Acá la teoría en español: https://youtu.be/A8Hia2ens64
Two months had passed since my first night with Kazuma's Mask. During that time, my routine had become a meticulous blend of training, study, and nocturnal hunts. Every full moon I leveraged the amplified power the mask granted me, perfecting techniques that would otherwise be out of my reach, accumulating experience and rewards that strengthened my arsenal.
Tonight, however, I had a specific mission.
The silvery moonlight bathed the rooftops as I moved with stealth. I had memorized the patrol schedule of the Himejima residence over several days of observation. Baraqiel usually stayed away two nights a week—presumably on Grigori business, the fallen angels' organization. This was one of those nights.
I reinforced the Shadow Veil I had been perfecting, ensuring my presence remained undetectable even by the protective talismans surrounding the property. My cursed energy flowed smoothly—something that would have been impossible months ago.
"I've waited long enough," I murmured as I scoped out the best approach. "I need concrete information."
In my research, I had discovered that the attack on the Himejima household would occur at some point in the next six months. The exact date was blurry in the anime's memories, but I knew Akeno would be about nine years old when she lost her mother. That gave me a narrow window to act.
I leapt from the oak tree where I'd been watching, gliding through the air like a shadow before landing silently in the backyard. The wards shuddered slightly at my presence, but the Shadow Veil did its job, muting my energy signature just enough to slip by unnoticed.
The traditional Japanese house slept in apparent tranquility. Through the paper windows I discerned a faint light coming from what looked like the study. Shuri Himejima was probably still awake, perhaps tending to her duties as a shrine maiden or awaiting her husband's return.
I approached with extreme caution. I didn't come with hostile intent, but I couldn't simply knock and introduce myself as "the kid from the future who wants to save you." I needed intel—clues about when and how the attack would come.
I skirted the building until I found a partially open window leading into what appeared to be a storage room for ritual implements. Perfect—if there were any hints about the main branch's movements, they'd be in correspondence or official documents.
I slipped through the opening with catlike agility, silently grateful that my child's body was responding to training more and more like an adult's. Inside, the scent of incense and dried herbs permeated the air. Shelves lined with scrolls, amulets, and ceremonial artifacts covered the walls.
I subtly activated my Premonition Eye, scanning for immediate danger. Nothing—at least for now. I began to methodically sift through the documents, searching for any reference to the main Himejima clan or potential threats.
After several fruitless minutes, I found a locked drawer. With a minimal expenditure of cursed energy, I manipulated its internal lock until I heard a satisfying "click."
Inside were letters, several bearing the Himejima clan's official seal. I took the most recent and unfolded it carefully. Its contents made my blood run cold:
"Esteemed Shuri Himejima,
The Council has been informed of your impure union with the black-winged creature. You are ordered to present yourself before the Patriarch within three moons to receive judgment. Should you fail to comply, corrective measures will be enforced immediately.
The purity of the Himejima clan must not be tainted."
Signed,
Council of Elders of the Himejima Clan
The letter was dated just two weeks ago. Three moons… that meant roughly three months. Now I had a concrete deadline—and the certainty that danger was both imminent and real.
A faint sound of footsteps alerted me. I quickly replaced the letter, closed the drawer, and cranked my Shadow Veil to its current limit. I crouched behind a shelf just as the door slid open.
Shuri Himejima entered, carrying an oil lamp that cast a warm glow across her delicate features. It was uncanny how much Akeno would resemble her in the future—the same natural elegance, the same expressive eyes. She wore a simple night-blue kimono, her long black hair falling freely over her shoulders.
She paused in front of the very drawer I had just inspected, drawing a key from within her robes. She opened it and withdrew the letter, reading it again with grave expression. I could see her hands trembling slightly.
"What am I to do?" she whispered to herself, and the vulnerability in her voice made me feel like an intruder in a deeply personal moment.
She remained there for several minutes, lost in her troubling thoughts, before slipping the letter back into its place. Wiping away a furtive tear, she exited the room with the same silent grace she had entered.
Once alone, I exhaled slowly. I now possessed crucial information—but also a crushing responsibility. The fate of this family weighed on me more heavily than I had imagined.
My Premonition Eye activated on its own, revealing blurry fragments: dark figures surrounding the house, flames consuming the wooden structures, Akeno sobbing beside her mother's lifeless body…
I shook my head, dispelling the visions. They were not concrete predictions but possible warnings of what might come if I failed to intervene.
I slipped back out through the same window I had entered, making sure to leave it exactly as I'd found it. Once in the garden, I stopped and gazed at the house where Akeno slept, oblivious to the danger looming over her family.
"I will not let that happen," I silently vowed. "Not in this timeline."
---
The journey home was reflective, my mind racing as I formulated and discarded plans. The information I'd gleaned that night changed everything—I now had a definite deadline and a clear adversary. The Himejima clan would come for Shuri in about three months, and I had to be ready.
I climbed through my bedroom window just as dawn streaked the horizon with pale light. Kazuma's Mask would lose its power at sunrise, so I carefully stored it in my inventory, feeling its effects fade away.
Weariness began to overtake my body, but my mind remained active. I sat on the edge of my bed and opened my stats panel:
[STATISTICS PANEL]
Level: 5
Experience: 350/1300
Unassigned Stat Points: 2
Strength: 8
Endurance: 8 (+1)
Agility: 10
Intelligence: 7
Cursed Energy Control: 9 (+1)
In these two months I had gained two more levels thanks to constant hunting and completed missions. My cursed energy abilities had improved notably, allowing me to develop increasingly complex techniques.
I decided to assign my remaining points:
+1 to Intelligence
+
1 to Strength
I was going to need both cleverness and raw power for what lay ahead.
I opened my inventory to review the resources at my disposal:
Alabarda Celestial Invertida
Máscara de Kazuma
Guantes de Refuerzo
Sandalias de Naruto Uzumaki (still with no known use)
Libro de Hechizos Prohibidos
Fragmento Cristalino Desconocido
3 Frascos de Sangre Demoníaca (for rituals)
Amuleto de Evasión Menor (obtained as a reward for eliminating a mid-rank demon)
Pergamino de Invocación de Sombras (not yet used)
It wasn't an impressive arsenal for facing a clan of traditional exorcists with centuries of experience hunting supernatural beings, but it would have to suffice. With the advantage of future knowledge and innovation, perhaps I could bridge the power gap.
Fatigue finally overcame me, and I collapsed onto the bed, allowing myself a few hours of restorative sleep. Tomorrow the real planning would begin.
---
Over the following weeks, I intensified my preparations. Every free moment was devoted to refining techniques or researching the Himejima clan and their methods.
One afternoon, while training in a clearing deep in the forest away from prying eyes, I decided to attempt something I'd been considering ever since I found the Libro de Hechizos Prohibidos: the Weapon Binding Technique.
According to the book, it was possible to forge a deeper bond with a special weapon by infusing it with part of the user's essence, thereby enhancing its natural properties. The Alabarda Celestial Invertida was already formidable, but if I could improve it, my chances against powerful opponents would increase significantly.
I had gathered all the necessary components for the ritual: demon blood for rune inscription, special herbs to burn for the proper atmosphere, and a perfectly drawn circle of arcane symbols memorized from the book.
I placed the halberd in the center of the circle and sat cross-legged before it, closing my eyes and breathing deeply as I focused my cursed energy, channeling it toward the weapon.
"Blood bond, soul bond," I intoned, following the book's instructions. "What was two is now one."
I made a shallow cut across my palm, letting my blood drip onto the blade. At the contact, the metal seemed to drink in the crimson drops, glowing faintly.
I poured more cursed energy into the ritual, visualizing it flowing from my core into the weapon, forging an invisible bridge between us. The sensation was strange—like extending a piece of my being into an inanimate object.
The circle began to glow with violet light, its symbols pulsing rhythmically. The halberd rose slightly, rotating in midair as flashes of energy danced across its surface.
"Recognize my will as yours," I continued, feeling the bond strengthen. "My purpose as your purpose."
A burst of energy radiated from the circle, stirring the leaves around me in a brief whirlwind. The halberd descended gently, now transformed.
Its appearance had shifted subtly: the blade looked sharper, black veins like night running through the silvery metal. The shaft was now deep ebony, etched with inscriptions that seemed to move when looked at directly.
When I grasped it, I felt the difference immediately. It was as if the halberd became a natural extension of my arm, responding to my thoughts even before I formed them.
✧ ✧ ✧
System: ——Mission——
Forged Bond
Rewards:
+500 XP
+Skill: "Weapon's Call"
✧ ✧ ✧
The notification appeared before me, confirming the ritual's success. I examined the new skill:
Weapon's Call: Instantly summon the Alabarda Celestial Invertida to your hand from any distance. The bond also amplifies the weapon's magic-negation properties and improves your precision when wielding it.
I smiled, satisfied. This was a major step forward in my preparations.
I spent the rest of the afternoon testing the newly bound halberd's capabilities. Its magic-negation had increased noticeably—I could now slice through minor magical barriers as if they were air. My speed and accuracy with it had also improved considerably.
The Call function worked flawlessly. Even when I threw the halberd far away or left it deliberately out of reach, a single thought and slight gesture were enough to have it return to my hand instantly.
I returned home at dusk, exhausted but elated. I was progressing, gradually approaching the level needed to intervene in the Himejima family's fate.
---
Three weeks later, on another full-moon night, I found myself once again near the Himejima residence. This time I wasn't here to spy—I had come to make contact.
My investigations had led to an unavoidable conclusion: I couldn't protect the family indefinitely without their cooperation. I needed to earn their trust, or at least warn them of the specific danger looming.
I wore all black, Kazuma's Mask hiding my features. I knew revealing myself as a five-year-old wouldn't inspire much confidence, so I planned to keep my identity secret for now.
Baraqiel was present that night, which complicated my approach but also guaranteed the family had extra protection if things went wrong. His aura as a fallen angel was unmistakable, even to my limited senses.
I positioned myself in a tree overlooking the garden where the family often gathered on warm nights. As expected, there they were: Baraqiel seated on the porch, Shuri serving tea, and little Akeno playing with a traditional Japanese doll.
The peaceful domestic scene clashed painfully with what I knew would happen if I didn't intervene. I watched for nearly an hour, waiting for the right moment.
At last, Akeno fell asleep and Shuri carried her inside. Baraqiel remained alone in the garden, gazing pensively at the night sky.
It was now or never.
I activated the Shadow Veil as a precaution, then leapt silently from my vantage point to land about ten meters from Baraqiel. As expected, the fallen angel detected me despite the veil, summoning light-spears in his hands.
"Identify yourself," he commanded in a deep, authoritative voice, his eyes scouring the darkness where I stood.
I partially dispelled the Veil, allowing him to see me as a hooded figure with a mask.
"I come not as an enemy," I replied, keeping my hands visible and away from the halberd. "I come to warn you of an imminent danger to your family."
His eyes narrowed, the light-spears glowing brighter. "Who are you, and how do you know of my family?"
"My identity is irrelevant for now," I said calmly. "What matters is my message. The Himejima clan plans to attack this house in less than three months. They're coming for Shuri—but they won't hesitate to eliminate anyone in their way… including little Akeno."
Baraqiel took a threatening step toward me, his face darkening with barely contained fury. "How do I know you're not the threat? How do you know these details?"
I chose my next words carefully. Revealing too much would be suspicious, but I needed something convincing.
"I possess... abilities that let me glimpse fragments of the future," I explained, not exactly lying given my Premonition Eye and my knowledge of the original anime. "I've seen what they plan, and the outcome if no one intervenes. I don't want that to happen."
He kept his defensive stance, but I saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes. Perhaps he already suspected the Himejima clan, or perhaps my certainty made him consider the possibility.
"If you were truly an ally," he said slowly, "why hide behind a mask? Why watch us from the shadows?"
"Because revealing my true identity would complicate matters unnecessarily," I answered. "And because other forces in this world hunt me as well. The less you know about me, the safer you'll be if you're questioned."
He seemed to weigh my words for a long moment. The light-spears didn't vanish, but their intensity lessened.
"If what you say is true," he finally said, "I need proof—something to verify your warning."
I had anticipated this request. Carefully, I pulled from my pocket a faithful replica of the letter I'd seen in the study, recreated with every detail I had memorized.
"This is an exact copy of the letter the Council of Elders sent to Shuri about a month ago," I explained, laying it on the ground and stepping back so Baraqiel could inspect it. "The original is locked away in her study's drawer."
He picked up the paper with caution, reading its contents. I saw his expression harden, confirming that Shuri likely hadn't told him of the threat.
"How did you obtain this information?" he asked in a low, dangerous whisper.
"That doesn't matter," I replied. "What matters is that you act before it's too late. The Himejimas have powerful exorcists among their ranks. Don't underestimate what they'll do to 'purify' their bloodline."
Baraqiel folded the letter slowly, his gaze lost in thoughts I couldn't guess. When he spoke again, his tone was different—more measured, yet more determined.
"If this is true, I owe you a debt, stranger. But if it's a trap…" he left the threat unspoken as the light-spears pulsed briefly.
"It's not a trap," I affirmed. "Protect your family, Baraqiel. Don't rely solely on talismans and barriers—even those might not withstand the ones who created them."
He nodded slowly, regarding me with renewed interest. "You'll return, I presume."
"If necessary," I replied. "Meanwhile, prepare. And… don't tell Shuri about me yet. It might worry her needlessly."
With those words, I re-engaged the Shadow Veil and slipped back into the surrounding forest's darkness. I felt Baraqiel's piercing gaze follow me until I vanished among the trees.
I wasn't sure I'd made the right choice by revealing myself, even partially. But I had planted the seed of doubt—and hopefully, that would be enough to sharpen his vigilance.
As I moved away from the residence, my system issued a notification:
✧ ✧ ✧
System: ——Mission——
First Contact Established
Rewards:
+300 XP
+Skill: "Intent Perception"
✧ ✧ ✧
Intent Perception: Heightens your ability to detect hostility, lies, or imminent danger in others. It complements your Premonition Eye by focusing on current intentions rather than potential futures.
A useful skill, no doubt—especially considering I was involving myself more deeply in the dangerous game of supernatural factions.
I walked away feeling I'd crossed a point of no return. I was no longer a mere observer of this world's fate. I had begun to act as an agent of change.
---
In the following days, I divided my time between training and planning. I knew my interference would alter the natural course of events, but I couldn't predict exactly how.
One week after my meeting with Baraqiel, I decided to test the Pergamino de Invocación de Sombras I'd earned as a mission reward. According to its description, it could summon minor shadow entities capable of simple reconnaissance or surveillance.
If it worked as I hoped, I could establish a surveillance network around the Himejima residence without having to be physically present.
The summoning ritual was fairly straightforward. In the privacy of my room, I unrolled the parchment on the floor and traced the
required symbols with a mixture of my blood and special ink. I channeled cursed energy into the parchment's center as I recited the incantation written along its margins.
"From shadow to shadow, from darkness to form, heed my call and fulfill my will."
The scroll began to darken, as if absorbing all the surrounding light. From its center emerged an amorphous mass of darkness that gradually took shape: a humanoid creature the size of a cat, with eyes glowing like embers and no other distinguishable features.
"Greetings, master," it spoke in an ethereal voice that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. "I am Umbra, answering your summons."
"Umbra," I repeated, feeling a strange satisfaction. "What are your capabilities exactly?"
The shadowy creature tilted what passed for its head. "I can traverse through shadows, observe without being detected by conventional senses, transmit what I see directly to your mind, and intervene minimally in the physical world for simple tasks."
Just what I needed to monitor the Himejima situation.
"Perfect," I said. "I have a mission for you."
I explained in detail what I wanted: constant but discreet surveillance of the Himejima residence, with special attention to any suspicious movements around the perimeter or changes in the family's routines.
"As you wish," Umbra replied, its form undulating slightly. "How often shall I report?"
"Immediately if you detect a threat," I instructed. "Otherwise, each night at dusk."
Umbra nodded and proceeded to melt into the wall, blending with the shadows until it vanished. I felt a faint connection establish itself in my mind—the bond that would allow me to receive its reports.
✧ ✧ ✧
System: ——Mission——
First Familiar Linked
Rewards:
+200 XP
+Rank Upgrade: Umbra can now split into three lesser entities, tripling its surveillance capacity.
✧ ✧ ✧
Another mission completed. My total experience was now 850/1300, edging closer to Level 6. Each small advance strengthened me for the inevitable confrontation.
---
Two weeks later, I received Umbra's first alarming report. Its voice echoed in my mind while I was sitting through a dull math class:
"Master, I have detected suspicious movement. Three individuals with energy signatures akin to priests or exorcists have been observing the Himejima residence from the forest's edge. Baraqiel seems to have noticed them as well—he has reinforced the protective wards."
My heart raced. It was much sooner than my calculations predicted. The letter spoke of three moons, and barely half that time had passed.
"Any sign they plan to attack immediately?" I asked mentally.
"No, master. They appear to be conducting reconnaissance only. They've been taking notes and sketching what look like maps of the property."
That made sense. The Himejima clan wouldn't attack impulsively—they would plan meticulously to ensure they eradicated what they saw as a stain on their lineage.
"Keep watching," I instructed. "Notify me if their behavior changes or if more show up."
For the rest of the day I could hardly concentrate. The threat was materializing faster than anticipated, meaning I had to accelerate my preparations.
That night, after ensuring my parents were asleep, I retrieved the crystal fragment I'd recovered from that failed summoning ritual months ago. I'd been studying it in the Libro de Hechizos Prohibidos, trying to discern its nature and potential uses.
My research suggested the fragment held residual dimensional energy—an echo of the portal that nearly opened during that ritual. In theory, it could be used to create a mini–domain, a reduced-dimensional space where I set the rules.
It wouldn't be as powerful as a true Jujutsu Kaisen Territorial Domain, but it could grant me significant tactical advantage in combat.
The problem was that the activation ritual demanded more cursed energy than I currently possessed. Unless…
I looked at the calendar on my wall. The next full moon would rise in three days. With Kazuma's Mask amplifying my abilities, perhaps I'd have enough power to complete the ritual.
I would have to wait, though every hour now felt precious.
The next three days crawled by. Umbra continued reporting reconnaissance activity around the Himejima residence—now five exorcists working in rotation, studying every potential weakness in the defenses.
At last came the full-moon night. Donning the mask and feeling its familiar surge of power, I headed to a remote clearing in the forest where I had pre-drawn the ritual circle per the Libro's specifications.
I placed the crystal fragment in the circle's center and knelt before it. Through Kazuma's Mask, I could see the fragment pulsing with purple energy, reacting to the moonlight.
I began channeling cursed energy, feeling it flow with a freedom I experienced only on these special nights. I recited the ritual incantation, tracing arcane symbols in the air with my hands cloaked in dark energy.
"Fragment of the void, echo of worlds, take my essence and forge a refuge between dimensions."
The crystal started to levitate, spinning slowly as it absorbed the cursed energy I offered. Around me, the ritual circle glowed ever brighter, its symbols pulsing in time with my racing heartbeat.
"What is mine is yours, what is yours is mine. Union of wills, creation of domains."
A strange sensation coursed through me, as if something tugged at my very essence. The crystal flared with blinding light, vibrating violently in the air.
Then, a silent explosion of energy burst forth, passing through me like I was intangible. The crystal shattered into tiny particles that orbited around me before being absorbed into my body.
I felt an internal shift, as if a new organ had been grafted onto my being. I instinctively knew I could now tap into that dimensional energy, summon that personal space at will.
✧ ✧ ✧
System: ——Mission——
Personal Domain Acquired
Rewards:
+700 XP
+Skill: "Dimensional Pocket"
✧ ✧ ✧
Dimensional Pocket: Allows creation of a limited space (10-meter radius) where you have absolute advantage. Within this domain, your cursed energy is 50% more effective, you can detect any presence or movement, and your techniques are amplified. Maximum duration: 5 minutes. Cooldown: 24 hours.
With the new XP earned, I finally reached Level 6:
[STATISTICS PANEL]
Level: 6
Experience: 250/1500
Unassigned Stat Points: 2
Strength: 9
Endurance: 8 (+1)
Agility: 10
Intelligence: 8
Cursed Energy Control: 9 (+1)
I immediately invested my points:
+1 to Endurance
+1 to Cursed Energy Control
Every improvement would count in the coming battle.
I returned home feeling more prepared, though acutely aware time was running out. The Himejima clan's patience would not last forever.
---
Three nights later, Umbra's urgent voice jolted me from a restless sleep:
"Master! Massive movement toward the Himejima residence. Twelve fully equipped exorcists are sweeping through the forest, encircling the property. They are placing talismans to block fallen-angel magic and neutralize defenses."
I bolted upright, fully alert. The attack had begun—earlier than the original letter had warned.
"Is Baraqiel present?" I asked as I dressed hastily.
"No, master. Only Shuri and the child remain in the house. Baraqiel left about two hours ago, apparently following one of the scouts who exposed himself deliberately."
A trap, then. They had lured Baraqiel away to strike at his unprotected family. The original plan was unfolding exactly as I knew it.
There was no time to hesitate. I equipped myself in an instant—booster gloves, the Celestial Halberd on my back, the Minor Evasion Amulet around my neck. Unfortunately, it wasn't a full-moon night, so Kazuma's Mask remained inactive.
I leaped from my bedroom window and sprinted toward the Himejima residence, channeling every last scrap of cursed energy to boost my speed. What normally took an hour, I covered in twenty agonizing minutes.
As I neared, I saw flickers of flame in the distance. The attack was underway. My heart thundered with panic and resolve.
Reaching the forest edge around the property, I activated the Shadow Veil to approach unseen. The sight confirmed my worst fears.
The traditional house was ablaze in several sections, fire racing across the wooden beams. Seven exorcists formed a perimeter around the property, all clad in Himejima clan ceremonial robes, their faces hidden by ritual masks. They held golden light-spears—likely to maintain anti-escape wards.
The other five exorcists had entered the house, presumably seeking Shuri and Akeno inside.
There was no time for detailed planning. I had to act now or the history I knew would repeat itself.
I reinforced my body with cursed energy to its limit and summoned the Celestial Halberd into my hand. I mentally weighed my options:
1. Neutralize the perimeter exorcists first to prevent alarm.
2. Storm the house directly to protect Shuri and Akeno.
3. Use my Dimensional Pocket, even if it meant revealing a trump card.
I chose a mixture. I would use stealth to take out as many perimeter guards as possible before I was detected, then unleash my domain when things turned critical.
I crept toward the most isolated exorcist, slipping between shadows as I'd trained for months. The man was intently maintaining his light-spear, chanting ancient Japanese verses.
I activated my Premonition Eye to pinpoint the perfect strike. I saw the vulnerable spot: the nape, just beneath the ritual mask. A precise blow with the halberd's pommel would render him unconscious without killing him.
I struck with surgical precision. The exorcist fell silently. One down—six more to go before entry.
I moved on to the next, keeping the Shadow Veil active despite its strain. This second exorcist was more vigilant, scanning constantly. I waited until he refocused on his task.
The blow was equally effective, but as he collapsed, his light-spear flared brightly, briefly illuminating the area. I cursed internally—I'd forgotten that ritual tools had their own protections.
The remaining five exorcists were now alerted. One cried out something in ancient Japanese, likely warning his comrades inside.
Stealth was lost. I dispelled the Shadow Veil and channeled all my cursed energy into a devastating leap that carried me into the nearest trio.
The Celestial Halberd carved a perfect arc, cleaving through their spears. Without their ritual implements, they were far more vulnerable.
I didn't intend to kill, but I couldn't hold back too much. With calculated strikes, I knocked them out, exploiting my Premonition Eye to anticipate each defensive move.
The final two perimeter exorcists were seasoned. One hurled explosive talismans at me while the other began a sophisticated offensive chant.
I barely dodged the talismans—one detonated too close, scorching my left arm painfully. The other exorcist completed his chant, unleashing what looked like a golden serpent of light, moving with supernatural speed.
My Premonition Eye revealed that evasion was impossible—the serpent would intercept me no matter how I moved. Instead, I plunged the Halberd into the ground before me, channeling cursed energy through it.
The weapon's magic-negation property worked flawlessly. When the serpent slammed into the blade, it was absorbed, dissolving into golden particles that drifted away.
The exorcists stood stunned—exactly the opening I needed. I surged forward again, incapacitating them with precise strikes.
With the perimeter down, I turned to the burning house. Flames had spread significantly, the structure creaking dangerously. No sign of Shuri or Akeno from outside—I feared they were still inside… or worse.
I vaulted through a shattered window, pressing a cloth to my mouth to filter the thick smoke. The heat was suffocating, the flames devouring paper, wood, and fabric.
Voices drifted from what I remembered was the main parlor. I moved silently through corridors raging with fire, avoiding sections about to collapse.
At the sliding door to the parlor, I paused to assess. Through a crack I saw Shuri on her knees in the center, encircled by a luminous containment ring. Two exorcists flanked her while a third—clearly the leader by his ornate robes—read what seemed a death sentence. The other two were out of my view.
No sign of Akeno; a flicker of hope ignited in me that she'd hidden successfully, just as in the original timeline.
I shoved the door with force; half of it crumbled from fire damage. Five pairs of eyes snapped to me in surprise.
"My apologies for the interruption," I said resolutely, the Celestial Halberd glowing faintly with my cursed energy. "But this execution is canceled."
The lead exorcist reacted first. "A demonic intruder! Eliminate him!"
The two hidden exorcists emerged, launching offensive talismans like the ones outside. I dodged with a powered leap, landing between them and Shuri.
"Who are you?" Shuri asked, her eyes reflecting confusion and a spark of hope.
"Someone who knows the value of changing fate," I replied, not breaking eye contact with the exorcists now encircling us.
The situation was precarious. Five elite exorcists in a burning, enclosed space, with Shuri vulnerable in the center. I couldn't afford a prolonged fight.
It was time to play my trump card.
"Dimensional Domain: Expansion," I intoned, channeling cursed energy to the core of the absorbed crystal fragment.
The effect was immediate and dramatic. A wave of purple energy erupted from me, forming a ten-meter-radius sphere encompassing the entire parlor. Colors dimmed as if seen through a subtle violet filter.
The exorcists reacted in alarm—talismanic wards and ritual tools flickered erratically within my domain. As expected, their spirit-based techniques slowed under the rules I imposed in this space.
Inside the domain, I perceived every movement, every breath, every pulse of energy with perfect clarity. My cursed energy flowed with newfound potency, reinforcing my body beyond normal limits.
"This ends now," I declared, and moved.
My speed within the domain was unmatched. To the exorcists, I must have appeared as a blur. I neutralized the first with a precise strike to the base of his skull, the second with a sweep of the pommel against his legs followed by a blow to the solar plexus.
The remaining three, including the leader, tried to form a triangular barrier, but inside my domain their techniques played out agonizingly slow. I slipped between them like water, delivering calculated strikes to incapacitate without lethal force.
In twenty seconds, all five lay unconscious on the floor. Shuri stared at me in awe and bewilderment.
I approached her containment ring, examining it briefly before cleaving it with the Celestial Halberd. As expected, its magic-negation properties dissolved the barrier instantly.
"We must find Akeno and get out of here," I told Shuri, offering my hand. "The fire is weakening the supports. Everything will collapse soon."
Shuri took my hand hesitantly. "Akeno… I hid her in the secret compartment under her tatami before they captured me."
I nodded, helping her to her feet. "Lead the way."
We moved swiftly through the burning house, Shuri guiding us toward Akeno's room. The fire had spread so much that some passages were impassable.
"Who are you, really?" Shuri asked as we paused to step over a fallen beam. "How did you learn of the attack?"
"It's complicated," I answered. "For now, the only thing that matters is getting you and Akeno to safety."
We reached Akeno's room, miraculously less damaged by the blaze. Shuri knelt on a specific spot of the tatami, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside, curled up and with dried tears on her cheeks, was little Akeno.
"Mom!" she cried, throwing herself into Shuri's arms.
"It's all right now, my dear," Shuri whispered, holding her tightly. "We have to go."
Akeno then noticed me, fear widening her eyes. "Who is he?"
"He's someone helping us," Shuri replied. "We can trust him."
A strange warmth washed over me, but there was no time for sentiment. My domain was still active, but its five-minute limit would expire soon—and I didn't want to be trapped in a burning house when it did.
"The main exit is blocked by fire," I informed them. "We'll have to make a new one."
Without
waiting for an answer, I approached the exterior wall and channeled cursed energy into the Celestial Halberd. With a devastating strike, I carved a hole just large enough for us to pass through.
"Quickly," I urged, guiding Akeno through first, then Shuri.
Once outside, we hurried away from the structure now collapsing in on itself. My Dimensional Domain faded the moment we reached a safe distance, the violet sheen dissipating like mist in sunlight.
Exhaustion hit me immediately—maintaining the domain and fighting at the same time had drained nearly all my cursed energy.
"What now?" Shuri asked, holding Akeno protectively against her chest. "They'll come back once they realize they failed."
"They need to find Baraqiel," I gasped, catching my breath. "He can protect you better than I can."
"Baraqiel…" Shuri whispered. "They lured him away on purpose. He could be in danger, too."
A valid point I hadn't fully considered. If the exorcists had planned this attack so meticulously, they might have set a trap for the fallen angel as well.
I opened my mouth to answer when a thunderous sound in the night sky made us look up. A dark figure was descending at great speed, black wings spread dramatically against the stars.
Baraqiel had returned, and by his expression I knew he already understood what had happened. He landed with a crack that split the earth, his eyes burning with barely contained fury at the sight of his burning home.
Seeing us, however, his face softened into absolute relief. He darted to Shuri and Akeno, wrapping them in a desperate embrace.
"They're alive," he murmured, his voice cracking. "When I saw the flames, I thought—"
"We're safe," Shuri assured him, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Thanks to him."
Baraqiel lifted his gaze and finally noticed me. His expression shifted to recognition when he saw my halberd and stance, even though I no longer wore the mask from our previous encounter.
"You…" he began, surprise evident in his voice.
"A friend," I interrupted gently, aware that Akeno was watching us. "As I promised, I came to warn you."
Baraqiel nodded slowly, understanding my silence about our prior conversation. "I owe you more than my life," he said solemnly.
"You owe me nothing," I replied. "But you must take your family away from here at once. The exorcists I knocked out will wake up eventually, and more are surely on their way."
"Where will we go?" Akeno asked in her small voice, clutching her father's robe.
"I know a place," Baraqiel said, his expression hardening with determination. "Grigori will provide temporary sanctuary until I find a permanent solution."
That was a significant departure from the original timeline. In the story I knew, Baraqiel had arrived too late—finding only Shuri's body and a traumatized Akeno blaming him for not being there to protect them.
"Umbra, do you read me?" I called into my mind, addressing my shadow familiar.
"Yes, master. I am observing from the nearby shadows," Umbra's ethereal voice replied.
"Shadow, follow the family until they're safe within Grigori. Report any threats or complications."
"As you command, master."
I turned back to the reunited family. "You must depart now," I urged. "I have means to ensure you reach your destination safely."
Baraqiel unfurled his wings again. "We will never forget what you've done today," he declared, bowing his head in deep respect. "You have saved the most precious thing in my existence."
"I'm simply changing what never should have been," I answered enigmatically.
Shuri stepped forward, holding Akeno in one arm while extending the other toward me. "Thank you," she said softly, though her eyes conveyed gratitude beyond words.
Akeno looked at me with childish curiosity. "Are you a superhero?" she asked with innocent wonder.
I managed a slight smile. "No, just someone in the right place at the right time."
"We will meet again," Baraqiel affirmed—not as a question, but as a promise.
"Perhaps," I replied ambiguously. "Now go."
With one last nod, Baraqiel gathered his family in a protective embrace, spread his wings fully, and rose into the night sky. Within seconds they were nothing but a dark speck against the stars, heading toward a future forever changed.
✧ ✧ ✧
System: ——Main Mission——
Altered Destiny: Himejima Family Saved
Rewards:
+2000 XP
+3 Stat Points
+1 Gacha Pull
+Skill: "Destiny Bonds"
✧ ✧ ✧
Destiny Bonds: People whose destinies you've significantly altered form a special connection with you. You can vaguely sense their emotional state and approximate location within a 10-kilometer radius. This bond strengthens with each subsequent interaction.
The massive XP injection catapulted me straight to Level 7:
[STATISTICS PANEL]
Level: 7
Experience: 750/1800
Unassigned Stat Points: 5 (2 from leveling + 3 from the mission)
Strength: 9
Endurance: 9
Agility: 10
Intelligence: 8
Cursed Energy Control: 10
I allocated my points carefully:
+2 Strength
+1 Endurance
+1 Intelligence
+1 Cursed Energy Control
I lingered a few minutes longer, surveying the smoldering ruins of what had once been a happy home. I had done it—I'd altered one of the original story's most fundamental events. Akeno would grow up with both parents, without the trauma that had shaped much of her personality in the anime.
The ramifications would be enormous and unpredictable. But as I watched the flames consume the last vestiges of the structure, I felt certain I'd done the right thing.
The original timeline no longer existed. I was forging a new path—for myself and everyone involved.
And this was only the beginning.
---
The journey home was slow and exhausting. I'd expended almost all my cursed energy in the battle and maintaining the domain. Every muscle in my body protested, reminding me that despite my abilities and system, I still had a five-year-old's body.
I arrived just before dawn, slipping through my window with the last of my strength. I collapsed onto my bed, utterly spent but satisfied.
Before surrendering to sleep, I remembered the gacha pull I'd earned. With trembling fingers, I opened the panel and pressed the button.
Images spun past: Sharingan, Boosted Gear, Spear of Longinus, Cloak of Invisibility, the One Ring…
Finally, it stopped:
✧ ✧ ✧
Congratulations! You obtained:
Primordial Dragon Core (×1)
Description: A crystallized essence of an ancient dragon. It can be absorbed to greatly increase your affinity with draconic energy, or used as a catalyst to awaken latent draconic powers.
Warning: Absorbing the core will cause extreme pain for 24 hours as your body adapts to the draconic essence.
✧ ✧ ✧
My eyes widened at the description. A Primordial Dragon Core… In a world where dragons were the most powerful beings, where I was supposed to harbor the soul of the Crimson Dragon Emperor… the implications were enormous.
But I was too exhausted to fully process what it meant. I closed the panel, leaving the core in my inventory to examine after resting.
Sleep claimed me immediately, plunging me into a deep, restorative slumber.
---
I woke well past noon, my body significantly recovered. My cursed energy flowed again—not at its maximum, but enough to feel functional.
I sat up slowly, reviewing the events of the night before. I'd saved the Himejima family, altering one of the story's pivotal moments. Akeno would grow up with her mother alive and no resentment toward her father. How would this affect the future? Would she still join Rias's entourage? Develop the same powers and personality?
Impossible to know for certain, but I felt convinced I'd made the right choice.
Then there was the Primordial Dragon Core. I opened my inventory to examine it more closely. It appeared as a marble-sized crystal sphere, scarlet fire pulsating within like a tiny heartbeat alive with its own will.
Its description hinted at awakening latent draconic powers… Could this tie to Boosted Gear? As Issei, I was supposed to be its wielder, though so far it hadn't manifested. Did my circumstances differ? Or had it simply not awakened yet?
The warning about extreme pain held me back. I couldn't afford to be incapacitated for 24 hours—not after creating such a seismic change in the timeline. I needed to stay alert, ready to adapt to any unforeseen consequences.
I decided to wait for the right moment to use the core. For now, other priorities took precedence.
I went downstairs, where my parents had left a note saying they'd gone shopping. I seized the solitude to reflect on my next steps.
I'd just completed a major milestone in my plan, but many crucial events lay ahead: the awakening of Boosted Gear, my first meeting with Rias Gremory and her entourage, the battle with Raynare, even more significant battles against Kokabiel or the Old Satan Faction.
Should I keep altering key events, or maintain a low profile and let some things unfold naturally? Every change would send unpredictable ripples through the timeline.
As I pondered these questions, I felt a faint pulse in my mind—my new "Destiny Bonds" skill activating. I sensed, like a distant echo, mixed emotions: relief, worry, determination. The Himejima family had reached Grigori, apparently safe but processing all that had happened.
"Master," Umbra's voice whispered in my mind. "The family has arrived at what appears to be a protected underground complex. Baraqiel has reunited with other fallen angels, including one who seems to be Azazel, their leader."
This confirmed my feelings. "Any sign they're being followed or threatened?" I asked mentally.
"None, master. The perimeter around the complex is heavily guarded. It would be unlikely for any human exorcist to approach undetected."
"Good. Keep watching for a few more hours, then return."
"As you command, master."
I sighed in relief. At least for now, the family was safe. My intervention had completely changed their fate.
The rest of the day I spent fully recovering and planning my next moves. I still had years before most of the main events of the canon would unfold. Years to strengthen myself, to understand this world and my role in it.
As night fell again over the city, I made a decision. I would not act as a passive observer who only intervened at critical moments. I would be an active agent of change, forging my own path in this world.
After all, this was no
longer a story about Issei Hyoudou becoming Rias Gremory's pawn. It was a new story—my story—where the possibilities were infinite.
And I intended to make the most of them.