High School DxD: Fate's Error

Chapter 2: A Divine Gamble

Matthew awoke in a place unlike anything he could describe. Sound, light, and darkness existed in an ineffable harmony, twisting and flowing together in ways his mind couldn't fully comprehend. It was neither warm nor cold, neither soft nor harsh.

"At rest, young man."

The voice was gentle yet commanding, laced with an odd familiarity. Matthew turned his head, straining to locate its source. His heart skipped a beat as his eyes fell on the figure of an elderly man—a warm smile on his face and thin gray hair neatly combed back.

"Grandad?" Matthew's voice cracked as he staggered toward the figure, his steps shaky but determined.

"Not quite," the man replied, his voice calm but tinged with an otherworldly weight. "I'm God. Or, more accurately, one of the many gods. I've taken the form of your grandfather because seeing my true form is beyond the comprehension of mortals like yourself. I hope you understand."

Matthew stopped in his tracks, staring at the figure with wide eyes. The words took a moment to sink in. "God is… real?" he whispered. His thoughts spiraled into chaos. I'm screwed. My Instagram reels are definitely sending me to hell.

The figure chuckled softly, reading his thoughts with ease. "No, not quite," he said gently. "While there are many gods, the fate of your soul is determined by the life you've led and the karma you've accumulated. Depending on that, your soul will be judged to see whether it is pure enough for Heaven… or destined for something else."

Matthew's stomach churned, panic threatening to take hold. "But don't fret," the god continued with a reassuring smile. "Your soul, while not entirely pure, is nowhere near bad enough for Hell. You'd be surprised how difficult it actually is to end up there."

The tension in Matthew's chest eased slightly, though his mind still raced. He could barely form a coherent thought.

"Now," the god said, his tone shifting to one of authority, "as the god of desires, I am here to offer you two choices, based on the karma you've earned. The first option: you may ascend to Heaven. A paradise so pure that even my words cannot do it justice. No suffering, no evil, only eternal peace."

Matthew's thoughts stilled for a moment as he considered the offer. Heaven… I can go to Heaven! Thank God I'm not going to Hell. His relief was palpable, though curiosity crept into his mind. I wonder if I'd see family? Famous people? Wait—what if Stalin or Hitler somehow ended up there?

The god's smile faltered briefly, his expression twisting into one of exasperation. "No," he interrupted, "they are most certainly not in Heaven."

Matthew gulped and licked his lips nervously. "R-right, of course."

Raising two fingers, the god continued. "Your second option is reincarnation. As the god of desires, I can see into the hearts and dreams of those who stand before me. And for you…"

His glowing eyes bore into Matthew, and in an instant, the young man felt completely exposed—both physically and mentally. It was a deeply unsettling sensation, like every secret and vulnerability had been laid bare.

"Your deepest desire is a common one these days," the god said, his tone almost amused. "Reincarnation."

Matthew's mouth fell open in shock. "R-reincarnation?"

"Yes," the god replied. "Not to Earth, but to a fictional world—one you've always daydreamed about."

Matthew's astonishment turned to excitement. "Wait, you mean like Naruto? Or One Piece? Marvel? Holy crap, yes! I'll take reincarnation! Take me to Naruto as soon as possible!"

The god sweatdropped at his enthusiasm, raising a hand to calm him. "It's not quite that simple. I am a just god, and my actions must be balanced. The world you reincarnate into will be chosen at random."

Matthew's excitement dimmed slightly, but he nodded in understanding. "Fair enough. Go ahead."

With a snap of his fingers, the god summoned a massive wheel of vibrant colors and endless possibilities. "This is the Wheel of Fate," he explained. "Each world is color-coded based on its difficulty and danger. For example, green represents a world like your favorite show, Still Game—an ordinary Earth without magic or calamities. On the other hand, red represents the most dangerous worlds, filled with gods, magic, and catastrophic challenges. Do you follow?"

Matthew blinked, his mind reeling. "Uh… yeah. It's a lot to take in, but I think I get it."

The god smiled warmly. "Good. Then let us proceed. Time is of the essence, as you are fading away. Between life and death, your soul is growing weaker."

Matthew's eyes widened, a strange sense of calm washing over him. "I… I see. Alright, spin it."

The god nodded solemnly. "Very well, my boy. This is the first step of your reincarnation."

Before Matthew could ask what he meant by "first step," the wheel began spinning, faster than anything he'd ever seen. Colors blurred together—green, yellow, orange, red—all blending into a kaleidoscope of light.

Finally, the wheel began to slow, ticking through its sections with agonizing precision. Yellow… orange… green… and then it landed.

Red.

"Oh dear," the god said with a soft chuckle. "It seems you'll need to prepare yourself, my boy. You're heading to High School DxD."

Matthew paled, his heart racing. "Wait! No! Respin, please! I'll take Earth again! Not there—it's full of porn and beings that can destroy the planet! I can't survive there!"

He spiraled into a frenzy, but the god raised a hand, a calming light emanating from his palm. Matthew felt his panic subside, his body relaxing against his will.

"Do not worry," the god said reassuringly. "This brings us to the second part of your reincarnation. This step will determine your status, powers, bloodline, and abilities. Since you've landed in a red-tier world—the most dangerous—you will receive a high-tier ability to help balance the scales. However…"

The god's expression grew serious. "For every advantage, there must be a disadvantage. If you draw an A-tier or S-tier power, you will also receive a corresponding disadvantage of the same tier."

Matthew nodded nervously, his excitement tempered by the weight of what lay ahead.

The god smiled once more. "Now, let us see what fate has in store for you."

As the god prepared to spin the second wheel, Matthew hesitated. His eyes darted to the glowing apparatus, then back to the god, his expression conflicted. "Wait," he said, his voice breaking the tense anticipation.

The god paused, folding his arms patiently. "Yes, my boy?"

Matthew scratched the back of his neck, his voice uncertain but tinged with curiosity. "So, um… you're a god, right? But in High School DxD, there are already gods—the Norse ones, Greek ones, the Shinto pantheon, even… you know, the Biblical one. So… is that world real? Or are you creating it just for me?"

The god's smile softened, his eyes shimmering with a strange, ineffable light. "Ah, an insightful question. And the answer, I fear, is both simple and complex."

Matthew raised an eyebrow. "You're going to give me a cryptic answer, aren't you?"

The god chuckled warmly. "Only as cryptic as it needs to be. The world of High School DxD already exists, as do countless other worlds. They are not merely the product of human imagination; rather, your imagination serves as a window—allowing mortals like yourself to perceive fragments of the vast multiverse. Every story you've cherished, every dream you've pondered, stems from echoes of these realities."

Matthew blinked, his mind racing to process the revelation. "So… the DxD world exists somewhere out there, and you're sending me to it?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes," the god said, his tone measured. "But you must understand—while your journey is very real, the version of the world you encounter may not align perfectly with the story you know. Think of it as a reflection: familiar, but with its own unique nuances and truths."

Matthew rubbed his temple, his head spinning. "Man, that's a lot to take in. So… you're not making it from scratch? It's just already out there?"

The god nodded. "Precisely. I am merely facilitating your arrival." He leaned closer, his expression kind yet firm. "And before you ask—yes, the gods of that world are as real as I am, though their domains and duties differ from mine. You may even encounter them, depending on the path you take."

Matthew swallowed hard, feeling a mix of awe and trepidation. "Okay… that's crazy. So, you're basically telling me I'm about to jump into a world that's as real as this one?"

"As real as your experiences make it," the god replied cryptically, stepping back toward the wheel. "But enough questions for now, young man. Your time here grows short, and the wheels of fate are ready to turn."

Matthew nodded, his nervousness fading into reluctant acceptance. "Alright… let's do this."

The god smiled, gesturing toward the wheel. "Then spin it, and let us see what destiny has in store for you."

With a deep breath, Matthew reached out and gripped the wheel's edge. He gave it a strong spin, watching as the colors and symbols blurred into a kaleidoscope of possibilities.

As the wheel slowed, the god's voice echoed around him, serene and commanding. "Remember, Matthew—your choices in this new life will define not only your path but the fate of those you meet. Be wise, be brave, and above all—be true to yourself."

The wheel clicked to a stop, and Matthew's fate was sealed.