The moment the timeline grew chaotic, the players naturally noticed the issue. Everyone offered help to solve the immediate problem.
The 9-member chat group was renamed by Shaka as: [Justice Brigade]
Soon, it welcomed its 10th member, Sayu Ogiwara. Her task was to report the time and date from the past few days.
Shaka also gave her a critical mission: travel to Akihabara to find Hououin Kyouma's "research institute" and buy back the "PhoneWave (name subject to change)" no matter the cost.
Meanwhile, Shaka tried to contact Makise Kurisu directly. The task wasn't difficult; forum appointment records included her contact information.
Shaka opened QQ, entered the number, and sent a friend request. After a brief self-introduction, he got straight to the point about the timeline problem.
Makise Kurisu: [You mean all players who used the Fluctuating Light system for stealth developed time-disorientation syndrome after logging out?]
Shaka: [I think it's the opposite. I suspect the world's timeline is disordered for some reason, and my virtual reality system successfully circumvents this rule during midnight, the day-night transition point.]
Makise Kurisu: [Hmm. Rather than the entire world being faulty, I'm more inclined to believe only a minority are affected.]
...Just like if the whole world thought 1+1=3, even with proof it equals 2, you'd be seen as the one with the problem.
Shaka understood and continued typing.
Shaka: [That's not wrong, but truth is often held by the minority, isn't it?]
Makise Kurisu: [Even if you're right, it doesn't have any meaningful impact on anyone. So why deliberately address it?]
Shaka: [I'm not a physics expert, but as a time researcher, let me ask you this: If someone could truly reverse time, every one of our players could become "reborn." Buying lottery tickets, getting rich overnight, or altering the timeline significantly what would happen when all these changes converge?]
The chat fell silent for a long while. Just as Shaka was about to give up, a new message appeared:
Makise Kurisu: [If we're speculating, the outcome won't be good. The global economy is finite, gains for some mean losses for others. Massive wealth accumulation could lead to widespread poverty, sudden corporate bankruptcies, or even mass employee suicides. After repeated time loops, these events could reshape time itself potentially leading tohuman extinction. Of course, this is just theory; we'd need more objective data to confirm.]
Shaka could tell from her words that she valued knowledge above all, her expertise earned his respect.
Shaka: [For objective information, nothing beats firsthand experience.]
Makise Kurisu: [Huh?]
Shaka: [Want to come try "The Myth of the Familia"? There's no better way to see the artificial fluclights power foryourself.]
Makise Kurisu: [Is that allowed?]
Shaka: [Send me your delivery address.]
Not long after, Shaka received a message with an address leading to a supermarket safe deposit box.
"Quite cautious," he muttered.
Shaka forwarded the address to Sayu, telling her to immediately send one of the extra game helmets from his home. At the same time, he asked Kotoko Iwanaga to investigate other potential time-manipulation users.
"my knowledge about these is limited, I can only do my best," she'd replied.
With everything arranged, Shaka lay back on his bed to clear his mind.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the dormitory door. The voice of Goddess Astraea called out: "Shaka-chan, are you there?"
"No, he's asleep," Shaka said automatically, his mind still blank.
The goddess continued: "The school district sent word Sanae-cham and the others set off for the Misty Forest overnight with the 'Seventh Squad'?"
"Huh?" Shaka sat up abruptly, opened the door, and asked, "Didn't they log off? It's so late, aren't they supposed to be in class?"
Then he remembered the timeline shift: today was Christmas... which meant winter break had started.
"Wow!"
Astraea looked troubled: "The school district is relocating tomorrow, so..."
Shaka immediately changed into the light armor Cecil had made, slammed the door behind him, and headed out: "I'm leaving now."
The Seventh Squad earned their nickname "Problem Squad" for a reason. Ignoring advice and breaking school rules was standard but they weren't just troublemakers. It was widely known that these "problem children" possessed exceptional talent.
The ringleader was Verdine, who caused most of the chaos. Lefiya and Alisa often followed to stop him, only to get dragged into his schemes. This was how Leyfia who'd been always forced to unleash powerful magic repeatedly earned the nickname "Magic Idiot."
The incident was sparked by rumors of Fairies Relics. This time, however, the scale was larger, they'd even brought members of Shaka's group along.
The more grounded players like Black Cat felt a sense of urgency after the real-world anomalies. Unlike Kotoko Iwanaga, they had no way to intervene in such events, so they decided the only path forward was to log back in and grow stronger, hoping to protect their loved ones with greater power. Through a series of coincidences, the exploration team was formed.
[Astraea Familia Members Present:]
- dekomori, carrying a custom giant warhammer, led the way—dispatching monsters with single blows.
- Black Cat, fused with Mamenosuke, followed behind, occasionally healing Sanae Dekomori
- Yuki and Yui stood guard behind Black Cat.
[School District Members Present:]
- Heavy Knight Verdine, Nathan, Elf Magician Lefiya, and Human Alisa.
This team could easily clear dungeons up to level 20.
The eight walked across wildfire-scorched black earth. As guards cleared the path with loud crashes, thick fog rolled in ahead.
Lefiya shrank back, clutching her staff: "Verdine, this place is terrifying maybe we should turn back."
"My O-type soul is sensing it!" Verdine laughed. "A terrifying magical power is coming from deep in the fog! You don't want to quit halfway, do you?"
Black Cat wasn't worried. After learning the truth about the world, they felt invincible since death wasn't permanent, they'd just cover the rear and let the "Problem Squad" lead the way.
Dekomori grinned, showing her white teeth, and patted her chest: "Watch me, death!"
"THUNDER CYCLONE!!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh
The massive warhammer spun like a helicopter propeller, its motion dispersing the surrounding mist.
Yui cheered: "Well done, Thunder Hammer User!"
Black Cat snorted in acknowledgment.
Only Nathan looked serious. He pulled out a notebook, flipped through pages quickly, and said: "Based on my calculations, there's only one explanation for wielding that weapon like this"
He didn't need to finish. Lefiya grabbed verdine by the collar and shouted: "Oh no! Dekomori's been thrown flying!!"
The Defiance ability was unique, it neither enhanced strength nor reduced weapon weight. The user could only ignore the hammer's own weight, not other forces like centripetal or reaction force. It was like trying to stop a speeding train: Dekomori could hold the hammer, but the forward momentum from swinging it sent them launching forward.
Everyone raced after them. Thankfully, the fog had been cleared by the flying figure, and they found Dekomori safely.
"Fallen Saint... I think I can still be saved, death..."
"I'm low on mental energy too! Behave yourself!"
"Hi... death..."
Tears welled in Dekomori's eyes as they tremblingly grabbed Black Cat's ankle only to be met with a face-full of wind from a sharp stomp.
"Ah ha~~~" Dekomori blushed and wriggled on the ground like a maggot.
"Shut up."
"Hi..."
The wind died down. Dekomori leaped up in a Kamen Rider pose and shouted: "THUNDER HAMMER USER, SANAE DEKOMORI, RESURRECTS!"
The group ignored them and pressed on. Soon, Lefiya's ears twitched she'd sensed a strange magical force.
"It's over there..."
Everyone looked up to see a cave glowing crimson, thick mist pouring out like smoke from an old pipe.
Verdine grinned widely: "Found it! The Faries Relics"