Somewhere in a "gap zone" inside the Rainbow Mist.
Bondrewd held Iso's hand, facing Shining, who had "torn an opening" in the mist and burst in.
A gap zone was a special area that people from two "different points in time" could enter only by stepping into the "mist within the mist" at the same time.
Above, below, left, right-mist surrounded them in every direction. Yet the "mist" beneath their feet could be walked on like solid ground. Everywhere else, they were trapped in endless loops.
...Of course, this particular "gap zone" was merely a "simulation" created by Sephiroth.
If it were real, getting Iso out would have been a serious problem.
The main reason for staging all this was respect for Vegapunk's technology.
There was no telling what Atlas might discover. A proper stage play needed to get these little details right, too.
"-You're abducting people again!?"
After Shining burst in, his LED expression changed to "I've found a miracle cure for lolicons."
It was Iso's first time seeing an "elemental being" like Shining, and she froze for a moment.
A robot, a strange man in black, and now someone who wasn't even "solid"?
"Reg, my young friend. This child followed me through the door by accident. I did not 'abduct' her."
Bondrewd's tone was gentle and refined.
"By accident?"
Shining glanced at Iso.
"Not as quick as just grabbing her, huh?"
Iso lightly bit her lip. Under those circumstances, she really had been "grabbed" and taken through the door.
"Mr. Bondrewd said he would take me and everyone else out together..."
"See, you hack of a teacher!"
Shining spread his hands, his expression turning into three exclamation marks.
"She wants to stay with her friends."
Bondrewd fell silent for a moment, a rare occurrence.
"Hearing the words 'hack