DARKS(DxD)

I stood before the imposing Immortal Refining Cauldron, a massive vessel of ancient design. Its iron surface was covered in intricate runes and symbols that seemed to writhe like living snakes as if they held the secrets of the universe within them. Steam hissed from its openings, and waves of scorching heat radiated from within.

Sun Wukong placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Remember, Grey, the cauldron's flames will not only test your body but also your spirit. It will demand your absolute determination."

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest as I took a step forward. Without hesitation, I climbed the narrow steps and descended into the inferno.

As soon as I entered the cauldron, I was enveloped in searing agony. Imagine every cell in your body being torn apart, then melded back together, only to be torn apart again. My muscles, once taut and powerful, now felt like they were being ripped apart by invisible claws. My flesh sizzled as if it were cooking over an open flame, and my bones... my bones felt like they were shattering into a million pieces.

I couldn't help it; I let out a primal scream that echoed through the chamber.

"AAAAAAAAAAH!"It was a scream born of sheer, unrelenting pain, a sound that seemed to come from the very depths of my soul.

"AAARRRGGGG" I screamed and screamed until my throat gave up.

My skin blistered and bubbled, then peeled away in charred strips, only to regenerate and burn again. I watched in sick fascination as my flesh seemed to melt and reform before my eyes. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, and I could taste the acrid smoke with every labored breath.

At times, I felt as if I were on the brink of losing my sanity. The pain was all-consuming, a relentless onslaught that left me gasping for air between my screams. The cauldron seemed to feed on my suffering as if it were a sentient being that delighted in my torment.

But I refused to yield. Sun Wukong's words echoed in my mind, and I clung to my determination with a tenacity I never knew I possessed. I couldn't let the pain break me. I had to emerge from this trial stronger than ever.

Kuroka had finally emerged from the Celestial Ascension Pagoda, her heart filled with joy at the thought of reuniting with Grey. She hurried back to their room, eager to share her experiences with him, but when she arrived, the room was empty. Panic gripped her heart as she heard screams from the direction of Immortal Refining Cauldron.

Confused and terrified, she followed the trail until she reached the cauldron's chamber. There, she heard it – the soul-wrenching screams of agony that tore through the air. Her heart sank, and she rushed towards the cauldron.

"Grey!!" she screamed in terror as she saw him writhing in agony within the fiery inferno. Sun Wukong appeared by her side, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Trust in your darling, kid. My disciple can pull this off," he assured her.

Tears streamed down Kuroka's face as she collapsed to the ground, her cries of anguish blending with Grey's screams of pain. Just as despair threatened to consume her, Arya arrived, alerted by the distress.

"Sister-in-law!" he shouted as he approached her. "Kuroka-san, please don't cry. You have to be strong, for my Lord, for your love. Please believe in him."

"My Lord," he added in a whimper, his voice barely audible over Grey's agonized screams, which echoed relentlessly throughout the mountain.

The horrifying ordeal continued for three days and nights without respite, the never-ending wails of pain and suffering tearing through the hearts of those who cared for Grey. And through it all, Kuroka stood there, unyielding, in front of the cauldron, waiting for the man she loved, the man who had given her hope, the one and only man she would ever love – Grey Hyoudou.

For three excruciating days, I writhed within the cauldron, my screams of agony echoing off its iron walls. The pain was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. It was as if I had been cast into the fires of hell itself.

On the fourth day, the flames finally began to subside. I was a quivering, charred husk of my former self, but I had survived. As I staggered out of the cauldron, I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

The pain had left me in a state of shock, my mind a hazy fog of agony. I could barely comprehend what had just transpired.

Sun Wukong knelt beside me, a proud and relieved smile on his face. "You did it, Grey. You emerged from the Immortal Refining Cauldron reborn."

After an unknown amount of time, I slowly regained consciousness. My eyelids felt heavy as I struggled to open them, and when I finally did, the familiar ceiling of our room greeted my gaze. It was a reassuring sight. I tried to move, but my body felt unusually heavy and unresponsive. That's when I noticed I was wrapped from head to toe in bandages.

The memories came flooding back – the excruciating pain of the cauldron, the soul-wrenching screams, and Kuroka's silhouette hovering nearby. 'Kuroka!' I thought with urgency, trying to sit up. The bandages gave way in places as I strained against them.

I was relieved to see her sitting by my bedside, holding my bandaged hand, and peacefully asleep. Her exhaustion was evident from the bags under her eyes. I must have worried her greatly. Carefully, so as not to wake her, I withdrew my hand and attempted to sit up. It was a struggle, but I managed.

Normally, I would expect to feel intense pain after such a grueling body refinement process, but to my surprise, I felt none. Instead, it was as if I had been liberated from my physical limitations. I sensed a new strength and vitality coursing through me. My vision was remarkably clear, down to the tiniest details in the wooden patterns of the furniture, as if I were seeing everything in 8K.

My height struck me as I stood up – I was noticeably taller than before, by a significant margin. I moved towards the full-body mirror in our room, each step causing the bandages to unravel slightly. In front of the mirror, I began unwrapping myself, revealing my arms, torso, and eventually my head and face.

With each layer of bandages removed, my amazement grew. When I finally unveiled my face, my reflection left me stunned.

My once-familiar appearance had undergone an astonishing transformation. Where I once had brown hair, it now cascaded around my shoulders in a radiant shade of platinum-blonde.

But it was my eyes that held the most remarkable change. Formerly deep brown, they had transformed into a brilliant amethyst hue, possessing an otherworldly quality.

They seemed akin to precious gemstones imbued with an ancient, draconic essence. Though their true nature remained veiled, a subtle glimmer of their unique power shone through, adding an aura of mystique to my new look.

My youthful features, framed by the ethereal beauty of my altered eyes, exuded an air of regal authority. There was only one name that came to mind as I beheld this new appearance: 'Gilgamesh'.

My transformed body possessed the characteristics of a seasoned martial artist, yet it bore a unique and awe-inspiring quality—an unmistakable trace of dragon power. I stood as a living testament to the fusion of ancient martial arts mastery and the unparalleled might of a dragon.

My physique was streamlined and honed to perfection, a result of years of rigorous training and cultivation. Every muscle and sinew exuded disciplined strength and grace. I moved with the agility and precision of a seasoned martial artist.

But beneath this martial exterior, a dragon's power surged within me. It was as if the essence of this majestic creature had been seamlessly woven into my very being. This hidden reservoir of strength lay coiled, ready to be unleashed when the situation demanded. It imbued me with a sense of regal authority, a silent reminder of the ancient and formidable power residing within.

Every muscle fiber contained explosive power, and the dragon blood coursing through my veins granted me incredible vigor. It was as though the essence of a dragon had permeated every aspect of my being, infusing me with a strength that surpassed human limitations.

However, the most profound transformation had occurred within the core of my being—my once-human heart. It had undergone a metamorphosis, evolving into the heart of a dragon. As I felt its powerful rhythm, each beat resonated with intimidating authority, a testament to the absolute dominance of the dragon within me.

With every pulse, I sensed the immense potential that lay within me. It was the potential of a body that rivaled the very Gods themselves. Each heartbeat resonated with a power that transcended mortal limitations, a force seemingly capable of challenging the divine.

As I was admiring the newfound beauty of my body, a concerned voice broke through my reverie. "Grey!"

Turning towards the voice, I saw Kuroka rushing towards me, her eyes filled with tears. She looked deeply worried. "I... I thought you'd never wake up. It was... *gulp*... it was scary to think about it, Grey. It was really scary. *sniff*"

I quickly reassured her, "Hey, hey~ it's alright now. I am here with you, right? It's all good, nothing to worry about. Okay?" I said gently, patting her head, trying to comfort her.

She nodded, her voice barely a whisper at the end, "Yes, darling."

Unbeknownst to her, my heightened senses allowed me to absolutely hear her, making her whispered affirmation all the more heartfelt.

"So, how do you find my new form, my love?" I whispered seductively into her ear. Her face flushed, turning a shade of peach pink, and a deeper crimson hue spread over her cheeks. "Not bad," she replied softly, her fingers drawing teasing circles on my newly toned chest.

"'Not bad' only?" I asked with a playful grin. "Alright, I admit it's kinda... hot," she added, her voice trailing off at the end, her fingers continuing to explore my sculpted abs.

With a triumphant smile, I drew her closer, towering over her as my increased height gave me an advantage. "Thank you, my love," I whispered into her ear, my warm breath sending shivers down her spine.

Before I could tease her further or delve into a deeper embrace, we heard an unexpected knock on the door. "Disciple?! Are you awake?" came Sun's booming voice from the other side of the door, followed by Arya's concerned inquiry. "My Lord, are you awake?"

"Damn, the timing," I cursed silently, caught in an awkward moment with Kuroka.

"We probably should stop... nya~," she said in a soft, almost pleading voice. I couldn't help but grin at her response. "Yes, I suppose so," I reluctantly agreed, fully aware that we couldn't keep our guests waiting.

But before she could relax, I moved swiftly, using my hand to shift her raven hair to the side, exposing her delicate neck. In one fluid motion, I kissed her soft skin, and she let out an involuntary gasp.

Mmm..!~

Encouraged, I continued to passionately trail kisses along her smooth neck, gradually increasing the intensity.

Her soft moans filled the room, and I couldn't help but grow more fervent in my actions, kissing and sucking her smooth skin eliciting faster and louder moans from her. As I heightened the intensity of my movements, her breathing became increasingly erratic.

Mmm..Mnn..Oohh..!!!~

Her moans turned into a chorus of pleasure, and in a sudden, passionate moment, I heard a sweet cry escape her lips,

AAHHN..!~

as I left a love mark, a hickey, on her tender skin.

As we both breathed heavily, I locked eyes with her, refusing to waver in my gaze.

"I'LL NEVER ABANDON YOU NOR FORSAKE OUR LOVE, KUROKA"

I declared in a whisper, my voice filled with burning passion, my eyes reflecting the intensity of my emotions.

"HAI, DARLING! YOUR LITTLE CAT UNDERSTANDS" she replied with tears of joy and the same fiery passion swirling in her emerald eyes.

With locked gazes, our eyes delving into each other's souls, the heat of our love burning brightly between us.

As we basked in our shared moment, our trance was abruptly shattered by familiar voices. "Uh, guys, we've been waiting out here for like nine minutes. Mind opening the door?" Arya's voice rang out in a mix of amusement and impatience.

We exchanged a knowing smile. "*Giggling* I'll handle that, darling," Kuroka chimed, giving me a swift kiss on the cheek before heading towards the door.

As she swung the door open, Arya wasted no time in entering. "Good morning, sister-in-law. How's the Lord?" he inquired, glancing around the room. Just as I emerged from the bedroom to join them, he swiftly conjured a magic circle, enclosing me in a box-like barrier. His tone was laced with suspicion and warning. "Who are you? Why are you emerging from my Lord's bedroom? And what have you done to my Lord? Answer me if you want to avoid being banished to the Nightmare Realm," he threatened, his protective instincts flaring.

"Quick, sis-in-law, call for Elder Wukong's assistance," he urged Kuroka.

"OII! Arya, it's me, Grey!" I shouted at him, frantically trying to convince him.

Arya's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Yes, you're Grey, and I'm Merlin. Nice try, you bastard. Give it up, and I might make your death a little less painful," he retorted, his body radiating dark and cursed energy in menacing waves.

I was taken aback by Arya's rapid growth in power. "Damn, he's really serious...!" I thought.

"Arya!! He's telling the truth, he's the darling!" Kuroka stepped in front of me, speaking in an urgent tone.

"HUH?" Arya looked utterly confused, scratching his head in bewilderment.

"Yes, Alchemist kid, it's really your Lord and my disciple," Sun Wukong, my master, chimed in with his characteristic humor. "Sifu!!" I exclaimed in relief, finally recognizing me.

"What? Really? My Lord?" Arya was utterly puzzled.

"Yes, Arya, it's me," I confirmed, hoping to dispel his doubt.

"MY LORD!!! I missed you, my lord, I missed you!" Arya's eyes welled up with tears as he removed the barrier and rushed to hug me.

"It's good to see you too, Arya." I couldn't help but smile. My archbishop had a tough exterior, but he was a big softy when it came to those he cared about, and he could be incredibly dangerous when the situation demanded it.

"Thank you for protecting my love when facing a stronger enemy, Arya," I said, truly grateful for his actions. His instincts to protect his Lord and his Lady in times of distress were commendable.

"It's nothing, My Lord. I am your Archbishop and the first in the ranks of your future empire. It's expected of me," Arya replied humbly.

"Hahaha, well said. But I promise to reward you for your bravery later," I assured him.

"I thank you, My Lord," Arya responded.

"Well, if you guys are done with your emotional reunion, let me check on the health of my disciple," Sifu interjected, appearing visibly annoyed that he had been left out of the conversation.

"Of course, please," both Arya and I replied in unison.

Sun Wukong took my wrist and began his examination. "Heart is stable, bones are intact, meridians have been cleansed, organs are transformed, the flesh is compact and healthy," he muttered as he checked various aspects of my condition.

"Let me check the marrow if it is purified. Yeah, everything looks good. Wait?! How is this possible? What in the Buddhas' name is this? I can't believe it!" He suddenly looked utterly shocked.

"Sifu, what's wrong?" I asked with growing concern.

"YOU... IT'S... 5!!" He was completely puzzled, and it showed.

"Elder Wukong, what's '5'?" Kuroka and Arya asked in unison, eager to understand the situation.

"GREY, YOU'VE AGED 5 YEARS!!!"