Leon...
I got it!
The missing link was a human!
The missing element... was me!
Just what are you trying to do, Leon Lau?
The man who destroyed this world.
LAST HOPE
DIMENSIONAL GOD MACHINE
DIMENSIONAL GOD MACHINEDIMENSIONAL GOD MACHINE
DIMENSIONAL GOD MACHINE
We promised that someday, sometime in the distant future,
even if we forgot each other's names, these lights would never go out
Just holding on to this planet that rotates as if it's breathing,
just controlling this body is taking everything I've got
On the far edge of despair, the rock bottom of hope
are a sword and shield of clear thought
Whose story is this? How did this world begin?
Answer with the life that's brought you this far
Choose with that heart, shout with that voice.
And don't you let go of what you love the most
At last, at last, I have found you
I have, I have, I have heard you
Opener of the Box
Multidimensional attack!
Interference level – 160%. Accumulation rate – 185%.
The power output is even higher than expected!
Select weapon!
Hit it...!
What a way to fight...
He can't control its power?
Accumulation values of the reactor are rising.
Hey, you screwing with us? It's going berserk?
Calm down! Our readings aren't that high yet.
It's spreading the damage to accumulated subspaces?
Leon!
Chloe!
Are you all right, girl?
Hop on! Hurry!
Okay!
Take that!
The weak point is...
There!
Quantum Blade!
The defense system...!
Where the joints are the softest...
Is he trying to...?
The last bastion of humanity.
Our final hope.
Neo Xianglong.
The big city looks flashy as ever.
This vessel of possibility has the power to change the world. Everything would evolve in its wake.
The quantum reactor.
Leon?
Chloe...
Are you all right? Were you hurt?
No, I'm fine.
Thank goodness...
Where are we?
Neo Xianglong. The army brought us here.
Neo Xianglong?
But what about that B.R.A.I.?
Didn't you finish it off?
Me?
You don't remember?
Just what's going on here?
My brain synchronized with the Hyperdrive, activating its shielding mechanism to combat the massive amounts of incoming data?
Or was it...
Family Contract, Article 12:
"Run away when you see a B.R.A.I.!" I was worried sick!
Chloe, I'm sorry! My neck...!
Next time you pull something like this, I'm voiding our contract!
You can have this back.
I'm sorry.
You better be. But that was awesome! I take it you successfully engaged your Hypersomething?
Hyperdrive. There were still a few surprises, so I wouldn't quite call it complete.
Leon?
Leon, what's wrong?
It's... not the heart.
Gallbladder? Pancreas? The diaphragm? Or is it the solar plexus? No...
He's here...
Somewhere in this city.
Ooh, I'm so scared!
What are you doing here?
Queenie-chan, was it?
You seemed lonely all by yourself, so I thought I'd warm you up.
I take it you prefer life in solitude?
Have you seen my partner?
No.
Man, where did Emilia run off to?
Just who are you? I couldn't sense your presence.
An ordinary servant. Of a cat, that is.
That's them! The outsiders!
Aren't you...?
Commander of the City Defence Force's 6th Company, Captain Glen Ding.
Commander? I guess even Neo Xianglong is short-handed.
Shut up! Why were you two acting independently?!
Didn't we get you out of a pinch?
My subordinates are dead!
As usual, right?
You piece of...!
Not that I really care, but what was that humanoid mech?
Neo Xianglong's new weapon?
How should I know? I've never seen a machine like that.
It defeated a B.R.A.I all by itself.
Both its power and speed were astounding.
Defeated?! He almost put the city at risk!
Just what is that power...
Excuse me...
She's...
That girl?
It's the pilot of the humanoid mech!
Huh? That guy?
If there's a place to eat nearby—
Oh my gosh!
Wow! Fancy seeing you here!
Thank you for saving me back there. Wow, seriously, wow! Wow! Wow!
I'm just glad you're safe.
Um... Thanks for taking care of my sister...
Hey, just how did you—
Leon!
Hey?
What's wrong? Are you injured?
I'm running out of energy...
Energy?
Wow, wow, whoa!
The Princess wanted to treat you.
L-Let's... Let's dig in!
Hot pot lamb slices!
Duck blood!
So yummyyyyyy!
Well, it's spicy as ever, but it does taste great.
Savour it.
Not only is it delicious, it makes use of various medicinal herbs!
It accelerates metabolism and keeps the intestines healthy...
Your little rampages makes you hungry, huh?
Yummyyyyy! So yummy!
Are you on a diet?
Your figure's nice as is.
Got a thing for effeminate four-eyed guys?
I could feel something sinister coming from that humanoid machine. But that man...
No matter how you look at it, he's an amateur.
Leon, has your stomach calmed down?
I've never been so hungry before! Just what is going on?!
The sansho pepper used in the hot pot must be doing the job.
Wait, um...
My name is Cain Ibrahim Hassan.
I'm the mayor's bodyguard. I also oversee all extermination of B.R.A.I.
We've been waiting for ya! Where's our reward?
You'll receive what your contracts promised.
Contracts, contracts...
But before that... Doug Horvat, Queenie You—how about one more gig?
Guess we stole your hearts.
Unfortunately, I must decline. What about my entrance permit?
It's a long-term position. I'd kill for these terms.
I don't like to stick around too long.
Well, if you change your mind, you're always welcome here.
Let's enjoy a quiet evening together next time.
Now then, Leon Lau.
Looks like the mayor wants to meet you.
That's perfect.
I'd like to ask him a favor, too.
Hmm, so I really did defeat it...
That's not all—you almost destroyed the city's Absolute Defense System!
Did I do this, too?
You look like you might even say that you don't remember what happened 7 years ago.
Is your curiosity satisfied?
Ah, yeah, thank you very much.
Miss Cec—
Princess. You should call me Princess. Had you forgotten?
Ah... My apologies, Princess.
That's better.
How do you find the new Neo Xianglong?
Power supply seems to be stable.
I will never let the city's lights go out.
These are the lights of humanity's hope.
Neo Xianglong is like a dragon soaring in the skies. It is a city of perpetual joy.
It is a testament to our resolve— we will never yield to hardships.
Um, where have I seen you before...?
I'm the Chief Secretary, Jay Yun.
Ah, nice to meet you, I'm Leon Lau.
I'm rescinding Leon Lau's banishment.
To protect Neo Xianglong from B.R.A.I and complete the quantum reactor's control system.
That's what your research was for, was it not?
So you were aware of that.
The Princess has been observing your actions these past five years.
We're assessing whether there's still a use for you.
I see. So I'm a cat?
A cat?
It's not as if you're inside a box, nor are you as cute as a kitten.
Good point. Sorry.
Still, depending on the circumstance, we may ask you leave the city once more.
I'll see it doesn't come to that.
Top of the morning.
This shape...
After the battle ended, it stopped moving and eventually turned to this.
Because the activation key... Because I lost consciousness?
This machine was being developed by Doctor Long, was it not?
Doctor Long... The same Long that was researching the quantum reactor?
Yes, this is an experimental machine that was originally intended to be powered by the reactor.
Naturally, I tried integrating the Hyperdrive into it...
Hyperdrive?
I reused the technology we developed while working on the reactor
to invent this multidimensional accumulation system.
Multidimensional?
But why did it turn into a humanoid?
Yeah, if all it does is become a big target, it ain't worth shit on the battlefield.
Human...
The Hyperdrive activated for the first time by using my human existence as its medium.
That may have had something to do with it.
So why'd you make something like this?
To counter the abnormally accelerating evolution of B.R.A.I.
So you noticed it as well.
Bring the recovered specimen here.
This organ was found inside the giant mountain crab's body. Similar objects have been found in other B.R.A.I.
We have no clue whether it was a machine installed by a human or an organ born as a result of evolution.
The Princess was heading out to the scene to determine its origin.
The Mayor herself, huh? Well, not that I care.
These past few months, Neo Xianglong has been attacked by B.R.A.I much more frequently than usual.
Plus, the B.R.A.I all evolved in bizarre ways and had abilities we'd never seen before.
Leon, we detected similar readings from your machine and these organs.
I thought the quantum reaction patterns were similar to the Hyperdrive, but to think that even its geometry is...
You make it sound like it's not your own invention.
I see. I didn't realize you'd made such a big misunderstanding.
So what's all this about? I came to talk about work, you know.
Just who is this guy, anyway?
This man is Leon Lau, an evolutionary physicist.
He was the right hand of Doctor Long in the quantum reactor development team.
He was one of those who overloaded the reactor and destroyed the world.
He's the one who...!
Leon!
Dammit!
Too slow, kid.
I'm no "kid"! I'm a Captain!
Cain, are you hurt?
The sansho pepper from the hot pot was overly effective, it seems.
Um... thank you very much.
Onto the main topic.
I'm thinking of forming a team out of you so we may combat these abnormal B.R.A.I.
Why don't you join, too?
What's up, Emilia? You're finally back?
You sure seem happy. Looks like we'll stay in this city for a while.
I know, I know.
I won't leave you alone.
Where are you, Hao Wang?
What's the contraction rate?
Within the margin of error for the last five years.
Just as calculated.
What are you doing?
You...!
You've...
Yes. Doctor Long's and my data was registered,
so only the two us may access the inner core.
I've never heard anything about this!
I successfully restricted its power output, but couldn't bring it under complete control.
I didn't want anyone to tamper with it while I was gone.
Are you kidding me?!
You really cannot be trusted! What else are you hiding?!
Huh?
I'm talking about 7 years ago! Doctor Long died and you survived! Was that really an accident?!
I can't tell you that much.
I'm not too sure of the truth myself.
Establishing that is one of the reasons why I'd like to bring the reactor under control.
Is there any guarantee that you won't overload the reactor again?!
Where is the proof that you won't misuse this tremendous power?
I really am the Schrödinger's cat.
Until an observer opens the box, you don't know whether the cat inside is alive or not.
Are you sure you want to use Leon Lau?
I smell nothing but danger.
Pandora.
Hm?
That's the name of the team.
Will fortune or calamity emerge from the box?
Because those who are not prepared to lose something
have nothing they may gain.
I will stop being a cat.
As well as a mere observer.
Meaning?
I want to act of my own accord.
To solve the mystery of B.R.A.I, perfect the Hyperdrive, and bring the reactor back under control.
Are you saying that you can do it?
I will give it everything I've got.
Are you saying you can protect this city?
That's what I came back for.
Are you... Are you saying you can save this world?!
No. I will destroy it.
With this power...
I will destroy this crazy world and create a new one.
Because if I fail to do that...
Humanity will perish.
A single name, deep in my heart
Aside from my bag, it's all I've brought
If I call it out, it'll become a bird
and its name will be carried towards you
When I remember what I wanted to tell you
will disappear if left unsaid, I grow afraid
I'm trying my best, giving it my all,
but why am I always so inept?
Even when it rains, even if I hate it,
you are at the front of my mind
When we held hands,
their connecting
became the very center of my world.
"Aah, I wonder if this what I was living for,"
That's how much it meant to me.
Wherever I go, I can always return
So see you later
So Leon Lau has returned.
I will make a hot pot out of him, the Princess, and the entire Neo Xianglong!
We're back.
Brother.
2038 Neo Xianglong