Grey: Monsters

A Few Minutes Earlier

***

"Are there still people around? I thought everyone had been moved to the bunker," Haruchi questioned.

"That's what they told us when we first arrived here," Kotomine Issei replied.

"It doesn't matter right now, we need to save them and get Aya treated," Kitetsu said, carrying Aya on his back. Her skin was bright red, covered with pores, and her temperature had risen alarmingly.

"Where is the lab base?" Saiya asked.

"It's in the West Ward, so I told. I've never been there myself," Issei answered.

"Then let's go check it out—"

Suddenly, a voice crackled through their headphones.

"Come in, anyone there?"

"Captain!" Saiya and Haruchi exclaimed at once.

"It looks like communications are back. Where are you guys, and what's the situation there?" Leonard asked.

"Captain, it's a long story. Everything happened quickly, but we made it back to the dock station," Saiya briefed him.

"A lot has happened here too," Leonard replied.

Saiya then continued

"But after hearing the distress call, we're heading to the lab now. We need to save—"

"Don't worry about the call, everything is under control. But still, get here as fast as possible. The pickup helicopter will be here soon, and we need everyone on top of the walls before it arrives. Is everyone alright on your end?"

"No, one of us is severely injured…Ryuma, is Ryuma with you?" Saiya asked, her voice tense.

"No, he's not here. Try to reach him; he must be somewhere nearby. Wel then, get here quickly," Leonard said before the call ended. The sense of hope returned slightly, the situation wasn't as dire as it had seemed.

Saiya turned to face the group, forcing a smile. "Everyone's alright. As planned, we'll head straight to the lab and meet up with everyone there," she announced.

"What about that wimp... Ryuma? Is he with them?" Issei asked. Saiya was quiet for a moment before replying.

"He's not there, but since communications are back, we should try his signal. He's probably hiding somewhere," she said.

"Right? He is a wimp, after all..." Issei trailed off as he noticed Saiya's expression, but she seemed unbothered by his comment, lost in her own thoughts.

The group made their way to the lab, passing through wrecked buildings demolished by hordes of massive, muscular Nephilim, Wolot clones. Hokkaido was in ruins, and the destruction now demanded heavy reconstruction.

After less than ten minutes, they arrived at the lab. In front of it stood all three captains with a group of young women, who looked like they'd been through hell. Disheveled hair, tattered clothes, and battered bodies, covered in scars and marks.

"You all made it without casualties, that's good," Leonard said. "A lot has happened today. We've been kept in the dark, and everything feels surreal. The idea that a human could transform into a Nephilim is unimaginable. But here we are, alive. Our only mission now is to reach the top of the wall via the gate elevator, where the helicopters will pick us up."

"What about Ryuma? We haven't found him," Saiya interjected.

"Don't worry. Once we're at the wall, some of us will go back to look for him. Are you alright with that?"

"Yeah... I suppose."

Suddenly, a loud crash sounded from the east, followed by a roar that shook the ground, disrupting everyone's balance.

"What the hell is that?" Haruchi asked.

Everyone dropped low, trying to locate the source of the roar. Those who got the direction of the sound locked their eyes on it, waiting. Then, someone pointed.

"Look, over there!" one of the rescued women said, her voice trembling. In the distance, two Nephilim stood facing each other, ready for battle…Ryuma, who hadn't yet ceded control to Xeno, and Wolot.

"That's..." Saiya's pupils shrank in shock as she recognized Ryuma.

"We need to leave, now! To the gate!" Leonard barked, snapping everyone back to attention. They took off, desperate to avoid being caught in the clash of the two colossal Nephilim.

Nagato trailed behind, watching their backs. Amid the commotion, he thought he heard a faint call for help. He turned, seeing one of the rescued women struggling on the ground, her leg injured, preventing her from keeping up.

"Hey... wait!" he shouted, but his voice didn't reach the others. He turned back to the woman, lifting her onto his back and running toward the gate. Soon, he lost sight of the others ahead, the dust and debris obscuring his view. Still, he ran straight toward the gate.

***

At the gate, the rest of the group had already arrived. Only one of the two elevators was operational. They loaded the rescued people onto the right elevator first, followed by the group, then the captains.

On top of the towering wall, they could see the two Nephilim battling far away, the sight strange and almost surreal. Yet they felt compelled to etch the image into their minds.

Then, someone noticed a missing person.

"Where's Nagato?" Haruchi asked, his eyes scanning the group.

Everyone glanced around, realizing Nagato wasn't among them. They rushed to the edge of the wall, looking down, but he was nowhere to be seen.

"This is bad. We should go back," Saiya suggested.

"Wait, look!" Hinetsu, still at the wall's edge, pointed below.

Nagato was spotted carrying the woman on his back, still a distance from the gate. Despite the weight, he moved faster than expected. He was just metres from the gate when a building came crashing down in front of him, the force knocking him back and sending him rolling across the ground.

He wiped the sand from his eyes and looked up, only to see the building had destroyed the elevator—their only way to the top of the wall. Staggering to his feet, he checked on the woman, who was still alive but in pain. As hope began to slip away, he noticed more buildings hurtling toward them.

Quickly, he lifted her again and ran, setting his sights on the South Gate, hoping its elevator was still functional.

"He's heading for the South Gate," Reiko remarked.

"That's his only option. I hope he makes it," Soyo added.

"But look, isn't that strange?" Reiko pointed at Xeno, who held a long katana above his head, facing Wolot.

"That's Japanese kendo," Leonard noted. "Only someone trained in Japanese kendo could fight in that stance."