"This is…impossible! I made sure the petrification light enveloped the entire island! No one should have been spared!" Ibara said. "How are all of you brats still standing, you should be statues!"

"That device only focuses on one species at a time per activation. Since humans are the dominant race in this world, only they were targeted and we were ignored." Tails said.

"But as for me?" Senku asked. "I had to get a little creative."

In the moments before Senku was petrified, the other members of the Kingdom of Science formed a straight line back to him. This line was a countdown to when the light would reach him. To counter the beam, Senku tossed the revival fluid into the air at the right time, causing it to land straight on him, countering his petrification with his depetrification. Making him one of the few to escape the beam's petrifying effect.

"Maybe I would be if I wasn't a scientist. Besides, like I would let myself be turned to stone while you dangle some hyper tech in front of me like a goddamn carrot. No way I'm not going to get excited about it." Senku said.

"Now we have you outnumbered." Xion said. "I'd recommend you surrender."

"You have no other options, considering you petrified your own men along with our comrades." Revali said. "You're all that's left. And there is nowhere left to run."

"I will not be remembered as the man who surrendered to a brat and his band of monstrosities!" Ibara said.

"Fine then. You'll be remembered as a self-centered bastard that sold his men to stone for power." Sectonia said.

Ibara scrambled for the Medusa, hoping to fire off another blast of light.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot." Senku said. "Since we had some time to kill waiting for your ass, I took the liberty to craft some cutting-edge technology of my own. The likes of which Google and Toyota were once working 'round the clock to develop. Presenting the Self-Driving Car!"

Senku jumped down from a cliff onto a previously hidden carbon wire, the pressure allowing a lever in the mobile lab to be pulled, starting up as it reversed right into Ibara, ramming him dead on as he dropped the Medusa.

"Rube Goldberg would give this machine two thumbs up." Senku said.

"Oh…since you aren't from the 21st century, let me give you some advice. It's normally a pretty bad idea to go play in traffic." Lapis said.

"Let's get the Medusa, quick." Xion said as the group joined Senku and headed toward the device as he grabbed it.

"Wait, where's Ibara?" Bardock asked.

"Did he go under the lab? It hit him dead on." Chopper said.

"Just to be safe…effect 3 meters in 3…" Senku started.

"Senku, watch out!" Ace called.

Ibara was quick as he stabbed his claws into Senku's shoulder before he kicked him away and reclaimed the device.

"You all underestimate…just how cautious this old man is. Wanna know how prepared I was?" Ibara asked as he removed his robes to show armor plating underneath. "I wore a full set of armor in case you used any projectiles against me. That said…that large attack with the beast did throw me for a loop. Nevertheless….it will be I who wins in the end." Ibara said as he held the Medusa.

"Sorry to disappoint, but that will be the last time you get away with one." Ace said.

"We will see…after I petrify you right here and…" Ibara said before he heard a shot being fired as he saw a hole in his other hand. "Ah! What? How is…"

"Well done…compadre…" a voice said as Connor emerged. "You did exactly what I asked you to. Nice work, Ace."

"It was no problem at all, just glad it worked." Ace said.

"What? Is this one some sort of inhuman atrocity?" Ibara asked.

"No. I'm full human. Just got doused in some liquid cure, courtesy of a charming prince." Connor said.

Ace smiled as he held some empty bottles of revival fluid.

"What?! When did you…?!" Ibara asked in shock.

"They're mine." Connor said. "I handed them off to Ace right before I turned to stone."

"You couldn't have thought that far ahead." Ibara said.

"Normally, you'd be right. But you're holding onto my 'get my friends outta trouble free' card and I'm not about to let you walk off with it." Connor said.

"Hmm….5 meters! 5 seconds!" Ibara said as he tossed the device right at Connor.

"You should know…I wasn't the only one Ace revived!" Connor said as the buzzing of the drone was heard as the Medusa was snagged on it.

"What manner of bird is that?!" Ibara said.

"Boss fights are basically skirmishes vs those at the very top. And what tops this more than snagging the medusa out of the air?" Senku said.

"Haha! I want everything in this stone world, so I absolutely want the shiny super tech of the medusa! Behold the zenith of the kingdom of Science's ingenuity, the drone!" Ryuusui called while at the controls as the drone went down when the Medusa snagged on one of its propellers.

Counting the seconds until the Medusa went off, Connor quickly drew one of his revolvers and fired a shot at Ibara, who reacted but noticed he wasn't hit.

"Hah! You missed!" Ibara taunted.

"Wasn't aiming at ya!" Connor corrected as Ibara saw the drone barreling right for him. Connors real target was that exact machine, and the force from his bullet propelled the drone right at Ibara, with the Medusa on it. "Lucky for us, Senku's the master at keeping count! Game-!"

Just as the Medusa activated, the drone suddenly went in the opposite direction towards them. Ibara had taken off his hat and tossed it at the drone, propelling it back towards them.

"...over?"

"For such crafty brats, you're all surprisingly dense! Did you honestly think I would not have taken measures to counteract the beam? If that boys specialty is counting, then mine is estimating the devices range!" Ibara said. "Allow me to impart some wisdom in the final moments of your lives. The easiest people to trick or screw over… are those who think themselves intelligent. Perhaps what's most…huh?" he said as Ryusui charged at him, while turning to stone as he fell to pieces. "Ahahaha! What an idiot! You can't escape the light by charging right at it!" he said reclaiming the Medusa. "Now it's goodbye, for real this…huh?" he said, seeing the earpiece on the Medusa. "What is this? Why is this strange sorcery earring on the….ah!" he said as he saw Senku, Ace, and Connor at the other end.

"You were right, Ibara. The easiest people to fool are those who think themselves to be intelligent." Senku said.

"So, which of us should speak? Oh…or more badass, let's all say it at once." Connor grinned in excitement.

"Heh. Good idea." Ace said.

"Wait…wait…." Ibara said.

"5 meters! 1 second!" all three of them cried out as the device activated.

"No!" Ibara cried out as he was quickly petrified into a stone statue.

"Good riddance." Ace said.

Connor walked up to Ibara's statue and looked at the Medusa. "Checkmate, asshole." he said as he took the device in his hand.

"In the end, a lot of us didn't even need to do anything but watch him dig himself into a deep hole." Brook said.

"Indeed." 2B said.

Exhausted, Connor kneeled on the ground and held the medusa in his hand. "We got it… the definitive proof that will make the Stone World an official world again, and the thing that can save everyone." he said as he started crying. "I guess…I actually am good for something after all." he said smiling.

"Connor…" Xion said.

"Don't try and cheer me up. I actually am very happy." Connor said as they looked at the sunset. "We'll be able to revive everyone still, and accomplish our mission. You guys will stay free, and so will my friends. Hey, if I do get sent to the kalaboose, you'll promise to visit me, right?"

"Of course we would." Revali said.

Connor nodded. "That's great to hear…it means that I won't be alone."

"Oh Connor." Xion said. "In a cell or out in the world, you're never alone."

Connor smiled. His fate was still unknown, but he knew one thing for certain. He never would have gotten this far if it wasn't for the support of his friends. He thought he had been running away all his life. But he was actually running towards something.

It felt good to him to know he had accomplished something for more than just himself.