D.ARK HERO

Is this it...?

I'm sorry... I... couldn't protect you.

That's enough.

!

That's enough of that talk.

This isn't over yet.

I-it's you! You're the...

Ark Ranger Black!

Let the mission begin!

You've performed your duties admirably.

Leave the rest to me and take a break.

Long live the Ark Rangers!

Enemy down.

Is it night?

How beautiful.

... a hero.

Ha, you don't have to make it sound so grand.

I only did what I was assigned to.

Most importantly, how are you feeling?

Thanks to you... everyone's safe.

That's good to hear.

Can you stand?

...

Are you scared?

Whenever my courage wavers, I look up at the sky.

Every time I glance at such infinity,

I realize that the surface, enigmatic and perilous as it may be,

is also full of unfathomable beauty.

There is another reason why I've been able to overcome my fear and keep fighting,

and it's standing right next to me.

So don't just sit there. Stand!

Lift your head to the sky.

See what you're fighting for;

See what we're all fighting for.

If you do that, you can overcome any fears you have.

Trony, we're here.

Huh? Trony?

Where is that sound coming from?

... I'm Ark Ranger Black.

What is with this hand?

Can I hold it?

...

...!

Huh? Did I do something wrong?

?!

It's just me, Trony. No need to be so surprised.

E-Elegg?

Then there's no fear you can't overcome.

Elegg, can we come in now?

Um... if now isn't a good time...

...

How long have you all been watching me?

Not long.

Let's see, how did those lines go again...?

Ark Ranger Black...

Let the mission begin!

...

"You've performed your duties admirably."

“Leave the rest to me and take a break.”

Stop...

"Long live the Ark Rangers!"

...

That's a pretty cool movie.

You should invite me next time you watch it.

Elegg, close the door for a moment.

Huh?

Last Will and Testament: Revision 429.

Here lies Trony, a Nikke affiliated with the Electric Shock Squad,

along with fellow Nikkes Elegg, Exia, and Maiden.

Trony...?

It will all end quickly and painlessly.

Er... I better get going.

I just remembered that

I had something to do...

Don't worry. This will all be over quickly.

Trony, what's that you're holding?

Is... is that a welder? You shouldn't come so close holding that, you know...

Hehe...

Trony...?

Hehe, hehehe...

You're starting to freak me out, Trony!

Wake up, Noob.

The time has come.

...

...

...

Not now, Noob,

we're raiding.

BlackRose, a little help?

You're the only one in our party

who can deal any damage right now.

You're our last hope.

You got it. Leave it to me.

I, BlackRose, will not let you down, Psycontrol!

That's the spirit!

All right, BoomGuy, when I tell you,

all you've gotta do is use your special move.

Then there's gonna be one heck of an explosion! Kaboom!

Phase 1: Clear!

Hooray!

Phew... Now I see why no one has defeated this boss yet.

We're only in its first phase, and it's already lobbing all these insta-kill attacks at us.

We did it, guys!

Commander? When did you get here?

Oh, okay.

Anyway, you should get ready.

You've got to join our raid party.

No way!

I'm a tank, then Exia and Elegg are both DPS.

With a combination like that, we'll never make it past the third phase.

If we want to clear the final stage, we'll need a dependable healer like you.

If we don't have a healer in our party, we can only go so far.

Oh... Trony...

Do you see that over there?

Uh...

She's been like that

ever since we saw her imitating Ark Ranger Black.

Hey!

You said you would keep that a secret!

Oh, whoops!

Pretend you didn't hear any of that, Commander.

Ugh...

I hate you.

I don't see why you're so upset.

I thought your impression of Ark Ranger Black was really cool. Nothing weird about it at all.

What?

?

Commander...

All I did was recite a few lines back from the movie.

I wasn't impersonating her or anything...

It wasn't...

Wha...?! How did you know...

...!

That's right!

I've been dying to see it ever since I heard the news.

I snagged the DVD as soon as we finished filming our interview.

After we resolved that whole issue with the power outage in the Ark,

we've had a deluge of requests from media outlets wanting to interview us.

Some of them even got directly in touch with the Central Government.

You're telling me. So anyway, Syuen said I had to participate.

I tried to bow out, but she kept pestering me until I went.

Well, about that...

Hello, I'm Elegg from the Electric Shock Squad.

And to my left is...

...!

Uh, I-I'm...

Eleggtrontic Shock squad...

No, that's not it... Electrrony Squad Shock...

Uh... what's my name, again?

Trony.

... A bit short for a self-introduction.

...

Trony? You okay?

Electric squad shock's... Electriny sock... Eleggtrick...

She's gonna be like this for a while, so you'll probably have to do some editing on your end.

...

Are we free to say whatever we want this time as well?

Okay, thanks.

Did you hear that, Trony?

Elec... Huh?

Even if you make a mistake, they'll edit around it,

so you don't have to be nervous.

You're free to say whatever comes to mind.

Okay, I'll try...

We're all able to speak freely here, so go ahead.

...

Good grief. Can't this bucket of bolts even spit out her own name?

Or is she just gonna blurt out nonsense all day?

...

Hmm? Oh, that's...

Commander...

are you free tomorrow, by any chance?

I mean... if you don't have any spare time, it's okay.

Y-you are?

But why?

...

... That's a relief. Hehe.

Got it!

... Sorry.

Okay, thanks.

!

Maiden? Is everything all right?

Can you... say that again, Trony?

... Thanks?

I'm so happy that I decided to play this game.

Uh... what's going on?

BlackRose isn't moving...

The game isn't important right now.

What do you mean

it's not important?!

Trony thanked me...

I'm so touched.

Huh? I barely said anything.

Can I hug you?

You already are...

Oh, sorry. My arms moved without me realizing it.

...

Emergency! The Tank is gone!

Woohoo!

Wooooow!

We did it! We finally did it!

?

Exia, do you see that?

Oh my gosh!

It's... it's BOOM! It's really BOOM!

So that's why the damage meter has been acting so funny!

I should have known Elegg couldn't help herself.

She's gone and installed BOOM inside Final Quest.

Hehehe, so Final Quest can run BOOM! This truly is a god-tier game.

Yeah...

Maiden, can you put a stop to this, please?

I'll try.

BOOM! BOOM!! BOOM!!!

Everyone, if you could please concentrate...

...

I suppose you're right. There's no sense in continuing with things as they are.

Fine. We'll take on the last phase another time.

I'm sorry... I could have done more.

Please, Trony, no apologies necessary.

You've only just started playing this game.

I'd hardly expect you to be an expert right off the bat.

Maiden.

Yes?

Could you stop touching her? You're making her uncomfortable.

Sorry, but honestly, my hands have a mind of their own.

Anyway, that's enough Final Quest for today.

Good job, everyone.

Excuse me?

We're not done here. Now we've got to play some BOOM!

She's right, Commander. We're just starting,

so if you could sit back down, that'd be great.

...

Dang it!

Argh!

Hehe, you've got to do better than that, Maiden.

I'm trying my best!

...

There must be some kind of bug in the game.

That would explain why Elegg isn't losing any health.

I think it's just because she's good at avoiding attacks...

That's impossible!

How about I try and play hands-free?

Honestly though, I think I'd still win, hehe.

!

No. You don't have to do that.

Let's go again. It's time to get serious.

If I could proffer one piece of advice, Maiden,

smashing the buttons blindly won't activate any of the special moves.

I know that!

Elegg, how about going a little easy on her...

I was thinking the same thing.

No! Don't go easy on me.

I knew you wouldn't want me to, so I haven't been.

I'm getting tired of this game, though.

Do you want to swap, Trony?

No.

What?

We're not done here.

I want one more rematch.

You've been saying that for the last two hours!

Last round for real this time!

... Probably.

Huh? Who's calling me?

Gah! It's the boss!

Can I answer this?

Go ahead.

Excuse me for a moment.

Hmhm.

Yes, Boss?

No, I'm not playing games again!

Yes.

Sorry? Right now?

... Okay. I'll be right there.

What's wrong?

Uh...

I think I've got to go.

Yeah, I think that'd be good.

...

You're leaving already?

Aw, don't worry. We'll see you again soon.

Of course.

We've still got one raid left for us to clear.

Say it with me now, guys:

Our fight is just beginning!

Our fight is just beginning!

Just beginning!

Just beginning!

Just beginning!

Wait, Maiden, didn't our fight finish already?

It's quiet now.

...

Was it always this quiet?

That's right.

Trony is a specialist when it comes to both electricity and electronics.

Thanks to her, not only were we able to resolve the power outage, but we did it with a BOOM, hehe.

Do you really think I'm a specialist?

Hehe!

We believe so. As long as the converter we invented is in play,

any outages should be a thing of the past.

However, power may temporarily be down whenever we have to inspect the converter.

So if there comes a time when your power goes out, don't panic.

Stay calm, hang tight until we've finished examining the converter, and everything will be fine.

...

...!

A hero...

Hero...

Trony?

Are you okay?

...

Yeah, I'm fine.

Are you sure?

I'm just a little tired, that's all.

Well...

You have been pushing yourself awfully hard recently,

what with filming all these promos and interviews.

And that's on top of all the power source research you've been doing.

Speaking of which, you've been going to the lab pretty much every day, haven't you?

Yeah, I have.

Hmm...

Here, I want you to have this.

Wait, is this...?

Tomorrow is your first day off in ages.

Why don't you go treat yourself to a movie?

I was planning on just taking a short break in the morning before going to the lab...

No, no, you should take advantage of your time off and get some proper R&R.

But then you'll be here on your own.

And?

I'll get in a nice BOOM session while you're not here, hehe.

Is that all you ever d—

Anyway, I'll be taking it easy myself tomorrow, so don't you worry your pretty little head.

Oh! By the way, you said that you'd finished that report I was asking about, right?

Yeah. I'll bring it to you later.

Thanks. I'll give it a once-over tomorrow.

All right.

... Just don't work too hard.

Huh? How come there are two?

I knew you'd turn around halfway to the theater and make some excuse about it being crowded or something silly.

So, please get the Commander to tag along and make sure you actually turn up.

... Okay, fine. I'll go.

Hehe, have a good time then!

Thank you... for thinking of me.

Hold on, did you just say the Commander is coming with me?

...

Hey! Are you okay?!

Sorry, I just imagined asking the Commander to see a movie together

and got a bit light-headed.

Could you... ask him for me by any chance?

Okay, fine. I'll do it.

I might just be able to glean some clues from this.

Guess I should just dive in.

Evaluation of the peculiar entity Material H, by Mana.

Material H possesses a structure and form that is strikingly similar to that of the Ark,

and appears to have been created by Raptures.

In fact, one could even venture to deem it a miniature version of the Ark.

Material H generates energy by assimilating Nikkes,

which is remarkably similar to how first generation Raptures reinforced their power sources

via assimilating organic matter.

In conclusion,

it is increasingly clear that other forces beside us know about the true nature of how this power source functions.

...

Bah, this is no good.

We already knew there had to be others who knew about all this

besides Trony and I.

So why am I so shaken up?

I can't...

Phew...

I can't afford to be frightened like this.

I've got too much to do.

That's right.

There is much to be done.

E-Ether?

Why are you so surprised?

This isn't the first time I've shown up unannounced.

You're not feeling uneasy about anything, are you?

Who, me? Uneasy? No way... hehe...

Your acting skills leave much to be desired.

...

I'm just messing with you, hehe.

I merely came to check on the progress of the latest task M.M.R. assigned us.

So relax, or else I might misinterpret it as you being suspicious of me.

... Okay.

So, when do you think the equipment will be ready?

It should be able to be delivered next week.

We'll let you know as soon as it's finished.

That's a relief.

What's that supposed to mean?

I'm merely suggesting that you're doing a commendable job with the tasks assigned to you.

Of course. You shouldn't expect anything less from us.

Good, so long as you can keep it up in the future.

Come again?

The top brass are keeping an eye on you, you know.

They're paying close attention as to whether the Electric Shock squad is doing well.

... Is that so?

It's a little overwhelming if I'm being honest.

You know how Trony and I hate being in the spotlight.

That hardly sounds like the words of a pair of "heroes".

At any rate, your primary goal is to ensure that the Ark remains operational.

I trust that you'll do everything in your power to make that happen.

You know as well as I do that there's nothing

the higher-ups aren't willing to do for the sake of the Ark's survival.

I know it all too well.

Good. Well then, keep up the good work.

I hope that report is making for good reading.

What have we gotten ourselves into, Trony...

Is everything okay, my friend?

...

Just say the word, and I can take over.

...

I... I don't understand.

Fine, I'll go over it again:

We've received orders from a senior official in the Central Government.

There are individuals inside the Ark that are planning a terrorist attack as we speak.

A directive has been issued for the Extrinsic Squad to secure the targets,

and hand them over to M.M.R.-affiliated Central Government forces as soon as possible.

...

Hmm...

I have a proposition. How about I handle this mission solo?

I see no reason for Maiden to join.

I can see this job through myself.

Boss...

Are we sure that Electric Shock is the one behind this conspiracy?

We're positive.

Elegg and Trony are your next targets.

You sit here and hang tight.

I'll take care of this. Be right back.

No.

I'm taking charge of this operation.

I need to.

You shouldn't punish yourself unduly...

Guillotine.

Please.

... Very well.

However, if anything happens, I will intervene.

That is the one thing I cannot, and will not, compromise on.

All right. Thank you.

...

Hey, Commander.

Yeah.

I hope nobody recognizes me.

Just in case, though, I've been practicing my autograph.

How come they're only showing footage of Elegg?

Oh, sure.

Before we do that though, could you help me with something?

Do you remember before,

when you asked me why I'd circled that date on the calendar?

That's the day I first joined the Electric Shock Squad.

It was also the first time I ever met Elegg.

Elegg has been doing so much for me all these years,

and so I wanted to give her something for once.

I was trying to think of what to get her as a present,

but then I realized I've never actually given a gift to anyone before.

So I was hoping I could get some suggestions from you.

Elegg is all about BOOM, so I was thinking maybe something related to that.

A BOOM Guy plushie, maybe? Would that be weird?

The shopping center?

Oh boy... let me take a few deep breaths.

Could... could you give me a few days to prepare mentally?

...

But—

Hello, is there something you're looking for?

!

No! I remember it all!

That traumatic interview, the panic of being bombarded with questions.

The humiliation of not being able to string words together and being sent to the orphanage...

Umm... is everything all right, Miss?

Sorry, but Elegg recently cleaned us out,

so we're all out of stock.

Sure thing. If you need anything else, let me know.

What should we do now?

I dunno...

She's already got everything you could possibly need thanks to all the devices our squad has made.

I'm not sure...

It's kinda pathetic when you think about it.

Elegg understands me more than I understand myself,

but I know next to nothing about her.

...

Hold on, what time is it?

!

Oh my gosh! It's nearly time for the movie premiere!

All right.

Time to drag me to the movie theater.

Sssh.

Long live the Ark Rangers!

!

Whoo!

I merely completed the mission which was assigned to me.

All the help I gave you tonight,

will only be known by you, me, and the dark sky above us.

Woohoo!

Ahhh, what a hero!

Ark Ranger Black is so incredible.

Absolutely. What an incredible experience.

This movie is always a blast to take in.

Commander, Trony. It's been a while.

?!

Ark Ranger Black?!

That's me. Did you enjoy the movie?

H-how do you know our names?

You both came to my fan meet and greet at the Ark Gaming Expo.

Commander...

I can officially die and rest in peace now.

If you would, please pass my last will and testament, revision No. 430, onto Elegg.

Oh, right...

Trony,

I heard you and Elegg got the Ark out of quite the pickle.

Oh, th-that? That was nothing compared to what you do.

All we did was repair a convertor and restore the power.

Nothing worth praising, really...

If the Ark fell into darkness,

the glimmer of hope amongst the citizens would likewise be snuffed out.

You kept that hope alive. If that isn't worthy of being deemed a hero, then what is?

I must express my heartfelt gratitude to you.

I... kept hope alive?

No,

I...

I'm no hero. Not like you.

Everyone says I am,

but I'm not the gallant figure they make me out to be.

You're not like me, you say?

Tell me then, what kind of hero am I, exactly?

You save people,

and you've rescued the Ark from the brink of catastrophe countless times.

Haha, is that so?

Do you have a moment?

Well, I do need to pick out a gift for Elegg...

It won't take too much of your time,

I promise.

That's enough for today, I think.

We can end our patrol here.

Well done, you two.

If I have time.

The unfortunate thing is that I typically don't have time to spare.

Too true.

However, seeing everyone smile is the greatest reward I could ask for.

It does make you feel good.

Then let me ask you again, Trony.

What kind of hero am I?

Do I spend every waking moment saving people's lives and averting catastrophes?

Or, am I simply someone who, as we just saw, performs small acts of service?

...

Trony, a hero is someone

who fully embodies their own beliefs,

instead of living their life according to the expectations of others.

Living by your own code and principles is what makes a true hero.

You don't have to be exactly like me.

You don't have to be this majestic figure that people envision you as.

It's not important how other people see you.

You need to define for yourself what justice means to you.

You have to figure out for yourself

what kind of hero you want to be,

and what principles you want to follow.

What principles I want to follow...

I know this all sounds very dramatic and lofty,

but I'm just cribbing from a speech that Red gave me way back, which made me end up joining the Ark Rangers.

At the time,

I thought I'd become a hero capable of empowering others, like Red.

Heh, I'm not used to talking this much.

Anyway, I think I've made my point, so I'll say goodbye here.

Um... There is something I wanted to say.

What's that?

You are that kind of hero. You do empower others.

...

Er... never mind. I don't really know what I'm sa—

Thank you.

Let's part ways here. Hopefully, we'll have a chance to meet again in the future.

Hmm?

... I see.

... I understand what you're saying.

Sorry, but may I excuse myself?

I've decided on what to get her.

I will.

Oh, and...

thank you for today.

That should do it.

I hope she likes it.

...

Hey, Maiden.

Why'd you have us meet at such a creepy place?

Are you getting back at me for yesterday?

Hey, you don't look so good. Did something bad happen?

Yes.

Something bad has happened.

Maiden, you're now officially part of the team.

Maiden, was it? Nice to meet you.

Don't just stand there, Trony. Say hi.

H-hi. Nice to meet you.

Elegg, meeting you has brought me so much joy.

I hope you know that.

But why...

Boss. It's Maiden.

Requesting authorization to remove the mask.

Yes. Target has been secured.

Yes.

I'm carrying out the directive now.

...

Maiden, are you crying?

Is everything okay?

Freeze

I hoped that you would be scared of me like all the others.

Target has been restrained.

Transferring to the designated coordinates now.

...

This has never happened before...

I hope Elegg's doing okay...

Elegg?

Sorry to disappoint you.

I know you'd rather see Elegg right now.

I should have figured that your dormitory would be just as much of a pigsty as your lab.

I can see now why Syuen is always moaning about cleanliness, or rather, the lack thereof.

What are you doing here?

I'm here to give you information.

Information that I'm sure you're eager to know.

?

Elegg's whereabouts.

!

Caught your interest, have I?

Do you know where Elegg is?

I do.

Then tell me where she is!

But,

It might be rather shocking to hear.

Are you sure?

What are you talking about?

You know, Trony, that's the thing about confidential documents.

They usually contain information that isn't meant to be seen by just anyone,

and becoming privy to such information could put you in harm's way.

One of the higher ups noticed you two meddling with M.M.R's Material H report,

and now they know that you and Elegg are aware of

the truth behind the Ark's power source.

I-I don't understand...

That's why Elegg was apprehended.

Orders came down yesterday from the Central Government to M.M.R.

We're to capture both you and Elegg, as you two are orchestrating a terrorist attack.

!

Oh, don't misunderstand me.

I didn't come here to take you in. Quite the opposite, actually.

I came here to give you a chance.

You have two options:

The first is to say that Elegg is the sole individual responsible for planning the attack,

and that you didn't know anything about it.

If you do that,

I'll be sure to do whatever I can to clear your name.

After that, it's quite simple:

you forget everything you know about the power source,

and simply work hard to keep things going just as they are.

Naturally, in order to maintain your image as a heroic figure,

you won't be able to associate with Elegg ever again.

If you want these charges against you to be lifted, that's a sacrifice you'll have to be willing to make.

...

What's the other option?

Here.

These are the coordinates where Elegg is being held.

They're scheduled to begin interrogating her later today.

As soon as that's finished, she will be disposed of.

The second option is that you personally attempt to go and rescue Elegg yourself,

but you don't have much time.

If you get caught, your memory will be wiped, or you will be disposed of as well.

Of course, even if you do manage to rescue Elegg, both of you will forever be fugitives on the run.

There's not much time, Trony.

Make your choice.

Show me what you can do. Can you do that for me?

I could ask you the same thing,

No. 7.

Who did you come to see?

Trony? Elegg?

Both?

Let me give you a little piece of advice.

Don't get yourself mixed up with those two.

So you don't know. All right, let me fill you in.

Elegg and Trony were planning a terrorist attack.

As a result, the higher-ups at M.M.R. have ordered us

to arrest both Electric Shock members,

and have their memories wiped.

More accurately, just one will have their memory wiped.

The other will be disposed as an example to the rest.

The top brass wants to mitigate any and all potential risks within the Ark.

You seem to trust them quite a bit.

Yes, it's just as you said. They had no part in any purported terrorist attack.

No, their crime was of another nature.

Would you like to know what it was that they did?

*Sigh* ... you're no fun.

Let me guess: You intend on saving them, is that it?

Even for you, associating with these two can only end poorly.

I figured you would go that route.

It's a good thing I prepared another copy.

Yes. Elegg is being held there.

Trony rushed out not too long ago, intent on rescuing her.

You should get a move on.

Noob.

N... oob.

If you're getting these, please respond.

Ah, you can hear me?

Good.

I overheard everything you and Ether just said.

Let's go get Elegg and Trony.

But,

You said all you're doing is helping deliver Trony's gift to Elegg.

Well, it's the same for me.

I'm the party leader,

so I've got to do my due diligence

and round up my party members who didn't show up for a raid.

That raid isn't going to clear itself, you know.

I'll lead the way.

Operator Exia is on the case!

It's been a while since I've done one of these...

Noob, you see that building at the end of the alleyway?

That's where the coordinates are leading.

If I may, I'd like to make a suggestion.

We could use a cardboard box.

Haven't you ever played a stealth game before?

If you hide inside the box and move whenever the guards aren't looking,

you'll be able to sneak past unnoticed.

Sorry, but could you please close the box?

...?!

Commander?! What are you—

Wow, I never thought anyone would actually try that.

Exia?

You have?

Wha... what's going on?

Also, I don't want to hear anything

about how it's dangerous for me to get mixed up in this.

Noob and I have already discussed it and come to an agreement.

...

... Thank you. I'll be sure to give this to her.

That's the spirit!

It sure would be.

In fact, while you were deliberating whether or not to get in that box,

I took it upon myself to do a bit of research.

Once I hack into those surveillance androids, they should be offline for about 10 seconds, after which they'll recover.

I hope you two have got your running shoes on.

Ready!

All right, hacking into the enemy system now... done!

It's game time!

That's stage 1 cleared.

Now moving on to stage 2.

The number one thing is not to get detected by any enemies.

On top of that, the guards inside that building are human.

They're known for shooting first and asking questions later. Exercise extreme caution.

We will.

I've had a look at the security camera footage along with the building blueprints.

This place seems to be a deserted M.M.R. facility.

I'll guide you to the points where Elegg is most likely being held.

Erm... before that,

could you wait a moment?

Left, right, A, B...

There we go.

What the... what kind of gamepad is that, anyway?

It's a function I incorporated

in case I was ever too lazy to get up

and turn off the lights while playing a game.

That's got to be the most impressive gamepad of all time!

I was wrong for talking smack about Missilis before.

What other functions does it have?

It can install BOOM on any nearby electronic devices.

!

It also pairs with them automatically.

!!!

So... could you tell us where to go?

Oh, sorry! I got a bit carried away thinking about the gamepad.

All right, let's do this.

Stage 2, we're coming for you!

What's going to happen to me?

...

Whatever this is, I hope this all ends with me.

Elegg, I'm coming in.

Maiden?

I thought the interrogation was over.

Or have you come to finish the job?

No.

I just wanted to talk to you.

Is that okay?

You want to talk with me?

If you're not up to it, I understand, but...

Do as you please.

It's a bit dirty, but if you look hard enough, there should be a spot where you can sit.

It feels a bit strange for me to be playing host, hehe.

... All right.

Well? What did you want to talk about?

Ah, yes. Right.

I heard what you said during the interrogation.

How the planned attack on the Ark was all your doing.

That's right. I'm a heinous criminal.

You ought to be careful.

Nothing good will come out of associating with me.

Even Trony, who had nothing to do with any of this, was mistaken as a co-conspirator.

Elegg, it's just you and me right now.

I asked the other to give us a few moments alone...

before it's all over.

You can tell me the truth.

Please.

If you're honest with me, I might be able to help somehow.

I just told you.

Associating with me will only bring misfortune on yourself.

Unless you want to be accused of being a terrorist too?

...

This is for the best.

I can take responsibility for everything and exonerate Trony of all these trumped-up charges.

Surely there's a better way? There has to be.

I don't know what's going on right now,

but one thing I'm sure of is that you're no terrorist.

It's not too late to come clean

and explain that this has all been one colossal mix-up.

Even if I did that, it wouldn't change anything.

What are you talking about? For one thing, you wouldn't be sent to the scrapyard!

I'm sorry.

I don't want you to get involved.

What do you mean?

Trony...?

This is a feature I added in case it gets hot while gaming.

Uh-huh...

In case Syuen tries to call us while we're in the middle of a good game.

Nice!

Exia, can you get us through this door?

Sure thing. Fortunately, I'm skilled at picking locks.

Enter the right hallway and go up the stairs.

Wow, it's cleaner in here than I thought it'd be.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Stage 2 cleared!

All we have to do is pass through this hallway, and we'll reach the room where Elegg is being held.

Let's get a move on!

Just a second, Commander.

Look over there...

Maiden?

How did you know...?

Are you here to rescue Elegg too?

You're all here for Elegg?

Huh?

Target secured.

Deploying Kotodama as ordered.

Maiden?

Trony, due to Elegg's testimony, charges against you have been dropped.

However, the order issued to me has not been rescinded yet.

What are you saying?

I'm warning you.

If you come any closer,

I'll have no choice but to arrest you.

If you stop now, you can remain a hero.

So please, don't come any closer.

...

No, Commander.

Running away won't change anything.

Maiden,

When I was young,

people often asked us about our dreams.

Some of them say that

they want to be doctors who save lives.

Others proclaim they want to be a hero who saves the day,

like the Ark Rangers.

As for me,

My answer is always the same.

I would answer while looking up towards the sky above me:

My dream is to be able to look at the sky.

The other kids would laugh and make fun of me.

"What kind of a stupid dream is that?"

Every time that happened, I would promise myself

that someday, I would see the real sky.

Underneath the bright light of the sun, I would take in the vast world before me.

Back then, I didn't know.

I had no idea that the only light I would end up chasing

would be the glow of a television screen hooked up to a gaming console.

I wanted to see the world in all its majesty,

but I ended up becoming petrified of it.

...

I thought I would become the protagonist of the story,

but I turned out to be barely a footnote. How could I have known?

...

But you know.

A friend of mine always reached out to me, saying, "You are a shining star.",

and that it was not fitting for me to be cooped up in a dark room,

no matter what I was afraid of right now.

She told me, "You can certainly overcome it

with your strength.".

I'm not that kind of hero, and I don't want to be.

If being a hero means I'm unable to help those who helped me when I needed it most,

then I'd rather not be one at all.

A true hero doesn't live according to the expectations of others,

but act according to their own principles.

So Maiden, I'm asking you for a favor.

Step aside, and let us go to Elegg.

I knew it from the very beginning.

I knew there was no way either of you could have intended the Ark any harm.

And yet, even though I was positive neither of you were Irregulars,

Still I...

I...

...!

I'm sorry. I just can't stand seeing you cry.

Elegg is inside there.

She's trapped in there, and she's trying to take all the blame.

Go and help her.

I will.

Go then. She's waiting for you.

Thank you.

I know I don't deserve any of your mercy, but...

Is there any chance—

Are... are you sure?

That's right! Plus you and Elegg still have a score to settle with Iron Punch.

Hehe,

you're right...

...

Don't worry about me, Commander. Go to Elegg.

I won't stand in your way, nor will anyone else. I'll see to that.

Are we gonna get to see her again...?

Boss. It's Maiden.

I'm sorry.

The mission has failed.

Elegg. I'm here.

Trony?

Why? Why did you come here?

I wanted to give this to you.

What the...

Did I spoil it on my way here?

Forget about that. That's not what's important.

You can't be here right now.

It might not be too late. You need to—

No.

This is what's most important to me.

?

Letting you know my true feelings is what matters most.

Trony...

...

Aren't you afraid of what will happen to us both?

There are people out there who want to keep the truth about the power source hidden.

They'll hunt us down and show us no mercy. We could disappear without a trace at any moment.

I remember something you once told me.

You said that no matter what fears grip me now,

I'll be able to overcome them.

No matter how much time it takes.

Be it months, even years, I will absolutely, positively be able to overcome them.

!

It doesn't matter if I'm scared,

because I know that it will pass.

So take my hand,

Elegg.

Elegg?

Yes?

I'm glad to have you with me.

Hehe.

...

Yes, me too... I'm glad we're back together, heh.

Oh yes, absolutely.

Isn't friendship a wonderful thing?

I'm the supervisor, aren't I? Why shouldn't I be here?

Didn't I tell you?

Someone high up in M.M.R. ordered that

all members of Electric Shock be arrested.

Correct.

Even so, you have nothing to worry about.

I have no intention of interfering with those two.

They've shown us that they have potential, and for that, they should be rewarded.

With that being said, how about we make a deal?

You stand to lose nothing.

If you play along,

I'll make the following report to M.M.R. when I get back:

Elegg and Trony's memories were successfully wiped,

and I will personally see to it that neither of them will uncover the truth behind the Ark's power source again.

If they ask why one of them wasn't disposed of,

I have an ace up my sleeve for that, so worry not.

What do you say, No. 7? Are you interested?

Simple.

Offer support to both Elegg and Trony

so that they can continue to uncover further secrets behind the Ark's operation.

Be a guardian angel for them both.

Me?

I merely want to see what Nikkes are capable of.

How far a Nikke will go while knowingly disobeying orders.

I want to know more about their potential.

I'll take your silence as a "yes".

Very well, I'll go and give that report to the higher-ups.

Don't forget your end of the deal.

It won't be easy. Another interloper is also keeping tabs on Elegg and Trony.

Not that it's anything to fret excessively over. I'm simply saying you'll have to put in some effort.

Oh, and tell the two of them that I have high hopes for them

and what they'll accomplish in the future.

Oh...

Whoa!

Do you see that, Elegg?

Yes. I see it.

It's so high up...

And so... infinite.

It's totally different from the Dome of Eternity.

That must be why Ark Ranger Black said what she did about the sky:

"Every time I glance at such infinity,

I realize that the surface, enigmatic and perilous as it may be,

is also full of unfathomable beauty."

The reason why we've conquered our fear, why we've been fighting all this time,

has been right here beside us all along.

There's a reason why certain lines end up becoming famous.

Yeah, I guess so. It's breathtaking.

Mmm.

Trony, it's time that we say goodbye.

Thank you for coming for me, even though it was dangerous.

Be careful on your way back.

You too.

It's like the Commander said,

we have to act like our memories have been wiped.

That's the only way we'll be able to avoid going through all this again.

I know.

Don't worry,

I'll keep an eye out

for any suspicious Nikkes

while I'm in the crystalline area.

I know, but still... I worry about you.

I'm not worried.

If anything dangerous happens, you and the Commander will come rescue me.

In fact, I'm excited.

We finally might be able to find a new power source!

I know. I really hope you find it.

As for the Ark, I'll leave that in your capable hands.

All right, I'll keep my eyes peeled and make sure the power source doesn't go haywire.

Also...

I'll let you know if Maiden gets in touch.

... Okay.

I'll be back.

So don't just sit there. Stand!

Lift your head to the sky.

See what you're fighting for;

See what we're all fighting for.

Then there's no fear you can't overcome.