Epic of Caterpillar

Chapter 2420: Find The Key



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As I was having lunch with my "school friends", I glanced at the notifications appearing in front of me with annoyance and a slightly sorrowful and pitying expression in her face, a strange combination of emotions all into one, yeah.

[The {Fragmented Dimensional Realm Dungeon}: {Distorted Palace of Memories That Leads To The Azure Staircase: Act I: Supernatural Japan School Life} is in motion.]

[To progress through this Dungeon any further, please find the "Key" hidden within the {Heart of Memories}.]

[While you're inside of this Dungeon, you and any of your allies that access this Dimension will be under the Authority of {The Boy That Wanders Through Worlds}. Your Abilities, Divinities, and Cosmic Powers will be restricted into a Human Body.]

[Additionally, each person will be given a {Character Background} related to Tokyo High School as students, professors, janitors, and more. You will be therefore restricted by your {Character Background} in what you can do and say.]

[If you try to break out of character and impact negatively your surroundings directly, you will receive a penalty.]

[The more time you spend within this Dimensional Dungeon, the more your mind will be assimilated, and you will lose your memories, becoming more and more like a part of this world.]

[Character Background Assimilation Rate: 1% -> 3%]

[Once you reach 100% assimilation, you will become the Character you're representing.]

This is just ridiculous. I had already tried using my abilities before and I was indeed restricted! To be able to restrict even my powers this Dungeon should be beyond... beyond my own Realm and perhaps the Realm above too. And even then, it might be even higher.

"This is more annoying than I imagined..."

This entire dungeon was a nightmare. The entire world was twisted around Frank's own "Authority" and somehow, he had become a Constellation without him even realizing.

I mean how did this even happen? Was he also captured? Kidnaped by someone? Did the Outer Gods do this? Can they do this to begin with?

"So to sum things up, Frank has been brainwashed?" wondered Zehe. "And he's completely unaware of who we are, he doesn't even remember you, Kireina... I thought you had something?"

"Yeah, this is why I'm so annoyed," I nodded, sighing. "He just simply doesn't remember anything! And our powers... Well they aren't gone, but they're now restricted within our human bodies, which aren't tougher than normal mortal humans either. Which means we could actually die if we aren't careful."

"Hahh..." Brontes sighed, finishing her meal. "Then what do we do? Should we smack Frank, so he wakes up?"

"He's definitely very powerful within his own Realm..." said Zehe. "That would be a terrible idea, Brontes. We have to somehow make him wake up instead."

"Hm, there was something that happened with him, no?" Nesiphae wondered. "When we were talking to him and trying to make him remember... then Kireina got hit with a penalty of being unable to speak because she said too much."

"Oh right, when he fell to his knees," said Brontes, nodding. "He seemed to be having a big headache... Could it be related to his memories returning?"

"Let's hope that's the case..." I said. "Because if it works like that, maybe the Key itself is making Frank "wake up" from whatever dream he's having... I think... maybe this entire Dimensional Realm Layer whatever is his dream... But it's such a powerful dream as it is merged with a dimensional layer that I cannot even affect it as much as I wished for."

"But every time we were to try to tell him the truth we'll get annoying penalties! And I don't want to forget who I am..." said Rimuru. "I'm worried about Ailine."

"Yeah, good thing they're within Wall, it seems that everyone that was inside of her are safe and sound," I said. "Don't worry. As long as they don't step out, they should remain as who they are. But seem unable to affect the world outside within Wall's new... well, new appearance. However, Lilith, Altani, Flora, Aura, and Lucifer were outside too, so they were assimilated."

"Lilith and Altani became professors..." said Rimuru. "I hope they're doing fine! At least they're professors for kids so it shouldn't be hard... But what about the others?"

"Flora became the cafeteria lady..." I laughed as I watched her from afar, serving food to the children, she seemed strangely happy. "Lucifer and Aura... I think they became professors and supervisors."

"Should we hold a meeting with them later?" wondered Brontes.

"I mean, we could, but I can also speak to them through telepathy," I said. "It's one of those abilities that hasn't been sealed, although it only works on "friends" and "allies" that came with us. So we can't use it on Frank himself, unfortunately."

This was more complicated than I could have ever hoped, and with everything being so intricate, we were quite literally trapped here. Our only way out was death, most likely.

Well, I do have another plan if things become too bad, but I am not 100% sure it'll work before I become fully assimilated and forget everything.

"My Assimilation Rate already went to 3%, which still doesn't even feel like it changed much, but as it goes up, it'll become worse." I said. "We have to hurry and do this within only a few days... I calculate that more than a week, and we'll be fully assimilated. Just like... Just like Elfina and her group."

"Elfina..." Rimuru glanced into the distance, noticing Elfina and her entire group, the friends I made back in Grand Terra, acting like students.

We talked to them, but they didn't seem to recognize us, although Elfina said something about... somehow knowing me, yet not knowing me.

Previous memories had only become foggy dreams they don't believe to be true.

"They have been here for at least a week or more..." said Zehe. "Does time goes faster here

compared than outside?"

"Yes, most likely..."