"___" Text speech
'___' Internal thoughts
[___] status
(___) skills
(Great Sage:___)
{Author:___} author notes
Some things are subject to change depending on how I develop this story
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Meelis felt the weight of exhaustion settle into his form, the lingering aftereffects of his tests still coursing through his body, despite the fact that his body isn't exactly made up of flesh and blood as a clone. Despite the strain, a sense of accomplishment buoyed his spirit. He had faced the trials set by Odin and the Valkyries, proving his ingenuity and resilience. Yet, deep down, he knew it would not be so easy to get what he wanted.
Odin stood, his presence commanding as ever. The All-Father tapped his staff against the ground, and the glowing runes that had adorned the clearing faded away. "The trials were merely a prelude," he declared, his voice rumbling like thunder. "Now comes the true test of worth."
Meelis straightened, his mind sharpening despite his fatigue. "What does that mean, Odin?" he asked, unconsciously dropping the formal title with a hint of defiance in his voice, despite the fact that he knew it wouldn't be just a few simple trials, his impatience got the better of him.
Odin chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that carried both amusement and menace. "Ah, now that's better. No need for false reverence, you're not one to bow unless forced, are you? But tell me, did you think I would simply hand over such a treasure after a few trials? The branch of Yggdrasil is no mere trinket. It holds the essence of the World Tree itself, a fragment of the power that binds realms. To claim it, you must prove you can withstand me."
Meelis froze, tension radiating through his form. "Withstand you?" he echoed, his voice cautious.
The All-Father's single eye gleamed with a dangerous light. "Yes. It's one thing to show cunning against Valkyries and riddles, but it's another entirely to stand under the weight of my power. If you wish to earn the branch, you will endure my bloodlust and magical pressure, the true measure of your resolve."
Before Meelis could respond, Odin's aura flared to life. It was as if the entire forest had been thrust into the heart of a storm. The air turned suffocating, heavy with an overwhelming presence that seemed to crush every corner of existence. A palpable wave of bloodlust surged forward, cold and merciless, accompanied by a torrential wave of magical energy that distorted the space around them.
Meelis stumbled back, his legs nearly buckling as the weight of Odin's power bore down on him. He felt an oppressive force gripping his very core, as if his existence were being unraveled. His demonic energy faltered, struggling to maintain cohesion under the unrelenting assault.
At the edge of the clearing, Hyoudou Issei stood frozen, his mouth agape. He had accompanied the Valkyries to witness the events, but now he regretted every decision that had led him here. His body trembled involuntarily, even though he wasn't directly targeted. The sheer magnitude of Odin's aura seeped into the surroundings, its oppressive weight pressing down on him.
One of the Valkyries beside him raised a glowing barrier, shielding them from the worst of the pressure. Her face was pale but determined. "Stay close to us, Dragon," she said, her voice tight with concentration. "Even indirect exposure to Odin's strength is enough to crush unprepared mortals."
Issei did not even notice the fact that he was called a dragon, as he was too busy panicking over Odin's strength.
Issei swallowed hard, sweat beading on his forehead. "Crush mortals? Why am I here? Why didn't I stay home and watch some anime or something?" Issei after all is currently just a normal kid, so the fact he managed to not burst into tears yet as his whole world turned upside down in one day is commendable.
Another Valkyrie, her focus split between maintaining the barrier and observing Odin, glanced at him with a wry smile. "Welcome to the realm of gods. You're lucky the All-Father isn't focusing on you."
Meanwhile, Meelis clenched his fists, his form trembling under the pressure. He quickly channeled his Touki, forming a protective barrier around himself. The neutral energy provided a momentary reprieve, shielding him from the worst of the magical onslaught. But the bloodlust was another matter entirely raw and primal, it seeped through his defenses like a poison, threatening to consume his very being.
His mind raced. 'This isn't just an attack; it's a test of my soul. If I falter here, I'll be erased.' This is not a thought Meelis had, just an instinctual reaction to the strength imposed on himself by Odin, even if he did die, he's just a shadow clone, so no real damage aside from psychological scarring would be left if he popped under Odin's pressure.
Despite his best efforts, the strain was immense. His barrier flickered dangerously, on the verge of collapse. Gritting his teeth, Meelis made a desperate decision, he used (Kaio-ken), initially he did not want to use it as the side effects of the strain could just pop his clone body after using it, but currently he did not have much choice if he wanted to withstand the pressure.
The moment he activated it, his body surged with an explosive boost of energy, his aura flaring a deep crimson. The Kaio-ken amplified his Touki, reinforcing his barrier and allowing him to push back against Odin's overwhelming pressure. But the strain on his body was immediate, luckily his boy hadn't burst yet from the internal damage, but it still was not enough.
"Kaio-ken x four!" Meelis roared as he burst with his currently strongest multiplier, his voice cutting through the oppressive atmosphere. The red aura around him intensified, merging with his Touki to create a layered shield of raw determination. For the first time, he managed to regain ground against Odin's assault, standing upright as the magical storm raged around him.
Odin's eyebrow raised, a glimmer of amusement in his one eye. "Oh? You dare to push yourself further? Interesting. Let's see how long you can last."
The All-Father raised his staff, and the pressure intensified tenfold. The ground beneath Meelis cracked and crumbled, the air itself vibrating with raw power. His muscles screamed in protest, the Kaio-ken exacting its toll. His barrier flickered but held, fueled by his unyielding will.
The pressure doubled, then tripled, forcing Meelis to push the Kaio-ken even further. His body screamed in protest, the clone flickering from the strain, but he refused to yield.
"Kaio-ken x five!" he bellowed, the fiery aura around him erupting like a volcano. His crimson energy radiated outward, stabilizing his barrier and forcing Odin's pressure to momentarily recoil. The ground beneath him cracked and shattered, a testament to the sheer force of his energy.
But as Meelis prepared to activate the technique, Odin's voice cut through the chaos. "Enough."
In an instant, the overwhelming pressure vanished. The All-Father lowered his staff, his aura dissipating like a storm retreating to the horizon. The silence that followed was almost deafening. Odin stepped forward, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"You've proven your worth, Meelis Zagan. Few can endure such an onslaught and survive. You were ready to destroy yourself to stand against me, but that isn't what this test is about," Odin said, his tone carrying both respect and caution. "Your willingness to push beyond your limits is admirable, but recklessness will only get you so far. The branch of Yggdrasil is within your reach. You've earned it."
Meelis fell to his knees, his Kaio-ken fading as exhaustion overtook him. His body trembled somehow managing not to burst after all that whole ordeal, but he managed a faint smile, looking up at Odin. "Does that mean… I've passed?"
Odin nodded, his gaze softening. "You've passed. Rest now, you'll need your strength for the journey ahead. This was but a glimpse of the trials you'll face. Remember, the true test lies in the choices you make, not just the strength you wield."
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LP: 500
Devil Nobility Class: Low, Mid, High, Ultimate, Special (these are the actual cannon rankings of DxD)
Devil Strength Rank: Low(F), Mid(E), High(D), Ultimate(C), Satan(B-), Maxed Longinus(B), Dragon Kings(B+), Heavenly Dragons/Super Devils(A), Indra/Shiva(A+), Ophis/Red(S+ to EX)