As Elysia personally pressed the activation button, the intricate machinery sprang to life. Before her, within the circular frame of the Dimensional Rift generator, a dark substance began to materialize.
Through generations of iterative improvements, this device could now precisely pinpoint the location where Dimensional Rifts would form. Combined with its portal-like frame, the entire contraption truly resembled a real Portal.
The dark substance expanded steadily until it completely filled the frame.
Beep!
A crisp chime sounded as the indicator lights around the frame turned green, signaling that the Dimensional Rift had stabilized and was ready for entry.
Of course, due to the unique nature of Dimensional Rifts, one couldn't see what lay on the other side without passing through. Honestly, it was a bit like descending a staircase blindfolded—still rather unnerving.
Undaunted, Elysia declared confidently, "Let's go!"
She strode boldly through the Portal and into the Dimensional Rift. In the next instant, a dizzying, disorienting sensation swept over her.
Elysia was used to this. Every time she entered a Dimensional Rift leading to another world, something like this happened. She quickly regained her balance and found herself floating twenty to thirty meters in the air.
While they could lock onto the entry point of the Rift in the Main World, the exit point in the Beast-Eared Girl World was unpredictable. It was perfectly normal for the Rift to open in mid-air.
Anyone else suddenly appearing at such a height might have been in danger, but Elysia was no ordinary person. She instantly halted her descent, hovering effortlessly beside the Rift without any external support. After all, flight was basic training for a Herrscher.
Under Elysia's control, a vast expanse of pink crystals materialized around the Dimensional Rift. This ensured that anyone emerging from it would only experience a one-meter freefall, rather than twenty to thirty meters.
Moments later, Zhong Wanhong, Lü Heng, Invincible Bro, and two White Eagle soldiers emerged from the Rift. Everyone landed safely except Invincible Bro, who crashed to the ground with a painful thud.
Although Lü Heng was often treated as a mere unit of combat prowess, he was still a trained fighter. Invincible Bro, on the other hand, possessed only the Data Vision Super Ability; in every other respect, he was an ordinary person. It was perfectly normal for him to stumble and fall after the disorienting experience of traversing the Dimensional Rift.
Among Elysia's entourage to the Dragon Nation were experts in Dimensional Rifts and combat personnel responsible for protection. The two White Eagles who had accompanied them were clearly the latter.
Of course, given Elysia's strength, she hardly needed protection. But bodyguards were still necessary as a matter of principle.
Aware that the others couldn't fly, Elysia continued to use her Ability. A spiral staircase made entirely of pink crystal slowly unfurled downward, section by section, until it reached the ground.
To Ikezawa below, the sight was even more breathtaking. It looked as if a pink castle had materialized out of thin air, its staircase gradually unfolding like something straight out of a fairy tale.
Finally, as the staircase reached the ground, a "princess" straight out of a fairy tale castle materialized before him.
Elysia waved, initially intending to deliver her iconic line: "Hi~ Miss me? No matter when or where, Elysia will always answer your call~"
But she reconsidered, realizing it would be too strange for a first meeting. Instead, she said, "Hi~ You're the one seeking Elysia's help, right~?"
Ikezawa's lips trembled violently. Before his transmigration, as a hardcore otaku, his gaming tastes had been incredibly diverse, encompassing nearly every genre imaginable. Among all those games, the Elysian Realm arc in Honkai 3rd had undoubtedly left the deepest impression on him.
As an otaku, who hadn't claimed dozens, even hundreds, of "waifus"? Yet among all those beloved characters, Elysia held a uniquely special place.
Now, witnessing his most cherished character appear before him in such a dreamlike manner, Ikezawa found himself utterly speechless, unable to describe the overwhelming emotion churning within him.
He had always imagined that if he ever met Elysia, he would have endless things to say. But when the moment finally arrived, he opened his mouth, let out a strange "hoh" sound in his overwhelming excitement, and promptly collapsed onto his back.
The guy was already weakened by the encroaching influence of Death, and this sudden surge of excitement had caused him to faint outright.
Lü Heng, who was following closely behind Elysia, raised an eyebrow at the sight. "Wow," he quipped, "kids these days—they can fall asleep anywhere."
Still, Lü Heng didn't just stand there. He and Invincible Bro hurried to Ikezawa's side, intending to carry him back.
But before they could act, Li stepped in front of them, like a protective puppy guarding its master, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What do you think you're doing?"
Ikezawa had shared countless screenshots of Li in their group chat, so in a way, Lü Heng and Invincible Bro already knew her. Lü Heng quickly explained, "We mean no harm. We just want to take him back to the Main World. His illness will disappear there."
Li's expression softened. "You're the friends Ikezawa mentioned?"
Lü Heng and Invincible Bro both nodded in agreement, but Li still seemed uneasy. Right then and there, she scooped up the fallen Princess Ikezawa into a princess carry and asked, "How do we leave this world?"
Given Ikezawa's considerable height advantage over Li, the scene looked rather peculiar—a seemingly petite girl carrying a much taller boy in a princess carry.
Lü Heng raised an eyebrow, momentarily torn between envy and mockery.
It's worth noting that after learning in the Chat Group that the Portal was under construction, Ikezawa had extended another invitation to Li. This time, she assured her that they could return to this world even after venturing to others.
And then... Li had agreed instantly. Honestly, that girl was something else. Ikezawa had just insisted that travel was one-way, yet now she claimed it was round-trip. Any normal person would have raised an eyebrow, right? But Li simply believed her without a second's hesitation, not even a flicker of doubt.