In front of a house that had already collapsed into chaos, a Caucasian man stood up, trembling. He looked at his left hand, which had lost two fingers—with an open wound revealing bone and flesh.
He immediately wrapped a bandage around his hand to cover the wound that was still bleeding before pouring on some First Aid medicine.
It was super painful—a kind of pain that made the man want to scream out loud. But he had experienced this before. Losing an entire arm, even dying. Ethan Winters, had gone through all that. He survived thanks to the regenerative factor possessed by the mutant gene in his body.
He stared blankly at the ruined house filled with wooden and stone debris after his fierce battle with a lycan monster.
But, in truth, it wasn't the house that caught his focus. It was something else—something that made Ethan Winters think he was being toyed with by the group that had captured him.
He couldn't hold back the curses in his head.
A translucent screen that looked simple but quite futuristic covered his vision. The screen displayed a text that read—
[Your determination has shown that a parent will do anything for their child, even when death is the end. You have been given a chance to join the Deadman's Rebellion Chat Group and help them stop the death that was destined from the beginning.
Do you accept it?]
[Yes?/Yes./Yes!]
Ethan could only stare at the available choices. Could he even refuse this?! he thought irritably. However, he would do anything to save his daughter, Rose. He couldn't shout, as that would draw the lycan's attention before he was ready.
Quickly, Ethan pressed the "Yes!" option—the one with an exclamation mark behind it. Even if this was just a joke, he would accept anything that could be useful.
The text then changed.
[Welcome.]
["War-Dummy Mutant" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["Ordinary Person" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["Nerdy Raijin" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["Ramen Topping Wannabe" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["Frozen Flower" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
Ethan didn't understand how something resembling an online group chat platform could possibly help him save his daughter.
***
Inside a library, a young girl no older than sixteen was deeply focused on the book in her hands. Wearing a black summer school uniform with a yellow ribbon at the collar and round glasses framing her face already explained her nature completely—a nerd.
But that was indeed a fact, because studying was what allowed Raiden Mei to publish a paper on an advanced theory of quantum mechanics, though her talent and brilliant mind also played a major part.
However, her focus was broken from the book in her hands. Not because someone disturbed her, but because a holographic pop-up suddenly appeared out of thin air—even though she wasn't holding a phone.
The sudden appearance startled Mei, causing her to drop several books beside her onto the floor.
"Ouch…"
The four-eyed bookworm began picking up the fallen books and started reading the pop-up that appeared out of nowhere like a malware ad.
[Your brilliant talent and intelligence have been acknowledged by the world, and those are what could save humanity from destruction even though they'd still lost. You have been given a chance to join the Deadman's Rebellion Group Chat and help them stop the death that was destined from the beginning.
Do you accept it?]
[Yes?/Yes./Yes!]
Before tapping anything carelessly, Mei got up from her seat and began walking around the library to see if there was anyone suspicious who might have done it.
However, except for a few people who were reading books without touching their phones—and Mei knew that electronic devices were forbidden in the library—she couldn't find any shady person like that.
Seriously, what the heck is this?
A new popular prank these days?
Mei didn't have time for nonsense and ignored it. Even when she went to class, the toilet! And finally home, Mei couldn't help but stay distracted by this strange pop-up screen!
Between the possibility of someone sneakily attaching some hardware to her clothes, the girl couldn't find any other explanation for the weirdness in front of her.
"Alright! Since you're so stubborn!" Mei decided to play along now. If she interacted with it, she was sure she could find a clue about where this thing came from.
She tapped the [Yes!] button, and another pop-up appeared.
[Welcome.]
["Nerdy Raijin" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["Ordinary Person" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["War-Dummy Mutant" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["Ramen Topping Wannabe" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["Frozen Flower" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
***
Inside a room filled with four people, the spiky orange-haired boy was enjoying a meal with his three friends, prepared by their teacher.
However, that peace vanished when a strange screen appeared before the spiky-haired boy.
"Enemy attack!"
The teenager dropped his food and jumped far back with his ability, startling his teacher and his two friends.
"Yahiko! What happened?"
"Don't you see this? It's a genjutsu!"
They were confused by Yahiko. His panicked face made them worry. Their teacher, Jiraiya, stood up and approached Yahiko, then used a genjutsu release seal.
"Release!"
Yahiko calmed down, but he could only stare in disbelief at the screen in front of him that still floated and followed his every movement.
"The genjutsu… is still there!"
Jiraiya frowned in confusion. "Yahiko, what do you see?"
"I see… like a transparent board with pale white writing on it… I can see you all behind it quite clearly." Yahiko explained nervously, making Jiraiya even more curious. Konan tries to wave her hand in front of Yahiko.
"Can you tell me what it says? Can you read it?"
Yahiko nodded and opened his mouth.
[Your desire to change the world is so strong that it inspires your friends even after your death. You have been given a chance to join the Deadman's Rebellion Chat Group and help them stop the death that was destined from the beginning.
Do you accept it? Press one of the three options if you wish to accept]
[Yes?/Yes./Yes!]
"I see…" Jiraiya nodded in understanding, while his two friends looked on worriedly. Nagato couldn't sense or see any change in Yahiko or Jiraiya's chakra flow; he felt nothing strange there. It was as if all of this was just Yahiko's hallucination.
"Yahiko, if you can't refuse it, then move forward. This is a group, which means there will be more than one member in it. This time, I'll teach you the art of gathering information—practically!"
Hearing his teacher's words, Yahiko nodded firmly. "Yes, Sensei!"
He pressed [Yes!] to show how much he trusted the teacher who had raised him and his friends.
[Welcome.]
["Ramen Topping Wannabe" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["Ordinary Person" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["Nerdy Raijin" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["War-Dummy Mutant" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["Frozen Flower" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
***
Inside the Butterfly Estate, a girl no older than a high schooler, wearing a black uniform beneath a haori patterned like butterfly wings, was cleaning and oiling a katana blade of dirt and possible rust before a voice startled her. It wasn't from her younger sister, but from a transparent board in front of her.
[Your kindness and determination have been acknowledged and even made a guide by your younger sister even after your death. You have been given a chance to join the Deadman's Rebellion Chat Group and help them stop the death that was destined from the beginning.
Do you accept it? Press one of the three options if you wish to accept]
[Yes?/Yes./Yes!]
"Ara, what's this?" Kanae looked at the transparent glass-like board curiously and intently. It was very rare to see glass made for sending messages like this, especially one with such unbelievable content.
"Eh, can't touch it?" Kanae was surprised to see her hand just pass through the thing when she tried to grab it. This was something she had never known before.
"In that case, it's time to find out." With a smile, Kanae pressed her choice.
[Yes.]
[Welcome.]
["Frozen Flower" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["Ordinary Person" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["Nerdy Raijin" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["War-Dummy Mutant" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
["Ramen Topping Wannabe" has joined the group chat via admin's invitation.]
***
["War-Dummy Mutant": I'm not sure what this thing can do, but I'll keep it short. If you're here for small talk, you won't make it. I've got more important things to do than punch your digital face.]
Wow, that's harsh.
["Nerdy Raijin": Stop stalking and bothering people, it's disgusting.]
I'm not sure how to respond to this.
["Ramen Topping Wannabe": I don't know what's happening, but it seems like there's a problem. Maybe I can help.]
["Nerdy Raijin": Are you the one who sent the message?]
["Ramen Topping Wannabe": Uhh… message? That message?]
["Nerdy Raijin": Apparently not, so just stay quiet. I have business with the admin who's randomly stalking a girl. I'm going to sue this person!]
The atmosphere was heating up; I thought it was time to calm them down.
["Ordinary Person": It looks like everyone here has the same problem with this "admin." For now, don't type or send anything else. There's a chance something dangerous might happen if we overdo it, though hopefully I'm wrong. I'll keep this short. Mention a famous region in your area (please, this is important for gathering information). If possible, don't choose one near your location. You can also mention the name of your planet, continent, and country. I'm from planet Earth, eastern Asia continent, country Japan.]
Hopefully, they'd cooperate.
…Looks like I'm overthinking this.
["Nerdy Raijin": Planet: Earth, continent: Mu, and country: Shenzhou.]
Shenzhou? China? I think I've heard of Shenzhou before, but the memories from my previous life have become faint after living for fifteen years in this world. But the Mu continent, I've never heard of that either. If my hypothesis is correct, then this group chat connects people from parallel worlds.
["Frozen Flower": Uh, I know about countries, but what are continents and planets?]
Seriously? That fast? I didn't expect someone to appear right after I brought it up!
["Ordinary Person": Alright, here's the thing. A continent is a collection of countries within one region, usually because they're geographically close and have similar cultures. Meanwhile, a planet is the world you're standing on right now. If you don't know, you don't have to answer—just tell me the name of the country you know.]
["Frozen Flower": Thank you, country: Japan.]
Considering she didn't know the concept of continents and planets, the possibility that she was from Japan itself was very high, but for someone from the same country not to know such general knowledge showed that she either came from an earlier era or from an entirely different world with different concepts.
["Ordinary Person": "Frozen Flower," are you from Japan too?]
["Frozen Flower": Yes! That means we're in the same country, so can we meet?]
She seemed curious too, but unfortunately, that wasn't possible unless we really… I wasn't sure how real "Nerdy Raijin's" answer was, but if they truly existed, then we were indeed from different worlds. The Mu continent, in my past life, was only a mythical continent whose existence and truth remained unknown. It was said to lie between Asia and America.
And Shenzhou was another name for the land of China.
If both aligned with my theory, then Mu and Shenzhou were separate places. Perhaps "Nerdy Raijin" used those terms to protect her privacy.
["Ordinary Person": I'm sorry, "Frozen Flower," but it seems we can't possibly meet each other. For me and "Nerdy Raijin," the concept of continents and planets is general knowledge accessible even to people in remote areas. Most likely, "War-Dummy Mutant" is the same as us.
Meanwhile, you're different—you don't know about continents and planets, which shows a difference in scientific development—most likely the same as "Ramen Topping Wannabe," or at worst, you're simply too young to know. Therefore, it's impossible for us to meet.
If the second possibility is the ideal one, I still believe in the first after researching the device that connects us. We're all separated by space and time—even dimensions themselves—with limitless distance.]
["Nerdy Raijin": Give me proof and your research methods before you can conclude that we're separated by infinite distance or different dimensions!]
["Ordinary Person": Actually, it's a bit difficult to tell you because my research involves myself personally. I can't just share my identity with strangers, can I?]
Especially when the person asking has the word "Raijin," which means god of thunder. If she really was a god, then it'd be best to stay cautious and logical.
["Nerdy Raijin": Makes sense, sorry. I failed to restrain myself.]
["Ordinary Person": It's fine. For now, let's stop. Until we get more information about this thing, it's dangerous to use it recklessly.]
["Nerdy Raijin": Agreed.]
["Frozen Flower": What should I do to make it disappear from in front of my face? I can't fight if this blocks my view.]
["Ordinary Person": Try wishing for it to vanish and move into your pocket or bag. I tried the same thing, and it worked.]
["Frozen Flower": Thank you!]
The messages ended there. I could only let out a long sigh at this mess.
How ridiculous.
An ordinary person like me has to help them avoid getting killed?
I'm the one getting killed here!