Victory in the First Round Part I

"How are you feeling, Captain?"

The concerned voice of Secretary Bam came as she hurried toward him. Joke had just logged out of Arcadia moments ago, his tall frame taking a moment to recover after the intense concentration required for the session. Facing the underground people had drained more of his energy than he had anticipated.

"I’m okay, Miss Bam... but I wouldn’t mind some water."

"Here you go."

Bam, always prepared, handed him a bottle of water. She understood well the risks of "overload" for summoners—overexertion from prolonged focus and strategic thinking could sometimes cause physical strain or abnormalities. This was particularly common among athletes competing in high-pressure arenas.

For someone like Joker, such symptoms had only surfaced twice before—when facing Jack and Dia, both of whom were Royal Dragon Masters.

"…For you to end up like this, the enemy must have been incredibly strong, right?"