"Who are you?
I am what you all call God.
Huh? What am I doing here? Did I die? I don't remember anything…
Sigh… How did I die?? I just fell asleep in my bed, but moments before I left the stove on… I see.
That's right. Unfortunately, you died in your apartment; it caught fire because of your mistake. No one else suffered—You were the only one who wasn't saved.
Well then, what will become of me?
Will I go to Heaven or Hell?
I'll give you two options: the first is to go to Heaven, and the second is to be reincarnated.
What is Heaven like? What will I do there, will I remember my whole life, and what can I do?
Heaven is a peaceful place; your memories will be removed from your mind. What you can do is go to the beach, go to the movies, and…
Okay, sorry but I choose to be reincarnated. I don't want my memories wiped.
Alright. You will be reincarnated right now; the world is High School DxD. You will be sent with something random. Whatever you choose to do in that world, we will not interfere. If you die, you won't be given options again—don't die quickly.
I felt my consciousness fading until I lost awareness.
I began to open my eyes. It was as if I had regained sight after being blind my whole life. Everything was blurry until it cleared. I was in the arms of a man.
I was surprised; I didn't think I'd literally reincarnate. Well, I guess I'll have to live this new life—the weird thing was something.
The woman on the stretcher, who apparently is my mother, looked familiar.
Excuse me, ma'am, what is your son's name?
Issei, Issei Hyoudou.
Oh shit, I replaced Issei as the protagonist. Wait, that means I'm the wielder of the Red Dragon Emperor.
I closed my eyes planning to sleep until they took me home.
I was in the hospital for two and a half days. In my past life I was American but had a short stay in Japan before dying. My Japanese wasn't that good but I could understand it.
That night I went to my new home.
According to my parents I was a genius; in my previous life I was just a normal guy a bit above average. From an early age I began to learn everything quickly.
Sigh I would have wanted a cliché power that helps me kill everyone. Tomorrow I officially turn five.
Tomorrow I'll have a normal party like all kids but, I asked my parents for some things—I mean, I'm going to have a normal common party, not a childish one. My parents are normal, they're loving and not too strict with me.
I opened my eyes and got up like every day but this time I was surprised. In front of me was a screen, a system panel.
What? So I reincarnated with something.
Welcome, happy birthday Issei. I am the System; I will help you with the adversities of this world. The System will give you four free spins. With these spins you can get anything: weapon, skill, anything. To get more spins you must complete missions; missions give you EXP to level up. There's a stats panel—each time you level up you get two stat points—there's a titles panel that gives certain boosts, and also an inventory panel.
I see… A gacha system with RPG system panels all in one.
Gacha Panel.
As soon as those words left my mouth another screen instantly appeared where I only saw one button with four spins and an incognito icon. Pressing the button, the icon began spinning through many rewards.
Congratulations, you obtained:
– Inverted Celestial Halberd (×1)
Nice! I got Toji Fushiguro's weapon. This weapon nullifies all types of cursed energy; I mean the cursed technique will have adapted to this world and nullify magic. Or, well, I hope—it adapted and isn't totally useless in this world.
Recovering from my stupor, I spun the gacha again.
I began to see rewards change: Six Eyes, Rinnegan, Leaf Village Headband, Infinity Gauntlet.
Congratulations, you obtained:
– Demonic Premonition Eye (×1)
Huh, Demonic Premonition Eye? I think I recognize that; isn't that Rudeus Greyrat's eye that predicts everything? Or well, I think that's what it is. Without giving it much importance, I decided to spin again.
Congratulations, you obtained:
– Naruto Uzumaki's Sandals (×2)
What! I mean it literally can give me anything. What bullshit, how are Naruto Uzumaki's sandals going to help me?
Still angry, I pressed the button again with a look of terror, praying I would get something useful.
Congratulations, you obtained:
– Cursed Energy –
Warning: It is recommended that the wielder go to a safe and comfortable place; cursed energy and the Premonition Eye will be integrated. Integration time will be 2 hours; integration of cursed energy and the Premonition Eye in 10 seconds.
Upon hearing the robotic voice, I collapsed on my bed fully covered. After 10 seconds I felt my whole body drain, as if my energy was being stolen, until I fell unconscious.
Upon waking from my sleep, I felt my body was now stronger; I felt there was a new energy in my body. Also, I noticed in one of my eyes I had a new vision. Looking at my hands I saw the future in silhouettes.
"Issei!! Come down to eat, breakfast is ready."
I got up from my bed, opened the inventory panel, put my new Inverted Celestial Halberd in it, changed clothes, and went downstairs. The day was normal, no anomalies; we celebrated my birthday at home. I asked for clothes as my gift and that's what they gave me. After returning home, I went to my room.
Okay, now, how do I manipulate cursed energy?
According to my memories, to manipulate the energy I have to depend on my emotions, or something like that. I suppose I'll have to use the same method as Itadori: watch movies and control my emotions, but without that doll to indicate when I overdo my cursed energy use.
I went to the living room to look for movies; I found a zombie movie, decided to watch it, and during the movie I focused on releasing my cursed energy.
After finishing the movies I began to try to manipulate the cursed energy.
Sigh I guess it isn't as easy as it seemed.
I stayed like that for weeks trying to manipulate my cursed energy.
Finally, finally, finally I managed to make it appear. After all that it cost me. Finally I can bring out at least a little.
In my hands there was cursed energy, reinforcing my hand—only that, by not fully controlling my cursed energy, there was just a little energy reinforcing my hand.
During these weeks my life passed normally, without important events.
"Issei!! Down here, we're going out to eat."
"I'm coming down."
I got up, dispelled the little cursed energy around my hand, went downstairs, and we went to eat at a mall.
During lunch I slipped away unnoticed; I was in a hurry so they wouldn't notice. I was observing the place until it seemed I saw a familiar figure.
Uh, isn't that… Akeno Himejima?
I was stunned; I kept looking at an Akeno Himejima who was alone, playing by herself. She looks really good.
I'm not a pedophile; I just admit she looks really good. In the future when we're at Kuoh Academy, I'm going to make her my girlfriend—or who knows.
Snapping out of my memories, I walked toward Akeno. She stood against a backdrop while the other kids around played together; she was playing alone.
Hello, what are you doing?
She was surprised I spoke to her and seemed to hesitate how to answer.
Hello, I'm playing.
And you?
Nothing, I was just bored until I saw you and thought we could get along.
Akeno looked at me with shyness, but in her eyes I saw a curious glint, as if she wasn't used to someone approaching her like that.
Get along? –she repeated, tilting her head– Why would you want to be my friend?
I shrugged, trying to sound natural.
I don't know, I just thought it would be fun. Besides, I like you—I lied a bit, though the truth was I wanted to get to know her better for everything I know about her future.
Akeno looked down, playing with her fingers.
Most kids don't want to play with me… They say I'm weird.
Weird? –I feigned surprise– Well, I think you're interesting. Wanna play together?
She hesitated a moment, then nodded with a small smile.
Okay… What do you want to play?
I thought quickly. I didn't want anything too childish, but I also couldn't propose something out of place.
How about we explore the mall? We can look for weird things or invent stories about the people we see.
Akeno's eyes lit up with excitement.
That sounds fun! –she agreed, and together we began walking through the corridors, watching people and whispering ridiculous theories about who they might secretly be.
Meanwhile, I subtly activated my Premonition Eye, just in case. I didn't see any immediate danger, only flashes of possible futures where Akeno and I became close friends.
After a while we sat on a bench to rest. Akeno glanced at me from the corner of her eye.
You're different from the others, Issei. I'm glad I met you.
I felt a small pride inside. Maybe, just maybe, I could change some things in this world, starting here.
Thanks, Akeno. I'm glad too.
At that moment, my system flashed a notification:
Mission accomplished! Make a new important friend in the story. Reward +100 XP
Would you like to see each other again someday? –I asked, trying to sound casual.
Akeno nodded, this time with more confidence.
Yes, I'd like that a lot.
We said goodbye shortly after, and I returned to my parents, storing that small but important first step in my memory.
When I returned, my parents suspected nothing. For them, it had just been a small family outing. I ate dinner in silence, focused on reviewing the day's events. Every detail, every word exchanged, could be important later. I wasn't in just any world. I was in High School DxD, and what I did now would have weight in the future.
After dinner I went up to my room, closed the door, and collapsed onto the bed. The system panel was still there, floating as if it had always been part of my life.
I looked at my stats:
[Statistics Panel]
Level: 1
Experience: 100/500
Unassigned Stat Points: 2
Strength: 5
Stamina: 5
Agility: 5
Intelligence: 5
Cursed Energy Control: 1
So far I had only raised a bit of cursed energy, but control was still pathetic. I decided to spend my 2 points.
I put 1 point in Strength and 1 in Cursed Energy Control. It wasn't worth wasting the chance to strengthen cursed energy, especially if in the future I'd have to face supernatural beings like Fallen Angels, Demons, or even Exorcists.
The screen flickered confirming the changes, and I felt a slight difference in my body. Small but real.
I turned off the panel. I couldn't get too confident in the system. Even if it was an advantage, if I became dependent I could end up truly weak. The system was a means, not an end.
I closed my eyes, letting my mind work silently. I had to improve my cursed energy control more aggressively. So far I had only achieved basic manipulation, a spark compared to what I really needed.
I had to change my method. It wasn't enough to just get emotional watching movies. I needed a real way to provoke strong emotions in a controlled manner.
I got up and paced my room, thinking:
How did Itadori do it? How did Gojo do it?
I remembered cursed energy users didn't only depend on emotions. It was concentration, focus, precision. If I just let anger or sadness take over, the energy would be wild, hard to control.
I needed to learn to force emotions precisely, like turning a faucet.
I sat on the floor, crossed my legs, and closed my eyes. I began to recall specific situations from my past life: happy, embarrassing, sad, humiliating moments.
The key wasn't to "feel" in an exaggerated way. The key was to activate a specific emotion, focus it on a point in my body, and manifest it as cursed energy.
I tried to feel humiliation. I remembered a stupid incident in high school where I fell in front of the whole class. The feeling of discomfort arose, weakly. At the same time, I focused that emotion in my right hand.
I felt cursed energy swirl, like a warm current.
I opened my eyes. A small layer of dark energy wrapped around my right hand.
It wasn't perfect. The energy vibrated unstably, but it had improved. Before it hardly came out. Now I could concentrate it in a specific point using specific emotions.
I barely smiled. It was a step. Small, but a step.
I dispelled the energy before exhausting my reserves and lay back down. I knew this method would be more effective than simply "getting emotional" watching movies. Now it depended on constant and conscious training.
The next day passed normally. I woke up early, had breakfast, helped with house chores, and then, as soon as I was free, went back to my room.
I started my training routine:
1. Activate a specific emotion (humiliation, anger, sadness).
2. Focus that emotion in a part of the body.
3. Release the cursed energy with precision.
It didn't always work. Sometimes the cursed energy shot out uncontrolled; other times it simply didn't come out. But each small advance reinforced my skill.
I also discovered something more important: The Premonition Eye could foresee failures in energy manipulation.
When I concentrated my sight while releasing energy, sometimes I saw flashes of probable futures: failures, overloads, minor accidents.
They weren't long or detailed visions—just flashes—but they allowed me to correct mistakes before making them. It was like having an invisible tutor guiding me. A priceless tool.
Two weeks passed. During that time, I kept the same routine:
Help at home.
Study the basics to avoid suspicion.
Train cursed energy in my room.
Meditate controlling specific emotions.
I also began practicing basic movements with the Celestial Halberd. Although it was still very big for my child body, I could summon it and start getting used to its weight and balance. I couldn't allow myself, when the moment came, to be a novice wielding a special-class weapon.
One afternoon, while practicing in the backyard—making sure my parents didn't see me—I tried something new. I focused cursed energy in my legs, reinforcing them as I'd seen some Jujutsu Kaisen characters do. I jumped.
It was pathetic. I barely lifted a couple more centimeters than a normal jump.
But it was real. The cursed energy reinforcement had boosted my muscles, albeit minimally. I landed on my feet, panting.
It wasn't enough to face even the weakest enemy in this world. But it was the beginning.
That night, while having dinner with my family, I received another silent notification from the system:
Secondary mission unlocked: "Mastering cursed energy completed."
Reward: +2 Stat Points, +50 EXP
I showed no visible reaction—just a mental nod. Every small achievement counted.
After dinner I retired to my room and assigned the new points:
1 in Agility—to move faster in combat.
1 in Cursed Energy Control—to make my techniques more efficient.
My stats read:
[Statistics Panel]
Level: 1
Experience: 150/500
Strength: 6
Stamina: 5
Agility: 6
Intelligence: 5
Cursed Energy Control: 3
Nothing incredible yet. But with enough training, soon I could start honing real combat skills. No rush—this was just the beginning of a long path.
The future would be cruel: Fallen, demons, corrupt humans, other beings of inconceivable power… If I wanted to survive and reach the top, I'd have to be patient, methodical, and ruthlessly efficient.
No shortcuts. No relying on "lucky breaks."
I looked at my hands, where barely a few threads of cursed energy danced under my control. It was weak—for now.
I observed them carefully, watching how small, almost imperceptible black threads ran through my fingers. It wasn't impressive yet, but it was real progress—something of my own, tangible.
The cursed energy was rough, felt heavy, as if it dragged my darker emotions to the surface. It was hard to keep stable. Every time I let my guard down, the energy dispersed into the air, leaving only a slight tingle in my palm.
I clenched my fist, focusing on holding that feeling longer. I took a deep breath. The cursed energy, though weak, obeyed orders if I concentrated enough.
"Control first. Then quantity," I repeated mentally.
I sat again on my bedroom floor, crossed my legs. I wasn't going to waste my small progress. I knew that without a solid foundation, attempting advanced techniques would be suicide in a world like this.
I looked around. The room was small but cozy: a bookshelf with a few children's books, a bed with soft-colored sheets, and a window letting in moonlight. A safe training environment—at least for now.
I decided to work on something simple: making cursed energy circulate throughout my body. Basic in any energy system—it couldn't just accumulate in one point. It had to flow, reinforce muscles, bones, overall endurance; otherwise it'd be a useless ornament.
I placed my hands on my knees, closed my eyes, and tried to "feel" every corner of my body—not just imagine it, but perceive muscles, blood flow, tendons tensing… everything.
The cursed energy burst out unstably from my core, right below my navel. It was erratic, clumsy, like an uncontrolled torrent. I tried to guide it toward my arms, but only a tiny fraction moved.
A pang of pain shot through my chest.
I gritted my teeth.
"Take it easy… it's like molding clay, not pushing water," I reminded myself, recalling something I'd read in a magic manga.
I started treating the energy as something denser—hot clay, malleable. I visualized it spreading through my limbs, wrapping each muscle like a second skin.
Little by little, I noticed more reaching my forearms before dissipating.
I smiled, satisfied. Small but significant progress.
System:
-----Mission-----
Mastering cursed energy.
Up to level: —beginner—
Rewards:
Title: Cursed Energy User
Wow, a mission. I guess I can't refuse—it even gives me a title.
I paused my attempt and struck a meditation pose. In my mind I visualized my cursed energy as fire expanding slowly through my limb.
Sigh Shit, this is hard.
I continued meditating, trying to manipulate it, trying to expand it.
Finally, finally I did it! Sigh
Shit, this tired me—I spent two fucking hours just to manipulate it.
As soon as I said that, I channeled cursed energy into my hand. I watched it strengthen my hand and then disappear.
System:
-----Mission-----
Mastering cursed energy.
Up to level: —beginner—
Rewards:
Title: Cursed Energy User
COMPLETED
I looked at the completed mission panel with a pleased expression.
Titles Panel.
By magic, an interface opened named Titles; none were selected, but I saw the title I'd just earned available.
When I tapped it, I felt my lost cursed energy recover and a surge of power.
Sigh This cost me too much, but I guess it was worth it.
Alright! Now that I've learned to manipulate my cursed energy, what's next? I need to focus on getting stronger to do certain things—one of them is changing Akeno's fate, Akeno Himejima. I must save her, or at least try. Learning basic cursed energy manipulation was tough, but now the hard part is over; I just have to master it, which I think won't be as hard.
I fell asleep thinking about what I'd do next. The next afternoon I left home for a nearby park.
Sigh How boring. What else can I do besides train?
As if by magic I sensed a strong, evil presence. All my senses went on high alert. I headed toward the source of the presence.
When I reached a warehouse, a foul odor hit me.
Agh, it smells horrible here.
I advanced with my senses at max, legs reinforced, holding my Inverted Celestial Halberd in one hand. From afar I saw a demon in the form of a woman devouring a man.
Then my Premonition Eye showed me an attack aimed at my stomach.
I jumped just in time as acid splashed onto the wall behind me.
Sigh That was too close.
Mission:
First Encounter.
Rewards:
+500 XP, +Random Box
Seeing the mission prompt, I charged at the demon. Running swiftly, my Premonition Eye warned of an attack on my legs. I jumped in time and slashed one of its arms with my halberd. It warned me again, but I couldn't react in time and took the blow—only to channel cursed energy into my chest to withstand it without grave damage. I dodged another attack aimed at my face, cut off another limb, and avoided acid the eye warned me about.
The demon launched another attack with its remaining limb, which I also dodged—and severed.
Sigh Nice! Only its head is left.
I ran circles around the warehouse until it attacked with its last limb. I cut it off and moved in close, dodging more acid to behead the demon.
Sigh Finally, I killed it.
Mission:
First Encounter.
Rewards:
+500 XP, +Random Box
COMPLETED
I felt my lost energy return; my cursed energy restored and my fatigue vanish.
Congratulations Issei, you've leveled up. Your reward is in the inventory and you have two stat points available.
I opened the inventory panel.
This box might give me another bullshit like Naruto's sandals—or something useful. I decided to open it.
Congratulations—
You obtained:
Reinforcement Gloves
Reinforcement Gloves? I tapped to equip them; upon equipping I felt my body grow stronger and faster. I opened my stats panel and spent my two stat points on Agility. My stats now were:
[Statistics Panel]
Level: 2
Experience: 150/700
Unassigned Stat Points: 0
Strength: 6 (+1)
Stamina: 5 (+3)
Agility: 7 (+3)
Intelligence: 5
Cursed Energy Control: 2
What are the points in parentheses? Probably what my Reinforcement Gloves add.
Nice! From now on I'll focus solely on training.