The Ex-Machina on a Dimensional Journey

At the thought, a hopeless feeling began to rise in the young man's heart. How could they defeat an enemy like this?

"Wait. Something's wrong."

Joan narrowed her eyes and studied Karna's cool, composed face. For some reason, she didn't think he had been brought here as a captive.

The moment Karna came through the doorway, he swept his gaze over everyone present. His eyes passed over the Masters, and when they reached his "former Master," he moved on without so much as a blink.

His gaze settled on Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others inside the barrier at the center of the grounds.

Then he strode straight toward them.

Within moments, Karna entered the barrier and stopped five meters from the group.

Ignoring Joan's sharpening gaze, he quickly looked over the three of them.

"Which of you is Fujimaru Ritsuka?"

No one answered, perhaps because they hadn't had time to react. Karna decided to state his purpose directly.

"My Master ordered me to come and 'invite' Fujimaru Ritsuka to 'come with me.'"

"Huh?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka's heart jolted.

Before the boy could speak, however, Joan cut in, her expression already darkening.

"Who is your 'Master' now?"

Though she was bound from head to toe and had no way to resist, Joan questioned Karna with undiminished authority.

"As far as I know, your previous Master lost his Command Spells and his status as a 'Master' to someone who called himself Number One."

Huh?

What was going on?

Fujimaru Ritsuka didn't understand what Joan meant. Neither did Mashu.

Only Shishigou immediately caught the crucial detail in that brief question.

"Your former Master is right here!"

Command Spells could be stripped away and transferred. Joan instantly recalled what she had seen a few hours earlier: Number One had crouched beside one of the