Dimensional Guild: Almighty Chuunibyou

"Haa!!!" Rozen Itsuki jolted awake, finding himself in a dark, silent, and unfamiliar place. Confusion clouded his expression.

Why... Why did I wake up here?

He questioned inwardly, trying to piece together how he had ended up in this strange location. His mind raced through various theories, from logical deductions to absurd scenarios.

Eventually, he landed on an answer: he must be dreaming! And not just any dream—this was a special one, a lucid dream!

After all, considering what had happened before, it seemed strange that he'd suddenly wake up in a place like this. There were no signs of a kidnapping or anything suspicious; it was just him... falling into—

Wait! I fell into a hole!!!

The realization struck him, his eyes widening in disbelief as the memory resurfaced.

"So..." he gulped, "Is this a dream, or is it reality?" he muttered, not expecting an answer from anyone as he cautiously glanced around.

His heart pounded in his chest, his breath grew ragged, and sweat trickled down his forehead as panic began to take hold.

Realizing his state, he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, though he knew it did little to ease his anxiety.

"I need to stay calm and figure out what's really happening to me," he said, pulling himself to his feet and brushing off the dirt and dust clinging to his clothes.

His vision gradually adjusted to the darkness, allowing him to take in his surroundings. He realized he was standing in a narrow, deserted alley wedged between tall buildings.

Despite the eerie silence and pitch-black shadows enveloping the area, he felt a small sense of relief. As unsettling as the atmosphere was, he preferred this over the presence of any other person.

After all, as people often say, "The most terrifying thing you can encounter in a dark, deserted forest isn't a wild animal—it's another human being." Rozen couldn't agree more.

Rozen reached into his pocket, hoping to find his phone, but luck wasn't on his side—it was completely empty.

"Tsk, it must have slipped away when I fell earlier," he muttered with a hint of regret and sadness. It was his favorite phone, one that accompanied him nearly 24 hours a day.

Still, there was no time to mourn the loss. He quickly brushed it off and started walking, determined to find a way out of this place.

"What a day! Even my glasses also missing now," he grumbled, squinting as he tried to make sense of his blurry surroundings.

Fortunately, it didn't take long before he spotted a faint light in the distance. He hastened toward it, step by step, watching as the light grew brighter and larger in his field of vision. Until finally, he arrived.

"OH. MY. GOD..." Rozen exclaimed, his mouth agape, staring in awe at the breathtaking scene before him.

It was a city—no, not just any city. It was a sprawling metropolis, bathed in the glow of technology far beyond anything he'd ever seen in the real world. The entire landscape looked like something pulled straight out of a sci-fi fantasy.

Towering skyscrapers pierced the sky, their surfaces adorned with vibrant neon lights that cast a colorful haze over the entire skyline.

Giant holographic advertisements floated in mid-air, displaying lifelike animations of products and characters that seemed almost tangible. Sleek, futuristic electric cars sped by on levitating highways, their sleek designs making even the latest Tesla look outdated.

Drones buzzed overhead, weaving between the colossal buildings like mechanical fireflies.

The air was filled with the hum of advanced machinery and the distant chatter of robotic vendors offering goods to passersby. Humanoid robots strolled down the streets alongside people, their synthetic faces and glowing eyes blending seamlessly with the crowd.

Massive 3D billboards projected stunning visuals, showcasing high-definition holograms that shifted and morphed with captivating animations. It felt like the entire city was alive, pulsing with energy.

"Cyberpunk..." Rozen whispered, the word slipping out naturally. It was the only term that fit this surreal and dazzling urban jungle.

The kind of things you'd only see in futuristic civilizations were now right before his very eyes. No wonder he was utterly stunned by the sight.

"Am I really dreaming right now?" he asked himself before pinching his arm hard. "Ouch, that hurts!" he yelped, the pain making him even more shocked.

T-this! I'm not dreaming?! Then that means... I'm really in a cyberpunk city?!

He gulped at the realization, his heart racing once again. His mind, almost instinctively, pieced together what must have happened.

Isekai'd... I've been isekai'd!!!

"Haha... Hahaha... Hahahahaha!!!" Rozen's laughter erupted, growing louder and more hysterical by the second.

"Hey, look at that guy! Is he a lunatic?"

"Poor thing, he must've lost his sanity. And he's so young," whispered some of the passersby, watching Rozen with pity.

"Hello, police? Please hurry! There's a young man here who seems to have lost his mind," a bystander frantically said into her phone.

The reactions from the crowd varied—some filmed him, some ignored him, others laughed, while a few kind souls thought about approaching him but hesitated, fearing Rozen might attack.

Rozen, however, paid no attention to them. He was too immersed in his own shock, grappling with the absurdity of the situation.

To think I've been isekai'd just like the characters in those comics I used to read! Life is truly ridiculous!!!

Though he was initially overwhelmed by panic, the realization of leaving behind his old boring life triggered an unexpected surge of excitement within him—his inner otaku couldn't help but burn with enthusiasm.

Visions of a new life and a brand-new world filled his mind, momentarily replacing his earlier anxiety. He knew, rationally, that an isekai experience might not be as glamorous as depicted in manga and comics. But as an otaku, wasn't he allowed to dream a little?

After taking a moment to calm down, Rozen took a deep breath and flashed a cheerful smile, confusing the onlookers who had witnessed his earlier breakdown.

"Eh? Why is everyone staring at me like that?" he mumbled in confusion. Rozen felt uneasy under their gaze, especially as someone who was a heavy introvert and struggled with social anxiety.

"H-Hey! Do you guys understand me?" he called out in English, assuming this cyberpunk city wasn't in Japan.

But to his surprise, the people merely tilted their heads, glancing at each other with puzzled expressions, which made Rozen even more uncomfortable.

D-don't tell me this world isn't on a futuristic Earth?! But rather, an entirely different world with a civilization similar to Earth?!

The uneasy thought quickly turned into a harsh reality. If that were true, then he wouldn't be able to communicate at all with the people of this world!

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!!!" he shouted angrily, causing the curious bystanders to step back in fear.

You've got to be kidding me! I was just getting excited about being isekai'd, and now you're telling me I can't communicate with anyone here?! Fucking hell!!!

"Wait!" he exclaimed, suddenly realizing something.

If I'm not wrong, travelers are usually blessed with some kind of cheat power when they come to another world, right? I'm a traveler now, so I must have one too, right?! Right?!

Filled with hope and excitement, he tried calling out for a system, a cheat ability, or even a chat group, like the ones travelers often get in the novels he loved reading. But no matter how hard he tried, nothing appeared.

N-no way, right? There's no way I didn't get a cheat power, is there?!

Just as Rozen felt like collapsing into despair, a sudden electric jolt struck him from behind, and he fell unconscious on the spot.

Unbeknownst to him, while he was lost in his frantic thoughts, the police had silently approached from behind and stunned him with an electric shock. It seemed to be the officers called by one of the bystanders earlier.

"Sigh, luckily we managed to neutralize him before he caused any trouble," said the officer who knocked Rozen out. "Alright, folks, leave this young man to us. We'll be taking him in for questioning. We detected that he has no official identification, so there's a strong chance he's an illegal immigrant," he added before he and his partner carried Rozen to their vehicle.

As Rozen's body lay unconscious in the real world, his consciousness awoke, floating in a vast, directionless void, shrouded in pitch-black darkness with no light in sight.

Where am I?

He asked himself, though no sound escaped his lips. Strangely, he could still hear his own voice clearly.

Despite the complete darkness surrounding him, Rozen felt no fear. Instead, an overwhelming sense of calm and peace washed over him, something that felt oddly comforting.

Am I dead?

He questioned himself again. Perhaps this was what people experienced after death—floating aimlessly for eternity in an empty void. A powerful sense of reluctance surged within Rozen. Despite the soothing tranquility of this place, he couldn't accept the idea of dying right after finally achieving the dream he had longed for—being isekai'd into another world.

Just as he was about to scream in frustration, a sudden surge of information flooded his mind, freezing him in place.

This is...?!

It was the information he had been hoping for—the details of the cheat power he was expecting. He received the full description, including the name and the specifics of his new ability.

The name of the cheat power is...

The Power of God and Anime?!

Rozen was utterly speechless upon learning the name of his ability. If he were in the real world, his lips would be twitching uncontrollably right now.

As for what this power could do, it essentially allowed the user to access any ability, talent, power, or skill from fictional worlds. The only requirement was that the user needed to know how to activate it and must be able to imagine using it as if they were the original wielder of the power.

So... This basically makes me a Chuunibyou? Seriously?

Once again, Rozen found himself speechless. Thankfully, he quickly recovered, feeling eager to try out his new cheat power.

By the way, I can only use 5 temporary abilities at the same time and can make only 1 ability permanent once every month? Hmm...

He turned thoughtful, considering the limitations. Despite the restrictions, he felt that this cheat power was already incredibly overpowered.

Suddenly, a bright idea popped into his head, making him excited. However, just as he was about to act on it, an overwhelming sense of dread and unease washed over him, stopping him in his tracks.

And what idea did he have, you ask? Of course, it was...

To access the powers of Hajun, Featherine Augustus Aurora, or even Mercury from the Shinza Bansho series!!!

It was a wild idea that came to him after realizing his cheat could access any fictional power. However, it seemed like a terrible plan, judging by the intense dread he felt when he tried to proceed.

I got too reckless just now. If I had gone through with that, I might have died.

Rozen felt relieved, thankful for the foreboding sensation that had warned him of the potential danger. With that, he decided to change his plan and started thinking about a more practical permanent ability for his current situation.

I've got it!

At that moment, he realized the perfect ability for himself—the very one he had always wished for back in his old world.

And that ability was...

Great Sage, or as it's also known, Daikenja! It's a Unique Skill from the world of Tensura—one of the key factors that allowed Rimuru to become an overpowered character in fiction!

Great Sage provides its user with immense intelligence, functioning similarly to an AI with computing power equivalent to a supercomputer. This skill would be incredibly useful for Rozen in this unfamiliar world, especially for quickly learning the local language!

Of course, there were likely better skills suited specifically for language learning. However, the versatile functions of Great Sage made it the ideal choice for him right now.

So, let's choose Great Sage as my permanent ability! But... how do I access it?

Rozen found himself confused. He tried to recall how Rimuru used Great Sage in the anime and even in the manga, attempting to call upon it directly, but still, nothing happened.

Eventually, a realization dawned on him.

He closed his 'eyes' and recreated the scene where Rimuru, or rather Mikami Satoru, received the Great Sage ability.

If a 30-year-old virgin can be considered a magician, then a man like me, nearing 40, should surely qualify as a Sage. Maybe I can even reach the rank of Great Sage.

The moment Rozen finished speaking, a familiar female voice resonated in his mind.

[Extra Skill: Sage Acquisition successful.]

[Proceeding. Sage will now transform into the Unique Skill: Great Sage.]

[Transformation complete.]

...I did it? I DID IT!!! Hahahaha!