Highschool DxD-Dream of Perfection

Chapter 24

(Authors note: I don't know what came over me while i was writing this chapter, but here enjoy.)

(Do point out my mistake, cause after writing this, i only skimmed throught this.)

The day was bright and clear, with sunlight spilling over the wilderness, casting a gentle warmth. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, and birds chirped in lively harmony, creating a serene melody. Nearby, small animals like rabbits and squirrels darted between the undergrowth, diligently preparing for the days ahead. Yuto strolled along a winding path, his eyes wandering over the landscape, savoring the peaceful beauty around him.

It had been several months since he'd arrived here, and in that time, he had tirelessly gathered resources and knowledge with the fervor of a hoarding goblin. He left no stone unturned, collecting even low-tier herbs and basic tomes, with the thought that Yuki might someday find a use for them. By now, he had raided ten hidden bases, looted two secluded farms, and, most notably, attacked a fortress. That last one had been a group effort with a band of elves from the Phamos family, their swift arrows and wind magic complementing his stealth.

For all his activity, Yuto had kept a low profile, moving in the shadows and staying inconspicuous.

Lost in thought, he came upon a wide, glimmering river, its surface mirroring the brilliant sunlight. The water looked cool and inviting, the sunlight making it sparkle with a refreshing allure. A mischievous grin crossed Yuto's face as he thought, Why not? He stripped off his clothes, set them carefully aside, and found a ledge above the river. With one final, excited look, he leaped, soaring three or four meters before landing with a loud splash, sending a spray of cool water in all directions. He floated on the surface, letting the gentle current carry him, and laughed softly to himself, I've always wanted to do that.

As he drifted, he stared up at the open sky, lost in thought. I wonder what Mom is doing, he mused, closing his eyes and feeling the cool water run through his hair like a soothing massage, its currents washing away his stress. For a while, he just floated there, savoring the moment of stillness.

An hour slipped by before he slowly rose, casting a drying spell over himself. The warmth of the day lingered, so he left his hair damp, feeling refreshed. His mind was clear, his body reinvigorated.

Once dressed, Yuto resumed his journey along the sunlit path. His destination lay a hundred kilometers away, a distant point on the horizon. Until he grew bored, he will continue walking, enjoying the scenery, calming his mind.

()

After trekking for another half hour, Yuto paused, looking at the landscape around him. The lush, green forest gradually thinned, revealing distant snow-capped peaks glistening under the sunlight. Yet, as enchanting as it was, Yuto grew bored. With a sigh, he raised his hand and cast a teleportation spell, adding a subtle silencing enchantment to it—a skill he recently picked up from an elven mage of the Phamos family. The spell was seamless, causing no more than a whisper in the air as he vanished and reappeared ten kilometers away from his destination.

Before him loomed a massive mountain, its peak perpetually blanketed in snow, even in the warmth of summer. Embedded deep within this giant were veins of valuable ores—Ferrilite, Glimmersteel, and Murkite—rare metals sought after for their unique magical properties. Though these ores were considered low-level magical materials, they could fetch a fortune, especially if looted by a single individual.

Yuto resumed his journey on foot, moving at his own deliberate pace while vigilantly scanning the area for any signs of trouble. His eyes darted from shadow to shadow, and he adjusted his stride to avoid breaking twigs underfoot, minimizing noise and his magic signature as he approached his target. Twenty minutes later, he finally reached the mine's entrance—a cavernous opening flanked by two burly guards. Both were clad in heavy armor and appeared highly alert, their heads turning left and right every few moments, scanning for the slightest sign of an intruder.

"Bingo," Yuto thought, a smirk crossing his face. He positioned himself in front of a thick tree trunk, grounding his back foot and lowering his stance, preparing for a rapid sprint. He took a deep breath, flooding his muscles with mana, enhancing himself, and focused on the entrance, knowing he'd have to slip inside before the defensive barrier reached full strength. In its dormant state, the barrier provided only basic shielding and detection, activating to its full power only when it sensed an impending attack or large magical surge.

The moment he bolted, the air behind him cracked with a resounding sonic boom. Each step he took shattered the ground beneath him, propelling him forward with increasing speed. In mere seconds, Yuto had covered several kilometers, moving at a speed that defied physical laws. As he closed in on the mine, he triggered his Limit Breaker skill, pouring raw mana into his fist until it glowed with an intense, sunlike radiance. He thrust his fist into the barrier, and it crumbled as if it were made of brittle glass.

Just as he breached the barrier, a massive, shadowed figure loomed in his path. Yuto barely registered the fist hurtling towards him before it connected with staggering force; he barely had the time to put up a guard before the impact sent him flying backward. He rocketed through the trees, his momentum snapping thick trunks like twigs before he finally crashed to a halt. 

()

He shook his head, trying to clear the ringing in his ears as he turned back toward the mouth of the mine. The creature who had just punched him with staggering force was approaching rapidly, leaving a dark trail of crimson in his wake. Dust rose in his footsteps, forming a haze around him. He came to a halt roughly twenty meters from Yuto, the dust swirling as he stopped.

As Yuto's vision steadied, he could finally make out his adversary. Towering at nearly two meters, the man was broad and muscular, his face bisected by a deep scar that ran from his forehead to his chin. Behind him, four pairs of leathery, dark devil wings unfurled, accentuating his imposing figure. His expression was cold and savage, his eyes narrowed as he examined Yuto.

"Magic Anomaly, right?" he said, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that matched his brutal appearance.

Yuto smirked, meeting the devil's gaze without a hint of fear. "What's a devil doing here? This isn't your territory, and it's definitely not your allies' either."

The devil merely narrowed his eyes at Yuto, ignoring the question with indifference. "I'll take that as a yes." He started advancing toward Yuto with slow, deliberate steps, each footfall resonating in the empty, cavernous surroundings.

Yuto stood up, brushing the dirt from his clothes, now ripped in several places from the earlier impact. Beneath the fabric, his skin showed only a faint red and white—proof that the blow hadn't done much damage.

"You're just going to ignore what I said?" Yuto called out, his tone calm with slight teasing to it.

The devil halted, a glint of amusement flashing in his eyes. "Prove your worth. Satisfy me, and maybe I'll give you an answer." With that, he lunged forward like a bullet, the force of his movement sending rocks and dirt flying into the air in his wake.

Reacting instantly, Yuto activated his Limit Breaker skill, unleashing the full potential of his body. He layered it with every other ultimate class skill he had: Mana Manipulation, Physical Enhancement, and Elemental Magic, each augmenting his speed and power in a rapid sequence. Enhanced, he darted forward to meet the devil's charge.

As the two closed the distance, the devil drew his arm back, aiming a punch that could cave in a mountain. Yuto's eyes narrowed as he focused magic into his legs, making them glow a bright, electric blue. Just as the devil's fist was about to connect, Yuto released the stored mana in a powerful burst, propelling himself sideways in a blur of blue light.

He appeared beside the devil's left flank, his entire body pulsing with energy, his left hand glowing brightest. Yuto drove his fist toward the devil's liver, aiming to pierce through and, if possible, reach his vital organs.

Kaboom!

The impact landed with explosive force, sending shockwaves rippling outward. A brilliant burst of energy surged from Yuto's punch, the sound deafening. Yet, the red aura surrounding the devil absorbed much of the blast, dispersing the force and shielding him from harm.

()

"What?" Yuto thought, staring at the armor before him. He'd struck with nearly his full power, at best twenty percent weaker than what he could possibly unleash—an attack strong enough to shatter mountains. And yet, aside from a faint wisp of white smoke, the landscape looked unchanged. The ground, darkened by a menacing red aura that reeked of blood, had absorbed every ounce of his blow.

He barely had time to process this before the devil, grinning wickedly, lunged forward, exploiting Yuto's momentary surprise. With brutal precision, the devil slammed his head into Yuto's, sending him rocketing back, head throbbing as pain lanced through his skull. His vision blurred as he hurtled hundreds of meters before crashing to the ground, skidding for ten meters before planting his feet, leaving a deep trench in his wake.

Rising, Yuto looked up, his expression calm yet steely, fixing his gaze on the devil. Without hesitation, he charged like a missile, covering the distance between them in a heartbeat. This time, he unleashed a storm of rapid punches and kicks, each crackling with mana. The devil moved with uncanny agility, blocking and dodging each blow despite his towering, muscular frame. Their strikes collided, sending shockwaves across the barren field, shattering rocks and kicking up clouds of dust. With sheer force, Yuto drove his fists repeatedly into the same spot, breaking through the red aura's protective veil to land a solid punch. The devil staggered back a few meters, momentarily thrown off balance.

A twisted smile spread across the devil's face. "This will be fun," he growled, a dark glint in his eyes as he started to laugh—a maniacal one of madman.

Suddenly, the devil's aura exploded outward, a pulsing blood-red energy that seemed to devour the very air, making it thick and suffocating. Yuto felt his lungs tighten as an oppressive force bore down on him. The devil's wings unfurled, casting a dark shadow over the ground as the crimson energy coiled around his fists like flames.

Before Yuto could even react, the devil vanished. He barely had time to brace himself before a fist crashed into his guard, vibrating through his bones as he was pushed backward. Fighting to keep his footing, he felt the devil close in, each strike hitting with relentless speed and force. Yuto struggled to counter, his reactions slowing with each impact as the devil's blows landed with brutal precision. A punch clipped his jaw, sending stars spinning across his vision; another struck his ribs, knocking the wind from his lungs. His body screamed in protest, muscles straining under the punishment.

"Move faster!" the devil snarled, his voice seething with contempt as he delivered a savage kick to Yuto's side, sending him sprawling. Yuto struggled back to his feet, only to feel the devil's iron grip around his throat, lifting him and smashing him into the ground, leaving a crater beneath him. The devil's hand remained clamped around his neck as he sneered down, disappointed.

"Don't break so quickly," he taunted. "We're just getting started."

The devil leaned down, looking straight into Yuto's dazed eyes before finally letting go, standing to his full height and casting a shadow over him. He gazed at Yuto, the Arcana Anomaly, the boy whose strength had earned him the title of Ultimate Class at just thirteen. But the devil's eyes held only disdain. Yuto could sense it: to him, there was nothing remarkable here, no unique power, no special skill—just a kid, barely worth his attention.

(Yuto's POV)

"What a monster," Yuto thought, a bitter edge to his inner voice as he took in the towering figure looming over him. He couldn't argue. In the brief exchange, he'd learned everything he needed to know about the devil's strength. He was faster, stronger, have more experience than him. 'A peak Ultimate class with skills that completely counters me' The thought gnawed at him as his head throbbed and his ears rang, a sharp reminder of his own weaknesses. "Superior defense, speed, experience… damn it."

As he looked up, he saw the devil lift his foot, preparing to crush him for good. "I guess my break's over," he thought, gathering mana in his legs and, in a burst of energy, launching himself backward in an instant.

A loud boom echoed across the landscape as Yuto shot out from under the devil's foot, skidding across the scorched earth until he stopped ten meters away. Not wasting a second, he summoned a large array of potions, each one a gleaming elixir he downed like cheap juice, gulping them one after the other as their revitalizing effects pulsed through him.

After finishing, he wiped his mouth, smiled slightly as he faced the devil. "Thanks for waiting," he thanked, dropping the empty vitality-boosting potion to the ground.

The devil laughed, an eerie sound in the silence that followed. "No need to thank me," he replied, a glint of madness flashing in his eyes. "Just keep me entertained."

(a few minutes later)

Yuto dashed around the devil, his fists flying with the speed and rhythm of a machine gun, aiming to break through the demon's impenetrable red aura-like armor. With every strike, shockwaves erupted from his punches, their force reverberating through the air. Yet, no matter how many times he hit, the devil's defenses held firm, the attacks barely making a dent. In contrast, the devil's strikes were devastating, each blow sending Yuto staggering, his body unbalanced, barely able to stay on his feet. The attacks hit with such force that they left him no time to react, throwing him across the battlefield in a series of rapid, crushing blows.

For the tenth time in mere minutes, Yuto was sent flying, his body crashing hard into the ground. Blood trickled from his ears, a mix of pain and exhaustion clouding his senses. Some of his hair had been ripped out showing the flesh with his skin ripped off, and his skin burned where he had tried to block the devil's brutal chain of attacks. As the pain surged, Yuto gritted his teeth, clutching his chest and struggling to suppress the agony. Think, Yuto. Think of a way to survive, he thought desperately, his mind racing.

Just in time, he brought his guard up, the devil's fist slamming against his forearms. The impact knocked him backward, but he forced himself to remain standing, his feet barely keeping their ground. Should I flee? No, he's faster than me, Yuto thought, as the devil's next attack came in, his movements impossibly swift. Yuto sidestepped just in time, counterattacking with an elbow to the devil's face. The blow halted the demon's charge, sending him stumbling backward. After which as if he did not even feel it, he slowly approached Yuto, his steps slow and steady.

Yuto paused, his breath shallow, and his mind momentarily slipping into memories. It's just like those days, he thought, lost in the haze of his past. A life he had nearly forgotten.

Once upon a time, Yuto was the second child of a regular family, the younger sibling with an older sister who excelled in everything she did. While Yuto struggled with even the simplest tasks, his sister seemed to breeze through life effortlessly. The disparity between them grew as they aged, their parent's love and attention directed solely toward their older child. Yuto was always left in her shadow, receiving neither praise nor recognition.

He could still remember that day. The day , he proudly entered the house, waving a piece of paper with excitement. "MOM, DAD! I got accepted!" he had shouted, his voice echoing throughout the house. But instead of congratulations, all he received was a heavy sigh from his mother. "Moon Anderson," she said, addressing him by his full name, "I already told you, you're not going to college. Just work in your father's company. He has a spot for you there."

He stood there in silence after that, as his mother continued her words, "Look at it objectively. You barely entered university, and by the time you graduate, you'll be drowning in student debt with a worthless degree that you would not use." His heart, somehow felt distant as if it was beating meters away as he listened quietly.

His sister, meanwhile, excelled in everything. She finished university with a full scholarship, secured a high-paying job, and was well on her way to a perfect life. Yuto's parents continually compared him to her, constantly reminding him how he had failed to live up to their expectations. Despite their attempts to deter him, Yuto pursued his dream, choosing the difficult path of university, his dreams and aspirations before reality.

The years that followed were grueling. He juggled multiple part-time jobs, studying late into the night, and borrowing money from friends just to scrape by. His parents ignored his struggles, consumed with his sister's perfect life and her impending marriage. They turned a blind eye to his suffering, offering him excuses and empty words like We can't lend you any right now, your sister is marrying, your father's company isn't doing great recently. Eventually, Yuto stopped asking them for help; it was a futile gesture that made him feel even more pathetic.

Against all odds, Yuto graduated, landing a job at a prestigious company. For the first time, his life seemed to be heading in the right direction. He paid off his student loans, bought his own two-bedroom apartment on the edge of the city, and was even promoted twice, making $170,000 a year—more than his sister's family, who after marrying stopped working, became stay at home mother.

But his triumph was short-lived. Just when he thought life was on track, he was transported to a new world—the DXD universe. His past life felt like a distant memory, overshadowed by the chaos of his new existence, where godhood and immortality are not a distant dream. The last he heard before his death was that his sister's husband was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, with only a year or two left.

Yuto woke up with a sudden jolt, now noticing that a spear had penetrated his chest just a few centimeters left of his chest, barely missing his heart. He looked at the devil, who was turning around, walking away, clearly thinking that he wouldn't live. He smiled as he looked at the devil, a maniacal one with his eyes glowing red in madness. 'There is a price to everything; as long as you are willing to pay it, you could get anything. Whenever it is money, influence, or looks, as long as you could pay enough.' Yuto thought as he grabbed the spear lodged in his chest, taking it out with a sudden jolt, after which he sent it flying.

'In my past life, it was years of living like a robot, not taking a rest or relaxing for a second. In this life I wanted true godhood and immortality to get it; I need to pay a greater price for it, which will be my LIFE.'

Yuto slowly stood up, his magic and skills going into overdrive as it suppressed his injuries.

'ALL or NOTHING'

Skill Limit Breaker: Level 11 => 16

Perfection points: 1024-1000=24

Devil walked towards the base, his footsteps slow and steady. 'In the end, you are nothing but a kid, weak and pathetic,' he thought as he looked towards the sky, noticing that it became cloudy as if it would rain any second. 

He heard the sound of a metal clanging on the rock behind him before long, the sound of a labored breath and grunt. He smiled fiendishly as he turned around. 'Not bad, kid; I will give you that...'

Only to be greeted by a monster hulk-like being. Standing at a towering 2 meters and 20 centimeters, a hulking figure loomed over him with an imposing presence. His body is a mass of muscle, each defined and bulging as though barely contained by his skin, veins snaking over his limbs and pulsing with raw power. His muscles look so taut and swollen, that it seems as if they might burst with a single flex. His arms are massive, built with forearms like tree trunks and hands large enough to wrap around the head of a smaller man. His muscle pulses every second as if it is a living being shaped into a muscle.

His eyes were pure white with no pupil, while a smile that dwarfed even him adorned his features.

'Who a...' is the only sound he made before the hulk of a man grabbed his mouth, his hands wrapping fully around his head with no struggle. 

An unholy, deep, and gruff voice sounds from his mouth. 'Round two,'.