[If they mimic their predecessors, I will kill you.]
Khalios had detached himself from the world and was content to remain an observer. But he would readily intervene if necessary.
[I see hope in those children. For your sake, I hope you do not destroy it.]
He turned around and walked into the depths of the familiar forest. Zekram could play his games, but only the blade was true. Khalios would use that very blade to sever his head should the need arise.
.
|DxD|
.
Mount Kailasa
.
It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining brightly, illuminating the forest below with its radiance. From the skies, animals could occasionally be seen prowling about, yet there were no birds in the skies.
That was because of the two entities facing off against each other. To be accurate, only one of them was doing the part of “facing off”. The other calmly stood with his hands behind his back.
[Hey, Triny.]
[...yes?]
FUUUUUUUUUSH
“...”
Igor was in a bit of a pickle.
[I might need your help.]
Hovering in front of him was Shiva…and the god was releasing an immense tyrannical pressure.
Gulp!
If anyone asked, he would swear that he was swallowing his saliva from excitement. Just because Shiva released some of his power didn’t mean he would be afraid. No. He was not afraid at all.
“...”
Igor wordlessly got into a stance. The aura of his demi-ki and nature energy harmonised to create a subtle mix of gold and red---the latter having a higher density.
It was fortunate there was no vegetation around them…or beneath them. Igor and Shiva hovered in the cloudless skies where another round of sparring was about to take place.
Saturday, a day meant to rest was threatening to turn out quite badly for Igor.
[Boost me up, old hag or else we both won’t see the sunset.]
GRUUUU!
Compared to Shiva’s aura, his was minute in comparison. Power that was enough to place the Underworld in shock was nothing in front of Shiva.
Igor was fully aware Shiva could swat him like a fly, but he was only thankful this was not their usual spars.
“Judge me well, Lord Shiva!”
He charged forward.
Su!
It was a textbook charge, but a horrifying one to those without the reaction speed.
Gu!
His fist collided with a raised palm and made a soft clapping noise. However, the distortion of air betrayed the power behind the punch. He couldn’t fully contain the power, but it was progress.
[Good. He’s learning well. I’m tempted to keep him here.]
But that was only a fleeting thought Shiva had.
*Grips Fist*
The god still had to wait a couple more months before he could truly polish out the blonde. In the meantime, he would give him a prelude of what’s to come.
SUUUUUUuuuuuu
He threw Igor far off into the distance and quickly followed up.
Su!
Igor might not be much, but Shiva figured he might use the boy to warm up his body for his own training later today. Only he knew how much Nandi pestered him for a chance to train Igor.
.
|DxD|
.
[Triny. You had one job.]
[Hmph. It’s not my fault you can’t fight]
[I can fight you $@&*%!]
Igor was…bruised. The bruises were fading in real-time, but the lump on his forehead would fade after a few minutes. His defeat was embarrassing…really embarrassing.
[Damnit, old hag! Are your eyes for decoration?! Do I need to get you glasses, huh?!]
[Meanie! Don’t blame your failures on me!]
[Blame?! Look at the size of the bump on my head! Who can I blame if not you?!]
[You…pfft!]
[Don’t laugh, damn hag!]
[Pfft! Hihihihihihihi!]
[Damnit, old hag! See how I come in there and beat you to deat-]
“Igor. While I understand you’re having a nice conversation with little Triny, I would appreciate it if you don’t move so much.”
Igor’s attention was captured by a gentle hand grabbing his forehead.
“Yes…aunty.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
The woman in front of him was Parvati. Indeed, upon getting knocked out by a finger flick of all things to the forehead, Igor awoke in his new room to the sight of Parvati applying some cream on him. If he could, he would curse Shiva for beating him like a useless grandson!
Couldn’t he atleast leave him some dignity by punching his lights out? Why did it have to be a finger-flick of all things!
[Hihihihihi! Hahahahahaha!]
[Stop laughi-]
“Ow!”
Igor was brought back to reality when Parvati flicked his forehead.
“Igor. If you’re talking to her, atleast try to keep it subtle. People may think you’re a madman.”
Parvati wished Igor could see himself. He no longer spoke out loud, but the myriad of expressions he made would make people wonder if he was having a seizure.
“Alright, aunty. But have you ever had an old hag in your---yes you’re an old hag, old hag! You’re thousands of years old, goddamnit!”
“Oh…?”
Parvati’s expression darkened. The pressure she released was enough to slightly rattle the windows.
“Igor. I’m also thousands of years old. By that logic, am I also…an old hag?”
“...”
Igor…looked at her like she was an idiot.
“Is it not obvious?”
.
|DxD|
.
Nandi, a faithful attendant to his lord shared a common love for nature with Shiva. If he was not attending to Shiva, he could usually be found mingling with the wildlife.
The animals of Mount Kailasa were not only larger, but also more intelligent. They knew that this pale man could protect them from the terrifying new blonde resident and the mountain owner.
It had been difficult for the beasts of Mount Kailasa these past few days. From dawn to dusk, explosions of power destroyed their peaceful lives. It was only when they were near this blue man that everything calmed.
Unfortunately for these animals, their little peace was soon about to be disrupted.
Tswii!
Igor appeared behind Nandi with his Instant Transmission. His ki was in a state of flux, his senses spreading throughout the region.
“Pssst. Nandi. I need some help. Can you hide…nevermind.”
Ta…Ta…Ta…Ta…Ta…
Crushing the leaf litter beneath her feet was Parvati who had a ‘kind’ smile on her face. She stopped just a dozen metres away from the duo and ‘glared’ at Igor with a closed-eye smile.
“Igor. Perhaps I didn’t quite hear you clearly. Are you saying I am a…hag?”
“...”
For once, Igor thought this matter through. With Nandi as his makeshift shield, he didn’t need to worry about Parvati launching a preemptive strike.
“Well…it’s actually wrong to say you’re an old hag.”
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“You’re more like an ancestor if we’re speaking honestly. Wait…how old are you? You must be older than my entire lineage.”
“...”
Parvati’s expression grew darker while Nandi was growing more and more amused.
“Yeah. You’re an ancestor-no. That doesn’t sound right.”
Igor seemed oblivious to the darkening atmosphere.
“Great Ancestor? Supreme Ancestor? No. It doesn’t quite capture it. Hmmm…”
Igor feared nothing. Nandi was his shield and by now, he was absolutely sure this seemingly frail man was the strongest on this mountain. It was why he could safely ponder without fear of death.
“Aha! PriMORDIAL Ancestor-?!”
Keen instinct guided Igor to dodge the hairpin that blazed past right where his forehead would’ve been.
Doof! Doof! Doof! Doof! Doof! Doof!
The hairpin penetrated right through the thick trunks of each tree and continued to do so to the following ones without losing momentum.
“...”
Igor did not know how many trees it burst through, but he wasn’t confident his skull could survive.
“Ancestor? Why did you…?”
SHIIING!
A single blade of hair stopped right in front of his eye.
.
.
.
Silence…
“...”
Parvati’s stance was clear. She had enough.
“Igor. I would appreciate if you stop.”
[But my ancestor’s ages added up don’t compare to yours.]
…is what he wanted to say. Igor was truly tempted to let his intrusive thoughts win but ultimately controlled himself.
“Alright, aunty. I won’t tease you anymore. But-”
“Ohohohoho. I think that’s enough now, young Dimori. We don’t want to get Lady Parvati mad now, do we?”
Nandi finally acted. He tapped his staff on the ground and the hairpin Parvati threw earlier came flying back. The unfortunate trees caught in its path also recovered to their previous state under Nandi’s time reversal.
He enjoyed the subtle banter between Igor and Parvati, but he did not want to see this lovely forest destroyed.
“Lady Parvati. Would you find it in your heart to forgive Igor? He’s still young after all.”
[...compared to her? Very.]
He kept his thoughts to himself this time. He couldn’t be sure whether Parvati was truly angry or faking it. To him, all women were incomprehensible…including his own. Thinking of Aurelia made him want to return, but he wasn’t sure he could properly face Shuri.
But those migrant thoughts had to wait since Parvati still had her strand of hair follow him around.
“...”
No matter how he moved or swivelled his head, that needle-like strand hovered over his eye. His trusty shield called Nandi didn’t even try and move the strand away.
While he was preoccupied with Parvati’s preditorial advances, Nandi proceeded to calm her down.
“Lady Parvati. Should you wish to instill punishment, might it wait until after my time with him. I need young Dimori in one piece for the next few hours.”
Just because Igor wasn’t paying attention doesn’t mean he wasn’t paying attention.
“Wait what?”
Did…did Nandi just throw him under the bus?
.
AN
.
This is a bit long overdue, but here’s an update for each currently relevant person’s current power level. Characters like Shiva, Parvati, Indra, Mahabali, and other gods will not be mentioned since we barely know anything. The only thing we’re aware of is that Igor’s full power with help from Triny might force Indra into his true form. But that’s all.
Here’s the list in no particular order.
.
Year: 1999 (September)
.
1. Igor von Dimori
Base: Peak-God Class
Full-Power: High-Supreme Class (Indra’s base = High-Supreme Class)
Combat-Capability: High-Supreme Class
.
2. Aurelia von Drachenburg
Base: Peak-God Class
Full-Power: Peak-God Class to Low-Supreme Class (Unverified)
Combat Capability: Low-Supreme Class (Potentially/Unverified)
.
3. Atid
Base: High-God Class
Full-Power: High-Supreme Class
Combat Capability: High-Supreme Class
.
4. Himejima Shuri
Base: Low-Ultimate Class
Full-Power: Low/Mid-Ultimate Class (Unverified)
Combat Capability: Low-God Class (Limited)
.
5. Azazel
Base: Peak-God Class
Full-Power: Mid-Supreme Class
Combat Capability: Mid-Supreme Class
.
6. Baraquiel
Base: Low/Mid-God Class (Unverified)
Full-Power: Low/Mid-God Class (Unverified)
Combat-Capability: Peak-God Class
.
7. Sirzechs Gremory
Base: Peak-God Class
Full-Power: Mid-Supreme Class
Combat-Capability: Mid-Supreme Class
.
8. Ajuka Astaroth
Base: Peak-God Class
Full-Power: Mid-Supreme Class (Unverified)
Combat Capability: Mid-Supreme Class (Unverified)
.
9. Serafall Sitri
Base: Low-God Class
Full-Power: Low/Mid-God Class (Potentially)
Combat Capability: Low/Mid-God Class (Potentially)
.
10. Falbium Glaysa-Labolas
Base: Low-God Class
Full-Power: Low/Mid-God Class (Potentially)
Combat Capability: Low/Mid-God Class (Potentially)
.
For those interested, here’s a more detailed power output for Igor.
.
1. Igor von Dimori
Base (Relaxed): Peak-God Class
Base (Full-Power): Peak-God Class (1.5x multiplier)
Base (Full-Power + Passive Kaioken): Unknown (Current Kaioken Multiplier unknown)
Demigod State (Suppressed): Low-Supreme Class (x50 multiplier)
Demigod State: Mid-Supreme Class (x100 multiplier)
Demigod State (Full-Power/Berserk): Mid-Supreme Class (120x to 160x multipliers)
Sage Mode(?): Peak-God Class (x10 multiplier)
Sage Mode(?) x30 Kaioken: High-Supreme Class (300x multiplier)
Sage Mode(?) x Demigod State (Suppressed): High-Supreme Class (500x multiplier)
.
As it stands, no official name has been given for the state Igor enters when Triny draws in nature energy through him. Until an official name is given in the story, I shall refer to it as sage mode in any ANs.
Now for comparison purposes, you can view the previous rankings on chapter 127. These rankings were made just when Igor entered the time chamber with Aurelia.