DARKS(DxD)

Tokyo, Somewhere in an ally, 

The air was thick with the smell of rain as the portal behind us closed with a soft whum. The narrow alley we found ourselves in was dimly lit by the neon glow of Tokyo's endless signs and advertisements. The city hummed with life just beyond the alley's mouth, but here, it felt like we were in a different world—one where shadows clung to every surface, and the damp pavement echoed with our footsteps.

[WARNING! HOST, IT IS DETECTED THAT WORLD LEVEL IS TOO LOW]

[WORLD IS DEVOID OF MANA.]

[NOTICE: THE MAGIC LEVEL IS CAPPED AT TIER 3, IT IS ADVISABLE FOR THE HOST TO USE SPELLS OF MAX TIER 3]

[CASTING HIGH-TIER SPELLS WILL RESULT IN DETECTION AND REJECTION BY THE WORLD]

[GOOD LUCK, HOST!]

'Damn...so many restrictions' I thought as I looked around.

Simon Riley, or Ghost, as I preferred to think of him, glanced around, his hand resting instinctively on his holster. His eyes, sharp and always calculating, scanned the alley for any threats. His calm exterior hid the confusion I knew must be brewing beneath.

He had no idea where we were or what we were doing in this strange place, but he followed me without question. I'd have to fill him in soon, but first, I needed to get us out of this alley.

"Where are we?" Simon asked, his voice low, the British accent giving his words a certain gravity.

"Tokyo," I replied, stepping forward, my eyes adjusting to the low light. "But not the Tokyo you're familiar with. This is a different world, part of the multiverse."

Simon's eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing. He was used to strange things, and his trust in me—or at least his curiosity—was enough to keep him from pressing for more details right now. Still, I could sense the gears turning in his mind, trying to piece together the puzzle.

I led him out of the alley and onto a busy street. The contrast was jarring—the noise, the lights, the sheer number of people. 

Simon stayed close, his eyes flicking from one side of the street to the other, taking in everything with a soldier's practiced efficiency. He hadn't asked yet, but I could tell he was wondering what this place was, what I had dragged him into.

"We're in a world where magic and technology blend together," I explained as we walked. 

"This isn't just any Tokyo; it's one ruled by powerful magic families. 

The Yotsuba Clan is the most powerful of them all."

Simon shot me a sidelong glance. "Magic and technology? Sounds like a fairy tale."

"Yes, you were in Hell's waiting room, resurrected back to life by a guy who claims to become an Emperor of All realms and brings you to a city similar to what you saw...." I smile at him.

"Well, if you put it that way..." he said rubbing his neck.

I chuckled. "It might seem crazy to you now, but it's real. And we're here to meet someone who is a genius in this field. He's the key to perfecting the weapon I am trying to construct. one of the best in this world."

Simon absorbed the information silently, his expression unreadable beneath the mask. 

I knew it would take time for him to wrap his head around the concept of the multiverse, magic, and everything else I'd thrown at him. But if there was one thing I know about Simon Riley, it's that he adapts quickly. 

And I needed him to adapt because what lay ahead would demand every ounce of his skill and resilience.

As we continued down the street, I felt the eyes of others on us. Not just the regular people, but those who were attuned to the magical undercurrents of this world.

Agents of the Yotsuba, no doubt, are already aware of our presence. 

The Yotsuba Clan didn't tolerate uninvited guests, and their reputation for ruthless efficiency wasn't just a rumor.

Simon noticed them too. His hand twitched toward his sidearm, but he restrained himself, waiting for my cue.

"We're being watched," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course," I replied calmly. 

"We aren't exactly incognito with our attire," I said as I was wearing my Cultivator's hanfu while he was in his Military Suit, walking beside me like my bodyguard of sorts,

"The number of cameras scanning us right now is more than enough to replicate our dicks with precision" 

"...god" he murmured with frustration, rubbing his temples, as I chuckled.

I led Simon to the residential area, a quieter part of the district, where the buildings became less flashy and more subdued. 

Simon's eyes flicked to Different individual houses, then back to me. "And this guy...you know where he lives?"

"hmm...kind of, well you see every world in the multiverse has a being of great importance...not to the people but to the world itself," I said as I waved at the local people with a smile who looked at us curiously.

"This person or people are known by many terms, Son of Heaven, Daughter of Luck, Children of World, etc...They are all blessed or cursed, depending upon their burden, by the world to achieve the greatest Heights while changing the course of history completely" 

"These are the people we need to look out for as we can kill anyone but them, it is possible to kill them BUT we need to Rip away the Favour of the World from them first...."

Simon listens attentively as he mentally notes down conditions to kill them, "So..the world acts like an armor of sorts...?"

"Yes, exactly," I said joyfully, as he understood even when I spoke indirectly. "Good job.." I gave him a thumbs up to which he nodded.

"So, this guy is one of the 'sons of heaven' candidates I guess?" he deduced.

"hm hm" I nod, "He is the Son of heaven of this World, although there is also a daughter of Luck too...but our business is with him mostly... I hope so.." I said, briefing him on the mission.

Simon followed, his steps silent.

I follow the Directions on the map the system is currently showing me, I need to look into it later...

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[CURRENT WORLD : THE IRREGULAR AT MAGIC HIGH SCHOOL (BEFORE THE PLOT BEGINS)]

[YEAR: 2089 (6 YEARS BEFORE PLOT BEGINS)]

[SHIBA RESIDENCE (TATSUYA AND MIYUKI RESIDENCE): 20 METERS AHEAD, LOCATED AT THE RIGHT SIDE]

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"Oh, Here we are." I said, stopping in front of the lavish Individual residence.

"..." he gazed at the house, well I must admit the tech in this era is adv for me too.

"Lets knock.." I said as walk to the front door. 

I can sense different secured hidden wards but none of them detected our presence as we don't have trace of Psions.

I pressed the bell, after a moment the door clicked open.

A young boy with stoic expression and who is very tall for his age, looked at us. 

A flicker of surprise for a tiny moment but vanished instantly.

"Can I help you, gentlemen?" he asked his eyes narrowed studying us as he strained to figure who we are, all the while having a stoic ice cold face.

"Yes...Yes you can, Tatsuya Shiba" I said with a grin, our gaze locked onto each other.

Living room of Shiba residence,

Inside, and the atmosphere shifted. It was cooler, quieter, with a faint hum of technology in the air. The room was sparsely furnished, more functional than comfortable. It felt like a place where business was done, where secrets were kept.

As we waited, I glanced at Simon. His eyes were alert, but there was a tension in his stance, a readiness to act if things went sideways. Which, I can't blame him. 

Footsteps echoed from a hallway, and then a figure emerged. Miyuki Shiba. She greets us with a smile as she sat across us in the couch with her brother.

"Mr. Grey," Miyuki began softly, her voice as controlled as her expression, 

"what is it you wanted to discuss with us?"

I glanced at Simon before pulling the prototype weapon from my Hanfu.

It was a rough, unfinished piece—part gun, part magical focus—but it had potential. "This," I said, placing it on the table between us. 

"I need your help to perfect it. To blend magic and technology in a way that only you can, Tatsuya"

Tatsuya's eyes analyzed the weapon, his expression giving nothing away. 

"You seem to know quite a bit about me," he said evenly. "But you haven't explained why we should help you."

I leaned back, giving him a steady look. "Because this weapon could change everything. Not just in this world... 

You have the skills to make it work, To actualize my concept. A perfect weapon with right blend of tech and magic, 

An absolute weapon of Magic and Tech, if you must say" I declare in excitement, and I believe even he saw it.

"...Look, Mr. Grey, I know you want to create it. But I cant-" Tatsuya said as he is not willing yet.

"Tatsuya, I might appear like a madman but trust me it will work...you saw it right" to which he hesitated.

"..And if you help me, I have an offer you guys cant refuse...particularly Miyuki, She Wont refuse" I said with a grin.

"huh?..I wont?" she was perplexed by my claim.

"Yes Miyuki, what if I offer you to help your Onii-sama...regain his ability to feel strong emotions..?" 

The weight of my offer slowly settled.

Miyuki's expression shifted rapidly—from surprise to hope, then to something more cautious.

Her eyes flicked to Tatsuya, searching his face as if trying to gauge his reaction. Tatsuya remained composed, but there was a subtle tension in his posture, a sign that my offer had struck a chord.

For a moment, Miyuki seemed to hesitate, her emotions warring within her. Then she turned to me, her voice barely above a whisper, 

"Can you really do that? Can you truly help my brother regain what he lost?"

The moment Miyuki's question left her lips, I saw the flicker of hope in her eyes—faint, but undeniable. 

She wanted to believe me, to believe that I could do the impossible and restore what her brother had lost, more like stolen away from him.

I met her gaze with a steady resolve. "I understand your skepticism. But there are things I know, things that involve…the Artificial Magician experiment and Mental Interference—"

Swzingg Swzingg

Before I could even finish, the air hummed with lethal energy. Tatsuya had moved in a blur, his CAD Custom Gun, trident, now leveled at my chest, its muzzle buzzed with magic sequence. 

His eyes were ice, cold and unwavering, locking onto mine with a promise of death.

At the same instant, there was a click of metal, the sound of a safety being flicked off.

In the same instant, Simon was Swift and precise. 

The M4, which was on the table, now aimed squarely at Miyuki's head. The barrel was close enough that the cool metal brushed against her temple, and his finger rested lightly on the trigger, ready to pull.

The room turned frigid, as if the very air had frozen under the weight of the standoff.

Tatsuya's voice cut through the silence, low and dangerous, "No outsider is supposed to know about the Artificial Magician experiment—or any other secrets of that level. 

The Yotsuba Code is clear. 

Such knowledge means only one thing: Elimination."

Simon's grip on the M4 tightened, his tone calm but edged with steel.

"Listen, kid. I don't give a damn about your family's codes or their rules. 

But let's get one thing straight—if you even think about pulling that trigger, 

my M4 will have already pumped five rounds into your little princess's skull before you even take one"

The prototype gun in Simon's other hand began to hum, a glowing magical bullet forming at the core, ready to be unleashed.

If one thinks that prototype Gun should not work, welp that's where the name prototype is sort of misleading.

The Gun's basic magic bullet materialization works. But I needed fine-tuning and some other stuff to be modified for extensive military use.

That means Gun works like a charm for casual work, especially if it's close quarters.

For a moment, we stared into each others eyes. 

The tension was electric, the kind that could shatter into chaos with a slight breathe.

But I kept my eyes on Tatsuya, unflinching, refusing to backdown. 

"You can shoot me if you want, Tatsuya. But you know as well as I do that, pulling the trigger won't kill me. 

But It also won't bring back what you've lost, your only reason in this world." I said as I reminded him about his love for his sister. 

"what I'm offering you is a chance. A chance to regain what's been taken from you."

His gaze didn't waver, but I saw the briefest flicker of something in his eyes—a shadow of doubt, of hesitation. It was enough for me. 

I pressed on, my voice calm, controlled. "I know your rules demand secrecy, demand elimination of threats. 

But I also know that you Love your sister above everything, she is what is left of your humanity. 

Tatsuya, You're throwing away the only real chance you've got. 

The only chance to make your sister's wish come true."

Miyuki's eyes were wide, filled with a mix of sadness and hope. 

Her voice soft but firm. 

"Onii-sama, we've always sought to protect each other, to ensure that the other is safe. If there's even a chance that this could help you...I want to take it. I want to try."

Tatsuya's grip on the trident relaxed as his eyes shifted to Miyuki, and I could see the conflict raging between his code and his love for her, behind his cold exterior. 

Slowly, he began to lower the weapon, the magic dissipating into the air with a faint crackle.

Simon didn't move his weapon right away, waiting for my signal. 

I gave him a subtle nod, and after a brief hesitation, he slowly lowered the M4, though his eyes remained locked on Tatsuya, ready for any sudden movements.

I exhaled, as i smiled, "Thank you for choosing to listen to me".

Tatsuya's voice was quieter now, "Fine, Ill help you...Ill do it For Miyuki"

I smile "That's all I need."

"I hope you know what you are talking," he said offering his hand.

Miyuki visibly relaxed, relief washing over her features. "Thank you, Onii-sama," she embraced him,

"Perfect, lets start then" I said with a smile as i shook his hand. "We have a lot of work to do."

We descended into the basement of the Shiba residence, 

The temperature dropped slightly, and the walls, lined with sleek, metallic surfaces, began to exude a quiet hum of technology.

The basement was expansive, mirroring the layout of the floor above, but with a cold, clinical feel. 

It was more than just a lab—it was a command center for discovering new magic.

The state-of-the-art equipment from Four Leaves Technology gleamed under the fluorescent lights, giving the room an almost sterile appearance.

Tatsuya led the way, his expression as unreadable as ever. Miyuki walked beside him, her earlier tension now replaced with a determined calm.

As we entered the central area, Tatsuya gestured to a large workbench cluttered with various magical devices, schematics, and prototypes. 

"This is where I conduct most of my research," he said, his voice neutral. "If we're going to make your idea a reality, we'll start here."

I stepped forward, placing the prototype weapon on the workbench. "This gun," I began, 

"is designed to harness Ancient magic of different spectrums to materialize firepower that mirrors the properties of normal Guns but now working on Magic, creating a weapon that's versatile and deadly than any weapon mankind ever produced. 

But it's still far from perfect and requires tuning along with additional features i am thinking of"

Miyuki gasped as Tatsuya's eyes widened a little, "Ancient magic....No wonder" he murmured.

Tatsuya nodded, picking up the gun and examining it with a critical eye. 

"The concept is sound, but the integration is flawed. The magical energy isn't stabilizing properly with the ballistic components."

"Exactly," I agreed. "That's where you come in. Your knowledge of CADs and magic integration is unparalleled. If anyone can make this work, it's you."

Tatsuya placed the gun down and turned to a nearby console, activating a series of holographic displays. 

Blueprints and data streams filled the air around us, highlighting the gun's design and its current limitations.

"Grey...this is more complex that i thought. This exceeds the Ancient magic I am familiar with....its more profound to even decode"

He said as he began inputting data, his fingers moving rapidly across the controls. "Anyways, We'll need to recalibrate the magical conduits, adjust the Core creation, and reinforce the structural integrity. 

I'll handle the magic-tech integration; you handle the magic, is it ok?"

"Sounds good," I replied, pulling out the scrolls Arya had prepared, filled with intricate rune and spell craft.

I donned my magic robes, as I started the construction of runes and magic cast circles,

Creation Magic: Iris

Creation Magic: Astrastela

Create lesser Item

I cast the sophisticated creation class spells to give me precise control on runes and circles.

Miyuki watched us silently. Her eyes excited and curious, flicking between her brother and me. 

She stepped closer to Tatsuya, her hand resting lightly on his arm. "Onii-sama, do you think this will work?"

Tatsuya paused, considering her question. "It's possible," he admitted. "But we're venturing into uncharted territory. Combining Such profound magic and technology on this level has never been done before."

With that we began, each of doing their part as lost ourselves to the time.

we used every resource at our disposal to refine the prototype. 

Hours passed as we adjusted, tested, and reconfigured, the lab filled with the sounds of our efforts.

Throughout it all, Miyuki stayed close. She didn't interfere, but she always supported her brother.

While Simon...Well he his being himself as he tested out many different Weapons and guns in the lab, to which Tatsuya strangely allowed.

I cant figure out what he is cooking in his mind.

Suddenly, a low hum emanated from the containment field as the gun's core flared brighter. Tatsuya narrowed his eyes, making rapid adjustments to the console. 

The energy within the weapon began to stabilize, the fluctuations evening out into a steady, controlled pulse. He stepped back, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow.

"It's holding," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

I looked up from my work, my heart pounding. "Is it ready?"

Tatsuya didn't answer immediately. He walked over to the prototype, his gaze intense as he inspected the final product. 

The gun now radiated a powerful, yet restrained energy, the runes and circuits glowing in perfect harmony. He picked it up carefully, feeling the weight of it in his hand.

"It's ready," he finally said, his voice low but filled with conviction. 

A grin spread across my face as I called out to Simon, "Let's put this to the test."

Without wasting a moment, we moved to a nearby testing area. 

The room darkened as he activated the simulation, the walls transforming into a holographic battlefield. Targets appeared at various distances, some stationary, others moving unpredictably.

He raised the gun, his stance firm, and fired. The weapon responded instantly, releasing a burst of magical energy that tore through the targets with surgical precision. 

Each shot was perfect, the magic flowing seamlessly through the weapon, enhancing its power without compromising stability. The Complex runes flared briefly with each discharge, their energy melding flawlessly with the advanced technology.

I increased the pressure on the core to its maximum capacity, pushing the weapon to its limits. 

I wanted to see how it would perform under extreme stress and prolonged strain—just like the conditions my soldiers would face on the battlefield. 

The safety of my men is my first priority, and I couldn't afford to leave anything to chance.

The weapon hummed ominously as the energy core flared, its glow intensifying. The runes etched into its surface pulsed with a fierce light, struggling to contain the immense power coursing through the device.

Simon took a deep breath, steadying his hand as he aimed at the next set of targets.

If this weapon could withstand the conditions I was about to put it through, it would mean the difference between life and death for those under my command.

He unleashed the weapon's full potential. The energy core roared, expelling a blast that shook the entire lab. 

The targets disintegrated instantly, vaporized by the sheer force of the attack. But He didn't stop there—He continued firing, each shot building on the last, pushing the weapon further and further.

The weapon grew hot in his hands, his gloves changing color from the heat. 

The runes flaring brighter as they fought to maintain control. The strain was evident, but It didn't let up. 

I needed to know exactly how far it could go before it failed.

Minutes passed, the lab echoing with the relentless barrage. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he maintained focus. 

Finally, with one last powerful blast, the weapon reached its breaking point. The energy core flickered, then dimmed, the runes fading as the weapon powered down.

He lowered the gun, breathing heavily. The lab was silent, the air thick with the residue of the energy that had been unleashed. 

I could feel everyone's eyes on me, waiting for my assessment.

"It held up," I said, my voice steady . "Under these conditions most weapons would fail, it held up. But it needs more reinforcement, especially if it's going to be used in prolonged combat."

I gave Simon a pat on Back, "Good Work Simon, Well Done"

"Thanks Boss," he said feeling pumped, "That was one hell of a test. If it can survive that, it's a weapon I'd trust on the field. 

But like you said, safety first. No point in having a powerful weapon if it's going to blow up in your face."

Tatsuya nodded, his expression thoughtful. "The core was close to overloading, but it never crossed the threshold. That's a good sign. We can reinforce the runes and enhance the cooling system to improve its durability."

"Let's switch to active cooling and Level-up the runes," I said, already starting to enhance the patterns.

"And I'll work on the other 'requirements' you mentioned," Tatsuya replied as we both dived back into our work.

Miyuki sighed, a hint of disappointment in her eyes as she realized her alone time with her brother would have to wait once again. 

But there was one thing nagging at the back of her mind: 

'How does Grey produce factory-level quantities of these weapons for his supposed army?'