Chapter 6

Rias Gremory, the Ruin Princess, the crimson-haired heiress of the Gremory Clan, and the younger sister of the current Lucifer, stirred from her slumber as the morning light peeked through the curtains of her lavish bedroom. Her body stretched in a languid motion, her arms rising above her head as she let out a soft sigh, the silky crimson strands of her hair cascading over her smooth, bare skin. It was a habit of hers to sleep without clothing—one born out of comfort rather than vanity.

Her delicate fingers reached for her phone on the bedside table, her mind still hazy from sleep. With practiced ease, she unlocked the screen, her eyes adjusting to the dim glow. What she saw, however, immediately erased any traces of drowsiness.

A flood of notifications.

Her brows furrowed slightly. That wasn't normal. No one should have been able to message her out of nowhere. Her number was a well-kept secret, accessible only to those she deemed trustworthy. Yet, here was a message thread filled with conversations she had no recollection of initiating.

Her curiosity piqued, she scrolled through the messages, her crimson eyes narrowing.

Lord Emperor of Mankind.

The title alone made her pause. Overbearing, grandiose—borderline arrogant. But more importantly, unfamiliar. She had encountered countless beings in her lifetime: devils, fallen angels, immortals, and even beings from myth and legend. Yet never had she heard of an entity that called itself the "Emperor of Mankind."

'Who is this?' she mused, biting the inside of her lip. 'Did he add me by mistake, or is this intentional?'

As she continued reading, she found no trace of accident in the messages. If anything, it was deliberate. He had spoken with confidence, as though he had chosen to contact her specifically. That alone was enough to make her wary.

Still, curiosity was a devil's nature, and she was no exception.

Her fingers moved over the screen. "Lord Emperor of Mankind? That seems to be an overbearing title. What exactly are you the Lord of?"

She sent the message and waited, expecting either silence or an evasive answer. Instead, a response came almost instantly.

"My world. But words are hard to trust from strangers, so let's forget about that and tell me about yourself."

Her lips curled downward. Sidelining the question, was he? That in itself was an answer. He didn't want to explain himself—not yet.

Her fingers danced over the keyboard again. "Which faction do you belong to? I want an answer to that, and then we'll see."

As she sent the message, her mind worked through the implications.

'The world? What does he mean by that? No one calls themselves the Emperor of Mankind. There's no such figure among devils, angels, or even the pantheons. This is… strange.'

His response came again, just as swift.

"I am kind of human, but I don't belong to any faction except mine. I rule over others, child—not the other way around."

Her crimson eyes widened slightly. A human? That couldn't be right. No mere human spoke like this. No mere human could access her number, bypassing all security measures set by one of the strongest Devil clans in existence.

'Is this a joke? Or is he… one of the Heroic Spirits?'

That thought sent a shiver down her spine. If he was a Heroic Spirit, that would explain his arrogance—his claim of being an Emperor. Some of them were kings, rulers, legends brought to life. If he was one, then which legend did he hail from?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she hesitated. If this was a game, she would play it carefully. If this was an opportunity, she wouldn't let it slip away.

The Heroes Chat Group was an anomaly—an impossibility that had somehow become reality. Across different worlds, different dimensions, and different times, a collection of powerful individuals had been drawn together into a single digital space. Some thought it was a joke, some treated it as a curiosity, and others, like Rias Gremory, took it with careful skepticism.

As the Ruin Princess sat in her luxurious bedroom, the glow of her phone screen illuminated her face, casting soft shadows across her flawless skin. Her crimson hair spilled over her shoulders as she scrolled through the ongoing discussion in the chat group. A part of her still couldn't believe that this was happening—that she was speaking to beings from other worlds.

Rias Gremory [Ruin Princess]: "You are giving these advice and training methods. Are you sure they won't end up with someone not agreeable?"

It was a fair question. The guidance being shared was powerful—too powerful to be left in the hands of the wrong people. Knowledge was a weapon as deadly as any sword or spell, and in the hands of evil, it could spell disaster.

The reply came almost instantly, and as always, the presence behind the message carried an air of unshakable confidence.

Lord Emperor of Mankind:

"Ah, you just reminded me of something. I have not said this, but we are all from different dimensions. I do not exist in your world, though I can probably come visit—but not now.

There might be others who are of the same world, but mostly, we are not from the same place.

This group is set up to help you all. I like to help, and it takes away my boredom, but I will not coddle you.

I will provide basic information, but higher knowledge will require exchanges and missions to be completed.

I am a very learned person, but that doesn't mean I know everything, so you can exchange skills with skills.

For missions, you will have to describe your world to me so I can design one.

But you don't have to only exchange with me—we can all do so with each other.

As for the worry that an evil person will join, you can put that thought to rest. I am the vanquisher of all evil, and none can hide from my sight.

This group only consists of people that are heroes and are important figures in their own world.

You may not know it yet, or perhaps you already do. I hope this covers everything. Also, the video function doesn't work yet, but I am already working on it."

Rias stared at her phone in shock. The device slipped from her fingers and landed on the plush mattress beside her with a soft thud.

Her mind raced.

"A multiverse… a freaking multiverse."

The mere thought of it was overwhelming. She sat up, running a hand through her hair, before pushing the sheets aside and standing. The cool morning air met her skin as she walked toward the window, staring out into the vast Gremory estate.

"We won't be visited by monsters, will we?" she muttered, her fingers brushing against the smooth glass as if expecting to see the sky tear open.

The weight of what she had just read pressed down on her. If what this "Emperor of Mankind" said was true, then the implications were staggering. The idea of multiple worlds existing parallel to her own wasn't entirely new—there were legends, theories, and even certain magical practices that hinted at the concept. But for someone to casually confirm it in a group chat?

It felt unreal.

Yet… his words carried a certain authority. There was something undeniable in the way he spoke.

Rias picked up her phone again, staring at the message, hesitating for a moment before finally responding.

Rias Gremory: "It is hard to believe your words, as I haven't seen anything yet that can convince me. Our world is magical—your little tricks do not make for a convincing argument."

She sent the message and set her phone aside, heading toward the washroom. She needed time to think.

There was no denying that this group—this conversation—could be incredibly useful. But at the same time, she had to be careful. Trust was not something she gave away easily, and the idea of an unknown entity possessing such vast knowledge was both intriguing and alarming.

She would discuss this with her peerage. Kiba, Akeno, Koneko, and Gasper. They needed to be informed. If this was real, then the existence of the multiverse could change everything.

And if it wasn't…

Well, she had dealt with her fair share of madmen before.

Kurama, a small fox made of golden energy, perched comfortably atop Naruto's head, his tails swaying lazily. His sharp eyes gleamed with amusement as he observed the chat group's ongoing discussion.

"That girl is good—very careful," Kurama muttered, his voice tinged with approval.

Naruto chuckled, his vibrant blue eyes dancing with mischief as he continued weaving intricate seals midair. Multiple chakra hands extended from his back, effortlessly multitasking as he enhanced the chat group's connection. A complex network of glowing symbols and energy lines pulsed in rhythm with his chakra, forming a mesmerizing pattern in the dimly lit room.

"Right?" Naruto smirked. "I'm glad she's like that. It's easy to manipulate reckless people, but someone cautious makes things more interesting." He stretched his arms before resuming his work, thoroughly enjoying the challenge Rias posed. "Though I admit, it's a bit annoying."

Kurama flicked his tail, grinning. "So, what's your plan?"

Naruto shrugged. "Just go with it. The information I'm sharing is already making waves. If they use it well, great. If not, their loss." His tone was lighthearted, but there was a weight behind his words—a silent confidence that made it clear he had everything under control.

His eyes flickered back to the chat group. More people were being added—new heroes from different dimensions, each carrying their own stories, struggles, and dreams. Naruto felt a spark of excitement.

"This is going to be fun," he murmured to himself, a grin stretching across his face.

Issei was glued to the screen of his phone, his fingers gripping the device as if it held the secrets of the universe. His face was split into a wide grin, eyes practically sparkling with excitement. He had been blessed—truly blessed.

Rias Gremory, the Madonna of Kuoh Academy, the girl of his dreams, was right there in the chat group. Not just as a distant idol, but an actual participant. And her profile picture—oh, her profile picture—was enough to send his heart racing. She looked perfect, her crimson hair cascading elegantly, her deep blue eyes radiating mystery and allure. Even more than that, he had actually heard her voice. Her beautiful, mesmerizing voice.

'This can't be real... but what if it is?' Issei thought, nearly vibrating in place.

His excitement, however, was dampened by the ridiculous claims being thrown around in the chat.

[Heroes Chat Group]

Ruin Princess: It is hard to believe your words as I haven't seen anything yet that can convince me of your words. Our world is magical; your little tricks do not make for a convincing argument.

Emperor of Mankind: Ah, you just reminded me of something. I have not said this, but we are all from different dimensions. I do not exist in your world, though I can probably come visit—but not now.

Issei furrowed his brows, his excitement momentarily giving way to confusion.

'The guys sound insane. From a different world? That's complete BS… right?' His fingers hovered over the screen as he reread the messages. But what's up with Rias's answer? She said this world is magical, like that was just a given. So his "little tricks" don't impress her?

A shiver ran down his spine.

'Does that mean she actually believes this? Does that mean… magic is real?'

He stared at the screen, thoughts swirling in his head.

'No, no, no. There's no way. I'd know if magic existed. Unless—unless this whole world isn't what I thought it was. What if there's more? What if I'm the one in the dark?'

Issei placed a hand on his chin, his brain working overtime for once.

A second later, he groaned and shook his head. "Ughh, that hurts my head. Let's not think about it and just roll with it."

With a sigh, he flopped onto his bed, deciding to enjoy the ride instead of questioning everything. After all, if this was some kind of elaborate role-playing game, then he'd just play along. And if it was real…

Well, maybe his life was about to get a lot more interesting.