The forest on the outskirts of Kuoh was exactly what I needed—dense enough to hide in, remote enough that no one would stumble across me accidentally, and far enough from civilization that I could test my new abilities without worrying about property damage or awkward questions.
I'd made my excuses to my new mother about going for a walk to clear my head, which wasn't entirely a lie. I definitely needed to clear my head, just not in the way she probably imagined. The devil fruit power was still settling in my system, and I needed to understand exactly what I was capable of before I did something stupid.
Finding a small clearing surrounded by thick trees, I stretched experimentally, feeling the coiled power waiting beneath my skin. The transformation I'd experienced back in my room had been brief and controlled. Now I needed to really push the limits and see what this body could do.
I closed my eyes and focused on that feeling, on the warm, coiled power that now resided in my chest. The transformation came naturally, like flexing a muscle I'd always had but never used.
When I opened my eyes, the world had changed.
Everything was sharper, more vivid. I could smell the distinct scent of different trees, the loamy richness of decomposing leaves, the faint musk of small animals that had passed through the area recently. My hearing had expanded dramatically—I could detect the heartbeat of a bird in a tree thirty meters away, the rustle of insects in the underbrush, the distant sound of traffic from the main road.
But it was the physical changes that really got my attention.
My hands had transformed into something between human and feline. My fingers were longer, more dexterous, and ending in curved claws that looked like they could slice through steel. My muscles felt denser, more powerful, coiled springs ready to unleash devastating force. A tail had emerged from the base of my spine, thick and muscular, moving with a life of its own as it helped me balance. When I caught my reflection in a nearby stream, I could see that my eyes had changed too—still recognizably mine, but with an inner glow that spoke of predatory intelligence.
Faint leopard spots had appeared along my arms and what I could see of my torso, a pattern that seemed to shift slightly depending on how the light hit it. My canine teeth had elongated into proper fangs, and I could feel that my entire skeletal structure had subtly changed to accommodate enhanced strength and agility.
I was magnificent.
"Holy shit," I breathed, then immediately tested my new voice. It was deeper, carrying an undertone that seemed to resonate in my chest. "This is incredible."
I walked over to the nearest tree, a sturdy oak that would have taken me significant effort to damage in my previous life. I placed my palm against the bark and pushed, gently at first, then with increasing force. The tree groaned, its trunk actually bending under the pressure before I backed off, not wanting to topple it entirely.
Next, I tested my claws. I raked them across the bark, and they cut through it like butter, leaving deep grooves in the wood. The sharpness was incredible—these weren't just for show. They were weapons, tools, extensions of my will that could tear through most materials without effort.
But it was when I tested my mobility that I truly understood what I'd gained.
I took off running, and immediately had to adjust my expectations of what "running" meant. I wasn't just moving faster—I was moving differently. My enhanced musculature and altered skeletal structure allowed me to leap over obstacles that would have stopped me cold before, to change direction mid-stride without losing momentum, to navigate the forest floor with a grace that felt almost supernatural.
I bounded from tree to tree, using my claws to find purchase on bark and branches, my tail providing perfect balance as I moved through the canopy like I'd been born to it. The sensation was intoxicating—pure freedom distilled into physical form.
But I wasn't done yet.
I dropped back to the forest floor and focused again, pushing the transformation further. If the hybrid form was impressive, I needed to see what the full leopard form could do.
The change was more dramatic this time. My human consciousness remained intact, but it was overlaid with something primal and instinctual. My body reshaped itself completely, muscles redistributing, bones lengthening and shortening, until I was standing on four legs instead of two.
I was a leopard. Not just any leopard, but a perfect example of the species—sleek, powerful, built for speed and stealth. My coat was a rich golden color with distinctive black rosettes, and I could feel the raw power coiled in every muscle fiber.
I ran.
The forest became a blur as I moved through it, my paws finding perfect purchase on every surface. I leaped over fallen logs, darted between trees, navigated the undergrowth with an ease that defied human understanding. My predatory instincts were fully engaged, cataloging every scent, every sound, every movement in my environment. I felt completely connected to my surroundings, part of the ecosystem rather than separate from it.
The sheer exhilaration of the experience was overwhelming. This wasn't just enhanced physical ability—this was a complete transformation of how I existed in the world. I was faster, stronger, more agile than I'd ever imagined possible. Every movement felt effortless, every leap perfectly calculated by instincts I'd never possessed before.
Eventually, I found myself by a small river, the sound of running water drawing me to its banks. I shifted back to human form, breathing hard but feeling more alive than I had in years. My reflection in the water showed a young man with wild hair and bright eyes, someone who looked like he'd discovered the secret to happiness.
But as the immediate euphoria of the transformation faded, reality began to set in.
I wasn't just Akira anymore. I wasn't just an antisocial college student who'd died from caffeine overdose. I was something else now—a powerful being in a world where power was the only currency that mattered. The system had reincarnated me into High School DxD, a universe where devils, angels, and fallen angels played games with mortal lives as stakes.
The excitement I'd felt was real, but so was the danger. I thought about Issei Hyoudou, the protagonist of the series, and how his story had begun. Killed by Raynare, a fallen angel who'd been using him as a pawn. If it could happen to someone with a Sacred Gear, someone who was supposed to be important to the plot, what did that say about my own chances of survival?
I had power now, yes, but I was still fundamentally alone in a world where the supernatural community had been operating for millennia. I had no allies, no knowledge of current events, no idea what threats might be lurking just out of sight. The Gacha System could make me stronger, but only if I lived long enough to use it.
A chill ran down my spine as I considered the implications. I couldn't afford to be helpless fodder. I couldn't rely on protagonist armor or plot convenience to keep me safe. If I wanted to survive, if I wanted to thrive in this new world, I needed to get stronger. Fast.
The system had mentioned tasks that would earn me gacha tickets. I remembered the rankings—1 to 10, with higher numbers meaning better rewards. I'd gotten lucky with my free pull, but I couldn't count on that kind of fortune again. I needed to be proactive, to seek out opportunities to grow stronger.
Stray devils. The thought came to me unbidden, but it made sense. They were common enough in the DxD universe, dangerous enough that killing them would probably qualify as a significant task, and more importantly, they were enemies I could fight without getting tangled up in the larger political machinations of the supernatural world.
My first real goal crystallized in my mind: hunt a stray devil, earn my first genuine gacha ticket, and begin the process of becoming someone who couldn't be casually murdered by passing fallen angels.
I stood up from the riverbank, my resolve hardening. The old me would have found a dozen reasons to avoid confrontation, to hide away until someone else solved the problem. But I wasn't the old me anymore. I was Akira, and I had claws.
The walk back to civilization gave me time to think, to plan. I needed information about stray devils in the area, which meant I needed to do some research. Fortunately, this world had something my old one had lacked—a manga shop that might have information about local supernatural activity, or at least provide a cover story for why I was asking questions.
The shop was exactly where my inherited memories said it would be, a small storefront tucked between a convenience store and a ramen restaurant. The familiar smell of paper and ink hit me as I entered, triggering a wave of nostalgia for my previous life's obsessions.
I browsed the shelves, looking for anything that might give me insight into the supernatural elements of this world. The manga selection was impressive, with everything from mainstream shonen to obscure horror titles. I was examining a volume that looked like it might have actual supernatural content when a soft, feminine voice spoke beside me.
"Are you interested in a specific genre?"
I turned, expecting to see a shop employee or maybe another customer looking for recommendations. Instead, I found myself looking at someone I recognized immediately.
Crimson hair that caught the light perfectly. Blue-green eyes that held an intelligence that most people missed. Beautiful in that effortless way that spoke of good genetics and supernatural heritage.
Rias Gremory was standing less than a meter away from me, holding a manga volume in her hands, looking at me with polite curiosity.
Interesting. I'd been wondering when I'd run into the main players of this world.
"Supernatural stories, mostly," I said, keeping my voice casual. "There's something appealing about worlds where power actually matters."
She tilted her head slightly, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Are you alright? You seem... focused."
"Just thinking," I replied smoothly. "It's rare to find someone else who appreciates manga in a place like this."
"Oh, I love manga," she said, her smile becoming more genuine. "There's something about the storytelling that appeals to me. The way they can blend the mundane with the fantastic, make you believe in impossible things."
An interesting perspective from someone who lived in that fantastic world daily.
"Yeah," I agreed, meeting her gaze steadily. "I'm especially interested in supernatural stories. You know, devils and angels and that sort of thing. I find the power dynamics fascinating."
Her expression shifted slightly, a flicker of something that might have been interest or recognition. "Those can be quite entertaining," she said, her tone more measured now. "Though I sometimes wonder how accurate they are to the real thing."
Definitely a test. I kept my expression neutral, curious rather than knowing.
"Hard to say, isn't it? Unless you've met them"