-1173- [ Prison Barrier ]

Itogami Island, East District, Warehouse Street.

Not long ago, an extremely astonishing magical power erupted here, even a large-scale Beast Vassal appeared, attracting the attention of many people.

Perhaps taking these as performances or designs during the Demon Sanctuary's festival, people were surprised but not afraid. Some even intended to come closer to take a look.

Fortunately, the space within Itogami Island had already twisted, making it difficult for people to reach here. Otherwise, there might have been a possibility of innocent bystanders being involved.

Only those who faintly felt something was amiss took any action.

For example, the Management Cooperative detected the astonishing magical power values and believed that the source of the abnormal space within Itogami City came from here. Therefore, they dispatched the Special District Security Team, but due to the abnormal space, the team couldn't reach here smoothly.

However, it wasn't only the Management Cooperative that sensed the astonishing magical power; Rozen naturally couldn't have failed to notice it.

Furthermore, at the moment the magical power appeared, the Beast Vassal within Rozen's blood also became active directly.

This told Rozen that there was an existence equivalent to or even derived from the Beast Vassal within his blood.

At that moment, Rozen didn't hesitate to rush to the East District.

Moreover, Rozen was already outside at that time.

Upon learning that Tokoyogi Yuuma had actively invited Avrora Florestina out, Rozen already had suspicions and immediately went out, intending to find Avrora and the others.

Unfortunately, due to the influence of the abnormal space, Rozen, who couldn't use Space Manipulation Magic, could only release countless shikigami into the air to search. However, due to Tokoyogi Yuuma and the others moving to the Warehouse Street in the East District, Rozen lost their target directly.

So, as soon as Rozen sensed the astonishing magical power in the East District, he immediately rushed over there.

However, Rozen wasn't alone.

"I'm going with you, Nichiyo!"

When Rozen was about to leave, Kojou grabbed Rozen, staring at him with an unprecedented anxious and serious expression, showing that he wouldn't give up unless he came along.

Rozen knew that given Kojou's knowledge of the current situation, Kojou would definitely not sit idly by and watch what Tokoyogi Yuuma and even Nagisa did to Avrora Florestina. It was only natural for him to want to come along. If he didn't take Kojou with him, he might go out on his own.

That would be even more troublesome.

"Let's go."

So, Rozen decisively brought Kojou along.

"Astarte." Rozen also turned his head and looked at Astarte, saying, "I'll leave Kanase to you."

If there were no one at home, perhaps some scoundrels would take advantage of Kanon when the opportunity arose. That was also a possibility.

In response, Astarte's answer was only one.

"Accept."

Astarte replied in a calm and steady voice, but it was enough to reassure people.

With the power of the Beast Vassals raised by Astarte, she should be able to handle many situations.

"Minamiya-senpai..."

Perhaps sensing something, Kanon looked worried.

"It's okay." Rozen smiled slightly, touched Kanon's head, and said, "Let's go to the Harurouin Festival together after this."

Seeing Rozen's smiling face and hearing his words, Kanon's worries gradually disappeared, and she nodded with a smile.

In this way, Rozen left home with Kojou, finally sensing the astonishing magical power in the East District and coming over here.

The method was naturally the same as before, stabilizing the space with Space Manipulation Magic while controlling gravity with the ability of the No. 7 Beast Vassal, flying all the way over here.

Unfortunately, Rozen was still late.

When Rozen and Kojou arrived at the Warehouse Street in the East District, there was only a frozen cold ground left here, with only one person remaining.

That person was Nagisa.

At this moment, Nagisa was sitting on the icy ground, staring blankly ahead.

"Nagisa!"

"Nagisa!"

Rozen and Kojou shouted at the same time.

Nagisa's shoulders suddenly trembled, turned her head, and looked at Rozen and Kojou.

"Nichiyo... Kojou-kun..."

Seeing the appearance of the two people she trusted the most, tears suddenly flowed down Nagisa's cheeks without warning.

"Nagisa!" Kojou hurried over, helped Nagisa up, and said, "Are you okay? Nagisa!"

Rozen also approached, directly held Nagisa's hand, drew a few traces of magic power in her palm, forming a rune.

It was a very simple rune, with a simple effect, just stabilizing the mind.

The rune shimmered in Nagisa's palm, injecting strands of strength into her body, finally calming her down a bit.

Seeing Nagisa finally calm down, Kojou eagerly inquired, "Where's Yuuma? And where did Avrora go?"

Kojou couldn't help but let his voice become both urgent and quick.

"K-Kojou-kun," she said somewhat sadly, "Yuu-chan... she was a witch, and she was working with the fourth primogenitor's Matrices, a child named No. 6!"

"No. 6?" Kojou held his breath.

"Working with No. 6?" Rozen's eyes narrowed as well.

Even Rozen hadn't anticipated this.

But upon closer inspection, perhaps it wasn't so surprising after all.

"The last two Matrices were already in the Chaos Zone, and since Giada came to Itogami Island, it's not surprising that she would bring the Matrices along."

The question was...

"Why did they take Avrora with them?"

Rozen couldn't help but ask.

"I... I'm not really sure, but that child named No. 6 said the banquet wasn't over yet, and now it's starting again," Nagisa said desperately. "And she also asked me to pass on a message to you."

"A message?" Rozen looked at Nagisa.

"Yes." Nagisa nodded repeatedly. "She said, 'If you want to get back No. 12, then come to the Prison Barrier.'"

"The Prison Barrier?"

Rozen was stunned.

"The Prison Barrier?"

Kojou was even more shocked.

The Prison Barrier—

This name was not unfamiliar to Rozen and Kojou.

It was one of the well-known urban legends in Itogami City.

It was said to be a magical prison used to imprison heinous magical criminals, from which the criminals could never escape, even after death, their souls wandering there forever. Hence, it was also called the Ghost Detention Center, the temple of the evil god submerged under the sea.

Naturally, this was just an urban legend.

"Could it be that the Prison Barrier actually exists?"

Rozen's mind was instantly filled with numerous thoughts.

A magical prison used to imprison heinous magical criminals.

The spatial distortions covering Itogami Island.

The goals of LCO as the mastermind.

And, the existence of Tokoyogi Yuuma

These clues all connected in Rozen's mind, finally piecing together the puzzle.

"I see..."

Rozen turned his head and looked in the direction of the Keystone Gate.

"So this is your goal?"

Rozen finally saw through the truth.