Part 197: 12/31/09

12/31/09

Today was the day.



It feels like I’m stepping into the ring…

The day we would have to make our decision.



The day ‘he’ would return.



The day everything would change.



The end of one battle, and the start of a new one.



New Year’s Eve…



Ryoji returned shortly before midnight.

Video- “Apocalypse Now”

Watch

Midnight’s just around the corner…
At midnight, I will change from this form into something unrecognizable.
So, have you reached a decision?
> Everyone is silent…
Okay, I’ll be waiting in her room until midnight.
Come see me when you have your answer.
Ryoji-kun…
Oh, and one more thing.
Don’t let the fact that you’ll have to kill me influence your decision.
As I said before, I’m going to disappear anyways.
I won’t feel any pain by “dying.”
So, there’s no need to worry about me.
……
I’ll be waiting…
> Ryoji went upstairs…

We’d all reached the same decision, so there was nothing really to discuss.



Yes.
…I see.
Have the rest of you made your decision?
No need to ask me.
You know how I feel.
I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t on board.
I’m with the rest of you.
I’m in, too.
Woof!
I have made my decision as well.
Then, we’re all in agreement, yes?
Better let him know, then.
…Okay?

Ryoji… He may be something like a human, but he doesn’t really understand us.



> Ryoji is standing in a corner…
Hey.
I didn’t think I’d ever be in this room under circumstances like these.
I had a good time, you know… Back then.
Don’t tell me you’ve all decided to let me live…
You’re all going to risk your lives on a battle you can’t win.
But, you’re the only one here right now, so…
I’ll say this one more time.
If you kill me, Tartarus, the Dark Hour, and your memories of the battles will all disappear.
Tomorrow, you’ll wake up a normal high-school student.
You’ll be able to live in peace until the moment of the Fall.
But if you let me live, you’ll spend every waking moment until that day in fear of your inevitable death.
Nyx cannot be defeated… It’s useless to fight her.

He might be Death, but he doesn’t know anything about it.



Or, have you already made up your mind?
> ……
> This is a very important decision.
> You must choose wisely…
Let Ryoji live.
I guess my words didn’t change your mind…
…There’s still some time until midnight.
I didn’t want to have to show you this… but I have no choice.

I mean we all know we’re going to die sometime, even if we try not to think about it.



I will bring death to this world until I am finally satiated.
Do not hesitate to kill me.
…I want you to think about this carefully.
Is facing Nyx really the best decision…?
Some things in this world cannot be changed. You do not understand this yet.
Memories are ambiguous… Old ones can be replaced with new ones, creating a new reality.
Don’t you want to end all your friends’ pain and suffering?
…It’s up to you. You’re the only one who can make this decision.
Now, this is your last chance.
Tell me your answer…
Aelita…
Please… kill me…
I don’t want you to suffer…
Let Ryoji live.
……

But the answer isn’t to just blind ourselves to the truth. We might as well just join the Lost now if we’re going to do that.



It’s regrettable, but it’s your life… You can do what you want with it.
I will respect your decision.
……
Aelita…
……
Let’s go back to the lounge.
I need to tell you guys how to confront Nyx.
Oh… I should say my farewell to you, shouldn’t I? This is the last time we’ll be able to speak like this…
Thank you…
Goodbye…
And… I’m sorry…
I wish we could have had more time together…
…It was nice.
I’m glad we met…
I’m glad I knew you as Ryoji Mochizuki… I’m glad we could share these last few moments together like this.
Thank you…
> Ryoji is smiling…

Even when things are painful, it’s just part of being alive.



Could you… hold onto this?
It’s proof that I was “human,” for however short a time…
If you held onto it for me, I…
…I think I’ll be able to stand it.
> You received Faint Glow Ring from Ryoji.
> You feel a strong, solid bond with Ryoji…

And even though thinking about what happened is more painful than happy…



I still don’t want to just forget him.



I love you…
We should go back. The others will be worried, I’m sure…

Anyway he explained to us what we would need to do in order to fight Nyx.



Yo! What’s up, Ryoji?
* sigh *
It’s an unfortunate decision… but it is yours to make.
That’s right.
But you can’t defeat Nyx… It’s impossible.
But we must still try.
Personally, I don’t care if it is impossible.
…I understand.
It’s almost midnight, so I’ll keep this brief.
I’ll tell you where to find Nyx.

It seems Tartarus has a final floor, and that’s what we must reach.



On the promised day, you must journey to the top of the tower.
When’s the promised day…
Exactly one month from tomorrow…
January 31st, 2010.
Nyx will descent to Tartarus…
…and the world will end.
One month…
Tartarus is a gigantic rift in the darkness of the night sky… It’s a beacon to guide Nyx.
With the Appriser’s coming, Nyx learns that the way has been prepared, and descends there…
And thus, the demise will come…
So that’s why it’s called the Tower of Demise.
But what you’re saying is, we can fight Nyx if we reach the top?
That’s right…
But remember.
From today, you will fight against eternal despair.
Like I’ve said so many times before, Nyx cannot be defeated.
When you face her, you will finally understand this truth.
And then, you will realize what it is you are trying to stand against.

That’s where we’ll face the end of the world.



January 31st… We won’t forget that date.
Well, I’ll be going on ahead of you, then.
I want to leave you while I’m still in this form.
Ryoji-kun…
……
Aigis… I’m sorry for all the pain and suffering I put you through.
I won’t forget that you were my enemy… and my friend.
Aigis…
Thank you.
This will probably be the last time I’ll see you all like this.
But… I’ll always be watching over you.
…Well, goodbye.
……
Goodbye, Aelita…
My dearest…
Best wishes in the coming year.
That’s what you say on New Year’s Eve, right?
See ya!
> Ryoji left…

And where I fear we’ll face Ryoji in the end.



We have one month until January 31st…
Together, we’ll reach the top.
> You made an important decision with everyone.
> You feel a strong bond with your friends…

Anyway, as of today SEES is no more.



We’re no longer the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad.



> You’ve made an important decision with your comrades.
> Your relationship with them has grown strong, and reached a new level of closeness…

Now we’re the Nyx Annihilation Team.



> A new year is about to begin…
> In one month, on Jaunary 31st, you will be able to face Nyx.
> You must reach the top of Tartarus by that day.
> This is the decision you have all made.
> ……
> 2009 is quietly drawing to a close; it was a year filled with many memories…

We’ll defeat her or die trying.