"Getting ready to leave?"
Z-ONE asked.
"More or less." Kira shrugged. "I'll observe things for another two days. I'll probably need to borrow Iliaster and some of your equipment during that time, just to confirm that this dimension has truly returned to the right track and is no longer a threat to my world for the time being."
Z-ONE nodded. "There shouldn't be any problems now. If anything else happens, I think Fudo Yusei should be able to handle it."
Kira said, "Then I assume your plans haven't changed?"
"No." Z-ONE said.
The WRGP would continue, and Iliaster's Three Emperors—or rather, the former Three Emperors and current three lackeys—would continue competing as the New World Team, facing Yusei and the others in the WRGP.
Yusei would defeat them, the Circuit would be completed, and the Arc Cradle would descend. Z-ONE would still take the field himself and give Yusei his final trial.
Of course, although this path would still follow the route of the original anime, Z-ONE's mindset was completely different now.
Because Z-ONE now had an idea of the final outcome. After witnessing Fudo Yusei's performance today, he knew that he would likely lose in the end. Fudo Yusei would defeat him and guide this world toward a new future.
That was enough.
The meaning of the Arc Cradle battle was for Z-ONE to give Yusei one final tempering before his death, allowing him to solidify his current realm and become stronger. At the same time, it would serve as a warning to the people of this era—a warning that they must never forget the hearts of righteousness and passion, nor forget the disaster that could be brought about if the Perpetual Motion Machine went out of control.
Then he could leave in peace.
At last, Z-ONE said almost