Chapter 786 - 786

It felt like being in zero gravity, floating through a universe where you could still breathe.

The space of the Darkness of the Universe was, in a sense, another universe entirely.

However, although the four of them had entered the space at the same time, they were separated by this vast star-filled universe rather than gathering at the same point.

With her legs crossed and her hands holding onto her ankles, Hoshino simply let gravity carry her along. With her eyes closed, she looked as though she were deep in thought.

"Senpai, if you float around like that in a skirt, you're going to show things you really shouldn't be showing."

Floating alongside Hoshino, Alexis reminded her with a flushed face.

The instant they were separated by the Darkness of the Universe, Alexis had instinctively grabbed onto Hoshino. As a result, the two of them ended up drifting together to the same place.

"You won't see anything. Besides, I'm not wearing one~"

"N-Not wearing one?!"

Alexis's entire body trembled violently. Even though she tried to hide her excitement, there was absolutely no way she could.

If Hoshino wasn't wearing one, then indeed there was nothing to see… that was technically true, but this was way too stimulating.

Alexis stammered, "N-No way, Senpai? Don't tell me that during the entire duel just now, you were, you were actually… not wearing anything underneath?!"

"Underneath?" Hoshino tilted her head in confusion. "No, no, I mean I'm not wearing a skirt."

Hoshino fiddled with her Chaldea Arctic Uniform to show Alexis.

Although it looked like a black miniskirt on the outside, this thing was, after all, a Mystic Code, so it was different from an ordinary skirt. It covered her extremely securely, so there was absolutely no need to worry about her underwear being exposed.

Otherwise, there was no way it could have been designed to let her walk around bare-legged in a Lostbelt with temperatures of minus 100 degrees.

"So you meant you're not wearing a skirt. Senpai, don't just say things like that that are so easy to misunderstand."

Alexis sounded disappointed.

"Anyway, Senpai, what were you thinking about when you took that position just now?"

Under the current circumstances, although it couldn't exactly be called dangerous, floating aimlessly through the space of the Darkness of the Universe without the slightest clue was still making Alexis uneasy.

"I wasn't thinking about anything. I just wanted to try floating cross-legged in zero gravity for a long time."

Hoshino answered honestly.

"..."

Alexis glanced at Hoshino with a conflicted expression.

If anyone else had said something so completely lacking in tension under these circumstances, Alexis probably would have gotten annoyed long ago.

But when it was Hoshino saying it, Alexis somehow felt that there had to be some deeper meaning behind it.

Well, even if there wasn't, that was fine too.

Either way, she was just incredibly cute.

"Senpai, aren't you worried about Akasha and the others? And where exactly is Jaden?"

"There's no point worrying. I think I've already figured it out."

"You figured it out?"

"That guy Jaden is probably hiding from me. Just like a student who did something wrong and is afraid of meeting their teacher."

This space of the Darkness of the Universe, created by Jaden's subconscious, was a true reflection of Jaden's inner world, changing according to it.

It was more or less the same kind of phenomenon as a Reality Marble. And within this barrier created by Jaden, it seemed that, deep down, he didn't really want Hoshino to approach him.

"Although I'm Jaden's teacher, teachers aren't omnipotent. We can't solve all of our students' problems."

Returning once again to her empty-minded floating mode, although this was the space of the Darkness of the Universe, the sense of relaxation brought by zero gravity, combined with the magnificent starry sky surrounding her, allowed Hoshino to get a thorough rest after the grueling duel she had just gone through.

"So for some things, it's better to leave them to someone more suitable~"

The other side of the space of the Darkness of the Universe.

"Minazuki, if you deliberately float behind me and peek at my underwear, I can guarantee that once we get out of here, you'll be a cold corpse."

Akasha threatened him.

"I don't want to be behind you either, but in this zero-gravity space, my body just won't listen to me…"

Minazuki was practically on the verge of tears. His sense of coordination was terrible, and no matter how hard he tried, Akasha still easily left him behind.

"Then, Akasha, if you don't want me to see you, can't you slow down a little?!"

"Sorry. The word 'going easy' doesn't exist in my dictionary."

Akasha answered seriously.

"And I think I can feel it. Jaden should be somewhere ahead. Charge, dog! ╯°Д°）╯"

Even in zero gravity, Akasha's physical abilities allowed her to move through it as easily as a fish through water, making Minazuki unable to help but admire her.

This was the result of the extraordinarily high stats Akasha had acquired from being a rare-card hunter since childhood and undergoing rigorous training.

Floating toward the end of the vast sea of stars in outer space, Akasha gradually approached the target she could sense. At the same time, she noticed that the surrounding scenery was becoming darker and darker.

Finally, even the faintly glittering stardust disappeared, and the space of the universe once again returned to profound darkness.

And along with the darkness, gravity returned as well, allowing Akasha and Minazuki to regain their balance and once again feel solid ground beneath their feet.

Akasha complained, "This feels really uncomfortable. This closed-off darkness doesn't feel like Jaden at all."

"He seems to be over there, Akasha!"

In the distance, deep within the darkness, Minazuki spotted a familiar figure wearing the red uniform of the Slifer Red dormitory and excitedly called out.

With his arms wrapped around his knees, his entire jellyfish-like head buried between his legs, Jaden Yuki hid silently in a corner of the darkness.

"Jaden!" ×2

Akasha and Minazuki called out simultaneously, then ran at full speed toward Jaden, who was crouched on the ground.

Seeing that Jaden showed no reaction, Minazuki asked in confusion, "Is this guy asleep?"

"Maybe. After all, he's the kind of person who can even sleep through his own entrance ceremony. But this really isn't the time to keep sleeping, Jaden…"

Akasha reached out and touched Jaden.

The Jaden who had once become the Supreme King and disappeared into unreachable darkness now seemed not so far away anymore.

"Wake up. Like we promised, I've come to take you home. No matter what corner of the universe you drift off to, I'll come drag you back… I said that, didn't I? So you should've been mentally prepared for this a long time ago."

She gently touched Jaden's soft hair. At that instant, the warmth spreading from Akasha's fingertips gradually illuminated the darkness of the surrounding universe…

"Stop, Akasha."

However, as the space gradually became brighter, the familiar voice of Jaden came from behind Akasha and Minazuki, causing both of them to stiffen.

"Supreme King? How?!"

They turned around.

The Supreme King, clad in black armor, and the Slifer Red Jaden crouching with his arms around his knees in front of them were both present in this space at the same time.

"The fact that you were able to come here should prove that even the Supreme Fusion God couldn't stop Sensei."

The Supreme King said helplessly.