Viltrumite, Is Your Mightiest Chat Group Fake?

[ Ding, chat group update complete. New functions unlocked as follows. ]

[ Given that all members of this group have come into contact with their respective worlds' main quests, the chat group will unlock the function of actively issuing missions and inviting members to each other's worlds. ]

[ Please refer to the following document for specific methods and restrictions. ]

"So, that's why our Snowfield City..."

The teacher was still lecturing.

Just as Ritsuka Fujimaru was about to open the document and study how to invite her groupmates over—see what cursed energy-powered boxing was all about—

She suddenly froze.

"What do you mean, 'all members have come into contact with their respective worlds' main quests'?"

That wasn't right. She had been in class when she activated the chat group, and she was still in class now. Where had a main quest come from?

Unless... I'd been inside the mission from the start?

A chill ran down Ritsuka Fujimaru's spine as countless abnormalities, once concealed by cognitive interference, surged into her awareness.

Clang!

Class had not ended, yet the bell rang again.

It was like the final straw that broke the camel's back. Ritsuka Fujimaru abruptly broke free of her confusion and looked up.

In an instant, everyone in the once utterly ordinary classroom turned to look at her.

A skull mask slowly emerged on each of their faces.

"You noticed?"

29k Terra, on the eve of the Imperium of Man's founding.

Neos accepted Makado's invitation and inherited the legacy of the Sigillites—

An ancient, loosely organized group devoted to preserving remnants of human culture.

From then on, he would call himself //the Emperor, while the name Neos would gradually be forgotten by time.

Fortunately, he had a group of groupmates.

Afterward, he began strengthening his control over the Himalayas region.

He subdued Freemasonry and had them lay the foundations for the Imperial Palace in Nepal's ancient capital.

Ezekiel Sedayne's defection also gave his genetics laboratory another capable hand.

Neos had a feeling that this name would remain with the Imperium for a very, very long time.

That day, having finally squeezed some leisure from his work, Neos and Makado were drinking together.

Once they had drunk their fill, Makado began talking about humanity's Golden Age as he faced the food on the table.

"I still remember when I was eighteen..."

From cuisine to technology, the nostalgia in his eyes grew ever deeper.

Makado was considered young among the Perpetuals.

He had been born near the end of humanity's Golden Age and witnessed the lingering glow of that great era.

In that respect, he was unlike Neos, and unlike Oll Persson and Erda, who had lived through the Stone Age and remained calm after witnessing the rise and fall of ten thousand years.

They would all fight for humanity, but the passion in Makado's heart carried a uniquely youthful quality.

So Neos decided to give this little brat, who had only been born after Earth was renamed Terra, a taste of 2k shock.

He exchanged two foods from the chat group, placed them on plain plates, and pushed them toward Makado.

"Beef?"

Makado took a bite, and a glimmer appeared in his eyes.

Although the Golden Age had already transcended material limits and could directly implant the concept of deliciousness for one to enjoy—

The sensation of returning to the basics was different after all.

"Is this another use of psychic power, Your Majesty?"

"It doesn't seem to be at present. I hope it isn't."

Neos looked at the newly popped-up message before him, his expression unreadable.

Meanwhile, at the Daily Planet office.

Clark carried several stacks of cardboard boxes as he walked alongside Lois.

"You can put them here."

The capable woman set down her own boxes first, then directed Clark to follow suit.

"Thanks, Clark. You're really strong."

"As thanks, how about dinner, or coming with me to Antarctica?"

Clark showed a troubled expression.

He really wanted to choose the former, but he knew the latter was of great importance.

The alien pod that had brought him here had always been guiding him toward that place.

"The answer is both."

Lois smiled. She found this honest, handsome big guy quite interesting.

Then time froze at the instant she brushed aside a strand of hair.

A new message popped up before Clark.

[ Emergency Mission — The life of group member Orange-Haired, Golden-Eyed Evil Human is under threat. ]

[ A false dream has been shattered. The place that should have been her home has become a prison. Hunted by the entirety of human history, the girl needs power from beyond her world. ]

[ Mission Requirements: Target survives; all participants withdraw to the designated location. Available participants: 0/5. ]

[ Mission Reward: 2,000 points. Participating members may receive special rewards from that world. The probability can increase when special battles or events are triggered. ]

Then Ritsuka Fujimaru's own cry for help appeared.

[ Orange-Haired, Golden-Eyed Evil Human: @All Members A groupmate is in danger, get here fast. ]

[ Kansas Farm Boy: Received. ]

[ Yellow Weasel, Neither Man nor God: Received. ]

[ Viltrumite Honor Student: Received. ] +1

On Pluto, Leon casually tapped in as well.

Only the next second did he realize it—what did it mean that Ritsuka Fujimaru was being hunted by human history?

Would you even dismantle a wheelchair?

Savior Lunatic

[ Orange-Haired, Golden-Eyed Evil Human: @All Members A groupmate is in danger, get here fast. ]

Almost at the same time, Ritsuka Fujimaru, a girl who had believed she had lived an ordinary life for more than a decade,

Despite being consumed by the hollow feeling of having her past life denied, instantly made the best decision.

She opened the chat group.

The Middle Eastern old man on the podium who was transforming, along with the masked students, all froze in place.

[ West China Tiger: Wow, this is the first mission everyone can participate in! Fujimaru, are you okay over there? ]

[ Spicy Donkey Head: Being hunted by human history sounds really dangerous... Is there anything I can do? ]

Ritsuka Fujimaru roughly recounted the situation here, mixing in some knowledge she had only just remembered.

This immediately made every group member realize the severity of the problem.

[ Kansas Farm Boy: No problem on my end. I'm fairly confident in my strength. ]

[ Yellow Weasel, Neither Man nor God: I've already found a way to avoid their gaze. Looks like only the three of us can set out now. ]

Neos tacitly approved Leon's participation.

Then Leon sent a screenshot saying "Loading."

[ Due to resistance from an unknown consciousness in the other world, the crossing may take some time. ]

[ Viltrumite Honor Student: @Orange-Haired, Golden-Eyed Evil Human Is there any way on your end to speed up our arrival? ]

Clearly, Leon had thought of Servant summoning.

Ritsuka Fujimaru instantly replied with an image.

[ Rescue Target's Mission Suggestion: You may choose to search the map for a special arrival passage or hold out until rescue arrives. The former may provide additional rewards. ]

[ Viltrumite Honor Student: Do you have any leads? ]

[ Orange-Haired, Golden-Eyed Evil Human: Yes. ]

[ Viltrumite Honor Student: Then go for it, Ritsuka. ]

From beginning to end, Leon had not said a single word of concern. He had only kept asking, judging, and making decisions.

When Ritsuka Fujimaru said she had an idea, he did not even ask what it was.

He seemed to believe she could do it even more than Ritsuka herself did.

That filled in the last sliver of the girl's hesitation.

"Phew... Let's go."

She closed the chat group, and time began to move.

The students' clothes flew away, revealing lean black bodies beneath.

The teacher before the blackboard abruptly swelled to over two meters tall. His shadow turned into robes, and blue ghostly light flickered beneath the hood.

"Human Evil must be slain..."

They were Hassans.

Amid these transformations, Ritsuka Fujimaru quietly swallowed the Kikufuku she had just unwrapped.

The surge of stamina suppressed the physiological reactions caused by fear.

Clang!

An unfamiliar bell rang, and everything began moving.

"Exterminate all enemies of the Lord!"

The Hassan student at the neighboring desk launched an attack.

He was slower than Ritsuka had imagined. She locked the thrusting dagger with her left hand, then snatched up a pencil with her right and drove it into the gap in his mask.

Taking advantage of the opening, she stepped onto the desk, flipped over it, and jumped out the window.

"Only the fourth floor. Nothing to fear!"

As if she had repeated it countless times, the girl landed and rolled, completely unharmed.

"Souls are like candy. Drip with pain—Delusional Heartbeat!"

A glowing arm burst through the roof of the school building and reached straight for Ritsuka.

She rolled aside to evade it, but was immediately swallowed by shadow.

Looking up, she saw First Hassan bearing down like a mountain.

Clang!

The familiar bell rang.

The shadow beneath Ritsuka Fujimaru's feet expanded, and a Servant identical in appearance emerged from it.

He raised his sword to block the enemy's slash, the faint blue light in his eye sockets glancing toward Ritsuka.