That's one packed episode. The Void they need to defeat got really close to devouring the last Soul Future. Thankfully, Natsuko set aside her ego and played a supporting role this time. Justice stopped moping around and decided to do something to help, and so the truth on why he left the Nine Soldiers is out.
The chemistry between Luke and Natusko implies the former is based on her high-school crush, as the preview of the next episode seemed to imply. Additionally, it seems we'll get substantial "real-life" scenes next week.
Also, this is the first time we see Unio not being horny for once.
Speculation
After reading some other discussions, I think I see where the whole show is going. Next episode is titled "First Love". It connects to the movie she's directing.
The fantasy setting is not really an isekai (or is it?), but she's sort of in a limbo/coma/delirium because of the food poisoning. Think Uncle from Another World. What she went through in the fantasy world would serve as the X-factor she needs to finish the movie.
About the topic of "first love", I originally thought it would be about Luke's character and what his expy in the First Love movie would be like. Someone else brought up that art of animation is her first love. Now, I think it would be both.
@rikka@ani.social