Obligatory: I do not own DxD or any other copyrighted material I use.
Note: AI was used to help copilot and add depth to scenes.
(-Linebreak-)
The staccato rhythm of gunfire and the distant thuds of explosions surrounded me as I sat in my cot. In this hell hole of a trench, I call home. My mind was only slightly at ease as I read this light novel series called High School DxD. A series of books my unit "acquired" some time ago. It's some popular series of action and ecchi from the 2000s before Japan and the rest of the world powers turned into Imperial forces fighting over every inch of land, even space.
'Fuck, man. To be alive during those times instead of being conscripted into the Eternal Sun legion. To live the semblance of a normal life,'' I muse to myself, annoyed.
'I guess a supernatural world would be interesting and hectic in its own ways. But at least the rest of the world would be at peace. I could sit back and live my life. Not dying for some royal family and empire. I barely can call home, having spent most of my time away on various fronts or training.' I chuckle to myself as I recall my life so far.
22 years old, and here I am, having fought more battles and seen more death than days of peace. Graduated early from the Imperial Academy, thrust into the frontline legion to fight the federation.
I'm pulled from my thoughts as the imperial orders are passed through the communication inplants. The bombardment is about to end, and we are to charge up and over the trench like this is the ancient battles of the First World War.
I ready my rifle and exo suit as I climb out of my dug-out home in the trench. The smell of death and sulfur in the air as rain drizzles down. The once sprawling city around us was reduced to rubble and ash. Nothing but gray clouds and dust as far as the eye can see.
'Seems everyone knows what awaits us, no jokes or comments this time.' I muse as I look to my left and right, seeing my fellow legionnaires. I am sporting the same stoic face as them, but we know this is a desperate charge to gain as much ground as possible for the upcoming peace conference.
"Nothing but pawns in the grand scheme of it all," I say aloud with a chuckle as I ready my rifle.
"Takumi, I'll see you on the other side, brother," Haruto says from my left with a grim smile and nods. As he lowers his face plate.
Before I could respond, the order reverberated through the air; a symphony of explosions heralded our advance, each bomb unleashing a heavenly fury that shook the very foundations of the world. The acrid scent of sulfur and the taste of anticipation fill the air as we surge forward, a torrent of determination propelling us over the trench wall with unwavering vigor. With every step, the Exo suit enhances my movements, infusing each stride with a superhuman might that drives me through the mud and mire.
The 200-meter dash feels endless and fleeting, a surreal blur of rain-soaked Earth beneath my boots. The whistle of incoming rounds harmonizes with the staccato cracks of gunfire, a deadly symphony conducted by the chaos of war. Bullets whiz past with lethal intent, the air itself punctuated by the razor-sharp hiss of projectiles slicing through the atmosphere.
The world narrows to the stretch of mud-laden ground before me, the distant horizon obscured by the haze of battle. As comrades fall around me, their cries melding with the cacophony of conflict, I press forward with a singular focus, each stride a testament to the resilience forged in the crucible of war.
As I vault over the trench wall, the world explodes into a chaotic panorama of violence. The metallic tang of blood and the stench of battle assail my senses as I crash into the enemy trench, exo suit absorbing the impact. Without hesitation, I unleash the fury of my bolter rifle, the deafening roar of each shot blending with the sounds of war. Rounds tear through the air, finding their mark in the enemy ranks. The recoil reverberates through my arms, a visceral reminder of the lethal power of simple engineering as I watch my targets be reduced to limbs and mist.
My boots hit the muddy ground, and I move with calculated precision, rapidly picking off adversaries. The harsh staccato of gunfire is my symphony, punctuated by the screams of those who dare stand against us. The trench becomes a battleground, a dance of life and death in the muck and filth. With every pull of the trigger, I feel the weight of responsibility, each life taken a solemn acknowledgment of the cost of survival.
In the chaos, I spot an adversary charging toward me, desperation etched across their face. Without hesitation, I discard the spent magazine, the metallic clatter drowned by the symphony of war. Pulling out my blade from my waistline, I clash with the foe in a whirlwind of blows. Our bodies collide, and the trench becomes a theater of primal struggle, a microcosm of the larger war raging around us.
As I grapple with my adversary, a searing pain lances through my side. The enemy's blade finds its mark, and the world blurs momentarily. Blood mingles with the rain-soaked mud beneath us, and I feel the cold embrace of mortality. Despite the agony, I muster the strength for one final act of defiance. With a surge of adrenaline, I drive my blade into the heart of my assailant, their lifeless body collapsing beside me.
The trench echoes with the chaos of battle, but my senses dull as the wounds take their toll. Each labored breath feels like a struggle against an inexorable tide. In the final moments, I cling to the remnants of consciousness, my vision dimming as the trench becomes a distant tableau of violence. The war claims another soul, and I succumb to the enveloping darkness, a fleeting ember extinguished in the vast expanse of conflict.
'My eternal peace awaits me.'
(-Linebreak-)
Darkness, a floating and fleeting feeling, overwhelms me. I find myself alive? Is this the afterlife? A dark, eternal nothing?
"You are an interesting one, Takumi." A voice speaks all around me.
"Whose there!?" I speak out, panicked, as I look around this void of darkness but see nothing.
A chuckle fills the air before deafening silence looms again.
"You will not be able to see me, young one. You are far too young still." 'It' chuckles again in its own amusement at my reaction. "Your entertainment has proved amusing. Fret not, young one. I mean, you no harm. I simply wish to continue my amusement." The voice speaks out in a cold yet impassive tone.
'Entertainment? Amusing? What does he, it, or whatever the hell this thing is mean!?' I swallow slightly and listen to this voice speak,
"Most mortals avoid fate once, maybe twice in their tiny lives. But, you? You avoided your fate a stunning 13 times before you finally, all somewhat defiantly accepted your fate." The voice once again looms over the darkness with its own chuckle of amusement.
"What do you mean?! ... What are you? Where am I?" The questions come out as I try to process what is happening.
"Me? I am all." The voice chuckles again. "You? Are in the void, an endless home of darkness. Where forgotten souls lay, having defied your fate a many. You missed your chance of eternal rest. But worry not."
'All? What the fuck does that mean!? Void?!' My mind paces in confusion at these mysterious words.
"I... clearly don't understand. Are you a god, or well, by all, do you mean like the creator? Why are you telling me these things?" I ask as I try to calm my mind and process the meaning of all this.
"I am no God. I am all. You could call me a creator if you so wish. But beyond that, let us talk of the meaning of my visit to your hopeless soul." The voice trails off before a shadowy figure appears in front of me.
"I will use a form to make you more comfortable. Takumi, I rarely find interest in mortals. Especially those who can hold said interest for more than a day, but I have been watching you since you were young."
"Entertaining you are, so I will repay the value you have given me with a new life." The shadowy figure says in a pompous, gracious tone as if I should kiss its 'feet' for its benevolence.
"What does that mean? You going to rewind time and drop me back into that hell hole?" I huff, slightly annoyed that I somehow ruined my eternal rest by surviving this long. Also, does this thing have the ability to create life or control time somehow?
"No, I will grant you the wish you longed for moments ago. I will send you to the world of the light novel you enjoyed." The shadow figure responds, its words more stern as if it could read my mind. Its voice was as cold and empty as the space around me.
'Can you read my mind?' I ask internally. The figure does nothing but let out a small huff... 'Well, shit... The light novel, so dxd?'
"So you are going to send me to the DxD universe?" I ask, nervous now about what this being is really capable of.
'But then again, I already died once, so should I even be scared of this thing? Do I really want to live in DxD?' I muse to myself, forgetting something.
"Young one. If you would rather spend the rest of the known universe here alone, losing your sanity. I can take back my gracious offer." The shadowy figure announces in a booming voice that shakes the void around us.
I nod my head as I take in the gravity of his words. While I long for my eternal rest, my peace. An endless cycle of this darkness, this void alone ... sounds haunting.
"I apologize for my choice of words... I simply hadn't thought through your gracious offer. What does reincarnating me into the world entail? Do I get powers? Where will the plot be?" I ask the omnipotent being.
Even in its smokey, featureless self, the shadowy figure somehow curls its face into a smile. One that will give me nightmares for years to come.
"Good, my entertainment will continue. You will be reincarnated as a child to the Hyoudou's. The older brother of Issei, putting you right in the story and plot to provide me better entertainment."
"I will be gracious and grant you some beneficial things. I will ensure you are born with higher magic reserves than your brother and some of your current DNA modifications. You will have your enhanced blood cells, allowing for faster healing and growth. But nothing that should make you stand out too much and become an autopsy for the world's governments. You are not immortal; your bones will still break and require healing time. You can still be killed. Remember that."
The shadowy figure conveys in a stern and cold voice. My genetic modifications of this life will transfer over, but without my exo suit, I will still be mortal. Susceptible to all that comes with mortality.
"I wish to make this more interesting, though, so I will give you sacred gear. It's up to you to figure out what it is." The shadowy figure laughs as it can already see its entertainment value growing.
'Issei's brother?! And a sacred gear?! Crap, there goes my chance at a peaceful life...' I let out a content sigh.
"Okay, what of my memories of the world and the plot line?" I ask, trying to get as much information as possible.
"The plot will remain the same, although changes can happen based on what impact you make in the world. Cause and effect, have it. The world will also be more lively and developed in aspects that were not talked about as it was simply a novel. I suppose keeping your memories intact will also make it more fun."
I sighed, relieved, knowing my memory of the plot and my life would still exist. I can excel early on in life; it's best not to mess with the plot too much, at least Issei. I don't want to throw the world into some cycle I can't predict.
"Okay... what of my name and appearance? Is there anything else I should know?" I asked, trying to get in as many last-minute details as possible.
"You will keep your name and appearance as they are already similar enough. But no more questions, begone. Entertain me, young mortal." The shadowy figure says as it reaches out and touches my forehead, somehow the smokey finger feeling cold yet firm.
(-Linebreak-)
In an instant, the void around me and the shadowy figure disappear. I find myself on my back, blinking against the sudden shift from darkness to soft light. Above me is a familiar ceiling, every detail etched in my memory. A gentle hum, like the distant melody of a lullaby, emanates from nearby.
I internally wince as my brain protests, feeling like it's being poked a million times. Memories flood my thoughts, a rapid montage of my past life. Merging and lapping over with my current memories of this child. Of me, Takumi Hyoudou.
Takumi Hyoudou, 3 years old, son of Gorou Hyoudou and Miki Hyoudou, older brother to 2-year-old Issei Hyoudou. Born in Kouh, Japan. Located in the greater Chubu Region.
'Fuck... that hurts like a bitch. That fucker couldn't have warned me about the headache?!' I think in agony as the pain slowly subsides.
'At least I was spared witnessing my own birth.' I shudder at the thought.
As I lie there, the feminine voice becomes clearer, intertwining with the hum. I shift my gaze to see a towering figure, a younger version of Miki Hyoudou, my mother, cradling what I assume to be Issei in her arms. Her warm smile and the familiar lullaby wrap around me like a comforting embrace.
'At least this childhood should be loving and peaceful,' I muse optimistically, absorbing the moment's warmth. 'An experience I never had.'
But amidst the comfort, panic sets in 'Going to be interesting learning how people lived back here. No cyber genetics or enhancements. What can I, as a three-year-old, do to not look suspicious? I need a plan to stay fit and intelligent and to jot down plotlines as soon as possible!' An anxious flurry of thoughts races through my mind.
As my feeble body succumbs to slumber, the dreams of the DxD world await.
(-Linebreak-)
End Chapter 1: War, Shadows, and New Life
Authors Notes:
Well, that is chapter one, ladies and gentlemen! Apologies for its brevity. I wanted to get something out. I have been itching to start writing again, well, publishing my writing.
This is my second-ever published fiction; I deleted my first work as it was a mess, and I was embarrassed by it. There is no set schedule for this story, as that was one of my faults in my last story, which caused me to make stupid decisions and mistakes.
Let's start off with some quick information about the story. This is an OC insert of Takumi, a reincarnated soldier from a future of a different version of Earth. He knows some of the lore and world of DxD, having read most of the light novels but not all. (This is totally not an excuse for me not to remember every detail between canon and fiction I have read or made up headcannon.)
Regardless, Takumi is an interesting guy; you will get to know him better as the story progresses. No, he will not be some OP monster; he will get stronger as time passes while also having vices/faults himself. His knowledge of the world, combat training, and a slight enhancement from the 'voice' 'shadowy figure' 'being.' will be his main strength, besides his sacred gear. *wink* But he's not gonna be god killer level; maybe in the future after growth - WAY in the future if it happens. I am sure you can figure out what his gear is based on the title, haha. As for his DNA modifications, think of it like genetics being altered in babies to make them more healthy, faster healing, and healthier immune systems, etc. Not OP Phoenix regeneration, but faster than usual for humans. No, he cannot regrow lost limbs.
Not to spoil things, but the approach is. Takumi wants to live a peaceful life. He has a slight bystander syndrome but is not afraid to get involved as his sense of duty from his past life mixes with his newfound feelings of family and love. He, in a way, wants to be a guide and shoulder for Issei but not push Issei into the supernatural world as he wants the plot to try to unfold naturally. Which may or may not happen.
For all Harem lovers out there, yes, Takumi will have one. I am still determining whether he will take any from Issei or not. Sorta leaning on maybe for 1 or 2, but no more. Sexual scenes(lemons) might appear, but that's all call if you want to see it.
The cover art is Takumi, generated with his age being early to mid-20s, so picture him slightly younger as the story dictates. A more 'neat' version of Issei but still somewhat messy.
I plan to write this story in a first-person point of view, but it may sometimes need to be corrected. At points, it may jump to the third person when scenes don't involve Takumi or the narrative fits. I am also aware that some of the paragraphs used repetitive language; they were fluffed with AI and went a little silly.
Feedback is welcome! Along with any ideas or theories you might be cooking up as you read along!