Timeout Breaker

<Groove>

Damn it! Is this the end?

No—calm down. I just need to regroup and challenge them again.

The technology to create the Garnet Prince is in my hands.

By applying the advanced techniques I perfected through Sharp’s awakening, I can feminize any suitable man and awaken him as a combat weapon. As mass-produced weapons, they’ll shine on battlefields across the world. That’s right—evil never dies.

For now, I must retreat. Escape is victory. The longer the war drags on, the more certain my triumph becomes.

It’s the same in war. A force superior in resources just needs to prolong the fight. History proves it—those who lack resources eventually collapse on their own.

Just like the warlords of another world—Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s sieges of Tottori Castle and Odawara Castle. A slow, tightening grip. Starve them out. Crush their hope through encirclement. You will struggle in vain until you are utterly neutralized.

The Magical Private Network. No one can infiltrate that place. I can finally rest.

With composure, I chant a masculine voice incantation and initiate the connection session. I pass through fingerprint and voiceprint authentication. A security hole opens. I quickly dive through it.

Good! I’m in. The hole will close immediately. No one should be able to follow.

I noticed something was wrong about five seconds after I started relaxing.

Huh? Weird. The hole’s still open. Why? Why won’t it close!?

"Let’s go, everyone!"

With that command, Tenuto is the first to jump in. Largo follows immediately after.

This is bad—this is seriously bad. On the other side of this network lies the Star Voice Notary—Edge Shadow Corp’s top secret.

“Why!? Why won’t the security hole close!?”

Pororon.

Listening closely, I hear Sharp strumming a classical guitar.

That melody—could it be!?

“For this day! For this very moment—I’ve been secretly practicing this song with everything I’ve got! The Timeout Breaker!”

I’d heard rumors. That there’s a hacking song that can prevent a session from closing. And that it requires extreme skill to perform. It shouldn’t be within the reach of a high schooler. Sharp must have been obsessively practicing for ages—for this one moment. Such determination!

But why!? Why is Sharp regaining his sanity!? Once someone becomes a Super Garnet Prince, they shouldn’t be able to escape madness so easily.

I glance at Lala—she’s playing a harp melody meant to dispel nightmares. That simple piece couldn’t possibly banish such darkness. It’s just not—

Wait. I hear a faint accompaniment. Percussion. That sound—no way!

“Forte! You traitor!”