridge in the hangar.

"What things to talk about? Everyone say hard words, then everyone go WAAH!" Phym curiously said. "I no understand why."

"Uhh, well..," Jerad scratched his cheek for a few seconds before he smiled. "We talked about you."

Phym suddenly gasped, "Oh! That why everyone look me. Eeep! Embarrassed!"

Then she latched on him, and everyone laughed.

"Ehehe! Fun being with everyone!" Phym kept her hug. "Let's work good! I know you always protect me, Daddy! So, I protect you, too!"

"Yeah..me, too," Jerad embarrassingly chuckled, hugging her back.

"...Daddy, huh?" Trista grinned. "I'm still having a hard time trying to get that through my head. Can I hug your kid? Like real tight?"

"Welcome to my world..," Lulu chuckled.

"B-big sis, wait..," Misha murmured.

"She's so damn adorable..!" Trista smirked while curving her fingers towards her. "C'mere, and let me hug you."

"Hn," Phym suddenly ran, and hid behind Claire.

"It's OK, Phym," Claire giggled.

"But..scary," Phym shuddered.

"Huh?" Trista paused.

"Tris, you gotta slow down a bit," Jerad held his face, smiling. "She doesn't warm up easily."

"Aww, come on. That hurts." Trista hunched. "We met out there in that icy place, remember? We killed that bad monster together."

"Mm," Phym shyly nodded. "Sorry…"

"It's alright," Trista grinned. "You shy little one, hehe."

Then everyone entered the square, and headed for the Dining District.

Once they entered one of the cafeterias, they saw many people eating inside with the majority of them wearing one red armlet.

"Here we are," Trista said. "Tab is on me."

"I can pitch in some, if you want," Hugo suggested.

"Nah, keep it," Trista replied. "This is for you guys being part of this family now."

Then she walked in, "Good morning, boys and girls! We got our newcomers here."

Then everyone turned to see their captain, vice captain, and an unfamiliar group in the entrance.

"Ah, good morning, ma'am," One young male God Eater greeted back.

"Good morning, sir," A young female God Eater greeted.

"Good morning," Shin nodded with a smile.

Then some of them started whispering to each other as they walked by, likely talking about the unfamiliar group who entered.

"Whoa, weren't they..?"

"Yeah, they must be the ones who helped them in the south Frozen Plant yesterday Garret told us about."

"Really..? And not to mention they're AGEs, too. Wow."

"Hey, don't talk too loud. They can hear you."

Hearing some of these, Jerad stepped back in embarrassment.

"I know," Claire giggled. "I'm also new here, so it does feel kinda awkward."

"Yeah..," Jerad murmured

"Ain't that our captain," Garret smiled while standing beside a height table, sipping his coffee. "Good morning."

"Heeeere," Amber waved beside him.

Phym gasped and whispered, "Daddy, it's the candy girl."

"Phym, please," Jerad chuckled. "Remember what I told you, OK?"

"Did you two already eat?" Trista asked.

"Not yet," Garret replied. "We just came here, actually."

"Perfect timing, then." Trista smiled. "Table for 15 people, please."

"Right away," A waiter replied, and he signaled another one to put a few tables together.

After a minute.

"Thanks for waiting," The waiter said. "This way."

Then he led them to their table, and the two waiters started laying menus on each spot.

"Please holler up once you're all ready," The waiter said.

"Thanks," Hugo smiled before opening his menu book.

Everyone started browsing their menus while others asked each other which ones might be good. Zeke and Keith were contesting which one is better than the other before they agreed to just order their own, and the three kids tried to decide which kid's meal they would order together.

"Wow," Misha widened her eyes. "Lots of pancakes."

Hugo chuckled, "We can make more of these, if you want."

"N-no, I don't mean that," Misha shyly looked away. "But if you really want…"

"Hoo hoo, since when did you get into pancakes, Misha?" Trista grinned. "But this restaurant does make good ones."

"When she and Hugo made them the first time together," Jerad grinned at her. "And it's more than just-. Ow!"

Jerad bent down to hold his right ankle wincing while Misha glared at him.

Trista watched for a few seconds before she chuckled, "OK…"

Claire giggled, 'It's good to see the usual again.'

"I love pancakes," Phym smiled. "They sweet, soft, and fluffy."

Trista chuckled, "Yep, this might become your favorite place to eat every morning."

"Yeah," Phym smiled. "I wanna try them with strawberries."

"There is a strawberry syrup here," Claire pointed at a small jar, smiling. "I can pour a little on your pancake once we get our orders."

"Yay," Phym smiled. "Can't wait to try it."

Jerad and Trista chuckled.

"Chrysanthemum has a lot of strawberries," Trista smiled. "We'll never run out of 'em, and there's a store selling them not far from here."

"Is everyone ready?" The waiter returned.

"Yep," Trista confidently nodded. "Give your orders, guys. Hold nothing back."

"Thanks," Hugo chuckled.

Then after they all give out their orders in a few minutes.

"Will that be it?" The waiter asked.

"Mm," Everyone nodded.

"Thank you very much, and your meals will be ready in 15 minutes," The waiter smiled before he left.

"Hm," Jerad frowned.

"What's wrong?" Claire softly murmured.

"Nothing bad, really." Jerad slowly shook his head. "It's just that..I'm not used to being in a Port who doesn't treat us AGEs badly. I mean, I know we got our freedom now, but it felt so unreal."

"Oh," Claire murmured. "I can see where you're coming from…"

"I know how that feels," Trista suddenly spoke. "Shin and I were like that when we first came here."

"Huh," Hugo raised his eyes.

"When we were new here, we also thought everyone in this Port won't like us," Trista continued. "Shin and I stuck together like a sore thumb, and we even had a hard time trusting the owner at first. We thought she was scheming something, or that she took us from Pennywort so she could use us for her own ends...but she was never really like that. She always gave us that same warm smile, and even gave us our own rooms as soon as we came here. We eventually realized that she's genuine, so we started pulling our own weight by defending this Port with the Fox Unit, and it was the Port's only defense force back then. Daris was also one of the first guys who made us start feeling welcome."

"I see," Hugo smiled. "So, how did you eventually form your unit?"

"God Eaters from Gleipnir started coming here," Trista replied while Jerad raised his eyes in surprise. "There were no other things behind them, and were sent here being told to just help protect this Port. They had nowhere else to go, so I decided to form my unit as another defense group for this Port. Garret and Amber were the first ones sent here, but more of my guys came later on."

"Heh," Garret smiled. "I'm still thankful for welcoming us in."

"It's all good," Trista smiled back. "You two were also my most trusted members, so I can thank you both the same."

"We'll keep it up," Garret nodded, smiling.

"So, you're actually from Gleipnir?" Claire asked.

"Yeah," Garret nodded. "By name…"

"Huh?" Claire raised her eyes. "So, what group are you two from?"

"Gleipnir 9th Assault Battalion, First Response Platoon," Garret plainly replied.

Then Claire's eyes widened, '9th Assault Battalion?! Isn't that..?'

Unaware of this, Jerad was quietly listening behind her, and his eyes narrowed seeing Amber frowning behind Garret.

"I see..," Claire continued.

"At least you guys are in a better spot now, right?" Jerad faintly smiled.

"No complaints," Garret smiled. "I'll keep giving my all for this unit, and this Port."

"Hm," Jerad smiled.

"Your meals are ready," The waiter finally came back, and then the two of them started serving their meals.

"Whoa," Zeke stared at his meal. "This thing is even sizzling."

Trista chuckled, "Most, if not all, restaurants here have high standards, and the owner doesn't take sanitation inspection failures kindly. She's pretty ambitious about making this Port the best it can be, and worked tirelessly for it. This is also why we all fought tooth and nail to defend this Port and to make sure all of her efforts weren't wasted."

"I figured," Hugo chuckled. "She did tell us that this place is her pride and joy."

"Yeah," Trista smiled.

---

After 30 minutes, they finished their meal.

"Whoo, I'm stuffed," Zeke laid back, rubbing his belly. "That was too good for breakfast."

Trista laughed, "Glad you liked it." Then she handed her pay tab to the waiter.

"You know, it's good to see you two still together."

"Haha, yep," Zeke put his arm around Keith's shoulder, grinning. "He eventually found himself, and became one hell of an engineer. Hilda even said that she wanted him to be one of her chief engineers here, someday."

"Whoa," Shin raised his eyes. "That's a one tall position from the start, and to have the owner recognize you enough for that."

Then Keith shyly scratched his head. "I still have much to learn...and even have yet to try my hand on decryption."

"Decryption?" Shin's eyes widened. "I've done a lot of that for two years. Where are you in that?"

"Just studied how to do it," Keith replied. "But I have yet to try my hand for them."

"I could show you sometime later," Shin nodded. "I found a few discs that I haven't decrypted yet, so it's a good start."

"Thanks," Keith smiled.

"I'll tell you what," Hugo grinned. "Keith learned about our Ash Crawler's engines in and out in a few days, and even fixed them when they both went down, also in two days. All we did was help him."

"Now I see how you got the owner's attention," Shin gasped. "I don't think I could do that."

"I'm pretty sure you can, too, you nerd," Trista grimaced while everyone chuckled.

"With all due respect," Shin smiled. "I lean more on combat strategy, and tactics. Not technical things."

"Heh, you and your ninja stuff..," Then Trista chuckled at Hugo. "You guys better watch out for him, if you piss him off. He's quiet enough to easily kill you in your sleep, haha!"

"Okay..," Shin nodded. "That's...giving me too much credit."

"Yeah, that Kongou you snuck up on two years ago?" Trista grinned. "You slit that thing's neck before it even knew you're there, and Ricardo and I didn't get to do anything. That was no fun."

"Oh, sorry for being effective," Shin sarcastically retorted.

Jerad suddenly laughed, "Damn, a Kongou? Those apes can hear you millions of miles away, and to think you can kill that thing unnoticed. I think I also remembered Ricardo telling us that story."

"Yeah, he did when we just came in," Hugo chuckled.

"Jeez, just how much did he tell you about me in your bedtime stories?" Shin furrowed his eyebrows.

Then Jerad, Zeke, Hugo, and Keith laughed.

"Not much," Hugo replied. "Just a few things."

"Where was this?" Claire whispered.

"When we were settling in the male cabin," Jerad whispered back. "Before we even met."

"Oh," Claire murmured.

"Daddy, what's a neen-jah? Does it taste good?" Phym innocently asked before Jerad and Claire giggled.

"No, Phym. They're not food," Jerad whispered.

"Anyway, let's get to shopping," Trista stretched herself. "I'm sure you guys could use some restocking."

"Yep," Hugo took his last sip of coffee before everyone stood, and left.

---

Outside the restaurant.

"Shopping District is this way," Trista pointed with her thumb. "It's going to be a bit of a walk."

"Hoo, should be fine," Zeke slouched down. "I stuffed myself too much, so I could use that anyway."

Then after several minutes, they finally arrived in the district.

"Wow," Misha stared in awe. "It's big, and there's a lot of selections, too."

"Heh," Trista grinned. "I bet the owner has been paying you guys a lot for protecting her."

"Yep," Hugo nodded. "We charged her a fair price, too."

"If it wasn't for me, and my brother..," Misha elbow tugged him. "It would not be a 'fair' price from you…"

Hugo chuckled, "You're right. It would not have been fair, but nevertheless, I was glad I went with that deal because that would have hurt us in that negotiation this morning. Thanks."

"You're welcome," Misha winced.

"I wonder if they have make ups here," Claire murmured. "I'm about to run out."

"Ooh, me, too." Misha pitched in. "I need some new make ups, too."

"Make ups?" Trista chuckled. "You two have boyfriends you're trying to impress or something?"

"B-boyfriends?" Claire cupped her face, blushing while Jerad bewilderedly stared at her.

"B-big sis!" Misha glared at her, also blushing.

Trista laughed, "I was just kidding. We do sell a lot of them over there."

Then she pointed thumb in a certain direction.

"You don't use them?" Misha asked.

"Nope," Trista shook her head with a smile. "Just face oil treatment every morning. I hate acne."

"Looks like we got a lot of different things to buy," Hugo said. "How about we split up for an hour, and then meet up back here?"

"Sure," Trista smiled. "Plus I need to stock up on something."

"What's that?" Hugo curiously asked.

"You don't want to know, Hugo..," Shin shook his head.

Then Hugo laughed, "I guess some things didn't change, huh?"

"Oh, but she's a bit worse now," Shin whispered. "You'll see."

"Heh," Hugo grinned. "OK, everyone. Let's split up."

"See you guys later," Trista said before she left with Hugo, Misha, Lulu, Amber, Garret, and Shin while Jerad, Claire, Zeke, Keith, and Phym walked into a different direction.

The group eventually walked into the fashion and clothing section.

"Whoa," Jerad murmured while holding a shirt similar to his. "I didn't know they sell my type of clothing here."

"Huh," Claire turned to him. "Yeah."

"It would be a good time for me to replace what I'm wearing right now with this new one," Jerad said. "Mine is too tattered full of tapes."

"Been wondering about that, actually," Claire whispered. "Why do AGEs like having black tapes?"

Jerad suddenly laughed before looking around to make sure Zeke and Keith would not hear them.

"Beats me, to be honest." Jerad whispered. "I mean, Misha and I don't have them other than on our clothes for obvious reasons, but others seem to like having them on their skins. I never understood why, and never bothered to ask. Maybe it's just for show?"

Claire giggled, "I guess so."

"I mean, look at those brothers." Jerad whispered while glancing at the two who were browsing clothes together, and laughing.

"Zeke had one across his nose, and Keith had rows of them across his chest. Are these guys trying to look tough?"

Then he shrugged while Claire giggled.

"I wonder if they remove them before taking showers," Claire furrowed her eyes. "That might seem..unsanitary."

"Ooh, that's gotta hurt to peel them off every time," Then Jerad and Claire laughed. "I also don't know that since I always take showers alone."

"I see," Claire nodded.

"But bathing together is always fun, daddy," Phym smiled. "I love bathing together with mommy, auntie, and Lulu because we like-."

"Whoa, Phym," Jerad curved his lips. "Please don't tell me about that."

"Why?" Phym curiously asked.

"Because..I told you that I'm different from you, remember?" Jerad said.

"But not with uncle, Zeke, and Keith?" Phym asked.

"I..have my reasons," Jerad murmured. "And I also can't tell you about that, just as how you can't tell me how you do your baths together."

"Now I'm a bit curious," Claire narrowed her eyes. "Is there something..bad going on?"

"Not on my end, at least." Jerad murmured.

"Huh?" Claire tilted her head in confusion. "Then why?"

"You really want to know?" Jerad awkwardly grimaced. "OK, then. I'll just say..Zeke likes 'comparing' himself to us, and then when he came to me, he sulked off afterwards…"

Understanding his hints, Claire's eyes widened.

"Now you get it?" Jerad awkwardly smiled.

"At first, I suspected there was some simple hazing going on, but..," Claire shuddered. "T-this is worse than I thought, and I can't believe some guys do this. Ugh!"

"Heh, well..," Jerad shrugged. "This is why I shower alone in peace now..to get away from that clown."

Then he sighed.

"Anyway, I'm gonna buy these two sets," Jerad hung them on his left arm.

"They're both the same," Claire said. "Don't you want to try something new?"

"I love these," Jerad replied. "It's good at keeping me cool and warm at the same time. The inner shirt lets wind through, and the scarf keeps me warm, which is why I never felt too hot or too cold. Remember when I borrowed you my scarf yesterday? Kept you warm, huh?"

"Y-yeah," Claire stuttered, remembering how the warmth of his black scarf from his body heat had kept her from freezing.

"Maybe you could use one, too," Jerad plainly said. "This place is cold."

"I think I'll pass," Claire shook her head. "It's not like I'll be living here."

"Oh..yeah," Jerad murmured.

"How about you, Phym? You want some clothes? I'll buy you a few to start on."

"It's OK, Daddy," Phym shook her head with a smile. "I love my clothes, and this that Hilda made for me."

"OK," Jerad smiled. "Hmm, I guess I'm done buying new clothes for now, and let's see what those brothers are up to."

"Right," Claire nodded.

But before Jerad walks to the cashier, he suddenly paused after seeing a rack of scarves hanging.

"Hm," Jerad mused before he stared at Claire.

"W-what is it?" Claire watched him stare at her in different areas before she curved her lips, and started hovering her shuddering hands around her chest.

Jerad turned back to the rack, and grabbed a blue scarf. "I think this will look good on you."

"H-huh?" Claire stuttered. "But I just said I won't-."

"It's on me," Jerad smiled. "Can't keep you cold out there, if we do go on a mission while we're still here, and this will cover your shoulders."

"A-are you sure?" Claire hesitantly took the scarf, and stared at it.

"Don't worry about it," Jerad smiled. "I have a lot of spare cash. Plus, you'll look better with that than mine, anyway."

"U-um..," Claire shyly leaned back before she sweetly smiled at him. "Thanks."

Then Jerad froze on the spot, captivated by that unique smile Claire just gave him. He knew she already smiled at him many times, but there was something about this that somehow made him feel his chest swell, and wondered if he ever knew a woman who smiled at him like that before. There is none that he can remember…

Snapping out of it, Jerad shook his head, and was relieved to see that Claire did not notice his gaze. She was just examining her scarf, and even took a whiff of it.

Phym giggled, "Daddy is so nice."

"Oh..yeah," Jerad shyly scratched his head. "Let's..go ahead and finish this up, OK? Here, I'll buy them."

Then Claire gave him her scarf before heading for the cashier.

---

"Seriously, bro?" Keith chuckled. "You like flamboyant, brightly colored clothes?"

"Why, what's wrong with that?" Zeke grinned. "Makes me more manly, and see? This one even shows your chest."

"Oh, jeez," Keith facepalmed.

"Ah, whatever," Zeke shrugged. "I like my current one best, anyway?"

"You guys finished?" Jerad suddenly spoke while holding two bags with Claire and Phym with him.

"Hey, let me ask you something," Zeke grinned. "Do you like flamboyant clothes?"

"Hm," Jerad murmured. "Not..really?"

"Oh, come on, man," Zeke hunched. "Don't you like manliness?"

"Not..really interested in that," Jerad murmured. "I don't think I need to show everyone that I am, either."

"You're boring, man." Zeke murmured while Claire giggled. "But yeah, we're done here. Nothing interesting to buy."

"Alright," Jerad nodded.

"What did you buy?" Zeke stared at Jerad's bag.

"Same ones as I have right now," Jerad replied.

"Heh, you really love that outfit," Zeke grinned.

"Keeps me comfy," Jerad shrugged. "Easy to move with it, too."

"OK," Zeke nodded. "Let's get out of here, and check more stuff."

"Sure," Jerad nodded, and left the clothing section. After walking a few yards in the main hall.

"Wait, do you mind if we stop by here real quick?" Claire asked.

"Uh, sure," Jerad plainly replied before entering past the glass door. Then he looked around to see that it is a cosmetic store, but it also sells cologne for men in another section.

He watched Zeke and Keith go to the men's section, and started trying each demo, sniffing each of them, but he decided to follow Claire and Phym instead.

'What the hell am I even doing here?' Jerad wondered.

Then Claire grabbed an out of the box pink bottle, and sniffed it.

"Hm," Claire murmured. "Could you try this?"

"Huh?" Jerad slowly took the bottle, and sniffed it. "Not too bad."

"OK..," Claire murmured before she set the bottle down, and picked another one.

"How about this?" Claire smiled, holding a new one.

"OK..?" Jerad plainly replied, and sniffed it. "Hm, decent, I guess."

"Hm," Claire frowned before she went back to browsing again, and then she picked a new bottle, and sniffed it. Claire smiled at the sweet fragrance of it.

'Just how many of those things she'll have me try before she buys one?' Jerad mused.

"This one is good. How about this?" Claire smiled.

"OK..," Jerad took the bottle, and sniffed it. "This one is better."

"I see," Claire murmured, and moved to more expensive perfumes. She smiled as one of the most conspicuous boxes caught her attention, and quickly searched for the demo version.

"Ah," She muttered as she found it. She sprayed it on her hand, and sniffed it. The fragrance was more than she can call great. It felt hypnotizing.

"How...about this one?" Claire smiled as she excitedly handed him the bottle.

"Alright..," Jerad hesitantly took the bottle, and sniffed it. He suddenly froze, the fragrance was just mesmerizing.

"Wow, now this one is great," Jerad smiled. "I could get addicted to this."

"Thanks," Claire gently smiled at him before she placed the demo bottle back.

"Mommy, can I try?" Phym asked with curiosity.

"Oh, of course," Claire nodded before she grabbed the demo bottle again, and had her sniff it.

"That smells..really good," Phym smiled.

"Yeah," Claire nodded before she sprayed a few on her hand, and rubbed it on Phym's neck.

Then Phym giggled, "That tickles…"

Claire giggled, "You'll smell good with it."

Then she took the product, and firmly held it in her hand, seemingly eager to buy it.

'So, you won't buy it unless we both like it enough?' Jerad scratched his head. 'The hell..?'

He groaned, and watched the two brothers trying each cologne, who were also seemingly goofing off.

---

"Hey, bro. You should try this." Keith handed him a cologne demo bottle before Zeke took it, and then sniffed the bottle before his face suddenly twisted.

"Ugh!" Zeke suddenly winced. "This thing is too strong…"

"Achoo!"

Keith laughed, "Too much for you, huh?"

"Oh yeah," Zeke grimaced before he set the bottle back. "Definitely no buy…"

"Then how about this one?" He took another demo bottle, and sniffed it. "Hah, this is more like it."

Then he looked at the price tag, "What? This thing is steep. Dammit."

"You get what you pay for," Keith grinned.

"Ah, fine," Zeke groaned. "I haven't bought anything yet, anyway."

Then he set the demo bottle back, and took the product version.

---

"I'm back," Claire said after she bought her new perfume.

"Ah, yeah," Jerad replied. "Let's see what the brothers are up to."

"Mm," Claire nodded before the three walked to where Zeke and Keith were.

"Hey, what's up?" Jerad smiled.

"We're just about to finish here," Zeke replied. "Lemme buy this thing for a sec."

"Hm, getting into that?" Jerad grinned.

"Oh yeah, I wanna try this out," Zeke grinned. "Did you get one?"

"Uh, no?" Jerad murmured.

Then Zeke grimaced before he suddenly put his arm over Jerad's shoulder.

"Listen, man." Zeke whispered. "We're all free now, so you gotta start trying new things from now on, OK? And who knows what might happen to you at this point. Heh, you might even fall for someone in this Port someday, and oh wait, I almost forgot…"

Then he made a wide grin, "You might even start dating Claire here. Haha!"

"Eh, what?!" Jerad tried to raise his head in surprise, but Zeke held him down. "Hey, keep it down. So, anyway, if that does happen to both of you, you're going to wish you had one."

Then he waved his cologne box in front of him.

"T-that's not gonna happen," Jerad murmured.

"Oh, you'll never know, man," Zeke argued back. "You don't have to buy one for now, but you gotta start thinking about it. Claire has been head over heels for you even if you're a jerk, sometimes, which is something. Get a clue, man."

"Aww, come on, but fine." Jerad agreed. Though, only to get Zeke to stop nagging him. "I'll start thinking about it..."

"Thaat's it," Zeke chuckled before patting his shoulder.

"Are you guys done with your secret talk?" Claire sternly asked with her arms crossed, tapping her finger.

"Hehe, yeah," Zeke grinned. "Nothing bad."

"Hmph," Claire closed her eyes, and winced.

Jerad could swear if he replied to her instead of Zeke, she would have tried prying it off him. He wondered just how she became forward enough to start being demanding of him whenever she notices him trying to hide anything from her.

"Aanyway, gonna buy this thing in a sec," Zeke smiled before he took off, and after just a few minutes, he came back.

"Done here. Let's check out a few more stores."

Then they exited the store, and after walking a few yards in the main hall, something caught Phym's attention.

"Is that candy?" Phym beamed a smile before she ran off.

"Phym, wait!" Jerad tried to stop her, but was too late as she ran to the store. "Oh, jeez."

Zeke laughed, "Let your kid have a bit of fun."

"Yeah," Jerad murmured. "But she didn't have to run off like that. What if she gets lost?"

Then they entered the candy store, and saw Phym browsing each shelf, smiling.

"Lots of candies, daddy," Phym kept grabbing each bag before putting it down, and checking another one.

"Is this..strawberry flavor?" Phym asked.

"Yep," Jerad chuckled.

"Can I have it?" Phym asked again.

Jerad laughed, "Yeah, sure...Think about it, I haven't given you the double candy I promised you yesterday. I'm sorry…"

"Huh?" Phym raised her eyes, seemingly to have forgotten about it.

"But, I'll make it up to you," Jerad grinned. "This whole bag is yours after I buy it."

"Really..? Thanks, daddy," Phym hugged him.

"But you can't eat this until we come home, OK?" Jerad said.

"Okay," Phym nodded.

"Look at this daddy, spoiling his little girl," Zeke said before he laughed with Keith.

"Hm," Claire sighed before she grabbed a violet colored bag. "I'll also buy one for you. It's for doing a good job reading."

"Ahh," Phym beamed another smile. "Thank you, mommy. Mommy and daddy are the best." Then she hugged Claire.

Behind them, Zeke and Keith were laughing quietly.

"Claire's gotta do her part," Keith whispered.

"Yeah, I think the cuteness overload of these three are gonna kill me," Zeke whispered back, still laughing.

Claire grimaced at the siblings before she winced.

"Oh, hey. It's you guys." Garret suddenly spoke.

"Garret, right?" Jerad replied.

"Yeah," Garret nodded. "So, how's shopping so far?"

"It's great," Jerad replied. "The selection is huge, and felt a bit overwhelming, I had to say."

Then he turned to the blonde girl behind Garret who was carrying bags of candy in her arms.

"Whoa," Jerad raised his eyes. "That's..a lot."

"It's..the candy girl," Phym murmured before she paused. "...I'm sorry."

Garret laughed, "That's a fitting name for her, alright."

Then he turned to Amber who was starting to struggle on carrying her load, and gasped.

"Hey, don't bite more than you can chew," Garret scolded. "At least have me carry some of that."

"Ah, OK," Amber replied before Garret carried some of her bags. "Jeez, sorry about my friend here, but she has an unhealthy obsession for snacks."

Jerad chuckled, "I can see."

"Not at all," Claire smiled. "We're just about finished here, and we have to meet up with your captain soon."

"Yeah," Garret nodded.

Then they bought all their merchandise, and left the store. As they walked in the main hall.

"You have lots of candies," Phym smiled. "Mommy and daddy bought me lots, too."

Then Amber giggled, "I love candies, and eat them all the time. What's your name?"

"Phym," Phym smiled.

"I'm Amber, nice to meet you," Amber smiled back.

Watching this, Jerad and Claire smiled, seeing that Phym is starting to learn to socialize with others.

"So, you've been longtime friends with the captain and vice captain?" Garret asked. "How was she?"

Jerad and Zeke chuckled.

"She is..more and less the same," Jerad smiled.

"And a craaazy one at that," Zeke added.

Garret laughed, "I see. She always loved fighting. Always the first one to dive into fights."

"Haha! We have another crazy here," Zeke put his arm around Jerad's neck.

"Hey," Jerad grimaced.

"This guy loves fighting, too." Zeke grinned.

"And getting hurt," Claire jokingly murmured.

Garret chuckled, "I guess you and the captain have gone a long way, too."

"Not exactly what you think," Jerad said. "She was more like a big sister to us."

"I see," Garret laughed. "She also looked after us since our unit was made, and she has a bit of a strict side."

"I can see," Jerad chuckled. "None of us dared to cross her back in those times, either."

Garret chuckled, "I guess we're similar in some ways."

"Hey, guys," Trista and the group finally came back.

"So, what did you guys buy?" Hugo asked.

"Just new sets of gear," Jerad replied. "Need to change out of this old one. It's starting to tear up."

Hugo chuckled, "Yeah, about time to get out of those rags, and wear new ones, huh?"

"You're not getting new ones yet?" Jerad asked.

"Ehh," Hugo checked his jacket. "I think it's still fine. Maybe a little later."

"Ooh, what you buy, Claire?" Misha smiled. "May I see?"

"Ah, yeah," Claire handed her bag to her. "We just bought candies for Phym, and…"

"Ooh," Misha caught her attention on an opulent box, and picked it up. "Is this..a perfume?"

"Yes," Claire replied. "I haven't used one for a long time, so I decided to take the chance to buy it while I'm still here."

"Wow, can I try this?" Misha excitedly asked. "Where did you buy it?"

"From a cosmetic store not far from here," Claire pointed at its location. "It smells nice. I tried, and loved it."

"And daddy also loved it." Phym added.

Then Misha grinned, "Hehh? What were you really thinking when you bought this, Claire?"

"H-huh?" Claire stuttered. "L-like I said. I haven't used one for a long time, and…"

"That's alright," Misha mischievously smiled. "But can you also help me find one for my beloved Hugo? Hehe."

"I-I guess?" Claire reluctantly agreed.

"Thanks," Misha snickered. "And wow, you also bought a scarf. That looks really nice."

"Uh, yeah," Claire murmured, praying inside her mind that Misha will not notice that Jerad bought it for her.

---

"What in the?!" Zeke stared at a couple of boxes. "Are those..?"

"Booze, of course. Haha!" Trista grinned. "Nothing beats a good drink, especially after a hard day's work."

"Oh, boy," Shin held his head.

"Hard day's work?" Hugo raised his eyes.

"Yeah," Trista replied. "We have patrol duty, and will turnover with the Fox Unit this early afternoon. Care to join?"

"Of course," Hugo nodded with a smile. "This will be the perfect opportunity to start paying our debts back to Hilda, right?"

Then he turned to Jerad.

"Heh, yeah," Jerad nodded back. "I also wanna play around outside for a bit."

"Just..don't ever get hurt," Claire warned.

"I won't," Jerad grimaced. "Have a little more faith in me, OK?"

"T-that's not what I meant..," Claire glared at him.

"Don't worry, mommy and daddy," Phym latched on Claire. "I'll protect both of you."

"Ah, yes..," Claire murmured. "Thank you."

"Oh, wait," Keith suddenly spoke. How much time do we have?"

"Huh, let's see," Trista looked up. "About 3 hours, including 1 hour lunchtime before work, plus half an hour to settle your stomach before going out there. I don't like having anyone in my unit having stomach cramps on missions."

"I see," Keith nodded while rubbing his chin. "With that, I can only do for a few of you guys before going out there for now."

"What would that be?" Shin curiously asked.

"It's acceleration trigger," Keith replied.

"Acceleration trigger..," Shin mused. "Wait, isn't that the rumored prototype that Baran is still experimenting on?"

"Haha, look at this nerd," Trista grinned at Hugo. "Even he somehow knew about this."

"I guess he's your 'Keith' in your unit," Hugo chuckled.

"Yeah, it draws energy from Oracle cells in your body by putting certain stresses to it," Keith explained. "And then it transfers to a booster within your armlets which amplifies that effect of the energy, giving the user boosted abilities by creating a feedback between the users and their God Arcs which results in an Oracle subjective simulation system."

"Whoa, stirring up Oracle cells inside my body?" Shin stepped back. "I..don't like the sound of that."

Hugo laughed, "Don't worry. Keith will fine tune that for you before he sends you out there. Nothing goes wrong with him."

Then he turned to everyone, "Right, guys?"

"Yep," Zeke nodded.

"I was the one who brought the technology to them," Lulu added. "I've experienced the worst of it, and after Keith fixed it, I couldn't believe he tuned it so well. It felt so natural now."

"I hardly use it," Jerad said. "But whenever I do, that Aragami is either dead, or is going to be in a world of hurt. I'd say give it a shot, Shin."

"Okay, if you say so," Shin scratched his head. "Somehow, I feel excited to try this, but I'm also nervous."

"Stop overthinking it, you nerd," Trista gave him a hard slap on his back.

"Ow!" Shin cried.

"I'm excited for this myself," Trista continued. "I can't wait to pound some Aragami 6 feet under with it."

"I'm also curious," Garret added. "I did see some of you guys do some inhuman things yesterday."

"Like when I knocked that Aragami down with that uppercut?" Zeke boastfully grinned. "That felt awesome."

"Now that explains how," Shin turned to him. "I saw you at that time, and you flipped that thing like nothing."

Zeke laughed, "Now you get it. You've seen how awesome I was."

"Let's go, guys," Trista cried. "I can't wait to try this thing."

"And make sure you bring your God Arcs to the Ash Crawler," Keith said. "We'll be waiting for you there."

"You got it," Trista grinned. "Let's go, you three."

---

30 minutes later inside the Ash Crawler, God Arc Storage Vault.

"Alright, we'll set your God Arcs here, and install it before I had to install another one into your armlets," Keith explained. "So, who wants to go first?"

"I'll go first," Trista boldly volunteered with a grin before she laid her heavy moon on a large table.

"Time to get to work," Keith smiled as he wore his bias gloves. Then he searched her heavy moon for a place to install it.

"There's the perfect spot," He murmured, and plugged a small device in the organic part of it. "Now I need to see your armlets."

"Here they are," Trista laid her hands on the table, and Keith examined both of them before he pulled two small devices from a box, and plugged them there.

"That should do it," Keith smiled.

"Can't wait," Trista grinned. "Thanks, Keith."

"So, who's next?" Keith asked.

"I'll go," Shin stepped up, and after Trista removed her God Arc from the table, laid his twin blades down.

"Hmm, this should be the same as Lulu's," Keith murmured. "Piece of cake."

"Be..careful, though," Shin warned. "Mine are extremely sharp."

"Noted," Keith chuckled.

Then he searched Shin's blades before he gasped, "Whoa, this thing on your left blade. Isn't that for the devour function?"

"So, you noticed?" Shin smiled. "Yeah, I modified it a bit so I can also devour with my left blade. I had too many times when I wished it had one, so I did something about it. Made my fights much easier."

"You could probably help Lulu with this," Keith suggested.

"I'll put one on her's, if she wants," Shin replied. "It's quite dangerous to do, though. I collected spare ones from abandoned God Arcs that Trista and I have been salvaging."

Then Keith continued his work, and plugged a device on each, and then like Trista, also installed a device on both of his armlets.

"There you go," Keith smiled. "All done, and wow, your God Arcs also looked shiny like new. Do you maintain these all the time?"

"Thanks," Shin smiled. "But yeah, besides me, there are a few other people in my unit who like maintaining them more than necessary, but it's all voluntary. We all know how to do basic maintenance, but some of us..like being obsessed in keeping them looking new, like myself. I even keep them as sharp as possible that it can easily cut a leaf just by softly running through it."

"Whoa," Keith murmured.

"And you would spend hours doing that," Trista smiled.

"I'm also one of those people," Garret chuckled as he tapped his buster blade laying against the bulkhead. "I just love this so much, and wanted it to last as long as possible."

"One of Dusty Miller's flagship swords," Trista added.

"Dusty Miller?" Keith asked.

"It's another Port whom the owner named Ein is business friends with Hilda," Trista explained. "I even heard he also wields that, and he's one of the oldest God Eaters in existence. Quite a mysterious guy, but you'll see him soon enough. He stops by here every now and then."

"That's how I got mine," Garret said. "I broke my first God Arc not long ago, and then just in time, Dusty Miller shipped some new God Arcs for us, and this is when I had this. It was hell trying to make myself compatible with it, but it was all worth it."

Trista grinned, "And you slept for a longgg time after that. Haha!"

"It was hard waking you up..," Amber whined.

Garret chuckled, "Yeah, sorry about that back then. So I'm next right?"

"Yep," Keith nodded.

"But the device seems to need two armlets," Garret said. "Will that be OK?"

"No worries," Keith smiled. "I made a special device for that, and installed them on Claire and Ricardo's. Easy stuff."

"OK," Garret nodded, and set his large sword on the table.

"This might take a little more time since this is the first time I've worked with a buster blade," Keith noted.

"Don't worry about it," Garret waved his hand. "Please take your time."

"Thanks," Keith smiled.

Then after several minutes.

"Whoo, that was a learning experience," Keith sighed.

Garret chuckled, "Yeah, sorry that mine is a bit complicated. It is a bit of an old school."

"No, not at all," Keith shook his head. "Glad I got to tinker with buster blades a bit since none of us used them. Hugo's was the closest one I have, but even with that, their systems are totally different."

"Thanks again," Garret smiled. "I can't wait to try mine, and I wonder if it will make it easier for me to wield my sword around, heh."

"It definitely will," Keith said. "Acceleration trigger boosts your physical strength for a short time, but try not to over use it. You don't want to drive your Oracle cells crazy."

"I'll keep that in mind," Garret glanced at his armlet before turning to Amber.

"You're the last one."

"That looks..scary," Amber murmured.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be fine," Garret assured her. "If you want, you can wait for me to use it first before you do."

"I did a base safe tune for all of you guys for now," Keith said. "It kept my guys completely safe when they first tried it, but each of them had different tastes, so I fine tuned a few of them more before they're satisfied. They never asked me since."

"There, I'm definitely sure you'll be fine," Garret smiled. "Just do it."

"Okay..," Amber murmured before she laid her yellow hammer on the table.

"Heh, that's quite a boost hammer you have," Keith complimented. "The head looks a bit..bigger than my brother's, but don't let him hear that, hehe."

"His loss, if I can say so," Trista grinned. "But she pounds very hard with it."

"C-captain..," Amber murmured.

"I'm just speaking the truth, candy girl." Trista shrugged. "It's also a compliment."

"Alright, let's get started," Keith stretched his bias gloves. "The last one…"

Then after several more minutes of the same process.

"Whew, finally done," Keith wiped a sweat.

"Thanks, Keith," Amber smiled.

"No problem," Keith nodded. "Though, despite having experience working on my brother's, this one seemed..different."

"It's a new kind of hammer," Garret said. "It also came from Dusty Miller."

"Wow, Dusty Miller must have some high end God Arcs," Keith said.

"Possibly," Trista replied. "It is a very wealthy Port, and they even had four Ash Crawlers."

"Whoa," Keith gasped. "Four Ash Crawlers?!"

"Yep," Trista nodded her head. "Two of those came by here once, and brought in more high end God Arcs. You might notice other God Eaters here carrying them."

"Hey, guys," Hugo came by the entrance.

"Sup, Big Bro?" Trista greeted.

"We just finished stowing our shopping stuff in our room, and then unpacking our things," Hugo replied before grinning. "Since we won't be leaving now."

"Hah," Keith grinned. "I never packed mine since I knew we'll make it, anyway. Saved me time and work."

"Oh, I wish I had that much confidence," Hugo smiled. "Do you know how scared I was?"

"I felt you on that, don't get me wrong," Keith replied. "Just glad we're finally free."

Then they did an armlet bang.

"We just finished here, so are you boys and girls ready to go to lunch?" Trista asked. "We'll store our God Arcs here for now."

"Yep, and I'm starving," Zeke came through the entrance.

"Me, too. I'm hungry," Amber murmured. "Forgot my candy stash…"

"Don't bring it once we're out this afternoon, Amber," Garret warned. "You'll lose it again."

"OK..," Amber murmured again.

Trista chuckled, "I guess that settles it. To lunch, everyone."

---

Back in the Port's Dining District.

"You guys ready to try a different kind of food that is more 'western'?" Trista grinned.

"What 'more western?'" Zeke asked.

"Hamburgers," Trista plainly replied.

"Ham..burgers?" Hugo murmured.

"Hamburgers, huh?" Jerad muttered.

"It's been a while since I've heard of that," Misha murmured.

"Hah, these twins get it," Trista smiled.

"Daddy, what is hambuga?" Phym asked. "Does it taste good?"

"Well, it's a type of food where..you put ingredients that you want between two breads," Jerad explained. "They do taste good, and you eat them by hand, too."

"I've never heard of this before," Lulu narrowed her eyes with curiosity. "Is that like a sandwich?"

"In a sense, yeah," Jerad replied. "Quite similar, but different enough, too. My dad used to make them for us."

"Now I'm curious, but where did you two come from?" Lulu asked.

"Well, we were born here," Jerad said. "But our parents used to tell us that they're from another western country."

"Our mom once told me that they're from the farther west," Misha added. "Farther across the..'high seas' as she called it."

"Hm, a long time ago, I got a hold of an old map the world used to be before it changed. Probably before this Aragami thing even happened." Shin said. "Though the data was damaged beyond repair, I did see two large continents north and south of each other across that wide ocean west from us, and the north one was written as..'The United...' It was all I could read since the rest of the letters were glitched out."

"I see," Jerad smiled. "So we kinda did come from another country."

Shin chuckled, "I guess we're kinda in the same boat."

"Huh," Jerad paused.

"I hardly knew my parents, but..," Shin frowned. "Both of them were from the Far East, and they spoke a different language that I hardly remembered. I only know a few words."

"Hmph, I never even knew my parents," Trista murmured.

'Master Goh once told me he was also from the Far East,' Lulu mused. 'What is that place? And now that I think about it...Shin and him look similar.'

Trista chuckled, "I could never guess how much this guy knows…"

"Yeah," Hugo whispered back. "He is definitely your version of Keith."

"Now that explained why you looked different from a lot of people here," Hugo chuckled. "Ricardo also suspected you're from the Far East."

"I guess I can call that my nationality, then." Shin scratched his head. "But I'm also born here."

"Hm, now that I think about it," Hugo mused. "Your name does have a similar sound with Sho. This kid here."

Then Hugo patted the boy's back.

"So, your name is Sho," Shin smiled.

"H-hello," Sho timidly waved his hand.

"He is pretty frail, but a smart one." Hugo added.

"But, I'm much better now," Sho murmured.

"Yep," Hugo smiled. "Glad you're still with us."

"He can also run now, too," Marr smiled.

"So, your name is Sho?" Trista stroked his head with a smile. "I saw you playing with Kai and the other kids last night."

Then she turned to Shin, "Is there something about people like you that makes you smart?"

Then she laughed.

"Beats me," Shin shrugged.

"And your name is Marr and Lil, right?" Trista smiled at the two. "We haven't introduced ourselves, have we..?"

"Yep, that's us," Lil smiled.

"Sorry about that," Trista grinned. "I'm Trista, and this is Shin, Garret, and Amber. Good people."

"Yeah," Marr nodded with a smile. "And you wield a big sword, right?"

"Yep," Garret nodded.

"I want to swing one like you, someday," Marr said.

"He's a strong kid," Jerad told him. "Maybe you can teach him before he becomes old enough to fight. I've been training him and the girl."

"I'll be down with that," Garret replied. "I'm used to training others in our unit. We spar a lot."

"So, do you know how to make those, if you can tell me?" Lulu asked.

Jerad chuckled, "You'll know just by seeing one. They're pretty simple to make."

"I see," Lulu nodded. 'Like an oden sandwich?'

"Let's get to eating now, guys," Trista said. "We don't have much time left before we mosey out there."

"Yeah," Hugo nodded.

Several minutes later.

"I see now," Lulu murmured while staring at their menu. "These do seem easy to make."

"Yep," Jerad nodded. "Just two bread rolls and a patty, and you can mix whatever you want in them."

"That's what also makes them cheap to order," Trista added. "It's a nice way to grab a quick lunch."

"I guess I'll try this one for now," Lulu pointed at the menu.

"Hmm, I guess I could try this one," Jerad murmured.

"Huh? Which one?" Claire said while leaning over to peek closely at his menu.

"Uh, this one?" Jerad pointed on a picture of a burger while slightly leaning away from her…

"How about this one, daddy?" Phym smiled, and pointed at a large burger on her menu.

"Uh, are you serious?" Jerad chuckled. "That burger is huge. Can you even bite that?"

"Hmhm," Phym smiled. "It looks tasty."

"...Ah, whatever then," Jerad sighed, and leaned his cheek on his palm while Claire giggled.

"We should try this one, Hugo," Misha pointed at the menu.

"Kinda having a hard time deciding, but I guess I'll order the same as you," Hugo said.

"Leave it to me. I promise you'll like it," Misha gleefully smiled.

"You guys ready for your order?" A waiter finally arrived.

"Yeah," Hugo nodded.

Then after they gave their order.

"Whoo," Trista sat back. "You guys all excited?"

"Hell yeah, I'm getting pumped," Zeke flexed his arm. "This is the first I'll be fighting for something really better."

"I feel the same way, Zeke," Hugo smiled. "I suppose this is what true freedom feels like."

Then he turned to Jerad, "How about you?"

"Heh, I'm always excited to fight," Jerad grinned.

"Aww, come on." Hugo playfully frowned. "I'm sure there's this new feeling you're getting about this now."

"I suppose," Jerad leaned back. "At least I don't kill for those bastards anymore."

"That's more like it," Hugo smiled.

"You battle maniac," Trista chuckled. "But I can say the same for myself, and I still haven't forgotten what we used to do."

"Oh?" Jerad grinned. "Wanna start again?"

Then he flashed his eyebrows before he took a sip of water.

"Bring it," Trista smirked, and though while at it, she also noticed Claire beside him quietly wincing with her arms crossed.

"Ooh, the captain is getting fired up," Garret whispered to Amber, chuckling. "Everytime she does, it's always a guaranteed mission success."

"I know," Amber giggled.

"Can't wait to try our new toys," Garret said.

"Hehe, you'll have fun with it," Zeke grinned.

"I bet," Garret nodded.

"Here we go, everyone." The waiter finally arrived. "Here are your orders, and enjoy your lunch."

"Thanks," Hugo nodded.

Then in a few minutes.

"Mmm," Lulu hummed while chewing her first bite. "This is good, but the taste is a bit too strong. A bit salty, even."

Trista chuckled, "That's how burgers are."

"Daddy, this one is too big," Phym stared at her hamburger with awe.

Jerad laughed, "I told you, Phym."

"I can cut it to smaller bits, if you want," Claire suggested.

"Mm, it's okay, mommy," Phym smiled before she squeezed her burger top down with her palm, almost making the top and bottom breads flat. Then she finally grabbed the burger with both hands, and bit it.

Jerad froze while watching, "...OK."

Trista suddenly cracked a laugh, "You're quite amusing, girl."

"Hmhm," Phym smiled while chewing.

"Don't forget to drink, okay?" Claire said.

"Okay," Phym said after she swallowed.

Then they continued eating for several more minutes until they finished.

"Whoo, for a seemingly small meal, I'm really full," Hugo laid back, and sighed. "And that tasted pretty good."

Then Misha giggled, "I'm glad we both picked this."

"Yeah," Hugo murmured before he drank his soda.

After everyone paid their tab, Trista tapped her radio, "Alright, boys and girls. Let's meet up in the south hangar bay to turn over with the Fox Unit in 30 minutes."

"Understood, ma'am," Everyone in her unit acknowledged.

"You guys, ready?" Trista grinned.

"Yep," Hugo nodded.

"Let's get smashin,'" Zeke smacked his palm.

"Yeah," Hugo nodded.

"It's going to be in another Frozen Plant, and we gotta thin the herd there," Trista said.

Then everyone stood up, and started leaving the restaurant.

"Aw," Claire moaned. "We're going to another cold area..?"

"Heh, good thing you have that scarf, huh?" Jerad whispered. "Perfect for you to try it."

"Y-yeah," Claire murmured.

"And you guys want to be escorted to the square before we leave, so you can find other kids to play with?" Hugo asked.

"Thanks, but we already know our way around," Marr replied.

"Yeah, this Port is easy to memorize," Lil added. "I promise we won't get lost."

"Okay, then." Hugo nodded. "Take care of yourselves until we come back, OK?"

"We will," Sho replied.

"And behave yourselves," Jerad firmly warned. "I don't wanna hear any trouble from you three when we get back."

"We won't," Marr nodded. "But jeez, I'm so jealous. I wanna fight with you guys."

"You will, someday," Hugo stroked his head. "Just be patient, OK?"

"Yeah," Marr murmured.

"I'll see you kids later," Hugo smiled.

"Ooh, Jerad has a bit of a strict side," Trista murmured. "When did he become like this? When he had Phym?"

"You never know?" Claire surprisingly asked.

"Nah, those three kids weren't there while we're still together with them," Trista replied.

"I see," Claire murmured. "He was already like that before they met, but yeah, he does keep them in check, and trains them, too."

"That's interesting," Trista replied.

---

15 minutes later in the Ash Crawler, God Arc Storage Vault.

"Everyone geared up?" Hugo asked.

"Ready for anything," Lulu nodded.

"I'm excited," Zeke added.

"My spear is hungry right now," Jerad grinned. "That's all I'm gonna say, hehe."

"Sounds great," Hugo nodded, and turned to Keith. "You're coming with us, huh?"

"Yep," Keith replied. "Since there are a lot of us, it should be an easy mission, and it would be perfect for me to try the acceleration trigger myself now so I could learn more. Pluss..I think I could use a bit of exercise, hehe."

"Sounds good to me," Hugo smiled.

"Let's just stick together, bro," Zeke grinned. "I'll show you how it's done. The Zeke way."

"Alright, boys and girls," Trista held her God Arc behind her shoulder. "To the south hangar."

---

In the south hangar bay.

They waited for a few minutes until the large door started rising, and two trucks drove in. They parked beside each other before everyone, all of them God Eaters on board started hopping out, and one of the truck drivers was Daris, their captain. Along with him, Hugo noticed a somewhat familiar man also hopped out of Daris' truck from the passenger side, who might be his vice captain. Some of Trista's members were also greeting the offgoing unit members, shaking hands before bro-hugging each other.

"Whoo, man." A male God Eater carrying a Resheph long blade said. "That was a bit rough, but glad we made it through."

"Haha, did you see me carve that thing in two?" Another male God Eater with an Ammit variant scythe bragged. "It was my most awesome kill ever!"

"Jeez, you two," A female God Eater holding a Melting Knife short blade grimaced. "If it wasn't for me constantly shooting healing bullets at you, you would have been whining on a stretcher instead."

"Oh, please. Don't kill the fun for me, Diane," The variant scythe God Eater said before he suddenly put his arms around her. "I know deep inside, you always admired the way I fought, heehee."

Then Diane stomped his foot.

"Oww," The variant scythe God Eater cried.

"Ooh, until you learn not to get hurt, Jake..!" Diane glared at the grunting God Eater holding his foot while his friend laughed at him.

Then she walked off steaming.

"She's a tough nut to crack, huh?" The long blade God Eater said.

"Yeah..dammit," Jake winced for a few more seconds before he stood straight.

Watching this from afar, Hugo laughed, and could clearly see that the young woman was embarrassed. Then he glanced at Jerad.

"Why does this feel like I've seen this before?" Hugo chuckled.

"Hm," Jerad puzzledly raised his eyes while Misha beside him giggled.

"Good job, everyone," Daris suddenly boomed. "We're all done for today, so get some rest or do whatever you want until then. No trouble allowed!"

"Yes, sir," His whole unit acknowledged him.

Then Daris walked to them.

"Hey, Good afternoon," Daris waved. "And you're taking the new guys with you?"

"Yep," Trista nodded.

"Time for us to do our part," Hugo smiled.

"Ooh, does that mean..?" Daris raised his eyes.

"Yep," Trista nodded with a grin. "They're with us now."

"That's the best news of my life," Daris laughed before he shook his hands with Hugo. "Congratulations."

"Thanks," Hugo shook his hands back.

"We should all hang out in the west cafe tonight once all of our work is over," Daris suggested. "It will be nice for you guys to get to know us."

"We'll be going there after this, actually," Trista grinned.

"Nice," Daris smiled back.

"And we also got a new toy to try," Trista added.

"A new toy?" Daris raised his eyes.

"This new thing called acceleration trigger," Trista explained. "It will make you look like Superman, and the four of us here will be guinea pigs before you guys get them."

"Whoa, please tell me about that tonight," Daris smiled. "It's interesting, and who put those on you?"

"Our genius boy here, Keith," Hugo glanced at him.

"Whoa, such a young kid to come up with that," Daris raised his eyes.

"Eh, well," Keith scratched his head. "I wasn't the inventor of it, but I did refine it."

"It was a prototype from Baran," Lulu added. "I introduced it to them, and he made it perfectly safe to use."

"Baran, huh?" Daris slightly gasped. "I heard horrifying rumors about that Port, and I'm glad you survived it."

"Thanks," Lulu smiled. "Glad to be part of you now."

"Likewise," Daris smiled back.

"I..haven't really introduced myself to you guys, right?" The man behind Daris asked, who was carrying a Boomslang Mallet boost hammer on his shoulder.

"My name is Eugene," Eugene reached his hand to Hugo. "I'm Daris' vice captain. Sorry for not introducing myself earlier."

"That's alright," Hugo shook his hand back.

"Heh, you just need to stop being shy," Daris murmured.

"Sir..?" Eugene narrowed his eyes before everyone laughed.

"Alright, here's my turnover," Daris said. "We wiped out most of the Aragami on the southwest side of a nearby plant, so you should not be having any trouble getting into the plant itself."

"Just as planned," Trista excitedly said. "Thanks for your work."

"No problem," Daris smiled. "Any questions?"

"Nope, we'll take it from here," Trista replied.

"Alright," Then Daris tapped his earpiece. "Mia, turnover is complete, and switch channel to the other unit."

"Roger, captain," Mia replied. "Switching to channel 2."

"Alrighty," Daris said. "Wife and kid are waiting for me. You guys be careful out there, and good luck."

"Thanks," Hugo smiled.

Then after a few steps, Daris paused.

"Heyy, you use a spear, too?" Daris smiled as he tapped his Flamelance EX on his shoulder. "Nice looking spear, kid."

"Oh, thanks," Jerad smiled. "Love this thing."

"Mine is perfect for a place like this," Daris smiled. "Burns any Aragami it touches easily. Well, good luck, kid. I'd like to see you fight with yours someday."

"Same," Jerad smiled before Daris fist tugged his shoulder before leaving.

"He's a great guy, huh?" Hugo chuckled. "And seemingly a family man, too."

"Heh, yeah," Jerad murmured. 'He kinda reminds me of dad.'

"Time to start our own adventure," Trista said before tapping her radio. "Chrysanthemum, Wolf 1. Radio check. Over."

"I read you loud and clear, captain," Mia replied. "Good afternoon, everyone. As of this mission, I'll be your operator. Amy will be on leave until you guys depart for Arrowhead."

"I see," Hugo replied.

"It's quite a stressful job," Mia said. "She's still a bit new, so I recommended her to rest, and the owner approved of it."

"I can see," Hugo murmured. "She does have a bit of shortcomings, but she did a great job supporting us. Can't complain."

"Thanks," Mia replied. "She also updated me with your call signs, but I'd like to go over to verify."

"Hound 1: Jerad Pennywort."

"Hound 2: Misha Pennywort."

"Hound 3: Hugo Pennywort."

"Hound 4: Zeke Pennywort."

"Hound 5: Claire Victorious."

"Hound 6: Lulu Baran."

"That's correct," Hugo nodded. "And our friend Keith wanted to join us for the field test, so could you add him?"

"Of course," Mia replied. "As of this mission, I assign Keith Pennywort to be Hound 7."

"Sounds good," Hugo nodded. "Thanks."

"My pleasure," Mia replied.

"We're gonna need two trucks," Trista said. "Same drill. Hop in, Shin."

"You got it, ma'am," Shin nodded.

"Yep, same for us," Hugo said. "You're the nav, Zeke."

"Okay," Zeke smiled.

---

45 minutes later.

"This is Wolf 1," Trista contacted Mia. "We are in the mission area, and how much Aragami do you see in your resonance radar?"

"Roger, captain," Mia replied. "I'm detecting a lot of Aragami in the facility. Mostly small Aragami, and a few medium ones. No large Aragami detected so far."

"Looks easy enough," Hugo smiled, and rested his sword on his shoulder.

"Yeah, but there's a lot of them," Trista replied. "But they're all going to be dead meat by sunset today."

"Hm," Shin was staring at his mini tablet. "Captain, do you mind if I cover the west sector? There's an unexplored area in there that I want to check."

"Heh, out for disc treasure hunting?" Trista smirked. "Very well. Take whoever you want with you, and keep everyone safe."

"I will, ma'am," Shin smiled. "Alright, you two are going with me."

"Yes, sir," Two unit members nodded.

"And Keith, I think you should come with me," Shin said. "It might be a good experience for you. I'll also bring Jerad, Claire, Phym, and your brother with me."

"Sounds fine," Jerad nodded.

"So, that leaves me with Hugo, Misha, Lulu, Garret, Amber, and two other members. Sounds a bit fair, I guess." Trista raised her thumb. "Plus, you have a good medic with you."

"Hm, I almost forgot," Claire unslung her backpack, and pulled a scarf up. Then she wore it around her neck, making sure it covered most of her shoulders, and loosely tied it. Jerad almost gazed at her with a state of reverie. Claire..looked cute in that, and was secretly glad he picked that for her.

He blinked his eyes and smiled, "You..look good with that."

"H-huh?" Claire stuttered stiffly. "T-thanks. I really appreciate having this one."

'Having this one?' Misha mused. 'Weren't you the one who bought that?'

Then she turned around, and chuckled, making sure no one would notice her.

Jerad sniffed a few times, "Heh, did you also spray your new perfume on that?"

"Huh..? Y-yes," Claire stuttered.

"I can smell it from miles away," Jerad jokingly commented.

"I-It smells good, right?" Claire stuttered.

"Yeah," Jerad chuckled. "It's the one you just bought."

"Thanks," Claire murmured.

"OK, let's split up," Trista said. "You guys let me know if something happens, OK? We'll head to the north sector, and you guys head west once we're inside."

"Understood, ma'am," Shin nodded before everyone started running to the front entrance.

"Warning! I'm detecting large Oracle responses in your area!" Mia warned. "Aragami spawning imminent!"

Then dozens of small Aragami suddenly broke out of the ground, surrounding them.

"Already?" Trista smirked. "I guess I'll get this party started. Shaaa!"

She dove at the Ogretail facing her, and struck it in half in axe mode.

"Time to see what this acceleration trigger can do," Shin said as he dashed towards three Ogretails in front of him, and activated it.

"Haah!"

"Huah!"

"Hayaah!"

Shin sliced all of them dead in a split second before stumbling a few steps.

"Whoa, this is incredible," Shin stared at his right blade, and found his hand shaking. "This is quite a rush. I know this will physically boost me, but this is just enormous."

"No fair, Shin," Trista grimaced. "I didn't get to show off, first."

"Sorry," Shin smiled.

"Wow, did the vice captain just move very fast?" A female wolf member with a brown short side ponytail named Selene said. "Incredible. I could barely even see him. He was just a blur."

"Yeah, how did he do that?" A dark blue spiky haired male wolf member named Gustav said. "And I saw something weird glowing from his armlets before he moved, too."

Then two Ogretails jumped behind them, and the two God Eaters gasped.

"Watch out!" Shin instantly dashed into a blur.

"HUAH!"

He swiftly slashed the two Ogretails down with his twin blades, and then he stumbled a bit again.

'Ooh, this is going to take some getting used to,' Shin thought. 'I've never moved this fast before…'

"Pay attention, you two!" Shin scolded them. "You don't have time to ponder right now!"

"Sorry about that," Gustav replied.

"Focus, and stay close together!" Shin assumed his battle stance. "Here they come!"

---

"Rrrahh!" Trista slashed an Ogretail down, and then turned and sliced a charging Axe Raider's head behind her. Hearing two pairs of heavy footsteps behind her…

"Now it's my turn to see what this thing can do," Trista murmured before activating her acceleration trigger.

"RRAH!"

She swung her axe, and sliced two Ogretails in two with ease. Due to her overuse of strength, Trista spun a half circle with her axe before stopping herself, but grinned nevertheless.

"Haha, whoa!" Trista took a deep breath. "This thing is balls!"

"Trista is rockin' with that acceleration trigger right now. Haha!" Zeke grinned.

"Heh," Hugo smiled after slicing an Ogretail down.

"Come at me, Aragami!" Trista taunted a charging group of Ogretails and Axe Raiders. "Not one at a time, please!"

Then as an Ogretail lunged at her, Trista quickly swatted it while still airborne, and shifted her heavy moon into axe and sliced an Axe Raider clean in two.

"No match!" Trista grinned.

"Warning! Medium Aragami approaching from the facility's exit. Two Kongous!" Mia warned.

"Haha! This party is just getting crazier," Trista grinned before she sliced two more oncoming Aragami.

---

"Hyah!" Selene sliced a Dreadpike down with her long blade. "Everything OK?"

"Ha!" Gustav slew an Ogretail with a heavy moon. "Yeah, I'm doing fine so far."

Then Gustav noticed sparks of light gathering behind Selene.

"Selene, watch out!" Gustav cried.

Before she turned, several Ogretails sprung up from the ground with one of them closely behind her, knocking her down.

"Selene!" Gustav desperately ran to save her, but would not seemingly make it in time.

Selene gasped as the Ogretail growled, ready to end her with its jaws, and have her as its first meal…

"HAA!"

She suddenly saw a fiery white haired black figure pierce the Aragami with Mocking The Gods before it exploded into blood spray, and then turned to her.

"You alright?" Jerad asked her in monotone.

"Y-yeah..," Selene nodded before she saw a strange little girl run to him.

"Daddy!" Phym cried to him before he turned, and held his spear.

Jerad slew several Ogretails coming for him with one strike while Phym also sliced a few alongside with him. Gustav finally arrived.

"You, OK?" Gustav stood beside her, panting.

"Mm," Selene nodded, still shaken.

"What the hell you still sitting there for?!" Jerad cried. "They're still coming for us! Move it!"

Then he sliced a few more Ogretails before Shin arrived.

"Look after her, Gustav," Shin ordered. "I'll cover you!" Then he joined Jerad, and Phym.

"Selene, let's go!" Gustav urged her.

"B-but-!" Selene stared at her shuddering legs. "M-my legs. They won't move!"

"Shit!" Gustav grimaced as he saw several Ogretails that passed Jerad, Phym, and Shin's defensive positions approaching them fast.

---

"Gustav, why?! Why did you come here?!"

"I won't leave you behind! We're family, remember?"

"But..they said that I'm expendable…that they could easily replace me."

"I don't wanna hear it! You're getting out of here with me!"

"But…"

"Just be quiet, and sit there!"

---

"Haa!" Gustav ferociously sliced several more Ogretails as they came for them, not letting a single one get close to Selene, and panting with his sweaty hands shivering, he readied his heavy moon as more of them kept coming.

---

"There's so many of them..."

Already bleeding from a few injuries, Gustav murmured. "Is this it..?"

"No..," A female AGE slowly stood up. "You're going to keep living."

"What..?" Gustav gasped. "Isla, you're not…!"

"You're so kind, Gustav," Isla warmly smiled at him, tears forming in her eyes. "Until now, you're the only one who treated me as a person, and I was so happy. Thank you."

Letting go of her injured arm, she quickly grabbed her long blade.

"No, stop!" Gustav cried. "Isla!"

Then she jumped over the Aragami horde, and after landing behind them, she slew a few of them before running to the opposite direction. She eventually went to an alley as the horde of Aragami chased her.

---

"HRAAAH!"

Like an angry demon, Gustav continued slaying Ogretails left and right before he shifted his heavy moon to an axe and smashed one with it. Tired, he turned to another pair of them lunging at him, and as he desperately prepared to swing his God Arc.

"Die, you bastards!" Jerad lunged in, and stabbed them with Spear Requiem.

Panting, Gustav watched Jerad's Oracle explosions tore the two Aragami apart until there were barely any of them left.

Then Claire eventually arrived, and mowed the rest of the charging Aragami.

"Are you OK?" Claire knelt beside Selene.

"Mm," Selene nodded, still shaking slightly.

"She just had a shock," Claire murmured. "She'll be fine."

"OK," Gustav nodded. "Thanks. Please look after her while I help everyone."

"I will," Claire nodded before Gustav ran off.

"Just rest up for now, OK?" Claire smiled.

"Okay..," Selene murmured.

---

"Heave ho!"

With acceleration trigger active, Amber leapt, and smashed a Kongou's head flat. It also made a loud smash that she made a small crater, and seeing this, she gasped and took a few steps back.

Zeke laughed, "You smashed that poor monkey real bad. How you likin' that acceleration trigger?"

"It was scary..," Amber murmured.

"Haha! You'll get used to it," Zeke replied.

"Just don't overuse it, and you'll be fine," Keith chuckled before swinging blood off his short blade.

"Zeke, concentrate!" Lulu scolded. "We still have another medium Aragami to deal with."

"Alright, alright," Zeke rested his hammer on his shoulder, and turned to another Kongou's direction that was still fighting Garret.

"But I don't think he needs help."

"Haaa!" Garret swung his buster blade down, but Kongou held it back. "How annoying."

Then they parried each other off, and stepped back before Kongou flexed at him by pounding its chest.

"Hmph," Garret grimaced before they charged at each other. He swung sideways, but Kongou jumped back, and then leapt at him with its fist raised. Garret used parrying upper to block its fist, and swung up, but Kongou jumped back in time.

"I saw that coming," Garret murmured while holding his sword back, and activated his acceleration trigger. "But I'll end you with this!"

"HAA!"

He swung his sword in a tall arc, and Kongou confidently raised its arms to catch it, only to gasp shortly after it realized that the razor started cutting through its hands, and got cleaved in two afterwards.

"Whoa, Garret!" A nearby male wolf member named Eryk who held a variant scythe suddenly said. "You just swung your heavy sword like a stick. How the hell did you do that? And your armlet, too?"

After he recovered his breath and deactivated his acceleration trigger, Garret pulled his sword back from the corpse, and sighed, smiling.

"It's a new device we have called Acceleration Trigger," Garret explained before he looked at his armlet. "But wow, this thing is amazing."

"Acceleration trigger?" Eryk raised his eyes.

"Yep," Garret nodded. "Our captain, vice captain, Amber, and I are testing them right now before we start issuing it to everyone, but all of our new guys already have them. Sorry, we didn't get to tell you about it early on, but it was a last second thing before we had our lunch. I'm sure the captain will tell the rest of you after this mission is done."

"I see," Eryk chuckled. "I figured that. I just saw her wipe out a horde of Aragami herself like nothing, and swung her God Arc like a feather. She's already strong with that thing, and to have her use one…"

"It's what she meant by being like Superman," Garret grinned before they both laughed.

"I guess we're almost done. Look."

They turned to where Misha was swinging her scythe.

"Haah!"

"Hiyahh!"

With her acceleration trigger on, Misha sliced the last few Aragami with her long scythe before she retracted it.

"Phew," Misha wiped a sweat off her forehead. "That's the last of them."

"Yeah," Hugo smiled.

"All Aragami eliminated," Mia reported. "Good work, everyone."

"I got 13 so far, Jerad!" Trista called him. "How many you got so far?"

"Heh, I got 18," Jerad grinned.

"What?!" Trista grimaced.

"Better work harder. Chop-chop," Jerad teased.

In response, Trista growled, "Then this ain't over yet. I swear I'll beat you by the end of today!"

"Then give your best shot," Jerad chuckled.

Then Trista growled again, "Anyway, take a short break everyone!"

"Whoa, our captain is getting beaten hard by this new guy," Eryk whispered.

"Hey, don't let her hear that, or she'll have our soft hides," Another male wolf member with a short blade named Adrian whispered back. "But regardless, that fine man holding a spear. I watched him slaughter many of them gracefully like a demon, and I couldn't even make it to 20 kills each mission which is a disgrace. What is he?"

"I don't know," Eryk murmured. "Even back in Gleipnir, I've never seen a single AGE fight like him. That was outlandish."

"Outlandish, you say," Adrian smiled. "There's also that lovely lady over there with the same God Arc as yours, and she slew a horde of Aragami around her alone with such elegance."

"Oh yeah, I saw that," Eryk gasped. "She was almost like an Angel of Death to those. Beautiful, and frightening at the same time, heh."

"Oh? Does her glamor strike you, friend?" Adrian elbow tugged him with a grin. "To begin, you can ask her to coach you the elegance of the scythe."

"Hell no," Eryk glared at him. "I heard rumors she's that demon's sister, and I wouldn't dare touch her."

"Oh," Adrian raised his eyes. "Understandable. Divine blood must run in their veins."

"I'm just glad I'm not an Aragami," Eryk jokingly said. "Because if I run into one of those two, I would have crapped myself, even as an Ashborn."

Adrian laughed, "Credit must also be given for the rest. The governor certainly brought such a magnificent AGE team, and their skills are remarkable, indeed."

"Yeah, Chrysanthemum could use more people like them," Eryk rested his scythe on his shoulder. "We're a bit undermanned, and these guys definitely take the cake."

---

Meanwhile…

"Are you OK?" Claire gave her a plastic bottle of water. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel better..," Selene took the bottle from Claire. "Thanks."

'She's still young,' Claire mused. 'Looks to be around 15, and to be fighting already at this age…'

"You almost got munched alive by that Aragami, huh?" Jerad chuckled. "Glad you're still with us."

Selene gasped before she frowned, "T-thanks..for saving me."

"No problem," Jerad shrugged. "Live and learn."

"Thanks, also," Gustav smiled. "I couldn't have made it in time."

"Eh, don't mention it," Jerad said. "You guys are my friend's group, and outside of that, I could have cared less."

"I don't blame you," Garret murmured, and sat down.

"Hm?" Jerad raised his eyes.

"Nothing," Garret shook his head. "Don't worry about it."

"Hm," Sitting beside Garret, Amber opened her jacket, and pulled a wrap sealed snack bar.

"Amber, did I tell you not to bring food on missions?" Garret grimaced.

"But I'm always hungry," Amber whined.

Then Garret groaned, "How much did you bring?"

"Just these two," Amber replied.

"Okay..," Garret slowly nodded. "Hope you don't lose the other one."

"So, you and the captain have gone long ways, huh?" Gustav asked.

"Yep," Jerad drank his water bottle. "Your vice captain, too."

"Him and I were battle buddies while we're still in that prison," Shin sat beside Jerad. "Besides his sister, we always dove head first into battle."

"You guys are pretty brazen..and..," Selene glanced at Misha who was nearby with Hugo and Trista. "That girl with a variant scythe is your sister? You two don't look very alike."

Then Jerad chuckled, "Yeah, a lot of people tend to not think so at first, but we are twins."

"Wow," Selene murmured.

"I still remembered some of our fellow prison guys thought you two were an item," Shin laughed.

"Oh, shut up," Jerad jabbed him before everyone laughed. "Jeez…"

"I also wouldn't have thought you were siblings," Claire giggled. "If your sister didn't tell me about you before we met."

"Heh, she told you that much, huh?" Jerad leaned back while Selene looked at the two of them, confused.

"You're so strong," Selene said. "How did you do that?

"Hm, I don't really know," Jerad shook his head. "All I did was fight hard, and I guess this is what happens when you stare death in the face everyday while you're in chains. That damn prison life..."

"Oh," Selene frowned as well as Claire.

"Break time is over, everyone," Trista shouted out. "Y'all ready to mop the building with Aragami?"

"Yep," Shin sat up. "I'm still not done used to my acceleration trigger yet."

"Can you still fight, Selene?" Trista asked.

"Of course, ma'am," Selene quickly nodded before she stood up, and picked up her long blade.

"That's the spirit," Trista smiled. "Stay alive, and don't try to be a hero. I want you back in one piece no matter what. You hear?"

"I'll keep that in mind, ma'am," Selene nodded again.

"Alright, grab your gear, and let's go!" Trista ordered before they ran past the entrance. "I guess this is where we split up. Shin, I'm gonna say this again, but keep everyone with you safe, and I don't want to carry body bags. Ever."

"No need to tell me again, captain," Shin smiled.

"Good luck, and happy hunting," Trista smiled back before two groups split up.

---

Back in Port Chrysanthemum, Dining District.

"Heyy, Ricky," Daris smiled. "How's it going?"

"Living the dream," Ricardo replied. "The negotiation worked, and Hilda owns the kids now. By the way, where are they? I wanna give them the good news they'll never forget."

"Haha, I figured," Daris replied. "Those kids were in high spirits about a few hours ago, and they went on a mission with the Wolf Unit."

"Hah, really?" Ricardo smiled. "Paying their debts to our kind owner already, and I'm really glad she decided to keep them."

"Heh, yeah," Daris smiled. "Wanna have a bit of a drink?"

"Sure," Ricardo smiled. "A great thing to have after all this."

"Yeah," Daris grinned. "One drink for my buddy here, please."

---

Back in the Frozen Plant, West Sector.

"Now let's see here," Shin stared at his mini tablet with Keith. "The unexplored area is still several blocks from here. We have to pass several long hallways, even."

"Still too far, huh?" Jerad kept lightly stomping a dead Axe Raider's head under his heel, and the large hallway they were in were littered with bloodied Aragami corpses.

"Fine with me. Our mission here is to wipe them all out in this building, right?"

"Yep," Shin nodded. "We're just doing a little side quest here while doing the main one."

Jerad chuckled, "Sounds like fun. That means I get to stay here longer, and have more fun."

"Jerad," Claire grimaced. "Having fun fighting is one thing, but please be mindful that there are people with you who are also risking their lives here, and some even have less experience."

"Nah, don't get me wrong," Jerad smiled. "I know my priorities, and saving others is also part of fighting, which is also fun."

"I'm having fun, too, mommy," Phym smiled.

"Phym..," Claire glared at her. "Fighting is not meant to be fun, and don't be like your daddy."

"Haww," Phym frowned.

"I think you should give her a little break," Jerad suggested while Phym's smile returned. "At least she's still careful."

"Unlike you..," Claire rebuked.

"Heh, he acts like our captain," Gustav whispered.

"Yep," Zeke cautiously whispered back. "But he's a different kind of monster."

"And mommy? Daddy?" Selene raised her eyes. "Is that strange girl their..?"

Then Zeke and Keith repressed their laugh while Shin lightly chuckled.

"Long hilarious story short," Zeke whispered to her. "She isn't..sadly."

"OK..," Selene plainly murmured. "But she's quite adorable."

Then Shin hid his mini tablet in his pocket, "Alright, let's get moving. We'll head further west, and then up north."

"Yeah," Zeke grinned. "I'm still itching for another smashin'."

Then they ran further west, and went up a few stairways before they saw several Aragami idling at the end.

"Small Aragami," Shin raised his sword in front of him. "Keep running until we reach the end of this hallway!"

"Gotcha," Jerad began charging his spear. "Let's do this,"

"Huah!" Shin swiftly sliced two Ogretails as he passed through, and Jerad skewered another one in his way.

"Haa!"

"Hyah!"

Selene sliced two Ogretails while trying to keep up with everyone, and Gustav cleaved one in half with his heavy God Arc.

"Keep going! We'll cover you!" Claire and Phym stopped, and mowed the pursuing Aragami together until Selene and Gustav passed them. Then Claire and Phym turned back, and ran.

"We're right behind you!" Claire cried. "Keep going!"

"Got it," Gustav replied.

"There's a large room by the end of this stairway," Shin said. "We'll lure them there, and finish them off."

"Gotcha," Zeke nodded, and like a juggernaut, he knocked any Aragami that Jerad and Shin missed from the front with his hammer in their left flank while Keith also covered the right.

While Selene was running, an Ogretail suddenly lunged between her and Claire from their left flank below, and she suddenly turned.

"HAA!"

She sliced it off, and it fell back down before she started running again.

"That's more like it," Jerad praised her.

"Thanks," Selene replied before Gustav shot a few more Axe Raiders with his shotgun to cover Claire and Phym's retreat before they finally reached the large room.

"Let's go, everyone," Shin turned around, and shifted his God Arc to sniper.

"Gun 'em down!"

Then in a line formation, the rest shifted to gun mode, and started mowing a small horde of Aragami running into the room from the hallway. Selene shifted her long blade into a ray gun, and swept her laser at the approaching horde, incinerating any that got caught in it while Gustav finished a few that slipped through their line of fire. After a few seconds, all of the pursuing Aragami were wiped out.

"Whoo," Zeke slouched down. "That does it."

"Like a meat grinder," Jerad shifted his God Arc back to spear.

Shin pulled his tablet out, "We're quite close, so after this room, we're heading north."

Then he pointed at another hallway, "That way."

"Alright, but man, the cold mist is thick there," Zeke said before he smiled. "But still better than being in the ash."

"Let's just take more precautions as we proceed," Claire suggested.

"Yep," Keith nodded.

---

Earlier.

"Mia, any Aragami left here?" Trista held her earpiece.

"Negative, captain," Mia responded. "But I'm detecting more farther up ahead via resonance radar. Proceed north."

"Roger," Trista nodded. "Request Wolf 2's status?"

"They've recently been through combat, but no casualties reported," Mia replied.

"Looking good, so far," Trista smiled. "Thanks."

"Speaking of resonance radar," Hugo said. "Who charges it in your Port?"

"Iris." Trista replied. "Another AGE."

"Whoa, there's another AGE in your Port?" Misha awedly asked. "And with a high resonance at that?"

"Yep," Trista nodded. "She doesn't fight, though, and you'll see her around soon enough, if you haven't. She's often in the orphanage taking care of kids."

"Why, you have a high one, too?"

"Yeah, she's the one who operated it in our Ash Crawler," Hugo chuckled.

"Wow, are you serious?" Trista raised her eyes. "I never knew that. Don't tell me your brother has it, too."

"He does, buut, he's not interested in operating it," Misha giggled.

"Oh, jeez. Not only you two are pros, but you have that gift, too?" Trista said with astonishment. "Just what bloodline did you two come from?"

"I was never sure," Misha shook her head. "Neither of our parents ever told us about it."

"Huh," Trista raised her eyes. "OK, we gotta get going, and we need this job done by the time the sun comes down, or the owner will have our asses."

Then Hugo laughed after they started running.

"Hilda had that same policy with us during our trip," Hugo said.

"She's strict with that," Trista replied. "Shin and I got home late once, and the owner met up with us in the Port entrance with her arms crossed and a scary face that I don't want to see again. Damn that Shin. Him and his love for treasure hunting..."

Then Hugo laughed, "It's a good thing we never broke that rule."

"Oh, you'd do well to obey that 100%," Trista replied. "The owner's bad side is something you don't want to be in."

"I bet," Hugo smiled.

"Aragami, up ahead!" Amber cried.

"Ho ho, party time," Trista grinned before she dove. "Shaa!"

In midair, Trista rolled into a forward spin, and sawed an Axe Raider in front of her.

"Haa!"

"Hoo!"

Hugo sliced an Ogretail with a side swipe, and then turned and sliced another by the throat.

With acceleration trigger active, Lulu dashed at the three closely grouped Ogretails, and sliced all of them in a flash.

"Been watching you fight for a while now," Trista smiled. "You're just like Shin."

"Thanks," Lulu smiled back. "But he definitely fights completely different from me, too, and I could learn a thing or two from him."

Then Trista chuckled, "I may far outclass him in strength, but he's no slouch when it comes to being technical, and I had a hard time keeping up with him."

Then she sliced an Axe Raider, and an Ogretail, "He also has this way of working around you. You'll see what I mean, if you spar him."

"That's a good idea," Lulu replied. "I'll consider it."

"HRRAH!"

"HA!"

Garret sliced an Ogretail to the side, and then raised his sword and cleaved another one in two.

"Hiiiyah!"

Amber smashed a Blast Spider down, and then raised her eyes as she saw its abdomen started swelling.

"It's going to explode! Get away from it!" Garret cried.

"Whoops!" Amber jumped away before it exploded. "Hee hee, sorry. I forgot."

"Oh, lord," Garret facepalmed.

"Haa!" Adrian sliced an Ogretail's face before he pointed his blade at it.

"Ha!"

"Haa!"

"Hoo!"

He stabbed it multiple times before he finished it with a strong thrust, and then turned to see two Axe Raiders charging behind him and held his blade back pointing at them, but the two were suddenly sliced off by a variant scythe.

"Got your back, buddy!" Eryk smiled.

"Thank you, your graciousness," Adrian smiled back. "My rigorous training with fencing has been paying off. Deadly, beautiful, and graceful."

Then he stroked his bangs.

"OK, stop showing off," Eryk stared at him plainly, unimpressed. "You're glittering enough with roses, already."

"Ahh, but I can't help it, friend," Adrian stroked his bangs again with a grin before Eryk groaned, and then they readied their God Arcs as more Aragami approached them.

"Haa!"

"Hee!"

"Hiyaah!"

With ferocity, Misha continuously swung her extended variant scythe around, and sliced every Aragami around her with Slaughter Fang. Nothing ever ran past her aggressive swings as more Aragami only ended up being shredded to death.

"We're right here, Misha," Hugo slew a few more Dreadpikes before Trista leapt in, and sawed an Axe Raider in half. "Watch your swings from now on."

"Okay," Misha nodded before Trista chuckled.

"I just can't get enough of this acceleration trigger," Trista grinned. "I just love the rush I get from it. It's so exhilarating, and I can't wait to try this on a stronger Aragami. Ooh, I'm feeling so hot thinking about it."

"Just..don't get too carried away," Hugo laughed.

"Haha, fighting is my life," Trista replied. "No such thing as getting carried away when it comes to fighting."

"Jeez..," Hugo shook his head, smiling.

"You guys ready for some more fun?" Trista grinned as she shifted her heavy moon to axe form as the many Aragami surrounding them were slowly approaching them.

"Haa!" Garret sliced an Axe Raider sideways before he raised his sword and activated his acceleration trigger.

"HRAH!"

He quickly swung his sword overhead, and cut the Axe Raider easily in half with a slam.

"Now, that's a new finisher I'd like to remember."

"Graceful finish, Garret," Adrian stood beside him and Amber before he swung blood off his sword. "I anxiously would want mine."

"You'll definitely love it," Garret smiled. "Nothing felt like it."

"Indeed," Adrian nodded. "Shall we, Eryk?"

"You got it," Eryk nodded back.

"Fight hard!" Amber cheered.

---

On the other side of the plant.

"Hm, looks like this unexplored area is just past this door," Shin glanced at the large sliding door.

Then Jerad and Claire approached the door, and Claire checked the opening panel.

"This is frozen, and seems broken beyond repair," Claire murmured. "I don't even see any lights in it."

"Great," Jerad walked to the door, and banged his fist on it. "This door is thick, too. Any work around for this?"

"I..hear something," Phym murmured.

"Huh? What is it, Phym?" Shin narrowed his eyes with suspicion, sensing that danger might be coming.

"Over there..," Phym pointed at the large door. "Where mommy and daddy is."

"Confirmed! Medium Aragami detected on the other side of that door," Mia warned.

Then Shin's eyes suddenly widened.

"JERAD! CLAIRE! STAY BACK!" Shin cried.

"Huh?" Claire turned to him.

GAJINGGG!

"Holy shit!" Jerad cried as him and Claire jumped back after they saw a large, long blade protruding through the door. Then the blade emitted electricity before it glowed a magma color, melting the nearby frost on the door, and it started slowly cutting down, making metallic grinding noises. Once it reached the bottom, the blade suddenly pulled back.

"What the hell is that thing?!" Zeke asked.

"It might be..," Shin murmured. "Chrysanthemum, Wolf 2. You didn't detect this earlier?!"

"My apologies sir, but cold thick mists made it more difficult for Aragami detection," Mia replied.

Then they saw several molten lines quickly carve the door before it shattered into a loud crash, but due to all the mist from the crash, they could only see a floating dark humanoid silhouette with a weak turbine noise. It had a crescent moon like horn on its head, light emitting from its legs, and a pair of long blue lights on its sides, seemingly having a pair of electric blades. It swung its right blade before it dashed through the mist for Shin.

"It's a Havakiri!" Shin cried as he activated his acceleration trigger.

With a loud clash, Shin narrowly blocked Havakiri's large arm blade with his own blades in time.

"Vice Captain!" Both Selene and Gustav cried.

"Ngh! Shit!" Shin gritted his teeth trying to hold his blades up against it. 'If it wasn't for my acceleration trigger, I would have..!'

"Haa!"

He parried its blade off, and started clashing swords with Shin swiftly dodging some of its swings before he blocked Havakiri's blade again.

"Haaa!" Jerad ran, and charged his spear forward, but Havakiri quickly swept to the side, and tried to slice him down, but he backflipped in time to avoid.

As Havakiri pursued him, it was suddenly shot on the chest before it swept off the last few rounds.

"Be careful, Claire!" Jerad warned. "That thing is quick!"

Claire nodded, and continued firing, but Havakiri shielded itself with its large blade before it swung them off.

Taking advantage of its distraction, Gustav rushed in.

"Haa!" Gustav swung his heavy moon a few times, but all of them missed. "Dammit! My God Arc is too slow and heavy to hit."

"Haa!"

"Hoo!"

"Hrah!"

"We gotta have to make do!" Zeke replied as he also swung his hammer a few times, and then tried to slam Havakiri down, but it bursted to the side, and hit his behind, luckily with the blunt side of its blade.

"Ouch! Hey, what's with that spank?" Zeke grimaced. "I'm not some little kid. Damn you!"

Then it jetted at him, "Shit!"

"Zeke!" Keith cried, and shielded him from Havakiri's deadly blade. "It's your chance. Go get it!."

"HAAA!" Zeke rushed in from behind Keith, and powered his hammer. "HAA!"

He swung down hard at it, but still missed. The impact caused a lot of cracks to form from his hammer.

"It's too fast!" Zeke cried.

Behind it, Selene leapt.

"Haa!"

Havakiri also blocked Selene's long blade before they clashed into a sword fight for a brief moment, and then Shin and Jerad joined in.

"Hraah!" Jerad aggressively leapt at the swordsman Aragami, holding his spear back ready to skewer it, but Havakiri swatted him off with a swing. Shortly after, Shin and Phym rushed in from both sides.

"Haah!"

"Hiyah!"

The medium Aragami blocked Shin's blades, and then turned at Phym and blocked her heavy moon before it spun them off, and then Garret and Gustav attacked.

"Huwah!" Gustav swung his heavy moon down, but Havakiri boosted back, and he kept his pursuit.

"Ha!"

"Heyah!"

"Hwah!"

Gustav kept swinging his heavy moon, and with fine coordination with its boosters, Havakiri dodged them easily before it swatted him off.

"Ugh!"

He was sent flying, and rolling on the icy floor, but quickly recovered. "Dammit. I just can't hit it!"

"Keep trying," Shin cried. 'There's gotta be a way to hit this thing.'

"Wait, Jerad."

"What?" Jerad turned to him right before he was about to leap.

"I'll try damaging its legs," Shin said. "It might slow it down, but keep it distracted before that."

Then Jerad paused for a few seconds before he nodded, knowing that Shin might have a good plan.

"Alright, I'll keep this bastard busy," Jerad said.

"Good, let's go!" Then they both rushed in.

"Haa!" Zeke was clashing with Havakiri a few times until Selene swung from its side, and then it swept him off before blocking her.

"Why can't I just hit you..?" Selene gritted her teeth, and then Zeke, and Gustav rushed in, trying to make a simultaneous strike, but it swatted her off, and blocked all of their attacks with both blades.

"Dammit! Even with 2 heavy weapons?!" Gustav grimaced before it swept them away, but all three relentlessly rushed back into another confrontation. After several clashes against three of them, Havakiri parried all of them back with a spin before jumping straight up, and slammed both of its blades down. The impact generated loud thunderbolts striking random places close it, and not expecting this while charging back, Selene gasped.

"AAAAAGHHH!" Selene was struck by one of its stray thunderbolts, and rolled back.

"Selene!" Gustav cried.

"Don't worry! Phym and I will take care of her!" Claire cried.

"You bastard!" Zeke rushed in with Keith.

Zeke powered his hammer, and started swinging at the nimble Aragami, hoping that swinging his hammer faster by boosting it will eventually help him hit it. Though, going only in one direction, he varied the direction of his swings.

"You stupid sonuva-!" Growing more frustrated, he started swinging his hammer faster until he slammed it down, but still missed it.

"Oh, hell!"

Then Havakiri charged, and right before it struck him, Jerad suddenly leapt behind it and the Aragami turned around. It blocked his spear before it swung him off, and Jerad landed back.

"Tch!" Jerad grimaced. 'Huh? Where is Shin? He was just with me a few seconds ago.'

Remembering what Shin told him, Jerad nevertheless rushed back in.

---

Meanwhile, once Claire was close enough, she shot a few healing bullets at Selene, who was faintly moaning and twitching.

"Hey, are you OK?" Claire lightly shook her.

"Nn, yeah," Selene murmured before she slowly sat up and glanced at her sword. "If only..if only I'm…"

"No, you have to rest," Claire stopped her from reaching her sword.

"But..!" Selene glared at her.

"Your captain told you to stay alive, did she?" Claire glared back. "You think she'll be happy if something happens to you?"

"I..," Selene frowned. "I became a God Eater so I could protect everyone..and how could I do that if I can't become stronger..?"

Then Claire paused for a few seconds before she closed her eyes.

"Not long ago, I was also new," Claire murmured. "I was almost killed by an Aragami, but a good friend saved my life, and he's been teaching me how to become stronger since."

Then Selene raised her eyes.

"I still have a lot to learn, but it takes patience, and determination to be better," Claire continued. "You also have to rely on others, and grow with them. You already have a family to depend on, and I'm sure they won't think less of you and would rather see you survive with them."

"And mommy and I will protect you," Phym smiled. "Just like daddy did to protect us."

"Oh," Selene giggled. "Thanks."

---

"Haaaaa!"

After a clash, Zeke grinded his hammer with Havakiri's blade before Gustav rushed in.

"Ha!

"Huwah!"

The sword Aragami broke off from Zeke hold, and dodged Gustav's swings before it retaliated by swatting him off.

"Ugh!"

"Gustav!" Zeke cried.

Gustav recovered from the hit, still standing. "I'm alright. Just a minor cut."

"Rah!"

"Ha!"

Zeke aggressively attacked again, and swung his hammer a few times until it blocked him.

"Damn you!"

"Eat this!" Gustav rushed again, and after a few swings, shifted his heavy moon into axe mode before he swung down. However, despite added weight, Havakiri still blocked his swing.

"What..?" Gustav gasped.

"Over here, bastard!" Jerad swung his spear at Havakiri, and the two clashed into a fight.

"Haa!"

"Haa!"

"Hooh!"

He kept thrusting at it as the Aragami kept parrying his spear off, and then it started counter attacking. Jerad dodged, and parried some of its attacks before it thrusted its sword arm at him, but he backflipped in time. Then he leapt back, and entered a clashing confrontation again. After a few thrusts and swings, Keith joined in for a short time before it swatted him off, and taking advantage of its distraction to Keith, Jerad rushed back in, and continued his assault, attacking faster while Havakiri still had its guard down.

"You're open!" Jerad quickly parried both of its blade arms, and in a split second, readied his spear to thrust. "You're mine!"

"HAA!"

With a successful hit, Jerad thrusted his spear against Havakiri's chest, and sent it whimpering back. "You won't get away!"

He used devour, and bit the disoriented Aragami before it recovered. It started wailing to break free from its powerful bite.

'This is perfect,' Shin thought as he uncloaked himself while sitting on a wall behind it, ready to jump towards it, and then he activated his acceleration trigger. He jumped from the wall with blinding speed.

"HUAH!"

He slashed both of its rocket legs with a spin between them, tripping the floating Aragami to its fall.

At the same time, Jerad entered Burst after he released the Aragami from its grip as Shin rolled from the immense momentum of his leap before recovering beside him.

They watched Havakiri stand up, and with its rocket legs now blipping, started struggling to keep its balance.

"Heh, this was your plan all along?" Jerad grinned. "Clever."

"Sorry to put a lot of work on you before that," Shin replied.

"Nah, it was fun while I'm at it," Jerad chuckled. "And that stab on the chest felt really good."

Then they saw Havakiri aggressively swing both of its swords, seemingly swaggering them.

"Heh, it looks pissed off now," Jerad readied his spear with a grin.

"Don't matter to me," Shin assumed his fighting stance, and raised his sword in front of him. "It will make it even more satisfying for me to kill it."

"Get it, daddy!" Phym yelled from another side of the room before Jerad turned to her.

"Look after her until this is over, Phym!" Jerad yelled back. "We got this!"

"U-um," Selene leaned back, blushing.

"Ready?" Jerad grinned.

"Anytime, old buddy," Shin kept his sword forward, keeping his eyes locked on his soon to be prey.

"Haa!"

Jerad and Shin rushed in.

"HAAA!" Gustav ferociously rushed in, and swung his heavy moon down before Havakiri blocked it with a loud clang. Then it quickly swung him off, and without a moment of break, Zeke, and Keith aggressively attacked. After a few clashes with the three, the enraged Aragami aggressively swatted them off one by one before Jerad and Shin jumped in.

The confrontation intensified as Havakiri confronted two of its most nimble opponents. Jerad and Shin coordinated their attacks well as if they both remembered their teamwork a few years back, and then Shin found an opening after parrying one of its blades, and one of its legs blipped, causing it to fail in recovering fast enough.

"You left an opening!" Without wasting a second, Shin jumped, and connected a few slices on its chest before he flipped his right sword into reverse hold.

"HUAH!" He landed a successful slice to its face, and Havakiri recoiled as Shin spun from his strong swing before he landed on the floor.

"And don't forget me!" Jerad thrusted with Spear Requiem, and barraged the Aragami with piercing Oracle energy. Desperate to retaliate after being pushed back, Havakiri charged its blade before everyone jumped back, and then after a few seconds, it swung a wide arc, luckily they managed to narrowly stay out of its range from its deadly swing. However, Shin bravely jumped over the swing before he dove towards it.

"RRAH!" He landed another slice to its chest, and then quickly climbed up behind it and stabbed it in both shoulders, causing it to start flailing. Then after he pulled both blades out, he swung his left arm around its forehead, and pulled its neck open.

"A simple underhanded move like that won't get me!"

Then he quickly slid his other blade along its neck before backflipping off. The Aragami spun with blood gushing out, but still managed to recover.

"Still alive?" Shin grimaced. "I instantly killed a Nemain with that last time!"

Then Jerad laughed, "That's a one persistent bastard, but you definitely did a lot of damage to it."

"And if that wasn't enough, then fine," Shin hissed. "Because I have more painful ways to kill it."

"HRAH!" Gustav swung down, and Havakiri blocked it and pushed him off before Zeke and Keith attacked. After a few clashes, Gustav rushed back in, and it cleverly swatted the three before it confronted the other three.

"Dammit, does this thing ever get tired?!" Zeke whined.

"Beats me!" Gustav kept swinging until it swatted him off.

"HAAH!" Zeke landed a pound on Havakiri's stomach, and sent it back. "Finally! How'd you like that, huh?!"

Then he rushed together with Gustav, and it blocked both of their attacks before it spun, and sent both of them back. Seeing Gustav being more vulnerable, it desperately boosted towards him fast, wanting to start thinning out its opponents to try to even the odds.

"Shit," Gustav's eyes widened as the charging Aragami was upon him, raising its arm, and knew he will not recover in time to defend himself, but it suddenly felt something stop its arm.

"Not so fast!" Shin used devour, and stopped its arm with its gripping bite. "And I have more where that's coming from!"

Then he held his left blade back, and an Aragami head also formed from it.

"What the?" Two devours?!" Zeke cried.

"He did a special modification for it," Keith explained.

"Now way! Now I'm quite jealous," Zeke replied.

"Haa!" Shin deployed his other devour, and as Havakiri turned, it was suddenly bitten by another Shin's God Arc before it was slammed against the wall, creating a crater with it. Then he retracted both back to his twin swords, and entered Burst.

"Heh, wow," Jerad grinned.

"Now I will finish you off!" Shin assumed his stance before he dashed to a still incapacitated Aragami, but it recovered in time from a rubble, and clashed blades with him several times before it swatted him away, and then Gustav rushed in to help.

"Hah!" He swung, and Havakiri boosted back before it quickly flew towards him. Learning from this experience, he deployed his shield early, and narrowly stopped its blade.

"That was close..," Gustav grunted as he saw a blade stuck between the two parts of his shield, and the electrically cackling blade was only a few inches from his forehead.

"I got you!" Zeke ran to help him, and boosted his hammer. "Hrrrahh!"

With a hard slam, Zeke broke its right armblade in two, and the tip spun off before it stuck on the ground.

"Good job, Zeke!" Shin cried. "Now you only have one blade, you're dead meat…"

"Ha!"

He dove against the crippled Aragami, and clashed swords. To compensate for its crippled fighting ability, Havakiri started using more of its thunderous energy with its swings, and it eventually tried to strike Shin down, but he dodged in time, and then a series of thunderbolts unexpectedly came, and struck him.

"Arrgh!" Shin stumbled back a few steps from electric shock before falling to his knees. "Dammit…"

"Haa!" Jerad attacked Havakiri to keep it busy while Shin tried to recover, and as he struggled to stand up again, he noticed a faint yellow glow enveloping him.

"Haa!"

"Ha!"

"Hryah!"

Jerad kept clashing with it until it swung its broken sword at him, but able to see that it would not reach him, he slightly leaned back and watched it pass him. Then he grinned.

"Ha! Forgot that your sword is broken?" Jerad taunted before he charged his spear halfway through its swing. "Then enjoy a nice punishment for this! Haa!"

He quickly stabbed Havakiri with Spear Requiem again, and after flailing from its Oracle barrage, it was sent flying back, also stunning it. Then Jerad noticed a faint yellow glow around his hand, and glanced at Shin.

"Shin, time to use Engage!" Jerad cried to him.

"Huh?!" Shin stared back at his hand.

"Just...let your mind go, and it will just work," Jerad tried his best to explain.

"Alright..," Shin stood up, and closed his eyes before the whole room shone brightly with a yellow light.

"Yay, Engage, Engage!" Phym cheered.

"Wow," Selene stared in awe. "Is this another thing AGEs can do?"

"Yeah," Claire smiled.

"Let's go!" Jerad readied his spear.

"Got it," Shin held his swords, ready to strike. "Time to end this!"

"Haaa!"

They rushed together, and Havakiri desperately fought its last stand against its two aggressive opponents. Jerad tried to skewer it with Brave Soul, and it dodged his leap, but Shin quickly struck it a few times with Dagger Dance before it retaliated with a left swing, but he ducked. While at it, Jerad aerially leapt forward, and connected his swings with Akashic Breaker to its upper body, and with his last strike, broke the Aragami's left sword. With Havakiri now lost all means to fight back, Shin somehow felt that Jerad left it to him to finish it off for good, so he activated his acceleration trigger before leaping in for the kill. He slashed it multiple times again with Dagger Dance before sending it up with Seraphim Edge, and then jumping up in the air. After a few strikes, he sent it back down with Dive to Blue, and after landing, he held his swords closely in a cross armed stance.

"HUAH!

With a spinning, opening slash, Shin leapt into a blur across the Aragami to its death as he slid and spun on the frozen floor before recovering. The Havakiri stood still for a few seconds before it exploded with lightning, and fell in pieces onto the ground.

Shin wearily sighed, and stood up as Jerad approached him with a grin.

"That's a one badass kill," Jerad laughed.

Shin chuckled in response, "Yeah."

Then they banged each other with their right armlets.

"Engage, huh?" Shin murmured. "I felt a rush when we used it. How does that work?"

"Hmm, from what I understand from Hugo," Jerad scratched his head. "It's a Power of Bonds, as he called it. He also said it's like being a psychic, and it lets us share our traits together."

"Oh," Shin raised his eyes. "Earlier, I suddenly remembered everything about how we used to fight together. It just suddenly clicked in my head."

"That..might be it," Jerad smiled. "Hugo also did say that it involves syncing minds with each other. He's the best guy to talk more about that."

"Heh," Shin also smiled.

"Wow," Gustav finally came. "That was the best move I've ever seen from you, sir."

Shin laughed, "Thanks, and now I'm feeling embarrassed."

"Don't be," Zeke laughed. "I'll show you my own badass kill later."

"Like sending an Ogretail flying off a building, and falling onto a stick?" Jerad grinned before everyone chuckled.

"I'll get a better one later on," Zeke grinned. "You guys just watch."

"You OK, Selene?" Shin turned to her, who was still being held by Claire.

"Yes, sir," Selene nodded with a smile.

"Glad you're still with us," Shin smiled.

"Thank you, sir," Selene smiled back.

"Now, let's claim our price," Shin said. "It's just right through that sliced up door. Can't wait to see what data discs we'll find there."

"Yep," Keith nodded.

"Maybe we'll find some good movies, too," Shin smiled.

"I think I'm OK now, Claire," Selene murmured before Claire released her. "Thanks."

"Just don't push yourself," Claire smiled.

"Yeah," Selene smiled back.

---

Around the same time.

"I guess fun is over then," Trista lifted her heavy moon on her shoulder as she glanced at a clutter of dead Aragami around them.

"Mia, any Aragami left in this sector?"

"Negative," Mia replied. "Please proceed to another sector further north."

"Roger," Trista replied. "What's the status of the Wolf 2's team?"

"They are in combat with a medium Aragami in the far west sector right now," Mia replied. "Wolf 8 is reported as casualty, but is currently rendered medical assistance by Hound 5, and is not in critical condition."

"T-that's Selene," Eryk raised his eyes. "Will she be OK, ma'am?"

"She'll be fine," Trista nodded. "Plus they have Claire with them, and I heard she's a hell of a medic."

"She is," Misha added. "No worries. She's also the one who taught me about the field."

"And that Jerad kid is with them, too," Trista added. "With him and your vice captain alone, she would be in good hands, so I wouldn't worry at all."

"Yes, ma'am," Eryk nodded.

"Alright, we better get moving," Trista smiled. "The faster we keep killing Aragami, the more fun I get, AND the sooner this job is done. I also can't wait to get wasted with our new family members tonight, haha!"

Hugo chuckled, "Yeah, let's knock this out, so we can all come back safe."

Then everyone left the room, and after crossing a few rooms.

"Zygotes, ahead," Eryk warned.

"Then it's party time again," Trista said before sprinting, and jumping to a flying Aragami and slicing it into two.

Misha, Hugo, Garret, and Amber shifted to gun modes, and started firing in all directions of the room, blasting swarms of Zygotes approaching them.

"Haa!" Lulu sliced a Zygote before jumping from one, and slicing another.

"Haa!"

"Huwah!"

From the ground, Eryk sliced two Zygotes down with his extended scythe, "Ha, this is what I love about my scythe. It can do just about anything."

Then he turned, and sliced another one.

"Hah, not as graceful as my way of fencing, however," Adrian sliced a Zygote in midair before jumping and slicing another.

"Hah, look at yourself, pretty boy," Eryk rebuked him after he sliced another Zygote. "Because you're struggling on killing these mid air Aragami with your little stick while I can just easily swipe them with mine."

"Out of rounds," Misha shifted her gun to scythe. "Going out!"

"Gotcha," Hugo nodded. "I'll stick behind, and cover you."

Then Misha started slicing Zygotes while running with Hugo behind her still shooting.

"Hahaa, behold. The grim reaper strikes again," Adrian admired. "Her swings are as beautiful as the Angel of Death."

"Oh? And yet mine isn't as..'beautiful?' Eryk narrowed his eyes. "Screw you, then."

Then Adrian laughed as they kept fighting.

"Dammit, out of bullets," Garret complained. "And my big sword isn't good at aerial targets."

"Me, too," Amber shifted her assault gun to hammer. "Let's get 'em."

"You got it," Garret replied. "Let's just do what we can."

Then Garret dove against a Zygote before bashing it with his shield, and then slicing it down with his large sword.

"Heave ho!" Taking advantage of a Zygote flying low, Amber swung a wide down arc, and smashed it.

"Haah!"

"Ha!"

"Huryah!"

Trista sliced every Zygote diving down to her for a bite, and then she dove before bashing one with her shield and cleaved it into two with her axe.

"Hrryah!"

Eryk sliced a distant Zygote in two.

"Last one," He snickered.

"All Aragami in the vicinity eliminated," Mia informed them.

"Good job, everyone," Trista said. "But hopefully we fight something more fun after this. I hate swatting flies."

"Aragami population in this facility is still at an estimated 30%," Mia reported. "There's still room for..fun, ma'am."

Then Trista snickered, "Then that's great. I'm still itching right now, so let's go!"

Then they continued further north until they saw a shadow swiftly loom past them.

"Whoa!" Hugo stopped. "What was that?"

"Medium Aragami detected!" Mia suddenly reported. ""It's a Chi-You!"

"A Chi-You?" Hugo mused before they saw a bird like Aragami diving down to them, and they jumped aside as it swooped past them.

"It is a Chi-You!" Lulu readied her twin blades. "I fought one before, and these Aragami fight like martial artists."

"You're telling me this one can do kung-fu?" Trista amusingly asked.

"Something like that," Lulu kept her eyes fixed on the Aragami as it landed. "Stay cautious. They're no slouch when it comes to close quarters combat!"

"Martial arts, eh?" Adrian smirked. "I have martial arts with a sword, too. Let's see which one of ours is more beautiful."

'Dammit, Adrian,' Eryk sweatdropped. 'We haven't fought this one before, so don't goof off with a beauty contest.'

"Then that makes it a bit more interesting," Trista grinned before Chi-You made a 'come here' hand gesture. "Hah! Swaggering us already? Then I'll accept your challenge."

"Shaa!"

Trista dove in, and clashed with Chi-You in a close quarters combat. After a few swings, it swept a high kick, but she ducked.

"You missed!" Trista grinned, but before she swung her heavy moon, Chi-You continued its spin, and swung with its other leg.

"Aughh!" Trista took a hit, and was sent flying across the room.

"Big sis!" Misha cried.

"I'm alright," Trista quickly stood up. "That was a nice hit, but I'm getting more excited, too."

"Haa!"

"Hu!"

"Ha!"

Lulu clashed her swords against its steel wings until it tried to roundhouse kick her, but she ducked, and quickly swiped its leg off with a reverse low roundhouse kick. Chi-You tripped, and while still laying down, Lulu tried to stab it's head with her sword, but it quickly rolled away into a jump, and she ended up stabbing the floor instead. And as she looked up, Chi-You quickly formed a ball in the palm of its hand and launched it at her, but Lulu jumped away quick enough.

"I saw that coming," Lulu recovered her battle stance. "I've fought and killed your kind with my master before."

"That Aragami can launch projectiles, too," Hugo readied his sword.

Haa!"

He charged along with Misha, Adrian, and Eryk, and fought it head on. With its wide steel wings, Chi-You easily blocked their attacks one at a time while Hugo and the other three kept evading and blocking its attacks. Then Chi-You eventually caught Eryk off guard after parrying his scythe off, and grabbed his neck before throwing him off.

"Ugh!" Eryk crashed into a pile of drums.

"Shit!" Hugo kept clashing against it until it tried to punch him, but he shielded himself in time, pushing him back.

"Hrahh!"

"Ha!"

"Ha!"

"Hoo!"

Adrian stabbed it with multiple thrusts, but Chi-You deflected them with its wing, and then it shoved Hugo off before it parried Adrian's short blade off with its arm. It generated Oracle energy from its other palm and hit his chest at point blank.

"Ahh!" Adrian was sent flying from the hit, and rolled on the floor, and then as Hugo attacked again, it back kicked him and sent him flying against the wall.

"Hrrrah!" Trista rushed back in with Lulu, Amber, and Garret behind her, and after Misha swung from its side, it blocked her scythe, and taking advantage of its hook, swung her away with its long arm. Trista and Garret swug their heavy God Arcs at it

"Heave ho!" Amber leapt in, and tried to slam it with her hammer, but Chi-You countered by quickly slamming both palms on the floor, creating a shockwave that pushed all three of them back.

"Oh, look at all the birdies..," Amber was tilting while holding her head, stunned from the shockwave.

"Quit screwing around, Amber!" Garret stood protectively in front of her. "This Aragami poses a significant threat, so stay on your toes! Are you OK?!"

"Yeah..just a little dizzyyy..," Then Amber clapped her cheeks and slightly shook her head a bit before picking up her hammer. "But I'm OK, now."

"Good," Garret nodded. "Stick with me."

"Haah!" Eryk swung his extended scythe down, but Chi-You jumped back.

"Haah!"

"Hah!"

"Hiyah!" Helping Eryk, Misha also swung her scythe at it, but the acrobatic Aragami sidestepped, backflipped, and then jumped up before it tried to counterattack her with a dive kick. Misha jumped to the side in time as the Aragami cracked the icy floor with its foot.

"HUAH!" Lulu jumped in, and sliced her sword across Chi-You's wing. Then it tried to sweep her off with a long slap, but Lulu jumped a good distance away from it, remembering its wing span, and then charged back. Chi-You tried to fire a few projectiles at her, but she dodged all of them before she leapt in and clashed. After a few swings, Garret and Amber joined in, and together the three fought the steel Aragami.

"Huah!"

"Hoo!"

"Haah!" Garret swung his enormous sword a few times until Chi-You stopped it with its hard wing, and he kept his push.

"Taake that!" From its side, Amber jumped, and swung her hammer down, but she missed, creating long cracks around her. In turn, Garret rushed in, and swung a wide arc, but the bird Aragami jumped back.

"Tch!" Garret gripped his sword. "This thing is too fast for my God Arc to hit."

"I'll keep it distracted," Lulu suddenly stopped beside him. "And once it does, you two strike it hard. Understood?"

"Alright," Garret held his sword at the same time Amber readied her's.

"Count me in," Eryk joined. "I'll keep it busy from a distance."

"Right," Lulu nodded. "Here it comes!"

Then Chi-You rushed in, and Lulu dodged its axe kick. After its foot hits the floor, Lulu stepped on its leg, and jumped.

"HA!" Lulu connected on its face with a flying back kick, and Chi-You flinched.

"HAAH!" Garret rushed at the opportunity, and swung his heavy sword down, but Chi-You narrowly dodged it. "Close…!"

"Huah!"

"Ha!

"Heyah!" Eryk continuously swung his scythe until Hugo also joined in, and Chi-You confronted two God Eaters until it knocked Eryk off with a roundhouse kick. Hugo responded with a leaping downswing, but Chi-You blocked it, and while at it, Misha rushed in and swung at it together with Hugo until it blocked both of their attacks. Then Chi-You jumped a 360 spin and knocked both of them away.

"Hrrrah!" Trista swung her axe at Chi-You, but missed, and Adrian also jumped in to help and started clashing with the Aragami.

"Ha!"

"Hoo!"

"Hoo!"

Adrian kept thrusting against Chi-You until Trista attacked and swung again, making it jump back.

"Let's keep at it, Adrian," Trista said.

"Absolutely, ma'am," Adrian held his sword pointed forward. "I will show this thing how more graceful my art is."

"I'm right here," Lulu landed beside them. "Break its wings. It will prevent it from shielding itself from us."

"Alright," Trista smirked. Let's get 'im."

---

In the West Sector.

"Here we are," Shin stowed his tablet. "There's a computer room I've been having my eyes on for several months now, and we'll finally get to see what it has. Let's get to it."

"So, what kind of data do you think we'll find there?" Zeke asked.

"Likely all sorts," Shin replied. "More data about this facility, historical records, and sometimes, even movies. This facility used to be one of Fenrir HQ's before it collapsed in the Calamity."

"Ooh," Keith raised his eyes. "Maybe some data I could learn about lost technology?"

"It's a good possibility," Shin said. "But before we open this door..."

Then he tapped his earpiece, "Chrysanthemum, Wolf 2. Do you copy?"

"Read you loud and clear, vice captain," Mia responded.

"Any Aragami presence past this door?" Shin asked.

"That's an absolute negative," Mia confidently replied. "Having good reading in the resonance radar in your area."

"Sweet," Zeke grinned.

"Status of Wolf 1's team?" Shin asked again.

"They are currently in combat with a medium Aragami identified as Chi-You," Mia replied. "No casualties reported yet."

"A Chi-You?" Zeke furrowed his eyes. "What the hell is that?"

"That's also a first for them," Shin replied. " It's a bird like Aragami I've only seen a picture of it in my own Aragami database, and it's described as being nimble that excels in close combat, almost like that Havakiri we fought earlier."

"Now I'm feeling a little jealous," Jerad smiled. "They must be having fun right now."

"Maybe just our captain," Shin chuckled. "I swear, that woman is fearless. Nothing would ever scare her."

'Except that one time…'

Then everyone laughed.

"Just..don't tell her I said that, OK?" Shin grinned.

"Daddy, can I be fear-less, too?" Phym jokingly asked.

"You can be later on..like me," Jerad pointed at himself with his thumb while grinning.

"Uhh, yeah..," Zeke furrowed his eyes. "Bet you almost crapped yourself when that Hava-whatchamacalit stuck its blade through that door."

"Oh, shut up," Jerad retorted while Claire and Selene giggled. "That's called being surprised."

"Whatever," Zeke countered.

"Anyway, let's go ahead, and pry this door open." Shin said. "Jerad, Gustav, and Zeke, help me out."

"Alright," Zeke squeezed his shoulder, and spun his arm.

"Sure," Jerad stabbed his spear on the floor, and cracked his fingers.

Then the four started pulling as the door started slowly sliding, and then they stopped.

"Whoo," Shin wiped a sweat. "Ready to try again?"

"Anytime," Gustav replied.

"Let's go," Shin said before they started pulling again, grunting as they could only move a few inches at a time.

After the door is opened a little over a foot.

"Here, let me help out," Phym smiled, and stood in the gap. She suddenly pushed it open, and the door opened so fast that the four young men lost their balance and fell on the floor on each other.

"Ow," Shin slowly stood up, holding the back of his head. "Did you just push that door open?"

"Hee hee," Phym smiled.

"Oh, damn," Jerad also sat up. "Forgot to tell you guys, but she has crazy strength."

"Huh?!" Shin narrowed his eyes in shock.

"She can EASILY lift a 1,400 pound dumbbell. Believe it or not," Jerad chuckled.

"Are you kidding?!" Shin gasped.

"1,400 pounds?!" Selene also gasped.

"And that door is definitely a lot more than 1,400 pounds just to pry open." Shin turned to her. "What are you, Phym?"

"I'm..hoo-man," Phym replied before everyone laughed.

"It's 'hyu-man,' Phym," Jerad chuckled. "Remember that, OK?"

"Okay," Phym nodded.

Shin chuckled, "If you show Trista that a little girl like you can lift just 1,200, you'll probably damage her pride forever."

Then he laughed.

"How much can she lift?" Zeke asked.

"1,000 pounds," Shin replied. "And that's her already trying her very best to lift it back up once."

"You guys have a gym?" Jerad asked.

"We do," Shin nodded. "We exercise, and train there all the time. We even have four sparring arenas, and one multi-stall shooting range."

"Sounds like fun," Zeke grinned.

"I'll show you guys there, sometime." Shin nodded.

Then they entered the room, and to their surprise, the lights automatically turned on.

"Heh, for such an old facility the lighting still works," Shin chuckled. "But not the door we just opened."

"Whoa, a lot of computers and panels in here," Keith said. "Just what did they make this plant for?"

"From what little info I've read about this," Shin explained. "It was used as a conservation of some sort."

"I see," Keith nodded.

"Daddy, what is this?" Phym pointed at a red button that was still faintly flickering.

"Phym, don't touch it," Jerad warned. "Just..don't touch anything, okay?"

"Okay," Phym murmured.

Then Shin started pulling drawers out in some desks scattered around the large room.

"Keith, start searching every shelf and storage you see in here," Shin said. "You might find a disc or two in them."

"Got it," Keith nodded before he also started pulling drawers out from each desk. After a few minutes, a frozen locked door caught Keith's attention.

"Hmm," Keith rubbed his chin. "There's another room here. I'm gonna go check it out."

Then Shin suddenly turned, "Keith, wait!"

"Huh?" Keith stopped.

"Be careful with things like that. There might be Aragami lurking in there," Shin warned.

Then Selene shivered, "Eeeh, it's like watching a horror movie."

"What? You think there's a ghost in there?" Jerad grinned.

"N-not just ghosts, but..," Selene murmured. "Might be an ugly monster in there."

"Like an Aragami?" Jerad raised an eyebrow. "No problem, and I don't believe in ghosts, either."

"Huh?" Selene raised her eyes.

"Not believing in them until I see one," Jerad shrugged.

"OK, let's check this room out," Shin said. "Jerad, could you stand by in case there IS an Aragami in there?"

"Sure," Jerad readied his spear, and had it pointed toward the door, ready to charge and thrust at any time. "Ready when you are."

"OK," Shin turned to the door, and as he turned the door knob, he firmly held his sword with his right hand in case if there is a threat behind it. He suddenly yanked it open as Selene winced, and Jerad twitched his spear as if he was about to strike, but fortunately, there was nothing behind it. They sighed, and glanced at each other.

"Cool," Shin smiled. "No need to fight again so far."

"Heh, I was kinda hoping there will be one," Jerad smiled.

"Jerad!" Claire glared at him.

"I was just kidding, jeez..," Jerad scratched his head.

"Then let's go ahead, and see what's in there," Zeke excitedly said.

"I'm gonna hang outside for now," Jerad said. "You can call it as a look out, if you want."

"Same here," Gustav said. "I really can't stand this cramped room when I'm carrying a huge God Arc here."

"Come on, man," Zeke said. "Don't you find treasure hunting fun?"

"I can see the fun in it, but I'm just not interested," Jerad replied.

"Oh, you're boring, man." Zeke whined.

"And besides, we do need a look out, anyway," Jerad continued. "If a single Aragami or more comes here attacking us, imagine the trouble we could get ourselves into."

"And I can't swing this moon around at all, either," Gustav added. "I do agree with him."

"Yeah..," Zeke murmured. "I get your point."

"You guys have fun there," Jerad smiled. "We'll hang outside for a bit, and we'll give you guys a holler if trouble comes up. Later."

Then Jerad and Gustav walked out of the room.

"Man, he needs to learn to enjoy himself, sometimes," Zeke scratched his head.

"I know," Claire murmured. "But we can't force him to enjoy things he won't like, either."

"Heh, some parts of him didn't change," Shin said before he smiled at Claire. "But he did change in some..for the better."

"Mm," Claire nodded.

"Now let's get into digging," Zeke said before they entered the room.

"Whoa, look at that," Shin smiled while looking around a small room. "It's an office, and then this shelf."

Then he ran to a shelf, and dusted both frost and dust, "Whoa! What do we have here? A stack of discs stored in plastic cases packed neatly together in boxes, and there's a few of them. Take a look at this, Keith."

Then Keith also walked to the shelf, and grabbed another box of discs.

"Hmm," Keith dusted off the box as much as possible. "I can see something written on the box, but the text is mostly faded. Though, there is a picture of some guy wearing a wide hat."

"Huh, let me see here," Zeke took the box from Keith. "It says here… Buugaa-something? And it says Season 2 here."

"And this box I'm holding right now says 'Season 1,'" Shin said. "I can't see the title on mine, but this must be a collection of movies!"

"And look, guys," Keith pulled another box collection. "This one is Season 3, and these are Season 4 and 5."

"Ho ho, I think we found one hell of a jackpot!" Zeke grinned before he high fived with Shin, and Keith. "But now, how are we going to carry all this?"

"Yeah, we got a lot more discs and other kinds of movies here too, and it would be a huge waste if we have to leave some here," Shin said. "Let me see. Oh, there's a plastic chest there."

Then he opened it to check its contents, and found nothing but useless stacks of paperwork. He picked them up, and laid them on the side.

"We could definitely use this box," Shin said. "It's still in good condition, too."

"Nice," Zeke grinned.

"A lot of movies, huh?" Claire smiled.

"Yeah, whoever used to work here must have been a huge fan of it," Shin smiled. "Let's pack them up."

"What is moo-bees, mommy?" Phym asked.

"Let's see," Claire mused. "It's something you like watching on TV for entertainment."

"A tea-v?" Phym asked. "Sounds like fun."

"Yeah," Claire smiled. "I think you'll like it."

Selene giggled, "She's so cute."

"Hmhm," Phym smiled.

"Yeah," Claire also giggled. "Irresistibly…"

---

Meanwhile.

"That was one hell of a fight we had back there," Gustav smiled. "You and the vice captain killed it."

Jerad chuckled while leaning back against the wall, "Yeah, but he's the real star of that show, and I gotta give it to him."

Then he looked up, "It was just like the old times back then…"

"Oh yeah. You guys are from Pennywort, right?" Gustav asked.

"Yeah, I'm just glad I don't live in that shithole anymore," Jerad murmured. "But to be honest, I still can't believe I belong in this Port now. I'm just not used to seeing too many nice people around."

"Heh, who can blame you?" Gustav frowned. "Everyone just hates your guts no matter what, and yet these same people will make you risk your life and limb so they could live their comfortable lives behind walls from Aragami. Just how messed up is that?"

Then he snorted, "'Fight for the future of humanity?' Such bullshit…"

Then Jerad turned to him, "It is what it is...This world will stay rotten no matter what happens."

"That..may be true, but..," Gustav murmured. "There's one thing I can at least tell you, but there are people out there, non-AGEs, who wanted to stick out for you. You guys are not alone."

"Hm," Jerad raised his eyes.

"I..once tried to save an AGE during a failed mission," Gustav murmured. "But before that, she was assigned to my old unit, and then was quickly singled out just because she was wearing two armlets. I didn't care what she is since she was part of this so-called family that we used to like calling ourselves, so I reached out to her. We started getting along from then on, and talked a lot. She even appreciated me sharing my rations with her every time since they won't give her one, but one time while we were retreating, my unit wanted to leave her for dead after she got injured trying to save my comrades, saying that she is easily replaceable, and despite my captain's orders, I still stayed behind to save her. Those ungrateful bastards..."

Then he closed his eyes, "Yet in the end, I couldn't save her, and she thanked me before she sacrificed herself so I could live, instead. Pathetic, huh?"

Then Jerad stared at him for a few moments before he shook his head, "I don't think you are..."

And Gustav raised his eyes in surprise.

"If it makes you feel better, I've lost a lot of friends, too." Jerad murmured. "I also did my damnedest, but still couldn't save them."

"Oh," Gustav frowned. "Sorry for moping about this, then. You definitely had it worse..."

"Don't worry about it," Jerad shook his head. "I'm pretty sure she was happy that you're still here, and didn't regret anything at all."

"Thanks," Gustav smiled before he also leaned on the wall. "In the end, we're all just human beings inside. Regular people, God Eaters, AGEs, we're all fighting the same monsters. I wish people could see it that way."

"Who knows?" Jerad shrugged. "But all I cared about now is protecting my sister, and everyone with us. The world can burn for all I care."

Then Gustav laughed, "It was nice talking to you, and thanks again for listening. I felt better, somehow."

"You're welcome," Jerad jokingly replied before they both laughed. You're actually pretty good. At first I thought you didn't have much experience earlier considering what happened outside."

"Heh, I just got totally carried away by the vice captain's acceleration trigger," Gustav explained. "It was just a blunder on my part. No excuse, anyway."

"Yeah, you were good at swinging that heavy moon," Jerad said. "I think my little girl could learn from you."

"You mean that cute little one?" Gustav chuckled.

"Yeah," Jerad nodded.

"I think she might be better off with my captain," Gustav replied. "She's worlds apart better than me."

"I guess," Jerad plainly replied. "Anyway, what the hell are they taking so long? They having too much fun in there?"

"I can't complain about that, sadly," Gustav replied. "Since my vice captain is the one in charge."

"Heh," Jerad smiled.

---

Back in the North Sector.

"Hyah!"

"Hwah!"

"Heyah!"

Eryk swung his scythe at Chi-You, and while it kept evading and parrying it, Trista also swung her sawing axe, but unfortunately, Chi-You also blocked it. Screeching metal noises, and sparks flew between her axe and the Aragami's wing.

"Grrr!" Trista gritted her teeth before she slowly started grinning.

"Hrrah!"

"Hah!"

She swung and clashed against it a few times before she activated her acceleration trigger, "HURYAH!"

From that swing, Chi-You's left wing shattered.

"Hahaha! Didn't see through that, did you?" Trista held her axe back. "Cracking your wing by sawing before busting it was all part of the plan."

"Hrrah!"

Trista clashed again with Chi-You before it swiped her with its right arm, but she ducked and swiped to its left before leaping again. As she anticipated, Chi-You raised its left wing.

"HAAH!"

Blood splattered as Chi-You stumbled a few steps back, and seeing this, Trista laughed.

"What's wrong? Forgot that you lost your wing?" Trista mocked. "Maybe I should try breaking the other one to help you remember."

"Huah"

"Hiryah!"

Eryk suddenly attacked, and having only one wing to defend itself, it dodged more attacks than blocking.

"This is not too shabby for dodging, either," Eryke held his scythe back.

"Then I'll see how good this cretin can dodge my thrusts," Adrian pointed his sword before he leapt in.

"Huah!" He missed his thrust before he stepped back, and then started thrusting his sword again. Chi-You dodged most of his thrusts before it parried his sword to the side, and kicked him on the chest, sending him flying.

"Adrian!" Eryk cried. "Damn you!"

Then he rushed into a confrontation with a fighting Aragami as he relentlessly swung his scythe.

"I'm right behind you, Eryk!" Trista joined his confrontation against Chi-You, and swung together at it until Lulu also joined. The three tried to overwhelm the bird Aragami until it tried to reverse roundhouse kick Lulu, but she ducked and countered with a medium kick on its abdomen. Chi-You was pushed back before Lulu jumped and switched her swords into Glaive to give it a follow up hit, but it suddenly jumped back, and Lulu grunted after her glaive slammed the floor.

"Haa!"

Misha immediately tried to catch it with a vertical fang, but the Aragami persistently sidestepped.

"Gotcha," Hugo leapt and swung his long blade from its left side, but despite its broken wing, still managed to block it, albeit its arm still taking damage.

"You can still defend yourself with that? Dammit!"

"Then let's see if it can block this!" Garret rushed with his sword raised. "Haaa!"

He swung down, and Chi-You dodged before he continued his assault.

"Haah!"

"Huah!"

"HAA!" Garret swung down again, but still missed, and being vulnerable, Chi-You closed in and tried to karate chop him.

"Not so fast!"

Garret countered with a parrying upper, and connected, pushing Chi-You back.

"Amber!"

"Heaaave HO!" Amber slammed her hammer after Chi-You narrowly dodged, but she quickly leapt in with her hammer boost, and activated her acceleration trigger. "Taaake THAT!"

Despite Chi-You blocking her slam with its right wing, the shockwave stunned it, and stumbled a few steps back before kneeling down.

"IGNITION!"

Taking advantage of this, Amber boost charged her hammer before beginning her assault.

"Haah!"

"Hua!"

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

She continued her boost rush until she jumped into a spin, and raised her hammer.

"FINAL SMASH!"

Connecting her boost impact, Amber shattered Chi-You's last wing, and stunned it again.

Trista laughed, "Looks like hammer girl got this one."

"Ah, such splendid power," Adrian stroked his bang. "I would like to bathe in its magnificence sometime."

"The rest of you guys will get it after this," Trista grinned. "I'll pretty much give this trial run a big pass."

"I'll look forward to it," Eryk said. "Looks like our unit will take it to a whole new level with this."

"Just don't tell captain Daris once Keith starts putting it on you guys," Trista said. "Because us first, haha! You guys ready to finish this?"

"Can't wait," Eryk nodded as he readied his scythe.

"I will finish this cretin with grace, wolf leader," Adrian pointed his sword in a fencing stance.

"Then let's get it, boys," Trista grinned before they rushed.

Hugo laughed, "Can't let Trista beat us hounds for this. Ready up!"

"Yeah," Misha nodded. "I'll show big sis how much stronger I've become."

"I'm coming along with this," Lulu swung her right sword. "Even despite bringing one down before, this one still gave me a hard time. My pride won't have it."

Then Hugo chuckled, "You still did good at it, but anyway…"

He held his sword back, "Time to end this!"

Then the three also charged.

---

In the meantime.

"We're done here," Shin and everyone walked out of the room carrying a chest with Zeke.

"What the?" Jerad suddenly leaned forward from the wall. "You guys are carrying that out of here?"

"Yep," Shin nodded. "Not letting this chance slip."

Jerad chuckled, "So, this mission just turned into a pirate treasure hunting?"

"Arrr! You salty, matey?" Gustav suddenly said with a change of his voice. "We scallywags mus help our vice cap'n bring home the booty."

Then everyone laughed.

"Okay," Jerad chuckled. "You got me on that one."

"Chrysanthemum, Wolf 2. Request status of Wolf 1?" Shin contacted Mia.. "We're about to move eastward."

"Roger, they are still in combat, and no known reported casualties yet," Mia replied.

"OK, good," Shin nodded. "Let's get out of here, and head east. Let's wipe the rest out."

"Why, shiver me timbers, vice cap'n," Gustav grinned, and lifted his heavy moon. "Sail ho! Smol Aragami incoming."

Ogretails, Axe Raiders, and Zygotes appeared in droves from several entrances of the room.

"OK, enough pirate talk," Jerad swung his spear. "Let's kill them all, and go home."

"Aye, time to carve 'em some gizzards, then." Gustav chuckled before Shin, and Zeke laid their chest down before the rest readied their God Arcs.

"Aragami ain't stealin' our booty."

"Dammit, is it just me or are you acting out of character?" Jerad grimaced. "You have a split personality?"

"Just having a bit of fun," Gustav smiled. "I used to watch an old movie series about pirates, so I can't help it."

"Then you're a damn good actor," Jerad complimented.

"Oh, you didn't know?" Shin chuckled. "He mimicked a couple of characters from movies we watched before. It was both scary and hilarious at the same time, and he even got Trista spooked."

"Thanks," Gustav grinned before he became serious again. "Besides, these Aragami are just shrimps. Nothing for me to be too serious about, anyway."

"Heh, same here," Jerad grinned back. "Let's get this party started, then."

---

Back in Port Chrysanthemum.

Mia laughed, "Oh, these people…"

"Is everything alright, Mia?" Hilda suddenly spoke behind her while Amy giggled. "How are they doing?"

Mia suddenly jumped, "Oh, good afternoon, ma'am. Despite a few minor casualties, everyone is still A-OK, and are more than halfway through exterminating Aragami in the southwest Frozen Plant."

"I see," Hilda smiled. "Good to hear. Keep up the good work, and make sure everyone comes home safe. They're our new family members now."

"Absolutely, ma'am," Mia nodded before Hilda left.

"I really like these new people you brought in, Amy," Mia grinned.

"Yep," Amy smiled back. "You'll love working with them."

---

In the north sector.

"Hrah!" In Burst, Trista connected her axe against Chi-You, pushing it back before she grew a saw from her God Arc. "Now you're dead meat. Haa!"

However, it countered her with a light kick on her gut before it swiped her off on the face with its other leg, sending her tumbling back a few yards.

"Trista!" Hugo cried before he rushed in.

"Haa!"

"Huwah!"

Clash!

He grinded his sword against Chi-You's hands before Misha attacked.

"Ugh," Trista slowly got up before she spat blood. "Ooh, that really hurt."

"Captain, you OK?" Eryk suddenly stood protectively in front of her.

"Yeah, just a bad kick in the face," Trista stood up. "But I ain't down yet."

"Hrah!" Garret swung his heavy sword sideways, but Chi-You jumped, and tried to dive kick.

CLANG!

Hugo shielded him, and Garret quickly moved around him, and swung, but Chi-You managed to jump back.

"You got my hide again," Garret turned to him. "Thanks."

"Not a problem," Hugo readied his sword again. "We're in this together."

"Haaa!" Trista rushed again, and as she kept swinging, Hugo and Garret also joined in. After a few clashes, Adrian appeared behind it.

"I got you now," Adrian pointed his sword, and did multiple thrusts at the unwary Aragami's back. All of his thrusts connected, and Chi-You wearily stumbled forward before Lulu followed with a few slashes on its face, sending it back.

Desperate, Chi-You generated Oracle energy from both palms, and launched them in quick succession against them, creating a large smoke in the area. However, Trista suddenly leapt through the smoke, and smacked it with her heavy moon, surprisingly it.

"Grrr! I've just had enough playtime with you, Aragami," She gritted her teeth as she glared at her stunned prey. "Now die!"

Right before Trista charged, she felt something tingle in her mind. "What..?"

Then she noticed her right hand glowing.

"T-that's Engage!" Hugo cried. "Let's use it!"

"What the hell is that?!" Trista cried back before she remembered what Ricardo told her last night. "Wait…"

"No time to explain," Then Hugo raised his sword. "Just let your mind flow to me, and it will work!"

"Alright," Trista mentally relaxed herself, and then she suddenly flashed with a yellow light.

"Whoa, what just happened?"

"I just detected a high resonance response from the radar!" Mia exclaimed. "What happened?"

"We just activated it!" Hugo replied. "Let's do this!"

"Alright," Trista readied her heavy moon. "Just sit tight, Mia. We'll finish this!"

Then they rushed together.

"Wow, such beautiful light," Adrian admirably commented. "Such dazzling light."

"Amazing," Eryk commented with awe. "Another AGE thing, huh?"

"Yeah," Lulu nodded. "But Engage has happened between an AGE and a regular God Eater before. You guys can also probably do it with your captain and vice captain, too."

'Aww, I didn't get to Engage with Hugo this time..,' Misha quietly pouted.

"Wow, amazing," Amber stared in awe. "Can we also do that?"

"Beats me," Garret smiled. "But AGEs are really something, huh?"

"Haah!

"Huwah!"

"Ha!"

Hugo and Trista were swinging at the desperate Chi-You as it worked hard to parry their swings. Fatigue eventually overtook it, and Hugo connected a few slices before he kicked weakened bird Aragami back. It retaliated with an Oracle energy ball launch at him, but he dodged.

"I'm here, too!" Trista landed a heavy hit to it in response, and sent it flying back. Then she connected an axe downswing before she spun a homerun swing, and sent the Aragami flying back.

"Get up again, and I'll saw you in half," Trista growled while panting, growing a saw from her God Arc to get ready to strike another heavy blow again, but the Aragami remained motionless before it started fading into ash.

"Medium Aragami Chi-You confirmed eliminated," Mia reported.

"Hoo," Trista collapsed to her knees. "Damn thing's finally dead. Good fight, anyway."

"Captain!" Garret ran to her. "Are you alright?"

"Perfectly fine," Trista stood up, and held her heavy moon over her shoulder. "I'm just a bit tired."

"Big sis," Misha came to her.

"Heh," Trista waved.

"Such an extravagant finish, captain," Adrian praised.

"Engage, huh?" Trista murmured. "Such a rush. What is that?"

"You never Engaged with Shin before?" Hugo surprisingly said.

"Nope," Trista shook her head. "But before that, I did have that same yellow glow whenever we fought together, but we never got that figured out."

"Oh," Hugo scratched his head. "But now you know, heh. It's a power that allows us to share abilities with each other. The Power of Bonds. It's an ace up our sleeve."

"And only AGEs can use them?" Trista asked.

"Normally, yeah," Hugo replied. "But Jerad and Claire used it before."

"So, that means us regular God Eaters can use it, too?" Eryk asked.

"It's a possibility," Hugo replied. "But as far as we know, only AGEs can initiate it."

"That's still remarkable, I have to admit," Eryk said.

"We'll talk more about this later," Trista said. "Our guys on the other side might need our help."

"Wolf 2's team is in combat right now," Mia suddenly reported. "They're only fighting small Aragami, but I think they'll be fine. They already reduced Aragami presence in this facility to 10%, and the number is still going down."

"Hah, those guys are killing it," Trista grinned.

"And with Jerad with them, they'll definitely be fine," Hugo laughed. "I bet he's having a good time right now."

---

In the west sector.

"Hyahh!"

In Burst, Jerad skewered an Axe Raider through the mouth, and blew it up with Mocking The Gods. The Aragami exploded into small bits.

"Ooh, that was gruesome," Gustav chuckled before slicing two Ogretails aside. "Do you always like killing like this?"

Jerad chuckled, "Yep."

"A quick, straight answer, huh?" Gustav smiled before shifting his heavy moon to shotgun. "Fair enough."

Then he shot, and blew two Zygotes.

"Can't let you guys have all the fun," Shin smiled after slaying a Dreadpike. "Let's take it up a notch."

Then he activated his devour, and crunched another Dreadpike in two before entering burst mode.

"Hah, you wanna play it that way?" Jerad grinned. "Fine, let's do this."

Then he pushed an Ogretail back with a thrust, and crunched it with his God Arc, extending his Burst.

"It's kill time, Shin," Jerad smiled.

"You're on," Shin smiled back.

"Damn, I'll have to pass this one," Gustav chuckled. "You AGEs have it good when it comes to Burst."

"I think I'm gonna join in," Zeke readied his hammer after he smashed an Axe Raider. "It's Zeke time, haha!"

Then he ran where the rest were fighting.

Claire sighed, "Are most AGEs like this?"

"Definitely not me," Keith chuckled.

"Fun!" Phym cheered. "Let's have fun, mommy."

"Fighting is not a game, Phym," Claire facepalmed.

---

"Haaaa!"

"Hayahh!" Selene ran and sliced an Ogretail before she turned and sliced Axe Raider. And then she parried another Ogretail's head before she finished it off with a thrust to its chest.

Then she blocked both Ogretails trying to bite her with her sword.

'How do I get out of this?' Selene gritted her teeth before she slid her sword, and slash the hungry Aragami at the same time, and then quickly side-swiped the other one by the chest. She paused for a bit to catch her breath.

"Heh, nice parry," Gustav suddenly spoke behind her.

"Oh, thanks, Gustav," Selene smiled. "I..still have much to learn to catch up with you guys."

"Just keep it up," Gustav replied. "Everyone starts somewhere."

"Yeah," Selene nodded before she raised her sword. "They're coming."

"Well, they're all going to be mince meat around me," Gustav drew his heavy moon. "Stay close to me, alright?"

"Okay," Selene nodded.

---

"Hahaha! I could make kabobs out of you, if my spear was long enough," Jerad grinned after he skewered an Axe Raider, an Ogretail, and a Dreadpike with Brave Soul.

"Nice kill there, buddy," Shin smiled after he slew an Axe Raider. "With that, I guess I'll make pork cutlets out of this one."

"And I make burgers out of them?" Zeke grinned. "Man, you guys are making me feel hungry."

"Me, too," Phym said after she slew an Axe Raider. "Ka-babs, cut-lits, and berg-hers? Do they all taste good, daddy?"

"They do," Jerad nodded. "Just 'definitely' not with Aragami."

Then they turned to see a lone Axe Raider snorting, and pawing the floor.

"Ooh, last one," Jerad grinned. "Mine!"

Then he dashed for it.

"No, you won't," Shin rebuked before he also dashed. "I'm faster than you!"

"Damn you! Back off!" Jerad also rebuked. "This is my 30th kill to rub on your captain, haha!"

"Haaa!"

Jerad and Shin dove together, and right before they struck the beefing Axe Raider, it was suddenly shot to death.

"Huh?" Shin stopped.

"What the hell?" Jerad turned to the direction of the fire. "Claire?!"

"All Aragami in the facility eliminated," Mia reported, sounding like she was holding a laugh. "Nicely done everyone. Now return to base."

Claire smirked, "Sorry to ruin your game, but enough already, you two. You're acting like kids."

"Ugh, what a buzz kill," Jerad winced. "Dammit…Now I'm stuck at 29th?"

"Ooh, I knew I should have used acceleration trigger," Shin whined.

"That would have been cheating," Jerad rebuked. "Anyway, let's get the hell out of here. I'm done, and I wanna go home."

"Yeah," Shin nodded. "At least we still have our price."

Then both of them picked up the chest, and started walking.

Zeke held a chuckle, "You got your 'husband' really salty, Claire."

"Hmph," Claire grimaced. "I think he needs to act a bit more his age, and more importantly, he was being a bad example to Phym."

"Ooh," Zeke murmured. "You're right, but I think you need to cut him some slack. A pissed off guy like him gotta have fun, too, and not to mention they haven't seen each other for a while."

"I know that," Claire hissed. "But NOT around Phym, and there's time and place for that. I just don't want her to pick up his bad behaviors."

"Oh, jeez. Almost like a helicopter mom..," Zeke whispered to himself. "But fine, you have a point."

---

30 minutes later in the plant's entrance.

"Hey, good to see you all again. I already missed you guys," Trista grinned before it faded. "And what the hell is that hunk you're carrying, Shin?!"

"It's our treasure chest, ma'am," Shin grinned.

"Aye, a big booty we bringin' home, cap'n," Gustav replied with a gruff voice.

Trista paused for a few seconds before she laughed with everyone.

"Oh yeah, you guys better watch out for him," Trista said. "He has a split personality."

Hugo laughed, "Quite a good actor, huh?"

"Gustav, sometimes you look gloomy, and then you become jolly," Selene narrowed her eyes. "You're quite unpredictable."

"It all just depends on my mood. Hehe." Gustav grinned.

"So, how many kills did you rack up today?" Trista demandingly asked.

"Twenty nine," Jerad confidently grinned.

"Ugh! I got twenty seven!" Trista grimaced.

"Looks like I win again, haha!" Jerad sneered. "Undefeated champion."

"Grrr! This isn't over yet!" Trista cried. "Next time, I'll pile you up with more dead Aragami."

"Do your best," Jerad smugly snorted.

---

Then once they are outside near their trucks.

"You still alive, right?" Jerad grinned.

"Of course, I am," Selene furrowed her brows. "Are you mocking me?"

"Somewhat," Then Jerad chuckled with Gustav. "But, I'm serious, too."

"D-don't treat me like a child," Selene glared. "I'm 15."

"Ohh," Jerad raised his eyes. "Then you're still a kid, haha."

"Jerad, please stop this," Claire grimaced.

"Relax. I was just playing with her," Jerad grinned. "Anyway, I'm gonna help out with loading the trucks."

"Ooh," Selene pouted before Jerad turned away to help load their gear into their truck.

Claire sighed, "Please don't take him seriously, because I think he just considers you a friend. He's a good person at heart."

"Oh..yeah," Selene murmured before Claire left, and by chance, she glanced at the spot where she almost died. Then she frowned.

"Um, Gustav?" Selene murmured.

"Hm?" Gustav turned. "What is it?"

"I-I haven't thanked you from earlier, have I?" Selene frowned. "Thanks for saving me."

Then Gustav looked away for a few seconds before he closed his eyes, "It's alright. We're teammates, after all."

Then he turned back to her, "We're also family, and I would never leave a family member behind."

"Oh, thanks again," Selene smiled. "I'm glad to feel more like part of the group."

"Everyone here are good people," Gustav smiled back. "Don't ever feel left out."

---

"Ooh, I need a shower," Misha twitched her nose after sniffing herself. "I feel icky."

"Perfect timing," Trista replied. "I'm gonna take a shower myself once we get back, and our Port has great shower rooms. Nothing like that damn prison we used to be in."

"Uh..u-uh," Amber raised her eyes, clutching her chest. 'Oh no..she might…'

"Are you alright, Amber?" Garret asked after he stowed his God Arc in their truck. "You look like you saw a ghost."

"N-no, nothing," Amber shook her head. "Oh, by the way. My last candy for my last snack here."

Then she searched her jacket, and then was pleasantly surprised it was still in it. "Yes! I didn't drop it!"

Garret chuckled, "Congratulations."

Then she unwrapped it, and broke it into two. "Here, Phym."

Amber handed her the other half, "Let's share."

"Ooh, candy?" Phym beamed a smile.

"Yep, it's a chocolate bar," Amber smiled. "It's pretty sweet."

"Thank you," Phym gently took the chocolate bar, and bit it. "Mmm, good."

Jerad, and Garret groaned.

"A pair of candy girls..," Jerad chuckled.

"I don't disagree with that," Garret also chuckled.

"So, guys. Feedback time," Keith said. "How was acceleration trigger for you guys?"

"Freakin' awesome!" Trista replied. "I have no complaints."

"I loved it," Shin replied next. "It even saved my life today, and I loved how it helped me move quicker. It will take some more getting used to, but I have no complaints so far."

"What happened to you, Shin?" Trista narrowed her eyes. "For an Aragami to almost kill you, that one must be a tough cookie."

"It was a Havakiri," Shin replied. "Very aggressive and quick."

"And we fought a kung-fu Aragami for a change," Trista said. "I wanna kick the other one's ass sometime."

"Heh, it wasn't easy," Shin shrugged. "But whatever floats your boat."

"Ahem," Keith cleared his throat. "So, Amber, and Garret. How are yours?"

"It was a bit scaary," Amber murmured. "But I'll get used to it. That's all."

"It's an amazing piece," Garret replied. "It made it a lot easier to wield my big sword, and it will be hard for me to let this go. Thanks again for putting this on me."

"Ah, very nice," Keith nodded. "I guess the trial for you guys is a success."

"Definitely," Trista smiled.

"Now I can't wait to have mine," Eryk said. "After watching them use them so effectively, I want to see what it can do for me."

"Same here," Gustav pitched in. "I could probably swing mine like the captain does."

"Why, I'm flattered," Trista grinned.

"Such a magnificent device," Adrian said. "I can't wait to see what graceful moves I could do with it."

"I would also like to have mine," Selene finally spoke. "I'm not the most experienced here, so I think having it could give me more leverage. I already started thinking about how I can make it compliment my style."

"Good thinking," Shin nodded. "I'm sure you'll find them. There are many possibilities you can do with it, and I'm still trying to find more."

"And before you know it, you'll be cutting Aragami into ribbons," Jerad grinned. "Just ask Hugo, and my sister here. They know."

"Hey, you're making us look evil," Hugo whispered.

Jerad chuckled, "Hey, it's true, and I don't mean to make it sound that way."

"Thanks for the encouragement, guys." Selene smiled. "I could always use more tips."

"Anytime," Hugo smiled. "Just talk to us if you need anything."

"And I'll be more than happy to teach you," Misha also smiled.

"Alright, it's settled, then." Keith closed his notebook. "Thanks for all the feedback, guys. I still have enough spares for the rest of you, so when do you guys want yours?"

"I think it should be your call," Eryk replied. "You're the one doing the work."

"Okay. How about early morning tomorrow?" Keith proposed.

"Sounds good," Gustav replied. "I have no problem with that."

"I'll bring some canned coffee, and energy drinks to help us out," Eryk added. "Anything specific you need?"

"I greatly appreciate it, but anything will do," Keith nodded. "Thanks."

"Oh wait, Keith," Trista called him. "I already told these guys, but keep this thing behind doors until the rest of my guys have them, OK? Don't let anyone outside of us know, especially Daris. We first, hehe."

"Ookayy," Keith chuckled. "I will...By the way, how many God Eaters does Daris have?"

"About 17 of them, including him and Eugene," Trista replied.

"Wow, that's quite an army," Keith commented.

"But we're stronger than they are despite being smaller," Trista boasted. "We're considered Chrysanthemum's elite by they themselves, and we rack more Aragami kills than all of them combined."

Hugo chuckled, "Rightfully so, I guess. Your guys are pretty good."

"Ahh, to receive such praise from the leader of the Hounds," Adrian gave him a courteous bow. "I'm gracefully honored, good sir."

Then Hugo only chuckled.

"So, I guess I have to make a lot more of them," Keith said. "But no problem. They're not hard to make."

"We'll help you out, if you need it," Eryk said. "Just tell us what you need, and we'll do what we can."

"Heh, I love you guys," Trista grinned. "But yeah, please help him as much as you can."

"Yes, ma'am," Gustav nodded.

"Alright, we've rested here long enough now," Trista said. "Let's all go home."

"You got it," Hugo nodded. "Zeke, let's hit the road."

"Right by you," Zeke replied before everyone boarded their trucks, and drove north.

---

In Port Chrysanthemum's loading dock.

"Alright, we're finally back," Hugo disembarked from the truck.

"Whoo," Trista also hopped out of her truck. "It was really an awesome run today."

"Now I really can't wait to have my shower," Misha sniffed her collar. "Eww, I really smell bad."

"I can't wait to have a nice hot shower myself," Zeke smiled.

"Uh, sorry for eavesdropping but..," A male mechanic suddenly spoke. "You guys are the new ones who traveled with the owner, right?"

"Yeah?" Hugo replied.

"Uh, sorry but you can't use the shower inside the ash crawler at the moment," The mechanic said. "We secured it today for maintenance."

"Are you serious?" Jerad grimaced. 'Shit!'

"You guys can freely use the Port's showers for a change," The mechanic said. "In my honest opinion, it's much better than inside the vessel. It even has a bath section."

"Oh..," Hugo raised his eyes. "That doesn't sound like a bad trade."

"Yep," The mechanic nodded with a grin. "It's a great place to relax, and I can't wait to bathe there myself after my shift is done. Well, I have to get back to work, or my supervisor will have my behind. Take care of yourselves."

"I will," Hugo smiled. "Thanks."

Then Jerad also sniffed himself. "Oh, dammit. I have to shower now, too? Because there's no way I'll hang out tonight like this."

"What's wrong with showering together?" Shin grinned. "We're all going to be guys in there, so..wait, don't tell me you're…"

Then he raised his pinky finger.

Then Hugo, Zeke, Garret, Eryk, Adrian, Gustav, and Keith laughed.

"Very funny," Jerad furrowed his eyebrows. "Maybe it's better you ask Zeke that."

"What the hell? You bastard!" Zeke glared at him.

"Hah, you're the one who sulked off," Jerad retorted. "Serves you right, huh?"

Then he turned to the wolf boys, "You guys better watch out for him, or he'll 'size' you up, too."

"Size you up?" Misha raised her eyes while the two men bickered. "What do you mean by that?"

"Don't ask," Jerad refuted. "This is boys only."

Remembering what Jerad told her that morning, Claire raised her eyes, "I can't believe you guys...Ugh!"

Then she winced with embarrassment.

"Claire?" Misha murmured.

"Your brother is right," Claire also murmured. "Just..don't ask."

Trista laughed, "Oh, Misha…"

"What is it?" Misha turned to her.

"Nothing," Trista shook her head with a grin. "Just..boys being boys."

"Yay, I get to shower with everyone," Phym cheered before Claire giggled.

"Yep, you're gonna love it there, little girl," Trista grinned. "We have a bathhouse in it, too."

"So, where's the shower?" Lulu asked.

"Once you enter the Port square from the loading dock, turn left, and go straight through the hallway until the end. You can't miss it," Trista replied. "And the ones for guys are on the right side."

Then she turned, "And Shin, I'm leaving you in charge in making sure your boys find the men's bathhouse, and if a single one of them somehow ends up in ours by 'mistake…'

"I'll have your head."

Then Shin grimaced, "Yes..ma'am."

"Let's go, everyone," Trista boomed. "Let's all get washed up, and then eat. I also want to get wasted tonight."

"OK, guys," Shin said. "After you get your new set, meet me up in the square."

"Got it," Hugo nodded.

---

30 minutes later.

"Here we are," Shin said. "Pretty spacious, huh?"

After Jerad looked around, he made a deep sigh, "Private stalls? Good."

Then he turned to Zeke, "And you stay away 10 feet from me, AND two stalls away from me. Got it?"

Then everyone chuckled.

"Okay, okay. Jeez," Zeke groaned a while shaking his head.

---

Meanwhile.

Claire, Phym, and Misha were using adjacent lockers from each other, and while dressing down, Amber quietly walked to them.

"U-um, You're Claire and Misha, right?" Amber murmured.

"That's us," Misha smiled. "What's up?"

"Since you're new here, please be careful with the captain," Amber whispered before looking around.

Then Selene also came over, "Yeah, because she likes-."

Slam!

"Haha! Whoo!" Trista yelled from the entrance before walking to the other girls, and threw her new gear into a locker. "Finally gonna have a nice warm shower, and I can't wait to try this new shampoo I just bought."

"Does it smell nice?" Misha asked.

"Hoo, yeah," Trista replied before popping the cap up. "Wanna try?"

"OK," Misha took the bottle, and sniffed it. "Wow, it really smells nice."

"Yep," Trista grinned. "How about you, Claire?"

"Sure," Claire took the bottle, and also sniffed it. "Wow, it does smell amazing. Where did you buy it?"

"I'll show you tomorrow," Trista replied.

"Can I also try it?" Phym beamed up. "Please?"

"Why not?" Trista handed her the bottle. "Here."

"Wow, it smells goood," Phym said. "Mommy, can we buy one?"

"We will tomorrow," Claire smiled.

"Thank you," Phym giggled.

"Hm, maybe I should also consider that tomorrow," Lulu said.

"It's great," Trista replied. "I wanna see how this will soften my hair."

Then she closed the cap.

"Alright, Ima get started," Trista said before she started dressing down.

After a few minutes, Misha, Claire, and Phym were already showering when Trista was peering behind a stall. She glanced at Misha, then at Claire, and then at Lulu. Trista grinned at the most interesting prey in the middle, and snickered quietly as she started tip-toeing towards her target...

"This feels so refreshing, isn't it?" Claire sighed after she finished lathering her hair, and rinsing.

"Yeah," Misha replied while still lathering her hair. "It's also time that I…"

Then she froze.

"Uh, Misha?" Claire raised her eyes as she saw her standing quietly still, with her hands still up on her head.

"M-mommy?" Phym stuttered, backing against a ceramic wall.

But before Claire turned…

"CHA-CHINGGG!"

"Ahh!" Claire gasped as she saw a pair of hands with both armlets grasping her chest from behind.

"H-HUOOOOOOOOH!" Trista cried behind her. "Such huge melons! Is this an E-cup?! No! These are definitely bigger than Amber's so this is gotta be F-cup!"

"C-captain!" Amber glared at her while Selene giggled.

"Auntie? What is 'ee-cup,' and 'ef-cup?" Phym whispered.

"Well..," Misha whispered with a smile. "You'll..get it once you grow up."

"I get ef-cup when I grow up?" Phym innocently smiled.

Misha quietly giggled, "Maybe…"

"C-could you let go of me?" Claire stuttered, shivering.

Then Trista evilly snickered, "Nice juggies, Claire. Your boyfriend Jerad is such a lucky guy, isn't he?"

Claire gasped, "J-J-Jerad?!"

She could almost feel like fainting.

'J-Jerad?' Selene raised her eyes. 'That spear guy..?'

Then she frowned.

"Ho ho, you're gonna try hiding it?" Trista sneered. "Obviously, with you and him being Phym's mommy and daddy. You've always hung out with him, and gave me a bad eye every time I joked around with him..like right after that last mission. Hehe."

"W-what?" Claire stuttered.

Trista grinned, "I've also noticed he had a soft spot on you, and still remembered how volatile he was back when we're still together. Ricardo also once told me he changed ever since the owner took him in, so I was left to connect the dots, aand it wasn't too hard."

Then she chuckled, "To think you would tame such a beast, you're something, Claire. He wouldn't even look at me the way he does to you back then."

"Ugh!" Claire grunted, and started gripping Trista's arms.

Then Trista laughed before letting her go, and then Claire turned a glare at her.

"Hey, relax," Trista waved her hands. "I ain't stealing him from you. He's all yours. Haha!"

"That's not very appropriate, you know?" Lulu rested her hand on her waist. "Even though we're all girls here."

"Haha, are you just jealous?" Trista grinned.

"What?!" Lulu glanced at her chest before glaring back at her.

"Gotcha," Trista laughed. "But you do have a good figure. I'll give you that."

"D-don't you judge me!" Lulu snarled.

Then Trista started curving your fingers, "Do your best, then."

"B-big sis, don't!" Misha warned.

Amber whimpered while clutching her chest, "I-I really hate it when the captain's like this…"

"Me, too," Selene whispered. "I wanna get out of here…"

---

Around the same time.

Hugo and everyone were already taking their showers before Zeke turned at the seemingly occupied private stall with a snicker.

"Zeke..Don't. Even think about it," Hugo grimaced. "It won't end well for you."

"Come on. Why not?" Zeke chuckled. "It's all just fun and games, right?"

"You even drove Jerad away from you," Hugo murmured. "Just. Don't."

"Nah, don't be such a party pooper, man," Zeke turned, and walked off.

"Zeke!" Hugo whispered. "Oh, dammit…"

"Hmph, suit yourself then..," Jerad continued washing himself, who decided not to use a private stall, anyway.

Then Zeke snuck to the stall, and paused for a few seconds before he abruptly yanked the curtain to the side.

"What the?" Zeke gasped as he found nothing but a human-like figure made out of four towels craftly tied together hanging on a shower head.

Suddenly, a figure swiftly jumped out of a nearby stall, and flicked his towel straight at Zeke.

WHOOPSHH!

"OWWWWWW!" Zeke suddenly jumped.

"OOOOOOOH!" Everyone cried with incredulity as Zeke winced while holding his butt, and around the same time, Shin quickly wrapped his towel around his waist and tied it with a smug.

"Oww, that's gonna leave a mark," Hugo started laughing.

"Serves you right," Jerad also started laughing.

Keith also laughed, "Hope you finally learned your lesson, bro."

"Oh, man. He got ninja spanked!" Eryk cried before the rest started laughing.

"You honestly thought I would fall for that, Zeke?" Shin grinned. "Considering what Jerad told us earlier, there's no way I would let that happen. I'm not stupid."

"Ugh, damn you..!" Zeke grunted, still wincing and holding his butt.

"Aww," Shin sarcastically cooed. "Try that on me again, and I'm gonna whip your family jewels so hard, you won't ever have kids."

Then everyone laughed again, some to the point that they leaned against the wall.

---

Back in the girl's shower room.

"Ouch. That really hurt," Trista murmured while rubbing her head. "You didn't have to bonk me that hard…"

Misha laughed, "I told you, big sis. It was so funny watching you two grappling each other, though."

"I tried to warn you," Lulu grinned. "Now you know I can do close quarters combat."

"Tch," Trista winced before Misha laughed again.

After several minutes, everyone was about to finish dressing up. Claire was about to finish dressing up Phym, and as Misha was tying her hair, she felt another set of hands helping her tie it.

"I really missed these times," Trista warmly said as she finished tying her hair. "I can't believe you still kept it."

"I loved it," Misha smiled back. "Thanks."

Then all the girls finished dressing up, and packed their dirty clothes in their bags for laundry later.

They eventually met at the square, and agreed to meet up there again after they stowed their thing away.

---

30 minutes later.

"So, where does everyone want to eat?" Hugo asked.

"There's a lot of us right now," Trista replied. "So, maybe a buffet? Heh."

"Wow, a buff-faye, daddy?" Phym jumped with excitement. "That means I get to eat lots?!"

Jerad chuckled, "Yeah, but remember what I said, leave some for others, OK? There are a lot of us, so don't be selfish."

"Yeah, I think that works," Hugo smiled. "Oh, dinner is on me tonight."

"Huh?!" Trista narrowed her eyes.

"I wanna make it up to you guys for not having that welcoming party when we just came here. I know it was uneventful, so I figured I should do it like this," Hugo explained.

"Heh," Trista plainly smiled. "We're not that worried about it, to be honest. It's enough that all of you guys are with us now."

"Yeah," Hugo smiled. "But please let me do this for you guys..Plus you guys are great people."

"If that's how you want it," Jerad suddenly spoke. "Count me in, then. I'll pitch in."

"Me, too," Zeke raised his hand. " I also helped win this negotiation."

"I agree with my brother, and Zeke," Misha smiled. "I'm probably the least who helped, so let me in this, too. I also want to make it up for that."

"That's BS, sis," Jerad shook his head. "You and Claire helped Lulu with acceleration trigger info."

"There's that, and..," Misha turned to Hugo. "I can't have you go broke over this, so I'm pitching in, and I won't take no for an answer."

"Heh, thanks," Hugo smiled.

"I'll go, too." Lulu said. "Back then, I thought that there was no way I would let this happen to you guys. I know what it's like to be used up, and I won't let this happen to myself, and to everyone of you again."

"I'll also contribute," Claire said. "Because if it wasn't for you guys, I wouldn't be where I am now. I would like to help you back."

Misha giggled, "I think you're giving all of us too much credit, Claire."

Then she glanced at Jerad, "Except him. He did most of the work for you."

Trista laughed while Jerad shyly looked away.

"It's good to have people who have your back, huh?" Trista smiled.

"Heh," Hugo scratched his head. "I could say the same for you. You even started your own pack."

"We also owe a lot for our captain," Garret smiled.

"She took us in when we're a lost cause," Eryk murmured. "We'll follow her to the bitter end."

"I want to say the same," Gustav murmured.

"Oh hush, you guys," Trista grimaced. "You're making me blush."

"I'm sorry, but it's no sugar talk, ma'am," Gustav said. "We really meant them."

"Ooh," Trista shivered before everyone laughed.

"Let's go guys," Hugo smiled. "Knock yourselves out."

---

In the Dining District.

"So, this is the Port's largest buffet?" Hugo smiled. "It looks nice."

"Frankly, it's the only one we could really go to since there's so many of us," Trista chuckled.

"Good," Hugo replied. "Let's all dig in."

"I'm so hungry, daddy!" Phym jumped.

"Whoa, just wait a little longer, OK?" Jerad laughed.

"Phym, please be patient," Claire giggled.

"Tummy hungry," Phym murmured.

"I know," Jerad patted her head. "Just wait a little longer."

"Good evening," A desk person greeted them. "How many people?"

"Fifteen," Hugo replied.

"No problem. We'll get the tables set up for you in a few minutes," The desk person replied.

"Also, seven of us here will pay together," Hugo added. "Will that be OK?"

"Of course, sir," The desk person nodded. "Let me divide the total cost for each of you, and then...there." He smiled.

"Alright," Hugo smiled before him and the rest of the Hounds swipe their cards.

"Thank you, sir," The desk person smiled. "And your table is ready. He'll lead you there."

"Thanks," Hugo said before a waiter led them to a large table.

"What will be your drinks?" The waiter asked before everyone gave him their orders. "Will that be it?"

"Yep," Trista nodded. "Thank you, and please enjoy yourselves."

"So, the way buffets work, just grab your plate and utensils, and then get any food you want in those isles. Eat all you can." Trista smiled.

"Wow, I'm so excited, daddy!" Phym excitedly jumped. "But what should I eat?"

"Just whatever," Jerad replied. "But no sweets until you're finished, OK? Desserts should always be your last."

"Okay," Phym nodded before everyone went on to grab their selected meals.

Sometime later.

"You gotta be kidding me, Phym." Jerad raised his eyes. "That's a mountain full on your plate! Can you eat all of that?!"

"Yes, daddy," Phym confidently smiled. "I wanna get more."

"No, just no." Jerad hesitantly shook his head. "That's enough on your plate for now, and just get more after you finish that, OK? Remember what I said earlier."

"Haww," Phym frowned.

"I just said you can get more after what you have now," Jerad stroked her head. "Just don't be greedy. Eat one at a time, that's my point."

"Okay," Phym nodded, smiling again.

"Good girl," Jerad smiled. "And you, Claire? You don't have much."

"I'll be fine," Claire murmured. "I have to keep watching myself."

"I think you're worrying a bit too much," Jerad grinned. "Pretty sure you'll burn all of 'that' quick after a mission or two."

Then he chuckled.

"Jerad!" Claire glared at him.

"Hey, I'm just telling you to enjoy yourself while you're still here," Jerad rebuked. "Knock yourself out."

"OK, fine. Just for this..," Claire murmured.

---

"Wow, they got a lot of food here, Hugo," Misha drooled. "I can't even tell which one to pick first."

"Yeah," Hugo smiled. "I'm also having a hard time trying to pick them."

"I'll just settle with this for now," Misha grinned. "I'll try the rest later."

"Me, too," Hugo chuckled.

---

Several minutes later.

Everyone came back to the table, and sat down with platefuls on each.

"Ugh..gah!"

Being last, Zeke slowly sat down, and grunted.

"Zeke, are you OK?" Lulu squinted. "You've been walking a bit awkwardly while you're getting your meal."

"Nah..I'm fine," Zeke murmured. "Dammit, this really hurts."

Then all the boys held their laughs around the table. Jerad looked down, and covered his mouth while Claire curiously squinted at him. Phym confusedly glanced around after seeing Shin plainly grinning at Zeke.

"Oh, shut up, all of you," Zeke grimaced.

"Uh..what's up, guys?" Trista smiled. "Did I miss something?"

Hugo let a bit of a chuckle out, "Nothing too bad. It's just...a boys' thing."

Then the guys chuckled a bit more.

"Oh..I see," Trista chuckled. "I..guess I had my share of that, too."

Then she grinned at Claire and Lulu, and the two girls glared at her.

Phym only giggled.

"OK, guys. That's enough." Hugo smiled. "Let's all enjoy our dinner so we can enjoy hanging out more tonight."

"Yeah," All the boys agreed.

"Wow, Phym," Selene gasped. "Are you going to eat all of that?"

"Yeah," Phym nodded with a smile. "I'm gonna eat more."

"You must have a good..digestive system," Selene giggled.

"A bottomless pit stomach, if you ask me," Jerad chuckled.

Then after 30 minutes.

"Hoo, boy," Hugo slouched back, rubbing his stomach. "I've never eaten this much before."

"Me, too," Misha sighed. "And I'm feeling kind of sleepy."

"Heh, how many platefuls did you eat, Phym?" Jerad asked.

"Four!" Phym quickly answered before everyone chuckled.

"Wow, four," Trista raised her eyes. "I can't even eat more than 3, or I would throw up. How can a kid like you eat that much?"

Then Jerad and Claire shrugged.

"OK," Trista nodded. "Well, let's get out of here, and I still want a bottle tonight."

"Oh, boy..," Shin murmured.

---

Another 30 minutes later in the cafe.

"Woo, about time," Trista grinned. "Three bottles for my guys here, please."

"Here you go, ma'am," The waiter slid a bottle across the table to her. "Enjoy yourselves."

"Ooh, can I try that, daddy?" Phym smiled.

"Eh, sorry, Phym," Jerad smiled back. "You can't drink this one yet."

"Aw," Phym frowned.

"Hey, I don't drink much of this, either," Jerad chuckled. "So, how about I buy us both a fruit drink? You like strawberries, right?"

"Yeah," Phym nodded with a smile.

"Then you got it," Jerad grinned. "Two strawberry juices, please."

"You got it, sir," The waiter replied.

"Aw, come on, Jerad. You're still not a drinker?" Trista furrowed her eyes.

"I'm still not," Jerad plainly replied while Claire giggled. "Just a casual one."

"Jeez, you gotta have a bit of fun once in a while," Trista shrugged. "But whatever, then."

"I don't mind a glass or two later," Jerad said. "If that makes you feel better."

"Deal, then," Trista replied.

"Oh, hey. Ain't the wolf pack finally here together," Daris grinned. "You got the new guys here, too. How's the mission?"

"Hah, a crazy one, Daris," Trista grinned while stirring her already half drunk glass. "Got a kick ass story to tell you."

"Sure thing," Daris nodded. "I got my guys hanging out over there. You guys care to join?"

"Sure," Hugo smiled.

"Damn Ricky isn't here yet, but he told me he'll be here pretty soon," Daris said.

"Ricky?" Hugo raised his eyes.

"Yeah, your guy Ricardo Sforza," Daris grinned.

Hugo and everyone laughed.

"I see."

"Hey, boys and girls!" Daris boomed. "Our new guys are here. Why don't you give him a nice welcome?"

"Ooh," His unit awed.

"I saw these dudes in the loading dock earlier," A guy named Marcus said, whom Hugo remembered seeing him carrying a long blade that morning.

"Yeah, I already heard rumors that these guys are pretty good," Jake said. "And a group of AGEs at that. I've never seen that before."

"Ehh," Hugo chuckled, scratching his head. "Thanks. We're still trying to build ourselves up."

Daris laughed, "Hey, don't be shy. They're all nice people."

"Yeah," Hugo smiled.

"You too, kid," Daris grinned. "Don't be a stranger. We're all family in this Port."

"I'll..try," Jerad murmured.

Then everyone sat together on a large roundabout table, and started introducing each other. After they finished, the Hounds were bombarded by curious Fox members with many questions, asking them about what Port they came from, what God Arcs they each wield, and how they fought Aragami. They also shared stories from funny happenings in their previous missions to casual hilarious stories in Chrysanthemum.

Though frightened at first, Phym gained a lot of attention and adoration from female Fox members, but Jerad and Claire assured her that she would be fine with them, and they did not mean any harm for her before she warmed up. Phym had a myriad of hugs, pinches, headpats, and even some tickles, much to Jerad's amusement. Though, this was also not without Jerad and Claire's embarrassment from being the adorable girl's 'parents.'

Already half-drunk, Zeke enjoyed boasting about his hammer skills, but was also challenged by their vice captain, Eugene, who claimed that he can wield his like feather, and crushed countless Aragami with it. He eventually challenges Eugene that once they go on a mission together, they will see which one of them will rack more Aragami kills, and which one of them is more stylish which Eugene gladly accepted, much to the thrill of his own members.

Once drunk, Trista loudly swaggered everyone into playing poker with her, promising that whoever beats her will get a bottle in her tab, and while seeing Claire looking after Phym, and socializing with Misha, Lulu, and the other female Fox members, Jerad decided to go to the counter, and order himself a drink, keeping Trista's advice in mind. He stood alone not far away from the cheery group, and watched them as he popped his bottle open. Shortly after, Claire noticed him, and stood up after making sure that Misha and Lulu could look after Phym.

"Hey, guys!" Ricardo finally arrived in the cafe.

"Ricky!" Daris called out. "You're finally here. Come have fun with us!"

"Alright. In a sec," Ricardo nodded before he turned to a waiter on a desk. "One bottle for me, please."

"Coming your way," The waiter replied before he laid the bottle on the desk, and Ricardo paid for it.

Then he walked to the lively group, and after he opened his bottle, him and Daris clinked for a toast.

"Are you alright?" Claire walked up to him while holding a large glass of lemonade.

"Oh yeah. I'm perfectly fine," Jerad replied after taking a few gulps before setting his bottle on a long table behind him. "I know everyone is nice, but it's just that..I'm not used to talking to a lot of people at the same time, that's all. It's pretty draining."

Claire giggled, "I see. I kinda feel the same way."

"Heh, you too, huh?" Jerad smiled. "You're also not a drinker?"

"I don't drink at all," Clair replied. "Not very fond of the taste."

"Yeah, you're probably better off, anyway," Jerad murmured before grabbing his bottle. "These things could mess you up in so many ways. I just drink for social reasons."

Then he drank a few gulps.

"But yeah, I'll be back soon. I just wanna rest." Jerad smiled.

Claire giggled, "OK. Just..don't overdo it."

Jerad laughed, "Don't worry, I won't, and I can't last long with these things, anyway."

Then they waved at each other before Claire came back to the crowd, and a few minutes later while he was trying to finish his drink, Jerad saw a woman who seemed to be in her mid-twenties, and a young boy holding her hand entered the cafe. He noticed that the woman was wearing a God Eater armlet on her right wrist but it was wrapped with yellow stripes before Daris came and greeted her with a kiss, and then carried the boy in his arms. He smiled as he realized that they must be Daris' family he mentioned earlier, and speaking of family, Jerad suddenly felt his chest grow heavy and frowned as he pondered why. Was it envy? A nostalgia of his late parents? Or perhaps...a longing. He quickly shook these thoughts off, and drank a few more gulps before he emptied it.

"What's up, buddy? Still a social drinker, huh?" Shin suddenly spoke, also holding a bottle.

"Huh? Oh yeah," Jerad stirred his now empty bottle, wishing it had more, at least a bit more...

"I'm gonna get another one," Jerad said. "Be right back."

"Sure, man," Shin nodded before waiting for less than a minute before he came back, and then Jerad popped his bottle open.

"Whoo, a nice cold fresh one," Jerad chuckled before gulping a few. "This will definitely be my last one."

Shin chuckled, "Cheers for us lowly social drinkers, then."

Then Jerad laughed as they clinked their bottles, and then Hugo came, also half-drunk, and smiling.

"Hey, can I hang around with you guys for a bit?" Hugo chuckled.

"Uh, sure why not?" Jerad replied before he also did a toast with Hugo.

"Oh, jeez. Trista's crazy when she's wasted," Hugo laughed. "And a loud one at that."

"YES, I WIN!" Trista suddenly boomed, raising her arms. "Now who wants to play against me next? Huh?!"

Then the three laughed.

"This is why everyone called her the She-Wolf," Shin laughed.

Then Jerad and Hugo laughed.

"That fits her nicely," Hugo chuckled before he drank his bottle. "Hey, guess what? We are officially part of Chrysanthemum now. Cheers."

"Heh, cheers to you, too." Then Hugo and Jerad clinked their bottles again.

"Now we can finally feel true freedom, huh?" Hugo murmured. "When was the last time I've felt it?"

"Tch, ever since we were all little brats," Jerad replied.

"Yep. Now we can really start working towards our dream," Hugo grinned

"Hugo, help mee..," Misha suddenly leaned on him, and had her arms wrapped around his waist while still holding her medium bottle, also half-drunk. "Big sis asked me how much I've grown, and tried to grab my chest. Mmph!"

Then she pouted while Jerad laughed.

"Huh? Don't you dare laugh, brother," Misha wearily grimaced. "Or I'll punch you to the moon."

"Whoa, relax, OK?" Jerad waved his hands.

"Misha, please calm down," Hugo chuckled before he put his free arm around her for support.

"...Anyway, what dream?" Shin raised his eyes.

"We're going to build our own Port, someday," Hugo replied. "A place where everyone of us, and even more later on, can live and achieve their dreams."

"Oh," Shin froze. "You're..not that drunk, are you?"

"He's not drunk..," Misha glared at Shin, still keeping her hug with Hugo. "He's just crazy, hee hee."

Hugo laughed, "No, I'm serious. I never talked to you about this, have I? Yeah, I talked to Jerad and everyone about this shortly after we left Pennywort."

"Wow," Shin raised his eyes. "That's a one tall dream, but I won't go against it."

"So, are you onboard for this?" Hugo asked.

"Well, I'd like to, but..," Shin frowned. "Trista and I owe so much to Hilda, and we committed ourselves to work for her for the rest of our lives, so I don't think I can go along with that, but we will definitely help you."

"Heh, I see," Hugo smiled. "I can wholeheartedly understand you two, and thanks for helping out."

"No problem," Shin smiled. "We're all going to be buddies till' the end."

Then they did an armlet bang.

"But first, like you, we also have a debt to pay Hilda," Hugo said. "Ricardo told me that she paid a huge sum of money, including from her own pocket, to buy us off Pennywort. We have to make sure we work hard for her until she's satisfied, and then we can move forward to our dream."

"Then we'll make that happen," Jerad smiled before he raised his bottle.

"Yep, let's do this guys," Hugo raised his bottle. "Cheers."

Then after they clinked their bottles, the three of them suddenly froze before Misha hid behind Hugo.

"SHIN!"

"C'mere!"

"Augh!"

Hugo, Misha, and Jerad jumped as Trista abruptly grabbed Shin's neck in an elbow lock.

"How much have you drank already, huh?!"

"Just one drink..," Shin grunted. "Dammit, let go!"

"Aww, that's lame," Trista murmured. "You gotta have more fun, and I can help you with that. Here, have some of mine!"

Then Trista started trying to shove her bottle into Shin's lips.

"Wait, that would be..!" Shin winced away as Trista struggled. "Shit! Stop!"

Shin continued to struggle from Trista's grip while everyone laughed before he eventually slipped away.

"Aww, he slipped off?" Trista slouched while still holding her bottle. "Dammit…"

"Ugh, stay away from me," Shin jumped away from her. "You stink!"

"Aww, that hurts, but whatever..," Trista hiccupped before turning to Hugo. "I'll just take a quick shower before I knock out. ANYWAY, Shin and I will help ya with that."

Then she drank a few gulps, "Plus Ricardo told us that Hilda wants us to go with you, and help out once we leave for freakin' Arrowhead. Ain't that awesome?"

"Ooh," Hugo raised his eyes. "Yeah, it is."

"Hah, cheers for us then," Trista raised her bottle before everyone did.

"Together again! Cheers!"

Then everyone clinked together before drinking.

"And Shin," Trista turned to him. "Once we're sober tomorrow, we have a morning unit meeting for Garret and Amber filling in for our leadership, and I hand picked them for the job. Don't be late, got it?"

"Yyes..ma'am," Shin slowly nodded his head, still keeping his distance from her. "And speak for yourself…"

"Oh, and Hugo," Trista turned to him next. "Since you're in this Port now, Ricardo wanted me to let you know that he'll show you your rooms tomorrow morning, so meet up with him sometime at 9."

"Ooh," Hugo raised his eyes before smiling. "Got it."

"Alright! Let's keep this party going a bit more!" Trista raised her arms. "Today is an awesome day!"

"Yeah!" Everyone, including the whole Fox unit, raised their bottles and glasses for cheers.

They enjoyed their company for another hour before they all decided to finally finish for the night, and before heading back to the Ash Crawler, Trista had to be helped back to her room by Shin with Jerad and Hugo escorting them, making sure no trouble happened.

Afterwards, everyone headed for their quarters to sleep, but Jerad decided to hang around the bridge, and like last time, he was surprised to see Claire suddenly appear from the elevator.

"Claire? What's up?" Jerad stood up from the guardrail.

"You're not sleeping yet, even though you're a bit intoxicated?" Claire murmured.

"Yeah, that's the reason why," Jerad replied. "I won't sleep well if I'm a bit drunk, so I figured I should hang out a bit until it wears out a bit more."

"Oh," Claire murmured before she leaned on the guardrail beside him.

"Phym asleep?" Jerad asked.

"She fell asleep quickly," Claire smiled. "She must be really tired from playing with everyone."

Jerad laughed, "I saw that. Everyone in that cafe loved her. She's like a celebrity."

Then Claire giggled, "Everyone in this Port is very nice, aren't they?"

"Yeah," Jerad nodded. "Hard to believe I'm part of this now."

"I wish other Ports were like this," Claire murmured.

Then Jerad closed his eyes, "Me, too…"

Then they became quiet for a moment before Jerad decided to break the ice,

"There's something I gotta ask you."

"Huh, what is it?" Claire turned to him.

"About this morning. What is the 9th Assault Battalion in Gleipnir?" Jerad asked. "My curiosity has been itching me for a while now after seeing your reaction, including Amber's. She clearly looked uncomfortable about it."

"Ah, so you also saw it," Claire frowned. "The Gleipnir 9th Assault Battalion is a penal unit, if I remember correctly."

"Huh," Jerad raised his eyes.

"God Eaters who commit grave crimes in the Gleipnir ranks were sent to that unit as punishment to atone for them," Claire explained. "Examples would be insubordination, murder, and sometimes deserting. They were treated as expendable, being sent into the most dangerous missions with high casualty rates, and only a few ever survived to complete their sentences."

"Really..?" Jerad shockingly replied.

"But a few things don't add up," Claire shook her head. "First of all, I don't think any of Trista's subordinates are bad people, and then why would Gleipnir send them here?"

"Hm," Jerad turned forward. "Back when you guys were digging up your treasures, Gustav talked to me about his past."

"Huh?" Claire raised her eyes.

"He told me he went against his captain's orders to retreat in a failed mission to save a girl who is an AGE," Jerad explained. "But he couldn't save her, and she threw her life away for him, instead. He didn't tell me what happened to him, afterwards."

"That's horrible," Claire gasped. "Why would he be punished for that?"

"I can't be sure," Jerad shook his head. "But going back to what you said, insubordination is likely what got him into that mess. He did also tell me that there are non-AGEs out there who wanted to reach out for us, and that we're not alone."

"Ah," Claire murmured. "I did hear rumors that there are people in Gleipnir who don't agree with how AGEs were being treated."

"Then I guess he wasn't lying at all," Jerad concluded. "Hmph! Gleipnir is even more pathetic than I thought. Eating their own…"

"Just when everyone is facing the same enemy," Claire murmured. "Why would people still turn against each other?"

"I don't know.., and I don't care," Jerad bluntly replied. "This world is rotten to the core, and all I'm interested now is protecting you, my sister, Phym, and everyone in this Port. The rest can burn down for all I care."

"Hm," Claire frowned. "I know you've gone through a lot, but I'm sure there's still hope that people can be better. Please don't lose faith."

"Hm," Jerad closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. "You know? Ever since we met, I've learned to look at others before judging them...even despite knowing how the world hated us."

"And you became good friends with a lot of people here because of that," Claire smiled. "I'm glad you gave everyone a chance."

"Hmph, yeah." Jerad looked away for a few moments before he sighed. "I'm gonna turn in now. We still have another day until we leave for..Arrowhead."

"Yeah," Claire smiled. "Let's go to sleep."

Then they walked together into the elevator, and went to their quarters.

---

The Wolf Unit

Note: Only Trista and Shin are AGEs, and all have English version voices.

Trista Chrysanthemum (Captain/Wolf 1)

Age: 20

Hairstyle: 01

Hair Color: Red

Face: 09

Eyes: 01

Eye Color: Wine Red

Accessory A: Ribbon 04

Accessory B: Tape 01

Voice: 03

Upper Clothing: B. Fenrir Battlesuit

Lower Clothing: B. Fenrir Battlesuit

God Arc: Manticore Moon/Mangia Bene/Resheph Shield

Shin Chrysanthemum (Vice Captain/Wolf 2)

Age: 18

Hairstyle: 03

Hair Color: Black with gray shading.

Face: 08

Eyes: 03

Eye Color: Silver Grey

Accessory A: None

Accessory B: Headgear

Voice: 18

Upper Clothing: Royal Sentinel

Lower Clothing: Royal Sentinel (Deco.)

God Arc: Resheph Twin 0/Bandersnatch/Resheph Buckler

Garret Steele (Wolf 3)

Age: 19

Hairstyle: 14

Hair Color: Crimson

Face: 08

Eyes: 03

Eye Color: Ruby Red

Accessory A: Extensions 4

Accessory B: None

Voice: 17

Upper Body: G. Fenrir Uniform (Collar)

Lower Body: Clean Cargo Pants

God Arc: Evil One/Resheph Sniper 0/Rejector

Amber Bradford (Wolf 4)

Age: 19

Hairstyle: 02

Hair Color: Blonde

Face: 02

Eyes: 01

Eye Color: Cobalt Blue

Accessory A: Ribbon 5

Accessory B: Beauty Mark

Voice: 08

Upper Body: R. Fenrir Uniform

Lower Body: W. Fenrir Fatigues

God Arc: Decatur/Resheph Rifle 0/Guardian's Targe

Gustav Krieger (Wolf 5)

Age:18

Hairstyle: 07

Hair Color: Dark Blue

Face: 08

Eyes: 03

Eye Color: Black

Accessory A: None

Accessory B: Face Paint 3

Voice: 14

Upper Body: Marine Battlesuit (Casual)

Lower Body: Night Battlesuit (Deco.)

God Arc: Resheph Ring A/Resheph Shotgun A/Ammit Tower A

Eryk Larsen (Wolf 6)

Age: 18

Hairstyle: 15

Hair Color: Chartreuse

Face: 01

Eyes: 01

Eye Color: Wine Red

Accessory A: Headset

Accessory B: None

Voice: 11

Upper Body: G. Fenrir Fatigues (Deco.)

Lower Body: Marine Battlesuit (Deco.)

God Arc: Ammit Scythe A/Type 60 Auto-Gun/Ammit Shield A

Adrian Lawrence (Wolf 7)

Age: 17

Hairstyle: 05

Hair Color: Sky Blue

Face: 05

Eyes: 01

Eye Color: Black

Accessory A: None

Accessory B: Sunglasses 1

Voice: 13

Upper Body: Dyed Top (Deco.)

Lower Body: Raven Suit (Deco.)

God Arc: Resheph Knife A/Ammit Sniper A/Ammit Buckler A

Selene Belfiore (Wolf 8)

Age: 15

Hairstyle: 04

Hair Color: Light Brown

Face: 02

Eyes: 04

Eye Color: Silver Grey

Accessory A: None

Accessory B: None

Voice: 17

Upper Body: Night Battlesuit (Casual)

Lower Body: Shadow Assault Suit

God Arc: Resheph Blade A/Resheph Laser A/Ammit Shield A