Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though Vahn didn't particularly care about Nagi's choice of vernacular, the fact he was making the same mistake as the last time gave him a strong urge to roll his eyes. As for Asuna, she seemed to take considerable offense to the boy's words, her expression morphing into an unamused scowl as she took a half-step forward.Without waiting for the dust to settle, Asuna's body disappeared before her foot could even hit the ground. She didn't even leave behind an afterimage, and, though there was a tremendous amount of lightning elemental energy beginning to surge from within the debris, she didn't seem to mind it at all as her figure appeared right in front of Nagi. Since she had entered the State of Nothingness, her movement had no real effect on the environment, so, rather than dispersing the cloud of debris, she seemed to blend into it as her fist came into contact with Nagi's face.Unable to sense Asuna's presence in the slightest, Nagi's eyes widened when a gloved fist suddenly entered his perception. He had less than a millisecond to react, but, with his lighting infused ki, this was generally enough to evade most attacks. He even had one of his magical barriers linked directly to his autonomic nervous system, so, even if someone tried to surprise attack him, his body would react instinctually to both repel and evade the sneak attack.Unfortunately for the youth, magical barriers had absolutely no effect against Asuna's attacks, so, the moment his mind became aware of her fist, he actually locked up for a very brief moment. This was more than enough time for her fist to connect, as, unless he was going all out from the start, it would be difficult for the current Nagi even to process Asuna's speed, much less keep up with her.Without any suspense, Asuna's fist struck Nagi's face hard enough to create a phenomenon similar to the stagnation of time. It was possible to see the shockwave passing through the softer regions of flesh, rippling under the intense force of the impact. For a brief moment, it even seemed like his left eyeball was going to 'pop' out of the socket, but, before it was able to, Vahn detected the same 'threads' that Nagi had started to use towards the previous encounter...Propelled by Asuna's fist, Nagi ended up being launched like a projectile from a railgun, his body spinning rapidly to create a pressure wave that parted the sea's surface. It was a surprisingly brutal blow, but, considering she could have ended the fight by cutting him apart with Ko, it could be said that Asuna had actually gone easy on him. Of course, Nagi being the stereotypical protagonist in a world rife with 'lucky pervert' moments and shonen-levels of power scaling, he managed to recover once his body began skidding across the water, a battle-hungry smile appearing on his face despite the fact his right eye and cheek were horribly swollen.Rather than give chase, Asuna just continued to glower at the boy, a resonant hum emanating from Ko as she prepared to counter whatever he threw at her. She was keenly aware of the fact she was a lot stronger than him, so, while she had a strong urge to beat him, she didn't want to be accused of 'bullying' the weak. After all, Nagi was 'just a child', and, though he was actually older than she was, Asuna already regarded herself as an adult, even if Vahn didn't feel the same way...Feeling the dangerous aura radiating off the somewhat familiar woman, Nagi didn't rush to attack like he normally would. Instead, he focused on recovering the function of his left eye, deciding to buy time by adopting a teasing smile as he transmitted his voice the several hundred meters that separated them, musing, "Wow, you're really something. I've never seen a woman as strong as you are. Tell me, are you the big sister of that chibi I fought last time? If she's going to grow up to be as hot as you, I might need to apologize for my behavior the last time we fought~."Hearing Nagi's words, Asuna completely lost interest in the fight, snorting before turning away as she said, "You are weak. Your only advantage is that we don't want to kill you. If you had any self-respect or decency, you would stop behaving like a child throwing a tantrum and focus on things that actually matter. I'm tired of your impertinent behavior and the petulance you have continued to display since our first meeting. If you aren't going to take this seriously, leave this place and stop wasting everyone's time..."Seeing the orange-haired woman turn away from him, Nagi's brow began to twitch as the smile on his face showed a mix of irritation and frivolousness. He wasn't used to people just abandoning the fight part-way through, as, more often than not, people would continue to throw themselves at him until he had either beaten them down or evaded their pursuit.Though part of him was tempted to attack the woman, confident she would react and continue the battle, he felt this would only prove her point. This put him in a rather difficult situation as he really wanted to continue fighting, but, despite his propensity for mischief, he didn't want to be regarded as a child. This was especially true when the other party was a beautiful woman who also happened to be more powerful than him. There very few people who could even trade blows with him, so, to encounter a strong woman, Nagi couldn't help but feel excited at the prospect of being able to go all out against a beauty...Unfortunately for the youth, the beauty in question disappeared into thin air after approaching his arch-nemesis, the Sage Dragon Emperor. This caused the vein in Nagi's temple to pulsate slightly, and, after using a variation of shundo to close the distance, he didn't hesitate to ask, "Where did she run off to? We were just starting to have a bit of fun."Seeing the red-headed youth, body still crackling with lightning elemental energy, Vahn just shook his head, his voice carrying a cautious undertone as he said, "That is none of your concern. Now, tell me-"Without waiting for Vahn to continue, Nagi clicked his tongue before placing his hands behind his head in a casual manner and asking, "What? Don't tell me she is your woman? Aren't you like super old or something? Man, what a waste..."Though he wasn't amused in the slightest, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes spread across Vahn's face as Asuna's previous words echoed within his mind. As she had pointed out, there was no real need to tolerate Nagi's behavior. He wasn't absolutely necessary for the protection of this world, and, though he likely had some tragic backstory and a reason for his behavior, that didn't mean others were required to coddle and pander to him.Just as Vahn was thinking about sealing the boy's power and forcing him to live a 'normal' life in the countryside somewhere, a spatial tear appeared nearby, peeling open like the page of a book. From within, a man with emotionless purple eyes and matching hair, an expressionless youth with silvery-white hair, and a bespectacled man with Japanese features appeared. These were none other Nagi's three 'mentors', the remaining members of Ala Rubra, Albireo Imma, Filius Zect, and Eishun Konoe, respectively.Turning his attention away from the disrespectful youth, Vahn adopted a casual smile that matched the look on Albireo Imma's face as he asserted, "You seem to have wasted that last three weeks. Tell me, what sense is there in empowering this brat further? He can't even responsibly wield his current power, yet you keep helping him to grow stronger...completely irresponsible..."Nagi very visibly took offense to Vahn's words, but before he could say anything, he was silenced by his Master, saying, "There is some truth to your words. However, Nagi is still young, and, despite his sharp tongue and somewhat abrasive character, he is still a good kid. You shouldn't let his words affect you so easily."Resisting the urge to roll his eyes or release a sigh, Vahn just stared back at the trio before shaking his head slightly and asking, "Tell me, why have you come here? Though it is easy for me to assume, I want to hear your intentions directly. After these last two encounters, I'm beginning to reconsider whether or not your group is even worth my time..."Seemingly amused by Vahn's words, Albireo Imma covered his mouth with his sleeve, chuckling for several seconds before musing, "I never expected a God of Time to make such humorous remarks..."Raising a brow in response to the smiling man, Vahn couldn't help but adopt an expression similar to how one would look at a complete fool. Then, with a slightly incredulous tone, he asked, "Do you think yourself impressive for being able to deduce something so obvious? My status as a God isn't exactly a secret, so, unless you intend to get to the point and actually answer my questions, please leave."Preempting the response of his three mentors, Nagi zeroed in on the fact Vahn had proclaimed himself as a God, asking, "So you really are a God? It's no wonder you have such a bullshit ability like reversing time. Well, don't let-"Faster than Nagi could respond, Vahn appeared right in front of the youth with his hand extended toward his face. At the same time, Albireo Imma actually performed a completely soundless spatial movement, attempting to catch Vahn's hand by the wrist with a casual smile on his face. Before he could, however, the man found himself several kilometers away in an instant, forcibly transported in spite of his considerable master over Space, Time, and Gravity.Without anyone to stop him, Vahn's palm impacted Nagi's forehead with a loud 'pa' sound. There was nothing like a shockwave, but, without any flare or suspense, the boy collapsed like a sack of potatoes, faceplanting into the sand with his mouth open and eyes rolled into the back of his head.Though his first instinct was to wipe his hands like someone who had just completed a satisfying piece of work, Vahn's satisfaction was delayed by a very angry swordsman swinging an inordinately long wooden sword towards his arm. Vahn could actually feel the sword intent wrapped around the blade before it had even made contact with his skin, severing his exceptionally durable and resilient body with considerable ease despite being made of white wood.Vahn was actually very interested in the Shinmei-Ryu techniques, but, sensing the man was wholly committed to cutting off his arm, despite the fact he had only knocked Nagi out, his expression was less than enthused. He preemptively separated his body along the blade's path, repairing the tissue in its wake almost instantaneously. This created the illusion that the blade had passed through his body without any resistance, stunning the bespectacled swordsman quite a bit when the hand of the arm he had 'cut off' slapped him across the face with enough force to send him crashing into the surrounding treeline.With Albireo Imma occupied by being forcibly teleported every time he tried to use any kind of spatial movement, Vahn turned his attention to the last remaining member of Ala Rubra. His mood had diminished considerably by this point, so, rather than ask a third time, he firmly stated, "You are no longer welcome here. You have mistaken my tolerance as a license to act with complete and utter disregard for propriety. It's no wonder your group relies on weaponizing children to fight their battles...you are a grossly incompetent bunch..."Without showing any signs that he had taken offense to Vahn's words, Filius just remained silent for a few seconds before asking, "How badly do we lose?"Though he was momentarily confused by the question, Vahn quickly understood what the youthful-looking pseudo-spirit was asking. This annoyed him quite a bit, but, rather than forgo an answer, he adopted a serious expression as he answered, "Bad enough that it takes more than a hundred years, countless sacrifices, and the military might of the entire solar system to clean up after you..."Hearing Vahn's answer, Filius' expression became notably solemn as he turned his eyes downward in deep thought. Then, after remaining silent for nearly a full minute, he raised his head and asked, "What are your chances?"Resisting the urge to snort through his nose, Vahn maintained his grave expression as he very firmly stated, "I do not leave the fate of the world to chance..."Though he was slightly surprised by Vahn's response, Filius was able to conceal his emotions behind a carefully constructed mask. He was actually very relieved by Vahn's words, but, knowing the future was never set in stone, he didn't allow himself to feel complacent. He would continue to do his best to defeat Cosmo Entelecheia on his own terms, and, though Vahn probably wouldn't agree with his methods, he intended to continue training Nagi until the latter had become the Hero he had always aspired to be...(A/N: It is Nagi's dream to be a Hero, not Filius' dream to turn him into one.)With a small smile spreading across his face, Filius gave a polite nod towards Vahn before saying, "I suppose we should be leaving then. I would have liked to talk more, but, seeing as how you already have your own plans, perhaps it is best we act independently of each other. It's a shame, really...part of me was hoping to test the limits of my strength against your own..."Feeling the tensions in the atmosphere rapidly draining away, Vahn's own began to wane slightly as he just shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Teach this brat some restraint and I might be willing to put up with such requests. I had actually prepared a number of things to help this brat progress in a healthier manner, but, after seeing how he behaves, I've lost interest. He thinks too highly of himself and the three of you have only reinforced his behavior instead of correcting it. I'm not here to play the part of yet another babysitter for this brat, so, unless you can correct his attitude, I want nothing to do with any of you."Taking note of the fact that Vahn didn't say he was completely unwilling to help them out, the smile on Filius' face became more prominent. He could tell that Vahn was sincere when he mentioned the preparations he had made to help Nagi, so, after a moment of deliberation, Filius reasoned it might be time to expose his young protege to some of the darker elements of the world. He had originally intended to use the war as a means to help Nagi mature, but, now that peace talks were already on the table, they would need to find an alternative method to give the youth a reality check.With various thoughts running through his head, Filius gave Vahn another polite nod before picking up the unconscious Nagi and retrieving the battered body of Eishun. Then, after Albireo was finally able to teleport back to the beach, they quickly departed the secretive island to discuss their future plans...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'One puuuuuuuuuuuuuuunch','If you step to the Emperor, expect to get put in your place','Vahn be like, "Bruh, you guys weren't even close..."')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After waiting for the members of Ala Rubra to move far beyond the boundaries of his domain, Vahn reversed the order of entropy to repair the damage done to the island. This caused illusory versions of Ala Rubra to appear, each an incomplete 'projection' that denoted the location and structure of the groups' magical energy at a given point in time. A person's cells were filled with magical energy, so, if they had used a ki shroud or a magical barrier at any point during the fight, he would be able to see this energy with the naked eye until it inevitably dispersed once the flow of time returned to normal.With the island returned to its original state, Vahn exhaled a tired sigh as he began teleporting to various points within his domain. Albireo Imma had left a number of seed-like spatial anchors at several locations, and, despite being teleported around at complete random, he had been on the verge of completing a ritual-grade magic circle. To make matters worse, the core of the formation existed within the void, so, while its influence could be expunged by reversing the order of entropy, the structure persisted, removed from the standard axis of time.Though it wasn't unexpected, Albireo Imma was unquestionably the most 'dangerous' member of Ala Rubra. Vahn even suspected he was an existence akin to a God, an artificial one whose powers had been sealed by means he was currently unable to identify. As for the other enigma within the group, Filius Zect, Vahn was about ninety percent certain that the man was similar to the artificial spirit he had destroyed during his time in Zephyria. The only difference was, while the previous man was around 80% Spirit and 20% Demon, Filius gave off a feeling similar to a pure-blooded Demon, one who had been modified to emulate a Great Spirit...If not for Nagi's behavior and the general disregard demonstrated by at least two of his mentors, Vahn wouldn't have minded working alongside them. Each member of Ala Rubra had something he was interested in, but, if he was the only one making compromises, it was the same as lowering his head for the benefit of the group. They didn't really provide anything to him at the present, and, so long as Nagi continued to behave like an incorrigible brat, keeping him around the hideout was the same as inviting additional stress upon, not just for himself, but everyone.With a complete lack of regard for others, Nagi behaved without even a semblance of a filter, and, though he undoubtedly had his reasons, there was nothing requiring others to tolerate his behavior at their own expense. This was especially true for any females on the island, as, based on the nature he had demonstrated thus far, the boy wouldn't hesitate to behave in a way that was tantamount to sexual harassment. He seemed to think it was okay to just say or do whatever he wanted, and, when it involved people stronger than him, Vahn could see the boy pestering both Fenrir and Asuna just to rile them up for a fight.As he was currently, Nagi was simply toxic to be around, and, while Vahn was confident he could correct the youth's behavior, that wasn't the reason he had ventured into the Akamatsuverse. He was here to save Eva, and, though his nature compelled him to take action on behalf of the world, Vahn had been fully prepared to move on the moment the Vampiress' vengeance was completed. Now, he had even formed the determination to subsume the entire Magical World, so, while there was some merit in taking Nagi as his protege, empowering the youth served no real purpose.Vahn could tell that Nagi was actually very similar to his past self, someone who was unsure of how to interact with others so they continually defaulted to 'extreme' behaviors. This wasn't necessarily a bad trait to have, especially if you were something similar to a shonen protagonist, but, more than power, Vahn knew what the boy truly needed was 'normalcy'. He would benefit more from living a simple life, one far removed from large scale conflicts and political turmoil. This wasn't to say that his power should be completely sealed, but, until he had established a stable baseline, it was better for everyone if he stayed away from the battlefield.Though it was hard to be certain, Vahn suspected that the main reason Negi had been reared in a controlled environment was to make up for the qualities Nagi had lacked. The people manipulating both youths likely realized their mistakes with the first generation, so, before getting Negi involved in the conflict, they made sure he had a stable baseline to work from. This involved ensuring he had a relatively peaceful childhood, and, after experiencing a traumatic event, they put him in a situation where he was responsible for twenty-eight female students, allowing them to imprint on each other before separating them. It was these bonds that allowed them to overcome the adversities they had faced in the Magical World, and, though Negi ultimately failed to defeat Ialda, he came much closer than anyone else.If Nagi had been 'necessary' to defeat the Mage of the Beginning, Vahn might have put more effort into 'fixing' the boy. However, as he had mentioned before, he wasn't interested in rearing children to fight planetary-level threats in his stead. He would much rather resolve things on his own, and, though he understood the importance of things like vengeance and destiny, placing such burdens on a child wasn't something a responsible adult should do.Vahn saw nothing wrong with empowering the younger generation, as that was the responsibility of those who had come before. However, when you used said generation to fight on your behalf, you were literally going against the natural order of things. Preceding generations were meant to create a stable environment that guaranteed the greatest chance for success and prosperity, not wholly for themselves, but for their young. Failing to do this went against numerous biological principles, and, more often than not, societies that prioritized structure that benefitted the middle-aged and elderly quickly fell to corruption...---By the time he had finishing removing all of the 'seeds' planted by Albireo Imma, the sun had long descended over the horizon. If not for the version of himself he kept within the Little Garden, Vahn would have experienced a bit of a mental strain due to having five active vessels, two watching over Tempe and Lake Argyre, one protecting the Garden of Avalon, one cleaning up the battlefield, and, as stated previously, one version within the Little Garden to serve as an anchor for the rest.With his cleanup finished, Vahn returned to the hideout to relax while the version of himself in the Little Garden slowly opened his eyes. He didn't keep his domain active within the garden, so, for a brief moment, a look of confusion reflected in Vahn's gaze as he found Euryale dozing off in his lap. This quickly turned into a loving smile, however, as, perhaps sensing his awakening, Euryale opened her eyes, twisting her neck a little more than was normal to stare up at him with her big amber eyes.Before he even willed his body to move, Vahn found himself affectionately stroking his daughter's head, eliciting a contented hum from the adorable girl as she nestled closer to him.Vahn had originally been worried that Stheno and Euryale would develop extremely quickly within the Little Garden, but, similar to Medusa and Fenrir, their physical appearance didn't really change with the passage of time. The development of the gorgons was largely dependent on how many times they had molted, and, unless they proactively 'wanted' to molt, there was nothing that could force them to do so. As a result, Medusa and Euryale hadn't really changed much, while, inversely, Stheno had grown even faster than Asuna...Remembering the eldest of the two gorgon sisters, Vahn turned his attention to the cottage near the edge of the ring-like lake. He could normally find her inside studying magic or lazing about in the bathhouse next door, proactively accelerating her growth while warming her body. She, unlike Euryale, was just as cold-blooded as her mother, and, though she could easily use magic to regulate her core temperature, it seemed to be an 'instinct' for gorgons to siphon the warmth of others, soak their bodies under the sun, or relax in a hot bath...Though he wasn't 'afraid' of his daughter, Vahn decided to put off meeting with her until he had the chance to properly relax. She had an Innate seductive quality, and, though she didn't act with any ill will or specific intent, Vahn wasn't entirely immune to her natural charms. This was exacerbated by the fact she now had the appearance of an inordinately beautiful woman in her mid-twenties, her secondary sexual characteristics having fully developed to a rather 'dangerous' extent.As was the case with all gorgons, including the dragon-born Euryale, Stheno was extremely clingy, so, whenever Vahn spent time with her, it was impossible to keep her from sticking to him. This was fine when she was just a little girl, but, now that her breasts had grown to a surprising 90cm, having her constrict, rub against, and nuzzle against him was slightly troublesome. He wouldn't mind if she behaved innocently, but, as a result of her Innate, Stheno had a dreamy look in her eyes, constantly licked her lips in a seductive manner, and, though it didn't seem intentional, her hands and hair had a habit of 'wandering'.Fortunately, Stheno didn't seem to have any actual licentious thoughts toward him, and, though it would be easy to mistake her affection as a physical attraction, the truth of the matter was that she simply felt most comfortable nestling against him for warmth. This had been the case even before she had the wherewithal to control her own actions, a trait shared by both Euryale and her mother.Vahn didn't particularly mind skinship with his daughters, but, understanding it would become an issue if he didn't wean them at some point, he was gradually trying to reduce Stheno's clinginess. The problem was that, despite her rampant growth, she was still very young, and, with Euryale as her twin, she had a pretty good reason to continue clinging to him. He would eventually need to wean them both, but, until Euryale began showing signs of wanting to mature, Vahn's hands were effectively tied.Shaking his head, Vahn continued to stroke the top of Euryale's as he asked, "Where are Fenrir and Asuna? Did they go somewhere to train?"Though she still struggled with speaking and showing expressiveness, Euryale, largely thanks to her interactions with Asuna, had developed other ways to communicate. Vahn just needed to open his mind, and, as expected, a tiny and demure voice could be heard answering, ("Sister Fenrir was here a little while ago...I think she went to take a bath...I don't know where Asuna went...")Hearing the last statement, Vahn instinctually furrowed his brows for a brief moment before asking the World Tree where Asuna had run off to. He knew she hadn't been in the best of moods after the encounter with Nagi, but, with a time dilation of 10:1 on the island, she had more than enough time to calm herself. Her 'disappearing' was certainly abnormal, and, when he heard where she was at, a deeply profound sigh escaped his lips as he caressed Euryale's head to reassure there was nothing wrong...---Located on the outermost regions of the Little Garden, a beautiful woman could be seen floating a few meters off the ground, her orange hair, which was normally kept in twin-tails, flowing gracefully behind her and cascading down her shoulders. There was a serene aura permeating from her body, and, though it wasn't noticeable unless you got very close, a gentle white aura could be seen rising from her body like a thin mist.Though she knew Vahn would probably be a little upset with her, Asuna was tired of being treated like a child, so, taking advantage of the fact nobody had been around during the time of her entry, she used the State of Nothingness to hide her presence before sneaking off to the periphery. Since then, a total of 379 days had passed, and, though she had been extremely lonely, she persevered in the hopes that Vahn would acknowledge both her patience and growth. At the very least, she would only have to wait a few more months until her next birthday, removing the final obstacle that stood in her way...As this thought crossed her mind, a subtle blush spread across Asuna's face, accompanied by a very prominent smile. Her long period of reflection had only strengthened her feelings, and, though she had come to understand how childish some of her previous actions had been, Asuna was confident that Vahn would forgive her selfishness. After all, everything she did was fueled by her desire to be just a 'little' bit closer to him. She knew it was almost impossible to convince him to have sex with her before he consummated his relationship with Eva, but, at the very least, she wanted the same level of intimacy as Arika and Theo...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'A healthy partnership requires both sides to compromise','Vahn's troubles never end','A girl in love can be very scary (o _ o)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Having finished their daily training hours prior, Vahn was relaxing on the beach chair wearing a pair of swimming trunks, sunglasses, and a pair of headphones. There was a large beach parasol next to him, but, enjoying the sun's warmth, he tilted it away from his body, exposing his tanned skin to the sun's gentle caress. He was quite fond of relaxing outdoors, and, though he knew the main reason Asuna had invited him was to show off her new bikini, that didn't stop him from enjoying the warm sun and the cool breeze...After spending nearly twenty minutes submerged, Asuna poked half her head out of the water, her contemplative gaze showing no hostility but reminding Vahn of an alligator waiting near the water's edge. He was pretty good at sensing when she was up to something, so, when Asuna invited him to go exploring an undersea cave, Vahn politely declined. He could sense that she had placed all kinds of magical barriers and wards around the area, and, after sending his intent to investigate, he found a few hundred candles decorating the interior cavern.Though she probably didn't have anything too risque in mind, confined quarters with atmospheric lighting were a breeding ground for licentious thoughts. Even if her intention was only to nestle up close to him, 'normal' behavior at most times, the fact she was wearing a white string bikini made it a lot less 'innocent'. She had even been tanning recently, so, while most of her body was kissed by a very healthy shade of brown, there were a few regions that were still pristine, fair, and, as was likely her intention, eye-catching.Seeing Asuna continuing to stare at him, the edges of Vahn's lips curled up as he gave her a casual wave. This caused her to flare her nostrils slightly, a mischievous glimmer flashing across her eyes as she dipped her head beneath the water's surface. Immediately after, her presence seemed to vanish in its entirety, but, unless she vanished from the outside of his Domain and snuck in, Vahn could still track her if he really wanted to.Sensing an almost imperceptible distortion in the fabric of Space-Time, Vahn turned his attention to his right, an area just outside his periphery. There, he found a smiling Asuna performing a ram seal, the index and middle fingers of both hands pressed parallel to each other as the ring and pinky of her left hand cupped her right. This was a familiar seal for those familiar with the Record of Naruto, but, as was the case with many principles, a number of things transferred between worlds.With some of the most powerful Ki users being practitioners of Chinese Kenpo and the ancient Japanese Ninja Arts, techniques like Kage Bunchin, Shunshin, and even the Substitution Technique actually existed in the Akamatsuverse. Asuna was well-aware of this, and, in her pursuit of knowing everything there was to know about him, she was equally aware of the fact he used to be a fan of Naruto. She had read a variation of the series that was drastically different from the one found in his memories, but, while there were some pretty major differences, many of the central elements remained the same.Taking advantage of her mastery over internal energy and Ki, a large cloud of pink smoke erupted around Asuna as she shouted, "Hāremu no Jutsu~!". The explosion was powerful enough to knock the sunglasses from Vahn's face, kicking up a considerable amount of sand in the process, but, with a thin aura protecting his body, he was left to smile wryly when a total of twenty bikini-clad Asuna's appeared around him.Though all twenty gave off the impression of the original, Vahn turned his attention to one specific Asuna amongst the group, asking, "What are you trying to pull this time?"Smiling wide enough to display her pearly whites, Asuna didn't hesitate for a single moment before saying, "Let's play the King's Game. Loser has to abide by one request from the winner."Understanding that the King's Game was essentially just an 'advanced' form of Truth or Dare, Vahn wasted no time in shaking his head, stating, "You are too young to play such a game. Also, even if you have a bunch of clones, there are only two of us present. What next, are you going to ask me to play Doctor?"Appearing slightly indignant, at least on the surface, Asuna puffed out her cheeks in an attempt to appear both pouty and adorable. This had worked well when she was younger, and, though Vahn had built up a resistance to it, Asuna couldn't help but laugh internally when she saw the edges of his smile twitch. There was also a slight contraction of his pupils before they returned to normal, a sure sign that he had wavered, even if only a little bit.By baiting Vahn with an unreasonable request, Asuna had primed him to be more accepting of her next request, something far tamer, but, for her, equally as exciting. She was confident in her speed and actually enjoying running around ever since the first time Vahn took her exploring the forests near Nyandoma. Thus, after pretending to pout for several seconds, she released a disappointed huff before crossing her arms and saying, "How about a game of tag then? The winner still gets to make a request of the loser, but, instead of 'anything', they are limited to choosing something that has already happened."Though he was almost positive that Asuna was baiting him, Vahn didn't really have anything else going on at the moment. He also trusted that Asuna wouldn't take things too far, so, after a brief moment of deliberation, he nodded his head and asked, "So, you want me to chase down each of your clones?"Hearing Vahn acquiesce to her 'compromise', a mischievous smile spread across Asuna's face as she explained, "That is just one of the rules. The other two are that you can only tag someone over their clothes, and, unless you burst them, my clones will be able to tag you back. I believe that's fair since you have the ability to control Space and Time."'Realizing' what kind of game Asuna was trying to loop him into, Vahn inspected her scanty white bikini, a garment that effectively only covered her erogenous zones. If he agreed to her game, his victory was predicated on his willingness to basically grope her, and, knowing Asuna, there was a very high chance she would discard one, or both, of the garments. He hadn't missed the face she tied a tiny ribbon around her left ankle, and, while most wouldn't consider that clothing, the actual definition encompassed item, object, or apparel worn on the body.Suppressing a sigh, Vahn was about to refuse Asuna's game when she very plainly pointed out, "It is just touching. You used to help me wash when I was younger and you see me naked several times a day. We also sleep and cuddle together, so what's wrong with a little touching? Besides, my mother has already given her consent and I don't even remotely mind you touching my body. I doubt it will be more intimate than those times you gave me a massage..."Though she spoke nothing but truth, empowered by cold hard logic, Vahn couldn't help but run his hand slowly from his forehead to the back of his head. Her most powerful argument was the fact that her mother had expressively given her consent following Asuna's first period, as, in accordance with Vespertatian Law, a woman could be wed so long as they were evaluated to be of sound mind and had completed at least one year of secondary education. Though Asuna had only attended a single year of Academy, her theoretical and practical knowledge even eclipsed that of the tenured professors, so, in accordance with Vespertatian Law, she had already become an adult...Vahn was well-aware of just how mature Asuna was, both in body and mind, but her attempt to try and 'entrap' him was proof enough that she was still immature. If he had been much younger, there might have been a chance her logic would have worked, but, now that he had actual grandchildren that were older than her, his inhibitions weren't so easily discarded. Even if she had a body that was on the level of someone like Artoria, Arcuied, or Musashi, Vahn wouldn't give in until he felt she was ready for such interactions...Fortunately, Vahn didn't actually have to shut Asuna down, as, near the very edge of his domain, a few powerful auras entered his perception. Immediately after that, seemingly able to sense that he had sensed them, two of the auras began to surge. Asuna also took notice of this, and, though she would normally be 'very' annoyed by such interruptions, Vahn heard a sigh of relief escape her lips as she dismissed her clones. She was aware that she had pushed a little too hard, but, after seeing her bikini-clad figure in the mirror, Asuna couldn't help but feel a little emboldened...Refusing to allow anyone but Vahn to see her scantily clad form, Asuna donned her usual battle attire using her personalized [REquip] system. Then, manifested from a block void in the center of her chest, the black hilt of the perpetually unsealed Ko emerged as Asuna stated, "If that brat wants to fight, leave him to me. I've been yearning for a rematch and I currently have a bunch of stress to release..."Though she said the last couple of words in a barely audible murmur, Vahn could still hear them as if his ear was right next to Asuna's mouth. This caused him to release a light chuckle, but, unlike the hotheaded young woman, he elected to remain in his swimwear. He didn't take Nagi seriously, and, though this might seem hubristic, the simple fact of the matter was that the youth wouldn't survive a single exchange if they went all out. He likely wouldn't even be able to land a hit on Asuna at the moment, as, with the benefits provided by the Little Garden, her base parameters had increased by nearly thirty percent...------------------------------------------------[Status]Name: [Asuna Vesperina Theotanasia Entheofushia]Age: 12Race: High HumanOffense: 1638Defense: 1219Mobility: 3,412Base Power: 6,269Soul Tier: 5 (Realm Soul)Skills: [Child of Destiny(Non-Standard): SSS], [Key of Twilight(Manipulation): SSS], [Magic Cancel(Mitigation): SS], [White of Mars(Creation): SS], [Black of Venus(Absorption): SS], [Master Swordsman: A], [Master Ki User: A], [Heavenly Sword of Division(Spirit Cultivation): B], [Sage's Path of Enlightenment(Mind Cultivation): A], [Primoridial Goddess' Divine Body(Body Cultivation): B], [Expert Cooking: D], [Master Seamstress: C], [Great Divide: SS], [Hands of Nirvana: D]Magic: [Shundo:SS], [Koku Shundo:S], [Cantus Bellax: SSS], [Mellodia Bellax: SSS], [Vis Maxima: SSS]------------------------------------------------Though her actual parameters should be a bit lower, the fact Asuna's Zanpakuto was always in its unsealed form gave her a status that could rival the Gods. Her only real weakness was her lack of experience, but, similar to Jack, she learned and adapted 'exceptionally' quickly. Unless it was simply beyond her means to counter, no same technique worked on her twice, and, while she might not be able to externalize her magical power, her raw speed and her Innate ability to outright cancel magic made her the nemesis of virtually all Mages.Confident in Asuna's ability to secure a victory, Vahn wasn't going to interfere in her desire to vent some of her stress. Rather, he actually felt a little sorry for Nagi, as, after their previous battle, there was no way Asuna would give him a chance to counter. She was durable enough to outright tank a howitzer round to the face, but, when it came to dealing with actual pain, she was in the category of people that did everything within their power to avoid it entirely.Even if she left him in a far worse condition, Asuna was still holding a grudge against Nagi after he crushed her wrist and electrocuted her. This was her opportunity for revenge, and, though it was a little childish of her to hold such a grudge, Vahn was of the mind that people should be allowed to make mistakes. If her desire for revenge caused her to make a few mistakes, he would address them after the fact, as, without setbacks, even prodigies like Asuna wouldn't take every lesson to heart.Interested to see how much they had both grown, a smile spread across Vahn's face as he looked up into the sky. There was an exceptionally tiny dot glowing in the distance, and, as if it was one of the only ways he knew how to make an entrance, a flash of light, followed by a thunderclap, hit the beach with explosive force. Then, before the dust could even clear, a phenomenal aura surged out as a youthful voice cried out, "I hope you're ready for a beating, lizard breath...!"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The 'logic' of children is dangerous...','It's a trap!','Hell hath no fury...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1664: Fallout