LightReader

Chapter 3 - "Uchiha Madara’s Challenge."

-----

-----

The chat group had finally revealed everyone's identities.

They were: Uchiha Madara — the endless final boss from Legend of the Eyes: The Great War of Five Villages;Kumoko — the non-human spider protagonist of So I'm a Spider, So What?;and Kikyo — the shrine maiden and guardian of the Sacred Jewel from Inuyasha.

Rose uploaded the playback of someone's death to the group feed, then cleared her throat and typed:

[World's No.1 Princess]: Welcome to the chat group. I'm the admin, Rose.

[Uchiha Madara]: Chat group? Is this some kind of genjutsu?

[World's No.1 Princess]: I've sent all the information about the chat group directly to your souls. Take your time to look through it.

Once the message was sent, the chat fell silent.

Then, a new line popped up.

[Kumoko]: Huh, a platform that lets people from different dimensions talk? That's awesome. …Um, can it help me though? I might be about to die.

[Kikyo]: What's happening to you?

As the protector of the Sacred Jewel, Kikyo immediately suspected that this strange "chat group" was somehow connected to the Jewel's magic — but she couldn't sense its presence at all.

Even stranger, whenever her mind drifted away from the chat, she felt like she was surrounded by blinding white emptiness — as if time itself had stopped, and only she could move.

So when Kumoko's message sounded like a cry for help, Kikyo couldn't help but wonder if the Sacred Jewel was behind it.

[Kumoko]: Yeah, that's it.

[Kumoko]: I woke up in some weird world. Everything's terrifying here. There are spiders… eating each other.

Kumoko sent a short video clip to the chat.

The footage showed a swarm of tiny spiders. They gathered in small groups, prying open unhatched eggs with their legs and devouring both the shells and the embryos inside — the crunching sound echoing faintly through the scene.

[Uchiha Madara]: Oh? Creatures from another world. How interesting.

Madara didn't really trust what he'd read from the "chat group info," but he had a basic idea of what it was for. Watching the spider's video, his tone carried a hint of curiosity.

[Kumoko]: Interesting? Not for me! This place just keeps getting worse and worse!

[Kikyo]: Is that a spider's nest? @Kumoko… you've become a spider?

Kikyo had seen Kumoko's death playback earlier — though the angle was strange, she could tell it wasn't her own world.

So… Kumoko had crossed over and ended up reincarnated as a spider.

From a shrine maiden's point of view, possession or soul transfer wasn't exactly impossible.

[Kumoko]: Yeah! I turned into a spider! I used to be human, you know!

She even sent a "selfie" — a full-body shot of her new spider form.

The creature looked more like a youkai than a normal spider — unsettling, yet oddly expressive.

[Kumoko]: @World's No.1 Princess, Miss Admin, are you there? Can you please help me? It's so scary here!

She'd been just a normal high school student a moment ago — why did she have to deal with this? Reincarnation was so not on her to-do list.

See that spider over there? It just bit off another spider's head! Ew!

[World's No.1 Princess]: Sorry, I can't help directly. But I can give you some advice — you're not on Earth anymore. You're in a world that runs on magic and skill systems.

[Kumoko]: Not on Earth…? I thought I'd just landed in some random forest or something. But skills and stats? Yeah, that's definitely not Earth… ugh, that's even scarier!

[World's No.1 Princess]: @Kumoko, that system can make you stronger. If you get strong enough, you'll be able to turn back into a human.

[Kumoko]: Human?! I can really turn human again?!

Kumoko practically jumped in excitement. Only she knew how hopeless she'd felt since turning into a spider.

[World's No.1 Princess]: Totally. But you have to survive first. If you die again, there's no going back.

[Kumoko]: I'll survive! Thank you, Miss Admin! I feel so pumped now! For humanity! Raaaargh!

[World's No.1 Princess]: …Good luck with that.

In the realm of the God of Destruction, Rose wiped sweat from her forehead."So this girl's supposed to be shy? She's chatting up a storm!"

Well… maybe that social anxiety existed only in Kumoko's memories anyway.

Rose hadn't shared everything she knew about Kumoko. No point giving away spoilers if the girl couldn't even stay alive long enough to use them.

Compared to the spider girl, Madara and Kikyo were being much quieter — cautious, even.

Then, a new message popped up.

[Uchiha Madara]: Interesting. Very interesting. A platform that connects worlds… seems I, Uchiha Madara, get to dance once again.

After a few tests, Madara confirmed this wasn't a genjutsu. He was dead, his body resting in the Pure Land.

So this "chat group" must have come from a being above even the Sage of Six Paths.

"Hashirama… you were too soft. Once I fulfill our dream, I, Uchiha Madara, will make sure my name echoes beyond the shinobi world — across every world that exists!"

Madara's eyes gleamed with fighting spirit.

His gaze fell on the chat group's last listed option.

"The admin of this chat group must have some special privileges… and I, Uchiha Madara, will not be ruled by anyone."

Back in the God of Destruction's realm, Rose was munching on a fruit from the Tree of Spirit when she suddenly froze.

"Wait—did Madara just… get cocky?"

A system message appeared:

[System]: Uchiha Madara has issued a challenge! He intends to defeat you and seize the position of group admin.

[System]: Due to an earlier system error that caused deaths upon group entry, each new member is granted one opportunity to challenge the admin. If the admin refuses, leadership will automatically transfer to the challenger.

[System Reminder]:What, too scared to face a mere member? Isn't it embarrassing to sit on that throne, then?

Rose: "…"

Was the system mocking her?

[System]: If Madara wins, he will become the new admin. The previous admin will be demoted to moderator.

With a sigh, Rose tapped "Accept."

[System]: Challenge accepted! The battle between Admin "World's No.1 Princess" and Challenger "Uchiha Madara" will be streamed live to ensure fairness and authenticity.

[Kumoko]: ???

[Kikyo]: ???

Both watched the announcement flash across the chat, totally confused.

Arena.

Rose and Uchiha Madara appeared at the same time.

They stood on a lush green planet. Rose spread out her senses, scanning her surroundings.

This wasn't just a simulation — it was an entire world crafted inside an independent pocket dimension. Every detail felt real.

"The chat group's power is even scarier than I thought…"

She could feel her body again — solid, powerful. This wasn't her real one, but it was built perfectly to unleash her full strength.

Then came a loud, wild laugh.

"Ha ha ha! HAHAHAHA! This body… this is what it feels like to be alive!"

Madara bit hard into his own arm — blood gushed out, splattering against the grass with soft plops.

He threw his head back, laughing like a madman, red blood and spit dripping down his chin.

Rose just stared at him silently, then sighed to herself.

"Uchiha Madara — the undisputed king of maniacal laughter.The title really isn't exaggerated. He looks like he's having a full-blown rabies episode."

"....."

More Chapters