Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With the 'departure' of Juuzou, Vahn took the initiative to invite everyone back to the hideout. He wanted to give the new residents a chance to get settled in, and, though she was currently on her best behavior, Asuna still needed her punishment. Leaving her fate to Eva wasn't exactly fair, but, as it served as a decent segue into the topics of the Little Garden and his future plans, Vahn left Jinbei to the Chacha sisters before alighting to the large library on the northern side of the estate.As could be expected, the moment Eva was out of sight from people like Jinbei and Juuzou, an air of confidence radiated from her as she briefly inspected Asuna before pointedly stating, "I can't say I'm surprised...still, mind explaining how the brat turned into a breast-demon in a single month?"Hearing her Master's words, Karin instantly adopted an accusatory frown, but, before she could so much as utter a syllable, Eva, with a very serious expression, turned to her and said, "Vahn isn't the type to lie and wantonly manipulate others. Give him a chance to explain himself without throwing out accusations."Surprised by her Master's words, Karin was caught with her mouth slightly agape, her lips failing to form words as her mind floundered about for a response. She didn't expect Eva to snap at her, and, though she could understand the reason, it made her feel a little bitter knowing the former didn't hesitate to speak out in defense of Vahn.In the end, Karin gave up trying to speak out and simply bowed respectfully in acknowledgment of her Master's words. Then, with her hands neatly folded across her lap, she stood like a dutiful young attendant at her Master's side, her eyes staring off into empty space as if the discussion no longer had anything to do with her.Seeing how Karin was behaving, Eva had to suppress a sigh as she shifted her gaze back to Vahn, clearly expecting an explanation. In response, Vahn didn't beat around the bush, lifting his hand to show a brilliant blue orb of light as he explained, "I came into possession of a portable realm known as the Little Garden. Everything inside is governed by the Laws of Progression, and, though the flow of time is only ten-to-one near the center, it effectively increases a person's growth rate by a factor of one-hundred. There are a lot of finer points, but, simply put, it drastically accelerates growth, aids comprehension, and provides a sort of biological immortality since entities inside never age beyond their biological prime."If anyone else was saying these things, Eva would have looked at them as if they were completely full of it. When Vahn said such things, however, she always took them at face value, as, unless it was related to the things he couldn't tell her, he simply couldn't lie to her face.Shifting her attention to Asuna, Eva already had an idea about what had happened, her expression visibly darkening as she plainly stated, "I am disappointed in you, Asuna. You undoubtedly have all kinds of logical arguments to justify your behavior, but, even without being present, I can guess you went way overboard. Though Vahn has his fair share of the blame, taking advantage of his nature to get what you want isn't an act of love...it is pure selfishness...tell me, how old are you right now?"Hearing Eva's words, Asuna couldn't help but avert her eyes, unable to answer Eva's accusation and subsequent question. She wasn't used to being reprimanded or accused, and, even if she wanted to try and justify her actions, she couldn't deny the truth contained in Eva's words. She was well aware of the fact that she had been the one pushing Vahn, willfully taking advantage of his inability to stay mad at her...Seeing Asuna's reaction, Eva didn't need an actual answer to know the faux-woman was still just a brat. Since Vahn mentioned the center of the Little Garden experience a ten-to-one flow, she could easily intuit that there was a varying rate of flow within the miniature realm, likely increasing as you moved towards the outer edges. Asuna had probably found a way to sneak into the region without notice, and, by the time Vahn became aware of what had happened, the damage had already been done.Shaking her head, Eva turned her attention back to Vahn, her arms akimbo as she maintained her accusatory glare and said, "You're too much of a pushover...tell me, how do you go from being one of the most domineering people in the entire world to a floundering idiot who gets tyrannized by a little girl? I know you don't want to hurt the feelings of the people you care about, but letting them do whatever they want just isn't healthy! You are supposed to be the one in control, Vahn! Where is your dignity as a Master and an Emperor!?"Though he didn't avert his eyes like Asuna, Vahn's expression morphed into an apologetic frown as he listened to Eva's words. He knew she was right, and, given Asuna's nature and temperament, she would have adjusted her behavior accordingly if he put his foot down. She was a very obedient and rational young lady, and, prior to her Eva's departure, the only action he needed to take in order to correct her behavior was explaining his reasoning and expectations...Realizing his fault in the situation, Vahn solemnly lowered his head, stating, "I understand where I have erred and will commit myself to do better moving forward...please forgive me..."Though she had heard similar promises before, Eva didn't actually blame Vahn, as, even before her departure, she expected something like this to happen. She knew what kind of person he was, and, in the absence of someone with greater expectations for him, he was susceptible to falling into the pace of others. He just couldn't help but try and make everyone around him happy, and, though it often caused him stress, he could bear any burden if it was for the people cared about.Feeling her anger rapidly diminishing, Eva wasn't able to maintain her accusatory glower any longer, a tired sigh escaping her lips as she crossed her arms and muttered, "I forgive you..." while casting a communicative gaze at Asuna. The latter easily understood the meaning contained within her gaze, so, without needing to be told, she bent down and performed a faultless dogeza, forehead pressed to the ground as she said, "I have also realized my wrongs...I owe an apology to everyone. I'm sorry for taking advantage of your kindness, Vahn...I just like spending time with you...I..."Seeing Asuna perform a dogeza, Vahn felt like a cold sweat had spread across his skin as he looked between her and Eva. The latter just rolled her eyes when she noticed his gaze before giving him a shoulder shrug as if to state, 'do whatever you want'.With his fiancee's consent, Vahn leaned down and placed his hand upon Asuna's shoulder, silencing her apology by sincerely stating, "I accept your apology, Asuna...now, stand up. You need not lower yourself to such an extent. The most important thing is to remember the lesson you learned and do your best to avoid repeating the same mistakes. You are an exceptionally bright and capable young woman, and, though you are not without fault, I believe you will become even more amazing in the wake of this incident..."Hearing Vahn's words, Asuna raised her head to reveal a thin layer of moisture covering her eyes. It was clear she had been on the verge of tears, but, now that she had been pardoned, the glistening layer took on a new meaning as she looked up into the face of the man she loved. This made Vahn feel a little helpless, not because she hadn't learned her lesson, but because he could tell Asuna had resolved herself to greatly exceed his expectations...---Though it seemed like everything had been settled without incident, Asuna insisted that Eva met out a suitable punishment for her recent behavior. She immediately came to regret this decision, but, rather than complain, Asuna had a defeated look in her eyes as she helped the Chacha sisters move all of her stuff into a spare room. She had been barred with sharing a bed with Vahn until her birthday, and, unless it was for training purposes, she wasn't allowed to make physical contact with him unless he was the one patting her head or tending her wounds.Feeling guilty about the situation, Vahn was tempted to commute Asuna's sentencing, but, before he could utter a single word, Eva silenced him completely with a gaze shaper than any spear. After that, he found himself back in the library, and, though he wasn't exactly complaining, Eva elected to use his lap like a throne as she explained the situation to Karin. The latter had yet to be informed of the existence of his Harem, so, as could be expected from someone that admired Eva as their most important person; Karin wasn't at all enthused by the presence of Asuna and the mention of others associated with her Master's fiance.Truth be told, Karin had already prepared herself to 'assist' her Master, and, if necessary, she was even willing to dutifully serve her Master's husband. She couldn't lose her virginity, and, if it made things easier on her Master, she was willing to suffer some indignation on her behalf. After all, they would be together for thousands of years, if not longer, so Karin wasn't foolish enough to think that 'nothing' would happen between her and Vahn. Her Master had also been behaving 'strangely' ever since their reunion, so, even if she was sorely lacking in experience, Karin hadn't lived for more than two-thousand-years without developing the ability to intuit certain things.Hearing her Master segue into topics such as parallel worlds, alternate dimensions, the flow of fate, and tangential timelines, Karin felt like her brain was gradually beginning to melt. There was far too much information to process, and, in the end, none of it really mattered. All she took away from the explanation was that her Master's fiance had come from a different world with the singular purpose of saving her Master. In that world, he had an expansive harem filled with actual Gods, Heroes, and a bevy of mystical and legendary entities. In the present world, there were at least five other women besides her Master, two of which were legendary monsters while the others were the Princesses of the most powerful nations in existence...Needless to say, Karin was incensed by Vahn's lack of fidelity, but, more than anything else, she was frustrated by the fact that her Master was completely smitten with the man. To make matters even worse, she could tell that the reverse was also true, as, even when he was just looking at her Master, Karin could see the love, respect, and admiration he had for her. He was also completely deferential toward her, a trait Karin both respected and felt increasingly confused about. She didn't understand how someone could be completely smitten with another person, yet, in spite of that, have a massive harem that seemed to span more than a hundred people...In the end, Karin couldn't help but voice her perturbation, waiting until her Master asked if she had any questions to glare at Vahn and ask, "What makes you so special that my Master chose you over everyone else in the world? I don't understand it. Even if you were able to treat her condition, I can't see my Master falling in love with someone so-"Before Karin could finish her words, Eva silenced her with a simple gesture and a pointed look. This filled the dark-haired woman with a bit of indignation, but, trusting that her Master would explain things, she remained silent and attentive. What she didn't expect was for a crimson hue to spread across her Master's face as she explained, "Explaining the reasons I love this idiot would take even longer than my previous explanation...the only thing that really matters is that I chose to fall in love with him. It might be difficult for you to understand right now, but believe me when I say it isn't all that different from your decision to follow me all those years ago...the love I now feel has given my life new meaning...even though I have the option to live a normal life, I'm no longer afraid to face eternity because I know a certain idiot will always be there to watch over me..."Though she was sitting with her back to Vahn, Eva couldn't help but bury her face into her hands as she uttered the final few words. This was a little contrary considering her statement that she was no longer afraid to face eternity, but, rather than point it out, Vahn earned the most profound pout he had ever seen on a grown woman's face as he embraced Eva from behind. Karin was glaring at him with a look that could even rival the release of his sword intent, but, rather than angry; it would be more accurate to say she was 'extremely' envious, not of Eva's position, but his...If looks could kill, Vahn was pretty sure he would, at the very least, be extremely injured by Karin's gaze alone. He could even feel his skin tingling slightly when he whispered, "I love you." in Eva's ear, his Magia Erebea constitution causing him to feel actual pain due to the rather ridiculous amount of holy energy exuded by Karin's body...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Eva be like, "Only I can say bad things about my husband!"','RIP Asuna','Karin about to go Biblical on this fool...)(A/N: I'm taking my break today. I'm feeling a little lethargic and want to decompress. Take care of yourselves.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Feeling the holy aura radiating from Karin's body, Eva was ultimately able to recover enough of her sensibilities to reveal her face and firmly state, "Karin, that's enough. Vahn might be an idiot, but he isn't a bad person. Though I understand your reasons, I don't want you to resent Vahn. You are both irreplaceable existences in my heart...please get along..."Though she wasn't able to completely relax, Karin's expression notably slackened when she heard her Master's heartfelt words. She was actually very happy that Eva had called her something like an 'irreplaceable existence', but, refusing to show any weakness before Vahn, she spent a few seconds trying to regulate her breathing before answering, "I understand...for now, I will continue to observe without passing judgment."Hearing Karin's response, Eva breathed a sigh of relief. She honestly didn't know what she would do if Karin actually hated Vahn. She owed the former a great debt, and, after neglecting her for several centuries, Eva felt a considerable amount of guilt towards the exceptionally loyal woman. As for the latter, he was the person she had entrusted with her heart, the man who had liberated her from the darkness and opened her mind to the endless possibilities of the future...With that thought playing across her mind, Eva remembered something very important, but, given the current situation, she wasn't sure if now was the best time to bring it up. Unfortunately, her act of biting the nail of her thumb with a vexed expression was clearly observed by the highly attentive duo. Vahn didn't even need to see her face to know she was struggling with something, as, with her seated in his lap, he could even sense the firing of her synapses through the contact of their bodies.In an attempt to ease Eva's anxieties, Vahn gently placed his hand atop her head, lightly caressing her silky smooth hair as he asked, "Is something the matter? You don't need to hide anything from us...isn't that right, Karin?"Though she was momentarily distracted by her thoughts of cutting off Vahn's hand, Karin wasn't so distracted that she was incapable of processing his question. Thus, after resisting the initial urge to lambast him for addressing her in such a familiar manner, she nodded her head and replied with a curt, "Indeed..."Realizing her mistake only after hearing the duo's words, Eva forcibly repressed a sigh, shaking her head in self-admonition before ultimately explaining, "I was thinking of ways to relieve the tensions between the two of you. That caused me to recall our previous discussion, and, though it might not be the best timing, I was thinking about trying to convince you to allow Vahn to analyze your Curse of Inviolability."As it was something they had discussed on numerous occasions, Karin wasn't too surprised by her Master's words. Rather, after how fervently Eva had talked-up Vahn's capabilities, she had gradually come to believe it might be possible to remove, or, at the very least, modify her curse. Though her reason told her this was impossible, her trust in Eva defied all reasoning, and, after more than two-thousand-years of wandering the Earth, the faith that had originally kept her going gradually turned into something else entirely...Before Karin could come up with her answer, both she and Eva were surprised when Vahn suddenly mentioned, "I have already thought of a number of solutions, two of which are guaranteed to work. Though it would be best for me to analyze the 'curse' directly, one of the things we can try is simply having Karin enter the Little Garden. It might be linked to this world, but the Laws governing it are a few degrees of separation from the primary axis of reality. If I'm not wrong, Karin's 'curse' is directly linked with the physical plane, so, by entering a realm with at least two degrees of separation, most of its effects should be negated."Though she wasn't able to understand everything Vahn was saying, Karin knew enough about her own abilities to say, "I have heard something similar a long time ago. However, when I tried to enter another dimensional plane, the gateway itself was destroyed. Even entering a Sub-Space Orb is very dangerous, as, the moment I enter within, the interior space begins to gradually collapse."Hearing Karin's explanation, Vahn's interest in her 'curse' became even higher, but, rather than take her words to heart, he ultimately dismissed them, saying, "You don't have to worry about that in my case. Even if I wasn't a God of Space, I have absolute confidence in my ability to create a realm that exists outside the influence of whoever is interfering with your life. As for the Little Garden, it should be completely safe...if it's not...well, let's just say I have ways to deal with jealous Gods..."Directing his last few words towards the sky, Vahn couldn't help but squint his eyes slightly as, for a very brief moment, he detected 'something' observing them. He wasn't very fond of being spied on, but, before he could trace the intent back to its source, it simply vanished into thin air.Following Vahn's gaze, Karin also turned her eyes toward the ceiling, a conflicted look appearing on her face as anxiety began to sprout in her heart. Before she could succumb to her doubts, however, her Master interrupted her thoughts, saying, "Even when I tried to tell you that curse of yours was a blessing, you always insisted it was some kind of punishment. If that is the case, know that you have suffered long enough. You have repented for your actions long ago, and, if your God is truly as kind and benevolent as people claim them to be, there is no reason for them to personally interfere with the happiness of a single person. That man's death was supposed to have absolved humanity of its sins...forcing you alone to atone without allowing any chance of redemption is a contradiction..."Though Eva still had a lot to say, the look on Karin's face and the way Vahn tightened his hold on her waist caused her words to trail off. Then, joining them, she turned her attention towards the ceiling, or, more specifically, the skies above. There, monstrous clouds had started to gather, but, rather than appear dark and menacing, they were like billowy white cumulonimbus clouds...Even without being able to see the clouds directly, everyone within the library was able to sense their formation and the awesome might contained within them. This caused Karin and Eva to pale, but, despite feeling as though electricity was circulating through his veins, Vahn wasn't particularly concerned by the encroaching storm. Instead, he sent his intent directly into the clouds, both as a silent challenge and a means to locate the source of the surging divine power.One of the most troublesome aspects of several Realms was that, unless you met certain conditions, they were simply impossible to access or locate. When an entity within that Realm used its power to influence another world, however, a gateway between the two was bound to be formed. This might be no bigger than a single atom, but, so long as it remained open, there was nothing barring those with the capabilities from passing through.Vahn wasn't particularly interested in waging war on the Gods or entering a Realm like Heaven, but, if they were going out of their way to break the rules they themselves had established, he wouldn't hesitate to hold them accountable. He hated it when people only selectively enforced the laws they had established, and, though he wasn't without fault, Vahn couldn't tolerate the small-mindedness of a God who punished a woman to outlive the entire universe for a betrayal they had orchestrated as part of their so-called 'grand design'...---Around the same time that Vahn was effectively challenging the Heavens, a woman with features not all that dissimilar to Altria was sitting silently upon a throne, her angular golden eyes showing a mix of consternation and excitement as she mused, "Hooo...that man actually dares to challenge the Throne...this is starting to get interesting..."Hearing her woman's words, a girl with similar features, albeit much younger, craned her head back to ask, "Did you sense something, oh Great Mother?"Matching gazes with the young girl who appeared no older than five, the woman adopted a small frown as she muttered, "Amateru...I told you to simply refer to me as Mother when we're alone..."Chuckling lightly in response to her Mother's heavy tone, Amateru, the true name of the first Queen of Vespertatia, answered, "I dare not. I fear that I might slip up around those children, so, unless the Great Mother insists, I cannot abide that request. Please accept my heartfelt apology..."Though she was dissatisfied by her daughter's response, the woman, Ialda Baoth, better known as The Mage of the Beginning, didn't both insisting. Instead, she raised her hand to reveal dainty white fingers, pristine despite the millions of lives she had harvested throughout the years. Then, prior to answering her daughter's question, she began to lightly caress Amateru's head as she explained, "I can sense the influence of the Rubrum. I am unsure of the situation, but it appears the Sage Dragon Emperor either isn't aware of the situation in Heaven or simply doesn't fear the consequences of his actions..."Hearing her Mother mention the name of a Seraphim, Amateru's eyes widened more than a little as she asked, "Are they so bold as to extend their reach into Mundus Magicus? Shouldn't the Code of the Lifemaker prevent them from having any influence in this world?"Though her daughter's words weren't entirely incorrect, Ialda still shook her head, her countenance darkening slightly as she answered, "Without the Great Grand Master Key, there isn't much I can do to stop them from interfering in this world. So long as the Throne is unoccupied, those bastards will continue acting however they please. There is even a chance that my Resonance is the result of that hypocrite Caeruleum using the Root of Creation to curse me..."Since her Mother generally kept mum on any matter related to the Root of Creation, Amateru was unable to hide her confusion. It was very obvious that something was changing in her Mother as of late, the most obvious indication being that she was currently seated in the former's lap. Due to the Resonance, it was virtually impossible for her Mother to demonstrate love and affection, yet, in spite of this, she currently appeared inordinately calm, her dark expression gradually fading away as she continued to absentmindedly stroke her head...Noticing her daughter's confusion, Ialda revealed an uncanny smile as she revealed, "I'm not going to make it easy for them, but my instincts are telling me my time in this world is soon coming to an end. Though I have yet to see their power, the strength displayed by the Third Princess is already at a level that could pose a threat to our organization. Our Inheritor and the Key of Twilight have been with him even longer, so, even if there is currently no evidence, it would be absurd to suppose they are weaker. As for the Dark Evangel...she was already strong enough to wipe out most of our group on her own. Now that she had joined hands with the Sage Dragon Emperor, I cannot imagine even a single outcome where we come out ahead."Despite the content of her words, a vicious smile began to spread across Ialda's face the more she talked about their dismal future. She didn't seem to care even the slightest bit about the impending destruction of her organization, and, understanding the reason, Amateru offered a wry smile of her own as she silently tolerated having her head caressed...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Gods can be surprisingly petty...','Vahn is letting his desire to battle a strong opponent cloud his judgment...','Ialda-chan isn't considered a prodigy for no reason...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Seeing the familiar island enter her vision, Eva couldn't prevent a smile from spreading across her face. This didn't escape Karin's notice, but, before she could question what had made her Master so happy, her forward momentum seemed to disappear as her surroundings instantaneously changed.Thinking they had fallen into some kind of trap, Karin didn't hesitate to draw her weapon alongside Juuzou. Fortunately, before they could do something lamentable, Jinbei, appearing just as lazy and relaxed as usual, performed a twisting gesture with his hand, muttering, "Switcheroo~". As a result, both Karin and Juuzou found themselves reappearing next to him, allowing the man to grab both of their shoulders as he said, "Relax. I don't think Eva would be too happy if you got in the way..."Having known and trained under Jinbei for hundreds of years, Juuzou immediately resheathed his katana. As for Karin, she just stared wide-eyed at the scene playing out before her, the hand she used to grip her katana tightening along with Jinbei's grip on her shoulder...Ignoring the looks being cast their way, Vahn and Eva continued to hold each other close in the middle of a small clearing. As for why Karin was so upset, this was largely due to the fact that she had seen Eva initiate their rather passionate kiss, and, though he held himself back, it was possible to see Vahn's fingers moving slightly as if he were massaging the former's waist.Truth be told, Vahn had nearly grabbed Eva's butt on instinct, but, feeling the gazes of both Asuna and the black-haired woman, he managed to restrain himself. As for the two men present, he did his best to keep his back toward them, habitually shielding Eva from view while combating the urge to simply teleport all three of them away...After a passionate embrace lasting nearly three minutes, Eva seemed to remember there were other people present, her impassioned look giving way for an embarrassed fluster as she began to lightly hit Vahn's chest. She was trying to make him release her, but, while it had only been a month or so for Eva, more than two years had passed since the last time Vahn saw his beloved fiancee. Though he did eventually allow her the chance to breathe, he didn't immediately release her from his grasp, choosing to continue holding her for several minutes before muttering, "I missed you..." in the most heartfelt tone he could manage.Though she was beginning to feel a little upset by Vahn's excessive display of public affection, Eva's tensions relaxed the moment she heard his words. She was well aware of the existence of his Realm, and, if the appearance of the woman behind him was anything to go by, it had probably been a few years since he last saw her. He had always been the sentimental type, so, while her embarrassment grew with each passing moment; Eva did her best to ignore it, placing her ear against his chest to listen to his powerful heartbeat as she muttered, "I missed you too...idiot..."---Realizing he couldn't keep ignoring everything else to keep holding Eva, Vahn eventually relaxed his hold after more than ten minutes had passed. Before he could greet the trio, however, the man he assumed to be Jinbei smiled back at him, a teasing look appearing in his pale-grey eyes as he said, "Don't mind us. Please, continue..."Though he had heard a lot about all of Eva's former companions, Vahn was still a little taken aback by Jinbei's teasing. He could also feel Eva's aura begin to surge outward, and, though he had briefly shifted his gaze away from her, he could tell her face had become beet red as she lowered her head to hide the evidence...Suppressing the urge to release his own suppressive aura, Vahn did his best to return a smile as he said, "You must be Jinbei...Eva has told me a lot about you. Though it is hard to put sincerity in my voice right now, know that I am deeply grateful for everything you have done for my fiancee...that goes doubly for you, Ms. Karin Yuuki. If there is ever anything you need from me, never hesitate to ask. So long as it does not go against my principles, you have my word that I will do everything in my power to aid you."Hearing Vahn's words, Karin released the death grip she had on her katana while Jinbei, showing no real changes in his expression, just replied, "You're pretty serious, ain't ya? Well, if I had to make one request, how about a life-time supply of alcohol? I've always wanted to try the alcohol produced by the Gods~."As his status as a God wasn't really a secret, Vahn wasn't all that surprised by Jinbei's words. Rather, even if Eva told them everything she knew about him, he wouldn't have cared. These three people were the closest thing she had to family, so, without any hesitation, he extracted a large gourd from his Inventory, tossing it to the man as he explained, "That is a rare liquor known as [Ningyo's Blood]. I'm certain you will find it palatable..."For the first time since his appearance, Jinbei showed a rather drastic change in expression when he heard Vahn's words. His Immortality was derived from devouring the flesh of a mermaid more than thirteen-hundred-years prior. Though modern Japanese had popularized the western version of the creature, embracing the idea that they were beautiful women with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish, their true nature was far more sinister. Japanese Mermaids were actually a type of Yokai known as Ningyo, a man-eating demon that lured countless people to their deaths by appearing as a beautiful face floating in a river...Despite his initial shock, Jinbei still managed to catch the gourd, and, after his expression gradually returned to normal, he fearlessly uncorked it before downing half the contents in a few large gulps. It was infinitely better than the poisonous meat he had consumed all those years ago, and, though it was subtle, he could actually feel some of his old wounds beginning to mend...Seeing the man down the contents of the bottle with great vigor, Vahn issued a light chuckle as he shifted his gaze between Karin and Juuzou. He knew both of these individuals were bound to give him some trouble, but, regardless of what the future held, Vahn was compelled to thank them for everything they had done for Eva. The former was probably the closest person to Eva's heart before they met, and, though Juuzou hadn't done that much, he still helped her alongside Jinbei whenever she requested their assistance.Noticing his gaze, Karin caused Vahn's smile to strain when she instinctually covered her chest. As for Juuzou, he showed absolutely no hesitation or restraint as he said, "Eva has mentioned that you are a transcendental blacksmith and an even greater swordsman. Though I am fond of my current weapon, I am very interested in a blade that can grow alongside me. If that is not possible, I would ask that you afford me the opportunity to test my skills against your own."Though a Zanpakuto was probably off the table, Vahn didn't have any problems forging Juuzou a weapon that could grow stronger. As for his second request, that aligned with his own desires, so, without needing to consider his response, he simply nodded, smiling as he said, "For a blacksmith, it is a great honor to see our creations in the hands of those who can draw out their full potential. I will see to it that your weapon rivals those wielded by the Gods. As for your other request...I would be a fool to refuse a duel against another Grandmaster..."Hearing Vahn's response, the atmosphere around Juuzou seemed to stagnate, and, though neither of them drew their weapons, a visible tearing of space could be seen as their gazes intersected. This was a phenomenon derived from pure sword intent, and, though it gave others the impression that the world itself was about to be cut in twain, neither Vahn nor Juuzou was expending any strength.Unfortunately, thanks to Asuna's previous antics, Vahn was far from his peak, so, after several tense seconds, a very thin line appeared on his left cheek. This actually startled Juuzou quite a bit, his eyes widening slightly before a shadow of disappointment appeared over his face. After listening to Eva's words, his expectations for Vahn were exceptionally high so he never expected the man to suffer an injury from a simple exchange of intent...Recognizing the disappointment on Juuzou's face, Vahn released an internal sigh as he decided to stop holding back. He very briefly closed his eyes, and, after opening them, it was like his gaze itself had become a blade, compelling Juuzou to draw his sword on instinct. Before he could so much as draw it a single centimeter, however, the lower half of his mantle and military-style blouse fell away as nearly every tree behind him collapsed due to a cut at their center...Seeing the man freeze in place, a wry smile spread across Vahn's face as he rubbed his temples and explained, "I expended a lot of mental and spiritual energy earlier so I'm currently not at my peak. If you give me an hour or so to recover, I'm confident I can give you an even better demonstration of the difference between us..."Contrasting his previous calm demeanor, Juuzou surprised nearly everyone present by sheathing his sword and bursting into laughter. For a brief moment, he actually thought Vahn had already cut him in half, so, realizing it was just his intent, he couldn't help but feel 'extremely' happy. This wasn't due to the fact he had survived, but, after nearly five-hundred-years without a proper opponent, the fact there was someone so far beyond him was both a relief and a wake-up call...Bringing Juuzou's crazed-sounding laughter to an end, a red-faced Jinbei heavily slapped the man on his back, forcing him to nearly trip as he said, "Hey now, don't go losing it after seven-hundred-years. I always told you there were some real monsters in this world~."Though he was momentarily tempted to cut off the arm of his former Master, Juuzou managed to control himself after seeing the light glowing in the Jinbei's eyes. This was enough to cool his head, as, despite greatly exceeding Jinbei's mastery in the sword, Juuzou knew he would lose if they both went all out. He had great confidence in the former's strength, and, though Jinbei was indolent to the point of sitting in a single spot for more than a year at a time, his power, speed, durability, and raw talent were all beyond comprehension...Restoring his image as a cool and unperturbed swordsman, Juuzou respectfully nodded to Jinbei before turning to Vahn and performing a courteous bow as he said, "Forgive me. I get excited at the prospect of battling against powerful foes. I pray my behavior did not offend you..."Rather than feel offended, Vahn actually felt relieved by Juuzou's outburst. He was thinking he had gone too far by incorporating the concepts of Infinity and Nothingness within his gaze. Fortunately, he seemed to have acquired himself something of a male rival and protege, two things he would benefit from having more of.Gesturing for Juuzou to raise his head, Vahn couldn't hide the anticipation in his smile as he said, "I am also excited for our future battles. Though it will have to wait until tomorrow, I have the perfect venue for us to exchange pointers. I'm greatly looking forward to seeing your Shishimi-Ryu with my own eyes."Though he would normally ignore such compliments, Juuzou couldn't help but smile in response to Vahn's words. He couldn't even put into words how excited he was for their coming battle, so, after a few seconds of silence, he lowered his head a second time before stating, "Expect my return with the dawn...". Then, with one of the most seamless versions of Shundo Vahn had ever seen, Juuzou vanished from the clearing, reappearing behind a boulder about three-hundred meters away before cutting Space with his katana and hiding within the void...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Gimme gimme...','She knows...','Imagine being a 700-year-old Chuuni...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1672: Judgment