My name is Rei Ao.

I have been reborn into this world for eighteen years.

Currently, I am a third-year student at a comprehensive academy.

I have witnessed many strange things in this world.

For example, there's a bunny girl named Sakurajima Mai who often hangs around the library.

Another example is Kato Megumi, a cute girl with a bob cut in my class, though she doesn't stand out much.

It's all so familiar.

Too familiar, in fact!

Aren't these girls just like the ones from anime?

This reborn world includes girls I recognize.

I once fantasized about living a blissful life surrounded by these beautiful girls.

But now...

Rei Ao stood, slightly disheveled, in the chilly wind blowing through the window.

Two large, lantern-like eyes stared straight at him.

Greed.

Hunger.

Everything was written plainly in those eyes.

They belonged to a creature dangling from the window.

Its body was enormous, much larger than an adult.

It looked like a rat but with the neck of a duck.

"Drip... drip..."

Thick saliva dripped onto his hand.

This scene...

Rei Ao had never seen anything like it!

'Hmm…'

'Should I try to stay calm?'

Thinking this, Rei Ao kept a blank face.

He pretended to be calm as he pulled the window shut.

But before he could step back—

Crack!

A palm-sized sharp claw violently shattered the window, leaving a large hole.

Shards of glass scattered everywhere.

Clang!

The entire window couldn't bear the force and fell to the ground.

"Roar…"

The rat-duck creature let out a foul-smelling growl.

This apartment didn't have good soundproofing.

The sounds of the couple murmuring next door stopped immediately.

A man's irritated voice soon followed.

"Who is it?"

"Smashing things in the middle of the night—scared the hell out of me!"

Still upset, the man opened his window, stuck his head out, and was about to continue yelling at Rei Ao.

And then...

The rat-duck creature slowly turned its head toward him.

It crawled over from Rei Ao's window.

No more than three seconds later—

"Ahhhhh!!!"

A blood-curdling scream echoed from next door.

"Hiss…"

Rei Ao sucked in a cold breath.

Global warming definitely wasn't his fault!

Sweat dripped from his forehead.

His mind was racing.

'Run?'

If that rat, larger than a human, could run, it would be strange!

'Hide?'

He glanced at his "minimalist" home decor.

Aside from a large wardrobe, where could he hide?

Under the bed?

Don't kid yourself.

"I'm definitely doomed!"

Rei Ao thought bitterly.

"Eighteen short years of my life."

"I haven't even begun my dream of living a blissful life surrounded by anime girls, and it's already over."

How tragic!

[Ding! Dimensional Transaction Chat Group activated!]

[Ding! Congratulations to Rei Ao for becoming the highest-ranking owner 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!]

"!!!"

Rei Ao felt that the robotic voice was like a spring breeze.

As expected.

What was meant to come had arrived!

In this life-or-death moment, he didn't have the luxury for unnecessary emotions.

Although he recognized several familiar names in the chat, he didn't have time to dwell on them.

Rescue was the priority.

"Open the beginner's gift package immediately!"

[Ding! You have acquired group leader privileges: "Self," "True Sight," and "Conversion"!]

「Self」: Physical and mental capabilities increase with level.

「True Sight」: Focus to see the true essence of all things.

「Conversion」: Absorb energy and matter to increase levels.

[Ding! You can choose one additional ability from the following options!]

"Ability!"

Three options appeared before Rei Ao's eyes.

「Freeze」: Freeze concepts.

「Ignite」: Ignite concepts.

「Howl」: Howl concepts.

"Uh…"

The descriptions were incredibly brief.

But the word "concept" seemed quite powerful.

As for which one to choose…

Click!

The crisp sound came from the returning rat-duck creature!

It was chewing on half of a shiny female corpse from the Black Forest.

"Crunch, crunch…"

Bones cracked loudly.

Honestly, Rei Ao felt a bit nauseous.

The creature suddenly raised its head and swallowed the entire corpse.

Surprisingly, that made him feel a bit less sick.

As the creature's eyes locked onto him again—

Rei Ao made a swift decision: "Freeze!"

[Ding! You have fused with the ability "Freeze"!]

[Ding! The beginner's gift package has boosted you to Level 10!]

[Name]: Rei Ao

[Level]: Level 10

[Abilities]: "Freeze," "Self," "True Sight," "Conversion"

[Description]: You possess the strength to shatter concrete walls.

"!!!"

A sudden chill rushed to his head.

Rei Ao had never felt so powerful, both in body and mind.

He instinctively knew everything about his new abilities.

He turned his gaze to the giant rat.

True Sight activated.

[Monster]: Clawed Rat

[Level]: Level 5

[Abilities]: None

"Monster…"

Rei Ao smirked.

This ordinary day was no longer ordinary.

[Ding! Your debut livestream will reward you with a "Level 5 Gift Package." Do you wish to start the stream?]

"Well, why not? Start!"

Who cares about anything else?

As long as it increases my level, I'll do it!

At Level 10, he felt like he could easily smash through a wall.

Why not accept the free gift?

[Ding! Group Leader Rei Ao has started a livestream!]

[Ding! Your level has increased by 5!]

[Ding! Frieren has entered the livestream!]

Before Rei Ao could process the notifications—

"Roar!!!"

The monster called Clawed Rat roared, baring its sharp teeth and lunging at him.

Despite feeling slightly nervous, Rei Ao forced himself to remain calm and struck out with a palm.

He naturally released his ability from within.

Freeze!

The apartment's temperature plummeted.

Frost spread over the floor and walls.

A thick white mist enveloped the Clawed Rat's body in an instant.

Crack… crack…

Rei Ao watched as its movements slowed.

When it was mere centimeters from his palm—

It completely froze.

Standing in front of him now was a lifelike ice sculpture!

"Did I just freeze it?"

Even Rei Ao hadn't expected such an effective result.

He was just about to check how solid the ice was—

Suddenly, a holy light descended from the sky!!!

The entire room was bathed in light.

Within the blinding light, two figures appeared.

"Sigh."

The first sound was a sigh.

"Raphiel, Heaven's intelligence system needs an update. Another innocent life was lost."

"Nothing we can do. When things from that world cross over, even Heaven is helpless."

Descending were two figures with wings and halos… angels.

"However…"

"This young man seems somewhat special."

Rei Ao, under the gaze of the two angels, couldn't help but twitch.

Yet another anime girl he recognized!

The blonde angel.

[Angel]: Gabriel White Tenma

[Level]: Level 29

[Ability]: "Divine Power"

[Item]: "Horn of Destruction"

The white-haired angel.

[Angel]: Raphiel Ainsworth Shiraha

[Level]: Level 29

[Ability]: "Divine Power"

Rei Ao's first reaction wasn't shock.

It was doubt…

This world might truly be beyond saving!

After all, Gabriel was holding the Horn of Destruction...