[dramatic music plays]
[footsteps approaching]
You look like you're up to something.
[Shigatera] Huh?
Get lost.
Wanna be allies?
[theme song in Japanese plays]
[Kamuro] Release of Core number 3 has been confirmed.
"Pico" is now uninstalled.
[sighs]
Hmm. [chuckles]
What's that stupid girl doing? Shouldn't take this long.
Whatever. I'm gonna make her pay all the start-up fees for the new guild.
Just get back here, Pico. Now!
Finally, I'm free again! Nothing can stop me now!
- Look out, Ichi! - Aah!
[gasps]
Grand Admiral's Wrath!
[Kamuro] So far, three of the Black Bird's power sources have been deleted.
George, Jutaro, and now Pico.
And I've been monitoring the actions of the other cores,
including Iris, ZEAL, and Julia.
Very well. We need to uninstall them as quickly as we can.
[grunts]
- [Kamuro gasps] Sir! - [groans]
[grunts] Don't! I'll be fine!
[groans]
- [sighs] - A side effect of the Synchro.
You had reached the limit.
That's it. Five minutes 13 seconds.
That's the longest you can stay focused on synching with your avatar.
[Kojiro] It almost matches the estimate.
That'll work. It'll be just enough time to enable me to kill the AIs, one by one.
[poignant music plays]
You got your wish to talk to an AI. How'd that feel?
[Kojiro sighs]
[Kamuro] What was it like, seeing Pico's emotional state
in the last moments before her death?
[sighs]
Uh...
[sighs]
[grunts]
As soon as I get my strength back, we'll proceed with the plan.
I'm still going to need your help. Just a little longer.
Understood.
[roars] Pico!
Huh? She's not in here...
- Hmm. - [footsteps approach]
Where the hell'd she disappear to?
Not here? That's weird.
Maybe her internet connection went down or something.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have left without taking the flag.
Probably.
Hmm. Maybe Shiro got her.
What? Shiro Akabane's here?
- Mmm-mmm? - New plan, forget about Pico.
Shiro's the main problem.
We have to get this done before he figures out what we're up to.
[laughs]
At least I've already eliminated any resistance!
Shiga, you backstabbing traitor! I hate your guts!!
Captain Pico trusted you! You're gonna pay for this!
Long before that happens, I'll be done playing this shitty game.
[grumbles]
[Shigateru] Hurry up and take your dead body back to the main menu.
[Ichi] Shit.
So one of the cornerstones of the almighty game-addict group
was nothing special after all.
[Ichi grumbles]
This Guild Weapon, on the other hand, is really somethin' else!
My current stats just went over 30,000!
Hah! It's almost like cheating!
I mean, even the best martial artist doesn't stand a chance
against a combat vehicle!
- [Ichi] Listen. - [Shigatera] Huh?
[Ichi] Don't quit PLANET.
That's not fair. It's unfair as shit!
What?
It's not fair, 'cause I'm...
I'm gonna make a Guild Weapon too. And when I do, then we'll battle.
[melancholy music plays]
What exactly are you saying?
[whirring]
Pico and I are gonna gather up 10,000 guild members,
and I'm gonna make the most powerful Guild Weapon ever!
So don't you dare quit while you're ahead!!
Promise you won't!
Ugh. You're so pathetic.
Damn it! Do you hear me? I mean it! Damn it!
[Shigatera] The Black Bird. 300 million yen in hard cash.
If it weren't for that, there'd be no point in even bothering with all this.
Right, Leon?
Provided you're not planning on double-crossing me or anything,
I'll be able to quit PLANET today!
I'm trusting you.
I've done everything you asked of me up to now, so don't screw this up!
[Leon] Hmph!
[gasps]
[wind gusting]
[Sasumata] As promised, we will summon the Black Bird.
It's very powerful. Don't let your guard down. Understand?
Just do it. I'm ready. I'm not about to lose!
[Leon] Wanna be allies?
You might be interested to hear that we know how to summon the Black Bird.
[Shigatera gasps]
[ominous music playing]
[rumbling]
[gasps]
Oh!
[gasps]
[thudding]
I've been wanting this thing for so long!
Just look at it! It's beautiful!
[dramatic music plays]
[gasping]
Taichiro...
Asuma...
Forget about trivial things like that, sir, and try to get some rest.
[baroque organ music plays]
[Shigatera] Who are those guys?
[Sasumata] PLANET's white blood cells.
Like in the human body, they come out whenever they detect
something that doesn't belong in this world.
They came out quick!
[gabbling]
They disappeared! How'd the bastard do that?
[groans]
Pico?
That's too bad. You were just a bit too late.
Hmm...
[Shigatera] All right, you!
Now I'm gonna cash in for all the work I've done!
[roars]
Huh?
[gasps]
You bastard! You're worth 300 million yen to me,
and I'm gonna get it!
[groaning]
And now... for Good World.
[Shigatera yelling]
Damn it!
[gasps]
[grunting]
- Sir. - How long was I asleep?
Wh... what's the situation?
[groans]
Huh? Huh?
[panting] What the hell was that thing?
[groans] That pain, I swear...
[gasps] It felt like it actually touched me. What the hell?
[groans]
Ugh, I feel sick. It's like a hangover where you can't even stand up!
[groans]
This stupid-ass game! I've had it!
[yells]
But I'm not giving up 300 million yen!
[sighs] I gotta log back in.
[growls]
Just a bit longer and it'll be over.
Huh?
- [rustling] - Huh?
[silence]
[chuckles]
[sighs]
The Black Bird. Of the AI's I've created,
it's the most powerful and evil of them all.
No. It's more than that. It's a life form, and an ultimate computer virus.
Now that it's loose, the Black Bird is going to infect people's minds,
and completely fill the world with malice.
Three people have been killed already, and it's just getting started.
[screaming]
Huh?
I'm losin' it. [shudders]
Goin' without sleep must be gettin' to me.
Huh? Uh...
Hmm. Must've fried when I dropped it.
[groans]
What the hell am I doin'?
Think there was a net café next to the station.
JOB APPLICATION NOTICE: REJECTED
While in university, what were you particularly passionate about?
While in university?
All I can even remember doing was online gaming.
More interested in fun than in learning.
[chuckles]
It's too late now to try and make anything of myself.
Whatever...
Huh?
THE DURABILITY TEST WILL NOW COMMENCE
Durability?
[glass smashing]
[groaning shakily]
Much too weak. Next one.
[screams]
A dream! No way in hell that was real!
[whimpering] I feel... No way... No way!
[gasps] Hmm?
DURABILITY TEST NO. 2 WILL NOW COMMENCE
Who the hell is sending me these?
What! Oh shit!
No, no, no, no, no, no!
[screams]
Aah! It's spreading! I've gotta get outta here!
Hey! What the hell is this? It's locked!
Somebody help me! Help!
Anybody! Get me outta here, please!
[gasping]
Help, I'm burning up in here!
[screaming]
[gasps]
[groans]
What?
You never listen.
- [gamer] Huh? - I told you to turn down the music.
But still... night after night!
You're that guy from next door, aren't...
[neighbor cackling]
DURABILITY TEST NO. 19
[groaning]
- [spluttering] - [growling]
DURABILITY TEST NO. 288
Anyone who gets directly infected by the Black Bird dies on the spot.
It's instant.
When that happens, their minds get ripped away from their bodies
and converted into data.
Apparently, they're then taken to a different world,
which is neither the real world nor PLANET.
[Kojiro] If we don't delete it now,
both the Internet and the real world will become a nightmare.
[Leon] There's no end to a digitized mind.
I don't know what happens in that eternal world,
or what the Black Bird does to those who end up there.
And I know it's in the process of accumulating more power.
The banks, military, governments everywhere...
It will soon build nests in all of those institutions.
Before that happens, I have to stop it!
- [groans] - Sir!
[Leon] One thing's for sure... We won't be seeing Shigatera again.
DURABILITY TEST NO. 1,872,800
[groaning]
Where's the Black Bird?
[Sasumata] I'm not sure.
Maybe it was satisfied after it devoured Shigatera?
I kind of feel sorry for Shigatera.
[Leon] You shouldn't.
He was using his position as the Pirates' treasurer
to secretly make a fortune in the real world with virtual money.
RMT's a despicable practice that causes big problems in the in-game world.
[Sasumata] Fair enough, Leon, but...
is that really a crime that's deserving of a death penalty?
[Leon] Hey, it's not like I killed him. He challenged the Black Bird.
His death was just the natural outcome of that.
[Sasumata] Hmm.
[Leon] Plus, Shigatera was telling everybody
this whole world was "nothing but a shitty game."
That probably warrants the death penalty all by itself.
[Sasumata] Yeah. I guess you're right.
Anyway, if that's the way you see it, Leon, then it's probably true.
[Leon] It'll be fine.
No need to worry.
There's a great gap now between the online world and the real world.
But I'm going to make sure to get rid of it.
[Sasumata] Okay.
[explosion]
[buzz of voices]
No way! Is it true the Pirates disbanded?
Nah, that's just fake news.
I looked it up today, and all the data on the Pirates is still up.
Although, even though they still exist as a guild...
What?
Pico's not the guildmaster now.
Huh?
Maybe she stepped down because she lost to the Akabane Family.
Well, that would be the honorable thing to do...
[man 1] Word is, Pico even deleted her whole character!
Oh, wow. Pretty lame way to go out, huh?
At least without her and the Pirates, things will be a lot more peaceful now.
Yeah, with Pico and all her BS,
it felt like she was ruining half the fun of PLANET.
[man 2] Yeah, you got that right.
I heard Granada might have been involved in it too.
That makes me even more relieved!
[all laughing]
[man 3 whispers] Did you see that?
- [man 4] Yeah. - [man 5] Did you see that?
PICO
CHARACTER DOES NOT EXIST
[grunts]
[ominous music playing]
[sighs]
[groans]
[Taichiro thinks] It's an emergency situation.
[whimpers]
The real world is less...
It's less suffocating.
[moaning]
[sobbing]
Huh?
[floorboard creaks]
[gasps]
I'm home now, Taichi.
[Taichiro] Mom... [sobs]
[gentle music plays]
What's the matter?
[Taichiro crying]
Nothing. Welcome back, Mom.
[Taichiro] Where have you been staying this month?
- [Mom] Take a guess. - [Taichiro] Some guy's place?
[Mom] Come on, what guy would let an old lady like me crash at his place?
I'm a... what d'you call it?
- Net café refugee. - [kettle whistling]
- I found this. - Hmm?
[Mom] It fell right out of the sky.
[Taichiro] Hmm.
Were you cut by the glass?
No, and I'm sorry for doing that.
It's great that you're grown up enough to apologize for things, Taichiro.
[gasps]
There isn't anything great about me.
You're doing better than your mom! A hundred times better, in fact.
[Taichiro] Just divorce him already.
[Mom] Oh! The croquettes.
Take the plastic wrap off before you heat them up.
They'll get soggy otherwise.
[Taichiro] So, you're leaving again?
The croquettes.
Take the plastic wrap off before you heat them up.
Because they'll just get all soggy otherwise.
Mmph...
Will you... come back?
Probably, I'll be back the Friday after next.
Your room'll be a mess by then.
[sighs]
- [Mom] Say hi to Dad and Asuma for me. - [grunts]
- [Taichiro] Um, about Asuma... - [Mom] Hmm?
- He's in the hospital. - What do you mean?
That piece of shit had to go to the hospital too.
Needed back surgery.
I wish he could have stayed there forever, but he's already out.
Which hospital's Asuma in? I should go visit him right away, yeah?
You want to come with me, Taichi?
[sighs]
Huh. Okay, just stay and look after the house, then.
The croquettes. Take the plastic off before you heat them.
Because they'll just get all soggy otherwise.
Mom, wait!
I'll come along, if you want.
[chuckles]
That's the way, Big Brother.
[Taichiro] Oww!
But, hey! When it comes to your father? No more calling him a piece of shit.
- Oww! - Got that?
[Taichiro sighs]
Yeah.
[Taichiro] Don't look so worried. He's all right.
It was a shock to see him collapsed on the floor,
but he's recovered a lot since then.
[Mom sighs]
[Taichiro] The doctors all say he'll be just fine.
- [gasps] - [wind gusting]
Asuma?
[dramatic music plays]
[gasps] Asuma?
[screams]
- What the hell? Mom! - [Mom wailing]
[Taichiro] Asuma! No!
[yells] Somebody, help!
[theme song in Japanese plays]