As Raiser stood at the summit of the DxD world, a fleeting sense of accomplishment washed over him—but it was hollow.
He knew, deep in his soul, this was not the end. The power he held, vast and awe-inspiring, still felt confined. True godhood lay beyond this realm, beyond the chains of this universe. He had to return to his origin, to his own universe, if he ever hoped to shatter the final shackles binding his soul.
He stood at the edge of the universe, staring into the yawning abyss of the Dimensional Gap. With quiet determination, he plucked a single feather from his fiery wings, feeling the pulse of his essence flow through it. This was more than a token—this was a piece of him, imbued with his will, his dreams, and the lingering warmth of his heart.
He released it into the void, watching as the feather was swallowed by the infinite darkness, sent to carve a path through the unknown.
*This is how it must be,* he thought as the silence around him thickened. His first journey had ended. No... this was not an end, but the beginning of something far greater. A new journey awaited him, one that would take him beyond the limits of any world he had known.
---
Far away, in a place beyond comprehension, the 'Old Man' sat in his timeless domain, watching. His ancient eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and surprise. "So," he murmured, his voice a soft echo in the void, "I underestimated him. The brat has grown... faster than I expected. Faster, perhaps, than even he knows."
A slow smile crept across the Old Man's face. "And all for the love of that precious treasure of mine... His soul burns with the desire to reach her, doesn't it? So, where will you go, Raiser?"
He paused, sensing something in the distance, a world foreign to his senses. "Ah… a world of entirely different cultivation, one that belongs to that 'old fossil.'" His grin widened as he leaned back. "Perfect. If he can conquer that world, he'll be one step closer to reaching his true home. But... he may not be alone. That old fossil has another candidate in play, one who's nearly reached the pinnacle of that world already."
The Old Man's eyes twinkled with mischief. "The boy will have little time to grow before he's noticed." He chuckled softly, the sound both foreboding and proud. "Good boy... Don't disappoint us after making it this far."
---
In the farthest, most forgotten corner of a universe, reality itself trembled. A small gap tore open in the fabric of space, and from it, a single feather floated into the vast emptiness.
It drifted, silent and serene, through the void until it reached a lush forest below. Slowly, it descended, finally landing on a small bird egg nestled in the grass. As the feather touched the egg, the two merged, becoming one in an instant of silent power.
For the briefest moment, the entire universe held its breath. Time itself seemed to freeze, as though something monumental had occurred, something that those with true understanding could only sense, not comprehend.
To most, the moment passed unnoticed. But those who felt the shift in the universe's heartbeat paused. They couldn't act, nor could they interfere, knowing that what had just happened was far beyond their grasp. It was something... ancient. And yet, it had begun anew.
---
At the edge of existence, the Asura God, a being of unimaginable strength, gazed toward the distant tear in the universe. His eyes narrowed, and his lips curled into a faint, dismissive smile.
*So, another player has entered the game...* he thought, almost bored. *But he's too late. The end is already near.*
With a cruel smirk, he turned his attention elsewhere, not bothering to consider the newcomer a threat.
*Which would be his greatest mistake...*