As I sat in my bedroom, planning the next phase, a sharp chime cut through the morning stillness. The Gamer System's blue screen flared, its glow unseen by anyone but me. Raynare, Kalawarner, and Mittelt were downstairs, helping Asia with breakfast, their laughter filtering up. Gamer's Mind steadied my pulse, the restriction a silent guillotine.
System Gift: Emergency Training Protocol
Gift: Empty Dungeon Access (Special Instance)
Description: Immediate teleportation to a one-time-use Empty Dungeon for user (Issei Hyoudou) and Asia Argento only. Real-world time dilation: 5 seconds pass outside. Internal time: Infinite (no fatigue, hunger, or resource depletion). Environment: Customizable for combat, endurance, and skill training.
Purpose: Facilitate rapid progression for Asia Argento to complete the quest "Empowering the Saint."
Warning: Single-use, non-transferable. Exits at user's command. No additional occupants permitted.
Quest Reminder: Empowering the Saint
Objective: Train Asia Argento to Level 50, raising all stats to 150 (Strength, Endurance, Agility, Intelligence, Luck).
Rewards: Asia gains combat proficiency, unlocks Twilight Healing Balance Breaker (enhanced healing fields, resurrection potential), +50 to all user's stats.
Failure Penalty: Asia remains defenseless, -30 to user's Luck, -20 to Asia's relationship score.
Time Limit: None (open-ended, but urgency advised).
Status: Asia at Level 20 (39 Strength, 44 Endurance, 44 Agility, 64 Intelligence, 54 Luck).
Activation: Automatic teleport upon acceptance. [Y/N]
I selected Y mentally, the screen dissolving with a pulse of energy. The room shimmered, a vortex of azure light blooming silently. Asia's voice called from downstairs—"Issei, breakfast's ready!"—but the system's magic was swift. I grabbed my phone, texting Raynare: "Taking Asia for special training. Back soon. Hold the fort." Her reply was instant: "Do what you do, lover. We've got this." Their loyalty was a rock I leaned on.
I dashed to the kitchen, where Asia stood in a flour-dusted apron, her blonde hair tied back, flipping pancakes with Mittelt's chaotic "help." Raynare lounged at the table, smirking, while Kalawarner chopped fruit with a knife that looked suspiciously like a light spear. Asia's smile lit the room, stats glowing via Observe:
Name: Asia Argento
Level: 20
HP: 4,150/4,150 (39 Strength + 44 Endurance × 50)
MP: 6,400/6,400 (64 Intelligence × 50)
Strength: 39
Endurance: 44
Agility: 44
Intelligence: 64
Luck: 54
Sacred Gear: Twilight Healing (Unawakened; basic healing, field potential emerging)
Thoughts About You: "Issei's training me to be strong. I'll make him proud!"
Relationship: Best Friend (90/100)
"Asia," I said, grabbing her hand. "Emergency training session. Just us. Ready?"
Her green eyes widened, then hardened with resolve. "Yes! Let's do it!" The fallen trio nodded, Mittelt saluting, "Kick butt, nun-girl!"
The vortex enveloped us, reality folding away. One step, and we were in the Empty Dungeon—a vast, customizable void I shaped into a sprawling training ground: obsidian arenas, shifting terrains (flame pits, ice fields, urban ruins), and holographic foes mimicking devils, fallen angels, and exorcists. Time stretched infinitely, five seconds outside equating to eternity within. No fatigue, no hunger—Gamer's Body extended to Asia, her frail frame unburdened by mortal limits.
"Welcome to your forge," I said, Boosted Gear glowing crimson. "We train until you're strong enough. You'll be unstoppable."
Asia clutched her stuffed dragon, Ddraig Jr., her voice steady. "For you, Issei. I'm ready."
_____________
Phase One: Foundation Building
Training began with agility drills, Asia's 44 Agility a weak point against Level 20 holographic exorcists (20 stats across). I dialed the arena to a forest maze, vines and pitfalls testing her reflexes. "Move!" I barked, tossing soft punches at 30 Agility (halved from 60). Asia dodged, stumbling but healing grazes with Twilight (HP stable at 4,150). EXP trickled—Level 21 after an hour, stats +2: 41 Strength, 46 Endurance, 46 Agility, 66 Intelligence, 56 Luck. HP 4,350, MP 6,600.
I pushed harder, summoning Level 25 dummies—faster, stronger (25 stats). Asia's 46 Agility improved, her dodges smoother. She healed a deeper cut (HP 4,200/4,350), her MP dipping to 6,500. Level 25 hit—stats to 49, 54, 54, 74, 64; HP 5,150, MP 7,400. Her Twilight Healing pulsed, fields stabilizing allies in simulations. Her thoughts via Observe: "It's tough, but Issei's here. I can do this."
Strength training followed: lifting conjured boulders (10-20kg), my 60 Strength guiding her form. Asia's 49 Strength strained, but she pushed, healing muscle fatigue. Level 30—stats +10 (59, 64, 64, 84, 74; HP 6,150, MP 8,400). Her punches cracked dummies, a spark of combat potential.
Endurance came next: running through flame pits, my Twilight Healing copy mirroring hers. She endured, her 64 Endurance shrugging off heat (HP 6,000/6,150). Level 35—stats 69, 74, 74, 94, 84; HP 7,150, MP 9,400. Her healing fields widened, a proto-Balance Breaker.
______________
Phase Two: Combat Proficiency
Combat was the crux—Asia needed to fight, not just heal. I summoned Level 30 devil pawns (30 stats), their magic weak but persistent. Asia froze, fear spiking, but I coached: "Heal and strike!" She dodged, her 74 Agility clumsy but growing, landing a shaky punch (dummy HP 2,800/3,000). Twilight healed her bruises (HP stable). Level 40 hit—stats +10: 79, 84, 84, 104, 94; HP 8,150, MP 10,400. Her healing now mended broken bones, fields shielding us both.
I dialed up the challenge: Level 35 fallen angels (35 stats), light spears mimicking Raynare's. Asia's 84 Agility dodged, her punches stronger (dummy HP 2,500/3,500). I joined, Boosted Gear doubling my stats to 120, Power of Destruction vaporizing threats to show technique. Level 45—stats 89, 94, 94, 114, 104; HP 9,150, MP 11,400. Her Twilight Healing glowed, fields now semi-sentient, tracking allies.
Asia's confidence grew, her thoughts shifting: "I'm fighting… for Issei, for myself!" Score: 93/100. I pushed further: Level 40 knights (40 stats), speed-focused. Asia's 94 Agility matched, her punches shattering armor (dummy HP 0/4,000). Level 48—stats 95, 100, 100, 120, 110; HP 9,750, MP 12,000. Her healing fields pulsed, reviving downed "allies" (holograms)—Balance Breaker's spark.
______________
Phase Three: Final Ascension
The final push was brutal: a gauntlet of 50 waves, escalating to Level 45 Phenex mimics (126 stats, regenerating). Asia faltered, her Endurance tested (HP 9,500/9,750), but my Twilight Healing and coaching held her up. "You're a warrior now!" I roared, my Balance Breaker armor flaring (180 stats). We fought side by side—her punches cracked flames, my annihilation fields cleared paths. Wave 49: a Riser clone (135 stats). Asia's healing fields shielded us, her Intelligence guiding precise strikes (Riser HP 10,000/13,500).
Level 50 hit mid-wave, EXP flooding. Stats +4 (system) to 99, 104, 104, 124, 114. I used Points Transfer, sacrificing 10 from each stat (mine to 50; HP 5,000, MP 2,500) to push Asia's: +10 to 109 Strength, 114 Endurance, 114 Agility, 134 Intelligence, 124 Luck. Another transfer—10 more (my stats to 40; HP 4,000, MP 2,000)—to 119, 124, 124, 144, 134. A final push, draining my last reserves (stats to 30; HP 3,000, MP 1,500), gave her +10: 129, 134, 134, 154, 144.
One last transfer was needed—21 points per stat to hit 150. With no unallocated points, I poured my remaining strength, dropping my stats to 9 each (HP 900, MP 450). Asia's stats soared: 150 Strength, 150 Endurance, 150 Agility, 150 Intelligence, 150 Luck. HP 15,000, MP 7,500. Her Twilight Healing erupted—Balance Breaker unlocked, golden fields pulsing with resurrection potential, healing wounds instantly.
The Riser clone fell, Asia's punch shattering it (HP 0/13,500). She glowed, a saint turned warrior, her score hitting 95/100. "Issei… I did it!" she cried, hugging me.
The system chimed, victory sealed.
Quest Complete: Empowering the Saint
Rewards:
Asia Argento gains combat proficiency (Level 50, 150 stats).
Asia unlocks Twilight Healing Balance Breaker (enhanced fields, resurrection).
+50 to all user's stats (Strength, Endurance, Agility, Intelligence, Luck to 59; HP 5,900, MP 2,950).
We exited the dungeon, five seconds passing in Kuoh. Asia, radiant, tested her strength, lifting a chair effortlessly. "I'm strong now… for you." Her score hit 96/100.
The fallen trio greeted us, sensing Asia's power. Raynare smirked, "Not bad, nun." Kalawarner flexed, "Wanna spar?" Mittelt giggled, "She's a badass now!" Asia blushed, her dragon plush clutched tight.
I was weakened, but Boosted Gear and my perks held. Asia was a force, our bond unbreakable. The dragon rested, the saint ascended.
Some time later
The morning found me in my bedroom, the familiar clutter of manga and game controllers a grounding contrast to the supernatural weight of my life. Asia was downstairs, humming as she practiced her newfound strength, lifting a couch with ease while Raynare teased her about "nun muscles." Kalawarner and Mittelt were out, scouting for devil activity under their human disguises, their loyalty unwavering. I needed this moment alone, a pause to process the dragon I'd become—until the Gamer System's chime shattered it, a blue screen flaring with an urgency that made my heart skip, then steady under Gamer's Mind. The soul-erasure restriction loomed, forcing me to keep its mechanics secret.
System Emergency: Multiversal Incursion
Alert: Dimensional breach detected. User is required to address a critical anomaly in Earth-2149 (Marvel Zombies universe). Immediate teleportation authorized.
Gift: Multiversal Transition
Description: One-time teleport to Earth-2149 for user (Issei Hyoudou) alone. Environment: Zombie-infested wasteland, high-risk. Return guaranteed upon quest completion.
Warning: Single-use transit. No additional occupants. Hostile entities include zombified superhumans with enhanced durability and aggression.
New Quest: Purge the Dead
Objective: Eliminate 100 zombies in Earth-2149:
95 Normal Zombies (Level 10-15, stats 20-30).
3 Mini-Boss Zombies: Zombie Iron Man, Zombie Captain America, Zombie Black Cat (Level 30, stats 80-90).
2 Elite Boss Zombies: Zombie Thor, Zombie Jean Grey (Corrupted Phoenix Force user) (Level 50, stats 130-140).
Rewards:
All user stats increase to 160 (Strength, Endurance, Agility, Intelligence, Luck).
Corrupted Phoenix Force of Earth-2149 purged; user becomes host (access to 10% of its power: enhanced destruction, energy manipulation, minor reality warping).
Safe teleportation back to user's home universe (High School DxD).
Failure Penalty: Trapped in Earth-2149, -50 to all stats, loss of all Sacred Gears.
Time Limit: None (open-ended, but survival critical).
Activation: Automatic teleport upon acceptance. [Y/N]
I froze, the screen's weight sinking in. Earth-2149? Marvel Zombies? A universe of undead superheroes, ravenous and unstoppable, was a far cry from Kuoh's devils. The rewards were insane—160 stats across the board, nearly tripling my current 59, and hosting 10% of the Phoenix Force, a cosmic power dwarfing my Power of Destruction. But the risk—zombified Avengers, a corrupted Jean Grey—was suicidal. Gamer's Mind clamped down panic, Ddraig's voice growling: "A dragon doesn't flinch, partner. Tear through the dead and claim that firebird's power."
I selected Y, the vortex erupting instantly, azure light swallowing me. I shouted downstairs, "Asia, girls, I'll be back!" before reality folded. The system's magic was seamless—five seconds in Kuoh, an eternity in hell.
________________
Earth-2149: The Wasteland of the Dead
The transition was jarring, my bedroom replaced by a desolate cityscape—New York, but a corpse of itself. Skyscrapers crumbled, streets choked with ash and bone, the air thick with decay. Groans and screeches echoed, zombies shambling in the distance, their eyes glowing with unnatural hunger. The sky burned red, a corrupted cosmic aura pulsing—Jean Grey's Phoenix Force, twisted into something vile. My crimson gauntlet hummed, Boosted Gear ready. I used Observe to scout:
Normal Zombie (Representative)
Level: 12
HP: 1,500/1,500 (25 Strength + 25 Endurance × 30)
MP: 0/0
Strength: 25
Endurance: 25
Agility: 20
Intelligence: 5
Luck: 0
Abilities: Enhanced durability, infectious bite (neutralized by Gamer's Body).
Thoughts: None (mindless hunger).
Easy prey, but numbers were the threat. I needed 95 to start. Boosted Gear activated—"BOOST!"—doubling my stats to 118 (Strength, Endurance, Agility), HP to 11,800, MP to 5,900. A Power of Destruction blast vaporized a cluster of 10 zombies, their HP zeroed instantly, ash scattering. EXP ticked—negligible without a level cap, but the quest counter rose: 10/95.
I moved through the ruins, a predator in a dead world. Streets became arenas, my 118 Agility outpacing shambling hordes. Twilight Healing mended scratches (HP 11,700/11,800), its Balance Breaker fields nullifying infection risks. I carved through 30 more zombies with annihilation fields, their bodies disintegrating—40/95. A pack of 20 charged, faster (Level 15, 30 Agility). I unleashed Dragon Scale Mail, stats tripling to 177, claws rending, destruction blasts clearing swathes. 60/95.
The final 35 normals hid in a subway tunnel, their groans echoing. I dove in, darkness no match for my Agility. Light spears—mimicked from Raynare via training—pierced skulls, Power of Destruction erased crowds. all of them cleared, EXP pooling as unallocated potential. The system chimed, signaling the next phase.
________________
Mini-Bosses: Iron Man, Captain America, Black Cat
A metallic screech split the air—Zombie Iron Man, his armor rusted, repulsors flickering with necrotic energy. Observe:
Name: Zombie Iron Man
Level: 30
HP: 6,000/6,000 (80 Strength + 80 Endurance × 37.5)
MP: 4,500/4,500 (90 Intelligence × 50)
Strength: 80
Endurance: 80
Agility: 85
Intelligence: 90
Luck: 20
Abilities: Corrupted repulsors (energy blasts), flight, enhanced armor durability.
Thoughts: "Must… consume… power…"
His repulsors fired, grazing my armor (HP 11,500/11,800). I countered with an annihilation field, shredding his armor (HP 4,000/6,000). Boosted Gear doubled again—236 Strength—claws tearing his chestplate. A final Power of Destruction blast disintegrated him (HP 0/6,000). 1/3 mini-bosses down.
Zombie Captain America emerged, shield dented, eyes hollow. Observe:
Name: Zombie Captain America
Level: 30
HP: 6,000/6,000
MP: 4,000/4,000 (80 Intelligence × 50)
Strength: 85
Endurance: 80
Agility: 90
Intelligence: 80
Luck: 30
Abilities: Vibranium shield, superhuman agility, relentless pursuit.
Thoughts: "Flesh… honor… hunger…"
His shield blocked my blast, but my Agility outmaneuvered his. Twilight Healing countered a shield bash (HP 11,400/11,800), and a focused destruction beam pierced his chest (HP 2,000/6,000). A claw swipe ended him (0/6,000). 2/3.
Zombie Black Cat pounced, claws glowing with necrotic energy. Observe:
Name: Zombie Black Cat
Level: 30
HP: 5,500/5,500 (80 Strength + 70 Endurance × 37.5)
MP: 4,000/4,000 (80 Intelligence × 50)
Strength: 80
Endurance: 70
Agility: 90
Intelligence: 80
Luck: 50
Abilities: Necrotic claws, bad luck aura (neutralized by 59 Luck).
Thoughts: "Tasty… dragon…"
Her speed matched mine, claws raking my armor (HP 11,000/11,800). I countered with light spears, piercing her (HP 3,000/5,500). Mittelt's illusion tactics echoed in my mind—feinting left, I landed a destruction blast (HP 0/5,500). 3/3 mini-bosses down.
________________
Elite Bosses: Thor and Jean Grey
Thunder cracked—a zombified Thor, hammer sparking with corrupted lightning. Observe:
Name: Zombie Thor
Level: 50
HP: 14,000/14,000 (140 Strength + 140 Endurance × 50)
MP: 6,500/6,500 (130 Intelligence × 50)
Strength: 140
Endurance: 140
Agility: 130
Intelligence: 130
Luck: 50
Abilities: Corrupted Mjolnir (lightning storms, hammer strikes), Asgardian durability.
Thoughts: "Devour… god's feast…"
Mjolnir swung, lightning scorching (HP 10,000/11,800). Twilight Healing stabilized me, Balance Breaker fields flaring. I dodged with 177 Agility, Power of Destruction countering his storm (HP 11,000/14,000). Boosted Gear tripled again, Strength in bursts—claws rending his armor (HP 7,000). A molecular-disintegrating blast shattered Mjolnir's grip (HP 2,000). A final claw strike ended him (0/14,000). 1/2 elite bosses.
The sky burned brighter—Zombie Jean Grey, wreathed in corrupted Phoenix flames, her eyes voids of rage. Observe:
Name: Zombie Jean Grey (Corrupted Phoenix Force)
Level: 50
HP: 15,000/15,000 (130 Strength + 170 Endurance × 50)
MP: 7,500/7,500 (150 Intelligence × 50)
Strength: 130
Endurance: 170
Agility: 140
Intelligence: 150
Luck: 60
Abilities: Corrupted Phoenix Force (cosmic flames, telekinesis, minor reality warping), undead resilience.
Thoughts: "All… will… burn…"
Her flames engulfed the arena, a psychic scream shaking Gamer's Mind (HP 8,000/11,800). Twilight Healing held, my Endurance resisting. I unleashed Sirzechs-level annihilation fields, countering her flames (HP 12,000/15,000). Boosted Gear pushed to 2x Strength, claws and blasts syncing—Asia's training echoed, her healing fields inspiring mine. Jean's telekinesis hurled debris; my Agility dodged. A light spear barrage (Raynare's influence) pierced her (HP 8,000). Her reality warp twisted the ground, but my destruction beam—90 damage scaling—shattered her defenses (HP 3,000). A final, desperate Balance Breaker charge, claws glowing with Twilight and Destruction, tore through her core (HP 0/15,000).
The Phoenix Force screamed, a golden-red aura flooding me. The corruption purged, 10% of its power bonded to me—destruction amplified, energy manipulation sparking, reality bending subtly. The system chimed.
Quest Complete: Purge the Dead
Rewards:
All stats increased to 160 (Strength, Endurance, Agility, Intelligence, Luck).
Corrupted Phoenix Force purged; user hosts 10% (enhanced destruction, energy manipulation, minor reality warping).
Safe teleportation to home universe.
Updated Status:
HP: 16,000/16,000 (160 Strength + 160 Endurance × 50)
MP: 8,000/8,000 (160 Intelligence × 50)
Strength: 160
Endurance: 160
Agility: 160
Intelligence: 160
Luck: 160
Power of Destruction: Now scales at 240 damage (1.5 × 160 Intelligence), enhanced by Phoenix Force (300 with 10% boost).
Boosted Gear (Balance Breaker): Triples to 480 Strength, Endurance, Agility.
Phoenix Force (10%): Adds cosmic flame bursts, telekinetic pulses, minor reality tweaks (e.g., localized time slows).
The vortex reappeared, pulling me back to Kuoh. Five seconds had passed—Asia sat at the kitchen table, mid-bite of pancake, unaware. Raynare, Kalawarner, and Mittelt sensed my return, rushing upstairs, their eyes widening at my aura. Asia hugged me, her 96/100 score unshaken. "Issei! You're glowing!"
I grinned, my stats pulsing. "Just a quick trip. We're ready for anything now."
The dragon had conquered death, claimed a cosmic flame, and returned home. The future awaited, but I was unstoppable.