Chapter 30: WWW Team's Comeback

11:43 AM (Japan Time), Monday August the 19th…

"… Let's play Rock & Roll!"

"… There he goes again!"

"Oh yeah! It's… BEAUTIFUL!"

"The song? Or that you didn't get to join the cavalry?"

"The million Z question!"

"Well! Both of those! AndIT'S YOU AGAIN!"

Count Elec had begun practicing with his guitar in the storeroom.

Someone asked a sarcastic question.

He began to answer without thinking about it.

But he then noticed who the questioner was.

"EAT ROCK 'N ROLL! THERE~! YANKEE GO HOME~!"

The questioner was Charles, who was amused.

Count Elec flung a carboard guitar at him, and he ducked to dodge.

Charles walked out, shrugging, as if it'd been nothing.

"Count Elec! Where are your manners?"

"L-L-Lord Wily!"

Wily appeared in the doorway, crossing his arms.

Count Elec gulped and saluted as if he was a soldier.

"Come! We must talk!"

"Right away!"

He followed him to one of the tables.

The other members were already there.

"You need to stop fooling and worry about a possible attack!"

"Attack!? The Yankees!?"

"No! Snap out of your 18th century roleplay!"

"By your orders!"

"I'm talking about Regal!"

"That nasty man!" Iroaya fumed.

"The result of my mistakes. He'll eventually show up here, too…"

"To laugh at you, sir?" Maha deduced.

"Correct!"

"What a jerk!" Hinoken grumbled.

"You need to be on shape for that when happens!"

"You mean Net Battles, sir?"

"That, and physical skills as well. Might send cutthroats!"

"A Yankee!"

"Really. Then the Austrian Baron Gruner was also a "Yankee"?"

Wily was impatiently tapping his upper arms as he crossed them.

Count Elec gulped and ran out of arguments.

He hung his head down, ashamed.

"STOP! ROLEPLAYING!" Wily roared.

BLAM!

He brought down his right fist onto the table, making it rattle.

"Or do you need a cold shower?"

"No, sir!"

"Maha Jarama! What's the firewall status?"

"It was running normally 5 minutes ago…"

"Good. Hinoken! The backdoor!"

"No signs of lockpicking!"

"Madoi! The front door!"

"No sighs of tampering, either!"

"Good. Fire Man, Elec Man, Colored Man, Magic Man!"

"Yes, sir!"

"They will use little tricks. Go all out! Don't be impressed!"

"Understood, sir!"

A familiar chuckle echoed.

"Regal!"

Charles, who'd been sitting at another table, growled.

He stood up and readied his PET.

"It's been a while… "Father"…"

"Well? What tricks will you use this time?"

"No need for them… Dream of an endless fantasy…"

A brick shattered the entrance door, opening a hole.

Charles rushed there, grabbed the brick, and flung it back.

The sound of glass shattering rang out.

A bike engine roared and drove away.

Charles looked out through the hole.

Shards of a crystal ball were scattered before the door.

Green smoke was spreading from the shards.

"It's the crystal balls!" He growled.

"The report from our pals in Utah was accurate, indeed…"

"That stupid Regal…!"

Wily grumbled, annoyed.

"That was but a thug, anyway…"

"But it's a message. That he'll be serious next time…"

"Sir! A thug is trying to force open the backdoor!"

Magic Man reported as he looked at footage.

"I'll go!" Davis announced.

"OK!"

Charles nodded at him.

"Net Police! What are you doing there!?"

"Shit!"

"Going somewhere, my chap?"

"Outta the way, rock 'n roll punk!"

"I'll show you that I'm no "punk"…"

The FPV footage of Davis showed a thug running away.

He carried a crowbar.

Yuriko stood in the alley entrance, blocking him.

He tried to hit her, but she sidestepped and extended the right leg.

The thug tripped and fell to the ground.

"Freeze!"

Two officers ran in and aimed their service guns at the thug.

"This wasn't in the plan!" He growled.

"Because you're but a distraction, anyway…"

The officers handcuffed the thug and dragged him away.

"We caught the one with the bike, too…"

"We're collecting the shards of the crystal ball, too…"

"Is it really a hallucinogen gas?"

"No. It's tear gas…"

"Regal…!" Davis fumed.

"That voice was through a makeshift speaker and mike…"

"He sure bothered to set up an analog trick…"

"I know…"

"Maybe his real goal is elsewhere…" Charles grumbled.

"You can never be sure of anything with that man…" Yuriko warned.

"Say. Maybe he's using some place that nobody bothers about?"

"Such as?"

"His old warehouses or factories…"

"True. That could be it, too…"

"It wouldn't hurt to keep tabs on them…"

"I'll handle it. Help defend the place…"

"OK!"

Davis sighed and inspected the door.

"It's not damaged. And nothing's been set there…"

"Let's stay a while longer and see if Regal attacks again…"

"Sure. Can't take anything for granted…"

"Regal…!"

11:57 AM (Japan Time)…

"… This is the warehouse that Netto found years ago…"

"By pure dumb luck!"

"Sure…"

"Must be building up dust by now…"

"But doesn't stop someone from living here…"

"True…"

Yuriko was looking at a building from a corner.

It was a warehouse several stories tall.

Ramps connected to each level.

"He rushed down the hill and the inertia carried him up…"

"And saw the Viruses carrying things inside of it…"

"But I guess that Ijuuin had already set his eyes there…"

"That kid is sharp, after all…"

The garage door opened, and a truck drove out.

A driver in a uniform was onboard it.

A figure wearing a black raincoat sat in the passenger seat.

"… Too obvious. It's a dummy…"

"Agreed…"

She did nothing as the truck drove away, out of sight.

The garage shutter closed.

A fire alarm rang out next.

Smokes became visible.

"… Naturally…"

She rushed away from the building.

She made her way across the streets.

"Been a while, Yuriko…"

"Regal!"

Regal appeared before her, emerging from an alley.

He was wearing a black raincoat.

"Did you reconvert into an arsonist?" She mocked him.

"Maybe. I am a man of many talents…" He laughed.

"You sure bother with a defective that you wanted to throw away!"

"Where is the "Synchronizer"?"

"My! The mighty Regal, with Duo's genes, can't tell that?"

He lifted his right arm, revealing a Makarov gun inside his right sleeve.

It had a sound suppressor attached to it, too.

"Let's test if Duo's genes are as almighty as you think that they are…"

"Really. With a model gun from a bazaar?"

Regal pulled the trigger, but Yuriko dodged the bullet.

She closed distances with him and kicked the gun in his hand.

Regal lifted the left arm, which had a scout knife there.

She jumped away and collected the gun in a swift move.

Regal merely threw the knife at her.

It had a nylon string attached to the grip's base.

Yuriko glued to the wall to dodge it.

Regal ran for her as he pulled back the knife.

She drew the gun and fired.

The shot scratched the right shoulder, but Regal didn't stop.

Yuriko spun and kicked the knife away.

She tossed the gun away as well.

She tackled Regal to the floor, gripping the raincoat's neck area.

However, his face reverted to that of a "Copy Roid".

She jumped away and ran from the scene of the battle.

A short blade emerged from the chest of the robot.

It pierced the raincoat.

But since Yuriko was away, it didn't harm anyone.

She drew a handkerchief and cleansed the fingerprints from the gun.

She did the same for other items.

"What a nasty trap!" Needle Man growled.

"He must be watching classic, horror movies!" She sighed.

"… Well, well. Been a while, Oozono!"

"Clark…! One after the other…!"

Clark appeared at the entrance of the alley.

He was wearing a red raincoat.

"Regal sent me a challenge and I came to trash him, but…"

He shrugged.

"I see that you saved me the effort…"

"Be careful, least he burns your little palace to the ground, too…"

"I saw the fire of the warehouse of endless ramps, true…"

"Fancy naming. Sell it to a game maker…"

"Why not… For the next Tales series game…" He laughed.

"And? Did your precious Black Knight become Port town home knight?"

"I see that you did your research. Bravo!"

He made a mock applause.

"I take it that you gave him magic armor to make him invincible, too!"

"That wouldn't be fun. He fights with his native abilities…"

"I see. At least he's way more tolerable that that beastly fool…"

"Ose? The fool's end was so miserable. An addict drowning on drugs…"

Clark drew a detonator and pressed a button.

Something exploded not too far from there.

"There goes his weapons cache…"

"Classical!"

"By the way. Did you meet the Four Knights of the Apocalypse?"

"What next?" She sighed.

"They're about to be visited by horror incarnated…"

"Are you Regal's imitator now?"

"No. More like crushing his plans and humiliating the man!"

"I take it that you iced the one in that parallel world, too!"

"Maybe?" He chuckled.

"… I see. Turn them into a cripple…"

"Possibly…"

"Whatever. Doesn't concern me, anyway…"

"That's the smartest way to deal with it, Oozono…"

"When did you become the senior in life, anyway?"

"Who knows?"

"Yuriko! The Neo Gospel quartet is hitting the store!"

"I see. Bring out your forces to incite Regal to hit you, too…"

"Exactly!"

"And keep Freeze Man and Black Knight to guard the base…"

"I'm not that short-sighted!"

"Whatever… Have it your way…"

Clark smirked and walked away.

"Be careful of Miss Chiaki. She's eager for blood tonight!" He laughed.

He waved a hand as a parting salutation.

"That girl of the "Yosuga" reason? The elitism world?"

She sighed and shook her head, annoyed.

"Tell that to Regal!"

She left the area, headed for a bicycle station.

She used her card to rent one.

She climbed on it and began to pedal.

"Let's do this, least he sabotages the metro line…"

"I know!"

"Anything new over there?"

"Neither side is at an advantage!"

"That'll soon change…"

"Sure. If Regal bursts into the fray…"

"Keep your eyes open, least he sends something for us…"

"Count on me!"

"That man…!"

12:08 PM (Japan Time)…

"Many Clouds!"

"Swallow Cutter!"

"Cosmo Buster!"

"Thousand Spears!"

"Firearm!"

"Aqua Tower!"

"Magic Fire!"

"Lighting Flare!"

The four "WWW" Net Navis were fighting the "Neo Gospel" quartet.

Neither side was at an advantage!

"… Program Advance! Hi Cannon, Triple Slot In! Giga Cannon!"

"Program Advance! Elec Pulse, Triple Slot In! Destroy Pulse! Go!"

"Program Advance! Cannon, Hi Cannon, Mega Cannon! Slot In!"

Iroaya inserted the chips, too.

"Zeta Cannon! Let's go, Colored Man!"

"Program Advance! Iron Shell, Triple Slot In! Parallel Shell!"

Fire Man show the Giga Cannon at Swallow Man and hit him.

Swallow Man smirked, as if it was no big deal.

The Destroy Pulse did momentarily stun Yamato Man.

He soon recovered, though.

The Zeta Cannon landed five blows in Cloud Man's body, but he grinned.

The Parallel Shell inflict some damage to Cosmo Man, but he didn't flinch.

The quartet chuckled.

"Shit. They're too hard to chew!" Count Elec hissed.

"Naturally!" Hinoken fumed.

"These guys…!" Iroaya muttered.

"Patience…" Maha insisted.

"I'm keeping watch. Nobody else has intruded!" Davis reported.

"Maybe he'll use Drill Man to open a hole…" Charles suggested.

"Wouldn't be strange if he did…"

"… They're not using the "Dark Generator"…"

Wily was observing the course of the battle, too.

"They are bait, alright…"

"The issue is… Will Regal bite the bait?"

Both quartets lined up and were ready to run for each other.

A thin, green beam cut the air across the no-man's land.

A crevice formed there, and an energy wall stretched along its length.

Both groups looked towards the eastern end of the battlefield.

Laser Man stood there.

"Laser Man!" They all grumbled.

Laser Man remained immobile and silent.

"Wait. It's bait…" Freeze Man ordered.

"Must agree. Don't move!" Wily told his men.

Both sides obeyed their commanders and remained still.

Yamato Man glanced westwards and fumed.

"Another one over there…" He hushed.

Cosmo Man glanced over there, too.

Two beams cut the air behind each quartet.

Two new energy walls formed.

"They're trying to cage us…" Davis muttered.

"Must want to take us out with some weapon…"

"Maybe by destroying the floor and pulling us to the abyss…"

"Don't worry. I secured emergency exits…" Maha told them.

"Fools…"

Laser Man suddenly appeared behind Yamato Man.

The latter became a hologram.

The real one appeared next to Laser Man and thrust the spear.

Laser Man had become a hologram, too.

"Two can play this game…" Freeze Man chuckled.

Laser Man then appeared behind Magic Man.

However, he vanished and was replaced by a bronze statue of himself.

The attack smashed the statue into pieces.

"Firearm!"

"Ball!"

"Thunder Ball!"

"Magic Fire!"

The attacks hit Laser Man before he could swap with the hologram.

He grumbled and shot two beams skywards

A red "portal" opened and burning meteors rained down.

He vanished using the confusion.

"Watch out! It's going to attack again!" Wily warned.

The ground rumbled as a crack opened on the ground.

Magma gushed forth from it.

"Air Shoes!"

The quartet hovered over it as it covered the floor.

They looked past the wall.

The same was happening to the "Neo Gospel" members, too.

"That's a distraction. A stunt…" Freeze Man called out.

"… Too bad, Lazy Laser. I have Monolith Software on my side!"

Davis looked over his right shoulder.

The black slab had deflected Laser Man's attack back at the source.

Laser Man used an Area Steal and tried to bypass it.

However, the cover opened, revealing the endless tunnel behind it.

"Incomprehensible…"

He was pulled inside of it and the cover closed.

"It's but a fake, anyway…"

He drew his Justice Sword and flew towards a point higher in the air.

He stabbed something invisible, which yelped.

"Using Gravity Man? You're predictable, Dooku!"

Davis had stabbed the controller on Gravity Man's body.

The foe yelped and tried to attack.

However, a spear flew in and stabbed them from behind.

"Prism Man has come!"

Prism Man landed on the foe's back and pulled out the spear.

"Delete. Delete. Delete…!"

"I'll handle it. Chase Laser Man!" He rallied.

"Roger!"

"… My blade can deflect any of your puny attacks, hollow vessel!"

Freeze Man had come to the scene.

He used his blade to deflect an attack from a Laser Man copy.

"Like I said… Two can play this game…"

Charles was looking out into the main street.

Misaki ran towards there.

"We caught a fake courier that carried small crystal balls!"

"He sure loves that comic book!"

"You needn't tell me. Guess that he also sticks to that line…"

"Fight poison with poison? Sure. Guess that we overused it…"

"Exactly…"

"… Men! Pull out. They're coming to hit us next…"

"Roger!"

The "Neo Gospel" folk pulled out from the zone.

The magma had solidified, and it began to crack.

The ground broke into pieces and fell towards the abyss.

"… You were right, Lord Wily. They're resorting to tricks…"

Maha wasn't too surprised at the outcome.

"Regal had enough fun. He's going to become serious…"

"About time…!" Charles muttered.

"Be careful of what you wish for, Charles…" Davis warned.

"I know… Let's do this!"