The world was blurry, and I felt my head spinning. My breathing grew weak and labored. I felt my trachea being filled by a thick liquid, as if it were molten mercury, causing me to arch my back, trying to spit it out… but it was impossible. I couldn't move.
I could hear panicked sounds around me, distorted voices, flickering lights, and red and blue flashes. In the distance, the sharp wail of an ambulance cut through the air.
I desperately fought for air, my brain working overtime, searching for any way to survive. My eyes narrowed, and the blood vessels inside them burst like red fireworks.
After what felt like an eternity to me… my heart finally stopped.
And the world went black.
I had died.
It was strange… there was no light at the end of the tunnel. No divine judge appeared to judge my actions. It was simply an unfathomable blackness, a deep void without a glimmer of light or sound. Just me, floating in nothingness.
My body was just a bright blue sphere in the middle of the darkness.
Is this the fate of every mortal soul?
Just aimlessly wandering until you lose all trace of yourself?
Well, I guess it's not so bad. I don't regret my life. I lived well. I had a good job, with a high salary. I went to parties, drank whatever I wanted, and slept with beautiful women at least ten times a month.
Finally, when I managed to buy my bike—one of the latest models—I decided to go to my best friend's wedding. And that's when some idiot, a drunk driver, hit me… and now I'm here.
Do I regret it?
Absolutely not.
However… now what? Where am I supposed to go? What are you supposed to do in these kinds of situations? There aren't many options, and I doubt a four-dimensional being is going to appear out of nowhere.
Heh, even thinking that is ridicu—
My perception shifted abruptly.
The black void disappeared and I was taken to a kind of golden temple, imposing and majestic. The walls were covered with ancient engravings and precious stones, decorated with a divine aura that floated in the air. There were pillars as tall as mountains and an unreal calm permeated the place.
I looked around in surprise.
'Great, now this seems like some kind of cliché.'
"That's because it is," echoed a female voice, warm and serene.
I glanced around before seeing her… or rather, seeing her.
She was an incredibly beautiful woman. Her hair was long and golden, shining as if the sun itself had blessed it. On her head, she wore a crown of wildflowers. Her face was perfect, and her body, simply unnatural in its beauty: well-proportioned curves, skin smooth as porcelain, and a pair of large, perfectly symmetrical breasts that protruded from the neckline of her white dress, which left much of her bust exposed. Golden bracelets adorned her wrists, and a divine energy emanated from her every movement.
Even so, I controlled my unbridled lust.
Something that, honestly, was difficult, even with my self-control. Living an adolescence marked by lust forces you to master those impulses… even if you don't turn them off.
"Can we skip the explanation?" I asked, somewhat tired of the typical wordplay. I didn't feel like wasting time with the usual runaround about why I was there or who she was.
"You are an interesting soul," the goddess said with an enigmatic smile.
"Thanks. I'm… well, I was, Saul. Who are you, goddess?" I asked respectfully, though without completely bowing down.
"You can call me Chichigami."
"Oh… strange name, but I'm not one to judge," I replied, shrugging. I had met people with names like Goku Ramirez, Naruto Jose Collado, and Seiya Agustin. After that, nothing surprised me.
"Well, Miss Chichigami, why am I here?"
"Straight to the point," she commented with a soft chuckle. "I have an offer for you."
"Would you be interested in a new chance at life… to save a dimension in the future?"
"Save it? Be a hero or something like that?"
"Exactly. You see, there's an evil god named Melvazoa, who is determined to conquer three dimensions: DxD, ExE, and FxF. He's currently in ExE, in a war that will last for decades, until he eventually wins and moves on to DxD."
"Wait," I interrupted. "What's this DxD and the other two dimensions?" I asked, seeking context. "And why does he want to conquer them?"
"To put it simply, DxD is short for 'Dragon-Deus Dimension,' which is linked to the other two dimensions. Each possesses its own time lines."
"Okay… I get it."
"Good, we're on the same page. Melvazoa will eventually reach DxD and must be stopped. Otherwise, we'll be screwed," her voice took on a somber tone.
"Isn't there anyone who can stop him?"
Chichigami shook her head.
"No. Originally, the child of destiny, Issei Hyoudou, wielder of a powerful weapon, was supposed to defeat Melvazoa with the Twelve Heavenly Breasts. But even that was insufficient. He ended up being killed."
I raised a non-existent eyebrow at the mention of the "Heavenly Breasts." This world was already weird from the start.
"So what's my part in all this?"
"We need your help. An external influence not tied to that dimension's destiny. Someone who can break the cycle."
"I see. But I'm just a human. I doubt I could even beat a professional fighter in a match."
The goddess laughed softly.
"Don't worry. You'll be reincarnated as a supernatural being with great potential for the future."
"I see…"
"So, are you in?"
"I'm in," I replied firmly. This sounded very… interesting.
"Very well," Chichigami clapped her hands softly, causing her breasts to tremble like ripples on a lake.
I watched as three orbs of energy materialized before me.
The first was golden. The second, dark brown. The third, crimson red.
"Before you ask, I'll explain. These orbs represent the three faction leaders: the Angels led by Michael; the Fallen Angels led by Azazel; and the Devils led by Sirzechs Lucifer."
The golden orb showed a man with a sharp face, blue eyes, and long blond hair, with a kind and dignified appearance.
"The second, the leader of the Fallen Angels: Azazel."
The dark brown orb projected the image of a man in his thirties, with a small beard on his chin, a cunning smile, and an air of confidence and sarcasm. He looked energetic, talkative… and a hopeless pervert.
I liked his attitude.
"And finally, Sirzechs Lucifer, the leader of the Devil race."
The red orb showed a tall, attractive man, with a slightly effeminate face, intense red hair, and purple eyes. His aura was powerful and refined, although… he gave me "overprotective older brother" vibes.
"And what am I supposed to do?"
"Here comes the fun part. Since I can't manipulate time enough to make you into one of them directly, I can alter the timeline so that you are born as the legitimate child of one of them," Chichigami explained.
"A child?"
"Yes. If you choose one of the three, you will be born as their child. You will possess enormous potential for battle, but each choice has its pros and cons."
"Explain."
"Angels: pure beings who live in heaven. However, they are susceptible to falling into sin if they feel or emit negative intentions. Furthermore, they are deeply rooted in their nature, making change or evolution difficult for them."
"Fallen Angels: beings who fell from divine grace. They possess access to both light magic and demonic magic, without suffering the weaknesses of either."
"And finally, the Devils: beings of darkness and sin, experts in infernal magic. They have powerful bodies, but are extremely vulnerable to divine things: holy water, churches, and other sacred symbols. Also, their reputation still carries scars from the Great War."
"Each faction has its pros and cons," I murmured, looking at the three spheres before me.
"Choose whichever you desire," said Chichigami.
"And how exactly will I appear? At what point in time?"
"Well, you will appear one hundred years before the start of Melvazoa's invasion of that dimension. That should be enough time to prepare properly."
"Hmph. Alright, I've made my decision," I said seriously.
I moved towards the dark brown sphere, the one showing Azazel. After analyzing it, I felt it was the best option for me.
"Very well. Good luck," said Chichigami, watching as my soul entered the central orb… and disappeared.