Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though they were impossible to distinguish from reality, at a glance, every Marble Phantasm had a few unique qualities depending on the user. In Arceuid's case, her Marble Phantasm made it so that it was always the night of a full moon. As for Artoria's, hers was almost the complete opposite as it was always a comfortable spring day, a world filled with lush greenery and blooming flowers.There were other reasons, but the primary cause for anomalies within a Marble Phantasm was that their users typically had a loose understanding of the Laws. Though they were able to functionally manipulate reality on a whim, the 'structure' of this reality was entirely dependent on their grasp of the changes introduced. This was why, in Vahn's case, he could create a nascent Universe, but, while it appeared much like any other Universe at a glance, the 'scale' was askew. Not only were the planets and stars much smaller than they should be, but, no matter how much time you spent searching, you would never find natural flora and fauna.Due to these traits, Vahn, or, more specifically, Da Vinci, had been able to glean various insights into the true nature of Reality. This included the nature of Divinity itself, which, on the most basic level, served as a means of stabilizing Laws within a given area. For this reason, rather than saying Divinity gave you mastery over the Laws, it was more accurate to say you gained a small amount of Authority over how those Laws functioned within your world.The best method to create a stable Reality, was, in essence, creating or recruiting entities capable of expressing and governing specific Laws. This was the primary purpose of Gods, and, much like he had experienced in Danmachi, it was also the reason for the 'restrictions' placed upon them. If a God didn't serve their 'purpose' adequately, the Laws they governed would become unstable, and, if their Authority had been high enough, they could severely alter, or even destroy, the fabric of Reality itself.To prevent this kind of arbitrary destruction, the most powerful forces within a Record seemed to function more as a 'control' than anything else. They consolidated the greatest amount of power for themselves, and, in order to prevent things from going haywire, they limited how much power the Gods within their World could possess. This was the presumed reason behind the separation of Heaven, Hell, and the Mortal Realm back in Danmachi. As for the Nasuverse, due to its higher tier, the primary regulatory body was the Root System. Beneath that, the very stars and planets in the night sky all represented their own Realms, each possessing Tier 5 Primordial Deities that had the ability to assign, strengthen, and weaken the Divine Authority of entities within their Realm.In the end, Divine Authority basically amounted to 'giving permission' for those within your Realm to make use of specific Laws. This required no comprehension of said Laws, as, regardless of how the Record manifested, the Laws, themselves, were a 'constant'. How they manifested might vary, but, on the most fundamental level, even the strongest beings in the Record were unable to alter the structure of the Laws.When it ultimately came down to it, the most important aspect of governing a Realm was having greater Willpower and focused Intent. You didn't even need a stronger Soul Tier than the beings you ruled over, as, without your 'permission', most of what made a person powerful simply didn't apply with a Realm you had created. After all, a God of Fire would find it very difficult to fight in a world where they no longer governed fire. If their opponent could, literally, turn the world into an ocean around them, that just further complicated things.If he wanted to ensure the success of his plan, Vahn would need several powerful beings at Tiers 4 and 5 under his control. Their presence would serve to stabilize his Realm and ensure it wasn't arbitrarily torn apart by other powerful entities with similar Soul Tiers. Without them, he risked the entire Realm's collapse as forces that opposed his rule, possessing incredible Willpower, refused to be restrained. This would be a very serious issue he would have to face, and, in the end, Vahn knew he would even need to 'tolerate' powerful forces of opposition just to ensure the balance of his Realm was maintained. It seemed a little ridiculous, as he would be the most powerful being in his Realm, but, due to the nature of Reality itself, it was impossible to excise absolute control in a world with free will...In the midst of these thoughts, Vahn was absentmindedly stroking the 'naked' figure of a delicate woman with fair skin, free-flowing white hair, and gem-like eyes. She was languidly sprawled over his body, her back resting against his chest as he caressed up and down her abdomen. She, like Alaya and Tiamat, didn't actually have 'defined' sexual organs. This gave her a somewhat doll-like appearance, but, in spite of this, she, like her sisters, was able to react just like any other woman...As further proof of this peculiarity, Vahn's fingered lightly traced over what would have been the mons pubis of a normal woman, causing a tremble to run through Gaia's body as a small amount of moisture began to flow from between her thighs. There was nothing for it to flow from, but, like a saturated sponge, a fragrant, sweet-smelling, slightly-viscous liquid would ceaselessly flow from between her thighs whenever she was excited.Though she didn't actually require sleep, Gaia's eyelids slowly peeled open as if she was waking from a peaceful slumber. Then, grabbing his hand, still dripping with her sweet nectar, she lazily guided his fingers to her lips, suckling on them without any hesitation. At the same time, from the surroundings, more movement occurred as four more versions of Vahn, each adorned with up to two naked beauties, began waking everyone from their peaceful slumber.While his other bodies were attending to others, Vahn lightly kissed Gaia's shoulder, while, curled up between his thighs, another petite woman with white hair lifted her head before stretching her body rather adorably. This was none other than Illya, and, for reasons only she was fully aware of, she had slept with her face nestled against his sleeping dragon. Her hot breaths had tickled him all evening, and, at one point, she had partially awoken and, much like a sleep-walker, began to dutifully lick and suckle his member as if it was muscle memory...As this memory played across his mind, Vahn and Gaia watched as Illya's eyes darted to his lower body, a slightly predatory look in her eyes before they moved slightly, this time staring between Gaia's thighs with mild temptation visible. Immediately after that, however, she noticed she was being stared at, causing her body to tense up as a heavy flush spread across her face. She hadn't fully awoken, and, while she would adamantly deny it if pressed by others, the truth of the matter was that Illya had always been a closet pervert, even after her fusion with Cath Palug.Moving to a seated position, allowing Gaia's pert and smooth butt to fall into his lap, Vahn carried out the usual ritual of calming Illya down, petting her head and ears until she became docile. This was made considerably easier with the presence of Gaia, as, due to her calming aura, even anger and hatred would fade away, much less embarrassment. The previous night had proved just how 'dangerous' this trait could be, but, despite none of them actually requiring sleep, it also helped everyone to relax and calm down after the 'fun' had come to an end.With drooping ears, closed eyes, and a contented expression on her face, Illya issued a gleeful 'ehehehe~' while enjoying, not just Vahn's caresses, but Gaia's as well. She had fully embraced her identity as a 'Beast of Gaia' at this point, her nature reminiscent of Fenrir whenever she was with her respective Masters. This made Illya seem even cuter than normal, but, due to 'wanting' to appear that way, her size had actually shrunken down slightly. She no longer had the appearance of a woman in her late teens or early twenties. Instead, she had shrunk down to around 153cm, and, though her breasts had completely reverted, they were now 'palm-sized', making her easier to pet and cuddle...While one of his bodies was dealing with Gaia and Illya, another version of Vahn was tending toArtoria alone. Since he had five bodies, three versions of himself had paired off with two people while two versions, by lottery, had tended to just a single person. The fortunate victors had been Artoria and Nero, but, considering they had A+ and EX-Rank Luck, this wasn't too surprising an outcome. As for why there were two versions of himself freed up for a single person, this was due to the fact that Fenrir had spent the night with Spenta, as, regardless of her age, there as no way he would allow the exceptionally innocent Conceptual Entity to participate in such an event...Seeing the rather licentious sight of a full room of naked people, including five versions of her husband, Artoria was in a slight daze as Vahn untangled and fixed her hair. The previous night had been unlike anything she, or any of them, had ever experienced before, so, in stark contrast to her usual vigor, she was completely out of it. This was a combination of her contented feelings and the calming effect Gaia had on everyone in the room, making her feel warm and 'fluffy' on the inside.After sorting her thoughts, Artoria turned to face Vahn, not even bothered to conceal her flawless figure as she softly stated, "This shouldn't repeat too often...if this became the norm, I fear those with weaker wills would become prone to depression. That kind of euphoria is dangerous, even if there are no adverse effects on the body..."Understanding Artoria's concerns, Vahn gave a small nod, answering just as quietly, "I had similar thoughts. Though it would be quite the sight to behold, I understand the dangers of a complete lack of inhibition. We'll only ever do this kind of thing within the confines of the Marble Phantasm, and, even then, in moderation. If there are ever any 'innocents' nearby, it should be avoided at all costs. I feel guilty for Fenrir, but, it terrifies me to imagine what would have happened if someone like Spenta wandered in...haaaa..."Due to the nature of his Divinity and the 'enhancement' provided by Gaia, the sealed chamber had become an area with few, if any, inhibitions. Vahn had been able to maintain a modicum of control, largely in part due to his [Will of the Emperor], but the effects it had on others was 'very' dangerous. Even Artoria had become exceptionally compliant, but, infinitely more troublesome, Vahn had felt very little resistance to 'anything'. He barely avoided having sex with Tiamat, Alaya, and Gaia, and, at one point, Iris had easily convinced him to alter his appearance to the point of being 'dangerously' youthful...When the minds of sapient creatures were in an incredibly relaxed state, they were susceptible to suggestion and manipulation. Though it was possible to resist with adequate Willpower, the effect Gaia had was almost 'inviolable' under the right conditions. As a result, everyone had discarded even the pretense of inhibitions, and, under the influence of his Sex Divinity, the sealed chamber had become a 'Realm' of pure debauchery. If not for Sis and his [Will of the Emperor], there would have been nothing to stop him from ravishing Alaya, Tiamat, and even Gaia.Fortunately, Gaia seemed to respect his intentions, so, when things got especially dangerous, her aura was ultimately what allowed everyone to calm down. She had been unaffected by the state she had helped to induce, allowing her to serve as the 'voice of reason' when everyone else was almost wholly focused on experiencing new pleasures. Had this not been the case, things would have gotten even further out of hand, potentially endangering all of Vahn's plans, forcing him to remain in the Nasuverse much longer than intended...After looking around the room, making eye contact with his other selves, Vahn took advantage of the fact Artoria was still facing him, stealing a relatively tame kiss before saying, "We should take a bath. It feels like my body is covered in something and I don't even sweat..."Though he didn't intend to make her embarrassed, Artoria lightly blushed in response to Vahn's words. She knew exactly why he was 'dirty', and, remembering the previous night, it caused her face to quickly transition through various shades of red before she ultimately nodded and said, "I agree. I'll have everyone use the bathhouse on the western side. You should go to the east before checking on Fenrir and Spenta. Even though Arcueid sealed off this space, I can't help but feel a little worried about them."Had he not already confirmed they were unaffected by the previous incident, Vahn would have shared Artoria's concerns. Still, he knew it was important to check on them personally, and, out of consideration for the fact she had missed out on a rather significant event, Vahn was intending to pamper Fenrir all day. He would acquiesce to all of her demands, but, knowing her, this meant he would probably spend the entire day just lounging about in his Vanargandr form.Fenrir was extremely sensitive to his mental state so she would be able to sense how overtaxed his mind and spirit were from the previous evening. Though it was somewhat shameful for him to admit, Vahn needed the unique peace of mind she brought in order to recover. It would be very dangerous if he became accustomed to the level of pleasure he experienced the previous night, both for himself and others.Vahn primarily focused on the emotional connection that was formed whenever he had sex with others, but, due to a complete lack of inhibitions, he ended up 'enjoying' the pleasurable aspect a lot more than was healthy. He already had more sex than most people could even comprehend so it would be disastrous if he became 'addicted'. It was important to have some kind of restraint, as, without them, there were no limits to how base and animalistic people could become. Carnal pleasures were a dangerous thing, and, if Arcueid hadn't properly sealed the chamber, even the innocent Spenta might not have been spared his greedy claws...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn affirmed his belief that everything should be done with proper respect for moderation. Spenta might 'technically' be safe, but, after crossing that line, his self-respect would be lost. From there, very few things would be 'off-limits', and, if this became a common event, there was even a chance his own children and students could get wrapped up in the event. Everything would rapidly spiral out of control, and, by the time he met up with Eva and began trying to link the Records, he would have become unrecognizable from his past self...the man who had won the respect, admiration, and love of countless people...Imagining a version of himself with a seemingly limitless harem that had no boundaries, Vahn felt a shudder run through his body. For a brief moment, the version of Lenneth from the Divination appeared within his mind, her eyes turned up at him as she eagerly attempted to satisfy both of their sexual urges. This had terrified him in the past, rightfully so, and, while he was willing to make exceptions for those like Mordred, Vahn would be a complete failure as a parent if he had no inhibitions toward his own children.With his mind made up, Vahn didn't even need to explain his intentions as Sis dutifully answered, (*It is done.*) in a calming voice. Immediately afterward, he felt his senses dull slightly as his aura and domain became marginally weaker. This caused everyone in the room to shift their gazes to him, but it was Gaia who asked, "Why...?"Understanding her confusion, Vahn lightly pats Gaia's hair, flattening her myriad of ahoge as he explained, "There is no use in having a power that endangers the people I care about. It was very useful, but I'm more than capable of taking care of my women without such a crutch. There is far greater meaning in spending time learning about your partner, growing alongside one another as your love blossoms into something greater. You may struggle to understand it right now, but I will help you to understand the meaning behind these words in the future..."Towards the end of his words, Vahn firmly embraced Gaia's body, understanding why she would be a little upset. After all, he had just discarded the Divine Authority she had bestowed upon him without any forewarning. This was similar to throwing away the gift of someone who, very rarely, handed out presents. She had every right to be a little upset, but, if it meant he could protect the things he cared about, there was no part of himself that Vahn wasn't willing to throw away...even his Divinity.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Balance in all things','Debauchery Tea Party','Sacrificing everything for power is a sign of weakness. Sacrificing power for everything else is a sign of strength. Power can be easily quantified and expressed. Character Growth, however, is EX-Rank by default')(A/N: Update. Still feeling sick, but much better than yesterday.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the loss of his Sex Divinity, Vahn felt as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He hadn't lost any of his 'prowess', but, compared to before, he now had to put more effort and focus into his partner's needs. Fortunately, he knew most of their bodies even better than they did, so, while he lost the ability to instinctively sense when they were in the mood, satisfying them wasn't a difficult matter. Rather, things had become even more intimate than before, as, rather than letting his Divinity help guide his actions, he had to default to closely observing them.Prior to obtaining his Divinity, Vahn had always closely monitored the state of his partner, using his wealth of experience to determine the best course of action. He couldn't always know exactly how they wanted to be treated, but, in a way, making mistakes and learning made the experience far more interesting. Things became more experimental, fresh, and, as a result, his partners had also become a lot more 'honest'. They now directly conveyed what they wanted, sometimes far more vocally than he would have expected...A stark contrast to her usual 'motherly' appearance, the current Iris was wearing an extremely skimpy outfit form from a malleable material that easily clung to the skin. With a set of golden horns on her head and a whip-like tail that came to an end in a heart shape, she matched what many believed a Succubus should look like. She even had the physique to match, complete with large breasts, a pliable butt, thick thighs, and a thin layer of subcutaneous fat that made her entire body soft and slightly squishy.Though she was normally a very reserved woman, with a slight propensity for teasing others, the current Iris was skillfully dancing atop Vahn's waist, a lascivious look in her ruby-red eyes as she sonorously intoned, "Ah...that's good~! Hit that spot again...! Nnn...I can feel you stretching out my insides...ufufufu, you're going to ruin my body at this rate~."Despite her words, Iris was happily bouncing her hips with enough force to cause loud smacking sounds to echo throughout the room. This was one of the few times she had ever gotten Vahn to herself, so, compared to her usual self, she was a little 'too eager'. As for where she got the outfit, it was, of course, one of Da Vinci's inventions. She had modified a few of the [REquip] systems to function similarly to faux Divine Raiments, allowing a host of unique outfits to be produced based almost entirely on a person's thoughts and feelings.Manifesting even a 'false' Divine Raiment required a significant amount of Mana, but, with a body produced by Vahn and the ability to harness functionally infinite energy from the planet itself, Iris had little trouble maintaining a host of 'interesting' outfits. In the past, she had even produced a version that allowed her to emulate some of Illya's bestial traits, creating a dangerous 'gap' that left a very deep impression in Vahn's memory. He could still remember the scene of her pinning down Illya as she waggled her butt towards him, an eager and inviting look in her eyes that left no room for discussion...With his fingers sinking into her fleshy butt, Vahn bucked Iris with enough force to send a visible ripple through her body. This also propelled her forward, causing her voluminous breasts to press into him as she intoned an amused, "Oh my~." before extending her tongue to greet his. Then, as their tongues continued to intertwine, Vahn continued for rhythmically 'pound' from below, using the durable springs of the mattress to maintain a steady pace while using his hands to prevent her hips from bouncing too far.In the end, Iris' toes began to curl as she tightly hugged his neck and whispered heatedly in his ear, "You can feel it, right~? My womb has descended, begging for your seed. Fill me up until I'm bursting, ufufufu~."Though she couldn't get pregnant unless they both wanted a child, Iris had become somewhat addicted to 'creampies'. Rather, all of the women who had the ability to absorb and convert mana were rather fond of feeling their insides stretch due to his voluminous release. It not only brought them to a peak of pleasure most couldn't even fathom, but it also provided a marginal increase to their power while helping to restore their stamina.As he had developed the habit of almost always cumming inside, Vahn didn't hesitate at all when he heard Iris's words, grunting as he said, "Take it...!"Immediately following his words, Iris arched her back into a seated position, eyes squinted shut as she shouted, "Aaaaahn, I can feel it! It's erupting inside me~!" at the top of her lungs. Her change in position also caused her to be seated flush against his lap, 'sealing' his semen inside of her and causing her lower abdomen to bloat slightly. When the pressure finally reached beyond a certain threshold, a 'pa' sound could be heard, followed by a considerable amount of heat and moisture covering Vahn's inner thighs...With a distant look in her eyes, Iris continued to sit on his lap for more than a minute, her mouth slightly agape as a small amount of drool flowed from the side. She had a similar appearance to someone who had a little too much to drink, her face suffused with a ruddy hue and an apparent lack of awareness as a powerful tremor ran through her body. Then, just as the echoes began to fade away, she looked down at Vahn was heavily glazed eyes, smiling seductively as she said, "It's a shame I can't keep you to myself..."Though he knew she was just playing around, Vahn lightly smacked Iris' butt, causing a girlish moan to emit from her throat. Then, before she could convince him to continue, Vahn couldn't help but grin as he remarked, "Rather than becoming more honest, I'd say you're becoming more greedy. That Succubus outfit suits you a little too well...it's a shame, really, but we'll have to wrap things up here. It's already been close to eleven hours. We're supposed to be leaving today, so we'll have to continue where we left off at a later date."After finishing his statement, Vahn gave Iris' butt another firm smack, causing another sonorous moan to escape her throat before musing, "You're a big, mean, bully...". Immediately afterward, however, she leaned down, tightly hugging his neck and giving him a long and passionate kiss. Then, before separating, she licked the tip of his nose, adding, "I still love you though~."Finding her words satisfying, Vahn couldn't help but release a somewhat boisterous laugh before 'surprising' Iris as he raised his body so that they were seated hugging each other. Then, despite his earlier words, he decided to take her for another round, this time taking it nice and slow as the two kissed each other passionately for an additional half-hour...---While four of his bodies were making the most of the remaining time in the Marble Phantasm, the 'prime' Vahn was walking backward, holding Gaia's hands as she took faltering steps forward. She could already walk unaided, but, if she tried to move too quickly, her feet would get wrapped up in themselves. This became even more prominent when he separated from her, causing her to fall over almost immediately, but that wasn't entirely unexpected.Gaia had spent several millennia as little more than an incorporeal Spirit, and, even now, she had a fair amount of inhibitions toward maintaining a physical form. She saw herself as vulnerable and exceptionally weak, so, despite having an indestructible body with limitless physical potential, her countenance and physique matched her self-perception. It was so bad that, if someone else tried to help her walk, she wouldn't even be able to stand, much less move forward...The most paradoxical thing about Gaia's state was that, if she really wanted to, ignoring things like gravity was well within her power. She should be able to fly around freely, phase through objects, and even manifest her body wherever she wanted. These were things she was well aware of, but, due to her mental blocks, simply maintaining a physical body was already pushing her limits.Optimistically speaking, it would take several months for Gaia to complete the first phase of her physical rehabilitation. As for her mental rehab, that would undoubtedly take several years, if not considerably longer. Fortunately, time was something they had plenty of, so, while it would be a mild inconvenience, Vahn was willing to stay by her side until she was ready to walk on her own. It was, truthfully, the least he could do for someone who would remain at his side for millions, if not billions, of years...After a few minutes of sustained walking, Gaia's face had formed into a strained pout, her fair complexion turning slightly pale as she struggled to keep pace with his greater gait. She was not able to experience fatigue in the same way as normal people, but, just as he was able to overtax his mind and spirit, so too was Gaia. Thus, despite having the physical strength to continue, Gaia ended up tripping forward, falling into Vahn's waiting arms with tears building up in the corners of her eyes as she muttered, "I'm sorry..."Shaking his head, Vahn performed the usual ritual of combing his fingers through Gaia's hair as he whispered, "Shhhh...You're doing fine. That was thirteen more steps than your previous record. We have plenty of time for your rehabilitation so keep your head up high and continue trying your best. You are a lot cuter when you smile..."Though it wasn't immediate, Gaia forced a smile on her face, but, if you looked into her gem-like eyes, it was possible to see the sadness contained within. She was actually pushing herself quite a bit, but, no matter how much hard she tried, her body just ignored her. The only time it seemed to completely obey her was when she was doing 'naughty' things with her Master. His presence had a calming effect on her body, so, when they were closer together, she felt safe, secure, and, to a greater extent, 'whole'.After resting in her Master's arms for a few minutes, Gaia felt like strength had slowly returned to her body. She could feel his mysterious energy spread through her vessel like a nourishing wave, qualitatively increasing the purity of her own. This was something that excited her quite a bit, and, even without 'orders' to collect it, she would have happily done so. If she wasn't afraid it would be an inconvenience to him, she would have liked to emulate her 'sister', latching onto his body and just suckling his nourishing energy until the last stars burned out in the night sky...Feeling Gaia spontaneously bite his tunic, gently sucking the piece of fabric with her eyes closed, Vahn had to forcibly restrain himself. She had developed a suckling habit over the last thirty days, and, at times, got a little carried away due to her curiosity. He found this incredibly adorable and highly endearing, but, as it could quickly become a problem in her 'adult' form, he lightly tapped her back, breaking her out of the momentary reverie she had fallen into.Realizing what she had been doing, evidenced by a small stain on her Master's tunic, Gaia's face became slightly red as she fumbled for words. Before she was able to, however, he lightly tickled the underside of her chin, smiling as he said, "If you can make it to a thousand steps, I'll allow you to ride on my shoulder, at least for a short while."Hearing her Master's words, Gaia's body spontaneously shrunk until she was roughly 40cm tall. At the same time, her features became closer to those of a Companion, albeit one with several fluffy, three pronounced ahoge, and large, ruby-red, eyes. She had 'learned' this from observing Alaya, and, while she was still unable to walk around on her own, she was able to easily cling to his body like a powerful magnet whenever she transformed...Seeing Gaia shrink down, Vahn wasn't actually all that surprised. She had very little control over her body, so, when she got excited, her form changed to reflect her desires. This had caused her a considerable amount of embarrassment, as, even when she tried to control herself, her clothes would become increasingly transparent, eventually 'fading' from existence. She would also grow the features of her sisters whenever they were being stimulated, a trait that was as adorable as it was 'tantalizing'.Rather than force her to change back, Vahn unequipped his tunic, hugging Gaia to his body as he said, "You can have a little. Afterward, you'll 'have' to get one-thousand steps, though. If not, we'll be soaking in the bath while everyone else is having fun. Rewards are supposed to follow success, so you'll have to work extra hard during your next attempt. Okay?"As it was hard to calm down when her Master's exposed shoulder was right in front of her face, Gaia obediently listened to his words before readily nodding her head. Then, without a word, she opened her mouth to reveal rows of pearl-white teeth and a ruby-red tongue. They were normal at first, but, as she moved her mouth close to his neck, they immediately transitioned into sharper canines, sinking into his flesh without any resistance before forming a seal and sucking his blood rather greedily...---Immediately after her 'sister' began sucking their Master's blood, Alaya's expression formed into a small frown. She then began eyeing him like a predator eying its prey, earning a light chuckle from Vahn and a confused tilt of the head from Tiamat. At the same time, Arcueid and Fenrir gave him curious glances, leading Vahn to explain, "I'm giving Gaia a small incentive, " before turning his attention back to Alaya and adding, "Don't be jealous. You have received a number of benefits due to Gaia's influence. There will be plenty of time for you to drain my energy in the future."Though she wanted to refute on principle, Alaya knew there was undeniable truth within her Master's words. The last thirty days had greatly exceeded preliminary expectations, so much so that it made her second-guess her past behavior. Now, she was even seated around a circular table, listening attentively as her Master conversed with others. Every now and then, she would even chime in of her own volition, something she never would have even considered in the past...Understanding what Alaya must be thinking, Vahn gave a small nod, further stating, "We'll be leaving pretty soon to allow others to rotate in. There will be plenty of time for you to reap even greater rewards. For now, let us enjoy these last few moments. Is it such a bad thing, enjoying tea with your companions...?"Alaya couldn't help but frown in response to her Master's words, but, rather than try to argue, she turned her attention to the contents of her cup. She, like everyone else at the table, was provided with a very special type of tea, sweetened with cubes crystallized from her Master's blood. It was significantly less satisfying than consuming his blood directly, but, prior to her sister being given the opportunity, Alaya had actually thought she was quite fortunate...After considering her response for several moments in real-time, Alaya looked between Fenrir, Arcueid, and Tiamat before staring back at her Master and answering, "Master is correct...forgive me. I did not mean to cause a commotion..."As the past Alaya would never compromise, much less apologize, Vahn smiled widely in response to her uncharacteristic words. She had made considerable progress over the last thirty days, and, though there was often a lack of sincerity behind her words, it was much better than before. There was even a chance, that, by the time Gaia's rehabilitation was over, Alaya would have, at the very least, started to break out of her shell. Thus, with a satisfied smile on his face, he playfully winked at her, saying, "Good girl..." in a teasing, yet affectionate, tone.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Iris is a carnivorous woman o_o...','Must be hard to rehab when you 'don't even want to exist'...','Meanwhile, Tiamat is sitting at the side, eating the entire cup...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With three of the most powerful beings on the planet, including the planet itself, in tow, Vahn exited Tiamat's Marble Phantasm. The others, including Artoria, Arcueid, Illya, Iris, Nero, Fenrir, and, of course, Spenta, were already waiting for them outside, eager to both assist in Gaia's rehabilitation and spend more time together.In actuality, nearly every member of the Inner Sanctum had volunteered to enter Arcueid's Marble Phantasm, but, as that would unnecessarily complicate things, it was decided to split everyone up into smaller groups. This would prevent Gaia from feeling overwhelmed, and, to a lesser extent, it would also ensure everyone was able to make the most of the experience. If there were too many people at once, Vahn wouldn't be able to properly attend each of them, so, with the exception of Spenta and Arcueid, he limited the number of attendees to five.Upon seeing Gaia for the first time, nearly everyone present was dumbfounded by her presence alone. The only exceptions to this were Arcueid and Illya, the former feeling as though she had known Gaia her entire life. As for Illya, she had become a Beast of Gaia after her fusion with Cath Palug, so, rather than awe, she seemed nearly as excited as when he showed up unannounced, causing her to quickly run up and exclaim, "Wow, she is quite adorable, isn't she!?"Against expectations, Gaia didn't show any apprehension towards Illya in the slightest, a small smile spreading across her face as she inexplicably extended her hand. This caused Illya's pupils to contract slightly, her smile becoming more pronounced as she unhesitantly allowed Gaia to gently caress her head. While this was going on, everyone observed with a mixture of reactions, many showing expressions of amusement while others were still awed by Gaia's aura.While Gaia was still petting Illya's head, Vahn relaxedly announced, "We will handle introductions once we're inside. Arcueid, please go ahead and activate your Marble Phantasm."Hearing Vahn's words, Arcueid blinked back into focus, smiling radiantly as she said, "Of course, " before bringing her hands together and causing a 'pulse' to spread through the area. In the next moment, they were all within her personal world, a near-perfect replica of Gaia, albeit without any humans.Though others might not have noticed it, Vahn could feel Gaia relax considerably once they had entered into Arcueid's Marble Phantasm. She then began to look around, a curious glimmer in her ruby red eyes as she gazed towards everyone in turn before stopping when she got to Fenrir.Seeing Gaia's gaze stop on her, Fenrir pointed toward herself, an amicable smile on her face as she said, "Fenrir. I am of Master's trusted companions. One day, I will also be the strongest. I may be weak right now, but I will do my best to protect you."Smiling in response to Fenrir's introduction, Gaia softly chimed, "I know you...I know all of you...I have been watching...for a long time...thank you...Master's precious people...my children..."Hearing Gaia suddenly refer to them as her children, nearly everyone present felt a great deal of warmth spread through their bodies. It was a feeling similar to hearing your actual parent express their love after being apart for a long period of time. As a result, they could feel a stinging feeling in their noses, and, though nobody outright cried, the sentiments were still there...Seeing how things were developing, Vahn's concerns rapidly faded away. He didn't expect any major issues, especially with Gaia's calming aura, but it was still a relief to see how fond everyone had become of her. This was good for a number of reasons, as, not only would it greatly reduce the time it took for Gaia's rehabilitation, but, equally as important, it would undoubtedly leave a deep impression on Tiamat and Alaya.Tiamat was still very childish and innocent so it would be good for her to interact with others in a controlled environment. As for Alaya, she was often cold and distant towards everyone, but, after seeing how quickly Gaia was accepted, Vahn was hoping she would mellow out. Even if she only got along with those present, it would be a marked improvement compared to the past...As a plan began to formulate in his mind, Vahn looked toward Arcueid once again, saying, "We'll be here for a month, at the very least. Can you create a pavilion for us to rest in?"With the ability to freely manipulate reality within her Marble Phantasm, Arcueid didn't hesitate to nod her head, asking, "How many rooms?" as a glowing white sphere manifested in her hands. If you looked closely, the interior depicted the surrounding landscape, albeit with small grid lines and spatial coordinates. Closer inspection would even reveal their group itself, standing idly in the middle of a verdant plain...After briefly considering Arcueid's question, Vahn stated, "Something simple will be fine, for the time being. I will have to trouble you with constructing additional facilities later, but, before that, I propose we enjoy tea and snacks while getting to know each other better. I intend to maintain up to five bodies while we're inside, so we'll work out the finer details once everyone is more familiar with each other."The moment Vahn finished speaking, Arcueid gave a small nod before focusing on the sphere in her hands. Then, seemingly formed from 'nothing', a fully furnished Japanese-style pavilion came into existence with them standing in the central courtyard. There was even a small pond and a zen garden with three large stones surrounded by soft sand.As nearly everyone present could produce grand structures in a short period of time, there wasn't even a hint of surprise on any of their faces. Even Fenrir had developed an 'ultimate' Magic called 'Dominion of Eternal Ice', allowing her to create a palatial structure formed entirely from Yin, Ice, and Darkness Elemental Energies. It took nearly all of her Mana to do so, but, so long as it existed, she would quickly be able to recover while simultaneously reducing the speed of, and ultimately freezing, her opponents.Satisfied with Arcueid's choice, Vahn gave an approving nod, saying, "Thank you, Arcueid. You're amazing, as always."Though she had already been smiling, Arcueid's expression blossomed into a radiant expression upon hearing Vahn's remark. It always made her happy to be complimented and, after spending a few years together, her feelings for him had only compounded. If he wasn't holding onto Gaia, only Artoria would have been able to stop her from pouncing on him in glee...Sensing the shift in Arcueid's mental state, Vahn had to resist smiling wryly, both as a result of her overwhelming emotions and the looks he was receiving from everyone else. Fortunately, they had all gathered for a specific purpose so, before things could get out of hand, he said, "Come. Let us head inside. Also, feel free to change into something more comfortable. Though we are gathered to aid Gaia's rehabilitation, this is also an opportunity for us to strengthen our bonds. For the time being, everyone should relax and enjoy this next month to the fullest. If you feel the need to train, focus on mental development. No fighting."Hearing Vahn's words, Artoria, Fenrir, and Illya appeared as though they had received some kind of mental attack. They had developed the habit of training to an incessant degree, never skipping a single day unless something important was going on. It would be difficult for them to just sit still, for a month, but, as he was intending to maintain five bodies, Vahn wasn't worried they would get stressed out...---Meeting expectations, things within the Marble Phantasm preceded without incident. Gaia was surprisingly open to engaging with the others, and, though she would become anxious when he wasn't in the same room, she still did her best. It was actually rather inspiring, leaving a positive impression on everyone that interacted with her.Due to her calming aura, Gaia was even more effective than Spenta at giving people peace of mind. Just seeing her seemed to cause negative emotions to fade away, causing a strange feeling of 'relief' the moment you walked into the same room as her. This was different from Spenta, who, despite having a calming aura, generally relied on direct contact. As for Gaia, it was actually very difficult to approach within a few meters of her, causing anyone who ventured too close to feel a rising concern, almost as if they were approaching an extremely fragile object.Unless Vahn was holding onto her, it was absolutely impossible to approach Gaia without her expressly allowing it. This seemed to be a kind of failsafe to prevent any harm from coming to her, as, depending on the circumstances, her 'death' also meant all life on the planet would slowly die. As a result, she could purge malicious intentions, and, if the person approaching her had any kind of 'negative' energy, it would be purified almost immediately.He obviously wouldn't test it, but Vahn assumed that Gaia's 'barrier' was an exponentially more powerful version of Fafnir's Innate. She wasn't able to protect herself, but, even if you attacked her with an EX-Rank Noble Phantasm, it would simply 'disperse' the moment it came into contact with the invisible field surrounding her. It even dwarfed Artoria's [Avalon] in power, but, considering Avalon was just a small part of Gaia's existence, it wasn't all that surprising that she had the more powerful version.The only 'people' able to approach Gaia freely, with the obvious exception of Vahn, were Tiamat, Alaya, and, as could be expected, Illya. They were functionally incapable of even thinking about trying to harm her, and, in the case of Illya, she had basically become an obedient pet. This was largely due to the influence of Cath Palug, but, as Illya was still aware of her actions, it wasn't too much an issue. Rather, it was an excuse for her to cuddle with 'both' of her Masters at the same time, a benefit unique to her.Far more troublesome than Illya's shift in behavior was the fact that Fenrir, despite a concerted effort, was simply unable to get anywhere near Gaia. She harbored no malicious intentions, but, due to her affinity with Yin and Darkness, it would cause her considerable pain if she attempted to violate the invisible domain of protection around the delicate Mother Goddess. This made Gaia herself extremely apologetic, but, with Fenrir's insistence she had done no wrong, the two were still able to converse cordially from a distance.Though it was largely conjecture, Vahn speculated that the 'actual' reason behind Fenrir's inability to approach Gaia was the existence of her [Devour] Innate. While others would struggle to do any real harm to Gaia, Fenrir's Innate even allowed her to convert Source Energy more efficiently than any other. She was also able to devour anything she was able to comprehend, so, while there was a vast disparity in power between her and Gaia, Fenrir's Innate was actually 'very' effective against the former. After all, she understood Gaia's 'true nature' as the planet itself, something she could 'easily' devour if she devoted herself to the task.Innates were heavily influenced by a person's perception and comprehension, so, while Fenrir would struggle to devour more abstract Laws, even 'indestructible' objects were subject to her power. The only things that were 'immune' to her ability were things she was convinced she could not devour. In her mind, the only thing she 'absolutely could not devour' was her Master. While she would never proactively bare her fangs towards allies, Fenrir always carried the notion that allies could, one day, turn into enemies. If that happened, she had already made the resolution to do whatever it took to defeat them, even if it meant destroying them completely.Fenrir's Loyalty was, simultaneously, her greatest strength and greatest weakness. It left gaps in her mentality that could be exploited by clever foes, and, if she was feeling lonely, her emotional state would quickly diminish over time. She had made significant progress since her creation, but, no matter how much time passed, she was always happiest when she was with her Master. Even a few days apart would begin to make her feel sad, and, if several weeks or months passed, she was susceptible to mood swings and bouts of depression.Fortunately, with Unit Management, Vahn could easily summon Fenrir to his side in an instant. This would only work if they were in the same Record, but, as it would take exceptional circumstances for them to, somehow, end up in different worlds, this wasn't a major concern. As for them being apart in other ways, that, too, wasn't really a problem, as, no matter how much time passed, Vahn was still reliant on Fenrir's presence. She was one of the 'constants' in his life, so, if they were apart for too long, she wouldn't even need to seek him out; he would go to her.The 'biggest' issue within the Marble Phantasm wasn't Fenrir's inability to approach Gaia. Rather, it was the intimacy he shared with everyone else. It quickly came to light that Gaia shared senses with both Tiamat and Alaya. She had also born witness to every moment in human history from its inception, including every moment of intimacy and tragedy that had ever taken place. As a result, she had always been apathetic to such interactions, but, now that she had a body, she expressed an unexpected eagerness to 'experience' such things herself.Vahn knew Gaia was undoubtedly being influenced by Akasha, but, compared to Alaya, it was a lot harder to refuse her sincerity. When she had first made it known that she shared senses with her 'sisters', Vahn had been hugging her gently from behind as they conversed with Fenrir. Her face had become gradually more flushed, and, just as he was fondling Alaya's tail, a small moan had escaped her lips, followed by a tail spontaneously sprouting from her lower back.Though she appeared delicate and fragile, to the point it was hard to even formulate uncouthly thoughts, Gaia's 'knowledge' was unparalleled. She still appeared exceptionally innocent, but, unless he intended to stop spending time with Tiamat and Alaya, Vahn was in a difficult position where he couldn't actually refuse her curiosity. She wanted to be touched directly, and, with his interactions with the others being well known to her, to the point she could describe them with perfect clarity, it was hard to tell her she 'wasn't ready' for such things...This was one of the problems with exceptionally ancient beings, as, despite her looks, Gaia had actually 'birthed' hundreds of Gods, Goddesses, and thousands of other species. She was, quite literally, the 'Primordial Goddess of Earth', the 'Mother of All Terrestrial Lifeforms'. Even his own Sex Divinity was an authority he borrowed from her, something she admitted to 'bestowing' him after personally acknowledging his prowess.Vahn had always known that his Divinity was tied to the planet, but, hearing Gaia mention she had 'given' it to him, he couldn't help but feel a little shaken. He knew that both she and Alaya had an exceptional degree of Omniscience, but, it was hard to rationalize just how much they knew until they began dropping bombshells.In Alaya's case, she was unable to peek into Bounded Fields, but, when it came to Gaia, she was aware of 'everything' that had ever taken place on her body from the moment she first became aware. One of the only exceptions to this was ORT's Marble Phantasm, as, despite existing on the Surface, it altered reality to create a completely 'alien' environment, a place where Gaia and Alaya had no authority.Fortunately, while Gaia was apparently aware of everything that had taken place within Artoria's, Arcueid's, Illya's, Aoko's, and Tiamat's Marble Phantasms, she was unaware of anything that took place within Space-Time Orbs. She also didn't know about anything that had taken place inside of the [Virtual Reality Marble]s, and, most importantly, she wasn't even aware of the existence of his faux-Marble Phantasm.Though he existed within the Record, Vahn had assumed that his 'Realm' was completely separate from everything else. After all, it was a 'projection' of his Soul, so, no matter how powerful Akasha and her Superiors were, they should be unaware of anything that happens within. If they had tried to peek, he, or, more specifically, Sis, would have been able to detect it.It was comforting to know that Gaia's Omniscience wasn't 'absolute', but, knowing she had been able to witness many of his most intimate moments, it left him in a difficult position. He couldn't easily refute her requests, as, even if he did so, she would still experience everything Tiamat and Alaya experienced. Thus, despite it never having been part of his intentions, the third day within the Marble Phantasm was colored with the sonorous intonations of a frail voice...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Artoria, Fenrir, and Illya be like, "My gainsssss...!"','Sphere of Protec!','The quiet ones are always the most dangerous o_o...')(A/N: I have had a fever since yesterday afternoon. I will be sleeping most of today.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1498: Restraint