The Ability to Shift Anything is Convenient, Even in Another World!

Soru flinched at the sound of the familiar voice calling his name. In an instant, the massive boulder, just moments away from crushing Aeden and Völun, vanished without a trace.

A loud thud echoed behind them, followed by a tremor. Startled, Aeden and Völun turned their heads—only to see the boulder slammed into the ground instead of sealing their fate.

Realizing they had narrowly escaped death, both let out a heavy sigh of relief. Their strength drained, they collapsed onto the ground.

Alguis looked up, his eyes widening as he saw them still alive. The fear that had gripped him moments ago faded, replaced by overwhelming relief.

"Aeden... Völun...!"

The moment they heard the former king’s voice, both warriors forced themselves up and rushed toward him without hesitation.

"Your Majesty!"

But just before they reached him, their movements halted. Right before their eyes, Soru—who had been standing beside Alguis—vanished into thin air.

The three of them immediately scanned their surroundings.

"Where did that kid go?" Völun muttered.

"M-M-Master Shin... It was all just a misunderstanding! Erm, the thing is..."

The frantic voice caught their attention. Turning toward the source, they saw an unusual creature floating in midair. Its translucent body shimmered as it spoke—not to them, but to Soru.

"Reika and that dwarf got into an accident while testing out an ability and ended up stuck underground. That dwarf over there was just trying to get her out, but you suddenly showed up and misunderstood everything! I-I didn’t help them because... well... I wanted a little bit of revenge... on her...?"

Veylir froze as Soru stared directly into her eyes. He didn’t say a word, but the weight of his gaze alone sent a chill down the dragon’s spine. Panicked, Veylir quickly covered her mouth with its wings.

Did I... talk too much...?

"Is she okay?" Soru asked, his voice calm and steady.

"Eh... I managed to save her just in time. If she had been stuck underground any longer, she might have..."

Veylir trailed off, unwilling to finish the thought.

Meanwhile, the three dwarves silently watched the strange exchange unfold before them. 

The eerie stillness was broken when Völun suddenly blurted out, "That kid—he was just here a second ago! How did he...!?"

Alguis let out a slow breath, his gaze dark with regret.

"I was careless. If I hadn’t shown any hostility and had just explained things properly, none of this would have happened..."

Aeden glanced between Soru and Veylir, then turned to Alguis.

"That... strange creature over there. It said this was all just a misunderstanding. Is that true?"

Alguis sighed. He shifted slightly, wincing as he forced himself to sit up, resting his back against the cliffside.

"Yes... All of this was just a misunderstanding..."

Aeden lowered her head. "W-We apologize for acting without knowing the truth behind this mess..."

"I-It's alright... Urk!" Alguis winced in pain.

"Your Majesty!" Völun rushed to his side, supporting him.

"This is just a few broken ribs..." Alguis assured, though his strained voice told otherwise.

Aeden glanced at Soru, who was still deep in conversation with Veylir. A troubled expression crossed her face.

"There's something odd with that kid..." she murmured.

Völun overheard and frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"So you've noticed it too, Aeden?" Alguis asked.

Völun looked between them, puzzled.

Wait... Do both of them know something that I don't?

"When we were fighting him, I couldn't feel the flow of aeon when he attacked. Those boulders—there was nothing. It was like... they appeared out of nowhere," Aeden said.

"You're half right and half wrong, Aeden," Alguis replied.

"What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

Alguis pointed toward a nearby cliff. Aeden and Völun followed his gaze.

"That cliff... What about it?" Völun asked.

"That’s where I took the boulders for my bricks. Sure, I could create them using my ability, but natural ones are far more durable. But now..."

"Those boulders are gone..." Völun muttered.

"While fighting him, I realized something. None of his attacks had any traces of aeon," Alguis said, extending his palm. A rock slowly materialized in his hand.

"You see, when we use our abilities to create something from thin air, we can sense the flow of aeon in it. That’s how we detect attacks and react in time." He clenched the rock in his hand. "But when those boulders rained down on me, I couldn’t sense a single one!"

Aeden furrowed her brows. "So, they weren’t created through an ability..."

"And they weren’t ordinary, either," Alguis continued. "They were smooth, as if carved by hand. That’s what made me suspicious. So I checked. And I was right—he wasn’t creating them. He was using the boulders from that cliff as his weapons!"

Aeden and Völun exchanged uneasy glances.

"My suspicion was confirmed when the boulders from that cliff were completely gone. But then I noticed something strange. The moment a boulder hit the ground, it vanished, and at the same time, another one fell from above!"

Aeden fell silent, her thoughts racing.

Völun scratched his head. "I don't know... Maybe he's just really skilled with a spatial-type ability? Like teleporting the same boulders over and over again?"

"Are you stupid?" Aeden shot him a glare. "His Majesty already said the flow of aeon is nonexistent!"

Völun huffed, crossing his arms. "...Come on! I was just throwing ideas around! I, uh, noticed it too..."

"I thought the same thing at first," Alguis admitted. "That he was teleporting them. But there was nothing—no trace of aeon at all. That’s why I couldn’t predict his attacks. I had to rely on my eyes to dodge them."

A heavy silence settled between them as they tried to process everything.

Völun hesitated before speaking. "...Then what about those strange attacks? And these injuries? Did he use an ability on us?"

Alguis' gaze darkened. "Every time we struck something—or even him—the effects meant for the target were redirected... back to us."

"These injuries we got were all from blunt force," Alguis muttered. "Only Völun and I use hammers as weapons, and coincidentally, the very weapons we struck him with... and the boulder I was supposed to shatter before..."

His voice trailed off as the realization sank in.

"Not only could he teleport objects, but he could also transfer damage," Aeden said, a mix of disbelief and frustration in her tone. "And he didn't use aeon at all. What kind of absurd ability does that kid have!?"

Völun's face tensed as a new thought crossed his mind. "N-Now that I think about it... This whole time, he never showed a hint of killing intent. No anger, no resentment. His face never wavered—like all of this was just... natural to him."

Aeden's mind drifted back to their fight, to their first encounter while fending off their pursuers. The way he moved, the way he acted—it all made sense now.

"Now that you mention it... You're right," she murmured.

Alguis kept his gaze locked on Soru. Despite everything, the truth remained beyond his grasp. Soru wasn’t just strong—he was something else entirely.

"Just who the hell is he..."

...

It was a lovely morning in the Mitsuha household. In the dining room, a younger Mitsuha Reika sat at the table, enjoying her breakfast, while her mother busied herself with the dishes.

"Reikaaaa! Could you help me wash these?" her mother called out.

Hearing her voice, seven-year-old Reika quickly swallowed the food in her mouth.

"Gulp! Geez, Mom, I’m still eating!"

"Oh God, you’re not done yet? You eat like a bottomless pit!"

"Mooom! You know I eat this much because your cooking is just that good!"

Reika’s mother smiled at the compliment.

"Uh-huh… Enough with the flattery. Just finish up already."

Reika, her mouth still full, nodded enthusiastically.

"Mhookayy!"

She looked at her mother, her eyes filled with warmth.

I'm really glad she's my mom...

...

Morning arrived after the events of the previous evening. Inside a quiet room, Reika lay fast asleep on a bed. A single streak of sunlight slipped through the open window, landing on her skin.

"Mmghh..."

The warmth stirred her from slumber. Slowly, she opened her eyes, only to find an unfamiliar ceiling above her.

Where am I?

Still groggy, Reika pushed herself upright. A quick glance around confirmed what she already sensed—this wasn’t her room.

"What happened last night...?"

Then, memories of the evening came rushing back.

I was testing that new ability Mister Alguis gave me... But then—we had an accident. We were stuck underground...

She winced, placing a hand on her forehead as a faint discomfort lingered.

During that moment, my airways got blocked. Mister Alguis tried to help me, but... just as I was about to pass out, Soru appeared... Everything after that is a blur...

As she tried to piece things together, the door creaked open.

"Reika?"

A familiar voice pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to see Sylva standing in the doorway.

"Sylva?"

Without hesitation, Sylva rushed over and sat beside her.

"Are you okay? They told me you got into an accident."

Reika met her gaze and smiled.

"I'm fine. I guess getting some rest helped me feel a little better."

Sylva smiled in relief. "I'm glad to hear that..."

Suddenly, she straightened up.

"Oh, right! I actually came here to grab something before heading back. But now that you're awake, how about we go outside together and have breakfast? You haven’t eaten since last night, have you? Wanna come?"

Reika shook her head. "No, I'll go on my own later. That thing you came for sounds important."

She watched as Sylva rummaged through a basket.

"Nah, it’s just my sister’s clothes. My mom’s giving her a bath and needed fresh ones."

After finally finding them, Sylva gathered the clothes in her arms.

"Well, if you get hungry, feel free to come outside anytime. I'll head out first, okay?"

Reika simply nodded, watching Sylva leave the room.

Once alone, she let out a deep sigh and turned toward the window. The sight of lush trees in the distance filled her view, their leaves swaying gently in the morning breeze.

Then, she felt something—or rather, someone—approaching.

Out of nowhere, a familiar figure appeared by the window and slipped into the room.

"Veylir?"

The dragon blinked in surprise.

"Reika? Oh, you’re finally awake. I thought you’d be out longer..."

Veylir flew closer, studying her.

"Wait. Where did you wander off to while I was asleep?"

Veylir landed gracefully. "Uh… I was helping that old dwarf, the former king—whoever he is—fix his broken ribs. I used a simple life-type ability to heal him."

Reika immediately knew who he was talking about.

Sir Alguis...? What happened to him?

Just then, Reika paused for a brief moment.

"Wait. They know about you? How did that—"

"Master Soru blew my cover. I was trying my best to stay hidden from the dwarves, but I can't defy his orders. So, when I saw you struggling to breathe, I used an aerial-type ability to fill your lungs with air and keep you alive."

Reika tried piecing together the scattered fragments of her memory, but something still felt off.

"Mister Alguis has broken ribs... Wait. What exactly happened while I was unconscious?"

Veylir hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Erm... While you were out, Soru misunderstood the situation. He thought the old dwarf had harmed you on purpose, so he pulled you away and started attacking him… then went after his subordinates too."

Reika’s eyes widened in shock.

Soru, he's reckless on that part!

Now, all she could think about was Alguis and his men. Veylir, however, seemed unfazed.

"Now that I think about it, it was impressive how he handled those three so effortlessly. Didn't even break a sweat, and he's just a human."

Reika shot him a sharp glare.

"Yeah, and that ‘very human’ is the same one who killed your physical body with ease!"

A chill ran down Veylir’s spine—if he even had one in this form.

"Guhhh...! I really don’t want to hear about that..."

A tense silence filled the room. Then, Reika spoke up.

"Now that you mention it, you keep saying 'aerial-type ability' and 'life-type ability.' What exactly are those?"

Veylir blinked, caught off guard.

"Wait. You don’t know? What mountain did you even crawl out from—"

He stopped mid-sentence, remembering that Reika wasn't from this continent. She was from a place called Japan.

"Ahem. Alright, I suppose I should enlighten you so your ignorance doesn’t embarrass you any further."

"Ignorance? Are you—"

Before she could finish, a small flame, no larger than half her fist, flickered into existence out of thin air.

"All abilities fall into three major classifications: Natural Abilities, Deviated Abilities, and Inherent Abilities."

Reika listened closely as Veylir continued.

"Natural Abilities are those that command and manipulate the laws of nature. They’re divided into twelve subcategories, and what I just used is one of them."

The flame hovered between them, flickering steadily.

"This ability, <Ember>, belongs to the thermal-type classification. It falls under the Normal-class. The same goes for <Breath of the Wind>, which I used to save your life. That’s an aerial-type ability, also categorized as Normal-class."

Reika tilted her head.

"Normal-class? So, does that classification have something to do with the different ability types?"

"While aerial-type and thermal-type refer to an ability’s elemental nature, Normal-class categorizes abilities based on their rarity, range, and level of destructiveness," Veylir explained.

"The more destructive or wide-ranging an ability is, the rarer it tends to be. Most abilities can be acquired through learning or other means—some straightforward, others... not so much."

Reika pondered for a moment before asking, "Normal-class… So how many classes exist to categorize abilities by rarity and power?"

"There are four: Normal-class, Special-class, Ultimate-class, and the highest—Extremity-class. Each varies in scale, from affecting a single person to devastating entire structures... and even an entire kingdom."

Reika's eyes widened. "That's terrifying… There are abilities strong enough to wipe out kingdoms?!"

"Of course! Abilities come in all forms—offensive, defensive, and even purely supportive."

Reika swallowed hard before shifting the topic. "Then... how many types of Natural Abilities do you have, Veylir?"

"Hmm... Aside from my proficiency in thermal-type, I also have some aerial-type and life-type abilities."

"I see..." Reika murmured, processing the information.

Veylir continued, "The second major classification, Deviated Abilities, has only two subcategories: Conjure-type and Augment-type. Conjure-type works as an output-based ability, while Augment-type is input-based."

"So how are they different from Natural Abilities?" Reika asked.

"Unlike Natural Abilities, which command and manipulate the laws of nature, Deviated Abilities merely interact with them. They don’t belong to any natural element, yet they can still influence them in unique ways."

Veylir gestured with her claw. "Take <Translator>, a Conjure-type ability, for example. It has nothing to do with the natural laws, yet it interacts with them. It acts as a medium to bridge languages, but it doesn't manipulate nature itself."

"Do you have any Deviated Abilities besides <Translator>?" Reika asked.

"Aside from that, I have <Aeon Barrier> and—" Veylir suddenly stopped. "Whoa, whoa! Your ability lets you access mine, right? You’ll figure them all out eventually, so there’s no point listing them one by one."

Reika's expression shifted. Seeing how lazy the dragon was about explaining, she sighed in defeat.

"Alright, fine!"

What a lazy dragon...

She crossed her arms, then recalled something. "Hmm... Now that I think about it, my ability <Contract>—what exactly is it? It’s not a Natural Ability since it doesn’t manipulate the laws of nature. It seems more like a Deviated Ability to me."

Veylir fell silent, deep in thought.

"I’ve never heard of an ability called <Contract>." His tail flicked slightly. "I can’t say for certain, but… if I had to guess, it might be an Individual-type ability."