After everything was done, Rian left together with Ophis — for the last time, without knowing when they would return.
His destination was simple: the Occult Research Club building, the place where he had left his message.
After that, before truly leaving this world, Rian took a brief walk, enjoying a sweet dessert at a small café.
And then, the moment finally came — the time when Rian had to go.
In a dim, quiet alley, Rian stood face-to-face with Ophis.
Then, in an instant, his body began to disintegrate — dissolving into reality like grains of sand scattered by the wind.
His presence vanished completely, erased from this world as if he had never existed.
Ophis stood silently, watching.
Even the fragment of his essence embedded in the fang pendant around his neck could no longer be felt — as though every bond had faded away with his departure.
"Rian… until we meet again."
***
Ding!
[Herald with Serial Number 90,000 has returned to the Infinity Room!]
[Commencing Evaluation...]
In the dim, narrow room—bare of furniture, with brick walls enclosing all four sides—Rian stood calmly, waiting for the evaluation results.
Moments later, what he had been waiting for finally arrived: a series of glowing system panels appeared before his eyes, one after another, illuminating the silence.
____________________
Mission Title: High School DxD
Difficulty Level: Easy
Number of Participants: 1 Participant
Number of Main Missions: 3 Main Missions
Mission One: Defeat 10 non-human beings.
Reward will be determined based on the total number of non-human entities defeated.
Mission Two: Form a Contract with a Devil.
Reward will be determined based on the number, power level, and reputation of the Devils in the Underworld.
Mission Three: Earn 10,000 System Points.
Additional evaluation will be given for exceeding the target.
Reward: To be calculated after all missions are completed.
Penalty: For each failed mission, a fine of 1,000 points will be deducted per mission.
___________________
[The first mission has been completed. The Herald has defeated more non-human creatures than required. Rewards have been increased.]
[The second mission has been completed. The Herald has formed a contract with a high-ranking Devil who is also a descendant of a fallen angel. Rewards have been greatly increased.]
[The third mission has been completed. The Herald successfully earned 10,000 System Points. Rewards remain unchanged.]
[Evaluation Result: B]
Ding!
[The System has detected factors that may increase the Evaluation Result.]
[First Factor: The Herald completed two side missions of C-rank — Rating Game and Dragon Oppai. Rewards slightly increased.]
[Second Factor: The Herald completed a hidden A-rank mission — Beloved by Infinity. Rewards significantly increased.]
[Final Evaluation Result: S]
There was no doubt, this was the highest possible evaluation.
Yet, it still wasn't over.
Because right after that, another notification panel appeared before him.
Ding!
[Detection complete. Herald with serial number 90,000 possesses a special item capable of enhancing the Evaluation Result from the Infinity Room.]
[Would you like to use it?]
Hearing the system's notification, Rian immediately took out a glowing crimson gem from his Void Ring.
It was the Evaluation Enhancement Stone, an item he had obtained from a previous world.
Though the outcome was random, the stone had the ability to raise the final evaluation grade — and interestingly, it could be used up to five times before shattering.
Without hesitation, Rian agreed to use it.
Ding!
[Herald with serial number 90,000 has used a special item to influence the Evaluation Result, triggering a random grade increase.]
Ding!
[Enhancement result: Extremely high.]
[Evaluation Result has drastically increased and surpassed the limit.]
[Final Evaluation Result: EX]
[Rewards: 80,000 Points, 30 Attribute Points, and 1 Random Treasure Chest (Bronze Rank)]
Rian was taken aback by the reward he received. "A random treasure chest!? This... is unusual."
It was the first time he had ever obtained such a reward.
He remembered clearly that within the Infinity Room, mission evaluation rewards were typically limited to points. Even when achieving the highest possible result, the system rarely granted actual items.
From what he knew, the system usually awarded only System Points and a few Attribute Points for evaluations below Rank A.
However, if the result surpassed Rank S — especially reaching the Extreme tier — the rewards would include a significant boost in Attribute Points, and occasionally, a random Skill Point.
As for items — particularly rare ones — they were distributed based solely on performance. Thus, even with an S or Extreme evaluation, there was no guarantee of receiving a rare item.
Of course, there were exceptions to the system's reward structure — one being the successful completion of Hidden Missions.
For example, Rian had obtained the Evaluation Enhancement Stone after clearing a hidden mission related to Luis.
It could be said that every item granted by the system under such conditions always held tremendous value.
And now, Rian had obtained something even rarer — a Random Treasure Chest, a reward that only appeared under very specific circumstances.
Rian grinned confidently as he stared at the floating holographic panel before him.
"Even though the life of a handsome man like me is never easy… at least the obstacles know their place and reward me properly."
But a moment later, his expression turned serious as his gaze shifted toward the details of the mission that appeared next.
"But about that hidden mission… Beloved by Infinity? Isn't that just a title? Or… is it something far more complicated?" Rian muttered, furrowing his brow.
"System, display the details. This handsome man needs to know exactly what kind of reward he's dealing with."
The moment he gave the command, another holographic panel appeared, revealing the details of the hidden mission.
___________________
Ding!
Title: Beloved by Infinity
Rank: A
Description: Attracted the attention of the Dragon God of Infinity, then refused the Fragment of Existence that was offered, earning the title Beloved by Infinity.
Reward: Certificate of the Descendants of Destruction
___________________
Seeing the details of the hidden mission, Rian chuckled softly.."I didn't expect there to be a hidden mission this complicated… Truly surprising."
Back then, Rian had never liked being claimed by anyone — even if that claim came with something extraordinary, such as the Fragment of Existence from the Dragon God of Infinity.
Anyone else in his position would've accepted that fragment without a second thought.
And who could blame them?
That fragment granted a Divine-tier Passive Skill capable of doubling all four basic attributes by 100%, with further growth potential as the user's level increased.
With a light exhale, Rian raised both of his hands.
Rian focused his mind, then slowly drew out the two items he had received from the previous mission.
In his left hand, a miniature treasure chest appeared—no larger than a grown man's palm.
The object was jet-black, engraved with delicate patterns, and though it looked almost like a toy, it radiated a distinct bronze-colored aura.
Meanwhile, in his right hand, a piece of ancient parchment floated above his palm.
Strange inscriptions were carved across its surface—words in the language of the Old Gods, etched not with ink but with laws themselves.
The parchment was yellowed with age, yet it emanated wild, crackling black lightning, its presence so fierce it seemed to suppress the very fabric of reality around it.
And yet, curiously, it did not harm Rian in the slightest, as if the parchment had acknowledged his existence.
Rian then opened the detail window to inspect both items.
Ding!
___________________
> Random Treasure Chest
Rank: Bronze
Description:
When a Herald opens this chest, a random reward of Bronze rank will automatically be generated.
Value: Cannot be bought or sold.
> Certificate of the Descendants of Destruction
Description:
This certificate grants the user access to a special system, allowing them to become a successor of the Dragon King Antares.
The system enhances the user's four main attribute stats, which continue to grow by gaining EXP through slaying living beings.
Note:
Upon use, the user will immediately synchronize with a unique energy known as Mana.
Several system functions are initially locked and require specific levels to be accessed.
Value: 800,000 System Points.
___________________
"Judging by their aura… both of these items look incredible," Rian murmured, gazing at the small chest in his hand.
"Let's just hope I don't get the message— 'Try again, better luck next time.'"
Letting out a sigh, Rian muttered irritably, "Ugh… the more I think about it, the more I feel like smashing this chest."
Still, his eyes remained fixed on the object. A mix of anxiety and curiosity swirled inside him.
"Although… for someone around Rank 5 or 4, getting something like this is pretty rare. So… should I be grateful, or suspicious?"
Even though the reward inside was completely random, the chest itself was undeniably precious.
In Rian's opinion, even if all he got was a 'try again' message, its value remained immeasurable.
Whether in the Trading Hub or even the Auction House, no one had ever managed to sell one—because, by nature, it simply couldn't be traded.