The storm of power that erupted from Kiba Yuuto's awakening finally settled.
The wide, grassy field behind the Gremory mansion was a mess — scorched earth, shattered stones, and scattered magical remnants floated like glitter in the morning air.
Anyone who saw the aftermath would think a full-scale battle had taken place.
And in the center of it all, knelt Kiba, breathing heavily, a wide grin on his face.
Balance Breaker.
The ultimate state for a Sacred Gear user, and he had unlocked it through pure will and brutal self-training.
Not through rage.
Not through trauma.
But through choice.
"This is real," Kiba whispered, staring at his trembling hands. "I'm really inside High School DxD... and I'm already changing the script."
The System, ever-present and patient, chimed again in his mind.
[[Develop] Function Available. Would you like to initiate development for [Sword Birth]?]
"Absolutely," Kiba answered immediately.
The blue System panel brightened, revealing a new interface.
[[Develop] Options for Sword Birth:]
•[Enhancement]– Improve existing capabilities (e.g., sword durability, magic conductivity, creation speed).
•[Specialization]– Add unique traits to swords (e.g., elemental affinity, anti-magic properties, curse enhancements).
•[Evolution]– Unlock a completely new sub-ability derived from [Sword Birth].
[Warning: Only one feature can be developed per Balance Breaker awakening. Choose wisely.]
Kiba rubbed his chin, thoughtful.
"Enhancement would make his basic swords stronger, more reliable.
Specialization would let him tailor swords to different enemies — fallen angels, exorcists, dragons... useful, definitely.
But Evolution... that sounded like true power."
He wasn't here to play it safe.
He was here to forge a future beyond anything the old Kiba had ever imagined.
Without hesitation, he selected Evolution.
The System responded immediately.
[Please choose a developmental path:]
•[Blade Artillery]– Instantly fire summoned swords as high-speed projectiles.
•[Living Armory]– Create autonomous swords that act independently under host's command.
•[Soul Edge Forging]– Create swords imbued with fragments of the user's own soul, granting them near-sentient combat instincts.
Kiba's heart raced.
All three options were amazing — things the canon Kiba could have only dreamed of.
But one, in particular, drew his eye.
Soul Edge Forging.
A sword that wasn't just a weapon, but an extension of himself. A living will forged in steel.
"If I'm going to walk my own path... I'll need more than power," he thought. "I'll need trust — even if it's in my own creations."
He pressed the selection without hesitation.
[Evolution Selected: Soul Edge Forging]
[Development in Progress...]
[Estimated Completion Time: 24 hours.]
The panel faded, and Kiba slumped backward onto the ground, staring up at the wide, open sky.
For the first time since waking up in this new life, a true sense of calm washed over him.
He wasn't just a reincarnated soul anymore.
He wasn't a background character.
He was a blacksmith of fate — and his forge had only just started burning.
Later that afternoon, Kiba returned to the Gremory mansion.
Thankfully, most of the household was still out — Rias was dealing with school matters, Akeno was handling some errands, and Koneko was... well, probably sleeping in some corner.
Even Issei Hyoudou, the soon-to-be Red Dragon Emperor, hadn't been "recruited" yet.
The timing was perfect.
He quietly made his way through the elegant, crimson-carpeted halls and into his assigned room.
The interior was simple but comfortable — a bed, a desk, a closet full of Kuoh Academy uniforms.
Kiba sat on the edge of the bed and opened his Status panel again.
[Status]
• Name: Kiba Yuuto
• Race: Reincarnated Devil (Low-Class)
• Sacred Gear: [Sword Birth] – (Balance Breaker: Eternal Armory) – (Evolution: Soul Edge Forging [In Progress])
He chuckled softly.
"Low-Class my ass," he said, running a hand through his blond hair. "Give it time, and I'll make Ultimate-Class Devils look like toddlers with sticks."
He flopped backward onto the bed, arms spread wide.
For the first time in two lives, he felt a strange sense of excitement bubbling in his chest.
The battles to come.
The people he would meet — both friend and foe.
The adventures waiting just beyond the horizon.
And maybe... just maybe... the possibility of finding something more.
Companions. Brotherhood.
Love.
He wasn't naive. He knew how chaotic this world could be — how dark it could turn without warning.
But he wasn't scared.
Not anymore.
He had a second chance.
And he would use it to its fullest.
[The Next Morning]
Sunlight streamed into his room, a bright, warm glow waking him naturally.
Kiba sat up immediately — as if a part of him already knew something was different.
The System confirmed it a heartbeat later.
[Development Complete!]
[New Feature Added: [Sword Birth] – (Soul Edge Forging)]
He felt it — a deep, almost instinctual knowledge blooming inside him.
A new connection.
He raised a hand, focusing.
Dark energy gathered again, but this time, it felt... alive.
With a quiet hum, a new sword materialized in his grasp.
Unlike the basic demonic swords he'd created before, this one pulsed with faint silver light.
The blade itself seemed to breathe — a faint vibration in the air around it, like a heartbeat syncing with his own.
"Incredible..." Kiba whispered.
He swung it experimentally, and the sword adjusted mid-movement, flowing like an extension of his body rather than a tool.
It understood him.
And when he closed his eyes and focused, he could sense it — a silent voice, fierce and loyal, whispering back to him through the bond.
A sword born not just of magic, but of soul.
[Skill Unlocked: Soul Armament Control (Beginner)]
• Allows partial autonomous control over soul-forged weapons.
• Strengthens with synchronization training.
Kiba grinned, a fierce spark lighting his normally calm blue eyes.
"This... this is just the beginning," he thought, sheathing the soul-forged blade into a conjured scabbard at his waist.
A knock came at the door, pulling him from his thoughts.
"Yuuto? We're gathering downstairs," came Akeno's soft, teasing voice from the other side.
"Right," he called back, voice composed.
Time to return to the world.
To blend in, to grow stronger — quietly, methodically.
Because soon, very soon, the real battles would begin.
And this time, the knight would not stand in anyone's shadow.
He would stand at the front — sword drawn, destiny defied.