Chapter 20 - Special Chapter 2: The Meeting in the Otherworld

"Is it done? Though, I don't see why you had to go all the way there yourself." A boy around 17 years old, wearing the Raizen school gym uniform, asked in a disinterested tone, his gaze drifting lazily towards .

"Well, well, I just wanted to witness everything with my own eyes! Watching from afar is no different from watching TV, right?" chuckled softly, seemingly amused by his own curiosity.

"Is that so?" shrugged, not really caring about the answer.

"Yes, it is, ," the man responded, hands clasped behind his back, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"But when I invited you all, no one wanted to come along! It's such a shame! I bet would've been quite surprised to see everyone's faces!" His voice carried a tone of regret, though with a hint of playful mischief.

"Tch, you're always doing ridiculous things, despite possessing such overwhelming power." A disdainful voice echoed from the opposite side, where sat. He was dressed in a tattered cloak, with only a simple T-shirt underneath, his sharp eyes gleaming with contempt.

"Calm down, . Your cloak still has bloodstains all over it, looks pretty gross!"

"Shut up! Those are the glorious marks of my victories! Not just stains, you old man!" growled, full of pride.

"Old man?! Hey, don't talk like ! After all, we're the same person, just from different timelines."

"Can you all keep it down?" A cold voice cut through the conversation, belonging to , his gaze sharp and filled with annoyance.

"Ah, ah, we apologize, . We didn't mean to disturb your incomplete dream of you and Tohka," replied, his voice softening.

"All you ever talk about is Tohka, Tohka, Tohka, you love-struck fool!" Another mocking voice chimed in, shattering the brief silence.

"Hey, bastard, don't joke about my Tohka!" snarled, fire burning in his eyes.

"Who do you think you are, standing up to me?" growled, stepping closer, fists clenched.

"Calm down! Calm down! Hey, are you guys even listening to me?" panicked, trying to intervene.

"Just a bunch of misfits, nothing more!" A chilling voice rang out from the shadows on the other side of the round table. The man, dressed in a luxurious tuxedo with his face hidden behind a half-mask, sat regally on a throne, his gaze filled with disdain.

"What did you say?!" immediately spun around, eyes blazing with anger.

"Unbelievable… In another timeline, my other selves look this pathetic!" The man continued, his voice cold and full of contempt.

"Just because you rule over a bunch of foolish commoners, you think you're something special, huh, ?" sneered, his eyes flashing with provocation.

"Is that so? Better than being someone who only knows how to slaughter like you," replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Oh yeah? Try doing what I do, then!"

"Same to you!"

"You—!"

"Alright! I've had enough! Is no one going to listen to me?" interrupted, cutting through the tense exchange.

"I'm the one who brought you all here! Soon enough, I will fulfill everyone's promise, creating a universe for all of us, one that will be the most perfect of all!"

"And if possible, , I hope he can come with us too… One day… In the otherworld…"