He slowly looked around and saw nothing had changed. The world was in colour, but his condition was proof he wasn't hallucinating. Somehow, he entered a state where time was slowed. He had not the faintest clue, but he wouldn't let this rest. He would definitely find out what this was, because with high-class, he could finally read all the books that were restricted from him.
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|DxD|- Chapter 77- Please Be Well
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The supernatural world was bound and segmented into tiers of power that were absolute. It was a brutal hierarchy that could not be disputed nor easily surpassed, for it was not just a scale of power, but a scale of existence.
Low-Class was a candle. The world did not lack them and armies had hordes of them. They were the starting point of many, and also the endpoint if they met a strong breeze. Against a stronger existence, ten or a hundred meant little difference to the capable.
Mid-Class was a campfire. They were the commanders of armies and the natural ceiling of many races. At mid-class, one could venture the world with little to fear, so long as they did not tread near water.
High-Class was a hegemony, an untamed forest fire that could waste entire regions. A low-class or mid-class meant nothing to them—both were grass beneath their feet. High-Class was the seat of dragons and noble races. A strong breath from them was a hurricane that could turn the tides of war.
A high-class was a strategic asset, a power that gave a voice to the one who wielded it. It provided a seat at meeting tables and added weight to a name. Higher tiers of power existed, but high-class was where recognition began, for that was where the top percentile of the world resided.
Igor was proud of himself, proud to have attained that level of power. It meant he finally had a deterrent force, finally had the ground to say he could protect his family. And to his jubilation, he had touched upon something mysterious, a state that possibly signified the peak union of body and soul.
Fifteen minutes had passed since Igor touched upon that state. His body was full of energy, rekindled and ready to try again. Igor could only shake his head at the absurdity of high-class power. What should've been hours of rest was nothing more than a short nap.
But beyond it all, beyond his elation for his new seat, was that state he entered. There was no telling what it was, but he believed he would find answers in the library.
Igor rose to his feet amidst the ongoing blizzard. His ascendance to high-class was complete and his energy had adopted a complete amber glow over the previous gold. It formed a thin film over his body that melted any snow that dared land on him.
Igor turned his head and beyond the thick mist, he sensed the hourglass still funnelling Liu Xin's energy. His foot rose and when it landed, it was on a wooden step. In a moment, he'd covered a distance that once took him minutes. Truly, high-class was absurd. His hand rested on the railing and he steadily climbed up the stairs.
The flowing ash was a soft serenade of his achievements and just upstairs, more paths awaited him. As his hand rested on the door handle, he glanced at the hourglass. High-Class was a monumental achievement, but it did not make him invincible. If he fell into arrogance, he'd meet the same fate as all his foes.
It was only a glance, but it calmed him down. The road to power hadn't ended. Rather, it had only just begun.
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|DxD|
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07/April/1997- October 19, 1997, Sunday, Kuoh Town, Japan
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Japan was a wonderful country to see in autumn. Trees turned into all manners of colour, and the fair weather made it pleasing to go out. There were a great many festivals and celebrations, fully uniting the beauty of both man and nature.
But while the country was in the season of festivals and celebrations, the small Himejima home was quietly eating breakfast on this Sunday morning. Eight long months had passed since Igor left, and his absence…was still noticeable.
Shuri pinched her food with her chopsticks and ate. Every now and then, she glanced at her daughter. Out of everyone, Akeno had taken it the hardest.
Her bond with Igor was truly that of siblings, and learning of his departure the morning after had shocked her into tearful silence. It had gotten better as time went by, but Shuri could still see the brief lapses of sadness.
"Mama. I'm done~!"
Akeno proudly lifted her empty bowl. Not a scrap of food was inside.
"That's my girl. Are you going to play with your friends?"
"Yes, mama. We're going to play all over the park!"
"Alright. As long as you're careful."
"Thanks, mama!"
Akeno leaped off her chair and dashed out the kitchen. Shuri heard the front door opening and she remembered to call out.
"Be back before sunset!"
"Yes, mama!"
The sound of flapping wings came through the walls and gradually, it went farther away. Shuri always felt some worry letting her daughter use her powers. Fortunately, her ever-silent husband was always willing to follow Akeno from afar.
"Are you going?"
"Of course."
Baraquiel put his newspaper down and vanished like the wind. Since the day Igor left, he rarely left Kuoh, especially after the pantheon search.
Shuri was glad that saga was over, but she could not help but worry for her little boy. She absently glanced at the calendar, and felt her worry worsen by a margin. Each day here was over two weeks for Igor, and so many weeks had passed.
[It must've been ten years now.]
She looked outside the window where leaves of many colours formed a carpet beyond the fence. A year for fifteen: four seasons for sixty. She still held apprehension over letting him leave. And after so long, that feeling only grew with time.
[Please be well, Igor. We're waiting for you.]
Chapter 77
END