As Strelizia Apus hurtles through the cold vacuum of space toward the heart of the VIRM mothership, the weight of Hiro and Zero Two's mission bears down on them like never before. Their bodies are already weakened, blood staining their uniforms as they fight through the agony. But they know there's no turning back.
Inside the cockpit, Zero Two, fully merged with the Franxx, smiles at Hiro despite her pain.
Zero Two: "This is it, Darling. It's the end."
Hiro's heart aches, but he returns her smile, determined to finish what they started.
Hiro: "Together. We'll end it together."
With one last surge of energy, they plunge Strelizia Apus into the core of the VIRM mothership, unleashing all the power they have left. The explosion is blinding, tearing through space and consuming everything in its path. Inside the cockpit, Hiro and Zero Two reach for each other, their hands brushing just as their bodies begin to disintegrate.
Hiro: "I love you, Zero Two."
Zero Two: "I love you too, Hiro."
As the light engulfs them, they smile through the pain, sharing one final kiss before they vanish into the void, their sacrifice marking the end of the war.
___
Back on Earth, peace is fragile. Though the immediate threat of VIRM has been destroyed, the world left behind is broken and scarred. The once-advanced society, which relied on technology and artificial means of reproduction, collapses into chaos. The remnants of the human population are small and scattered, struggling to survive without the guidance of APE or the Franxx.
The war leaves humanity divided, and with the absence of a common enemy, old conflicts resurface. Nations turn on each other, desperate for resources and control. Massive wars break out, devastating the planet. Cities that once stood as symbols of progress are reduced to rubble. Technology and knowledge, once humanity's greatest strengths, are lost in the flames of battle.
The Klaxosaurs, who had retreated deep into the earth, resurface sporadically, drawn to the chaotic energy of the warring human factions. Though they no longer pose the same existential threat, they become another challenge for the struggling survivors.
The remnants of the VIRM's influence, though defeated, linger in the dark corners of the Earth. Some humans, driven by greed and a lust for power, seek out the remnants of VIRM technology, trying to wield it for their own gain. But these efforts only lead to more destruction, fueling humanity's downward spiral.
Over centuries, war ravages the planet, stripping away not just life but the very foundations of knowledge. Science, history, and the advanced technology that once held the key to humanity's survival are lost, buried beneath the ashes of a world that can no longer remember the past.
---
Though they fought bravely in their youth, the members of Squad 13 live out their final days in relative peace, far from the chaos engulfing the rest of the world. They settle in small, rural communities, living simple lives surrounded by their families.
Ichigo and Goro, who have grown old together, spend their last days on a quiet farm. Their children and grandchildren often visit, filling their home with laughter and love. One evening, as they sit together on their porch, watching the sun set, Ichigo rests her head on Goro's shoulder.
Ichigo: "Do you ever wonder what happened to Hiro and Zero Two?"
Goro smiles gently, his wrinkled face filled with warmth.
Goro: "They're watching over us, I'm sure. They gave us this peace."
As the sun dips below the horizon, Ichigo closes her eyes, feeling a deep sense of contentment. They pass away together that night, quietly, surrounded by their family, with peaceful smiles on their faces.
Mitsuru and Kokoro also live long, fulfilling lives with their children and grandchildren. One afternoon, Kokoro, now frail with age, sits in her garden, watching her grandchildren play. Mitsuru joins her, his steps slow but steady.
Mitsuru: "It's been a beautiful life."
Kokoro smiles, her eyes full of love as she looks at him.
Kokoro: "Yes, it has."
They die peacefully, side by side, surrounded by their family, the love they shared carrying them to the end.
---
Two thousand years after the death of Hiro and Zero Two, the Earth is a far different place. The once-advanced civilizations have crumbled, and humanity has regressed to a much simpler existence. The scars of war have long since faded, but the knowledge and technology of the past have been lost to time. The world now is largely agrarian, with small communities scattered across the landscape.
In one of these communities, a young man named Shu grows up in a modest, hardworking family. The son of farmers, Shu's life is filled with simple joys and quiet responsibilities. His parents are kind and loving, and his childhood is peaceful, far removed from the chaos of the ancient world.
Shu is an intelligent, curious boy, often wandering the fields near his home, wondering about the world beyond. Though he has no memory of his past life as Hiro, there is a strange, unshakable feeling deep inside him, as if he's searching for something he can't quite name.
His family—his parents and younger sister—are the center of his world. They live humbly, but happily, tending to their crops and animals, and spending evenings together under the stars. His father tells stories of the ancient world, passed down through generations, but these tales are more myth than history. No one truly remembers the wars or the heroes who once saved the planet.
One night, as Shu lies in the fields, staring up at the sky, he feels an inexplicable pull toward the stars, as though something is calling to him from beyond.
Shu: "What's out there…? Why do I feel like I've seen it all before?"
His younger sister shuna comes to sit beside him, laughing softly.
Shuns: "You always ask that, Shu. You and your big dreams. We're just farmers—what could there be beyond this?"
Shu smiles at her but can't shake the feeling that there's more to the world, something waiting for him, something he once knew.
---
Though the Earth is now peaceful, it is a world haunted by the lost knowledge of its past. The ruins of ancient cities, buried deep beneath the forests and mountains, hold the secrets of a time when humanity reached for the stars. But those who walk the earth now have no memory of the wars, no understanding of the technology that once existed.
The remnants of the VIRM and the Klaxosaurs have long since faded into legend, their influence erased by time. The world has moved on, rebuilding itself in simpler, quieter ways. The great struggles of the past are forgotten, and the names of Hiro and Zero Two, once heroes, are lost to history.
As Shu grows older, he remains haunted by dreams of a life he cannot recall—of battles, love, and sacrifice. Yet he has no way of understanding these dreams, and the world around him offers no answers. His life is destined to be one of quiet simplicity, far removed from the epic story that unfolded millennia ago.
And so, the cycle of life continues. The world, now peaceful, moves forward, unaware of the sacrifices that once saved it. The reincarnated souls of Hiro and Zero Two live on, but their past lives are nothing more than faint echoes, lost in the winds of time.
To be continued.
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Authors Note:Thank you for reading this chapter.
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