Silence befell the area beyond the sheets of rain. It was as though the Legion of Heroes had vanished without a trace.

Ashe said confidently, "You're afraid I'll flip the board and drag everything down with me. Yes, the contract states explicitly that I can't discard or destroy the Conjuring spirit. But it only punishes me once it's done, instead of preventing it. In other words, if I'm willing to take the hit, this contract is nothing but scrap paper…

"The Virtual World can only punish a violation after it happens. It cannot stop me in the moment. The most it could do is kill me once everything is over. But if destroying the Conjuring spirit or being captured by you means death either way, I would rather die at the hands of the Virtual World than let you devour me piece by piece."

The world fell into a heavy stillness. The Ascending Golden Rain streamed soundlessly toward the sky. After a tense silence, Denzel's voice echoed once more. "There is just one thing you...