"There's no need to beg or pray. The odds are against you. You'll most likely lose."
Ivan's eyes widened the moment Lemi said this.
"Why do you look surprised? It's a simple fact." Her melodious voice sounded distant and unfazed.
"T-then... why?" The young boy's voice rang in despondent betrayal.
Just what was going on here?
"See what I mean?" Lemi's finger was pointed at the stoping wheel.
Just as she predicted... the gradient that the arrow pointed to was not yellow. It was orange.
"Y-you! Lemi what did you—?!"
>SHIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGG<
Before Ivan could pounce on the Half Elf, another burst of light enveloped the hallway. It blinded the two of them, transporting the boy from the place.
Just as with Edward, the light faded after some time, now leaving Lemi all alone—well, except for her Automaton.
"As expected." She smiled, drawing closer to the wheel.
"How hilarious... his face before vanishing. What an idiot. So much for trusting me..."
Lemi understood that she wasn't as amazing as Jared or Lewis Griffith, but she wasn't stupid either.
Her actions and methods were simply not meant to be understood by most people. It didn't make her wrong, but it simply showed how her mind functioned from everyone else's.
"Have you finished analyzing it?" She asked her Automaton.
~[Confirmed: All Ivan's Actions have been calculated. Replication is possible.]~
"Perfect. Transfer the information to me."
~[Understood]~
The Half Elf shut her eyes and a bunch of data suddenly popped into her head. She processed them, sorting out the application and methods to utilize.
Opening her eyes, she observed the spinning wheel—which now had four gradients that were colored yellow—and prepared an appropriate course of action.
"Then, shall we begin?" She placed her hand on the wheel and took a deep breath.
What Ivan didn't understand was that he was also a necessary sacrifice so she could learn something more.
Most people based games like Roulette or Spin The Wheel on luck. However, to someone like Lemi, those factors were incoherent with her beliefs on certainty.
'The weight of the board. The speed of the spin. The muscle movements of the player, the position of one's hand on the board. The direction of the spin. Everything can be calculated.'
By observing Ivan's interaction with the wheel, using both her senses and her Automaton, Lemi could replicate his actions and gain the same results.
Or... she could alter the data to match an action that would guarantee the desired effect she was aiming for.
'At this degree, with this level of strength, I'll spin right too... ah, yes. Let's go for that one...' A smile formed on her face as she readied herself.
Everything was counting on this single move. She had done her research and arrived at this conclusion—the most optimal and assured means of success.
Would she win? Would she not?
'You better not lose, Lemi!'
*
*
*
"Haaa... haaa..." Edward heavily exhaled.
His hands tightly clenched his blade, and his eyes were still full of determination. However, his heart wavered a little.
'Is this really the way out?' He asked himself.
So far, he had swung his sword many times, all to no avail.
Not only could he not make a single dent in the world he found himself in, but he couldn't even see a reasonable effect of his efforts. Nothing worked!
"Damnit... guess I'll have to give it everything I have."
Doing something like that was risky, but the results were assured. However, considering none of his Martial Arts had worked,.couldn't it be possible that even this final.move of his would end in a similar effect?
Common sense told him that. However, his desperation to keep using Martial Arts and to return to his friends plagued his mind.
He had tried Bond techniques, Martial State, etc. Yet, all of them were to no avail.
Ultimately, this was the only thing he was yet to do.
"Huu... guess I have no choice." Edward slowly took his stance as he closed his eyes.
His feet planted themselves on the purple ground and he began pushing his muscles to their limits.
Slowly and steadily, he raised his power. Doing everything at once was extremely dangerous, so he had to take his time to achieve his desired state.
'More... more power... more—'
>SHWWWWWUUUUU<
Before Edward could build enough power, he felt his body tingle with light, forcing him to open his eyes.
'A-ah...!' He was glowing... and it wasn't with his own energy.
The bright light enveloped him, seemingly making him much lighter—though he found himself unable to move in the process.
'Am I finally returning?' He thought to himself.
If that was so, then was it because of his hard work all this time... or was everything he did meaningless?
Edward didn't know.
>SHIIIINNNGGGGG!!!<
In the beam of light, he vanished from the purple space. And, as soon as he left, the entire area collapsed.
With no prisoner, there was no need for a prison. Thus, it ceased to exist.
*
*
*
"Let me out of here, you bastards!!!" Ivan screamed with passion.
He was trapped in an orange room. Similar to Edward's prison—though Ivan was unaware of this fact—there was nothing to be seen for miles other than the endless hue of orange.
After being transported away, he at least thought he would have to face enemies or see Edward, but none of that was the case.
He was simply tossed into this world with not a single soul present.
"You bastaaarrrddddssss!!!"
After some time of throwing tantrums and trying out techniques, Ivan realized it was hopeless.
'I'm not a musclehead like Edward. It's better I think rationally...'
Interacting with Jared, and now Lemi, showed how certain problems did not require violence. Sure, he wasn't a genius in that field, but he had learned a thing or two.
Looking far into the horizon, he realized that the world was endless. He even spread his perception, but as far as he could sense... there was nothing but space.
It was hopeless to try to run away or escape. Rationally speaking, there was nothing he could do.
