izana_king snippet

Chapter 21: The first play through (Highschool dxd)



People often wonder what comes after death. Heaven? Hell? Light and peace? Fire and torment? Personally, I call bullshit on all of it.

I never believed that was something I could never do in my past life, and turns out I was proven right.

Darkness. Endless, oppressive, soul-sucking darkness.

[Congratulations! You have been successfully chosen as the new Gamer.]

If I had been drinking anything, I'd have spat it out right then and there. Really? You waited until I was mid-rant to show up?

[System Online]

[Current features: Stats, Inventory, Skills, Quest.]

The next moment, my vision went black again.

I woke with a jolt, gasping for breath, clutching at my chest. My heart was pounding, but I felt… fine. Better than fine, actually. For one, I could feel every inch of my body, refreshed and alive in a way I hadn't experienced before.

Getting out of bed, I noticed something was off. I felt… taller. In my past life, I was 5'8", and while I'd never had complaints, this new body felt bigger. Stronger.

Walking to the mirror on the wall, I froze.

"Hot damn."

Jet-black hair and green eyes with flecks of blue stared back at me, bright and piercing. My frame was lean but toned, with faint muscle definition just visible. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Oh, and I was wearing nothing but boxers. Lovely.

I rummaged around and found a pair of joggers and a plain grey T-shirt on the floor. Throwing them on, I sat back down on the bed, trying to piece together my next move.

[First things first.]

[Item added: Newbie Gift Box.]

A box appeared out of thin air. No fanfare, no drama. Just… pop. Opening it, I was immediately greeted with a series of glowing notifications.

[Ultimate Skill Acquired: Devour]

Absorb the stats, abilities, and unique skills of defeated enemies, including racial and inherited traits.

[Skill Acquired: Ice Magic (Lv 1/100)]

Harness the power of ice. Proficiency improves with practice.

[Skill Acquired: Fire Magic (Lv 1/100)]

Control the element of fire. Proficiency improves with practice.

"Holy shit" My words trailed off as I scanned the skills. This wasn't just overpowered it was broken.

[What the hell? You know what? Forget it. Fuck you, and fuck your luck.]

The words appeared for only a second before my vision turned pitch black again.

I groaned, landing with a thud on something soft. Opening my eyes, I blinked, disoriented.

The room was normal. Boringly normal. A generic bedroom, complete with a desk, chair, and bed. Memories rushed into my head like a dam breaking, settling my confusion. This was my room. My apartment. My life.

And then it hit me.

I wasn't just in a new body I was in a new world.

Kuoh.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

I slammed my head against the bed frame.

I was in High School DxD.

On one hand, this world was a power fantasy waiting to happen. I had an OP system, and if I played my cards right, I could climb to the top quickly.

On the other hand? This world had literal gods, demons, and beings capable of wiping you from existence. For good.

"Of all the places I could've ended up, it had to be this dumpster fire?"

I groaned again, remembering what little I knew about the series. Honestly, I'd tuned out most of the plot. Issei's constant obsession with boobs had driven me insane. Sure, boobs are great, but come on.

After a few minutes of stewing in frustration, I decided to check my stats.

Name: Christopher/Chikayoshi Kageyami

Titles: None

Body: 8

Mind: 10

Spirit: 9

Magic: 26

"Chikayoshi Kageyami, huh?" I muttered, rolling the name around in my head. Appropriate, considering my new background in this world. At least my magic stat was more impressive than my other stats.

I stood, brushing myself off. This was my reality now, and if I had to live in it, I'd make damn sure to survive and thrive.

-later-

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, he packed his bag and made his way toward the school gates. The day had been... odd.

It wasn't the classes, those were normal enough. What caught his attention were the stares.

All day long, members of the Student Council had been watching him. Sona Shitori, the council president, seemed particularly focused. She'd glanced his way more than once during the few classes, they have together, her expression neutral but her gaze sharp and calculating.

Then there was her—the infamous redhead of Kuoh Academy, Rias Gremory. He had felt her gaze on him more than once as well, her striking blue eyes filled with curiosity and something else he couldn't quite place.

He knew exactly who she was, and he had no doubt she and her peerage sensed the burst of magic when his system activated.

It wasn't surprising, really. His stats were strong for a human, and his budding magical aura probably stood out like a neon sign to people like them. Still, it made him uneasy.

"At least it's Friday," he muttered to himself as he stepped through the gates and onto the street. "I don't have to deal with them again until Monday."

The walk home was uneventful, giving him time to think.

He needed a plan. If Rias or Sona got too curious, they might start asking questions, and questions led to complications. He wasn't ready for that yet not until he fully could use his magic efficiently.

"First things first," he murmured, stepping into his apartment and shutting the door behind him. "Let's test these magic skills properly."

With that, he dropped his bag, rolled up his sleeves, and got to work.

As he stood in the middle of his apartment, focusing on the energy he could feel thrumming beneath his skin. It was subtle at first a faint warmth, like a gentle current waiting to be tapped into.

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. Okay. Fire magic. Let's do this.

With a mental push, he directed his mana toward his hand. At first, nothing happened. Frustration bubbled up, but he shoved it aside, focusing harder. Slowly, the warmth in his chest spread, flowing down his arm like a river of molten energy.

And then woosh.

A small flame flickered to life in his palm. It grew, swirling into a compact fireball that hovered just above his hand, glowing softly and radiating heat.

[Mana Manipulation (Lv 1/100)]

Control and manipulate your mana for various purposes. Proficiency improves efficiency and reduces mana cost.

He grinned as the notification popped up in front of him. "Guess I've got the basics down."

Experimenting further, he tried to shift the fireball's size and shape, willing it to grow larger and burn brighter. As he worked, the process became smoother, the flow of mana easier to control. His fireball responded to his will, shrinking and expanding in perfect sync with his intent.

[Mana Manipulation leveled up: Lv 2 → Lv 3 → Lv 4]

The skill leveled up rapidly, and he could feel the improvement with each gain. His control was sharper, the fireball more stable, and his mana usage more efficient.

"Not bad," he muttered, extinguishing the flame with a flick of his wrist. A faint scent of singed air lingered in the room. "If this is just the start, I'm gonna be unstoppable."

He collapsed onto the couch, staring at his hand, still tingling from the residual heat. A grin spread across his face.

As he was laying on his couch, an idea popped up in his mind. This time he would practice with his ice magic instead of his fire magic.

He stood, flexing his fingers. If I could handle fire, this should be no different.

Closing his eyes, he tapped into his mana again. This time, instead of warmth, he focused on a feeling of cold sharp, biting, and unyielding. The shift was subtle but distinct, like flipping a switch. The temperature around him seemed to dip slightly as the mana flowed to his hand.

Frost began to form on his palm, spreading out in delicate crystalline patterns. A moment later, a small shard of ice took shape, hovering just above his fingers.

He focused harder, willing the shard to grow. The ice responded, expanding into a jagged spike before splitting into multiple shards that floated in the air around him. They shimmered in the dim light of the room, sharp and deadly.

He clenched his fist, and the shards shot forward, embedding themselves into a wall with a satisfying thunk.

[Ice Magic leveled up: Lv 1 → Lv 2 → Lv 3]

[Mana Manipulation leveled up: Lv 4 → Lv 5 → Lv 6]

"Looks like I'm getting the hang of this," he said, wiping his hands on his joggers as frost evaporated into the air.

Not stopping there, he alternated between his fire and ice magic, switching back and forth as quickly as he could. A fireball in one hand, an icicle in the other. As he manipulated them, he noticed his control growing more precise, the drain on his mana shrinking with each attempt.

The skills fed into each other, leveling up in tandem as he pushed himself.

[Fire Magic leveled up: Lv 1 → Lv 2 → Lv 4]

[Ice Magic leveled up: Lv 3 → Lv 5 → Lv 7]

[Mana Manipulation leveled up: Lv 6 → Lv 8 → Lv 10]

He let out a deep breath, his body tingling with energy. The room was noticeably colder, small patches of frost clinging to surfaces, while scorch marks marred a corner of the wall.

"I should probably find a better place to practice before I burn the apartment down… or freeze it solid."

-later-

The scorch marks and frost creeping across the walls of his apartment were a clear sign that he needed to find a new practice area before his landlord decided to pay him a visit.

After gathering his things and ensuring no lasting damage had been done (at least none that couldn't be hidden), he left the apartment and made his way outside of Kuoh.

The forest on the outskirts of town was quiet, a haven of dense trees and open spaces. Perfect for training without drawing attention.

He found a clearing, the sunlight filtering through the canopy above. He dropped his bag near a tree and stretched, rolling his shoulders. The chill in the air was invigorating, the perfect contrast to the heat of his earlier practice.

"Alright," he muttered, stepping to the center of the clearing. "Let's take this to the next level."

He began with fire magic, summoning a fireball into his hand. This time, he pushed further, splitting it into two smaller orbs, one in each hand. Manipulating both at the same time took focus, but he managed, weaving them around him in a fiery dance.

[Fire Magic leveled up: Lv 4 → Lv 6 → Lv 8]

Switching to ice magic, he conjured shards of ice, launching them at a nearby tree. Each hit was precise, the shards embedding themselves deep into the bark. He experimented, shaping the ice into larger, deadlier forms: spears, spikes, even a protective barrier that shimmered like crystal in the sunlight.

[Ice Magic leveled up: Lv 7 → Lv 10 → Lv 12]

As his skills grew, so did his mana manipulation. He could feel the flow of energy through his body, each movement smoother, each spell requiring less effort. His control improved dramatically, allowing him to switch between fire and ice seamlessly.

He conjured a flaming spear in one hand and an icy shield in the other, testing his ability to multitask. The flames licked at the edges of the shield, but neither canceled the other out a testament to his growing proficiency.

[Mana Manipulation leveled up: Lv 10 → Lv 13 → Lv 15]

By the time the sun began to set, he was exhausted but exhilarated. The clearing bore the marks of his efforts charred patches of earth and frost-covered trees show a little bit of his effort.

As long as no one normal, saw him or he ended up burning the fucking forest down he should be good to train for as long as he liked.

-later-

Hours passed as he remained in the forest, pushing himself to his limits. He cycled between fire and ice magic, challenging his control, precision, and creativity. Fireballs turned into flaming arcs, then into explosions. Ice spears became walls, traps, and even delicate sculptures as he refined his control over the element.

His mana manipulation skill worked overtime, smoothing out the energy flow through his body and reducing the strain as he unleashed spell after spell. Every effort brought him closer to mastery, each skill leveling steadily.

[Fire Magic: Lv 96/100]

[Ice Magic: Lv 92/100]

[Mana Manipulation: Lv 98/100]

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon and the forest was bathed in twilight, he finally stopped, his breath visible in the cold night air. He glanced around the clearing. The ground was scorched in some places, frozen solid in others. Trees bore marks of his magic charred bark and frostbitten leaves a testament to his intense training.

Wiping sweat from his brow, he checked his skills.

"So close," he muttered, feeling both pride and exhaustion. Just a little more effort, and he'd max out all three.

But even he had limits. His mana reserves were nearly depleted, and his body felt heavy with fatigue. Pushing further now might do more harm than good.

"It's enough for today," he said, pulling on his jacket as the temperature continued to drop. "No point burning myself out."

Turning back toward town, he began the long walk home.

By the time he reached his apartment, the moon was high in the sky, casting its silver glow over Kuoh. He let himself in, shutting the door behind him and collapsing onto the couch.

Pulling up his status window, he took one last look at his skills.

"I'll hit the cap tomorrow," he said with a smirk, staring at the faint glow of the screen. "Then it's on to something new."

With that thought, he let out a long breath and closed his eyes, letting sleep claim him.

-Rias gremory-

The forest was eerily quiet as Rias Gremory stood in the center of the clearing, her crimson hair glowing faintly in the moonlight. The air was thick with moisture, the aftermath of intense ice magic lingering in the atmosphere. Frost clung to the trees, and the ground crackled underfoot where it had been scorched and frozen in equal measure.

Her peerage fanned out behind her, inspecting the damage with wary expressions. Akeno, her Queen, knelt near a patch of charred earth, her fingers brushing against the cold, frozen edges of the crater. Kiba, her Knight, stood at attention, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword as his sharp eyes scanned the shadows for any signs of movement.

"This level of destruction…" Akeno murmured, her voice soft but laced with concern. "It's almost as if two opposing forces clashed here, but there's no sign of a second combatant."

Rias crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping the area. She had been woken by a frantic Sona, who informed her that one of her Pawns had sensed an enormous surge of mana in the forest. It had been so strong that it set off alarm bells throughout their territory.

She closed her eyes, trying to sense the remnants of the magic. The mana in the air was undeniable—dense, potent, and refined. The quality of it was comparable to what she'd expect from a high-class devil, maybe even higher. Yet, there was no trace of the person who wielded it.

"Whoever they are," Rias said quietly, her brow furrowed, "they're dangerous. This isn't the kind of magic a human should be capable of wielding."

"Do you think it could be another faction?" Kiba asked, his tone cautious.

Rias shook her head. "If it were a stray devil or an enemy faction, they wouldn't be so careless as to leave such a clear trail behind. This feels... different."

Akeno stood, brushing frost from her hands. "The sheer concentration of mana is troubling. Whoever did this wasn't just releasing energy they were practicing, refining their control."

Rias frowned, her crimson eyes narrowing. If that were true, this person was growing stronger fast. Leaving them unchecked could pose a serious threat, especially if they were hostile.

"We need to find out who's behind this," Rias said firmly. "Whether they're friend or foe, they're trespassing on our territory, and we can't ignore it."

"Should we attempt to locate them now?" Kiba asked, already prepared to act.

Rias shook her head. "No, not tonight. The traces are faint now, and we don't know how far they've gone. But we'll keep a close watch. If they come back, I want to know immediately."

Akeno smiled faintly, though the edge in her expression betrayed her concern. "If they're as strong as they seem, it's only a matter of time before they draw attention again."

Rias nodded, her jaw tightening. "Then we'll be ready."

-Christopher/Chikayoshi Kageyami-

As I stood up, my body feeling unexpectedly rejuvenated, the events of last night rushed back to me. The intense training, the forest engulfed in fire and frost, and now… this.

I rubbed my temples, staring at the absurd increase in my stats displayed in the system window.

Name: Christopher/Chikayoshi Kageyami

Titles: None

Body: 36

Mind: 41

Spirit: 39

Magic: 4,973

"Almost five thousand in magic? That's insane," I muttered, trying to wrap my head around the jump. The rest of my stats, while not as astronomical, had still doubled overnight. The growth was exhilarating, but it also came with its problems problems like the text box floating in front of me.

[Quest Complete: Get Attention]

Objective: Gain the attention of either Rias Gremory or Sona Sitri.

Result: You gained the attention of both.

What the hell…?

[Wow, I didn't expect you to get both of their attention so quickly, especially on your first day. Kid, you're damn good at making people want to kill you.]

I blinked, staring at the floating text box in confusion. "Who said that?"

[Irrelevant, but damn, kid. You're impressive. If you didn't have the system, I would've made you one of my minions for sure.]

I rubbed my forehead, trying to process everything that was happening. "So you're the one who gave me the system? This power… it's amazing. This opportunity is incredible, but nothing in life is free. What's the catch?"

[Heh, smart kid. The catch is simple: I'm not as nice as the others, and you need to prove you deserve the system I gave you. If you fail, you die. And no, not a second chance. Straight into the void for eternity.]

A cold chill ran down my spine at the thought. "I see... Well, I don't intend to die a second time. Hope you enjoy the show, then."

[I intend to give me a show my new lil gamer]

With that, another window appeared, listing my quest rewards.

[Gamers Mind]

Allows the user to calmly and logically think things through. Allows peaceful state of mind, Grants Immunity to psychological status effects.

[Gamers Body]

Grants a body that allows for the user to live real life like a game. The user heels all injuries while sleeping. The user can also adapt much faster.

[Observe]

Provides information on target

[Magical Sense]

You have gained the ability to sense magic around you, detecting fellow magic users, active spells and magical items.

As I gained these skills, I feel my body recovering from my tiredness as I got up. Since I got both Rias and Sona attention I can't be acting up i'm not gonna be able to max on my skills throughout this weekend unfortunately but there is one skill. I haven't tried out yet.

My [devour] has still not been used so the only way I could get stronger in these two days is by hunting down Stray Devil or any supernatural creature I could find.

-later-

As I wandered aimlessly through the dimly lit streets, frustration gnawed at me. Despite my newfound Magical Sense, I couldn't find a single stray devil or supernatural creature worth hunting. It felt like the universe was mocking me.

The sky had darkened considerably, casting long shadows over the town. Letting out a sigh, I decided to call it a night and head home, my earlier determination waning. But as I passed by a narrow alleyway, an unsettling chill gripped the air, raising goosebumps along my arms.

I stopped dead in my tracks, frowning.

The atmosphere grew eerily quiet—too quiet. I was near a national park, i've been here at this time of night before there should've been at least a couple people here, but no. Instead, there was only an oppressive silence.

Something was wrong.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as a primal instinct screamed at me I'm not alone.

I slowed my pace, glancing behind me. Nothing. I took a deep breath and discreetly. Calm down. It's probably just paranoia.

And then I heard it.

A voice. Twisted, distorted, and dripping with malice.

"So young…"

I froze. My blood ran cold. Slowly, I turned around, and what I saw nearly made me vomit.

The thing standing before me was an abomination. A grotesque, fleshy creature crouched on four malformed legs, its body covered in bulging, slimy masses. Multiple unblinking eyes locked onto me, and its maw stretched open, revealing rows upon rows of jagged teeth in every crevice of its mouth.

I couldn't move. For a moment, I was paralyzed, horrified by the nightmare before me. But then [Gamer's Mind] kicked in, stabilizing my emotions. My shock gave way to focus.

"So young… I could just taste it," the creature hissed, its distorted voice clawing at my ears.

Without hesitation, I summoned a fireball and hurled it at the monstrosity. The ball of flame exploded on impact, but as the smoke cleared, the creature stood there, barely scratched.

What the hell is this thing?!

Activating [Observe], I quickly scanned the beast.

Name: Pablo Lopez

Race: Devil

Body: 1029

Mind: 3

Spirit: 1

Magic: 2570

My heart sank. This thing was leagues above me.

What the fuck?! Since when do stray devils look like this?

I barely had time to think as the creature lunged. I reacted instinctively, summoning Ice Spikes and firing them in rapid succession. The projectiles slammed into its grotesque form, but the monster didn't even flinch.

It came at me again, its claws swiping through the air, but I managed to leap back just in time. Summoning a Fire Arrow, I fired it at its head. It struck, but the beast shrugged it off and retaliated.

Its mouth opened unnaturally wide, and a massive laser beam erupted from within.

I hastily conjured an Ice Shield, reinforcing it with magic. The shield barely held, cracking under the immense pressure of the beam. Desperation set in as I reinforce my body using my magic. My body hardened, magic coursing through my limbs, boosting my physical durability.

Skill Crafted

[Reinforce Magic - lvl 1/100]

Ignoring the notification, I kept fighting. Fireballs and ice shards flew through the narrow alley, but the creature tanked them all, its wounds visibly healing in real time.

How the hell am I supposed to kill this thing?

I gritted my teeth, thinking fast. I needed more firepower—literally. Gathering my magic, I formed another fireball in my hand. This time, instead of throwing it immediately, I concentrated, drawing in my Ice Magic as well.

The fireball in my palm began to change, its orange hue shifting to an icy blue. It felt unstable, raw, and immensely powerful.

The creature, sensing the shift, didn't dodge. It stood its ground, baring its teeth.

"Big mistake," I muttered, hurling the hybrid attack.

The explosion rocked the alleyway. When the smoke cleared, a large chunk of the creature's body was missing, blown clean off. It staggered, screeching in pain.

Seizing the opportunity, I rushed forward, bombarding it with a barrage of fire and ice magic. Each strike chipped away at its form until it finally collapsed.

The monster lay still, its grotesque body twitching weakly.

I didn't hesitate. Placing a hand on the dying creature, I activated [Devour] for the first time.

A strange sensation coursed through me as the skill activated, a surge of power flooding my body. The monster's stats, abilities, and very essence were consumed, becoming part of me.

[Stats Absorbed]

Body: +1029

Mind: +3

Spirit: +1

Magic: +2570

[Demonic Power]

Gain access to the innate abilities and unique energy manipulation of devils.

[Devil biology]

Improved physical durability, regeneration, and extended lifespan.

[Regeneration (Corrupted)]

Passively heal minor wounds over time. Larger wounds heal with increased mana consumption.

As I feel my body already getting the effects of my new stat points I could feel a noticeable increase on my strength.

He was gonna definitely keep using this skill then damn he really was lucky wasn't he?

XxX

So this is the prequel to nightmare difficulty. I wanted to write a gamer that ended up speed run their first world so I decided on doing this. This is gonna show the rise and downfall of Christopher since well he got killed before the start of nightmare difficulty a other a pretty strong gamer which kind of spoils the ending but fuck it.

No harem or at least not a big one since I don't want him to be cock or anything. The last thing I will say is this a lot of characters are going to be killed in this fic and some you might not even expect.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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