World Hopping With Gacha

Hello everyone sorry for the late chapter I had 2 major tests and was kind of busy after that I forgot this existed since I was busy playing Valo or CS with my cousins. Anyway here the chapter also Happy Belated Christmas.

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Leaving wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Kushina and Minato practically begged me to stay, and honestly, I felt bad leaving them after everything. But I had stuff to do. So, after promising to drop by every now and then, I packed up and left. My destination? The world where I first opened my eyes after dying—COTE.

Now, before you get any ideas, I wasn't planning to blow the place up or anything dramatic. I just wanted to see Ayanokoji. I had this random question burning in my mind: had he made peace with his life, or would he want a second chance? Weird, right? I didn't have a solid reason to be there, but for some reason, I felt like I needed to go. Maybe nostalgia, maybe curiosity, who knows.

Originally, I had other plans. I wanted to try Random World Hopping or jump into a game world. Dark Souls was at the top of my list. I mean, come on, meeting Solaire? That's a dream. Who wouldn't want to bask in the sunlight with the ultimate bro? And Bloodborne? Well, I never played it, so it felt like a fun challenge. But no, instead, I ended up heading back to where it all began.

Before dropping in on Ayanokoji, though, I had some errands to run. Remember Wall-E from the Gacha? The little guy's adorable, but he was falling apart—rusty, broken circuits, the works. To fix him, I needed a bunch of stuff: metal sheets, camera lenses for his eyes, and other small parts. Nothing too fancy. I figured a bit of magic (Reparo, to be specific) and some reinforcement, and he'd be as good as new.

---

So, here I am, wandering around in this world again. Let me tell you, this place hasn't changed much. The White Room is still as lifeless and sterile as ever (I arrived there and was using presence concealment). I hadn't exactly decided how to approach Ayanokoji yet. What do you even say to someone who's been conditioned to be the "perfect human"? "Hey, wanna quit being a chess piece in some madman's game and do your own thing?" Yeah, that's subtle.

First things first, though—I needed to grab Wall-E's repair supplies. I found a small hardware store in nearby city and got everything I needed. The cashier looked at me funny when I asked for some specific parts. After paying, I sat down on a nearby bench, pulling out the little guy from my inventory. He was in worse shape than I remembered.

"Alright, buddy," I muttered, patting his rusted frame. "Let's fix you up."

Using Reparo felt like a cheat code. The dents smoothed out, the rust vanished, and the circuits started lighting up again. Still, I reinforced some areas, just to be safe. When Wall-E powered up, his eyes blinked a few times before he looked at me.

"Waaaaall-E?" he said, tilting his head.

I grinned. "Yeah, it's me, buddy. How are you feeling?"

He beeped a few times, doing a little spin before bumping into my leg. I took that as a thank you. Wall-E fixed, I turned my attention back to the main event—finding Ayanokoji.

---

Sneaking into the school was easier than I thought. With my Presence Concealment, nobody noticed me as I wandered the island. The place was impressive—high-tech dorms, perfectly maintained grounds, and students who had no idea they were being watched. Finding Ayanokoji's dorm was simple. There was a board outside listing all the students' names and room numbers.

I waited outside his door until he came back. When he opened it, I dropped my concealment and greeted him casually. "Yo."

Ayanokoji froze for a second, his expression as unreadable as ever. No surprise, no curiosity, nothing. "Do I know you?" he asked, his tone as flat as his face.

Right. I forgot my appearance had changed because of the template. "It's me, Arthur Wayne," I said, stepping into his room uninvited. "We spent ten years together in the White Room. Remember?"

He tilted his head slightly, clearly trying to place me. "Arthur Wayne?"

"Yeah. Blonde hair, green eyes now. Long story." I shrugged. "Anyway, how've you been? Adjusting to life here okay?"

He didn't answer immediately, instead closing the door behind him. "You're not supposed to be here. How did you get in?"

"Presence Concealment," I said, plopping down on his chair, although he looked like he didn't believe me. "It's a skill. Pretty handy."

He watched me for a moment, then walked over to his bed. "Why are you here?"

"Good question." I leaned back, crossing my arms. "I wanted to ask you something. Are you really okay with this life? Being the White Room's perfect creation, playing their games? Or would you want to break free and try something new?"

---

His reaction? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. This guy has a poker face that would make a statue jealous.

"What do you mean by 'break free'?" he asked finally.

"I mean, leaving all this behind. The White Room, their expectations, the manipulations. Starting fresh, living life on your own terms," I explained.

"Why would I want that?"

I sighed. "Man, you've been programmed to think you don't have a choice. But what if you do? What if you could decide what kind of life you want, instead of being someone's pawn?"

He stared at me for a long time, probably trying to figure out my angle. "And why do you care?"

"Honestly? I don't know," I admitted. "Maybe because I've been in a similar spot. I've also had those people try to control my life, tell me who I'm supposed to be. And I've seen how freeing it is to take back that control." Although I didn't exactly experience that.

---

The conversation went on like that for a while. Ayanokoji didn't give me a straight answer, which was frustrating but not surprising. He's not the type to make impulsive decisions. I left him with something to think about and headed out.

Walking away from ANHS, I couldn't help but wonder—if he does decide to leave, what kind of life would Ayanokoji create for himself? Would he find freedom, or would the White Room's shadow always follow him?

As for me, I think it's finally time to dive into a game world. Dark Souls, here I come. Time to find Solaire and praise the sun!

---

As soon as I activated the world hopper, the eerie feeling of drifting between dimensions engulfed me. I found myself standing on a crumbling stone pathway overlooking a vast, dying world. The atmosphere was heavy, with ash and fog clinging to the air. Welcome to Lordran, the land of fading fire and forgotten glory.

The first thing I noticed was a small bonfire flickering nearby. Its warmth was oddly comforting, despite the unsettling stillness around me. Nearby stood a hunched man clad in tattered armor, muttering to himself. This was Firelink Shrine, the hub of the Undead's journey.

Almost immediately, I felt the weight of the world pressing down on me. The Undead lurking in the shadows noticed me, their hollow eyes lighting up with an unsettling mix of fear and reverence. It wasn't hard to guess why. I wasn't Undead, and my vitality probably felt like a beacon to them. Some seemed to think I was a god, others a savior. I wasn't either, but hey, let them dream.

As I explored the area, I soon encountered someone truly remarkable, the person who I wanted to meet. On a quiet hill overlooking the shrine, there stood a knight in shining armor. A large sun emblem adorned his chest plate, and his helmet had this odd little crest on top. He turned toward me as I approached, his stance relaxed yet noble.

"Ah, a new arrival!" he greeted, his voice warm and cheerful. "I am Solaire of Astora, an adherent to the sun. Might you be a fellow seeker of light?"

"Arthur Wayne," I replied, shaking his armored hand. "Seeker of... well, let's call it adventure."

He chuckled, the sound strangely contagious. "Adventure, light, purpose—it all flows into the same stream, does it not? I am on a quest to find my own sun. Perhaps we may journey together?"

Now, I've met a lot of characters in my short travel, but Solaire? He was something else. His unwavering optimism in such a bleak, crumbling world was both inspiring and a little naive. Still, there was something genuine about him, something that made me want to help.

"Sure, why not," I said with a grin. "Let's find your sun."

As we walked together, Solaire and I talked about a lot of things: hope, purpose, and the burdens of carrying on when the world seems against you.

"The sun," he explained, gazing up at the dim, ashen sky, "represents so much more than light or warmth. It is a symbol of perseverance, of reaching ever upward despite the weight of despair."

"That's... poetic," I said, glancing at him. "But isn't it exhausting to keep chasing something that might not even exist?"

He looked at me, his eyes bright behind his helmet. "Perhaps. But is not the pursuit itself a reason to go on? Without hope, what are we but hollow?"

He had a point, though I wasn't sure I agreed entirely. Still, his words stuck with me.

In return, I told him about my own travel—not the hopping between worlds, but the challenges, and meeting people who changed my perspective. Solaire listened intently, his genuine curiosity making the conversation feel like an exchange of ideas rather than a lecture.

"You have seen much, Arthur," he said after I finished recounting a particularly wild adventure. "But tell me, what drives you? What keeps you moving forward?"

I paused, thinking about it. "Most of the time its pure randomness I guess but sometimes it's the people I meet along the way. Their stories, their struggles. Helping them feels... right, you know?"

Solaire nodded. "A noble purpose indeed. Perhaps, in helping others, we find pieces of our own sun."

Our peaceful chat didn't last long. The Undead, sensing the power radiating from both of us, began to emerge from the shadows. They were slow and clumsy, but their sheer numbers made them a threat.

"Stay behind me," Solaire said, drawing his sword.

"Yeah, no thanks," I replied, summoning my own sword. "I didn't come here to spectate."

The fight wasn't that much intense after all they were zombies but these weren't your average zombies—they were relentless, their hollowed faces twisted with a mix of rage and sorrow. But with Solaire at my side, I felt an odd sense of camaraderie. His movements were fluid and precise, each strike of his blade a testament to his skill and experience.

We fought back-to-back, cutting through the swarm like a pair of seasoned warriors. Every time I took down an enemy, Solaire's laughter echoed in the air.

"Glorious!" he exclaimed. "Truly, we are blessed by the sun this day!"

I couldn't help but laugh. "You're really into this whole sun thing, aren't you?"

"Of course!" he said, parrying an attack with ease. "The sun is life itself! To bask in its light is to live fully!"

I shook my head, smiling. "You're something else, Solaire."

After the battle, we sat by the bonfire to catch our breath. Solaire pulled out a small flask and offered it to me.

"Estus," he explained. "It replenishes strength."

I took a sip, feeling warmth spread through my body. "Not bad," I said, handing it back. "So, where to next?"

He pointed toward the distance, where a crumbling castle loomed on the horizon. "There lies our path. Perhaps there, we shall find what we seek."

I nodded. "Alright, let's do it. But just so you know, I'm not much of a castle guy. Too many stairs."

Solaire laughed, clapping me on the shoulder. "Fear not, my friend. With the sun as our guide, no challenge is insurmountable!"

---Note

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