Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With Quant taking longer than expected, Vahn decided to reinforce the dynamic he was trying to establish by manifesting three unique vessels. To that end, he pulled out a chaise lounge, making himself comfortable as Phae prepared tea and snacks for everyone. At the same time, Gandr kept the Princess of Zahard at bay, preventing her from complaining while getting as much information out of the fashionable young woman as possible.From Endorsi, Vahn learned about the structure of the Tower, the rules governing each floor, and common knowledge regarding the Jahad Empire and the Ten Great Families.Though there were some exceptions beyond the 100th Floor, it seemed that most Floors within the Tower were split into three sections: Outer, Middle, and Inner. The Outer Tower of each Floor had an average surface area of sixteen-million square-kilometers, roughly the combined size of North and South America. This was where most of the Tower's residents lived prior to being chosen to climb the Tower, officially becoming Regulars upon the completion of their Positional Exams.Nobody knew exactly how many people lived in the Outer Tower, but, based on several calculations, it was approximated to be between 123~150 billion sapient lifeforms. This included everything from simple humans, the most common race among the Tower's inhabits, to peculiar lifeforms that were comprised entirely of elemental energy, metal, or even rubber. There was seemingly no end to the variety of lifeforms climbing the Tower, so, much to Vahn's surprise, concepts such as racism didn't seem to be that big an issue...Among the Outer Tower's residents, it was estimated that less than two-percent were ever given the opportunity to climb the Tower. Fortunately, though it led to all kinds of problems arising, it seemed that the energy present within the Tower, Shinsu, had a drastic influence on a person's lifespan. As a result, it was possible for even relatively weak Regulars to live for hundreds, or even thousands, of years. Because of this, there were currently more than a billion Regulars within the Inner Tower, the region where Headon's chosen were given the chance to complete various Tests in order to further ascend the Tower and become Rankers.Rankers were exponentially more powerful than Regulars due to the fact that the density of Shinsu constantly increased the higher you climbed. This placed a heavy burden on the body, effectively emulating the increased spatial density Vahn often used in his training. The only real difference was that Shinsu, also referred to as God's Water, actually emulated a liquid at higher concentrations. As a result, it was impossible for normal people to breathe in it, and, when they moved into areas with greater Shinsu density, their bodies could literally be crushed into pulp due to the massive pressure differential.Since becoming a Ranker required a person to reach the 134th Floor, it wasn't an exaggeration to say they had greatly exceeding human limitations with just their physiques. This was why a man like Quant was able to break the sound barrier with ease, but, according to Endorsi, there were actually a number of people, specifically the Ten Family Heads and a few of the more famous High Rankers, who could easily reach relativistic speeds by reinforcing their bodies with Shinsu.The Ten Family Heads were led by the individuals who had accompanied Jahad, the current 'King' of the Tower, during his conquest several thousand years prior. Because of their deeds, they had been granted Immortality by the Tower's Guardians, and, though there were a number of people ranked higher than the Family Heads, it was simply impossible to compete with them in terms of political power, wealth, and authority.Vahn didn't need Gandr to ask in order to understand why someone like Endorsi would mention the power of the Ten Great Families. She clearly had her own history with them, as, after asking Gandr's age, she revealed that her own was around 316. This made her a pretty late bloomer among those just beginning their climb, but, as you moved higher up the Tower, it was normal to final thousands of people much older. Some even looked like children even after thousands of years, as, according to Endorsi, your body effectively stopped aging the moment you entered the Tower. The only way to grow was to mentally mature, so, much like Vahn's past self, the appearance of most residents within the Tower was based on their mentality, not their actual age.To underline her point, Endorsi mentioned that one of the Ten Great Family Heads, Eurasia Blossom, had the appearance of a young child who enjoyed wearing flamboyant and cute clothes. According to popular belief, she possessed the greatest talent in controlling Shinsu within the entire Tower, so, despite being well over a thousand years old before becoming Immortal, most people would guess that Eurasia was between ten and twelve-years-old if based solely on appearance.In essence, Endorsi was trying to convince Gandr that, despite her deceptively advanced age, she was still young. She even tried to get him to call her Big Sister a few times, but, for obvious reasons, Vahn wasn't going to do that, even as Gandr. The last thing he needed was some random Princess trying to treat his younger self as her little brother, using it as an excuse to try and touch his ears or take other liberties with him. Fortunately, Endorsi didn't push too hard, simply asserting that it was 'his loss' before going into further detail regarding the Rules of the Tower.Prior to reaching the 20th Floor, all Regulars were restricted to moving about and operating within the confines of the Inner Tower. This was to prevent 'poaching' before Regulars had a chance to find their comfort zone and build a support group to climb further up the Tower. After all, the Tower was a very competitive place, so, if they could eliminate the competition early on, there were few people who would even hesitate.Fortunately, upon completion of a Floor's Tests, Regulars were 'forced' to move up to the next Floor. Descending down the Tower was practically impossible before becoming a Ranker, and, if you were found attempting to interfere in the affairs of Regulars on a lower floor, the Floor Administrator or even the Guardian itself might obliterate you. This was especially true for Rankers, and, unless they were Test Administrators, it was generally 'forbidden' for Rankers to interact with Regulars outside of very specific situations.Though the Tower reinforced the idea that a person's injuries were their own responsibility, often showing complete disregard for people too weak to protect themselves, they actually had a number of systems in place to prevent the strong from preying on the weak. The only exceptions were when a person discarded their Regular status, effectively giving up their opportunity to climb and forcing them to live in the Middle and Outer Towers. It was only after abandoning their Regular status that they were allowed to descend to lower floors, but, in exchange, they often become the targets of various organizations that specifically targetted people who had lost the Guardians' protection.To many, abandoning the climb was synonymous with death, so, unless they had lost everything and experienced extreme trauma, most people would rather die than give up their status as Regulars. After all, they were the 'Chosen Ones', the lucky few who had been given the chance to climb the Tower and make all their dreams come true. Abandoning this opportunity was heavily frowned upon by residents of the Inner, Middle, and Outer Towers. There were even instances of people in the Outer Tower outright exiling those who had returned from a failed climb, lambasting them for giving up an opportunity most sought but few were able to obtain...---Having refused Endorsi's umpteenth request to touch his ears, Gandr felt considerable relief when Quant finally returned to explain, "Alright, listen up! The Test Director came up with a solution that should satisfy everyone. We can't really move forward with the standard tests due to how few your numbers are so we're going to mix you into a different group and allow you to participate in a rare bonus test called the Crown Game. Now, before any of you start complaining about having to take additional tests, you should know that the winner of the Crown Game gets to bypass the remaining tests and immediately move to the next Floor. Any questions?"Since he had just learned about positions and such during his very one-sided conversation with Endorsi, Gandr raised his hand and asked, "What about the Position Test? Wouldn't the winning team be at a disadvantage if they were to move on to the next Floor without being assigned a position? Aren't those supposed to be important in the Tower?"With a visibly annoyed expression on his face, Quant glowered towards Gandr, crossing his arms as he asked, "You tryin' to be smart with me, kid? While positions are indeed important, that only really applies to Regulars. In the end, what matters most is that you have sufficient strength. By the time a Regular becomes a Ranker, most are capable of filling all positions. Given how abnormal this group is, it won't really matter all that much if you figure things out while climbing."Unconvinced by Quant's explanation, Gandr showed a very similar glower on his face, but, before he could say anything, Phae stepped in, calming him down with her warm smile before shifting her gaze to the red-haired Ranker and saying, "Though your words carry some grain of truth, the most important opportunity we would be giving up is the chance to network with others. Given how long it takes to climb the Tower, it is rather obvious that a powerful team is necessary to complete many of the future Tests. Tell me, Administrator Quant...are you not just trying to get rid of us~?"Though his first instinct was to rebut and call the woman stupid, Quant stopped himself when he saw the surety visible in Phae's eyes. She might have had a kind smile on her face, but there was an overwhelming amount of confidence visible in her sapphire blue pupils, the kind of look that didn't leave much room for falsehood and deceit.Clicking his tongue, Quant broke eye-contact with Phae before answering in a bored tone, "You can think whatever you want. In the end, your only options are to participate in the Crown Game or give up climbing the Tower. Besides, every other team already accepted this Test after hearing about the prize. In the end, the thing that matters most is being able to climb the Tower as quickly as possible. Even if Shinsu stops your aging, you still have a limited lifespan. The current record is fifty years, so, unless you want to be a granny by the time you reach the 134th Floor, be grateful for the chance to advance even a month sooner."Rather than take any offense at Quant's words, Phae just giggled in amusement before turning her attention towards Vahn and asserting, "The decision lays in the hands of His Imperial Majesty...what are your command, my Lord?"Hearing Phae's words, Vahn set aside his cup of tea before rising to his full height and stating, "We will participate. So long as we aren't arbitrarily commanded to kill others, I see no reason to refuse such an opportunity. Rather, the name 'Crown Game' has a certain charm to it. I'm curious to learn what form such an event takes...hmm...if nothing else, it will be a good opportunity to see what the other teams are capable of."Immediately following Vahn's words, both Phae and Gandr bowed respectfully toward him before the former turned her attention back to Quant and saying, "It would appear our participation has been decided. Please, carry on with your explanation, Administrator Quant."Though he didn't like being told what to do by a Regular, even if they were actually an Irregular, Quant ultimately just clicked his tongue before explaining, "The test will take place in three hours. Come, I'll show you to the residential area. You'll have a chance to relax and get something to eat before the Crown Game officially starts."With that said, Quant didn't check to see if anyone was following him before turning around and walking towards the exit. He was clearly annoyed with the current situation, but, as someone who had been entrusted with the position of Test Administrator, he had enough sense to follow the rules and execute his duties. To that end, he led everyone to a small cafeteria attached to a common area and several corridors leading to hotel-like rooms...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Gandr using his adorableness to gather info...','Phae's giggle has the effect of sending shivers through the body...','Quant is in for a rough time')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Since rooms would only be assigned after the Crown Game had come to an end, Vahn idled about alongside Phae and Gandr within the cafeteria, a black sphere floating silently in front of him.Though it wouldn't have been that great a setback for them, it quickly came to light that Vahn and his companions were never presented Pockets, the devices that effectively served to identify and facilitate communication between Regulars.Pockets were also used to keep track of points, the currency used throughout the Tower, so, after an hour or so had passed, Quant arrived with three E-Rank Pockets. Each was loaded with a point value of 1000 by default, but, most importantly, at least in Vahn's opinion, each Pocket had the potential to translate all languages into a unified structure known as Macsethian.Without realizing it, Vahn, Phae, and Gandr had been speaking Macsethian ever since their arrival in the Tower. This was actually a pretty big deal, as, while Macsethian had the unique quality of being understood by everyone that heard it, there were no native speakers. Its basic structure was closer to that of a machine language than anything that could be spoken, so, once Phae pointed out they had never received Pockets, everyone present looked at her like she had said something completely ridiculous.Fortunately, as Irregulars were already abnormal existences within the Tower, it was quickly glossed over by Phae's explanation of 'Translation Magic'. This also garnered quite a bit of attention, but, as there was nothing compelling them to give a detailed explanation on the structure and existence of Magic, Phae simply refused to comment further, a teasing smile visible on her face. Since then, she had been analyzing the structure of the Pocket alongside Vahn while Gandr devoured enough food to feed a small village...---After scanning the Pocket's structure with her [Eyes of Truth], Phae plainly stated, "Invisible Mode.". In response, the Pocket seemed to vanish from existence, and, after sweeping her hand through the area, there was absolutely no feedback. It was almost like it had phased out of existence, but, from the moment they had first linked with the peculiar device, Vahn, Phae, and Gandr could all sense the location of all three Pockets.With a thoughtful look on her face, Phae made the Pocket visible again before grasping it with her hand and saying, "Whoever produced this is a genius. We should purchase one later and have Da Vinci analyze the internal structure. If we can reverse engineer the property that allows it to phase out of existence, it should be possible to make weapons and armaments with similar traits."Since it would be strange if they never spoke to each other, Vahn had Phae externalize his thoughts so they could bounce ideas back and forth in an organic manner. Thus, in response, he issued a curt nod of approval before stating, "I understand the merit in such a proposal. Once we reach the 20th Floor, we should also establish contact with the Workshop. Our status as Irregulars will undoubtedly cause us a few problems so it would be beneficial to associate ourselves with a neutral party."Chuckling lightly in response to Vahn's words, Phae leaned forward slightly, supporting her upper body with her elbows as she mused, "I'm curious to see the Workshop's Artisans with my own eyes. Though there are certainly some exceptional items in this world, I can't help but feel as though their technology has advanced in a strange direction..."Though it was mostly for theatrics, Vahn's eyes briefly wandered to Phae's rather prominent bosom, accented by her low-cut collar. He was trying to promote the idea there was either sexual tension or an ongoing relationship between them. This would direct the focus of any love interests onto Phae, and, though it would also make his enemies conspire against her, it didn't really matter considering they were one and the same. She would also be equipped with most of the equipment he intended to create within the Tower, so, even if she wasn't meant to be combatant, it wouldn't be long before she was famous for her strength and craftsmanship...Finished with admiring his own creation, Vahn met Phae's smiling face, earning a light chuckle from her as she suggestively moved aside her bangs. This made Vahn feel as though he had gone a little too far, so, without having to pretend, he awkwardly smiled before turning his attention to the tea in front of him and saying, "I agree. The fact they actually use Needles and Hooks to fight is more than a little peculiar. It seems like the Tower has fully embraced the theme of the deep sea...not only does Shinsu emulate the properties of water, but even the Positions are all related to fishing...at this point, I'm fully expecting to see fleets of ships shaped like fish..."Understanding the reference to the Akamatsuverse, Phae giggled in response to Vahn's words as all three of them contemplated introducing Airfish into the Tower. Most floating objects within the Tower made use of a precious mineral known as Suspendium, but that didn't mean it was the only way for objects to float. Rather, the existence of Shinsu was almost perfectly suited to the creation of Airfish, something The Path had assuredly accounted for prior to sending Vahn into the Record...With the thought of the Record crossing his mind, Vahn's attention shifted to system display for a brief moment, his eyes drawn to his Status. He didn't have enough Karma to incorporate the system created by Da Vinci, but, as this coincided with his desire for a 'fresh start', Vahn wasn't particularly bothered by it. Instead, he was interested in the default values assigned by the Record, and, most importantly, the name of the Record itself...-----------------------------------------------[Status]Name: [Vahn Aldrnari Mason], Sobriquet: N/AAge: 304 (Ageless)Race: Progenitor, True DragonParameters: [Transcendental Path to Heaven: 1-6]Position(s): N/AStrength: D-Rank RegularDurability: B-Rank RegularIntellect: C-Rank RegularAgility: A-Rank RegularControl: C-Rank RankerShinsu: [Quality: Divine], [Total: 56,520], [Baang: 9], [Myun: 314], [Soo: 314], [Tension: 100:1]Soul Tier: 4 (Divine Soul)Karma: 117Origin Points: 108,419,332Skills: [Will of the Emperor: SSS], [Rakshasa Body: SS], [Keeper of the Akashic Tome: B], [Eyes of Truth: A], [Chainbreaker: A], [Veil of the Traveler: A], [Hands of Nirvana: SSS], [One Who is Loved by the Heavens: SSS], [Smithing(Divine): C], [Swordsman(Divine): C], [Cooking(Master): E], [Cutting(Ranker): B], [Wave Control(Ranker): D], [Reverse Flow Control(Ranker): B], [Flow Control(Ranker): D]-----------------------------------------------Though it didn't really provide him with any quantifiable data, just knowing how he compared to others within the Tower already gave Vahn a tremendous advantage. He even had Ranker levels of Shinsu Control, so, while he might not know much about it at this point in time, it wouldn't be long before he became a powerhouse.For obvious reasons, Phae and Gandr had similar stats to Vahn, but, due to the seal placed upon his body, the young Vanargandr had the Strength of a B-Rank Regular and the Agility of someone who had just become an E-Rank Ranker. This placed him a little higher than Vahn would have liked him to be, but, considering the Record had a name like 'Transcendental Path to Heaven', it was only a matter of time before he encountered enemies that simply defied logic.Fortunately, that was exactly the kind of enemy Vahn was searching for, so, while the Tower might not provide too many challenges for him in the beginning, it would only take a few years before he was facing off against enemies with continental or planetary levels of power. Endorsi's statement regarding there being people faster than light all but guaranteed this, as, unless the Physical Laws of the Record were fundamentally different than anything he had previously observed, relativistic speeds and continental level power combined with cataclysmic results.Imagining his foes throwing punches that ripped through the void and collapsed continental plates, a smile gradually spread across Vahn's face. He could even imagine some enemies throwing literal planets and stars at him, their power so grand it caused the very fabric of reality to tremble in the wake of their blows. These were exactly the kinds of battles he was looking forward to, but, for the time being, he needed to remain patient.Vahn's primary objective within the Record was to increase his Soul Tier, so, while it would certainly be thrilling to engage in heaven-shaking battles, the most important thing was to 'experience' the world itself. He couldn't keep distancing himself from the residents of the world just so he could consolidate power. Instead, he needed to tackle challenges head-on, pushing through his limits to overcome foes that greatly exceeded him. It didn't matter how many setbacks he would face, as, in the end, each and every encounter would only make him stronger...---With a little less than thirty minutes until the Crown Game was scheduled to being, Quant finally showed up to announce, "Okay, you guys can follow me. I'll show you the way to the arena. After that, you're someone else's problem!"Though she wasn't genuinely offended by Quant's words, Endorsi pursed her lips slightly, asking, "Is that any way to speak to a Princess of Jahad? I might be a Regular, but that doesn't mean I have no sway within the Imperial Palace. If you keep being rude, I might just sick the Royal Guards on you~."Undaunted by Endorsi's words, Quant loudly snorted, hands behind his back in a cocky manner as he plainly stated, "Go ahead and try it, Bratty Princess. I'd like to see Royal Guards try and interfere with the affairs of testing Regulars. Evankhell would have a field day and you would lose your status as a Regular, but who really cares? At least you would have proven your point, am I right?"With those parting words, Quant spun around on his heels and started walking down one of the adjoining corridors. In his wake, Endorsi could be seen with the vein of her temple slightly pulsing, but, once she noticed everyone else quickly following after Quant, she quickly recovered her senses and shouted, "Hey! Wait for me!" before bypassing her own team to walk alongside Gandr.---After following Quant through various corridors for the better part of twenty minutes, Vahn and co inevitably found themselves within a massive circular room that was easily 500m in diameter. In the center of the room, located atop an elevated platform, an inordinately large throne could be seen, upon which sat a rather ordinary-looking crown.Even without an explanation, the presence of twenty teams, a single crown, and a throne made it pretty clear what kind of competition the Crown Game was. It was clearly meant to be some kind of free-for-all, but, based on the fact each team's rooms were blocked off by heavy gates, it could be surmised there was a limit to the number of teams that could participate. This was proven to be the case, as, immediately upon entering their own waiting room, Vahn noticed a giant red button and a list of rules written along the wall.-----------------------------------------------[Crown Game Rules]1: The goal of the Crown Game is to both steal and maintain possession of the Crown.2: Stealing the Crown means wearing the Crown and sitting upon the Throne.3: Possessing the Crown means the person must maintain physical contact with both the crown and Throne.4: The team member who first wears the Crown must retain possession of the Crown until the game has come to an end.5: If at any point a team loses possession of the crown, that team immediately loses the game.6: The game lasts for 5 rounds and each round lasts until someone has either taken possession of the Crown or 10 minutes has elapsed.7: If no teams have taken possession of the Crown before time has elapsed, all participating teams will be disqualified.8: The team in possession of the Crown by the end of the 5th game is declared the winner.9: In each round, only five teams can participate.10: The right to participate is determined by which five teams press their respective buzzers first.11: Failing to press the buzzer before the allotted time has passed renders the team unable to participate in said round12: Teams can only participate once, and, upon elimination, can no longer press their buzzer.13: At any point in time, a team can either declare their surrender or return to their waiting room.14: Attacking a team that has surrendered or returned to their waiting rooms is grounds for disqualification.15: Entering the waiting room of another team is grounds for disqualification.-----------------------------------------------Though there were quite a number of rules, the basic premise was: obtain the crown, stay on the throne, remain there until the fifth round has ended. This provided a major advantage to any team that would participate in the latter matches, but, so long as they were confident in their skills, it was also a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your capabilities and distinguish yourself from the other Regulars.With this thought in mind, Vahn stroked his beard in consideration, a smile on his face as he spread his domain to probe the nearby waiting rooms. There were a number of people present that caught his interest, but, more than anyone else, it was the presence of a young boy with messy brown hair and golden eyes that captured his attention.Realizing he was likely linked to events occurring within the original timeline, assuming there even was one, Vahn's smile became even more prominent as he looked over his shoulder and asked, "It might not be my throne, but I can't help but feel it is improper to allow others to adorn a crown in my presence..."Hearing Vahn's musings, Phae replied with an amused chuckle while Gandr, more than keen to do battle, offered a toothy and slightly predatory smile...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Macsethian, mothaf*cker, do you speak it!?','Ranker level control before the first fight xD...','Gandr's mood mirrors the comments section (UwU)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Following the conclusion of the 'Deathmatch', everyone present within the grass field found themselves teleported into a vast circular chamber more than 300m across. Standing a few meters from their position, a short man with brown skin and red hair that spiked upwards in an unorthodox style that gave him a wild and untamed vibe. As for his attire, he wore a militaristic white tunic with a small, house-shaped, badge pinned to his chest. The rest of his outfit consisted of black jodhpur trousers that flowed seamlessly into his boots, matching the gloves that fully covered his hands and ran to his elbows.Overall, the man gave off the impression of someone with a hot-heated temperament, and, as if to prove this was the case, he currently had an annoyed expression on his face as he asked, "There are only six of you? What the hell?"Without waiting for anyone to answer, the man pulled up a terminal that only he was supposed to be able to see. With a few quick inputs, a display showing each person present appeared before him, further annoying the man when he realized five of the six people present had absolutely no data. The only one that did was the Princess of Jahad...Realizing the information his brain had just process, the man's eyes became round as saucers as he shifted his attention to the fashionably dressed woman standing at the forefront of the group and asked, "You're really a Princess of Jahad?"With one hand on her hips, Endorsi batted her fringe bangs in a haughty manner before answering, "Indeed. I am one of Zahard's precious pairs of shoes. Now, aren't you going to introduce yourself, Test Administrator?"Feeling a massive headache coming his way, the fiery red-haired man made no attempt to hide his frustration as he released an exasperated sigh and rubbed his temple. Then, seemingly without any regard for Endori's status, he casually replied, "The names Quant Blitz. I'm one of the Test Admins of the 2nd Floor and a Ranked Scout. For the time being, the six of you need to behave yourself while I report this situation to the Test Director. It's pretty obvious you're all monsters after eliminating the other...196 contestants...?"With 200 Regulars taking part in the exam, the fact there were six people present implied that 194 should have been eliminated. This confused Quant quite a bit, his expression turning serious as he quickly filtered through the original list of Regulars to find the anomalies...With an ever-growing frown on his face, Quant quickly discovered the odd people out, dismissing the invisible display with a wave of his hand before glaring towards Gandr and Phae as he asked, "How did the two of you sneak into the Floor of Tests?"Rather than allow his other selves to answer, Vahn casually made his way to the front, his expression calm and poised as he stated, "They are my vassals. I summoned them to my side in order to avoid having to play your tasteless game. Is there a problem?"Though Quant wasn't at all amused by the fact that a Regular was speaking to him in such a casual manner, that didn't stop him from pulling up Vahn's data. Like before, there was no real information on the man, only that he was 'qualified' to participate in the exam. This wasn't too surprising, as he was on the original roster; what really confused Quant was the fact that both Gandr and Phae were also listed as 'qualified'...Understanding there was something very wrong with the current situation, Quant met Vahn's gaze, his expression turning even more serious as he plainly asked, "You...are you an Irregular?"Hearing the familiar term, Vahn briefly considered his options before ultimately deciding there was no reason to hide his status. It was obvious that being an Irregular was uncommon, the name itself being an obvious indicator, but that didn't mean he was going to conceal his identity. His purpose within this Record was to reach the absolute pinnacle, so, in response to Quant's question, he lifted his head ever-so-slightly before stating, "If the words of that rabbit are to be believed, I am, indeed, what you people call an Irregular."Not expecting Vahn to outright admit it, Quant looked at the man like he was observing someone who had lost their mind. Then, just as he had following Endori's introduction, he released a sigh of exasperation before remarking, "I don't get paid enough for this shit. Well, whatever. Just stay here until I get back. This situation is way too abnormal so I'm not qualified to deal with it on my own. I will return with the Test Director shortly."With those parting words, Quant dismissed his invisible terminal before departing the room with a quick burst of speed, effectively vanishing from view in an instant. The most surprising thing about this feat was that he didn't seem to use anything to enhance his movements, relying solely on the strength of his body to casually break the sound barrier.Vahn was quickly beginning to realize that there were some abnormally powerful people present within his current Record. Even people like Asuna and Nagi would struggle to perform superhuman feats without the aid of magical energy and ki, so, to see someone casually break the sound barrier using pure physical capabilities, it was safe to assume that even 'average' people within the Tower were going to possess super-human strength, speed, and reaction time.Rather than feel even remotely concerned, Vahn was actually looking forward to his future battles. For now, however, he had another matter to address, as, immediately following Quant's departure, Endorsi attempted to approach him with a mix of curiosity and enmity contained within her ghostly amber pupils.Without letting the Princess get anywhere near Vahn, Phae and Gandr blocked her path, the latter partially drawing Laev-tan as the former adopted a polite smile and stated, "That is close enough, Princess. Though your curiosity is understandable, attempting to approach an Emperor without his permission is behavior unbefitting a Princess of a foreign Empire..."Though she was momentarily confused by the woman's words, it didn't take long for Endorsi to realize what Phae was saying. This caused her expression to turn slightly incredulous as she looked between the trio and stated, "Wow, you three must be from the outside if you have the gall to call that man an Emperor within the Tower. In this place, Jahad might as well be a God. You might have been an Emperor in the outside, but you're basically signing your own death warrant if you intend to claim such a status within the Tower..."Realizing that Endorsi was actually trying to warn them, Phae continued to maintain her polite smile while Gandr quickly sheathed Laev-tan with a loud 'clack'. As for Vahn, he slowly turned to face the Princess, a relaxed yet dignified smile on his face as he stated, "An Emperor does not shy away from the burden of their title. Irrespective of the situation, I am, and will forever be, Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor.Hearing the firm resolution contained with Vahn's tone, Endorsi found herself in a dreamlike stupor, her mental faculties stalling for a brief moment as his words settled within her mind. She had never heard anyone speak in such an 'absolute' manner without any pretense or deceit. It was like she was hearing an immutable truth, and, based on the impression she got from his vassals, Endorsi couldn't shake the feeling that Vahn was a very different kind of Emperor than anything the Tower had ever seen...Before she could recover her senses, Endorsi's expression soured as a demure voice sounded from behind, hesitantly asking, "Are you really from outside the Tower? Have you ever seen the stars...?"---Shifting his attention to the cloaked figure cowering behind the six-meter tall demonic man, Vahn couldn't help but squint his eyes as he observed the 'peculiar' blonde-haired girl. He wasn't able to understand why, but she gave him an uneasy feeling. Her aura showed no particular signs of hostile intent, but, for some reason, she gave off the impression of a venomous snake that was prepared to strike at a moment's notice. Despite this, she seemed to be even weaker than an average human, an incongruity that didn't match up with the apparent nature of the Tower...While making a mental note to be wary of the seemingly normal girl, Vahn allowed Phae to answer on his behalf, her expression a perfect mask of amicability as she explained, "We have. They appear in the night sky, dotting the heavens like an ocean of sparkling gemstones against a vast expanse of darkness..."Seeing the fervor contained in the young woman's eyes as she hung on to Phae's every word, Vahn began to wonder if he had made some kind of mistake. She suddenly seemed like just a normal girl, but, considering their circumstances, that would actually be stranger. Thus, redoubling his intention to be wary of the woman, he extended his hand, astonishing both Endorsi and the as-yet-unnamed woman by pulling out a Memory Orb and projecting an image of the night sky.Following Vahn's lead, Phae lowered her head as a sign of respect and gratitude before turning to face the starstruck duo and explaining, "As you can see here, the night sky is filled with stars. This is an object known as a Memory Orb, a special device that converts memories into three-dimensional projections. They are really quite convenient when you want to demonstrate something that is hard to put into words~."Though she was listening to Phae's words, the blonde-haired woman was unable to prevent herself from taking a few steps forward, drawn by the projection of countless stars. She found them to be far more beautiful than anything she could have imagined, but, after extending her hand and failing to grasp one of the tiny motes of light, her expression quickly became soberer as she muttered, "Of course they aren't real you silly girl..."Shaking her head at her own chiding remark, the woman shifted her gaze towards Vahn, seemingly forgetting his status as she plainly asked, "Can I have that? It has always been my dream to see real stars...it's the reason I decided to climb the Tower. I want to break free from this cruel and hopeless world, a place where people are forced to betray others just for a chance at realizing their dreams..."Noticing the subtle contraction of the woman's pupils when she mentioned betraying others, Vahn could easily intuit what kind of person she was. She was the greedy and delusional type, the kind of person that prioritized their own wants and needs over everything else. He could easily imagine her lashing out at others whenever things didn't go her way, and, if he chose to deny her the Memory Orb, he got the distinct impression she would do everything in her power to steal it from him...As there was no way he could agree to the woman's request, Vahn allowed Phae to mediate, her tone firm yet kind as she stated, "I do not believe it is appropriate to ask for another's belongings when you've yet to even introduce yourself. His Imperial Majesty might not care about the lack of propriety demonstrated by people outside the Empire, but that does not excuse your behavior. If you are to have any chance of obtaining the Memory Orb, you would benefit from behaving more sensibly in the future...proper courtesy never hurt anyone..."Surprised by the unexpected reproach, the blond-haired woman showed a confused expression on her face before seemingly realizing what was being asked of her. Then, as if she had spontaneously become a different person, her aura completely changed as she offered a courteous bow and said, "Forgive my indiscretions. It was never my intention to cause any offense. I was so captivated by the stars that I simply forgot myself for a brief moment. My name is Rachel, Rachel Light. Please accept my sincerest apologies..."Though his back was turned to the woman, Vahn could see her from the perspectives of Phae and Gandr. He was also the one to sense the change in atmosphere around her, all but confirming his suspicions that she was a borderline sociopath. She was the type that could pretend to be whoever she needed to be in order to complete her objectives, the type of person who would only reveal her true colors when she was backstabbing or betraying others...Turning around as if he was personally inspecting her performance, Vahn pretended to relax his expression before tossing over the Memory Orb. This surprised Rachel quite a bit, resulting in her practically leaping to catch the orb out of the air and landing hard against the ground. Despite this, she had a happy smile, her face twisted almost unnaturally as she held the Memory Orb close to her chest and exclaimed, "Thank you very much...!" in a tone that didn't match the dangerous gleam in her eyes...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'A world where even the weak are superhuman...','Vahn be like, "Irregular? No. I am the Emperor."','Rachel, the shadow hidden beneath the Light')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1694: Information