Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Seeing the sleeping Tamamo, curled up atop her cushioned throne with a contented smile on her face, Vahn turned to Artoria, earning a small sigh from her when he remarked, "She is pretty cute, isn't she?"Though she knew Vahn was only speaking his mind, Artoria gave him a slightly pointed look as she answered, "You really have a thing for women who possess animalistic features, don't you? You'll be wanting her to stay in the Menagerie, then?"While the thought was somewhat tempting, Vahn shook his head in response to Artoria's question, saying, "As I told Amaterasu, that would be setting a dangerous precedent. I can empathize with her tragic past, sure, but-:Before Vahn was able to finish, Artoria released another sig, saying, "You don't need to try and come up with an excuse. I can't speak for all of us, but we understand your nature and the unique form of your love. We understand our responsibility regarding that Divinity of yours, so, as long as you never lose sight of what is important, I don't think any of us mind if you have other lovers. Rather, it seems like a lot of trouble could be avoided if we just allowed you to love freely..."Vahn found himself at a complete loss for words in response to Artoria's. His first instinct was to feel guilty, blaming himself for his licentious ways, but, preempting his guilt, Artoria added, "There is no need to feel guilty. You are not simply an Emperor, but a Dragon God whose influence will only grow with the passage of time. We understand the nature of Dragons, so, if it will help you grow stronger, we all decided to support you. You'll never be able to relax until you possess enough power to rule over everything so we will continue to push your forward until you achieve your goals."Though he still felt a tinge of guilt, Vahn couldn't help but laugh in response to Artoria's words, his jubilation impossible to contain. Truthfully, he felt it was impossible to pass through the Nasuverse without expanding his harem further. It might have been possible if he restrained himself more early on, but, now that he was trying to conquer the world and pave a way forward for every race, a lot of things would be simplified if he could act freely.While it might be considered egotistical by some, Vahn was certain he could satisfy virtually every woman, regardless of their origin and tier. It was something he had become unnaturally good at, so, with the Nasuverse having an inordinate number of powerful female figures, forging bonds to lay a stronger foundation would make things much easier in the future. He hadn't verbalized it to anyone, but he fully intended to subsume the entire World in the future, taking it with him when he travels to other Records.Azathoth was capable of sustaining a Universe inside itself and, after observing and interacting with it for a long period of time, Vahn had garnered some insights into how he could achieve something similar. In the end, it came down to the fact that the Soul was vast and infinite, completely without limits or boundaries. Manifesting a Realm seemed to involve extending a piece of your Soul into an object or a location, allowing the world within to reflect a fraction of the endless space that existed within the Soul.Vahn was still far from reaching Tier 5, but, more so than anything else, he was confident in the durability of his Soul. He had become one with The Path, the source of all energy within the Tier System. In a way, this meant that everything in existence was already a part of him, but, the most important takeaway, at least for the time being, was that sealing things within his Soul wasn't even a difficult feat to achieve. He had already sealed Eva's Memory Fragment, so, while it would put a bit of strain on him, Vahn was certain he could one day seal a planet. The fact Azathoth could contain an entire Universe also indicated that, in the distant future, he would be able to do the same...As this thought crossed his mind, followed by a powerful conviction to never leave behind any of the people he cared about, Vahn caressed the side of Artoria's face. This caused her to swallow adorably before closing her eyes and slightly parting her lips, an open invitation that caused Vahn's heart to palpitate just as madly now as it had during their first kiss...---After waiting for nearly an hour, Tamamo began to stretch her body in a manner reminiscent of a cat before finally raising her head to meet the gazes of Vahn and Artoria. Her vulpine ears twitched, and, seemingly confused, she tilted her head to the side, asking, "Are you my Husband...?"Unlike before, the current Tamamo only had a single, somewhat stubby, vulpine tail. The nine flame-like tails from before had been the result of Amaterasu manifesting herself through Tamamo's body, greatly increasing her power in exchange for overtaxing her magic circuits.Though he would have denied her claim an hour prior, Vahn smiled in response to Tamamo's inquiry, answering, "That is up to you, Tamamo. Do you wish to become my bride?"Seemingly confused by his words, Tamamo's ears twitched adorably as she said, "I had a long dream. I don't remember everything that happened, but it was a terribly sad dream. It became happy toward the end, though. I dreamt that a bright like broke through the darkness, bringing warmth to my cold and tired body. It told me that, when I awoke, I would find the man that would become my Husband. Is that not you...?"Going by Tamamo's words, Vahn was certain that Amaterasu had done something to her memories. He would have Merlin look into it later, but, for the time being, he adopted a gentle smile, extending his hand to stroke Tamamo's head and ears as he explained, "My name is Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor of the Aldrnari Empire. Though you are not my first bride, I would be happy to have you, Tamamo-no-Mae."Though she still seemed a little confused, Tamamo giggled happily in response to his caress. Then, surprising him somewhat, she pounced on him from her seated position, hugging his body tightly as she chimed, "My husband is an Emperor, how lucky...! Make sure you pamper me lots, okay, Ten'nō-sama~! I may be quite beautiful, but I require a lot of upkeep, ufufufu~."Vahn was a little taken aback by Tamamo's words, but, rather than rebuke her, he just laughed in a light-hearted manner before extricating himself from her grasp and saying, "There are many things you will have to learn about the Empire. For now, the most important thing to keep in mind is that I seek harmony amongst my various lovers. This beautiful young woman here is my Empress, Artoria Aldrnar Pendragon. She, and many others, will help teach you everything you need to know..."As if only just now noticing Artoria's presence, Tamamo cocked her head to the side, causing her ears to flop somewhat adorably as she lightly issued a light 'hmm'. Then, seemingly having made a decision, she nodded her head a few times before saying, "Since you arrived before me, I will not hold a grudge against you. Please, teach me well. I want to become a proper bride so that I can make my husband happy~."Artoria hadn't missed the fact that Tamamo said the words 'my husband', so, while she had a smile on her face, she made a mental note to discuss the vulpine woman's behavior with Fenrir, Rin, and Luvia. Though it was only a matter of time before Tamamo realized the futility of trying to become something like Vahn's favorite, it was best they curb any problematic habits she might have early on.In response to Tamamo's words, Artoria gave a curt nod, saying, "Much has changed since the time you originally manifested. I, along with many others, will help to guide you properly. In the end, your own efforts will determine your position within the Inner Sanctum. Vahn doesn't go out of his way to play favorites so believe me when I say you should avoid causing trouble."Though she listened attentively, Tamamo didn't really take Artoria's words to heart. She didn't mind if her husband had multiple wives, as this was only natural. The only thing that mattered to her was being the closest person to him, not out of a desire for greater power, but as a matter of personal pride. Thus, while she didn't intend to cause any trouble, there was nothing Artoria could do to stop her from trying to make Vahn love her even more.Seeing through Tamamo's intentions, Artoria just took a slightly deeper breath through her nose before looking toward Vahn and asking, "Will we be returning to the Ivory Castle or moving to deal with Jason?"Understanding why Artoria mentioned returning to the castle, Vahn eyed the predominately white wedding Kimono that Tamamo was wearing. Amaterasu had likely been anticipating his arrival after the previous visit by Shirou, dressing her Bunrei up in preparation for this particular development. It would also make things a lot easier in the future if he 'dealt' with Tamamo before she had the chance to cause any trouble. He knew the effect he had on women, so, while her true nature wouldn't really change, she would measure her future actions with more consideration.Since moments like this were the most suitable for using his ability to read the Flow of Fate, Vahn fell into deep thought for a moment before answering, "The longer we ignore Jason, the more harm he will cause to his surroundings. Even if he is harming people that don't really exist, it's not something I can ignore. We will deal with him before returning to the Ivory Castle. Afterward, I will meet with the remaining Heroes to discuss their replacement members before we return to Avalon. Though this has taken less time than originally anticipated, I've grown somewhat weary of this virtual space."Though she had actually enjoyed being able to spend a considerable amount of alone time with Vahn, Artoria was also in agreement with his words. They both had a lot going on back in Avalon, so, while the last few days had been rather pleasant, it was time for them to return to their other duties. Thus, despite wanting to accompany him everywhere he went, she said, "I will accompany Tamamo to the Ivory Castle. While you deal with Jason, I will educate her on the unwritten rules of the Inner Sanctum. When you are finished, we will be awaiting your arrival..."Vahn was somewhat surprised by Artoria's words, his brows perking up slightly as he asked, "Are you certain?"Without showing any visible hesitation, Artoria nodded her head, explaining, "I'm aware of Jason's history with the original Medea. That makes him your personal enemy, not the enemy of the Empire. I intend to remain at your side into perpetuity, but that does not mean I will interfere with personal matters. You will be able to act with fewer inhibitions if I am not around...from what I know of that man's history, he deserves everything coming to him."Hearing Artoria's words, Vahn was tempted to laugh, but, as it was a matter concerning life and death, it didn't really seem appropriate. Rather, while Jason certainly deserved punishment, it wasn't necessarily his right to met it out. If he took things too far, he would end up accumulating negative karma on behalf of someone who, in the end, wasn't even worth the effort to torment. He couldn't let Medea get involved with this matter, so, unless something unexpected occurred, Vahn intended to deal with Jason swiftly, and, even if he didn't deserve it, cleanly.Though plans rarely survived contact with the enemy, Vahn gave a small nod, both in response to his thoughts and Artoria's intentions. Then, after removing his hand from Tamamo's head, much to the lamentation of the happy fox, he said, "I'll escort the two of you back. Those shadows outside won't be happy that Tamamo is leaving so we'll have to cut a path through. I can break the barrier outside without too much trouble, but I feel it would be a waste to destroy this place completely..."Artoria was slightly surprised by Vahn's words, but, being the entity sealed within, Tamamo balled her hands into fists, excited exclaiming, "Alright! I'm totally gonna cut loose and teach those meanies a lesson!"This time, Vahn didn't try to stop his laughter, ruffling Tamamo's hair as he said, "Sure, feel free to go wild. Just try to avoid damaging the surroundings and dirtying your kimono. It would be a shame to ruin your wedding dress before it can fulfill its purpose..."Hearing Vahn's words, realization donned upon Tamamo's face, followed by a somewhat silly smile as she mused, "Right, right~? Don't worry, Ten'nō-sama, I'll make sure my dress remains pristine and untouched until you get the chance to mess it up, ufufufu~."With her words finished, Tamamo manifested a large mirror from thin air, its edges adorned with eight circular rings while its interior, rather than reflecting a clear image, displayed a scene shrouded in mist, similar to water vapor rising from ice. The surrounding temperature even dropped several degrees, a rather curious phenomenon considering Tamamo was the Bunrei of a Sun Goddess...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn's infinite blessings...','Kimono-waifu secured?','Jason is fucked')(A/N: I'll be out for much of the morning so there may not be another chapter until late in the afternoon. Make sure you're all properly taking care of yourself during these trying times. I know it isn't easy, but I believe we can all make it through this if we stay vigilant...!)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Contrary to what might be expected from the fragmented spirit of a Sun Goddess, Tamamo used a combination of ice and fire elemental manipulation when battling. She was also much faster than a traditional caster, relying on her agility to dark between foes, blasting them with close-range spells or casting long range curses over a large area. This had the effect of significantly reducing the speed of her foes, covering their body in a layer of ice that seemed to penetrate weaker magical defenses with ease.For reasons only Tamamo would know the answer to, the Onmyoji, soldiers, and even the shadowy 'citizens' outside were programmed, not to keep others out, but to keep her trapped within. Though she could break free whenever she wanted, Vahn and Artoria both felt it was a rather strange way for her territory to develop. She had effectively built a prison for herself, indicating that her past, even after hundreds of years, still haunted her.Fortunately, Tamamo seemed to be enjoying herself quite a bit during their short stint to escape the palace and its surrounding barrier. She blasted through the offensive formation the Onmyoji had set to repel her, laughing somewhat maniacally as she rained down large chunks of fire and ice, similar to what you might expect during an apocalyptic scene.Tamamo wasn't known as one of Japan's Three Great Monsters for nothing, and, though she gave off a very different impression than Shuten, it was hard to determine which of them was scarier. After all, despite his intention to preserve the peculiar capital city for future research, Tamamo either forgot or simply didn't care about his intentions. Rather, if not for the fact she was a Divine Spirit, rather than a Servant, Vahn didn't think it would be difficult to convince others she was a Berserker, especially after watching her laugh uninhibitedly while sweeping over the capital like a natural disaster...After Tamamo was 'satisfied' with the destruction she had caused, she darted up to where Vahn and Artoria had been patiently waiting for her to finish venting. Artoria had initially intended to help out, but, seeing how 'indiscriminate' Tamamo's attacks were, she ultimately decided to simply join Vahn as he watched the event play out with a wry smile on his face. He knew it was never a good idea to get in the way of a woman when she was venting, so, with the shadowy figures below being nothing more than modified Attack Programs, he saw no reason to intervene.With a happy smile on her face, Tamamo's ears twitched a few times as she asked, "Shall we be on our way, Ten'nō-sama~? I am eager to see our love nest with my own eyes, ufufufu~."Since her rampage had taken a little longer than expected, Vahn just gave a curt nod in response to Tamamo's question before turning his eyes skyward and saying, "Transfer us to my territory." This earned him a curious look from Tamamo, but, as their surroundings instantly changed following his command, she became more distracted by the massive castle than her previous question.Before Tamamo could wander off, Vahn startled her by gently pinching the tip of her pointed vulpine ears, saying, "You can't wander around on your own while you're here. Everyone gathered below is an important citizen of the Empire. Follow Artoria's lead and make sure you treat them with care and respect."Though she had been originally been intending to go exploring, Tamamo nodded in affirmation to Vahn's words, smiling as she said, "Yes, of course, Ten'nō-sama. I will be on my best behavior; this I can promise you. Now, hurry along to deal with your matter. I will draw a bath and dutifully await your triumphant return to the castle, ufufufu~."After ruffling Tamamo's paradoxically soft yet bristly hair, reminding him a lot of Fenrir, Vahn turned to Artoria, giving her a curt nod as he said, "I'll leave here to you. Don't worry, I won't be too long..."Punctuating his words, Vahn used his mastery of Petting Laws and [Hands of Nirvana] to caress the side of Artoria's face, running his fingers through her fringe bangs. He was tempted to kiss her, but, knowing it would trigger Tamamo, he settled on just resting his forehead against hers, a display of affection he had become quite fond of in recent months...With both girls seeing him off, Vahn turned his eyes skyward and said, "Transport me to Chang'e's territory."Immediately following Vahn's words, his figure disappeared from view, leaving Tamamo and Artoria staring at the spot he had been hovering moments prior. Then, at nearly the exact same moment, they looked toward each other, Tamamo's smile curling up at the sides while Artoria just stared with a contemplative expression on her face. She felt like Tamamo was going to get herself into trouble in the near future, so, in the hopes of mitigating some of the fallout, she said, "Come, there is much for us to discuss. The nature of the Empire is likely very different from what you're imagining, so, if you really want to make an impression on Vahn, you will listen closely."Hearing Artoria's words, Tamamo's ears and tail twitched a few times, but, as Vahn had told her to listen to the petite Empress, she offered a polite smile before saying, "Certainly, Kōgō-sama. Though I believe my own experience will suffice, please, advise me well, ufufu~."---As could be expected from a Goddess, Chang'e's territory was quite the sight to behold, even at a distance. Though not as impactful as Tamamo's capital city, the mountain housing Chang'e's palace had a certain phantasmal quality to it, almost as if it had been pulled directly from a popular Chinese novel depicting Immortal Cultivators. It wasn't something you'd ever find in the natural world, but, in spite of this, it possessed what could only be described as a natural, albeit ephemeral, beauty...Unfortunately, Vahn wasn't afforded much time to take in this natural splendor, as, moments after he was teleported outside the mystical palace, three lightning-fast arrows, each aiming for a vital point, tore through the air. He was able to repel these by simply condensing the space around him, similar to how he would prevent Mordred and others from trying to approach him.Without waiting for a second volley of arrows, Vahn teleported right next to his attacker, stunning the cat-like woman and causing her to perform a series of backflips and other acrobatic maneuvers as she released several bursts of sporadic arrow fire. This was only possible due to the fact Vahn was somewhat unwilling to strike her, as, even if she wasn't real, the fact she looked and acted similar to the Atalanta he knew made it difficult to strike.With a slightly apologetic smile on his face, Vahn easily deflected the false Atalanta's arrows, saying, "You are quick on your feet...however, it is a bit slow compared to the original. It seems Jason can't manifest your powers to their fullest..."As all of her attacks had been swat away without any effort, Atalanta's brows furrowed into a deep frown as she said, "You speak as if you know my original..."Immediately following Atalanta's words, Vahn nodded his head, pulling out a shimmering golden apple as he said, "The wish of your original, it is something I have sworn to realize. Please, do not make me fight you..."Seeing the golden apple in Vahn's hand, Atalanta's face contorted into one of shock and disbelief. Though it was possible he had obtained a different golden apple, the way he spoke indicated he was 'intimately' familiar with her original self. This made her feel a small amount of resentment toward him, but, after several seconds of silence, she was able to recover enough to ask, "Did you cheat...?"Understanding what Atalanta was asking, Vahn shook his head, explaining, "You gifted me this apple, saying I could use it against you if I was willing to accept responsibility. Instead, I defeated you using my own ability, freeing you from the burden you had forced upon yourself. Now, you spend much of your time silently watching over my children, protecting a kind-hearted girl named Astrid, and, when there is a full moon, we all go hunting together...you can be quite competitive..."Hearing Vahn's words, Atalanta lowered her bow, a tired sigh escaping her lips as she muttered, "It is a little unfair, telling me these things..."Vahn didn't disagree with Atalanta's words, but, as it was better than having to fight and defeat one of the people he cared about, he didn't regret his decision. Instead, he pulled out one of the apples grown on Avalon, tossing it over to Atalanta as he said, "For what it's worth...I would have liked to save you as well..."After catching the apple out of the air, Atalanta just snorted in response to Vahn's comment. Then, without sparing him another glance, she alighted from the room, vanishing without a trace...Though it wasn't exactly his fault, seeing Atalanta's retreating figure caused Vahn to harbor a little more hatred toward Jason. Atalanta might not be one of his women, at least not in the 'traditional' way, but that didn't mean he felt nothing for her. It wasn't easy, knowing he was effectively killing a version of her that, to an extent, possessed at least a fragmentary desire to live...As this thought crossed his mind, Vahn turned his gaze to the right, staring toward the lumbering figure that had been observing his actions with a steely gaze. Then, much like how he had dealt with Atalanta, he silently muttered, "Your wife and children are alive..."Immediately following the light utterance, Vahn felt an oppressive aura descend upon him as the man, Heracles, asked, "Is this your scheme? Would you have me believe you have summoned all of the Argonauts, pacifying each of our most earnest desires?"Shaking his head in response, Vahn explained, "That may be something I do in the far future, but not any time soon. You came into my service at the end of the recent Holy Grail War. As for Atalanta, she was summoned by a young lady named Astrid. Other than the two of you, the only other member of the Argonauts I have summoned is Medea, the version of her who had yet to experience the tragedy wrought upon her by Aphrodite and Jason...her aunt, Circe, had been rather insistent..."Hearing Vahn's words, Heracles' expression became solemn and serious. He wasn't foolish enough to believe Vahn's words outright, but, based on what his instincts were telling him, there didn't seem to be a reason for him to lie. It was impossible to know just how vast the difference in their power, but Heracles got the impression that even his original self wouldn't be able to bridge the gap between him and Vahn.While Heracles still seemed to be measuring his options, Vahn slowly extended his hand, offering a [Projection Orb] to the somewhat overbearing demigod. This earned him a pointed glare, but, after saying, "It is an item that records memories as images...determine the truth for yourself.", Heracles ended silently accepting it.Though he was still suspicious, Heracles' grim face visibly relaxed once he saw the images that were being projected onto the adjacent wall. They showed a relatively spacious house near a port, but, far more importantly, he could see several familiar figures, including his own. He seemed to be teaching his sons how to properly moor a small ship, an uncharacteristic smile on his face as Therimachus did his best to emulate several complex knots.Just as Heracles was beginning to wonder where his wife was, he could suddenly hear the voice of another woman asking, "Are you filming them again?", followed by the image changing to show a woman with white hair and red eyes. Then, revealing the truth of the matter, he could hear his wife's voice answer, "I can't help it. These are blessed days. Were it possible, I would capture every single moment of our happiness, preserving them forever. One day, if my husband loses his way, I pray he will find strength in these recorded moments, freeing him from the burdens forced upon him by that vile woman..."Even without asking, Heracles could easily imagine who Megara was talking about, his expression forming an almost indiscernible smile. He still didn't fully believe in Vahn's words, but, even if it was just an illusion, it was a pleasant scene to witness. It was also something he was willing to protect, as, much like Atalanta, he understood the true nature of his current existence.Like all of the Heroes summoned by Jason, he was nothing more than a bastardization of his original self, an incomplete replica derived from the former's memories of him. As a result, he was unable to recall several important events throughout his life, especially if they were memories prior to the time he set sail aboard the Argo. Thus, even if it wasn't real, Heracles felt closer to the images projected onto the wall than any of the ones that had been 'fabricated' as a result of Jason's poor recollection...As this thought crossed his mind, Heracles looked down at Vahn, saying, "I'll going to keep this..." before turning his attention back to the projection. This earned him a silent nod from Vahn, who, understanding the meaning behind Heracles' words, bypassed the mountain-like man, making his way further into the large palatial compound...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Never underestimate an Imperial Courtesan','Poor Atalanta (T ^ T)...','Not all battles need be fought with violence. Understanding is, in many cases, the most powerful weapon. "The most supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting" -Sun Tzu')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1455: Aspirations