Hello, AshAvalon01 here! Formerly known as DarkRebel01, but I finally changed it as I realized that it was edgy as fuck. Look I was like 14-15 years old when I made that username, I'm now 20 years old as of writing this, we all had our edgelord years.
If you're expecting an update from The Ashburn Chronicles, sorry guys, I decided to shelf it indefinitely and I apologize for only letting you know about it in this new story of mine, but don't worry folks! I have no intentions of shelving this story anytime soon, I'm here for the long run!
Also, this story will also be uploaded in Ao3 as well, you can find it under the same user AshAvalon, only without the 01, as for some reason won't accept me to change it to just AshAvalon I had to add a 01.
Also as mentioned in the summary, there may be an OP protagonist in the early game, so keep your expectations low. I'll admit I won't be able to write a Roots of Hope or a Son of Hercules, but I can very much admit I won't be writing a My Immortal either (not like that's a high bar either.)
For now, enjoy the first chapter of my new story.
Also just letting you know, I only own my characters (in this case the narrator), but you already knew that and there may be some trigger warnings in the first chapter, there's a reason why this is Rated M. So just letting you readers know before you send me hate mail. Not like I would read it of course.
Edit (30/08/2023): Some passages are added, edited, and/or removed for proper reading flow and future characterization. Also changed the chapter title because I realize I cannot think of so many sassy/sarcastic chapter titles like Uncle Rick so unfortunately we're sticking with the generic one-two word (maybe three or more if I'm generous) chapter tiles.
The first thing I recall finding myself floating in an endless void. The second thing I recalled was wondering why I was floating in the middle of the void. The third thing I recalled was that I had little to no memories of how I died.
Okay, I do know that I died, I'm floating in a void of nothing after all. But the method of how I died in particular? Absolutely nothing at all.
[All information about your death has been wiped to ensure an easy transition to rebirth.]
Oh, that explained everything.
Wait. Rebirth? Am I being reincarnated?
Oh crap, is this one of those Isekai fics I read for the sake of reading?
[Pretty much.]
Do I at least know the world that I am about to be reincarnated into?
[No.]
Ah. I knew that was too easy. I'm guessing I'm never going to get answers on why I'm being reincarnated until like halfway through my Isekai journey, correct?
…
No answer?
…
Can I at least ask if I have to be reincarnated as a baby again?
[No.]
Is 'No' going to be the only word you're going to say? At least I know I won't be a baby again…
[I am going to reincarnate you now.]
Hold up, wait! I still have-
"-so many questions…ow…"
Not how I planned on reincarnating, and I didn't even get a game system out of it. What rotten luck. Well, I probably could have gotten worse, could've been just sent in without a heads-up.
In fact, I'd realized three things that were rather concerning when I had reincarnated. One, my voice sounded rather dry. Like I haven't drank any water in a while.
Two, my surroundings were dark and barren with a single lightbulb as its only light source, almost like I'm in a basement. Not a hospital room where normal reincarnated people waking up as kids would've to wake up after an accident that happened to the original body.
And three, I noticed that not only was my body rather small and young (at least the thing that reincarnated me had kept its word), my hands looked malnourished. On the other hand, I have this nice-looking silver ring with a white jewel on my ring finger.
Why a child has a ring on him, I have no idea, it was there when I woke up.
There was also a broken mirror on the floor near me that had shown me what my new body looked like, and I realized I was fucked up on I looked.
Okay, fine, I was exaggerating a little. Other than the fact I absolutely looked like a rotting corpse with pale skin like a vampire's, I also had long auburn hair which extended past my neck, with long bangs sweeping across my forehead and I had purple eyes which appear to have no light in them. I also had bruises all over my body, some on my legs and all over my body, and small circles under my eyes like I haven't slept at all. I was also wearing a dark blue shirt that was too big for my small body, ending right above my knees, and light grey pants that were almost about to fall apart.
Overall, I looked like one of those street orphans who were abandoned by the orphanages they were assigned to, and I do not mean this as a joke, I was actually terrified of what kind of situation the original owner of the body had gone through before I had hijacked it.
Turns out, I would later find out it was a lot worse than I thought, as when my mind had finally caught up with my appearance, I realized that I was locked up in a goddamn cage. Along with at least ten more cages with kids around my current age (I realized I do not know the age of my current body, what was I? Like ten? Eleven?) like me inside of them. One thing to note though, all the other cages had like three to four kids inside each one, while I appeared to be the only occupant of mine.
Once again, I'm in a cage. In a basement. With many more cages with kids inside of them.
Yeah, that one's a big crimson flag.
I would later hear noises coming down the basement, and the first thing I did was to immediately lay down on the floor and pretended to sleep.
What? I'm a malnourished kid in an iron cage with a potentially physically abusive matron who may beat the crap out of me if I'm not asleep. I looked like I could die in one hit, I'm not risking my life in my first few minutes of reincarnation. Even if my current situation is rather shitty.
Also, remember what I said about the noises? And how I thought it was worse than I thought? It was way worse than my original thought of an abusive orphanage.
Because as soon as I pretended to sleep, I heard the door, that leads out of the basement I assume, slam open; and I heard three voices. Two of them sounded like those generic barbarian thugs you hear in generic fantasy anime, but the third brought a goddamn chill in my veins, as I realized what they brought in. Along, with what kind of situation I was in.
The third voice was an actual goddamn child.
I'm in a child slavery ring.
Shit went from a 75 to a 'holy-shit-this-is-the-craziest-isekai-reincarnation-start-ever' 200.
Now, you may ask: "But Narrator (I had also just realized that I do not know the name of this body yet, and no, I'm not giving you my real name before my reincarnation), why do you think you're in a child slavery ring? There's no way you can tell just from the people entering or your surroundings. You're being a little paranoid."
Well…
"Oh quiet down, brat! I know some people who would pay good money to have a kid like you, especially some people in the high seats!" Generic Isekai Thug 1 shouted.
"And I know some people who would love to hear you squeal like a common whore." Generic Isekai Thug 2 snickered.
Oh yes, how did I know I was in a goddamn child slavery ring, especially after hearing these completely asinine lines from Generic Thugs 1 and 2. I must be really paranoid for thinking that instead of an abusive orphanage. In case you didn't know, that was sarcasm.
At least Generic Thug 2, now renamed Generic Isekai Creep, also gave me the idea that not only is it a child slavery ring, but this is also a fucking sex slave ring. An honest-to-god child slavery ring, with children who are also being sold as sex slaves!
What is my goddamn luck?
Although it does make me wonder why they haven't sold the ring that is currently on my finger, it looks like it could sell for like, I don't know, 50 dollars? Maybe like a 100 or 200 for the jewel at least. Is it a magic ring? Is that why they haven't taken it off?
But, if you're expecting me to do something about my current situation like, I don't know, heroically break out and save all the kids, while slaughtering the creepy pedophiles while looking like a total badass, then folks, prepared to be…completely disappointed because I can't. Remember, I'm currently stuck in an iron cage. Do you expect a malnourished child to break out of an iron cage? Okay, maybe a superpowered one, but as far as I know?
I.
HAVE.
NO.
POWERS.
Even if I did break out, I'm also powerless, and I'm also malnourished and I would have to fight against possibly very big men who can very much kill me in one punch, with the possibility of more of them outside the door in order to escape. Yeah, not risking my life in the first few minutes of my new life, thank you very much. Trust me, if things were different, I would gladly break out, kill the bastard child slavers in this building and run free.
Unfortunately, I do not have any powers as far as I know, and I have no Gamer System, which is pretty much standard for reincarnated people like me. Life's a bitch, and had absolutely fucked me over. So all I could do is watch the two men open an empty cage and throw the poor kid inside, before leaving the basement laughing like the sick people they are.
In fact, I bet my right kidney that they definitely raped some of the kids in the cages!
…
Oh, who am I kidding, that one's a fool's bet. I mean, they're child slavers! Of course, they would've raped some of the merchandise at some point in time! No crime is too low for them!
Hell, I bet they've raped this body a few times before I hijacked it!
…
And…it's stuck in my mind now. And yours. Oh god, why did I say that? That was a mistake. Man, it sounds so wrong out of context.
Sorry guys, I'll make it up for it at some point.
If only I had some way to break out and bring justice to the kidnapped kids. And slaughter all the child-slaving bastards/pedophiles, can't forget about that part, that's the most important part. Other than looting the place, and saving the kids of course.
'I can help with that.'
"Oh, thank you mysterious voice in my head," I said absentmindedly.
…
"Okay, I'm going to drop the pretense and ask what or who the hell are you, what are you doing inside of my head, and how are you speaking to me?" I said in my most serious voice, well as serious as a malnourished can try to be, and soft enough to not be considered insane by the other kids in the cages.
Although, it shouldn't really matter as we're in a slavery ring, hey, hindsight's 20 out of 20.
'Well, in the order in which you have asked: One, I am clearly a voice; two, I am just as clueless as you are; and three, telepathy.'
…Well, that was easy.
"So, how can you help me slaughter those creepazoids who are holding a child sex slavery ring, loot the place, and save the kids?" The place was silent for a moment, "I mean, not in that particular order, of course."
'...I'm glad to see that a reincarnated one has their priorities in order...' The voice deadpanned.
I caught on to that part, "Wait, how did you know I'm a-"
'Reincarnated one?' The voice interrupted, 'Please, your soul basically reeks of the Dimensional Gap, I've been there a few times to see Ophis back in the day before Great Red forcefully came in, kicked them out, and made the Gap it's home. I do wonder what they're doing now.'
I focused very deeply and widened my eyes on three particular words that the mysterious voice had casually dropped like it was talking about the weather.
Dimensional Gap?
Ophis?
Great Red?
Shit, I'm in the world of High School DxD?! The world of jiggling boobs and butts, sexy devils and angels, and home of some of the more overpowered weapons, along with it being the world of some of the most perverted people in media history?!
…This is objectively both good and bad for me.
Look, the good is that I have the potential to become one of the strongest beings in existence, with how fast I become stronger depending on what race I am. The harem is secondary. Like I know it's mandatory in this world, but not important. For now.
The bad is that there are also multiple beings who can absolutely kill me and destroy my very existence. Azazel (assuming this is before he was hit with Characterization Marches On (it's a trope, look it up)), Archangel Michael (if I somehow piss him off, which if I do, I either absolutely deserve it, or I somehow hooked up with Gabriel (which would've made me a target of every holy angel in existence, and Azazel, but not gonna lie, I'd definitely tap that)), Sirzechs Lucifer (if I somehow piss him off), Ajuka Beelzebub (if I somehow piss him off), Grayfia Lucifuge (if I somehow piss her off), Diehauser Belial (if I somehow piss him off), Zekram Bael (if I somehow piss him off, also why am I only listing devils?), Crescent Circle Dragon Crom Cruach (finally something else! Even if it is a dragon. An evil dragon.)
I believe you know the drill.
Hell, in my current state, even Asia 'White Mage Extraordinaire' Argento could probably kill me, all she could just do is just slap me in the face and I'll just straight up drop dead! Of course, she'll probably just heal me instead of slapping me, what was I thinking, she wouldn't even slap a puppy.
Of course, if you did slap a puppy in the first place, you basically have no soul and should be locked up burning in hell, in a retail job, and with the customers being only Karens.
'...Are you done with your rant by any chance?' The voice deadpanned once more, I believe that's its original state of personality.
"Yeah, rant's over. So…back to how can you help me?"
'I can help you unlock your powers.'
"…I have powers?" I widened my eyes at that.
'Yes. Yes, you have powers.'
"…How?"
'Okay, first of all, I need you to close your eyes.'
"Okay?" I unsurely voiced out as I closed my eyes.
I would then later find myself inside an endless void that I would later find out was my mindscape.
But that's a story for later because this child's got some power to unlock.
"So, now what?" I asked the voice.
'Do you see a gooey tendril of dark purple in your vision?' The voice said casually like it was talking about the weather, wait did I already say that?
"You know, I just realized, why are you helping me and why am I listening to you like a fool?" I immediately voiced out, as I realized I was following the voice's orders like a robot.
'Do you see a gooey tendril in your vision?' The voice grumbled, almost about to lose it. Of course, me being the dumb ass I am, did not hear it.
"Look, it's just that you're a voice I don't know much about, and this all seems too easy-"
'DO YOU SEE THE FUCKING TENDRIL MADE OF DARKNESS OR NOT!' The voice shouted into my feeble mindscape, nearly shattering it.
"Yes! I see it!" I squeaked out as I swam towards it.
Note to self: Do not question the voice, especially when they're helping your dumb ass. And your physical self is currently a malnourished child in need of some food and water, which I am definitely getting once I get out of here.
'Now, grab the damn thing and hold it until I tell you to open your eyes. Understand?' the voice seethed, but kept its calm.
I silently nodded as I grabbed the tendril currently in my vision like a vice. No sir, I do not want to piss off the angry voice who can probably break my mind by shouting.
This went on for like 5 minutes or so before the voice told me to open my eyes.
Once I opened my eyes, I felt that I seemed to be more powerful, but I filed that one under possible delirium. And just came out from a voice shouting in my mindscape.
"So now what?" I asked.
All I heard was the voice chuckling, 'Now?'
'Now, we send some pigs to the slaughter.'
I didn't know what face the voice was making, but I knew it had the biggest slasher smile on its face. I mean, I would know.
Because I was making one too.
...Look can you blame me, I get to slaughter the bastards who lead the slavery ring. And loot the corpses. And save the kids.
Don't look at me like that, we've got a slave ring to burn.
Hello again! So short notice here, in case you've noticed our MC/narrator (now currently unnamed, we'll find out next chapter) is currently in the World of High School DxD, but there's a twist.
There's no Gamer System!
*gasp* But author, how would he get stupid overpowered without a Gamer System?
Well, my dear readers, that's for me to know, because spoilers.
Also, if you've noticed this is also an X-Over, so there will be some crossover shenanigans in this specific world. But I will tell you that one of the worlds that are fused with DxD is the RiordanVerse, especially the Percy Jackson books, which is my favorite book series and I'm looking forward to seeing Walker Scobell's portrayal of our Seaweed Brain. Not on Disney though, I don't have the money.
*hears the waves crash on the ship* Arr mateys.
And cutting it from the bud here, no, there will be no multiversal travel. Not yet, anyway.
So anyway, peace out and I'll see you in the next chapter...when I upload it.
Edit: Look, I genuinely said to myself that I didn't have to add this in, but I decided to add it in because I know humans can absolutely be idiots and cannot read between the lines to save their lives, so I'm just going to say this straight out.
I DO NOT CONDONE CHILD SLAVERY.
I DO NOT CONDONE RAPE.
I DO NOT CONDONE PEDOPHILIA.
DESPITE HOW I DESCRIBED IT IN MY WRITING, I GENUINELY DO NOT CONDONE ANY OF THE ABOVE AND I TRULY APOLOGIZE IF I MADE YOU FEEL THAT WAY. NO WAIT, I WON'T APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, I'LL THINK THAT YOU'RE A BUNCH OF IDIOTS IF YOU TRULY THINK THAT WAY.
If I accidentally triggered anyone though, I'll truly apologize for that, and I'm sorry.
I'M ACTUALLY DISPLEASED THAT I HAVE TO WRITE THIS DOWN SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH REVIEWS AND EMAILS SAYING 'HOW DARE YOU CONDONE CHILD SLAVERY/RAPE/PEDOPHILIA'.
I DON'T!
Do not worry though as this is this will is the only time there will comedy in this sort of situation. If I ever do any other situations similar to this chapter next time, I will play it seriously, there will be no laughs. Only slaughter.
This is a PSA from AshAvalon signing out.