By Zephyria The view was blurred due to the acrid dust. Only the vision was blocked, but even the ears were muffled. Thanks to that, the voices of the announcers were not heard properly. Leonardo, giving up on trying to figure out how the situation was unfolding, lowered his chin and rolled his eyes straight ahead.
A face that didn’t show emotions well was staring straight at him. His ashen eyes were cold, but he didn’t feel any murderous intent.
The other person’s eyes, which had been still for a while, rolled away again as if sensing a similar current. At the end of that gaze was Asher’s wristband, which was still not turned off. Leonardo was still holding onto it, wrapped around it. One finger was wedged into the ring of the band. As if he was about to tear it off at any moment.
It was only one finger, but because it was closely attached to the artery, the pulse was transmitted intact, so he could vaguely guess the emotional state. In that sense, this woman’s pulse was quite fast right now. Even though her face looked calm, adrenaline was exploding, meaning she could change her stance and attack at any time.
Leonardo found the spine on Asher’s back, which he was supporting with his left hand. But that was just spreading his palm wider. The subtle movement was quite threatening, and her ashen eyes reacted fiercely.
Leonardo, who was holding her back as she tried to lean back in a pose as if she was dancing, raised the corners of his hidden mouth in a smirk.
“I won’t kill you.”
Waaaaaa―!
The long-awaited audience erupted in cheers at the news of the survival of the two participants who had left the most intense impression in this match. The fine particles of floating dust vibrated all at once. At the same time, Asher, stiffened as if a knife was at her throat, immediately punched down.
Kwang―!
Ike, Leonardo jumped wide and stepped back. The dust that was about to settle rose again, and the Floating Stone he had been stepping on until just now was deeply pitted again. It didn’t split in two, but if he had stayed still, one part of his head would have definitely exploded.
“I said I wouldn’t kill you, why are you attacking? The match is over.”
Leonardo protested in a disgruntled voice. However, the arena was so noisy that he couldn’t even hear his own voice. Of course, there was no way the other person could have understood.
Because it was obscured by the hazy curtain and the distance was far, even the eyes that he could read were no longer visible. Only a shadowy figure faintly flickered.
Around that time, the hair that had flowed down tickled his golden eyes. Leonardo pushed the blonde hair that had protruded out back into his hat. At this point, he had doubts. Was it possible for him to hide his identity until the end of this league? He had already leaked it here and there….
He sighed and pointed his index finger at the person who had ruined his plans for today. Whether it could be heard in this commotion or not, he proclaimed.
“It was fun for the first time in a while, but I’ll tell you in advance. Don’t bother me.”
Of course, there was no answer coming back. Even if he opened his mouth, there was no way it could be heard from this side.
It felt like he was talking to a wall, so he decided to just stop. He put his hat back on after taking down his finger. Then, before turning his body and leaping upwards, his clear Gold Eyes stared intently at the other person out of the corner of his eye. This time it was a warning.
“I’ll be serious next time.”
Leaving those words behind, he tried to step on the ground and leave the place. But a resounding voice rang out above his head.
‘Huh?’
At those words, Leonardo tilted his head with a puzzled expression. Wasn’t it over?
The dust had cleared more than before, but the view was still not completely secured. He could see the shadows of the Floating Stones, but there were no shadows of people around here….
Leonardo, who was about to say a cool goodbye and leave, stiffly turned his neck back and looked back. He saw the woman who was still standing like a stone statue like him.
<4, 3!>
Damn it. If they’re telling them to form teams, then the next match must be a team match, and it’s within 5m even by eye. At this rate, he’s going to end up on a team with that woman who was running around like a madman throughout the match. He absolutely hates team members who can’t be controlled, and he especially doesn’t like conspicuous guys.
<2!>
Leonardo, becoming desperate, leaped into the dust to escape. But at that moment, he heard the cry of a whale from somewhere. At the same time, dark figures suddenly rushed towards him.
“Ryan―!”
“Brother!”
Along with the voices of Gillian and Ero that he vaguely heard, Leonardo was suddenly grabbed by both arms in the air. He didn’t have time to check exactly which guys they were. His bewilderment was only temporary, and he was dragged away into the hazy curtain without being able to resist.
In the meantime, Asher was not visible in the receding view.
<1! Team formation is closed!>
“So, you shot the bomb at the end?”
“It’s not a bomb, but to be honest, I was saving it to use if I was lucky enough to get to the finals….”
Ero scratched the back of his head awkwardly and smiled sheepishly. Leonardo, while looking at him with distrustful eyes, picked up a chocolate bar prepared on the table in the waiting room. The participants were given about 40 minutes of reorganization time until the draw for the second match was announced. Each team was assigned one waiting room.
Leonardo, tearing open the paper wrapper, slightly lifted the bottom of his mask and pushed the chocolate bar into his mouth.
He chewed without thinking, and his eyes twinkled.
‘Oh, this is it.’
The high-calorie energy bar that was in the Council’s combat rations. He didn’t recognize it because the packaging had changed.
Had it been upgraded in the meantime? The hazelnut scent had been added, making it even more flavorful. It tasted even better.
As Leonardo’s gaze turned to the chocolate bar in his hand, Ero, who had stopped talking, also slid over the energy bar he had received as his share. Leonardo glanced at it and asked out of courtesy.
“What about you?”
“I’m allergic to chocolate.”
Is there such a thing? Leonardo, not thinking deeply, reached out his arm and pulled the energy bar in front of him. Then, he stuffed it into his pants pocket as if someone would take it.
“Thanks.”
“Should I get you more?”
“No.”
‘I can just ask the Legion Commander.’
Leonardo, replying simply, brought up the topic from before again.
“So, you were saving it to use if you got to the finals?”
“Ah, if I keep fighting Asher, my brother will be exhausted, so shouldn’t I, his partner, step in and help somehow? And there aren’t many survivors left! I can’t beat Asher, and this seems like the only way to finish it in one shot….”
“So, I got some help from Bell and Beast. We’re on the same team now anyway… It’s okay, right?”
Ero asked, looking around cautiously. He clearly remembered his brother telling him not to associate with them.
Leonardo, leaning back on the sofa with his throbbing arm resting on the backrest, repeatedly chewed with an indifferent expression. Then, he looked at the two people sitting next to him.
Gillian and Beatrice, who had suddenly become a team, and, if you had to add one more, Morbuan, her beloved doll and the gatekeeper of their residence.
Beatrice, holding a teacup that Morbuan had poured, added as if it were obvious.
“It’s not just okay, it’s great. How could I possibly win if I teamed up with anyone other than me?”
Everyone had a lot to say to her, but no one dared to say it out loud. Gillian, staring at Beatrice sipping her tea, shrugged. Similarly, she leaned back on the sofa, swirling a wine glass filled with wine.
“Well, if milady says so, let’s do our best since it’s come to this. Your partner is quite tough, too. Not bad, huh?”
“Oh, come on, Brother.”
Ero joked at Gillian’s acknowledgment. Leonardo stared, speechless, at the bond that had formed between them without him even realizing it.
‘Is this even allowed?’
According to their fellow competitors, Joker had approached them first during the match, begging them to help for Ryan’s sake. Since it was for him, the two naturally had no choice but to step in, contributing to Joker’s plan and targeting the area with the most survivors left. In other words, the match ending due to the explosion was a collaboration between these three… no, four.
“Would I even be here if you two and Orka hadn’t helped me?”
Ero said, embarrassed, giving credit to them. Leonardo’s gaze naturally turned to the one-person sofa set aside to his left. There, the orca was watching the situation in the waiting room with a completely different atmosphere than in the match, looking blank.
As soon as he turned his head halfway, the orca met his eyes as if he had been waiting for it.
Soon, he stretched out his right arm as if to shake hands and brought his face close.
“Nice to meet you, Lion. I’m Orka.”