He quickly tried to contain his excitement, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't. A silly grin spread across his face as he looked around the elegant room.
His hands trembled slightly, the rush of adrenaline refusing to fade. He took a deep breath and exhaled, forcing himself to calm down. Slowly, new thoughts began to surface—memories that didn't belong to him. They came like faint whispers at first, then flooded in all at once.
They weren't his memories; they were the memories of this body.
He saw flashes of moments—different places, unfamiliar faces, laughter, keys jangling, credit cards, and the faint scent of expensive perfume. The images settled in his mind, clear and real, as if they had always been there.
Apparently, he was the son of a pair of carefree businesspeople who traveled constantly for work. They were successful, respected, and always busy. They didn't pay much attention to their son, but they made sure to ease their guilt with money. Every month, they sent him more than enough to live comfortably.
The house he was standing in now was one of their gifts—a modern, two-story residence purchased to celebrate his acceptance into Kuoh Academy.
As soon as that name entered his mind, Arthur froze for a moment. Then, slowly, the corners of his mouth lifted again until he was smiling like an idiot.
Kuoh Academy.
He didn't even try to stop himself this time. He laughed quietly, shaking his head in disbelief.
He had truly been sent to the world of High School DxD.
The thought alone sent a spark through his chest. All his life, he had imagined what it would be like to live inside one of the animes he loved. To fight, to rise in power, to meet the characters that once existed only in words and screens. And now, that wish had been granted.
He clenched his fists, his heart pounding with renewed excitement.
"First, I'll check that mission."
He focused his thoughts, and the familiar digital sound rang softly in his mind. A translucent blue window appeared before his eyes, faintly glowing.
=====
Stealing the Spotlight (Special)
Difficulty: Normal
Type: Main Mission
It's time to prove who truly deserves to be the protagonist, Host!!!
Within the next month, find the original protagonist, "Hyoudou Issei," and prove yourself superior to him in a competition (0/1).
Reward: Protagonist's Halo Loot Card, Sacred Gear Loot Card.
=====
Arthur stared at the glowing text for a long moment. His grin returned, wider than before, his pulse racing.
"Stealing the spotlight, huh?" he murmured, his voice filled with amusement. "Sounds fun."
He leaned back slightly, eyes shining with anticipation. The real story was about to begin.
=====
Looking at the date, Arthur noticed that one month remained until the start of classes at Kuoh Academy. He recalled the events of the original story almost instantly.
On the very first day of classes, Toujou Koneko one of the heroines would be assigned to keep an eye on Hyoudou Issei because of the Sacred Gear aura he gave off.
That meant he had exactly one month to prepare before the plot truly began.
"Alright, I need to get to work…" he said under his breath, already thinking ahead.
Ding!
[A side quest has been generated]
=====
Daily Training (Special)
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Side Quest
Consistent exercise is the foundation of all training!!!
100 Push-ups (0/100)
100 Sit-ups (0/100)
100 Squats (0/100)
Run 10km (0/10)
Reward: Fitness Upgrade Card, Random Skill Card, 500 System Points
=====
Arthur blinked at the quest window, a small smirk appearing on his face. "So it's that kind of system, huh?"
Since he had been given such a straightforward task, he decided to start immediately.
He got down on the floor, placing his palms firmly on the wooden surface, and began his push-ups. It didn't take long for him to realize how weak this body really was. By the tenth rep, his arms trembled violently, and his breath came in ragged gasps.
He dropped to the ground, chest heaving, a dull ache spreading across his limbs.
"This guy's… completely out of shape…" he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. It seemed that the previous owner of this body was more of a bookworm than an athlete.
Still, he refused to quit. With stubborn determination, he pushed through the pain and managed to complete the push-ups, sit-ups, and squats—though by the end, his muscles burned so badly that he nearly threw up.
After a short rest, he rummaged through his closet, pulled out some loose workout clothes, and changed. Searching through his newly inherited memories, he located a nearby park.
The evening air was cool when he stepped outside. He started jogging toward the park, his steps uneven at first, but his pace gradually steadying as he pushed himself to keep going. By the time he circled the park several times, his legs felt like lead, and his lungs burned with every breath.
He stumbled onto a bench and collapsed, drenched in sweat. The sky had already turned orange, the last rays of sunlight filtering through the trees. His head spun slightly, and his heart pounded hard in his chest.
In his previous life, he had never been an athlete, but he wasn't this weak either. This body was pathetic.
Ding!
[Side mission "Daily Training (Special)" completed]
[Rewards are being distributed]
[Do you wish to use your rewards or save them for later?]
"Use them all."
[Physical Enhancement Card Used]
[Your physique has improved accordingly. Please check your status.]
[Random Skill Card Used]
[You have obtained "Basic Mastery of Unarmed Combat."]
The moment the notifications ended, Arthur felt a wave of warmth surge through his entire body. The soreness vanished in an instant. His breathing steadied, and the heaviness in his limbs melted away. Energy flowed through him, powerful and light at the same time.
He clenched his fist and smiled faintly. His body felt stronger, faster, alive.
Without hesitation, he stood up and began running again, testing the new strength coursing through him. The air rushed past him as his feet hit the ground rhythmically, smooth and effortless.
When he finally returned home, the sun had long disappeared. The clock read 5:12 p.m.
He took a deep breath, satisfied, and decided to call it a day. A quick shower was all he could think about.
Steam filled the bathroom as the water ran down his skin. After stepping out, he passed the mirror and stopped. For the first time, he looked at his reflection closely.
He froze.
The face staring back at him was unmistakable—it was his. The same features, the same expression, even the same small scar above his eyebrow. Nothing had changed.
He touched his cheek slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Guess some things don't change after all."
It could have been divine intervention or mere coincidence, but either way, he was grateful. He didn't have to adjust to a stranger's face.
He'd once read that people who underwent heavy cosmetic surgery sometimes suffered breakdowns because they couldn't recognize themselves anymore. That wasn't something he wanted to experience.
Feeling oddly at peace, he headed downstairs. The kitchen lights flickered to life as he opened the pantry and began pulling out snacks and ingredients without a second thought.
"It seems that along with my strength, my appetite has also increased considerably," he said with a small laugh, tossing a pack of noodles onto the counter.
His new life in this world had only just begun, and already, it felt far more real than he could have ever imagined.
While eating, Arthur took the opportunity to check the status window the system had mentioned earlier.
The translucent blue panel appeared before him once again, its glowing letters hovering steadily in the air.
====
Name: Arthur (suggest)
Age: 17
Species: Human
Physical Aptitude: Possesses strength equivalent to a low-class demon.
Magical Aptitude: ~
Abilities: [Basic Mastery of Unarmed Combat]
Equipment: ~
====
He chewed his food slowly while reading through the information. His condition wasn't surprising, considering he had only completed one mission. Still, possessing the physical power of a low-class demon after just a single day was nothing short of impressive.
If his memory served him right, even after reincarnating as a devil, Hyoudou Issei had started out weaker than a low-class demon. In other words, Arthur was already ahead of the story's protagonist.
"Well, things aren't looking too bad," he muttered with a small smirk before taking another bite of his food.
After finishing his meal, he cleaned up, stretched, and decided to call it a day. He lay down on his bed, the familiar hum of the air conditioner filling the quiet room. Within minutes, he drifted off to sleep, a faint grin still lingering on his face.
The next morning, Arthur woke up naturally, long before his alarm could ring. Years of balancing university and part-time jobs had made him an early riser. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and took a deep breath, feeling his body brimming with new energy.
Just as he was about to start his morning routine, a familiar notification sound echoed in his head.
Ding!
[A new mission has been generated]
====
Daily Training (Special)
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Side Mission
Consistent exercise is the foundation of all training!!!
1000 Push-ups (0/1000)
1000 Sit-ups (0/1000)
1000 Squats (0/1000)
Run 50km (0/50)
Reward: Random Skill Card, 2 Special Roulette Spins, 500 System Points
====
Arthur's expression stiffened slightly. The amount of exercise had increased tenfold from the previous quest.
Still, he felt confident. His physique had improved significantly the day before, and he could feel power coursing through his limbs even while standing still.
He got dressed, ate a light breakfast, and began training once more.
Hours passed. The sun climbed higher, and the once-cool air turned warm. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he pushed his body beyond its limits.
His muscles screamed, his breath came in heavy bursts, and his legs trembled with exhaustion. He had clearly underestimated how much a thousand reps truly meant.
By the time he finished his last lap around the park, his clothes were drenched, his arms hung heavy at his sides, and his lungs burned with every breath. But he didn't stop until the familiar sound arrived.
Ding!
[Mission completed]
[Rewards being distributed]
[Do you wish to use your rewards?]
"Use them," Arthur said between breaths.
[Random Skill Card Used]
Ding!
[You obtained the "Summon Device" skill.]
[Both Special Roulette Draws Completed.]
A glowing roulette wheel materialized before him, spinning rapidly. The icons were constantly shifting—swords, orbs, wings, crowns, strange symbols he couldn't recognize. It slowed down gradually before coming to a stop.
Ding!
[Unlimited Inventory Awarded]
The wheel spun once more.
Ding!
[Six Eyes]
A sharp, burning pain exploded behind his eyes. Arthur dropped to his knees, clutching his head as a wave of searing heat surged through his skull. It felt as if acid were pouring through his veins. His vision blurred, colors twisting and fading until he forced himself up and stumbled into the bathroom.
He leaned over the sink, gripping it tightly, and stared into the mirror. What he saw made him freeze.
His eyes, once a soft brown, now glowed with a crystalline violet light. They shimmered faintly, reflecting a depth he couldn't describe.
Although Gojo Satoru's eyes were a bright blue, his had a different hue—cooler, colder, yet no less intense.
He blinked several times, adjusting to the change, and then willed the system window to appear.
====
Six Eyes (Modified)
A modified version of the Gojo Clan's Six Eyes. It allows the user to see all types of energy and strengthens control over any energy, technique, or skill beyond limits.
====
Arthur's lips curved into a slow, incredulous smile. "The roulette wheel is amazing... To think it would give me an inventory and the Six Eyes."
Just as he said that, another notification appeared.
Ding!
[The host has been detected to possess 1,000 System Points. The System Shop has been unlocked.]
====
System Shop
System Points can be exchanged for items, weapons, techniques, powers, or authorities.
====
Arthur's eyes widened slightly as the shop interface expanded before him. Rows upon rows of names scrolled endlessly - Limitless, Excalibur, the Shadow Monarch's Authority, Dragon Slayer Magic, Divine Dividing, and countless others from every story he had ever read.
He skimmed through the list, both amazed and overwhelmed.
Of course, most of the powerful items were far beyond his reach. Each required thousands or even millions of points. With only one thousand, all he could afford were minor consumables and basic upgrades.