At the Sub Control Room in Rath...
Rinko: Ok. I've secured Alice. And... Someone else too?
Tails shows up.
Tails: The other one is Eugeo.
Rinko: Huh? Tails?
Tails: It's good to see you again, Rinko.
Rinko: I'm so glad. Were the others able to make it?
Knuckles, Kazuto, and Asuna show up too.
Knuckles: Yep. We're all safe.
Rinko: Thank goodness.
Kazuto: Where are Mr. Kikuoka and Mr. Higa?
Rinko: They went down the pressure bulkhead to try and stop the maximum acceleration phase.
Mighty and Ray show up next.
Mighty: I don't think it's safe for them down there.
Asuna: They might be caught in gunfire.
Ray: So we're gonna kick them out.
Finally, the blue hedgehog shows his face.
Sonic: Don't worry about it.
Everyone: Huh?
Sonic: Me and Tails will go. Right, bud?
Tails: Yeah.
Rinko: Uh... Okay. But be careful.
Mighty: Hey, it's Sonic and Tails we're talking about.
Sonic: C'mon pal. Let's kick those guys out!
Tails: Yeah!
The duo takes their leave, down the pressure bulkhead.
Rinko: It's... very hard to believe.
Asuna: What is?
Rinko: I've actually met Sonic in person.
Kazuto: Heh. Me and Asuna were shocked when we first met him in SAO.
Knuckles: You have no idea how many Man of the Year awards he got.
Meanwhile, at the pressure bulkhead ladder... Kikuoka and Higa continue climbing down.
Rinko: Higa. I've secured Alice's lightcube, along with another's named Eugeo. Kirigaya and the others have safely logged out.
Higa: That's good news.
Tails shows up, carrying Sonic, and flying down the bulkhead.
Sonic: What's up!
Kikuoka: Sonic? Tails?
Tails: We'll take it from here, guys. We're kicking those punks out.
Higa: That's good. Thanks, guys.
Kikuoka: Yeah. Thank you.
Nakanishi: Dr. Koujiro. We're ready to reopen the bulkhead hatch.
Rinko: Thank you very much. We only have 6 minutes left until the start of the maximum acceleration phase.
Ray: And Sonic and Tails are gonna stop that from happening.
Mighty: Yeah. Because we made some really good friends in that world.
Sonic: Okay. You guys can go back to Sub-Con. Me and Tails got this.
Higa: Man. After all that climbing, we gotta climb back up... Oh well.
Kikuoka and Higa head back up and Sonic and Tails continue down. They arrive at the gate.
Tails: Rinko! We're here! You can disable the bulkhead lock!
Rinko: Right.
She types on the computer and the bulkhead lock opens. Down at Main-Con...
Critter: They've disabled the bulkhead lock! Now that they have Alice, all they have to do is wait for the JSDF to storm in. So why? Wait...
He comes up with an idea.
Critter: Okay then! Everyone except Brigg, take the stairs! Blast away and seize control of the bulkhead!
Hans: You make it sound so easy.
Hans and the others head for the stairs.
Brigg: What am I supposed to do?
Critter: You and I are gonna check out this cable duct. I have a feeling this is what the enemy's really after.
Brigg: I see. Sounds good to me.
Sonic: We're almost there.
Tails: Yeah. Wait. Down there...
Sonic: Huh?
They see the body of Yanai.
Tails: Did he fall down the bulkhead?
Sonic: Looks like it. I'm guessing he was the mole we got among the staff here.
Critter and Brigg arrive at the shaft. Once they do, they see Sonic and Tails.
Sonic: Hey guys!
Critter: What?!
Brigg: Is that... Sonic?!
Sonic: Yep! Sonic!
Brigg: That body over there. Is that our Rath informant? Did you guys kill him?!
Tails: No we didn't. We just saw him there right when we were coming down.
Critter: Seems like he was dead for a little while now. They probably found out he was a spy and executed him.
Sonic: We don't even know what happened here when we were in the Underworld, but I can tell you one thing, we're kicking you and your friends out.
Brigg: This ain't good. Any ideas? Sonic's gonna be a really tough one.
Critter: I... I...
Sonic speeds up at them and kicks both of them in the face, knocking them down.
Critter: Gah! Come on! We need the captain!
At Gabriel's STL...
Gabriel: Hahahahaha! I didn't stand a chance.
Critter runs in.
Critter: Captain! Sonic's here!
Sonic: Yeah! I am here!
Critter, Brigg, and Gabriel: Huh?
Sonic: You all better hightail it out of here.
Brigg: What should we do?
Gabriel stays silent for a moment.
Sonic: I beat you in the Underworld, and I can do it in this world too.
Gabriel: We're leaving.
Critter: Huh?
Brigg: But...
Gabriel: They already have Alice's lightcube. Log Vassago out and get the others.
Tails: Oh no. Your friend in that STL over there isn't going anywhere.
Critter: What's that supposed to mean?
Sonic: Well, when we log him out, we're throwing him in jail with his two buddies from SAO.
Gabriel: SAO? Interesting. So he's a survivor of Akihiko Kayaba's infamous VRMMO just like you.
Brigg aims his gun at Sonic.
Brigg: You better give up now.
Sonic: This is the part where someone says I told you so.
Gabriel: Brigg. That's enough. We're leaving.
Brigg: Grr... Fine.
They head out with the others.
Gabriel: Listen, everyone. This was supposed to be a last resort, but I think we have no choice.
Hans: What is it?
Gabriel: The engine...
Meanwhile, back at Sub-Con...
Rinko: There is only 3 minutes left until the maximum acceleration phase starts. Hurry.
Tails: Rinko! Main-Con's cleared! I'm working on stopping the maximum acceleration phase from here!
Rinko: Is the enemy out?
Sonic: Yep! They're gone! They certainly knew they wouldn't stand a chance, eh pal?
The duo fist bumps.
Tails: Yep!
Suddenly, the place starts to shake.
Kazuto: Wha...?
Knuckles: What's happening?
Tails: Wha... Something's happening down at the main core!
Nakanishi: These vibrations are operating at full power!
Rinko: The main core?
Nakanishi: The main engine. In other words, the pressurized water reactor at the base of the shaft.
Nakanishi opens up the cameras on the computer, showing the main engine room.
Nakanishi: What have they done? Look there!
They look at a certain part of the engine room and...
Knuckles: Is that a bomb?
Asuna: Are they trying to blow this place up?
Nakanishi: If it destroys that, the control rods can't descend.
Rinko: So what can we do?
Sonic: I'll take care of it! I'll go get rid of the bomb!
Rinko: But Sonic, by now the temperature in the engine room must be...
Sonic: No worries! I've been to hot places like the Lava Reef Zone. Besides, I'm fast, so I can just run on in, grab the detonator, and get out. Tails. You keep working.
Tails: Okay. I'm nearly done. I got this.
Kikuoka and Higa return.
Higa: The reactor... Did they...
Mighty: Sonic's gonna take care of it. Don't worry.
Sonic rushes down really fast to the engine room. Once he arrives at the entrance, the door opens and one of the intruders shoot at him. Fortunately, the blue hero reacted fast enough to dodge.
Sonic: Woah, easy now!
Hans: Huh?!
They hear footsteps, and Sonic looks behind him.
Sonic: What the... Is that a robot?
Scientist: That robot is Niemon! What's it doing there?
Niemon: Rinko.
Suddenly, she, along with Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Mighty, Ray, Kazuto, and Asuna recognize that voice.
Sonic: It can't be...
Kazuto: That's...
Rinko: Is that you, Akihiko?
Hans shoots but Sonic dodges, and the bullets hit Kayaba, who is in Niemon's body.
Kayaba: I'm sorry for leaving you alone all this time, Rinko.
Tears start coming out of her eyes.
Rinko: This is where you've been this whole time?
Kayaba: Rinko, I was blessed to have met you. You were the only thing keeping me connected to the real world. I want you to be the one to keep it connected. My dream... to connect the two worlds that are still divided.
Rinko: Yes... Of course...
She wipes the tears away from her eyes.
Rinko: Of course!
Kazuto: Kaya... ba...
Kayaba: I never thought I'd be seeing you again, Kirito. Same for you, Sonic. But now, let me do the fighting.
Sonic: Okay.
The robot stars walking ahead.
Hans: Darn!
Just as he was about to shoot, Sonic grabs Hans and slams him down on the ground, knocking him unconscious.
Sonic: Go!
He walks to the door to the engine room, and turns the valve to open it. Meanwhile in Sub-Con...
Scientist: The battery cable's damaged! If that goes, it'll be completely immobilized!
Rinko: No way.
Kayaba walks into the extremely hot engine room.
Rinko: Please...
He begins to break apart from the heat.
Rinko: Akihiko!
And then, just as he was about to reach the bomb, his back blows, and loses all power.
Scientist: It's lost all its power!
As all hope was about to be lost, Sonic and Kazuto slam their fists down.
Sonic and Kazuto: HEATHCLIFF!
Sonic: YOU BETTER NOT BE GIVING UP NOW!
Kazuto: YOU WERE THE LEADER OF THE KNIGHTS OF THE BLOOD OATH, AND OUR GREATEST RIVALS!
Sonic: SO PROVE TO US...
Sonic and Kazuto: THAT YOU'RE STILL THE WIELDER OF THE DIVINE BLADE!
Suddenly, Kayaba regains his power and continues ahead.
Scientist: Number two has reactivated!
Rinko: Akihiko...
He reaches the bomb, and with all his strength, he pulls out the detonator, seconds before it would explode. As he did, a big flash errupts in the engine room. Once it clears, they see him, holding the timer. With the explosive deactivated, he falls down on the floor. After that, everybody shouts in victory.
Mighty: He did it!
Ray: The bomb's deactivated!
Meanwhile, at the submarine where the intruders retreated to depart... Critter looks at his timer and sighs.
Critter: Seems like the explosive didn't go off.
Brigg: Darn. Why did you choose to stay behind, Hans?
Gabriel: He made a brave choice. Speaking of...
The captain starts to smile.
Gabriel: I don't even know when it will happen, but someday, we will meet again, hedgehog. You too, Black Swordsman.
Back in the Ocean Turtle... seconds before the Maximum Acceleration phase began...
Tails: Got it!
After hitting one more key, Tails was able to stop the maximum acceleration phase from happening.
Tails: Yeah! I did it! I've stopped the maximum acceleration phase!
Kikuoka: Good work, Tails.
Kazuto: Thank you, Tails.
Asuna: Yeah. Thanks.
Sonic shows up at Main-Con.
Sonic: Hey guys! I'm back!
Rinko: You've certainly put on a good show today, Sonic.
Kazuto: Yeah. You did most of the work, helping out with the war. You get the overall credit here.
Sonic: Aww shucks. I didn't do it alone. Tails, go ahead and log all the players out.
Tails: Sure.
Sonic: Man. Feels good to be out of a video game again after 2 years.
Asuna: To be honest, 2 years have passed in the Underworld. I was afraid that you 4 wouldn't be the people we remember.
Kazuto: It's okay, Asuna. We haven't changed.
Staff Member: This is the engine room! Dr. Koujiro, do you read me?
Rinko: Yes, I read you. What's going on?
Staff Member: Well, we were able to remove the explosive, but... Number 2 has gone missing. There's no sign of Niemon's body anywhere.
Rinko: What?
Shortly after, Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Mighty, and Ray get some snacks.
Knuckles: Woo! Gotta say, I'm beat!
Mighty: It was a pretty long 2 year vacation, eh?
Ray: You better believe it was.
Sonic: Still, we made some really good memories. With Selka at Rulid Village, and when Kirito and Eugeo joined the SwordCraft Academy at Centoria.
Mighty: We got to meet people like Tiese, Ronie, and Sortiliena.
Tails: So that's where you guys met them.
Sonic: Unlike all those other nobles that like to talk down on commoners, Tiese, Ronie, and Sortiliena were really nice people.
Mighty: And when we climbed to the top of the Central Cathedral, we were able to stop the Administrator and return Alice's memories.
Knuckles: You know, I wish we stopped the war before it even started. But thanks to those intruders...
Sonic: It's okay. The fight's over now so everything's gonna be okay.
Tails: Yeah.
Ray: Hmm... So I guess since the Administrator is gone, Cardinal is the new pontifex, right?
Tails: Seems like it.
Sonic: Well, nice work everybody. Couldn't have done it without you.
Everyone: Yeah!
They all take a sip of their sodas.
Sonic: Wish we could have a longer vacation, but there are still things we gotta do.
Mighty: South Island?
Sonic: Yep. Okay everyone. It's time to head back home and stop Eggman!
Everyone: Right!