Episode 14: "Confrontation with Zero"

Eiji Todoroki
"We should get out of here."

The moment he finished his sentence, Eiji dashed in a surprisingly swift manner toward one of the escape pods.

Zero
"Oh, my."

It only took a moment for Zero to realize what he was attempting to do.
In response, two floating objects appeared almost instantaneously.
They could only be described as giant drones that took the form of hands.
A left hand, as well as a right.
The hands moved with precision, as if they were Zero's own.
It was the left hand that moved first, grabbing Eiji's entire body.

Eiji Todoroki
"Gaaah!"

The right hand followed up with a double slap.

Eiji Todoroki
"Guuuuh! Urrrk!"

Eiji's body was then carelessly tossed back to the ground where he'd been standing, almost as if he were a toy.

Eiji Todoroki
"Hnnngh..."

Zero
"No need to worry your pretty little heads. I'll send you back to the surface eventually.
However, since it seems you're all unable to focus on the conversation at hand... I'm just going to take a moment to eliminate these distractions."

This time, Zero waved his own right hand in the direction of the escape pods.
Then, at that moment—

(Whirrrrr.)

The sound of a machine starting up in the distance could suddenly be heard.
A moment later, a thin beam of light came through the ceiling and proceeded to pierce one of the escape pods.
...It was a laser.
Before anyone had the chance to process what was happening, the ensuing explosion had destroyed the escape pod.

Yo Kuronaka
"What the...?!"

The assault didn't stop there.
One by one, the escape pods were destroyed by an onslaught of laser beams that had descended from above.
(Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!)
All they could do for the moment was endure the intensity from the heat of the blasts.

It wasn't long before all the escape pods in the hangar had been utterly annihilated.

Zero
"Now that there aren't any other distractions... shall we continue our conversation?"

Zero's tone remained even, despite all the destruction that had just transpired.

Kazuki Aoyama
"W-Were those... lasers from Space Envoy 3?"

Kazuki choked out the question that had briefly gotten stuck in his throat.

Tsuruko Semba
"How's that even possible? We already destroyed Space Envoy 3's master controls, didn't we?"

Zero
"Oh, oops... I would've liked to keep that part a secret for a bit longer."

Zero expressed a tinge of disappointment as he scratched his head.

Zero
"What you destroyed was nothing more than an external device.
It's not something I had any need for, given that I can control the satellite directly with my mind."

Tsuki Iroha
"With... your mind?"

Zero
"Yes, which means your invasion of 24 City was little more than a waste of time. Such a shame, really."

There was an air of nonchalance to Zero's explanation.

Hyakuichitaro Senju
"Wh-What? How is that even possible?!"

Enoki Yukigaya
"Aww, poor Hyakuichitaro!"

Hyakuichitaro Senju
"We're in the same situation, y'know!"

Yo Kuronaka
"What... What exactly are you after?"

Though it took effort, Yo managed to speak up.

Yo Kuronaka
"You stole my memories and locked me up in that place...
You're just toying with our lives, so what the hell are you actually after?!"

Zero
"Stole your memories and locked you up?
I didn't expect that you'd see it that way."

Zero shrugged his shoulders.

Zero
"My goal's been the same all along. I just wanted us to play a fun... game."'

Yo Kuronaka
"What do you mean?"

Zero
"I've designed an exciting game, packed with blood-pumping thrills. The ultimate game, if you will."

As he spoke, Zero's tone grew triumphant.

Zero
"A game should always have high stakes, played with your life on the line, don't you think?
I don't see much point in playing otherwise. That's the sort of game I long for.
I'm sure you think the same way. You want to play that kind of game, right?"

Yo Kuronaka
"Is this... some kind of a joke to you?"

The longer Zero spoke, the more Yo could feel his anger threatening to bubble over.

Yo Kuronaka
"You wasted two whole years of my life by locking me away in that village!"

As Yo shouted, it was apparent that his rage was being channeled through those words.

Yo Kuronaka
"What part of that was even a game? What did trapping me there have to do with anything at all?!"

Zero
"On the contrary! It actually played a sizable part."

Zero declared bluntly.

Zero
"You're a very precious adversary, after all, Yo."

Yo Kuronaka
"An... adversary?"

Zero
"As we speak, all the cities of Neo Tokyo are being reborn as places where games decide every last outcome.
Granted, I was the one who enacted that law after becoming the surface's ruler."

Everything was being decided by games?
Yo couldn't even begin to understand just what that meant.

Yo Kuronaka
"Y-You've gotta be kidding me! Do you really expect us to believe that?!"

Koishi Kohinata
"Um... He's actually telling the truth."

At the sound of a meek, trembling voice, Yo whipped his head around to look at Koishi.

Yo Kuronaka
"Huh?"

Eiji Todoroki
"Every citizen of Neo Tokyo's cities have gotten caught up in this guy's games..."

Eiji spoke through all the swelling on his face to express his disdain.

Yo Kuronaka
"So you're telling me that kids, adults—every single person in Neo Tokyo are all being forced to do this?
They're really stuck playing ridiculous games like I had to in that village?"

Zero
"No, no. That village was more of a training facility. I would never enact such simple games for those on the surface."

The innocent way in which Zero explained it only made it sound all the more ominous.

Zero
"A real game has no meaning when your life's not on the line. Were you not paying attention to what I said earlier?
Living in that village and going on your little adventures before escaping with your allies..."

Zero spoke as if he were licking his lips in anticipation.

Zero
"I've been waiting for you to grow stronger, Yo."

Yo felt all the strength drain from his body as he proceeded to listen to Zero's words.
Everything he'd been through... Living in that village, the way his allies had rescued him, and even the way they'd been stopped here in their tracks...

Had all of it really been part of Zero's plan all along?

Tsuki Iroha
"Th-This guy is totally nuts..."

Tsuki's voice trembled as she spoke.
Zero paid her absolutely no mind and continued to speak to Yo as if he were the only one in the room.

Zero
"You're special to me, Yo. You're nothing like all of those cowards on the surface. You have what it takes to play with me.
That's why you need to get stronger by clearing the games in each city..."

From how he spoke, it seemed that his eyes must have shone brightly, like that of a child.
And with that same childlike vigor, he continued on.

Zero
"So that we might play the ultimate game together!"

Silence fell between them.
It seemed that Yo couldn't utter even a single word.
Though he could understand the words Zero spoke, Yo found he couldn't comprehend or empathize with the sentiments at all.

Zero
"There's no need to fret.
I anticipated that making such a journey alone might make you uneasy, so I arranged for these rebels to be your allies."

Hyakuichitaro Senju
"...The hell? You're sayin' we need to play your stupid games, too?!
Cut the crap! Why would we—"

Zero
"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but..."

Zero cut Hyakuichitaro off with an icy tone.

Zero
"The possibility of... losing a few participants was considered when planning this game."

Hyakuichitaro Senju
"Hngh..."

Whatever boldness Hyakuichitaro displayed evaporated quickly in light of Zero's response.

Zero
"If you want to avoid elimination, I'd suggest you learn when to hold your tongue."

Yo Kuronaka
"..."

The situation was quickly growing to be entirely too dangerous.
Something deep inside Yo told him that he had to escape somehow.
He wasn't sure if that was due to good instincts, or if it was tied to his lost memories.

(What should we do?
What would even be the right move to make to get away from this madman?)

All Yo could do was focus on figuring out the solution to that problem.