Just as Saeko Busujima was about to strike down the incoming wave of undead, a sudden chill crept across her skin.
It wasn't the cold of fear, but something far sharper—like the winter wind cutting to the bone.
She turned instinctively, and her eyes widened.
A young man stood there—short black hair, crystal-blue eyes that gleamed with a predatory calm—and from beneath his feet, ice crystals spread outward in elegant, jagged patterns, freezing the ground with each breath.
His gaze was fixed on the horde.
"If I eliminate these dozen or so undead, the trade will be complete, right?"
The words rolled from his lips with quiet certainty.
Recognition flashed across Saeko's face.
This was the one she had struck a deal with—the mysterious group leader.
Haruto Amakawa.
---
[Ding! Would you like to start a livestream?]
The prompt appeared before Saeko's eyes.
Having already witnessed Haruto freeze a monster earlier, she calmly accepted.
[Ding! Saeko Busujima has started a livestream!]
---
The undead staggered toward them, grotesque parodies of the humans they once were. Their rotten flesh twitched with the pulse of the Undead Virus.
But Haruto didn't flinch. Instead, excitement flickered in his eyes.
[Name]:"Undead zombie"
[Ability]: "Undead Virus"
Against such pathetic creatures, there was no need to restrain himself.
"Let's see what I'm really capable of."
He stomped lightly on the ground.
Crack—crack—crack!
The frozen earth split apart. Ice crystals burst outward like a storm of spears, jagged thorns racing across the ground with deadly elegance.
A sharp wind howled past Saeko, carrying the scent of frost and death.
The horde of undead never stood a chance.
In the blink of an eye, they were impaled—skewered by blades of glittering ice.
From above, it looked as though a colossal ice flower had bloomed, petals of crystal spreading outward in lethal beauty.
---
Saeko's lips parted in disbelief.
"Is this… a superpower?"
She had seen martial skill. She had witnessed the brutality of survival. But this? This was power on another scale—something almost divine.
Can a human truly wield such strength?
The livestream audience buzzed with chatter:
Frieren: "If you think of it as ice magic, the formation is quite intricate."
Akame: "It feels similar to an Imperial Arm… but colder."
Stella: "Hmm, impressive—but still nothing compared to my flames."
But Haruto paid no mind. His focus remained solely on the trade.
---
[Ding! Trade completed!]
[Ding! You have acquired the ability: 'Basic Swordsmanship'!]
Instantly, Years of swordsmanship flooded into his mind. His muscles moved with perfect precision, as though he had trained for Years.
A sharp crack split the air. From the frost in his palm, a katana took form—its blade forged of translucent ice, gleaming under the pale light.
Saeko's breath caught in her throat.
She knew that stance.
Every motion, every subtle shift of his body—it was her family's style.
Yet Haruto wielded it flawlessly, as though he had been born into it.
---
"So this is the reward of a trade," Haruto mused softly.
It wasn't much of a boost for him, but it clarified how the system of exchange functioned.
[Ding! As this is your first completed trade, you've earned an additional ability package!]
"Oh?" His eyes brightened. "Let's see what it is."
[Ding! You've acquired the ability: 'Blessing'!]
---
Blessing – Grants a supernatural Ability from the Host, Unlock the Potential of the blessed to Level up.
Haruto tilted his head. "Seems useful."
He glanced briefly at Saeko but dismissed the thought. She was strong, yes—but not important to him.
"I'll save it for another time."
---
Then, something unexpected happened.
The corpses of the frozen undead shimmered faintly, releasing motes of light.
With a mere thought, Haruto drew them into his body.
"Hm…?"
No pain. No discomfort. Instead—an undeniable surge of strength.
A grin spread across his face.
"So this is… leveling up through killing?"
---
"Um… Group leader Haruto, thank you for your help."
Saeko stepped closer, her gratitude genuine. Sweat streaked her pale face, her long violet hair sticking to her neck. She carried herself with both elegance and raw strength—yet what struck Haruto most was her figure, accentuated by the tight strain of her school uniform.
No wonder it's called Highschool of the Dead, he thought dryly.
Realizing where his gaze had lingered, he pulled his eyes away.
"The trade is complete. But I still have three hours left in this world. You may follow me if you wish, but I will protect you."
He intended to kill more undead, to push his power to its limits.
Saeko hesitated only briefly before nodding.
"…All right."
She slipped away for a moment and returned with a naked blade in her hand—a gleaming katana she had risked much to retrieve.
Haruto smirked faintly. "Heh. Then keep up."
From then on, he paid her little attention.
Undead surged toward them, but Saeko dispatched her share with graceful, lethal strokes.
Haruto, however, was a storm.
Every step he took froze the land beneath him. Entire clusters of undead were turned into ice statues in an instant, then shattered by his merciless strikes.
His strength escalated rapidly.
At full release, he could freeze an entire building or punch it into rubble.
The battlefield around them transformed into an otherworldly domain—towers of ice rising where once there had been stone, the world reshaped into a crystalline tundra.
Saeko could scarcely believe it.
To fight beside such overwhelming power was like standing in the shadow of a god.
By the time the last echo of battle faded, Haruto's status was clear.
Level 16.
His lips curled into a sharp smile.
"So it's confirmed. Killing lets me level up."
The thrill of growth ignited in his chest.
He was no longer simply fighting to survive—he was hunting for strength.
And he couldn't wait to find more prey.