Darkness.
That was all he could see.
A suffocating, endless void. No light. No sound. Just... nothing.
'So this is death, huh?' the boy mused, strangely calm despite the circumstances. Sixteen years of mediocrity, then a sudden accident. Truck. Blood. Pain. The usual. He didn't scream. He didn't panic. Why should he? The world never gave a damn about him. He was alone in life—he could be alone in death.
But the void wasn't silent for long.
[Initializing…]
[Void Dragon God System Booting…]
[Welcome, Host.]
[You have died and qualified for Reincarnation.]
[Scanning Multiverse for suitable placement… Match Found: World – "High School DxD"]
[Beginning Rebirth Sequence…]
"...DxD?" he muttered, lips twitching into a smirk. "Now that's interesting."
Bright light pierced through the darkness, and before he could process anything more, consciousness slipped away like smoke through fingers.
When he opened his eyes again, he was lying in bed.
Not a hospital. Not the void. A real bed—soft sheets, sunlight streaming through the curtains, birds chirping outside. He sat up slowly, muscles unfamiliar but powerful. Strong. Lean. His hand shot up to his face. Smooth. Youthful. A mirror nearby confirmed it: tall, black hair with that familiar Sung Jin-Woo look, sharp black eyes that seemed to gleam with dark confidence.
But he wasn't Sung Jin-Woo. He was something else now.
Someone new.
And he liked it.
[Void Dragon God System Online]
[Welcome Back, Host.]
[Name: ??? (Please Select)]
[Age: 16]
[Race: Reincarnated Human (Mutating…)]
[Status: Alive. Potential: Unknown.]
A faint chuckle escaped his lips. He stood and approached the mirror, taking one last look at his new self.
"I'll go with… Kael," he said, voice calm, smooth, commanding.
[Name Selected: Kael]
[New Objectives Unlocked]
[Quest: Establish Identity in the World of DxD]
[Quest: Awaken the Power of the Void Dragon]
[Reward: ???]
[Warning: Canon Events Will Begin in Three Years]
Three years. Plenty of time to prepare.
Kael turned from the mirror and walked to the window. Below, he saw a large estate. People in formal attire bustled about the grounds. Maids, guards, servants—he wasn't just reborn, he was reborn somewhere important.
He glanced at his clothing—black silk pajamas. High quality. Someone had gone all out.
A knock came at the door.
"Enter," he said smoothly.
A maid peeked in, looking a bit flustered. "Young master, Lady Venelana requests your presence in the garden."
Venelana?
As in... Venelana Gremory?
Kael's smile widened. "Tell her I'll be there shortly."
The maid nodded and scurried off.
He had work to do.
The garden was beautiful. Roses bloomed in neat rows. Trees swayed with the wind. And there, sipping tea like royalty, sat Venelana Gremory—elegant, composed, breathtaking.
"Ah, Kael," she said, looking up. Her smile was warm. "You slept in. I was worried."
"Apologies," Kael replied with a charming grin. "Guess I was enjoying the dream too much."
Venelana chuckled softly. "Well, you're awake now, and that's what matters. You've always been a bit of a mystery to us, you know. You just appeared two months ago… and yet, here you are, perfectly adapted."
"I'm a fast learner," he said, sitting across from her. "Besides, who wouldn't want to learn quickly in a place like this?"
She raised an eyebrow, amused. "Such a smooth tongue. You'll give Rias a headache one day."
He raised his cup in mock salute. "I consider that a personal goal."
Venelana laughed again, genuinely. "I'm starting to believe you were meant to be here."
Kael smiled, but inside, gears were already turning. Two months since his "arrival"? So the system placed him in a pre-established identity. Perfect. That meant his presence wouldn't disrupt things too early.
Still, he needed power. Knowledge. Connections.
And fast.
"System," he whispered silently in his mind.
[Shop – Status – Quests – Dungeons – Achievements]
"Open Status."
[STATUS]
Name: Kael
Race: Voidborn (Human Base)
Level: 1
Title: Reincarnator
Strength: 25
Agility: 22
Intelligence: 30
Charm: 50
Void Energy: 100
Abilities: ??? (Locked)
Passive Skill: Dragon's Presence – Exudes authority that affects weaker beings.
Note: Power is currently sealed. Progress through Quests and Achievements to unlock your potential.
Not bad for a start.
But he'd need more.
Much more.
That night, Kael stood atop a balcony, the Gremory manor glowing beneath the moonlight.
He could feel it in the air—magic, power, destiny swirling around him like a storm waiting to be unleashed.
Canon was years away, but the pieces were already moving. Devils, Angels, Fallen, and things beyond comprehension.
And he? He was the variable.
The wildcard.
He didn't plan on playing hero. Nor did he care for the role of villain. He would be both and neither—just Kael. A force unto himself.
With Rias Gremory and her peerage nearby, with Venelana already in his circle, the game had begun.
Let others play their parts.
He was rewriting the script.
[New Quest Unlocked: Establish Connection with Rias Gremory]
[Optional Reward: Affection Points + System Upgrade]
Kael grinned.
"Let's see how far this rabbit hole goes."