Episode 5 of Alice in Borderland Season 2 opens with Usagi, isolated in the dense woods, her voice echoing as she desperately calls out for Arisu. Meanwhile, Arisu stands alongside Aguni, whose survival was revealed in the previous episode. Arisu solemnly notes that the group has been scattered, and Tatta's fate is sealed – he did not make it through. Aguni, eyes fixed on the prize, vows to bring down the King of Spades, likening their predicament to a grim battlefield, the ultimate arena where they must stake everything.
Flashbacks unfold, painting a vivid picture of Akane's relentless journey. Her initial foray into the games proved to be a harrowing ordeal. Forced into "Boiling Point," she found herself trapped as the arena crumbled and erupted in a fiery blast. Wounded, a spike piercing her leg, Akane awoke amidst the rubble, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of her fellow contestants. Summoning every ounce of strength, she freed herself and crawled through narrow vents, escaping into the unknown. However, her injury became gravely infected, necessitating a drastic measure – she amputated her own leg, guided by the intoxicated ramblings of a nearby doctor. Akane's indomitable spirit shone through, fueling her determination to survive and fight on amidst insurmountable odds.
Returning to the present, the trio embarks on their mission together, Arisu now armed with a gun for protection. Aguni warns them to stay alert, mindful that the King of Spades could be trailing their every move. They must find a strategic location to ambush him. Spotting a sheer cliff-face nearby, they devise a plan to lure their adversary into their trap. Trip wires are set, smoke bombs at the ready, as the trio协调works in tandem to prepare the ambush and await the king's arrival. And arrive he does, cloaked in night vision goggles, zeroing in on Arisu's position with unerring precision, maneuvering skillfully around their traps.
Just as the King of Spades prepares to fire, a flare lights up the sky, signaling Akane and Aguni's strike. The boss quickly recovers, revealing that Arisu was merely bait in their elaborate scheme. With a grenade at his disposal, the King of Spades drops it at Arisu's feet. In a heartbeat, Arisu dives to safety as the grenade detonates, sending him tumbling over the edge and plunging into the river below, the explosion's force unable to quell his resolve.
Regarding Aguni and Akane's fate, the former ultimately succumbs to gunfire and collapses unconscious, while Akane miraculously survives. Fortunately, the menacing boss turns tail and departs, rendering their meticulously crafted plan an unmitigated failure. Arisu, separated from his companions, wanders solitary through the cityscape until he stumbles upon a tent. Alas, it is not Usagi's refuge; instead, she has found solace among a group of survivors, including a young boy named Kota and a female companion. Kota's evident loss of his parents strikes a chord with Usagi, who understands all too well his plight.
Arisu ventures deeper into the city's core, where another airship bursts into flames, and a throng of survivors spills out of a parking lot. Mercifully, Aguni still clings to life and receives makeshift medical attention from Akane. Arisu persists in his journey, eventually arriving in a section of the city reclaimed by nature. Skyscrapers are strangled by vines, yet he pushes onward undeterred. Meanwhile, Kuine triumphs in further games, her Visa extended through her efforts, though her victories are marked by countless wounds adorning her body.
Ann fulfills her promise etched in Kaito's recorded message, reaching the city's outskirts only to find mountains stretching endlessly before her. Indecision plagues her steps, while Usagi and Kota's path is clearer. They venture into the next game, seeking the Queen of Spades at a desolate construction site. Fortunately, Arisu catches up with them, and the pair is joyfully reunited. According to Arisu, only two physical games remain, and he knew Usagi would participate in one. Their tender embrace is abruptly halted by the Queen of Spades' appearance on a massive screen.
The Queen's team comprises four members, one designated as the King. Similarly, Kota is chosen as the Challengers' King. Each team alternates turns for sixteen rounds, with Queen's team players initially chasing the Challengers. Should the button on their backs turn red, they switch allegiances to the Queen's team and are immobilized for the rest of the round, adding an exhilarating twist to an already tense scenario.
In the subsequent round, the aforementioned player will be formally inducted into the Queen's formidable squad. The Kings remain immune to the game's turning mechanic, and the same rule applies adversely to the Challengers' roster. The team with the largest membership at the game's conclusion will reign victorious, while the defeated party faces a grim fate. This game is an eclectic blend of manhunt, tag, and chess, with an official air bestowed by mandatory vest-wearing among participants. As the buzzer sounds, the Queen's Team springs into action, scaling the stairs with relentless determination.
Kota is stranded, solitary, in the rooftop's epicenter, as turns alternate with strategic precision. The Queen's Team strategizes meticulously to maintain their dominance, thwarting any attempts at tagging during the Challengers' turn. Inevitably, the Queen's invincible status grants her a unparalleled edge, leading from the vanguard of this intense confrontation. Kota finds himself utterly isolated atop the roof.
Unsurprisingly, the Queen secures a formidable lead, towering over Usagi, Arisu, and Kota with a score of 17 against their mere 3. The Queen is steadfast in her desire to recruit Arisu to her side, a sentiment our protagonists swiftly discern. Yet, the episode concludes in a cliffhanger of anticipation, leaving us eager for an answer that remains just beyond our grasp.
