"We're heading there right now, Kagura-san!", Yuko said. Hikari replied, "Alright, be careful. You've got a new member with you."
"Of course, Senpai." After saying that, Yuko hanged up the phone.
Group 5 was currently running to scene of the alternate awakening and Rento was extremely annoyed about it.
"Still no fucking car..."
"While we're still on the way, I should probably explain some things to Ichino-kun.", Yuko said.
"Explain wha- Oh wait, you guys still haven't explained to me how to use my powers or whatever.", Takeru replied. Yuko made a silly face. "Oopsies... I'm real sorry about that, Ichino-kun. I'll try to explain a little now but you'll probably just have to watch for this mission."
"Alright, I'm not really complaining... I don't wanna fight anyway."
"Alternate-User Classes with your Ikari-senpai shall now commence!", Yuko said enthusiastically.
Rento looked at her with admiration and Takeru looked at her having received a profound epiphany. He had now understood that the Senpai are not always people to be admired.
"We Alternate-Users have 3 forms, Ichino-kun. The first form is our current state, it just means our regular human selves. The 2nd form is when we choose a specific part of our body to transform into our alternates thus allowing use to use alternate abilities but only in that specific area. For example, I could use the 2nd form to transform my hand into my alternate and then be able to use alternate abilities like super strength, super durability, regeneration, stretching around the body, sharpening and growing the teeth and nails and my unique ability but only with that hand. You get it?"
"Yeah, I do." He kinda did.
"Be careful though because the more of your body you transform, the harder it is to maintain control and stop your alternate from talking over you. Now, there's the 3rd form. Its called Metamorphosis and you can probably tell by the name but it is when an Alternate-User completely transforms their body into the alternate but still manages to keep their own consciousness and stops the alternate from taking over. It is an extremely difficult thing to master and there are only some who can do it within SOMA.
Naturally, transforming fully into the alternate makes all your abilities way stronger and gives you perfect control of them."
"I see... Have you two mastered it?"
"Nope.", Both Yuko and Rento replied.
"Try to use the 2nd form right now, Ichino-kun. Transform just your finger and stretch it out just a little. We don't want these common folks noticing us."
"Alright... I'll give it a try."
"I know you can do it, Ichino-kun. You were able to regenerate your teeth so easily. You're an absolute natural, you know?" Rento got jealous. "Aww man... I wish Senpai would praise me too..."
While they were still running, Takeru tried his hardest to use the 2nd Form and stretch out one of his fingers. Although, nothing happened.
"Guess I can't do it.", He said with a plain voice.
"Were you even actually trying?", Rento asked. "Of course, I was!", Takeru replied.
"Hmm... Its probably best if you stay out of the action for this one, Ichino-kun. You can just watch and learn. We'll teach you how to use the 2nd form from tomorrow.", Yuko said.
"Alright, Senpai." "I just get to slack off and do nothing? Nice!"
A little while later, the 3 had arrived at Kagurazaka. The alternate was still there eating the pile of dead bodies. The neighborhood had been cleared and all the other people were gone due to Tobu's ability but the alternate had gotten his hands on that family before Tobu could do anything.
Group 5 was now right in front of the alternate. Looking at the disgusting bits and pieces of dead bodies being eaten by the alternate, Takeru immediately fell to the ground and started puking.
"Geez... You're not ready for this at all.", Rento said.
"Stay back, Ichino-kun. Don't get hurt. We'll call you only if we really need to."
"Alright, Senpai...", Takeru replied in a weak voice while still puking.
"2nd form."
Both Yuko and Rento had activated their 2nd forms and were heading towards the alternate.
"UGUAHHHHHHHH!!!!! AHHHHH!!!!", The alternate screamed.
Rento smirked. "You ain't all that smart, are ya? I'll take care of you in mere seconds."
"Don't get too confident, my kohai."
"Come on, Senpai. This dumb li-"
swish!
"No... MY FUCKING HAIR!!!!!! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS, YOU LITTLE SHIT!", Rento screamed.
While they were heading towards it, the alternate had lengthened its nails and cut Rento's hair from a distance.
"I can't believe this shit happened again! Fuck me, man!"
Rento charged towards the alternate with anger. He got to the alternate and started beating the ever living shit out of it using his super strength.
"You wanna try that again!? Huh!? Why aren't you saying anything, you little shit!?"
"EEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!", The alternate screamed in agony.
Yuko was heading towards the alternate as well but she stopped on the way. "Damn... Guess I don't have to do anything this time. Geez, I really have to teach my dear kohai over here to control his temper."
Seeing the situation was in complete control, Yuko looked back to check on Takeru.
"Ichi- Huh?", She said in confusion. Takeru had disappeared from the area. "Ichino-kun, where are you? Ichino-kun? Ichino-kun!? This isn't funny, you know?"
Rento was still beating up that alternate. "You like that? Huh!? Do you like that or no, you disgusting fucking animal!?" The alternate had completely fallen over on the ground by now and Rento was just kicking it again and again.
"EEEEEEEE!!!!! EEEEEEEE!!!!!!" The alternate was practically begging Rento to stop already. It was trying to heal but Rento was damaging it faster than it could regenerate.
"Takahashi-kun! We have a problem!", Yuko screamed.
Even though he was burning with fury, hearing his senpai's words immediately softened him. "What do you mean, Senpai? The alternate's been completely defeated by the cha- I mean- Rento. I'll just kill it now and collect its body so the new guy can eat it eventually."
"I can't believe I was seriously gonna call myself a chad in front of Ikari-san. That would've been so embarrassing..."
"The alternate's not the thing we have to worry about now, Takahashi-kun."
"Huh? What happened, Senpai?"
"Ichino-kun has disappeared. I don't know what happened to him!"
"Hah! I knew that he wasn't fit for this and would just run away!"
"I don't think its that, Takahashi-kun. Something happened to him... I can't tell where he is with my smell."
Somewhere else,
"Welcome. It is good to meet you, Ichino Takeru."
"Huh? Who the hell are you? Where am I? Where the hell is this? What happened to me!?"
"My name is Shion and trust me, you don't have to worry about any of that. You have a great purpose to fulfill."