Hey guys, kurama here with another chapter of DXD: Like A Shadow and I hope you will enjoy this as much as I will.
"Talk," someone says
"Dragon, Game Talk/thought/spells, Quest/Rewards! Someone says.
"Thoughts," Someone says
Disclaimer: I do not own this story if I did, I would be sleeping in a bed full of money.
Let's begin!
-7 days later-
During the few days of training in the dungeon, Rias and her peerage have made great progress in the goblin [Dungeon] and I think they're ready for the next level.
Before that, I take a look at their progress using [Observe].
Name: Rias Gremory
Title: Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess
Race: Pure-Blooded Devil
LVL: 125
HP: 89000
MP: 101000
...
Name: Akeno Himejima
Title: Thunder Priestess
Race: Devil/Fallen Angel Hybrid
LVL: 120
HP: 58000
MP: 104000
...
Name: Koneko Toujo
Title: The Cat Loli
Race: Nekoshou/Devil Hybrid
LVL: 110
HP: 90000
MP: 60000
...
Name: Yuuto Kiba
Title: Prince of Kuoh
Level: 105
Race: Devil
HP: 42000
MP: 59000
...
Name: Gasper Vladi
Title: Daywalker of Kuoh
Level: 100
HP: 36000
MP: 66000
Rias and Akeno are almost three their level before we started this while Kiba, Gasper and Koneko are getting stronger but that's still not enough.
I will have to take them to the highest dungeons so that they can level up faster and hopefully reach level 150 before the four weeks of training are up.
I did some things with them when we weren't training to increase their REP but it's more along the lines of me apologizing for being a dick, with Rias forgiving me which is something I didn't expect from her but I won't say I dislike her.
I watched some animes with her to pass the time and increase her imagination so she could come up with her moves shortly.
For Akeno and Kiba, I made sure to apologize to them multiple times, courtesy of my [Autism] acting up and after a day of thinking, they forgave me and now me and Akeno are on teasing terms.
My bond with Koneko is still as strong as ever and Gasper is quickly becoming like the little one I had back in my first life, except well, he treats me way nicer than the brat.
Don't think about them, Nate.
You got shit to do.
Today, I'll begin scouting new peerage members with Rias 'cause we need to increase our numbers since I doubt even with my training that they'll be able to defeat 15 people which include Riser, a more experienced Rating Game player despite his shitty personality.
While I could do that myself, I need her output 'cause there are three people I want her to get.
Those people are Loup Garou, a guy who later shows up in the Light Novel DxD according to the wiki.
Tosca, Kiba's childhood and possessor of a very powerful Barrier-type Sacred Gear and Valerie Tepes, Gasper's childhood friend and owner of one of the most OP Sacred Gears in all of existence.
These three will be perfect to have in Gremory's peerage but I need to confirm in which church Tosca's being held in and I don't even know where is Loup Garou 'cause again, according to the wiki, Sona got him first before he was traded off to Rias in the Light Novel.
I'll ask Sona if she knows anything about Loup Garou and as for Tosca, I can always use [Soul Search] to find her since it doesn't look like she's dead, even though it's not a guarantee.
I still don't anything about Issei or Asia so I won't get my hopes up but this should still be interesting.
I sit in a cross-legged position and use [Soul Search] to look for Tosca's soul.
Not sensing anything that looks remotely close to her, I begin to outstretch my search for her soul.
"It's not working!" I yell out in anger while Kiba enters my room.
"What's wrong?"
"It's uh... I'm looking for a potential peerage member for you guys but it doesn't appear to be working." I reply after thinking of a coherent lie to tell him.
I'm not sure if I should tell you that his childhood friend is still alive but is trapped in time.
Wait...
"That's it! That's exactly how I'm gonna find her!" I shout before sprinting out the door with a smile on my face.
"You're welcome?!" He shouts, uncertain of what just happened.
I just figured out how I'm gonna Tosca but it's gonna require some help from a certain someone.
I use [Shadow Drive] to reappear at my house and grab a confused Esdeath and go back to where I was a few seconds ago.
"What's going on, dear? Want to spend some quality time with me~" She coos at me.
"Maybe later but right now, I need your help to track down someone." I reply, dismissing her need to have 'fun' since now's not the time I'd rather be doing this when nothing is clouding my mind like the Rating Game or some shit like that.
"Who is she?" She replies as the temperature of the room grows cold while I just pat her on the shoulder, not knowing how she knew it was a girl when I didn't say anything.
Is it 'cause she can read my mind like an open book or do Yanderes have a sixth sense for this kind of thing?
"Her name is Tosca. She's a childhood friend of one of the devils I'm training and I think she might be frozen in time so I need you to unfreeze it where we're going." I explain to her as the door of my room opens once more and I find a more serious Kiba than earlier and his eyes tell me everything I need to know.
He wants in on this but if I do let him do whatever he wants, he's gonna be a liability and I can't afford that but it would be good to have Tosca stare at a familiar face.
"You can come but no going rogue. Are we clear?" I say and he nods his head, perfectly understanding this.
"Alright. Get ready and uh, hold on tight." I say as I use [Shadow Drive] to take us to one of the most dangerous places a devil can find itself in, a church.
But this church is kinda special because we're in the Vatican church, the place where some of the most powerful exorcists live so we're gonna have to be very careful.
We stand outside of the church and Kiba is already on his knees panting, I'm guessing that this place is way too much for him so unfortunately, he's gonna have to sit this one out.
He then passes out a few seconds later, making me slightly guilty of bringing him here as my hubris caused this to happen to him but I will bring him and Tosca back to Rias.
That's a promise.
"Esdeath, go look for a man named Vasco Strada. Tell him that you are seeking a girl named Tosca and that you can free her from her suspension in time. I'll go find some documents related to a project that concerns both of them." I tell her my plan as she nods her head and then we split up.
I carry the unconscious Kiba to a nearby tree and lay him there to make sure that they don't sense him, I put the [Ring of Concealment] on his middle finger, which should hide his presence but just in case, I summon my Death Knight to keep an eye on him while I'm gone.
With the preparations made, I run inside the building while also continuously using both [Aura of Concealment] and [Silent Step] to mask my presence.
You know, where your build is mostly stealth-related abilities, not too many people can find you and that's just fine with me since the goal is to find some documents related to Holy Sword Project.
On second thought, I don't need to mask my presence 'cause there's no one here or maybe I'm missing something 'cause ain't no way that this is the top church in all of Europe and there's no decent security here.
Unless...
"Oh shit! Esdeath!" I shout as I dispel all of my [Skills] and run to where her mana signature is but I dodge a sword at the last second, making me thankful that my dexterity is higher than 500 'cause anything lower than that and I would be dead.
"So, you're one of the intruders Vasco told us about." A voice says as it steps out of the shadows and I use [Observe] on the person to who it is.
Name: Luna Esposito
Level: 100
HP: 12000/12600
MP: 42000/42000
Description: Luna Esposito was once a kind soul but all of that changed when a Stray Devil killed her parents in front of her when she was a child. Since then, she has sworn that she would kill all devils no matter who they are and has the power to back it up.
She is also a high-ranking Exorcist and wishes to kill those responsible for her parent's death.
Thoughts about you: Wants to eliminate you due to you being a threat.
Great...
Can't I have a normal day without anyone wanting to fight me?!
"Okay, I'm guessing you're gonna kill me because I'm an intruder, right?" I ask her and she immediately nods her head, making me sigh in exasperation and annoyance before taking out [Demon-Slasher Katana] out of my [Inventory].
I then twirl my sword around my hand and activate 'Black Form' for the extra boost in power since well, both of my [Sacred Gears, [Delete Field] and [Shadow Prison] are not at the max level but I still have one more level up scroll but I'm gonna use it on something more important than maxing out my gears.
Besides, I don't think I'll need them against her.
If I don't play around with her, then victory is within my reach!
"Let's do this!" I shout as I leap in the air at half of my full speed and throw a powerful swing but she blocks it with a sword that's strangely made out of mana.
I jump back to where I started to figure out a strategy to use against her.
I have a plan but it involves me spamming the heck out of my [Sacred Gears] and ending it in one blow.
But there's a chance I might miss my mark and she could use that to her advantage so I'll need to be careful and not let myself be distracted by anything.
I start by coating my hands in pitch-black purplish flames and fire it at Luna, who jumps in the air to avoid it but I quickly use [Shadow Bind] to pull her back down, bringing her back into the flames and earning a small gasp of pain from her.
"Enough! Both of you!" A voice shouts so I dispel my Sacred Gears and then turn around and see Esdeath alongside a tall dude, who looks very intimidating, to say the least.
"Master Vasco! Forgive this greedy fool. I saw the intruder so I thought I should intervene but it looks like that won't be needed."Luna says while doing a mid bow despite how much she's in as I try to use [Observe] on him but for some reason, I can only see his name.
This is something that's never happened before so I'm gonna ask Hestia about this once this is over.
"Your friend here explained to me everything and I must say, I didn't expect young Isaiah here to embrace himself as a devil but I suppose I'm partially at fault for this," Vasco says as we all walk to where Kiba is.
"Wait, what do you mean 'partially at fault for this'?" I ask, not understanding what did he have to do with the Holy Sword Project.
"Jin, where are we? The last thing I remember is... YOU!"Kiba shouts as he creates his trusty sword, Holy Eraser and swings it at Vasco but the man blocks it with his finger like it was nothing.
This guy is dangerous.
"Hello, Isaiah. how have you been, my son?" He says with remorse in his tone.
"Don't you dare call me that! Especially after what YOU allowed Valper to do to us! You knew he was crazy and wanted to draw out the Holy power from all of us but you still did it! I'm only here for one person and that's Tosca! You're gonna tell me where she is or I swear I'll make you regret letting me live!" Kiba shouts in pure rage as Vasco stares at him before a lone tear escapes from his eyes and he hugs Yuuto, who tries his best to flee the embrace but the man is simply too strong for him.
"I know I failed you, my boy. Please, forgive this tired old man for the transgressions he has committed against you and Tosca, To earn your forgiveness, I will tell you where Tosca is being held as well as what happened to Valper Galilei after the project." He replies in the embrace, giving KIba enough strength to push him away but not completely.
"Where is she?!" The former human yells at his ex-father figure, who sighs and motions us to follow him so that's exactly what we do.
I'm more surprised that KIba doesn't have his hatred for Holy Swords here like he did in the original timeline but that's good 'cause it means that he's not stupid like I initially thought he was.
"There she is, though I must warn you, Isaiah, she hasn't heard anyone else's voice but me so be gentle and kind towards her," Vasco says to the boy.
"Don't worry. Unlike you, I don't fake my kindness towards others."Kiba says harshly and bumps into the old man with his shoulder.
He then steps inside and finds his long-lost childhood friend floating in the air with objects there as well.
"Tosca, I'm here! It's me, Isaiah! I came back, just like I promised! Hold on!" Yuuto says while stepping out of the room and then grabs his phone and calls Rias.
A quick explanation later and we find The Gremory girl with 8 Pawn pieces in her hand but I quickly grab the items and use [Upgrade Artifact] on them to augment the power of their reincarnation process by at least tenfold.
I nod my head and give it back to Rias, who approaches the floating body and puts it inside Tosca's chest, earning a gasp from her as Kiba falls to his knees and begins to cry happiness.
He soon is joined by Vasco, who embraces both of his children and they all cry together while we stare at the scene before us with a small smile on our faces.
Hidden quest completed!
Sword and Shield
Objective: Reunite Yuuto Kiba with his childhood friend, Tosca.
Rewards: 1000 EXP, 1000$, Massive REP increase with Yuuto Kiba, REP increase with Tosca, Massive REP increase with Vasco Strada, REP increase with Rias Gremory, REP with Akeno Himejima, REP increase with Koneko Toujou, REP increase with Sirzechs Lucifer REP increase with Grayfia Lucifuge, alliance with the Vatican Church, Skill Orb: Three Sword Style, 3 Gacha Token and Skill Orb: Sword Skills.
You have gained a Perk for reaching over 50 REP with Yuuto 'Isaiah' Kiba!
Knights of Honour
Description: Affection is gained both faster and easier with knights like people.
That's a very good [Perk] but back to the matter at hand.
Rias, Kiba, Tosca and Esdeath gather around me as we bid farewell to Vasco and Luna and I use [Shadow Drive] to take us back to my house.
Once we're there, Rias introduces Tosca to Gasper and Koneko while Esdeath leaves to do her own things so I pass on the items I got for the Gremory peerage since that will give them an additional boost in power.
I then give Kiba [Blade Blacksmith] and the two [Skill Orbs] so that he could become stronger, granted we're there guide him along the way.
It's kinda of a shame he doesn't have Enma or Ame-No Habakiri 'cause with those swords, he'd be unstoppable.
The Gremory group leave the house so I go in my room and take a nap since I deserve it after the events of today.
Soon enough, I fall asleep, entering a blissful dream.
END!
Response to reviews.
Aresstorm98: You could recommend a character to me if you as I have no idea who should use it to be honest.
Guest: I do want to follow my own timeline while staying on canon to not have a headache trying to figure out the next arc.
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KURAMA OUT!