"I see. That makes sense." Frank raised his hand, his serious expression indicating he was deep in thought. "But I have a question. What about techniques? Different worlds have different power systems."
"A simple analogy would be this: gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel. All three come from the same source — petroleum. Even so, each one is incompatible when applied to a different engine. A gasoline engine can't run on diesel. A diesel engine can't run on aviation fuel. In short, it's a matter of compatibility."
Frank looked directly at Gaia.
"I think power systems work the same way. If I want to learn ninjutsu, but I don't have chakra, is that even possible?"
Hearing that analysis, Charlie and the others stared at Frank with expressions of surprise mixed with admiration. No wonder this man's template was Ishigami Senku — a logical thinker with sharp analytical ability.
"Great question, Frank. You don't need to worry about that." Gaia wore a mysterious smile before revealing a truth that had been hidden all along. "In reality, every Savior possesses a hidden attribute granted to them at the time of their selection."
"A hidden attribute, huh..." Oscar smiled wryly. "You make it sound like a mechanic from inside a video game."
"Could it be a kind of innate ability of The Chosen Savior?" Charlie murmured softly, almost as if speaking to himself. "Unlike me, who digitizes all my abilities into data through the Falna, other Saviors may not understand it quite so specifically."
Gaia had no intention of letting them guess for too long. Especially since Alaya was already showing signs of impatience with her playful attitude.
"Ta-da~ The answer is adaptation!"
"Adaptation?" Frank frowned, turning the word over in his mind. "You mean we're capable of adapting to the power systems of other worlds?"
"Exactly!" Gaia clapped her hands, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "The Adaptation trait allows every Savior to use abilities from different power systems without any hindrance. You don't need to worry about differences in fundamental mechanics like Chakra, Mana, Ki, or even forms of energy you've never encountered before — your bodies will automatically adapt."
"This is somewhat similar to Mahoraga's adaptation ability from the anime Jujutsu Kaisen." Kazuya commented casually.
"I think that analogy is a bit off the mark." Frank shook his head. "Mahoraga's adaptation is a phenomenon-type — it becomes immune to a specific phenomenon each time the dharma wheel on its head rotates. Based on Gaia's explanation, our adaptation is a world-law type. Not waiting to adapt, but fundamentally compatible with other worlds' power systems from the very beginning."
"If we use the gasoline and engine analogy from before, it's like we have an engine capable of running on all types of fuel without needing any modification whatsoever." Elena added.
"Precisely!" Gaia nodded in agreement. "However, keep in mind that adaptation only makes you compatible — not instantly proficient. You still have to undergo training and learn the techniques of a given power system from the ground up. Nothing is instantaneous here."
"Enough." Alaya's cold voice cut through the discussion, which was beginning to heat up. "Start the barter quickly. Stop dragging it out."
The Nine Saviors: "😐"
No one dared to object. They were already used to it and simply didn't care. So what if they were displeased? Alaya was one of their bosses!
It was just like workers who were furious at their boss's arbitrary behavior in the workplace, yet didn't dare talk back against a single reprimand. All they could do was bottle that anger inside their hearts while wearing a hollow smile.
"..."
"Wang Jian. I remember the last time, the reward you requested was the Passport of Satan." Charlie was the first to initiate the Barter of a Thousand Realms, directing his gaze toward the man beside him. "You can access the Scroll of Seals in Konoha, can't you?"
"I can." Wang Jian gave a slight nod, immediately catching the direction of the conversation. "What do you want?"
"Sealing techniques! All the sealing techniques recorded in the Scroll of Seals, including high-level Fūinjutsu." Charlie stated his objective without preamble. "In exchange, I'll provide Elixirs, Potions, equipment, and most valuably of all... a Grimoire."
"In exchange, I'll provide Elixirs, high-quality healing potions, adventurer's gear — armor, weapons — and various other resources from the Danmachi world." His red eyes fixed sharply on Wang Jian. "But most importantly... a Grimoire."
"A Grimoire?" Wang Jian's eyebrow rose.
"A spellbook that grants magical abilities based on a reflection of the user's personality." Charlie explained. "Similar to the Mangekyō Sharingan — an eye technique that develops depending on the personality of its wielder. A Grimoire operates on a similar principle. When opened, it will bestow unique magic suited to the very essence of its user."
Hearing the details of the Grimoire, Wang Jian's eyes lit up. As someone who was not of the Uchiha Clan, it was impossible for him to awaken an eye technique like the Mangekyō Sharingan. The Grimoire offered an equally appealing alternative.
Not only Wang Jian. The other eight Saviors also displayed clear interest in the Grimoire. However, they did not interrupt the discussion between the two men. Instead, they began approaching other Saviors who caught their interest.
"Miguel, do you have a Devil Fruit?" Oscar asked hopefully.
"You know how rare Devil Fruits are!" Miguel rolled his eyes and explained in a resigned tone. "Except for the World Government and the Marines, Devil Fruits are sold on the black market at astronomical prices! Beyond that, people can only rely on luck."
"What a shame... Then, what about Haki training methods? You must have those, right?"
"Yes, I have those."
And so Oscar and Miguel began their negotiation.
In an instant, the Sanctuary Void grew lively with the sounds of bargaining. Frank discussed with Elena, while Claire worked toward striking a deal with Kazuya and Nadia.
Charlie himself, beyond trading with Wang Jian, also approached Elena to obtain sealing technique resources from the Planar World of High School DxD. That world was filled with devils, fallen angels, and various spiritual entities. Sealing techniques there were surely highly developed.
Of course, he accepted offers from everyone. The effect of the Grimoire had truly captured the hearts of the Saviors. Unfortunately, he had only promised to provide four Grimoires and was reluctantly forced to turn down the rest.
Grimoires were genuinely rare and expensive in the Danmachi Planar World. Even to purchase a single one, an ordinary adventurer would have to save money for years. Charlie was wealthy, but not wealthy enough to buy dozens of Grimoires.
"..."
The Barter of a Thousand Realms lasted for half an hour. The lively clamor of negotiations slowly subsided as agreements were reached one by one.
"Alright. Since everyone has made their deals with one another, I'll send you back to your respective worlds to prepare everything." Gaia looked satisfied with how the event had gone. "Remember, you only have three hours. After that, you will be summoned back to the Sanctuary Void to hand over your barter items and receive the items from other Saviors."
Gaia added one important detail before they departed.
"Oh right, I almost forgot. The barter items you bring later simply need to be placed near you. Meaning it's not only your consciousness that will be pulled here, but also all the objects you carry with you."
"Any questions?"
"..."
Silence became their final answer.
*BUZZ!*
Without warning, Alaya immediately activated the teleportation circuit, returning all nine Saviors to their respective Planar Worlds in the blink of an eye.
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