In Hayden, one of those towns nearest Star's assignment, they got a man in a wagon to take them to the edge of the forest that met the field where the Innocence had landed. Once there, he would go no further and left them. Luckily, what they were looking for was right in front of them.
"What…is that?" Allen said, staring into the field.
In the center of the country field surrounded by forests, a huge white dome dominated the area. It looked as if it had simply erased everything around it, even the sky, leaving only its spherical white shape.
"It can only be the Innocence," Kanda said grimly.
"I've never seen anything like it," Krory said.
"Yeah, unreal," said Lavi. "I can't even say how big it is, taking up so much of this field."
The remaining Finders on the assignment stationed there met them as they approached.
"Where are Mahoja and Jump?" Star asked immediately.
Looking uneasy, one of them said, "I'm John. Those new Finders that came with you…they keep going off on their own. When Akuma are spotted, they go and the Akuma vanish. How are they doing it?"
"Where are they?" Star asked again. It was best if they didn't know, at least that's what Jump and Mahoja would say, so she ignored his question.
John didn't look happy about it, but he answered her.
"Mahoja is waiting outside of the dome. She said its best we don't go in and to wait for you to arrive. Jump is inside and hasn't come out."
"Thank you. I'll take it from here." She went ahead while the others stood around listening to the rest of the Finder's reports.
As John the Finder had said, Mahoja was waiting outside of the anomaly. On her shoulder, her black golem rustled it's half-folded wings. She frowned at Star's drained, shrunken appearance the moment she saw her.
"What happened?"
"It wasn't that big a deal," Star shrugged. "Just a skirmish on the way."
"Didn't Jump tell you not to dawdle. You could've flown here, Star. Why didn't you?"
"Oh just wave at everyone and say, 'Gee guys, I'm itching crack some Akuma and get that Innocence so I'm going ahead. Laters!'? What do you think I am-Kanda or something," she muttered with a roll of her eyes.
"First of all," Mahoja said, "Kanda wouldn't say 'Laters'. Second, neither should you. Come on. I know you don't want this world to be destroyed. I don't want that either, you know."
"They haven't become completely visible yet."
"Yet," Mahoja stressed.
"My point is that we still have time."
Though it wasn't certain how much time they actually had left.
Before Star and Mahoja could go inside the dome, Allen caught up to them, closely followed by the other Exorcists.
"Hey, Star. The Finders told us that they've managed to make sure no one else goes into the dome. I hope Jump is alright in there. You weren't going in without us, were you?"
"I've got it from here, Allen. Everyone. Don't worry about Jump. I'm sure he's just looking for the missing villagers and travelers. You can go now."
But as she Mahoja turned towards the dome, three of the Exorcists stepped up beside her. Star looked at them.
"I said I got this."
"Let's be sure you and the Finder teams don't need more backup first, Star, before we take off. Okay?" Lenalee said.
Star glanced at Mahoja, who was hesitating to say something with her eyes. A second later, Star relented.
"…Fine."
Lavi said, "Kanda, Miranda, Bookman, and Krory should stay here with the Finders just in case. Me, Lenalee, Star, and Allen will go inside and get that Innocence."
Everyone agreed. Mahoja, Star, Allen, Lenalee, and Lavi stepped inside the dome, passing through it's white outer wall and into what waited beyond.