"Hmph. Very well then. I dare you to laugh, Igor. I dare you."
Touji's words were threatening, but he wasn't angry in the slightest. That blonde boy from yesteryear had grown more asocial, so a bit of a laugh was needed, even if it meant becoming the butt of the joke.
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|DxD|- Chapter 97- The Key To Senjutsu
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16/Feb/1998- Wednesday March 4, 1998, Pacific Ocean, Japan
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The waters churned beneath the morning sun. Waves flowed for endless miles, painting the horizon in blue. In the middle of it all, two men hovered in the skies. One wore a dark trenchcoat. The other wore an armoured robe over his naked torso.
A head of black and a head of white, both men were powerful beyond reason, for one was a cadre and the other was a clan patriarch.
"I'm surprised Igor has gotten this strong, Baraquiel. I doubt my cousin could contend with him."
"Mn. The boy's full of surprises."
Both men followed the energy signature departing from Japan. It had been five minutes since Igor departed and five minutes more until he'd arrive.
"He's quite fast, Baraquiel. How old was he again? Thirty-one?"
"Thirty-one."
Baraquiel replied gruffly and Diehauser chuckled.
"What were we doing at thirty-one? I was barely Mid-Class at that age. What about you, Baraquiel?"
"You expect me to remember something that happened almost five-thousand years ago?"
Diehauser didn't reply. His raised eyebrows were his 'yes'. Baraquiel looked away with folded arms. Recalling the strength of his child years was something he'd rather not visit.
"Don't bother pressuring me, Diehauser. I won't tell you. What I can say is, I was stronger than you."
"But weaker than Igor."
Diehauser had spotted the underlying words and ruthlessly exploited them. His grin was as wide as a ravine. Baraquiel's continued silence only served to make him laugh out loud in sheer amusement.
"Hahaha. Look at us, beaten by a lad many times our junior. I'd thought Igor would be like Sairaorg and reach High-Class in his fifties at best."
Sairaorg Bael, a growing prodigy of the Underworld's current generation of youth. Ten years ago, he had become High-Class and shocked devil society. Who knew there was a human thirty years younger who did the same in half the time?
"Baraquiel. Should Igor's time chamber be counted as a Longinus? It's too fate-defying."
Diehauser had never been at ease ever since Baraquiel confirmed Igor had the time chamber. Such an artifact gave advantages of monstrous proportions during times of war as presented by the Ariyans.
"It can't be counted, Diehauser. A Longinus and a time chamber are too different."
"Hmm…perhaps you're right."
Diehauser looked into the distance once more. His grey eyes glinted with interest. He was looking forward to seeing Igor in person, and maybe his look of surprise too.
"How is he doing by the way, Baraquiel? Is he faring well?"
"Very well. He's become somewhat of a teacher to Issei Hyoudou."
"Issei…you mean that boy with a potential sacred gear?"
"Not potential. Igor had verified it since last year."
Diehauser raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Another surprise from our blonde."
"He's always full of surprises."
Baraquiel smiled with pride and muttered.
"Always…"
Far ahead, an orange light swiftly approached like a shooting star. It carved its way across the skies, leaving a long tail that trailed behind. In the coming seconds, both men waited patiently as Igor drew closer.
Diehauser found his body surge with an excess of energy. It was hard to remain still, even more impossible to remain calm. Seven years ago, Igor was a little boy his cousin had used a phoenix tear on. Seven years later, that meek boy was now a man with eyes like stone.
Igor arrived before them and his aura retreated into his body. Diehauser felt like he was a fan before their idol. Who expected this investment could yield such returns so soon? He wished he could kiss Cleria right in this moment. A moment of compassion had unveiled a lottery ticket of the highest proportions.
"Igor."
"Sir Diehauser."
"Please…"
Diehauser hovered forward and stretched out his hand.
"...call me brother. 'Sir' is too estranging given we'll be seeing each other a lot more frequently."
"Then I'll call you 'brother' from today as well."
Igor stretched out his hand and shook Diehauser's hand. The man's presence undoubtedly revealed his heritage had been exposed. But since Baraquiel was here, he had little reason to worry.
"Such dense fibres. Did you do gravity training?"
Igor's eyebrows raised momentarily, but he replied.
"Yes. I found it was a good way to improve my strength."
"I can tell."
Diehauser glanced over his shoulder.
"How much do you think he weighs, Baraquiel? One-fifty? Two-hundred? Maybe three?"
"Don't exaggerate, Diehauser."
Baraquiel came around and patted Igor's shoulder.
"I don't believe I have to introduce you to Diehauser, Igor. Unless you've had memory loss maybe? Extreme training can do that."
Diehauser responded in mock disdain.
"Not with a heart that big, Baraquiel. I can hear it pumping from here."
"Brother…"
Igor was helpless. Diehauser was exaggerating again.
"Alright. That's enough. We don't have all day."
Baraquiel took charge and ended all pleasantries.
"Igor. You should've figured it out by now. Diehauser knows what you are and that you have the chamber."
This time, Igor could not hide his surprise as worry flickered on his face.
"Don't worry, Igor. I won't tell anyone."
Diehauser calmly continued.
"Once I found out your heritage, it was easy to piece together where you went for the year."
"..."
Igor only had one question in his heart.
"How did you find out?"
His brows were furrowed, not in displeasure or anger, but in concern. If Diehauser could find out, then what about others.
"It wasn't easy. It took me a few years. But I had two very big clues."
Diehauser recounted.
"Do you remember six years ago in the forest? You wanted Cleria's help with finding the place you fought."
Igor wordlessly nodded.
"While you were off in your search, Shuri asked us to not linger. In her words, she let slip that your secret could warrant attention from gods. That was the first clue. The final nail came two years ago when I last met you. When you made that flower bloom with your vitality, I knew you were an Ariyan."
Diehauser spoke matter-of-factually and Baraquiel continued.
"Don't be disheartened, Igor. Diehauser is a man of his word. In fact, he can help you. So tell me. Are you interested in senjutsu? I know someone who can help."
Chapter 97
END