Anno had already closed in, his Mana Burst activated.
Lancelot watched the approaching Anno, recalling what Anno had said.
This was the answer he needed to find.
His next move surprised Anno somewhat.
Rather than drawing the Holy Sword at his waist, he raised his fist, just as Anno had.
And he took the initiative to attack Anno.
Lancelot was slightly taller than Anno.
He showed no mercy to his father, driving a fist straight at Anno's face.
But Anno's reactions were incredibly swift. With a slight tilt of his head, he avoided Lancelot's punch, then rammed his shoulder into Lancelot's chest.
Lancelot loosened his footing and did not let Anno's charge land cleanly. He took two steps back and raised his leg.
Anno brought his elbow down to block Lancelot's powerful kick, then swiftly twisted his upper body. Lancelot was too slow to dodge and took a punch to the chin.
Taking a step back, Lancelot rubbed his chin.
"Again." Anno stood his ground and beckoned to Lancelot with a low voice.
Letting out a heavy breath, Lancelot attacked once more.
The battle between the father and son, Anno and Lancelot, fell into a stalemate. Meanwhile, Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others had broken through the Sphinx pack and entered an area untouched by the blowing sand.
"Huh? The Atlas Institute—uwaah!" Mash had still been walking forward in a daze when the ground suddenly gave way beneath her feet, and she vanished in an instant.
"Mash—hey—!" Seeing Mash disappear, Fujimaru Ritsuka paled in alarm and hurriedly reached out to grab her. But his vision went dark as well, and the sensation of falling immediately seized him.
When he came to his senses, Fujimaru Ritsuka found that everyone had arrived in a brightly lit underground space.
"This is...?" Mash rubbed her