Innovation

[1 MONTH LATER]

[ARTHUR'S POV]

Me and my big fucking mouth.

If there was a rewind button, I would've pressed it without hesitation.

The last month under Gaia's guidance were... there were no words for me to describe it.

Gaia transformed the serene ocean into a sprawling training ground in the inner world.

Every morning, she subjected me to Spartan-like physical training.

Push-ups, squats, sprints, climbing, swimming, you name it.

She was relentless, her sharp voice pushing me past the limits of my young body.

"Again!"

She'd yell as I collapsed in the inner world, panting under the simulated double gravity.

"Do you think the enemies you'll face will stop just because you're tired? Get up!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

By evening, the physical torture gave way to mental challenges.

Gaia became a stern tutor, drilling me in ancient and modern knowledge.

Mathematics, science, history, strategy, etc.

Her lessons were exhausting and intense.

"*Yawn* Why am I studying this again?"

At times, I just wanted to lobotomize myself.

"Knowledge is power, Arthur. And all knowledge is important."

She'd say, her voice unyielding but not unkind.

"... But it's just about knitting though."

"Then quit whining and get back to it!"

"Y-Yes, ma'am!"

She also sent me to various simulations inside the Innovate Clear.

Fighting an ambush of flying tigers in a dark jungle with a kitchen knife,

Evading a horde of zombies for a whole day,

Surviving on a deserted island in a week with an active volcano,

Diffusing an IED strapped on my chest in only 1 hour,

Solving three complicated riddles from a Sphinx,

Trying to win ten jackpots in a row inside casino,

And what is probably the worst of them all...

... trying to calm down a Karen in a make-believe supermarket.

"I'M A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY AND YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO DENY ME OF MY RIGHT AS A HUMAN BEING!"

"M-Ma'am, please calm down. I'm sorry but it's store policy that you wear mask whi-"

"BRING ME TO YOUR MANAGER! WHERE'S YOUR MANAGER?!"

...

It wasn't easy.

I'd collapse at the end of each day, my muscles aching and my head spinning.

But the results were undeniable.

My once-slender body had grown lean and defined, and my mind was sharper than before.

My Level and Stats also reflected the change.

XxX

Level: 3 [126/300]

- Strength: 132 [You can crack a boulder without hurting yourself]

- Dexterity: 134 [You find arrows a bit slower than before]

- Constitution: 114 [You can survive a few weeks without eating/drinking]

- Intelligence: 123 [You think reading a dictionary is fun]

- Wisdom: 102 [You have the smarts of an old librarian]

- Charisma: 132 [You can win an argument against a Karen]

- Luck: 21 [You have small chance of finding a four-leaf clover]

XxX

Turns out that creatures inside the inner world could also be used for leveling up.

With this new info, Gaia made me use it to start farming for exp.

Also after my stats reached 100, I gained a few new skills.

XxX

Skills: Double Impact, Second Wind, Numb, Observe, Translate, First Impression

XxX

Double Impact, doubles the damage of my strikes.

Second Wind, a once-a-day ability to recover stamina when I was near exhaustion.

Numb, it temporarily made me immune to pain for a whole minute.

Observe, allowed me to see descriptions of objects and creatures.

Translate, which lets me decipher other foreign languages and even use them.

First Impression, makes me more attractive in the first meeting.

The most important part of my training is my Level.

After reaching Level 3, my HUD upgraded.

Now my Items, Skills, and Stats have descriptions on them.

I couldn't help but feel grateful to Gaia, even if I'd never admit it aloud.

As I collapse into the dirt floor beneath me.

"Get up, Arthur."

Gaia said, standing across from me, her green eyes shimmering with excitement.

"Its time for you to learn about your Longinus."

I straightened, my exhaustion forgotten.

"It's about time."

Gaia smirked at my eagerness.

"I appreciate the eagerness. But let's start the lesson to the beginning."

Gaia's left hand start glowing as a miniature version of Earth appears in her palm.

"As you know, Innovate Clear is one of the 13 Longinus, tools of immense power capable of slaying gods and demons. Innovate Clear is known as The Sacred Gear That Lets One Impersonate God."

She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in.

"Is it that powerful to gain such a title?"

I asked.

"Yes. It has the power to create an ideal world inside another dimension. Within that world, you can create perfect imitations of living beings, essentially making you similar to that old prune. Golems, soldiers, beasts, the possibilities are endless. But there's a limit. The creations can only exist within the miniature world you create."

She gestured, and the globe in her hand became bigger and transformed into a screen.

"To help you understand, let me show you three notable wielders of Innovate Clear. Each demonstrates their power, talent, and destructiveness."

The screen flickered, showing an image of a middle-aged man wearing a shendyt loincloth.

He stood amidst a battlefield, a glowing blue dome around him from afar.

Within the domain, he summoned giant elemental golems, their forms towering over the pyramids.

Corpses littered the ground, those of his captors, animated into an undead army that obeyed his every command.

"This is the first wielder."

Gaia narrated.

"A nameless slave who rose to power, usurping his captor and becoming the new Pharaoh. He believed himself to be a god and nearly conquered Egypt. He was only stopped by Ra himself."

I watched, awestruck, as the first wielder fought valiantly against Ra.

His creations clashed with divine forces, but in the end, Ra's overwhelming power crushed him, including his kingdom.

"It was quite unfortunate. Not only was his kingdom wiped out from the face of Egypt, his existence was erased in history, forever lost in the sands of time."

Gaia swiped the spherical screen the scene shifted to a serene village.

In one of the buildings, a Chinese woman, elegant and composed, stood inside what looked like a traditional Chinese pharmacy.

Inside, she performed surgeries with impossible precision, wielding tools she created within her miniature world.

"Her name is Jian Zhu. She was the first female wielder of Innovate Clear and one of the handful of humans I have the pleasure of meeting."

Gaia said softly.

"Unlike her predecessors, she focused on improvement and control rather than raw power. Her Innovate Clear became a sanctuary, cultivating medicinal herbs and performing miracles of healing."

Gaia smiled at the scene where Jian Zhu healed a sick child using her medical expertise.

"But unfortunately, her story didn't have a good end."

"Why? What happened?"

I asked and she reacted sadly.

"See for yourself."

The peaceful scene was shattered as bandits attacked the village.

Flames consumed her home, and the woman fell, her abilities unable to protect her from the cruelty of others.

My chest tightened.

"She didn't even have a chance to fight back."

Gaia said solemnly as she swiped to the last scene.

"What the hell?"

The screen darkened, and a chilling scene unfolded.

A shadowy figure stalked the alleys of Victorian London.

Its dome appeared briefly, trapping its victims inside.

Horrific screams echoed as it tore them apart.

"... Gaia. Who is that?"

"That..."

Gaia said, her voice grim.

"...is the most dangerous and vile wielder of Innovate Clear."

I stared, a bit horrified.

"Is that… who I think it is?"

She hesitantly nods in confirmation, her tone cold.

"A being of pure malice. Innovate Clear became its playground for horror. It used the barrier to trap victims and its creations to kill with unspeakable cruelty. I was so repulsed by his actions to the point I refused to even meet it... or know its true identity."

I felt a chill run down my spine.

"How could someone like that exist?"

Gaia shook her head.

"Humans have infinite potential for good... and for evil. But it is your choice which path you dedicate yourself to."

She clapped her hands, dismissed the screen ,and turned to me, her expression serious.

"So, what have you learned?"

I hesitated before answering.

"Innovate Clear is OP."

She chuckled at that, her lips curving into a smirk.

"Go on."

"It's incredibly versatile."

I continued.

"It can turn the battlefield into your personal playground. It's like Annihilation Maker, creating armies, and Dimension Lost, trapping enemies. But… it depends on the wielder's perspective."

Gaia nodded approvingly.

"Exactly. Innovate Clear reflects the soul of its user. That's why I've pushed you so hard. You need a strong foundation, body, mind, and spirit, to wield it's full potential."

I nodded, my determination rekindled.

"What's next?"

"First, you should focus on how to manifest the barrier."

She said.

"I highly suggest you start practicing on making it sturdier, controlling its size and shape. Once you accomplish this feat, only then will you be ready to create things within it."

"Got it."

I said, standing with renewed resolve.

Gaia smiled.

"Good. Then show me what you got, little boy."

[AUTHOR'S POV]

The forest around Arthur was serene, the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze providing a tranquil backdrop to his focus.

His young body was coiled with tension, his left hand outstretched, fingers trembling as he tried yet again to summon the Innovate Clear's barrier. 

Gaia's voice echoed in his mind, calm yet firm.

(You're overthinking it, Arthur. The Innovate Clear responds to your intent. Stop forcing it like you're trying to open a lock with the wrong key.) 

Arthur growled in frustration, sweat dripping down his face.

(Easy said than done. Its been hours and I'm getting nowhere.)

He muttered.

(Be patient, Arthur.)

Gaia replied.

(You humans are so quick to frustration. Focus, feel the energy within you, and picture your goal clearly. Manifestation is as much about clarity of intent as it is power.)

Her tone was patient, though a trace of amusement danced in her voice.

Arthur clenched his jaw, trying once more.

He closed his eyes, envisioned a transparent dome forming around him, and reached deep within to channel the Innovate Clear's power.

Nothing happened.

Again. 

His arm fell to his side, and he groaned loudly.

"This is getting annoying." 

(Hopelessness doesn't suit you, little boy.)

Gaia teased, though her encouragement was genuine.

(Rest if you must, but don't give up. Rome wasn't built in a day, after all.)

Arthur sighed, trudging to the nearest tree.

He plopped himself under its shade, leaning back and gazing up at the sky.

"I guess I need to find a different approach."

As the minutes passed, Arthur's frustration began to melt away.

The sight of drifting clouds calmed him, their lazy movements contrasting with his inner turmoil.

His eyes wandered across the sky, catching on a cloud formation that oddly resembled something familiar. 

The resemblance made him smile faintly.

"Heh. Looks like a fucked up looking pirate ship."

"..."

"Pirate ship..."

"One Piece..."

"Law..."

At that moment, a flash of inspiration appeared in his mind.

Arthur sat up, his eyes wide.

"I'm an idiot."

He muttered before exclaiming loudly.

"I'm a stupid fucking idiot!" 

Gaia, startled by his outburst, asked.

(What is it, Arthur?) 

Arthur scrambled to his feet, raising his left hand forward as if mimicking Law's signature gesture.

He closed his eyes, focusing on the image of a sphere, not just a sphere, but his sphere, his Domain, his ROOM.

He imagined it forming not as an act of force, but as an extension of his will. 

Seconds stretched into what felt like minutes.

A faint light blueish glow began to emanate from his palm. 

And then, there it was.

A small, marble-sized barrier hovered just above his hand. 

Arthur stared at it, wide-eyed, before breaking into a triumphant grin.

"Yes! I did it!"

He yelled, his voice echoing through the forest. 

(I'm impressed, I actually thought it would take you days. Good job, Arthur.)

Gaia said, her tone genuinely surprised.

(But remember, this is just the start, and it's more than most achieve in their first attempts.)

Arthur's chest swelled with pride at the compliment, but he didn't stop there.

He focused again, willing the barrier to expand.

Slowly, painstakingly, the tiny marble grew to the size of a basketball, shimmering faintly in the sunlight.

He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and grinned.

"I guess this is my limit."

He said, his voice softer.

"It's not much, but it's a start." 

(Indeed. From small beginnings come great achievements. You've taken the first step. Now, you must master this technique before the next step.)

Gaia said warmly. 

Arthur nodded, his confidence rekindled.

This was just the beginning, but for the first time, he truly believed he could master the Innovate Clear, and all the potential it held.

[AUTHOR'S NOTE]

Hello readers!

Here's the Power Ranking in DxD:

Low-Class: Capable of destroying a house (Level: 1 - 9)

Middle-Class: Capable of destroying a small village (Level: 10 - 99)

High-Class: Capable of destroying a large town/city (Level: 100 - 999)

Ultimate-Class: Capable of destroying a country (Level: 1,000 - 9,999)

Super-Class: a.k.a. God/Satan-Class, Capable of destroying a continent (10,000 - 99,999)

Special-Class: Capable of destroying the world (100,000 - 999,999)

Unknown-Class: Theoretically capable of destroying the universe (Level: ???)

Thank you everyone and see you later!