(Night)
"Alright, let's see… clothes, check. Food, check. Water, check. First-aid kit, check…"
Elio knelt on the floor beside his open backpack, carefully going through the checklist on his phone.
After finishing dinner with Iggy, he had immediately begun preparing for the group's first mission.
The floor around him was covered in supplies.
Camping gear.
Medical supplies.
Emergency rations.
Flashlights.
Basic camping tools.
It looked less like a short mission and more like he was preparing for a week-long survival expedition.
From the couch, Iggy stared at him.
The Boston Terrier tilted his head slowly, eyes half-lidded with disbelief.
"Bark… bark?"
(Are you seriously bringing all that?)
He snorted.
"Bark."
(Half of that junk is useless.)
Elio didn't even look up.
"Yes, Iggy, we need to be prepared. What if we get lost in the forest? What if the mission takes longer than expected? It's better to have supplies than regret not bringing them."
Iggy stared at him for another second.
Then he huffed loudly and turned away.
Clearly unimpressed.
He trotted toward the living room to watch television, but before leaving, he glanced back.
"Bark! Bark, bark."
(Fine. Do whatever you want.)
Then his eyes narrowed.
"Bark."
(But if you forget the beef jerky, I'm biting you.)
Elio sighed.
"Alright, alright. I'll pack as much as I can."
Satisfied, Iggy walked off toward the couch like a king dismissing a servant.
Meanwhile, Elio continued checking his bag.
"Flashlight, check… sleeping bag, check… multi-purpose knife, check… extra food, check…"
He carefully organized everything, making sure nothing important was missing.
But while he prepared
His mind drifted back to the chaos that had happened earlier.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Flashback — Afternoon)
The group chat had exploded the moment the mission appeared.
Elio had immediately called an emergency meeting.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: @Everyone. Good afternoon. Please come online immediately. We need to discuss the sudden release of our first mission. This is urgent.
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: Yeah, I saw it. And of course it's happening in my world. Perfect. Just perfect. I was in the middle of something important too. Haven't even had my first drink today and this system's already giving me a headache.
[Fairy_Titania]: This is… concerning. We have only known each other for two weeks, yet we are already being given a mission. This seems unusually sudden.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: I understand your concerns. Unfortunately, participation is mandatory. If we want to survive this system, we need to cooperate.
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: Great. Fantastic. Just hope this "Anomaly" isn't some giant Grimm or an interdimensional nightmare. Remnant already has enough problems.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: …You might want to reconsider that, Qrow. The Anomaly may be worse.
[Fairy_Titania]: Is there something wrong with the mission?
[Reluctant_Recluse]: Not exactly. But the Anomaly will be attending Beacon Academy as a student.
There was a pause
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: …Seriously? Beacon enrollment season again. That brings back memories. But I don't see the problem. A kid can't be that dangerous.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: This one can. The Anomaly possesses something called a System. He grows stronger by completing quests and killing enemies. He can level up like a video game character, acquire skills through repetition, and even purchase abilities through a built-in shop.
There was silence.
Then—
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: …You're telling me this kid is basically cheating reality?
[Fairy_Titania]: I am unfamiliar with "video games," but gaining power that quickly is… highly unusual.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: And that's not the worst part. His Semblance allows him to grow stronger based on the emotional attachment others feel toward him. Admiration. Loyalty. Love. The stronger those feelings become, the stronger he becomes.
[Fairy_Titania]:…That sounds dangerous.
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]:Hold on. So he gets stronger the more people like him? Great. Just what the world needs. A walking ego problem.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: The real problem is his personality.
There was a pause before Elio typed the next message.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: The Anomaly is pretending to be a kind and heroic person. But according to the system information…He's actually a narcissistic manipulator with a superiority complex. He sees Remnant as his playground. And his main goal is…
Elio hesitated before finishing the sentence.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: …to "collect" the women of Remnant.
The chat froze.
Then—
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: …What.
[Fairy_Titania]: …Explain. Immediately.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: He intends to manipulate and seduce powerful women across Remnant to strengthen his Semblance. In short…He plans to build a harem.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Then—
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]:…What. The. Actual. Hell.
[Fairy_Titania]: That is utterly disgraceful.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: It gets worse. He originally came from my world.
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: Hold on. Back up. You're telling me this idiot came from Earth?
[Fairy_Titania]: Your world?
[Reluctant_Recluse]: Yes. He died, met a Random Omnipotent Being, and was granted three wishes. One of those wishes gave him the System. Then the other wish was to be reincarnated into Remnant. And because he came from my world…He knows the story of yours.
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]:…Oh fantastic. So he's got some knowledge too. This mission just keeps getting worse.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: There's something else you need to know, Qrow. You're not going to like it.
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: Kid, if you tell me this gets worse, I'm opening a bottle early.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: Both of your nieces will be attending Beacon. Yang… and Ruby.
There was a long pause.
Then—
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: …What. Ruby's still two years early. How the hell is she getting in?
[Reluctant_Recluse]: Headmaster of Beacon Academy himself, and your boss, Ozpin personally invited her. That's all I'll say for now. But according to the system…The Anomaly will likely target them first.
Another pause.
Then Qrow typed again.
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: …Yeah. If that creep even looks at my nieces the wrong way— I'm breaking his legs.
[Fairy_Titania]: What is our plan?
[Reluctant_Recluse]: For now, prepare for the mission. I will send the full information file shortly. We'll finalize our strategy once we meet in person.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(End of Flashback)
Elio sighed softly.
The meeting had been chaotic.
But at least the most important information had been delivered.
Now he just needed to prepare.
After finishing his packing, he sent a quick message to Mr. Morales explaining that he would miss tomorrow's training session.
Fortunately, the reply came quickly.
Mr. Morales already had an event scheduled tomorrow.
Elio let out a relieved sigh.
"Good thing I messaged him early…"
His eyelids were already drooping.
Organizing everything had drained the last of his energy.
But before sleeping, he still needed to shower.
He dragged himself to the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, he returned in comfortable sleepwear.
"Iggy, I'm heading to bed."
The dog was already curled up on his small cushion.
Elio looked at him.
"We need to wake up early tomorrow. If I somehow sleep through my alarms… wake me up, okay?"
Iggy didn't even open his eyes.
"Bark."
(Don't count on it.)
He stretched lazily.
"Bark, bark."
(But if breakfast is late, I will wake you up.)
Elio chuckled softly.
"Fair enough."
Iggy curled tighter into his cushion.
Within seconds, he was asleep.
Elio watched him for a moment before smiling faintly.
After a few light stretches and a short prayer, he climbed into bed.
Tomorrow…
They would step into another world.
And stop an anomaly.
Hopefully.
He closed his eyes.
And the apartment finally fell silent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Next Day, Early Morning)
"Beep! Beep! Beep!"
The alarm on Elio's phone rang sharply in the quiet room.
His eyes opened immediately.
Without hesitation, he reached over and silenced it. For a moment, he simply lay there, staring at the ceiling while his mind slowly caught up with reality.
After a few seconds, he sat up and began his morning prayer.
Only after finishing did he finally stretch and glance at his phone.
4:00 A.M.
"Ahh… man. I was having a good dream too," Elio muttered under his breath.
He climbed out of bed and did a few light stretches before walking over to Iggy's sleeping corner.
The Boston Terrier was sprawled comfortably across his cushion, drool pooling beneath his snout like he had just finished the best meal of his life.
Elio crouched beside him.
"Alright… let's get this over with.
He gently shook the dog.
"Wake up, Iggy. We need to prepare to depart."
Iggy didn't move.
He only mumbled in his sleep.
"...Bark."
(Five more minutes…)
Elio sighed.
"Iggy," he said calmly, "I'll make your favorite breakfast if you wake up now."
Instantly—
Iggy's eyes snapped open.
He jumped to his feet.
"Bark!"
(I'm awake! I'm awake!)
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Bark."
(You better not be lying, human.)
Elio chuckled.
"Of course not."
With that they both headed to the kitchen. The kitchen lights flickered on as Elio began preparing breakfast.
For himself, he made a simple bowl of cornflakes and brewed a cup of coffee.
For Iggy?
Something much more luxurious.
Juicy meatballs.
Sweet potato slices.
Carrot sticks.
Compared to Elio's modest meal, Iggy's bowl looked like something from a gourmet pet restaurant.
Elio placed it down.
"Here you go, Iggy. Your favorite."
He pointed to the vegetables.
"Eat the carrots and sweet potatoes too. And don't make a mess."
Iggy immediately began devouring the food.
"Bark bark bark."
(Yeah, yeah. Great work as always, human.)
Elio quietly ate his own breakfast while Iggy attacked his bowl like a starving wolf.
Naturally, by the time they finished, half the mess on the area belonged to Iggy.
After cleaning everything up, Elio headed to the bathroom for a quick rinse.
Iggy tried to sneak away the moment he saw the bath.
Unfortunately for him, Elio grabbed him.
A few minutes later, the Boston Terrier emerged freshly cleaned—though clearly unhappy about it.
After that, Elio dressed in the clothes he had prepared the night before.
A white T-shirt.
A black jacket.
Blue jeans.
On his left wrist was a watch. On his right, a wooden rosary bracelet.
He finished the outfit with brown hiking boots and white socks before combing his neck-length hair neatly.
Meanwhile, Iggy now looked surprisingly presentable.
His fur was clean and carried a faint lemon scent.
Around his neck was a red collar with a nameplate—Iggy on the front, Eliandro "Elio" Cruz on the back.
Just in case.
Elio grabbed his backpack filled with travel supplies.
Next came a kali case containing four pairs of arnis sticks.
Finally, he picked up the weapon he that will help him on his journey.
The Bakal na Kruz.
The red-gold iron cross-shaped weapon rested comfortably at his right side as if secured in an invisible holster.
Satisfied, Elio checked the time.
4:53 A.M.
"Alright… everything's ready."
He opened the group chat.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: Good morning, everyone. Are you ready for the mission?
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: Yeah, yeah. I'm ready, kid. Been ready for a while.
[Fairy_Titania]: I am also prepared.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: Alright. I'll initiate transportation shortly. Please make sure you're in an isolated place. Disappearing in public areas would probably cause… problems.
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: Heh… yeah, that'd get awkward fast. I'll catch you guys later. Kinda curious what the faces behind all this look like.
[Fairy_Titania]: Understood. I will await the transfer. I am also very interested in meeting all of you in person.
Elio tapped the Transportation button on his phone.
A confirmation window appeared.
[Do you want to initiate the transportation?]
He hesitated for a moment.
Then checked the time again.
4:57 A.M.
"…Yes."
He pressed confirm.
Light suddenly erupted around him and Iggy.
In the next instant—
They vanished.
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(Remnant, Forest Outside the City of Vale)
The forest was peaceful.
Towering trees stretched high into the sky, their branches filled with lush green leaves. The gentle rustling of wind carried the sounds of insects and distant animals.
It was quiet.
Calm.
Untouched by civilization.
Then—
Three flashes of light burst into existence.
And four figures appeared.
Animals scattered instantly as the sudden disturbance shattered the forest's silence.
The newcomers staggered slightly, disoriented by the teleportation.
Elio grabbed his head.
"Whoa… my head's spinning."
His vision swayed.
Then his stomach lurched.
"Ugh… oh no—I think I'm going to—"
He rushed to a nearby bush.
Moments later—
He threw up.
Quite violently.
After finishing, he rinsed his mouth with water and spat into the bushes before sitting down heavily against a tree trunk.
A menthol candy went straight into his mouth as he focused on slow breathing.
Footsteps approached.
"Are you alright?"
The voice was calm, firm, and unmistakably authoritative.
Standing nearby was a woman with long crimson hair and a commanding presence. She wore polished silver armor with golden accents over a blue skirt, along with armored gauntlets and black knee-high boots.
Even standing still, she radiated discipline and strength.
Erza Scarlet.
Behind her stood a tall man with messy black hair and a relaxed posture.
He wore a white shirt under a gray vest with black pants, and a long red cloak draped behind him.
A massive weapon rested casually across his back.
Qrow Branwen
He studied Elio with mild amusement.
"First time teleporting, huh?" Qrow said with a crooked smirk. "Heh… yeah, mine too. Trust me, I've been through worse."
Elio rubbed his forehead.
"Ye-yeah… I'm okay now. Sorry you had to see that."
Iggy trotted over and put his paws on Elio's knee.
"Bark."
(Pull yourself together already.)
"Bark."
(You're the one who cooks my food.)
Elio sighed.
"…Thanks for the support, Iggy. Truly man's best friend."
The dog wagged his tail proudly.
Clearly missing the sarcasm.
"Bark!"
(That's right.)
Elio slowly stood up.
The dizziness had mostly passed.
"Alright… now that we're finally meeting face-to-face, I think we should start with introductions. Is that alright with both of you?"
Qrow shrugged.
"Sure. Why not."
Erza nodded.
"That would be appropriate."
Elio gestured politely.
"My name is Eliandro Cruz, though most people call me Elio. This is my companion, Iggy. We're from a world called Earth."
Iggy barked once.
"Bark."
(Sup.)
Erza stepped forward.
"My name is Erza Scarlet, a member of the Fairy Tail guild. I come from the world known as Earthland."
Her voice carried both grace and authority.
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
Qrow rubbed the back of his neck.
"Guess that leaves me."
He gave them a casual grin.
"Name's Qrow Branwen. Huntsman."
He gestured toward the distant horizon.
"And welcome to Remnant."
Elio nodded.
"Now that we've introduced ourselves, we have a lot to discuss. But first…"
He looked around at the dense forest.
"…we should probably find civilization."
Qrow chuckled.
"Yeah, good idea."
He turned and started walking.
"Vale's not too far from here."
Then he glanced over his shoulder.
"So stick close."
His voice dropped slightly.
"Grimms like hanging around forests like this."
Elio and Erza nodded.
With that, the three members, plus the dog, of the Multiverse Chat Group began their journey toward Vale.
Their mission had officially begun.
And as they walked through the forest, Elio couldn't shake a growing feeling in his chest.
A quiet warning.
Something told him…
This mission was not going to be simple.
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(TO BE CONTINUED)
Name: Eliandro "Elio" Cruz
Ability: Quick Learner
Weapon: Bakal na Krus (Iron Cross)
Familiar: Iggy
Multiverse Chat Group
Administrator: Eliandro "Elio" Cruz (Username: Reluctant_Recluse)
Members:
Erza Scarlet (Username: Fairy_Titania)
Qrow Branwen (Username: Unlucky_Alcoholic)
Mission: Stop the Anomaly.