Life settled into a new kind of normal, a busy rhythm that left me with little time to think. And that was the point.
My days became a strict schedule. Early morning was for the Rokushiki. I practiced until my legs felt like jelly from using Soru and my knuckles were raw from trying to master the sharp flick of Shigan. The power I bought was there, but my body still had to learn it the hard way.
School was a blur. I went to class, but my mind was often on the system interface, planning my next move.
Afternoons were for the Occult Research Club. Rias pushed me harder now, knowing about the Boosted Gear. We sparred, and while I still lost badly to Kiba's speed, I was now able to block a few of his strikes with a rough Tekkai. Akeno noted my improved control, and even Koneko gave a quiet "Hmm" of approval one day.
But my real focus was the evenings. Devil jobs. I became a machine. I took every single job on the board, no matter how small. I found lost pets, helped people move, fixed leaky roofs using a bit of demonic energy to seal the cracks. My Points slowly climbed, but it felt like trying to fill a lake with a teaspoon.
**[ Available Points: 1,050 ]**
It was a grind. I was pushing myself so hard that I started coming home with dark circles under my eyes. I'd fall asleep during dinner, only to wake up and do more push-ups before bed.
The people around me started to notice.
One evening, Asia met me at the door, her face full of worry. "Issei-san, you look so tired! Please, you must rest." She tried to take my bag, her small hands fluttering with concern.
"I'm fine, Asia, really," I'd say, forcing a smile. "Just a lot of homework." It was a weak lie, and we both knew it.
At the club, Rias called me to her desk. "Issei," she said, her voice serious. "Your dedication is impressive. But you are pushing your body and soul too hard. A Devil's power grows with rest, too. You cannot burn the candle at both ends."
I just nodded. "I understand, President. I'll be careful." But my mind was already on the next job, the next point.
The system noticed my relentless pace. One night, as I collapsed onto my bed, a new, glowing quest appeared.
**[ NEW SYSTEM QUEST: 'Week of Trials' ]**
**Objective:** For seven days, complete a minimum of three Devil Contracts per day. Maintain intense physical and demonic training throughout. Do not fail a single day.
**Reward:** 10,000 Points.
**Penalty for Failure:** System Lockout for 30 days. All Point gain suspended.
My breath caught. Ten thousand points! That was more than I had ever seen. With that, I could buy something truly game-changing. I could buy the next rank of Devil power, or a powerful weapon, or a rare skill.
But the penalty... a whole month with no system? With Vali out there? It was a huge risk.
I didn't hesitate. I accepted the quest.
The next week was hell. I lived on barely any sleep. I ran from one job to the next, my body aching, my demonic energy constantly running low. I trained until I saw spots in my vision.
Asia began leaving little notes and snacks on my desk. "Please eat, Issei-san." My mother started asking if I was sick. At the club, even Kiba looked concerned. "Issei, maybe you should sit this spar out today."
But I couldn't stop. The image of those 10,000 points drove me forward.
On the sixth day, I was so tired I almost fell off a ladder while helping an old man clean his gutters. That night, as I tried to meditate, a sharp pain spiked behind my eyes. I was pushing my new Psi-Circuit too hard.
I was falling apart.
On the final morning of the quest, I woke up feeling dizzy. The seventh day. I just had to get through today. Three more jobs. I could do this.
I stumbled out of my room, past a worried Asia, and headed for the door. My vision swam for a second. I shook my head to clear it.
As I stepped outside, a system message flashed, its usual gold color now a dull, warning yellow.
**[ Final Day of 'Week of Trials' Commencing. ]**
**[ Host's Vital Signs: Sub-Optimal. ]**
**[ Warning: Severe energy depletion detected. Pushing further may have consequences. ]**
I ignored it. I had come too far to quit now.
I didn't know it, but as I walked away from the house, Asia was watching me from the window, her hands clasped tightly together in prayer. And high above, in the clubroom, Rias Gremory felt a tremor of demonic energy so unstable, it made her look up from her book with a deep frown.
The final day had begun. And I was running on empty.