A Cyber Attack... A Trap...

Both Ryan and Jennifer blinked in sheer astonishment at the sight within the dinning hall the next morning. Most of their friends sat down to their tables and, instead of the usual maintenance kit and their units, had rather brought out their pens and text books.

Arata: " geez! This problem is hard, Muraku, let me borrow your work."

Muraku: " nope, do it yourself."

He said scooting to the side of the table.

Arata: " come on, I will just have a peek."

He was completely ignored by the other boy, leaving him to direct his begging looks to Gendou and Hikaru, who weren't more cooperative than Muraku was.

Hikaru: " don't complain, give it a try first before asking for the solution."

The two kids swapped looks of confusion.

Ryan: " did we switch worlds or something?"

Elie: " not at all."

She mysteriously popped right behind them with a beaming face, startling them for a moment.

Jennifer: " Mama!"

Elie: " you two, you know what's today's date."

They inclined their heads trying to recall the date.

Ryan: " 25 February 2057, right?"

Jennifer: " I see, final exams."

She looked back at the rest of them, still plunged in their own worlds. It was then when she glimpsed Jin and Eva moving along the tables.

Elie: " correct! The younger ones will be having their final exams soon! Even though saving the world is a top priority for all of us, abandoning your studying schedule is intolerable!"

She made a cross mark with her arms.

Elie: " Jin tried to keep them up with their schedule the best he could for the whole journey, giving the situation of course. But still, now that the exams are closing on..."

Astray: " I see now. They need to put some extra effort for the time they had spent running around the world after all."

Evangeline : " you just have to find the primitive equation, then this will be easier to prove."

She said scribing something on a sheet of paper while Ran and Hiro were following her explanation diligently.

Ran: " he, there was such an easy solution. I wonder why we didn't think of it."

Hiro: " Eva-san, you're really smart."

The blonde flashed nervously at the complement. She didn't intend to show off or anything.

Evangeline : " not at all, when you work hard you can just figure such things way faster."

Ran: " heh, don't act modest. You're one of the smartest person we know and we're thankful for your aid now."

She said hunching over her notebook and applying Eva's method.

Hiro : " thanks for the help, Eva-san."

Evangeline : " anytime you want."

And she stood up to help Wataru and Momona with their work as well. Jin on the other hand was focusing on Muraku and the rest of the 3rd year students.

Zeon: " well, I think with Jin and the rest taking care of their tuition, there is nothing to worry about."

Elie: " what about you two?"

She pointed out, making them twirl around to face her.

Beargguy: " don't you have coming exams in your timeline as well?"

Elie: " wouldn't it be bothersome for you to stay for so long."

Ryan: " actually, nope, we don't."

Jennifer: " when we traveled back in time, we where in the summer vacation. According to the old man, we should return where we left so, we don't have to worry about how much time we spend here."

Zeon: " we're going back to the same date after all."

Azure: " no one will ever notice their disappearance, not even their parents."

Elie sweat dropped, considering his point.

Elie: " should I be relieved, or worried that my possible future child is going out on adventures without me knowing."

Beargguy: " you should keep a close eye on her in the future."

Elie: " definitely."...

Deep within Dream Future, beneath all the floors crawling with employees walking back and forth, fulfilling their duties, the main computer kicked to life as all the servers around it started and the lights of the room illuminated the place. The screens showed a massive amount of Data being uploaded to the network.

Leviathan : " entering the final phase of the Evolution Project. Begining attack on Tiny Orbit."...

William: " hm, everything seems fine for me."

Mizel tugged on the wires attached to his neck and transferring his data to the man's laptop.

William: " I was still worried about the aftereffects of Leviathan's hacking, but seems it was absolutely nothing. Anyway, everything is stable so you can use our trump card whenever you feel needed. Even so..."

Mizel: " I know. It's a one time use. I have to be careful about the timing."

He smirked.

Mizel: " even your completed D Manipulator can't do that much after all."

William shrugged.

William: " one more reason to keep working on it and improve it. Who said I'm satisfied with how it turned out."

Mizel: " you really don't stop don't you."

Despite himself he was smiling at the man's resolution.

William: " well, that's how humans are. They don't stop growing up and trying to improve."

Mizel: " in other words, you don't stop evolving."

Blue eyes narrowed slightly at the word.

William: " I've been mulling about what Leviathan is trying to do."

Mizel leaned on, most interested now than ever.

Mizel: " and..."

William: " he wants to create a perfect system for the humans, a place where they fulfill their allocated rules with no hindrances."

Mizel: " seems like a very brilliant plan for me."

William gave him a chop on the head, though it had little effect than he had wished seeing the kid's unfazed face.

William: " try joking like that again and you may find yourself in pieces before you could even say 'hack'."

He sighed.

William: " a world with no illness, no death, no losses and of course, no feelings. All of those are unneeded for Leviathan's longed world."

Mizel: " theoretically speaking, it is a salvation. You will be no more exposed to hardship or get hurt, physical or emotionally, mind you, you won't have any left emotions by that time. It's the utopia where logic rules. You will merely focus on fulfilling your tasks, everyday."

William: " what will happen of our tomorrow, of our future then?"

Mizel closed his eyes.

Mizel: " nothing, the world Leviathan aims for doesn't feature changes in it. And if there was any, it will be considered a bug and treated as so."

William: " can we call this evolution?"

Mizel pursed his lip tightly. Having heard nothing of him, William looked back at all the data he had gathered so far.

William: " Leviathan claims his project will lead to the evolution of our world to its perfect form. But, evolution isn't meant to end. It's meant to happen, again and again, causing changes, improving things. But an evolution that leads to a monotone world, is no salvation, rather..."

Mizel's eyes trailed off to the window, taking in the bright rays of sun and the deep blue color of the sky.

Mizel: " ... A demolition."

A moment of silence through which they contemplated over that thought. The existing of a perfect world was absurd. Nothing can stay the same forever, nothing can stay perfect forever. That much was obvious.

Their short moment was interrupted by Mizel's abrupt flinch. He held on the side of his head firmly, feeling something odd pending on the company's network, something massive.

William: " what's the matter."

Mizel: " Leviathan..."

He replied, having pulled himself on his legs.

Mizel: " ... he is trying to hack Tiny Orbit."

He staggered and William had to clasp him not to fall off. A moment later, Mizel managed at last to get himself together. The disturbance caused by the sudden attack faded into the back of his mind as he grew accustom to it. He found matters more urgent.

Mizel: " we need to block them off."

William nodded as he established a call with the director, warning him. Takuya wasted no time ordering for thier server to be cut off the city network. However, all of their tries to isolate their own network ended in vain.

Takuya: " they got us!"

His face was broadcasted on every screen within the building.

Takuya: " everyone! We're facing a cyber ambush! Immediately head to the lab!"

Both players and LBXs alike sped down the corridor towards the lab.

Ran: " tsk, just when I thought I had an idea to solve the last question."

Upon entering, they were met by the concerned looks of Yuuki and the rest who had shut themselves in the Lab for the past few days.

Jin: " how is the situation?"

Ban shook his head, not knowing much of what was happening himself.

Ban: " we're waiting for Takuya-san to explain."

No sooner than he replied that the said man passed through the doors along with Mizel and William, Otacross walking several feet behind them while hauling a certain scanner.

Otacross: " excuse us deyo~."

He embarked on installing it down with Sakura.

Runa: " Takuya-san..."

Takuya: " our cuber security is trying to halt the enemy, yet I doubt it will be enough."

Mizel: " thousands of virtual LBXs are attempting to sneak into our local network."

His eyes blinked red as he pulled a hologram screen, showing everyone what was happening in their network on it. True for his words, what seemed like an army with no end was proceeding towards a bubble that everyone guessed to be Tiny Orbit's. What's more unnerving for them was the presence of a whole bunch of a certain Droid.

Gouda: " you gotta be joking me!"

William: " estimation of the enemy forces is 50000."

"50000!"

Everyone chocked on the number.

Kazu: " oi, that's double the army send by Innovators years ago!"

Otacross hopped off the chair he was standing on while working on the scanner and his eyes trailed over to the players.

Otacross: " listen carefully, out there are 50000 or so LBXs deyo~. And my scanner can only convert up to 10 units deyo~. Choose who to go wisely."

Ban, Jin, Arata and Muraku switched looks and immediately nodded. Without being told, having the Killer Gear out there was more of a specific invitation for them.

Jun'ichiru: " that only leaves six."

Everyone were reluctant, not that they were afraid of going, on the contrary, everyone wanted to contribute yet were concerned about the limited places. For a moment, Mizel considered joining but a pat on his shoulder made him rethink his choice.

William: " we can't afford to lose you."

It was dangerous, for all he knew it was a trap. Leviathan was planning for something, he wouldn't just send that much at them all of a sudden. He could at least have done so long ago. That was a decoy. And despite knowing that, still they had to go. For if things were left as they were, they would lose their base.

Ryan: " we're going."

Ryan and Jennifer stepped ahead of the others, LBXs in hands and all confident in themselves.

Aya: " four left."

With a shared nod, Elie and Lilyan advanced as well. However, the brunette woman was fixed by a hard glare, a silent order to back off. She ignored it. She wasn't going to stand back.

Yuuki: " two more."

They exchanged worried looks. Who could be the best two to join them right now? Before they could make their minds, a blunette and a red head were pushed forward by Jessica and Yuuya.

Jessica: " what are you waiting for?!"

Yuuya: " the last two should be you, Ran-kun, Hiro-kun."

Facing off the smiles given to them by the rest of their friends, Hiro and Ran couldn't refuse.

Hiro: " alright!"

Ran: " we're thrashing them for everyone else as well!"

Her fist shot promptly in the air. Otacross nodded in approval at the gathered members and flung the end of his cane at the scanner.

Otacross: " sa, set your LBXs deyo~!"

Elie: " I'm depending on you, Beargguy!"

Ran: " Minerva, make them regret coming at us!"

Hiro: " we have to protect our base no matter what."

Zeon: " I will make sure to destroy them to smithereens."

Astray: " we'll leave the assistance for you."

Unicorn: " I will protect you no matter what it may coast."

Odin: " everyone depends on us."

The brunette male nodded as he felt the weight of the responsibility falling upon his shoulder. After all, he and the other three were the hope of everyone else back there.

Evangeline : " before you depart."

She walked over to the scanner, something in hand. She turned from everyone else's prying curious looks and she deposited whatever she had in hand. When she walked away from the scanner, their eyes glinted in awe at what they saw.

In the very middle stood a large launcher, way larger than anyone they had so far seen.

Ban and Ruri exchanged looks with the blonde.

Evangeline : " it's now or never. Ban, you understand how it's working. I will leave it in your hands."

Green eyes squinted and the brunette bobbed his head to confirm he got the message through.

Sakura: " is everyone ready?"

Unwavering eyes met her at the question.

Otacross: " here we go deyo~! Fade in!"

With a press of a key, the LBXs were wrapped in a green circular hologram as their data and conscious had been converted to the virtual space. One moment later, they found themselves levitating behind the semi transparent walls of the giant bubble representing Tiny Orbit.

From the other side of the translucent vail, their enemy came to sight, attacking the site in hope of prying a path open. It seemed to work as the surface of the bubble was cracking under the weight of the endless charges.

Achilles D9: " with that much..."

Zenon: " it's a matter of time before Tiny Orbit's system is taken over!"

Ryan: " we're not letting them!"

Otacross : " that's the Spirit kid. I'll eject you all now, get ready to embark into the fray deyo~!"

Upon pushing another button, a hole manifested on the inner surface of the bubble, sucking out all of the LBX and sealing right after they were thrown outside.

Minerva : " I disapprove of this manner!"

She shouted at the sky as though shouting at Otacross.

Astray: " now is not the time!"

Every LBX out there whipped their weapons in their direction.

Odin: " well, let's cut to the chase then. Everyone, fan out and protect Tiny Orbit with all your might!"

" Roger!"

The next second, all of them had zoomed through different directions, taking down the LBXs first as multiple bursts of light erupted from the lot.

Astray: " no one is getting past me!"

His wings detached themselves and were now circling him as energy blade bits. With a flourish of his arm they jolted around and transfixed whichever unit that dared to come closer to the bubble.

Ruri: " I never knew he had such trick! Your LBX is awesome!"

Jennifer: " it's not yet time to be amazed! Zeon!"

The crimson robot which was gracefully flying past the enemies, evading their onslaughts nimbly and attacking mercilessly levitated higher.

Zeon: " on your guard! A flashy one is coming!"

She charged her blast and flourished the barrel of her rifle towards her enemies, melting them down with a concentrated Laser beam.

Evangeline : " with that output, the rifle should have melted right away, but..."

She double checked the perfectly unscratched weapon.

Ruri: " ... the future is promising I guess."

Exceed and EX Nova zoomed in and out of the LBX herd, taking down as much as they could reach.

Ban: " listen! Round them up and push them all together into the center!"

" Roger!"

Ban: " Hiro! Ran! When I give the signal switch LBXs!"

Ran and Hiro, figuring out Ban's intentions, bobbed their heads in unison. Their LBXs kept appearing and disappearing off on the screen while the counts of Killer Droids decreased.

Unicorn: " they're tough!"

He narrowly dodged a blow and slammed back to back with Beargguy.

Elie: " Lilyan-san, keep your guard up!"

Unicorn's jets blocked off multiple lasers directed at them.

Beargguy: " Lilyan! Elie!"

Lilyan: " I know! Real mode!"

Elie: " Armor Change !"

In a flash of dazzling light, both LBXs zoomed off to get rid of their attackers.

Evangeline : " Ban! They're are all gathered up! Use it now!"

She shout from the scanning side screen. Odin and Zenon defused at that.

Ban: " Hiro ! Ran! Now!"

All three of their LBXs morphed immediately to Elysion, Minerva and Perseus and gathered as Segma Orbis. The large LBX grabbed on to the gigantic launcher and flailed its nuzzle at the mass of units swarming about.

Segma Orbis: " everybody gets back!"

Just as they pulled off from the herd, Segma Orbis charged his weapon.

Hiro: " here we go! Hissatsu Function!"

" Attack Function: Chouchoudenshiki Missile !"

A great missile launched off, its plates fell down, revealing little and numerous smaller ones strapped to it. As they detached themselves, they positioned in a circle around the herd of lbxs and expanded. The smaller missiles began to generate electricity before charging them upwards. It gathered to manifest a great sphere of electricity which fell down upon the Killer Droids underneath it.

It was a powerful explosion that happened no robot could have survived it at all. The ones that weren't rounded up were soon taken care off by the rest of them.

Ruri: " Oh. My. God! That was cool!"

William: " you designed that weapon yourself?"

He looked down at the red eyed woman rather amazed.

Evangeline : " I've got the professors to help me out with it. Still, this is merely a prototype. The launcher is gigantic, only a huge robot like Segma Orbis or a Riding armor could use it."

Mizel: " regardless of that, it demolished a whole herd of Killer Droids. That's no easy feat."

" Sir!"

One of the employees called off, getting their attention.

" Almost All virtual LBXs were wiped out. Tiny Orbit's network is secure."

Everyone breathed out upon hearing that.

Ran: " all is left are the small fries! We can finish them immediately!"

Mizel however wasn't as relieved as everyone else. He doubted it would end there, so easily. Sadly, he was right. No sooner than they chased away the last of the Killer Droids, he felt that headache again. A familiar one. One he could never forget, because it was the same as when he was hacked. It was Leviathan.

Mizel: " bring them back!"

He rushed to Otacross who was taken aback by his sudden snap.

Mizel: " hurry up!"

But it was late.

Zeon: " what's that?"

Their eyes flicked back to the monitor. They could glimpse what seemed at first as though a cloud of green gas, however, a few of them realized what it was.

Ami: " a magnetic storm!"

It was getting bigger by the moment, swirling and sucking the data of defeated LBXs.

Mizel: " get out of there! Quick!"

Yet they weren't fast enough. Before they had the chance to even react, the currents became stronger. The LBXs kicked off to try and escape that thing before it could ensnare them, but they were late. Despite their efforts, they were going backwards more than ahead. Only EX Nova managed to get away in time.

Arata&Muraku: " everyone!"

Ban: " stay where you're!"

He warned as he defused Segma Orbis.

Hiro: " Ban-sa-!"

He was cut when Elysion kicked Perseus strong enough to get him out of the air current.

Astray had Unicorn's jets boosting him up to get out. Zenon grasped Zeon's hand and swayed her away, she got out of the danger zone but he was pushed back. And Minerva was forcefully knocked away by Achilles' Lightning Lance.

Evangeline : " hurry up!"

Mizel: " pull them out!"

Otacross: " I'm trying! But Leviathan's hacking is blocking me, especially for those four stuck there deyo~! Being outside our main network doesn't help!"

Evangeline and Mizel were urging Otacross to do something about them. Despite his extreme fast and violent tapping on the keyboard, he was yet unable to match Leviathan's hacking.

Asuka: " Otacross!"

Ami: " Otacross!"

Sakura: " Otacross-san!"

Ran: " do something!"

Achilles: " our data is getting sucked here already!"

True for that, the four were mere inches from the raging cloud.

Otacross: " I'm doing my best deyo~! And here I found it! Change router!"

The LBXs' conscious were pulled back through another route before Leviathan could intercept them and were saved. Or so it was supposed to be. But there was an error.

When Otacross' scanner shut down and everyone went to check on their LBXs, only six of them had their visors glowing. Odin, Zenon, Unicorn and Beargguy were as rigid as they could ever be.

Eyes went back to Otacross, demanding an explanation before the old man banged on the keyboard.

Otacross: " He got us deyo~... He was fast... They were sucked in before I could pull them back..."

Elie: " no way... Then... Our LBXs..."

She looked back at the four unactivated LBXs.

Yuuta: " what's happening?"

Their attention went back to the screen. The green cloud slowed down and dissipated, leaving behind a large black cube floating around...