I wanted the first mission in LOTM World, but this one felt more appropriate for a starter. I am planning something interesting for that world.
If you guys love the story, and feel like buying me some milk, so that I don't run off for 20 years to get it, you can follow the link below to join my Patreon where it will be continued definitely. Remove the space after https
https:// www.patreon.com/c/Virtuosso777?redirect=true
As for free version, I've uploaded some on RoyalRoad, and Scribblehub if possible under same author and story name. I lost motivation to share free stuff as people apparently don't appreciate that.
So Unlike before, there will be Atleast 20 advance chapters on Patreon and only then I'll focus on free version.
Now, my final goodbye rant before the chapter lol
I never thought such a day would come to be honest. But that's the world we live in. I am not even a full time writer unlike some who made it their job. I take my free time after working all week to share something nice.
I don't need to write, I have many other things to pass time. I only wrote because there are too many shitty stories and I was pissed not finding decent ones to read, so I thought Imma write my own stuff and maybe spread some good vibes.
But nooo, some people couldn't take that. My football story was review bombed and trashed by Sinbad12 and his goons( not sure if they were all his fake id's lol). Which made me start Patreon for the first time.
Then there was some other losers, who failed as an author yet acts like bro is so cool and whatnot leaving their dumbness in my both current stories (anyone seeking exact accuracy of history and myths in fanfics are retarded, mic drop). He doesn't even deserve to have his name mentioned, but he's still reading this, the irony!
Then Cosmic Gear with his fake id's and og id still trying seek attention his parents never gave him (btw, he's farming votes with fake id's lol) writing ai slop while he boasted he could write better. Single brain cell organism example. I almost threw up just from first chapter.
So my point is, it's been accumulating over an year now. I have kept trying and going on, but I just don't have it in me to suffer when this is free entertainment .
And when I see such people getting supported by others to the point of Making it to top 50, I just knew this platform has no more hope. The top books here are so bad it's not even funny.
Just see the current rank of this. After my chapter note yesterday, you guys suddenly started voting when I announced I'm leaving. I didn't even ask for it as I made up my mind. But it shows the potential and the lack of interest.
I know those who kept voting even when I didn't upload. I appreciate you all. I hope you guys will keep reading my stories on other sites. I post the free version for your sakes.
As for why the story dropped lower, Because some thought this guy will keep writing to entertain us whether we support him or not. I'll read this book while voting for brainrots or whatever. That's my issue here. Why do this guys? Why encourage such bad writing? And why not support good books if they are good then only come when the author lost interest?
That's why good authors have left the site. Who would continue if people think we'll just read his story when it's finished or he's supposed to dedicate his time because he's obligated to. Nobody thinks that the author will just stop writing while they stack up chapters due to lack of activity.
I know many would fail to understand the point I'm making and complain, but those who understands, I hope you don't let other authors who actually work hard to provide entertainment for you quit, because they lost their motivation.
Those who has stuck out with me so far, I hope to see you all on the new site I decide to continue my stories. I will hopefully give you some amazing stories to read as long as possible.
Just for you guys, I'll post till this weekend although I hoped to end before new year a month later. I'll not say anything more.
Funny that the chapter with the title 'first mission' is where I post my final note. Life is full of Ironies. Maybe that's for the best.
Thank you for reading and I hope to see you on new site. Take care.
*****
Kokabiel PoV
The chat group helped immensely during this period. More than I'd initially expected, actually. Their perspectives and experiences filled gaps in my understanding that observation alone couldn't bridge.
I was sitting in a small village inn one evening, having just finished treating a farmer's infected wound, when my chat device pinged. Multiple messages coming in rapidly, which usually meant something interesting was happening.
[Flash Goddess: Kokabiel-san! You haven't updated us in weeks! How's the human life experience going?]
In the Soul Society, Yoruichi was sprawled across her bed in her private quarters. She just finished her trip to Hueco Mundo to inspect some abnormal Hollow behaviors. The chat group was her escape from monotony.
[Heaven's Wrath: It's quite educational. I witnessed a fascinating dispute today between two merchants over the price of grain.
They spent two hours negotiating, getting increasingly heated, then ended by sharing drinks and laughing about the whole thing. I'm still not entirely certain what the purpose of that ritual was.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: That's called haggling, and then becoming drinking buddies. Pretty standard merchant behavior.]
In Axel, Kazuma was lying on his luxurious couch in his newly renovated mansion. The Vanir business partnership had finally paid off his debts and then some. He had money now. Real money. The kind of money that meant he didn't have to panic every time Aqua broke something.
It was the happiest he'd been since arriving in this world, which wasn't saying much, but still.
[Heaven's Wrath: But they both seemed angry during the negotiation. Yet afterward they were friends? The emotional shift was jarring.]
[Flash Goddess: The anger was performance, Kokabiel-san. Part of the negotiation game. Humans often express emotions they don't truly feel deeply to achieve social goals.]
Yoruichi grinned at her device, finding his confusion endearing in a weird way. An Outer God puzzled by basic marketplace dynamics was somehow hilarious.
[Heaven's Wrath: That seems unnecessarily complicated. Why not just state your actual price and be done with it?]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Because then you'd be a sucker who everyone rips off. The dance is part of the game. Both sides know they're performing, but performing well matters.]
[Shadow Monarch: Speaking of performances... I need advice.]
Jin Woo had been lurking silently until now, reading the conversation from his apartment in Seoul. He'd just returned from a particularly exhausting S dungeon raid, his shadows still flickering around him as he tried to decompress. But his personal life was becoming unbearable.
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Oh? What kind of advice?]
[Shadow Monarch: How do you politely tell someone to back off without being cruel? Asking for... a friend.]
There was a pause as everyone processed this obvious lie.
[Flash Goddess: This is about your stepmother situation, isn't it?]
[Shadow Monarch: ...]
[Shadow Monarch: No. This is much worse.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: DUDE. Just be direct! "I'm not interested, please stop" works wonders!]
[Shadow Monarch: I TRIED THAT. Multiple times. She just laughs it off and gets more aggressive.]
Kazuma sat up, suddenly much more invested in this conversation.
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Okay that's actually hilarious. But is she ugly or something? If she's that into you, maybe date her or something. What's the problem?]
[Shadow Monarch: .... She's 16.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: You sick bastard! FBI wants to know your location !]
[Shadow Monarch: Oi! I didn't agree! But she keeps insisting! Worse, she is Jin-Ah's friend ! I don't wanna get her kidnapped or mysteriously vanishing!]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: That's very noble of you, Jin-Woo-san. But you shouldn't have to sacrifice your own wellbeing and safety.]
Robin was in the Thousand Sunny's library, surrounded by books as always. The crew was docked at a small island for supplies, giving her rare quiet time.
She'd been following Jin Woo's situation with increasing concern. The whole thing sounded disturbingly predatory.
[Shadow Monarch: What else can I do? My sister's classmate has been stalking me. The system registered it as a new route called "Prison Leveling" which is the most horrifying thing I've ever seen.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Most horrifying thing...yet. I've been observing your situation periodically. The system's design is genuinely disturbing.
It exhibits patterns similar to malevolent Outer Gods, specifically the ones that feed on mortal suffering for entertainment.]
[Shadow Monarch: What the fuck do you mean by yet!!!! That's NOT reassuring, Kokabiel!]
[Heaven's Wrath: It wasn't meant to be reassuring. It was meant to be accurate.]
I shook my head. Stay strong Jin Woo.
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Have you considered, and hear me out here... just leveling up somewhere really far away? Like, another continent? Maybe Antarctica?]
[Shadow Monarch: Believe me, I've thought about it. But Jin-Ah and...mom needs me here. And running away feels like admitting defeat.]
[The Fool: Sometimes tactical retreat is the wisest choice. Pride isn't worth your mental health.]
Klein had just logged in, having finished his latest Tarot gathering above the gray fog. He was still in character as Mr. Fool, maintaining the mysterious benefactor persona for his growing congregation.
The mental juggling between his identities was exhausting. Plus the Nighthawk duties were keeping him busy. He barely logged in recently.
[Shadow Monarch: Easy for you to say, Klein. You're not the one being sexually harassed by a 16 year old who looks 12! ]
[The Fool: True. My problems are more existential. maintaining multiple false identities while investigating a conspiracy that could end the world. Different flavor of nightmare.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Okay but can we acknowledge that Jin-Woo's situation is uniquely fucked up?
Like, I complain about Aqua and Darkness constantly, but at least they're not trying to actively seduce me. Well, Darkness might be, but she's at least not RELATED to me.]
[Flash Goddess: The bar is so low it's underground at this point.]
[Heaven's Wrath: I have a question. Why is sexual pursuit from family members particularly taboo?
I understand the practical concerns about genetic problems in offspring, but humans can't reproduce anyway in Jin-Woo's case since they're adopted relations. What makes it specifically wrong beyond social convention?]
There was a long pause.
[Girl Who Loves Reading: Kokabiel-san... please tell me you understand why incest is wrong beyond just genetics.]
[Heaven's Wrath: I'm asking because I genuinely don't fully understand the emotional reasoning. The logical arguments I grasp. The visceral human response to it, I don't.
In some old monarchies, it was pretty common and seen as a mean to keep the bloodlines pure. ]
[The Fool:.... Alright, I'm gonna ignore some of that. forget old customs. It's about power dynamics and betrayal of trust. Family relationships are supposed to be safe, protective.
When that gets sexualized, especially with age or authority differences, it corrupts something fundamental. It's a violation of the relationship's entire purpose.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Ah. The corruption of a bond that's meant to serve a different function. That makes sense. Like trying to use a tool for something it was never designed for and destroying its original utility in the process.]
[Last Master of Humanity: That's... actually a decent way of explaining it. Weird, but accurate.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Can we please get back to helping Jin-Woo with his horror show of a life?]
[Flash Goddess: Honestly?. Keep records. If it escalates further, you'll need evidence to defend yourself. ]
[Shadow Monarch: .... Why are you talking like I'll be going to jail?]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: we'll miss you buddy.]
[Shadow Monarch: piss off you panty stealing bastard!]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: That's supposed to be our secret, stepmom fucker!]
[Flash Goddess: Oh my, you two are rather close. What a beautiful friendship.]
[Last Master of Humanity: Don't encourage them Youruichi san!]
[Heaven's Wrath: Would you like me to intervene? I could make your stepmother and stepsister... forget their interest in you. Simple memory alteration. Although they might forget some other things as well.]
[Shadow Monarch: ...That's really tempting, but also feels wrong? I don't know. Using mind control on people, even people harassing me, seems like a line I shouldn't cross.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: I'd cross that line in a heartbeat. Just saying.]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: Kazuma!]
[The Fool: I'm ashamed to call you a friend.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: What?! I'm being honest! If I had cosmic powers and was being sexually harassed by family members, I'd absolutely use those powers to make it stop!]
[The Fool: There's a difference between having power and using it responsibly. Jin-Woo's right to be cautious about crossing that line.]
[Heaven's Wrath: The offer remains available if you change your mind. For now, I recommend physical distance when possible and clear documentation of all incidents.]
[Shadow Monarch: Thanks. I'll... figure something out. Anyway, how's everyone else doing? Let's talk about literally anything else.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Oh! I have good news for once! I'm rich now!]
[Flash Goddess: Really? What happened?]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: So remember Vanir, the Demon King's general who I fought a while back? Turns out he's actually pretty cool once you're not trying to kill each other. He recognized my "genius" and wanted to partner on a business venture.]
In his mansion, Kazuma was practically glowing with pride. Finally, FINALLY, something had gone right in his life.
[Girl Who Loves Reading: What kind of business?]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: We're making and selling these magical items called Vanir Dolls. They're basically... um... how do I explain this...]
[Shadow Monarch: Sex toys. He's making magical sex toys.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: HEY! They're sophisticated magical items that happen to provide certain sensory experiences!]
[Flash Goddess: So... sex toys.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: ...Yes. Fine. Magical sex toys. But they're REALLY popular! We're making a fortune! I finally paid off all my debts and I'm actually wealthy now!]
[The Fool: I'm simultaneously proud of your entrepreneurial spirit and deeply concerned about your life choices.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Don't judge me! Do you know how long I've been in debt?! How many times Aqua destroyed property and left me to pay for it?! I'm FINALLY financially stable for the first time since being isekai'd!]
[Heaven's Wrath: Interesting business model. Leveraging human sexual desires for profit. Very pragmatic.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Thank you, Kokabiel! See? HE gets it!]
[Flash Goddess: That definitely wasn't a compliment, Kazuma-kun.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: I'm choosing to interpret it as one anyway! Money is money, and I'm not drowning in debt anymore! That's worth celebrating!]
[Last Master of Humanity: I'm happy you're doing better financially, Kazuma-san! Even if the method is... unconventional.]
Ritsuka had just logged in from Chaldea, squeezed in a quick chat break before she headed out again. She was exhausted, having just finished another grueling Lostbelt expedition, but the chat group always lifted her spirits.
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Ritsuka! How's the whole "saving human history" thing going?]
[Last Master of Humanity: It's... complicated. We're dealing with a new Lostbelt that shouldn't exist called "Eastern Lostbelt." The Chinese deities led by Jade Emperor took over the world in this timeline, and Sun Wukong is leading a rebellion against them.]
[Shadow Monarch: Wait, THE Sun Wukong? The Monkey King?]
[Last Master of Humanity: Yes! He's amazing! Also terrifying! He destroyed an entire mountain because someone insulted him! But he's fighting for freedom, so we're gonna be helping him!]
[The Fool: Your life is extraordinarily complicated, Ritsuka.]
[Last Master of Humanity: I know. Sometimes I wake up and think "I'm a teenage girl fighting gods and saving reality" and it feels surreal. But we keep going. Too many people are depending on us.]
There was a moment of quiet respect in the chat. Ritsuka carried impossible weight with remarkable grace.
[Heaven's Wrath: Your perseverance is admirable. Many would have broken under such pressure.]
[Last Master of Humanity: I have help. Mash is always with me, and all the Servants, and Da Vinci, and Doctor Romani... I'm not doing this alone. That makes all the difference.]
[Flash Goddess: That's a very healthy perspective, Ritsuka-chan.]
Kazuma sighed. He was about to type in something but stopped himself. He didn't want to break her heart by revealing something.
[Girl Who Loves Reading: Speaking of help... I might need some soon.]
The mood in the chat shifted immediately. Robin's message carried worry.
[Advocate of Gender Equality: What's wrong?]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: Luffy is missing. Has been since Sabaody Archipelago. And Ace... his brother Ace is going to be executed at Marineford. Publicly. As a show of Marine power.]
[Shadow Monarch: Shit.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Ahhhh! The flashbacks! Marineford war! It's that time already?!"]
[The Fool : how bad is it?]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: We know Luffy will go to save him. He'll fight the entire Marine force if he has to. And we're going with him, even though we're not strong enough. Even though it's probably suicide. Because that's what being comrade means.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Loyalty unto death. That's very human. Illogical but admirable.]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: It's not about logic. It's about family. Ace is Luffy's brother. Our captain's family is our family. We don't abandon each other.]
[The Fool: Even knowing you'll likely die?]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: Even then.]
Kazuma stared at his device, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. He liked to think of himself as pragmatic, self-interested, willing to run away from danger.
But Robin was talking about walking into certain death out of loyalty. It made his complaints about debt seem trivial.
[Advocate of Gender Equality: That's... actually really brave. Stupid, but brave.]
[Flash Goddess: Is there any way we can help?]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: I don't think so. The chat system doesn't allow world travel except under specific circumstances. But thank you for offering.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Let me check the system parameters.]
I pulled up the world travel functions. They existed, vouchers that allowed members to visit each other's worlds temporarily.
But when I tried to access them, the option was grayed out for me specifically. And there was a message. Multiple messages, actually.
[One Piece World Will: My world is already chaotic enough! Please don't come and destroy it unless there's an actual task! Your presence itself will break the timeline further! Do you know how hard I've been working to keep things stable after that damn ROB dropped someone here?!]
That was... oddly specific and somewhat rude.
[Solo Leveling World Will: You want to come? How do you want to do this? You come or I come? Or we both come together? Oh trust me, you WILL come! ;)]
I stared at that message for a long moment, genuinely confused.
[Heaven's Wrath: Does anyone understand what the Solo Leveling World Will means by this message?]
I shared it in the group chat.
[Shadow Monarch: ...]
[Shadow Monarch: I'm going to pretend I didn't see that.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: HAHAHAHA! Oh my god, is your World Will flirting with Kokabiel?!]
[Shadow Monarch: NO. It's not. It can't be. I refuse to believe my world's fundamental governing force is that thirsty.]
[Flash Goddess: That's definitely flirting. Very aggressive flirting.]
[The Fool: I'm uncomfortable.]
[Konosuba World Will: Yamete kudasai, Outer God-kun! It's a kids-friendly world! Well, mostly! Don't make it weird! I've already got enough problems with Kazuma's business venture!]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: HEY! Don't drag me into this!]
[Fate World Will: I am an abyss of horror that has consumed countless timelines and possibilities, witnessed the end and rebirth of reality itself, stared into the void until the void stared back... but even I feel scared of you! Stay away! Please! I'm begging you!]
[Last Master of Humanity: My World Will is very dramatic.]
[Heaven's Wrath: That's rather excessive. I've put multiple seals on myself specifically to avoid causing these kinds of problems.]
[Lord of the Mysteries World Will: My world's Outer Gods look like harmless children compared to you! And I already have one weirdo obsessed with you trying to contact you through the Eternal Night pathway! I have enough problems without Evernight making things worse!]
[The Fool: ...Goddess Evernight is trying to contact Kokabiel?]
[Heaven's Wrath: Yes. Amanises been attempting to reach me through the Eternal Night pathway for months. I've been ignoring it. Along with various other entities across the omniverse who've somehow intuited my existence.]
[Shadow Monarch: That's not concerning at all.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Some worlds have already developed cults in my name. "The Church of the Eternal Night."
They sacrifice animals thinking I want blood offerings, which I don't. Then they started sacrificing themselves, screaming that their souls belong to me and whatnot.
I don't want their souls either. Souls get recycled naturally through reincarnation systems. What would I even do with them?]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Whoa there, you just revealed something big! Souls get recycled! And you can Use them as batteries like evil villains do?]
[Heaven's Wrath: I don't need power sources. I exist beyond such requirements. The cults are just annoying. I shut them down when I find them, but they keep appearing like weeds.]
[Flash Goddess: So you've got a multi-world stalker problem. That's a new one.]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: This conversation has gotten very off-track from my impending doom situation.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Right. Apologies. Robin, I cannot come due to the system restrictions. The World Wills are actively preventing my entry. I wish I could help.]
I sent the message and felt that uncomfortable twisting in my chest again. Stronger than before.
Robin genuinely needed my help, and I was failing to provide it. That felt wrong. Important-wrong, not just logically suboptimal.
Was this guilt? Actual guilt, not just recognition that I should feel guilty?
Progress, I suppose. Uncomfortable progress.
[Girl Who Loves Reading: I understand. Thank you for checking. We'll figure something out. We always do.]
Her resignation was palpable even through text. She didn't believe they'd figure it out. She was preparing to die with her crew, accepting it with the same calm she approached everything else.
[Flash Goddess: Don't give up yet, Robin-chan. Sometimes help comes from unexpected places.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Yeah, and if it doesn't, at least go down fighting. That's worth something, right?]
[Shadow Monarch: Not really helping, Kazuma.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: I'm being realistic! Sometimes the best you can do is face death with dignity! It's not great, but it's something!]
[Last Master of Humanity: There has to be another way. There's always another way. We just haven't thought of it yet.]
Ritsuka's optimism was admirable but felt hollow given the circumstances. What could they possibly do against the full might of Marine Headquarters? Against Admirals, against Sengoku, against the assembled forces of the World Government?
The conversation continued for a while longer, drifting to other topics as people tried to distract Robin from her impending crisis.
Klein shared stories about his Nighthawk colleagues, apparently one of them kept trying to feed him weird mystical concoctions that "enhanced spiritual perception" but mostly just tasted horrible.
Yoruichi complained about incompetent subordinates who couldn't follow basic training protocols.
Ritsuka gushed about Sun Wukong's fighting style and how Mash was learning to incorporate some of his techniques.
Normal conversation. Friendly banter. The kind of interaction that shouldn't be possible between beings from different dimensions, yet somehow was.
I found myself smiling naturally, without thought. These people had become important to me. Not just useful sources of information about emotions, but actual friends.
The word felt strange to apply to myself, but it fit.
When had that happened? When had they transitioned from educational resources to people I somewhat cared about?
I wasn't sure. The change had been gradual, imperceptible until suddenly it was just true.
[Heaven's Wrath: I need to go. There's a village about two days' travel from here that's showing signs of plague resurgence. I should investigate.]
[Flash Goddess: Stay safe, Kokabiel-san! Come back and chat soon!]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Don't accidentally destroy the village by being too helpful!]
[Heaven's Wrath: That happened ONE time and the building was structurally unsound anyway.]
[Shadow Monarch: Wait, what?]
[Heaven's Wrath: I'll explain later. Goodbye, everyone.]
I closed the chat with that warm feeling still present in my chest. Faint but real. Genuine affection for these strange people from other worlds who'd somehow become my friends.
The World Will's essence was working. Slowly, painfully slowly, but working.
Time passed. Days became weeks, weeks became months. I continued my wandering through Europe and beyond, observing, learning, occasionally intervening when situations demanded it.
I learned the rhythm of human life. The cycles of planting and harvest, the celebrations and mourning rituals, the countless small traditions that gave structure to temporary existence.
I attended weddings and funerals, helped deliver babies and ease the passing of the elderly, witnessed the full arc of human experience from birth to death.
Each experience added another piece to my understanding. Another small connection in the vast network of what it meant to be alive, to care about things, to feel emotions beyond cold analysis.
I was having a particularly comfortable day inside the core of a massive star, one of my meditation practices, floating in plasma millions of degrees hot, using the extreme environment to help process the World Will's essence integration, when the chat group suddenly pinged.
Not the normal blue notification. Red. Urgent. Accompanied by a sound I'd never heard the system make before—a sharp, alarming tone that cut through even my stellar meditation.
I materialized instantly back in human form, pulling up the interface with genuine concern. Red notifications only appeared for emergencies. System errors. World-threatening crises.
What I saw made me pause.
[DING! ALERT! A NEW TASK IS AVAILABLE.]
[Target World: One Piece]
[Mission Description: OUTER GOD THREAT DETECTED]
[There are 3 types of Outer God followers that actively work to facilitate invasions across dimensional barriers:]
[Type A - Devouts: These are standard cultists who worship and form organized cults.
They offer sacrifices and establish connections with the Outer God they worship, following transmitted instructions to spread corruption and perform rituals designed to tear holes in world barriers, allowing Outer Gods to invade.
This is the least dangerous type and easiest to detect through standard monitoring. World Wills can usually handle Type A threats independently.]
[Type B - Heralds: These are singular powerful entities who have received direct blessings from Outer Gods and travel between worlds, personally influencing populations to follow them.
They possess a significant percentage of their patron Outer God's powers, making them capable of destroying entire worlds through direct action.
Hard to detect due to their individual nature and significantly more dangerous than organized cults. Requires immediate intervention when discovered.]
[Type C - Moles: These are the most insidious threat. Entities who don't openly possess or display knowledge of Outer Gods.
They usually take innocuous forms and commonly go by titles like ROB (Random Omnipotent Being), granting wishes, systems, and "cheats" to unsuspecting individuals who they designate as "chosen ones" or "protagonists."
However, they embed corruption within their gifts at a fundamental level. The more these recipients use their granted abilities, the more the local timeline fractures and the World Will becomes infected, like a disease spreading through reality's foundation.
Once corruption levels rise past critical threshold, it opens a permanent breach through the world barriers, allowing direct manifestation of Outer Gods. The world then gets consumed entirely.
This is the most dangerous type as they are nearly impossible to detect until damage is already severe, and their "champions" can grow from weakest to strongest within impossibly short timeframes, destabilizing entire power structures.]
[Current Threat Assessment: HERALD-CLASS ENTITY DETECTED IN ONE PIECE WORLD]
[Corruption Level: 34% and rising]
[Estimated Time Until Barrier Breach: 3-4 months]
[This mission allows maximum 5 participants. Threat Level: Herald with potential Mole characteristics.]
[Rewards: Variable based on contribution and threat elimination. Minimum: 50,000 points per participant. Maximum: 500,000 points for primary eliminator.]
[WARNING: Failure will result in complete world consumption and dimensional cascade affecting neighboring realities.]
[One Piece World Will's Note: I TAKE BACK EVERYTHING I SAID EARLIER! PLEASE HELP ME, KIND SIR! I'M VERY SORRY FOR BEING RUDE! THERE'S A HERALD IN MY WORLD AND IT'S CORRUPTING EVERYTHING! THE CORRUPTION IS SPREADING FASTER THAN I CAN CONTAIN IT! PLEASE! I'LL DO ANYTHING!]
The panic in that message was cear. World Wills didn't panic easily, they were fundamental forces of reality, operating on scales beyond normal emotion. For one to be this desperate meant the situation was catastrophically bad.
I immediately pulled up the group chat. Everyone was logging in simultaneously, having received the same red alert.
[Flash Goddess: What the hell?! A Herald?! In Robin's world?!]
Yoruichi had jumped to her feet so fast she'd knocked over her desk chair. Her spiritual pressure flared unconsciously, startling nearby living beings.
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Oh shit. Oh SHIT. This is bad, right? This is really bad. ]
Kazuma's hands were shaking as he typed. He'd been enjoying a peaceful afternoon for once, and now the universe was dropping cosmic horror into his lap again. Why couldn't he just have ONE peaceful month?
[Shadow Monarch: Threat level Herald... if Type A is the weakest and Type C is the strongest, Type B is the middle ground. Powerful enough to destroy worlds but detectable if you know what to look for. ]
Jin Woo was already summoning his shadows instinctively, battle reflexes kicking in. His apartment grew dark as hundreds of shadow soldiers materialized around him, responding to their king's tension.
[The Fool: 34% corruption and rising. Three to four months until complete barrier breach. Those are not comfortable numbers.]
Klein had gone very still in his apartment, his mind already racing through contingencies. This was beyond anything he'd faced in his own world. Beyond the scope of normal threats.
[Last Master of Humanity: We have to help! Robin-san and her friends are in danger! The entire world is in danger! If only I wasn't in a mission already! ]
Ritsuka was already on her feet in her current home, startling Mash who'd been reading nearby. Her device clutched in her hands, face set with determination.
[Girl Who Loves Reading: There's an Outer God Herald in my world? What does that even mean? What's happening?]
Robin's message carried genuine fear. She'd faced many threats in her life. The World Government, CP9, countless pirates and marines. But this was beyond her understanding. Outer Gods? Heralds? World consumption? These were concepts outside her experience.
[Heaven's Wrath: It means something is actively trying to destroy your world and use it as a gateway for Outer God invasion.
Something powerful enough to corrupt reality itself. And we have approximately three months to find and eliminate it before your entire world ceases to exist.]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: Oh. That's... very bad.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Understatement of the century, Robin!]
[Flash Goddess: Okay, everyone calm down. We have a mission now. Clear objective. Find the Herald, eliminate the Herald, save the world. We can do this.
The first time we eliminated a small cult in Kazuma's world. It was rather easy. This should be a little more difficult.]
Yoruichi was forcing herself into tactical mindset, pushing down the fear. Panic wouldn't help. Strategy would.
[Advocate of Gender Equality: I think that was the beginner difficulty to introduce us to the tasks. Every game has a trial mission.]
[The Fool: Agreed. But this is not a game Kazuma. Losing isn't an option.]
[Shadow Monarch: The mission allows five participants maximum. Who's going?]
[The Fool: I'm available. My world is relatively stable at the moment. The Tarot Club can function without me for a while.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: I'm in. Not because I want to face cosmic horror, but because... actually, I don't have a good reason. But I'm not letting you guys do this without me.]
In his mansion, Kazuma took a long drink straight from the bottle. He was absolutely terrified. But these were his friends. Even if he was weak, even if he'd probably just be in the way, he couldn't abandon them.
[Shadow Monarch: Same. I'll come. My world will survive without me for a bit. And... you guys all helped me with my problems or Atleast listened to it. Time to return the favor.]
Jin Woo cracked his knuckles, shadows swirling around him more intensely. Finally, a straightforward problem he could punch.
Well, relatively straightforward. Cosmic horror was still cosmic horror, but at least it was something he could fight.
[Flash Goddess: I'm definitely coming! Can't let you boys have all the fun! Plus, Robin needs another woman there for balance!]
Yoruichi was grinning now, that fierce combat-ready grin that meant she was looking forward to the challenge. It had been too long since she'd had a real fight.
[Last Master of Humanity: I want to come too, but... the Lostbelt situation here is critical. I can't leave. I'm sorry, Robin-san. I'm so sorry.]
Ritsuka's message was anguished. She wanted to help, desperately, but she was literally responsible for preventing human extinction in her own world. She couldn't abandon that duty even for a friend.
[Girl Who Loves Reading: Don't apologize, Ritsuka-san. You have your own world to save. We understand.]
[Heaven's Wrath: That makes five then. Myself, Yoruichi, Jin Woo, Kazuma, and Klein. Are we all in agreement?]
There was a moment of collective acknowledgment. Five people from five different worlds, about to jump into a sixth world to fight something that could consume reality itself.
[The Fool: This is the first time we'll get to meet you. Looking forward to it.]
[Flash Goddess: oh my, even Kokabiel is joining in? That puts me at ease.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: ...Are we sure about this? Like, really sure? Because this sounds insane even by our standards.]
[Flash Goddess: Completely insane. But we're doing it anyway.]
[Shadow Monarch: Story of my life at this point.]
[The Fool: Sometimes the only sane response to an insane situation is to proceed with eyes open.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Well said, Klein. Robin, we're coming. Hold on just a little longer.]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: Thank you. All of you. I don't know what we'd do without you.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Let's hope you never have to find out.]
I pulled up the mission acceptance interface. Five slots available. Five names needed to be confirmed before transport would activate.
The reality of what we were about to do settled over me. This wasn't like my time in Europe, healing plague victims and learning about human nature. This was going back to what I was, what I'd become during the war.
Heaven's Wrath. The destroyer of armies. The being that had killed Lucifer and humiliated Indra.
I'd been trying to be human, to recover my emotions through gentle experience. But now gentle time was over. Now I needed to be what I'd transcended into. An Outer God facing another Outer God's servant.
The irony wasn't lost on me.
[Heaven's Wrath: Everyone ready? Last chance to reconsider before we commit.]
[Flash Goddess: Ready! Let's go save a world!]
[Shadow Monarch: Ready. My shadows are eager for a real fight.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: I'm not ready at all, but I'm doing it anyway! That counts for something!]
[The Fool: As ready as one can be for cosmic horror. Let's proceed.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Acknowledged. Accepting mission in 3... 2... 1...]
Five names appeared on the acceptance roster:
Heaven's Wrath (Kokabiel)
Flash Goddess (Yoruichi Shihouin)
Shadow Monarch (Sung Jin-Woo)
Advocate of Gender Equality (Satou Kazuma)
The Fool (Klein Moretti)
I pressed Accept calmly.
Reality twisted violently.
The comfortable star core vanished. The familiar dimensions of my own world dissolved.
For a fraction of a second, I existed in the space between realities—pure void where physics held no meaning, where time and space were just suggestions, where the walls between worlds were visible as fragile membranes keeping existence separated from non-existence.
I could see the One Piece world ahead. And I could see the corruption spreading through it like black veins through healthy flesh.
The Herald's influence, worming its way into reality's foundation, preparing the way for something much worse.
Then the void spat us out.
I stumbled slightly as my feet found solid ground, regaining my balance instantly. The transition was disorienting even for me—the sudden shift from between-space to normal reality always carried a moment of adjustment.
I looked around, getting my bearings.
We were on an island. Small, tropical, with white sand beaches and dense jungle inland. The ocean stretched to the horizon, impossibly blue under a bright sun.
The air smelled of salt and vegetation and something else—something wrong, like rot underneath perfume.
The corruption. I could sense it now that I was in this world, feel it like an itch at the back of my awareness. Subtle but present.
My four companions materialized around me in rapid succession.
Yoruichi appeared in a crouch, instantly alert, her golden eyes scanning for threats. She was in her shinigami form, black outfit hugging her lithe frame, zanpakuto at her side. Combat-ready.
Jin Woo materialized with shadows already swirling around him, dozens of shadow soldiers manifesting from his power. His eyes glowed purple with active use of his abilities.
He looked different . Quiet, more intense. The weight of his struggles evident in how he held himself.
Klein arrived looking disoriented, one hand instinctively going to his revolver while the other clutched some kind of mystical charm.
He was dressed in his Nighthawk attire. practical, dark, designed for investigation and combat. His eyes held wariness that spoke of someone used to danger.
Kazuma appeared last, immediately fell over, scrambled to his feet cursing. "I hate dimensional travel! I HATE IT! Why does it always make me nauseous?!"
He looked exactly like I'd expected. average height, average build, average features. Completely unremarkable except for his eyes, which held a particular kind of exhausted cynicism that came from suffering repeatedly.
They all turned to look at me.
I realized this was the first time any of them had seen me in person. Through the chat we'd been friends for months, but this was our first actual face-to-face meeting.
I waved awkardly. " Hello there. Nice to meet you all finally."
Yoruichi spoke first, grinning despite the serious situation. "So you're the famous Kokabiel. Gotta say, that look works for you. I like it ." She gave a little wink as grinned.
"Thank you? You are also beautiful Youruichi." I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not.
Kazuma muttered. "Stupid handsome bastards!"
Jin Woo was staring at me with an expression somewhere between awe and fear. "You feel... wrong. Like looking at something my brain can't fully process. Is that normal?"
"I have multiple seals suppressing my true nature. What you're sensing is the small amount of power that bleeds through despite that. Apologies if it's uncomfortable."
"No, it's..." Jin Woo shook his head. "It's fine. Just going to take some getting used to."
Klein was studying me with analytical intensity, like he was trying to see past my human disguise to what lay underneath.
"Your existence hurts to perceive directly. I can feel my spiritual intuition screaming at me to look away."
"That's your survival instinct functioning correctly. Please don't fight it too hard. I'd prefer not to accidentally damage your sanity."
Kazuma was just staring, looking vaguely ill. "You're An actual Outer God! Like those...things. And I just agreed to go on a mission with you. I'm such an idiot."
He wiped a tear and thought, 'Mom , Dad, your son is literally standing next to Cthulhu level horror. I wanna go home!'
"You're brave," I corrected. "Idiotic would be coming here unprepared and overconfident. You came here afraid but determined. That's courage."
"That's... actually kind of nice?" Kazuma blinked. "Thanks?"
"You're welcome. Now, we should—"
"KOKABIEL-SAN!"
I turned just in time to be tackled by Robin, who'd apparently been waiting nearby and had sprinted over the moment we appeared.
She hugged me tightly, her arms wrapped around my waist, face pressed against my chest. "You came. You actually came. All of you came."
I stood there awkwardly for a moment, then carefully returned the hug. Physical affection was still strange to me, but I was getting better at it. And Robin clearly needed the comfort.
"Of course we came," I said quietly. "You needed help. We're friends. That's what friends do."
She pulled back, wiping her eyes, and I realized she'd been crying. just quiet tears of relief.
Then she looked at the others and her eyes widened. "You're all really here. I've been talking to you for months, but seeing you in person is..."
"Weird?" Kazuma offered.
"Surreal," Robin finished. "But good. Very good. Thank you. All of you."
Yoruichi stepped forward, pulling Robin into a brief hug. "Save the thanks for after we don't die horribly, yeah?"
"Fair point."
Jin Woo was looking around, shadows still swirling protectively. "Where's the rest of your crew? You said you were heading to Marineford?"
Robin's expression darkened. "They're on the ship, preparing. We've been trying to figure out how to infiltrate Marineford without getting killed immediately. So far we've come up with nothing."
"We'll figure it out," Klein said confidently. "Five of us just arrived with abilities this world has never seen. That changes the tactical situation significantly."
"Plus we need to find this Herald anyway," Yoruichi added. "Might be at Marineford. Might not. Either way, we've got work to do."
I looked at Robin seriously. "Before we proceed with your crew's rescue mission, we need to understand the Herald situation. The corruption is at 34% and rising.
That means we have maybe three months before this world gets consumed. Finding and eliminating the Herald takes priority over everything else."
Robin nodded slowly. "I understand. Save the world first, save my captain second."
"We'll try to do both," I said. "But I need you to to mentally prepare for the worst case scenario. I can protect you and the rest, but I'm not sure if we can save everyone. If I unleash too much of my power, your world might get destroyed."
She flinched but nodded again. "I understand. I don't like it, but I understand."
"Good. Now take us to your ship. We need to meet the rest of your crew, assess the situation, and formulate a plan. Time is not on our side."
Youruichi patted my shoulder. "Don't worry Kokabiel san. We''ll not let you del with it alone. We can handle ourselves."
Robin started leading us inland, toward where the Thousand Sunny was apparently docked.
Klein walked beside me. " How is it like being an outer god?"
I paused then replied. " It's not fun. When you see and know everything, everything is boring. But you don't need to worry. You won't become like me."
Klein looked at me curiously. "Have you seen it ? What I will become?"
I smiled and patted his shoulder. "Yes. I know everything Klein. Your path is a difficult one. But maybe all of us can make it a little easier to walk."
Klein chuckled. " You are really one of a kind Kokabiel. I'm glad I got to meet you, all of you."
Jin Woo appeared beside us, one of his shadows were carrying Kazuma who looked beaten up. I raised an eyebrow.
" I just had a friendly chat with him." Jin Woo shrugged."
Robin and Youruichi were talking about the worlds culture and authorities.
Together, we looked like a weird but functioning team. I felt a weird sense of belonging.
Maybe I don't need perfection, just something that feels perfect.