The group assistant replied to Eisen's question immediately.
[Group Assistant: Supernatural powers can be distinguished by whether they are internal in origin or external in origin.]
Kafka was the first to weigh in.
[Purple Sweet Potato & Taro Paste (Kafka): The power of a Path comes from the Imaginary Space, so it should count as an externally sourced power. If I go to another world, I'll probably become much weaker. (sigh.jpg)]
Ling followed with a shrug.
[Sports-Style Lunchbox (Ling): Aether is probably external too. But I'm weak to begin with, so it doesn't really matter. (scratching_head_grin.jpg)]
Tsunade started thinking out loud, as if she were doing field notes.
[Giant Daifuku (Tsunade): Chakra is refined by mixing physical energy and spiritual energy. That should be internal, right? Then chakra shouldn't be restricted too much after crossing over… (serious_thinking.jpg)]
Mash hesitated, genuinely unsure.
[Roasted Eggplant (Mash): I'm not sure I can categorize mine… A spirit's core should be internal, but maintaining materialization and releasing a Noble Phantasm also depends on external magical energy supply… (confused.jpg)]
Eisen: "…"
Even with countless world-barriers between them, he somehow felt four gazes converge on him through the screen.
He typed calmly anyway.
[Group Owner (Eisen): My power should be entirely internal. When everyone has time, I'll visit each of your worlds to test in person how much of my strength I can actually use.]
Ling instantly brightened.
[Sports-Style Lunchbox (Ling): Ooh! The boss is finally stepping up! Actually reliable now!]
Kafka's tone remained relaxed, but the implication was sharp.
[Purple Sweet Potato & Taro Paste (Kafka): If we can, we should do on-site reconnaissance in every world. And who knows—one day, someone might need that power at the right moment to solve a problem.]
Mash straightened, as if taking an oath.
[Roasted Eggplant (Mash): Senior Kafka is right! I'll do my best to be useful too!]
Tsunade also promised, though without much confidence.
[Giant Daifuku (Tsunade): I'll contribute as well… even if I probably won't be much help. The things you all talk about sound like world-level crises.]
Ling slumped.
[Sports-Style Lunchbox (Ling): Ugh… I'm weak, so I really might not be able to help… I want to get stronger so badly!]
The mood was harmonious and the initial discussion on traversal had reached a natural pause. Eisen knew it was time to push the process forward.
After all—there were still two features left.
[Group Owner (Eisen): Sounds like everyone's done a first pass on the traversal feature. (nod.jpg) @Group Assistant, continue. Next feature.]
[Group Assistant: Feature Three — Daily Check-In.]
Each day, each member may perform one check-in.
After checking in, you will randomly receive a number of points.
Points are the universal currency within the chat group and can be exchanged for items in the "Group Shop."
Check-in location: a new [Daily Check-In] button at the top-right corner of the group interface.
Ling clicked first, as if she'd been waiting with her finger hovering over the spot.
[Sports-Style Lunchbox (Ling): This explanation is short for once. It's like scratching a daily card at a kiosk~ Ha, 40 points!]
[Giant Daifuku (Tsunade): 30 points.]
[Purple Sweet Potato & Taro Paste (Kafka): 100 points.]
[Roasted Eggplant (Mash): 20 points.]
Watching the check-in results scroll by, Eisen reflexively searched for the [Daily Check-In] button on his own interface.
Up. Down. Left. Right.
He scanned the screen three full times.
Nothing.
His brow tightened. Just as he was about to ask, a private pop-up—visible only to him—silently appeared, answering the question before he could voice it.
[Private Chat Pop-Up]
[Group Assistant: After upgrading to Lv1, the chat group has gained the ability to absorb members' repressed energy.]
[Group Assistant: The points acquired through daily check-in are, in essence, a portion of the energy returned to the member after the chat group absorbs that member's repressed energy for the day.]
[Group Assistant: The group owner's repressed energy is the primary fuel that maintains the chat group's baseline operations and core rules, and is also the key reserve for leveling up the group. Therefore, you do not have the check-in function and cannot receive daily point returns.]
[Group Assistant: However, the group owner may use items in the Group Shop without points; the required cost will be deducted directly from the level-up reserve.]
Eisen finished reading the wall of text and understood immediately—then his mouth twitched.
"So the wool really does come from the sheep," he muttered.
Even if he could take items from the shop "for free," the energy being spent was still his reserve. In other words, it wasn't free at all—more like dipping into company funds. A left-hand-to-right-hand transfer, and he'd better pray the company didn't go bankrupt.
Now that he knew why he lacked the check-in function, Eisen intended to open the most important feature: the Group Shop.
But before that, he felt it was necessary to explain his situation to the others.
[Group Owner (Eisen): I don't have the check-in function.]
As expected, the chat immediately filled with question marks.
Eisen continued.
[Group Owner (Eisen): The chat group's daily operations and upgrade energy are supplied from my side. So I can buy items from the Group Shop freely. Of course, what I spend is also energy I provide—think of it as an internal transfer.]
He paused, then added one more line:
[Group Owner (Eisen): Also, if anyone runs into an emergency and doesn't have enough points, tell me. I can front the cost temporarily and buy what you need.]
The chat detonated again.
[Sports-Style Lunchbox (Ling): Wait—what?! This thing can cross worlds and gather us together, and it's being powered entirely by you alone?! That's terrifying! (shocked.jpg)]
Kafka's focus went exactly where Eisen didn't want it to go.
[Purple Sweet Potato & Taro Paste (Kafka): Mm… I see. So the points from check-in are actually a partial energy return after we supply energy ourselves? But I wonder what kind of "energy" is really being absorbed. (thinking.jpg)]
Mash murmured, piecing together patterns.
[Roasted Eggplant (Mash): It doesn't seem directly tied to strength… Senior Kafka is currently the strongest and got the highest points today, but the second-highest went to Senior Ling, who's currently the weakest… (whispering.jpg)]
[Giant Daifuku (Tsunade): Agreed. Doesn't feel like it's based on combat strength. (nod.jpg)]
Ling immediately bristled.
[Sports-Style Lunchbox (Ling): Hey! Mash! And Tsunade-nee! Sorry for being weak, okay?! (puffed_cheeks.jpg)]
Mash panicked and waved it off.
[Roasted Eggplant (Mash): Ah! Senior Ling, that's not what I meant! I meant the points might not correlate with strength… (flustered_handwave.jpg)]
Eisen watched the rapid-fire messages—especially Kafka's line about the energy's "true nature"—and a thin sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead.
Oh no.
If they kept digging and realized that the energy sustaining and upgrading the chat group was actually the repressed energy each of them generated…
His reputation would be shredded.
He made a decision instantly: change the subject, right now.
[Group Owner (Eisen): @Group Assistant, introduce the Group Shop feature.]
[Group Assistant: Group Shop — items are created by extracting and refining each member's personal traits.]
As the announcement went out, a new [Shop] button—decorated with a tiny cart icon—appeared at the top of everyone's chat interface.
Already unable to contain their curiosity, the members almost clicked it at the same time.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 80)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 80)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 74)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter20)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter30)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter30)
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