[Preparation Phase: 00:10]

Ten seconds. That was all they had left before the barrier disappeared and Mihan Park turned into a slaughterhouse.

Deon stood at the northern path, one hand resting over the [Blade] Card in his pocket while the other held [Trip] between two fingers. Around him, everyone had already moved to their assigned positions.

Hana stayed near the fountain with the Flag behind her, both [Basic] Heal] and [Physical Boost Minor] held close to her chest. The red cloth above her fluttered weakly, looking less like a banner and more like a beacon alerting everyone to come attack it.

West, near the entrance to Mihan Station, Mina and Nami stood at the top of the broken stairs.

South, Ryker and Jin had taken their place near the blackened grass field. And east...

Vivian stood alone. She was near the old garden path, her dark jacket hanging loosely from her shoulders while her lavender hair swayed in the wind.

She wasn’t smiling like he was used to, instead in an almost contemplative look as she watched the Hounds outside try to bash their way in.

Deon had given the express command that no one was to engage any Infantry by themselves, and instead call him over.

But...he had a feeling that Vivian wouldn’t need to do that, as technically she was now the strongest member in the team.

After Vivian revealed that she didn’t even know what Levels were, Deon had told her to open the Shop and spend 31 of her 58 Points to reach Level 5—the same Level as him.

Deon thought she would tease him or ask about why he told her to do so, but she simply obliged and said: "Okay."

For some reason, that made Deon more uncomfortable than if she had argued instead. Still...it was reassuring knowing Vivian at least had his back for now.

And her Card...what is it? I guess I’ll find out later.

[Preparation Phase: 00:03]

[Preparation Phase: 00:02]

For now, though...I need to survive this first.

[Preparation Phase: 00:01]

[Round 2 Start!]

The dome dropped immediately as howls and barks came tearing in one by one. And almost immediately, Deon realized that his Viewer had been correct.

In the nearby trees, half-hidden by shrubs, was a glowing area of red, indicating the exact thing he needed to find.

"A Zone..." Deon muttered.

He sprinted over to it before stepping inside. Immediately, a panel popped up in the corner of his vision.

[Zone M-1 Discovered]

[Claim Requirement: One registered member must remain within the Zone.]

[Checking Requirements...]

Ding!

[Claim Initiated.]

[Claim Progress: 1%]

Deon took out his katana from the [Blade] Card immediately, fingers wrapping around the hilt before yanking it free.

The Zone was small, around the size of his wingspan, barely wide enough for him to move freely without stepping out of the circle.

Rustle...rustle...

Deon turned, just as a Ruined Hound burst out from the bushes, ready to swallow his forearm.

But he was waiting exactly for that. "Trip."

The Hound’s front leg jerked sideways as if something invisible had hooked it from beneath. Its charge folded in on itself, body slamming chest-first into the dirt.

Deon stepped forward and drove the katana straight down through its skull.

[You have defeated a Ruined Hound.]

[+3 Points Awarded.]

[Claim Progress: 15%]

He pulled the blade free and immediately turned his head. Two shapes moved between the trees before bursting forth at once.

One of the Hounds lunged from his right.

He ducked under the first bite, slashed across its ribs, then kicked it back before it could twist around. The Hound collapsed sideways just as another one leapt over it, the two creatures tangling together mid-charge.

Deon moved in, slashing one on the neck and delivering the other thrust through the second’s eye.

[+3 Points Awarded.]

[+3 Points Awarded.]

[Claim Progress: 32%]

Tch...this is taking way too long. I need hurry up on this side so I can go help the others.

But as Deon’s head snapped toward the fountain, his stomach tightened immediately.

The central plaza had already turned chaotic as three hounds had broken toward the Flag. Hana had activated [Physical Boost Minor], green light wrapping around her as she jumped backwards from the first attack.

But just as she dropped down onto the first Hound and plunged a makeshift knife into it, the second was already sprinting for the Flag.

"Shit!"

[Warning: Leaving the Zone will reset Claim Progress.]

But before the Hound could reach the flag, a sudden force yanked its body sideways.

[Pull].

Mina stood near the west side, one hand extended before her twin sister pulled up and raised her Card.

"Push!"

The Hound was launched backwards, crashing into another one before they both went straight into the nearby boulder—

CRASH!

And went limp.

Hana stared toward the twins, eyes wide.

"We can cover you!" Mina shouted.

Nami immediately added, "A little!"

Nice...those kids are smarter than they look. And the [Push] and [Pull] Cards seem pretty good as well. No wonder they managed to survive for this long.

[Claim Progress: 50%]

But Deon couldn’t afford to be distracted, as a sudden bloodlust made him turn his head and look in front. An Infantry stepped into view from the bushes, dragging its claws through the dirt.

Deon’s eyes narrowed. "Of course."

[ChairGoblin_22: infantry already???]

[ClownWithWifi: north path is cooked]

"Yeah," he muttered, lifting his katana. "No pressure at all..."

The Infantry lowered its head, bracing for a second before it charged. It launched at Deon with the force of a truck, dragging through the mud and dirt to get to him.

Deon clicked his tongue and ducked. The claws passed over his head with a sound like metal scraping across a chalkboard.

Normally, he would’ve rolled back to put distance between them before circling around and attack the core from a different angle.

But the red glow of the Zone pressed around his feet like a leash, anchoring him to that one spot.

[Claim Progress: 68%]

"Seriously..." Deon muttered, shifting his grip on the katana. "I’m gonna have some words of complaint with Mimi later."

But just as he turned, Deon never felt how close the next attack had come. The world seemed to slow as he stared at the massive claw, just inches away from his face.

"Shit..."