Infernal Subway - Sky
The Den was alight with laughter and joy as God Eaters young and old celebrated the Susano'o's defeat. The missing soldier was located shortly after the end of the mission and, while injured, returned to Headquarters relatively safe and sound. He graciously thanked the members of the 1st Unit for their assistance in his rescue and the elimination of the Deusphage. Upon his return, his unit members thanked them as well, elated at their teammate's rescue. But by the far, the most grateful of all was the Den's resident veteran, Gen.
True to his word, he treated Neo and her companions to a feast fit for a queen. Provided with no limits, the New Type happily consumed a small mountain of food, leaving Gen and everyone else unaccustomed to her appetite in shock and awe. It wasn't until after her fourth serving that she finally quit, gorged and more than satisfied. Gen threw back his head in raucous laughter as the woman leaned against her exasperated guardian like a swollen tick.
The following day, the old soldier confronted her in the lobby to check on her, wondering if she had recovered from the previous night. "Hey! How's your stomach? You eat a lot for what you look like…" He accentuated his words with a bark of laughter. In truth, he had never seen a woman her size consume even half of what she had that evening. Or a man, for that matter.
Neo ignored his playful jab, instead bowing her head in gratitude. "Thank you. It was greatly appreciated."
Seeing no indication of sickness or discomfort, the man chuckled and waved her off. "Well, my wallet is a little skinny now, but young ones like you should be all energetic like that! Being able to eat as much as you can, when you can, is a privilege for those who are still alive. Eat as much good food as you can now, so that you won't be left with regrets at the end."
"Regrets, huh…" Neo muttered quietly to herself, turning away from him and making her way toward the lounge area. Gods knew that she already had more than she could possibly count, her injured guardian among the worst of them. Even still, she strove to move forward if she could, hoping to leave the past where it belonged. Yet even as she wished it, that voice still loomed in the back of her mind, threatening to bring everything back to the surface.
"Hey, Neo!"
"Huh?" Pausing a few inches from the couch, she turned around at the sound of her name. Behind her stood a face she hadn't seen in a little while, providing her a perfect opportunity to practice what she had learned. Recounting the words Alisa told her, she politely addressed him. "Gunter. How are you?"
"Eh? Uh… Me? I'm fine." He stammered, taken aback by her question. It wasn't like Neo to show concern about him very often, or about much of anything, really. In fact, at this point, he was more concerned about her own well-being, as he hadn't seen or heard from her since Thor's Banquet. "How about you? I heard you had a hell of a time last night."
"I did. I enjoyed myself."
"Glad to hear it." He offered her a small, genuine smile. After a moment, however, it faded into a sheepish grin as he scratched his head. Why was he so uneasy all of a sudden? "A-Anyway, I was wondering if you'd like to enjoy yourself again."
Cocking her head to the side, Neo silently questioned him in the way that he had become accustomed.
"Hehe… well, since you're such a foodie, I figured I could take you somewhere. In fact, there are a few things I think you might like. That is, if you're up for it."
Her visible eye lit up at the mention of food, her head nodding enthusiastically as Gunter let out a sigh of relief. His shoulders drooped slightly, releasing the tension he didn't realize he had been holding. What the hell was going on with him? Cracking a smile, he nodded with equal enthusiasm. "Great! Well, next time you're free -"
"Attention all God Eaters! This is an emergency broadcast! The Hannibal has been successfully trapped in the subway remains. The 1st Unit is to dispatch immediately! I repeat. The 1st Unit is to dispatch immediately!"
Neo offered Gunter a guilty smirk, turning away from him as she bolted toward the stairwell to find her companion.
. . .
It was that course of events that had led them to this moment. With her riding silently in the whirring helicopter with three other members of her unit as they made their descent. She couldn't say that she was fond of returning to the molten public transportation system, having avoided it ever since Ichiro's betrayal. In fact, this mission would be her first time returning to the Infernal Subway since that fateful day, and every tense muscle in her body showed it.
"Neo!"
The New Type nearly leapt out of her skin as an angry voice ripped her forcefully out of her thoughts. Crashing back to reality, she whipped her head up, now looking at Soma who was staring back at her with an annoyed expression. "What?"
The veteran's scowl turned into a glare at her clueless gaze. Having called her three times, he was already in a relatively foul mood. Her reaction had confirmed his suspicions that she hadn't heard a word he said. "Our mission. What we have to do is beat the Aragami up and retrieve its core. That's it. Simple enough, and the same as always. If you're not up for it, then -"
"I'm fine. We don't have any time to waste."
Her snappy reply earned a look of surprise from the moody veteran, which quickly shifted into one of concern. His eyes slid slowly towards her guardian who now shared the same worried expression. Ichiro gently placed a hand against her arm, brows furrowing as he lowered his voice. "Neo… are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine."
His breath hitched in surprise as she responded, watching her quickly climb out of the open doorway. As she wandered into the caverns below, his lips pulled into a frown. Neo always had a tendency to hyper focus when deployed on important missions. The fact that she was staring off into space was indication enough that something was wrong. But what really concerned him was the New Type's reaction to him. As he reached to comfort her, as he always did, he met a response that he had never seen before in their time together. Rather than relaxing and leaning into his hand, Neo did the opposite, her muscles coiling with tension at his touch.
Neo always came to him in times of stress, even after an argument. And while her evasion wasn't entirely unheard of, it was always for a specific reason. She had turned away from him often in frustration. Occasionally, she rejected him purely out of rage. But she had never, ever pulled away from him in distrust. He was familiar with Neo's habits, and he felt her muscles tighten beneath his fingertips. A flight response. Was Neo… afraid of him?
His eyes lowered to the ground as he slowly trailed after her, Soma and Utsugi following suit. The Captain took point, passing ahead of the other New Type as Soma moved to walk at her side. To respect her boundaries, Ichiro kept his distance, observing Neo from the rear. Her rigid posture never changed.
. . .
Infernal Subway
Their journey from that moment on continued in silence, the four of them moving quickly towards their intended target. Somewhere within those subway tunnels was the Hannibal, a creature that only two of them had ever faced before in battle. Both Ichiro and Soma had seen the monster's indescribable speed and power, rivaled only by the woman walking amongst them. They knew that Neo was strong, easily the strongest of all of them… but would it be enough?
"Hey guys, looks sharp. We're getting close." Lenka called back to the group, earning a nod from Ichiro and a grunt from Soma. Neo said nothing, instead gripping her scythe in anticipation as she sharpened her senses. It was difficult to hear much of anything through the pounding in her ears, but movement was noticeable in the tunnels nearby. The Hannibal couldn't be far.
Confirming her suspicions, Soma paused, his own alarm bells ringing as they approached a nearby split. He could feel the energy of its Oracle cells calling out to him, reaching from the next tunnel over. It didn't seem to have noticed their presence yet. Lowering his voice, he spoke to his team. "It's around the bend. Prepare yourselves."
She nodded, wiping the sweat from her brow as she repositioned her grip. Shifting her scythe into gun form, she braced herself. With little more to go on than numerous briefings, the New Type knew she had to be ready for anything. As she had never faced the Hannibal before, she had taken it upon herself to converse with Paylor Sakaki, the eccentric doctor, and Brendan Bardell, the North American with a familiar face. Both of them had given her all the tools they could offer in terms of combat capability.
The Hannibal, a large salamander-like creature with high agility and weaponized flames. From the sound of it, the monster possessed all of the qualities necessary to defeat her in battle. It was difficult to say how much trouble the creature was going to be. But hopefully, they could finish within reasonable time.
She paused, halting her thoughts as heavy footsteps sounded from around the corner. Thumping carefully down the staircase, their target was approaching. It was still unaware of their presence, placing them in an advantageous position. Taking aim, she looked to Soma for guidance, prepared to offer the first strike. If this creature was as powerful as they claimed, the element of surprise would be crucial.
He nodded, giving her the go-ahead as Lenka, Ichiro, and himself backed away, taking position around her. All fell into silence, its footfalls the only noise echoing through the subway tunnels as they waited. After a few moments, it finally appeared, stomping through the large stairway. Its reptilian head was the first thing she saw as it emerged, followed by its long, silver neck and broad shoulders. Then, its rock-crested back, and muscular legs tipped with golden claws. And trailing behind, swishing slowly with every step was a long, whip-like tail.
It was truly as intimidating as they said.
But intimidation wasn't enough to deter her. With a deep breath, she unloaded, firing three piercing bullets toward its large orange gauntlet. At the sound of her rifle, the monster turned, taking two of the bullets full force. The first struck its mark, colliding with its arm guard, and the second with its chest as it turned. The third bullet missed as it dropped low to the ground, allowing the projectile to pass overhead.
"What…?!" Neo paused, her body tensing automatically in preparation as the bullet collided with the back wall. How could she miss? She never missed. Every muscle began to vibrate as she awaited the impending shock to her neck… but it never came. Instead, she heard a loud voice, jolting her from the side.
"Neo, focus!" Soma shouted, grabbing her attention not a moment too soon as the Hannibal charged, streaking across the battlefield like a silver bullet.
The four of them scattered, diving out of the way as the creature passed through, its quaking footsteps shaking the walls around them. Ducking low, Neo whipped around, shifting into scythe form as a claw whizzed passed her head.
"It's fast!" Lenka exclaimed, narrowly avoiding its back leg as it spun.
And it was, its martial movements catching Neo off guard as she did her best to evade its endless onslaught of incoming attacks. Hopping into the air, she passed over another swipe of its claw. Then, she dodged a second blow, only to find herself in the pathway of another. "Oof!" Without warning, the Hannibal spun, its tail slapping her body with the force of a sledgehammer. Batted away like a baseball, she soared through the subway, collapsing onto the ground a short distance away as it turned its attention to its remaining foes.
It showed no more mercy to her comrades, zoning in on Lenka as its next target of choice. "Whoa!" Employing a different strategy, he lifted his shield in defense, stumbling backward from the force as its fist collided with the metal guard. Then, in the moment following the first, a second strike came. Groaning, he held as steady as he could, growing nervous as his shield creaked under the continuous strain. He wouldn't last much longer under these conditions.
Thankfully, he didn't need to as his teammates took careful advantage of the Hannibal's distraction. Two pairs of jaws dug into its back legs as both men activated their God Arcs. Absorbing its essence, they leapt back from the incoming tail as they entered Level 1 Burst. Power coursed through their veins, sending both in opposite directions as the monster turned on them. In an attempt to confuse it, they began to circle, using motion to draw its attention away from their Captain.
Scowling, Neo sat up. She wrapped a hand around her midsection, groaning as her bruised ribs clicked back into place. Climbing to her feet, she glowered at her foe, engaged with her teammates. The Hannibal. It seemed that she had finally met her match in terms of mobility. She could not afford to hold back against such an opponent.
"Damn it!" Soma grunted, narrowly avoiding a punch with the edge of his tower shield. It seemed the Hannibal was even more aggressive than the last time they had fought, using everything at its disposal to pummel them. Unfortunately, unlike last time, they didn't have access to tall grass and slippery terrain. This time, they would have to rely entirely on their own power… if they could land a single hit.
To the other side, Lenka shifted into gun form, firing two bullets into the back of its head. Shifting its attention, it whipped around, rushing across the battlefield towards the New Type. He shifted back into blade form, deploying his buckler just in time to block a downward fist. He braced himself for another strike, pausing when one never came.
Like a violet bullet, Neo charged, streaking across the landscape with her scythe raised. Leaping into the air, she swept her blade, striking the wrist guard as she passed. With an angry snarl, it turned, the new target holding its attention. Lenka's green orbs widened at the sight of her, challenging the Hannibal. In Level 1 Burst, she stood, gloves removed with her clawed fingers on display. With a violent hiss, she charged, leaping over its tail as it swung.
With the battle raging anew, the squadron closed in on their target. Ichiro and Soma played the role of striker, trying to land as many hits as possible in between its movements. Lenka played the role of switch-hitter, providing both support and offense as necessary. And whipping around the battlefield, Neo played agitator, using her quick, nimble movements to keep its attention off of her team.
Their strategy worked well for a short time, their careful motions keeping the Hannibal on its toes. But it was unsustainable, the monster turning the tides as it stood to its full height. Recognizing the familiar motion, Soma shouted. "Move!" His command was for the squadron, but Neo could tell from his urgency that he was speaking to her. Whatever was about to happen would be dangerous.
Leaping backward, the group distanced themselves as its arm raised into the air. Their bodies tensed with anticipation, watching its movements as the flames started to materialize. With its javelin of flame, it launched, wielding its flaming weapon like a reptilian swordsman. Lenka scrambled out of the way, sliding beneath its swing as it passed overhead. Soma and Ichiro went on the defensive, raising their shields as it passed them by. Neo twisted and turned, maneuvering around the flaming weapon as best she could. She cursed quietly under her breath as the blaze clipped her arm, singeing the skin.
As the flames faded into smoke, Neo focused her strength. Pushing herself onward, she entered into Level 2 Burst and leapt back into the fray. Behind her, Soma followed, placing a well-timed swing. The gauntlet shattered, cells unbinding under the force of his blow. Rearing back, the Hannibal let out a screech. Neo skidded to a stop, tensing as a familiar arm halted her slide.
A thunderous roar signaled the Hannibal's rage as it erupted. Opening its mouth, it launched a massive sphere of flames in their direction, scattering the pair. Having separated its target, the Hannibal charged, rushing after the New Type with renewed vigor. Neo yelped, diving out of the way as a claw grazed her shoulder. Then, she felt impact as it whipped around, launching her across the tunnel with its tail. Grunting, she tried to stand, looking around for her teammates. She could hear their voices calling to her, warning her.
The Hannibal wasn't finished.
Growling, she pushed herself further, entering Level 3 Burst as she leapt to the side, dodging the incoming claw. Lifting her buckler, she blocked the second, the force shoving her across the ground. She couldn't continue on like this. She needed to distance herself. Looking around, Neo calculated her options. The Hannibal stood between her and her approaching allies, and behind her was a solid wall. She was trapped. Eyeing a nearby tunnel, Neo did the only thing she could think to do. Bolting for the offshoot, she darted through the subway as fast as she could, with the Hannibal following close behind.
Her Oracle cells pushed to the limit, her strides growing longer with every bound as she accelerated through the empty corridor. Her lungs burned and sweat dripped down her face as she ran, hoping to create some space between them. But as the heavy footsteps grew louder, Neo came to a horrifying realization. The Hannibal was faster than her.
Panicked, she pushed herself as hard as she could, wincing as her muscles strained. But it was no use. Turning, she lifted her shield, blocking the incoming swipe and tumbling backwards across the concrete. She held steady, holding her buckler for dear life as it absorbed another blow. Then another. And finally, it disengaged. The shield came down, leaving her vulnerable as the Hannibal lunged.
"Gah!" Her back hit the solid floor, a crushing fist pinning her to the ground. She was stuck. Her scarf illuminated, sparking violently as she struggled against her captor. Her eyes widened as its large, reptilian head leaned towards her. And as its jaws opened, she unleashed. Shrieking, she released her charge, sending a wave of electricity into the air around her. Then, surprisingly, she felt the pressure lift. As her currents coursed through its body, the monster reared back, flailing its limbs.
It was vulnerable to spark.
"Neo!" Soma called to her. Her teammates finally caught up to them. Rushing forward, he swung his blade at the unsuspecting creature, striking its leg as it thrashed. With a screech, it tumbled to the side, knocked off balance. With the Hannibal's movement finally halted, they had a crucial opening. And all three men sprang into action to take full advantage of it.
Lenka followed, quickly arming a trap at its feet as it struggled to stand. Tripping the device, the monster lurched, its body twitching wildly as it held it in place. From behind him, Ichiro followed, lifting his sword high above his head. Leaping into the air, he drove it downward, right into its skull. A fountain of crimson burst from the opened wound as its body convulsed, then fell still. The Hannibal was finished… for now.
Lying on the ground, Neo panted, her body in too much pain to move. Her mind was growing delirious from the heat, their voices a muffled sound in her ears. The rapid thumping of her racing heart was all she could hear as her body roasted. Lenka shifted into gun form, firing three recovery bullets into her frame, healing her wounds. Ichiro extracted the core as Neo slowly climbed to her wobbly feet.
Looking around, her eyes widened. Neo recognized this place. The Hannibal's pursuit had led her here, to a peninsula surrounded by a ring of fire. Unpleasant memories returned, images of her guardian standing above her with his weapon raised. Panting, she collapsed back to the ground, her entire body drenched with sweat. She felt like she was melting.
Rushing to her side, Ichiro reached to help her stand. "Neo! Are you -" His question and his movement stopped, freezing as the woman reacted in a way that none of them expected.
Baring her fangs, she hissed at him, claws twitching and digging into the rock below.
"…Neo?" His voice quieted, feeling his heart sink as she bristled. Of course, he shouldn't be surprised. It would make sense that she would distrust him, especially here. This was the place he had taken her on that fateful night. Feverish from the heat, she was behaving primarily on survival instinct. The desire to live on. And right now, it seemed, she saw him as a threat. Lowering his arm, he fell silent and backed away from her, averting his eyes.
Soma grumbled, scowling at the display. He wasn't entirely certain what was happening at that moment, but he couldn't afford to concern himself with it. They didn't have the time. "We have to move. This thing won't stay down for long."
But Neo didn't budge. She couldn't. Exhausted by the heat, her limbs could barely hold her weight as she continued to weaken. Having burned nearly all of her energy in battle for an extended period of time, she was at her limit.
"Neo, come on. We have to go."
Ichiro shook his head, fighting the urge to approach her. "She can't, she's exhausted. Her entire body is overheating."
Soma growled in frustration. What was he supposed to do, carry her? Considering her snarling state, doing so would be more than ill-advised. But they were running out of time.
Frowning, Utsugi paused, his mind mulling over options as they nervously eyed the smoking Hannibal. None of them would have the strength to carry her and her God Arc back, not with the creature on their tail. And this was assuming that she didn't tear whoever attempted to shreds. But he wouldn't leave her. He couldn't. She had saved his life. Surely, he could save hers. But how? Suddenly, a thought came to mind. Normal God Eaters were resistant to the heat, but it seemed that Neo was the opposite. Perhaps…
"Soma, stand back a little."
The veteran raised an eyebrow, but readily complied. They didn't have time for arguing. The Hannibal was getting close to revival. Ichiro also eyed him suspiciously, as Lenka stepped towards them, rotating his bullets and loading a blast shell into the chamber. Then, he took aim and pointed the barrel directly at the gasping New Type.
"What are you doing?!"
"Wait, don't -"
Both men were powerless to stop him as Utsugi angled downward and fired his bullet straight towards her. Then, they fell silent, as they realized the method to his madness. His shell hit the ground in front of her, exploding into a cloud of icy mist. Pausing for a moment, he fired another, engulfing her in the shroud once again. He was trying to cool her down.
She could feel her heart rate slowing as the frigid fog surrounded her. Her rapid breathing calmed, and strength slowly returned to her legs. Blinking, she shook her head, trying to regain her bearings as she came back to her senses. Lenka fired a third bullet, immersing her one last time in the icy mist. Then, with a groan, Neo rose to her feet, walking shakily forward. Emerging from the cloud, she wiped her dripping bangs from her face and raised an eyebrow at him. He smirked back at her, his grin pulling into a smile as she nodded at him. She didn't say the words, but he knew she was grateful.
"Think you can run now?" Soma asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Come on. Let's get out of here before that thing wakes up." Taking one last look at her guardian, she stalked off towards the tunnels. He avoided her gaze, instead staring at the ground below. They couldn't get away from this place fast enough.
The other three followed behind her, looking back once more to ensure that it remained on the ground. Confirming its unconsciousness, they turned their backs and broke into a run. Ichiro kept his distance from the New Type as they made their exit with a heavy heart. He now understood Neo's pain when others looked upon her with fear. He had seen the look in her eyes as he approached her.
And it had nearly torn his heart in two.