Surviving These Unfair Scenarios [LITRPG - DIMENSION HOPPING]

The sudden flash of light that consumed Kazue, Drake, Katya, and Falk dissipated with a soft pop, revealing a world utterly unlike the sterile confines of the lobby or the war-torn ruins of a scenario. Kazue gasped, her mouth falling open and her eyes wide with a profound, almost child-like wonder, while Falk, perched precariously on her head, let out a series of excited metallic chirps. Drake merely widened his eyes a fraction, taking in the impossible sight before him.

They stood on a wide, bustling thoroughfare, paved with a material that shimmered with an inner light. Buildings of impossible design soared into a vibrant, alien sky, their architecture was a chaotic yet harmonious blend of towering chrome spires, ancient, moss-covered stone, and strange, organic structures that seemed to pulse with a faint, inner light.

The air thrummed with a thousand different sounds: a cacophony of chattering voices in countless languages, the distant clang of unseen machinery, the melodious hum of ambient energy, and the boisterous shouts of vendors hawking their wares. It was a perpetual symphony of commerce and interaction, a vibrant, living hum that permeated every inch of the air.

The streets themselves were a river of life, teeming with a dizzying array of beings. Figures cloaked in shimmering, iridescent fabrics glided past armored warriors whose eyes glowed with internal power. Tall, slender creatures with multiple limbs weaved through the crowds, alongside beings that seemed to defy physical description entirely, their forms shifting and shimmering as they moved. Their attire was a chaotic mix of every conceivable style, from futuristic battle-suits to flowing robes of ancient design, from casual streetwear to outlandish, fantastical costumes.

"Whoa…"

Kazue breathed, her voice barely a whisper, and utterly captivated by the spectacle. Her eyes darted from one impossible sight to the next, a thousand questions forming on her tongue, but none of them fully articulated.

Falk, his excitement palpable even through his mechanical form, bounced slightly on Kazue's head.

"Incredible! The sheer diversity! The ingenuity! Kids, look! Is that a sentient energy being selling enchanted trinkets? And is that a shop with temporal displacement artifacts?!"

His metallic chirps were almost incoherent with glee. Drake, however, was less outwardly enthusiastic. He scanned the crowds, his posture still stiff, the weight of his recent actions still pressing down on him.

"This… is certainly more than I expected."

He murmured, his gaze distant. Katya merely crossed her arms, a familiar smirk playing on her lips. She had seen it all before.

"Trust me, this is normal. Every time I was here, it was like this... Always packed."

She scoffed, her voice dry. She then watched Kazue with a flicker of something almost fond in her eyes, amused by the girl's wide-eyed wonder.

"Don't stare too much. You'll get dizzy."

Kazue barely heard her. Her eyes were already gleaming with a sudden, singular focus seizing her attention. Her gaze had locked onto a shop across the street, its storefront pulsating with an inviting, multicolored light. She took a step, then another, drawn like a moth to a flame.

"Oh, my god! Look!"

She exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement.

"Is that… a store that sells plushies?! They moved! Are they sentient plushies?! I need to see it! I need one!"

She began to pull away, her feet already itching to explore. But Drake moved faster, his hand clamping gently but firmly around her arm.

"Woah there, Kazue!"

He said, a faint, exasperated smile touching his lips.

"Hold on. As fascinating as this all is, we have a mission, remember? We need to contact Meera and Angela first."

Kazue blinked, and the spell of the Trade Nexus momentarily broke.

"Oh! Right! The Plot Device! You're right, Drake, you're absolutely right… I'm sorry."

She patted her cheeks, trying to regain her composure. Her initial wonder, however, quickly returned as she looked around again, her curiosity boundless. Katya sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes.

"Alright, listen up, you two."

She began, her voice cutting through Kazue's lingering excitement.

"Before you go running off, there are a few rules. This isn't like a scenario. Things here are dealt with using points and merits as currency."

She gestured to the surrounding shops.

"For everything. Buying, selling, gambling, whatever. And most importantly, you absolutely cannot use offensive skills against anyone. Doesn't matter if they insult you or try to scam you. If the System detects a skill being used outside of the Coliseum, you're instantly expelled."

Drake's brow furrowed.

"That's… unusual…"

He murmured, his voice thoughtful.

"A System that's so hostile to users, forcing us to fight and kill, but then has a rule like this here? It's contradictory."

The blonde merely shrugged.

"Beats me. Rumor has it the rule wasn't even put in place by the System itself. Some say it was added by a user, or a group of users, who had enough authority to bend the System's core mechanics. Either way, it means this place is mostly free of senseless violence. People still cheat, scam, and get into classic brawls, sure, but no one's pulling out a god-slaying sword over a bad deal."

She smirked lightly.

"It's a nice change of pace, actually. Keeps the chaos manageable."

They began to move through the thronging crowds, a cautious parade of wonder and worldly experience. Kazue, despite Drake's reminder, found herself constantly swiveling her head with her eyes wide as saucers, trying to take in the sheer volume of all the impossible things around her.

Storefronts blurred past, each one a universe unto itself. There were shops dedicated to forgotten magic, displaying arcane grimoires bound in human skin, vials shimmering with bottled curses, and runes carved into pulsating crystals. Further along, another shop specialized in alien technology, showcasing sleek, chrome weapons that hummed with unseen energy, holographic interfaces that danced in the air, and strange, organic devices that pulsed with an inner light.

"Look, Falk! Ancient weapons! Is that a real katana from feudal Japan?"

Kazue exclaimed, her voice filled with childlike glee, pointing towards a display of beautifully crafted blades that seemed to hum with history. Falk let out an excited series of clicks and whistles on her head.

"And look! They have a shop with living, miniature dragons! Can we get one? Please, Drake, please?!"

The blond merely chuckled, a low, warm sound that rarely escaped him these days. He found himself smiling more naturally here, his constant internal struggle momentarily dulled by Kazue's infectious enthusiasm.

"Later, Kazue."

He said gently, steering her away from a stall selling what appeared to be genetically engineered, glowing insect pets.

"Focus. We need to find Meera and Angela first."

Falk, however, was not so easily dissuaded.

"Oh, but the possibilities!"

He chirped, his mechanical eyes gleaming.

"To observe the varying applications of energy transfer in these elemental enchantments! To discern the mechanics of those devices! And the owners! They must possess unparalleled knowledge of their respective fields! Imagine the conversations! The exchange of data!"

He vibrated with pure, unadulterated curiosity. Kazue giggled, a bright, clear sound.

"You're right, Falk! We need to talk to everyone! Maybe we can learn something really cool!"

The wonders of the Trade Nexus were almost too much for her to bear, her excitement bubbling over. Drake, seeing her almost vibrate with suppressed energy, had to suppress a small smile. This was the Kazue he knew, the one he had fought alongside, the one who found joy even in the most impossible of circumstances. Finally, the girl remembered something really important.

"Oh! Right! Meera and Angela!"

She exclaimed, her eyes widening. She reached into her system interface, her fingers quickly navigating to her newly acquired [Friend List] skill. The familiar blue screen materialized, and she saw it immediately: both Meera and Angela were actively trying to communicate with her, their names glowing faintly, indicating incoming calls. With a quick tap, she accepted the group call.

Suddenly, two small, holographic screens popped up, suspended in the air before her, displaying the faces of Meera Kapoor and Angela Rose. Meera's face, now perfectly unblemished, was wreathed in a warm, welcoming smile. Angela, on the other hand, maintained her usual calm, almost detached expression, though a flicker of relief was visible in her eyes.

"Kazue! There you are!"

Meera exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine warmth.

"We were wondering when you'd call! Are you alright? Did you get to the Trade Nexus safely?"

Her gaze was soft, maternal almost, settling on Kazue with an affection that seemed out of place for someone who had just threatened to rip her and Adam apart just a couple of days ago.

"Oh, and you simply must let me show you around sometime! This place is incredible. I hope Adam can come too, if you two... well, if you two have the time, that is."

Her words, innocent in their intent, carried a subtle implication, a reference to her ongoing belief that Kazue was Adam's romantic interest. Angela, meanwhile, offered a concise nod.

"Indeed. We've been waiting. Have you decided where we should meet?"

Kazue, a faint blush rising on her cheeks at Meera's invitation to a tour around the Nexus, something she could only dream of.

"Oh, yes! We're… we're here! But I don't know where anything is yet. It's so big!"

Meera chuckled.

"Of course, dear. Don't worry. Let's meet at one of the 'Event Centers'. Do you know where that is?"

Before Kazue could reply, a sharp, irritated voice cut in from beside her. Katya, who had been listening with barely concealed annoyance, stepped forward with her eyes narrowed, particularly at the woman of 'Dragon Utopia'.

"I'll guide them."

She stated, her voice clipped, a clear edge of possessive jealousy in her tone.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Kazue doesn't need to depend on outsiders."

The subtle emphasis on 'outsiders' was not lost on Meera, whose smile tightened almost imperceptibly. Katya's resentment of anyone vying for Kazue's attention was palpable.

"Perfect, we'll be waiting. Do try not to get lost."

Angela said, completely ignoring the blonde's thinly veiled animosity. The communication cut off, and the holographic screens flickered out of existence. Katya immediately turned to Kazue, a faint blush of annoyance on her own face, but her eyes still holding a spark of challenge.

"Right… Event Center. Follow me. Try not to get distracted this time."

She led the way, pushing through the bustling crowds with a determined stride.

This time, Kazue tried to rein in her excitement, forcing her gaze away from the tantalizing shopfronts. Instead, she focused on the other users. The Trade Nexus was a living tapestry of the system's veterans.

Some individuals seemed to have stepped straight out of ancient myths, their bodies rippling with arcane energy, or cloaked in the silent power of forgotten martial arts. Others resembled beings from sci-fi epics, their forms encased in sleek, power-assisted armor, their eyes glowing with technological enhancements. Some were distinctly non-human: a hulking, four-armed alien with iridescent skin bargained loudly at a stall; a lithe, feline-like creature with glowing eyes stalked silently through the shadows; and a figure composed entirely of swirling elemental energy conversed politely with a shopkeeper who seemed to be a walking automaton.

Every possible permutation of fiction, every fantastical creature, every impossible fusion of magic and science, seemed to coexist here. It was a dizzying, overwhelming display of the system's boundless potential.

Falk, still perched on Kazue's head, let out a thoughtful series of clicks.

"Remarkable, the sheer ease with which these 'users' appear to shed their baseline human forms. Is this common in your world, Kazue? Such rapid and extreme self-modification?"

He chirped, his mechanical voice reflective. His question, while innocent in its curiosity, touched on a deeper, more philosophical point about humanity itself. Kazue sighed, a faint sadness in her eyes.

"No... Not in our world. But…"

She trailed off, her gaze distant, fixed on a towering figure made of solidified shadow who was casually sipping from a steaming mug.

"I can understand why people would want to change and become someone else… To not be who they were before."

Her voice was soft, laced with a melancholic introspection. She remembered the girl she had been before the system, a life consumed by trauma, isolating her from the world, leaving her with no one. The system had taken away what little she had, but it had also given her this new self, this vibrant, joyful persona. It had given her her first true friends. The memory of her past, a dark, lonely cavern, was a stark contrast to the bustling, colorful reality of the Trade Nexus, and for a moment, a wave of profound, wistful nostalgia washed over her.

Katya walked ahead and glanced back at Kazue, a subtle frown on her face. She noticed the fleeting shadow in her friend's eyes, the momentary introspection that seemed to hint at something the cheerful girl rarely revealed. She didn't say anything, simply quickened her pace slightly, leading them deeper into the Nexus, her own thoughts unreadable.

They finally arrived at the Event Center, or at least at one of its branches, a truly colossal structure that dominated the skyline. Its clean and white exterior gleamed under the simulated sky, and massive holographic screens, larger than any building they had seen before, wrapped around its entirety. These screens were a constant source of information, flickering between different displays. Some showed the current rankings of the system's top ten teams, a static, unchanging list that had remained the same since their last scenario.

Other screens displayed upcoming events, flashing vibrant advertisements for tournaments, auctions, and unique challenges that made little sense to Kazue. There were promotions for exotic items, limited-time skills, and even resort getaways within the Nexus itself. Kazue's eyes landed on one particular advertisement: a massive, flashy banner for something called the "Reverse Tower" event, set to begin next month. Her curiosity sparked, she was about to ask Katya what it was, but her question was cut short by a familiar set of voices calling out their names from the swirling crowds.

"Hey guys!"

They turned. Meera and Angela emerged from the flowing throng. Meera rushed forward, her arms open wide, a beaming smile on her face.

"Kazue! It's so good to see you!"

She enveloped the girl in a warm, crushing hug, a gesture filled with genuine affection. Katya, standing just behind Kazue, stiffened, her eyes narrowing into dangerous slits as she watched Meera embrace her friend. A low growl rumbled in the blonde's throat, barely audible, a clear sign of her displeasure.

"Alright, alright, no need to suffocate her."

Angela remarked dryly, though a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips.

"It's good to see you all. Everyone seems to be in one piece, thankfully."

She nodded, her gaze sweeping over Drake and Katya, a quick assessment of their well-being. Once the initial greetings and Meera's rather effusive display of affection towards Kazue, much to Katya's barely contained irritation, had settled, Angela's pragmatic comment reasserted itself.

"The less time we waste, the better."

She stated, her voice calm and efficient.

"We don't know what might transpire while we're here. Even if this place is a bit safer than the scenarios."

Meera, however, shrugged, a casual dismissal of Angela's urgency.

"Oh, there's no need to rush. The time outside the Trade Nexus runs at half speed compared to other lobbies, remember? So, we effectively have about three, maybe even four days to search for this Plot Device. Plenty of time to enjoy the sights."

She gestured around the bustling streets with a wave of her hand. Angela's brow furrowed.

"And does it not concern you what might be happening with Adam in the meantime?"

She asked, a hint of steel in her voice, her gaze direct. However, Meera, for the first time since their interaction began, genuinely smiled at Angela, a warm, soft expression that completely disarmed the wary attitude of the leader of 'WNATN'.

"No."

Meera replied simply, her voice filled with an undeniable confidence.

"It doesn't. I know my brother. Now that I've found him again, I know he's still the same, as reliable as ever. I have faith that even if he can't fully control the ghost inside him, he'll be able to hold out for however long it takes us to find this Plot Device."

Her unwavering belief in Adam, a belief rooted in their strange, newly forged sibling fake bond, was absolute. Angela simply stared at her, a flicker of something akin to surprise in her eyes, before she turned her attention back to the current objective.

Drake, who had been listening intently, finally spoke.

"Four days?"

He asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Are you serious? Will it really take us that long to find what we're looking for?"

Angela sighed, a weary sound.

"Four days might even be insufficient. We are searching for an L-rank Plot Device. Finding one of that caliber available for exchange is incredibly rare to begin with. And then, we need that specific one. It's akin to searching for a needle in a cosmic haystack. But…"

She added, her gaze hardening with resolve.

"...It is the only way."

Kazue, bewildered, interjected.

"But how do you even sell a Plot Device? They're almost like skills, aren't they? Not tangible objects."

She remembered Li's dilemma with his own potential rank, a deeply personal aspect of his system identity. Meera nodded.

"Even skills can be 'sold' or traded, if you know how."

Instantly after, Angela materialized a small, intricate drawing in her hands, one that Drake, Kazue, and Katya remembered seeing. It was the same drawing she had generated in the previous scenario when she had sealed the 'Paladin Champion' class within it.

"There are many ways, and many skills, to seal 'intangible' things into a physical form, just as I did with this."

She explained with an almost pedagogical voice.

"So, the first thing we need to do is to scour all the specialized shops, the ones that deal in such sealed items, and simply ask."

She glanced at the drawing in her hand.

"In fact, I'm also looking to sell or trade this drawing. So, if you happen to find something that might be useful, let me know. I can use this as part of the payment."

Her practicality was unwavering, even in the face of such an impossible task. With their mission clearly defined and their methods established, the group decided to split up to cover more ground. Angela, Drake, and Falk, who, to his delight, found himself comfortably perched on Drake's head, headed off in one direction. Meera, Kazue, and Katya, meanwhile, set off in another direction.

The next few hours blurred into a whirlwind of sensory overload for Kazue. The three women visited countless shops, each one a world unto itself, specializing in the sale of sealed skills and treasures. The sheer variety was staggering.

One shop had glowing windows with arcane runes, displaying hundreds of bottled spells shimmering with elemental energies, pulsating with dark curses, or humming with ancient, forgotten arcana. There were also spells bound into delicate cards, into crude wooden dolls, into polished, crystalline cubes. The air inside hummed with latent magic, a dizzying symphony of power.

Kazue's eyes shone with unbridled excitement.

"Oh, look, Meera! A 'Glimmerweave Charm'!"

She exclaimed, pointing at a small, intricately woven bracelet that seemed to absorb and emit light.

"The description says it's a sealed illusion skill! Imagine the pranks we could pull!"

Meera chuckled, shaking her head. Another shop, its interior a sleek, minimalist space of polished steel and glowing screens, specialized in sealed attacks. Here, raw force was bottled and sold. You could buy the essence of a 'Sonic Blade' attack, sealed into a thin, shimmering book; the 'Heatwave Blast' of a dragon's breath, captured within a polished coin; or even a concentrated laser beam, miniaturized and compressed within a glowing crystal. These were not mere simulations but raw, unadulterated attacks, ready to be unleashed. Kazue's jaw dropped.

"They're selling attacks?"

She breathed, touching a small, metallic sphere that vibrated with contained power, only to be gently pulled back by Meera.

"Kazue, no touching anything without asking! We don't want any accidental explosions, do we?"

They visited a shop that resembled an ancient, dusty library, where skills were sealed into scrolls and ancient tablets, whispering forgotten lore. Another, a vibrant, chaotic space, sold creature summons captured in intricate totems or living cages. Yet another was dedicated to conceptual abilities, skills that defied physical manifestation, sealed into philosophical treatises or fragments of pure thought. Kazue, in her boundless curiosity, sometimes couldn't resist touching something that caught her eye, forcing Meera to quickly intervene, a gentle but firm hand pulling her away from potential catastrophe.

As they moved through the various establishments, Kazue often found something that utterly captivated her, and she would immediately pull Katya towards it.

"Katya, look at this! It's a 'Soul-Bound Familiar' skill, sealed in a tiny bell! Imagine having a little ghost butler following you around!"

Katya, despite herself, would blush faintly, a subtle warmth spreading through her as her friend's hand clutched her arm. She didn't even pretend to be annoyed; she relished the attention, the physical contact, the simple act of Kazue wanting to share her excitement with her. She let herself be led, content to simply be drawn into the girl's world.

Despite the wonders, a common refrain echoed through every visit. They found countless sealed skills, attacks, conceptual abilities, and even some Plot Devices, but nothing nearly akin to the L-rank they were looking for, not even anything higher than a minor SR-rank. Each time they asked, the shopkeepers, a diverse cast of characters ranging from ancient, wizened mages to sleek, hyper-efficient robots, would shake their heads.

"Plot Devices of that caliber are exceedingly rare. You might try… that shop over there."

They would say, vaguely gesturing into the endless sprawl of the Trade Nexus.

"Or perhaps a higher-tier auction might feature such an item, but those are invite-only."

They pressed on, their hope slowly dimming, but their determination unwavering. The sun, or rather, the simulated sky, arced slowly overhead, indicating that hours had passed in their relentless search.

They traversed countless streets, each one a new adventure, a new display of the bizarre and the magnificent. After what felt like an eternity of fruitless searching, they turned a corner onto a wide thoroughfare. Suddenly, their path was blocked by an unusual cluster of users. It wasn't an angry mob, but a boisterous crowd, their shouts a mixture of cheers and laughter.

"Move along, move along."

Meera muttered, shaking her head.

"There are always crowds in this place. Probably some idiotic gambling match."

She tried to lead them around the edge of the throng; however, as they passed, Kazue paused. She thought she heard a familiar name, faint amidst the din.

"Did someone say Drake?"

Her head snapped towards the crowd, her curiosity piqued. Katya groaned.

"Kazue! Where are you going now?!"

She exclaimed, but it was too late. The girl was already pushing her way through the excited spectators, her small frame surprisingly adept at navigating the dense mass of bodies. She squeezed through, ignoring Katya's protests.

Finally, she burst through the last layer of onlookers and reached the center of the commotion. There, amidst a small clearing, was a sturdy, polished wooden table. Sitting on one side was an enormous man, his physique like that of a seasoned bodybuilder, his muscles bulging under his simple tunic. He strained, his face red with effort. And sitting opposite him, his own muscles tensed, his brow furrowed in concentration, was none other than Drake. They were locked in an arm-wrestling contest, their hands clasped tightly, their arms trembling with the immense effort.

Behind Drake, Angela stood, rubbing her temples with a clear expression of exasperation and annoyance. Falk, however, was perched on Angela's head, his mechanical eyes fixed intently on the unfolding contest.

"Drake?!"

Kazue exclaimed, her voice ringing out in surprise.

"What's going on?!"

Meera and Katya, having finally pushed their way through the crowd, arrived just behind her, their own expressions a mixture of surprise.

… At a distance, observing from the shadows of a towering, alien-looking building, a cloaked figure stood motionless. The hood obscured their face completely, leaving their identity an enigma, watching the scene unfold, their eyes firmly on the picturesque group.