The Missing Link

This seems to be... where the Void Core used to be.

Though now, it looks like nothing more than an empty lot covered in rubble.

Huh... No... This can't be right...

Maybe the Western Liberators destroyed it before we got here?

Probability is close to zero.

The Void Core has been the Western Liberators' top priority ever since the Western lands fell into decline.

If they had succeeded in destroying the Void Core, there should be signs of a fierce battle.

No shell casings, blade marks, or other signs of combat are present.

That's true...

Ugh... This is giving me a headache!

Hmm... But Omega feels like she can smell Mister somehow...

Is he here?

Nope! Then maybe here?

That's weird. Omega could've sworn she smelled him!

Whoa?! It disappeared again!

*Sniff...* Is Omega's nose stuffed up?

And Omega isn't getting a ping from Star Piercer or Cube Palace either...

Huh?! Mister's smell is coming from over here again...!

W-whoaaa!

Whoa! Easy, Kiddo! Stay still before you get hurt! Are you okay?

Ehehe... Luna caught Omega before she fell, so Omega's okay!

But Luna, just now Omega felt all tingly...! What was that?

Tingly?

Uh-huh! When Omega stepped on these rocks, it felt super tingly!

Omega thinks there's something underneath! Omega will move them! Nngh... hup!

Kiddo, don't touch random things. Stay next to me—

That was dangerous. Be careful, sweetie.

Thank you for saving Omega! Omega almost got squished flat!

Ugh... You nearly gave me a heart attack!

Omega's sorry...

More importantly, there seems to be something beneath the debris.

Huh... You're right!

Ow, that stings!

Ooooh... Omega feels tingly all over! But it's fun!

Kiddo, it might be dangerous, so stop touching it!

Hmm... Hmmm... Oooh...

You too, Smile! You don't even know what that is, so why do you keep poking at it?!

I have an idea what this may be. Unlikely to be incorrect.

If my hypothesis is correct, simply touching it should not cause physical harm.

What? You think you know what this is?

[Spacetime discontinuity]. Remember?

That thing Cube Palace mentioned? What even is that?

Put simply, it's literally the boundary of a spacetime discontinuity.

That wasn't simple at all...?!

Think of it as the wall of another space separated from reality.

Another space?

Yes. A quasi-spacetime resembling reality.

But unlike reality, it's a closed world, so its internal structure becomes distorted.

Time or space may become abnormally distorted... or even repeat forever.

The problem is that a space like that is structurally incompatible with reality, so it quickly collapses.

To maintain its form, it requires an [anchor point] in reality.

...If one actually existed, I imagine it would look something like this.

So you're saying that's the [anchor point]?

Only a theoretical assumption. This is also my first time seeing one manifested in reality.

...Fascinating.

Still unknown who created it or for what purpose.

But given the circumstances, the Void Core that was here was likely the cause.

This would also explain why everyone disappeared.

Some kind of incident triggered it, pulling them into a separate spacetime.

But... even if that explains what happened to the Western Liberators, why did Captain and Asherah get caught up in it too?

...That is the missing link in my reasoning. Currently unknown.

Ugh... So we barely figured anything out after all!

Another spacetime separated from this one...

So that was the plan?

It's sealed off, just as I expected.

*Sigh...* What a headache...

Hey, Aroma. Did you figure something out?

I told you, it's [Amora].

Anyway, I'm no expert on this sort of thing either...

If I figure anything out, I'll share it with everyone, so don't worry.

You should keep investigating the area yourselves. I'll take a closer look over there.

*Sigh...* So all we've figured out is that the [Void Core] was probably the cause.

What do we do now?

...At an impasse.

Communication magic with NOA is also unavailable.

The terminal isn't broken, so what's the problem?

It appears the [overlapping alternate space] is interfering with reality over a wide area.

Nothing is going according to plan!

The only option left is to wait for the phenomenon to collapse and everyone to return.

But how are we supposed to know when or where they'll come back?

...Currently unknown.

Hmm... But Omega definitely smells Mister...

Omega couldn't smell him before. But she keeps catching his smell ever since we came here.

Wait... You're right. Maybe this is where they'll come back? The Western Liberators should be with Captain in there too, right?

And they were after the Void Core that used to be here!

So even if they're inside this spacetime or whatever, they should still be gunning for it! If that anchor point or whatever breaks, everything goes back to normal, right?

Oooh...! I believe that is a valid hypothesis.

Did Omega do good? Did Omega help?

Yeah, kiddo. So all that's left is figuring out the [when]...

Ughhh... Do we really have to wait here for who knows how long?

*...Sigh* We should call it a day and head back. If we stay any longer, it'll get dark.

Amora, we're about to head back. What about—

...What? Where'd she go? Wasn't she just over there?

I thought so too, but she disappeared while I looked away for a moment.

She couldn't have gone far in that short span of time. I will search the surrounding area.

Omega will look too!

...Where is she? Should we just leave her behind?

But leaving her alone may be dangerous.

I don't think she's in any danger... Smile, you saw what she did to that Voidborn earlier, right?

When that Voidborn appeared, she cut it down in one strike.

She said herself that she's pretty strong, so shouldn't she be fine?

...Heavy alcohol consumption makes the drinker feel warmer.

But that's an illusion. In reality, dilated blood vessels in the skin lower body temperature.

If night falls, the temperature drops, leading to hypothermia and—

That's dangerous! Yeah, that's definitely dangerous!

...Tch. Fine, we'll look one last time. But if we still can't find her after that, we're going back.

Oh my, what are you looking for?

Obviously, I was worried you'd pass out drunk somewhere—

W-whoaaa?!

Where did you disappear to without saying anything?! We were looking everywhere for you!

Oh my, I suppose I forgot to tell you to head back without me.

There was somewhere I wanted to look around for a moment.

During that [moment], we searched the entire surrounding area and failed to locate you.

Fufu... I happen to be a rather fast walker.

Shall we head back, then?

...

Luna, you're making a really scary face right now.

I-is that so?

Luna. Is something bothering you?

I don't know, it's just... suspicious.

Amora?

Yeah. She keeps disappearing and reappearing... Like she's hiding something.

Luna. It's not right to suspect someone who's helped us several times without good reason.

Especially if your only basis is that [oracle's intuition] you mentioned earlier.

Yeah! Daddy said anyone who bad-mouths their benefactor for no reason is worse than a beast!

But what's a beast? Omega doesn't really know...

Grr... I'm not bad-mouthing her for no reason!

*Sigh...* Fine. Maybe my nerves are getting the better of me.

Possible. Anxiety can cause situations to be interpreted negatively.

I hope that's all it is...

*Sigh...* I think we've checked about all the documents the Western Liberators left behind.

Omegaaa... might be a little tired... Reading so many words made Omega hungry...

Good work, kiddo.

Still, our efforts were not fruitless.

Confirmed the date of the Void Core suppression operation set by Western Liberators Command.

Assuming events proceed according to their original plan, the operation will take place tomorrow.

If a separate world exists around the anchor point... the operation may also take place there tomorrow.

But their plans could've changed, or time might flow differently in there, right?

There are variables, but no other information from which to infer conditions inside.

So we have no choice but to trust the people inside...

Better to stop here for today and get some rest.

If the [spacetime discontinuity] breaks down and merges back into reality, the Voidborns that disappeared will return as well.

Combat is expected to be unavoidable.

If Omega wants to help, Omega needs to eat lots of food!

Yeah, yeah. I know, I know.

Yay! Let's go eat!

Then... maybe I should get some rest too.

Um...

Hmm? What is it? Did you find something?

No... There's just one thing that's been bothering me.

It's about the woman traveling with you, the one carrying the large spear...

...You mean Amora?