In the dazzlingly lit hall, a row of empty seats gleamed coldly with black leather under the overhead spotlights. With a swish, a beam of light shone on the very front of the hall, revealing a figure dressed in a purple bodysuit and green vest.
He picked up the microphone, cleared his throat, and called out to the seats full of phantom figures, "Hello, everyone. Welcome to Battleworld—New Earth! I'm Owen, host of Observer Mode. You can also call me Molecule Man, and some of you are old friends of mine."
"But that isn't today's main event. The main event is that we're about to welcome another team of fearless duelists to challenge our first game!!!"
At his shout, a huge screen sprang up directly in front of the seats. The instant the image appeared on it, a golden glint flashed through Owen's eyes, followed by disappointment.
He lowered his arm and put down the microphone. "Heavyweights are entering the stage. Too bad the game hasn't been running long enough. There isn't an audience at all."
After saying that, he snapped his fingers listlessly. All the lights went out, leaving only the enormous screen. Owen tossed aside the microphone, sat cross-legged on the spot, and watched the scene on the screen with great interest.
Under Owen's gaze, the image on the screen gradually became clear. It was an utterly ordinary wooden cabin. The door was pushed open, and a female figure walked in. Seeing the three people already in the room, she let out a startled cry.
The girl who had just entered silently looked over the three people in the room. They must be the teammates she had been matched with this time.
The man on the far left wore an ill-fitting suit, with a wrinkled shirt underneath. His