There was silence for a moment. The rest knew this was inevitable, but the invitation of new members stunned them.
[Fourth Calamity: What's with the silence?]
Laurel asked, silence drowning out his question for a moment before Lux then decided to interject.
[Weakest Undefeated: We probably didn't think it would be this soon..]
[Fourth Calamity: Lux, it's been almost two months.]
Besides, the main point is that the system follows a progression concept; if all worlds under its influence have progressed, then it will look for other worlds to influence.
That was the concept behind the system.
[Fourth Calamity: Our worlds, mainly Lux and Mei's, have undergone significant change. Additionally, we have two more worlds under our jurisdiction, so it's time to expand our influence, don't you think?]
[Weakest Undefeated: I see. That makes sense.]
[Vampire Ancestor: Then, I'll look forward to who our newcomer is.]
Of course, the remaining three couldn't help but be curious. But Laurel, however, wasn't worried.
Hehe, as long as he got to modify skills, it didn't matter who they were.
DING!
[User 'Demon of Okinawa' has accepted the invite]
[User 'Nightmare' has accepted the invite]
It was more like they couldn't reject the invite, so they had no choice but to accept it.
DING!
[User 'Demon of Okinawa has entered the general chat]
[User 'Nightmare' has entered the general chat]
Location: Earth - Branched world [Highschool of the dead], Japan.
Time: Late Evening.
The first thing that came to Laurel's mind was, what the hell?
Just what were the odds of something like this happening? And if he wasn't wrong, wasn't the Demon of Okinawa…
Not to mention Nightmare...? However, he ignored the other for a moment, focusing on the first.
[Fourth Calamity: Maeshvara…?]
At first, there was silence. Then…
[Demon of Okinawa: So, that's the situation here…]
They replied as if they already understood what was happening, but truthfully, their tone didn't sound convinced.
Laurel thought so.
If this were indeed the person he thought it would be, then it was only natural they would have grasped the situation.
[Fourth Calamity: I take it you've gone through everything? As expected of you.]
[Weakest Undefeated: …to give a newcomer such praise…]
Lux couldn't help but draw Laurel's attention. It was also the time when their all-seeing friend would shed light on their confusion.
So, they waited.
[Vampire Ancestor: Before the reveal, Laurel, you know what…]
[Fourth Calamity: …?]
[Vampire Ancestor: Do I really need to spell it out?]
[Fourth Calamity: I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but no. It's probably the other newcomer, though.]
Of course, both thought alike. Perhaps both had begun to rub off on each other.
But Luminous wouldn't admit that she was just like him in that regard.
[Demon of Okinawa: It's hard to believe, but what I see is an undeniable fact. It stands to reason; you all are actually from other worlds?
[Fourth Calamity: Umu!]
[Demon of Okinawa: —And, if I'm not wrong, you typed a text I haven't seen in a while. How did you know?]
[Fourth Calamity: Hehe! I'm the administrator, of course. This much is expected of me!]
[Weakest Undefeated: Laurel is dodging it again isn't he?]
[Vampire Ancestor: He hasn't pulled this crap in a while. Let him have his moment...]
[Fourth Calamity: You two…]
As expected, his biggest opponent was none other than Luminous herself. And if the vampire wanted to play it that way, then fine.
[Fallen Heiress: Uh, what about the other person?]
[Fourth Calamity: Ah yes, Luminous, this newcomer's abilities control time. Well, though, if I were to choose, I'd say the newcomer's abilities are better than the Oath of Time in your hands.]
Speed up, slow down, stop time, reverse time; the person's powers could do all of the above.
For the object now with Luminous, its power was far inferior. But at the same time, its potential could rival, or perhaps surpass, it.
"Luminous is a goddess, or, as a spiritual being, technically one. Furthermore, the S-type skill I created is based on beliefs about her.."
"As long as they believe she can do something, so it will be. Then, if she spreads a legacy about the "oath of time" in her hands…"
"Using my powers and taking advantage of the Cardinal World's evolution system, it should become at least legendary."
Laurel should be able to upgrade the device to, at a bare minimum, a legendary-class weapon.
While lying on Aisrehdar's lap, Laurel's thoughts spiraled into overdrive.
His head rested against the plush surface of her thighs, flesh warm and supple beneath the thin material of her stockings.
Her legs weren't small, nor dainty.
They were full, womanly—plump in a way that gently swallowed the side of his face.
There was an indulgent softness to them, like sinking into a thick, heated pillow.
He adjusted slightly, his cheek brushing over the inner curve of her leg, the scent of faint rosewater drifting from her skin.
When he tilted his face, his temple pressed into the crease where thigh met hip, a spot so intimately soft it momentarily made him forget what he was thinking about.
But only momentarily.
'If you consider it, a device capable of manipulating time, even while weak, could be said to be unique, no?'
Then, when evolved under the right circumstances, even if it wouldn't reach God-Grade, at the very least, it would reach Legendary.
'Hey, System, simulate the potential of the Oath of Time if it evolves using the Cardinal World's evolution system.'
[Realizing….]
[Possible Evolution Path...…..]
[OATH OF TIME - LEGENDARY GEAR]
Time Covenant lets its bearer manipulate time on a specific object—slowing it, speeding it, using mediums such as cards, flames, water, etc.
With this upgrade, the need for a medium can be circumvented. Possible abilities based on data received from the user: Vampire Ancestor:
- [Thought Acceleration]: Up to 100,000 times, allowing the world to appear slow to the user.
- [Future attack prediction]: Allow the user to see the paths of a person's attacks, ranging from two to five seconds.
- [Limitless]: Grants the user a temporal dynamic barrier that slows down attacks attempting to reach the user.
[Note: Limitless can be bypassed by overwhelming power or incompatible principles.]
Laurel blinked, eyes flicking across the glowing panel.
Adjusting his head on Aisrehdar's lap, he tilted his chin slightly, causing his cheek to sink deeper into her thigh; its softness now completely enveloped half his face..
His eyes, meanwhile, trailed upward, catching the silhouette of her chest from below; her clothes were loose enough to allow a faint outline to show.
He turned his head aside, his nose now brushing the hem of her skirt, and exhaled lightly.
Blinking for a moment before turning his head to the side, facing what he read on the panel.
And... he couldn't help but let out a surprised "Oh," sound.
Ais's hand twitched in his hair.
"My Lord?"
She leaned forward slightly to look past her, at the system panel in front of her and, as she slowly read it, mirrored his surprise.
"That…"
"Limitless… given the Time Covenant's inherent ability, it makes sense. However,"
Laurel tilted his head to look up again—her breasts blocking part of her face, but he could see her expression as though it were clear.
"What is it, Ais?"
She let out a soft breath. Her fingers absentmindedly threaded through his hair.
"...Haah. After centuries of fighting Horologues with the limited power we inherited… I thought that was it. That, this was all we had to work with.…"
"But I blamed us—our inadequacy. The deaths of our kin… over eight hundred lay at the lowest levels of Chronos HQ with their corpse being the only thing left of them."
"I was arrogant, wasn't I? I said I fought for humanity, but trampled others to do it. We... accepted death as the price of relevance."
She closed her eyes. The muscles in her thighs subtly tensed beneath his head.
Everything she had done, suddenly meaningless in comparison to what Laurel could casually do.
Compared to a person who can solve her world's problems with just a snap of his fingers, she felt all her sacrifices until now were in vain.
Laurel watched her for a moment. His voice softened.
"Don't be silly. I'm not omnipotent. Despite my strength… I too have been where you are now. There was a time I entrusted my life to a god. And in return… I suffered a decade of endless agony."
"Over and over again. I died. And at some points, I couldn't blame anyone. Though a decade passed, it felt like centuries. Even in death, I still retained consciousness before revival. Was that not torture in itself?"
"But bygones are bygones. Now look. I'm strong, aren't I?"
He said that with a convincing smile, though it was meant for him more than her. After all…,
[Time until Third Calamity descent: -SOON-]
"...."
It has been a day since this appeared, and that is why…
[Weakest Undefeated: Why did Laurel go silent all of a sudden?]
[Vampire Ancestor: Who knows?]
[Demon of Okinawa: If I'm not wrong, that 'Fourth Calamity' user, Laurel, is something like the leader of this group.]
[Weakest Undefeated: Pretty much.]
[Vampire Ancestor: Tch.]
[Fallen Heiress: Perhaps, Laurel is lost in thought?]
A long pause.
[Fourth Calamity: Sorry, was lost in thought.]
[Fourth Calamity: …]
[Weakest Undefeated: …]
[Vampire Ancestor: …]
[Fallen Heiress: …]
[Demon of Okinawa: Anything wrong?]
[Fourth Calamity: Don't worry about it, hahaha.]
[Vampire Ancestor: You aside, what about the newcomer? Shy, or what?]
[Nightmare: My, my, how pushy. Can't you give a lady time to get her thoughts together.]
[Vampire Ancestor: Laurel, good job *thumbs_up.*]
[Fourth Calamity: Heh.]
[Fallen Heiress: Why do I get the feeling Laurel and Luminous are scheming something again…]
[Weakest Undefeated: Mei-san, you're right—but don't forget, their eyes are still on you, too.]
[Fallen Heiress: Eh?!]
[Nightmare: My~ my~ What is this? Are both of them perverts? You two definitely seem like the type who'd be unpopular with girls.]
[Fourth Calamity: Unfortunately for you, my partner-in-crime is a woman.]
[Vampire Ancestor: Contrary to your expectations, that idiot's actually very popular with women.]
[Nightmare: My, I guessed wrong?]
[Fourth Calamity: Anyways, my concern is @Demon of Okinawa, let me modify your powers, hehehe~]
[Weakest Undefeated: He's at it again.]
[Vampire Ancestor: This gives me an unpleasant sense of déjà vu..]
[Demon of Okinawa: Why should I allow that?]
[Fourth Calamity: I can completely remove the setbacks of your ability. Perfect destruction and resurrection.]
[Demon of Okinawa: …I appreciate it, but I'll have to decline.]
[Fourth Calamity: I see.]
[Weakest Undefeated: …Wait, Laurel backed down that easily?]
[Vampire Ancestor: Laurel, are you okay?]
[Fourth Calamity: What do both of you take me for???]
[Vampire Ancestor: The fool I know would be grinning ear to ear, talking in that grating, smug tone.]
[Weakest Undefeated: And if rejected, he'd just pester you endlessly until you gave in.]
[Fourth Calamity: Tsk.]
While typing that last message, Laurel shifted his weight, sitting up from Aisrehdar's lap.
Ais lifted her gaze, her long hair cascading around her shoulders as she looked at him.
"My Lord?"
Laurel didn't meet her eyes at first. He exhaled, brushing the crease of his clothes as he stood fully.
"Thank you, Ais."
Laurel turned—
—and in the blink of an eye, his body fragmented into a shimmering blue blur, phasing from the space
************
In a space unbound by horizon or floor—a world mirroring the night sky—Laurel stood still.
Above him stretched an endless ocean of black, studded with millions of silver pinpricks, stars both faint and blinding.
Some drifted lazily across the void, while far in the distance several bigger stars linked together forming a constellation across the starry black sky.
It was his reward—a privilege granted upon his Authority's latest ascension,
the chance to speak with the Omniscient Star Phecda.
With a limited time and attempt, he could ask the star any question, and he'll receive the answer to it.
However, after this, the chances of receiving this type of privilege would be very low.
Lower than obtaining a limited SSR character in a shitty banner system.
In this place without direction, he stood, slowly raising his head up.
『Welcome, oh Sovereign. What do you wish to ask from the world?』
The stars didn't speak in voice or tone. The answer arrived directly into his mind, echoing like a ripple through his bones.
Hearing that, he prepared himself.
"Phecda what am I?"
『Formless authority. Now given form. A concept that became man. That is who you are.』
Laurel's brows furrowed, "Authority of what?"
『Civilization.』
『Proof that humanity can become gods. There are forces that fear this. They do not want to see mankind ascend.』
『This world was purged by their influence—alien deities, twisted demons, apocalypses, mechanical gods.』
『Your job is to repel them, at the same time, as the leader of the all world alliance guild… lead worlds to unity.』
Hearing that brought more questions than answers, but the growing confusion he wanted to eliminate.
An important question lingered despite his carefree expression.
"I've always thought each world I've visited isn't real. How is it possible for me to live in a world that didn't exist in the first place?"
"One day, they are things I've watched; the next, I'm living in them. As powerful as boundless deities may be, how does such a thing work?"
『Allow me a question in return.』
『What if the authors of those stories… were not creating them, but simply remembering?』
『What if they were narrators, not inventors?』
『What if those worlds—each book, game, anime, each imagined worlds were real… and simply seen through dreams, thoughts, or inspiration?』
"What?"
『Exactly. Every world you shall explore. Are undoubtedly real, including the world from before you died. Fiction is in reality, yet, they just never crossed because they couldn't be bothered to cross. Now, it has intersected.』
Laurel's voice cracked. "What…?"