Silence.
Zero froze.
The strange sensation disappeared.
The second image vanished.
The battlefield.
The empty horizon.
The overlapping worlds.
Gone.
For several seconds, Zero couldn't feel anything.
Then he heard the adventurers shouting.
Hiro had succeeded.
Not alone.
But through his actions.
His decisions.
The people around him.
Zero slowly turned toward Earth Zero.
The other Zero stood completely still.
His expression was unreadable.
"Did you feel that?"
Zero asked.
Earth Zero didn't answer.
Zero stepped closer.
"Earth Zero."
Then—
the other Zero slowly closed his eyes.
His shoulders relaxed.
Only slightly.
But Zero noticed.
For the first time since their confrontation began—
Earth Zero looked relieved.
***************************************
"It's gone."
The words were almost too quiet to hear.
Zero stared at him.
"What is?"
Earth Zero opened his eyes.
"The pressure."
Zero frowned.
"What did Hiro just stop?"
