Crimson Echoes: The Rebellion of Gremory (Highschool dxd)

The mansion was quieter than it had ever been, and Kazuki could feel it in every creak of the wooden floor, every faint echo of his footsteps in the hallways. It was as though the house itself was mourning the absence of the Gremorys.

His parents were busy with the usual day-to-day tasks, yet they seemed more distant than before—absorbed in their own worlds, caught up in their own silences. Kazuki had always been a quiet child, but now, the quiet was different, heavier, like something important had been lost, something irreplaceable.

That morning, Kazuki's father had asked him to come along and help inspect the grounds—an odd request considering how little they had done such tasks in recent years. But Kazuki didn't mind. The outside world, with its quiet expanses of gardens and rolling fields, felt like a refuge.

He and his father walked slowly through the estate gardens, neither speaking much. The flowerbeds, which had once been lush and vibrant under Rias's care, now seemed dull and abandoned, the flowers wilting slightly from neglect. Kazuki couldn't help but glance at the oak tree where he and Rias had once sat and whispered secrets. It felt strange to stand there now, as if the air had grown thick with unspoken words.

"You know," his father spoke up, breaking the silence, "I think we should be mindful of the future. Things are changing, Kazuki." He paused, glancing down at the boy, who had been staring into the distance. "I know you miss her, but life goes on."

Kazuki nodded silently, unsure of what to say. His father didn't mean to be harsh; he was simply being practical. But the idea of moving on seemed impossible, like a wound that wouldn't stop bleeding, no matter how hard he tried to patch it up.

"I don't understand why they had to leave," Kazuki muttered under his breath, his words barely audible.

His father raised an eyebrow but didn't respond, just gave a small, knowing nod. Kazuki wasn't ready to admit the truth of what he felt—wasn't ready to acknowledge how deeply Rias's absence had carved into him. Instead, he distracted himself with their walk, glancing over at the now-empty guest quarters where Rias had stayed. The windows were shut tight, the blinds drawn. The room was a hollow shell of the laughter and whispers that once filled it

Later that afternoon, Kazuki found himself in his room, a sense of unease creeping over him. The house was empty, as usual. It wasn't that there was no one around—there were always servants and workers—but in the absence of Rias's exuberance, everything felt quieter. More stifling.

Kazuki sat at his desk, his fingers tracing the small black ribbon that Rias had left behind. It was tied neatly around a notebook, but the ribbon itself was a piece of her, a memento of their time together. He picked it up, feeling the soft fabric between his fingers. A tiny piece of her that she had left behind, but it wasn't enough. It wasn't her presence.

Kazuki closed his eyes for a moment, letting his mind wander back to those days with Rias. Her laughter echoed in his thoughts, her sharp wit, the way she'd always push back against her family's expectations. She was free in a way Kazuki could only dream of.

He hadn't realized it until now, but Rias had opened his eyes—to the possibility of a world beyond the rigid boundaries of his life, to the feeling of what it might be like to actually live and not just exist. Her world was different, and yet she had invited him in, even if only for a short time.

Kazuki clenched the ribbon in his hand. He hadn't seen her magic, hadn't felt her devil power up close. She'd been so careful to keep it hidden from him, but he had always sensed there was more to her. That smoldering fire beneath the surface.

The more Kazuki thought about it, the more he began to question why she left. Was it just because of her family obligations? Or was there something more—a responsibility she couldn't escape, something pulling her away from him?

He couldn't stay in this house forever, lost in these thoughts. He needed to find something to anchor himself to, something to distract him from the painful silence. A knock at the door startled him.

"Master Kazuki?" A maid peeked in, holding a small tray of tea. "Would you like something to eat? Dinner is almost ready."

Kazuki smiled weakly. "Sure. I'll be down in a minute."

The next few days passed in a blur, each one blurring into the next. Kazuki kept to his routines, reading, studying, helping his father with small tasks around the mansion. But there was always something missing, some part of his day that felt incomplete.

That evening, after dinner, Kazuki was walking back to his room when he noticed a figure standing at the edge of the garden—near the old oak tree. It was too late for a visitor, especially someone outside the family.

Kazuki hesitated, but his curiosity won out. He approached cautiously, trying not to disturb the figure in the shadows.

"Who's there?" Kazuki called out.

The figure turned toward him. It was a young woman, her features hidden beneath a dark hood. Kazuki couldn't tell who she was—her presence was unfamiliar, and yet there was something about her that felt… odd.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice smooth but heavy with authority. "I didn't mean to intrude. I'm just looking for someone."

Kazuki frowned. "Looking for someone? Who?"

The woman stepped closer, lifting her hood just enough to reveal her face. She had sharp features, like those of a noble, but there was something unsettling in her eyes—something predatory.

"Are you the young master of this estate?" she asked, her voice soft yet insistent.

Kazuki took a step back. "Yes… I am. But I don't recognize you. Who are you?"

The woman smiled, a slow, knowing smile. "I'm someone who has business with your family."

Kazuki's curiosity deepened, but a sense of unease lingered at the back of his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a casual visitor. She seemed too familiar with the estate.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean," Kazuki said, his voice more cautious now.

The woman's smile faltered, but only for a moment. "Perhaps it's best if we talk in private. I can answer your questions, young master. But it's important that we speak soon."

Kazuki hesitated. There was something off about this woman, but something else urged him forward. Was she another visitor from the Underworld? Or was she someone sent by Rias's family? He wasn't sure, but the nagging feeling in his chest told him he couldn't ignore her.

The woman led Kazuki inside the mansion, through quiet hallways, until they reached an empty sitting room. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting shadows across the walls.

"I didn't expect to find you here," the woman said, her voice low. "But it seems fate has its own plans."

Kazuki watched her carefully. "Who are you?"

"I am someone from Rias Gremory's world," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I was… watching over her during her time here. But now that she's gone, it's up to you to make sense of the things she left behind."

Kazuki's heart raced. "What do you mean? What's she left behind?"

The woman paused, as though weighing how much to reveal. "You don't yet know, young master. But the time will come when you do. Rias's path is intertwined with yours, whether you like it or not. And it's only a matter of time before you face what she couldn't protect you from."

Kazuki stared at her, unsure whether he should feel reassured or terrified. Something told him she was telling the truth, but something else told him this was only the beginning of something much larger.

The woman gave a small nod, sensing his confusion. "We'll meet again, Kazuki. In time, everything will be clear. Until then, you must wait."

Kazuki blinked. "Wait? For what?"

"For the truth," she replied, her gaze intense. "For the truth of Rias's world. And your place in it."

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Writer here.

The first Arc is about: Childhood Bond & Separation and last about 30 chapters want to build character....

kinda long as I want this story to be a long burn and there will be romance.

The main problem is creating a long story since details need to be perfect so if you find some mixtakes please send them my way so I fix them.

The timeline that I have right now goes like this:

Arc 2 (Ch. 31–60): Rias's Early Kuoh Years

Rias around 16, forming ORC with Akeno, Koneko, etc. Rivalries with Haruna, Rossweisse. The MC is absent from Kuoh.

Arc 3 (Ch. 61–90): The MC's Return, Freed/Raynare Arcs

MC also 16, moves to Kuoh, meets Issei, Freed, etc. Probably partial gear awakening near Ch. 80–90 maybe less.

Arc 4 (Ch. 91–120): Kokabiel, Excalibur, Early Harem

MC's gear established, comedic synergy with Issei. Rivalries ease.

Arc 5 (Ch. 121–160): Riser Phoenix Engagement

MC helps free Rias from forced marriage. Harem intensifies.

Might decide to change something but things are pretty set on stone... I do not earn any money from this so I might not update every day since I do not want to be overwelmed by my community collage assignments. Maybe I will create a patreon but I feel like shit taking money from people specially If I do not know what to add into the tiers or just a dollar tier where it is more of a donation with some chapters fowards compared to the ones here.

Either way thank you guys for the powerstones and reading this story!