In ACDC Town, Haruka Hikari sat on her couch, Yuichiro beside her. They were holding each other tightly. She spoke softly: "Yuichiro, tell me Hub and Lan will win." Yuichiro looked at her: "I can't promise that, dear. The odds are just slightly in their favor, but this other boy is very good. Very good indeed. I might go so far as to say he's better than Lan." Haruka looked at him: "You can't possibly mean that!" He sighed: "Haruka, darling. Hub and Lan are amazing. But there are others like them. And, okay, he's not better. But he is just as good. Alright?" Haruka rested her head on his shoulder: "Lan and Hub will find a way. I know that." Yuichiro smiled: "Somehow...I'm sure that they will."

At an altitude of 32,000 feet somewhere between ACDC and New York, Yai, Glyde, Mayl, Roll, Dex, GutsMan, and Ms. Mari with her Navi were sitting in Yai's personal jet, watching the battle over the television. None could believe what was happening. Dex spoke softly: "How...could that kid beat Lan?" Yai looked at him and shook her head: "He's not a 'kid', Dex. And no one knows who, or what, he really is. They know he appeared in the tail end of the first WWW incursion and solved a part of it for America. And as far as him beating Lan, Dex, there's just one thing. He's using strategies we've never used against him." The Navis were just as surprised and hurt, but only Roll spoke: "Do you think he'll be hurt...?" Ms. Mari was the one who responded: "I hope not." They all nodded. They all had great respect for this woman who had grown with them, just like they had grown with her. In a way, she was a first crush, mom, aunt, and big sister all rolled into one. None of them, though, had ever seen her look so honestly vulnerable. She was worried for MegaMan, and for Lan. Less for Lan, though. After all, Lan wasn't in danger. Yet.

A bit higher, in a stealth jet provided them by the Officials, Eugene Chaud sat with Protoman. Of course, they too were monitoring the combat. Protoman finally spoke: "Chaud, what happens if MegaMan loses?" Chaud sighed and ran a hand down his face: "I'd rather not think about that. It'd mean that the Americans really are better. We've been avoiding believing it for years, and essentially closed ourselves off, forcing them to upgrade to our system if they wanted to join us. They did. But not until they were sure it worked. Their Navis are supposedly more advanced than ours. And while I don't think that, I just think that they're very different. And maybe because they started with Navis like we have..." Protoman nodded: "Do you feel I would win, if it was us, and not Lan and MegaMan...?" Chaud shrugged: "I don't know. I can say this. It would go quicker. Much. But it would rely on a timing I'm not seeing in their battle." Protoman nodded once again: "Thank you, Chaud." Chaud grinned: "What can I say? I think you're the best Navi in the world. No matter what." The two went on in silence, operating the plane together.

A tall, thin, man by the name of Cerveau, whose family had significant French backgrounds, sat in a coffeeshop near to the Battle Arena, with the TV on. His PET was active and his navi, Harpuia.EXE was just as attentive as he to the battle. Harpuia spoke softly: "Master Cerveau, who do you believe will win?" Cerveau: "Insufficient data at this time to pass definite judgement, Harpuia. I hope Leviathan wins, though." Harpuia nodded: "So do I."

Another Operator, named Colbor, sat at a bar. He was a large, barrel-chested man, and looked very much like he believed at least as much in pure fisticuffs as a NetBattle. Thankfully, the bar had a TV, and it was tuned into the battle between Leviathan and this other Navi, MegaMan. He laid his black PET on the bar and watched. His Navi, Fefnir, watched approvingly: "Hey, boss. Figure Levi's gonna win?" Colbor, a man of few words at best, worse when slightly drunk, nodded: "Mhm." Fefnir nodded: "Good. Too bad I can't take on this MegaMan guy myself, though." Colbor made no response, and Fefnir shrugged, going back to watching the TV.