Chapter 153 Gradually Clarified Identities

"Breaking News: The summit of the Gourmet Academy has suddenly collapsed, suspected to be the site of a large-scale battle. The Special Operations Task Force has intervened to investigate..."

"Flash News: A young girl claiming to be a Public Morals Committee member has apprehended 25 criminals within half a day, meticulously documenting their crimes. Investigations are currently underway..."

"Bizarre Tales: A young man with bright red eyes is moving freely through a high-rise building, accompanied by a girl in a sailor suit. The girl is wearing safety shorts and bears a striking resemblance to Mikoto Misaka, the anime character currently trending on ACG websites..."

Yun Xuan closed the news feed and looked toward Shiro.

"You mean that because of our existence, some mysterious entity has summoned seven anime characters, and they might be standing against us?" Shiro asked.

"That's right. Although it sounds unrealistic, it has already happened, and six of these anime characters have been discovered: Gintoki Sakata, Shinsuke Takasugi, Utsuro, Kuroko Shirai, Ken Kaneki, and Mikoto Misaka. The seventh person hasn't been found yet, but their strength or abilities shouldn't be ordinary," Yun Xuan nodded.

"I've already skimmed through their abilities; they are quite complex. Judging by Utsuro alone, I think our chances of defeating him are very slim," Akame stated.

"If I can hit him with a direct blast, it should be fine," Megumin said, looking at Utsuro's profile. No matter what kind of creature he was, nothing could survive Explosion Magic.

"I have confidence in sealing jutsus. If he is left with only a corpse, I can quickly seal him," Kushina Uzumaki thought for a moment and said.

"It would be fine if his level is Tier 6. If he is Tier 7, our plan will run into unexpected trouble," Yun Xuan hesitated and said.

"He will be isolated—no, rather, he has no need for companions," Shiro looked at Utsuro, fell silent for a moment, and said earnestly.

"Should we unite the remaining people?" Yun Xuan closed the ACG website. If any hidden risks remained, Mikoto Misaka's abilities should be enough to hack back in.

However, the closure of the ACG website further substantiated the rumor that anime characters had appeared in the three-dimensional world. Although exaggerated, humans also possessed martial artists, and that was an indisputable fact.

In the anime forums, Ken Kaneki, Mikoto Misaka, and Kuroko Shirai were already household names.

The appearance of these characters in the real world instantly captured the attention of all anime fans. Fortunately, due to the intervention of the Special Operations Task Force, places like the Gourmet Academy were cordoned off, which helped contain the situation somewhat.

Even so, many ignorant people still rushed out to see their idols.

"We can't let them know of our existence just yet. I'll go make contact with them. At the very least, we mustn't let the Special Operations Task Force become enemies with them. Endowed with Protagonist Halo, they are practically immortal," Yun Xuan said as he stood up.

"If you could completely trust me, I would have more than enough certainty to handle everything," Shiro looked at Yun Xuan and said.

"That's impossible. Asuna the Third, no more extra people are allowed to be summoned. Leave the remaining summoner and their affairs to me. If I need you, I'll notify you," Yun Xuan shook his head. Trust Shiro completely? He couldn't do that.

Asuna the Third nodded, looking somewhat absent-minded.

***

Europe, a certain airport.

"Take care, esteemed ones. Be sure to call me once you arrive in Fangyu City, and I'll have someone issue bank cards for you immediately." The mysterious Holy Lord escorted Satania and Vigne onto the plane.

"Thank you for the trouble, Mr. Holy Lord," Vigne said somewhat cautiously.

"Holy Lord, you're not bad at all. When I eventually become the Queen of the Demon Clan, I'll definitely make you my greatest subordinate!" Satania declared with a proud look.

"Thank you, Lady Satania," the mysterious Holy Lord bowed.

The plane took off. Satania grabbed her seatbelt in terror, while Vigne looked at the Holy Lord on the ground, harboring a lingering feeling that this person was no good news.

"The more chaotic, the better. Only then can she wake up a little faster." The mysterious Holy Lord watched the plane in the sky until it disappeared.

***

Fangyu City, inside a certain room.

"The Collapse officially begins. Goddess incubation commences." The person by the bed spoke in a mechanical voice, their exquisite face devoid of any expression, eyes radiating a silver glow.

***

Island Nation.

The young man who had escaped from the Gourmet Academy had changed his clothes, having knocked out a drunkard to acquire a phone and a wallet.

"There are too many cultural similarities, yet the most important elements are missing, and there is no news about Ajin either. Still, my identity remains a problem." The young man closed his phone, pulled up his hood, and walked forward.

"Screech—!" A large freight truck ran a red light, heading straight toward the young man with a piercing sound.

"Ghost!" the young man shouted loudly, shielding his face with both hands.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang!" A dark shadow appeared in front of the young man, protecting him.

"Bang!" The truck crashed into the ghost, sending a piece of sheet metal flying straight into the young man's neck.

"Why..." The young man clutched his neck and fell backward as the ghost slowly faded away.

"Quick... call the police..."

"Call an ambulance..."

"Clang, clang, clang, clang!" A layer of black particles emanated from the fallen young man, and the wound on his neck began to heal.

"What is this..." The nearest middle-aged man was startled and quickly jumped back.

"Cough, cough, cough!" The youth who had previously died came back to life. Seeing the expressions of fear directed at him by the surrounding crowd, his heart instantly turned cold.

He knew all too well the allure of immortality to humans... and he was even more terrified of being dragged into a laboratory.

"Don't... don't film!" The young man stood up, backed away two steps, and emitted a strange screeching sound. Everyone around him froze completely, as if struck by stun guns.

The young man shoved aside a middle-aged man riding a motorcycle, seized the bike, and sped away.

"Damn it! The identity I worked so hard to hide is ruined now! They will definitely hunt me down and drag me onto an experimental table for all sorts of tests. I can never accept such a fate!" The young man glared ahead, gritting his teeth.

***

Gourmet Academy.

"Ah, how boring." A silver-grey-haired man wiped the fresh blood from his sword, gazing at the corpses strewn across the ground.

"Monster... He's a monster!"

"Fall back! Fall back!"

"Get out of here!"

The remaining members of the Special Operations Task Force could no longer take it and turned tail, fleeing in panic. Facing an entity of this caliber, they stood no chance of putting up a fight.

"As expected, only you people are worthy of fighting me." The silver-grey-haired man chuckled softly and left the Gourmet Academy.

***

"Damn it, that old uncle was actually that strong." Kuroko Shirai had bandages wrapped around her leg, sitting alongside Mikoto Misaka, Gintoki Sakata, and Shinsuke Takasugi.

"Gintoki..." Shinsuke Takasugi began.

"I know what you want to say. My mind is a complete mess right now. Can we talk about this later?" Gintoki Sakata turned his head away.

His deceased mentor had appeared right before his eyes, yet he was still a member of the Tendoshu. Both of them were far too familiar with that attire.

"Yeah." Takasugi couldn't tell whether he felt joy or sorrow in his heart. He touched his injured eye, deeply wishing he could see him as he used to be back then.

That Teacher Shoyou with the warm smile.