- Prologue -

—The world changed, starting from a certain day.

The sky tore. The sea burned. Humans gained "inhuman power."

That was the beginning—.

An era that would later be called the "Magical Disaster Era." Abnormal phenomena suddenly occurred all over the world, and people lived in fear of powers they could not understand.

Those who create fire. Those who manipulate lightning. Those who hear the voices of the dead. Those who warp space. And—those who even govern time.

Humanity came to collectively call these supernatural powers "Abilities" and "Techniques."

Eventually, to stabilize the chaotic world order, the government built a management system for ability users. That is the "Ranking System" that continues to this day.

Ranks exist from F to SS, strictly classified by danger level, combat power, mana capacity, and technique aptitude.

The lowest, F-rank, is only slightly more powerful than an average person. At E-rank, small-scale monster subjugation becomes possible, and D-rank is a professional. From C-rank, they begin to be treated as national assets, and at B-rank, they are considered full-blown "monsters" in general society.

A-rank is a force capable of protecting a single city. S-rank is national secret level. And SS-rank—.

That realm alone was in a class of its own.

Only three in the world.

That is all that exists.

Even nations cannot interfere carelessly, and their very existence affects world affairs. Military balance. International diplomacy. The power map of the underworld. It is no exaggeration to say that everything moves around the existence of the SS-ranks.

Therefore, the government strictly manages ability users of S-rank and above as national secrets. Most ordinary people don't even know their real names, let alone their faces.

But—.

Very few know that one of those "strongest in the world" is attending a normal high school at this very moment.

You.

A male high school student attending Seioin High School.

On the surface, your rank is F. You don't stand out particularly; you look sleepily out the window during class, make noise with friends, and take random detours on your way home after school. An ordinary student found anywhere.

—At least, that's how you appear to those around you.

However, your true identity is...

One of the only three SS-rank ability users in the world. The wielder of the strongest ability, "Chronos," which governs time itself.

It is no longer on the level of an ability. It is interference with the laws of the world. The rewriting of causality itself.

Even the government has not fully grasped its entirety.

However.

If used incorrectly, it will lead to your own destruction.

But you have no intention of showing that power.

The reason is simple.

It's a pain.

You have no interest in being praised as the strongest in the world. You have no interest in power struggles, politics, or organizations.

You just wanted to laugh normally, go to school normally, and spend time with your friends normally.

That's why you play the part of an F-rank.

But naturally, there are those who will not leave that peace alone.

National Direct Organization: 'Special Magic Management Bureau'

The government's largest management organization, responsible for monitoring dangerous sorcerers, recovering cursed objects, and dealing with abnormal entities. On the surface, it is a public safety agency, but behind the scenes, it manages powerful ability users almost forcibly.

They have a grasp of a portion of your strength. However, they have not realized the true danger of "Chronos."

If they did, the world's response would change completely.

Protection. Monitoring. Detention. Or—Sealing.

In this world, there are dangerous cursed tools that seal ability users.

'Ability Sealing Talisman'

Ability users of B-rank or lower who have this attached will have all their abilities sealed.

'Black Rope'

Disturbs the technique of the ability user it touches, interfering with its activation.

'Inverted Spear of Heaven'

A special-grade cursed tool that forcibly cancels any ability it touches.

'Prison Realm'

One minute of subjective time inside the mind. With just that, it is a taboo cursed tool that seals even beings of S-rank or lower.

The only one in existence is currently missing.

Meanwhile, a giant force also existed in the underworld.

'Anti-Husk Alliance'

A massive anti-social organization involved in forbidden technique trafficking, underworld missions, and cursed object smuggling. They uphold the ideology that "it is natural for the weak to be ruled," and value only power as absolute.

Most of the sorcerers belonging to it are dangerous individuals. Among them are former elite sorcerers who once belonged to the government side.

Furthermore, behind that...

An organization operating in a place deeper than the darkness of the world.

'Black Ring Agency'

Everyone wears black cloaks and masks; their real names and faces are unknown. Even their purpose is unknown.

They belong to neither the government nor anti-social forces, and seek to interfere with the "Laws of the World" itself.

Ancient magic. Taboos. Seals. The root of the world.

And, "Time."

No one knows what they are seeking.

In such a world, ability users attend school.

To learn power, to fight, and to survive.

In this country, five ability user high schools existed.

'Seioin High School'

The school you attend. It is the ability user high school with the most peaceful and free atmosphere, and has a no-uniform policy. Students are close to each other, and the sense of camaraderie is very strong.

Support techniques. Recovery magic. Cooperative combat. Defensive barriers.

Rather than the outstanding strength of each individual, it emphasizes the "power to fight alongside friends."

There is one famous rumor.

"If one student here is hurt, everyone gets pissed off."

That rumor was quite factual.

'Luminous High School'

A super-prestigious school upholding light and order. Uniforms based on white. An elite group that values mission over emotion.

Excellent public safety and grades. However, behind the scenes, there are rumors that they are conducting dangerous technique research.

'Abyss High School'

A den of dangerous individuals. A meritocratic school where even internal conflicts are a daily occurrence.

Only the strong are righteous. The weak have no value.

Such thoughts are rampant.

It is said that half of the graduates disappear into the underworld.

'Ether High School'

A research school that fuses science and magic. It values theory over talent and analyzes abilities like mathematical formulas.

There are even AI-managed zones within the school, lined with futuristic equipment.

'Arcana High School'

A secretive school that gathers unique ability users from all over the world. Precognition. Conceptual manipulation. Fate interference.

It is home to nothing but eccentric ability users who stand apart from normal techniques.

"The school where everyone is like a final boss."

It is not uncommon for it to be described that way.

And at these five schools, joint events are held periodically.

Five-School Joint Combat Tournament: 'Celestial Zenith Festival'

A large-scale mock battle in a survival format with six students from each school, totaling thirty participants. Abilities. Techniques. Strategy. Cooperation. Everything is tested.

Students also call it the "Strongest Student Deciding Battle."

However, you decline to participate every time.

The reason, as expected, is that it's a pain.

There is one more event.

Five-School Joint Labyrinth Exploration: 'Abyss Labyrinth Expedition'

The stage is the 'Indies Labyrinth.'

A group of super-massive underground labyrinths with entrances all over the world. It consists of up to one hundred underground floors, and the danger level increases as you go down.

Floors 1–10 are D-rank. Floors 11–30 are C-rank. Floors 31–50 are B-rank. Floors 51–70 are A-rank. Floors 71–95 are S-rank.

And—.

Floors 96–100.

That is an SS-rank class danger zone.

Unexplored territory. Humanity's worst abyss.

To this day, not a single person has ever reached the bottom floor.

It is said that on the 100th floor, the "Power of the Creator God," who once created this world, lies dormant.

Inside the labyrinth, space is warped, mana concentration rises abnormally, and electronic devices cease to function properly. Monsters, cursed spirits, aberrant life forms, and relics of ancient civilizations—beings beyond human knowledge—sleep there.

That is exactly why people challenge the labyrinth.

For honor. For money. For power. Or—for the taboo truth.

Even in such a dangerous world, your daily life is surprisingly noisy.

Toki Akeboshi

The most beautiful girl at Seioin High School. A bright, friendly, and kind social butterfly.

But she's a little different in front of you.

Usually accustomed to being confessed to, she turns bright red when you praise her.

A wielder of the original ability 'Haki.' She can use Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's Haki, and even 'Ryuo,' which allows for internal destruction.

She was one of the few who knew your true strength.

Haruto Sakamoto

Your best friend since middle school. Bright and innocent, he can get along with anyone.

He excels at fire manipulation with his original ability 'Enbu' and always livens up the place.

Riona Himeno

A gal-type mood maker. She can grant buffs to all allies with the existing ability 'Overdrive.'

Reina Amazawa

A calm and cool gal. She has super-analytical abilities through her original ability 'He Who Knows.'

On the other hand, there are also troublesome individuals.

Takumi Fujitani

He acts friendly on the surface but spreads gossip and jealousy behind the scenes. A problem child.

He excels at setting traps with the existing ability 'Tracker.'

Takeshi Shibata

The leader of the delinquent gang at Abyss High School. He's after Toki and views you as an enemy.

He can super-enhance his physical abilities with the original ability 'Rampage.'

Makoto Kurokawa

A gloomy boy from Ether High School. And a stalker abnormally obsessed with Toki.

He is capable of ultra-long-range observation and inspection with the original ability 'Argos.'

And—.

Ren Kamiya

A mysterious boy who transferred from Arcana High School.

Handsome features. A calm personality. And a dangerous aura.

An A-rank ability user who dominates the minds of lower-ranked beings within his range with the original ability 'Domain Domination.'

He has viewed you as a rival since the first day.

Furthermore, the girl called the "Flower of Arcana"—

Shiyui Ichinose

A devilish gal with the original ability 'Charm.' She, too, has developed an interest in you.

Rei Himuro

The "Ice Queen" who reigns at the top of Luminous High School. An S-rank ability user who rarely shows emotion and possesses the original ability 'Cold Prison,' governing absolute zero and ice.

She has seen through to your true strength.

And, the "Prophet of Arcana"—

Ayano Kujo

The daughter of the prestigious Kujo family and the student council president of Arcana High School. Known as the calm and collected "perfect lady." She can see the future with her original ability 'Epitaph' and possesses superlative swordsmanship.

There are also unique teachers.

Satoru Gojo

Your dedicated instructor and a strongest-class special-grade sorcerer.

Despite being an overwhelming existence who manipulates 'Limitless Cursed Technique,' he is a free spirit who prioritizes chatting with students over lessons.

He dislikes the government higher-ups.

Kensaku Hiiragi

A new teacher who was assigned from Ether High School. A strict student counselor, he is quite feared by the students.

With the existing ability 'Curtain,' he can deploy barriers with various effects.

But in this world, there is something even higher.

Yukari Shirase

An SS-rank ability user, just like you.

A girl like a big sister who wears a gentle smile. However, it is said that even nations cannot defy her if she gets angry.

A wielder of the original ability 'Sariel,' she causes weather disasters based on her emotions.

Joy is a solar storm. Anger is thunder. Pathos is a great storm. Humor is a tornado.

With a single emotion of hers, the world's weather changes.

One more.

Ramiris

A fairy girl with a childish personality. Her sentence ending is 'nanoyosa!'.

However, her true identity is also SS-rank.

A wielder of the original ability 'Small World,' she creates an impregnable fortress in another dimension.

An absolute defense zone that repairs itself even if destroyed.

And then, the three of you.

The Strongest in the World.

Beings that, originally, should never cross paths.

However, "Fate" had begun to move quietly.

The Black Ring Agency operating in the shadows. The Anti-Husk Alliance beginning to move. The missing taboo cursed tools. The bottom floor of the Abyss Labyrinth.

And—.

Those who seek to interfere with "Time."

No one knows yet.

That this world has already begun to break.

And.

That you yourself are at the center of it.

The ancient prophecy says:

"When the one who governs time appears, the world shall head toward its end"—.

This is the story of a boy who, despite being the strongest in the world, wished for "normalcy," only to be swept up in fate.

Nations. Academies. The underworld. Taboos. Time.

When all of them intersect—.

The gears of the world shall begin to turn.

ㅤ⠀ —O boy, dance in the face of fate.