Chapter 1: The Second Life of Volundr

"Let plans guide the blade, and patience win the war." – Jia Xu

The pain came first.

A blinding flash of light. A screech of metal. A moment of pure terror.

He hadn't even seen the truck coming. It was a typical, mundane day—a day no different than any other. He had been walking down a quiet street, his briefcase in hand, headed home after another long, soul-draining shift at his office job. Life was a monotonous cycle: wake up, work, go home,

sleep, repeat. Each day, he drifted further from his ambitions, from his passions.

But in the blink of an eye, his life ended. A familiar, almost laughable occurrence in every isekai story. He could almost hear the voice of countless internet memes mocking him for being the latest victim of Truck-kun.

The world around him spun violently, and before he could react, the darkness consumed him.

The Divine Encounter

When Volundr awoke, it wasn't in the cold embrace of death. Instead, he found himself in a realm of soft, silver light. The air was thick with an otherworldly presence, but he felt no fear. It was strangely peaceful. As if the world was holding its breath, waiting for something.

And then the voice came. Deep, resonant, and calm. It wasn't the booming voice of a god, nor the cold authority of some higher being—it was simply there, clear and knowing.

"You have died," it said. "But you have been chosen to be reborn. A soul to take on a new life, a new purpose."

Volundr felt his heart throb with uncertainty. He wasn't afraid. He had known this moment would come—perhaps not through Truck-kun, but through death itself. He had always known he wasn't meant to stay in the mundane world forever. It was why he was always searching for something more, something greater than the life he lived.

Still, a sense of curiosity stirred within him. "Chosen?" he echoed, trying to piece together what was happening. "By who? And for what purpose?"

The voice responded with a note of amusement. "The choice is yours, but the path ahead is set. You will be reincarnated into a world of conflict and power, a world of devils, angels, and mythical creatures. Choose your world, your form, and your legacy. These things will shape you."

"High School DxD, then," Volundr said almost instantly, the decision clear in his mind. He had always found the chaos of that world, the battles, the politics, and the ambitions of the devils, far more intriguing than his own life. It felt... right.

"And your form?"

He paused, his thoughts racing. He wasn't sure why, but he had a strange connection to the Agares Clan. He could sense the nobility, the strength, the lineage calling to him. "I want to be born into the Agares family. The older brother of Seekvaira Agares."

"So be it," the voice intoned, a soft hum of power filling the air.

But Volundr wasn't done. He had learned a lot from his previous life. If he was to be reborn, it wouldn't be as just another devil. It would be as a force, a king in the making.

"I want my memories locked away," he continued. "Lock them until I turn five. Let me grow into this new life before I become who I truly am."

The voice did not respond immediately, but the power around him flickered slightly. "Very well. You will be reborn as Volundr Agares. Your memories sealed until you reach the age of five. May you find your purpose."

The Five Boons

The next part of the encounter was far more direct, almost as though the world itself were offering him a deal.

"You may request five boons," the voice announced. "Name them."

Volundr knew immediately what he needed.

Boons of Power

"First, I request the Limitless Aura."

The idea of his aura was simple: a power that would nurture him and those around him. An aura that promoted endless growth through training. However, the growth wasn't automatic—it required the marked individuals to dedicate themselves to training, honing their strength, and becoming better. As long as someone was marked by Volundr, they would experience growth beyond normal limits.

Volundr's voice grew firmer. "I want those who train under me to grow stronger, but only if they work for it. They must prove themselves. But I will guide them."

The voice seemed pleased. "It shall be done."

"Second, I request the Wisdom of Jia Xu."

Volundr had always admired Jia Xu, the brilliant strategist of the Three Kingdoms. A man who survived through cunning, patience, and foresight rather than sheer force. Jia Xu had shaped the fate of many rulers and warlords by guiding them with his mind.

Volundr wanted that—no, needed that.

His mind would be sharp. His decisions would be calculated, his tactics ruthless when necessary.

The voice hesitated, as if considering. "The wisdom of Jia Xu, a mind of unparalleled insight. It shall be yours."

"Third, I request the Sacred Gear Transfer ability."

Sacred Gears were powerful artifacts that could turn the tide of battles. Volundr would not just need them for himself, but for his future allies. The ability to safely remove and implant a Sacred Gear into another host would give him an edge. He could save lives by transferring dangerous Sacred Gears, even making them more useful for those who couldn't otherwise wield them.

The voice agreed with little resistance. "It shall be done."

"Fourth, I request the Evil Piece set, but I will not ask for it immediately."

Volundr had no intention of bypassing the laws of the devil world. He understood the politics of the Underworld. High-class devils were granted their Evil Pieces at the age when they were ready to receive them, typically around the age of fifteen. He would receive them legally at that time.

But the pieces would mutate. The Rook piece would be mutated and the rest would mutate over time due to the influence of his Limitless Aura.

"You will receive them when you come of age. The process will begin now, and you will see their full potential as you grow." The voice was firm but understanding.

"Fifth, I want 2 potions that can cure the Devil Sleeping Disease,and the skill how to make it."

Volundr knew exactly who would need these: Ingvild Leviathan, a girl who would one day become an important ally. But also, the potions would be a safeguard—he didn't want to see anyone fall to that disease if he could prevent it.

The voice responded. "Two potions, rare and valuable. They shall be yours."

Rebirth

After the final words were spoken, everything around Volundr faded into nothingness. The peaceful silver light that had surrounded him disappeared, and he was pulled into the world of High School DxD.

Volundr was born into the Agares Clan, a prestigious family with a rich history. From the moment he opened his eyes, he knew that he had been granted a second chance at life—a chance to grow, to rise above, and to become someone who would not just be remembered, but feared and respected.

The memories of his past life, as both an office worker and a tactician in a world of chaos, were locked away. But the moment he turned five, the seal on his memories shattered, and he was flooded with knowledge—everything he had been before, now flooding his consciousness.

Jia Xu's wisdom. The strategies of war, the power of patience, the art of survival through cunning.

But more than that, he realized the weight of his new existence. He was no longer simply Volundr Agares, a noble devil. He was a reincarnated soul, a tactician with the experience of two lifetimes. And his future would be guided by the same principles that had guided his mind in his past life: strategy, calculation, and power.

"Strategy is not about predicting the opponent. It's about making your opponent predictable."

His path was set.