A brilliant light engulfed them, pulling their consciousness into a strange realm. Hiro and Zero Two found themselves standing amidst an endless sea of stars, as if suspended at the peak of the galaxy. Countless stars flickered around them, resembling fragments of memories shimmering in the darkness.
Before them stood the Guardian, his eyes swirling like celestial bodies. His voice was deep and commanding:
"This trial will test your resolve, your bond, and your understanding of your true mission. Only by overcoming it can you reclaim your past memories and gain the power necessary to end VIRM once and for all."
Zero Two tightened her grip on Hiro’s hand, meeting the Guardian’s gaze fearlessly.
"No matter what the trial is, we’ll face it together!"
Hiro nodded, his expression firm.
"We've come this far. There's no turning back now. Please, tell us what we must do."
With a wave of the Guardian’s sleeve, the surrounding stars distorted and shifted, forming a glowing doorway before them.
"Beyond this gate, you will return to your past and relive fragments of your previous life. However, this will not be a mere replay of memories—it will be a test. You must confront your regrets and pain firsthand, and from them, uncover the truth."
Hiro and Zero Two exchanged a glance. Taking a deep breath, they stepped forward into the light.
Returning to the Forgotten Battlefield
A brilliant flash later, they found themselves on a battlefield—one that was both familiar and foreign. The ground lay in ruins, FranXX units burned in the distance, and the echoes of past battles reverberated in the air. In the distance, the colossal remains of a Klaxosaur lay motionless amidst the wreckage, a solemn testament to the ferocity of war.
"This place…?" Hiro looked around in astonishment, quickly realizing that they had been transported to the very site of their final battle against VIRM's vanguard fleet.
Zero Two’s gaze locked onto the horizon, where she spotted familiar figures—Miku, Goro, Futoshi, Kokoro, Ikuno, Mitsuru, Zorome, and Naomi. Their faces bore expressions of sorrow and helplessness, as if they had already foreseen the sacrifice Hiro and Zero Two were about to make.
"This… this was the moment we left Earth…" Zero Two whispered.
A sharp pain tightened in Hiro’s chest. He recalled how, to put an end to VIRM, they had left their comrades behind, embarking on a battle from which they could never return. And now, standing in this moment once again, the ache of that decision resurfaced in full force.
Then, the Guardian’s voice echoed through the battlefield:
"This is your first trial—if fate were to repeat itself, would you make the same choice? Or… would you choose a different path?"
Hiro and Zero Two turned to look at each other, the silent weight of their emotions hanging between them.
"Did we… really have no other choice back then?" Zero Two murmured.
Hiro fell silent for a moment before replying softly:
"We wanted to protect everyone. We wanted to save this world… so we sacrificed ourselves. But… if there was another way…"
The Guardian’s voice carried an air of wisdom:
"Fate is not set in stone. The future is yours to shape. But to change it, you must confront your deepest fears and regrets, and discover the truth hidden within them."
The battlefield around them began to distort, as if time itself was shifting once more.
This time, Hiro and Zero Two would rewrite their destiny with their own hands—
The trial had only just begun.
To be continued…
