Highschool DxD: Dragon's Ascent

~Rias Gremory~

In the bedroom of her house wearing nothing but a sheer nightgown Rias looked at the "potions" Akeno had handed to her.

She felt a bit cautious and confused at why and how potions had ended up on her desk.

Potions were a very rare commodity, almost unheard of in fact. For example, the only potions available in the underworld(Including fallen angels here) were the Phoenix tears and they were very rare.

Apparently, a handful of people from other pantheons could also produce potions but those were limited in quantity just like Phoenix Tears but she did not know much about that.

So, it was safe to say that she was very surprised when Akeno teleported into her room to report to her that the student she had been looking into, Takumi, had summoned her. Which were good news.

Takumi turning out to be a magician was not a big surprise to her, after all developing a mana capacity like that as a normal human, it was almost expected that he was a magician. 

But what didn't make sense to her exactly was the fact that Takumi was both apparently a self-taught magician and someone capable of using Alchemy to create potions. His mana was also growing at a noticeable rate, which he made no attempts to hide or simply did not know how.

While she understood that what she did not understand was why neither she nor Sona had ever noticed him before? After all, they must have seen him in school at least once or twice before, and records confirmed that he had going to this school for at least a year.

So, what had changed all of a sudden? Well, there was a possible explanation for this.

He did have a sacred gear. One that he had awakened recently too. And for his mana to rise so quickly too, it must be a pretty high-tier one at that. 

Not only that, he must be very competent in using his sacred gears to improve that fast even with a good sacred gear. Probably one that allowed him to create potions, she may not know a sacred gear like that but even still there were sacred gears that remained undiscovered so it wouldn't surprise her.

And then there was the fact that he was somehow self-taught in magic. She did not know to what extent but that fact alone was very promising itself. What could he do with actual magic training if he claimed he already could do magic?

So, he was a self-proclaimed magician who had most likely awakened a sacred gear and could create potions. She had already tested their authenticity by cutting her arm lightly and drinking the healing potion(did he just choose the name from an RPG?) which caused the wound to heal up nearly instantly.

Oh, Sona would so regret allowing Rias to have dibs. 

Her friend and rival, knowing her precarious situation, although having found Takumi first decided to let Rias have the opportunity to recruit Takumi first.

Although their friendship was strong she wasn't exactly sure that Sona would have acted the same knowing how much of a golden goose Takumi seemed to be. He was perfect Bishop material.

That meant she had to get him into her peerage.

He was already getting along with Koneko which was very good news since he would be compatible with her family. He was basically perfect.

So she couldn't mess this up. Not with her arranged wedding with Riser looming over her. She did not have more than a few months to find a way out of it.

Well, Koneko did mention him being a perverted right? That was good. At least it gave her a method of approaching him. 

She would call him to the clubroom as soon as she could.

✧—•✦•—✧—•✦•—✧—•✦•—✧

~Takumi Katsuragi~

While I was waiting on Akeno I decided to create a new enchanted item that I wanted to test my transmutation with. While my spinning mana arrow was great and all, I want to have more variety in my arsenal. 

So I came up with another transmutation circle, one that would focus solely on the transmutation of water. I had a clear example with that water alchemy guy from FMA.

Working on water alchemy actually gave me a better perspective on Alkahestry, when I shape stone it is basically reconstructing it in the solid shape I want. But doing the same with water is not exactly fitting.

You need to direct the water not reconstruct it, control its flow and form.

Thankfully working with water was easier thanks to its much simpler composition compared to stone. Why would I want Water Alchemy now? Simple, it was because I had an idea. 

I like the element of ice and under the right circumstances, that element can be very lethal. 

And adding a few more variables to my newfound water transmutation circle with more runes and shapes allowed me to use the variable of heat. So I could control the temperature of the water I controlled. 

...I may or may not have created an instant coffee maker in my basement by enchanting a plate that stirs water and instantly boils water.

Anyway, the result was my new alchemy circle of water transmutation. There was no doubt in my mind that my higher level of transmutation helped immensely in making it. 

I put a glass of water in the middle of the transmutation circle carved into the ground. And upon its activation with my mana, I instantly felt the control I had over the water in the glass. 

The water in the glass started boiling in a single second, then it stopped boiling and started freezing ove-

*Shatter!*

Right, the glass broke. Anyway.

The ice then started cracking apart and dissolved back into water that started spinning in a circle around the transmutation circle before freezing again but still continuing to move.

Success. Time to turn it into a glove.

As always, I constructed yet another durable Enhanced Silk glove this time dying it black with some ink I bought(my wallet is in shambles). And then I added some light blue ink in there and wove the colours into the glove itself with the pattern of the transmutation circle while also enchanting it with transmutation magic to increase its power.

The result was a sleek black glove with a light blue complex snowflake-shaped transmutation circle on the back of the hand. 

I decided to name it...

[Kelvin Catalyst]

-A Transmutation Catalyst capable of transmuting water and its temperature, specializing in cooling it and creating ice.

Putting it on my right hand I tested the spell I wanted to make by first drawing the moisture in the air in my room. Once a decently large volume of water was swirling around my hand I turned it to mist form, and then I started lowering its temperature until I had condensed supercooled mist swirling around my hand.

With a simple gesture, the wave of supercooled mist hit the wall, releasing freezing cold air around the room. I walked up to the wall which was now covered in a layer of frost.

My new spell, [Freezing Mist]. I could hit things with supercooled mist to freeze them, if I had a larger volume of water I could hit them with a constant barrage of freezing, it would both drain their stamina and give them frost burn.

It's so cool.

I can also do this. With a wave of my hand, I re-gathered the moisture in the air before shaping it into an icicle and shooting it like a spear while reinforcing it. Making it get buried deep into the wall.

Isn't that nice?

Yep, I am keeping this glove on me at all times as well as a water bottle in my pocket. If anyone tries to mess with me, say a stray devil I can just pull the water bottle from my pocket, convert the insides into freezing mist and chuck that bastard and watch them get frozen while I nail a mana arrow into their forehead.

✧—•✦•—✧—•✦•—✧—•✦•—✧

Thankfully, it did not take Akeno too long to come back with my ginseng, our interaction was brief, just her handing me my ginseng and saying I was welcome to call her back anytime while winking at me. 

Now then, why did I want a ginseng of all things rather than something like I don't know, a spell tome? 

Well, the answer is right here.

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Missions have been unlocked.

New Mission: Path of the Alchemist

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[Path of the Alchemist]

As someone who has taken on the title of Alchemist, you need to be able to prove your ability with Alchemy. What better way to prove your capability than to create an elixir?

Requirement: Create an Elixir of at least minor rank.

Reward: [Alchemy Perk], [Alchemy Proficienty]

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Yep, apparently this thing had quests. Or now it does. I am not certain whether it's because I have unlocked another part of this sacred gear or it is changing to suit me better but you won't find me complaining, not at all.

So, I chose ginseng, it is already by itself potent enough to produce top-of-the-line healing potions and I know an older ginseng would have had plenty of time to soak up all that juicy mana and it should be conceptually more potent if something like that even exists.

Anyway, now that the precious ginseng baby I got to work on creating the elixir, I could probably create several peak intermediate healing potions with this but an elixir is a far better option as I could create that with any intermediate ingredient but I already discovered ginseng could be used to make elixirs when I discovered all of its traits.

I put all of my focus on creating this thing, making sure to refine every single complimentary ingredient to the utmost I could. I was like a surgeon with a scalpel level of precision with my potion crafting. 

It took me over 3 hours but finally, it was complete, in my hands was a potion that was bright red in colour and almost glowed.

[Minor Elixir of Vitality]

Well then, here goes nothing!

Without hesitation I downed the potion, it tasted like cherries, blood and electricity. Instantly I felt a heat spread throughout my body, like I was suddenly dunked into a warm bath.

It was particularly hot near my heart and groin.

After a few minutes the sensation dimmed, I could still feel a bit of heat inside me though.

____________________________

You have consumed [Minor Elixir of Vitality]

You have acquired the perks: [Enhanced Vitality(Minor)], [Enhanced Vigour(Intermediate)]

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____________________________

[Enhanced Vitality(Minor)]

Your body is filled with vigour and vitality. Increasing your health, regeneration and vigour. 

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[Enhanced Vigour(Minor)]

Your body is noticeably more healthy and virile. Increasing your virility and stamina.

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Oi.

Oi.

It is not going down. I am rock-hard. What is wrong with this potion? Did I invent fucking permanent Viagra!? What the fuck man!? I am already dealing with teenage hormones hard enough and now you boost those fuckers!?

...Dammit I should have chosen something else. 

I think... the mission reward can wait for a bit. I have... something I need to take care of.

A/N: Rias decides to make her move, Takumi finally creates some much-needed upgrades to his arsenal and the system is updated to now include quests inside of it.

Also, there is no escape from the fate of the hentai protagonist Takumi. Better embrace your fate.

What did you think about the developments in this chapter? What did you think about the Kelvin Catalyst and Rias?