"Hey... Do we really have to go through the elevator...?! What if what happened earlier happens again?"

Midst the top of the bottomless sandsea with thundering clouds approaching and the dark sky emerging, we rushed the fifth tower due to the bad weather threatening.

Takeshi was recalling the earlier situation, but there wasn't much of a choice. However, that doesn't mean that I can't help his trauma. Saitou isn't looking too enthusiastic about this either.

I gave them a helping hand.

"It won't happen. And even if it does, I will fix the situation. No one gets harmed on my watch!"

Pumping my chest with my right fist, I heard the tremendous lightning from afar approaching; mercilessly.

"But I'm scared... It was really traumatizing!"

"Sheesh, Kuzan, grow up. That was probably something that the previous elevator only had! We gotta get inside, otherwise this lightning's gonna hit us alive! Seriously, what's with the climate here?!"

They quickly realized that there wasn't much of an option and thus, the elevator door was open.

We started to descend down the elevator but instead of the view being completely blocked we could see the upcoming environment with our own eyes through the glass supporting this elevator sideways.

Saitou and Takeshi rapidly expressed their shocks as they witnessed the contrasting views from the prior thundery weather.

"A desert...?! You're kidding me..."

"Maybe this was where all the heat was coming from!"

"No way that's true, Kuzan."

While they were glued to the impenetrable glass, I further analyzed the scenario. An endless yellow sand desert ahead of us without any clues or lead except there is one that they aren't seeing it yet. Upon noticing this, I didn't bother to hide it and came in-between the space of their bodies while placing my two arms on both of their shoulders to gain their prized attention. Noticeably, it was cloudy but sunny nonetheless. A midday sun, supremely tall.

"Across this beautiful dry yellow desert lies a destroyed city alongside its ruins. Look far, far beyond north."

I kept on pointing towards the north with my right index finger tapping the glass softly. Furthermore, by casting my glance down, I could see the end of the elevator. Just as I could see the top of the elevator emerging from a connecting structure that's connecting to the sky, but given that it's artificial, this singed sky is nothing more than a fabricated illusion. Regardless, its quality remains in all its grace.

"Oh, I see it! Is that our stop?!"

"It should be, right?"

Though there were no guarantees that the ruins were indeed connected to leading point, it was by far the only thing that we could make use of.

I lend them some information about this dessert while we were waiting for the elevator to fully come down.

"Vega is the second most important star after the sun; according to some ancient civilizations."

Saitou quickly grasped what I was trying to say.

"I get it now. That's why it's a desert."

"It could be. What does it say in the tablet, Saitou?"

"Give me a second."

Takeshi and I observed Saitou kneeling down while taking out the tablet and then he placed his back on the tough glass that was glowing with artificial solar light all over it. Furthermore, we sat right next to him and saw what the map had to say about this area.

Upon clicking on the talking balloon icon the name was unravled.

"Imperial City of Vega. Huuh? That's no imperial city, that's a damn lifeless desert."

"Wait, it could be referring to what it previously was, Rayazaki."

"That's bullshit, we all know this is artificial, there is no way this was some sort of imperial city. Plus, imperial?! What century is this?"

Takeshi wanted to believe that this was truly an imperial city but Saitou simply refused to believe it.

Midst this, the elevator had stopped and the door opened. Upon that, we got up and started to walk towards the long linear stairway case that would lead the desert itself. However, as we got out of the elevator, the entire structure began to shrink back to the top and as such, we were officially stuck here without an elevator.

"Well, it's not like we were planning on going somewhere else."

"You're goddamn right! We've had enough sleep previously, so let's roll!"

Before coming here, we slept inside the first tower as we were tired but then after a few hours, we resumed our tracks. Saitou is right though, the faster the progress we make the better.

Isn't that right, Ryousuke?

Well, that aside, the moment our shoes were baptized by the extremely soft yellow sand which was gradually growing deeper, we started to become victims to the desert's weather. Although I don't know the exact distance, I dare say that we will need to walk a few kilometers before we can get to the broken ruins. In addition to that, there are a lot of high-pressure uplands up ahead. The conditions of a dessert are usually horrible due to the lack of overall resources. In a land without any sort of food nearby or water, it's plain suicide.

Saitou was starting to take off his shirt, but I strongly advised him not to do that.

"Wait, Saitou. You shouldn't. Exposing your skin to this heat will backfire. I strongly advice that we keep our uniforms on; even if it's hell that follows."

Our footsteps' speed were progressively growing slower as the depth of the sand along with the fact that we had to climb through the sand dunes.

Expressing visible confusion, Saitou wondered what was wrong with me.

"What is wrong with you? You were the guy who laughed it off when we got sunburns and now you are looking out for you? Geez, alright, alright. I'll keep it on. Kuzan, you too!"

"I wasn't going to insist on it..."

Takeshi's complaint wasn't fully revolving around the current subject. The more we walked through the north only setting our sights on the far away ruins, the more we became this artificial sun's subject.

Thirty minutes had passed and they no longer had the energy to make small talks like they were making.

Dizziness was starting to kick in their bodies as they became unable to make quite the fast festivious progress as before. I wasn't walking too fast; as a matter of fact, I was by their side all the way should they fall.

"Master... I....."

Takeshi spoke vagrantly weak. His voice had no strength behind it. In addition to that, his arm movements began to resemble an unbalanced clock pendulum swing. The sweat all over his uniform was beyond massive. In light of his current physical weakness, his legs began to give in and before he could fall on the hideous dunes and roll over; Saitou and I caught him with our arms.

"Takeshi!"

"Kuzan!"

His physical response was barely a response at all. My face and Saitou's stiffed the moment we realized we were holding Takeshi's body only and that his consciousness had temporarily slipped.

"W-What happened to Kuzan?!"

Saitou began to dearly hold Kuzan's body and fully supported his body while I explained the simplicity of the situation.

"He passed out. He'll be fine, don't worry! We just need to find a place that isn't harbored by the sun completely."

I then took a hold of Takeshi's body and attempted to fully put it on my back, but Saitou opposed that train of thought.

"You can't be seriously thinking on carrying him all the way, man! I'll help you out..."

"But..."

"It's all good, man. Don't shoulder everything by yourself..."

"I see... Well then, let's carry this out!"

But I already had noticed that when we began to walk in the sand once again, that Saitou wouldn't hold up for too long.

After twenty minutes had passed, Saitou had collapsed without warning on the arid repulsive depths of this desert's sand.

Noticing this, I took a vast deep breath. Subsequently, I placed Takeshi and Saitou in the sand while taking their bags off their backs. Then, I stacked them on top of one another and put the three bags in my back.

"...Quite heavy, I must say, but... We're going to make it. Isn't that right? Saitou. Takeshi. They are not too far away from here. Just hang with me a little bit."

Ultimately, I dragged their bodies by placing them one each in my shoulders. The march began once more.

The next two hours were accompanied by one of the heaviest physical pains I've ever felt. But every time that I wanted to quit I reminded myself that the quicker I advanced the faster I could get my friends into a proper place where the sun isn't draining everything from them.

After walking and endlessly walking across the desert while basking under the impenetrable heat wave reproduced by the primordial sun above, only two hours afterwards did I find something amidst the lost ruins.

In the first place; though they were labeled as ruins at first, they were nothing more than shattered temples and houses that dictate history. Roman temples, if I were to further specify. This resembles old Greece from the get-go. However, it's lying in an endless desert of sand; except the moment I entered the surface of a shattered temple, I began to see a stairway that would lead below it.

It invited darkness and a sense of unknown. However, midst all the lost ruins I've encountered thus far, this was it, no doubt.

As I descended it, the moment I found a poorly illuminated hall with a sharp curve to the right, I placed Takeshi and Saitou there and allowed them to rest properely.

Needless to say, but I am vastly exhausted. My tongue is dry from lack of dehydration. As much as I would like for them to eat right now, they can't come to their senses, so I took some pieces of fruit while standing right by their sides basking under the luminiar shade. The pieces of fruit were hot and not fresh at all. Regardless, I had to consume nutrients.

Staying in this area is considerably dangerous due to the lack of resources. If the waterway had plenty of water to go around which we would drink from every now and then, then this desert is the exact opposite. There's nothing to gain here and as such, after a whole ten minutes had passed, I made the grand decision of leaving them at the entrance.

"I don't have to worry about anyone coming here. If there is someone here, then they are far on the inside, not on the outside."

Something I did was to dig a deep hole and bury the cloud reactor and the flasks temporarily. If Saitou and Takeshi were to wake up in the meantime, they would assume that I took them with me and it wouldn't cause any panic. However, worst case scenario, if someone were to encounter them, they won't steal the cloud reactor nor the flasks. To make sure that they could not be discovered at all, I buried both the components in different ruins; both 150 meters away from one another.

I took everything else, but left their bags with them along with the food.

With the tablet in my right and left hand, I started to examine what the map was telling me.

"So far a linear hall only."

I had crossed the curve to the right. Regarding the architecture, it was romanian. Old and perhaps dusty. Each hall had small boulders attached to one another forming an animosity amongst them. The luminosity here was poor but there were functioning lights. However, they have to be manually turned on, which indicated the existence of artificiality. The shelter's height only began to increase the more I walked in and therefore I realized that this was no longer a linear hall but a gigantic hollow area shaped in an oval way.

An amphitheater. Many not know what this is, but it's usually a characterised area with a wide open avenue perhaps vastly used for entertainment purposes. Still, it wasn't as gigantic as an ancient amphitheater; it only had the exact same structure but not the same length. There are empty seats on both sides and here I am all alone entering an empty arena.

Midst this eternal solitutude, in the center of the semi-bright arena, I shouted loudly.

"Heeeeeeellllloooooooooo!? Is someone out there?! I'm lost in here! Please don't be afraid to answer this!"

I'm not actually lost though. I can simply continue to explore and eventually, I will find this whole place along the way. However, I am assuming that not everyone has this tablet, so if there is someone in here, then they might be lost and need help. Furthermore, considering the conditions that this desert has to offer it's fair to assume that such person could be starving.

I wouldn't want there to be more casualties, but from the looks of it, I really am here all alone.

"At least I tried."

Then, as I took a single step, a small voice came into my audition range; though very low. The only single reason as to why I could even hear it in the first place was because there were no other sounds outside of the voice.

"Hey."

I immediately looked everywhere around the amphitheatre's seats but found no one. I looked back to the hall where I came from but ultimately also saw no one there. There was only one way around it, as it was the exit of the amphitheatre which was in north direction. A very tight small exit beneath the amphitheatre.

"Where are you?!"

Although I shouted yet again, no answer came forth this time.

As such, I ran towards the exit and began to see a very strong light the more I walked into the hall covered in boulders. The end of this hall led to a lonesome room decorated with solar light all over the place yet shady nonetheless. The solar light came from a massive window from above though strangely enough, I never recalled seeing a window that wide while I was in the desert. In addition to all this, a red carpet began to appear. Its edges were covered in gold but ultimately painted in scarlet red.

The intriguing piece of this room is the extensive dining table at the beginning of the room which goes all the way to the middle of the room. I daresay that there are twenty seats and that the table is shaped in a rectangular form. A huge dining table yet there was no food, no cups and no people.

Until I heard his calm voice once again. A voice with a mature tone yet you could feel some sort of youth in it; surprisingly.

"I see you."

"What is this place exactly...?"

I was speaking to myself because I was just getting across the right side of the huge dining table when I began to further analyze the room. There were chess pawns made in statues. I can clearly see them covered in black and white all over the place perfectly illuminated by the overwhelming light yet also darkened by the everlasting shadows.

Each statue stood side by side; mirroring one another in this room. From left to right and vice-versa. Then, at the end of the dining table, the red carpet continued until it reached a supremely tall golden throne. In that lonely throne, someone, with his legs crossed stood.

It's very weird because despite all I said, all he said was that he saw me yet he didn't bother to elevate from his throne whatsoever. As a matter of fact, he upheld an extremely lax stance. With his right leg crossed he was eating something with his right hand taking it to his mouth. Though he stood there in that throne, he was waiting for me to speak but I only did so once I got in front of him; ten meters away from him, precisely. In-between the small stairs that would have to be climbed to reach that throne.

"Who are you?"

I expected silence as I posed that question, but he was quick to speak. I couldn't see him well either. The reflection of the light from above only really allowed me to know that it was a boy with very spiky hair who looked to be eating an... apple...? I am not sure, but it has a shape similar to it, from what I can tell.

"That should be my question. What are you doing here? You don't belong here."

He spoke with hostily and midst his speech I caught a glimpse of what seemed to be silver hair and a penetrating white gaze fluttering from his eyes; creating a mystical mirage of light. Yet, he refused to move from the throne. Nonetheless, his question was rather simple to answer, but the problem is that I have no idea who this person is. All I know is that he is a male but according to probabilities here, he should also be a student from this exam.

"Ah, are you partaking this exam too? I am somewhat lost in here so I could use a helping hand, you see."

But I got rapidly countered by words that I couldn't fully correctly interpret.

"That wasn't what I was referring to. I am saying, what are you, doing here? This exam is strictly set for those who are subjected to the program."

"Yeah, man! That's what's going on! See, you are partaking this exam too!"

Still, what was he referring to earlier when he claimed that I didn't belong in here?

"I sure am, but I don't intend on doing anything. I judge. As such, you are interfering with this exam. For how long are you going to stay around?"

..............

I see, I see...

I think I understand what's going on here. Quite unbelievable, but it appears that this person here knows what is actually going on.

"I will clear all the conditions for the success of Ryousuke in this exam. I don't care what happens afterward."

"I see. In other words, the faster you obtain the pieces of the puzzle, the faster you'll go away?"

Geez, he's quite hostile with his speech.

Though, despite that, I just giggled a bit and changed the subject. I don't think there's any use on beating around the bush here.

"What are you eating? Do you have a name?"

"I do have a name. But you didn't answer my question. Do you intend to stay after the conditions are cleared?"

He is quite hung up on his own questions. He doesn't let go very easily at all. Plus, he's not informant either.

"I don't think I can. You know about it, don't you?"

"I do. But don't tell the others. It'll be troublesome if you feed them information that they won't believe in."

I laughed quite hard this time around and took the tall heavy chair that couldn't match his throne's height and took a seat on it.

I also brushed my hair back as this talk felt refreshing.

"Hahaha! You got me there. So, that begs the question. Who are you, really? Did you come here to stop me? What's your goal here?"

He took yet another bite and thought for a bit on how to answer.

"So far there's no goal. I just don't like what you are doing. It's cheating. My audience isn't accepting you that well. But I suppose they haven't been accepting anything well these days. Quite the tough crowd. So silent yet so demanding."

"Give me your name. Mine is Daku."

"I know that. Let's see... Which one do you want?"

Now this struck me by surprise.

"You knew my name already? I'm starting to grow a deadly interest on you. I never believed in the supernatural once I was alive yet you are telling me that it's actually possible?"

"Answer the question."

"How am I supposed to answer that question? I only have one true and only name. Give me your one and truly name. Or... Oh, I see."

Well, that makes more sense now that I think about it. I wasn't grasping the situation completely.

I shrugged and loosened my shoulders' weight a little bit before talking again.

"Your terrestial name, please."

But even this wasn't enough to get a clear answer out of him.

"I have many. Aliases are useful, for the record."

"I get that. Then, tell me the name that Ryousuke treats you by."

He laughed a bit this time and only then he spoke.

"Haha. Bastard."

"Noooo way, haha! You're joking, really?! What happened between you two?"

"There's a somewhat long story here."

"Still, what's your actual name that Takeshi and Saitou know you for?"

At last, I got the answer out of him.

"You can call me Hajime. I'll allow it."

Hajime.

"Thanks, Hajime. So, what exactly is this place?"

In response to this question he got up from his throne subsequently and started to descend from the stairs. Now that he was getting closer, I could see Hajime very well. He had the same uniform as mine. He is undoubetely a student from this program.

I should get along with him then, since he is someone I can befriend. Though, I am aware of the circumstance here.

Ultimately, with his white gaze on me, he flashed a smirk and the proceeded to talk about this place.

"A long war that lasted years to come obliterated the surface to pieces. Hence the ruins. The royal family, however, had to be guarded at all costs. So, as the war would go on, a plan to build an underworld was formed. It goes without saying that you must've caught a glimpse of it by now."

We were starting to walk side by side and then I noticed that he wasn't eating an apple but an onion. I can't say I wasn't surprised.

"I did, Hajime. I had no idea that there was such a wide investment into places like this. But, what for, exactly?"

"The age of illumination will come, as foreseen."

"I'm not sure if I got what you just said."

"That's the whole point. Anyway, this is the main dining hall from the royal family. In this table for 16, the royal family would have their "talks"."

"Is it a table for 16 because the chess pieces are also 16? Because in a chess game one side holds 16 while the other also holds the same numbers."

On our way out, Hajime clapped to my answer.

"Right on the money. A very secretive society was hereby created. Though, short-lived. It was utterly eradicated once they got greedy and decided to go to the surface. That was their biggest downfall."

Subsequently, we entered the amphitheater and instead of going to the center, we started to climb to the seats on the right through the entrance that was located to the right as well. The boulders looked to be in spectacular condition despite the fact that the age of them resembled centuries to come. On the top of the seats, we placed our gazes right into the middle of the arena.

Before he could speak more, he allowed me to take two pieces of fruit. One which I started to eat immediately and the other which I attempted to offer to him by extending my right hand to him, but he rejected it with a head denial motion.

"Fruit after eating an onion doesn't do justice."

"Why are you eating an onion in the first place? Is that all this place has?"

The moment he had finished his onion, he took yet another one from his right pocket. Then, he tossed it up high in the air; ultimately catching it with a strong fast grip once it landed.

"This is an execution hall. But it was most commonly used for rituals to the gods above. Mothers would sacrifice their children as their offerings to their gods. Only one child would be allow to live at that time; the one the queen and the king chose."

"How do you know all this?"

"It's just lore, Daku. Don't think that I'm related to this or something. Historical facts are impressive but that's about it. More often though, on the other hand, this arena would be a confession hall. By confession I am referring to what's more commonly known as "sins". Treachery wasn't taken well these times so once every week there was a public exhibition of martial torture. Needless to say, it was gruesome."

"Hajime, this is all very interesting, but I just have one question. Could you answer it?"

"Why not? Go for it."

Taking two bites out of the pear, I asked the question that I wanted to ask. Our gazes met transietly midst this.

"Where are the others?"

"They are all in this island. Where, exactly, all, I don't know."

"I see. I have an offer then. Join me! The faster we clear the conditions and gather the rest of the components the faster we can get everyone out of this island."

Although I wasn't expecting an immediate reply, I grew suspenseful the moment he took his eyes off me and instead looked towards the center of the arena.

"Everyone? Out of this island?"

His gaze was still fixated on the center of the arena despite his words being directed towards me.

"I've heard the deal here. You're all criminals, but if we get everyone out of this island, then we are making a good deed. The conditions here are horrible. We are in the middle of a damn desert. I know you have what it takes."

"You're gravely misunderstanding something here, Daku... In the first place, this exam wasn't created around what one would expect. Gather the words, go through each section, reach the last destination and viola, you pass the exam. That's actually it though. Fucking boring, don't you think?"

I bumped his shoulder a bit aggressively but I didn't cross the line, just in order to gain his full attention, which didn't really work.

"What are you on about? Who cares if it's boring? All that matters is that we get everyone out of this island. It's quite tough to go through all this and be successful."

"Sure. I will agree. There's a somewhat high degree of risk when it comes to obtaining these components. But, the result is a bright success every time. It's getting repetitive, Daku."

He's very nihilistic. From the way he speaks, it's as if he's not satisfied with how things are going, which I don't understand.

What's there not to be happy about when we are all successful?

"My audience is yawning right now. And it's all Kawahara's fault."

"Hajime... Who... is this "audience" you speak of...?"

Only now, did I get his glance and smiled quite widely.

"The invisible judges. They decide if they like you or not. That's why you gotta pick your lines right. And so far, you've done that, Daku. Most impressive. You are harmonizing with my audience. Henceforth why you need to go soon."

"I seriously don't understand what you are trying to insinuate here, but I already told you that I will once I am done with the conditions."

"Thank you for that, Daku."

I insisted once again.

"Don't you need to pass this exam? Help me clear this ruin then! Saitou and Takeshi also want to get out of this island as soon as possible! Plus, if we can join with all our friends, then we can bond together! Friends, they are amazing! They are there for you when you need help! So, let's show them some help so that they know they can count on us when it truly matters!"

Despite my attempts, his eyes keep on growing grimmer second by second.

"Hey. I'll tell you what, I won't help you, but I'll give you the ruin's components. I have them with me, after all."

"Wh-- That's amazing! You already cleared the ruin all by yourself?"

"Not quite, Daku. My hard-working friend did. Speaking of which, he's been gone for too long. My audience is fuming about that. Do you know how we can fix that?"

That was the first time I have seen Hajime mention someone by "friend". I must say I am surprised. Though, his question is very hard to understand as I don't quite understand what he means by audience.

"Make him appear? Problem solved, right? Haha!"

"Haha! Right!"

We both laughed it off, but then Hajime took a more serious stance and talked once more.

"No, but seriously... This is an issue. At this rate, he's going to return and the stage is just, well... The ones in this exam. Doesn't this stage seem lackluster in terms of numbers to you? I was thinking of making an addition to this number. It's such a shame that you will be gone by then, but it's gonna be one hell of a show!"

"Hajime... What are you thinking exactly...?"

"Relax, dude. I only prepare the stage. I realized that being the executioner is tiring and well, it requires the ability to be unpredictable, so I'm going to take a more lax role this time around."

I placed my two palms on my face as I came to the conclusion that our conversation was leading to absolutely nowhere. I just don't have the knowledge that Ryousuke has about this guy and so, I can't tell what he is talking about.

However, I do sense evil from him. That's why I haven't yet abandoned this conversation. I must bring him to my side, no matter what it takes.

"Hajime, you can change. Not everyone is incapable of changing."

"No please... Don't lecture me."

He started to grin a bit, but I have no choice here.

"You can be like Saitou, who once was a school shooter and who is now a pretty good person, I would say. Sure, he's angry most of the times, but he gets along well with the rest."

"I am going to explode this ruin with this detonator in thirty seconds."

"And then there's Takeshi, who--- Huh, what?!"

I was so focused on persuating him that I failed to preemptively notice that he was holding a switch in his left hand. He had thrown his onion away and while he was still standing still, I got up, shocked.

"I know you won't take no for an answer. So, I'm giving you a choice. Stay here and lecture me and die with me and the rest or run for it with all your might. This switch is stacked with a battery inside of it. It's this ruin's components, essentially. They hold the ability to collapse this entire section just by pressing the button. I don't know if it works in the other sections."

"You're lying!"

"I never lie when I'm serious. Which I am, by the way. Fifteen seconds to go. Clock's ticking."

"Damn it! What about you?! If you press the switch, you'll die!"

And now, he got up and met my height. Our attitudes were contrasting. He was calm and I was frustrated.

"There's a secret passage, of course. Once this detonator is pressed, the elevator channel will be visible midst the desert, so there is indeed a way out. And it's done. Bim."

Without any hesitation at all, Hajime pressed the switch and as he did, the whole place started to shake tremendously.

He made a high jump from all the way to where we stand towards the entrance of the arena.

Ultimately, he said the last words I would hear from him while on this island; as he proceeded to walk into the throne room.

"Daku! If you don't keep your word about what you said today, I will show no mercy. We'll meet again, surely. But not on this island anymore."

His last movement was a heavy throw with the detonator switch being handed to me as the component of this section.

I started to run with all my might towards the entrance which was not far away while holding the detonator in my right hand.

With everything collapsing, I never ran this fast in my life. Every time I would look back, I would see the boulders get smashed to numerous pieces as the floor would disinegrate.

"Takeshi!! Saitou!! If you can hear me, WAKE up!! This whole place is coming down!"

I had expected them to be able to hear them, but it turns out that they were still sleeping where I left them. After all, the time that had passed wasn't much at all!

The moment I caught a glimpse of their bodies, I grabbed them and their bags with all my strength and threw them to the surface; beyond the stairway that would allow this place to be entered. Their bodies were safe on the sand now, but as the crumbling increased, I was caught in-between the boulders.

At that moment when I began to fall down I thought that this was it, but two hands representing the symbol of hope, reached out to my own two arms with their cries.

"Kawahara!"

"Master!"

"Quick, Kuzan! Pull him up! Why the hell is this placing crumbling?! Whatever! Threeee! Twoooo! Oneee! Goooooo!!!"

"Guuuh!" x2.

Through their collective effort, they were able to pull my body to the sandy surface while I was on the verge of losing my consciousness.

After they placed my body down and Saitou slapped my face cheeks a few times, I was once again conscious.

"Snap out of it, man! Get it together, oi!"

"Don't die on us!"

Much to their happiness, I began to crook my posture but felt a slight pain in my right leg. It was nothing serious, but I believe it's a muscle strain.

"Ouch... What would I be without you guys, honestly. Thanks a bunch!"

Happily, I gave them a collective hug as they rejoiced.

But I also was quick to give the news, so I pulled back a little bit and got up as so did they, in this sunny atmosphere.

"I got the components. It's this detonator..."

Purposely, I didn't sound excited about it, which they capitalized on.

First, Saitou asked permission to see if and then he analyzed something.

"Did this detonator blew the whole thing up? Also, did you carry us here on your own?"

"It was the least I could do."

"Then, the least we can do is thank you. Come on, Kuzan, say the words..."

"What is that supposed to mean?! I was the one who was going to thank him first, Rayazaki!"

Their usual quarrel had begun, which was refreshing. I decided not to tell them about Hajime because this is something that I will have to tell Ryousuke about, but I need to find a way to portray this message to him only. He must realize that he is plotting something that we probably can't see at the moment. Furthermore, he clearly wants me to hurry up with the process, hence why he gave me the components so freely.

Not long after, we digged the flasks and the cloud reactor and headed towards our new stage by exiting through the elevator that was not too far in the east.

Lyrae Ruins status: Destroyed.