17 First Quest

A/N: I finally got to eat coffee jelly and it tastes so goooood. If you haven't, you are missing out big time.

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{Kaidou, a thief? That doesn't sound right.}

{Because it doesn't! I didn't steal anything! I don't even know those weird looking people!}

Through Telepathy, I connected Kaidou's mind to everyone else's to allow them to hear what he's "saying." The shaking is really loud and apart from me, no one could hear him speak.

'My dear System, is Kaidou lying?'

[Commencing Scan... Negative]

I turned to the other individuals floating in the air.

Could they be lying? I guess I'll find out.

'I could just politely ask them... let's start asking the guy threatening the world. I'll need to find him first though.'

[Unnecessary]

The System stopped me before I could start my search.

'Hmm?

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[Commencing Auditory Analysis...]

[Distortion Detected]

[Distortion Discarded]

[Resuming Auditory Analysis...]

[...Completed]

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[Commencing Vocal Reconstruction]

[Possible structure combinations of]:

- Matching Respiratory Systems

- Vocal Cords

- Vocal Folds

- Throats

- Noses

- Mouths

[...Successfully Reconstructed]

[Commencing Multiple Physiological Analysis...]

[...Analyzed: 52,816 Individuals]

[Commencing Pairing Process...]

[...]

[Completed]

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Suddenly, the sky above the pillar of dark light emitted a golden glow. Looking up, I saw what appeared to be a massive spaceship, now shining splendidly.

'Is that your doing, System?'

[Affirmative]

'But why?' There was no need to go through all the trouble.

[According to the host's personality, social interactions with other people are mentally exhausting]

[This way, the host can reduce the necessary social interactions and be more at ease]

'Oh... thanks. But I don't feel exhausted talking to Saiki and his gang.'

[The aforementioned entities are exceptions as they are viewed in a positive light]

[This phenomenon is called: Having friends]

'Cool. I've never felt it before.'

Achievement Unlocked: First Friend/s. Yeah, what a weird achievement. (No this is not a system thing.)

Though it's weird that my first friends are kinda fictional...

[Perplexed]

[The System has always been your friend][?]

...Well that's new.

I've never thought of it that way. I don't think anyone would.

It looks like this friendship has been one-sided.

'Of course you are, my System.' The greatest friend I can possibly ask for.

But then... huh. Is The System being my friend a good explanation for this phenomenon?

(A/N: I don't have my laptop, so I don't have the quest format I made. Anything system related might look weird.)

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[Emergency Quest Issued!]

The End Is Nigh |Rank: FFFFF|

The Dark Reunion has finally found the wielder of Black Beat. Obtaining this power will allow them to start their nefarious plans, at the cost of your friend's life. However, refusing will lead to the destruction of the world, also at the cost of your friend's life. Multiple friends' lives.

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Objective:

[Show us total annihilation? You?]

- Show The Dark Reunion —True Annihilation— [0/52,816]

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Rewards:

- Saiki K World Skill (Fragment)

- 1x Temporary Duad Authority

- 100 Handmade Coffee Jellies (By The System)

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Penalties:

- [Why][?]

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Emergency Quest, Rank FFFFF, Coffee Jellies, and...

'What kind of penalty is "[Why][?]"'

It makes me think of existential dread, which I do not want to experience at all.

[From your memories, The systems of multiple protagonists provided penalties for the incompletion of quests]

[Why][?]

'I don't know, for motivation maybe?' That explains most of them. The possibility of losing your life due to quest incompletion is a great motivator for people.

[Is the host not motivated to complete the quest][?]

'I very much am.'

Coffee jelly... come to me...

[How about now][?]

With that line of text, a new notification appeared.

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[Emergency Quest Issued!]

The End Is Nigh |Rank: FFFFF|

The Dark Reunion has finally found the wielder of Black Beat. Obtaining this power will allow them to start their nefarious plans, at the cost of your friend's life. However, refusing will lead to the destruction of the world, also at the cost of your friend's life. Multiple friends' lives.

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Objective:

[Show us total annihilation? You?]

- Show The Dark Reunion —True Annihilation— [0/52,816]

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Rewards:

- Saiki K World Skill (Completed)

- 1x Temporary Triad Authority

- 200 Handmade Coffee Jellies (By The System)

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Penalties:

- [Why][?]

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Did the rewards just improve? I'm not reading things wrong right? And there's still no penalty whatsoever?

'...I'm very, super motivated.' There was only one answer to give to The System's question.

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[Conclusion]: Greater Rewards are an effective strategy to motivate the host. Penalties are detrimental to the host, and as such, are to be removed.

'That is a very good conclusion to make, oh System of mine.'

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'So, do I get to have better rewards?'

[Affirmative]

'Without the existential dread?'

[Affirmative]

'You're a really good friend.'

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{Holy shit... The Dark Reunion is real. But I tried to predict information about them. Why didn't anything pop up?!}

Aiura was still in a state of shock.

{Don't tell me my powers are becoming useless?! I'm gonna be a second Toritsuka?!}

{I'm not completely useless! Volcanic eruptions just aren't my thing!}

Aiura apparently tried to verify the existence of The Dark Reunion in the past but came up with nothing.

{Wouldn't it mean that they have some kind of protection in place: Something that is Anti-Aiura.}

{The possibility exists.}

Hmm... I might face a challenge this time around. They aren't like the robbers of the past.

'Though a quest ranking of FFFFF might say otherwise. The ranking is somewhat related to the difficulty, correct System?'

[Affirmative]

It can't be that bad then.

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The object glowing golden in the sky was a spaceship of unimaginable size outside the Earth's atmosphere. Once I stared at it, the golden glow became more concentrated, turning into the shape of a person inside the spaceship.

This golden person inside the spaceship is presumably the one threatening the world at the moment. Thank the System for making things easy for me.

Now, let's ask him a question or two.

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"In approximately 24 hours, this planet will cease to exist if our conditions—Heok?!"

—

I appeared inside a spacious dark room. There were quite a few people sitting around a rectangular table inside, but I set my sights on the glowing one who was right in the middle.

"Hey, can't we have a nice little chat?"

The cloaked man did not reply.

"Oh sorry, it's because I'm choking you, isn't it? It's your fault really. Psychic powers are apparently..."

I sent little strands of psychic energy towards the cloaked man. Once contact was made, they unnaturally dissipated.

My instincts tell me that those cloaks aren't simply for show.

"...useless in this situation. So I have to do the hard work myself."

Meanwhile, the others in the room finally took action.

"An intruder?! How did he get into the Unity?!"

From within their cloaks, each member pulled out guns of different kinds. Some looked like a kind of pistol, a long one, a short one... I'm not a gun person.

'But damn. I expected wands or a crystal ball. I'm not afraid of guns anymore.'

*Hissss*

A futuristic-looking door noisily opened, revealing a platoon of Dark Reunion members with rocket launchers in hand.

'That can't be a good weapon to use while in a spaceship.'

Before I knew it, my golden buddy and I were completely surrounded by Dark Reunion members.

A mature man at the head of the rectangular table calmly spoke.

"As you can see, you are completely surrounded. Drop Kevin so we can fire at will." He must be their leader, you know, sitting at the head and everything.

'So your name was Kevin. Unlucky day for you buddy.

No need to make your day unluckier by holding you hostage.'

Mentally pitying Kevin, who I'm still choking, I let him go.

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"Did you really just drop Kevin."

The leader incredulously asked, to which I gave a simple answer.

"I did."

Kevin was warmly received by his fellow Reunionists as they commenced a group hug in a corner of the dark room.

"You do understand my previous words, right? Like, drop Kevin so we can shoot you without holding back?"

"Yep."

I simply nodded. I'm not deaf, so why even ask?

"...alright then. Kill this weirdo!"

The leader gave out a strange order.

*RATATATATA*

They fired their whole arsenal.

"I'll kill you! Die!"

Even Kevin pulled out an AK-47 after the group hug.

Ungrateful little b—

*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*

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A barrage of bullets, one of the least deadly things in the world; and rockets, another harmless thing, rained down on me.

As they were rendered ineffective by TheRefuge, my reliable protective shield, I couldn't help but notice that the weapons were quite magical.

*RATATATATA*

Bullets would multiply and follow a curved trajectory towards my head, while rockets would explode with an ominous, dark light.

"So they were something special after all!"

*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*

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[Ding!]

[Sharpshooter |Rank: E| Skill Successfully Obtained]

Sharpshooter Skill |Rank: E --> S|

["Dark" Magic |Rank: C| Skill Successfully Obtained]

"Dark" Magic Skill |Rank: C --> S|

["Dark" Magic Resistance |Rank: C| Skill Successfully Obtained]

"Dark" Magic Resistance Skill |Rank: C --> X|

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The trajectory of each bullet became predictable, apart from the fact that they all aimed at my head of course.

I sensed a weird energy infused within the members' weapons, hidden inside their ammunition. It was a small amount, but enough to display such deadly effects.

Allowing them to continue, I simply stood still, scrutinizing the intricate details of this new "power" of mine.

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"Did we get him?"

Time passed, and the room finally became silent. The weapons that have been continually aimed at one place finally lowered, their target long concealed within clouds of kicked-up dust and barrel smoke.

Damage to the floors, walls, and even the interior furniture were not present despite the earlier shootout, protected by a "dark" element.

"Haha! One of you just said a flag, totally like a generic villain!"

"He's not dead yet‽ Reload, reload! Call the Legionnaires and kill him now!"

Panicked shouting overtook the previously loud torrent of gunfire.

New bullets entered their chambers, but before triggers were pulled, I smiled beneath the mask.

"Order the Dark Scions to return—!"

"Hey, you guys had your turn."

The dark light, the "dark" energy infused within their weapons slowly dimmed, sucked away by an invisible force.

Their weapons became ordinary, and on my palm, a "dark" sun gradually formed.

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[Ding!]

"Dark" Magic Skill |Rank: S --> X|

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But I wasn't satisfied.

No way that this power could only be used to add some special enchantments.

After all, a pillar of this "dark" magic was wreaking havoc on Owari Mountain.

'Just a little bit more...'

The sun, growing at a stable pace, wavered the tiniest bit. Instability arose with it as a signal, releasing flares that ripped the walls apart.

It seemed as if I lost control.

"Kukuku. This is what happens when you raise a flag. Remember this!"

It seemed as if I lost my mind, spouting bizarre phrases and cackling like a madman.

"This guy is crazy! Run before that thing explodes!"

The Dark Reunion members scurried out of the room, filling the room with ample amounts of hisses. They were successful in evading the lashing flares.

Thanks to me, of course.

'I only wanted to scare them a bit...'

Eh, who cares. They were destroying Earth anyway.

'Speaking of destroying Earth...'

The dark pillar on Earth, the one made of this "dark" energy, has considerably grown.

It consumed the entire mountainous area, growing large enough to border a nearby city. The hotel we had a psychic meeting in should be somewhere around there...

'It'll be fine.'

Calmly, I molded the "dark" sun. It's outbursts of energy ceased as I willfully regained control and modified its structure to suit my wants.

Swiftly, the sun-like "dark" energy shrank from the size of a bus to a measly fingernail. It rotated on my palm, showing off its polished exterior emitting a deeper, darker light.

It didn't get weaker, only stronger, for while controlled, it ravaged the room with its newfound suction force: the result of my tinkering. With me and my creation at its center, a dark and convoluted spiral of metallic floors and walls twisted into existence.

'Woah, this is dangerous.'

Streams of sunlight slipped through the new cracks on the roof and walls. However, instead of making the room warm, the temperature took a cold dive, creating a layer of quickly-spreading ice. I didn't feel anything though.

'And... is that magma?'

Somehow, magma was also slipping in.

'Oh right, this spaceship was in outer space.'

Then a surge of "dark" energy from Earth entered the "dark" hole I made, intensifying its destructive qualities.

Before I knew it, the room was no more. It wouldn't take long for the whole spaceship to be torn apart.

I'd prefer if I wasn't in the middle of all this.

'Uhh, get away from me.'

Not really wanting to find out if it would explode or not, I threw my newest creation out through a newly created opening on the side. However, I wasn't out of the woods yet as the "dark" hole dragged the spaceship with it and I who was inside.

The good thing was, the pillar wreaking havoc on Earth was getting sucked away too. It seems that only things imbued with this "dark" energy was prone to being sucked to the hole.

Masks and cloaks flew to the dark hole without their owners. Even the spaceship made with materials imbued with "dark" energy was being dragged away, but not Earth. Not even a single speck of normal dust.

The Earth was safe from the "dark" hole I've made.

The bad thing was that once the extra "dark" energy was absorbed, they amplified the "dark" hole's power.

I had a vague feeling that too much would make it explode. I also had a feeling that if it did explode, Earth would be heavily affected.

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[Ding!]

"Dark" Magic Skill |Rank: X --> XII|

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Yep. No one would like that.

"Time to end this unnecessary event."

My palm faced towards the "dark" hole, the masks and cloaks, the spaceship filled with naked people, the pillar of "dark" light, and the destruction they all caused.

'Maybe a part of it was my fault, but only a little part.'

'Dark Reunion caused all of this, so it must disappear.'

Outer space was like a vast blackboard, and the Dark Reunion was a white trail of chalk I didn't want to exist. In my eyes, it disturbed the image that is the Saiki K world.

And with my palm, my metaphorical eraser, I wiped them off.

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"This is Annihilation."

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[Emergency Quest]

The End Is Nigh |Rank: FFFFF|

The Dark Reunion has finally found...

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Objective:

[Show us total annihilation? You?]

- Show The Dark Reunion —True Annihilation— [52,807/52,816]

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Rewards:

- Saiki K World Skill (Completed)

- 1x Temporary Triad Authority

- 200 Handmade Coffee Jellies (By The System)

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Penalties:

- N/A

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They were gone, just like that. According to the System, most of them were.

'As for the others...'

Remembering the Dark Reunion's entrance, the image of people emerging from the pillar appeared in my mind. They must still be on Earth, doing who knows what.

I turned my head, sighting a blue marble amidst the starry void. Such a scene that I'd never thought I could see in the past was before me.

Earth was so far away. It looked so insignificant from where I was.

I couldn't help but raise my hand once more, palm open and directed to the Saiki K world.

Another wiping motion, but Earth didn't disappear, remaining within the starry space. But it wasn't for nothing.

A ding resounded across the soundless void, indicating my return.

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[Emergency Quest]

The End Is Nigh |Rank: FFFFF|

The Dark Reunion has finally found...

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Objective:

[Show us total annihilation? You?]

- Show The Dark Reunion —True Annihilation— [Completed]

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A/N: This is late but Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year. Obviously, I uploaded this late to not get in the way of your family time. I'm very thoughtful, aren't I?