SEALED-OFF

Ikalgo's thoughts continue as he weighs his choices. Option one: leave the sleeping Brovuda in the elevator and head to the surface via the vehicle exit. He worries that Brovuda might wake and be noticed. Option two: take the sleeping Brovuda somewhere else. He notes that any vehicle in the garage requires a security code to open from the inside, trapping Brovuda if left behind. A diagram shows Brovuda with swirling symbols indicating the effect of sleeping gas. Ikalgo concludes he is in far less danger returning to the surface using the vehicle exit than using the internal elevator. In the final panels, Ikalgo sweats heavily and yells, "THAT'S NOT ENOUGH ...!!!" followed by a desperate "NO...!!!" while clutching his head, with a close-up of his wide-eyed panic.

Ikalgo's face fills the panel with intense focus, eyes wide and mouth open as he declares his intent. "I SHOULD FINISH BROVUDA OFF WHILE HE'S OUT COLD!!!" he thinks. "THAT'S THE SUREST WAY TO TAKE CARE OF HIM!!" In the next tier, Ikalgo's tentacles writhe as he recalls his ability: "IKARUGO POSSESSED THE ABILITY TO MANIPULATE CORPSES..." His expression shifts to determination. "...AND USE IT TO TAKE OUT ONE OF THE OTHER COMMANDERS WHILE I'M AT IT!! I HAVE TO DO THIS PROPERLY...! AND I MAY BE ABLE TO MANIPULATE HIS BODY..." The bottom panel shows Ikalgo gripping a rifle in his tentacle against a stark black background, sweat drops flying as realization hits. "...BUT HE HAD NEVER BEFORE DIRTIED HIS HANDS WITH ANOTHER'S BLOOD." The rifle emits a faint "L... K..." sound effect.

Ikalgo, now in his octopus form with multiple tentacles, moves through a corridor while carrying a rifle. A small inset shows him approaching an elevator door with a keypad. "PLEASE HURRY AND ENTER YOUR SECURITY CODE," a voice warns. "IF YOU DO NOT ENTER THE CODE WITHIN THE NEXT THIRTY SECONDS... MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN TO RESTRAIN YOU." Ikalgo thinks urgently: "...AND STICK A RIFLE BULLET IN HIM!! I JUST HAVE TO AIM THE GUN THROUGH A GAP IN HIS SHELL..." He continues down the long hallway lined with pipes. "THAT'S WHERE I'LL FIND THE MONITORS SHOWING THE INSIDE OF THE ELEVATOR, AND THE CONTROLS FOR THE ELEVATOR DOORS!! THE MONITOR ROOM IN THE GUARDS' AREA!!" A map diagram labels locations including Brovuda, truck, Ikalgo's current position, storage area, and elevator.

A hand wearing a black sleeve rapidly presses buttons on a wall-mounted keypad, entering a code as small symbols flash on the display. In the long empty corridor, an octopus-like creature stands frozen with multiple tentacles splayed, surrounded by floating question marks indicating confusion. The creature suddenly breaks into a desperate sprint down the hallway, body stretched and motion lines streaking behind it. At the far end of the corridor a violent explosion erupts, blasting debris and smoke outward. The blast rips the reinforced door apart, leaving it hanging in twisted wreckage amid thick clouds of dust. A close-up reveals a round-faced character with thick black eyebrows, wide shocked eyes, and an open mouth, sweat flying from the impact.

A powerfully built chimera ant warrior leaps through the shattered doorway amid a massive explosion. The figure wears segmented armor plating across the torso, a helmet-like head covering, and carries two large spotted weapons connected by cables. One foot is planted on the broken threshold while the other is raised mid-stride, body angled forward through swirling smoke and flying debris. Flames and dust erupt around the leaping form as the blast propels the warrior outward.

Ikalgo clutches his head in frustration inside the damaged elevator shaft. "...BUT I KIND OF BROKE THE ELEVATOR IN THE PROCESS, HUH... HOW ELSE CAN I GET OUT OF HERE......?" he wonders. "NOW, THEN, I'VE MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THERE..." he continues as he smashes straight through the heavy door. Debris and smoke fill the air from the violent impact. "TO BE ABLE TO SMASH STRAIGHT THROUGH THAT BULLETPROOF DOOR......!! I TOOK HIM TOO LIGHTLY....!!" Ikalgo realizes with shock. In the control room below, he sits on a swivel chair surrounded by monitors and scattered papers. "EITHER WAY, I'VE GOT TO HOPE HE HEADS BACK TO THE SURFACE......" he thinks. "WHAT NOW...?! DO I LOOK FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT OF HERE THROUGH THE VEHICLE EXIT?! OR DO I WAIT HERE UNTIL HE'S GONE COMPLETELY?!"

Close-up panels show Ikalgo's wide eyes and sweat drops as panic sets in. "IT'S NO GOOD!!!" he exclaims. "NO!! THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!" follows immediately. His body is shown squeezed inside a narrow vent or duct, striped clothing visible. "WHAT AM I, AN IDIOT?!!!" Ikalgo berates himself. "IF HE GOES BACK UP TO THE SURFACE, AND TELLS EVERYONE ELSE THAT HE 'TOOK OUT FRATTA', THEN HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO MOVE ABOUT FREELY......?!" he realizes. At the vent opening overlooking the control room, Ikalgo reaches forward. "...I'M ONLY PUTTING MY FRIENDS IN MORE DANGER!!!" he thinks. "IF I LET THIS ENEMY JUST WANDER BACK UP TO THE SURFACE ..."

An octopus-like creature clings to a control panel, its tentacles pressing buttons as large SFX ドドド and ハハハ burst around it. The creature laughs while the panel sparks and the floor shakes. It then smashes through a window, shattering glass with カチカチ sounds as debris flies. Below, a helmeted figure with long hair crouches in a long corridor beside a parked truck, an exclamation mark hovering near its head while distant ゴゴゴ echoes. Suddenly a massive explosion erupts from the left; a small creature stands firing amid bright blasts and motion lines. The helmeted figure reels backward from the impact, arms flailing as sharp black impact shapes and ドドドド SFX fill the panel.

A helmeted figure with a long face stands amid swirling smoke, muttering Ugh... THIS IS SOME THICK STUFF... while staring at the dense cloud. Large SFX ゴゴゴ and ゴォォ fill the air as the smoke billows violently through a broken window frame. The scene widens to show the entire corridor: a long concrete hallway lined with panels, a truck parked at the far end, and the same helmeted figure now crouched low near the wall. Thick white smoke labeled シュウウウウ floods the foreground, completely obscuring the lower half of the corridor.

Ikalgo stares at the control panel with fierce determination, sweat flying as he thinks, 'If I can't do this much... I can't call myself their friend!!!' and 'I mustn't let him out of here!!' In the hallway below, a small armored creature stumbles forward amid dust and debris. Ikalgo's massive form hunches in the corridor, eyes locked ahead. A close-up shows his striped legs and a dropped paper scrap near his feet. From the far end of the hall, Ikalgo's voice rings out: 'I'll shut you in once and for all.....!!' The small creature continues moving as Ikalgo urges, 'That's right... keep moving!!'

Ikalgo's massive eye fills the panel as a single tear forms. In the distance the small armored creature walks unsteadily down the empty corridor. A close-up shows the creature's legs and the floor as it mutters 'Just a little further...' Ikalgo's face appears again with the same words. The creature's bandaged feet step forward with motion lines. From a high angle the long hallway stretches ahead with the creature centered in the frame. Ikalgo's foot slams down in the final panel as he shouts 'NOW!!' with explosive impact lines.

A massive explosion erupts as a hulking armored figure is blasted backward through the air amid roaring shockwaves and flying debris. The creature tumbles violently, limbs flailing, while massive impact lines and dust clouds fill the corridor. In a small inset panel, Knuckle stares in wide-eyed shock, sweat drops flying, mouth agape as he processes the sudden reversal. Below, the armored beast crashes hard onto the tiled floor in a crumpled heap, smoke rising from its body as Knuckle lies nearby, the aftermath of the blast settling around them.

Youpi's massive face fills the frame, eyes narrowed as he speaks. "It looks like you were trying to lure me into going that way, but..." he continues, "There was another one... Hehehe heh... Too bad for you." In adjacent panels he notes, "So it wasn't just Fratta..." Knuckle's face appears tense nearby. A smaller panel shows Knuckle thinking, "...I'd have had him completely trapped......!" and "DAMN......!! If he'd just gone down there properly..." Youpi stands tall, declaring, "It's only natural that I'd get suspicious. And thanks to that... Now I know that you're here! Heheheheh..." and "Only a single path being available? Far too convenient." Knuckle sweats, realizing, "The sleeping gas will fill the area, and he'll...... But either way... he's still in a sealed area; that much hasn't changed one bit." Youpi points upward and taunts, "I guess you're watching me from the monitor room or something, aren't you? You little chicken..."

A panicked face fills the top of the page, eyes wide and sweat flying as the character realizes the danger. "IT'S NOT COMPLETELY SEALED!! HE HAS A WAY OUT!!" "NOT GOOD...!!!" In the room below, Ikalgo hunches over, coughing amid swirling gas clouds. "THIS STUFF IS PROBABLY SLEEPING GAS, AFTER ALL..." he mutters, scanning the ceiling. "NOW, I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE SOMEHOW... BEFORE HE NOTICES IT...!" The round-headed character sweats heavily nearby, thinking rapidly: "I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING...!" A wider view shows the round-headed character surrounded by scattered objects and a large tank. "THINK!! USING WHAT I HAVE HERE... THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING!! A PERFECT PLAN...!!!" The character considers blocking the escape route with the tank but fears getting trapped. At the bottom, Ikalgo clutches his head in pain. "AHHH, WHAT A PAIN..." The round-headed character dashes toward a shutter. "I GUESS I'LL JUST HAVE TO BREAK DOWN THAT SHUTTER... QUICKLY!!"

A cluttered table fills the upper panel, covered with coils of wire, remote controls, circuit boards, a bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey, and various electronic parts. The round-headed character stares at the items, sweat pouring down. In a dramatic close-up, the round-headed character's face twists with determination, eyes shaded and mouth open wide. ".........IT'S THE ONLY CHANCE I HAVE!!!" The bottom panel explodes into a massive burst of smoke, debris, and impact lines as something detonates violently, with large black SFX characters emphasizing the blast.

A floor plan of the building is shown with arrows marking the monitor room and shutters. Ikalgo stares at the sealed metal shutters, thinking, "OF COURSE...!! THE SHUTTERS ARE CONTROLLED FROM THE MONITOR ROOM, SO IF I CAN GET THERE, I CAN OPEN THE WAY OUT!!" He fires repeatedly at the barrier, muttering, "I SHOOT, I SHOOT, BUT I BARELY EVEN DENT IT... SHIT... I MAY HAVE TO THINK UP A DIFFERENT PLAN..." A small armored creature appears nearby, pondering, "...BUT WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT THE SHUTTERS BETWEEN ME AND THE MONITOR ROOM?" It then exclaims, "NICE IDEA!! MAYBE THERE IS!!" Ikalgo's face fills with determination as he decides, "...THERE'S NO WAY FOR ME TO GET OUT OF HERE........ DA---MN... EITHER WAY, IF I CAN'T BREAK DOWN THE SHUTTERS ..." He charges and smashes the shutters with powerful strikes, debris flying as the barrier collapses. The path clears completely, and Ikalgo stands amid the wreckage as the shutters open.

A large armored tank sits inside the room on the tiled floor. Ikalgo reflects on his actions: "...IS FIRST CLOSED THE SHUTTER ON THIS SIDE AND MOVED THE TANK OVER THERE... ...AND THEN HEADED BACK TO THE MONITOR ROOM, SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESSED THE BUTTONS TO OPEN THE SHUTTER ON THIS SIDE AND CLOSE THAT ONE OVER THERE... ...AND THEN FINALLY RUSHED BACK TO THE TANK?! BUT THEN HE CAN'T GET OUT OF HERE EITHER!" He stares at the closed shutter on the far side and the tank now blocking the monitor room door, realizing, "THE SHUTTERS BEHIND ARE STILL CLOSED...?!" A close-up shows Ikalgo's face with a resigned expression as he says, "HAH... THAT'S JUST THE KIND OF THINK WHICH A CHICKEN WOULD THINK UP. HOWEVER... THE TANK...!!"

A suited figure crouches in a monitor room, muttering to himself. "There's still someone back in the monitor room watching me for sure," he says. Another voice replies, "So there was yet another one of 'em hiding about..." The suited man continues, "...Yeah, right. There's no way he'd do that, heheheh..." and adds, "Dammit..." A dark panel shows the thought, "To settle things with me once and for all..." followed by "...He's made sure there's no way out...!!!" Suddenly a monstrous, distorted face looms forward, eyes bulging and mouth twisted in rage. "Else I'll tear that friend of yours out of this tank and rip him to pieces!!!" it snarls. "Get out here already, ya damn peeping tom!!" The creature's clawed hand reaches out. In the final panel Ikalgo appears, a small octopus-like being gripping controls with both hands, sweat flying, face set in fierce determination. "All on my own...!!!" he thinks. "I have to do this somehow...!!!" Large text declares "IKALGO MAKES HIS MOVE!!"