UTILE

Kazenari Rei was an ordinary human, once lost in the despair of his mundane life. But when the collapse of his world arrived — powered by the cataclysmic force known as Honkai End — Rei’s soul was chosen for rebirth. Not as a hero. Not as a savior. But as something the world of High School DxD is not prepared for.

Armed with the power to awaken Spirits in ordinary humans — a twisted hybrid of the Date A Live system and Honkai resonance — Rei now walks among devils and angels as an unpredictable force. With a personality as calm as flowing water but wrath as deadly as a collapsing star, Rei keeps to the shadows, choosing neutrality… for now.

Eclipse of the Spirit: The Reincarnated Flame

The ceremonial plaza beneath the Spirit Nexus was rarely used, yet now it brimmed with quiet anticipation. Ten banners waved in the morning wind—one for each sovereign flame Rei had mastered, each stitched by hand by the shrine spirits.

Mireille stood before an obsidian lectern, adjusting her crystalline spectacles. "Today marks more than a calibration or synchronization ritual. It's the first sovereign unification pact since the Honkai Convergence."

Beside her, Eirenne nodded slowly, wearing ceremonial blue robes trimmed with spectral silver. "And the only one initiated by a non-divine lineage."

Rei stepped forward, wearing a new robe forged by Thrael's memory—woven in metaphysical flame, tempered with the sorrow of Nyssara, and lined with the lullaby of Liora.

Before him stood the Vigilant Circle, an assembly of sovereign fragments no longer classified as unstable. Each one once a threat. Now… potential.

Rei drew his spiritblade and carved a sigil midair. One by one, each of the ten sovereign spirits resonated: Helvaris ignited the air, Kuralis unfolded arcs of time, Thrael constructed symbolic scaffolding, Liora sang softly.

The space between them became a cradle of resonance.

"Let this be our binding—of sovereign and song, of shadow and spark. Not to rule, but to remember."

Each spirit flared once, offering their own verse.

Even Veyra bowed his head, humbled by purpose rather than power.

And finally—Nyssara. The void shimmered with her acceptance, not with presence, but with absence made whole.

> [System Update: Flame Cohesion Protocol Initiated — Synchronization Level 92%. Title Earned: Flamebearer of Echoes. New Trait: Resonant Memory Flame.]

Deep in the outer realm, the Spirituality Enforcement Assembly convened. Azazel appeared via resonance echo, his projection flickering against the platinum chamber.

Councilwoman Sairis narrowed her eyes. "So. Your project didn't fail."

Azazel offered a smile without warmth. "On the contrary. It's redefining stability."

"Is he controllable?" another asked.

"No. But he is accountable—and that's more useful."

Whispers followed. One spirit-lord murmured, "Then we proceed with observation only."

But Sairis had seen something else. In the echoes of the ritual, she had felt a familiarity. Something ancient.

"He's building what we once lost," she whispered.

Rei sat alone. The ceremony was complete, yet something in him remained unsettled.

He traced the flames before him—ten small orbs hovering gently.

Karasu landed on his shoulder, feathers dark as dusk.

"You've gathered them all," the crow rasped.

Rei exhaled. "Then why do I feel like something's still missing?"

Karasu's beak clicked. "Because ten is not your limit. It never was."

The bird's eyes glittered. "There's one flame that doesn't exist. Yet."

Rei stood. His heartbeat aligned with the silence. A new resonance stirred.

A hollow flame—one born not from spirit, but from choice.

Chapter 157: The Oath of Hollow Flame