Chapter 155

Some days, Ajuka just couldn't understand his wayward friend, or the boy they just met. Just a minute prior, they were this close to killing each other. A few moments later, they're bantering over who has the cuter sister.

It was simply illogical.

[Siscons, the one thing more complicated than women.]

|DxD|

A Dozen Minutes Prior, Grigori Headquarters, Underworld

The situation in Grigori was bordering on chaotic. The powerful energy resulting from the clash between Igor and Azazel was ravaging their senses. Some of the more…"volatile" fallen were already trying to rush towards the scene in a haze of craziness or outright attempt to kill themselves.

As the major organisation closest to the scene of conflict, the immense killing intent released from Igor influenced by Trihexa's power made most of the weaker fallen fall to the brink of losing their minds.

In a hasty bid, the entirety of Grigori was placed on complete lockdown. Barring Shemhazai and Baraquiel, the rest of the cadre quickly deployed several magic barriers that would work to block out most, if not all of the killing intent.

Benemune, the Chief Secretary of Grigori and the only female cadre had taken charge as she swiftly delivered orders to quell the situation. Some of her fellow cadre were also helping her with handling the situation. Be it calming the populace or putting up the barriers, their help was much appreciated.

But, Benemune still knew that one person was missing.

[Where is Kokabiel?!]

It angered her that her wayward brother was not here when he was needed. Regardless, this was no time to dawdle. The barrier had been deployed and the situation was stabilising. Wiping a trace of sweat on her brow, she decided to check on her injured brother.

Vwong!

|DxD|

In a private hospital room, Baraquiel lay unconscious on a bed. Next to him was a human doctor who had some sort of sacred gear in the form of a silver glove that he had placed over his abdomen.

Shemhazai sighed as he watched the doctor examine his brother. From the sour expression on the doctor's face, he knew that the situation wasn't good. The wound on Baraquiel's stomach had been closed with the help of a phoenix tear.

However, he was still not out of the woods.

"I apologize, Shemhazai-sama. We were unable to purge Baraquiel-sama of that energy. But from my analysis now, I believe it will soon fizzle out on its own. In the meantime, Baraquiel-sama will unfortunately have to stay in bed for a while, possibly a month if no complications arise."

"I understand."

Waving his hand, the doctor took his clipboard and left to attend to other patients. Closing the door behind him, he left the two cadre alone in the room with one unconscious.

"..."

Releasing a sigh again, Shemhazai pulled a chair and sat next to his sleeping brother, a trace of evident concern on his face.

"I hope you'll get well, brother."

Sitting silently, he ignored the spawning of a teleportation circle behind him. As the light faded, Benemune gracefully emerged. With long purple hair and glasses, she would fit the role of a strict teacher rather well, especially with her gifted assets.

From an outsider's perspective, she appeared to be calm and in control. Yet from the corner of his eye, Shemhazai could see the brief flicker in her eyes as she saw the sorry state Baraquiel was in.

A drip was connected to his arm, his face covered with an oxygen mask. The heart monitor was the only sound in the room as it beeped in sync with his heartbeat. Fortunately, all scars from his wound were gone, but there was something similar to an infection that was spreading from his abdomen. It spread outwards like the branches of a tree, its colour slightly darker than his skin.

Benemune was tempted to touch it and almost did, but Shemhazai stopped her.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, sister. It could transfer to you as well."

Her hand froze in its track, but her concern grew more.

"What…is this energy, brother? It does not feel like anything I know of."

Shemhazai did not say anything. With a brief flash of light, a dossier emerged in his hand.

"This should answer your questions and more."

"..."

Benemune wordlessly took it and began reading from it.

…

FILE #c323015

Clearance Level: CADRE

Date of Issue: 1999/08/15

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Name: Igor

Surname: von Dimori

Race: Human (Aryan)

Born: 1987 (Assumed, possibly much earlier)

Age: 9 (Time Chamber artifact halts age progression)

Affiliation: Unknown

Allies: West Yokai Faction, Shinto Pantheon, Catholic Church, Grigori, Hindu Pantheon

Strength: God-King

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Summary: Igor von Dimori is a new addition to the supernatural world who has managed to garner the friendship or acknowledgement of several powerful factions. His origins are unclear, but his power and potential cannot be taken arbitrarily.

Origins: His origins cannot be traced, either through his name, surname, or appearance. There is no known documentation of a clan called Dimori amongst the Aryan race or in the human world. However, his possession of the much-coveted Time Chamber Artifact suggests possibilities that he may have been the Aryan's secret weapon. Theories suggest he may have been a weapon that would be used to turn the tide of the war, or a unique spawn that would be utilised as a tool of vengeance against the supernatural world. Given his significant rise in strength, possibilities may suggest the former, or even possibly the latter given recent incidents.

Personality: Possesses an extreme desire for battle. Eyewitness accounts of his unhinged desire to fight can be traced back as early as 1994. However, he is known to be extremely loyal and caring to those he acknowledges. He will also go to extreme lengths to seek vengeance for those who harmed the ones he acknowledges as his family.

Artifact: He wields the time chamber artifact, an item that has been bonded to his soul. Currently, it is known that in the span of one year, he can train for ten years inside the time chamber. He is also not forced to spend those ten years as there are two accounts where he was able to "exit" early.

Additional Notes: It is suspected that Igor von Dimori is not from these times. His age denotes he was born decades after the second world war, but there is a complete lack of any traceable ancestry. There is no knowledge of his existence until traces of him were first found in Kuoh in 1992 when he was five-years-old. It is suspected that a few decades prior, a young Igor was chosen to be bonded to the time chamber by the Aryans, a process that took four-to-five decades. This suggests the possibility that as the artifact fused with his soul, his body was kept safe in a different space, one that is most likely Kuoh. This is a suspicion at most, but it would heavily explain his unnatural desire for battle in such peaceful times.

…

Benemune read over the notes, even flipping over to see further records of Igor such as a detailed timeline of his sightings and activities, all the major incidents he's caused or suspected to be related in, and even all of his known abilities.

Slapping the clipboard on the table, she sighed.

"There goes my plan for revenge."

Shemhazai chuckled silently.

"I believe that Dimori-san did not mean to do this intentionally, sister. Before I left, I saw that his eyes were hollow. It was a sign that he was not in control of his actions at the time."

"And so is the killing intent, I presume?"

"A by-product of senjutsu, I'm afraid. The nature energy in the Underworld is quite…angry."

Benemune only scoffed.

"We can blame Kokabiel for adding to that anger. You don't happen to know where brother dearest might be, do you?"

Shemhazai could only offer a helpless smile.

"I'm afraid I do not, sister. Brother Kokabiel is rather…adventurous."

"Heh. 'Adventurous' you say? I sincerely wish that I don't receive missives from other factions detailing any trouble he might've caused with his little band of followers. I'm tired enough just thinking of all the work I have to do after this little mess."

"Haaa…yes. Let us hope so."

Shemhazai was ready to let the matter drop, but it seemed the disappearance of Kokabiel annoyed Benemune more than he thought.

"If Baraquiel was awake, he would've taught that wayward brother of ours his place, especially with how much stronger he's gotten."

Shemhazai could only imagine how embarrassed Baraquiel would feel if he were awake.

"Maybe so, sister."

A peaceful lull in silence ensued as the two siblings watched over their unconscious brother. Shemhazai was sitting down, his elegeant purple hat still on his head. Benemune was content to remain standing, her violet gaze watching Baraquiel through her glasses.

The silence however, was disturbed when a high-pitched sound filled the room.

Tswii!

[?!]

Shemhazai flinched slightly, but he didn't move. Benemune however, turned around instantly in complete shock. It was one thing for a person to appear behind you. It was another thing for them to appear and throw a flashbang at you, because that was how the one in the middle felt to her senses.

[He must be the Igor I read about.]

In all honesty, he looked nothing like a nine-year-old child. He was at the very least, double that age. With his vest torn to the point that it was rags at this point, she got a decent view of his chest.

[Definitely not a child.]

He was tall, bordering around 179cm to 182cm from her guess. It was still a bit shorter than Azazel, but his presence completely dwarfed her brother's. Then, just as quickly, that immense energy of his faded, and time seemed to turn back to normal.*

Azazel was the first to speak, his hand palming his forehead.

"You're going to be the death of me, kid."

"What?"

Aurelia was quick to elaborate.

"What Azazel-sama means, Lord Dimori, is that if our destination were elsewhere, he would've been placed in a difficult position seeing as we're Aryan."

Her words to seemed to sink into the blonde for a moment as he chuckled in realisation.

"Oh…"

"Yes. 'Oh' indeed."

Azazel trudged on towards his brother.

"You're lucky the room is sealed. Now come on."

He stood next to Baraquiel with his arms folded.

"You said you had a way to heal my brother. I'm waiting."

It was the first time Azazel had been this firm with him, but Igor understood. Despite the reasons, he had messed up terribly. In fact, he found Azazel's reaction to be rather tame compared to what he would've done if the roles were switched.

Regardless, he had a job to do.

Zuuuu…

Gently, a red hue formed around him as he accessed his Kaioken. Raising his hand, he began concentrating demi-ki into his palm.

Vwomp

It was a small red sphere, barely bigger than a coin. Slowly, it began to grow bigger as he channeled more and more demi-ki into it. The lights in the room appeared dim in front of this crimson sphere.

After a few seconds passed, the sphere was the size of a watermelon. It slowly bobbed up and down as it stayed afloat, its appearance similar to that of red lava.

"This ball contains my ki. It will burn the remnant tainted energy without harming the old man."

He let it hover over to Baraquiel's stomach before it stayed there.

"This will be enough to last for three days. I will come back then. Uncle A. I will wait for you at Aunty's."

Grabbing Aurelia's hand, the silverette knew that this was their cue to leave. But as she spawned a teleportation circle beneath them, Benemune called him out.

Her hands were on her waist, her eyes glaring at him.

"Is that it? No apology? You'll just leave like that?"

"..."

The hue around Igor slowly started to fluctuate like the dying embers of a wood fire. Benemune was weak. She was weak and yet she dared talk to him like that?

"..."

He calmed himself. As much as he wanted to bash her skull in, he recognised that she was concerned for her brother's health.

Gradually, his aura disappeared as he reigned himself in…barely.

"I harmed the old man. Not you. Secondly…"

He raised his head, his crimson gaze locking onto her.

"Don't ever talk to me like that again."

Explanation: It was mentioned way back in the earlier chapters that the Instant Transmission works by flaring ki in a way that it tears reality so that you can enter the Dimensional Gap. My guess as to why Benemune and Shemhazai reacted like that when Igor entered was because their senses were focused on the situation outside. Now for Igor who "flashed" his ki as he arrived, it was like as mentioned, a flashbang. However, this phenomenon seems to last for a very brief moment since we have no other known accounts of sensor-characters complaining.

Today is Friday so on either Sunday or Monday, I will upload two chapters to catch up.