Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though she got the impression her Master was about to do something very 'dangerous', Fenrir did not hesitate to appear at his side, eyes focused and ready for anything. This elicited an appreciative smile from her Master, but, before he could explain his intentions, Yoruichi burst into laughter while Hinata, having seen Gandr's current state up close, covered her red face with both hands.Following the direction of Yoruichi's pointing, Vahn noticed that Gandr was still naked. His clothes had been destroyed during the naming process, and, now that he had lost access to the Inventory, he had no way to cover himself. He still didn't understand why Yoruichi was laughing, however, as the boy wasn't exactly lacking when it came to the development of certain body parts.Having been agitated by Vahn's Source Energy, Gandr wasn't at all amused by Yoruichi's antics. The nails on his fingers became progressively sharper, but, before he could act on his instincts, Fenrir's paw came down on his head like a hammer as she firmly intoned, "Bad boy. We don't bare fang and claw at family. Ask Master for some clothes and then go wait near the World Tree."As his template had him behave deferentially towards his older sister, Gandr's ears instantaneously drooped in response to Fenrir's words. His claws and teeth also quickly reverted back to normal as he lowered his head towards Vahn and asked, "Master, may I please have some clothes...?"Since things were beginning to get a little awkward, Vahn handed Gandr a [REquip] system from his Inventory before ruffling the boy's hair and saying, "Run along. We have training pretty soon."Nodding his head in understanding, Gandr placed the [REquip] system on his left wrist, donning his usual attire in an instant before promptly sinking into his own shadow. This caused his presence to disappear even from Vahn's perception. In the next moment, however, he had reappeared, now on the 'surface' Texture. He had used [Shadow Step] to cut through a 'Shadow Dimension', and, though it was normally impossible to pass between Textures so easily, Gandr's mastery over Space allowed him to ignore such restrictions.With the not-so-young Vanargandr out of the picture, Vahn turned his attention to Yoruichi, his expression a perfect deadpan as he asked, "So, what's so funny? Why did you laugh...?"Demonstrating no hesitation whatsoever, Yoruichi offered a fearless smile in return as she asked, "Are you kidding me? Why does a boy that 'young' need such a comically oversized member? He isn't even trying to woo any women, yet he's got a tail on both the front and the back? Come on, that's got to be some kind of joke, right?"Not expecting such a response, Vahn found himself at a complete loss for words, his expression remaining the same deadpan as before. For a brief moment, he found himself remembering the first time he had taken a bath with Tsubaki, but, before he could become awash in his memories, Hinata exacerbated things considerably by pressing her fingers together and murmuring, "I thought it looked cute..."With everyone's attention shifting toward her, Hinata, once again, buried her face into her hands, a scarlet red hue coloring her ears. This was met with an oppressive silence that lingered for several long seconds, broken only when Yoruichi burst into laughter and began furiously patting Hinata on the back as she exclaimed, "It seems Vahn imagined you as a closet pervert! Maybe he read a few too many doujinshi? Hahahahahaha~!"Hearing Yoruichi's remark, imaginary steam began to rise from Hinata's head as she regretted her honesty. One of the things that had 'secretly' troubled Vahn about her original character was that she was unable to speak her mind, so, now that she had developed a nascent ego that coincided with his perception of her, the most drastic change to her character was that she felt a need to tell people what she was thinking...Deciding to put an end to Yoruichi's antics, Vahn adopted a firm tone as he stated, "That's enough. I understand you're just playing around, but you're taking things too far. You shouldn't laugh at the expense of others, Yoruichi."Seemingly undaunted by Vahn's words, Yoruichi adopted a challenging smile, arms crossed as she asked, "Hooo~? Am I doing something wrong? It's not like I've insulted anyone. Besides, who is it that made me like this, I wonder? Aren't I the confident, mischievous, and whimsical woman of your dreams~?"Though he 'knew' Yoruichi liked to tease people, almost incessantly, Vahn found it difficult to simply accept her words. As a result, his expression became somewhat dour, compelling Yoruichi to adopt a frown of her own as she remarked, "You're no fun. I bet Hinata isn't even upset...you're just being overprotective. You should learn to cut loose a little. This whole Emperor play you've got going on is just going to make everyone's lives more difficult. You should just be yourself, not the person you think the situation needs you to be. I sure as hell won't pretend to be something I'm not...name or no name..."Taken aback by Yoruichi's words, Vahn's expression softened somewhat, replaced by a not-so-subtle look of conflict as he seriously considered her words. Unfortunately, or perhaps the reverse, he was unable to consider them more deeply as Hinata regained enough composure to say, "Ms. Yoruichi is right...this journey is pointless if you don't enjoy it. Even though I'm embarrassed to think about the future...I'm happy to be here right now...I want to see and experience lots of things...I want to do my best to help all the people that need our help...I want to support our friends and allies...I...I..."With her complexion quickly reaching dangerous levels of crimson, Hinata became a little unsteady on her feet. Fortunately, before she could drop any 'substantial' bombshells, Fenrir stepped in, her expression serious as she stated, "Master is at his best when he acts however he pleases. Going at the pace of others is going to make you feel suffocated, just like in the Akamatsuverse. You should just do what you want to do. Even if you make mistakes, we will help you clean them up."Unprepared for the sudden pep talk, Vahn could only stare blankly at the three girls, confused as to how the conversation had shifted towards him. He suspected this was orchestrated by Yoruichi in an attempt to lessen her own blame, but, considering the context of their statements, it was hard to be certain. All he knew for sure was that they were trying to get him to stop holding back, much as Sis had been...Aware of his every thought, Sis seized the opportunity to add her own opinion, stating, (*You need to learn how to trust yourself. Constantly holding back will never allow you to reach the peak. Stop being afraid of things like expanding your harem or disappointing others. You are the man who will stand up the very pinnacle of creation, shaping reality itself with your thoughts. Have confidence in the person you have become, Vahn. This is the best thing you can do to repay the trust others have placed into you...besides, even if you were to try and convince them that your harem wasn't going to increase any further, how many of your wives do you think would believe you?*)Though he couldn't help but question Sis' dual mention of expanding his harem, Vahn understood the basic premise of what she was trying to say. She, and everyone else, actually made a very good point. He was someone aiming for an absolute and incomprehensible amount of power; an amount that would see him rule over infinite cosmoses. There was no way he would be able to reach such a level if he continued doing things like playing by the rules of other people and observing from the sidelines as others grew into their power...Realizing he was focusing more on the growth of others rather than himself, an exasperated sigh escaped Vahn's lips. He was supposed to be aiming for an incomprehensible level of power, yet, in spite of this, he was slowing his pace just to protect a group of people he had met little more than a month prior. At the same time, he was ignoring the countless others who had similar aspirations and ambitions; idling about as the people he had 'chosen' gradually increased their strength.Vahn knew that, if he really wanted to, his power would increase explosively just by moving up the Tower. Even the Guardians wouldn't be able to hold him back, and, though he was bound to meet a few setbacks along the way, he could, quite literally, pull himself back together and try again. There were no limits to the things he could accomplish, and, unlike others, the chances of him becoming corrupt were virtually non-existent.With the exception of the family he had left behind, the family he was desperately trying to reunite with, Vahn already had 'everything' most people could ever desire. His potential was unlimited, he had absolute dominion over a functionally infinite Realm, a massive harem of passionate lovers, an ever-expanding family tree, trillions of believers, and, most importantly, an empathetic heart and a sincere desire to help other people.No matter how strong he became, no matter what he experienced along the way, the singular truth that resonated at the very core of his existence was that he wanted to help people. Despite the path his Divination counterpart had walked, Vahn firmly believed that he would never stop trying to help people. He felt genuine pain when others were hurt, and, though there were some people he could never forgive, it was impossible for him not to feel guilty after taking a life. Their pain and anguish resonated with something deep inside of him, and, though they had undoubtedly deserved to die, the fact they had been pushed down such a path saddened him.If Vahn were being honest with himself, the moments he had experienced as Gandr were some of the happiest he had accumulated in recent memory. He enjoyed the feeling of 'freedom' that came with just doing whatever he wanted, so, when he heard the words of the four, Vahn couldn't shake the feeling he had messed up the order of things. He was supposed to be walking a path towards the absolute pinnace, a place where others could follow but never reach. If he set his pace based on the growth of others, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that it would take thousands of years, if not longer, to reach the goals he had set for himself...As if to hammer the point home, Sis picked up on this train of thought, appending,(*Though there are bound to be powerful beings in the Tower, they are far beneath the entities that lay beyond it. If you want to experience a true challenge, you should move ahead at your own pace. The further and faster you climb, the more people will try to bar your passage. It is through overcoming these trials that your strength will blossom. You already have everything you need, and, even if you don't, you can obtain it along the way...what are you waiting for?*)Hearing Sis' words, a mystical light began to illuminate within the depths of Vahn's eyes, the void around him trembling in response to his aura. He knew she was right, and, if he genuinely pushed himself, it might only take a few years to conquer the entire Tower. There were bound to be people barring his passage, but, as he had attested to time and again, one of the things he feared the least was a challenge. In fact, it was something he craved to the point of foolhardiness, so much so that one of the first thoughts he had entertained after obtaining his new Innate was creating a powerful rival for himself.Realizing how contrary his actions had been up until this point, Vahn couldn't help but burst into a hearty laugh, startling the bashful Hinata to the point that she nearly fell down. As for Yoruichi and Fenrir, they both just smiled in response, the former raising her chin slightly while the latter seemed to grow increasingly agitated. She was the most affected by his mental state, so, as his excitement grew, so too did Fenrir's.Though he knew he would mellow out once he calmed down and had time to properly consider his future actions, the current Vahn was too caught up in the moment to hold himself back. As a result, he unabashedly fluffed up Fenrir's hair and ears for several seconds before turning to Yoruichi, hand extended as he said, "Come..."Despite closing the distance without any hesitation, Yoruichi didn't miss the opportunity to adopt a vicious smile of her own as she playfully remarked, "We'll see if you have what it takes..."Ignoring the woman's goading, Vahn made use of his Petting Laws to caress Yoruichi's silky, dark-purple, hair. It was something he had always wanted to do, and, though it more than a little selfish considering the circumstances behind her creation, he got the impression she wanted him to do it. Rather, much like her personality had been dictated by his perception of her, his adolescent crush on her had manifested in a way that made her uncharacteristically receptive to him. After all, much as she had alluded to previously, he had always thought about what it would be like to keep her as a pet. She was very likely the reason he had developed such a fondness for Cat People, and, though she lacked the characteristic ears and tail, her ability to transform into a literal black cat gave Vahn a strong desire to pamper and play with her...As if her earlier words were false bravado, Yoruichi quickly developed a contented smile in response to being caressed. She even began pushing her head against his palm, and, after a few seconds had passed, two purple cat ears spontaneously sprouted from the top of her head. This resulted in Vahn using both hands to fondle the newly formed ears, his fingers massaging their interior as the edges of Yoruichi's mouth curled into a vaguely feline smile.Petting one of his childhood crushes was a pretty surreal experience for Vahn, but, before he could get fully into it, a demure voice emanated from just outside his periphery. This caused him to turn his head to the side, his pupils shrinking to the size of pinholes before rapidly expanding when he saw the cat ears that had sprouted from the timid girl's head. Then, as if to destroy the last vestiges of his restraint, she pressed her fingers together and muttered, "Ano...I would also...like to be pet..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'It's better to have and not need than it is to need and not have (UwU)...','An unexpected intervention...!','A monster has just been created...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the time drawing ever-closer to the moment they were supposed to begin their training, most of the members of Team Wolf Pack could be seen gathering outside of Vahn's room. A few of them had visible signs of a hangover, but, thanks to the blessings of Shinsu and an invigorating fruit drink provided by Phae, they were rapidly recovering.Since she was aware of the things taking place inside the Little Garden, Phae had already informed the group they were in for a surprise, but, no matter how many times she was asked, her response was simply, "You'll have to wait and see~." in a playful tone. Fortunately, most of them had started to appear after 4:30 AM, so, with only half an hour until they were supposed to begin their training, they weren't kept waiting for too long.What none of them expected was for a handsome man with healthy brown skin, dark-brown hair, and vibrant bluish-green eyes to open Vahn's door when there were only five minutes remaining. Even stranger was the fact he had a cat riding on his shoulder, an exceptionally rare Shinheuh that was generally only found above the 100th Floor. What made this cat even stranger, besides its rich coat of black fur, were its piercing, intelligent, golden eyes...Vocalizing what everyone else was thinking, Rak was the first to ask, "Who is this Green-Eyed Turtle? Where is the Bearded-One known as Vahn?"Understanding everyone's confusion, Vahn issued a light-hearted chuckle before promptly replying, "I am the God of Infinite Possibilities. Did you think my true form was that of an old man? That was just a convenient vessel I used to keep people at arm's length. Now that you are part of my Familia, there is no harm in revealing to you my true form."Though he technically had no such thing as a true form, the words of Sis, Fenrir, Yoruichi, and even Hinata had made Vahn realized the futility of trying to keep people at bay by appearing older. If he really wanted to deter them, he could easily transform into the ugliest existence within the entire Tower. Instead, he became an extremely fit and marginally handsome older gentleman, effectively changing the type of woman who was drawn to him rather than actually deterring them.Now that he had decided to stop holding himself back, Vahn assumed the form he often made use of within his Realm, that of a handsome man in peak physical condition. He lost a bit of the majesty his older form possessed, but, in exchange, he exuded an aura of confidence that was enhanced by his sharp features and relaxed smile.With the exception of Anak, all of the other women present were 'pleasantly surprised' by Vahn's sudden change in appearance. Hwa Ryun, in particular, had an exceptionally vibrant smile on her face, but, before she could make things awkward, Vahn liberated the group from their stupor by saying, "Hurry inside. Training is scheduled to start promptly at 5 AM. I'll explain everything else during breakfast."Following Vahn's suggestion, everyone promptly filed into his room before entering into the Little Garden. There, they found three people waiting for them: Gandr, a young woman with matching racial traits, and a demure-looking girl with short black hair and pale-lavender, almost-white, eyes.Though everyone could guess the identity of the woman with midnight-blue hair and scarlet eyes, none had any idea who the young girl with prominent fringe bangs was. All they knew was that she looked like a young and sheltered princess, but, before any of them could think to ask who she was, they found themselves gawking as the black cat on Vahn's shoulder leaped towards the other three, transforming into an athletic beauty with dark-purple hair tied up into a high ponytail.Taking advantage of everyone's stunned silence, Vahn gestured towards the group of four, casually explaining, "As I'm sure many of you have already guessed, this charming young woman who looks similar to Gandr is none other than Fenrir, my most cherished companion. As for the other two, you can think of them as my retainers. The woman with the cat-like features and predatory smile is one of the Captains of my Shadow Division, Yoruichi Shihoin. As for this adorable young lady with pearl-like eyes, her name is Hinata Hyuga. She might appear timid on the surface, but, when it comes to hand-to-hand combat, she is the second-strongest here. If you underestimate her, you're bound to experience some suffering."Since Hinata gave off the impression that she couldn't even hurt a fly, it was difficult to imagine she was as strong as Vahn had claimed. Despite this, none of them doubted Vahn's words, as, with the exception of Rak and Baam, many of them had learned from a very young age that you didn't judge people based solely on appearance. After all, if appearance dictated strength, Anak would be one of the weakest members of the group, not a powerhouse that could thrash virtually everyone with raw physical strength.With basic introductions out of the way, Vahn and Phae joined the group representing the Empire as he explained, "In accordance with my past promises, I will do my best to help each of you draw out your potential by the time we reach the 20th Floor. From that moment onward, your journey up the Tower will depend wholly on your efforts as a Team. You can't rely on my protection forever, so, if you're serious about achieving your objectives, you will use these next few months to strengthen your foundation and improve your teamwork. To that end, I will have Hatsu and Chunhwa train with Gandr. As for the rest of you, Shibisu and Nare will be under the supervision of Yoruichi, Aleksai and Rak will be following the direction of Fenrir, Endorsi and Anak will be training alongside Hinata, and, last but not least, Khun has the fortune of receiving Phae's tutelage while I, personally, will supervise the training of Baam, Laure, and Hwa Ryun. Any questions?"Though quite a number of people had questions, especially Endorsi and Anak, the first to speak out was Rak, arms crossed as he asserted, "I do not need a Fluffy Turtle to oversee my training! I am Rak Wraithraiser! What can-"Before Rak could finish speaking, a spear of ice passed by his head at hypersonic speed, missing his cheek by mere millimeters. This caused a layer of frost to spread along the left side of his face, but, much like everyone else present, he was too stunned to even move as Fenrir coldly retorted, "Until you complete my training, you might as well be a worm crawling along the ground. My Master has told me to train you, so, regardless of your personal feelings, I will whip you into shape. Unless you want to become the weakest member on your entire Team, you will follow my training schedule to the letter."As most of them couldn't even see Fenrir's attack after it had been launched, her words carried a considerable amount of weight. The only person who was unconvinced was Rak himself, but, after feeling the predatory aura radiating from Fenrir's body, his instincts compelled him to remain silent. His eyes, however, conveyed a strong desire to overcome the petite woman, securing his position at the very top of the food chain.Sensing Rak's desire to 'hunt' her, nine Baangs of Shinsu immediately formed a semi-circle behind Fenrir, stunning everyone present. Before she could teach Rak a 'lesson', however, Vahn plopped his hand atop Fenrir's head, shattering her Baangs in an instant as he ruffled her hair and said, "Go easy on them. Even if I can return them to life, experiencing death is pretty traumatic..."Hearing Vahn's casual remark about 'returning them to life', Khun's brows immediately shot up as he asked, "You can resurrect the dead? Does that mean you're the one who took Grey's body from the hospital ward?"Shifting his attention to Khun, Vahn smiled in response to the young man's inquiry before nodding his head and explaining, "Both Hoh and Grey are currently within the Little Garden. You will be able to interact with them at some point, but, for the time being, their training will remain separate from your own. Grey has chosen to return to the Middle Tower and Hoh has already made the resolve to walk his own path. Now, fewer questions, more action. It is already time to begin your training, so, unless it is something important, hold your questions until breakfast."Though nearly everyone had questions they wanted to ask, Vahn's words were enough to silence the majority. Anak, however, was not among them, her characteristically bored expression showing extreme anxiety and borderline desperation as she appeared before him, shouting, "You can bring back the dead!? What are the requirements!? Tell me!"Without minding the fact that Anak was forcibly pulling on his clothes, Vahn responded by patting the girl's head as he explained, "I can't bring back your mother right now. The future, however, is filled with infinite possibilities. Though it might take some time, I promise you will have the chance to reunite with your mother. For now, the most important thing is for you to obtain the happiness she would have wanted for you. Live a life she would be proud of so that when you finally reunite, she won't have any regrets..."With an extremely comfortable energy washing over her body, Anak's panicked expression quickly melted into one of moderate confusion as she found herself at a loss for words. She had only ever felt this relaxed during the times when she slept in Phae's embrace, so, for a brief moment, Anak's complex thought processes ceased entirely as Vahn's words settled within her heart and mind.Since he wasn't trying to 'tame' the not-so-young lizard girl, Vahn ended up retracting his hand after a few seconds had passed, smiling gently as he said, "Don't worry. Though we may not always be direct, Gods are incapable of lying. Now, run along and learn as much as you can from Hinata. I have great expectations for you, Anak."Similar to when he had instinctually pet Marble, Anak had a dull yet longing look in her eyes as her gaze followed his retracted hand. The efficacy of Petting Laws were inordinately powerful within the Transcendental Path to Heaven, so, even without [Hands of Nirvana], Vahn was able to forcibly calm someone down with a simple touch. It was actually a little terrifying, but, as he had no intention of misusing the power, Vahn was able to maintain his smile as he gently urged Anak in the direction of Hinata before turning to face the remaining Regulars.Noticing the cautious look in Khun's eyes, Vahn couldn't help but issue a light chuckle as he lifted his hand to explain, "As ridiculous as this might sound, I'm probably the closet thing to a God of Petting that exists within the Tower. If I wanted to, I could probably 'tame' each and every person here, much like the Family Head of the Lo Po Bia Family. Instead, I generally use my power to help people calm down, relax, or simply feel comfortable. Don't worry, I won't pet your head if you don't want me to. I respect established boundaries."Not expecting Vahn to just openly discuss his 'power', Khun's expression showed mild incredulity, a state that was exacerbated by Fenrir smiling proudly as she said, "Master's headpats are the best! If you work hard, he will be sure to reward you with plenty~!"Hearing Fenrir's remark, Vahn's smile turned slightly wry as he looked back at her and said, "Don't go making promises on my behalf, Fenrir. Even if there is some truth to your words, you'll give them strange ideas if you say things like that. Now, take your students and run along. We've already been standing here for far too long. We can talk more during breakfast."To punctuate his words, Vahn fluffed up Fenrir's hair and ears one last time before shifting his gaze to Baam, Laure, and Hwa Ryun to say, "The three of you are with me. Come along. I have much to teach you."Without waiting for the trio to respond, Vahn used his Telekinesis to grab all three of them, smiling as he teleported alongside them to the expansive sub-texture he had created to conduct Gandr's Naming Ceremony...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn make girls go brrrr','Fenrir is scary','The Godhand Returns (OwO)~!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With everyone else expected to arrive around 5 AM, Vahn awoke around 4 AM to find himself alone in his bed; a fragrant aroma and a still-present warmth attesting to the fact he hadn't been for very long. For a brief moment, he even buried his face into the blankets, earning a giggle from Sis within the deepest recesses of his mind.Hearing the familiar laugh, Vahn quickly collected himself, rising to a seated position to stretch his body before muttering, "I never thought it would feel so liberating to awaken my Mind Innate...it's been ages since I just slept normally..."Understanding his thoughts, Vahn got the impression Sis had nodded in affirmation before saying, (*This is an important step forward for you. Splitting yourself apart is certainly a very useful ability, but, unless you can fully separate from your other selves, it is an extreme weakness. Not only does it place a heavy burden on your mind, but it also prevents you from thoroughly appreciating each and every moment. Now you just need to overcome your aversion to dealing with the members of your harem using other versions of yourself. If you truly wish to attend them individually, you won't be able to do so while controlling each and every version of yourself simultaneously. Once you truly accept yourself as a being comprised of many, things will become a lot easier for you.*)Though he understood the logic contained within Sis' words, Vahn knew it would take him a long time to accept such an arrangement. Even if they were himself, versions of him he had full control over and could share experiences with, the idea of another man sleeping with his women, even if it was himself, was uncomfortable. This was technically the case in his current situation, but, while it was certainly difficult to manage at times, Vahn felt obligated to be in control whenever he was with his women. If he just entrusted the task to another, it would be like using a more advanced version of the Shadow Clone Jutsu...Even if he knew it was an inevitability, Vahn wanted to reach the point where he could split the axis of reality into multiple tangential realities. He would rather experience living alongside his lovers in their own individual axes of time rather than entrusting their care to another version of himself. This would result in him living out multiple eternities, but, so long as he created versions of himself that were unaware of the 'greater' passage of time, he could live countless lives without suffering any of the detriments that came along with living forever.Shaking his head free of such existential thoughts, Vahn performed a few routine stretches, popping several joints throughout his body before reestablishing his link with Gandr, advising, ("You should hurry over. There is no way to know what you'll lose during the Naming process, so it's best to get a jump start on adapting to your new existence.")Following a profoundly exasperated sigh, Gandr quickly replied, ("Though I'm excited to become 'real', I can't help but feel like this is going to be a real drag...not only do I lose my harem, I'm also going to lose Laev-tan...haaaa...if I can't enter the State of Nothingness, I might just lose my shit...")Hearing his younger counterpart curse, Vahn's brows naturally creased, but, rather than call the boy out on it, he allowed him to be as expressive as he liked. After all, Gandr really was about to 'lose' a lot of things, many of which Vahn could never rationalize giving up. This was the truest testament to the fact that the boy had already deviated from him, however, as it was simply impossible for Vahn to part with the people he cared about.Deciding to console the boy who was about to, quite literally, become his protege, Vahn adopted a gentle tone as he mentally remarked, ("This is an opportunity for you to experience the childhood I missed out on. You have already made a lot of friends, and, though your personality and nature are bound to be influenced by your Name, your 'identity' will remain intact. Enjoy your new life...for the both of us...")Though he responded with another sigh, Vahn could 'feel' that Gandr had been properly motivated by his words. This was the benefit of being the 'Principal Axis of Consciousness', the highest form of authority within a system comprised entirely of different versions and extensions of himself. They all deferred to him as a matter of course, as, in the grand scheme of things, they were extensions of his will; each working towards the same goal without expressly being ordered to do so...---With Gandr arriving as ordered, both he and Vahn promptly entered into the Little Garden to carry out the Naming ceremony. It wasn't the ideal place, as Naming was often exceptionally destructive, but, without knowing for certain whether or not Gandr would be able to safely transition between the Realm and the outside, it was better to be safe than sorry.Fortunately, Vahn still had the option of subsuming himself into the Realm before manifesting as his omnipotent self within the Little Garden. This allowed him to effectively create a 'Texture' within the Little Garden, isolating Gandr on a parallel sub-plane of existence where no amount of destruction would have any effect on the primary texture. Then, with Fenrir, Yoruichi, and Hinata all observing at a relatively safe distance; Vahn had Gandr kneel before him, placing his palm in between the boy's inordinately large and fluffy ears, voice rippling through the void as he said, "Henceforth, you shall be known as Gandr Erebus Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor's Shadow..."Similar to previous Naming ceremonies, a phenomenal amount of energy began to gather even before Vahn had finished bestowing Gandr's name. It quickly coalesced into a mass resembling a black hole, pure darkness that generated a phenomenal amount of gravity as threads of reddish-black lightning danced across its surface. It's pull was so great that it actually began to tear large chunks from the surroundings, ultimately creating a void that was several hundred meters wide.When the dark sphere began to slowly retract into the shape of a person, Vahn's appeared without any injury, suspended freely within the void with his hand still atop Gandr's head. He was generally immune to the phenomenon that occurred during the naming process, but, even if he hadn't been, his omnipotent status allowed him to effectively 'ignore' damage. This allowed him to be the first to see Gandr's 'new' form, the only real differences being that he was currently naked and that his aura felt a lot more 'untamed' than before...-------------------------------------------[Status]Name: [Gandr Erebus Mason], Sobriquet: N/AAge: 304 (Ageless)Race: Vanargandr, DemigodPosition(s): ScoutStrength: D-Rank RegularToughness: E-Rank RegularIntellect: C-Rank RegularAgility: A-Rank RegularControl: A-Rank RegularShinsu Resistance: N/AShinsu: [Quality: Ice, Darkness, Lightning, Sword], [Total: 41,600], [Bang: 9], [Myun: 208], [Soo: 208], [Tension: 100:1]Soul Tier: 4 (Divine Soul)Karma: (-)Innate(s): [Insatiable Hunger(Non-Standard): (-)], [Sage Dragon Emperor's Shadow(Non-Standard): SSS], [Transcendental Sword Soul(Spirit): SS], [Lord of Shadows(Body): B]Skill(s): [Shadow Guardian: SS], [Shadow Step: SS], [Shadow Clone Jutsu: S], [World of Darkness: A], [Chainbreaker: A], [Hands of Nirvana: SSS], [Swordsman(Divine): C], [Cooking(Master): E], [Unknown Mystic Arts: (-)], [Telekinesis(Regular):B], [Spatial Control(Regular): B], (Lighthouse Control(Regular): B], [Observering Control(Regular): B], [Reverse Flow Control(Regular): C], [Flow Control(Ranker): F], [Shundo: C], [Koku Shundo: D], [Shinsu Enhancement(Regular): B]-------------------------------------------Though Vahn was a little surprised by how powerful Gandr was immediately after receiving a Name, it wasn't difficult to imagine why when he considered that the boy was templated from himself. He drew from the same knowledge, experiences, and, most importantly, he was created after Vahn had already reached Tier 4. This gave the boy comparable potential for growth, and, though his Innates had changed drastically, they were bound to compliment the abilities he was 'supposed' to possess.Before Vahn could ask how the boy felt, Gandr placed his hand to his chest, a swirling black vortex appearing for a brief moment as he pulled out a pitch-black katana. Immediately after that, a tired sigh escaped his lips as he lightly swung the sword, producing hellish black flames similar to the Amaterasu from Naruto. This demonstrated that the sword, while a Zanpakuto, was not the Laev-tan he had previously been using.Confirming his suspicions, Gandr held up the pitch-black katana, smiling wryly as he said, "Meet Abby-tan...Laev-tan's twin sister..."Following Gandr's introduction, a strangely haughty hum resonated from the pitch-black blade, almost as if it was demanding attention. This caused Gandr's smile to turn even wrier, as, in the back of his mind, a very angry loli was spiritedly trying to convince him that she was better than her sister in every way...Though his connection with Gandr was now closer to the one he shared with Fenrir, Vahn could still understand what the boy was thinking. As a result, he ended up extending his hand, roughly patting the boy's head as he said, "Hey, at least you don't have to develop a Zanpakuto Spirit from scratch, right?"Replying with a tired sigh, Gandr promptly sheathed Abby-tan before explaining, "I no longer have access to The Path and its functions. Despite this, I feel...normal? It's hard to describe. The best way I can describe it is like...I feel like this has always been me? It's really strange..."Since even Xiao Bai, Lady Xuan, Zhuque, and 'Grandpa' Qing were also unable to use The Path and its functions, despite being a literal part of him, Vahn wasn't too surprised that Gandr had lost the right to access it. After all, The Path had completely fused with his own Ego, so, while extensions of him might be able to make use of it, separate Egos had no way of sensing it, much less accessing its functions.With that in mind, Vahn asked the next logical question, inquiring, "Are you able to use and sense Source Energy?"Without any hesitation whatsoever, Gandr shook his head, explaining, "No. Though it feels similar, my instincts are telling me that my current energy is something else entirely. If I'm not wrong, it is closer to the energy contained within the items purchased from the shop. I guess that would make it Origin Energy? It's really hard to describe...want to try reestablishing a connection so that you can experience it directly...?"As he was about to suggest something similar, Vahn nodded his head in response to Gandr before using the 'Unification' ability of [Universal Mind]. Immediately after that, he felt his connection with Gandr reestablished, but, unlike before, there was a very obvious feeling of 'disconnect', almost like there was some kind of obscuring membrane between them. This was likely Gandr's own Ego, and, unless he completely subsumed or destroyed it, Vahn wouldn't be able to exercise the same level of control over the boy as before.Feeling an unbelievable power surge through him, Gandr's pupils shrank to the side of pinholes as he shouted, "What the hell!? Is this how other people feel whenever we influence them? It's like I'm a single drop being washed away in an endless ocean of power...it's overwhelming..."As if to emphasize his point, blood began to flow from Gandr's nostrils, prompting Vahn to instantly sever the connection. In retrospect, he realized he should have returned to normal rather than allow Gandr to connect to his Realm self, but, as was often the case, hindsight was twenty-twenty.With the feeling of unlimited power fading away, Gandr's ears drooped rather pathetically as he said, "Now I suddenly feel empty...almost like my life has lost meaning...man, if this is the way other people feel after experiencing Source Energy, it's no wonder they refuse to leave..."Though he could understand what Gandr was trying to say, Vahn felt a little uncomfortable hearing him phrase it in such a manner. As a result, he quickly reverted to his outer self, extending his hand to stroke the boy's head as he said, "I'm going to re-establish the link. You previously connected to my Realm self so there is a good chance you were just overwhelmed by its omnipotence..."Before Vahn could follow through with his intentions, Gandr shook his head, a serious look on his face as he rebutted, "No, that isn't right. I won't refuse if you want to try, but my instincts are telling me there won't be a difference. I'm pretty sure it was the presence of Source that made me feel like this. I can understand why people like Eva, Illya, and Alaya are so eager to lap up your blood...I can barely resist the urge to take a bite out of you myself..."As if to demonstrate his point, Gandr opened his mouth to reveal several extremely sharp teeth. He had the same [Insatiable Hunger] as Fenrir, so, whenever he was 'hungry', his body would change to a form more suited for devouring things. This transformation could be seen with the naked eye, so, rather than exacerbate matters, Vahn decided against reestablishing the link until Gandr had better control over his new body.Fortunately, there was another Vanargandr nearby who could answer his curiosity, so, after a brief moment of hesitation, Vahn turned to Fenrir, waving her over. This resulted in Yoruichi and Hinata also coming over, but, as there was no longer any danger, it didn't particularly matter...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Sis with an Ego is like giving her a sledgehammer...','Chloe would be proud...','TFW you realize just how broken your previous self was...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1763: Shatter