The giant looked at his hand again as he walked down one of the hospital's long corridors. Trying in vain to banish the strange feeling of amnesia.

I'm sure you know the feeling when you set off to do something, only to wonder what you were going to do a few moments later. Well, that feeling was pushed to the extreme with Sebastian, and of course no matter how he rearranged his neural cells, he couldn't find a way to remember anything.

Amiya: Doktah?

Once again, it was the rabbit who snapped him out of his thoughts. She seemed worried to see him with his face so knackered. The giant, thinking as if by instinct, resumed his smile and looked at the rabbit.

Sebastian: Yes?

Amiya: How are you?

Perhaps she had an instinct that told her every time he doubted. He took a deep breath.

Sebastian: This is all so surreal... I find myself thrown into the middle of a battle I know nothing about... And at the same time I can't even tell myself whether it's normal or not. Given that I don't have a single other reference...

Amiya: I'm sorry... It's because of me that you're in the middle of this chaos...

Sebastian: Stop it. Don't torture yourself over this. At least there's a bright side to all this.

The girl looked at him quizzically.

Amiya: Really?

Sebastian: Yep. At least from now on everything in my life can only get better...

He said with a smile. Then the girl laughed softly. Indeed, as far as she could remember, the doctor's early life hadn't been very pleasant.

Sebastian: How are you?

Amiya: I...

She took a moment to catch her breath. The doctor had been honest with her, so she felt she had to do the same.

Amiya: It's weird for me too... You're really different from before...

Sebastian: Oh

Amiya: Don't get me wrong! I'd say for now that you're better than you were used to... It's just that I've never seen you fight...

He must have shocked her with his actions.

Sebastian: Really? Yet... it's almost... natural for me.

He said, looking down at his hands, recognizably those of a warrior.

Sebastian: That's all I can do for now...

A simple sigh escaped his lips.

Amiya: Don't take Dobermann's words too seriously.

Her eyes darted to the perro beside them, sending her an almost murderous look.

Amiya: I have faith in you doktah.

The older man merely smiled, and yet he was touched to the core.

Guard: Amiya, I need your help for a moment.

Amiya: I'm coming.

The cautus walked ahead, separating herself from the giant, then Dobermann came to take his place, pulling something out of her pockets before holding the object out to the giant. She didn't dare look him straight in the eye, so the doctor looked at what she was handing him.

A MRE bar.

Dobermann: You look like you need it...

She said, looking at his corpse-like constitution. The giant felt touched; he'd be lying if he said his stomach at the moment wasn't howling with famine. He only paid attention to this small act of kindness, not understanding that Dobermann was just feeling slightly guilty for venting her frustration on him.

Without further thought he grabbed the small bar, which looked ridiculous compared to even his malnourished, atrophied hand, and smiled at the young woman. Now that she thought about it, he looked like he could swallow a whole horse.

Sebastian: Thank you very much Dobermann.

Without further thought, he opened the small ration, a big smile on his lips, seeming to get more joy out of it than he should. Then he took a single bite to eat it all. Feeling his body regain a little more energy, the machine slowly resumed its pace.

She looked at him for a moment; despite his thinness and cadaverous appearance, the doctor didn't seem to be suffering from his condition. On the contrary, there was a certain strength and vigor in his gait.

Dobermann: If a confrontation breaks out, don't put yourself in danger. We're here to protect you.

The giant stared straight ahead, an almost mocking smile on his lips. Returning to her stern nature, the instructor frowned.

Dobermann: I'm not kidding.

Sebastian: Because you think all this is a joke to me?

She was almost paralyzed by his gaze. Flames and embers lay behind those emerald eyes.

Dobermann was able to fully realize who was standing in front of him. This was not someone lost, disoriented. He wasn't a feral beast, because that's what his survival instincts dictated.

No, he had his feet firmly on the ground, he knew what he was doing.

And every fiber of his being screamed that he was ready for battle.

Everyone finally left the hospital, greeted by the cold city air.

Snow and ashes mingled in a cocktail of sadness and desolation falling all around them. Accentuated by explosions, fires, the screams of civilians, or the sounds of battle throughout the city.

The giant could smell it in the air. The smell of war.

Amiya was shocked.

Amiya: Is… Reunion responsible for all of this?

Dobermann: The assault has redoubled in intensity during the morning... The riots have given way to real fighting... We need to get out of here as quickly as possible before the Ursus authorities crush the rebellion.

An explosion resounded further away, once again creating cries of panic.

Sebastian: I'm not sure if Ursus is winning, but I'd really like it if we could get out of here. Let's take the back alleys, so we don't run into any patrols.

They all began to walk away into the streets of Chernobog, Sebastian pushing lightly on Amiya's shoulder to avoid making her watch the scene of destruction unfolding before her eyes.

Amiya: I don't understand... Reunion is supposed to be just a small group... They shouldn't have the power to take on a mobile city... Let alone the great Chernobog...

Sebastian looked around him. Cyrillic writing reminded him of home. Scenes of destruction, reminding him of his past. And yet nothing that reminded him of this world...

But as Amiya's words reached his ears, he frowned.

Sebastian: Wait, what's a mobile city?

The cautus looked at him before remembering that he knew nothing more.

Amiya: Most of Terra's cities are mounted on large vehicles to avoid catastrophes by staying on the move.

Sebastian: What are catastrophes?

Amiya: Climatic disasters... It could be floods, earthquakes, blizzards or sandstorms... Or other things like that. But with apocalyptic propensities...

He stopped and looked up at the sky.

Sebastian: And reassure me... The sky's normal, right?

The sky was covered in dark grey clouds, concentrating over the town. The others looked up at the sky too, their faces clouded with what seemed to be worry.

Dobermann: A catastrophe was supposed to strike tomorrow morning... But it's true that it's worrying...

Sebastian: So double the reason to get out of here, let's go!

He said, quickening his pace, the others following instinctively. Sebastian taking the lead. Head held high, eyes piercing. Looking at him, there was only one conclusion to be drawn. He was made to be here, in this kind of situation, in this position.

The walk was interminable, hiding from patrols and tension at its peak. Until it was broken, the giant raising his fist to signal a silent halt as they were about to exit an alleyway.

They all stopped and raised their weapons, looking at the situation in front of them. The gathering invaded the street, breaking down the doors of the houses and taking out the civilians who had tried to barricade themselves inside, to line them up one by one in the street.

Sebastian knew exactly what was going to happen. So did Dobermann. The experience of atrocious wars was imprinted on their minds.

Amiya: What are they doing?

But not everyone here had lost the meager fragments of innocence they had left... Or others simply remained incredulous. All doubt was dispelled, however, when a duo from the meeting emerged from a house with another family. A father, mother and daughter. When they reached the road, the father panicked for those around him and swung a ball at the soldier holding him to get out of the way.

He tried in vain to throw himself at the other, who was holding his wife and daughter, giving them a quarter of a second's respite.

Father: Run-!

He didn't even have time to finish that simple word when a machete plunged into his heart. Amiya's eyes widened.

While the other two tried to flee, only to be caught a few yards away.

Soldier: Uninfected dogs! I'll make you pay for what you've done to my family!

The soldier who'd had his nose broken by the desperate father approached the mother and daughter, kicking the mother's knees to bring her to her knees, before grabbing at her hair with his machete firmly in hand.

The desperate cries of the civilians to at least spare the children were obscured by the hatred that clouded their minds.

Amiya/Sebastian: Dobermann, we have to act.

They both found themselves saying exactly the same thing, but they both looked at the other authority figure here. Their eyes, though so different, gave off exactly the same thing.

They radiated pure will. But also an awareness of the danger of their actions.

Enemy troops were numerous. They could not afford to lose time...

Dobermann: We can't afford to act...

The giant frowned.

Sebastian: Dobermann. If we're willing to do anything to get our way, regardless of the lives of innocent people, infected or not. What makes us different from reunion?

Surprised, the perro looked at the doctor. And when her eyes met the emeralds, she was seized by an overwhelming sense of guilt. She felt the tug of war between her duty to bring everyone on Rhodes Island to safety, and her desire to protect civilians.

She lowered her head for a moment... Of course...

She might have a mission to accomplish, orders to carry out, but she couldn't lose sight of why she was here in the first place.

The giant understood his reaction better than anyone else and thought no further.

He raised his hand and two shots rang out.

With deadly precision, the first bullet struck the executioner's weapon, shattering it instantly, while the second passed through his skull.

For a tenth of a second, it was an absolute shock. Both the soldiers, who had not seen the gunman lurking in the darkness, and the members of Rhodes Island, who had seen the giant seize his sidearm and use it with an ease that showed nothing but experience.

Sebastian was also slightly surprised. He'd just fired a succession of shots and yet a strange feeling had seized him. Instead of foolishly pulling the trigger and feeling the recoil as a soul left his body, he had felt as if an alien force had passed through every fiber of his being to focus on the moment of detonation.

But all this lasted only a tenth of a second. The giant rose to his feet. His mind free of doubt, free of chaos, he threw himself into battle. He ran towards the reunion soldier closest to him and landed an out-of-this-world punch.

Both the instructor and the veterans of the assault team were surprised. For the doctor had just killed three men, in the short space of time that was a human being's reaction time.

He was fast. Incredibly fast.

Leader: Contact!

A man dressed in white and red instead of the usual orange led the assault, with enemy troops seemingly breaking away from the civilians and surrounding the giant.

Sebastian smiled softly, as long as the attention was on him then the civilians would be safe.

He holstered his weapon, locking it with the waistband of his pants, and raised his fists.

Amiya in the alley proudly stood up too when she saw the doctor.

She had to be by his side.

Amiya: Silent we shall be, should conflict be avoidable. But fight tooth and nail, should it be necessary! Rhodes creed has always been the same!

Leader/Amiya: Charge!

Chaos ensued. Several shots were fired at the doctor. The giant dodged projectiles one by one with terrifying ease. While the melee units began to run towards him, the Rhodes Island units emerged from the alley, their casters and the sniper immediately targeting the enemy, while Noir Corne, Dobermann and Yato joined the doctor. One of them approached the doctor and, just as he was about to kill that one too in middle of the havoc, his mask and skull shattered by a powerful whip. Courtesy of the instructor who had deployed right next to the giant.

The two looked at each other, then the giant charged straight at the group of enemies in front of him.

Although he was the only one without any weapons for melee combat, he was perhaps the one who felt the least fear at this very moment.

One of the soldiers at the reunion was equipped with what appeared to be a spear and tried to stop the giant in his tracks, moving faster than anything conceivable for a being of his size, dodging attacks one by one before reaching his assailant. The rest was history.

The soldier's head flew off his body, sending a spray of blood into the air and terrorizing the rest of the soldiers standing in front of him.

Seizing faster than lightning, lean as an embodiment of starvation, and inevitable.

At that moment, they had the impression that an incarnation of death was standing right in front of them.

They all tried to attack him, but as more and more energy flowed through his body and the anaesthetic and wounds disappeared, the giant slowly regained his strength.

He dodged each attack without the slightest difficulty, already seeming light years ahead in terms of strength of what he was at the hospital.

Amiya and Dobermann eliminated a few of them, lending a hand to the giant, but the outcome was unchanged: one by one, he dodged, disarmed, then executed.

Brutality, strength and undeniable talent capture his every move.

Where some fifteen armed soldiers had stood only moments before. All that remained were mutilated corpses.

Noir Corne: Yato!

The giant turned back to the other side of the street the assault team was supposed to be dealing with. To see a man in heavy armor and equipped with an axe, breaking the young woman's guard, before giving her a slash.

She managed to deflect the attack at the last moment, but the axe hit her anyway, spraying a spray of blood and sending the young woman reeling backwards. Sebastian gritted his teeth like a wild beast and drew his weapon.

He began emptying his magazine as he charged straight for this soldier.

Of course, the shots ricocheted off the armored visor, but the sparks and shocks were enough to immobilize and cover the giant's advance as he found himself right in front of the armored man. Some began to think that he must have had a plan or something to go on the attack without the slightest hesitation.

Sebastian only threw a punch.

Of course, no one here thought his punch would have the slightest effect. Especially considering the doctor's build. And what a surprise it was when the punch knocked the armored man backwards, the impact probably more powerful than the bullets that had just hit him.

The enemy had stars in his eyes and, unsettled, was unable to brace himself when the giant tripped him with his leg, sending him tumbling to the ground on his back. The doctor threw himself on top of him and slipped his hands between the armor plates of the breastplate to tighten them around his enemy's neck. Strangling him with all his might. For an instant, his face became that of a wild beast.

Driven by his survival instincts, the armored man threw numerous punches at the doctor's face, but it felt like he was hitting steel, so resistant was the doctor to the debacle. Slowly, the blows began to slow before the arms fell heavily to the ground.

The giant clenched his hands a little tighter once more, breaking the neck of his unconscious opponent. He looked up to see the leader of the squad charging towards him, kicking him in the face.

He seemed much stronger and more experienced than the others, as evidenced by the kick that threw Sebastian backwards. The two were too close for the marksmen to operate with the desired effect, and even so, Amiya, who was a little confident in her accuracy, launched one of her projectiles, which the leader dodged without the slightest difficulty.

Noir Corne then approached, as did Dobermann, ready to help the doctor against the leader, who was the only one left.

The giant stood up and raised his hand, beckoning the others to stop.

Sebastian: Leave it to me...

Was this bastard the one who'd had the wonderful idea of executing civilians like animals? The doctor was filled with rage at the very thought. And as anyone could see, he looked like an animal intent on taking care of its prey. And for a mere split second, some would have swore to have seen his eyes change color.

The leader smirked, before drawing his short sword and raising his shield.

The two hurled themselves straight at each other as time seemed to slow down for both of them.

Sebastian seized his opponent.

Surprising everyone, including his opponent, the doctor thought he was a footballer and tackled the man with his long, powerful arms before lifting him off the ground. The enemy leader tried to swing his sword, and the giant raised his arm, leaving a large cut and spraying a spray of blood, but as if he were a machine, the man didn't even flinch for that fraction of a second, then the giant smashed the man against the ground, shattering his spine and skull and giving him a slow death.

Amiya: Doktah!

Many hurried towards him because of his wound.

Dobermann: Doctor, are you okay?

Everyone seemed to notice at the same time that not a single drop of blood was flowing from his arm, as if it had already clotted and was still mobile.

Sebastian: Take care of Yato.

They turned to the civilians, some of them looking at them with just as much fear as their agressors. Sebastian followed their gazes to see them moving towards the black crystal lesions on their skin...

So that was all they were reduced to? Pieces of crystal marring the skin and they were no longer their saviors?

Sebastian(Ursin): Get out of town!

Some of them seemed surprised that the doctor spoke their language, they looked at his whole body to see that he had no crystals, the air he gave off... All of them thought at that moment that he was part of the army. They turned to the one with the most authority, making the infected with him.

Civil(Ursin): But we can't leave! Our homes are here, the guard can still restore order-

Sebastian(Ursin): The guard is crushed! A catastrophe is about to strike! The city has already fallen, flee and save yourselves while there's still time!

From his words, they could all easily understand that he meant business. Faced with the chaos, they plunged into denial, but the giant's words brought them out of it and they were finally able to realize that whatever was happening around them would not miraculously be resolved next week. The mother seized her child and was the first to flee, quickly followed by others.

The giant's saddened gaze fell on the body lying on the ground. This poor man who had had the hope of helping his family. The giant walked over to him and dropped to one knee, his fingers slowly closing the dead man's eyelids.

Amiya came to walk beside him, the sorrow evident on her face too.

Amiya: Doktah... Are you sure you're all right?

Her worried eyes were riveted to the giant's wound. Of course she was worried, the giant had already taken so many blows in such a short time.

Sebastian: Yeah, it's fine...

His emeralds never left the body in front of him.

Sebastian: You saved them, and yet they were afraid of you.

He took a quick look at the crystals on the girl's wrists.

Sebastian: I've only been up for what? Just under two hours... And oripathy is responsible for a lot… And I already hate the fucking disease.

He rose to his full height, his eyes shining with determination, which made the young girl smile. These brief moments after his awakening would be the key to finding out who Sebastian really was. And who he would be.

Amiya was confused when she thought about it; many things about him reminded her of who he had been before, when she had first met him. It's just that the strong-willed man, ready to take on the whole world for his ideals... The only noticeable difference at the moment was that he seemed ready to settle all these problems with his fists.

Sebastian: Let's get out of here.

He turned back to the rest of his team, who had begun to assemble. Dobermann approached the giant.

Dobermann: Sorry, Doctor, I must admit I underestimated your new... abilities. It was impressive...

Her eyes were closed, and everyone could see the vein that had formed on her forehead. Nobody really knew who had forced Dobermann to pay the doctor a compliment. And it was in keeping with her personality, which explained the certain discomfort she felt at having to do so. In fact, Noir Corne and 12F seemed ready to burst out laughing at the sight of the instructor.

The giant couldn't care less, especially as he could see it wasn't honest.

Sebastian: Hm.

He didn't even open his mouth before turning and walking on through the streets of Chernobog, grabbing the leader's sword as he went. Dobermann was as red as a tomato in anger, attracting mocking smiles from some of the operators.

Although none of them would ever dare express their opinion on the subject to the Perro...

Amiya advanced alongside the giant, the rest of them also walking straight ahead. After a few moments, a slightly calmed but still annoyed perro did so too.

Dobermann: We've lost too much time, we can't afford to go through the back alleys or we'll be late for the rendezvous point. Not to mention that we still have to cross the river, and the army or reunion has probably already taken all the bridges.

Sebastian: Never mind. We'll go through the streets then.

Amiya: That means we won't be able to avoid the patrols...

Sebastian: We'll find a way.

He said, with a reassuring smile on his lips.

Yato : You know how to speak ursin, Doctor...

He raised an eyebrow, after all, Russian was his native language.

Sebastian: I don't know. Again, it was natural for me.

The young cautus began to smile.

Amiya: The doctor comes from ursus.

Sebastian: That explains it.

Ah, luck, he thought.

Noir Corne: And he managed to use the gun!

Rangers: I was wondering if we were going to talk about this...

Sebastian: You know, after a while you have to stop being surprised that I do things, because up to now everything I do is just natural to me.

He said with a slightly amused tone before pulling himself together.

Sebastian: But I felt a bit strange while pressing the trigger...

Amiya: That's because you focused your arts by shooting! It's usually very complex for someone to learn how to use a sankta firearm. Each ammunition is engraved with originium and requires absolute control of one's arts as well as a perfect sense of timing... What you've done is a feat !

Sebastian: Really?

Good. His gun worked on magic. That explained why nobody had one back then...

The giant looked a little further to see the terrace of a café from which a TV could still be heard. Tuned to the news channels.

Sebastian: Chernobog riots soon under control... My ass...

Dobermann: Don't be surprised. Ursus is adept at misinformation. What country isn't these days?

Amiya: I hope a lot of them will manage to get out of the city-

The giant turned abruptly to look at someone on top of a building in the distance. His instincts had told him that someone was watching them, and he wasn't wrong. He could see a young, red-haired, hooded woman watching them in the distance. Soon, the other members of Rhodes Island saw her too.

Sebastian: Shit, we've been spotted! We've got to go and fast!

They all began to run through the streets, the giant meeting the young woman's gaze one last time in the distance. Then he too began to run.

The young woman in the distance put a finger on her earpiece.

Crownslayer: Hm. It's Crownslayer. A new camp has joined the game. Of course you have. I'll take care of it.

The giant paced forward, feeling as if a slow vise was closing in on them. They were all slowly losing their breath. The street began to narrow, the gaps between the buildings gradually disappearing and taking them into a bottleneck.

They soon realized that a troop from the reunion was pursuing them, as crossbow bolts started flying over their heads. And the final blow of despair came when armored vehicles, undoubtedly belonging to the guards, confronted the Rhodes Island troops, blocking their path and letting down the meeting soldiers who had captured the vehicles.

They found themselves caught in a pincer movement. And all gritted their teeth.

Dobermann: Doctor...?

Sebastian: I've still got a surprise in my pocket. Close your eyes on my signal, and as soon as I throw it, head for the house on our left.

All the soldiers pointed their weapons at them, and the tension rose a notch.

Sebastian: Now!

He threw an object in his pocket to the ground, creating a blinding light that all those on Rhodes Island could see even through their closed eyes. Then the poor soldiers of the reunion who had opened their eyes wide ready to fight Rhodes Island were blinded.

Quickly, the doctor and his group took advantage of this second to run towards one of the dwellings in the street. Noir corne kicked in the door, and the Rhodes Island operators rushed up the stairwell to safety. Meanwhile, crossbow bolts flew all around them, and by sheer miracle, only 12F received a scratch, but he kept going. The giant closed the run and, as he passed, kicked the ground, causing a manhole cover to rise up, which he caught in mid-air before entering the house.

He climbed to the top of the stairs and turned as the reunion troops began to stream into the building, and before anyone knew what the giant was going to do, he threw the manhole cover like a Frisbee, demonstrating cataclysmic force that sliced through the line of incoming enemy soldiers, terrifying and slowing down the rest.

Incendiary crossbow bolts and art projectiles pierced the building's windows, rapidly setting the house ablaze.

Sebastian: To the other side!

They all headed in the opposite direction from the front door to see more windows, this side of the house facing a railroad track below and the artificial river that ran through the town.

Dobermann: What do we do now!

Soldat: Die!

As the flames began to take hold in the house, the soldiers finally overcame the corpses of their allies, and the crossbowmen were the first to show themselves, targeting the doctor. Before he could even fire, Noir Corne pushed the doctor away with lightning speed, raising his shield and stopping the arrows aimed at him.

However, one of the enemy soldiers rushed past, going as fast as the projectiles, and straight towards Sebastian, with only one thing on his mind - to slaughter him for the death of his friends.

In extremis, the giant dodged a stab aimed right at his heart, his left hand grabbing his opponent's arm, his right his skull, before pulling the man towards a chest of drawers to his left, striking his opponent's skull on the wood. Not killing him on the spot, Sebastian grabbed a glass vase from the chest of drawers and smashed it over his enemy's skull, before seizing one of the pieces of glass to stab him in the throat.

Sebastian: I'm a bit busy here Dobermann!

The giant's eyes widened when he saw a small flame coming towards him, and he realized it was a molotov cocktail.

He raised his arm in a last-ditch defense, the glass shattering against his arm and spraying the flammable liquid all over the giant, who howled in pain, trying to extinguish the flames that were engulfing him as best he could, struggling against this enemy that was sticking to his skin.

His allies were of course terrified by this horrible suffering, and even more so by his screams, while the giant struck a wall, causing a pipe to appear before the pain was too much for him and he tried to struggle again.

Amiya overcame the inaction caused by terror and tore off a piece of the pipe, understanding the giant's intention, and water gushed out, extinguishing the giant, while Rangers and Durin took his place to delay the enemy and their advance towards them.

Smoke engulfed the small group as the urgency grew. But Amiya was calmed by the fact that, surprisingly, the giant did not seem to have sustained any serious burns.

Medic: Wait...

She opened the window and held out her head.

Medic: I hear a train coming!

And just as her words indicated, a train began to roll along the tracks below the building.

Sebastian: This is our chance! Go for it!

All had grasped the idea, and Sebastian replaced his empty gun magazine with a fresh one. Firing to cover his allies, they jumped out of the windows and landed on the train carriages.

Sebastian's magazine was soon empty and he too turned to flee, being the last to escape the fight in the face of the almost infinite number of combatants at the reunion. But the ceiling collapsed in front of the window, weakened by the flames.

The giant hurled an insult and seemed to be analyzing how to get out. Hurrying up, lowering his head to avoid being shot at, he climbed another flight of stairs to a higher floor. As his retreat was seen by the bravest soldiers, they pursued him. The giant ran through the rooms of the house, heading straight for the windows that chimed his freedom, smoke obscuring his vision.

As a crossbow bolt plunged straight into his thigh, the giant let out a surprised cry of pain, but had no time to cut off his nerve receptors; he fell heavily to the ground because of his wound, and dodged an art projectile as he fell. Seizing his courage and the little energy he had left, he got up and ran straight for the window before jumping out, smashing through the glass, the sound of the action making the Rhodes Island members look up at the doctor who fell, finishing his fall a few meters below, landing heavily on a wagon. The doctor lay back, breaking the arrow he had planted, leaving the head in place, before taking a moment to breathe.

He looked at the house catching fire in the distance and laughed softly, the fresh air caressing his lungs.

The operators joined him, concerned to see him lying down.

Amiya: Doktah how are you?!

Sebastian: I can't take it anymore, I'm dead...

He said as if he'd just had a workout. Everyone seemed at once reassured that the doctor was all right, and terrified that, despite his physical condition and everything he'd been through, he was.

Even the places where he'd been hit by the Molotov cocktail were hard to make out, so much so that you'd have thought he was fine if it hadn't been for his torn and blackened clothes.

Yato : How did you know we could escape like that?

Sebastian: There was a map of the city on one of the bus stops we passed, so I was able to memorize it... I suspected the reunion troops would follow us so I brought us here...

Medic: Did you manage to memorize the entire city map just by walking past it?

Amiya: Eh eh, you always had such a good memory.

The giant raised an eyebrow and looked at her, the cautus realizing what she'd just said.

Amiya: I mean… Other than, you know...

She said, her ears lowering.

Sebastian: Ah sweet irony...

Medic: And did you manage to anticipate that a train would pass by?

She said enthusiastically, curious to find out just how limitless the doctor's intelligence was-

Sebastian: No, I prayed to get some luck.

He said before bursting into laughter, making the others realize that he was indeed serious. Crushing the hopes of the Rhodes Island operators. The doctor was just mad as a hatter.

Dobermann: On the bright side, now we'll get to the rendezvous point on time... But we still have to cross the river afterwards.

Medic: Doctor, let me examine you...

Sebastian: No, I'm fine... I'm just tired, and I'm terribly hungry.

Medic: The cryogenic chamber is far from being a simple sleep... It's normal for you to be like this... Well, normally you would have had to stay in bed for a few days...

The group's perro looked at the doctor on the ground and seemed to take pity for a moment. She reached into her pockets and pulled out another mre bar. She handed it to the doctor without saying a word.

The giant grinned and grabbed the precious food.

Sebastian: Thank you Dobermann, I like you already.

At her words, the instructor was startled and her cheeks flushed pink as the giant began to gulp down the ration. The other operators looked on in amazement at the perro's ability to display such facial expressions.

A few moments passed, the Rhodes Island operators even taking the liberty of sitting on the roof of the train to wait and chat, the doctor resting alone and still lying down.

Until they passed under a bridge that crossed the river, when the small group emerged on the other side they could see that troops from the meeting were there, seemingly waiting for them. Sebastian rolled to one side, dodging a flurry of crossbow bolts and sending the other operators into a state of alert. The arrows chasing him, the doctor was forced to keep rolling until he fell into the void, while the soldiers from the reunion jumped onto the train in great numbers.

As for the doctor, he clutched the edge of the train and threw himself further forward, back on top of it, standing on his legs and blocking the path of the enemy troops. He drew the sword he'd stolen from the leader he'd shot and twirled it in his hand, feeling the martial ease return to his body.

With his enemies facing him, the doctor threw himself forward, ready to fight, the first of them also charged at the doctor, swinging a machete, the giant deflected the attack, delivering a pommel blow to the man's face, who couldn't dodge the kick that came next, knocking him off the train and into the river water.

His overdeveloped hearing allowed him to hear the crossbow bolts flying towards him, so he used his concentration and reflexes, then parried the projectiles one by one.

As the last spray of sparks flew up, created by the arrows meeting the metal of his weapon, the doctor's allies also began to fire on the reunion's troops, another soldier ran towards Sebastian and threw a knife at him, which the giant had to parry, while his enemy took advantage of the opportunity to attack, Sebastian had to take an unfortunate step backwards, throwing him off balance, all the more so as another soldier also threw himself at him.

His salvation came with the crack of a whip as the soldier he was grappling with died instantly from a whip strike, curtesy of that dear Dobermann. Sebastian was able to concentrate on his right, where the other soldier was about to attack, and he ducked just in time to dodge the attack. The giant's sword was thrust into his enemy's knee, then he leapt to his feet, snatching it away and taking advantage of his momentum to slice through the torso of another inattentive soldier. The corpse fell heavily and rolled onto its side, sending its wounded comrade tumbling into the dark waters of the river.

To his left two more of the reunion's soldiers were struck in the face by the instructor's whip, then a third, taller, wider and better equipped was grabbed by the neck, the weapon wrapping around him before being taken further towards her, Yato beginning to engage the soldier. As Dobermann continued to crack her whip, eliminating with deadly precision anyone who got too close or that the Rhodes Island casters didn't touch.

Soothed Sebastian twirled his sword again before smiling, deliberately provoking his opponents.

Soon a wave of them began to run straight towards him, the train having completely overtaken the bridge, at least they wouldn't come any further. The doctor didn't give his enemies the initiative and ran towards them too. With a simple punch, he hit one of the soldiers in mid-air, who had jumped to bridge the gap between the carriages. The poor fellow fell into the gap and passed under the train.

With a simple twist of his torso, the doctor dodged a stab, but instead of responding immediately, he plunged into the group of enemies, sword in hand, cutting the throats of two of them before turning, stooping to dodge an attack, severing the nerves in the leg of another before grabbing him by the throat to use him as a human shield against a series of attacks before throwing him with all his might against three soldiers who fell not on the river side but on the building side. He took a step backwards, avoiding a slash aimed at his face, and elbowed the soldier standing just behind him, ready to impale him. Breaking his nose.

A blow from a mace came down on him to his left, and Sebastian raised his frail arm, which nonetheless stopped the weapon better than the thickest armor. A sweep of his sword to his right and he had slit another's throat in a fraction of a second. Hearing the man behind him prepare his next attac,, he kicked him just to gain the half-second he needed to thrust his sword straight into the neck of the man with the mace, not stopping in his tracks and spinning around to impale the man behind him, joining his comrade as a skewer. The doctor heard someone rushing towards him only too late, and didn't dodge the monstrous kick that sent him flying further away.

The man standing in front of Sebastian was almost as tall as he was, the reunion uniform looking almost ridiculous on him. He was strong and muscular, not even bothering to carry a weapon.

The doctor stealthily retrieved the knife from a corpse, and with a gesture so swift that no one could see it in its entirety, he threw it, felling the colossus with disconcerting ease. He walked back towards the enemy, grabbing his sword as he went.

The enemy troops didn't even dare to advance. Because of the mountain looming up in front of them. A sound in the air alarmed the giant, and then a swarm of small flying machines sped along the train, firing what appeared to be real bullets.

Amiya: Drones!

Sebastian: Anyone who can attack from a distance, focus on them!

The hairs on the back of the giant's neck stood up, causing him to grab the body of a soldier from the reunion and use it as a shield. An art projectile crashed against this shield, throwing the doctor close to Noir Corne. The oni shielded the giant from drone fire, but failed to stop a gust of air created by arts that sent him and the giant tumbling from the train.

Sebastian, his reflexes boosted by adrenaline, managed to grab hold of the oni with one hand, his other hand digging into the train's body like sharp claws to keep them in place.

Noir Corne: Oh shit!

The oni had to curl up his legs to prevent them from hitting the water at speed.

Sebastian: Hang on!

The giant gritted his teeth in pain, his exhausted, atrophied body feeling its bones break, but he didn't flinch, knowing he had to hold on or someone would die. He looked up, his eyes meeting others, those of a young man sitting in the carriage, so many other civilians beside him who seemed to have fled from the city center. He widened his eyes, terrified to see the stakes climbing. There were also many firemen on the train, all equipped with their axes, and one of them caught sight of the giant, then gave a blow to the glass behind which he was standing. He had to call on every muscle fiber in his body and swung himself, throwing Noir Corne onto the top of the train's cabin before painfully climbing back up. An enemy was on the verge of kicking him while he was on the ground, but he was saved in-extremis by a well-placed shot from Amiya.

Sebastian: Be careful where you shoot - the train is full of refugees!

More than motivated, the giant raised his closed fists, the sword having fallen into the void. He threw himself forward, not caring if he had anyone's support, and struck, struck like a madman.

Making do with all the attacks that tortured him, either dodging them with mastery or ignoring them as if they didn't exist, he struck. Killing with his fists, he appeared little by little like a wild beast in the midst of his enemies. Twenty or so soldiers remained when he began his macabre work. And now there was just one.

The giant held it in the palm of his hand. Literally. Grabbing him by the neck and lifting him above the ground, he tightened his grip and snapped the poor fool's neck, throwing him into the water.

Sebastian took a moment to breathe, but he only had a single second before he heard a strange one racing towards them. Bigger than the others. Rangers and casters did their best, but he was too fast. Durin was the one who hit him just as he started to fire, a rocket that deflected from its trajectory and blew up the rails a few hundred meters away.

Guard: Shit!

Dobermann: The train is about to derail!

The giant ran towards the front of the train, looking out to see that the track was widening with multiple switches. The giant seemed to spot something in the distance, so he drew his firearm and dropped to one knee, calming his breathing.

Stress... His hands were shaking...

He knew he had to pull himself together, he had no other choice.

Sebastian closed his eyes. Pointing his gun at something he seemed to follow even without sight. Then he fired.

The bullet from his gun struck a switch lever, causing the train to change direction in-extremis.

Relieved and with tension Amiya leapt into the air shouting with joy, Dobermann almost collapsing as Sebastian just laughed at his impossible shot.

Rangers put a hand on his shoulder.

Rangers: Nice shot.

Everyone took a second to breathe, as the train calmly continued on its way along the river, all looking towards the station that loomed ahead.

Sebastian: Amiya, there are city guard vehicles over there!

Dobermann pulled out a pair of binoculars and looked at the station.

Dobermann: It's the town guard ! We can't stay on this train!

Sebastian: Is the guard really out to get us?!

Dobermann: For them, we're infected like everyone else!

Amiya: Doktah what do we do?!

The giant looked to his left, seeing the river.

Sebastian: Only one choice left... Can everyone swim?!

Again, all were able to grasp, but were filled with hesitation. Amiya was the first to summon her courage, leaping from the train into the dark water, landing with a big splash before quickly returning to the surface. The guard and medic were equally quick to follow.

Guard: Why the fuck is it so cold!

All the others jumped in one by one, even Durin, who was not very confident of her ability to make the jump, was helped by Noir Corne.

Only two people remained, and the giant looked at Dobermann, who seemed terrified.

Dobermann: No... I-I can't!

Sebastian: Dobermann now!

Dobermann: I can't swim, Doctor!

She said, more terrified than he'd ever imagined he'd see her. The giant looked away to see the station approaching. Then he seized Dobermann, carrying her in his arms before throwing himself into the water, the perro screaming until they hit.

*plash*

After a few moments, the instructor's head emerged from the water, the young woman struggling to survive.

Dobermann: help! Doctor-

The giant reemerged right next to her, then grabbed her arm, making her float.

Sebastian: Take it easy...

The perro spat out all the water that had been instigated in her lungs, relieved for a moment.

Sebastian: hang on to my neck.

He said, putting his arm around her neck, which she clutched tightly in terror. The doctor began to swim towards the other shore. With all the ease of a fish in water.

And once the tension had subsided, all that remained for Dobermann was the embarrassment of being stuck against the giant.

Dobermann: The water is icy cold...

Sebastian: I think it's fine.

It reminded him of swimming in the streams on his grandmother's farm when he was a child. Ah, good memories...

The giant glanced to his left to see all the others swimming too.

Sebastian: At least we're all okay...

Dobermann: Thank you...

He had the impression that she wasn't used to saying that word. Or at least in that sense.

Sebastian: Oh, you're welcome. If I can't cure you, maybe I can teach you to swim after all.

He said before laughing, his head sinking beneath the water as his lungs emptied, bringing him to the surface coughing, and not very proud. Dobermann could only look at the back of his head, his ebony hair glistening with water.

The almost shocked perro. Taking a moment to reflect on the doctor's situation. He couldn't remember a thing, in the middle of a city at war, he was forced to fight for survival. And yet, he still found the right word to laugh, even at his own situation, and was fighting not only to save his own skin, but also for those others who were with him.

He may have lost his memory, but he had retained a strong moral compass, a will to act. And he seemed to have retained all his tactical talent, as well as having become a veritable force of nature.

The giant reached the other side, facing a low wall, he leaned against it and beckoned to the perro.

Sebastian: Come on, get back up.

The young woman leaned on the giant, who held firm, and rose to the surface, shivering as she felt the cold air against her clothes and wet skin. But when she reached the ledge, Sebastian fell into the water. The animal ears on Dobermann's head perked up and she turned around in alarm, as did the others who had seen the scene.

The giant returned to the surface, coughing again.

Sebastian: I'm fine! I just slipped...

He could see a hand reaching out towards him from the shore. A strong arm with a rolled-up sleeve.

Without thinking, he took that hand and was lifted out of the water as if he weighed nothing. Which wasn't so far from the truth at the time. The giant felt the icy water running down his body, but was in no way disturbed - on the contrary.

The giant looked in front of him, another rather tall man reaching up to his shoulders. He was strong and broad, wearing heavy equipment and had the head of a veteran.

Sebastian: Thanks for the help.

Ace: You're welcome, Doc.

The giant could see other Rhodes Island troops ahead of him, in what appeared to be a small square, including two combat squads that seemed ready to move at the slightest sign from the oldest-looking man here.

Sebastian: I think we've reached the rendezvous point...

?: Damn Seb you old branch you don't know how good it is to see you again.

The man who had held out his hand to the doctor held it out to him again, with a smile on his face, for a handshake like between old friends. The giant frowned. His heart ached once again to disappoint yet another person.

Sebastian: I'm sorry... I don't remember anything...

The face of the man in front of him took on the same expression as all the others. Shock, then sadness. As did those of the young men behind Ace, who looked panicked to say the least on hearing the news, they too surely providing the giant with high hopes.

Then, to his astonishment, the man smiled, before seizing the doctor's hand. To shake it.

?: I've known you for almost ten years. It's not a blackout worse than the others that's going to take away the fact that you're my friend.

The giant, surprised by this human warmth, began to smile too. Not finding enough words, he replied with a scathing

Sebastian: Thank you.

?: Ace. I'm Ace doc.

Sebastian: Cool.

They let go of each other's hands and Amiya came to walk beside them, looking embarrassed and pulling her jacket in front of her to cover herself.

Amiya: D-doktah was badly injured when we found him... It's a miracle he's still alive... Even if his after-effects are just as serious...

Ace: And if you've made it this far I suppose he's retained some of his skills?

Dobermann: Yes. The doctor is still perfectly reliable.

She said, wringing out her hair a little further.

Amiya: And where is Miss Nearl?

Ace: We've located the enemy's jammer, Nearl, is gone to take care of it with the A6 team.

The giant looked at the cautus.

Sebastian: Are you okay, Amiya? Are you cold?

Amiya: N-no, it's okay...

Then the giant understood.

She was wearing a white shirt under her jacket. He looked a little further and luckily there was a clothes store on the square.

Sebastian: Go get changed.

Amiya: But that would be stealing, wouldn't it?

Sebastian: If catastrophe strikes, a few items of clothing won't change a thing.

The cautus nodded, seeming to doubt a little, and started walking towards the store.

Sebastian: She's young...

Ace: Yeah. But one day he'll be an exceptional leader.

Sebastian: Perhaps...

The giant went off to introduce himself to the other squads, and took the greetings in return. Asking a few questions and lightening the mood as best he could. Dobermann came over to the elite operator.

Dobermann: Ace... The doctor knows how to fight.

The pythia seemed slightly surprised to hear this. But too little, he looked at the giant as well as at the instructor.

Ace: How well?

Dobermann: Better than me. And probably you too, if he wasn't so weak. It's too natural for him for this to be just another fad caused by the brain damage he's suffered. So Ace, let me ask you, did you know the doctor was so capable?

Both Kal'tsit and Amiya had insisted at the mission briefing that the doctor was entirely vulnerable and not capable of fighting.

And yet...

Ace didn't look at her, his face grim.

Ace: I'm not allowed to tell you.

The two got on well, and Ace readily considered Dobermann a friend. And they both knew the cryptic language of secret missions and governments. So when he said he wasn't allowed to say anything, that meant there was something to say, and she understood him.

The Babel period wasn't something to dig into.

Amiya came out of the store, the giant walking in, tired of wearing the battle-torn scraps of fabric that served as his clothes.

Ace: Everyone can dry off and take a deep breath, we've got plenty of time before we have to meet Nearl's team at rendezvous point B.

He went in and started to change, grabbing the first pair of jeans he could find in his size and a dark red t-shirt, so that the blood wouldn't show so much. After a short time, he came out feeling a little fresher.

Sebastian: Are you sure your friend is going to make it against the reunion?

Ace: Heh. She's more than capable on her own. And she's not alone, so we'll be fine.

Sebastian: And us... We could be screwed if we run into a garrison of ursus or a main force of reunion.

He says, his voice low, to make sure we don't hear him too much.

Ace: It's not your habit to be so lacking in confidence. There's something you used to say back in the day. If you're facing an army, destroy it; if you're facing a fortress, dismantle it-

Sebastian/Ace: If you're facing the crown, topple it.

The doctor surprised himself by finishing the sentence... Before he was seized by a powerful headache, images seizing his vision the worried words of those around him merging into an unbearable buzz. Before he collapsed to the floor. Unconscious.