All-World Alliance Guild

Cardinal World — Tensura. 

Western Holy Church.

Night Rose.

Luminous Valentine.

At first, she wasn't impressed.

Sure, she found out the existence of other worlds.

And that was it.

That was where her interest ended.

But having heard that members of this… whatever it was could travel to those worlds, and more so to each world they assist, they gain the ability to freely travel to those worlds.

Luminous was extremely curious.

Her fangs peered from her lips as she lounged in her gazebo.

Currently seated in her most luxurious place in the entirety of Ruberious.

It was a place underground.

In the middle of an exquisite garden, under her gazebo, was where she sat.

"Interesting, truly interesting."

"I wonder if Guy or Milim knew such a thing was possible; I wonder their reaction."

Luminous had said that with a smile.

Naturally, when the guild had brought up the strength rankings, she believed she was second to none.

Here was her reasoning.

She had seen the information about Drag-Machines that Lux had sent.

If she were to estimate the strength of even their strongest, it'd no doubt cap at A-Rank at best.

And that was her being lenient.

Mei, on the other hand. It seemed like she'd lived a relatively peaceful life, so there's that.

And as for the "Fourth Calamity."

Despite having such a title, he was weak… But then, she couldn't help but feel that wasn't his true placing.

After all, the True ability of the Fourth Calamity extended to…

[Fourth Calamity: There's a way to get stronger instantly. And I'm not joking.]

[Vampire Ancestor: ?]

[Weakest Undefeated: ?]

[Fallen Heiress: Really?]

[Fourth Calamity: Yeah. But I'll need @Vampire Ancestor's permission.]

[Fourth Calamity: Additionally, with my abilities, you could gain at least three times the strength you have now.]

Of course, at first, she didn't understand what he was getting at.

Never mind what he has in mind for hosting a meeting here, she had clearly seen him state "with my ability."

She frowned.

"So, he wasn't weak after all."

And before she knew it, the next thing she saw was:

[Ding!]

[You have been appointed as the host for the Guild's Scheduled Meeting. Do you accept?]

[Yes] | [No]

A smirk curled across Luminous Valentine's lips.

"That cheeky admin." 

She leaned back into her seat, fangs peeking slightly over her lower lip. 

Inwardly, she mused. 

'So, this is what that sly admin is aiming for—bringing them here.'

'In a way or two, they most definitely can be classified as 'otherworlder.' I see, interesting.'

Luminous shifted slightly, adjusting the hem of her black dress.

'Not a bad idea. That truly is the best option. Hm. Shall I…? Very well, why not?'

She toyed with the message hovering in front of her and, with a deliberate swipe of her finger, pressed [Yes].

She would have eventually suggested it, however…

"Fourth Calamity" is way more informed than she thought.

He might know more than a few things.

Across three different worlds, each of the chat members received notification of the granted permission. 

The admin scheduled their meeting for a few hours time at Vampire Ancestor's world.

In the Admin's world, however.

"Finally, the problem of death by cold should be solved."

Naturally, this was all part of his thought process.

The "Alwa" guild suggested this mission at the best timing yet possible.

If he wishes strongly for it. At least he'd get a "Cold Resistance" skill.

And if that were all he gained. It didn't matter.

Food, however, could be negotiated with the rest.

And at the very least, even if the Voice of the World doesn't grant him more skills, there's another option.

Lux's world is practically teeming with cool mechs with supernatural abilities.

And if there was any Divine Drag-Machine he wanted, it would be Nidhogg's ability to cut space.

While truly that world's combat ability was on the weaker side compared to Luminous or Mei's world, for now, it would be a good way to increase his strength.

All he simply has to do is pit Lux against Hayes.

That girl would die anyways, so before she causes a problem, why not settle this early?

Naturally, that is to say, things would go awry.

However, in cases like this. Things have already gone awry.

Members would be getting information they have no business knowing from him, so he couldn't care less.

In his case, as long as he gains the strength to not be eaten by a literal machine god, an alien swarm, and a literal disease, then he's good.

Those are the three Calamity Archetypes that lurk on the border of this world, by the way.

"Fuu. It would soon be time."

Walking towards a mirror, he looked at himself in a mirror.

Luckily for him, there were materials that could be preserved for a long time if kept very well.

He had gotten a few clothes from there.

Although some were oversized, he made do with them.

Looking at himself in the mirror, one can tell just how far he'd come.

Black hair, with streaks of white that gave him the strange appearance of someone who was growing increasingly old and yet, frozen in youth. 

Additionally. Thin, blue markings traced faint patterns along his neck.

His skin, by the way, had a different colour from theirs, being extremely pale due to the long exposure to ice.

Though hunger still gnawed at him slightly, it wasn't the soul-crushing hunger he'd known before. 

Still, he reminded himself to stay cordial.

"At the very least, if plan A doesn't go out, plan B must be implemented, and if plan B isn't enough, I would try my luck with C."

"Anyways, it's time." 

Just before confirming, he paused.

"Now that I think of it... I haven't used my real name in years."

He stared at his reflection again, as if expecting the boy in the mirror to answer.

"Laurel." 

He muttered while clicking on the button.

"That should be my name, shouldn't it?"

It was a strange feeling; additionally, it had been a complete coincidence when he did.

[Connection established to the Cardinal World.]

[Connection to the "Voice of the World" established]

«Notice: A petition has been made to "Voice Of The World" by otherworldly sources»

«Confirmed»

«Notice: The following shall be bestowed upon the individual named 'Laurel.'»

«Cold Resistance: acquired successfully»

«Abnormal Condition Resistance: acquired successfully»

«Intrinsic Skill: Absolute Immortality: acquired successfully»

«Extra Skill: All of Creation: acquired successfully»

«Unique Skill: [Glacier]: acquired successfully»

«Error. Error: Anomalous harmful ability detected…»

«Attempting correction...…»

«Attempting removal...…»

«...…»

«Failed»

«Re-attempting»

«Failed»

«Applying alternate solution…»

«Unique Skill: [Harbinger of Calamity] acquired successfully»

Some time—minutes before now.

In another world.

Earth.

Mei stood in her kitchen, carefully securing the lunch box she had packed. 

Her fingers traced the lid, ensuring it was sealed tightly.

"I hope this is enough…" 

She muttered.

Knowing that there was no source of food in the admin's world, she had obviously prepared a lot.

Additionally, it was also as a gift to the people she'd just met.

"This isn't much, but it should help."

Luckily, there was enough time to prepare all this, and she had done so.

While her cooking may not be the best currently, she has tried her best.

At least, she hopes she's not embarrassing herself.

No, that would be more embarrassing if anything.

So, with that in mind, she packed everything up.

Side dishes, sauces, and a few experimental recipes were all nestled carefully in the box.

"Everything is prepared." 

Mei said with a nod as she now stood in her kitchen.

Satisfied with her efforts, she took off her apron and neatly kept them to one side as she went to change.

Then in about some minutes. She was ready.

[Travel]

As she did, her consciousness, rather, her entirety, was drowned by darkness, which was followed by.

[Connection established to the Cardinal World.]

[Connection to the "Voice of the World" established]

«Notice: Further petitions has been made to "Voice Of The World" by otherworldly sources»

«Confirmed»

«Notice: The following shall be bestowed upon the individual named 'Raiden Mei.'»

«Electricity Resistance acquired successfully»

«Paralysis Resistance acquired successfully»

«Abnormal Condition Resistance acquired successfully»

«Intrinsic skill: Purple Lightning has been acquired successfully»

«Unique Skill: [Herrscher] has been acquired successfully»

«Unique Skill: [Chef] has been acquired successfully»

As she drifted in this space.

The other her, who had been dominant for a long time, became pronounced thanks to this.

Originally, it had been distinct.

After everyone had just turned against her.

She had felt like the world should just go explode, actually not that, but something similar.

It was like her thoughts, but they were not hers.

Now, she—Mei. 

Whatever had been inside her had now manifested in the form of a skill.

[Author: Yes. Kind of like Great Sage, and yes, future Manas, by the way]

At the same time, which, for the third time.

Lux sat on his bed, looking at the black and white sword device by his side.

His story was definitely not the most tragic.

However, if such a thing like this had happened to anyone, perhaps things would have been different.

"....."

Years ago, after a coup d'état, Lux and his sister had been taken hostage. 

Now, they lived under the crushing burden of repaying half the national budget because of this.

This is something that would take years—something Lux couldn't achieve alone.

His sister is studying at the Royal Knights Academy, but that itself is a pretence.

Even he is forced to fulfil the request of the citizens, working as a handyman.

He sighed, gripping the hilt of the black sword in his hand.

There was naturally a story that tied to how this happened; however, there was one thing that was definite—

"It's time to go…"

For now, he was more interested in the ALWA guild and its other members.

[Travel]

«….»

«Haah. Understood»

«Fear Resistance: acquired successfully»

«Paralysis Resistance: acquired successfully»

«Abnormal Condition Resistance: acquired successfully»

«Extra Skill: Analytical Appraisal acquired successfully»

«Extra Skill: Power Mimicry acquired successfully»

«Extra Skill: Force Core Manipulation acquired successfully»

«Intrinsic Skill: [Singularity] acquired successfully»

«Unique Skill: [Berserker] acquired successfully»

Baptism.

A surgery that involves the use of Elixir to enhance the body.

As a royal-born, Lux had been baptised once before, and even by his brother too.

That was why he was seemingly ahead of his peers.

Of course, it wasn't entirely because of this too.

Not only did he have an immense affinity for drag machines, but he also had the sense to wield them.

Baptism is like a form of ascension. While they're still human, they can perform feats normal humans can't perform.

Now, with certain kits that matched him entirely.

At this point, it wasn't a lie if one said Lux currently was the strongest in his world.

Cardinal World — Tensura. 

Western Holy Church.

Night Rose.

In her garden, Luminous Valentine sat elegantly inside a gazebo, sipping wine from a wine glass she swirled around. 

Her butler, Gunther, stood nearby, hands folded neatly behind his back, watching his lady. 

He couldn't help the gnawing curiosity in his mind. 

His lady rarely entertained visitors—and yet, today, she insisted on staying in the garden for hours, waiting.

Gunther had imagined she had sent Hinata or Louis for them, but no.

He had been with her all day, and she has just been here since afternoon.

"Gunther. Do you doubt me?" She asked with a sly smile as she side eyed him.

"... No. My lady." 

He simply answered with professional calm. Yes. He did, and he knew better than to press further.

"Hm?" She hummed, crossing her legs gracefully under her silk dress. "Here they come."

A swirling portal appeared before her, and a young boy stepped out. 

He black hair streaked with white, with faint, icy blue lines tracing the side of his neck.

The boy gave a small, polite smile, inclining his head toward Luminous.

"Hello, Miss Valentine."

Hearing that, she was not surprise, if anything, it was like she expected it, no, she really did.

"I expected so. Just how much do you and that system know about us?"

Luminous rested her chin on her hand, regarding him with a sharp, inquisitive gaze.

He'd always talked like he was familiar with them, and she suspected that the information he received about them wasn't all he knew.

"Straight to that huh?" 

Laurel said with a faint smile, seating himself across from her without waiting for permission.

Luminous arched a brow at his audacity, but her lips curled upward in approval.

"From past to everything present if allowed. It's designed to connect worlds, after all. Knowing things is... part of the job?"

Laurel's words amused her to say the least, but if that is true….

She glanced at Laurel, her fangs just barely visible beneath her smile. 

And as If he knew what she looked at him for.

He nodded.

"Yes. I've come to know about "that person" too "

They were comrades now. While he couldn't say he trusts her, there was no reason not to lead her by the nose.

Gunther on the other hand had been completely lost, but he knew better than to interrupt.

However, one thing he knew was that his lady was in contact with "otherworlders."

Luminous now stared at Laurel with a frown as a second portal swirled.

From it stepped a young woman, dressed casually yet holding a carefully prepared lunch box in both hands. 

She blinked, her gaze shifting between the vampire and the boy seated at the table.

"Uhm. Hello?" Mei greeted softly, a tentative smile on her lips.

Luminous's eyes brightened with sudden interest. She ran her tongue along the edge of one fang, a subtle grin forming.

"Well now... What a delightful little thing."

Laurel could only sigh.

She has no interest in men—and when it came to women, she was shamelessly direct.

What a waste.

"Fallen Heiress, you must be, no?"

Mei nodded her head. "Yes. And you're..?"

"I'm "Vampire Ancestor"."

Luminous smiled as she patted the seat next to her motioning for Mei to come over.

"What is it, Traveller? Why do you look disappointed?"

"You're imagining it." Laurel replied flatly, his expression deadpan.

"You're the admin?"

Mei turned to him asking that as he nodded his head.

"Yes. And thanks for before. Miss. Mei."

Laurel said so with a slight bow of his head, but Mei waved it off.

"No. Don't worry about it."

Then she placed her neatly wrapped box on the table. 

"Here. I prepared this—it's handmade."

Both Luminous's and Laurel's eyes sparkled at the sight of the box.

Having tasted her cooking before, Laurel would have been drooling if his body fluids weren't frozen solid.

Luminous glanced at Gunther, who immediately approached.

"My lady, please allow me."

Gunther bowed politely toward Mei, who insisted on serving her friends herself. But in the end, they decided to do it together.

Just as they settled in, a third portal opened, revealing Lux.

"Haha... Looks like I'm late."

"No. You're just in time," Laurel said with a smile as Lux sat beside him.

Soon, they began dining on Mei's food.

Luminous was ecstatic, muttering something about having Mei send her food every day from now on.

"So then—" 

Laurel began, wiping his lips with a swipe of his finger. The oil froze instantly, then flaked off and vanished.

[Ding!]

[Outer Source plug-in detected from the Administrator.]

[The Administrator: Lone Traveler has sent the group members a gift.]

[Do you accept?]

"What's this?" 

Mei asked, looking toward Laurel as he took a sip from the fruit juice Luminous had ordered Gunther to bring.

Although Laurel was mentally old enough to drink, Luminous had still forbidden him from touching alcohol.

"A gift. Short explanation, you'll be able to share and receive power from each other."

He continued.

"Think of it as a backup system. You can store skills, delete them... or even transfer them between us."

"And there's more…"

Player: Laurel.

Authority Level: 1

Stats:

- Strength: 3 → 20 [–1]

- Speed: 4 → 20 [–1]

- Wis: 16 → 67

- Physique: 4 → 20 [–1]

- Spirit: 20 → 200

Negentropy [Unlocked]. Abilities:

[Fourth Calamity (Ex)]:

- A mysterious ability.

[Unique skill: Glacier]:

- [Deceleration]: Applies the concept of freezing by slowing molecular motion, bringing objects to a complete standstill

- [Absolute Ice]: Can freeze any target with bone chilling ice the user wants from any present point in time.

[Unique Skill: Harbinger of Calamity]:

- Calamity: As the avatar of calamity, the user can inflict disasters or misfortune upon opponents. This includes manipulating an opponent's luck, by inflicting misfortune on them.

- This ability can manipulate luck, logic and probability. Basically [Wonder of U], just check it out if you don't know.

[Extra Skill]:

- All of Creation.

[Intrinsic Skills]:

- Absolute Immortality: Instant revival, unless killed by a conceptual attack. [Tied to "Fourth Calamity" Skill].

[Resistances]:

- Cold Resistance.

- Abnormal Condition Resistance.

After word:

[Editor(me): So, you're giving Mei a skill with an ego, what if it becomes like Micheal, I mean, you do know how Herrscher's are.]

[Author: In this case, you can refer to Chronoa and Chloe for Mei's situation]

[Editor(me): So, ahh… I see. That'd make sense, but then what about Honkai, and it's shenanigans?]

[Author: Let's not spoil it, it'll be explained next chapter after all.]

[Editor(me): Alright then.]