I hummed as I read the chat for a moment, taking things in and absorbing what information I could before I decided to make my move with a grin on my face.
Yuno (Admin): Hello~ It's been far too long, my cute little chat members~
Thalia: You are way too fucking happy... What did you do?
Yuno (Admin): Moi? I'm so offended that you'd think that about me, Thalia! I'm just so happy to be able to see everyone again! But wait, what do we have here? Gasp! Two new members!?
Alexis: Did he become more dramatic in the time he was gone...? How long were you all gone for?
Uta: It was the full six months. We'll explain everything later, Alexis.
Mother's Rosario: ... Just to make sure, I'm not hallucinating this, right?
Lightning Cat: I don't think I'm hallucinating... But this all seems super interesting if it's real!
I just smirked slowly.
Yuno (Admin): This is very real, Konno Yuuki, Birena.
There was silence from both girls.
Lala: How do you know their names so quickly?
Yuno (Admin): Admin privileges. I can see the talents and profiles of new group members- it's a safety feature so if someone truly dangerous joins the group chat then I can kick them out.
Mother's Rosario: Well, having my name revealed isn't a big issue, not like there's any reason for anyone to target me if this is fake anyway. Besides, if this is real... I might be able to get something to help me out.
Lightning Cat: Hahaha! That's fun! I already love this group chat! Alright, I'm super sold on this place, I'll stick around!
Yuno (Admin): That's the spirit! Now, how about you both change your names in the chat? Just your first name is fine, or even a nickname.
Yuuki: Sure, sure. I'll go first then and I'll even introduce myself. My name's Konno Yuuki. It's currently the year 2025, and I'm a terminally ill patient with AIDS. I spend my time doing deep dives into VR Worlds since it's the only place I can move.
I just watched with sympathy as Yuuki said that, genuinely feeling bad for the girl.
Yuuki had little chance at life, both she and her twin sister had contracted AIDS before birth due to a blood transfusion their mother received. She and her sister had, with the time they had, decided to go into VR Worlds once the technology was available and formed a guild from similarly ill people.
Together, they'd explored numerous VR Worlds- only for Yuuki's sister, Aiko, to tragically pass away. Yuuki was basically just waiting to die herself at this point.
Nobody spoke in the chat for a moment.
Alexis: That's... I'm so sorry to hear that.
Erina: You... You have my sympathies, Konno-san.
Yuuki: It's... Well, it's not fine, but I've already accepted it.
Birena: It... Feels almost wrong to follow that, but I suppose I have to. My name is Birena, an S-Rank Adventurer. I'm pretty strong, but I honestly felt like I was hitting a wall- so having this power appearing is really great! Just tell me if you need anything!
Ah, so this was Birena before the start of her own series then. A series about a Beast Tamer- in a world where the profession was heavily looked down on- called Lint. By chance, Birena saved his life and, feeling like she'd hit a wall and wanting to grow stronger, she'd ultimately contracted herself to Lint as his beast, thus kickstarting their adventure.
With Birena obtaining the chatroom, her interest in Lint would likely be minimal and she'd be more likely to just consider him as a friend. And even if she hadn't, I'd pop over to her world and make her mine before Lint got the chance.
After all, I considered every woman in this chatroom as my woman, and I wouldn't let anyone- let alone the original protagonists- take them from me.
With Yuuki and Birena introducing themselves, everyone took their turns introducing themselves to the two of them- including me.
Erina: With introductions done, how did the quest go? Obviously, you cleared it, we got the notification, but even still...
Byleth: I'm also very curious.
Thalia: I mean, there's not much to say... We all did our parts as best we could, though I do have to give props to Yuno... Even if he finished the quest for us in the dumbest, most moronic way possible.
Alexis: What did he do?
Thalia: He challenged the big boss to a children's card game... And it worked.
Alexis: ... How??
Yuno: The skill I obtained from the quest, it was just too perfect for me~ If the enemy agrees, I can create a Duel Zone in which time stops, and we must duel until there is a winner. If a wager is put on the duel, then the loser must fulfil their side of the wager. They can't fight it- their body acts of its own accord, even if they don't want to.
Alexis: That's... Extremely powerful, but a little not as good in your own world, right?
Yuno: Yep. It's a perfect skill to take to other worlds... Of course, the skill also gives the opponent a deck and knowledge on how to play the game and use their deck. The emphasis is that it has to be a 'Fair' Duel. In other words- they need to have a fair chance to win.
Uta: Speaking of that! You kept brushing Thalia and I off whenever we asked about your skill, you said it was no good compared to ours! But I checked the shop, that skill is SS-Rank!
Erina: SS!?
Lala: Wow! Yuno, so lucky!
Yuno: I said it wasn't a good skill for combat, and it isn't~ Compared to your Conqueror's Haki and Thalia's Lightning Empowerment, my skill is truly no good in combat!
Uta: Tch... Well, I did get boots that let me fly- so I'll let you off since it worked out in our favour.
Thalia: That's right, my Spear is the best! Controlling my lightning has never been easy, and now I can fire off blasts so much more easily! Need to work on my aim though, Byleth and I are planning to work on that.
Byleth: I'm happy to help, Thalia.
Uta: Though make sure you come and visit, Yuno!
Thalia: That's right! Make sure you visit us, or else I'll show you what else I can do with this spear...
I held back a chuckle, not wanting to wake up Akiza as my fingers ran through her hair.
"Tch, they'd better not get ideas," Pandora glared at the screen. "I already lost to the red head; I'm not losing to them too."
"Easy, Pandora," I pat her head with my free hand. "Now that we're back, we can go on that spirit world date real soon. I promise."
"... Will you grab my ass lots as we walk together?"
"A whole lot."
She grinned perversely and snuggled into my other side, while Tez just rolled his eyes in amusement.
Erina: Hmm...? What's this...? You three seem to be very close...
Lala: Ah! Could it be!?
Yuno (Admin): They're both my girlfriends.
I wasn't afraid to hide it, nor was I afraid to declare it. They were my women... Granted, I'd need to have the talk with Akiza about them. But Akiza wasn't stupid, she knew six months was a long time and that things could happen.
Though I'd still talk to her about it anyway- it was just good manners.
Yuuki: Eh!? H- Harem? I- I've only seen those in Gal Games...
Birena: A harem?? Ohhh, that's scandelous~ And very interesting~
Alexis: Oh my...
Erina: Eh? H- H- Harem!? Y- You've taken such a step!? W- What happened the last six months!?
Yuno (Admin): Nothing too serious, we haven't gone very far in our relationship- don't get it twisted. The most we've done is kissing, and that's all the information you'll get out of me.
Uta: Good boy.
I just snorted and grabbed my phone, ignoring the group chat for the moment as the others told Birena and Yuuki about their own worlds and some of their abilities. Instead, I was checking online for something...
Fortune Cup Qualifiers!
Jackie "Jack" Atlas has reigned supreme as the Queen of Duels for two years! Undefeated, unstoppable!
And now, the Queen is no longer satisfied with mere pros! Thus, the Queen has made a declaration! A tournament, to determine who will be the greatest Duellist in New Domino City! To determine who is worthy of facing her for her throne!
Qualifiers for the Fortune Cup begin on XXXX! But remember, only the winners of the Four Tournament Blocks will be able to go onto the Fortune Cup and face off against those who have received personal invitations!
The next King of Duels could be you!
"Finally," I murmured in satisfaction, gently running my fingers through Akiza's hair- causing her to nuzzle against my hand in her sleep.
The Fortune Cup Qualifiers... I doubted that Rex Godwin would give me an invitation- no, that would be reserved for Akiza. That meant I would need to enter the old fashioned way- and crush one of Godwin's goons entering the tournament to earn my spot.
After all, I had promised Tez that I would crush both Stardust Dragon and Red Dragon Archfiend's users... And the Fortune Cup was simply the perfect opportunity to do so- to show both Yusei and Jack a hint of what they would be facing in the future.
"Nng..." Akiza began to yawn as she slowly woke up, slowly shifting her gaze to look at me tiredly.
I smiled down at her, gently stroking her cheek. "Good morning, my rose..."
Akiza stared at me for a moment before she abruptly snapped to being fully awake, turning away from me with a red face. "... Last night wasn't just a dream?"
"Gods, I hope not," I chuckled as I set down my phone and lowered myself fully into bed, wrapping my arms around her from behind and pulling her into a warm embrace. "Because last night was the most amazing night of my life."
Her ears slowly began to turn red as she gently leaned back into my embrace, still not looking at me. "... For me too," she mumbled. "It was the best night of my life too. I was just... So glad that you were okay."
"Better than okay," I assured her. "The rewards I got from that world... Well, let's just say that I don't think I'll be afraid of anything in this world ever again. In many ways, I'm far more of a monster than you ever thought yourself to be."
She hesitated before she turned to face me, revealing her blushing face as her soft breasts pressed into my chest, holding me tightly. "You're not a monster," she mumbled, burying her face into my shoulder. "And if you are... Then I'll become a monster too. That way, you don't ever have to be alone."
I just smiled fondly, Akiza really was so cute. I just leaned in and gave her a kiss. She squeaked in surprise but slowly leaned into it too.
After a little making out and cuddling, I finally decided to speak.
"A Tournament has been announced," I told her. "By Sector Security, called the Fortune Cup. The winner of the tournament gets to face Jackie Atlas for the title."
"Why are you bringing it up?" She asked, getting comfortable as she listened to me.
"Because it's a ploy by Rex Godwin to find out who the signers are," I told her. "The other Dark Signers are preparing to make moves, and Godwin wants to prepare for the battle by gathering the signers. There's no doubt that he thinks you're one thanks to your psychic outbursts from before, so expect to receive an invitation."
She frowned. "Do I have to? It's clear he just wants to use me as a pawn in his game."
I just chuckled in amusement... It was true... By now, Godwin had definitely already decided that he wanted to use the power of Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca in order to become a God.
Though, the Tezcatlipoca- the 'King' of the Netherworld- that Rex was planning to summon forth was merely Tez's proxy. A King who ruled only when Tez was absent- Tez hadn't seen them for over two thousand years by this point.
"And that's the reason you should join," I smiled at her. "I'll be joining too through the qualifiers... Though my only goal is to show the users of Stardust and Red Dragon Archfiend a hint of what they'll be facing."
"Mm..." She nodded softly, showing she accepted my orders. "I need a shower..." She slowly looked up into my eyes. "Will you... Join me?"
I just grinned at her. "You couldn't keep me away if you tried~"