what we have to do...
Everyone had their jaws dropped to the ground as they wondered what may have happened to the man's head.
Ban merely narrowed his eyes at that. He knew his friend was more that serious. Evangeline was worried why would the black and white haired boy say such thing. Elie on the other hand was seriously considering knocking some sense into his mind had Yuuya not placed his hand on her shoulder, more or less restricting her.
Ban: " Jin, what are you thinking of?"
Jin narrowed his eyes at the brunette.
Jin: " you have to admit it, there is no way you could face off all of these Killer Droids. We've already lost. It's just better to give up. If they're not going to hurt anyone and pull their forces back, then it's better than to fight them and drag other people to the fray."
Ban was clenching his fists at that.
Ban: " and that's by sacrificing you?"
Jin: " there is no choice."
Elie: " don't say that!"
She slammed her hands on the table as she stood up and glared at him.
Elie: " there is no way we're handing you over to them! There is no way we're giving them what they want! There is always another choice!"
Jin merely had a cold expression on his face.
Jin: " remember what happened with Zenon before. This time, it may happen to another LBX, maybe one of you. Would you go as far as to place your and other people's lives in danger?"
They couldn't deny that. Most of them knew they may lose their partners or even their lives. But, they already knew that for so long, from when they made their choice to fight.
Elie: " we're already prepared for that."
She spoke calmly, catching everyone's attention while keeping her eyes on Jin's.
Elie: " we had all been ready to lay down our lives since we answered our questions. It won't make a difference now."
Lilyan walked to Elie.
Lilyan: " what Elie-san said is true. We're ready to give our lives in a battle, but we won't be able to live with the shame of abandoning a friend."
Eva strolled over to her friend.
Evangeline : " what kind of friend would we be if we turn you over to them. How would I ever face Jiiya after that."
Jin: " you don't understand it..."
He clenched his fists.
Jin: " the more we fight, the more they get stronger. Fighting had never solved it. If we just give up here, no one will be hurt anymore, no more enemies will appear, no more lives will be lost. Everything will stop. If you just-"
Ban had had enough. He gritted his teeth as he grabbed the other man by the collar, something that took everyone by surprise.
Ban: " are you just telling us to turn our backs on everything? Are you telling us to let go of the wishes of those whom left us in previous fights?! Are you telling us to forget about everything, Jin?!"
Jin merely narrowed his eyes.
Jin: " from the start, we didn't have a choice. We were all dragged here. We didn't make that choice ourselves, didn't we, Ban-kun?"
Ban's eyes widened as the other man continued on.
Jin: " You were dragged by your father, and I was dragged by my grandfather. Had it not be like that, we could have been living a normal life. It wasn't our choice, so why are we still fighting?"
A heavy silence reined over the room before Ban finally let go of Jin.
Ban: " you're wrong, Jin."
He turned around to everyone, the hour was almost over, so there was no much time left for arguing, he looked down as he thought about his situation and rose two resolved eyes at his friend.
Ban: " Jin, you may think whatever you want. But I'm not letting you sacrifice yourself. I'm not giving up, nor even abandoning a friend, even if the cost is my own life, because that's what I have to do, those are my true feelings."
Ban looked back at everyone, all determined to do what he chose.
Ban: " I will protect Jin! I won't let Leviathan nor Gichii lay one finger on him or everyone else in the city! That's my choice!"
Zenon: " Ban..."
Everyone beamed as they stood up as well, all fired up by the brunette's words.
Jessica: " well said, Ban!"
Yuuya: " that's my choice as well, I will support you Ban-kun!"
Runa: " our true feelings..."
Valkyrie : " what we have to do..."
Hikaru: " what we want to do..."
Hiro: " it's decided then! No matter what, we will protect both Jin-san and Tokio City!"
He said pumping his fist up in the air.
Arata: " even if it costs our lives we're not giving up yet!"
Dot Phasor: " that's our choice!"
Minerva : " our own, and not anyone else's choice!"
Jin was taken aback by their preservation.
Jin: " why..."
He bit his lip and clenched his fists. They were all doing a mistake.
Elie : " Jin..."
He looked up as she walked over with a stern air and glared at him. Yet, and much to his surprise, a smile sprouted on her face.
Elie: " I know that you were thinking of all of us. That's exactly the kind of person you're, and that's what I like about you."
Her face contorted again, showing nothing but seriousness.
Elie: " But bearing everything on your own isn't a solution. Everyone here, they care for you as much as you care for them. That's why it's pointless if you try to do everything yourself. Their feelings, their determination to not give up is true. You won't change it."
Jin softened his look at that before his eyes wandered over to the other brunette as he approached them.
Ban: " Jin, maybe logically speaking, your choice is the best one. But, no one here acknowledges that choice. We can't bring ourselves to accept it."
His look moved around his friends' faces. They all made approval nods.
Evangeline : " Seekers' will never turn their back on a friend."
Ban: " alright! Everyone, we're all moving as planned! Get ready to head out!"
" Roger!"
He then shifted his look to his dad and the other adults.
Ban: " we will leave Jin to you. "
They nodded at that. The players rushed out the room, but Ban stopped and looked one last time at Jin, still with downcast eyes.
Ban: " Jin."
He looked up.
Ban: " we will be back."
He grinned widely before catching up with the others. At that moment, Jin didn't know what he should believe in anymore. Just as he was like that, Mizel walked off to him.
Mizel: " earlier, you told Zenon that fighting had never changed anything. But you're wrong."
The man narrowed his eyes at the kid.
Mizel: " Ban, Hiro and Ran's feelings had surely made their way to me during our last battle. If I'm sure of one thing, it's that all of you had changed something, at least within me."
His eyes held nothing but confidence.
Mizel: " there is no way your fight didn't make any changes. Even if you didn't notice them, they sure had happened."
With that said, Mizel left the room as well...
Mirai, Hiro, Ran, Eva and Kirito had taken the train to head out to their designed spot. The hour was almost over.
Strike: " we're almost out of time."
Ran sighed as she thought back to earlier.
Ran: " I can't believe Jin of all people would say that."
Evangeline : " nope, because he is Jin, he said that."
Everyone shot their looks back at her.
Hiro: " Jin-san doesn't want to see anyone get hurt for him..."
Ran: " but he should understand how hard to lose a friend!"
She gave Hiro a soft look.
Ran: " I won't acknowledge it. I won't let any other friend of mine get hurt as long as I can help it."
Hiro: " what a heroic resolve! Ran-san!"
Ran merely chuckled at that.
Ran: " I think it's your influence."
Twilight: " we're nearly there."
The train stopped and they quickly jumped out, heading to where the Killer Droids were. They gasped in horror at the damage caused to the city and the decimated buildings surrounding them.
Fenrir: " such a terrifying power."
Ran: " there they're!"
She pointed out at the three Killer Droids between the ruins. The robots had their visors glowing as they let a collective roar.
Evangeline : " here they come!"
She whipped out her CCM and so did everyone else.
Mirai: " we're not backing!"...
Gouda: " remind me why I'm with you?"
Sendou: " because it's the orders."
He gritted his teeth as he took our his CCM.
Nightmare: " there is no time to argue!"
He pointed his scythe at the giant robots.
Asuka: " you're on for a rough game!"
She smirked widely as she adjusted her hat...
Mizel flew through the city in his jet form to intercept their back up. The others wanted him to head out with two more people but he refused. Needless to say Eva was furious and continued screaming into his mind at that. But he knew that they would need more help than him.
He turned back to O-Ligion's form as he watched the dragons roaring at him and flying his way.
Mizel: " try to take me down if you can."...
Ban, Elie and Lilyan had just reached their spot when Takuya called them.
Takuya: " everyone had engaged in a battle already. Arata and the students from Kamui Daimon are here to defend Tiny Orbit. You're the only ones left."
Odin: " I see them!"
The Killer Droids were flying above them when he pointed out.
Ban: " alright. Let's go as well."
Both girls nodded...
Both Gichii and Jinn were watching what was happening through the security cameras all over the city.
Jinn: " so that's their answer."
He shook his head.
Gichii: " they're on for a surprise."
He said with a mischievous smirk...
Muraku: " I can see them!"
He pointed out at the robots flying their way to Tiny Orbit's building.
Hikaru: " they're really attempting to do anything to get Jin-san."
Val Diver: " I wonder why?"
Arata thrusted his CCM in front of him.
Arata: " no matter what, we're protecting Jin-san! Go! Dot Blastrizer!"...
They had already engaged in the battle. Beargguy summoned his beam sword as he tried to thrust it in the robot's armor but it didn't do anything, much to his surprise for it was set at maximum level.
Lilyan: " they made it thicker."
Unicorn swayed his axe in an attempt to get one of the joints of the robot in front of him but it tackled it away with its tail.
Odin was hiding behind his shield as the Killer Droid kept shooting at it.
Ban: " they're keeping us separated."
Odin: " we can take down one of them easily if it's all three of us, but..."
He jumped up and flew towards the robot, swinging down his lance but it did nothing much than a graze.
The robot pushed Odin back as it pointed its tail laser at him, but Odin's shield was strong enough to block the attack.
Learning from their last battle with them, Ban, Lilyan and Elie made sure to hide somewhere so that the Killer Droids won't target them.
Lilyan: " if we could trap tow of them and take down one, it will be easier."
Ban though for a second and then flicked his eyes to the two girls.
While they were discussing the plan, Beargguy was dodging the laser beam launched at him.
Unicorn clawed at the purple aircraft with his giant claw but it was to no avail.
Ban: " are you ready?"
Both nodded .
Ban: " Yosh! It's all or nothing!"
Ban quickly typed on the CCM, Odin Mk2 shape shifted to the jet form as it flew away. The robot chased after him.
Beargguy as well lured the dragon robot he was fighting away. While Unicorn backed, leaving his supporting jets to distract the third killer Droid.
Odin and Beargguy caught up to each other and nodded as they picked up speed. Passing under some ruins. There was enough gap so the two Killer Droids tried to squeeze after them.
Ban: " now!"
Lilyan: " Hissatsu Function!"
" Attack function: Grand Wall!"
Just at that moment, Unicorn swayed his axe down, hitting the top of the ruins with a Hissatsu Function, he caused it to crumble and fall down over the two robots, trapping them there.
Ban: " hurry up! Let's finish the other one before they break free!"
The LBXs nodded as they dashed to the left killer Droid.
Ban&Elie& Lilyan : " Hissatsu Function !"
" Attack function: Jet Striker!"
" Attack Function: Hyper Energy Bomb!"
" Attack Function: Whale Cannon!"
All three attack functions that were set to their maximum output level hit the robot head on, causing it to break.
Elie: " one down!"
Ban: " still have two! We have to be more careful!"
The robots managed to break through the falling ruins and cut their way out using their Laser rifles.
Ban: " Elie, Lilyan! Handle the one at the left!"
Odin: " we will take care of the other one!"
The robot roared as it charged its beams, Odin and the other two dodging just at the last moment.
Odin: " it won't be easy!"...
Jessica, Touko, Ken, Ruri and Yuuta as well managed to defeat the first Killer Droid.
Yuuta: " Yosh! One is down!"
Jessica: " hurry up! Let's finish the second and head over to assist the others!"...
" Attack function! Devil Soul!"
The robot couldn't dodge in time as Vampire Cat surprised it from behind.
Gouda: " you used us to weaken it so you could finish it!"
Vampire Cat: " well, it's Asuka's best tactic, remember."
Sendou: " right, the one she used to beat Ban and Hiro in Artemis years ago."
He shrugged nonchalantly.
Yuuya: " guys, can you come over and help me with this one!"
Hakai-O: " I will be the one to take it down this time!"
He said dashing ahead the other, leaving dust in his trail.
Sendou: " we have to thank Mizel for upgrading the power of our attack functions in the last moment."
Sendou stated out as he looked over at the leftover of the droid.
Asuka: " ah! Taking those robots is a lot easier now!"
Yuuya: " does that mean we can trust him?"
Yuuya shot out the question that all of them had been reluctant to ask. From their looks, it was clear they were unsure of what to reply.
Gouda: " I'm not sure... He does really contribute much."
Sendou: " not to mention, he is the one risking himself the most while fighting."
He had a point.
Nightmare: "let's finish off this damn robot first! And then you can talk about that!"
Nightmare's call brought them back to the battlefield and their eyes looked once more upon their enemy...
By that time, Mizel had taken down the back up killer Droids and headed out to another spot undefended.
Mizel: " so they used the fortified particules to strengthen their armors as I feared. Thankful I've upgraded everyone's attack functions. I have to upgrade their weapons next time."
With that note in mind, he faced off against another group of Killer Droids.
Mizel: " out of the way! Attack Function! Gao Cannon!"...
Runa: " Hissatsu Function!"
" Attack Function: Death Scythe Hurricane!"
The LBX managed to damage the neck of the robot, causing it to fall down as it had no control over it's body anymore.
Kazu: " you really know how to match the timing and put a good plan."
He smiled back at the lavender haired woman by his side.
Ami: " LBXs are not only about powerful attacks you know. That's why, you usually lose to me."
That one comment was like an arrow piercing his pride.
Kazu: " I know, I know..."
All three LBXs gathered in one spot while waiting for the other Killer Droid to appear.
Kazu: " hey Ami..."
The said woman looked back at him and she was surprised at his pouting face.
Kazu: " what if Jin was right? What if all the things we're doing, all the fights we went through were futile?"
Ami narrowed her eyes. She had already knew a long time ago that the real enemy was something they couldn't fight. She had wondered also if there was a meaning to all they had done and the losses they had been through? But the more she thought about the horrible things that may have happened, the more she was thankful she was able to lend a hand and reduce the damage.
Ami: " I don't believe that everything was in vain."
Kazu snapped his head back to her, listening intently to what she had to say.
Ami: " it may be unnoticeable now but, our fights had surely made an impact somewhere. Even if we can't face off the real master mind, even if it's inches at a time. Our fights had already impacted the world so far."
Runa: " that's true."
She inputted, making both look at her and she had a gentle smile on her face.
Runa: " Onee-chan told me, if you hadn't fought against Innovators, I wouldn't have been here right now. You've saved me. I heard Elie-san is the same as well. I truly believe, that despite how many losses it had brought, your fight saved a lot of people as well."
Ami and Kazu's lips twitched into small smiles at her words before snapping back to reality when the Killer Droid showed itself.
Kazu: " here we go!"...
Muraku: " they're so much!"
He gritted his teeth as they were surrounded.
Arata: " don't give up!"
Momona: " we will surely pull through!"
The LBX were still trying to press forward...
" Attack Function: Dragon Inferno!"
" Attack Function: Midnight Katana!"
As the robots exploded, Kirito let out a sigh.
Kirito: " two down, only one left!"
Ran: " but our LBXs are at their limits."
Mirai pursed her lips together at the crunch in her gut.
Mirai: " I have a bad feeling!"...
Gichii: " I have to admit they're interesting."
Jinn smirked.
Jinn: " why do you think Leviathan switched his attention to them?"
He looked at the L mark that appeared over the screen.
Jinn: " shall I move to the next step?"
The word ' approved ' appeared to which the man smirked even wider as he typed on his panel.
Jinn: " entertain us more... Minerva's chosen players."...
The Killer Droid fell to the ground as it was hit by Odin's attack function. The LBX that had already activated the special mode managed to take down a Killer Droid on his own.
Both girls were still struggling with the other one when Odin caught up with them.
Odin: " let's finish it quickly!"
At that, the Killer Droid's visors shined as it let out a roar.
Elie: " something bad is coming!"
The LBXs backed as the jointes of the robot shifted, standing on two feet now, it took much of a humanoid form.
Ban: " what!"
It wasn't only them, all the others had experienced the same thing.
Sendou: " it can shape shift!"
Muraku: " damn, that way will increase their agility!"
Twilight : " those are... Kousuke's..."
Evangeline : " Kamiya Craft's joints!"
Ban clicked his tongue at that. In the humanoid form, the Killer Droid was even bigger than their LBXs.
The robot held up its hand as it started shooting. All three LBXs quickly hiding behind Odin's shield.
Lilyan and Elie started to panic after checking on their LBXs situation. They had received a lot of damage while fighting with the robot earlier.
Ban bit his lip as he saw Odin was pushed back...
Jessica: " Jeanne D !"
Touko: " Queen!"
Both LBXs were knocked back and fell down, unable to stand again.
Ranger had to cover for Valkyrie and Genesis for them to drag both injured robots back to their owners.
Jeanne D: " I can't... Move..."
Queen: " I'm sorry... Touko..."
Yuuta bit his lip as he glared at the Killer Droid shooting Ranger. Owing to his agility, he was easily able to dodge the darts shot at him.
Ken: " tsk! It will be hard to take down in that form!"...
O-ligion was surrounded by the black and blue robots, all pointing both hands at them as they were getting ready to fire.
Mizel: " so they added more modifications than I thought!"...
Val Diver was missing an arm and Magna Orthus' leg was heavily damaged he couldn't stand up any more. It was up to Arata, Momo and Wataru to defend Tiny Orbit.
Muraku: " sorry... Arata..."
A bead of cold sweat could be seeing sliding down his temple.
Arata: " don't apologize, just keep both Val Diver and Magna Orthus safe."...
From the meeting room of the Seekers' base, the older adult along with Jin were watching with dread all over their faces the fights occuring all over the city, holding back their breaths while wishing for the players to be able to pull through.
Zenon was fighting back the urge to jump out the window and help them. Yet, knowing that he can't leave his partner's side, he refrained.
Jin was clenching his fists as he watched everyone else fighting. Why isn't he out there with them again? Because he made the choice to give up, so no one asked him to join them. All he was able to do is wishing they would be all alright. Much like the World Savers' incident...
