Author's Note: This is the chapter I wrote while sick a couple of weeks ago, that's why it's so short compared to the usual. But yeah, take it as a bride chapter for the closing scenes in the wizarding world before focusing mostly on DxD while things settle here. I'm already writing Kuoh's battle, so it will come here in five chapters.
Celestial Ascendancy
Chapter 73: And The World Moves.
Elias Black.
Hogwarts.
I opened my eyes somewhat groggily, not even remembering what had happened the last time I was awake. It wasn't that strange feeling where you just knew something was wrong, so I allowed myself to rest for a second.
The ceiling I was under was recognizable after all. As well as the snores coming out next to my bed. Turning my head slowly, I smiled softly at the snoring form of Iris. She was sleeping peacefully, or so I would say, if she wasn't gripping her wand even in her rest. I didn't make any noise to avoid waking her up, so I just sat down carefully and inspected myself, with my own eyes as well as my magic.
I frowned deeply, not because I was somehow inhuman or anything, no. It was mostly because I couldn't see any overt changes. Like, at all. Which didn't make sense, because while I was sleeping, I felt how something deep inside my essence changed.
Sighing a bit, I looked around the room for the first time, finding it surprisingly empty for the aftermath of the mess at the Ministry, with only one of them being used by Asia, who was sleeping in the farthest bed from mine. Smiling at her, I sent a thread of my magic towards her, feeling it return after some seconds, already knowing that there wasn't anything wrong with her, just tired.
Feeling an insistent push inside my soul, I allowed my Grimoire to come out and opened it. It had been a while since I felt it calling out for me, but I always smiled, feeling the warmth it somehow provided.
Curiously, I willed some of my magic to flow to the center of my forehead and looked at the Grimoire, utterly unsurprised, to be honest, when the damn thing looked like a black hole in reality. I needed to train with it, but I just knew that even with training, I would not see through this. Whatever I really was after yesterday, it was from this world, when the Grimoire clearly wasn't.
800 Points available.
My eyes widened seeing the amount, before I smiled widely. Damn, hopefully I would get something useful… because I knew that the mess was just starting.
Fertile Soil(Kamimushi)- 600 Points. (Scion)
It's not often that Gaia and her jealous rival Kamimushi cooperate so thoroughly on a task, nor for Jord to focus on it. But in anticipation of the coming battle, out of concern for their precious children, they have decided to bless another with their own unique powers over fertility-and who better to bless than a forward young Titanspawn like yourself? Each has her own 600 CP perk to endow you with, and if you benefit from a discount the first time, subsequent purchases may also be discounted. Each empowers you with an aspect of the natural order itself, slowly improving as your own overall divine power does from the following baseline effects.
From Kamimushi, you obtain an impossibly quick form of parthenogenesis. As a woman, you can give birth to yourself and give birth at will, painlessly and in fact with a shadow of Kamimushi's joy for all her children, at a top speed of a new child every five minutes. As a man, you suffer the indignity of actually needing a target, any natural phenomena or solid object, even a bonfire in a pinch, but your strong seed permits you to create children even quicker with but a single spurt from your manhood. As either, you have complete and reflexive control over the timing of your children's birth. Either way, such children emerge fully grown and intensely loyal to their parent, and run the whole gamut of nearly any natural life form and any supernatural being, short of an actual god from this world. Although beings with a Legend rating will require commensurate expenditure of Legend, with this, you can sire chimerae, minion races, even new lesser kami with tremendous ease, as your Legend replenishes swiftly simply from the feat of creating new life, which is intricately bound with your nature. Your greatest children, lesser immortals by definition, would equal Scions at the highest reaches of demigodhood. A final blessing is also given to you out of anger against her fellow Titan Avatar Coatlicue for claiming her children after death: With only a small, additional amount of Legend per child, you may grant all your children a form of actual, all-encompassing immortality commensurate with their overall divine power that you may freely design-or as it were, set on automatic should you have a favoured form of immortality. While lesser lifeforms may merely be unkillable save by a more powerful divine being or force-and perhaps a specific material and/or herb in exchange for greater might (though possibly left physically mangled until they regenerate, or only possessing one truly immortal body part from which the rest regenerates), even beings on par with demigods may have immortality surpassing the gods. And of course, your stamina and resilience are mighty even among gods simply to either sustain the miracle of birth, or propagate it. As a woman, a demigod could attack you with a sledgehammer as you give birth, yet find you easily fighting back without risk to the baby. A nice side effect of this particular blessing is that, should you wish it, any sexual act you perform with a partner may result in a pregnancy. The effects may be...unpredictable for certain acts, whether confident children are born as a sneeze that rapidly assembles to adulthood, or the fluids on your back are nourished by your sweat or heat into a whole, hale new child. However, be assured that both you and your partner will not only survive the act but also experience a profoundly rejuvenating euphoria, surpassing any pain. Like an excellent massage, a good night's sleep, and a rollercoaster rush all at once, even when such experiences are as traumatic as Izanami's labours.
Bought, 200 Points remaining.
…I don't know how to react. I'm genuinely speechless, even if I'm glad.
I'd always wanted a big family. Maybe because I missed having one in this life, or maybe because the one I had in the last… well, it's better left unspoken. And while I now had something beautiful, like my relationships with women I loved, women who loved me, I never knew if I could go further. If I could give them life, the kind that cried and laughed and carried pieces of us.
With Iris and Hermione, fertility had never been a genuine concern at first. They were close enough to be considered wholly human. But that changed when Fleur came into my life… and then Rias. And Akeno. Two devils, one part-Veela. Creatures of different essence.
God I missed my girls. I wanted to see them, hug them. Show them that everything was okay.
But I'm rambling.
The truth is, after everything the Grimoire gave me, I wasn't really a wizard anymore. Not even fully human. And in most worlds I've read or lived, the stronger you become, the more distant you grow from life itself. Children become a wish, not a certainty. Devils, especially, were known for their struggles.
I was a wizard, a man-made messiah. Blessed by the Aetherius, chosen by something I couldn't name. No... before this, I didn't know how hard it would be to have children.
And yet… this Perk.
I skimmed over the absurd parts. The idea of impregnating a bonfire or a rock was ridiculous and not something I ever planned on testing. But knowing I could, that I could have children with anyone I loved, regardless of species or origin was… well, freeing. It felt like a lock I didn't know was there had just disappeared away.
I shook my head, my cheeks flushing as a traitorous image flashed in my mind. The girls with baby bumps, laughing, glowing, maybe swearing at me in mock anger. It wasn't time for that. Gods, it wasn't even close.
As much as I would love to see it.
But still, if the Perk worked the way it claimed, if it truly gave them more than just assurance…
Then maybe my dream wasn't a dream anymore. And I could bring life to this world, to bring happiness to our growing family.
Flame Shadow/Green Shadow - 200 CP e/a
There are different variants of shadows. There exist Flame shadows that deal fire damage and are much faster, stronger, and tougher than the normal variants.
On the other hand, Green shadows are slower and weaker physically than Flame shadows but possess the ability to summon pillars of flames.
Flame Shadow bought, Perk locked.
Points remaining, 0.
Useful. I couldn't even complain, and I was partly surprised at having locked the remaining part of that Perk, since it was the first time that had happened.
Curious.
A hug broke through my musings, and I smiled as I caught the scent of Iris's shampoo, her hair curtaining my face.
"How are you, love? What did I miss?" I asked after tickling her for a couple of seconds.
She was grinning as she hugged me again and rested her head on my shoulder.
"It's been two days since you fell asleep, Eli."
"Two days?" I asked, surprised. "Were you all worried?"
"Not much," she sighed. "Someone assured us that you were fine, that you just needed some time."
"Who?" I asked, serious now. Her expression had shifted into something more complicated.
She was quiet for a second before squaring her shoulders and locking eyes with me.
"Odin. The All-Father himself."
I'd admit my heart skipped a beat hearing that name. But seeing that Iris wasn't too worried, I forced myself to stay calm and think.
"The spear… it was he who attacked Walburga," I whispered.
Iris nodded, scowling. "He was next to your body when we found you. I almost attacked the bastard."
I blinked. I knew she was… energetic, but she didn't usually curse like that toward someone we'd just met.
"What happened?" I asked, half curious and half dreading the answer. I didn't know much about the Odin of this world, but in any world, he wasn't someone to take lightly.
"He checked us out and gave us a 9.5 out of 10. I'm a 10, dammit." Iris scowled, and I burst out laughing.
At least it wasn't anything grim. That had been my first fear. Was I thrilled that Odin had been sizing up my lovers? Not at all, and I'd remember it.
Still, it wasn't that serious. When you had women like mine, it was normal for people to look. They were beauties. As long as no one crossed a line, I didn't care.
"What happened while I was gone?" I asked more seriously once Iris's grin faded.
She turned solemn for a moment before dragging her hand down her face.
"It's a mess, Eli. The government's in shambles. We lost… well, a lot of people. Even if they were terrible, they were still the ones who kept things running. I spoke with Dumbledore and Bones before they left, since I figured you'd ask when you woke up."
Her voice softened.
"Fudge's people, including the Toad, died in the Ministry battle, like you probably remember. They were furious at you and threw their support behind Voldemort. But… they were the only ones who knew how to run things, so it's a mess."
"Some good news, though." She smirked. "Ninety percent of the traditionalist bloc is gone either by our hands, their own, or in jail. Bones became the new Minister of Magic, with Dumbledore teaching her how to lead. Not that she follows his teachings religiously, they bicker a lot, but credit where it's due, he tries."
She trailed off, her expression twisting oddly.
"Eh…"
"What happened?" I sighed, already feeling a headache brewing.
"You might have talked with Dumbledore. I remember him saying that you already knew… that he was stepping back from politics and focusing on Hogwarts, right?" Her voice was measured now.
"Uhu?" I prompted, rubbing my forehead.
"Well… he followed through. He resigned from the ICW and the Wizengamot. That means the ICW is looking for a new Supreme Mugwump, and the Wizengamot needed a new Chief Warlock." Her lips twitched before settling into a frown. "The ICW has paused the vote for now. They asked, pretty politely, I might add, that we visit their headquarters when we can, to figure out how to proceed. Since, well, nothing's going to be the same again."
That was something that needed to be dealt with, because she was right, the wizarding world wasn't going to be the same after the veil began breaking. The worst thing was that I felt the, well, responsibility for it.
It was a good thing that they were planning first before acting, because I wouldn't doubt myself to let them go if they decided something I didn't approve of. Like a war against Muggles or something. No... having a say in this situation was good.
"Interesting. But that's not what has you hesitating." I narrowed my eyes. "I'll think about the ICW later. Spill it. What happened here in Britain?"
"Sirius is the new Chief Warlock," she deadpanned, then burst into a fit of giggles.
I stared, wide-eyed, then snorted and joined her laughter. I couldn't picture Sirius in that chair. I especially couldn't picture him choosing to sit in it.
"Did he actually accept?" I asked once I calmed down.
"That's the thing." Iris grinned. "He was adamant about staying away from politics, but… I saw Bones enter his room with the wards you powered up. She came out a couple of hours later looking very pleased with herself. Sirius accepted the position the next day."
Grinning, I gave him mental props. Bones was beautiful, older than my usual type, but still stunning, nonetheless. If he was happy, I had no intention of interfering. He deserved happiness.
And the irony didn't escape me, Sirius Black, Azkaban escapee, being Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot.
If the traditionalists were still alive, they'd have lost their minds trying to stop it.
Shame. I almost wanted to see it.
"What about the rest? Who did we lose?"
Iris's smile faded. "A lot of people, Eli. But… no one close. No one from our side. Well, aside from Croaker. His body was returned to his family."
I began to sit up, but Iris gently pushed me back down onto the bed.
"I already handled it, love," she said softly. "I saw the note myself and spoke with Dumbledore to make sure everything was done properly. His daughter works at the Ministry, surprisingly enough. She knew nothing about his real work. Bones is handling it."
"What about her mother?" I asked. "Any other family?"
"Dead," Iris replied simply. "Died in childbirth. Croaker raised his daughter until she was able to stand on her own. Then he gave the rest of his life to studying time and protecting the Veil."
"Fine… fine. I will look at her situation later. What he did for us will not go unpaid," I added seriously, dropping back into the bed and pulling Iris with me. "Anything else, love?"
"We've had visitors… important ones, too. But they can wait until we deal with Odin," Iris scowled.
"Let me guess, Golden Dawn and the Royal Wizards?" I sighed. I remembered their sneers and sheer dislike of me; I believe they have greater egos than the pure bloods used to have, and that was saying something.
Well, at least I had a benign conversation with the royal witch I briefly spoke with in Manchester. Still, I didn't know about her colleagues or the Royal family themselves.
Who knew, they could be the kind of royals that wanted me under their thumb, or simply good monarchs, even if I doubted it. I was going to try my best to be polite at the very least.
"Yeah," Iris sneered, "A magician tried to strong-arm a meeting with you, but I sent him packing. We're waiting for the one that will take his place. Lady Isadora was polite, but I noticed that as time passed, she became increasingly worried. I'm not sure what to think about that. She might be getting pressed for reports."
"I guess we'll wait and see, anyone else?" I nodded.
"Yes," Iris grinned, "When we dragged you to the Atrium, you would not believe who jumped from the hole in the ceiling dressed for war and almost got cursed by Ginny?"
"Huh?" I looked at her weirdly.
She cackled, "Let me explain first. Turns out that Odin has been in Britain since your fight against Walburga in the Graveyard. He was keeping an eye on the Veil and all that, which brings questions about how the Hexennatch managed to hide the battle from him, but the point is that he was in a strip club for some drinks while acting as if he were a mortal."
"How do you even know that?" I asked her, and she raised her hands for me to stop.
"So, he has a minder, someone that follows him around to 'protect' him." She made the marks with her fingers, and I got the hint.
I didn't know about her, exactly, but I had seen pictures and read a bit about a Valkyrie that followed Odin at the start of DxD. Either way, I allowed Iris to continue.
"So, imagine this. Everyone is stressed even after the battle ends, and the ceiling breaks even more as someone drops from the sky like a meteor dressed in some strange armor and a strange wand in her hand."
"I can see it… they attacked in sight, I suppose?" I asked with twitching lips.
"Uhu," Iris grinned, "But Rossweisse is not that weak, so imagine Ginny's surprise when she blocked a point-blank bombarda quite easily. Bones was about to order an attack before we arrived and settled the conflict. Turns out that she was looking for her God, who wasn't even there anymore."
"Hermione took her to the veil room, and she realized that Odin had left her alone. She began panicking, so we decided to take her with us. Mione realized that it was probably what Odin wanted, but she's fun, so whatever." Iris finished with a small smile, "I think we can be friends later on. Odin should arrive soon since you have already woken up, and Rossweisse assures us that there's not much that can escape his sight."
This was a mess of epic proportions, and there was a lot that Iris was missing, mainly about the Veil… which brought some things I didn't want to think about right now.
The voices called me son… They might be alive, if away.
And the Wizarding World wasn't hidden anymore. God, what a mess. The worst part was that I was in the middle of it.
I shook my head firmly. I needed answers, a lot of them. But I wasn't feeling in a hurry, mainly because with my third eye I could see something breaking and mending in front of my bed as a bright light shone in the room, and an old man walked with a cane.
A dangerous cane, one of which I knew what it was supposed to be for the sound. Because I could see through its enchantment. Good to know, illusions didn't work on me. Even ones cast by the All Father.
"Odin, the chief god of the Nords." My lips thinned.
I was expecting some grandstanding or something like that. Him showing how superior he was, since I could see through him and his ancient being, with all the power that it entailed tightly coiled inside his body. Which was why I almost gaped at him when he first spoke.
His one eye widened as he looked at me, "What in Hel's tits happened to you while you slept? Why do you have two divine blessings on you?!"
I groaned and facepalmed at the same time, even more when I felt Iris grab my hand tightly, looking at me weirdly.
Fuck.
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