They got off the bus and ran down the streets in search for clues, all while defeating any LBX they came across. The two professors made their way back to NICS to ascertain the situation while the children split into three groups to defend the city.

Jessica looked over a fence. "This is..."

LBXs lined up on the street before them. Jin scanned over their formation. "They're trying to blockade us?"

"But they were rampaging just earlier, right?" Yuuya asked.

"Either way, I think it's best we lay low until we get more information." Eva suggested. The four crouched down on the bridge, out of the LBXs' field of vision.

"Everyone, can you hear me?" All eyes turned to Jin's CCM as the director called in. "Take a look at this."

"What's this LBX?" Asuka's voice came.

"There's a very high possibility that this mysterious LBX is connected to the rampages. We must investigate it immediately. Everyone is to commit themselves to securing this LBX!"

"Roger!"

~~~~~

"Minerva! Minerva!"

The blonde clicked his tongue as he made his way down the subway. His LBX threw its sword at the redhead's, knocking it over with one hit. "Get away!" He came up to them with a smirk. "If you so much as touch that thing, your LBX won't listen to a thing you tell it to do."

Ban's eyes widened. "Kazama Kirito!"

"They won't listen to a thing we tell them..." Hiro repeated. "So, we'll lose control over them?"

"But how is that possible?" Ran asked.

"Beats me." His devious smile remained on his face. "Only way to find out is to catch it."

The three nodded at each other. "Alright."

"Just as I expected." A voice came from above them. Standing on a rail was a strange boy, his face covered by his hair.

"Who are you?" Ban demanded.

The black LBX jumped into the boy's palm. He looked up and they found a cold smile and green, sparkling eyes. "It's a pleasure to meet you. You are the humans who saved the world, no?"

"Are you the one behind that dark LBX?"

"You mean Vector?"

"Vector?"

"That's right. It's very strong."

"Who in the world are you?"

"My name is Mizel." He jumped from the rail and seemingly floated before landing on the platform. "May we meet again." Vector jumped from over his shoulder as Mizel headed off in the opposite direction.

Vector stood in their way and Ban threw a D-egg at it. "Hey, hold up!" The field surrounded them, and another face appeared before them.

"Niara Levanov?" Hiro blinked.

"Yeah, I mean, who else wears a scarf like this in this country?" She rolled her eyes at him, before turning to glare at the blonde. "And as for you, we're going to have a long talk about partnership when this is over."

"I told you I wouldn't wait for you if you fall behind."

"Ugh... Drezion!"

The Lucifer entered the battlefield, standing alongside the other three. Vector moved in to attack Ikaros Force first, but while its back is turned, Kirito's LBX stroke along with Ikaros Zero. Vector deflected their combined attack in a single movement, and when it saw the chance, Ikaros Force and Zeema Drezion started attacking. They were deflected once again and were sent hurling through pillars.

Hiro suggested a team attack, which Kirito and Niara nodded to. Ikaros Force took the lead and became bait for the duo to strike. Ban then called for Ikaros Zero's Meteor Breaker, which ended the battle.

"All the rampaging LBXs ceased functioning." Ban confirmed.

"That's good..." Ran muttered.

"So they really were being controlled by this LBX, Vector..." Hiro glanced at the black LBX in his hand. "Even though we used Meteor Breaker, it only received this much damage..."

"Let's have dad take a look at it." The brunette suggested.

Ran nodded. "Yeah, and then maybe we'll learn a bit more about our enemy!"

Ban gave a smile before his eyes widened, turning to the blonde leaning against a distant wall. "Kirito, how did you know that we'd lose control over our LBXs if they touched Vector?"

"That's because it got my LBXs too."

"Eh?"

"When we were fighting against the rampaging LBXs, that thing suddenly came out of nowhere. And then, the moment it touched Joker and Hakai-O... I lost control of the both of them, and had them taken away from me."

"So that's what happened..."

"It's a good thing you still have this one, though." Niara pointed at the pocket that kept his current LBX. "You'd be a sitting duck without it."

"Shut up."

"Kirito, Niara," Ban called. "Will you join our fight?"

"We need all the help we can get." Hiro stated.

At that, he immediately started walking away. "I never wanted to join up with you."

"It's not like you to back down like that!" Ran piped in.

That got him to stop. "I can't just let them steal my LBXs, huh?"

The trio grinned. "Then, that means...?"

"Only until this whole thing is over." He told the blue haired boy.

Niara snickered. "Played you like a fiddle."

~~~~~

They invited the two over to NICS, where they were given a bit too warm of a welcome.

"That is...?" Ran asked Kirito, looking at his new LBX.

"Fenrir Flare." He replied.

"It's sort of different from the Fenrir I had." Kazu stated.

"Hey, where'd you get it?" Asuka asked.

"I was taking a nap in the park when someone gave it to me."

"Huh?"

The blonde was under a tree, a rare pleasant smile on his face. The Russian sat on the other side, customizing her LBX.

"Are you Kazama Kirito?" Out of nowhere, a delivery man walked up to him, holding a box. "I've been looking for you! It's a delivery."

"For me?"

"I hope I never have to deliver a package for a guy with no address ever again." And with that, he left.

Niara peeked from the other side. "What'd you get?"

He opened the wrapping to reveal an LBX box. "Fenrir?" Then his cell rung.

"Did you get Fenrir in one piece?"

"Uzaki Takuya."

"It's a present for you."

"But it can't be free."

"I'll cut to the chase. We want you and Niara Levanov to become our test players."

"For Tiny Orbit?"

"Right. We're looking for players with good skills."

"I refuse. LBXs don't interest me anymore."

"Are you sure? I doubt a skilled player like you would be able to give up LBXs that easily."

He was silent for a moment. His eyes met with the Russian before landing on the box once more. "...I'll take it. I'll tell you if I want to become your test player or not later."

"So then, you customized it?" Kazu assumed.

"If it's not an LBX I put together, then I won't use it." He replied bluntly.

"My Fenrir came from Tiny Orbit too, didn't it?" The brunette turned to him with a new excitement. "You wanna pit your Fenrir up against my Achilles Deed to see how good it is?"

Asuka immediately got up. "Hey, that's sneaky! Before that, you have to fight Vampire Cat! I'll take both you and Niara at once!"

"Oh?" Niara gave a playful smirk. "You really think you can survive my blizzard?"

"This isn't the time for that, you three!" Yuuya reminded.

"Eh... But I wanna fight!" Asuka insisted.

As the four got into an argument, the blonde watched silently in his seat, letting out a small smile.