Yuna had just revealed to herself to Asuna, Sachi and the Human Empire, only a select few actually knew where they came from. Behind them a red soldier tried to attack Asuna, only to be met with a battle axe to the face.

Sachi and Asuna: Agil!

Asuna and Sachi said in disbelief.

Agil: sorry I didn't get here sooner.

More blue lights appeared and the figures of Liz, Silica and The Moonlit Black Cats.

Asuna: Liz!! Silica!!

Asuna's eyes, too, filled with tears. All the tension went out of her body, leaving her just strong enough to stay standing. She stretched her arms to her companions, with whom she shared such a powerful bond.

Asuna: You... you came...

Silica: Of course, we came!

Liz: What else would we do?!

Silica: We wouldn't leave our friends like that!"

The three newcomers' faces crinkled into smiles, Lisbeth taking Asuna's right hand, Silica squeezing her left, Sachi hugged Asuna. Their beaming expressions were soon tearful as well. Sachi on the other hand who was crying to see her guild here like her prayers had been answered.

Sachi: H-How'd you...

Sachi started, pulling away from her to see thier ALO avatar standing in front of her.

Ducker: Sachi... You've been pushing yourself too much...

Ducker whispered, glancing at Sachi's wounds which brought upon a needle in her heart.

Ducker: Leave the rest to us.

Through her overflowing tears, the rain of code fell on the entrance of the ruins. It led to hundreds of new warriors dressed in bright varied colours. The salamanders from ALO along with the Sylphs, Cait sith all appeared with their armies appearing behind them.

Alicia: The red ones are the enemy!

Alicia shouted to her army.

Eugune: Front line, charge! Push them back!!

Eugene ordered, drawing his own sword from his back.

Sakuya: Rear line, pull back and check your spells!!

Sakuya ordered her own army and the warriors near the back.

As soon as they landed, the new warriors traded calls in the language of the Underworld- Japanese- and prepared swords, axes, spears and even guns to meet the oncoming enemy. It was clear from their impressive individual skill and orderly group coordination that these were all experienced VRMMO players.

Klein: I got no personal beef with you...

Klein's voice echoed off the ancient ruins. He turned his katana toward the army outfitted in red.

Klein: But you've gotta pay for what you did to my friends. You'll get it back three times as bad... no, a thousand!!

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Both Agil and Klein slashed the red knights with their weapons as Asuna looked to see them being pushed back by her friends and allies.

Asuna: you might not even make it back, but you still converted your precious characters. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Asuna said tearfully to her friends- and to all the fighters who came to help push back the enemy's front row.

Liz: What do you mean, Asuna?

Lisbeth asked. Her voice was brimming with absolute determination.

Liz: Everything that I've worked hard at in SAO and ALO was meant to come into play right here- to protect what's important to me.

Asuna: Yeah... you're right....... Thank you......

Asuna let her head drop to the ground.

She couldn't understand who told all of them about the Underworld's peril and recruited all these converted reinforcements. It was hard to imagine that Kikuokoa and Higa trapped in the Sub Control Room of the Ocean Turtle, would devise and carry out such a strategy.

Asuna: Liz, Silica. Who actually brought everyone here...?

The girls shared a quick glance, then broke into grins.

Lisbeth: Shouldn't that be obvious, Asuna?"

Silica: It was Yui! Yui did her best to explain what was going on with the Underworld and the people living in it!

The instant Asuna heard those words, she felt something wrench the muscles deep inside of her. Tears flooded from her eyes. She glanced upward, more blue lights were coming down from the sky.

Asuna: Thank you, Yui.

She whispered with all of her being. She clasped her hands together and her wounds were slowly regenerating, and in no time at all nearly, all the wounds and scars across her body were gone.

Sachi did the same with her own light powers and was healed of all her wounds, repairing her clothing as well.

From over her shoulder came a timid, hesitant voice.

????: Um... Lady Sachi? Who are those people.... and those knights....?

It was Integrity Knight Renly, who looked stunned by this development. Behind him, Eugeo and Edith who'd just been saved were equally shocked.

Sachi turned from them back to the fighting group and gave him a smile.

Sachi: They're our very good friends and companions. They've come from the real world to save us.

Renly blinked several times, then stared hard at Lisbeth and Silica. Eventually, he and the two behind him broke into an expression of relief.

Renly: Oh, I see... I'm so glad... I was under the impression that aside from Lady Asuna, Lady Sachi, Sir Kirito and Sir Yami, all the people from the outside world were fearsome warriors like the ones in red...

Lisbeth: Hey! Of course, that's not true!!

Lisbeth scolded, scandalized, but she gave him a warm smile and bopped him on the shoulder.

Lisbeth: I'm Lisbeth. Nice to meet you, Sir Knight.

Renly: Uh.... th-thank you. And likewise. My name is Renly.

Sachi and Asuna had been watching this unfold with a warm glow inside of them, but now there was something of certainty within them: They would never forget this scene for the rest of their lives.

Two people born in different worlds had met, exchanged words, and begun a personal relationship. It was a story that ought to last for a very, very long time, and they couldn't let it end in sadness.

Sachi: How many people converted in total, Liz?

Lisbeth: Um, maybe a little over two thousand, I think? I did my best, but I couldn't convince every single player who heard me out.

Lisbeth bit her lip. Asuna gave her friend a pat on the back.

Asuna: It's more than enough. But... we don't want a battle of attrition, just in case, there's a chance of converting. Focus on healing and don't spread the line too wide. Liz and Silica, you should take about two hundred to the rear to create a support battalion.

Them: Understood!

They responded in unison. Focusing her mind on the battle ahead, Asuna gave quick orders to Renly and the two behind them.

Asuna: While I'm sure it's not your first choice, I'd like you to join the priests and use your healing arts. The real-world warriors are not used to sacred arts, so it would be good of you to help teach them the ways.

Renly: Y-yes, Lady Asuna! Come on! We're going to support these Reinforcement Knights!

Renly cried out. Despite their deep fatigue after multiple battles, Eugeo and Edith answered fiercely.

Asuna glanced at Sachi, who nodded back and held up their weapons in front of them.

Asuna: We'll... fight at the front!

They raced along the battlefield, Asuna giving orders to the new arrivals, instructing them to shrink the expanding line of combat, and rebuild the semicircle of defence around the entrance to the temple ruins.

Sachi ran through the group until she arrived near her guild which they smiled and gave her a thumbs up.

Sachi swung her sword in a straight line causing the particles to shoot forward like bullets from a gun. They was beyond surprised she did something like that but nevertheless continued fighting. The Underworlders were shocked by the rapid 'Bams' that followed the attacks. Lines of light appeared and the particles nimbly avoided the Real worlders and killed only red soldiers.

Sachi: Please, everyone, hang in there. Just hold out until we can finish off these American players.
———

(Meanwhile in Ocean Turtle)
Higa: I hope that was... in time...?

Takeru Higa shook his arms, which were cramped from overuse.

In less than an hour, he'd managed to convert the accounts of about two thousand characters sent to the Ocean Turtle from the Japanese Seed Network to the Underworld. He could still feel the keys against his fingertips.

Rinko: It was in time. I guarantee it.

Spoke from Dr. Rinko Koujiro, who handed him a sports drink.

Higa took the drink and gulped it down to half left inside the bottle and said,

Higa: Seriously, I can't believe I was so careless. We knew that they'd have American VRMMO Players dive into the Underworld? Not only that, but it was an existing AI connected to Sachi and Asuna's cell phones that detected it.

Rinko: Even if there was no other way, letting those players in has made some information on the Project Alicization public.

Rinko glanced at the sky showing a map of the current whereabouts of the players inside the game.

Higa: Compared to Alice falling into enemy hands, and being used as a passive AI on an unmanned weapon, this is way better.

he stretched his arms before setting down on the console in front of him.

Higa: That's right, Alice isn't just a control AI for UAVs anymore. She's a new form of humanity born in a true alternate world."

He glanced up at the ceiling for no apparent reason, falling back on his chair.

Higa: You both realized that a long time ago... Isn't that right, Minamoto, Kirigaya...?

He glanced at the newly opened fluctlights, both lightcubes, housing their fluctlights that were fluctuating with life. Higa for some reason felt compelled to open Yami's fluctlight, the same window grew in size. There he saw Yami's fluctlight fluctuating, the dark purple colour of his fluctlight that Higa had seen many times when they first testing, was now a brilliant blue.

Higa: That's odd. Hey, Miss Rinko. Can you take a look at this?

Higa pointed at the screen with Yami's fluctlight. She glanced at the fluctuating Fluctlight, inside the small window.

Rinko: What of it? That's Yami's Fluctlight.

She told the technician.

Higa: No no.Higa started typing away until he managed to find an old recording of Yami's fluctlight during the old days of the Underworld.

Higa: This is Y/n's fluctlight. The colours of the quantum data inside his fluctlight changed from dark purple to brilliant blue.

Rinko: The data inside a fluctlight can't just change like that, can it?

Rinko asked, leaning down next to the main console.

Higa: It shouldn't be possible. The quantum data field can't be changed specifically the colour with which it fluctuates."

As Higa was talking, the brilliant blue fluctlight shifted in colour briefly to its original dark purple, shocking the two watching it. Higa rubbed his eyes, thinking it was too tired and his eyes were playing tricks on him.

Rinko: Did you see that, Higa?"

Rinko pointed at the screen, equally as shocked as the technician.

Higa: That means I'm not going crazy!

Higa suddenly shouted, Rinko flinched and Kikuoka who had been sleeping to Higa's right was awakened by the screaming.

Rinko; Calm down. There must be an explanation for this.

Rinko said after she recovered her composure.

Higa: This goes beyond everything we know about Fluctlights." Higa leaned back in his seat, the tiredness from before was completely gone.

Yami has always been different but this is just crazy.

He finished watching the brief colour of the fluctlight change once in a while.

Rinko: What was causing this?

Rinko was staring at the blue colour, she didn't know about Fluctlights as the technician to her right but she had a feeling.

Rinko; Higa, can you pull up the data from before Kirigaya's fluctlight was moved?"

Higa: I can but we've seen that many times before-"

Rinko: I know that but can you just do it?

Rinko interrupted him, eager to know if she was right about this feeling. Higa brought up the recording of Kazuto Kirigaya's fluctlight before Yami had done something, transferring it from his body and into a Lightcube. They watched as Kazuto's fluctlight fluctuate a bright golden colour until the moment his fluctlight disappeared from his body.

Higa: !?

That's when Higa noticed it, the same dark purple colour that pulsed in Yami's fluctlight did the same in Kazuto's fluctlight but was more intense until it just disappeared. Rinko had a feeling this would happen but was actually surprised when she saw it happen to Kirigaya's fluctlight.

Higa: Hold on...

Higa began muttering things to himself as he pulled up another recording.

Higa: Kirigaya was with Yami and we think he moved Kirigaya's fluctlight but where did that power surge go? It can't possibly have gone there since Yami's fluctlight is inside of a Lightcube right now."

Rinko: Higa. Hey, Higa...

Rinko tried calling out to the blonde Technician.

Higa: Where? Where could have it gone?

Higa was lost in thought and didn't realize his name was being called.

Rinko: Higa, Listen!

Rinko shouted his name. He looked up only when he realized that someone had already called his name several times.

Higa: What is it?"

Rinko: You keep asking where the electricity surge went but that dark purple stuff is from Yami's so couldn't it have gone to his fluctlight instead of Kirigaya's? That is connected to his fluctlight so wouldn't it be possible to go to his even if he is inside of a lightcube?

Higa: Huh...

Higa gave it some thought before his eyes went wide and he smacked his cheeks with both of his hands.

Higa: How could I have been so stupid!! Yami's powers are dark purple and that pulsing dark purple is his powers!

He began typing away at the keyboard while Kikuoka made his way next to him.

Another window was brought up, it was Yami's fluctlight when it was still dark purple but the timestamp on the top right indicated this was before Kazuto's fluctlight was moved. They watched as the dark purple disappeared from his fluctlight then followed by a bright light flashing on the screen. After it calmed down, his dark purple fluctlight was now glowing a brilliant blue.

Kikuoka: The surge fried his fluctlight?

Kikuoka asked, not understanding why the colour had changed.

Higa: No... It didn't but it did do something.

Higa answered slowly, mousing the cursor on the screen to pause the before and after of Yami's fluctlight.

The two were identical or at least to the human eye, so Higa ran it through a program to check if it was the same. Rinko was unsure why he did this but decided to trust Higa just like Kikuoka, they waited for the results of the program.

Ding!

A loud noise came from the main screen, "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Rinko asked unsure what she was looking at. Rinko glanced over at Kikuoka wondering if he saw it but by the look she got, he didn't know either.

Higa: This is bad. This is bad... This is bad!!

Higa was the first to notice it since he knew what he was looking at in both of the fluctlights.

Rinko: What is?!

Rinko asked, getting a little annoyed since he didn't start explaining it immediately.

Higa moved his cursor around until it moved to a specific part of Yami's fluctlight, something that didn't exist in a normal fluctlight. Higa only noticed it because of how much he worked with Yami, monitoring dives into Underworld and how his fluctlight was when he used his powers.

This was Yami's fluctlight which was beyond normal.

Higa: See this part of Y/n's fluctlight?

The cursor hovered over a single line of light connecting one part of the fluctlight to an isolated part of his fluctlight.

Rinko: Yeah... What about it?

Rinko asked, squinting her eyes since it was so small.

Higa: This isn't something that appears in other fluctlights. This is something completely unique to Yami's fluctlight. The reason why, I have no idea but whenever we tested his powers inside a test world, I always noticed this part always be lit up.

Higa explained, his voice laced with worry. The line was pulsing with blue light but that was the part connected to the rest of the fluctlight. The isolated part was flickering dark purple a couple of times before, like electricity, it zapped the broken light causing the flickering of dark purple across the entire fluctlight as they had seen.

Rinko: So that isolated part is Yuuki's powers?

Rinko asked, unsure if she was following correctly since this would be considered crazy talk, she hadn't truly understand the powers of Yami in full action so that kept her skeptical.

Mitchell: he's going through some tough times.

Higa: tough times?

Mitchell: yeah he killed his brother.

Higa: what!?

Rinko: I never heard he had a brother?

Mitchell: because he never told you that because if he did you would create an AI on him and fought both versions of his brother which he would be killed and also kill pretty much everyone in Underworld.

Higa: that would been the worst idea.

Mitchell: yes even other countries would try to get their hands on that AI version of Adam.

Higa: But by then it'll be too late!

Higa exclaimed before gazing down in frustration.

Higa: If the commando unit from the naval escort Asahi storms in, and a huge battle ensues in the Main Shaft, the sub power would probably get knocked out, too. If that were to happen, Kirito and Yami's STLs would shut down, kicking Kirito out without his fluctlight and Yami's body here on the Ocean Turtle while we are sent back to the mainland. Kirito wouldn't make it past the initialization stage to log in, and he'll never be able to connect to the STL again. That's why, no matter what, we have to treat him while his body is still connected to the STL, no matter what.

As he spoke, Higa felt a kind of determination flood through him while memories of another place to do the operation resurfaced in his mind.

Higa: I'm going, okay, Mr. Kiku?

Kikuoka: Going... where?

Grimaced the commander. Higa turned to him and sucked in a deep breath.

Higa: The room where STL 9 is, where Yami is, and Maincon below the pressure bulkhead is connected by a cable duct on the stern side of the Main Shaft. There should be a maintenance connector in there. I should be able to control the STL there."

Kikuoka: But the maintenance connector is on the other side of the pressure bulkhead. If they notice you, you could get attacked from below.

Higa: So let's go with a decoy operation.

Kikuoka: Decoy, did you say?

Kikuoka repeated dangerously, eyes flashing.

Higa: Of course, we wouldn't send in valuable human resources. Once we unlock the pressure bulkhead door, we'll have it charge down the stairs for humans on the other side of the duct.

Higa turned around to a shadowy figure on the other side of the room.

Higa: that.

Kikuoka nodded, understanding what he meant.

Kikouka: I get it. You mean Ichiemon.

Rinko: Hold on! All that one can do now is slowly go up and downstairs. It can't possibly rush back here if the enemy spots it!" Rinko argued with the plan.

Higa: I do feel bad for ichiemon, but he's just going to have to do his best. But given the way he looks, the enemy might not open fire on him.

Rinko: Well, that's true, he's sure to stick out like a sore thumb, so we can probably convince them that we have a plan up our sleeves.

Rinko shrugged, her outstretched in a confliction.

Higa: At the very least, they won't be able to ignore him! So while the enemy deals with Ichiemon, I'll infiltrate the lower cable duct, and operate Yami's STL through the maintenance connecter.

Higa explained the plan again.

Kikuoka: While we're at it do you think we could deploy Niemon, too?

Higa: Unfortunately, that's not possible, Like I said before, without a balancer, Niemon will only fall over as soon as he starts descending the stairs.

Rinko: But Higa, even if you did fool them long enough to unlock the bulkhead, there'd still be some risk of you being spotted. Shouldn't you take a bodyguard with you?

Mitchell: I'll contact with Harper.

????: Um... I would like to go with Chief Higa.

They all turned to look at a Rath Engineer who'd been sitting against the wall the entire time.

The engineer placed their lab coat on the mesh chair that Kikuoka was sitting on a little while ago.

????: As you can see, I'm scrawny, too, but I think I can at least take a bullet for you. And besides, I'm the one who's been maintaining those cables till now.

Higa gave it some thought before his hand reached up and scratched the back of his head.

Higa: To be honest, I don't really remember where that maintenance connector is. So thanks for coming along, Mr. Yanai.
———-

A clash of metal rang through the dead land, dust clouds shot up into the air as two massive Incarnations clashed against one another. Blood flew up into the air and the owner belonged to only one of the swordsmen.

Bercouli dashed through the dust to see Emperor Vecta staring at him with no emotion in his expression. Vecta refused to deliver a fatal blow to the old knight, as though he was trying to extend the battle, but Bercouli was keenly aware that the blood he was losing from his countless wounds, his very life itself, was running perilously low.

They continued to clash as they moved atop the rock that was the place of Bercouli's presumably last battle. Bercouli's blows were filled with his undying rage toward the monster that is Emperor Vecta.

Another clash happened, Vecta overwhelmed the one-armed knight with ease. Bercouli could only deflect the strikes that were coming from Vecta's black sword which was filled with his Incarnation of the void within his soul.

Vecta delivered a mighty blow against the Time Splitting Sword and Bercouli was thrown back. He fell onto his back, panting as blood ran down his face and Vecta merely stood up straight brandishing his sword once again.

Vecta: I've grown tired of this.

he swiped the blood of the commander off his sword.

Vecta: Your soul is so heavy. It is too thick. It clings to my tongue. And it is too simple. You think of nothing but killing me,

He said, his tone flat. He took another step forward.

Vecta: Begone.

Viscous light collected around his black sword as he raised it in silence.

Bercouli grinned madly and said,

Bercouli: Don't be like that.

A black mist shot out of Vecta's sword and headed straight for Bercouli. He dashed to the right holding his sword just below his waist as he ran from the black mist.

Bercouli: I've still got enough left to enjoy this!

Just a little longer.

The mist hits Bercouli into the air and his figure slams into the ground. He immediately stood up once again as he looked for his goal.

Bercouli: Where are you? Where did you go?

The commander swung, his eyes empty and dull. The tip of the sword struck a spot well off the mark, and he stumbled. Vecta watched the whole thing intrigued by his behaviour, it was either so close to death that his eyes were now sending nothing to his brain or something else was happening.

Bercouli: Huh? Or was it this way...?

Bercouli murmured walking over to his left with his sword drawing across the ground.

Thirty seconds more.

Bercouli limply made it to a specific spot, the outlines of Emperor Vecta and Bercouli from over nine minutes ago appeared transparent. There. Found it. Was the only thought in Bercouli's mind as he stopped about a mel from the outlines of when his arm was cut off.

Bercouli: 579... 580... 581... 582!

He wobbled side to side and raised the Time Splitting Sword for a strike at the outlines.

Bercouli intended to consume all that was left in his sword to perform the Time Splitting Sword's Memory Release Art.

Uragiri, the art of the betrayal slice, was different from the future- slicing Karagiri, in that ability to hold the Slash's power in the air went into the past instead.

The Underworld's Main Visualizer kept a record of each human unit's movements for the previous six hundreds - ten minutes exactly.

The Time Splitting Sword's Uragiri interfered with that log, confusing the system into thinking that the target's locational data from ten minutes ago was actually the present location.

As a result, a sword that appeared to cut through empty space would hit the boy of the person who had once existed in that spot. It was unavoidable, unblockable, and a true betrayal of any and all technique and skill.

It was why Bercouli had resisted using Uragiri for years and years. Even in his battle against Eugeo, when he'd fallen to the Memory Release technique of the Blue Rose Sword, Bercouli had not used the move that would have given him victory. Even knowing that Prime Senator Chudelkin would have labelled this a betrayal of the Axiom Church.

But against Emperor Vecta, who used equally inhuman powers, he was not going to hesitate.

When Bercouli had struck down Vecta's dragon, he'd utilized the enemy's direct, unchanging flight direction to accurately estimate the coordinates of the enemy's position then minutes earlier. But in the messy, chaotic battle up close, gauging those precise coordinates became remarkably harder.

If he'd failed to execute the art, Bercouli would have to count to six hundred all over again.

Just like this moment.

Vecta: You're up to something, aren't you?

Bercouli was shocked at the speed the emperor appeared right behind him and even more shocked when the emperor's fist collided with his chest. Bercouli felt immense pain in his chest, blood splattered all over the place as he landed about ten mels away from the coordinates of where they were nine minutes and forty seconds ago.

Bercouli: So I missed, huh?

Bercouli lamented, staring up at the red sky.

Bercouli: Forgive me, Little Asuna, Sachi, Yami, Kirito and Edith... Eugeo... Alice...

The emperor entered his blurry vision pointing his sword at the fallen commander. Before Vecta could stab the commander, he caught sight of a dragon far overhead, tearing across the sky in a steep dive. Hoshigami

Bercouli: Hey, now... didn't I tell you to stand by?

A jet of blue-white fire shot from the dragon's maw. The blazing beam with the power to burn a hundred infantry at once descended upon Emperor Vecta, who easily took the brunt of it with his left hand.

Bercouli: You've never once disobeyed my orders.

The smooth black gauntlet deflected the blast without trouble. Flames bounded off and flickered away as they dissipated. Hoshigami then stopped and grabbed the Emperor within his mouth and began releasing the fire once again at point-blank range.

The emperor then unleashed the dark light from his sword and caught Hoshigami's forehead with it. He had used this trick to take control over the dark knighthood's dragon. Hoshigami fell over onto the ground, instead of being taken over it was pushed back.

Emperor Vecta caught a glimpse of a figure the moment the dragon fell over. Bercouli was now on his feet, Time Splitting Sword in his hand as he faced the direction of their previous coordinates. The sword was brimming with Incarnation, the memory release was about to be released for the first time in centuries.

Bercouli: Hoshigami, this moment you've created for me won't go to waste!

Bercouli raised his sword into the air and with a heavy swing began pulling it downward at the outlines he saw before. Emperor Vecta didn't know what he was doing but wanted to stop it at any cost, he leaped forward past the assumed dead dragon-

The dragon then opened its eyes and chomped on Vecta's to try and stop him. Vecta pulled back his sword, then chopped the head off Hoshigami without much effort, killing the dragon and freeing himself.

Bercouli swing continued as the Incarnation within the blade intensified with all the strength Bercouli could muster at the moment. He approached the outlined figure of Emperor Vecta.

Bercouli: Yaaaaah!!

Bercouli cried out which mixed in with the image of Fanatio inside his head and rewinding of a clock.

There was another feature of the Uragiri skill.

Because it interfered with the system itself, its power directly affected the total life of the target. It was impossible to block or defend against with Incarnation power. Even Vecta's own ability to nullify and absorb all kinds of Incarnate attacks couldn't stop it.

Bercouli's swing then finally sliced through the transparent Emperor Vecta from ten minutes ago. The Present Vecta was right behind Bercouli about to kill the commander with his black blade but seemingly stopped the moment his swing finished.

A strange sensation entered Vecta's body as he gasped in surprise and Bercouli's voice registered in his ears. The Time Splitting Sword Uragiri is 'the sword that slashes time.

Bercouli: I just slashed your past.

Cracks then appeared on the Emperor's body and face, they were blood red and spread through his entire body in an instant. The red-purple light then funnelled upward and Vecta's vast sum of life as designated by the system changed to zero.

Bercouli stood up knowing the Emperor was now gone. A few seconds later, a delicate sound from Bercouli's right hand indicated the final expiration of the Time Splitting Sword, which crumbled into pieces.
——-

It's so warm.

I want to stay here just a bit longer.

Alice the Integrity Knight Smiled, adrift in the weightlessness of sleep just before proper awakening.

A large lap supported her body.

Rought hands that gently caressed her hair.

Alice: Father.

Alice closed her eyes and when she reopened them she was now looking up at the red sky that was the Dark Territory. She glanced to her left and saw the face of the older swordsman, his face smiling and downcast, eyes closed.

There were countless old scars running along his thick neck and collarbones- and atop them, many fresh new blade wounds.

Alice: Uncle?

Her mind was alert and working again.

Bercouli: That's right, I got caught by Emperor Vecta's dragon. How careless I was to let that happen. I was just running like mad, without being cautious of what was behind me. If I had listened to Eugeo I wouldn't have been caught.

Alice then finally realized, Bercouli's entire figure was riddled with fresh wounds, his left arm was gone and a giant hole was in the center of his chest. She gasped in surprise and placed her hands on Bercouli's shoulders but he showed no reaction to this.

Alice: U...Uncle....!! Lord Bercouli!!

Alice cried, shaking him. She hesitantly brushed her fingers against his skin.

When she felt his skin, Alice learned that the oldest and greatest of Integrity Knights was already gone.

Alice:!Uncle... It can't be...

Alice wrapped her arms around his body and began tearing up. Her eyes closed as tight as she could muster but all the emotion raging within her was all let out as she cried out into the air.

Alice: No!!

——-

Bercouli: Hey, now. Don't sob like that, little one.

But the words that Integrity Knight Commander Bercouli Synthesis One said to the golden-haired girl who clung sobbing to his corpse below did not reach the ground.

Bercouli: My time was always going to come, and now it has, that's all. Right?

The sight of the golden knight became more distant as he raised up into the sky.

Bercouli: You'll be fine, little one. You can make it on your own now. After all, you're my only apprentice, as well as my daughter.

Bercouli turned to the north of his location and send a mental message to three people.

Bercouli: Yami, Eugeo... I pray you do take care of my daughter.

Bercouli: Hey, not a bad way to go, huh?

Bercouli said to his trusty dragon, Hoshigami.

????: That's right. You've got plenty of people who will shed tears for you. Be appreciative of that," said a sudden voice. He spun around to see a girl floating nearby.

Bercouli: oh, you're still alive?

Quinella: Yes and I'm sorry that you couldn't be with your friends and comrades.

Bercouli: true and Fanatio does love Yami. She and I see each as good friends

Quinella: I'm also sorry for what I did those years ago when I was like that "thing".

Bercouli then floated onto his trusty dragon and held out a hand to the Administrator. She looked at him in surprise before she smiled once again taking his hand within her own.

Quinella: Don't you resent me at all? When I'm the one who locked you in a prison of never-ending time, and robbed you of your memories over and over?"

Bercouli shrugged.

Bercouli: I admit it went on so long it got old, but it was a hell of an interesting life. I mean it.

Quinella: Oh.

He looked away from Adminstrator and gripped Hoshigami's reins.

The dragon spread translucent wings and flapped them serenely, heading to the infinite expanse of the sky.

Bercouli: Forgive me, Fanatio. It looks like we won't be seeing each other again. I'll leave the rest to you...

His body then disappeared into a golden particle that travelled back to the eastern gate at immense speed.

The second message he had sent reached the ears of Fanatio Synthesis Two, who was praying at the Eastern Gate. She saw the golden light and stood up from her crouched position as it swirled around until it breezed past her ear.

To give our friend Yami a happy life.

Fanatio gasped when she heard the commander's voice and unconsciously moved her left hand over her stomach. She began tearing up uncontrollably as she lowered her head and stifled another sob while saying, "My lord!" she then fell to her knees and let out a cry of anguish.

Fanatio: Have no fear, Lord Bercouli. I will help Yami to be proper. To become a gallant, proud human like you.
——-

Gabriel Miller's eyelids slowly rose as he woke up from his unexpected exile of the Underworld. He sat up and that movement caught the eyes of his assault team who glanced back at him.

Critter: Well done, captain.

Critter fully turned around to face his captain.

Crittter: Well, you got your butt kicked though, huh?"

He said without much concern.

Gabriel: What's the status?"

Critter: Like you ordered, I sent in those 500,000 we scraped up from all over America, the number does continue to increase and I wouldn't be surprised if it hit a million soon. That bastard Vassago died and came back once, but then he got super excited, converted his personal account, and dove back in.

Critter: Oh? I see...

Critter: yeah but for some reason like 300,000 were not logged in.

Gabriel: what?

Critter: yeah I tried it again but same results.

Gabriel: strange...

Gabriel muttered, placing his hand on his chin, and observed the main screen. He reached into his back pocket, pulling out both a pen and a piece of paper, writing something on it.

Gabriel: All right, I'm diving in again. Convert this account to the Underworld.

Critter stared at the piece of paper for a couple of moments before a grin broke out on his lips. The password and ID of the account Gabriel used to face in some tournament a couple of months ago.

Gabriel turned on his heel and headed back toward the STL room, a crooked smile on his lips.

(One ugly Son of a bitch)

But soon Fate will turn it's wheel have him lose and die in hell until he's nothing more but a memory.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

End of Volume