High School DxD: Fate's Error

The wheel of glowing possibilities spun rapidly in front of Matthew, the light blurring into a dizzying kaleidoscope of choices. He could barely catch a glimpse of some of the abilities, but when he did, his heart leaped in his chest. Reality Manipulation. Intangibility. And—oh my god, his brain nearly short-circuited at the sight of—Gamer System.

Holy shit.

That was the holy grail of reincarnation abilities! A freaking cheat code in human form. The dream! The fantasy! He could practically hear himself leveling up in a cool fantasy world, living a life of ultimate power, unlocking abilities like they were bonus points. And then...

Enhanced Eyesight. Fire Control. Increased Memory Retention.

His eyes narrowed.

"Oh, Christ," Matthew muttered, voice low and angry, but half-praying to whatever entity was listening. "If I land on one of those boring ones, I swear to whatever gods are up there, I'll start throwing hands."

God stood beside him, a grin barely contained beneath the surface. "Do your best, my boy," he said, his voice playful. "Let's see how the wheel spins for you."

Matthew shot him a look. "You're enjoying this, aren't you? You sick bastard."

God just shrugged as the wheel accelerated, the options blurring like speed lines in a bad action movie. Time dragged on, then seemed to twist around him as he waited. He gripped his sides, muttering softly to himself. "Come on, come on. I'm not asking for too much. Just a little overpowered fun. Something OP, something I can break the rules with, yeah?"

The wheel gradually slowed. The tension ratcheted up. Each passing second felt like an eternity as Matthew's heart hammered in his chest.

"Come on... just please."

The wheel finally came to a stop with a resounding click. The golden arrow hovered for a moment at the top of one segment, teasing him, before settling in place.

"Child of War," God read aloud, his voice calm but with a flicker of amusement.

Matthew blinked. "...What? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He was already halfway through picturing himself as a god among men. But now? Now, he had no idea what he was looking at.

"It's a bloodline ability," God replied, sounding almost pleased with the outcome. "It's not what you might have hoped for, but it's... interesting."

Matthew glared, not quite sure whether to laugh or cry. "Bloodline ability? Yeah, sure, that sounds like some kind of ancient power. What does it do, though?"

God smiled a little. "It means you're built for conflict. Your body will grow and evolve with immense physical strength, and your resilience will be unlike anything you've experienced. Your understanding of combat and weapons will be instinctive, almost second nature. You'll master them faster than any mortal ever could."

Matthew's lips twitched. "Right. So basically, I'm a walking weapon with more muscle than a steroid-fueled bodybuilder. Got it. But I'm assuming there's more to it, right?"

God's eyes gleamed. "Indeed. You'll have adaptation. You'll evolve to withstand the threats you face—your body will change to overcome them."

Matthew's eyebrows shot up. "Adaptation? You mean like... adaptation?" he asked, his mind immediately jumping to the countless anime and manga he'd devoured in his past life. "Like I'll just… adapt to anything?"

God paused. "Not quite the anime-style instant magic, but... close enough. You'll be able to survive attacks, poisons, and dangerous situations better as you face them. But don't get cocky. It's not all-powerful. It takes time, and there are limits."

Matthew frowned but nodded, willing to take it for what it was. "Alright, alright. So, I'm basically like a slow-burn tank, huh? Not bad. Could be worse."

"That's the spirit," God said with a wry smile. "But we're not done yet."

Matthew's stomach lurched. "Yeah, I was wondering when that 'balance' you keep mentioning would show up."

God's smile faltered for a fraction of a second, and that was enough to send a shiver down Matthew's spine. "Here it comes," God murmured.

And with that, the wheel spun again, faster this time, until God stepped in front of it, obscuring Matthew's view. The seconds felt like hours.

"Alright, spill," Matthew grumbled, "What's the bad news? This better not be one of those 'you get a handicap' things."

God didn't answer immediately. He turned and stared directly at Matthew, his expression unreadable.

"World's Reject," he said quietly.

Matthew's mind blanked. "What. The. Hell."

"You will not be recognized by the world you are entering," God said, his voice almost clinical now. "You will be unable to manipulate any of the world's energies—no magic, no supernatural powers. Nothing. Your very existence will defy the rules of the world itself."

Matthew's jaw dropped. "Wait, wait, wait. You're sending me to a world of gods, devils, and actual planet-busters, and I can't even use magic? Not even a little ki or something?" He flailed his arms in exasperation. "What am I supposed to do? Stand there and hope they laugh me to death?"

God just smiled. "You will have to rely on your wits, your adaptability, and your physical prowess. But you're outside the world's rules. Your adaptation will be stronger, your body less restrained. Think of it like... an unexpected advantage."

"An advantage?" Matthew hissed, the sarcasm practically dripping from his words. "So, you're telling me I'm gonna get my ass handed to me while I slowly get stronger, but at least I won't be bound by magic? What a blessing."

God smiled faintly, but there was something bittersweet about it. "Sometimes, life is a bit more complicated than we'd like."

Matthew folded his arms, his face pulling into a grimace. "Yeah, no kidding. Can I at least keep my memories? I don't even know what I'm gonna be walking into!"

God nodded slightly. "You'll remember this conversation, but only the bits that matter for your growth. Everything else will fade as you live your new life."

"Great," Matthew muttered, rolling his eyes. "I'm just a walking, talking plot device, aren't I?"

God chuckled softly, the sound almost too warm for how strange this situation felt. "Goodbye, Matthew. May your journey be as extraordinary as it is challenging."

Matthew's world began to dissolve around him. "Shite," he groaned as everything turned black. "I'm absolutely fucked."

And with that, the boy faded into the void.

Matthew's head spun as the world around him began to distort, colors and shapes blurring together like paint smeared across a canvas. A strange sensation washed over him, like being pulled through a tunnel, his body stretching and contorting in ways that shouldn't have been possible. It felt as though his very soul was being ripped apart and sewn back together in an instant.

His body tensed, and for a moment, he thought he could hear a voice—God's voice—murmuring something faintly, but it was drowned out by the rushing sound in his ears. A searing heat followed, like being submerged in boiling water, then freezing cold, as if he were falling through a void made of ice. His skin burned, and then chilled, his bones aching with a sensation too alien to fully understand.

He felt his chest tighten, the pressure unbearable as though his entire existence was being compressed. "What is happening?" he thought, panic rising, his heart thudding against his ribs. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, as every part of him seemed to rebel against the process, rejecting the very nature of his rebirth.

His vision blurred even more. The darkness threatened to swallow him whole as he saw nothing but flashes—flashes of his life, flashes of battles he had never fought, of people he had never met, of worlds he could never comprehend. Then, without warning, everything went black.

The last thought that crossed his mind, as the void consumed him, was a simple, terrifying realization:

This is it. I'm really going to die again…

And then, there was nothing.