Tri-Edge floated near the statue of Aura, looking curiously at it. He said nothing as his mind was elsewhere at the time. Anyone could've guessed what questions were going through his mind. What was he thinking, seeing the statue of Aura as he just floated in front of it. As he did, the group soon walked right through the door.
"Hey, everyone quiet. Look." Hope said seeing Tri-edge still looking at Aura's statue.
"Its tri-edge. But why is he interested in the statue?" Haseo asked. " It doesn't really matter. I can finally get my revenge.".
"Alright, it doesnt look like he's noticed us yet. Lets hit him while hes looking at Aura's Statue. Kiryu, snipe him." Hope said.
"Right." Kiryu said getting his Anti-material rifle. He quickly aimed and pulled the trigger, sending a bullet right to Tri-edges head but Tri-Edge was quick as he knocked the bullet away.
"So much for the element of surprise." Asuna said.
Tri-Edge then rose its arms as monsters appeared around it.
"He's a lot more skilled than we thought." Kirito said.
"Looks like hes ready to throw down. Lets give him a fight, guys. Charge!" Jexi said.
The group ran straight at Tri-edges forces before Tri-edge turned his head again. This time, Skeith appeared behind him.
"Skeith is here too?" Ulrich said.
"I didn't know he came back." Hope said. As soon as Skeith had appeared, so did familiar jellyfish like entities.
"AIDA!" Haseo said.
Before they could take on both of them at once, Tri-edge teleported away.
"Coward! Come back and fight!" Bass said.
"Looks like Tri-Edge must have finished whatever he came here to do." Spectra said.
"Now we just have to beat Skeith and find some way to get him back into Haseo as an avatar." Blackrose said.
But before any fighting could happen, robots appeared near the entrance along with a man with cyan hair in silver body armor and an eyepatch.
"Okay, he's new." Indigo said.
"Heh heh, heh heh heh.' He said.
"Aaaand I cant already tell hes crazy… wait a minute…" Rainbow said looking something up. "Guys, thats Hayato Kanzaki!"
"I already knew that." Hiryu said.
"Hayato?" Hope asked.
"Remember when we talked about the 4th Empire? You're looking at the man who slayed its leader." Commando said.
"He took out Edward Bilstein, one of the top villains on the wanted list all on his own?" Jexi said.
"Sure did. Guys a skilled member of the Star Gladiators, another hero team from the future." X said.
"Hold up guys, I dont think hes here to help. If hes with vectors… hey, Hayato! Whats goin on? Why are you with 4th emprire cronies?" Rainbow said.
"Hayato Kanzaki? Heh heh, that man no longer exists.' Hayato said.
"Wait, what?" Hope said.
"Hold it!" shouted a voice. Before them warped in a girl in pink with a weird hairdo. "You're still you, Hayato!"
Star Gladiators
June Lin Milliam
"That woman… I never thought she'd make it this far." Hayato said.
"Ohmygosh, youre June Lin Milliam of the Star Gladiators! Can I have your autograph?" Rainbow asked.
"Hayato! Remember who you are!" June said.
"Who he is?" Hope said. "Wait, is she saying Hayato's not himself?"
"No. He was investigating these weird black bubbles and he touched them. He's been acting different since." June said.
"AIDA! Hes been infected!" Haseo said.
Suddenly Hayato clutched his head.
"Wh-what?! Argh, my head!" Hayato said.
"Hayato?!" June asked.
"Whoa, it looks like somethings fighting whatever's controlling his body." Jexi said.
"No! This is my own body now, Hayato! Get back down there. I am going to kill that girl so I, Black Hayato, can get full control." Hayato said.
"Its almost like he's got two personalities." Fiora said.
"AIDA signature rising. I sense the current entities here are calling reinforcements." KOS-MOS said as weird monsters appeared in the form of yetis and other weird creatures.
"Hey! Monsters from Basel!" Vashyron said.
"But why are they giving off the same signature?" Tails asked.
"I think its obvious. Those monsters have been infected by AIDA too." Kite said.
"Will getting rid of the bubbles bring Hayato back?" June asked.
"Yeah, but first we gotta knock out so that we can get the AIDA. That said, we'll help you out." Hope said.
"Getting in my way, are you?" B. Hayato said drawing a Plasma sword. "Dont dog me any more, or else I'll kill you!"
"Not happening, faker." Hope said.
June then created a Plasma Ring in response to this.
"RIght, I swear I'll get Hayato back, even if it means risking my life!" June said
Chapter 15: Echoes in Eternity
"You guys handle Hayato. Me and Kite are going after Skeith." Haseo said. "I'm getting my avatar back no matter what."
"Aty, back em up. June, stay with us and we'll dog pile Hayato's own army." Hope said.
"I wasn't planning to leave. I want him back just as badly." June said.
"Alright, youre a star gladiator, right?" Rainbow said. "Well I guess its showtime!"
"Right! So lets go you two!" June said.
Battle Start:
"Gymnastics and a Plasma Ring, your styles almost as unique as mine, june!" Kaguya said.
"Thanks. If you want, I can give you guys a few lessons in gymnastics after this is over." June said.
"I'm already good at sports. So I think I'll pass." Rainbow said.
Ready...Fight!
The two opened up a path straight through the Basel monsters and sliced through one of the AIDA's like butter. Hayato then compacted the two with his own blade as they cut and clashed all around the chapel. June then leapt into action.
"Check this out!"
June leapt into the battle attacking them with gymnastics as well as her plasma ring. She also looked more cheerful and having fun than before.
"It is a delightful orb of darkness!"
She then used her ring as she laid on some finishing attacks before swinging away from the battle. Rainbow then knocked Hayato's sword away and punched him in the face, knocking him down.
KO!
End Battle:
"Excellent work. If you two werent heroes and a princess, I'd sign you up for the Star Gladiators." June said.
"I'm more of a sporty and rocker girl than one to use Plasma weapons, really." Rainbow said.
"And I have responsibilities back home." Kaguya said.
"Gah. Ahh!" Hayato screamed as he held his head.
"I think we got him. Snap out of it, Now!" Beck said doing the snap out thing before seeing Hayato knock the wave away.
"What? He knocked it away?" Beck said in shock.
"What's happening...to my head? Gaaah!" Hayato screamed as he grabbed his sword and ran off.
"Hayato! Hang on, I'll…" June said.
"Hold it, miss! We cant have a pretty lady like you get infected too." Vashyron said.
"Well find a way to save him, one way or the other." Commando said.
"Yeah. As long as you have hope in him, we can save him." Sora said.
Hope then turned to Skeith.
"Oh, youre still here? Didnt realize." Hope said running to him and hitting him in his husky face, dodging Skeith's sword as he pulled back.
"Nice move, but we'll take it from here." Haseo said as he, Kite and Aty engaged seith.
Battle Start:
"We got company. Back me up, Atoli! Wait, you're not Atoli." Haseo said.
"Now, now, Haseo, no picking on your teacher." Aty said.
"Heh. Bet you thought The World would keep you safe from school discipline." Kite said.
Ready..FIGHT!
Kite and Haseo laid into Skeith, doing more damage as they crossed blades. Aty then came in.
"You dont wanna be on a teacher's bad side."
She came out swinging with Shardtos and comboed in summoning her signature beasts before raising her sword in the air.
"This power is to protect those precious to me."
Aty then transformed as she hit Skeith with a huge beam of light before Kite and Haseo went in.
Special Attack: Data Drain
Kite and Haseo went in as they laid waste upon Skeith as Kite struck with his daggers while Haseo hit with his twin swords before Kite activated his bracelet.
"This is the power of the Twilight Bracelet!"
Data then flew from it as it went to Skeith.
"Data….DRAIN!"
The data soon exploded and sent him flying.
KO!
End Battle:
"I wonder if this battle's ever gonna end?" Kite said.
"Just take it easy. Keep walking ahead and never give up." Aty said.
"At a walking pace, huh? Hah. Yeah, great." Haseo said.
Skeith just floated there for a minute, looking at Haseo before logging out.
"That looking at me...I'm sure of it now. That Skeith is my avatar!" Haseo said.
"Yeah, I see it, it must be yours." Hope said.
Later…
"I think weve uncovered alot about whats happening in the future. A lot of the criminals formerly working for Meio and Scumocide are coming out of the woodwork and have somehow allied themselves with an even greater evil...Shadaloo." Commando said.
"Yeah. It was evident enough when we saw Tong Pooh with Bison back on Zenobia." Naoto said.
"And their using robots from the 4th empire." Hiryu said.
"And now Hayato's been infected by AIDA. It explains what has been happening to him, what with the headaches…" June said.
"This is really becoming complicated. Lots of mysteries and plans are intertwining." Hope said.
"It's just becoming all one big mystery, it is." Neneko said.
"Bass, you were with T-elos for a while, can you tell us anything about their plans?" Yang asked.
"Well, I don't know what they're planning exactly, but I do know one thing. Two of those...Ouma members, was it? They have ulterior motives for joining them." Bass said.
"Two of them?" Hope asked.
"Yes. The red monster, Zavok and the info broker, Izaya." Bass said.
"I knew it." Hope said.
"Only one option, we head back to Shibuya and figure out what Ouma's up too." Reiji said.
"And since this is R:1 of the world, i think I know someone who can help." Indigo said.
"Aura, you mean? Is she even real?" Haseo said before a ghostly girl in a white dress appeared.
"I am real. For after all, I am here now, arent i?" she said.
World Protector
Aura
"Aura!" Kite said.
"Kite. I want to thank you. There was some sort of bug keeping me from interacting, but thanks to you, it was removed." Aura said.
"Uh...I didn't do anything." Kite said.
"Oh. But the person who removed it looked so much like you." Aura said.
"Wait, Tri-edge? He must've.." Hope said.
"Removed the bug from Aura's system. But….why would he do that? Isn't he trying to destroy the World?" Ulrich asked.
"I dunno. But.. this brings us to the next question. Can you log us outta here so we can get back to Shibuya?" Kirito asked.
"Yes. I believe I can." Aura said.
"Good enough for me. Everyone in the dragon turtle." Hope said as they piled in. Outside though, they didnt notice four shapes coming their way.
"Hurry, hurry! Under the car, gob!" one said.
"Now be warned, this trip might feel shaky. The World has been through a lot already." Aura said.
As they logged out, the four were already under the car.
"This is the day we have our revenge, gob. Those heroes will rue the day they humiliated us back then, back in that….graveyard...place. Gob." one of them said.