Good Luck Humanity
Everyone looked back at him rather befuddled by his words. They didn't defeat him yet?
William: " Leviathan is, first and furthermore, a stream of data. We may have been able to stop his rampaging right now but that doesn't mean that we defeated him completely."
Haruka gasped as she realized what he meant.
Haruka: " that's right. Even if his physical body is defeated he could yet still be regenerated from the network."
Otacross: " if the wrong people knew of that, it's be crisis all again deyo~."
Jun'ichirou: " it could have been different if we managed to hack him from his server and destroyed him forever but now..."
Rina: " he has traces all over the world which could be used to revive him."
Takuya: " then... what should we do?"
William clicked his tongue at that.
William: " only Minerva has the ability to erase every trace he has no matter how many they are but now..."
Mizel: " I didn't think you're the type to give up easily."
William: " Mizel!"
Mizel: " you think Minerva didn't consider that actually? That she might be erased? She has been living under his threat for a while after all."
William's eyes widened at that.
Mizel: " like how Leviathan could be brought back, so is Minerva."
Rina: " but we still need parts of her. And seeing that she had been sealed in a satellite for so long, and even that was destroyed..."
Mizel: " you realize it, don't you, Creator."
Everyone looked back at the thunderstruck William.
Mizel: " the one thing that the Vaccine Program shouldn't have been able to do, but she made it possible."
William: " the LBXs' AIs!"
" Huh?"
William: " I can't believe it, she had thought that far! She is definitely a genius!"
Ran: " explain please!"
William hesitated before he looked back at the screen where Mizel and the other players' faces were projected.
William: " the Vaccine Program shouldn't have been able to make your LBXs act on their own."
" Eh!?"
They all blinked in surprise.
William: " I was never able to do so in the first place. But Minerva made it possible. And looking back at it now, I realize how."
He looked up at them, reluctant as he was, there was no other choice before them.
William: " the AIs of your LBXs are made using Minerva's. Which means... they're the last parts we have of her."
"Huh?"
It took a moment before it all downed on them.
Jin: " so... in other words, in order to completely eliminate Leviathan forever."
Elie: " we should... give up the AIs of our LBXs?"
She said looking horror-struck at Beargguy.
Momona: " no! I refuse this!"
She said clinging to her LBX.
Momona: " how could you ask us to do that!? They're not just LBXs, they're our friends!"
Arata gritted his teeth tightly.
Arata: " I know there is no other way around but... that's asking too much..."
Ran: " there is no way we could sacrifice them!"
Kirito: " but if we don't do that..."
He looked back at the body of Leviathan lying down on the ground, still slowly dissipating away.
Mirai: " you can't even think of that! They're our partners!"
Sendou snatched out a card.
Sendou: " Chariot, upright. We have to go with it."
Asuka: " how could you say that so coldly!"
Gouda: " do you seriously want to get rid of Nightmare!?"
Sendou: " it's not like that!"
He clicked his tongue and looked away.
Sendou: " but I don't want to put anyone in danger anymore... If Leviathan isn't completely destroyed..."
All the LBXs then exchanged worried looks. They could see a rupture manifesting between those who knew it was necessary and those who absolutely denied the idea with all their hearts. It was time they had stepped in.
Achilles II: " everyone! Stop it!"
He yelled out, gaining their attention.
IKaros Ace: " do you actually want to make everything we've been through meaningless?"
Ran: " but..."
Minerva floated to her side.
Minerva : " we're not disappearing. You know that."
Elie: " huh?"
Beargguy: " don't you understand it? Whether able to talk or not, we'll always still be there with you guys."
He stepped on her hand, looking into her moisty eyes.
Twilight : " we've always been. Way before the Vaccine Program."
She said landing on Eva's shoulder and the girl was hardly able to hold back her tears.
Asuka: " I can't accept it... I just can't..."
Vampire Cat patted her cheek gently.
Vampire Cat: " it's alright, I will be always looking after you. Even if motionless and silent."
Kämpfer: " know that we'll be always paying attention to all of you and supporting you."
Aya: " Kämpfer..."
Everyone then directed their eyes at their leader, waiting for his answer. Ban looked down at his LBX who gave a nod and his eyes narrowed.
Ban: " let's do it."
Elie: " Onii-chan..."
He turned back at them trying his best to keep a calm face as he talked.
Ban: " it's just as they said, even without their AIs, we'll be still connected together. We'll always be their players."
Kazu: " Ban..."
Maybe out of everyone, only he and Ami could tell how heavy those words were for him to speak out. Ami looked down at her Pandora.
Ami: " I hoped there was another way..."
She said allowing her tears to flee her eyes.
Pandora: " it's not goodby, Ami. You know that."
She comforted her.
Achilles Deed: " better ask for her hand soon."
Kazu: " shut up, I was planning on doing that anyway."
KeQing: " Lellia, I'll be always supporting you, whatever path you choose, I'll be there with you. In every step you take."
Lillia smiled as she wiped away her tears and nodded.
Lillia: " thank you..."
Genesis: " Yuuta, you're a smart and kind kid. Have more confidence in yourself. There is nothing to fear."
Yuuta: " I will try my best..."
Strike: " Mirai, don't you stop searching for answers. I like it when you're trying to divulge the truth."
She gave a nod, her eyes swimming with tears.
Twilight : " I know you always want to help those around you, but don't forget not to worry them. You have a tendency to neglect yourself after all."
Evangeline : " I understand... I will try to spend fewer hours in the LAB..."
Twilight : " perfect!"
She said holding a thumb up at her.
Valkyrie: " I will be looking forward to whatever things you will bring to this world, Ruri."
Ruri: " then keep watching, I will surprise you."
She beamed at her, fighting back tears.
Ranger: " Master, no matter what, I will be your ally and by your side. Do your best to succeed in the Reizetsu school."
Ken: " you don't need to tell me that."
Hakai-O: " don't forget to do maintenance!"
He pointed a finger at him and Gouda couldn't hold back a chuckle.
Gouda: " is that what you're worried about!? Shouldn't you be telling me some nice things like the others!"
Nightmare: " you don't need your fortune telling to know when you should make a move a presume."
Sendou's face contorted.
Sendou: " what the hell are you talking about? I'll do whatever I like whenever I like."
Nightmare: " means you're making a move then."
Sendou: " shut up, you're talking too much."
Fenrir: "seriously, try to drink less coke. Frankly I'm surprised you're not diabetic yet."
Kirito: " that's nothing of your business."
Lucifer: " I'm sure Kamiya Craft will be fine from here on."
Kousuke: " I'm the one looking after it, of course it will."
Liu Bei: " Yuuya, don't hold back on what you want to do. If you want to travel the world, then don't hesitate to do it."
Yuuya: " I won't. And you'll be there with me."
Jeanne D: " Jessica, don't feel afraid to ask for help when you need it."
Jessica: " I won't. Thanks for everything."
Queen: " I want to watch playing soccer more."
Touko: " you'll have that wish."
Odin M: " Wataru, I'm sure you will be able to talk your parents into letting you back to Kamui Daimon."
Wataru: " and then we can have fun LBX battles, together."
Dot Phasor: " don't cry, you know it's not goodbye."
Momona: " I want but I can't!"
She sniffed hard as Dot Phasor stroked her head.
Dot Phasor: " yosh yosh there. Try to keep out of trouble. And keep your eyes forward to not get in more accidents."
Momona: " I'll try..."
Saurus: " Master, this world is left in your hands."
Gendou: " I know, and I will make sure to create a bright future, just like I promised Ayabe."
Val Diver: " you could try to be a bit friendly. You know acting cold won't hide the fact that you care for your friends."
Hikaru: "I don't need you to tell me that."
He stated with a smirk.
Magna Blaze: " Muraku-san, I'm thankful for the time I've had with you. And I will make sure to support you wholeheartedly from here on."
Muraku: " that sounds promising, thank you."
Dot Magnum: " Arata, I'm pretty sure your dad will come around one day and understand you feelings for LBXs. Until then, I will stand by your side to the very end through thick and thin."
Arata: " thank you, buddy."
He said giving him a fist bump.
Jeanne d'Arc : " Sayaka, hold tight to your dreams. One day you'll be just like your father."
Sayaka: " you'll stay by my side until I make that dream come real, right?"
Jeanne d'Arc : " of course."
Joker: " Runa, live with no regret and try as many things as you want in this world!"
Runa: " I'll, and I know the first thing I want to do is enjoy an LBX battle with everyone."
Zeon: " it was a short time, but we're thankful for it."
Astray: " getting through this adventure together."
Jennifer: " here too, thanks for everything, Zeon. "
Ryan: " we're going to have more adventures in the future too together, buddy."
Beargguy: " Elie, there's no need to be afraid anymore. You've got so many friends around you."
Elie: " and I got you too."
Emperor M3: " try not to keep things to yourself. You can depend on your friends when in time of need. After all, you've made such good friends."
Jin: " I know, not showing weakness isn't courage after all."
Achilles II: " Ban, never lose trust in your friends, never give up on the future, and most of all, always believe in yourself and those surrounding you. Believing has been always your strength."
Ban gave a small smile and nodded.
Ban: " I won't. Nor would I give up on LBX too."
Achilles II: " that's the spirit."
Mizel waited until they all finished saying their goodbyes before Ban walked over to him, holding Achilles up at him.
Ban: " you're the only one who can do it, right. Then go."
Mizel swept his eyes between all of them before giving a short nod. His eyes glimmered in blue, his long hair floated up, turning a light shade of electric blue as the LBXs glowed. Not only those nearby, but all the ones across the world as they bid their farewell as well.
Haruki: " you're leaving, aren't you?"
Trivihine nodded.
Haruki: " thanks for your help."
He gave him a smile.
Gregory: " even though we won't be able to talk at all, still we're the best partners, Dot Blaze."
With that, two balls of light flew out of the LBXs, which stopped glowing at once, and zoomed through the nearest screen there.
Ban and the rest watched in silence as one by one, the balls of light were sucked out from their LBXs and absorbed into Mizel's body as he glowed brighter and brighter. From across the city as well flew multiple darts of light that converged on him.
When the last of them was absorbed, he turned around, still glowing, and walked over to Leviathan's body.
Leviathan : " so you're here to finish me, right?"
Mizel's voice this time wasn't his, but a rather familiar feminine one. It was Minerva's.
Minerva: " for so long you tried to get rid of me. You wanted to take over the world and put humanity on the brink of demise. However, I can understand your reasons for doing so. Just as I thought of offering help to humans, you too did, but your ways were wrong."
Leviathan : " and so..."
Minerva narrowed her eyes.
Minerva: " it's not our time yet. Humanity still has plenty of time to grow. Until then, we shouldn't interfere with them. "
She walked over to him, gently putting her hand on his broken head.
Minerva: " let's leave together, Leviathan."
She closed her eyes and shiny specs of light began flying out of her body. Leviathan's fading also sped up.
William closed his eyes at that. That was their last option, in order to delete Leviathan forever, Minerva, who was still linked to him, had to delete herself as well.
William: " farewell, Minerva..."
By the time Mizel's form went back to normal and he opened his eyes, all that was left of Leviathan was the last red specs of light that faded away. Leviathan and Minerva were forever gone.
Ban then blinked when his CCM beeped. It wasn't just his, all those behind him fetched for theirs as well. Before them, was none other than Leviathan's mark.
" Good luck, humanity."
Was the last message he left and which was broadcast through the whole world...
