Yami didn't know what Loki did after she left. Nor was he aware that she had quietly stirred something deep within the royal elf heart.
He didn't have time to dwell on such thoughts anyway.
All the affairs in Orario were mostly handled by him, and everything had wrapped up without a hitch. From the Moon Festival until now, he had been taking a well-deserved break.
But now, it was time to resume his journey.
The new simulated world had been waiting far too long. There was something unsettling about knowing you have a task ahead but being stuck handling mundane matters instead.
It was almost as if Yami had developed a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder over it!
Regardless, the real-life simulation in the world of 'One Punch Man' could no longer be delayed!
It was time to experience a world entirely different from Orario.
"Hephaestus, Hestia, Artemis—are you all ready?"
"We're about to set off to a new world!"
Yami asked, his tone solemn, while standing in Goddess Hephaestus' chamber.
The three goddesses nodded in unison, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation.
"We're ready, Yami," said Hephaestus softly. "Let's go."
Seeing their enthusiasm, Yami nodded in response, without further hesitation. His gaze shifted to Tsubaki, standing beside them, her expression clearly one of envy.
It was obvious that Tsubaki wanted to go with them to this new world. However, she had been asked by Hephaestus to stay behind and manage Orario's affairs.
Even though the real-life simulation only took an hour of Orario's time, her disappointed look tugged at Yami's heart.
Unable to just ignore her, Yami opened the World Gate leading to the Pirate World, allowing Tsubaki to explore that realm and share blacksmithing techniques with the artisans in Wano Country.
Only then did Tsubaki seem satisfied, and Yami could finally focus on the journey ahead.
Making sure that everything was taken care of back home, Yami let out a sigh of relief. With the three goddesses by his side, he sank into deep concentration.
It had been a long time since he used the time travel simulation system. He wondered if it would still work properly.
"System, start real-life time travel!" Yami whispered inwardly.
"Ding! The real-life travel simulation is starting…"
"Target locked. Current simulation world: One Punch Man."
"Please note: No talent refresh will occur in this simulation. No new talents will be granted."
"Would you like to proceed?"
The mechanical voice of the system echoed in his mind. Yami wasn't surprised by this at all. After all, he had known the limitations when he obtained the 'One Punch Man' world.
But with his current level of strength, the absence of new talents wasn't a problem.
This simulation would simply be a "one-life" journey, a challenge where he would have only one attempt. Yet, this wasn't necessarily a bad thing for Yami.
This brand-new experience reignited a long-lost sense of urgency within him, unlike the more casual simulations of the past. The unknown was exhilarating, making him anticipate the journey even more.
With a glimmer of determination in his eyes, Yami spoke firmly.
"Confirm!"
---
'Real-life time travel simulation begins!'
---
As soon as the voice resounded, Yami immediately embraced the three goddesses standing beside him. In a move typical of Yami, he once again exploited a loophole in the system!
Blatantly disregarding any subtlety, he gathered Hephaestus, Hestia, and Artemis into his arms.
Strangely enough, the system didn't seem to fix this "bug." It likely didn't bother because Yami hadn't directly asked for it to be corrected.
After all, the purpose of the system was to help its owner grow stronger. As long as things didn't stray too far from the intended path, these small tricks were within acceptable limits.
Regardless of the reason, Yami benefited greatly from this.
At the very moment he embraced the three goddesses, a flash of light engulfed them, and their figures disappeared from the room instantly.
—I am the alluring dividing line—
The World of One Punch Man
'Boom!'
Violent explosions rocked the city.
Before the tremors from one blast could settle, another explosion ripped through a different area, creating a terrifying chain reaction.
The once-magnificent cityscape was now reduced to rubble. Buildings that had once stood proudly were now piles of debris, and many people were trapped beneath the ruins.
Cries of despair filled the air.
Children screamed for their lost fathers. Wives wept for their fallen husbands. Such tragic scenes could be found everywhere in the chaos-stricken city.
People fled in every direction, desperate to escape the destruction. In the ensuing panic, stampedes and shoving incidents became commonplace.
After all, no one could stay calm in the face of death.
"Are the heroes still not here? We can't hold out much longer!"
"If this continues, the whole city will be destroyed!"
"Reports say that Smile Man and Lightning Max are on their way, but there's been no sign of them yet."
"Quick, assess the disaster level, evacuate the civilians, and send nearby heroes to the scene immediately! We need to ensure as many people's safety as possible!"
Inside the Heroes Association headquarters, the staff were in a frenzy.
Their faces were tense with anxiety, but despite the situation, they carried out their duties in an orderly manner. Even as the ground shook beneath their feet from distant explosions, they remained composed and focused on their tasks.
However, there was only so much they could do.
If the heroes didn't arrive in time, there would be few survivors left.
All they could do now was pray that the heroes reached the scene as soon as possible.