Chapter 64 - Complicated feelings

Leanbox wasn't well known for its libraries or reading material, that was more of Lowee's schtick.

People over in Lowee read for fun and games, usually, but there were many who aspire to be professional writers. Be it for games or literature, there was always someone in Lowee with literature talent.

Though, it was rumoured that their CPU had, ironically, next to ZERO talent in writing literature, since she wrote stuff that was so bad that she had to write anonymous for her author's name in every competition she entered so people wouldn't lose faith in her. That rumour, predictably, never got a definitive answer though, by threat of a hammer or an axe some said.

As for Leanbox, Leanbox had been the home for many famous manga artists. Its lush scenery and peaceful atmospheres was the perfect place for these artists to gather their ideas and cultivate their talents. These manga artists became well known throughout Gamindustri, and kept them in the running for literature awards whenever Leanbox went into literature competitions.

Lastation and Planeptune weren't about reading and writing as much as Lowee was, they were more focused on their technological disputes and rivalries to care about fanfiction and literature. They made up for this though with their script writing and concept arts though, in order to create memorable content for their citizens to enjoy.

In essence, Lowee and Leanbox had their own form of rivalry between them, just not in technology like the other two Nations but in literature.

But if there was one thing that Leanbox could contest with Lowee on a literature front, it would be the Monster Archives section.

Now, all four Nations had monster problems, that was an undisputed fact. Monsters of all sorts populated their lands, terrorising and harassing humanity. At first, they were difficult and hard to manage, but once people began to notice… similarities between the many species, and thus began to classify them, their weaknesses had soon been discovered and exploited, driving them back to their own territory.

Then, when the Abnormals first appeared to cause trouble for the Nations, it was an imperative that they record each species that they found so future generations knew what they were dealing with. However, this was not as effective as people would have liked because Abnormals existed in so many types, shapes and sizes, that properly classifying them was al but impossible.

Each species had its own name, strengths and weaknesses that the old classification system was rendered all but insignificant for them. That was why every Nation had an Abnormal Monster Archive section in their libraries, so that people knew about these breeds, what they did, how to fight them, and where they could go to avoid them.

That was where IF was at right now.

The Archives were actually a part of the Guild stations in every Nation, as a means of promoting fair use of the knowledge there. Also, it was the Guild and Spec Ops Agents who would likely use it the most due to constantly fighting monsters on the front lines. The latter used it more than the former though, in her professional opinion. Most of the time, Guild Agents like her were advised to stay clear of them unless fighting them absolutely necessary. It was the Spec Ops, the 'suicide grunts' as some of the more fanatical of their group would call them, that battled them daily.

She could honestly understand a bit why they would call them that though…

But right now, IF wasn't thinking about that. Instead, she sat at one of the Desks surrounded by Abnormal classification books, as well as reports and files, everything she could get her hands on in relation to the Abnormal Monster species that plagued her mind ever since they had encountered them: Ghouls.

She was no fool, IF could tell as clear as day that there was something about them that was different compared to other Abnormals. They moved too differently they fought with tactics, and the wort part was that she and the others couldn't even tell them apart from regular humans. What's more, was that they had some connection to their resident Spec Ops Agent.

It had been rare, but she had noticed the signs before, during and after the encounter. Nico had been shaken terribly by the sight of that Ghoul, down to his core. The male would sometimes grunt and scowl at next to nothing in particular, and at night she swore she could hear muffled screams and arguing from his room.

Not something one could wake up to.

He did his best not to show it, hell it fooled Neptune and Compa into thinking it was nothing, but it wasn't enough to fool her. His Mask hadn't been as powerful as it had once been, which allowed her to peer through the cracks.

Ghouls seemed to truly rattle Nico to points she had never seen in him before, and she wanted to know why. Why that, out of every fucked-up monster they had faced, it was the one that looked the most human that scared their resident badass shitless. Thus, she had come to the Archives even though it was nearly evening, telling Neptune and Compa that she was going on an emergency errand and that she might be back late.

With some reading glasses on her face, IF took one of the many books around her Desk, which was literally filled to the brim save for the space in front of her, with her research material. The Book had a maroon colour to its cover. Its title, 'Ghouls' was in large, golden capitals, so she opened the book and found the contents page. She decided to go for the Introduction to them first, see what she was dealing with.

She would NOT be prepared for what she would find out.

Opening to the introduction page, IF began to read:

Ghouls are a carnivorous and cannibalistic species that are only able to feed on humans and other ghouls. They are as close to humans as possible: they normally display the same attributes; the same physical appearance and intelligence as a human with the main exception being their inner biology, mentality, and diet.

"Well, aren't they lovely?" IF sarcastically remarked under her breath, her eyes casting over to the side of the page. There was a picture there of what seemed to be a man dressed in clothing remarkably similar to the one they encountered at MS Mountain. She could see the inhuman red and black eyes with the veins crawling across the side of his features, along with a grin that one would see in their nightmares, with the blood of a recent kill dripping down his chin and onto the ground, staining it red. Thus, it resulted in giving a rather intimidating image.

She got the impression that she didn't want to meet one of those in the middle of the night.

Frowning, IF shook her head and read on.

A ghoul can only feed on humans and other ghoul, although there have been records that show them able to feed on Abnormals and other monsters. This is due to the fact that they require not the flesh they eat, but the cells inside the flesh. There are special Cells that are present inside every monster and human, called RC (red child) Cells, and it is these cells that Ghouls use as sustenance. For more information, switch to page #

They are unable to digest any other type of food due to a particular enzyme their bodies produce. The structure of their tongues is also different from humans', making other foods taste disgusting and uncomfortable to them. If ghouls attempted to eat normal food, they will be struck by a powerful urge to vomit, and will experience a period of weakness. When forced or forcing themselves to digest such food, their physical condition will deteriorate. While ghouls cannot eat normal food, they are, however, able to drink coffee , as well as regular drinking water.

Ghouls do not need to eat regularly like humans do. Their metabolism is 60% slower than a normal person's, allowing them to go without food for long time periods if necessary. They can survive for one or two months on just one body, if they need to, however, some ghouls eat merely for pleasure.

When a ghoul enters an extreme state of hunger, they will suffer very painful headaches and their mental ability will be impaired, causing them to become driven by instinct alone. They will feed on any available source of human meat to end this state, even that of close friends or family. This state of hunger, is described by reliable sources to be "hell for any ghoul".

Aside from diet, inner biology and mentality, it is significantly difficult to tell them apart from normal humans. However, one other eye-catching difference happens whenever they are excited or using their primary claws. Their eyes turn black with a crimson iris, red veins crawling over the sides of their faces. This is their 'Kakugan' which is formed when their RC Cells are clustered around their eyes. This can happen either at their will, or as previously stated with their claws and emotions.

Conventional weaponry has been proven ineffective against Ghoul tissues. Due to their inner biology, they can endure heavy blows like large impact rounds from an anti tank rifle without so much as a scratch to them. In the rare case that they were damaged in some way, they can still due to their regeneration capabilities to repair the damage dealt.

Putting the book down for now, IF had to lean back on her chair, looking up at the ceiling as she processed what she had learned. From what she could tell, these Ghouls could look, act, and live like a normal human. They could live normal, peaceful live amongst society and nobody would be the wiser… if they could go without eating. Plus, there were Ghouls that ate people for pleasure, not just survival, which kind of made an unsettling sensation form in her stomach.

It didn't settle her nerves any, the thought of such creatures being so close to her and she didn't even realise it.

However, this information did give her some insight into some… characteristic that Nico had displayed during their journey together. For one, he didn't seem to eat too often, if at all, and he looked as bright as day. He would go for weeks without eating anything, and whenever he did eat something it was more like an attempt to fit in than anything else. Also, whenever he did eat, he would always make an excuse to leave the area, and she had noticed sometimes that there was a distinct smell in the bathroom, too diluted to properly identify, but she still had an idea of what it was.

In a sense, Nico had a lot in common with these Ghoul creatures… but why?

Thoughts and suspicions rose within her mind, but she quickly curb-stomped them so she could read on. If Nico really was an enemy, then he would have done something already. It had been a long time since he'd joined them after all, plus it wasn't fake when he showed that he gave a damn about them. But still, these little connections that he apparently had with the Ghoul species… they worried and concerned her.

With that, IF switched to the page regarding the RC Cells. She had to admit, she was curious about these cells. She figured that scientists had talked about them on TV before, since they were so vital to the Abnormals, but she'd likely never paid attention since she was too focused on her Guild Work back then.

The origin of the name RC, comes from how each individual cell looks like a curled up foetus. They exist in both humans and ghouls. They flow like blood but can become as solid as teeth, and could be called "liquid muscles". These Cells also supply humans with the SP needed to cast their Skills and Spells, making them the beings with the most vast quantity of RC Cells for Ghouls to eat. Abnormals and other Monsters have RC Cells within them also, but Ghouls find human RC Cells the most preferable.

RC cells are the nutrients ghouls need to ingest.

Typically, a ghoul stocks RC cells by eating people. Within the body, the RC cells are concentrated and stored in a special sack-shaped organ called a Kakuhou. The Kakuhou stores these Cells within it, and when the time comes that they are needed, it shoots them out through the skin and allows them to start the process of forming a Ghoul's primary weapon: the Kagune.

The characteristics of the RC cells differ depending on the RC type of the ghoul.

As a means of gauging their power, researchers have found a way to calculate a Ghoul's RC Cell count with an RC factor. The RC factor is a measure for the amount of RC cells in the body of a living being. Ghouls have an "RC factor" ten times higher than humans, which is speculated to be why they are more powerful than humans. Abnormals also share in this factor, however they have only eight times the amount of a normal human's, meaning that Ghouls are stronger than the average Abnormal genetically.

The average healthy human has an RC factor of about 200 to 500, while a ghoul has an RC factor of about 1000 to 8000. If, for whatever reason, a normal human receives an excessive amount of RC cells, such as through experiments, they will start to develop ghoul-like characteristics and eventually not be able to consume human food.

RC cells flow through specialized RC cell vessels. They spread from the Kakuhou and permit the body to produce a Kagune to the outside. The bodily capabilities can increase as much as the number of vessel increases. Vessels grow and spread throughout the body, stimulated through repeated injury and regeneration. Through this process, Ghouls can become stronger to the degree they're hurt.

After finishing the page, IF frowned as she mauled over what she had learned. From what she could tell, RC Cells were basically like a power source for humans to activate their Skills and Spells. It didn't make sense though, humans have had the ability to activate Skills for a long time, millennia even, so why hadn't this been discovered way before now? If their RC Cells were what gave them the power of Skills, then why did they call it SP?

A moment of thinking later, the brunette concluded something. She guessed that the term 'SP' came from those zealous morons in the Basilicom since CPUs have SP in their bodies. This SP seemed to function similarly to RC Cells that humans have, so they must have similar traits. They must have found out about RC Cells but shifted the truth so that they could benefit with the knowledge that they were closer to the CPUs than they really were.

Pretentious assholes.

Shaking her head, IF decided to look into this 'Kagune' thing. She remembered the Tentacles that the Ghoul in MS Mountain used to fight them, how powerful they were. She got the feeling though that the Ghoul they fought was merely a bottom-feeder, the bottom of the Ghoul hierarchy. From what she could tell from the RC Cells page, they could increase their maximum amount of RC Cells through injury and healing, so it was possible that their capabilities could increase like stat increases.

She didn't even entertain the thought of what would happen if her RC Cell count got too high, although that worry shouldn't apply to her anymore since she was a BOW now.

A Kagune is a ghoul's predatory organ and functions as their weapon and claws. It is usually as red as blood. However, colour variation has been shown to exist between Ghouls, born from their genetics. These weapons have been shown to be flexible like the flow of water, but firm and sturdy. When released, a ghoul's physique is strengthened, they are more resilient, and their mobility heightens.

A Kagune is composed entirely out of RC cells, released from the Kakuhou in a Ghoul's body. The RC cells are released from the Kakuhou piercing the skin, and the released RC cells to form the Kagune. The Kagune are voluntary muscles as ghouls can control them whenever they want and repeatedly harden and soften them at will. Kagune size depend on the RC cells' quality and quantity while the shape depends on the creativity and intellect of the user.

Although a ghoul's healing ability is high, the healing of wounds tends to be delayed if the wounds are inflicted by a Kagune. It is also evident that in order to counter a Kagune in battle, one must also have a Kagune, if not, at least something in relation to a Kagune.

Pausing her reading, IF furrowed her brows as she remembered the Ghoul's Tentacles. She remembered how hard it had been to damage those things when they fought, even with her blades, claws and Axammer. 'Guess that's why I found them so difficult to cut. Hopefully my powers'll adapt to this in the future. The C Gene should do that.' She thought, before resuming her reading.

Research conducted by the Guild's research departments resulted in identifying three stages of Kagune formation. At their current knowledge, the stages are the same for every ghoul capable of manifesting Kagune.

Formative Stage

At the point base of the Kagune where the RC cells erupt from the Kakuhou, the erupted RC cells will form bonds with each other. They will organize themselves in the structure best fit for their RC type in a repeated web. This repeated action of the cells will occur instantaneously and lead to the next stage.

Fixative Stage

The bonded RC cells will retain the resulted form for a fixed length of time. The basic shape of the Kagune is seen at this stage. During this time, the defensive and offensive capabilities and weaknesses will take on their respective properties to the ghoul's RC type. The manifested Kagune's appearance is usually hereditary, taking on the shape and characteristics of their genetic predecessors.

Additionally, Kagune size also depends on the RC cells' quality and quantity while the shape depends on the creativity and intellect of the user. In relation to this stage is the user's manual control of the Kagune's movement and actions, which can include crystallization and increase in length, dexterity, sharpness, and concentration.

Disintegrative Stage

After time has elapsed, the bonds between the cells begin to break apart. At this point, the Kagune loses its intactness or solidity and deteriorates.

The Kagune's appearance and the place of emergence on the body depend on the RC type of the ghoul. There are four different RC types: Ukaku, Koukaku, Rinkaku, and Bikaku. As a guideline, each type can characteristically subdue another type, although it may be different for two specific opponents. Each RC type has a set of strengths and weaknesses, each one unique to its type. These are exploited by the CCG in the creation of the quinque and Q bullets.

Ukaku

An Ukaku Kagune is spread out like feathers and is released from the shoulder area, it specializes in high speed attacks, most of the users seeming to have highly enhanced speed. The Kagune is lightweight and can be used to deliver high-speed attacks against an adversary, the primary method of attack is crystallizing their Kagune to deliver a high-speed torrent of spike-like projectiles, however whilst crystallized they are much stiffer and cannot be used for short range combat; at least one Ukaku-type can generate powerful lightning-like bolts, a possible rare ability.

While the Kagune is suited both for short-distance and long-distance attacks, short-range is considered their weakness. They may use their Kagune as a shield and several are capable of shaping them into sharp blades reminiscent of a Koukaku to aid in close quarters. Many Ukaku-types are able to increase the flexibility of their Kagune for short-range combat, though this makes it ill-suited for their distinctive long-range attacks.

Altogether Ukaku-type ghouls have a high chance of ending a battle quickly as releasing RC cells depletes stamina. Thus, Ukaku-type users lack endurance and are at a disadvantage if the battle drags on for a long time. Ukaku-type users can use their speed and mobility to shoot down Bikaku-type users from afar. However, a Koukaku-type user can suppress an Ukaku-type user by successfully guarding against the Ukaku-type user's attacks, leaving them vulnerable to counterattacks and exhausting the Ukaku-type user in the long run.

Koukaku

A Koukaku Kagune is released below the shoulder blade. Due to its high density of RC cells, it is heavy and extremely robust, giving it the greatest sturdiness and making them very well suited for defence. Normally, they are generally shaped into Armour's or shields, but on the offense, they can be shaped like melee weapons such as drills, hammers, blades, and swords.

Due to its high weight, a Koukaku's speed is inferior to all other RC types and the Kagune is difficult to wield.

A Koukaku can fend off an Ukaku onslaught using its guarding capabilities. However, a Rinkaku Kagune can deliver severe strikes against the slow Koukaku, breaking their Kagune and breaching their defences.

Rinkaku

A Rinkaku Kagune has an appearance similar to scaled tentacles and is released at the back around the waist. A Rinkaku wielder has powerful regenerative abilities and some could even survive the most critical of damage. Its peculiar appearance and structure yield a superior striking power and they excel in brute strength. Some Rinkaku users are able to manipulate the shape of their Kagune, such as changing its usual tentacle form into swords or claws.

This type's regenerative power is a result of the RC cells easily binding together. Their RC cells are similar to liquid. However, this means that the binding force among the RC cells are weak, therefore making the Kagune very soft and easy to break. But because their RC cells bind so easily, some Rinkaku can bind their multiple tentacle-like Kagune together to make a larger, stronger Kagune. So far, the number of tentacles that Rinkaku users can create are from one to eight tentacles.

A Rinkaku Kagune can deliver severe strikes against the slow Koukaku, penetrating the Kagune and breaching the Koukaku's defences. However, a Rinkaku has serious problems fighting against the balanced Bikaku Kagune: A Bikaku has comprehensively high power, allowing them to fight against the brute-force Rinkaku, and the Rinkaku Kagune softness makes it comparatively easy for the Bikaku to cut the Kagune off. This disarms a Rinkaku no matter how much strength it may possess, leaving the Rinkaku at a disadvantage on the defensive. It has been shown that in some cases, a Bikaku attack can disable a Rinkaku's regeneration.

Bikaku

A Bikaku Kagune typically has a tail-like appearance and is released around the tail-bone/coccyx. It is good for medium-distance attacks and has decent offense, defence, and speed. Thus, they have no notable strengths or weaknesses like the Kagune based on other RC types, meaning the Kagune itself is treated as a surprise "trump card." So far, the number of tails a Bikaku user can create are one to fourteen tails.

A Bikaku has better speed and durability against the brute-force, breakable Rinkaku, allowing them to cut off the Rinkaku's Kagune. However, a Bikaku will be overwhelmed by the faster Ukaku-user and will lose against the Ukaku's long-range attacks.

'According to this, the one we fought was a Rinkaku type Ghoul…' IF thought to herself. These Ghouls sounded like powerful bosses in a videogame if they can do all the shit like this. There were even notes in the other records she had scavenged during the reading that these Kagune types can conquer their own weaknesses.

What's more, was that sometimes they can be used to fire off elemental attacks thanks to high concentration of RC Cells. The more she read about them, the more IF came to realise something. It was looking like the Ghoul they had fought before was merely at the bottom of the pecking order.

All in all, Ghouls sounded quite the terrifying foe. Abnormals and normal monsters could easily be identified by their physical characteristics. You see a Dogoo, you can just point at it and shout 'Look, a Dogoo!' so you can do something about it. Abnormal monsters have even more grotesquery appearances, mannerisms and killing methods, it made them recognisable just from glancing at them for a split second. It was like they were overly muscular men walking about in broad daylight with a sign over their heads saying 'I'm strong! Look at me, I'm strong!'

Ghouls apparently didn't work like that.

These Ghouls could just live their normal human lives and nobody would be any wiser. But when it came time to feed, to hunt down flesh for its RC Cells, then they could just unleash their inner beasts. Nobody would be able to do anything against them either, as it was said in the books that their Skin Cells were heavily reinforced, making them denser than a human's. Normal weaponry wouldn't do shit against them, and anything like explosive or impact weapons would only just stun them. Not do anything solid to them.

She glanced to her Phone, which had its screen showing the time. When she noticed it, she had to bite back a wince, it was about 8PM, and the Archives were going to be inaccessible to any but Spec Ops at 8:30. 'Geez, it was only 6PM when I left, have I really been out that long? Well, I suppose I should get some shut eye back at the Hotel. Nep and Compa have likely gone to bed already, too, so I shouldn't have any shenanigans when I get back.' She thought to herself.

After about 15 more minutes of research, looking through the files and examining the records of a lot of Ghoul sightings, IF put the materials back where they belonged before checking out the library.

Walking back to the hotel in the afternoon/evening wasn't something IF was unaccustomed to. It had been somethings he had been doing since she had first became a Guild Agent, thus she had some pretty decent Night vision back then. Enough to get by and avoid the areas where some of the world's more… unsavoury folk hang about.

However, when she became a BOW back at Lastation, her senses were enhanced… and that included her night vision.

Now, she could see as clear as crystal regardless if it was night or day. It was like there was no sense or changes in the lighting for her, something that the brunette had found difficult to get accustomed to in the beginning. However, once she got used to it in about 4 weeks, the brunette had to admit that this was a handy ability to have.

Honestly, being a BOW with control over herself seemed much better than being a normal human.

Her thoughts then went onto the topic of interest she had been researching, or rather, the reason why she had been researching Ghouls and their powers in the first place: Nico. While she had her suspicions about him now that she knew more about the Ghoul species, there was another aspect to researching about this.

Despite them having travelled together for so long, IF realised something that likely thee girls did to: She and them didn't know that much about him. Well, that wasn't completely the case, they knew what he had seen and gone through thanks to his adoptive mother. Although, she got the feeling that Helen had been sugar-coating and hiding those details immensely. The male had always been secretive about his past, not trying to bring it up or ignoring the issue completely.

Not that it mattered much to the girls, he was their comrade and everyone was entitled to their own secrets. That was a fact, and the fact that Neptune was willing to ignore this with Compa doing the same showed how much they trusted and cared for the teen. Though, in her opinion, IF felt like their feelings for him didn't develop right away, especially Neptune's.

As for her own feelings…

IF put a hand on her chest as she got a picture of Nico's face in her mind, and she felt the things that had been happening to her whenever she thought of him. Her heart rate elevated higher, her cheeks flushed a bit, and she felt like she would faint at any second. She had no idea when these feelings began to develop, but as she kept thinking about it, IF had begun to realise something.

These changes in emotions towards Nico, they started when she had been saved by him in Lastation, when she became a BOW. She could remember it clearly, how relieved he had been when she survived the infection with her mind intact. At the time, she figured that it was just admiration for him, admiration for saving her like he did even if it was with help from Histoire.

That admiration didn't develop very much over the course of their journey until they actually got together and talked at that Café. She hadn't gotten the chance to get to know him until that moment, IF figured, remembering their journey together. Now that she thought about it, that was the first time they had ever gotten to sit down and truly talk to each other. Nothing else to distract them had happened, so they managed to get to now each other a little better by asking each other questions and learning about each other's quirks.

But, that was a big turning point, IF could FEEL that that was the case.

While still confused, the brunette had the assumption that her feelings towards the male have been gradually changing over the course of their journey together. That much, she knew for a fact. It was like fitting multiple pieces of a puzzle together, into one big object. One big truth.

The brunette wasn't like the other girls though, she didn't do feelings like romance and all that mushy crap. She was more of a tomboy anyways, it wasn't like she'd ever get interested in those girly things like dresses and makeup. She'd likely be more into how to fight monsters or survive in the wilds. Her mother did say to her once that she wasn't the ideal woman a man would want, so there was that. Plus, she knew that she had more of a combat-oriented body, not one of those slender, seductive ones that people like Vert and Neptune possessed when in HDD.

Even if it did turn out that she saw Nico… in that way, what chance would she have?

Those thoughts plagued her so much that she almost didn't notice the hand reaching out for her from behind. However, instincts were a powerful tool, and they showed this by quickly warning her of an unknown presence. IF's eyes widened as she ducked, narrowly avoiding the hand and twisting around, going into a sweep kick. The presence lost its balance, but palmed the ground to push back into the air, backflipping several times to get some distance between them.

"Oh? Well, I was expecting to have an easy meal here, but to think that isn't going to be the case… kukuku."

'Now that wasn't a creepy laugh in the slightest.' IF mentally remarked with her tone laced with sarcasm. She managed to get a good look at the person that tried to grab her, and saw that it was a bald-headed man in his mid to late 20's, wearing a sleeveless jacket that exposed his shoulders, pants and boots. The man was bald, with several areas on his face looking deformed. Also, there was one other deformity: both his hands were right hands. "Alright, who the hell are you, buster? Why did you try and grab me?" IF yelled, cautious.

She could feel her BOW powers rising to the occasion, her arms just inches away from transforming into her claws.

The man before her, instead of looking threatened by her, instead just chuckled. "Kukuku, this one's feisty, I like her… I like my meals feisty…" He slowly advanced towards her, his arms spread wide as if he were about to hug someone. However, judging by the look on his face it looked like he had something else in mind.

IF glared at him, getting into a defensive stance. 'This feeling…' she thought, feeling chills crawl up her spine. She recognised this feeling, having felt it recently back at MS Mountain. She could also feel her BOW powers rearing to go, and it took her entire batch of willpower to keep them restrained. 'It's the same as at MS Mountain! Does that mean…?'

Her thoughts soon got themselves answered as the man hunched over, cackling sadistically while he spoke. "Hehehehe, do you know what the best thing about the feisty ones are, my lovely?" he asked her. However, IF never got the chance to respond as the man suddenly appeared behind her, a brief gust of wind signalling how fast he'd moved.

'S-So fast-!'

"Its… WHEN I GET TO BREAK THEM IIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNN!" The man yelled, raising his right arm above his head. He then brought it down on the brunette, who quickly twisted on her heels and raised her left arm, which was already morphing into a new form.

CLANG!

The two clashed, IF's blade arm colliding with a large structure protruding from the man's right shoulder blade. His mouth, twisted into an ugly, sinister grin while showing some fairly sharp looking teeth, almost like fangs, while his eyes were a familiar black and red with crimson veins. IF's eyes widened in recognition of this man's identity. 'He's a Ghoul! Which means that this thing he's striking with…'

Both pulled back, the man making an attempt to stab her in the chest. IF quickly stopped that by pivoting to the side and making a reverse swing to his face. The man however, caught the blade in his mouth, much to IF's shock as she was tossed aside like a ragdoll. She flew through the air and landed in a crouch, sliding across the ground till she halted all motion.

Looking up, the brunette saw that the man was already on the offensive, swinging that massive structure of his down on her. Instead of dodging it this time though, she shifted her blade back into a human arm, formed her armour and claws, before slashing it away from her. She briefly caught his surprised look before she dashed past him, stopping when she was 8 feet away from him.

The man turned around, and made to say something, when he felt something get torn below. His face morphed to one of confusion, before he looked to his chest area. His eyes widened when he noticed the multiple claw gashes on the sides of his hips, ones that cut fairly deep into his skin. Thin strands of flesh were already knitting them together though, so he looked up at the brunette with a sickening smile on his lips. "Kukukuku, good, that's good! You may just be worth this trouble after all!"

While he ranted about how she might be 'worth it' whatever that meant, IF managed to get a look at the man's weapon. Like she thought, it was a Kagune, and judging by its shape it looked like a Koukaku. It took the form of a large, crimson mass that encroached around his shoulder, and then went down his arm to his wrist. From there the mass released a single, long metallic grey Lance with a sharpened tip for stabbing. It looked large enough to have its base conceal the man's hand from all outside view from any angle.

'Looks like I'm dealing with a Koukaku type, here…'

That was what the brunette assumed anyways, as she readied her claws. Her eyes focused in on her target, feeling her power ready to claim its next victim. She then dashed forth, pumping energy into her legs for additional speed so she could catch the man off guard. That was her plan, anyways.

But like most plans, they never went as one would expect.

This became apparent when IF briefly noticed a shadow looming over her from behind, and only had a second to turn around, barely catching a glimpse of her new attacker, before something went and hit her upside the head with the force of a wrecking ball, knocking her to the cold, merciless ground.

THUD!

Her vision looked like a swimmer's, her thoughts scattered while her vision slowly gained black dots. The land of unconsciousness was beckoning to her, and IF struggled all she could to resist it, to get back up and to continue the fight. She didn't want to become some unknown asshole's meal just when she was going though something every girl goes the rough when they have something developing for a boy.

"Awww, man! Did you really have to come so soon, dude! I was just about to have some fun with her! REALLY, you always take all the fun ones for yourself, you know that asshole?!"

Barely she could hear the Ghoul she had been about to attack shouting, sounded like he was distressed that this new arrival seemed to see it wise to attack her from out of the blue. She could honestly feel the same, if she weren't about to take a trip to the land of sleep. She tried to move, but couldn't, her mind was still reeling from that unexpected hit. At least her armour was still on, protecting her from any further damage to her body.

"Shut up, you lust-obsessed idiot. This little lady passed the test long before now. She'll be perfect for our plans. Let's go, the others are waiting."

She didn't hear the rest, everything else was no longer relevant, as she finally passed out.


Chapter end!

Alright, another chap done!

Anyways, here's a Special Event about Team RAIL's leader Raven. I'm going to be writing more of these throughout the chapters, to showcase bits and pieces about those four characters and their personalities. They haven't been given much attention, I'll admit that, but that will soon be changing throughout the course of the Story. These four are not meant to be side characters, I can tell you that much.


Special Event - Raven

One morning in Planeptune, Raven was seen walking down the streets, intending to find some information regarding a certain monster species. She intended to research this species thoroughly so she and her Team would know how to take them on when they went for their next Quest. Information was the best method of preparation before a hunt, her experiences and training have taught her as such.

Raven fingered the hilt of her Odachi, several men passing her by giving her fearful looks. Her Mask wasn't on, so they were able to see the ever stern, cold features that she was sporting. Some might be into those kinds of ice queen mannerisms, but when they saw her Odachi, they all knew who she was and made sure to give her a wide birth, not wanting to experience what some unfortunate few have the horror of experiencing.

Lets just say those men were... less than men these days.

Her thoughts were broken when she heard sounds of sniffling nearby. Her eyes narrowed, annoyance flashing through them as she glanced to the direction the sniffling was coming from. From the opposite side of the street, a young girl could be seen next to a bench, sniffling while doing her best not to cry. Raven rolled her eyes in annoyance at this, while most would find this sight saddening, as nobody likes seeing crying children, Raven only found it tedious and annoying.

Still, it didn't look like the child was going to be stopping soon, and she was also attracting attention. Raven let go of her Odachi's hilt and turned to face the child's direction. Her eyes flashed as she jumped, about 8 metres in height, through the air and onto the other side of the street. Many watched her in awe as she did this, while Raven would glare at any male nearby who dared try to look up her skirt, making them look away with pale faces. That elected a satisfied smirk from the woman as she landed on the ground in a kneeling position.

Her attempt has also, albeit unintentionally but not unwelcomingly, surprised the child to the point where she stopped sniffling. Standing upright, Raven turned her body to face her, and the girl almost flinched at the piercing gaze her crimson eyes held.

"Child, why do you cry?" she asked coldly, not a shred of emotion present on her face as her lips formed a tight line. Her expression was anything but readable, something that sent chills down the child's spine.

Nevertheless, the girl answered awkwardly. "I... I can't find my mommy, we got separated, and-"

"And you think waiting here will magically teleport her to you?"

The girl jumped in surprise and shock when Raven interrupted her story. She almost broke down when she saw the slight glare that Raven had on her features as she looked down on the girl. Like she was looking at a pile of crap or something as similarly disgusting. "I-I..."

"Tears are useless, child." The woman began, her gaze cold and unwavering. Some of the citizens glared at her for her lack of empathy for the poor child, but paid them no mind as she continued to speak, her tone icy. "They do not accomplish anything practical, only waste valuable time and energy, Both of which could be put to better use like figuring out where your mother might be. There are places where parents go to report a lost child, go to one of them and she should be there." she explained, turning her back to the child.

As she made to leave the area, Raven heard the girl speak up. "Um, do you know where-?"

Before the girl could continue, asking her for some assistance, the woman interrupted her once again. "Use your wits to figure it out, child. The world is a cruel place, but those who have a strong mind, and the ability to focus, will go far in life. The strong survive, and the weak die. That is the essence of this world we live in."

Passing by civilians could only look on in shock at how cold, detached, almost chilling the woman was acting, and towards a child no less. Any normal citizen would be trying to guide the child through the harsh streets to the nearest police station. Not this one, it seemed, and that sent more than a few glares her way. Raven merely ignored them as she slowly walked away. She did this deliberately to get the child to come up with an answer to her statement.

The said girl watched Raven's back, a wide-eyed stare on her features. While the words were cold as ice, something about them jut seemed to... resonate, through the girl, like ding-dong bells ringing within her very being. It was like those words, as harsh as they were, served a purpose, to invigorate her and give her the courage she needed to get through this trial, to become stronger for it.

That woman... the people may call her harsh, ice cold, maybe even a witch, the child thought. But to the girl, the woman known as Raven was seen as something else. She was seen as... strength, the epitome of independence. She had this charisma about her that made the girl want to follow her to wherever she would want to go.

"I... I will!" the child yelled, causing Raven to pause mid stride as she listened to what the girl would say. "I know this place, mommy used to bring me around here when we lived in a house nearby. I'll find my way to get help, there! Thanks lady!" the girl, now irrevocably brighter than her previous state, shouted with a wide smile, waving in her direction. It was like she had done a complete 180 in terms of personality, and soon enough the girl was running off in the direction of, according to Raven's memories, the police station.

Wordlessly, the woman continued on her journey, her face a mask of Ice. But if one were to look carefully at her features, someone who had known her for a fair amount of time, they would see a faint, so faint that they would need a magnifying glass to verify it, upturn on the right corner of her lips.