A sharp pain shot through my skull.
It felt like someone had jammed a red-hot poker straight into my brain, frying every neuron in my head. My body was sluggish, heavy, like I was submerged underwater. I couldn't think—could barely breathe—until, finally, the pain receded, leaving behind a dull ache and a thousand foreign memories slamming into my mind all at once.
Memories that weren't mine.
A child running through a field, laughing.A hand reaching out, promising salvation.The cold, sterile walls of a laboratory.The screams of children.The scent of blood.The rage. The helplessness.
My breath hitched.
I knew these memories. I knew this world.
"High School DxD?" I muttered under my breath, my voice hoarse and unfamiliar.
My eyes fluttered open, greeted by the dim glow of a bedroom ceiling. The sensation of warm sheets wrapped around me was comforting, but it did nothing to ease the turmoil in my mind. Hesitantly, I pushed myself up, my muscles tense, as if expecting some unseen enemy to attack.
I wasn't in my old body. That much was clear.
I moved my hands in front of my face, fingers flexing smoothly. No scars. No calluses from years of typing on a keyboard. Just flawless, pale skin. My hair—long, golden, cascading down past my shoulders—brushed against my cheek, further solidifying the horrifying realization.
I had transmigrated into High School DxD as Kiba Yuuto.
I sucked in a deep breath, willing my racing heart to calm down. This was insane. Absolutely insane. Out of all the characters I could have become, why did it have to be him?
Kiba Yuuto. The Knight of Rias Gremory. A survivor of the Holy Sword Project. A man haunted by the ghosts of his past, driven by vengeance against the Church for what they did to his friends.
And now... I was him.
I pushed myself out of bed, my legs slightly shaky but strong. The bedroom I found myself in was simple—wooden floors, a desk near the window, a wardrobe, and a bookshelf filled with neatly arranged texts. The Gremory insignia was subtly embroidered on the bedsheets, confirming my worst fears.
I was already in the Occult Research Club's dormitory.
This wasn't a dream.
A knock at the door startled me.
"Yuuto?" A soft, familiar voice called out. "Are you awake?"
Rias.
My mind scrambled for a response. Right—if I was Kiba, I needed to act like him. Calm. Collected. A perfect gentleman.
Taking one last deep breath, I adjusted my posture, squared my shoulders, and responded, "Yes, Buchou. I'll be out in a moment."
"Alright. We'll be waiting downstairs."
I listened as her footsteps faded down the hall, and only then did I allow myself to exhale.
I needed a plan.
Before doing anything rash, I had to confirm one thing—the Ability Mutation System.
If I was going to survive in this world, I needed to understand how this cheat worked. Closing my eyes, I focused inward, searching for anything out of the ordinary.
A notification screen suddenly popped up in my mind's eye.
[Ability Mutation System Activated]
• Welcome, User. Your abilities will now evolve beyond their original limitations.
• All skills and powers you possess can mutate over time.
• Mutations occur based on battle experience, environmental influence, and intent.
[Current Abilities:]
1. Sword Birth (Mutating...)
2. Knight's Speed (Mutating...)
My breath hitched. Both of Kiba's core abilities were already mutating?!
I clenched my fists, feeling a subtle change in my muscles—like an untapped energy waiting to be unleashed. If my abilities could evolve beyond what Kiba originally had, then that meant... I wasn't just limited to his fate.
I could be stronger.
I could be more.
The thought sent a shiver of anticipation down my spine.
But before I could dive deeper into my system, my stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I was, in fact, still human. Right—first things first. Food. Then figuring out how the hell I was going to navigate this world without screwing everything up.
The Occult Research Club's common area was just as I remembered it—cozy, elegant, and draped in a gothic aesthetic fitting for the heiress of the Gremory Clan. The rich scent of breakfast filled the air as I stepped in, greeted by the sight of my new comrades.
Issei Hyoudou, the perverted protagonist, sat at the table, shoveling rice into his mouth while stealing glances at Akeno's cleavage.Akeno Himejima, the ever-smiling sadist, elegantly sipped her tea, watching Issei's antics with amusement.Koneko Toujou, the pint-sized powerhouse, nibbled on a sweet pastry, her golden eyes flickering toward me as I entered.And at the head of the table sat Rias Gremory, the crimson-haired devil princess, exuding both authority and warmth.
"Good morning, Yuuto." Rias greeted with a soft smile.
"Good morning, Buchou," I replied, taking my seat.
Akeno giggled. "You're later than usual. Did you sleep in?"
I forced a polite chuckle. "Something like that."
Truth be told, I was still adjusting. The sheer reality of my situation was overwhelming, but I had to play my part. If I started acting out of character, questions would arise.
As breakfast continued, Issei turned to me, a grin on his face. "Oi, Kiba, any chance you'll spar with me later? I gotta get stronger if I wanna survive in this crazy world!"
My system notification pinged in the back of my mind.
[Sparring detected. Potential mutation opportunity.]
• Mutations occur faster through combat.
I smirked inwardly. If my abilities were already mutating, then this was the perfect chance to test them.
"I'd be happy to," I replied smoothly. "Just don't complain if I go too hard on you."
Issei laughed nervously. "H-Hey, don't be so hard on me, man. I still have to keep my pretty face for the girls!"
"What ladies?" Koneko deadpanned.
The table erupted into laughter, and for a moment, I felt at ease.
But deep inside, I knew—this world wasn't just fun and games.
A lot of challenges and dangers were still to come.
And I would make sure I was Prepared.