The curtain opened one final time as it showed a fierce battle between Kirito and PoH as well as the fight between Ira, Hope, Kirito and Subtilizer who had taken on a more wicked form while Alice was shown ascending to the sky between these two fights.
Final Act: Alicization Lasting
The scene soon opened with the heroes and knights watching as both Kirito and PoH looked each other down.
"Bout damn time you snapped out of it. Knew if I waited around long enough, you wouldn't disappoint me." PoH said. "We didn't get to finish things back in Aincrad, now I can cross that off my list. It's showtime, baby!" he said as the two of them started to clash.
"Hey! That's my line." David said.
"Incredible...these two are going at it." Ethox said.
"Come on...you can't be this weak." PoH said. "Come on. Give the order. Have your pals kill all of the red players. They were just slaughtering your pals not too long ago."
"Only cause you made them do it." Kirito said. "All you do is pit others against each other and sit back and watch."
"Aw...you act like that's a problem. Well...I'm gonna tell you how it'll play out. Once I kill you, I'm gonna bury Lightning Flash, then the rest of your little pals. Then put every single Underworlder into coffins. You can count on that." PoH said, slowly gaining ground before Kirito started to push back. "Huh?"
"Rrrrr…..Rah!" Kirito said, knocking back PoH as he rose the blue rose sword into the air. "Release...Recollection!" he said as vines surrounded the frozen red knights as it reformed after which the red players who were frozen were logged out.
"You're gonna pay for that, you bastard!" PoH said raising his blade to try and collect their energy. "What's going on? Why aren't they coming to me?"
"You think all these players wanted to kill each other? You couldn't be more wrong. They just wanted to have fun and explore a brand new world. A place that's totally different from anything they know. Different from a land of fairies or a post-apocalyptic gun zone." Sunset said.
"Now...release recollection." Kirito said as both his blades absorbed the energy in the air as the glow coated him, reverting his outfit to the one he wore during his days in SAO.
"You really are the best. No one has ever brought out the killer in me like you could. Too bad it's gotta end right here and now. Let's have some fun, black swordsman." PoH said.
"Ready when you are." Kirito said as the two of them clashed once more but having more equal grounds.
"Such incredible power, as expected of the victor of Aincrad and Alfheim." Corona said.
The two of them continued to fight until Kirito thrusted his sword which broke apart PoH's blade and carved out a hole in the middle of the man himself.
"Ugh...not bad. But you didn't kill me. Just logged me out is all. I'll be back in the real world and then I'll keep coming after ya until I slit you and Lightning Flash's throats and rip out your hearts. I can guarantee that." PoH said.
"Nu-uh. You're done. You'll never log out again." Kirito said as roots began to overtake PoH, transforming the man into a large tree with a distorted face right in its bark. "My sword was made from the Gigas Cedar, a huge tree in Rulid that stood for 300 years until two kids chopped it down. I just sent its memories into you. Your friends outside won't be able to get you out of your STL. You'll be trapped for years, if you're lucky. Then again, folks might want to build a tree here. They may need wood. They might wanna chop you down too." he said walking away from it as he rose his sword up. "System Call! Restore durability to all!" Kirito said as a great light spread across the battlefield, healing the wounds and restoring lost limbs to everyone in the vicinity of it.
"H-hey, our wounds are healing!" Alphamon said.
"Damn, Kirito. Where'd you get that skill?" Flamberge asked.
"Thank you, for all of the blood and tears you shed for me. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I mean it. Thank you." Kirito said as he bowed.
"Ah, think nothing of it. That's what trusted comrades do for each other, right?" David asked.
"Kirito...Emperor Vecta is…" Asuna said.
"I know. I'm gonna make sure Alice gets out." Kirito said, flying into the air as he flew off.
Back on the outside…
"So...did that do it?" Mirror Match asked.
"Yes...Kirito has fully woken up." Hyperion said. "Now he's on his way to protect Alice. Though now, our little project is no longer top secret."
"What do you mean?" Chihiro asked.
"Those mercenaries went and logged in players from America, China and South Korea. Even Japanese players joined in. No way we can hide this now." Hyperion said. "We'll have to make a public announcement once this is all over."
"Yeah. This little leak is gonna raise a few eyebrows. They'll think our friends were here to promote it." Mayumi said.
"Well...these things happen from time to time. One time, I…" Hyperion said before sirens began to blare. "Now what?"
"Attention. Fluctlight safety limiter has been removed. 15 minutes until maximum acceleration phase. For those in the STL, please log out immediately." the announcement said.
"No no no!" Hyperion said. "Damn it. Those idiots went and broke the limiter."
"What happens if they don't log out?" Lei asked.
"I have no idea how it'll affect your friends who were made virtual in that strange device. And those two STLs in Roppongi as well as the players, they should be logged out automatically, but it's a danger for those in the STLs here, mainly Kirito and Asuna. They're hardwired. We can't just pull them out since it just started. It'll damage their Fluctlights. If we don't act fast enough, about 200 years will pass in there before we manage to get them out safely." Hyperion said.
"Damn it, not now. Why is this happening now?" Mayumi asked.
"They likely planned this. To erase all of their tracks. And I can't shut it down either." Hyperion said. "Contact your friends in that ship of yours. Tell them they need to get your comrades back to the real world now."
"Got it." Lei said.
On the Galaxy King…
"200 years in the Underworld? No human soul could survive that long." Jeremie said. "We understand. We'll start the virtual retrieval procedure immediately."
"We must hurry, gentlemen." Double D said. "I don't like the idea of our dearest friends being trapped in virtual reality forever."
"Don't worry. I got the machine set in reverse. It'll take in everyone who went in this way." Franky said.
"Here we go." Jeremie said, activating the procedure. "Everyone should be out long before the countdown is finished...hopefully."
"I do hope you're correct, Jeremie." Double D said. "For some reason, I feel like something terrible has happened…"
"Considering what's gone on this week, it's been terrible things happening nonstop." Franky said.
Back in Underworld, the World's End Altar…
"We're almost there." Alice said before she was shot off her dragon by Subtilizer who managed to catch up. "No…" she said prepared to fight.
"I have you...Alice." Subtilizer said preparing to fire before being blocked off by Kirito, Hope and Ira.
"Forgetting someone?" Ira asked. "What, you'd think we'd let you get away?"
"Kirito…" Alice said.
"You're not touching Alice." Hope said.
"Why would you care for a mere AI?" Subleizer said.
"She's more than just some computer program. To Kirito, and all of us… she's our friend!" Hope said.
"Alice...you gotta get out of here." Kirito said as Alice went for the World's End Altar as she touched it and vanished in a pillar of light.
"You don't understand...how sweet her soul would be." Subtilizer said as his virtual form started to become corrupted as he became a large shadowed figure with no features to speak of.
"Oh look, a final form." Ira noted. "How cute."
"Will you take this seriously?" Hope asked.
"Oh, you want serious? Well, since you asked so nicely…" Ira smirked before he leaped towards the monster Subtilizer had become, hitting it in the arm hard enough to shatter its left hand, then moving behind it to grab and hold it in place. "Yo, swordsman! Do your thing!"
"Yeah…" Kirito said, raising his sword up high as he flew at Subtilizer as both swords glowed. "Starburst...Stream!" he called out as he struck at him with a chain of attacks, slashing at him before plunging his sword through his chest.
"Ahahahaha…" Subtilizer laughed as the light quickly overtook him before he started crying out in pain until an explosion followed.
"Yes! We...whoa…" Hope said seeing himself and Ira starting to come apart. "They must be logging us out."
"Yeah...the maximum acceleration was hit. If you don't leave at the right time, you'll be trapped here as this world speeds through 200 years." Kirito said.
"Wait...we?" Hope asked.
"Yeah...I'm not leaving just yet." Kirito said.
"Kirito, please. Think about this." David said.
"Enough, Ishihara. He's already made up his mind." Cheetah said.
"We have to respect his decision." Ace said.
"I'll see you guys in about 200 years." Kirito said as they fell apart into data as Kirito watched.
Back in the Galaxy King…
"We did it. We got them back." Jeremie said, seeing all the members who went through, arrived in Digimon Storage.
"Not all of us… Kirito stayed behind." Revali said.
"Well...yeah. He didn't go in the way you did. He would have never gotten out through there. But you know...he's not the only one who chose to stay behind. Asuna chose to stay there too." Franky said.
"What?" Aelita asked.
"Yeah...they told us not too long ago. 200 years in there while they try and get them out. But, given how strong they are, they may get out without too much fluctlight damage." Jeremie said.
"Yeah, and we'll see them again." Roy said.
"What about Alice?" Hope asked. "Did she…"
"We got the call from Mayumi's group. Her lightcube was safely extracted." Jeremie said.
"Oh, thank god." Hope said.
"The mercs managed to escape. But they did experience two casualties on their end. One was an ordinary soldier. The other was a man known as Gabriel Miller. The one who was both Vecta and Subtilizer." Double D said.
"This is definitely gonna screw relations. At least here." Zacian said.
"Yeah...the aftermath is going to be lasting, least for a little while." Jeremie said.
A few days later…
The group hung around in the Galaxy King as they watched a press conference with Alice arriving in a school uniform.
"Wow...that robot body looks pretty good. She looks like any other human." Mineta said.
"But why is she wearing a uniform?" Subaru asked.
"Her request. She wanted to wear the outfit of those who helped save her land. Her original request was the gold armor she wore back in Underworld." Theo said.
"It looks pretty good on her, I will admit." Sachiko said.
"So they went and exposed the project." Jeremie asked.
"They didn't have much choice since almost the entire gaming community had seen a private government server." Sunset said.
"And had a few bouts with us, let's not forget." Cheetah said.
"But that part wasn't really all bad." David said.
The ships doors soon opened as they saw a casually dressed Hyperion walk in with Chihiro. "Ladies, gentlemen...I just came by to thank you all for your help before we took our leave." Hyperion said.
"It's the least we could do." Ace said.
"So what happens now?" Theo asked.
"The Japanese Government is going to claim everything and wipe out the entire server." Hyperion said. "Including Underworld."
"But if they do that, Kirito and Asuna will-" Hope said.
"Don't worry. They're fine. We were able to get them out earlier today and transferred them to a hospital." Hyperion said. "Besides, I don't plan to let them take that world. Chihiro?"
"Thank you." Chihiro said. "All data involving Underworld, including Underworld itself, has been abducted and transferred to the main headquarters of ASG. The government will never know where it actually went."
"Phew… Thank goodness." Eri said.
"But...why did you do that?" Tsubaki asked.
"Look at Alice. She is proof that a bottom up AI can work. This is too valuable a project to just let go of." Hyperion said.
"You ain't gonna try and get weapons out of this, are you?" DJ asked. "I'm no expert, but since I was in there, I can tell you it's a bad idea to go that route."
"You know...maybe I'll just let the AI's decide that for themselves." Hyperion said. "After all, these things have souls. They have the rights as any human. After all, who is to say we aren't just programs in someone else's simulation."
"Let's not get too meta with this." David said.
"Hmm...have a good life, heroes." Hyperion said.
"Uh...goodbye." Chihiro said as the two headed out.
"By the way...how's Mark?" Ajna asked.
"I… I cannot say." Double D said. "I've double and tripled checked his vitals, and he's perfectly fine. I even used the magic-scanners: whatever this is affecting his mind, it's not magic."
"It's true. He may be acting different but there's not a single thing wrong with him." Chopper said.
"Hmm...have you considered it may just be an alternate personality?" Law said.
"Split Personality Disorder? That seems pretty heavy…" David said. "But… I'm afraid I can't go with you guys on this. I have some stuff of my own to take care of."
"Yeah...and we need to be taking off too. Can't keep the guild empty forever." Theo said.
"And… Cheetah. I just want you to know." David said as he clutches his right arm. "If… For any reason, I end up going berserk like he did… Before I hurt anyone I shouldn't..."
"No worries...I'll sever your cervical nerve before you can even try it." Cheetah said.
"Yeah… Anything to stop me." David said.
"Just make sure to have a revival spell handy, just in case." Cheetah said.
"And David, I'll keep an eye on things with the others." Ace said.
"I'm happy to hear you're sticking with us for this, Ace." Double D said. "Whatever is happening with Mark, I'm sure we'll be able to-"
It was then that ZS burst into the room, panting. "G-Guys… we got a problem!" the zombie panted. "M-Mark's… he's gone!"
"Wait, what do you mean he's gone?!" Bardock exclaimed.
"I mean he's not in the medical ward!" ZS shouted. "I looked around the whole ship, he's not here!"
"You mean he escaped?!" Hope asked. "This is bad… that Ira guy is too unpredictable to let loose in the worlds…. What could he be up to?"
At that instant, Ira was on his lonesome in the air.
"(I don't got much time here on the outside… and neither does the kid.)" Ira thought to himself, before he grinned. "(Might as well have some fun with the time I got. And I know just how to do it too…)"
Back on the ship…
"Okay, calm down. He doesn't have that much speed if he's flying on his own." Tails said. "Maybe we can track him."
"Hey...uh guys." Theo said. "I just wanna say this before I leave...thank you so much for everything." he said bowing.
"That's what friends are for after all. And after everything you and Ethox went through, I think you both deserve the rest." Ace said.
"Don't be so modest. If it weren't for you, David and Cheetah… Things wouldn't have gone the way they did." Ethox said.
"But at least now, this cycle is done with." Theo said. "Let us meet again sometime." he said as both Theo and Ethox's teams headed out of the ship and towards the Fatebreakers. "And now...as a united guild...we now begin with a sacred burial." he said holding the sphere containing Ehto.
"You fool. When I escape, you are dead!" Ehto muttered.
"Yeah...I wouldn't count on that." Theo said. "Spirit overboard!" he said tossing the sphere right into the ocean.
"Stop this...no...No!" Ehto cried out as the sphere sunk deeper and deeper under the ocean.
"You know, Sentibug's body was never found in that war. She could be out there somewhere." Rimuru said.
"If she is, we'll be ready...as a united guild." Theo said, looking to Ethox.
"Ethox!" Ace called, tossing something to him.
"Huh? Whoa!" Ethox said as he narrowly caught the item. It was a pendant shaped like a dragon. "My own pendant… thanks, Ace. Well, guess we'll be off."
As Mythos Hearts and the Fatebreakers headed off, Tanya and Seiya traveled a little behind.
"So… werent you gonna head back to Japan now that the Demon King is dead?" Tanya asked.
"What about you? You heading back to the Empire?" Seiya said.
"No…" Tanya smiled slightly. "I think I'll stay for a while longer. Being X, for all his crap, is powerful; it wouldn't hurt to have allies powerful enough to make sure his interventions are kept in check. What about you? I thought once this was all over, you'd go back to your homeworld. Change your mind?"
"...Staying around these people will give me the chance to pick up some new skills." Seiya said. "Might as well stick around for some training, just in case."
"Of course." Tanya replied, the two saying nothing more, and yet… they felt at peace, a rare feeling for both.
And so… the long spanning Cycle of the battle between light and darkness had finally ended. Liberated from the possession of the dark entity, Mizuki was returned to his village, embraced happily by his mother.
However, while the Mythos Rising Saga has come to its conclusion, a brand new tale involving the angelic warrior was about to begin.
The end.