Chapter 20: DANGEROUS ZOMBIE!
With everything in the previous chapter happening, the gang had now split up.
Lazer was now just slowly walking away when he was approached by Kirito and Asuna.
"Lazer!" Kirito called.
Lazer turned around and saw Kirito and Asuna. Liz was a bit behind them, holding Champ.
"Looks like you were right." Kirito continued. "GENM's CEO was the black Ex-Aid…"
Lazer scoffed.
"Looks like you fellows can trust me a bit now, right?" He asked.
"Yes…" Asuna answered. "But we want to know something."
Lazer looked puzzled.
"We want to know how you are connected to the Bugsters." Asuna asked. "What happened to you that made you decide to battle them?"
Lazer then looked down. He was going to have to answer this question one way or another. There was no avoiding it now.
"Well, to tell you the truth…" He began. "I actually lost my fiancée to the Bugsters."
Kirito and Asuna were shocked when they heard this. First, Brave lost his girlfriend, and coincidentally, Sinon lost her mother, and now Lazer lost the love of his life.
'Just how dangerous are these things?!' Asuna thought.
"By the time I was able to tell her, the damage was already done." Lazer sighed. "The Bugster was already got to its critical phase, and she was gone in a matter of minutes."
"The truth is always hard to swallow." Kirito said. "Sometimes, it can only make your life more painful."
"Well said, kid." Lazer replied. "That's why I'm doing this. When I succeed, I can at least continue on with my life, knowing she'll finally rest in peace."
Klein then popped in from nowhere, and then wrapped his arm around Lazer's neck.
"Ha! I knew you weren't that guy!" He smiled.
Lazer chuckled, and playfully punched him in the stomach.
"Well, I'll do what I can do to find the source of all of this." Lazer said. "While you kids handle that."
He pointed at Liz and Champ, who was still struggling as he was still infected.
"Leave it to us, man!" Klein cheered.
Lazer smiled, and then proceeded to log out. Once he was gone, the SAO gang, helped Liz and Champ back to Liz's shop
Ex-Aid Online
The gang was now back in Liz's shop. Silica had decided to tend to Champ, while everyone else began discussing about Genmu and the "ultimate game" he flaunted about.
"So Genmu was the black Ex-Aid…" Sinon muttered. "Who would've thought?"
"And he said he was using us as test players!" Poppy frowned. "Pipupepo Panic~!"
"So far, the employees at GENM Corp. were unaware of his actions." Brave explained. "Furthermore, Kuruto has gone missing. The police are investigating now."
"Right now, our primary focus should be hunting down the Bugster." Ex-Aid said. "If we do that, Champ will be cured."
Liz hadn't said a thing. She was quietly fiddling with her fingers.
"Liz? You okay?" Kirito asked.
"No…" Liz answered quietly.
"What's the matter?" Asuna asked.
"It's just…" Liz replied. "This was Champ's first Christmas with me… this isn't how I wanted it to be like."
Just then, Silica came out of the room Champ was resting in.
"He's asleep now." She said.
"Alright." Ex-Aid replied. "We can hunt for the Bugster now."
With that, everyone began to file out of the shop. Liz didn't move.
"Hey." Klein asked. "You comin'?"
"I'll… I'll catch up." Liz answered.
Klein then last exited the shop. Liz breathed in, and walked into the room where Champ was sleeping in. She crouched down and then brushed his hair a bit.
"Don't worry, little guy…" She whispered. "I'll make you all better. Then, we'll have the most awesome Christmas ever…"
She then gave Champ a small peck on his forehead. An idea flew into her head shortly afterwards.
"Ah, I got it!" She said.
Liz then lifted Champ off of his bed and then walked out.
"I'll take you to your favorite place here!" She smiled.
Liz sprouted her wings, and then flew off.
IR, Kiriya was in a rather droopy looking place. He was sitting on a chair with a pane of glass in front of him, behind him, was a police officer.
Then, the door on the other side of the glass opened with a loud sound of creaking metal. Through the door came in one cop, and a prisoner, and then another cop. They sat the prisoner down in front of Kiriya, and they took stances on either side of him.
"I'm Kujo Kiriya." Kiriya smiled. "Nice to meet you… Dan Masamune."
The prisoner looked up, with no emotion shown in his face.
"What do you want from me?" He asked.
"I have a question for ya." Kiriya chuckled. "If you don't mind answering them, of course."
Back in ALO, Liz was still flying on. She carried Champ on her back and then landed somewhere.
"Well, here we are!" Liz declared.
Champ slowly woke up to the sound of her voice. He looked around. There was a small tree resting on the side of a lake. The lake before the tree was large, silently making swishing sounds.
"Liz…" Champ whispered. "Is this…?"
"Yep." Liz smiled, sitting down next to him. "This is the place where you began learning how to fly."
Champ nodded. He felt the grass slowly blowing on the wind.
"I thought… well…" Liz stuttered. "Your first Christmas with me wasn't going as I though… so I thought this would make up for it."
Champ looked up at Liz. He leaned on to her side, which startled Liz a bit.
"It's okay…" He said quietly. "Being with you here is a present enough."
Liz smiled and then leaned her head on top of Champ's. At least we got a warm feeling here.
"Found you!" shouted a voice.
Liz looked around and saw Salty walking towards them.
"If I delete this boy, I shall be complete!" Salty shouted.
"I dare to try!" Liz said, summoning her weapons.
Liz then charged towards Salty. However, despite a good swing, Salty received little to no damage, and he just punched her aside.
"A valiant effort, my dear!" Salty smiled. "But… I believe you are too salty."
He clapped his hands, and then mooks appeared behind him.
"Season her up, chefs!" Salty declared.
But as soon as she said that, a black sword flew in from the sky and landed on the ground right in front of Salty.
"What in the-?" Salty began.
But he couldn't finish, as he was met with three feet to the face from Kirito, Asuna and Silica. Sinon, Leafa and Klein followed behind and helped Champ to safety.
Lastly, Ex-Aid came up, already in Level 2. He grabbed the Gashacon Breaker, and then slammed Salty on the head. Salty stumbled a bit.
"Let's give this a try!" Ex-Aid smirked, pulling out a neon green Gashat.
He pressed it, and a BMX bike appeared behind him. Then it rode around him.
SHAKARIKI SPORTS!
When everyone saw the Gashat, they were confused.
"Hey!" Klein shouted. "Where did you get that Gashat?"
"I got it when we beat Genmu yesterday!" Ex-Aid replied, closing the driver and inserting the Gashat.
GACHANN! GASHATTO!
"Dai Dai Dai Henshin!" Ex-Aid announced, opening the Driver back up.
GACHANN! LEVEL UP!
MIGHTY JUMP! MIGHTY KICK! MIGHTY MIGHTY ACTION! X!
A GACCHA!
SHAKARIKI, SHAKARIKI, BAD! BAD! SHAKATTO, RIKITTO, SHAKARIKI SPORTS!
The bike then jumped into the air and then landed itself on the top of Ex-Aid.
"Let's clear this game with no continues!" He shouted.
He popped out a bike wheel, and then proceeded to attack Salty. Kirito and the others proceeded to attack the mooks.
Brave jumped into the fray later, also in Level 3. Ex-Aid kicked Salty in the stomach, and then Brave slashed Salty's back.
"There is nothing I cannot cut!" Brave declared.
He continued to slash Salty. Salty responded with an electric pulse attack, which Brave dodged. But the attack landed on Ex-Aid. That sent him flying into one of Mighty Action X's blocks. That had an Energy Item, and it gave Ex-Aid… something.
CHRISTMAS!
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Ex-Aid. Ex-Aid slowly got back up and then looked at himself. He was in his Level 1 chibi form, but he had a Santa beard and a Santa hat, also holding a sack resembling Santa's Christmas sack. Behind him was the Shakariki Sports BMX bike, covered in Christmas banners and streamers.
"Wha-?" Ex-Aid muttered. "What is this?!"
Poppy popped out of Ex-Aid's pocket with a huge smile on her face.
"It's the seasonal special item!" She cheered. "Christmas!"
Ex-Aid looked around himself.
"Well, I guess I'll have to get into the holiday spirit!" He acknowledged.
He then grabbed the Gashacon Breaker out of the present sack, and then proceeded to attack Salty.
Poppy had other ideas. She flew over to an area where there were a lot more blocks. Poppy's body glowed and she turned herself into a human size. She then began to charge, and then she threw several strikes at the blocks. The blocks broke open and revealed the same Energy Items. They began to float towards their respective persons. Brave, Kirito, Asuna, Silica, Liz, Sinon, Klein, Leafa and even Poppy herself got a new Christmas outfit.
CHRISTMAS!
"What is this?" Brave asked.
Brave had Santa beard as well, but his Level 3 form also received major changes. The hat now had reindeer antlers, and the shoulder boom-box had streamers. His armor also had sorts of Christmas-oriented ornaments.
"Christmas, huh?" Kirito mused.
He and Klein only received minor changes. For example, they got reindeer antlers and even the occasional Christmas streamers.
The girls got major changes. Their clothes changed to red from their original colors. Sinon and Silica had a bell on their necks, Leafa had a mistletoe flower at the end of her ponytail, and Liz received a red top hat. Asuna received glowing white boots with red laces.
Whereas Poppy, received a fluffy red dress, complete with a small red Santa hat by the side of her head.
"This is my Christmas gift to the world!" She smiled cheerfully.
Brave was still befuddled by this, touching the Christmas parts of his attire.
"What's going on here?" He asked.
Poppy rushed over to him.
"Brave, I need something!" She said, grabbed Brave's arm, which conveniently had the scratchboard.
She scratched it a couple times, and then a hip hop version of jingle bells began to play. She smiled in delight.
"He-, hey!" Brave began.
"C'mon, everyone!" Ex-Aid chimed in, taking a break from fighting Salty. "This is how you do rhythm games!"
Then, both Riders began to attack Salty, while the SAO gang still looked on what Poppy was doing.
Poppy, of all things she could be doing right now, was singing Jingle Bells in her unique way.
Pipple Pell, Pipple Pell pupupa papu~
Pupupo pipupupi pipapipopapapau~
Brave then proceeded to attack Salty along with Ex-Aid. Now, Salty was getting close to his defeat.
Pipple Pell, Pipple Pell pupupa papu~
Popipi popapipipi pipipapapa!
As Poppy kept on singing, the Bugster mooks began to crowd around her and danced in tandem with her music.
"Wait, that's allowed?!" Klein asked
Papipepopipo pepepopapopi~
Pupipopapapo papupupapopu~
Papapipopepo papapipupepa~
Papapopipupapipo papapipapupa!
Salty was about to land a punch on Brave, but Ex-Aid blocked it and then landed several critical hits on Salty.
"This is my rhythm!" Brave remarked. "Don't interfere!"
"Don't be a Grinch, man!" Kirito replied.
Pipple Pell, Pipple Pell pupupa papu!
Pupupo pipupupi pipapipopapapau~
"I'm so salty!" Salty screamed.
But Ex-Aid responded with a hammer swing to the face.
Pipple Pell, Pipple Pell pupupa papu!
"B button!" Ex-Aid declared.
Both Riders pressed the B button of their weapons and landed their last attack on Salty. Salty fell on the ground with a loud thud, and electricity crackled around him.
Popipi popopipipo pipopipopa!
The remaining mooks surrounded Salty's body and rasied their arms in an opera like sense.
The SAO gang arranged themselves around Ex-Aid, Brave, and the now finished-singing Poppy as the Bugsters exploded behind them.
"Merry Christmas!" Ex-Aid announced.
GAME CLEAR!
Unbeknownst to them, the Bugster residue left behind then began to gather towards one place. Pallad was behind a tree, holding the Gashacon BugVisor. It was absorbing Salty's Bugster data.
"Huh?" Salty remarked. "Hello? Where am I?"
Pallad just grinned, and then disappeared.
Back to the main characters, Ex-Aid just finished checking out Champ.
"He's cured." He replied. "You're alright now, kid."
Champ smiled, but that smiled didn't last long as he was tackled by a very happy Liz.
"Yes!" She cheered. "Thank you!"
"Liz…!" Champ tried to speak. "You're embarrassing me here…!"
Everyone chuckled at the sight.
The next day, it was Christmas Day, so everyone had decided to meet up. They were currently in Matt's (Agil's) café, with a table that is littered with sweet looking foods and whatnot. They all raised their glasses and clanged them together.
"Merry Christmas!" They all shouted.
They began to talking to each other for a good Christmas.
"Alright everyone!" Matt called. "I've got a surprise!"
He then walked in with a very good looking Christmas cake.
"A special order on the house! My wife got this special order for the holidays!" Matt smiled.
He placed the cake on the table, and then went back behind the counter. Hiro walked up to the cake with his hands up.
"Scalpel." He said.
"Figured you'd say that." Emu sighed, handing him a knife.
Soon later, all of the food has been devoured, and the people were just now talking amongst themselves.
"I have a question." Rika asked.
"What is it?" Hiro asked.
"That Bugster was odd." Rika explained. "He said that they've leveled up… what is that supposed to mean?"
Everyone turned silent to the incoming question. Emu and Hiro knew the answer.
"The answer is simple." Hiro replied. "The virus is mutating."
"'Mutating'?" Kazuto asked.
"To put it in simpler terms, the virus is evolving." Emu explained. "Now that they have experienced the first symptoms, they have now made themselves immune to manmade vaccines."
Everyone turned silent. Now the Bugsters are adapting to their fights. What else will they become?
But that train of thought interrupted when Emu received a phone call. He quickly answered it, but he quickly set it down on the table with the speaker on.
"Hello?" Kiriya's voice called.
"Kiriya?" Ryotaro asked. "Is it you?"
"Yep, it's me!" Kiriya continued. "Can you guys go online today?"
"Why do you ask?" Asuna asked.
"I finally found out what was going on with the Bugsters." Kiriya explained. "It would be too dangerous to talk live so AR would the best place to talk."
Everyone thought about this decision.
"Alright, we'll be there." Shino replied.
"I'll be waiting!" Kiriya concluded.
Then, the call got cut off, and everyone began departing for their homes. Hiro left the payment on the table. By the time Matt got back from a quick bathroom break, everyone was gone.
"What is up with everyone these days?" He asked.
Taiga was just walking out as well. He had also received the call from Kiriya. On his way out however, he saw a figure blocking his path.
The figure was girl, no younger than Asuna. She was wearing a hat, as well as red jacket over a graphic T-Shirt. Short shorts and shoes with outstandish socks were worn as well. Add a backpack with Mighty Action X pins for good measure.
"And you are…?" Taiga asked.
The girl looked up and responded.
"I have a favor." She asked. "Can you beat the Genius Gamer… M… and Black Swordsmen Kirito?"
Taiga was puzzled by the question, so he just ignored her and moved on.
Now, the ALO skies were as clear as crystal. Lazer was just chilling out on an abandoned temple, sitting on a pillar. He then heard steps. He looked to see who it was. It was an Undine. A familiar one at that.
"Well, well ,well." Lazer smirked. "Who invited you?"
Genmu was casually walking towards him. He had briefcase in one hand, and his staff in the other.
"So I've heard you visited my father?" He asked.
Lazer jumped down from the pillar.
"And if I did?" Lazer asked.
"Knowing the kind of man he is, I'm certain that he has squealed." Genmu stated.
Lazer looked at him cautiously.
"That doesn't explain why you're still here." Lazer said.
Genmu chuckled, and then lifted the briefcase. He opened it up and revealed the contents of it to Lazer. It had a single Gashat.
"Another one?" Lazer asked. "So there weren't just ten?"
"I'm giving you a choice, my dear Lazer." Genmu stated. "I'll let you have this Gashat, in turn you keep your mouth shut about this."
Lazer thought about it. After a quick thinking session, he agreed.
"Okay." He said.
Lazer grabbed the Gashat and then began to walk away. But, he quickly turned around and threw the Gashat back at Genmu, who caught the Gashat with no difficulty.
"Yeah, like I was just going to accept a bet like that!" Lazer taunted.
Genmu retained his composure.
"How about a wager?" Lazer asked, putting on his Driver.
He then pulled out two of his Gashats, pressing them as well.
BAKUSOU BIKE!
GIRIGIRI CHAMBARA!
"If you win, I'll keep my mouth shut." Lazer stated.
He then inserted the Gashats in.
GASHATTO! GASHATTO!
"Third gear!" Lazer declared.
GACHANN! LEVEL UP!
BAKUSOU! DOKUSOU! GEKISOU! BOUSOU! BAKUSOU BIKE!
A GACCHA!
GIRI! GIRI! GIRI! GIRI! CHAMBARA!
Lazer then turned into his Rider form. First, the chibi Level 1 form took his original place. Then, the samurai robot from Girigiri Chambara split apart and attached themselves onto Lazer's limbs. But before they did, the chibi form broke off and the bike body flipped around. Then, the robot limbs attached.
"But if I win, I'll blab to the whole world about your 'Ultimate Game'." He concluded.
He then summoned his weapons into his hands.
GASHACON SPARROW!
Genmu laughed. He tossed the briefcase and the staff aside, and showed off the Gashat. He then grabbed another item. It wrapped around his waist.
'A Driver?' Lazer thought.
Genmu then summonded the Gashacon BugVisor to his hands, and placed it on the buckle.
GACHANN!
An ominous standby music began to play. Genmu then raised the Gashat to his face, and smiled.
"I accept your wager." Genmu responded, pressing the Gashat.
DANGEROUS ZOMBIE!
A black game area spread all over the area.
Meanwhile, Ex-Aid, Brave, and the SAO gang were running towards the area Lazer told them to get to. However, they were interrupted when a horde of Bugster spawned in front of them. Well, not all of them. Klein and Silica were behind the horde. But something was strange about the horde of Bugsters. They were growling and moving around floppily like… well, zombies.
"Where did these come from?" Kirito asked, summoning his weapons.
The Riders pulled out their Gashats and the other players began to summon their weapons as well.
"Silica! Klein!" Liz called. "You guys go ahead!"
Klein and Silica first hesitated, but they knew they had to go. They sprouted their wings and took off to the air.
Snipe was also met by the same horde.
"What's going on…?" He asked.
He pulled out his Gashat, and then began to attack.
Back with Genmu and Lazer, Lazer was preparing for Genmu's attack. Genmu stretched his hand so the Gashat is now away from his body. He flipped his hand, so now the Gashat is now facing downward.
"Henshin." Genmu said.
He then inserted the Gashat into the BugVisor, and pushed the button underneath the Gashat insertion.
GASHATTO! BUCKLE UP!
DANGER! DANGER! GENOCIDE! DEATH THE CRISIS! DANGEROUS ZOMBIE!
The above jingle was followed by deafening zombie roar. A character face card appeared in front of Genmu, and after showing Genmu's 8-Bit characters, one in white and another in red, the card began to crumble. And then, a white arm struke through. And then, the card burst into the dust, and then a white Rider burst in. It had white scaly armor, and the Rider Gauge was cracked. The visor looked cracked as well, as one eye was blue, while the other was blood red.
Genmu then began to phase in and out. And everytime he did phase out, he would move uncontralably and wiggle his arms and torso, making groaning sounds along the way. Once finished, he was glaring at Lazer.
"Now, I am Kamen Rider Genmu…" He groaned. "Level 10!"
"Level 10…?" Lazer asked.
Genmu slowly raised his head, but when he did, his head tilted sideways, so now his head leaning to the side.
"Let's… battle…" He groaned.
Lazer raised his Sparrows and braced for an attack.
Genmu darted forward like a zombie. By the time Lazer was able to locate him. Genmu was already in front of him. Genmu grabbed his chin and the circle-threw him down to the ground. Genmu then began slam his hand downward, LAzer was able to roll out of the way. He used his Sparrow to slice his arm, and then with the momentum, he stood back up and attached the two Sparrows together.
ZU-DONN!
He was about to fire, but Genmu grabbed him and then just chucked him outside. He groaned like a zombie as he went after him.
At the same time, Klein and Silica finally arrived near the location Lazer sent them.
"This is the place, isn't it?" Klein asked.
"Yes, it is!" Silica replied. "Now, we just have to find him!"
But just as she said that, Lazer tumbled right in front of them. He was badly hurt. His Rider Gauge was at half. Both players quickly made their way over.
"Lazer!" Klein called. "You okay, bro?"
Lazer sighed, and slowly stood back up. Suddenly, a loud thrashing could be heard. Silica and Klein then met Genmu, walking towards them with his arms stretched out.
"That's Genmu!" Klein remarked.
"But… he looks… different?" Silcia added.
Lazer then took the chance to insert his Gashat into the Sparrow.
GASHATTO! KIMEWAZA!
He then stood up and shoved Klein and Silica out of the way.
"Hey!" Klein shouted. "What was that for?!"
"You can't beat him!" Lazer shouted back.
GIRIGIRI CRITICAL FINISH!
He then aimed it towards Genmu. Energy began to build up as Lazer fired a powerful energy arrow at Genmu. He took the attack head on. Genmu now had a hole in his torso.
"Yeah!" Klein cheered. "You got him!"
But black aura oozed out of Genmu. The hole mark slowly disappeared off of his body. Genmu wiggled his body as the mark vanished.
"Huh?" Silica uttered. "What happened?"
Lazer gritted his teeth, and pressed the B button on his Sparrow, separating them, not removing the Gashat.
ZU-PANN!
Lazer charged at Genmu. He slashed this way and that, but Genmu just took the attacks. The slash marks that kept on appearing disappeared quickly. Lazer then slammed the Sparrows downward, but Genmu caught his arms. He bounced them up and the palm thrusted Lazer in the chest. Lazer fell back, losing grip of both Sparrows. They fell into Genmu's grasp, and he grabbed them backhanded. And in one brief second, he spun-attacked Lazer. The Sparrows gave out a huge damage buff to Genmu, and Lazer was on the receiving end of it. Lazer stumbled onto the ground, his Rider Gauge now dropping to the last bar.
"Now, let's put you out of your misery." Genmu chuckled.
"Pina!" Silica shouted.
Pina dived down and pecked Genmu's head. And Pina quickly flew away back to Silica's side.
"Klein! Now!" Silica called.
Klein jumped upward with his sword raised above his head. Genmu hesistated a bit, and Klein slashed straight down his body. Klein looked up to see Genmu fall onto his back. He smirked at the kill.
"Gotcha!" He cheered.
But he celebrated to soon. The same black aura from before emanated from Genmu. He then swung his body back up, groaning all the way. His eyes glowed.
"…is what you would've said…" He growled.
Klein turned around and was grabbed in the collar. Genmu then threw him up and and slashed his abdomen twice. He was launched into a tree.
"Klein!" Silica shouted.
She jumped down, dagger in hand, and ran towards Genmu. Genmu only responded by attaching the Sparrows together.
ZU-DONN!
He then noticed that the Girigiri Chambara Gashat was still inserted. He pulled it back and then inserted it back in.
GASHUNN! GASHATTO! KIMEWAZA!
He then aimed it viciously at Silica, who stopped while gasping.
GIRIGIRI CRITICAL FINISH!
Genmu fired several arrows at Silica. And since she didn't have anyone to cover, she took the arrows straight to her torso. She fell back, and Pina flew beside her to give her form of comfort.
Genmu looked on. Lazer, Klein, and Silica were now incapacitated. He tossed the Sparrows aside, and pressed both buttons on the BugVisor. That initiated a standby sound.
"Now…" He whispered. "Who should I get first…?"
Lazer looked up. He saw Genmu was now just observing the unconscientious bodies of Klein and Silica. Genmu then looked at Silica.
"I guess I'll get rid of you first." Genmu stated.
He pressed the A Button of the BugVisor.
CRITICAL END!
Lazer struggled back onto his feet, and hobbled over to Silica. Genmu had just taken into the air, spinning in the air. He then stretched his foot out for a kick, black lightning and aura emanating. Lazer got in the way just in time, and got ready to throw a punch. Genmu came down hard, but when he saw Lazer in his line of fire, he accelerated. Lazer threw his punch, but Genmu landed the kick straight onto Lazer's chest, resulting in an explosion.
Klein got back up just in time to see the attack happen.
"LAZER!" He screamed.
Genmu jumped out of the explosion, and landed back on the ground gracefully. Lazer was just standing there, slowly losing balance. His Rider Gauge went down to 0. Electricity crackled all over him. The Rider form then crashed, reverting him back to his Sylph body. He fell over on knees, and Genmu looked down on him condescendingly.
"I knew you would cover for her." He snarkily remarked.
Lazer looked up scornfully, and grabbed Genmu's arms to prop him up.
"Don't… think… you've… won…!" He said in a hurt voice.
Genmu scoffed, and just kicked him off of himself.
That's when the clear skies of ALO became dark with dark gray clouds. And with a couple of rain drops on several leaves, rain began to pour down. Genmu kept on looking down as Lazer breathed heavily.
"Sorry… Momoka…." Lazer muttered under his breath.
Just then, Kirito, Asuna, Brave, Lisbeth, Ex-Aid, Poppy, Snipe, and Sinon arrived.
"What the…?" Kirito uttered.
Snipe looked deeper into the rain. He saw Genmu just watching them on with a sharp look.
"Genmu…" He growled.
Genmu didn't reply. He simply dissipated into thin air. Everyone then made their way over to Lazer, who was on his back, breathing heavily. Leafa lifted his head.
"Just hold on!" She shouted. "I can heal you up!"
"Thanks for the help, kiddo." Lazer groaned. "But I don't think that's gonna happen."
He then showed everybody his hand. They were horrified. His hand was now pixelating in and out of existence.
'This is just the same with Yuko…!' Brave thought.
Silica kneeled down beside Lazer, which prompted him to look at her.
"Why…" Silica began, with sad eyes. "Why did you cover me…?"
"I don't like people who pick on little kids." Lazer scoffed, with a faint laugh in his voice. "I had to do somethin'."
Silica began to sniff. She was trying hold back her tears.
"Hey, man!" Klein shouted. "You still haven't told us why you called us here!"
"Nah…" Lazer replied. "There's no point in telling you now…"
"But…" He continued, looking at Klein. "Sorry for not being able to hang out with you next week… for New Year's…"
Klein also held back his tears, but his eyes were beginning to twinkle. Now, at this point, everyone was beginning to cry. Except Brave, Snipe, and Poppy, as they tried to look away. Lazer then whispered something to Leafa.
"Kirito, Ex-Aid." She called quietly.
Both Kirito and Ex-Aid then edged over to Lazer, who was now on his final moments. He summonded his strength and gave his Gamer Driver, with the Bakusou Bike still inserted, to Ex-Aid.
"Ex-Aid… no, Emu." Lazer began. "You… you have to carry on for me… I'm trusting this world to you…"
He took a glimpse at Kirito.
"To both of ya…" He finished.
"Don't' forget it, Emu." Lazer continued. "Keep smiling. That's what makes you you."
"Kiriya…" Ex-Aid whispered.
Lazer then turned to Kirito.
"You're no different…" He said. "While Emu smiles, you fight to protect those you hold close to your heart… keep at it…!"
Kirito didn't reply. He just grabbed his hand.
Lazer smiled. He was glad at least people around him trusted him. Especially Klein. Albeit only knowing him for a few months, they have gotten really close.
Now, his body is now practically nonexistent.
"All of you…" He said with his final breath. "Change you fates… with your own hands!"
GAME OVER…
Lazer then closed his eyes and let his body fall back to the ground. His body flashed, and he pixelated into nothing but bits. The person Leafa was holding… was gone.
IR, Kiriya's body had strangely disappeared as well. The above happened to him.
Now, the rain was drowning out every other sound the game had. Other than players' voices sniffing and crying.
Silica had her eyes covered with her arms. Klein had clenched a fist, tears dripping down his cheeks. Liz had collapsed onto her knees. Leafa and Asuna had their mouths covered with their hands, and Kirito clenched a fist harder, while also shedding some tears.
Snipe and Brave weren't crying, as they turned away out of respect. Poppy was holding Yui closely. Ex-Aid was crying the most, only holding Lazer's Gamer Driver and the Bakusou Bike Gashat.