November 9, 2047. 4:00 PM.

Haruyuki was in the Unlimited Neutral Field, together with Kuroyukihime and the rest of Nega Nebulas. Now, Operation 'Castle Raid' was about to commence. Finally, after eight long years of Brain Burst running, this game's ultimate objective – the clearing of the Castle and the freeing of The Fluctuating Light – would be fulfilled.

After discussion with the kings about a month ago, it was decided – after a brief scuffle between the Black and Green King – that all the Great Legions would launch a pre-emptive strike on the Castle, led by Nega Nebulas themselves. However, such an operation needed lots of preparation and coordination between legions, the least of which was done by the Black Legion themselves in a secret meeting two weeks ago.

However, despite the Black Legion being the earliest to arrive to the location, it seemed all the other legions didn't bother to show up at the appointed time. In the accelerated world where even a second counted towards delay, making them wait like this would be considered rather rude.

As they waited, Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime were holding hands – in particular, the blade arm of Black Lotus was touching Silver Crow's arm at its flat end, as Kuroyukihime herself felt that this level of close contact was enough for her. Despite this, she wasn't afraid of hurting Haruyuki and went in as close as possible.

"Man, everyone's taking their sweet time, aren't they?", Chiyuri pouted.

"Can't be helped. I mean, we did send that message when the other legions were busy preparing for the Territories."

Soon, the Green Legion: Great Wall would arrive.

"Hey hey hey, mega-long time no see, everybody!"

Up next was the Purple Legion: Auroral Oval, alongside the Blue Legion: Leonids. It seems the Yellow Legion: Crypto Cosmic Circus didn't show up, but knowing how much of a trickster Yellow Radio was, he might just show up when the action is over.

"Well, there's no point worrying about him now. Majority of the legions have gathered here anyway."

"Tch, you'd better have a good reason for making us skip the Territories today, Lotus!", Purple Thorn scowled, trying to restrain just a bit of her anger when coming face-to-face against her apparent archenemy.

"Of course, because now…"

Kuroyukihime pointed her left blade arm towards the entrance of the Castle.

"…we finally clear this game – Brain Burst 2039 – and realize its true objective!"

As she said that, she opened up the black-butterfly wings on her back. In response, Haruyuki opened his wings too.

"Now, let's go, Senpai!"

"Yeah!"

Carrying the wishes of

the two mightiest swordsmen of Aincrad,

Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime

and the rest of Nega Nebulas

charge forth into the Castle,

hoping to search for the answer

that their predecessors failed to find.

What they see at the end of their path…

is still uncertain,

fluctuating beyond a certain light.