Everyone quickly reined in the disappointment in their hearts.
They swiftly regrouped mentally and switched into battle-readiness.
That chaotic battle Gang had just fought had been exceptionally frustrating.
They had to fend off the fierce attacks of the ice-type officer and the modified soldiers.
At the same time, they had to devote most of their energy to protecting the Salamander Lion-Faced Beast.
They were terrified that the battle's aftershocks would damage the giant beast's tear glands.
They had clearly been only one step away from success.
Yet the outside Plunderers had forcibly interrupted them.
The hope that had been within reach vanished in an instant.
Everyone present was seething with pent-up frustration.
The bottom level of this Gourmet Pyramid, buried deep beneath the yellow sands,
was shrouded in one-and-a-half times normal gravity.
The scorching stone slabs constantly radiated geothermal heat.
The stuffy, murky air carried a faint smell of sulfur and dust.
Even breathing felt somewhat labored.
Everyone's clothes had long since been soaked through with sweat.
They clung tightly to their skin.
Beads of sweat trickled from their temples along their jaws.
They struck the scorching rocky ground and instantly evaporated into wisps of white mist.
Killua raised a hand and shook the bits of gravel and sand from his cuff.
Fine blue-white lightning slowly coursed around his fingertips.
All traces of his usual playfulness had faded, leaving his eyes utterly serious.
"This time, nobody gets distracted."
"One wrong step ruins everything. We'll proceed steadily and not repeat the same mistake."
After saying that, he began reviewing the failure Gang had just suffered, his brows drawing together slightly.
"In the previous round, there were a few points where I attacked too quickly."
"The continuous electric shocks allowed the giant beast to adapt, greatly reducing their effectiveness."
"We absolutely can't