Forging a Path Forward
The morning sun filtered through the blinds of Kazuma's apartment, casting long shadows across the room. He sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at his Status screen while sipping a cup of instant coffee.
His muscles ached from yesterday's training, but the notifications of increased stats made the soreness feel like a trophy rather than a burden.
Still, there was no time to waste. He had three days before canon started. And once the supernatural chessboard started moving, he'd either be a player or a pawn.
He had no intention of being the latter.
Kazuma sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright. I need a plan."
He had already started improving his combat ability and mana manipulation, but both were still in their infancy. If he wanted to survive, he needed more than just raw numbers.
He needed real-world experience
Kazuma changed into workout gear—black sweatpants, a loose hoodie, and running shoes. As he stepped outside, the crisp morning air greeted him, the streets of Kuoh still quiet.
His destination? The outskirts of town.
There was no better way to gain combat experience than by fighting actual opponents. And in a world filled with supernatural entities, there was one type of enemy that was both common and expendable—
Stray Devils.
Stray Devils were former members of noble devil households who had gone rogue, becoming mindless beasts fueled by violence and madness. They were hunted down by devil authorities, but weaker ones tended to lurk in abandoned areas, surviving by preying on weak humans.
Kazuma had no illusions of taking down a high-class stray—not yet. But a low-tier one? That was doable.
And if he couldn't even handle that?
Then he had no business trying to survive in this world.
Using his knowledge of High School DxD, Kazuma headed toward an abandoned factory district on the edge of town. It was a perfect hiding place for creatures lurking in the shadows.
As he walked through the empty streets, his Adaptive Growth System kicked in.
[Ding! Detecting traces of supernatural energy…]
[Tracking function unlocked.]
Kazuma smirked. Convenient.
Focusing on the notification, he saw a faint red aura trailing along the ground, like a mist leading deeper into the ruins.
Bingo.
The scent of rust and decay filled the air as Kazuma stepped into the remnants of an abandoned warehouse. Broken windows, shattered crates, and dust-covered floors created an eerie atmosphere.
And then—
A low growl echoed through the building.
Kazuma tensed.
A figure slinked out from behind a stack of debris.
Its skin was pale and cracked like dried leather, its eyes glowing a sickly yellow. Once, it had probably looked human, but now? It was a grotesque fusion of flesh and fangs, its body warped by its descent into madness.
[Ding! Enemy Identified: Low-Class Stray Devil]
• Threat Level: Moderate
• Weakness: Vital Points (Head, Heart, Spine)
• Behavior: Aggressive
The Stray sniffed the air, its gaze locking onto him. Then—
It lunged.
Kazuma dodged to the side, barely avoiding the claws that slashed through the air where he had stood.
His heart pounded.
No hesitation. No fear.
He countered, driving a fist into the Stray's ribs. The impact was solid, but not enough to do real damage.
[Ding! Combat Proficiency Increased.]
The Stray whirled around, swiping again—faster this time. Kazuma raised his arm to block, but the sheer force sent him skidding backward, his sleeve tearing from the impact.
Damn. It's strong.
But he was faster.
He dodged another attack, pivoting behind the Stray and slamming his knee into its spine. The creature howled, stumbling forward.
Kazuma didn't stop. He grabbed a rusted pipe from the ground and swung it like a baseball bat—
CRACK.
The Stray's skull snapped to the side, its body crashing into a pile of debris.
Kazuma panted, gripping the pipe tightly. He had to finish it now.
Before the Stray could recover, he lunged forward, driving the blunt weapon straight into its chest—
[Ding! Fatal Strike Landed.]
[Enemy Defeated.]
The Stray let out a choked screech before its body collapsed into ash, dispersing into the wind.
Silence.
Kazuma exhaled, his muscles trembling from adrenaline.
Then—
[Ding! You have gained EXP.]
[Level Up!]
He grinned.
That's more like it.
Kazuma pulled up his Status screen.
[Status]
• Name: Kazuma Shirayuki
• Race: Human
• Level: 3 (+1)
• Strength: 14 (+2)
• Agility: 14 (+2)
• Endurance: 12 (+1)
• Intelligence: 12
• Skills: [Basic Combat (Unarmed)], [Mana Manipulation (Beginner)], [Weapon Handling (Beginner)] (New!)
He cracked his knuckles.
Not bad for a first real fight.
His stats had increased, and he had gained a new skill—Weapon Handling (Beginner).
That meant using weapons would feel more natural, and he'd be more efficient with them in combat.
This growth speed was insane.
But he needed more.
Stronger enemies. Harder fights.
If he wanted to stand toe-to-toe with devils, fallen angels, and even gods, this was only the beginning.
Kazuma turned to leave—but then, his instincts flared.
Someone was watching him.
His eyes flickered toward the roof of a nearby building.
A silhouette stood against the backdrop of the setting sun.
A woman.
Long, flowing black hair. Golden, feline-like eyes. A tail swayed lazily behind her, her posture relaxed yet predatory.
Kazuma's blood ran cold.
Kuroka.
A high-class nekomata. An S-Class Stray Devil.
And one of the most dangerous women in the supernatural world.
She was smiling.
"Oya~?" Her voice was teasing, yet sultry, carrying easily across the distance. "Now, what's a human like you doing playing with little Stray Devils~?"
Kazuma swallowed.
This was bad.
If Kuroka was interested in him, things were about to get way more complicated.
She crouched, her golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "You smell… interesting."
Kazuma forced himself to stay calm. He needed to choose his next words very carefully.
Kuroka was dangerous. But if he played this right…
Maybe she could be an opportunity instead of a threat.
He smirked, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I could say the same about you."
Kuroka's smile widened.
"Well, well~ This might be fun after all."