After his strange first day at Kou Academy, Kaito returned to what he assumed was his home. He was surprised that the system had provided him with a small apartment, fully equipped and surprisingly comfortable, in a quiet neighborhood near the school. The furniture was stylish, the kitchen well-equipped—as if it had been waiting for him. It seemed the system offered not just power but comfort as well, Kaito thought with a wry smile.
Kaito had a light dinner and then sat on the couch, his mind still processing the day's events. He needed to understand this world better—and to master the system that had become part of him. He touched the air in front of him, and the translucent blue screen appeared:
[Status Panel]
[Name: Kaito Yamada]
[Gender: Male]
[Race: Human (Enhanced)]
[Experience Points: 50]
[Strength: 10]
[Speed: 12]
[Magic: 5]
[Charisma: 15]
[Skills: None]
[Abilities: None]
Kaito was surprised by his stats. They were higher than the average human level, especially Charisma. Maybe it was because of my new appearance? he thought. Then he navigated to the "Knowledge Bank," which had unlocked after his first mission.
A list of topics appeared:
"Demons"
"Angels"
"Fallen Angels"
"Demonic Artifacts"
"Sacred Gears"
Kaito tapped on "Sacred Gears."
[Sacred Gears:]
These are unique abilities granted by the Heavenly System to humans. They can take various forms, from weapons to physical enhancements. They give users powers that exceed normal human abilities, making them targets for supernatural entities.
[Examples: Boosted Gear, Demonic Sword Gram, Divine Dividing.]
Kaito's eyes paused at "Boosted Gear." Issei… he remembered. That confirms that Issei already possesses that power.
As he read, a new notification flashed on the screen:
[Destiny Mission: The First Confrontation]
[Objective: Go to the public park at 8:00 PM. Observe the events.]
[Reward: 100 Experience Points, Unlock Basic Skill: (Physical Enhancement).]
Kaito looked at the clock. It was 7:30 PM. The public park… that's where Issei would be killed by Rinari. A chill ran down his spine. He hadn't expected the events to begin so quickly.
Kaito left the apartment and headed for the park. His heart was pounding—not out of fear, but anticipation. He knew what would happen, but he wasn't sure of his role. Would he just watch? Or intervene?
He arrived at the park on time. The lights were dim, and the trees cast long shadows. Kaito spotted Issei Hyoudou sitting on a bench, beside him a beautiful girl with long black hair wearing a summer dress—Yumi Amano, or rather, Rinari.
Kaito hid behind a dense bush and watched. He saw Rinari smile at Issei, but suddenly her smile turned cold and harsh. She started asking Issei strange questions about whether he had a girlfriend, then revealed her ugly black wings.
"I am a Fallen Angel," Rinari said coldly, her black wings spread behind her. "My name is Rinari."
Kaito felt a strange shiver crawl through his body. It was the first time he'd seen a real supernatural being. The evil aura radiating from Rinari was terrifying, but he didn't feel fear. Instead, adrenaline surged through him.
"I'm sorry, Issei-kun… but I have to kill you." Rinari said as a spear of light formed in her hand.
The moment Kaito's eyes took in the scene—Issei Hyoudou facing a fallen angel with sinister black wings, and the glow of a light spear forming in Rinari's hand—a chill crept down his spine. This was the moment he knew would change everything.
A new system notification appeared:
[Alert: Issei Hyoudou's life is in imminent danger. You have a choice: Intervene or do nothing.]
[Reward: Temporary Physical Enhancement if you choose to intervene. Warning: High risk.]
Kaito looked at Issei, then at Rinari, who looked ready to carry out her cold execution. Inside, he knew that Issei was the holder of the Boosted Gear. If Issei died here, the Sacred Gear would pass to someone else—maybe even to him.
His heart wavered between two choices:
Save Issei, keeping the story as he knew it, but risk his life.
Let him die… and seize the Boosted Gear… gaining tremendous power.
He clenched his fist, tension crushing his chest.
(Do I let him die and take the power? Or do I step in?) he wondered silently.
A stream of thoughts raced through his mind:
Issei had been kind to him on the first day… he seemed like a normal person, not someone who deserved to die like this.
But this was his only chance… If Issei died, he might obtain the Sacred Gear himself.
Another system notification appeared:
[Alert: Intervention option activated. You will gain "Temporary Physical Enhancement" if you choose to help. The choice is yours.]
Kaito let out a long breath and shook his head. "Damn it…" he muttered. "I can't just stand by and do nothing."
In the next instant, he felt a strange power— not a free gift, but as if the system had placed a "key" in his hand that he had to turn himself—he chose to activate it. A surge of energy flooded his body, his muscles igniting with an unfamiliar pulse. His physical power was temporary, but it gave him the speed he needed.
He leapt from behind the bushes and dashed towards Rinari with blinding speed, catching her by surprise and punching her in the side to knock her away from Issei.
"What?!" Rinari cried out in shock, not expecting the sudden interference. Kaito's punch sent her sprawling a few meters away, though she wasn't badly hurt.
In that brief moment of distraction, Rinari's light spear struck Issei's body. Issei fell to the ground, eyes closed, blood spreading around him.
Rinari glared at Kaito with sharp eyes. "Who are you, human? How do you have this power?" Her aura grew darker.
"I'm someone who doesn't like to see innocent people murdered," Kaito said, standing between Rinari and Issei's motionless body. His heart pounded fiercely, but a cold calm settled over him.
"Filthy human! Don't interfere in the affairs of fallen angels!" Rinari snarled, forming another, even larger, light spear.
[Alert: Enemy strength exceeds your current abilities. Now…
Kaito realized that the system was right. He didn't stand a chance against her at that moment. Rinnari was much stronger.
But he wasn't going to let her near Issei ever again.
"This is no longer just your business!" Kaito shouted, ready to face her, even if it meant his end.
Before Rinnari could release her spear, she sensed a strong and familiar aura approaching quickly. Her eyes widened.
"This… this is the aura of a high-ranking demoness!"
Rinnari threw her spear of light at Kaito as a distraction, then vanished into the darkness before the spear could hit him.
Kaito fell to the ground, barely avoiding the spear that pierced the earth behind him. He looked at Issei's lifeless body, then into the darkness where Rinnari had disappeared.
At that moment, a strong crimson light burst from the ground, forming a teleportation circle, and Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima appeared in the garden. Rias looked at Issei's body, then at Kaito standing beside him, her eyes reflecting a mix of shock and curiosity.
"What happened here?" Rias asked in her deep voice, her eyes fixed on Kaito.