Surviving These Unfair Scenarios [LITRPG - DIMENSION HOPPING]

The rest of the day passed without anyone leaving the underground chamber. There was no laughter, no joking, no idle conversations. The silence was broken only by Adam's voice as he took control of the situation with calm authority. With everyone gathered and settled, he began explaining in detail every ability, specialization, weakness, and known behavior pattern of the 'Dragon Utopia' team members.

He didn't waste time with speculation. Every statement came from Meera's information, cross-verified through the analysis he had made during his time in Pantheon Eternal. The others listened in silence, many with confused or tense expressions, unsure of how to react to the revelations pouring out from Adam's mouth.

Once he finished explaining what they were up against, he turned to the members of WNATN and asked them to be honest with him. He said they couldn't make a plan if only one side was fully known. If they wanted to survive, if they wanted to strike back, he needed to know what each of them could do. Their skills. Their Plot Devices. Everything.

The request was met with hesitation. The members of WNATN exchanged glances. It was clear that some of them didn't feel comfortable revealing that information to outsiders. Even though they were technically allies now, the lack of trust lingered. Angela noticed this and stepped forward to speak with calm assurance. Her words didn't need to be sharp or commanding. Her tone alone made it clear that this was the only viable path. If they didn't cooperate, they would die. All of them… After her quiet urging, one by one, the members of her team began to reveal what they had.

Takeshi was a ninja-style fighter, specializing in illusion and misdirection. His Plot Devices allowed him to create an area in which other users could exchange Plot Devices. Adam made use of it immediately to change what they had to a more suitable composition. Thabo possessed a rare enhancement-type skill that boosted his strength and endurance to the level of Ancient Human physiology. Dayana didn't fight, but her [Lesser God Eyes] allowed her to gather critical intel and even see weak points. André could enlarge his body at will, his skills focusing on temporary strength surges and body-based area denial. Angela herself had a rare skill set built around artistic projection—using paint and ink to manifest barriers, weapons, or movement-based effects. She was the only one with a Personal Skill unlocked, a summoning skill that she said could only be used once every couple of weeks.

Once more, Adam heard about the 'Personal Skill' kind of skill quite a few times already, so he ended up asking what it was about. To the surprise of Angela, however, she said that it was a very long topic that could not be used to their advantage right now, so she promised to tell them everything she knew about them after the battle ended.

Hours passed in that room as Adam began weaving the information together. He didn't do it with showmanship. There was no dramatic speech, no theatrics. He calmly assigned tasks, shifted roles, explained backup contingencies. His tone remained measured and focused. But the plan he described was far from conventional. It involved moving parts, synchronized movements across different places, timed provocations, fake escapes, and misdirection on multiple fronts. Some parts required specific targets to be isolated. Others relied on luring particular members of Dragon Utopia to fight alone. The precision was dizzying.

And yet, not everyone was convinced. There were murmurs of disbelief, quiet scoffs of disbelief, mostly from André and Thabo. The man called the entire strategy "borderline suicide", and even Drake remained silent, arms crossed, occasionally giving a nod when something made tactical sense, but even he looked unsure by the time the full picture started coming together. Again, it was Angela who stepped forward and reminded everyone that they had no other choice. She said the plan sounded reckless, yes—but it was still a plan. It was better than sitting and waiting to be slaughtered like they had nearly been two days ago. With her calm voice and grounded logic, the room quieted again.

Amidst this discussion, Kazue finally stirred. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow, and she winced immediately, grabbing her head with a groan. The pain flared in her temples. She barely had time to register the environment before Katya was at her side, holding her in an intense embrace. Kazue blinked in confusion, whispering her name in a hoarse voice.

She had to be updated slowly, carefully, because her body hadn't fully recovered from what she had endured in Pantheon Eternal. Chloe, who had stayed silent for most of the reunion, moved quietly to her side, helping Katya with her care. Kazue's recovery was steady but slow, and she was not allowed to move on her own yet.

Despite the weight of what had been discussed, the atmosphere inside the command room slowly shifted. There was tension, yes, but also a strange sense of cohesion. Everyone had a role. Every movement was accounted for. Every risk evaluated.

Even Meera, who had remained quiet for most of the discussion, became a central piece in the execution of the plan. As a current member of Dragon Utopia, her role was to mislead them directly from the inside. She would be the one feeding false information to her team, manipulating their expectations, and ensuring they moved and acted exactly how Adam needed for each phase of the operation.

Several stages of the plan depended entirely on her ability to maintain her cover and steer her allies into carefully prepared traps without raising suspicion. She accepted this role without hesitation, showing no visible conflict as they discussed the possibility of outmaneuvering people she had once fought beside.

It was around that time that Adam brought up the subject of Jonathan Whitman. He had waited until the end for this part. While everyone else was focused on external threats, the boy's mind had been circling around the one variable that wasn't accounted for. For what Drake had told him, Jonathan had betrayed WNATN.

That was a fact. And now he was missing, possibly in the hands of Dragon Utopia, or worse, willingly helping them. Adam didn't raise his voice or point fingers, but his concern was evident. He said if Jonathan had shared any sensitive information about WNATN the plan could be compromised before it even began.

Angela responded calmly. She said Jonathan had been a late addition to the team, a newbie with only one scenario's worth of experience who hadn't been included in big fight before. He didn't know the full details of their members, and he had never been trusted with high-level information. As for combat potential, he had purchased no real skills or abilities, so he wasn't dangerous by himself.

Adam didn't argue. But he didn't look satisfied either. He nodded and considered the information, but a trace of doubt remained in his expression. He had learned not to underestimate weak pieces on the board. It wasn't always the strong that brought disaster. Sometimes, all it took was a steel determination to change everything… He couldn't help but think of their old ally who sacrificed himself for them in the last scenario, even though he was the weakest member.

The night was already falling. Lamps powered by rune-crafted crystals lit the vast halls of the underground refuge. Outside, the world remained hostile, but here, for the first time in a long while, a battle plan existed. And for now, that was enough.

Once the final revision of the plan had been completed, Adam stood up and looked around the room at every person gathered. He allowed the silence to stretch for several seconds before speaking again.

"And that is the easy part."

He said. Several heads turned toward him with confusion.

"Easy? We just spent the entire day outlining the most complex battle formation I've ever heard of."

Angela repeated while Adam nodded.

"I know. But that entire plan hinges on one critical factor: we need to make sure all members of Dragon Utopia move at the same time. That's the only way this works."

Meera sighed quietly and stepped forward.

"And that's the part I've already told you will be hard to pull off. Even if I manage to convince them to prepare an all-out attack, that doesn't mean they'll all move together. Solène doesn't run her team like that. Each of them is experienced enough to act independently, and they often prefer it that way. Coordinating their movements precisely is something they usually avoid by design unless there is a fight against an extremely strong enemy."

Adam crossed his arms and lowered his gaze slightly.

"Then that's our main problem. Or it would be… if we stay like this."

Angela frowned after hearing those words.

"What do you mean by that?"

Adam looked up again.

"From what I've been told, both your team and ours—as well as the vampires and giants—have spent all this time just resisting. Retreating. Trying to survive the incursions from the paladins. You've been defending yourselves. That means all of your actions have been dictated by Dragon Utopia's plans. With their timing and their terms."

There was no objection. No one in the room could argue that point, so Adam continued.

"That ends now. We're going to take the initiative. We're going to force their hand."

Drake narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You're thinking of something, aren't you? What is it?"

Adam didn't pause.

"We're going to attack. Directly. Our target is Celestia Sanctum—the capital of the Human Empire."

The silence that followed lasted only two seconds before it broke like glass.

"What?!"

"You're insane!"

"There's no way!"

The voices rose sharply, especially from the WNATN side. Even André, who had joked through most of the previous conversation, looked completely stunned. Thabo looked like he was about to walk out. Dayana's mouth hung open, speechless. However, Angela remained calm, but her lips were pressed into a thin line.

"I don't want to be THAT GUY… But do you even understand what that would mean?"

Takeshi asked, his tone sharp.

"Celestia Sanctum is a fortress. It's not just the capital—it's a death zone. We'd be running headfirst into a sea of elite paladins!"

"And not just that…"

Angela added.

"The three remaining Paladin Paragons are all there now. They were mobilized days ago. You're talking about walking into a place that has the single highest concentration of military power in the scenario."

Adam raised his hand slowly, stopping them again.

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"I know."

He looked around at the team. Their expressions were tense, doubtful. He could feel the fear behind their eyes. He could feel it in his own chest, too.

"But before you write it off, answer me this… Have any of you actually seen one of the Paragons fight recently? Have any of you witnessed them on the battlefield since their campaign began?"

That made several people stop and think. Murmurs spread among the group. Angela looked sideways at Drake, who shook his head.

"No… We haven't seen them. But that doesn't mean they're not there."

Angela said finally.

"True, but I have a theory. And the only way to confirm it… is to face them directly."

Adam admitted. Drake stepped forward and spoke with a low and serious tone.

"You're asking too much. You remember what we saw in Uldroth. You and I together couldn't stop one of them. We hit him with everything we had, and all we did was slow him down for a few seconds."

The boy with glasses nodded again.

"I remember. But that was before. Back when they were fully empowered by Arianka's divine will… Before she died. That connection is broken now. I'm not saying they'll be weak—but I am saying we might be able to interrupt them long enough so they don't stand in our way."

Before anyone could respond, a soft voice cut through the conversation.

"You don't have to do that."

Everyone turned, watching Kazue was standing, albeit unsteadily, supported by both Chloe and Katya. Her face was pale and her breathing shallow, but her eyes were clear. She took a few careful steps forward until she was close enough to address everyone directly.

"There's something I need to share."

She said, her voice strained but steady.

"Something important. When I was with Arianka… during our meeting… I triggered a Hidden Subplot."

The reaction was instant. Surprise flashed through every face in the room. Even Meera seemed caught off guard. Kazue kept going.

"It failed. The Subplot can't be completed because the goddess died. But I still remember what it said. The goal wasn't to kill the Paladin Paragons like the other we had. It was to free them."

Everyone listened in silence now. Kazue looked at Adam, then back at the rest of the group.

"It said to release the four Paragons from the control of the goddess. One of them was already dead, which means the only ones left are: Groz'mar, the Stonefather Chieftain… Lilith, the Crimson Monarch… and Aldrameric IV, the Humbleborn Emperor."

Her voice dropped slightly.

"They aren't acting because they want to. They're still trapped under what's left of her corrupted will."

No one spoke. The weight of the revelation settled over the group like a heavy sheet. The pieces were finally connecting—and they pointed to something far more complicated than a simple war of factions.

Adam remained silent for a long moment after Kazue's words. His fingers curled slightly, resting against his chin as his eyes lowered in thought. The revelation changed things. It added a new layer of difficulty. Freeing the Paragons wasn't the same as distracting them. It meant subduing them, reaching them through the corruption, and breaking whatever connection remained between them and the dead goddess. That would require much more than what had already been planned.

He let out a tired sigh and looked back at Kazue.

"That doesn't sound like something we can afford right now, every piece of this plan is already stretched. We don't have room to spare. We can barely handle the main operation."

Adam said with a low tone. Kazue shook her head firmly, her expression more serious than usual despite her pale complexion.

"We have to do it… I spoke to Arianka. I know this isn't her fault. She wasn't trying to destroy everything. She was infected by someone, and the race's leaders were the ones who suffered the most because of it. They're not just weapons or obstacles. They're her favorite children. The ones who were closest to her. The ones who were supposed to carry out her will, not be twisted by it."

Adam's brow furrowed slightly.

"Children? What do you mean by that?"

Kazue looked down for a moment, then back at the group.

She began recounting her conversation with Arianka. She told them how, before triggering the Hidden Subplot, she had spoken directly with the goddess, who had explained her history and regrets. Arianka had spoken of Gilgamesh, the human who had persuaded her to interfere again in the world. Of the divine war that followed, and the blessings she gave to the leaders of each race. The human king Aldrameric IV, the vampire queen Lilith, and the giant chieftain Groz'mar—each one carrying the bloodline of the first creations, directly linked to the goddess. Arianka had loved them. She had trusted them. And that trust had been twisted, corrupted, and broken.

Everyone remained silent as Kazue finished speaking. For a few seconds, no one moved or reacted. The room was heavy with the realization of what the Paragons truly were. They were more than elite warriors. They were direct descendants of the first, the closest to divine, the ones most deeply affected by the fall of their creator.

But the silence didn't last long.

"Well then, sounds like fun."

Meera said suddenly, with a grin stretching across her face. Several heads turned toward her, making her shrug.

"After the main phase of the plan kicks off, my job is basically support. Which is boring. But if you need someone to deal with the big three… I'll do it. It's way more interesting than sitting around waiting."

Adam turned to her instantly.

"That's too dangerous, Meera."

But she was already moving toward him, arms raised in mock offense. She hugged him suddenly, pressing her forehead against his shoulder and ruffling his hair with both hands.

"Aww, you're so sweet when you worry about your little sister."

She said with a playful grin. The reaction from the group was mixed—Drake looked away immediately, Angela narrowed her eyes, and Katya's expression twitched with visible confusion. Li blinked several times, while Dayana giggled awkwardly. Chloe raised a brow, clearly amused.

Adam sighed and pried her off, his tone flat.

"I'm serious!"

Before Meera could reply, another voice echoed across the room. It was faint and weak. But clear enough to silence everyone instantly.

"…Excuse me."

All eyes turned toward the bed where Sebastian lay. He hadn't moved, and his eyes were still closed, but his lips were parted, and his voice carried a strained but steady weight.

"I know I haven't said anything, I'm sorry."

He continued slowly.

"I've just been listening. But I want to help too."

Adam was about to protest, but Sebastian kept going, his voice trembling slightly with effort.

"I know I'm not in shape to fight directly. And I know I'm still recovering. But I don't want to be left out of this. My best skill isn't something I need to move for. You all know that."

Adam's expression turned firm.

"Sebastian, no. You're still healing. Your only job right now is to rest and recover."

There was a brief pause. Then the old man exhaled softly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"I understand. But that's not good enough for me."

He shifted slightly in the bed, wincing but enduring the pain.

"It's been a long time… since I've felt this way. This sense of challenge. Of being part of something bigger. Of pushing the limits of my own mind."

His voice grew stronger, just enough to carry across the room.

"I don't want to finish this scenario lying in bed, watching from the side. I want to contribute. I want to see what my best creation can really do—just one more time."

The room was silent again. No one had anything to say to that… Because they all understood.

The discussion had ended, but the tension in the air still lingered. Adam remained silent for several more seconds, his arms crossed, his eyes darting between the planning sheets and the members of both teams scattered throughout the large hall. He could tell most were exhausted, their expressions dimmed by the gravity of what they were preparing for, but beneath that weight, there was also resolve. He looked at Sebastian, who had finally fallen asleep again, and then turned toward the others.

"Alright, we'll need to adjust a few things, but… it can be done. It's possible."

The boy finally said, his voice echoing through the chamber. No one responded, but the shift in posture among the group was noticeable. They had been going over the strategy for hours now, redrawing routes, adjusting teams, refining timing down to the second.

Time passed slowly from that moment, marked only by the low murmurs of final discussions and the scribbling of notes. They continued refining the plan until there was nothing else to modify. No more unknown variables and no more doubts until it was complete.

As people started to stretch and ease out of the strategic trance, Meera stood up, brushing the dust off her knees. She turned to Adam. Her smile had faded into something far more solemn, though her eyes still held that same spark.

"Are you really sure about this? You do know there's no turning back, right? If we do this, we do it until the end."

She asked, arms crossed. Adam stared at her for a second. Her words weren't coated in sarcasm or masked behind a joke. For once, she was completely serious. He met her gaze and nodded.

"We've already considered every possible angle, we'll do it. And… thank you. For what you're about to do."

Her "brother" reply; Meera rolled her eyes but gave him a faint smirk.

"You're such a good big brother."

She said before spinning on her heel and walking away. No further words were exchanged, and Adam turned to the rest of the group.

"We start tomorrow. Rest up and prepare yourselves. You all know what to do."

The statement seemed to jolt them all back into motion. Chairs scraped the stone floor. Small conversations erupted as people began moving to their designated areas. Some drifted off in groups; others wandered alone. Katya stayed at Kazue's side. Chloe remained close by, watching the rest from a distance. The members of WNATN exchanged a short nod before vanishing deeper into the network of tunnels.

But Adam didn't move.

"Hey, you need a room too, you know."

Drake said from beside him. Adam blinked, then gave a tired nod.

"Right. I don't know where anything is."

"Don't worry, I'll show you."

The blond replied. The two left the meeting chamber, the fading lamplight giving way to the long stretches of subterranean silence. As they moved through the ancient halls, Adam noticed that many sections had been carved recently. Some pathways looked unstable. Others had been fortified with steel braces and salvaged barriers.

"By the way, I need your help."

Adam said as they walked, not bothering to look at Drake.

"With what?"

"Two people. Two critical pieces. If we're going to free the Paragons like Kazue said… I need them. The plan already depends on them in more ways than one, but if they agree to help me directly, this might actually work."

Drake didn't ask for names. He simply led Adam through a different path, one that forked away from the main tunnels and led to a massive stone chamber reinforced with high vaulted ceilings. A few soldiers and guards posted at the corners stepped aside when they saw Drake and Adam approaching. The guards didn't speak, but their presence suggested whoever was inside was important.

Inside the room, two distinct figures waited.

Vaelric Duskthorn stood tall and composed, dressed in the elegant attire of vampire nobility. His hair fell behind his shoulders like a shimmering veil, and his eyes locked immediately onto Adam with a mixture of reverence and exaltation. He took one fast step forward and gave a respectful nod.

"Sir Adam! You are okay!"

Beside him, Mughal Titanheart barely fit within the chamber. The young giant was seated on a large stone bench, his legs pulled in to accommodate his massive frame. The little blanket in his hands shimmered with divine patterns, the markings of Arianka still etched deep into the fabric despite the goddess's fall. His face brightened when he saw Adam, and he stood immediately, towering over the rest.

"Adam! You're here!"

He said loudly, his voice echoing across the chamber. Adam raised a hand.

"Thank you both for coming. I asked for this meeting because there's something I need from both of you. Something important."

The vampire lord remained still, but Mughal stepped forward eagerly.

"If it's for Arianka's message, I'll help however I can. Even if she's… gone… I believe in her. I believe in what she stood for."

Drake stepped back, folding his arms and staying silent. This wasn't his moment. Adam, on the other hand, stepped toward the center of the chamber, glancing at both Vaelric and Mughal.

"You already know the situation. You've seen what's happening out there. The empire has become a machine of destruction, using the divine order left behind as an excuse to wipe out anyone who doesn't conform. That would be bad enough, but now we know something else. The Paladin Paragons… they're not just commanders. They're victims."

Mughal's expression darkened. Vaelric narrowed his eyes.

"They're corrupted. Mentally bound by the remnants of Arianka's influence. Kazue had a vision that confirmed it. She saw what they really were—each race representative. Her children. And that corruption is driving them to destroy everything she once protected."

Adam let the words settle before continuing.

"We don't just need to beat them. We need to free them. And for that… we'll need more than strength. We'll need people directly connected to them… It can be difficult, but if everything is done exactly as planned, we may be able to save every race here from extinction."