Could he...? It was a good question; holding onto the burdens of the world on his shoulders, keeping pain and suffering as far away from those he loved as possible while working towards a better, more beautiful future for everyone? If he had to sacrifice himself, could he do it? Would he be able to give away his fragile, flawed, and mistake-ridden life in exchange for the lives of all others...?

All signs, of course, pointed to "Yes."

Even the simple thought of it forced a heavy weight onto his...his heart. Yes, that was the proper word; that thing he had always been told that he had as a Reploid, but which he truly in the most accurate sense of the word had as a human. It was a hard, clenching thing; but not altogether uncomfortable somehow.

X wasn't sure why that was.

"It's not a matter of 'can' I." X murmured. "But a matter of 'will' I. Of course, there are those who are willing to help me, and I will always be grateful to them."

Zero. Dr. Cain.

"...But I'd rather bring the burden entirely onto myself than to let them deal with it. Even if it seems impossible, I'll take on the task, even if that means doing it alone. If it ends up bringing peace in the long run...I don't mind becoming Atlas."

And under the pressure, X knew that he wouldn't shrug.