The darkness inside the abandoned building was absolute, the kind that pressed against your eyeballs and made you doubt your own existence. Jason's enhanced vision cut through it like a knife, revealing the skeletal framework of what had once been a warehouse—rusted support beams, collapsed sections of floor, and the omnipresent smell of rot that seemed to have soaked into the very walls.
*This place is a shithole,* he thought, stepping carefully over debris. *Perfect hunting ground for something that doesn't want to be found.*
Koneko moved beside him with the kind of silence that should have been impossible. No footsteps, no rustling of clothes, nothing. She was just there, a small white-haired ghost navigating the darkness with casual indifference. Her petite frame made no sound as she stepped over broken glass and twisted metal, her hazel eyes scanning the environment with bored look.
*Right. She's a Rook. Enhanced physical abilities and defense. And a Nekomata on top of that,* Jason reminded himself, accessing Yuuto's memories. *Probably the strongest person in this building right now, and she looks like she weighs about as much as a bag of groceries.*
They'd been searching for maybe ten minutes when Jason's enhanced hearing picked up something. A scrape of movement from above, metal groaning under weight, and underneath it all, the rapid-fire patter of breathing that wasn't quite human.
He held up a hand, and Koneko stopped immediately. Those hazel eyes found his in the darkness, questioning.
Jason pointed up toward the ceiling, then held three fingers—third floor.
Koneko nodded once, her expression as blank as ever.
They found the stairs, or what remained of them. The metal had rusted through in places, leaving gaps that would probably send a normal person plummeting to their death. Jason tested each step before putting his weight on it, feeling the metal groan and flex beneath his feet.
*One wrong move and I'm going to die in the most embarrassing way possible,* he thought, gripping the railing. *"I bet none of reincarnators got killed by a fucking staircase."*
The second floor was worse than the first—more collapsed sections, more debris, and a smell that made Jason's nose wrinkle in disgust. Something had definitely died up here, and recently. Dark stains on the floor that his enhanced vision identified as blood, drag marks leading toward the center of the building, and—
*Bones.*
Human bones, picked clean and scattered like discarded toys.
*So the Stray's been feeding,* Jason realized, feeling his stomach turn. *On people. Actual people who probably just wanted to explore an abandoned building or find a place to have fun?*
He glanced at Koneko, expecting to see some kind of reaction. But the girl's expression remained completely neutral, as if she'd seen this kind of thing a thousand times before. She simply stepped over the bones with the same indifference she'd shown the broken glass, her small frame casting barely a shadow in the dim light.
*Well, she has seen this way too many times,* Jason thought. *This is routine for devils. Hunt the Stray, kill the Stray, go home and eat dinner. Just another day at the office.*
The third floor entrance was partially collapsed, forcing them to climb through a gap in the debris. Jason squeezed through first, his enhanced agility making the maneuver easier than it should have been, then turned to help Koneko—
Who'd already landed beside him with the grace of a falling leaf, her landing completely silent despite dropping from a height that should have at least made some noise.
*Why am I even here?* he thought *I bet she can knock that stray with two or three punches*
The third floor opened into what had once been a large open workspace. Machinery sat abandoned throughout the space, covered in rust and years of accumulated grime. Moonlight filtered through holes in the roof, creating islands of pale illumination in the darkness.
And in the center of it all, hunched over something that Jason really didn't want to look at too closely, was the Stray Devil.
It had been human once. Jason could tell that much from the basic shape—two arms, two legs, a head. But whatever humanity it had possessed was long gone. Its body had swollen and distorted, muscles bulging at odd angles, skin taking on a grayish pallor that looked more like stone than flesh. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural blue light, and when it turned toward them, Jason saw that its mouth had expanded to accommodate rows of jagged teeth.
The creature stood easily seven feet tall, its body crackling with residual electricity that danced across its malformed skin like living serpents.
*That's... that's fucking disgusting,* he thought, fighting the urge to gag.
The Stray rose to its full height and let out a sound that was part growl, part shriek. The noise echoed through the empty space, bouncing off walls and making Jason's enhanced hearing ring with feedback.
"It's tough" Koneko stated flatly, her small hands clenching into fists.
*Right,* Jason thought, his tactical mind kicking into gear. *Rias said this thing specialized in demonic magic. Long-range attacks, defensive barriers, probably a bunch of other bullshit I don't know about.*
The Stray's mouth opened wider, and Jason saw electricity crackling between its teeth, building in intensity with each passing second.
*Oh, fuck—*
"MOVE!" he shouted, diving to the side as a bolt of lightning tore through the space where he'd been standing. The electricity struck the wall behind them with enough force to blow a hole through the concrete, sending debris raining down in a shower of dust and broken stone.
Jason rolled to his feet, already summoning his Sacred Gear. The familiar sensation of Sword Birth activating washed over him—power flowing through his body, crystallizing into weapons. A blade materialized in his hand, the demonic sword gleaming with dark energy. The weight felt perfect, balanced, an extension of his will made manifest.
*At least this part feels natural,* he thought, testing the blade's weight.
But even as he held the sword, Jason felt the familiar sensation to it. Sword Birth could create numerous demonic swords with different attributes—blades that could absorb holy power, freeze flames, cut through barriers—but against a creature that could blast him with lightning from across the room, he needed to close distance fast.
*Time to see if this Mist Breathing actually works well enough with Sword Birth,* he decided.
The Stray was already preparing another attack, electricity building around its body like a living thing. Jason could see the energy concentrating, forming into multiple spheres of pure lightning that hovered around its hands.
*Great. Just fucking great.*
Koneko suddenly burst forward without warning, her small form blurring with speed that belied her size. As a Rook, her physical strength and defense were enhanced far beyond normal devils, and she closed the distance to the Stray in a heartbeat.
Her fist, glowing with demonic power, slammed into the Stray's midsection.
The impact sounded like a gunshot, echoing through the empty warehouse. But the Stray's body absorbed the blow with barely a flinch, its grotesque form rippling but not breaking.
*High durability,* Jason noted. *Figures. Can't make this easy.*
The Stray retaliated immediately, electricity erupting from its body in all directions. Koneko tried to disengage, but the attack was too wide, too fast—
The lightning caught her across the shoulder and chest, lifting her small body off the ground and sending her flying backward. She crashed into a support beam with enough force to dent the metal, the sound of impact making Jason's teeth clench.
The white-haired girl crumpled to the ground and didn't get up.
"Koneko!" Jason shouted, genuine concern overriding his normal sarcasm.
Those hazel eyes were open, staring at nothing, her small body twitching from the residual electricity. She was breathing, Jason could see that much, but she wasn't moving. Blood seeped from her shoulder where the lightning had burned through her uniform.
*Shit. Shit shit shit.*
The Stray turned its attention back to Jason, and he could swear the thing was smiling. Electricity danced between its fingers as it prepared another attack, clearly intending to finish him off before dealing with the unconscious Koneko.
*Can't let that happen. Need to break through its defenses, but how?*
Jason charged forward, using his Knight-enhanced speed to close the distance. The Stray fired multiple lightning bolts, but Jason was already moving, his body flowing through the gaps between attacks with precision born from Muichiro's combat experience.
*First Form: Low Clouds, Distant Haze.*
His breathing shifted—deep, controlled, following a pattern that felt both foreign and completely natural. The world seemed to slow down around him as his enhanced perception kicked into overdrive, Mist Breathing amplifying his already supernatural abilities.
He burst forward with speed that shocked even him, the demonic sword held low. The distance closed in a heartbeat, and Jason's blade thrust forward, aimed at the Stray's center mass—
And bounced off a shimmering barrier that materialized around the creature's body, the defensive magic absorbing the strike completely.
*Shit!*
The Stray's massive hand swung at him like a freight train. Jason barely managed to duck under the blow, feeling the displaced air ruffle his hair. He disengaged, leaping backward to create distance, his mind racing.
*Barrier. It can maintain a defensive shield while attacking. That's going to be a problem.*
The Stray laughed—actually laughed—a sound that was more grinding metal than human mirth. It fired another volley of lightning, and Jason had to throw himself to the side, the bolts scorching the concrete where he'd been standing.
*I need to break that barrier,* he thought, gritting his teeth. *But Sword Birth's basic attacks aren't cutting it. I need something with more punch.*
Then it hit him. Sword Birth could create demonic swords with different attributes. He'd been defaulting to a standard blade, but what if he created something specifically designed to counter barriers?
*Worth a shot.*
Jason focused, pouring his will into the Sacred Gear. The sword in his hand dissolved, and a new blade materialized—this one crackling with energy designed to disrupt magical constructs. Holy Eraser, a sword that devoured light and holy power, but modified to target defensive barriers.
*Let's see how that shield handles this.*
He charged again, this time incorporating Mist Breathing more deliberately. His movements became fluid, almost ethereal, as he closed the distance. The Stray fired lightning, but Jason was already twisting through the attacks, his enhanced perception reading the trajectory before the bolts even formed.
*Second Form: Eight-Layered Mist.*
His blade became a blur, striking the same spot on the barrier over and over again with the precision of a sewing machine. Each impact sent ripples through the shield, and Jason could feel it weakening under the sustained assault.
The Stray roared and released another burst of electricity from its body, a desperate attempt to force Jason back. He saw it coming and threw himself backward, but not quite fast enough—
The edge of the blast caught his left arm, and pain exploded through his nervous system like someone had stuck his limb in a meat grinder.
*SON OF A BITCH!*
He landed badly, nearly dropping his sword. His left arm hung useless at his side, muscles spasming from the electrical damage. The smell of burnt flesh filled his nostrils—his own flesh—and for a moment, Jason thought he might actually throw up.
*Get it together,* he told himself viciously. *You wanted to be special? You wanted power? Well, congratulations, asshole. Now use it or die.*
The Stray was advancing, electricity building for what was probably a killing blow. Jason's enhanced vision tracked every movement, his tactical mind running through options at superhuman speed.
*Can't fight it head-on. Can't outlast it. Can't break through the barrier alone.*
*Alone.*
Jason's gaze flicked to where Koneko had fallen. The girl was stirring, her hazel eyes blinking open slowly. She pushed herself up on shaking arms, one hand pressed to her injured shoulder. Her small frame trembled from the residual damage, but her expression remained as stoic as ever.
*She's conscious. And she's a Rook—her physical strength is off the charts. If she can land a clean hit on that barrier...*
A plan formed in Jason's mind, desperate and stupid and probably suicidal. But it was the only chance they had.
He pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the screaming pain in his left arm. The Stray paused, almost curious, as if it couldn't believe its prey was still moving.
*Good. Stay cocky, you ugly fuck.*
Jason made eye contact with Koneko across the room. The girl met his gaze, and something passed between them—an understanding needing no words. He jerked his head toward the Stray, then pointed at the barrier with his working arm. The gesture was clear: *I'll weaken it, you break it.*
Koneko's expression didn't change, but she gave the smallest of nods.
*Alright, then*
Jason charged the Stray one more time, his working arm gripping his sword. The creature laughed at his foolishness, electricity crackling around its body in anticipation of an easy kill.
But Jason wasn't aiming to win this exchange. He was aiming to create an opening.
*Third Form: Scattering Mist Splash.*
His blade came down in a wide, sweeping arc designed to force the Stray to concentrate its defensive barrier on one side. The attack had no chance of penetrating the shield, but that wasn't the point.
The Stray's barrier reinforced where Jason's blade struck, the magical energy concentrating to absorb the blow.
Which left the other side weakened.
Koneko struck from behind like a meteor, her movements silent and deadly. Her small fist, glowing with concentrated demonic power that came from her Rook piece's enhancement, smashed into the barrier's weakened section. The shield shattered like glass, fragments of magical energy dissipating into nothing with an audible crack.
The Stray's eyes widened in shock, but it was already too late.
Jason was inside its guard, his sword driving toward its exposed chest. The Stray tried to dodge, tried to blast him with lightning at point-blank range, but Koneko's follow-up strike caught it in the back, throwing off its aim and causing the lightning to fire harmlessly into the ceiling.
*Sixth Form: Lunar Dispersing Mist.*
The technique came naturally, muscle memory guiding Jason's blade through a series of impossibly fast strikes. His demonic sword became a silver blur in the moonlight, each slash precise and controlled, targeting vital points with surgical accuracy enhanced by Muichiro's combat instincts.
The Stray's body jerked with each impact, electricity leaking from the wounds in uncontrolled bursts. It tried to scream, but Jason's blade had already cut through vital organs, silencing any attempt at retaliation.
But the creature wasn't finished. Even dying, it gathered one last burst of electrical energy, preparing to take them both down with it. The air itself seemed to crackle with power as lightning built to critical levels.
*No, Not this time!*
"Koneko!" he called out "Now!"
The white-haired girl didn't hesitate. She drove her fist into the Stray's back one final time, her Rook-enhanced strength punching straight through the creature's weakened form. At the same instant, Jason thrust his blade through its chest from the front.
The Stray's body convulsed, electricity arcing between them in chaotic patterns. Jason felt the current flowing through his sword, through his arms, threatening to stop his heart. But he held on, gritting his teeth against the pain, refusing to let go until—
The creature went still.
The electricity faded to nothing. The Stray's glowing eyes dimmed, then went dark. Its massive body wavered for a moment, then collapsed, hitting the floor with enough force to shake the entire building.
Jason stood over the dead Stray, breathing hard, his left arm still useless and his entire body screaming in protest from the exertion. His demonic sword dissipated, returning to wherever magical weapons went when they weren't needed, leaving him standing there with nothing but his rapidly fraying composure.
*Holy shit,* he thought, the reality of what he'd just done hitting him like a truck. *I killed it. I actually killed something.*
He should have felt guilt, or horror, or something appropriately traumatic for someone who'd just taken a life—even a monster's life—for the first time. But all Jason felt was tired and vaguely satisfied that he'd won.
The body began to dissolve, breaking down into particles of light that faded into nothingness. It was standard for Stray Devils—their bodies returned to the energy that created them once they died, leaving no physical evidence behind.
*Well, this is convenient,* Jason thought distantly. *No cleanup required.*
A familiar blue screen materialized in his vision, glowing softly in the darkness.
**[Quest Complete: First Kill]**
**[Objective: Defeat your first supernatural enemy - Complete]**
**[Bonus Objective: Protect your ally - Complete]**
**[Rewards: 2 Character Cards]**
**[ Would you like to use? Y/N]**
*Well, that's something,* Jason thought, dismissing the screen with a mental command before anyone could notice. *Two character cards?! Turns out this system is a generous one*
Calming down his racing thoughts to use them right now, he decided to look at it later, when he had privacy and didn't have to worry about explaining why he was staring at invisible screens.
"...Senpai."
He turned to find Koneko approaching, one hand pressed to her ribs where she'd taken the lightning strike. Her uniform was torn and burned, blood seeping through the fabric, but she was walking under her own power. Those hazel eyes studied him with something that might have been respect, though with her it was hard to tell.
"You good?" Jason asked, which was a stupid question since she was clearly hurt, but his brain wasn't at its peak during this moment.
"...Fine," Koneko said, which was obviously a lie given the blood and the way she was favoring her left side, but Jason wasn't about to call her on it. Pride was important to her, he knew that from Yuuto's memories.
She stopped in front of him, flashing him a thumbs up "Good teamwork."
*Was that... a compliment? From Koneko? The girl who barely speaks unless forced to?*
"Thanks," Jason managed, still trying to process everything that had just happened. "Your timing was perfect. If you'd been even a second slower—"
"...Wasn't," Koneko interrupted simply, as if the possibility of failure hadn't even occurred to her.
*Right. Of course. Why worry about the shit we did wrong when the job's already done?*
Before Jason could respond, the sound of slow clapping echoed through the empty warehouse, sharp and deliberate in the silence.
Jason spun, his working hand instinctively reaching for a sword that was no longer there, only to see two figures emerge from the shadows near the stairwell.
Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima.
*How long have they been watching?* Jason wondered, feeling a mixture of annoyance and genuine confusion. *Were they here the whole fucking time?!*