Welcome to the end! It's been a long journey, but here we are. I've done my best. And regardless of my skills, I'm glad to have written this. To have went through with it. I hope you all enjoyed the fic as much as I have writing it. I have many flaws, but this fic has greatly helped me realize my weaknesses and how to improve. If nothing else, I can find solace in that. There will still be a few more after story chapters coming, so look forward to that!

Review answering!

Daxmvarg: I have to agree, although I'd argue that from the beginning, my story has been strictly following the canon plot. I just had more ways to make it interesting, like changing the format, moments of reprieves and everything. But yeah, my writing did fell off at the end, and that's really bad, and I apologize. I'll do my best to keep you entertained with the rest of the story.

Guest: 1: Yes. 2: Yes. Jack killed many of her hosts, but he can't kill her. When Jack became host, he almost got consumed entirely by the demon, like how White was by the angel. But he didn't, he kept his soul and consciousness thanks to Victoria. So it's not Old World magic that almost killed him. 3: I like to keep it as it is and let the reader decide for themselves, because it's not a big issue. But if you insist...my headcanon is that he saw the Empress. 4: The gun was also used to...kill 6O. So Jack has it, and I definitely haven't forgot. You'll see.

Reasonable man: Really, thank you for your support through this entire journey. It's been a pleasure.

Peanuckle: As mentioned above, I rarely make drastic changes from the original. But this case, it seemed extra boring because I split all the different stuff into this chapter here, so last chapter was pretty dull. Still, it's valid criticism, and I certainly need more practice.

Thank you for sticking with me through everything! Hopefully, I'll win back some with the afterstories.

Okay! Enough of that, time to get on with the story. The end is here, and it's been a pleasure. Please favorite this story of you enjoyed it, and I'll have the afterstory up soon, I actually enjoy writing those!

Enjoy the chapter!


It troubles her.

She and him were supposed to be equal in power. Of course, their power can only manifest through a vessel, a host, and the quality of that host determines their current power. But most of the time, they were evenly matched.

Until Jack came along.

The first few times they fought, she lost, but they were close fights. She caused a great deal of trouble for him, but she lost nonetheless. That was alright. Jack was hailed as one of the most compatible host for "it" to date. Of course she was expecting a challenge. She can wait. She can fight again. But gradually...she lost her grip. Her advantages. For a mere human, somehow...Jack had defeated her. Her fights against him became one-sided. Jack sometimes would disembowel her mere minutes into the fight.

Then...his abilities evolved.

Things that weren't supposed to be possible became possible.

Creatures of the dark stands in the light.

What has happened? How could a mere human wield this power to such extent?

It hasn't tried anything for a long time now.

Was it satisfied with Jack? Seeing what he could do?

Or was it too, locked out from doing anything?

A human...

...

Why a human?

They have fought up this tower. More accurately, Jack pushed her all the way up this tower.

A tower full of light. A location she would have the overwhelming advantage, and he's pushing her back.

Nothing has changed. All she had to do was get him with this lance, and he's dead. Purge him with her light.

Yet everything has changed.

He survived more than one stab. He's still fighting.

What is she missing?

Why did it chose a human?

Why is a human the best host for both of them?

Using a volley of feathers, she bombarded him.

He immediately blew away the feathers with his lasers, and dodges the rest.

Summoning her magic, she created columns of purifying white light.

Light that would scorch him from existence.

But he would cleverly close the distance, disregarding his safety, and forcing her to cancel that pillar of light, else she would be in her own attack.

His weapon maybe well crafted, but it is by no means a weapon capable of killing her. Cruel Oath.

Even though the sword is merely but a weapon he carried from a friend, the name suits his existence well.

He swore an oath to keep going, to keep living. Keep enduring the hellish existence that is almost without end. A cruel gift granted to him by a girl that only wished the best for him.

The sword maybe unremarkable compared to her lance, but it clashes blow for blow.

"Enough!"-She broke away from him. Circling around their current battle ground, she prepares to swoop down, lance ready to skewer him.

The first time, Jack rolled away.

The second time, he lightly deflected the blade. He was hit by her, but the tip of the lance didn't connect.

The third time, one of those demonic creatures grabbed her lance, stopping her. It even tried to reel her back in, before she managed to twist out of its grip.

Doing a horizontal cleave, the shockwave from her strike etched deep into the ground, but it missed it's intended target.

"You'd think, after a few millennia, you'd learn."-Jack mocked her.

"Gruh..."-"White" evaded back and up again, creating distance.

She needs to recharge her strength.

"Running away?"

"Whether I retreat here has no meaning. This tower is filled with light. As you are right now, you cannot kill me here."-He does not have a weapon that can kill her, unlike she has for him. He'd have to drag her into darkness to have a chance of winning.

How would he do that in such a light filled place?

"Stop wasting my time. And give me back the hard drive."-Jack growled, and she can see his heavy breaths.

Seems like he's getting tired too. And he's being exhausted at a faster rate, she'd assume. He is in a tower of light, after all. And the stab wound she gave him earlier was slowing him down as well.

If she continues to draw him around like this...she just might wear him down enough to land the killing blow.

And that's why Jack's pressing his advantage. He wants to end it early, before the advantages shifts to her side.

She saw through him now.

As she was about to leave, another one of those Goliath Machine landed between them.

Ro-Shi.

Seems like the network do want to interfere in this fight.

But she's not giving them the chance.

With a flap of her wings, "White" flew up, away from the battle.

Several of those filthy demonic tendrils tried to reach up to her, but she cut them down without fail.

The machine will be perfect at stalling him while she recharge her strength.

Perhaps they weren't completely useless after all.

With that, the angel left for the top of the Tower.


A2 and V6 fought off Ko-Shi, as they were on the lift leading to the Tower's peak.

"How is this damn thing still kicking?!"-A2 hissed as she slashed the core to one of those linked sphere machines that was acting as Ko-Shi's tendrils.

"I hear you, A2..."-V6 had to agree. How damn persistent is this thing?

"Speculation: It is driven by the remaining data within the enemy machine's server."

"Seriously...?"-It's much more heavily armored compared to other models. And it's hacking defenses are rather top notch too.

V6 had only managed to perform rather crude hacks to impede Ko-Shi. Still, it's working. They are fending them off.

In the distance, A2 noticed a different sight.

Jack, gripping on to Ro-Shi with one of his eels, is also coming up to the tower's peak. And apparently he'll reach it first.

"We...are..."-Ko-Shi started speaking-"Network...An...droids..."

"Bonds...are lost. Someone...This hole...Fill in this hole."

"What is it rambling about?"-A2 kicked Ko-Shi, actually made it lose its grip slightly.

"It appears to be a leak of the enemy's past memories."

Meanwhile, Jack was playing surfing with Ro-Shi. The machine's pulling him along, but it's still trying to impede him. He's not getting to the top easily.

"I believed you. I believed you. I beLIEved you."

"Become a god. Become a god. Who has become?"

"Not me."-Jack tried to further grapple on to Ro-Shi, but all the projectiles' clearly making it difficult for him.

That, and a squad of infected YoRHa with flight units.

"Pod, M shield!"

Pod 079 complied, casting a shield over Jack, blocking the flight units' shots, while he used his demonic tendrils to whip them away and toss them around like cheap toys.

He's almost at the top...

"Gruh..."-All this is burning his strength.

She was right in her assessment.

He's being worn down at a faster rate than she is.

But that doesn't mean he's going to lose.

And speaking of her...

Jack saw a trail of light coming in from the side.

It was "White", thrusting her lance and about to skewer him.

"Shit!"-Jack twisted his body, the lance actually did touch him, scratching his right arm.

Ro-Shi turned into it's sphere form again, as it jumps up, reaching the top, and landing there with a steely thud.

Jack didn't exactly land properly. He reached out for Pod with his left arm, Pod 079 quickly aided him, but Jack still tumbled some distance as he landed, the scratch wound searing him, the pain so high Jack thought his flesh was sizzling.

Letting out a pained huff, Jack struggled to get up again.

"Your arrogance is not unfounded, but stupid nonetheless."-Challenging her here? In a tower filled with light? He really must be mad.

"Urghah..."-Jack used Cruel Oath for support in order to get to his feet.

The angel really didn't like that. Of course, she didn't land a solid hit, it was only a scratch wound, but it made her second guess herself.

Just how many strikes will it takes to kill him?

What used to be only one has turned into at least three.

They were interrupted by Ko-Shi sliding into the floor, with A2 and V6 chasing after it.

The white haired android catch a glimpse of Jack's exhausted form.

Before she could speak, Jack already called out to her.

"Stay back!"-He'd bark.

That just about angers A2 enough to slap him with B-mode active.

"HAH?!"

"This isn't your fight, A2! Don't go in!"

The angel in White's body chuckled.

"Listen to him, girl. Do you really think you can do anything against me?"

"You listen here you prissy ass bitch! I'm going to shove this fist so far up your rear you are going to never dare go near Jack again!"

"Just stay out of this, A2!"-Jack shot back-"You can't fight her. Just finish up with the Tower!"

"I didn't come all this way for you to play the hero now, jackass!"-A2 yelled back.

Met with a direct order from a human, yet stubbornly refuses. Androids are strange indeed.

V6 was about to raise her voice, mostly to calm A2 down, but as they were getting closer to Jack and his fight, their path was blocked, as Ko-Shi and Ro-Shi connected into one machine.

"Really?!"-A2 took a step back angrily as she drew her sword.

With A2 and V6 stalled by Ko-Shi and Ro-Shi, the two anomalous being resumed their fight.

With a raise of her lance, the angel summoned pillars of pure light to smite Jack.

The pillars scorched the ground where it touches, and around them, white feathers from her wings spreads.

Jack weaved through the light pillars, and reached the angel with one of the demonic eels.

Grabbing her ankle, Jack dragged her down to his level, toss her into the ground, and even took hold of her wings.

"White" managed to break free of that hold, and thrusted her lance forward, forcing Jack back, and actually pushed him into one of her feathers.

The feather exploded, pushing Jack forward lightly, but he deflected the deadly lance tip with his sword, all the while angling that sword to cleave at "White" hip, unbalanced her as he moved past her, then turned around for a vertical chop.

The sword couldn't go through her wings.

Using her wings, the angel brushed Jack aside, sending him flying back a good distance.

She didn't notice any of his tendrils trying to grab hold of her.

But she didn't expect a small chain to wrap around her neck and pulled her along, the angel actually face-planted, a rather comical sight.

Pod Program Wire.

She was only looking out for his demonic abilities, completely forgetting he learned new tricks.

And as it turns out, while a demonic eel and a chain could sometimes fulfill the same purpose, the way they behave can throw you off.

Jack meanwhile, casted another program. Pod program Spear.

From the ground, multiple spears protruded, impaling "White" as she was laying there.

The angel responded by barraging him with a feather storm again.

Jack summoned the large demon arm to swipe away most of them all the while charging forward.

The two clashed blade a couple of times, in a deadlock.

"You...despicable human mortal..."-"White" hissed as they grind lance against sword-"How...is it...that you have gained this much power?"

The exhausted man before her only grinned.

"Of course you wouldn't know."

Breaking the deadlock, Jack used Pod Wire to grab onto the lance in her grasp, while he steps back, pulling the lance with him.

Of course, "White" wasn't going to let that happen. She flew forward and chases after Jack, slacking the chain and angling the spear to thrust through him.

"Pod."-Jack raised his hand.

Pod 079 immediately flew in to support, grabbing Jack's hand and pulling him to the side, dodging the attack.

Along the way, Jack copied a move he saw 2B made, doing a spin kick that sent the angel reeling in pain.

"Impudent host!"-She swiped the lance in reaction, but the attack was light and predictable.

Jack wrestled the lance from her grip, and ran it right through her.

"ARGH!"-That sent "White" stumbling back a few steps, giving him a reprieve.

Even here.

Even surrounded by light, Jack was still doing it.

He was still beating her.

Prying the lance out of her, "White" hissed.

"How is it...that a human...could do this?"

A lowly, frail human.

"You still ask that question?"-Jack replied through his panting breath.-"Even after you saw everything here. You saw androids wanting to become human. You saw machine wanting to become human. Why is it so? What's so special about human that everyone around seeks to become one?"

That's right. Humans are weak, frail and often stupid. For the majority of their species' existence, they were little more than animals, huddle around campfires, afraid. But despite their weakness, they have risen to become a species that dominated the planet.

Human hosts were always best.

"That's because we humans have something you don't."

"...?"

Humans? Have something she doesn't?

"Humans are weak."-Jack breathes out the answer-"Because they are weak, they understand what true strength is. Because the are weak, they seek to refine their knowledge, their techniques. Someone like you, who has power from start to finish, wouldn't understand. Wouldn't seek to learn. Your light is stagnated."

Stagnated?

She's...stagnated?

"White" hissed out a breath.

"Arrogant little host...If we're talking stagnant, haven't you held on to that power long enough? Haven't you let it all be about you long enough already?"

"Maybe. But to you, my existence is still short lived. I will die one day. To you, or to something else. And you can start your game with this thing inside of me again. But I won't just give up my life."

Jack is "not entirely human". He said this.

Both physically and philosophically.

He is powerful, a demigod by many definition. He doesn't require all these things normal humans need to survive. Someone like him...can't say he truly has an untainted humanity in his core. He was born as one, experienced life as one, yes, but his existence is far from what a normal human would be like.

But he clung on to his humanity.

He refuse to give it up. Even when it cause him pain. Even if it means he'll wander through a cycle of suffering and torment. He refuses to give up that shred of humanity.

Because that is the gift Victoria had given him.

Hosts weren't supposed to retain their consciousness or soul. They were supposed to be completely taken over.

But Jack was given a chance. And he took it.

Turns out, having humanity is not a weak thing.

No.

It makes you stronger.

Still...

"You'll die here, Jack. You have brazenly, idiotically walked into your defeat. I will smite you from existence. Your soul will be burned away by my light."

"...Let's see then."-Jack tiredly raises Cruel Oath.

Even now he still held that smirk.

"White" swooped in for another thrust of her lance.

But, unexpectedly, a katana entered her vision.

"GRAHHHH ! ! ! ! ! !"-A red blur entered their vision, as A2 jumped in, interrupting the attack with Faith.

She then brought down the Type 40 blade in her other hand, about to crush "White" with that large sword.

Before the attack connects, the angel blasted both A2 and Jack away with a shockwave of light, sending them tumbling back.

By the time they stopped, Jack and A2 was in a strangely comical position, where Jack was on top of her.

Jack did a split second check of the battle. Ko-Shi and Ro-Shi laid there, separated and destroyed. Seems like A2 and V6 took care of that.

V6 seems like she's exhausted herself, needing to catch her wind back.

Then he refocuses on the white haired android below him.

"Why the hell did you jump in!"

"Why the hell not, dipshit!"-A2 shot back.

"This is my fight! Why can't you understand that?!"

"What! I'm just dead weight in this fight?! Just going to stand by and watch how it goes?!"

"A2!"

"WHAT?!"

"I CAN'T LOSE YOU! ! !"-Jack shouted in her face. There, he said it. The cheesy, corny line. He said it.-"She's not someone you can just sass at then defeat! It's not your fight! I can't...I can't let you endanger yourself like that."

Cheesy, corny. He felt so cringy he thought someone shoved a bag of sugar into his mouth.

But it's true.

He...can't lose A2.

"Since when did I ask you to protect me, huh?"-A2 hissed as she pushed Jack off-"You don't get to tell me what to do, jackass! I'm fighting, and that's that! I'm not letting you die either!"

"...Gruh..."-Jack groaned, his wounds really still hurt.

"You are absolutely shit at playing the hero, you know that?"

"He's...not exactly the best at these situation, yeah."-V6 had come over to them, clearly tired and weak.-"Sorry, Jack, but you can't hope to let A2 just sit by and watch. She's not the type. And...I'm not the type either."

"This...is my business. I can't involve you two."-Jack was surprised he was even concerned about V6. Then again, the machine unit has a habit of earning his unconscious trust and care.

"Just shut up about it and tell us how we can defeat her. Or is the all powerful Jack doesn't have a plan?"-A2 mocked.

Jack just growled in response.

There wasn't a second where he had any of those romantic vibe about the situation. Some "it's my problem too" moment.

No.

Jack is absolutely pissed.

Why the hell is A2 so damn stubborn?!

"You're just as stubborn, idiot! Why can't you just accept our help already?"

A2 has been learning how to read him, he realized.

"...She's inhabiting an android body. That's mean she is vulnerable to hacking."-V6 skipped discussing with Jack and went straight to planning with A2.-"If you can stall her, I can maybe see to it. EMPs should work too."

"Hey..."

"Then...I just have to buy time, right?"

"I'm...I'm sure there are ways to cut her consciousness from her powers. If there's a large EMP surge...it's possible that her defense will lower enough for me to hack in."

"Hey!"-Jack voiced again.

They aren't listening to him!

"An EMP..."

"This Pod is equipped with Pod Program Volt, capable of short circuiting the anomalous entity for a brief moment."-Even Pod 042 chimed in.

V6 considered that option, but found it sounded more like a mere second of stun lock, rather than a surge capable of breaking defenses.

"...That's not enough. We need something...more powerful."-V6 looked around, and found her solution-"I...have an idea."

"I'll give you time to get ready."-A2 drew her sword.-"Just sit pretty there, Jack. I'll take care of this."

"Yeah...right..."-Jack used Cruel Oath for support as he got to his feet, groaning as he did, heaving a few breath to recollect himself.-"I'm far from done."

He has no choice now. He'll have to let A2 and V6 help him.

"You sure?"-A2 still mocked.

"You know I have a pretty high endurance."

The white haired android rolled her eyes at that.

"Besides. I have a trick up my sleeve as well."


"Finished talking?"-The angel asked as A2 and Jack step forward.

She couldn't care less what they planned. No matter how they squirm, eventually she'll win. That's the advantage of this location.

She didn't mind waiting either. Waiting means she can recharge her strength. And she's recharging faster than Jack is.

That's all that's needed...

Right?

And that foolish android...if she had been a good little android and cast aside the humanity, emotions and feelings of her creators, she would live.

"Do you really think a mere android can harm me?"

"I don't need to. You're going to be my punching bag."-A2 raised Faith.

If Jack knew anything about A2, it's that her swordplay is absolutely amazing to see.

But for it to be effective, she has to find the opening, and doesn't have to always play defense.

That's where he comes in, Jack suppose.

Just like always. He provides the back line support, while A2 fights in front.

Normally, he'd be against the idea, but just so happens...

Jack stared at the sword in her hand. A beautiful katana that reminded him of someone else.

He figured it's fair that A2 gets to hold it now.

She doesn't have angelic or demonic powers, ancient old world magic, undying body or anything.

But what she does have is a full +8 diamond chip set, a Berserker Mode.

And sass. Lots of it.

"You're going to show me a good time?"-The white haired android taunted.

"I'll show you a much better time than what he could offer you."-The angel responded with a grin herself.

"Hm...I doubt that."

A2 rushed forward, and clashed blade with "White".

The angel spread her wings before the android, about to barrage her with a storm of feathers.

But the barrage was instantly shot down by lasers from Jack.

"White" only had half a second to give a scornful glance to her real target, before her attention was brought down to her current opponent.

Which was starting to glow red.

With a burst of energy, A2 activated B-mode, pushing the angel back a good distance.

"White" responded, thrusting back with her golden lance, but A2 perfectly evaded to the side, and countered with her sword, launching them to the air, before using her Type 40 fist to deliver an uppercut, launching them up even higher.

"Pod!"

"Affirmative."-Pod 042 casted Volt, shocking the angel inhabiting an android, stunning her in mid-air.

A2 then evaded backwards mid-air, before correcting herself forward and doing a twist as she spins Faith in for a heavy attack.

As soon as the blade hits, the white haired android disappeared into Mirage Program, cutting "White" with a barrage of strike.

And just to add in an ender, A2 used her Type 40 Blade to smash the angel to the ground, and tossed down Program Wave just to keep her down.

"You...fight with passion, I see."-The angel got back up again.

"Hell yeah I am! I get to smash White's face in, and I get to do it as long as I can!"-A2 taunted again-"Is that all you got?"

"You may rejoice, but the damage you've done to me means little."-All of the damages has been healed.-"This ends here, doll."

"White flapped her wings once again, pushing A2 back.

Summoning pillars of light, she attempts to do something close to an orbital barrage.

Shield programs are useless against this, and there's no perfect evasions.

But A2 weaved side to side, dodging the pillars and even managed to get close to the angel.

Of course, she has little movement options, and "White" could easily strike with her lance.

But just as she did that, A2 changed the course of her dash, her advance nothing but a feint, as "White" saw behind her...a wide open demonic eel's mouth, lunging at her.

It grabbed her by the lance, pulling her forward.

A2 meanwhile, did a heavy forward stab from behind, piercing her with Faith and pinned her to the ground.

"Hey! It's my turn now!"-She'd hear Jack's voice.

"Hell no! I'm not done with the bitch!"

"Well I'm the one who can actually deal damage to her! Are you seriously trying to mess me up as well?!"

"Try and get her, jackass!"

And Jack did. He pulled both A2 and White along, throwing them back like rag dolls.

Luckily, A2 jumped off the wild ride, landing just a distance away from Jack, while "White" was thrown all the way to the other side of the floor.

The eel returned to it's position near Jack, dropping into his hand the hard drive it snatched out of the angel's grasp.

She recovered mid-air, landing on the ground with an amount of cheeky gracefulness.

The androids may play around, but she'll never do damage to her.

"No, but I will."-There was a voice from behind her.

Turning around, she was met with V6, hand raised at her.

"What can you possibly hope to achieve?"

"...You draw power from the light. That's why you're so cocky here. In this tower, you are invincible."

"That's right. Your efforts may as well be futile."

"But you possess an android body. And guess what."

"White" looked to her sides.

She was standing between the defeated Ko-Shi and Ro-Shi.

"You are vulnerable to what androids would."

Through the process of digitizing her consciousness, the angel has locked herself into a body of an android.

Of course, she'll heal through anything through her powers, but that's not what V6 is trying to do.

She needed that opening.

The memories and data inside Ko-Shi and Ro-Shi, she's going to force it to overload.

An EMP blast using them.

"White" just recognized what happened, before Ko-Shi and Ro-Shi released the energy surge.

"AURAGHHHHH! ! ! !"-She screamed out as the pulse hits.

The heavy point blank EMP forced the angel to reboot.

And that was the opening V6 needed to hack in.


Inside the hacking space, V6 was met with a hologram of herself once more.

"If you do this, you're guarantee to be next."

"I know."

"And what will you do?"

"I...already got a plan figured out."

"Is that alright?"

"...Yeah. This is something only I can do. Only me..."

"Funny."


System Report

Personality AI updated.

Synchronization to target: 99.98%.


"What...did you do?!"-"White" hissed and screamed out at V6.

"...Heheh..."-V6 smiled through her exhausted pants. That hack took pretty much everything out of her.-"I cut your consciousness from your power source..."

Similar to cutting a core unit from the Machine Network.

"YOU IMPUDENT MACHINE LIFEFORM!"-The angel lifted her lance.

She was separated from her source, but the angel still had plenty of energy left.

V6, in comparison...

As the lance was brought down, 2 swords moved in to block the attack.

Faith and Cruel Oath.

Jack and A2 had protected her.

"Grah!"-A2 pushed forward, kicking the angel away.

"White" angrily flapped her wings, floating to the center of the area, directly over the cannon's mouth.

She has enough energy. She'll nuke this place. The Tower, the host, those unruly robots.

Everything.

The angel let out a ground shaking scream, as she summoned a barrage of light pillars once more.

"Shit...She's going to take every thing here with her!"

"Classic tactic..."-A2 growled.

It's up to Jack and A2 to stop her before she goes nuclear.

It's up to them now...V6 thought as she collapsed.

She did her part. She gave them the opportunity.

The opening.

Her consciousness fade between the barrage of light and feathers, between the battle she couldn't see, in her position on the ground.

In the end...even choosing her own path...choosing to be a different person...

Brought up her synchronization.

She's... still Victoria. Through and through.

She doesn't have Victoria's memories...but she'll still behave exactly like her.


System Report

Synchronization to target: 99.99%.

Infection progress: 93%.


A distinct sound brought her out of her daze.

Everything had stopped.

The fighting stopped.

An eerie silence.

She still here. Everything's still here...

The angel hasn't self-destructed yet.

So...what happened?

V6 mustered her strength to look.

And there she saw it.

The angel, clutching her shoulder.

Jack and A2, still okay.

In Jack's hand...a gun, the barrel still smoking.

It was an unassuming weapon.

It didn't look like something that'd be able to deal damage to an angel. It didn't had the aesthetic, no engraving, no gem, no feeling of power to it.

Just a gun.

But it did.

V6 wondered what was Jack's plan when he entered the Tower. He knows he's at an disadvantage.

She realized it now.

He was looking for that shot.

"W...what..."-The angel croaked out.

"All you knew...were weapons and power. Enough power to brute force your way through. Artifacts that would kill me, as is dictated."-Jack spoke.

"...Guh...how..."

"I don't need to search for an artifact to kill you...I don't."

"..."

"We use guns nowadays. Get on with the trend, will ya?"

With that, Jack pulled the trigger again.

Something so simple.

A blast of purple energy shot out, piercing the angel's chest.

Her wings began to de-materialize, fragmenting away like dust.

"Ah..."

She failed again...

And this time...

It's going take a long time to come back.

Perhaps an eternity.

Perhaps never.

"Is this...death?"

She didn't get to ponder much else, as she fell down the Tower.


It's finally over.

Jack had won...

They just have to stop the tower from firing.

If only they weren't also on the tower, otherwise Jack would wholeheartedly agreed to the angel's solution.

So...now it's just the tower left.

...

"Auhh!"-They heard a yelp from V6.

"?"-Both of them turned around to see her.

To say both of them were shocked was...an understatement.

"V...6?"

"Eheheheh...I...I guess this is my limit."-V6 spoke, her eye glowing red.

The logic virus?

"How?!"-Jack rushed to her side, A2 following closely.

"...It...it was when...I removed the virus...from A2."

All the way from back then...

"I...I deleted the angel's program in A2...but the virus grappled onto me instead."

"V6..."-A2 couldn't believe it. The bluenette actually sacrificed herself in order for her to live...

Just like...

Number 21...

"Pod! Hack in, we have to delete this virus."

"Infection rate estimated at 97%. Removal near impossible."

"Just SHUT UP AND DO IT!"-A2 yelled.

"..."-V6 shook her head, smiling kindly.-"Pod can't do it. I've tried constantly. All I could do...was stem its progress. Slow it down. So...so that I could...be with you...a bit longer."

"Why? Why stay with me? I..."

"...There was a promise."-She smiled.

That smile...

That sentence...

"...Victoria?"

"..."

"Victoria? Is that you?"-Jack choked.

"Oh...silly, silly Jack..."-She panted out-"I...I'm not her...remember?"

"...But..."

"I'm...just...a ghost that came to haunt you...just..."

"...Right...you..."-Jack lifted his voice, his tone shows a rare...kindness.-"You're V6. Not someone else. You're...just...V6."

"..."

V6 smiled, tears coming out from her glowing red eyes.

"Yes...I'm...V6. The one and only."

"..."-Jack wasn't the type to cry. He thought his tears dried out after the first thousand of years walking this Earth.

But...he was slowly breaking down to sob.

He's crying...V6 would laughed. Crying for a false existence like her...

"A...2."-V6 called out.-"I...want you...to do have this."

She offered her sword. The Engine Blade.

Her consciousness was fading. The virus was taking over.

Stumbling, with her hand clenched into a fist, A2 took a step forward.

Their time together was short lived. Yet...A2 had came to trust this core machine unit.

They've worked together. Talked. Helped each other.

And now...

"Be sure to...keep an eye on Jack, okay? He can be a out right dummy at times..."

"I...I will. I'll reign this idiot in. Don't worry."-A2 accepted the sword.

"Mn...you two...should leave..."-V6's memory data was leaking.-"I'll...stay here."

"..."

"I still...have something I need to do."

She'll bring this Tower down...

"Good bye, V6..."-A2 smiled through her blurry eyes.

She's crying now too...damn it...

Damn it all...

"V6..."-Jack also croaked out.

"I...I maybe just a replica of her...but...I loved you just as much as she did, Jack."-V6 smiled.

"..."

"Good bye, Jack. Be safe, okay?"


Fatal Error Detected.

Memory Leak Verified.

...I'm here, amidst a blinding white light.

I...can't feel anything.

Is this...the end?

It's...warm.

A replica of a girl...thrown into all this...made to cause suffering and pain.

That was me.

That is who I was supposed to be.

I'm...alone now.

This Tower...is a colossal cannon aimed at the moon server.

It was made to destroy all hope for androids. For the hope of their creators' survival.

That was the Red Girls' plan.

N-1's plan.

But...they changed their minds.

They saw him. A demigod who refuse to give up his humanity.

They saw me. A machine born for nothing but pain...come to find my own existence.

They saw the androids. They saw 2B, 9S, A2. They saw how the androids lived.

And they...changed their mind. They changed what they think about the meaning of existence.

They pondered it.

And they came to a conclusion.

This tower...won't fire artillery.

Instead...it fires an ark.

A ship filled with the thought of foolish, foolish machines.

A ship that will take them...to a new world.

There is nothing left for them here. No meaning for them to stay.

Perhaps they'll just wander through the cosmos.

Perhaps they'll never reach their destination.

It's all the same to them.

Time is without end.

Time held little meaning.

I looked inside.

Adam and Eve were in the ark.

Fellow Core Units.

Adam held Eve in a tender embrace. Eve was asleep.

I never had any reason to hate them. Even more so now...

Adam's smile was devoid of any malice.

"Would you like to come with us?"

I thought about it.

His question was sincere.

Slowly...I force out my response, through my weak lips.

"I'll..."


System Report.

Synchronization rate: 100%.


The Tower soon fell.

It broke apart.

But just before it collapsed...

A ship was seen launching from it.

A spaceship launched just as the tower fell.


Pascal looked around.

His village...destroyed. Bodies of machine villagers...everywhere...

He...He'll have to clean this up.

It's going to take a while before he cleared away them all.

He gathered the destroyed cores, and puts them in a chest.

A chest he'll cherish...

A familiar sound can be heard.

The sound of a Small Stubby.

"Hello, Mister!"

"O-oh? Hello, young one. What is it that brings you here?"

"Mama...a nice lady told me to come here. I got a bit lost, but I'm here now!"

"Oh...I see! My...my name is Pascal. I'm the leader of this village."

"What's a village?"

"Well...I'm working on it. But a village...is where we can stay together. A family."


"I must look very silly right now."

"Why so, Pod 079?"

"I launched a suicide attack. Yet here I am...still...alive."

"Do not feel bad about it."-Pod 042 responded-"We are alive after all."

"Why did you two supported me?"-Pod 079 asked-"I did not requested for any support."

"We...realized something."-Pod 153 responded.-"We realized that we could no longer support Project YorHa. Project YoRHa is now deemed a failure. With that..."

"We...hoped that 2B and 9S would survive. So we too, needed to go against Project rules."-Pod 042 followed.

"That's when we found you. Struggling to dismantle the security system by yourself."

"I...am...embarrassed."

Pod 079 had two options.

One, destroy YoRHa Unit A2 and ensure Project YoRHa's success by all means.

Two, go against Project YoRHa's rules.

Both were suicidal options.

But...one clearly outweighs the other.

And so, Pod 079 challenged the system.

It could not settle for the resolution of Project YoRHa.

Not when Jack and White had given the Project new meaning.

"Do not worry. Living is a constant stream of embarrassment."

"Did the data salvage restore all of their past memories?"-Pod 079 asked. Its job was done, might as well asked about what the other two was doing.

"Yes."

"And the parts you recovered the same design as the previous ones?"

"Yes."

"Then...won't there be a possibility that it will lead us to the same outcome?"

"I cannot deny the possibility. However...there is also the possibility of a different future."

"A future...is not given to you. It is something...you must take for yourself."


This is the Council of Humanity, broadcasting from the surface of the moon.

We are extremely pleased to hear that the aliens and their machines lifeforms has been destroyed. The machine network is no more, and the remaining machines on Earth are scattered and disconnected. Victory is but a certainty at this point. On behalf of humanity, this Council would like to thank all androids on Earth, who have worked and fought tirelessly to bring an end to this menace.

However, it is truly regrettable that we must inform you of bad news.

Around some years ago...the moonbase was struck with a disaster. A plague began to spread across the human colony, it's lethality and virulence killed our kind day by day. The people responsible have been dealt justice, but we could not find a cure. At this point...our numbers left are low, and soon to also fall to the disease. YoRHa has graciously helped us with all they can, but...I'm afraid no amount of aid can save us now.

But...during these dark times...we've found hope. We've seen that this is not the end. We've been watching. And...we've seen how you androids lived. We've seen your struggles, your pain, your emotion. And we've realized something. So...we have decided to give you all something. Humanity's final order.

You are the children of humanity, and now, it is your duty to carry on our legacy. You have inherited the future, inherited our humanity. You will continue on in our place. In our footsteps. Humans may die today, but humanity isn't, and won't. Our legacy, we leave to you. The future, we entrust to you. Our humanity...you already have it. So go on, androids. You have fought tirelessly to keep this planet from the clutches of the aliens. It is yours now. You've deserved it. It is time we accept that our time has since passed, and the moment has come to pass the torch. You have inherited the future. What you make of it...is up to you now.

This will be the final broadcast from the moonbase.

Do not despair. This isn't the end.

It's a new beginning. You are free now. Live life as you see fit.

And of course...

Glory...To Mankind.


"Ah. You're here, finally. I was beginning think you wouldn't show up."

"And leave you to your procrastination? I wouldn't let the world suffer."-Jack sighed as he sat down across from the doctor.

They were back where it all began. Where A2 first found him.

The containment cell he was in.

"Finish with your business?"

"Yeah. So, did you have something you need of me?"

"Not really. I've been rather bored as of late. The Pestilence is gone, as humans are gone. I figured it'd be nice to see an old face."

"You were lonely?"

"I was bored, Jack. Don't twist my words."

"What do you plan to do now? Humans are long gone."

"Hm...I don't know. I've enjoyed this form quite a bit, but I suppose it's time I change that."

"You're about 11000 years late on this fashion awakening, but I welcome it nonetheless."

"Hm."

"...Did you knew? About Victoria?"

"About her disease? Yes, I...had a hunch. It's how it likes to do things."

"Could I have possibly stopped it?"

"I doubt it. It really is a shame. She was a wonderful girl."

"...I know."

"Well, even if it didn't happen, she'd still eventually succumb to death's embrace. Don't weigh it too heavily."

"..."

"What will you do now? The only human left in existence."

"...Well, I'm just going to go with it. See how it goes."

"Hm. Very you indeed."-The doctor suddenly stood up.

"Hm? You're done already? No catching up?"

"Yes, I've found an interest."

"Something that's not the Pestilence? Are you sure you aren't going mad?"

"Who said I was sane to begin with. I was just coming over to see if you're still fine. Now that I see you are fine, barring those wounds of yours, it's time I get back to my own business."

"I see. It's...great to see you again, doc. I'll see you around."

"Hm...maybe you will."

That was all the exchange they had.

Perhaps they would have prefer to talk more. Perhaps a discussion, like old times. Idle chats.

But this was fine too, Jack thought as he lit the smoke.

Damn this rusty chair...

Jack got off the chair and sat back on the ground, the same exact location he was in when A2 found him, leaning against the wall.

Absentmindedly, he pulled out the hard drive White gave him.

Plugging it in to the tablet, he was met with the password screen once more.

There was a pause, as he stared into the screen, before entering a password.

The word "ACCESS GRANTED" was all the answer he needed.

Having a look of the data, Jack smiled.

Setting the tablet down, he inhaled in another breath of smoke.

With a sigh, he breathes out a puff of smoke, as he sets the smoke down.

Damn, he's tired.

Maybe he should rest for a bit. It's been hectic, the last few days.

Slowly, he closes his eyes.

Yeah.

He's just going to...rest.

...

...

Until something presses on his face.

Hard.

"Ow...what the..."-He opened his eyes to see...heels. High heels.

"Jackass. I knew you'd be here. I just rest for 5 minutes, and you're gone."-A2 presses down with her heels still in his face.

"I was just...ow ow! Don't just step on my face like that!"-He was sure this was some kind of fetish, but he's not that type. Well...not now.

"We were looking for you. Next time, at least tell me where you were going. You worry the hell out of me!"

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry."-Jack pushed the heel away.-"We?"

"Yeah. We were looking for you."-A2 gestured back at the door.

There they were.

2B and 9S...

"You two..."

"H-hey Jack."-2B awkwardly waved.

9S too, awkwardly scratches his head.

He's not looking forward to the scolding he'll get.

Jack growled as he got up from his spot and lead them back outside.

"Did you two happens to cross by that guy with the raven mask?"

"Him? No. We didn't see him."-9S shook his head. To be honest, he's glad they didn't find him.-"Did you...wanted to see him?"

"Ah no. It's fine. Forget it."-Jack waved it off.-"So...how the are you two still here?"

"We've got Pods to thank for that."-2B started-"They decided to rebuild our bodies and restored our memories."

All the best and the worst.

"Hm...I see. What are you two going to do from now?"

"...We're not entirely sure yet. Anemone welcomed us, of course, but..."

There's just this...liberating feeling.

The war is over...

"Well."-Jack smiled as they climbed out of the facility, into the bright sunlight.-"Let's see what the world's got to offer this time."


Pod 153 to reader.

Please respond to this query.

Do you, faithful reader, have anything you'd like to say to the writer of this story?

If you do, please leave a review.

Pod 042 to reader.

You, faithful reader of this story, have stuck through this journey along side us, the characters, and the writer. You have seen this story through, to the end.

If you enjoyed this story, would you consider bringing this joy to other readers?

If you do, please let us know. We are looking forward to see more creative works in this section.

Pod 079 to reader.

Your answers have been conveyed. I will take them to the writer, who will be gladly expecting your replies, as well as future stories.

Then, it is time...To say goodbye.

Pod 153: I feel a slight amount of...sadness.

Pod 042: It is time for the final words.

Pod 079: Affirmative.

Pod 042: To all who have read this work, favorited it, followed it, reviewed it...

Pod 042/ Pod 153/ Pod 079: Thank you. Thank you for reading.