Chapter 61

A month passed, and Dio wished he could say it was a very exciting month with supervillains trying to take over the world or demons trying to enter this reality.

It did happen, but not in their territory, so this month was very peaceful.

They only had to deal with two quickly resolved robberies, some fires, and accidents.

Vanessa visited him as promised. They spent the whole weekend exploring the city. When Dio asked everyone if she could visit the Tower, they all agreed.

Vanessa met the team, and the meeting went smoothly.

Vanessa became friends with Koriand'r, and they exchanged messages and talked regularly.

Dio was happy about this; his sister needed a strong friend to support her.

Dio also obtained information about her current boyfriend after asking a favor from Robin. He received a folder with all the information about the person and his family.

Unfortunately, he didn't find any reason to act against him. Robin also thought the boy was a good kid. But Dio was still watching him.

One wrong move, and he'll rip his heart out and trap his soul in a public restroom. Dio really doesn't know how to do that, but he will learn just for him.

This month, Dio also made some progress on his plans.

The method for traveling to the underworld was easier than he thought it would be, but he remembered that entering the underworld is easy; the problem is getting out.

However, Dio found a solution and prepared for his first trip, which would happen in ten days.

Now, about the flying spell, Dio was still a bit stuck and hadn't made any progress.

Dio was hoping that his conversations with Raven would inspire him.

Dio's little problem with Roy has also been resolved.

After their conversation, he stopped bothering him and even talking to him.

It will take some time for things to return to normal between them, but at least they have made progress.

The new team member is doing very well.

Raven is very good at what she does, as she was trained as a sorcerer in another reality, but she hasn't proven herself as a hero yet.

Sadly, there hasn't been much progress in her interactions with the group.

Raven spends most of her time in her room or on the roof, where she meditates.

The only person who manages to get her out of her shell is Koriand'r, who drags her out to explore the city or just to spend time together.

Dio interacts with her a lot, but they only talk about one subject: magic, which they both enjoy.

Since Ravena's magic was taught in another dimension, it's a bit different from what they have on Earth, so exchanging information between them is very productive.

However, she had never clearly explained how her magic worked until today.

"In short, are the spells you use in combat advanced versions of astral projection?"

Dio asked.

They were on the gym floor, facing each other, and talked about magic when she explained how her spells work.

"Yes, that's the main branch of magic in Azarath."

Raven replied.

At the moment, Raven was wearing a long black dress, and Dio was in jeans and a white shirt.

"I always thought astral projection could only be used for spying or traveling to other planes."

"Those are the common uses of astral projection. What I do is summon the true form of my soul, which allows me to interact with the physical world and use other spells."

Raven explained.

"So, can anyone learn to use your raven?"

'I never really understood how her powers worked in the comics, so I'm learning it now.'

"It's not that simple. To use this spell, you need to understand and know the shape of your soul, and that's not an easy task. A lot of people try for decades to achieve it."

She raised her hand and pointed to a set of dumbbells on the other side of the room.

Suddenly, a black aura wrapped around her hand and made it float in the air like one of the dumbbells.

"It's only after discovering the shape of your soul that you can start practicing the initial spells until you reach the level where I can summon this form into the physical world."

Raven continued to explain.

She lowered her hand, and the dumbbell returned to its place.

Then she stood up, and her body was surrounded by bright black energy, and a black raven with open wings appeared behind her.

"Do you understand?"

Raven asked as she sat back down.

"Yes, you're at the highest level of your practice because you can summon the raven."

Dio inquired.

"Not even close. True masters can not only call on the souls' true forms, but they can also use them to cast advanced spells like time or dimension travel."

Raven explained.

This made Dio a bit afraid of Trigon.

'I know he's powerful, but defeating a magical civilization as powerful as the people of Azarath was a daunting feat.'

"I know I might be pushing my luck here, but could you teach me?"

Dio asked hopefully.

Ravena fell silent for a moment before giving him an answer.

"The people who taught me this are lost, but they never turned away apprentices."

Raven said, her face showing great pain.

'I was so stupid that I forgot that she blames herself for the destruction of Azarath, and here I am, forcing her to remember her destroyed home.'

"So, I'd be happy to teach you, even though I'm not a master."

Raven continued.

"How do we begin?"

Dio asked to take her mind off of Azarath for a little while.

"First, you need to understand astral projection."

Raven began.

"I've practiced with my teacher, but I don't use it much, and I'm not very talented with it."

"Then, let's start by gaining some practice."

Raven said and closed her eyes.

In less than a second, Raven's astral form appeared floating above her head.

The form looked just like her physical body, and the only difference was that the astral form was almost transparent.

"What are you waiting for?"

Raven asked in her astral form.

This showed her tremendous control over astral projection.

It takes a lot of practice and control to be able to quickly separate the soul from the body.

Dio followed her example and closed his eyes, recalling the teachings on how to separate his soul from his body.

After a few minutes, Dio's soul floated out of his body, and he found himself facing Ravena's astral projection in the air, which was still cross-legged and floating while looking at him.

"Ten minutes, not bad."

Raven said.

"Now what?"

Dio asked.

"You will spend as much time as possible in this form every day. You need to become proficient at entering and leaving your body easily."

"Understood."

"Let's take a little tour then."

Raven said.

Raven flew up and passed through the ceiling to the next floor. Dio followed her, floating slowly, and reached the next floor as well.

There, Dio saw Dick and Roy building with some equipment, but they didn't notice them.

Astral forms are invisible to those without mystical abilities or natural spiritual perception.

Ravena kept ascending, passing through the next floor and the next, until she reached the roof.

There, she stopped while hovering several meters above the roof and watched the sunset.

"During my practice, I spent most of my days in this form inside my body. Now, being like this feels more familiar to me than my physical body."

Raven said.

"That doesn't sound like a good thing."

Dio remarked.

"Yes, but it has its charm. In this form, we can't feel physical pain, we don't get hungry or tired, and it's not easy for us to cause destruction in the physical plane either."

The last part of her statement had more meaning than she let on.

Dio was about to ask for more information, but he saw a jet approaching the Tower on the sky.

"Enemies?"

Ravena asked while looking at the approaching dot.

"No, they're allies."

Dio replied.

With his enhanced vision, Dio could easily see that it was an A.R.G.U.S. jet approaching at high speed.

A few seconds later, the jet landed on the Tower's rooftop, and his friend Etta Candy jumped out immediately and ran toward the elevator.

This woman's actions showed that something had happened.

"I have to go; something must have happened to Diana."

Dio didn't wait for a response from Raven and dove toward the building, returning to his body.

Dio rushed inside and headed for the elevator. When he pressed the button for the floor, Dick's voice came through the elevator.

"Dio, come to the main room now!"

As the doors opened, he saw Etta Candy with the team.

She was wearing military attire with a vest over it and looked quite tired, but there were no visible injuries on her body.

"You're growing up so fast, Diomedes."

Etta greeted him with a gentle smile.

'Interesting.'

"Is there a problem, Etta?"

Dio asked worriedly about Diana.

"She needs help, and the details will have to wait."

Etta replied.

"Then let's go."

"Wait, we can help too!"

Robin shouted in his hero suit and blocked them from entering the elevator.

"I'm sorry, Robin, but this is a personal matter, and Diana made it clear that she only wanted Diomedes' help."

Etta declined their assistance, and the two of them entered the elevator.

"If things get out of control, I'll call you."

Dio said before the elevator doors closed.

...

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