An echoing voice suddenly rang through the strange dimension.
"Urgh… Do I really have to?"
A pause.
"For mortals?"
The moment the monsters heard the voice, they all froze.
Then, without hesitation, they turned around and flew away as fast as they could.
Aqua immediately felt a wave of fear wash over him.
His entire body suddenly became heavy.
His pupils widened.
Then—
Snap.
The sound of someone snapping their fingers echoed through the dimension.
Aqua's eyes widened.
He had no idea what had happened.
He slowly looked up.
Above him floated a gigantic glowing sphere.
Inside it, countless stars seemed to shine.
Then Aqua saw her.
A girl stood in the air.
She had sharp teeth and a horn above her right eye.
She wore a red dress.
Aqua stared at her.
Sweat slowly dripped down his face.
It took him a moment to realize what had happened.
Several people had fainted.
Others were kneeling on the ground, breathing heavily.
This is happening because a higher entity entered our dimension.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted behind Aqua.
He quickly turned around.
Through the flames, he saw Theo walking toward the girl.
Aqua's eyes widened.
But before Theo could reach her—
The girl instantly appeared beside him.
She leaned toward his ear.
"Look here. I only did this much because you're handsome."
She paused.
"But now you're getting on my nerves."
The girl placed her hand against Theo's face.
Aqua stared in confusion.
Why isn't Theo attacking her?
Then Aqua noticed it.
Theo couldn't move.
Neither could he.
The girl had completely immobilized them.
Aqua cursed under his breath.
"Vanta… you psychopathic bitch."
The girl suddenly stopped.
Vanta slowly turned her head toward Aqua.
She took one step forward.
And then—
She disappeared.
In an instant, she appeared directly in front of Aqua.
Her presence became terrifying.
"What did you just say?"
Aqua's body remained completely frozen.
Vanta suddenly snapped her fingers.
Theo instantly collapsed.
He fell unconscious.
Vanta stared at him.
Then she suddenly began to panic.
"I DO NOT DESERVE THIS!"
Her voice echoed throughout the dimension.
"If only I were a little more powerful, I wouldn't have been tortured by that bitch!"
Vanta's expression twisted with rage.
She turned toward Aqua.
Then she raised her fist.
Aqua's eyes widened.
The attack was aimed directly at his chest.
Aqua closed his eyes in fright.
Then—
BANG!
A gunshot echoed through the dimension.
Aqua immediately opened his eyes.
Vanta stood frozen.
A massive hole had appeared in her chest.
Aqua knew it wasn't enough.
He quickly activated his dark ability.
A blade formed in his hand.
With one swift movement—
He sliced through Vanta's neck.
Her head was separated from her body.
Aqua suddenly realized that he could move again.
His strength immediately left him.
He collapsed to the ground.
But before losing consciousness, Aqua turned his head.
He wanted to see who had fired the gun.
His eyes widened.
Valt was lying unconscious nearby.
A pistol was still in his hand.
Aqua sighed in relief.
Then he finally relaxed.
And fell unconscious.
Somewhere Else
Someone had been watching everything.
The entire scene had been displayed through a hologram.
The person watched as Vanta's sub-body was defeated by mere mortals.
Then they smiled.
"Hoo…"
Their eyes gleamed with amusement.
"Interesting~"
Later
"Aqua…"
A faint voice echoed through the darkness.
"Aqua!"
The voice grew louder.
And louder.
Aqua suddenly jolted awake.
His head was pounding.
A loud ringing filled his ears.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Then he realized something.
He was being carried.
Aqua looked around.
Theo was carrying him through the rain.
Around them, his classmates were running desperately.
Behind them—
The giant insects were chasing them.
"Aqua! Aqua! Are you awake?!"
Aqua slowly lifted his head.
"Ugh…"
Theo continued running.
Eventually, they found a grocery store.
"Inside!"
Everyone rushed into the store.
"Abu, close the shutters!"
Abu immediately grabbed the shutters and pulled them down.
The store became completely dark.
There was no light source.
There was nowhere to sit.
Everyone simply collapsed onto the floor.
They were exhausted.
Tired.
And completely soaked from the rain.
Everyone sat against the walls, panting heavily.
Aqua sat against a wall beside Theo.
He slowly looked around.
His eyes widened.
Everyone from his class was still alive.
Theo was the first to speak.
"W-what is happening…?"
His voice trembled.
"This… What are those t-things?!"
Everyone began talking at once.
The girls were shivering in fear as they tried to comfort one another.
Aqua looked down at the floor.
One arm rested on his knee.
Then he answered.
"They're a lower species of beings from the planet Trulu."
Theo stared at him.
Confusion was obvious on his face.
Everyone else also turned toward Aqua.
"What do you mean?" Theo asked.
Aqua slowly looked up.
His face was still partially hidden beneath his hair.
Then he grinned.
"You remember that dream where you had powers and lost control?"
Theo's eyes widened.
"How do you know about that?!"
"That wasn't a dream."
Everyone became silent.
Aqua continued.
"It was a temporary dimension created to help us defeat these monsters more easily."
Theo and the others stared at him.
They clearly didn't believe him.
Aqua sighed.
Then he opened his system window.
A glowing interface appeared in front of his face.
Everyone could see it.
Nobody dared to touch it.
Except Theo.
Theo slowly extended his hand toward the system window.
His fingers passed straight through it.
Theo stared at his hand.
"W-what the—"
Aqua chuckled.
"You can't touch someone else's system window."
Theo looked at him.
"Then how do I use it?"
Aqua pointed toward him.
"Try opening your own."
Theo stared at Aqua.
"W-what? Me?"
"Yes."
Aqua smiled.
"Just remember what I taught you."
Theo looked down at his hand.
Then he nodded.
He stood up and prepared himself.
"System Window!"
Aqua immediately punched him on the head.
"Don't shout it, you idiot!"
Theo grabbed his head.
"OW!"
Aqua placed a hand over his face.
"Do you want the monsters to hear you?"
Theo stared at him.
Aqua sighed.
"You just need to say it in your mind, idiot."
"Oh…"
Theo paused.
"Yeah. Okay."
The others watched the scene.
Then they started laughing.
For the first time since entering the Tutorial World…
The fear inside the store began to fade.
At least for a moment.