The Ability to Shift Anything is Convenient, Even in Another World!

Reika heard a voice next to her. She quickly turned and saw Soru standing there, his expression as calm as ever.

Soru...?

"W-W-What are you doing here?"

"I was..." Soru began, but stopped when Reika suddenly groaned in pain, clutching her head.

"Guhh..."

Soru stepped closer, his movements deliberate as he studied her condition. "You okay?"

Reika felt the sharp pain gradually fading and opened her eyes slowly. "Yes, I am fine—"

Her words trailed off as her gaze locked onto his face. She froze. His empty eyes stared directly at her, unwavering and unnerving.

"Hey...!"

Startled, Reika shoved him away and quickly stood up, her cheeks tinged with faint embarrassment. She realized just how close Soru had been to her.

He's too close..!

"Ahem! Would you stop staring at me like that? Seeing your face that close was kind of creeping me out..."

Soru, unbothered, brushed the dirt from his uniform as he rose to his feet.

"What's wrong with my face?"

Reika glanced at him again, trying to ignore the lingering awkwardness. His expression was as blank as ever, with no sign of emotion.

Somehow, that face kinda bugs me a little...

Reika sighed and dismissed her thoughts. "Pshh, never mind."

While fixing her slightly disheveled uniform, a gentle breeze swept through the area. She instinctively closed one eye and tucked her hair back behind her ear as it fluttered in the wind.

As the breeze settled, Reika felt an unfamiliar warmth spreading through her chest.

Hm?

Her hand instinctively moved to her chest. The warmth grew denser, radiating softly at the center of her body, yet there was no discomfort—only a soothing sensation, like the tender embrace of a loved one.

This feeling... It's the same warmth I felt whenever my mother held me close when I was little...

Without realizing it, Reika's eyes began to emit a faint, glowing purple light. Soru, crouching next to her, noticed the eerie shift.

"Reika, your eyes..." he said in a calm tone.

Reika turned to him, confused. "What...?"

Before she could finish, her surroundings changed in a flash. The once desolate forest lit up with countless glowing orbs, floating like fireflies. Their radiant hues pierced through the darkness, and they varied in colors and sizes, some as small as pebbles, others as large as lanterns.

What are those things? They weren’t here a moment ago!

Reika scanned the area in disbelief. Her gaze locked onto a nearby orb emitting a soft, bluish light.

Compelled by curiosity, Reika stepped closer. She cupped her hands around the bluish orb, its light shimmering softly against her glowing eyes.

"Soru," she called out, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Are you seeing these things right now?"

Soru watched her intently, noticing her gestures but unable to perceive the orbs. To him, she appeared to be holding empty air.

"No," he said, shaking his head. "I don't see anything."

Even though Reika heard Soru's response, she paid no attention to it, her focus entirely consumed by the strange phenomena unfolding before her.

She gently released the bluish orb, watching as it floated away gracefully, its light flickering softly like a distant star.

Looking around, Reika noticed something even more magical happening. A green glow began to pulse beneath the ground, weaving its way through the roots of the nearby trees. The glow traveled upward along the rugged trunks, until it reached the branches and illuminated the leaves with an ethereal shimmer.

How strange...

Her breath caught as she took in the sight. The forest, which moments ago seemed ordinary, was now transformed into a living masterpiece. It was as if she had uncovered a hidden world, one that existed beyond normal perception.

Reika stood there, stunned and silent. To her, the scene resembled a breathtaking painting brought to life—an unending dream of light and color that filled her heart with an unexplainable sense of peace.

While mesmerized by the view, Reika noticed a thin fog blanketing the area. It was so faint that she hadn’t even realized it was there at first.

Her eyes narrowed as she observed its peculiar movement. The fog wasn’t drifting aimlessly like a typical mist. Instead, it seemed to flow in a deliberate direction—towards her.

This fog... Is it drawing closer to my body...?

Baffled, Reika’s curiosity shifted when she felt a faint sensation in her chest. She looked down, and for the first time, she could clearly see what was happening within her.

At the center of her chest was a dense clump of glowing white mass, pulsing softly like a heartbeat. Along with the small orbs of light, faint and scattered, as if they were being drawn in by some unseen force.

Her eyes widened in realization as she watched the process. The connection was undeniable—the thin fog surrounding her was gradually being absorbed into her body, converging to form this strange, dense energy at her core.

It’s as if my body is feeding on the fog, pulling in and condensing it into this white mass... How strange...

Reika stared at her hand, disbelief etched across her face.

Wait... why am I able to see all of this?

She paused, trying to steady her thoughts, and then slowly raised her hand. Her voice wavered as she spoke.

"<Chains of Imprisonment!>"

In an instant, a purple chain materialized out of thin air and shot toward a nearby tree. Reika’s eyes widened as the chain wrapped tightly around the bark, pulsing faintly with energy.

Did that really just... come out of nowhere?

She rubbed her eyes, convinced it had to be a trick of her imagination, but the chain stayed firmly in place, as real as the ground beneath her feet.

It wasn’t a ruse?!

Turning quickly, she caught Soru’s gaze. He was staring at the chain with his usual calm, unreadable expression.

"D-Did you see that just now?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Soru nodded silently, his eyes still fixed on the glowing chain.

"Hah! What the heck?!" Reika blurted out, her voice rising in disbelief.

I knew it! That white mass inside me was the catalyst for activating the ability! And because my body absorbed that fog, the other function of the sub-ability, 'Subjective Control,' which lets me see beyond the physical realm, triggered on its own!

With newfound confidence, she raised her hand again.

"<Chains of Imprisonment!>"

Several purple chains erupted from her body, streaking through the air and wrapping around the nearby trees.

"Let's test the strength of these chains..."

Reika tensed her muscles and gave a firm tug. The chains responded with a violent pull, shaking the trees as if they were mere toys. The sound of cracking bark echoed around the clearing.

CRACK!!

Out of the five chains she had summoned, three tore the trees completely from the ground, while the remaining two left deep dents in the bark.

Reika stared at the result, her heart pounding with exhilaration. A smile crept onto her face, and she took a deep breath, her chest rising with satisfaction.

Reika turned toward Soru, her excitement bubbling over as she ran up to him.

"Did you see that? I have powers now! HA-HAH~!"

Soru just stared at her, his expression unchanged. But she could tell from his eyes that he understood the joy she was feeling.

"You won’t believe what happened while you were gone. I met someone who told me that, in exchange for the power, I would—"

Soru listened attentively, still without saying a word. His face remained impassive, but there was a quiet focus as he waited for her to continue.

"...I thought it was just a bluff. But after using it here, I realized that it was true all along. The thick fog was just the missing ingredient to activate my ability!"

Reika suddenly paused, realizing she had been talking non-stop. A wave of anxiety suddenly washed over her.

Oh shoot, I’m blabbering without even noticing it!

Reika glanced at Soru, who was staring at her with his usual cold, blank expression. When she saw that he didn’t seem bothered by her rambling, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Lucky me, I was talking to a "wall"...

Subconsciously, Reika deactivated her ability to see beyond the physical realm. Her eyes gradually returned to normal, and the strange fog and glowing orbs disappeared from her vision.

Looking up at the sky, Reika noticed the night was in full swing. Without the special vision clouding her perception, she could now see the stars scattered across the dark canvas above, along with the moons, casting their light over the landscape.

While taking in the breathtaking view, a thought suddenly flashed in Reika's mind, and before she could stop herself, she spoke aloud.

"You know, we're lucky to be born in an era of peace," she began, her voice reflecting a quiet contemplation. "We live in comfort, sheltered from the cold of winter and the heat of the sun. We spend our time with friends and loved ones, free from the fear that someone might harm them."

Soru listened quietly as Reika spoke, his gaze fixed on the stars above.

Reika continued, her words flowing more freely now. "But now that we've arrived in this unknown land, I've seen reality beyond the peace we knew. The eyes of those who’ve lost their loved ones—they haunt me. Those eyes reflect the horror of death, and the devastation it brings to those left behind."

Her hand clenched into a fist, and her voice hardened. "Now I, Mitsuha Reika, have a dream. As someone who has lived in an era of peace, I won't stand by while others suffer. With this power I've been given, I'll use this power to make this place a better one, where we can all live in peace and prosperity, even just a little..."

Reika let out a nervous laugh after her long speech, as if trying to brush off the weight of her own words.

"I-It may sound ambitious, or maybe my ideals are just a stretch," she said, her voice softening. "But when I think about it, seeing everyone live without fear—living in comfort, free from danger. I want to see children smiling as they play in the meadows. That's what I truly desire."

She paused for a moment, as if weighing her next thoughts. "I know my path will be tough. Others might think I’m just overwhelmed by my newfound power, but it doesn’t matter. For that ideal, I’ll do whatever it takes to realize it!"

A long silence followed. All that could be heard was the breeze rustling through the trees.

Reika broke the stillness with an awkward laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. "Phew! That was a long speech. Hearing myself say all that... it sounds cringey!" Reika chuckled softly, her laugh tinged with a hint of shyness.

Although I said it on a whim, I can’t just ignore that burning desire in my heart. It may sound heroic, but a person with any strength, no matter how small, must use it to protect those who can’t protect themselves…

She paused for a moment, reflecting on the weight of her words. I don’t have any guarantees I can protect them all, but... it’s better to try than to do nothing at all.

With a sigh, Reika shook her head and turned away from the view of the sky.

"Alright~y! Let’s find our way back to the village. They’re probably worried about us by now," Reika said with a cheerful tone.

Reika glanced around, trying to recall the path she had taken earlier.

"Where did I go before I ended up here...?"

A gentle breeze brushed against the back of her neck, causing Reika to shiver and freeze for a moment.

This feeling...!

Reika stood still, her gaze locked on the vast sky above. The feeling of being watched lingered in the air, unsettling her.

She looked around once more, her eyes scanning the area. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but that strange, tingling sensation wouldn't leave her.

"What... was that?" she muttered under her breath.

Soru, observing her sudden stillness, tilted his head. "Something wrong?"

Reika blinked, shaking her head as if to clear the uneasy feeling. "I... I don't know. I just felt like someone was watching me."

Soru remained silent, his expression unreadable as he glanced around. But there was no sign of anyone nearby.

Reika closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, her eyes glowed, and she trembled, instinctively stepping back on what her eyes saw ahead.

Above her, a massive creature flew, its two enormous wings nearly blocking her entire view. Its translucent body glowed faintly, and on its chest, a white mass gathered at its center.

That figure... I’ve seen it before...!

The monster opened its mouth wide, and before Reika could react, it unleashed a deafening roar that shook the air around her.

ROARRRRRRR!!!!

Reika felt immense pain coursing through her entire body and collapsed to her knees.

That roar... It doesn't affect my hearing, but it directly attacks my soul!

She glanced up, her eyes widening as she finally identified the monster.

"There's no mistaking it... It's the Wildfire Dragon Veylir!"

Seeing it with her own eyes, Reika was left stunned. She barely heard Soru mumbling something in the background, his words lost in the shock of the moment.

Am I seeing things...? I'm sure the dragon was already dead! How is it still—

Reika remembered that she had activated her passive ability earlier, which allowed her to see beyond the physical plane.

Unless... This isn’t the physical body of the Wildfire Dragon. Could it be... its own soul?

Reika’s gaze fixed on the dragon. Its head remained focused on her, its eyes burning with vengeance.

Now that its body was gone, it roamed the forest, consumed by a thirst for revenge and bloodlust!

The dragon watched her with a fierce gaze, its eyes filled with bloodlust and hatred. Reika could feel the intensity of its stare, the weight of its malice pressing down on her.

Ghk! I can feel its malicious intent. Keeping eye contact with it is almost unbearable...

Reika glanced over at Soru, who seemed completely unaware of the danger.

Damn it! Don’t tell me I’m the only one who can see this thing?

She took a slow breath, steadying herself.

Looks like I’ll have to handle this myself...

Reika studied the dragon carefully. Its vigilance gave her a brief moment to think.

That’s right! Since it can bind both physical and spiritual objects, Chains of Imprisonment should work on the soul of the Wildfire Dragon!

Reika lifted her right arm, aiming toward the dragon.

I should wait for its response before taking any action...

The dragon noticed Reika’s stance and mistook it for a sign of aggression. It roared fiercely, preparing to charge directly at her.

Now!

"<Chains of Imprisonment!!>"

Several chains with a faint purple glow materialized from her chest and shot toward the dragon, wrapping around its body to restrict its movement.

But the moment the chains made contact, the dragon shook violently. With a burst of strength, it effortlessly broke free from the chains, its powerful body shrugging off the restraints.

Reika's eyes widened in surprise as she watched the dragon break free from the chains.

Tsk! The chains aren't strong enough to hold it down!

As Reika scrambled to think of her next move, she noticed the dragon's mouth opening wide once more.

That move... It's going to do it again!

Before she could react, the dragon unleashed another deafening roar. The sound crashed into her like a wave, striking at her soul with such force that she gasped, feeling her body tremble violently.

"GAHHK!"

Reika collapsed to her knees, the dragon's roar still echoing in her mind, its impact wrenching at her soul. She trembled with the lingering pain, trying to regain her composure.

"Ugh..."

Soru noticed her distress and started to approach, concern etched across his face. But Reika, still on her knees, quickly held up a hand, stopping him in his tracks.

"Don't! I can handle this... on my own."

She forced herself to stand, shaking off the lingering dizziness as she scanned the area, her expression turning serious.

"I-I'm sure others are looking for us right now," she said in a firm voice. "Instead of standing here, look for them and protect them. The forest is too dangerous for them to wander alone."

Despite seeing Reika's struggle, Soru didn't hesitate. He gave a silent nod, then turned and headed deeper into the forest to find the others.

Seeing Soru disappear into the distance, Reika turned her attention back to the dragon. It was slowly descending from the sky, its massive wings beating the air before it landed with a heavy thud.

For a long moment, the two of them locked eyes, neither of them moving. The tension in the air was palpable, broken only by the faint rustling of the night breeze and the distant calls of wildlife.

Reika knelt down, placing both hands on the ground.

"I need thicker chains... something stronger to hold it," she muttered under her breath, determination building inside her.

She closed her eyes, clearing her mind.

Visualize it...

From the earth below her, several glowing purple chains began to permeate from the ground. This time, she wasn’t just pulling from her usual strength. These chains were different—thicker, sturdier, designed to bind the Wildfire Dragon with all the power she could muster.

That should be enough to pin it down!

The chains quickly flew toward the dragon, wrapping tightly around its body. For a moment, the dragon struggled against the restraints, but the chains held firm. Reika let out a brief sigh of relief, but her short break didn’t last long.

Suddenly, the dragon began to shook violently, far more fiercely than before. Reika immediately sensed the change and braced herself for what came next.

"Oh no..." she murmured.

She tried to summon another chain, but a wave of exhaustion hit her. Her arms felt numb, and her focus wavered. In an instant, the first chain broke and vanished, leaving only two chains to bind the dragon’s wings.

Reika noticed the white mass in her chest had shrunk. She stared at it, realizing it was depleting faster with every use of the chains.

The white mass... It's draining quicker each time I use the chains!

A sudden clinking sound caught her attention. She looked up just in time to see the second chain break apart and disappear.

Damn it! If I summon another chain now, I won't be able to maintain the others... and they'll vanish too!