Tokyo Colony 1
Takeru looked at the list Higuruma had helped put together.
It was long.
Very long.
Takeru sighed.
"Okay."
He cracked his knuckles.
"Guess I need more of me."
Yuji blinked.
"…How many?"
Takeru smiled.
"How many do you need?"
He raised his hand.
POOF.
One copy appeared.
Then another.
Then another.
Then another.
Soon, the street was filled with Takerus.
Yuji stared.
"…This is getting ridiculous."
One Takeru waved.
"Have fun!"
Another pointed down a different street.
"I'm going this way!"
Another casually said—
"I call that building!"
And they scattered.
Elsewhere
A Takeru approached a group of players.
"Want out?"
"Yes."
"Cool. Give me your information."
100 points.
Rule activated.
Another Takeru found someone hiding inside a building.
"You want to leave?"
"…Yes."
"Alright."
Another hundred points.
Another copy found someone who had been injured and wanted nothing more than to escape the Culling Game.
"Don't worry."
Takeru smiled.
"You're getting out."
One by one…
Players disappeared from the colonies.
Not killed.
Not defeated.
Not forced.
Simply replaced.
The Kogane repeatedly announced the changes.
"Rule activation confirmed."
"Player has exited the Culling Game."
"Substitute player registered."
Again.
And again.
And again.
Takeru's copies moved between colonies.
Sendai.
Tokyo 1.
Tokyo 2.
Sakurajima.
Everywhere.
Eventually…
the last copy returned.
POOF.
Takeru looked around.
"…That's everyone."
Yuji blinked.
"Everyone?"
Takeru nodded.
"Everyone who wanted out."
Higuruma looked around.
"No one else?"
Takeru checked with the Kogane.
"Anyone remaining has chosen to stay?"
"Correct."
Takeru smiled.
"Good."
He looked around at the group.
"So…"
He stretched.
"Now we just have to get us out."
Yuji looked at him.
"How hard could that be?"
Takeru paused.
"…Don't say that."
Megumi sighed.
"Yeah."
Nanami adjusted his tie.
"That sentence has historically been followed by something going terribly wrong."
Takeru laughed.
"Fair."
He looked toward the barrier.
Everyone who wanted to leave was already outside.
All that remained…
was getting Takeru and the others out themselves.