Author's note: Play God Eater OST God and Man vocal ver. at the beginning of this fic. Click onto my account name above for the link. God and Man is originally composed by Masaru (Go) Shiina. Vocals by Donna Burke. Credits to MaShiinaG0 on Youtube for the video of this song. I'd like to thank jashinsamael on youtube for showing his video on challenge mission 27, Live Prey; A solo mission on the Dyaus Pita. Thanks to him, I've been using the Chevalier EX on the Dyaus Pita ever since. If you are curious about his video, just click on my profile to see Gods Eater Burst- Live Prey (Challenge)- Melee, Solo in 1:21 SSS+
"You're gonna sing them your best piece?"
"Of course."
She stepped out of the curtains, and centered herself on the main stage. Showered by the lights, she was eyed by the many people in the dark, the only centerpiece on the empty floor. Her black dress with red ribbons and long dark brown hair were shown. She opened her mouth, while a piano began to play.
"Memories keep flooding in showing the paths I should've taken, but
now that time has run away from me I cannot change a thing.
I remember how you'd counsel me with wisdom of the ages true:
"Live your best life" you told me and "You walk the earth but once"
and now you've come, to see me once again,
I feel safe at last; Although I feel the end is coming closer unto me.
If I could only travel back in time, to peaceful days gone by.
But this is my price to pay: to not survive beyond this very day.
Oh, the pain is lessened when you're near, there is no fear.
I'm whole again as in days gone by, if only for a while.
But it hurts to have to leave you so, I don't want to go.
Could this sacrifice cost me my life?
Oh, just to live my life again, to treasure every little moment then,
satisfied, I'd leave you all behind, accepting of my fate.
But I am full of grief, to leave this life so incomplete.
My dream is coming to the end.
And now the light is fading, broken wings have brought the journey's end.
Your voice, that led me safe thus far is fading from my ears.
You were everything to me, a light to guide me in my darkest hour;
don't want to say goodbye just yet, don't want to be alone
and then you come, to hold me once again, I feel safe at last.
Although I feel the end is coming closer unto me.
If I could only travel back in time, to peaceful days gone by.
But this is my price to pay: to not survive beyond this very day.
Oh, the pain is lessened when you're near, there is no fear.
I'm whole again as in days gone by, if only for a while.
But it hurts to have to leave you so, I don't want to go.
Could this sacrifice cost me my life?
Oh, tomorrow will not ever come, my night's begun.
And I must travel far beyond, to places yet unseen.
Remember me, and treasure everyday; even come what may
forget not the precious gift of time, I pray.
Oh, just to live my life again, to treasure every little moment then,
satisfied, I'd leave you all behind, accepting of my fate.
But I am full of grief to leave this life so incomplete.
My dream is coming to the end.
"Till my life comes to an end...That is if it can..." He tinkered with the amulet, and sighed gloomily. Every year, it's always the same thing. There's nothing to be happy about it...
"Lieutenant Galios! We will be arriving at the City of Mercy, shortly." declared the pilot.
Snapping out of his ghost-like trance, Drake hid the amulet in his pocket. "O-oh! Understood." replied Drake.
The helicopter lowered itself to the checkpoint of the city. Grabbing his God Arc and adjusting his earpiece, Drake slid the helicopter's door to the side. Wind blew on his face, and the noise of the helicopter's rotor flooded his eardrums.
"Good luck out there lieutenant!" Bellowed the pilot, as he tried to pass the message to Drake over the noise of the rotor.
"Thank you!"
Drake leaped out of the helicopter, and as he landed, he cushioned the impact as much as possible on his legs. The helicopter's door closed, and maneuvered itself away from the checkpoint. It gradually rose itself in the air, as the noise of the rotor slowly slipped away. Drake watched it hover over the city. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
"Let's go."
He roamed to the edge of the cliff, leaping to the ground once more. The earpiece buzzed, and a familiar cheerful man's voice caught his attention.
"Drake? Can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear Sakaki."
"Good. The pilots told me they just spotted the Dyaus Pita jump into the church. Try to bring it outside, if you can."
"Gotcha."
Drake switched his God Arc from blade form, to gun form. Without making a sound as much as possible, he silently ran to the church. As he entered inside, he slowed down the pace of his footsteps. Poking his head out from the scaffolding of the wall, a familiar jet-black tiger came into his sights. It showed its back to Drake, feeding on the fresh caught ogretail.
It became absorbed by its meal.
With no hesitation, Drake pointed his gun at the Dyaus Pita. Slipping his finger onto the trigger, he pulled it, and a rain of divine shot-type bullets pierced the back of the aragami. The jet-black aragami swiveled its body, angered by the sudden interruption of his quiet meal. The aragami bore the face like that of an old man, and it roared at Drake. Drake apathetically watched the aragami.
You roaring at my face, is only music to my ears.
The Dyaus Pita leaped at Drake, claws drawn out, fangs bared at him. He dodged, and sprinted to the entrance of the church. Drake tauntingly waved at the electric tiger, and ran away from it. The Dyaus Pita followed him, provoked at his prey's behavior. They both passed the helicopter, who was watching them from above. Hearing the constant stomping, Drake lured the jet-black aragami to the other side of the church. They both stopped as they came into the wide-open area. Drake rotated himself, and faced the electric tiger, switching his God Arc to blade form.
Their eyes focused on each other for a moment.
Neither of them looked away. Neither of them snapped the line of vision. They only both stared at each other, waiting for a reaction on the other. The second one of them would let their guard down, the second one of them would attack. Everything became still. Everything became quiet. The only thing they both heard was the sound of each other's breathing.
Far away on the opposite side of where those two were, the helicopter lingered in the air.
One pilot was driving the helicopter, one was fiddling with the camera. The camera man opened the cockpit's window, and activated the camera. He pointed it at Drake and the aragami.
MEANWHILE, AT THE FAR EAST BRANCH'S MAIN HALL...
"Look! There he is! He's with the Dyaus." pointed Kota.
Sakaki pushed the button on the microphone, and spoke, "Zoom in on those two."
The image of Drake and the Dyaus Pita became enlarged on the monitor.
All gazed at the large screen, all grasped the meaning behind their staring contest. Everything was still. Everything was quiet. Nervousness crept, as the dead air continued to drift.
The stillness continued.
Who would be the first to flinch?
Who would be the first to move?
Who would make their first strike?
...
...
...
...
...
Drake did.
He leaped forward and swiftly slashed at the front legs of the Dyaus Pita; it roared and tried to bite Drake's head off.
However, it became useless.
He avoided it, and came behind the jet-black aragami. As it whirled itself around, Drake closed in on the short distance, and began attacking its front legs again. With each slash, there was the sound of the oracle cells being ripped apart, bit by bit. Drake persisted in attacking, and as he did, the Dyaus roared in pain. It jumped with a back flip, hoping to retaliate the attacks. It then shot a quick torrent of electrical orbs at Drake; he dodged to the side, and sprinted towards it. With another stream of attacks, the oracle cells became unbound, and the electric tiger fumbled down. As it did, Drake commenced a combo devour.
The burst filled his entire body with a faint glow. He jumped back, and switched to gun-form. Using the aragami bullet he received, he shot the same torrent of electrical orbs back at the Dyaus. It tried to pick itself up, however catching its movements, Drake reverted back to his short blade, and continued his session of slashes at his enemy.
Not wanting to go down, the Dyaus Pita lifted its fore leg, and was about to run its claws at Drake.
"Drake!" cried Alisa, as she watched the battle unfold.
In an instant, Drake brought out his shield, only to be pushed back by the impact of the force. Suddenly, the Dyaus's body showed small sparks on its orange cape.
Shit! Its gonna pounce at me with an electrical charge.
Jumping high into the air, the jet-black aragami doved itself towards Drake. He ran forward, turned around, and brought out his shield again. As it landed, an electric explosion surrounded the Dyaus Pita. Drake grunted, as he managed to block the attack. He closed the short distance again, and arrived at the front legs; with no mercy, Drake hammered the pain on the Dyaus Pita's legs even further, even though its oracle cells were already unbound.
It lifted its head, about to headbutt Drake once more, and as he noticed the attack, Drake shielded himself. As he got pushed back, the Dyaus trembled, and fell down. It tried to get up, but fumbled again.
"Let's end this with a bang."
Drake switched to gun-form, and aimed at his target. He slipped his finger on the trigger.
"There's no way back for you."
Pulling the trigger, Drake fired a divine bullet. As the bullet hitted the Dyaus's face, it exploded. The Dyaus roared with a final cry that resounded throughout the city.
With a heavy thump, the Dyaus Pita was killed.
Everybody gazed at the monitor in silence. No words were spoken by the shocking result.
Suddenly, screams of cheers roared in the main hall. The first unit flinched at the sudden noise.
"Holy cow... The dude just killed the most strongest aragami out there!" shouted Kota.
"I know the guy's powerful, but... this is ridiculous... Remind me not to battle him in training." grinned Lindow.
"Defeating the Emperor... Heh. Nice going, leader." chuckled Soma.
"Haha. One things for sure... We know we can rely on Drake." smiled Sakuya.
Alisa watched the large screen, staring in amazement. She never took her eyes off of it, nor did she utter a sound.
Incredible... Drake... actually defeated the Dyaus Pita.
As the thought crossed her head, she smiled gently.
Drake placed his finger on his earpiece. The faint glow disappeared.
"Mission clear- ow!" He cringed on the background noise in his earpiece. I'm guessing everybody is going crazy with the results. Not caring about the noise hurting his eardrum, Drake smiled. "Mission Cleared, Sakaki. Target has been eliminated. I'm heading back to base."
"Good work, Drake. I have to say, I was stunned by your performance. The first unit and I will see you at the helipad."
"Got it."
The earpiece buzzed, cutting the line. Drake approached the dead aragami, and pulled back his God Arc. His armlet flashed red for a millisecond, as he concentrated his oracle cells; he turned his God Arc into predator form, as black jaws slithered out, and formed a black creature. He stabbed the corpse, and devoured it, receiving the core in his God Arc. A small flash of light glinted in the core, as the jaws reverted back in his God Arc.
Got a rare one. Thought Drake.
The helicopter hovered over to Drake's location. It lowered itself in the air, and the doors were then opened by the camera man. He stretched out his hand. Drake ran to the camera man's outstretched hand. He jumped and grabbed it. Hanging, he pushed his God Arc inside the interior, while the camera man, helped him up to climb in. The doors closed behind Drake.
"Good work lieutenant. We'll be heading back to base shortly."
The fellow camera man gave a salute, while Drake returned it. He walked over to a nearby seat, and sat down. The camera man returned to the cockpit.
Drake stared at the window, and sighed. He brought out the amulet from his pocket, and stared. 2 days from now... only 2 days from now... I'll have to ask Sakaki if I can take a two-day break. I need to pay my respects to Clara. Drake tightly clutched the amulet in his hand.
The helicopter rose in the air, flying back to the Far East Branch.
The cheering continued in the main hall. A figure in the crowd weaved through the people. The figure arrived in front of the elevator, and pushed the up button. As the figure waited for the elevator, the figure turned back, and looked at Alisa. The figure kept on staring, until the elevator dinged, and the doors opened. The figure glanced at the elevator, then back to Alisa. The figure then turned its vision to the monitor. The figure sneered, and walked in the elevator. As the doors closed, the figure pulled out its cellphone, and made a call. It picked up the answer.
"It's confirmed. The young man is definitely Cain. You want me to commence it?...Understood."
End of Chapter 3: Let the Gears Move