Light weakening, the explosion was slowly dissipating and the aftermath of said event was not something that one would call "pretty". Indeed, standing still, all I could see were remnants of the living liquid scattered everywhere in the room, from ceiling to walls and furnitures. Blank eyes witnessing said result, a movement was felt to my left and when I took a look, a part of said liquid was resting on my shoulder.

Y/N: !

Quickly attempting to get rid of said impurity, I observed the thing fall down on the ground without a single motion. In a scenario like this, where the beast of my nightmares was defeated, I would have jumped in joy but nothing happened, I merely stood still like a broken machine.

Something in my body broke, it was so painful that I could not muster a single emotion, my heart aching like it was pulled from many directions at once.

Zeta19: Woah, that's a sight to behold for sure. Plus, why that long speech when she'll just reappear back in her room?

Mumbling to himself, the ex-clerk kicked the floor below him and heaved a sigh. Turning around, he peeked at the monitor with the manager's orders written on it and a sweat fell down his face. Spinning around to face me, he quickly excused himself and rushed downstairs.

...Come on Y/N, you can't stand there, you have to help everyone else! Come on, move! However, no matter how many times I tried to force my body to budge, it was like something was pulling my skin off, breaking me apart from the inside. Gritting my teeth, I dropped on the floor, placing the pink rifle on my legs.

???: She's going down, don't let her get away!

A voice resonated and barely reached my ears. My mind knew that there was a massive emergency, I couldn't sit there and do nothing. Yet, my body was pinning me to the ground with pain worse than anything I've felt so far.

That demon, it must be the cause behind all of this, it has to be! This is what my body was instinctively fearing, that poisonous snake digging its fangs into me. Silently sitting, the chaos of war grew closer but it was the least of my concerns.

On the other side of the room, something akin to dark claws were emerging from the floor and slowly making its way to me like a machinery marching on. If I were to get caught in it, I couldn't assure my safety, I needed to get away. Pushing with all of my efforts, I desperately begged my body to move, no response except my pain receptors screaming in panic.

Y/N: ...

The mere thought of speaking was enough to make the sensation worsen and my tongue experience hundreds of lashes. I couldn't even call for help but it's not like anyone was going to respond anyway, everyone was busy dealing with their own share of trouble. Seeing the threat making grounds, my body felt more like a painful shell or cocoon more than anything else right now.

...Is this how I'm going to die? No, even that won't happen, I know from experience. If my eyes even attempt to close for the final time, that AI witnessing this madness would manage to undo the day like it was nothing and force everything to repeat, I was truly trapped.

That all-knowing face, the way she keeps looking at me, she's one that I would probably never be able to casually confront, it was like facing a final boss. Plus, her own intelligence made it even harder for me to keep my cool whenever she was around.

....

Following that trail of thought that seemed to have emerged from basically nowhere, my body began to become lighter and raise itself. For a moment, my eyes widened in hope that I was finally able to control my limbs in a coherent way but it was not the case. Slowly turning around, my gaze met another's, a certain abnormality that helped us defeat the Red Mist.

Nothing There: Hello.

Y/N: ...

That monstrous being looked at me with its many eyes before raising one of its hands, turning into a massive scythe. I was basically locked into a guillotine and those wide eyes of mine began to shake slightly.

This place may have made me numb to death but not to pain and my current situation is enough of a proof. Starting to panic slightly, I tried to pull away and forced my limbs to move regardless of the pain, adrenaline become stronger than the rest. Held up with a single hand, that thing had a good grasp of my head and my efforts were like a wet towel to it.

"No, not yet."

Y/N: ...What?

Managing to form a single word of shock with the help of my panicking system, it was cut short by a massive pillar piercing through the body of the abnormality holding me up. Barely grazing me, it destroyed about 45% of the creature's torso and revealed the grotesque insides, spilling out on the ground.

Nothing There: ...

Enough to trigger it, its hands released me and I fell back down on the floor, right next to my sniper rifle. Now that my mind was finally in control, its first order was to scream at my body to get back on its feet. Fully up, I looked at the only way leading to the Information department and saw her, the Arbiter, looking back at me.

Those chills running through me, it was equal to Angela's, a fear causing my legs to quiver. Completely ignoring the abnormality that has decided to let out its rage against her, she made her way over to me before extending a hand.

Just like my body, everything was starting to collapse in the facility and the employees were merely mitigating the damages done to it. All around us, screams were echoing along with abnormalities going to war against each other and the workers that were in their way. During all of that, I was now facing something that one could not feasibly defeat on their own.

Binah: Now, we can finally meet again, just like before.

Before I could even escape, she took hold of my neck and raised me once more just like Nothing There did. Speaking of Nothing There, it was currently bashing one of its arms at her back but she didn't even react to it, like it didn't hurt her in the slightest. Staring at me through her mask, her other hand lowered to the ground.

Y/N: You-!

All around us, like a corpse coming back to life, that liquid of misery began to shake violently before its fragments rapidly slid across the surface they were sticking, reaching for her free hand like a pet rushing to its owner... although that comparison would not be true, knowing that their true owner was fearing it and held against his will.

Swinging my legs around, I focused all of my remaining energy and violently kicked the Sephirah in the neck, sending her head backward but it was not enough to release me from her grasp. No, it was more like she would NOT release me, no matter what happened, even if her arm were to be chopped off.

Trapped in a true web, I slowly lowered my eyes and forced myself to see the very thing that caused me torment climbing her leg slowly but surely, savoring every moment knowing my pain probably. Punches, kicks, all of them were worthless to her and that sentient almagamation. Leaning closer, it stopped itself at a mere inch away from my face, sweating bullets.

"I'm back Y/N."

Y/N: ...

Slowly, it cascaded onto my pink suit, its vibrant and warm color losing the fight to the incarnation of fear and horror and turning black with fragments of heavily stained colors. The proccess unfolding before my eyes, my breathing grew sharp and rapid, I was basically suffocating myself in a final attempt to escape my situation.

...The sleeves are turning, the hands are soon going to follow.

Nothing There: Hey man!

Then, the hand holding me in the air opened and released me from my prison. Looking up, the red humanoid placed its arms around the Arbiter's and began holding her against its body, acknowledging that it couldn't damage the woman. Pulling her away from me, one of its eyes darted to me while a second one glanced at the rifle on the floor, the final remnant of the E.G.O I was granted.

But it was already too late. There was no- No no no. Seeing the sleeves losing their color, I reached for my own neck with my still human hands and began applying pressure onto said part. Feeling my neck extending, my skin becoming more and more stretched, I wished for nothing more than to hear it tear, to tear myself free from this new invader.

Set myself free, that is what I desire, not them, mine you hear! Mine, not theirs! If I have to redo this day then I'll gladly to do so just to be free, that is what I desire.

...That is what I desire... so why am I not able to do it?

"You should know why."

The gloves, they were already converted, my hands were not entirely mine from the moment I even reached for my head. My grip losing strength, I simply let my arms fall down as my eyes grew hollow.

"Reunited, as expected Y/N."

Binah: Heed my words, Fairies.

Finally deciding to get rid of the pest stopping her, she raised a hand and then firmly planted it on the Aleph's stomach, releasing a burst of slashes into its body and literally splitting the upper part of it open, both sides dangling with the insides barely attached.

Yet, it did not release. On the contrary, it kept all of its power into keeping her chained, its mouth uttering incomprehenble gurggles as its eyes focused on me, the lone employee in the chaos who could see its act.

"That thing... protecting Y/N."

"Hahahaha, another ally in this terrible world of evil!"

Y/N: ...

Right, the rifle, I need to do something. Looking at my disgusting hands, I reached for the pure weapon that I carried around and finally corrupted it with my mere touch. Raising it, the contact with my suit was enough for the plague to spread to the weapon, losing its purpose, its very identity to become nothing more than a tool, something that they decided to prepare for me.

...In a sense, it was like having a gift taken away from you by someone and getting it back after adjusting it to their taste, it loses its importance.

Once a great helper of mine, an ally, was nothing more than a shell defiled by my own hands. Now completely stained with many colors barely sticking out from the black mass, it was just like me.

Y/N: ...

Gritting my teeth, I took a peek into the scope and aimed at the one leading the Extraction team and pulled the trigger. Even the mere purity of having such weapon fire a simple bullet had now been degraded to monstrosity. Instead of a single bullet, a burst of flames followed by fireworks and blue bullets came out from the barrel, creating a jumbled mess that I could not describe.

The bullets bouncing off of the walls, the fireworks aimed for the pinned down foe and detonated in her chest like bombs. Nothing There, already gravely damaged, was forced to endure the splash damage from such attack while still holding its grounds.

Nothing There: Help! Heeeelp!

Y/N: ...

The blue bullets essentially worthless, I pulled the bolt and saw the inside covered with that liquid, making it impossible for a bullet to enter the chamber. In a desperate struggle, I tried to pull out the foreign body but to no avail.

Binah: So this is your gift, still too unstable.

Raising a hand in the air, she released yet again a shockwave and caused the entire facility to tremble under her might, the ordeal worsening with each second. Then, slowly, smoke began to form around her with different colors: red, white, black and cyan. Following that, those trails of smoke began to take the shape of the pillars that destroyed the body of one of the strongest abnormalities in this facility like it was nothing.

Binah: Try to stop me with your power.

Y/N: ...

"Shoot."

"You need to fire Y/N."

Almost coming to an understanding, the voices one by one were screaming at me to follow their order. With an already weak mind, I was left to endure the many voices of the devil. Pointing the sniper yet again at the target, my eyes grew watery, feeling my sanity breaking apart as the voices relentlessly assaulted me.

Then, I fired a second bullet. At the end of the barrel, a small heart was shot out that quickly exploded into rapiers that went directly at the target. Impaled by the weapons, she completely ignored the damage she received, too absorbed by the creation of the pillars.

Nothing There: Manager! Manager!

The abnormality screaming at the security camera, the feeble and muffled sound of the radio that I was carrying with me pierced through the substance controlling my body to a certain extend. Digging through it, I successfully pulled out the device and heard a voice coming from it.

???: Y/N.

Y/N: Manager?

Manager: Ignore the Arbiter, she cannot be harmed. I need you to perform a work on Melting love.

Y/N: R-Right.

The communication cut off, I took a final look at the duo held in place and ran past them, into the corridor behind them. My footsteps barely sounding anything remotely human and more like water splashing, I reached for the door and opened it before stepping inside.

Back inside the same containment unit I worked on. Standing before me was the same slime from before, looking at me in silence. I wasn't specified what kind of work I was supposed to do and this filth was covering my entire body with the exception of my head, it was making me sick.

Melting Love: ...

Y/N: ...

The distant voices of fear and the monsters roaming free in this hellhole, I was facing one with unknown intentions, merely spectating the chaos. Looking down at my suit, the abnormality completely froze for a moment before leaning closer to take a look at the parasite clinging onto me.

"She can feel us."

"What an eyesore."

Y/N: ...Shut up.

Softly whispering to myself, I took a step away to maintain a healthy distance between me and the one that could easily go berserk and jump at me as far as I know. Not minding the cold shoulder I gave it, the entity forming a humanoid appearance leaned away before glancing at the door behind me.

Y/N: ...

"This is a waste of time."

"Time comes with a price, a price paid in blood."

"Arbiter... just like that day."

Placing a hand against my forehead, I was currently fighting off a terrible headache caused by the uninvited visitors hijacking my body. I forced myself to ignore their comments making my mind break into pieces. Looking down at the disgusting foreign body, the only thing I wanted to do the most was to rip it off, to rip off my skin to free myself.

I need to get it off, I need to rip it off, I need to scratch it off of me. I don't care how, I don't care how painful it will be, I want nothing more than to peel everything off, to tear apart my body and feel the sensation of my mind being liberated from their venomous embrace.

Y/N: Shut up.

Muttering to the voices, I dug the gloves of my previously warm suit into the liquid and released my frustration and anger onto my own body- No, their body, not like I can feel myself with them latching onto me. Pulling the substance off was like pulling hair from a body, merely removing a handful only for some to slip right between my fingers.

Pulling and tearing them apart from me, the process was endless with the extracted pieces returning to me like worms. Staring into the palm of my hands, I could see with my own eyes how the shapeless liquid was wriggling on me while laughters echoed in my brain, laughters caused by my hopeless try to free myself.

Melting Love: ...

Get this thing off of me, burn me alive with it, I don't care, as long as I get to eliminate it I don't care what happens to me! Send Nothing There to behead me, that would be the biggest delivrance that I could ever receive. Maybe even Scorched Girl to detonate me in a blazing embrace, shot by Little Red, as long as I get to escape this torture-

"Hey, back off!"

Y/N: ?

Cutting short my thoughts, a pair of limbs took hold of my face, Melting Love being the culprit. Standing speechlessly, the voices were arguing in my head while their physical shell became agitated but it didn't matter to me, feeling a soothing sensation ease my mind.

Taking in the breath of air, my gaze descended upon a familiar heart, the same heart that I refused every other times I visited her room. Normally, I would still deny the gift of an abnormality but with my sanity literally holding by a thread, my brain felt fuzzy and the headache stronger.

Y/N: ...You really keep insisting with that.

"Don't you dare pick it up Y/N!"

"Absorb... Reform... Consume."

Melting Love: ...

Slowly placing the gift into my hands, I merely looked down at it, a mere heart made of slime. Instantly trying to resist, the invader launched itself onto the object but fell right off as the outer layer decomposed into dripping slime that fell on the ground, repelling the attack.

...I should not be glad for such a thing, I really shouldn't but simply holding it was enough to appease my mind, slowly restoring my sanity and for that, it became like a gift from Heaven, a blessing in this chaos.

Y/N: ...

The containment door finally unlocking, I turned around and ignored the screams echoing in my head while clutching the heart like a lifeline. I knew for certain of one thing, if I dropped said heart then that sanity of mine would quickly plummet into the abyss, I could not afford to lose it for now.

Outside of the room, I grabbed the corrupted rifle and headed for the main room, where some agents were fighting off Binah with all of their might, stopping her from leaving alongside with, which was quite surprising, Nothing There. Still heavily damaged, it kept its grasp onto the Sephirah like a leech.

Y/N: ...

Crouching down on the ground, I placed myself in a more comfortable position to aim and placed down my distorted E.G.O. The scope keeping the woman in its lense, I took a deep breath and felt the heart palpitate before the top layer exploded around me, slime flying into the air before landing back on the ground.

We don't have time to worry about such a thing, the Arbiter has to be defeated, especially after everything that has happened.

Ignore the voices Y/N. Ignore them, keep your focus on the heart, remain steady and zen. Just like that monk contained here would do, heave a sigh and maintain a composure no matter the circumstance.

Thankfully, it was much easier with that blessing received, constantly keeping my sanity in check to make sure I don't fall under the pressure of the invaders. Although it may sound nice, nothing could truly eliminate the fear my body was forcing upon me, not even said gift.

My hands trembling, I pulled the trigger.

...

Hava: Tch, out of my way!

Pushing past a wave of retreating agent, I kept my sprint constant and witnessed on the other side, chasing the wounded employees, Scorched Girl and La Luna. Merely frowning at the sight, I readied my black scythe and rushed onward. Once close enough, I opened the battle with a clean beheading of the small anomaly composed of ashes, dispelling her existence as a threat for now.

La Luna: ...

Not letting that gap slide, the wicked enchantress of the piano brandished her cane and went for a stab, releasing a trail of dark like the air itself was rotting by being in contact with it. Feeling my hair fluttering around, I swiftly dodged the attack and tightened a fist before tossing it at her face, not like my weapon can harm her anyway considering how she is immune to White damage.

Hava: I said out of my way!

Retaliating with a second punch into the face, I swung my body around into a full spin and sent a flying kick into her stomach, causing her to stagger. Recovering my posture, I ran to the staggered opponent and relentlessly bashed her mask with jabs. Sensing a second attack, I grabbed her wrist and yanked out the pointy object from her and sent a final message to her through a mighty kick in the neck.

Jumping away, I performed a full 180 and sprinted out of the hallway and down the stairs, aiming for the Central Command team. If one thing has to be made sure, it was that Binah's suppression was completed and since everything was still happening, it was obvious that something was going on down there.

???: Hava!

As my feet landed at the bottom of the staircase, the familiar face of a certain captain of the Security peeked out from the other side of a door. Carrying that damned bird of the end's weapon in her hands, she was sweating profusely under the pressure.

Hava: I'm gonna go help out the suppression, you keep everyone ordered!

Now was not the time to put on the playful mask and so, with a voice colder than I would have liked, I quickly shut her down. Opening the door of the Information department that would lead me to the lower layer, I left Alter Ego behind, dodging some unfortunate clerks that were still alive by this point.

...This clearly wasn't going as well as the previous times we confronted her, that's for sure. Optimally, the Rabbits would survive at least up to this point but it wasn't the case, they were mercilessly eliminated and left us with the heavy duty and cleaning.

Hava's mind: ...At this rate, the casualties are going to be beyond recoverable.

Thinking about this, I calmly swung my scythe with rapid motions against the Forsaken Murderer, almost instantly neutralizing him for now, at least until Binah decides to pull one of her tricks. Not even stopping to think about the abnormality I suppressed, I stepped into the room connected to the Central Command department and jumped down between the flight of stairs, landing at the bottom on my feet.

However, as I stepped inside, I realized the severity of the situation. On one side, the rogue Arbiter was held down by none other than Nothing there with its upper body split in half vertically but with also a good chunk of the stomach gone while employees were desperately damaging the woman as best as they could.

On the other hand, I saw Y/N laying on the ground covered... Oh no, this is bad. I instantly recognized the dark, yet colorful liquid and my eyes widened but I could not approach in the slightest. All around him, slime was covering the ceiling, walls and floor, forming a prison caused by the heart that he was hoding by his side.

Hava's mind: Hm, using Melting Love's blessing to keep his SP constant, I suppose that's a smart idea.

Unfortunately, that was as far I could go to assist him, at least until the heart was no longer a threat. Clutching my weapon, I shifted my gaze to the one in black and pushed myself to enter the field, slamming down the sharp end of the blade into her mechanical body. Silently assessing my direct hit, she slowly turned around and her mask met my gaze.

Binah: Too weak.

Then, her hands began to emanate a glow before unleashing multiple bursts of slashes into the abnormality holding her, cutting it like a disassembled object. Each limbs falling off on the ground, the Aleph only muttered a few words.

Nothing There: We have all seen, and we failed...

Finally dropping the towel, the detached body began to shift back into a small egg, no longer useful to us. Hurriedly taking its spot as the taunt, I charged closer and unleashed a flurry of swings to keep her focus on me.

Following that, a massive laser pierced the AI through the shoulder, forcing her to drop her attention on me and focus on the new danger. Daring to take a peek, the only one there was Y/N with his sniper aimed at the target in the room, smoke coming from the barrel.

Hava: ...

Y/N: ...

None of us saying a word, I flashed him a quick grin and changed pace. With the weapon of the Silent Orchestra in my hands, I moved my body and gave myself a good sprint before jumping directly into the Sephirah at full force.

Upon landing on her body, I put all of my strength in a singular kick in her face, forcing my body to be launched off of her. However, I was not done with her and so, I extended the scythe that I was holding with a single hand and placed the blade at the end of the weapon around her neck. Once that done, all I needed to do was give it a good pull and I was flying right back at her for a second serving in the face like a bouncing ball.

Hava: Hah, take that!

Adjusting my landing, I calmly twirled the black melee instrument around the fingers of my right hand, ending the cycle with the end of it touching the floor below my feet. Of course, it didn't really do much and was simply just me showing off a little, old habits die hard.

Office Worker: ...If that ain't a show-off then I don't know what is.

I guess I might have done it a little too much, even my colleagues were giving me the looks of "what was even the point?". Nonetheless, it was enough to get her attention, exactly what I needed.

Now, it was all up to Y/N to deal the finishing touch.

...

Binah: Vanish.

Unshackled at last, she aimed a hand in my direction and smoke formed around before assuming the shape of a pillar, Key. Arboring a pale glow, all who tried to stand in its path was doomed to suffer heavy damage and so, I lightly squinted my eyes in preparation before sliding on the ground just as it launched, feeling the gust of wind passing above my head.

Hava: ...

Standing up once more, I could feel my body quickly starting to get lighter with each passing moment, adrenaline pumping out into my bloodstream like an unstoppable waterfall, riling up my blood. Unconsciously, a wide smile formed on my face, facing the Arbiter, one of the people working directly under those beyond our reach, those who will forever keep a gaze on their population.

My heart beating rapidly, it was like I was under the effect of a drug. Wielding the scythe with both of my hands, that smile soon distorted into a full grin while my eyes widened. Never stop until the heart rips apart, adrenaline is when the true fun begins to emerge. Oh, after so long without it, it feels I'm being intoxicated all over again!

Hava: You won't stop us decrepit scrap. This aspiration will never truly die, no matter how long this prison will persist!

Charging back at close range, I was moving around like a feather caught in a tornado. Leaving the ground, I followed with a fierce and powerful downward arc that landed straight into her raised limb, feeling the sensation of metal breaking apart. No, it wasn't enough! Already back with a second strike, I focused on the body and followed with a perfectly horizontal slash, causing the very material shaping the weapon in my hands to tremble, sparks flying everywhere like a spectacle.

...Not enough, not enough! Still in mid-motion, I firmly planted my feet in placed and once the end of my E.G.O finished its course, I changed my grasp on it and swung it over my head like a sledgehammer, aiming directly for her head. Seeing her step aside and dodge, I merely witnessed the ground break upon receiving the full blow of the hit. Pulling the blade out, I pursued the onslaught like a beast fighting against its prey and released a clean strike in her left side, the shock strong enough to feel like a gunshot echoed, her body following the kinetic movement that it received.

Hava: You said that I was weak, remember? You ain't showing that shit-eating grin of yours now right!

Hearing a click behind me, I instantly ducked and witnessed a blue bullet launching directly into the AI's shoulder, courtesy of Y/N. Landing into her body, the sound of metal being pierced echoed and blue spears came out of her body around where the bullet entered.

Y/N: Hava... You shouldn't utter such words. Persistence will mean nothing if no results are shown.

Heaving a deep sigh, he was now standing back on his feet, his body contaminated with the filth of his nightmare, yet still holding a rather neutral look.

Y/N: She's almost done... at least that's what the voices are telling me.

Giving me the only words I needed to hear, I turned around and brandished Da Capo, listening to my blood boiling under my skin, the rush of sensation boosting my energy beyond what one could even imagine. Confronting the woman in black, the silence between us increased the tension in the air.

Shortening the distance between us, I could sense the awkwardness of her movements, her body limiting her just enough for victory to be a thing for the likes of us. Revealing bloodlust in my gaze, I could feel the employees trying to get some distance, fearing to get caught in the middle of this.

We needed to break her every limbs, to shatter her every circuits so that she may never attempt to go on a rampage again. Even if it was only for this loop, the mere idea of shattering her robotic body felt like a dream, a euphoric one at that.

Binah: Condensing the Key.

Utilizing her undamaged arm, she prepared the formation of yet another pillar but noticing the color of said attack, I faced it confidence and ran at her, carrying the rush of energy of a monster. Aiming for her heart this time, I leaped at her just as the projectile successfully appeared. Going straight for me, I completely disregarded it and gave the owner of the attack the biggest smirk that I could muster with all that adrenaline in my body.

Then, a clash. My weapon deep inside her body, her pillar was also piercing my own, coming out from the other side. Time freezing, the tension shattered like glass while both of us did not move an inch for a full second.

...

...Heh. Hahahaha... Hahahahaha!

Slowly reaching for the hair covering one of my eyes, I pushed it away and revealed a monocle hidden behind it. Taunting the woman with said little accessory, I placed my hand on the handle of the E.G.O lodged into her body, disregarding the pillar. After all...

...The pillar was dealing White damage.

Hava: Get shit on hag!

Shoving the blade further inside, I finished her off with a good kick to plunge the blade deeper and damage her circuits. Caught with spasms for a moment, her body soon became lifeless and lowered its head.

An Arbiter was dethroned.