Disclaimer: Can be graphic, you've been warned nya!

Chapter 1

The sunlight streamed through the thin curtains of Issei Hyoudou's room, its warmth nudging him toward wakefulness. He groaned, his brain still clouded from the hours he had spent the night before indulging in his favorite pastime. One more episode, he had told himself, though "episode" was a generous way to describe the content of his viewing choices.

Stretching lazily, he sat up, his messy brown hair sticking out at odd angles. He blinked blearily, but something was off. Floating just beyond his reach was a glowing, translucent screen with a bold title:

[Welcome, Player.]

"Huh?" Issei muttered, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands. Maybe he'd stayed up a bit too late. The screen didn't vanish, though. It stayed right where it was, its faint glow casting an eerie light against his cluttered room.

"What the hell?" He leaned forward, narrowing his eyes at the text.

[You have been chosen as The Player. Your journey begins now.]

"What journey? Is this some kind of prank?" His voice cracked slightly, betraying his unease. He reached out cautiously, his fingers trembling as they brushed the edge of the screen.

As soon as he made contact, the screen blinked out of existence with a soft chime. "What the—" Before he could finish, a second screen popped into existence, hovering inches away from where the first had been.

[New Quest: Daily Training]

Below the title was a checklist:

50 Push-ups

50 Sit-ups

50 Squats

Run 3 kilometers

Failure to complete will result in punishment.

"Punishment?" he read aloud. "What kind of punishment?" His mind raced. Was this some kind of high-tech nightmare? Did his hentai binge finally fry his brain?

Before he could delve further into his existential crisis, the door creaked open.

"Issei, are you up?" Miki Hyoudou's cheerful voice broke through his thoughts. She peeked into the room, her auburn hair tied back in a neat ponytail, wearing her usual apron. Her eyes widened slightly in pleasant surprise. "Oh, you're up early today! Did the world end, or are pigs flying outside?"

"Morning, Mom," Issei replied, his voice strained as he tried to act normal. "Uh, quick question—can you see anything weird in the room?"

She tilted her head, her expression shifting to one of concern. "Weird? Like what?"

Issei hesitated. "Like… a glowing screen?"

Miki stared at him for a moment, then smiled. "You've been watching too many of those shows again, haven't you?" She waved him off with a laugh. "Come down for breakfast soon, and don't take too long doing whatever weird thing you're doing in here."

"Mom, I'm not doing anything weird!" Issei shouted back as she walked down the hall, her laughter echoing faintly. He groaned and flopped back onto his bed, glaring at the screen that was still hovering in front of him. The timer at the bottom ticked down ominously, each second a reminder that he was on borrowed time.

"Okay, Issei," he muttered to himself, trying to rally. "This has to be a dream, right? Maybe if I just go back to sleep, it'll be gone when I wake up."

The timer dropped below an hour, the digits flashing red briefly.

"Or not," he grumbled. He stared at the checklist, dread settling in his gut. "Fifty push-ups? Fifty squats? Three kilometers? What kind of sadist made this?" His body already ached at the thought.

Still, the word "punishment" loomed large in his mind. What could this mysterious system even do to him? He decided it wasn't worth the risk. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he shuffled to his closet and grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt.

As he dressed, his mind buzzed with questions. Is this some kind of weird side effect of puberty? Did I unlock a superpower? The idea made his heart race. If this was a superpower, it was the lamest one ever. "Great. I don't get to shoot lasers or fly, but I get homework from a computer screen."

Once dressed, he glanced at the timer again. Twenty-three hours remaining. "Guess I'd better get started before I find out what 'punishment' means."

He dropped to the floor and attempted his first push-up. His arms wobbled as he lowered himself, and he collapsed halfway down. "Oh, come on," he panted. "I didn't think I was this out of shape."

The screen blinked again.

[Push-ups completed: 0/50]

"Yeah, thanks for the reminder," he snapped at the screen. Gritting his teeth, he tried again. This time, he managed one full push-up before collapsing. The screen updated immediately.

[Push-ups completed: 1/50]

"That's… encouraging?" He groaned as he sat back on his knees, wiping sweat from his forehead. "At this rate, I'll finish by next week."

For the next ten minutes, Issei alternated between push-ups and complaining. His arms screamed in protest, but he forced himself to keep going, each completed push-up adding to the counter. By the time he hit 25, his arms felt like jelly.

"Halfway there," he wheezed, lying flat on the floor. "This better be worth it."

Another notification appeared, drawing his attention.

[Daily Quest Progress: 25/50 Push-ups, 0/50 Sit-ups, 0/50 Squats, 0/3km Run.]

"Fantastic," he muttered, glaring at the remaining tasks. His eyes drifted to the timer again: Eleven Hours left. "Guess I'd better move on to sit-ups."

Despite his groaning and protests, Issei found himself oddly motivated by the visual progress bar that accompanied the checklist. Each sit-up added a little more to the completion percentage, and he began to feel a strange sense of accomplishment.

Maybe this isn't so bad after all.

As he transitioned to squats, he started to notice something odd. Each movement felt a little easier than the last. By the time he reached the twentieth squat, he was no longer gasping for air. "What's going on? Am I… getting stronger already?"

The screen flashed once more:

[Temporary Buff: Beginner's Endurance (Active)]

"Well, that explains that," he muttered, a small grin forming on his lips. "Maybe this isn't the lamest superpower after all."

With renewed determination, he powered through the squats and prepared himself for the final task: the run.

"Three kilometers," he said, glancing out the window at the quiet street. "Here goes nothing."

Issei collapsed onto the grass of a small park, his chest heaving as he gulped down lungfuls of air. The cool morning breeze felt like heaven against his sweat-soaked skin. His legs burned, his arms were still sore from earlier, and his lungs felt like they were ready to burst. He had barely managed to stumble through half the three kilometers before his body outright rebelled, forcing him to stop.

Despite the [Temporary Buff: Beginner's Endurance] notification that had popped up earlier, he could tell his body wasn't built for this kind of punishment. Not yet, at least.

Lying on the grass, he tilted his head up to the glowing screen floating in front of him, its vibrant text a harsh reminder of his failure to finish the task.

[Daily Quest: Daily Training]

Push-ups: Complete Sit-ups: Complete Squats: 35/50 Run 1.5/3 kilometers

The sight made him groan. Great, I'm not even done with the squats I skipped to test this dumb buff. Frustrated, he swiped at the screen to dismiss it, only for it to return almost immediately.

"This has to be some kind of prank," he muttered to himself. "There's no way this is real. No way…" But the burning in his muscles and the pulsing of his heart argued otherwise.

Pulling himself into a sitting position, he rubbed the back of his neck, staring at the ground. "Okay… so I have a magic gaming system thing. That's… cool? Weird? Probably both." His mind churned over what he had discovered so far. The quest system, the buffs, the terrifying mention of punishment—it all felt straight out of a video game.

His experimentation earlier had revealed a Shop feature, though it was locked behind a requirement to reach Level 15. Even browsing it, however, had left him giddy. There were weapons, potions, skill books, and items that sounded like they'd come straight out of his favorite RPGs. But the prices were all listed in "Gold," and he had no idea how to earn any.

Then there were his Stats. Seeing them displayed in cold, hard numbers had been both fascinating and infuriating. His Strength and Endurance were low, as expected. His Dexterity was laughable, and his Intelligence stat had been the final insult. Who puts a 3 in Intelligence? he'd thought earlier, feeling personally attacked. "Guess I know what I'm dumping my points into once I level up."

Shaking his head, Issei dismissed the thoughts for now. The timer on the quest screen showed he still had two hours left. His body needed a bit more rest before he could attempt the rest of the run or the remaining squats. He leaned back against a nearby tree, letting his mind wander.

Why is this happening? he wondered. And why am I not more freaked out? Sure, this was insane, but he wasn't panicking like he probably should've been. Maybe it was because it felt… manageable? It wasn't some explosive superpower or sudden life-altering catastrophe. It was just… a game. Something familiar, even if it was wrapped in weirdness.

"Well," he muttered, pulling himself to his feet, "weird or not, I have to finish this. No way I'm finding out what 'punishment' means." He shook out his limbs, feeling a surprising lightness. Maybe the Temporary Buff really was working its magic.

Just as he was about to resume his run, a sharp shout rang out behind him.

"HYOU-DOUUUU!"

He froze mid-step, his heart skipping a beat. Turning around, he was greeted by the sight of Murayama storming toward him, her wooden kendo sword held high like a weapon of divine retribution.

"Murayama?!" he yelped, taking a step back. "What the hell are you doing here?!"

"What am I doing here?" she snapped, closing the distance between them with terrifying speed. "I should be asking you that! Skipping out on practice, probably peeping again—"

"I wasn't peeping!" Issei protested, raising his hands defensively.

"Oh, really? Like you weren't last week when you 'accidentally' stumbled into the changing room?" Her voice was sharp, her eyes blazing with fury.

"That was a misunderstanding!" he cried, though the memory of the incident made his face burn. "And why do you have that stupid stick with you? Do you carry that thing everywhere?!"

"It's called discipline, you pervert!" she shot back, raising the wooden sword. "Maybe if you had any, you wouldn't be such a creep!"

Before he could respond, she lunged at him, forcing him to dive to the side to avoid the swing. "Are you seriously trying to kill me?!"

"If I was trying to kill you, you'd already be dead!" Murayama snarled, swinging at him again.

"I call bullshit on that!" Issei shouted, scrambling to his feet and bolting down the park path.

"Get back here, you coward!" she yelled, chasing after him with surprising speed.

The two tore through the park, Issei dodging between trees and bushes, Murayama hot on his heels. He glanced over his shoulder and nearly tripped at the sight of her still in full pursuit, the wooden sword gleaming in the sunlight.

"This is insane!" he shouted back at her. "You're insane!"

"Shut up and take your punishment!" she roared.

Between her shouting and his frantic running, Issei almost forgot about the timer ticking down. Almost.

When the bright red [Quest Failure] notification popped up in front of him, he skidded to a halt, staring at it in horror.

[Daily Training: Failed] [Punishment: ? Initiating…]

"Oh no, no, no—what does that mean?!" he stammered, his voice rising in panic.

Murayama, who had been chasing him relentlessly, slowed to a stop a few feet away. "What's wrong with you?" she asked, her anger melting into confusion. "Why'd you just stop like that?"

Issei turned to her, his face pale. "Murayama, I think—"

Before he could finish, a sudden, blinding light enveloped him. Murayama raised her arm to shield her eyes, but it was too late—when the light faded, Issei was gone.

She blinked, lowering her arm and staring at the empty spot where he had been standing. "What the…?"

Issei groaned as he pushed himself up from the jagged, scalding ground, brushing soot off his arms. The oppressive heat bore down on him like a living force, sucking the moisture out of his body and making it hard to breathe. As he shielded his eyes with his arm, he finally took in his surroundings—and his jaw dropped.

The landscape stretched endlessly before him, a wasteland of fire and molten rock. Towering volcanoes erupted in the distance, spewing rivers of lava into glowing streams that snaked their way across the cracked earth. The sky was an ominous swirl of red and black, streaked with flashes of lightning. Ash rained down like snow, blanketing the ground and stinging his eyes. Issei could feel the heat radiating from the fiery rivers, the suffocating air pressing on his chest like an iron vise.

"This... this is hell!" he exclaimed, staggering back a step. His shoes, already worn from his earlier run, began to melt slightly against the scorching terrain.

What the hell is going on? Issei thought, panic bubbling in his chest. The last thing he remembered was Murayama chasing him, her wooden sword swinging like an executioner's blade, and then… that terrifying screen flashing "Quest Failed."

His heart sank as another screen appeared in front of him, glowing ominously in the dim light:

Punishment Zone: Hellish Wasteland
Objective: Survive for 5 hours.
Time Remaining: 4:57:12

The timer ticked down mercilessly.

"Five hours?!" Issei yelled, his voice cracking. "How am I supposed to survive in this... this oven?!"

Before he could fully process the sheer hopelessness of his situation, a deafening crash shattered the air behind him. The ground quaked violently, sending him sprawling to his knees. Whipping his head around, he froze in wide-eyed horror.

From a cloud of flame and tumbling rock emerged a massive creature, its body composed of molten stone and flickering fire. The beast stood tall on four legs, each the size of a bus, with a sinuous tail that swept the ground and shattered the jagged terrain. Jagged, molten wings unfurled from its back, glowing with veins of lava, making it seem impossibly larger. Its head resembled a dragon, sharp and angular, with glowing red eyes that burned like twin suns. Smoke billowed from its nostrils as it exhaled, the temperature rising even further. Above its head, floating in blood-red letters, was its name:

[Flaming Drake Golem]

"What the actual hell?!" Issei yelled, stumbling to his feet as the beast let out a thunderous roar that made his eardrums ache.

The golem's molten eyes locked onto him, and in that moment, Issei knew one thing for certain: it wasn't here to chat.

The beast lunged forward, each step shaking the ground. Issei's survival instincts kicked in, overriding the sheer terror gripping him. He turned and ran, adrenaline flooding his system as he sprinted across the fiery wasteland. The drake gave chase, its massive form barreling after him with terrifying speed, every step leaving craters of molten rock in its wake.

"Why does this punishment have to include a freaking boss fight?!" Issei screamed as he zigzagged through the rocky terrain, narrowly avoiding a cascade of boulders dislodged by the drake's tail swipe.

Hot wind rushed past him as the drake let out another roar, its wings beating once, propelling it forward. Issei threw himself to the side just in time to avoid being crushed as the beast landed where he'd been seconds before, the impact sending a shockwave that toppled nearby formations.

"Damn it, System! I didn't sign up for this!" he shouted, his legs burning as he pushed himself harder than ever before.

The ground around him cracked and split as the drake's claws slammed down, barely missing him. Fiery debris rained down, and Issei had to dodge falling rocks while keeping an eye on the monster that pursued him relentlessly. His breaths came in ragged gasps, sweat pouring down his face, but fear fueled his every step.

How the hell am I supposed to survive this?!

Meanwhile, back in the real world, Murayama's heart raced as she sprinted through the streets of Kuoh. Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion and panic.

"I'm not crazy. I know what I saw!" she muttered to herself, her wooden sword still clutched tightly in her hand. The image of Issei's horrified expression before he vanished replayed in her mind over and over.

At first, she had thought it was some sort of elaborate prank, but as the minutes passed, the reality of the situation began to set in. People didn't just vanish into thin air. Not unless something supernatural was at play.

The word echoed in her mind, sending a chill down her spine. She recalled hearing whispers and rumors about the Occult Research Club at school. The President of the club, Rias Gremory, was well-known—not just for her beauty and charisma but also for her mysterious aura. Murayama had always dismissed the rumors as silly gossip, but now… now she wasn't so sure.

Her pace quickened as she changed direction, heading straight for Kuoh Academy.

If anyone knows what's going on, it's her, Murayama thought, her grip tightening on her sword. She didn't care if it was Sunday and the school was officially closed. If Rias Gremory and her club members could explain what just happened to Issei, she'd barge in if she had to.

As she approached the school gates, her resolve hardened. She didn't particularly like Issei—he was a shameless pervert, after all—but she couldn't just ignore what had happened.

"Hang on, Issei," she muttered under her breath. "I'll figure out what's going on."

With that, she pushed open the gate and headed toward the old school building, where the Occult Research Club made its base, unaware of the tangled web of supernatural forces she was about to step into.

Rias Gremory observed the anxious Murayama pacing in front of her, the girl's hands fidgeting as she repeated her story yet again. It was a curious situation—Murayama was one of Kuoh Academy's normal students, someone unconnected to the supernatural world. Yet, here she was, trembling with urgency, recounting an impossible tale of Issei Hyoudou vanishing into thin air.

Rias had initially dismissed it as a misunderstanding or an exaggeration of the perverted boy's knack for escaping trouble. But something in Murayama's tone and the sheer conviction in her eyes gave her pause. The mention of Issei disappearing in a literal blink? That had set off alarm bells.

"Are you certain he didn't just slip away while you were distracted?" Rias asked gently, trying to mask her own growing concern.

Murayama shook her head emphatically. "I'm telling you, he didn't run! One second he was there, and the next—poof! Gone, like he was sucked into the air or something!"

Rias exchanged a glance with Koneko, who stood silently by her side. The petite white-haired Devil had been watching Murayama with her usual unflinching stare. Rias trusted Koneko's instincts; if the Nekoshou felt there was more to this, she wouldn't hesitate to say so.

"Alright," Rias finally said, standing and smoothing down her skirt. "Show us where it happened."

Murayama led them at a brisk pace, her desperation keeping her moving despite her obvious exhaustion. It took some time to reach the spot, a secluded area near a park on the city's outskirts. Night had fallen, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly under the flickering streetlights. The air was cooler here, but Rias couldn't shake the prickling sense of unease creeping over her.

Murayama stopped abruptly, pointing to a patch of ground near a park bench. "It was right here," she said, her voice tight with emotion. "This is where he just… disappeared."

Rias stepped forward, her crimson hair catching the faint glow of a nearby lamp. She extended her senses, her eyes half-lidded in concentration. Koneko moved a few steps away, her small frame still as her golden eyes flickered with supernatural energy.

"Anything?" Rias asked softly, glancing at her rook.

Koneko's nose wrinkled slightly as she sniffed the air. Her monotone voice broke the silence. "There's a faint trace of magic here. Old, but distinct. Someone used a spell in this spot."

Rias's expression darkened. A mage? Her mind raced with possibilities. Had someone discovered Issei's Sacred Gear? If so, why take him? Was this some rival faction trying to get ahead?

Murayama, oblivious to their investigation, wandered near the bench, wringing her hands. "Issei!" she called out, her voice cracking slightly. "Where are you?!"

Rias was about to reassure her when an unexpected surge of energy crackled through the air. All three girls turned in unison, their eyes snapping to the very spot Murayama had pointed to earlier. A sudden burst of light and heat erupted, and there—crashing down onto the ground—was Issei Hyoudou.

His screams echoed through the park as he landed roughly, tumbling into a heap. His body was drenched in sweat, his clothes burned and tattered, with seared patches of skin visible beneath the ruined fabric. His shoes were completely melted, leaving his feet exposed and battered.

"Issei!" Murayama shouted, rushing to his side. She dropped to her knees, gently cradling one of his hands in her lap as her wide eyes took in the extent of his injuries. "What happened to you?! What is this?!"

Rias was frozen for a moment, utterly stunned. Even Koneko, typically composed, had her eyes widened and her mouth slightly agape. This wasn't just a magical mishap—this was something far more severe.

Issei groaned weakly, his eyelids fluttering as he struggled to stay conscious. He seemed completely drained, his breaths shallow and labored.

"Stay with me, Issei!" Murayama pleaded, shaking him gently.

Rias snapped out of her shock, quickly assessing the situation. "Koneko," she said firmly, "pick him up. Carefully."

The petite girl moved without hesitation, her supernatural strength allowing her to easily lift Issei's battered body as though he weighed nothing. Murayama protested, clutching at Issei's arm. "Wait, what are you doing? He needs help! We can't just move him like this!"

"Murayama," Rias said softly but firmly, placing a hand on the distraught girl's shoulder. "We'll take care of him. I promise."

"But—"

"I'm sorry for this," Rias interrupted, lifting her other hand, which began to glow with a soft crimson light.

Murayama barely had time to process what was happening before the soothing light engulfed her vision. Her panic ebbed away, replaced by a strange calm as her eyelids grew heavy. She collapsed to the ground in a deep, dreamless sleep.

Rias knelt briefly, brushing a lock of hair from Murayama's face. "You'll forget all of this when you wake up. For your own safety."

Standing, she turned to Koneko, who was already holding Issei securely in her arms. The boy groaned again, his head lolling against her shoulder.

"Let's get him back to the clubroom," Rias said, her voice tinged with concern. "Whatever happened to him, we need answers."

Koneko nodded silently, and the two Devils vanished into the night, leaving behind only faint traces of magic in the cool evening air.

The other DxD story is on hold for now, please enjoy this one for now nya!