After playing in the heart of the storm for a while, Flandre's group flew back in the direction they had come from, their movements light and casual. Upon seeing them emerge from the horizon, the driver and the Catastrophe Messenger, who had been waiting in a state of grim anticipation, were utterly shocked.
"You're... you're really alright!" the Catastrophe Messenger stammered. He didn't just take their word for it; he immediately pulled out his specialized instruments, pointing the sensors at the group to check their vital signs and infection levels.
After a detailed, frantic examination, he stared at the readout in disbelief. There were indeed traces of increased Originium concentration clinging to their clothes and skin—residue left by the Catastrophe—yet not a single one of them showed even the slightest physiological sign of contracting Oripathy. The man began to pace, repeatedly complaining that the situation was entirely illogical. Beside him, the driver insisted that he had indeed dropped them off well within the Catastrophe's range and that they had walked out from the very heart of the destruction.
But why didn't any of them have Oripathy? While the Messenger was still lost in his disbelief, the Gensokyo group had already boarded the vehicle, ready to catch up with the convoy. Although the main group had left several hours earlier, the large transport vehicles moved slowly. Suika and the others caught up with them before the sun had fully set.
Seeing Flandre's group return safely, Zhang Wei and Dropper both breathed a massive sigh of relief. They repeatedly lectured the sisters, stating that Catastrophes were too dangerous and that it was best to avoid any contact with them in the future. Flandre's group simply nodded, choosing not to mention that they had actually been sipping tea inside the eye of the storm.
Because of the temporary detour, the convoy failed to reach the scheduled town and had to choose a relatively safe spot in the wilderness to rest and regroup for the night. Sitting by the campfire and looking at the twin moons hanging in the sky, Remilia's group felt a quiet sentiment that this otherworldly realm was truly interesting.
"There's something even more interesting," Flandre said, a little devilish smile playing on her lips. "Suika, fly up into the sky—the higher, the better!"
"Huh?" Not understanding the request, Ibuki Suika shrugged, shot up from the ground, and flew into the air under everyone's curious gaze. A few minutes later, she fell back down headfirst, crashing into the dirt.
"There's a wall in the sky!" Suika shouted shakily, pointing to the heavens. She clutched a large, growing bump on her head, rolling her eyes and sticking out her tongue in a "dead" expression of dramatic frustration.
Hearing her words, Yukari Yakumo and Remilia stood up, intent on investigating. Flandre held them back for a moment. "The resistance starts at a height of about six kilometers. Be careful!"
Remilia nodded, and she and Yukari ascended together. When they returned minutes later, Yukari looked at Flandre with a piercing gaze. "What exactly is going on up there?"
Flandre explained the concept of the Star Capsule she had learned about. The group was left somewhat speechless.
"You mean Terra is like a giant egg? We live on the yolk, and there's a massive membrane on the outside separating the planet from space?" Eirin Yagokoro asked, puzzled. "The people of this world don't even know about the universe? Only this land?"
"Of course," Flandre replied. "It's not that no one has ever tried to touch the sky; it's just that they've all failed so far." She recounted several cases where exploration attempts had ended in disaster. "Terrans believe there is a vaster space beyond, but their technology cannot break through the Star Capsule."
"How thick is it?" Yukari asked. Flandre shook her head, so Yukari vanished into a Gap to check again.
When she returned, she reported: "Confirmed. It's about ten kilometers thick. We only need to break through the bottom five hundred meters of the stratosphere; the middle section has no effect on us... then there's another layer at the very outside. It's like the planet is encased in a protective shield. I went out and took a look—it's breathtaking. This is definitely a planet, not a pocket dimension."
Yukari continued, "Originium loses its activity the moment it enters that area. If that's their only energy source, it's a dead end for them. They can't power anything once they leave the atmosphere."
"That's actually an advantage for us," Remilia said, a sharp glint in her eyes. "Flying is no challenge for Great Youkai. We can completely rule the skies of this world."
As the group prepared to rest, Flandre suddenly heard a rustling sound coming from the southwest. The others stood up one by one as the sound grew louder. Dropper noticed their alertness. "What's happening?"
"Many sounds are approaching from the southwest!" Flandre answered.
Zhang Wei and Dropper immediately went into combat mode. Several soldiers rushed in the direction Flandre had pointed. Yukari watched them. "They're very disciplined soldiers."
"What's coming?" Remilia asked as Sakuya returned from a quick reconnaissance.
"Reporting to the Young Mistress, they are insects." Sakuya replied. "Pincerbugs," Flandre added, recognizing the description from her books.
The soldiers came running back, shouting, "It's a swarm of Pincerbugs!" The convoy grabbed their weapons, waiting cautiously as thousands of the creatures rushed toward them. Flandre instinctively stepped forward, but Remilia pulled her back.
"To fight the Pincerbugs! Don't you want to join in, Sister?" Flandre's eyes widened. "Fighting is always fun, and I don't have to hold back here like in Gensokyo!"
Ibuki Suika became interested. "Remi, if you don't want to look after her, hand Flandre over to me!"
"Get lost!" Remilia snapped, nearly kicking her.
Before the conversation could end, Flandre and Suika were already on the battlefield. Suika grabbed a Pincerbugs, toyed with it like a toy, and tossed it aside with disdain. "Too weak."
Nearby, Flandre split into four. With high-pitched, manic laughter, the four Flandres charged into the swarm. They grabbed insects and pulled them in different directions, tearing them apart with raw, physical strength. She didn't even use magic at first; she simply tore into them with her hands.
Despite her crazed appearance, Suika noticed she was lucid. She was systematically breaking up the clusters, ensuring the convoy's guards were never overwhelmed. The defensive line remained stable. When the Pincerbugs realized they were being slaughtered and tried to flee, Flandre showed her true fangs.
Facing the retreating swarm, she clenched her hand, and an insect nearby instantly exploded into gore. "Why? Isn't it nice to play with Flandre? Why run away? Hehehe... hahahaha!"
Magic circles flared behind her, raining Magic Bullets down upon the fleeing swarm until the ground was a mangled mess of insect carapaces. Humming a cheerful song, Flandre flew back to Remilia's side, satisfied.
"Sister!" she said affectionately, leaning against Remilia as if the madness of the last few minutes had never happened. Remilia stroked her head, praising her.
Zhang Wei, having finished the roll call and finding only minor injuries among his men, walked over and gave a sincere bow. "Thank you for your help, Miss Flandre."
"It wasn't really help," Flandre waved her hand. "These Pincerbugs came at just the right time."
"If you need anything, please ask. We will do it even at the cost of our lives," Zhang Wei vowed.
"No need for the 'cost of your lives' part," Suika jumped in. "When we get to the next city, just get me some good sake!"