The Beast Falls For The Demon

Chapter XVIII

AN://Hey it's me! Yeah I'm still alive. I apologize for not updating for so long, my writer's block was really bad and studying took most of my time T-T Being a med student isn't really easy but now *drum rolls* I HAVE TIME YES FINALLY FREEEDOM GOODBYE BOOKS *throws them away* oh... wait no I need those *picks them up* anywaaaaayysssss.... I'll be finishing up this story so just hang on tight my pipz...Peace out!

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The team had arrived at the Sunken Grid and Soma was already running off to find an aragami that Shio would eat. Ogretails were out of the question since there cores weren't strong enough and the only place that this place was known to have were a bunch of Gboro-Gboro and occasionally a few Chi-Yus.

Soma had been running around the grid for nearly twenty minutes now and there was still no sigh of a single aragami.

That was weird and unusual.

Normally the grid would be teeming with those foul creatures and the sight of it being desolated baffled Soma.

"Sakuya, you there? Let's meet up, something strange is going on here." Soma spoke through the comm.

The other line was silent and the only thing Soma could hear was static. "Sakuya?"

Soma then involuntarily sighed when he heard a short buzz followed by his teammate's voice. "Sorry about that, Shio was acting all weird, it busted the comms for a second. So what were you saying?"

"I said we should meet up. There's something strange going on here. I've been running around for twenty minutes and I haven't found a single aragami yet."

"That is strange." Soma could hear Sakuya clicking here tongue through the comm and he could tell that the older woman was contemplating on something. "Alright, rendezvous back at the landing zone we'll b- Oi! Shio! What's wrong?!" He suddenly heard Sakuya shout before a nerve wracking screech forced Soma to pull the comm from his ear.

"Sakuya what's going on?!" Soma shouted through the piece in his hand.

"Shio? Shio! Hey wait where are you going?! Shio! Shit Shio just bolted Soma! She attacked Kota and left!"

"She what?! Where are you?"

"Near the tanks and shit Soma hurry! A couple of Gboro-Gboro just popped out of nowher-"

"Sakuya hang in there! I'll be right over!" Soma quickly replied before bolting off to their direction, his God Arc ready to swing and slay anything in his way.

Everything was literally becoming hell now. First Katze and now Shio, he just wanted a simple life, killing aragami was already enough for him.

Taking a huge leap Soma swung his God Arc back, swinging it all the way down as he landed separating the two aragami from Sakuya and Kota.

"Sakuya call for a chopper now! I'll deal with these two!" Soma shouted his eyes not leaving the roaring mass of fish flesh.

"Alright!" Sakuya shouted back.

The sun had set when Soma and the rest got choppered out from the grid. It was a silent ride except for Soma's occasional cursing. They had lost Shio and he knew both Sakaki and his father would be upset about it. Speaking of his father, Soma hadn't seen him since Katze's arrival. He knew his father was a busy man, being the Director and all but he usually called Soma through the comm or would've sent an email, asking how the branch was doing without his absence.

"Soma" Sakuya called out, snapping Soma from his thoughts. They had arrived and he hadn't even noticed.

Quickly jumping off the chopper, Soma ignored the worried and cofused looks the others were giving him. "I'll report to Sakaki about how our little picnic trip ended up in a disaster."

Sakuya only nodded in reply, not wanting to anger the other.

Sakaki was probably at the lab or at his private infirmary. He didn't want to go to the latter knowing Katze would be there. He wasn't ready yet. Their relationship was already complicated and confusing enough as it is. So with a sigh Soma turned to the left, heading to Sakaki's lab.

The doors automatically opened for Soma, feeling relieved at the sight of Sakaki on his computers.

"Shio bolted."

The tapping sound on the keyboard abruptly stopped with a wide eyed Sakaki staring at him.

"This isn't good." Sakaki frowned, standing from his seat. "And at a bad time at that."

"What do you mean a bad time?"

"I've been alerted that a strong power surge had came from Aegis. I think it might have done something to Shio but I don't know what. For now, keep low. I'll inform you if I find out something." Sakaki stated, seating back on his chair as he started typing again.

Soma was silent for a minute, the tapping sounds from Sakaki's keyboard made it hard for Soma to think.

"If you're wondering, she's alright." Sakaki suddenly said, looking at Soma with a soft smile.

Like being burnt from a hot pan, Soma flinched and quickly looked away, a soft pink color dusting his cheeks.

"She hates me." Soma whispered.

"She hates everyone." Sakaki corrected.

"She hates me more." Soma fired back giving Sakaki a pointed look.

"She does, but I think she's just scared. Scared to open up and let someone in."

"I don't know..." Soma trailed off before heading to the door. "Besides a beast can never be with a demon."