ASTRID AALTO:

It has been 3 days since Arthur went inside the huge dome alongside that snobby brat, Michael.

It has been quite lonely.

It took me a few days to come to terms with this. It was a bit hard to accept at first.

His absence in the last few days had only highlighted the quite worrisome and somewhat—just teensy bit sweet realisation of how much he has been available for me. Or at least stayed around me. It almost feels like I have lost a functioning limb.

The lead laden shaky breath I took in only intensified the maelstrom of thoughts in my head as I strode in the streets of Seoul. My work with the dome—Frontier, was done. I had sealed and supplied it with enough Arcanum to not break.

Arthur had told me it would take two days. However, he also mentioned that it might take longer. No matter what happens, I cannot let the dome expand further. Not until he is done on the other side.

Because it's not like I can hold it forever. My capabilities are only subpar. The only reason why it has held so far was because of the divine shimmer holding my Arcane Arts in place.

I had no idea it was possible to hold something as intangible as a "technique" in a place, however, Gods are real.

I think nothing else can amaze me now.

Me- our family were never religious. So, the existence of Gods in an era of science and technological marvel seemed like such an outlandish concept that I never thought that I would be praying to such beings for my own personal success.

I opened my mouth and took a deep breath.

Currently we were still inside the zone.

The zone that the shimmer had engulfed by hovering above it before Arthur went inside.

Before he went in, the shimmer laid down on the dome and was keeping it from breaking. However, after a few minutes of Arthur going inside, the shimmer expanded once again. However, only this time, instead of taking its previous shape of a slime-lathered cloth, it turned into something much more… firm.

Like a dome.

However, instead of being translucent, like the Frontier's dome, it felt like seeing through a broken magnifying glass. The shimmer had expanded and trapped the few battalions of soldiers as well as me inside the zone that the soldiers started calling "Strife Zone."

The deadline that Arthur gave me was over. However, the soldiers were not aware of it. They were still waiting for him.

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Standing atop the tallest building in this part of the city, I overlooked the whole place.

The area where Arthur fought the first monster, and then the other where he saved me. The road and the building close by the first encounter were totally flattened and destroyed. While the ones in second place were blown to bits.

Never in my damned life did I ever think that I would be in the middle of a man vs monster reverse Isekai scenario.

Arthur has explained a lot of things to me, but still, it's quite hard to wrap my head around it, damn it!

I almost died as well. Two times at that!

And the cherry on top, I was saved by that pretentious playboy, Michael. On that note—since we are on that topic—is it even humanly possible to be as annoying as him?

'Fuuu'

Deep breaths, Astrid, deep breaths.

I reminded myself. If Arthur was here, I am sure he would've patted my head. Telling me to let go of such quaint, fleeting emotions.

The anger and irritation all but vanished.

If only I could go back to the time when me and Arthur used to go to school together. We were even studying for our high school entrance exams that we had to take a year from now.

A jolt went across my chest, followed by my hair rising on my hands.

I hope he's ok. Wherever he is.

I really miss him, I do. And it's impacting me more because I never thought I would. Perhaps it was after my parents' death that I vowed to never get too dependent on anyone.

And now I am doing it all over again.

Stupid Astrid!

I wanted to hit myself, but the thought and my action, both paused as if suspended in time.

From across the zoomed-in view of the shimmer, I saw Arthur's father, his hand pressing against the shimmer. I tried to wave my hand in his direction, but it seemed like he could not see me.

The shimmer was no longer the slimy, viscous thing anymore. It was much more tangible now. And even the tanks could not bypass it.

I was about to leave the building and run up to him. To tell him about Arthur and how he still has not returned from the other side.

I was about to leave; however, Arthur's father withdrew his hand and balled it into a fist. At the same time, a huge congregation of dark clouds swirled overhead, forming a cloudy, thunderous whirlpool in the sky.

It was only a few seconds but the entire sky was filled with crimson and violet sparks of lightning, followed by the sound of distant thunder.

The air, even around me, trembled as he swung his arm.

The following moment a huge column of lightning fell where he had punched the shimmer. The entire world seemed to be engulfed in a white-red light, the shadows extending eerily in every direction.

I closed my eyes instinctively and covered my ears. Time seemed to lose its meaning. But no matter how much time has passed, the static white in front of my eyes and the constant buzz in my ears persisted.

I could not see, and my hearing sense was debilitated. Almost.

However, I could still hear the faint moans and cries of soldiers even up here.

A pained gasp left my lips as I coughed, the Arcanum coating my body oddly erratic and wobbly, unable to bear even the aftershocks of a punch from Arthur's father.

I would've admired his strength, however, the admiration morphed into a complex alchemy of spleen, despondence and then transitioned into that of morbid despair.

If even that couldn't break through, that means if something goes wrong; we will be trapped here forever.

I didn't want to die like this.

I wanted to see Arthur. Even if I was going to get trapped here, I needed to talk to him. Even for a little bit.

Gritting my teeth, I wobbled up to my feet.

Using my hands to sweep the loose hair away from my face and rubbing the bottom of my palm against my eyes to get rid of the static white, I ran down.

I really need to find Arthur. He needs to know what's happening here.