Isolation had a significant drawback for us: it blocked even beneficial mental contact magic.
Once we’d entered the dome, reestablishing magical contact with the grey wolf would have undoubtedly provided valuable information, so it wasn’t a complete mistake to have disabled Isolation…
“But let’s take this as a lesson for next time,” I said, casting it once again on myself and Sha-Lau. “All right. Now, whatever’s monitoring this space won’t be able to steal our thoughts anymore…”
Suddenly, the ground beneath our feet sank with a grinding noise. Startled, I looked up to see that the sky had been dyed a dark red, and the buildings around us were beginning to warp.
“What is this?!”
“What the meow?! I hate this!”
Arisu and Tamaki screamed. I quickly turned to Mia.
“Is this because of the Isolation?” she asked.
“Seems like it. Since it can’t read my mind anymore…”
This entire bizarre world was already starting to self-destruct. Since this “Shibuya” had been created from my memories, it was probably inevitable.
I tried to maintain my calm as I contemplated whether to keep Isolation active or not.
What would happen to us if I made the wrong choice…?
Someone grabbed my arm. It was Rushia, fixing a hard stare at me.
“Kazu, let’s make a choice and stick with it. Whatever you decide to do, we’ll follow you.”
“That’s right, no hard feelings,” Keiko added.
Rushia and Keiko seemed pretty calm. Of course, whether they felt that way on the inside, I couldn’t tell. They were controlling their expressions perfectly.
I took a deep breath and made my decision.
“All right. We’ll stay right here. Mia, cast Fly,” I ordered before getting my own spell ready. “Deflection.”
“Got it. Fly,” she cast, and all of us rose into the air.
With both of those at our disposal, even if the ground collapsed, we wouldn’t be caught off guard. We ascended slowly, watching the destruction of the Shibuya cityscape unfold…
With the disappearance of the buildings, our view cleared.
Under the dark red sky, the enormous silhouette of the Flying Jellyfish became visible in the distance.
Ah, this could be bad… Is it going to attack?
The Flying Jellyfish pointed its mass of tentacles at us, readying its bullets.
“Everyone, hold onto Sha-Lau!” I shouted, signaling the Phantom Wolf King closer.
The strategy was familiar enough by now that detailed instructions were unnecessary.
With a resonating blast, dozens of bullets flew toward us…
“To the right, slightly forward.”
“Got it.”
Sha-Lau moved swiftly to two o’clock.
There was the usual abrupt acceleration, but by this point, we were used to it. We clung to the wolf’s fur, holding on tight against the inertia.
We arrived about a hundred meters away from the Flying Jellyfish, hovering in midair. I looked down to see that the ground had completely collapsed, revealing an abyss of pure darkness.
“What happens if we fall down there…?” I muttered nervously.
“Don’t even want to think about it,” Tamaki said nonchalantly from where she hovered beside Keiko.
“Later, I’ll stack Wind Walk on top,” I said. “For now…”
From the spot we had occupied just a moment ago came a series of violent explosions.
“Now’s our chance. Rushia, get the Prominent Snake ready at tenfold power. Fire after our next move.”
“Will do.”
“Sha-Lau, if bullets come, time your escape. Focus on shifting laterally.”
“Yes, Master.”
The vanguard had no part to play this time.
From the earlier fight, we knew that the best strategy against the jellyfish monster was to keep our distance and attack with magic. There was no need to take unnecessary risks.
While Rushia prepared her magic, we kept a vigilant eye on the Flying Jellyfish. It seemed to lose sight of us for a moment, but then…
All at once, the numerous red orbs inside its translucent body turned in our direction.
“It’s spotted us. Here it comes.”
The tentacles assumed a firing position and rained bullets upon us. Sha-Lau accelerated instantly. We endured the arm-wrenching force of inertia momentarily…
And then everything came to a stop.
“Rushia!”
“Prominent Snake!”
A massive serpent of flames appeared before us, heading straight for the Flying Jellyfish. The enemy was too big and slow to get away…
There was a collision. A tremendous explosion rocked the air.
And then, we were in the White Room.