Highschool DXD : Gacha Life

The morning sun filtered through the trees as I stretched my arms above my head, feeling the familiar pull of muscles awakening for the day ahead. The clearing behind the Gremory mansion was perfect for sparring—spacious enough to move freely without worrying about collateral damage to the surrounding forest.

"You ready for this, Akira?" Kiba Yuuto called out, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword. Despite his polite tone, I could see the competitive glint in his eyes.

I rolled my shoulders, feeling the leopard instincts stirring beneath my skin. "More than ready."

From the sidelines, I could see Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and Issei settling in to watch. Rias had that calculating look she got whenever she was analyzing potential—probably comparing my current abilities to what she'd witnessed during my previous spar with Akeno.

"Begin!" Rias called out.

Kiba moved first, his superhuman speed carrying him forward in a blur. Three gleaming swords materialized in his hands as he closed the distance between us. But I was already moving, my devil fruit powers enhancing my natural agility. The leopard transformation wasn't complete—I didn't need it to be. Just enough to sharpen my reflexes and strengthen my limbs.

I sidestepped his initial thrust, water beginning to coalesce around my right hand. The moisture in the air responded to my call, forming into a pressurized stream. As Kiba pivoted to follow up with a horizontal slash, I launched the water forward—not directly at him, but at the ground beneath his feet.

The impact cratered the earth, sending up a spray of mud and debris that momentarily obscured his vision. I used that split second to close in, my left hand already forming the familiar stance of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist.

Kiba's instincts were sharp—he managed to get two swords up to block my strike. But the technique wasn't just about brute force. It was about redirection, about using an opponent's momentum against them. As his blades met my palm, I guided the force sideways, throwing him off balance.

He recovered quickly, I'll give him credit. Holy swords blazed to life around him, their light casting dancing shadows across the clearing. But I'd already anticipated this. Water manipulation wasn't just offensive—it was defensive too.

A wall of pressurized water rose between us, and when his holy swords struck it, steam hissed where divine energy met my technique. The momentary cover gave me exactly what I needed.

I activated more of my leopard abilities, feeling my muscles coil with feline power. When I burst through the steam, Kiba's eyes widened—he hadn't expected me to move that fast. My right hand was already in position, water spiraling around it in a tight helix.

"Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist: Flowing River Strike!"

The technique connected with his guard, and this time there was no recovering. The force sent him sliding backward across the clearing until he hit the base of a large oak tree. His swords clattered to the ground as he slumped against the trunk, conscious but clearly done.

"I yield," he said with a rueful smile, raising one hand in surrender.

As I helped him to his feet, a familiar blue screen materialized in my peripheral vision:

**[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]**

**Yuuto Kiba Defeated**

**Reward: Rank 2 Gacha Ticket**

I dismissed it quickly, not wanting the others to notice my distraction.

"Impressive," Rias said as she approached, genuine approval in her voice. "You've grown considerably stronger, Akira. The last time you sparred with Akeno, you could barely hold your ground. Now look at you—defeating one of my knights with such precision."

The praise felt good, but it also made me realize something. "Actually, Rias, would you be willing to spar with me next?"

Her expression shifted, becoming more serious. "I'm afraid I have to decline. The Power of Destruction isn't something that can be easily controlled in a friendly match. It's far too dangerous for sparring purposes."

I sighed, the disappointment probably showing on my face. I'd been hoping to test myself against someone of her caliber, but I understood her reasoning. The Power of Destruction lived up to its name—it didn't discriminate between training and actual combat.

"Perhaps another time, under different circumstances," she added gently before turning to address the group. "Alright, everyone. I think that's enough excitement for this morning. We should head back and review the footage for the upcoming Rating Game."

As Rias, Akeno, Kiba, and Issei began making their way back toward the mansion, I stayed behind to cool down. That's when I noticed Koneko hadn't left with the others. She was still sitting on a fallen log at the edge of the clearing, her amber eyes fixed on me with that unnervingly direct stare of hers.

"Why didn't you use Incursio?" she asked without preamble.

The question caught me off guard, though I probably should have expected it. Koneko was observant—sometimes too observant for comfort.

"I can't use it so carelessly," I admitted, walking over to sit beside her. "Incursio isn't just another power I can throw around whenever I feel like it. Every time I use it, I learn something new about its capabilities, but I also discover new risks. For fights that aren't life-threatening, it's better to rely on my other abilities and save Incursio for when I truly need it."

She nodded slowly, seeming to accept the explanation. "You're being smart about it."

"Trying to be. The last thing I want is to hurt someone because I got reckless with power I don't fully understand yet."

Koneko stood up, dusting off her skirt. "The Rating Game is next week."

"Yeah, Sona mentioned that. That's actually why I'm here—to help however I can."

She gave me one of her rare, small smiles before heading back toward the mansion. "Good."

---

Later that evening, I found myself in Chysis's mansion, specifically in her personal room. The space was elegant but lived-in, with bookshelves lining the walls and comfortable furniture arranged around a fireplace. Chysis herself was seated at her desk, several small bags arranged neatly in front of her.

"Here are the ingredients you requested," she said, gesturing to the bags. Each one was carefully labeled in her precise handwriting. "I have to admit, I'm curious about what you're planning to create with such an... eclectic collection."

I picked up each bag, mentally checking them off against my list. Everything was here—some rare, some common, but all necessary for what I had in mind.

"Would it be possible to use one of your other rooms? I need some space to work, and privacy would be appreciated."

Chysis raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Of course. Follow me."

She led me down a hallway to what appeared to be a workshop of sorts. The room was spacious and well-lit, with several tables and what looked like alchemical equipment along the walls.

"How long do you expect this process to take?" she asked, clearly trying to gauge whether she should stick around or come back later.

"It'll be done in no time," I assured her. "I just need some privacy while I work. I trust you won't try to take a peek?"

"I'll respect your request for privacy," she said with a slight smile. "Though I reserve the right to be curious about the results."

After she left, closing the door behind her, I was finally alone. I set the ingredient bags on the largest table and pulled up my system interface. The blue screen materialized in front of me, its soft glow illuminating the room.

One by one, I placed each bag into the screen's inventory interface. The system accepted them without issue, and after the final bag disappeared, a new message appeared:

**[CREATION SUCCESSFUL]**

**Item Created: Holy Water of Life x70**

**Quality: Premium Grade**

An image materialized on the screen—crystal bottles filled with a beautiful pink liquid that seemed to glow with its own inner light. I couldn't help but grin. Seventy bottles was more than I'd hoped for.

When I dismissed the screen, seven physical bottles appeared on the table in front of me—a sample of the larger batch now stored in my system inventory. The pink liquid inside swirled gently, catching the light in mesmerizing patterns.

I carefully gathered the bottles and made my way back to Chysis's room. She was reading when I knocked, but looked up expectantly as I entered.

Clearing my throat dramatically, I held up one of the crystal bottles. "Allow me to present you with Akira's original creation—HWL."

Chysis blinked, then deadpanned, "HWL?"

I could practically see the gears turning in her head as she tried to figure out what those initials could possibly stand for. Meanwhile, I was internally grinning at how completely bamboozled she was about to be. The anticipation was killing me—I was practically jumping with excitement at the thought of her reaction when she realized what I'd just created.

This's going to be good.

. . .

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