Consciousness returned not with a jolt, but with a slow, steady warmth, like a computer booting up after a critical update. The first thing I was aware of was the absence of pain. The searing, fatal agony in my chest was gone, replaced by a faint, pleasant thrum of energy beneath my skin.
The second thing was the softness of a bed beneath me.
My eyes fluttered open. I was in a spacious, opulent room. A crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling, and the furnishings were a tasteful mix of Western and Japanese styles. This wasn't my cramped apartment. These weren't my memories, yet they were. The knowledge surfaced from the fragmented consciousness I had inherited: the Old School Building. The Occult Research Club.
"You're awake."
The voice was calm, melodious, and carried an innate authority. I turned my head. Sitting in an ornate chair beside the bed was Rias Gremory. In the soft light of the room, she was even more breathtaking. She was studying me with a curious, analytical gaze that was both gentle and piercing.
"Yuma... she..." I began, my voice hoarse. I let the sentence hang, playing the part of the confused, traumatized victim. It wasn't entirely an act. The memory of the light spear piercing my heart was visceral and terrifying, a ghostly echo in my new body.
"Yuma Amano was a facade," Rias explained, her tone matter-of-fact yet not unkind. "Her true identity is a Fallen Angel named Raynare. She targeted you because you possessed a Sacred Gear."
A Sacred Gear. The Boosted Gear. The power of the Red Dragon Emperor, Ddraig. I could feel it now, a slumbering sun deep within my soul, intertwined with the new demonic energy that was my lifeblood. It was quiet, waiting.
"And you... you saved me?" I asked, pushing myself up on the pillows. The body moved with a familiarity that was disconcerting. It was my body now, but the muscle memory of Issei's seventeen years of life was baked in.
"I reincarnated you," she corrected gently. "Your body was dead. Your soul was on the verge of passing on, yet it clung with remarkable tenacity. I used an Evil Piece—a Pawn—to bring you back as a Devil, my servant." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Do you understand what that means?"
I nodded slowly, looking down at my hands. They were Issei's hands, but the life that animated them was mine. "I... I think so. I'm a Devil now. And I work for you."
"For you, and *with* me," Rias said, a small, approving smile gracing her lips. "You are a member of my household now, Issei Hyodo. This is your home."
As she spoke, the golden interface of the Omni-Emporium System flickered passively at the edge of my vision, a silent secret only I could see.
"Thank you, President," I said, the title coming naturally from Issei's memories. The gratitude was genuine. She had saved me when I had no other options.
"Rest for now," Rias instructed, standing up. "Akeno will bring you something to eat. Later, I will introduce you to the other members of the club." She walked to the door, her every movement graceful. "Welcome to the Occult Research Club, Issei. Your new life begins today."
With that, she left, closing the door softly behind her.
Silence descended upon the room, broken only by the faint hum of the mansion and the frantic beating of my own heart. I was alone. Truly alone with the reality of my situation.
*I'm in the world of High School DxD. I am Issei Hyodo. And I have a system.*
Taking a deep breath, I focused my will inward. *"System. Open interface."*
The golden hologram bloomed before my eyes, sharp and clear. It was structured like a vast, cosmic storefront. The main categories were displayed in a clean sidebar:
**- Abilities & Skills**
**- Bloodlines & Physiology**
**- Items & Artifacts**
**- Knowledge & Techniques**
**- Quests**
My eyes went straight to the top corner, where my balance was displayed.
**Available Points: 2,800**
A small fortune, earned from accepting Rias's offer. I navigated to the **Quests** section. There was one active quest.
**[ Ongoing Quest: Integration ]**
**Objective:** Acclimate to your new life. Learn the basics of your Devil powers and the rules of the Underworld.
**Success Reward:** 500 Points.
**Failure:** None.
**Progress:** 15%
And one new, blinking notification.
**[ New Quest Available: 'The First Step' ]**
**Objective:** Successfully manifest your Demonic Energy.
**Success Reward:** 300 Points, Unlock 'Basic Demonic Energy Control' in the Shop.
Simple, guided objectives. The system wasn't just a shop; it was a tutorial, a guide for a reincarnated soul in a dangerous world.
Curiosity got the better of me. I opened the **Abilities & Skills** section. The list was staggering, filtered to show what I could currently afford.
**> <｜place▁holder▁no▁280｜> Step (From 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'): 450 Points**
**> <｜place▁holder▁no▁284｜> Fist (Basic Striking Enhancement): 600 Points**
**> <｜place▁holder▁no▁278｜> Breathing Technique (Total Concentration): 2,500 Points**
**> <｜place▁holder▁no▁277｜> Manipulation (Telekinesis, Novice): 2,000 Points**
My heart raced. These were powers from other worlds, other stories, now available for a price. I could become strong in ways the original Issei never could. But I had to be smart. Wasting points now could be fatal later.
A soft knock came at the door. "Issei-kun? May I come in? I've brought you some food."
The voice was sweet and gentle. Akeno Himejima. I quickly dismissed the system interface.
"Y-yes, please come in!"
The door slid open, and the beautiful, black-haired vice-president entered, carrying a tray. Her smile was serene, but her violet eyes held a perceptive sharpness. She placed the tray on the bedside table. It held a simple, hearty meal of miso soup, rice, and grilled fish.
"The President told me everything," Akeno said, her voice like a soothing melody. "You've been through a terrible ordeal. Please, eat and regain your strength."
"Th-thank you, Akeno-senpai," I stammered, the Issei-part of me reacting to her beauty while the core *me* was busy analyzing her every move.
As I ate, she watched me, that same gentle smile on her face. "My, you seem quite composed for someone who just died and came back as a Devil."
I nearly choked on a piece of fish. I had to be careful. The original Issei would have been a babbling, perverted mess. I was quieter, more observant. The difference was noticeable.
"It... hasn't really sunk in yet," I said, which was partially true. "Everything feels... strange."
"That's perfectly normal," Akeno reassured me. "We are all here to help you."
After I finished eating, she took the tray and left, telling me to rest more. Once alone, I leaned back against the headboard, my mind racing.
I had a body, a new family of sorts, and a purpose: get strong, survive the coming battles, and protect the people this body—*my body*—cared about. The memories of Issei's desire to become a Harem King were there, a background hum of ambition, but they were filtered through my own more pragmatic lens. That dream felt like a distant, complicated goal. The immediate future was about survival.
I closed my eyes, not to sleep, but to focus. I reached for the new energy inside me, the Demonic Power Rias had gifted me. I willed it to gather in the palm of my hand, just as the quest demanded.
It was difficult, like trying to grasp smoke. But after a few minutes of intense concentration, a faint, flickering, purple-black aura sparked to life above my palm. It was weak and unstable, but it was there.
**[ Quest Updated: 'The First Step' - Complete! ]**
**[ Rewards: 300 Points, 'Basic Demonic Energy Control' now available for purchase (Cost: 500 Points). ]**
A small smile touched my lips. My first step. The first entry in the ledger of my new life.
I had 3,100 Points now, and a universe of possibilities at my fingertips. The game was on.