Blue lights come from the sky, after Ruby, Yuuki, and Klein show up. Just as Asuna, Tails, and Knuckles were about to get struck by an enemy, Agil shows up and slashes it with his axe.
Agil: Sorry I didn't get here sooner.
Asuna: Agil!
Another seven people appear, which are Weiss, Blake, Yang, Jaune, Pyrrha, Ren, and Nora.
Weiss: Sorry we're late.
Tails: You guys are here!
Nora: Of course we are!
Yang: We'd do anything to help out a friend!
Ren: And we'll fight for a friend too.
Jaune: If Sonic and Kirito are your friends, they're ours too.
Next, Yui appears.
Asuna: Yui?! What are you doing here?!
Yui: I'm here because I want to help too! I want to help you and Daddy!
Pyrrha: She wouldn't stop rebelling.
Blake: Yeah, she wanted to help, so here we are.
Asuna: Oh, Yui...
Asuna hugs her kitty daughter, and then, Strea, Philia, Rain, Seven, Snow, Spiegel, Amy, and the Chaotix appear.
Vector: What's up everyone!
Spiegel: Sorry we're late!
Amy: I hope Sonic's okay!
Knuckles: Wow! You're all here!
Rain: You bet we are!
Finally, Lisbeth and Silica appear.
Lisbeth: Hey everyone!
Silica: Sorry we're late!
Pina: Skraww!
Asuna: Liz! Silica! You came! You really came!
Silica: Of course we did!
Lisbeth and Silica hug each other. Yuuki, Tails, and Knuckles join in.
Yuuki: You guys have been pushing yourselves too hard. Look how banged up you all are.
Lisbeth: You just leave the rest to us, guys!
Silica: Everyone is here!
Tails: Everyone?
Eugene and his army of Salamanders appear, along with Sakuya and the Sylphs, Alicia Rue and the Cait Siths, the Sleeping Knights, and friends from Gun Gale Online.
American Player: What?!
LLENN: What's up!
Pitohui: Those red guys don't look very friendly.
Zeliska: Let's give it all we got!
Fukaziroh: I'll blow them all up with the twins!
Kureha: Good idea. We'll use grenades too.
Knuckles: All the guys from ALO and GGO are here!
Alicia: Those red knights are the enemy!
Eugene: Vanguard! Charge! Push them back!
The front line forces charge in.
Sakuya: Rearguard, join the Underworld forces for now and check your spells.
Philia: This is nothing personal.
Strea: But you're going to pay for what you did to our friends!
Seven: Three times the amount! No, make it a thousand!
Snow: You ready, Niu?
Rain: Absolutely!
Klein: Let's go!
The others charge ahead at the American players.
Asuna: I can't believe it. You all converted your precious avatars.
Tails: Even though you all might never make it back. We're sorry we put you all through this.
Yuuki: Don't apologize!
Lisbeth: Yeah. I think we all made it through SAO and ALO so that we could protect what we love right here and now.
Tails: You're right.
Asuna: Thank you all so much.
Knuckles: Who brought you guys all here anyway?
Vector: Yours truly of course!
Amy: Yeah, and little Yui here gave a little heartfelt speech about the Underworld and the people who live here.
More players appear from the sky.
Asuna: Thank you, Vector. You too, Yui.
Vector: Aww shucks.
Asuna pets her daughters Cait Sith ears.
Yui: Heehee!
Asuna, Tails, and Knuckles glow.
Tails: Woah.
All their wounds heal and afterwards, Asuna takes out her sword.
Renly: Um... Asuna? Tails? Knuckles? Who are these people? And also those knights?
Tails: They're our friends.
Knuckles: Yeah. They came from the real world to help us.
Renly: Huh?
Renly walks up to Lisbeth, Silica, Yuuki, Amy, and the Chaotix.
Renly: Is that right? I'm so glad! I thought that everyone from the outside world, aside from Lady Asuna would look scary, like those soldiers.
Lisbeth pats his shoulder.
Lisbeth: Of course we're not like that! I'm Lisbeth! Nice to meet you, Mr. Knight!
Silica: I'm Silica. Nice to meet you.
Yuuki: My name's Yuuki.
Amy: I'm Amy.
Vector: My name's Vector, this is Espio and Charmy, and we're the Chaotix.
Amy: And this is Kirito and Asuna's kid, Yui.
Yui: It's nice to meet you.
Renly: Right. Nice to meet you. I'm Renly. But why is your child here?
Asuna: Because she chose to come and help out.
Renly: Oh, I see.
Asuna: How many people converted in all?
Lisbeth: Um... I think a little over two thousand. I did my best, but I couldn't convince every single player who heard me out.
Knuckles: No worries. That's more than enough.
Tails: Yeah. But if we're gonna keep reconverting a possibility, we want to avoid a war of attrition.
Asuna: Agreed. Let's not expand the front lines too much, and bolster our healing. Liz and Silica, I need you fall back with 200 or so and form a support unit.
Silica: Understood!
Lisbeth: You got it!
Asuna: Renly, I know this isn't something you want to hear, but please join the monks and use your healing arts. Since the real world swordsmen aren't familiar with sacred arts, it would really help if you could teach them the formal arts.
Renly: Uh, right, Lady Asuna!
Asuna: Yui. Go see Daddy.
Yui: Okay!
Asuna: The rest of us will fight at the front!
Charmy: Let's kick some butt!
Vector: Yeah!
Yuuki: Okay, Sleeping Knights! Let's go!
Everybody moves in and attacks the Americans.
Tails: Everyone's here.
Asuna slashes a few enemies, and Tails and Knuckles knock them out.
Asuna: We'll win this for sure!
Vector shoots fire from his mouth, Espio throws some shurikens, and Amy whacks her foes with her hammer.
Amy: With our strengths together!
Yuuki: We'll definitely win!
Meanwhile, on the Ocean Turtle, everyone except Rinko and Higa are asleep.
Higa: *Sigh* You think that was in time?
Rinko hands Higa a bottle of water.
Rinko: It was in time. Definitely.
Higa opens up the bottle and takes a sip, wondering how they will be able to fix Kirito's fluctlight.
Higa: Man, I can't believe I was so careless. Who knew they would have American VRMMO players dive into the Underworld? Not only that, but it was the Chaotix that detected it.
Rinko: Even if there was no other way, letting those players in has made some information on Project Alicization go public.
Higa: Compared to Alice falling into enemy hands, and being used as a passive AI on an unmanned weapon, this is way better.
Higa stretches her arms and looks back at the computer.
Higa: That's right, Alice isn't just a control AI for UAV's anymore. She's a new form of humanity born in a true alternate world. You realized that long ago. Isn't that right, Kirito and Sonic?
Suddenly, he notices something on the FL monitor wave scan.
Higa: Huh?
He opens up the FL monitor window with the wavelengths increased.
Higa: What?!
He types on the computer and finds another wavelength on the monitor.
Higa: H-Hey, Rinko! Look at this!
Rinko: What are these fluctuations?
Higa: It means his lost consciousness showed activity for just a moment. But there's no way that could happen.
Rinko: Hmm... Wait a moment! Aren't both of these times when the girls used the STL to dive?
Higa: What does this mean? Is it because he had a strong reaction because someone close to him showed up? No, the damage Kirito sustained isn't something that could be repaired for such a poetic reason. Something has to be causing this. The self. The subject.
Kikuoka and the others wake up.
Higa: The image that defines you as you. Could there be a backup of that quantum pattern somewhere? No, that's impossible. We never once duplicated Kirito's fluctlight.
Rinko: Hey.
Higa: Even if there was a backup, it would be impossible to extract the self-image and copy it over.
Rinko: Hey, Higa.
Higa: Is there an active quantum pattern that can be connected to his fluctlight? Where? Where is it?
Rinko: Higa, listen!
Higa: H-Huh? What is it?
Rinko: You keep mentioning the subject and the object, but can you really separate them that easily?
Higa: Uh...
Rinko: Aren't the subject and the object just philosophical concepts for expressing relationships? But humans are social creatures. It's not as if we exist as solitary beings. The others who exist in you. The you who exist in others. Up to that point, they're all connected, like a network. Wouldn't you agree?
Higa: The you... who exists... in others. Right! A backup self-image. We have it. We have it! We have data we can use to restore Kirito's shattered subject! It's inside the fluctlights of the people closest to him! But to extract that data, we need an STL. And we couldn't reproduce it effectively with just one person. We'd need at least two... no, three people! Mr. Kiku, the girls diving in Roppongi are connected to Kirito, right?
Kikuoka: That's right. Six months ago, Sinon teamed up with Kirito, along with Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Mighty, and Ray to resolve the Death Gun Incident. And Leafa is Kirito's younger sister.
Higa: We can do it! We might be able to restore it, then! Kirito's self-image, that is! If we can extract the image of Kirito saved onto their fluctlights, and connect it to the areas he's lost...
Higa puts his palm over his fist.
Higa: That should do it! Wha...?
His mood changes.
Higa: Aww come on! You've gotta be kidding me! The only place we can do that is in the Main Control Room!
Rinko: Huh?!
Kikuoka: Don't be so disappointed, Higa. It's good to know that there's hope for Kirito. We can launch the actual operation after this is resolved, and those people have been driven off the Ocean Turtle.
Higa: But by then, it'll be too late! If the commando unit from the naval escort Asahi storms in, and a huge power ensues in the main shaft, the sub-power would probably get knocked out too! If that happens, Kirito would be forcibly logged out of the Underworld while still unconscious. And most likely, Kirito wouldn't make it past the initialization stage to log in, and he'll never be able to connect to the STL again. That's why, no matter what, we have to treat him while he and the others are still in the Underworld. I'm going, okay, Mr. Kiku?
Kikuoka: Where?
Higa: STL room two, where Kirito is in now, and Main-Con below the pressure bulkhead are connected by a cable duct on the stern side of the main shaft. There should be a maintenance connector in there. I should be able to control Kirito's STL from there.
Kikuoka: But the maintenance connector is on the other side of the pressure bulkhead. If they notice you, you could get attacked from below.
Higa: So let's go with a decoy operation.
Kikuoka: Decoy, did you say?
Higa: Of course, we wouldn't send in valuable human resources. Once we unlock the pressure bulkhead door, we'll have it charge down the stairs for humans on the other side of the duct. That.
They look at the door to the robot room, where Ichiemon is at.
Kikuoka: I see. Ichiemon.
Rinko: Hold on. All that one can do now is slowly go up and down the stairs. It can't possibly rush back here if the enemy spots it!
Higa: I do feel bad for Ichiemon, but he's going to have to do his best. But given the way he looks, the enemy may not open fire on him.
Rinko: Well, that's ture, he's sure to stick out like a sore thumb, so we can probably convince them that we have an epic plan up our sleeves.
Higa: At the very least, they won't be able to ignore him! So while the enemy's dealing with Ichiemon, I'll infiltrate the lower cable duct, and operate Kirito's STL through the maintenance connector.
Kikuoka: While we're at it... do you think you can deploy Niemon, too?
Higa: Unfortunately, no. Like I said before, without a balancer, Niemon will only fall over as soon as he starts descending the stairs.
Kikuoka: I see.
Rinko: But Higa, even if you do fool them long enough to unlock the bulkhead, there'd still be some risk of you being spotted. Shouldn't you take a bodyguard with you?
Higa: No, as it stands now, we can't spare any of the JSDF staff. Besides, the only one who can easily move through that cramped duct is scrawny little me! I'll just zip right over, and zip right back, okay? If it weren't for Kirito, Sonic, and the others, Alice's fluctlight wouldn't have become the way it is now. That alone is such a great achievement, but while trying to protect Alice... That's why, if there's a chance we can treat him, we need to take whatever risk is possible. Or we won't be able to look him in the eye, am I right?
Kikuoka: Right.
Scientist: Um... I'll go with you, Chief Higa. I'm scrawny too, but I'll at least take a bullet for you. Besides, I'm the one who's been maintaining those cables until now.
Higa: To be honest, I really don't remember where that maintenance connector is. So thanks for coming along... Mr. Yanai.
Yanai: Glad I could help.
Meanwhile, back in the Underworld, Bercouli and Eugeo continue to clash blades against Vecta. The fight becomes extremely fierce as the two heroes continue to get wounds.
Eugeo: At this rate...
Vecta: Your souls are so heavy. They're too thick and tedious as well. The only thing on your minds is killing me. Begone!
Bercouli: I don't think so. I've still got enough left to enjoy this!
The knight commander charges at Vecta.
Bercouli: Just a little longer.
Cardinal watches from the dragons.
Cardinal: Get out of there. Please, get out of there!
Eugeo: I have... to keep...
Vecta slashes Eugeo.
Eugeo: Gah!
Eugeo lays down on the ground, but gets back up.
Eugeo: I... I can't... lose... Kirito... Alice... Sonic...
Bercouli: Forgive me... I'm sorry I put you through this, boy.
Eugeo: I chose to come here. I wanted to save Alice once again. She's my friend. And I... I...
Vecta: Hmm?
Eugeo: I love her with all my heart!
Vecta: You think you can defeat me? With the power of love?
Cardinal: Eugeo! Bercouli! Get away!
Vecta: This is the end, for you both.
Suddenly, a yellow light appears.
Eugeo: Huh?
Bercouli: What's that?
Vecta: Huh?
The golden hedgehog approaches at super sonic speed, and charges at Vecta.
Super Sonic: HRAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!
In attempt to use his powers to stop Sonic, Vecta's strikes did no damage.
Vecta: No!
Super Sonic: Got you, fake god!
Using his super spin attack, Sonic defeats Vecta with one blow.
Vecta: Curse you, Sonic!
The fake god disappears from the Underworld, returning to the real world.
Super Sonic: That'll teach you to mess with my friends!
Cardinal: *Sigh* Thank goodness.
Cardinal and Sonic fly down to Eugeo and Bercouli.
Super Sonic: You two are just unbelievably reckless.
Bercouli: It's about time you showed up. Agh.
Cardinal: Let me heal your wounds.
Using her rod, Cardinal heals all of Eugeo and Bercouli's wounds.
Eugeo: Thank you, Cardinal. You too, Sonic.
Super Sonic: Just glad I could help.
Everyone walks up to Alice.
Eugeo: Alice. Wake up.
Alice: Nngh... Eugeo?
Eugeo: Are you alright?
Alice: Y-Yes.
Bercouli: Hey, little one. You okay?
Alice: Uncle...
Super Sonic: Well Sinon, you're too slow. You doing okay, Alice?
Alice: I'm fine. Yes. I'm sorry I let Vecta capture me.
Eugeo: Don't apologize, Alice. We're just glad you're safe now.
Cardinal: That's the only thing that matters.
Alice: Thank you, everyone.
Bercouli: We'll make sure it stays that way from now on.
Super Sonic: Yeah. Now let's head back to Asuna and the others.
Everyone: Right!
Meanwhile, back on the Ocean Turtle's main control room, Subtilizer wakes up.
Critter: Well done, Captain. Well, you got your butt kicked though, eh?
Subtilizer: What's the status?
Critter: Like you ordered, I sent those 50,000 players we scraped up from all over America. That punk Vassago died and came back once, but then he got super excited, converted his personal account, and dove back in.
Subtilizer: I see.
He takes out a notepad, writes on it, and gives the page to Critter.
Subtilizer: I'm diving in again. Convert this account to the Underworld.
He walks back to the STL room.
Critter: Heh heh...
Subtilizer: I'm coming for you, Alice.