DxD: Hero x Gacha

The morning sun broke through the curtains of Sam's small apartment, casting golden lines across the cluttered floor. Empty takeout containers from the night before, his school bag tossed carelessly onto the table, and the strange panel interface—now dormant—served as reminders of the new life he had been thrust into.

Yesterday had been anything but normal. A fight with a stray low-class devil. Near death. A mysterious system interface calling itself the Chaos Gacha System. And of course, Tiche—his silent, imposing companion forged from that very system. Now, just over a day into this strange world, Sam dressed with cautious purpose. The Chaos Gacha System had granted him an ability: Lightning Claws, which he had not yet tested. Still, a hum pulsed in his arms, like static waiting to surge.

A translucent panel flickered briefly in front of his vision as he buttoned up his school shirt:

> Lightning Claws [Uncommon]

Electrified claws formed from condensed energy.

Highly effective in close combat.

Can tear through most forms of armor and barriers.

Currently Mastery: 0% (Passive increase through usage)

He sighed. "Guess I'm a superhero now. Or something like it."

Tiche, silent as ever, stood nearby, arms crossed. Her dark, segmented armor shimmered with a bluish-violet hue under the morning light. The plating along her arms and torso bore intricate carvings, as if etched by lightning and blood. A skirt of bronze-tinted, leaf-shaped scales swayed slightly as she shifted. Her long, dark hair, bound into two curled twin tails, fell like ink down her armored back. Her eyes—crimson, unblinking—never left Sam. Her expression, carved from stone, projected cold lethality with every breath. Twin daggers rested sheathed at her hips, quiet and ominous.

"You're quiet," Sam muttered.

"Because there is nothing worth saying until there is something worth killing," she said with surgical coldness.

He chuckled dryly. "You really need a sense of humor."

"I possess one," she replied. "I simply find little worth laughing at."

Sam grabbed his bag. "C'mon then. Let's go be a transfer student again."

---

Sam's Morning Routine

His morning routine was mundane in contrast to the strange tension swirling in his new reality. He brushed his teeth while eyeing his reflection—he looked... slightly better than before. Not by much, but enough that even he noticed. The Vial of Lifeblood was still working, subtly refining him. His muscles ached from the fight, a dull throb in his ribs and shoulder reminding him how close he had come to dying. Still, the pain was lessened. The Enhanced Vitality trait was doing its job.

Toast popped out of the toaster. He slathered on some jam without really tasting it. The aches reminded him he wasn't invincible, just lucky. Or unlucky. He hadn't quite figured out which yet.

He muttered to himself, "If this is a plot, I'd like to see the damn script."

---

Kuoh Academy – Morning Arrival

Kuoh Academy stood proud beneath a soft blue sky, the morning rush of students flowing through the gates. Sam moved with them, trying to blend in.

He noticed the looks almost immediately. Subtle stares. Lingering glances. A few students paused mid-conversation to track him with narrowed eyes. Among them was a white-silver-haired girl with a refined posture—Momo Hanakai. She stood beside a taller bespectacled girl with a calm, calculating expression—Tsubaki Shinra. Sam didn't recognize them, but he clocked the attention.

Nearby, Sanji walked into the courtyard. Tousled blond hair, a lazy grin, one hand in his pocket. A flash of charm with every step. Sam didn't know him, but something about him felt too polished.

One girl in the crowd, tall and elegant, carried herself like a swordswoman. Her posture screamed discipline, but Sam couldn't place her.

A few others—elegant, unique, and moving in perfect synchronicity—watched him briefly before vanishing into the crowd.

He kept walking, muttering under his breath. "Okay. Cool. Everyone's staring. Again. Definitely not the protagonist of the school rom-com."

---

Occult Research Club – Third Floor, Old School Building

Rias Gremory stood near the window, her long crimson hair catching the light as she stared out at the schoolyard. Akeno Himejima stood behind her, arms crossed beneath her bust, eyes narrowed slightly.

"That boy," Akeno said, "he's different today."

Rias nodded slowly. "There's a light around him. Holy in nature. Controlled, but unmistakable."

Akeno's brow arched. "He didn't have it during the battle. I'm sure of it."

"He didn't," Rias agreed. "We arrived after it ended. There was no sign of divinity—only residual chaos and darkness. Something tore that stray devil apart, but it wasn't light."

Akeno paced slowly. "And now, this same boy carries a subtle holy aura? That doesn't add up."

"Perhaps it's a reaction. A delayed awakening of a dormant potential," Rias said.

Akeno smirked. "Or something… placed inside him."

Rias turned to her. "We don't know what we're dealing with. No sacred gear. No lineage markers. And yet, his aura draws attention from even our most sensitive devils."

Akeno's expression softened into curiosity. "We'll have to keep a close eye on him. A human carrying holy energy in this town… That's bound to ruffle feathers."

---

In Class

Sam sat quietly, half-listening to the lesson. Every now and then, he felt another pair of eyes on him. The girls from across the room—Rias and Akeno—seemed to exchange glances every few minutes. Sam's gut twisted.

"They're too pretty to be NPCs," he muttered. "Definitely plot-important. But what plot?"

He looked around. That girl from earlier—Momo—was in this class too. As was a tall, graceful girl who seemed more comfortable with a sword than a pen.

"I swear," he whispered, "why do I feel like I'm one episode away from being dragged into a supernatural dating simulator?"

From his shadow, a voice curled into his mind.

"You likely are," Tiche said coolly.

Sam jumped in his seat.

"Don't do that!"

"I am merged with your shadow. You're the one who invited commentary."

He glanced at the teacher—no one else had noticed. "Great. Now I'm the guy talking to himself in class."

---

Lunch – Stairwell Retreat

Needing air, Sam found a quiet stairwell near the old music room. He leaned back, letting the chill breeze cool his nerves. Tiche emerged from his shadow, standing by the railing.

"They continue to track your presence," she said.

"No kidding," Sam muttered, rubbing his temples. "I feel like I've stepped into a mystery story without reading the first few pages."

"You radiate energy that does not belong here," Tiche said. "They will investigate."

Sam nodded. "Cool. Can't wait to be interrogated by the pretty girls who probably shoot lasers."

---

End-of-Day Rooftop

By the time the final bell rang, Sam had bolted up to the rooftop. The wind tugged gently at his shirt as he sat near the edge, overlooking the town. The aches in his body had faded to background noise, but the weight of attention hadn't.

Down below, Rias, Akeno, and Momo were talking. Then, all at once, they looked up.

Right at him.

Sam gave a sheepish wave. "Yep. Totally normal guy. Definitely not glowing."

Tiche stood silently beside the door.

"I'm not even trying to cause trouble," Sam said.

"You are the disturbance. That is enough."

"Great." He laid back against the rooftop tiles. "Next thing you'll tell me is angels and demons are fighting a secret war."

Tiche said nothing.

Sam blinked. "Wait… are they?"

Still no answer.

He groaned. "I miss video games. At least those come with tutorials."

---

Elsewhere…

On the far edge of Kuoh, beneath the shadows of a disused church, a lone figure watched the town from the belfry. Cloaked in a long black coat, their face remained hidden beneath a hood. Only a faint glint of sharp violet eyes caught the last rays of twilight.

Wings of darkness stirred once, then vanished beneath the coat.

"Interesting," the figure whispered, voice androgynous, echoing faintly. "So this is where the pieces begin to move."

The figure stepped back into the dark, vanishing completely.