Kuoh Academy
Kuoh, Japan
Satria gazed out the classroom window, his eyes trailing over the serene schoolyard. Yet, his focus quickly shifted back to the room as his classmate, Hyoudou Issei, sat slumped at his desk, unusually quiet and introspective.
"That's rare," Satria thought. "What's eating him? He's usually all about games, boobs, and nonsense."
Curiosity got the better of him. "Hey, Issei, you good?" he asked, leaning closer. "You look like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders."
Issei lifted his head slightly, managing a small smile. "Ah, Shin-san. I'm fine... just something on my mind."
Satria raised an eyebrow. "Come on, man. Out with it. Maybe I can help."
Issei hesitated before sighing. "Alright, let me ask you something. What would you do if two groups had conflicting beliefs, and someone from one side wanted to help the other? But their leader forbade it. Should they follow the rules, or should they help?"
Satria blinked, taken aback. "Where did that come from? And... 'devil and angel factions'? Ah, this must be about Asia," he realized, recalling the innocent nun whose kindness cost her a place in the church.
"Well," Satria began thoughtfully, "it depends. Are the people from the other side important to them?"
Issei's eyes softened. "Yeah... She is."
"Then listen up," Satria said firmly. "Rules exist for a reason, but if following them means abandoning someone you care about, then those rules aren't worth a damn. Help her."
Issei's face lit up with a genuine smile. "Thanks, Shin-san. You always know what to say."
"Anytime," Satria replied with a small nod.
Satria's POV - Rooftop Break
The soft clink of the rooftop door brought Satria out of his reverie as he lit a cigarette.
"Senpai."
He didn't need to turn around to recognize the voice. "Oh, it's you, Koneko. What's up?"
"Didn't I tell you to stop smoking?" she said, her usual deadpan expression intact.
Feigning ignorance, Satria smirked. "Did you? Must've slipped my mind."
Koneko wasted no time. She walked over, snatched the cigarette from his hand, and tossed it into the trash can.
"Hey!" Satria protested. "That's rude, you know!"
Without a hint of remorse, she plopped down beside him. "It's unhealthy," she stated matter-of-factly, before climbing onto his lap. "Now, pat me."
Satria froze, baffled. "What a demanding little-" He stopped himself. Koneko's adorable demeanor was impossible to resist. "Fine, fine. You win," he muttered, running his hand gently through her hair.
A soft purr escaped her lips as she leaned into his touch.
"You're spoiled, you know that?" he teased, though his heart melted at her reaction. "How is anyone allowed to be this cute?"
Koneko tilted her head, her eyes half-lidded with contentment. "More, senpai," she murmured.
"Ugh, fine. But don't expect this every time," he said, pulling out a snack from his pocket. "Here. Want some?"
She nodded eagerly. "Feed me."
Satria sighed but complied. "This girl's going to be the death of me," he thought as he handed her the snack.
•
Three hours later, the bell rang, signaling the end of another school day.
"Haa... Finally, this boring day is over," Satria muttered to himself, stretching as he left the classroom.
As he walked through the town, his stomach growled. Deciding he needed something to eat, he headed to a nearby ramen shop he had discovered a while back. The shop had a welcoming atmosphere and an owner who was always open to special requests.
Sliding into a seat, Satria greeted the owner, an older man with a kind smile.
"Ah, welcome back, Shin-kun. The usual?"
"Yeah, please. Just no pork in the broth or toppings," Satria requested casually.
The owner nodded without question. Satria had once explained he had an "allergy" to pork, an easy alibi to avoid diving into the intricacies of his faith. The owner, understanding and accommodating, respected his preference without prying.
Moments later, a steaming bowl of ramen was placed before him. The rich aroma wafted through the air, making his stomach rumble louder.
"Here you go, Shin-kun. Special chicken ramen, just the way you like it," the owner said with a grin.
Satria offered a small smile. "Thanks, ojisan. It looks great."
Digging in, he let out a contented sigh. The broth was savory, the noodles perfectly cooked, and the peace of the quiet shop made the meal all the more enjoyable.
"This place really is a hidden gem," he thought, savoring each bite. It was one of the few spots where he could relax and enjoy good food without complications.
Then suddenly hear a notification from the group chat.
____________________
[Ding! Group Quest Active]
[Objective: Defeat the Great Beast Shagaru Magala in the Ice Sadist World]
[Participants Required: 2]
[Note: Time will pause in participants' worlds during the quest]
Ice Sadist: "Interesting. This could be a good challenge."
Shin: "I'm in. I've been meaning to test my limits anyway."
Spider-Man: "Can I join? I'm curious if this group chat and its missions are actually real."
Shin: "You sure about this? It won't be like your usual street fights."
Spider-Man: "Yeah, I need an adventure. It's been too quiet lately."
[2/2 Participants Selected]
Pervert Sage: "A Great Beast? You know anything about this enemy, @Ice?"
Ice Sadist: "Not much. Just rumors of a massive, destructive creature. My soldiers and I are investigating anomalies near the empire's borders."
Shin: "What kind of anomalies?"
Ice Sadist: "Villages wiped off the map. Survivors talk about a monster unlike anything they've seen before. The empire is eager to capture or control it."
Shin: "Figures. They're probably planning something shady as usual."
Ice Sadist: "The empire's motives are irrelevant to me. All I care about is facing a strong opponent."
[Participant Slots Full: Preparing to Transfer Participants to @Ice Sadist World]
____________
The blinding light of the dimensional transfer faded, revealing a dense forest filled with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant wildlife. Satria glanced around, assessing his surroundings. Beside him stood a man clad in a red-and-blue spider-themed suit.
"Ehmm, are you Shin?" the man asked, his tone laced with curiosity.
"Yeah, that's me," Satria confirmed, scanning the man up and down. "You must be Peter Parker, right?"
"That's right," Peter said, adjusting the mask on his face. "So, where do we go from here?"
Satria turned his head to the right, spotting a flicker of light through the trees. Squinting, he could make out what seemed to be a camp bustling with soldiers.
"Over there," Satria said, pointing. "But stay put for a moment. Let me contact our host."
He open up the group chat interface, swiftly typing a message.
________________
Shin: "We're here, @Ice. Uploading our location now."
[Shin uploads an image of the forest and distant campfire light]
Ice Sadist: "That's close to my camp. Wait there-I'll come to you."
__________________
Closing the chat, Satria turned back to Peter.
"Okay, Spidey," Satria began, folding his arms. "Since you've never been to another world, let me give you a heads-up."
Peter tilted his head, curious. "Heads-up about what?"
"Common sense here isn't like your world. People die here-often brutally-and no one bats an eye. The weak are preyed upon, and strength rules everything. Don't freak out if you see something... unpleasant," Satria warned, his tone grim.
Peter stiffened. "Seriously? That bad?"
"It's worse than bad," Satria replied. "Think medieval times, but throw in magic, monsters, and politics more corrupt than you can imagine. Also, our host, Esdeath, isn't exactly a saint. She's a tyrant, but a damn good leader. Just don't get on her bad side. If you see something troubling, come to me first. No rash decisions, got it?"
Peter nodded hesitantly, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "Got it. But honestly, maybe I shouldn't have come here..."
Satria smirked. "Well, it's a bit late for second thoughts, isn't it?"
Before Peter could reply, the sound of approaching footsteps caught their attention. Emerging from the tree line was a striking woman clad in an ice-blue uniform, flanked by soldiers dressed in imperial armor. Her piercing blue eyes scanned the two newcomers.
"Who are they, General Esdeath?" one of the soldiers asked warily.
Esdeath's gaze lingered on Satria before moving to Peter. "They are my allies," she said confidently. "They've come to assist us in defeating the Great Beast."
The soldiers exchanged surprised looks but didn't dare question her.
Esdeath stepped closer, her commanding presence making Peter take a half-step back instinctively. "Welcome to my world, Shin," she said, her icy tone carrying a hint of respect. Her eyes flicked to Peter. "And you must be the Spider-Man."
Peter cleared his throat nervously. "Uh, yeah. That's me. Nice to meet you... General?"
Esdeath smirked, amused by his timid demeanor. "A pleasure. I hope you're ready. The Shagaru Magala is no ordinary beast."
Peter leaned toward Satria and whispered, "She's intense."
Satria suppressed a chuckle. "You'll get used to it. Maybe."
Esdeath turned to her soldiers. "Prepare the camp. We march at dawn to track the beast. Shin, Spider-Man, you'll both join my command tent for the briefing. This hunt will require precision and teamwork. Understood?"
"Y-yeah, got it," Peter added, still uneasy.
Esdeath gave a sharp nod and strode back toward the camp, her soldiers falling into formation behind her.
Satria glanced at Peter, smirking. "Welcome to adventure, Spidey. Try to keep up."
Peter sighed, shaking his head. "This is gonna be one heck of a story, isn't it?"
"Always is," Satria replied, leading the way toward the camp.
To be continued.