Highschool DXD: Reborn as a true phoenix

The first sensation Raizer Phoenix remembered was warmth—an all-consuming, fiery warmth that wrapped around his small body. He blinked slowly, feeling the strange mixture of helplessness and awareness as muffled voices echoed around him.

"You're strong, little one," a soft yet commanding voice said. "Just like your father."

Raizer's eyes opened. He couldn't make sense of the tall figure gazing down at him, her golden hair shimmering under the soft glow of flames. He was an infant in her arms, helpless yet strangely calm.

This was not the life he remembered.

Memories of a Past Life

It took years for him to make sense of it all.

In his past life, Raizer had been a nobody—a faceless man in a world where survival demanded hard work, not lineage. That life had been brutal yet simple. You worked, you survived, and if you were lucky, you left behind something meaningful.

He had hated people who lived in illusions, chasing ideals without effort or wallowing in mediocrity. He had despised pompous elites who thought titles and wealth made them superior, and he held contempt for those who wasted their potential.

When death finally claimed him, Raizer expected nothing. No heaven, no hell—just the end.

But fate had other plans.

He had been reborn as Raizer Phoenix, the third son of the illustrious Phoenix Clan, a family of immortal devils revered for their control over flames and unmatched regenerative abilities. It was a world of power, prestige, and endless opportunities, yet riddled with arrogance and delusion.

Raizer vowed not to repeat his past mistakes.

The Weight of Expectations

From the moment he could walk, Raizer felt the crushing weight of his family's legacy.

His father, Lord Phoenix, was a man of immense presence—tall, imposing, and wielding flames that could incinerate entire armies. He carried himself with an air of superiority that made lesser devils tremble, but Raizer saw through it. Behind the facade was a man obsessed with maintaining the Phoenix Clan's prestige.

His mother, Lady Phoenix, was the epitome of elegance and cunning. She viewed the world as a chessboard, and her children were pieces to be molded into perfect tools for the family's success.

Then there were his siblings.

His eldest brother, Ruval, was the golden child—charming, powerful, and respected. Ruval basked in the attention of others, believing himself untouchable. Raizer found him exhausting.

His sisters, Ravel and Riseria, were just as grating in their own ways. Ravel, though only a year older than Raizer, carried herself with the haughtiness of someone who believed the world revolved around her. Riseria, the eldest daughter, was sharper and more manipulative, her beauty was matched only by her cunning.

Raizer didn't hate his family. But he didn't love them, either.

A Different Kind of Child

By the time Raizer was two, it was clear he wasn't like the other children in the Phoenix Clan.

While his siblings flaunted their natural gifts, Raizer immersed himself in hard work. He didn't have the raw talent of Ruval or the charm of Ravel, but what he lacked in innate skill, he made up for with relentless determination.

Every morning, Raizer would wake early, sneaking out to the training grounds before the sun rose. There, he practiced the basics—simple punches, controlled breathing, and channeling the faint sparks of flame that flickered in his small hands.

His siblings mocked him for it.

"Why are you working so hard?" Ravel asked one day, watching him struggle to summon a consistent flame. "You're a Phoenix. Power comes to us naturally. Just relax."

Raizer didn't look up. "Because I don't want to be useless."

Ravel frowned, her youthful face scrunching in confusion. "You're not useless. You're a noble."

"Titles mean nothing without strength," Raizer said curtly, ignoring her and returning to his practice.

Ravel huffed and left, muttering about her "weird" little brother.

A Quiet Rebellion

Raizer's disdain for laziness extended to his family's ideology.

The Phoenix Clan prided themselves on their status as devils. They saw humans as inferior creatures—weak, short-lived, and insignificant. Raizer found this perspective shallow.

Though he had yet to visit the human world, his memories of his past life told him otherwise. Humans, for all their flaws, were capable of incredible resilience and ingenuity. Their limitations forced them to strive harder, and Raizer respected that.

One evening, during a family dinner, this disdain for his family's arrogance surfaced.

"Humans are pathetic," Ruval said, his tone dismissive. "They grovel for scraps of power and waste their lives chasing meaningless dreams."

Raizer, barely four, couldn't hold his tongue. "At least they work for what they have."

The room fell silent.

Lord Phoenix turned to him, his golden eyes narrowing. "And what do you mean by that, Raizer?"

Raizer met his father's gaze, unflinching. "Humans don't have magic or immortality. They have to work hard to survive. That makes them stronger than most devils who are born into power."

Ruval snorted. "That's a ridiculous notion."

"No," Raizer said firmly. "It's reality."

Lady Phoenix's lips twitched in amusement, though she said nothing. Lord Phoenix studied his youngest son for a long moment before nodding slightly. "An interesting perspective," he said. "But don't let it cloud your loyalty to your kind."

Raizer said nothing, but inwardly, he knew he would never adopt his family's blind arrogance.

A Test of Strength

By the age of three, Raizer's hard work began to show results. His flames, though smaller and weaker than his siblings, were precise. His physical training had given him strength and endurance far beyond what was expected of a child his age.

One day, Ruval decided to test him.

"You've been working hard, little brother," Ruval said, his voice dripping with condescension. "Why don't we see if it's paid off?"

Raizer met his brother's smirk with a calm gaze. "Fine."

The sparring match drew a crowd. Their parents, siblings, and several servants gathered to watch.

Ruval, confident in his superiority, allowed Raizer the first move.

Raizer attacked without hesitation, summoning a burst of golden flame to propel himself forward. His punches were sharp and deliberate, each strike aimed at Ruval's vital points. But Ruval was faster, his movements fluid as he dodged effortlessly.

"You're predictable," Ruval said, countering with a wave of flames that sent Raizer sprawling.

Raizer gritted his teeth, refusing to give up. He pushed himself to his feet and charged again, his mind analyzing Ruval's patterns. He noticed a slight delay in Ruval's dodges—a hesitation born of overconfidence.

Exploiting this, Raizer feinted left before darting right, his fist grazing Ruval's shoulder.

The crowd gasped.

Ruval's smirk faded, replaced by a look of mild surprise. "Not bad," he admitted, knocking Raizer down with a swift kick. "But you'll need more than that to beat me."

Raizer didn't rise immediately. He lay on the ground, breathing heavily, but a small smile played on his lips. He had landed a hit. That was enough for now.

A Moment with Mother

Later that evening, Lady Phoenix found Raizer in the garden, sitting beneath the great phoenix statue. The flames that lit the estate cast a soft glow over his small figure.

"You did well today," she said, sitting beside him.

"I lost," Raizer said bluntly.

"Even so, you surprised Ruval. That's no small feat."

Raizer looked at her, his amber eyes serious. "Mother, do you think I'll ever be as strong as him?"

Lady Phoenix tilted her head, considering her answer. "Strength comes in many forms, Raizer. Ruval is strong, yes, but his confidence blinds him to his flaws. You, on the other hand, see the world as it is. That perspective will make you stronger in ways he can't understand."

Raizer nodded slowly. Her words resonated with him.

The Fire Within

Raizer's fourth birthday marked a turning point in his life.

During the celebration, Lord Phoenix approached him with a rare expression of approval. "You've shown promise, Raizer. Keep working hard, and you may surpass even Ruval one day."

Raizer didn't care about surpassing his siblings. His goal was simpler: to forge his path, free from the chains of arrogance and complacency that bound so many devils.

That night, as the flames of the celebration flickered in the dark sky, Raizer made a vow.

"I'll become strong," he whispered to himself. "Not for titles or glory, but because I refuse to be weak. I'll do whatever it takes."

The stars above seemed to shimmer in agreement, and for the first time, Raizer felt a sense of clarity.

This was only the beginning.

This concludes Chapter 1, focusing on Raizer's hardworking and antiheroic personality, his realistic outlook on life, and his interactions with his family. Let me know if you'd like any adjustments or expansions!