, Zahard, Eduan, and Hon.
Each of our shinsu surged violently, whipping through the space around us.
Although the situation was technically three versus one—
In the original story, Eduan and Zahard were evenly matched.
Anyone could see that, right now, we had the advantage.
Even with ten lightning spears hovering, ready to fire at any mont, Zahard's data calmly questioned Eduan's words.
"Fake? What are you talking about?"
"Of course you're fake. The Zahard I know is an adventurer, not a king."
"If that's the case, then it's you who misunderstood . I was destined to beco king from the very—"
"Shut it. I don't have ti to argue with you. Hand over my daughter and get lost."
"...…"
Despite Eduan's threat-like demand, Zahard remained silent.
In this situation, silence was refusal.
No further discussion was needed.
Eduan's spears launched toward Zahard.
At the sa ti, Hon's sword—and mine—also aid for his neck.
If we killed him here, everything would be resolved.
The only concern was that Bam might never et him in the future, potentially derailing the original story—but Maschenny's life ca first.
Ten bolts of lightning crashed down with thunderous force.
Zahard responded by firing ten golden bullets to block them.
Then I arrived.
Baekya slashed toward Zahard's neck.
Zahard ducked, narrowly avoiding the blade.
If I tried to adjust the sword's trajectory now, he'd just keep dodging.
So instead—
RUMBLE—
"…!"
At my gesture, a massive shinsu sword erupted from the ground.
Its position—directly beneath Zahard's feet.
With Eduan's lightning hemming him in, Zahard had nowhere to escape.
He stepped onto the rising blade—
—and was carried upward with it.
Before Zahard could even register his surroundings, Arie Hon—who had been waiting above, already prepared—struck.
"A king shouldn't only watch the ground. You should keep an eye on the sky as well."
"Hah—so you lured into this…!"
Because the spell had already been prid, the brilliant light bursting from Hon's sword slamd into Zahard instantly, without delay.
The entire Cradle of the King—normally pitch-black—was flooded with white light.
The power was overwhelming.
Caught off guard, Zahard's data-body was torn apart repeatedly by the radiance.
For several seconds, the space was drowned in white—
Then the light faded.
Zahard's data was revealed.
His body was soaked in blood, chunks of flesh missing—completely battered.
At this rate, victory seed assured.
But my expectations shattered in the next instant.
Zahard spoke calmly.
"It's useless."
His body began to regenerate.
Blood vanished.
Severed flesh reford, glowing as it restored itself.
Before long, Zahard stood there perfectly healed—as if the previous devastation had been an illusion.
"I am the ruler of this data world. And this place is my domain. No matter how hard you press , I will regenerate endlessly."
"Heh. Is being unkillable really sothing to brag about?"
Eduan mocked him—but at the sa ti, the sa thought crossed all our minds.
This is bad.
No matter how many limbs we severed, no matter how many tis we killed him, he'd just keep regenerating.
We, on the other hand, would eventually wear down.
And worse—
"If you wish to continue, you may. But if you do, I cannot guarantee your companion's safety."
Zahard displayed a screen.
On it—Maschenny, asleep.
A golden sphere hovered near her, ready to strike.
Big Breeder Hwang…?
"…Damn it."
This complicated things.
"Truly despicable. And you call yourself a king?"
"This is my kingship, Eduan. And frankly, none of this would have happened if that unknown boy hadn't entered the Hidden Stage with his companions and disrupted my plans."
"Plans, my ass. You think the rest of us didn't know what that mirror was for? We just played along because it was a hassle—and you went and drowned in your own delusions."
"…Tch."
Zahard faltered briefly—but quickly regained his composure.
"Enough. Decide. Either you, Hon, and the remaining companions disappear—or that boy's companions die."
Eduan and Hon hesitated.
They couldn't decide.
If they refused to vanish, Hoaquin's companions would die.
To the Ten Family Heads' data, the lives of ordinary Regulars—other than —held little value.
But they still had fragnts of humanity left.
Just like in the original story.
Zahard had taken hostages even during his first encounter with Bam.
This situation was eerily similar.
Back then, Eduan had proposed a solution.
And now—
There was only one way forward.
I stepped forward.
"I propose a wager."
"…What?"
As expected—he reacted.
"I'll play a one-on-one ga with you. If I win, you release Maschenny and leave us alone."
Zahard smiled, sharp fangs showing.
"And if I win?"
"All remaining Ten Family Heads' data will disappear. And you may do whatever you like with and my companions."
That caught his attention.
Zahard turned to look at Hon and Eduan, gauging whether my words were sincere.
Eduan looked stunned.
"Hey—what are you—!"
Hon stopped him.
"Wait. Let's trust my child this once."
"…Damn it. They say parents can't beat their kids, huh."
Eduan was clearly unhappy—but he didn't argue further.
He knew this was the only solution.
And truthfully—it had been his idea first.
"If the boy loses, Hon and I will quietly enter the mirror. The rest will follow."
Zahard laughed.
"Very well. You think you can beat ?"
"Decide already. Accept or refuse. I heard you enjoy wagers—surely you won't decline this?"
A subtle provocation.
Zahard grinned.
"Fine. I accept. But I choose the timing, the ga, and the stage."
I nodded.
"Do as you like."
"Two weeks from now. I'll announce the ga and stage the day before."
"…Then we'll et again in two weeks."
With that, Zahard vanished.
We left the stage as well.
....
Palace of Spears
After the storm passed, the palace was eerily quiet.
Everyone's thoughts were tangled.
"…We jumped in without thinking."
"Now I'm worried. Hey—are you confident?"
"…Honestly? Fifty-fifty."
I'd fought him briefly.
In terms of raw power, he wasn't much different from Hon's data.
That was both good and bad.
Against Hon in a sword fight, I'd be at a disadvantage.
Which ant—against Zahard, my odds were still roughly fifty percent.
Eduan stood up after chewing on a grape.
"So what's the plan now?"
"I'll go get Luf and Hwarang first. Then… I'll need help."
"Help? From who?"
"The other Ten Family Heads' data."
"They're all difficult personalities. You think they'd—oh."
Eduan stopped mid-sentence.
"Yes. We're thinking the sa thing."
"If they don't want to enter the mirror, they'll have to help ."
The 'If you don't like it, help ' strategy.
For those with no attachnt to the Hidden Floor—
I'll just give them one.
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