"So... you're saying they are inside that barrier, right?" Life, still wearing his Outsider disguise, inquired cautiously. He was sitting beside Judai on one of the cinema's benches, positioned at a safe distance from the dark barrier that guarded the entrance to the women's bathroom. If Judai hadn't informed him that the barrier was invisible to ordinary humans, Life might have panicked.

Judai nodded absently, lost in thought, before snapping back to attention. "O-oh, yes. I saw Nozomi and Yoshino go inside. When I informed Henry, he set up a delayed barrier outside the bathroom's entrance. It was designed to expand and trap any magical signatures that came within its radius without warning... or at least that's what he told me."

Life noted Judai's distracted demeanor, his mind evidently preoccupied—likely with Yoshino's proximity. I should probably ask him what his deal is with Yoshino later. Life mused.

"I see. By the way... has anyone else seen this happen?" Life turned his attention back to Judai.

Judai shook his head. "No, I made sure no one saw us. I also used my insects to obscure the nearby cameras so Henry and I wouldn't be recorded," he explained, his voice distant once more.

O-kayyyy... something is definitely off with him. Life thought. "Is there anyone around who might see me entering now? Also, are the cameras still obstructed?"

After a noticeable pause, Judai closed his eyes. "Hmm... no, the coast is clear. The cameras are still obscured, and surprisingly, no one has come to check on them." He opened his eyes and shrugged. "I can't explain why that is."

Life rolled his eyes. Probably because the staff here doesn't get paid enough to care. But, of course, I don't expect this bug-brain to get it.

"Alright then..." Life said, rising from the bench. "I'll be going in now. I don't know if I'll exit before or after Nozomi, so you should wait outside and stay out of sight. Understood?" He glanced at Judai for confirmation.

Judai nodded slowly before making his way to the door.

As Judai was about to leave, Life's voice halted him. "Wait."

Judai turned around. "What is it?"

"Nothing much... you didn't tell me anything about Henry's powers, so I wanted to thank you for it," Life said, watching Judai carefully.

Judai blinked a few times, processing Life's words. "Wait, how do you know I knew anything about Henry's powers?"

Life shrugged. "I didn't. I just figured that after spending most of the day with him, he would have either told or shown you his ability."

"Oh..." Judai muttered, realization dawning on him.

"Of course, there was always the chance that he wouldn't do either. But let's just say I had a... hunch," Life nodded to himself, satisfied.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Life tilted his head. "Er... you can go now."

Judai's eyes widened as he realized his error. "Oh, right." He nodded and left the cinema.

Now alone, Life made his way toward the barrier. Instead of heading straight for it, he approached it from the side, making it appear as though he was merely passing by the women's bathroom. To ensure he entered seamlessly, he preemptively opened a small hole in the barrier with a flick of his finger and a touch of magic.

Upon entering the barrier, Life expected to be immersed in pitch-black darkness, devoid of any natural light sources, just like inside the previous barriers. Instead, he was greeted by a blinding light that forced him to close his eyes reflexively.

As he slowly opened them, he found himself standing outside a large house surrounded by an expansive desert with no one in sight. Before he could take another step, something bumped into him from behind. What the—

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Life turned around to find an old man, half his size, who had just exited the house and looked as confused as Life.

The old man finally noticed the masked figure before him and his eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, sorry about that! Are you okay?" the old man asked in English.

Life blinked a few times, processing the unexpected interaction. Shaking his head slightly, he replied in English, "No need to apologize. I was just caught by surprise." He gave a small nod to the elderly man.

Relieved, the old man smiled. "Well, if you say so, don't let me stop you. Now..." He looked Life up and down with curiosity. "Can I help you with anything, lad?"

"Oh yes, actually. Could you tell me the name of this place? I'm new here, and some guidance would be appreciated," Life asked cordially.

The old man nodded, his smile broadening. "Ah, I see. No problem. In these hard times, we have to help each other when we can. Now about this place..." He coughed, adopting a theatrical tone. "Welcome to the first train station on this side of the country, the...”

He trailed off momentarily before snapping his fingers in realization. "American Train Station, yeah, that's what this place is called!" He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry, my memory isn't what it used to be. Anyhow, welcome to my train station and home."

Life nodded slowly. "A train station, you say..." He turned away from the old man and took a few steps forward, noticing the train tracks on the ground. When he looked to his left, he saw a train moving in the distance, gradually getting smaller. Sensing Nozomi's life signature, he confirmed she was on that train.

"Excuse me, lad?" The old man now stood next to Life. A nod from Life signaled the old man to continue. "Sorry if this sounds intrusive, but your clothes and the way you stare at the train make me think you were supposed to host a show on it?"

After a moment's consideration, Life decided there was no harm in humoring the old man. "In a way, yes. By the way, how long has it been since the train departed?"

The old man pulled out a small silver pocket watch. "Twenty-six, yes, twenty-six minutes," he said, patting Life on the back. "Sorry, but only a miracle could help you catch that train now."

Life chuckled. "A miracle, huh? Let me show you one." He walked away from the building until he was far enough to perform his magic.

Looking up at the bright sky, he took a deep breath before focusing ahead in the direction of the train. Better not keep her waiting any longer.

Life extended his left arm with purposeful grace, and a spectral blue screen shimmered into existence like an apparition. His fingers danced across the ethereal controls, finally landing on the selection: '[Overbot_Horse_Base]'. As if responding to a hidden command, slivers of silvery liquid began to ooze from his glove, pooling on the ground like glistening mercury. The liquid swirled and coalesced, pulsating with latent power as it slowly began to rise. It twisted and contorted, taking on the form of a magnificent mechanical horse.

Life watched, a smirk playing on his lips. I could speed this up, but a bit of dramatic effect never hurt anyone.

The transformation was nothing short of mesmerizing. The horse’s eyes ignited with a vibrant blue energy, casting an otherworldly glow. Its metallic frame, both sleek and robust, gleamed under the sun, each contour and joint a testament to its intricate design. It stood there, a perfect amalgamation of steampunk aesthetics and futuristic engineering. There we go, the old west steampunk bundle wasn’t a waste of money after all!

"S-sorcery!" gasped the old man, his voice trembling with a mixture of awe and fear.

Life's head tilted slightly, glancing back at the elderly spectator. "So, what did you think of my miracle?" he inquired, already relishing in the stunned reaction.

With practiced ease, Life swung himself onto the back of the mechanical steed. As he raised his hands, reins materialized effortlessly from the horse's metallic skin, seeming to grow from the very fabric of its being. Alright, this bundle is paying off better than expected. No glitches or bugs. If it holds up, I might even give a favorable review later. But for now...

With a powerful thrust, the horse sprang to life, bolting forward and leaving the train station far behind. The mechanical steed raced across the barren landscape at speeds that far surpassed any ordinary horse, its powerful legs a blur of polished metal and kinetic energy. Better to hurry and not keep her waiting. Given how sophisticated this barrier is compared to the others, I might need to intervene more than before.

Life glanced up at the sun, its light dimmed behind his mask. The temperature felt real, as if he were outside in the real world. The old man actually reacted to me, unlike Judai's parents in his barrier. They acted like programmed machines. And the language... while I can speak and understand any human language instinctively, I hope Nozomi is managing. The English lessons should help.

From a distance, Life spotted a dust cloud heading towards the train's path. Squinting, he saw a group of men dressed as cowboys riding real horses. Would you look at that? I guess I will arrive just in time.