The first thing I noticed was the smell. It wasn't the familiar, comforting scent of my room. It was the heavy smell of incense and a strange, electric feeling in the air.
The second thing was the light. It wasn't sunlight. It was a blinding, pure gold that seemed to come from the air itself.
I opened my eyes, expecting my bedroom ceiling. Instead, I was staring at a massive hall of white marble and stained glass that seemed to go on forever. I was sitting on a throne made of light.
'Where am I?'
I tried to stand up, but my body felt strange—heavy, yet also light as a feather. I looked down at my hands. They were pale and perfect, glowing with a power that felt like a trapped star. And behind me... I felt a weight. I turned my head.
Twelve wings of glowing gold were folded behind my back.
Then, a flood of memories hit me. It wasn't just a flash; it was a wave of fire. Thousands of years of holy wars, the death of the God of the Bible, and the heavy job of leading all the angels. The memories of the Archangel Michael crashed into my brain.
'No. No, I was just at home. I had a life. My family...'
A deep panic hit my chest. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry out for my old life. But as I struggled to breathe, the cold truth stopped me.
This wasn't a dream. The marble floor was cold. The air was real. I had been pulled into the world of High School DxD. And I was sitting on the throne of Heaven.
If I panicked now, the other angels would rush in. They would see I wasn't their leader. They would think I was a monster or an enemy. I would be killed before I even learned how to use these wings.
I closed my eyes. I took a slow, deep breath.
I pushed my fear and my sadness deep down. If I wanted to live, I had to act the part. I relaxed my shoulders. I forced my face to stay calm and put on a gentle, kind smile.
'I know this story,' I told myself. 'I know the people. I know the secrets. I have to use what I know to survive.'
The heavy golden doors at the end of the hall swung open with a loud thud.
"Lord Michael."
The voice was sharp and sounded like crackling fire. A tall man in white and gold armor walked into the room. He had ten golden wings.
Uriel. The angel of fire and law.
"The borders are safe," Uriel said, kneeling at the steps. He didn't look up. "But the Fallen Angels are moving strangely. What happened in Kuoh Town proves they are out of control. Brother, give the word, and I will lead our warriors to war. We cannot look weak."
I looked down at him. In the books I read, Uriel was a hothead. Seeing him now, I realized he was a danger to my plan.
'If I let him start a war, everything will burn,' I thought. 'I need to stop him.'
"That won't be necessary, Uriel," I said. My voice was deep and warm, but the choice was all mine. "We are seeking peace. We must not be the ones to start a fight. Stay on guard, but do not attack. My light is enough to protect us."
Uriel's hands tightened, but he bowed. "Your mercy is great, Brother. I will do as you say."
He stood and walked out. I let out a breath of relief.
'One disaster stopped.'
Before the doors closed, a soft hand caught them.
"Brother?"
I kept my smile ready as Gabriel stepped in. She was more beautiful than any human could be, with soft blonde hair and a kind face. But as she walked up to the throne, my eyes briefly drifted downward toward her famously distracting figure.
I violently caught myself, snapping my gaze right back up to lock strictly onto her eyes.
'Stop it,' I scolded my own human brain. 'She is your sister now.'
I held back a heavy sigh. She could feel the emotions of anyone near her.
'Danger. She can feel what I'm thinking,' I realized. I focused as hard as I could on staying calm, hiding my fear and my stray thoughts deep inside.
She looked up at me, her brow furrowed with worry. "Are you okay? Your light felt... strange for a second. It felt far away."
"I am fine, Gabriel," I lied perfectly. I reached out and gently patted her head. It was a simple move to make her feel safe so she wouldn't guess the truth. "Just thinking of the past. What is it?"
Gabriel sighed, leaning into my hand. "The meeting in Kuoh Town tomorrow. To sit with the Devils and the Fallen Angels... and you have to tell them the truth. You have to tell them that Father is gone. It will break so many hearts."
'The meeting,' I thought. 'The biggest event in the world. I need to be ready to lead it.'
"Don't worry, Gabriel," I said softly. "Everything is ready. Tomorrow, we will change the world for the better."
Gabriel smiled, finally looking happy. "If you say so, Brother. I will go get everything ready for our trip."
She bowed and left the room. The doors shut, leaving me alone.
I let my smile fall. My face became cold and serious.
Then, in the quiet room, I heard a sound.
Ding!
It was a sharp, digital noise inside my head. A glowing blue screen appeared in the air in front of me.
[System Starting...]
[Connecting to Heaven's Network...]
[Welcome, Administrator: Michael.]
[Sacred Gear Control: Online.]
[Miracle Distribution: Online.]
[Warning: Heaven's System Damage is 76%.]
I frowned at the flashing red text at the bottom. The death of the Biblical God really did leave this place broken.
"Another problem occurred," I muttered to myself.
The screen didn't give me quests or tell me how to live. It was just a tool. It was the control panel for Heaven, translated into a form my human mind could understand.
But as the blue screen faded into the back of my mind, I felt something else. It wasn't digital. It was a deep, heavy pull inside my chest.
Right next to my beating heart, there was a well of pure, endless energy. It felt like a brand new organ inside my body—a muscle I had never used before, but somehow instantly knew how to flex. This wasn't the System. This was my own raw power. The power to bend reality.
I stood up, amazed by the feeling. I wanted to test this new muscle.
I held out my hand and pulled on that energy inside my chest.
'Create.'
From nowhere, a clear glass ball appeared, hovering smoothly above my palm. It was completely perfect. I focused on the feeling again, thinking of a show from my old world.
'Change.'
The glass shifted. It turned into a bright orange crystal, and inside it, four small red stars appeared. It looked exactly like the four-star Dragon Ball from the anime.
I stared at it, marveling at what I had just done.
'Could I make actual Dragon Balls?' I wondered, turning the glowing orange sphere with my mind. 'Real ones that can grant wishes?'
I looked at it for a long moment before shaking my head.
'Maybe. But that's a project for later.'
I waved my hand gently over the hovering ball. The orange crystal instantly broke apart into thousands of tiny, beautiful light particles, floating up and fading away into the silent air of the throne room.
I looked down at my hands. A golden light sparked and lit up my eyes, glowing brightly in the quiet hall. I wasn't helpless. I held the power of a god.
"The meeting," I said mysteriously into the empty room, a small smirk crossing my face, "is going to be interesting."