Daniel hesitated for a moment before speaking. Having the chance to ask certain questions to a male devil was a rare opportunity.
Were a devil's wings used to attract a mate, like the tails of peacocks? Did being larger mean being better?
Pushing aside those random thoughts, he voiced his doubts to Kiba. The latter listened attentively, nodding from time to time before replying:
"Wings in devils are usually manifestations of devil energy, so it's rare for them to tear your clothes." Kiba cast a puzzled glance at the torn uniform Daniel held in his hands.
Daniel nodded in understanding, and Kiba continued:
"The way your new abilities are going out of control is unusual as well."
"Is it because of the gray energy?" Daniel asked.
"Oh, so Koneko already told you. Yes, your reincarnation was quite peculiar because of that energy. Do you know what it is? Buchou is curious too."
"I guess it's the system," Daniel thought, but he didn't say it aloud. He wasn't ready to share something so important out of nowhere.
"I'm not sure. I've just had it ever since I arrived in this world," Daniel replied honestly; he had indeed gained that energy upon reincarnation.
"So it's innate... interesting," Kiba murmured before going on. "It seems your gray energy is somewhat incompatible with your new devil condition." He brought a hand to his chin, as if it helped him think. "It will likely stabilize with time. If you feel uncomfortable, you can rest in the clubroom or head home."
Daniel hesitated for an instant before deciding to leave. Meeting the other devils was tempting, but staying at school exposed him to too much noise.
"I think I'll go home for today."
"That's fine, we'll ask for permission in your place. Koneko will visit you tonight to check on you."
Smiling, Kiba waved and turned away, leaving him alone. Only then did Daniel notice the remains of his uniform in his hands.
"I forgot to ask for spare clothes. Damn it."
---
Running through the streets shirtless was both strange and uncomfortable. Daniel shivered under the curious stares of passersby.
He didn't stop, unsure of when his wings might emerge again.
Once home, he finally felt some peace. He lived in a quiet area, free from loud noises that could overwhelm his heightened senses, and the living room was spacious enough that his wings wouldn't knock into things if they appeared.
A little bored, he wasn't sure what to do. He couldn't watch TV because the sound would unsettle him, and his enhanced vision revealed unwanted details, like mites on the sofa. He also couldn't move freely, since there was a risk of breaking something. With no better option, he decided to rely on his usual strategy for when he caught a cold: sleep.
With what Kiba had explained, and from what he felt in his own body, he was certain the system was still present and interfering with his transformation into a devil.
Daniel formed a hypothesis: his system was bound to his human body, and when he became a devil, it had to adapt.
It was like changing a computer's hardware and finding that a program no longer ran—it needed a patch.
"Although this program seems capable of rewriting the hardware however it wants," Daniel muttered as his wings emerged again.
---
When he woke up, he felt better; it seemed the system's patch was almost complete. He tried to control his enhanced senses, and it worked. He also experimented with his new strength, lifting a sofa with one hand.
Although the random activation had apparently stopped, he still couldn't consciously use all his abilities. At least, however, he could forcibly cancel them with enough effort.
When the orange glow of sunset streamed through the window, he decided to prepare some desserts. Koneko was coming later, and Daniel thought it would be a crime not to welcome that girl with something sweet. With a light hop, he rose from the sofa and headed to the kitchen.
---
The sun set, giving way to night. Silent streets began to glow with flickering lampposts.
Tired, Daniel walked lazily toward the store.
He had planned to make desserts, but since Koneko hadn't visited in three days, he hadn't cooked either, and only then realized he lacked ingredients. Reluctantly, he went out to buy some.
If the advantage of living in a remote area was peace and quiet, the drawback was the absence of nearby stores. To get anything, he had to walk several blocks, crossing parks and squares. Pleasant for strolling, but inconvenient when in a hurry.
As he entered a small square with a fountain, he suddenly felt uneasy. His body tensed, and his eyes scanned the surroundings.
Soon, he spotted a brown-haired boy running in fear. He recognized him instantly: Hyoudou Issei. As a student of Kuoh Academy, he was hard not to know—he had quite a reputation among the girls, though not exactly a good one. And Daniel recalled from his conversation with Koneko that Issei had also been reincarnated as a devil. The question was: what was he running from?
The answer appeared in the air: a man in a trench coat with black wings sprouting from his back.
"A Fallen Angel?" Daniel muttered in disbelief.
During Koneko's "lecture," he had heard about these beings—natural enemies of devils.
Daniel hesitated. Unlike during his fight with the stray demons, he didn't have the system to rely on. This wouldn't be easy.
The doubt lasted only a moment. He took a few steps back and made a decision.
First, aside from rumors, he didn't really know Issei. Second, he didn't have the system. And third, he wanted to live. So, he decided to use him as a distraction and retreat.
After all, it was Issei who was being chased. If it had been Koneko, Daniel would have intervened.
"Sorry, Hyoudou-san. I promise I'll bring help. If you can't hold out, we'll avenge you," he thought as he turned to leave.
Unfortunately, before he could take a step, the Fallen Angel formed a spear of light and drove it through the defenseless Issei.
The boy's body collapsed to the ground, and the being's gaze shifted to Daniel.
"I saw you, little demon. Don't think of running."
Daniel stiffened. His plan had failed; Issei hadn't served as bait.
As the man approached, Daniel straightened, raising his guard and focusing his senses to their limit. Unlike Issei, he wouldn't make the mistake of showing his back. Having been on the brink of death against two monsters before, he knew that when running wasn't an option, fighting was the only choice left.
The Fallen Angel looked slightly surprised, then grinned as he conjured another spear of light. With a flap of his wings, he launched himself at Daniel.
Though startled by the enemy's speed, Daniel instinctively dodged sideways, narrowly avoiding the strike. Amused, the angel pressed on with a flurry of increasingly rapid thrusts. Soon, Daniel couldn't keep up; though his senses had improved, he was still a novice in combat. Cuts quickly appeared on his arms.
Satisfied, the Fallen Angel readied the finishing blow. His spear shot toward Daniel's chest, but at that moment a pair of massive black wings blocked the attack.
A metallic sound rang through the square. Both combatants were stunned; neither expected the wings to be so resilient.
Daniel seized the opportunity. Wrapping himself in his wings like a cocoon, he endured the enemy's assault. Annoyed, the angel concentrated more holy energy into his spear to break through the defense.
Daniel, too, was furious. Why did everyone want to kill him? Last time, he had nearly died after getting lost on his way home and stumbling into stray devils. Now, just for stepping out to buy dessert ingredients, a stranger wanted him dead.
Do they think I won't fight back? he thought angrily. He poured all the energy he could into his right hand. His plan was simple: endure the strike, stop it with the toughness of his wings, and counter with a punch.
Both readied their attacks. The Fallen Angel charged with his spear raised high. Behind the cover of his wings, Daniel watched him close in.
The enemy tightened his grip, bracing for impact. But the expected resistance never came: the spear pierced straight through.
Daniel coughed blood as the blow drove into his stomach. His wings had folded at the worst possible moment. His energy was still unstable, and he couldn't fully control his abilities.
Even so, he didn't stop. He launched a direct punch at the Fallen Angel.
Caught off guard, convinced the young demon couldn't retaliate, the angel took the strike full on in the chest.
Disbelieving, he was sent flying dozens of meters before crashing against a tree.