The area where Ren Isana and the others were standing was instantly cleared, with the surroundings placed under high alert. Several fully armed personnel entered to take control of every street, and a few large vessels appeared on the sea.
Seeing that the crowd had been cleared, Natsuki Minamiya directly released a [Spatial Magic] spell that enveloped both Ren Isana and Asuna. In the next instant, the magic activated, and Natsuki Minamiya vanished from the spot with the two of them in tow.
When they reappeared, the three of them were on a speedboat cruising across the ocean, heading toward the point where the spatial fabric was at its weakest.
"Next, I will teach you a spell. This magic is called [Kairitsu no Kusari・Rule Chains]. It is a space-type magic that involves condensing space elements into chains to bind enemies or anchor space itself!" Natsuki Minamiya spoke slowly as she explained the technique to Ren Isana while holding up her parasol.
Natsuki Minamiya explained exactly how to use the spell and how to condense space elements into chains. Listening to her, Ren Isana rubbed his chin and said, "If you can condense space elements into chains, can you also condense them into other things? Like weapons, for example?"
Natsuki Minamiya nodded in response and couldn't help but comment, "Of course. As for how you condense them, that depends entirely on your own preference. I simply prefer chains because they are better for anchoring a Dimensional Rift."
As she spoke, a purple [Magic Circle] appeared behind Natsuki Minamiya. Several purple chains materialized out of thin air and plunged headlong into the void.
Within Ren Isana's perception, the surrounding space became significantly more stable. The power of those chains was flowing toward the spatial weak point, rapidly reinforcing everything so that it wouldn't suddenly shatter into pieces.
"This dimensional passage just appeared, so we weren't able to detect it immediately. If more time had passed, the island's alarms would have sounded. By then, people from that other world might have discovered this passage and crossed over. But things are different since we found it early," Natsuki Minamiya explained, sharing her knowledge on the subject.
If the other world discovered the Dimensional Rift first, they would hold the initiative. However, since Ren Isana had discovered this one first, he had captured the Dimensional Rift just as it was forming.
For everyone involved, this was undoubtedly a good thing. It meant they could cross over to that world silently and gradually learn about its situation.
Listening to Natsuki Minamiya's explanation, Ren Isana and Asuna couldn't help but marvel. So that was how it worked; it was actually quite impressive.
"Watch closely. This is how space is anchored to construct a passage between two sides. However, this passage is a one-way trip from our side. Once it's fixed, even the powerhouses on the other side won't be able to open it," Natsuki Minamiya said slowly as she laid everything out.
She began her demonstration as an incredibly complex and massive [Magic Circle] slowly took shape. Ring after ring formed in the void, completely locking down that section of space.
The moment Natsuki Minamiya locked the space down, the sky above the sea began to shatter like a mirror. A Dimensional Rift, a sight familiar to both Ren Isana and Asuna, appeared before them, though it had now been transformed into a one-way passage.
"It's not a mirror image, but a direct connection? Do you two want to head over and take a look?" Natsuki Minamiya asked Ren Isana and Asuna after she finished her work and felt the stability of the connection.
Hearing this, both Ren Isana and Asuna were stunned for a moment. Go over and look? Ren Isana asked with some surprise, "You want us to explore the situation of that world? Is that really alright?"
To send Ren Isana and Asuna directly into a world that had just been discovered? And by the look of it, Natsuki Minamiya intended for only the two of them to go?
"It's fine. Only the two of you need to go this time. I've sensed the conditions over there; if you run into any danger, you can just use [Spatial Teleportation] to return. Besides, with your skills, escaping should be easy enough," Natsuki Minamiya said, clearly having full confidence in the pair.
The fluctuations coming from that world weren't particularly strong, and Ren Isana was more than capable of handling it. It would be good for them to gain some experience. She wanted them to explore that world themselves without being provided any prior data.
"Should we call the other classmates?" Asuna couldn't help but ask at that moment. She hadn't forgotten about the rest of the class.
"No need. Just the two of you. Once you've figured out the general situation of that world, I'll have them go over and regroup with you." The anchor was fixed, and the passage had completely stabilized. Next, this area of the sea would be reclaimed and filled in.
A brand-new world passage would be built on the surface of the sea. Once that was done, the other students would be sent to join the two of them.
Furthermore, another reason for sending Ren Isana was that he could contact her at any time using [Spatial Magic]. This way, she could stay updated on the situation over there.
Beyond that, it was a way for Ren Isana to gain experience and familiarize himself with exploring other worlds as early as possible. After all, there wasn't much left for him to learn at the university. As for Asuna? She was mostly just along for the ride.
If she needed to learn anything, she could just have Ren Isana teach her. Ren Isana was actually quite a capable teacher. Since the two were dating, he certainly wouldn't refuse to teach her.
After listening to Natsuki Minamiya, Asuna turned her gaze toward Ren Isana. She didn't know what he would choose. Should they go? Or should they give up and return to the university?
Ren Isana glanced at Asuna and then spoke, "Then let's head over and take a look. We'll be the first ones to enter, right? We'll take this mission!"
He didn't hesitate for long before agreeing. Since Natsuki Minamiya had put it that way, what reason did he have to refuse? Besides, the benefits of being the first to cross over were obvious.
"Good. Then set out. You both have spatial equipment, so you probably don't need to prepare anything else. If you need anything, just come back on your own." Natsuki Minamiya didn't waste any more words and settled the matter directly.
Ren Isana nodded. He still had plenty of supplies in his [Spatial Ring]. He had barely used anything during his last trip, so he could just keep using them now.
Once the decision was made, Natsuki Minamiya sprang into action. A [Teleportation Circle] that was all too familiar appeared, and the two felt as if they had been tossed into a washing machine once again.
No matter how many times they experienced it, that sense of vertigo always remained, though it wasn't as intense as it had been the first few times. The two of them were simply thrown into the other world by Natsuki Minamiya.
Having finished this, Natsuki Minamiya spoke softly once more, "I'll leave the care of these two children to you, Li Shunsheng-sensei."
"
As Natsuki Minamiya's voice faded, a young man with short hair and an ordinary appearance appeared out of thin air beside her. He didn't speak, but simply nodded before Natsuki Minamiya activated her magic again and sent him through as well.
With that done, Natsuki Minamiya began to busy herself with her other tasks. More and more ships began to arrive in this sea area, including many mages who radiated [Magic Power] fluctuations of the earth element.
Without a doubt, by the time Ren Isana returned, this area of the sea would likely be filled in. The area of Nexus Island would probably expand by several nautical miles. The appearance of a Dimensional Rift always represented the expansion of Nexus Island.
After all, this Dimensional Rift wasn't on the island but on the sea. To completely control these passages, the best method was to connect them all, and Nexus Island had always operated this way!
When Ren Isana and Asuna reappeared, they found themselves in a small alleyway. As they landed, Ren Isana's brow furrowed. There were quite a lot of magic elements in the air.
In other words, was this a world that also possessed magic? Furthermore, the moment they landed, it felt as though they were being watched by something. The feeling vanished in a flash, but both of them had sensed it!
"Wait... what is this?" Suddenly, Asuna's pupils shrank. She raised her hand, and in the next moment, a ball of water condensed in her palm. A sudden surge of power had appeared within her body.
She didn't possess the water element before, yet now she did? Ren Isana turned his gaze toward her, and in an instant, his [Jianjigu] activated, allowing him to copy the water sphere Asuna had released.
As Ren Isana copied the ability, several things also appeared out of thin air within his own body. This caused him to freeze for a moment as information about these things flooded into his mind.
"A [Divine Protection]?" Ren Isana murmured, finally understanding what kind of world this was. Good grief, had they actually ended up in the world of *Re:Zero*? Even now, power was continuously welling up inside him.
What Asuna had just obtained was the [Divine Protection of Water], giving her the power to manipulate the water element out of nowhere, and she could now even use [Water Magic]!
"This is getting interesting. This world gives out cheats the moment you arrive?" Ren Isana couldn't help but say to Asuna. Even though he understood the situation, he still had to act a bit surprised!
"It's unbelievable. I actually gained a water element, and my [Wind Element Manipulation] has become even stronger!" Asuna said, a look of shock flashing in her eyes.
Could they really receive such benefits without paying a price? This world was a bit too absurd, wasn't it? As outsiders from another world, they had suddenly gained such power.
"Let's not study it for now. We should get familiar with this world first and figure out what the situation is," Ren Isana said as he pulled two cloaks out of his [Spatial Ring]. He draped one over Asuna and put the other on himself.
The clothes they were wearing were too conspicuous, so it was better to cover up for now. Moreover, the cloaks Ren Isana produced weren't ordinary; they were equipment he had gotten from Maya that could mask one's aura. Once they put them on, the two of them instantly looked like they were up to no good!