Atlantic Ocean

The engines roared, running at full speed and driving the carrier across the skies. Inside of the cabin, Utsugi leaned against the wall, his fingers tapping anxiously against his knee. He watched the scenery pass him by, an endless ocean of blue and white as they soared through the clouds. Following Director Schicksal's announcement, the First Unit Captain had cut short his visit, boarding the first available transport home to the Far East. With such short notice, he had only managed to acquire roughly half of his planned medication supply but didn't think much of it. It seemed a far less pressing matter than the impending apocalypse and he figured that he could always return to collect more at a later time. Unless of course, they failed to stop Schicksal's plan in the first place.

Then later would never come.

Instead, he had focused on a much more pressing issue at hand: his incompatible God Arc. With the end of the world upon them and little time at their disposal, Lenka had implored the engineers to divert all energy resources to his weaponry… a decision that proved highly beneficial.

There were benefits to collaboration with the North American branch, particularly in the offensive department. As the leading branch in military capability, their weaponization was unmatched. As well as producing some of the most dangerous God Eaters in Fenrir's operation, they also manufactured the heaviest artillery. And in this case, that was precisely what Lenka needed.

With the use of some newly acquired cores, some extra supplies, and repurposed parts from his old God Arc, the North Americans had outfitted him with a shiny new weapon. It was lighter and slightly more nimble than his previous one, capable of quicker shift times, heavier strikes, and faster bullets. More importantly, it came with a nifty augmentation that empowered his bullets, allowing for enhanced damage when firing divine shots. With this new gear, he should be more than ready to take on anything the Director could throw at him… at least that was what he had hoped.

Regardless, he would find out soon enough. One way or the other.

. . .

Far East Branch Headquarters

"Damn it! The old man's not here either. Where the hell did he go?!" Soma snarled furiously at no one in particular as he stomped quickly through the halls.

Following his father's assault, Soma had been left momentarily disabled on the floor of the doctor's office. With the use of smoke grenades and underhanded tactics, Shio had been forcibly taken from the office. Having been shielded from the brunt of the damage, Sakaki had swiftly taken pursuit, leaving Soma behind to recover in the wreckage. The veteran had followed quickly after him the moment he was able to, but unfortunately, he hadn't the slightest idea of where either of them had went. Wandering aimlessly through the Den, he was growing frustrated… and he was giving serious thought to unleashing it upon the nearest vending machine when a somber voice interrupted his thought process.

"They took Shio, didn't they?"

At the sound of Sakuya's voice, Soma whipped around, catching sight of two familiar faces. From the opposite end of the hallway, he saw his former teammates approaching him. The First Unit's women had returned and as a result, he found himself smirking despite his irritation. He couldn't help but feel entertained by the brazenness of his companions, wandering shamelessly through the Den's corridors as fugitives of the law. "I thought you guys were on the run. Looks like you ran back to the lion's den."

Alisa returned his expression, firing back at his sarcastic remark with a quip of her own. "We figured you'd be lonely, so we thought, hey, might as well come back and lend a hand."

"We've been hunting for another path into Aegis, but no luck there." Sakuya's expression hardened slightly as she returned them to the matter at hand. Joyous as she was to see her teammate again, they had little time for reunion. "They're so close to launch that they must've locked down the entire perimeter. There's no other way in."

Soma clenched his fists, his arms trembling as his temper dangerously flared. What more could possibly go wrong? How many more people did he have to lose? Surely if his father had his way… it would be all of them.

"I think there might be. I'm not so sure. I think there's a tunnel leading there underneath the Den."

Startled, all three God Eaters turned at the sound of yet another familiar voice… one of the last ones they expected to hear. Even Alisa couldn't hide her surprise at his approaching form, flaming hair sticking wildly from beneath his yellow hat. She didn't think the day would ever come that she would actually be happy to see him.

"Kota! I thought you'd turned on us. You and your family were gonna join the Ark." Alisa's words tumbled off her tongue unthinkingly in her relief. But as she noticed his slightly dejected look, she quickly backpedaled. "I… Sorry. I should have known better. Thank you."

Kota's eyes lifted from the floor, his mouth curling into a smile. "Come on. I think it's down here."

Turning, Kota led his teammates back the in the direction he came. The four of them practically threw themselves into the lift as it arrived, none of them knowing how much time remained. It wasn't exactly the quickest method of travel, but it was certainly the safest. The elevator was the most direct route to the underground floors that required no navigation of the labyrinths that were Fenrir's stairways. It was also the least likely to get them into trouble, since they had no way of knowing whether or not the Director's sympathizers were still wandering about. This would ensure them safe passage.

Or so they thought.

Their tension quickly rose to alarm as the elevator slowed, coming to a halt a few floors below. Their hair stood on end as the bells rang, the locks disengaging to open the doors. How could he have possibly known? Did Schicksal's sight truly extend so far? If so, they had little time to ponder it. If his intent were to stop them, it would pose a huge problem. In such close quarters, there was little space for any physical conflict. Assuming that they had weaponry, they were at a severe disadvantage clumped together in such a small space.

Carefully, Soma stepped forward, positioning his teammates behind him. As the most durable, he was best equipped to shield the others from harm. And once he took the brunt of the force, the other three would be free to engage the enemy at will. Quickly catching on to his plan, the rest of the unit felt in line behind him, readying themselves for the incoming assault.

But as the doors slowly opened, their bristling faded into confusion as an equally surprised expression met their own.

The four members were met with yet another teammate, who was waiting anxiously on the other side. It seemed that their transport had stopped them on the veteran's floor. Dumbfounded, Soma gaped at him for a moment before finally blurting out a surprised response. "Hamasaki?"

"Soma? What… wait, Sakuya? Alisa?" The surprise was evident in both his voice and his facial expression as he saw his two fugitive allies standing quietly behind him. His confusion only grew as he noticed the head of red hair in between them, his bright clothing drawing immediate attention to his direction. "Kota?!"

"Heheh… hey there." Kota laughed sheepishly, unsurprised by Ichiro's startled reaction. Truthfully, he wasn't entirely certain of this decision himself.

Ichiro stared at them for a moment, trying to make sense of the scene. The gang was all there, with the exception of their Squad Leader in the West. His first thought was to seek answers for the unusual turn of events, but after a moment he thought better of it. Shaking his head, he stepped forward, joining them in the lift. As much as he wanted to question this unexpected reunion, he didn't have time for this. He had other matters to attend to. His eyes stared forward at the empty hallway as the doors locked into place before their transport resumed its descent.

After a few moments, Alisa broke their uncomfortable silence, her curiosity getting the better of her. "I wasn't expecting to find you here. I take it you heard about Shio?"

"I haven't. I was going to - wait, what happened to Shio?" Ichiro answered absentmindedly at first, his mind taking a moment to process her question. Turning his eyes from the metal doors, he looked to the young blonde, his eyes widening in surprise.

"He took her." Soma's words dripped with rage, answering him without a moment's pause.

"…Damn." The other veteran's mouth pulled into a frown at his response. He had only been apprised of the news bulletin. Holed up in his room, he had been unaware of the events taking place on the other floors. It seemed the Director had found her sooner than anticipated, which spelled nothing short of disaster for both him, Neo, and everyone else still residing on the planet.

His initial objective had been to locate Neo. His course of action once he did would be dependent upon the state he found her in. But this new information changed everything, throwing a huge wrench in his plans. If the Singularity was already in Schicksal's possession, he wouldn't waste even a moment in utilizing her. They wouldn't have much time to stop his operation.

Depending on how long ago she was taken, they may already be too late.

The elevator fell once again into tense silence, each God Eater sharing his concern. But shortly afterward it was broken again, this time by another God Eater. Listening carefully to his response, Kota had made quick observation of other details surrounding his older companion. Particularly, he took notice of his attire from his gloved hands to his casual white shirt, hidden beneath a thick layer of thermal wear. At his hip, he could see devices carefully affixed to his beltline, most of them completely foreign to him. And near the back…

"Wait… so then, what are you doing here? You're like… totally strapped, dude."

Ichiro didn't answer him. He didn't want to answer him. He couldn't answer him. If he said the words, it would only make it real… and he wasn't certain he would keep his nerve if he were forced to accept it. Instead, he let his mind consider other, more positive possibilities. If Shio had been taken, did that mean the attack against Headquarters had been planned? Had it been Director Schicksal or some other form of interference? Perhaps that had been the source of the power outage to begin with. If that were so, that meant that Neo was innocent. In fact, she may have had nothing to do with any of this at all.

Faced with that possibility, the veteran grew hopeful. His intention had been to stop Neo. But if she wasn't the culprit, that meant she may not yet be beyond redemption. And now, with the Devouring Apocalypse mere moments from beginning, he would need to change course. This would allow him to distract himself for the time being, buying some time before continuing on his original mission. For now, he would focus on saving the world. Then, he could focus on saving her.

With renewed resolve, Ichiro finally opened his mouth and spoke. "I'm joining you guys, obviously."

"You're coming with us to Aegis Island?" Kota grinned from ear to ear, his eyes practically shimmering with glee.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

Kota scratched his head in embarrassment. "I mean, I don't know. I just thought maybe you might… um…"

"Sit back and let some asshole on a power trip start the apocalypse? Yeah. Not gonna happen." Ichiro's backhanded response earned him an even wider smile from the gunner. But after a moment, he remembered the tan-skinned veteran standing beside him, eyes locked forward. "Er… I mean…"

"No. You were right the first time." Soma shook his head, stopping any apologetic attempts in their tracks.

"I meant no offense."

"None taken."

He was a bit surprised, momentarily stunned by Soma's snappy reply. But his harsh tone didn't match his expression. Upon closer inspection, he could see a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. And soon, Ichiro found himself wearing one as well.

. . .

Reaching the lower floors, they made their way to the underground weapons hangar, where the five of them quickly retrieved their God Arcs. Alisa and Sakuya gratefully thanked Licca for holding them while the other two collected theirs from their storage devices. With weapons in hand, the squadron left for the lower passages, relieved that they had successfully avoided any wandering eyes. With nearly everyone boarding the Ark by this point, it seemed there was now little cause for concern. That was, of course, until they arrived at their actual destination.

"Grrrgh! Damn! It won't budge without they key." Kota growled, glaring at the massive lift. It figured that they would finally find a doorway only to have it locked. They had managed to arrive unseen, but to no avail… or so they thought.

"I guess it doesn't surprise me to find you all here."

"Tsubaki!" Sakuya gasped, jumping nearly a foot in the air at her unexpected arrival. Of all the people that could have found them… "We have to find a way -"

"Just, don't. I'm not here to arrest you. Who do you think I am? The whole region's in chaos now that the Ark is so close to completion. All those who had a seat… already left." The five of them stared silently at the Major, unsure of whether to be relieved or terrified.

Stepping forward, Sakuya decided to break the tension. "Well… what will you do then?"

"What I always do, I suppose. I will fix my little brother's crazy messes. And speaking of crazy… How did you know there was a path down here, Kota?"

At Tsubaki's inquiry, every pair of eyes turned towards him. She had voiced everyone's silent thought, and now all of them were curious of the answer. Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, Kota laughed nervously. "Well… heh. Back when I thought they were building an underground residential section, I tried to sneak a peek. I didn't know it was worth anything until now. Besides, the Doc told us in class that they were using this big ol' factory as a staging area for the Aegis. So I figured, 'Hey, how else are they gonna get it there?'"

Alisa and Ichiro both stared, absolutely dumbfounded by the young God Eater before them. Just when they thought that Kota couldn't surprise them any further, he shocked them once again. Sakuya stuttered slightly, uncertan of what to say. Soma merely shook his head.

Tsubaki on the other hand, simply smiled. "Hah! And to think, Sakaki was always fuming about you falling asleep in class. I don't know who to believe. I have the release key here. But be warned, if you're going over to Aegis, you'd better be ready."

The five God Eaters said nothing. They only looked at one another, silently asking the question. Were they really ready for this? To stop the end of the world?

"Think hard about your decision. There is still time. If you leave now, all of you can board the Ark, if you hurry."

Soma shook his head. "No way I'm letting that bastard get his way. Over my dead body." His eyes narrowed as he stood his ground, arms crossed defiantly across his chest. He meant every word of his declaration. He was prepared to die to put a stop to this… and if he failed, that was exactly what would happen.

Emboldened by Soma's display, Kota quickly followed suit. "Right! I'm with Soma. We won't lose! We can't lose!" He pumped his fist in the air, earning a sigh from the blonde beside him.

Alisa rolled her eyes but followed her comrade nonetheless. "Even if we wanted to board the Ark, we can't. We're enemies of Fenrir. Our names are no longer on the list."

"Actually…" Tsubaki slowly stepped forward, her heels clicking along the metal floor. Flipping a few pages and turning her clipboard, she displayed the list to the group. "Your disqualification has been revoked. The two of you are cleared for passage. All of you are."

"What?!" Sakuya stepped forward, running her eyes carefully over the list. Tsubaki was right. Surely enough, both her name and Alisa's were present, written bold with an asterisk beside them. She recognized this authorization level, reserved only for the highest ranking members of Fenrir's operation: essential personnel. They had not only permission, but immunity well. "B-But that's - how…."

Tsubaki shook her head. "I know about as much as you do. Perhaps the Director had a change of heart. So as it stands, the choice is yours."

Sakuya paused for a moment, trying to make sense of the situation at hand. It didn't make any sense. A change of heart for that man was already impossible… but to give them immunity as well? No. Director Schicksal wouldn't do something like that. Not unless he had a very good reason. Not unless…

Suddenly, a disturbing thought entered her mind. He had already known about her plans to infiltrate Aegis as well as her meddling in his operations. What other information did he have? Was it possible that he knew about the extent of her research? About what she had found regarding Fenrir's underground facilities? The hidden documents that she had acquired in the hidden servers?

Could he be attempting to trade her safety… for her silence?

Shaking her head, she rid herself of the thoughts. His motivations didn't matter. "My place is here. We will succeed."

"That's right!" Alisa smiled, showing her own determination. "He won't get away with this."

Nodding, Tsubaki finally turned her attention to their silent member. Ichiro stood behind them, observing the situation. She already knew what his answer was going to be. "I'm sure I don't need to ask this, but I assume you've made up your mind as well?"

"You know me too well, Major. I will do whatever is necessary to keep her safe."

"I know. You made that abundantly clear when you turned your Arc on me."

"Uh… heheh…" Ichiro laughed nervously under her scrutinizing gaze. He had certainly gotten a little carried away, hadn't he? "Yeah… sorry about that."

The Major only smirked, shaking her head at him. It was all water under the bridge at this point. If anything, she admired his dedication. With their decisions made, she looked them over once more. "Then I only have one more thing to say. I'm proud of each and every one of you. Fight well."

With her parting words, Tsubaki stepped forward toward the lift. Scanning her card, she backed away as the doors opened. As the five of them entered the elevator, Tsubaki saluted them, offering them farewell. They returned the gesture, smiling solemnly as the doors closed in front of them.

. . .

Aegis Island

The five God Eaters rushed forward the moment the doors opened and were quickly stopped by a drop-off. The lift had taken them directly into the heart of Aegis. How convenient.

Alisa looked around, awestruck by the sight. During their reconnaissance, the building had been nearly pitch black, blocking most of their vantage. When the light returned, the two of them were far too preoccupied to take a good look around. Now that they could see clearly, it was a horrendous sight. "This place is…"

"Holy crap. It's huge!" Kota erupted, finishing Alisa's sentence in a far less gracious manner.

Disregarding the pair for the time being, Soma turned his attention upward to what could only be described as a monstrosity. The tendrils wrapped around them like vines, surrounding the entire area in an almost tree-like fashion. But as his eyes followed the strands he traced them to the source: a gargantuan mass… the head of a woman. And unconscious within the forehead was…

"Shio!" Calling out her name, Soma lead the charge, leaping from the landing and rushing forward.

Beside her, standing on the top of a mechanical arm was Johannes, gazing hungrily at the small child trapped within the clutches of the world-eater.

"I only crave what is inside you. Give in, little thing, and surrender those precious tears… Time for fighting is past…" Slowly, he turned, addressing the First Unit as he finally acknowledged their presence. "You were so fond of this little monster, weren't you, Soma? Perhaps you saw something of yourself there. Foolish choice, my son. Very foolish indeed."

"Enough! You're no father to me. You can think yourself a savior, but you're a traitor! Let Shio go!" Soma erupted, brandishing his God Arc menacingly at the man he once regarded as kin. He knew not the man standing before him… not anymore.

Schicksal offered only a coy smile as he turned his attention back to the child beside him. A twisted smile appeared on his lips as her body trembled, her soul finally giving in to the Nova. Her body began to glow with golden light, spreading to the monster's forehead and quickly to the vine-like locks of hair. Having gotten what he wished for, Johannes turned his attention back to the group.

"I've attained the Singularity from within her. I suppose I have no further use for the vessel. Very well. She is free."

Within seconds, the Nova released her… and Shio was in freefall.

Soma didn't waste a single moment. Tossing his God Arc to the ground, he sprinted forward pushing every muscle in his body, willing them to go faster. She was falling. Faster and faster toward the ground… and he couldn't reach her. He was almost there. He was so close. Mere feet away from her he lunged forward, arms outstretched, and as he approached her time stood still.

He could see her approaching the ground and his hands so far away. He wouldn't be able to reach her in time. He couldn't save her. And as her body slammed, headfirst into the metal floor below, he had a violent moment of familiarity as he recalled another woman he had been unable to save. He could almost feel the folds of her scarf slipping through his fingers, mere moments before she disappeared into the wilderness.

He flinched as her skull hit the ground with earsplitting crack and her body immediately followed. Shio was gone.

Sinking to his knees, Soma gathered the broken body of his fallen friend into his arms. Her rice-white skin somehow seemed even ghostlier now in death as her tiny frame lay limply against his body. He could feel his eyes burning with tears that wouldn't spill, and his body trembling with rage. He had felt this way only once before, nearly three years ago, when he had heard the announcement on the Fenrir news station. The death of his closest friend, gone forever. Fallen from the skies into a sea of ocean blue. The same was happening now once again, and as before, he'd never had a chance to say goodbye.

But this time was worse. Because he had lost not only one, but two loved ones on that day. Shio had wormed her way into his heart before he had a chance to realize it. And then she had been torn away from him. He had given so much to save his friend. And in doing so, he had unintentionally lost the other, gone someplace far away where she may never be found. She had so recently come back into his life only to once again be taken away. He had tried so hard to protect them… and in the end, he lost them both.

The rest of the First Unit watched speechlessly, pain crushing their hearts. What could they possibly say? Nothing. They could almost feel Soma's anguish as he knelt on the ground frozen as the rest of them. Then… there was motion. Ichiro was the first to shift, lifting his head to the sky. His light brown eyes tore a piercing glare through the man before them who had taken so much from so many.

"Long the road… Treacherous the road we have taken to come here. For years I have nurtured the Nova, devouring only the traits it needed. For years I scoured the earth, seeking burned out husks of ships that could survive space. For years I built and waited and prepared this journey. Now at long last… Now it all ends!"

The ground rumbled beneath their feet, the vibrations reaching them from the source in the distance. As Johannes stared smugly down at them, the Arks began to ascend, lifting to the heavens leaving only trails of blinding light in their wake. The ships had sailed…and they had been left behind. And soon to follow, all would perish as the Nova devoured the world, with all of them on it. They had lost. Johannes had won.

"The contest has been decided. I, the victor. Come on out, Doctor. Haven't you hid enough?"

Quiet footsteps sounded, grabbing the attention of all but Soma as Paylor revealed himself. His robes swayed as he walked forward, stepping between the squadron and standing to face his dear old friend.

"We are too late. It is too far gone."

Johannes scowled, snarling back at him. "No! We tread the chasm, one mistaken footfall enough to send us down. Each day, thousands fall to the Aragami. They are but a match before the fires of redemption. Nova, the Sword of Damocles, shall swallow whole this wretched Earth! This world is already dead."

On the ground below, the First Unit glowered at him, watching his descent into madness. And beneath him, his son still remain rooted in place.

"When falls then the fateful blow? Minutes? Hours? Perhaps centuries? When it does, Aegis will be no shield to us, and I will not hide like a fawn before the hunter. I will bring this horror to bear. It is inevitable. And when controlled, the best of us can survive to this next generation." Lowering his eyes, he turned his attention to Sakaki. "Did you not have the same dream, Doctor? To use this Singularity? Save you were begging it to hold back its divine flame."

"I wouldn't say that." Paylor lowered his head slightly as every pair of eyes turned to him.

Kota's eyes widened and Alisa's mouth fell open in utter shock. Ichiro could feel his fists clench and Sakuya narrowed her eyes.

The Vice Commander was the first to break the silence, addressing Sakaki with poorly restrained rage. "What does he mean, Doctor? You… knew all of this?!"

"I wanted to preserve the world, Sakuya. I knew I could. So I endeavored to make an Aragami like us, safe like us. If I could prolong the state before the Devouring Apocalypse rose, perhaps then… But I hoped to create an autonomous intelligent Aragami. I wanted to curb their natural instinct, their predatory ways." Paylor shook his head. "And I used you all to do it… I used Shio to do it… I wish there had been another way."

"Of course. You dreamt of peaceful coexistence with monsters. You were never a scientist, Paylor, just a romantic with a fragile heart. You could have known it a fool's errand if only you had seen. In all of human history, when has such a being arisen? When has a human ever eschewed their instinct and remained autonomous?"

For a moment, Paylor fell silent. His mind raced, filled with images of a woman's small form. Of her violet hair. Of her brown skin. Of her blue and golden eyes, alight with fury. Then, he shook his head in defeat. "Maybe never, Johannes. And maybe they never will. But damn it, I believe they can! You entered hell and abandoned all hope long ago."

"You cut me, but the words are untrue. Do I doubt humanity? Do I think them weak and petty and pathetic? Yes. But there is one thing I know. Humanity will always strive for use to their intelligence. They will strive to live. Our natural instincts are no different. Gaze into the mirror. We are Aragami, the Nova in different flesh. Our saving grace is our minds!"

Sakaki glared up at the director. "For ages I have known that we could never come together. You've torn away Shio's core. That's your key, isn't it? You have your Singularity. You have your Apocalypse. And now I face this world knowing I have nothing else…"

"I will not deny your cleverness, Paylor. Sending me to Europe, a desperate plea to buy time. But I had already won."

"Hahaha! Yes, I suppose you must have known about that. Time must truly have been on your side to have gone along so meekly."

"My friend, I have always known. Do not grieve as night comes… The Singularity will rise like the dawn. It will point the way to a new Providence. The cycle of planets and life, tied to the Wheel of Fate and Time. It is Divine Providence." Johannes smiled at the familiar sound as the last Ark lifted off into the sky. With her rising safely to the stars above, his final mission was complete, his final debt repaid. All that remained was to suppress the remaining rebels. The ground trembled once again, but this time from a different source.

The group watched in astonished horror a large mass rose from the ground, hidden within an underground compartment. It resembled a golden egg, its surface radiating with unimaginable power. What was that thing?

Far beyond the realm of reason, Johannes continued his tirade. "Who else would you wish to find at such a pinnacle? Who else could stand so in the new world? In any world? Only humanity. The truth… The only truth. We are above all. We… Hahaha! We ourselves have become the Eater of Gods!"

Alisa felt her heart stop as the golden egg began to unfold. Its corners peeled away like the petals of a flower, opening to reveal the ghastly creation slumbering within. She didn't know how to describe it. She had never seen anything like it. It appeared to be an Aragami… but it also appeared human. It was large and silver with fuchsia appendances, its snarling face like that of a demon. And in its arms was the body of a woman, her rose-colored skin a stark contrast to her guardian behind her.

Sakuya stood speechless as the mechanical arm approached them. Then her jaw nearly fell to the floor when its back began to open. Its skin unfolded before him. Then Johannes did the unthinkable. He leapt from his perch… and into the body of the Aragami, disappearing beneath its folds.

Paylor sadly shook his head. Johannes was gone. The one before him was nothing more than a shadow of his closest friend, fallen victim to his own vanity and avarice. "I admit, I was curious to see the outcome of that battle. Will Gods become human, or humanity turn themselves into Gods? Alas, I must admit defeat. Ah, no different from an Aragami, Johannes. No different than the creature you bred to destroy us. I never thought I'd turn to faith. Too much trust in what I could see and feel. But I have faith in you, God Eaters. In each and every one." With his final words, the doctor slowly walked away, retreating to safety. There was nothing more he could do. It was in their hands now. As he vanished from sight, Soma gently placed Shio's body on the ground before rising to his feet.

Sakuya tightened her grip as the Aragami awakened. "Are you watching us, Lindow? We made it all this way because of you. And we won't give in now. Not when we still have strength left!"

Training his barrel, Kota echoed Sakuya's sentiment. "All this time, I just wanted someone to make me a heaven. To protect my family, to care for my friends. I should have learned a long time ago that it was no easy feat. I guess I've only one option… I'll have to fight for it… I'll have to make it myself."

Alisa followed his movements, readying her own weapon in response. "You're right… And you're not the only one. Even I can come back, even I can fight. As long as I have you guys, I can do anything."

Reaching them, Soma narrowed his eyes. His mind was in a daze. The world around him was fading. How had it come to this? Why? He wanted to cry. To mourn the loss of so many fallen. He wanted to scream with rage at the people he couldn't protect and the lives he couldn't. He wanted to kill and destroy. To slaughter every last Aragami on this God forsaken world… but he couldn't save. He wasn't even sure they would survive this battle. He was angry. He was tired. He was lost.

Then, a had reached out to him through the darkness, dragging him back into the light. A hand to remind him that he wasn't powerless. That he wasn't alone. The hand was gentle kind, pale and fair. He wanted to take it and follow it back to his comrades. Then, it dawned on him. It was an actual hand. Ichiro was standing before him, arm outstretched… and in his hand was Soma's God Arc. He had retrieved it and offered it to him. Wordlessly, the veteran took his weapon, offering a grateful smile… which Hamasaki returned.

Evil One in hand, Soma turned to face his father, his voice returning to him as the Arda Nova came to life. "Guys, sentimental speeches are all well and good, but we're a little short on time right now… Cover me!"

The Goddess's eyes glowed red, the halo around her head shining with ethereal light. Behind her, the God roared, his father's voice melding with that of the Aragami that consumed him. "Come rain, and storm. Come wind, and scream! You cannot have this spring! In the tempest-tossed seas, only one haven remains. But you are barred from Eden. Blink out like the stars!"

. . .

Far East Branch - Lobby

A heavy sigh escaped as Tsubaki leaned tiredly against the mission desk. After opening the gates, she had returned to the Den lobby to contact Utsugi and give him an update on their situation. He was currently in transit to their location, apparently with new weaponry to aid in their fight. Unfortunately, he was traveling across continents and it was no telling whether or not he would arrive in time. Ending their transmission, she now stood in wait with Hibari.

The women were two of a handful that remained, sparsely scattered throughout Fenrir's headquarters as they awaited the beginning of the end. Behind the desk, Tatsumi stood beside the desk operator, gently patting her back in solemn comfort. There was nothing more to be done but to wait and hope beyond hope that the First Unit would be successful in their mission.

"Um… M-Major!"

"Hm?"

Hibari's nervous voice tore Tsubaki from her pensive state, bringing her quickly to her feet. "What is it, Takeda?"

"Take a look at this."

Groaning inwardly, the Major leaned forward, giving Hibari her full attention. Her eyes swept over the computer screen as she turned the monitor, flicking over the map. Observing carefully, she could see a red splotch emanating from Aegis Island. A signature so large that it threatened to consume the island itself. Beneath it was another, smaller, signature moving rapidly around the center. While Tsubaki had no clue what lay at the heart of the island, she could determine that whatever it was, the God Eaters were handling it.

"The First Unit has it under control. I know it's difficult but have a little faith."

Hibari shook her head, pointing once again to a point on the screen. "No, Major. Look here."

Twitching slightly, Amamiya leaned even further forward, trying to get a better view of the screen. Curiously, Tatsumi leaned forward as well, Hibari's concern now piquing his own interest. For a few moments, they saw nothing out of the ordinary. There was nothing more than whatever monstrosities lay at the center of the island. It was worrisome, certainly, but nothing more than she would have expected. Then then she saw it.

Squinting carefully, she noticed another signature located some distance away from the two primary targets. The signature was fluctuating, brightening and dimming, fading and materializing, as it steadily grew in strength. It was located near the opposite side of the island. And it was moving.

Very, very fast.

Alarmed, Tsubaki quickly gave the order. "Get in contact with the First Unit. Now."