"Why did you do that?" Silver haired engineer glared at me.

"Well, to be fair, it wasn't me." I looked at Aragami girl beside me.

"Um... I'm sorry. I broke your... walls?" Shio replied, half apologizing half asking.

Licca called me this morning, asking me to bring Shio with me and met her in our workshop. So I went there as she asked and got chewed before I could explain it. Apparently, some maintenance crew found cracks in the wall, identical with cracks from before, and reported it to Licca. That how we ended up in our workshop together with certain annoyed engineer lecturing us about the importance of Anti-Aragami wall and the difficulty in maintained it. Honestly, I didn't see any use in lecturing us other than stress reliever. Shio was too young to understand such complex lesson while I had my share back in Magnolia. After about an hour Licca stopped lecturing us and resumed her work, filling Link Support Device report.

"God Arc ports working as intended but need stronger lock. Main and auxiliary capacitors seems normal. Energy converter works well although better converter can further reduce the delay between pulses." Licca mumbled while wrote down her report.

"Converter? I don't remember such thing in your schematic."

"It's my own invention. Originally, my father schematic use external power and must be connected to its carrier."

"Yet it doesn't. Just plug the God Arcs and press the button. Wait... that means..."

"That's where my power converter come into play. It convert Oracle emitted from God Arc Core into energy for Link Support Device." Licca confirmed my guess.

She finished her report and went to the corner, brewing her noxious iced curry. I spent my next hour chatted with her, trading stories about our past.

"Tell me, why did you choose to become an engineer?"

Licca drank her iced curry and replied. "What about you?"

"Me? It's not like I have any choice to begin with. You have no right to refuse when you're a compatible candidate." I shook my head.

"Sorry, I should be more specific. I'm talking about you as engineer."

"Tell you what, I'll tell you my reason and you'll tell me yours, deal?" I grinned.

"Deal." Licca nodded.

"Well, my father was the only mechanic in our village and responsible for maintaining equipment. So it kinda rub off on me."

Something about machinery enticed me. When I was a little kid I always had a great deal of curiosity and spent much of my free time in my father's workshop, tinkering with his tools. Sometimes I took it too far and disassembled his entire electrical tools. I couldn't put it back of course. Instead of scolded me my father saw this as potential and began teaching me, telling me that one day I would become his successor and continuing his business as village mechanic.

"I see. As for me, I have three goals. I want to be acknowledged by Fenrir HQ." Licca raised her index finger.

"So you're following your father footsteps, traveling around the world and helping other branch."

"I still haven't decided on traveling part. Then, I want to help God Eaters who are forced to take aptitude test and fight for us." Licca raised her middle finger. "Lastly, I want to finish my father last project." Licca raised her ring finger and tapped Link Support Device with other hand.

"Last project? So he has retired."

"No... He passed away."

"Oh... damn... Sorry." I awkwardly replied.

"It's okay, it was a long time ago." Licca sighed.

Despite she said it was okay there was a hint of sadness in her voice, Licca really loved her father. Kinda made me jealous. Time and trauma robbed most of my memories, only a bit of recollection and flashback remained. I left Licca and went to my room after Shio asked for food.

We had breakfast in my room, one last piece of Borg Camlann tail for two of us. My sister had just finished her bath and was about to make a breakfast when we arrived, so we had our breakfast together.

I watched her slowly ate her soup. Two wounds on her cheek had disappeared and I assumed gashes on her back also healed. Only two days passed since we hunted down Dyaus Pita and she already healed, that was fast even among God Eaters.

"I think I've spent my stash, again." I showed her my deflated knapsack.

"Oh? I was about to take a mission from Hibari. A Fierce Kongou detected in Forgotten Carrier and I need it for my God Arc."

"Good, let's hunt it together." I clasped my hands.

"Wait, I'll take that mission first." My sister ate her breakfast in hurry and scrambled away.

"Um... Why she uh... running?" Shio tilted her head.

"She wants to check something first."

"Um... okay. Can I have... that?" Shio pointed at pink cardboard box on kitchen table.

"Sure. Here, catch!" I threw a can across my room.

"Thank you... Hehehe, it's tasty. " Shio sipped it slowly, enjoying each drop of the juice.

Didn't take long before my sister returned with a note contained the mission details. One Fierce Kongou and a group of Fallen Zygotes in Forgotten Carrier, shouldn't be too hard for us. I never fought a Fierce Kongou but from what I heard it was a tailless yellow monkey with hardened body and relied on electricity as its main weapon.

We parted ways and left the Den using different chopper as usual. On our way to Forgotten Carrier Rei took my body. He spent my free time by talking with Shio. Unlike the last time, Shio could understand his story and actively asked things she didn't understand.

Sun shined brightly above our head as the rest of First Unit landed on platform in Forgotten Carrier behind me. I stood up on warm or hot platform and greeted them.

"Took you long enough. Wait... Where's Soma and Kota?" I noticed only my sister, Sakuya, and Alisa arrived.

"Kota is taking a break with his family, Soma is on special errant for director." My sister explained.

"That snake..." I didn't bother concealing venom in my voice, neither they mind with my hatred at director.

"So that's Fierce Kongou." My sister pointed her fiery blade at it. "This is my first time hunting this species."

"Doesn't matter. A charged monkey is still a monkey."

"You seem so confident, have you fought one of them before?" Alisa asked.

"No, but I can tell just by looking at it. Dyaus Pita we killed few days ago was way more powerful than this monkey." It didn't give me dread or anxiety like Dyaus Pita. No, half of my mind recognized it as a prey instead of nuisance.

'Isn't it right?'

'Good, sharpen your instinct, it's a reliable mentor in your hunt. Had you accepted your instinct you wouldn't jump onto its back weeks ago.'

'I said I'm sorry, you really know how to hold a grudge Rei.'

'No, I don't hold anything against you. It's just annoying, losing to a pathetic cat like that.'

"All right, let's get started." My sister jumped from platform and walked toward Fierce Kongou at the end of Forgotten Carrier.

As I suspected, that monkey was no threat to us. It had tough body, rivaling Borg Camlann but that was it. Its electric attack was nowhere near Dyaus Pita and it had normal strength like common monkey.

We swiftly finished our mission. Shio and I fought Fierce Kongou while the rest of First Unit hunted down nearby Fallen Zygotes. I broke down Fierce Kongou body and let the rest choose their part.

I stuffed Fierce Kongou part into my knapsack and ate its Core. "There you go, eat your fill Shio."

"Yeah!" Shio chirped and dug in.

I followed my sister to the edge of Forgotten Carrier and gazed at Aegis Island. An island surrounded by small Anti-Aragami Wall and filled with many kinds of military installation. There was a massive white dome at the center of Aegis Island which supposed to be the place where Aegis Project conducted. It should give us peace but why I felt unease each time I laid my eyes on it?

"It's really something..." Sakuya approached us from behind. "Aegis Island, the key to the project and mankind's last hope for survival. We could finally be safe there."

Lone figure walked to nearby cliff from corner of my eyes. It was Shio, she intensely watched Aegis Island.

"Shio... Are you all right?" Sakuya asked

Suddenly, strange pattern appeared and glowed on her entire body.

"Shio! Why are you glowing like that?" I shouted.

"Huh? You're also glowing sis!"

"Eeh?" I raised hands. Strange blue pattern snaked through my arms up to my palm. It pulsed in sync with Shio's pattern.

'No way... It's too soon.'

'What the hell is this thing?!' I scratched strange marking in my arms.

'I'll explain later, after her!'

'What?'

'Just go!'

I ran, as fast as my feet could take me, passing rocks and jumping across gap between us. What was that? Why Shio acted like she was in sort of... trance?

"It's calling me..." Her pattern pulsed. "It singing to me. Hungry... Must feed. Must devour. Such wondrous food."

'Faster!'

'I'm trying damn it!'

Close, almost got her. I forced my feet and sprinted faster. Shio still in trance and blankly stared at Aegis Island. Her strange marking glowed once more and she turned around, facing us.

"I must go now..."

"No!" Sakuya and Alisa shouted in unison.

Our fingers brushed, yet it slipped from my grasp. I was too late, Shio fell from the cliff into ocean below. Her small body splashed on ocean surface and disappeared from my sight.

'Well, what're you waiting for? Move!'

'I can't swim you idiot!'

''And we can't drown you airhead.'

'Urgh... Fine! It's on you if I'm drowned.'

Salty wind pressed on my face as I dived into ocean. It happened so fast and I didn't have time to react. First I flew, then I fell and sunk like a rock, when I opened my eyes I already lay half-buried in seabed. Cold and muddy saltwater blanketed me yet I didn't feel any discomfort even when I opened my eyes.

Today I learned another fact about Aragami. They were considerably heavier than water and would sink unless they actively swam. I walked on barren seabed, wandering with no direction, looking for Shio.

I found her halfway between Forgotten Carrier and Aegis Island, unconscious on seafloor. Step by step, I dragged her back to remote shore south of Forgotten Carrier. I laid her on patches of grass near the shore and stripped her dress, hanging it on nearby bushes. Wet, dirty, and annoyed, but at least I found her.

"Everyone, I found Shio."

Nobody replied my call. I switched my frequency and called Dr. Sakaki.

"Doc, are you there?"

[Yes, I've received report from First Unit. Did you find her?]

"Yes, we're okay. Send chopper to Forgotten Carrier, I'll wait there."

I rested beside Shio on grassy bed and examined my surroundings. We were at the base of Forgotten Carrier on small isolated beach surrounded by tall cliff. We had to scale that cliff if we wanted to go back to Forgotten Carrier. No Aragami infested this place, probably because this place was well hidden from above.

'So... aren't you going to explain what happened?'

'Yes, you deserve to know the truth.'

'About time.' I leaned on rock, watching the sky slowly turned orange.

'Do you remember what I said about Nova's Devouring Apocalypse?'

'Yep, it's the end of us. Everything will be returned to original state.'

'Yes. To unleash Devouring Apocalypse Nova need a specific Core from Singularity.'

'And we are that Singularity. That didn't explain why Shio acted like that.'

'She heard Nova calling her. Yes, I can feel it, the end is near.'

Strange marking in my arms reappeared and glowed again. I snapped my head at glowing Shio, and to my relief she hadn't regain consciousness.

'Then, why it doesn't work on us?'

'Two reason, I'm much older than current Nova and you're an incomplete Singularity.'

'Incomplete?'

'I don't know how you pulled that stunt but you stopped turning into Singularity midway. Perhaps that's also why you don't lose yourself.'

'Can't we do something about it?'

'No, it's too late at this stage. Adult Nova is completely invulnerable against any damage and once Shio hear Nova's calling she will fall under its influence. Although... there might be a way to prevent it, depends on Nova's type.'

'And I assume this Nova is in Aegis Island. I'll check on it.' I snuggled closer to Shio and hugged her. Poor kid, newly born child and already destined to end this world. 'You said your past is connected to Devouring Apocalypse, tell me about it.'

'Fine, since I know your past it's only fair for you to know mine.' Rei released a long sigh. 'This world has gone through two Devouring Apocalypse. I triggered the first.'

'You did?! Why? That's so...'

'Cruel? Yes it is. I was a little child back then, unable to understand anything. I spent my life devouring others and grew stronger, becoming the top of food chains. That was when I obtained my immortality. Humans from the past revered me as their god when they saw me driving off other Aragami. I wanted to learn more about them but they were either afraid or froze in awe each time I approached them, so I settled with watching them quietly.'

'Watching them quietly... just like Shio, huh.'

'My life ended when the first Nova arrived. I couldn't resist its calling and fell under its influence. It forced me to start the Devouring Apocalypse, wiping everything clean and destroying my body.'

'And you reformed in the new world?'

'Indeed. It was a beautiful but empty world. Once again I spent my life wandering aimlessly, devouring others and took back my place on top of food chain. I didn't find humans or any sentient beings on second world but I found a Singularity.'

'So the second Singularity you've met is not a sentient being.' I nodded. 'And that makes Shio the third Singularity.'

'Far from sentient and more like pet, following me like a faithful pup. It accompanied me in my journey until the second Nova arrived. I've grown stronger and could resist its influence but it got the second Singularity. In the end, I failed to stop Nova from starting Devouring Apocalypse.'

'And you returned again twenty years ago.'

'Ageless is a mixed blessing. True immortality is nothing but a curse.'

'That some heavy stuff you spewed out.'

'You're Aragami, an ageless being. Unable to grow old but can die. One day, when you have enough of your eternal journey, you may have your end. The only downside of your gift is others going to leave you behind. That's far better than my immortality.'

'I see.' That was the reason if his indifference towards almost everything. Unable to die and unable to sleep, forced to walk forever in neverending life.

"Uh..." Shio stirred up. She sat up and slowly opened her eyes.

"Shio! How do you feel?" I held and shook her shoulder.

"Uh, I feel... funny. I'm hungry, but it's not me." Shio tilted her head.

"This is bad... Maybe doc Sakaki can help. Come, let's get you to Forgotten Carrier." I helped her to stand up.

I led her to pile of rock on far end of Forgotten Carrier. Small Aragami fled from me and no medium or large Aragami around so our travel went unhindered. I sat with Shio on flat rock and waited for our transport.

Black helicopter arrived on other side of Forgotten Carrier. My sister and Soma landed on raised platform and began walking to us.

"Shio, they've come. Look!"

"Yeah!" Shio began to sing.

It was 'la la la' bunched together like yesterday but somehow it felt so... sad.

"There!" My sister exclaimed. She and Soma looked at us from below.

Shio stopped singing and wiped her teary eyes. "What... What is this song? I don't like it... I don't like it!"

"It's... a song of parting. That's the reason it makes you afraid." Soma explained.

"I don't want to go! I don't!"

"The words are sad. They're singing about loss, about never seeing the one you love again..."

"But... But we did see each other again. You're right there." Shio returned their gaze.

"Because we're different than the song. We came looking."

"I never thought you have philosophy side, Soma" I was mildly surprised at him.

"It's the truth. Let's go home, Shio."

"Okay!" Shio about to stood up when she suddenly curled and trembled. Strange blue pattern glowed on our body. "Aaaaaargh!"

"Damn it, not again..." I groaned.

"Sis, Shio!"

"What the hell is going on?!"

"Don't worry about me." I pinned Shio down.

She struggled and tried to stand. " I must go... I am called."

"Oy snap it out!"

Shio kept struggling until our glow died down. She passed out and we brought her back to transport helicopter.

Wastelands and ruins. I watched the desolate scenery beneath us from chopper window and my mind drifted to my conversation with Rei. Devouring Apocalypse, master reset for this world. Returning our world back to its original state. No more Aragami, no more destruction, back to peaceful green world we once had long ago. The only problem with that was it going to wipe us too.

Back in the Den Dr. Sakaki went to his lab with Shio, definitely for checking her symptom. Soft sofa greeted me and I took out Lindow's data disk from my drawer. He might looked like casual and easygoing person but he knew what he was doing. He already predicted his demise and prepared a backup plan by giving me and Sakuya his research.

"Is that... Lindow's data disk?" My sister asked. She left the bathroom and crawled between my bed and blanket, preparing to sleep.

"Yep, I'm going to infiltrate Aegis this midnight."

"What?!" She jerked up and threw the blanket away.

"I've told you did I?"

"Yes but I don't think it will be this soon."

"Shio's trance, Lindow's death, Ark Project, everything is connected to that place and I will find the truth." I spoke in determination. "Don't worry, I'll come back soon."

"If you say so... Please be careful."

"I will."

I left my room and headed to workshop, preparing my gears for Aegis infiltration. Explosive grenades, stun grenades, smoke grenades, breaching charges, and thermite charges stuffed in my knapsack. It should be illegal to make such dubious weapons but who cares. I returned to my room and changed my outfit. First I tied my hair in ponytail to prevented it from hindering my movement, then I put dark gray cap to cover my silvery hair. My outfit consisted of simple pocketless black suit and dark gray vest. I placed my grenades and other things in my vest. This way I could ditch my cumbersome tools if the situation calls for it.

Few hours passed and midnight arrived, time to set my plan. I asked Dr. Sakaki to print Aegis map and borrowed his chopper. He knew what I planned to do yet he didn't say anything. Aegis Island was restricted to virtually everyone in the Den except director and handful of workers and scientists, but clouded sky combined with pitch black paint and almost silent rotor allowed the pilot drop me on furthest end of Aegis Island quietly.

I snuck my way past bushes and grasses, avoiding spotlights around Anti-Aragami Wall that surrounded this place. It was a short wall, if I took a wild guess it shouldn't be more than twenty meters tall, but it built using higher quality materials. I kept circling Anti-Aragami Wall, trying to find a gap in their security. And I met two unexpected persons, Sakuya and Alisa.

They were whispering each other, discussing a way to bypass Anti-Aragami wall.

"I can blow a hole with my explosive bullet." Alisa said under her breath.

"And alerting entire base? No thanks."

"Oh my, fancy meeting you here." I whispered to their back.

They yelped and jumped back, aiming their God Arcs at me. I raised my hands and grinned. "You got me."

"Rena!" Sakuya gasped.

"Don't pop out of nowhere like that!" Alisa muffled her scream.

"Yep, what are you girls doing in here?"

"What are you doing?" Sakuya asked back.

"The same reason as you." I pulled Lindow's map. "Lindow gave me this."

"That's..." Their eyes widen at my map.

"Aegis map, complete with its underground facility. Need a hand with this?" I tapped Anti-Aragami wall beside me.

"You're an engineer, surely you know its weakness." Sakuya said.

"This wall is shorter but sturdier than the Den outer wall. No, there's no weakness in this wall."

"No, I refuse to give up, there must be a way to get in." Alisa firmly spoke.

"You're right..." I jabbed my hands and dug it layer by layer until sizable hole appeared. "I found a way."

"Well that's... convenient." Alisa blankly spoke.

"Before we get in I want you to have this." I gave them some of my supplies. "Stun grenades, smoke grenades, explosives, and whatsoever. Sorry I didn't bring any Restore Pills or O-Ampules with me."

"It's okay, thank you." They both thanked me.

This place was tightly guarded. Watchtower every few hundreds meter, fully armed Fenrir soldier patrolled regularly, and surveillance camera on nearly every corner. They would've caught us if not for my sharp senses and Lindow's map. Seriously, not even the Den had this level of security.

We crawled under camera, dodging patrolling soldier, and stealthily crept to our next destination, massive dome on the middle of Aegis Island. On our way to giant dome we found a secured place behind old storehouse and took a short break there.

Alisa and Sakuya was exhausted. They snacked on Fenrir field ration and rested to catch their breath.

"What's wrong with them..." Alisa muttered. "Placing so many guards to watch this place. It's not like they have any use against Aragami."

"No, they're here not for Aragami, it's for trespassers like us." I explained. "Look at them, armed with guns and bullets that can only kill other human or God Eater."

"Lindow is right, there's something suspicious about this facility." Sakuya nodded.

"Obviously. The real question is who run this place?"

"Director?" Alisa guessed.

"Maybe, it could be him or other Fenrir higher-ups. Okay, time's up, move it ladies." I nudged them.

We resumed our march under shadow's embrace. Ground beneath our feet changed, from soft dusty dirt to cold and hard concrete, we entered the main compound. Clank. Clank. Clank. Two pairs of boots crashed on concrete. I swore they stomped the ground on purpose, else they wouldn't make such loud noises.

Security in inner compound was less tight, some soldiers patrolled here and there but no watchtower nor surveillance camera. We slid between container and vehicles, tearing through chain-link fence, and stopped before massive sliding gate. Tall and thick metal gate, probably thicker than Anti-Aragami wall on this island, blocked our advance.

"No..." Alisa whispered. She looked at small lens like device embedded in nearby wall.

"Retinal scanner." Sakuya sighed.

"Retinal scanner? Let's see..." I tore its casing and examined its circuit. "This model... yep... good." I put my fingers in small gap in the middle of metal gate and pulled it. The gate groaned in protest and I kept raising my pressure. Then, I heard a loud snap from inside, its hydraulic piston failed. I pulled it apart and opened the gate. "Here you go. Don't worry, there's no alarm linked to this gate, I've checked its circuit."

"You and your brute strength." Alisa mumbled.

"Well, at least it works." Sakuya said.

"Okay, time to find the truth."

We walked together into Aegis facility, to the place that connects everything, searching for answers.