Chapter 1 - Kuoh Town
Japan, Kuoh Town.
A rainy night unfolds like an ink painting. Delicate raindrops spread across the dark sky, as if painted by a brush, lending an enchanting charm to the quiet town. Lights reflect on windowpanes, forming soft halos.
Late at night on rainy days, the streets are nearly deserted, especially in the suburbs. Only the gentle patter of raindrops against the ground creates a rhythmic sound.
On this rainy night, a man over 1.8 meters tall walks with a black umbrella in one hand, the other tucked into his pocket. His sharp blue eyes gleam with intensity, capable of unsettling anyone who meets his gaze. He wears a loose windbreaker over a hooded long-sleeve shirt. Despite the relaxed fit, his tall, broad-shouldered frame is unmistakable. Water vapor clings to his upright shoulders, and his thin, handsome face remains fixed forward, moving with the determination of a battleship.
Evan walks through the drizzle. He spent the day strolling on the weekend, only heading home after dusk. Though rain began to fall during his outing, he had checked the weather forecast and brought an umbrella, staying dry. Not that getting wet would bother him.
As he walks, Evan suddenly hears a faint cry for help from a nearby alley. The cries grow louder and more urgent as he approaches. Peering into the alley, he spots a beautiful woman. She wears a women's suit skirt and black stockings, now torn and soaked from the rain, giving her a pitiful appearance.
"What's wrong?" Evan asks, glancing at her with a knowing look.
"I... I heard a cat here earlier, so I came to check. I didn't expect it to be so skittish. It startled me, and I fell and sprained my ankle," the woman replies, her expression pitiful as she clutches her right leg, lightly stained with blood.
"Sir, can you take me home? My house is just across this alley."
The alley stretches about fifty meters, lit only by a dim streetlamp in the center. Its flickering light seems ready to extinguish at any moment.
"Alright," Evan nods.
He extends a hand to help her up, and she leans against him. A faint scent of perfume wafts toward him, and he feels her soft arm pressing against his.
"Sir... when we get to my house, I can reward you. What do you want?" she asks, her voice suggestive.
"My home is just ahead, almost there—"
"We're here," Evan interrupts, stopping abruptly halfway through the alley.
At that moment, the streetlamp flickers and goes out, plunging the surroundings into darkness. Only the faintest outlines are visible.
"What are you talking about? My sister's house is a bit farther ahead..." the woman says, confused.
Before she can continue, Evan releases her, letting her fall into a puddle.
"You—" Anger and confusion flash in her eyes.
But before she can protest further, Evan speaks coldly: "Stop pretending. It's just you and me here... or rather, just me and a filthy ghoul."
The woman's expression hardens, her pale face twisting into a cold sneer. "When did you notice?"
"From the start. The stench of your blood is so strong that not even the rain or your makeup can mask it."
"You knew from the beginning?" The woman pauses, stunned, then her lips part to reveal sharp, predatory teeth. "In that case, there's no need to pretend. But before you become my meal, tell me: why walk into my trap if you knew?"
She licks her lips, her appetite growing as she eyes the young man, already imagining how she'll savor her prey.
"Two reasons," Evan replies calmly. "First, I can't ignore a cry for help, even if it's a ruse. Second, the one caught in a trap isn't always the prey—sometimes, it's the hunter."
The woman freezes, her confidence wavering. "Are you an exorcist? A sorcerer? Or one of those CCG investigators?"
She knows she doesn't choose prey recklessly. Exorcists, sorcerers, and CCG investigators all carry distinct scents—especially the latter, whose quinque weapons are crafted from ghoul kagune. But she detects no such scent from Evan.
This suggests he's just an ordinary human.
---
"Since you've seen through me, I won't bother hiding," the woman snarls, her pupils glowing scarlet. Her kagune erupts from her body, tearing through her skin and clothes. The blood-streaked tendrils, combined with her ghastly appearance, make her look monstrous.
A ghoul's kagune is both their weapon and their strength, as hard as steel. Ghouls possess physical abilities far beyond humans, rendering them immune to ordinary blades. For most people, encountering a ghoul means certain death.
"It's a bit like Doctor Octopus," Evan murmurs, unfazed.
The woman doesn't hear him over the intensifying rain. "Heh, Sir, I'll savor every piece of your flesh," she taunts, her saliva mingling with the rain as she approaches. Convinced he can't escape, she relishes the thought of toying with her prey. Like a predator, she believes the struggle before death makes the meal tastier.
Evan remains silent, pulling his hands from his pockets. A glimmer of light flashes, and Terminus Est, a one-handed longsword glowing with subtle fluorescence, materializes in his hand. He wields the Elemental Waffe with ease, its weight no burden despite its nature as a demonic sword that drains its wielder. The blade, radiating power, seems shielded by an invisible barrier that repels the rain.
He gazes at the ghoul expressionlessly.
Evan is not native to this world. He transmigrated here with his memories and soul intact, inhabiting his original body but with a new identity.
Still an orphan, he received a system at age twelve. Its origins are unknown, but it granted him a novice gift: a contract with Terminus Est and the ability "God Rewards Hard Work.
Whatever he trains in—swordsmanship, magic, cursed energy, or even mundane skills like writing, painting, or singing—improves continuously. Even when he reaches a skill's limit, he can improve, growing stronger in every aspect, from physical prowess to artistic talents.
Knowing this world is a chaotic blend of anime universes—High School DxD, Jujutsu Kaisen, Tokyo Ghoul, Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance, and more—Evan abandoned most leisure activities to focus on training. While ordinary people need months to see results, his system lets him improve daily. At a young age, he boasts eight-pack abs and ideal body proportions, standing out among the shorter locals of Japan.
The system's final ability is the "Cross-World Gate," which allows travel between worlds. It requires 100% energy to activate, depleting gradually while active. When the energy runs out, Evan automatically returns to his home world. He can return early, but the gate won't reactivate until fully recharged.
Evan's composure against the ghoul stems from his past experiences. When he first received the system, the gate's energy was full, transporting him to the Campione! world. There, he became an unofficial disciple of the prestigious Italian magical organization, the Bronze Black Cross. Through "God Rewards Hard Work," he mastered their swordsmanship and magic in mere months.
Had his energy not run out, he could have earned the title of "Great Knight," a remarkable feat for a twelve-year-old. In the Southern European magical community, only the prodigies of the Bronze Black Cross and Red Copper Black Cross surpassed him at that age. Evan never met them, however, and knows little about them.
When his energy neared depletion, he faked his death during a mission against cultists, leaving no trace of his body to ensure a clean escape. Who knew how long it would take to return?
Since then, Evan has lived in this composite anime world, attending Kuoh Academy to relive high school. The school is unique, hosting familiar faces: Rias Gremory, Akeno Himejima, Issei Hyoudou, Touka Kirishima, Mai Sakurajima, and others. Yet, the world is also home to lurking threats—ghouls, cursed spirits, devils, and malevolent entities wielding magical power.
Though his mind races with thoughts, only three seconds pass in reality. The ghoul, seeing Evan stand motionless, assumes he was bluffing earlier and is now paralyzed with fear.
Certain her prey can't escape, she takes her time, savoring the moment and deciding where to begin her feast.