Journey to Planar World

Beside Gaia, Alaya glanced briefly at the ten assembled Saviors, giving a small nod of appreciation for their progress.

”Not bad. None of you have stagnated. Your strength has all increased significantly compared to the last meeting. Your efforts are commendable.” Alaya commented in a cold yet authoritative voice.

”By the way, The Strongest Savior at the moment still falls to Charlie Avalon!”

Gaia’s cheerful announcement instantly drew the attention of the other nine Saviors. Their eyes, which had previously been looking around or interacting with each other, now simultaneously focused on Charlie.

Some of them showed expressions of admiration, others displayed intense curiosity, and a few others stared at it with hidden competitive gazes.

Noticing the gazes directed at it, Charlie could only give a wry smile.

”This time I won’t be sent on a Quest alone again just because of The Strongest title, will I?”

Gaia chuckled softly, not giving a definite answer.

”That depends on the situation, Charlie. Some Quests require overwhelming power, while others require teamwork and well-thought-out strategies. Let’s just see what Quest will appear this time.”

”💢”

Gaia’s ambiguous answer left Charlie helpless. It hoped that this time it would have the opportunity to cooperate with other Saviors.

”Enough, Gaia. Let’s begin immediately. Apocalypse.”

Before the other Saviors started any meaningless chatter, Alaya immediately wanted to banish them from the Void Sanctuary.

*SHUA!*

Suddenly, a thick book appeared floating in the center of the round table. However, the book instantly transformed. A terrifying face formed along its spine and cover, complete with grinning sharp teeth, a long, disgustingly protruding tongue, and glaring red eyes that seemed alive and full of hatred.

”Don’t be too proud just because your strength has increased. This time’s Quests are many times more challenging than before. Prepare for despair.”

The book named Apocalypse seemed to never miss an opportunity to mock and belittle the Saviors.

”Tsk, you’re as chatty as an old woman.” Thomas Taylor (Kirigaya Kazuto), who was sitting in the seventh seat, retorted, looking at Apocalypse with an annoyed expression.

”Your appearance is as disgusting as ever, Apocalypse.” Valentina Claire (Hoshino Ai), who was sitting in the fourth seat, chimed in.

Her beautiful face and usually charming smile now implied disgust as it covered its mouth and giggled.

”Gaia, can’t you choose a better operator? This Apocalypse is too annoying and unfriendly to us.”

Farah Nadia (Tsukuyomi Tsukasa), who was sitting in the first seat, looked at Gaia with a subtle smile that implied dissatisfaction.

Gaia shrugged with an innocent expression, glancing at Alaya who was standing beside it.

”Don’t ask me, Alaya chose it.”

Alaya replied in an indifferent tone, ”No changes are needed. Apocalypse’s bad personality is precisely suitable for handling troublesome people like you. At least it won’t spoil you.”

”...”

Farah and the other Saviors hadn’t expected Apocalypse to be replaced from the start, so they weren’t disappointed.

”Apocalypse, begin.” Alaya commanded in a flat tone.

”Understood, Master Alaya.” Apocalypse replied in a fawning tone that contrasted sharply with its arrogance towards the Saviors.

”This time there are five Quests for you to undertake.”

Apocalypse’s book-like body opened. Five separate pages floated out and began to orbit around the round table, allowing the Saviors to see the details of each Quest one by one.

---O---

+[Quest 1: Protect the protagonist and heroine from Jigokuraku]

[Abyssal Devourer: Shapeshifter Type]

[Penalty: Loss of reproductive ability]

[Recommended Participants: 2]

*[Quest 2: Protect the protagonist and heroine from Kusuriya no Hitorigoto]

[Abyssal Devourer: Shapeshifter Type]

[Penalty: Permanent reduction of 10% of all attributes]

[Recommended Participants: 3]

+[Quest 3: Protect the protagonist and heroine from Kimi no Koto ga Daidaidaidaidaisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo]

[Abyssal Devourer: Parasite Type]

[Penalty: Loss of a random ability]

[Recommended Participants: 10]

+[Quest 4: Protect the protagonist and heroine from Amagami-san Chi no Enmusubi]

[Abyssal Devourer: Parasite Type]

[Penalty: Loss of sense of direction]

[Recommended Participants: 3]

+[Quest 5: Protect the protagonist and heroine from Sword Art Online]

[Abyssal Devourer: Assassin Type]

[Penalty: Loss of a random organ]

[Recommended Participants: 2]

---O---

”Kekeke... Now, choose the Quests you desire, you pitiful Saviors!” Apocalypse mocked, its voice filled with sinister glee.

”Last time, you were lucky enough that no one died. I wonder if it will be the same this time or not.”

Apocalypse seemed to greatly enjoy the uncomfortable and even fearful expressions on the faces of some Saviors.

”Wait a minute. If the recommended number of participants for all five Quests is added up, it requires a total of twenty people?! But there are only ten of us here. We are short ten people!”

Elena Petrova (Maria Mikhailovna Kujou), who was sitting in the tenth seat, voiced the confusion felt by most of the Saviors.

Chuckling softly, Gaia waved her hand casually.

”Ah, about those recommended participants... Don’t think too much about it. It’s just information we provide to help you increase the success rate of the Quest. It’s not absolute at all.”

”Remember Charlie Avalon’s last Quest? The Recommended Participants were seven people, weren’t they? But he completed it alone and brilliantly, didn’t it?”

Gaia then scanned its gaze across all the Saviors.

”So, it’s up to you Saviors to decide which Quest you want to take and how many of you will participate in each Quest. Remember, teamwork can increase your chances, but a strong Savior can also complete a difficult task alone. Choose wisely, because failure can be fatal.”

”In that case, I suggest Quest 3 be left to Charlie Avalon.” Thomas said with a smirk, leaning back in his chair casually. ”After all, isn’t it the one who holds the title of ’Strongest’ among us Saviors? It’s its responsibility to take on the most difficult Quest, isn’t that right?”

Thomas unilaterally threw the responsibility of the seemingly most difficult Quest to Charlie without considering the opinion of the one involved.

’What’s wrong with this guy? Is it really hostile towards me?’

Charlie frowned at Thomas’s arbitrary proposal. Before it had a chance to deny or give its opinion, another Savior spoke up in its defense.

Sitting upright in the sixth seat, Wang Jian (Gojo Satoru) shook his head in disagreement with Thomas’s proposal.

”I don’t agree with you. Quest 3 with a hundred heroine targets can’t be left to just one person. At least three or four people with suitable abilities should participate.”

Wang Jian then looked at Charlie with a respectful yet thoughtful gaze.

”Besides, I feel I am the most suitable to take on this Quest 3.”

Wang Jian then explained its abilities.

”I have learned the Shadow Clone Technique and the Transformation Technique from the Planar World: Naruto. With the Shadow Clone Technique, I can create up to a hundred clones of myself. Meanwhile, with the Transformation Technique, I can change my appearance into various different forms.”

”Considering there are a hundred heroines in the Planar World: 100 Kanojo, my ability to disguise myself and interact simultaneously with many targets will be very useful.”

It then added in a slightly worried tone.

”Of course, I will need at least one or two assistants who can provide support and prevent me from making mistakes.”