Chapter 13: The Banangia Gang

I was back in what they stated it’s my room.
Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, the truth kept pressing down on me.

This isn’t a virtual reality.
This is just Reality.

I had been near death not long ago, and yet somehow, I hadn’t even processed it fully. My mind had already adapted to the idea of taking damage of being hurt, because in games, you don’t truly die. Pain is just an inconvenience.
But this time?
This time, it was real.
And it scares me.

The feeling I had back in the dungeon, my blood on my hands, the way my vision blurred as I collapsed, i still couldn’t believe it’s real. It was unbelievable.
I was preventing from dying, because I didn’t want to simulate the pain of actual death, but in the end it didn’t matter, because everything was real.

I scrolled through my HUD again. That interface, that illusion of a game menu, was the only thing keeping me anchored to the idea that this might still be some sort of simulation.

But after Judeth’s call… I had to trust my instincts.
This world, Ashalondaria is no game.

How did Takayuki even manage to bridge into another world?

I whispered aloud, repeating the queen’s words, 
"He promised safety and freedom."

What was Takayuki’s real plan? What was his reason for sending us here?

I turned my head toward the window. It was still dark out.
Quiet. Cold.

After everything I’d learned about Alchemy & Alloy, I stepped outside for air, needing space to think. That’s when I finally saw the full scope of what had happened to this land.

Ashalondaria had fallen.

There were refugees from every tribe, every race, filling the streets. The kingdom it’s grand in its scale and it was overcrowded, overrun. These people had all come to this place for shelter. And now, they were helping us players from another world.

This kingdom… I didn’t even know its name until now.
Is known as Mondunion.

Protected by a vast spell, a glowing barrier shaped like a massive bubble, covering the entire region. It was stated that was the doing of Lady Merewyn and it’s being supported by other mages.
It reminded me of Omnikuro, the megacity protected by a dome back in my world. Same concept. Same fear. Keep the outside world out.

Suddenly, a knock came from the door behind me.

"Come in," I said, not really caring who it was.

Another knock.

I frowned. "I said come in!"

Still nothing. Just more repetitive knocking.

“Are you kidding me the door it’s freaking open”
Annoyed, I stood up and marched toward the door, ready to yell.

“Will you stop—it?”
But when I opened it, my frustration dissolved into confusion.

Standing before me was a woman with long, silken blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Her pointed ears gave away her elven lineage. She was… beautiful. No, stunning.

"Hello there, dear hero," she said with a soft smile.

"Um… hello there, Miss…?"

Usually, girls didn’t just appear at my door—well, except maybe Aster, but that’s just in the past.
But this one? I didn’t recognize her at all. And she definitely wasn’t a player from Earth.

So who was she?

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Oh! I forgot. You don’t recognize me. That’s fine—you’ve only heard my voice."

Her voice. There was something familiar about it. I tilted my head.

She smiled, leaning closer. "You can’t hurt it with magic."

…Wait. My eyes widened.

She sighed. "Seriously? You still don’t get it?"

"Nooo?" I said slowly, confused.

She grabbed my sleeve. "Your weapon is useless alone."

My mind clicked.

"Ohhhh You’re… that woman. The one who told me how to defeat the Kumodokuro!"

"Indeed I am," she said with a proud smile, “And you were the one who was fighting a creature write that useless weapon of yours”
With the way her hair caught the light and her expression beamed so naturally, she practically glowed.

"Wait—are you calling my Dangatana useless?" I said, mock, offended. "Didn’t you see me slice that spider-skeleton with this ‘useless’ weapon?"

She laughed gently. "Of course. But if it weren’t for the spell you broke using your magic, you wouldn’t have won. Your Dangatana alone wouldn’t have worked."

"…Okay, fair," I muttered. "But don’t underestimate the Dangatana."

I opened my HUD to show it off, but froze.

It wasn’t there.

"No. No, no, no—where did it go?" My pulse spiked. "My baby’s gone?! I can’t lose it. Not here. Not in this damned world—!"

I turned, panicked, but then saw her still standing in the doorway… holding my weapon.

Only… it looked different.

"…My baby?" I whispered. "What… happened to you?"

I should’ve been upset that someone had messed with my weapon. But I wasn’t.
Because it looked cooler. Sleeker. Upgraded.

"Did… did you do something?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yes. After you defeated the Kumodokuro, I checked your weapon. It was damaged. So I repaired it and I made some adjustments."

I bent the hilt slightly, and the blade glowed. It shimmered like a plasma sword.

She continued, "I’ve never seen materials like these before, but I did my best to improve it. I hope it lives up to your expectations."

"It does," I said, smiling. "Thank you. You’re an angel. Is… that is why you’re here?"

She returned the smile. "Partially. I came for two reasons. First, to remind you—the King and Queen will likely request your powers for the next mission."

"And the second?"

"To thank you," she said, her tone softening. "For saving us. I thought I was going to die that day. But you saved us all."

"Oh, You’re welcome then," I said.

She turned to leave… but paused.

"I hope you choose me."

“I’ll sure do,” I blinked, realizing what she just said. "Huh?"

She smiled and left.

"…Wait. What did she mean by that?’"
But she had already left.

I stood there for a moment, trying to process it. "I never even asked her name, dammit"

Then I walked back into my bed.

I sat on the edge of my bed, holding my Dangatana in both hands, inspecting it closely. I opened my HUD and navigated to the weapon section.

Dangatana 2.0.
The name blinked in silver, followed by a list of new features.

[Enhanced Edge Precision. Energy-Integrated Blades. Defensive Spell Parry Protocol. Caution: May reflect projectile spells at high velocity]

What the hell? My sword can now bat back magic like a baseball bat? That’s even cooler than anything I could have imagined. I gripped the hilt and immediately felt it pulse in my palm, like it was syncing with my heartbeat. Or maybe something deeper.

A sudden warmth crept through my veins.
Nova Bloom.
It stirred inside me like a dormant beast waking up. The Dangatana responded, humming with power. A faint glow traced along the blade’s edge, then brightened. Before I could react, it unleashed an energy blast straight from its tip, a blinding streak of white-blue force that ripped a hole right through the stone wall.
I felt exhausted reasoning that shot.

Smoke drifted through the air.
I stared.
Then smiled.

"That woman turned my weapon into a damn monster."
I muttered, admiring it.
“And I love it.”

Before I could revel in the moment further, a loud knock pounded on my door. I called out, "Just a second!"

But the door swung open anyway, because of course it did.

Terrence Swine marched in, voice already raised to a chaotic ten. Behind him trailed four other guys, all with different vibes but clearly a squad. Terrence, with his usual energy and complete lack of volume control, immediately spotted the hole in my wall.

"Yo what the [BEEP] is that?!" he shouted, staring in awe.

I groaned.
"Terrence… language."

He spun toward me, grinning like a maniac. "Sorry, forgot you turned your pod into toddler mode like a little [BEEP]in’ preschooler."

Before I could say anything else, the whole group started cheering. One of the guys let out a loud "WOOOOO!" and another of the guys clapped like he just saw a building explode. Then they lifted me up like I just scored the winning goal.

"Put me down, dammit! I’m not a trophy!"

Laughing, they finally dropped me back on the bed. I took a moment to catch my breath before asking the obvious.

"Okay, Terrence, care to introduce me to them? who are your friends?"

He gestured casually toward the squad like they were his backup dancers.

"This here’s Benson Snuck." He motioned to the calmest-looking guy in the group, the one with the easy smile and friendly eyes.

Benson nodded. "Hey man. Heard a lot about you. Kinda feels like meeting a celebrity."
Chill energy. Big brother vibes.

"Then you got Barnaby Harmon." Terrence continued.
Barnaby winked and immediately snatched my Dangatana out of curiosity.

"Yo, this thing has kill-me-now energy. You slice anything cool yet? Like a cat? A god? A sentient toilet?"
"Gimme that back!" I snatched it from him.

"This is Michael Canning."
Michael raised his brows. "What’s up. I’m the only one here with a brain, just FYI. I’ll be the one saving your [BEEP] while these idiots run face-first into lava."
I liked him already. I guess the one with their mind in the right place.

"And finally, Dennis Natüra."

Dennis grinned wide and gave me a full-on Irish accent explosion. "Oi lad, ye blew a hole in the wall wit’ a stick? What are ye, a damn wizard knight space police? Sign me the [BEEP] up, yeah?!"

I hardly understood what he said, Benson then said to me, “Don’t worry, we don’t understand him either.”
Well that’s reassuring.

Michael then said, "The others unfortunately are not here, we suspect them being held hostage by the other monsters, those [BEEP] [BEEP]."

They were chaotic. crazy. But seriously, they had great energy.

I narrowed my eyes at Terrence.
"So don’t mind me asking… why are you all here?"

He looked at the others, grinning.
"We’re here to join your team."

I blinked. "Wait, my team? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?"

"Hell no," Terrence said, slapping my back hard enough to jolt my spine. "You got glitch powers. You turned me into a tank, man! We need you. You’re the most OP [BEEP] in the group, so yeah—you’re the leader."

"I’m not a leader," I muttered. "We’re just teammates."

Terrence’s hand tightened on my shoulder. "That’s the cheesiest [BEEP] I’ve ever heard, and also exactly why we trust you. Plus, we heard the King and Queen are gonna send you on another mission."

I froze. "What?, I thought they just need my power?"
“Exactly” Benson responded.
Michael stepped forward, more serious than before. "Yeah. Something’s happening. And they want you front and center."

Terrence grinned. "So naturally, we’re coming with you. Can’t let you get all the glory… or die."

"Wait—you’re saying they’re sending me out again? Alone?"

"Are you a dumbass?" Dennis asked with a big grin. "Ye literally got cheat codes in yer [BEEP]in’ DNA, ya glitchy prick!"

Benson chuckled, "He means, you’re the only one who can help people unlock their magic, right? Terrence’s magic or power activated when you fought beside him."

Michael added, "So we figure you can help the rest of us unlock ours too, so that we can have our figuring chances. You’re like a walking catalyst."

"Okay, fine," I sighed. "But could you please stop swearing? Every time you do, all I hear is—"

"[BEEP]! [BEEP]in’ [BEEP]-head!" Barnaby laughed.

Dennis joined in, "[BEEP] [BEEP] [BEEP]ity [BEEP]!"

"STOP!" I covered my ears.

Benson smirked. "Yup. You were right Terry. He really did set his pod to child mode. That’s priceless."

Terrence burst out laughing. "Every time we cuss, he hears a goddamn censor alarm. That’s hilarious."

Despite myself, I laughed too.

These idiots might drive me insane… but they might just be the team I never realized I needed, I guess.

“So what do you call yourselves? You look like some kind of group,” I asked.