Never fear the dark, only what's inside it.

Chapter 39

What... were am I? Am I back in the Den? No, this... this is different. I'm... inside the Resonance.

"Welcome to a place that is far beyond the end that I had expected to see..." Ren, he's here too, but how? "You seemed bewildered. Did you want ask me something?"

"Yeah, what happened?"

"Let's see. I'll try to explain what I know. First, the infection of Oracle Cells from Lindow's God Arc has transformed your arm into an Aragami. If you had struck through Lindow with that God Arc, everything would have ended. But you... I don't know if you panicked or if you meant it... knowing you, you probably meant it. But you dealt a very mundane attack to the Aragami. Well, what's done is done. Anyway, that seems to have caused you and Lindow's spirits to Resonate very strongly with each other."

"Well then, where am I?"

"Let's see... It's a little different from the usual Den that you know. It's actually my first time here as well. I believe this is you and Lindow's -... well, strictly speaking, I guess me included... It's our Oracle cell's neuro-... I mean, hmm... Simply put, we're inside Lindow's mind. There."

"So... what will we do now?"

"Well... if we stay here for too long, you and Lindow will start to assimilate and your minds will change, or simply disappear. In order to prevent that, we need to wake up Lindow's consciousness, which is a lot weaker than yours at this moment. To be more specific, we need to stimulate the consciousness and memories within the Oracle cells... the spirit, so to say."

"That doesn't sound to good, we better hurry."

"Well then, let me know when you're ready."

Being a once in a life opportunity to explore the depths of Lindow's mind and mine I looked around the Den quickly. But all the doors were locked. Disappointed I returned to Ren.

"Well, are you ready?"

"Yes."

"Then let's begin by tracing back Lindow's spirit. I hope he established his sense of self quickly..."

"Yeah me too."

"We'll start at the Subway remains. He defeated a Susano'o there."

"Oh those guys are nasty. I'm glad you're here to help."

"Then, let's go."

****** Infernal Subway ******

"Amazing," I say shucked at the results. "This is much easier the second time around."

"You mean with a already knowing its style and my help?"

"Right," I smiled. "We even broke off it's mouth's armor. I couldn't do that last time. And I didn't even have to use all my Flash Grenades."

"And you didn't hide under it's legs this time," Ren joked.

"Hey! It was my first time, I didn't know any better... Well, at least it was easier to avoid its God Arcs this time around."

****** Back at the Den ******

Heading back to the Den one of the doors finally opened... it was Lindow's room. Sakuya and Lindow were in there.

"As I said before, your spirit and Lindow's spirit are mixed up in here." Said Ren. "That Sakuya there is probably from Lindow's spirit. The Lindow over there is probably from your own. Come, let's try to make Lindow aware of himself."

"Hey newbie! How are you? Getting used to life around here?" Said Lindow, repeating one of our previous conversations. "Hurry up and be strong enough so I can rely on you. I'm looking forward to it, rookie!"

Listening to him reminded me of the good old days which brought back an ache in my heart. Lindow... I'm going to bring you back.

"Are you ready?" Asked Ren. "Were going to fight the Ouroboros that Lindow fought alone saying he was going on a date."

"I'm ready."

"Then, let's go."

****** Wailing Plains ******

"How strange..." I say after devouring the Ouroboros.

"What is?"

"Usually I enjoy the hunt of Ouroboros... they're one of my favorites. But now... now I can't find the glee, only dragged-out tiredness."

"You must be experiencing a part of Lindow's feelings."

"Then, are we getting close?"

"Yes, let's head back to the Den."

****** The Director's Office ******

This time the Director's office was open to me Johannes... it's been a long time since I've seen his face. The man that went the wrong way with good intentions. He began to talk like a skit from a memory.

"I won't... ask for your absolute... subordination. You and I... both wish for the victory of mankind... That's all we want... isn't that right?" God, no wonder Lindow hated interacting with this man. He had Lindow practically caged. "Good... Then I shall explained... The next Special Mission..."

The memory was fading, he stopped talking. Well... Ren and Lindow aren't here, maybe I should check his room.

Entering Lindow's room, I see Lindow in a terrible shape. His shirt was ripped off to make make-shift bandages. His hair was messy from struggling out there on his own for so long. And his right arm... was just like the dark Hannibal's.

"Go away... now... Leave me... alone..." Lindow barely gets out.

"We're getting close." Ren says coming from behind Lindow. "But his words... I think the assimilation is progressing. We need to hurry before your identities mold completely."

"Then what are waiting for, let's go get them."

"This will be the last battle. The Black Hannibal is inside the church in the Old City. Are you ready?"

"Yeah."

"Let's hurry."

Just like all the other fights as soon as we head out the mission elevator we walk into nothingness. Just pure white until it blindingly brightens and we end up at our destination. When the light final deemed away we were inside the City of Mercy's church. The exit was blocked off... just like it was when we were force to leave him behind.

"We finally... made it this far." We both notice Lindow sitting up on the wall near the blocked exit. He looked around normal but he was so tired, almost asleep. Ren bent down to his level and touched his cheek. "All this time... Lindow's has been battling the Aragami inside him... He can't go on much longer. His consciousness... is startling to fade."

Noticing a person's presence, Lindow tiredly opened his eyes. "Oh, wait... who are you?" Then cried out in pain as he grabbed the arm that 'should' be undergoing the Transformation.

Ren got back on his feet and pouted. "Pretty cold of you Lindow. You're spoiling our reunion." Then he turned back to me. "This will likely be the last favor I ask of you... Give Lindow power to fight again."

Then he closed his eyes and started to glow a bright gold. Shock at what I was seeing, he turned into a God Arc right into my hand. Not just any God Arc... Lindow's. That explains a lot, how he knew so much about me, how I was the only one who would talk back to him. Now I understand why everyone was asking those strange question when I brought him along on missions and the strange connection we have. So God Arcs are living beings... I knew it.

Ren let me borrowed his power all this time, now I have to give it back to it's rightful owner.

"Hey... what was that just now." Said Lindow, finally waking up. He noticed it was me and got up. Relief came over him at seeing a familiar face. "Hey... So it's you. Damn... I don't believe you. How could you come all this way?"

"I'll stop at nothing to protect my pact." Then I lifted his God Arc to him. "Now take your God Arc and fight to live."

He smiled at this and grabbed his God Arc from my hands. "I heard what you shouted out to me, Rookie. Oh, hey... you're not a Rookie anymore, my bad..."

"Only in your eyes."

"'Don't run away from living', huh? I was the one who wasn't ready to make up my mind." Then he gave his God Arc one good swing as if getting re-acquainted with his old friend. Then he placed it on his shoulder like he always did.

"Alright... now that I decided to survive, shall I make one more ugly stand." Then he turned to me. "Hey, Leader... you got my back right?"

"Always... let's finish this."

Then we walked toward the light coming from the shattered church windows were the Dark Hannibal greeted us with a roar. We never faltered as we walked toward the hunt that will decide it all.

Wasting no time, each side gave it there all in the brawl. The Hannibal kept mercilessly punching us left and right. All we could do was strike and dodge. As I fought I realized... I was the only one with items. Lindow must have already used up all that he had to survive this long. Keeping an eye on Lindow I continuously fired team-bullets at him.

As we all clashed in the battle I was able to slash the dark Hannibal's face. Enraged, he continuously called out his fire blades to do his dance of death. Lindow was doing good avoiding them, but he couldn't dodge them all, three lucky shots and he was down.

"Lindow!"

"Is this... how I'm going to die." Ignoring the Hannibal for now I rolled over to him.

"Can you get up?" I say, Link-Aiding half my health to him.

"I knew I could count on you." I threw down a recovery ball for good measures then jumped back into the fray.

The next to go was his arm guard. And just for good measures, I jumped on his back, pulling out my knife I broke his back scale. He tumbled to the ground from that action.

"Lindow, finish it off!"

"Arhhh!" Charged up; Lindow, dropped a devastating blow on the Hannibal, knocking him to the ground for good. I made sure it wasn't getting up again before I shot Lindow some recovery bullets.

"It's over..."

"Our mission's not over until we get home."

Suddenly the Aragami began to bubble up into black tar, closing in on us like flowing lava, forcing us to back away.

"Jeez... this thing that's taken a liking to me sure is a nuisance. It's like it's determined not to let me go..." Then Lindow turned to me. "Hey, you're the one who gave me that order... so stay with me tile the end, alright?"

"Alright."

"Here it comes!" Lindow shouted as the Corrosive King resurfaced, but much bigger. My God... he's huge.

Suddenly both his fists came at us, all we could do was block and use all our strength to keep him from breaking through.

"Arhhh!"

"Lindow, hold on!" Then he shot three black flame spears at Lindow from his mouth.

"I'm... I'm going home alive. No matter what!"

"That's right." Ren?! "Alright then... Lindow."

Lindow's God Arc began to glow gold again and split into two, the second one flying out of his hands to take the spears for him. As this happened both our God Arcs began to glow and the piece that took the shots for Lindow turned... into Ren. The spears impaled his middle.

"So you're... my!"

"Lindow... we're finally getting the chance to talk to each other." His arms were stretched out, blocking the Aragami from us, and his voice sounded transparent. "I was never able to tell you before, but this is the one thing I wanted to tell you."

He closed his eyes as he spoke. "I remember it all. Your fears, your grief, how you left your comrades..." Then he opened his eyes. "So they'd be saved. I'm proud to have fought with you all this time, Lindow... thank you."

"So am I. Since I've become a Gods Eater, you've always saved me. I can't thank you enough..."

Ren gave him one of his cute smiles. "It's enough... You've rewarded me more than enough." Ren curled into a ball then reopened, releasing a bright blast that destroyed the Aragami and left the area glowing with a warm light. Coming down to his feet he addressed me.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I made it this far because of you."

"Ren..." I smiled at him. Lifting up my mask off my face.

"I enjoyed my time with you. I even felt it would be okay to live on... as your God Arc. Oh, and that juice was delicious... Much, much tastier than Aragami... Thank you."

"We'll have to have some more someday." He smiled at this, then turned to both me and Lindow.

"I'm so glad... I got to meet you... my friends." But he started to glow brighter and transparent. "Ah... I wish I could stay and talk to you more. Talking makes me feel so warm. I loved it. Yes... I think it's about time to go." Then he walked closer to Lindow. "Bye... See you around?"

He offered his hand to Lindow which he with a firm grip. "Thanks... partner. See you around... see you again soon."

Then we were wrapped in a bright light that put us in a peaceful sleep.

"Goodbye Ren..." I say before falling to sleep. "I hope... that we meet again soon..."

"Me too... Okami."