When the next day finally rolled around, Dr. Paylor came to my room and informed me what he had planned for the day. We were going to a simulation room so I could learn to fight the Aragami. My ability to fight them clearly needed work, and this was the only way for me to get anywhere near the level I wanted to reach.
So, following him down the elevator, and down a large number of hallways, we reached a strange room with lights all around the room, and some strange light that settled within.
Dr. Paylor tapped away at a strange pad next to the door before beckoning me to head inside. I nodded at him as I placed my hand towards my sword. I am quite happy that he gave me a belt that I could hang my sword from. He told me that it was actually something he requested personally for me.
After five minutes, Dr. Paylor spoke through a speaker. I turned towards the area he was in, where some kind of electronic device seemed to hum with energy. It was a window up above the room I had not noticed. This proved to me that I needed to work on my observational skills.
"Can you hear me?" I nod. "Good, then let me begin by explaining the function of this room. This is where we will be starting out on teaching you how to defend yourself against the Aragami, and to aid me in my efforts."
"So, do the lights have something to do with this room? The lights are messing with my senses." He gives me a nod before resuming his explanation.
"The lights are a specialized projector that emits a kind of light that you will be able to interact with. A hologram that will feel very real, by playing on the senses. It will simulate an environment that you will explore and search for Aragami that you will be required to defeat. It is common for God Eaters to fight specified Aragami from missions they may individually be assigned on, or sent in as a team depending on the threat they may pose."
"So does that mean I am going to be going on these missions, or what are you going to want me to do?" He frowns for a bit before replying.
"The main purpose for the missions I wish to assign to you are a very sensitive matter. One which has a significant amount of importance to the future. For now we should begin the simulation so you can get a proper grasp of your own abilities."
Well my plan to get some information on what he will be assigning me on will not be explained in further detail. I looked at the room around me as it shifted into an environment with a bunch of rundown buildings. Dust and debris from crumbling walls littered the place, and rooms that barely had any light pouring in. Walking towards one side I found myself really high up. Counting the windows, I seemed to be on the tenth floor of one of the buildings.
I hear static before stopping before one of the rooms. "Within this room there should be something shining on the ground. I suggest you approach it and grab the item." I follow his instructions and find a strange needle with a strange fluid moving inside. The liquid seems to be reacting to me as I inspect it further.
"This object you hold within your hands is something that you will need to procure on your own but can sometimes be found within the environment. It is an item that heals the damage you have taken from the Aragami, and there are three variants. Each one has a different potency due to the amount of Oracle Cells contained within."
I pocket the item. It has some kind of cap screwed onto the other end, so I think it might be something I can inject myself with.
Exiting the room. I hear the sound of heavy feet stomping from the stairs. The crunching of rubble as something starts to get closer. As the sound continues to increase, I begin to feel myself tense up, ready to stab the Aragami when it lunges towards me. I expected to fight, but this feels different to what I experienced in my first actual fight. The first time I was unable to process things as well as I do now.
I am interrupted from my thoughts when Dr. Paylor starts speaking again. "During your study of the Aragami and god eaters, you learned about them being sent out to hunt Aragami down, but there are times when the Aragami themselves may end up hunting you instead. The more intelligent Aragami may even wait for you to tire out before attacking. While rare, the more common Aragami have also become more intelligent, adopting a pack-like mentality. This is reminiscent of wolves."
Another animal I need to research. This information is actually making me feel excited. Being an assistant to Dr. Paylor has a lot of things I can look forward to. Is there a word for learning about how the Aragmi functions? If they act more like these likely extinct animals, then does that mean they're trying to fit into what these animals were once like? There is so much I want to-
While lost in thought I don't hear the Aragami charging towards me until it's too late. I feel it hit me in the side, and end up being sent towards the wall. It takes me a few seconds before I feel pain go up my left side, and the impact from the wall makes my back ache. While I'm dazed, the Aragami begins to approach me as I struggle to stand. This thing isn't real, but it still hurts a lot.
It charges at me as I finally manage to stand, and I throw myself to the left. It missed me, but my foot still ended up tapping part of its head. I notice it's an Ogretail, once my head brain finally catches up with the rest of my body. I hold my sword in both hands up in the air before slashing down on the Aragami. It falls to the ground twitching before stopping completely. Nothing comes out of the Ogretail before it vanishes.
I take a moment to catch my breath, feeling relieved that I managed to actually kill one without being surprised. My hearing seems to stretch as I feel adrenaline run through my body. The rush of blood seems to release a strange thrill within me.
Something tells me Dr Paylor would be against this. I've no idea why, but I will keep this a secret for now. Not like he isn't keeping secrets himself.
Several large thuds approach me from the left and right hallways as my eyesight sharpens. In the dark there appears to be five of the Ogretails towards my left and an eyeball that was carrying a humanoid shape with feminine features, and some kind of fish-like tail. The challenge excites me, even as the rational part of my mind tells me I can't fight so many.
As the aragami spots me, I pivot towards the humanoid appears to be a Zygote. Zygotes are able to alert other aragami to the location of prey and can spit poison. If there is a single one, then there will likely be more of these. Rushing towards it, I throw all my weight into a slash as it lets out a noise alerting the Ogretails.
As my weapon slices through the Zygote, I can feel myself trip, unable to stop myself from falling to the ground. Before I realize it, the other aragami have already reached my earlier position. Quickly picking myself up, I grab my sword and hold it defensively in front of me as the Zygote dissolves. The first Ogretail to approach me circles behind me as two of the group try to trap me towards the wall.
The last two approach me slowly, one looking ready to charge, as the one behind it continues to observe me, its gaze falling onto my weapon.
As the two ogretails charge at me, I get ready to roll out of the way, when the one observing me runs and hits me with all its weight. Pain shoots through the right side of my abdomen where it hit. Before I could recover the other two pounced towards me, then a strange whir sounded throughout the room. All I could do was lay there as I tried to catch my breath.
Guess I have something to hate now, training.
Dr. Paylor stared down at Yuri, assessing how she fought in an enclosed environment with one of the simulations usually reserved for when a God Eater would be reaching the end of their training. While he didn't like seeing her in pain, he knew it was best to show her what normally occurs while on the field for her to have a set goal to strive for.
She has shown the ability to analyze a situation and think on her feet, whilst lacking in combat skills. Soma was quite reluctant to agree to any sort of training due to his experience, but it would still be good for him to interact with people around his own age, even if the person could send chills down his spine.
Making his way towards her, he can see her grimace in pain before using her sword as a crutch to stand. She turns towards him, her expression changing to one of annoyance before she opens her mouth to speak.
"Why did you stop the simulation? I was just getting started." He clears his throat before gesturing to her using the weapon to keep herself upright.
"You did well for something meant to be done near the end of the training regiment given to newly recruited God Eaters." He readjusts his glasses before continuing. "I had chosen a situation that you would no doubt believe to be good with"
Yuri huffs in annoyance at his observation. She did believe herself to be much better than the experienced god eaters, but nowhere near the level that Soma displayed. It irked her to admit that she may stay stuck there for quite a long time, especially since she would have to assume a false identity eventually. She already felt bored and needed things to do, but why do them if she could not enjoy it? Fighting felt good, but losing didn't.
Contemplating all this was fine until she realized Dr. Paylor was trying not to smile in a knowing manner. He knew how she felt, but there was no ill intent behind his amusement. It felt more like what someone felt towards a student wanting to improve. It made her feel conflicted. She did not like being teased, but she also liked how he seemed to give off an atmosphere of happiness.
Perhaps this is why Soma is annoyed by him. He can't stay mad at Dr. Paylor no matter how annoying he can get.
"You have been training for about two hours. While you can learn the next part of your training, perhaps some time to relax before attempting such." Dr. Paylor sighed as he spoke.
"It sounds like it might be something really annoying to deal with. Is it really that bad?" She asks as the pain finally recedes.
"It can be if you don't like sitting down for long periods of time. You do have the ability to observe a multitude of things, and may need to keep a lot of things memorized." Realization dawns on her as she realizes what Dr. Paylor is saying.
He is referring to the reports she has read. She would need to file actual reports once she hit the field. A groan leaves her as she gestures for him to lead the way back. This was sounding like it would take quite a while and she really wanted to get it over with.