Far East Branch - Lobby

With relative ease, the 1st Unit was able to dispatch the Aether. The mission was a success, the only hindrance being Neo's unexpected injury in the field. However, due to her recovery shortly after, the squad was able to secure victory. In doing so, the two veterans found themselves deeply concerned, as the extent of Neo's changes still remained unknown.

While certain traits were beneficial, like her enhanced mobility and strength, they were beginning to wonder if her power had come with a price. Particularly, they were growing increasingly disquieted over her mental state and the unusual habits she was developing. Spending an uncharacteristic amount of time in the underground weapons hangar was becoming commonplace for her, as well as taking on an alarming number of missions by her lonesome. Additionally, she was becoming withdrawn, spending more time by herself and often declining offers of socialization in favor of singular activities. And what Neo did during this time was anyone's guess.

The most troubling change by far, however, was her newfound habit of talking to herself. In what was becoming a more and more frequent occurrence, her teammates would find her standing alone in the hangar or hallways, speaking quietly to no one about matters of varying topics. Particular favorites were God Arcs, Aragami behavior, and Oracle cells. When approached or confronted by any one of them, she would simply cease her monologue and converse with them instead, or in the strangest cases, merely wander away.

Ichiro and Soma held the greatest concerns about Neo's behavior, each making a point to keep an eye on her whenever possible. Alisa and Kota had begun to notice her absence as well, with the New Type arriving less and less frequently for Bugarally and for tea. Sakuya and Lenka, despite their preoccupations, had also begun to notice her fading presence amongst the squadron. Even Gunter had grown wary of her absence, wondering if perhaps she had been avoiding him following their rescue mission. When a week passed with little change, the 1st Unit decided to speak with her and get to the bottom of her behavior.

At least, that had been their plan.

In the main lobby, the Den was abuzz with activity. During the early hours of the morning, a God Eater from the 4th Unit lost contact with Headquarters. Later in the afternoon, the cause was identified as a Deusphage. With the God Eater's status unknown and a dangerous Aragami on the loose, everyone knew it would fall to the Assault Squad to put an stop to it. Among them, the top three would likely be selected. As such, Gen, the only veteran to have encountered the beast, sat on the lobby sofa imparting advice.

"Susano'o, the Type 1 Deusphage… be careful. It's a nasty piece of work…"

Neo listened, nodding her head as he recounted his tale. "Just how powerful is this foe?"

"They call it 'Godsbane.' Enough said."

"And you have faced them in battle?"

Gen nodded his head, a sad smile appearing on his features. "Unfortunately. This one's taken a lot from me, you know." Sighing, he shook his head. "I'll stop here. This'll just make things gloomy. You're here now, and you're skilled. I know we can take him down. Just be aware of its giant tail and the Arcs on his arms!"

"Arcs…" Neo muttered quietly, her eyes lowering to the floor. In her uncertainty about the upcoming battle, she had enlisted the advice of the Den's oldest living God Eater. And in the process, she had learned the truth of her target… and the tragic fate that befell those who underwent full Aragami Transformation.

Over the past few weeks since her awakening, Neo had found herself growing increasingly depressed. While her body had returned to its original state, the effects of Overdrive were still evident in her everyday life. And now, with Lindow's God Arc lodged in her hand, the crushing weight of reality had grown even heavier. The threat of total consumption loomed constantly overhead, and the occasional reminders from her fellow God Eaters didn't help.

. . .

Gina smirked at the New Type, approaching as she spotted her on the lobby sofa. "Wow, you really do some crazy things… You're as nuts as they say, you know? I'll just continue to pray that the day won't come when I'll have to shoot you."

. . .

Ren offered her a comforting smile as the pair stood alone in the empty hallway. In front of her, the other God Eater looked carefully over her form. "You're not showing any signs of Aragami Transformation. I'm so glad. I was really worried for a moment there. I know a bit about whole Aragami Transformation. Let me know if there's anything I can help you with!"

. . .

Soma glared at her, startling her as he appeared suddenly in her line of vision. "Think before you act. You're not an easy person to replace, you know."

. . .

"What exactly does that mean? Will I undergo transformation or not?"

Sakaki nodded solemnly as Neo sat tiredly on the other side of his desk. "So, strictly speaking, God Eaters like Alisa, Sakuya, Ichiro, and Kota have already gone through Aragami Transformation. The proper P53 Bias Factor allows for a controlled Aragami Transformation, which is how a God Eater is born. But you, of course, are slightly different. In your case, there are three major causes that can cause transformation into an Aragami."

Neo slowly nodded, indicating he had her full attention.

"The first is an outburst off of other Bias Factor or Oracle cells. God Eaters who undergo Aragami Transformations due to these causes have a tendency to attack God Arcs and God Eaters. The second is absorbing Oracle cells of a God Arc that was not matched to yourself. The third cause, and this is only speculation, is Overdrive. And as luck would have it, you Neo, have undergone all three. So, you see, I have no idea what will happen, which is why I want to let you know that you'll have to trust me, and your friends."

. . .

Whether their comments were said in jest or concern, Neo knew that those who spoke to her weren't trying to hurt her. But while they meant her no harm, she couldn't help but feel the sting of their words. Each and every one reminded her of her dangerous biology. That at any given moment, she was at risk of turning into an uncontrollable, rampaging monster, no different than the Susano'o itself. And then, like the Susano'o, she would share the same fate.

Would Ichiro be forced, once again, to end her life? Would he be able to do it when the time came? Would Alisa? Would Soma? As she contemplated the possibility of facing her comrades in battle, her mind started drifting once more to a dark place. For a moment, she wondered if she should do them a favor and finish the task for them. If she should end her own life before the transformation to save them the pain of betrayal. Her mind was now awakened, and her mental chains removed. She no longer had any restraints. Nothing besides her physiology could stop her. Perhaps…

"Anyway." Gen's now cheerful voice interrupted her thoughts and dragged her back to the present. "I know you'll be fine. If anyone can take him down, it's you. Get out there and do what you do best, kid. And when you're done, I'll treat you to some good food. Just come back with a body that's able to eat, alright?"

At the sound of a food offering, Neo's morbid musings disappeared. The thought of a nice meal was simply too good to resist. In fact, it had been a while since she had enjoyed a decent dinner or a feeding. Maybe a good feast was exactly what she needed to keep her demons at bay. With a look of determination, she nodded.

. . .

City of Mercy

With the promise of tasty delights driving her forward, Neo wandered silently through the city with her three teammates traveling behind her. As expected, the 1st Unit was summoned, calling all those able and willing to the battlefield. Unsurprisingly, Neo had been selected, followed closely by Soma. With Sakuya and Alisa preoccupied on another mission, Kota was called, as he was the second most efficient medic in the squadron. But the most surprising member of their lineup was their 1st Unit Leader, Utsugi himself.

While Lenka was the Squad Captain, he had been unable to join Neo on any missions due to their averse relationship. Ichiro had declined, citing unknown health concerns, leaving him to pick up the mantle. In terms of power, the team was well-balanced and more than capable of handling the coming threat. But in terms of cohesion…

"Need something?" Neo snapped, narrowing her eyes at the Squad Leader as she caught him staring, once again, at her wrapped azure coats.

He paused, twitching slightly at her ferocity. "…No. Nothing." He muttered his response, looking away from her as she turned her attention back to the city streets. It seemed her hostility hadn't lessened in the least and he was no closer to making amends. The Captain wasn't exactly surprised, as they had never been on good terms to begin with. And that was before putting a bullet in her abdomen. Even still, he hoped that with this mission, he could finally begin working to change her perception of him. And maybe, if they were lucky, he could get a better idea of her as well.

To his side, Kota gently patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, buddy. She'll come around. Neo's always like that with new people. You should've seen the look she gave me on our first encounter." He chuckled nervously, recalling the woman as she glared daggers at him in the Mess Hall.

"Oh, yeah?"

"Trust me. Neo isn't always the easiest to get along with, but she's not a bad person. She's just… distrustful."

"You'd be too if you lived her life." Soma grumbled, overhearing their conversation. The two fell silent under his stern gaze. "She was nice as a kid, but… things can happen. They can change a person."

Kota blinked, his own expression growing serious. He had been suspicious for a while, watching the two of them interact. From the first time they met in the Far East, there had always been something different about Soma. The way she spoke to him and acknowledged him. The way she looked at him without scorn in her eyes. The fact that both of them spoke what was, for the most part, a dead language. And now, with his most recent comment, Kota was sure. "Soma… your childhood friend. The one who died. It's Neo, isn't it?"

"Huh?" Lenka blanched, startling at the suddenness of Kota's question. Soma had a childhood friend? A friend who died but was, quite obviously, still very much alive?

Soma shared his reaction, wincing slightly as though he had punched him in the gut. It seemed the gunner was more perceptive than he gave him credit for. Seeing no reason to further deny their connection, he shrugged. "Yeah. She's a lot different now, but… it's her."

"Yeah… I kinda figured. I don't know what happened, but I'm glad. Y'know… that you got your friend back."

"Yeah. So am I."

Kota turned his head, hiding his growing smirk from the veteran. Soma didn't realize it, currently focusing on the woman in front of him, but he was smiling.

It didn't last long however, as Lenka's voice suddenly drew him back to their conversation. "Hey Soma… what happened to Neo? What changed her?"

Lenka never received an answer to his question.

Suddenly, Soma froze, his eyes growing wide as the woman ahead of them did the same. Both tensed, slowly shifting their stances as they turned their heads. Kota had been working with both of them long enough to know what that look meant. Aragami were near. Gripping his gun, he braced himself for battle. Noticing his reaction, Lenka quickly did the same.

But strangely, this introduction didn't go like so many others. Rather than strike silently from the shadows, this Aragami behaved differently. Earth-shaking footsteps echoed through the clearing as its heavy legs stomped across the ground beyond their line of sight. Then, with a leap, it appeared fearlessly before them. Standing boldly in the opening of a damaged skyscraper stood their target: the Susano'o.

It's pink, paw-like feet gripped the edge of the damaged structure, nothing like the pointed insectile legs of its other variants. The bright coloring extended up to its ankles, fading into a tar-like black that covered its entire body. At the top of its armored chest was a pink-maned head, far too humanoid for their liking. Just as Gen had warned, large gaping maws sat at the edge of its arms, snapping hungrily like a pair of wild animals. And behind it, curling over its back, was a massive tail with a stinger that appeared more like a glaive than a needle.

A rumbling growl sounded from its chest as it looked at them, raising its God Arcs in challenge. Before it, Neo answered, dropping into an offensive stance with a snarl. The two eyed one another for a few moments, each sizing up the other. Then, the Susano'o charged, leaping from the building and crashing to the ground below. Reacting, the New Type went immediately on the offensive, charging towards it with her scythe raised.

Eyeing its pink feet, Soma scowled. Shouting after her, he lifted his Buster and followed her lead. "Be careful, Neo! That thing is divine!"

A quick glance at its pink legs confirmed his theory. It seemed that Gen had been right. Nodding, she twisted her body out of the way as the monster swiped downward. The jaws passed by her side as she dodged, another quickly following after. Leaping into the air, she hopped over the second, clipping the claw as it passed underneath. The creature was stronger and slightly faster than a Borg, but its movements were similar. So long as she kept moving, she could avoid getting caught.

As it turned around to face her again, the Susano'o found itself instead faced with two more adversaries. Her teammates had caught up to her, utilizing its moment of distraction to their advantage. From afar, Kota took aim, firing three bullets towards its chest. All three hit their mark but did little damage. Moving to its sides, Soma and Lenka went for the pincers, with one focused on each claw.

Soma missed, his swing a bit too slow. On the opposite side, Lenka's Long Blade grazed the Arc, leaving a long pink line in its wake. Its quiet hiss didn't go unnoticed, drawing Neo's attention as it lifted its arm high into the air. She recognized that reaction, knowing full well the painful sting of divine energy. It had been that same augmented weapon that had nearly slain her.

Raising her voice, Neo shared the information with her teammates. "Kota, divine is it's weakness!"

"Roger that!" With this new revelation, he reloaded his bullets.

In the center of the fray, the target was growing tired of its surrounding foes. Lowering its tail, it dropped into offensive position.

"Watch it!" Lenka shouted, warning his teammates of the incoming threat.

Lifting his shield, Soma braced for impact as the Susano'o spun full circle, its blade-like tail tearing across the landscape. Neo and Lenka, both equipped with lighter shields, took to the air. Neo could feel the energy radiating from its glowing needle as it passed beneath her head. Landing on the ground, she shifted into gun form and took aim for its chest. While the God Arcs posed a larger problem for her offensively, its lack of shield should provide weak defenses.

That was what she had hoped. But as she pulled the trigger, the Deusphage did something she didn't expect. Raising its claws, it blocked her strikes, bullets needling its God Arcs. Then, lifting its tail like a scorpion, it took aim of its own, right back at her. Her eyes blew wide as the needle glowed with divine energy, charging its Oracle power. It was a position she recognized.

Pausing her assault, she bolted for safety as the Susano'o unleashed hell from the tip of its tail. Beams of divine energy rocketed downward, painting the ground below with glowing pillars on impact. Shifting her weight, she changed course, sprinting across the open clearing as the monster's projectiles followed after her.

Taking advantage of its distraction, Lenka attacked again, this time landing a much stronger blow. His blade tore into the Susano'o's God Arc, dangling freely as it focused on its retreating target. The beams halted, the monster rearing back in surprise as Kota rushed forth. In its vulnerable state, it was left open. He took aim, sending a hail of divine bullets towards its open midsection. Each one hit its mark, staggering the monster backward and earning a smile from the victorious gunner.

But his celebration was short-lived.

Enraged, the Susano'o surprised all of them, by changing course. Bending its mammalian legs, it launched itself towards him, clearing the distance between them in a single bound. "Gyah!" Kota scrambled out of the way as it landed, its paws gripping the Earth and sliding across the ground. Adjusting its trajectory, it charged, following after him with God Arcs at the ready.

A head of red hair rushed across the landscape, with the Susano'o hot on his trail. And based on how fast it was moving, the monster would catch him sooner rather than later. Rushing after them, Neo focused, summoning sparks along her coats as she approached them. Aiming to stop it, she threw herself forward, wrapping an arm around its tail and latching herself behind it. Gripping it tightly, she discharged, sending currents through the monster's body. Surprisingly, much like Kota's blazing bullet, it had almost no effect.

"Damn…" Neo grumbled, eyes narrowing as the Susano'o slowed its movement. Gen's words rang in her head, reminding her of her mistake.

It's resistant to freeze and spark, so they won't be effective.

Thankfully, her aim of protecting Kota had been successful. She had taken its attention off of him… and placed it on herself. "Whoa!" Holding on for dear life, Neo tightened her grip on the extremity as it lifted slowly into the air. Which proved to be a grievous mistake. Within moments, the tail came back down and spun, taking Neo right along with it.

Her fingers curled, reaching desperately for stability, but her gloves gave her little grip. Slipping from the tail, she was launched clear across the area before slamming into a nearby wall. Stars clouded her vision, the sound of thunderous footsteps reaching her ears. Panicked, she lifted her shield out of reflex, uncertain of the monster's intentions. A decision that would save her life.

A loud clang echoed through the clearing as the tip of the glaive collided against her shield, pinning her against the wall. Groaning, she pressed back, fighting desperately against the blade trying to skewer her. Buckler creaking against the strain, Neo thought quickly, trying to remember the older God Eater's advice.

Its tail is dangerous. It's heavier and larger than others of its type. But it's also susceptible to crush attacks. If you can keep it still, use that to your advantage.

"S-Soma! The tail!" She shouted, trembling under its weight.

Her words reached him. And as he watched her battle to hold steady, he understood her intentions. Within moments, the pressure was gone. From behind, Soma rushed forward, lifting his blade high above his head. Summoning all of his strength, he swung his heavy blade with all the force of his Oracle cells behind it. Neo gasped, collapsing to the ground as it backed away from her, its shattered glaive whipping wildly behind it.

From the sides, Lenka and Kota opened fire, pelting it with divine bullets from both directions. It backed away from the onslaught, lifting its God Arcs protectively over its face. It seemed the Arcs provided effective protection after all. But it didn't stay guarded for long. Damaged under the constant strain of divine energy, the claws cracked at the seams. A well-placed shot from Utsugi unbound the cells, shattering its guard and earning an ear-splitting screech in response.

They were gaining the upper hand, with the battle quickly turning in their favor. Regaining her bearings, Neo healed and returned to battle, providing supportive fire with her Sniper Gun while her teammates closed in. Her piercing bullets struck its legs, staggering it as it tried to determine which of the four was the largest threat. Enraged, it decided on all of them, dropping low to the ground with a full sweep.

Predicting its movements, Kota leapt into the air with Lenka, with Soma lifting his tower shield. Neo leapt backward, bending slightly as the blade passed by her face, just barely out of range. The group went back on the offensive after its rotation, Kota opening fire with Soma and the Captain charging forward. But the Susano'o wasn't finished.

"Look out!" Neo shouted, watching the legs bend for a second time.

Her warning came too late. Lowering its tail, the Susano'o spun again in the opposite direction, this time hitting its mark. The massive tail struck all three of them, batting them away like small pests. Kota tumbled across the ground, only stopping as he struck a nearby rockface. Soma hit the ground, sliding through the dirt with an angry grunt. Lenka followed him, glass shattering behind him as he hit the building's support. With a pained groan, Utsugi struggled to stand, white spots clouding his vision. And approaching was the Susano'o, God Arcs snapping hungrily at the dazed soldier.

Neo, took aim, training her rifle on the back of the monster's head. But her efforts proved futile as she pulled the trigger, earning only the familiar click of an empty magazine. "Shit!" Aggravated, she shifted her gun, accelerating towards the Captain at breakneck speed.

Shaking the stars from his head, Lenka slowly opened his eyes… to see a pink pair staring back at him. "Holy -"

For the next moment, time slowed, the Captain watching as his God Arc came to life. He could see the components twisting and turning, activating his shield. But in front of him, he could also see the approaching claw, jaws open wide to devour him. He wasn't going to make it in time. Then, he saw another figure.

With no time to get in between them, Neo leapt into the air… and landed on the monster's head. Gripping a handful of its plush pink mane, she yanked with all of her might, startling the scorpion into a state of confusion. She held her grip as it staggered backward, leaping forward as it swiped with its shattered blade. Landing in front of it, she lifted her scythe, glaring back at the furious monster.

The Susano'o roared, brandishing its glaive in challenge, angling it towards her. Baring her fangs, she hissed back, bristling under its threatening gaze. Behind her, Lenka stared in disbelief, watching the wild display as Neo charged, locking the Aragami in a battle of blades. He couldn't honestly say that her display hadn't unnerved him, but he also couldn't deny the feeling of gratitude as he watched her. Despite their differences, and even her personal feelings towards him, Neo was protecting him.

With a smirk on his face, Lenka rose to his feet and joined her. Maneuvering around her swordfight, he positioned himself beneath the legs, raising his Long Blade. Behind him, Soma appeared, having awakened from his stunned state. Lifting his own weapon, he nodded to the Captain, reading his intentions. Neo had the monster's attention.

Synchronizing their strikes, the pair lunged beneath and swung their blades, with Lenka taking the front pair and Soma taking the back. Like the Borg Camlann, the Susano'o evenly distributed its weight between all four legs, making it difficult to unbalance. But with all four struck at the same time, their coordinated attack literally knocked the monster off of its feet, sending it flopping on the ground.

Neo dodged the falling glaive, distancing herself as the monster fell. And looping around from behind them, Kota returned, aiming his barrel directly at the monster's open mouth. Then, he opened fire, his Assault Gun's barrel rotating as he unloaded all of his bullets, destroying it from the inside.

The Susasno'o was no more.

"Nice work, everyone." Lenka exclaimed, regarding his teammates with a victorious smile.

"We were awesome!" Kota replied, beaming back at him with equal intensity.

The other pair remained silent, Soma focusing on extracting the core. While he spoke no words, he allowed his gaze to drift over the woman, eyeing her for any abnormalities. Taking a page from Hamasaki's book, he had grown proficient at observing her kinetic patterns and using them to discern her physical state. From the way she was moving, she didn't appear to be in any pain. Her earlier wounds must have already healed. As her head shifted, his eyes locked momentarily with hers.

'Hmm?' Soma felt his chest tighten as he met her gaze. While she didn't appear to be in any physical discomfort, he could see the look of dejection in her eyes. Something was bothering her. But Soma never got to voice his concerns as another God Eater addressed her first.

"Neo."

She turned, lifting an eyebrow at Utsugi as he approached her. She said nothing in response, but he could tell that she was listening.

"…Thanks."

Once again, Neo said nothing. Instead, she turned and walked away, heading towards the exfiltration point. Lenka's shoulders fell slightly at her blatant rejection, watching her walk away with curious eyes. Of all people, he hadn't expected Neo to be the one to assist him. It seemed that there was more to the New Type than he thought. Perhaps Kota was right about her. Beneath her prickly exterior was a nice woman, with potent protective instincts. And hopefully, with any luck, he would be able to see another side of her.

. . .

Solitary footsteps crunched through the gravel and dirt. Her scythe sat comfortably slung over her shoulders as she strolled through the empty streets. The sound of thumping footsteps caught her attention, alerting her to another's presence. Turning, she lifted her scythe above her head and swung, intercepting the Vajratail midflight. It fell with a thud into a growing pool of crimson.

Scowling, Neo stepped forward, removing the glove from her right hand. Reaching forward, she tore the core from the fallen monster, gazing sadly at the pulsating mass. She couldn't get the image of the Susano'o out of her mind, its face twisted in agony in its final moments. It had been human once. In a time long past when they fought alongside other God Eaters instead of devouring them. This was the fate that befell those who underwent full Aragami Transformation.

And what of her? By virtue of her very design, she was already halfway there. The azure coats wrapped carefully around her neck were proof of that. How long before she met the same end? How long before her Oracle cells grew unstable beyond repair, taking over her completely?

Her eyes drifted downward to her bloody clawed hand, with indigo discoloration at the fingertips. What had happened to the core? Had she devoured it? When had she done it? She couldn't even remember. With a heavy sigh, she swung her scythe back over her shoulder and continued on to the exfiltration point.

Perhaps… she was already there.