Highschool DxD-Dream of Perfection

Chapter 18

Author's Note: You might be feeling a bit bored with the last few chapters. So, instead of three or four separate chapters, I've compressed them all into one. After this, the story will continue as it should!

Yuto sat by the lake, the soft grass beneath him and the serene water reflecting the moonlight. Beside him lay Yuki, peacefully asleep in her dream form, a satisfied smile on her face after indulging in ice cream. She had drifted off without a care in the world. Yuto glanced at her fondly, but he knew there was no reason to linger in this dream world he had manifested through magic any longer with her asleep. He closed his eyes and woke up in the real world, lying next to his mother.

Yawning, Yuto reached for the cup of coffee on the bedside table, took a sip, and stretched. He quietly got up and sat in a chair beside the bed, sipping his coffee and observing his mother. She lay peacefully, her smile wide, nearly reaching her ears. Every now and then, she made soft, almost childlike noises—"hun" and "hen"—as if lost in a blissful dream.

Deciding to use his time more wisely, Yuto materialized a book in his hand. It was a complex text written by a magician named Von Kestes. The formula it described allowed for flexible manipulation of fire-type magic, but at the cost of diminished power. Yuto read two lines simultaneously, a skill that would be rare in his past life. It was common here, but if someone knew him well, they would have noticed that his reading pace was slower than usual—his mind clearly elsewhere.

"I should leave soon," Yuto thought, closing his eyes briefly. "I've enhanced the artifact. Once I give it to her, Yuki should be safe unless she faces an ultimate-class opponent or multiple high-class enemies. Even then, the emergency teleportation spells I added and the shield it already had should buy her enough time for me to reach her. But it's not enough... Maybe I should contact Ikumi. She owes me a favor. I could negotiate a contract with her for extra protection."

He turned the page lazily and took another sip of coffee.

"The prank was only meant to make her call me 'Father,', on the side spend some time with her and check in on her to see if she was doing okay. Maybe help her here and there. But I can't stay with her. I don't have time. I have my ambitions. To achieve them, I need to train, gather knowledge, and grow stronger. All that takes time—time that will leave her alone and vulnerable."

His thoughts wandered back to the Shadow Veil, the organization he had been part of just weeks ago. The war should still be ongoing, as far as he knew. Disappearing that day would have been the smartest move he could have made, but it was not without risk. He could have faked his death to buy even more time than disappearing, but there wasn't a guarantee they wouldn't figure out the ruse. Instead, he chose the second-best option. To make them incapable of searching for him. Taking out one of the organization's heads certainly did that. At the same time, he had saved an ultimate-class being, from the opposing faction.

He had prepared everything—artifacts, teleportation spells, farewells in his heart. It should have taken no more than a week for him to leave. But it had been two weeks now, and he was still here.

"I should've left already," Yuto mused, his gaze distant. But something had kept him by Yuki's side. And despite all his preparations, he didn't feel like leaving, even though he should.

Lost in thought, he didn't notice the pressure he was applying to the coffee cup. Suddenly, it shattered in his hand. Coffee splattered across the floor, shards scattered everywhere. Fortunately, none reached Yuki, sparing her from harm. Yuto closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, then exhaled slowly. When he opened them, he saw his reflection in the spilled coffee—a calm face wearing a radiant smile.

Seeing that smile made his chest tighten, and his guts to churn. For a moment, his breath hitched. But then a strange calm returned to him.

"From the beginning, I never intended to leave her, did I?" Yuto thought, his body relaxing. He put the book on the table beside him, as he got up to clean the shattered cup and spilled coffee.

"What should I do with her, should I train her to be a bit of magic and allow her to go to the normal world to do business? Do i even have to teach anything, i could just get some artifact and weapon and arm her.... what should I do..... which is better"

"All right, I've decided. She will learn magic—from me" Yuto picked up a broom and started to sweep. "Although I don't know her exact talent and potential, it shouldn't be too bad, at least from what I've observed. She should at least be capable of reaching low class in her lifetime, if I give her a sacred gear in the future, perhaps even higher" Yuto thought as he finished sweeping and headed to the bathroom for a rag. As he did, a mischievous smile slowly surfaced on his face. "The prank could go on for a bit longer. After all, when she starts to learn magic from me, she'll need more drive. More motivation" His mischievous grin grew even more wicked as he thought, "I'm only thinking of your future, my daughter. So don't blame your Papa." 

While he was thinking this, he finally finishes cleaning, only to notice his mother beginning to wake up 'Just made it, huh' Yuto thought as he raised his hand, and cast a few spells before returning to his chair, his mind quickly shifting back to his book.

Yuki stirred awake. She stretched beneath the soft sheets, letting out a gentle, sleepy yawn. "Huaaah..." The warmth of the morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a golden hue over the room. Slowly, she rose from the bed, her feet sinking into the plush carpet as she made her way to the kitchen. The apartment was quiet and peaceful. She filled the kettle with water, setting it to boil. The soft clink of metal against the counter was the only sound in the stillness.

As the water heated, Yuki splashed cool water on her face, waking herself up further. Standing in front of the mirror, she gently brushed her hair, the silky strands falling over her shoulders like a dark waterfall.

Returning to the kitchen, she stirred her coffee, humming softly to herself. She wore delicate lace lingerie that hugged her curves perfectly, enhancing her graceful silhouette. The sunlight highlighted her pale skin, making her legs shimmer like polished silk. Her once-clouded eyes now sparkled with a newfound brightness, as if a weight had been lifted from her.

Each movement, from the way she stirred her coffee to the subtle sway of her hips, radiated serene confidence—different from her fake radiant smile that she wore and her fake confidence. This morning felt peaceful, and that tranquility seemed to shine from her glowing appearance.

It had been two weeks since her strange dream cycle had begun, alternating between two worlds—one in her sleep and one while awake. Yet, despite living in both, she never felt tired. The dream world always left her calm and refreshed.

Finishing her coffee, Yuki dressed in workout clothes—a fitted tank top and shorts—and headed to the small gym nearby. Soft music played as she moved through her workout routine with energy and vigor, alternating between strength training and cardio. Sweat glistened on her skin, making her feel alive. But as she reached the final set, a strange unease washed over her, pulling her focus away.

She shook it off, showered quickly, and returned home, dressed in loungewear to tackle the day's work—reports, emails, and more. Yet that gnawing feeling wouldn't leave her. As the day wore on, it intensified, looming at the edges of her mind.

By evening, she was exhausted. Sinking onto the couch, Yuki closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, she found herself in the other world—sunlight streaming through the windows of a luxurious room. But something felt off.

She was taller. Bigger.

Panicked, Yuki ran to the big mirror in the corner of the room and froze. Staring back at her wasn't the 12-year-old girl she remembered, but a stunning woman in her early twenties. Her golden hair cascaded down to her waist, and her sharp and cool eyes reflected disbelief.

A knock echoed through the room, snapping her back to reality. This time, however, she didn't panic as much as before. She sighed and sat on the bed, her voice colder than she intended. "What is it?"

The familiar voice of her maid, Rebecca, responded from the other side. "Miss, the Lord is waiting in the study. He wants you to meet him in 20 minutes."

Yuki gets surprised at how different her voice sounded from before, Rebecca she knew had a soft voice with a hint of panic, now it is only a calm, composed voice, but she shook the thought away, a second later. There were more pressing mysteries to solve. Why had she suddenly aged? Why did the atmosphere feel so different?

'All right' Yuki said as she got up and headed to the wardrobe, choosing a simple yet elegant dress from the wardrobe, which was now 2 times bigger than before. With countless dress that she did not see before. Seeing this theories starts spin appear in her head, of her time skipping, or of her being in coma. But put the coma aside, as in the case she was in coma, when she awoke, her father should have rushed here, or at least Rebecca should have excited tone in her voice. Which now left her with time skipping theory. That gave her even more mystery, was she living just hallucinating, or what she is experiencing a cosmic wonder ?, or is she just going crazy?. As her thought goes dangerous direction, she halts the thought and decides to ask her father.

Yuki applied quick makeup and left the room. Rebecca, her maid, was waiting, calm, and composed. Yuki followed her through the grand hallway, the mansion's opulence now feeling more like a gilded cage than a marvel.

After a few minutes, they reached the study. Her father sat behind an ornate desk, his presence now that of a commanding tyrant, different from his usual aura of calm confidence. He seemed like a mountain whose peak could not be seen, exerting pressure on any being who dared to gaze upon it, a giant mountain crushing all in its path. Yet one thing remained unchanged: the warmth that always surrounded him, a comforting presence just for her.

"Yuki," he said, his voice a mix of authority and tenderness. "Have you eaten breakfast?"

Yuki forced a smile, though unease still gnawed at her. "I was about to. Why did you call me?"

Her father's expression turned serious at her question. "Although this is sudden, but I thought I should tell you as soon as possible and you probably won't like what I have to say. The world seal became unstable a few days ago, and there are no signs of it stabilizing. So For your safety, you will remain in a minor dimension, until it stabilizes. And you will leave this afternoon to the minor dimension"

Yuki's expression was one of confusion. She did not know what a world seal was or why becoming unstable would make her go to a minor dimension, which she did not even know existed. But judging by his tone, she should have basic knowledge of it, which she did not have. After a second or two, she decided to pretend she knew it. So With a calm expression she said to her father "Alright."

Hearing her reply, as if a heavy load were lifted from his shoulders, he relaxed, leaning back in his chair as he said, "I am glad you understand."

With a radiant smile that she usually saw on her father, he said. 'Let's go have breakfast together for a change.'

()

Yuki stepped onto a massive fortress flying in the sky she had first seen in the wyvern training area. From a distance, it looked like a colossal structure, but up close, it revealed itself as a beast over 10 kilometers long, not including the spatial magic that made it appear even larger than it was. Hundreds of turrets and magic circles dotted its surface, with thousands of soldiers moving in and out of the fortress every second.

"This way, miss," her escort, a knight, said as he walked in front of her. She was flanked by about ten knights and twenty maids, which she thought was ridiculous, but she did not voice her concern, because she did not fully understand the situation. As she walked through the hallway, she observed her surroundings. The interior of the fortress looked as though it came straight from a sci-fi novel, with clean white walls, futuristic technology, and the occasional robot powered by magic that she bypassed.

After about five minutes of navigating the fortress, she finally reached the room that would be hers for who knows how long. Upon entering, she noticed that the room was almost identical to her room in the mansion, with hardly any indication that it was different. She looked around, inspecting the room, when suddenly the fortress shook slightly. Noticing this, she turned to the maid who was accompanying her, curiously asked "What was that?"

The maid replied with a slight bow. "That was the fortress moving, miss, preparing to enter the minor dimension."

Hearing this, Yuki raised an eyebrow. "I thought the fortress would instantly teleport to the minor dimension."

The maid responded, her head still bowed. "Due to countless seals, traps, and illusions, that are placed there, even we with the key, must go the long way."

"That sounds inefficient if you have to go through this every time you want to enter or exit," Yuki remarked.

"Yes, under normal circumstances, it would be. But we've entered war protocol, so it's necessary. Only the lord himself can enter and exit the dimension at will. Here, miss, if you want to observe what is happening outside, you could use this to observe" the maid said, handing Yuki a device that looked like a ball with pulsing blue lines.

Yuki took it and examined it, noticing two buttons. She pressed one, and a hologram displayed what was happening outside.

She watched as the fortress slowly entered a shimmering portal, countless massive golden chains visible inside the portal and it was closing in on the fortress. A few second later, just as the chains were about to wrap around the fortress, the fortress glowed, causing the chains to halt in their tracks. A second later it slowly retreats

After observing for a few more seconds, she places the device on the table beside her and turned toward the maid. "You can go now."

The maid bowed in response. "Understood."

Tick tock tick tock.

Huaaaahh (door closing).

Once the maid was gone, Yuki jumped onto the bed and stretched, staring at the ceiling. "I still don't know what is happening."

The next day, while reading a magic book, she suddenly felt that tremor again, signaling that the fortress had reached its destination.

Just in case, Yuki thought as she took out the ball and looked outside through the hologram. She saw that the fortress was now in a normal place, with no golden chains or magic circles visible nor the endless void that was there. Taking a slow breath, Yuki got up with a jolt with a small smile, though her chest tightened with uncertainty about what was happening outside the minor dimension and how many days she would have to stay inside the fortress.

The first day passed uneventfully. Her father did not come. Servants moved quietly through the halls, maintaining the fortress without making a sound. Yuki explored the fortress more but found no comfort in its cold beauty. Some ceilings were impossibly high, and the hallways were vast and echoing. She felt small and isolated, like a guest in her own life.

Each night, she spent the day in a luxurious but lonely bed. Each morning, she awoke feeling strange, as though something was different. It wasn't until the second day that she realized—time was passing differently here. The dream world she entered each night seemed to progress a year beyond what it was. Each time she woke, another year had passed in the dream world. Her body hadn't aged, but the servants, knights, and even some buildings that weren't there before told her otherwise, which she confirmed from the maid that was assigned that day.

Her father, once a figure who showered her with love and adoration, whose figure is constant company to her became more distant with each passing day. He barely speaks to her anymore, always outside the fortress leaving the minor world entirely for long stretches. He sometimes returned wounded on occasion, bandaged and silent, brushing off her concerns with a dismissive wave.

"It's nothing, Yuki. Stay inside. You'll be safe there."

But she knew it was more than nothing. She could see it in the way his eyes darkened and in the bloodstains that occasionally marred his clothes despite the servants' best efforts to clean him up before she noticed. Something was happening out there, beyond the safety of the fortress walls.

It wasn't just her father who was changing. The atmosphere itself grew heavier and darker. The once-pristine skies were now overcast, thick clouds casting shadows across the barren landscape that stretched out beyond the fortress. Where once she could glimpse rolling hills and forests, there was now only wasteland. The earth beyond the barrier surrounding the fortress was blackened and twisted as if scorched by some unfathomable force.

Yuki's only company, aside from the silent servants, were the others who came and went from the fortress—beings she had never seen before, an army of dragons, wyverns, and other strange creatures. Their presence filled her with awe and unease, especially when she caught sight of towering gods and goddesses who visited the fortress from time to time.

One of them, a tall woman with piercing ice-blue eyes and long silver hair, introduced herself as Veronika, the goddess of ice. Yuki sensed something otherworldly about her from the moment they met, and her suspicions were confirmed when Veronika explained who she was.

"I am Veronika, the goddess of ice," she said, her voice cool and sharp, like the bite of winter wind. "You may not remember me, but I knew you when you were much younger—about 17 years ago."

Yuki was taken aback by the familiarity in Veronika's tone. They stood by a large window, overlooking the estate below, where other gods gathered, their once-majestic forms tinged with sorrow.

"Many gods and goddesses come here seeking refuge," Veronika continued, her eyes fixed on the distant figures. "Their pantheons, their homes, have been destroyed. They vent their frustration on whoever is near, but if any of them offend you, tell me. I'll take care of it. Just... don't tell your father."

Veronika spoke kindly, her voice as cold and sharp as winter wind. But even her presence couldn't quell Yuki's growing unease. The days dragged on, and the world outside the fortress decayed further with each passing moment. The once-clear skies were now a swirling vortex of dark clouds, and the servants moved with an urgency she hadn't noticed before.

Then, one day, it happened.

Yuki woke up in the middle of the night, feeling an unnatural pressure in the air. Her chest felt tight, and a strange sensation crawled over her skin. She sat up in bed, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. Something was wrong. She rushed to the nearest window, her heart pounding in her chest, and looked outside.

Her breath caught in her throat.

The world beyond the fortress had been reduced to a desolate wasteland. Nothing but blackened earth, cracks in space, and occasional voids stretched as far as the eye could see. But that wasn't what made her stomach churn with fear. It was the figure looming on the horizon.

A colossal being stood far in the distance, its silhouette faint but unmistakable. Its size was beyond comprehension, towering over everything like a living mountain. Even from this far away, Yuki could feel the sheer, suffocating weight of its presence. Her vision blurred, her head pounded, and blood trickled from her nose, ears, and eyes as she collapsed to her knees, gripping the windowsill to steady herself.

She felt like she was going to die just from looking at it.

But then she saw something else. Another figure, equally enormous, moves toward the first. The two titans clashed in the distance, the impact of their blows shaking the very dimension that the fortress is in. Even through the barrier that protected the estate, Yuki could feel the shockwaves. The sky itself seemed to shudder as these godlike beings battled.

A cold voice echoed in her mind. This is what lies beyond the safety of this world, it seemed to whisper. This is what your father is trying to protect you from.

And yet, despite the barrier, despite the fortress's supposed safety, Yuki couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't enough. Whatever was happening out there—it was only a matter of time before it reached her too.

She wiped the blood from her face, her heart still racing, and turned away from the window. As she did, the door to her room opened slowly. Veronika stood there, her icy gaze focused on Yuki, but this time, her expression was not one of calm.

"You've seen it, haven't you? Don't look at it again. If you do, your soul might get extinguished," Veronika's voice was cold but sympathetic. "The horror beyond the stars, the outer gods, are not something you can see or understand."

Yuki nodded, still trembling. "Where is Father?"

Veronika's expression darkened. "You already saw him fighting against it."

Yuki's blood ran cold. She realized then that her father was fighting against it, trying to protect her.

"We need to help him," Yuki said with panic and desperation in her voice. "He might die!"

In response, Veronika sighed and said in a tired tone, "It is useless."

Hearing this, Yuki, with desperation in her voice, shouted, "WHY?"

Veronika, as if she had enough, shouted back at her, "Because even gods are but fireflies in front of an outer god! If the outer god is a sun, a god is but a firefly!"

Hearing her outburst snapped Yuki back to reality, and she realized that if even gods couldn't do anything, she couldn't hope to help him. Her face darkened, becoming gloomy as she said to Veronika, "Why are we here then? If it is so powerful, why aren't we running away? Why is he fighting ?"

Veronika, whose expression became calm again said to Yuki, "Because there is nowhere to retreat. At least, That is what I thought a few hours ago. I am here to bring you with me to another universe entirely."

Yuki stared at Veronika with faint recognition. "To a parallel universe?" she asked, her voice shaky.

Veronika's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly masked it. "How do you—forget it. There's no time," she said, urgency creeping into her voice. "Place your hand on this scroll. It will send our souls to another world."

Yuki hesitated, her thoughts swirling in confusion and fear. Her hands trembled as she struggled with the decision. After a few moments, her expression turned dejected. Slowly, almost reluctantly, she placed her hand on the scroll. The moment her fingers touched the surface, it began to glow. An intricate, complex magic circle materialized in the air, followed by the appearance of a shimmering golden chain.

Before Veronika could react, the chain shot out and wrapped around her, coiling tightly. The attack came so quickly that she had no time to resist. Panic flashed in her ice-blue eyes as she realized what was happening. She tried to summon her divine power, but the chain bound her tightly, sealing her abilities. Her divine energy was being drained rapidly.

"NO!" she screamed, her voice filled with desperation as she turned toward the distant battlefield where her father was locked in combat. "You promised me a new lease on life! You promised! YOU PROMISED"

In a matter of moments, Veronika's once ethereal form withered. Her youthful beauty faded, and she became a frail, old woman, barely clinging to life. With the last of her strength, she turned her fading eyes toward Yuki, her lips trembling as she whispered bitterly, "Why only you?."

And then, she collapsed, her body nothing but a shell of what it once was.

After Veronika died, a golden chain leaped from her corpse and wrapped itself around Yuki. As it tightened, a blue orb began to emerge from Yuki's chest. The moment the orb fully materialized, Yuki's perspective suddenly shifted. It went from first-person to third-person, as if she were watching a movie through a screen. Panic surged through her—she had no idea what was happening. She watched as the blue orb, now fully emerged from her chest, floated away. In this detached view, she saw the orb flying in the opposite direction of her father, ascending toward the sky.

The orb bypassed the atmosphere and entered space. There, Yuki glimpsed beings similar to the first Outer God—this one had countless limbs, a goat-like body, and innumerable mouths. Shadowy figures surrounded it. Yet, none of them turned toward her as she flew past.

As the orb continued its journey, it suddenly hit a shadowy figure—though Yuki couldn't clearly see what it was. But golden chain that had been protecting the orb cracked in several places, dimming in those spots. However, it remained intact, wrapping more tightly around the orb as it pressed on. From behind Yuki could see that the shadowy figure stopped and turned to look at her as she went away. 

.

.

.

.

.

She had no idea, how long it had been, but the golden chain became riddled with cracks, its once radiant gold color now turning to a dull, stone-like hue, as if it was about to break a second later. Perhaps it realized that it was near its breaking point, the chain changed its position, wrapping the orb on the other side of its body, and flung the blue orb forward, towards the direction it was going with speed similar to a bullet, while it loses it's glow completely and shatters into million pieces.

Now, the blue orb, which is flung in the direction the chain was going, starts to fly in that direction, but without the protection of the chain, it began to disintegrate.

One hour.

Ten hours.

Thirty hours.

Forty hours.

The orb had decayed to a mere fragment, but it did not give up—it stubbornly endured. Suddenly, it pierced through an unseen barrier and entered a new world, one filled with green life and plants.

The fragment began to fall toward the ground, drifting gently like a snowflake. When it was about a kilometer above the surface,as if it sensed something, it suddenly began flying towards the east. Heading toward a small Japanese house nestled on a mountain. There, it found a woman in her thirties, visibly pregnant. Without hesitation, the fragment entered her belly.

Yuki gasped in shock, her heart racing. She recognized the woman immediately—it was her mother. Alive. And pregnant.

"This can't be real," she whispered, disbelief flooding her.

"It is real," a voice spoke from behind her, startling Yuki. She spun around to find a golden-haired woman in her early twenties—a dream version of herself, radiating cold, otherworldly aura.

"Who… who are you?" Yuki asked, eyeing the woman with suspicion.

The woman sighed her expression a mix of frustration and weariness. "I'm you, idiot. Didn't you just live through my memories?"

Yuki blinked in confusion. "What? What are you talking about? Were those really memories, but I lived through them, they were too real to be a memory"

The woman sighed again, rubbing her temple. "Great, I became dumb after reincarnation" she muttered. "Look, I don't have time to explain everything, but here's what you need to know—our father has awakened, and he's coming for you."

Yuki's eyebrow twists in confusion. "What do you—"

"Goodbye. If there's a chance in the future, let's talk," the woman said, cutting her off. She cast one last glance at Yuki before dissolving into smoke.

Yuki bolted upright in bed, heart pounding. "WAIT!" she shouted.

Her breath came in quick gasps as she tried to get a grip on her surroundings. She was back in her bedroom. Everything that happened was too sudden, her mind raced with disbelief and confusion. As she tried to calm herself, she noticed a young boy, around twelve years old, sitting calmly in a chair beside her bed. His face was hauntingly familiar—he looked just like her child, who dissappeared. His soft smile radiated warmth and comfort.

"Hello, my child," he said, his voice gentle. Reminding her of someone.

Yuki stared at him, her confusion deepening. "What…?"