Viltrumite, Is This So-Called Strongest-in-the-World Chat Group Fake?

Then he excitedly looked at his two Paranormal Research Club companions and said:

"Sasaki-senpai! Iguchi-senpai! Did you see that?"

But the two seemed utterly unaware, still holding their fingers against the copper coin. It was as though time had stopped the moment the light screen appeared.

Before Itadori could reach out to investigate, the scene before him shifted again.

The screen expanded further, and six black frames appeared in the center.

The one in the upper left flickered a few times before displaying an image.

A pink-haired boy stood before a sliding door in the background, curiously studying the camera.

It was Itadori himself.

"You've got to be kidding. It even has video chat?"

Itadori curled his lip.

Still, it was no big deal. He had always lived openly and honestly, so he had nothing to worry about.

What interested him more was seeing what the other group members really looked like.

Leon felt the same way.

Soon, the black frame to Itadori's right began displaying an image as well, though its audio came through first.

"You. Tell that Sigil Bearer named Makado that I have no intention of involving myself in their affairs. The time is not right yet."

There was something strangely compelling about that voice, making people instinctively like its owner.

Then its owner appeared. Beneath the golden light, their face shifted several times, male one moment and female the next.

After the face of a black-haired woman flashed past, he swept one hand through the air. At last, his appearance settled into that of an androgynously beautiful adult. His features carried an exotic charm, his eyes were deep, and his bronze skin glimmered faintly beneath the light.

He examined the light screen with great interest.

"A new idea from Little Bluebird? No. I don't smell that disgusting stench. He couldn't have done something like this at this point in time."

The third person to appear was a lively-looking high school girl.

She seemed to have attributed the chat group's appearance to the red markings on the back of her hand, frowning as she repeatedly inspected them.

The scene behind her was a little strange, constantly flickering.

With Leon's exceptional dynamic vision, he could see several classrooms of different styles switching back and forth before finally settling on a Japanese-style classroom.

By the fourth frame, a young man with features as exquisite as a classical Greek sculpture was dealing with a suitcase.

He pulled out item after item, turning back to complain:

"Martha, it's not like this is my first time going to Metropolis. You don't have to go this far."

Before long, however, all four of them used their modern-day experience to turn off their cameras.

As for Leon, he naturally relied on his residual memories and Viltrumite stats to shut off the video in an instant.

Joining a meeting automatically turned on the camera. During the era of online classes, how many captains had crashed and burned over that?

The remaining person, however, was having trouble.

"Is this the Originium Arts they were talking about?"

The little girl with rabbit ears studied the screen with keen interest.

It was only when she saw herself on it that she shyly tried to turn off the camera.

Not quite understanding modern devices, she wanted to call her parents for help, only to discover that their time had already been frozen.

The little girl's eyes were reddening with panic.

She was pretty cute. At last, he had met a normal child.

Memories of his unhappy childhood surfaced, and Leon's right hand trembled before he sent:

[Viltrum Honor Student: @Spicy Donkey Head Little bunny, can I call you that? Look up for the close button and tap it.]

"O-Okay!"

It was the first time she had received a message from someone else, and the timid little girl was a little nervous.

After finding the close button, she bowed to the camera before tapping it, then flashed a brilliant smile.

"Thank you, Mr. Viltrum Honor Student!"

What a good kid. All five group members, including Leon, thought so.

Just as everyone was preparing to use this chance to start a conversation, a window popped up.

[You have a new group announcement]

[Welcome, everyone, to the Strongest-in-the-World ███ Chat Group. This group gathers the strongest people of the current age from different worlds, with the aim of promoting mutual exchange and helping everyone grow and improve together.]

[Here, aside from daily missions, the system will issue missions according to each group member's individual progress.

Group members can earn points by completing these missions and checking in. Points can be used in the group store or for certain group functions.]

[More group functions have yet to be unlocked. Please stay tuned.]

After reading the announcement, Leon took a look through the system.

Once he had confirmed the basic chat functions, he opened the store. It was completely empty.

[There are currently no products in the store. New products will be made available later according to group members' progress.]

Well then, it seemed the entire chat group relied on them pushing the main storyline forward.

While the other group members were still exploring its functions, Leon took the lead in starting a conversation.

[Viltrum Honor Student: @Spicy Donkey Head You don't need to call me by my group name. Just call me Leon from now on.

I don't really understand what's going on either, but since fate has brought everyone together here, I'll introduce myself first.]

[Viltrum Honor Student: My name is Leon. I've just arrived in the United States and am getting ready to look for a job here.]

Noticing the keywords, Superman was the first to respond.

[Kansas Farm Boy: Hey, bro, looks like you and I are in the same boat.

Um... my name is Clark Kent. Just like my group nickname says, I grew up on a farm in Kansas. After graduating, I'm getting ready to head to Metropolis to find a job.]

[Not a God, Just a Yellow Weasel: Neos. You can call me that. I currently live in the Himalayas, and I suppose I'm a... reclusive scientist.]

[Tiger of West Middle School: A scientist working in the Himalayas?! Is Mr. Neos studying yetis?]

[Not a God, Just a Yellow Weasel: A little more impressive than yetis.]

[Tiger of West Middle School: Cool! Ah, am I getting off topic?

My name is Yuji Itadori. I'm a first-year student at Sendai Sugisawa Third High School in Miyagi Prefecture. My hobbies are eating snacks and reading manga.]

[Spicy Donkey Head: I don't know what a donkey is...

Anyway, my name is Amiya. I'm in Rim Billiton with my mom and dad. Nice to meet everyone.]

[Orange-Haired, Golden-Eyed Calamity of Humanity: Ritsuka Fujimaru. I'm a high school student like Itadori-kun, in Fuyuki City... uh, or Snowfield City...

I can't tell which it is. Anyway, you all saw it on the video. I'm at school.

Also, what is with this group nickname? Calamity of Humanity? That's far too rude for a youthful high school girl!]

[Viltrum Honor Student: +1]

[Not a God, Just a Yellow Weasel: +1]

Ritsuka Fujimaru's complaint immediately resonated with the two adults.

Leon did not want to be a Viltrum Honor Student, and Neos did not think he was anything like a yellow weasel, begging to be granted a title every day.

Who would want such a twisted nickname? Only an idiot!

But honestly, after everyone had introduced themselves, Leon's heart sank a little.

Viltrumites did not possess super-intelligence. Perhaps even the intelligence genes had long since been bred out of them, but the knowledge he had uncovered was still enough to help him understand the situation.

The Strongest-in-the-World Chat Group.

Inside were Superman, who had yet to work in Metropolis;

Itadori and Ritsuka, who were still attending high school;

Amiya, whose parents were both alive and well;

And the Emperor, who was reliable enough, but had yet to begin the Unification Wars and would later receive endless surprises from the Chaos Gods.

Where exactly was the strongest part? How dare this thing mess with me!

Leon grumbled inwardly. Could it be that he was currently the group's T0 combat power? What happened to getting carried?

Then, before his eyes, the blacked-out section after the group name gradually faded away, finally becoming—

[Strongest-in-the-World Reserve Chat Group]

Group Members in Peril

[Tiger of West Middle School: By the way, by the way, does anyone know what "strongest in the world" means? Strongest athlete? Strongest exorcist? I'm pretty confident in my physical abilities.]

[Orange-Haired, Golden-Eyed Calamity of Humanity: More importantly, why would those two professions even be put together? Can Itadori-kun exorcise ghosts with his fists?]

[Tiger of West Middle School: You never know.]

[Spicy Donkey Head: Amiya wants to become the world's greatest pastry chef and make lots and lots of carrot pies.]

The three minors chatted enthusiastically, while the three adults remained silent.

Clark was still young and inexperienced, in a period of confusion over his powers and his Kryptonian identity.

Neos planned to coast for as long as he could. He knew his destiny. Once the story began, he would no longer have a moment's rest.

As for Leon, sitting before the screen, he let out a relieved, exasperated laugh.

"Reserve... I knew it wouldn't be that simple."

Less than a few minutes after getting excited, he realized that there really was someone powerful in the group. It just seemed that he was the one expected to be powerful.

Judging from the group announcement, the members would probably soon have to face their own crises and destinies.

But the minors had yet to come into contact with their powers, while Superman was just a boy scout, noble in character but restricted in action. Besides, it was unknown whether he could even fly yet.

As for the Emperor, let's wish him luck first.

So for the moment, the most suitable chat group mercenary could only be Leon.

Half helpless and half expectant of rewards from other worlds, Leon bid farewell to the group first.

[Viltrum Honor Student: I never expected to run into something like this, but I'm glad to have met all of you from different worlds. I have something to take care of on my end, so I'll be leaving for now. Let's chat again next time.]

[Orange-Haired, Golden-Eyed Calamity of Humanity: I have to say, Mr. Leon is really polite. Is that what you'd expect from an honor student?]

Is that so? You'll find out when you need to call for backup.

Leon thought with a smile.

[Not a God, Just a Yellow Weasel: I also need to step away for a while. I have research to conduct.]

[Tiger of West Middle School: I need to continue with my club activities.]

The remaining group members bid farewell one after another. Leon tapped the close button and released the time stop.

He clenched his right hand into a fist, extended it forward, and assumed a high-speed flight pose as he flew toward Earth.

Only when he drew close did he slow down, gradually passing through the atmosphere. The familiar landmass lay before him.

But he only glanced at it from afar before flying toward the lighthouse nation, where night had already fallen.

Along the way, Leon flew with his hands behind his head, looking up at the sky.

The starry sky was his quilt, the white clouds his blanket. With the chat group open beside him, it felt a little like staying up late chatting online back in the day.

No one was online at the moment, so he switched to the mission interface.

[Daily Mission—Strongest-in-the-World Training Plan: Complete ten round trips between Earth and the Moon. You must not fall below the designated speed.]

[Completion Reward: 100 points. Time remaining: 24 hours.]

That was his daily mission for today.