Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

A few days before the arrival of Rakia's invasion, Vahn found himself in the Upper Floors of the Dungeon for the first time in a while. Vana had been pestering him a great deal about entering into the Dungeon and, already having several Skills and Development Abilities, while having the physical development of an adult, Vahn hadn't been able to continue refusing. He had promised her a long time ago that he would accompany her in the Dungeon to help her training so, now that the punitive force was resting in preparation for the upcoming battle, Vahn had a bit of free time with his second body. As a result, he ended up spending around two hours just helping Vana prepare her equipment before they finally proceeded into the first Floor of the Dungeon.Currently, Vana had already grown to 162cm and had the appearance of a young woman around 15-16 years old. For better or worse, she had developed very similarly to her mother, with her breasts already growing to a sizeable B-cup while her figure had already started to fill out like a mature young lady. Fortunately, she had always been more of a tomboy so, instead of wearing equipment that showed off a lot of skin, Vana's armor actually covered most of her body, sans head. Even this wasn't enough to hide her charm, however, causing several Adventurers to gawk at her when they were entering into the Dungeon...Vana's armor consisted of a padded pale-beige blouse that had slight frills at the hem, causing the garment to have the appearance of a skirt when she wore her black tunic over top. Her tunic was structured with a flared collar, as Vana thought it looked cool, while the surface was covered in paper-thin scales that Fafnir had produced. She also wore a pair of black form-fitting trousers, very similar to her mother but, fortunately, the blouse/tunic combination was able to prevent people from having a clear view of her backside. Completing the outfit, Vana had a pair of padded white greaves that continued past her knees while wearing a similarly white pair of boots and gloves.To prevent her hair from getting in the way during combat, Vana wore a white hairband that forced her rather wild hair to fall behind her back, extending down to her waist. As for her weapon, Vana had always preferred using a sword and, after learning her daughter would be entering into the Dungeon, Hephaestus made her a white longsword with the properties of a growth weapon. It now hung at the left side of her hips while a paired dagger was situated on her right. Though she had the option of using interspatial items, Vana thought it was cooler to have her weapons on display and, other than a pendant that Vahn had forged for her, she didn't wear other 'girly' accessories.Now, after an admittedly excessive amount of fretting over her preparations, Vana was breezing through the first Floor without any difficulty whatsoever. Though she wasn't able to have a Falna, Vana already had the strength of a Level 2 Adventurer so it wasn't too surprising that Goblins and the occasional Kobold were unable to stand against her. She maintained a casual smile on her face without showing any major changes in expression as her blade drew practiced arcs through the air, cutting through enemies with exceptional ease. Vana didn't even have to move around much, completely in control of the battle's tempo without creating any openings that could be exploited by the rather unfortunate monsters that crossed her path.When facing against a group of five Goblins, two of which had club-like natural weapons, Vana had essentially 'strolled' forward to meet them, sidestepping a downward swing with minimal movement as her sword bisected the offending Goblin. In the same motion, Vana twisted her body, kicking the waist of a second Goblin and causing it to 'fold' before it was flung into the Dungeon wall with enough force to shatter some of its bones. Then, with her back facing two of the Goblins, Vana simply jumped backward slightly to evade their attacks, swinging her sword out to the right to decapitate the third Goblin without even looking at it. Her spatial awareness had been polished by both sparing and practicing her flame control so that she wouldn't accidentally set fire to her surroundings.With three of the Goblins dead, after just a simple series of movements, Vana raised her palm toward the remaining two, the corners of her mouth raising slightly as a golden flame erupted from her hand, forming the shape of a snake that serpentined through the air. As if it was a living creature, the snake accurately pierced through the magic cores of the Goblins before drawing a circular arc through the air and returning to Vana, coiling around her forearm without even burning the fabric of her blouse and glove. Unlike Vahn, who still had a habit of burning his clothing and equipment, Vana already had a mastery of her [Genesis Flame] that he would be hard-pressed to emulate.After inspecting the edge of her blade to make sure it wasn't tarnished, Vana sheathed her sword before turning toward Vahn and smiling casually as she said, "Papa, I think we should descend a bit deeper in the Dungeon. I know I lack experience, but I'm confident in being able to fight against slightly stronger enemies than just Goblins and Kobolds~." Though it wasn't her intent, Vana's words had developed a 'teasing' undertone to them as of late, as her previously rambunctious disposition had become more casual and calm with time. It was likely due to the fact that she spent a lot of time with the taciturn Rufina while also playing with the animals living in the illusory forest. She had a very 'natural' calm and, if not for the fiery look that was everpresent in her eyes, Vana would come off as a very gentle young woman.Understanding the Vana could probably reach the 18th Floor on her own, Vahn returned a casual smile before saying, "Sure, we still have a few hours before we need to head back. Though it isn't wrong to push yourself, make sure you have a path of retreat for emergency situations. You are an incredibly talented young lady, Vana, but you should never allow your confidence to develop into hubris..." Though she had seemingly calmed down a great deal, Vahn knew that his daughter was still just a fiery as she had been in her 'youth'. If the battle got exciting, she was similar in disposition to Tiona, meaning she would cut loose and push herself to the limits if the battle was 'fun'. Since even he had a similar nature, especially after awakening [Rakshasa Body] in the past, Vahn just wanted her to avoid the same mistakes...Vana's response was to just smile even more radiantly than before, squinting her eyes slightly as she said, "As long as Papa is with me, I'm not afraid of anything~." After saying this, Vana giggled before turning around and heading deeper into the Dungeon. Vahn also released a dry laugh of his own before falling into step as, just as Vana implied, he would never allow her to face any 'real' danger since she was barely two and half years old. He even had the Xeno monitoring their movements while he actively scanned the surroundings with his Domain, guiding Vana away from groups of Adventurers and areas of high monster density. Though he didn't mind if she made friends, Vahn didn't believe that any 'normal' man would be able to interact with his rather beautiful daughters without having 'stray' thoughts. Even if they knew how young Vana was, her appearance would still cause people to fantasize about her and, as much as possible, Vahn would prevent people from looking at any of his children with lascivious eyes and intentions...As expected, Vana was able to continually progress through the Floors, finding no real challenges even after reaching the seventh Floor and facing a horde of Killer Ants. Upon seeing the large group of monsters known as 'novice killers', Vana's expression didn't waver as she upturned her palm and began producing small cat-like creatures that jumped down, forming a small group of rather adorable kittens. Her [Genesis Flame] was exceptionally suited to making constructs that could even emulate reality and, with her love and knowledge of animals, and a fair amount of observing Shizune's shadow summons, Vana had learned how to create her own 'flame summons' long ago.Without any great effort on Vana's part, she kept producing more kittens as the previously formed constructs began assaulting the Killer Ants on her behalf. By the time the room had been cleared out, there were a total of twenty-seven golden flame kittens walking around the area, carrying the magic cores in their mouths as they scampered over and presented them to Vana. She happily accepted the cores, placing them into a small satchel attached to the back of her belt, before petting each kitten in turn. Vahn couldn't help marveling at the sheer 'beauty' of his daughter's ability while an affectionate smile spread across his lips. He wondered what kind of future Vana would have and, when she finally did find a life partner, what kind of person he or she would be...Other than a break for lunch, Vana had continued cutting a path through the Dungeon with startling ease. She had to put in a bit of effort when facing against Silverbacks and Minotaurs for the first time, as their Agility and Power were much greater than most monsters in the Upper Floors, but only during the first few encounters. Once she had gotten used to their movements, Vana had been able to cut down even Minotaurs with a 'casual' swipe of her sword. Presently, her [Swordsman] had reached the B-Rank, so her adaptability with the blade and associated techniques was very high. For anything more challenging, Vana would use her [Genesis Flame] to defeat even Wyverns, who had high fire resistance, in an instant.In her first day of venturing in the Dungeon, Vana had been able to clear all the way to the 18th Floor without any major hiccups. Upon reaching the rather beautiful region that some referred to as the 'Under Resort', Vana's fiery eyes glimmered with appreciation as she looked around at the vast expanse of forests, asking, "Are there any animals within the Dungeon, Papa~?" For Vana, having spent much of her free time within the illusory forest, all wooded areas equated to places where she could make new friends. She was a child loved by nature and, even amongst the various guardians belonging to his other children, Vana was good friends with each of them.Since he knew there were indeed a few animals in the surrounding forests, Vahn nodded his head but explained, "The fauna within the Dungeon is extremely limited. Other than monsters, the most common creature would be various types of insects. As for animals, there are a few that had escaped from the small enclosures within the settlements that had bred in the surrounding forests. They are usually hunted by stray monsters, however, so the odds of encountering any normal animal is very slim." As he was speaking, Vahn guided Vana away from the stairs leading into the 18th Floor since there was a group of Adventurers making their way over, likely heading toward the surface.Most Adventurers wouldn't interfere with each other, especially within the Dungeon, so the group passed without sparing much attention for the duo that had made way for them. There was a young man who had let his eyes wander across Vana but, feeling an icy cold shudder run through his body, he quickly averted his eyes as an instinctual response. His companions, thinking he was getting cold feet, playfully badgered him a bit as the group ascended the stairs to hunt a few monsters before returning to Rivira. They were semi-permanant residents of the settlement on the 18th Floor, not a group returning to the surface as Vahn had expected.Unaware of the constant vigilance of her Papa, Vana happily wandered into the forested area to see for herself if there were any animals she could befriend. To Vahn's surprise, he could detect a few signs of life within his perception and, as if she had some kind of homing instinct, Vana had walked a direct route to where a fox den was located, occupied by a mother and three kits. Instead of staying hidden, or trying to defend her den, the mother fox poked her head out, curiously eyeing Vana and Vahn before exiting her den with the small kits following behind. Vana plopped down onto the ground and began playing with the small foxes as if they had known each other for years, all while Vahn observed with a thoughtful expression from the side...As it had started to get late, with the crystals above beginning to dim, Vahn informed Vana that it was time to return to the surface after she had played with the family of foxes for a little over an hour. She didn't argue at all, nodding her head as she gave the kits a few more caresses before hopping up to her feet and saying, "I'm ready to go home~." Though she had a lot of fun exploring the Dungeon, especially since she had the whole day to spend time with her Papa, Vana felt a little lonely being away from her 'friends' in the illusory forest. After playing with the family of foxes, she couldn't help wondering how her friends back home were doing while she was away. Thus, in order to return faster, Vana had her Papa give her a piggyback ride to the surface as she took a short nap and reminisced about the day...----------------------------------------------------------------------[[Status]]Name: Vana MasonTitle: Free-spirited Flame [Increases proficiency in creating constructs out of flames], Friend of Animals [All animals treat you as kin]Race: VanirAge: C2, P16, M13Level: 2(+)POW: C601END: B718DEX: B702AGI: C640MAG: A823SOUL: 3 [Lord Soul]Divinity: Fire[pseudo:56%-&gt;58%], Life[pseudo:17%-&gt;18%], Animals[pseudo:2%](new)Skills: [Inheritor of Flame:Innate:D-&gt;C], [Shepherd's Grace:Innate:I-&gt;G], [Precise Thrust:E-&gt;B], [Featherfoot:F-&gt;D], [Flame Sword:B](new)Magic: [Genesis Flame:Innate:I-&gt;E], [Sagitta Magicka:G-&gt;F], [Flame Lance:D-&gt;C], [Shundo:H](new)Development Abilities: [Eternal Flame Spirit:Innate:F-&gt;E], [Swordsman:H-&gt;B], [Tamer:C](new), [Acrobatics:E](new)[Flame Sword]Rank: BUse: Infuse weapon with burning attacks that can pierce the defense of a target.----------------------------------------------------------------------(A/N: Vana uses the character Soleil as a template, so this is essentially what she looks like at the moment: https://imgur.com/gallery/DsVjTaN )(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn's Worries are only Beginning...','Worlds Strongest Two-Year-Old...','Do I spy a new Divinity!?)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Though everything was going as planned in regards to dealing with Rakia's invasion, there were some things that simply couldn't be controlled. It was around two weeks early, but Syr had gone into labor in the middle of the night, causing a small incident that had most of the Manor's residents awake. There were no problems with the delivery itself but Syr's child, a frail little angel named Natalie, was a little premature. Vahn stayed with her to make sure she was stable, feeding strands of Source Energy into her body while Syr, in order to make sure Natalie would develop properly, was put on a strict diet that would greatly increase the nutritional value of her breast milk.Even with these unexpected complications, Natalie was still an exceptional beautiful infant with fair skin and tiny wisps of grey-blue hair. Her eyes were a muted grey color with hints of blue while her guardian, somewhat surprisingly, was a creature known as a Silvervine Python. It was a peculiar Guardian but, with its silvery diamond-shaped scales, light blue eyes, and dark blue flickering tongue, Vahn found it strangely adorable. As for Syr, she was unnecessarily apologetic about going into labor early and showed a great deal of concern for Natalie, requiring Vahn to ease her mind so she could sleep properly...Now, Vahn was even more annoyed by Rakia's invasion as, even though they weren't really to blame for Syr going into labor, Vahn 'felt' like they were. Syr was a very earnest and hardworking woman so, as he was busy with his own matters, she would also be busy managing the affairs of the Manor. Things had gotten much easier with the Artemis Familia and the additional Maids provided by Freya, Diana included, but the number of things she dealt with had only increased. Syr was constantly checking in on everyone, including the Xenos and the children, so, even though her workload wasn't particularly strenuous, her mentality could still be affected when she was thinking hard about how to keep everyone in high spirits...Up until the Scouts had reported that Rakia's forces were in close proximity to the City, Vahn spent his days idling about in the maternity ward, taking care of Natalie alongside Syr. Though he was still helping to prepare things with his avatar, supporting Syr while she was going through troubled times was infinitely more important. It helped that, because she was close with 'literally' everyone in the Manor, there were generally 2-3 people present at any given moment to support her. With the constant care and concern of people she was constantly concerned about, Syr was quickly returning to her usual self.---With rumors quickly spreading about the massive military force that was looming in the distance, a strangely 'festive' atmosphere was lingering about the City. This wasn't the first time that Rakia had tried to invade Orario and, regardless of the size of the army, not a single resident was worried anything would go wrong. Even without the Alliance, Rakia would have been repelled by a few of the S-Rank Familia with ease. Now, with the colossal might of the Alliance, fresh of a 'victory' against the Iron Hills, most residents were in high spirits. They were treating the invasion as if it was nothing more than a spectator sport, curious about how Rakia's forces would be repelled this time around...Though Vahn knew Orario didn't really treat the threat of Rakia seriously, as their power had declined significantly after the Crozzo Family lost their ability to make Crozzo Magic Swords. Without such powerful weapons to make use of, Rakia was limited to the strength of its standing army alone. Since there were nearly no Mages within their ranks, they were essentially a mob of physical fighters who were lacking in discipline and unity. Currently, Vahn was overlooking this discordant bunch from above and he couldn't help shaking his head in disbelief.Vahn's original intention was to use the tension and 'threat' of Rakia to promote the Haven Defense Force and inspire the common citizenship. He hadn't been present during the previous invasions so Vahn had underestimated how flippant and easygoing everyone would be. Now, it felt like, even with his punitive force decimating Rakia's, people wouldn't really be impacted at all. Though there would certainly be a fair amount of surprise that so many 'unknown' people had such strength, people would just credit it to the might and resources of the Alliance. Now, even before the fight had even begun, Vahn felt like things had ended in a very anticlimactic way...With a sigh, Vahn made his way back to the Southern Gate of Orario, where the punitive force was ready and waiting for Rakia's invasion to begin. Right now, it was obvious that Rakia was confused about what was going on with the Dwarves as, according to the plans Vahn knew of, the Iron Hills would have moved siege weaponry to support Rakia's invasion. Since they were unable to move such heavy equipment through the Southern Sands, Rakia was wholly unprepared to begin a siege against Orario's tall outer walls. Unless they began cutting down trees in the surroundings, making make-shift siege weaponry on the spot, they were reduced to breaching the walls with individual soldiers instead of breaking through with siege equipment...The leadership of Rakia's forces was significantly more incompetent than Vahn had expected, as they had never even tried to come up with a backup plan in the event that the Iron Hills hadn't made good on their promise. Now, though they had some smaller explosives, a large cavalry, and a few winged Drakes, their invasion had been crippled before it even began. Even so, instead of retreating or trying to use other tactics to gain an advantage, Rakia's forces began advancing upon the City after two days idling about in 'secret'. This made Vahn feel like this entire event had become a farce and, with Syr and Natalie being his primary focus, Vahn's motivation had diminished a great deal.With slightly dulled eyes, Vahn watched as Rakia 'very' slowly got into a formation a few kilometers away from Orario before sending forth a small group of envoys to make demands. Even though they had absolutely no advantages, Rakia was still 'pretending' as if this was a perfectly normal situation. It was like they had a checklist and were just going through the motions, no planning or thought going into their actions whatsoever. Vahn was barely able to restrain his sigh before turning to the punitive force, each member showing a serious and resolved expression as they awaited the beginning of the battle. Unlike him, they were all treating this event with as if it were a matter of extreme importance as, for the last two months, that is exactly how they were trained...Since this was an important moment for the members of the Haven Defense Force, Vahn managed to psyche himself up a bit as he smiled confidently toward them and said, "I'll head out to meet with the envoys to see what their demands are. Given Rakia's history, the battle will begin shortly after the discussions come to an end. From this point onward, until Rakia calls for a retreat, Haruhime will be in command while I deal with Ares and his supporting gods. Stay sharp and, most importantly, make sure every member of your squad, yourselves included, comes back safely...!"Following Vahn's words, the punitive force released a loud warcry that got the spectators on Orario's walls riled up in response. There were tens of thousands of civilians and Adventurers gathered to watch the 'show' while some Bookies were even taking bets. Vahn couldn't really concern himself with them, however, as his main focus in regards to Rakia were the four gods that he had detected in the encampment. There was a tall god, who Vahn had identified as Ares, with red armor, shining golden hair like a lion's mane, and fierce red eyes glimmering like gemstones on his immaculately sculpted face. The rumors that his looks could even rival a god of beauty weren't an exaggeration as he practically radiated confidence and charisma.Accompanying Ares was another male god and two goddesses, each either a member of a Familia Ares had conquered in the past while one of the latter, a strikingly beautiful goddess that could even rival Freya, stood out more than the rest. This goddess had strawberry blonde hair that fell in gentle curls around her bare shoulders. Her eyes were like champagne rhinestones while her facial features and figure were simply 'perfect', especially with her ample bosom and shapely buttocks. She was appeared to be a silken white robe that did nothing to hide her figure, barely giving her any semblance of modesty. Around her waist, there was a golden girdle which, if removed, would have made apparent the fact that she was completely bereft of any form of lingerie. Even at a glance, Vahn had identified this goddess as Aphrodite, possessing Divinities related to Love, Beauty, Sex, and Fertility.Standing out significantly less so than the sensual Aphrodite, there was a rather diminutive goddess with blood-red hair that extended past her waist. Unlike her counterpart, this goddess wielded a large battleax that was much longer than she was tall. Her own height was around 150cm tall while the ax she wielded was easily around 220cm long and likely weighed more than 70kg. Matching her hair, she also had blood-red eyes that glimmered with a fierce light while her garb was comprised of a black battledress with a black breastplate, greaves, and gauntlets. The fact that her gauntlets and greaves had spikes near the knuckles, knees, and toes showed that she was likely a very violent goddess and, from information he had already obtained, Vahn was able to identify her as Ioke. She was a goddess with Divinities related to War, Slaughter, and Pursuit. Even if an enemy army was routed, Ioke would continue to pursue them until her entire body was soaked through with the blood of her enemies...Rounding out Ares' entourage, there was the god, Sobek, who was another god with Divinities related to War, Martial Prowess, Military Discipline, and, strangely, fertility. He was a god who hailed from the Southern Sands and, more than a hundred years ago, came under the influence of Ares after the later bested Sobek in individual combat more than one-hundred times. Other than his human Generals, the god Ares trusted the most with commanding his military was Sobek as Ares himself often threw himself into battle without bothering with 'troublesome' matters like issuing orders. Ioke was much the same and, even if you spoke to her, she would just stare blankly back at you since she was apparently self-conscious about her somewhat jagged teeth. The only one who didn't truly belong on the battlefield was Aphrodite and, if not for Ares' licentious nature, and Aphrodites 'whims', she wouldn't have been present.Vahn knew he would likely have to deal with Ares personally and, if it came down to it, he may even have to kill Ares and return the latter to Heaven. Though he was undoubtedly compelled by his Divinities to act as he had, Vahn knew that real change in Rakia could only come if Ares was either dead or under control. Sobek was much easier to deal with as he would readily back down once things began to go south for their armies. As for Ioke and Aphrodite, Vahn knew to be wary of the latter while Ioke was actually someone that Hephaestus, Hestia, Artemis, and even Demeter wanted him to recruit. Because of her Divinities, Ioke had lived a rather tragic existence and was once something of a 'plaything' for Zeus in the past, at least until Hera 'forced' her to descend into the Mortal World. She had wandered the land engaging in compelled slaughter and, after being reigned in by Ares, her life had been miserable once again...So that Ioke would have a means to 'vent', Vahn had come up with the idea of having her become one of the regulators in the Coliseum. They were constantly making improvements in the Sub-Space setup and it was possible for her to fight against challengers as much as she wanted without actually harming anyone. If this didn't pacify her Divinity, Vahn had the secondary idea of making her into a Special Commander for an Assault Unit that would take action to cull monsters attacking villages in the frontier regions of Eden. It was surprisingly easy to find people who would readily serve under a goddess like Ioke, especially among the Amazoness and select Beast Human tribes...The more troublesome goddess to deal with would be Aphrodite as, even more than Freya, she had a very 'direct' and 'possessive' nature. Not only did she have incredible beauty, but Aphrodite had a personality that made her 'take' what she wanted as her Divinity simply didn't allow her feelings and interests to go unreciprocated. The golden girdle around her waist was actually a manifestation of her Divinity, much like Hephaestus' Eternal Flame. Anyone that Aphrodite took an interest in, so long as they set eyes upon the golden girdle at her hips, would feel themselves overcome with irresistible love and desire for the amorous goddess. It had an instantaneous compulsion that worked like the most powerful aphrodisiac in the entire world, laying low both gods and mortals depending on Aphrodite's whims.Fortunately, Aphrodite was staying in the large Command Tent that served as Ares' headquarters within their encampment. She would take no part in the fighting to come thus, for the time being, Vahn's primary concern was dealing with the small group of Envoys, led by Sobek himself. He was a tall god, standing at 210cm, and wore black robes adorned with golden scales. His skin had a similar olive color to Anubis' but, unlike the latter's Chienthropic features, Sobek had very short black hair, fierce golden eyes, and pointed ears like an Elf, if not for the fact they were covered in black scales. Since he also had a scaley black tail protruding out of the back of his robes, Vahn felt like Sobek was closer to a Xenos or a member of the Ryuushu clan. If not for the fact that many of the gods from the Southern Pantheon had various animalistic traits, Vahn would have been incredibly surprised by his appearance...(A/N: Place your best in the comments section on who you think will win in the upcoming battle xD!)(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Stay strong, Syr and Natalie...!','Citizens of Orario, *pulls out popcorn*','Asinine Ares, Amorous Aphrodite, Indignant Ioke, Stoic Sobek')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

In preparation for Rakia's 'invasion', the Haven Defense Force had been training in earnest, even though only a few of their members had been selected to repel the 100,000 troops slowly making their way through the Southern Sands. It was important to select appropriate candidates, as this was an event that would serve as the basis for future expansion and Vahn's rise to the status of Emperor. The members that represented the HDF to repel Rakia's invasion couldn't be well-known individuals and, as much as possible, they should be readily identifiable as 'weak' from the perspective of observers. Vahn was trying to create a scenario where even normal citizens, after witnessing what the Haven Defense Force was capable of, would be inspired to work harder to reach their own potential.Currently, the School was already serving as a means to elevate the 'standard' that others would aspire towards but it would still take several years for things to reach that point. It wouldn't be until the next generation that things truly took off so, for the time being, Vahn needed an impetus for change in the interim. The Haven Defense Force served that role well but, until now, they hadn't really accumulated any achievements in the eyes of society. By using a punitive force of only one hundred individuals to repel more than one-hundred-thousand, all while 'appearing' relatively weak, the perception of people would begin to change. This would also make the transition of power to those graduating from the School and Academy easier in the future, so it was important to select each member of the punitive force properly...The simplest 'solution' was to use Pallums, as society still hadn't quite 'accepted' the fact that Pallum weren't the weakest race. There were many who still looked down on Pallums, causing some to remain in the Pallum Paradise at all times. So long as they were within their community, where even the buildings were designed to make their lives easier, most Pallum were content. This was because they also believed themselves to be weak and wanted to avoid confrontation entirely, even though there were several powerful Pallum within the City that ran counter to this misconception.Unfortunately, unless Vahn had a hand in promoting their strength directly, it wasn't incorrect to say that Pallum were weaker, even if their potential in certain categories was higher. Though there were certainly some exceptions, most Pallum lacked the physique to become powerful over a short period of time, as the growth of their Strength, Endurance, and even Agility were below average. Inversely, their Dexterity and Magic increased rapidly, while their racial traits made them exceptionally suited to becoming scouts, thieves, archers, and assassins. At the same time, so long as they had magic items and equipment, Pallum were capable of becoming impromptu mages that could wreak havoc for short periods of time...This was another problem, however, as their accomplishment would be credited to the existence of the magic items, not their own capabilities. Though the same argument could be said for their equipment, it wasn't difficult to spin things in a positive direction since it was significantly less flashy than using magic. As a result, thirty Pallum that had been training specifically under Ryuu, focused on developing their speed and archery, had been selected for the punitive force. There would be a force of ten Pallum supporting them, specializing in the use of Magic Staves that allowed them to cast barrier and support magic. They simply didn't have enough time to learn 'real' magic, so the HDF was restricted to using Magic Items and equipment purchased by Vahn through the system shop.Since having Pallum make up the entire force could cause other issues, as the misconception that Vahn was preferential to their kind could be reinforced, the remaining sixty members were selected from a variety of other races. Amongst this group, there were eight Cat People that had been given passing marks by Arnya, each wielding spears that allowed them to exploit the natural nimbleness, balance, and flexibility of their race. There was also a mixed assortment of Beast Tribe members who wielded swords and shields, having learned from the increasingly confident Tina, who would be acting as the vanguard. As for the rest of the punitive force, they were made up of a group in the HDF classified as 'Technicians', a new classification that specialized in setting up and disarming traps.There were a variety of classifications within the HDF, including numerous designations that only existed within their organizational structure. This was a result of the unique training methods used to allow the members of the HDF to increase their strength over a short period of time. At the same time, because of their standardized equipment and the availability of magic items and resources, there were some classifications that specialized specifically in their use...Amongst these classifications, Technicians, generally comprised of Chienthropes and Elves, were experts at tracking, detection, arming magic devices, and disarming traps. Those that had earned the classification had been equipped with spatial artifacts that were filled with a variety of consumables like [Burst Oil], [Flash Grenades], [Smoke Grenades], [Thunderburst Oil], [Blinding Powder], and other useful items. Their job was to cause chaos while controlling the enemies' movements, supporting the other members of the punitive force in the process...Presently, with less than two weeks until the invasion force arrived, the punitive force was conducting combat drills together while Vahn overwatched their movement from above. With the benefit of elevation, Vahn was able to easily keep track of their movements and provide support during an emergency. This was very necessary as most members were only around Level 2, with only a few amongst them having reached Level 3 in the few short months since the HDF had been created. Even with the benefit of their equipment, it wasn't impossible for enemies to get the better of them, especially on the 49th Floor where Fomoire, the goat-like monsters known for massing in huge waves, were located.Because they would be fighting against a force more than a thousand times their size, fighting against Fomoire was the best possible training for the punitive force. On average, even a weaker Fomoire was the equivalent of a Level 3 Adventurer. They also spawned in groups numbering in the thousands meaning, so long as they were able to fight against an 'army' of Fomoire, it should be easy to defeat Rakia's forces. After all, even a General in the Rakia Kingdom was around mid-to-peak Level 3 in strength, while the vast majority of their army was between upper-Level 1 and lower-Level 2. With the difference in equipment, coordination, and general combat proficiency, it wouldn't be that difficult for the Fomoire-tested punitive force to clinch a decisive victory.Vahn watched as the vanguard, maintaining a loose concave formation, stood their ground against the tide of Fomoire, deflecting attacks with their shields and accurately piercing vital points. The style of swordsmanship that Tina had inherited from her mother was focused on precision and reactionary strikes, making use of a minimal amount of movement for the maximum amount of efficacy. Since these HDF members had been trained by Tina, who had used rather 'hellish' training methods that involved having them dodge omnidirectional attacks, they were cutting down the Fomoire like wheat.Though they might have been overrun by the vast disparity in numbers, the other members of the punitive force were doing their jobs well, preventing the vanguard from being pressured too greatly. Most large groups of Fomoire would be scattered by [Burst Oil] thrown by the Technicians while the few Variant Fomoire that spawned were quickly barraged by the crossbow-wielding Pallum archers. When things got tense, the faux-Mage corps would step in, using their Magic Staves and Wands to either provide a reprieve to the vanguard or push back the wave of Fomoire with offensive magic. The rest of the punitive force, including Arnya's eight spear-wielding Cat People, served as a flanking force or coordinated with the Vanguard when the Pallum faux-Mages were replenishing their mana.During the battle, Vahn would sometimes have to use [Wounds Transfer] when someone made a mistake or was caught by a stray attack they were unable to deal with. If the punitive force got pushed back, he would step in and help to clear the wave while they retreated, as it was also an important maneuver to master. As for how they knew when to move, it was because Haruhime had been acting as the Commander of the punitive force. By now, she had several years of leadership experience, making managing a small group of one hundred people relatively easy. She also had the [Command Howl] skill, making her voice carry easily if the communication devices used by the HDF members were compromised.As had been the case in almost every other instance, the punitive force was eventually pushed back by the Fomoire wave, though not before taking down tens of thousands of the crazed monsters. Though this could be considered a 'failure' in some instances, the fact they were capable of fighting against so many enemies after around four months of training would have made them famous back when Vahn first entered the record. By the time Rakia's forces arrived, it was possible that most members of the punitive force would be Level 3, meaning the majority would have gone from Level 1 to Level 3 in around four months. This was an exceptional speed, wrought by their unwavering persistence and an environment that was constantly polishing their skills in live combat.While the punitive force was retreating, Vahn was firing upwards of forty arrows per second, all while appearing extremely casual as Fomoire burst into purple dust. So long as he made any effort at all to aim, his arrows would always strike the intended target. This was because, from Vahn's perspective, he could see the path the monsters themselves were taking, all while their movements appeared painstakingly slow. Even when he first entered the Dungeon several years prior, Vahn had been able to 'read' the movements of enemies, almost as if he was seeing into the future. This ability, at least when he was using the bow, had only increased with the passage of time. Now, if Vahn increased his focus and perception to their limits, it was almost as if the world had slowed to a crawl while even the subtle movements of individuals muscles and hairs were not overlooked within his eyes...In less than three minutes, Vahn had killed a total of 6,492 Fomoire, looting their magic cores and drop items before converting them into more than five-million Origin Points. It would take a while for the next wave to spawn but this was an excellent means of increasing his reserves which, at this point, had reached a 'monstrous' 491,334,005 points. Having thousands of people accumulating magic cores and drop items to exchange for 'contribution points' had greatly increased his gain of OP. Since he could also hunt Berserker, Berserker Chieftain, Cobalt Terror, and various elemental Slimes, each of which was worth between 3-10k OP, it had been a long time since Vahn felt pressured by his available OP. He was still a long way away from the 10,000,000,000 required for his Quest, Vahn knew he would be able to make the required amount in under two years if he stopped spending his OP, assuming no other factors changed.Once the area was completely bereft of any sign of Fomoire, Vahn used [Shundo] to reach the location of the punitive force which was currently conducting inventory on remaining supplies while performing routine maintenance on their equipment. There wasn't a single person slacking off and, after Vahn arrived, all one hundred members rose to their feet in salute, shouting, "We greet the Supreme Commander~!" in a sonorous chorus. Since more than half their members were females, the shout was relatively high-pitched while even the men in the punitive force had fervent looks when saluting Vahn. Amongst them, the lowest Allegiance was 7,411 while some, especially amongst the Pallum and Elves, was well over thirty thousand. Vahn knew that, if he ordered it, each of these one hundred people would follow his order without question, even if it led to their inevitable death...Raising his hand to put them at ease, Vahn allowed a small smile to reach his lips as he said, "You've all been working hard. In the coming fight, all of Orario will stand witness to your growth while those within the Haven Defense Force will look toward you for inspiration in their own paths. I have full confidence in each and every one of you, my brave and loyal comrades...together, we will pave the way towards a better future for everyone...!" At this point, Vahn's [Leadership] had reached A-Rank while his words, influenced by their Loyalty and Allegiance towards him, resonated deep within the hearts and minds of the punitive force gathered to fight against seemingly insurmountable odds. Amongst them, there wasn't a single person who was afraid that fighting against odds greater than a thousand-to-one put them at a disadvantage...As if they had rehearsed it beforehand, the entire punitive force raised their weapons, shouting, "Together, towards a better future for everyone...!" Following this outburst, everyone cheered loudly, riling each other up as the fatigue that had been present previously had been an illusion. Even under these circumstances, however, it only took Haruhime making a hand gesture to get everyone to fall silent before she said, "Everyone, make preparations for the next engagement. We have less than an hour to prepare for the next wave. Squad Leaders, make sure you perform secondary and tertiary checks on the important equipment. If your members are running low, coordinate with the other Squad Leaders to make sure there is an even distribution within each squad."This time, the punitive force saluted Haruhime before immediately setting about to perform their tasks, no longer paying attention to Vahn. From the very beginning, the largest focus in the training of the HDF had been 'discipline'. Though individual thinking was encouraged, those that held higher ranks generally got there through their efforts and qualifications. Unless you had significant reason to believe your idea was better suited to the situation, countermanding orders was a serious offense that could cause you to lose your position within the HDF entirely. As a result, every member of the punitive force immediately followed Haruhime's orders without question or complaint. Though Vahn could easily override her orders with his own, he generally communicated with Haruhime through the [Pactio], allowing her to constantly retain command to prevent confusion.While the punitive force was busy making their preparations, Vahn and Haruhime moved into the Command Tent without anyone even sparing them a glance, at least until the two had disappeared behind the tent's flap. Once this happened, some of the members of the punitive force exchanged 'knowing' looks and amicable smiles before the Squad Leaders lightly reprimanded them. Even they had smiles on their face, however, causing a few chuckles and silent laughs to echo around the temporary encampment. All the while this was going on, Haruhime was happily cuddling with Vahn as the two shared a laugh of their own, fully aware of the happenings outside since the tent only blocked sounds from escaping, not entering...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'For a moment, Vahn essentially considered making a full loli/shota army xD...','Machine Gun, Vahn Mason','Discipline takes time (^_^)~!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 906: A Vanir's First Steps