Labyrinth...


It was all silent and dark. Was. Until there was the sound of rocks clinking against each other.

Jin woke to the sound of clinking just to see the brunette hitting a rock against the wall that blocked the way.

Ban: " Elie! Anyone! Can Anyone hear me!"

Jin managed to pull himself off and checked their surrounding. It seems they had fallen to a secret path or a cave beneath the hideout.

Jin: " Ban-kun..."

He tried to get the other man's attention but it didn't pay off. Ban was still desperately calling out to everyone else, but to no avail.

Jin: " Ban-kun, it's no use. They can't hear you through that."

He approached him as he stopped and leaned his forehead against the wall.

Ban: " Elie..."

His eyes shot wide open as he had another idea and reached out to his CCM.

Ban: " Odin! Destroy it with a Hissatsu Function!"

Odin: " what!"

Zenon: "wait!"

Jin: " Ban-ku-"

Ban: " Hissatsu Funct-"

Jin grabbed to his wrist.

Jin: " are you serious!"

Ban: " let go Jin! My sister is on the other side! Suffering on her own!"

Jin: " if you do that! The whole place may collapse upon us and everyone else!"

Still Ban made another attempt to destroy it but Jin's grasp tightened.

Jin: "Ban!"

Not managing to break free, the brunette gave up and kneeled down. Jin breathed out before he swapped looks with Zenon. The purple unit understood immediately and flew up the tunnel.

Jin kneeled by his friend's side.

Jin: " Ban-kun..."

The brunette's hands balled into fists and they shook with rage.

Ban: " I've never... Been able to be by her side..."

His shoulders shook.

Jin: " Ban..."

Ban: " I've always been watching from behind a glass... Just watched as she writhed in pain... I couldn't... Do much for her..."

Two droplets fell on his white knuckles.

Ban: " ... I couldn't... Be a good brother..."

A flash of red and the sound of sirens as the nurses dashed his shaking sister on a stretcher to the white car parked by the side of the park where they had been playing filled his memory. Little Ban's legs were rooted to the ground as he watched mortified. He didn't understand, he didn't know what happened... But he did know that his sister was suffering...

Jin placed a hand on his shoulder.

Jin: " Ban-kun... I know you're worried, but you won't save anyone by losing your nerves. Your sister needs you the most, so get yourself together, for her."

Ban: " Jin..."

His green eyes met the red ones and Jin gave him a smile before he offered his hand.

Jin: " get up, Ban-kun."

Ban's eyes went to the hand extended in front of him before he grasped it. Jin pulled him up to his feet. The brunette promptly wiped away his tears before returning his friend's smile.

Ban: " Thank you, Jin."

Jim merely nodded at him before his CCM rang. As he picked, Jennifer's voice chimed through the speaker.

Jennifer: " Pa- Jin-san! Thank God it got through! We've been trying to contact you for a while now!"

Ban: " Jennifer!"

He closed to Jin so he can hear better.

Jennifer: " Ban-san is with you too! That will make things easier."

Jin: " Are you alright?"

Jennifer: " ah. I'm currently with both Ryan and... Elie-san."

Jin&Ban: " Elie!"

Ban: " Elie is with you! How is she!"

Jennifer: " don't you worry. She is alright. We've found her medicine."

Jin: " eh? How did you...?"

Ryan: " Garshield was planning to shut himself here for a long time. We figured he would be keeping all kinds of medicines somewhere. Thankfully we managed to find it. She will get better after some rest."

Jin: " but how... You know, forget about it. We need a way out of here."

Then someone else joined the call.

" Everyone! Are you alright over there!"

Ban: " Touko!"...


Touko was standing outside the rubble of what was one Garshiled's layout and she seemed more than relieved to hear Ban's voice.

Touko: " what about the others?"

Jin: " we're fine. Ryan, Jennifer and Elie as well. They managed to get her some medicine."

Touko: " I see."

She breathed out as one weight was taken off her shoulders.

Touko: " and Hiro and the others... Have you had a word of them yet?"

Jennifer: " not yet."

Ryan: " Jen, you don't think they're..."

Jennifer: " don't. Say it."

She warned.

Ryan: " but they didn't respond for a while now. And it was a pretty bad fall too."

" Don't you kill us off!"

Ran's voice pierced through the call, followed by Hiro's.

Hiro: " calm down, Ran-san."

Touko: " you're safe! Thank God!"

Hiro: " yeah. Ken, Ruri and Sayaka are with us too. But it seems Ruri took a hit to her head and is knocked out for the time been."

Ban: " it's not serious... Is it?"

Ken: " don't worry. If anything she is a strong headed stubborn person."

Ran: " it's not a very good time for jokes Ken."

They could hear her knuckles cracking threateningly.

Ken: " alright, alright, I'm sorry. But I was serious. I've inspected the injury. It's a shallow hit, nothing too serious. She will come to shortly."

Hiro: " and Sayaka's leg?"

Ryan: " Sayaka-san too!"

Sayaka: " it's nothing serious. A superficial wound."

Touko: " everyone is fine, thank God... I will try to get to you."

Jin: " first get Garshield away from here."

He stated severely, taking her by surprise.

Ban: " Jin is right! We don't know if the World Savers are anywhere near here. Secure him first."

Touko: " but..."

Jennifer: " don't you worry about us. We'll dig our way out if needed."

Ran: " we've survived a Seto 50 before, this is no biggie."

Touko's face contorted. Though she wasn't keen on the idea of leaving them behind, they had a point.

Touko: " hang in there! I will come back as soon as possible with help!"

She said ending the call and turning to her bodyguards.

Touko: " handcuff him and let's leave quickly. The sooner we get him to Yagami-san, the longer our friends will get to live."

Garshield was horrified as the sight of shackles around his wrists.

Garshield: " you said-"

Touko: " I've got things more important than you now in mind. So I advise you to shut your hole before I knock you out with a soccer ball."

She walked past him as the bodyguards forced him forward in the direction of the cars...


Jin: " now that's one problem out of our way."

Hiro: " we still have to figure our way out first."

Jin: " I've thought of something. Have any of you scanned the area using their LBXs."

Ryan: " we figured you would say so."

Jennifer: " we infact did."

Hiro : " I send Achilles D9 to scan the area too. Figured it will be helpful like with video games."

Ran: " eh?"

Hiro: " it's an important thing to explore the map of the game if you have the chance to before playing."

" Carbon coating... 3 mm down... Swap the cables and the speed will increase..."

Ban: " what was that?"

Ken: " don't mind it. It's just Ruri mumbling in her sleep."

The blond male sweat dropped.

Ryan: " what kind of dreams she is seeing?"

Valkyrie: " one filled with broken LBXs to repair, that's sure."

Jin cleared his throat to get everyone's attention back to him, and it worked.

Jin: " I've send Zenon to run a thorough scan."

Ban: " eh?"

Jin: " when he and Achilles D9 get back. We should share our maps. We can figure a way to get out."

Hiro: " speaking of him, Achilles just returned."

Odin: " and so is Zenon."

He pointed at the LBX that flew their way and landed in front of both men, his eyes blinking. Soon, a map of the path he had taken appeared on Jin's CCM. They all shared their maps and after some work done by Sayaka using Ruri's laptop, they got a 3D model of the labyrinth they were in.

Sayaka: " so this is the result. It seems we had fallen through the central room and lended in three different caves. All of them seems to be blocked by the shock. However..."

The model that was projected to everyone zoomed on the cave in which Ryan and the other two were.

Sayaka: " this is the only cave that's closest to the outside. Its seems quite stable, so we can dig our way through easily without worrying about getting crushed."

Beargguy: " still, how will you guys get in here?"

Sayaka zoomed into another part of the labyrinth.

Sayaka: " see this. The three caves almost converge around this are. We need to dig through both sides and into your cave. We will meet there."

Minerva: " are we sure this will be safe?"

Sayaka: " better than waiting in here. Even when Touko gets help, we don't know how much long will they take before getting us out from the other side. It could be days for all we know. Of course, you can all chose staying put and waiting for help if you're not feeling sure about this."

It was a moment of silence before they could set their minds.

Ban: " I'm doing this."

Jin: " Ban-kun."

Ban: " it's risky, I know. But we can't stay. Not with three of us needing treatment."

Zenon: " he has a point."

Hiro: " that's Ban-san for you! I'm going too!"

Ran: " same here!"

Ken: " the sooner Ruri gets out the better."

Sayaka: " you don't expect me to stay on my own."

Jennifer: " we're going as well."

Ryan: " though we will have to wait until Elie-san wakes up before catching up with you guys."

Zeon: " as for the protection, you can leave it to us!"

Astray: " we protected you once from getting crushed! We can do it again!"

Ranger: " in time of need, you can count on your LBX, master."

Jeanne d'Arc : " that settles it then."

Ran: " we will get moving. And we'll contact you if anything happens."

Ban: " alright."

With a united nod, they ended the call and stared down the path expanding in front of them.

Jin: " let's go, Ban-kun."

Ban's look was of confidence and determination.

Ban: " ah!"

And they treaded down behind their units...


Kousuke, Kirito and Eva watched over Goliath from the back stairs of a nearby building.

Kirito had a pair of binoculars as he checked the vicinity.

Kirito: " breaking through is almost impossible. LBXs and Killer Droids are stationed every two meters or so."

Kousuke: " this sight is not beautiful at all..."

Eva kept silence for a second before she turned back to purple and crimson eyed man.

Evangeline : " so... They've sacked you."

Kousuke: " yes."

A hint of annoyance was clear in his voice and he was tapping his foot on the ground irritably.

Evangeline: " and now... They've taken control of Goliath."

Kousuke: " precisely the situation."

It was a miracle how he didn't give in to his temper yet.

Twilight : " and what about your special guest?"

Kousuke : " Yagami took him before I vacated my seat officially."

Kirito sighed as he lowered the binoculars.

Kirito: " Crysta Ingram thought they could use Goliath against Dream Future after they found out about their betrayal, so they decided to sack you."

Fenrir: " yet, Leviathan chose another approach, which is to defeat them using the World Savers."

Kousuke: " and now the damn kid named Knight is sitting on my chair!"

Twilight : " calm down, we know you're angry."

Kirito: " so dream Future have taken control over Goliath now."

Lucifer: " and Innovators' Lab."

Evangeline : " yeah, that as well."

Kirito took a deep breath as he calculated their situation.

Kirito: " Leviathan is getting ready to strike. I'm pretty sure he is about to finish off his body and so he decided to take over the two places."

Evangeline : " nee Kirito, you don't think he is... Going to wage a war."

Kirito took one more look at the fume rising from Goliath's chimneys.

Kirito: " actually... I'm afraid it's the case..."


Ban: " so when are you proposing to my sister?"

Jin almost chocked on air at that and stopped on his track, glancing back at the brunette with wide eyes. It seems he broke into a fit of laughter seeing Jin's shocked face.

Jin: " where did that come from?"

Ban: " sorry, sorry... I was joking..."

He hardly composed himself and walked off again.

Ban: " but I'm still waiting for when you will officially ask her out."

Jin turned around to put an end to that discussion. However, when his flash light fell on the worried green eyes beside him. When he met the brunet's forced smile, he knew what he wanted. Be it whatever discussion they had, Ban only wanted something to distract himself, something to put all the terrifying things he had been thinking of at bay.

Jin bit his lip as he looked forward again.

Jin: " is it necessary?"

Ban: " not actually, I mean, you've both been so close you probably don't need to say it loud. But like everyone else I'm looking forward to it."

Jin: " another reason why I would avoid that if possible. They would never let me live through it."

Ban: " oh come on. Humor them. Plus, I'm sur Elie would like to hear it too. If you have some troubles I can help you."

Jin shot Ban a side glare.

Jin: " so you know Ban-kun, asking Lilyan out before I did doesn't mean you're actually better than me. It's just, circumstances..."

Ban held up his hand in defense.

Ban : " I get that. But I still have the experience."

Jin: " what experience you're talking about. I bet you've only manged to come so far because of Lilyan's nature and Elie's advises."

He chuckled nervously as he scratched his cheek.

Ban: " I was exposed, huh. Yet, as her brother it would make me at ease if you ask her out."

Jin: " don't play the big brother card now."

Ban: " it's my trump card after all."

He rolled his eyes.

Jin: " whatever."

Ban: " so, when are you going to choose the rings?"

Jin: " Ban-kun!"

Seeing the other man's face getting redder, Ban was barely holding back his laughter, grabbing his stomach tightly.

That's it, Jin had had enough.

Jin: " if you utter another word, I'm letting Zenon deal with you."

Ban: " ahaha... That would be bad..."

He said recalling the incident of the bullet train. Jin merely heaved a sigh.

Jin: " you never change, Ban-kun."

Ban: " and you will never drop the formality, will you?"

Jin: " nope..."

He suddenly stopped as he mulled over it. The brunette also halted, confused.

Jin: " you don't have a problem with it, do you?"

Ban: " not actually, no. But it's different from Yuuya and the rest who are being formal with everyone. I've always considered it as politeness so it never bothered me. However..."

If it was any form of ties, of distance that you're trying to put, then I want you to stop. Or so he thought. He didn't want to state it bluntly. He knew his friend will catch up on it eventually.

Jin: "... It's. And I'm keeping it that way."

He walked over again.

Ban: " are you being serious, even after we grow up."

The brunette caught up with him.

Jin: " it will never change."

Ban: " come on, aren't you going to call me Nii-san or something."

Jin glared back at him.

Jin: " don't push it. And I'm older than you in the first place. Shouldn't it be the other way around?"

Ban: " oh, that's right. Then should I-"

Jin: " forget about it."

Ban laughed some more before he composed himself again.

Ban: " ok, let's be serious about it now."

Jin: " about what?"

Ban: " you asking Elie out."

Jin: " Zen-"

Ban: " just hold on and listen to me."

He said placing his arm around his friend's shoulders.

Ban: " I have an idea."...


Jennifer: " you sure you're alright?"

The brunette woman was leaning back on both her and Ryan so she can walk. Her look was that of tire and her feet shook under her own weight. Everything about her was screaming that she had yet to rest. However, she had shot up as soon as they ended the call with Ban and the others, saying she was alright and they can head out immediately.

Elie beamed at the red eyed girl.

Elie: " don't you worry, I'm fine."

Jennifer didn't find the words to talk back at her. She merely bit her lip as she looked down to the ground.

Jennifer: " you've always been like that, trying your best not to worry others..."

Ryan: " Jen, we're there."

They stopped. They finally reached the spot of the meeting. Any time soon, Ran and Ban's groups should be bursting through either sides of the cave.

Ryan managed to find a chunk of rock and settled Elie down so she could get some more rest.

Zeon: " can't we really help from here?"

Jennifer folded her arms in front of her chest.

Jennifer: " I'm afraid so, we don't exactly know from where they will be emerging. Opening a whole in the wrong place of the wall will lead to the tunnel's destruction."

It wasn't before long they could hear banging at the left side of the cave. The sound grew louder before a part of the wall came crushing down as Ran and the other's outline was revealed.

Ran: " osu!"

She grinned, satisfied of her hard work as she gave her usual karate salut.

Ryan: " Ran-san! Everyone!"

Hiro and the rest skidded down the wreckage of rocks and to the others, Ken was holding an unconscious Ruri on his back while Hiro was propping a limping Sayaka.

Ran: " Yo! Glad to see you safe and sound! Especially you Elie! You gave us a scare!"

Elie offered a weak smile as Ran's hand fell heavily on her shoulder.

Elie: " sorry about that. Glad you're safe as well."

Hiro looked around.

Hiro: " I see Ban-san and Jin-san aren't here yet."

He helped Sayaka settle down too.

Ran: " what's taking those two so long?"

No sooner than the words had left her mouth that the other side of the cave came crumbling in a flash of orange and blue. Both Odin and Zenon were flying in front of their players, their weapons thrusted forward.

Elie: " Onii-chan! Jin!"

It wasn't for her weakness, she should have been hugging them both by now. Seeing her, both their faces were washed over with relief and Ban rushed to her.

Ban: " Elie! You're feeling alright?!"

Elie: " I'm fine. Really."

He eyed her carefully before his expression softened and his eyes dropped.

Ban: " I'm really sorry, Elie..."

Regret and guilt noticable in his voice as he spoke, he made the brunette rise an eyebrow.

Elie: " you did nothing wrong Onii-chan, why are you apologizing."

Ban: " I should have been more careful... Maybe I shouldn't let you come with us..."

Elie: " what are you talking about? There was nothing you could do about it, and I was going to follow you either way even if I had to walk here!"

Ban: " Elie..."

Jennifer breathed out heavily.

Jennifer: " you're wasting your time, she is the most stubborn person I've ever known."

Ryan: " you're not counting yourself you know."

He teased with a snicker.

Jennifer: " shut up!"

Sayaka decided to pip in and bring their attention to the most insisting matter.

Sayaka: " we still have to get out."

She said trembling up to her feet again only to get Hiro's support.

Ken: " she is right..."

He looked down the path ahead of them.

Ken: " going down the rest of this cave. We should be able to get out."

Ran: " that if we don't find ourselves in a cliff or something."

She could not forget the memory from the Mizel incident where their only escape was meters above the ground.

Sayaka: " we've only managed to scan the incide of the caves, not the outside. So we don't actually know."

Elie chose to lean on her brother this time as the group trudged ahead at a slow pace.

Elie: " it's not like we have any other choice."

Ken: " we can actually climb if it's the case."

Valkyrie: " with Ruri on your back, and both Sayaka's injury and Elie's dizziness. You oughta be kidding."

Ran: " we will decide on how to cross the bridge once actually there."

Hiro: " you're right, let's hurry there first."

They hastened their pace to reach the end of the tunnel. And as the advanced, a light could be seen shining mildly at the end.

Ranger: " this is..."

Beargguy : " we are getting closer."

They even went faster, fueled by the small light of hope leading them. And as they approached, they were met with a stack of rocks blocking their way. The light they had glimpsed was coming from a tine space between the stack and the ceiling.

Ken: " this is it. We've reached it."

A shift on his back made him snap his head over his shoulder. Ruri was finally coming to. Her eyelids twitched and shook before they slowly broke open, adjusting her eyes to the dimly lit space.

Ruri : " eh? What happened?... Where are we? Ittttt... And why my head hurts?"

Ken lowered himself so she can get off his back. She balanced herself and stood straight.

Ken: " you're feeling alright? Do you have and dizziness? Do you even remember who am I?"

Ran sweat dropped at him.

Ran: " who was the one who said not to worry?"

Ruri looked at her brother, annoyed.

Ruri: " what's with the last question? Of course I know who you're. And I'm fine... Just the back of my head hurts a little bit."

She said rubbing the spot she fell on. Ken heaved a sigh of relief before he briefly explained everything to her.

Ruri: " so we've got to blow this wall to get out, right?"

She said placing her hand on it as if examining its thickness before she turned back to everyone.

Ruri: " well, what are we waiting for? Let's use our Hissatsus and crush it down."

She was the first to whip out her CCM. The rest of them did the same and their LBXs lined themselves up in front of the obstacle.

Astray: " ready, now!"

" Hissatsu Function!"

Each of them performed his special function. They all merged together and in a flash of white bright light, the rocks were crushed and fell to the other side, opening a way.

Ryan was the first to climb the set of debris through the dust and took a look at the other side, to which his eyes slightly widened.

Ryan: " this..."...