Chapter 1 – Death and Rebirth
Harsh never imagined that a simple drive home could end everything. The rain slicked road reflected the red glow of brake lights ahead, and for a brief moment, he thought, I should have left earlier…
Then, the impact came. The world shattered into light and sound, pain and weightless nothingness, and Harsh felt his consciousness tearing free from his body.
And yet, there was no fear. No regret—not entirely. Only a strange, almost electric awareness that something… else… was happening.
A voice, soft and resonant, echoed in the void.
"Welcome, Harsh. You have been chosen to enter a world of devils, dragons, and Sacred Gears. You have knowledge… and potential. Your journey begins now."
Harsh blinked—or rather, he realized blinking was meaningless here. He was floating, suspended in a space that defied dimension. Colors shimmered and twisted, a kaleidoscope of infinite layers. His memories of Earth, of school, of the anime he'd binge-watched, all surged together.
Wait… this is…
He gasped internally. The realization hit him: he remembered High School DxD. Every fight, every Sacred Gear, every devil hierarchy—all of it. He even knew Rias Gremory's stats.
A soft pulse of energy surrounded him, and suddenly, a small holographic interface appeared before him. Floating text shimmered in midair.
SYSTEM INTERFACE ACTIVATED
[Welcome, Harsh. You are now a pure-blooded devil in the DxD universe. Your soul retains knowledge of prior dimensions.]
[Primary objectives: Survive. Grow. Form your path to power.]
[Cheesepiece progression unlocked. First cheesepiece: Coming-of-age ceremony. Estimated activation: age-appropriate.]
Harsh could hardly contain a grin. So… I get a system? And I know everything already? This is too easy.
Moments later, the kaleidoscope of light collapsed. Harsh felt himself falling—or perhaps being born—into a new body. Warmth, air, and the faint scent of roses greeted him. He opened his eyes.
A lavish room with crimson accents, chandeliers, and fine furniture stretched before him. Servants bowed as they noticed his movement. And in the corner, two girls, clearly his age, turned toward him with wide eyes.
"Harsh! You're awake!" a familiar voice exclaimed. "I was worried…"
Rias Gremory, the crimson-haired beauty he had seen in anime countless times, smiled softly. Beside her, Sona Shitori, with her gentle demeanor, gave a polite nod.
Harsh blinked at them. Childhood friends… already here? Perfect.
He stood, testing his new body. Energy thrummed in his veins. The system confirmed it:
[Status: Pure-blooded devil. Magical potential: Maximum for age. System interface: Active.]
"So… I'm alive again. And this time, I have a head start," he muttered, half to himself, half to the system.
Rias tilted her head, smiling. "You always were a bit… strange, Harsh. But I think you'll fit in here just fine."
Sona simply nodded, her calm eyes studying him carefully. "We're glad you're back. There's much to learn."
Harsh allowed himself a small grin. Oh, I'll learn. And I'll grow. And by the time this world knows what's happening, I'll be unstoppable.
For now, though, he just focused on one thing: survive, bond with Rias and Sona, and wait for the coming-of-age ceremony.
The first step of his new life had begun.