highschool dxd: gamer system

The next night, Ahmed returned to the secluded clearing for more training. As he practiced, summoning and refining his Minor Destruction Orb, he felt a faint presence nearby.

Years of devil instinct kicked in, and he turned sharply, his crimson eyes scanning the shadows. A figure emerged—a petite girl with silvery-white hair and golden eyes. She stood silently at the edge of the clearing, her expression blank yet curious.

Ahmed recognized her immediately: Toujou Koneko, a young nekoshou who had been taken in by the Gremory family. He remembered his parents mentioning that she was under their protection after losing her family.

She didn't say a word, simply watching him with an intense, cat-like gaze. Ahmed lowered his hand, dispersing the unstable orb of destruction energy.

> "How long have you been there?" he asked, trying to sound calm.

Koneko tilted her head slightly, her expression unchanging.

> "Long enough," she said quietly. Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper.

Ahmed frowned.

> "Did you… see everything?"

She nodded, her gaze unwavering. Ahmed sighed, running a hand through his hair.

> "Great. Just don't tell anyone, okay?"

Koneko blinked slowly, then gave a small nod. Her silence was unnerving, but Ahmed could sense no malice from her. She seemed more curious than anything else.

> "Why are you out here?" he asked, stepping closer.

Koneko hesitated before replying.

> "Couldn't sleep."

Her voice was flat, but Ahmed caught the faintest hint of emotion beneath the surface—loneliness. He remembered hearing whispers among the servants about her tragic past, though the details were scarce.

> "Well," Ahmed said, trying to lighten the mood, "if you're going to watch, at least tell me how I'm doing."

Koneko tilted her head again, her golden eyes narrowing slightly.

> "Too much energy in your attacks. Wasting power."

Ahmed blinked in surprise.

> "You noticed that?"

She gave a small nod but didn't elaborate. Ahmed smiled faintly.

> "Thanks. I'll work on it."

For a moment, the two stood in silence, the faint hum of the night air filling the space between them. Then, without another word, Koneko turned and walked away, her small figure disappearing into the shadows.

Ahmed watched her leave, a thoughtful expression on his face.

> "She's not what I expected."

---

Growing Resolve

Koneko's brief observation left Ahmed with much to think about. Her sharp insight into his technique, despite her reserved nature, intrigued him.

The following nights, Ahmed pushed himself harder, refining his skills and conserving his energy as Koneko had suggested. He fought more devil beasts, slowly climbing the ladder of strength and gaining mastery over his Destruction Power.

But he also began to notice her presence more often. Though she never approached him directly again, he would occasionally catch glimpses of her golden eyes watching from the shadows.

Her quiet support, though unspoken, gave Ahmed an odd sense of reassurance.

---

A New Challenge

One night, as Ahmed reviewed his system menu, a new notification appeared:

> [New Quest Alert!]

Title: Prove Your Strength

Objective: Defeat three Level 5 Devil Beasts.

Reward: +300 XP, Intermediate Destruction Skill (Wave), Beginner Spellbook.

Ahmed grinned, his crimson eyes gleaming.

> "Three Level 5 beasts? Let's see what I've got."

The system's constant challenges were forcing him to grow, to adapt, and he welcomed it.

---