The Dinsional Train—a cross-world transport system—was one of the few ans capable of safely bridging the Human World and the Underworld.
Kuoh Town had its own station, quietly managed by the Gremory family. Understandable, really—this region fell directly under their noble jurisdiction, and their heiress, Rias Gremory, currently studied here.
Technically, a simple teleportation spell could return soone to the Underworld in seconds.
But in the case of Akira, Asia Argento, and Xenovia Quarta—first-ti visitors to the Underworld—official registration was mandatory. Like an interdinsional passport, really.
Without proper access records, administrative headaches (and legal issues) were almost guaranteed down the line.
Just like any nation, the Devil World had strict laws concerning dinsional travel.
Rias' group wasn't the only one making the trip, either.
Sona Shitori—better known as Sona Sitri in the Underworld—had also boarded the train with her own peerage. They had just added a new mber: Saji Genshirou, a fresh Devil who had recently joined her ranks.
Inside the softly swaying train car, suspended between worlds, the atmosphere was... tense.
All eyes from the Sitri peerage were locked on one person—Akira.
Caution. Intimidation. Unease.
Understandable.
None of them had forgotten the horror show from the last battle. The sky drenched in blood, severed limbs scattered like broken dolls—mories that refused to fade.
Eventually, the silence was broken.
"Ti really does fly…" Sona murmured, her voice soft.
Rias glanced at her friend—and longti rival—with curiosity. "Sothing on your mind, Sona?"
"A few months back, the main family sent a file about a transfer student enrolling at Kuoh Academy. I ignored it at the ti… but now I regret that. Turns out, that student was soone extraordinary."
"…Wait, are you saying Shin Akira's arrival at Kuoh was arranged by the Sitri family?"
Sona nodded slowly. "It was a directive from the main household."
All heads turned.
Akira, who'd been lounging comfortably with his head resting on Akeno Hijima's lap while nibbling on a slice of fruit, found himself the sudden center of attention.
Especially Rias—her eyes wide with genuine surprise.
"You never told you were connected to the Sitri family," she said, slightly accusing.
Akira shrugged. "I'm not. I just used an old connection. Call it repaying a favor."
"A… favor?"
According to his system-generated backstory, Akira was an orphan in this world, with no family ties to speak of.
But apparently, his adoptive father had once lent a small favor to the current Sitri head.
A trivial thing.
Still, as repaynt, Akira was granted a fast-tracked transfer into Kuoh Academy.
It was all part of the intricate backstory woven by the Template Inheritance System—a system that often left Akira grumbling internally, but one he had no choice but to follow.
"Old news," he added with a sigh. "I don't know the details. I just took the benefit when it showed up."
"…I see."
Rias let the matter drop. It was clear Akira didn't want to elaborate.
But Sona… kept watching him.
Studying him.
Reevaluating things she'd once dismissed.
Even when she asked her father about the matter, the answers she'd received were vague—as if carefully hidden.
"…Anyway," Sona said, shifting the topic, "Azazel told your Coming-of-Age ceremony is happening during this trip?"
"Yes," Rias replied. "Once the ceremony is complete, I'll officially be recognized as an adult devil. That also ans I'll be qualified to participate in Rating Gas as a proper King."
Akira listened in quietly, glancing around the train cabin.
Koneko Toujou, a nekomata with expert senjutsu. Akeno Hijima, half-Fallen Angel, crackling with holy lightning. Kiba Yuuto, wielder of Sword Birth. Asia Argento, bearer of Twilight Healing. Xenovia, swordswoman of Durandal. And even Gasper Vladi, the dhampir who wielded the Forbidden Balor View, now stabilized thanks to Akira's sealing technique.
This peerage… was no joke.
Even without the world's original protagonist in the picture, Rias had assembled a team that rivaled many High-Class Devils.
Azazel had also ntioned that following the ceremony, Rias would face her first official Rating Ga.
"So, do you know who your opponent will be?" Akira asked.
"I've already chosen," Rias answered.
Her eyes locked with Sona's.
The two noble heiresses had been rivals since childhood—in both academics and ideology.
For her debut, Rias wanted an opponent worthy of the title.
Sona Sitri was perfect.
"Sona," Rias said firmly, "don't go easy on ."
"I won't. That would be insulting."
"Then it's settled."
Their gazes clashed—sharp and intense.
If this were an ani, the air between them would've been set ablaze by sheer willpower.
Akira, anwhile, just sighed softly to himself.
To him, this duel was nothing more than formal theater.
No matter how it played out, the outco was already decided.
Rias would win. It had to be that way.
Losing her debut match would tarnish the Gremory na—and in front of the entire Underworld, no less.
Even if Sona was technically the stronger of the two, the result had already been scripted.
What actually held Akira's attention… was sothing else.
The Young Devils Gathering.
That event would soon take place.
And during that gathering, Loki—the trickster god from Norse mythology—would strike.
That mont would be his opportunity.
An evil god at Maou-Class power… and Fenrir, a world-class beast ranked among the top ten most dangerous beings in existence…
To Akira, they were prizes.
Opportunities.
Unfortunately, growth had slowed.
At this stage, syncing further with the Enkidu Template was getting harder.
But… once he hit 100% sync, the system would unlock his second template.
What ca after that, even he didn't know.
But if Enkidu alone could bring him this far...
Then maybe, just maybe—his next template could elevate him beyond even Ophis, the Infinite Dragon God, or Great Red, the True Dragon of Dreams.
In the vast multiverse, beings stronger than those of DxD weren't as rare as so might think.
— — —
anwhile, at the back of the cabin, Saji Genshirou sat in silence, watching Akira from afar.
Watching him laugh with ease, surrounded by beautiful girls, every one of them clearly comfortable around him… and clearly fond of him.
Saji had beco a Devil out of admiration.
Admiration for Sona Sitri.
And affection.
Yet even now, their relationship remained strictly professional—Master and servant, nothing more.
Totally unlike Akira.
Not only was he engaged to Rias Gremory, but it was painfully obvious that every single female in her peerage had feelings for him.
Saji had seen it with his own eyes throughout this entire trip.
The gap between them was overwhelming.
And so, deep in his heart, Saji made a quiet vow.
Shin Akira is my natural enemy. The man I have to surpass.
Even if…
He still had no idea how he was going to do it.
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