Cyber Toxin

Hoshimi Miyabi: I see. Is this so we can learn the enemy's weakness...?

Hoshimi Miyabi: Yanagi, your judgment proves to be correct.

Soukaku: I told you we should listen to Nagi! Harumasa, please don't argue with Nagi next time, okay?

Asaba Harumasa: Hey, I was just raising a very reasonable counterpoint...

Soukaku: Arguing is bad, okay!

Asaba Harumasa: *sigh* ...Okay, okay. Next time I'll definitely follow the Deputy Chief's orders. Happy now, Soukaku?

Soukaku: Yup! Harumasamasa is the best!

Tsukishiro Yanagi: ...Thank you, everyone, for giving me your trust. Judging by our enemy's reaction, our plan seems to be effective.

Tsukishiro Yanagi: If everyone's still feeling up to it then I suggest we strike while the iron is hot, and seize our chance to catch the next runaway.

Hoshimi Miyabi: Let's do that. The longer we wait, the higher the chance something goes wrong.

Tsukishiro Yanagi: So then, please get ready, and let's enter the test environment once more...

 Log in to the VR machine again

---

Operate the VR machine again and investigate your clues.

(Talk to Hoshimi Miyabi, optional)

Hoshimi Miyabi: Since your strategy is correct, then let's strike while the iron is hot.

View data status

Hoshimi Miyabi: Alright, hopefully its color hasn't changed yet.

Tsukishiro Yanagi: Relax, the color hasn't changed.

(Talk to Asaba Harumasa, optional)

Asaba Harumasa: A good thing about battling in a virtual world is that my quiver has endless arrows! I can shoot as much as I like!

View data status

Asaba Harumasa: You want to check the status? Just a sec...

Tsukishiro Yanagi: The color has changed. This isn't good.

(Talk to Soukaku, optional)

Soukaku: Nagi, once we're out, will all this exercise make us feel hungry? I'm scared I might get dizzy from hunger...

View data status

Soukaku: Alright, I'll call it out right away!

Tsukishiro Yanagi: The color has changed. This isn't good.

Inescapable Venomous Grip

(Interact with the VR machine)

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 Inescapable Venomous Grip

---

Video Summary: In all sizes, blessings and curses intertwine

Story Description: Another anomaly occurs, and Harumasa's body unexpectedly transforms into a Bangboo!
The television in the club mocks Yanagi, accusing her of being too clever for her own good. However, her squadmates, undaunted, express their belief in Yanagi, suggesting the enemy's loud threats are a sign they were agitated, proving Yanagi's strategy is right.

---

---

After a quick bit of preparation, the squad is ready to recite the key phrase and enter the next test.

Tsukishiro Yanagi: Do you remember the key phrase to start the test?

Soukaku: Yeah! It was that cool one, "To feast on the city's delights" ...or something like that?

Hoshimi Miyabi: No, Soukaku, I don't think that was the phrase.

Hoshimi Miyabi: It was more like... "To shine the light of justice, eliminate all evil" ...Yeah, something like that.

Asaba Harumasa: ...That's just the version you wanted, Chief. The correct phrase was.. ahem... "To protect the city, I shall become the light."

Tsukishiro Yanagi: It's rare for Asaba to remember such details. Especially at work! You can recite the slogan this time.

Asaba Harumasa: Wait, so you guys conveniently forgot because you were embarrassed to recite it? Fine, fine, I'll do it, but don't stare at me! It'll make it even more embarrassing!

Asaba Harumasa: Ahem... To protect the city, I, Asaba Harumasa... shall... b—become the light!

As soon as he finished speaking, a bizarre data loading noise fills the air.

Soukaku: Whoa! It's happening! Hmm... wait, Nagi...? Why is Harumasa... glowing?

With a mix of reluctance and embarrassment, Harumasa stands awkwardly, half-committing to the pose. An unnatural glow slowly envelopes his body as the sharp details of his virtual avatar begin to dissolve into pixelated blocks, blending into a bright white halo. Moments later...

Asaba Harumasa: Huh? Why isn't the stage activated? Did I mess up the words ehn-na?

Tsukishiro Yanagi: ...

Hoshimi Miyabi: What...?

Soukaku: Awww...

Asaba Harumasa: Why are you all staring at me ehn-na? And why are you all so tall ehn-na? Wait... why am I talking like this ehn-na??

Tsukishiro Yanagi: A—Asaba? ...Is that you?

Asaba Harumasa: What's going on? Is this some kind of prank ehn-na? Of course I'm me...

Harumasa turns to face the wall, and in the glossy reflection of the door, he sees an adorably round figure staring back at him.

Harumasaboo: Whaaaaaaaaat!? Ehn-na.

Hoshimi Miyabi: Harumasa... turned into a Bangboo.

Harumasaboo: ...Hold on... n-no... Wait, wait, wait... HUH~ EHN-NA~!?

Harumasaboo: But why!? Where's my body? Is this for real? Did I actually turn into a Bangboo ehn-na!

Harumasaboo: I mean, sure, my old body wasn't perfect, b-but this... these stubby arms and this clumsy body... I'm totally useless ehn-now!

Soukaku: Awww... cheer up, Harumasa! You're not useless! You're the best!

Harumasaboo: Now's really not the time for that! Ehn-na!

???: Hehe... Muahahahahaha!!!

Tsukishiro Yanagi: It's that person...!

???: The know-it-all intel officer... dragging everyone down with her.

???: "Just as planned." "My strategy worked." "The enemy made a mistake." ...Keep deluding yourself.

???: Thanks to your foolishness...

???: Those battles... gave me all the data I needed to take over this system, and soon... to take over you.

???: Your teammate's data model is complete. I've made some small... optimizations to it. Soon, he'll be on a fast track to brain death.

Tsukishiro Yanagi: ...W—What do you want from us...?

???: Hahaha! Didn't I tell you? I want revenge on the invincible Section 6!

???: That archer... was the first. Next is the kid, and then the pride of the Hoshimi family. And you, the know-it-all intelligence officer, I'll make sure you're the last one~

???: I want you to watch as your teammates, under your leadership, walk step by step towards—

"BANG—!" An ear-splitting blast echoes out as Soukaku raises Harumasaboo and violently slams him into the TV, interrupting the venomous whisper.

Tsukishiro Yanagi: Soukaku...?

Soukaku: Don't listen to that ugly loser, Nagi!

Soukaku: I—I don't really understand what it was talking about, but I do know one thing! It's showing its face now because it's panicking!

Harumasaboo: Hey! Is that why you smashed me through the TV screen, Soukaku?... Oh? The screen is back to normal, ehn-na.

???: I told you... I am slowly seizing control of this system. Soon, I will be the god of this world. If I want it restored, it will be restored. And if I want you dead, you... will...die!

Tsukishiro Yanagi: ...I get it now.

???: Heh! Too bad it's already too late...

Tsukishiro Yanagi: That means you're admitting it yourself — you haven't taken over this system, and you don't have the power to change the rules.

Tsukishiro Yanagi: It's reassuring to see the rules in the technical manual still apply. If we kill all the test monsters, it will trigger the end of the test. We're heading in the right direction.

Tsukishiro Yanagi: You've provided me with very useful information.

???: Hmph! You think you're so clever? If that's your conclusion, then you're even dumber than I thought!

???: Let's see if you're still smiling the next time we meet.