Igor gave the dome one last look. He calculated it would last for a few more minutes, hopefully enough time for him.
He lowered his head and closed his eyes. It was a movement bearing the signs of resignation, but deep in his mind, his well of spirit energy stirred. It overflowed, and a baptism came once more.
.
..
…
|DxD|- Chapter 80- The Silver State
…
..
.
What was spirit energy? Beyond its definition in the books, what did it truly do? Would it clash with vitality? Was it a separate energy system? Once upon a time, Igor had those questions. He'd looked at it as a different aspect, unaware that spirit energy…was him.
A spirit was not some mystical energy, but another way of referring to a person's conscious thought. From the loftiest of dreams, to the basest of desires, that was the spirit. The spirit was the person themself.
Spirit energy was what every living thing had. From moving a finger to jumping in excitement, all those simple actions used spirit energy, for it was the way the spirit exerted its will on the body. And in grave circumstances, that will could transcend both body and soul, making reality of what was impossible.
Igor always felt a measure of embarrassment for realising this truth so late in his life. He'd searched beyond the veil, unaware the veil itself was the answer presented in its simplest form.
His spirit energy, an exertion of his will, had grown dense enough to be a wave through his body. Something as raw as intent could influence many changes across him, for the spirit was the foundation with the body as the bricks, and the soul as the cement. Only atop such a foundation could his control over vitality reach its extreme.
"Huuuuu…"
He calmed himself and breathed deeply. The dome, the winds, any and all sounds ceased to exist. He only saw himself, a giant avatar with a body like the universe—dark with twinkling stars littered all over.
Gradually, silver coloured the darkness from the head. It flowed down like paint—slow and unhurried. The dark canvas was filled, and the stars glowed with increasing brightness. The arms, the torso, past the waist, and beyond the knees, the silver spread like the setting sun. Slowly, it coloured the tips of the toes and fingers, and the moment it did, the universe collapsed.
What Igor first heard were gentle wind chimes. The sound came from his energy, an aura of mercury that bristled like the gentlest of flames. It was soothing to the mind and soul, making one wish to listen endlessly.
Beyond him was a sight he knew intimately. Darkness had perverted his vision. The world he saw was divided into different shades of black. He was his own source of light, an amber-white glow that pervaded this space. But slowly, the amber was fading.
Igor smiled in continued amusement. This darkness he was in, was a world where no light existed, where his perception was so fast time seemingly ground to a halt. He could remain here for what felt like minutes on end until his vitality ran out.
In the real world, only a moment would've passed, but if he dared move or open his eyes, then time would resume and his vitality would be dried before the first second ticked. It was confusing as it was intriguing, and no books provided clear answers to this state, for there was no mention of this state even once in history. It was…exhilarating, knowing he was perhaps the first in thousands of years to have this.
Igor opened his eyes and the silver in them faded. There was a deep sense of emptiness in him brought by the hefty price paid with vitality. Before him, the dome had faded, leaving a massive crater as smooth as polished stone. It was perfection, but also a sign of Igor's failure.
"It still took me too long."
He spoke with quiet note. It took him five minutes, but it was not too bad. Compared to when he started, he'd managed to shrink the time from "unusable" to "barely passable". It certainly wasn't battle-ready, but as long as he managed to tap into it in a minute, then it could become a potent technique.
"The visualisation is a good path. But how do I further improve the time?"
The silver state, a temporary name he called that feeling, was extremely detrimental in terms of energy. But its speed was…he lacked the words to describe it.
It wasn't quite speed as in 'running', but speed as in 'suddenly existing at point B'. His body just moved where he willed and he was there. He was no more than a puppet, or perhaps a spectator who only pointed and his body followed. The inclinations were clear.
As long as this speed was paired with a finishing move, he could fight another high-class without fear, and maybe, maybe…just maybe, an ultimate-class too.
"No. Stop."
He swiftly dispelled those thoughts. This power was tantalising, addicting even. It gave him perception and speed beyond his comprehension and understanding. It was a fruit he could only taste and never savour, but even that taste was enough to sire a long-buried feeling, a feeling of dominance and confidence.
There was a way to get more than a taste, but it came at the price of lifespan. Under normal circumstances, Igor would never dare contemplate such a thing. But not learning and not using were two very different things.
He'd allowed himself to be wilful for two years and train to master this silver state, but he could not make it last long enough to be very effective. One technique Marcei left behind would allow him to circumvent that, and its name was the Aura Burning State.
Chapter 80
END