Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though Asuna might be 'immune' to normal healing magic, Vahn's SSS-Ranked [Hands of Nirvana] was, at times, even better than magic. He could even restructure a person's body and change their gender, so, when it came to treating injuries and setting broken bones, the process was completed with ease tantamount to breathing.Feeling the pain melt away in only a few seconds, Asuna breathed a sigh of relief, but, even after a full minute had passed, she continued clinging to Vahn's body with her face buried in his chest.Rather than force her to separate from him, Vahn just lightly pat Asuna's back a few times. He knew she had already calmed down, but, after having her wrist crushed and body severely electrocuted, it was understandable that she would want to be close to him right now.Fortunately, while his main body was busy attending Asuna, another version of Vahn was standing near Nagi's landing area with Fenrir. They were watching Nagi move backward through time with amused expressions on their face, and, though it was a little 'excessive', chains in hand.One of the greatest benefits of being able to reverse the flow of entropy was knowing when and where objects would be certain points in time. Nagi had even created a reference point for them, so, after an additional minute or so, Vahn and Fenrir were waiting to bind him before he had any chance to resist.Truth be told, Vahn was actually surprised by the fact that Nagi was able to 'resist' the reversal of entropy at all. His face would periodically morph into one of indignation, and, though he ended up back at his starting point, it was very apparent that he was cognizant throughout the process. This was a testament to his status as a 'protagonist', as, under normal circumstances, even the electrical signals in a person's brain fired in reverse, completely erasing memories of 'future' events.While thinking about ways to exploit Nagi's cognizance for 'training purposes', Vahn manipulated [Enkidu] to create a cage just as the youth returned to his starting position. This caused both him and Fenrir to be shrouded in a cloud of dust and debris flowing in reverse, but, with a wispy green aura protecting their bodies, they were largely unaffected.By the time the dust had settled, Nagi, with a deadpan expression on his face, had been completely bound by Enkidu's golden chains. The perpetual smile he had displayed while fighting was nowhere to be seen, and, as if he didn't understand the concept of a filter, he didn't hesitate to stare directly at Vahn as he said, "Come on man, this isn't cool. We were just starting to have fun. Why'd you had to come in and ruin the mood? And what's with these chains? Couldn't you have at least gotten the girl to tie me up? Not cool. Seriously not cool."Though he was somewhat amused by Nagi's words, Vahn had a serious expression on his face as he gestured to Fenrir, saying, "How about a demonstration before our little friend here makes another ill-considered request?"Understanding her Master's intentions, Fenrir turned her attention towards a large boulder a few meters away. With a simple gesture, the silver chains extended like a flexible whip before wrapping around the durable stone. The extremely sharp edges of Gleipnir cut into the material as if it was a mound of soft clay, and, after a few seconds had passed, the boulder literally 'exploded' under the tremendous pressure of the chain's restraint.Despite witnessing the destruction of the boulder, Nagi's expression didn't change much. Instead, he adopted a bored look, his eyes losing their focus as he lazily droned, "Wow. How scary. I think I might have pissed myself a little."Feeling less amused, Vahn's expression turned into a similar deadpan as he said, "You have quite the way with words, brat."Though he continued displaying a lazy expression, Nagi wasn't able to conceal the twitching of his brow in response to being called a brat. He generally didn't care if an enemy insulted him, as it was only natural to exchange barbs during a conflict, but, more than anything else, it irked him when an enemy looked down on him because of his age.Vahn could even see the gentle pulsing of a person's veins as blood passed through them, so, even if Nagi had been a thousand times better at maintaining his poker face, tricking him was something even Gods struggled with. Being able to see the boy's aura also helped, but, even if he disabled his View Affection, Vahn could read most people like an open book. The only exception to this was the people who were close to him, as, even if he was still aware of all the subtleties, he had developed a habit of selectively dulling his senses.Rather than tease the boy over his age, Vahn decided to act like the adult he was, honestly stating, "You are very powerful. Your personality could use a bit of work, but you certainly aren't lacking in the power department."Though he wasn't truly baited by Vahn's words, Nagi's eyes came back into focus as he looked back at him, a confident smile on his face as he said, "You have no idea, lizard breath. Once I break out of these chains, I'll-"Without waiting for Nagi to finish speaking, Vahn allowed Enkidu to dissipate as he returned a smile of his own and asked, "You'll what...?"The moment his body was no longer bound, an aura of vibrant lightning surrounding Nagi's body as he used a short-range teleportation spell to create some distance. At the same time, he extended his hand towards his staff, but, rather than return to his side like usual, it remained completely inert within Vahn's left hand.Nagi didn't want to run away without his staff, but, knowing he was completely outclassed, he grit his teeth like a soldier cutting away an infected limb before turning away and preparing to flee. To his frustration, however, the same green aura as before appeared around his body, and, after a few seconds had passed, he found himself back in front of Vahn.Since the former hadn't tried to bind him this time around, Nagi waited for the exact moment when the green aura would fade away. This coincided with the completion of a mental recital of a simple lightning elemental magic, an unnamed spell designed to blind an opponent by releasing a flash of intense light.Unfortunately, just as the light flashed from his body, Nagi as if a train had smashed into him as he was sent tumbling back like a stray cannonball. He was pretty sure most of the bones in his jaw had been broken, but, before he could even process the severity of his injury, Nagi felt an indescribable amount of frustration as a familiar feeling enveloped his body.Taking advantage of the fact that Nagi was 'blind' during the reversal of entropy, Vahn pulled out the sealed formed of Laev-tan, placing it in the location where the boy would ultimately return. He knew this was a little excessive, but, as it would drastically increase the boy's motivation during their future training, he wanted to teach the youth a hard lesson.Though his first instinct was to try a different spell, Nagi was unable to finish the chant as a sickly feeling spread through his body. He also felt a considerable amount of pain, but, rather than show it on his face, the only emotions visible in his expression were confusion and disbelief as he stared at the immaculately crafted blade stabbing through his heart...Vahn couldn't help feeling guilty when he saw the youth's reaction, but, suppressing his empathy as much as possible, he continued to stare blankly at the boy as he said, "Though I would much rather attend other matters, know that I really could do this all day..."With his words finished, Vahn pulled Laev-tan from Nagi's chest, allowing him to fall powerlessly to the ground before a green aura enveloped his body. He was hoping the boy would give up, but, as if to prove his qualifications as a protagonist, a resolute light appeared in Nagi's eyes immediately after he returned to his starting position...---Seeing Nagi getting beaten and battered over and over again by Vahn, Asuna first felt a feeling akin to vindication. After several minutes had passed, however, she began to display visible concern, not for the youth, but for the man standing at her side.Asuna knew Vahn didn't enjoy tormenting others so the longer the one-sided battle continued, the more it would weigh on his mind. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, as nobody should ever enjoy tormenting others, but, due to his nature, Vahn went above and beyond in his efforts to repay those he had wronged.Fearing Vahn might become excessively tolerant of Nagi after effectively torturing the boy, Asuna tightly squeezed his hand, genuine concern visible in her countenance as she said, "Vahn. Enough."Hearing Asuna's taciturn murmur, Vahn looked down at the twin-tailed girl nestled next to him, a tidal wave of guilt washing over him the moment he saw her expression. He wanted to explain to her that he was only trying to 'help' Nagi grow stronger, but, the moment this thought entered his mind, Vahn actually felt taken aback by his own thoughts. He couldn't help but imagine himself in a similar situation, and, almost immediately after that thought crossed his mind, the image of Tiamat smiling back at him in the Dungeon returned with the force of a freight train...---Deciding he had already gotten his point across, even if Nagi wasn't even remotely deterred, Vahn returned Laev-tan to her sheath before extending his hand at the location of the youth's head. This took him by surprise, but, the moment he realized what was happening, the red-haired protagonist attempted to leap away while producing a spear of lightning in his right hand.Using the same outstretched hand as before, Vahn swiped to the side, destroying the spear in an instant as Nagi, having reached the destination of his leap, collapsed to the ground.Shaking his head, Vahn walked over to where the boy was quickly beginning to familiarize himself with his body, smiling wryly as he explained, "I created a blockage that causes your motor nerves to fire completely randomly. You might be able to figure out some kind of pattern, but, unless you can deal with the blockage, your combat ability might as well be null right now."With even the muscles of his jaw refusing to cooperate, Nagi wasn't even able to properly clench his teeth as he attempted to forcibly channel ki and magical energy through his body.To Vahn's surprise, nagi was actually able to make some headway in this regard, stringing his body together using threads of magical energy in much the same way as Rakan. This showed a terrifying adaptability that even rivaled Asuna's, but, due to Nagi's lightning elemental affinity, his thread had the effect of causing his muscles to spasm and twitch uncontrollably.Deciding against watching Nagi cripple himself, Vahn kneeled down next to the youth, earning an incredulous look from the boy as he placed his hand atop the former's head. Then, with a soothing tone, Vahn shook his head and said, "We will have plenty of opportunities to fight in the future. For now, calm yourself and go to sleep. We are not enemies, Nagi Springfield. Do not force me to harm you without reason..."As he was more concerned with resisting the overwhelming feeling of drowsiness settling within his mind, Nagi wasn't able to hear most of Vahn's words. He was, however, able to understand the part about not being enemies, so, with the last vestiges of his strength, he somehow managed to ignore the fact that his nerves were still firing randomly, saying, "You damn lizard...I don't swing that way..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: '[Taunt(Innate):SSS]','I have not come to bargain','Bruh...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Seeing the unconscious Nagi lying on the ground with a smug grin on his sleeping face, Vahn couldn't help shaking his head in mild exasperation. The boy certainly had the drive expected from a 'protagonist', but, as was often the case with such individuals, their personalities were more than a little extreme. If not, they wouldn't be able to perform the impossible feats that allowed them to go from something like an orphan to the strongest person in the world over the course of a few years.With Nagi down for a few hours, at the very least, Vahn shifted his attention towards nothing in particular, his expression a mask of calm as he said, "I'm no longer in the mood for games. If I have to force you out, none of us are going to have a good day."In response to Vahn's words, a phenomenon similar to Space peeling opening like the page of a book appeared a few meters from his and Nagi's position. It was a rather peculiar application of Space Laws that bordered on the realm of Reality Manipulation, a point Vahn made a note of as he stared at the purple-haired man standing behind the other two.Noticing Vahn's gaze, the purple-haired man, Albireo Imma, stared back at him with what could only be described as soulless purple eyes, smiling as he said, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Vahn Aldrnari Mason..."Immediately following the scholarly man's words, the tallest among the group, a Japanese man in his late twenties or early thirties, retorted in a huff, "A pleasure? Don't give me that crap! This guy just tortured our disciple! Are we just going to ignore that!?"Answering the man's question, the shorter among them, a youth with unkempt white hair, silvery-brown eyes, and permanent blush marks answered, "Relax, Eishun. This incident will help Nagi grow much stronger in the future. We all saw the look of conviction on his face. He didn't give up to the very end, so, while the Sage Dragon Emperor's methods were certainly a little excessive, it wasn't to the extent we should enter hostilities against each other. That wouldn't benefit anyone...is that not so, Mr. Time Traveling Dragon?"Understanding why they might refer to him as a time-traveling dragon, Vahn's only reaction to the youth's words was the simple raising of a brow before answering, "There is no sense in talking here. I've also grown rather tired of this current situation so I'll just state my opinion directly..."Though he had also been intending to help Nagi train, Asuna's words reminded Vahn of his feelings regarding the rearing of children soldiers. He certainly understood the merits of helping the young grow stronger, but, rather than guide him for his own benefit, Nagi, Negi, Asuna, and several other children had been selfishly pulled into a war, acting in the interests of people they hadn't even met.After his presentation in Megalomesembria, Vahn was already planning to take matters into his own hands. He was going to cement his status as a deterrent, and, though he would give Eva her shot at vengeance, he wasn't going to entrust the fate of the Magical World to literal children. Asuna might have the power to dominate the entire magical world, but, on the most fundamental level, she was just a kind young girl who wanted to be pampered and praised, not some superweapon that should be used at others' convenience...Just imagining the group across from him attempting to shape Asuna into a weapon, even going as far as to erase her memories, Vahn's expression darkened. Then, finishing his previous statement, a heavy atmosphere descended upon his domain as he stated, "All three of you are unworthy of your status as mentors..."Hearing Vahn's remark, the only person to display any anger was the inordinately tall Japanse man, Eishun Konoe. While the other two had masks of calm, his expression morphed into one filled with hatred, resentment, and, though it was difficult to see for others, Vahn could see a fair amount of guilt in the man's eyes as he shouted, "Shut your mouth! You have no right to say such things when you weren't even there to help Nagi when he needed it most!"Rather than deny the man's words, Vahn just nodded his head, his expression still as dark as before as he said, "You're right. I can't be there to help everyone that deserves it. The best I can do, at least for the time being, is become a deterrent to prevent even greater tragedies. I am willing to shoulder the burden of hatred in order to make the world a better place. I am also willing to fight against any and all who would threaten the stability of this world, even its creators. Now, tell me, Eishun Konoe, how does my not being present to prevent Nagi's suffering justify the three of you turning him into a weapon with virtually no regard for the consequences of his actions!?"With Vahn's aura growing progressively stronger with each passing second, Eishun found himself unable to come up with a response. Part of him just wanted to attack Vahn outright, but, with the latter giving off an even more dangerous impression than his Grandmother, the most he was able to manage was gripping the hilt of his sword a little tighter. Then, noticing Asuna standing beside another version of Vahn, a ridiculing smile began to spread across his lips.Anticipating what the man was going to say, Vahn just shook his head, preempting Eishun's words by saying, "Your ignorance is only rivaled by your stupidity. If you dare to speak such inconsiderate and petulant words, don't blame me for the suffering you will experience. I've already grown tired of this situation, and, as I said previously, this isn't really the place to have a discussion. If you want to continue this, search for me North-East of Tempe. You can also wait until I next appear; it doesn't really matter to me."Having genuinely grown tired of the current situation, largely due to ever-increasing mental fatigue, Vahn didn't wait around for the trio to respond. Instead, he used Unit Management to recall Asuna and Fenrir back to their base before allowing his two vessels to simply fade out of existence, a large volume of Source Energy flooding into the surroundings and breathing renewed life into the craggy wasteland...---Surprised by the sudden disappearance of Vahn and his entourage, even Albireo Imma showed an expression of confusion as he mused in an almost inaudible tone, "This isn't spatial movement...it is like he just stopped existing suddenly...?"Hearing the mysterious Mage's musings, Filius looked up at him with an uncharacteristically serious expression on his face as he asked, "Are you implying that he can simply 'exist' when and wherever he pleases?"Shaking his head, Albireo was about to answer Filius' question when Eishun, seemingly having just processed what happened, exclaimed, "What kind of coward calls someone else an idiot and then just runs off!? I swear, the next time I meet that damned lizard...I...I'll do something...!"Unable to think of a way to even get a pyrrhic victory against Vahn, Eishun couldn't help but recall his Grandmother's words about taking his training more seriously. Now, she had even instigated a succession competition, threatening his status as the incumbent head of the Shinmei-Ryu School. This thought alone was enough to make him feel depressed, as, prior to his arrival in the Magical World, he promised his wife that he would settle down and assume the position upon his return...Suddenly feeling as if his soul had left his body, Eishun ignored the pitying looks from Albireo and Filius as he looked over at the sleeping Nagi. The latter had what some would describe as a 'shit-eating grin' on his face, but, rather than feel annoyed, Eishun couldn't help but recall Vahn's words, wondering whether or not they were doing the right thing.As if he had read the man's mind, Albireo Imma helped to calm Eishun a bit by saying, "Nothing is set in stone. That man's presence in this world has already altered the course of history in ways we can only begin to imagine. I suppose it would be prudent of us to track him down and attempt to form an alliance. If his words regarding his willingness to face this world's creators ring true, there is a chance this little excursion into the Magical World will simply remain an exciting adventure for our young charge..."Though he still had a few doubts, Filius found himself agreeing with Albireo's statement, adding, "If his ability to reverse time is anything to go by, it is safe to assume he truly did arrive here from the future. That being the case, he must have some confidence in his ability to succeed. His decision to guard the Key of Twilight is a testament to this fact, so, before our enemies take action, we should unify our forces."Having just recently learned about their 'true enemy' a few minutes ago, Eishun didn't have much room to refute the two youthful monsters standing before him. They had yet to explain everything, but, at the very least, he understood the fate of all worlds was at stake. This included Mundus Vetus, so, even if it meant putting his life on the line in a world that had nothing to do with him, he would do everything within his power to protect the people waiting for him back home...Releasing a profound sigh that made him appear even older than the two antiquated monsters at his side, Eishun walked over and picked up the unconscious Nagi before asking, "Well? What are we waiting for? The world ain't gonna save itself."---After returning to the sanctity of their secret base, Vahn's wanted nothing more than to soak in the bath and spend a few days within his Realm. Before that, however, he determined it was necessary, as a 'proper' Mentor, to follow up with Asuna. She had experienced a number of firsts throughout the day, and, though she was mature enough to cope, he wouldn't forgive himself if she developed some kind of trauma.While the Chacha Sisters prepared a light meal, tea, and snacks, Vahn allowed Asuna to snuggle up next to him as he pulled out a Memory Orb containing his memories of her battle. She had already learned a lot from the battle itself, but, with the benefit of his ultra-high-definition perception, there was a lot more to learn from viewing the battle from another perspective.Using his Telekinesis, Vahn positioned the Memory Orb at a comfortable distance, but, before he was able to activate it, Asuna surprised him by saying, "I am the one who wanted to grow stronger. I practically had to beg you to start training me so please don't let other people's words get to you. This world is not your burden to bear. It is none of ours. We do so because we choose to wield our power responsibly. That's what you taught me, so, when the time comes, please trust me to do what I think is right according to my own convictions. Even if I end up making a few mistakes, I will never regret the path I have chosen..."As he had actually been thinking about talking to Asuna regarding Eishun's words, Vahn was a little caught off guard by her resolution. He had even been considering having her remain in the Garden of Avalon whenever he went out to deal with their enemies. After all, she hadn't even turned twelve yet, and, even though he had prevented her from killing people, the fact remained that he had been allowing a child fight against people who would not hesitate to kill her...Feeling that he should say something, Vahn attempted to speak, but, as if she had been waiting for that exact timing, Asuna's eyes flashed like a master swordsman who had just discovered the single weakness in their opponent's defense. Then, preceding her using a short-range teleportation spell to run away, Asuna stole a kiss so brief that Vahn wasn't even sure their lips had actually come into contact with each other...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn's frustrations mirror my own this chapter xD...','Fine...I'll do it myself','A very resolute young lady...RIP Vahn's SAN')(A/N: There will probably be delays today. I had to go to the bathroom five times just over the course of this chapter. Don't drink a large glass of milk on its expiration date.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Having anticipated that various groups would be pursuing them long before his excursion into Megalomesembria, Vahn had already selected a suitable battleground. It was one of the regions that had previously flooded, and, though there was a settlement a few dozen kilometers away, there was a decently sized mountain range separating it from the largely uninhabited valley.After reaching their destination in just under half an hour, Vahn had Fenrir come to a stop near the very center of the valley. Then, without him needing to advise her, she instantly reverted back to her true form, manifesting her Zanpakuto in the process.Nodding his head in approval, Vahn caressed the heads of both Fenrir and Asuna as he said, "I'll be watching closely. Remember, if you want to use any big attacks, aim them upwards or towards the South. Even if this region is largely uninhabited due to Megalomesembria's wanton destruction, we should try to avoid exacerbating the situation..."Though he didn't have much room to speak, the simple truth of the matter was that Vahn's attacks generally had a beneficial effect on the environment. His former battlefields became hotspots for a variety of different lifeforms, and, even if he were to fight in the middle of a desert, the area would quickly turn into an oasis over the course of a few weeks...Without drawing attention to the fact that Vahn often caused 'extreme' amounts of damage to the environment, Fenrir and Asuna both nodded their heads, the former answering, "Yes, Master!" while the latter followed up with a simple, "Nn."Satisfied with the duo's response, Vahn lightly pinched Asuna's nose before walking off to the side with Fenrir. Moments later, like a meteor descending from the heavens, a youth veiled in a cloak of vibrant white lightning crashed into the ground a few meters away from the trio's position.Understanding that the youth was trying to make a cool appearance, Vahn couldn't help but smile in amusement as a red-haired boy emerged from the small crater his landing had formed. His wild hairstyle was influenced by the infusion of lightning elemental energy into his Ki, and, like a Super Saiyan emerging on the scene of a battlefield, a chaotic shroud of crackling energy veiled his body as he leaned forward confidently and asked, "So, you're the Sage Dragon Emperor that's all the rage these days?"While ruminating over the practicality of having a magical staff spinning behind your body, Vahn shook his head, confusing the youth slightly as he said, "Who I am doesn't really matter right now. If you continue to ignore the enemy in front of you, you're bound to experience some suffering."Hearing Vahn's words, the youth showed a slightly incredulous look on his face as he briefly turned his attention to Asuna. Based solely on appearance, there wasn't much of a difference in their ages, but, disregarding this entirely, the red-haired youth craned his head and asked, "Huh? Enemy? This chibi? Come on man, you-"Unable to finish his words, the youth was forced to dodge to the right, his movement so swift that it was impossible for most to trace. Despite this, he was unable to completely dodge Asuna's attack, a rather sizeable chunk of red hairs serving as a testament to that fact.With widened eyes, the youth turned back to Asuna with an incredulous look on his face, a thin line of blood running down his left cheek as he exclaimed, "Holy shit. This little cutie is a real firecracker, ain't she?"Unamused by the youth's words, Asuna's eyes sharpened as she leaned forward slightly, her large parka flaring out in a rather cinematic display as she bolted forward with explosive force. She felt a weird disturbance in the surrounding air, so, rather than use shundo, she intended to rely on raw speed, footwork, and technique to punish the foul-mouthed boy.Getting a dangerous feeling from the small black 'dagger' in the girl's hand, the youth rightly chose not to try and block it. Just staring at it made him feel a little nervous, something he didn't even feel when facing against his teacher, one of the most skilled swordsmen in the entire world.With his enhanced speed and reflexes, the youth thought he would be able to create some distance between himself and the fiery young girl, but, even after doubling his speed, he was still barely able to dodge her attacks. A few even nicked his body, completely ignoring the multi-layered barrier of Ki and Magical Energy surrounding his body.Realizing the girl wasn't simple, an excited smile began to spread across the youth's face as he used a short-range teleportation spell to create some distance and say, "My name is Nagi Springfield, the man who will one day stand at the pinnacle of this world. Tell me, what's your name, cutie?"Emphasizing just how annoyed she was, Asuna's bells released a gentle chime as she took a slow-motion step forward as she muttered, "Vis Maxima..."With alarm bells screaming in the back of his mind, Nagi exclaimed, "Shit..!" as he extended both hands forward. In response to his gesture, several layers of magical barriers appeared between him and Asuna. Even this didn't silence the alarms, however, so, trusting his instinct, Nagi used another short-range teleportation as Asuna, shattering all of the barriers as if they were thin panes of glass, cut through the area where he had previously been standing.Shocked by the girl's ability to just crash through magical barriers with her body, Nagi adopted a slightly more serious expression as he muttered, "This little chibi is even stronger than I was at her age..."Though she hadn't heard the Nagi's mutterings, the edge of Asuna's Zanpakuto glistened with a dangerous light as she cut towards his direction. This caused him to instinctually use another short-range teleportation spell, but, much to his surprise, he still felt 'something' pass through his body as an intense, searing, pain spread from his chest.After reappearing in the air several hundred meters away, Nagi was compelled to cover his mouth as a large volume of blood surged from his throat. To his horror, an unnervingly large wound had appeared across his body. Its length ran from his right shoulder to just under his ribs, and, if it had been even a centimeter or two deeper, most of his vital organs would have been sliced through in an instant.Despite feeling extremely lightheaded, a smile spread across Nagi's face as the lightning veiling his body began to cauterize his wound. He realized the girl was holding back, as that attack could have easily taken his life, but, rather than show any fear whatsoever, all he felt was excitement as he said, "You're really something..."As she had been a little worried about the severity of Nagi's injury, Asuna didn't immediately follow up on her attack. This was where her lack of experience came into play, as, following his statement, a truly monumental amount of lightning surged from Nagi's body, tearing through the surrounding landscape as his figure seemed to blink out of existence. The next thing Asuna knew, there was a hand covering her view, and, if not for her defaulting into the State of Nothingness by default, she would have found herself being dragged through the terrain by the lightning-clad youth.Undaunted by the fact he had somehow passed through his enemy, Nagi grabbed his staff with an even more excited smile on his face as he shouted, "Great! Let's see how long you can keep it up!"Though he wasn't sure about the mechanic behind his opponent's intangibility, Nagi had learned how to damage incorporeal opponents from his teacher, a Master of the Shinmei-Ryu School. He was still far from the level of being able to cut through concepts, but, with a natural affinity for both lightning elemental energy and sealing, he was confident in being able to injure ghosts, gods, and spirits.With the head of his staff turning into an extendable blade formed from lightning elemental energy and ki, Nagi began to cut towards Asuna's body with enough speed to create tempestuous winds in the surroundings.Causing the smile on Nagi's face to become even more prominent, Asuna's figure actually began to flicker in a strange manner, deftly evading or cutting through his strikes. He could tell she was using a variation of shundo, but, before he could see through the technique, he was forced to duck under her blade as it swept through the area where his head had been.Understanding the danger of 'simply' dodging, Nagi attempted to grab Asuna's wrist while striking toward her abdomen with his left foot. He believed she wouldn't be able to attack in her immaterial state, so, unless it was a 'very' realistic feint, her deduced she had momentarily become vulnerable.Unfortunately, Nagi's quick-thinking provided little benefit this time around as both his hand and foot slipped through Asuna's body. This put him in an awkward situation that required him to use another short-range teleportation, but, having anticipated this, Asuna managed to place her hand on his back, teleporting with him.Not expecting a sudden passenger, Nagi was momentarily at a loss as his brain tried to process how Asuna was able to 'ignore' all of his barriers.Taking advantage of the very momentary gap, Asuna reentered the State of Nothingness in an instant, her hand slipping into Nagi's body. This wouldn't normally cause any damage, but, as a Master in the use of Ki, Asuna was able to release a series of destructive pulses in the interior of Nagi's body, ignoring his defenses entirely. It made her feel a little sick to the stomach, but, as the purpose of this battle was to overcome her aversion to injuring others, she pushed through it...Feeling as if a localized earthquake had just erupted in his body, Nagi ended up vomiting even more blood than before as most of his organs sustained heavy injuries. He was pretty sure his left lung had completely collapsed as well, but, with a dauntless smile on his face, he managed to look down at Asuna's hand before saying, "You know, I always thought I would be the one penetrating a cute girl. Who would have thought a day would come when the roles were reversed?"Stupefied by Nagi's remark, Asuna couldn't help but gawk as she stared back at the youth with an incredulous expression. This ended up being another mistake, as, without a clear mind, maintaining the State of Nothingness was very difficult. As a result, her hand 'materialized' inside of Nagi's side, a fact the youth in question was very aware of as he forced his lightning infused ki directly into her body.Unaccustomed to taking damage, Asuna's first instinct was to try and move away, but, rather than allow his chance to slip away, Nagi grabbed her wrist with enough force to fracture the bones as he mused, "I'm afraid you'll have to take responsibility..."To punctuate his words, Nagi attempted to release even more lightning-infused ki, but, immediately after his words fell, an irresistible force prevented all of his movements. He could feel his mind race faster than it ever had before, but, no matter how much power he tried to muster, he could do little more than being taken along for the ride as time began to flow in reverse...---Unaffected by Vahn's time reversal, Asuna began to tear up slightly as she cradled her broken wrist and attempted to mend the bones. Nagi's grasp was like a death grip so her wrist had turned nearly as black as Ko before swelling up to more than three times the normal size. (A/N: Ko is the name of Asuna's Zanpakuto for those who have forgotten.)Fortunately, while Nagi was stuck experiencing his battle in reverse, Vahn dutifully appeared next to Asuna, tenderly embracing her trembling body before carefully grasping her wrist. This caused her to release a pained yelp, but, rather than complain, Asuna just bit her bottom lip before burying her face into Vahn's chest and allowing him to mend her wounds...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'I would have laughed if Vahn just answered, "No."','Asuna doesn't like being called a chibi (&gt;,...,&lt;)...','Death Penalty')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1645: Lesson