In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 64

Chapter 82 Beating Up Orest

"Watch out, someone's coming!"

As soon as Takitsubo reached the second floor, he sensed the approaching enemy.

A group of people dressed in school uniforms with expressionless faces rushed out and blocked the three of them.

"Welcome to my sanctuary, intruders!" The students' voices rang out simultaneously, their tones perfectly synchronized.

Higashino Yu snapped his fingers, and a semi-transparent blue barrier immediately appeared around Himegami Akisa and Takitsubo Riko.

To prevent Aureos from playing dirty tricks, Higashino prepared some protection for the two girls in advance.

"Alchemist, using a student to test someone, don't you feel ashamed?" Although I know that mockery is useless, it's still okay to annoy the enemy.

The students suddenly stood still, chanting incantations that Higashino couldn't quite understand.

"Do you even have a brain?"

To use such a time-consuming spell right in front of me? Does he think he's some kind of villain on TV who waits for the other to make a move?

"Takitsubo, continue searching for his exact location. Ignore these students!"

Before they could even use their magic, Higashino was confident he could interrupt their spellcasting. After all, he was an officially certified "psychic" ability user; controlling them directly was standard procedure for him!

Takitsubo nodded and closed her eyes again. In her heightened state of focused perception, her body trembled slightly, as if under some invisible pressure: "Found it! In a room on the west side of the fourth floor!"

Higashino Yu's lips curled into a slight smile, a smile brimming with the confidence of victory: "Well done."

Now that we know the location, we can go straight for the heart of the enemy.

With a wave of his right hand, the students who were still chanting incantations suddenly stopped and moved to both sides, making way for a passage in the domain.

Higashino had no interest in playing games with these students; it was quickest to get straight to the point and take down the final boss.

"Let's go then." Higashino grabbed the two of them and started running as Takitsubo pointed.

He originally planned to teleport there using spatial teleportation, but gave up after a brief attempt.

If the space is visible to the naked eye or can be felt by oneself, it's fine, but once the distance is too far, it's impossible to find the precise location to move to.

The calculation of spatial coordinates within this barrier is different from that outside. If you want to use spatial movement smoothly, you must first analyze the entire barrier.

However, this barrier is no simple thing.

Higashino felt that if the future fallen angel sorcerer were to activate it, this barrier might be able to withstand it. Just now, even though he had strengthened Takitsubo to Level 5, he was only able to barely create an opening to enter.

After entering, Higashino secretly tried to interfere with the barrier, and he was able to do so.

But from real-world intervention to real-world distortion, and finally reconstruction, this process takes about half an hour. In that time, I would have already walked up to him and punched him away.

The three of them quickly crossed the corridor, and the students along the way stood still whenever they got close to Higashino.

"Turn left!" Takitsubo pointed the way, her voice rising slightly with urgency. "It's that room!"

The three quickly arrived at the door of the room that Takitsubo had locked.

"He should be inside."

Higashino nodded, and the moment he raised his hand, the door in front of him melted away into sand.

Upon entering the classroom, Aureolus Isard, dressed in a white suit and sporting a slicked-back hairstyle, appeared before the three.

Moreover, the appearance was not the clone that Higashino remembered, but his true self.

However... is this sense of oppression even stronger than when I first met Kanzaki because we are inside a barrier?

"Higashino-kun, this person is very dangerous."

Takitsubo Riko's intuition told her that the man in front of her was dangerous, extremely terrifying, and someone she could never defeat. If Higashino hadn't been there, her body's instincts would have driven her to run away.

"You deserve praise for getting this far." Aureos was actually speechless. He was at home planning how to help Index, but two uninvited guests inexplicably barged into the barrier.

Especially that girl, who was able to create a large hole in her own barrier, which greatly surprised Aureos when he discovered it.

The fact that he appeared in his true form instead of a clone is also related to that girl, because if it were a clone, that seemingly listless girl might be able to affect his control over the clone.

That would be quite awkward.

However, based on his observation, the intruders were probably led by that man, and Himegami Akisa was probably just being coerced. After all, although the vampire killer has a special physique, it is practically useless except for dealing with vampires.

The group didn't talk much after entering, and Aureos couldn't be sure whether Himegami Akisa had betrayed him, but that was no longer important.

Because he has already recognized that Higashino is now Index's guardian, once he gets rid of him and brings Index back, it will be time for Himegami Akisa to play her final role.

He is invincible within this barrier; whether his clones appear or not is irrelevant.

"But intruders, your time ends here!"

Aureos raised his hand and pointed at the three of them.

"Died of asphyxiation!"

Within the barrier, he was a god; his words were law, and he could arrange a thousand different ways for the three people in front of him to die if he wanted to.

However, his orders were only directed at Higashino and Takitsubo. Himegami Akisa was still useful, and he didn't intend to kill her now, but it would be necessary to teach her a lesson later.

"Ok?"

Embarrassing things always happen unexpectedly.

After Aureolus's declaration, Takitsubo was initially quite nervous; the confident declaration of death was incredibly oppressive.

But looking at the white-clad, slicked-back-haired man still holding the raised hand gesture, Takitsubo felt a little like laughing.

Blinking, Takitsubo glanced at the still confident Higashino beside him and the man opposite him whose expression was gradually changing, then at the still clueless Akisa, and decided to be serious. He suppressed his laughter and stared at the guy opposite him.

The scene immediately fell into an awkward and strange state.

"Why...why is it invalid!?"

Aureos, who finally put his hand down, looked on in disbelief. The failure of his ability was not something he had considered at all.

"Haha, do you think you're God? Making your words law isn't something you can do so easily!"

Don't be surprised if this guy can actually do it inside the barrier. As long as he's convinced he can do it, then dealing with him will be troublesome.

Therefore, mocking him and making him doubt his own abilities is an effective way to weaken his methods.

Fortunately, he had just put protective measures on the two girls beforehand, so this kind of ability that directly affects the body could not succeed.

"Hmph, if that's the case, let's try this one!"

Chapter 83 The Clash of Spear and Shield

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room suddenly turned upside down, and the direction of gravity changed instantly.

Takitsubo screamed, her body flying uncontrollably upwards. Just as she was about to crash into the ceiling, Higashino Yu grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

A plot twist!

An invisible force forcibly corrected the reversed gravity, causing items in the room to fall and make a crackling sound.

Higashino caught Himegami Akisa, who was falling with him, to prevent the girl, who didn't have much of a presence, from falling to the ground.

However, the instant Higashino put Himegami Akisa down, Aureos had already completed the next spell. Countless golden chains shot out from the void, each aimed at the three people's vital points.

This time, even Himegami Akisa was within his attack range.

Aureos decided to teach her a lesson, and as long as she didn't die, he could restore her later. Whether she had actually betrayed him or not was no longer important.

The golden chain shot towards him at lightning speed, but Higashino didn't even have time to turn his gaze completely; he simply flicked his left hand to the side casually.

The chains seemed to have hit an invisible wall, their trajectory instantly veered off course, grazing the three of them and embedding themselves firmly into the wall and ground, without causing them even the slightest harm.

Aureos's pupils suddenly contracted.

Ineffective? Even physical attacks with magical properties are ineffective? Can a psychic superpowered being influence reality to this extent?

How did he manage to get close enough to launch his own attack?

"Is that all? These little tricks can't beat me, but they're quite effective as a performance to please me."

Higashino made a face that said, "I'm so happy to see your performance," which made Aureolus grit his teeth in anger.

"Heh heh, if magic attacks are ineffective... then try this!"

Suddenly, a red sports car appeared in the cramped classroom and headed straight for Dongye.

"Are you planning to send me flying to another world and then inherit my estate?"

Higashino never expected that this alchemist would have such a trick up his sleeve, using a flying car to crash into someone during a fight, is that even possible?

Higashino's eyes narrowed, and the sports car flying towards them seemed to be distorted, turning into particles and dissipating the moment it approached the three of them.

“As expected, conventional attacks are ineffective against you… Well then, taste the power of the ‘Sword That Cuts Through Everything’!” A mad glint flashed in Aureos’s eyes. He suddenly grabbed forward, and a two-handed greatsword with an ancient design and shimmering golden light appeared out of thin air in his hand.

The sword hummed, emanating a chillingly sharp aura, as if it could easily tear apart space itself. "This sword is called 'Truth,' and nothing can escape its blade!"

"Oh, that's interesting~"

Is this an attempt to create an absolute concept for the weapon, trying to break through my defenses?

But I can do this too. Which is stronger, the spear or the shield? Let's give it a try.

Higashino didn't even move his feet; he simply reached into his pocket with his right hand and pulled out a coin.

Driven by his will, countless silver light spots in the air rapidly condensed and intertwined onto the coin, forming a massive shield with a frog-like creature engraved on its surface, which steadily blocked his path and the two women behind him.

Yes, this coin was given to him by Mikoto before; it seems to be a souvenir from some arcade.

The coin was said to be blessed by the God of Frogs, and had the same effect as a talisman. Although Higashino thought it was ridiculous, he still wore it.

"Interesting. This shield is called 'Cognition,' and before its barrier, all laws cease!"

"Slash!" Aureos roared, wielding the Sword of Truth with both hands, unleashing a golden sword aura that seemed capable of tearing through space!

"Defend!" Dongye slightly curled his five fingers, and the giant shield of frogs shone brightly. The frog on it even made a sullen expression and crossed its claws in a defensive posture.

Boom——! ! !

A fierce clash of sword and shield! The metallic clang resounded throughout the space, and a violent energy shockwave spread outwards, tearing the surrounding tables, chairs, and walls to shreds.

The golden sword energy surged like a roaring torrent, crashing wildly against the Frog Tower's barrier; while the Frog Tower's giant shield remained as immovable as a towering mountain, even revealing a human-like expression as it made a comical face at Aureos.

After a few seconds of stalemate, the greatsword suddenly dimmed and shattered! The frog on the silver shield stood with its paws on its hips, declaring its victory.

"Impossible!" Aureos was utterly shocked. His strongest conceptual slash had been blocked by a ridiculous shield made of a coin?!

What he didn't know was that it wasn't that the shield Higashino generated was particularly strong, but rather that the perception it formed and his absolute attack created a contradictory effect, canceling each other out.

"It's not over yet!" He seemed to be going mad, waving his left hand again. "Taste the wrath of thunder! Ten billion volts!" A thick bolt of purple lightning appeared out of thin air and struck straight at Dongye's head!

Without even looking up, Higashino first retrieved the coin that had turned back into a normal coin, then extended his left index finger and pointed upwards.

The violent lightning bolt, carrying the force of a thunderbolt, suddenly stopped a few centimeters from his fingertips, as if it had been materialized. Dongye easily grabbed it in his hand, squeezed it hard, and it vanished into the air as if it had never existed.

"Burn away all the flames in the world!" Aureos roared, defying all evil. A raging inferno suddenly appeared, transforming into a giant wave that swept over the world. The scorching heat distorted the very air.

Higashino gently waved his right hand towards the torrent of flames.

As casually as brushing away dust, the surging golden flames, several meters away from him, seemed to crash into an invisible wall. Their trajectory was instantly twisted, and the blazing flames, like a tamed beast, obediently bypassed the three of them and struck the side wall, melting a large hole in it.

"Freezing everything!" Aureos almost vomited blood; he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

It continued to condense into an extremely cold frost storm, carrying a chill that seemed capable of freezing the soul, and howled towards Higashino and his companions.

This time, Higashino merely raised his eyelids. The raging frost storm slowed abruptly as it approached, the ice crystals freezing in mid-air as if a pause button had been pressed.

Then, with a snap of his fingers, the frozen ice crystals silently disintegrated and melted, turning into specks of water vapor and disappearing completely.

Aureos grew increasingly anxious, having tried almost every attack method he could think of.

If physical and direct elemental attacks are ineffective, then what about mental interference? He didn't believe that Higashino's abilities were without any blind spots.

The air around Higashino suddenly became viscous, like solidified amber. The light distorted and bent around the three of them, and everything in their field of vision began to blur and stretch, as if they had fallen into a kaleidoscope.

An immense mental pressure, accompanied by a sense of spatial distortion, surged into the three men's brains, attempting to tear their thoughts apart and dissolve them.

"My head hurts so much... Ugh!" Takitsubo groaned, his body swayed, and his face turned pale instantly.