Duran suddenly remembered a trick he had seen in Batman 2, the Joker's game.
Two ships.
One ship carried Naturals, the other carried Coordinators.
Both ships had bombs planted on them.
But the detonators were in the hands of the other ship.
"Let's play a game!"
The flamboyant global broadcast immediately captured the attention of the entire world.
Both Naturals and Coordinators were seeing for the first time someone who could manipulate both sides at once.
Such a cruel game.
Even just watching it on television made people shudder.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the host announced nervously, "early this morning our station received a terrifying call. Two ships have been rigged with explosives. More than 2,300 people are currently under the threat of death."
"According to the caller, this is a carefully designed game. Yes—a heart-stopping game of death."
"We will now broadcast the criminal's recording according to his request."
The host disappeared from the screen.
After a moment of static, a figure wearing a ghostly mask appeared.
"Welcome to the game," the masked figure said.
"All participants should be able to see this as well."
"You probably already know the situation. Two ships. One carrying Naturals, the other carrying Coordinators."
"Both ships are equipped with bombs. Not a large amount, but enough to kill everyone on board."
"You don't want to die, do you? Hehehe…"
Duran suppressed his voice and laughed sinisterly.
"Now for the important part."
"You've probably already noticed the detonators on board your ships. Do you think I'm stupid for leaving them there?"
"Don't worry. There are three detonators."
"The ones you hold can only detonate the bombs on the other ship."
"Hehehe… interesting, right?"
"And the detonator in my hand can blow up both ships at once."
"Now for the rules."
"It is now eleven in the morning."
"Before midnight, if one side decides to destroy the other ship, the side that presses the detonator will survive."
"I keep my promises."
"But if neither side presses the button…"
"Then I'll blow up both ships myself."
"Boom."
"The game begins now."
"Everything you do will be broadcast live."
"Perform well."
"I'm looking forward to seeing who survives in the end."
"Will it be Naturals… or Coordinators?"
"Hehehe…"
The world was stunned.
Such a blatant challenge to the two major factions of Earth was practically suicidal.
Of course, many intelligent people immediately guessed the mastermind behind the game.
For example:
Chairman Durandal in prison.
Lacus aboard the Archangel.
And Athrun far away on PLANT.
Regardless, this event—destined to be recorded in both Natural and Coordinator history—had begun.
While the passengers on the ships struggled with their dilemma, chaos erupted everywhere else.
Should they press the detonator… or not?
And after Duran ended the broadcast, both ships lost all communication with the outside world.
People outside could watch through the live feed.
But those on the ships could no longer contact anyone.
"Actually, there's one rule I didn't mention," Duran said casually while sipping coffee.
"If someone detonates the other ship first, I'll freeze everyone on that ship—whether Natural or Coordinator."
"That way Earth will become a quieter place."
"Am I evil?"
Teresa rolled her eyes.
"Even if the world is hopeless, ordinary civilians probably wouldn't press the detonator."
"Probably."
"That's why there are not only civilians on board," Duran said.
"There are also a few leaders."
"A perfect test of human nature."
"I have to admire the Joker for thinking of it."
On the Natural ship:
"Captain, press it!"
"The other side are just monsters in space. If we don't, we'll all die!"
"Can you guarantee that psychopath will keep his promise if we destroy the other ship?"
"Well… no…"
"The reason we're still alive is because those Coordinators haven't pressed their button either!"
"They just haven't pressed it yet! Who knows when they'll turn us into cosmic dust!"
"…."
"For the sake of the pure blue Earth, Coordinators are monsters! They should all die!"
"You Blue Cosmos lunatic! Even if all Coordinators died, you'd still be garbage!"
"What did you say?!"
The Naturals quickly began fighting among themselves.
On the Coordinator ship, things were quieter.
Most of them simply sat silently.
Not because they were deep in thought—but because they didn't know what to do.
Coordinator society relied heavily on structure and hierarchy.
They were used to following the decisions of those in authority.
Even though they were afraid of death, they remained seated.
"Chairman, please give the order!"
"If we press the button, the citizens of PLANT can survive!"
The acting chairman aboard the ship remained calm, deep in thought.
"The criminal probably won't let us off so easily."
"What do you think his real purpose is?"
Coordinators truly lived up to their reputation for intelligence.
They suspected there was another trap.
But not everyone thought that far.
"Chairman, now is not the time to think about that!"
"If those Naturals press the button first, more than a thousand passengers here will die!"
Even the ship's captain was growing anxious.
Time passed.
By two in the afternoon, four hours had gone by.
Rescue teams outside still had no progress.
"Ten hours left," Duran said, lying comfortably on the grass and enjoying the sunlight.
"I wonder if anyone will press the button."
"Of course it was your doing."
Lacus, Kira, and Cagalli had arrived.
"Why are you doing this?"
Duran sat up.
"You know… I'm not really an alien."
"What?!" Cagalli exclaimed. "You're not an alien? That's impossible!"
Duran looked wounded.
"I'm just a human. I may know many things and have many abilities—but there's far more I don't know."
"My starting point… my homeland… was also a planet called Earth."
"So you've been lying to us the whole time?!" Cagalli exploded.
"So what if I was?" Duran replied shamelessly. "What are you going to do about it—bite me?"
Cagalli nearly lost control, but Kira held her back.
"Then can you stop this dangerous game?" Lacus asked calmly.
"No."
"Not until the result is decided."
"…."
"Why don't we make a guess?" Duran smiled.
"Will Naturals die… or Coordinators?"
"Doesn't that sound fun?"
"Fun?" Kira said angrily. "There's nothing fun about this! You're treating human lives like nothing!"
"Exactly," Duran said.
"My goal is for everyone in the world to understand this terror."
"War only allows a small number of people to experience fear. Most people simply go with the flow."
"That will never bring peace."
"Just look at now. The last war ended only a year ago—and another one is already coming."
"Have you not realized yet that Naturals and Coordinators are already irreconcilable?"
"That's why I created this game."
"To see which side is more despicable."
"And whichever side proves to be more despicable…"
"…has no right to exist on this Earth."
"Duran… you—"
"That's right. This time I'm not joking."
"I may be just one person, but when I see something I can't stand, I'll interfere."
"Before I leave this world, I'll bring it a long-lasting peace."
"And besides…"
"These games that test human nature are thrilling."
"…."
"Will Natural generosity win?"
"Or will Coordinator discipline prevail?"
"Let's watch the outcome of this life-and-death game."
"Of course, whoever presses the button first will lead their entire race into darkness."
"And the thousand victims will become heroes—establishing their people's dominance on Earth."
None of the three said anything.
Duran's presence was overwhelming.
By eight in the evening, both ships were still intact.
After hours of torment, everyone had fallen silent.
They were too exhausted to argue anymore.
Then—
an elderly man slowly stood up on the Natural ship.
"If no one minds," he said, walking with difficulty, "let an old man like me handle it."
"Since none of you want to dirty your hands, I'll do it."
The old man reached out.
The detonator was placed in his hand.
Everyone watched.
No one tried to stop him.
"Excuse me," the old man said calmly. "I'd like to use the restroom. I'd rather not embarrass myself in front of so many people."
He walked into the bathroom.
Then he did something that stunned everyone.
He threw the detonator into the toilet—
and flushed it away.
Even Duran, who had been watching closely, was shocked.
He hadn't expected someone willing to sacrifice themselves like this.
The Naturals' fate could now continue.
The old man spoke slowly.
"I'm eighty-five years old."
"I still remember when Coordinators first appeared. The whole world was excited. Humanity had advanced."
"But after the excitement faded, we realized how outstanding Coordinators were."
"They got the best jobs."
"They dominated in education."
"Even the Olympics were won by Coordinators."
"Yes, I was jealous once."
"But jealousy changes nothing."
"From another perspective, genetic modification was an incredible achievement for humanity."
"But look at us now."
"Divided into Naturals and Coordinators… fighting wars."
"What are you fighting for?"
"Jealousy?"
"Even if Coordinators didn't exist, you still wouldn't be the best."
"Or is it because Coordinators look down on Naturals?"
"That's even more ridiculous."
"I'm old. I won't live long enough to see the future."
"But I know this much."
"Even if we all die here today, we must not forget the original purpose of genetic modification."
"It was meant to help humanity adapt to the universe."
"If Coordinators deserve to die…"
"Then shouldn't those of us who created them die first?"
The old man's rambling speech extinguished everyone's anger.
The detonator was gone.
Less than two hours remained.
Many passengers silently took out paper and began writing farewell letters.
And across the world—
viewers wept as they watched the scene unfold.
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