Raynare's light spear burned toward my chest like a golden comet with a personal vendetta.
So this is how I die. Again. You know, for a second life, this one's really speedrunning toward the finish.
The world slowed. Not in the dramatic anime way. My system flickered with a notification I didn't have time to read. My body refused to move fast enough. The spear's heat singed the air three feet out, and I could already feel my skin prickling.
Crimson light exploded between us.
The Power of Destruction slammed into Raynare's spear mid-flight, annihilating it in a burst of red and gold sparks. The shockwave knocked me backward, and I hit the concrete hard enough to taste copper. Pain bloomed across my shoulders and spine. My vision swam.
"You will not touch him." Rias Gremory stood in front of me, hair whipping in the residual energy, her hand still extended. Her voice could've frozen hellfire. "He's under my protection now."
Note to self: Never piss off the devil princess. Also, maybe send her a thank-you card later. Do they have Hallmark in the Underworld?
Raynare landed on a dumpster, black wings folding with predatory grace. Her eyes swept over me with renewed interest. "The Gremory heir herself, protecting a random human? How... curious." She smiled, all teeth. "He must be valuable. The Sacred Gear, perhaps?"
"Sacred Gear?" Rias didn't correct her. Interesting. "Leave now, Fallen Angel. This territory belongs to the Gremory family."
"Temporarily."
Two more figures dropped from the sky. Akeno and Kiba, flanking Rias like they'd practiced this formation a thousand times. Probably had.
Lightning crackled around Akeno's fingers, her elegant demeanor completely at odds with the murderous intent in her smile. "Ara ara, we have guests. How rude of them to attack without introducing themselves."
Kiba already had his sword drawn, the blade humming with demonic energy. "She's not alone. I sense more above."
Right on cue, three more shapes descended from the rooftops. Fallen angels, smaller than Raynare, their black wings marked with fewer feathers. Minions. My system pinged their power levels at 18-22. Four hostiles total.
[COMBAT ESCALATION DETECTED]
[RECOMMENDATION: SEEK COVER]
Gee, thanks for the tactical genius, system. "Seek cover." Revolutionary.
"Rias, dear," Akeno said sweetly, lightning intensifying around her, "shall I?"
"Handle the minions. Kiba, with her. I'll deal with Raynare."
"And the boy?" Raynare called, her grin widening. "Surely you wouldn't leave him unprotected? That would be so... negligent."
Before anyone could respond, two of the fallen angel minions dove. Not toward Rias's group, but toward me.
Oh, fantastic. I'm the soft target. Of course I'm the soft target.
I rolled left as a light spear shattered the ground where I'd been standing. Scrambled to my feet. The fallen angels circled, cutting me off from Rias and the others, who were already engaged with their own opponents.
"Just come quietly, human," one of the minions said. Female, bored, like this was her nine-to-five. "Raynare wants you alive. Mostly."
"Tempting offer." I raised my hands, that unstable light energy flickering around my right palm. "Counter-offer: you leave, and I don't accidentally explode us both."
They laughed.
Fair.
The first one lunged, light spear forming. I did the only thing I could. Activated Fragment Adaptation and prayed.
Time didn't slow this time. Instead, something clicked in my brain. I could see the attack coming, trajectory mapped in blue lines across my vision. Her form was sloppy, left side open, wings beating at a predictable rhythm.
[FRAGMENT ADAPTATION: SKILL ACQUIRED]
[BASIC FLIGHT - 20% EFFICIENCY]
I ducked under her spear thrust, felt the heat graze my hair, and slammed my palm into her stomach. The unstable light energy in my hand discharged. Wild. Uncontrolled. But effective.
She screamed, wings flickering, and crashed into a pile of garbage bags.
Did I just do that? Holy shit, I just did that. More of a controlled fall than actual flight, but I could feel the potential humming in my bones now.
The second minion recovered from her shock and attacked with significantly less boredom. Her light spear carved toward my neck, and I learned something important: dodging one attack doesn't mean you're ready for the second.
Pain erupted across my forearm as I barely blocked with my unstable energy. The light burned, searing through the remnants of my jacket sleeve. I could smell cooking meat. My meat.
I stumbled back, vision blurring. She pressed the advantage, raining strikes that I couldn't fully block. Each impact rattled my bones, pushed me closer to the alley wall.
Okay, think. Think, damn it. You played video games your whole life. You KNOW this pattern.
She overextended on a thrust.
My body moved before my brain caught up. I sidestepped, grabbed her wrist, and yanked her off-balance. My free hand, still crackling with that borrowed light, drove into her exposed back.
The energy released in a burst that sent both of us flying. She hit the wall. I hit the ground.
I lay there for a second, staring at the night sky through the alley gap, gasping for breath. Every muscle screamed. My arm felt like someone had used it for a cigarette lighter.
This is fine. Everything is fine. I just beat two supernatural creatures in hand-to-hand combat while actively dying. Totally normal Thursday.
A shadow fell over me.
I looked up to find Raynare hovering, her expression caught between fury and fascination. Behind her, I could see Rias locked in combat. Power of Destruction clashing against light spears in a deadly lightshow.
"Impressive," Raynare admitted. "You're adapting faster than any human should. That power of yours..." Her eyes gleamed. "I've changed my mind. You're coming with me. Alive. We have researchers who would love to examine that Sacred Gear."
"Hard pass."
"It wasn't a request."
She raised her hand. A spear of light materialized, bigger than the others, pulsing with concentrated power.
[INCOMING ATTACK: LETHAL]
[RECOMMENDATION: PRAY]
To who? The God of this world is apparently dead!
I tried to move. My body refused. Too much damage, too much strain. The spear descended.
And a small, white-haired blur slammed into Raynare from the side.
Koneko Toujou. The girl I'd barely seen before. She drove her fist into the fallen angel's ribcage with force that cracked the sound barrier. Raynare flew across the alley, crashing through a brick wall.
Koneko landed beside me, expression flat. "...you're weak."
"Thanks," I wheezed. "Really feeling the team spirit."
"...nn. Can you stand?"
"Debatable."
She grabbed my arm, gently, surprisingly, and hauled me up. I swayed but stayed upright. Across the battlefield, the situation had shifted. Akeno's lightning had torn through the remaining minions. Kiba stood over an unconscious fallen angel, sword already dissipating. Rias advanced on where Raynare had fallen.
For one beautiful moment, I thought we'd won.
Then Raynare erupted from the rubble, wings spread wide, face twisted with rage. "You think this is OVER? I'll have that power! I'll have ALL of it!"
Rias's voice cut through the chaos like ice. "Power of Destruction: Annihilation."
Crimson energy surged forward in a wave that devoured everything in its path. Raynare barely managed to throw herself skyward, escaping the attack by inches. Her left wing smoked, feathers disintegrating.
"This isn't finished, Gremory!" She shot toward the clouds, her surviving minions following. "That boy's power will be mine! Mark my words!"
Then they were gone, swallowed by the night sky.
Silence fell over the alley. Just heavy breathing, settling dust, and the distant sound of a car alarm triggered by the chaos.
[LEVEL UP! 2 → 3]
STR: 6 (+1) | INT: 9 (+1) | AGI: 7 (+1) | VIT: 6 (+1) | SPR: 6 (+1)
POWER LEVEL: 14 → 17
SKILL POINTS: +3
I stared at the notification, then at Rias, who was walking toward me with an expression I couldn't read. Her uniform was singed, hair disheveled, but she moved like she'd barely exerted herself.
"Well," I managed, voice hoarse. "That was fun. Let's never do it again."
Akeno appeared at Rias's side, somehow still looking elegant despite the combat. "Ufufu, I like this one. He has spirit."
"He has something," Kiba agreed, sheathing his sword. "That combat adaptation... I've never seen anything like it."
Koneko just stared at me. "...still weak."
"I'm sensing a theme."
Rias stopped in front of me, studying my face. Her blue eyes held something dangerous. Not threatening, but intense. Like I was a puzzle she intended to solve.
"You fought two fallen angels," she said. "Alone. With almost no training and a power you barely understand."
"To be fair, I only beat two fallen angels. That third one almost killed me."
"You survived." She cut me off. "That's more than most humans could say. More than most low-class devils, even." A pause. "You're hurt. Let me see your arm."
She took my injured forearm before I could protest, examining the light burns with clinical efficiency. Her touch was surprisingly gentle.
"These will heal. Your regeneration ability, copied from me, should handle it within a day or two." She released my arm. "But you need proper rest. And proper training."
"I'll be fine with a good night's sleep and maybe seven gallons of coffee."
"No." Her voice hardened. "You won't. Those fallen angels are gone, but they'll be back. Raynare saw your potential. She won't stop until she has you, or you're dead."
Great. A supernatural stalker. Just what I needed.
"So what do you suggest?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
Rias smiled. For the first time, it looked genuine. Almost warm. "Come with me. Stay at the Occult Research Club. I can offer you shelter, training, and protection."
"And in exchange?"
"In exchange..." She tilted her head, that aristocratic demeanor softening. "Nothing. Yet. Consider it a trial period. You have potential, Ryder Cross. Extraordinary potential. I'd like to see where it leads."
Akeno giggled behind her. "Ara ara, Rias offering charity? How unlike you."
"It's not charity," Rias said smoothly. "It's investment."
I looked at her. At all of them. Akeno with her dangerous smile, Kiba with his calm professionalism, Koneko with her flat stare that somehow still communicated complete indifference to my suffering.
These were devils. Literal demons. Everything my old world's religions warned about.
But they'd saved my life. Twice now.
What choice do I have? Go back to living in alleys, waiting for the next fallen angel attack? At least with them, I have a chance.
"Fine," I said. "I'll take your offer. But I have questions."
"You'll have answers." Rias turned, gesturing for me to follow. "Tomorrow. Tonight, you rest."
We walked out of the alley, leaving the destruction behind. My system flickered with one last notification:
[QUEST AVAILABLE: JOIN PEERAGE]
[DESCRIPTION: THE GREMORY HEIR OFFERS YOU A PLACE AMONG HER SERVANTS]
[REWARD: POWER, PROTECTION, PURPOSE]
[WARNING: THIS CHOICE CANNOT BE UNDONE]
[ACCEPT? Y/N]
I stared at the words. Servants. Peerage. Whatever that meant.
"Hey, Rias?"
She glanced back.
"What exactly does joining a devil's peerage mean?"
For a moment, just a moment, something flickered in her expression. Uncertainty? Excitement? I couldn't tell.
"That," she said quietly, "is a conversation for tomorrow."
Behind her, Akeno's smile grew wider. Kiba's expression remained perfectly neutral. And Koneko...
Koneko was already eating a chocolate bar from somewhere, utterly unbothered.
These are my allies now, I thought, limping after them into the night. A devil princess, a sadistic lightning mage, a sword-summoning pretty boy, and a tiny girl who could probably bench press a car.
I've definitely died and gone somewhere. Not sure it's Hell, but it's definitely not Kansas anymore.
The night swallowed us, and somewhere in the distance, Raynare's last words echoed in my mind.
That boy's power will be mine.
I had a feeling I'd be seeing her again soon.