Highschool DxD-Dream of Perfection

Chapter 26

The devil ran for his life. Every step carried the weight of survival, his feet brushing the ground only to twist and vanish into the forest's embrace. To a lesser eye, he was a phantom, weaving between trees, a blur against the shifting shadows.

Ahead, a stone hill loomed like a sentinel. He veered around it, unwilling to risk the vantage point exposing him. His pulse thundered in his ears, but his thoughts remained razor-sharp. "He must be searching for me by now," the devil thought as he continued.

As the forest thinned, the mountain's base came into view, the shimmering edge of a barrier marking the boundary. He slowed, his breath ragged, and reached for the glowing surface. When his palm made contact, the barrier dissolved, revealing a narrow opening just wide enough for him to slip through. Without hesitation, he stepped inside. The barrier closed behind him, leaving no trace of his entry.

For a fleeting moment, silence embraced him, broken only by his shallow breaths. Then he continued forward, his steps quickening.

A mine entrance emerged from the shadows, guarded by two devils flanking the path. Six more stood in formation, their posture rigid and their gazes sharp. The devil approached, his torn shoulder visible now under the faint light.

One of the devils, clad in ornate armor, stepped forward. His eyes widened in shock. "My Lord! What happened to your arm?"

The devil ignored the question, brushing past the captain as he muttered, "Activate protocol A7 and increase the barrier output to the maximum." His voice was calm, but the strain of pain lingered in the undertones.

The captain's discipline snapped him out of his surprise. With a sharp nod, he turned to another guard. A flick of the guard's hand summoned a magic circle, followed by murmured incantations as he relayed the order to one of the managers.

"Sir," the captain ventured cautiously, his voice betraying the tension in his chest. "Did he escape?"

The devil stopped, his head twisting sharply to meet the captain's gaze. His eyes burned cold, though his tone remained measured. "No, he did not," he said. "I escaped from him."

The captain froze, disbelief rippling across his expression. The other guards shared his shock, their disciplined stances faltering. How could this be? The devil before them was no ordinary being. This was Bayl the Blood Weavor, a Peak Ultimate class devil whose name was etched in the annals of their history.

Bayl—the devil who waded through rivers of blood during the civil war, who fought tirelessly on the front lines, who once faced Sirzech Lucifer himself and lived to tell the tale. Lucifer of that time has not reached the peak of his power, but still, for him to fight and then escape was unthinkable.

Bayl continued down the path, his steps echoing like the ticking of a doomsday clock. The guards stood in stunned silence until a sound cracked the air like thunder.

Their heads snapped toward the barrier. Cracks raced across its eastern edge, the side Bayl had come from. The air around the barrier shimmered violently, threatening to collapse.

"Ready your arms! Prepare for combat!" The captain barked, his voice cutting through the confusion.

The base erupted into motion. Alarms blared, the metallic clatter of weapons filling the air. Yet a shadow of doom loomed over them all. They knew—none of them would survive. Teleportation or mercy was their only hope, and both were as likely as the sun rising in the underworld. But considering that the artificial sun does rise, there is hope ?.

()

BOOM!

Another thunderous impact shook the very earth beneath their feet, sending shockwaves through the base. Dirt and debris flew into the air as the crack in the barrier widened, spreading like spiderwebs over its surface, signaling the inevitable destruction. The barrier looked fragile, like a vase moments from shattering.

BOOM!

A third blow struck, and the barrier screamed in anguish, its cry echoing through the base as it finally gave way. The dirt kicked up by the impact obscured their vision, robbing them of the one chance they had to meet their adversary's gaze before their demise.

"SPREAD OUT!" the devil captain shouted, his voice sharp and commanding. He unsheathed his weapon, and his guards scrambled to cast buffs and drink potions—anything to give them a fighting chance.

From where the barrier had once stood, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the air, each thud resonating with the force of something dangerous and deadly—like the demonic beast that lived in the depths of the underworld.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Each step sent tremors through their chests, the air thick with tension as they waited for the next blow to come. Their hearts pounded in unison, dreading the moment when the unknown terror would finally strike.

But then—THUD!—the footsteps stopped. A chilling silence fell over the group, leaving them with nothing but the steady pounding of their hearts. They froze, wondering if their end had come.

Then, the silence shattered.

"I KNOW YOU ARE THERE!"

The roar ripped through the air, so deafening that their ears rang. The earth trembled as the figure behind the voice charged toward the entrance of the mine with a KABOOM! He surged forward like a rocket, clearing the path before him. Guards were torn apart, crushed to pulp in an instant, as rocks and boulders disintegrated into dust. The unstoppable force carved a deadly trail, his fury a whirlwind of destruction.

The remaining guards stood paralyzed, their bodies stiff as statues. The weight of what they had just witnessed sank in; their relief was short-lived. They were still alive—this time.

"What a monstrous magic signature," one guard muttered, his voice shaky, eyes wide with disbelief. 'Magical energy was pouring out of him like a waterfall.'

As the chaos inside the mine unfolded. One of the guards turned to their captain, expecting to see their captain also like them, shocked and fearful—only to be met with the horrific sight of meat paste, where their captain had once stood.

"Captain?" The guard's voice sounded unsure, as if his mind was still struggling to process the scene before him.

()

Yuto charged toward the heart of the mine, a relentless force of nature. Anyone who dared to stand in his way was obliterated, reduced to a grotesque paste. At 2 meters and 20 centimeters tall, with the build of a bull, he barreled forward without hesitation, leaving no room for escape. The walls were painted with the remains of those who couldn't flee in time.

After weaving through narrow passages, Yuto found himself in a vast cavern, its towering ceiling rising hundreds of meters above him and its width stretching fifty meters across. It was bright as if it were outside, under a moon. As he glanced around, his eyes caught the glow of magic ores pulsating like distant stars. A small creak echoed from above, and droplets of moisture began to fall, thickening the air with humidity, like the breath of the earth after a long drought. In any other moment, Yuto might have stopped to appreciate the sight, but today, there was no time for admiration.

With a leap, Yuto dove into the center of the cavern, falling like a stone, his body cutting through the air with the force of a missile. The winds whipped at his face and hair, muffling any sounds that would have reached him. He crashed into the wooden platform below with a deafening thud, splintering it into a thousand pieces. Without breaking stride, he pressed on, heading toward a tunnel where he had felt the faint pulse of an ultimate-class devil's mana signature before it vanished.

Moments later, he emerged into a massive tunnel, ten meters wide and four meters high. There, standing in his path, was the devil. His grin stretched wide as he muttered, "I knew you'd follow me."

Yuto didn't stop nor slow down upon seeing him. He charged forward like a missile, his fist glowing with blinding mana, blazing like a roaring bonfire.

BOOM!

The impact of his punch collided with the devil's barrier, sending a shockwave through the mine. A brilliant flash of light erupted, so intense that it was nearly impossible to look at. The force of the collision rattled the mountain itself, causing half of the mine to cave in and sealing the fates of anyone still inside.

When the dust settled, Yuto's gaze locked onto the devil, whose face had gone even paler than before. "YOU WILL DIE HERE," Yuto bellowed, his voice commandeering as if he were declaring a fact.

The devil's grin widened. "Are you sure? I don't think my time has come just yet." The devil taunted after that he took out a dark-hued amulet, its eerie glow pulsating in his hand.

"You were here to raid this place, weren't you?" the devil asked.

Yuto didn't respond. There was no need for words. He pulled his arm back and struck the barrier again. This time, cracks spidered across its surface, signaling its impending destruction.

The devil's complexion paled further as the second impact hit. He didn't waste a moment, pouring his mana into the amulet, which began to glow with a sinister darkness, spewing out thick black smoke. "I wanted to talk, but you're not giving me any time," the devil muttered as the smoke billowed, threatening to engulf him entirely. "If you survive, we'll fight again."

Just as his face began to fade into the smoke, Yuto's left arm shot forward, penetrating the barrier with ease. He grabbed the devil by the jaw, catching him completely off guard. By the time the devil realized what was happening, it was already too late.

With a sickening snap, Yuto tore the devil's jaw clean off. The devil's body writhed in shock, but before he could react further, the devil vanished in a burst of dark energy, teleporting away.

()

As soon as the devil vanished, so did Yuto's skill. So did the devil that drove Yuto away, causing him to release the limit breaker. His body began to shrink, his muscles contracting and his frame thinning. He felt himself getting shorter, his height dwindling from 2 meters and 10 centimeters to 2 meters flat. As he was shrinking, Yuto felt a sense of déjà vu creep over him, like a moment from the past was about to repeat itself.

Yuto paused for a moment, trying to piece together why he felt this way. His mind raced as he backtracked, remembering himself charging toward the base like a raging bull, tearing through anything in his path. No, it's not that, Yuto thought, dismissing that time. He continued to backtrack; it was something else.

Then it hit him—the devil's words echoed in his mind: "If you survive, we'll fight again."

The moment he muttered those words aloud, the sense of déjà vu flooded him once more. Why?

Yuto froze in his tracks. The answer clicked in his mind with perfect clarity. FUCK, he cursed aloud, realizing the full extent of what was happening.

He immediately activated his Limitbreaker skill again, halting his body's shrinking process before it could go any further. With renewed urgency, he turned on his heel and bolted. Moving faster than ever, he blasted through the walls of the cavern, leaving destruction in his wake. His speed blurred the landscape as he shot toward the exit.

Without needing to sense the devil anymore, Yuto moved with unparalleled speed, racing toward freedom. In mere seconds, he was outside, his hulking figure a blur of motion as he pushed his body to its limits.

But as he reached a hundred meters away from the mine's entrance, a massive explosion ripped through the earth. The cavern erupted like a volcano, sending plumes of smoke and debris into the sky. The shockwave hit Yuto hard, and the heat from the blast scorched his skin. His barrier shattered under the impact, sending him tumbling forward.

"FUCK!" he yelled, but his words were lost in the chaos. The blast sent him careening through the air, his body battered and bruised.

The pain was overwhelming, the stress of the battle, the strain on his body, and the mental toll all crashing down on him at once. As he fell, his instincts kicked in. He rolled with the momentum, absorbing the impact and lessening the damage.

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The sound of a single raindrop falling from the sky broke through the haze of Yuto's unconsciousness. It landed softly on his forehead, the coolness sharp against his burning skin. Slowly, his eyelids fluttered open, and his senses came rushing back in a painful wave. His body screamed in protest as the effects of the explosion and his earlier exertions caught up to him.

Every inch of him felt like it was on fire—his muscles, strained and torn, throbbed with each shallow breath he took. His chest ached, his limbs heavy and bruised, and his mind foggy with the aftermath of the battle. A low groan escaped his lips as he slowly tried to sit up, but the pain was so intense it felt like his body was being torn apart.

Damn it, Yuto thought, forcing himself to focus through the haze of pain. He could barely move his arms. With great effort, his right hand rose shakily as he cast a summoning spell, conjuring a box filled with healing potions, vitality-boosting elixirs, and other remedies.

He uncorked one of them with a shaky hand, the sharp scent of herbs and magic filling his nose. Without hesitation, he drank it down in one swift gulp. The liquid burned as it slid down his throat, but within moments, he felt the soothing warmth spread through his body, dulling the worst of the pain. His muscles relaxed, the tension easing as the potion began to work its magic.

Still, the pain didn't fully vanish. His body was battered, his limits tested in ways he hadn't imagined. He coughed, sitting back against a large rock, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle on him like a heavy cloak. He was alive and well. Not exactly well, not disabled or mind-raped well.

The rain began to fall more steadily, light droplets cascading down, their cool touch offering some comfort. Yuto closed his eyes for a moment, letting the soothing rhythm of the rain help ground him. He had no idea how long he'd been unconscious.

He stayed still for a few moments longer, the rain soaking into his clothes, the coolness helping to counter the heat still radiating from his body. The potions had done their job, but there was still a lingering weariness, a deep exhaustion that made him reluctant to move. But he knew he couldn't stay here forever.

Yuto slowly pushed himself to his feet, swaying slightly as his muscles protested the movement. With a painful grunt, Yuto began to move, his steps slow and deliberate as he made his way through the rain-soaked terrain. 

After walking for a few minutes, he came upon a small cave. Extremely small one where he could barely sit upright, but cave nonetheless. With a big sign, Yuto sat inside the cave and looked at the downpour that was happening as he rested his body. Using the limit-breaker skill to manipulate his body to heal more efficiently.

While he sat there looking outside, he touched some part of his hair that turned white, reminiscing of an old man in their twilight years, dry and brittle. 'Fuck'

()

It had been three days since that day, and Yuto had made a remarkable recovery—nowhere near fully healed, but strong enough to fly and handle smaller tasks without much trouble. His body still ached in places, but he had pushed past the worst of it. His destination was clear: the camp where Yato was located. He had been flying by night, resting during the day to avoid overexerting himself.

But as he flew, Yuto took a bit of a detour. Instead of heading directly to the camp, he curved off course, heading toward the Great Cale Mountains, where Ray had last been heard to be preparing for a fight.

As Yuto approached the battlefield, he slowed his pace, his sharp eyes scanning the area. The sight before him was chaotic—he could see Ray in the midst of battle, unleashing powerful blasts at nagas, golems, and other beings that swarmed the area. The destruction was monumental, but Yuto stayed silent, neither planning to intervene nor get involved. Instead, he muttered a quiet incantation, cloaking himself with an invisibility spell.

From his vantage point, Yuto observed Ray with keen focus. The old mage was carving through his enemies with ease, moving with skill and precision, until, without warning, a shadowy figure sneak attacked him. One of the heads of the Shadow Veil—a Ultimate-Class Naga—emerged from the shadows, its slitted eyes glinting with malicious intent. Ray managed to dodge it, with not much injury, after which they conversed for a bit, with Ray making the most of the talking, but Naga seemed to say something in retort, which managed to enrage Ray, after which the Naga lunged at Ray, its sharp claws dangerously close to Ray as they started fighing.

With a quiet exhale, Yuto crept behind the naga, moving with the calculated precision of a predator stalking its prey. He moved through the shadows, careful to remain undetected. When the naga's attention was fully locked on Ray, preparing to finish Ray off, Yuto surged forward. Pushing his body to the limit, he became a blur—faster than the eye could follow.

In a single, explosive movement, Yuto's fist pierced the naga's back with deadly force, tearing through its scales like paper. A sickening crack followed, but as the Naga shrieked in agony before long, falling dead, Yuto felt a sharp, familiar sting run through his own body. His wound, aggravated by the sudden burst of energy, opened once more. Blood seeped through his clenched teeth, and his vision blurred for a moment.

Damn it, Yuto cursed under his breath, his face paling as the pain shot through him.

Author note: In a few chapters this will finish and the story will truly start; our MC will start getting connected to characters who appeared in the anime.