.hack/EVOLUTION

Series: .hack/Games, .hack/GU

Rating: PG-13/T (language and battles)

Summary: Aura has returned to The World, and so Project GU and Project R.A. are complete…so the Epitaph Wielders believed. However Aura has one more task for the Infinity Eight: "Help my world grow."

Notes: I'm sorry for the late release of this chapter. Work exploded and I've been so busy trying to do other things. Fear not, I do not plan on abandoning this story. Enjoy!

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/ TERROR

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. Δ Root Town Mac Anu.

Kite logged in and sighed behind his terminal. There was so much going on and his real head swam with all the information he was receiving. The server had been down more than usual after the latest System Error, and he had received worried emails from BlackRose and Mistral. He opened up his Member Address list and looked down it. Haseo's address was there, but he wasn't responding to Kite's messages. Kite figured he could be deliberately ignoring the messages – Haseo did do that from time to time.

Kite was waiting for BlackRose to log in. He had received an email from the girl with lavender hair. The email had a field that it said he should go to. He knew BlackRose would be interested, and he would have given the information to Haseo if he would respond to his private messages.

The sound of the Chaos Gate activating reached his read ears and Kite turned around. He saw a Long Arm standing there, tan skinned and black hair with a gold eye and a blue eye. The PC noticed that he had gained attention and glanced down at Kite. Shock played out on his face and in an instant he had pulled a decorated spear out. And BlackRose gated in.

"What did you do Kite!" BlackRose shouted at him, standing beside him as the Long Arm's eyes glared into Kite's eyes.

"I-I don't know!" Kite said. "S-Sir I'm sorry…"

"My name is Albireo," the PC stated as if Kite had never spoken. "I am the order and balance in this world, and I will not allow someone who deletes other characters PC's from the game."

Kite and BlackRose stared. "What?"

Albireo narrowed his eyes. He had seen the Twin Sword, just for a moment, with Helba and Haseo. He had raised his arm and a bracelet appeared, attacking Haseo just as the monster Skeith did. Even if he hadn't had been there at the time, the Twin Sword had in fact attacked Haseo before in the same manner. He was sure of it. And it brought back unwanted memories of Tsukasa and his Guardian.

"Delete PCs? What the hell are you talking about?" BlackRose glared. "You can't kill PCs, let alone delete them!"

"CC Corporation is allowed to if need be," Albireo said calmly. "And, since this boy's bracelet can and he is not working for CC Corporation – he is then in possession of a hacked item and violating the user agreement. I saw him attack and delete a PC with gray hair and red Wave crests…judging by the weapons, he was a Twin Sword as well."

The player behind Albireo typed in a special command and the spear began to glow. He then struck the sword at Kite's arm, letting a cry out from BlackRose and a gasp from Kite. All that happened; despite the debugger command was that the famous bracelet appeared to the three of them. Albireo frowned, not pleased by the fact his command didn't work.

"Wait…" BlackRose said softly. "Gray hair and red Wave crests? Do you mean Haseo-kun?"

"You know him?" Albireo asked, eyeing her.

"Yeah," Kite nodded. "He is a player on his second character and..he said he got stuck in The World." He glanced around quickly then lowered his voice. "He's our friend; I don't see why you'd think we would kill him, even if it were possible."

"Maybe it was just an AI that looked like him." BlackRose said hotly. "I mean, you hear about AIs all the time on the BBS – so that obviously must be what it is. Kite wouldn't do that to another person, especially a friend like Haseo-kun. But we have to go now, so…"

"What field are you going to?" Albireo asked shortly.

Kite fumbled through his ever growing list of clues. "Theta Server Chosen Hopeless Nothingness." It was where Aura had said to come.

"I'll go with you," Albireo exchanged his party address. "Aura asked me to protect the PC that was just killed…."

"You kow Aura!" Kite gaped.

"Not now Kite, let's go!" Blackrose snapped and gated to the Theta Server, with Albireo and Kite right behind here.

.Θ Chosen Hopeless Nothingness.

The three of them waited by the Chaos gate. As soon as they logged in Kite received a message from Mistral, and he invited her into the part once Albireo decided to merely walk along with them instead of taking up space in a party. The bouncing Wavemaster giggled and joined their group. After telling Mistral what had recently happened, though she obviously didn't understand it, they made their way to the dungeon. The four of them fought to the bottom level, expecting to find a data bug but they found something else.

Aura.

The AI saw them and smiled, bowing her head in respect. "Albireo of the Two Colored Star, Kite the Wielder of the Bracelet, Blackrose and Mistral – the companions to the Wielder. It is wonderful to meet you." She smiled again.

"Huh hi?" Blackrose blinked.

"Hello!" Mistral waved.

"What happened? Did you escape that thing that was chasing you?" Kite asked hurriedly. BlackRose had to admit she was surprised to see him step up to be a leader once Haseo was gone.

"There is little time to explain, so please let me speak quickly." Aura merely only dabbled on an answer for Kite. "The Cursed Wave has been sent out upon the World governed by the God of the World to strike down all that she seems unfit. Eight make up this Wave of destruction and shall cause the downfall of the World."

"What about Haseo-kun? Albireo said…"

"He was deleted." Albireo said shortly. "By Skeith – I saw it happen."

"But, Haseo's already stuck in the game!" BlackRose cried out. "W-What…"

"I can only free those who are trapped in my world after I am complete," Aura said softly but was able to regain their attention. "Within the Wave is another Wave, strong and true, whom wish to restore the true God of the World to the throne in which it was designed for. I ask you and all your friends that come upon these eight to help them, and in return they will aid you."

"The one you asked me to help – Haseo – he's one of them." Albireo nodded.

"That is correct." Aura turned to look at BlackRose and smiled. "Please watch over Kite and help him wield his burden. Morganna Mode Gone will only allow so much in this world to happen and will try to finish him off."

"O-Ok.." BlackRose had no idea how to act. It had dawned on her that this was the girl that Kite always talked about, the one that Haseo had been so angry with. She nodded numbly and Aura smiled, but then her smiled slipped away.

Aura seemed more animated than she had before. "Please now, you must hurry and go! Your lives are in danger, please go!"

"What do you mean!" Kite asked, walking towards her. "Is that thing coming again? What about you?"

Aura smiled. "As long as the Second Wave is here, I will be fine. Now please, go!"

They attempted to gate out but it was pointless, nothing was responding right. A red Celtic cross rose from the ground behind Aura, dragging her up into the air. Kite stood in horror as Albireo rushed forward to attack, and BlackRose shook. Mistral stared as Aura gave a scream. The graphics glitched around the white beast, and Haseo stood behind Aura with a meanicing scythe in his hands, tip pointed towards Aura.

"Don't do it Haseo!" BlackRose shouted out. "Don't!"

Ablireo took his eyes off Aura just for a moment to glance at BlackRose, but that was all the moment the Terror of Death needed. He swung his scythe at Aura, striking her down as she screamed in pain and the data began to stream from her. The graphics glitched again and Haseo disappeared, leaving the white beast standing with his arm outstretched towards Aura. Aura became a small red orb, shooting off into three separate pieces. Albireo watched in horror and clutched onto his spear, glaring up at the white beast.

"It has infinite hit points!" Mistral cried out. "What are we going to do?"

Kite clutched onto his daggers. For a minute it seemed as if he, the real Kite, was truly inside his PC and that it was him trembling. Aura had been struck down by the person that was looking for her, Yasuhiko had fallen into coma, and now they were about to fall into the same problem. He looked up through his bangs at the monster in front of him.

"We strike it down!" Kite ordered, causing even Albireo to turn his head. "Albireo and BlackRose, do the heavy hitting. I'll support you in the back. Mistral, you heal."

"Youkai!" Mistral nodded.

BlackRose stared at Kite for a moment and smiled. Without Haseo here, you really are a leader. Maybe, that's what Haseo taught you.

The battle began. Skeith seemed to live through all their attacks, blowing them away as if they meant nothing, even by Albireo. Kite watched Skeith closely, trying to read movements of a pattern, but it was entirely too random for a computer program. His eyes widened as words appeared over Skeith.

DATA DRAIN OK.

He pulled his arm back and up. "Data Drain!" he shouted and the bracelet on his arm activated. The prongs sprung up and a golden aura rose from the bracelet. Suddenly ribbons shot out of it, grabbing onto Skeith and making the beast roar in pain. The graphics twitched and Haseo floated in Skeith's spot for just a moment before crumbling down to the ground as Skeith returned. Albireo caught the falling PC, the only thought for a moment in his head was the image of the mangled PC with that bracelet attacking Haseo…

"Albireo!" Kite shouted out to him. "Hit him!" the Twin Blade PC was still standing in his spot, holding his arm as the bracelet finished draining.

Albireo sat Haseo down then leaped up, spearing the white beast. As the HP bar hit zero, Skeith screamed and the green glitched. They attempted to gate out but nothing responded. BlackRose froze and looked above her, seeing a massive monster above them. Albireo approached it wearily when it roared, causing all four of them to fall onto the ground and the game to glitch again. The people behind the terminals smashed their controls into the desk as they desperately tried to move their PCs, but were only awarded with two words on their screens:

SYSTEM ERROR.

"Youkai!" - Roger!