The first few days in Kuoh passed like a breeze—quiet, observant, strategic. Kaizen wasn't in a rush. He knew the nature of the world he'd landed in. A world ruled in shadows by Devils, Angels, and Fallen alike.
Thanks to Great Sage's instant translation matrix and world analysis, Kaizen had easily established himself with a forged identity and high school enrollment. "Kaizen Amos" was now a second-year transfer student, and, interestingly enough, already on Rias Gremory's radar.
Still, he didn't make any bold moves.
Not yet.
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🏫 Daytime – Kuoh Academy
Kaizen sat near the back of the classroom, not far from Issei Hyoudou and his perverted duo. From a glance, they looked like nothing—goofy, harmless, loud. But one of them, Issei, held something precious inside him.
Great Sage, he thought inwardly. Do you detect it yet?
> 「Affirmative. Analysis complete. Subject: Issei Hyoudou possesses the Longinus-type Sacred Gear: Boosted Gear. Housing: Red Dragon Emperor, Ddraig.」
「Current Synchronization: 4%. Dormant State. Host unaware of full potential.」
Interesting.
Kaizen's eyes half-closed in thought. Sacred Gears—powerful weapons gifted by the Biblical God. Their mechanics intrigued him. After all, his skill Degenerate: Separation/Synthesis could theoretically interface with that system... if he understood it.
Step one: observe.
He waited until lunch, watching Issei stumble out with Matsuda and Motohama to gawk at girls. They were crude, but harmless. Kaizen followed at a distance, keeping his senses open.
His target appeared soon enough.
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🍃 Evening – Outskirts of Town
Later that night, Kaizen roamed the wooded outskirts of Kuoh. If he recalled correctly, this was around the time Issei would experience his first death—struck down by Raynare disguised as Yuma Amano.
"Great Sage," he whispered as he stood beneath a flickering streetlight. "How far are we from that incident?"
> 「Based on observed timeline trajectory, event will occur within 48 hours.」
Perfect.
Kaizen wasn't interested in saving Issei… not yet. He wanted to see what happened first—how the Boosted Gear reacted, how the system responded to trauma. Knowledge first. Intervention later.
But fate, as always, had a sense of humor.
Just then, a ripple passed through the air.
A magic signature—unstable, clumsy, but powerful.
Kaizen turned his head.
"…That's not Rias."
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🔥 Encounter – Stray Devil Attack
He moved fast, feet barely touching the ground as he blurred through the trees. About fifty meters ahead, he saw her: a frightened girl in Kuoh uniform, cornered by a monstrous beast—a malformed devil with too many limbs and a hunger for flesh.
"Help me!!" the girl screamed, falling backward as the creature closed in.
Kaizen didn't hesitate.
He blinked—and he was in front of her.
His hand lashed out like lightning, and Predation activated instantly.
The stray devil's face was wiped away as Kaizen's hand touched it. Corrosion surged into the creature's unstable form, unraveling it like thread.
> 「Target absorbed. Commencing Analysis.」
「Result: Inferior demonic traits. Corrupted essence. No usable skills.」
「Do you wish to store the demonic body template?」
"Store it," Kaizen said calmly.
The girl behind him trembled. "W-Who are you…?"
Kaizen turned, voice low. "Just someone who doesn't like monsters."
She stared. "Are… are you a devil?"
Kaizen smiled. "Something like that."
She would forget this moment soon. He gently touched her forehead, using a combination of Sensory Control and Mental Interference through his Parallel Processing to alter her short-term memory.
She slumped to the ground, sleeping peacefully.
---
🧠 Revelation – The Boosted Gear's Pulse
Just as Kaizen was about to leave, a spark hit his awareness.
> 「Warning: Unique energy detected. Proximity within 200 meters.」
「Sacred Gear resonance identified. Subject: Issei Hyoudou.」
「State: High adrenaline. Gear is beginning activation cycle.」
「Ddraig's presence surfacing.」
Kaizen's eyes lit with fascination.
"Perfect timing," he muttered.
He blurred forward again, remaining hidden. Through a tree line, he saw it unfold—Issei on his date with Yuma. Her dark wings outstretched. Her spear forming. The look of horror on his face.
And then—impact.
Issei crumpled to the ground, chest pierced by light. Blood pooled fast. Raynare sneered and vanished into the sky, her mission complete.
But Kaizen wasn't looking at her.
He was watching Ddraig—or rather, the flash of emerald red energy that tried to keep Issei's soul anchored.
> 「Observation in progress. Synchronization threshold rising.」
「Analyzing Boosted Gear composition... incomplete. Requires further data.」
「Recommendation: Interact with host after revival by Rias Gremory.」
Kaizen stared at Issei's body, then turned away.
"I'll come back for you."
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🕯️ Back at Home – That Night
Kaizen's home wasn't far from the school—a charming Japanese house nestled between shrines and gardens. Not too big, not too humble. Just enough space to train, think, and eventually welcome company.
He stood in the middle of the tatami room, eyes closed.
> 「Begin projected sacred gear simulation.」
Before him, a magical diagram unfolded—a replica of the Boosted Gear's design as interpreted through Great Sage.
It pulsed, glowed, ticked.
Not a real gear—but the conceptual breakdown of it.
"Fascinating," Kaizen murmured. "It's like a pocket soul-link system. A two-way evolution bond between host and spirit..."
> 「Affirmative. Sacred Gears evolve based on user's will, emotions, and life-threatening experiences. Similar to your own body evolution, but more limited.」
"Could I… eventually create my own?"
> 「Possibility exists. Requires more data. Unknown factors include divine permissions and system law. Recommend continued observation.」
Kaizen smiled. "Then I'll stay close to Issei."
He didn't need to manipulate him yet. Issei would draw devils, fallen, angels—all on his own. Kaizen just had to watch, listen… and learn.
---
🧪 Power Gained: Analytical Gear Insight
> New Skill Acquired: Sacred Gear System Awareness (Minor)
Description: You've begun to understand the structure, mechanics, and evolution triggers of Sacred Gears through direct observation and appraisal. This allows limited interaction, detection, and tracking of Gear signatures.
Limitations: Cannot create or modify Gears yet. Cannot bypass divine seals. Knowledge only.
> 「Skill stored under Great Sage > Gear Tree.」
「Would you like to link it to Degenerate's Synthesis pathway for future fusion?」
"Yes."
Kaizen opened his eyes. A green glow briefly passed over his palm.
---
🌙 Closing Scene – Rooftop Under the Moon
Later that night, Kaizen stood on the roof of Kuoh Academy, wind brushing his hair.
"I see the game board now," he whispered.
Down below, devils plotted. Angels watched. Fallen prepared.
But Kaizen?
He was just getting started.
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