A Nexus Devil (Dxd x Multi Crossover)

Jake Gremory 1

Chapter 1:

A gloved fist hurtled towards his face, but with a swift movement, Jake deftly ducked to the left, skillfully evading the blow just in time.

"Good dodge, Jake!" his coach exclaimed from the side of the ring. "Remember to maintain your agility, stay light on your feet, and never allow your opponent to corner you," he advised, emphasizing the importance of staying mobile and elusive.

Executing a series of jabs, Jake directed them towards his opponent, only to find him skillfully blocking each one. Determined to break his defense, he swiftly followed up with a powerful right hook, shattering his guard. Seizing the opportunity, he unleashed a formidable left haymaker, connecting with precision as it struck him squarely in the face, sending him crashing to the mat.

"That was an impressive workout," Coach commented as Jake stepped out of the ring. "Not many 16-year-old boxers are as talented as you, son. With a couple more years, you could go far in the lightweight or even middleweight divisions," he added, expressing his belief in Jake's potential.

Turning his attention to Brian, who was just getting up from the floor, Coach instructed him, "Good work to you too, Brian. Why don't you go ahead and clean yourself up?" It seemed Jake had unintentionally landed a powerful blow during their sparring session.

Apologizing to Brian, Jake acknowledged his mistake. "Sorry about that, man," he admitted. "I should have pulled back on that last punch." Brian waved him off with a forgiving smile. He was the kind of guy who never held grudges, even in defeat.

"I meant what I said, son," Coach reiterated, his voice filled with passion. "You've got some real talent, and you could definitely make a name for yourself in the sport."

Jake understood Coach's sentiments. Considering his body type, the middle and lightweight divisions were as far as he would go. Blaming his genetics and non-existent parents, he recognized that his athletic and swimmer's build wouldn't lend itself to the heavyweight contender style. Nevertheless, he was content with that reality.

"Thanks, Coach," he replied gratefully. "But you know, boxing has always been more of a hobby for me—a way to stay in shape. I'm not sure what I want to do with my future," he admitted. Walking together through the gym, he turned to Coach and continued, "You know, I've always felt like there was something more I'm destined for."

Coach finished his sentence with a smile. "Yes, I know. I believe there's greatness in store for you, too, kid. I'm aware you haven't had an easy life, growing up in foster homes without any parents. But you've turned out better than most would in your situation."

Internally, Jake smiled, feeling proud of how far he had come. Coach was right—it hadn't been an easy journey. However, he always carried this inner conviction that he could achieve so much more. Hopefully, one day soon, he would be able to act on those aspirations.

Little did he know that the realization of his true destiny was about to unfold—that very day.

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He left the gym and decided to head home for the day, or rather, his foster home. It wasn't too bad, to be honest. Jake currently lived in Philly—a city that may not have been the greatest in the country, but certainly not the worst. He could have been placed in a foster home in Detroit, which would have been a true nightmare.

As he walked along his familiar route, he noticed a group of four teens blocking the sidewalk ahead. Just as he was about to step off the curb to go around them, one of them called out to him.

"Hey there, you're Jacob, right? We've been searching for you," said the Asian guy in the group, who appeared to be of Chinese descent.

"Um... I'm not sure if you have the right guy or not. My name is Jake," he replied, waving him off. He was about to continue walking when the guy's next words caught his attention.