The night air was cold, biting even. Beneath the dim glow of the tent, the two of them spoke in hushed tones about a looming threat one that could escalate into a game of global proportions.
Without warning, the lights flickered. A subtle but ominous sign: Team 12's financial status was in disarray.
Only then did Phrillo realize something unsettling aside from Hikaru, there were no other members of Team 12.
Hikaru's voice was low, almost grim. He explained that ever since the end of the First Wave, strange incidents had begun to surface. The main enemy was no longer the mysterious gates that had once opened but the humans who had survived. And those humans… had gained terrifying powers.
There was once a man, a noble of the highest rank, who wielded a power of overwhelming destruction.
They called him "Babel."
The more he used his ability, the stronger his convictions became. But with that strength came a cost he slowly transformed into someone arrogant, prideful, and dangerously unhinged. Right after the First Wave ended, he vanished without a trace.
Phrillo closed his eyes, troubled. He feared history might repeat itself. No one knew whether that man was still alive… or something worse.
Only then did Phrillo reveal the true reason for his visit.
After a long explanation, Hikaru finally understood the situation. His expression hardened.
"This is bad," he muttered. "If this really happens… it'll trigger a region-scale game."
He glanced at the clock.
"Thirteen hours left. We need to move. Now."
Meanwhile, inside another tent, Zappardi stepped out to check the surroundings—only to find Rico missing. Alarmed, he gently shook Merthyl awake. She blinked, then quickly noticed the same thing.
At exactly 3:00 a.m., the sound of clanging metal that had echoed through the night… vanished.
Zappardi nodded grimly. Moments later, a series of distant explosions rang out.
They turned toward the sealed passage and followed it to the end only to find the path buried under a fresh landslide.
But that didn't stop Zappardi. He dug through the dirt with his bare hands, scraping them raw, but he didn't care. Eventually, he uncovered a tunnel that led straight to the highway.
They emerged and began searching for Rico. Their path led them to a ruined area clear signs of a fierce battle.
Bloodstains. Shattered glass. Scorched asphalt. Craters everywhere.
Then, a sharp hiss echoed across the city. Screens flickered to life.
"Codename: Elnard [Rico] will be deactivated from the team. This is the consequence of reckless behavior."
Zappardi froze. His thoughts spiraled into chaos. Merthyl clenched her fists, trying to stay calm.
But it wasn't over.
The screen buzzed again.
"This time, we'll be generous. Anyone who comes to the Nes City Broadcast Tower today can reclaim Rico's team membership. You're probably wondering what's so special about this intruder? Don't worry. We'll show you."
The screen lit up with Rico's face familiar to every active player. A high-pitched whine followed.
"The final deadline for this event is 11:00 p.m. tonight. That is all."
Hearing that, Zappardi's emotions surged. He told Merthyl to stay in the tent; he would handle this problem himself. Zappardi rolled up his sleeves, a sign that he was ready to fight. Merthyl watched Zappardi's hurried steps, immediately approaching him. She held Zappardi's clothes, saying, "Don't be like that," with a worried look on her face. Zappardi interrupted, saying, "I don't want to lose another friend." Then he broke free and ran off. Merthyl was left stunned, watching him.
Zappardi ran without knowing where he was going; he only hoped that someone passing by could show him the way. Indeed, many teams were rushing to the location. The streets were packed; many people were pushing each other. Zappardi couldn't move freely, to the point where he got into a small fight. Zappardi was pushed and stumbled; no one paid him any attention. He was stepped on, his voice unheard. He thought he had no other choice. He tried to force his way through but couldn't. Suddenly, a car's headlights illuminated the road from afar. The street became less crowded. Zappardi was confused by this.
Until finally, a white-haired figure appeared, wearing casual clothes with a blue jacket. Many people were in shock.
*"That's Team 12."*
Zappardi realized that the figure beside him was Phrillo, the leader of Team Dracer. Phrillo looked in his direction. Zappardi tried to avoid him. They had a brief discussion about Zappardi's actions; both strongly disagreed. "Zappardi, you're rushing in without a plan like that. Think things through carefully before acting," they both said. Zappardi puffed out his chest.
"I already know the consequences, but even so, I will still choose this. My decision is final and cannot be disputed."
"Hahahahahahhaa," Hikaru laughed, hearing that.
"You know the consequences. If so, it's better for you to retreat. If you don't want to lose many things, then now is the perfect time," Hikaru said, patting Zappardi's shoulder. For a moment, Zappardi felt that Hikaru was similar to his friend. "If you say that, I'll do it even more. You can't stop me, no matter if you're a big shot, the government, a king, a demon, or even a god. My decision is final," Zappardi said with full enthusiasm. Hearing that, Hikaru smiled faintly. He then placed his hand on Zappardi's forehead.
"Deduct."
Zappardi saw a place where everything was destroyed. There was one figure standing, with a small body gripping a large sword, sitting on a pile of corpses, their eyes glowing red. When he regained consciousness, Zappardi smelled a distinct aroma. He panicked when he realized his body was covered in blood. The two of them immediately calmed him; the blood disappeared. They both said, "Your experience is still not as much as ours, but perhaps you are a very good leader." Zappardi was stunned by this. Once again, Hikaru asked, "Is your decision still final?" Zappardi, who had initially been looking down, straightened his head with an optimistic gaze.
"Of course."