"Who is Ahriman?" Alard asked.

Nessa and Hayaka were with him in the meeting room at their base back in Vrille. Alden had collected both Aura and Jarek, carrying them into a room where Nessa said he conducted his medical work. Alard didn't even know parasyte users could require medical work, but he seemed to learn something new daily.

Kenneth had promptly retired to his room without a word, his downcast eyes speaking for him.

Nessa sighed warily. Unnatural exhaustion lines were formed under her eyes and her demeanor lacked its usual cheerfulness.

"Ahriman and Jarek go way back from what I've heard. The story goes that he was initially Akuma's bodyguard, but was appointed to Jarek when Akuma took the first rare parasyte that was given to him. Jarek was more on the cautious side so when Akuma decided he no longer needed a bodyguard he assigned Ahriman to him since Jarek still hadn't become a Marked and still insisted on continuing his Underground duties. On one such Underground mission, Ahriman finally revealed himself as a Marked and an agent of the Peacocks."

Hayaka gasped, his eyes wide as he listened to Nessa. One wouldn't believe he had just gotten a hint where Ahriman had ended up an hour ago.

"Ahriman had blindsided Jarek in a warehouse," Nessa continued. "Of course, at the time Jarek would stand no chance against him since he was still human. Ahriman toyed with him as he was bleeding out but that gave Jarek the opportunity to take the parasyte that he always carried around with him in case of emergency."

Alard nodded, piecing two and two together from Ahriman's and Jarek's earlier conversation. "A normal parasyte." Nessa nodded in confirmation.

"Wait...you're telling me Jarek has a normal parasyte?" Hayaka asked, shock written all over his face.

Alard recalled every time he had seen Jarek fight. He was fast and ridiculously powerful, but it was all hand-to-hand combat. He had never used an ability and the fight with Ahriman had all but confirmed it for Alard.

He didn't use an ability because he never had to, he never used one because he didn't have one, something that was impossible with a rare parasyte.

Hayaka looked from Alard to Nessa. "But...he's so strong."

Nessa smiled faintly. "He's likely the strongest normal parasyte user ever, a testament to his training, will, and discipline, but it is the truth. He was waiting to be given a rare parasyte like Akuma, but he never got the opportunity in the end."

Hayaka's eyes widened. Perhaps it would be a wake-up call for him, Alard wondered, showing him the potential a normal parasyte user could reach.

"How did he escape?" Alard asked.

"As you could imagine, he wasn't yet accustomed to his parasyte right after the merge and he still didn't stand a chance again Ahriman. However, he bought just enough time for Akuma to arrive. As much as the brothers get under each other's skin, it's clear Akuma cares for his brother dearly and thus was keeping tabs on him. By the time he arrived, Jarek was beaten to a pulp but in his cockiness, Ahriman hadn't finished the job."

"And Akuma didn't kill him?" Hayaka asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

"Ahriman didn't fully engage. His mission was to eliminate Jarek. After seeing the strength Akuma reached, the Peacocks were wary of Jarek reaching similar heights because of their shared blood."

"So he ran?" Alard asked. He couldn't imagine that hulking monster running from a fight.

"Not quite. He wouldn't be able to simply escape even a younger inexperienced Akuma, so he took advantage of him not knowing his ability and used his emotions against him."

"What ability does he have?" It definitely seemed like he was doing something during his fight with Jarek and that last punch he threw all but proved it, yet Alard couldn't exactly put his thumb on what it was.

"Shock absorption." Kenneth's voice rang from the meeting room doorway, prompting all heads to turn in his direction. Around his eyes were puffy and he seemed smaller despite his tall stature with the usual wrapped-up doll not hanging on his back, yet there was a stubborn defiance in his folded arms. "The bastard can absorb the energy of impacts and store that energy to launch back at you when you least expect it. You could imagine how that could be a recipe for disaster for an oblivious Akuma and his destructive power." Kenneth paused, a weary sigh escaping his lips. "The report goes that the forty thousand square feet warehouse was blown to smithereens thanks to the explosion. Of course, with Akuma's focus on getting Jarek to safety, Ahriman was nowhere to be seen by the time the dust cleared. That's how Jarek got that scar across his face. Akuma's scars healed but it seems normal parasyte users aren't as lucky when it comes to that ability."

"And that's why Jarek had to be rushed to Alden," Alard finished, remembering the direct punch Jarek took. If his body didn't heal properly from being hit by that ability that meant Jarek was closer to dying than he had considered.

Kenneth nodded. "I don't know how you did it, Alard, but you did real damage to that bastard. Jarek is a bad matchup for that ability because melee attacks are easily absorbed. Of course, there has to be some sort of limit to what he can absorb and that's probably what Jarek was trying to make him reach but..." He gestured behind him, his point clear as day.

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It hadn't worked.

"How did you even get past his shock absorption to inflict that much damage?" Nessa asked, forcefully tearing her eyes away from Kenneth. "There's hardly been any sightings of Ahriman but every time it didn't matter where he was hit, he was able to absorb the impact."

Alard shrugged, wracking his brain for an answer that eluded him. "I just waited for an opportunity because I knew if he noticed me before I could connect he would be faster than me. I still think he noticed me at the end, but was more focused on Jarek to care. Pure luck, I guess."

'Foolish being. You have the power of my eyes and yet your brain remains stuck in a rot.'

Alard was learning to be patient with Jigoku's typically insulting diction. 'What do you mean?'

'The armor those fools call...shock absorption always has a hole in it on such an imperfect body as this Ahriman. Otherwise, the armor would be stretched thin and not as robust as it is. The Oracle Vision as you call it, allowed you to see the small gap and that is why you were able to damage him in one punch.'

Alard digested his words silently. It made sense that Oracle Vision which allowed him to see openings would do so for weaknesses in armor as well, and further explained why the red dot had stretched into a hit-marker as he neared. In his limited experience, the red dots only stretched into hit markers when the attack would be critical, granting his punch more power on impact.

Before he could consider sharing his findings with the team, a shadow joined Kenneth at the door. The whole room's attention drifted to the man who almost matched Kenneth at his lanky height and contained muscles that were bulking through his ripped-up uniform with his trademark scar down his face.

At the door stood their rejuvenated leader who looked like he was rearing for a round two.

Jarek.

His gaze swept around the room, lingering on Alard briefly with a curt nod before resting dolefully on Kenneth. Alard could see his eyes drift toward his vacant back where the doll would normally reside. It was weird how something so unusual could become so commonplace that without it, the person looked completely different.

Jarek stepped forward stiffly, revealing an array of bandages wrapped tightly around his midsection, and to Alard's surprise - embraced Kenneth in a hug. Kenneth seemed shocked as well but recovered, returning the gesture.

Jarek leaned in, whispering although everybody could hear his words. "May she rest in peace."

Kenneth's face stiffened but he said nothing and the moment of camaraderie ended as the men pulled apart. Jarek ambled along the table to his usual spot at the head and Kenneth settled in next to Nessa who gave him a light pat on the back.

It wasn't lost on Alard that Aura hadn't returned and he hoped that she hadn't been gravely injured. Whatever taking off her limiter meant seemed to have some serious blowback in return and he felt guilt at not being strong enough so she wouldn't have to suffer.

As Jarek sat, Alard couldn't help but notice a slight grimace shadowed in his stoic armor. He once again surveyed the room. "Our expedition will be ruled unsuccessful since the death of Sutton is unconfirmed and he's more than likely safely behind the wall with security on high alert. As things stand, we have failed our mission." The remnants of relief at spotting their leader faded. "However, since Akuma's confrontation with Ahriman, there's been no confirmed event where Ahriman was significantly injured." His eyes flicked toward Alard, "Alden tells me that you guys reported that changed today."

Nessa nodded. "I didn't exactly see what happened but I saw the result. After a big explosion, Ahriman was bleeding profusely and his speed was hindered. It seems Alard was able to somehow break through his shock absorption."

"I assume it was due in some part to your ability?" Jarek asked.

"It seems so," Alard responded. "I couldn't have done it without you though. You saw how it went when I faced him head-on and even in my sneak attack, he detected me at the last second but was too focused on you to care."

Jarek shook his head. "Don't discredit yourself. You did more damage in one punch than I was able to do in hundreds. Regardless of not facing him directly, you've shown the potential to injure him and that alone is a feat in itself."

Alard felt a warmth spread through him as the rest of the team murmured their agreement.

"As for Hayaka," Jarek continued, shifting his focus, "I was able to observe some of your fighting since we were in the same vicinity. At the lighthouse battle, you were outclassed primarily because of your inability to strategize in the slightest." Hayaka shifted uncomfortably under everyone's scrutiny. "But you're finally starting to properly utilize your battle sense from what I saw."

Alard smiled as Hayaka did his best to not do the same. He hadn't sparred against him in a while but it was true Hayaka was becoming easier to strategize with when they faced off against the doll. Remembering the doll wiped the smile off of Alard's face.

"I'm glad to see you both are improving rapidly and with this mission, you've received exposure to a true Peacock elitist."

"Is he the strongest member they have?" Alard asked, hoping the answer would be yes.

"No one can truly say for sure. The Peacocks have more information thanks to their headstart on the Underground. There's no telling if people of similar or more strength to Ahriman reside behind that wall, which is why it's important the Underground breaches that wall strategically...with more caution than I showed today."

Kenneth had stayed quiet, not seeming to even be following the conversation but now he looked up, shaking his head vigorously, anger burning through his alien pupils. "It's not your fault, Jarek. Ahriman wouldn't have allowed us to retreat." His glare hardened. "Where was Akuma?"

Jarek stiffened and Kenneth's glare immediately softened, dropping his eyes back to the table. "I don't mean anything by it, boss, your strength is unquestioned but it's a bad matchup for you."

Jarek visibly poised himself. "Akuma was sent on a rogue mission outside of Vrille a day ago."

Kenneth snorted. "How convenient. Every time there's an Ahmiran sighting Akuma is on a mission outside of the area. Don't you ever start to wonder how Ahmiran is able to avoid any confrontation with him? Almost as if he knows when Akuma is out of town, there's been a lot of evidence that the Underground may have a-"

"Enough." As usual, Jarek hadn't raised his voice but his tone commanded obedience. Jarek trained an icy glare on Kenneth. "We must be able to complete our missions by our own strength and not become reliant on the intrusion of Akuma. Coincidence or not, the Peacocks seem to know when he's away and that means if we're weak without him we'll suffer and unnecessary deaths will follow." His gaze shifted pointedly to Kenneth's bare shoulders and Alard could swear he saw a flash of guilt travel across Jarek's face.

Jarek swept his gaze across the room, locking eyes with each individual briefly. "We all need to become stronger, because on the final battlefield, being saved will not be an option."