"I can, I can't, I can, I can't, I can, I can, and I will." For a few minutes, I debated in my mind whether I could and would continue. It calmed me down and even reduced the amount of blood flowing from my body. It seems the game plan will need some adjustments. Although I initially wanted to quickly finish creating the underground system, now I can take my time. However, that also means giving IQ120 time to recover and plan.
"Haa," a deep, tired sigh escaped my mouth as I considered it inevitable. Luckily, the wound wasn't too deep, and I resumed digging.
…
"It's been seven hours," IQ120 thought. "Although I haven't moved from the door area where I'm seated, this is annoying. I want to be done with this already. I honestly expected him to spend only a few hours, but seven? That's simply too much. Won't they drag him out?" He glanced at his and Miret's observers.
…
"He's looking at us again. Funny, isn't it? But if he doesn't surface in another three, no, four hours, should we continue standing here and watching?" IQ120 observer said, looking at Miret's observer.
"Another four hours is too much. If he doesn't emerge in the next two and a half hours, we'll drag him out ourselves. IQ120 can decide what to do with him—whether to let him live or kill him," he replied without even looking away from the arena.
"Umm, umm, umm," she giggled a little.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"You mentioned how his starter still had faith in him, but it seems you do too," she said.
"He's surprised me more than once now. I should stop doubting him, don't you agree? So I feel like putting a little faith in him."
"I completely agree. You know IQ120 won't kill him," she continued.
"The injury he gave Miret says otherwise. But even if IQ120's mind changes, you wouldn't allow it, would you? How can you let your precious 'miracle' be killed?" he replied.
"You speak as if you aren't interested yourself and wouldn't gain anything from learning how he skipped a level. Stop the act; it's pathetic," she stated. They locked eyes, tension filling the air as a stare-down ensued. It seemed they were ready to join their special subjects in the arena and battle it out.
"Haa," he sighed, looking away and conceding the win to her. "It looks like he's done."
"He was done two hours ago," she replied.
"I meant he's waking up."
"Ah," they heard a yawn coming from below, the tunnels creating an echo effect. The battle was about to begin once more.
…
In a large hole at the deepest depth of the arena, Miret was stretching and exercising a little. 'This is really the limit of how deep I can go,' Miret said quietly. He was sitting on some kind of mineral or metal wall, preventing anyone from going any deeper. 'I guess it's just like my cell, or even more powerful—none of my attacks affected it at all. But it did serve as a nice bed.' A small smile sprouted on his face but only lasted a moment before it turned serious. Looking up, he thought, 'It's time to end this.'
…
A pair of sharp claws sprout out of a hole in the middle of a crater, close to the door upon which Kiko was—opposite to the one where IQ120 was seated. The claws slowly emerge from the ground, resembling a monster crawling out of an abyss into which it was thrown. As the Meekat stands up, an unseen wind blows, accentuating its already monstrous appearance. The swirling dust blends almost perfectly with its brown fur, while prominent red blood dyed much of its back and a portion of its left side. Kiko smiles, relieved to see her experimental partner alive and healthy, ready to start another round. The first round went to IQ120. Now, who will claim victory in the second round?