Chapter 13: Unlocking the Past

As the meeting with the Phenex family came to an end, Alex's mind was flooded with a whirlwind of thoughts. His declaration of his lineage had certainly shaken the underworld, but something else was brewing inside him—an unsettling sensation, as though something long hidden was trying to resurface.

The echoes of his past began to stir.

Nightfall at the Gremory Mansion

Later that evening, Alex sat alone on the balcony of the Gremory mansion, gazing out at the moonlit landscape. His mind was restless, a deep unease gnawing at him as fragments of memories started to piece themselves together. Memories not of his life in this world, but from another—a life he had lived before.

For years, he had been aware that there was more to his existence. Since his arrival in this universe, his recollections had been hazy at best, as if some force had locked away parts of his consciousness. But now, after revealing his heritage and erasing Riser Phenex, the dam holding back those memories was beginning to crack.

A sharp pain shot through Alex's head as more memories surged forward.

Flashes of another world, one that existed beyond the underworld and the realms of gods, devils, and angels. He saw himself, not as Alex—the son of Shiva and Razen—but as a different person entirely. A man who had once lived in a world called Earth, where gods and devils were nothing more than stories told in books or shown in anime.

Suddenly, everything began to fall into place.

The faces of Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and even Grayfia—faces he had grown accustomed to in this world—were once fictional characters in a story he had followed religiously in his past life. Highschool DxD. That was the name. The plot of the series, the battles, the relationships—it all started to come back to him in rapid succession.

"I remember now," Alex whispered to himself, the weight of the revelation settling in.

He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes as the memories continued to flood in. He remembered the key events of Highschool DxD—how Issei Hyoudou, a seemingly perverted high schooler, would become the Red Dragon Emperor and the key to many of the battles that would shape the future of the underworld.

Rias Gremory's engagement to Riser Phenex was a pivotal moment in that story, the moment when Issei would fight for her freedom. But now, things had changed. Alex had intervened, erasing Riser from existence and taking the role of Rias' savior for himself.

The Sacred Gear system, the rise of the Chaos Brigade, Rizevim Livan Lucifer's machinations—it all made sense now. The pieces of the puzzle had finally come together.

Alex realized that by interfering in the plot, he had already begun to shift the trajectory of this world. Issei, the protagonist of Highschool DxD, had yet to make his mark, but with Alex's interference, the story as he once knew it was no longer set in stone. He had altered the course of destiny.

And then there was Rizevim—the man who had taken his mother's life. A villain in both the series and Alex's personal story. His role in the plot was far more sinister than even the devils of this world realized. Rizevim was a ticking time bomb, and Alex knew that his plans would eventually involve the supernatural factions in ways they couldn't predict.

But Alex now had an advantage. With his knowledge of the plot and the events that were to come, he could position himself as a key player in the unfolding drama. However, he would have to tread carefully. While he had immense power, the forces behind the scenes, including the Great Red and Ophis, were not to be underestimated.

As Alex sat in silence, he understood what needed to be done. His memories had returned, and with them, a new sense of purpose. The world of Highschool DxD was no longer just a story—it was his reality, and he had the opportunity to shape it as he saw fit.

But there were risks. The more he altered the plot, the more unpredictable the future would become. He had already eliminated Riser, and that would have ripple effects down the line. The next major events, including the rise of Kokabiel and the impending chaos of the Three Factions War, were fast approaching.

Alex stood up, gazing out at the moonlit horizon once more. He wasn't just a spectator in this world anymore. He was a player, and the game was about to get far more complicated.

With his memories unlocked, Alex now held a dangerous power: the knowledge of what was to come and the ability to change it. But he had no intention of following the script. This world, its characters, and its future were now in his hands.

As the moonlight bathed the Gremory mansion in a soft glow, Alex smirked. "Let's see how far I can push things."

The Next Day

The next morning, Alex met with Rias and her peerage, his demeanor as relaxed as ever. But there was a new fire in his eyes—a determination that hadn't been there before.

Rias noticed the shift immediately. "Alex, are you alright? You seem… different."

Alex smiled, leaning casually against the doorway. "I'm fine, Rias. Just remembering some things I'd forgotten. There's a lot to do, and I think it's time we start preparing for what's coming."

Akeno, always perceptive, tilted her head. "What exactly do you mean?"

Alex's smirk widened. "Let's just say that things in the underworld are about to get a lot more interesting. There are forces at play that none of you have even begun to understand. But don't worry—I'll make sure we're ready."

Rias frowned slightly. "You sound so sure of yourself, Alex. What do you know that we don't?"

Alex walked over to her, his eyes meeting hers with a confidence that made her heart race. "I know that there's a lot more to this world than you think, Rias. And I know that I'm not going to sit by and watch as things play out the way they're supposed to."

Her confusion deepened. "What do you mean by that?"

Alex simply chuckled, stepping back. "You'll see soon enough."

As he left the room, his mind raced with plans and possibilities. The future was wide open now, and with his memories of the plot fully restored, Alex was ready to take control of his destiny—and perhaps even reshape the fate of the underworld itself.

The storm was coming, and Alex would be at its center. But this time, he would write his own story.