[DxD Dimension, Kuoh Town]
Summer had just begun, bringing scorching heat to Kuoh Town. People dressed in light summer outfits filled the streets, and with summer vacation starting for Kuoh Academy, students were eager to enjoy their break.
For Rei, however, this summer was a bit different. After returning from the Nasuverse dimension and receiving a house from the Gremory family, he and the others had started living in the town temporarily. Rei decided to take a break before resuming his search for his home dimension, letting Illya, Artoria and Echidna, who had accompanied him here, enjoy this world for a while.
Especially since the supernatural elements of this world fascinated Illya.
However, at this moment, Rei found himself in a rather unusual situation.
As he sat at the breakfast table, eating with the others, a strange, transparent blue screen suddenly appeared in front of his face.
[Loading...]
That was the only text displayed on the screen.
"What the hell is this!?" Rei muttered in confusion, his brows furrowed.
"What's wrong?" Rias, who was sitting beside him and casually eating a piece of toast, asked curiously.
"You don't see this?" Rei pointed at the floating screen in front of him.
"See what? There's nothing there except the table and the food."
"I see..." Rei narrowed his eyes at the screen, his mind piecing things together. This felt oddly familiar.
"Hmm... If it's what I think it is, then I'll deal with it later."
With that, he stood up.
"I'm heading back. Rias, if you're done eating, don't forget we still have to go to the Underworld later."
"Wait, where are you going!? You haven't even finished your breakfast!" Rias called after him, but Rei had already walked off toward his room.
After entering, he locked the door and set up a barrier to isolate the space from the outside world.
The blue screen still hovered in front of him.
[Loading...]
He focused on the screen for a few moments before realization struck.
"This feeling... Something's trying to bind itself to my soul? Interesting. Now that I think about it, is this one of those 'System' things from the novels I read years ago?"
A smirk played on his lips.
"I wonder what it feels like to be bound by a system. Might as well let it do its thing and see what happens."
He relaxed, letting whatever force was attempting to attach itself to him proceed.
Minutes passed. Then more minutes. Then—
[Warning! Warning! Incompatible soul detected! Soul too strong to be bound! Aborting! Finding replacement host!]
The blue screen suddenly turned red, flashing multiple warnings in rapid succession. At the same time, Rei could feel whatever was trying to latch onto his soul now desperately trying to escape from his body.
"Heh, where do you think you're going?"
Without hesitation, he grabbed the screen with his hand and forcefully bound the system to himself instead.
[Warning! Warning! Warning! Insufficient capacity! Aborting in progress... Retrying... Retrying... Retrying... Retrying... Aborting failed...]
The warnings continued to flood the screen until it was completely covered in red error messages.
"Then let me fix that for you~" Rei chuckled as he poured his power into the system, overwhelming it completely.
Slowly, the red color of the screen started fading, replaced by a deep purple that spread across it like ink dissolving in water. The transformation continued until the entire screen was dyed in his color—proof that he had taken over.
"Now... time to bind it properly."
[Binding successful! Welcome to the Group Chat, Host! You are the seventh lucky member to join. Congratulations~]
"A Group Chat, huh?" Rei raised an eyebrow. "I see... so it's one of those types."
"So, System, how do I access this chat?"
[Host must accept the invite before being able to participate.]
"Hmm, but before that—"
Now that he had complete control over the system, Rei decided to take a deep dive into its knowledge. He quickly searched through its data, checking what kind of people had already joined, what kinds of missions they had completed, and what functions the system provided.
From what he found, this system allowed members to gain abilities from different worlds, even granting them powerful weapons as rewards for completing missions based on their performance rankings.
It also had a built-in Status Page that displayed detailed information about every member.
"Alright, let's see what this thing thinks of me."
"Status: Open."
The moment he spoke, he could feel the system scanning his entire being, trying to analyze his abilities. It flowed through his body, gathering data at a rapid pace.
However, within seconds, Rei began to regret his decision.
A massive purple screen materialized before him, filling his entire vision. The list of abilities and skills stretched endlessly, covering even the most obscure aspects of his existence.
Even the Primal Beasts inside him and every single weapon he possessed were listed.
"Pfft—! That's a lot," he muttered, shaking his head in amusement.
After messing around with the system for a while, he finally decided to proceed.
"Alright, time to join the chat."
[Welcome to the Multiversal Group Chat!]
[000 Has Joined the Group]
[Kazuma Satou: "Please be male, please be male, please, I beg of you!"]
[Holo: "Heh, because of that, I hope it's another female member."]
[Kurumi Tokisaki: "Fufufu~ But that nickname is really interesting~ '000,' huh? That sounds like an experiment number."]
[Yor Forger: "Umm, 000-san, there's a feature to change your name. You can update your name and profile picture in your profile settings."]
[Haruhi Suzumiya: "Hahaha! Look at you, Yor! Now you're helping the newbie even though you were just as clueless when you joined!"]
[User '000' has changed their name to 'Rei.']
[Kazuma Satou: "Wait, their name is just Rei? Is that a female name or a male name?"]
[Yor Forger: "Pretty sure that's a gender-neutral name with multiple meanings depending on where they come from."]
[Rei: "I'm male, so you can relax, Kazuma."]
[Kazuma Satou: "Wait... Male!? A MALE!? THANK YOU, GOD!"]
[Holo: "Tch."]
[Kurumi Tokisaki: "Ara~. I was expecting for another cute girl."]
[Yor Forger: "Nice to meet you, Rei-san. This group chat can be a bit overwhelming at first, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask."]
[Haruhi Suzumiya: "Tch, boring! I was hoping for an alien, a time traveler, or an esper! But instead, we get a guy with the most normal name ever!"]
[Rei: "Oh? Is that what you think?"]
[Haruhi Suzumiya: "Eh?"]
[Rei uploads his status page.]
[...]
[Kazuma Satou: "..."]
[Yor Forger: "..."]
[Holo: "..."]
[Kurumi Tokisaki: "...My, my~"]
[Haruhi Suzumiya: "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!? THIS ISN'T NORMAL AT ALL!"]
[Kazuma Satou: "Bro, what is this!? Why is your status screen longer than an entire light novel chapter!?"]
[Holo: "Divine authority? Primal Beast powers? And why does it say 'Unknown Power'?"]
[Kurumi Tokisaki: "Fufu~ How fascinating~"]
[Haruhi Suzumiya: "WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! REI! Are you an esper!? A god!? A time traveler!? WHAT ARE YOU!?"]
[Rei: "Well, except for a god—since I'm not that—you could say all of the above?"]
[Haruhi Suzumiya has gone silent.]
[Kazuma Satou: "Oi, I think you broke her."]
Rei chuckled as he read the group's reactions in the chat. Not gonna lie, he didn't expect this whole thing to be this entertaining.
As he continued scrolling through the messages, a sudden knock on his door caught his attention.
"Rei, it's me, Lyria. I felt something inside your body earlier. Are you okay?" Lyria's worried voice came from outside.
"Oh, Lyria? I'm fine. Nothing serious happened—I just found something interesting. Want to see it too?" Rei said as he walked toward the door and opened it.
As they stood face to face, Lyria immediately noticed something in front of Rei's face. From her perspective, it looked like a translucent purple screen, partially covering his face.
"What is that purple screen?" she asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
"Ohh, i know you can see it. Do you remember the story I told you about people with system powers?"
"Yeah, I remember… Wait, is that a system!?"
"Yep. Seems like this system accidentally bound itself to me instead of its intended host. Probably because of my 'internet connection' that links our world to multiple different dimensions."
"I see… So because of your power—the one that lets us communicate with Rimuru and the others—its energy must have interfered with the system as it was searching for a host. In the end, it ended up inside your body instead."
"Yap yap~ Exactly." Rei smirked. "Wanna join too?"
"Hmm… I'll pass. I prefer talking to people face-to-face instead of using something like that. Anyway, if you're okay, I'll go tell the others."
After Lyria left, Rei was alone again in his room. With a smirk, he turned his attention back to the chat, eager to see how the conversation was unfolding.
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A few days had passed since Rei joined the Multiversal Group Chat.
After spending time chatting with the members, he discovered that they still hadn't completed any missions. According to the system, they needed ten members to unlock the mission feature.
So far, the group had existed for about a month before Rei joined, and it seemed like the system invited people randomly at different times. Initially, there were only three members, but after a month, the number had grown to seven, meaning they just needed three more to begin their first quest.
Rei had already gotten to know everyone in the chat—except for one person who had yet to appear since he joined.
That person was Esdeath.
The others mentioned that she had only appeared briefly when she first joined but had since gone completely silent.
"So the members are Yor Forger from Spy x Family, Esdeath from Akame ga Kill, Kurumi Tokisaki from Date A Live, Holo from Spice and Wolf, Haruhi Suzumiya… and Kazuma Satou, of course," Rei murmured as he examined the member list.
While messing around with the system, he discovered something interesting—it required a significant amount of energy to locate and bind itself to a new host. That explained why the group hadn't filled up quickly.
However, Rei realized that he could lend his energy to speed up the process, allowing the system to find new members faster. That way, they could start missions sooner rather than later.
At least, as compensation for the long waiting period, the system allowed members to visit each other's worlds.
[Kazuma Satou: "It says we can visit each other's worlds so we can bond and learn to work together better."]
Kazuma had sent him that message after Rei asked about the feature in the chat.
If the system required ten members to work together, that meant one of two things: either the missions were incredibly complicated and required teamwork, or they were dangerous enough that they needed a large group to handle them.
"Oh well, I'll find out later~" Rei mused to himself.
Suddenly, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Why are you laughing to yourself like that?"
Looking up, Rei smirked as he faced the young woman sitting across from him.
"Nothing, it's just funny seeing you struggle so hard to beat me in this chess match~" he said, amusement clear in his voice.
The young woman in front of him had a slim figure, short bob-cut black hair, and violet eyes—Sona Sitri, the heir of the Sitri family and Rias Gremory's childhood friend.
Sona and her peerage had gotten acquainted with Lyria and the others when they visited Kuoh Academy for fun. Somehow, Djeeta and Lyria had even ended up as temporary exchange students at the school.
Sturm, however, had declined Sona's offer to join, preferring to stay uninvolved with people due to her lack of social skills.
"Tch, you're just using your ability to see the future to predict my moves, aren't you?" Sona grumbled, frustrated that she was getting completely dominated in the game.
"Maybe~" Rei teased. "But it's fun watching your expression change every time I make a move you didn't expect."
Moments later, he made his final move.
"And… checkmate. Nice game, Sona."
"Hahhh… I lost again…" Sona sighed before narrowing her eyes with determination. "I'll definitely beat you next time—even with your abilities!"
Rei smirked, planning to tease her further, but before he could say anything, a purple screen suddenly appeared in front of him.
[You have received a message from Kurumi Tokisaki.]
"Oh? I didn't expect my first DM to be from her."
Intrigued, Rei immediately opened the message.
[Kurumi Tokisaki: "Good afternoon, Rei-san~ How are you? Have you gotten used to the group chat yet~?"]
The moment he read it, Rei knew something was off.
Based on his interactions with Kurumi so far, there was no way she would randomly ask about his well-being.
[Rei: "Who are you, and what are you doing with the real Kurumi?"]
[Kurumi Tokisaki: "Ara~ Why would you say something like that? Can't I ask about your well-being? I'm really sad that you're accusing me like this~"]
[Rei: "Your messages are always laced with sarcasm, huh."]
[Rei: "Anyway, why did you DM me? Is there something you need?"]
After that, Kurumi stopped responding. The message remained unread.
Rei furrowed his brows.
"What are you looking at?" Sona's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"Your pupils shrank for short a while," Sona said, eyeing him suspiciously. "When you focus on something nearby, your pupils constrict to improve depth perception. But there's nothing in front of you that should cause that reaction. So either you were remembering something… or you're seeing something that I can't."
Rei was genuinely surprised by Sona's deduction. The way she quickly pieced together that he was looking at something invisible to her was impressive.
"Hm… Now I understand why Rias keeps saying her childhood friend is really smart," Rei said with a chuckle. "To answer your question—yes, there's something in front of me. It's a system that's bound to my soul."
"Something bound to your soul? That sounds incredibly dangerous," Sona responded, her brows furrowing.
"Nope, it's harmless. And it's actually pretty fun," Rei reassured her. "Ever read a novel before?"
"A novel?" Sona tilted her head slightly. "Hmm… I've read a few when I was bored, but…"
She suddenly stopped mid-sentence, looking away. A faint pink dusted her cheeks as she hurriedly shook her head.
"N-Never mind! Just tell me already."
Rei smirked at her reaction but decided not to pry. Instead, he went on to explain the system and the multiverse group chat that had suddenly appeared a few days ago.
"A system that grants you power?" Sona mused. "That sounds incredibly sketchy. There's no such thing as free benefits in this world. That system definitely wants something in return."
"Yeah, that's why the requirement for gaining abilities or power is to complete missions. The better we perform, the better our rewards," Rei explained.
"I see… So by clearing dangerous missions, you earn new abilities as compensation," Sona summarized. Then, she narrowed her eyes at him. "But… do you even need more abilities? The current you is already overpowered."
Rei grinned. "Nope. I'm just here for the fun~"
As their conversation continued, a knock suddenly came from the door. A moment later, Tsubaki entered the room, her expression calm yet firm as she addressed Sona.
"Sona-sama, there is something you need to attend to."
Sona sighed, adjusting her glasses before rising from her seat. "Understood. I'll be there shortly."
She turned back to Rei. "I'll take my leave for now. But we're continuing our chess matches later—I will win."
Rei chuckled. "I'll be waiting."
After bidding farewell to both of them, Rei returned to his seat—just in time to see a message pop up in front of him.
[Kurumi Tokisaki: "Are you still there? Sorry for not responding, someone tried to kill me again, so I decided to play with her for a while~"]
[Rei: "I'm still here. Also, someone wants to kill you again? Seems like your life has been pretty interesting so far."]
[Kurumi Tokisaki: "Fufufu~ I know, right? She just won't give up, even though all her efforts are completely useless. Anyway, the reason I messaged you is that I have a request."]
[Kurumi Tokisaki: "You already know we have a feature that lets us visit each other's worlds to deepen our 'bond,' right? So how about you come here so we can do just that~?"]
[Rei: "That sounds really suspicious..."]
[Kurumi Tokisaki: "Don't be like that. You know, it's not every day I invite someone to my world like this. Are you really going to ignore an invitation from a beautiful girl like me~?"]
"Beautiful girl, huh..." Rei chuckled after reading her message.
He then turned his attention to her profile picture.
She was wearing something more casual yet still stylish—an elegant black-and-red ensemble that accentuated her beauty, resembling something a noble lady might wear while still maintaining a playful charm.
Her long black hair was styled loosely, flowing naturally while covering her left eye, keeping it hidden from sight.
"But Date A Live, huh… If I remember correctly, that's the world where Spirits exist—beings with the abilities of Archangels," Rei muttered to himself, trying to recall the details of Date A Live's world.
However, since it had been a long time since he watched the anime, he didn't remember much of the plot. The only thing that stood out in his memory was a guy with the ability to absorb other Spirits' powers.
And for some reason, all the Spirits were conveniently female…
"But the Archangel part is what's going to be interesting. What do you think, Belle?" Rei asked as he entered his room, shutting the door behind him.
As soon as he spoke, six black wings emerged from his back before slowly detaching. From within, a figure began to materialize—a woman with long, curly black hair and piercing red eyes that seemed to draw in anyone who met her gaze.
She wore an outfit that was dangerously revealing, emphasizing her ample chest and curvaceous waist. Combined with the six black wings on her back, she looked like a fallen angel straight out of the DxD world.
This woman was Belle—formerly known as Belial, the original Primal Beast who once worked directly under Lucilius.
Fully materialized, Belle ran her fingers over her crimson lips, her voice as sultry as ever.
"Archangels, huh?" she mused, tilting her head in amusement.
"Maybe this will be fun~ I wonder if there's a Sandalphon in that world," she added with a smirk.
Rei sighed, already seeing where this was going.
"...Even if there is one, you're not allowed to fight them," he said firmly.
Belle and Sandalphon had been at each other's throats for as long as he could remember. They were like oil and water—completely incapable of coexisting peacefully.
Sandalphon especially she's never hesitated to attack Belle on sight, despite how much time had passed since their days as enemies.
"Of course~ You can trust me. I won't fight that Sandalphon," Belle said with a teasing smile before vanishing back into his body.
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[Rei: I don't know why you suddenly invited me, but sure, I'll visit your world. It's a good way for us to bond as a team, anyway.]
That was the message Rei had sent to Kurumi just a few minutes ago.
Not long after, Kurumi responded with an invitation—one that would transport him directly to her world.
The moment Rei accepted it, his entire body was enveloped in a blue light, and in an instant, he vanished from his room.
When he reappeared, he found himself standing atop a tall building in the middle of a bustling city.
However, before he could take in his surroundings properly, he felt something pressing against his back.
A flintlock.
Kurumi was standing behind him, her gun aimed directly at him the moment he arrived.
"What are you doing?" Rei asked, his voice calm. He didn't turn around, keeping his gaze on the city ahead.
"Hihihi... this is just a precaution~" Kurumi giggled. "Who knows? Maybe you'd try to attack a defenseless girl like me after seeing my profile picture~"
"Hmm, maybe. After all, your picture was really cute," he teased.
The moment he finished speaking, he disappeared from his spot in an instant—
And reappeared directly behind her, pressing his index finger lightly against the back of her head.
"My~ you're really fast, just as I expected," Kurumi remarked, unfazed by his sudden movement.
After all, over the past few days, she had been secretly reading through Rei's status window, analyzing his abilities.
Even though she didn't understand most of the words written there, the sheer quantity of skills he possessed made it clear—
Even as a Spirit, she wasn't comparable to him in abilities alone.
"So, what do you want?" Rei asked, still maintaining the same position.
"We're just asking for your help~"
Another voice echoed from behind him.
Another Kurumi.
A perfect duplicate of her had emerged from the shadows, her golden clock-like eye gleaming while she's holding the same flintlock aimed right at him.
"A clone? No, it's different. Both of you have the same attributes and structure, but… your bodies have slight differences in age. So you're the same person, just from different points in time," Rei said, glancing behind him at the other Kurumi who had appeared.
"Oh~? I'm surprised you managed to deduce that so quickly," the Kurumi behind him mused, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Most people assume the other me is just a clone and not actually me."
"Well, it's easy if you have my eyes," Rei replied casually. "But anyway, let's get to the point. Why did you invite me here?"
As he lowered his right hand, the Kurumi behind him smirked before silently melting back into the shadows—vanishing just as suddenly as she had appeared.
Now, only the two of them remained atop the building with the wind brushing past them.
"Hmm, sure, but since it's your first time here…" Kurumi trailed off, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
"Let's have a date first~"
"A date?" Rei raised an eyebrow.
And with Kurumi's insistence, the two of them suddenly found themselves on an sudden date.
They wandered through the city, experiencing nearly everything it had to offer—from buying street food, visiting a café that seemed to be Kurumi's favorite, to strolling through famous tourist spots.
As they walked together, Kurumi began explaining more about the Spirits of this world and an organization dedicated to their eradication.
"An organization that wants to kill you? Is it the same one from before?" Rei asked, taking a bite of the kinako bread they had just bought.
"Yup~ And there's this one girl who's so persistent about trying to kill me. Sometimes, when I'm not in the mood to fight, I just let her kill me~"
"You mean you let her kill one of your past selves from another timeline?" Rei clarified. "Why not just get rid of her? With your ability and the clones you create, I doubt she'd be a problem for you."
From an outsider's perspective, they looked like nothing more than an attractive couple enjoying their time together—some passersby even thought they made a good match. But if anyone actually heard their conversation, they'd realize just how dangerous it was.
Of course, Rei had already cast a spell to ensure their words were inaudible to others. To everyone around them, they were just a man and a woman happily spending time together.
"There's a cost to using Zafkiel," Kurumi explained, her tone shifting slightly. "Every time I activate it, it consumes my lifespan. If I overuse it, I'll run out of time… and die."
"And that's why I wanted to ask for your help," she continued, her usual playful smirk returning.
"How good are you at finding someone's location~?"
"Finding someone's location? Well, as long as they're still on Earth, I have no problem tracking them down. But if they're in another dimension, that's a different story—it'll take me a while to locate them," Rei said, thinking over Kurumi's request.
"Then that's fine, because I'm pretty sure the one I want to find is still on Earth," Kurumi replied. "Her name is Nia Honjo—the person I'm looking for."
As they walked and talked, the evening sky gradually darkened, and before they knew it, they had arrived in front of an apartment building—Kurumi's home.
Without hesitation, Kurumi invited him in, claiming she couldn't just let him wander around alone, especially since she was the one who had invited him here in the first place.
"Nia Honjo? Do you have a description of her besides just her name?" Rei asked, settling onto the sofa and relaxing.
"Hmm… I don't know much," Kurumi admitted, walking toward the kitchen with the intention of preparing a drink for him. "She was the second Spirit to ever appear—even before me—but she was immediately captured by DEM. So I don't have much to go on, except that her Angel is Rasiel."
Hearing the name Rasiel immediately reminded Rei of Raziel from the Granblue Fantasy world.
Raziel, also known as the Angel of Secrets, Angel of Mysteries, and the Keeper of All Magic, now held the title of Archangel of Enigmas.
The book she carried, the Book of Raziel, contained every secret in the world. More than that, if enough people believed in something, the book could rewrite reality, transforming imagination into existence.
It was the very power Djeeta once used in Granblue Fantasy to temporarily become omnipotent.
"And any reason why you're searching for this Nia Honjo?" Rei asked as Kurumi placed a glass of tea on the table in front of him.
When he looked up, he noticed that Kurumi had already changed clothes. No longer was she wearing the beautiful outfit from their date—now she was dressed in a black, thin dress that covered her upper body to her thighs, giving off a relaxed yet alluring look. Her hair remained in twin tails, emphasizing her playful charm.
"Fufufu~ Why are you staring at me like that? Did you finally realize that the picture I used doesn't compare to the real me?" Kurumi teased with a smile.
Rei couldn't help but chuckle. "Hmm, not gonna lie—kinda. Seeing you in that thin dress made me realize you're hotter than I thought. Your breasts, your waist, and that smooth stomach... You're more beautiful than I expected."
"My~ If you praise me like that, I'm going to get embarrassed, you know," Kurumi replied, sitting beside him with a hint of red on her cheeks.
"Anyway, are you gonna tell me?"
Kurumi's playful demeanor faded, and she grew serious as she began explaining. She told him how every time a Spirit appeared, a Spacequake would follow, destroying everything in its path and killing countless people. The first Spirit's appearance had been the most catastrophic—countless Spacequakes occurred over six months, killing millions.
Her goal was to use Zafkiel to return to the time when the first Spirit appeared and kill her before she could cause those devastating Spacequakes.
"But to do that, I need to know when she first appeared, and to find that, I need Nia Honjo's Angel—Rasiel," Kurumi concluded.
Rei could see that she was serious about what she said. However, he still wondered whether Kurumi could defeat the first Spirit, even with the help of her multiple selves. He also didn't know that killing the first Spirit would eliminate all others, as she was the origin of all Spirits.
"Sure, I can help you find Nia Honjo," Rei said with a smirk. "But there's something I want from you."
Kurumi tilted her head with a sly grin. "Sure~ It's normal to ask for compensation when helping someone. So, what is it? Or do you want me as payment~?"
Rei chuckled at her teasing before pointing his finger at her.
"That's right—I want you. More precisely, I want the crystal inside your body—the Sephira Crystal, right?"
Kurumi's eyes widened in shock, not expecting him to ask for something so outrageous—especially her Sephira Crystal, which had already bonded with her soul.
"But of course, not the current Sephira Crystal you have. The one inside you is cracked and seems incomplete, so..." He suddenly touched the space between her breasts, sending a cold sensation through her chest.
Immediately, Kurumi stood up and touched her chest, glaring at him. "What are you doing?"
Rei just smiled. "Why are you acting like that? Didn't you wear such revealing clothes just to tempt me? Or did you think tempting me with your outfit while making sure your other selves surrounded me would be enough to keep me in check?"
Kurumi's heartbeat suddenly sped up, and her body began pulsing, instinctively creating more Reiryoku from the crystal.
"You... What are you doing to me!?" Kurumi collapsed onto the floor, struggling to control her own body.
"Of course, I'm fixing your Sephira Crystal," Rei explained calmly. "The one you have is incomplete—it can't properly create Reiryoku from its own crystal. That's why you've been killing criminals like murderers and rapists to absorb their time, right~?"
"Ughhh... my... body..." Kurumi groaned, her body continuing to pulse uncontrollably before she unconsciously transformed into her Astral Dress. The Reiryoku surged inside her, continuously flowing inside her body as her clock eye spun counterclockwise.
Seeing Kurumi's body react so violently, Rei realized that abruptly fixing her Sephira Crystal might not have been the best idea. He glanced around the room and noticed that most of the furniture had already been destroyed by the surging energy—everything except for the sofa he was sitting on. Even the walls had started to crack, and if things continued like this, the entire room would collapse.
"So this is Reiryoku... Pretty interesting," Rei muttered, analyzing the phenomenon. "The Sephira Crystal is creating its own Reiryoku using the pathways in your body. But your body can't handle the sudden surge."
If it kept going, Kurumi would undoubtedly explode from the overflow of energy. Fortunately, Rei had already set up a barrier to contain the chaos within the room, ensuring that the outside world remained unaffected.
"Oh well, it's my fault," he sighed, finally standing up and approaching Kurumi, who was still sitting on the floor, struggling to control herself. He knelt beside her and gently pulled her into a hug, wrapping his arms around her trembling body.
"Let me help you," he whispered, sending his own energy to stabilize hers and protect her body from tearing itself apart.
Kurumi's breathing gradually steadied as the violent pulses of Reiryoku slowed, her body beginning to calm down. Both of them remained in that position for a while, with the room slowly returning to a peaceful stillness. As the night fell over the city, moonlight seeped through the cracked windows, casting a faint glow on the pair.
Kurumi leaned against his chest, still catching her breath, while Rei continued to regulate her energy flow, ensuring the crystal within her settled down. Neither of them spoke for a while, simply letting the moment pass in silence.
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That night, after the whole ordeal, Kurumi unexpectedly fell asleep while still leaning against Rei. He sighed, carefully trying to move her to the bed, but her grip on his clothes was surprisingly strong—refusing to let go.
"...Seriously?" he muttered with a wry smile. No matter how much he tried to pry her hands off, she wouldn't budge. In the end, he gave up and decided to just lie down beside her on the bed. Kurumi unconsciously nestled closer, her breathing soft and steady, as if completely at peace.
With nothing else to do, Rei pulled out his system screen and opened the group chat, curious to see what he'd missed for the entire day.
[Kazuma Satou: "Does anyone here have some Eris that I can borrow? Just a little bit is fine!"]
[Holo: "Eris? Are you talking about a person?"]
[Yor Forger: "Oh, is Eris someone important to you, Kazuma?"]
[Haruhi Suzumiya: "What kind of name is that? Sounds like a weird foreign coin or something."]
[Kazuma Satou: "No, no! Eris is the currency in my world! You know, money! I'm broke again..."]
[Holo: "Ah, money. Why are you asking us for it?"]
[Kazuma Satou: "Because my useless goddess blew through our savings AGAIN! We finally earned a decent amount from a quest, and she went and spent it all on alcohol and random junk! Now we're stuck living in a barn like a bunch of broke hobos!"]
[Haruhi Suzumiya: "Seriously? What kind of goddess is that?"]
[Yor Forger: "That sounds rough... Can't you just take the money back from her?"]
[Kazuma Satou: "I tried! But she keeps whining and crying, saying it's "necessary for morale" or whatever. How am I supposed to deal with this??"]
[Holo: "You truly are hopeless, Kazuma. Letting a mere woman trample over your finances."]
[Kazuma Satou: "She's not just a woman—she's an actual goddess! You'd think she'd at least be responsible! But no, she acts like a spoiled brat with no sense of money!"]
[Haruhi Suzumiya: "Sounds like you need to put your foot down and teach her a lesson."]
[Yor Forger: "Maybe you could try giving her some kind of incentive to save money?"]
[Kazuma Satou: "I doubt that would work... She only cares about booze and partying... Sigh..."]
[Holo: "Pathetic. Though I must admit, that goddess of yours sounds quite entertaining."]
[Kazuma Satou: "You say that because you're not the one stuck with her! If I could sell her for some Eris, I totally would!"]
[Yor Forger: "That's a bit harsh... Even if she is irresponsible."]
[Haruhi Suzumiya: "You know, I'd actually love to see this so-called goddess in action. Sounds like a circus."]
[Kazuma Satou: "Trust me, it's not fun when you're the one paying for it... Anyway, if any of you figure out how to turn a useless goddess into money, let me know."]
"Pfft, sounds like Kazuma's having a hard time there, especially when he has to sleep in a barn," Rei said, chuckling as he read through the entire conversation.
It was just too bad that Esdeath still hadn't appeared in the group chat. She was probably too busy with her job of hunting down enemies for her corrupt empire in her world. Maybe next time, he would ask Kazuma to invite him to his world. A fantasy world filled with adventures and a Demon King sounded pretty fun.
In the end, he closed the system interface and turned his head to the side, where Kurumi's peaceful sleeping face could be seen. She looked so comfortable sleeping like that, and it made him curious about which timeline he had ended up in within Date A Live.
Was it after Tohka appeared or before? He assumed it was probably before, given how peaceful the city still seemed. Once Tohka appeared, the city would be anything but calm. If Shido had already appeared, Kurumi would definitely be chasing after him to steal the Reiryoku he had collected from other spirits.
But there was something he hadn't told Kurumi earlier—when he looked at the Sephira Crystal inside her body, he noticed something strange. It was as if the crystal had been tampered with, leaving a part of it incomplete, like a missing piece that needed to be filled to become whole again.
For now, though, he didn't have enough hints to figure out what it was. He decided to leave it alone and wait until he could gather more information.
What Rei didn't know was that Mio, the First Spirit, had tampered with every single Sephira Crystal to make the spirits easily charmed by Shido Itsuka. Mio's plan involved having Shido seal all the spirits she created, collecting all of their powers to make him at least as strong as her.
Her ultimate goal was to sacrifice everyone to revive her beloved Shinji Takamiya—or at the very least, make Shido equal to her so they could be together forever without anyone hindering them.
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The early morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow across the room. Gentle rays spilled over the bed, warming the soft sheets and brushing against Kurumi's cheeks, coaxing her from the depths of sleep.
Her long, dark lashes fluttered as her crimson and golden eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the soft light filling the room. For a moment, she remained still, her gaze drifting to the ceiling as she processed the comforting warmth enveloping her body.
With a quiet hum, Kurumi shifted slightly, feeling the softness of the bed beneath her. It took a few seconds for her mind to catch up, but as she glanced around the familiar surroundings of her bedroom, she realized where she was.
Memories of yesterday slowly trickled back—the date, the conversation, and that sudden, overwhelming surge of Reiryoku. She remembered Rei holding her in his arms, protecting her from losing control. A faint blush dusted her cheeks as she recalled how he ended up lying beside her.
However, as she sat up, she noticed the empty space beside her. The spot where Rei had been was vacant, the sheets slightly ruffled. Confusion flickered across her face, and she scanned the room, but there was no sign of him.
She let out a small huff, slightly annoyed that he left without waking her up. But just as she was about to get up and search the rest of the apartment, a mouth-watering aroma wafted into the room. Her senses immediately picked up on it—a savory, comforting scent that made her stomach rumble faintly.
Her eyes widened slightly as she realized the source. Rei was cooking. A soft, amused smile curved her lips as she slid out of bed, her bare feet touching the cool floor.
"So he decided to make breakfast, huh?" she murmured to herself before making her way toward the kitchen, curiosity and anticipation guiding her steps.
"My~ I didn't know you could cook, and it smells really delicious too. It doesn't smell like eggs and bacon at all—there's something different in it," Kurumi said as she suddenly appeared behind him.
She tiptoed a little, trying to peek over his shoulder since Rei was taller than her.
"Don't play around in the kitchen. It's dangerous. Go sit—it's almost done," Rei warned her softly.
Kurumi just smiled and decided to listen, taking a seat at the chair while still watching him cook.
It felt strange to see someone cooking in her home like this, especially when she had initially invited him to her world just to help find Nia Honjo. Yet, since yesterday, she'd been having fun with him—starting from the date to everything that followed.
Touching her chest, Kurumi could feel how different her body was from before. Energy flowed freely within her, brimming with Reiryoku that made her feel more alive and stronger. Even her Angel felt more potent, and it seemed she no longer needed to steal time from others. Though, of course, she still intended to kill any murderers or rapists she might come across.
As she continued to watch Rei cook, an unfamiliar warmth blossomed in her chest. It was a strange, comforting sensation that made her feel... content.
"You seem happy," Rei's voice broke her out of her thoughts as he placed the food on the table.
"Of course~ Any girl would be happy if someone took care of them," Kurumi replied with a smile.
Both of them began to eat in peaceful silence, with Rei occasionally explaining his plan for finding Nio. Since Nio was still on Earth, he could use Yggdrasil's ability to tap into the entire planet's network and locate her. Based on Kurumi's description of DEM, they would likely hide Nio somewhere isolated—like the middle of a dense forest or a small island in the sea.
Kurumi's eyes gleamed with curiosity as she listened. "Yggdrasil, huh? From Old Norse mythology? How surprising~ I didn't know you had something like that."
Rei chuckled. "Sometimes, I'll tell you about my world. It's pretty interesting."
"Sure, but it would be better if you invited me to your world instead. We could even bring the other members along once all ten are here," Kurumi suggested with a mischievous glint.
"That would definitely be fun," Rei agreed with a smile.
Once they finished breakfast, they headed out of the apartment. Rei cast his spell again, making both of them invisible as they moved through the city. Stopping in the middle of the street, he crouched down and touched the ground, activating Yggdrasil's power.
It took a few minutes, as searching for someone without precise coordinates was challenging. The good part was that Nio was a Spirit, and her Reiryoku could act as a beacon.
"Found her. She's on a small island far out in the middle of the sea," Rei informed Kurumi, who was already dressed in her Astral Dress.
"Not a problem for me since I can fly, but can you? Or do you need me to carry you~?" Kurumi teased, a playful smile on her face.
Rei just smirked, and in an instant, twelve multicolored wings unfolded from his back. A strong wind surged around them, making Kurumi's hair and dress sway wildly.
"Wha—you have wings? Are you even human?" Kurumi asked, genuinely surprised.
"Human? No, I'm not human. I'm an Astral from my world."
"Astral..." Kurumi murmured, still processing what he said. When she checked his status through the system, his race name showed only "???" as if the system itself couldn't comprehend it.
Before she could think further, Rei suddenly grabbed her waist. "Let's go. We should hurry."
Without waiting for her response, he took off into the sky, carrying Kurumi along as they flew swiftly toward the distant island.
As they continued flying over the sea, Kurumi remained silent in Rei's arms. Even though she could fly on her own, she didn't mind letting him carry her. It reminded her of last night—how warm and comfortable it felt to be held like this. There was something reassuring about it, and she couldn't help but enjoy the moment.
But then, suddenly, Rei stopped mid-air, causing them to hover in place.
"Why the sudden stop?" Kurumi asked curiously, tilting her head to look at him.
"Wait a moment..." Rei replied with a sigh.
Before Kurumi could ask further, a figure emerged from behind him. A beautiful woman with six black wings appeared, wearing revealing clothes that left little to the imagination. The woman's presence radiated a dark, captivating aura.
"This feeling... Hehehe, this is Sandalphon's power. It's really similar but different at the same time—it's so interesting!" the woman murmured with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Kurumi didn't understand what she meant, but she caught the name "Sandalphon" and instantly guessed that this woman was talking about another Angel.
"Belle, what are you doing?" Rei asked, sounding clearly annoyed. He remembered Belle saying before that she wouldn't pick a fight with Sandalphon in this world.
"I'll be right back, Rei~ I have someone to see," Belle replied with a playful smirk before vanishing in an instant, enveloped in black light.
"Hahhh... I knew she'd break her promise," Rei muttered with a weary exhale, rubbing his forehead.
"Who was that woman?" Kurumi asked, genuinely confused. She had clearly seen her coming out of Rei's body, which only added to her curiosity.
Rei resumed flying as he began to explain. "That was Belle, a fallen angel from my world—Granblue Fantasy. She's... troublesome. Belle hates Sandalphon, and every time they meet, they end up fighting each other. I really hoped she wouldn't make things more complicated this time."
Kurumi hummed thoughtfully. "Sounds like they have quite a history."
"They do. It's a long, messy story," Rei admitted with a hint of frustration. "I just hope she doesn't cause too much trouble this time..."
With that, they continued flying toward the island, the breeze brushing past them as Rei kept his focus ahead, hoping Belle wouldn't do anything too reckless.
With Rei's speed, it didn't take long before they finally arrived at the small island in the middle of the sea.
The island, known as Neryl Island, was bought by the UK company DEM for personal purposes. A massive underground laboratory had been built to conduct various experiments, making the entire location highly classified. The island itself wasn't even marked on the world map. If the public ever found out about this place and the experiments carried out here, DEM would undoubtedly face worldwide criticism.
"Now I understand why I could never find her, no matter how hard I tried..." Kurumi muttered, frustration lacing her voice. This place was in such a remote location that there was no way she could have discovered it on her own.
"So Nio is supposed to be here, right, Rei?" she asked, turning to look at him.
However, she received no response. Rei remained silent, his gaze fixed on the island below. His expression grew darker and more serious the longer he observed it.
The more he looked, the wider his eyes became as he sensed the presence underneath the island and realized the nature of the experiments taking place there.
"Rei, what's wro—!?" Kurumi's words were cut off as she suddenly felt a chill wind sweeping through the air, sending a shiver down her spine. An unsettling aura permeated the atmosphere, making her instincts scream that something was terribly wrong.
Rei's expression darkened as he continued to observe the island below. His usually calm, sky-blue eyes slowly shifted to a deep, menacing purple, and an intense pressure began to radiate from his body. The air around them grew heavy, and Kurumi instinctively flinched as the atmosphere changed.
The ocean beneath them churned violently, waves crashing against the island's shores with unnatural force. The entire sky seemed to darken as if the world itself responded to Rei's fury. A chaotic wind swirled around them, but Kurumi remained unaffected—shielded by an invisible barrier that protected her from the overwhelming pressure.
"Rei...?" Kurumi called cautiously, her voice almost a whisper.
He didn't respond. His gaze remained fixed on the underground facility, his face contorted in barely restrained rage. For the first time, Kurumi could feel just how terrifying his power truly was, like an endless abyss ready to swallow everything whole.
"They... experimented on her," Rei's voice came out as a low growl, filled with pure venom. "A young girl... treated like a tool... forced to endure unimaginable pain... All for their stupid ambitions."
Dark energy surged around his body, forming a chaotic aura that seemed to distort reality itself. The ground beneath the island cracked, and the entire world seemed to tremble under his wrath.
"Those bastards..." Rei muttered through gritted teeth, his wings spreading wide, now coated in a purple, ominous glow. His power continued to leak uncontrollably, and Kurumi could feel the intensity growing with every passing second.
She hesitated, watching his trembling hands and clenched jaw, before gently placing a hand on his arm. "Rei... calm down," she said softly, her tone surprisingly gentle despite the chaos around them.
Her touch seemed to bring him back to reality. He turned his head slightly to look at her, his expression still furious but slowly softening. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to suppress his power, the aura gradually receding as his eyes shifted back to their usual sky blue.
Kurumi smiled faintly, keeping her hand on his arm. "You're going to destroy the entire island before we even get in."
Rei exhaled, his jaw still tight. "I'm going to make them pay... Every single one of them."
"I know," Kurumi replied, her crimson eyes glinting with a dangerous light. "And I'll make sure they suffer too. Let's go and tear them apart."
With determination burning in his gaze, Rei gave a single nod before descending toward the island, his fury still simmering beneath the surface as they prepared to infiltrate the laboratory.
Meanwhile in the city after Rei and Kurumi left.
The city lay eerily silent, devoid of life after the Spacequake emergency alert prompted citizens to evacuate underground. Streets that were once bustling with activity now looked abandoned, their emptiness accentuated by the faint hum of warning sirens still echoing in the distance.
In the midst of this silence, a young man wearing a Raizen High School uniform sprinted down the empty streets, his breathing ragged as he clutched his phone tightly. His face was etched with panic and worry, eyes darting from his phone screen to his surroundings as he hurried toward his destination.
However, before he could reach it, a sudden, violent shockwave erupted, sweeping him off his feet and throwing him back as the ground split apart. Buildings crumbled and shattered, the force of the Spacequake leaving behind a massive crater where the street once stood.
As the dust settled, standing at the heart of the crater was a beautiful girl, dressed in lavishly decorated purple armor that glinted in the dim light. Her long, flowing hair fluttered gently in the lingering breeze, and beside her was a gilded throne that doubled as the scabbard for her intricately designed sword.
The young man, still sprawled on the ground, stared at her in awe and disbelief. The girl, noticing his presence, turned her sharp gaze toward him, her expression unreadable yet wary.
But before she could take action, an unexpected sound pierced the tension—a girlish, playful laugh that sent chills down both their spines.
"Hehehe... So it's you—the one with the power of Sandalphon."
Both turned to see the source of the voice, revealing a woman floating gracefully above the crater. Her striking appearance was marked by six black wings spreading from her back, exuding an ominous, regal presence.
The young man eyes widened in shock at the sight of the new arrival, while the armored girl looking at her sharply.
"Who are you? Are you one of them?" the girl demanded, her tone firm and unyielding.
Belle merely tilted her head with a mischievous smirk. "One of them? Sorry, little girl, but I don't know what you mean. I'm here just for that." She lazily pointed her finger at the sword on top of the throne.
The girl narrowed her eyes, her expression twisting in anger. "My sword? You're stupid if you think I'll just hand it over." In an instant, she drew her blade from the throne, the weapon glinting dangerously as she prepared to strike.
Belle chuckled, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Then I'll just take it from you~."
Dark energy gathered in Belle's right hand, forming a chaotic, shadowy light that rapidly coalesced into a sleek, sinister scythe. She brandished it with practiced ease, twirling it before pointing the blade at the girl with a smug grin.
"Seraphic Weapon: Scythe of Darkherald," she announced, her voice laced with pride.
Without giving the girl time to react, Belle vanished in an instant, reappearing right in front of her. The girl's instincts took over, and she immediately clashed her sword against the scythe, sparks flying from the collision. The overwhelming force of their energy meeting generated a powerful gust, the sheer pressure throwing the young male further away from the crater.
Belle's grin widened as she pushed her scythe harder against the girl's sword, her eyes glinting with pure exhilaration. "Let's dance, little girl~!"
Back to Rei and Kurumi.
The underground laboratory was a chaotic hellscape. Blood splattered the walls and floors, and the desperate screams of scientists and security personnel echoed throughout the halls. After Rei sliced the ground apart and descended with Kurumi, they wasted no time in massacring everyone involved in the horrific experiments.
Kurumi, using her clones, shot down anyone trying to flee, while Rei's blade mercilessly cut through anyone who dared to stand in his path. Even the Wizards stationed as security were nothing more than fodder—slashed apart effortlessly without even the chance to put up a fight.
A distant scream tried to plead for mercy, but Rei paid it no mind, his face cold and eyes blazing with fury. The entire underground complex was reduced to ruins, soaked in blood and littered with mutilated corpses.
"Zafkiel: First Bullet, Aleph."
Kurumi shot herself, enhancing her speed to keep up with Rei, who moved with ruthless determination. He cut down any straggler that managed to escape Kurumi's onslaught, his sword dripping with blood as he moved like a reaper through the halls.
Eventually, they reached the deepest chamber, where a large cryo pod sat in the center. Inside was a frail, malnourished girl with short, ash gray hair. Her entire body was covered in sensors and tubes, drawing blood and monitoring her vitals.
Kurumi's expression softened, and even she felt a pang of sadness at the sight. "So this is what they've been doing to her... They're really cruel," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Rei stepped closer, his gaze fixed on Nio, barely feeling her Reiryoku. Rage boiled within him, but he forced himself to stay calm. "This isn't the place to heal her. Take her and go back to the apartment. I'll handle the rest."
Kurumi nodded, and one of her clones carefully lifted Nio from the cryo pod, cradling her gently. As they prepared to leave, Rei suddenly stopped and turned his gaze to the horizon, his expression shifting to one of annoyance.
"What is it?" Kurumi asked.
"Someone's coming... fast." Squinting his eyes, Rei saw a figure approaching from the sky—an elegant, young-looking woman with light Nordic blonde hair, purple eyes, and pale skin, wearing a sleek, advanced platinum Wiring Suit.
"That's... her," Kurumi muttered after hearing the description from Rei, narrowing her eyes. "The World's Strongest Wizard... She's rumored to be able to fight on par with Spirits, maybe even stronger than the girl that usually fights me."
"Then leave. Go back to the apartment. I'll come to you later," Rei instructed, not taking his eyes off the approaching figure.
The other Kurumi hesitated. "You're going to fight her?"
"No," Rei replied with a grim tone. "I'm going to destroy this island."
A surge of power erupted from him as his wings turned deep purple, and his sky-blue eyes shifted to a menacing violet glow. The air around him warped and cracked under the intensity of his energy.
"Tiamat. Leviathan. Yggdrasil."
In an instant, three Primal Beasts appeared behind him. Tiamat, a towering woman with three gigantic dragon heads circling her; Leviathan, a massive blue sea serpent; and Yggdrasil, a smaller woman with an aura of serenity and nature.
Both Kurumis looked on in shock and disbelief, their minds struggling to comprehend what they were seeing.
"Yggdrasil: Luminox Genesis."
Rei's command reverberated through the air as Yggdrasil raised her hand. The island began to tremble, and the waves surrounding it grew chaotic, only to be calmed as Leviathan's power took control. Slowly, the entire island started to rise, lifted from the ocean as if defying gravity itself. The entire landmass, along with the underground laboratory, floated high into the sky, casting a vast shadow over the sea.
"No way... Is this even real?" Kurumi whispered, unable to believe her eyes.
Rei gripped his Sword of Repudiation, channeling his immense power into the blade. The weapon vibrated violently, resonating with his wrath. The air around them crackled with energy, distorting space and creating fractures in reality itself.
"Leave, Kurumi." His voice was calm but commanding, leaving no room for argument.
After exchanging a glance, the two Kurumis finally flew off with Nia, understanding that staying would only put them in danger.
Once they were gone, Rei took a deep breath, his grip tightening as his power continued to surge. The sky itself seemed to darken as his aura engulfed the surroundings.
"Scatter in shame... Phosphorus Apocalypse."
Rei swung his sword horizontally and a brilliant, blinding slash of power ripped through the sky, carving the very fabric of space. The island, suspended in mid-air, was cleaved apart. The void swallowed it, and an earth-shattering explosion followed, disintegrating the entire island into nothingness.
Silence fell as Rei floated in the aftermath, his gaze cold and unyielding as he stared at the remnants of the destroyed island—now just scattered particles in the wind.
Rei's gaze turned toward the distant figure—the so-called 'World's Strongest Wizard.' Even from afar, he could see her stunned expression, her beautiful face distorted in disbelief as she shielded herself from the shockwave of his attack. It was as if she couldn't comprehend what just happened.
Further beyond her, Rei noticed something else—a floating airship camouflaged to be invisible to the naked eye, hovering in the sky and observing the aftermath. Whoever was onboard clearly witnessed everything.
With a sigh, Rei relaxed his grip on the Sword of Repudiation, and his wings faded back to their usual form. The ocean beneath him was now calm, as if the cataclysm that erased the island had never occurred.
"That's enough," he muttered, glancing at the spot where the island once stood. "Thank you for your help—Tiamat, Yggdrasil, Leviathan."
The three Primals slowly dissolved into particles of light, merging back into his body. The overwhelming power that had engulfed the area dissipated, and the sky returned to its usual color.
Without another word, Rei's form flickered and vanished, leaving behind only a calm sea where the island once was.
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A few days had passed since then.
For Rei and Kurumi, life remained peaceful as they continued to take care of Nia, who was still unconscious. Rei had already healed her body, but her mind and consciousness were a different matter. He knew that waking her up forcefully could have severe consequences, so he chose to wait, allowing her to awaken naturally.
During that time, they couldn't help but notice the news reports flooding in—accounts of sudden darkening skies and a massive earthquake so strong it was felt almost everywhere. Yet strangely enough, there were no tsunamis or any other disasters apart from the tremors.
That was because, with the help of Yggdrasil, Leviathan, and Tiamat, Rei managed to protect the entire Earth, ensuring that his attack didn't cause any damage beyond the destruction of the island itself.
Meanwhile, the DEM organization had been frantically trying to identify the mysterious man that Ellen reported encountering. The fact that he was not only the first male Spirit they'd ever seen but also one whose abilities far surpassed most Spirits—except for the First Spirit—made him a top priority.
Ultimately, they decided to call him 'Lucifer' based on Ellen's description of his menacing twelve deep purple wings—akin to the fallen angel cast out of heaven.
Ratatoskr, an organization dedicated to saving Spirits through peaceful means, was also investigating the mysterious Spirit. Fraxinus's crew, especially the young man from before is also there as he is not an ordinary young man. He have ability to seal Spirits.
But Rei couldn't care less about their movements. His only real concern was the unexpected visitor who suddenly appeared at Kurumi's apartment.
It was Belle—dragging along a woman in purple armor that was so damaged she was practically naked. Her body was covered in wounds, and she was completely unconscious.
Belle just grinned mischievously, sticking out her tongue.
"Hehehe, I just wanted to see her sword, but she suddenly got mad and attacked me~ Oh, and there were a bunch of almost-naked girls flying towards us during our fight, so I put up a barrier to keep them from disturbing us~"
Rei only sighed at Belle's carefree attitude. In the end, Kurumi's place now had one more unconscious guest. However, unlike Nia, this new girl woke up sooner, simply because she had only fainted from exhausting her Reiryoku.
The moment she regained consciousness, she immediately attacked Rei, likely assuming he was just an ordinary human—unlike Kurumi, who had similar Reiryoku to her.
Of course, Rei effortlessly subdued her each time, and after days of repeatedly challenging him and getting beaten, she finally gave up.
Now, she was sulking in the corner, grumbling about how she'd become a 'human's plaything.' That attitude didn't last long, though. The moment she tasted Rei's cooking, her mood instantly flipped, her eyes practically sparkling with delight as she devoured the meal.
She looked really funny as she devoured all the food Rei brought to her—like a hungry beast set loose. Even Rei and Kurumi couldn't help but smile, seeing how much fun she was having despite the situation.
At some point, Kurumi curiously asked her, "By the way, what's your name?"
The girl paused mid-bite, glancing up with a puzzled expression. "Name? I don't have one."
Kurumi raised an eyebrow in surprise, wondering if she had lost her memory after becoming a Spirit. However, Rei already knew the truth. She didn't lose her memory—she simply never had a name to begin with. In the original timeline, she only got her name from Shido after their second meeting. But thanks to Belle's intervention, that meeting never happened, leaving her stuck without a name.
"Hmmm, how about we give you a name then? It feels weird just calling you 'you' all the time~" Kurumi suggested cheerfully.
"A name? What's it for?" the girl asked, still munching while tilting her head slightly.
"Well, it would definitely make things more convenient," Rei replied. "With a name, you can move around like a normal person instead of just appearing and disappearing while being hunted by DEM."
Her eyes lit up with curiosity. "So, if I have a name, those weird girls won't attack me?"
"Not quite," Kurumi replied with a wry smile. "They'll still try to attack you since they can detect your Reiryoku by scanning it. You'd have to lower or hide your presence for that."
"But with a name, at least we can call you by your identity instead of just referring to you vaguely. Like me—my name is Rei, and this is Kurumi."
The girl pondered for a moment before nodding thoughtfully. "A name... Hmm... Do you have one for me?" she asked, looking directly at Rei.
He hesitated. Naming people wasn't exactly his strong suit. Even when he named that Archetype: Earth, he just borrowed the name "Echidna" from the Primal Beast.
After a moment of contemplation, he decided to just follow the original name and said, "What about... Tohka?"
Kurumi's eyes sparkled as she clapped her hands together. "Tohka? That's a lovely name~ It's cute!"
The girl repeated the name to herself a few times, testing how it rolled off her tongue. "Tohka... Tohka... Tohka! I like how it sounds! My name is Tohka!" she declared cheerfully.
Seeing her so happy with it, Rei couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. After that, he decided to teach her how to write her name in multiple languages, much to her fascination.
Now, with Tohka around, Kurumi's apartment had become even more chaotic—though in an oddly lively and heartwarming way.
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It's been a while since Rei returned to the DxD world after coming back from the Date A Live dimension.
For now, he's left Kurumi in charge of taking care of Nia and Tohka since he's still caught up with the aftermath of the recent terrorist attack in the DxD world.
But before getting too busy, both Rei and Kurumi informed the other group members about his visit to Kurumi's world. The others seemed surprised after hearing about it—especially since none of them had visited another dimension yet, still hesitating to take that step.
Kurumi pointed out that they should at least meet each other once since they're a team that will eventually go on missions together. Getting to know one another and strengthening their bond as a team would help them work together more efficiently.
During the conversation, Esdeath suddenly appeared after being absent for a long time. The first thing she did was ask Rei for a fight, insisting that he visit her dimension after reading about his abilities.
In the end, Rei and Kurumi decided to visit each member's world one by one. First, they headed to Esdeath's world, then to Haruhi's since she had been constantly inviting them. After that, they went to Holo's world and then Kazuma's to help him earn more money, followed by Yor's world.
Of course, Rei also returned to the Date A Live world, as a lot had happened since his first arrival.
But that's a story for another time. Now that all ten members are finally together, it's time for them to embark on their first mission as a complete team.