Chapter 148

The image of Akeno crying in his arms, his ignorant self thinking she was happy for his return. The slightly haggard appearance of Shuri, a sight his ignorant self overlooked instead of addressing. All of that…was caused by this very man in front of him.

Su Su Su Su Su Su Su Su SU SU SU SU SU SU

"Ba-ra-QUIEL!"

GRUUUUUU!

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|DxD|

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It is said that no one cherishes a family more than an orphan. Any meaningful connection they form with anyone will be precious to them, far more valuable than life itself. Aurelia had seen it when she stepped into Cleria's office, the turmoil that Igor had within him.

When she read his memories, she understood why. If anyone hurt Shuri or Akeno, he would no doubt retaliate with deadly intent just like he did with the Himejima. For him, his family was his reverse scale and his default response was to eradicate anyone who harmed his family, be it emotionally or physically.

But, what if the one who harmed his family, was someone else he considered family? This was no longer a simple case. For him, it was instinct to extinguish any threat to his family. From the person who tried to kidnap Asia, to the Himejima who killed Shuri, he had massacred all of them without any mercy.

If it was someone else, if it was some other person who caused all of this, his response would've been the same: kill them on-sight. But this person was Baraquiel, one of the very few people he respected deep in his heart, a person he once so affectionately called, "old man".

While Aurelia did understand the situation, she never understood just how much this situation would eat at him until they appeared in the Underworld. Looking at his eyes, she assumed that since they had reverted back to their normal colour, he had calmed down, even though he was somewhat listless.

'Lord Dimori. Are you alright?'

But, she couldn't have been further from the truth.

'No. I need your advice.'

She had spent over a decade with Igor. That was more than enough for her to know his personality like the back of her hand. And with how young he was, there was nothing the blonde could hide about his personality from her.

Yet…

'Is what I'm doing…right?'

…that was the very first time she had seen him so unsure, so hesitant. It was the first time she had seen him so…lost. This was the very same person who risked being stuck in the Dimensional Gap because he wanted a good fight. The action itself may not have been the smartest, but a person who second-guessed themselves would never have taken such an action.

But, before her very eyes, that very same person, was showing such a wavering gaze in front of her. It was only fortunate that her answer satisfied him. Seeing that sparkle return to his eye made her pleased.

'Fufu~. No problem, Lord Dimori.'

But not everything would end there. As they got closer and closer to Grigori, Igor found it harder and harder to control himself. His ki was constantly fluctuating, almost as if he was having an internal battle with himself.

While she wanted to help him calm down, she understood that there were some things she could not interfere in. She was his attendant, not his coddler. Holding his hand and helping him count to ten was not something she would help with.

As the future leader of their race that she was grooming, he had to learn how to control himself in terms of handling issues that would no doubt anger him. While he wasn't doing so great now, he still had a few decades to properly learn self-control.

But compared to the past, he was already showing great results. Although that anger was still bubbling, he was managing fairly well to suppress it…to an extent. Baby steps. There was no rush. At the very least, seeing as how he held himself together for this long, Aurelia decided to be a bit lax and let him air out a bit of steam.

If the only way for her lord and future king to release his rage was breaking the bones of a cadre, then she wouldn't hold him back.

"Baraquiel."

At best, she just had to make sure he didn't kill him. And maybe prevent a major diplomatic incident while at it. As long as Baraquiel didn't die or suffer permanent damage, she was sure that Azazel wouldn't hold it against the blonde too much.

While Igor may not notice it now due to his…disposition, Grigori would become a beneficial ally to have in the next few decades. They may not have power, but their information network was nothing to scoff at.

"Ba-ra-QUIEL!"

Well, that was still far in the future. For now, she should make sure that Igor doesn't go too overboard. Completely souring relations with Azazel and Grigori by extension wouldn't be a great political debut for the return of their kind after all.

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|DxD|

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"Ba-ra-QUIEL!"

GRUUUU!

With red eyes filled with wrathful animosity, Igor glared at Baraquiel with eyes filled with murder. His power had already went beyond the tenth multiplier, his aura fluctuating uncontrollably.

But as much as he wished to lash out, he remembered what he said to Shuri. He promised he would hear both sides. So he deluded himself, that maybe, JUST maybe, Baraquiel has a good reason for his actions that day.

And he used that delusion to gradually calm himself down along with that little hope that maybe Shuri misunderstood some things. She was a woman, emotional creatures by nature. She had reassured him that she was of sound mind, but maybe her distress clouded her mind. Maybe…hopefully.

As his aura gradually calmed down, so did the tenseness in two of the fallen. Shemhazai appeared to be neutral, but the slight trace of sweat on his forehead betrayed his current emotions. The power the blonde was showing was completely different from the intelligence reports he read.

[There truly is a difference between hearsay and witnessing it with your own eyes.]

He was aware he was out of his depth. Out of everyone here, he was the weakest, and not by a small margin.

Azazel was wary. He could feel the blonde was like a powder keg that was about to explode. The heavy breathing, those predatorial eyes…it wasn't normal.

[I should prepare.]

He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he could tell that what Igor was showing wasn't normal anger. It was like…he was rabid. While hoping there wouldn't be a physical altercation, he had already prepared himself to stop him if necessary.

As the last of his brothers, Baraquiel was also the most affected. Under Igor's gaze, he stood there with an aura of resignment. That regal look in his eye had been lost and even his beard appeared to be more unkempt than before.

He was silent, the epitome of fatigue. He seemed to be barely able to carry himself afloat with his wings, his back that was always straight with pride now hunched with shame. In face of Igor's power, all he had as a reaction was a sigh.

Faced with Baraquiel's haggard appearance, the blonde…did not care. Rather, it did not even process in his head.

"Baraquiel."

He only had one question that only had one answer.

"Did you…"

Raising his head to meet the fallen's gaze, Igor spoke through clenched teeth, his blood-red eyes glinting ferociously.

"...disappear on your family?"

His aura singed ominously, like the gentle licks of a flame being gently dowsed in oil...drop…by drop.

"..."

As Baraquiel remained silent, his aura rapidly rose, his continued silence functioning like the wind to a forest fire.

5x!

10x!

14x!

17x!

19x!

20x!

As his power ascended through the multipliers, so too did his anger.

"ANSWER ME!!!!!!"

GRUUUU!

His ki exploded, the power of the peak-god class being fully exposed with his outburst. But Baraquiel was not fazed. Rather, it seemed he wasn't fazed by anything. Looking at Igor directly in the eye, the man replied.

"Yes. I did. And I have no excuses."

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Silence…

In that single moment, many things happened. First, Azazel turned to face Baraquiel with a look of complete shock. It was clear from his look that whatever happened was not in the plan discussed. Shemhazai was also similar, but his eyes were more focused on Igor, his gaze ever vigilant.

Aurelia on the other hand, was filled with concern. Igor had completely gone silent, and not just physically.

SU SU SU SU Su Su Su Su su su su su su…vanish

His ki? She could no longer sense it. It was like its presence completely vanished. Even his aura had gradually receded into his body. This…this was beyond him suppressing his energy. He looked and felt no different from a normal human at this point. Even Asia had more of a presence than him.

All that she could see, was the barest flickers of black lightning flashing around his body. Like a snake coiling around his body, it flashed in and out of existence, the brief crackling sound filling the silence. This was a phenomenon that she couldn't remember ever seeing, until her mind flashed back to the Himejima massacre.

That spark of black lightning, was the very same sight she saw when he was about to fling that massive ball of ki onto the Himejima Clan.

[Senjutsu!]

Upon that realisation, she knew she had to stop him at all cost. Unlike the previous time, there was no Shiva to stop the blonde from going berserk. And since Baraquiel was his target, he might actually kill him if left unchecked.

It seemed Azazel also thought the same since his vigilance against Igor increased tenfold.

"Calm down, Dimo-"

And then, within the blink of an eye, it happened.

Su!

He moved so quickly that none could react in time to his movements. He was fast, so fast that the only time anyone was able to react, was when the sound of a cannon resounded throughout the skies.

BANG!

"""?!?!"""

Four heads instantly swerved towards the origin of the sound, and the sight, was something else. For one, gone was a head of blonde on Igor. On it now was blazing red hair that spiked upwards. But that was all that could be seen because covering him, was an aura cloak so dense that only a shadow of his humanoid figure could be made out.

However, the most concerning aspect for Aurelia, was the black energy that had melded together with his crimson aura. Having attestations from both Yasaka and Igor himself, she knew that this was malevolent nature energy.

An already unstable blonde further being influenced by malevolent nature energy was not a good recipe, as evidenced by Baraquiel who had half of Igor's fist shoved inside his gut.

"Puah!"

Hunching over his fist, the cadre spit out a mouthful of blood, the blow jostling his internal organs and rupturing blood vessels. But, it didn't end there.

It started as a burning feeling in his gut, before it turned into a searing pain as a massive beam tore through his stomach and pierced through his back.

Ka…DRUUUUUU!

Like a massive energy sword, the energy wave extended far into the skies, its length and brightness stealing the awe of the Sun with its iridescent (mish-mashing) colours of red and black. Just as quickly as it formed, it gradually disappeared from the skies like a gaping wound closing itself.

Puchi!

Mercilessly, Igor withdrew his fist, leaving a gaping hole through Baraquiel's stomach. Shock filled everyone's eyes, their faces betraying their disbelief. Not only Igor's power, but his actions greatly shocked them. Even Baraquiel had his eyes widened, his eyes displaying his feeling of loss and confusion. Yet that was only temporary.

Gradually, his eyes glazed out as life slowly left his body. His grievous injury made him unable to support his flight, making his body slump over the redhead's arm.

Mercilessly and without feeling, Igor moved his arm and let Baraquiel who had lost consciousness fall from the skies like a ragdoll. His aura blazed menacingly as he hovered on the spot, his back towards everyone.

Without a word, Shemhazai rushed forward to grab his dying brother, a trace of panic on his face. As he flapped his wings, he already knew what would happen next.

FUUUUSH!

A second pressure covered the vicinity, prompting Aurelia to swivel her head towards Azazel. And what she saw made her eyes widen in complete shock.

"You've gone too far, Dimori."

As a black aura manifested around Azazel's body, his eyes glazed over like liquid before they turned completely black, leaving only a grey part to act as pupils.

"You've gone too far."

Two behemoths, barely separated by a distance of a dozen metres, were bound to clash. As Igor instinctively turned his head to face this new threat, it was suddenly revealed that his pupils were entirely gone.

Only the whites of his eyes were visible, his mouth opening in a growl to display fully formed canines.

"Grrrrrrr…"

The blonde barred his teeth at Azazel, before releasing a demonic roar that resounded throughout the entire Underworld.

"RAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

GRUUUUU!

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AN

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Our thoughts and prayers to Baraquiel. As much as he failed, he doesn't deserve to die. Hopefully, Grigori has the technology and equipment to patch giant holes the size of a fist. On another hand, landscaping in the Underworld is about to see a big boom in business. Azazel has a new form and…Igor as well. I guess this is what happens when there's no Shiva to slap some sense into him. But maybe Azazel will be strong enough to do that. Who knows?

If you're interested in reading ahead, you can find more chapters on my patreon under the same username.

Until the next chapter. Holy out.