Rain spat against the windows of Kuoh Academy, slashing across the campus like the city itself was trying to wash something away. Aki Hayakawa stood beneath the overhang of the main building, coat collar raised, dark eyes scanning the crowd of students passing by. None of them noticed him, of course, and that suited him just fine. He wasn't here to make friends. He wasn't here to fit in.
Because he was no ordinary student.
Aki could feel it in the air—the faint shimmer of unnatural presence, the ghost of danger lurking just beyond the city lights. He didn't know this world fully. He had watched glimpses of it in some weird, distorted memory—a show called High School DxD, images and scenes playing in his mind like broken dreams. But now, standing in the wet streets of Kuoh, none of it felt fictional. It felt real.
And then… it appeared.
A soft hum vibrated in his skull, subtle at first, like a pulse in the rain. A holographic menu flickered into existence in front of his vision: black chrome edges, glowing lines, menus cascading in a cascade of soft blue light.
System Activated: Devil Hunter SystemUser Detected: Aki HayakawaLifeform Verification Complete: Human (Reincarnated Hunter)
Aki froze, his heartbeat stuttering. The interface was alive, aware, and it hummed as though pleased to finally awaken.
Welcome, Hunter. Initialization Complete.
"Hunter…" Aki murmured. His hand instinctively brushed the pocket where his knives were kept. The system pulsed faintly, almost in response, as if acknowledging his readiness.
Base Stats:Strength: 40Agility: 45Endurance: 50Intellect: 60Perception: 55Devil Affinity: 0Luck: 50
Abilities:
Sword Proficiency (Basic): Can handle standard bladed weapons with moderate efficiency.
Hand-to-Hand Combat (Basic): Melee fighting skills, unrefined but functional.
Enhanced Awareness (Passive): Can detect unnatural presences within 50 meters.
Aki's brow furrowed. "Okay… this is new." He flexed his fingers. The system wasn't giving him flashy powers yet—just the basics. Just enough to survive.
Then a new menu blinked to life.
[Multiverse Store] Available[Gacha] Available[Summons] Locked
The words "Multiverse Store" gleamed like a promise, enticing and dangerous. He felt a shiver of curiosity. What the hell is this?
Optional Tutorial: Activate to learn system functions.
Aki blinked, then hesitated. Always cautious. Always careful. He tapped the holographic icon with a fingertip, and the world seemed to tilt slightly as the system guided him through its options.
[Multiverse Store]: Allows the acquisition of items, equipment, and knowledge from multiple realities. All items require Hunter Points or special currency.
[Gacha]: Draws random abilities, weapons, or contracts. Can provide rare Devil Hunter upgrades.
[Summons]: Allows summoning of allied entities. Currently Locked – unlock by completing first combat trial.
Aki swallowed. He wasn't stupid. He had been a hunter once. He knew that every gift had a cost. But this… this could also be exactly what he needed to survive.
Notice: First combat trial recommended. Rewards may include items, XP, or Summon tokens.
He raised his head, eyes scanning the alleyways. Something stirred. A ripple of energy, faint but palpable, traced along the brick walls and wet asphalt. His system hummed softly, alerting him:
Entity Detected – Type: Minor DevilThreat Level: LowDistance: 40 meters
Aki's hand hovered near his pocket. Just a test. That's all it had to be. The system wasn't forcing him into action. It was… suggesting.
Recommended Action: EngageAlternate: Observe
He exhaled slowly. "Alright… let's see what this world is hiding."
The alley was quiet, almost too quiet. The drizzle tapped a steady rhythm on the asphalt, like a countdown. And then the figure emerged. Pale skin, dark hair slicked with rain, eyes glowing faint red in the dim light. It hissed, the sound vibrating against his eardrums.
Combat Trial Started
Aki's fingers brushed the edge of the pocket where his knives rested. He drew one blade—simple, efficient, sharp. Just like his old self.
Ability Check: Sword Proficiency – BasicResult: Adequate
He lunged. The devil hissed and struck, claws flashing like knives through the rain. Aki rolled instinctively, letting the system guide him with soft pulses: dodge left, anticipate strike, counter. His movements weren't graceful. They were precise. Necessary. Survival.
XP Gained: 20Hunter Points +10
The devil faltered, glancing around wildly. He pressed the advantage, striking again with a controlled, practiced movement. Another pulse from the system suggested pressure points. Aki followed, blade striking true. The devil evaporated into black mist.
Combat Trial CompleteRewards: Hunter Points ×50, Summon Token ×1Skill Unlocked: Keen Reflexes (Passive)
Aki exhaled, his chest rising and falling under his coat. He hadn't even realized how tense he'd been. His system pulsed with quiet approval.
New Menu Option Available: Summons
A holographic symbol shimmered into existence above his hand—a small, curled wolf made of shadow, teeth bared in a silent snarl. Aki's eyes narrowed. One step at a time.
He tucked the knife back into his coat and slid his hood up. The streets of Kuoh City were quiet again, but he could feel the pulse of something larger waiting, just beyond the neon glow. Something that wasn't a minor devil.
Notice: First encounter complete. Suggested path: Investigate supernatural disturbances in the city.
Aki glanced at the Multiverse Store menu flickering faintly in his vision. He could feel its potential. Weapons, items, contracts, knowledge. Maybe even a path back to his old life, maybe something better.
Option: Access StoreOption: Save pointsOption: Wait and observe
He hesitated. The system was patient. It didn't rush him. That was… comforting.
"Alright," he murmured under his breath. "One step at a time."
The rain slowed. The glow of the city reflected in his sharp eyes. He had survived one encounter. He had awakened the system. And somewhere, beneath the neon and drizzle, the faint presence of other hunters and devils pulsed in the shadows, waiting to test him.
Player Status: AliveHunter Mode: ActiveCurrent Goal: Survive. Adapt. Hunt.
Aki took a slow, deliberate step forward. He was no ordinary transfer student. He was a reincarnated hunter with a system, a blade, and instincts honed through loss. And this world… this strange, dangerous, neon-lit city… would soon learn that someone had arrived who could not be ignored.
The Devil Hunter System pulsed softly in response, like a heartbeat syncing with his own. It was quiet now. Patient. Watching. Waiting.
And so, Kuoh Academy gained a transfer student who carried more than just a notebook and a uniform. He carried a past life, a weapon, and a system that promised everything — and maybe, just maybe, the power to survive in a world far stranger than any memory or fiction had prepared him for.
Aki tightened his coat around his shoulders. Rain or shine, devil or human, he was ready. The game had begun.