Our enemy retreated back into the shadows for a while, and time wore on like molasses. I knew Layla felt restless, but now that we knew we were up against a rather formidable foe, we were grinding hard to level up. She seemed to enjoy having the other girls to play with.

And our enemy finally made a move several days later. Yui really outdid herself, pulling a bunch of intel out of places where she wasn't authorized to look. I called Asuna and Layla to go over Yui's findings.

Yui pulled up two pertinent pieces of intel. The first was the hooded man...PoH...when he entered himself in the last tournament, there were some suspicious movements in the system. According to Yui, there were traces of the entry timestamp being partially altered. In other words, it was possible the admins had stepped in and forced an entry past the deadline. The reason was unknown, but it just increased the likelihood that our guy was in league with the admins.

And as for the other piece of intel...

"Um, Daddy... I'm not sure how useful this will be..."

"Anything you tell us could be a big help, Yui. Please, tell us."

Then Yui showed us some data. It was a mysterious string of text and numbers.

"I guess the text is a message for somebody. But what are the numbers...?"

"When I was gathering intel on the hooded man, this message struck me as odd. I think the hooded man sent this. But there isn't an addressee..."

"He sent it...without an addressee? But who was it meant for?"

The real question was, could messages even be sent without an addressee? Though I suppose the admins could have eliminated that hurdle. So that leaves us with the question "why"...

"Then there's these numbers. Is it some sort of secret code?" I asked.

"It doesn't seem like a formula...maybe it's just a bug," Asuna suggested.

"Let me see it."

Layla leaned between me and Asuna and peered at the screen. After analyzing the numbers for a while, she looked up with a start.

"These are coordinates."

"Coordinates? Like, they're marking a location somewhere in Cross Edge?"

Layla nodded at Asuna and continued to explain.

"This is the same formula as the coordinates we used when developing Cross Edge. This is the sort of intel normie players wouldn't know, of course..."

"Okay...so this is a message to us," I said.

Knowing we were looking into him, he had left us a message he knew we would notice. He must have already known Layla would figure out they were coordinates.

"You can practically hear him say, 'Solve my riddle and I'll give you a reward!'" I sneered.

Layla snorted in disgust. "He's playing us...after kidnapping Michael, too..."

"That's the way PoH operates. But we're lucky he made the first move. This could be our breakthrough to corner him."

Our opponent had all his bases covered, but as the saying goes, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

"Layla, do you know where these coordinates point to?" I asked.

"Hold on a sec."

Layla called up a console and started a search at a crazy speed. A map quickly popped up, highlighting a spot.

"It's probably right here. These ruins, far away from town. Epsilon added that field after they took over. It was to be used for events only."

"Okay then. So he's waiting for us right there. Let's go first thing tomorrow."

"Tomorrow...okay. Sorry I got you all caught up in this," Layla apologized.

"Don't worry about it. This is our problem, too," Asuna said.

"Thanks..."

"There's no telling what traps he set, so let's draw up a water-tight strategy," I said.

"Yes, please be careful, everyone!"

Even Yui looked solemn. After all, this was PoH we were up against. He might be a fake, but we couldn't be too careful. I decided to ask Alice and Eugeo to help us out tomorrow.

The next day, Asuna, Layla, Alice, Eugeo, and myself headed to the coordinates PoH had sent us. It was a wasteland filled with destroyed buildings. There was not a monster or human being in sight.

"Please be careful, everyone. It appears several players are there in wait," Alice said.

"Really...?" I asked.

"Yeah. I can't see them, but I can sense their presence," Asuna said. "They're observing us...and it's creepy."

It seemed as though our assumption that PoH would come alone was wrong.

"Do you think they're members of the Laughing Coffin?" Asuna asked.

"We'd better just ask them directly," I said.

"By 'directly,' how do you mean exactly?" Eugeo asked.

"Like this."

I took a deep breath, then raised my voice.

"Hellooo! Hooded guy!　I'm here, just like you wanted!"

My voice echoed through the ruins.

"Aha. Yes, this is much easier than searching behind every building."

Alice sounded impressed. A familiar voice answered me.

"Hehehe...you came sooner than I expected." Smart boy, smart boy."

Stepping out from behind a building was, as we anticipated, PoH. He looked amused.

"You son of a bitch!"

Alice held out an arm to stop Layla from rushing him. When he saw this, the smile vanished from PoH's face.

"Oh. You're here, too. I just assumed Kirito would come alone."

"If you wanted just me, you should've written me a proper invitation."

"Oh, no, no, I welcome party-crashers. Livens things up a bit, wouldn't you say? Now I'd better give them all a proper welcome, too."

His sneer returning, PoH's right hand shot up.

"Come on, baby!"

On his signal, the players emerged from their hiding places. And there was more than just one or two of them. They were all holding weapons, but their eyes were vacant and unfocused. Still, they were a threat...

"There's thirty of them..."

Alice drew the sword from her belt.

"They are all average players!　However, they're behaving strangely..." she said.

"Kirito, are these people..." Asuna murmured.

"Yeah. They were at the battle royal tournament."

I didn't recognize all of them, but some of them were indeed at the tournament. But why...

"Hey. What did you do to them," I demanded.

"Maybe that bitch with you knows," the hooded man replied.　"About the PAAC brainwashing, that is."

PoH pointed straight at Layla with the tip of his sword. But Layla sounded confused.

"Brainwashing?　And what's the PAAC...?"

"Oh. So you didn't know? I just assumed you'd know."

PoH heaved a frustrated sigh.

"Oh well. Since I let the cat out of the bag, I might as well tell you everything. Epsilon's admins are making a cool brainwashing machine triggered by pain."

"What the heck...?"

I had never heard of such a brainwashing technique.

"That's right. You know how when you feel severe pain, it sometimes dulls your senses temporarily?　It's a defensive reaction of sorts. The brain is supposed to send an order to cut off the pain when this happens..."

PoH tapped his head with a finger.

"But we change this brain-command into a hypnotic suggestion. A strong surge of pain lets us input any suggestion we want. This way, a shock of pain will trigger the suggestion—and that's how you get an obedient puppet."

They can swap a brain's command with their own. I had to admit that this might as well be called brainwashing.

"But if you need a very painful shock to kick their defense reaction into gear, you can't do this in-game—"

No. He can. Yui said it herself. Somebody in the beta test was hospitalized for intense pain. The same happened to Layla recently, too.

"The Pain Absorber... You unlocked it."

"Correct!　Excellent deduction, Black Swordsman. The PAAC is the abbreviation for: Pain Absorber Adjusting Circuit. It's Cross Edge's cutting edge brainwashing device."

"Pain Absorber Adjusting Circuit. Does that mean..."

Asuna clamped a hand to her mouth in disbelief.

"This game came equipped with a system that can meddle with memories. Combine that with the PAAC, and tweaking a person's pain levels to brainwash them at will is a piece of cake!"

"How dare you butcher Cross Edge! It's my brother's baby...!"

Layla rose both short swords menacingly. Her eyes were burning with rage. I could feel the heat wafting from her.

"Oh, that's cute. This game doesn't belong to you kids anymore."

"Wh-What?!"

Ignoring the enraged Layla, PoH turned his attention to me.

"What you see before you are brainwashed puppets. They were cut down by me in the last two tournaments. Now let's get this party started!"

On his signal, the players charged at us.

"Do you really think you can defeat us with numbers alone?!"

Alice stopped the attacking players in their tracks.

"Alice, Eugeo, listen to me!" Asuna cried.　"Their senses have been tweaked to make them feel abnormal agony!"

"Their senses were tweaked?　Is that true, Kirito?"

Eugeo asked me surprise.

"Yeah. It's true. And if the pain is harsh enough, worst-case scenario, people could die."

"That's why we should just neutralize them. Cause little pain as possible. Just don't risk hurting yourself, of course."

Asuna's warning brought a frown to Alice's lips.

"So this is their game... How utterly treacherous!"

"Well, if that's how it has to be, I'll be careful," Eugeo said.

"Damn it! Michael poured his heart into Cross Edge...and they defiled it..."

As Layla bit her lips in rage, Asuna gently consoled her.

"If we defeat PoH, we'll find Michael. We just have to get out of this mess first!"

"Yeah...I know," Layla said.

Our battle with the brainwashed players was brutal. If we fought normally, their numbers were not enough to crush us. But we could not hurt them badly. That rule was harder to keep than we thought. Unable to whittle down our opponent, they slowly pushed us to the brink.

"PoH! Why are you doing this?!"

I cried out to PoH in the distance as I pushed against the swarm of brainwashed players.

"Hehehe...well, guess I'll tell you. My employer wants your memories."

"My memories...?"

"Underworld... Remember the project to birth a special existence down there?　Epsilon wants that intel."

A special existence...he had to mean A.L.I.C.E. But PoH ought to already have known about that. In fact, he might know more than I do. Because PoH was sent down to Underworld to seize A.L.I.C.E.

Oblivious to my confusion, PoH kept talking.

"PAAC brainwashing, and confidential intel snatching via the Reminiscence System. With those two things, you can move nations. So I was hired to rile your emotions to draw out your memories. But...none of that matters to me. I'm here for one thing only... Revenge—that's all!　Revenge by the way that'll hurt you the most, too!"

So that's why you sacrificed innocent players... If I defeat you, they'll stop, right?!"

"You may be right. So what's your move?"

"We'll just have to take you down as fast as possible!"

But we couldn't make it to PoH through the swarm of gamers. If only we could fly like Leafa...

"Kirito!"

I heard Eugeo's voice from beyond the enemy swarm.

"You want to face him, don't you? So we'll make you an opening."

"Yes, that is the only way," Alice agreed.

"Take PoH down, Kirito!" Asuna cried.

"Understood... Thanks, guys!"

I left the brainwashed players to my friends as I made a beeline for PoH. Layla lined up beside me.

"I'm with you, Kirito!　We'll force him to tell me what happened to my brother!"

"You bet!　Let's go!"

"Ooh, nice. Let's finish where we left off in the tournament."

PoH smiled confidently, without raising a sword against us as we charged. We were just a few steps away from striking distance. Whatever ace he had up his sleeve, we would just slash it away!

"Oh dear. Have you forgotten an important detail?　If I recall correctly, you were hurt by me too."

PoH pointed at Layla...and her body flinched. She stopped running and toppled on the spot.

"Layla?!"

I quickly stopped, pointing my sword at PoH as I tried to get Layla off the ground. But Layla swatted my hand away.

"K-Kirito...get away from me... Now!"

"Layla? What's wrong?"

"J-Just get away from me..."

I was so confused I couldn't move. And as I faltered, PoH's deep voice reverberated behind me.

"Remember...remember your pain!"

And in the next moment——

"Garrrggghhh...AHHH!!!"

Layla disappeared from view. Then, through my blind spot, a sword came for my throat.

Shinnng!

My body jerked away in the nick of time, blocking the attack. As Layla pointed her blades at me, sweat dripped down her forehead. She was biting her lips so hard, they were bleeding.

"Layla...snap out of it!"

"Bwahahaha! Don't even try. Don't even try, buddy!　Now she's gonna be my slave! By the system her own brother invented! Ironic, isn't it, Kirito?!"

PoH's vulgar laughter assaulted my ears. But unlike the other gamers, the light had not completely vanished from Layla's eyes.

"Kirito...get away...from me..."

Either the brainwashing was incomplete or her will was too strong...Layla still had her conscience. There might still be a way to save her.

"Hurry...get away!"

Layla screamed, swinging her short sword. Her attack was aiming sharply for my vitals. Even though it was happening against her will, her attack skills were alive and well.

"Urk... It's hard enough...just blocking you...!"

If I attacked Layla and damaged her, I knew I would hurt her dreadfully. But she was not an easy opponent I could defeat without hurting.

"Layla! Can you hear me?!　Get control of your mind!"

"Nng...AHHH!!!"

But my cries were in vain. Layla's attacks intensified. She fought recklessly. She didn't care if she got hurt.

"Dammit, Layla!　Snap out of it!"

"...ad...Dad!"

"Layla?"

Layla's gaze wandered and stopped at my forehead. The light in her eyes was gone. She now had the vacant stare of the other brainwashed gamers.

"Stop it!　Stop hitting Sora!　Dad...please stop!"

Layla's blades flew with reckless abandon. Her attacks were directed at me, but she no longer saw me.

"Was that...a memory from Layla's past?　Is the pain giving her flashbacks?"

"Hehehe... Poor saps traumatized by pain are extra-susceptible to this brainwashing!"

"...Your depravity knows no bounds!"

Layla's face was twisted in anguish. She attacked me with the indiscriminate swinging of a little child throwing a tantrum. She must have been deeply traumatized.

"But...if her trauma is the key to her brainwashing...!"

If she resolved her trauma...if she knew her father couldn't hurt her again...maybe I could undo her brainwashing.

"Layla!　Listen to me!"

"No, no...don't hit him... Don't hit Sora...!"

"Layla. You're safe now!　He won't hurt you or your brother anymore!"

I dodged Layla's flying blades and grabbed her shoulders. Her blades grazed my arms and shoulders, but I let her cut me as I looked into her eyes.

"No...I have to protect him...! I'm the only one who can keep Sora safe!"

"No. You're not alone anymore!　You have friends who have your back!"

"I have...friends...?"

The glimmer of light returned to Layla's eyes. She stared faintly at me.

"That's right. Your friends...and me...we're gonna save Michael. We promised, remember?　Have faith, Layla!"

"I... Michael...!"

"Good! Layla...　Close your eyes to the past!　Just look at me!"

All the tension in Layla's muscles faded. She dropped her blades and grabbed my shoulders.

"Kiri...to..."

"It's okay...your friend is right here for you."

"Oh-oh...I was... That's right!　I was...I was...saving Michael!　AHHH!!!"

The fight returned to Layla's eyes.

"Yeah...I'm not alone anymore. We're going to save Michael together. Isn't that right? Kirito..."

"What the?! HOW is this possible?!"

"Hey there. You okay? Layla."

"No. I've never felt worse. But...it's not a bad feeling."

"Im...Impossible!　How could she break her own brainwashing?!"

"We've almost got things cleaned up on our end, Kirito!"

I heard Eugeo's voice immediately after Layla broke free from her brainwashing. I looked over to see all the brainwashed gamers were splayed on the ground.

"Alice and Eugeo used Sacred Arts to take them down," Asuna explained.

"No, Asuna, you were a great help aiding our Arts so that they would not be harmed. This victory is yours."

"I wouldn't expect less from any of you," I said.

Everyone was neutralized, and none of them were hurt. It had to have been much easier said than done. And the three had not been damaged much either. I was confident they could neutralize everyone in no time, with their strategy.

"Okay, PoH, you're the last man standing."

"D-Damn it! If you want something done..."

PoH readied his weapon and howled. But all traces of poise were gone from his voice.

"Layla!　I'll make you taste pain one more time! A pain horrible enough to kill you!"

I was right. Something was different. The hooded man, losing his cool...that was not PoH.

I always felt something was off, but that confirmed it. He was a fake.

"I'll fight you myself, you pieces of trash!"

"Why don't you tell us who you really are, Mr. Impostor?"

"What did you call me?!"

"The project they conducted in Underworld...what do you know about it?"

"Ehhh?　I don't know nothin'. I just need your memory—"

"And there's our proof. Exhibit A."

"Whaaat?!"

"You ought to know about it. If you're the real PoH, that is. Because PoH dove into Underworld to steal the fruits of that project!"

A frenzied color filled the hooded man's eyes.

"Wh-What the hell're you saying?! What project...?　Dammit! Dammitdamitdammit!!!"

"And there's Exhibit B. If you were the real PoH, you wouldn't lose your temper over that. I don't sense any of it. There's none of the truly unhinged malice of the real PoH."

None of that obsessive devotion for me. None of the all-consuming insanity that will exploit everyone and everything to achieve an objective. This man had none of it.

"Sh-Shut up!　Who cares anyway?!　If you die, everything will be okay!"

The hooded man charged at me. There wasn't even a shred of PoH left in him.

"I'll kill you!　Kirito!"

"Careful, Kirito!　If he lands an attack—"

I stood protectively in front of Layla, blocking the hooded man's path.

"I know. Don't worry. I won't let him beat me."

"Come at meee!"

The hooded man attacked with everything he had. It was sharp...but only just. No matter how intense the pain, as long as he didn't cut me down, I would be fine.

"HAH!"

I barely dodged the attack and swiped at his side. As he cried and stumbled, I rebounded an attack into his back. The hooded man raised his sword to block, but his staggered form did not allow it. My attack landed, and he fell.

"Urgh! I'm a goner...no...don't say that. I won't...HE won't lose!"

He squeezed out the words as he lay on the ground. He was probably talking about PoH.

"That's right. I can't lose. Because that wonderful man...he gave me the light..."

"PoH is not the light. He's darkness incarnate. He spreads hatred, rage, and war in his wake. Besides, PoH doesn't exist anymore."

"You think I'm gonna accept that?!　I might as well just...just..."

Beneath the sword struck into him, the hooded man's body began to shake.

"Hey...what are you saying?"

I could tell he was definitely muttering something, but it was too quiet to hear. But one thing was clear, he was not putting up a fight.

"Kirito!　Looks like you're done?"

"Yeah...somehow, I made it. You're done, too?"

"Yes, thanks to everyone's help."

Upon closer glance, there were fewer gamers.

"All the unconscious people logged out. Yui's checking on them for us," Asuna explained.

"Good... Thanks, guys."

We defeated the fake-PoH and neutralized all the brainwashed players. It was finally over.

"Okay, this time for sure, you're going to tell us everything."

"Yeah, tell us about Michael!　That was the deal!"

"......"

The hooded man was still muttering something.

"Hey...tell us about Michael! Now!　Why're you mumbling to yourself?!"

With a shout, Layla shook the man. His muscles were limp and his arms were shaking. But...there was a strange light in his eyes.

"...I could never truly become him just by impersonating him superficially. To create a personality...you need a soul. If the soul is identical, then that wonderful man will exist here, too."

He wasn't making any sense. But I sensed we were in tremendous danger.

"Kirito, what is he say—"

"Layla, get away from him!"

Layla flinched away from the hooded man. He wobbled lifelessly to his feet and stretched his arms to the ceiling.

"The soul constitutes a person's thoughts, actions, and words. So if I recreate his actions, words, and thoughts, it will be as if he still exists! If I perfectly recreate his words my word will bring him here if I recreate his actions I will bring him here, and if I perfectly replicate his thoughts, words, and actions completely...then it will be literally him, standing right here!!!"

A sudden and intense burst of murderous malice shot from the hooded man's body. Asuna, Alice, Eugeo, and I readied our swords.

"Ha! Hahaha...! Even as I'm saying this now, he is slowly gracing me with his presence! His words...thoughts...mannerisms...emotions... They all belong to me... No, it's the opposite... I am an offering! For him!
To bring him here now! To manifest him!"

"He's not the same guy...I've got a really bad feeling about this. Are you..."

Layla readied her blade after a delay.

"Hey, Blackie, my sweet. I've come back to you."