The train ride from Abydos to the central district was filled with a certain feeling of excitement and dread at the ticking hours they have. Either they help or not, whatever the outcome… the attack will commence today.

Kaiser will pay.

Hoshino will be chewed out.

And they will be complete.

Nonomi flicks through her phone, showing the rest of the group interesting places around even if they won't visit such places today.

Somewhat, this is their way to distract themselves from the thought.

"Wow, I don't know things like that exist around here…" Serika's eye twinkled. Fully invested in what Nonomi had been sharing.

Though at first, she had rejected the notion.

Hans fondly gaze at them before returning towards the outside world. Filling his ears with the faint sounds of the wind and the few rumbles and hums as the train moved through the rails, letting his thoughts linger on somewhere else until the train came to a halt.

TRINITY.

To say that his students are a little awestruck at the school was doing the moment an injustice. Maybe not Nonomi, considering she is a well-experienced patron around the district.

"Oh, I know a place nearby! maybe we can visit there with Hoshino later~" The blonde made a comment.

Though it was quickly left behind as Hifumi came along. Waving her hands to greet the newcomers, and up towards the highest floor and into the grand tea party.

Then the discussion came. On the table were Hans, Hifumi, and Nagisa, with the two others absent from the table for "personal" reasons Nagisa claimed.

"Hm… I see. Kaiser PMC has been an awful influence in our district as well. It's not really a shock to think they would pull something like that in Abydos." Nagisa calmly spoke. Cutting through a strawberry shortcake elegantly before putting the piece right into her mouth. Her hands shifting through before it slowly reached her teacup.

And she took a few calming sips. Her eyes narrowing as her eyes stared endlessly at the rippling warm liquid leaf on her pristine ceramic up. Laced with a hidden sorrow, anger, and… something else entirely right in her eyes with the way she moved her fingers across the desert and teacup.

A sense of longing. Like a burden stuck in her soul.

"But the matter of the Treaty is still something we have to consider, sensei."

"N-Nagisa-sama! But I was saved by them once before…! So…" Hifumi tried to sway her yet, Nagisa dismissed it by the shake of her head.

"Even so… this is still something I must consider.
Can you give some more time, sensei?"

And so they left Trinity with a somewhat bittersweet aftertaste.

GEHENNA

Next up on the agenda was Gehenna. He had sent two messages the day before. One to Chinatsu, and another to Makoto for a meeting.

Makoto instantly answers, and Chinatsu following soon after. To make it in one go, Hans had said that he would visit the Prefect Team first before moving to the Pandemonium Society. Though Makoto hated the idea, she eventually relents.

"So… this is Gehenna Academy…" Nonomi commented. Standing in between Ayane and Serika, with Hans and Shiroko leading the way. Though there are some curious stares, they're mostly ignored.

Except to those that went buzzing to Hans. In which he politely sends them on their way. Causing Shiroko to… tighten her grip on his arm.

"…"

"…"

The two stared at each other.

"…Nn."

"…Hm."

Then they moved on, with the rest trailing and left wondering at what silent conversation they had by grunting and staring.

"Seriously… those two are getting…" Serika bit her lip before shaking her head. Commenting on it before following soon after.

Its not a long walk towards the Prefect Team building. Bustling with activity as mobs ran in and out before going on patrols.

"O-oh! Good morning."

"M-morning!"

"Sensei..! Good morning."

"Sensei, hmph." Iori greets them. Folding her arms as she sat smugly on a white chair. "You and… those kids are here. Why?"

"We need to talk with the Head Prefect! Sensei has already messaged Miss Chinatsu, and she had agreed to make a meeting happen!" Nonomi answers for Hans.

"Hee? Is that so?" Iori shrugs, as if she wasn't interested. "Sorry, but the head prefect is impossibly busy right now."

"What?! But…!" Serika almost shouted.

"Hmph. Well…" A mischievous smirk came into the succubus' lips. "Maybe if sensei would grovel and lick my feet, I would-"

Zero hesitation.

Zero restraints.

"HYAAH?!"

A blur of white and her shoes were put aside, sock neatly folded.

And the slithering feeling of a warm and wet tongue intermingling with her toes.

Chocolate might be deadly toxic to dogs, but it's a good thing that Hans wasn't one. Or at least, not anymore. Or today at least.

"WH-WHAT-?! WHAT ARE YOU?! D-D-DON'T YOU HAVE ANY DIGNITY AS AN ADULT?!" Iori's face lit up in a magnificent burst of red as she tried to push him away. Shivering with the strange sensation rushing up from the edges of her toes and up into her spine.

"Ngh! SENSEIII! I GET INT ALREADYY! STOOP!"

Yet he didn't stop.

He couldn't stop.

He opened his mouth and started to devour it whole.

"HIIIIIIIIH!"

"…"

"…Ahaha…"

"….Sensei… uwah."

"…Sensei…"

Even if he could feel the burning stare from Shiroko, the disgusted look from Serika, the embarrassed expression from Ayane, and the awkward smile from Nonomi, he kept going.

And going.

Before a voice cuts in.

"Hmm… I've seen people bowing their head so low before, but I never thought an adult… let alone Hans-sensei would do such a thing"

"H-Head Prefect!" Iori stopped pushing his head.

"Something serious must've happened… Iori?"

"I-It's… um…! H-He's…!"

Hans looked up, still with his mouth stuffed by Iori and tongue intertwined. Staring at her, and she stared back.

Wide eyed.

And words died right in the tip of her tongue.

She blinked once.

Twice.

Thrice.

"…A-Ah."

At that moment, she can feel her brain rose into a hundred degrees.

Along with her face.

Her heart.

And her entire body.

"W-Well… that is something. The Prefect Team asked for more time to think as well a-and Sensei, I never known that you're quite the per-"

"Nonomi. Not a word. I want to make me forget what I've seen." Serika grumbled, with her mind still replaying at… THAT.

"Nn. Sensei. Explain yourself. If you want a foot to-"

"Shiroko. Not. Another. Word." Serika immediately shut the younger wolf up from her sheer will to forget all of it.

"A-Ahaha… um, we're here…" Ayane tried to steer away the conversation. Though it didn't help much since their teacher had pretended like it hadn't just happened. In one moment, he was this figure of absolute neutrality, the next he-

"…"

Hans' excuse in his mind is he is doing what needs to be done… not because of this sudden outside push, a… strange impulse that made him do it. He doesn't want to know what that is, nor cared enough to know.

It's just another part of his strange history in Kivotos.

Outside the building, a large row of mobs stood in discipline, waiting for him and the other guests.

"Hans-sensei! Abydos students! SALUTE!"

Talk about a flashy welcome.

"Hmm… so you came here for the great Makoto to help you Abydos kids to take back your friend from Kaiser?" Makoto hums. "Kekeke…. OF COURSE we'll do it… but not for free, of course."

The teacher nodded.

"For you to take our side in the upcoming Eden T-"

Hans instantly stood up from the chair and to the door.

"W-Wait! S-Sensei!"

He looked back.

"I-I'm… well," she grumbles. "Ibuki has been itching to visit SCHALE…"

Hans instantly agrees with a magnificent thumbs up.

PROBLEM SOLVERS

Hans flicked open the door of his office. Letting the girls to look around just for a little as they marched towards the office where those problem solvers currently resides.

"You have a personal café?!" Serika pointed out.

"…I will open it… eventually. Problem Solvers… use it… often." Hans answers as they passed the café and into the hallways.

Hans raised his hand and knocked on the door exactly three times.

"Come in."

And he opened it to the problem solvers with hardened stares.

"Fufu. Then it's time sensei?" Aru gave him her usual smug expression.

He nodded.

"Heheh. We've been waiting for this."

ABYDOS.

Now gathers the coalition.

Makoto sends Iroha along with a large group of her finest handpicked mobs and somehow, Ibuki as well because she wanted to see "the bad guys get beaten up" Iroha and Makoto tried to sway her from this but of course they eventually folded.

So currently, she's humming a tone as she sat in the redhead's lap. Happily listening to the gathering.

"I should've expected you getting help from even the Pandemonium Society, sensei." Aru grins.

Hans double and triple checked his Mausers before nodding.

"Spare magazines?" Ayane asks.

"Check." Serika nodded.

"Explosives?"

"Nn."

"Spare medkits?"

"Yup~" Nonomi raised her thumb.

"Geez miss four eyes, are you sure you want to bring all of that?" Mutsuki huffs.

"It does seem a little excessive." Iroha commented next.

"Better be safe than sorry!" She defended. "Plus! It's just a few extra! It's not like I brought a whole truckload!"

"Eh, sorry to burst your bubble, but…" Mutsuki pointed.

"A-Ah. Oh."

The armored vehicle is almost stuffed with the supplies. Hans is already started to unload a lot of them.

"I guess… I'm just a little nervous." Ayane confessed.

"Hey, hey, it's alright missy. I mean, who won't be? Your friend just suddenly went away and kidnapped by shady deals… heck, even miss edgy here will feel the same if, let's say… Aru got kidnapped." She pointed her thumb at Kayoko, and a surprised Aru for being called out from the blue.

"A-Aru-sama is kidnapped as well?!" Haruka's head snapped at lightning speed to look at Mutsuki with deadly intent coursing in her veins.

"No! No, I'm right here!" Aru waved her hands in panic, catching the attention of the junior. "A-Aru-sama…"

She basically flew into her arms. Trying to make sure Aru is real.

"Kufufu! Anyway, all I'm sayin' is… take a chill pill. With this much firepower, those jerks at Kaiser will be gone in no time." The imp pats Ayane's shoulder with a confident grin.

"Y-Yeah. Okay. Thank you."

"Sensei~ is everything ready?" Mutsuki waved her hand.

Hans replied with a nod. "…Arona check."

His tabled buzzed to life.

"Yup! Nothing changed. Our strategy remains the same, sensei!" Her cheery voice erupts. "And… are you sure you don't want me along with you…?"

He nodded again as the AI sighs before it was temporarily given to Ayane. "Take care… of her."

"Final… check." He spoke up.

"Ibuki is ready!" Ibuki waved her hand.

"Mm. Toramaru is ready. Ibuki, stay close to me." Iroha says.

"We're all locked and loaded as well, sensei." The captain of the mobs spoke.

"Yeah! Let's get this party started!"

"Woo!"

"Kufufu! My fireworks are ready~" Mutsuki impishly chuckled.

"Yup." Kayoko shrugs.

"I-I'm ready to destroy Aru-sama's enemies!" Haruka grips her shotgun.

"Fufu. The Problem Solvers… are ready." Aru grins menacingly.

"I'm ready~" Nonomi raised her minigun.

"Yeah. Let's get Hoshino back." Serika harrumphs.

"Mm! All systems online!" Ayane nodded confidently.

"Nn. Ready, sensei."

With one last point to the desert beyond, Hans gave them all one last nod.
And one order to start it all.

"Search and destroy."


Kaiser's alarm blared. Chaos and shouts bounced off the walls, and back into the ears of the automatons at the command center.

"EXPLOSIONS ON SECTOR C!"

"WHAT'S THE STATUS OF BATTALION ALPHA?"

"F-FULLY DECIMATED! OUR ENEMIES ARE COMING IN HOT!"

"CALL FOR BACKUP FROM THE SOUTHERN WALL!"

"THEY'RE COMING AS FAST AS THEY CAN!"

The heart of their operation is being attacked, as they had expected. Though they had been lenient, they never underestimated their enemies. Reinforcements being called, barricades and pillboxes being constructed to deter their invaders.

But they didn't predict this.

Those kids getting backup.

FROM THE PANDEMONIUM SOCIETY OUT OF ALL THINGS.

The director clenched his fists. Keeping his professionalism and calm in the increasing chaos. Many of his men and defenses were destroyed, some backups have been utterly decimated in mere minutes as they kept on gaining land towards them. Inching closer and closer to the old building of Abydos High School.

"Use the mortars and start those mass produced machines."

"Sir! Some of our men will be hit and that would leave our facility-"

"I DON'T CARE! It doesn't matter if they can breach here! Activate them!" He orders, his rage leaking out every second he saw their defenses breaking apart.

"R-Right away, sir."

He folded his arms and nodded. "Is our new prototype done yet?"

"N-Not yet sir… we still need to calibrate-"

"Then GET it done faster." He snarled before looking at one of his peers. "I'm going to check on our second asset. Commander, I trust this battle to you."

"Mm. I won't disappoint you director!" The automaton nodded.

With that, the director left the area. Retreating deeper back to a secluded room riddled with gunshots and scattered buckshot shells, surrounded with heaps of destroyed drones and training robots.

"Hey."

She didn't bother looking back at him.

"Your friends are getting closer. Do you still have any second thoughts? Hm?"

She didn't bother answering.

"Hehe. Then ready yourself instead of moping in this place."

The director left her alone.

She didn't once glance at him, instead choosing to stare endlessly into the empty room before making her leave as well.

Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.

Her gloves and hair tie tightened to the maximum.

Her straps and her sidearm. Extra rounds. A few magazines. Check.

Her shield… her gift. Her heirloom.

Still the same condition.

She cocked her shotgun. Letting the last burning shell to eject before pushing in fresh rounds into it.

Her hand inched to her forgotten phone. It's probably out of battery by now. Though, she… it couldn't hurt to just…

1%

[MomoTalk 540 unread messages]

[122 Missed calls]

[Recent Message]

CashMoney02: We're coming to get you.

0%.

Then darkness. Just a reflection of herself.

She doesn't want to see it anymore.

Harden your heart. Harden your mind.

If you break the contract, they'll suffer.

If you fight, they'll suffer!

It doesn't matter.

It matters!

Stand up.

Stand down!

She walked away.

Stay!

And prepared herself for the inevitable combat.

You I can Can't stop it.


Hans tossed away an empty clip before firing once more at those automatons and gangers desperately trying to halt their advances. Meeting their armor and heads as they crumpled down before he ducked in his mortar hole.

Bullets from nests flew above him as he did. Waiting for a moment as he counts his numbers before rising up to empty his barrel again for the nth time, before ducking again as snipers fired their shots. Missing him and instead to a mob charging behind him. Hitting her square in the head as she fell down for the count, in which he pulls her into the mortar hole to let her recover.

Mortars explode high before it goes down into the ground, sending the sand up and around as he raised his arm to protect his eyes as it did. Though the explosion caught some unlucky mobs in its radius.

"Yow!"

"Oof!"

Hans rushed to their side, raising them up into his shoulders without missing another second and into a nearby cover as they gasped in surprise.

"…T-Thanks."

"…U-Um…"

He nods before calling for a drop. In which Ayane immediately replied. Sending a puff of stimulants into the ground, letting them to catch their strength as he left their sides with a wave, and rejoining the firefight.

Scores of unconscious gangers mixed with the backup from Pandemonium. Shattered tanks, armored vehicles, drones, and mass produced machines littered the ground as he sprinted towards the line held by the pride of Gehenna.

"Iroha! There! Kaboom!"

A beautiful explosion broke through one of their strong points. Sending debris and bodies high in the air as it came down into a thud.

"Good job, Ibuki." Iroha affectionately stroked the young demoness' head until her instincts kicked in. She held into Ibuki as she guards her from an incoming rocket. Striking into the armor as it explodes in a mighty burst of fire.

"Gh..! Ibuki!"

"Oof! I'm okay…"

"They'll pay for this." Iroha raised her arm. "…What a pain." And fired her pistol high as a signal towards her sleeve. A volley of cannon fire erupts from Gehenna towards her enemies in a burning crimson as it came down like rain.

The duo watched as their enemies burn, and the defenses crumble in a chaotic scream.

"Ibuki… Iroha." Hans greeted with a nod. Watching the eruption as well with an unreadable expression.

"Ah! Iroha, it's sensei!" Ibuki poked Iroha and waved her hand.

"Sensei. Welcome back." Iroha nodded before pointing as her machine came to life once more. "Those Abydos kids and the fixers are going to the western gate. We'll meet you there!" she spoke in finality. Waving her hand to rally the mobs as she kept on pushing on this line. Waving the path that would be the first broken line of defense, breaking open the main gates for a good chunk of Pandemonium's mobs to flood in.

Until another massive explosion rang in his ears, followed by literal fireworks… and screams.

"Ahh!"

"ARGHHH!"

Mutsuki. Only her can make such a grand display and cause so much chaos in a short time, succeeding in their own part of the operation.

He just need to regroup with them, then the rest of it will come naturally as he had just hoped, along with caution he desperately pressed into his students. Nothing is off the table regarding Kaiser. The influx of these new machines, along with the reinforcements they had encountered, spoke of such without saying a single word.

They struck with numbers.

And his students attacked with a heart those machines lack.

A soul.

Humanity.

"Serika! Cover Shiroko and Haruka~ I'll take down the left!" Nonomi waved her hand. "Ayane, keep us updated!"

"Mhm!"

"You got it! Shiroko, you with me?"

"Nn. I'm ready."

"Oh! Aru, do you want a small bet to spice things up?" Nonomi grins.

"Fufu… what's on your mind?" Aru tossed her empty magazine.

"We versus your crew. The one that gets the most robots will treat for a bowl of Shiba seki-"

"Say no more." Her eyes lit up in competition, cutting the blonde off. "You hear that, Kayoko?"

"Yes…" The girl in question sighs. "Fine. Let's do this."

With another bang, the second line of attack made its advancement. Effectively clamping the base into two fronts of attack.

Iroha and a sizeable chunk of mobs leading the north and east. Battering the main gate and diverting as much as fire as they can from the west gate for an easier way to break it open and let them enter closer towards their destination.

A simple tactic so commonly used back in the days. He is a little surprised that it worked well; he had some contingency plans made just in case of they expecting this kind of assault. Perhaps the strength of Gehenna's backup is much more threatening than them.

Or maybe they just underestimated the lengths his students would go.

BANG BANG! BANG BANG!

"Wha- Oh! Sensei, you're back!" Serika looks back at the figure leaping down from the walls. Greatcoat billowing as he took a few more shots ahead. Raising his hand and pointing it at the scrambling lines.

Signaling for singular charge headstrong into the firefight as he stood next to Shiroko and Haruka, acting as their spearhead.

"Nn!"

"G-Got it!"

Glancing back at the rest of the unit, he gave them a confident nod.
"…Let's get her back."


Their building shook as alarms blared. Filling every corner and inch with a red light. Mobilized units scrambled and ran out. Pulleys spun and steam expelled out from pipes. The girl sat on a bench. Idly holding a single round of buckshot.

…She just needed to wait.

Wait and wait.

Wait.


The new influx of crude machines swarmed out like hornets. Clicking clockworks and beeping buttons as each one they destroyed, another took its place. Pathetic contraptions were made to halt them.

Swarming in numbers for their lack of strength. A desperate measure useless in their march.

"…Keep… pushing. A mere… setback will not stop us." Hans leapt high before coming down in the middle of a concentration. Returning his firearms back into his hostlers, he charged.

"Everyone! Support!" Nonomi shouted, and focused her fire. Sending everyone else to follow soon after.

Their destination is just right there.

A single, grey colored heavy duty door.

Then a lumbering machine thrusts its fists towards the captain, hitting him straight as he was sent flying backwards.

Yet unharmed as his boots came upon the ground.

"I must admit, it's a good plan to divide our forces. But too bad… we still have some cards up on our sleeves." The machine buzzed, showing the image of the director on its screen. It was a simple mass produced model, controlled remotely as the signal spreads.

A second swarm of mass produced machines entered the field, followed by a second whirr of armored vehicles and helicopters. Their backup has arrived…

Until it was interrupted with the whistles and roars of cannons.

Coming down like a storm at the rising numbers. Shattering the new machines without difficulty.

"What the?!" The director looked at the destruction next to him.

"I-I won't let you hurt anyone else!" A familiar unfamiliar cut in as every eye went to the figure standing on top of a ruined building.

"Hifu-" Serika opened her mouth for it to be interrupted by her yell.

"T-That's not my name! I-I'm… FAUST OF THE MASKED SWIMSUIT GANG!"

"You…! That name…! You're the damn leader of those robbers!" He growls.

"I-INDEED! NOW, Y-YOU SHALL KNOW JUSTICE!"

A second volley explodes into the bulk. Exploding in a mighty fury of iron and shrapnel.

"Ugh…! Dammit! All of you, soldiers! Push the ranks!"

"Oh no you don't."

A third voice. Cold as ice, before it was followed by a rumble of a tank.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

KABOOM!

"Hi everyone!" Ibuki waved her hand as Iroha came into the field.

Not alone.

A trio of the highest raking Prefect Members sat on the tank's with smoke rising from their firearms.

"I hope we're not too late for the party." Hina waved her hand. "Ako has to stay behind, but she sent you her regards." Chinatsu smiled gently.

"Tch. Don't get me w-wrong… I'm here because Head Prefect Hina wanted me to…" Iori scoffs and mumbles.

"But I didn't…" Hina sighs.

"We picked them up on the battlefield just now. Sensei, you really went all out huh?" Iroha sighs.

The captain didn't answer her as the dust clears. Keeping his eyes upon the battlefield as the dust clears. The director still stood tall, even in the rubble that was once his back up.

"I can't believe it. Hans Gunsche of SCHALE… I can't believe it. How do you have this much sway over those brats?" He growls. "I don't understand. HOW do you have all of this power?!"

"…"

"It seems I have no other choice. Heheh. I was going to save this because it's a gift from our… partners, but there's no better time than now. They never did hold anything back."

He snaps his hand, and a vault opened.

Seeping through the tiniest of cracks, and into the ground. A sight none had ever seen before.

Like a wave, a fog of festering blue miasma, thick with the stench of rotting flesh and pure unadulterated hatred and resentment, seeping into the air as the vault opened wider and wider.

Disgust and rage.

Every action others took was repulsive to it.

Banes.

Holding an aspect of the Wyrm.

It then explodes in a cacophony of wrath and despair as the miasma turned itself into a manifestation of that hate. Roaming as it rose to stand on its own two feet and into the vents of the destroyed machines.

"…What on earth…?" Serika slowly took a few steps back.

Cold sweat ran down upon the students, and Hans clenched his fists. Feeling the rush horror and wrath mixing into an unholy concoction boiling inside of his heart.

"Hehe… so this is what they gifted."

An ethereal manifestation of mystic and sublime breathing heavily through their gas masks and helmets as they raised their blue tinted firearms.

A possession of the unliving. Circuits fired up, and joints reconnected as their weapons rose up once more on clockwork and moving gears. Ticking and clicking as it spun and twisted.

An artificial madness of the mystic.

Mimesis.


Hina emptied her rounds towards the machines and those… those things. Ghosts. She couldn't understand them and she doubts anyone here could understand. But they know one thing.

They're enemies.

Monsters.

Or maybe spirits that are just seeking a way back to the afterlife that Kaiser somehow had brought back by this… "partners" of them. Though sensei seems extremely riled up by it, and heeling him behind was Sunaookami Shiroko as if their instincts had joined into one.

The way he tore apart a spirit with his bullets and his bare hands that were blocking his way, creating a large enough gap for Shiroko to leap off from his back and fire some rounds at the director.

Other than that, her eyes drifts to the masked girl… the high bounty fugitive Faust herself coming down in a sprint from her advantage point to fire some rounds into the coming spirits and machines.

Other than that, how… impressive is sensei, or desperate to even getting the highly dangerous, wanted criminal group the awfully named, "Masked Mizugi Gang" to help him?

More explosions rang out as "Faust" called upon for another volley. Just how powerful are the Masked Mizugi Gang to have this much firepower behind them?

…She really need to investigate them deeper.

In the moment of desperation, any man will be pushed to doing what they must. Even to l-lick one's foot. All of it to save a single student from Kaiser.

Takanashi Hoshino.

All of it for her.

Hina felt something itching in her chest that she choose to ignore. Hans-sensei had gambled everything to get her back. Who knows what twisted thing Kaiser is doing to her?

So, she stepped up. Taking her role as she ushered Hans-sensei and the students from Abydos to head first into the site while they remain here to keep the new backup at bay with a sense of urgency that they won't be too late.

…but perhaps their wishes fell into deaf ears.

Because as the building bursts open with explosions, shattering apart walls and windows, two figures emerged bloody and battered. Their clothes were torn apart as they skid in the sand and rubble below.

Then the pink-haired girl rose up immediately and raised her shotgun at him, and he, raised his one remaining Mauser.

A beast of the moon, blessed by the earth, baring his fangs against
an entity born from the sky, blessed by the sun.

How did this happen?


Heavy boots thumped against the tile reinforced floor tiles, followed by four matching footsteps as it passed room by room. Leaving nothing but bullet holes and torn apart automatons behind their rampage across the facility.

"Nope~!" Nonomi warns and spun her rotors into an incoming group of PMC soldiers, mixed with helmets. Cutting them down into the mess laid on the floor.

Hans nodded in affirmation. Saying his thanks quietly, before returning fire to the opened hallway on his right.

"Eat this!" Serika throws a grenade. Exploding into a mighty explosion in a room before their foes could take a single step outside.

"Go to the right!" Ayane pointed out in the tablet, courtesy of Arona's assist.

"Sensei." Shiroko waved her hand to a line in front of her. A reinforced door locked to the maximum security.

Hans clenched his fists and punched the door. Creating a large dent in it as the metal creaks and groans before exploding open as he punched it for a second time.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Slow claps greeted as they entered the room.

"Congratulations on coming this far."

The director claps as he stood in the darkened hallway. Lit up by the red lights of the facility and whatever dulled lamps that illuminate the path forward.

A gust of wind accompanied their confrontation as every gun was raised at the adult.

"Give Hoshino back." Shiroko narrows her eyes.

"Heheh." He chuckled. "Never. I will not yet you ruin my plans, and steal my greatest asset."

"Hoshino is never yours! Give her back!" Serika growls. Growing impatient.

"Right! Your kidnapping days are over! Give her back!" Nonomi continued.

The director paused.

Then laughed. Cackling harder as he raised his hand. "You wanted Hoshino that bad? Very well." A snap of a finger, then buckshots struck their hands.

"Ow!"

"!"

"Ouch!"

Firearms clatter from the sudden surge of pain, wincing as new bruises came upon their skin. The director cackles and spread his arms as an unknown figure enters the room. Waiting before emerging from the sickening, dull void.

An old man exits. In full gear. With her eyes staring blankly into the united front.

A familiar unfamiliar. Like an alien wearing a face of someone they know dearly.

"…Uhe, I heard you guys have been looking for lil' ol me?"

Hans spun his lugers as to aim and she raised her shotgun at towards his head.

"S-Sensei!" Nonomi shouted, as her hand came to grasp his raised arm. Pointing at Hoshino's core, with his finger itching at the trigger. "Wait- wait!"

"Nonomi." Hoshino's voice cut in. "Remember what I said?"

"Don't hesitate to destroy my halo."

"NO! How can you even consider that?!" Serika followed next, her hands hastily reaching down back to her fallen firearm.

"There's must be another way!" Ayane follows next.

"Sensei, Hoshino! Just wait- Wait!" Nonomi begged. Gripping his hand.

"Heheh. Don't you understand brats? Miss Takanashi here is ours. She is ours for life." The director's taunts continued.

"YOU!" Serika's rage explodes, and she aimed her rifle at the director. Firing a volley before it was blocked by Iron Horus.

Yet she still kept her shotgun raised at her teacher.

"Sensei." Hoshino lowers her inherited shield. A small smile forming on her lips as it parted to speak again. "…This will be the last time we'll meet, right?"

"Yes."

"Why?! Hoshino…! Why did you make sensei-" Nonomi asked in a hurry before she was interrupted.

"Why? Because it's obvious." The senior shrugs.

"…Because all of you doesn't have the gall to do the deed.
Only Hans-sensei could do it."

Nonomi froze. Scrambling for a sentence to say.

"C-Can't we… really talk about this? Hoshino, I'm begging you, sensei, don't follow it through." Finally, her voice came out, barely in a whisper.

"He… somehow, I know you're going to say that, Nonomi." Hoshino tilts her head. "That is exactly why only Hans-sensei could stop me."

The blonde clenched her fist. Wondering what is really happening in the background to her friend, yet the answer she seeks doesn't exist. She doesn't like this. She doesn't want him and Hoshino to fight.

There is no answer from Hoshino, so she gazed at the captain with a pleading look.

All that she could get were his stern eyes and his silent expression before he made a single gesture.

A singular nod.

'Trust me.'

He said with that single nod. Trust him. Trust the process.

Hoshino will be saved.

Holding her breath, Nonomi closed her eyes tightly before reopening them. She had faith. Unflinching trust to the man right in front of her.

She trusts him.

"I trust you, sensei."

She whispers.

"What?! Nonomi..! Are you really going to let them?!" Serika immediately protested.

"Nonomi…!" Ayane follows.

Yet Shiroko gave her the nod that affirms her in this uncertainty.

Serika and Ayane are confused. Scrambling for anything to hold on to, for faith and a shoulder.

Her shoulder.

"Everyone…" Nonomi clutched her minigun. Grasping on the handle like she was holding on dear life. "Leave Hoshino to sensei."

Nonomi spoke about her piece. Rising up high to take the role, as her eye darted to the director. Raising her minigun as she aimed. "…We have another thing to do."

"…Nonomi..! Ugh. Fine. Let's do it." Serika growls. "I've been itching for this again."

Ayane stood conflicted between the rising tension. Yet, she eventually found her courage as her grip tightened.

The enemy waits as he taunted and spread his arms. Dripping with such hubris matched by the ancients that build Babylon and its tower.

"Heheh. How silly."

His mechanical suit emerges as with a bang. Coming down as their obstacle, towards the ending of their story.

The adult against four students and a wolf against a hawk. Not a single movement. Not a muscle dare to twitch as they wait for a sign from the universe.

For a gust of a wind, a twitch of muscle.

Or a sudden spark of electricity striking the light in the walls.

KABLAM!


Bullets buzzed through the senior. Buzzing past her ears and striking the metallic wall behind as her buckshot done the same, passing through him as they immediately continued on. Bullets met with buckshot again and again as they sprinted across each other.

Side by side as smoke and gunpowder left their chambers.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG.

Their footsteps drowned by their own dance, filled next by the combat they had forgotten in their own world. The thundering footsteps of a heavy behemoth against four agile rats. Biting and scratching repeatedly to dent and destroy the armor.

For the wolf and the hawk, there is nothing in this place but them. And only them is what truly matters at this moment.

BANG BANG BANG BANG- CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK.

Fingers kept on squeezing the depleted triggers. Squeezing and pulling it again and again for it to reply back in a hapless whimper, expelling nothing but hot air and smoke. Tossing away with a leap, the captain slams down a clip into one of his Mausers before moving to the second, ejecting it with a swipe and a click as the bullets entered his firearm.

In the brief moment of silence, Hoshino racks up an idea as she pushed in her shells before breaking into a sprint. Pumping her shotgun as she slams her shotgun in quick succession.

She is going to force him into a close quarters combat, knowing that he could beat her in it. But she has a little idea she wanted to try in her moments. Now it's time to see if it works.

Hans leapt and dodged most of the incoming pellets, with some lucky stragglers pierced through his skin and muscle that he ignores. Pain never bothered him before and it's still the same to this day because the charging hawk is a better thing to focus on.

With a crash, she used her shield as a battering ram before slamming into his body, pushing his gun away with a quick shove of her shotgun.

Her finger squeezes down on the trigger, in which he denied by sending a slap down her arm so her buckshot would miss him completely.

BANG!

With a spin, Hans fired a round into her forehead that she quickly blocked by tossing her head to the side, letting the bullet to spin away into the darkness behind her.

Once more, she thrusts forward for a bash he narrowly dodged sideways, then her plan sprung. Releasing Yume's gift as it fell into a ground, a steel pin following its descent with a loud ding.

A grenade held directly towards his face.

Surging his instincts for survival without wasting a single fraction of a second, Hans sent a sideways kick into her hand. Kicking the grenade it away as it rolls and explodes, sending fire and smoke upwards to start up the emergency fire sprinkler to do its thing. But this is what she is looking for.

A momentary opening that lasts barely a second, yet enough for her to fire her buckshots at the large target Hans is. A part of her didn't expect this to work, but when she saw the steel to tear apart his chest, her heart almost stopped.

An urge to retch boils within her stomach before it was interrupted by a sudden surge of that thick white mist surrounding them… and the sudden impact that came into her cheek. Her eyes were wide open as her teeth creaked in its gums. Sending her nerves screaming as she was sent flying with a force of a car right into the steel walls surrounding them.

"U-Ugh… uhehe… t-that hurt, you know?" The girl spoke out as she raised her arm to her lip, wiping the crimson liquid dripping on the corners. The taste of metal trickled as her tooth helplessly flail on the pink flesh surrounding it.

"I always knew you're holding back, sensei. Whatever it is that you have." She groggily rose back up, looking at the direction where her shotgun is, where Yume's shield is, and at how his body stitched the torn holes she had made a few moments ago.

So Hoshino isn't going crazy back then when she shot him. She did saw… his body to stitch back the wounds. "I guess I should start to give it my all too, yeah?" She winked, ignoring the dull ache in her lips.

Hans didn't answer her question, choosing instead to hostler his pistols upon his belt and clenching his fists.

She swallows a lump. Preparing herself as she reached for her sidearm. Gripping tightly and feeling the shivers of her terror and courage.

He tilts his head before he became a blur. In a burst of speed, he lunged at her, with his fist coming down from above.

CRASH!


"Bahaha! Not so tough are you now without those traitors and sensei?!"

The director laughed heartily as he stomps down. Creating a dent deep enough to be called a crater, barely missing the students in its radius, expelling pure arrogance and hubris as the machine hissed hot steam from the engines.

"You can't escape!"

Sprinting again before swiping its lumbering hand towards them. "Don't underestimate my might! This new model is impenetrable!"

The rotors spun, and the storm of bullets commences.

"Serika!" the younger wolf warns.

"Yeah!"

With a surge of adrenaline, the duo splits. Left and right, a pincer attack to at least do something at the armor. Bashing away paint and making miniscule dents in and out.

"Your bullets won't do anything! It's… USELESS!"

"Mm!" Shiroko grunts.

"Hold on!" Nonomi pointed out, leaping out from trouble to get some pressure off from their frontlines. Her minigun spun once more until it heats, striking armor and some flying rockets down.

"Tch!" A small counter attack was made, yet enough for her to duck back down at whatever left of the debris she held as a cover.

"Ayane, how's the analysis?"

She asked her companion, who had been staying in the same spot. Scanning repeatedly at the faint analysis of the new mech the director had. Without heavy explosives and… sensei, the mounted cannon strategy is going to be put on hold for now.

And as if that automaton wouldn't learn from his mistakes.

He might be an egocentric, prideful megalomaniac, but he is not a total fool.

"Still ongoing!"

"TRY AND DODGE!"

WHIRRR!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

"Everyone, be careful!"

Ayane shouts, just in tandem with the ping of her tablet. "They're homing!"

The death laser on the previous model was replaced by a short, homing blast of energy coming in hot to the younger wolf and the black cat, crackling as it gave chase.

KABOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

"Huff..!"

"You're not tired, are you, Serika?" Shiroko teased.

"Hah?! No!"

WHIRRR!

"…I think, I have an idea." Shiroko narrows her eyes. "Ayane, how long does it give chase?" She asks.

"Around… 5 seconds. Thanks Arona." Ayane answers as the little AI gave a thumbs up. "Why- Oh…! I get it."

"Heh?" Serika tilts her head.

"We have a plan."


The walls cracked and a gaping hole filled what was left of the hallway. She had run, scrambled, fired, and dodged as best as she could, yet the ferocity of the captain was unmatched. She knows that her bullets pierced him, yet he stood tall and unharmed. Wounds stitched together like it was clay, while his expression remains the same.

She clicked her tongue, noticing that she was getting low on her magazines and shells. Yume's shield has a lot of backup, but it would render her open. Open for-

Step. Step. Step.

Him.

Exiting out from the smoke and debris, silent and unchallenged as he kept his eyes on his foe, like a predator against its prey, scrambling for life.

Tossing away an empty clip as he raised a pistol, with one kept in his belt.

"…"

Their eyes met, and then he came upon her again, leaping high as he fired down, missing barely, and some striking her already torn clothes.

"!"

CRASH!

The sheer force of the impact sends dust and shards above as the distance between them was instantly disintegrated, a twitch, and a shift in the air she barely caught. A leather boot sent directly to her chin, accompanied by the same dust and sand that had haunted the facility.

BANG!

Her buckshot flew straight to him, missing his flesh as it struck his fluttering fabric of his mass produced olive great coat. Glowing red eyes pierced through her soul as he pushed her back again and again. Her heart thumps in her ear as she kept dodging, and stopping whatever that came into her way by Yume's shield she hastily unfurled.

Picking up the shells, she immediately closed the shield, a second too late.

A powerful back kick met it, and she felt the steel to creak and bend as she was tossed back into a steel wall.

Her mind flared, and rage seeps through her pore.

WRATH.

He can hurt her, kill her, and rend her apart, but not this.

NOT. HERS.

Her mystic swirls as it turned into a darkening abyss, consuming her body before it spits her back, manifesting in a momentum, pushing her to storm towards him with a shotgun in hand.

Stop him.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

They clash once more, hand to hand. His burly, iron like muscle met hers as her shots were intercepted again and again. She felt her arm go numb as if she kept hitting an obsidian wall without with her bare hands.

Her bullets missed again before her head was met with a burst of iron. A bullet striking her forehead, before it was followed up by a roundhouse kick straight into her abdomen.

"URGH HRG!"

She felt whatever left of her lunch prick her tongue until she swallowed it back down. Once more the slithering taste of iron invaded by her tongue intermingled by the aftertaste of her bile, but it doesn't matter. Pushing herself, she planted her foot back down and struck his chest by her elbow and a blast of lead.

Point blank.

Blood and bits of viscera sprays as he was being pushed back

Again.

Again.

AGAIN!

Her buckshot struck again and again, as if it could make a difference. Painting the ground repeatedly, as the warm crimson splashed into her body as well.

BANG BANG BANG BANG- CLICK CLICK CLICK CLI-

"GUH?!"

As fast as it clicks, she felt his arm to loop across her neck, and pushing her down away as she felt his warmth against hers. Tight, secure,

…protective.

Explosions rang out around them as he held her tight,
and debris came down on them.

Sprinting and breaking apart as he dashed towards safety with her in his arms, and out from the burning building.

Huh… it seems that the girls from Abydos… had done it.

She could almost… fall asleep in his warmth. But…

Bursting out from the fire and explosions as it roared and surround them, the walls fall across and down into the grains as they skid across the sand. And in her struggle and momentum, she left his arms with a push. Her sidearm tossed aside, leaving her with her shotgun and a borrowed shield strapped upon her body.

The captain was the same. Left tumbling down as his other Mauser was tossed away into a skid. Leaving only one still tightly held on his belt.

But that didn't stop them. He rose up with her at the same time. Wasting not a second before coming into a clash once again.


The burst of energies struck once more. Burning iron and alloy as their combat took their toll. The automaton knows it.

"KAHAHA! USELESS!" The director taunts again as bullets struck into the armor.

This is all they can come up with? Sprinting uselessly until they fell down from the rising exhaustion? No bullets or explosions will break his armor, and they just did nothing but dodge for a pitiful amount of damage.

Whatever.

This is his moment to claim his due victory.

'It's time to finish this.'

WHIRRRR!

The machine rumbles and reforms. Engines coiling and temperature rising. The core unleashed the unstable energy, reassembling, refining, and holding as it as it was condensed into a sphere.

BEEP… BEEP!

Locking in and fire.

"You're done!" the director taunted for the very last time.

BANG BANG BANG!

Crackling of power, chasing them to the ends of the earth.

"Now!"

A burst of energy came upon the pursued, and they made their move. Spinning around and at the last second, the white wolf grasped upon her companion, and they both leaped high.

High above him, with the spheres of energy chasing close behind.

That is when he realized his mistake.

KABOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

"ARRGGHHH!"

They're counting. Planning. Theorizing to manipulate the trajectory of his bullets.

And it shows.

Scorched metal and paint dropdonto the ground. A blazing crater in its armor, crackling with leftover energy as the machine's system came into a crippling halt. Wires overheating, and processing systems erupted into an inferno.

Beeps and alarms flared into the systems. Lighting up the entire screen with red and white.

[ERROR!]

[ERROR!]

[ARMOR INTEGRITY 40%]

[SYSTEM INTEGRITY 50%]

Then, gunshots. Simple bullets struck the gaping, smoldering hole. Hitting every nail in the coffin and striking the heart of the beast directly.

RATATATATATATAT!

The beeps grew in intensity, thumping like hammers, scratching like nails upon a chalkboard. His hand pressed, slid, and pushed every button-

[WARNING! MOVEMENT UNAVAILABLE.]

[WARNING! CORE MELTDOWN IMMINENT!]

Yet it all amount to nothing.

Twice. Beaten by brats. TWICE! He had never known such a feeling. All he ever known was the taste total victory. Now only the bitter taste of absolute humiliation remains.

No.

He won't let them have the last laugh.

Grinding his voice box, the director clenched his fists and screamed into the air.

"You… insignificant BRATS! NOW YOU'VE DONE IT!"

[EJECT MODULE ENGAGED]

With a resounding hiss, the director was ejected out from the safety of the machine with a big red button on his hand.

Click.

And the entire building shook.

Inferno bursts from every room in the halls, and fire came like a tsunami among the floors, and the room bursts alongside.

"What have you done?!" Serika screamed.

His laughter was the answer. The manic, desperate laugh at his victory. As insane as it is.

"I will take you all down with- GAH?!"

The automaton felt something to strike his head, bashing his face as his "eye" cracked and broke under the weight of the strike. Breaking apart and sending wires out to the open.

"Ah…! AHH?!"

Again and again, he was struck over and over until it registers. He raised his hand to protect his head before it was bashed as well. Sparks flying out as the alloy dented, and eventually a finger snapped loose from its hinges.

And pain erupted from its artificial limbs.

Screaming as he tried to escape the burning wrath of the younger wolf, so hot, so bright that the explosions he set up were nothing but mere firecrackers underneath the scorching heat of her eyes.

"Shiroko! Shiroko! Enough!"

She didn't even realize the arms trying to pry her away all this time.

"Shiroko! Oi! Don't do this!"

Nothing was entering her ears. She was deaf. Blind. Mute towards her actions, as she kept on bashing and bashing and-

"SHIROKO, IT'S NOT WORTH IT!"

The sudden softness upon her back, and the looping arms around her, snapped the young wolf out from her brutal rampage. She looked at the gentle hands wrapping on her waist, the faded blonde hair down and intermingling with her silver, and she finally calmed down.

She didn't realize at how her friends holding on her trying to drag her out from the spiral she almost fell right in. The baleful fog that seems to engulf her form fades away as she finally lowered her rifle.

"It's not worth it Shiroko, let's get out of here… let him be." Nonomi nuzzled in.

"…I'm… I'm sorry."

"Shh. It's okay." Nonomi stroked her gently. Even if the place is crumbling down and fire surrounds them, it doesn't matter.

Shiroko matters.

"Nomomi, Sh-Shiroko! Let's just- get the hell out of here! Leave him!" Serika awkwardly broke their moment with urgency.

"I already calculated our exit! Super Arona will protect you guys! Go!" Arona chirps.

"T-Thanks Arona!" Ayane nodded before waving her hand and leading the way out from their burial ground.

Shuffling and scrambling as chaos fell upon the building. One last explosion rang out, and the door crumbled to nothingness.

"…"

The director slowly rose. Burnt and battered, his optics barely working by now, and he can't feel his right palm.

"…Hmph…" He shambled deeper into the depths. Passing through the destroyed halls and burning rooms, he limped deeper to a point of no return. The control room.

Scattered papers and one last beeping from a console. His working finger pressed on the one last red button upon the console as he took his seat.

A burning throne, molten as the leather sticks to itself.

His one last remaining optics focused on the many screens that used to display every inch of this base. Now, the screens had been broken. Leaving but a single one that remains lit up, showing the image outside. His… well, what used to be his asset again clashing with that enigmatic adult.

"Heh. Today… is a good day. A wonderful fight." He chuckled. Even if he failed in his objective, at least he could enjoy what had happened.

Even as a tragedy as it was.

As explosions rang out, he closed his sight and let the fire to consume him. Perhaps… this is for the best.

"Director?!"

"Hurry!"

"This whole place is burning down!"

"Carry him!"


"…Takanashi… Hoshino." Hina muttered as she watched the duo standing in the sands. Clothes burned and torn apart. Blood and grime scattered their bodies as they kept their arm steady. Firearms pointed as the pink-haired student steadied her breaths.

Yet their teacher still put on his indifferent look.

"What is- why are they pointing their guns at each other?" Aru commented next to Hina. Her eyes wide open along with every other spectator that left standing.

Before they knew it, the duo fired at each other. Bullets and pellets weaved around each other as they're exchanged. Missing their marks as they came upon each other. Swinging at each other with punches, kicks, and the stock of a shotgun.

"Why are they fighting?"

"Oi… did something happen?"

"T-That's…"

The mobs commented along. Utterly lost in the moment without knowing what is the correct move. Should they break them apart? Should they let them fight it out?

They didn't have the clear picture.

All they got is… that Kaiser kidnapped a student from Abydos. A student council member with the name of Takanashi Hoshino. They've seen her picture, and their mission is to aid in the recovery mission.

Now, the recovery mission had turned into something else.

"What… what on earth is happening?" Fau- Hifumi felt her heart beat to rise. Hastened as she kept watching them attack each other until a shotgun blast met the captain's face.

BANG BANG BANG BANG-

CRACK.


"Magnificent… how magnificent." Black suit spread his hands. "Isn't it?"

"Indeed. A magnificent twist you have made upon the narrative. A hawk facing a wolf. Head to head, without fear yet filled with despair. She already knows the end of the road.
No matter how much a mouse could scrape away a mountain, the mountain will still stand tall, yet the rat eventually dies and wither away." A painting spoke out.

"THAT'S RIGHT!" and its headless companion shouts in agreement.

"A brilliant show that had yet to reach its crescendo. I knew it. I can feel it as an artist. This composition is barely nearing the end… for the finale still waits. Eagerly waiting to make itself known!" A two headed mannequin excitedly clenched his fists.

"Tch. It simply means he must be destroyed as quick as possible. Look at him! No bullets, no explosives could even make him change his damn expression! All these false promises, these pathetic hopes he brought… all of my plans are at risk by his mere existence." The antagonist growls.

"Patience, madam. Patience. We're researchers and artists, not egocentric narrow minded fools." Black Suit raised his hand.

"You should've killed him when you got the chance, suit. I know you know his weakness. What are you hiding?"

"Can't someone have some secrets now and then, madam? I can't deny or confirm that. After all, it's not everyday we get to observe someone like Hans-sensei. An interesting, magnificent subject, the last of its kind. Ah… it's a shame he wouldn't join us."

"Heh. There'll be another chance." The painting shrugs? "Though I wonder why you say this is connected to the story, you told us about the war in London. Interesting at how you made the connection. Is it the uniform her wore? The way he attacks and spins?"

"Hehehe. Your answer will come soon enough, Golconde…"


The captain's blood splashed across bits and pieces of his skull as the pellets pierced his body, only for it to be shrugged by him with iron clad silence as he spun around and throw a kick right into Hoshino's chest.

A powerful burst of air as the crack was heard across, and she the hawk was thrown back across the sand, and he instantly went to chase her in an explosive dash.

"We just need to wait and see. Everything is already in motion."

"Sensei!" Hifumi shouted, sprinting towards the fighting duo before she was grasped by Kayoko. Biting her lip down as cold sweat poured.

"No."

That was her words, and Hifumi instantly stopped in her impulse. Shaking and trembling as she let it go.

"Hoshino…! Sensei!" A familiar shout came. A blonde shuffling with her heavy firearm. Trailed by the other Abydos crew, sprinting out from the burning building.

"No… they're still fighting.. STOP IT!" Serika shouts fell into deaf ears.

"You guys … um… what happened? Why are the fighting-" Mutsuki spoke before she was interrupted by another loud bang.

"Sensei made a promise… and he will fulfil it." Shiroko answers.

Black Suit spread his hands as his glow burned brighter.

"Because it is already agitated from their fight.

The combined irregularity that is terror and mystic within the hawk of the sun, creating a massive beacon for it to rise.

Rise from it's slumber.

And in truth, it had already grown impatient."

The hawk felt her world to spin. That kick… probably had broken a few ribs. Yet this is still not done yet. She is still standing, as well as him.

She got a few more shells in her shotgun before it finally goes click permanently. Rising up from the dust she dodged an axe kick inches from her as it struck the ground, and creating a cloud of dust and sand.

Her heartbeat hastened and her adrenaline flows again for the nth time.

How long had they been fighting?

How long had they been exchanging bullets?

How long had she her bullets struck him, and his attacks struck her?

Does it even matter?

Every part of her body ached. Blue and red had probably painted every inch of her abdomen, and she had gotten used to the metallic taste in her lips. She had gone too far, and he had passed the line long ago.

She could understand that look in his eyes.

Raising her shotgun, her left arm gripped tightly on Yume's shield as she lunged towards him.

Screaming at the top of her lungs as he dashed to meet her head on.

"SENSEI!"

Black Suit clenched his fists.

"And now, thanks to the beacon, it had answered the call."

Time came to an immediate halt, as the two had been inches closer to each other.

Fist clenched and shotgun in arms as old ghosts rooted for the captain.

They didn't realize that the ground was shaking under their boots.

They didn't realize the omen that came from their combat.

Until it was too late.

"The Scourge of The Desert.

The God Devouring Serpent."

His fist inched to her face and her shotgun slowly pressed itself upon his cheek.

Before the sands shook and the ground bursts into an explosive cloud of sand and dust.

When it did… her eye slowly darts towards the beast, mouth agape to swallow her whole-

"GAH?!"

The creaking tooth finally fell from her gum as a punch broke her out of the trance. Sending her flying far enough as the maw closes in upon the wide eyed wolf.

Yet as it did,
only mist met the serpent's maw.

Only mist was seen in the serpent's eyes.

There is no scream.

No crunch of bone or flesh.

Nothing but a raging roar of a warrior of Gaia.


Author's Note

Heyo! Did you have fun reading through? Did you predict Binah making his entrance this soon? ...Did you think Hoshino would win? Hah! If only she got certain items... or bullets made from a very special metal. And did you think that Hans will escape the IORI CANON EVENT?! HAH THINK NOT.

Anyway.

Just two more chapters left for the Abydos arc. I will be taking my sweet time with this, plus to update the other fics I had... and finish making Resonance Entanglement's cover :P. I was actually writing the next chapter for Remembrance before I got this urge to draw. So, I did. And because of it I was compelled to make the next chapter for this as soon as I can. But life happened, and I got fucked... and block got me. Plus with me starting my internship and doing my last thesis at the same time I just lost a lot of motivation.

And yet... I'M STILL GOING BABY. I want to say thank you to my dear readers and commenters. Thank you for keeping the flame going. Either way, do expect things to go slow these days. Thanks.

One final note,

Are you interested in a discord server to chat and see some progress on my projects? WELL WONDER NO LONGER. I have made one out of... thanks to my buddies saying I should. So, here you go. Join me for fun, memes, and... cunnies.

/jPfRk9seD6

See you next time~