High School DxD: Lustful Ascension

After some playful banter, Qingqiu brought up his fight with Tetsuya Hakata.

Rias listened intently, lost in thought.

"From what you describe, Tetsuya Hakata seems to have used a bloodline ability called Berserk."

Rias hugged Qingqiu again, delighted, "As expected of the man I chose. After just a few days of training, you managed to defeat a little monster that had gone Berserk."

Qingqiu blushed a bit. While he did defeat Tetsuya Hakata, calling it a straightforward victory was a bit of an exaggeration.

If Tetsuya Hakata had decided to flee, Qingqiu wouldn't have been able to catch him.

Flexibility and speed aren't the same; Berserk Tetsuya Hakata's speed far exceeded Qingqiu's.

"Rias-senpai..."

"Call me President; everyone here does."

It wasn't a big deal, so Qingqiu went along with it.

"President, you mentioned defeating someone beyond your level. Isn't Tetsuya Hakata a new student like me?"

Seeing Qingqiu call her President, Rias felt like she was on the verge of having him as her servant.

In high spirits, she explained the detailed power hierarchy of the supernatural world to Qingqiu.

"It's different; enrollment time doesn't correlate with strength."

Rias explained, "Just as lower-class demons don't refer to a power level."

"Lower-class demon, middle-class demon... aren't these terms used to rank power?" Qingqiu was even more confused.

"Not entirely. All pure-blood demons are technically lower-class demons at birth."

Rias pointed to herself, "Like Sona and me, descendants of the 72 Pillar Demon Lords are born as high-class demons."

"But can you say we were born with high-class demon power?"

Qingqiu shook his head, beginning to understand.

"So how should it be divided?"

"Leaving aside the so-called upper, middle, and lower-class demons, as these are unique to demons, similar to human noble titles."

Rias pulled Qingqiu into a seat, explaining seriously, "All races have a more detailed, specific power hierarchy."

"Normal humans who begin training and master magic can be classified as D-level..."

After Rias's detailed explanation, Qingqiu finally had a clear understanding of his current strength.

D-level peak, but not yet C-level.

To reach C-level, one must master at least one magic or skill.

It doesn't matter what tier, attribute, or function; mastering it qualifies you as C-level.

Of course, basic magic extraction doesn't count; mastering and using it successfully is the first step into D-level.

For example, someone like Yukina Sasaki with special talents can't even be classified as D-level without mastering magic.

Take a person with no special talents who masters magic; even with talents, they can't beat them.

A simple low-level illusion would leave those without magic grasping in the dark.

Of course, the D-level and C-level divisions seem somewhat arbitrary due to the sheer number of people at this level and the lack of qualitative change.

Moreover, except for humans, other races nearly all reach B-level upon adulthood.

B-level includes normal lower-class demons, lower fallen angels, and two-winged angels.

For an ordinary person to reach this level requires cultivating magic throughout their body.

For example, some renowned monks or church bishops.

Another point is that not everyone in this world trains in magic.

Qi, cursed energy, spiritual power...

Many people train in various forms of power.

Though they may appear flashy, they all originate from absorbing special abilities from the Aether Realm, though each focuses differently, leading to different uses.

Hence the various terms.

The rest Qingqiu deduced from his hazy memories.

Rias only briefly explained to give him an understanding, so he wouldn't be caught off guard when facing enemies in the future.

The higher levels were easier to comprehend.

For instance, A-level human warriors compare to mid-level magicians, middle-class demons, mid-level fallen angels, and four-winged angels.

S-level naturally includes high-class demons, upper-level fallen angels, six-winged angels, high-level magicians, and the church's S-class warriors.

Beyond that, Rias didn't elaborate, such as the power equivalent to top-class demons or Demon Lords.

Rias didn't mention it, and Qingqiu didn't ask.

He figured he'd worry about it after reaching S-level.

Tetsuya Hakata, having mastered his bloodline's Berserk skill, could be counted as C-level, which is why Rias said Qingqiu defeated an enemy beyond his level.

"Why doesn't the student council's information include corresponding power levels, or even the fact that Tetsuya Hakata could go Berserk?"

Qingqiu, lacking knowledge of the supernatural world, wasn't shy about asking questions.

Rias smiled slightly, "Of course it wouldn't. If it were that detailed, who would still want to attend Kuoh Academy?"

"Due to the great war many years ago, this is a precarious peace, but racial friction never ceases."

Rias explained, "Determining someone's level requires complete honesty, which is difficult.

"For example, Tetsuya Hakata wouldn't reveal his Berserk ability in a test.

"Collecting such secret information would not only upset students but also lack accuracy."

Qingqiu nodded in understanding, "No wonder the president's information was so vague.

"President, do you know the approximate strength of third-year students Daisei Oida and Mika Anyui?"

Rias, having also followed the other two on the list, naturally knew.

"Are you planning to challenge them?" Rias asked Qingqiu with interest. "Third-year students are at least C-level; if they weren't, they'd have been expelled long ago."

"C-level isn't a big deal; once I learn a spell, I'll be there too..."

Qingqiu scratched his cheek, thick-skinned, "President, maybe you could teach me a few?"

"Magic isn't as easy as you think, even the simplest low-level spells..."

As she spoke, Rias gathered magic in her hand, summoning a small, obedient orange flame to hover in the air.

"Take fireball, for instance. To achieve silent, instant casting and perfect control, it takes at least a month for an ordinary person."

Qingqiu watched Rias's little flame with curiosity, wanting to reach out and touch it.

The scorching air warned him not to be reckless.

Suppressing the urge to ask reckless questions, Qingqiu asked, "It takes a month for ordinary people, so how long did it take you, President?"

Rias smiled confidently, "Not too bad, I mastered it in three days."

"That's impressive, President! Your magical talent is amazing."

Rias enjoyed Qingqiu's praise. After all, she was just a seventeen-year-old girl in her prime, though her body was more developed than typical for her age. Being mature, calm, and strong were traits she had to show as the future head of the Gremory family, but with her servants, she could truly be a seventeen-year-old girl.

[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.