UNIFIED W

Chapter 9: Phase two, part 2

As phase two began, participants spread out across the entirety of stage one.

Zeru glanced around before turning back to his team. Shortly after, he was ready to leave them and set out on his own.

May grabbed Zeru's arm, stopping him just as he was about to run.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Take your hand off, May."

"In case you forgot, we're supposed to be a team."

"I can do this without you."

"The problem isn't whether you can do this or not. We have to work together if we want to win."

Zeru was standing there, glaring angrily at May.

"Didn't you hear what the clan leaders just said, May? If we don't find a sphere before time runs out, we will fail."

"That's all the more reason we need to work together as a team."

Zeru walked up to May aggressively.

"Our best option is to split up and look for the damn sphere."

"Split up?"

"Yeah! That way..."

Before Zeru could finish his sentence, May cut him off.

"Look around, Zeru. Almost everyone in the arena has already left, and here we are, still arguing, while clan leaders and some very powerful people watch us."

As May and Zeru argued back and forth, all Kai could do was watch as things continued to escalate.

"Listen, May, the fastest way to find a sphere is for me to search in this city. You can go to your hometown, and Kai..."

"You idiot. Who made you the team leader?"

"Kai and I will search for the sphere at the end of the city. Let's keep in touch through our band watches."

Zeru turned and began walking away from May and Kai.

Just before reaching the arena exit, he glanced back, wanting to say one last thing to them.

"Do what you want. I won't hold your hands. You're both on your own."

"Remember, you jerk, you can't win this phase without us."

After Zeru left on his own, May and Kai walked off the arena and started talking privately.

"What's Zeru's problem, and why didn't you say anything?"

Kai gave May a quick glance.

"I'd only make the situation worse. Trust me on that."

May took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.

"The best thing to do now is find a sphere before he does and report back to him."

"Let's move."

***

Before the second phase began, the test administrators evacuated the civilians to safer locations, allowing the participants to go all out without worrying about casualties.

With the help of the V clans' technology, people around the world could watch phase two play out.

A commentator keeps the audience informed about what's happening.

"Five hours have passed, good folks, and no one has found a sphere yet."

"It appears that some teams have formed alliances. This is definitely something to keep an eye on."