It had been one week since the beatdown.
Lu still flinched when he heard the words "multiversal taxes."
Gojo now lived in constant fear of paperwork.
Subaki… had joined a tea cult to cope.
And looming over them all like the Eye of Sauron with Wi-Fi:
G.L.U.E.
Now their supervisor.
Now fully divine.
Now with a clipboard.
The Mission Brief
The Mediator's orders were clear:
"You three will restore balance to every universe affected by your past actions—directly or indirectly.
Fix the broken power systems.
Resolve every outstanding divine debt.
And restore trust with the MCs you pissed off."
Failure to do so?
"Eternal servitude in the realm of narrative correction.
Translation: editing fanfiction for chaotic gods for all eternity."
They were now officially on:
Multiversal Probation.
Headquarters of Humiliation
Their new "base" was a cosmic office cubicle located inside a sentient building called The Neutral Zone.
The floor was made of floating paperwork. The walls shifted depending on their performance rating. The coffee machine whispered insults. The vending machine charged in existential guilt.
Lu: "I think this office hates us."
G.L.U.E.: "You haven't even met HR yet."
Their First Mission:
Universe 087-X: "ShounenCore"
Known for:
Power systems based entirely on yelling. Overpowered teenagers who scream their way to godhood. A fragile narrative balance held together by sheer emotion.
Lu had once sold them a "HyperFusionBoost™" package that merged six power systems into one…
Which sounded awesome.
Until every MC started fusing with their own emotions and unlocking powers like:
"Melancholy Blade Slash" "Embarrassment Overdrive" "Third Arc Angst Mode"
Now, the universe was collapsing from emotional feedback loops.
The Catch?
ShounenCore MCs now see Lu as the Final Boss.
Gojo as his betrayed master.
And Subaki as the tragic love interest turned villainess.
Lu:
"Okay, so we go in, fix the system nodes, balance the energies, and get out—"
G.L.U.E.:
"Correction: you go in alone."
Lu:
"What?"
Gojo:
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. The Mediator put you on solo probation mode."
Lu:
"You guys aren't coming?"
Subaki:
"We'll be watching."
Gojo:
"With popcorn."
G.L.U.E.:
"Also, your narrator privileges are revoked until further notice.
No 4th-wall powers. No dimension-hopping. No save points."
"Enjoy your emotional RPG hellscape."
Lu stands at the gate to Universe 087-X, staring into a storm of shouting, tears, power-ups, and glowing swords.
A banner overhead reads:
"SHOUNENCORE: Where Feelings Kill."
Lu:
"...I'm gonna die here."
G.L.U.E.:
"Maybe. But think of the character development."