PHASE 26 - NOW I CAN’T GET THAT QUADRUPLE STACK BURGER

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!

That’s the sound of the alarm from a distant megaphone. Then it was followed by an announcement.

“The first part of the tournament has ended! We now have the 32 candidates who will advance to the next round!”

I looked at my chest, and I was surprised that my Gate Plate has not been triggered yet. Atlas’ blade is just an inch away from my chest. If the battle royale lasted even for a split second more, I would have been eliminated. Guess I was saved by the bell.

Atlas wordlessly turned around and walked away.

Suddenly, a gigantic Gate opened in the skies which pulsed and immediately teleported us back to the Earth Realm.

<>

We’re back at the Black Cross Mansion Hall, and there, all the 32 remaining candidates gather. I was glad that Kristoff and Drex managed to advance to the next round. They all greeted me with their smiling faces.

“Eeeeey! You made it, Tiara!” Drex gave me a fist bump.

“I know we can count on you,” Kristoff said.

“Ahahaha… I just got lucky that the time ran out.” I scratched my head with a dumb smile. “A-Anyway, where’s Heushac?”

The two just raised their shoulders with a troubled look. “We don’t know. We never found him.”

“I’m here…”

Heushac went to our side with his tattered white battlesuit and some bruises and scratches. For some reason, he looks like a hobo on house arrest. He looks more beaten up than the three of us combined. And the smell… He smells three times worse than normal.

“What the heck happened to you?” Kristoff exclaimed.

“I got surrounded on the first five seconds, so I fought them until the time ran out.”

“Ey, we got a berserker right eeeer!” Drex said.

Suddenly, the announcement continued. “We will conduct a one-hour break for you to heal up your wounds. Be sure to eat a lot, because the next round will be a ladderized battle tournament! It will be one-on-one, so only the strongest will be able to win the God Core and become the Roman God of War!”

All the Gate Guardians made an echoing cheer around the hall. And then after a few moments, they dispersed into small groups.

<>

I held my chest as I gave an exhausted sigh. I’m glad that we four made it through. But I’m tired already, and there’s still the second round of the tournament. I need a snack, something like a quadruple stack of cheeseburger tower bathed with chili fries, and a jumbo glass of rootbeer float.

“Papa!” A cute voice rushed to us. It was Kristoff’s baby girl, who is running adorably like a penguin! Kristoff happily responded by catching her and hugging her up to his chest.

“That was a great fight, dear.” Naomi entered the scene with her beautiful smile. “We were watching.”

“Just watch longer, my love.” Kristoff smiled. “I’ll win that God Core for you and for our baby.”

Suddenly, all the exhaustion I’m wearing disappeared for the reason that I saw the man I truly love. It was Rikkun who is approaching us, and together with him is Key and Eliseo. It looks like the Investigation Team’s work is done.

“Heushac my darling~” Eliseo rushed first to the worn-out man.

“!!!” Heushac used his burning broadsword to his ex-date but Eliseo ducked to evade the attack!

“H-Hey! Stop it! I won’t go near to you, so don’t fight me!” Eliseo's complaints are filled with fear.

“You still have a lot of energy left,” Rikkun commented on Heushac as he offered a fist bump. “Your perseverance has somewhat paid off.”

Heushac happily took the offer as their knuckles touched each other. “All those training and I still think I’m still way off from my big sister.”

Key started to cast on Heushac, slowly curing his wounds. Then she proceeded on treating Drex. Naomi also used her to Kristoff’s cheek, which made all wounds disappear in an instant.

And for me… It was Rikkun who made himself in charge. He gently caressed my sore knuckles and the scratches I got from the battles. To add some bonus, he even gave me a head pat. His warm hands work like a head massage tool for my scalp, that’s why I always feel orgasmic whenever she’s touching my head~

“Good work out there, Tiara.” Rikkun smiled.

“T-Thank you…” I smiled back with my red hot blushing cheeks.

“Say…” Rikkun scratched his head and looked away as he gave out the very same blushing face. “Want to eat some quadruple stack of cheeseburger tower bathed with chili fries and a jumbo glass of rootbeer float? My treat.”

“Y-Yes!” I jumped with joy.

I am so gonna marry this man!

But when we are about to leave the hall, everything went wrong.

“Kagh!”

Rikkun curled and held his head as if he has an extreme migraine that would make his head explode at any moment.

“Rikkun!” I immediately went to his side and tried to comfort him with a hug. But I know my actions are futile! He’s mumbling gibberish and repeatedly saying the words “No! No! Not this early!”

Every time Rikkun freaks out like this, there is only one cause. It’s the sign of his , which means that a doomed fate will happen.

Suddenly, the loud siren went loud, followed by an announcement.

“All Gate Guardian personnel, be advised. The God Core of Mars has been stolen. I repeat, the God Core of Mars has been stolen. The Black Cross Mansion is now commencing on lockdown operation. All Gate Guardians are not permitted to leave the premises.”

“What in the world is happening?” Some of the Gate Guardians muttered.

“Duh, are you even listening? The God Core has been stolen.” Another person said.

The surprise didn’t stop there.

There was a gigantic blood crimson portal on our feet. It made three strong pulses.

Bam!

Bam!

Bam!

On the third pulse, the mansion hall was converted into its hellish counterpart. There are breathing red flesh on the walls, and now the chandelier above is now a giant black heart that is throbbing like an automatic water pump.

We’ve been transported to Yami again.

“This is bad.” Rikkun stood up, and now, he’s well and fine since his headache is no more.

All of a sudden, abominations spawned from the ground. They look like heaps of dark flesh walking with three hooves, seven tentacles, and three mouths. They’re four meters tall, and there’s roughly twenty of them who surround us.

Looks like we have to fight until the lockdown subsides. Now I can’t get that quadruple stack burger. I'm so sad.

Now is not the time to cry over some snacks! We're about to enter a serious battle!

A chill went down to my spine as I felt a strong prana signature.

Up there in the stage was a dark portal opening. A black cloaked man made his appearance, which gave threat to our spirit.

He’s a familiar man who wears a familiar black cloak. He has a mask of the skull of the wolf. We have seen and fought him several times, and he never changes. Except for one aspect. He’s dual-wielding two gigantic chainsaw swords.

Heushac tightly gripped his sword due to his swelling anger. There is no way he can forget the mask…

The mask who killed his sister.

“Void Wolf.”