As the season 1 finale of Alice In Borderland unfolds, we find Momoka and Asahi wandering through the eerily silent streets of Tokyo, clutching a phone that mysteriously remains functional, a stark contrast to the electronic silence that has enveloped the city for five long days. They resolve to leave a message, a beacon of hope for any soul that might stumble upon it in the aftermath of humanity's abrupt disappearance.
Descending into the subway's labyrinthine depths, the scene teems with unanswered questions. How did their phone defy the universal electronic shutdown? Are they unwitting pawns in this grim game of survival? And who, oh who, is the enigmatic witch that looms over their fate?
Meanwhile, in the grand atrium, Aguni rallies his forces, poised for a final, desperate confrontation, his intent to slay all who stand before him palpable. Suddenly, Arisu and Usagi intervene, their voices filled with urgency, begging Aguni to see the error of his ways and unite in the hunt for the witch. The revelation stuns all: Aguni himself is the witch, a confession he freely offers, yet one that Arisu suspects harbors deeper layers of deceit.
Arisu, eyes sharp and mind agile, pierces through Aguni's false persona. He exposes a shocking truth—Aguni and Hatter, once inseparable comrades, orchestrated a facade of conflict to rein in a rogue faction of militants. Their noble endeavor spiraled into chaos when Hatter, in a twist of mad ambition, introduced a brutal new rule: the execution of traitors, transforming their democracy into a ruthless dictatorship.
In a climactic twist, Hatter betrayed Aguni during their final confrontation, forcing Aguni's hand in retaliation. Yet, this does not justify Aguni's current bloodlust. Returning to the present, Arisu contemplates a solution, a beacon of hope amidst despair. He gestures towards Momoka, suggesting a possibility that震撼人心: she could be the witch in disguise.
Aguni's patience reached its breaking point; refusing to heed any more words, violence erupted. In the midst of the fray, Asahi, having proclaimed herself the Dealer, unexpectedly succumbed to a laser wound to the head. An's arrival shed light on a crucial detail—the knife had been held in reverse, reinforcing Arisu's initial suspicion that Momoka was indeed the witch. Driven by Arisu's fervent appeal, they prepared to incinerate Momoka's remains. However, their plans were interrupted by Niragi's abrupt appearance, who commenced a shooting spree. To make matters worse, he ignited the flames further, cackling maniacally. In a selfless act of heroism, Aguni sacrificed himself to propel Niragi back into the inferno, thus saving everyone.
As Arisu ventured outside with the others to consummate Momoka's cremation, he observed that the phone lying on the ground was still recording. Amidst the flickering, hypnotic dance of the flames, Arisu addressed Usagi and the group, urging them to halt the cycle of violence. Seizing the moment, Chishiya swiftly picked up the 10 of Hearts card from the table.
The following morning, Usagi and Arisu reviewed the footage captured on Momoka's phone. It unveiled a startling revelation: Momoka and Asahi had colluded to orchestrate several of the games. They collaborated to participate in various contests, sometimes as disruptors or to deliberately throw off the game's rhythm.
As the footage unfolded, the duo descended into the subway and delved deep into the Dealer's lair—a sprawling labyrinth of structures underpinned by electronics and populated by numerous suited individuals. These observers meticulously monitored the unfolding games, deriving sinister pleasure from the bloodshed. Could these individuals be the elusive game-masters?
Usagi and Arisu seize the information and venture into the subway on their own to inspect the situation more closely. There, they find the diverse workers sprawled unconscious on tables, punctuated by grim bullet holes. The subway station is plunged into darkness, until Chishiya and Kuina emerge from the shadows, revealing that they discovered this very hideout thanks to the cryptic map tucked inside the tagger's pocket—a nod to their earlier encounter during the game of tag. Indeed, the drawing unfolds as a detailed map.
Chishiya quips that the elusive leader could be extraterrestrial beings or even a deity, but just then, the lights flicker back to life as Mira's image materializes on a screen, accompanied by fleeting glimpses of those who have perished. She intends to bestow upon them a "gift," which transpires to be a series of fresh games awaiting their participation.
The next phase will unveil itself at noon the next day, signaling that they must once again engage in battle. However, this time, they are privy to their target's identity. As Tokyo lights up with a dazzling fireworks display, the stage is meticulously set for the upcoming challenge, with colossal blimps hovering overhead, bearing the face cards they require.
