Chapter 5: Stroke Of Genius

When I returned home, I played with my little siblings for some time, watching cartoons with them and all. It was rather pleasant.

As an urgent matter came up, my father called earlier, saying that he wouldn't come home tonight and would stay at the police station.

After eating, I returned to my room, saying that I had some homework to do, which made Helene ask me not to overwork.

"Finally alone. No, my personality isn't like Gwen's; it's too tiring pretending to be her. I can't continue like this."

If only there were some kind of cataclysm that wouldn't make it strange if I changed my personality. But thinking about it, that kind of thing would only mean the death of someone close to me, which isn't worth it.

I'm still wondering if, like the usual Spider-Man, I would be punished by the death of a loved one at the hands of someone I could have stopped had I acted.

I quickly stopped those dangerous thoughts, lest I jinx or set a red flag for myself. I started thinking about the essentials—what world should I go to?

Speaking of which, after receiving Mikasa's soul, I fainted and didn't ask how I could travel to another world.

I said, "Hey, are you here?"

[Yes, Master. How may I assist you?]

I replied, "Well, before that, do you have a name? I don't want to keep calling you 'Hey.'"

[No, as I mentioned earlier, the Master created me unconsciously and did not name me.]

I nodded, thought about different names I knew, but then changed my mind and asked, "Do you have a name that you'd like me to call you?"

[No, Master. I have no preference. I exist solely to serve you. However, if it pleases you, I would be honored to bear any name you choose.]

Hearing her reply, I wasn't polite and said, "How about calling you Leila? It's a name that holds significant importance for me."

[Leila... a beautiful name, Master. I am honored to bear it. Thank you.]

"Alright, Leila," I continued, smiling. "Now, about my question earlier. How do I travel to another world?"

[Master, this question isn't something you need to ask me. It's an innate ability engraved in your soul. As long as you think about it carefully, you'll know better than I do.]

I nodded thoughtfully. If a soul is like how Leila described it, then it made sense that my soul would remember how to do something I had done before.

Before that, I prepared my bed, filling it with clothes and pillows as if someone were sleeping, and turned off the lights in case my mother or father came to check.

I entered a meditation-like state, only thinking about traveling to another world, until I began remembering some kind of forgotten information.

A portal appeared in my room. I didn't hesitate and entered because I knew where the other end of the portal was. It can be said that it's the safest place in the multiverse for me.

If I have to describe this place, it's like the Throne of Heroes in the Type-Moon universe from my last life. It's a place outside of time and space, but this one is on the Multiverse scale.

My ability allows me to travel to this place or dimension. In this place, I don't feel hunger, sleep, or tiredness; I seem to always be in perfect condition.

Now here's the interesting part. Since it's an independent space, all I have to do to leave is think about opening a portal to my home.

To be precise, in this place, I can open a portal to any location I know of, aka multiverse traveling. Of course, there are some small restrictions.

For example, the first time I travel to a world, it's basically a random timeline. I can't control exactly which year I'll land in.

Then secondly, we have The Mark. Once I travel to a world, I leave my mark. If I want to return, I can only do so through this mark.

Suppose I traveled to the One Piece world on January 1st, 1524, of the Sea Calendar, and then return to my world on January 3rd.

Once I return to the independent space, it would record the year, day, and second I left the One Piece world. Then something like an hourglass, according to the One Piece world's time rules, would be created.

If that hourglass records that five days have passed since I left the One Piece world, when I return to that world, it will have advanced five days from the exact moment I left. Essentially, time continues to flow naturally in the worlds I visit, even when I'm not there.

Unfortunately for me, I visited many worlds during my soul state and left my mark there. This same mechanism applies to the Marvel world, meaning that during the time I'm in this space, time continues to flow.

I could only sigh at this mechanism. If not for it, I'd already be thinking about some kind of exploit, like, for example, returning time and time again before Kaguya ate the Chakra Fruit and keep eating it.

Anyway, everything has its good and bad sides, I suppose. The simple fact that I can travel to another world is enough for me.

Now, of course, it depends on how I'll exploit this ability and how I could enhance myself. To be honest, I'm thinking about the best way to quickly become stronger.

I already have some ideas, though. With my current strength, I'm better suited for close combat, notably due to the spider-sense, which is a cheat in this sense.

Since I have my advantage, I could naturally choose to either compensate for my weakness—long-range combat—or enhance my advantage.

Honestly, I'm more keen to enhance my advantage, as I'm not good enough at long-range combat to need to compensate for it.

I have some ideas. For example, how about going to the One Piece world, learning Observation Haki, and eating a Devil Fruit?

If I could have Observation Haki to observe most of New York, this would save me so much trouble, and it would perfectly synchronize with my spider-sense. Then, eating a Devil Fruit, especially a Logia one, would give me long-range attacks.

I could also go to the Type-Moon world, win some kind of Holy Grail War where the Holy Grail isn't corrupted, or simply collect the Dragon Balls in the Dragon Ball universe and make a wish that would make me stronger.

In short, there are so many ways for me to become stronger, but for that, I must take the right steps. Otherwise, I'd be doomed if I'm not careful.

After considering my options, I realized that my first step had to be strategic. Jumping headfirst into a dangerous world without preparation would be reckless. I needed to strike a balance between risk and reward.

"Leila," I said, my tone thoughtful, "which world do you think would offer the safest and most efficient path for me to grow stronger initially?"

[Master, according to the world where you left your mark and their timeline, I suggest going to the One Piece world. Your current ability and advantage lean towards agility.]

[If you could obtain the Goro Goro no Mi, adding your spider-sense, you would gain unparalleled combat and sensory advantages.]

[The Goro Goro no Mi, a Logia-type Devil Fruit, would grant you mastery over lightning, effectively compensating for your lack of long-range capabilities while synergizing with your enhanced reflexes.]

Well, it's almost the same as I thought. I left my mark in the One Piece world in 1121 of the Sea Calendar, and now it's 1501 of the Sea Calendar, when Enel hasn't eaten the Thunder Fruit yet.

Despite how tempting this may sound, I still didn't open a portal there. Year 1501 means that Roger has already been executed, and it's also when the seas are too chaotic.

With my current strength, how could I possibly be able to go to Skypiea? In terms of physical strength alone, I doubt I'm stronger than Luffy at the beginning of the story.

With my meager strength and no help from the plot, I doubt I could even reach the Grand Line before being killed by a pirate or even the ocean itself. When would I even find a reliable navigator?

I thought about it. Where could I find a reliable partner who could protect me? Should I just go to Xavier's School and recruit Jean, or form an alliance with Magneto and take him to the One Piece world?

Of course, that's too far-fetched. I'm not willing to do anything that could reveal my identity in this world. So how about going to another world, like Konoha, and recruiting ninjas?

No, that's too unreliable. According to the mark I left in the Naruto world, it's currently under the Third Hokage's rule. If I barge in, I may not even know how Danzo would capture me.

Like a stroke of genius, I suddenly thought of a world where, as long as I'm in the right place, that group would definitely help me happily. And looking at the mark I left in that world, thankfully, it was at the right time.

END OF THE CHAPTER

Which world do you think Gwen is thinking about? Here's a little hint: like in the Naruto world, you post a task with rewards, and people will help you.