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

After the flames vanished, the oppressive heat quickly dissipated, and the air turned noticeably cooler. The crackling fire was replaced by faint sobbing and cries from the villagers echoing in different directions. Reika stood frozen, her mind racing after the sudden revelation.

But... he’s from Earth, right? H-how could he possess such a strange power if he’s just a human from our world…?!

Her gaze shifted back to Soru. Although his face remained neutral, his actions betrayed him, practically screaming that he did indeed possess one.

Just think about it! Every situation we’ve faced so far—every time we were in danger—he’s always been so calm. Those monsters tried to kill us, yet… it’s like none of it fazed him at all!

Her lips trembled as she whispered to herself, her disbelief spilling out in shaky words. "M-Maybe it’s true… If he really has powers, it would explain everything—why we’ve survived until now..."

Just then, Reika heard the dragon unleash a deafening roar, snapping her attention back to the sky. Everyone turned their gaze upward and froze as the Wildfire Dragon Veylir was engulfed in flames.

ROOAAARR!!

Its entire body burned intensely, but to their shock, the dragon seemed unaffected. The flames licked across its massive form, yet it showed no signs of pain or injury.

The dragon soared higher, the blazing inferno still encasing its body. It climbed so high that its fiery silhouette became visible to the entire village. Against the sky, it looked like a phoenix reborn from the flames. With one powerful flap of its wings, the fire surrounding it disappeared in an instant, as if it had never existed.

A heavy silence fell over the village. Then, another ear-splitting roar shattered the stillness, shaking the air and leaving everyone trembling in terror.

ROOOOAAAAARRR!!

Villagers clutched their ears, desperately trying to shield themselves from the dragon's powerful cry. As the roar subsided, the beast raised its head toward the heavens and opened its massive jaws.

A fiery orb began to form within its maw, growing larger with each passing second. The sky brightened, the blazing fireball outshining the sun itself. The temperature around the village surged, turning puddles into steam. The heat pressed down on them, suffocating and relentless.

Fear swept through the villagers like a tidal wave. They clung to their loved ones, tears streaking down their faces—only to evaporate before touching the ground.

Soru stared at the dragon as it prepared its devastating counterattack. The fireball had reached its full size, radiating raw power.

"It's over for us..." one of the villagers muttered, his voice barely audible amidst the oppressive heat and despair.

In a split second, the enormous fireball in the dragon's mouth vanished without a trace. The entire village stared in confusion, unsure of what had just occurred. Moments later, their bewilderment turned to shock as flames erupted across the dragon's body once more.

Enraged, the dragon let out another deafening roar.

ROOOOAAAARRR!

Despite being consumed by fire for the second time, the flames failed to harm the dragon's thick scales or pierce its skin. With two powerful flaps of its wings, it expelled the flames, extinguishing them instantly. The villagers, witnessing the dragon's resilience, began to tremble in fear.

"T-The dragon's still alive, even after being burned twice!"

The dragon's behavior turned erratic. It flapped its wings furiously and ascended higher into the sky, climbing rapidly. Its massive form grew smaller and smaller, until it disappeared entirely into the clouds above.

Everyone stood in stunned silence, unable to process what they had just witnessed. Fear gripped the villagers as they dreaded what the dragon might do next.

“M-Mom... Will that monster come back?” a child whispered, trembling.

The child’s mother wrapped her arms tightly around her, gently stroking her back. “Hush... It won’t come back again,” she murmured, though her voice wavered.

All eyes remained fixed on the sky for what felt like an eternity. No one dared to move, their bodies frozen by fear and anticipation. Yet, to their collective relief, there were no signs of the dragon returning. The tension began to ease, and a wave of relief washed over the village like cool water.

“Thank the heavens! The dragon hasn’t come back!” someone exclaimed.

“Maybe it got scared after being burned twice for no reason!” another added, their tone filled with hope.

Just as the villagers started to celebrate their narrow escape, a deafening bang echoed through the sky, shattering their fragile sense of peace.

BOOOOM!!

Everyone’s gaze shot upward as the sky above cleared in an instant. The thick clouds scattered outward, forming a wide circle that revealed a strange object blocking the sun’s light.

As it drew closer, its silhouette sharpened, and the villagers’ hearts sank with dread.

“It... It’s...!” someone stammered.

The object was no mystery—it was the dragon, plummeting toward the ground at a terrifying speed. The earlier thunderous sound was the result of the beast breaking the sound barrier, its descent accelerated by gravity and propelled beyond Mach 1.

“Everyone, it’s the dragon!” a voice cried out in alarm.

Panic spread like wildfire. Watching the dragon streak toward them, every villager shared the same desperate thought: run as far away as possible.

Their bodies moved instinctively, driven by the primal urge to flee. Fear took hold, and the villagers ran without looking back. Parents clutched their children tightly, sprinting with all their strength. Chaos enveloped the village, with only one thought in every mind: survival.

Amid the panic, one figure remained unmoving. Soru stood firm, his gaze locked onto the descending dragon.

Reika, running alongside the fleeing villagers, paused when she noticed him. Her breath caught as she realized he wasn’t running away.

What is he doing at a time like this...?

Soru’s eyes remained fixed on the beast above. He squinted, trying to focus on its massive frame as it neared.

“I’ll use it on that thing...” he murmured, almost to himself.

Lifting his hand slightly, he shielded his eyes from the sun’s glare, letting the light filter between his fingers.

“Stay put.”

At that moment, the sky erupted with brilliance. The light came suddenly, dazzling in its intensity. Villagers who dared look up shielded their eyes, startled by the sudden change. The radiance reflected off the ground, illuminating the scorched village in an unnatural glow. Those who were too slow to look away covered their faces, fearing the light might blind them.

Although brief, those who dared to look witnessed it—a sight both terrifying and awe-inspiring. The dragon, descending from the heavens with unstoppable force, transformed into a blinding white mass of light. The radiance emanating from its body outshone the sun itself, resembling a second, more brilliant star falling from the sky.

BOOOOOOM!!!

In an instant, the intense light vanished, absorbed back into the dragon. Then, a deafening explosion shattered the momentary stillness. The blast's shockwave rippled through the village, forcing the villagers to cover their ears. Many felt an agonizing ringing, while others winced as blood trickled from their eardrums.

From the sky, a blackened object began its descent, trailing thick smoke behind it.

THUD!!

The ground trembled slightly as the object landed, sending a faint vibration through the soil. Villagers cautiously approached, their curiosity battling with lingering fear. When they saw it up close, their eyes widened in disbelief—it was the dragon's lifeless body.

Its once-imposing form was now unrecognizable. Charred black like burned wood, its scales had disintegrated into dust, leaving behind a husk of what was once a fearsome beast.

Some villagers murmured in astonishment at the dragon's corpse, while others turned their attention to the smoldering remains of their village. The acrid scent of burned wood and organic matter still lingered in the air. Despite the destruction, the fire's aftermath was far less severe thanks to Soru's timely intervention. Small pockets of the village remained intact, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the devastation.

Despite Soru's efforts, the damage was irreversible. Lives had been lost—some buried beneath the rubble, others caught in the flames.

The cries of children filled the air as they ran to their parents and siblings, their faces contorted in terror and grief.

But there were those who hadn’t made it. Some of them sat among the charred remains of their families, their wails of sorrow rising in the air. They clutched at the lifeless bodies of their parents or siblings, their cries a raw, heartrending expression of their loss.

"My child... You’re still so young... Why did you have to leave us so soon...?"

"UWAAAHHH!! Papa... Please don’t leave me...!"

Silas gave orders to those still able to move. They were tasked to gather the bodies of the dead and bring them to the center of the village. Without hesitation, the villagers began the grim task, lifting each lifeless body and laying them down side by side.

Five villagers had died, burned to death or crushed beneath debris, while eleven others were injured by burns or falling rubble, but had been rescued in time. Thankfully, no one else was reported missing. Those who had lost loved ones gathered around the bodies, mourning their loss, while others stood in silent grief, tormented by the helplessness of not being able to save them.

Amid the sorrow, one man, lying next to his family's bodies, suddenly stood. He picked up his hatchet, his movements sudden and unsettling. Those nearby turned in shock.

"My family was killed... All because I was too busy helping others..." The man’s voice trembled with guilt. "If I had saved them first, instead of trying to help everyone else... maybe...!"

He raised the hatchet, its sharp edge pointed at his chest. Reika, witnessing this from a distance, felt her heart race at the sight.

That man—wasn't he the one who guards the entrance gate?

Reika's heart sank as she recognized him, though she couldn't understand the words he was speaking. The anguish in his eyes, however, was clear—sorrow, regret, and hopelessness. At his feet lay the lifeless bodies of a young child and a woman, confirming her fear that these were his family.

"IT'S BETTER IF I FOLLOW THEM THAN LETTING MYSELF DROWN IN DESPAIR IN THIS FORSAKEN WORLD!!" he shouted, his voice breaking with emotion.

With tears in his eyes, he raised the hatchet, preparing to end his life. But before he could drive the blade into his chest, a villager rushed forward, grabbing his arm and stopping him. Others quickly intervened, wrestling the hatchet from his grip and throwing it far away.

As the guard struggled against the villagers holding him back, a punch suddenly landed on his face. Blood poured from his mouth, dripping down his chin. Stunned, he looked around and saw Silas standing in front of him, a look of anger on his face.

"Are you out of your mind? Do you think ending your life will spare you from your misery?" Silas shouted.

The guard shoved the villagers off and wiped the blood from his mouth, his face filled with a mix of frustration and grief.

"What do you think your wife and daughter would say if they saw you doing this to yourself?" Silas pressed.

"Old man, don’t you dare...!" the guard snapped, his voice shaking.

But then, his words faltered as he saw two familiar figures standing behind Silas. Mathilda, his wife, and Emily, his daughter, stared at him with worried expressions.

"M... Mathilda? Emily...?"

He blinked in disbelief, but when he opened his eyes again, they had vanished.

He was left speechless, his body trembling as he sank to his knees. Tears began to roll down his face, and he sobbed quietly.

"I'm sorry... Mathilda, Emily. I have failed you both as a husband and a father..." he whispered through his grief.

The villagers gathered around him, offering comfort, with Silas standing at the forefront, his hand resting on the guard’s shoulder.

Reika, watching the scene unfold, lowered her head in silence. The faces of the villagers who had lost their loved ones lingered in her mind, their grief heavy and palpable.

I couldn't do anything to save them...

Her gaze moved toward the families grieving for their lost ones. She saw their devastation, the helplessness in their cries, mourning people who would never return.

As she thought back to the time she fell from the rooftop, she realized the thought of death hadn’t crossed her mind then. It had felt as if she were mocking death itself.

Reika let out a sigh, looking away.

Maybe this is a reminder that death is always lurking, waiting for its time. That the hands of eternal slumber can reach us at any moment...

While Reika was lost in her thoughts, she suddenly noticed Soru heading out of the village through the entrance. Curiosity stirred within her, and without a word, she quietly followed him.

...

Soru followed the path back to where they had come from. Halfway through, he stopped and gazed at the setting sun, its orange-red light slowly sinking below the horizon. He watched quietly, captivated by the soft rustle of wheat in the gentle breeze, the distant birds soaring overhead. The scene was peaceful, beautiful, a perfect reflection of nature’s calm.

As he took in the view, he sensed someone approaching. Turning to his right, he saw Reika walking toward him. When she reached his side, she stood still, her presence matching the tranquil atmosphere. A light breeze tousled her hair, lifting it gently above her shoulders.

Reika hesitated as she followed Soru, torn between confronting him about his powers and her doubts about his true identity.

Should I ask him directly? What if my suspicions were completely wrong...?

As she stood beside him, her mind raced. There’s no time to hesitate. I need to know the truth, right now.

"I...!"

But before she could speak, Soru turned to face her. His empty, cold eyes met hers, devoid of any emotion. His expression hadn’t shifted since they first met.

Those eyes...

Reika lowered her gaze and spoke in a soft voice, hesitant yet determined.

"I had a suspicion that you were the one who saved me when we fell from the sky. And with the monsters... I think you used some strange method to deal with them."

She paused, gathering her thoughts.

"When you extinguished the flames that destroyed the houses and possibly killed the dragon, it all became clear... Every question I had was answered."

Soru remained silent, listening, not reacting.

"There are families grieving, mourning those lost because of the dragon’s destruction…" Reika's voice faltered as a tear slid down her cheek. She looked up at him.

"If you have such power, why didn’t you use it way earlier? Why didn’t you save every single one of them?"

Her tears kept falling as she searched his face for any sign of empathy. But Soru’s expression was as blank as ever, like someone untouched by the suffering around him.

"I simply did what I thought would be efficient," Soru said coldly, his voice unwavering. "Besides, there’s no reason to save every one of them. Their deaths... are not my concern."

Reika’s breath caught in her throat. Shock and disbelief overwhelmed her, her pupils trembling as the weight of his words sank in.

"H-How could you...?!"

Without thinking, she stood up and raised her hand, her palm aimed at his face.

"How dare you say that about your own kind?! You are heartless!"