A/N: It's been a long while since we had a large scale battle and this will make up for it. I hope. It's pretty long compared to the previous chapter. Quite a bit of references in this chapter. I'm not even sure if I can remember them all...

I recommend listening to some powerful music with this. My own choice would be either that nyan nyan service melody from Macross Frontier, some random German music from E Nomine, maybe some TM Revolution, and Crow Song. You know, just listen to any song you think makes battles seem 'Epic'. That would be fine.

Angel Beats!

What We Live For

Operation 20

Knight of the Queen

If the key to this Operation was confusing the NPCs, then they probably succeeded. Everywhere they went, the NPCs all stared at them. Either in shock, horror, bewilderment, or just to have a laugh. Katsuragi felt like this was going to be the worst day in his life here in the Afterlife.

"Hey, girl, what's your name? I've never seen you around before."

"Want to go eat with me at the cafeteria?"

"What's your mail-address?"

"Want to go out with me?"

The number of male NPCs that crowded around Katsuragi's table as well as hitting on him was immense. What was this? Katsuragi never wanted to be popular, especially in this manner.

[Katsuragi is now popular for the wrong reason]

[Encounter: eight male NPCs have appeared]

What should Katsuragi do?

a) Fight them

b) Use item

c) Run away

d) Use magic-

"..."

Katsuragi immediately cut off that last option. Use what? What? There is no way that exists. In the first place, why was he in this predicament? He looked over to Yamato for help, but Yamato was being swarmed by girls who were all squealing in delight at every action Yamato took. Katsuragi guessed it was because she looked so much like a cool guy that the girls just went nuts over her. Guess no help from her. He looked to Daisuke, who was trying to hit on some girl but was immediately rejected and called a creep. No help from the depressed, rejected horror clown. Was this the end? Was this Katsuragi's fate? To be hit on by NPC guys?

"...uuuu..."

"Alright, time to go guys."

Tomoyo shouted, letting Katsuragi to finally have a breather. But somehow the guys around his table would just not budge.

"Erm... I have to go. My friends are waiting for me."

He tried to reason with them, but the guys still did not move.

"Come on, don't be so cold."

"Your friends can wait."

This was getting bad. Though they were NPCs, they were still men. Men with very hungry perverted eyes.

"Excuse me, you're frightening my friend here."

Yamato suddenly butted in, taking Katsuragi by the hand and pulling him away. The guys all showed their disappointment whilst the girls all squealed in a higher pitch. The group left the 'kya-kya' classroom and got back together in the hallway.

"Good work, two of you. I've never seen such a huge commotion caused by nothing but appearances."

Tomoyo said to Yamato and Katsuragi though the two of them could not really be happy about being praised like that.

"Anyway, now is lunch so let's head over to the cafeteria to grab something to eat."

As the group sat down for lunch, Katsuragi noticed something odd in the cafeteria. It seemed like almost all of the SSS2 members were here. What's more, there seemed to be some sort of event happening as a make-shift stage was being set up in the middle of the cafeteria stairs.

"Ah... so that explains it."

Tomoyo smirked, digging into her meal.

"Explains what?"

Wataru asked.

"In the diversion division, there is a band. A rock band. They were put together when Awase got hold of records of our predecessors doing the same thing to distract the NPCs. We are being called here to add confusion and distraction. Watch."

Slowly, several SSS2 members stepped onto stage with musical instruments. Katsuragi's chopsticks dropped when he noticed two of band members.

"... K-Kou?"

Katsuragi was shocked to see the sixth division head walk onto stage with a guitar slung around her. The second was also a surprise, Amatsu Len. These were the top two members of division six! What were they doing in a band? And not only that, Kou and Len both looked quite good in the male uniform.

"Kyaa! Kurogane-san!"

"Amatsu-sama!"

Squeals from the female NPCs in the cafeteria nearly made Katsuragi deaf. This was beyond a normal cry of fang girls. This was a raging battle-cry for the two.

"Kou and Len both have the strange ability to learn new things quickly. Len was gifted with the ability to learn things quickly by using the item once, but Kou has a more unique ability to essentially 'copy' whatever she sees. Since the band had only been recently formed, both Kou and Len are lending their abilities to the diversion division until they can find more permanent members."

Tomoyo explained, finishing up her bowl of udon. That was fast.

"Well, just sit back and enjoy the show."

Before Katsuragi could ask what she meant, the lights in the cafeteria dimmed as the beat of the drums started out in a steady beat. The spotlights lit up, shining down on the lead singer, Kou. Kou opened her eyes slowly, a profound silence weighing heavily in the cafeteria. Then she opened her mouth as the slow music started.

"Kurai no he-ya (a dark room)

Shizuka no kokoro (a quiet heart)

Naze kimi ni kietanda (why did you disappear?)

kimi no saigou no kotoba watashi ni wasurenai (your last words I will never forget)

doko made kono samishi no michi ni aruite temo (no matter where on this lonely road I walk)

watashi wa kimi ni aitai (I want to see you)

Tatoe kimi ni nita no yo ni (even if there was someone like you)

Watshi wa zuto kimi ni matteimasu (I will always wait for you)

donna toki demo (no matter when)

donno bashou demo (no matter where)

watashi wa kimi ni aitai (I want see you)"

The song that Kou sang was both sad and powerful. The heavy beat accompanied the slow yet hard chords of the guitars. This is-

"This is such a sad song."

Yamato said, unaware that tears were starting to fall from her eyes.

"... It reflects Kou well."

Tomoyo said, closing her eyes.

"Up till now, that girl still hasn't let go."

"Let go?"

Katsuragi asked, wondering if it was something about Kou past. Tomoyo leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes. The music from the band slowed down into its final verse.

"Kou once had a lover. Because of her past, Kou had never managed to experience something like love or someone who cared for her. Upon coming here, she lost someone who was like a brother to her... then almost immediately she lost her lover. Her heart was broken beyond repair. Kou slipped into the deepest part of despair and up till now and she had never been able to recover from that. Closing off her heart to everyone else around her, she became the dark sword of the organization. That is why she became the sixth division leader. That is why she is head of the guardians. That is why she is known as the 'reaper'."

The 'reaper'. Katsuragi had heard of that name before. He had initially thought that the name was attached to all members of sixth division but it seems that was wrong. They were called the 'reapers' because they followed the one who bore that name. Kurogane Kou, the 'reaper' of the SSS2. But according to Tomoyo, the reaper wasn't born. The reaper was made. Through pain and despair of losing loved ones both in life and in death, the darkness twisted the soul into something that would not return from beyond the abyss. Or was it? Katsuragi felt a sharp pain aching in his chest whenever he thought about it. Though it would hurt, he would want to know more. He wanted to understand that pain, that darkness. Perhaps... Katsuragi felt like he had to save her.

As the third song reached a close, Katsuragi began to notice something odd. There was an increase of NPCs. While they had attracted a huge gathering in the beginning, Katsuragi began to feel as though this sudden increase of NPCs wasn't due to the popularity of the band... but rather by the presence of the band itself. Yamato seemed to understand what he was thinking about.

"Sakagami-senpai."

Yamato called out to the senior while getting up but Tomoyo grabbed Yamato by the hand.

"I know. Don't get up, it may trigger a large commotion and we do not want that."

Yamato thought about it and nodded in agreement, seating herself back down.

"Still, I did not expect this many disciplinary members to appear."

Tomoyo admitted, her eyes darting around the cafeteria to locate as many enemies as she could.

"Ayane."

Tomoyo called out.

"Yes, shishou."

Ayane took the knife from her lunch cutlery set and kept it in her pocket. Ayane was actually a direct student of Tomoyo's though Katsuragi did not ask what exactly was Ayane learning from Tomoyo. All of the other SSS2 members seemed to be doing the same, a tense atmosphere growing within the cafeteria.

"Things are going to get wild."

Tomoyo noted to the stage. Katsuragi turned and saw Kou take the guitar off and placed it to one side. She then turned around, brandishing a-

"She's got a gun!"

One of the disciplinary NPCs shouted before Kou pulled the trigger.

BANG

The NPC who shouted got a hole in the middle of his forehead.

"... It's an STI Edge... idiot."

Kou muttered just before all hell broke loose. The SSS2 members in the cafeteria all got up, taking out their hidden side arms and pointed to the attacking NPCs. It was like a scene taken out from some mafia movie with the... cross-dressing mafia members. The SSS2 opened fire, forcing the disciplinary members to retreat outside. While it seemed that they had obtained victory, Katsuragi felt otherwise. And sure enough, a large number of disciplinary members burst through every door of the cafeteria, brandishing their own array of weapons.

"Since when did NPCs use weapons? !"

Someone demanded. Katsuragi was confused as well, but soon one of the NPCs changed his weapon into a blade.

"Those aren't NPCs, they are angels!"

The SSS2 were thrown into confusion as they scrambled to fight back. They flipped over tables to use as barricades, fighting a fierce battle as they became surrounded by these NPCs with weapons.

"These are type C class Angels, they aren't exactly full-form angels but they are more powerful than a Shadow. Be careful and don't attack them up front, form groups and take them on one at a time."

Tomoyo told the group, putting on what looked like biker gloves with metal studs at the knuckles.

"We need to fight our way out. Being surrounded will only cause us to die slowly... We need a way to-"

Before Tomoyo could finish her sentence a large explosion erupted from the main entrance, blowing away the low grade Angels from that area. As the dust settle, everyone could see two figures standing there calmly with their weapons at their side. Kurogane Kou and Amatsu Len.

"Looks like a large catch today, captain."

Len smirked, shoulder one of her two crescent shaped blades.

"..."

Kou merely looked at the number of Angels, making her scythe stand on its handle.

"Now's the time! All members! Head for the exit!"

A SSS2 member shouted and a huge war cry erupted from the members with renewed vigour. All rushed towards the exit, some lagging slightly behind to cover the exit. The Angels tried to attack but Kou and Len stopped their advance, jumping in between them and the escaping SSS2 members.

"Oi oi, don't you angels dare forget about us."

Len smirked, raising her weapon at the Angels. The Angels were cautious, wary of attacking the second in command of the Guardians head-on. The sight of their behaviour must have turned on some weird switch in Len as her smirk only grew wider.

"Oh? Not coming? Then I'll go to you."

Len then charged without warning at the Angels.

The escaping SSS2 members all ran out to the courtyard but it would be there where they discovered that their nightmare wasn't over. What awaited them outside of the cafeteria was an army. An army of Shadows and Angels. The SSS2 members knew that there was no escape from this one. But at least they weren't surrounded, only having their back against the wall. For the SSS2, there was no better battlefield they could ask for. This was what the SSS2 was. A group of youngsters who faced the atrocities of life. A gathering of suffering children determined to fight back. They live by their creed, No God, No Buddha, No Angels. No retreat. They had lived with their backs constantly to the wall, only looking forward. To quench their thirst for vengeance. To right the wrongs that they suffered. None would back out now. All determined to fight to the end. To fight till they were nothing but dust. The squad leaders of each group stepped forward, each readying their weapons. All knew what they had to do.

"... All SSS2 members! We shall make our stand here!"

"Death is a luxury for those who can rest easy!"

"We shall push these monsters back into the abyss from where they came from!"

"All of you who hold pride in your lives, in your badge, stand with us now!"

"For the glory of the SSS2!"

"For our honour!"

"For our Queen!"

"For Yuki-sama!"

"ATTACK!"

The war cry from the SSS2 members as they charged at the enemy was earth shattering, a horde of fierce fighters charged at their enemies worthy of being compared to the great charges of past history. From the three hundred Spartans who held back the armies of Persia, the battle of Joan of Arc at the battle of Orlais, the battle of Okehazama with Oda Nobunaga to the battlefields of Stalingrad, Halfaya pass, Normandy and Berlin. These students, these young ones, charged without fear. Throwing aside their doubts as they fought only for one thing. Survival.

The two sides clashed, neither side giving up a single step as the SSS2 fought with everything they had. Guns, swords, knives, fists. Fuelled with their passion and determination, these made a fatal combination for the Shadows who faced them head-on. The bloody battle raged on, with both sides starting to take on casualties but neither side showed any sign of fatigue. The battle pressed on and it wasn't long before the SSS2 members were beginning to lose their vigour. In a battle of endurance, humans would eventually lose out to these monsters of unlimited strength.

"We-we can't keep fighting!"

"We're losing our left flank!"

Tomoyo gritted her teeth, trying to find a way out of this mess.

"We're going to lose!"

Someone cried out, causing a chain-reaction which led a slight falter of one side.

"The Shadows are breaking through our line!"

"It's the end for us!"

Panic was sweeping fast through the SSS2 ranks till-

"DO NOT GIVE UP!"

A great voice shouted out, causing them to turn. Standing behind the enemy ranks was Yuki. With the orange glow of the setting sun shining brightly behind her, amplifying her magnificence, she really looked like some sort of holy saviour, sent to save them.

"Yuki-sama!"

"You all have done well! Now leave the rest to me!"

That was when reinforcements arrived en masse. Snipers arrived in droves, taking aim from the rooftops of various buildings around the courtyard and taking shots at the Shadows and Angels down below. The squads that did not participate in the operation appeared with their weapons, sending the enemy into disarray. The reinforcements managed to break a hole through the enemy lines, signalling the trapped SSS2 members to make their escape.

"Press the attack! Don't give them any room to breathe!"

Yuki ordered, and the attacking SSS2 members suddenly gained a new momentum, pressing the attack even further.

"All SSS2 members successfully escaped!"

One of the SSS2 members reported to Yuki, who nodded, raising her hand.

"All hands retreat, I will deal with the rest."

Yuki told them. Some hesitated to obey the order, worried about what Yuki was trying to do. Yuki closed her eyes, her grip on her cane tightening.

"... Do not make me use my skill on you guys."

She warned. But some still did not move from their position. Yuki sighed, shaking her head.

"Fine... if that is what you want... EXEC_ANGELPROGRAM : / / / SYSTEM_LINK WEAPONS_SKILL \ VOICE _ OF _ THE _ KING; ACTIVATE"

Yuki opened her eyes and took a deep breath in.

"... By the name of Taeno Yuki, I order you all to retreat!"

Yuki's voice carried such weight and power, as well as a strange power that made all within hearing distance of her voice to freeze. All of the SSS2 members stood up, snapping a salute.

" " YES, YOUR HIGHNESS." "

They all answered in unison, their bodies acting against their will, before beating a fast retreat. Yuki nodded once they were all in a safe distance, turning around to face the remaining enemies. A large number of them were Angels. Though they may be low level Angels, they were still nonetheless Angels. Type C class Angels were more or less NPCs who have turned away from the normal programming and are able to act outside their normal protocols. This meant they numbered the most and have the lowest skills. They were the same level as a SSS2 sergeant and do not have the ability to make people disappear. Still, for this amount of Angels to appear, Yuki knew that this was very troubling news indeed.

"... Hmph, no matter. All who stand in my way shall die. Simple as that."

She gripped her beret, slightly covering her fierce eyes with it as she tapped her cane on the floor.

"I am the grandest of all sins. I am the foundation of society and the fall of man. I am the deliverance of evil and the invisible shield of man. I stand above all, and none shall take my throne from me while I still breathe. I have the blood of nobility, the soul of royalty. I rule over Worlds and destroy them with ease. Do not dare to look down on me for I will never forgive, nor shall I forget. Scorned by the high heavens, I am the high angel who dared to rebel against God. Arrogance is my creed. Heed my name and cower before my presence for I AM PRIDE!"

"EXEC_ANGELPROGRAM : / / / SYSTEM_LINK WEAPONS_SKILL \ KNIGHTS _ OF _ THE _ CROWN; ACTIVATE"

Yuki tapped her cane once more and soon the ground began to crack and buckle. Erupting from the ground, like zombies out from a film, were pale glowing figures in intricate medieval western armour. These translucent knights all knelt on one knee before Yuki who raised her hand, pointing in the direction of the enemy.

"Loyal Knights of the Crown, smite down those who would oppose your lord!"

The knights all stood up in unison, drawing their various weapons. Some used swords, some spears, some maces, some bows. Silent and moving like one unified body, these 'knights' charged at their enemy without hesitation. Even if one knight were cut, the attack would only go through the knight like he was made of mist, shimmering back into form to continue cutting the enemy down. An invincible army, an army of ghost. These were the Knights of the Crown.

But such a powerful skill did not come without a cost. Yuki gripped onto her chest as an excruciating pain surged throughout her entire body. For each damage one of her 'knight' receives, Yuki receives the pain ten times over. As she had summoned almost a hundred of these knights, the damage she had to suffer was beyond description. But Yuki stood her ground. She would not falter. Not here. Not now.

"...I... WILL... NOT... FALL... HERE... NEVER AGAIN!"

Yuki shouted, as her knights moved in, surrounding the enemy in a complete circle. But it was then that Yuki's strength gave out. She fell backwards, her body unable to withstand the tremendous strain brought unto her by her skill and her knights all disappeared. But she was caught by a familiar face. Kurogane Kou held Yuki in her arms, her expression blank as always.

".. Hmm... would be nice... to be... in a princess hold..."

Yuki strained a smile.

"... Leave the stupid talk to when you sleep."

Kou answered simply, letting Yuki rest by the side.

"... Angels... are my duty."

"I... know..."

Yuki replied as Kou stood up once more, facing her opponents. Fifty type C angles, ten type B. No type A. Even so, Kou could not forgive them. She looked down, seeing the bodies of SSS2 members who fell during the onslaught. Her mind flashed back to 'that' day. Akira.

"..."

Kou opened her eyes, bringing out her scythe. Len walked up beside her with her weapons dripping of blood.

"Shall I call them, captain?"

Len asked. Kou stared at the enemy, before nodding to Len's inquiry. Len bowed a little then raised her foot. Stomping her foot onto the ground, causing a crack, Len hollered out.

"GUARDIANS! ASSEMBLE!"

The moment she said that, eighteen figures jumped from the rooftops down into the courtyard, surrounding the enemy. Each figure was dressed in black cloaks, hoods covering their faces. Kou nodded to Len and stepped forward.

"... I ask thee... who art thou."

Kou chanted in a mesmerized voice. And in a unified voice, the eighteen cloaked figures answered together.

"We are the shadow, the ghost of vengeance that would seek out any and all. We are the guardians, we exist not in life nor in death. Striking death and fear from any and everywhere, we are friends to none."

Kou took another step.

"... I ask thee guardians... What doth thou hold in thy right hand?"

The cloaked figures each pulled out a unique weapon, suited only to themselves, as they chanted back.

"The rusted sword of hate made heavy by the blood of our enemies."

Kou took another step forward.

"... I ask thee guardians, what doth thou hold in thy left hand?"

"The silver bullet of our guilt and shame. Chambered into the gun of regret we shall point it at our souls to cleanse our minds of self."

Kou took one more step and slammed her scythe into the ground next to her.

"Guardians... I ask thee once more... What art thou?"

The eighteen cloaked figures then pulled their cloaks off, tossing them into the air, revealing the eighteen remaining members of the sixth division, the guardians. Men and women who had all sworn a duty to kill the enemy at any cost. The reapers of the organization.

"We are the poisonous plague of death upon the land. We are the wrath of the people tortured by God. We are the evil that shall defeat the evil justice cannot conquer. Our name is legion, for we are many. Taking up the sword of injustice, we cleave a bloodied path of destruction till we are nothing but the dust from whence we came from. We shall strike the angels down from their high perch and send them into the pits of oblivion for all eternity. Should we fall we shall rise anew for we will never rest till all are dead. Even when the dust of the battlefield settles, we shall send our souls down to damnation to battle with the enemies we sent there. We are the guardians of the SSS2. We are the sixth division. By our sword, we shall kill them all."

The chant of the reapers sent fear into their enemies, fear that should not exist in their programming. This was death. The cold touch of darkness. Kou nodded to her division's words, gripping her scythe.

"... Ahem. We will kill them all."

Watching over the battle from the rooftop of the building, the young man said nothing, but he did not like it.

"... Kenji-sama. What is it about the battle that does not please you?"

His second in command asked. He looked to her, thinking of what to tell her. His mind went through a lot of things to say to her, but none made it to his mouth. So he kept silent.

"It's about Yuki's weapon, isn't it?"

His second in command asked. Maybe. Maybe it was about Yuki's weapon. Her powers were extremely formidable... and despicable. Yuki had the ability command any human being with her 'voice of the king' skill. No matter how ridiculous the order, once she used that skill, there was no way for anyone to oppose her. Her hated her for that. He despised her reckless behaviour, despised her arrogant nature and most of all he hated her consistent disregard for safety. More so of her own than others. He knew that Yuki was someone who planned to shoulder everything on her own. And so she would constantly throw herself into danger. It was stupid, even if she cannot stay dead for long, it was still stupid to die.

"Kenji-sama, about Tenryuu Shuusuke, we have reports that he was spotted leaving a computer room not too long ago. If we catch him now, we can question him with evidence."

He did not answer, thinking of what Tenryuu was actually up to. The leader of the analyser had been extremely suspicious from the beginning, which led him to promote Tenryuu to a squad leader, thinking that with this new position, Tenryuu would be unable to move about as much as before. Everything Tenryuu did would be observed and he would not be able to do anything. But he was wrong. Tenryuu had a strange ability to disappear all of a sudden. Also, he had received disturbing reports from the analysers that Tenryuu seemed to be harbouring some sort of secret, and that he either has some crazy mood swings, or... there is another Tenryuu. That would be worse.

"... Let's go."

He said, turning away from the carnage down below.

"Go? Kenji-sama, where are we going?"

"... To find a dragon."

Yuki sat up from the sofa, holding onto the ice pack she was handed to her head. The lump would not go away that quickly, and she knew who to blame.

"Damn it Kou, can't you treat people more like people rather than mere objects?"

The sixth division head had carried the unconscious Yuki after the battle back to Fort and apparently dropped the leader of Fort onto the floor without bothering to make sure it was a sofa she landed on. It took Yuki's two aides to make sure was rested on the sofa properly.

"Kaname, report."

Yuki waved for her aide. Kaname nodded and took the list to Yuki. The Queen took the list and look through it with weary eyes. The list of casualties, the number of ammunition used, the usage of special weapons. This was all adding up to be a rather costly operation.

"... Aaah... my head hurts... Gorou, can you do the rest?"

Yuki waved the piece of paper to her second aide, who sighed and walked over.

"I can, Yuki-sama. You want the list of casualties sorted out according to division, am I right?"

Gorou asked as Yuki lay back down on the sofa.

"Yeah... and deal with ammunition stock as well. Get Iori to send someone down to Guild if need be. I hear Yuuko's been cooped up down there doing her weird experiments again so it would be better to check on her at the same time. Best get a Wolf to do it. Can't trust anyone else to do a proper job these days."

Yuki muttered, putting the ice pack on her eyes.

"GAH! MY EYES!"

[Yuki suffered frost damage to eyes]

Gorou looked at the list. He had done this many times before since Yuki would always be sulking or be depressed when it came to casualty lists. He guessed this was part of his job as Yuki's aide... or part of his current life.

"... Kaname, take care of Yuki-sama while I deal with this."

Gorou said, turning to leave the room.

"Ah, Gorou, take this as well."

Kaname said, walking over to hand him another document.

"Hm? What's this?"

"It's a report from the Intelligence division. Probably an excuse for today's Operation. Take it to Commander Shrewerz and make a copy for Jinnai. Oh, and the intelligence division requested a copy be sent to Guild."

Kaname said. Gorou took the paper and looked through it quickly.

"Ah... about the sudden appearance of Angels and Shadows without warning. Hmph, wonder what sort of rubbish can they give now-... Hm?"

Gorou then noticed something in the report that seemed... off.

"... This is... an update on Tenryuu Shuusuke?... So he was using an Angel Program during today's Operation... doesn't this make us have enough evidence to bring him in? Why are they-"

Gorou suddenly realized that there was something on the back. He flipped the document around and saw a photo attached to the back. On it was a picture of a SSS2 member.

"This is... wait, isn't this a 'phasing out'? I thought only NPCs could suffer that-"

Gorou then realized what this meant.

"... This is not good."