“Before we explain the rules of this game, let’s go over the precautions. I’m sure all of you have thoroughly read the message that was sent to you via email.”

Everyone nodded emphatically in response to the host's question.

I was so excited that I checked the email over and over during breaks and after getting home.

I glanced to the side—she was averting her eyes from the stage.

Well, she got dragged into this, so I can’t really blame her.

“This game is still in the testing phase, but the content is nearly complete. From here on, only balance adjustments and minor checks remain. We would like to ask for your help, the chosen ones, with these adjustments.”

Balance adjustments in games are quite important—especially in tower defense, where tuning the difficulty properly is crucial. If it’s too easy, it’s boring, and if it’s too hard, players leave.

“If any test play details are leaked online or to the media, there will be a fine and a permanent ban from playing any of our company’s games ever again. Your account will be revoked permanently.”

The previously cheerful voice turned low and cold in an instant.

Information leaks are a big concern everywhere, so the warning makes sense—but the fine wouldn’t hurt as much. What would be unbearable is not being able to play this developer’s games anymore.

I swore in my heart: I won’t let any information leak, no matter what!

“But hey, if we only talk about strict rules, it’s just depressing, right? So here’s some exciting news. This game includes character and trap development, an open world, RPG elements, and even battle royale features!”

That’s a lot. The previous game, Death Parade TD, had development features too, but it was a fairly standard stage-clear tower defense game.

I can’t even imagine what kind of game this is going to be. But honestly, games that try to cram in too many features often flop. That worries me.

“Thinking we’ve gone overboard, aren’t you? Don’t worry, we’ve made no compromises. This is a game by tower defense fans, for tower defense fans! That’s no lie!”

She declared it confidently.

With that kind of conviction, all I can do is get my hopes up.

My sleeve was tugged, and when I looked to the side, she was gazing up at me.

Her face seemed filled with a swarm of question marks.

“What’s a battle royale?”

“You don’t even know that...?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t play games much. Oh! But I’m great at dating sims! I’ve totally wrapped countless hot guys around my finger!”

She puffed her chest proudly with a smug look on her face.

It’s a different genre, but as a fellow gamer, I decided not to poke fun.

“A battle royale is where players fight each other until only one remains.”

“Ah, my brother plays something like that—he shoots people with guns and stuff.”

In FPS—first-person shooters—that’s a common format.

I play them sometimes too, just to unwind.

“Now, moving on to the story explanation. Ahem... You are guardians who have drifted from another world into this desolate land. Here lies a small nation, barely holding on in a world overrun by monsters—a land teetering on the brink, exhausted from both monsters and wars with neighboring countries.”

As the explanation continued, we moved to the edge of a mountaintop and observed the area below.

It was hard to see clearly due to the height, but signs of war were scattered everywhere. That charred zone must’ve once been a fairly large town.

There were also massive craters and what looked like the ruins of a collapsed temple.

“As a last resort, the king of this small nation performed a forbidden summoning ritual—to call forth talented individuals from another world!”

She passionately gestured while speaking, but our reactions were lukewarm.

“I’ve seen this kind of plot in anime before.”

“Me too.” “Same here.”

“This is that whole isekai reincarnation thing, right?”

“Technically, isn’t this a transfer rather than reincarnation?”

The surrounding murmurs grew. I was thinking the exact same thing.

“If anything, I wanted to be reincarnated into an otome game world...”

Only the girl beside me seemed to be thinking in a completely different direction.

It’s a common setup, but that’s still better than a needlessly complex intro that’s hard to follow. What really matters is the gameplay.

“However, due to a malfunction in the summoning circle, the guardians summoned from another world didn’t appear in the castle but were scattered all across this land! From now on, we’ll refer to all of you players as ‘guardians.’ And that’s the current situation. Of course, we’ll have an epic opening ready in the official release—something to look forward to!”

If someone asked me whether I expect a grand story or opening in a tower defense game, I’d say no—but this game seems to be going all out, so I’m a bit excited.

“Now then, let’s talk about the part you’ve all been waiting for: how to play and the rules. First, each guardian will be granted one TDS—Tower Defense Skill. It will be a unique, one-of-a-kind ability. To put it plainly, it’s a trap or deployable object used in-game. No need to explain this further, right?”

Basic knowledge. Without it, you can’t even call it a tower defense game.

The whole genre revolves around placing traps and repelling enemies—without that, it’s meaningless.

“So, how are these abilities decided? Well... take a look at this!”

The host Helm waved her right hand, and a colorful explosion of light and comical sound effects erupted. Something massive appeared on stage.

It had a huge transparent sphere on top, a square box underneath, a hole that looked like an output chute, and a lever about the size of a manhole cover.

“Yes, this is... the TDS Gacha!”

“There’s a gacha system!?”

I couldn’t help but shout, and others around me had similar reactions.

Since the internet became mainstream, this kind of mechanic has become common. It’s a luck-based system where you get random items.

Often used in free-to-play games to make money. And just as often, people blow stupid amounts of cash and end up regretting it.

“But don’t worry, this gacha is free. Everyone gets one pull to receive a TDS.”

“Um, I have a question.”

All eyes turned to the person who raised their hand.

Whoa, who’s that good-looking guy? Blond hair, blue eyes, probably just over 170 cm—slightly shorter than me. Long, slender limbs—especially long legs.

His modern hairstyle and that face... too perfect.

“Ahh... If this were an otome game, he’d be my top pick...”

The girl next to me sighed dreamily, eyes sparkling.

Feels like she’d fall for a bad guy in a heartbeat.

“Sure, go ahead. Uh, your name is registered as your real one—is it okay to call you that?”

“Yeah, just call me Haitate.”

So he’s the type to use his real name in games—like me.

Now I’m curious—what’s the name of the girl beside me?

“Okay then, Haitate-san. What’s your question?”

“Is the TDS we get limited to just one?”

This guy, who looks to be around twenty, even has a handsome voice. It’s so smooth and androgynous, I wondered if he was a voice actor.

“Yes, at first, each of you gets only one TDS. Since it’s a gacha, you might get a less impressive ability. But don’t be disappointed—TDS abilities can be leveled up and strengthened. Some may evolve in unexpected ways... maybe?”

That’s vague.

Still, the fact that upgrades and evolutions exist is a plus. In tower defense, choosing and placing traps is one of the key points of strategy.

The traps you get can greatly change your tactics.

“So no, you’re not stuck with just one trap forever. And that’s where the battle royale element comes in. By defeating other guardians, you can steal their TDS!”

Whoa—that was unexpected.

The other players looked startled, some even confused, but a few had faint grins on their faces.

I’m probably wearing the same kind of grin.

I love classic tower defense, but after playing so many of them, it’s easy to get bored quickly.

But this feature—I’ve never seen or heard of anything like it.

“That said, starting with a kill-or-be-killed scenario on day one is a bit much. So, TDS theft won’t be possible until the third day.”

Good call. Everyone needs time to get used to the controls first.

“Anyway, enough talk—it’s time for the part you’ve been waiting for! Let’s do the TDS gacha! Who wants to go first? Hands up!”

So sudden. Hmm... I’d rather see how others do first.

There might be strong, weak, or even useless TDS abilities.

Luck, huh... I’ve never been good with that. Always had terrible luck with draws.

“Me! Me! I want to go first!”

As everyone else hesitated, the one to raise her hand loudly was—the girl beside me.