1 1 - Am I really reborn? or is it a nightmare?

'What?? Where am I?'

Last thing I remember was taking rest after a very tiring day.

My eyes were completely blinded by bright light right now.

Then I started hearing someone talking.

"Look dear, Isn't he adorable? He will be pride of our clan when he grows up." (???)

'This... What is going on!!.. are these people giants? Am I dreaming?'

I felt like I was dreaming because, I was looking at people who was very huge in size.

Suddenly I started to feel uncomfortable, it started with ticklish feeling and then it started to get painful all over my body.

I started to feel like my body is getting burned from inside.

Thinking that everything is a dream, I Ignored all of that with my will power

I looked around for clues to know what my situation is and wished that I would soon wake up from this bizzare dream..

"Yes, Yes.. Look at him already looking around curiously. my dear boy, from now on your name is Riser, Riser Phenex, grow up and become pride of our Phenex clan, no pride of out Devil race." (???)

'What!!!!'

Hearing that name and rest of the information suddenly my emotions got erratic, the pain and feeling of burning suddenly became uncontrollable to the point even with all my will power it was impossible to endure it.

My emotions became erratic because I understood my situation.

'Riser Phenex', Its a name in an anime that I used to know.

The thought that I might be reborn into 'High School DxD' made me loose my cool all of a sudden, thus escalating the situation.

Then suddenly I started to hear voices like its call from the heaven and hell, creepy voices, soothing voices.

Then all of a sudden so many emotions that basically signifies happiness, joy, hate, regret, resentment, etc.. that belongs to so many people started pouring into my mind..

The impact was so great that it felt like all of it was trying to tearing me up..

So many emotions, thoughts and memories of many people was directly poured into me and If it was not for holding on with all my will power I was sure that I would loose my identity because of it.

For some reason I knew all of these doesn't belong to me and it belonged to other people, those creepy and soothing voices told that to me.

Then everything went dark when I couldn't endure it at all.

-----------

While this happened, suddenly the new born Riser's body who was in Lady Phenex's arms light up in fire and started to burn.

The newborn Riser was crying out loud like he was getting torn apart in the scorching fire.

Very hot and destructive fire, the demonic hell fire, that is a trait of their clan, but this was very intense, destructive and hot hell fire that they have never heard of.

Unlike the yellowish-red hell flames it was completely a dark fire that look like it would destroy and devour everything and it was quickly and constantly burning the crying baby.

Lady Phenex who saw her new born child burning into ashes so quickly in her hand started crying out loud in panic.

"Nooo.. Noo... My child.."

Lord Phenex immediately took out a Phoenix Tears directly poured onto his child who seems to be burning into ashes and dying for some reason out of anxiety for the sudden situation.

But everything was so fast that the child completely turned into ashes within few moments.

Both of them could do nothing, their faces were filled with intense sadness and grief for their loss.

There was only both of them in the room at this moment and the midwife left this room after passing the child to the mother for them to spend time with the child.

But, who would have thought something like this happen all of a sudden.

Lady Phenex looked at her burned hands that was recovering due to their innate talent for regeneration.

Looking at the ashes of her new born child in her hand, she felt like her world collapsed suddenly.

All of a sudden a miracle happened.

The scattered ashes suddenly gathered together, then from the ashes blood, muscles, skin everything that new born child had grew back like the phoenix in legends that was reborn from its ashes.

"This..." (Lord Phenex)

Both Lord Phenex and Lady Phenex was shocked as they could feel the strong vitality and the loud heart beat of their child

The child that they thought died because of some reason was reborn from ashes like the real Phoenix.

While they were shocked, it happened again so suddenly.

The child burned into ashes.

This time the flames were more terrifying for a devil.

It was something that shocked them even more regardless of the consequences of staying near their burning child.

The flame that came out of their child was terrifying holy flame.

Both of them in the room were severely affected by the holy fire that emitted out of the child.

They knew deep inside this was extremely powerful holy flame, but for some reason it was more gentle towards them, then again because they were devils it has some effect on both of them and hurt them more than the demonic hell fire earlier.

If earlier fire was demonic hell fire, now it was heavenly holy fire which shocked them even more.

Then they saw the child reborn again from the ashes.

They heard heart beats of the child like a drum.

Finally the child that was reborn from the ashes hovered in the air and a cocoon formed all around him like a protection, like the child went back and formed an egg.

By this time two of their eldest sons, their peerage members and maidservants whom were waiting outside have all barged into the room hearing the cry from inside thinking it was emergency.

Everyone stayed there shocked seeing the miracle happened infront of them.

Both Lord Phenex and Lady Phenex knew that their child was alive and safe but something miraculous happened with him.

He was reborn twice from ashes and he seems to be bathed in demotic and holy fire. Fires of two polar natures.

They both looked at each other. And knew this news was something that must not be known by outsiders in any way.

They nodded knowingly at each other.

Both of them got up from the bed standing away from the cocoon with their newborn child.

The apologized to everyone other than their eldest sons.

The directly used magic on rest of the people in this room directly altering their memory forcefully without asking for their permission.

His peerage members and maidservants in this place know why they have to do it, so they obediently accepted it and let themselves be rid of these memories and information about the new born child.

The only one who were little confused were both their sons who was taken care of by Lady Phenex. She didn't erase their memories, instead sealed them with their clan techniques.

This night all traces of the birth of newborn child was wiped out by both of them in this place.

It was said that due to complications both mother and child was transferred to secure place for treatment.

Its only until later that news of the child came out.

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'This..., where is this? Is it really a dream? I thought I was born again as Riser Phenex, in 'High School DxD''

When I woke up again, I was in a dark space.

I checked all around me, I could see three dim light that felt like it was so far away.

I started hearing whispers, like something in that direction is calling out to me.

Without thinking whether it is a dream or not, I walked in that direction.

No matter whether this is real or dream, it is better to be near the light source and I wanted to know what is calling me.

What if it is something that I really need to get out of this place?

After not knowing how long I finally arrived at what it looked like three light source.

When I reached it, I was dumfounded.

The light source are three huge golden grail, that was giving out a terrifying feeling.

I knew that whatever was calling me, it was these three golden grail.

Like a devil's temptation, like an angel's blessing.

I was afraid to touch it. But with all the courage I have, out of curiosity. I touched the grail in the middle. For some reason, I felt that three of them are the same and they are connected.

'Sephiroth Graal'

I unconsciously muttered the name of the grail that came into my mind when I touched it.

I finally understood everything. That feeling of getting my soul tearing apart it is due to this thing.

Sephiroth Graal, A Longinus Type Sacred Gear that deals with principles with life, death and souls.

It was also called the Holy Grail that had the blood of Christ, who might be the closest being when it comes to God of the Bible.

After all Christ is called 'Son of God' and angels are 'Servants of God'

I was instantly thinking why was it that, I who was born as a pure blood devil in this life have a Longinus type Sacred Gear?

Maybe its because I have the soul of a human?

Isn't this thing supposed to be owned by Valerie Tepes?

After all from my knowledge Valerie's subspecies is three golden cups of the same appearance which is exactly what I am seeing infront of me.

Did something happen because of my appearance in this world?

If that is the case what would happen if, I, a pure blood devil that rejects holy objects is an owner of Sephiroth Graal.

Does that mean I died again because of this thing?

Is that why I am in this dark space?

Or is it just I am within my soul ready for the awakening the Sephiroth Graal like in those stories?

While I was thinking all of these suddenly it felt like my life seems to be sucked out of me and the Sephiroth Graal, started shaking showing signs some kind of awakening.

Suddenly like a tsunami, Like what I experienced earlier, So many emotions, thoughts, memories and so many information and knowledge directly bombarded directly into me.

I knew this was the side effect of Sephiroth Graal, but for some reason, after the initial overflow, I started to adapt to it slowly.

While putting all my will power to endure the soul tearing pain, I slowly adapted to the flow of all kinds of information into my soul.

Its like I was slowly adapting and evolving to the situation.

Maybe this is my innate power? to adapt and evolve?

Maybe because of this ability of mine my life might not be in danger having a holy object within me, a pure blood new born devil.

Who knows, how long it has been?

I adapted to every thoughts, memories, emotions, information and knowledge that was getting poured into my soul through Sephiroth Graal non stop.

I finally understood. This dark space, it is within my own soul. My soul space or spiritual space.

When I completely adapted to Sephiroth Graal, I could start to actively control all the information from it.

I was also finally able to slowly control my own spiritual space.

Right now it was full of unwanted thoughts, emotions, memories of countless souls together with my own thoughts and memories and knowledge. And the information about principles of life, death, soul etc from the Sephiroth Graal.

My spiritual space was a complete mess.

But I know that because of Sephiroth Graal, my own will power and spiritual power was increasing countless times.

Because of some kind of adaptation and evolutionary powers that I have, the burden from Sephiroth Graal was almost growing toward null and it was constantly improving my spiritual power and will power.

This is why I am still retain my sanity. That is why I retain my own identity, with this much foreign memories, thoughts and emotions of countless souls, it is very easy to lose your own identity.

Otherwise I would have succumbed to madness because of many negative thoughts, memories and emotions that flowed into my mind and soul, poisoning it.

But it doesn't mean I am not entirely affected. because of all of those I clearly understand this world. This world is very cruel. Life has no real meaning if you are weak. Meaning of life have somewhat become fragile for me.

Then I put all my effort into removing all the unwanted things from my spiritual space.

All unnecessary thoughts, memories, emotions, I cleared them all.

But I also noticed, my own memories of of previous life have long faded and was lost.

Other than the knowledge and information that I retain about this world and something similar to it, most of the personal memories and emotions of my previous life because of what happened has blurred and most of it is lost in the mess.

Well logically thinking, I think this is the best, I can start a new life again without getting entangled much because of previous life.

After this I finally was able to control the Sephiroth Graal, understand everything about it, every abilities it has.

I don't know why, I felt like I could assimilate and merge these three golden grail into myself and completely make it a part of myself and evolve myself permanently.

Maybe its because of my intense desire to assimilate and merge the Sephiroth Graal's powers and all its abilities into myself, after trying for so long, it finally merged with myself, becoming part of my existence permanently.

There would no longer be a Longinus Type Sacred Gear named Sephiroth Graal in the heaven's system anymore.

I could feel that it have completely severed some kind of connection just before I started assimilating and merging with it.

I could feel that somehow I adapted and evolved myself after complete assimilation of Sephiroth Graal into my existence, because after this my spiritual power seemed to have improved exponentially.

Finally, who knows how long it took. I was able to feel calm and comfortable for the first time in my second life.

Until now I have been doing everything according to my vague feelings or my instincts.

But I have to say, if this real then it is good that I overcame all the painful things and acquired incredible abilities.

But if this is a dream, then its clearly a hellish nightmare, which is meant to torture me mentally.