After a good night's sleep, Arthur stretched and stared at the ceiling for a moment before sitting up. The sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, painting thin lines across the floor.
"I think I'm ready to go look for Hyoudou Issei," he said to himself, his voice calm but carrying a faint hint of excitement.
Even though he still had twenty-three days left to complete the mission, he didn't want to waste time. Laziness was dangerous in a world like this, and the sooner he finished his first main quest, the sooner he could move forward.
"But where should I start?" he muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "There's practically no information about him before the novel begins, and I don't even know exactly where he lives."
[If the host wishes, the system can provide his location for 1000 system points]
"Deal."
A faint flash of light appeared before his eyes, and the information poured directly into his mind like a memory that had always been there. He blinked once as the mental image of Issei's location solidified in his thoughts.
"That's perfect..." he said with a grin.
The next second, his figure blurred. Using Shunpo, Arthur vanished from his room, the air rippling faintly where he had stood a moment before.
Kuoh Town wasn't particularly large. With Shunpo's speed, which allowed him to instantly move within the range of his vision, and the enhanced perception of his Six Eyes, it took him only a few seconds to reach his destination.
He appeared at the edge of a small basketball court tucked between residential buildings. The sound of sneakers scraping against the asphalt and the rhythmic bounce of a basketball echoed in the quiet morning air.
Three boys were playing inside the court, laughing and shouting at each other as they passed the ball. Arthur recognized them immediately - the infamous trio of perverts from Kuoh Academy.
Among them was his target, Hyoudou Issei. Even from a distance, his messy brown hair and slightly awkward stance made him easy to spot. His design matched perfectly with what Arthur remembered from the anime and light novel.
Arthur approached quietly, watching their game for a few minutes. They weren't terrible - in fact, for middle schoolers, their coordination wasn't bad. He remembered that Issei had some pride in his basketball skills before everything in the story began.
Finally, Arthur decided it was time to make his move. He stepped forward, his voice calm and casual.
"Well, if it isn't the infamous trio from Kuoh Academy."
The three boys froze mid-play and turned toward him, their expressions filled with confusion.
"You know us?" the one with glasses asked, adjusting his frames nervously.
"Of course," Arthur replied with a faint smile. "Few students at the academy don't know you. I'd even say plenty of people outside the school recognize you too."
That made all three of them tense up. Their cheerful expressions faded into slight annoyance.
"Anyway," Issei said, frowning, "do you want something, or did you just come to make fun of us?"
Arthur studied him carefully. The boy looked defensive, shoulders squared slightly. His protective instincts were kicking in - something that matched his personality perfectly.
"I was passing by when I saw you guys playing," Arthur said smoothly. "So I thought I'd make a little bet with you."
"A bet?" Issei asked suspiciously. "What are you up to?"
"It's nothing complicated," Arthur replied, his tone light. "I just saw you guys play well and thought I'd play against you." He paused and smiled faintly. "Three against one. If I manage to score even one point, I'll give you 200,000 yen. What do you say?"
The three boys froze. Their eyes widened in disbelief, and then they all swallowed hard at once. Two hundred thousand yen wasn't something they could casually ignore. For middle schoolers, that was more money than they'd ever seen in one place.
"Alright, alright, we accept your challenge, pretty boy!" they shouted in unison, their previous suspicion vanishing as greed and excitement took over.
Arthur smiled slightly, rolling his shoulders as he stepped onto the court. The air felt charged, the faint sound of the basketball bouncing again as one of them passed it to Issei.
To be honest, what followed wasn't a game - it was a complete humiliation. The so-called match ended faster than it had begun.
Arthur didn't even break a sweat. To be fair, if he couldn't dominate three unathletic middle schoolers with his physique and skills, the best thing to do would've been to commit seppuku on the spot.
The ball rolled across the court after he made the final shot, bouncing weakly before coming to a stop. The trio stood frozen, drenched in sweat and disbelief, their pride shattered.
"You didn't manage to score anything, but since I feel bad for you, I'll give you a gift," Arthur said with a faint, amused smile.
He reached into his jacket, pulled out an envelope filled with cash, and tossed it onto the court. The white paper fluttered before landing between them.
Without giving them time to respond, he turned and walked away.
He could hear them yelling something behind him - curses, probably - but he didn't care.
The familiar chime of the system rang in his mind.
[Main Mission Completed]
[Distributing Rewards]
[You have obtained: Protagonist Halo (DxD) and Sacred Gear Loot Card]
[A Longinus-type Sacred Gear has been detected nearby. Do you wish to take it?]
"Take it," he said immediately.
Consider this money my compensation to you, Hyoudou Issei, he thought. I feel a little bad for stealing your destiny, but this is for the greater good.
He told himself that, but deep down, a faint unease stirred within him. Stealing Issei's Sacred Gear meant changing the flow of fate itself. The story of High School DxD would now never unfold as it once did. The hero who was supposed to rise would never awaken.
"Whatever it is, it'll pass soon," he whispered under his breath.
Moments later, he felt it - a surge of warmth spreading through his chest, like molten fire. He summoned the Sacred Gear, and with a pulse of crimson light, the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet appeared.
An intricate, gleaming red armor enveloped his arm. The green jewel embedded at its center glowed faintly, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
Thanks to his Six Eyes, Arthur could see what others couldn't - the subtle alteration within his soul. Something new had anchored itself deep inside, merging with his very essence.
The Boosted Gear was now his.
He flexed his fingers slowly, the armor moving as if it were an extension of his body. Despite its intimidating appearance, it felt natural, perfectly balanced, and surprisingly comfortable.
Then, as if responding to his thoughts, the emerald gem shimmered.
"Boost! Boost! Boost!"
The deep, resonant voice echoed in his mind. Power surged through his body like lightning. His veins pulsed, his senses sharpened, and the air itself seemed lighter. He could feel his strength doubling instantly.
He activated it again.
"Boost! Boost!"
The world seemed to stretch around him. Every cell in his body vibrated with raw energy. It was intoxicating.
After testing it several more times, Arthur discovered his limit - 18 boosts. Beyond that, his body began to tremble, the strain nearly unbearable. Any further and he risked tearing himself apart.
Still, the results were astonishing. With his current stats and abilities, an 18x boost meant he could overpower most mid-class demons and even challenge the weaker high-class ones.
That level of strength, achieved in only a week, bordered on insane.
"Seven days," he murmured with a grin. "And I'm already catching up to devils."
The next few days passed quietly. Arthur continued to complete his daily training quests and used the time to familiarize himself with his growing arsenal of skills. The system remained silent, no new main missions appeared. He suspected it was waiting for the start of the story's events.
And soon, that day arrived.
He stood by his window, uniform crisp and clean, the morning sunlight spilling across the floor. With a calm breath, he activated Shunpo and leapt through the open window, vanishing in an instant.
Over the past month, he had become so accustomed to using Shunpo that walking at normal speed felt unnatural.
He stopped in a narrow alley near the school and began walking the rest of the way. When he finally reached the gates of Kuoh Academy, he paused.
The school stood tall before him, just like in the anime - majestic, peaceful, and deceivingly ordinary.
Arthur swallowed hard. A faint tension settled in his chest, but he pushed it aside. "There's no turning back now," he whispered.
He stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the academy grounds.
Once inside, he followed the path to his assigned classroom - 2-A. The chatter of students filled the halls, and when he opened the door, every head turned for a moment.
The murmurs began almost immediately.
"Who's that?"
"Is he new?"
"He's… kinda good-looking, isn't he?"
Arthur ignored the whispers and walked toward an empty seat. According to the memories of this body, the previous owner had been quiet, reserved, and mostly invisible. It wasn't surprising that no one recognized him now, especially after his complete transformation.
He sat down silently, resting his chin on one hand. His Six Eyes faintly glimmered as he gazed out the window, pretending to be indifferent.
Inside, however, he was alert, waiting.
The story was about to begin.