Bermuda

Tangled clouds of dirt billowed as rocks large and small poured down like a torrential storm. The fragments that slammed into the bottom of the arena scattered sharply in all directions. Over the wide-spread dust, an overwhelming mass of earth collapsed down again, swallowing not only the figure buried beneath but even the shattered bridge in an instant.

Rumble—!

A thunderous roar of collapse pierced the Transparent Barrier and spread through the waves of spectators. For a while, the vast arena echoed only with shockwaves accompanied by destruction. Even the commentators were left speechless, unable to take their eyes off the lowest level where the prisoner had been bound.

As if witnessing a massive accident, the spectators clamped their hands over their half-open mouths.

“Are you insane? That strong?”

“Even Lion... this is...”

“He’s out.”

“No way—.”

As scattered gasps flickered through the air, the falling boulders soon barely came to a halt. Only a few remaining fragments swept across the lowest level like a passing downpour, but the thick cloud of dust thrown up formed a dark curtain, making it impossible to assess the situation clearly.

The murmuring voices grew louder and louder, doubt spreading across every face about Lion’s survival. Andreas, who had been staring ahead while swallowing hard, cast a sideways glance at Hugo.

It’s not like him... but people blinded by love do things they normally wouldn’t, right?

He was more than a little worried Hugo might suddenly leap to his feet.

“Hey, Hugo....”

Tilting his head, he tried to examine his superior’s expression more closely.

Shraaak—

Hugo’s refined eyebrows twitched.

At the center of the arena, the mound of debris piled like a grave suddenly surged upward.

From within it, a lightning-like slash flashed and carved a vivid trajectory through the air.

<Lion—It’s Lion!>

The booming voice of the commentator shattered the silence. A half-beat later, a roar of cheers echoed in all directions.

<He’s emerging from the debris!>

Waaaaaa—!

<How did he survive that?!>

<Orca and Bell are with him! I don’t yet understand how this happened, but—!>

The dust mixed with Ether trembled finely, stirred by the rising cheers. Leonardo, drenched from head to toe, burst through the cloud and leapt high. Clinging to his arms were Orca, who had wrapped an arm around his neck, and Beatrice, hanging limp. The long chain and restraints trailed along with them.

“You insane bastard, I swallowed a ton of water because of you....”

“But you survived because of it, didn’t you? If your head got hurt, it would’ve been serious.”

Leonardo glared, incredulous.

Serious? What kind of lunatic shoves water into every hole in someone’s face?

“But you were hotter than I expected. Your mouth and nose felt like lava.”

“Are you actually crazy?”

“If I hadn’t done that, the debris would’ve cut you.”

“Yeah, yeah, just shut up. My head’s pounding.”

Now completely soaked and caked in mud, clear liquid streamed from Leonardo’s mouth and nose. Orca, who had earned a barrage of curses despite helping, pouted slightly. He reached out to wipe Leonardo’s wet face, but Leonardo jerked his head back roughly—while still moving both teammates to a safe spot.

“Cough—kgh—!”

As he coughed violently, the soaked mask clung to his mouth and nose, revealing the contours of his lower face. Unbothered, Leonardo planted his feet on a Floating Platform and shook Orca off his neck first. Then he supported Beatrice’s back and head, carefully laying her down on flat ground.

“Is she dead?”

Orca wrung water from his robe while glancing at her pale complexion.

“She just fainted. Happens sometimes. More importantly—can you summon your Divine Beast again?”

“...Not immediately. There’s not enough moisture in this arena. But three minutes will be enough.”

“Three minutes?”

His golden eyes rolled as he checked the remaining time. The number on the board showed roughly seven minutes left.

Half the time’s already gone.

No time to sit around.

Leonardo tilted Beatrice’s head back to secure her airway, then stood.

“Then you guard this lady. I’m heading up.”

“Wouldn’t Bell’s doll handle protection? I’ll cover the lion.”

Leonardo wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as he surveyed the arena, now buried in rubble. Clink—the heavy shackles brushed against his wet chin.

“That thing doesn’t move if Bell’s unconscious.”

<Lion appears to have been freed from confinement! But the restraints are still attached—what’s going on?>

<We may need confirmation whether the locking device buried under the debris is still active. Did Bell fail to release it? We haven’t received confirmation yet—>

<Ah, breaking update! Just before Bell could release the device, the falling boulder struck the ground! The impact destroyed the floor’s anchoring mechanism, severing the chain binding Lion—and the device was released afterward—!>

Both commentators turned toward the control tower judges.

<Then what happens to the match? If the prisoner frees themselves and moves, that’s disqualification!>

After a brief consultation, the judges raised a large green flag and waved it side to side. At the same time, bold text flashed across the Crystal Board.

[NO FURTHER ACTION

MATCH CONTINUES]

<The match will continue without interruption! It has been judged an unavoidable accident—Team JOKER narrowly avoids disqualification!>

<But this actually puts Lion at a disadvantage. Those shackles will interfere with his Ether usage—especially since they’re Magic-Stone Shackles.>

<Exactly. Even with his exceptional physical ability, both bridges above have been destroyed. Reaching the escape route won’t be easy.>

“Hyung—!”

At that moment, a familiar voice rang out from above. Leonardo and Orca both snapped their heads up instinctively.

<And right on cue—Joker appears!>

Ero, filthy after being flung into a corner, waved his pistol wildly. Confirming both of them were looking, he aimed at a single point and fired twice.

Bang, bang!

With a metallic clatter, a rope ladder unfurled beneath the bridge—the bullets had severed the securing knot.

It was the only path connecting the lowest level to the second basement.

<What a play by Joker! He’s found a hidden mechanism!>

<A solid support player—there’s a reason he’s Lion’s partner!>

After quickly assessing the situation, Leonardo tapped Orca’s shoulder.

“I’m counting on you—.”

“Lion!”

Orca tried to grab him, but the fluttering ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) cloak slipped through his grasp along with a burst of heat.

Leonardo leapt, diving into the air at an angle.

But even he could feel it—his output was heavily suppressed.

Damn it.

<Lion’s jump falls short!>

<Those restraints must be incredibly heavy—Magic-Stone Shackles aren’t easy to break—!>

Twisting midair to extend his hang time, Leonardo saw Orca behind him raise his fan. With a powerful swing, ultrasound surged outward, pushing aside the flowing Ether like a wave.

Carried by that force, Leonardo barely managed to grab the dangling rope ladder.

<He catches the ladder! But will the opposing team just let him climb?>

The taut ladder snapped into motion, spinning in a wide arc from the rebound. Hanging from it, Leonardo pulled his weight outward, maximizing centrifugal force.

“Page, cut the rope!”

At that moment, a rough voice rang out from across Ero. It was the Toad.

The instant the command was given, the debris piled on the lowest level began to bubble like boiling water.

The bizarre phenomenon drew every eye in the arena.

Moments later, from the very hole Leonardo had burst through, semi-transparent green reptilian creatures began to pour out in a flood.

“What the hell is that?”

Sticky, viscous slime stretched along their path. The grotesque sight made the spectators grimace.

<Team Big Boss’s Page is using summoning magic! Are those salamanders?>

<We thought the Page had been knocked unconscious by Bell’s umbrella strike, but apparently not! There are so many—Lion needs to hurry!>

Leonardo, still swinging like a pendulum, glanced down.

The bubbling creatures were climbing the surface of the Transparent Barrier en masse, surging upward.

The slime acted like adhesive—their climbing speed was incredible. In an instant, they surpassed his height, threatening to engulf the bridge on the second basement where the rope ladder was anchored.

Tch.

Clicking his tongue, Leonardo began swinging his upper body rhythmically. He kicked the ladder forward, then twisted his entire body, snapping the rope like a whip.

The recoil launched his body upward from the end of the ladder, sending him soaring into the air.