Rebirth

It was an average day for Matthew McKnight. At 23 years old, he was in his first year of law school at Harvard University. As per his routine, he was currently at the library studying his thick text book, with a pile of legal case examples next to him. For a normal student, even one with the abilities to get into Harvard, the amount of materials to study would be daunting, but not for Matt.

His parents passing away in a car accident when he was just a baby, Matt was raised in an orphanage. Although he didn't get to enjoy much of what a child should, his orphanage 'mother' was someone he truly loved. He also came to love reading, cartoons, anime, etc…essentially anything that gave him a reprieve from life.

As such, early on, he developed two life goals. First, he wanted to make enough money to provide for the orphanage but more specifically for his 'mother.' Second, wanted to visit the home of anime, manga, and light novels: Japan.

To achieve these goals, Matt became studious. With an already quick mind and high IQ, he managed to get into elite middle schools, high schools, and finally university on a full scholarship.

Being an orphan, he was always an outsider amongst his fellow students who all came from vastly wealthy families. Though he was lonely, he kept pressing on in his studies and always achieved the top grades in his age group.

Even at his orphanage, he always acted as the responsible child and did his best to take care of the other children. This too isolated him from having any true friendships. In turn, this caused him to – whenever he wasn't studying – sink deeper into popular Hollywood movies, bestselling novels, anime, web and light novels, mobile games, and mangas.

Outsiders would probably consider this to be a very lonely existence, but Matt didn't mind it and kept pressing forward. If he had any complaint with his life, it was that he often felt bored. While studying his mind would often drift off and daydream about what he would do if he were place into some of his favorite entertainment works.

He could have super powers. He could become a hero. He could go on exciting adventures. He could get laid.

There were no limits.

Currently, he was having one such daydream. While it may look like he was carefully reading his textbook, he was actually thinking about one of his favorite anime, High School DxD. Though he had never read the web or light novels, the anime was sufficient for him. It was funny, had sexy girls, and had a great plot and action.

However, if he were in Issei's shoes and had a bunch of women all over him, he would definitely have sex with them instead of just stopping at touching them. Realistically, Matt supported only having one wife, but if a sexy girl through themselves at him, it would be hard to say no.

He was jolted out of his thoughts by a sudden onset of pain in his chest and arm. Short of breath, Matt tumbled out of his chair, weakly calling out to the nearby students.

Everyone looked at this normally silent student in alarm. Some rushed at him to help. Others pulled out their cell phone to call 911. A couple students began panicking and screamed, causing the library staff to run over.

But Matt barely noticed any of this. This pain kept sharply increasing. It was unbearable. His vision faded into darkness as he lost consciousness.

(This totally sucks!)

That was the last thought he had in this life.

==========

His senses slowly came back to him. He felt warm and comfortable, a much better feeling than that pain in his chest. There seemed to be water surrounding him. However, he felt small and could barely move. Kicking out, his kick was only strong enough to barely push into the squishy surroundings.

Right after he did so, he heard what sounded like a woman's voice, though filtered and muffled. She was excited and soon there were other raised voices.

(Where am I?) he wondered.

Immediately after he asked himself that, he heard an androgynous voice clearly in his head.

[So, how's it going there kiddo? Excited to be reborn?]

(Reborn…?) Matt thought as the gears in his brain kept turning faster and faster. (Reborn as in reincarnation? Did I die then?)

[Correct! And now you're going to be reborn. You're four months along, in fact.]

Hearing that, Matt reanalyzed his surroundings. (So, this is a womb, huh?)

(Then you must be God?) he asked the voice.

[Yep! But not the god you're thinking of. Nah, he left on paid vacation a couple thousand years ago and I'm filling in for him. I'm the God of Chaos. You can just call me Chaos, though.]

(Hold on, god have paid vacation? Wait, more importantly, why the hell would he ask the God of Chaos to help?! Isn't that just asking for trouble?) he couldn't help retorting.

[Because I was bored and was the only one to volunteer.] There was no trace of humor or deceit in the deity's voice.

Matthew could only mentally sigh and thing about how this over-the-top situation was so similar to web novels he had read.

(Then, assuming this is actually happening and I'm not in a coma or anything, the next thing you're going to say is that I'm reincarnating into a world with magic and that you're going to give me a system or some other over powered ability?)

[…]

[…]

[Bah! The hell! You're no fun at all. You couldn't just humor me and act surprised when I told you? How boring!] Chaos indignantly exclaimed.

(I'm…sorry?)

[Ah, whatever.]

Chaos took a moment to calm down.

[So, yes, you will be born into a magic world. High School DxD to be exact.]

(High School DxD exists?) Surprised, Matt couldn't resist asking.

[It's a complicated process that I won't go too deeply into. Short story is that whenever a thought or idea or concept comes into being, it is born in the Thought Realm. With High School DxD, for example, when its author first conceived of the notion, it was born. Then, whenever the author developed the idea further, the Thought in the Thought Realm became more complex.

The most important thing, however, was the strength delivered to it by the audience. Every time someone watched the anime or read the novel or so much as thought about High School DxD, the Thought was strengthened. Eventually, it became so strengthened that it could break free of the Thought Realm and become its own living, breathing world in its own dimension.]

(Incredible!) Matt was amazed at such a process.

(But if that's true, then world like Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings must exist too, right?)

[Yep. I considered sending you to the world of The Irregular at Magic High School, but decided against it in deference to what your last daydream was.]

[And before you so much as think about it, I'm placing a restriction on you that prohibits dimensional travel outside of the DxD universe.]

(Fair enough.) Matt was fine with that. He was never a fan of novels with traveling to a multitude of worlds.

(So, who am I going to be born as? An existing character or…?)

[You'll be Rias Gremory's younger brother by ten months.]

Matt had mixed feelings about that. On the one side, he was unsure how he felt about being born as a devil. They were considered evil, and though that wasn't exactly the case in DxD, it was hard to remove his bias. On the other hand, he was excited to be in a fully functioning family.

Plus, the Gremory's were wealthy! That never hurts.

(And the system?) Matt asked. (How overpowered is it?)

The sound of Chaos chuckling echoed in his head.

[Well, it depends on how lucky you are.]

(Lucky?)

[Yes, lucky. I'm giving you a gacha system.]

Immediately, Matt fell into despair. Gacha. How cruel.

His luck had never been good with mobile games that implemented a gacha. He'd always have long streaks of getting common or rare draws then, right when he was about to give up on the game, he'd get an amazing draw, thus sending him through the gacha hell cycle once again.

And now his system, a thing he would probably rely upon, was based off luck. (Why?) he groaned.

Chaos laughed even harder. [What did you expect?! I'm the God of Chaos and there's no better system to represent chaos than a gacha.]

Matt mentally flipped him off. He wasn't truly angry since a system in and of itself was a huge advantage, but he couldn't help retorting to the god's attitude.

(What all can be drawn from the gacha? Skills? Items?)

[Practically everything you can think of, including: summons, novel manuscripts, skills, items, bloodlines, etc. Anything connected to a Thought originating from your world will also be available. For example, while you can't travel to another world, there's nothing against you drawing something like a lightsaber or summoning a Pokemon.

Of course, everything will be relatively within the common sense of the world. A mech would be one example of something you wouldn't draw. After all, I would hate to break your immersion too badly.] Chaos explained, still chuckling.

Matt's despair had turned to excitement as Chaos had told him about what he could get. He had been firmly caught in the evil clutches of the gacha, eagerly waiting to spin it.

[Well, enough of this. When I'm out of your head, you'll be able to bring up the system and it will go into more detail with you. I'm looking forward to the exciting things you'll do in that world. Don't disappoint me.]

(Wait!) Matt hurriedly replied. (Before you go, can you tell me why you chose me?)

[Because you were bored] Chaos simply said. Before Matt could ask for a deeper explanation, he continued. [I was bored and was looking for something fun when I happened to see you die. Someone else who was bored. Someone else who, despite trying so hard in life, died before he got to experience any of the true joys in life. And so, I chose you to be my entertainer.]

He couldn't help but wince when Chaos described his life up to this point. When he thought about it, it truly was pitiable.

(Thank you, Chaos) Matt humbly said.

With a cheery voice, Chaos replied. [No problem, kid. Have fun]

Having said what he needed to, Chaos's voice receded from his consciousness, leaving Matt feeling a bit empty.

Matt took a deep mental breath and made a firm resolve to fully appreciate this life and opportunity Chaos had given him. He would get strong. He would have fun. He would live. He would love.

Shouting out in his head, he said, (System!)