The conversation in the lounge was over.
Kenichi Sora stopped talking, his chip heating up as if it were calculating something frantically.
John was also exhausted.
He looked at the countdown, suddenly thinking—the mercenary waits quietly in the dim players' lounge, marking both the beginning of the arena match and the end of a short-lived career.
Sora was no help.
He paid the price for his recklessness.
Insisting on the fight led to his body being depleted, getting killed by his opponent, failing to wait for the surgery opportunity.
This talk-of-the-town street experience had become a joke in an overreaching arena challenge.
This is the ending... right?
Suddenly.
A series of urgent footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Swoosh.
The electromagnetic door of the players' lounge opened.
Gino walked in first, visibly relieved to see John still alive and even smoking relaxedly.
"Phew, it really is you!"
"Why are you here?"
John was somewhat surprised too.
