Surviving These Unfair Scenarios [LITRPG - DIMENSION HOPPING]

A heavy, almost reverent quiet descended upon the crater in the wake of the fight. With the monstrous Dracling defeated and the curse that had afflicted some of them finally dispelled, the tension that had gripped them began to subside, but the atmosphere remained thick with an unsettling unease. They couldn't stay there for long, and everyone knew it. The two separate groups, 'No Name' and 'Black Phoenix', stood in a standoff, each wary of the other. It was Teo who finally broke the silence, with his casual, arrogant demeanor being a stark contrast to the grim expressions around him.

"Well…"

He said, his voice a low rumble.

"I think it's pretty clear we can't hang around here. Our base isn't far, so we should head there immediately. It's only a few hours if we run all the way."

Alter Kazue's voice was sharp with worry as she immediately protested, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.

"Are you serious!? We don't have a couple of hours, Teo! Zorvhael could sense something had happened to his Dracling. What if he decides to come back for it? Besides, we don't know if they would even be able to follow."

She gestured angrily to the other group, her distrust palpable as she scowled at the strangers.

Teo simply watched her, a subtle, patronizing smirk on his lips as she ranted, his casual stance unchanging. He had known her for a long time, and he knew that the best way to handle her was simply to let her vent her frustrations. When she finally fell silent, he pushed himself off the ground with a shrug.

"Relax. Of course we're not walking."

He then pulled out a small pill bottle and held it up for everyone to see.

"I've got a little something from Samantha that'll get us there in a flash. The only question is, are you really coming with… them?"

He gestured pointedly at the other group, his expression unreadable. Alter Kazue sighed in resignation, her shoulders slumping as she looked from Teo to the other team.

"We don't have a choice. This is too important to risk. Something big is happening, and while these… copies… don't seem to be an illusion, we can't be sure yet. Especially since one of "that demon's" so-called 'Commanders' is among them."

She pointed a finger at Emir, who was still cradled in Drake's arms. Teo's expression was momentarily thoughtful, but he quickly shrugged again.

"Fair enough. We'll figure it out when we get there. The leader can decide what to do with them. We should just go now."

Kazue tried to take a defiant step forward, her mouth open to argue, but Drake's hand on her arm stopped her dead in her tracks. The boy's expression was grim as he still cradled Emir's sleeping form, which, though no longer exhausted, was still a heavy weight in his arms. However, his eyes held a quiet, desperate resolve; a silent look that spoke volumes, communicating the sheer, unyielding reality of their situation. There was no room for conflict right now; they were not in a position to be picky when they so desperately needed a place to recover and plan how to rescue Sebastian.

With a final, decisive sigh, Teo stepped into the center of the combined groups with a wide, confident smile spreading across his face. He pulled the small pill bottle from before, shook out a single yellow-colored pill, and swallowed it with a casual flick of his head. He then extended his arm, his eyes closing in concentration as a powerful holy aura began to emanate from his body. With a soft chiming sound, a system window materialized above him.

Drake and Katya immediately recognized the Plot Device; it was the same one Katya had used in a previous scenario. The sensation was exactly as they remembered it. A brilliant white glow enveloped them all, the light so intense it seemed to melt their bodies, dematerializing them into nothingness.

The unified bolt of light shot skyward like a missile. The feeling of being converted into a pure energy stream was a disorienting rush of motion and light that ended as abruptly as it began. They blinked, their vision adjusting to the dimly lit interior of a massive, hollowed-out cavern.

The space was a surprisingly well-organized refuge; the curved rock walls were smooth in places and rough in others, and the flickering light of a central campfire made the damp surfaces shimmer with a faint, crystalline glow. Provisions were stacked high in the corner, not in random piles but in carefully arranged crates and barrels that hinted at a long-term stay. The inviting aroma of sizzling meat and simmering broth filled the air, emanating from a makeshift cooking area nestled into a rock alcove.

The most jarring sight, however, was not the camp itself but the two individuals who inhabited it. Near the fire, a man sat calmly, his face a familiar yet alien sight. He wore a simple, tattered straw hat, and while his face was undoubtedly Li's, it was marred by a network of clear burn scars.

The most striking difference, though, was his left eye; it was a normal, warm brown color, a stark contrast to the mechanical red orb that the Li they knew possessed. By his side, a young woman with wavy white hair and bright, inquisitive blue eyes was stirring a large pot, a happy, infectious grin plastered across her face. Both of them froze, their eyes widening in shock and alarm as they looked up from their tasks to find their comrades standing before them with an entire army of strangers.

The tension returned instantly, thick enough to choke on. Alter Li's hand shot out, summoning his magical grimoire, and the Li from the 'No Name' team mirrored the action, his own spellbook appearing in his grasp. The girl left her cooking, jumping forward with her arms outstretched and her eyes narrowed dangerously. All of them were poised for battle.

"Hold on! Everyone, calm down!"

Alter Kazue's voice echoed through the cave, cutting through the standoff.

"Li, Samantha, stand down! They don't seem to be enemies, for now at least."

The two of them immediately relaxed, their bodies losing all tension as if alter Kazue's words were all they needed to hear. Still, their gazes remained fixed on the strangers, particularly alter Li, who stared at his counterpart with a look of intense bewilderment. Who could blame him? It was utterly bizarre to be face-to-face with a different version of himself.

As everyone slowly put away their weapons, Nikolai glanced around the cave, his expression searching.

"Where is the leader?"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

He asked, his voice rough. Samantha shrugged, returning her attention to her cooking.

"He left a couple of hours ago. Didn't say where."

Teo stepped forward, taking charge of the situation.

"It doesn't matter right now. He'll be back soon enough, and then we can sort this all out. But in the meantime, how about a warm meal? I don't know about you, but I'm starving."

His question was directed at the 'No Name' team, his gaze sweeping over their weary faces. He then turned to Samantha with a grin.

"Got enough for everyone, Sam?"

The girl let out an indignant huff, as if Teo had just insulted her.

"That's offensive! Of course, I do. There's always enough food when I'm the one cooking!"

Teo laughed warmly, pleased with her response, as Nikolai stepped forward to address the new arrivals.

"Come on, we'll figure things out better with full stomachs."

He said, his voice gruff but not unfriendly. However, Chloe's hands balled into fists, and she took a step forward.

"How can you even think about eating right now? Sebastian's been taken!"

However, Chloe's hands balled into fists, and she took a frantic step forward.

"How can you even think about eating right now? Sebastian's been taken!"

Drake turned to her, and the warmth that had begun to return to his eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, hard glint.

"Chloe, stop."

He said, his voice sharp and low, a command that brooked no argument.

"You saw what happened out there. We were completely useless against that Zorvhael. We can't even begin to look for him right now!"

The words were a stark, painful truth, and Chloe flinched as he spoke them. She looked at him with a hurt expression, and Drake's own semblance softened immediately. He took a deep, weary breath and sighed.

"I'm sorry."

He said, his voice now gentle, feeling how his chatbox was filling with messages that he did not read at this time.

"I know you're worried, we all are, but rushing in won't do anything but get us killed. We're exhausted and we need to rest. Sebastian is pretty strong. He'll be okay until we can find a way to get to him, believe in him."

The conviction in his voice was so strong that it calmed Chloe instantly, even though her eyes were still filled with unshed tears. As Drake finished, Teo looked at him with a strange expression, a quiet, knowing smile on his face.

"Huh… You really do sound just like him."

After that, the two groups, though still wary, gathered around the warmth of the campfire. Samantha handed each of them a bowl of her soup, which was a mix of wild vegetables and some type of unknown meat. It was surprisingly delicious, though, and incredibly revitalizing. Kazue commented on the wonderful taste, and Samantha's nose went up with a satisfied expression.

"Of course it's delicious. I was the one who cooked it, after all."

As the two teams tentatively came together, the small, hushed conversations were punctuated by the crackle of the campfire, creating a semblance of normalcy. While most of them ate and spoke, some remained in their own private worlds.

Emir was still unconscious, but his breathing was now even and deep; he lay in a peaceful sleep beside Kazue and Katya, a stark contrast to his earlier state of near-collapse. Across from them, the Empress, inhabiting Adam's body, sat completely silent. She hadn't so much as touched her bowl of soup, her gaze fixed on the dancing flames as if searching for an answer within them. Her expression was unreadable, a blank mask of profound thought that nothing, not even the comforting presence of Chloe at her side, could break through.

The pink-haired girl, in a gentle voice, tried to talk to her and offer encouragement, but the Empress simply didn't respond, her mind a million miles away. Charles had finally separated from her, choosing to sit with Nikolai and alter Li, his eyes calmly observing the entire scene from a distance, like a quiet sentinel.

Finally, in the middle of the meal, Teo finally interrupted the quiet conversation.

"Listen, thinking about it and knowing our leader, he might not be back until tomorrow. We should probably talk about this now."

He first addressed his own team.

"So… What's your take on them?"

Alter Kazue was the first to answer, her expression still skeptical.

"I still have my doubts about them, but I admit they have information that only we should know. I doubt any skill or item with so detailed information would be used just to lure us into such an idiotic trap."

Nikolai spoke next, his voice firm.

"I believe the other Kazue's theory. My instincts are screaming at me that she's telling the truth. I also clearly feel that little mechanical bird over there on the other Drake's head is the old Isaac Volta we knew from the 'Steam and Steel' scenario. It makes no sense otherwise."

Finally, it was Charles' turn; he simply shrugged.

"I'm new to all of this. I don't have a clone, so I really have nothing to add. The only thing I've noticed is that this team has some incredibly powerful members. One was just kidnapped, and the other is still here."

He pointed to Katya, who was still wearing her white, horned mask.

Teo pretended to consider their input, his expression a comical mask of deep thought even though he clearly wasn't thinking that deeply. It was Kazue who spoke next.

"As I already explained, it's obvious. We're from different universes. We were transported here by the system and a specific Plot Device. We are looking for something important that Adam needs."

Upon hearing the name, Teo, alter Li, and Samantha all flinched as if they had been struck. Alter Kazue let out a long, annoyed sigh.

"See? That's what I mean. And not only that, but that kid there is the 'King of Monsters'. We saw him use one of his transformations. Although I admit that it was smaller than normal, and he didn't seem to have control over it… But it was him."

This time, Teo grew silent, scratching his head as he looked at Kazue, his expression dead serious.

"Okay… please tell me, for a fact, who you are referring to when you say 'Adam'?"

Drake intervened instantly, his own voice holding a note of frustration.

"We're talking about Adam Scholar, our leader and our friend. We've told you this already."

Upon hearing those words, Teo couldn't help but flinch again, a visceral reaction that seemed completely out of place on his arrogant face. He shook his head slowly as a look of profound disbelief etched into his features.

"That… that is the most bizarre thing I have ever heard."

He said, his voice a low, disbelieving whisper.

"I'm starting to believe the 'other universe' idea, because what you just said is too much even for an enemy trap. No one would ever believe such idiocy."

Kazue, her brow furrowed in a mixture of confusion and frustration, took a step forward.

"What do you mean by that?"

She asked, her voice sharp and echoing the questions in everyone's mind. Teo's eyes narrowed, and he leaned in slightly as if sharing a secret. He began to speak in a low voice, as if he didn't like what he was about to say.

"Well, what happened is that Adam Scholar is actually a..."

But he was cut off abruptly, his words swallowed by a new voice that finished his sentence from behind the entire group.

"...A demon."

The voice said, causing everyone to whirl around, their eyes wide with shock. Standing there, as if he had been there the whole time, was none other than Drake, or at least another version of the one they knew.

This Drake, unlike alter Kazue and alter Li, looked exactly like the one in their team. There was no physical difference between them, only their clothes. While Drake was still in his tuxedo and formal attire, alter Drake wore a white shirt, a cream jacket, athletic pants, and sneakers.

The blond had arrived without making a sound, as if he had been listening to their entire conversation. Despite his shock at seeing himself as if in a mirror, Drake managed to force out his voice and ask again.

"What do you mean?"

Alter Drake slowly stepped into the light, sighing in resignation.

"If what you say is true and you are from another universe, then you are in enormous danger if you have Adam Scholar so close to you."

He began to approach with resolute pacing and with a very grim expression on his face.

"I'll tell you what I mean, and why Adam Scholar is known as the 'System's Scourge'."