Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After a cat and mouse game lasting several minutes, with Jack almost wholly on the defensive, it was beginning to seem like Theo would actually come out on top. Her strength had already made a deep impression on every member of the audience, and, though none of her moves were flashy or over the top, the entire arena had been turned into a field of fiery brimstone by the mere act of her jumping around. This made it a lot harder to see what was actually going on, but, whenever she and Jack would trade blows with each other, visible shockwaves would slam into the arena's barrier and cause the surrounding temperature to increase slightly.As the person on the receiving end of Theo's onslaught, Jack knew better than anyone else just how powerful she had become. He had even sustained a number of internal injuries from the blows that had managed to slip through his guard, and, if he lost focus for even a moment, it felt like his body would be fragmented and burned by what he had dubbed 'Earth-Fire Ki'.Though infusing elemental energy into Ki wasn't particularly rare, it typically required a combination of hand seals, talismans, and special techniques to manifest it externally. During this process, the Ki would be converted into the elemental energy, and, though it was still considered a Ki-based attack, it would be more accurate to call it Ki-fueled. Keeping Ki infused in the attack would generally cause it to dissipate, so, unless you were already at the level of a Master, externalizing an attack that used both Ki and elemental energy was exceptionally difficult.Theo had obviously reached a level that qualified her as a Master, but, while her attacks and combat style were highly refined, Jack was able to sense that she wasn't proactively fusing elemental energy into her Ki. Instead, her Ki seemed to inherently possess both Fire and Earth Elemental Energy. This was surprising on its own, but, even more so was the fact that the energies didn't conflict with or try to devour each other. The two worked in perfect concert with each other, and, as a result, Theo was able to both 'petrify' and 'burn' targets using otherwise normal attacks.While her attacks were troublesome in their own right, the most troubling aspect of Theo's Ki was the influence it had on her surroundings. The ground where she walked would dry up in an instant, and, if she stood in one area for an extended period of time, it would even begin to crack apart and produce strange yellow flames. These flames not only caused the temperature to skyrocket but, as their name, Earth-Fire, implied, they had the ability to dry out and ultimately petrify even the water molecules within the air. This caused a phenomenon similar to 'ashing', and, though his own aura was able to stave off the effects, even Jack's skin had become rough and coarse due to prolonged exposure.Needless to say, Theo had become terrifyingly strong in an inordinately short period of time. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, as she was clearly in control of her actions, but, depending on how it was used, such extreme levels of power could easily become a corrupting force. This was especially true when the weilder was still young, so, while he felt proud of Theo's growth, he couldn't help but curse Vahn for bestowing so much power on an innocent and outgoing young girl...Blocking another one of Theo's strikes, resulting in his palm nearly turning to stone, Jack released a paradoxically appreciative yet tired sigh. His serious look rapidly relaxed into a magnetic smile, and, though his eyes continued to blaze like tiny suns within the shadow of his seemingly indestructible bandana, their light appeared more caring than fierce. This caused Theo to lose the momentum she had been building, but, instead of dropping her guard, she used Shundo to open up a gap before asking, "What's gotten into you?"Before answering Theo's question, Jack stared at the cracked skin of his palm before gently shaking his head and saying, "It's nothing. Just know that I'm proud of how strong you've become. It would have been better if you obtained this power when you were older but I guess we don't always get a choice in the direction of our growth..."Hearing Jack's rather melancholic remark, Theo scrunched up her face slightly as she said, "You're acting weird, Jack. This was the path I chose by myself, for myself. I'm not sure what you're thinking, but I can't help feeling as though you have misunderstood something. Though I absolutely received a number of blessings during my training, I'm here today because of my own efforts. I trained hard every single day to exceed my limits, and, no matter how far I lagged behind everyone else, I never gave up pushing myself in order to reach my goal. It made me happy to hear you say you're proud of me, Jack, but, as this is a power I obtained through tireless effort, it's painful to hear you speak as if I didn't earn it..."Seeing the dispirited look on Theo's face, Jack's smile became a little awkward as he found himself at a loss for words. Her mention of lagging behind others rung a lot of alarm bells in the back of his mind, but, knowing he had wronged her, there were more important things to worry about. Thus, in an effort to make it up to her, he adopted an actual stance for the first time, a battle-hungry grin on his face as he said, "Sorry about that, kid. I'm just being a little sentimental. You've really grown a lot since the last time I saw you...now, show me the limits of your power!"Immediately following his outburst, a massive crimson aura erupted from Jack's body like a raging inferno. All the blood that had caked his body seemed to evaporate in an instant, and, though his natural regeneration had always been high, even his thumb began to heal at a noticeable rate. At the same time, his spiky hair became even more pronounced as the long bangs that usually framed his face began to flare upward against the pull of gravity.Theo knew Jack had been holding back since the beginning of the battle, but, feeling his aura up close, most of her fighting spirit dried up in an instant. His figure seemed to rapidly increase in size, and, before she realized it, he seemed to be towering over her like a mountain. This nearly triggered her fight-or-flight response, but, after facing even greater auras during her training, she was able to remain relatively calm as she roared, "Sound the Call for Battle! War Goddess' Herald, grant me the Greatest Output! Vis Maxima~!"Though it didn't stand out quite as much as Jack's, Theo's aura made it appear as though her entire body was wreathed in peculiar yellow flames. Fortunately, elevating her presence even above that of the Legendary Hero, the smoldering fires throughout the arena seemed to awaken in response to her call. Several pillars of Earth-Fire spontaneously erupted into existence, and, though it wasn't obvious to the average onlooker, the more perceptive members of the audience noticed an earthen layer slowly creeping across the surface of the magical barrier...Being the most perceptive in the entire Coliseum, Jack quickly realized the problem of a prolonged engagement, so, before the barrier could be compromised his aura surged even more as his figure vanished from view. At the same time, seemingly echoing through the void itself, his voice could be heard uttering, "Rakan Impact!" as he reappeared behind Theo. A combination of magic and ki had been forcibly amalgamated into a rudimentary sphere in his right hand, and, though it wasn't a true fusion of the two energies, the destructive potential contained within was monstrous.Surprised by Rakan's imperceptibly fast Shundo, Theo barely even had the time to widen her eyes as a feeling of weightlessness preceded an excruciating amount of pain. It felt like all the nerves in her body were screaming out in protest, and, following the massive explosion generated by Rakan's trademark ability, Theo found herself buried beneath several tons of rubble that had been formed from the 300m long trench carved by her body.Rakan wasn't sure about the threshold of Theo's defensive abilities, but, based on his prior analysis, she was at least durable enough to tank the main cannon of an Air Whale. This was comparable to the output of his Rakan Impact, so, while she was bound to suffer a few light injuries, it shouldn't be enough to take her out of the fight. Thus, before she could emerge from the trench, he leaped high into the air, demonstrating remarkable flexibility as he arched backward and roared, "Rakan for the Hell of it Right Hand Punch...!"Following the rather comical outburst, Rakan threw what appeared to be a normal punch toward the ground. In response, a pillar of dirt more than 100m tall erupted from the ground as both the barrier and the Coliseum itself visibly shuddered. When the dust began to settle, the outline of a fist could be seen imprinted into the arena floor, extending nearly ten meters into the durable surface material. At the very center, Theo could be seen holding up her arms in a crossguard, and, much to the surprise of everyone present, she appeared to be virtually uninjured.Having felt the feedback of his attack, Jack knew Theo hadn't come out unscathed. He wasn't sure why she appeared uninjured, but, having felt her bones strain under the force of his blow, he knew she wasn't indestructible. Instead, she seemed to possess an ability that provided both durability and near-instantaneous regeneration.Deciding to put his theory to the test, Jack bolted forward the moment Theo rolled to her feet and attempted to create some distance between them. She actually managed to react to his speed this time, releasing an explosive burst of Ki from her palm, but, like an emboldened youth spitting into the winds of a hurricane, her attack shattered instantly as a bit of the explosion rebounded and hit her. At the same time, Jack grabbed her outstretched wrist, his eyes seeming to turn into brilliant stars as he shouted, "Rakan Mega Wild Throw...!"Like a dreidle released from its string, Jack spun around at several rotations per second, creating a literal vortex among the dirt and debris in the surrounding. Then, at the exact moment Theo's body slackened from the centrifugal force, the momentum of his spin was converted into pure downward force as he slammed her body into the arena hard enough to send a visible ripple through the floor. As a result, the entire arena seemed to descend a few centimeters as Theo, displaying the blacks of her eyes, lay embedded surprisingly shallow in its surface...Though it seemed like he had won, Jack didn't lower his guard for even a moment. This ended up being the correct choice, as, in the blink of an eye, Theo regained consciousness, her dislocated shoulder instantly setting itself as she attempted to grab his wrist.Realizing the only way to end the fight was to either capture or completely overwhelm her, Jack evaded Theo's attack by leaping upward once again. Then, accounting for the fact she would try to avoid, a serious glimmer flashed across his eyes as he shouted, "Rakan Ten Thousand Simultaneous Strikes...!"While far from ten-thousand blows, Rakan released a series of punches so swift that his upper body seemed to twist and distort due to the warping of Space and Time. At the same time, similar to his previous 'Rakan for the Hell of it Right Hand Punch', pillars of dirt and debris seemed to erupt from the arena floor. Instead of one, however, the entire arena seemed to ascend as literally hundreds of pillars were created in the exact same moment. There wasn't a single gap within the attack, and, in the aftermath, roughshod buildings located kilometers from the Coliseum began to collapse from the tremors generated.As he was beginning to become familiar with the threshold of Theo's durability, Jack knew his rather showy attack wouldn't be able to defeat her. He just wanted to pin her down in preparation for his next attack, as, unlike his Ki-based abilities, his Magic took a considerable amount of prep time.Though few people associated him with anything even remotely resembling a Mage, Jack had been recognized as one of the Top Ten Mages in the entire world by the Imperial Court Mage. This wasn't due to proficiency with magic, however, but the result of his truly monstrous reserves and his ability to seemingly analyze the structure of virtually any spell. This had allowed him to defeat several opponents using their own magic against them, and, though he might not be as proficient as the original, he could make up for it through sheer volume of magical power.Accounting for the Earth-Fire that would emit from Theo's body the moment her aura recovered, Jack began performing a series of poses in mid-air as he chanted, "Yo, wake up you lazy Undine. I need your help in dealing with a troublesome opponent. If you don't come out, I'm going to give you a spanking the next time we meet! Rakan Style Water Binding...!"As the intent and structure of a spell were often more important than the chant itself, Jack liked to add a bit of flair to the spells he had copied. He always enjoyed seeing the vexed and vengeance-filled expressions of the arrogant Mages whose spells he had bastardized as, not only did it reduce their focus, it was a rather vicious blow against their ego. Too many Mages enjoyed flaunting their abilities over 'normal' people, so, whenever he got the opportunity, Jack liked to take them down a few pegs...Following Jack's chant, a phenomenal amount of water seemed to appear out of thin air, swirling in the center of the arena. It eventually formed a bubble more than twenty meters across, but, despite being nigh-incompressible in its normal state, Jack was able to forcibly shrink the size of the sphere by cupping his hands together in a crushing motion. When everything was said and done, the size of the sphere had reduced to around twelve meters, forcing the trapped Theo into a fetal position as runes began to emerge across the surface of the water.Though it was still in a liquid state, the runes surrounding the sphere caused it to behave similarly to a solid. They had the effect of literally stagnating time within the sphere, so, from the perspective of onlookers, it appeared as if the interior was moving in slow motion. This had effectively brought an end to the battle, as, even if Theo had the strength to break out, it could be argued that Jack had ample time to simply 'kill' her if he really wanted. This was one of the advantages of using sealing magic in the Coliseum, as, the moment you effectively trapped your opponent, it was considered a victory by default.With that being the case, Jack quickly dispelled the sphere to reduce the risk of Theo suffering any ill effects. Magical energy and Ki could mitigate even the pressure differential in outer space for a time, but, depending on the circumstances, people could still be affected by chemical imbalances and the internal conversion of both gases and liquids. There had been numerous cases where the target of a sealing spell ended up dying from decompression sickness hours after the battle had come to an end. This was another reason why sealing magic was recognized as a victory condition, as, on occasion, it was effectively a death sentence...---Understanding the rules of the Coliseum better than most, Theo couldn't help but release a slightly disappointed sigh once the sphere of water dispersed. She never expected to win against Jack, but, from the moment he stopped holding back, she couldn't even defend herself. He was considerably faster than she expected, and, though she had seen his attacks from the perspective of an onlooker, experiencing them directly completely shattered her expectations. It was almost like being hit with a literal mountain, and, even if she wanted to dodge, the pressure released by the attack made it feel like she was training in the special chambers created by Vahn. There, the density of Space could be adjusted to suit the needs of the user, and, though it didn't exactly affect gravity, it made even the most basic movements feel as though you were moving through a pool of mercury...Remembering how easily both Vahn and Asuna could move within the super-dense Space, Theo quickly recovered from her brief melancholy. One of the first things her Master had taught her was that there were no actual limits to a person's growth. There were various things that could prevent them from reaching the pinnacle of their potential, but, so long as she never recognized setbacks as an excuse to justify slacking off, she would continue to grow exponentially stronger. Her four years of hard training had proven this, and, though she had a lot of help in overcoming her bottlenecks, it was still her own willpower and resolve that allowed her to reach her current level.With this in mind, Theo surprised Jack quite a bit by spontaneously pointing her finger towards him and boldly declaring, "You won this round, Jack! Next time, you might not be so lucky! The moment you start slacking off, I'll leave you in my dust! Consider that a promise from the future Empress of the Hellas Empire~!"Having noticed Theo's depressive state, Jack had been intending to try and console her. As a result, he was slightly taken aback by how quickly she bounced back her to usual self. Even her horns had started to gradually retract, and, as if she hadn't been fighting like a demon mere minutes ago, she had a smile that perfectly encapsulated the tomboyish princess beloved by the Empire. This caused the crowd to explode into a truly thunderous applause while Jack, the target of Theo's bold words, just smiled as he said, "Guess I'll need to work harder..." before adding, "It seems the future of the Empire is in good hands..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'When burning just isn't enough','Serious series...','Defeat is just another step on the path towards true strength')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Seeing Theo waving excitedly in response to the thunderously applauding crowd, a smile spread across Vahn's face as he extended his hand towards Asuna and said, "Let's go. It seems like Theo is doing just fine on her own. We'll come back once things settle down."Hearing Vahn's words, the fiery light in Asuna's eyes quickly diminished as she adopted a radiant smile, grasping the former's hand as she answered, "It was an amazing fight. That man, Jack Rakan, is just too strong. I can see why you acknowledged him."Nodding his head, Vahn explained, "Though not as incredible as you, his talent and comprehension are phenomenal. If he continues to battle against strong opponents, he will continue to grow much stronger. There is a reason he was a mainstay in Nagi's party in the original timeline..."Noticing a subtle shift in the flow of fate, Vahn allowed his words to trail off, restraining a wry smile as he turned to Qinglong and said, "Continue to watch over her for me. It seems to be a temporary transformation but I want you to keep an eye out for any sequelae. If she shows signs of duress, let me know immediately."Having received his Master's orders, Qinglong didn't hesitate to bow low as he firmly stated, "This lowly Qing will see to it without fail. Even if it requires that I lay down my life, I would not hesitate to protect Lady Theodora. Please, be at ease, Supreme One."Though he was used to Qinglong's highly reverential speaking habit, Vahn couldn't help but issue a dry laugh before pulling Asuna along and saying, "I have absolute confidence in your capabilities. It isn't without reason that I designated you as the leader of the Four, Qinglong. Farewell."With nothing else to say, Vahn gave a curt nod to the fiery-eyed Qinglong before stepping into a surprisingly stable spatial rift. At the same time, Asuna waved spiritedly towards the reverent True Dragon, exclaiming, "See you later, Grandpa Qing~!" just as the rift snapped shut.Follow the disappearance of his Master and Young Mistress, Qinglong cracked a rare smile as he lifted his head and turned his attention back to the arena. The trust his Master had placed in him was his greatest treasure, and, as all dragons were ought to, he would do everything in his power to protect both his pride and his treasures...---Emerging from the spatial rift, Vahn found himself onboard the Custos Rosea. The automated lights came to life in response to his presence, but, even with their illumination, the interior of the Airfish felt somewhat cold and lifeless.Breathing a bit of life into the chilled atmosphere, Asuna released his hand before trotting off, her twin-tails bobbing behind her as she said, "I'm going to make tea! You should go and grab Euryale so we can go exploring afterward~!"Seeing how bubbly Asuna was being, Vahn chuckled lightly in response before taking a seat in the common area. At the same time, within the Sub-Space Orb where he had been sunbathing with Eva, Medusa, Euryale, and Stheno, he lightly tapped the side of the former, saying, "I just got back with Asuna. It seems like everything is going just fine in the Empire. Theo is still growing stronger and it seems like the Emperor has already realized the reality of the situation and decided to support her."Hearing Vahn's statement, Eva stretched her body like a lithe cat before laying against his chest and saying, "I told you that girl could take care of herself. Now, tell me, did you propose to her as well?"Shaking his head, Vahn explained, "It didn't seem like a good time. I realize I jumped the gun a bit when it came to Arika. Theo might be a little upset that I delayed things, but, knowing her, she will bounce back quickly with a sincere apology and a bit of pampering..."Finding Vahn's words amusing, Eva lightly chuckled before rising to a seated position and saying, "It would make things a lot easier if you had that same level of confidence when it came to allowing us to pursue our own goals. I'll be leaving in a few days and I don't want to catch you sneaking around in the shadows. There are some things I don't want you prying into even after we depart from this world...in exchange, I'll try not to get too upset when you inevitably add more women to your ever-growing harem..."Though part of him was tempted to say that his harem would grow no further, Vahn knew himself better than that. The most he could do was limit its growth, and, after experiencing the efficacy of proper restraint in the Akamatsuverse, he was confident things wouldn't get too out of hand in the future. There wasn't much he could do regarding Arika, Theo, and even Asuna, but, at the very least, he could avoid adding any other women to his harem before departing the Record.At this point, Vahn had come to expect that women with powerful fates and higher tier Souls were bound to be inordinately beautiful. This made it hard not to take notice of them, and, if they just so happened to have a tragic past, his mind was primed to try and help them. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but, as he had learned time and again, the way he handled them and the restrictions he imposed upon himself were both very important.Vahn knew the only thing he really needed to do in order to deter most potential love interests was to modify his physical appearance or increase his apparent age. Though there was a niche group of women who preferred older men, appearing middle-aged, or even older, would allow him to easily interact with younger individuals without fear of them imprinting upon him. This would also make it easier for them to separate in the future, as, rather than worrying about them chasing after him, he could give them a small push towards a more 'suitable' partner for themselves.With just a few small adjustments to his appearance, Vahn was confident he could pull off the role of a kindly grandfather or a wise mentor. He had actually been fond of mentor characters such as Jiraiya from Naruto and Makarov from Fairy Tail. They were a little perverted at times, but, due to their age and position, most feelings directed towards them were those of respect, adulation, and trust. This put them in a rather enviable position where they were allowed to act with impunity, as, unlike how people reacted towards 'children', the elderly could easily inspire fear and respect in a world where most died young...Though Vahn didn't want to look like an old man, imagining himself as a middle-aged man with long greying hair, a full beard, and blazing golden eyes actually made him a little excited. He felt it would be pretty 'badass' to appear like a weak and whimsical old man in one moment just to turn around and release a soul-crushing amount of pressure in the next. It would also allow him to get away with messing around and even teasing people without causing misunderstandings, so, with the next Record potentially serving as the foundation for his own, Vahn was tempted to make the most of it before he inevitably reached the top...Seeing the somewhat silly smile on Vahn's face, Eva rolled her eyes before jabbing him with the tip of her nail and saying, "Sometimes, I just want to crack open that head of yours to see what you're thinking about..."Ignoring the thin trail of blood left in the wake of Eva's poke, Vahn just lightly chuckled, grabbing her hand to prevent successive pokes as he said, "It shouldn't be that long before I'm able to show you directly. For now, let's get out of here. Asuna is making tea and wants to go exploring. Do you want to come with?"As her wanderlust had faded hundreds of years ago, Eva wasn't particularly interested in exploring the uninhabited island where Vahn had moored the Custos Rosea. She had already looked around for a bit after they first arrived, so, while she did rise from the lounge, she ended up trying her hair into a loose bun as she said, "I feel like going swimming. I'm certain that little brat would be happy to have one of you to herself so how about we sneak off and explore an undersea cave?"Since they had been sunbathing previously, Eva was already wearing a white bikini that left very little to the imagination. She had matured quite a bit over the last four years, and, though she still had a ways to go before reaching the level of her 'adult' form, her figure had already started to blossom in all the right places. This was something Eva was very aware of, so, while she had never been particularly shy, she enjoyed wearing clothes that displayed her developing figure...Rarely one to refuse the invitation of a beautiful girl, especially when they were his fiancee, Vahn 'dutifully' admired Eva's figure before meeting her gaze and answering, "I'd be a fool to refuse. Let me just ask Stheno and Euryale if they want to go exploring. Afterward, I'll keep you company for as long as you'd like."Punctuating his statement with a playful wink, Vahn earned a less-than-subtle roll of the eyes from Eva as she crossed her arms and said, "Hurry along. If you leave me waiting, I'll go without you. The Gods know I'm more than capable of tending to my own needs..."Understanding what Eva was referring to, Vahn briefly paused to imagine the sight of Eva trying to comfort herself. It was something he had witnessed numerous times in the past, but-Interrupting Vahn's thoughts, Eva tossed a condensed ball of water toward his face, exploding on contact. A bit of red had started to creep into her ears, as, even if she was the one to start it, seeing the stupid look on Vahn's face was embarrassing. She had always been the type that was weaker to words and thought than actual action, so, before Vahn could make an excuse, she shouted, "Don't just stand there like an idiot! Hurry it up or I really will leave without you...!"With his face and hair still dripping with ice-cold water, Vahn lightly chuckled in response to Eva's embarrassing state before using Shundo to evade a secondary ball of water. He knew she wouldn't actually leave without him, as, even if her words were true, she much preferred having his assistance rather than tending to her needs alone...---After enjoying some tea and pastries, Vahn emerged the Custos Rosea with Chachazero riding his head and Euryale held in his left arm. Stheno had refused to come along so it was just him, Asuna, Euryale, and, seemingly to keep an eye on him, the miniature Chachazero.Though it wasn't even remotely necessary, Asuna and Chachazero had both changed into tan safari outfits, complete with a traditional pith helmet and goggles. As for Euryale, she wasn't particularly interested in dressing up, so, as was often the case, she wore a simple maroon smock overtop pure white pumpkin pants. She couldn't wear normal panties due to her rather large tail, and, while the shop provided many solutions, she actually enjoyed wearing the rather adorable undergarment as restrictive clothing made her feel uncomfortable.Vahn actually felt pumpkin panties were the most ideal undergarments for girls under a certain age range so he had no problems with Euryale's choice in garments. It was infinitely better than Stheno, who, much like her mother, disliked wearing panties entirely. She would rather go commando while wearing spats or leggings, and, while Vahn wasn't exactly okay with this, it was exponentially better than her attempts to wear a cocktail dress with a low neckline, a short skirt, and no panties...---With Chachazero holding two tufts of his hair like the reins of a horse, Vahn, Asuna, and Euryale explored every centimeter of the island inhabited only by nascent elementals and a few relatively weak monsters. These were easily dispatched by Asuna without any real difficulty, and, though he only allowed her to fight the absolute weakest of the bunch, even Euryale managed to defeat two monsters that looked like overgrown ostriches with bulbous eyes, bald heads, and green plumage.Asuna had taken it upon herself to help Euryale control her strength, so, while she was still very young, she didn't have too much trouble against weak opponents. It was actually rather cute, as, at the present moment, Euryale was only 123cm tall. Seeing her swing around a sword nearly as long as she was tall reminded him of a scene straight out of an anime, and, based on her appearance, it wasn't difficult to imagine her being the main character or a heroine. Rather, due to the nature of the Records, it was virtually guaranteed that countless versions of her existed for that very purpose.Though it was a rather incredulous thought, Vahn knew it was possible for him to encounter people who looked identical to others he had met in completely different Records. He should even be able to find the Record where Fenrir's likeness originated, a thought that was simultaneously as exciting as it was terrifying. He wasn't entirely sure how he would react in such a situation, as, for a number of reasons, 'his' Fenrir had become an intrinsic part of who he was. Encountering another version of her just seemed 'wrong', so, while he was actually very interested in the Record her appearance and character originate from, he would do his best to simply avoid it...---Sensing that her Master was thinking about her, Fenrir's eyes snapped open, her irises displaying an uncharacteristic icy-blue that quickly reverted back to her usual scarlet. She had been meditating in the heart of an icy cavern located within the Garden of Avalon. Here, Elemental Spirits representing Ice and Darkness intermingled amongst each other, and, though it was a rather mysterious sight to behold, there was even a tiny blue moon radiating Yin Elemental Energy hovering in the very center of the chamber.With her ears perked up, Fenrir seemed to be 'listening' for something that no-one else could hear. She even craned her head rather adorably, elevating one of her fluffy ears over the other as if she was straining to hear something very distant...Failing to sense anything, Fenrir's ears slackened as she rose to her feet, causing various Elementals to go tumbling in the process. She didn't have the [True Friend of the Spirits] perk like her Master, but, as someone who shared the same aura, Fenrir was a magnet for Elemental Spirits of Darkness, Ice, and Water. Since their presence greatly increased the efficacy of her training, Fenrir developed a habit of allowing them to crowd around her, but, unlike her Master, she didn't have the patience to remove each of them individually.Noticing their de facto leader departing, a giant wolf that was a perfect split between black and white peeled open its sapphire blue eyes to ask, "Are you returning to Father?"Momentarily pausing, Fenrir turned to face the giant wolf, a smile spreading across her face as she explained, "I could sense Master's thoughts. He doesn't seem to need me right now, but I feel like I should go to him. Take care of this place while I'm gone, Libra."With her words finished, Fenrir rapidly departed the Diorama. As for the wolf named Libra, it just issued an extended yawn before crossing its paws and laying back down. There weren't actually any dangers within the Garden of Avalon, as, even with the presence of monsters, the sheer volume of Elemental Spirits prevented any from running wild. Thus, while it was prepared to stake its life to protect the miniature moon floating above, it wasn't particularly worried about anything happening while Fenrir was away...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn so sneaky','Old Man Mason','Lazy Wolf')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Against even the wildest of expectations, the bout between Theo and Jack was neither one-sided nor the pretentious exhibition many had expected it to be. Instead, it was an intense battle where, against all odds, the comparably petite Theo was able to go blow-for-blow against a man known to shatter mountains with his bare fists. Even more ridiculous was the fact that, while she was pushed back a number of times, the person sent crashing into the walls of the arena, time and again, was actually Jack.Though he wasn't really sustaining any serious injuries, Jack was unable to exercise the full extent of his power for fear of critically injuring, or even killing, Theo. As a result, he had been unable to find the sweet spot between Theo's defenses and her actual durability. Even breaking through her aura took an extraordinary amount of effort, and, though he hadn't noticed it at first, subsequent strikes had revealed there was a thin mesh covering her entire body. This paper-thin membrane, against all expectations, was actually harder than most metals he had struck, and, due to its flexibility, the vast majority of his attacks were completely mitigated...In an effort to confirm his suspicions, Jack took advantage of the moment when Theo had leaped into the air to generate a massive shockwave with his aura. As a result, she was blasted high into the sky, but, once again demonstrating a surprising degree of combat proficiency, Theo actually 'bounced' off of thin air before flickering through the void like a phantom. He recognized this as the advanced movement technique, Koku Shundo, but, as it often took years just to master the basics, it was quite a surprise to see Theo bounding around freely.Sensing an impending attack, Jack crossed his arms as an appreciative smile spread across his face. This looked like a defensive posture to most, but, just as Theo's figure appeared in front of him, his own vanished. In the next instant, his hand had been spread wide, and, like a top suspended in the air, Theo was left rotating rapidly before her body inevitably crashed into the ground, hard.Jack realized it would be impossible to end the fight without injuring Theo, so, in an effort to try and end things before they got too far out of hand, he resolved himself and decided to apologize after the fact...Though she hadn't sustained any actual damage, Theo felt the wind forced from her lungs by the unexpected impact. Despite this, she was able to recover almost instantly, an excited smile on her face as she attempted to sweep Jack's legs out from under him. To her surprise, however, a wispy golden aura pulsed from his body just as her foot was about to make contact with his tree-like legs. The pulse acted as a cushion of sorts that perfectly dissipated the force of her own blow. As a result, there was a brief moment where her movement had ceased completely, and, in that exact moment, Jack's fist, which was larger than her entire head, smashed into her impromptu guard.For the first time since the start of the match, Theo experienced what it was like to be bounced across the arena's floor like a rock skipping across a lake. At the end of her relatively short journey, her body crashed into the incredibly durable barrier surrounding the arena. She learned that it was actually much harder than the floor itself, but, before she could even lament this fact, Theo opened her eyes to see another fist barreling directly toward her face...With very little time to dodge, Theo attempted to raise her guard as she craned her flexible body to the right. In the same motion, she kicked outward with her left leg, but, from just the air pressure of Jack's fist alone, she was sent smashing back into the barrier as his fast made direct contact with her arm. She felt her own first smack into her face as an overwhelming force surged into her body, pain emitting from the bones of her left arm as it seemed to conform to the shape of Jack's fist.Surprising them both, Theo's arm didn't actually break from the impact, and, though it felt like she had momentarily blacked out when her head slammed into the arena's barrier, she hadn't sustained any visible injuries. A ki-infused shockwave had clearly passed through her body, but, as if she was completely immune to damage, it dissipated almost instantly. In its wake, replacing the momentary pain, a feeling of exhilaration swelled up inside Theo that made it impossible to restrain the smile spreading across her face...Jack sensed there was something very wrong with the current situation, but, even faster than his superhuman reactions, Theo managed to grip the thumb of his right hand. He was suddenly seized by the feeling his digit had been trapped in an unbreakable vice. By pure instinct, he succeeded in pulling away his hand and creating some distance between himself and Theo, but, in the process, all the flesh from his thumb had been less-than-cleanly removed...Even Theo was surprised by her own strength, but, rather than show any perturbation, she crushed the surprisingly 'grilled' piece of flesh in her hand. Then, kicking the ground with enough force to cause a literal eruption, Theo turned into an extended blur as she attempted to capitalize on her advantage. She knew Jack could regenerate from such wounds without too much difficulty, and, if her Master's words were to be believed, which they always were, it might not even be possible for him to die. Thus, without questioning why the ground around her had started to turn into magma, Theo continued to rain down meteoric blows on an uncharacteristically serious and focused Jack...Though Theo seemed completely oblivious to the fact, Jack, and everyone else observing the fight, had mixed reactions to the changes occurring in the arena. To their amazement, confusion, and a wide range of other emotions, Theo's horns had actually started to branch. At the same time, three more horns had sprouted from her head, two above the original pair and one from her crown. They had the same ivory white color as usual, but, instead of a gentle curve, they became more angular, and, even from a distance, the crowd could tell they were inordinately sharp.It if had just been her horns, the crowd wouldn't have been too surprised, but, from the small of her back, just above her butt, a rather thick white tail had sprung from Theo's body. Her hands and feet had also visibly transformed, and, though her clothes and mesh kept most of the changes hidden, a peculiar pattern that glowed like a yellowish flame began to spread from her hands and feet, slowly snaking its way up her arms and legs...Perhaps the most notable change, at least from the perspective of Jack, was that the once-white sclera of Theo's eyes had turned completely black. As for her eyes, they had lost their pristine blue color, shifting into a glistening amber that, like the smile on her face, exhibited an incredible thirst for battle. She seemed to be completely enthralled by the battle, but, rather than appear drunk on power, Jack was surprised to find clarity within Theo's draconic visage...Hoping to confirm his suspicions, Jack stepped backward slightly faster than Theo had delivered her blow. At the same time, he did something he would undoubtedly receive several complaints about later, grabbing Theo's horns and pulling her off balance. To some, this was akin to hitting below the belt or targetting the butt or bosom of a woman, as, even more so than other parts of their bodies, the horns of a Hellasian could be very sensitive.Even Theo hadn't expected Jack to sudden yank her by the horns, so, without any suspense, she ended up slamming face-first into the ground with enough force to create a small crater. Despite this, she was more distracted by the painful throbbing emanating from her horns, and, though she was actually fond of small amounts of pain, Theo couldn't help but tear up slightly as she held her head and sobbingly muttered, "You asshole...I hate you..."Jack obviously felt guilty for what he had done, but, as he 'needed' to confirm Theo's state of mind, it was one of the best methods available. She didn't seem like she was going to stop attacking him any time soon, so, in an effort to buy some time, he had to resort to the rather shameless method just to calm her down. This earned him a shower of booing from the crowd, but, without worrying about them, Jack adopted an apologetic smile as he said, "Sorry, kid. I needed to confirm you were still with us. Have you noticed the state of your body?"Hearing Jack's words, Theo inspected her own body, but, unlike the crowd, she didn't show any particular surprise. Instead, she adopted a glowering look as she said, "You pulled on my horns for such a stupid reason? You really are a dumb gorilla...don't expect me to forgive you..."Though she was actually very surprised by the changes to her body, Theo didn't think it merited having her horns pulled on. She suspected there was a different reason behind Jack's actions, but, regardless of what he might say, she wouldn't be content until she had gotten even. Thus, before he could say anything further, she formed her hands into claws as a pair of stylish black gauntlets formed around them...Feeling a shudder run through his body like a bolt of electricity, Jack's figure became illusory as a gauntleted fist pierced through the area where his groin had been moments prior. He could feel a cold sweat begin to develop across his body, as, after failing her attack, Theo glared at him with the characteristic look of a woman scorned. Though her slightly puffed cheeks made her appear rather adorable, the determined vindication visible in her eyes promised 'extreme' pain the moment she managed to get her hands on him. To further exacerbate matters, she had the absolute support of the crowd, who, despite their curiosity regarding Theo's changes, felt Jack deserved a beating...---While his daughter was chasing Jack around the arena like a cat trying to crush a grasshopper, the Emperor, Michael, had a serious expression on his face as he briefly turned to Vrixho and asked, "Do you know what happened to my daughter?"With a serious expression of his own, Vrixho, appearing like a kindly elder, lightly shook his head before saying, "I cannot be certain, but it would seem that Theo has awakened the bloodline of the Ancient Hellasian people. Were that the case, however, I should have been able to sense it. Instead, it seems like there is a foreign power stimulating the blood in her body. It is even suppressing the connection between myself and Theo, though, from what I can ascertain, this doesn't seem to be intentional. It is more like Theo, herself, is subconsciously suppressing the power I have bestowed her..."Though their words weren't spoken very loudly, Vrixho's explanation was heard by everyone in the private booth reserved for the Imperial Family. This included the First Prince and Princess, the latter of which, without minding the fact she was talking over her father, asked, "Are you saying that Theo is resisting the contract with her own power? Does that not imply that power is nearing your own, Great Ancestor...?"Nodding his head, Vrixho adopted an uncharacteristically solemn expression as he explained, "At her current rate of growth, I imagine Theo will surpass me within the next three years. She still has a long way to go, but, at her current level, she would be able to overwhelm most Great Spirits without assistance. It's like there is an infinite mass of energy contained within her body, and, over time, her capacity to wield it seems to be growing alongside her own reserves..."Hearing Vrixho's statement, all three of the Imperials were surprised, as, based on his testimony, it implied that Theo didn't simply have the potential to surpass an Ancient Dragon, it was virtually a guarantee. If the energy within her body was truly infinite, that meant the only limit to her growth was the passage of time. This had numerous implications, but, most importantly, it guaranteed that the Empire would be entering a new era, one built upon the foundation of Theo's power...Turning her attention back to the battlefield, an appreciative smile spread across the First Princess' face. She was considered one of the most powerful people in the entire Empire, but, compared to Jack and her much younger sister, there was a vast gulf. Despite this, she didn't consider it a bad thing, as, unlike the Second Prince, she had always been in the faction that heavily doted upon her beloved younger sister. Theo was the treasure of the Imperial Family, and, as if fate was rewarding their adulation, she ended up being the greatest of them all...As this thought crossed her mind, the First Princess, Malin Bashireia Herasu De Vesuperisujimia, was surprised to hear her father groan, "It seems the fate of the Empire is already in the grip of the Sage Dragon Emperor..."Though Malina was aware of Theo's appointment as Imperial Ambassador, she had been busy commanding the Southern Fleet along the Argyrian border. The impending war had occupied all of her focus so, despite hearing various rumors regarding the Sage Dragon Emperor, she was taken aback by her father's utterance, worriedly asking, "Father...?"As his eldest two children were part of his circle of trust and two of his most competent military commanders, Michael decided to be forthright with them, pointing out, "Have you noticed the choker around Theo's neck? I had Henryk attempt to analyze it but the only thing he was able to determine it had a concealment function. Despite that, Theo doesn't even try to conceal it...I trust you understand my meaning?"Remembering the purpose of this event was to complete Theo's Rite of Challenge, both Malina and Casimir, the First Prince, frowned. They both cared deeply for their younger sister, so, understanding their father's implication, neither was all that enthused about it. Her age was one reason, but, more than that, it was the fact that she was displaying a choker. This implied that she was in a submissive relationship, and, while that wasn't necessarily a bad thing, it became a major issue when the other party was a contentious element or a foreign power.Though he empathized with the thoughts of his children, Michael surprised them by shaking his head and saying, "You are not to intervene in this matter. Not only has Theo made her choice, but the power she received is undoubtedly due to the Sage Dragon Emperor. Even Vrixho isn't certain of victory, so, for the time being, it is best to allow Theo to be willful. She has already demonstrated an uncharacteristic amount of maturity for her age, and, though it remains to be seen just how far his influence reaches, it is likely that the Sage Dragon Emperor has already extended his influence into the affairs of both Ariadne and Ostia. He has also transported the Elves somewhere beyond our ability to detect, so, for the time being, there are no benefits in prying into his private affairs."Despite feeling as though he had aged several years during a single explanation, Michael, like many long-lived Hellasians, had a habit of trusting his gut. It had gotten him through numerous battles in the past, and, though he had never fought on the frontlines, he had famously commanded both the Northern and Southern Fleets through several successful campaigns. Thus, even if it made his blood boil quite a bit, Michael decided it was best to simply support his daughter. Her actions might result in a complete shift in the social and political dynamic of the Empire, but, at the very least, she would have more than enough power to reign supreme...Almost as soon as that thought crossed his mind, Michael witnessed his daughter dropkick Jack in the face, and, though it didn't do much damage, it sent him tumbling backward with two trails of blood flowing from his nose...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Theo is a tough cookie','Booooooo...!','Michael is surprisingly wise for an idiot who lets his son do whatever he wants...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1622: Impact (3/3)