The room was silent, but inside Haruto's consciousness, the world was cracking open. One moment he was staring at the ceiling of his room, and the next, the ceiling, the bed, and the mansion simply dissolved into a vast, shimmering Void.
Haruto didn't panic. He just floated there, hands behind his head, looking utterly bored as a figure of pure, blinding white light began to materialize in front of him. The voice that vibrated through the Void was the same one from his first day in this world—the one that had guided him through the initial "Glitch" trial.
"Hello there, Haruto," the being said, its voice sounding like a thousand harmonies playing at once.
Haruto didn't even sit up. He just rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. God of Creation, right? Can we skip the 'Awe and Majesty' part? I've got school in the morning."
The being paused, then let out a rich, echoing laugh.
"What an attitude! But I suppose that's expected from my First Reincarnation. A vessel capable of wielding my power at its full potential."
Haruto finally sat up in the air, his expression turning sharp.
"Explain something to me. You gods keep reincarnating your power into humans. Why? If you're so 'Godly,' why do you need us?"
The Being of Light drifted closer, its form pulsing with every word.
"Because even a God's body can become corrupt, Haruto. Our power is so immense that if it sits stagnant, it begins to rot—like a machine that hasn't been oiled in centuries. To keep our divinity pure and 'Level Up' our own essence, we must grant it to a human. When a human uses that power, struggles with it, and grinds to increase its level, the power is 'refreshed.' It's like a workout for the soul."
The being gestured toward the invisible distance.
"That is why you were able to defeat those three Goddesses. They hadn't fought a real battle in 6000 years. Their powers were 'rusty.' If Bellona was at her true peak, her sword could split a continent. If Ivory used her full imagination, she could create a small, functioning universe in the palm of her hand. Even Lustar could snap your brain into 2 pieces just by snapping her fingers but they were stagnant. You, however, are fresh."
Haruto processed this, his mind moving fast.
"Fine. But why me? And why this power? You call yourself the God of Creation, but my aura is pitch black. Black is the color of Destruction, not life."
The Being of Light went silent for a long moment. The shimmering Void around them seemed to flicker, as if Haruto had touched a sensitive nerve.
"The answer to that is simple, yet dangerous," the God whispered.
"You aren't from this world, Haruto. Carrying the raw power of the God of Creation in a foreign universe is like placing a sun inside a glass jar. If you ever lose your mind—if you ever let your rage turn into a rampage—this entire world wouldn't just be destroyed. It will be deleted."
As for the black aura..." the Being hesitated, its light dimming slightly.
"That is a secret you aren't ready for yet. Let's just say that before something can be created, the old data must be deleted. You are the bridge between the two."
The white light of the Creator pulsed with a sudden, sharp intensity, almost like a glitch in the void itself. The Being's voice lost its melodic tone and turned cold, mechanical.
"You're making a mess of things, Haruto," the God of Creation said, its form flickering. "I sent those three Goddesses to train you, to sharpen you into a weapon so you could reach the God of Nothingness. But look at you. Instead of being their Master, you've made them your family. You're becoming soft, human."
Haruto scoffed, crossing his arms.
"Soft? They're the only ones who actually give a damn about me in this world. What's wrong with that?"
"Everything," the Being replied.
"But what's done is done. They've developed human feelings now; they are bound to you by more than just power. Since you've chosen this 'family' path, your life is about to get significantly more complicated. A challenge is coming—one that will test whether your 'family' is a strength or a fatal weakness."
The void around Haruto began to pixelate, and a floating semi-transparent menu appeared in front of him, glowing with a dangerous obsidian hue.
[SELECT SCENARIO DIFFICULTY]
EASY: A walk in the park.MEDIUM: A standard struggle.HARD: Survival is not guaranteed.IMPOSSIBLE: Reality itself will fight against you.
The God of Creation leaned in.
"The challenge is inevitable, Haruto. But I will let you choose how much weight you want to carry. Pick your difficulty."
Haruto stared at the word IMPOSSIBLE. Flashbacks of his old life—the one before this world—raced through his mind. He remembered the thrill of the hardest boss fights, the pixel-perfect movements required to clear "Hell" tiers, and the sheer boredom of anything that didn't push him to the absolute brink.
A dark, sharp smirk pulled at the corner of his lips. He didn't even hesitate. His finger tapped the bottom option with a violent force.
"Easy is for losers," Haruto whispered.
"Give me IMPOSSIBLE. I've been clearing that tier since I was a kid."
The moment he touched the text, the white void turned blood-red, and a siren-like sound blared in his ears.
[DIFFICULTY SET: IMPOSSIBLE]
[INITIATING SCENARIO]
[WARNING: SURVIVAL RISK INCREASED TO 99%]
"Interesting choice," the God's voice faded as the light began to swallow Haruto whole. "Let's see if your 'family' survives the storm you just invited."
Haruto lay in his dark room, staring at the ceiling as the echo of the God's voice slowly faded. His heart was pounding, not with fear, but with a raw, electric thrill he hadn't felt in years.
"The three of them... and Toya," Haruto whispered into the silence. "He said they're the ones in danger. To see if they're actually 'family' or just following their programming."
He sat up, his eyes glowing with a faint, shifting black light. God had called them "rusty," and now he was putting them—and Haruto's bond with them—into a meat grinder. On Impossible Difficulty, the world itself was going to try and delete them.
"Awesome," Haruto smirked, his knuckles cracking.
"No more holding back. If the System wants to play dirty, I'll just have to out-glitch the System."
The morning air inside the mansion was buzzing with a strange energy. At the dining table, the contrast was almost comical. Bellona was "encouraging" Toya with heavy pats on the back that sounded like thunderclaps, while Lustra watched with a mischievous glint, clearly enjoying seeing the elite Vulcan warrior being treated like a new toy.
Ivory, meanwhile, was staring into her coffee, her brow furrowed as she tried to calculate the logic behind Haruto's jump to Level 4.
"There is no mathematical precedent for this," she muttered.
"How are we going to explain this if somehow it is showcased?"
Haruto watched them all, his mind replaying the God of Creation's warning. The Impossible Challenge. He looked at Asobi, who was gliding gracefully around the table serving breakfast, but her sharp comment to Lustra about "cleaning out the trash" showed she was just as high-strung as the rest.
"Ivory," Haruto said, breaking the chatter.
"You've already masked Toya with Reality Magic? He needs to look like a Level 5."
Ivory nodded without looking up. "Done before the first toast was buttered. To any scanner, Toya is just an average, slightly-above-par student. But Haruto..."
she finally looked at him, her eyes serious. "Professor Elara knows. And now that you've reached Level 4, you've proven her theory right. Keep your head down. Don't give her a reason to showcase you."
"I'll try," Haruto said, a dark smirk tugging at his lips.
"But don't ask me to hold back if things get messy. I have a feeling today isn't going to be about sitting in a classroom."
Lustra leaned over, playfully poking Haruto's cheek.
"Relax, Ivory! We're in the human world now. Even Layer 99 of Heaven didn't have this much flavor. Let's interact, let's play! We're practically human ourselves now, right?"
"Speak for yourself," Asobi remarked, flicking a speck of dust off the table. "Some humans are like stubborn stains—hard to wash out and always in the way."
Lustra pouted, but Bellona's booming laugh cut through the tension. "Nice one, Spirit! Haruto, don't worry about us. If a challenge comes, I'll crush it. If a mountain stands in our way, I'll move it."
Haruto stood up, grabbing his bag. "Just... stay sharp. The air feels heavy today. I can feel it."
The walk to school was unlike any other. On the surface, it looked like a group of friends heading to class, but the energy crackling between them was dense enough to distort the morning light.
Bellona was still grinning, occasionally nudging Toya so hard he nearly stumbled into the bushes.
"Come on, Vulcan boy! Keep your head up. A warrior doesn't walk with his eyes on his shoes!" Toya just nodded nervously, keeping a respectful (and safe) distance from her. He felt like he was walking next to a beautiful hurricane.
Lustra and Asobi continued their bickering in the back, a constant stream of playful insults about "human hygiene" versus "spirit purity," while Ivory walked in silence. Her eyes never left the back of Haruto's head.
Haruto felt her gaze, but he didn't turn around. His mind was miles away, replaying God's menu in the void. Easy... Medium... Hard... Impossible.
If I tell them I chose the "Impossible" path on purpose, Haruto thought, a cold sweat pricking his neck, Ivory will probably try to reality-warp me into a toaster. And Bellona? She'd be thrilled, but she'd probably break my ribs in excitement.
He looked at his HUD. Level 4. If this world truly functioned like the high-stakes games of his past, then an "Impossible" difficulty meant the rewards would be astronomical. He wasn't just looking for a challenge; he was looking for the fast track to the top. He wanted to see how high he could climb before the System tried to delete him.
"You're awfully quiet, Haruto," Ivory said, suddenly pulling up beside him. Her voice was low, meant only for his ears.
"You said the air feels 'heavy.' My sensors aren't picking up any localized mana storms yet, but your heart rate is elevated. Are you hiding something from us?"
Haruto let out a short, forced laugh. "Nah, nothing like that. Just... thinking about the school. You know how it is."
Ivory squinted at him, her logic-processing eyes flickering with suspicion.
"You've never cared about school in your life. You're a terrible liar."
"Really!" Haruto insisted, using the local slang to brush her off.
"Look, we're almost at the gates. Let's just focus on getting through the day without any problem."
The atmosphere at the Academy gates was jarring. Instead of the usual academic bustle, the courtyard looked like a high-stakes red carpet event.
Rows of students were lined up, but the demographic split was insane. Every girl in the school seemed to have spent three hours on her hair and makeup. Their uniforms were tailored to perfection, and the scent of expensive perfume hung heavy in the air, clashing with the usual smell of old books and mana-fuel.
The boys were losing their minds, whispering and staring, but as soon as Bellona, Lustra, and Ivory walked through the center of the crowd, the "beauty standards" of the school were instantly shattered. Even without trying, the Goddesses radiated a natural elegance that made the extra makeup on the other girls look like cheap theater paint.
Haruto and Toya walked between them, looking completely unfazed. They lived in a house with literal deities; a bit of eyeliner and a push-up bra weren't going to distract them from the "Impossible" weight they felt in the air.
Suddenly, a student named Ishaan ran up to Toya, looking out of breath.
"Toya! Man, where were you yesterday? You missed the announcement!"
Toya glanced at Haruto before answering.
"Uh, I just had some... personal business. But what's with the carnival atmosphere? Why is every girl like they're going to a royal wedding?"
Ishaan's eyes went wide. "You don't know? It's Selection Day! Kaelen is choosing his nine 'Star-Wives' today! Any girl who gets picked basically secures a life of luxury in City Allesta. The whole school is basically a giant audition right now."
Haruto stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes narrowing. "Wait... nine wives? Is this a school or a harem recruitment center?"
"It's a tradition for the top-tier elites," Ishaan whispered, leaning in. "And Kaelen is currently the strongest student we've ever had. He gets what he wants."
Before Haruto could comment on how ridiculous that sounded, the crowd parted. A boy with glowing orange hair and a sharp, arrogant gaze walked toward them. His aura was vibrating at a steady Level 8,
Kaelen stopped five feet away, his eyes scanning the group. He ignored Haruto and Toya entirely, his gaze locking onto Ivory Bellona and Lustra with a predatory grin.
"Hey there," Kaelen said, his voice dripping with forced charm. "I don't remember seeing three 'beauties' on the enrollment list yesterday. You must have forgotten about it."