The moon hung low over Kuoh Town, a pale sliver casting jagged shadows across the streets. Haruto leaned against a lamppost near the academy, his breath fogging in the crisp night air. His blond hair glowed faintly under the streetlight, and his red eyes scanned the darkness, restless. The fight with Raynare had left a buzz in his veins—600 Lust Points banked, [Passionate Embrace] itching to be tested again, and a nagging feeling that shit was about to hit the fan. He'd been in DxD long enough to know the timeline was teetering on the edge of chaos, and tonight felt… heavy.
His phone buzzed—Rias again. Clubroom. Emergency. Fallen angels. No pleasantries, just urgency. Haruto smirked, shoving the device into his pocket. "Guess the feathers are flying early."
The Occult Research Club was a war room when he arrived. Rias paced like a caged lioness, her crimson hair a wild cascade. Akeno stood by the window, her usual playful smirk replaced with a tight frown. Koneko sat rigid, fists clenched, and Asia hovered near the couch, her green eyes wide with worry. The air crackled with tension, thick enough to choke on.
"Glad you could join us," Rias said, her voice clipped. "We've got a problem."
"Fallen angels, right?" Haruto dropped into a chair, legs sprawled. "Raynare's buddies coming for round two?"
"Worse," Rias said, slamming a photo onto her desk—a grainy shot of three figures in black cloaks, wings spread, hovering over the church. "Raynare wasn't alone. She's part of a cell—three more fallen angels, and they're moving fast. They've been spotted near the old district, and there's chatter about a ritual."
Haruto's gamer brain kicked in. "Ritual? Like, sacrifice-the-nun, steal-the-sacred-gear ritual?"
Asia flinched, clutching her cross. Rias nodded grimly. "Possibly. Asia's Twilight Healing makes her a target, and with Raynare down, they'll be desperate to finish what she started."
"Great," Haruto muttered, running a hand through his hair. "So, what's the play? Smash and grab?"
"Not this time," Rias said. "They're stronger—mid-tier fallen, at least. We need to scout, confirm their plan, and hit them hard. No mistakes."
Akeno stepped forward, her voice low. "They've already attacked a human tonight. A boy—brown hair, loud mouth. He's alive, but barely."
Haruto froze. "Issei?" The name slipped out before he could stop it.
Rias's eyes narrowed. "You know him?"
"Met him today," Haruto said, covering smoothly. "Pervert kid, hangs with two other clowns. Peeping on the kendo club."
"That's him," Akeno confirmed. "He's in the hospital now. They didn't kill him outright—likely bait."
"Classic villain move," Haruto said, leaning back. Inside, his mind raced—Issei's "date" with Raynare was supposed to end in his death, but this felt off. Had his presence shifted things? Or were these fallen angels improvising? Either way, the threat was escalating, and fast.
Rias straightened, her aura flaring. "We move tonight. Koneko, Haruto—front line. Akeno, support. Asia, stay back and heal. I'll handle the heavy hits. Questions?"
"Yeah," Haruto said, grinning despite the stakes. "Do I get a bonus roll for this?"
Rias glared, but Akeno's giggle broke the tension. "Oh, I'd give you one, darling."
"Focus," Koneko growled, hopping off the couch. Asia nodded, timid but resolute. "I'll do my best."
The old district was a ghost town, abandoned buildings looming like skeletal husks. The air buzzed with fallen angel energy—sharp, electric, and wrong. Haruto crouched beside Koneko behind a rusted car, his charm aura pulsing faintly. He could feel them—three presences, stronger than Raynare, their power coiling like a storm.
"There," Koneko whispered, pointing to a warehouse. Light flickered inside, red and sickly, accompanied by low chants. Ritual vibes, for sure.
Haruto peeked over the car, red eyes narrowing. "Three against five. I like those odds."
"Don't get cocky," Koneko muttered, but her lips twitched—like she almost believed him.
Rias signaled from a nearby rooftop, Akeno at her side. Haruto nodded, cracking his knuckles. "Showtime."
They moved like shadows, slipping through the dark until they reached the warehouse doors. Haruto kicked them open—subtlety was overrated—and the scene inside hit like a gut punch. Three fallen angels stood in a triangle, black wings spread, their hands glowing over a crude summoning circle etched in blood. In the center, a figure slumped—Issei, unconscious, his shirt torn and chest bleeding.
"Son of a—" Haruto started, but the fallen angels spun, their eyes glinting with malice. The leader—a tall bastard with a scarred face and a spear—snarled, "Gremory's dogs. You're too late."
"Late's my middle name," Haruto shot back, charging. Koneko was right behind, a white blur, as Rias and Akeno unleashed hell from the doorway—crimson blasts and lightning tearing through the air.
The scarred leader met Haruto head-on, spear thrusting. Haruto dodged, mid-tier strength surging, and slammed a fist into the guy's gut. The fallen grunted, staggering, but retaliated with a wing swipe that sent Haruto skidding back. "Tough bastard," he muttered, wiping blood from his lip.
Koneko tackled the second fallen—a wiry woman with twin daggers—her fists cracking ribs like dry twigs. The third, a hulking brute with a mace, roared as Akeno's lightning seared his wings. Rias zeroed in on the circle, her power flaring to disrupt it, but the scarred leader lunged at her, spear gleaming.
"Asia, now!" Haruto shouted, dodging another strike. She darted forward, healing light pouring into Issei. His wounds closed, but he didn't stir—out cold.
Haruto locked eyes with Scarface, [Seductive Glance] flaring. The fallen faltered, his spear dipping as his gaze softened—ten seconds of weakness. Haruto seized it, grabbing the spear shaft and twisting, flipping the bastard over his shoulder into the dirt. "Nap time," he growled, stomping his chest for good measure.
The wiry woman shrieked as Koneko slammed her into a wall, and Akeno's lightning finished the brute, leaving him a smoking heap. But the circle pulsed, red light surging—something was still coming.
"Rias!" Haruto yelled, sprinting to her side. She gritted her teeth, hands glowing as she poured destruction into the runes. "It's a gate—low-tier, but unstable. They were summoning backup."
"Backup?" Haruto glanced at the fallen, then at Issei. "For him?"
"His sacred gear," Rias said, straining. "They wanted it active."
Haruto didn't hesitate. He grabbed her arm, [Passionate Embrace] surging—a rush of energy flowed into her, boosting her stamina. Her eyes widened, power flaring brighter, and with a final push, the circle shattered, the red light winking out.
The warehouse went silent, save for their ragged breaths. Haruto released Rias, grinning despite the ache in his ribs. "Teamwork, huh?"
She glared, but it softened. "Warn me next time."
"No promises," he said, winking.
Akeno sauntered over, her skirt singed but her smile back. "Oh, Haruto-kun, you're full of surprises." She brushed his arm, and he felt her shiver—his charm aura doing overtime.
Koneko dragged the unconscious fallen into a pile, muttering, "Too loud." Asia knelt by Issei, still healing, her face pale but determined. "He's stable. But… what now?"
Rias straightened, her aura regal despite the dirt on her cheek. "We take him back. He's a target now—whether he knows it or not."
Haruto smirked, the Gacha System pinging like a victory chime. Objective Complete: Stop the Fallen Angel Ritual. Reward: 400 Lust Points. New roll available. Spin now?
Hell yeah. The wheel spun—chains, a flame, a silhouette with curves. It landed with a DING!
Congratulations! You've obtained: [Alluring Aura Burst]!
Effect: Release a wave of charm in a 15-meter radius, stunning foes or captivating allies for 5 seconds. Success varies by willpower. Bonus: +25% effectiveness in chaotic situations.
Haruto's grin turned feral. "Oh, I'm gonna break some hearts with this."
Back at the clubroom, Issei lay on a couch, still out, while the fallen angels were bound and stashed for Sona Sitri's cleanup crew. Rias paced, her mind clearly spinning—fallen angel cells, sacred gears, escalating threats. Haruto sprawled beside Akeno, who leaned close, her voice a purr. "You were divine out there, Haruto-kun."
"Flatterer," he said, testing [Alluring Aura Burst]—a subtle pulse rippled out, and Akeno's breath hitched, Koneko froze mid-bite, and Asia squeaked, dropping her teacup. Rias spun, glaring. "What was that?"
"Just stretching," he lied, dialing it back. His total hit 1000 Lust Points—jackpot territory.
Rias stopped pacing, her gaze piercing. "You're hiding something, Haruto. That power—it's not devil, not human. What are you?"
"Me?" He leaned forward, voice dipping into [Lustful Whisper]. "Just a guy who likes to help. No harm in that, right?"
Her eyes softened for a split second, then hardened. "Stop that. Answer me."
He sighed, charm fading. "Fine. I'm… a wild card. Let's leave it at that—for now."
She didn't push, but the suspicion lingered. As the others settled—Asia tending Issei, Akeno teasing, Koneko eating—Haruto stepped outside, the night air cool against his skin. The fallen angel threat was intensifying, and Issei's brush with death was just the start. Canon was bending, and he was right in the thick of it.
"Time to roll big," he muttered, smirking at the stars. A thousand points, a growing harem, and a war brewing. Game on.