Linsley gave her a small, encouraging smile. "We'll figure something out. We're stronger together, even if the world is determined to tear us apart."
Reluctantly, they released each other's hands, the connection between them lingering in the air like a fragile thread.
They knew their paths were intertwined, but the oppressive weight of their reality kept them from pursuing the bond that had just begun to form.
With one last look of understanding, they turned away, each retreating to their respective duties, knowing that tomorrow would bring more challenges and more pain. Yet, even as they left, there was a flicker of hope that one day, they might be free to make their own choices—together.
...
"Exeo Extra!"
With that phrase, Linsley was transported back to the real world, successfully leaving the battlefield dimension.
Although he had parted ways with Magia Fleur, he had secretly used his presence concealment and invisibility to discreetly check on her and ensure she was safe. Only when he saw her leave the battlefield dimension did he find another secluded spot to return to the real world himself.
Magia Fleur had canceled her magical girl transformation before leaving, but out of respect for her and the bond they had formed, Linsley turned away, ensuring he didn't witness her revert to her true form.
Back in the real world, Linsley kept his identity distortion, presence concealment, and invisibility active. Under the effects of his avatar's abilities, he safely returned to his apartment without drawing any attention from the Outer God Association.
"Well, that was a dramatic afternoon," Linsley muttered to himself as he settled back into his small apartment. "It felt like something straight out of a shoujo manga—where the protagonist falls in love with a magical girl, but because of the evil forces controlling their world, they can't be together, making their love at first sight short-lived."
If the Outer God Association forced him to reveal his true power, Linsley wasn't afraid to show them why they shouldn't underestimate him.
His Invisible Providence avatar had eldritch-like powers, not only in its invisibility but also in its identity distortion ability.
If he wanted to, Linsley could impose identity distortion on another target without their permission. It worked similarly to the mental pollution of an Outer God, which could drive an ordinary person to insanity.
In other words, Linsley could manipulate and distort the sense of identity or existence of his targets.
If used correctly, it could even serve as a form of mind control, effectively turning his targets into loyal servants by altering their identity to that of his slave.
The more Linsley contemplated his powers, the more he realized how eerily similar they were to those of an Outer God. But if that's what it took to defeat an Outer God, Linsley didn't care. All that mattered to him was witnessing the death of the monstrous entity that had enslaved Terra.
"I should prepare for tomorrow. I need to wake up early and be ready for my meeting with my fiancée. I can't afford to offend the Outer God Association."
"As much as I despise them, I can't risk provoking them until I'm strong enough to challenge the Outer God itself."
With those thoughts in mind, Linsley began preparing for the next day. He spent time honing his skills with his Invisible Providence avatar, pushing the limits of its abilities and refining his control.
As the sky darkened and night fell, Linsley decided to sleep early.
With that, he settled into bed, his thoughts focused on the future, and allowed himself to drift into a deep sleep, ready for whatever tomorrow would bring.