Highschool DxD: Dragon's Ascent

Nothing much more of note happened after that. We mostly fleshed out the deal and I have to say, it is certainly a lucrative one.

Basically, it boiled down to:

Rias will support me with materials such as spell books and materials from the underworld like herbs and stuff. In addition, I would be under the protection of Rias Gremory. So that no one would harass me.

Well, I obviously know that won't mean Jack shit for the fallen. But it didn't have to. In fact, it was better if it didn't.

Because it would be another surprise card in my sleeve. 

Politics is a tool like any other as long as you know how to use it.

Anyway, my part of the deal was that I would lend my magical expertise to the Gremory peerage as it is needed. Basically a contracted handyman. I could give things to them in exchange for getting things from them.

And Rias is one generous gal, I don't know if this is to butter me up or she is just that good but she gave me an advance gift.

A book on basic magic theory and a book on basic spells.

Very, very useful for me. I finally had access to the basic and usual form of magic and after reading those books I finally got a feel for magic that wasn't a part of my alchemy.

It was quite simple really. You just need to memorize the magic circle, its composition, and the meaning behind the factors that go into the circle, and then be able to visualise the result while also calculating inputs.

There was a decent bit of basic spells in the books that I would memorise all of it later but for now, applying the basic magic theory I had learnt and I bit of meditation I cracked the method to conceal my magic power which was great.

Being enigmatic really helps your case more often than not. They won't know unless I want them to. Did my mana increase? Did it double? Did it triple? Did it gain another property like a draconic smell? Was I hiding my magic power all along?

They won't know which gives me a lot of wiggle to pull out bullshit surprises without garnering too much suspicion.

____________________________

You have learned the skill: [Conceal Magic Power Lv. 1]

____________________________

But for now, learning traditional magic wasn't my focus at all, after all, it did not get a bonus from my alchemy speciality. My main focus right now was improving on Alkahestry and with the basic magic theory I had learned about. And I was making a good amount of progress.

Essentially, Alkahestry circles would work by channelling the natural mana and lifeforce of the world into the magic circle and would imbue whatever was on the end of the circle.

Its function was to converge the flow of energy to a point and harness it. And it was through this that I realized what I could do, I could create... Philosophers stones.

Well, something of similar function, I don't know how to trap souls just yet. But using Alkahestry alongside my alchemy I convert the life force of a person into natural life force that can be harnessed.

I could convert their vitality into a little stone that I could later siphon the life force from too. Obviously, it is far far less potent by trapping someone's soul inside the stone which is why it isn't quite it but the mechanics line up. Technically I could create a regeneration amulet that can match even the regeneration of the Phenex with it just for a brief period of time of course.

Well, let's file that to the idea cabinet for now. I can revisit that when I find some volunteers who are willing to help me create that stone. 

For now, I had a much more important thing to focus on. And that was levelling up my Alchemy skill, it hit its cap and it's the focal point of almost all of my skills, basically the stronger my Alchemy skill the stronger I am. So how do I increase the stage of my alchemy skill? Well, thankfully my system actually had an answer for me.

____________________________

[Skill Promotion: Alchemy - Novice]

Skill Promotion condition: 0/3 Intermediate rank potions created.

____________________________

This skill promotion window was more than welcome and its objective was one I could accomplish with relative ease.

Creating intermediate-rank potions was an exciting prospect for me. Since now that I had access to actual supernatural materials I could create even better potions. No longer would mundane ingredients hold me back.

See, I requested a book on the herbs and plants of the underworld from Rias and requested several herbs that seemed to be good potion materials from what I researched from the book.

And I have to say Rias was very generous with her pricing. If this is for buttering me up it is working somewhat. That or the girl is just naturally that generous toward people she cares about(I wonder if I am included on that list already?). I would have to pay her back of course but that didn't change how generous it was.

Anyway, after a bit of experimentation with the things I requested from Rias which were things like Ash Wood Roots which were roots of a tree unique to the underworld, Kavalm Grass which was grass that was often used in medicine etc.

The point is, I have now access to brand spankin' new potion ingredients. And I was already at a level where I could probably brew intermediate potions I just did not have good ingredients to make such a thing possible. You can only enhance the effects of an apple so much.

Now, however. Nothing was holding me back.

The first potion I created was a strength potion. Made from Groud Grass and blood. My blood to be exact, turns out blood is actually a very good alchemy ingredient, I also added some more ingredients to increase the potency and voila.

[Intermediate Strength Potion I]

When drunk increases the strength of the user by 50 as long as their endurance is above 25. Lasts 3 minutes.

I don't know how to quite create percentage potions yet but this was better than a percentage potion for me. Just drinking this potion would add to my strength the strength of 5 men added together, it is rather lacklustre but pretty good for my first time working on supernatural ingredients and a strength recipe. There is no reason why I shouldn't keep it on me in the case of an emergency.

Next.

[Intermediate Healing Potion I]

When drunk restores around 50 Vitality of health over a short period of time.

Not really that useful for me since my vitality did not exceed 30 by much but it is a major improvement compared to the previous iteration. The scope of healing is now noticeable for even supernatural beings. If I improve on the formula and create mana versions of it before beginning mass distribution I could probably instigate a war. I shall also keep this on me in the case of an emergency. You never know when you need a full restore.

And the next one was one that I was rather proud of. 

[Intermediate Enhanced Sight Potion I]

When drunk significantly heightens the sight of the user.

Turns out, carrots are actually very good for your eyes. Supernatural carrots are even more so. Drinking this should give me sight equivalent to a hawk, it's a good experiment and test of how I can apply effects to individual aspects of a person like sight, taste etc.

And creating this had pushed my skill promotion to completion. And the moment I saw the notification it was like experiencing post-nut clarity, I felt like a fog was lifted from my mind as new ideas and possibilities flooded into my mind.

____________________________

Skill promotion complete.

[Alchemy(Novice) Lv. 10 - MAX ] => [Alchemy(Intermediate) Lv. 1]

[Alchemy(Intermediate) Lv. 1]

Allows the creation of a wider range of potions including the creation of potions with magical effects and harnessing the more conceptual aspects of ingredients.

+[Recipe: Magic Water]

+[Improved Alchemy Formula]

____________________________

Ahhh yes, this is truly the shit. Just from Alchemy reaching intermediate I could tell my efficiency in potion creating had risen to a new realm Especially with the magic water and the improved alchemy formula that would allow me to access far more of the alchemical value of an ingredient.

But before I experimented more on that I needed to get some more ingredients from Rias by trading my services with her. I did not need to exactly supply her with potions as one she did not have too much need of them and two what was expected of me was to lend them my expertise as needed and not be their potion cash cow.

Which served me, I did not plan to introduce my potions to the worldwide market just yet.

But putting the issue of potions aside for now, if a simple jump from novice to intermediate for alchemy had this much of an impact what about my other skills?

Will such a big jump happen with transmutation too? Since the skills complement each other will it be even more beneficial?

Now I need to find out. So, I should put my focus on getting my other skills such as transmutation to intermediate too. Maybe get mana arrow, meditation and reinforcement to the max as well, best to have a sturdy base and slowly build up rather than rush to building to the stars just for it to topple over before it even reaches the sky.

Also, this will help me increase my immediate strength faster than just focusing on potions. And god knew I needed the strength for what was coming up next.

Because there was only about a week give or take until cannon. So I cannot just sit around any longer. I needed to start making moves, no more remaining inactive. 

I had plans already in place, of course, I knew what I needed to do. And currently, the biggest obstacle in my face were the fallen angels. They are a problem and they have to go, the same thing with their excommunicated priest army and Freed.

Alright then, time to start making some moves. 

A/N: Alchemy is booming and so is the system, Takumi has started improving on his skill and uncovering more features of his enigmatic system. And we are finally approaching the start of the cannon.

Takumi of course has his own plans for the start of cannon and what he can do in that time. But before he gets to implementing any of his plans he has to get rid of the crow and pries infestation in town.

In your opinion, how should Takumi approach the issue of the Crows in town? Also, what did you think of the new system function and abilities along with Takumi's deal with Rias?