…It ain''t budging the slightest.

    By the way, for some reason— this sheathed Black Sword was half stabbed into the platform. I thought I could take remove the sword alone without its sheath, yet it was utterly stuck along with the scabbard.

    I then realized that the sheath was designed to be taken just like a one-handed sword— which, I placed my left hand on the sheath, and my right hand remained on the hilt.

    …Looks like I really need to muster the necessary strength to overcome 200 times the gravity.

    Let''s just hope this doesn''t put a cramp on my muscles…

    "(Mmmmph…!)"

    C-CRIK…

    "It''s moving, Luc— come on, you can do it!"

    I heard August''s cheering.

    But— I can''t go anymore further than this…! What the heck is it made off…!? It''s so heavy…!

    "…Keep going."

    As Kuroyuki told me to continue— her ice chains were tied tightly to my waist.

    What are you doing!? Your chains are weighing on me…!

    I don''t know what''s happening behind me, but it''s as if a miracle occurred— her ice chains suddenly became lighter.

    "…Pull."

    "WAAHHHH!!?"

    After hearing Kuroyuki''s command, I was pulled along with the Black Sword with me.

    CLANG! CLANG!

    "Ow...!?"

    "We did it…!" Persia shouted.

    Curious about the mysterious force pulling me, I look behind to find everyone with their hands on Kuroyuki''s ice chain.

    Were they… pulling me?

    "No! The sword…!"

    As soon as August saw where the Black Sword was— he immediately ran to it.

    "W-Wait…!" I shouted as I stood up. "Aug— that might be a cursed sword…!"

    Just a moment before he picked up the Black Sword, he froze up and looked at me.

    I quickly ran to him.

    "Did you just call me… Aug…?" August murmured.

    "H-Huh…?" I was dumbfounded. "Well, it''s just… easier for me to call your name."

    "…I see," August replied.

    Then, he picks up the Black Sword.

    "I thought I told you that sword might be cursed…!?" I reminded him once more.

    "Nah, it''s definitely not cursed," August told me. "Even if it''s cursed, I could definitely handle it without any problems."

    Which then, he pushes the Black Sword back to me.

    "FOR WHATEVER REASON, DON''T YOU EVER THROW YOUR SWORD LIKE THAT, UNDERSTOOD!!?" He lectured me with a glare. "TREAT IT WITH CARE!!!"

    "Okay, okay…!" I replied.

    GLOB.

    "Hmm…? What''s that sound…?" Kronos suddenly murmured.

    "W-W-What is that…?" Persia pointed her finger towards the Black Sword''s platform.

    Black liquid was flowing out from the hole— it looks like tar, but it’s not.

    I didn''t see any visible coloured gas leaking out from it, but it''s better to be safe.

    "Everyone! Hold your breath immediately— it could be poison!" I yelled.

    I held my breath and ran to the platform with the Black Sword on my head.

    "…?"

    My clothes and the sword did not become heavy anymore.

    "…The gravity magic disappeared," I murmured.

    "…That''s a bad sign.” Kuroyuki said with her eyes narrowed, seeming uneasy. “…Try sealing that hole once more."

    I inserted the sheathed Black Sword back to its place— yet, the black liquid shows no sign of stopping at all.

    "…It’s not working," I murmured.

    Deeming it to be useless, I pull out the sheathed Black Sword.

    And surprisingly…

    "…Did you guys see this?" I asked them.

    …not a single drop of black liquid is touching the Black Sword. In fact, it’s not even touching my shoes.

    “…How fascinating.” Kronos murmured.

    When I raised my head, everyone had gas masks on them. It seems Kronos made it with his earth element.

    "There''s no poison, but wear this just in case.”

    Telling me that, he gave me one.

    Then, he made a glass test tube on his hand and squatted down.

    “Is this… a water made from spirit particles...? M-MRK!!?"

    Suddenly, a black hand emerges from the hole like a zombie.

    Kronos was so surprised that he fell on his bu?? when he backed off.

    On reflex, I swung my sword towards the black hand.

    BAM!

    It phases through it without damaging the hand.

    Then, the hand press its palm on the ground, as if it''s trying to climb out from the hole.

    Not good. Just like what Kuroyuki and Nightmare agreed on… this is a trap…!

    "Okay— that''s enough!" I yelled. "EVERYONE GET OUT FROM HERE— RUN!!!"

    Agreeing with me, everyone immediately turn and head towards the entrance.

    Except, Persia Silverlight.

    "Persia— what are you doing…!!?"

    "Noble''s code section number one— protect humanity from all evil…!" She declared.

    Which, she took a card from her ?h?st pocket.

    "Don''t give me that now…!" I quickly ran to Persia. "Once you are dead— humanity ain''t worth a shit to you anymore…!"

    "Kyaa…!?"

    I carried Persia on my shoulder as I turned and ran.

    "W-What are you doing…!? Put me down…!" Persia complained.

    "You idiot…! I was planning to destroy this place once everybody got out!" I told Persia. "There''s more than one way you could do to protect humanity…!"

    With the unsheathed Black Sword on my left hand, I head towards the third pillar on my left, intending to break it with the unsheathed sword.

    "…Don''t do it…!"

    CLANG!

    Just seconds before it hits, my swing was stopped by Kuroyuki’s ice spear that was stabbed on the ground.

    Which, Kuroyuki— who was supposed to be at the stairway by now, appears in front of me.

    "Kuroyuki…? What''s wrong…!?"

    "…This situation is even worse than we expected to be." She told me.

    I immediately shifted my gaze towards the entrance— where I find a black wall sealing our only exit.

    "This is bad indeed. Look after Persia," I said to Kuroyuki as I placed Persia down.

    Then, I immediately ran to Kronos and the others, where they were trying to break the black wall.

    "一文字!"

    (Ichimonji!)

    (Straight line!)

    WHAM!!!

    Following August''s shout— was a powerful beeline katana slash hitting right at the centre of the black wall.

    "W-Wah…!!?"

    That slash was so powerful that the entire basement shook from the impact.

    However, there''s not a single dent on the black wall.

    "Damnit…!"

    August’s hands trembled from the recoil.

    Seems like that black wall was so solid that it completely sends back August''s powerful slash to him.

    BAM!

    Suddenly, another weaker impact shook the basement once again.

    It was Blaze. He stomped his left foot forward in a house stance— exactly three steps away from the black wall.

    "August! Stay out of line…!!!"

    As he ordered August to get out from his way, he raised his right foot forward.

    BAM!!

    As he stomps, it shakes the basement even fiercer than his first.

    Then, he raised his left foot forward.

    BAM!!!

    "W-Whoa!?"

    It was just as powerful as August''s beeline slash…!

    What''s with that footwork…!? He''s gaining more power in each advancing step…!

    The moment he reaches the wall with both of his fist at the right side of his waist…

    "崩山拳!!!"

    ("Bēngshān quán!!!")

    (Mountain Crushing Fist!!!)

    …he lunges his fists right at the centre of the black wall.

    BOOM!!!

    It was more powerful than August’s slash. I bet it’s even powerful enough to take down an entire two-storey house if it hits right.

    As the dusts settled, I find Blaze pushed away from the wall by his own recoil.

    C-CRACK!

    “…!”

    The pillars… cracked…!?