Volume 1. Chapter 52

Ken walked alongside Lily, basking in her warmth and their easy conversation. Her arm wrapped around his, and her laughter felt like music — a melody that made him forget everything bad in the world. The forest around them glowed under the soft light of the sun, and the air was filled with the scent of pine and wild grass. Everything felt perfect.

But then —

Pop.

A sharp, loud, almost muffled sound stopped Ken in his tracks. The world around them changed in an instant. As if everything they knew vanished, and they were surrounded by something foreign — something unnatural.

Ken felt the air around them grow thick, almost dense. The space itself seemed warped and heavy, like they were trapped under an invisible film. He turned to Lily, but she was already tense, her eyes darting around, and her hand gripped the hilt of her sword tighter.

Then he saw it.

Walls.

Transparent, like glass, they surrounded them on all sides, forming a perfect circle about twenty meters in diameter. It was as if they had been sealed inside a massive glass dome, completely cut off from the outside world. The light filtering through the walls was strange and distorted, as if it were passing through water.

"What the hell is this?" Ken barely had time to process it when he noticed something rising from beneath their feet. Fog. Thick, white fog, creeping along the ground and swallowing everything in sight. It seemed to be coming directly from the earth.

Lily suddenly went pale, her face twisted in horror.

“No! No! NO!” she screamed, rushing toward the walls. Her voice trembled with panic and desperation.

Ken didn’t even have a chance to speak or move. Lily drew her sword and slammed it against one of the transparent walls with all her might. The sound rang out sharp and metallic, but the wall didn’t even scratch.

“Lily, stop!” Ken shouted, but she didn’t listen.

Again and again, her sword struck the walls, her movements frantic and wild, driven by all-consuming fear. Each blow echoed through the enclosed space with a piercing ring.

What’s happening? Why is she reacting like this? I’ve never seen her like this before… Ken’s thoughts were chaotic, his heart pounding faster than he could think.

Lily changed tactics. She raised her hand, and in her palm formed a swirling orb of water, gleaming and spinning like a miniature hurricane.

That… that looks like a Rasengan? Okay, not the time for anime jokes! Ken thought as he watched her hurl the orb at the wall.

The sphere struck, bursting into droplets — but the wall remained untouched. Not a crack. Not a mark. Nothing.

Lily froze, panting heavily. Her shoulders trembled. Slowly, she sank to her knees, burying her head in her hands. Her sword fell to the ground with a dull thud.

“I’m sorry, Ken,” her voice was shaking, filled with pain. “I let my guard down… This is all my fault… I’m sorry…”

She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with despair.

“This is the end… We’re not getting out of here…”