Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

As he had no missions of his own to complete presently, Vahn set to work helping the Loki Familia set up the defensive line starting the following morning. They had talked at length about the dangers presented by their enemies but it was ultimately decided that it should be okay as long as people traveled in their designated groups of four. It would simply be too time-consuming to travel in larger groups just to stay safe, as that would actually make it more dangerous since the natural spawn rate of monsters would increase.Thus, while Vahn was helping set up the temporary fortifications, Tiona, Tione, Ais, and Lefiya had formed into a group as they made their way into the 51st floor. Vahn had given them the rallying whistle, which would be able to reach the members of the Loki Familia, while also giving Lefiya a [Hero's Reprieve] since she was the person in the most danger. She flustered about for a while but eventually accepted it under the sparkling eyes and pressure of the other three girls...The Loki Familia traditionally set up temporary wooden posts around the camp that angled outward like spears. Since they were already on an elevated plateau, it was simply intended to keep any stray monsters from roaming in while the entrances and exits were constantly guarded. Vahn accented this by taking the large stones he had stored away in his inventory and shaping them into large bricks that provide a more permanant solution than simple wooden posts. One of the things he had discovered about the stones in the Dungeon was that they were made of a single material which actually made them much easier to shape. By controlling the elemental energies inside the bedrock, Vahn could image out shapes and then separate them from the larger stone with a bit of effort. (A/N: Think earth bending (UwU))There were a number of capable artisans within the expedition party itself, so Vahn had a lot of input from others and they quickly began building an actual stone fence around the perimeter that included observation towers and staircases. People in the Danmachi record were all much stronger than normal humans so the workload, while seemingly large, was actually easily managed by the seasoned Adventurers. As for how they could acquire the materials to build large-scale construction projects, Vahn could have purchased them through the shop but instead decided to do what Finn advised against and quarried it from the Dungeon itself.Vahn believed that Finn's concerns were valid, but didn't think that they actually applied to the safety zones on the 18th, 39th, and 50th floors. There had never been a recorded incident of a Juggernaut appearing in the safety areas in the past and Rivira has had several hundred people living in it for decades. Vahn himself had destroyed large sections of the 18th floor in the past and there were never any signs of it triggering the Dungeon's defense systems. Though they were out of range, unless Vahn planned to scale the walls, he assumed the crystals on the ceiling actually served to ward away most monsters while the Dungeon itself, for reasons unknown, 'protected' the sanctity of the safety zones.However, to ease Finn's concerns, Vahn explained that he was only using stones that didn't have the mana of the Dungeon running through them. Just like the large boulders he had 'acquired' from the 49th floor, Vahn simply made use of the rocky outcrops that were interspaced throughout the forests below. Finn had reluctantly agreed to Vahn's conjecture but also had the expedition remain on alert for nearly the entirety of the first day when they were building the structures. Vahn had constantly been sweeping over them with his [Eyes of Truth] but, in order to ensure the Dungeon wouldn't 'reclaim' them in the future, he set down a foundation of materials that had been acquired through the system shop.They hadn't managed to finish everything in one day, but the expedition had completed the framework for an octogonal shaped outer wall that had observation towers at each corner. When asked why Vahn had decided on an octagon, he explained that there was power in specific shapes and that an eight-sided structure would be able to support a powerful defensive formation in the future. With Riveria backing up his claims, as she was also quite proficient in the creation of formations, the expedition worked in shifts to ensure that the work was proceeding quickly. As a show of gratitude, Vahn had gotten permission from Finn to add some of his own dishes to the meals and allowed many people to experience their first taste of fried chicken with a rich malt liquor as an accompaniment.Vahn was of the mindset that people were far more proactive when their morale was high so he didn't see the purpose of maintaining a gloomy and cautious mentality just because it was 'expected'. As long as the people on guard duty took their jobs seriously, it wasn't necessary for everyone to always be high strung. Though there was the danger of people breaking down after adapting to relative complacency, it wasn't something that needed to be worried about over a short period of time at all.During the evening, the four-girl group of Tiona, Ais, Lefiya, and Tione had returned safely while the vast majority of other groups did the same. There were still some people missing, but it wasn't uncommon for planned trips to take more time than anticipated as a result of the labyrinthine nature of the Dungeon and its propensity to alter its shape at times. Most of the groups had been made up of a series of Level 4 Adventurers so there was a fair chance they were simply late, assuming they didn't have the misfortune of encountering a monster party and getting caught off guard by something like a Deformis Spider. Vahn knew that Tsubaki's former lover, Jonas, had died after getting caught off guard by one of the creatures and he had been a highly capable Adventurer in his own right.Tiona and Tione seemed especially fond of the fried chicken that had been added to the evening meal and, like many others, ate far more than the usual amount of food they would typically eat. Though it might have been unhealthy in some regards, Vahn knew that the food created through the system shop was very nutritious regardless of the contents contained within. Their bodies might not be able to absorb the source energy contained within, but it would still nourish their cells as it was naturally filtered out of their body later on. Only Vahn could enjoy the full effects of the food he purchased from the system, but it was still capable of sustaining others with ease. Eva had likened it to being food 'filled to the brim with mana', so Vahn was confident it was good for them...For a total of three days, four including the present day, Vahn continued pushing forward the construction of the expeditionary parties temporary 'base'. They even got to the point where they installed communal baths for both men and women by hollowing out a large section of the plateau. Since Vahn didn't want anything to be a blind spot, he even designed the bottoms of the bath to have lines to enhance the formation later on before filling them with water. Setting up the formations to heat up the water wasn't viable in a 'temporary' base like this, but the entire camp was within Vahn's domain and he could warm it through infusing fire elemental energy into the water itself. As for ensuring the water was cleaned properly, Vahn drilled a drainage system through the plateau itself and they would have to unplug it each day before Vahn, or anyone with a magic item that could produce water, would have to refill it.After ensuring the basic amenities were taken care of, including latrines located on opposite sides of the encampment, Vahn worked with Rivera as they performed the painstaking ritual of setting up a defensive formation to protect the entire structure. To make their jobs easier, all of the tents were temporarily relocated, with Vahn's assistance, before they took powdered magic stoned and drew out a large formation across the entire grounds. Because the structure of the base itself had been designed with formations in mind, Vahn ended up taking care of the more complex patterns on his own while Riveria dealt with the larger formation in the center. To serve as the core, they used some of the larger magic cores that had been obtained from defeating the Udaeus and Balor during the previous battles.While Riveria and Vahn were setting up the formations, Finn had the rest of the expedition clear out large sections of the forest so that they would have even greater visibility from the plateau above. With nearly three hundred people working in concert, with the vast majority being Level 3 and higher, the task of clearing the forest was actually much faster than the tedium of setting up the formation. Even Haruhime could easily cut through trees with her sword while Lili could uproot entire trees with a bit of effort. They then arranged all the cut trees in a somewhat awkward circular shape that would act as a make-shift wall to slow the momentum of any monsters. Smart creatures could simply jump over the inconvenient structure, but it was still better than nothing as they currently had no other uses for the lumber.After a surprisingly arduous four hours, Vahn finally finished carving the important runes before linking them all together and activating the formation. Though it couldn't be seen by normal people, Vahn saw a dome take shape starting from the outside of the walls before coming to a point at the center of the encampment. As for Riveria's formation, it reinforced the ground and was what would allow intruders to be detected by those that contained one of the formation keys. It also had the purpose, when combined with Vahn's barrier, of regulating the internal temperature of the camp and ensuring the air quality. The air of the Dungeon was typically somewhat stagnant compared to the surface so it was quite literally a breath of fresh air for those that re-entered the encampment.Finn, Riveria, Gareth, and Vahn were selected as key holders and registered everyone in the expedition so they would be allowed access into the small fortress they had constructed. The barrier wouldn't actually be able to stop a wave of monsters, or almost any of the strong Adventurers present, but it would at least slow them down. If a foreign entity entered the space contained within the barrier, it would almost be like they were moving through a thick liquid and it would give those fighting inside a huge advantage against them. This was one of the reasons Vahn had been able to easily overwhelm Tammuz, the Vice Captain of the Ishtar Familia, in the past. The moment he broke into the territory of the Hestia Familia, his speed and reaction times had been marginally reduced while Vahn suffered no such restrictions.The reaction of the expeditionary party to the completion of the fortress was one of uncontained jubilation as it was always better to live within the relative safety of walls than it was to sleep in the rough. Many even jokingly talked about building cabins out of the wood that had been cut down earlier since they would have nearly three weeks of time to simply idle about as they maintained the defensive line protecting the supplies. Of the 308 personnel making up the expedition, with the exclusion of the main and secondary parties of the Loki Familia, only thirty could safely venture into the deeper floors for missions. This meant that, other than some Supporters that took the risk to accompany Adventurers, there were 280 people simply protecting the base with nothing but free time. Having small recreational facilities like a bath made this place feel a lot more like a 'home' than normal and it stirred up a stronger desire to protect the little place they had created for themselves in the heart of the Dungeon.Finn had noticed this sentiment within the group and it suddenly started to seem like Vahn's idea about creating an actual settlement within the Dungeon wasn't as unfounded as he believed. Just like Rivira, there would always be people that sought the 'peace' provided deep within the Dungeon simply because they preferred it over the relative hustle and bustle of the surface world. In the Dungeon, you didn't have to worry about things like politics and the only thing that typically mattered was your own strength, and the strength of those you associate with. Though it certainly wouldn't be a 'normal' place, it was easy to see how powerful Adventurers might be drawn to the 50th floor just because it was 'interesting'...As for Vahn, he had noticed the 'shift' in the atmosphere once the base had been completed as well. One of the plans he had come up with to make 'Haven' flourish in the future was actually creating the core branch of their organization within the 50th floor while also establishing an 'advanced' branch of the Academy they would create on the surface. It was obviously impractical to teach people complex studies in a short period of time so there would always be a need for a higher tiered education system. If people wanted to continue their studies and obtain the more advanced knowledge that would be provided, they would have to 'graduate' by reaching the 50th floor with a party of their own making. The option would only be given to those that had registered for the test, however, so there wouldn't be a large influx of people simply arriving at the 50th floor through things like expeditions in the hope of joining the 'Haven Academy'. There would be exceptions made, of course, but that would be at the discretion of whoever ended up as the Headmaster at the time...Blissfully unaware of what her Master was thinking, Fenrir was lazing about in the large basin that was set up in the Hestia Familia's tent. Though she originally didn't like baths, primarily as a result of Eva, she had grown to love them as time passed. Being surrounded by the hot water was very pleasant and this water was especially nice because it was filled with her Master's 'essence'. Vahn still made use of the special water they had obtained from the artificial Dungeon and, to keep it warm, he infused his energy into the adaptive molecules that made up its structure. This ensured that the water was almost always warm and, though most people wouldn't be able to sense it, Fenrir was able to feel her Master's presence wrapping up her entire body as a result. She hadn't had much to do lately, since her Master had been busy working, so Fenrir spent most of her time lazing about in the large basin blowing bubbles in the water...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Fried Chicken Supremacy','Little Slice of 'Haven'','Happy pupper...')If you'd like to support me as a writer so I can write even more stories in the future, please follow the ******* link below (O,...,O)~! Stay beautiful &lt;3. Since it was requested, I also added a Paypal link if that is preferable~!)https://www.*******.com/user?u=14397149paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

During the evening, Vahn was invited into the main tent where all of the decision makers within the expedition were gathered. Since he was not only considered a member of the main party, but also the Captain of the Hestia Familia, it was unquestionable that Vahn should be present. Accompanying him was Haruhime, as she was actually being groomed to be one of the future Commanders of the Familia, while the representatives from the Hephaestus Familia were also present. Thus, Vahn sat around a table, provided by him, as they started to discuss what actions they would be taking in the future.Finn sipped on the expensive tea Vahn had set out on the table before breathing a relaxed sigh and saying, "Things have been going exceptionally well thus far...I believe everyone present is aware of the contributions Vahn, and the Hestia Familia, have made during this expedition. I would like to personally thank you for your efforts, Vahn, as I've never experienced such a smooth journey to the 50th floor in the past." Vahn had been sitting next to Gareth as they made small talk so he raised his glass of [Dwarven Drought] to accept Finn's gratitude.Seeing Vahn and Gareth in 'high spirits', Finn's smile twitched slightly since there was no way either of them would listen to him if he told them to stop drinking. He knew from past experience that Vahn was 'immune' to the effects of liquor and Gareth, being a pure-blooded Dwarf, also had a seemingly bottomless tolerance. After deciding to ignore the matter, Finn looked around at those gathered and said, "Henceforth, we'll have to be selective in the actions we take while also ensuring that the defenses of the expedition can be maintained. As there are new faces present, I will discuss how previous expeditions have gone and then we will make our decisions as a group afterward..."When Finn began detailing the experiences of previous expeditions, Vahn had given the Pallum his full attention and also took special note of key subjects. According to Finn, it was nigh impossible for the expedition itself to actually proceed beyond the 50th floor because it was simply too dangerous. The main party would be able to defend themselves against the relatively small hordes of monsters, but there was no way for them to deal with the thousands that would spawn as a result of the expedition trying to breach the deeper floors. Black Rhinos, the most common monster beyond the 50th floor, could easily be Level 4 in strength while some of their variants reached Level 5. As the average strength of the expedition members was only Level 3, it was ill-advised to proceed as a larger group.The way they typically handled matters was to set up a strong defensive line within the 50th floor and then send smaller parties into different parts of the Dungeon. Since the spawn rate was based on proximity, things were much more manageable in smaller groups. The main party itself would proceed into the deeper floors in order to finish some of the missions they had accepted before returning to the 50th floor every day and depositing their earnings. Once they had completed their missions, they would then rally their strongest forces and make a push into the deeper floors in the hopes of breaking the previous clear record.Currently, the record belonged to the Zeus and Hera Familias, which had been able to penetrate into the 59th floor before they were forced to turn back since the harsh climate was too much for them to push through. According to their records, the 59th floor was a frozen wasteland where the temperatures could easily drop below -60 degrees. Since the floor itself had never been mapped, and visibility was terrible, there was no way of knowing exactly how far you would have to travel under such harsh conditions before reaching the next floor. Since it was the trend that most floors carried the same theme for several levels, you might find yourself having to cover several thousand kilometers of a frozen hell before you finally broke through.As for the Loki Familia's own record, they have been able to clear up to the 54th floor before having to turn away as a result of the constant barrage from the Valgang Dragons. Starting from the 52nd floor, the party wouldn't be able to stop for even a few seconds as the dragon's breath was so powerful that it could penetrate through kilometers of bedrock and strike the unwary with a pillar of flame that could even melt down Adamantine. Without barrier magic, like Riveria's [Veil Breath], tanking such a hit could prove fatal for most Adventurers, regardless of their resistances.Just imagining the 'pillar of fire', as described by Finn, penetrating through more than six floors of Dungeon bedrock, and all the empty space between, made Vahn swallow. It wasn't that he was afraid of the fire, as it would be useless against him, but he was concerned about his companions. Vahn decided that, once he returned to the surface, he would create accessories that would be able to resist such flames to protect the girls in the future. Since Haruhime's accessories could already create localized barriers, Vahn knew it should be possible to create more effective barriers that could shield the entire body, just like Riveria's [Veil Breath].Once Finn finished going over the information they had collected from their past experiences, he looked toward Vahn and said, "Vahn, I know it may be a strange request to make, given the circumstances, but I would like you to look into potential solutions for clearing the deeper floors. Your capabilities are rather unique amongst other Adventurers and you also have the wisdom of a [Master Smith] at your disposal. I will make available all materials gathered by the expedition for your use if you believe it would be beneficial in clearing the deeper floors." As they had a plethora of supplies remaining, it wouldn't be difficult to stay within the 50th floor for more than a month. Finn was optimistic Vahn would be the key that would allow the Loki Familia to gain the glory of setting a new record.Contrary to Finn's initial expectations, Vahn nodded his head without any argument whatsoever as he said, "Sure, I'm very interested in what exists beyond the 59th floor. However, you need to remember that our 'enemies' likely exist in that area as well so we'll need to take precautions against them if we want to break beyond that point. I would suggest trying to create a more permanant settlement within the 50th floor and consolidating supplies over a long period of time before we actually try to move forward. However, that will also allow our enemies ample time to react to our actions so it may be necessary for us to take a step back and increase our individual strength before we progress further..."Vahn knew that the Enyo must have a way to see what is going on in the Dungeon so there was little hope they would simply ignore the efforts to make a permanant settlement. However, Vahn was tempted to try anyways since they would potentially be able to draw out Enyo's forces and then they would be able to deal with them. Regardless of how many resources were available to them, Vahn knew they couldn't have an 'infinite' amount and he was confident in winning a war of attrition. Since he could gain OP from the monsters they would send at him, Vahn could constantly replenish their own supplies. Defensive fights were always much easier than offensive ones, especially if you were able to break into enemy territory, so it could be a practical method.Finn had a complex expression on his face when he heard Vahn mention setting up a permanant settlement on the 50th floor. With a wry smile on his face, he explained, "We simply don't have the resources to set up a permanant settlement on the 50th floor and, by the time we returned to the surface and came back, any fortifications we established would likely be broken down. Unless we can make the settlement self-sustaining, in a short period of time, there is no way of getting a foothold in the deeper floors. We'd be better off trying to create a small base on the 39th floor, since it is much safer and could serve as a relay station for future expeditions..."At this point, Finn took a deep breath before continuing, "However, we simply don't have the manpower for such a momentous undertaking and there are few people that would want to live inside the Dungeon for long periods of time. The stress alone would wear away at them and it would feel more like a prison after enough time passed. Even from a logistical standpoint, there isn't any practical way to move enough materials to construct fortifications and we can't simply quarry stone from the Dungeon as it would be subject to changing shape over time. There is a very real possibility that monsters would be able to spawn within the fortification itself in that case..."As Finn spoke, Vahn was taking note of several details and considered everything the experienced Pallum had to say. However, by the time Finn had finished, Vahn felt slightly annoyed since there were several things that simply didn't make sense. After looking around and seeing that most people were in agreement with Finn, Vahn felt slightly unnerved until he saw that both Riveria and Haruhime seemed unperturbed. As they knew of the existence of 'Haven', they were aware that it wasn't as 'impossible' as Finn was making it out to be. With renewed confidence, Vahn smiled before asking, "Why are we here?"Finn blinked in a confused manner before placing his fingers on his chin and saying, "We're here to discover the secrets of the Dungeon and to complete the missions we have accepted to bolster the reputation of our own Familia and to reach greater heights as individuals..." Vahn was a little surprised by Finn's response but nodded his head in agreement before asking, "How deep is the Dungeon?" Hearing his words, Finn paused for a brief moment before saying, "Nobody knows...it has existed longer than the continent of Eden itself and nobody has ever been able to reach the bottom."Vahn nodded his head once again as a firm resolve appeared in his eyes and he said, "We also have a duty to those on the surface to prevent the monsters contained within from ever seeing the light of day. As you said, nobody knows how deep the dungeon goes, nor what monstrosities await us within its depths. We do know, however, that all three of the major threats to mankind had emerged from the Dungeon in the past and had wreaked havoc that resulted in the loss of millions of lives..." Other than the One-Eyed Black Dragon, there were two more S-Class threats that had appeared in the past, known as the Three Great Quests. Thus far, the Behemoth and Leviathan had been defeated by the Zeus and Hero Familias, but the One-Eyed Black Dragon was still at large. What Vahn was hinting at was the fact that all three monsters shared a common origin within the Dungeon and there were very likely even greater dangers lurking deeper in the depths...A solemn atmosphere began to spread through the tent as the reality of Vahn's words settled on each person present. In the same firm tone as before, Vahn continued, "It is 'necessary' for the safety of all those on the surface world for an elite few to probe into the depths of the Dungeon and unlock its secrets. There is simply no way around it since the potential dangers are far too great to overlook...even now, we know of at least one organization that has managed to take up roots within the Dungeon. If we continue to wait around passively as they continue to spread their influence, who are we to blame when things reach the point of no return?"Finn's expression had turned serious after hearing Vahn's words and he said in a somber tone, "What you say has a great deal of truth to it, Vahn...but most people won't be willing to see things that way. Sacrifices may be necessary for progress, but there are few people that 'want' themselves to be included in such statistics. Though we may be called Adventurers, most people that venture into the Dungeon to become stronger simply do so to increase their own quality of life. You would be hard pressed to convince a large number of people to venture into the depths of the Dungeon simply because it is 'necessary' to do so..."Against his expectations, Vahn actually nodded in agreement with Finn as a smile appeared on his face. He knew Finn's words struck at the truth of the matter and, as he claimed, few people would be willing to make such sacrifices unless the incentive was compelling enough. This was one of the reasons why he said they needed to take a step back earlier since it wasn't really practical to plant their own roots any time soon. As Finn suggested, it would be better to make a base on the 39th floor first and then slowly establish a supply line over a long period of time. If they could establish settlements progressively deeper into the Dungeon, and create enough incentive for people to reach them, it wouldn't be impossible to one day reach their goal of progressing deeper into the unknown floors of the Dungeon.The average level of Adventurers might be relatively low for now, but that didn't mean it couldn't be increased over time. Vahn knew that, once his own Academy was founded, there would be an influx of capable Adventurers and mages roaming around the continent. Since the desire to grow stronger would be embedded into each of them, they would likely endeavor to reach depths of the Dungeon that had never before been seen. If they created an organizational hierarchy that supported the development of such individuals, everything else would simply sort itself out with the passage of time. Just like those gathered presently, there would always be those that seek greatness and wanted to carve their names into history by making new discoveries...Vahn spent about two hours explaining his own plans to everyone present, including his intent to create the relay point that Finn mentioned on the 39th floor. Though he didn't give too many details, Vahn explained the potential of his 'storage magic' to those gathered and how it wasn't actually as difficult as he mentioned to move mass amounts of supplies. As for the base that would eventually be created on the 50th floor, Vahn wanted it to become the 'core' of the Alliance and to serve as a 'goal' for others to reach in the future.Even by simply propagating the message that you could only be considered a first-rate Adventurer by reaching the 50th floor, there would be innumerable people that would aspire to reach it. By creating supply points in the Dungeon, the confidence of many people would increase greatly and the average level of Adventurers would go up over time. Vahn's plans weren't trying to make such things a reality in a short period of time, but they were designed to take place over several years, or even decades. Regardless, it was something that was 'necessary' for the future of all people and Vahn was able to convince those present that it was better to be the ones leading the way for such movements as it would guarantee their own power and authority in the future.Just as Orario was currently the strongest City on the entire continent, Vahn's 'Haven' would one day take that title for itself since the only people capable of even reaching it were those that had become strong enough to do so. By the time people were born within the Dungeon, and the City became self-sustaining, they would have a nigh-unstoppable momentum. Once they had a better understanding of the artificial dungeon, and came to a compromise with the Xenos, the Dungeon would become a central hub for activity within the entire continent. It would no longer be a place where a select few had access to, but a place where people aspired to see for themselves in order to create their own legacy.Rather than through 'conquest', Vahn was thinking about unifying people through 'progress' instead. If he could create the strongest organization in the continent, the power base of Orario would also increase as a result and Vahn could influence regulations to make the City a better place to live for all people. Though they were bound to face opposition from outside forces, they would eventually be forced to compromise or else they would be swept up by the momentum of progress. Failure to adapt would likely result in the deaths of many people, and the potential collapse of entire nations, but the resultant changes would bring people ever closer to a world where the only difference between people was the amount of effort they put into becoming stronger. Vahn's own children would be entities that could grow beyond the bounds of the record itself, so he was already starting to think of how the future would be shaped by future generations for the thousands of years that would follow...In summary, Vahn was planning to 'destroy the world' by forging a path that forced people to walk forward or be swept away by the momentum of those that sought a better future for themselves. Of course, he didn't go over these plans with Finn, and the others present, but it was something he had decided for himself and was now proactively seeking. To ensure things would devolve into chaos, as there were bound to be people that used their power to oppress others, Vahn would have to create an organization that possessed the greatest amount of power in the entire world. He wouldn't 'force' anyone to adopt his ideologies, but by making a 'safe' place for refugees that sought a better life, Vahn knew things would eventually change for the better. If corrupt forces took offense to the future he wanted to create, Vahn wasn't opposed to showing them the error of their ways...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn exists to break records...','Progressive Reform','Echoes of the Emperor...')If you'd like to support me as a writer so I can write even more stories in the future, please follow the ******* link below (O,...,O)~! Stay beautiful &lt;3. Since it was requested, I also added a Paypal link if that is preferable~!)https://www.*******.com/user?u=14397149paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 465: Fortification