Into the Light

Power Scaling

What's up, guys? This is RaveDoggTV here. So recently, I had a brief but good discussion with a fan of Into the Light on DeviantArt about whether he would like to add my characters to his universe, and I said that as long as he credits me, I would be cool with it. And when he brought up power scaling, saying that if Azazel were as strong as Issei in High School DxD, I mentioned that, as of now, Azazel is as strong as Issei was around season 1 of the anime (volumes 1 and 2 of the light novel). And so that's where this came into existence.

This page will break down power scaling for characters with unique abilities that border on the mystical. But as Vegeta famously said in Dragon Ball Z Abridged, power levels are bullshit. So let's get into it.

=AZAZEL=

I want to address something that inspired me to create this power-scaling breakdown right from the start. There are two ways to evaluate Azazel's power: one in the real world and another in the Metaverse. Let's delve into the first aspect.

In the real world, Azazel possesses knowledge of various magical abilities, yet he has not fully mastered any of them. This lack of mastery is compounded by his emotional volatility; his mental instability often leads to unpredictable behavior in high-pressure situations. However, his experiences alongside the Phantom Thieves and the New Squidbeak Splatoon have taught him valuable lessons in self-control, allowing him to channel his inner turmoil into constructive action. 

When it comes to actual power scaling, Azazel's Dragon Shot possesses immense destructive potential, capable of obliterating the summit of a mountain. Additionally, he can lift an impressive 25 tons, showcasing his physical strength. His Scale Mail, activated by the Over Booster, enables him to keep pace with Melaina, a character who embodies significantly greater strength. However, despite this momentary edge, Azazel ultimately secured his victory by exploiting Melaina's vulnerability to holy artifacts such as crosses and holy water, leveraging a strategic advantage as time ran out. This reveals an important aspect of Azazel: while he is powerful, he remains a relatively small player in a vast arena populated by more formidable beings. Nonetheless, he possesses tremendous potential; should he manage to unlock the full breadth of his abilities, he could ascend to the level of a contender capable of challenging even the gods.

Now, let's turn our attention to power scaling within the Metaverse, which introduces a layer of complexity unique to this alternate reality. For those who haven't read Ascend from Darkness, the Metaverse, also known as the Collective Unconscious, is a realm shaped by people's collective thoughts, feelings, and fears. Each individual's emotions and beliefs influence the environment and the nature of the powers within it. Azazel stands out as a Wild Card in this realm, possessing the unique capability to capture and wield an expansive array of Personas. Among these, his most versatile Persona is Robin Hood.

In contrast to his real-world capabilities, Azazel's power in the Metaverse is intricately tied to his reputation within that environment. For instance, the dual pistols he wields in the Metaverse are simple probs in the real world, but in the Metaverse, they can attain lethal efficacy—described as "god killers"—due to how he is perceived by others. His power in the Metaverse grows in tandem with his reputation; the stronger his standing, the more formidable his abilities become. Moreover, his Personas can gain strength through his relationships and friendships. At their peak, these bonds can empower him to the extent that they can revive him from the brink of death and instill him with willpower surpassing that of all cephalokind on Earth.

=DIANA=

As the formidable Captain of the New Squidbeak Splatoon, Diana's numerous abilities arise from her rigorous combat training and exceptional tactical acumen. With a keen mind for strategy, she can devise intricate plans to dismantle entire Octarian companies, showcasing her leadership skills and understanding of enemy tactics. However, the true source of her power lies in her unique transformation—a consequence of the ruthless experiments conducted by Commander Tartar, who aimed to mold Diana into the ultimate weapon for his nefarious schemes.