Much to his chagrin, Yugo found himself agreeing with Lost’s logic.
In his favorite film, the final item to appear had been the literal trump card—the key to a total reversal of fortune. If Abyss knew that movie, there was no way he would execute his final plan while knowingly leaving his opponent a path to victory.
Alternatively, perhaps Abyss simply assumed that even with the final Clear Plate, his enemies wouldn't stand a chance. As Yugo considered this, another question surfaced.
"Why did Abyss only collect twenty-five Clear Plates? Why would he move forward without recovering the very last one?"
"Ah, you’ve got a sharp eye for detail! There are several reasons, and some are difficult for me to explain personally, so I can’t go into too much depth... but one reason is likely the limit of Abyss’s own power."
Abyss had moved only after securing twenty-five Clear Plates, including those previously confiscated by the Security Force. If he had gone so far as to hunt down owners Yugo hadn’t even met yet, he should have been able to spare a little more time to find the final one.
Deflecting Yugo’s question with a casual air, Lost offered a more detailed explanation.
"Abyss scattered the Clear Plates at almost the exact moment you arrived on this island. By their very nature, these plates are drawn by fate to the individuals with whom they are most compatible. You know that much from Abyss’s own speech, right?"
"Yeah, I get that."
"Excellent. Now, here is the piece of information you’re missing: Abyss can track the location of any activated Clear Plate. That’s how he was able to gather those twenty-five. So, if you look at it from the opposite perspective—"
"The last plate hasn't been activated by anyone yet?"
"Bingo," Lost said, pointing a finger at Yugo.
Yugo nodded, finally understanding what Lost meant by the limits of Abyss’s power. Lost continued, warming to the subject.
"The final Clear Plate hasn't been triggered by anyone. Because of that, Abyss can’t pinpoint its location, so he simply gave up on recovering it. He probably figured it wasn't worth the time to hunt it down. Besides, for him—no, let’s stop there. It’s a bit too early for that."
"Meaning even Abyss doesn't know what the last plate’s ability is?"
"Precisely. But he’s convinced that whatever power it holds, it won't matter. That’s why he decided to ignore it and proceed with his final plan."
That was the sum of it. To put it simply, Abyss was being arrogant. He believed his script was flawless and that his victory was an absolute certainty, regardless of any minor variables.
People who played the part of the rigid perfectionist were often vulnerable to the unexpected. Whether in his beloved Nichiasa series or any other story, villains with that mindset always had the same fatal flaw.
Yet, even knowing that... Yugo wondered if they truly had enough to bring down Abyss’s stronghold. Just then, Anhel’s voice crackled through his communication device.
"Yugo! Can you hear me!?"
Yugo started, but he quickly bit back his response, worried that Anhel might detect Lost’s presence nearby. Anhel didn't seem to notice his silence and continued speaking at a rapid-fire pace.
"I’m betting you’re on the move too, but we’re heading for Hauvent Castle right now! That’s where Abyss is hiding! Let's meet up there! See ya!"
The line went dead.
"Well, it looks like our chat is over. You should get going; your friends are waiting for you, aren't they?"
Lost pointed toward the distant silhouette of Hauvent Castle, signaling that he had provided all the information and help he intended to give.
Yugo opened his mouth to ask one final question, but a shout from a third party cut him off.
"Found you, Yugo!"
Startled by the voice, Yugo threw himself into a roll as a golden light bullet streaked toward him.
Lost dodged the attack with equal grace. As the two of them regained their footing, they stared at the golden Magic Armor Beast glaring at them with murderous intent.
"Is that... Torin!?"
"Hahahaha! Finally! I’ve finally found you! I’m going to make you pay for everything!"
Yugo stared in shock. This was the same Torin who had just been shown on the broadcast slaughtering the Security Force. Torin didn't wait for a greeting, unleashing another volley of light bullets.
"Dammit! I don't have time for this!" Yugo hissed, a frustrated groan escaping his throat as he scrambled out of the line of fire.
He needed to rendezvous with the others at Hauvent Castle. More importantly, the time limit for Abyss to activate the Finale was ticking down. He couldn't afford to waste a single second on Torin, but before he could move, Lost spoke up.
"Good grief. This might be a slight rule violation, but I suppose there's no helping it."
Lost flicked his wrist. The earth surged upward, forming a jagged rock wall that intercepted the golden projectiles.
Yugo knew a makeshift barrier like that wouldn't hold for more than a few minutes. As he looked back, Lost gave him a small, knowing smile.
"Go on, My Hero. I'll take care of this one for you."
"Are you serious...?"
"Perfectly. After all, didn't the Guy with the Medal say it best? 'Heroes help each other, right?'"