"What do we do now?" Finn asks as the crew waits inside of Vivi's shop. "Is he going to be fine?".
"Finn!" Rose shouts. When Finn looks over at Rose, he sees her nudging her head in Zia's direction.
"Oh, umm... I mean-" Finn fumbles his words.
"We'll have to wait for Demetri to know" Zia says.
"Think he can heal Siran?" Vivi asks.
"He did save our lives before" Rose says. "He can totally handle this... right?".
"That all depends" Alex says. "There are things science can fix, and things that it can not. Rest assured though, he's in the best hands that he can be in for now".
After many hours, Demetri comes out of the back room of the shop and wipes some sweat from his forehead. He looks around and sees everyone waiting impatiently, but also too afraid to ask the obvious question. "He's lucky" Demetri says. "He took a blow like that, but is holding onto life still".
"He's alive!?" Ying asks.
"Did he wake up?" Rose asks.
"How bad are his wounds?" Zia asks.
"Uhhh... one question at time" Demetri says. "Siran is... not awake".
"But he'll be fine and up soon, right?" Rose asks in relief. A long pause was held in the room before Rose asks "... right?".
"I don't know" Demetri says.
"No..." Zia says as she collapses onto the couch.
"Wait, what's that mean?" Finn asks. "Is he dying!?".
"That much is hard to say" Demetri says. "He is in coma. He is not waking up anytime soon. How soon he does wake up, if ever, is up to Siran now".
"A coma!?" Rose panics. "How long!?".
"Wha-... what kind of question is that?" Demetri asks. "Do you think we have calculator for coma? We won't know how long he will be in his coma, but he's at least stable. Calm down".
"But he will wake up... won't he?" Zia asks. "Siran will always be back... right? He'll come back for me, won't he?".
Demetri fell into silence as his head slowly hangs low. He walks to Zia's side and places a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. "Siran is strong man. I'm sure he has strength to get through it, but I can not say for certain that he will wake up. Knowing Siran, he just might, even if it takes long time".
"Well, we can't stay here" Vivi says. "We made too much noise, and we're out in the open with our leader down for the count. Plus, those of us with children waiting in Pilloa are all eager to get back. So, how soon until he's stable enough to transport him to Pilloa without risking his vitals dropping?".
"Give me couple hours to do a couple check up and we will see" Demetri replies.
"Let's get him somewhere safe before trouble shows up" Alex says.
Meanwhile, in Britain, Ares appeared again before Agent Holland. This time, right outside of the MI-6 building. "So, we've confirmed that my intel was correct" Ares says with a sinister smile.
"Yes, we all saw the reports" Thomas says. "As well as the black skies and damage. Though, nobody has record of what exactly went down, but one thing is for sure. Whatever damage The Six Guns caused happened the same time the skies went dark. Beyond all of that though, I must ask. What's your aim?".
"Introduction to your chief of staff" Ares says. "In hopes of a partnership. I would like to personally aide in your capturing of The Six Guns".
"Fine, I'm done asking more questions about you and I'm done with this hunt" Thomas says. "If you can promise me The Six Guns, then I'd be willing to personally vouch for you as a joint task force".
"Your compliance is appreciated" Ares says.
"What is it exactly that you want?" Thomas asks. "Before we get more into working together".
"I understand The Six Guns are said to have an immense talent for magic" Ares says. "I can close that gap for you. Personal training with magic, as well as secrets to unlocking your potential with magic as well".
"You have my interests" Thomas says. "Take up the rest of the details with the director".
"The Six Guns have made their move" a colonel in the SAT in Japan says. "It's time we mobilize with China and track them down. We need to be on the move too". After this conference was over, a Lieutenant Haruto Suzuki left the conference and immediately called the rest of their team. "Sota, Yui, Riku. Report to the RZ for further briefing. We have something we need to pass onto Haru".
After reaching their rendezvous spot, Yui tells the others "Whatever has happened, I'm sure that Haru would've reported to us first if that news about their team was actually their doing".
"Unless she's dead" Sota says.
"Even I wouldn't buy that" Riku replies. "Haru's a tough one to beat".
"Only one way to make sure" Haruto says. "We'll get in contact with her soon enough and get the sit-rep on The Six Guns. I still don't buy that they'd attack Japan like what they did, and what Haru told me before leaving the team was alarming. That thing she mentioned about our military being compromised by an outside source".
"She had to make you the leader of all things too when she left" Sota says.
"Because I'm the highest ranking here" Haruto says. "Haru was a great leader, and I'm sure when this is all settled, that she'll be able to clear her name and lead our team once again".
"But clearing your name and being reinstated into the military are two completely different feats" Yui says. "Let alone the SAT. You have to be an outstanding soldier to even be admitted into one of these units".
"As for now though" Haruto says "no matter how outstanding they may be. Consider anyone outside of this team as an immediate threat if anything, and I do mean anything that we're planing here is compromised. Keep in mind, if we're found out, we will be considered of committing treason. We absolutely must inform Haru that this messed is effectively being pinned on them, but we also must keep in mind that we have to keep contact with Haru to an absolute minimum".
As everyone begins to make a move of their own, Siran drifted away in his coma. Occasionally hearing the voices of his teammates echo around him, he found himself falling into a familiar white abyss. "You don't have to save the whole world, you know" a clear but strangely familiar female voice calls to him. "You just have to make a difference where it counts. Nature will always follows the footsteps of growth. Adapt and survive. That's just how it is. The law of nature".
"But what about the others?" A low and deep sounding familiar male voice replies. "Those gods are all fighting for themselves. For what they want... not caring about what they destroy".
"Well, that's true" the female says. "But you just have to remember. No two people are the same. You've come to realize that I'm different. So what's stopping you from thinking that there could be more out there?".
Suddenly, the voices fade out as Siran heard Gaia's voice call to him. "Siran?" She asks. "I was hoping we wouldn't ever have to meet again like this...".
"Is this... Valhalla?" Siran asks.
"Well... yes and no" Gaia says.
"Why am I here?" Siran asks in a tired voice without moving.
"I'm trying to save you..." Gaia says.
"I should be home, saving my friends... my family... my wife" Siran says.
"That's why I'm bringing you here" Gaia says. "I'm... sorry to say this, but you might not wake up".
"What!?" Siran asks.
"Your health is declining" Gaia says. "And you may think your mind is set on saving the world, but to be honest... well, how do I put this. You're in a coma and if you don't gather enough will power, your health will only get worse until the day you just... die. I'm afraid I simply don't have the power to help anymore...".
"So I'm here because?..." Siran asks.
"Because I need to show you something" Gaia says. "Something that'll explain who you are and why you are so important to me... who you really are, and I hope at the end of it all... you won't hate me for it".
"And this accomplishes what exactly?" Siran asks.
"It's the only thing I can think of to set your mind on the right path that'll give you just the strength you need to save yourself" Gaia says. "The only way for you to move forward is to look back".
"I'm... sorry?" Siran asks.
"I'm going to have you relive your memories" Gaia says.
"No thanks" Siran promptly replies.
"Of your original life" Gaia continues.
"... no?" Siran asks.
"I've seen the others mention it to you" Gaia says. "Your name, Ishmael".
"This again?" Siran asks. "What is this about?".
"I don't know how to explain it well, so I'll try to explain the start of your first life" Gaia says, "and then the rest is up to you".
"Alright, I guess I have time..." Siran says.
"To start off" Gaia says, "you already know who I am. Primeval goddess of nature and the earth. Gaia, also known as, Mother Nature. There was a time I created many kinds of life forms. However, some of my creations got too greedy and power hungry. Some of the gods and titans began fighting amongst each other, killing any and all that were even remotely in their way. So I took away some of their lives. Mostly the titans. I only left Zeus alive amongst the titans. Though, I modeled the titans I made after my brother, Chronos. He is both a titan and a primeval god. However, after killing some of my own creations, I was attacked. Of course, I deserved it. They were my children, and I took my anger out on them. But, killing a natural born primeval god is another task entirely. When I was defeated; I was broken apart and made a new, much more malevolent, creature. Gaea... I was angered and felt betrayed, and lashed out with evil intentions. Then was when I became known as the goddess of all evil earth and nature. Monsters, poisons, venom and beasts. It was all my fault. But there was some good I made. Two lovely children, even in my forsaken state at the time. I made you and your brother".
"My... brother?" Siran asks. "You don't mean...".
"I made you" Gaia says, "back when you were known as Ishmael and your brother... Naris".
"You made Naris!?" Siran yells. "Why couldn't you have taken care of him!?".
"I don't... have my body anymore" Gaia says. "Or rather, my body has been broken up and the only part of it I have control over is... well, it's probably unexpected, but you're looking at it".
"Looking at it?" Siran asks. "All I see is the white void".
"This is a sort of... space... like a pocket dimension inside of Valhalla" Gaia says. "This is inside my shard".
"I thought mortals just couldn't see your form because we can't comprehend your form with our brains" Siran says.
"I lied..." Gaia says. "Please forgive me".
"But why though?" Siran asks.
"To keep you from digging too deep" Gaia says. "Because I didn't want you to keep digging into this matter and ending up finding the truth. Because I was sure you'd hate me".
There was a long pause until finally, Siran says "Alright, let's say there really wasn't anything you could do against Naris and I had to kill him... because why exactly?".
"You think I could trust a god with killing him?" Gaia asks.
"Fair enough" Siran says. "They're all scummy".
"No!" Gaia pleads. "It's not that. Let me try to explain more. Regular gods that we created could not kill Naris. It's impossible. When I made you two, I made you as a sort of... fail safe".
"What do you mean?" Siran asks.
"Well..." Gaia explains. "I made you two as a backup plan to kill gods that betrayed me... you two became known as God Slayers. I created two beings that day. The first being Ishmael. A creature whom appeared as a fox and had the natural aptitude to take on the form of any other natural creature".
Suddenly, the words "you damned fox" that Naris spoke to Siran rang through his ears.
"Essentially speaking" Gaia continues, "I made a beast with all forms. He specialized in adapting to any trait, physical or magical. Quick to learn any type of magic as well as to adapt and survive faster than anything else. Then I made Naris. A beast made only of the energy called Endo. A beast with no form that can not be inflicted by any physical means. The only way to destroy him is to destroy the endo he is made out of. And the only thing that can destroy endo is reactive endo. However, Naris was only specialized in controlling endo, not magic. He couldn't not use reactive endo either as it would only serve to destroy his own body. Regular gods could not kill him because only primeval gods can use reactive endo".
"I never noticed that..." Siran says. "But now that you mention it, I never did see Loki or Athena use reactive endo".
"Indeed" Gaia says. "As such, you two were the perfect balance to each other as well as the perfect weapons to combat gods. However, even though I created you two with the hatred for gods in mind, I never stopped loving you two. Even after being betrayed. You two were my closest children...".
"Is that the end of this story?" Siran asks. "Because it sounds kinda stupid to me".
"No, for that is only the beginning" Gaia says. "I'm going to send you back into the memories locked deep within your soul. Remember all that you can. It's the only thing that can save your life".
Siran's mind is quickly sent back and everything around him goes back. When he woke up, he was no longer Siran. He was now Ishmael. Finding himself sailing on a small rowboat southeast of China. He had traveled far and wide just to get away from the constant wars between gods. The gods from Mount Olympus had recently launched a war to decide who were the strongest. Zeus has already selected his people he wants as his right hand men in the council of Mount Olympus, and the war still only raged on. Ishmael, however, was purely sick of seeing their faces. While traveling, there were a few people who had seen Ishmael's horrifying figure in what would later become established as the countries Korea and China. Now though, he sailed alone in this tiny boat, slowly floating across the sea. He was wearing a large straw hat over his head. He rubbed his eyes after taking his nap and took off his hat. He set the hat aside and stared down at the water's surface. There, he saw his reflection through the rippling water. A tall black fox with a fluffy black mane, nine long black tails, deep purple swirling patterns throughout his fur and sat in a humanlike posture. As a shapeshifter, he was able to change his shape from purely like a giant fox, to a bipedal and upright fox or even just a human. By this time, Ishmael already mastered changing between many different shapes. However, he stopped caring about whether or not his appearance would scare gods or mortals. When it came down to it, he was alone. And he always would be, or at least, so he thought.