Yanai: Don't move.
Higa: Mr. Yanai, why are you doing this?
Yanai: L-Listen, you've got the wrong idea, treating me like a traitor.
Higa: ...
Yanai: I'm just following through with my goal. I'm going to carry on the boss's legacy. That's why I infiltrated Rath!
Higa: The boss's legacy? Who are you talking about?
Yanai: Nngh... Someone you know very well! It's Mr. Sugou!
Higa: Wha..?! Carry on his legacy? But he's not even dead!
Yanai: Hahahahaha! He might as well be! He'll be locked up for at least ten years. And they nearly got me, too. But I blamed it all on my coworker, so I managed to get away with it.
Higa: So you were involved with Nobuyuki Sugou's human experiments, too?
Yanai: Not just involved. I was the one who gathered the data for it.
He thinks about the time when Asuna was trapped in ALO, and the time when he ended up touching her as she tried to escape.
Yanai: That was fun research. You know, like the virtual tentacle play. Well, my current life might be coming to an end, but the line he connected is still active. So I have to make use of it, otherwise he'll be upset, right?
Higa: Line? To where?
Yanai: The American National Security Agency.
Higa: A-America? So you're the one who's been leaking information about Project Alicization to the Americans!
Yanai: If the Americans down below succeed in retrieving Alice, there'll be a big bonus and a position for me overseas! What is that, if not the American success story Mr. Sugou dreamed of?
Higa: (If we don't hurry, then Kirito will... Please notice, Ms. Rinko!)
Higa drops his laptop and he gasps.
Yanai: Don't move!
Higa: Gah!
Yanai shoots the gun. Meanwhile, back in the Underworld, where Sinon encounters Subtilizer, a dark aura chokes her for a brief moment, and she recovers.
Sinon: You're Subtilizer!
Subtilizer: Did Alice escape? No matter. I'll catch up soon enough. If I remember correctly, I fought you in Gun Gale Online, right? Sinon, is it? To think we'd meet again here.
Sinon: And you? Why are you here?
Subtilizer: Because it's inevitable, why else?
He spreads his arms out.
Subtilizer: This is fate. It is the power of our souls that attract them to each other. Now we'll be able to understand all kinds of things. Like whether or not one can also suck the soul of a living human through the STL. And also, after not getting to taste it in BoB, finding out just how sweet your soul is.
Sinon gasps, thinking back from the fight with Subtilizer in the Bullet of Bullets.
Subtilizer: Your soul will be so sweet.
She breathes heavily. Then, a dark aura from Subtilizer pulls her closer to him.
Sinon: (I can't. I have to resist. I have to fight.)
He pulls her in his arms.
Subtilizer: Sinon, have you considered the meaning of the name Subtilizer? It means, "one who sharpens, one who renders, one who chooses... and one who steals." I shall steal both you and your soul.
Sinon: (I can't.)
He slowly pulls Sinon in for a kiss.
Sinon: (Stop. Please.)
Just as they almost touch lips, a glowing light from her necklace shines, pulling her out of Subtilizer's grasp.
Subtilizer: Hmm?
She looks at the glowing necklace.
Sinon: This is...
She notices that it's Kirito's heart monitor.
Sinon: This is Kirito's. But what's it doing here?
She holds on to it.
Sinon: You saved me again, didn't you? Then I can do this.
Sinon takes out her bow and it transforms into her sniper rifle, Hecate. Once it does, she aims it at Subtilizer.
Sinon: You're no god or a devil. You're just a human!
She shoots at him, but he blocks it with his hand.
Sinon: Don't lose! Don't lose... Hecate!
As she makes a second shot, the bullet goes through Subtilizer's hand, damaging it. The dark aura heals it. Then, he takes out a crossbow and it transforms into a sniper rifle.
Subtilizer: Hmph.
Sinon: Bring it on.
Meanwhile, at the southern ruins...
Asuna: Protect the people of the Underworld, no matter the cost!
Soldier: Stop! Please, stop!
Two red knights kill the soldier.
Asuna: No!
?: Someone help!
Sakuya: Alright! We're going to break through! Bellflower team, Lily team, push the battle to the right!
She points her sword forward.
Sakuya: Here we go! Synchronized sword skills, ready! On my count! Five, four, three...
?: Don't give up!
Sakuya looks and sees that Alicia Rue is surrounded.
Alicia: Buy as much time as possible!
A red knight slashes one of her comrades and she lands on her.
Sakuya: Rue!
She rushes to Alicia, taking out the enemies in her way.
Alicia: No! Go back, Sakuya!
Sakuya: Stop!
A red knight stabs Sakuya from behind.
Sakuya: Rue...
She falls on the ground. Meanwhile, with Ruby and her friends...
Ruby: We can't... falter...
She continues to slice through the enemies, and then, two of them slash Yang and Nora.
Yang and Nora: Gah!
Ruby: Yang!
Ren: Nora!
Yang: Get back!
Ruby tries to help Yang, but a bunch of red knights confront her.
Ruby: Get out of my way!
She slices through with Crescent Rose.
Ruby: Stop it! Stop!
She gets stabbed on the side by a spear.
Ruby: Yang...
Ren: Are we really going to win?
Then, with Yuuki and the Sleeping Knights...
Siune: We have to do something. I know we have to fight to get our point but... Everyone, listen! Create a breakpoint for me, just this once!
Yuuki: We got this. Jun, Tecchi, Nori, Talken, let's synchronize our strong attacks and blast them away! On my count! Two, one...
They all synchronize their sword skills to blast the surrounding enemies away. Afterwards, Siune walks toward a standing red knight. As the red knight swings his sword down, she stops it with her hand.
Yuuki: Siune!
Siune: Listen! You've all been deceived. This server belongs to the Japanese company, and we're not hackers, we're legitimate users!
Red Knight: You're lying! We saw you. You guys slaughtered a bunch of players, the same color as us, didn't you?
Siune: Those players were Americans, who dove in after being given false information, just like you! You're the ones being used to sabatoge the Japanese company. Think it through again. Does that rage and hatred truly belong to you?
The red players start thinking about it, then another walks up to her.
Moonphase: Is what you're saying true?
He takes off his helmet, revealing himself.
Moonphase: I'm Moonphase. And you are?
Siune: I'm Siune.
Moonphase: I see. Siune, this whole thing seemed odd to me as well.
Red Knights: Huh?!
Moonphase: Ngh.
Another red knight sheethes her sword and walks to them.
Mei Mei Xiang: Hey, let me through.
As she approaches them. She takes off her helmet.
Mei Mei Xiang: I finally found you, Moonphase. I agree, something's off about this game.
Moonphase: You think so too, Mei?
Mei Mei Xiang: Yes.
Moonphase: We were told that it was Japanese hackers attacking, but to me, it looks more like they're trying to protect something.
Siune: Then you believe me?
Mei Mei Xiang: But we need some kind of proof, or else...
A knife flies down to the ground. They look up at the pillar and see PoH.
PoH: What are you doing there with the Japanese?
He uses Incarnate Arms to take his knife back.
PoH: We don't need traitors here! Everyone! Don't be fooled by the dirty Japanese! If this is a Japanese server, and you all are legitimate users, why are you the only ones with top-tier equipment? You must have cheated and created whatever you wanted!
Red Knights: He's right!
Siune: You're wrong! Our equipment's like this because we converted our main characters to this world!
PoH: Hah! What kind of a moron would convert their main character to a test server? That's a lie! It's all lies!
Red Knights: Yeah!
Siune: It's all true! Please, believe me! We came here, knowing that we would lose our characters!
Red Knight: Shut up!
A red knight throws a dagger at Siune's arm.
Yuuki and Moonphase: Siune!
Mei Mei Xiang: Everyone, calm down!
Red Knights: We can't forgive hackers!
The red knights shout as they prepare for battle again.
PoH: Heheh!
Yuuki: What are we gonna do?
Meanwhile, at the northern chasm, Sheyta holds on to Iskahn's hand as the American's surround them.
Americans: Go!
They march on at them. Mighty and Ray prepare to fight. But they look at their surroundings, and they knew they were no match.
Mighty: This could be it.
Then, from the sky, Leafa comes down and slashes the knights.
Iskahn: Who's that?
Sheyta: That's...
The orcs run on and attack the Americans.
Lilpilin: Are you guys alright?
Iskahn: I thought you were standing by on the emperor's orders?
Leafa: Because we're comrades, aren't we?
Mighty and Ray: Leafa!
Leafa: Mighty! Ray!
Mighty: You're here! I can't believe it!
Leafa: I sure am. Lilpilin, you withdraw with the Pugilists. I'll take care of this.
Lilpilin: We're fighting with you!
Leafa: No, don't! I don't want you suffering any more casualties than you already have!
Mighty: Then me and Ray are coming with you, Leafa.
Ray: Yeah! We don't care how many there are, we won't let them win!
Meanwhile, on the Ocean Turtle, a smoke grenade gets thrown in the hallway, and both Hans and Brigg shoot at Ichiemon. Rinko monitors Kirito at SubCon. Kikuoka shows up and runs to her.
Kikuoka: How's Kirito doing?
Rinko: Higa's operation just started. Is the decoy working?
Kikuoka: I had them throw our entire supply of smoke grenades. We should be able to distract them until the smoke clears from the corridor, but after that, we'll have to lock the bulkhead again. We don't have much time.
Rinko: Well, Higa said we should see results in five minutes, at most. Huh?
She sees a white dot on the computer moving down. She clicks on it.
Rinko: Let's see. "Limit, opposition quotient... detection threshold... report?"
Kikuoka: What?!
Rinko: What's wrong?
He types on the computer and a window opens up.
Kikuoka: There's no question. It's a new limit-breaking Fluctlight. But why now, at a time like this?
Rinko: You mean, it's a second Alice?
Kikuoka: Technically, it's not at the same level as her. It looks like the artificial fluctlight broke its limits through its emotional circuits, rather than its logical circuits. Oh no! It's moving towards the group of Americans to the south!
Rinko: Hey Mr. Kikuoka.
Kikuoka: What is it?
Rinko: What is this external command inserted here?
Kikuoka: Huh?
Rinko: "Injecting simulated pain into the right ocular region?" You were actually restricting the people of the Underworld like that?
Kikuoka: N-No, we didn't do that! Of course we wouldn't! That would defeat the purpose. In fact, it's clearly sabatoge.
Rinko: It is, isn't it. Not to mention, this code doesn't seem to have any of Higa's idiosyncrasies. Something's commented out near the beginning. "Code 871?" What's 871?
Kikuoka: 871? I've never heard that number before. Wait. Hold on a sec. I think I just saw it somewhere...
He looks at Yanai's lab coat and picks it up, checking out the tag inside it.
Rinko: That lab coat belongs to Mr. Yanai. He went down below with Higa.
Kikuoka: 8... 7... 1...
They both gasp.
Kikuoka and Rinko: Yanai!
At the pressure bulkhead, Higa was lucky that the bullet missed him.
Yanai: I didn't mean to shoot that. I was only planning to mess with your work a little, then escape down to the main control side. It's not like anyone with Rath has died, so as long as we can retrieve Alice safely, it would've been a happy ending for everyone.
Higa: No one has died? But if we don't take this chance to treat Kirito, he'll never regain consciousness again! And the one responsible for killing his soul will be you!
Yanai: Oh, yeah, that's right. But that brat can die. So can Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Mighty, and Ray.
Higa: What?!
Yanai: After all, they were the ones who killed her. My precious Admi, that is!
Higa: Ad...mi?
Yanai: The pontifex of the Axiom Church, Her Eminence, Administrator! See, I'd promised her. That I would do everything I can to help her assume absolute control over the Underworld. And even if the server got reinitialized, I'd preserve her lightcube.
Higa: So you corrupted the Underworld?
Yanai: No, she was the one who made first contact. When I was on the late shift one night, I suddenly heard this girl's voice over the speakers. That really startled me. She found the entire command list for the Underworld all on her own, and opened a line to our side. And then, I used an STL to secretly meet with Admi. It turned out that Admi's voice, personality, and mannerisms were all my ideals. She promised me. That if I helped her, she'd make me her number 1 servant!
Higa: (I was wrong. It was Mr. Yanai who was corrupted.)
Yanai: But now she's dead. She was murdered by those punks. I have to avenge her, or else poor Admi won't rest in peace, right? That's right. That's right. On second thought, I need to kill at least one person.
He points his gun at Higa.
Yanai: ...if I'm going to honor her memory, right?
Higa: Ngh!
Meanwhile, back at the southern ruins, Asuna, Tails, Knuckles, and all their friends get surrounded.
Tails: No!
Asuna: Stop! Please stop!
Asuna drops her sword and a red knight approaches her.
PoH: Stop!
The red knight stops his sword, puts it down, and hits Asuna. She looks at all her injured friends.
Silica: Hang on, Agil!
Jaune: Pyrrha... Are you okay?
Pyrrha: I'm fine.
Asuna walks up to Tails, Knuckles, and Lisbeth, and hugs them. They all tear up.
Knuckles: This is all my fault.
Asuna: It's not your fault.
PoH walks up to them.
PoH: Lay down your weapons and surrender. Do that, and I won't be killing you or those beside you.
Sortiliena: Don't be absurd! Do you really think we'd be willing to...
Ruby: Listen to him!
Sortiliena: Huh?
Tails: Just listen! You all have to live!
Asuna: We don't care how humiliating it is! Just listen to him! That's... that's our...
Sortiliena: Ngh...
Everyone drops their weapons.
Red Knights: Yeah! We win!
PoH: Long time no see, Lightning Flash, Tails, Knuckles.
Asuna: PoH.
PoH: That name brings back memories. Glad you remember it.
Knuckles: So what? You thinking of vengeance? For the Assault Team wiping out Laughing Coffin?
PoH: Hahahahaha! You're so stupid to think about that! Let me tell you something! The one who tipped off your Assault Team about Laughing Coffin's hideout? That was me.
Everybody gasps.
Tails: So that's why we were ambushed back there! It was just so you could get rid of the Assault Team!
Knuckles: But why?
PoH: I wanted to make you guys murderers. The Assault Team, posing has heroes, acting all high and mighty on the front lines!
Asuna: That's what you wanted? To force Kirito to be burdened from PKing?
PoH: Yes. Absolutely, yes. I was watching that battle from hiding. When Professor Blackie snapped and killed two of them, I came this close to bursting into laughter and blowing my cover.
Tails: Do you even realize how much Kirito suffered?!
PoH: Yeah. Glad to hear it, but that sounds suspicious. If he actually regretted it, wouldn't he be to repulsed to even look at another VR game? Because of the guilt from the guys he killed. I know. He's here too, right?
Asuna: Ah...
PoH: Well, I'll ask him myself.
Ronie brings Kirito out on his wheelchair, with tears in her eyes.
Yui: No...
Tails: Stop!
Knuckles: Don't do it!
Asuna: Please! Anything but that!
PoH: It's showtime!