Response to Reviews

Thank you to HunterHQ, Anonymous, Guest, HereICome, Ambiguous, Kcufad and T.V. 2000 for reviewing Chapter 101 of Obscured Truth.

Greetings, everyone! As we move to Summer, I hope you're doing well and are safe and sound wherever you are around the world. We are one more chapter away before we move onto the next arc of Season 3, and even though this is an interlude chapter, I do hope you enjoy it. After all, it sets things up for what will happen both in Season 3 and beyond.

But I digress. Let's get to answering reviews:

HunterHQ: Well, for the week after Chapter 100, Yuhiro had nightmares. Regarding your question for Arin, you'll find the answer out this chapter. You can assume that Arin's entire species was enslaved. As for the other Shadow Giants summoned by this Cursed Boundary Layer, they've been destroyed. Yup, the Hanoi should be more grateful that Playmaker and the others made sacrifices to stop threats. That's true. Ryoken did enjoy defeating Go in their duel back in Season 1. I can't believe I forgot about that until now. In my opinion, I believe Revolver and Dr. Kogami were there during the attack on the Cyberse World, with the lieutenants supporting them. Humans definitely have short lifespans when compared to AI, yet they give it their all to ensure their lives have meaning. Do note that Yusaku and the others briefly met Zero in Chapter 100, so they have a general understanding of him. Still, Yuhiro will tell them more details about Zero later on. Right now, the poor guy needs to recover. There was definitely an adorable bonding moment between Arashi and Brea, as well as a touching one between Takeru and Kiku. We even had some wonderful moments between Yuhiro and Miyu in the beginning of the chapter too. Regarding Arashi's comment, he didn't friend zone himself. He just managed to escape Brea's teasing, that's all. As for a heartwarming moment between Aoi and Yusaku, I have one in mind down the road. Remember that Flame taught Takeru and Kiku how to speak to Balelynx, as well as understand what she's saying. As for the idea on the humanlike duel monsters supporting their holders, it's an obvious no. And a definite no on duel monsters having families with humans. Honestly, if Leshawna used a memory scanner, it'd be a breach to her practice, as you can't force someone to spill the beans. You have to guide them into telling the truth. What's to stop Jericho from going after the heroes right now is the fact that he has to regroup and plan things out more. Besides, they now know of his existence, so they'd obviously prepare themselves for what's to come. Yup, Yuhiro scarred both Gil and Yusaku, which means the both of them need to recover from what happened in the previous chapters. It's not just them, as he killed some of Greg's men and endangered Rachel and Brion. Regarding ideas on how Miyu can help Yuhiro get better, aside from washing his back and feeding him, those are some good ones. Again, Yuhiro isn't going to church. Period. If Yuhiro was hit with tranquilizer darts or cyanide while in his Link Trigger form, he'd obviously be able to resist it. And yes, Yuhiro has a ton to make up for. I also do see Jericho mocking Yuhiro for his multiple losses, especially since he lost against Blue Maiden and Tigress. Unfortunately, Excalibur couldn't resist the Cursed Boundary Layer despite its efforts to fight back, and was blackened along with Yuhiro back in Chapter 96. Yes, Café Matsuo is a fast food restaurant that will be renovated into a stronger one. Regarding Yuhiro's quest on regaining his faith in humanity again, it'll take a long time for him to obtain some form of it once again. The reason why Yuhiro didn't lash out violently at Leshawna was because he was practically weakened physically and mentally. Plus, Roxy would not be happy with Yuhiro if he did such a thing. Even though Jericho went nuts, he still retains his intellect to the point where he can prevent his lunacy from affecting his mind. After all, Jericho is a researcher. Yes, Yuhiro's on school leave for the time being to recover, and rest assured, he'll be able to catch up because he's taking classes online. The good news is that Rachel and Greg have recovered, along with Brion. Gil, on the other hand, has been visibly scarred by what Yuhiro did to him, and this will play a role in the former's character development as a result moving forward.

Anonymous: The opening and ending will be updated once Chapter 103 comes around, as we're done the first arc of the season. Yuhiro would technically be able to go into the network with Excalibur, as it's not a part of it. For Yuhiro, he's grieving, believing that Yukage's celebrating his success while also thinking that he died in his quest. Yeah, there's no way Akira will tell the higherups about what he learnt, as it wouldn't go well for him and the others.

Guest: Didn't realize that you had a small attention span. Sorry about that.

HereICome: Pendulum monsters and Pendulum Summons have already been shown in the story so far.

Ambiguous: I mean, Yuhiro has a lot to atone for, and you'll see what his sentence is this chapter. And if he does visit and apologize to those he hurt, it would not end well for humanity. Yup. Yuhiro needs to do something about Judgment Arrows in his deck, and he also needs to assist in rehabilitating Alastor and Asterios. I also plan on Yuhiro confessing his crimes to the people he knows in his life, such as Quinton, Tsubaki and Miles, as well as thank Hideki for his assistance in stopping him. Honestly, Yuhiro wouldn't tell the Hanoi that Yukage lives because even he's not sure if he truly survived or not. Regarding Watchman, the Inquisitors were formed to destroy sin at all costs, so he was merely fulfilling his calling. Besides, in his mind, they were agents of God. So he technically didn't lose faith in God in this case.

Kcufad: If memory serves, the chapter I botched up was 19. Happy that you liked Slipstream using the Speedroid deck, as it was either that or the Dragunity deck. Battlewasp wasn't going to cut it, that's for sure. As for Slipstream messing up Haru's name, I put that joke in as a quick Easter egg, that's all. He wouldn't get people's names wrong on purpose unless it was to piss them off. Yeah, Cyreath Providence is definitely broken because there's no cost Yuhiro has to pay to use it. Nonetheless, I'm glad you liked the Raguel vs Blood Shepherd duel. Just note that if you try the Dinowrestler deck, incorporate regular Dinosaur monsters as well for consistency. Seamus obviously cares for his siblings, as they are family after all. Regarding Azrael's sense of honor, it's a bit twisted, as he wants his enemies to get stronger so that he can destroy them at their full power. This way, they would truly fall into despair. What's more, Azrael's willing to do whatever it takes to make sure his enemies meet his standards, even if it means making them suffer in the process. After all, his ultimate victory wouldn't be satisfactory if they failed to meet his expectations. And no need to apologize about the error, as we all make mistakes. Due to Brion's defiance regarding the AI chip, Jericho erased all of their interactions together from the former's mind. I hope you're excited on what comes next.

T.V. 2000: It definitely is good to have a respite chapter or two after Chapter 100. Glad you liked what the Cyberse World was like before its inevitable destruction. Yup. Ryoken is growing as an individual and a duelist. It's about time that Yuhiro finally agreed to go to therapy, as everything he experienced, along with his regrets finally made him admit that he needed help. The Marincess and Trickstar decks have differences despite being a little similar to one another. You'll see Dr. Constantine Colmer this chapter, that I can confirm.

Now that all reviews have been answered, let's get onto the chapter. Oh, and just as a friendly reminder for those who have forgotten, there will be a new opening after Chapter 102 as Season 3 moves on to its next arc. Updates to the ending will also be made as Season 3 progresses as well. But moving that aside, I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 102: Acknowledgement

The screen is pitch black as the duel disks belonging to Yuhiro, Yusaku, Takeru, and Arashi slowly fall from the top, scattered around the screen, and leaving small trails of stardust behind them. All four duel disks hit an invisible ground in unison, causing them to explode into cards that were used by every character in the story so far. The cards continue to rain across the screen before the Cursed Boundary Layer blackens the screen completely, replacing it with a new scene.

The camera moves from left to right, showing a grassy field with Den City and the following characters: Yuhiro, Miyu, Aoi, Yusaku, Takeru, Arashi, Brea, Go, Roxy, Kusanagi, Greg, Quinton, Miles, Ryoken, Youta, Takeya, Akairo, Emma, Kengo, Akira, Brion, Rachel, Gil, Tsubaki, and Gekiryushi. The wind blows, causing each person's hair and clothes to be blown up a bit. The scene suddenly changes, revealing Playmaker, Raguel, Blue Maiden, Numera, Slipstream, Tigress and Aerith on one side. On the other side was Revolver, Specter, Lord Kazuma, Gil, and Soulburner, a destroyed LINK VRAINS behind them.

The screen then changes to show Yusaku and Ai in the streets of a raining Den City. Yusaku was looking down, and Ai was looking upwards, the rain drenching their clothes. Yusaku slowly looks up with a vexed expression, while Ai runs a hand through his hair and turns his gaze onward. In another area of Den City, Yuhiro is shown running as his strength was drained, having cried in despair as a silhouette of Yukage is shown with a smile before fading away in the rainy mist. A dark aura emits from Yuhiro as the Cursed Boundary Layer emerges from a large puddle and embraces him tightly before he logs into a desolate, forest-like area in LINK VRAINS that had a dead aura around it. A psychotic grin appeared on Raguel's face as Excalibur Morgan formed in his right hand.

Opposing Raguel was Playmaker, Soulburner and Slipstream, the three duelists thrusting their right hands forward as Firewall Dragon Darkfluid, Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix, and Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon appear behind the trio and fire beams of energy at Raguel. The blasts impact, but when the smoke fades, Raguel is shown unharmed. Tentacles from the Cursed Boundary Layer appear behind Raguel, along with Cyreaths Pandora and Alastor on his right side, Atalanta/Alpha Mode and Teferi on his left side, and Deimos and Phobos floating above his right and left shoulders. Black, red, and purple particles merged with Excalibur Morgan as Raguel charges forward at Playmaker and the others, the latter having summoned Decode Talker's sword to block the attack. Nearby, Jericho is shown chasing after Blue Maiden and Numera, only for him to suddenly dodge numerous cannon blasts fired from Tigress nearby, hellbent on protecting the duo.

The Knights of Hanoi are shown next, with Revolver, Specter, Lord Kazuma, Baira, Faust, Dr. Genome, Dancho and Infearno appearing one by one. However, the images of Dancho and Infearno then dissipate before being replaced by Demeter and Ondina. Simorgh, Bird of Sovereignty and a mischievous, fallen pixie-like angel with long pink hair whose attire consisted of a black dress with stockings, as well as a pair of wings on her back appeared behind the two of them.

The scene changes to show Zero in an unknown area in the network, frantically looking through screens as he tries to pinpoint the Cursed Boundary Layer's whereabouts before changing to show Jericho in his laboratory, who's looking at his findings with glee. Seven orbs, one white, one black, one yellow, one red, one brown, one green, and one blue orbit around him as he sadistically smiles at what he's seeing.

Kusanagi, Katsuya, and Jin are shown in Café Nagi driving away from the Cursed Boundary Layer, intent on escaping its wrath. Roxy is also shown in her car with Miyu, Rachel, and Aoi, also hoping to escape from the Cursed Boundary Layer before it gets them both.

In a forest-like area with a large facility in it, Watchman is shown carrying Numera as Alastor pursues the duo on the left, while Atalanta/Alpha Mode pursues the duo on the right. Alastor throws the chained, curved blades at Watchman, who hops to the side and dodges it before throwing a Black Key in response. He then hops forward to dodge Atalanta/Alpha Mode's berserk attacks as he throws two more Black Keys at her. Watchman slides back, three more Black Keys appearing in his right hand as he prepares himself to confront his and Numera's attackers, Crimson Nova Trinity the Dark Cubic Lord appearing behind the duo as well to defend the both of them. Elsewhere, a corrupted Hercules/Alpha Mode slashes through the trees with Nine Lives in his hand, intent on pursuing Playmaker and Blue Maiden so he can destroy the two of them. At the last second, Decode Talker and Marincess Wonder Heart appear to block the unrelenting attacks, only for the clash to send them, along with Playmaker and Blue Maiden flying off the ground before landing on it. Decode Talker and Wonder Heart immediately get back up before engaging a corrupted Hercules/Alpha Mode in combat while Playmaker and Blue Maiden continue running from the chaos.

Cyreaths Medusa, Achilles, Macarios, Adele, Hercules/Alpha Mode, Atalanta, Super Orion, Circe, Alastor, Asclepius, Odysseus, Jason, Castor and Pollux look upward to the sky, trying to figure out who to side with as they contemplate their futures.

Yuhiro is shown looking at the destroyed Lost Incident facility lit up in flames, a content smile evident on his face as he lets out a loud and crazy laugh. He then walks away from it, ignoring the bodies in the area as he disappears in the darkness. The screen then jumps to the dark sky and the glowing red moon before being blackened completely.

In the network, at Jericho's server…

Jericho paced back and forth in his laboratory as he continued to wait for Dr. Constantine Colmer to log into this server. After all of this time being in the dark side of the network, Jericho would finally reunite with an old friend. One that would assist him and Urizen once again in acquiring the Root of All Knowledge. Since Jericho confirmed that the planet he was on was Earth, he also made plans on contacting the others in order to get their assistance with his mission as well. With their help, Jericho would be able to capture the final Ignis, synchronize the Unity and acquire the Root of All Knowledge for Urizen after Eschaton scorched the planet.

Soon, Urizen would acquire his great prize at long last!

Soon, the New Epoch would finally begin!

Come on, come on, come on, Jericho thought in his mind, still waiting for Constantine to log into his server. Suddenly, a slender, tall man with wavy blue hair and golden-colored eyes appeared in Jericho's server. His attire consisted of a black bodysuit with golden outlines resembling circuit lines, along with a white, long-sleeved, buttoned up coat that was a hybrid between a lab coat and a clergy's robes. Black straps were on the sleeves of the hybrid coat, each of which had a golden buckle holding it in place. Around his neck was a golden cross that had a pearl in the middle of it. Attached to the back of the coat's collar was black fur that had spiked tips at the end. In addition, the man wore black gloves with pieces of armor and yellow outlines on them. Last but not least, the man wore a golden earring on his right ear.

"Wait a minute. Dr. Colmer, is that you?" Jericho inquired, wanting to ensure that it was truly Constantine and not an imposter, especially when you took the latter's unnatural abilities into account.

"Yes, it is, Jason. And for the record, I go by Dogma in the network." Dogma answered, having answered Jericho's question and introduced himself in the network at the same time. Jericho, after hearing this answer, quickly ran forward and embraced Dogma, who hugged him back in response. "It is good to see you, sir."

"It is good to see you as well, Dogma." Jericho released Dogma from the hug, a smile evident on his face. "You haven't changed one bit since I last saw you. Have you by any chance transferred your essence into a new body?"

Dogma nodded in response to Jericho's question. "I have indeed, sir. When you have the right resources and abilities at your disposal, anything is possible. This body I'm currently inhabiting has more physical and mental prowess than my previous one. My abilities as the Grand Inquisitor have increased as a result."

"That's splendid to hear, Dogma." Jericho stated. "But moving that aside, how are things? While I obviously expected there to be changes since I was away, surely, Albinor Incorporated still reigns supreme as the top company, right?"

"Unfortunately not, sir." Dogma replied. "Since Ukyos' disappearance, Albinor Incorporated's popularity has dwindled away like a candle in the wind. No one talks about it anymore these days, and if they do, all anyone will say is that it fell from grace due to the loss of its founder and escalating conflicts on how to continue their mission and vision. An example of what happens to companies who are unable to best align their goals in respect to the founder and how they wanted it to contribute towards the world's wellbeing."

"But it's still operating as a business, right?"

"Yes it is, sir. The Inquisitors and I made sure of that." Dogma pressed a button on his duel disk, which consisted of a dark-blue rectangle model that had a glowing orb in the middle, along with a halo-like blade that emitted from it. Soon, a violet key made of data material appeared before orbiting above it. "This is one of two code keys that can enable someone to fully control Albinor Incorporated as they wanted. A security measure your father had created in the event that something happened to him. As such, the Inquisitors and I have one in custody."

"And where's the other code key?" Jericho asked, curious evident in his tone.

"The other code key is guarded by an associate I hired to assist in running Albinor Incorporated while you and your father were away." Dogma replied. "Rest assured, this person is an old friend of your father's. One that will be of great service."

Jericho couldn't help but chuckle as he put a hand to his chin. "Really, now? Since the world believes Ukyos Albinor is dead, this person you speak of isn't going to just hand over the other code key on a silver platter." To his surprise, however, Dogma chuckled.

"No, they will not. If anything, the associate will test you to see if what you're saying is actually true. I can assume that they'll test you with in duel, and I highly advise not to underestimate them, as their deck is powerful."

"Duly noted, but then again, my deck is just as powerful as my father's deck is when he duels." Jericho said. He was looking forward to meeting this mysterious associate Dogma was talking about, and if they were indeed powerful, then they would be of great assistance for what's to come.

"Remind me, sir. Why did you have your father create a deck based on the 'Persona' video games series?" Dogma questioned. "With the resources available, Ukyos could have made your deck have a fiercer appearance in order to strike fear in your opponents. Yet you opted to create a deck based on your favorite video game series."

Jericho chuckled, having been amused by that question. "Let me ask you a question in return, Dogma. What do humans do when they see something that's threatening?"

"They put their guard up in order to protect themselves, sir."

"That's correct. When a duelist encounters beings that are dangerous such as machines, dragons, demons, sorcerers and so much more, they put their guard up because of the effects they can wield." Jericho smiled. "Yet when they face off against a duel monster that isn't threatening, but is instead someone that's a part of their kind, they tend to lower their guard down a bit. After all, when compared to what I mentioned earlier, a costumed vigilante doesn't appear to be a threat."

"I see. So rather than make a duelist cautious by preparing defenses, you want to make them let their guard down in order to strike back when they're least expecting it." Dogma deduced, which led Jericho to nod in confirmation. "Yet I can't help but feel there's another reason for why you did what you did."

"Indeed there is, Dogma. It has to do with the balance humans have regarding their physical, mental and spiritual health." Jericho replied. "First, physical health is the process of being fit and healthy consistently in order to help the body fight off diseases. Second, mental health is a state of wellbeing that enables one to cope with stresses in life and contribute positively to those they work with and at. And finally, spiritual health is a personal matter that involves values and beliefs that provide a purpose in our lives."

"What are you implying, sir?"

Jericho grinned. "Each of the Persona characters represent something that makes them who they are physically, mentally, and spiritually. This includes their beliefs, experiences and nature, which I found are a part of spiritual health, believe it or not. Unfortunately, due to the experiences they went through, they're forced to lock portions of their beliefs away, which in turn distorts their nature. Now when you apply this concept to the real world, you can see that humans have done this since the dawn of time to ensure they were accepted and not ostracized by their peers. This results in three things for humans. One: They have an obscured truth locked away deep within their hearts because it contains experiences that threaten their beliefs and nature. Two: Their beliefs end up become molded to the very thing they never wanted in life. Three: Their nature turns them into individuals that betray everything they truly stood for." His grin turned into a sneer. "You see, Dogma, when humans are affected physically or mentally, they're able to recover by putting in the effort and obtaining help from loved ones. However, when the obscured truth is revealed to the world, it causes a massive impact to their spiritual health because they never expected anyone to learn about it. This in turn makes them question everything about themselves, which will lead to a collapse in both their physical and mental health. To put it simply, the chances of recovering from such an impact are slim to none because of the loneliness inflicted on them later on. I mean, everyone and everything is different, so it makes sense."

"Interesting. So by using a deck that focuses on targeting the enemy's spiritual self at the core, you reveal their true colors, which in turn will throw off their game and enable you to win the duel. Overall, a simple, yet powerful strategy." Dogma realized. "After all, as you said, each of the Persona characters represent something that makes them who they are physically, mentally and spiritually."

"Exactly." Jericho confirmed. "But enough talk about my deck. I want to know how the other envoys are doing since father and I were banished along with the others to the dark side of the network."

Dogma put a hand on his chin as he thought things over. "Well, let's see. Jitney's been running Tokyo Horizon Institute to the best of her ability thanks to Ukyos' tutelage. She's even keeping an eye on the school board as well to make sure things are running smoothly. In addition, she's taken an apprentice named Souta Kubo under her wing."

"Seriously? Jitney took a student under her wing?" Jericho put a hand to his forehead, irritated that Jitney would do such a thing.

"Why? What's wrong with that, sir?" Dogma inquired, having raised an eyebrow at Jericho's remark.

"It's not a wise decision, Dogma. That's what." Jericho snapped back, having walked over to the light-green monitor before typing on the digital keyboard, where a picture of Electrolyzer popped up on it. "At the time I arrived, I didn't know this was the planet Earth, which meant I needed assistance from the people here if I was to succeed in my mission. As such, I did some research at the time on people who would be willing to do whatever it took to earn money, and eventually found a list of bounty hunters to hire. After evaluating their skills as duelists, I contacted Electrolyzer, who at the time was also looking for work. From there, we dueled, and I hired him on the spot upon seeing his strong dueling skills in person."

Dogma frowned as he looked at Electrolyzer's picture. "It baffles me that you were able to gain the Prince of Central Japan's cooperation, sir."

"When you offer the right resources to the right person, they're very likely to cooperate." Jericho sighed. "Unfortunately, Electrolyzer disobeyed my orders, which led me to erase all memories of our interactions with one another as punishment. If I killed him, it'd only cause suspicion."

"A wise decision indeed, sir." Dogma commented. "But rest assured, Jitney's told me that Souta's a strong hacker and a duelist, so he'll be a strong asset to the cause."

Jericho turned to face Dogma, a look of slight irritation on his face. "I will be the judge of that later on. But moving that aside, why don't you tell me how Yuki's been doing lately under your care?"

"Yuki's been doing extremely well as a private investigator, as she helped the FBI in identifying and eliminating several gangs lately, along with their operations." Dogma smiled. "Her dedication to eliminating criminals, as well as making sure that those who have been hurt by them are safe, has been nothing but remarkable. I couldn't be any prouder of Yuki."

"Awesome to hear, Dogma! Awesome to hear!" Jericho replied. "What about Gunther? He's still been hunting and destroying his targets lately in missions, right?"

Dogma nodded in confirmation. "Indeed he has, sir. Gunther's commitment to overthrowing vile governments and individuals at all costs has twisted his sense of honor. The good news is that he hadn't lost his sanity, as it would interfere with his military training. Since we last spoke with one another, Gunther explained to me how he sees himself as more of a machine than a man, especially when you consider his trauma from all those years ago."

"Damn. That's… deep when you think about it." Jericho put a hand to his chin and pondered over what Dogma told him just now. To think that there would be individuals out there that were so hardened by war that they would be molded by it. Ones that no longer cared for who was in the way as long as the goal was accomplished. All in all, Gunther was a soldier. One that Urizen recruited as one of his envoys. "But enough about Gunther. What ever happened to Jiao? Given how powerful he is, I'm sure he hasn't lost his touch as a warrior and a mercenary."

"Jiao hasn't lost his touch in his work, sir. Nor has he lost his drive to find powerful opponents." Dogma assured Jericho, having crossed his arms in response. "He has been honing his strength with each mission completed as a mercenary. In fact, when I last spoke with Jiao, he showed me a collection of the possessions he obtained from his fallen opponents. When I asked him why he did this, he told me two things. First, it was his way of honoring the opponents that fell at his hand. Second, it was in order to obtain powerful weapons that can help him in his work. After all, a warrior, and especially a mercenary, never misses up on an opportunity to improve oneself."

"That is true." Jericho agreed, understanding what Dogma said just now. "Though I wonder about Pierre. What has he been up to in the past while? I do hope his two personalities are still getting along."

Dogma smiled. "Thanks to your father, Pierre's split personality disorder has been cured. What's more, they are able to cooperate with one another, especially since when there's a common objective that needs to be achieved. However, do note that they can quarrel with one another from time to time."

"I'll take that into account." Jericho smiled, wanting to know how one more person was doing since he and Urizen was banished. "By the way, how's your daughter Constantina doing? I do want to see her again after all of this time." That part was true. Aside from Dogma and the envoys, Constantina was the only other person that Jericho wanted to see. For the two of them formed a close bond with one another since they were kids. One could say that Jericho and Constantina's close relationship was close to romantic if it continued to bloom the way it was back then.

Dogma let out a sad sigh after hearing that question, which got Jericho's attention. "Jason, I have some bad news to tell you regarding my daughter."

"What is it?" Jericho questioned, not liking what was about to come out of Dogma's mouth next.

"Constantina passed away a long time ago." Dogma sadly answered.

"No! It can't be…" Jericho gasped, shocked at what he heard. In fact, the last thing he wanted to hear today was someone he truly cared about passing away a long time ago. Jericho was really looking forward to talking with Constantina so he can catch up with her and reignite their bond from all those years ago. "Dogma, I'm so sorry for your loss. How did she die?"

Tears fell from Dogma's eyes as he began to answer Jericho's question. "From the knowledge I gathered, Constantina was heading home one night before she was ambushed by several gang members on the Black Market. They kidnapped her, and both beaten and gangraped her to death for the entire night. Once that was done, the gang members destroyed her remains before disappearing in the wilderness."

"WHO DID THIS?!" Jericho demanded, pure rage and sadness evident in his tone as his fists shook. Tears also fell from his eyes, the information that he heard still shocked him to the core. "TELL ME SO I CAN-."

"You will do nothing, Jason. Because I took care of that a long time ago." Dogma firmly interjected, which made Jericho stop talking. Of all the people that can make Jericho stop talking, one of them was Dogma, especially given his status of the Grand Inquisitor and his abilities as a duelist. "Look up the Unholy Sanctification online, and you'll know what I'm talking about."

Jericho, taking Dogma's advice, quickly typed on the digital keyboard before several articles relating to the Unholy Sanctification popped up online. According to the articles, the leaders of several gangs in the real world were massacred one night by numerous individuals under someone's command. But the rampage didn't stop there, as the commander immediately ordered his men to massacre their families, along with anyone else they knew. What's more, any operations they established were destroyed in fiery explosions. As a result of this event, crime was drastically reduced in the real world due to the assassins patrolling the area every now and then to make sure fear was struck in those that would dare try such endeavors again. It wasn't the only result, as the surviving remnants were forced to reestablish any remaining operations in the network, which became the Black Market today.

Jericho also found video footage regarding the Unholy Sanctification, where it showed numerous warriors that each wore a white hood and mask, along with three small claws, massacre several individuals. Leading the warriors in the massacre was a white-armored warrior who wore a hood and a white mask with golden outlines, as well as three, very long bladed claws on each of his hands. The warriors proceeded to execute the gang members and their families one by one, as evident by their body parts being brutally cut up into pieces, where the video footage fizzled out as a warrior cut the feed. Other video footage showed the warriors destroying several machines in fiery explosions, as well as intercepting gang members that tried to get away using motor vehicles before orchestrating their deaths. Just like the first one, any video footage was destroyed. In addition, another portion of video footage showed buildings such as houses and apartments being lit ablaze as gang members and innocent people proceeded to escape from the flames, only to be silenced by the warriors. And just like the other two pieces of video footage, the third one fizzled out before turning static. "Did you send your Inquisitors to do all of this, Dogma?"

"I have indeed, Jason. Killing the ones who brutally took Constantina away from this planet wasn't enough. I had to make sure such a thing never happened again to anyone else by having the Inquisitors destroy the other gang families. In addition, I eliminated any potential witnesses as well. For the Inquisitorius operated in the shadows, and the last thing I wanted was for any loose ends to be a problem later on." Dogma grimly frowned after saying those words. He didn't like what he did, but it had to be done, as the Inquisitorius strove to eradicate sin by any means necessary. Once the Root of All Knowledge was obtained and the New Epoch came to be, then Constantina and the other victims who died would be resurrected.

Jericho narrowed his eyes as he wiped the tears from his eyes with his right forearm in anger, having managed to get his bearings together. What Dogma did was just, as the massacre he ordered not only avenged Constantina's death, but also destroyed a majority of gang members and operations there. The damage was so great that any remaining gang members had to transfer their operations to the network in order to continue them. One could say that the horrific actions of a few gang members had resulted in judgment for the community they lived in. Ultimately, it was a warning sent out to those who would dare do horrific acts, as Dogma sent out his Inquisitors to patrol the area every now and then to ensure it doesn't happen again. "Oh, Dogma. Your willingness to make the hard choices, along with the resolve needed to go through them is what makes you the strongest of the envoys, as well as their leader. Rest assured when I say this: Once the Root of All Knowledge is obtained and the New Epoch has begun, we will resurrect Constantina. She'll be back in your arms once again. But for now, I want you to follow me, as I need to show you something."

Dogma narrowed his eyes as Jericho walked over to a nearby console, where he pressed a button or two that caused the floor to open up. Jericho then gestured Dogma to follow him downstairs, where the two of them ended up in the massive chamber just beneath the former's laboratory. Dogma couldn't help but be in awe at what Jericho had worked on underneath his laboratory, which was evident by the large monolith and the walkway towards it, as well as the silver veins that were attached throughout the chamber glowing with orange energy. He even saw numerous Cyberse monsters working on maintenance duty to ensure the chamber functioned as planned. "This is truly magnificent to see, sir. I can't believe you had the time and resources available to work on such a thing."

"Indeed, Dogma. When an ISO first arrives on a new planet, their first priority is to set up a stronghold so they can complete their mission in capturing that planet for Urizen." Jericho began explaining. "From there, the ISO would have lay low in order to complete two different tasks for their mission. First, create a Cursed Boundary Layer as a weapon before unleashing it onto that planet by infecting one if its inhabitants. Second, complete the Unity by obtaining the energy of creatures that represent the elements, whether they be digital or not. By doing both of these things, the ISO would eventually be able to weaken the planet and its inhabitants before scorching it through Eschaton, where they can then launch the invasion fleet needed to conquer it for good. All in the name of the Great One."

"Or to sum it up, an infiltration strategy that's meant to weaken the enemy from the inside out so it can easily be conquered. A simple, yet very effective strategy if done right." Dogma said, having identified the flaw in that strategy. If one waited too long, then the planet they were on would be able to strengthen its defences in time to fight back against internal and external threats. Thus, the infiltrator had to complete their mission as soon as possible, lest it all fall apart.

Jericho frowned, as if he figured out what Dogma truly meant through his response just now. "What you meant through your response is true, Dogma. While the infiltration strategy does have some weaknesses, it works a great majority of the time because the planet's residents don't have the manpower or technology needed to take on an out of this world threat." This was true. Sometimes, plans didn't work out due to different things, and even Urizen knew that fact. If a plan carried out by the ISOs failed due to an unexpected factor, then Urizen would let it slide due to the failure not entirely their fault. However, should the plan fail due to an intentional factor such as arrogance, then Urizen would deliver swift punishment for such a failure. Ultimately, as long as the feedback and opinions given were constructive instead of defiant, then Urizen would be willing to overlook that failure.

Soon, a set of stairs extended all the way down to the next level below, which the duo walked down before ending up in the prison area of the chamber. Dogma looked around the prison and noticed prisoners that were either living but in pain or were dead due to the torturous methods Jericho used in acquiring information. Jericho gestured Dogma to follow after him, where the two headed towards a cell that was down the hall. There, the duo saw Carmen brutally torture Watchman again and again, intent on making sure that the latter didn't obtain nothing more than at least a minute of reprieve. After all, the last thing Carmen wanted was for Watchman to die of his wounds.

"Sir, is that-?" Dogma narrowed his eyes as he looked at Watchman, having recognized the latter despite his battle wounded appearance. Jericho quickly walked over to the cell, intent on returning Carmen back to his duel disk.

"That's enough, Carmen! Return!" Jericho ordered, as Carmen turned into particles that went back into his duel disk. He then walked over and grabbed Watchman's head in order to get his attention. "Hey, Arshad. Are you there? Groan in pain if you're still conscious." In response, Watchman groaned, which indicated that he was still alive. "Excellent. Open your eyes, old man. You have a guest that wants to see you."

Watchman slowly opened his eyes, where he gasped upon seeing Dogma with Jericho. Despite Dogma's appearance, Watchman knew who he was in the real world. "Dr. Constantine Colmer. I didn't expect you to be here."

"Yet I am here now, Arshad." Dogma remarked back. "In fact, I want to tell you something quite important."

"It's about how you and the other envoys murdered Myojin and Lyla on that dreadful night, isn't it?" Watchman quickly deduced, which made Dogma nod in confirmation while Jericho widened his eyes in surprise after hearing that statement.

"You and the other envoys launched an attack on Myojin and Lyla?" Jericho asked, which made Dogma turn to him and nod once again in confirmation.

"That is correct, sir." Dogma answered. "Each of the envoys had a role in the deaths of Myojin and Lyla Furutani. One could say that it was payback for what Arshad and Myojin did in banishing you, Urizen and the other ISOs to the dark side of the network."

Jericho couldn't help but chuckle after hearing this information. Now he wanted to know how it all went down. "Interesting. Tell me more. Not just to sate my curiosity, but to mentally torture Arshad as well."

"Of course, sir." Dogma couldn't help but frown as the information returned to his mind. "Jitney ensured that communications were hacked while Yuki disposed of any potential witnesses prior to our attack. Gunther brutally gunned down any remaining security threats while Jiao, Pierre and I stormed the house to complete our objective. I do recall my swordsman impaling Lyla with the giant sword in his arms as she fell to the ground limp. I also recall Myojin being able to fight off against my duel monsters, only to eventually be overwhelmed by their power. Pierre and Jiao were even making short work of Myojin's duel monsters that was there as well. Finally, I recall you coming to try and save the day by fighting us. Though you managed to make us retreat, our mission was complete, as Myojin and Lyla were killed."

Watchman grit his teeth in pure anger after hearing this information. "You think the both of you have the upper hand? I swear, once I get out of here-."

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, two Black Keys flew out of Dogma's hands, which hit Watchman's palms and pinned him to the wall. Soon, electricity emitted from the Black Keys as Watchman screamed in pain seconds later, having silenced his words for now.

"Yes, that's what I'm talking about!" Jericho cheered, glad to hear how the envoys slain Myojin and Lyla for banishing Urizen to the dark side of the network, as well as his followers. He was also glad that Watchman was being injured by the same weapons the latter wielded as an Inquisitor. "How do you like that, old-?" He suddenly grit his teeth upon feeling pain going through his left forearm and right bicep.

"Sir, are you okay?" Dogma inquired out of concern.

"Damn these wounds… Need to recover…" Jericho grit his teeth once again as Dogma escorted him out of the cell and closed the cell door before exiting the prison area, leaving a screaming and wounded Watchman in the process. As if on cue, several drones appeared to guard the cell, as well as give small shocks to Watchman to ensure he was conscious and feeling pain.

After climbing up the stairs and returning to the massive chamber, Dogma escorted Jericho down the walkway, where a set of stairs appeared at the end that allowed the duo to return to the latter's laboratory. Dogma then had Jericho sit down on his chair, where he inspected his left forearm and right bicep, surprised at the wounds he saw on them. "These are the injuries only a Black Key can bring about onto someone. Just what happened, sir? How did you get these injuries?"

"After learning that the Root of All Knowledge is on this planet, my mission shifted from infiltration and reconnaissance to obtaining it at all costs." Jericho began answering Dogma's question. "You could say I was allowed to finally let loose after all of this time. So after I infected Raguel with the Cursed Boundary Layer, I went to try and capture Rachel Miyake in the shadows while he dueled against Playmaker. While she was a fake Construct, capturing her would bring me to obtain the Root of All Knowledge once I acquired the last Ignis. Unfortunately, one of Playmaker's allies forced me to retreat upon demonstrating strength I haven't seen before."

"That doesn't answer my question, Jason." Dogma stated.

"I'm getting to the point where I answer your question, Dogma. Let me finish." Jericho sighed. "When Raguel captured Rachel, Blue Maiden and Watchman teamed up to rescue her. While I left Raguel to take care of the dirty work in preventing her escape, I engaged Watchman in combat so I can bring him to Urizen. Unfortunately, he caught me off guard using an old test method to fully integrate himself into the network a long time ago. As a result, I was injured and forced to retreat once again."

Yellow energy appeared in Dogma's hands as he whispered several incantations, which caused the energy to enter into Jericho's wounds and begin to slowly repair them. Or at the very least, ensure that the pain Jericho suffered from them was erased. "There. I was able to stabilize the injuries Watchman inflicted onto you and ensure the healing process for them to begin. Still, the wounds inflicted by the Black Keys will take time to heal. As such, I recommend for you to recuperate so you can regain your full strength."

"That will take too much time, Dogma. I can't afford to rest now! Not when my enemies know of my existence!" Jericho snapped in anger. "Then again, I could use this to my advantage."

"How so, sir?"

"Simple." Jericho grinned. "Playmaker and his allies obviously know of my existence because of how I appeared to try and capture Rachel a week prior. As such, they'll expect me to make my next move really soon. What they don't know, however, is that you and the other envoys are around and at my command. You guys will be my ace in the hole when the time comes to launch the plan's final phase in obtaining the Root of All Knowledge, especially since I obtained something to help speed things along." He pressed a button on the digital keyboard, which caused a screen to pop up on the light-green monitor that showed purple-colored pieces of an algorithm on it.

"How fascinating. That's a unique algorithm you have, sir." Dogma commented, having looked at the light-green monitor.

"It's unique because this is the Dark Ignis' algorithm, Dogma." Jericho explained, which made Dogma turn to him. "When Playmaker and his buddies were fighting against Raguel, I had a strong feeling that the Dark Ignis appeared to assist them. As such, I sent one of my duel monsters to acquire a sample of his algorithm in the chaos. With this on hand, I can create a tracker to track down the Dark Ignis' whereabouts and hunt him down. Hell, I can even convince him to help us by providing a sweet deal that he won't be able to refuse."

Dogma raised an eyebrow out of curiosity. "Do you really think the Dark Ignis will cooperate with you, sir? Because I doubt he'd work willingly with someone that has ill intentions for the world."

Jericho let out a chuckle in response to Dogma's question. "You need not worry, Dogma. I have something in mind to ensure that he cooperates. After all, I need SOL Technologies and Albinor Incorporated if the Root of All Knowledge is to be found." He turned his chair around to face Dogma. "In the meanwhile, I have a task for you."

"Of course, sir. Just name it, and I'll ensure that it's done." Dogma promised.

"Excellent! I need you to contact the other envoys and inform them of my return." Jericho ordered. "Once this is done, provide me with the IDs on their duel disks, and I'll send the coordinates for them to log into this server."

"I understand, sir. I'll get to the task right away. However, do note that it'll take a few days for Jiao, Gunther and Pierre to get to Den City because they're not currently in Japan. The good news is that I'm currently in Osaka, Jitney's in Tokyo and Yuki's in Den City. That means we'll be able to rendezvous with you in the next day or so."

Jericho nodded, having understood what Dogma said just now. He can afford to wait a few days because he had to work on the tracker in order to find Ai in the network. In addition, Jericho can use this time to heal from the wounds Watchman inflicted on him, which in turn will help restore the former's strength for what's to come. "I suppose you make a point there. I mean, on the plus side, at least half of you will be able to respond right away. And tell Jitney to bring Souta with her. Like I said earlier, I want to see how efficient he is as both a hacker and a duelist."

"Of course, sir. I will make sure-." Dogma began complying, before he felt let out a small gasp, having sensed something. As if on cue, yellow energy appeared in his hands, which formed into a ball in front of him. The ball of energy soon glowed with a small red blip several times, as if having detected something familiar. After looking closely at the small red blip, Dogma frowned, having figured out what was going on.

"Something the matter, Dogma?" Jericho inquired out of curiosity.

"A soul I thought was dead had managed to somehow resurface. How impressive." Dogma turned back to Jericho. "I need to investigate a personal matter on my end, which will take a few days. In the meanwhile, I will also call the other envoys and inform them of your return."

"That's fair. Though the sooner Jiao, Gunther and Pierre arrive in Den City, the better. For we need to bring the envoys together once again if the Root of All Knowledge is to be obtained." Jericho urged caution to Dogma, who logged out of the server seconds later. Once that was done, Jericho turned his chair to face the light-green monitor, a smirk evident on his face as he got to work in building the tracker. Everything was slowly falling into place, as Jericho had the pieces needed in order to find and acquire the Root of All Knowledge.

What Jericho looked forward to the most was being on the frontlines again, where he can make Playmaker and the others suffer for their transgressions against him, and Urizen by extension. After all, they already knew about his existence, so there was no point in operating in the shadows and taking any more chances. The best part? Jericho had an ace in the hole in the envoys, a group of people that swore loyalty to Urizen out of gratitude for how he made their lives better. Each of them were not only strong duelists, but also had unique skills that enabled them to stand out from one another. Dogma was the leader of the envoys not just because of his strength as a duelist, but because of how he earned their loyalty through respecting each and every one of them. What's more, Dogma got to know the envoys personally, as well as provide advice on how to enhance their strengths as both duelists and individuals. The fact that Dogma went out of his way in doing this earned him the loyalty and respect of the other envoys. This made things easier for Jericho, as he didn't have to watch over the other envoys all the time because of the large amount of trust he put in Dogma.

Nevertheless, once all of this was over, Jericho's mission would be complete. The Root of All Knowledge would finally be obtained, and Urizen's vision would come to fruition at long last. After all, with everything that's happened lately, it was only a matter of time.

Elsewhere, at SOL Technologies…

A limo pulled up to the front of SOL Technologies, with Queen stepping out of the vehicle before it drove away. A joyful look was evident on her face, as she was now granted permission to return to the company after being away from it for so long. Due to Queen's actions regarding the AI chip project, the three Kings temporarily put her on probation until the entire mess was sorted out. However, she was now given a second chance in making things right, as she was invited to attend a meeting with the higherups after being away from SOL Technologies for so long. From what Queen knew, she would be debriefed on what happened while she was on probation before being provided instructions on how she can contribute towards helping SOL Technologies regain face through their newest product: Soltis. This would be Queen's first step in returning to her role as CEO of SOL Technologies, along with working hard to re-earn the favor of the Kings once again. Who knows? Maybe Queen can restart the AI chip project again if she redeemed herself.

She walked down the halls of the company and took a few lefts, where she eventually reached the holographic room. Upon entering inside, Queen spotted Rook, Bishop, Pawn and Knight, the other higherups. What caught Queen off guard, however, was seeing Akira in the same room the other higherups were in.

"What are you doing here, Zaizen?" Queen demanded.

"I was invited to attend this meeting, Queen. Nothing more. Nothing less." Akira calmly answered.

"Unless you have proof of-."

"He has been invited to attend this meeting by the Kings, Ohi." Bishop backed Akira's answer up, as he pressed a button on the tablet in his hands. Soon, a digital piece of paper popped up, which showed the attendees for the meeting. Queen gritted her teeth after seeing Akira's name on the piece of paper.

"What's the matter, Ohi? Surely, you're not still upset about what happened regarding Go Onizuka and the AI chip project being a fiasco." Pawn taunted before letting out a chuckle.

"Keep laughing, Hyodo. For once I regain the favor of the Kings, I will restart the AI chip project and ensure that-." Queen began replying.

"I highly doubt the AI chip project will be able to regain traction again, Queen. Not after what happened the last time it was launched." Akira calmly told Queen, which made her turn to him in anger.

"Now, now. No need to fight amongst ourselves. We need to be civil one the Kings arrive for the meeting." Rook pointed out to Akira and Queen.

"Miyama makes a valid point, you two. Given what's happened over the past while, we need to figure out next steps on how SOL Technologies can regain face." Knight added. "Not just through its newest product in the Soltis, but legally and politically as well."

Queen frowned. Unfortunately, Knight made a point. The important thing right now was to ensure SOL Technologies not only regain face, but also reacquire the faith of the people as well. For if you didn't have customers, how could the company operate? And given how SOL Technologies suffered so many losses, the last thing anyone wanted was for the company to lose even more. So for now, Queen would have to work with Akira despite her misgivings about him, and how he managed to get away with his defiance to the very end.

Soon, the room changed into a digital landscape, where Lycaon, Perseo and Jeromy appeared in person instead as silhouettes.

"Kings," Akira, Queen, Pawn, Rook, Bishop and Knight said at the same time, all six of them having bowed in front of the trio.

"Thank you for coming. All of you." Jeromy replied, having looked at the other people present in the meeting. "We have matters to discuss."

"Yup. A lot of matters to discuss." Lycaon agreed before letting out a giggle. "Specifically, past events and how they affected the company."

"But after that, we'll move forward to the future regarding the Soltis." Perseo finished. "What's more, we have some news to discuss as well. Does everyone understand?"

"Yes, sirs." Akira, Queen, Pawn, Rook, Bishop and Knight complied at the same time.

"Good. In that case, we can begin." Numerous digital screens appeared in the room, which showed different things. The first digital screen showed footage of the Turf War, the second one showed footage of the conjoined attacks in the network and in the real world, and the third one showed people falling unconscious one by one due to the Neuron Link in LINK VRAINS. Other digital screens showed other things such as drop in stocks, press releases from business partners on ending their partnership with SOL Technologies, social media posts containing information about the company's failures and so much more. "As you all know, SOL Technologies has suffered numerous losses over the past while."

"Indeed. Not only did we lose several business partners, but several resources as well." Jeromy continued. "The resources we had on hand are currently being directed towards relief efforts and supporting those who suffered losses during recent events."

"So unfortunately, we had no choice but to lay off several of our employees." Lycaon added. "You could say our decision to do so was logical."

While Akira was silent, the other higher ups nodded in agreement with what Lycaon said, as it was definitely a logical choice made in a difficult situation. The sad thing was that layoffs occurred almost all of the time for companies going through difficult times because they chose to focus on saving money in order to keep running. Since SOL Technologies wasn't performing well financially, the solution they pursued was to save on payroll and benefit costs by laying off several employees. This way, the company can reduce costs and infuse the cash into areas of the business that need it.

"One of our greatest losses, unfortunately, is our lead card designer, Hideki Kinoshita." Jeromy continued, as a digital screen popped up, which showed Hideki. "He resigned last week in response to the allegations SOL Technologies is currently facing."

"It's truly a shame to see Hideki gone. He was one of the good ones." Rook commented.

"Has a new lead card designer been appointed yet, your excellencies?" Knight asked, with Lycaon shaking his head in response.

"Unfortunately not, Kishi. With what's happened, we didn't have the time to even begin interviews yet." Lycaon answered on behalf of the others.

"The Turf War, the conjoined attacks in the network and in the real world, recent issues in the network, and the Shadow have all been strenuous for SOL Technologies." Perseo said. "All four of these events have cost the company dearly."

"On the topic of the Shadow, sirs, it was reported that it disappeared a week ago." Bishop spoke up. "And any people that were injured by it instantly recovered."

"That is definitely good news to hear, Kaido. For without people, a company can't operate." Knight commented, which led Bishop to put a hand to his chin.

"But a part me can't help but wonder what happened to the Shadow. And if it was destroyed, then who did it?"

"Perhaps Zaizen knows something about the Shadow, given how he's the Security Manager at SOL Technologies." Queen hypothesized, which led everyone else to turn and face Akira. A smirk appeared on Queen's face after she said this, as Akira would have no choice but to tell the truth on what happened regarding the Shadow. Otherwise, it'd not only look bad on him, but also give Queen the excuse needed to show the other higher ups that Akira only cared for himself.

Akira, in response to Queen's statement, shook his head. "Apologies, Queen, but I don't know anything about the Shadow and why it appeared in the network. I was so focused on attending to other pressing matters that I didn't have time to look into this case."

"Like what?"

"Assisting with repairs to the network and ensuring that resources were allocated to several relief efforts. I also had to recover for a few days after the recent incident in the network." Akira narrowed his eyes and glared at Queen. "If you're so keen on learning about what I did the past week, you can either speak with my assistant Hayami or look at my logs. She can vouch for me, as she's my assistant after all. As for the Shadow, I believe Playmaker and his allies vanquished it last week."

"I believe your statement has merit, Zaizen. I mean, Playmaker and his buddies worked together in eliminating threats in the network before, so it would make sense." Pawn commented, having put a hand to chin as he thought this over. Again, Akira's response made sense due to how Playmaker and his allies worked with one another in keeping LINK VRAINS a safe place.

"Whatever bitterness you have towards Zaizen ends here, now and forever, Ohi." Perseo hissed, which got Queen's attention. The other higherups also nodded in agreement, as they were tired of Queen trying to one-up Akira. "If it weren't for his actions, then SOL Technologies' reputation would be stained with the blood of a Charisma duelist, and the last thing we need is for our company to suffer more losses than it already has right now. And had it not been for your past service, along with Bishop and Knight's logic, you would have been executed for disobeying our orders!"

Queen narrowed her eyes at the Kings before nodding reluctantly, knowing the difference of power between herself and them. For as the stakeholders, the Kings ultimately had a say at SOL Technologies and how it operated. If they wanted her fired, they would see to it that it was done. Having reminded herself of that fact, Queen promised in her mind to re-gain the favor of the Kings again should the opportunity present itself, and hopefully obtain forgiveness for her sins as well.

"But if it makes you feel any better, Ohi, Zaizen won't be reporting to you any longer, especially with the announcement we plan to make during this meeting as well." Lycaon said. "I think now's an appropriate time to tell Zaizen the good news, don't you think, brothers?"

"It is indeed, Lycaon." Jeromy confirmed. "Zaizen, you took remarkable initiative in leading efforts towards ending the Turf War and the conjoined attacks in the network in the real world. What's more, you even risked your own life to help put an end to the recent incident. As a result, you saved lives and mitigated the damage the company suffered. After a meeting with the higherups, as well as evaluating the other candidates for this job position based on several factors, we all concluded that you are the only person worthy of being promoted to Executive Vice President at SOL Technologies."

"What?" Akira said, genuinely surprised to hear this information coming from the Kings.

"WHAT?!" Queen exclaimed. "Zaizen was one of the people we were talking about in our previous meeting this whole time?!"

"Yes, Ohi. Zaizen's efforts in keeping LINK VRAINS, SOL Technologies and the people safe has made him more than worthy for this new job position." Lycaon snarked in response to Queen's question.

"We apologize for keeping you in the dark during our meeting, Ohi, but the last thing we wanted was for you to take any impulsive risks, especially since you were put on probation at the time." Bishop pointed out, much to Queen's ire.

"For this job role, you will be reporting to us directly instead of Queen. What's more, while you won't necessarily be a higherup like the rest of us, your degree of power in SOL Technologies will be increased." Perseo explained. "So what do you say, Zaizen: Will you accept the promotion to Executive Vice President and contribute further to the wellbeing of both SOL Technologies and the people?"

Akira thought this over. With this promotion, his power in the company would increase, which in turn would grant him access to documents he wasn't allowed to look into back then. However, since Akira was being offered a higher job position at SOL Technologies, he would have to report to the Kings directly rather than just Queen, which meant he'd have to be more careful than ever on being discreet when it came to difficult situations. Nevertheless, as long as Akira played his cards right like he always did, he would be able to utilize SOL Technologies' resources in helping Playmaker and his allies put down common threats. "Yes, sirs. I accept the promotion to Executive Vice President."

"Splendid! Welcome to the higher circle, Zaizen!" Lycaon replied, as he stepped forward to Akira and offered him a hand. Akira shook it in response, having fully accepted the promotion, where the other higherups clapped in celebration for him (except for Queen, who was still angry with what happened, yet was trying to keep herself together). "We'll send you more details in the next few days."

"Of course, sirs." Akira complied, having understood their orders.

"With that aside, it's time we move onto our next topic for our meeting." Jeromy said to the group, as he turned to Queen. "And this topic revolves around you and your actions, Ohi."

"Around me?" Queen repeated, having tensed up upon hearing these words.

"Yes. Your actions almost led to the death of Go Onizuka, who's one of the network's famous Charisma duelists." Perseo reminded Queen. "Still, we don't necessarily get rid of those who've displayed past service to SOL Technologies, especially those who have keen intuition. As such, my brothers and I have decided to give you an opportunity to redeem yourself, Ohi."

Queen gasped before nodding in agreement. This was it! At last, she was being given a chance to redeem herself before the Kings! If she did this right, then all of her mistakes would be forgiven! "Of course, sirs. What can I do to make this right? Just tell me, and I promise to get it done."

In response, two digital screens appeared in front of Perseo before they were flipped around for everyone else to look at. One displayed the Soltis while the other displayed sales numbers and units, which went upwards. "As you all know, SOL Technologies recently launched its newest product in the Soltis, which are android units built to assist humans worldwide."

"So far, our product's selling extremely well, as evident by the amount we've been selling lately." Lycaon continued.

"That's definitely good news for us, sirs. The best part is that there have been no issues with our product so far." Knight commented.

"Don't jinx it, Kishi. It's wise to identify how a product's doing in all aspects of business before taking next steps. After all, the last thing any of us need is to face unexpected political or legal issues here." Bishop pointed out, with the others nodding in agreement to his point.

"A wise comment you made, Kaido. One that we'll keep in mind as we study how the Soltis is doing in the future." Jeromy praised Bishop for his intuition.

"Forgive me for interrupting, sirs, but what is it you want me to do?" Queen inquired.

"I'm so glad you asked, Ohi." Lycaon answered before giggling. Oh, he was so looking forward to what he was going to say next to her. "We've had great sales in Japan so far, and want to expand our product worldwide. So here's your mission: You'll be taking a luxury cruise and sell the Soltis to people in different areas around the world. Think of it as an overseas business trip you'll be on for a while."

"How long do you want me to do this for, sirs?"

Lycaon put three fingers up in response to Queen's question, having giggled upon doing so. "Three months, Ohi. Three months. Nothing more, nothing less. If you succeed in getting strong sales for the Soltis, not only will your mistakes be forgiven, you will be restored back to your job position as CEO of SOL Technologies as well."

"Given the situation at hand, it has opened up a chance for you to show us how intuitive you are to SOL Technologies, Ohi. Consider it an extreme act of mercy." Perseo stated.

"Of course, sirs. I won't let you down." Queen promised, having bowed to all three of them.

"But to ensure that you're following our orders to the letter, one of the higherups will be going with you during the three-month overseas business trip." Jeromy explained, which got Queen's attention as she looked up at him.

"I'll do it!" Pawn immediately volunteered, much to Queen's ire. "I've been meaning to use up my vacation hours for a very long while now. You could say that I always wanted to go on a cruise with my wife Bethany and my son Chuck."

"Sirs, please don't send him with me!" Queen pleaded with the Kings. "The last thing I need is for this fool's family vacation to distract me from my task!"

"You object to Hyodo coming with you on your mission, Ohi? Hyodo also helps SOL Technologies by liaising with other businesses, and he can be crucial for generating sales." Rook snidely reminded Queen. Akira couldn't help but chuckle upon seeing Queen being put in her place by the other higherups. In a way, this was karma for her putting Akira in his place for hesitating not just in forming the bounty hunter task force to hunt down the Ignis, but for prioritizing Go's physical and mental wellbeing as well.

"You and Hyodo will leave Den City in three days to begin the business trip. We expect great results when you come back, Ohi." Perseo told Queen, having finalized the travel plans. He then turned to Pawn seconds later. "As for you, Hyodo, please ensure you get any remaining work done before you leave Den City for the next while. We hope you and your family have a great vacation."

"Of course, sirs. I'll do that right away. And thank you very much for the blessings." Pawn replied with a smile. Queen, on the other hand, grit her teeth in anger. This… was going to be a very long three months at sea.

"Excellent! With that dealt with, we have one more topic to discuss in our meeting today, and it has to do with the Shadow's disappearance." Lycaon spoke up. "Thre days from now, a public announcement will be made to officially confirm that the Shadow was destroyed. While people will believe that Playmaker and his allies dealt with it for good, they're still going to want proof of its destruction. They will also want answers on how we'll make sure this situation never happens again."

Pawn put a hand to his chin as he thought this over, where he put two and two together seconds later. "I think I see where you're going through with this, sirs. You wish to announce the Soltis not just as android units to help people with everyday tasks, but to protect them from security threats as well."

"That is correct, Hyodo." Perseo confirmed Pawn's theory, before another digital screen popped up, which showed people working with one another in rebuilding Central Japan. "We'll start by sending our Soltis to assist with the reparation efforts in Central Japan to show our commitment in helping people recover from difficult times. This will enable us to obtain their faith not just in our product, but in the company as well."

"I can arrange a transport of several Soltis units to Central Japan if you give me the time to do so." Pawn offered, having done this before for other situations.

"I'll help you with that, Hyodo. I'll also make sure they adhere to legal processes regarding its transportation." Knight suggested, with Pawn nodding in agreement.

"I will contact Central Japan to inform them that SOL Technologies will provide assistance in helping with the reparation efforts as soon as I can." Akira stated. "Despite what happened, I strongly believe Brion will listen to my offer and consider it."

"Thank you all for your suggestions on how to move forward regarding the situation." Jeromy interjected. "Hyodo and Kishi, the two of you will be in charge of ensuring the safe transportation of our product to Central Japan. Zaizen, you will speak with Brion Miyahara and convince him on the good Soltis can do for Central Japan, along with how it can assist him in the reparation efforts there."

"Of course, sirs." Pawn, Knight and Akira complied at the same time.

"Kaido, you will work on getting well-known reporters and journalists from publishing companies over here for the public announcement. By doing so, we'll be able to reforge our partnerships with them." Perseo continued for Jeromy before turning to Rook. "Miyama, you will touch base with the FBI in making sure security measures are set up, as the last thing we want is for anything out of the ordinary to happen during the event."

"Yes, sirs." Bishop and Rook complied at the same time.

"What about me, sirs? Surely, you don't plan on excluding me from this plan, right?" Queen questioned.

"Not at all, Ohi. After all, your assistance will be needed in order for this plan to reach fruition." Lycaon assured Queen. "For your task, you will be assisting the Marketing and Research team in creating a presentation advertising how the Soltis will help people regarding security measures. This way, we can convince more people to buy our new and enhanced product."

"Understood, sirs." Queen bowed in front of the Kings, having accepted her task.

"Pardon me for speaking out of turn, sirs, but what should we do with LINK VRAINS while we focus on the Soltis?" Akira asked.

"Tell the public that parts of LINK VRAINS will be open during specific periods of the day. As for the areas that aren't open, ensure they're closed for maintenance. Make sure security for the network is up to date as well." Perseo answered.

"It will be done, sirs." Akira nodded in compliance, having fully understood the orders the Kings gave him just now.

"Excellent! Now that all the topics for our meeting have been discussed and dealt with, I believe our meeting's adjourned. We will touch base on our action plan for the public announcement in a few days, so be alert for a meeting coming up soon." Lycaon said, as he and his brothers turned into particles, which indicated that the meeting was adjourned.

Soon after, Akira, Pawn, Bishop, Rook and Knight turned into particles, which showed they were in separate rooms at the time. As a result, Queen was left alone in the room, who had a look of relief on her face. She quickly exited the room and let a deep breath out, having successfully got through the meeting. Now, Queen was given the opportunity to redeem herself by undertaking a three month business trip in selling SOL Technologies' newest product around the world. For if she succeeded, her sins would be forgiven, and she would be able to resume her job as CEO at the company.

Even if it meant putting up with Pawn and his family for a few months, as well as ending her bitterness with Akira for good, Queen will strive to redeem herself in the eyes of the Kings. She will regain their favor, and show her worth like she did numerous times ago.

Several minutes later, at SOL Technologies…

Akira smiled as he walked down the hallway, satisfied with the meeting overall. Not only was he now promoted as Executive Vice President of SOL Technologies, Queen was also sent away by the Kings on a three-month overseas business trip to sell the Soltis around the world. This would give SOL Technologies the time needed to restore face and regain the faith of the people in Den City.

"Mr. Zaizen! Mr. Zaizen, wait up!" a voice shouted, where Akira turned to see Hayami catch up with him down the hallway. "How'd it go?"

"Actually better than I thought." Akira answered. "For starters, I've been promoted to Executive Vice President."

"What?!" Hayami's jaw dropped. Did Akira just say that he was promoted? If so, then that was amazing news! But Hayami had to make sure she heard what she just heard, as a lot of stuff happened lately, and the last thing she wanted was to make sure this was correct. "You were promoted on the spot? I thought there was an interview process and whatnot."

"The Kings gave me the promotion after everything I've done in protecting both SOL Technologies and the people." Akira smiled. "In a few days, I start my new role."

"That's awesome, Mr. Zaizen! You should go out and celebrate this remarkable achievement!" Hayami cheered. "Who knows? Maybe we can go out and have a nice dinner together…"

"What was the second part you said, Hayami?" Akira inquired, which made Hayami snap out of her thoughts as her face turned beet red. She shook it off just in time and let out a quick laugh, having managed to escape her predicament.

"All I said was you should go out and celebrate your promotion, Mr. Zaizen. I'm sure the team would love to join in on the festivities." Hayami quickly clarified, before she wiped the sweat off her forehead with her right arm. Once again, she managed to escape from her predicament like she always did.

Akira frowned as he thought this over for a few seconds. As much as he wanted to celebrate his achievement, he didn't have much time to do so, especially with the public announcement regarding the Cursed Boundary Layer's disappearance coming up in four days. One Akira had to help Greg prepare for really soon. "I might be celebrating with my sister first, Hayami, but I'll consider your idea in celebrating with the team later on after things are less busy around here."

Hayami, in response, nodded in agreement. "That's true, Mr. Zaizen. Given your new job role, it means more responsibilities and tasks coming your way real soon. On the plus side, I'm just glad I'll be able to help you out with them."

"And I appreciate it very much as always, Hayami. Thank you." Akira replied with a smile, as the two of them continued walking down the hallway. In a way, Hayami was right. All of Akira's efforts in staying true to himself and protecting both the network and the people led him to be promoted Executive Vice President of SOL Technologies. Though he wasn't necessarily a higherup like the others, he still had more power than he did when he was a Security Manager. The best part of it all was that Queen couldn't stop it whatsoever, as the Kings' authority overruled whatever decision she made.

Overall, this was ultimately a victory for Akira. One well-earned. And Akira would continue working at SOL Technologies despite everything it went through for a single reason.

To serve the people, and nothing else.

That was something Akira will always do, as he had a duty in making sure they were safe. It was a duty he would follow to the very end no matter what came next.

Two days later, at the Den City Airport…

A plane touched down on the runway upon landing, where it immediately slowed down so that the pilot can drive it over to the scheduled gate. Once it fully stopped, an aero bridge was connected to one of the doors, which allowed the passengers to disembark off of it and head on over to the waiting area before heading their separate ways. One of those individuals was Go Onizuka, who had returned back to Den City from Sapporo after spending a few weeks there. Following Zandaka's passing, he helped Gekiryushi set up a memorial service not just to honor his memory, but his teachings as well. Go was also surprised with the amount of people that showed up for the memorial service, as they all knew him one way or another.

"Go Onizuka, welcome back to Den City," a familiar voice said, which got Go's attention as his manager appeared and walked towards him.

"Archibald, it's so good to see you again." Go replied, having addressed his manager by his name as he hugged him. After a few weeks at Sapporo, it was definitely good to see a familiar face once again. "Say, where are the others?"

"Quinton is at the Den City Orphanage right now hanging out with the kids and staff." Archibald answered. "As for Kenmochi and Yoroizaka…"

"Go!" two voices cried out of nowhere, as Kenmochi and Yoroizaka ran over to where Go was before hugging him.

"Kenmochi. Yoroizaka. It's been a long while." Go greeted Kenmochi and Yoroizaka. "How's everything been?"

"It's going well, Go. Well, aside from putting up with the children." Yoroizaka admitted. "I mean, they're unreasonable at times, especially with all of their demands."

"Yoroizaka's right, Go. It amazes me how you're able to entertain and keep them happy at the same time." Kenmochi added. "The worse part is that it's gotten harder to keep the children smiling and hopeful, especially with so many more being sent to either the Den City Orphanage or the Den City Shelter lately."

"Wait a minute. More children became orphans?" Go questioned, which made Kenmochi and Yoroizaka nod in confirmation. Soon, something clicked in Go's mind as he put two and two together. Ah. That made sense. Given the Turf War and the attacks in the real world and in the network, there was a likely that some children would be orphaned as a result, where they were sent to either the Den City Orphanage or the Den City Shelter until they could be adopted.

"It's unfortunately the truth, sir." Archibald told Go. "Lots of children lost their parents due to the Turf War and the attacks in both the real world and in the network. While adoption and foster care helped some of them find new homes, the Den City Orphanage and the Den City Shelter has received quite a number of new applicants lately."

"My God…" Go muttered as he processed all the information in his mind. His quest in trying to defeat Playmaker at all costs prevented him from learning about what had happened to those he cared about. "Archibald, please take me to the Den City Orphanage right now. I need to help those kids out."

"There's no need to ask, sir. For I originally planned on taking you there anyway." Archibald assured Go, which made him smile in response.

"Yes! Thank you, Go! With your help, we'll be able to provide the children with hope during these dark times." Kenmochi cheered.

"Hang on, Kenmochi. With some training, I'm sure we'll be able to entertain the children." Yoroizaka pointed out.

"Are you kidding me, Yoroizaka? We practically suck at doing that! A few of the kids called us Go Onizuka knockoffs!"

"Hey, at least I'm the one being optimistic here, Kenmochi! After all, we are pretty good duelists!"

"If we were pretty good duelists, we'd be able to entertain the children, and saying that we Playmaker and his buddies is not going to help us out here!"

Go laughed upon seeing Kenmochi and Yoroizaka argue with one another for a bit. It was not only humorous, but something he missed for a very long time. One could say that Kenmochi and Yoroizaka definitely acted like brothers. "Hey, settle down you two. I'll be more than happy to help you get stronger as duelists. You have my word."

Yoroizaka turned to Go after hearing his promise. "You see, Kenmochi? Go's going to help us get stronger."

"Hey, even I knew that, Yoroizaka!" Kenmochi replied, which made Go put his hands on their shoulders to officially stop the argument.

"Again, settle down you two. You do realize that we're in public, right?" Go pointed out, which made Kenmochi and Yoroizaka gasp after realizing that they were talking a little louder than they expected to.

"Uh, sorry, Go. We didn't mean to raise our voices like that." Kenmochi apologized.

"Yeah, Go. We really didn't mean to do that." Yoroizaka apologized as well.

"Don't worry about it, guys. We all act like idiots at one point. Might as well do it now and learn from it, don't you agree?" Go replied back, which made all three of them laugh the conversation off, glad to be with one another.

"Now that your discussion is done, please follow me to the car, gentlemen." Archibald instructed, as he gestured Go, Kenmochi and Yoroizaka to follow him. The quartet followed Archibald down the hallway before making a right, where they walked towards the escalator and took it downwards to the main area. From there, the quartet reached the front gates and exited the airport to reach the parking lot, with Archibald leading the way to ensure they got to the right car. After a few more minutes of walking, they got to the right car, which was basically a silver-colored Mercedes. Having arrived at the car, Archibald then gestured the others to get in, where he got in the driver's seat. As if on cue, Go sat down in the front passenger seat while Kenmochi and Yoroizaka sat down on the back seats. Once that was done, Archibald started the engine before he drove the car out of the airport parking lot, intent on taking Go and the others to the Den City Orphanage.

A half hour later, at the Den City Orphanage…

A car drove down the driveway as it stopped at the lights before turning left, where it went down the road and made a right seconds later. After a few more minutes of driving, the car eventually made another left before driving down the road, where it turned right to enter into the parking lot. From there, Archibald parked the car before turning off the engine, having reached the destination.

"Man, it's good to be home." Go commented, having looked at the building nearby as he got out of the passenger seat. Unlike the larger buildings in Den City, this building was a one-story building that was colored in numerous colors. It was also connected to another portion of the building resembling that of three dice connected on one another, as though it resembled a staircase. The right side of the building resembled that of a cylinder, which had a railing at the top and six blue dots around it. Last but not least, there was a gate resembling that of a rainbow, as if to show the entrance.

"It's good be home indeed, sir." Archibald agreed, as he got out of the driver seat. Kenmochi and Yoroizaka also got out of the back seats as well seconds later.

"Do you think the children will recognize me when I enter inside?" Go looked at himself, having seen that even though he regained weight, he still wasn't fully back to normal. "I mean, I'm still surprised that they looked up to me after every terrible thing I've done for the past while."

"It's true you've done some bad things in the past, Go, but you can use the knowledge gained to help people become the best version of themselves they can be, as well as ensure that they don't repeat your mistakes." Kenmochi pointed out.

"Yeah, Go! You can be the mentor the kids need right now during these difficult times. Hell, maybe you can change a few hearts with your entertainment dueling." Yoroizaka added in support to Kenmochi's point.

"Kenmochi and Yoroizaka are right in what they say, sir." Archibald interjected. "Though you can't take back what you've done, you can use that experience to improve yourself and become a better person moving forward. By doing so, you'll be able to reclaim parts of yourself that you thought you lost, as well as become a stronger individual in the process."

Go thought that over, having saw that what Archibald, Kenmochi and Yoroizaka said just now was purely right. As if on cue, the words Tenyi Spirit - Sahasrara spoke to him appeared in his mind.

"There is no one path for you to take, Go Onizuka. Knowledge is something that's continuously obtained over time. It's something you don't wish for. Rather, you learn from others and yourself as you grow as a person. If I can say anything, it's that for one to begin their atonement, they must face and acknowledge what they've done head on."

"Commit yourself to redemption every day, and in the end, you'll be able to fully achieve it. But don't just stop there. Strive to become a better person everyday by learning from your mistakes, and retaining who you really are in the face of adversity. For as long as you do that, you will truly become a better person on a daily basis."

Man. I can't believe the words of a duel monster spirit have affected me to the very core, Go admitted in his mind, having smiled as he thought this over. If Go didn't take a step forward with courage, he'd be stuck in the same place he was in for a very long time. A place filled with nothing but fear, anger, hate and suffering. That time was over. Now, it was time for Go to acknowledge what happened, let go and move onward. "You guys are right. Let's go see how everyone else is doing since I left."

"That's the spirit, Go!" Yoroizaka cheered, glad to hear that Go was ready to visit the children after all of this time.

"Glad we were able to help you out." Kenmochi said as well, having patted Go on the back in the process.

"In that case, let's go see how they're doing." Archibald stated, which got the others' attention as they all headed towards the rainbow gates before entering into the area.

Okay, let's do this, Go thought in his mind, having knocked on the door a few times. After a few seconds, a woman who wore a simple plain white shirt with jeans that had dark-brown hair in the form of a haircut answered the door.

"Go Onizuka? Is that you?" the woman asked.

"Yes it is, Heather." Go confirmed, as he proceeded to give Heather a big hug. "I heard things have gotten busy since I last left Den City."

"Unfortunately, they have, Go." Heather replied, as she entered inside the building, with Go, Kenmochi, Yoroizaka and Archibald following after her. "With what's happened in the past while…"

"Yeah. A lot of kids became orphans due to the Turf War and the conjoined attacks in the network and in the real world." Go narrowed his eyes, heartbroken with how so many children lost their parents. Despite everyone's best efforts, there were still casualties and consequences that occurred as a result of the battles.

"But on the plus side, we've helped these children found new homes lately, especially with so many people contributing towards helping one another lately in so many ways."

Go smiled after hearing this piece of information. While there was a lot of loss, people were more than willing to help one another not just recuperate, but make each other's lives easier as well. In addition, there were good souls out there that want to help children live better lives by either adopting them or signing up for foster care programs. "I'm really glad to hear this information, Heather. I really am."

"It's been tricky lately, but we've been making good efforts," a voice pointed out, as Quinton emerged from nearby, a smile evident on his face. "Welcome home, Go Onizuka." As if on cue, several kids appeared behind Quinton, smiles evident on their faces upon seeing that their hero has returned home.

"Hello, everyone!" Go exclaimed, which led all of the children to run over to where he was before proceeding to give him lots of hugs. A huge smile appeared on Go's face as he hugged them all back, beyond joyful that they still saw him as their hero. Some of the children even went over to greet Archibald and Heather, who were more than happy to play with them for a bit. As for Kenmochi and Yoroizaka… well, let's just say they had some difficulty in managing the kids despite spending the past while with them. This led Archibald and Heather to separate the both of them from the other kids so they can take a breather.

Quinton smiled as he went over and gave Go a hug after the kids had their fun with him. "It's good to see you after all of this time, Go. I mean, look at you. You've regained your physique since I last saw you weeks ago."

"Yup! My time at Sapporo really helped me recover both physically and mentally." Go agreed.

"Tell us about your trip, Go!" one of the kids said, which got Go's attention.

"Yeah, Go! We want to know where you went!" another kid commented.

"Story time! Story time!" a third kid exclaimed.

"Calm down, everyone. Go just got here." Heather reminded the kids.

"It's okay, Heather. I just need to catch up with Quinton for a bit first, and then I'll tell you all about my trip." Go told Heather before turning to the kids. "Can you promise me you'll be patient until I finish catching up with Quinton on some matters?"

"Yes!" all the kids promised.

"Thank you, guys." Go turned over to Kenmochi and Yoroizaka. "You two, make sure the kids remain calm. The last thing we need is for them to cause a bad ruckus."

"Oh boy…" Kenmochi and Yoroizaka muttered, the both of them having rolled their eyes upon realizing that they were put on babysitting duty once again.

"Don't worry, Kenmochi and Yoroizaka. Heather and I will assist you as well." Archibald assured Kenmochi and Yoroizaka, as the three of them, along with Heather, took the kids to an area nearby so they can play and spend time with one another. Go and Quinton, on the other hand, went upstairs before going outside, where the two of them looked out in the area around them.

"Again, Go, I'm really happy that you've gotten better. The time you spent at Sapporo has definitely helped with your recovery." Quinton commented.

"It did help indeed, Quinton. I'm now a better man as a result of my trip." Go agreed. "My pride and obsession with becoming the strongest back then unfortunately made me blind to everything else going on. As a result, I cared only about myself, and nothing else."

"That was then, Go. This is now, and like you said, you're a better person now." Quinton put a hand on his shoulder. "While you were away, there's some information I need to catch you up on."

Go turned to look at Quinton. "What you on about here, Quinton? Did another disaster happen in my absence?"

"I'm afraid so, Go." Quinton then proceeded to tell Go about the Cursed Boundary Layer's appearance in Den City, or as everyone else called it, the Shadow. Particularly, how its appearance led to numerous adults and children falling ill, along with the deaths of many others. This shocked Go after he heard this information, as he wasn't there to help assist in putting an end to a threat that would harm the wellbeing of the citizens in Den City. Quinton even told Go about Infearno, who was also known as Emon Uchida in the real world, and how he came in person to offer his assistance for the orphanage and the shelter by providing information regarding assets. Specifically, money and different properties that can be used towards alleviating the pain the children were feeling after everything that happened for the past while.

"Wow, I'm surprised that a Knight of Hanoi came to not only visit you in person, but also offer his support towards the orphanage and the shelter as well." Go admitted. Then again, a Knight of Hanoi did take Go to a place that would help him learn how to start on the path towards redemption. It just went to show how the Knights of Hanoi were now willing to not only help those who were caught in the crossfire, but begin to take full responsibility for their actions as well. While everyone's opinions were different, one could say that the Knights of Hanoi changed for the better.

"I was just as surprised as you were, Go. The crazier thing was that just like with Dancho, Infearno's also dying." Quinton commented, which got Go's attention after hearing this information.

"I think it goes to show how no one's invincible these days." Go replied. "And before you say anything, Quinton, the last thing I wanted was for them to die. If anything, I wanted the Knights of Hanoi to face justice for the crimes they committed."

Quinton, in response, crossed his arms. "The Knights of Hanoi did suffer for their crimes, Go. They lost their resources, were forced to go on the run, and Dancho and Infearno were mortally wounded as well by their enemies. And before you ask, Playmaker and his allies did not injure them."

"Of course Playmaker wouldn't do such a thing. He's someone who has honor above all else." Go acknowledged. "But nevertheless, I have to apologize to him and the others for my selfish actions, as well as thank him for saving the world once again."

"I have a feeling that you'll get your chance soon, Go. For you never know what will happen in the future." Quinton assured Go, who nodded back in confirmation.

Go smiled as he looked out at the sun. "You're right, Quinton. Anything can happen in the future. Though you're missing one thing about it."

"Oh? What would that be?"

"The future that one seeks can only be forged with their own hand." Go opened his hand before closing it. "But just because you can decide your own future doesn't mean you don't have to be alone in doing it."

"So what future do you want then, Go?" Quinton turned to Go, now curious on what he would say next. This question would determine whether Go had truly grown not just as a person, but as a duelist as well.

"Simple. I want to create a future where the children are safe from whatever may come next! A future where they get to grow up in a world where they'll get every opportunity possible for them to fulfil their dreams!" Go answered, a genuine grin evident on his face. "I'm never going to leave them again, as they are my biggest fans after all. As long as they are happy and safe, then I'm happy too."

"Now that is a future I want to help create with you, Go." Quinton said, having patted Go on the back as the two of them headed back inside and down the stairs, where they walked down the hallway before hearing a ruckus. The two of them then made a right before entering into a room, where they said the kids playing with Archibald and Heather. As for Kenmochi and Yoroizaka, they were being booed at by a few other kids for not being good entertainers.

After the children calmed down, Go gathered them all in a circle as he took a seat on one of the chairs nearby. From there, he began to tell the children about his time at Sapporo, and the activities he participated in. Some of those activities included simple tasks such as meditation, assisting the locals in everyday tasks and getting to know them, and training in martial arts. Go also told them about the people he met in Sapporo, along with his time learning under an old man on what it meant to truly redeem oneself, as well as how to start on the path towards redemption. Following his training, he told the children about the opportunity to participate in a ceremony to commemorate someone who died in Sapporo. A person who provided wisdom and teachings to everyone in the area. Go then finished by saying that while it's important to continue pursuing your dreams, it becomes bad when you become warped to the point where you become a worst version of yourself. One that leads those you know to no longer recognize the person you one were.

From what Go's saying regarding the old man, he must be talking about Dancho, Quinton surmised in his mind with a frown as he heard the story. As for who died recently, I also believe that Dancho passed away as well. Just like with Go, Quinton didn't want the Knights of Hanoi to die because they had to face justice for their crimes. Still, it broke Quinton's heart that the Hanoi lost two of their members in Zandaka and Emon, especially when you acknowledged how there will always be casualties on both sides no matter what.

"And that's my story about my trip at Sapporo." Go finished, with the kids and everyone else clapping after hearing the story. "Does anyone have questions?" He turned to see one kid raise their hand in the air. "Yes?"

"Mr. Go Onizuka, what was the name of the old man you learned martial arts under?" one child asked, which made Go smile.

"Unfortunately, I can't tell you." Go answered. "In exchange for helping me, the old man requested that I don't tell anyone about his identity."

"Can you show us the martial arts moves you learned sometime?" another kid quickly asked, with Go nodding in confirmation. "Awesome!"

"What about the meditation techniques, Go? You'll teach us that, as well, right?" a third kid quickly asked, which made Go nod in confirmation as well.

"Of course! I'll be happy to show you what I learned! As long as you promise not to hurt each other, of course!" Go genuinely promised, which led the kids to smile in pure joy upon seeing that their hero was willing to teach them what they learned. He meant every single word regarding his promise, as he wanted to pass on what he learned to those who listened to his story.

And if it meant he could change the lives of those who suffered and help them move forward from their pain…

…Then it would make Go the happiest person in the world.

The next day, at the Den City Cemetery…

CLINK!

CLINK!

CLINK!

CLINK!

Yuhiro grit his teeth as he continued working on the massive tombstone, having resumed carving words onto it using a chisel and a hammer. He had been at the Den City Cemetery since late this morning, where he purchased the biggest tombstone available before getting to work. After all, the small tombstones used to commemorate one's life wouldn't work at all, especially since it had to honor those who lost their lives at the hands of the Cursed Boundary Layer. Not just by its hands, but by Yuhiro's hands as well by extension.

"I'm proud of you for doing this, Yuhiro. You're doing the right thing here." Greg stated, who was sitting on a bench nearby. Sitting on his left was Rachel while Gil was on Greg's right, all three of them watching Yuhiro work on the tombstone.

"You got this, Yuhiro. But let us know if you need assistance." Rachel said, concern for her friend evident on her face. Despite everything Yuhiro did, she still saw him as her friend, as it wasn't fully his fault for his actions. The blame fell onto Jericho, who used the Cursed Boundary Layer to not only infect Yuhiro, but also use him as a puppet in order to capture Rachel. While Rachel was willing to forgive Yuhiro, it'd take a while for her to trust him again, and Yuhiro was willing to do whatever it took to regain that trust.

"Yeah, Yuhiro. You put in that hard work. Serves you right for your sins." Gil added, which earned him glares from both Greg and Rachel.

"Why must you be so mean all the time, huh?" Rachel angrily raised an eyebrow at Gil, wanting to know why he still continued to be mean after everything that's happened.

Gil shrugged his shoulders in response. "It's just who I am, Rachel. Even if I can't revenge on Yuhiro any longer now that he's been saved, I can at least make sure he never forgets the pain and sadness he took out on others. In a way, it serves him right for what he's done."

"If it helps, Gil, I've already been sentenced for my crimes." Yuhiro spoke up, which made Gil raise an eyebrow out of curiosity while Greg and Rachel gasped.

"What do you mean by that, Yuhiro?" Greg asked, worry evident in his tone. "Please tell me you didn't surrender to the authorities. Otherwise-."

Yuhiro, in response, put down the hammer and chisel onto the ground before turning over to the trio, which stopped Greg from speaking. "No, Greg. I didn't turn myself over to the authorities."

"Then what did you mean when you said you've already been sentenced for your crimes?" Rachel questioned.

"Well, it's kind of a long story."

Flashback: Several hours earlier, in the morning, at Café Matsuo…

"Okay, Yuhiro. Let's make sure your heartbeat and breathing are in order." Yua said, having taken out a stethoscope from her bag as she got it ready. Right now, she and Yuhiro were in the living room while Miyu was helping out with the dishes. Rasterliger was also sleeping nearby, wanting to make sure Yuhiro was safe if Yua was up to any funny business.

"Of course, Mrs. Kogami." Yuhiro replied, having nodded to confirm of what would happen next. He turned over to Miyu before gesturing for her to turn off the faucet, which she did, knowing that Yua would need absolute silence in order to measure Yuhiro's heartbeat.

Yua put the earpieces of the stethoscope in her ears while Yuhiro lied down on the couch to prepare for the test. He also lifted up his shirt, knowing that for this to work, the stethoscope had to be used on bare skin. As such, Yua put the bell part of the stethoscope on Yuhiro's chest to measure his heartbeat. After what appeared to be an eternity had passed, she removed the bell part of the stethoscope off of Yuhiro's chest. "Excellent. I want you to sit up straight, as I'm now going to measure your breathing."

Having heard what Yua said, Yuhiro immediately sat up while the former placed the bell part of the stethoscope on the right side of the latter's upper back. Knowing the drill, he took a deep breath in for a few seconds before letting it out, where Yua moved the bell part of the stethoscope to the left side of his upper back. Yuhiro took another deep breath in as per Yua's instructions before eventually letting it out, having got the drill done.

"Well, Yuhiro. The good thing is that your heartbeat and breathing are at a steady pace." Yua told Yuhiro, as she put away the stethoscope back in her bag. "Now it's time we test your blood pressure to see if it's stable as well."

"You're the boss." Yuhiro responded, knowing that it was important to listen to the doctor's instructions. After all, they knew best when it came to the health and well being of their patients. As such, Yua grabbed a sphygmomanometer from the bag she carried nearby, which consisted of an inflatable cuff and a mercury manometer. The former meant to gently collapsed and then release the artery under it in a controlled manner while the latter was used to measure the blood pressure.

"Hang on. That's used to measure someone's blood pressure, right, Mrs. Kogami?" Miyu guessed, having recognized the device in her time at the hospital.

"That's correct, Miyu." Yua confirmed with a smile. When Yua first arrived at Café Matsuo several days ago, everyone was shocked by her sudden appearance, especially since Miyu recognized her as the same doctor that ensured she was safe. This led Yua to explain her role to the trio in the Lost Incident, and how she contributed towards it by providing food and water. However, at the time, Yua didn't know what was going on behind the scenes in the Lost Incident. Specifically, the torture and pain the Lost Incident victims went through. And when it was shut down, Yua ended up fleeing for her life under the cover that she divorced Dr. Kogami. Eventually, Yua apologized for her role in contributing towards the Lost Incident, even if she didn't know what was ultimately going on behind the scenes. To her surprise, Yuhiro, Roxy and Miyu forgave her, knowing that she didn't intend on contributing towards a project that was malicious. Besides, Yua took care of Miyu for a very long time, so it only seemed fitting for the trio to show gratitude towards the one who helped them for a very long time.

Yua then gestured Yuhiro to raise his left arm to his heart level, which he did while she got the equipment ready for the procedure. She then wrapped the cuff around Yuhiro's upper left arm before ensuring that it was snug and not too tight. From there, Yua took the rubber bulb that was attached to the cuff and rapidly squeezed it numerous times so the cuff was tightened around Yuhiro's left arm. This caused a large artery to appear in Yuhiro's left bicep, which made him grimace upon seeing it being occluded. A minute or two passed as Yua looked at the gauge of the sphygmomanometer, having taken a few notes seconds later. Once that was done, Yua loosened her grip on the rubber bulb, which caused the cuff to deflate and release Yuhiro's left bicep.

"Well, this is good news. According to the machine, your systolic levels are at 80, while your diastolic levels are at 30. All in all, you're good to go, Yuhiro." Yua proceeded to unwrap the cuff from Yuhiro's upper left arm, satisfied with the readings shown on the machine. "That aside, how are you feeling physically and mentally?"

"Physically, I'm okay. I'm making sure to eat healthy and not exert myself, especially since I've pushed my body into overdrive for the past while." Yuhiro began answering. "As for mentally, I'm… doing better."

"He's been seeing a wonderful therapist, Mrs. Kogami. She's been helping him sort out his problems." Miyu added, which got Yua's attention.

"That's great to hear, Miyu. Having a team of good doctors will help in one's recovery." Yua stated, as she put away the sphygmomanometer back in her bag. "I'll go speak with Roxy about the tests. She'll be pleased to hear you're doing well." Yua then headed over to the stairs before walking downwards, intent on speaking with Roxy.

"Okay, she's gone, Arin. You can come on out now." Miyu turned to her right shoulder as Arin poked over her shoulder before climbing onto it, relieved that the coast was clear. She walked over towards Yuhiro before sitting down on the couch beside him. "How are you feeling, Yuhiro?"

"I'm good, Miyu, but…" Yuhiro replied before gathering his thoughts.

"But what?" Miyu gently put her hands over Yuhiro's hands. "Tell me what's wrong."

Yuhiro sighed, knowing that there was no point in hiding anything from Miyu. Besides, she can tell the difference between truth and lies very efficiently, just like how Aqua once did a long time ago. "I've been thinking about the words you told me a week ago back in the network, where I have to live on and take responsibility for my crimes."

"Where are you going with this, Yuhiro? You're not breaking your promise, right?" Miyu inquired, having raised an eyebrow at Yuhiro, who shook his head back in response.

"No, not at all, Miyu. I don't plan on breaking my promise." Yuhiro assured Miyu. "As I thought over what you said, along with remembering all the horrific things I've done lately, I realized an unfortunate truth."

"What truth?" Miyu narrowed her eyes, worry evident in her tone.

Yuhiro sadly sighed, hating what he would say next. "Humanity deserves to obtain closure about what happened in order to move on, and something must be done to ensure it never happens again. At the end of today, I plan on surrendering to the authorities and confessing my role as the instigator of this entire mess."

"What?!" Miyu exclaimed, a shocked expression evident on her face. She wasn't the only one who was shocked, as Rasterliger also gasped upon hearing this information. "You can't!"

"Miyu's right, Yuhiro. What you plan on doing's the equivalent of running away." Rasterliger added, having immediately stood up on his feet.

"No, RL. It's not the equivalent of running away." Yuhiro denied Rasterliger's point, as he began to stand up on his feet. "I plan on atoning for my crimes and facing them head on. If I die for my sins, then so be it."

"No, Yuhiro, you actually can't." Miyu insisted, having stood up on her feet and grabbing Yuhiro's arm. "If you do what you plan on doing, then Jericho will win!"

"What do you mean, Miyu?" Yuhiro asked, now concerned about how Jericho would win if he went through with his plan of action.

"After you kidnapped Rachel, we were trying to figure out how to rescue her from captivity." Miyu began to tremble, now scared of how Yuhiro will react once she says the next part of her answer. Even Arin began to tremble, who was also scared for Yuhiro's sake. "During the conversation, Greg voiced his intent on arresting you after we stopped your plans, but auntie warned him what would happen if he chose to pursue that course of action."

"Roxy told Greg that if the world found out a human was infected by the Cursed Boundary Layer, the whole world would be thrown into a state of never-ending chaos." Rasterliger continued for Miyu, who continued to try and pull herself together. "People would turn on one another, businesses would close down, states of emergency would be declared and so much more would occur if humanity discovered the truth about the situation. To put it simply, Jericho would ultimately emerge as the victor."

"No… It can't be…" Yuhiro gasped, shocked at what he heard just now. If he turned himself in, the world would be up in arms, which would lead to humanity's destruction and Jericho's victory. In a way, this was Jericho's ace in the hole should his plans for using Yuhiro to obtain the Root of All Knowledge be stopped. "If I'm not allowed to turn myself in, how else am I supposed to atone for my crimes?"

"Well, Yuhiro, auntie and I spoke with everyone else that was involved in our battle against you over the past few days. Except for the Hanoi, of course, as they don't have a say in this matter." Miyu spoke up, having successfully managed to pull herself together. "In our discussions, we not only agreed that you need to be sentenced for your crimes, but that we can't let the law judge you as well."

"So what are you saying?" Yuhiro inquired, having raised an eyebrow in the hopes of getting an answer.

"After taking every factor into account, we all came to a final decision yesterday while you were away at your therapy appointment." Rasterliger said, as he turned to Miyu. "Would you like to say it, Miyu? Or would you prefer I get Roxy to do so?"

"No, RL. I'll do it." Miyu answered, before she pointed her right index finger at Yuhiro. "Yuhiro Furutani, for your crimes, I hereby sentence you to watch over the network and protect it for the rest of your life."

"Seriously? You want me to continue fighting after everything I've done?" Yuhiro blinked, surprised with what he heard just now.

"That's right." Miyu narrowed her eyes to ensure she got Yuhiro's attention. "Over time, people who've suffered at the Cursed Boundary Layer's hands will be able to let go and move on with their lives. In fact, there may come a day where they will be able to live without remembering it. But not you, Yuhiro. I won't allow the law to condemn you for your crimes. For even if everyone else forgets about the Cursed Boundary Layer, you must remember the pain and sadness you caused for the rest of your life, as well as take responsibility for those you killed. You must also ensure that such a thing never happens again."

Yuhiro frowned, still surprised with what Miyu told him just now. Despite everything that's happened, Miyu, along with Roxy and the others, want him to continue protecting the network with them. Could this be their way of testing Yuhiro to see if he's willing to put in the effort and regain their trust again? Was it their way to ensure humanity was safe from Jericho's backup plan? Or was it something else? Either way, Yuhiro would only be able to find out the truth by accepting the sentence for his crimes and work hard to prepare himself for what was to come. "Is this what you and the others want from me, Miyu?" Miyu nodded in confirmation. Having saw this, he smiled. "Very well. I'll do that moving forward, and if it helps, you have my word that I accept the sentence for my sins."

Miyu smiled in joy as she embraced Yuhiro, happy that he accepted the judgment for his crimes. She wasn't the only one, as Arin also extended his arms to embrace Yuhiro as well, a happy look evident on his face. "I'm so happy you're willing to accept your judgment and begin atoning for your crimes."

"I thought I already begun to atone for my crimes a few days ago." Yuhiro said back with a smile. This was true. Some time after his therapy appointment with Leshawna, Yuhiro begun to donate the money Yukage had on hand to numerous relief efforts, along to the Den City Orphanage and Shelter so it can help take care of the children that were there. Yuhiro also allocated some money to the Den City Hospital so it can acquire hospital equipment needed for surgical operations, and even sent some money to pay for funeral costs for those who lost their loved ones. For each task, Yuhiro made sure the money couldn't be traced back using an encrypted code so that no one would know where the money came from. He also put in a small note on each donation, saying that they came from Raguel himself. To the public, Raguel was the one who was making massive contributions during these difficult times, not Yuhiro, and it was better this way.

"I know, but I'm just glad to hear you're not going to run away." Miyu let go of Yuhiro and gently stroked his hair. "That being said, I'll fight by your side not just to protect the network, but so you don't break your promise as well."

"Thank you, Miyu. That means a lot." Yuhiro gratefully replied back, the two of them chuckling seconds later. Miyu wouldn't be the only one fighting alongside him, as everyone he knew would make sure he didn't break his promise now that he accepted the sentence for his crimes.

"Yuhiro! Miyu! Get down here quickly! It's urgent!" Roxy yelled all the way downstairs, which got Yuhiro and Miyu's attention as the two of them quickly ran downstairs, with Rasterliger following after the duo. Upon reaching the end of the stairs, the two of them gasped after seeing the person at the entrance of Café Matsuo.

Emon Uchida.

"A shame. I wanted to get one last meal here before I leave this world." Emon remarked.

"What are you doing here, Emon?!" Yua demanded. "You shouldn't be here out in the open! Not after when you left the Hanoi of your own volition!"

"I don't know what games you're playing, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Now." Roxy dangerously requested. The last thing she wanted to deal with was a Hanoi member swooping in and demanding information from her regarding Yuhiro.

"Roxy, what's going on here?" Yuhiro asked, which got everyone else's attention after hearing his question.

"Ah, so it seems the commotion brought you both down here." Emon commented, having turned to see Yuhiro and Miyu nearby. Rasterliger, having saw Emon, barred his fangs at him. "We meet again, Yuhiro Furutani. And Miyu Sugisaki. It's nice to meet you in person after all of this time."

Miyu hid behind Yuhiro, having sensed the uneasiness going on here. "Yuhiro, who is this man? And what does he want with us?"

"This man is Emon Uchida, a member of the Hanoi." Yuhiro calmly told Miyu. "As for your other question, I don't have an answer to that. Unless he has an answer, that is."

"I do have an answer to your question, Yuhiro. I simply want to have one last conversation with you, especially since I don't have much time left." Emon calmly answered, which made Yuhiro frown back in response. This made sense, as after Emon lost his duel against Yukage, Wraith utilized a technique that destroyed the program Dr. Kogami used to keep the 'Burning Abyss' monsters in check. Thus resulting in Emon's life force being drained away with every passing second. It was honestly a miracle that Emon was still standing right now, as he could die at any minute.

"Fine." Yuhiro gestured Emon to follow him over to a table, where the two of them proceeded to take a seat at the chairs there. Since Café Matsuo was under renovations, that meant there were no customers for the time being, which prevented anyone from overhearing the coming conversation. Knowing that Yuhiro would probably need some help, Miyu quickly ran over and grabbed a chair before sitting down beside him. Rasterliger then ran towards the duo, intent on making sure they were safe in case Emon was up to anything suspicious.

"I appreciate you being civil, Yuhiro, especially since neither you nor I are in any condition to fight." Emon turned to Miyu. "As for you, Miyu Sugisaki, for whatever it's worth, I am truly sorry for what Dr. Kogami, myself and the other Knights of Hanoi did to you. I know it probably means little, but all of us regret what we did."

"…Thank you." Miyu said softly. "For whatever it's worth, I believe you."

"And I believe you guys should get to your conversation, as we have things to get done here." Roxy interjected, which got everyone else's attention.

"Let's give them space to have their conversation, Roxy." Yua said, having gestured Roxy to follow after her upstairs. With great reluctance, she followed Yua upstairs in the living room, which left Yuhiro, Miyu, Arin and Rasterliger alone with Emon.

"I will get straight to the point here, Yuhiro. I am not here to judge you for your family's sins, unlike the rest of the Hanoi." Emon spoke up. "Rather, I am here to provide you with some final words of wisdom, along with a parting gift I think you and the others can use for the battles to come moving forward. In addition, I will also inform you of what happened on my end since we last saw one another. You could say that this will be worth your time."

"It better be, Emon. Or else you'll regret it." Yuhiro warned Emon, having narrowed his eyes at him.

Emon, in response, narrowed his eyes upon seeing the long, tanned and scarred streak of skin that was on the left side of Yuhiro's face and neck. "Interesting. You have a scar just like my own, Yuhiro. A price for the sins we committed, as well as a permanent reminder of them."

"What do you mean by that, Mr. Uchida?" Miyu questioned, a dangerous look evident on her face. She chose to attend the meeting with Yuhiro for two reasons. One: To help him get through it. Two: To determine whether Emon was telling the truth regarding his final words of wisdom.

"Simple. Both Yuhiro and I have committed numerous mistakes, Miyu. Ones so egregious that they affected our bodies." Emon clarified. "The scars he and I have are permanent reminders of what we done, as well as a warning of what will happen should we pursue such actions again."

"Just cut to the chase already, Emon. What information did you want to provide us? Or did you come all this way to lecture me?" Yuhiro inquired.

"Cutting to the chase, huh? Very well, I'll get started." Emon complied. "To start, I want you both to know that a week and a half ago, I visited the Den City Shelter and gave the remaining assets I had to both it and the orphanage."

"That's nice of you to do. I bet those who are there will really appreciate the support." Miyu commented.

"Honestly, I'm surprised you would do that, especially since the public practically hates your guts right now." Yuhiro added. "Nor did I expect you to have assets of your own apart from the Hanoi."

Emon sighed in response. "When you don't have much time left, you tend to want to make one last impact towards something that will help others in the long run. After all, despite all the mistakes I committed, I want to at least contribute towards the wellbeing of those who suffered lately. May I now ask you a question, Yuhiro?"

"What is it?"

"What legacy do you want to leave behind when you die?"

Yuhiro blinked, having been caught off guard by that question. He didn't expect to hear that question at all today. "What did you say?"

"What legacy do you want to leave behind when you die?" Emon repeated his question. "For myself, people will remember me not just as a Knight of Hanoi, but as a monster due to the pain and suffering I caused onto them. Even though I can't change everyone's opinions about me, I not only accepted the price for my mistakes a long time ago, but also chose to face them head on rather than run away like a coward. You, on the other hand, allowed your past and present grievances turn you into a monster. One that nearly destroyed everything you fought to protect."

"Excuse me?!" Yuhiro growled out of anger, which made Miyu place her hands on his shoulders to hold him back.

"Take it easy, Yuhiro! You've already gone through enough as it is!" Miyu told Yuhiro, having managed to placate him. "As for you, Mr. Uchida, what you said wasn't right at all. Yuhiro's atoning for his mistakes the best he can right now. He's also getting the help he needs so he can move on from his pain."

"Acknowledgement is needed in order to begin taking the steps needed for what needs to be done." Emon agreed with Miyu's second point. "However, what I said earlier was the truth. Yuhiro's actions nearly destroyed everything all of us tried to protect, which is this world. Numerous individuals suffered by his actions, some of which were my former employees."

"Your former employees?" Yuhiro repeated.

"That's right. As curious as I am on how you managed to find the Hanoi's location, that doesn't matter right now." Emon proceeded to glare at Yuhiro so he can get his next point across. "From what Revolver told me, you attacked several people the Hanoi took in to get their attention. What I'm surprised is that in your crazed state, you could have killed them, but a part of you ultimately chose not to."

Yuhiro tried to open his mouth and make a rebuttal, but found that he could not. In his attempt to hunt down and destroy the Hanoi in the real world, he nearly killed innocent bystanders. All just to get their attention so he could destroy them. "I never expected you guys to take in and treat those who suffered in the chaos during recent events."

"In times of war, there will always be those who suffer in the chaos, Yuhiro. If humanity was destroyed, then the Knights of Hanoi would have no one to protect from threats in the network. Besides, Baira and I managed to convince Revolver to help the people that were thrown into our battles. After all, they never asked to be a part of them in the first place." Emon replied.

"What you guys did was really noble and compassionate." Miyu observed.

"The people we rescued also helped us during dark times as well, so it worked out on both sides, Miyu." Emon frowned after saying this information, having managed to get his point across as the air fell silent.

Yuhiro, on the other hand, put a hand to his chin as he pondered over what he learned. He didn't expect the Knights of Hanoi to take in refugees and care for them during difficult times. Some examples included the Turf War and the conjoined attacks in the network and in the real world. Hell, maybe the Hanoi took in people who suffered at the Cursed Boundary Layer's hands. Perhaps it showed how the Knights of Hanoi had ultimately changed for the better. Upon realizing this was the case, Yuhiro felt nothing but shame at himself for judging humanity as a whole due to it being evil all the time. One could say that he was no better than the Hanoi as a result. Having noticed his uneasiness, Miyu gently put a hand on his shoulder to assure him that it would be okay.

"When I look back on everything that's happened, I can't help but think of an old, Native American proverb I learned a long time ago." Emon spoke up, which got Yuhiro and Miyu's attention.

"And what would that be?" Yuhiro questioned, curious on what Emon would say next.

"We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children." Emon answered. "I believe what matters for all of us is the type of world we leave for future generations. Forgive me for saying this bluntly, but you've focused so much on your problems and the present that you didn't think about what the world truly needed as a whole."

Yuhiro thought over what Emon said just now, and as much as he hated to admit it, the latter was true. He focused so much on the pain his past caused, along with how events in the present further aggravate it, that he ended up making the world suffer as a result. The pain Yuhiro caused didn't have to occur if he chose to seek help immediately rather than let it infect his mind, body and soul to the point of full corruption.

"For someone such as myself, my actions left a negative impact on this world, especially given how it caused so much suffering to people. As a result, I made the world a harder and bitter place to live in for future generations to come. You, on the other hand, still have a chance to make your legacy a strong and positive one despite your mistakes. To put it simply, you not only still have an opportunity to make the world a better place, you also have a chance to inspire future generations to keep going and make a difference no matter the mistakes they made. For every journey has its ups and downs, as they all contribute towards it one way or another, don't you think?"

"I actually get what you mean, Emon." Yuhiro realized, having pondered over the words Emon told him just now. "The accumulation of one's actions, both good and bad, ultimately tell a story on who you are and the impact you make on this world. They all come together to form into a message that future generations will learn from."

"That makes sense. For you can only make a final opinion on someone once you've finished the whole story and know all the details." Miyu added, before she turned to Yuhiro. "Though what you've done was obviously bad, it was only a chapter in your life. Now, you get a chance to write the next chapter. One that shows what hope and redemption can do when you're given a second chance in life."

"Splendid! I'm glad the proverb, along with the meaning behind it, are helping the both of you out." Emon commented, having pulled out an envelope from his pocket. "Here. A parting gift. Just like I promised." He slid the envelope down the table towards Yuhiro and Miyu, the both of them looking at it seconds later.

Yuhiro took the envelop and slowly opened it, where he and Miyu found what looked like a card. One that glowed with data-like energy. "What's this?"

"Think of it as a program that should help you down the road, Yuhiro. After all, even the smallest thing can turn the tables in your favor during battle." Emon chuckled, having succeeded in getting his message across as he turned to look at Café Matsuo. "Again, it's a shame I couldn't get something at this place. A part of me always wanted me to try the food here."

"Well, you don't have to wait any longer!" a voice pointed out, as Roxy emerged out of nowhere with Yua, the former carrying a takeout bag in her hands. She then gave it to Emon, who could do nothing but blink in response, shock evident on his face. "One takeout burger with fries and a bottle of water on the house. Given how you're going to die, it's only fair for you to have one last meal, right?"

"I convinced Roxy to get the meal ready for you, Emon." Yua explained. "Despite your history as enemies, it'd be cruel to leave you with nothing."

"That is truly kind of you to do so, Ms. Matsuo. I'm truly grateful." Emon said, as he stood up on his feet. "It looks like this will be the last time we see each other, Yua. Give my regards to the Knights of Hanoi for me." He offered Yua a hand, which she shook.

"I will, Emon. All the best in your final days." Yua gave a smile to Emon, assuring him that she'll pass his message onto the other Knights of Hanoi.

Emon turned to Yuhiro, where the latter stood up on his feet seconds later. "Like with Yua, this will be the final time we speak with each other. Farewell, Yuhiro Furutani." He offered Yuhiro a hand, who shook it back as well.

"Farewell, Emon Uchida." Yuhiro simply said back. He no longer felt any animosity towards Emon at all, as he forgave him several weeks ago. Now, this was just a simple goodbye between two individuals who made an impact on each other's lives. With that, Emon began walking away from Café Matsuo. However, he stopped walking, having realized that something crossed his mind.

"Oh, and one last piece of advice, Yuhiro. Make sure you keep your little house guest with you safe. The last thing you want is for the Knights of Hanoi to go after him." Emon stated, as he continued walking away from Café Matsuo, having completed his task in delivering his wisdom to Yuhiro.

"Hey, it's okay, Arin. He's gone now." Miyu placated Arin, the latter having hidden behind her shoulder to make sure he was safe.

"Just what is that little guy exactly, Yuhiro?" Yua inquired. "It obviously isn't an Ignis."

"It's not an Ignis, Yua, that I'll tell you. This little guy right here is living proof that as long as there's a piece of goodness living in someone, they're never truly gone." Yuhiro told Yua, as Arin quickly jumped off of Miyu's shoulder and onto his left shoulder. Since Yuhiro and the others didn't know much about the Shadow Giants, aside from them being a species that were turned into slaves at the hands of Jericho and his allies, the last thing he wanted was to endanger Arin. Besides, Yuhiro obviously wouldn't tell the Hanoi about Arin, especially since he's a part of him.

But what Yuhiro said to Yua was true. Arin was living proof that as long as there was a piece of goodness in someone, they were never truly gone despite all the horrific deeds they've committed. As long as you put in the effort, then atoning for your mistakes was ultimately possible.

Flashback End: Present Day…

"And that pretty much sums up the story." Yuhiro finished.

"I didn't expect a Knight of Hanoi to appear at your doorstep like that, Yuhiro. And in broad daylight too." Rachel commented.

"Neither did I." Gil agreed, as he turned to Greg. "Say, you guys set up a bounty for this guy, right?"

"We did, but no one's been able to find him at all." Greg answered.

"If I were you, I'd put that bounty off the table, as Emon will die any second as a result of what Yukage did to him after their duel." Yuhiro suggested.

"Perhaps, but I won't take the bounty off until it's confirmed that Emon's dead."

"Suit yourself." Yuhiro continued working on the massive tombstone, having resumed carving words onto it using a chisel and a hammer. The memories of his conversation with Emon replayed itself in his mind, along with how he accepted the sentence in protecting the network for the rest of his life. Here, Yuhiro was given a second chance to make things right, and he was intent on putting the work in to show that he changed for the better. He would make sure to regain the trust of his friends, as well as redeem himself by protecting the network. For redemption was possible for anyone that wanted to make things right. After several minutes, Yuhiro wiped the sweat off his forehead using his right forearm before putting the tools down on the ground, having finished his work. "There. All done. Now all that's left is to lift this big tombstone and put it in the dug-up section over there."

"Here, I'll help you out." Greg said, as he stood up on his feet before going over to Yuhiro, where the two of them begun to slowly lift the large tombstone off the ground. Unfortunately for the both of them, it was very tricky, especially when you took just how big the tombstone was and how much t weighed. "Could either of you help us out over here?"

"Hang on, guys. I'll give you a hand." Gil said, as purple energy appeared in his hands, which caused an apparition of Abyss King to appear. To his shock, the apparition fizzled before completely disappearing. Gil thrusted his hands forward, where numerous apparitions of the Chains of Tragedy appeared before they fizzled and disappeared seconds later. What's going on with my powers? This has never happened before, so why are they not working, he thought in his mind.

"Uh, we could really use anyone's help right now." Yuhiro commented, as he and Greg were about to lose their grip on the tombstone. If they didn't get assistance soon, the tombstone would fall to the ground and crack, thus ruining all of Yuhiro's hard work.

"Don't worry, you two. I got this." Rachel stated, as Final Sigma appeared before lowering its right hand down and helping Yuhiro and Greg maintain control of the tombstone. With Final Sigma's assistance, the two men were able to bring the tombstone over to an area that was dug out earlier. One that would not only keep the large tombstone in place, but would also ensure that it didn't unintentionally disrespect anyone else that was buried in the cemetery. Eventually, Yuhiro and Greg were able to put the large tombstone in the ground, with Final Sigma gently pushing it further in to ensure it was stable.

"Well, that was tricky, but it's done at last." Greg stated, as he and Yuhiro looked at the placed tombstone while Final Sigma turned into particles that returned back into Rachel's duel disk. The two of them specifically focused on the words that were on it:

In Loving Memory of those who suffered at the Shadow's hands. Rest in Peace, for you have all been avenged.

Yuhiro sighed before he began to tremble, tears having begun to appear in his eyes. "Those people I killed... I took their lives away like they were nothing. They'll never be able to experience life to the fullest because of what I've done."

Rachel, having noticed Yuhiro's sadness, ran over to him and stood by his left side, where she gently held his right hand with her left hand. "It'll be okay, Yuhiro. You'll make things right and atone for your mistakes in the end. I know you will."

"Thank you, Rachel. That means a lot." Yuhiro said, a smile having formed on his face as he turned to her.

"Of course you'll make things right, Yuhiro. You have no choice by this point, especially since you're pretty much sentenced to never forget your crimes and the pain it caused not just to you, but to the others as well." Gil remarked, which made Yuhiro, Rachel and Greg turn towards him. "It serves you right for what you've done, Scarface." All three of them narrowed their eyes at Gil, infuriated by his snarky remark.

"Why must you be like that, Gil? Do you really not care for others at all?!" Greg infuriatingly demanded.

"Though I care for humanity to an extent, I only cared for myself the moment Project: Apotheosis changed me forever, Greg." Gil answered, having crossed his arms. "Besides, thanks to Yuhiro and his brother, I managed to get my revenge on those who made me suffer."

"What do you mean, Gil?" Rachel asked.

It was Yuhiro who answered. "Yukage detonated the piece of Malf within Athaliah, which practically killed her from the inside out. As for myself, I murdered Balius with my own hands."

"Exactly, Yuhiro!" Gil confirmed with a chuckle. "I didn't have to get blood on my hands at all. For the both of you did it for me. And now that I got payback on my father, I'm finally free!"

"To do what exactly?" Greg inquired. "You got your revenge on everyone that hurt you, and your mission has been complete. What will you do with your life now?"

Gil's eyes widened out of pure shock after hearing that question. "What? What… What are you-?" He found that he couldn't form any other words in his mouth, still shocked by what he heard. As a result, Gil felt disillusioned by this revelation.

"You heard me. Now that you accomplished your lifelong revenge quest, what will you do moving forward?"

"I… uh…" Gil once again found that he couldn't form any other words in his mouth after hearing that question a second time. "No, it can't be. I… I…"

"You want to know what sucks, Gil? If you obsess over something for a long time, you spend all your time and energy into that one goal." Rachel taunted. "To put it simply, you were stuck this entire time, and you knew it deep down."

"No! Those are lies! They're… lies...!" Gil denied a second time, trying to keep himself together. Purple energy appeared in his hands as an apparition of Abyss King to appear before completely disappearing. Numerous apparitions of the Chains of Tragedy appeared seconds later, only for them to fizzle out and disappear seconds later. "What's… going on with me? Where's my powers?!"

Greg narrowed his eyes upon seeing what was going on with Gil. This is the second time I've seen this today, Greg thought in his mind. Why aren't Gil's powers working? He gasped after putting two and two together. Unless…!

"GAAAAH!" Gil screamed, his eyes having widened out of pure terror and shock as he immediately ran out of the cemetery, needing some time alone to process over everything that happened. After all, the last thing Gil wanted was to show weakness.

"Gil, wait!" Rachel exclaimed, intent on going after Gil.

"Let him go, Rachel." Yuhiro told Rachel, having put a hand on her shoulder. "We all have demons to face, and Gil needs to figure out not just how to face them, but let go as well."

"Just what was going on with Gil's ability to summon the Chains of Tragedy and Abyss King, though?"

"I think I may have a theory." Greg spoke up, which led Yuhiro and Rachel to turn to him. "When Miyu healed Gil following his fight against Yuhiro, I believe she may have unintentionally cured him of the side effects he suffered from during Project: Apotheosis."

"What you said makes sense, Greg." Yuhiro realized, having put a hand on his chin. "Miyu not only has an enhanced ability to discern the truth from lies, but also the ability to heal injuries as well. I strongly believe she was able to keep the Cursed Boundary Layer back before it made me snap."

Greg continued to think all of this over in his head. If all of this was true, it definitely meant that Miyu would have the ability to cure the side effects Rachel suffered from during Project: Apotheosis. Ultimately, Rachel would be freed from being a Construct as well. "I see. Yuhiro, do you think Rachel and I can visit Café Matsuo tomorrow afternoon?"

"Yeah, sure. Everything okay?" Yuhiro followed after Greg and Rachel as the three of them proceeded to head towards the cemetery's entrance.

"I believe so, Yuhiro. I believe so." Greg put a hand to his chin as he gathered his thoughts over. "I'll take you home now, Yuhiro. I bet Roxy and Miyu are expecting you home by now."

Yuhiro didn't respond back as the trio headed over to the car, the conversation having ended. A frown appeared on Rachel's face, having contemplated over the entire conversation and what happened to Gil just now. Practically, how Gil couldn't use his powers this morning to summon Abyss King and the Chains of Tragedy. The somber look on Rachel's face remained as the trio headed over to the car, where Greg got in the driver's seat, Yuhiro sat in the passenger seat and Rachel sat in the back seat. Greg started up the car afterwards, where he backed out of the parking lot before driving out of the area, intent on bringing Yuhiro back to Café Matsuo.

Can it be true? Can Miyu truly cure me of the side effects Project: Apotheosis had on me, Rachel wondered in her mind, as she looked out the car window. If this was true, that meant Rachel would no longer be targeted by anyone who intended to finish Project: VIII. But it would likely lead to Rachel losing her abilities as a result, just like with Gil. Such a thing concerned Rachel, as she not only wanted to continue fighting on the frontlines, but also interact with Final Sigma telepathically as well. Hopefully, Rachel can keep those abilities, as the last thing she wanted was to be a liability.

Several hours later, at SOL Technologies…

Greg sighed as he saw the numerous protestors that were gathered behind the red and yellow bars, numerous police officers patrolling around the area in case things went awry. Right now, he was standing nearby a stage as several people discussed information with one another. Specifically, the details of the press release, such as who would be speaking first, the amount of time interviewers had to answer questions and how many can be asked at a time, the footage that was allowed to be shown and more. Some distance away from the stage was a group of protesters that were held back by several FBI agents, who were all armored up with riot gear. Barbara was nearby, having collaborated with the remaining officers at Den City in setting up security for this event, and ensuring that today ran smoothly. There were also journalists and interviewers attending the press release, having been invited to attend the event as well. Greg dreaded this afternoon, as today was the press release from SOL Technologies regarding recent events. During this event, he and Akira would assuage the people's concerns by informing them that the Cursed Boundary Layer, or known as the Shadow by the general populace, had been destroyed. Akira had anticipated that there would be some skepticism regarding this announcement, especially since three months prior, the Knights of Hanoi returned despite the Another incident being foiled by Playmaker and his allies. Thus, he acquired the battle footage from Aoi after she and Emma edited it to hide information that would cause trouble for everyone down the road.

What Greg dreaded the most for this press release was lying to those he was sworn to protect, as while he obviously knew the Cursed Boundary Layer played a role in all of those murders, he also knew who did the killings under its influence. If Greg told the public the truth in that the Cursed Boundary Layer had infected a human, then it would only result in further turmoil for everyone. Or to sum it up, everyone on the whole planet would lose because of fear and the inability to address the situation in the best way possible.

"Are you nervous, Greg?" Akira asked, which got Greg's attention.

"I hate to say it, Akira, but I am." Greg admitted. "I'm just really pained right now by what's to come."

In response to this, Akira put a hand on Greg's shoulder. "Don't worry, Greg. As long as we keep the audience calm and collected during this press release, we'll be able to get through it without any interruptions."

"You should listen to Zaizen, Commissioner. All you have to do is play your part, and this will all be over," a voice pointed out, as Pawn and Queen appeared before walking towards the duo.

"Oh, great. It's Pawn and Queen." Greg seethed angrily. Could this get any worse than it already was right now?

"You and Zaizen will keep the audience calm by assuring them that the Shadow has been destroyed permanently." Queen instructed. "Once this is done, we will take over and inform the public about the security features the Soltis comes with. This way, we can ensure them that the tragedies of the past will never happen again."

Greg rolled her eyes in response to what Queen said, which made her frown back at him in anger. "Yeah, right. Keep those angry protesters in line when there's so many of them?! My men are barely able to keep them in line as it is, and the last thing I want is casualties on both sides!"

"Easy, everyone. Let's remain calm and civilized. We're on the same team here." Akira pointed out.

"Zaizen's right, you two. As long as we play our roles right, we'll be done with this press release really soon." Pawn supported Akira's point, which made both Greg and Queen stand down.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. Kicking off our press release, I now give you, FBI Commissioner Greg Ebihara!" a female speaker said, which got Greg's attention as he stepped onto the stage and headed towards the podium.

"It's the FBI commissioner!" one protester said.

"What's he doing here?" a second protester asked.

"Surely, he's not buying the lies and failures SOL Technologies has been spewing out lately!" a third protester stated.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to come to this press release." Greg greeted the audience ahead of him. "Please calm down, everyone. I have some urgent news to share with you all. It's regarding the Shadow's disappearance."

"The Shadow's disappearance?" one of the protesters repeated.

"The authorities better have good news about the Shadow." a second protester hissed.

"It's murdered so many people! SOL Technologies' inability to destroy it makes the company weak!" a third protester snapped.

"A week ago, the Shadow disappeared from Den City. After investigating this matter, I can confirm that the Shadow has been destroyed!" Greg announced, which caused an uproar.

"That's a lie! Why should we trust SOL Technologies after it failed numerous times?" one protester questioned.

"Maybe the commissioner's telling the truth. I mean, compared to SOL Technologies, at least the authorities are someone we can trust." a second protester commented.

"Yeah, right. Just because they were there doesn't mean they couldn't fully prevent the casualties." a third protester stated, doubt evident in their tone.

"Please, everyone. I urge you all to calm down." Greg pleaded. "The last thing any of us want is for this press release to turn into a war zone." Unfortunately for Greg, some of the protesters ended up throwing things at the stage, having been stirred up into a frenzy.

"Disperse the protesters!" Barbara shouted nearby, having pointed her right index finger at the area the protesters were vulnerable at. While some of the FBI agents pushed the protesters back using their riot shields and batons, a few of them threw tear gas canisters in the air before they landed on the ground. Seconds later, the canisters released tear gas, which caused the protesters to disperse in fear of getting infected. This gave the FBI agents the opportunity to immediately pin down the more violent protesters before mercilessly arresting them, while the others quickly got out of the way and calmed down, having realized what will happen should things get more violent. This was wise, as some of the more peaceful protesters managed to evade the tear gas and not get infected.

"Commissioner Ebihara's telling the truth!" Akira loudly stated, having run onto the stage as everyone settled down upon seeing him. As a result, the FBI agents were able to keep things under control once again. Soon, Akira pulled out a USB stick, which piqued everyone's attention. "Here is footage showing Playmaker and his allies working with one another in destroying the Shadow for good."

"It's Akira Zaizen!" one protester recognized the next speaker.

"He is someone I can trust!" a second protester acknowledged.

"That's right! He hasn't failed us!" a third protester agreed. Despite the groups' anger at SOL Technologies, they still placed their faith in Akira, especially since he coordinated efforts with the FBI in saving so many lives.

"I will play the footage, but only if everyone calms down." Akira requested, which led the protesters to fully calm down at his request. An FBI agent walked onto the stage with a computer, where Akira put the USB stick into the slot before static showed on the large screen. Soon, the static cleared up, where it showed pieces of footage that consisted of Raguel, Playmaker, Soulburner, Slipstream, Blue Maiden and Tigress summoning their duel monsters in combat against shadowy human silhouettes spawned by the Cursed Boundary Layer.

"Yes! I knew Playmaker would help us!" one protester cheered.

"He and his allies came to our aid during the Turf War! We can always count on Playmaker!" a second protester cheered as well.

"But who's that tiger lady with Playmaker and the others? And is that Blue Angel?" a third protester questioned.

"Mr. Zaizen, how exactly did you get this footage?" one interviewer asked.

"It was given to me by Playmaker." Akira calmly answered.

"Given how Playmaker and his allies popped up to assist SOL Technologies, can you say that they're working under you?" another interviewer inquired.

"No! Playmaker and his allies appeared to assist the people! He saved my life and the lives of many others! Nothing else!" Akira proceeded to glare at the person who asked that question just now, who shivered in fear in response.

"You see this footage, ladies and gentlemen? Playmaker and his allies fought together in destroying the Shadow forever. It's gone thanks to them." Greg pointed out, which led the numerous people in the audience to mutter amongst themselves. "Threats like the Shadow will never appear again thanks to the brave efforts of Playmaker and his allies!"

"That's bullshit!" one protester said angrily.

"You can't guarantee that from happening again!" another protester infuriatingly added.

"Lies! All lies!" a third protester screamed, as the protesters got riled up once again, with some pushing back against the FBI agents, intending on storming SOL Technologies while others threw stones and other things at the stage. While the FBI agents pushed back against the protesters, Barbara pointed her right index finger at the area they were vulnerable at before gesturing the other FBI agents to throw tear gas canisters at the protesters, which they did at her command. When they hit the ground, all the canisters released tear gas that forced the protesters to spread out, lest they get infected from it. This enabled the FBI agents to once again restrain the more violent protesters and arrest them, while the others grouped up and calmed down.

"Silence! Please! Silence! Hear me now!" Queen shouted, which got the attention of those in the audience as she and Pawn walked on to the stage before heading towards the podium. "Despite SOL Technologies' failures, we were still able to save lives. Unfortunately, we learned an ugly truth during this difficult time. We spent so long in maintaining and perfecting the network that we neglected our focus on the real world, which has cost all of us nothing but pain. I know that SOL Technologies' recent actions lately have been checkered, but I promise you all that we take full responsibility for our people. As proof of our promise, I want to show you our newest product. One that is not only in the real world, but will ensure that threats such as the Turf War and the Shadow never hurt us again!"

As if on cue, a sound was heard from above, where it showed several humanoid androids with white heads and dark-blue padding on their bodies flying in the sky before landing on the ground.

"For those of you who aren't aware, this is our newest product: The Soltis." Pawn continued for Queen. "These androids are designed for one purpose: To assist you in your many endeavours. And currently, they are helping assist the reparation efforts in Central Japan." He walked over to the computer and took out the USB stick from his pocket before putting it in the port. Static showed on the large screen before clearing up, where footage began playing that showed the Soltis helping the people in Central Japan repair their home. From repairing houses with people, to removing pieces of debris in the area and making sure it was thoroughly clean, to putting out fires, to assisting the authorities there in arresting criminals and so much more, the Soltis helped out in many areas.

"Wow…" one protester said.

"These Soltis androids are quite something…" another protester commented.

"Quiet! I want to learn more about them…" a third protester stated.

"Each of our Soltis also comes equipped with numerous security features that will enable them to further assist the public. Allow me to demonstrate one example on what the Soltis can do to protect you all." Pawn commented, as one FBI agent appeared carrying a gun, where they aimed it at one of the Soltis before firing numerous rounds from their weapon. Each of the bullets hit the Soltis, but instead of them tearing through the android, they all simply fell to the ground, much to the awe of the audience. Several seconds later, one of the Soltis units charged forward and quickly pinned the FBI agent down onto the ground, which made him squirm in pain before the former let the latter go.

"Our Soltis units are also programmed with numerous martial arts moves to ensure that any unexpected attackers or situations are quickly dealt with." Queen said, as the Soltis units demonstrated numerous punches and kicks seconds later in order to prove her point. "They also come with instructions and override codes for those that want to use the Soltis as non-lethal sparring partners."

"In addition, each Soltis is connected to several places around the world. The FBI, the police, hospitals, you name it." Pawn stated. "Should they see a situation going on, the Soltis will contact the correct individuals to deal with the specific situation. They even come with an alarm in order to warn off potential attackers." Having pulled out a remote from his pocket, Pawn pressed a button on it, which released a small sound that made everyone cover their ears out of shock. Queen and Pawn, on the other hand, were fine because they had specific earplugs inside their ears to block out the noise. The sound soon wore off, which made everyone calm down.

"Finally, each of our Soltis are fireproof, waterproof and resistant to electricity. Combined with their enhanced strength and intelligence, the Soltis will make sure that no more lives are lost nor ruined!" Queen finished. "From this moment on, SOL Technologies will be strong, and it will be known as the beacon of hope it was always meant to be! Japan, and ultimately the entire world, will persevere!"

The crowd cheered after Queen finished the introduction on the Soltis androids, happy to hear that SOL Technologies was finally taking initiative to protecting their lives in the real world. Several photographers took pictures of Queen and Pawn while the journalists wrote down everything the two of them said, intent on taking the information so it can be published in newspapers and online later on. Akira and Greg, on the other hand, grimaced after the presentation was done. Given the Soltis' abilities, it seems that SOL Technologies was taking a new approach. One that was anything but good for everyone else should it continue to grow.

Akira and Greg weren't the only ones to have suspicions regarding the Soltis, as Barbara grimaced after hearing all the information Queen and Pawn had given to the audience regarding them. It was all too good to be true, as there were always threats around the corner. Safety can't always be guaranteed. If SOL Technologies truly had ulterior motives regarding the Soltis, then an investigation had to be carried out before further action can be taken. This was something Barbara would have to speak with Greg and Akira on, as they would have more knowledge regarding the situation here.

One hour later, at Green Park…

Greg sat down on a bench as he drank some water from the water bottle in his hand, relieved that it was all over. The press release was truly tiring, especially the second part, where the Soltis were announced to the audience as its newest product. One that would not only help the people in everyday tasks, but also protect them from threats as well. This raised an alarm in Greg's mind, as it could mean that SOL Technologies had darker motives behind the second portion of the Soltis' purpose in protecting people. If SOL Technologies plans on using the Soltis to spy on and monitor people, it would violate a majority of human rights, Greg thought with worry in his mind. What's more, it would give them advantages to action later on for darker initiatives down the road.

"You seem tired, Greg." Akira commented, having walked over with a bottle of water in his hands as he sat down on the bench opposite to Greg.

"With everything that's happened for the past while, I'm definitely tired, Akira. Lots of information to process. Honestly, I'm just glad it's over." Greg said. "Nonetheless, I owe you an apology."

"For what?" Akira blinked after hearing what Greg said just now.

"For the words I said to you back at SOL Technologies. Specifically, how I called you pathetic, afraid and selfish for not standing up against the higherups."

Akira smiled. "As grateful as I am for your apology, you were right back then."

"I was?" Greg asked, surprise evident in his tone.

"You were." Akira confirmed. "Your words, while harsh, helped me gain the courage needed to stand up against my superiors. As a result, I managed to save someone from being killed. For that, I thank you, Greg Ebihara."

"It's… It's no problem, Akira. I'm just glad you accepted my apology. Besides…" Greg sighed. "I now know what it's like to be powerless and unable to figure out what to do in response to a very disastrous and unworldly situation."

"You and me both." Akira drank some water, having contemplated over the conversation just now. He was truly grateful for the harsh words Greg said to him several weeks ago, as it spurred him to defy Queen and Pawn before saving Go's life. "What are your thoughts on the Soltis?"

"I'm concerned about SOL Technologies' newest product, Akira." Greg immediately answered, which caused Akira to nod in agreement.

"Same here. Specifically, the security features Queen and Pawn announced for the Soltis." Akira agreed.

"So I'm not the only one with suspicions regarding the Soltis," a voice stated, as Barbara appeared out of nowhere before approaching Greg and Akira, having carried a cup of coffee in her hand.

"Oh, Barbara. A pleasure to see you." Greg said. "You remember Akira, right?"

"I do." Barbara confirmed, having offered a hand to Akira, who shook it back in response. "Your actions in coordinating efforts helped save many lives. Not just the lives of innocents, but the lives of those on the frontlines as well."

"Thank you, Barbara. It means a lot." Akira responded. "If I recall, you're friends with Roxy, am I correct?"

"You are, Akira." Barbara smiled, glad to hear that Roxy had another friend in her life. It was definitely good, as it expanded her social circle a little more.

"Oh, where are my manners. Would you like to join us, Barbara?"

"Certainly." Barbara walked over to where Greg was sitting and sat down beside him. "Since we were all there at the press release, we need to talk about the Soltis and the dangers it may present regarding security."

"Indeed, Barbara. From what I saw just now regarding the Soltis, I believe SOL Technologies is up to something behind the scenes." Greg commented.

"I believe so as well, Greg. However, there has been no evidence of any wrongdoings regarding the Soltis, as all feedback provided has been positive." Akira pointed out.

Greg put a hand on his chin as he thought things over. "Nevertheless, we still need to investigate the situation carefully, especially since so many people have come forward with claims that SOL Technologies has had connections with the Black Market."

"If we don't do this right, both us and everyone who stepped forward with those claims will all end up paying a horrific price." Barbara warned Greg and Akira, a grim look evident on her face.

"That's true, Barbara. The last thing any of us want is for SOL Technologies to fall in our attempt to try and dispose of a few bad apples. Not after what happened to Uchida Industries." Akira commented. He meant that genuinely, as he knew a lot of people at SOL Technologies who weren't evil. Ones who were simple workers who had jobs in order to take care of themselves and their families.

"Thus, we need to figure out how to eliminate the higherups without damaging the company." Greg finished. "In other words, a new chain of command is needed so that SOL Technologies can begin a new chapter as a protector and a leader rather than a condoner."

Akira nodded in agreement before a smile appeared on his face. "The good news is that there's more I can do to assist in our mission, especially with my recent promotion."

"Your recent promotion?" Barbara repeated, which got her attention upon hearing those words. She wasn't the only one, as Greg raised an eyebrow out of curiosity, wanting to know as well.

"Yup. I was recently promoted to Executive Vice President a day or two ago." Akira announced.

"That's awesome to hear, Akira! Congratulations on your promotion!" Greg commended, with Barbara clapping upon hearing the good news as well.

"As good as it is, I'll have to report to the Kings directly moving forward, which means they'll be keeping a close eye on my actions." Akira pointed out. "On the plus side, I can access documents that can help us in our mission. What's more, despite things being sour between Brion and SOL Technologies, I can call him to request his assistance regarding this matter. I mean, he did accept our proposition in sending the Soltis to Central Japan to help out in the reparation efforts."

"That's true, but like you said, Akira, things between Brion and SOL Technologies are sour for the time being." Barbara reminded Akira. "Even if we do contact Brion, I doubt he'd want anything to do with SOL Technologies. Not after everything that's happened lately."

"Why don't you let me take care of this portion of the matter?" Greg suggested, which got Akira and Barbara's attention. "I'm heading back to Central Japan in a day or two to check in one how things are doing there. If I suggest the idea to Brion, then perhaps he'd be willing to join us. After all, he trusts me fully for my role in stopping Balius." This was true, as Greg helped Brion liberate Central Japan from Balius' rule. What's more, Greg left a portion of the FBI's forces behind at Central Japan to further help with the reparation efforts. All in all, both of those reasons are more than enough for Brion to trust Greg.

Barbara frowned as she thought things over before responding. "It's a good idea, Greg. As you said, Brion will definitely trust you, though he'll need evidence if we're to convince him to help us. In the meanwhile, I'll have a few private investigators look into the history of each of the higherups, as well as see if there's anything fishy regarding the Soltis. Perhaps there may be clues we can find about them that we can use once everything's gathered together."

"I'll also contact Playmaker and the others to see if they can help us in this matter." Akira added. This was unlikely, since Playmaker and his allies went through a great ordeal a week earlier in defeating Yuhiro. As a result, they had to recover for the next bit. That meant he had to wait for a bit before reaching out to Playmaker to obtain his assistance.

"But only if the matter escalates to the point where we need to use force. Not before." Greg told Akira. "Besides, we can't rely on them all the time. Not after what they've been through lately."

Akira frowned after hearing Greg's point. "That's fair, Greg. So for now, we lay low and conduct research."

"And once our suspicions are confirmed, we'll strike and ensure the higherups are driven out of SOL Technologies. For like I said earlier, it's tie for the company to begin a new chapter as a protecter and a leader rather than merely a condoner."

The next day, in the morning, at the Den City Shelter…

Roxy drove the van towards the Den City Shelter, where she turned left so she can enter the parking lot. After doing so, she found a spot and successfully parked the van before turning it off. From there, she got out of the driver's seat, with Yuhiro, Miyu and Rasterliger getting out of the car as well. Once this as done, the quartet looked onward at a large building, which was their destination for today.

"It's been a very long while since I was here." Yuhiro commented, a smile having formed on his face as he did so.

"Yes, it has, Yuhiro. Yes it has." Roxy agreed.

"I'm looking forward to meeting everyone at the Den City Shelter." Miyu said. "Especially the caretaker, as you and auntie said great things about him."

"You'll love meeting Quinton, Miyu. He is a good man with a pure heart." Yuhiro replied, as the quartet proceeded to head on over to the Den City Shelter. However, halfway there, Yuhiro stopped walking, which got the attention of the others.

"What's wrong, Yuhiro?" Rasterliger inquired, having noticed that he was looking down at the ground.

"Honestly, RL, I'm worried about how the children will perceive me once I enter inside." Yuhiro admitted, as he touched the long, tanned and scarred streak of skin that covered the left side of his face and neck. "I mean, the moment they look at me, they'll see me as a monster. In other words, they'll very likely shun me."

Miyu, irritated by this, walked over to Yuhiro and placed her hands on both sides of his head. "Look at me, Yuhiro. Do you not remember what you and I talked about back at Café Matsuo?"

"Uh, about how everyone deserves to be loved and cared for?"

"Specifically?" Miyu raised an eyebrow, waiting for Yuhiro to further answer her question. In response, Yuhiro sighed.

"About how no matter what you do, there will always be a chance to make things right with those you care about?"

"That's right." Miyu confirmed. "Despite all the horrific things you've done, we still stuck by your side and helped you recover. We're never going to leave you, and I bet the kids in there will still love you for who you are."

"You really think so?" Yuhiro inquired. He still couldn't believe that his friends would still be there to help him recover, which was something he would be grateful for the rest of his life.

SLAP!

"Ow…" Yuhiro let out a small groan of pain upon getting slapped. It was the last thing he was expecting today. "Did you slap me, Roxy?"

"Of course not, Yuhiro." Roxy replied, still shocked that Yuhiro was slapped by someone. She obviously didn't go over and slap him, nor would Miyu do it, as both of her hands were on both sides of Yuhiro's head. As for Rasterliger, he obviously didn't have hands, which meant it was impossible for him to slap Yuhiro.

"I was the one that slapped you, Yuhiro! And you should listen to Miyu because her words make sense," a voice told Yuhiro, which caused the others to look at Arin, who was on Miyu's shoulder. Specifically, the one who said those words just now.

"What?!" Yuhiro, Roxy and Miyu exclaimed at the same time. "You can talk this whole time?!"

"First off, stop shouting. Second, yes, I can talk the whole time." Arin answered. "As for why I didn't talk this entire time, it's so I wouldn't get spotted and destroyed."

"Then why didn't you emerge out of hiding last week to help us in our fight against Yuhiro?" Miyu questioned.

"Okay, here's the thing. I technically helped you guys in a few ways." Arin began explaining. "First, I needed to remain hidden so I couldn't be destroyed. If I was destroyed, then any chance of saving Yuhiro would have practically dropped to zero. After all, I have all of his good aspects."

"That is true. If Arin died, all the good parts of me would have been destroyed, and the chances of saving me would have dropped to zero." Yuhiro realized before sighing.

"Second, I was able to help your allies locate where Yuhiro was deep within his fortress of solitude." Arin chuckled as he continued talking. "What, you think you guys found the secret entrance by chance? The Teocliste can sense each other's presence and use it to find one another."

"Teocliste?" Rasterliger repeated.

"That's the name of my species." Arin confirmed. "But long story short, I was able to help you guys by staying out of sight and helping you find Yuhiro so you all can bring him back to his senses."

"Well, that's one way to help." Roxy deadpanned, still surprised and a little irked that Arin helped on the sidelines.

"But moving that aside, Miyu makes a point." Arin turned back to Yuhiro. "You won't know what those kids will feel until you go in the building and visit them. Do you understand me? Otherwise, there will be more slaps where that came from."

Yuhiro winced while Miyu, Roxy and Rasterliger chuckled in amusement. The last thing he wanted was to be slapped by Arin, as he didn't know just how strong the latter was. But Arin did make a valid point. Until Yuhiro went to the Den City Shelter and opened the door to greet everyone, he wouldn't get the answer to his concerns. Rather, he'd have to face his fear head on. "Alright, fine. I'll go to the Den City Shelter."

"Splendid! I'm glad you're being cooperative here." Arin replied. "Now then. Let's go to the Den City Shelter, shall we?"

"We will, but only if you take a form so you can stay out of sight. The last thing we want is to scare the kids." Miyu told Arin, who complied by jumping off of her shoulder and turning into a bracelet on her right arm.

Arin's eyes opened upon taking his new form. "There. I'm out of sight, but at the same time, I'm not. Now I'll be able to see what human interactions are about up close."

"We'll see whether it works or not within several minutes." Yuhiro spoke back, as the quartet headed over to the Den City Shelter, where they eventually reached their destination. He walked over to the front door, where he suddenly stopped, hesitant on whether he should continue moving forward or not. However, Yuhiro shook off his hesitation and knocked on the door several times, where Marron answered it a few seconds later.

"Yuhiro? Is that you?" Marron asked, as she saw his face.

"Yeah, Marron. It's me." Yuhiro answered. "I'm so sorry for not coming to visit you guys sooner, but-."

"YUHIRO!" The next thing Yuhiro knew, Marron ran forward and hugged his legs, which made him gasp out of surprise. "I knew you'd come here sooner or later."

"Who's at the door, Marron?"

"Is Yuhiro finally here?"

"Did he bring the giant dog with him once again?"

The next thing Miyu knew, a group of kids appeared from inside the shelter and ran to the front door, happy to see Yuhiro again. These children… Yuhiro must have made a great impact in their lives whenever he came to visit the Den City Shelter, Miyu observed in her mind. She wondered how the children would perceive her once they noticed her presence nearby.

"Guys, what's going on here?" Miles inquired, having raced over to the front door to see what was going on. Upon noticing that Yuhiro was there, he gasped.

"Hey, Miles. It's been a while." Yuhiro commented with hesitation.

"Oh my God, welcome back." Miles greeted Yuhiro, as he went over and gave him a brief hug. "Dude, what the Hell happened to you since you last came here?"

"Oh, this?" Yuhiro pointed to the long, tanned and scarred streak of skin that was on the left side of his face and neck. "Just a small fire accident at Café Matsuo. It luckily wasn't too bad, as it was taken care of immediately."

"Don't overwhelm Yuhiro so much, Miles. He must have been through a lot recently," another voice told Miles, where Tsubaki emerged from the front door. "How have you been, Yuhiro?"

"A little better, Tsubaki." Yuhiro gestured Tsubaki over to Miyu, who was nearby meeting the kids. Some of which were spending time with Rasterliger, who was obviously enjoying their time with them. "I bet you remember Miyu, right?"

"Of course I do." Tsubaki happily responded, having run over to speak with Miyu in the process.

"Yuhiro Furutani," a third voice spoke up loudly, as its owner, Quinton Monell walked over to the entrance where the others were. Soon, everyone turned over to see Quinton, who headed over to where Yuhiro was, stern expressions evident on both of their faces.

"Quinton…" Yuhiro muttered, as both men stared at one another, the stern expressions still evident on their faces. The tension, however, was broken when Quinton stepped forward and hugged Yuhiro tightly, much to his shock.

"I… I missed you, Yuhiro." Quinton sighed, happy to see that Yuhiro was okay. Yuhiro, on the other hand, begin to cry. "Yuhiro?"

Yuhiro gently broke away from the hug. "I'm just happy that you're still willing to accept me for who I am."

"Of course, Yuhiro. You were raised here, so I will always accept you as one of our own." Quinton gently assured Yuhiro, having gently ruffled his hair. Having noticed Roxy nearby, he walked over to her before offering her a hand. "Roxy, it's great to see you again after so long."

"Likewise." Roxy responded, as she shook Quinton's hand.

"And you must be Miyu Sugisaki in the flesh." Quinton said, having offered a hand to Miyu, who responded by shaking it. "It's truly an honor to meet you in person. Roxy and Yuhiro told me about you."

"And the two of them told me about you as well." Miyu stated. "Thank you for taking care of Yuhiro when he was younger."

"There is no need to thank me, Miyu. I was merely doing my job after all." Quinton smiled after saying that. He then turned over back to Miles, who was interacting with the kids. "Miles, why don't you and Tsubaki help the kids get inside? There's some business I need to take care of with Yuhiro."

"Yeah, sure." Miles complied, as he and Tsubaki proceeded to help the kids get back in the Den City Shelter. Everyone else followed after Quinton, who wanted to speak with Yuhiro alone. However, Roxy went over and put a hand on Quinton's shoulder, which got his attention.

"If you want to talk to Yuhiro, then I want to be a part of the meeting." Roxy firmly requested. "Whatever he says to answer your questions, I'll be able to back it up because I was a witness to what recently happened."

Quinton sighed. He knew just how stubborn Roxy was, so there was no point in arguing with her request. "Fine. You may join our meeting."

"Can I join the meeting as well, auntie?" Miyu asked, hoping on attending so she can support Yuhiro for what was to come.

"Sorry, Miyu, not this time." Roxy replied back. "This is an urgent matter between myself, Yuhiro and Quinton. Besides, you should play with the kids and spend time with Miles and Tsubaki."

"Alright, fine." Miyu frowned. While she couldn't be there for Yuhiro right now, she could at least play with the kids and spend some time with Miles and Tsubaki. After the meeting was done, Yuhiro would be able to fill her in on what happened later on.

As such, Miyu went with Miles and Tsubaki to the living room so they can hang out with one another and with the kids. Quinton, Yuhiro and Roxy, on the other hand, went to the other side of the shelter before going upstairs, where they entered into an office. While Quinton went over and sat down on the big chair, Yuhiro and Roxy sat on the little chairs that were nearby.

"The Den City Shelter was busier since I last came by to visit." Yuhiro observed.

"It unfortunately has, Yuhiro. With everything that's happened, along with the Shadow's appearance, both the Den City Shelter and the Den City Orphanage has received a lot of newcomers." Quinton sadly confirmed.

"My God… Quinton, I'm so sorry." Roxy stated.

"I appreciate your sympathies, Roxy. I really do. It's just… been hard for me lately, but seeing you guys come by and visit makes it a little better." Quinton frowned. "But it seems things have been hard for you as well, Yuhiro. As evident by that scar on the left side of your face and neck. Just what happened to you?"

"Oh, you mean this?" Yuhiro pointed to the long, tanned and scarred streak of skin that was on the left side of his face and neck. "It's nothing. Just a small fire accident at Café Matsuo. Don't worry, we're fine on our end. Café Matsuo's also going through a few renovations as well to make it modernized as well."

"While the first part's obviously a cover as to what truly happened, I am happy to hear that Café Matsuo's doing well." Quinton responded, having narrowed his eyes. "Have you not forgotten what you learned about me, Yuhiro? A magician always finds out about things, and they never reveal their tricks. Perhaps what happened to you is connected with Emon's visit here last week."

"So it's true…" Roxy muttered. "Emon actually came to visit you guys."

Quinton stood up from his seat and looked out at the window. "Yes. Despite being a Knight of Hanoi and a wanted person, Emon took a very big risk in coming to visit us. Hell, he even gave us access to what remaining assets he had left so the kids can get through these difficult times. What's more, Emon warned us how you became abnormal lately." He turned back to face Yuhiro and Roxy. "And judging by that scar of yours, it seems that Emon's warning about you came true after all. So spill the truth right now, Yuhiro. I know the Shadow didn't disappear on its own, as you guys obviously had a role in taking it down."

"Yuhiro…" Roxy muttered, worried about the fact that Yuhiro will have to regurgitate and relive all the horrific events from last week. She was about to say something else when Yuhiro turned to face her.

"No, Roxy. It's only fair for Quinton to know the truth. The whole truth." Yuhiro told Roxy, before beginning to tell Quinton everything that's happened lately since last week. Particularly, how it all started following the war in Mirror LINK VRAINS, where he lost Herald, Yukage and Wraith. How, due to his blatant refusal to seek help, led him to be infected by the Shadow and slowly lose his sanity over the past several days. This was evident by how Yuhiro brutally murdering a lot of people upon being infected by the Shadow to get their energy, which further impacted his mental health. As a result, it led Yuhiro to snap and go rogue, where the others had to swoop in to stop him. Yuhiro then told Quinton about how he defeated Playmaker and captured him so he can get Ai in order to finish what the Furutani family had started, where he kidnapped Rachel shortly after to accomplish that goal. He also mentioned how Aoi and Watchman teamed up to rescue Rachel and Playmaker from his grasp, along with Watchman being very likely dead following their duel. From there, Yuhiro spoke about how everyone worked together in defeating him, with Aoi dueling the former and eventually winning despite the very hard obstacles in her way. Yuhiro even mentioned how Miyu logged into the network to support Aoi so the two of them can defeat him in the end.

"This is… a lot of information to take in." Quinton admitted, as he sighed loudly. "I never thought you'd be capable of doing such horrific things, Yuhiro."

"Neither could I." Yuhiro admitted as well.

"Then you know what must be done. You need to turn yourself over to the authorities and confess everything."

"Yeah, here's the thing, Quinton. I actually cannot."

"What?! You need to do so, Yuhiro! It's only fair for people-." Quinton began exclaiming out of shock.

"He actually can't, Quinton. For if Yuhiro spills the beans to the authorities, the entire world will pay the price!" Roxy interjected, which made Quinton gasp.

"What do you mean by that?" Quinton raised an eyebrow, concerned by what Roxy said just now.

"The person who sent that Shadow in the first place was a man named Jericho, who appeared in the network and tried to manipulate events in his favor so he can obtain the Root of All Knowledge for his master." Roxy sighed. "To put it simply, Jericho wins the moment Yuhiro turns himself in to the authorities. It was his backup plan in the event he lost."

"It can't be…" Quinton whispered, as he slammed his fist down onto the table. "It's just not right."

"It's not right at all, Quinton. The truth is, sometimes, ignorance is bliss. As long as people don't know the truth, they can live peacefully with one another." Roxy lamented. "But if the people knew that the Shadow infected a human, it'd be game over for everyone, as the world would enter into a state of never-ending chaos."

"If that's the case, then you need to take responsibility for your mistakes and atone for them, Yuhiro." Quinton said the obvious.

"You think I hadn't been taking responsibility for my mistakes?!" Yuhiro exclaimed, as he stood up on his feet to face Quinton. "I've already accepted my sentence to not only protect the network for the rest of my life, but to also never forget the horrific deeds I committed as well. What have I done so far for my atonement, may you ask? It's simple. So far, I've been sending donations to everyone who suffered at the Shadow's hands, as well as acquired a tombstone and set it up with my own hands after carving a message commemorating everyone who died on it. What's more, I plan on regaining my friends' trust by fighting along their side again. I even sought out help from my therapist so I can ultimately get closure and move forward with my life."

Quinton frowned after hearing this information. Yuhiro was the one who sent those massive donations this entire time? It'd obviously make sense, as Yuhiro and Roxy sent a portion of their money to both the Den City Shelter and the Den City Orphanage every once in a while. But the fact that Yuhiro had been lately sending more donations than usual still surprised him. It was just one example of how Yuhiro was trying to atone for his crimes. "I'm… I'm glad to hear you're taking steps in taking responsibility for your mistakes. I'll be honest when I say I didn't expect you to acquire a tombstone and carve a message on it to commemorate those who died by the Shadow's hands."

"Hey, Yuhiro's doing his best in trying to make things right, and he'll have to do it for the rest of his life. Honestly, the fact that he can't forget his actions is a fate worse than death, if you ask me." Roxy stated. "Don't you have regrets that will be with you for the rest of your life, Quinton?"

"Obviously. We all have regrets, regardless of how big or how small they are." Quinton acknowledged, having sat back down on his chair. "For me, one of my biggest regrets in life was my last interaction with my college sweetheart. It was rather… ugly, if you ask me."

"Your college sweetheart?" Yuhiro repeated out of curiosity.

"That's right, Yuhiro. Before I opened the Den City Shelter, I originally wanted to be a doctor." Quinton smiled. "It was during my days in university that I met Sierra, where we dated for three years. She was a beautiful woman, who was able to make everyone feel welcome through her kind and cheerful presence. In fact, Sierra helped me grow to be a better person during our time together. On one of our dates, we volunteered at a local shelter, where I had the chance to interact with different kids. It was here where I found my calling as a person. As a result, I changed my field to entrepreneurship, where I knew what I wanted to do after finishing university."

"But what happened?"

Quinton let out a sigh. "A few days after graduation, Sierra told me that she was accepted into a medical program. One that was geared towards supporting military and relief efforts for individuals overseas. She wanted me to go with her for the program, hoping that my expertise in business would contribute towards supporting businesses and attracting clients to them. While the cause was just, I unfortunately saw a flaw in it."

"What flaw would that be?" Roxy inquired out of curiosity.

"The fact that once the individuals the programs targeted were provided for, they were cast out like trash." Quinton answered. "I didn't want my expertise to contribute towards something that only helps people out once or twice just for profit, and when I told her my thoughts, it led to an ugly argument between us. Whereas I wanted to help people from the start and provide them with the guidance needed so they can pursue their dreams with courage, Sierra wanted to help people that recently went through dark times no matter where they were in life. Those differences between us ultimately led us to end our relationship, where we parted on partially good terms with one another."

"Quinton, I'm so sorry…" Yuhiro muttered.

"If I had said my words in a different manner, Sierra and I could have worked something out between the two of us. But just like you, I made a horrific mistake, and now I have to live with that regret for the rest of my life." Quinton chuckled. "In addition, you learn something from that experience, and take the knowledge obtained towards future scenarios."

Yuhiro nodded in agreement. "I get you there." Everything Yuhiro did for the past week or so would always be with him, especially since he was sentenced to never forget about it, as well as ensure that it never happens again.

"We've all made mistakes. No matter what they are, they're still mistakes. Ones that we have to make right." Roxy commented.

"Do you know how I tell the children here to keep pursuing their dreams no matter what's in their way?" Quinton asked, which got Yuhiro and Roxy's attention. "While it's amazing to have a dream, it's important that they see it through. I also tell them something else that they need to remember."

"Where are you going through with this, Quinton?" Yuhiro inquired.

"Sometimes, I tell the children that the world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It can be a very mean and nasty place. Unfortunately, no matter how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. Life always does that to people." Quinton began replying. "But life isn't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and still keep moving forward. Ultimately, when you pursue a dream or goal, you gotta be willing to take the hits and not blame others for when hard times hit you. No matter what, you gotta keep going and pursue your dreams and goals. For if you do that, then despite all the pain and ugliness and mistakes you went through, your life will be a meaningful one."

Yuhiro frowned as he thought over the words Quinton told him just now. It made sense, as life wasn't about sunshine and rainbows. It would always try to beat you down in different ways, whether it was through people, events, or something else entirely. However, what mattered was whether or not you could move forward to pursue your goals and dreams even after getting beat down to the ground. As if on cue, the words Ryoken said during his duel against Lightning popped up in his mind.

"Humans are different. We evolved as creatures of flesh and blood. Our flesh is full of life! I always felt that when I was taking care of my father. Humans know and fear death because it's engraved in our DNA. So we celebrate the limited time we have and chase our dreams!"

Perhaps Revolver was onto something during his duel against Lightning, Yuhiro deduced in his mind. Ultimately, humans would always fail and make mistakes in life. However, those mistakes and failures didn't have to define them, nor did they have to define their lives. All humans had to do in response to failures and mistakes was make the choice to take another step forward with courage so they can continue pursuing their dreams. For by doing so, they'll be able to not just give their life meaning, but also set an example on what it meant to persevere as well.

"You okay, Yuhiro?" Roxy asked.

"I believe so, Roxy." Yuhiro assured Roxy, as he turned back to Quinton. "What you said just now made sense, Quinton. I do get what you mean by how despite the failures and mistakes one comes across, they still have the chance not just to pursue their dreams, but to make their life have meaning as well."

Quinton smiled. "I'm glad you understood what I said, Yuhiro. After all, life's not black and white. But moving that aside, I'm also proud that you're taking very strong steps in making things right for your mistakes. If anything, just like with Tsubaki, you'll be a great role model in showing the children that they'll be able to accomplish their dreams no matter what they did or what they went through in life."

"In that case, I guess this puts an end to our meeting." Yuhiro stood up with Roxy and Quinton as the trio exited Quinton's office before heading downstairs, their meeting having come to an end. "Say, Quinton, what happened to Go Onizuka? Has he recovered from what happened to him?"

"Go Onizuka's doing well, Yuhiro. The AI chip has been removed from his brain successfully, and is now following doctor's orders to ensure a speedy recovery." Quinton answered. "In fact, Go returned home from Sapporo a day or two ago."

"What was he doing there, Quinton?" Roxy also inquired, which made Quinton frown back at her in response.

"Well, it's an interesting story." Quinton then proceeded to tell Roxy and Yuhiro about how Zandaka Ikiagi came to the Den City Hospital to visit Gekiryushi and how she was doing. He also told them about how Zandaka sought out Go in order to offer the latter a chance at acquiring redemption by going to Sapporo. From there, Quinton finished by telling Roxy and Yuhiro about what he learned from Go once he returned back to Den City. Simple as that.

"You were right. It was an interesting story." Roxy scratched the back of her head, surprised with what she heard.

"It was indeed an interesting story." Quinton acknowledged. "I never expected the Knights of Hanoi, a group of people who I considered my enemies, to aid those who suffered in recent events. Zandaka's choice to reach out to Go, along with Emon providing the remainder of his assets, are great examples."

"They definitely are indeed." Yuhiro agreed. Based on what he heard, it seemed like the Hanoi were starting to become better individuals despite what they've done in the past. "Do you know if Zandaka made it back home?" He asked this question because of his final interaction with Emon, and how he didn't have much time left due to what Yukage did to him after their duel.

Quinton, in response, shook his head. "Unfortunately, based on what I learned from Go's story, it seemed that Zandaka Ikiagi has passed away recently."

So it looks like the Knights of Hanoi are down a member, Yuhiro thought in his mind, a frown having appeared on his face. Zandaka wasn't the only loss for the Hanoi, as Emon would die at any minute with the program that protected him from the 'Burning Abyss' monsters being destroyed by Yukage. In a way, Yuhiro felt bad for the Hanoi because just like him, they lost people they cared about.

"Oi, Yuhiro." Roxy quietly said, as she snapped his fingers in front of Yuhiro's face, which made him snap out of his thoughts. "The next time you see Go in the network, you owe him an apology for the words you said to him."

"I'm well aware of that, Roxy." Yuhiro quietly replied back, having agreed with her point. But before he could say more, the trio headed over to the main area of the Den City Shelter, where they saw Miles, Miyu and Tsubaki, along with Rasterliger, having fun with the kids.

"Well, that's enough talk. Let's go interact with the kids a bit, shall we?" Quinton and Roxy walked over to where the other kids were, who smiled upon seeing the two of them.

"About time you showed up." Tsubaki commented, having noticed that Yuhiro was nearby as she walked over to him. "I trust that your talk with Quinton went well?"

"A little tense, but it was smooth in the end." Yuhiro replied, as he pulled a cheque out of his pocket. "That being said, I owe your father a debt of gratitude for his role in stopping the Shadow. For the cards he made helped Playmaker and the others destroy it for good. If it wasn't for him, who knows how the battle would have turned out? As such, take this." He gave the cheque to Tsubaki, who gasped upon reading how much money was on it. "It should help your father officially set up and launch his business soon."

Tsubaki smiled, grateful for the gift. "I'm glad my father was able to assist Playmaker in his time of need. He always wanted to do so, and now that he's starting his own business in Rose Enterprises, I have a feeling that he'll be helping him and the others down the road in person. But moving that aside, I have a question for you, Yuhiro."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Do you know how Ace died? When Emon visited the Den City Shelter, he told Quinton and I that he perished during the attacks in the network and in the real world. Yet I know there's more to it, and I'm hoping you can tell me more about what ultimately happened to him the day he died."

Yuhiro sighed. "After you were defeated, we were able to corner and capture Ace, where we demanded information from him. I… I wasn't at my best that day, as I used force to make Ace cooperate, and when he did, he told us that Azrael was heading to the dark vault. After that, he pulled a trigger and attempted to kill us with him using a bomb. However, the other Ignis' formed a shield to protect us from the explosion. When it dissipated, the only thing of Ace that was left was his remains before they dissipated from the network. If I were to guess, his body in the real world must have blown up as well, which was why the authorities weren't able to find him."

"I see." Tsubaki said, as she put a hand to her chin, having thought this over. "Well, Yuhiro, thank you very much for answering my question. Now I have closure on that part of my life."

"So what will you do now?" Yuhiro crossed his arms, curious on what Tsubaki will say in response to his question.

"For starters, I'm going to continue volunteering at the Den City Shelter. Spending time with these kids and interacting with them helps me give back to the community. It also lets me be a role model more than ever to those who went through difficult times. In addition, I plan on continuing my education. As for what I plan to do next after that… well, that's for the future to decide." Tsubaki turned over to look at Miyu, who was talking and interacting with a small group of kids. Rasterliger was right nearby, having allowed a few of the kids to pet his fur. "You're lucky to have someone like Miyu in your life, Yuhiro. You better take good care of her, or else you'll feel my fury."

Yuhiro couldn't help but let out several chuckles in response. "It was always my intention to keep her safe, Tsubaki. Then again, Miyu did tell me about her intentions in fighting by my side in the network moving forward, so I have a feeling that she'll also keep me safe as well."

"Hey, Yuhiro! The kids want you to come over so they can play with you!" Miyu called out from a section in the living room, which got Yuhiro's attention as he and Tsubaki walked over to where she was.

"Yuhiro's here! Yuhiro's here!" several of the kids said, having proceeded to hug him seconds later. Yuhiro knelt down to their level before patting their heads in response, a grateful smile evident on his face.

"Thanks for coming here quickly, Yuhiro. I still don't get how you're able to keep these kids in line." Miles commented.

"No problem. I'm just glad I made the choice to come here today." Yuhiro told Miles. "Honestly, a part of me was scared that the kids would see me as a monster. You know, due to what happened to me recently."

Miles nodded in understanding, knowing where Yuhiro was going through with that answer. "There's an old saying Quinton told me a while back when I was going through a very rough time, Yuhiro. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift. That's why they call it the present."

"I know what the phrase's about, Miles. What's your point?"

"My point is this: In life, especially during difficult times, you have a choice. You can continue to let the pain of past mistakes no matter where they came from seep into your life, which would have a very detrimental effect on your health. Or you can learn from what happened, set goals that contribute towards what you want for your future and ultimately move forward." Miles frowned. "Honestly, man, it took a very long time for me to get over my mom's death. Yet with time, and the choice to look towards my future, I was able to eventually do so."

"I know, and it made you stronger as a result." Yuhiro acknowledged.

"That may be the case, but it doesn't just erase what happened in the past." Miles pointed out. "Sometimes, you have no choice but to let go and accept what happened. In the end, we're all responsible not just for our own happiness, but for our whole lives as well. I mean, come on, you don't want to spend your whole life being drowned in pain and regrets, right?"

Yuhiro narrowed his eyes as he thought this over. What Miles said just now did make sense. However, if Yuhiro wanted to let go of his pain and move forward in life, he had to obviously put in the effort. The good thing was that Yuhiro made the commitment not just to get help, but also complete tasks that would enable him to both atone for his crimes and find peace within himself at the same time. "I do get what you're saying, Miles. Thank you for the words of wisdom just now."

Miles smiled back at Yuhiro. "Hey, man, even though I don't know what happened to you lately, I'm just glad I was able to help you out. Still, I'm here for you if you ever want to talk."

"Thank you, Miles. I appreciate it a lot." Yuhiro said, gratitude evident in his tone. "But moving that aside, I have a quick question for you."

"Oh? What would that be?" Miles inquired.

"Since the last two times I visited this place, I noticed you've been gazing at Tsubaki a few times." Yuhiro chuckled. "Have you developed a crush on her or something?"

Miles blinked before the question fully processed in his mind, where a blush appeared on his face. "What? A crush? No, man. Not at all! It isn't like that at all!"

"I highly doubt that, man. I highly doubt that." Yuhiro replied, having crossed his arms as he continued to chuckle.

"Again, it isn't like that at all! Tsubaki's like a big sister to me." Miles pouted back, irritated that he was now the one who was being teased by someone else.

"I didn't know you had a crush on someone, Miles." Miyu appeared out of nowhere before proceeding to tease Miles, which led him to roll his eyes while the former giggled.

"Like I told Yuhiro seconds earlier, it's not like that at all!" Miles quietly repeated, irked that Miyu joined in on teasing him. This led both Miyu and Yuhiro to quietly laugh at Miles, who pouted back in response. What in the world did I do to deserve this, Miles wondered in his mind. Thank goodness Tsubaki wasn't nearby to hear our conversation. Otherwise, it'd be embarrassing for me and amusing for her.

As Yuhiro looked at the children, who were happy to see him despite looking different, he couldn't help but let out a grateful smile. His fears were washed away the moment the people at the Den City Shelter welcomed him back after all of this time. Yuhiro wouldn't take this unconditional love for granted, as he'd continue fighting to both atone for his sins and make sure those he cared about were safe from harm.

After all, it was important to have people in your life that would show you unconditional love and always be by your side, right?

Hours later, in the afternoon, at Café Matsuo…

The van made its way towards the newly repaired garage of Café Matsuo, where Roxy pressed the clicker attached to one of the sun visors in order to open the garage door. Once she did that, the garage door opened up, which enabled her to drive the van inside the garage. From there, Roxy drove the van inside the garage before stopping, where she turned it off and got out of the driver's seat. As if on cue, Yuhiro, Miyu and Rasterliger also got out of the van, the trip being a complete success.

"See, Yuhiro? I told you our trip at the Den City Shelter would be a successful one." Roxy commented, which led Yuhiro to roll his eyes as she opened the door to the house.

"Alright, Roxy. You were right, and I was wrong." Yuhiro conceded, before he and the others followed after Roxy, having entered inside Café Matsuo.

"It was nice to meet everyone at the Den City Shelter." Miyu said, before turning to Arin, who was on her shoulder. "And I appreciate you not talking while we were there."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. The last thing you want is to attract unnecessary attention." Arin agreed. "But still, it'd be useful to interact with more humans aside from the three of you, along with RL."

"Don't worry, Arin. We'll make sure to properly introduce you to the others later today." Yuhiro assured Arin. "Speaking of which, I'll contact Yusaku, Takeru, Arashi and Kusanagi right now. They should at least know what's going on regarding Arin, along with how he and the other Shadow Giants are similar to the Ignis."

"Wait a second, Yuhiro." Roxy said, having put a hand on Yuhiro's shoulder to get his attention. "There's something you need to know first."

Yuhiro turned to Roxy, a confused look evident on his face. "What is it, Roxy?"

"Just wait here, alright?" Roxy quickly ran over to the backroom, intent on acquiring something from the room for Yuhiro. Both Miyu and Yuhiro, along with Arin and Rasterliger could do nothing but raise their eyebrows as they waited for Roxy to get back. After a few minutes, Roxy returned, a card that was in the form of data material in her right hand.

"That's-." Yuhiro began speaking.

"Data material." Miyu continued.

"Belonging to Herald." Rasterliger finished. "Why do you have that, Roxy? And when did you get it?"

Roxy, in response to a question, sighed. "Okay, here's the thing, Yuhiro. Please don't be mad at me, as I really wanted to give this to you earlier, but Herald specifically told me not to do so until you truly began the path to healing. And if you truly have moved on from the pain by that point, he requested that you destroy it."

"He better have a good reason not for me to obtain this until now." Yuhiro commented, irritation evident in his tone.

"Herald must have had a very good reason for you not to have the data material until now." Miyu gently pointed out to Yuhiro, having put a hand on his shoulder. "If I were to guess, he didn't want you to further aggravate your pain and speed up your descent into madness."

"I'm with Miyu on this one, Yuhiro. Herald must have cared for you so much that he didn't want his final message to contribute to the pain of losing him." Arin acknowledged. Since he was a part of Yuhiro, he knew who Herald was, and how much the latter meant to the former. The last thing Arin wanted right now was for Yuhiro to be in the pain he was a week earlier, where the Cursed Boundary Layer eventually turned him into a rancorous monster.

"The data material I'm holding in my hand is Herald's algorithm, yes, but it's a simulation that's only formed for one purpose. To deliver messages and interact with someone for a limited time. Nothing else." Roxy explained, which got everyone else's attention. "Herald even told me that once it's finished, it will deteriorate completely."

"How long is the message, Roxy?" Yuhiro quickly asked.

"Yuhiro…" Roxy couldn't help but gasp after seeing the look of desperation on Yuhiro's face. She hoped that Yuhiro would be able to move on after admitting that he needed help several days earlier, but it seemed he needed further assistance in order to ultimately close this tragic chapter in his life.

"How long is the message?!"

Roxy frowned after hearing Yuhiro's question for a second time. "Five minutes. Nothing more, nothing less. And again, once it's done, it will deteriorate completely." After putting the data material card in her pocket, she walked forward and put her hands on Yuhiro's shoulders. "Son, I love you with all my heart and soul, but if I give you this, it'll leave you devastated all over again. I am asking… I am begging you to destroy it. This way, you'll be able to let go and move forward."

"Roxy, I never had the chance to say goodbye to Herald, and this may be my last chance to do so!" Yuhiro exclaimed, before beginning to tremble, only for him to barely stop himself from doing so. "I… I never had closure."

"I didn't get to speak to Aqua, Yuhiro, yet I was able to eventually let go and move on." Miyu told Yuhiro, which got his attention. "We all need to work through the pain in order to obtain closure."

"I know that, Miyu, but I won't be able to fully heal until I do this." Yuhiro turned to Roxy. "Please, Roxy. I'm begging you. Let me listen to Herald's final message."

Roxy sighed before she pulled the data material card out of her pocket, which she gave to Yuhiro. "Alright, Yuhiro. You can have it. All you need to do is insert the card in your duel disk, and the simulated message will begin. I just hope you don't regret this."

"No, I won't." Yuhiro said, happy that Roxy gave him the data material card.

"You want us to go with you, Yuhiro?" Arin quickly asked.

"Yeah, Yuhiro. It wouldn't hurt to have some support." Miyu said.

"Please, Yuhiro. Let us be with you." Rasterliger pleaded.

"No, no. I'm good. I have to get this done!" Yuhiro quickly answered, having ran up the stairs to his room so he can get his duel disk. After entering his room and slamming the door, Yuhiro strapped his duel disk on before putting the data material card in the deck slot, where white data appeared before surrounding his room. Soon, it shined with bright energy, which made Yuhiro close his eyes as it dimmed down seconds later. When he opened his eyes, he noticed that he was in a different area. Specifically, the server Herald and the other Ignis made together.

And ahead of him was an old friend.

Herald.

"Hey, Yuhiro. It's been a long while." Herald said, having placed a hand on his hip. "Missed ya."

"Herald, it's you!" Yuhiro cried out with joy as he ran forward to Herald, having proceeded to hug him several seconds later. This surprised Yuhiro, as when it came to a recording, the simulated person couldn't obviously be touched since they were just data. However, the fact that Herald put this special feature in meant he truly cared for Yuhiro, and wanted him to have an interaction with a lively being rather than just a simulation. "I missed you so much! I'm so sorry I couldn't save you! I'm so sorry for everything!"

"Hey, it's okay, Yuhiro. You did your best." Herald assured Yuhiro. "But if you're talking about what you've done after the battle in Mirror LINK VRAINS, it was very wrong."

"I know that, Herald. I-."

"Stop saying I know, Yuhiro! Because you clearly knew, yet you did it anyway!" Herald crossed his arms in disappointment before letting out a sigh. "Follow me, Yuhiro. We'll walk and talk along the way."

"Uh, sure." Yuhiro followed after Herald as the two of them walked on the fresh land in the server, which was clearly healthy as evident by the green grass and plants that grew out of the ground. The skies were also bright blue, with several clouds orbiting in it. Last but not least, Yuhiro felt the fresh wind flow through the area, having gently touched the grass and plants in the process. "This is really nice of you to make, Herald."

"If I were really here, then I'd say thank you. But I'm merely just a copy of the real thing." Herald reminded Yuhiro. "As for the server, your actions have clearly tainted it. Just be grateful that World Gears is repairing it, or else you'd face far more guilt than you already are right now."

"You're right on that one." Yuhiro admitted. As a result of his recent actions, Herald's server had been infected by the Cursed Boundary Layer, which meant it would take time for it to be repaired. It wasn't just that, as Yuhiro's entire deck had to recover due to the Cursed Boundary Layer infecting it as well. However, thanks to World Gears being there, Yuhiro had faith that both the server and the 'Cyreath' monsters would make a speedy recovery. "Hey, Herald. Can I ask you a question?"

"Yes?"

"Why did you wait to show me this message until now? If Roxy gave it to me earlier-."

"Then your descent into despair would have happened much faster." Herald quickly answered. "The last thing I wanted was for my final words to not only push you to your breaking point, but turn you into someone you are not as well. I wanted to give you the time needed so you can get help in processing what happened and accepting my death. This way, when you chose to see this message, you would have been able to fully obtain closure. Had you received it earlier, it wouldn't have ended well both for you and for everyone else."

Yuhiro sighed, having understood why Herald didn't want him to have the message until now. Roxy was ultimately right, as she would have wanted Yuhiro to get a speedy recovery before hearing Herald's final message. What's more, a part of her hoped that Yuhiro would have destroyed the message, having demonstrated his intent to let go and move forward. But if Yuhiro was to truly let go, he needed to see this through. "I know, Herald. Still, it would have been nice to at least know about it earlier."

"Perhaps, but in the state you were in following the battle in Mirror LINK VRAINS, I didn't want to risk it." Herald frowned. "If I'm being honest, I hoped you wouldn't see this message."

"Why not?"

"Truth be told, I didn't want you to be reminded of not just about what you lost, but the suffering your family caused to others." Herald replied. "If anything, I wanted you to continue living by remembering me based on all the experiences we went through, not through a simulated message."

"I get that, but even after admitting that I need help several days earlier, I still need closure." Yuhiro said, as he and Herald went over to a log before sitting on it. "Honestly, I don't know how to go on now that you're gone."

"You don't. You take me with you. Well, the memories of our time together, of course." Herald turned to Yuhiro. "As long as you keep those memories alive, I'll always be with you."

Yuhiro silently nodded in agreement, the two of them watching the sun rise. Before he could comprehend what was going on, the area he was in began to disappear completely as he fell to the ground, having changed to form into a field of clouds. It wasn't the only thing that had occurred, as a front door also appeared nearby. "No, it can't be. The simulation can't be over yet after all of this time. It can't be!"

"Unfortunately, it's close to ending, and my role will be over." Herald acknowledged with a sigh before gesturing Yuhiro to look at the door. "Open the door, Yuhiro. Let people in again. Or better yet, walk through it yourself. You've made a great start by admitting that you need help, but now, it's time for you to let go and move forward."

"Please, please, please don't go. I can't afford to lose you again." Yuhiro pleaded, only for Herald to shake his head.

"Remember: I'm not the real Herald. I'm just a simulation of him. Nothing more. Nothing less. Once the message is done, I'll disappear as well."

Oh, right. It's just a simulation of Herald, not the real one, Yuhiro reminded himself in his mind. He got so caught up in talking with Herald that he forgot one crucial fact: This wasn't the real Herald. Rather, this was just a final simulation he left behind. "Damn it, Herald. Please don't do this to me."

"I won't let you throw away your life after everything you've been through." Herald firmly told Yuhiro. "There's still a real life beyond the pain you're going through. A chance at hope and love."

"No, I had my chance." Yuhiro lamented, tears falling down from his eyes.

"Despite everything you've done, you still got another chance to redeem yourself and make things right." Herald gently smiled at Yuhiro, wanting to assure him that it would all be okay. "So moving forward, I want you to stop mourning. I want you to live your life and find both hope and love for humanity again. You don't have any regrets about our time together, do you?"

Yuhiro couldn't help but chuckle after hearing Herald's joke. "No, Herald. I have no regrets."

"I'm truly glad to hear that, Yuhiro. I really am." Herald responded. "Want to know what can help you regain your faith in humanity?"

"What?" Yuhiro raised an eyebrow out of curiosity on what Herald would say next.

"Unconditional love. It's the greatest gift you can give to someone, Yuhiro. The ability to love and care for others with no strings attached is something that humans can give to one another no matter what they've done. Know that despite everything you've done, I still accept you as my friend, Yuhiro."

Yuhiro couldn't help but cry tears of joy upon hearing that Herald still accepted him as his friend. This was what unconditional love was about. The ability to continue loving those someone cares about without any limitations whatsoever. "Thank you, Herald. That really means a lot. Thank you."

"Now go, Yuhiro. Make things right. Cherish what you still have, and regain your hope and love for humanity again. I'm counting on you." Herald said. "And when we do see each other in the afterlife, tell me about the adventures you had. I look forward to hearing every last one of them."

Yuhiro smiled as he hugged Herald one last time before heading towards the door. Having gathered courage in himself, he grabbed the knob and opened the door, where it showed bright light on the other side. Before walking through the door, Yuhiro turned back to Herald, who smiled as he waved goodbye at him. With the reassurance that Herald will always be with him, Yuhiro then walked through the door, where he was engulfed in bright light seconds later.

Yuhiro gasped as he vaulted upwards, having returned back to his room. He pinched himself hard just to make sure he wasn't dreaming, and after letting out a small squirm of pain, he smiled. Yup. Yuhiro was back home at Café Matsuo. Before he could say anything else, the door suddenly opened, where Rasterliger emerged and jumped onto him seconds later. Yuhiro could do nothing but chuckle upon noticing Rasterliger licking him to see if he was okay.

"Yuhiro!" Miyu cried out, having also entered Yuhiro's room as Rasterliger got off of him. She wasn't the only one, as Roxy entered the room as well to see if Yuhiro was okay.

"I'm okay. I'm okay." Yuhiro gently assured both Miyu and Roxy, the two of them having hugged him to ensure that he was comforted and cared for.

"Are you sure you're okay? Because you're still crying." Arin gently commented, who was on Miyu's shoulder.

"Yes, I'm fine, Arin. The tears I'm crying are ones of relief and gratitude." Yuhiro told Arin, before turning to Roxy. "I officially understand why you chose to wait until now to give me the choice on what to do with Herald's message."

"You do? Well, that's a relief." Roxy stated, having wiped the sweat off her forehead with her right forearm. She was worried about the chances of Yuhiro holding a grudge against her for following Herald's instructions, but was happy that this ultimately wasn't the case. "Were you able to get some closure in your conversation with Herald?"

Yuhiro smiled back at Roxy. "Yeah, Roxy. I managed to get closure at long last. Now, I can truly heal." He pulled his phone out of his pocket, knowing what he had to do next.

"Are you sure you want to contact Yusaku and the others? I mean, you did just get out of a distressing experience." Miyu said.

"Yeah, Miyu. I'm sure." Yuhiro confirmed. "Besides, Greg and Rachel are coming in an hour, so it's only fair that they stay in the loop on what we learned several days ago."

One hour later…

Yusaku, Takeru, Arashi and Kusanagi walked down the street to Café Matsuo, intent on meeting up with Yuhiro to see how he was doing. But it wasn't the only reason they were going, as Yuhiro requested to meet up with the quartet for a few other reasons. First being to not only suggest an idea on how he can start redeeming himself moving forward, while the second was to bring the group up to speed on what he recently learned several days ago.

"I'm glad that Yuhiro's finally getting help. He definitely needed it for a very long while." Takeru commented.

"Yeah, and he's feeling better too." Arashi added, before turning to Yusaku. "What are your thoughts on this, Yusaku?"

"I agree with Takeru. Yuhiro finally agreed to get help after everything that's happened lately." Yusaku answered. "It'll take time, but I have a feeling that Yuhiro will reach full recovery soon."

"You said it, buddy. Roxy called a day or two ago to say that Yuhiro accepted the sentence for his crimes." Kusanagi said. "That means Yuhiro will have to continue fighting to protect the network moving forward."

Yusaku pulled out a USB stick out his pocket before looking at it. "I do wonder about something."

"Oh? What's up?"

"Why did Yuhiro ask us to bring the copy of the Project: VIII data we have on hand?"

"I think I may have a theory on why Yuhiro asked you to bring the Project: VIII data on you." Arashi spoke up. "He may want to destroy all everything related to Project: VIII to ensure it's never repeated again."

"If that's the case, it's definitely the right step towards Yuhiro achieving redemption and getting our trust again." Takeru stated, as the quartet walked in silence for a few more minutes before eventually reaching Café Matsuo. Upon doing so, the quartet saw two faces they weren't expecting to appear at all day.

Specifically, Greg and Rachel.

"You guys are here as well?" Arashi asked.

"Yes. I asked Yuhiro if Rachel and I can visit him today, especially since we learned an interesting theory yesterday." Greg replied. "Though I didn't expect to see the four of you hear today."

"I really don't think it's a coincidence, especially since we're all here to see Yuhiro." Kusanagi acknowledged, as all six of them approached the front door of Café Matsuo.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Roxy opened the door after hearing Kusanagi knock on it a few times. "Hey, guys. Glad you're all here."

"We're happy to be here, Roxy." Takeru replied, as Roxy gestured the six of them to enter inside. From there, the group walked upstairs before entering the living room portion of the second floor, where they saw Yuhiro and Miyu sitting on one of the couches. Beside the two of them was Rasterliger, who saw the others enter into the living room.

"Thanks for coming, everyone." Yuhiro greeted Yusaku, Takeru, Arashi, Kusanagi, Greg and Rachel at the same time. "As you all know, there are a few things I want to discuss with all of you. There's also a theory Greg wanted to share with you as well. One that can make sure no one else repeats Project: VIII with what's happened and how it affected all of us."

"You found some new information regarding Project: VIII, Greg?" Yusaku asked, having sat down on the couch with Takeru and Arashi while Kusanagi leaned on the wall nearby. Rachel, on the other hand, stood beside Greg, wanting to be safe.

"Not necessarily around Project: VIII, Yusaku. But the victims involved in it." Greg clarified. "I'll share my theory once Yuhiro gets the first of his topics dealt with."

"Thank you, Greg." Yuhiro said. "First off, there's someone who you should meet. Someone that recently lived at Café Matsuo since last week."

"Who would that be, Yuhiro?" Kusanagi inquired out of curiosity.

"I'll tell you, but all I ask is that you keep an open mind, okay?" Once everyone else nodded in response to Yuhiro's request, Yuhiro looked at his right shoulder, where Arin proceeded to climb onto it seconds later, having hidden to make sure he was safe. Arin then jumped off of Yuhiro's shoulder and onto his hand, where he could be seen by everyone present.

"That's the same creature that attacked me before the others came to my aid!" Rachel exclaimed, having shaken in fear upon recalling how the Shadow Giant nearly injured her before Yuhiro called it off in order to confront Yusaku and the others back in the network.

"What is that thing doing here, Yuhiro?!" Yusaku demanded, shock evident in his eyes upon seeing Arin.

"And how is it even here in the real world?!" Takeru added, also shocked by what he was seeing.

"It must be a spy working for Jericho, having been assigned to tell him our secrets!" Greg tried to deduce, intent on pulling out the gun holstered to his side to shoot Arin, who shivered in fear upon seeing it. Rasterliger quickly stood up and growled at Greg upon seeing him about to take action. However, Kusanagi dashed forward and grabbed Greg's arm to stop him from doing anything impulsive, having realized how hostile the situation had become.

"Easy, Greg. The last thing we want is violence." Kusanagi urged caution to Greg.

"I don't want violence either, Kusanagi, but the last thing I want-."

"ENOUGH!" Roxy furiously shouted in a dark tone that practically shut everyone up. Even Greg was scared, as he dropped his hand away from the holster. Only Miyu and Yuhiro recognized that tone, as the moment Roxy used it against someone, it was not good at all for them. "Yuhiro asked that you all keep an open mind, Greg, and you promised."

"I understand that, Roxy, but with everything that's happened-." Greg tried to make a counterpoint, only for Roxy to glare back at him.

"You promised to keep an open mind, Greg. Or need I remind you of what will happen should you tell the world the truth regarding the Cursed Boundary Layer?"

Greg tried to open his mouth in order to try and speak again, only for him to be so scared that he couldn't. At that moment, shame appeared on his face upon realizing what he nearly did.

"Wait a second, everyone! I know this little guy." Arashi interjected, having looked closely at Arin. "You're the little Shadow giant that tried to save Yuhiro, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am, Arashi." Arin confirmed. "At least there's another person who doesn't shout at me."

"Hang on a second. He can talk?" Takeru inquired, which led Arin to turn over to the former.

"Yes, I can talk, Takeru."

"How come it knows who we all are? Such a thing should be impossible." Yusaku further stated, before his eyes widened after putting two and two together. "Unless…"

"Arin's technically a part of Yuhiro." Miyu vouched for Arin, having answered Yusaku's question and confirmed his theory at the same time. "Guys, there's so much you need to know about the Shadow giants. They're almost similar to both the Ignis and humans."

"Both the Ignis and humans?" Rachel repeated curiously.

"Yes. My species, known as the Teocliste, are just like the Ignis and the humans." Arin said.

"You guys have Lost Incident victims or something?" Greg angrily questioned, only for Kusanagi to grab the former's shoulder with such strength that he stood down.

"Of course not, Greg. The Teocliste don't have any Lost Incident victims. We are living creatures that reside deep within the network." Arin answered. "Ones who were minding their own business in making sure our homes were safe and habitable. That was, until the ISOs decided to invade our home world and enslave us to their master's plans."

"You're talking about Urizen, aren't you?" Takeru figured out, which made Arin turn to face him.

"Exactly! That's the name of the monster who enslaved us." Arin sighed. "They turned the Teocliste from free, living creatures into enslaved bombs that are infused into the Cursed Boundary Layer. And each time someone's infected by a Cursed Boundary Layer, my kind's unleashed against their will onto the planet to ensure its completion. By the time the host's succumbed to its effects fully, the planet gets burned, and another part of our species is destroyed. One by one."

"And since you're smaller than the usual Shadow Giants, it means you contain the host's good aspects that are expelled from them upon corruption." Arashi deduced.

"Yes! That's exactly right! And because you saved my life, that means you were able to save Yuhiro's life!" Arin responded. "Because if the small Shadow Giant, which contains the host's good aspects is destroyed…"

"Then there's no hope of saving that person." Yuhiro finished, having put two and two together.

Arin looked at everyone else present, wanting to make sure that he got their attention. "Look, I get it. You guys don't trust me because I'm from the network, especially given what you all went through lately."

"Of course we don't trust you! Rachel was attacked by one of your kind!" Greg snapped, only for Roxy to give him a glare so fierce that the former stopped talking.

"You need to calm down now, Greg. Otherwise, I'll have to ask you to leave." Roxy warned Greg, sick and tried with his outbursts today. She wasn't the only one sick and tired with the outbursts, as Kusanagi also glared at Greg, very irritated with how he was behaving this afternoon.

"Here's the thing: Each time the Cursed Boundary Layer appeared, all the Shadow Giants inside it would eventually die. But the fact that you guys saved me is a counterpoint of this fact. If anything, it's a sign that my species may ultimately be freed from Urizen's control in the end." Arin bowed in front of everyone else. "Please let me express my gratitude by helping you guys to the best of my ability. I want to help put a stop to Urizen's madness and ensure my kind is freed, as well as ensure that no one else suffers at his hands."

"Is he… Is he telling the truth?" Rachel inquired, having turned over to Miyu.

"Yes, Rachel. Arin's telling the truth." Miyu sadly confirmed, her eyes having glowed a light-blue color.

Yusaku thought this over. He never expected to meet a creature that resided in the network itself. One that was almost similar to the Ignis and humans in how they lived freely until someone else came along to mess things up for them. Then again, given how Jericho, Urizen and his allies would strike soon, Yusaku and the others would need all the help they can get in stopping their common foe. "If you're serious about working to earn our trust, then we'll give you a chance. However, do note that you'll have to prove yourself several times so that we can deem you as an ally, and not an enemy."

"Noted." Arin simply promised, having heard Yusaku's words.

"Moving that aside, I believe we should move onto the second topic of our meeting." Yuhiro said in exasperation, glad that the chaos regarding Arin was over. "Would you like to tell everyone, Greg?"

"It's only fair that I do so." Greg confirmed. "Yesterday, Yuhiro was setting up a massive tombstone to commemorate everyone who suffered at the Cursed Boundary Layer's hands, and his hands by extension."

"He set up a tombstone with his own bare hands? If that's the case, it's a great step towards acquiring redemption." Takeru commented, pleased that Yuhiro undertook a great task to demonstrate his intention in making things right both for himself and for everyone else.

"That isn't the point, Takeru. Once Yuhiro was finished, he needed assistance in bringing it over to the area dug up to fit the tombstone in, so I volunteered to help him out. However, it turned out to be heavier than either of us anticipated, which led us to ask Gil and Rachel for help in allocating the load."

"Gil volunteered first, and proceeded to summon Abyss King to assist Yuhiro and Greg." Rachel continued. "However, after a few attempts, he ultimately wasn't able to do so. Nor was he able to bring out the Chains of Tragedy seconds later. If I didn't summon Final Sigma, then Yuhiro and Greg would have been forced to put the tombstone down, as the last thing they needed was for Yuhiro's hard work to go to waste."

"Pardon me for saying this, Rachel, but I'm pretty sure Yuhiro and I would have been able to figure out a way to bring the tombstone over to the area he dug up so we can set it into the ground." Greg said, which led Rachel to raise an eyebrow at him.

"Greg's right, Rachel. We would have figured something out in the end." Yuhiro added, only for Miyu and Roxy to raise an eyebrow at him. "What? It's obviously true."

"Maybe Gil's powers are on the fritz? I mean, Yuhiro did overuse his Link Trigger, and look at the injuries it caused him as a result." Arashi commented.

"If Gil's powers were on the fritz, then he would have been able to utilize Abyss King and the Chains of Tragedy after recovering from what happened last week, Arashi." Greg countered. "But he's not able to do so despite recovering, which had led me to a likely conclusion." He turned to Miyu seconds later. "Miyu, I don't mean to put you on the spot here, but I believe that you may have cured Gil of the injuries he went through during Project: Apotheosis the night you healed his wounds."

"What? This can't be." Miyu said.

"But it makes sense in a way, Miyu." Yusaku deduced, having turned to Miyu. "You gained Aqua's abilities to heal people, which played a role in helping us recover from our injuries during the battle against Yuhiro."

"You were also able to keep the Cursed Boundary Layer at bay for a long while as well, Miyu." Yuhiro added. "If anything, your ability to heal people is on par with Aqua's ability to do so, if not greater."

"Oh, come on, Yuhiro. Be realistic. Even if I can heal people, I can't just undo an injury. There's also no guarantee that there won't be side effects as well." Miyu countered, having voiced both her concern and her point.

"Miyu makes a point, Yuhiro. It's like with medication. There will always be side effects when it comes to either taking a medicine or going under a procedure." Arashi pointed out.

"Still, with what we learned recently, I strongly believe it might be possible for Rachel to be cured of the injuries inflicted on her during Project: Apotheosis." Greg stated, which got Miyu's attention. "Should this succeed, then Rachel will not only be cured of being a Construct, but will no longer have a target on her back in the future."

"It's a pretty strong point you make, Greg, especially when you take into account that Jericho may go after her at any point in trying to finish what he started." Kusanagi acknowledged, having frowned after hearing his point.

"Strong point as that may be, Rachel is ultimately the one who has to make the decision, Kusanagi. Not us." Roxy told Kusanagi, as she turned to Rachel. "What are your thoughts on this, Rachel?"

"The idea is a strong one, especially with the pros being identified both for myself and everyone else." Rachel admitted. "Still, if I choose to let Miyu heal me, I'm afraid that I'll lose the ability to telepathically speak with Final Sigma. Not just that, but my ability to fight in the frontlines, as the last thing I want is to be a liability."

"You don't know that you'll lose your abilities, Rachel." Takeru said. "I mean, even though I lost Flame, I still have my abilities. In addition, even though Aqua's gone, Miyu still has her healing powers. Who knows? You may be able to retain them over time."

"I know, but after what happened with Gil…" Rachel sighed. She definitely didn't want to lose her abilities to both communicate telepathically with Final Sigma and identify the weak points in everything.

"Maybe it's for the best, Rachel." Yuhiro spoke up, which got Rachel's attention. "As long as you remain a Construct, there will always be a chance for Jericho to try and capture for his plans. Deep down, I bet a part of you knows the unfortunate truth as well."

"Look on the bright side, Rachel. You'll still be able to use your Cyberse deck in duels, as they obviously won't leave you. What's more, you're very proficient in using gadgets and programs, and are even a strong hacker as well." Kusanagi told Rachel.

"Don't define yourself by the pain you've been through and the abilities you obtained as a result, Rachel." Yusaku added to Kusanagi's point. "I lost years of my life as a result of being consumed by revenge against the Knights of Hanoi, along with the pain the Lost Incident put me through."

"Nevertheless, we'll support whatever decision you make in the end." Arashi stated.

Rachel narrowed her eyes as she thought this over. Though she was scared at losing her ability in communicating with Final Sigma telepathically, along with the other abilities being a Construct came with, Yuhiro and Greg ultimately had a point. As long as Rachel was a Construct, there would always be a chance of Jericho kidnapping her for his plans on Urizen's behalf. The risk was unfortunately too great. But by allowing herself to be cured, Rachel and everyone else would be able to catch Jericho off guard. Still, this worried Rachel, as she was scared of losing the gifts she gained despite going through so much pain. However, as Takeru pointed out, she may be able to keep her abilities as an individual. In fact, there could still be a chance that Rachel would be able to continue communicating telepathically with Final Sigma, along with utilizing the abilities she obtained as a Construct. Worst case scenario, Rachel can still use Final Sigma in duels, and was also proficient in both hacking and using gadgets as well. Ultimately, the pros outweighed the cons, and Rachel was willing to play her role if it meant getting an advantage over Jericho and Urizen.

"Alright, I'm in. I'll let you use your healing powers on me, Miyu." Rachel decided, as she turned to her.

"Are you sure about this?" Miyu asked.

"I am."

Having saw Rachel's determination, Miyu stood up from her spot on the couch before going over to Rachel, where she knelt down to her level. "While I'm not sure what I did to Gil when I healed him, I'll do what I can to heal you from the pain Project: Apotheosis put you through. If you feel anything that's weird, then let me know, okay?" After Rachel nodded in confirmation, Miyu placed her hands on the sides of Rachel's arms as light-blue energy surrounded the latter's hands, which went into the former's body. The light-blue energy proceeded to seep into numerous parts of Rachel's body, where it showed numerous circuits that were seeped inside her. Ones that dimmed not just with different colors, but also had pieces of electricity inside them as well.

The others noticed how the light-blue energy from Miyu's hands proceeded to slowly heal the injuries Rachel suffered during Project: Apotheosis caused, which was evident by the scars in Rachel's arms lightening up before disappearing completely. It wasn't just that, as the light-blue energy even proceeded to coat the circuits with red and blue blood vessels, where the metallic pieces began to evaporate piece by piece before turning into veins. Ones that were healthy and pure, as evident by it glowing with a bright color.

Suddenly, Rachel's body began glowing different colors before electricity began emitting through her. It was as though her body was fighting back against Miyu's attempt to cure Rachel of the injuries she suffered during Project: Apotheosis.

"What the-?" Miyu couldn't help but gasp as she grit her teeth, having felt the electricity course through her body seconds later. She wasn't the only one, as Rachel let out a scream of pain seconds later.

"Rachel!" Greg cried out, running over to try and rescue her. However, the electricity pushed him back to the wall seconds later. The electricity soon rebounded outwards, which made Yuhiro, Yusaku, Takeru, Arashi, Roxy and Rasterliger retreat to one side of the room in order to evade its attacks. Kusanagi went over to Greg to ensure that he was safe.

"Miyu, you have to let go of Rachel!" Roxy said, only for Miyu to shake her head.

"No, auntie! I can do this!" Miyu replied, having narrowed her eyes as the light-blue energy glowed brightly.

"Miyu's right, Roxy! It's working! I can feel it!" Rachel added, which made everyone else gasp in shock upon hearing this information.

"We better take cover, guys!" Takeru warned everyone else, which led him and the others to go to the kitchen and grab the table, along with other chairs to set up what appeared to be a protective wall. Arin also stretched out his arms in front of the wall in order to further enhance its durability.

"Almost… there…" Miyu muttered, having sent more light-blue energy into Rachel's body in order to heal the injuries that Rachel suffered as a result of Project: Apotheosis. Soon, a bright light of energy erupted from Rachel's body, which made the entire living room shake as she and Rachel were sent flying off the ground before landing on it seconds later. It wasn't just that, as the light also headed towards the others, only for Arin to use his energy to strengthen the barrier and prevent it from being torn into pieces. As a result, everyone was safely protected from the bright light.

"Is everyone okay?" Arin asked, as the lights dimmed down.

"We're fine, Arin." Arashi replied. "Thank you for strengthening that barrier. Otherwise, we would have been sent flying by that burst of energy."

"I do hope that's one way I can work towards earning your trust, guys. I truly want to show you that I can be a valuable ally against Urizen."

"What you did was a good start in earning our trust, Arin." Yusaku acknowledged. "Do note that there will be other opportunities for you to prove yourself."

Arin turned to Yusaku before nodding in response. "Once again, noted."

"Miyu!" Roxy cried out, as she ran over to help her stand up. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think so." Miyu answered, having stumbled for a second before regaining her footing. "But what about Rachel?" As if on cue, Greg ran out of hiding before heading over to where Rachel was, wanting to see if she was okay. Upon seeing that she was conscious, Greg breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm fine as well." Rachel assured everyone else that was in the living room, as Greg helped her stand up on her feet.

"How do you feel physically, Rachel?" Greg questioned, wanting to make sure Rachel was truly okay.

"You don't have to make a fuss, Greg. I said I'm fine." Rachel looked at her hand before she moved her arm. "Although, physically, I feel… lighter. It's as though a massive weight has been lifted off my body after all of those years."

Greg kneeled down to Rachel's level and hugged her tightly, happy to hear this news. "Does that mean you've been freed of being a Construct after all of this time?"

"I truly believe that's the case, Greg." Miyu said, which got Greg's attention. "If my powers were able to keep the Cursed Boundary Layer at bay and heal the others of their injuries, then I have strong faith I was able to cure Rachel of her injuries for good." But before Miyu could say anything else, Greg ran over and gave her a tight hug, which made the former let out a small gasp out of surprise.

"Thank you! Thank you so much, Miyu! Thank you!" Greg tightened the hug he gave to Miyu, which made her squeal in slight pain.

"Okay, okay, that's enough, Greg." Roxy told Greg, who let go of Miyu upon realizing that he was hugging her a bit too tightly. "The last thing I want is for my niece to be squished, don't you think?"

"Oh, yes. My apologies, Miyu." Greg apologized, having freed Miyu from the tight embrace.

"It's no problem, Greg. I'm just glad I was able to help." Miyu replied.

"We'll have to keep a close eye on Rachel for a short while to see if she's truly been cured." Arashi pointed out. "The last thing we want is to be reckless."

"Arashi's right, guys. We need to be absolutely sure that Rachel's truly been cured of being a Construct." Kusanagi agreed, which caused the others to nod in agreement.

"We'll figure something out, but in the meanwhile, I want to get to the last topic of our meeting for today." Yuhiro stated, having went back to the couch and sat on one side of it, with Miyu joining him seconds later. Rasterliger also went nearby the duo while Yusaku, Takeru and Arashi sat down on the other couch. While Kusanagi leaned on one side of the wall, Greg, Rachel and Roxy grabbed chairs so they can sit the others.

"You want to destroy the Project: VIII data for good, right?" Takeru guessed correctly, which made Yuhiro gasp out of surprise.

"How did you know that?"

"Come on, man. You asked Yusaku to bring the piece of the Project: VIII data in his possession to this meeting, so it was obviously easy to figure out."

"In addition, the likelihood of you suggesting the idea to destroy the Project: VIII data increased after Greg shared his theory on curing Rachel from being a Construct." Yusaku added. "There are pros and cons to this idea, though."

"The pros obviously being that no one else goes through the horrific experiences we all went through. To put it simply, no more Lost Incident. No more Project: Apotheosis. No more Project: VIII." Kusanagi continued. "As for the cons…"

"We risk losing valuable data that we can use against Jericho." Arashi said with concern.

"Information is just as powerful as armies when it comes to battle, but there's always the risk that history can repeat itself. Like Kusanagi said, we can't risk someone else recreating the Lost Incident and Project: Apotheosis." Greg pointed out, as he turned to Yuhiro. "What made you come up with this idea, anyway?"

Yuhiro frowned after gathering his thoughts. "My family's research has caused nothing but suffering to a lot of people, both for those involved and for those who were caught in the crossfire. So many people died due to Yukage's actions in his attempt to reach the Root of All Knowledge, along with many more as a result of my own actions to try and finish what my family started. With what's happened, we can't afford to risk the chance of someone else creating either another Yukage or Arshad using the findings from the Lost Incident and Project: Apotheosis. Not just those, but the information that began Project: VIII in general."

"I see where you're going with this, Yuhiro. You'd rather ensure that no one else can replicate Project: VIII overall than risk letting history repeat itself and create more victims." Arashi deduced, which led Yuhiro to nod in confirmation.

"That's correct, Arashi." Yuhiro confirmed Arashi's theory. "With all the chaos and pain that Project: VIII has caused, I don't think humanity's ready to reach the Root of All Knowledge right now. Hell, maybe it'll never be ready to do so. Like I said earlier, we can't afford to risk that chance again."

"Maybe it's for the best." Miyu voiced her opinion. "I mean, lots of people were hurt as a result of Project: VIII. If destroying the data means we can prevent further victims down the road, then I believe it'll be worth it in the end."

"I'm with Miyu and Yuhiro on this one as well, guys." Arin stated. "It's because of Project: VIII that the Teocliste were enslaved and used as living weapons by Urizen and his allies. If destroying the data means getting an advantage over those monsters, then I'm all in."

"I also concur with your idea, Yuhiro." Yusaku added. "As long as Jericho and Urizen are out there in the network, there will always be the chance that they'll try to obtain the Root of All Knowledge. By destroying the data, we'll make sure no one else is tempted to follow in the footsteps of those who failed to achieve that goal. After all, like you said, we can't let history repeat itself. But moving that aside, the fact that you suggested the idea of destroying the Project: VIII data is another great step towards atoning for your crimes, Yuhiro."

"Another great step indeed." Roxy supported Yusaku's point, with Greg and Rachel nodding in agreement.

"It appears we've reached a consensus on what to do with the Project: VIII data, guys." Takeru observed.

"It looks like we have indeed." Kusanagi commented, as the others nodded in agreement, all of them having silently voted their answer on what to do with the Project: VIII data. Specifically, not just to ensure that no one else suffered from Project: VIII, but to also prevent any potential threats in the future as well.

One hour later…

The group headed over into a small area that was in the forest, intent on completing their task as fast as possible. After Yuhiro and the others transferred all the Project: VIII data onto a single USB stick, the group pondered a way on how to officially get rid of it for good. Some ideas were suggested, such as shredding the USB stick, chucking it into the ocean and simply stomping it into pieces. Yuhiro, however, wanted the destruction of the Project: VIII data to be symbolic. A way to symbolize that he was ready to move forward from the pain he was warped in all those weeks ago, as well as make sure no one else suffered due to his family's actions.

Thus, the group headed over to a secluded area in the forest so that no one could interfere with their task. It involved building a small fire in the bonfire area to incinerate the USB stick, along with all the Project: VIII data on it forever. Once that was done, they would spread out all the pieces to ensure no one could ever find it again. To put it simply, Project: VIII would die today.

Since the campfire they were building wasn't in a designated campsite area, the group had to act quickly to get the job done. As such, the group gathered small twigs, sticks and dry leaves before beginning to build a bonfire. One that would destroy the Project: VIII data forever. They put a handful of small twigs and sticks in the middle first as they surrounded it using the other pieces of twigs that were obtained earlier. Upon finishing the design, it resembled that of a log cabin. They even got a log or two to ensure that the fire would continue running in the event that it went out too early.

Once the design was finished, Yuhiro took the USB stick and placed it in the middle of the custom-made bonfire, wanting to make sure that it was destroyed immediately. After that was done, Yuhiro walked over to where the others were nearby. "Alright, Takeru, it's all ready to go."

"Perfect." Takeru replied, as Balelynx jumped out of his duel disk. "Okay, Balelynx, it's time for you to play your part. Remember, slow and steady flames, not reckless ones." Balelynx walked over to the custom-made bonfire before firing a small ember of flames from her mouth, which ignited the small twigs and sticks in the center as it spread out in a controlled manner. The fire proceeded to envelop the USB stick, intent on completing its task for everyone else present. Everyone watched as the fire melted the USB stick, which was evident by its case being turned into ash. As a result, it showed pieces of a data chip that was embedded deep within the USB stick, where it began to fall apart seconds later.

What no one expected to happen next, however, was an infuriated Greg to step forward and practically stomp the melted USB stick into smaller pieces numerous times. As a result of this, the fire was snuffed out.

"That's for all the lives this stupid project has taken!" Greg cried out in anger, having smashed the melted USB stick with his foot several more times in anger, along with the small twigs, sticks and leaves in the process. He would have continued stomping on the melted USB stick, along with the small twigs, sticks and leaves had Rachel not run over to pull him away from the area.

"It's okay, Greg. It's all over now." Rachel calmly told Greg a few times, who took several deep breaths in order to calm down.

"You said it, Rachel. It's all over now." Arashi agreed. "With this, Project: VIII is forever finished. No one else will ever suffer from its findings again."

Miyu frowned as she looked at the completely melted and destroyed USB stick on the ground. This decision was the right one in the end, as it was ultimately for the best. She turned to Yuhiro with concern, wanting to check on his wellbeing. "You okay with this, Yuhiro?"

"I am, Miyu. I am." Yuhiro assured Miyu, a light smile evident on his face. No longer will I live in the past and follow what my family had done. It's time I live for the future. A future where I can spend it with those I care about, Yuhiro vowed in his mind before letting out a sigh. "Sorry, everyone."

"Huh?" the others said, as they turned to face Yuhiro, who spoke just now.

"For what I've done in the past week. It'll take time, but I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you guys trust me again. You have my word."

"If anything, you've taken some great first steps in atoning for your mistakes and regaining our trust, Yuhiro." Kusanagi assured Yuhiro, with the others nodding in agreement. "While it'll take time, I have a strong feeling that things will be back to normal sooner than you think."

"Project: VIII might be finished, but our battle is far from over." Yusaku said, which got everyone else's attention and gently put an end to Yuhiro and Kusanagi's conversation. "We still have other enemies to contend with soon."

"Yeah. Jericho and Urizen in particular." Roxy stated, having crossed her arms in the process.

"But we'll defeat them and avenge the Ignis. Once we do, this madness will be put to an end for good." Takeru stated, a smile evident on his face.

"And after that, we'll be able to officially move on with our lives." Miyu added in agreement, as all eight of them looked at the destroyed pieces of the USB stick evident on the ground. This was true. While the data was destroyed forever, there still were enemies that obviously were hellbent on acquiring the Root of All Knowledge for their twisted ambitions. Once those enemies were defeated, then the planet everyone cared about would be safe.

This was something everyone present would make sure of no matter who they faced next, and they won't give up until their goal was accomplished for good.

Meanwhile, during the late evening, at the Den City Cemetery…

Emon walked through the cemetery's gates with flowers in his hands, knowing that he didn't have much time left on this world, especially how he felt it in his body. Having grasped that this day would probably be his last, Emon wanted to make one final stop before returning to rented home and allowing death to finally seize him. He wanted to speak with Beatrice one final time and apologize to her for how his actions disgraced her sacrifice, along with the crimes he committed during his time as a Knight of Hanoi. Emon also wanted to share with Beatrice the wisdom he acquired as a Knight of Hanoi, as well as what he learned from the opponents he faced and how he grew as a person during that time.

Hopefully, when Emon dies, he'll see Beatrice in Heaven.

Emon walked through the numerous columns to find Beatrice's grave, especially since he hadn't visited it until now. As he looked around, he noticed the large tombstone that Yuhiro set up, which made him smile after seeing it. That's one way of atoning for your mistakes, Emon thought to himself, as he continued walking through the columns across the tombstones. After walking for a long while, Emon eventually found what he was looking for, as evident by the name that was engraved on one of the tombstones.

Beatrice Uchida

"Beatrice, it… it's been a long while since I visited your grave. A very long while, indeed." Emon began talking, as he put down the flowers near her tombstone. "I apologize for not visiting you sooner, but with everything that's happened, I didn't have the time to do so."

Emon sighed. "Nevertheless, you deserve to know the truth on what I've done since you died, as it's only fair I confess everything before I see you again." So Emon proceeded to tell the tombstone belonging to Beatrice everything. How he started up Uchida Industries in order to give people a place to work at, as well as meeting Dr. Kogami and being given a program so he can rein in the 'Burning Abyss' monsters as his servants. How Emon became a Knight of Hanoi and played a part in the battle against Yuhiro, Yusaku and their allies. Specifically, Yuhiro, and how he intended on destroying his ideals so he can try to get the answer on why suffering existed. Emon also told the tombstone of Beatrice about the wisdom he obtained during his battles, which led him to eventually abandon his pursuit of obtaining the answer after realizing the pain it caused. Last but not least, Emon told the tombstone of Beatrice about how he learned who was responsible for murdering her: Yukage Furutani. How he lost in his duel against Yukage in the most horrific way possible despite his best efforts, as evident by the program protecting Emon being destroyed following their duel. This, in turn, brought Emon to where he was today: A man on the verge of death with little time left.

"I'm so sorry for everything, Beatrice. I dishonored your sacrifice and lived a life you would be disappointed at me for." Emon apologized, tears falling down from his eyes. "I don't deserve forgiveness for what I've done. If anything, I deserve to go to Hell. Still, I do have hope that we'll reunite with one another again."

"Given what you've done, I doubt you'll get your wish." a voice commented, as Constantine emerged from the shadows nearby.

"No… It can't be…" Emon gasped upon seeing Constantine in the cemetery.

"Yes, it is." Constantine confirmed Emon's worse fears, a smirk evident on his face. "Hello, Emon Uchida. It's been too long since we last saw one another."

"How are you alive? I thought you died in the fire all those years ago!" Emon stated, as he let out several coughs. Soon, Constantine dashed forward so quickly that Emon couldn't do anything as a Black Key appeared in the former's left hand, where he grabbed the latter by the neck before stabbing him in the chest with it.

"If you thought a little fire could kill me, then you're a bigger fool than I thought you were all those years ago." Constantine remarked, having plunged the Black Key in his left hand deeper into Emon's chest. After pulling it out, an orb of light popped out of Emon's chest, which went over to Constantine and hovered above his right palm. "I will be honest: I never expected your soul to evade my vigilance up until now. It looks like there are some things technology can do compared to the dark arts."

"You-!" Emon coughed up blood as he fell to the ground, his body slowly disintegrating into small, wispy flames.

"Just be grateful your suffering's finally at an end, Emon Uchida. Consider your debt to me paid." Constantine then leapt out of the cemetery, having completed his mission as Emon continued to feel himself disintegrating.

With not much time left, Emon crawled to Beatrice's tombstone with all of his remaining strength before pressing a button on his duel disk, which caused it to glow a bright color. It was a distress signal in the event one of the Knights of Hanoi was heavily incapacitated and required serious help. Unfortunately, he felt the last bit of his strength leave his body before he fully disintegrated into small, wispy flames that flew in the air. All that remained was his duel disk.

And with that, Emon Uchida was no more.

Elsewhere, in the Cyberse World….

The Linguriboh ship appeared in the Cyberse World before slowly landing on a barren wasteland that had numerous dotted craters. The once majestic tower that housed World Gears had collapsed to less than half of its original size due to the decay it went through before breaking apart. The ground was also colored with grey-colored ash, as if to indicate that it would never again bloom with life after all the damage it suffered. As if on cue, the ship's face opened up, where a bridge appeared that touched the ground seconds later. Walking down the bridge of the ship were three individuals. The first two were Ai and Roboppy, while the third one was a small, black machine monster with narrowed eyes. He had a tail with a Link Arrow that pointed downwards to the bottom-left attached to the end. This wasn't Linkuriboh.

This was Linguriboh.

"Guri Guri Gu!" Linguriboh said, as it looked around the Cyberse World.

"Yes, Lingy. It's truly a tragedy what happened here." Ai lamented, having looked around the Cyberse World. So much destruction, loss and terror happened here. This world, once vibrant with life, had now been torn apart to pieces. The only sign of life remaining in the Cyberse World was a green hill, which was where Ai and the others planned on heading towards in order to put up a memorial for those who died.

Specifically, the other Ignis who perished during the battle in Mirror LINK VRAINS. Aqua. Flame. Windy. Earth. Herald. Wraith. And even Lightning. Given how the Ignis collaborated with one another in creating the Cyberse World and maintaining it, it was only proper for Ai to bury them in the place they once lived in a long time ago.

As such, Ai, Roboppy and Linguriboh headed over towards the green hill, intent on getting their goal done. After reaching it, the trio walked upwards in order to reach the top, where they looked out at the area. Satisfied with the place, Ai immediately got to work as energy formed in his hands, which caused the pieces of hardened rock in the area to appear before combining to form into seven tombstones. One for each of the fallen Ignis. Pieces of data material appeared in Ai's and Roboppy's hands as they got to work in carving the attributes and names of the fallen Ignis on each tombstone. Or more specifically, one attribute for each Ignis on one tombstone. Linguriboh, on the other hand, stood guard to make sure there was nothing else in the area that would try to attack him or the others.

"Master, why are we making a tombstone for Lightning? He's responsible for practically everything that's happened." Roboppy reminded Ai, the latter narrowing his eyes as he looked at the tombstone he was working on.

"Despite his sins, Lightning's still an Ignis like the rest of us, Roboppy. I can't exclude him." Ai answered Roboppy's question. "Not only do I need to embrace everything that's happened up until this point as the final living Ignis, I also need to take responsibility for the future as well." After a few minutes of work, Ai and Roboppy gently but firmly put down each of the seven tombstones onto the ground, where each one had a different name and symbol on them.

Aqua. Flame. Windy. Earth. Herald. Wraith. Lightning.

Once that was done, energy appeared in Ai's hand as he touched the ground, where several flowers quickly bloomed seconds later. Using data material, he wrapped the flowers into a bouquet before gently placing it near the seven tombstones, the work having finally been completed. As if on cue, Ai's duel disk suddenly beeped, which got his attention. Ah, so that's where it is, he thought in his mind.

"Something wrong, master?" Roboppy turned his head to look at the beeping notification on Ai's duel disk.

"Nothing's wrong, Roboppy. Let's just say I found out where that signal's coming from." Ai began walking down the green hill before momentarily stopping, where he turned to look at Roboppy. "I need you to keep a watch on the area with Lingy while I'm away. If anything comes up, you call me immediately."

Roboppy, in response, put his right hand to his forehead and saluted at Ai. "Of course, master! Leave it to me!"

"Guri Guri Gu!" Linguriboh added in agreement, as if to assure Ai that it would all be okay. Having been assured that the area will be patrolled and kept an eye on, Ai walked down the hill before heading down to the barren landscape, where his duel disk emitted a small map that contained the location where the signal was coming from.

As Ai followed the map to find the signal, he couldn't help but ponder the words Lightning tried to say to him before Jericho practically murdered them. All seven Ignis… dead thanks to Jericho's actions. If Ai ever met Jericho, he'd make him pay for such an egregious act. He pressed a few buttons on his duel disk, where a single card appeared seconds later. The Arrival Cyberse AtIgnister. The Cyberse Link monster that surpassed Bohman's ultimate Link monster in the Link 5 Perfectron Hydradrive Dragon. This monster in Ai's duel disk wasn't a Link 5 at all. No. This was a Link 6 monster. One that was created using a combination of the data material accumulated in the Spatial Cube back in the network and the energies of the other Ignis. If Ai had this card, he wouldn't hesitate to go rescue Playmaker himself from captivity. Well, before making preparations, of course. However, he didn't have to in the end, as Blue Maiden and Watchman succeeded in rescuing Playmaker and Numera from Raguel's grasp.

Ai made it to what appeared to be the remnants of Lightning's biome, where the light desert and plains were completely ruined. This was evident by the large marks on the ground, along with the wilted pieces of grass that flew in the wind. What's more, the tower there had toppled down to the ground, with one half of it still standing. Having looked at his duel disk, Ai knew that he was close to finding out where the signal was coming from. As such, he continued walking in order to reach the tower, where he reached the entrance before walking inside.

Looking around the area, Ai's eyes glowed with energy, intent on finding any secret entrances in the area. After a few seconds, he noticed one piece of the ground being surrounded with an Ignis algorithm. Particularly, the Ignis algorithm that belonged to Lightning. There, Ai thought in his mind with a grin, as rainbow energy surrounded his right palm before he fired it at a piece of the ground, which hit upon impact. Pieces of rubble appeared as it revealed a secret staircase that went downwards. Ai then headed down the secret staircase after finding it, where he found himself in what looked like a lightly dimmed cave. But before he could investigate further, light pink data surrounded him as it formed into what looked like a cage.

"What the Hell is this?!" Ai said, having tensed himself in order to prepare himself for what was to come.

"Welcome to my hidden sanctuary, my friend," a familiar voice greeted Ai, where yellow data appeared before combining together to form into Lightning. "If you're here, that means you defeated Bohman."

"You still exist, Lightning?!" Ai flinched back out of shock upon seeing Lightning of all people greeting him. He raised an eyebrow, however, upon further inspecting the situation. After doing so, Ai chuckled and regained his composure, knowing what was ultimately going on. "Wait just a second. You're not the real Lightning. You're just a low res copy that only exists to pass on messages. You could say you anticipated your defeat."

"You're correct on all three points, my friend." Lightning snidely confirmed, as he crossed his arms.

"What do you want?" Ai inquired, having braced himself for anything Lightning would throw at him.

"I left you this message show I can show you the truth about the Ignis. The real truth."

Ai raised an eyebrow out of suspicion in response to Lightning's answer. "Yeah, right. I find that hard to believe, especially when you twisted everything with your words and actions." If Ai knew anything, it was that Lightning and the truth never went together. Not after everything that's happened due to Lightning's selfish actions.

"Before I perished, I ran a simulation showing what would happen if you were the only surviving Ignis, Ai." Lightning explained, which made Ai gasp out of shock. "And I assure you that there is no trickery on my part this time, my friend. This simulation is real! So witness not just your future, but the AI you become as well!"

"Be quiet!" Ai shouted, as energy formed in his palm before firing it at Lightning, which destroyed him for good. Suddenly, the cage of data broke apart before entering into Ai's mind, where he felt himself go through what appeared to be a dark portal. Looking around, Ai noticed several screenshots and videos being shown as each one zoomed pass by. Eventually, he found himself at the end of the portal, which he walked out of before entering into a new area.

What Ai saw next horrified him to the core. He saw Den City in ruins, as evident by the destroyed buildings and scorch marks on the ground. Even the SOL Technologies building was torn in two, with one part of it on the ground in pieces. Ai suddenly felt the ground rumble as what appeared to be a wave of electrified water appear out of nowhere before spreading out all over the ground. It soon headed straight towards Den City and enveloped it completely before it went straight for Ai, who gasped upon realizing there was nothing he could do to escape this vision.

Suddenly, Ai snapped out of the vision and gasped, having realized that he was back in reality. What… What the Hell did I just see, Ai wondered in his mind, before gritting his teeth in anger. Lightning… How dare you show such a thing to me! The future's not set in stone! I'll show you!

Having made his decision, Ai immediately got to work as several screens appeared in the area. Pieces of his algorithm appeared before he put them in each screen, where a buffering symbol appeared as it took in the algorithm. Unfortunately for Ai, the result didn't change. One screen showed Den City being destroyed in a massive explosion, which completely wiped out both the people and the buildings that were there. The worst part was that this result was shown in the other screens present as well. This led Ai to banish the screens before others popped up, where he put his algorithm in each one. After it loaded, they showed different scenarios that showed the same result.

Humanity's annihilation.

One of the screens showed fires erupting from the streets of the city before enveloping it completely while a second screen showed the area being turned into a complete desert. The third screen showed the area being consumed by toxic fumes, which destroyed what remaining life that was there while a fourth screen showed the city being consumed by a massive flood. As for the fifth screen, it showed the area being destroyed by massive tornadoes. In anger, Ai banished the screens before another set appeared around him. While Ai put in his algorithm like before, he also added other variables that could hopefully change the end result. Unfortunately, like before, different scenarios appeared that showed the same result.

Humanity's annihilation.

One of the screens showed fire erupting from the streets of the city while a second screen showed a squadron of planes flying over the area and bombing it, where anyone who remained was completely destroyed. The third one showed dark skies covering once tropical areas, where life was drained away from each one of them while the fourth one showed a massive ice storm freezing the areas before turning them into an ice age. Ai immediately banished the screens once again before another set of screens appeared around him. Each time Ai put in his algorithm and added other factors, the same result popped up again and again.

Humanity's annihilation.

Soon, a screen appeared that showed something horrific. It showed tanks and soldiers approaching Ai, only for Yusaku to stand in their way to protect Ai. In response, the soldiers basically gunned Yusaku down before Ai, who screamed in pure despair upon seeing his best friend perishing in his attempt to protect him.

What caught Ai's attention, however, was another screen that wasn't in the simulations at all. One that not even Lightning could predict coming at all. Shocked, yet intrigued, Ai looked very carefully at the screen as it began playing, afraid of what could happen next. It showed eight colored orbs, one white, black, one yellow, one red, one brown, one blue and one purple before coalescing into one, where it unleashed a massive shockwave that terraformed the entire planet completely into a molten wasteland.

Massive warships soon appeared before firing down large beams of fiery energy on the planet, where it resulted in shockwaves that killed any life in the area. It didn't do just that, as it tore apart any buildings and streets that were also there. A bridge soon opened up in one of the ships, where a massive figure stepped down before raising his right hand. He fired energy from his right hand towards the ground, which broke it apart further as the molten cracks already there formed into a new shape. One that consisted of a blade that was connected to a total of eight devilish wings that had an eye on each one, as well as an eye at the center of the blade. The symbol then released a pulse that caused the ground to further break apart, where it showed a light-green cocoon inside, ready for the taking.

Ai gasped in pure horror as he saw the massive figure basically tear apart everyone he cared about not just in combat, but in duels as well. The massive figure stabbed Yusaku with the double-sided staff in his hands before slashing Decode Talker with the same weapon, where he then commanded a golden, two-headed dragon with an enormous human face on his body to fire down at the area, which he did at his master's command. The magmas incinerated Takeru, Arashi and Brea completely, along with their ace monsters Salamangreat Heatleo, Clear Wing Synchro Dragon and Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Gustav Max. As if on cue, a colossal golem with a human face and four tube-like appendages fired bullets down onto the ground, which tore Yuhiro, Miyu and Aoi completely, as well as Turboblaze Dragon, Trickstar Bella Madonna and Marincess Great Bubble Reef. A massive dragon resembling an oversized reptile with human faces on his legs and head erupted from the ground before generating a vortex of water that headed straight towards the Knights of Hanoi. Despite their best attempts to avoid it, the vortex of water killed every single of them, as well as tear their ace monsters into pieces.

The massive figure raised his right palm as the light-green cocoon hovered above it, where it glowed with so much energy that it overloaded the simulation and destroyed it completely. Ai then ran simulations not just to prevent humanity's annihilation, but to stop what it appeared to be the Crisis from even happening in the first place. Unfortunately, each attempt either ended in humanity's annihilation or the massive figure claiming the planet and that cocoon as his. Overwhelmed with all the simulations, Ai fell down on his hands and knees before letting out a massive scream of emotional agony, having come to an unfortunate conclusion.

Unless he dies, one of those two scenarios he witnessed will come to fruition.

After letting out another painful scream, Ai composed himself as he stood up on his feet, a sorrowful expression on his face. Unfortunately, he knew what needed to be done in order to both keep humanity safe and to prevent the Crisis from happening. Basically, Ai had to ensure humanity worked together in killing him not just so they can survive, but so they can stand united as one moving forward. For otherwise, their inability to work with one another will cost them down the road. As such, Ai exited out of the cave by walking up the hidden staircase, where he found himself back at the main hall of Lightning's former tower. He then exited out of the tower and began walking towards the exit of Lightning's biome, intent on rendezvousing with Roboppy and Linguriboh before deciding on a next course of action.

"Reality is often disappointing, my friend. In the end, you never get what you want," a voice pointed out, as Jericho unexpectedly appeared in the network a short distance away from Ai.

"You!" Ai exclaimed, as he braced himself for anything that could happen next.

"Salutations, Ai. My name is Jericho, and it's good to officially meet you in the flesh." Jericho bowed lightly to Ai, having placed his left hand on his chest and right hand to his side.

It's him! It's the one who murdered the other Ignis in cold blood, Ai recognized in his mind. Not just that, but he's the same guy who tried to hurt Playmaker and the others back in the network as well! "What do you want with me? Have you come to finish the job after killing the other Ignis?"

"Hey, if it wasn't for me, they would have died upon being absorbed by Bohman." Jericho countered. "Let's be honest here: They would have died one way or another, so rather than allow the Ignis to power Bohman up further, I chose to give them all swift deaths to weaken him. You're welcome."

"You still didn't answer my question." Ai reminded Jericho, still infuriated with the latter's actions and how they affected recent events.

Jericho gasped upon realizing that he didn't answer Ai's question. "Of course! Apologies for getting sidetracked, Ai. To answer your question, I want a simple exchange of goods and services."

"A simple exchange of goods and services?" Ai raised an eyebrow, wondering what Jericho meant by that comment.

"That's correct. I would like your assistance in helping me acquire SOL Technologies and Albinor Incorporated." Jericho elaborated, which made Ai narrow his eyes. While he obviously knew about SOL Technologies, he didn't know about who or what Albinor Incorporated was about. Was it a company forgotten in time? Or was it a company connected to Project: VIII itself? Regardless of what Albinor Incorporated was, any intentions Jericho had in mind for both it and SOL Technologies were not good at all.

"And in exchange?" Ai further inquired, wanting to know what Jericho will do for him should the former assist the latter. If Jericho wanted to kill Ai, then the two of them would have dueled by now. After all, there was no way in hell Ai would let Jericho kill him like he killed the other Ignis.

Jericho smiled after noticing Ai's uneasiness. It wasn't just a regular smile. No. It was a malicious grin. "I know something you don't know."

"What? What are you going on about?"

"Simple. I know how to stop those awful simulations you saw from coming true."

Ai gasped in shock after hearing that answer. Did Ai hear what he just heard? Did Jericho truly have a way to prevent all the simulations Ai saw earlier from coming true? "Impossible! How do you know about the simulations?! And when did you see them?!"

"If Lightning sucks at one thing, it's that he doesn't clean up his tracks well." Jericho commented, the grin still on his face. "As for your questions, I learned about the simulations after obtaining Lightning's remains a while back. That was how I was able to see them in the first place."

"Remains? You have the other Ignis?" Ai stiffened up after hearing what Jericho told them. If what Jericho said was true, then there was a chance the Ignis could be returned to life. But Ai didn't want to take any chances. Not after when he and the others supposedly learned that Earth escaped from SOL Technologies' grasp, only for Go to use him in drawing out Playmaker for their rematch.

"Do you really not believe me? Here's my proof." Jericho pressed a button on his duel disk, which showed a digital hologram of monolith that had an octagon inside it. Or rather, an incomplete one, as evident by the one piece it was missing. "This leads to the second part of what I will offer in exchange for your assistance on this mission. If you help me seize control of SOL Technologies and Albinor Incorporated, not only will I ensure those simulations never come to pass, I will also have my master revive your fallen comrades."

Ai put a hand to his chin as he thought over what Jericho told him just now. Given how Jericho had the remains of the seven Ignis, that meant he could revive them as long as he had the right tools to do so. What's more, Jericho had the means to make sure the simulations Ai saw never came to pass, which meant humanity would be saved regardless of him still living. This deal Jericho was offering was ultimately a win-win for both of them, as he would seize control of two companies while Ai would not keep humanity safe, but also get his friends back.

However, there was one problem, and it involved the simulation Ai saw back in Lightning's cave. Specifically, how the planet got terraformed, as well as the massive figure brutally murdering his friends and the Knights of Hanoi in cold blood. Perhaps that massive figure was Jericho's master, and if that was truly the case, then Jericho would be getting more out of this deal than Ai did. After all, Jericho had the remains of the other Ignis, which meant that all he needed was Ai's algorithm to complete the set. It was this revelation that made Ai grimace, as the last thing he wanted was to contribute towards humanity's annihilation. As a result, he knew the decision he had to make.

"This deal you offer is truly an intriguing one. But…" Ai began speaking.

"But what? There's nothing wrong with this deal. I get two companies for myself, and you get your friends back, as well as a guarantee that humanity will be safe." Jericho interjected.

"True, but in the beginning, the majority of the Ignis wanted to co-exist with humans. The last thing I want is for my actions to cause a future that would not only betray the efforts made towards co-existence, but cause a fate worse than death for humans as well. That is a future I do not want to live in." Ai narrowed his eyes in anger. "So no, Jericho. I'll have to pass on this monkey's paw of a deal you offered to me just now."

Jericho's smile turned into a frown, disappointed that Ai wouldn't accept his deal. At least not yet anyway. "That's disappointing to hear, Ai. As an AI, I thought you were smarter than that. It looks like I'll have to go with Plan B."

"If it's a duel you want, then-." Ai began answering, before he sensed something coming. As if on cue, Arsene appeared out of nowhere and attempted to punch Ai, where the latter dodged the former's attack by jumping out of the way. A great broadsword with a violet blade appeared in Ai's hands, which he used to try and strike Arsene back, only for the latter to dodge the former's attack in response. His instincts kicked in once again as a cannonball was fired out of nowhere that headed straight towards him, which Ai managed to dodge just in time. Soon, Captain Kidd appeared and fired more cannon balls at Ai, who deflected them using the great broadsword with a violet blade in his hands. Ai quickly dodged an attack from Arsene and slashed him with such force that he was pushed back several feet. Carmen appeared out of nowhere and attempted to strike Ai with the whip in her hand, only for Ai to slash the whip and fire a blast of data material in response that pushed her back. "What the Hell is this?!"

"I forgot to mention that I don't play by the rules of humans, which means all bets are off." Jericho sadistically said, before he suddenly charged forward and uppercutted Ai with such force that he was sent flying high in the air. He suddenly teleported in the air in an attempt to slam Ai to the ground, only for his instincts to kick in and help him dodge the attack. As a result, Ai was able to send Jericho flying down to the ground with a blast of data material, where he quickly got up with no injuries whatsoever as the former landed on his feet. But before Ai could charge forward in a second attempt to strike Jericho, Goemon appeared and brought down the pipe with an axe blade in his hands to try and strike the former. However, Ai managed to block the attack and slash Goemon in response, which made him stagger back seconds later.

Ai grit his teeth as Captain Kidd fired more cannon blasts with his cannon hand at him, where his instincts enabled him to dodge each attack. But before Ai could gain his bearings, dark energy appeared in Arsene's wings as he fired it straight towards him, who was able to barely dodge them using his instincts. Unfortunately, this gave Captain Kidd the opportunity to fire cannon blasts at Ai, with each impact sending him flying backwards off the ground before he rolled onto it. Jericho laughed in pure joy as Ai got up on his feet, intent on staying defiant until the very end. Snapping his fingers with a grin on his face, Jericho motioned Carmen to attack Ai, who complied by bringing the whip in her hands down onto him. Ai's instincts kicked in as he effortlessly dodged the attack before grabbing the whip with his hands, where he swung Carmen around and used her as a mace to knock Goemon, Arsene and Captain Kidd off the ground and on their respective backs.

Infuriated with all the pain Jericho had caused, Ai charged forward to try and strike him down with the great broadsword in his hands. Seeing this, Jericho did nothing but cross his arms as Loki appeared behind him and brought down the large, burning blade down onto their common opponent. This made Ai dodge the attack at the last second, only for Jericho to punch him in the gut with such force that he was pushed back several feet.

"No need to inconvenience yourself, Loki. Why don't you go play with the runts back there for a bit? All I ask is that you don't kill them." At Jericho's command, Loki bowed before disappearing, intent on taking care of individuals who were with Ai earlier. Specifically, Roboppy and Linguriboh.

"No! You're not going after my friends!" Ai shouted, as he evaded attacks from Goemon, Captain Kidd and Arsene before data material surrounded his body, where he used it to send all three of them flying off the ground at once before they landed on their respective backs. Carmen attempted to try and attack Ai once again to support her allies, only for him to simply fire data material from his hands in response, which also sent her flying off the ground before she landed on her back. After ensuring that Jericho's allies were dealt with, Ai quickly dashed in an attempt to find Roboppy and Linguriboh, only for Jericho to get in his way.

"Finally! Prove your worth, Ignis!" Jericho exclaimed with glee, as he unsheathed the short sword from its sheath while a blade of data material appeared in his left hand. He charged forward at Ai, who responded by firing data material from his hands at him. Seeing this, Jericho didn't even bother dodging the attack. Instead, he merely chopped it up into pieces using both the short sword and the blade of data material in his hands over the course of several seconds. Quickly jumping into the air, Jericho fired data material from both weapons at Ai, where his instincts enabled him to dodge the attacks as the former landed on the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Ai dashed forward and brought the great broadsword down towards Jericho, who blocked it with both weapons in his hands.

Pushing the great broadsword upwards, Jericho then proceeded to try and slash Ai with both blades in his hands, only for him to quickly dodge each one as his instincts kicked into overdrive. Ai tried to land a counterattack in response, which led Jericho to quickly dodge the counterattack and appear behind him seconds later. This gave Jericho the split second he needed to kick Ai with such force that he was sent flying off the ground and right out of Lightning's biome. As Ai rolled on the ground several times upon landing on it, Jericho appeared out of nowhere and brought the blades down onto it, which caused a small shockwave that sent the former bouncing off of it seconds later. Seizing the opportunity, Jericho grabbed Ai's leg and slammed him to the ground like a rag doll back and forth before tossing him to the side, where he once again rolled onto the ground.

As Ai slowly got up on his feet, his instincts soon kicked in, which enabled him to barely dodge an attack from Arsene that came out of nowhere. He swung the great broadsword right back at Arsene seconds later, where the attack sent him rolling down to the ground. Jericho quickly charged forward and attempted to slash Ai with both blades in his hands, which caused the latter's instincts to kick in and parry each of the attacks before attempting to strike back at the former. After Jericho managed to parry the attack, Ai threw the great broadsword in the air and quickly teleported behind him in order to launch a surprise attack. This way, Ai could grab the great broadsword in the air and slash it at his opponent.

But to Ai's horror, Jericho dodged the attack and fired a burst of data material from the data material blade in his left hand that hit the former upon impact. As a result, Ai was sent flying off the ground once again before landing on it, where he felt his strength getting depleted over time. Soon, his instincts kicked in that enabled him to evade blasts of data material Jericho fired from the data material blade in his left hand.

"Crap… Not now…" Ai muttered, tired from battling against both Jericho and his duel monsters. Specifically, his Cyberse duel monsters. How the Hell does this guy have Cyberse monsters, Ai began wondering in his mind, having recognized the coding used in creating them. However, he didn't have time to finish his thought upon seeing Jericho charge towards him, where he immediately fired data material from his hands in response to the attack. Unfortunately, Jericho immediately sliced it all up with blinding speed and slashed Ai with the weapons in his hands, which made the latter scream in pain upon impact. Seizing the opportunity, Jericho released a burst of purple and black-colored energy from his body that not only pushed Ai back several feet, but also stunned him as well. This enabled Jericho to charge forward and slash Ai with the weapons in his hands once again, where they cackled with energy before he slammed them down onto the ground.

KABOOM!

A shockwave occurred that sent Ai flying off the ground once again, where he rolled onto it numerous times upon impact. Soon, he found himself in the area just near the light-green hill. Roboppy. Linguriboh. I hope the both of you are okay, Ai thought in his mind, as he slowly got up on his feet.

"Bravo! Bravo, Ai! That was a great battle! Well done!" Jericho praised Ai for the battle, having clapped his hands for a moment or two. "If anything, you did manage to get me to use twenty percent of my strength."

"Twenty percent? Ha! That's a lot of bullshit, coming from you!" Ai exclaimed. "The only reason you were able to get the upper hand was because you had your Cyberse monsters weaken me."

"I don't play by the rules of humans unless one of three circumstances occur. One: I choose to play by the rules for my own entertainment. Two: I have no choice but to play by your rules. Three: I was ordered by my master to do so." Jericho maliciously grinned after countering what Ai said just now. He then grit his teeth in pain as he clenched his left forearm before going over to clench his right bicep. Being an Inquisitor, Dogma was right about one thing, as the wounds the Inquisitors inflicted took time to heal. If Jericho pushed himself too hard, it'd cost him down the road, which meant he had to use another strategy to get ahead of Ai. "Anyhow, let's put this pointless battle to an end, shall we? Loki, come over here, would ya?"

"What? What do you-?" Ai gasped in terror as Loki returned to Jericho's side, where he held Roboppy by the throat in his right hand. As for Linguriboh, Loki had grabbed him with his left hand by the tail. "Roboppy! Linguriboh!"

"M-M-Master…" Roboppy groaned in pain, having been wounded by Loki's merciless attacks.

"Guri Guri Gu…" Linguriboh muttered, who was also wounded by the battle against Loki.

"I had tried to get through to you with logic and reason, but it seems I have no choice." Jericho stated, as he turned to his ace duel monster. "Make them suffer slow deaths, Loki."

"Let them go!" Ai exclaimed, as he tried to charge forward towards Jericho and Loki in an attempt to free his allies. Unfortunately, Ai's instincts kicked in as he evaded a cannon blast from Captain Kidd, which gave Carmen the opportunity to bring her whip down towards him. The whip wrapped around Ai's body as he struggled to break free, where Arsene and Goemon appeared out of nowhere before brutally pummeling Ai seconds later. With a loud shout, Ai released a wave of data material that not only freed himself from his restraints, but also pushed Goemon, Captain Kidd and Arsene back several feet. He attempted to charge at Jericho, only for Loki to use Roboppy and Linguriboh as human shields in order to protect his master. This inhumane act made Ai hesitate as Arsene, Goemon, Captain Kidd and Carmen appeared once more, where the quartet immediately charged in to attack him. Captain Kidd fired a cannon blast at Ai, whose instincts enabled him to dodge it in time. However, this gave Carmen the opportunity to lash her whip out at Ai, which restrained his movements and Arsene and Goemon proceeded to brutally beat him down to the ground.

Jericho frowned as he saw Arsene and Goemon lift Ai onto his feet by grabbing his arms, with Carmen tightening the grip on her whip to ensure he didn't get away. As for Captain Kidd, he aimed his cannon arm at Ai just in case he was up to any funny business. "I'll let them go, but only after I tell you a few things."

"What things?" Ai let out several heavy breaths, having been exhausted by the fight against both Jericho and his squad of Cyberse duel monsters.

"Well, first off, I want to tell you that I am still willing to offer you the deal despite our little scuffle. However, with what happened just now, I'll have to give you an incentive so that you accept it in the end."

"Yeah, right. There's no way I'll accept any deal that will hurt humanity down the road." Ai defiantly said back, having spat out data material from his mouth.

"Unfortunately, I don't think you have a choice moving forward." Jericho replied back, having narrowed his eyes at Ai. "If you don't accept my proposition, then I'll have no choice but to execute your little buddies that Loki has in his hands. As for those you care about in the real world…"

"Don't you dare go after them!" Ai struggled in an attempt to break free, but Jericho had Loki strengthen his grip on Roboppy and Linguriboh, which made him calm down.

"I recently contacted some old friends of mine a few days ago. Ones that will murder everyone you care about at my command. Playmaker, Soulburner, Blue Maiden, Slipstream, Raguel, Aerith and Tigress just to name a few. If you try to rebel, flee, kill yourself or warn your friends about me, then they will all die." Jericho smiled after making that threat, happy to see the agony on Ai's face. "Do you understand what I'm saying, Ai? They will die if you try anything suspicious, and even if you flee, I'll find you because I have your algorithm."

"When did you-?!" Ai began demanding.

"Simple. When you and your buddy went to assist Playmaker, I had Loki take your sample in the chaos. You could say your concern for Playmaker and his buddies gave me the opportunity to acquire a strong weapon. One among many that I was more than willing to exploit." Jericho answered, having anticipated Ai's question. "Oh, and another opportunity I exploited recently was infecting your buddy Raguel a while back with the Cursed Boundary Layer my master gave me."

Ai glared at Jericho, shocked and angered at what he heard just now. So it was Jericho who was responsible not just for unleashing the Cursed Boundary Layer onto the world, but for infecting Raguel and turning him into a weapon as well. It was clear to Ai that the massive figure he saw in the simulation was both Jericho's father and his master. In other words, the one who gave Jericho the Cursed Boundary Layer to unleash onto the world. "You're truly a monster, you know that?"

"I know, and I'm not bothered by it." Jericho acknowledged with glee. "So now that you know the position you're in, along with what's truly going on here, are you willing to accept my proposition now?"

"I accept your proposition." Ai reluctantly conceded, knowing that he had no choice in the matter. For the last thing he wanted was for Jericho and his allies to hurt Playmaker and the others in the real world. "But I have two conditions."

"Oh? And what would they be?"

"One: Don't hurt my friends in the real world. Two: If we're going to team up, then you have to be on the frontlines. No hanging back and making Roboppy and myself do all the work."

"Of course, Ai! You have my word!" Jericho promised, as he had his duel monsters release Ai, who fell on his knees. He gestured Loki to drop Roboppy and Linguriboh seconds later before he returned to his duel disk. Loki wasn't the only one, as Arsene, Captain Kidd, Goemon and Carmen returned to Jericho's duel disk as well. Since Jericho revealed himself to Playmaker and his allies a week earlier, there was no need to hide in the shadows any longer. Besides, he can use this to his advantage, especially since it gave his allies the cover needed for them to launch his plans in action. As such, Jericho helped Ai stand on his feet before getting the dust off of his clothing. He then offered Ai a hand, who shook it in response. "Now go get your things in order. We have things to get done!"

Ai ran over to Roboppy and Linguriboh to see if they were okay, and after seeing that they were conscious, he proceeded to heal their wounds using data material in his hands. "It'll be okay, you two. Don't worry. I'm here now."

"Thank you, master." Roboppy stated out of gratitude.

"Guri Guri Gu…" Linguriboh said as well, as if to also thank Ai for healing the two of them as well.

"Listen, you two. I hate to say this, but I accepted a deal with that man over there. He'll be able to help us with what I saw in Lightning's old base." Ai told Roboppy and Linguriboh.

"But he's the guy who sent that demon to hurt me and Linguriboh, master." Roboppy pointed out. "And what exactly happened at Lightning's old base, master? Did it have to do with the signal you detected in the Cyberse World?"

"As long as we help that man over here, he'll be able to help us prevent something worse down the road." Ai ruffled Roboppy's hair. "Why don't you and Linguriboh go introduce yourselves to that man? I need some time to think things over."

While Ai stood up on his feet and walked up the light-green hill, Roboppy and Linguriboh ran over to where Jericho was in order to properly introduce themselves to him. In Roboppy's mind, he knew that Ai had no choice but to accept Jericho's deal, especially with what happened. Still, Roboppy had complete faith that Ai had a backup plan in place to use in order to get the drop on Jericho, but only when the time was right. After all, the last thing neither Ai nor Roboppy wanted was to get Playmaker and his allies hurt in the real world.

"It's good to meet you, sir. My name is Roboppy." Roboppy introduced himself to Jericho as he walked over to face him before offering a hand.

"It's good to meet you as well, Roboppy. I'm known as Jericho." Jericho replied, as he shook Roboppy's hand before turning over to Linguriboh. "And who is this little guy?"

"This guy's name is Linguriboh." Roboppy introduced Linguriboh to Jericho on his behalf.

Jericho smiled, glad that the introductions were back to being civil. "Well, I look forward to working with the both of you. Well, the three of you once Ai gathers his things in order and comes over here."

Ai looked at the seven tombstones in front of him, relieved that they weren't damaged in his fight against Jericho. Somehow, a part of him knew that Jericho would make sure the tombstones weren't damaged, as it was never wise to pick a fight in a place where the dead slept. Ai thought over all of the simulations he saw back in Lightning's cave, along with what he recently learned from Jericho and how his appearance made everything worse. Now, Ai had no choice but to work with Jericho in acquiring SOL Technologies and Albinor Incorporated. Unfortunately, this meant Ai would have to fight against Playmaker and his allies moving forward, which was something that would have happened one way or another.

"Hey, big bro!" Roboppy called out to Ai, which made the latter look back at the former. It wasn't just him he looked at, as Linguriboh and Jericho were there as well. "Let's get going! Mr. Jericho has something to share with us for our mission!"

Ai turned back to look at the tombstones, a solemn expression evident on his face. "Well, everyone. It's time. I'll do what needs to be done." He turned away from the tombstones and walked down the light-green hill to where Roboppy, Linguriboh and Jericho were at. "So, Jericho. What's the plan here? How do you plan on capturing SOL Technologies and Albinor Incorporated?"

"Don't worry, Ai. I got a plan in mind for the first phase of our mission." Jericho assured Ai, as a grin appeared on his face. This… was going to be fun.

In the sunset over Den City, Yuhiro, Miyu, and Arashi are depicted with Yusaku, Aoi, and Takeru looking out over the area.

Silhouettes of Earth, Windy, Aqua, Flame, Lightning, Herald, and Wraith are shown as Ai clenches his heart in despair before morphing into his human form. The screen shifts to the real world, which shows Roboppy looking out a window as a silhouette of his human form is shown with him.

Jin, Kusanagi, and Katsuya look at the starry skies, grateful smiles on their faces as they do so, glad to be reunited with one another. Silhouettes of Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon and Codebreaker Virus Berserker appear in the area to ensure the peaceful moment wasn't disrupted.

Emma and Kengo Dojun are shown at the Den City hospital visiting his mother as she wakes up, happy to see her son again. A light-blue glow briefly surrounds her body before dimming, as though it were blessing her. In another area of the hospital, Roxy is shown lovingly embracing Miyu with joy, Aoi also smiling after seeing her wake up. Nearby is Yuhiro, who smiles as he watches the group. However, he lowers his head in sadness as he recalls everything that had to be sacrificed for this moment to occur.

Akira is shown rushing over to a helicopter, intent on completing an urgent business assignment. Hayami follows after him in a hurry, having also been called to assist him in completing the assignment.

A split screen then pops up, showing Tsubaki spending time with Hideki on one side, while Gekiryushi is training at the Shinpi-Tekina dojo, people happy to see the dojo being rejuvenated on the other side. Portrait of Zandaka, Kataru, and Arakan are also in the background. A second split screen appears next, showing Greg and Rachel spending time with one another, while Gil is looking at documents with the Bit and Boot under his command. A third split screen appears next, showing Go Onizuka having fun with the kids at the Den City Orphanage with Kenmochi and Yoroizaka, while Brion issues directions as he collaborates with the people in Central Japan so they can work together in rebuilding their home.

The screen then shows Youta, Ryoken, and Takeya looking over a high platform, with Yua, Kyoko, Aso, Eizaburo, and Mikuru in the background watching them. It then shifts to show Emon looking over Beatrice's grave at the cemetery before fading away.

A portrait of everyone riding their duel boards in LINK VRAINS appears on a table as Yusaku and Yuhiro put down their duel disks, having accepted everything that's happened as they strive to move forward towards a brighter future.

Card Gallery

No new cards introduced in this chapter.

QOTC

Over the course of Yu-Gi-Oh!, each of the characters went through difficult trials and experiences, yet were able to regain their motivation again. Which characters do you think not only struggled the most, but experienced true character development as well?

Chapter Preview

Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Obscured Truth. Chapter 103: Mastermind in Motion. Under Jericho's threat to both them and Ai's human friends, Ai and Roboppy agree to help him seize control of SOL Technologies for his plans. Their first targets: Queen and Pawn, who are on SOL Technologies' cruise ship to acquire sales for the Soltis. While Ai and Roboppy go after Queen and Pawn, Jericho infiltrates the ship's database, intent on acquiring a powerful weapon that will aid him down the road…

Author's Notes

And with that, the first arc for Season 3 is officially complete! I just want to thank you all for your patience as I finished this chapter, especially since it sets things up for what's to come later on in Season 3. I also hope you all enjoyed it as well. I originally planned to release it sooner, but it took longer for three reasons. One: I wanted to iron out the scenes and details for each part of the chapter so it ran smoothly. Two: Real life events. Please note that even writers have other things going on in their lives that need to be taken care of. Three: Modernizing a Rush duel archetype for Obscured Truth. That's right! Just like with the Tron archetype from Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens, I will be taking a second Rush Duel archetype and modernizing it so it can be used in the story. But enough talking on my part, as we have a lot of things to recap over here:

The first scene occurs right after Chapter 101, where Jericho reunites with Dr. Constantine Colmer, who goes by Dogma in the network. For his network appearance, it's based on a combination of elements from Dottore in Genshin Impact, Professor Turo from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, and Osmund Saddler from the Resident Evil video game series. Here, Dogma informs Jericho about Albinor Inc.'s status, where it's still running thanks to the aid of the Inquisitors. However, its popularity disappeared a very long time ago due to Ukyos' disappearance, which has led to its decline despite operating as a business. Dogma even revealed that Ukyos split the Code Key in two in the event someone planned on seizing control of the company, with one of the keys being given to the Inquisitors. As for the second Code Key, Dogma gave it to an associate, who he hired to assist in running Albinor Inc for the past while. Who is that associate, may you ask? You'll have to find out later on.

We also learn why Jericho has the 'Persona' deck, as well as why Ukyos made him that particular deck. When it first appeared, I noticed that your reception of its appearance was… mixed, so it's only fair for an explanation to be provided, especially given Jericho's mindset and personality. Here, Jericho explains what his dueling philosophy is, and how it's connected to three types of health. Specifically, physical, mental and spiritual health. When a person goes through rough experiences, they tend to lock portions of their beliefs away to cope, which in turn distorts their nature. Jericho goes to say that humans have also done this in order to be accepted and not ostracized by their peers. He even goes to say that the deck focuses on targeting the duelist at the core in order to affect their spiritual health. For while one can recover physically or mentally with the right people, recovering spiritually is actually much harder, as if you don't have purpose, it'll affect you both physically and mentally. Ultimately, by targeting the enemy's spiritual self at the core, it helps Jericho reveal his opponent's true colors, which in turn will throw off their game and enable him to win the duel.

In addition, we get some name drops that Dogma mentioned in this chapter. Specifically, Jiao, Gunther and Pierre. Along with Jitney, Souta and Yuki, who have been mentioned back in Chapter 96, they too will appear this season, especially since I've finalized their appearances and personalities. I do hope you like what's to come. But moving that aside, Jericho asks about how Constantina, who is Dogma's daughter, is doing since they last saw one another. After all, Constantina was the only person who understood Jericho and vice versa. One could say their bond was close, and almost romantic as well. Unfortunately, Dogma reveals that Constantina died a long time ago due to being gangraped and beaten to death by a gang. When Jericho demands to know who was responsible, Dogma responds by saying that the matter was taken a long time ago. How did Dogma handle this, may you ask? Simple: He sent his Inquisitors and had them initiate the Unholy Sanctification, which led to the deaths of so many people. That's right, everyone! Dogma was responsible for the Unholy Sanctification from the very start, as well as being the main factor for the Black Market's formation in the network. Did Dogma enjoy this? While he obviously didn't, it had to be done, as the sin could infect others if it wasn't eliminated.

After Jericho congratulates Dogma for what he did, he takes him to see Watchman downstairs in the prison area of his fortress. There, Dogma reveals how the envoys each played a role in the deaths of Myojin and Lyla Furutani despite Watchman appearing to make the group retreat. For despite Watchman's best efforts, the envoys managed to succeed in their mission. Following this, Dogma proceeds to heal Jericho of the injuries he suffered back in Chapter 98 due to Watchman's actions, knowing that they'll be in the way of the mission. Once this is done, Jericho orders Dogma to call the envoys and inform them of his return while he works on the tracker needed to track Ai down. Dogma promises to fulfil that order, but requests time to get some personal business done along the way, which Jericho tells him to do as well.

Next up is the scene at SOL Technologies, where the higher ups meet up with one another to discuss recent events. Here, Queen's been given permission to return to SOL Technologies for the meeting, despite her previous actions. After all, she is still a higherup at the company. To her surprise upon arrival, she sees Akira at the meeting, and demands to know what he's doing here. However, the other higherups vouch for Akira, saying that he's been invited to attend. As such, the meeting begins, with the three Kings appearing in person due to the urgency of the situation. There, the group discusses recent events, and how they contributed towards the situation the company's currently facing right now. It's also here where the Kings order Queen to end whatever grudge she has against Akira now and forever, and even remind her of how his actions managed to save a portion of the company's reputation. As such, Queen has no choice but to swallow her pride and comply with the Kings' orders. Following this order, the Kings announce that after much deliberation amongst themselves, Akira is more than deserving of the promotion to Executive Vice President for the role he played in both mitigating damage to the company and saving lives. It was never explained how Akira got promoted in the anime, so I put it down here to show this simple fact.

After much deliberation and weighing the pros and cons, Akira accepts the promotion to Executive Vice President, having now achieved a higher position at SOL Technologies for his efforts. Following the promotion, the Kings inform Queen that she has a chance to redeem herself for her mistakes regarding the AI chip, with the task involving the Soltis. With sales of SOL Technologies' newest product meeting expectations, Queen is to take a three month business trip by luxury cruise and sell the product worldwide. In addition, to ensure Queen adheres to the mission, the Kings plan on sending one of the higherups with her in attendance. It's here where Pawn volunteers for this task, wanting to use his vacation hours to spend time with his wife and son, much to Queen's ire of course. But given the urgency of the situation, along with the desire to redeem herself before the Kings, Queen accepts the mission.

The meeting's final topic is the Kings announcing a plan not just to further market the Soltis in the form of a press release, but also assure the public that the tragedies from the past few weeks will never happen again. Following the meeting is a small cutscene on how Akira's processing it, grateful for the promotion. Simple as that.

We then move onto the next scene, where Go returns back to Den City after spending some time in Sapporo following Chapter 94. Here, he's greeted by Kenmochi and Yoroizaka, as well as his manager, who I named Archibald. I mean, Go's manager didn't have a name in the anime, so it only seemed fitting to give him a name here. It's here where Go is caught up on recent events, along with the fact that it led to more children being orphaned as a result. As such, Go requests Archibald to take him to the Den City Orphanage, which he does, along with Kenmochi and Yoroizaka, of course. What I want to highlight here is Go's growth, and how his time in Sapporo has affected him for the better. It's thanks to Tenyi Spirit – Sahasrara's words and instructions on how to redeem oneself that gives Go the motivation needed to enter inside the Den City Orphanage once again.

Upon arrival, Go's not only greeted by the kids and the manager there, but Quinton as well, who brings him up to speed on what happened since the former's departure. I also want to highlight Go's stance on the Knights of Hanoi, as he obviously didn't want them to die. Rather, he wanted to face justice for their crimes. What's more, Go's perspective on the Hanoi even opens up after learning about not just what they lost, but also for taking responsibility for their crimes as well. All in all, it definitely helps Go's development as a person, don't you think?

Following the scene at the Den City Orphanage, we go on over to the Den City Cemetery, where we see Yuhiro carving a message on a massive tombstone. Why is he doing this, you may ask? It's simple: To commemorate and honor those who died at the Cursed Boundary Layer's hands, as well as his hands by extension. For those of you who are wondering, Yuhiro already apologized to Rachel, Gil and Greg for his actions. How did each of them respond? Well, Rachel and Greg accepted Yuhiro's apology, knowing that it wasn't fully his fault. However, he'll still have to work hard to earn their trust again. As for Gil, he's snarky, glad to hear that Yuhiro has to suffer for his sins for the rest of his life. When the discussion heads on over to Yuhiro being judged for his crimes, it leads him to explain to the group what happened hours earlier at Café Matsuo.

During the flashback, we see Yua making sure that Yuhiro's doing well physically and mentally by doing several routine doctor visits. Do note that back in Chapter 101, Ryoken charged with Yua in making sure that Yuhiro never becomes a threat again, and while Yua's adhering to Ryoken's request, she's also visiting to help Yuhiro recover as well. When the tests are done, Yua goes over to speak with Roxy on the results while Miyu goes over to see if Yuhiro's doing well. Here, Yuhiro reveals to Miyu that after thinking for a long while, he decided to turn himself over to the authorities and confess his role in this entire mess as the instigator. Unfortunately, Miyu and Rasterliger warn Yuhiro that if he goes through with this decision, Jericho would win because of the never-ending chaos the truth would bring onto humanity as a result. Thus, after deliberating with the others (excluding the Hanoi, of course) on how Yuhiro should take responsibility for his crimes, Miyu pronounces Yuhiro's sentence: He's to protect the network for the rest of his life. Not just that, but remember all the pain and sadness his actions had caused, as well as continue living on to ensure such a thing never happens again. Honestly, it'd be a huge disservice and an insult to Yuhiro's character development if he chose to surrender himself to the authorities. I mean, come on, Yuhiro's story isn't over yet. When he does return to the network, it won't be under Raguel. Instead, it'll be under a different name, and while I have one in mind, I am open to suggestions. Just as long as they're appropriate, of course. But nevertheless, I do plan on giving the Raguel a proper sendoff later on in Season 3. How, may you ask? You'll just have to read on to find out for yourself.

After confirming that this is what Miyu and the others truly want of him, Yuhiro accepts his sentence, intent on making things right moving forward. The good thing is that he's made good progress, as he donated lots of money, which once belonged to Yukage, to numerous relief efforts and the Den City Hospital. He even made donations to the Den City Orphanage and the Den City Shelter as well. Soon after, Yuhiro and Miyu receive an urgent call from Roxy, who tells the duo to come downstairs. Upon doing so, they spot none other than Emon Uchida visiting Café Matsuo for the last time.

I will say this regarding Emon: This is unfortunately the last time he'll be interacting not just with Yuhiro, but with the other main characters as well. Here, Emon passes on some final advice onto Yuhiro: Ensure that your legacy ultimately leaves a strong and positive impact on this world, as each part of it tells your story. For no matter what you've done, there's always the chance to make the world a better place, as well as inspire future generations to keep going and make a difference no matter what they've done. Following this advice, along with informing Yuhiro and Miyu about what happened on the Hanoi's end, Emon gives him a program that should help with the battles down the road, as well as warns the duo to keep Arin safe.

Thus ending the flashback and returning to the present day, where Yuhiro concludes his tale on how he was sentenced, along with the events that occurred afterwards. After finishing his tale, Yuhiro finishes up carving the message on the tombstone, where Greg appears to assist him in setting it down onto the ground. Needing some assistance, Yuhiro and Greg call out to the others for help, with Gil offering to do so by attempting to summon Abyss King and the Chains of Tragedy. Unfortunately, this doesn't work, thus leading Rachel to summon Final Sigma to help Yuhiro and Greg out. It's here where Gil's powers fizzle, which catches Greg's attention on what could be going on with him. This eventually leads to Rachel and Greg calling Gil out for his snarky attitude after everything that's happened lately, and even questioning what he'll do with his quest for revenge having been completed. Upon realizing that he couldn't answer the question, Gil runs off, needing space for himself. Regarding Gil, I do have something interesting in mind for his character development. I mean, I know a great majority of you like Gil and his personality, and the last thing I want is to mess it up. After all, Gil is an anti-hero.

Following the scene at the cemetery, we return to SOL Technologies for the press release. Basically, what happens here is that after Akira and Greg manage to calm the audience down, Queen and Pawn appear to announce the Soltis in order to get sales. The two of them even highlight the security features they all come with, along with a promise to ensure that the public's protected in the real world moving forward. Concerns about these security features, along with suspicions on how SOL Technologies will use them in further initiatives leads to Greg, Akira and Barbara meeting up with one another at Green Park later on, having formed an alliance to further investigate this situation. So expect Barbara to appear a little often in Season 3 moving forward.

From there, we go on over to the Den City Shelter, with Yuhiro finally visiting the place after so long, along with Roxy, Miyu and Rasterliger. A pep talk from Miyu leads Arin to slap Yuhiro upon seeing him doubt himself, where it's revealed that he can talk this entire time! Yup, you heard it correctly! Arin is capable of speech, which means he'll be communicating with Yuhiro and the others moving forward! As such, the five of them go to visit the Den City Shelter, where the kids end up greeting Yuhiro with love, much to his shock and joy. Even Quinton, Miles and Tsubaki are glad to see Yuhiro, as well as greet Miyu since it's her first time visiting the Den City Shelter.

Speaking of Quinton, he ends up speaking with Yuhiro alone, with Roxy joining in on the meeting only to make sure things don't get heated up. During the meeting, Quinton confirms that Emon visited the Den City Shelter last week to provide assets, and demands the truth from Yuhiro regarding the Cursed Boundary Layer. This, in turn, leads Yuhiro to explain the truth to Quinton, which basically confirms that Emon's warning was true this whole time. As a result, a tense exchange of words regarding atonement, responsibility and regrets is exchanged between Quinton and Yuhiro, where Roxy breaks it up after reminding Quinton that everyone has regrets no matter how big or small they are.

It's here where we learn more of Quinton's backstory and how he opened up the Den City Shelter in the first place. A long time ago, Quinton was studying to become a doctor at university, which was where he met his college sweetheart, Sierra. For those of you who have forgotten, Sierra was the person Quinton thought about as he lost consciousness following his duel against Azrael back in Season 2. But I digress. During that time, Quinton and Sierra formed a strong and romantic relationship over three years, where they volunteered at a shelter on one of their dates. This led Quinton to realize his calling as a person, where he switched his major to entrepreneurship in the hopes of opening up his own shelter to assist children who need it. Unfortunately, Quinton and Sierra's relationship ended when he saw the flaws in the medical program the latter was accepted into, which led them to break up despite being on good terms with one another. Will Sierra appear later on in the story? You'll have to keep on reading to find out that answer.

From there, we go to the scenes at Café Matsuo, with Yuhiro, Miyu, Roxy and Rasterliger returning home. Just when Yuhiro reveals his intention to call the others in updating them on recent events, Roxy goes to the backroom to acquire something. After returning, it's revealed that Herald created a copy of himself that's only meant to deliver messages and nothing else. As for why she didn't give it to Yuhiro sooner, it was because if he received it while he was in pain, he would have fallen into despair much faster. Despite Roxy's pleas to destroy the message, Yuhiro firmly requests that she gives it to him, which the former does after great reluctance.

As such, Yuhiro plays the message, which enables him to interact with Herald one last time. Here, Herald scolds Yuhiro for his actions, as well as backs up Roxy's answer by confirming that it was his wishes when he first made the message. Herald even gives Yuhiro some final advice before the message ends by informing him about the one thing that can help him regain faith in humanity over time: Unconditional love. The ability to love and care for others with no strings attached is something that humans can give to one another no matter what they've done. Herald tells Yuhiro to cherish what he still has, as well as continue fighting so he can not only make things right again, but so he can eventually regain faith in humanity as well. With that, Herald's message ends, leaving Yuhiro saddened but grateful that he was able to say goodbye to Herald and move on.

One hour after the message, Yusaku, Takeru, Arashi and Kusanagi go in to check in on Yuhiro, who wished to meet with them. It's not just the quartet that Yuhiro wishes to speak with, as Greg and Rachel are there as well in order to share something they found out recently. Here, the gang's introduced to Arin, who are hesitant due to how the Shadow Giants tried to capture Rachel back in Chapter 97. Arin proceeds to tell them about himself, where the Shadow Giants are known as the Teocliste, a species that resides in the network. Unfortunately, Urizen led his forces in capturing the Shadow Giants and turning them into his slaves by being injected in the Cursed Boundary Layer. And each time someone's infected by a Cursed Boundary Layer, some of the Shadow Giants are forcibly sent out in completing the mission. Unfortunately, once the host succumbs to the aftereffects of the Cursed Boundary Layer, the planet they're on is burned and the Shadow Giants there are destroyed. However, since the heroes managed to keep Arin safe, they were able to save Yuhiro, and as a result, there's hope that the Teocliste can one day be freed from Urizen's grasp. Thus, Arin offers his assistance in helping the heroes stop Urizen, which the heroes are willing to give after confirming that he's telling the truth.

I want to highlight something about Greg: Ever since what happened from Chapters 98-100, he felt his ideals and what he stood for being compromised, especially regarding the trickiness of the situation and how to approach it. As a result, it has led Greg to be more frustrated than usual due to being both powerless and stressed out. After all, Greg wants to ensure justice is done by the book, and the book doesn't really help out with providing a clear way out of this situation, don't you think?

With that out of the way, Greg proceeds to explain his theory on what happened the other day. Specifically, Gil's powers malfunctioning back at the Den City Cemetery. He explains to the heroes that Miyu may have inadvertently cured Gil back in Chapter 98 of the injuries he suffered back in Project: Apotheosis. It's here where Greg concludes by saying that it's possible for Rachel to be cured of being the Construct. For by doing so, the heroes can stay one step ahead of Jericho, as well as remove the target off of Rachel's back. After much deliberation amongst one another, Rachel agrees to be healed by Miyu, having understood that the pros outweighed the cons. While it was trickier than Miyu expected, in the end, she was able to cure Rachel of her injuries and free her from being a Construct for good. Does that mean she lost her powers as a result? That's only for the future to decide.

The other topic that comes up during the meeting is Yuhiro's ultimate decision to destroy the Project: VIII data for good. He explains to everyone else that his family's research caused nothing but suffering for everyone involved and those in the crossfire. What's more, Yukage's actions back in Season 2, along with Yuhiro's own actions for the past few chapters, has caused the deaths of so many other people. What's more, the last thing Yuhiro, nor anyone else wants is for someone else to create either another Yukage or Arshad using the findings from the Lost Incident and Project: Apotheosis. Not just those, but the information that began Project: VIII in general. To sum it up, Yuhiro would rather destroy the Project: VIII data and make sure that no one else can replicate it than risk history repeating itself in the creation of more victims.

After carefully deliberating with one another and weighing the pros and cons, the heroes proceed to gather all the Project: VIII data together in one USB stick before destroying it for good. This was done by setting up a small fire and have it incinerate the USB stick into pieces, which would prevent anyone from both repairing it and accessing the data that was inside. Greg also stomped on it numerous times, having managed to get some of his frustration and rage out in the process due to everything that's happened lately. Thus, the Project: VIII data is officially destroyed, and no one else will be tempted to use it again. I do want to hear something from you guys. Do you think Yuhiro and the others made the right decision in the end? Let me know what you think in your reviews.

We then go back to the Den City Cemetery, where Emon finds Beatrice's tombstone before apologizing for everything he did following her death, as well as the life he lived that ended up dishonoring her sacrifice. Unfortunately for Emon, Constantine appears at the cemetery, and before he could react, the latter quickly dashes forward and stabs the former in the chest with a Black Key. I will say this: Emon was able to evade Constantine's sight for a very long time thanks to the program Dr. Kogami gave him, but with it gone, Constantine was able to obtain his soul. I will also add that Emon visited Constantine to obtain his assistance in resurrecting Beatrice all those years ago, only for that attempt to horribly end in disaster. Nonetheless, Constantine leaves the cemetery, having completed his mission. As for Emon, he disintegrates, but not before sending a distress call to the Knights of Hanoi. With that final action, Emon Uchida is gone for good.

Finally, we get to the scenes in the network, where Ai, Roboppy and Linguriboh go to the desolate Cyberse World in setting up tombstones for the other Ignis. It was never explained how Ai obtained The Arrival Cyberse AtIgnister in the anime, so one was provided for this story: Ai managed to obtain this monster by using a combination of the data material accumulated in the Spatial Cube back in the network and the energies of the other Ignis. It took a week to create this card as a result of how powerful it is.

While anime events mostly occur during the first part here, there is one difference: In the simulations that Ai created, one of them that inadvertently popped up was one about the Crisis. This will further motivate Ai's actions down the road in Season 3 regarding anime events. It's also in the network where Ai meets Jericho, with the latter offering the former a deal. Or in Jericho's words, a simple exchange of goods and services. If Ai assists Jericho in seizing control of SOL Technologies and Albinor Inc., then he will bring the other Ignis back to life. Jericho even offers to ensure that the simulations Ai saw never come to pass if he agrees to this alliance. However, having saw the simulation about the Crisis, Ai obviously declines, knowing that whatever plans Jericho have regarding the Ignis will hurt humanity down the road. This leads to a fight between Jericho and Ai, with the former immediately using his duel monsters to gain the upper advantage. Despite this, Ai was able to not only hold his own in the fight, but also force Jericho to use 20% of his strength as well. Unfortunately, the fight ends when Jericho holds Roboppy and Linguriboh hostage, which forces Ai to stand down. Not just that, but Jericho also threatens to kill everyone Ai loves in the real world unless he accepts the former's proposition. In addition, Jericho adds that he'll still do this if Ai tries to either flee, rebel, kill himself or warn the others about him. This is because Jericho now has Ai's algorithm, which he can use to track him down should he try to flee, rebel or warn the heroes.

Regarding Jericho, I will say this about him: He's someone that doesn't play by the rules of humans unless one of three circumstances occur. One: Jericho chooses to play by the rules for his own entertainment, as well as ensure his skills are polished. Two: Jericho has no choice but to play by the rules due to an external factor. Three: Jericho is ordered by Urizen to play by the rules as a result of it being important to the mission. But moving that aside, all bets are off for Jericho, which means he'll do whatever it takes to ensure the mission is completed.

As a result, Ai has no choice but to accept Jericho's proposition. However, Ai was able to demand two conditions from Jericho in return. First, Jericho is forbidden from hurting the ones Ai cares about in the real world. Second, Jericho must fight on the frontlines and not assist from the shadows. Simple as that. Given how the heroes already know about Jericho's existence by this point, as well as his mission being changed to acquire the final Ignis, there's obviously no need to hide any longer. This immediately leads Jericho to accept the conditions, happy that Ai finally came around in accepting the proposition. With that, an alliance is formed, which sets things up for Chapter 103.

Now that everything's been recapped, I want to thank you all for reading Chapter 102 of Obscured Truth. As always, please let me know your thoughts about the chapters below in your reviews. Also, constructive criticism is appreciated, as your tips and advice helps make the story better. In addition, don't forget to favorite and follow the story. That way, you will get a notification once the next chapter is released.

What did you enjoy the most about this scene? The reunion between Jericho and Dr. Colmer? The scenes at SOL Technologies? Go's return back to Den City? Yuhiro being sentenced to protect the network for the rest of his life? Emon's final conversation with Yuhiro and Miyu? The press release? The heartwarming scenes at the Den City Shelter? Yuhiro finally being able to obtain closure after saying goodbye to Herald? Learning about Arin and his species called the Teocliste? The destruction of the Project: VIII data? Constantine putting an end to Emon's life? The battle between Ai and Jericho? Or was it something else?

That's all for now, everyone. I just want to give you a heads up that I will do an update to Roxy's Reports before Chapter 103. I encourage you to read the next Roxy's Reports, as its post-credits scene will provide information for what's to come in Season 3 moving forward. Once that's done, we will move onto the next arc for Season 3, which begins next chapter. I will see you all next time!