The black business van stopped outside the domain. The white, curtain-like barrier had yet to open.
"It really doesn't matter to you, since you can change whenever you want... just don't turn into me again."
I didn't want to see someone wearing my face flirting with those two.
Even if I wouldn't be getting that face back anytime soon.
"How you deal with SpiCa's and Achernar's feelings for you is your decision."
An opening appeared in the softly glowing white barrier. The first thing we saw was the Shuttle Tower beneath it.
The tower had long since become an empty shell. The Association had dismantled everything useful inside and taken it back for research. Only the darkness spreading out from the tower remained, seeping into the soil.
It was much denser here than in the Old District outside. Perhaps because of the barrier, it couldn't even dissipate naturally into the air.
Not long after the van drove inside, the entrance in the barrier vanished.
"Let's try it out in the outer area first, then."
We stopped beside a road near the perimeter, and Liuzi opened the door and got out first.
Since the barrier itself gave off a faint glow, visibility was slightly better here than outside. Even without Liuzi's mask, I could just about make things out.
"Everyone, Azura and I can both absorb the surrounding darkness. I can't turn into sludge and absorb the darkness underground, but staying near me will keep you from suffering Dark Erosion."
The investigators nodded at my explanation and unloaded various testing devices from the back of the van. They still switched on a purification device, though. I was clearly more efficient than that thing. Maybe they wanted the lighting too?
"Let's get started, then."
Barbara nodded, opened her prosthetic body's mouth, and