Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

While following Danzō deeper and deeper into a complex underground system, Vahn was using his domain and enhanced senses to perform a comprehensive scan of his surroundings. Though there were a number of countermeasures against this, his senses had only ever increased after his arrival in the Nasuverse. Some things were still able to block them, especially if they were related to Innates or higher Tiers, but, here, beneath the Forbidden City, he could spread his senses with relative impunity.Vahn was sometimes tempted to go into a situation completely blind, as it made things slightly more interesting, and, by proxy, more exciting. However, this was only ever an inclination, not something he would ever commit to. He believed there was never a situation when you should arbitrarily look down on your opponent, so, while there were times when he was lackadaisical, Vahn forced himself to overestimate, never underestimate, his enemies. It was better to assume they had some tricks up their sleeve, often in the form of Innates, than assume there was 'nothing' they could do against you.As this thought ran through his mind, Vahn's aura began to gradually increase. This was enough to get Danzō to send him a cautious glance, but, seeing the smile on his face, she continued leading the way in silence. This was only her second time experiencing Vahn's aura up close, but, as she was an entity that prioritized the 'mission' over her life itself, Danzō was able to suffer the burden without showing any discernible discomfort.After being led to a large antechamber, Vahn observed a set of massive double-doors, each set with a golden, four-clawed, Chinese dragon. The doors were approximately nine meters in height, making the two lifelike dragons appear both majestic and intimidating. They were even enchanted to put a fair amount of pressure on anyone who entered the chamber, but, with his own surging outward like an unstoppable tide, Vahn just lightly smiled as he muttered, "I suppose I'm expected to just saunter into the trap...is that right?"Rather than refute his words, Danzō nodded her head in affirmation before forming a seal with her hand and disappearing in a rapidly dispersing cloud of smoke. This left Vahn lightly chuckling, but, as he had already guessed the intentions of the Heroes Faction, he didn't mind playing along. At times, he was rather fond of showing off, so, while it was obvious they had taken this into consideration, he wouldn't be the 'supervillain' people made him out to be if he didn't enjoy a little theatrics.With that thought crossing his mind, Vahn raised his hand towards the massive set of doors, sending an invisible pulse of energy crashing into them. Each was more than a meter thick, largely comprised of enchanted Gold, but, as if they were sheets of paper, Vahn used his telekinesis to crumple them in an instant. This caused a violent and thunderous sound to echo through the area, but, compared to the booming crash that occurred when he sent the pseudo-sphere flying, it was rather tame...Once the echo began to fade away, Vahn made his way slowly into a large chamber that appeared to be around 500m in diameter. The chamber itself was circular in shape, but, located at the very center, a large octagonal arena could be seen suspended above a seemingly bottomless pit. He could sense Space and Time distort within the abyssal depths, indicating it had been constructed in such a way that, if anything fell inside, they would continue falling for eternity.Though Vahn had been admiring the rather complex setup, a light frown replaced his neutral smile as an elderly man, with a white beard nearly reaching his waist, shouted, "Those doors were artifacts that have been passed down for three thousand years! You claim yourself an Emperor, but lack the dignity expected of the title! Do you have any idea where it is you-"Before the surprisingly fair-skinned man could finish his outburst, Vahn appeared before him like a phantom, towering over the elderly figure by nearly twenty centimeters. This caused the man's eyes to widen, but, before he could retract the finger he had been using to point in Vahn's direction, the entire hand seemed to simply 'vanish'. It was only at that point that the man seemed to realize who he had been accusing, his face paling as he instinctually activated a strange technique that allowed him to 'glide' across the floor in an instant.Others might have trouble keeping up with the man's movements, but Vahn's golden eyes followed him with ease. This caused a primal fear to well up within the man's heart, especially when he heard the words, "Wrong choice..." pierce through the void, shaking him to the core.If the man had kowtowed or apologized for his actions, Vahn would have temporarily afforded him a bit of leniency. Instead, the man took evasive action, and, though it was largely the result of muscle memory, the fact he had drawn a shortsword from the jade ring on his finger made him an 'enemy'.Seemingly moving in slow motion, Vahn extended his hand towards the man, who, despite using a high ranking movement technique, now appeared to be stationary. Everyone was able to perceive his movement, but, due to the nature of the Laws, they were unable to take any action as he slowly closed his hand, chaotically twisting the Space around the man so that his arms and legs rotated a total of 720 degrees. This wasn't enough to kill him, but it would leave him thinking twice before he decided to arbitrarily offend an Emperor that had effectively conquered the World...Unable to defend against an attack that directly bent Space around him, the elderly man released a feral-sounding scream, startling his compatriots to the core. Some, specifically those from the same family, had thought to intervene, but, fearing the consequences of doing so, they could only pale as their kin was dropped like a ragdoll after losing consciousness. They were too fearful to even try and confirm his death, waiting until Vahn dully said, "Treat his wounds..." before finally moving.Turning his attention away from the group of ancient men, Vahn matched gazes with Hou Yi, finding the man smiling wryly with an intricate wooden bow in hand.Prior to Vahn's arrival, Hou Yi had made it clear to the Xiantian Elders that they should remain silent and observe. He didn't expect one of them to feel emboldened enough to try and lambast Vahn, but, in hindsight, he realized it was largely their fault for not sending someone to open the doors. Even if he was an 'enemy', Vahn was still an Emperor, so, while they were basically asking him to walk into a trap, dismissing with courtesy was a mistake on their part...Understanding what must be going through Hou Yi's mind, Vahn offered an almost indiscernible hint of a smile before adopting a more serious expression as he said, "We have accepted the challenge of your faction, presenting ourselves out of due consideration. Tell us, Hou Yi, what challenges has your faction concocted to test this Emperor's mettle and might...?"Though Vahn's words contained a certain 'whimsy' to them, the tone he used was forceful enough to cow the majority of Xiantian Elders. Each of his words seemed to pierce through them, straining both body and spirit in equal measure. In Taiji terms, this was a phenomenon known as Spiritual Pressure, but, compared to what they were capable of outputting, it was like comparing a bucket of water to a vast, seemingly infinite, ocean. The weakest among them nearly fell to their knees, but, out of a vain sense of pride, they would rather bleed from their seven orifices than lower themselves to another...Fearing Vahn's presence would cause every member of the Xiantian Elders to collapse, Hou Yi gave a respectful bow before indicating towards the octagonal arena in the center, explaining, "This place is known as the Divine Battlefield of Heavenly Ascendance. It is a totem gifted to Qin Shi Huang by the Jade Emperor, a means by which the Chinese people might ascend to the realm of Divinity in a world absent of Gods..."While he was somewhat interested in the history of the place, Vahn lifted his hand, stating, "We have made arrangements for later today. Though the history of this place intrigues us, the purpose of our visit is to do battle, not make idle conversation. Now, who will be my opponent?"As it actually provided them with a slight advantage by not disclosing the significance of the arena, Hou Yi didn't insist that Vahn remain patient. Rather, he knew the latter was actually just playing the part that had been 'assigned' to him, as, during their past confrontations, Vahn was generally very amicable. He had even visited the Terrestrial Moon Palace on several occasions, staying for tea and conversing on the subject of archery while Chang'e served them both tea.Hou Yi was actually very grateful for everything Vahn had done, but, understand the 'necessity' of the Heroes Faction, he remained a part of it. Thus, even if he felt compelled to make things 'fair' by giving a proper explanation, he ultimately gave an understanding nod before saying, "Very well then. At Your Imperial Majesty's behest, we shall proceed to the main event. Put simply, we would like you to fight against our representative within the Divine Battlefield of Heavenly Ascendance. Should you emerge victoriously, we have prepared a tribute attesting to Your Imperial Majesty's prestige...as for the terms regarding each individual battle, that is for the contestants to decide. Are these terms to your satisfaction?"Going by Hou Yi's words, Vahn speculated there were certain restrictions that would be placed on him during the battles, but, so long as things were kept 'fair', he didn't particularly mind. Thus, after a brief period of contemplation, he nodded his head, stating, "We accept." before vanishing from the viewing platform and reappearing in the arena. He immediately noticed that the Space within began to increase in density, but, compared to what he was used to experiencing during his training, it was almost negligible...As this thought crossed his mind, Vahn heard a voice suddenly resonate through the surroundings, its tone deep and powerful as it stated, "Heaven's Will is Eternal. The Path of Eternity is wrought with Trials and Tribulations. Thou who seeketh to oppose Heaven's Will, prove thine might against those who would bar your passage. Only the Mighty may oppose the Heavens."Immediately following the words, Vahn felt an oppressive force press down on his entire body, much like a mountain attempting to bring him to his knees. At the same time, an Eight Trigrams formation began to light up along the periphery of the arena, powered by the Mana that had been gathered by the Grand Spiritual Gathering Array. He could much of his power being suppressed by the mounting pressure, but, no matter how intense things got, his knees didn't so much as tremble, much less give way.Rather than panic, Vahn showed an expression of mild intrigue as he observed the powerful sealing array. He could tell it was a special seal that affected everyone within the arena, but, while the inside experienced a significant amount of pressure, it also seemed to prevent attacks from the outside. It was structured in such a way that, were you to try and attack from the outside, your attack would be amplified greatly before being thrown back at you with greater speed and intensity.Vahn suspected there was more to the array than met the eye, but, with his first opponent appearing on the opposite side of the arena, he adopted a slight smile as he said, "You know, it's really unfair to me to have you as my first opponent. Does Brynhildr know you are here...?"Before answering, Vahn's opponent pushed up his black-rimmed glasses, icy-blue eyes shimmering as he said, "We told her the battle wasn't until next week..."Restraining the urge to laugh, Vahn's smile curled up at the edges as he pulled out [Lævateinn α], igniting its brackish-flames as he mused, "That makes things a lot easier for me. Now, draw your sword. Show me the power of the King of Warriors...!"Rather than immediately adopt a battle stance, the intellectual-looking man, Sigurd, pushed up his glasses a second time, plainly stated, "We have to set the terms before engaging. If we fight without respecting the conditions set, we will be thrown to the Abyss below..."Feeling like the wind had been taken out of his sails, the flames around [Lævateinn α] extinguished in an instant. Though he managed to maintain a calm expression, Vahn was complaining inside the back of his mind, recalling Hou Yi's words about the 'terms' for each battle. It seemed like he had to make a wager against his opponents, and, depending on the terms agreed to, the Divine Battlefield of Heavenly Ascendance would place even greater restrictions on them...Vahn was never fond of being restrained, but, so long as they didn't try to 'cheat', he was willing to humor them. Thus, after resting [Lævateinn α] on his shoulder, he gave a curt nod, asking, "So? What are your terms? I'm certain you have already thought of something, correct?"Nodding his head in affirmation, Sigurd explained, "Our lives are intrinsically related to Dragon kind. I wish to contend against the might of your complete transformation, contesting it with my own. We will determine which is stronger, my [Dragon Kind Modification: EX], or your full transformation..."Not expecting Sigurd to challenge his Huánglóng transformation from the onset, Vahn felt slightly confused. It was possible they simply intended to overtax his reserves, but, unless he held himself back a considerable amount, the fight would be settled very quickly. Sigurd was certainly powerful, worthy of his title as the King of Warriors, but, compared to the might of the Yellow Dragon, there was a vast disparity between them...Shaking his head, Vahn set the matter aside, deciding to, instead, ask, "So, do we also get to set a condition?"Somewhat surprisingly, Sigurd also shook his head, answering, "Only the challenger has the right to issue a condition. As the person being challenged, you are the representative of Heaven's Will within the Divine Battlefield of Heavenly Ascendance. I do not understand the specifics, but it is designed to allow the strong to refine their skills against opponents that would normally be too weak to prove a challenge..."Hearing Sigurd's explanation, Vahn was tempted to release a heavy sigh, but, instead of complaining, he decided to just humor them for a bit. He could break through the array whenever he pleased, so, rather than shatter it immediately, using the arena for its intended purpose seemed marginally more interesting. Besides, he rarely had the chance to use his Huánglóng form outside of training. This was a rare opportunity, as, more often than not, the battles simply never escalated to that point.Having made his decision, Vahn nodded his head in affirmation. As a result, an invisible forced tried to surge into his body, seemingly with the intent to force his transformation. This caused him a mild amount of annoyance, but, after snorting through his nose and 'shattering' the invasive force, Vahn's body began to rapidly increase in size. Fortunately, the arena had a similar function to the one used during Artoria's and Lorelei's duel, allowing the battlefield to be much larger on the inside than it appeared to be from the outside...After several tense moments, Sigurd found himself staring up at a majestic and, admittedly, terrifying golden dragon. He felt like the Heavens themselves had fallen on him, but, compared to the Xiantian Elders in the stands, he seemed largely unaffected. They had all fallen to their knees, disbelief visible in their expressions as, despite Vahn's appearance resembling a western dragon, it was impossible to ignore the eastern influences in his design. As a result, the most powerful among them gave voice to the thought that was running through all of their minds, shakily stating, "Yellow Dragon Emperor...".(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Knock Knock','Do you know the breadth of the Heavens!?','Well, alrighty then. Maximum no-chill it is...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though his increased size made him a much easier target for skilled foes, Vahn was actually quite fond of his Huánglóng transformation. It always made him feel like an untouchable God, and, while he certainly wasn't immune to damage, the vast majority of attacks couldn't even reach him, much less cause him injury. Thus, in order to make the most of the moment, he did something none in the room expected, laying down on his stomach, crossing his forelimbs, and rhythmically tapping his tail with enough force to cause powerful reverberations through the pillar-like arena.As he had never faced off against Vahn's complete transformation, Sigurd showed a brief hint of surprise in his generally placid expression. Consuming the [Heart of Fafnir] had sealed away the vast majority of his emotions, turning him into a cold, intelligent, and fearless warrior due to his unique Skill, [Crystallized Wisdom]. It granted him such a boon that, if intelligence had been one of the quantifiable Parameters in the Nasuverse, Sigurd's would be very near the peak of what humans, even those descended from Gods, could reach. He wasn't an outlier like Da Vinci and Gozen, but, when it came to decision-making, there was a reason why people called him the King of Warriors...Seeing Vahn adopt a 'passive' stance, Sigurd's [Helm of Fafnir] activated, shrouding his face with an angular and stylish helmet. It, combined with his bodysuit, actually allowed him to survive in virtually any environment, even the vacuum of space. In the past, he had even used it to invade the Mountain where Byrnhildr had been sealed, passing through magically flames cast by none other than Odin, all to save the tragic Valkyrian woman. This wasn't out of love, but, upon seeing her beauty for himself, even the emotionless King of Warriors had been smitten.With no other battle preparations, Sigurd hefted his greatsword, the legendary [Gram]. It was one of the most potent 'Dragon Slaying' Noble Phantasms, capable of even smiting immortal with a curse that rent most defenses useless. It even looked pretty cool, at least in Vahn's opinion, possessing two blades formed of ruby-red crystalline metal, completely devoid of anything like a guard, as, against the kind of foes Sigurd faced, such ornamentations were simply inefficient...Though his Agility was only B-Rank, Sigurd's Parameters were capable of doubling whenever he was facing off against Dragons. He also had a version of [Primordial Rune], given the subclassification of 'Warrior' as he could only use them for enhancing his physique and power. His futuristic armor had these runes engraved into their surface, allowing him to freely regulate their activation with nothing more than a thought.After appearing a few meters away from Vahn's location, Sigurd's body slammed into what appeared to be an invisible wall. His charge actually carried enough force to cause cracks to appear within the void itself, but, with his A+ Rank Endurance, he was entirely unharmed as he quickly recovered, two blazing blue runes on his gauntlets as he struck a vertical blow with [Gram], a wall of ghostly flames erupting into existence as a result.Unfortunately, no matter how many boons he had against Dragons, Sigurd would be hard-pressed to overcome Vahn's mastery of Space and Time. Though it looked like he was just allowing Sigurd to attack freely, he was actually condensing Space to the point it had become a near-indestructible solid. Unless the opponent also had the power to rend Space, approaching within ten meters of his body was all but impossible.Seeing his wall of flames crash into the same invisible force, Sigurd seemed to 'pause' for a very brief moment. In the next, however, his [Gram] shifted from ruby-red to a sapphire-blue, runes flaring to life across its entire length.With his mastery of [Primordial Rune]s, Vahn was able to understand Sigurd's intentions, but, rather than take any countermeasures, he squinted his eyes in intrigue.Not leaving Vahn in suspense, Sigurd drove his sword forward, piercing into the invisible membrane with tremendous force. This caused large spatial cracks to develop, but, despite spreading for several tens of meters, the tip of his blade only pierced thirty centimeters into the compressed Space.Undaunted, the runes in Sigurd's sword began blazing with intense and violent energy, but, instead of exploding outward, it began to condense, forming a physical blade. This was the state of [Gram] when it was fully active, requiring that his opponent be a high-ranking Dragon just to take effect. As a result, the rank of his Noble Phantasm was elevated from A to A++ Rank in an instant, reaching very near the point of the unquantifiable EX-Rank.As if refusing to bow down to a Dragon, [Gram] began to produce a shrill metallic sound as its blade began to slowly increase in length, piercing through the spatial membrane. The previous cracks even began to erupt with blue flames, seemingly produced from the void itself. It was a dazzling sight to behold, but, no matter how impressive an attack appeared, it took more than flare to overcome Time and Space...In exchange for extending his blade's length nearly three meters into the spatial member, Sigurd had destabilized the surrounding Space, specifically near him. As a result, the beautiful blue flames were actually the result of a backlash, the chaotic energies threatening to tear him apart. Spatial fractures were able to completely ignore conventional defenses, so, while his Endurance and armor were both exceptional, pieces of the latter had begun to flake away after cracking violently under the pressure.Vahn was actually impressed with Sigurd's resolute display, as he seemed completely unwilling to back down. However, the last thing he needed was a crazed Valkyrie hunting him down, crying tears of blood as she attempted to avenge her lover. Thus, rather than lay idle as Sigurd tore his body to pieces, Vahn's slowly lifted his body to a seated position, squatting on his disproportionately small hind legs as he puffed out his chest.Following a brilliant glimmering of gold, Vahn spread apart his wings to their full length, seemingly in an instant. As a result, a powerful pulse of energy erupted with him as the epicenter, crashing into Sigurd and launching him like a cannonball several hundred meters. More surprisingly, at least to the Xiantian Elders atop the viewing platform, the arena itself began to crack as sections of the ancient array began to fade.Seeing the incomprehensible display of might, those left standing could no longer resist falling to their feet, their pride shattered in the face of their 'greatest' Ancestor. One man even started crying, behaving as if he was a child trapped in a nightmare instead of a six-hundred-year-old man who had seen the rise and fall of entire Dynasties. This would have normally earned him reproachful remarks from his kinsmen, but, seeing the power displayed by the 'Yellow Dragon Emperor', they were at a complete loss for words...Vahn hadn't actually been intending to destroy the array so early, but, rather than shrink back and reduce his momentum, he felt more emboldened by the destruction. This was one of the downsides to his Huánglóng transformation, even if it was also one of his greatest strengths. The pride of a True Dragon wasn't something that could be discarded easily, and, much like the Divinity of a God, giving in to its influence brought an incredible amount of power.Abiding by his instincts, Vahn began to slowly ascend into the air, his wings spread wide as his rather lithe figure came into view. He took on the form of a western dragon, but, instead of having a figure suited to walking on all-fours, he maintained a vaguely humanoid physique. He actually thought the slender and muscular form complimented his resplendent golden wings quite a bit. Others seemed to agree with this sentiment, as, every time he came to his full height, Vahn could see awe, fear, and reverence in the countenance of all who viewed him...Spreading his arms to the side, further increasing the pressure within the arena, Vahn plainly asked, "Are you satisfied...?" while looking between Sigurd and the 'audience'.Hearing Vahn's address, the Xiantian Elders dared not answer, each bowing low as if preparing to kowtow at a moment's notice. As for Sigurd, he pulled himself free of the far wall, several parts of his armor now missing. He didn't hesitate to jump back into the arena, the blade of his sword growing to nearly ten meters in length as he confidently stated, "I am unconvinced."Following his rather bold claim, runes glowed along Sigurd's greaves, greatly enhancing his Agility and allowing him to bound through the air as if it was solid ground. The upper-half of his helmet had been shattered in the previous collision so it was possible to see the expression in his icy-blue eyes, completely bereft of fear. It was actually rather admirable, but, despite thinking this, Vahn did not hesitate to use his tail to flick the man out of the sky, mid-step.Despite his size, Vahn suffered no reduction in speed whatsoever. Rather, due to his attunement with Space and Time, his relative speed was even faster than his base form. As for his perception, it had been enhanced to the point that, the faster his opponent was, the slower they seemed to move. He was nearing the point where he could even isolate himself from the Time Axis, so, while not on the level of a Spiritron Supercomputer, capable of computing trillions of processes simultaneously, he wasn't far off...This time, when Sigurd emerged from his personalized hole, his left arm had been shattered beyond recognition. He also suffered tremendous internal injuries, but, as if it was someone else's problem, he still managed to lift [Gram] with his right hand, stating, "I am unconvinced..." in an unperturbed tone.Vahn didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Sigurd's obstinance, but, fortunately, he didn't have to talk the man down as Shirou, appearing out of thin air, prevented the machine-like man's charge. He had his arms spread wide, a severe expression on his face as he shouted, "Sigurd, think of Brynhildr! If you die here, you know what she would do!"As if he had only remembered Brynhildr, realization seemed to flicker across Sigurd's eyes. He then gave a curt nod, shouldering his weapon as he answered, "I understand. Sorry."With no other words necessary, Sigurd turned away from Shirou, leaping up to one of the eight large viewing platforms that encircled the arena. There was a teleportation ward that had been set up in the area, allowing them to move between the Forbidden City and their 'Headquarters'. This not only allowed them to 'surprise' Vahn, preventing him from knowing who he was going to be facing, but it also allowed them to quickly retreat to mend their wounds.Seeing the taciturn man run off, Shirou released a tired sigh before turning his attention towards the twelve-meter tall golden Dragon. If you included his tail, Vahn's overall length exceeding twenty-two meters. His thirty-five-meter wingspan made him seem even more majestic and intimidating, almost like a small star that had taken the shape of a dragon. It was almost impossible to even look at him, not simply due to his brilliance, but the fact that his existence seemed to suppress everything else in the vicinity...As Shirou had appeared next to his previous opponent, Vahn was staring down at the white-haired man with a neutral expression on his face. It was actually pretty difficult to be expressive when he was in a dragon state, as even a smile looked like he was baring his fangs, but everyone seemed to somehow understand what he was thinking. Thus, rather than show confusion, Shirou smiled wryly, stating, "I am not your next opponent..."Hearing Shirou's words, Vahn was tempted to snort, but, as he had already grown used to the man's behavior, he decided to simply land on the arena, stating, "Time is a precious commodity, one which is highly sought after, even by those with immense power. We have agreed to face your champions, but that does not mean we will be kept waiting. Make haste, Shirou Emiya."Following his words, Vahn stretched his wings and neck before furling the former and laying back down on the arena floor. He needed to conserve his energy, and, though he could transform back whenever he pleased, the 'restrictions' of the arena seemed to be trying to force him to remain in his Huánglóng form. This is what made him assume they were trying to stall things out, as, if he lacked the ability to break through the array, it was very possible their plan would have been a success.Though he knew Vahn would, despite his words, continue waiting patiently, Shirou also knew it was important to at least give the overbearing Dragon some face. Fortunately, it seemed like he had left Artoria behind, as, when they were together, both were even more overbearing than normal. During their last encounter, Artoria, alone, had severely injured more than half their forces over a perceived slight. It had been a rather disheartening experience, so, while he was slightly saddened to see Vahn alone, Shirou was also grateful that the aptly named 'Dragon God Empress' was not present...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'TFW you go Plus Ultra and the enemy doesn't even have to move...','*Casual tail smack*','Shirou and Vahn have a lot of enmity between each other xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though it was infinitely faster to teleport using Alaya's assistance, Vahn opted to fly whenever he set out for battle. He enjoyed the sensation of the cold air against his skin, the feel of the wind through his hair, and, most importantly, the rising anticipation he could feel welling within. Even if there was a vast disparity between him and his opponents, he couldn't help but get excited every time he set out.Seeing a massive storm on the horizon, a smile spread across Vahn's face as he mused, "I wonder if they prepared any surprises for me..."Following his musings, Vahn accelerated to several times the speed of sound. The golden aura that generally lingered around his body became suffused with a vermillion glow, and, despite the dark black clouds ahead appearing incontestable, he cut through them with tremendous force, waves of energy rippling out to annihilate the building storm in an instant.With clear skies marking his passing, Vahn couldn't help but release an uninhibited laugh, his voice carrying for several thousand meters with ease. Even the people who had been seeking shelter from the storm were able to hear him. Some even went as far as to kowtow, lowering their heads and bodies to the ground as they prayed to various Gods, none of which were him...Though it didn't really bother him, as he hadn't done anything to be worshipped, Vahn felt slightly annoyed whenever he heard people praying to other Gods. This wasn't due to any enmity, however, but, due to the prayers being directed at his actions, he was able to hear their murmurs like hushed whispers in the back of his mind.As there were several thousand people who proactively worshipped him, Vahn had already gotten used to hearing the voices of his believers. Still, it slightly grated on his nerves whenever other Gods were mentioned, as, for one reason or another, their names were a lot louder in his mind than the contents of the prayers themselves. It was as if the World was snitching on the people that attributed his feats to other Gods, allowing him to bestow curses upon them if he was so inclined...Vahn would obviously never go around arbitrarily cursing people, so, while it was mildly annoying to hear the prayers of random people, it did little to spoil his mood. He actually found their ignorance somewhat amusing, giving him a strong urge to descend upon the world just to see the reactions on their faces when they realized who they were praying to...Fortunately, while he was prone to teasing others, this was largely directed towards people he was close to, not random people. He had more important things to do than mess around with a bunch of people minding their own business, so, rather than pay much attention to them, Vahn cut through the atmosphere like a golden meteor, tracking the location of Shirou and the others using the String of Fate.---Averaging around 4,300km/h, Vahn reached his destination in just under two hours. He was a little surprised to see where the strings were directing him, but, guessing there was a reason behind the choice in location, a smile spread across Vahn's face. This would be his fifth battle with the Heroes Faction since their establishment. The previous four battles had all taken place in expansive Bounded Fields, so, while he was certain they had something prepared, it was a welcome change of pace.After considering whether or not he should just 'drop-in', Vahn decided to go with a more subtle approach. He never liked destroying landmarks, something the Heroes Faction was, no doubt, aware of. There was a chance they had prepared the venue for that specific purpose, but, as it didn't really matter, Vahn slowly descended until he encountered an invisible membrane.Feeling the Space attempt to repel him, an amused smile spread across Vahn's lips as his right hand became clad in golden scales. This allowed him to grab the Space itself, ripping a large hole in it, and the invisible barrier.With a degree of ease that would leave most Formation Masters shaken, Vahn forcibly entered the Spiritual Formation that surrounded the Forbidden City. He found the interior even more impressive, as, compared to the rather thin concentration of Mana outside, the inside was several hundred times denser. In fact, it seemed like the Forbidden City had been built atop a leyline, colloquially known as a 'Dragon Vein' to Taiji Practitioners. This allowed them to draw from a functionally infinite supply of Mana, but, as if not content with this amount, the formation maintaining the barrier seemed to draw in everything for several hundred kilometers...Shaking his head, Vahn muttered, "How greedy...instead of trying to nourish the land, they treat it as nourishment for themselves...makes me want to break their little toy..."Though he had been slacking over the last few years, Vahn actually had a considerable amount of experience with arrays and formations. He had recorded the knowledge for tens-of-thousands of books on the subject, so, even at a glance, he could see through the nature of the array being used. It was a type known as a 'Grand Spiritual Gathering Array', a means to concentrate energy from the environment to power more powerful formations. Though powerful, it had far more detriments than merits, and, if not for the leyline providing a functionally infinite supply of energy, the surrounding land would have likely died long ago.Had they been more patient, establishing a 'Five Elements Array' would have been able to achieve a similar result, but, instead of siphoning the vitality of the land, it would have increased it. Though this was a process that would take decades to achieve, the effects would be permanent, allowing various plants and animals to be cultivated within. In fact, while the start-up may take a while, the final result would be far greater, as, with a leyline feeding it, Beijing would have become a Spiritual Land in less than a single generation.Vahn could tell that the people who created the Grand Spiritual Gathering Array were infinitely more concerned about their own progress than the well being of their people. They siphoned the energies that would allow others to grow stronger, refining them into various treasures and pills for their own consumption. To make matters worse, this type of formation was able to siphon Mana, not just from the surroundings, but the plants, animals, and, most problematically, the people.Unless they had the ability to control and regulate their Mana, people would experience a variety of health issues if they were exposed to such an array for a long period of time. Vahn even speculated that the Grand Spiritual Gathering Array was responsible for most of the health issues that had been rather common in Beijing. Most people attributed this to environmental conditions, as China had the highest carbon emissions of any other country, but that didn't seem to be the case now that he was seeing it first hand...Though they weren't in direct violation of the Common Law by taking advantage of the leyline and siphoning Mana from the environment, it was a grievous violation to be stealing it from others. The array had obviously been set up to create some kind of equilibrium with the environment, but, even if that were the case, the effect it had on people was unforgivable...Deciding he would address the matter of the array later, Vahn began to descend towards what he knew to be the 'Palace of Heavenly Purity'. It was the largest of the three halls that represented the Inner Court, the region in which the Emperor and his Officials would have governed the nation. The other two halls were known as the Hall of Union and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, but, with the Strings of Fate pointing towards the double-eaved building in the center, Vahn decided he could always explore the others at a later date.Almost immediately after touching down within the central courtyard, Vahn sensed the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. All sound around him seemed to fade away, and, as if emerging from the void itself, a lithe female figure with sleek-black hair and golden eyes appeared out of nowhere. She was attired in what appeared to be a form-fitting bodysuit that was concealed by a velvety-red, thigh-length kimono. This matched the red scarf that followed her movements like a pair of wings, but, as he was more focused on the tanto aiming towards his neck, Vahn didn't have time to wonder about the peculiarities of its movements...Just as the pitch-black blade attempted to pierce his neck, Vahn's figure vanished from view, his form seeming to disperse into the surroundings. This caused the woman's eyes to sharpen, her spinning in an unnatural motion to reverse her blade as she swept it towards seemingly empty space. In the next moment, Vahn's figure manifested in the new location, but, rather than dodge a second time, he had a slight smile on his face as he caught the blade with his bare hand, saying, "It is good to see you as well, Danzō. I imagine you were sent to escort me...?"Despite nodding her head in affirmation, the woman, none other than the legendary Katō Danzō, twisted her body at an impossible angle, a blade protruding from the tip of her toe as she attempted to strike his temple. Vahn was able to deflect this with his free hand, but, as if it had been her intent to occupy both hands, a compartment in Danzō's abdomen opened, an 'upgrade' from the last time she had attempted to assassinate him.From within the mechanical compartment, several shadow shuriken tore through the air without making a sound, covering the short distance in an instant. Unfortunately, despite the success of the attack, Vahn was left entirely unharmed as, even with the Shadow Element's ability to penetrate both physical and magical defenses, he was immune to most attacks under A-Rank. Unless it was a Light Elemental attack, or another form of purified energy, there was little hope in breaching his defenses through normal means.Seeing her attack fail, Danzō muttered in a cold monotone, "You are tough..." before giving up any resistance. She could still continue fighting, but, as her primary mission was to act as Vahn's escort, going all out was impossible. The only attack she had that could reasonably harm him required she detonate her core, but, as this would result in her death, she could not activate it for fear of failing her mission.After chuckling in response to Danzō's taciturn statement, Vahn returned her tanto while eying her body with an appraising gaze. Though she was a Kunoichi from the Warring States period, her true nature was that of an Artificial Human that, with the exception of her core and brain, was completely mechanical. This allowed her to freely modify and upgrade her components, each concealing deadly weapons that made her a feared, ever-evolving, Assassin.As a craftsman himself, Vahn was very interested in Danzō's masterful design. Not only was she an extremely powerful combatant, classified as a B-Rank Heroic Spirit using Da Vinci's system, but her aesthetic was very pleasing to the eye. At times, he had even been tempted to summon her creators, but, as Kashin Koji and Fuuma Koutarou both had Chaotic*Evil alignments, they didn't seem suited to the task of working alongside the Heroes Faction...Noticing Vahn's gaze, even with her back turned to him, Danzō emotionlessly stated, "Staring...is not polite..."Though Vahn hadn't actually been 'staring' at her, he still offered an apologetic smile in response to her accusation, answering, "Sorry about that. I can't help but be interested in your design. One day, when things have calmed down, I'll introduce you to a masterful Doll Maker. She has developed her craft to the point of being able to emulate humans with 100% accuracy, without sacrificing the perks that come along with being a mechanical life form."Still with her back turned to him, Danzō issued a light hum before surprising him slightly when she said, "Touko Aozaki...we have searched for her...she must be in Avalon...?"Adding a bit of inflection to turn her statement into a question, Danzō turned around to look directly into Vahn's face, seemingly trying to ascertain the truth without requiring a response. Since it wasn't exactly a secret, however, he just smiled and said, "Yes. She has been staying there for close to eight months at this point. You'll need more than A-Rank [Presence Concealment] to break into Avalon, however, so I'd advise against it. Even if you did manage to track her down, she is more than capable of holding her own against a B-Rank Heroic Spirit."Sensing no falsehood in Vahn's words, Danzō showed the briefest hint of a frown on her face before turning around and muttering, "Troublesome..."Hearing her remark, Vahn couldn't help but lightly chuckle, even as a thin, virtually invisible, needle tried to puncture his eye. Danzō didn't enjoy having others laugh at her expense, so, with his habit of teasing 'women' with cold personalities, Vahn had grown accustomed to her sudden assassination attempts, many triggering imperceptibly, even to him.After stowing the sheenless black needle in his Inventory, Vahn decided it was time to stop playing around. He could sense a powerful force resonating through the surrounding Space, and, though it didn't exactly concern him, he still had a face to uphold. There seemed to be a few hundred sings of life in the surrounding area, including more than twenty relatively powerful figures. Thus, while it was certainly fun to tease Danzō, he decided to restrain himself until her next assassination attempt...(A/N: Alternate Titles: '*Casually destroying storm systems*','OnLy ThE cHoSeN cAn OpPoSe ThE hEaVeNs...','A mechanical waifu? Sounds like an Otaku's wet dream...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1481: Terms