The eerie sight made Himeko's breath catch.
A pink-and-blue crystal was embedded in a blood-red heart. With every beat, the energy within flowed along the blood vessels toward some unknown destination.
As the heart beat, faint wisps of energy also escaped outward.
The faint energy fluctuations she had sensed outside the Wax Museum had come from here.
The system stirred again.
[Congratulations, you hit the jackpot!] [A Nameless who once visited this place was too careless and inadvertently left behind a crystal containing her own power. Something in the park usurped that power and attempted to fuse it with itself to ascend to a higher level. The park's heart connects to every limb and bone. The ground beneath your feet was never safe.] [In short: something picked up the Six-Phased Ice March 7th dropped and swallowed it whole. Now, the thing that ate the Six-Phased Ice is burning up all over, and before long, it will burst out and bite everyone.] [As the navigator, cleaning up a junior's mess is also part of your duties.]
Himeko felt rather helpless after receiving the system's notification.
Why did the park's monsters stuff everything into their mouths? Weren't they afraid of upsetting their stomachs?
Still, the fact that it had devoured Six-Phased Ice was no small problem.
Perhaps because this was a beginner stage, every Amusement Park Monster Himeko had encountered since entering the Amusement Park had been a pushover.
The strongest had been the Himechi Cat projected from her own memories.
Killing ten thousand monsters like those was about as difficult as eating ten thousand steamed buns.
But if they fused with March 7th's Six-Phased Ice, that would be another matter.
March 7th might usually be rash, but nobody aboard the Astral Express was a pushover. If she got riled up, she might just call Evernight out to hang up some cured meat.
There was no telling what an Amusement Park Monster would become after gaining the power of Six-Phased Ice.
She would have to deal with it before leaving.
"Miss Himeko, what's wrong?"
Seeing Himeko suddenly fall silent, Inukai was somewhat puzzled. Taco had seen Six-Phased Ice before, so he naturally understood that this thing might be connected to the companion Himeko was looking for.
Out of habit, he scanned it with his [Smart Glasses].
[Amusement Park Visitors' Joy: an aggregate of the emotions of the park's visitors, currently attempting to fuse with Six-Phased Ice. Danger level: 5-?. From beyond this world, it has obtained the power to negate the world.]
"Level Five Danger? Then what does that question mark after it mean?"
Taco gave it some thought and reached a conclusion.
A question mark meant an unknown number. It could be 1, or it could be 10!
Who said the danger level on the left had to be smaller than the one on the right? Cream ice pops didn't even have any heat when their temperature was below zero!
Remembering that Himeko was also level five, Taco relaxed.
Once Himeko unleashed another mushroom cloud, even the fiercest monster would have to behave.
Although a system message had interrupted things, the instance had not finished providing information.
Another message appeared before Himeko.
[Clue: the Amusement Park will close at midnight.]
Midnight?
What time was it now?
Himeko took out her phone and discovered that its time differed somewhat from the Amusement Park's.
It had still been daytime on the road, yet it had suddenly become night when they walked in. Someone must have tampered with time.
"Everyone, I'd like to know the clues you have."
They were all here to complete missions and earn rewards. With that shared goal, Himeko naturally thought they had no reason not to cooperate.
Taco shared his clue without hesitation.
[There are a total of one hundred and thirty-two visitors tonight.]
Inukai likewise shared the clue he had without the slightest hesitation.
[A total of seventeen visitors wear glasses.]
When Duncan's turn came, he looked at the heart containing the enormous, multicolored fragments. After a moment's consideration, he decided to trick Himeko and set a trap.
[There are a total of seventeen areas in the Amusement Park.]
His actions drew displeasure from the viewers in the livestream.
[Wouldn't it be better to just tell Himeko your clue and follow her to get rewards? He just had to think he was clever.]
[With people like this around, how can Amerika stay great!]
[Learn from that Neon guy. He decisively latched onto Himeko, and now he's about to make it big.]
[Ugh, with a contestant like this, Amerika isn't far from death!]
[Baka! What the hell is this bastard trying to do!]
[Who the fuck are you, coming into Amerika's livestream?]
Inukai might have been highly regarded by foreign viewers, but his own livestream was far from peaceful.
[He just told Himeko such an important clue? Doesn't he know that fortune favors the bold!]
[Exactly! Idiot! Himeko already said she would stop your mission. She's clearly undermining Neon's future development. Someone like her absolutely cannot be allowed to remain!]
[Huaxia and Samba Country have used up their communication opportunities anyway. Even if you lied to her, she wouldn't know.]
[But following Himeko's plan seems more likely to succeed? We all know how strong Himeko is.]
[Putting your future in someone else's hands is foolish! Look at Taco. Look how stupid he's become!]
[Why are you suddenly making personal attacks against other contestants? Hasn't Taco done ten thousand times better than Inukai?]
[Wait, do you think Inukai siding with Himeko was smart or stupid?]
[Idiot! He's falling over himself to be her dog!]
[Was Taco siding with Himeko smart or stupid?]
[Obviously, it was wise. In a situation like this, you need someone powerful to back you up!]
Inside the dark room in the Wax Museum.
With four clues in hand, perhaps they could deduce something?
Himeko had the others leave the dark room, then raised her gun, aimed at the heart, and fired.
The energy round exploded against the heart but did no damage. A crystal resembling Six-Phased Ice had blocked its advance.
It already possessed some of the properties of Six-Phased Ice?
Himeko's expression grew a little graver. She headed out, and the moment she stepped out of the dark room, she received another notification.
[Your commentator has used "Head-on Strike" on Amerika's contestant: Duncan!]
Duncan received a notification as well. He hurriedly raised both arms, trying to block the incoming attack.
Fortunately, he reacted quickly. Although he was sent flying backward, he suffered no fatal injuries. But Himeko immediately pointed her gun at Duncan, ready at any moment to unleash a short, lethal combo.
The others failed to react for a moment. Those two had been getting along just fine, so why had they suddenly started fighting?
Amerika's counterattack came just as swiftly.
[Amerika has used "Heavy Steps" on you. Your mobility is greatly reduced for ten minutes.]
In an instant, Himeko felt as though two sesame crisps had been tied to her feet, making it difficult to move her legs.
While Himeko struggled to pursue him, Himechi Cat darted out, the saw blade in her hand already pressed against Duncan's neck.
Taco decisively used Harden and pinned down Inukai beside him. Even the Nine-Tailed Fox was trapped beneath his foot.
Restrained, Inukai felt as though the sky had fallen.
He hadn't done anything, so why was he getting beaten up too?
Before you continue