Chat group, become my wings!

"How does it taste?" Gwen asked eagerly, eyes full of expectation as she watched Kevin Cross.

Kevin took a bite, chewed thoughtfully, and replied, "Hmm. Not bad. A little sour though."

"Well, it is lemon sea bass. The main ingredients are lemon and sea bass. How could it not be sour?" Gwen laughed.

"I never said it shouldn't be sour. I just said it's a little too sour. That's just a fact."

"A fact, huh? Fine, fact. But do you like it?" Gwen grinned, resting her chin on both hands as she looked at him.

"Yeah, it's pretty tasty," Kevin nodded.

"Then I'll make it for you more often," she said with a bright smile.

"Sure. But next time you plan to make lemon sea bass, give me a heads-up first. It was a pain having to run to the supermarket with you again to buy fish and lemons."

"Got it. Next time, I'll prepare everything in advance and just bring the ingredients over."

"That'd be great."

While they ate, the television murmured in the background. Gwen glanced at it. "Hey, Kevin, do you think Tony Stark is still alive? He's been missing for almost a month now. Maybe he's not coming back."

"Tony Stark? He'll be back," Kevin said casually, shaking his head.

"Huh? Why do you say that? Are you a big fan of his?" she asked, intrigued.

"No, not at all. Actually, I find the guy pretty annoying."

"Annoying? Come on, really? He's a genius. And he's constantly dating magazine cover girls. Guys like you usually idolize someone like him, or at least want to be like him, right?" Gwen raised an eyebrow.

"Please. Those women? They'd sleep with anyone rich. And Stark? He's loud, arrogant, and completely unreliable. His mouth alone could talk someone into depression. I really don't like guys like that," Kevin said, shaking his head.

Of all the Marvel heroes turned movie icons, Tony Stark ranked pretty high on Kevin's dislike list. His personality was over-the-top, his actions erratic, and he often created more problems than he solved especially before he became Iron Man. Watching his films, Kevin couldn't help but notice how most of the villains were, ironically, Stark's own fault.

Stark strutted around with his nose in the air, looking down on everyone, always stirring trouble. If he weren't the protagonist and didn't have money to build top-of-the-line defenses, he probably wouldn't have survived the first movie.

"Yeah, okay, I guess I don't really like him either. He's just... too much," Gwen admitted reluctantly. She used to admire Stark's brilliance, but if Kevin didn't like him, then starting today, she didn't either.

Ding!

Ice Queen S has joined the chat.

Ding!

Helpless Little Girl has joined the chat.

It had been nearly a month since the last newcomers arrived in the chat group. Now, two new members had joined.

"Welcome, newcomers!"

"Welcome +1!"

"Welcome +2!"

In a dark, damp basement, a small girl with black hair trembled in fear. The room was crawling with worms dozens, hundreds squirming and wriggling over one another in grotesque, pulsing waves.

"Grandpa! Grandpa, help me!" she screamed, her voice high and terrified.

Outside the basement, a hunched, grotesque old man stood cackling. His skeletal limbs looked like a mummy's, eyes sunken deep in his withered face. The sight of him alone could haunt someone's dreams.

"Heh heh... Don't be afraid. This is a necessary step to master the Matou family's magecraft," he rasped.

"N-no! It's too scary. I... I don't want to learn magic anymore," the little girl whimpered.

"Not an option," the old man said with a chilling smile. "Your father specifically handed you over so you could train in our family's magecraft. Oh, and by the way, he's not your father anymore. He's renounced that title. You're no longer Sakura Tohsaka. Your name is now Sakura Matou."

The girl Sakura watched in horror as the monstrous worms drew closer. One was already on her foot.

"Daddy... please... save me... Mommy, please... Sister, help me... I'm scared," she cried, her voice cracking with desperation.

"No one's coming for you. No one cares. You're here because of your father's choice. So give up, and let the worms enter your body"

"Someone, please help me... anyone... I'm begging you..."

Just then, a new voice echoed in Sakura's mind.

She had been added to a mysterious chat group.

Not knowing what it was, she reached out instinctively, desperate for help.

Meanwhile, the chat group members who had just welcomed the two newcomers were suddenly stunned to see one of them crying for help.

Then came a system notification:

"Mission Triggered: The 'Helpless Little Girl' is currently in immediate danger and requires assistance. Objective: Rescue her and ensure her safety. Reward: 5,000 points. Number of participants: One. (The group owner may participate independently and does not count toward the limit.)"

Dangerous situations for new members weren't unheard of, and missions like this were part of the chat group's usual functions. But what stood out this time was the strict participant limit. Only one member could accept the mission.

During the first mission, there had been no such restriction possibly because that was a welcome bonus. But now, things were clearly changing.

____________________

NEXT CHAPTER : New Recruit Triggers a Mission

(A mysterious new girl joins the harem chat group and instantly triggers a mission! Izumi Uchiha wins the right to take it, beating out a very salty Brunhilde. As Izumi prepares to leap into action, a second recruit appears: a powerful Ice Queen with a dangerously curious mind. With two new members and a mission underway, Kevin decides to join Izumi just to be safe. The task may seem simple... but new worlds always hide new dangers. What secrets await them on the other side?)

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