People always say good advice can't save someone who's determined to die.
Honestly? I'd done my part.
After school, I headed home alone. With Raynare showing up today, I deliberately told Ravel to take a different route. Someone was going to die tonight—I just hadn't expected how close the knife would come.
Back at Kuoh Academy, inside the Occult Research Club—
"Rias, should we step in?" Akeno asked casually as she poured coffee.
"Don't interfere," Rias replied flatly. "This isn't something a Servant needs to worry about."
"My, my… is Rias angry?" Akeno laughed softly behind her hand.
Meanwhile, outside the school gates, I silently burned three imaginary sticks of incense for Issei.
Sorry, buddy. Better you than me.
If a normal human like me died, that was it—game over. No resurrection. No continue screen. I'd already reincarnated once; I wasn't eager to test whether lightning would strike twice.
Kuoh Town was cursed. Battles, monsters, erased lives—history buried under normalcy. The smart move was obvious.
Pack up. Move Mom away. Disappear.
The more I thought about it, the faster I walked.
Then—
The world lurched.
When my vision cleared, I wasn't on the street anymore.
Trees surrounded me. Dense forest. No lights. No people.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Thunder cracked overhead.
Black wings descended from the sky.
Raynare.
"So we meet again, Lock-kun," she said sweetly.
Cold ran down my spine.
"H-Haha… wow, fancy meeting you here," I said, forcing a laugh. "Kuoh sure has great… forests."
"Are you afraid?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Of course not," I lied through my teeth. "Anyone would freak out seeing someone fly. I'm just… adaptable."
She smiled wider.
"I need to borrow something from you."
A spear of light formed in her hand.
Pain exploded through my body.
I didn't even realise I'd fallen until I was staring at the sky, blood soaking my uniform.
"…Seriously?" I coughed. "You skipped Issei?"
Another spear pierced me.
My vision blurred. Memories flashed—this life, the last one, everything bleeding together.
"So red…" I muttered weakly. "Guess that checks out…"
"Still alive?" Raynare sneered. "You really are suited to be a Sacred Gear host."
Sacred… Gear?
The words cut through the haze.
"Let's see how much longer you last."
Another spear.
Pain drowned everything.
Something inside me snapped.
"No," I whispered. "You don't get to decide that."
Rage surged—raw, desperate, animal.
Answer me, I thought. If you're there, answer me.
Heat flooded my left arm.
A voice roared from the depths of my soul.
"I hear you, partner."
The world burned crimson.
"I am Ddraig."
Power erupted outward, shredding the forest floor. My wounds sealed themselves violently, magic pouring through me like a flood breaking a dam.
Raynare was blasted from the sky, crashing through trees.
My left arm transformed—scaled, massive, draconic.
"Boost."
The jewel embedded in my gauntlet gleamed.
I stood, breath heavy, eyes blazing.
"You threatened my family," I growled. "That was your mistake."
Raynare stared, disbelief written across her face.
"Impossible… Boosted Gear?"
She never got another word out.
A wave of power tore through the clearing.
When the light faded, nothing remained of her—not even feathers.
Far away, Rias stiffened.
"…That power."
Akeno's smile vanished. "That wasn't supposed to happen."
My vision swam. The power kept climbing, spiralling out of control.
"Partner," Ddraig warned, "your body can't handle this yet."
Too late.
My magic burned itself away. Strength drained from my limbs.
"So… unfair," I muttered. "Guess this is it after all…"
My knees buckled.
As darkness closed in, I felt someone catch me.
A woman with silver hair stood there, expression unreadable.
"Tch," she sighed. "You really went and did it."
She glanced at Rias.
"You're a devil. Reincarnate him."
Rias stared. "You're—"
"Bael lineage, destruction attribute," the woman continued calmly. "He'll survive. Barely."
I slipped into unconsciousness.
The world went black.
And somewhere deep inside, a dragon laughed quietly.
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