Individuals. Part 3 and epilogue

In the whole chaos that was happening in the area, the members of the 432nd squad were just noticing the blind spot that the whole situation had created, one of them was in danger, and they were going to stop it, the ones with blades were out of the webs with ease, but the ones with firearms were just aiming at the sides, and Ryu was the only one that was in a bad position.

Yasu cutted the webs using the saws, and went ahead but the Gimigas were in the way, he took made one of the halves of the staff to normal and hit one part of it, making it open and fire a giant explosion, making him go flying around as the Gimigas exploded. Nazu cut the webs with her twin blades and the Gimigas were surrounding her like Yasu, she cut the faces, eyes, antennas, and legs of the Gimigas but one after the other was appearing.

There wasn't an easy way out of the others, Sakura had the same problem, she was left with just one blade and needed to get close to the enemy to take them down, they were a lot so when she took one down, others were ready to pinch her. Amano present the same problem as Sakura, as the sword would often get stuck in the Gimigas inside and then get attack by the others Gimigas.

For Midori he was shooting and reloading and every time he got, the Gimigas would often flinch for the sound and the way the body of Midori moved when he shot his gun, making him shake around the web but without making him get out.

Marin was able to shoot with both of her pistols inside the web, but she noticed how the Gimigas were getting closer to Ryu, the suits didn’t have the same equipment as the same that they used to explore the depths, so he took out of the boxes at the side of the pistols and throw into the air to later shot it, making it go flying close to Ryu.

The boxes contain hot smoke, it started to surround the entire area, making some of the Gimigas shriek in pain for the contaminated air for what they were being exposed, the suits didn’t let the smell or the hotness of the smoke affect them, and the survivor was safe inside the truck.

It was an excellent plan, but only to gain time, the others were still struggling to get things hold together, there were a lot of them, and it seemed that the others were preparing to make another attack, but this time, after the Colanas dropped the web again, they fell too.

And the Grancos joined the party too, this time they weren’t escaping, since one of them dropped near Ryu, everyone was trying to make a way to save Ryu, but they all have their hands occupied, they were hit, and not even the second phase of their weapons was enough to the overwhelming amount of creatures in the city.

The way the city worked was to wait for the team of cleaners and made some days of complete destruction of Colanas, Grancos and Gimigas by using different types of armament, but the team hadn’t arrived yet, the civilians were safe and the ones that were not were already dead.

The attack wasn’t for a single group to handle, and that was being shown in the worst way possible as the team saw how the body of Ryu flew with Granco in the air with the half of his body being gobbled up by the Granco.

There were no words being screamed, just a sense of complete dread, shock and anger that was being display in the way the 432nd fight with the insects, they now have to wait for something to happen, and it did, just before things could get worse than already had, the entire section of IFED appeared, shooting the Gimigas, the Grancos and the Colanas, everything was being wiped out with precision, only leaving the 432nd squad without getting shot.

The IFED was traveling in cars with weaponry and other high caliber weapons to erase the insects with just a few shots, while some of the IFED members arrived at the sides of each of the 432nd squad, they refuse to receive any help and rush towards the Granco that was eating Ryu, and when they arrived they saw nothing.

There was nothing but the green liquid of the stomach acid that the Granco made, all traces of Ryu was gone and the only thing left to confirm that it was gone was the magnet bracelet for his shield, everyone was tightening their fist and observing the bubbling acid in the floor.

The team left the scene leaving the rest of the IFED to take care of the rest of the insects, but before that they mentioned the kid in the truck, one life was saved but they lost the other, they went to the collector’s building and everyone took a shower.

They took refuge there and waited for everything to calm down, the cleanse took about three days to be complete along with one day to clean all the damages and clean the streets of everything that could prevent the flow of people.

Not everything was clean up but at least they could get out of the building and not get surprised by anything, Kaminari call the team when they were in their rooms and tell them to put their uniforms, when the 432nd squad exit their rooms, everyone was in the cafeteria, now made a burial ceremony, a lot of things of Ryu were in a table along with a portrait of him.

One of the men started to play with a guitar and other with a drum, Kaminari took a step ahead and started to talk.

—Ryu was one of our newest cadets in the collector’s, we didn’t know him for a lot but every one that is capable of give their lives for their job is worth of a mention, let it soul rest in peace, 432nd squad, please, say the goodbyes to your partner.

Everyone nodded, and one by one they were going, Amano bite his lips as he touched the table and then left, Midori look with anger at the table but it was not for Ryu, but for himself as he closed his eyes and left, Sakura touched a bit gloomy at the table and then left, Nazu touched the table for a few seconds more than the others and then left, her expression didn’t change but those extra seconds mean something else, Marin look with a serious expression at the table and touched for a few seconds to then left, the last one was Yasu, he tight his fist as he touched the table and then left.

Kaminari nodded and once everything was prepared, they put everything inside a big bag and with the help of the 432nd squad and some others, they took everything that was on the table and left the building. Outside there was a truck, where they put the bag.

The bag would get burned on the outside making everything burn and turn to dust so the wind can take the rest around the world.

—Let’s go to my office, 432nd squad.

The 432nd squad went to Kaminari’s office and he was holding the shield and magnet of Ryu when they entered.

—If you are feeling guilty throw that away, you were taking a mission and this are the results of your leader, he took the decision and made everyone safe except for him… that being said, we need to take have another one leading the team, we already discussed this and since Yasu was the only one in taking care of that, here.

Yasu approached Kaminari and took the shield and magnet of Ryu, he was hesitating in taking it. He almost didn’t take them, trying to make them fall but Kaminari held the bracelet and shield in Yasu’s hand and looked him in the eyes.

—Don’t throw away the legacy of your previous leader, this is not a gift but a mark of what you lost.

Yasu nodded and took the shield, making it attached to his arm. Nobody said anything, since Yasu was forced to take the shield, Kaminari looked at everyone and rested his body on the edge of its desk.

—This is just how things are, you can undo anything but you can do better, working as a team is hard, but I’m sure you will find a way to resolve this, and the more you work the more these ceremonies would hurt for you, now it was just a simple goodbye to a comrade but the next time, it could be the one of a friend… take the day, go to your home, see your relatives if you have them or think about all this, tomorrow is another start, and I want you ready… DISMISS!

Everyone left the room, they were not sad, just a sentiment of guilt, they didn’t know each other for that much, and they weren’t all attached, but they were not machines with no souls, they would get prepared for next time, they need to be if they want to conquer the depths along with the rest of the collectors. They left the building with a new resolution, in no committing the same mistakes, and not letting another comrade died