Griffon stood still, listening to the ticking of the countdown in his head. After having his skull opened, a chip was implanted in his brain, monitoring his every move and word. He had just altered the program for the ninth round and bypassed the 1-1 setting to gain access. But as soon as he spoke, 1-2 discovered that he had tampered with the game area's program.

Instead of immediately triggering the explosion program, 1-2 gave him a five-minute countdown, giving him a chance. He couldn't speak out of turn and had to return within five minutes, or his brain would explode, and she would die.

Griffon looked at the red...