I stare at the being in front of me as he hums in response to my question.
"Yes, Nathan. You're right. I need your help, and I'm willing to grant you power to ensure the job is done." His voice is smooth and unhurried like he has all the time in the universe. "To make things easier, I'll even turn power selection into a CYOA—a Choose Your Own Adventure system. You can pick what you want."
I narrow my eyes, studying him. Something about how easily he's offering this makes me suspicious.
"And what do I get in return?"
His eyebrows rise. "What? The power isn't enough? Fine. I'll throw in a monthly salary—$100,000 USD per month. You can spend them in your current world or when you return to Earth."
I blink. "…Wait. I can return home?"
"If you want," he shrugs. "Between jobs, I can bring you back."
I lean forward. "And how long do I have to work for you?"
"Ten jobs. That's all I need. Once that's done, you're free. Of course…" He grins. "If you want to keep working for me, I won't stop you. But after those ten missions, you'll have power, money, and retirement."
I cross my arms. "And these jobs—what do they entail?"
His grin widens. "Let's be honest, Nathan. They'll be dangerous." He snaps his fingers, and the world around us changes.
The white void disappears, replaced by a blue sky stretching over a sprawling city. I look down and see chaos unfolding beneath us—a revolt is underway, with crowds of people rising up against their oppressors.
"This," he says, gesturing toward the scene, "is Lilith, a city in the Underworld—in the DxD universe."
I frown as my eyes take in the battle.
"Those people down there? Humans. Or rather, former humans. They were forced to become Devils against their will. Now, they're fighting for their freedom."
My gaze flickers toward the center of the battlefield, where a red-armored figure stands, easily cutting down rebels in his way.
I freeze. "That's… Issei?"
"Yup." ROB nods. "The Main Character of this world. A former human, just like them. But after reincarnating as a Devil, he lost his humanity. Now, he's killing his own kind to maintain his power and status."
I exhale sharply.
He turns toward me. "And your first job is to change that."
I give him a wary look. "Change what, exactly?"
"I need you to make humanity a dominant race—not just in numbers, but in power. Right now? They're nothing compared to Devils, Angels, Dragons, and Gods. Your job is to make sure that humanity rises. Make sure they can't be underestimated."
I raise an eyebrow. "Isn't that what the Hero Faction is trying to do?"
"Yes, but they're doing it wrong. Their methods are flawed. I need you to do this job the right way." He waves a hand, and suddenly, a blue panel appears before me. "And to do that, you'll need power. Here—take a look."
I glance at the glowing CYOA menu in front of me. My eyes roam over the power selection—some are original, others taken from popular franchises.
"I'll grant you power from one franchise," he explains. "That means you can choose anything from that world. For example, if you pick Naruto, you get access to everything from the Naruto world listed in the CYOA. On top of that, you can select three additional powers, as long as they cost seven points or less."
I glance at him. "And what about perks and skills?"
"You get ten perks and two skills."
I nod slowly, absorbing the information. Then I turn back to the panel, my fingers hovering over the options.
He watches me, eyes gleaming. "So? What franchise will you choose?"
I smirk.
"Warhammer 40k."
Silence.
Then he throws his head back and laughs.
"Bwahahaha! I knew it! Good choice. Go for it."
I don't waste time. My fingers move across the selection screen, carefully picking the best perks.
First, I take the absolute protection against anything that could directly affect my mind, emotions, or senses. No mind control, no illusions, no hypnosis, no memetic hazards messing with me.
Then, I grab a concealment perk—one that ensures no one can see my future, past, or actions. Clairvoyants won't detect me. Precogs won't sense me. Danger senses won't warn them. Models and calculations about me will return nothing.
And the most important perk? The one that ensures I remain 100% human, no matter what powers I take. Some of the Warhammer abilities would normally turn me into something… not human. This perk prevents that.
With my perks locked in, I move on to powers. It does not take long for me to pick all the powers I need and want.
By the time I finish making my selections, I feel satisfied.
I press the complete button, and ROB examines my choices with a curious hum.
"Hmmmm… So, what's your plan with this build? Conquer the world? Or elevate humanity?"
I meet his gaze.
"Both. Elevate technology and conquer the world."
He grins. "Smart. Now… let's talk location. Where do you want to start?"
I don't hesitate.
"Romania."
He tilts his head. "Ah. Vampires."
"Vampires, yes."
They're the easiest target. Too arrogant, yet not too powerful. It's a perfect starting point. And if they're as bad as some fanfics make them out to be, then eliminating them will be no great loss.
More importantly, they're a universally hated race. No one will object if I take them out. In fact, I'll probably gain allies in the process.
ROB chuckles. "A perfect starting location, indeed." He glances at my CYOA selections. "You could pick a few more things, you know."
I shake my head. "No. This is enough for now."
He shrugs. "Very well."
With a snap of his fingers, a portal appears behind him.
"Step through, and the deal is sealed. Ten jobs. In exchange? You get power and $100,000 per month. You'll have a new identity set up when you arrive in Romania. Oh, and the timeline? You'll arrive one month after Issei Hyoudou was reincarnated—right after the Wedding Crash Arc."
I inhale deeply, steadying myself.
Then I take a step forward.
The moment I cross the threshold, my vision is consumed by a swirling kaleidoscope of colors.
And just like that—
My new journey begins.