The morning air was crisp as I walked to Kuoh Academy, my breath visible in the early September chill. My body thrummed with newfound power, a result of my recent stat boosts and the completion of the "Speed of the Underdog" quest. I was no longer the weak, perverted Issei Hyoudou of High School DxD fame. The Gamer System had transformed me into something more-a player in a deadly game, ready to face whatever this world threw at me. But the quiet of the past week had me on edge. The supernatural undercurrents of this world were stirring, and I knew trouble was coming.
As I adjusted my school bag, a familiar blue screen flickered into existence, accompanied by a cheerful chime. The system had an update for me.
System Update: New Perks and Skill Enhancement
Perk Unlocked: Gamer's Mind
Grants immunity to mental status effects (fear, panic, charm, etc.). Ensures calm and rational thinking in all situations.
Perk Unlocked: Gamer's Body
Converts physical damage into HP loss. Allows the user to recover from injuries by restoring HP (via rest, items, or leveling up). Fatigue and pain are minimized.
Skill Updated: Observe (Level Max)
Now reveals the full stats, level, and thoughts of any individual, regardless of their power level or supernatural status.
I froze mid-step, my heart racing. Gamer's Mind and Gamer's Body? These were straight out of The Gamer manhwa, and they were game-changers. Gamer's Mind would keep me cool under pressure, even against devils or fallen angels. Gamer's Body meant I could take hits without worrying about broken bones or lingering injuries-as long as my HP held out. And the upgraded Observe? Being able to see anyone's stats, no matter how powerful, was like having a cheat code for this world. I couldn't wait to test it.
I pulled up my status to review my current setup:
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Level: 11
HP: 4000/4000 (Calculated as [40 Strength + 40 Endurance] × 50)
MP: 2000/2000 (Calculated as 40 Intelligence × 50)
Strength: 40
Endurance: 40
Agility: 40
Intelligence: 40
Luck: 50
Stat Points: 0
Skills:
Observe (Level Max): Reveals an individual's Level, HP, MP, Strength, Endurance, Agility, Intelligence, Luck, and their thoughts about you. Now bypasses all level or power restrictions.
Perks:
Gamer's Mind: Immunity to mental status effects; ensures calm and rational thinking.
Gamer's Body: Converts physical damage to HP loss; minimizes fatigue and pain.
Quests: None
Inventory: Empty
Systems Unlocked:
Relationship System:
Matsuda: Friend (60/100)
Motohama: Friend (60/100)
Rias Gremory: Acquaintance (20/100)
Most female classmates: Neutral (12-15/100)
I grinned. With 4000 HP, 2000 MP, and balanced stats across the board, I was a walking powerhouse. Gamer's Mind would keep me from freaking out when things got crazy, and Gamer's Body meant I could shrug off injuries like a video game character. The updated Observe was the cherry on top-I could now peek into the stats of heavy hitters like Rias Gremory or even fallen angels.
Speaking of which, I had a bad feeling. In the original High School DxD, this was around the time Raynare, disguised as Yuuma Amano, would approach Issei and set him up for a deadly date. I scanned the street, half-expecting to see her lurking. No sign yet, but I wasn't taking chances. With Observe, I'd know her for what she was the moment I saw her.
At school, the day started normally. Matsuda and Motohama were still on their best behavior, thanks to my earlier quest. They were even talking about joining the track team, inspired by my performance on the field. I encouraged them, happy to see their Relationship System scores inch up to 62/100 each. In class, I caught Rias Gremory's eye again. Curious, I used Observe to test its new capabilities.
Name: Rias Gremory
Level: 25
HP: 8000/8000
MP: 12000/12000
Strength: 50
Endurance: 60
Agility: 55
Intelligence: 80
Luck: 40
Thoughts About You: "Issei Hyoudou is changing. He's less crude and more... intriguing. I sense potential in him, but I'm keeping my distance for now."
I nearly choked. Rias was a beast-Level 25 with stats dwarfing mine, especially in Intelligence and MP. Her thoughts about me were promising, though. "Intriguing" was better than "perverted loser." I made a mental note to keep improving that relationship score.
The school day passed uneventfully until the final bell. As I walked out of the gate, a soft voice called my name. "Issei Hyoudou?"
I turned, and there she was-a beautiful girl with long black hair, violet eyes, and a shy smile. My stomach dropped. I knew that face from the anime: Raynare, disguised as Yuuma Amano. The fallen angel who'd kill Issei in the original timeline. Gamer's Mind kicked in, keeping my pulse steady as I used Observe.
Name: Raynare (Disguised as Yuuma Amano)
Level: 20
HP: 6000/6000
MP: 8000/8000
Strength: 45
Endurance: 50
Agility: 60
Intelligence: 65
Luck: 30
Thoughts About You: "This human seems ordinary, but there's something off about him. I'll observe him closely before deciding my next move."
Her stats were intimidating, but not insurmountable. My 4000 HP and balanced stats meant I could hold my own if things went south. Her thoughts confirmed she wasn't attacking yet-just watching. I decided to play along, keeping my expression friendly but guarded.
"Hey," I said, smiling. "You're... new around here, right?"
She giggled, twirling a strand of hair. "I'm Yuuma Amano. I just moved to town. I saw you playing basketball the other day-you're really good!"
"Thanks," I said, keeping my tone light. Gamer's Mind made it easy to stay calm, even knowing she was a fallen angel with a hidden agenda. "Just trying to stay active, you know?"
We chatted for a few minutes, her questions probing but innocent-sounding. She asked about my hobbies, my friends, and Kuoh Academy. I kept my answers vague, deflecting with jokes and charm boosted by my 50 Luck. Her Relationship System score appeared: Yuuma Amano: Neutral (10/100). Interesting-she didn't hate me, but she wasn't sold on me either.
As we parted ways, she flashed a sweet smile. "Maybe we'll run into each other again, Issei."
"Yeah, maybe," I replied, watching her walk away. My gut told me this was just the beginning.
That evening, as I sat in my room reviewing my stats, a new quest notification popped up, making my heart skip a beat.
New Quest: Taming the Fallen
Objective: Defeat Raynare without killing her.
Rewards:
Raynare becomes your girlfriend (Relationship System score set to 90/100, Lover status).
Failure Penalty: -20 to all stats, Social Outcast Status (Reputation permanently damaged).
Time Limit: 1 Month
Accept? [Y/N]
I stared at the screen, my mind racing. Defeat Raynare without killing her? And make her my girlfriend? The Gamer System was throwing me into the deep end. In the original story, Raynare was a manipulative, cruel fallen angel who killed Issei without a second thought. Turning her into an ally-let alone a lover-seemed impossible. But the rewards were too good to pass up. A 90/100 relationship score with a powerful fallen angel could change everything, especially with the supernatural storm brewing.
I selected Y, steeling myself. This wasn't going to be easy, but Gamer's Mind kept my doubts at bay. I needed a plan-something to outsmart Raynare without resorting to violence I couldn't yet win. My 40 Strength, Endurance, and Agility were solid, but her 60 Agility and 65 Intelligence meant she could outmaneuver and outthink me if I wasn't careful. My 50 Luck might tip the scales, though, and Observe would let me track her intentions.
Over the next few days, Raynare-as Yuuma-started appearing more often. She'd "bump into" me after school, always with that disarming smile. I played the part of the oblivious high schooler, keeping our conversations light while using Observe to monitor her thoughts. They shifted subtly each time:
Day 2: "He's stronger than he looks. Could he be hiding something? I need to stay close."
Day 4: "His confidence is unusual for a human. Maybe he's worth keeping alive... for now."
Her Relationship System score crept up to 15/100, then 20/100. My high Luck seemed to make her more curious than suspicious, and Gamer's Mind helped me stay charming without slipping into Issei's old perverted habits. I avoided Matsuda and Motohama during these encounters, not wanting them caught in Raynare's crosshairs.
One afternoon, as we walked through a park, she asked, "Issei, you're different from other guys. What's your secret?"
I chuckled, leaning on my 40 Intelligence to craft a response. "No secret, Yuuma. Just trying to be a better version of myself."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but her smile didn't falter. Observe revealed: "He's hiding something, but I can't pin it down. This could be fun." Her score ticked up to 25/100. Progress, but I was nowhere near "defeating" her, whatever that meant.
I started training in secret, pushing my stats to their limits. I ran laps to test my 40 Agility, feeling like I could outrun a car. I lifted weights in the school gym, my 40 Strength letting me bench press far more than any human should. Gamer's Body ensured I never got sore, and Gamer's Mind kept me focused. I was preparing for the inevitable moment when Raynare dropped her disguise.
By the end of the week, I caught her watching me from a distance, her expression unreadable. Observe showed: "He's more than human. I need to know what he's capable of before I act." Her score was now 30/100-still Neutral, but leaning toward interest. I had a month to turn this into a victory, but I knew it wouldn't be a straightforward fight. Raynare wasn't someone I could overpower easily, and the "no killing" clause meant I'd need to outsmart her, maybe even appeal to her emotions.
As I lay in bed that night, I stared at my status screen, my mind racing with possibilities. The Gamer System had given me the tools to survive, but this quest was a test of strategy, not just strength. Raynare was a predator, but I wasn't the naive prey she expected. With Observe, Gamer's Mind, and Gamer's Body, I had a chance to rewrite this story-not just for me, but for her.
The game was on, and I was ready to play.