[Rei blinked in surprise too. ViViD was never this easy, and she almost always had to transform. But...the guy was gone. She couldn't feel the taint so strongly, just what lingered.

And the smell, of course, was not at all pleasant. Wrinkling her nose she folded her arms and huffed. Seriously, you'd think that the inside of a video game wouldn't reek so badly, but it very, very much does.]

So it would seem. CERES is...as mercurial as ever.

[And from the other side of the damaged wall? There's a sound. The shifting of chains, a groan, and a muted cry for help.]

And unless I miss my guess, this is where they hit us where it hurts. Some illusion. But we may as well go see, yes?