NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 5: The Unknown Connection
[Avengers Tower - Guest Quarters]
After the somewhat awkward lunch, Jean led Issei to a comfortable, if sparsely furnished, guest room. "This is where you'll be staying for now," she said, gesturing around the room. It was a significant upgrade from the rooftop. "We've provided some clothes, and there's a private bathroom through that door. Try to get some rest, Issei. We'll talk more later."
He nodded, offering a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Jean."
She smiled back, a genuine, reassuring smile that briefly eased the knot of anxiety in his chest. "You're welcome. Just… try to relax. You're safe here."
With that, she left, closing the door softly behind her.
Issei stood for a moment, taking in the room. It was… normal. A bed, a desk, a chair, a small window overlooking the city. It felt strangely alien, yet also comforting in its simplicity. He changed into the provided clothes – a simple t-shirt and jeans that fit surprisingly well. The DAAM, he suspected, was subtly influencing things around him, making minor adjustments to ensure his comfort.
He sat on the edge of the bed, the weight of his situation pressing down on him. He was alone. Stranded. Powerless, in a way. He missed Rias, Akeno, Asia, Koneko… everyone. He missed the warmth of the Occult Research Club, the chaotic energy of his life, even the battles.
He closed his eyes, reaching out instinctively for Ddraig, the familiar presence that had always been there… and found only emptiness. A fresh wave of despair washed over him.
Suddenly, a chime sounded in his head, not an audible sound, but a mental ping, like a notification. The DAAM pulsed faintly on the back of his hand. He focused on it, instinctively understanding that it was the source of the chime.
A holographic interface, shimmering and translucent, materialized in front of him. It wasn't connected to any visible device; it seemed to be projected directly from the DAAM into his visual cortex.
The interface displayed a single message, in a clean, minimalist font:
[You have been invited to join a Chat Group.]
[Admin: Unknown]
[Accept / Decline]
Issei stared at the message, his heart pounding. A chat group? What is this? Another trick of the dimensional trader? A test?
He hesitated, his finger hovering over the "Accept" button. He was wary, suspicious. But… he was also desperate. Desperate for connection, for answers, for anything that could offer a glimmer of hope.
He took a deep breath and pressed "Accept."
The interface shimmered, then dissolved, replaced by a new screen. This one resembled a typical chat window, with a list of usernames on the side and a blank space for typing messages.
[Chat Room: Order's Embrace]
[Members: Unknown (Admin), RimuruTempest, AllMight_PlusUltra, UnohanaR, TsunadeSenju, IsseiHyoudou]
A series of messages appeared in rapid succession:
AllMight_PlusUltra: Welcome, young Issei! Do not be afraid! You are among friends!
TsunadeSenju: Hmph. Another newbie. Don't expect me to hold your hand, kid.
RimuruTempest: Hello there, Issei! Don't worry about Tsunade, she's just grumpy. I'm Rimuru, nice to meet you!
UnohanaR: Greetings, Issei. I hope you are well.
Unknown (Admin): Welcome, Issei Hyoudou. You have been selected to join this group due to your… unique circumstances. This chat serves as a platform for communication and cooperation between individuals across dimensions, all dedicated to the preservation of order.
Issei stared at the messages, his mind reeling. Dimensions? Order? This was… insane. But it was also… real. The DAAM wasn't flagging any of this as a threat; in fact, it seemed to be facilitating the communication, translating the messages into a language he understood.
He cautiously typed his first message:
IsseiHyoudou: Uh… hi everyone. I'm… a little confused. What is this place?
RimuruTempest: It's a bit complicated to explain, but basically, we're all from different universes. This chat lets us talk to each other, and sometimes… help each other out.
AllMight_PlusUltra: We are all united by a common goal: to maintain balance and peace across the multiverse!
TsunadeSenju: Don't get any grand ideas, kid. It's mostly just a bunch of weirdos talking to each other. And occasionally doing some… chores… for the Admin.
UnohanaR: Tsunade is being unnecessarily harsh. This group can offer you support and guidance, Issei. You are not alone.
IsseiHyoudou: Chores? What kind of chores?
Unknown (Admin): Tasks that contribute to the maintenance of order across various dimensions. You will be briefed on your first assignment shortly.
Issei felt a shiver run down his spine. This "Unknown" character… he didn't like the sound of him. But he also felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this chat group… this Order's Embrace… could be his way home. Or, at the very least, a way to survive in this strange, new reality. He had a lot of questions, and he was determined to get some answers. He was about to reply, when another message appeared: Unknown(Admin) A gift to help you on your journey ,Phoenix Slayer Magic: Ashes of Rebirth.
Not even acknowledging the gift Isseis mind elsewhere wanders with thousands of questions. He needed to understand more. He needed to talk to this "Unknown" directly.
IsseiHyoudou: Unknown, can I speak to you privately?
There was a brief pause, then a new message appeared, this time highlighted in a different color, indicating a private communication:
Unknown (Admin) (Private to IsseiHyoudou): Yes. Speak.
Issei took a deep breath, trying to organize his thoughts. He had to be careful, to explain everything clearly.
IsseiHyoudou (Private to Unknown (Admin)): I… I don't think I belong here. I was taken from my world against my will. By a… dimensional trader. He made a deal with someone in my world, and I was the price.
He hesitated, then added the most crucial part:
IsseiHyoudou (Private to Unknown (Admin)): I was told my world would be protected from something called… EXE. In exchange for me being sent here.
He waited, his heart pounding, for Unknown's response. The silence stretched on, agonizingly long. Finally, the reply came:
Unknown (Admin) (Private to IsseiHyoudou): I am aware of the circumstances surrounding your arrival in this universe. The dimensional trader is a known entity. His actions, while… disruptive, are not entirely outside the parameters of acceptable interdimensional commerce.
Issei felt a surge of anger. Acceptable? He was a person, not a commodity!
IsseiHyoudou (Private to Unknown (Admin)): But… I want to go home! I don't want to be here!
Unknown (Admin) (Private to IsseiHyoudou): Your desire is understandable. However, your return is… complicated. Upon learning of your situation immediately the designated universe, Marvel-616 was transferred for protection to, One Above All.
Issei frowned.One Above All ? What was that?
IsseiHyoudou (Private to Unknown(Admin)): What does that mean for me and my world? I don't understand.
Unknown (Admin) (Private to IsseiHyoudou): It means your current universe is safe from external threats, for the time being secured by other forces . As for your return… that presents a difficulty. The Dimensional Anchor and Adaptation Matrix, while necessary for your survival in this universe, has had an unforeseen consequence.
Issei felt a cold dread creeping into his heart.
IsseiHyoudou (Private to Unknown (Admin)): What consequence?
Unknown (Admin) (Private to IsseiHyoudou): The DAAM is designed to adapt its wearer to any dimensional environment. It does so by subtly altering your soul frequency, attuning it to the specific vibrational signature of the current universe. This process is normally reversible. However, in your case, the… intensity… of your initial emotional state, coupled with the inherent power of your… lineage… caused the DAAM to overcompensate.
IsseiHyoudou (Private to Unknown (Admin)): So… what does that mean? Can I go home or not?
Unknown (Admin) (Private to IsseiHyoudou): It means that your soul frequency has become… generalized. You are, in essence, dimensionally… ambiguous. I can detect your Draconic Deus origin, but the specific universe within that vast, infinite subset… is obscured. There are countless parallel realities within the Draconic Deus meta-verse, each with a slightly different vibrational signature. Your original universe is among them… but I cannot pinpoint which one. To return you to the wrong universe would have… unpredictable consequences. And even worse they might not have any memory of you.
Issei felt his hope, which had been flickering so brightly just moments before, begin to die. He was trapped. Not just in this universe, but in a state of dimensional limbo. He might never see his home, his friends, his family, again.
IsseiHyoudou (Private to Unknown (Admin)): So… I'm stuck here? Forever?
Unknown (Admin) (Private to IsseiHyoudou): Not necessarily. There may be ways to refine your soul frequency, to re-establish a clear connection to your origin point. But that will take time, research, and… effort. In the meantime, you will remain within this universe, and you will participate in the activities of this chat group. Consider it… an opportunity to prove your worth, and to contribute to the greater order. Your cooperation will be… beneficial to your eventual return.
The private message window closed. Issei was left staring at the main chat, his mind numb. He was a pawn. Again. But this time, the game was far larger, the stakes far higher, and the path home… far, far more uncertain. The chat was quiet after the previous exchange, waiting for him.