Why had Axel survived? Because he had been the grand mastermind behind it all, writing downfall across the board with the sweep of his hand. Or so the boy's memories had implied at the least.

"The replica seemed to imply that Axel's hand was the one to send everything down the path of ruin," he answered simply and perfectly truthfully.

Needless to say, he'd be having words with Xemnas on that matter at some point. With so many deaths to lay at his feet he wasn't sure Axel would be much longer a part of the Organization, though the decision would be Xemnas' and not his.