Despite our plan to attack, it was clear we had annoyed Quant. He held back his anger, forcing a calm demeanor. "Congratulations on your little attempt," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But I'll give you a chance to run. I'll catch up to you in precisely 32 minutes and 12 seconds."
Khun raised an eyebrow, unfazed by Quant's condescension. "We'll take you up on that," he replied coolly, signaling Team A to retreat. There was a steely determination in his gaze, as if he were a master chess player anticipating his opponent's next move.
Kael, who had been watching closely, knew Khun's strategies were meticulous, but he couldn't help feeling there had to be more to the plan than what Khun was letting on. The two exchanged a glance as the group scrambled into their positions, but Khun didn't give anything away. Kael decided to trust him but kept a mental note of Quant's every movement, paying close attention to the Ranker's habits and reactions.
As Team A moved out, Lero-Ro and Yu Hansung exchanged knowing glances. "It's surprising a Ranker like Quant fell for a Regular's trap," Yu Hansung remarked thoughtfully. "Khun's strategies are remarkable—he must know exactly how Rankers think."
The team took their positions as Quant began his countdown, and Anaak bolted toward the upper arena exit, reaching the second circle with fluid speed. The rest of us, meanwhile, set up a defensive wall at the stairwell, hoping to delay Quant's inevitable approach.
"On my mark!" Khun commanded, his voice sharp as he gauged the situation. Kael, positioned behind the frontliners, could feel the tension. He knew he had to be ready for anything, but his role, for now, was to observe and strike only when necessary.
Quant charged up the stairwell with terrifying speed, dispatching Kancho, our melee tank, with such ease that it sent a ripple of unease through the team. Kael's eyes followed Quant's movements carefully, noting his agility. Aleksai, next in line, tried to stand his ground, but Quant overwhelmed him just as easily, plowing through the defensive wall like it was nothing.
"Guys, our defense is crumbling!" Leon shouted, panic settling in his voice.
"Quant has disappeared!" Kael added quickly, scanning the area for any trace of him. He had been tracking Quant's movements the entire time, but somehow the Ranker had slipped past his awareness. The pressure to keep pace with a Ranker was immense, and Kael's heart raced as he realized just how outmatched they were.
Watching from above, Lero-Ro grimaced. "Khun's trick might not work this time," he muttered. "There's no way he can duplicate the Tag again, right?" he asked Yu Hansung.
Yu Hansung shook his head. "No, the Tag is irreplaceable. No matter how cunning Khun is, he can't duplicate it." He crossed his arms, curious as to how Khun planned to pull this off.
Down in the arena, Shibisu was acting as the second line of defense. "We need Lauroe's help," he gasped, already exhausted. "Where is he?"
"Sleeping in the safe zone," Khun replied, his tone clipped. "He's done enough to pass. We're on our own." Shibisu's frustration was evident, but before he could respond, Quant appeared, closing in on them.
Without hesitation, Shibisu launched himself at Quant, trying to hold him down, but the Ranker retaliated with brutal force. Shibisu cried out in pain, but clung on with every ounce of strength he had. Kael winced, torn between staying in his position and helping, but he knew disrupting the plan could make things worse.
"Trust Khun!" Shibisu shouted, his voice strained with effort. "We've got this! Anaak—don't worry about me!"
Anaak hesitated, torn between her instinct to fight and her trust in Khun's plan. Kael watched her, knowing this moment was crucial. Anaak's eyes flickered with understanding, and she nodded, sprinting for the exit. Kael's mind raced, processing how Shibisu's grip on Quant was preventing the Ranker from using his Black Fish ability.
First Emperor charged Quant with all his might, but the Ranker swatted him aside effortlessly. Despite Shibisu's best efforts, Quant surged forward, leaving the second line of defense in tatters. Kael tensed as Quant passed them, knowing it was now a race against time.
With only 15 minutes left before Anaak reached the bridge exit, Kael's eyes met Khun's. Khun gave a subtle nod, signaling it was time for the final phase. Kael fell back, preparing to support in case things went sideways.
As Quant reached the bridge, he halted, confused to find Khun standing there alone. "Where's Anaak?" he demanded, eyes narrowing as he spotted the Manbarondenna bag in Khun's hand.
"Open the bag," Quant ordered. The tension was suffocating, and Kael, hidden nearby, was ready to act if needed. He noticed every twitch of Quant's muscles, anticipating the Ranker's next move.
Khun's smirk returned. "You're mistaken," he said, his voice laced with confidence. "Anaak's not in here, and she couldn't be. Even Yu Hansung would confirm that. The Tag can't be hidden in the bag."
Quant's expression hardened. "Then what are you hiding?" He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "I'll tell you what I think. You've got two Lighthouses—one you're using and one hiding Anaak. You're hoping I'll just walk away."
Kael's mind raced. Quant was sharp, and if he figured out Khun's true plan, it would all fall apart. Quant continued, explaining the mechanics of Suspendium and how Light-bearers could control their Lighthouses at a distance. His eyes gleamed with a sudden realization. "What happens if you fall off the bridge, Khun? What happens to the Lighthouse then?"
Without warning, Quant grabbed Khun and pulled him off the bridge. Kael's heart jumped as he watched Khun disappear over the edge. But he didn't move. He knew, just as Khun did, that this was part of the plan.
Moments later, Khun reappeared, safely landing on another Lighthouse. Quant, however, had plummeted to the arena below. Kael let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The plan had worked.
With Quant out of the picture, Anaak was brought back up to the bridge by a clever rope contraption Khun had set up. Kael watched in awe as Anaak sprinted toward the exit, victory now within reach. Despite the overwhelming odds, Khun had pulled it off, and Kael couldn't help but admire the brilliance of the strategy he had just witnessed.
Anaak was just steps away from the exit, the victory within our grasp. But something nagged at me—a deep, gnawing feeling that I couldn't shake. Quant had vanished too easily, too quickly, and the fact that no one had seen him for several moments set off alarm bells in my mind. I kept scanning the bridge and arena below, waiting for him to resurface.
Then I saw it—a flash of movement. Quant, propelled back up to the bridge, sailing through the air with an unnatural boost of speed. My stomach dropped as I recognized the familiar Shinsu control that only a skilled Wave Controller could produce.
*Lauroe. Why?*
My heart began to race. Quant had closed the distance between him and Anaak far faster than I thought possible, and before I could even process what was happening, the realization hit me—he was going to catch her. My instincts kicked in. This was no time to hesitate.
I'd watched Quant during our skirmish, observing the way he reinforced his body with Shinsu to increase his strength and speed. I didn't fully understand the technique, but I had seen enough. I had to try something, or the match would be lost.
Now!
Channeling the Shinsu coursing through the air, I concentrated on hardening my muscles, mimicking the subtle reinforcement Quant had used earlier. My body felt different, heavier but more powerful. I wasn't sure if it would work, but I couldn't afford to think. I just had to move.
With a surge of energy, I launched myself toward Quant. Shinsu rushed through my limbs as I pushed my newfound strength to its limit, sprinting in a desperate attempt to intercept him before he could touch Anaak's "Tag." For a split second, I thought I had him. I was faster than before, my reinforced body making me more agile, more determined.
But Quant... Quant was on another level.
With a quick sidestep, he dodged my charge, as if he had seen it coming the whole time. I barely had time to register what had happened before he leapt over me, using the momentum of my failed attack to propel himself even higher into the air.
He... just jumped over me?
My mind raced, trying to catch up with his impossible agility. I couldn't let him reach Anaak. I had to stop him. Without thinking, I raised my hand, summoning a gust of wind to knock him off course, but he twisted his body midair, using the wind to propel himself even faster toward Anaak.
It was like I was helping him.
How does he keep doing that?
I felt a rush of frustration, but before I could try anything else, Quant had already closed the gap. His hand reached out, and in one swift motion, he tapped Anaak's "Tag." The match was over. Just like that.
We lost.
The silence that followed was suffocating. Anaak stood there, stunned. I stood there, stunned. Everyone on our team was in disbelief, except for one person. As we returned to the locker room, trying to make sense of what had just happened, I couldn't help but replay the moment in my head. Quant's precision, his speed, the way he anticipated every move—it was like he was toying with us the entire time. Even with everything we threw at him, he was always a step ahead.
Khun, standing apart from the group, apologized for his failure. He said it was his fault that we hadn't secured the victory, that we hadn't anticipated Quant's return. But I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more going on than he was letting on.
The others tried to reassure him, praising his strategy, saying we wouldn't have made it this far without him. And they were right. Khun's plan had been meticulous, detailed. Without him, we wouldn't have lasted even half as long against a Ranker.
But then, as he spoke, I saw it—a brief flicker of a smile beneath his calm facade. Something about the way he apologized didn't feel genuine. And that's when it hit me.
Khun had planned this.
The loss... it wasn't a failure. At least, not for him. Khun had thrown the match. He knew exactly what he was doing, and somehow, losing this game helped Bam. I didn't know all the details, but I could see it clearly now. Khun's loyalty to Bam ran deeper than any of us had realized.
I clenched my fists, the frustration and admiration mixing together. I had pushed myself to the limit, used every ounce of Shinsu I could muster, and yet, Quant had effortlessly outmaneuvered me. Khun had been playing an entirely different game from the rest of us.
Next time, I vowed silently. "Next time, I'll be ready. I won't just watch from the sidelines."