Aegis Island

Footsteps echoed through the empty hallway, the only audible sound beside his heavy panting. Weapon in hand, Lenka Utsugi had finally arrived in the Far East. He, like many others, was already aware of the Director Schicksal's schemes and came armed and prepared to help his teammates, who were undoubtedly attempting to stop him. He had been prepared for battle, for a long and possibly deadly fight. What he hadn't been ready for was the sight that greeted him upon his arrival.

He couldn't explain what he had seen from his vantage point during his descent. At best, he could only describe the gargantuan mass as a monstrosity far larger than any creature he had ever seen in his life. With the head of a woman, it dwarfed even the Ouroboros as it lifted its almost heavenly form into the skies above.

Panicked, Utsugi practically tossed his medical supplies to the Major as he barged through the metal doors. Following a quick briefing, he took his leave, rushing towards Aegis island, praying with all of his might that he wasn't already too late. While he was certain that the floating goddess was evidence of their defeat, he wasn't willing to give up hope just yet. If he were lucky, there may still be survivors left behind in the wreckage. The First Unit was powerful. Surely, someone must have made it through.

Making his way through the underground tunnels, he quickly arrived at Aegis Island. Luckily, most of the Far East had long since evacuated, giving him easy access to the location. But his hopes were quickly dashed when he arrived at its heart. The area was nothing short of decimated, with much of Aegis Island destroyed. The ceilings had collapsed and massive piles of rubble, debris, and shattered stone littered the metal floor. Throughout the clearing, he could see evidence of their conflict, damaged walls, broken machinery, and even a human-sized dent against one of the walls where someone had been thrown.

He hadn't a clue what type of warzone the place had previously been, but if the aftermath were any indication, it wasn't likely there was anyone left. Regardless, Lenka wasn't one to forfeit so easily. Instead, he went to work, digging through the damage and lifting beams, searching anywhere and everywhere for any survivors, or in the worst case, their corpses. Finding no one in the ruins, he found his hopes renewed. If no bodies were present, it was possible that they already left. He just had to figure out where.

With newfound resolve, the First Unit Captain left the area, making his way into another stairwell to double back to the mainland. But with the unfamiliarity of the winding hallways, it didn't take long for Lenka to find himself disoriented. Taking a wrong turn down an underground pathway, it was there that he stumbled upon a sight that made his stomach turn. A nauseating image that would likely haunt him for the rest of his days.

He rounded a corridor, finding not an escape route, but a hallway stained with red. Blood spattered the walls and streaked unevenly along the floor in a crimson trail… and at the end of that bloody path lay the body of a man he recognized: Doctor Daigo Oguruma. Although it was difficult to tell in the state he had found him in.

His face was twisted in agony, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. His mouth hung open, giving an unpleasant view of the coagulated crimson that certainly flooded his lungs. But what bothered him the most was what lay beneath, where his chest lay torn completely open. He could see clearly into his ribcage where entrails lay dangling freely from shattered bone. In the center was an opening where his heart once resided… and he had a sinking feeling that the lump flesh lying a few feet away were the shattered remains. It was one of the most grizzly sights he had ever laid eyes upon; the stuff of nightmares.

Growing up outside of the wall, Lenka was accustomed to horrific and unnerving sights. He had watched humans devoured whole, vanishing helplessly within the jaws of mindless predators. He had seen even unluckier souls eaten alive, screaming as monsters ripped into their flesh. He had seen people torn to pieces, limbs and heads severed from their bodies. But each and every death, awful as they were, had been for a purpose. A terrible purpose that he would never be able to understand, but a purpose nonetheless.

This man's death served no purpose. He wasn't devoured or eaten to sustain a predatory nature. He was simply killed, slaughtered and left to die slumped against the walls of an underground facility. He was slain for no reason other than to kill. It was pointless, senseless murder. To make matters worse, his killer hadn't been humane in even the slightest. Quite the contrary, as whoever did this had done so with the intention of causing as much pain as possible. This wasn't the work of an Aragami. This was uniquely human.

His hand clapped over his mouth, fighting back the bile that threatened to spill forth. What kind of person would do something like this? What kind of person could, and more importantly, why? What could this man possibly have done to deserve such a gruesome, torturous death? Had he done anything at all? Turning around, he shuddered, his stomach lurching as the smell of rot and decay entered his nostrils. There was nothing he could do for him now. From the putrid scent, he had already been dead for at least 72 hours. Shaking his head, he retreated to another hallway to retrace his steps and find another exit. He would be sure to alert the Major of his findings when he returned to Headquarters. For now, he needed to locate his teammates. If they were alive, they might be injured. They were probably waiting for him. They were probably…

… in danger.

His footsteps slowed to a halt as a frightening realization entered his mind. The North Americans had warned him of the Aragami's cruelty. Its sadistic, twisted ways. There was no human alive that would commit atrocity like this… but something like that could. It was a violent creature, a devil in human skin. It lived only to kill and gained pleasure from pain. Thankfully, he hadn't encountered the target during his search, meaning it had likely moved on… but so had they. That monster was out there.

And his team was out there with it.

His body tensed at the sound of a gunshot, echoing through the skies and reaching him even in the stairways below. It was feint, barely audible from his location, but he heard it all the same. No God Arc he knew of could make such a sound. Unless… no, it wasn't a gunshot. It was far too loud and carried too far. It was an explosion. And it was coming from across the seas. There was only one place he could think of close enough for the sound to be audible. The only location visible from Aegis Island.

Growing concerned, he turned on his radio, adjusting the frequency to match the First Unit's designated channel. Pressing the button, he called out to them, hoping to reach someone. Anyone. But he received nothing but static in response. It wasn't the typical disruptive noise that one would expect from his location underground. It was wild and erratic from heavy interference. Something was blocking his signal. Curious, he switched to a different frequency, calling out to Headquarters. The result was the same.

Brows furrowed, he gave up and reached into his pocket as a thought crossed his mind. His fingers wrapped around the familiar object he had carried from many years ago. But as his eyes looked through the aged lens, they widened in horror. Lindow's compass had never been accurate, the needle always wobbling and turning almost at random. Now, it was spinning. Rapidly. Lenka didn't know much about the workings of his old device, but he knew enough to understand that the only thing capable of causing such behavior was electrical currents. In this case, powerful ones. Whatever had passed through there had disrupted the electromagnetic field in the area.

Was it the giant goddess… or something else?

His footsteps started again, accelerating into a sprint as Lenka rushed through the stairwells in search of an exit. He didn't know what had caused the sound. He didn't know what had caused the signal disruption. He knew only that his teammates were possibly in danger. And if they had encountered his target…

"Damn it!" Lenka shook his head, trying to rid himself of the morbid thoughts. It would do no good for him to focus on the negative. He needed to find his unit.

His feet thundered through the empty halls as Lenka backtracked in search of the nearest tunnel out.

. . .

Forgotten Carrier

Soma rushed across the deserted landscape, making his way toward the dilapidated carrier. His chest heaved as he ran full speed, his body still aching from their most recent battle. He kept his eyes fixed forward, focusing only on the task at hand and trying desperately to erase his father's voice from his mind.

"You must hurry… Soma, you must go. Take your comrades to… to the Ark. Please… my child. Don't you see? There was never a place for me upon that ship… There was never a new world awaiting me… I tore the sky and rent the seas. I have no right to another. I can merely see it and weep. You are the final step… And no one better, Soma… No one better than you."

Although his words should have brought him comfort, they instead brought only pain. They served as a reminder of all he had done. All they had been through. He had spent most of his life viewing his father as nothing more than a savage tyrant. He manipulated his subordinates like chess pieces and danced them around like puppets on a string. He had no love or anyone or anything. Only his ambitions and goals. That was what he had thought. That was what he had felt. That was what he had believed… until that moment.

Then, in the next, he was gone.

In a matter of hours he had lost Shio, one of the only people in the world like him. Lost her to his ruthless father, whom he discovered only recently truly loved him in his own misguided way. Within nearly the same breath, he had regained Neo, now the only remaining person in the world similar to him… and now, he was on the verge of losing her again as well.

The Arda Nova's misdirected beam had torn through the ceiling's support beams during their battle, trapping her beneath the debris. Shortly before his father's passing, the Nova awakened, shaking the island and rattling everyone on it. The First Unit tried to release their teammate, but quickly found themselves unable to. They could barely stand on the quaking Earth, let alone free her from her confines. In his attempt to save his friend, he had possibly killed her. And left to face the end of the world, it didn't matter anyway. They were powerless to do little more than wait for their end.

Then some miraculous happened.

Shio's consciousness awakened within the Nova, giving her power over the world-eater itself. Through sheer force of will, she took control of the massive Aragami, lifting it slowly into the sky. The members of the First Unit, himself included, had been very unhappy with her decision. And while she wanted nothing more than to do a good job, the child defied all of their wishes… by taking the Nova to the moon and leaving the rest of them behind. The world was saved, leaving an opening in Aegis Island comparable only to the hole in their hearts.

During the chaos, Neo had taken advantage of the tremors. Between Ichiro's efforts and the loosening of the debris, she had torn through an opening in the wreckage, freeing herself from her prison. But any relief at her escape was short-lived as she quickly turned her aggression on the nearest target, tackling her guardian to the ground with claws raised to strike. But strangely, she stopped short of a killing blow. Turning her attention to the Nova, she paused for a few moments of tense silence before fleeing into the tunnels. With the added grip of her claws, she managed to find stability, taking off on all-fours and leaving the rest of them in the center of Aegis.

The Nova as rose as high as it could, held behind only by a thread as Shio's body remained, rooted in place. When the tremors ceased, Ichiro had decided, without hesitation, to pursue Neo. He offered their Aragami friend a sullen farewell and a grateful bow before disappearing into the tunnels below. Following his departure, the remaining members said their final goodbyes as they accepted her decision as the only way. The unit mourned the loss of their friend, some taking it harder than others.

Alisa, sank to her knees and sobbed. Sakuya remained standing but couldn't stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks. Kota tried to stand strong, fighting a losing battle against his watering eyes. Sakaki and Soma simply stood in silence. Both had suffered and lost. They had no more tears to shed. Instead they listened to Shio's parting words and final request to Soma… to devour her body and free her from this world. And he did so, absorbing her essence and breaking her chains, sending her soaring to the heavens forever more.

The First Unit remained behind, gazing upward as sparkling lights rained from the skies. It was as heartbreaking as it was beautiful, but in a strange way, it brought them comfort. Shio was gone from their world, but she wasn't dead. She was simply living a new life, somewhere far, far away. And though they may never see her again, they knew that she was looking down at them from up above. Kota smirked to himself as he considered that fact; Shio was literally watching over them, from the moon. He voiced as such, earning a small chuckle from the group, and renewing their resolve.

After saying their farewells, the First Unit went their separate ways for the time being. Sakaki collected Neo's discarded God Arc, leaving Sakuya and Kota to escort him safely back to the Den. The remaining two, Soma and Alisa, followed a separate path, navigating the labyrinth towards a different outlet that took them beyond the Den and somewhere to the west. Upon their exit, both God Eaters realized they had a new problem to solve.

"Damn it… where the hell did they go?" Soma scowled, looking around the deserted wasteland for any sign of their missing comrades.

"I'm not sure…" Alisa opened her radio, hoping to contact Ichiro. But upon receiving nothing but static, she shook her head. "It's no good. Neo's waves must be blocking the signal."

"Good. That means she's still close."

Soma was correct in his assumptions. If Neo's electricity was still causing interference it meant that she was either nearby or had recently passed through the area. Unfortunately, that didn't mean much in their current situation. With an endless expanse of wilderness in every direction, they had no way of figuring out which way they had gone. Both stood in silent frustration as they tried to figure out their next course of action…

…until the decision was made for them.

The tell-tale sound of a gunshot echoed from the south. It had to be them. Who else could it possibly be?

"They're near the coastline… let's go!"

Alisa gave no question to Soma's order, nodding her head and taking off after the veteran. It seemed that Neo had made her way to the Forgotten Carrier once more. The same place that they had lost Shio. The same place that they had found her. And the same place that they had lost Neo again shortly after. Of course she would be there. The only thing that she could hope now was that she would still breathing be when they arrived.

Soma ran slightly ahead, his eyes and ears scanning the area for any possible presence. His mind was running in hyper speed and his heart hammered in his chest. The veteran had been hunting Aragami since the age of 12. He knew what a rifle sounded like… and that wasn't the sound that he had heard. It certainly wasn't from any God Arc that he was familiar with, but the sound had traveled far. Whatever weapon had fired the bullet was high-powered and small, likely another one of North America's interesting inventions.

He shuddered at the thought, his body moving on autopilot. Behind him, he could hear Alisa's shuddering breaths as she tailed him. She was still in shock from their most recent loss, but he knew better than to try and stop her. Neo was important to her, and she had no more intention of letting her slip away than he did. And if their New-Type was out of control, they were likely going to need all the firepower that they could get. His mind continued to wander as they ran, only stopping short as a second sound reached them, much louder than the first.

It was an explosion.

Panicked, both God Eaters picked up the pace, pushing their legs as fast as they would go. There wasn't much time left. Soma pressed forward, eyes focused ahead. He didn't know what was happening at the Forgotten Carrier. He didn't care. The only thing that mattered now was saving his last remaining kin. He had no plan on how to accomplish such a feat, but he was determined to find an answer. He had to. He wouldn't lose anyone else. He couldn't lose anyone else.

If he did… he feared he would finally break.

. . .

"You should have stopped me when you had the chance." Her pointed teeth shimmered in a wicked grin as she launched an icy javelin towards her former companion.

"Neo, stop!" Ichiro shouted, leaping to the side to evade the incoming strike.

The massive spike crashed, shattering against the wall behind him. His eyes followed her hands as she formed another, the air particles crackling as they hardened beneath her fingertips. Of course she would choose to come here. It was the smartest choice. Near the coastline, the ocean waves crashed against the cliffs beneath them, spraying seawater with every splash. This put her in an advantageous position as the air around them was moist. It allowed for perfect utilization of her power while using as little energy as possible.

"Neo, please! Don't make me do this…"

"Go ahead. Take your best shot."

"Neo!"

She ignored him, crouching to the ground and rushing forward, sparks trailing from her blue capes as her claws tore across the ground. She could see nothing but red, his voice a muffled murmur in the distance. It was only through years of careful observation that her eyes caught his movement. In his left arm, he held his buster sword… but his right was behind him. And she knew what that meant. Skidding across the ground, she twisted her body, flinching as the deafening gunshot rang through the clearing. The bullet grazed her arm, leaving a thin red line across her brown skin.

Her amused smile twisted into an angry snarl as she gazed at her old friend from a safe distance. Their last battle had left her facing his blade, with little more than minimal preparation. This time, he had come truly prepared. He had brought his trump card. Narrowing her eyes, she glowered at the man before her, his arm still raised. In his hand, she could see it: Ichiro's secret weapon. The silver firearm looked like nothing more than a pistol, similar to the handguns used in North America prior to the Aragami's arrival. But she knew better than to be fooled by its appearance. It was a God Arc.

The North Americans had modified the original weapon, enhancing and infusing it with Oracle cells, and powering it with Oracle-based technology. It was small and light, giving the user far more agility than one could ever hope to achieve with their current God Arcs. While its design was unimpressive, behind it was the strength of a high-powered rifle, providing long range and excellent accuracy. The divine bullets traveled faster than even her own sniper rifle, capable of piercing her through with a single shot. It was a specialized weapon of unknown efficacy to the general Aragami population… but it was more than enough to kill her. It was designed to kill her.

At their current distance, it would have been more than possible to strike her. The shot may not have been fatal, but it could have easily done far more damage. The fact that he had missed her told his intent. His shot was a warning. A communication to her that he had no desire to kill her… but if he had to, he would.

Smiling, Neo drug her claws into the dirt, accepting his challenge. Her vision glowed red, the world growing further distorted as she observed her prey. Rising to her feet, she lifted her hand, forming a pair of spikes in her palm. Flipping them in between her fingers, she attacked, launching successive strikes in his direction. He wouldn't be able to avoid all of them, she knew, and waited for the precise moment. The second his tower activated, she followed her projectiles, charging forward and closing the distance between them.

Driving it into the ground he crouched behind his weapon, the spikes crashing against his shield. Neo followed right behind them leaping over the tower, coats sparking… but Ichiro was ready for her. He had predicted her movements, and as she soared overhead, he slipped around to the other side, safe from her discharge as she landed. She turned as the shield came down, coming face to face with the barrel of his gun. Snarling, she leapt to the side as he pulled the trigger, the divine bullet flying just past her neck. Another warning. One she would make him regret.

Twisting around, she rushed forward again, swiping at him with her claws. Her strike narrowly hit its mark, the tips grazing along his cheek. Pressing forward, she continued her assault forcing him back and separating him from his larger God Arc. Defenseless, Ichiro now relied on training, following her movements and keeping clear of her deadly claws. Neo's eyes narrowed as he moved, observing his motions. Her companion was swift for a human but paled in comparison to her movements even outside of Burst. How on Earth was he moving so quickly?

Growling, she pressed on, cooling the air around them. Her capes hummed, trailing behind her as she continued her assault. The New-Type wasn't sure how he was fighting so effectively, but it wouldn't matter if she slowed him down. Mist surrounded them as the temperature dropped, the frigid air biting at his skin. Her mouth pulled into a grin as the water particles crackled around them. Then something caught her attention. The bleeding on his face slowed, the skin slowly fusing together. Startled, Neo paused, eyes widening at the unexpected sight… a dangerous error.

Geared for his original mission, his thermal clothing insulated him, guarding him against the bitter cold. It wasn't enough for immunity, but it kept his muscles from locking up. And he used it to his advantage in her moment of shock. Twisting to the side, Ichiro spun a kick in her direction, catching her off guard and sending her tumbling through the air. Her body hit the ground and slid through the dirt for only a moment before twisting and righting itself. But her recovery was short-lived as the familiar clattering of metal reached her ears. Eyes growing wide, the New-Type threw herself from harm's way at the sight of the small beeping device lying on the ground beside her.

BOOM!

The disc exploded, the force pushing her through the air as her body twisted once again to land her on her feet. Wispy puffs of loose dirt flew as she came to a stop, righting herself once more. Her face twisted into an angry snarl as she winced, her eyes drifting to the charred remains of the incendiary device. It was small and light, no larger in diameter than a coaster, but its looks were deceiving. On top of packing a powerful explosive, it also released small adhesive spikes upon deployment, latching it to whatever it landed on and eliminating the target's chances of escape. Yet another destructive invention of Western scientists.

Hm?

Ichiro paused for a moment as Neo found her footing. Her feral expression masked it well, but her cringe hadn't escaped his notice. Watching carefully, he observed as the New-Type rocked slightly to her left. His eyes narrowed slightly as he took aim, firing toward her right arm. The New-Type predicted his movements and did as he expected. But as she evaded his strike, his eyes followed her legs as she dodged. Her movement to the left was slightly slowed and her face twisted in discomfort.

Neo was injured.

Not letting up, he fired more shots, forcing her on the defensive as he focused on her left side. His suspicions were quickly confirmed as she winced, stumbling slightly after a particularly close bullet zipped past her thigh. Normally, the New-Type moved smoothly, evenly distributing her weight between her four limbs. Whether standing or crouching, her wide hips would stabilize her, giving her impeccable balance and allowing her to move nimbly at high speeds. But now, that movement was hindered as she tried desperately to keep weight off of her right leg.

Ichiro kept her alert, aiming his firearm as he contemplated the possibilities. Her leg was likely damaged during the collapse, struck by falling debris. But she was still standing. She had usage of her leg, but it was causing her enough pain to affect her motions. Additionally, the affliction hadn't healed despite the passage of time. If he had to hazard a guess, he would say that it was a skeletal fracture. And he knew that bone damage took longer to heal than muscle tears or skin lacerations. Despite her increased pain tolerance in this state, her leg could only support so much weight at any given time. And due to his pursuit of her, it had been unable to repair itself under the constant strain.

The answer was clear. So long as he kept her moving, she wouldn't be able to recover. Ichiro had found her weakness.

With a new strategy in mind, he went on the offensive. Pressing forward, he focused primarily on her left side, compelling to her place her weight on her right. Neo twisted and turned, evading his motions and glaring daggers at him in frustration. It didn't take long for her to realize what he was doing. He had noticed her limping. Of course he had. He noticed everything.

"Damn you!" Neo snarled, shifting directions.

Her eyes squinted as she shifted her weight to her injured leg, feigning and moving forward. He knew that she was in pain, so he shouldn't have anticipated an attack from her right side… but she was wrong. That had been exactly his intention, to force her into a repetitive motion. He knew that Neo couldn't keep up at that pace forever, eventually pushing her to try and break the cycle. And it was that moment that he had been waiting for.

"Sorry, Neo…"

Following her, the veteran moved around her in a graceful motion, honed through years of dance. Reaching into his belt, Ichiro collected and deployed another incendiary, latching it to the tip of her cape as she passed.

"The hell?!" Neo snarled as Ichiro leapt back to create distance. Twisting her body, the New-Type spun violently, trying to dislodge the beeping device. Her movements grew more erratic as the beeping increased in speed. She was running out of time. Unable to shake the device loose, she made a move of desperation, summoning all of her focus into the air around her. The moisture condensed, collecting and solidifying around the bomb and encasing it in ice. If she couldn't stop the explosion, she could at least stop herself from being blown to pieces.

BOOM!

Neo let out an ear-piercing screech as the device activated. The explosion shattered its icy prison, throwing her forward and off of her feet. As she slammed to the ground, she realized too late, that she had fallen, yet again, into one of his traps. The encasing of the device, had successfully protected her body, ensuring her survival. Unfortunately, it had also condensed the explosion. With nowhere to go, the concussive blast was focused entirely in one place, cracking her hardened left cape and loosening the cells.

Enraged, she scrambled to her feet, staying low to the ground. Her eyes trembled with fury as she watched his movements, her leg groaning in protest. Her capes had been his target from the beginning. He knew that using her power required focus. He also knew that the bullets from his specialized God Arc traveled too quickly for her to dodge, meaning she needed to focus on prediction rather than reaction. She couldn't use Oracle attacks and focus on effective evasion.

He had been slowly utilizing these factors to close the distance between them. He knew that with her capes damaged, she wouldn't be able channel her Oracle power. Not without a great deal of pain. His goal was to disable her, rendering her elemental power nearly ineffective. He hadn't succeeded, but he had come close… and she had no intention of letting him fool her twice.

Her pointed teeth clenched in frustration. His increased efficacy aside, she couldn't believe that she had allowed herself such vulnerability. How had she fallen for such a tactic? How had he managed to predict her every movement? How was it that he always knew what she was going to do, where she was going to go? The answer was clear to her. It was because he knew her. Because he had spent nearly all of his short life by her side. Caring for her. Protecting her. Watching over her…

Ichi…

Is the enemy.

In that moment, she froze.

I don't…

Kill him.

"Neo."

Her silver head shook violently at the sound of her name, her body flinching away from him as he stepped forward. Her head was aching, her mind splitting between two halves, each battling for control, one wishing to save, the other to destroy. Her vision shifted, the crimson fading ever so slightly for only a moment. Her shift had been so swift, it would have surely been missed by an untrained eye. But Ichiro saw it. He saw the glimpse of his friend, hiding just beneath the surface.

Invigorated by her sudden resistance, he pressed forward, reaching out and calling to her. "Neo, you don't have to do this. Come back to me…"

"Shut up!" Neo snarled in defiance, backing away as he approached.

"This isn't you."

"Get away from me…"

"This isn't who you are."

He's lying. Humans lie. Kill them. Kill them all!

"Leave me alone!" Neo roared, rushing forward, eyes wild with rage.

Ichiro had no time to react as Neo's mouth opened, bringing the wrath of hell with it. Her voice under duress was a beacon, calling forth all Aragami who heard it to her side. Now, in her overactive state in close proximity, it was a weapon. Her Earth-shattering screech tore through the clearing, deafening and disorienting him as the violent soundwaves assaulted his eardrums. Screaming, he stumbled backward, clapping his hands over his ears in pain. He felt like his head was going to break in two. His world turned upside down as his body crashed to the ground, Neo crouching above it. Caught in her discharge, Ichiro convulsed as a shock rocketed through his veins, stunning him. Pinned to the ground, he was powerless as Neo lifted her lethal claws to tear out his throat…

But she never got the chance.

Her assault was halted by the sound of a rifle, followed searing pain and scorching heat. From behind them, a flaming bullet collided with her weakened cape. With an agonized shriek, the New-Type was thrown from her victim as her damaged cells unbound. Blood poured to the ground from her broken appendage as her eyes lifted. Tracing the flight path, she found its source. Sprinting toward them were two more familiar faces, her New-Type companion and her old childhood friend. But neither of them brought comfort in her current state. They brought only rage. Her clawed fingers flexed as her eyes swept between the two approaching God Eaters.

"Neo, stop this!" Alisa called to her, her voice pleading.

The New-Type stepped back and slowly rose to her feet, moving away as they approached. Fighting one God Eater in her injured state was bad enough… fighting three was going to be a problem. Her eyes quickly scanned the area, taking in her surroundings and searching for a route of escape. In one direction was a solid rock face, its height far too great to clear with her broken leg. In another was wreckage and debris. While climbing it wouldn't be impossible, it would prove pointless. She wouldn't be able to outrun them in her condition. In the third direction was the open sea, and having spent her entire life in confinement, she had never learned to swim. She would be pulled beneath the ocean waves, never to be seen again.

She was trapped.

Resigning herself, the New-Type faced them, dropping on all-fours once more to take the strain from her leg. Carefully, she channeled her currents as a test only to halt immediately as pain pierced through her coats. Her vision doubled, her body swaying slightly as her balance waned. Any elemental power would have to be a last resort.

Soma slowed his steps as he approached, carefully eyeing Neo's movements. He didn't need any training to see that she was on edge. Her bristling body and twitching limbs told him that. His eyes swept over the state of the area. Near a stone wall, Ichiro's God Arc was lying abandoned a good distance away from the pair. Its owner was currently collapsed on the ground, head lolling listlessly to the side. The air was filled with the coppery stench of blood and red stains littered the ground around them. At the moment, it was impossible to tell who any of it belonged to.

Dumbfounded, Soma looked wildly between the two of them as a knot began to form in the pit of his stomach. He had seen this violent side of her before, but in those cases, it had always been in some form of self-defense. In the case of outward aggression, it was always directed towards Aragami or other foes that she perceived as a threat. The scene they had walked into now was neither of those things. Her actions were no longer driven by fear or misguided rage… only malice. And the current object of her ire was lying on the ground, with no signs of movement.

"Neo… what the hell?!" Soma blurted out the first thing that came to mind, unable to formulate any other response.

To his surprise, the New-Type offered no remorse. In fact, she did the opposite: she laughed. "Surprised?"

His breath caught, his body growing tense at the hollow ring of her voice. It was utterly devoid of empathy, and any trace of his dear friend was gone. Beside him, Alisa stepped forward, a look of sadness on her features. "That's enough, Neo… please, stop this. You're our friend, we don't want to fight you."

"Is that so?" The New-Type observed her, a murderous glint in her eyes as she redistributed her weight. Alisa's muscles shifted, tightening in preparation. "I see. Then you are as foolish as he is."

Silver hair streaked across the landscape as Neo charged forward, her eyes locked on her new target. Alisa was ready for her, her body already in motion as she approached. She could hear the sound of rushing wind as she passed, her claws slicing through the air where she had previously stood. It seemed that she was far beyond reason. Turning, the Russian New-Type took aim, firing a shot as she spun. The bullet soared, slightly off course, and tore through the skin on her side as she went by. A quiet grunt was the only sound she gave as she slid across the ground, twisting around to face her once more. Within moments, the bleeding slowed and the wound began to close. Her bullet had been non-elemental.

With a sadistic smile, Neo flexed her claws, her eyes flicking quickly towards to the other God Eater before focusing on Alisa once more. "Haha… you're going to need to try harder than that if you want to kill me."

"I don't want to kill you! I've told you before, I don't want to hurt you. Neither of us do." Alisa gripped her God Arc, her eyes watching carefully for any signs of movement.

"Then you will die with him!" Neo charged again, her claws raised as she quickly closed the distance between them once more.

"Snap out of it! This isn't you!" Alisa leapt to the side to evade her, receiving a swipe to her shoulder as claws rent her skin. While she was capable of predicting the New-Type's movements, she wasn't fast enough to keep up. Wincing, she lifted her gun once more, eyes widening as Neo approached her again, having already twisted around to face her. She was only feet away from her, claws raised, when a blue mass appeared, obscuring her view.

The grating sound of scraping metal filled the air as Soma's tower raised, blocking the swipe and protecting his teammate from harm. "Listen to her, Neo! We aren't your enemy!"

"Liar!" Dropping to the ground, Neo swept his legs with a low kick and knocked him off his feet.

Soma's world rotated as he began to fall. But he didn't loosen his grip nor did he lower his weapon. Instead, he emulated Ichiro's strategy, utilizing Neo's own counter against her. Rolling into his fall, he used his shield as a springboard, blocking her tackle and throwing her into the air behind him. Alisa, leapt away, placing distance between them as Neo spun through the air. Quickly scrambling to his feet, his eyes caught her stumble as she landed in a crouched position.

Her slip also caught Alisa's attention, as well as her wincing as her weight strained her leg. Taking advantage of her pause, the blonde pressed forward. "Neo, listen to us! I know what you're feeling right now -"

"Don't speak as though you understand!" Neo snapped, her eyes boiling with rage.

"I do understand!" Alisa shouted back at her, shifting into blade form. Her buckler lifted not a second too soon as she leapt. "I've seen it, Neo. I've felt it. I know what you're going through, and I know that you don't want to do this!" The blonde lost her footing as Neo slammed against her shield full force. As she fell to the ground, Neo was upon her yet again.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up - Gah!" Searing pain shot along the length of Neo's arm as Soma's blade intercepted her. She fled, scrambling away from her second assaulter as blood poured from her wound.

"Damn it, knock it off!" Soma rushed forward, focusing on her left side and driving her back.

Climbing to her feet, Alisa gave chase. "Don't give in, Neo. You have to fight it!"

"I can't!" Neo's shriek echoed through the clearing, startling her pursuers into silence.

In that moment, Soma saw it, a tiny glimmer of light in the darkness. There, beneath the surface, was a tiny glimpse of his former friend. In that instant, he could hear the anguish in her voice.

"Yes… you can."

All three God Eaters jumped at the sound of an unexpected voice. Whipping around, Neo saw him, slowly approaching them, pistol in hand. Ichiro's movements were sluggish and uneven. He struggled to keep his balance as he moved towards them, his eyes focused only on her. Her eyes widened at the sight of him, dried blood streaking from his ears, dirt and grime covering his body. "You can… You're stronger… than this."

At the sight of him, Neo backed away. She shook her head in disbelief, both at his recovery and what she had done to him. Her crimson vision faded once more as their voices reached her.

Don't give in. Destroy them!

"Ggh…" Neo stumbled, gripping her head as her two halves fought for control. "I'm… I can't… I'm not…"

"Not what?" Soma snapped, shifting his position and blocking her escape. "Not human?" Neo flinched, shrinking away from him as he stepped toward her. "You're right. You're not. Neither of us are. You and I… we're somewhere in between."

"We…?"

Soma pressed forward, keeping her engaged. "Yes, Neo. Look, I don't know what this is… what's happening to you. But I do know that right now, you have a choice. You can either live, together, as one of us… or die as one of them."

"…I… I-I don't…" Neo shook her head. Claws grabbed bundles of silver as she sank to the ground, her voice trembling.

"Please, Neo… come back to us. We don't want to lose you." Ichiro stumbled forward, his eyes filled with desperation.

"W-Why… why won't you…" Neo's voice cracked, her body trembling with strain.

Stepping forward, Alisa smiled down at her. "I told you before… I am your ally. No matter what happens. I will be by your side."

The New-Type fell silent. Her coats hummed with static as her Oracle cells destabilized. Her silver locks stained with red as her claws dug into her scalp. "…Ly…ssa…"

"Yes! Yes, that's it!" Alisa beamed at her. Their words were reaching her. Neo was there. She could hear them. "That's right, fight it, Neo!"

The New-Type groaned in agony. The pounding in her head throbbed with every heartbeat as her mind began to crack.

Don't listen to them.

No more… please… I don't want to fight anymore…

They will betray you.

They won't… They won't!

Kill them…

I don't want to!

…before they kill you.

Stop!

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Neo's voice echoed into the skies above, startling all three God Eaters as her coats began to glow.

Whether her shout was a threat to them or a warning, they did not know. But the three of them had little time to react as the New-Type erupted, sending sparks trailing along the ground beneath their feet. Her pained voice grew into a tortured shriek as her energy overflowed, discharging a wave of electricity that threw all of them from their feet.

Soma, Alisa, and Ichiro tumbled to the ground, twitching as current coursed through their veins. Neo collapsed into a shuddering heap in the center of them, tears running freely down her cheeks as pain shot through every nerve in her body. The physical pain threatened her consciousness as her vision faded to grey. The emotional pain threatened to consume her entirely as her closest friends lay splayed across the ground, unmoving. Her mind wandered back and forth, as instinct took over once more. It told her to escape, to flee while she had the chance… but her body wouldn't move. She was frozen.

Minutes passed as the four of them remained on the ground. With the currents slowly dissipating, the three of them regained feeling in their limbs. It was with great effort that Ichiro was able to force himself into a sitting position, his eyes sweeping the area for their New-Type. Neo was still there, her body trembling as the pain subsided. Sluggishly, she turned towards him, drawn by his motion. Her eyes drifted over his form, his bruised body and singed hair, his chestnut orbs, and trembling hand… still gripping his miniature God Arc.

"N-Neo…. are you -"

Ichiro's question ended with a grunt as she lunged, tackling him back to the ground as instinct took over once more. Alisa and Soma startled, trying to force their bodies into motion as Neo lifted a shaking arm. She was poised to strike, claws raised… but she didn't. Her eyes watered as she stared down at him, trying with every fiber of her being to remain in control. Her position was clear to him. Neo didn't want to hurt him.

"Ichi… please… you have to -"

"No." Her companion slowly shook his head, a look of utter defeat gracing his features as he watched her. A small grin tugged at his lips as she scowled at him.

"S-So… difficult… even now… even knowing what I am…"

"I don't care what you are, Neo. I care who you are." Neo's eyes widened slightly, her eyebrows lifting as she tried to process the words. But he continued before she could question him. "It doesn't matter what form you take. You are not the Dark Child… You are my companion and closest friend… my Neo… my Aiko."

Her breath caught in her throat as the sound reached her ears. One of her many names. As a child she had always detested that loathsome moniker. The Dark Child. A sinful, evil being that served only to devour and destroy. Ichiro had watched her tremble with sadness and rage at the sound of it, her eyes filling tears of self-hatred. So instead, he had given her a new name. Something to go by, to counteract the hateful nickname. Aiko, the antithesis of a despised child of darkness. A child who is loved.

For a moment, she simply stared incredulously at the man pinned beneath her. In his eyes she saw no deception, no hatred, and no fear. Only affection. The two sat frozen, gazing silently at one another until finally, she sighed. Slowly, she returned to him as her human side pushed back the Aragami. Her arm lowered as she shook her head, frustration evident in her expression. "You idiot… I could have killed you…"

Ichiro smiled back at her, offering a half-hearted shrug as feeling returned to his arms. "Yeah. You really could have."

"Moron. Have you no self-preservation?"

"Guess not."

"What is wrong with you? How can you look at me like that…"

"Would you rather I frown?"

"Would I - Ugh… I don't understand you… how can you… you should be angry… upset… You should hate me…"

"Don't be ridiculous. I love you far too much to ever hate you."

Her companion gave her a gentle smile, his words hanging in the air as they enjoyed their playful banter. It wasn't until her face froze in utter shock that he realized what he had said. He watched as her face rotated through a series of varying emotions, most of them unrecognizable to him. He knew it was too late to turn back, and he could do nothing but stare at her in equal surprise as her mouth hung open.

"You… what?"

"Uh… what I mean is - that wasn't -" His words went unfinished, drowned out by a louder, much more sinister sound. A sound that all of them painfully recognized.

The sound of a gunshot.

Time slowed to a crawl as the bullet struck her. The last expression he saw was fear as her eyes widened at the moment of impact. A flash of purple light passed over him for the briefest of moments. Then it disappeared, along with Neo, as she was thrown from her crouching position. Her body tumbled across the ground, landing with a dull thud a few feet away from him. Then, he saw nothing but red… but it wasn't his vision that shone crimson. It was a pool spilling freely from her abdomen where the bullet pierced clean through her body.

All was silent as the First Unit tried to make sense of what had happened. Then, they fell into chaos.

Alisa shrieked in horror as the realization hit her. Soma scrambled to his feet, looking wildly around the area for the source of the bullet. Ichiro simply stared in disbelief, his eyes trying rationalize what they were seeing.

The muffled sound of an anguished scream reached her ears as the light slowly faded from her eyes. Neo lay unmoving on the ground, in a pool of her own blood, listening to the muffled sound of her companion desperately calling her name.

. . .

*AUTHOR'S NOTE*

So I have been getting a lot of questions from people on what Neo looks like. Since my artwork is far from perfect (and it will lake too long), I decided to play around with some character creators and it turns out, Code Vein gave me the most options at the moment. Without further ado, here is the best depiction I could create of Neo for the time being. The scarf color was difficult to get right, and be mindful it's a bit lighter in color when it glows.

*EDIT* Added some new characters to the gallery

imgur /a/6ZLOnSC Neo

imgur /a/xIOePtI Gunter Haas

imgur /a/SVkmxIg Ichiro Hamasaki

imgur /a/9MGIU83 Aki Yamada

imgur /a/EKlAnlT Yoko Yamada