My name is Haruto Amakawa.
I have been reincarnated into this world for eighteen years.
Currently, I'm a third-year student at a Toyogasaki academy.
And during these eighteen years, I've witnessed many strange things.
For example—there's a bunny girl named Sakurajima Mai who often lingers in the library.
Another example is Kato Megumi, a quiet girl with a bob cut in my class, who doesn't stand out much.
It all feels so familiar.
Too familiar, in fact!
Aren't these girls straight out of anime?
Back then, I dreamed of a gentle youth.
A blissful spring spent surrounded by these girls.
A life painted in warmth and laughter.
But reality is a cruel poet.
And tonight… its verses take a darker turn.
---
The cold wind clawed through the window as I stood, half-dressed, half-dreaming.
And then—
two eyes emerged from the shadows.
Lantern-like. Vast. Burning with a hunger I had never known.
They belonged to a creature that clung to my window frame—
its body swollen and grotesque,
its head the unholy union of rat and duck,
saliva dripping in fat beads onto my hand.
Drip. Drip.
I had never seen anything so hideous.
Nor felt such primal terror in my chest.
Stay calm, I told myself.
I forced my face blank and reached to close the window.
But the world has no mercy for cowards.
CRACK!
A jagged claw ripped through the glass.
Shards scattered like frozen rain.
CLANG!
The whole frame tore loose and crashed to the ground.
"Rrroar…"
Its growl rolled through the apartment, foul as rot.
The couple next door went silent.
Then the man's irritated voice rose:
"Who the hell is smashing things in the middle of the night—scared the life out of me!"
Still grumbling, he shoved his window open to glare at me.
And in that moment—
the beast turned its gaze toward him.
Slowly. Inevitably.
It crawled from my window toward his.
Three heartbeats later—
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"
His scream shattered the night.
I inhaled sharply, breath cold in my throat.
Global warming… definitely not my fault, I thought madly.
Sweat dripped from my brow. My mind spun.
Run? Impossible. That thing would overtake me in seconds.
Hide? A joke. My room is bare. A wardrobe and a bed cannot shield me from death.
I laughed bitterly.
"So this is it. Eighteen short years.
And I never even began the dream of being surrounded by anime heroines…"
What a tragic epitaph.
---
And than :
>[Ding! Dimensional Transaction Chat Group activated!]
A voice. Cold. Mechanical. Yet to me, it was salvation.
>[Ding! Congratulations, Haruto Amakawa, for becoming the Admin of the Chat Group!]
>[Ding! You have received a beginner's gift package. Would you like to open it now?]
>[Ding! Akame has joined the chat!]
>[Ding! Frieren has joined the chat!]
>[Ding! Saeko Busujima has joined the chat!]
>[Ding! Sakurajima Mai has joined the chat!]
>[Ding! Stella Vermillion has joined the chat!]
"!!!"
Haruto felt the robotic voice sweep through his mind like a spring breeze.
But, This wasn't the time to get emotional. Familiar names appeared in the chat, but there was no time to dwell on them.
Survival came first.
"Open the beginner's gift package immediately!"
[Ding! You have acquired Group Leader Privileges: "Self," "Observe," and "Leveling"]
Self: Physical and mental capabilities increase with level.
Observe: Focus to see the information of all things.
Leveling: Absorb energy and matter to increase levels.
[Ding! You may choose one additional ability from the following options!]
Three words appeared before Haruto's eyes:
Freeze: Freeze concepts.
Ignite: Ignite concepts.
Howl: Howl concepts.
I hesitated. The meanings were veiled, but the word concept hummed with boundless possibility.
But my hesitation ended with the sound of teeth grinding bone.
Crunch. Crunch.
The monster was chewing the corpse of my neighbor.
Blood dripping, bones splintering—
a grotesque feast.
It raised its head, eyes burning anew, and fixed them upon me.
No hesitation. Haruto shouted:
"Freeze!"
[Ding! You have fused with the ability "Freeze!"]
[Ding! The Beginner's Gift Package has boosted you to Level 10!]
Name: Haruto Amakawa
Level: 10
Abilities: Freeze, Self, Observe, Leveling
Description: Possesses the strength to shatter concrete walls.
"!!!"
A tide of cold surged through my body.
Strength unlike anything I had known.
The knowledge of my powers flowed into me like a forgotten memory.
I turned my gaze back to the abomination.
Observe—activated.
Monster: Clawed Rat
Level: 5
Abilities: None
A smirk tugged at my lips.
"So this is the world now… monsters."
The night had shed its disguise of normalcy.
---
[Ding! Your debut livestream will reward you with a "Level 5 Gift Package." Do you wish to start the stream?]
"Well, why not? Start it!" Haruto said without hesitation.
Level meant power. And he wanted more.
[Ding! Group Leader Haruto Amakawa has started a livestream!]
[Ding! Your level has increased by 5!]
[Ding! Frieren has entered the livestream!]
Before Haruto could process the notifications—
"ROAR!!!"
The Clawed Rat lunged, baring its fangs.
My heart thudded. Fear gnawed my spine.
But I clenched my jaw, raised my palm, and whispered the word that was already carved into my soul—
"Freeze."
The world itself seemed to shiver.
Frost bloomed across the floor, the walls, the air.
A mist of silver breath enveloped the monster.
Crack... crack…
Its movements slowed. Stilled.
And then—mere inches from my hand—
it froze solid.
A grotesque ice sculpture, carved by my will.
I stood in silence, breath visible in the frozen air.
"…I actually did it."
But before I could even test the strength of my creation—
The heavens themselves tore open.
A holy radiance fell upon my room, drowning everything in blinding light.
From within that brilliance descended two figures.
"Sigh…"
The first voice was weary.
"Raphiel, Heaven's intelligence system needs an upgrade. Another innocent soul has fallen."
"Nothing we can do," the second answered softly. "When creatures from that world spill over, even Heaven's hands are tied."
Wings spread wide. Halos glowed. Angels descended into my frozen chamber.
"But… this human feels different."
Under their gaze, I stiffened.
For I knew them.
The blonde angel—
Gabriel White Tenma.
Level: 29.
Ability: Divine Power.
Item: Horn of Destruction.
And the silver-haired angel—
Raphiel Ainsworth Shiraha.
Level: 29.
Ability: Divine Power.
My first emotion was not awe.
It was dread.
Because in Gabriel's delicate hands rested the Horn of Destruction.
This world…
was already hopeless.