Half an hour after the Tour de Inferno began, more than half of the spectators at the race site had already dispersed.
Although this location served as both the starting point and the finish line of the Tour de Inferno—and the eventual victor would return here to ascend the throne amid thunderous cheers—it was still far too early.
Based on past experience, the final Overlord would not be decided until dusk. There was plenty of time for lunch, dinner, and leisure.
When the time came, people would naturally gather again, turning their appetites into fervor, erupting in a sea of cheers to welcome the birth of a new Overlord.
However, within the vast crowd, some had already begun to stir.
They had no intention of waiting until the end to learn who would win. They wanted to see it with their own eyes.
…Perhaps even personally kill one of the Overlord's companions.
"Feeling awake yet, Ellen?"
Phaga extended his hand out the window. It was already 9:30 a.m., the sun climbing steadily higher. The rising temperature made his stomach churn slightly, and he soon pulled his hand back, rubbing his fingers together.
For some reason, Lucius's detestable face surfaced in his mind again, darkening his expression.
Only then did Phaga realize that his hatred for Lucius rivaled the sun itself. Even under the sun's scorching heat, the first thing that came to mind wasn't destroying the sun—but killing Lucius.
"[Phaga Energy] fully replenished. Entering Saint Mode—perfect for work. Want me to drive?"
Ellen tilted her head to look at him, her eyes gleaming with eagerness.
"No… what kind of [Phaga Energy] is that supposed to be…"
Phaga's mouth twitched. He let out a sigh, turned the key, pressed the clutch, and shifted gears, his right foot hovering lightly over the accelerator.
The off-road vehicle let out a low growl and surged steadily toward the Hollow.
"The Black-White Doll isn't around. No one's refilling stamina for Shark Thirens. Ellen, conserve your energy—just handle navigation."
Phaga spoke calmly, but his foot slammed down on the accelerator in complete contradiction.
The off-road vehicle howled. All four cylinders churned violently, iron and fire roaring in harmony. Passion mixed with fuel, burning fiercely within the engine. Mere barricades and fences stood no chance—on contact, they were smashed aside like rotten wood.
The vehicle landed heavily, four tires carving scorched tracks into the gravel. Like a tiger whipping its tail to shed force, it paused for a split second before lunging forward again, faster and faster.
Before anyone could react, an unnamed, sudden intruder burst into the Hollow right before everyone's eyes.
Gone in a flash.
Even the high-definition cameras rented from the city by the organizers failed to capture the license plate.
The entire venue fell silent, stunned and breathless.
In the next instant, Playful Johnny reacted first. His face flushed red—not with anger at the intrusion, but with excitement—as he shouted into the mic:
[Outer Ring fuel-burning maniacs, take a good look! A powerful uninvited guest has just charged into this year's Tour de Inferno! This is without question the most suspenseful Tour de Inferno ever! Can the Vanquishers and the Sons of Calydon withstand the pressure and still claim the title of Overlord?!]
[You bastards—throw in your Dennies and pick your favorite now!]
The venue instantly erupted.
No one cared whether the off-road vehicle's entry was legitimate. All they cared about was whether the race would be exciting.
Some were already itching to rush into the Hollow themselves, desperate to witness this new variable firsthand.
Of course, once tonight passed, they would be grateful they'd managed to restrain themselves and never set foot inside.
...
"I've locked onto the tracker. Lucius's entire route has been updated. Phaga, take the right fork ahead."
Ellen gripped the overhead handle with one hand and held her phone in the other.
On the screen, a red dot traced an irregular red line stretching into the distance.
Jokes aside, despite bringing along Ruby, the so-called [Legendary Investigator], both Phaga and Ellen knew full well that Ruby's usefulness during the high-speed chaos of Tour de Inferno was limited.
For all they knew, Ruby might already have reached Cinder Lake and returned, while they were still stuck midway, struggling against Ethereals jumping into their faces.
Rather than hoping for Ruby to perform a miracle, it was more realistic to pray that the Hollow's signal wouldn't drop.
As for why they brought Ruby at all…
Well, Ruby was a lucky charm. Maybe she'd bring a small surprise.
Phaga glanced right and spotted a narrow path exactly where Ellen indicated.
Without hesitation, he slammed the brakes and yanked the wheel right.
The off-road vehicle drifted sideways, kicking up a storm of sand. As Phaga released the brake, the engine roared and the vehicle shot forward again.
"Phaga, there's a spatial fissure fifty meters ahead. Be careful."
"Got it… By the way, Ellen—Tour de Inferno's already started. Why haven't we seen Mr. Lycaon or Rina? Where did they go to gather intel?"
Phaga asked casually, glancing sideways.
Ellen didn't know much more than he did and could only guess.
"They probably have their own channels? Maybe that unseen Mrs. Meilin has contacts in the Outer Ring, and they're trying to break through from that side?"
After thinking for a moment, Ellen shook her head. Light and shadow suddenly flickered before them.
The next instant, the off-road vehicle burst out of the spatial fissure, vision snapping back into clarity. Ahead lay yet another unfamiliar road blanketed in yellow sand.
One thing was certain—the deeper they went into the Hollow, the more dangerous it became.
Sure enough, moments later, Ellen suddenly cried out, her voice sharp and urgent.
"Phaga! Ether concentration ahead is spiking—there's a large number of Ethereals!"
"I know."
Phaga unconsciously touched the Ether crystal at his neck, murmuring, "I knew the moment we passed through the fissure."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
Phaga shook his head and said no more.
The driver-side window slid down slowly, and a pale arm extended outward.
Suddenly—a sharp snap rang out.
Dozens of cone-shaped Ether crystals erupted from the arm, instantly piercing Phaga's skin. Blood flowed freely, running down along the crystals.
"Rise!"
Phaga roared.
In an instant, the blood surged upward, tearing free from his arm and shooting into the air. It scattered into countless crimson droplets, swirling around the off-road vehicle.
"[Blazing Sacrifice]!"
At his command, hundreds—thousands—of blood droplets shot forward, so fast they drew countless laser-like trails.
A charging Frenzied Maniac was instantly riddled with holes. The [Core] atop its head dimmed, and only after it collapsed to its knees did its body burn away into ash.
...
"Everyone, keep it up! We'll finish them off soon!"
Caesar raised her shield to block a Frenzied Maniac's attack, slammed forward to stagger it, then thrust her sword through it in one clean motion.
She turned back to encourage the others, steadying morale.
"Don't worry! As long as we give it everything, there's nothing we can't overcome! Charge!"
[Fairy: Master, individual 'Caesar' has entered Passionate Combustion Mode.]
Lucy had just smashed an Ethereal aside with her hammer when the unfamiliar voice rang out. She immediately looked around, frowning.
"Who said that? That naming sense is awful."
[Fairy: An individual using the online alias 'Golden Thread Princess's Lament' has no authority to criticize my taste.]
Lucy's face flushed red. Her throat caught, and she blurted out:
"Sh-shut up!"
"Get down!"
Before Lucy could explode in indignation, Corin suddenly rushed in from behind and tackled her to the ground, arms wrapped tightly around her waist.
Caught completely off guard, Lucy took a mouthful of sand.
"Corin, you—"
She cut herself off mid-scold, breath hitching as her eyes widened.
She was stunned.
"Th-this… this…"
She stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.
Lucy could hardly believe it. In the Outer Ring—a place where shallow waters bred countless small threats—such a terrifying surge of Ether had erupted. Thousands of blood-drawn laser-like streaks tore through the battlefield.
The Frenzied Maniacs that had taken the Sons of Calydon significant effort to deal with earlier were utterly helpless. In moments, they were pierced through again and again, dying before the dark-red flames could even ignite.
"This power… it's—it's Mr. Phaga!"
Corin lifted her head, trembling with excitement as she looked around.
Sure enough, an off-road vehicle was roaring in from behind at a terrifying speed.
Whoosh!
Like a sudden gale, it blasted past Corin and Lucy without slowing, sand exploding into the air.
"Cough—cough!"
Lucy waved her hand to clear the dust, coughing angrily.
"Who was that?! Driving like that—so rude… Corin, do you know them?"
"Uh… kind of… Look over there! There's a black-furred wolf Thiren—looks like someone from the Vanquishers!"
Corin scratched her cheek. Running into Phaga inside the Hollow had overwhelmed her so much that she blurted it out without thinking.
Fortunately, in her flustered state, she spotted Mors emerging from the shadows. He looked shaken, clearly stunned.
"What… what was that just now?!"
Mors was utterly shocked.
He had planned to block the Sons of Calydon here, laying down a web of Ethereals. Even if he couldn't stop them completely, he could at least slow them significantly.
Yet out of nowhere, an off-road vehicle appeared. Hundreds—thousands—of crimson beams cleared a path, annihilating several hundred Ethereals in the blink of an eye.
"Hey, Mors! What are you doing here?! This many Ethereals isn't normal—did you set this up?!"
A familiar voice rang out. Mors turned his head.
The Sons of Calydon had already surrounded him, Caesar standing at the front. Even someone as straightforward as her could tell something was wrong.
Faced with the situation, Mors merely snorted and turned away.
"Targeting you? Don't flatter yourselves. I just happened to pass by."
With his plan ruined, there was no reason to stay.
A wise man doesn't fight when outnumbered. Mors had no intention of clashing with the Sons of Calydon here.
But before he could take two steps, he stopped.
Not because the Sons of Calydon attacked—
But because the off-road vehicle that had just sped away suddenly turned back.
What was this supposed to mean?
Mors frowned as the vehicle came to a stop nearby.
Moments later, a man in a butler's uniform stepped out, staring straight at him. Mors noticed the man frown slightly, adjusting his monocle as if to see more clearly.
Then—his pupils shrank.
In the span of a single breath, the stranger appeared directly in front of him, moving at an absurd speed.
"You're Mors?" the man asked, frowning.
"You are…?"
Mors's breath hitched. The man hadn't done anything beyond speaking, yet an invisible pressure bore down on him, locking his body in place.
"No denial. Then it's you. Ellen's eyes are sharp—I didn't even spot you earlier."
Before the words fully landed, the man's right hand shot forward like a spear, instantly piercing Mors's abdomen. Blood sprayed across the ground.
"You—!"
Mors's eyes went bloodshot. Instinctively, he grabbed Phaga's arm with both hands, teeth clenched as he glared at the man's face.
Suddenly, his pupils contracted.
Memories long buried surged forth like a tidal wave.
The city. The plot. A vampire. A car accident…
One image after another surfaced, until the man's face finally aligned with those memories.
"Y-you're Phaga!"
"Glad you still remember me."
Phaga pulled his hand free and caught Mors by the throat before his body could collapse.
Phaga was kind-hearted. He couldn't bear to let him fall.
He turned his head and called out, "Ellen, do we have any rope in the car?"
"No. But you can tear his clothes and twist one yourself."
Ellen leaned out the window without getting out.
"What are you planning to do?"
"He risked his life to take part in Tour de Inferno. Least I can do is send him to Cinder Lake."
As he spoke, Phaga tore strips from Mors's clothing and fashioned them into a rope—one end looped around Mors's neck, the other tied to the rear of the vehicle.
He dusted off his hands, turned around, and climbed back into the car.