Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After checking the red and blue teleportals and finding nothing but isolated colonies of Shinheuh, Vahn was starting to think his 'instincts' had triggered for no reason.Fortunately, he hadn't gone senile just yet as the green teleportal ended up leading into a massive chamber, much larger than the two preceding it. The walls were lined with countless metallic cogs, and, at the very back of the chamber, a large container of sorts stood like a watchtower.At the very top of said tower, a gigantic man, approximately 50m in height, sat with his arms and legs crossed. He had features that vaguely resembled an Elf, including pointed ears, but, unlike any Elves Vahn had ever seen, he had long golden hair, brilliant golden eyes, and a muscular build that could even humble Heracles. His garb consisted of a sleeveless black shirt, baggy trousers, a flowing red cape, and, most notably, large manacles that were chained to a slab of enchanted metal that, at a glance, should weigh well over a million of kilograms.As the mountainous man stared down at them with his probing gaze, Vahn's eyes began to release a vibrant golden light as he said, "Return to your team...this path is a dead-end..."Coming back to his senses in response to Vahn's words, John shifted his eyes away from the god-like figure seated atop the tower-like container, face paling as he suggested, "We should go back together..."Issuing a soft chuckle in response to John's words, Vahn began rolling his shoulders to loosen them up, walking forward as he said, "This is my path. Don't worry...I'm not someone who would lose to a 'false' God..."Without waiting for John's response, Vahn teleported the youth to the antechamber before sealing off the entrance with a massive slab of stone. He kept a number of such objects in his Inventory, as, with few exceptions, there weren't too many enemies that could endure a cubic kilometer of marble being dropped on them with meteoric force. They were intended to be one of his trump cards, and, though he had never really found an opportunity to use them, having a bunch of raw materials on hand was never a bad thing.Staring up at the titanic individual, Vahn's smile gradually turned into a more serious expression as he said, "I had heard about a 'God' of Guardian onboard the Hell Express, but I never imagined our paths would cross this early...so, how about it? Tell me, what do those eyes of yours see...?"Squinting his eyes almost imperceptibly, the being known as the God of Guardians appeared to ponder over his response for a full minute before answering in a paradoxically gentle yet booming voice, "You are not an Irregular...yet you are also not a native to this Tower...tell me, how did you enter this place without opening the door? Where did you come from? What is it you seek...?"Unable to restrain himself, an extremely exasperated sigh escaped Vahn's throat as he shook his head and muttered, "I'm starting to get really annoyed by the number of people disregarding my questions in order to ask their own..."Losing interest in the conversation they could have had, Vahn shook his head a second time as he attempted to turn away from the so-called God of Guardians. Before he could take more than a few steps, however, the aforementioned God landed in front of him with enough impact force to create an explosive shockwave. Then, grabbed the chain shackled to his right hand, he swung the massive slab of metal like a chain-mace while saying, "Fate has brought you here. Allow me to test the limits of your power..."Snorting in response to the massive man's words, reddish-black flames erupted from Vahn's left hand as he brandished Laev-tan towards the enchanted slab of metal. Her flames would usually struggle to melt through such a thick slab on their own, but, thanks to the destructive laws that were present within, combined with his mastery over the sword, more than half of the slab was cut away in an instant. This caused the God of Guardians to lose his balance for a brief moment due to him using his own weight as a counterbalance during the attack. As a result, Vahn was able to step towards the man using [Shunkō], lightning briefly flashing across his body as he kicked the God of Guardians in the center of his chest.With a visible ripple spreading through both his shirt and body, the God of Guardians was sent stumbling back several meters before crashing into the ground, a pained grunt emanating from his throat in the process. When he stood back up, a massive hole had been created in his shirt, and, at the very center of his chest, a bloody outline of a footprint could be seen pulsating with the beating of his heart. This injury healed almost instantaneously, but, for a brief moment, a look of shock and incredulity flashed across the titanic figure's face as he stared at the traces of blood and remarked, "Impossible..." in a disbelieving tone.Though he could have allowed the man to stay in the dark, Vahn adopted a somewhat prideful look as he shouldered Laev-tan and remarked, "There are no impossibilities. Existence, itself, is a miracle that defies all logic and reason. Some things might be inordinately difficult, but, just by existing, we open the way forward for infinite possibilities. Concepts such as unstoppable and immovable don't actually exist. The same applies to things like indestructibility and immortality. There is just 'harder to stop', 'harder to move', 'harder to destroy', and 'harder to kill'. Nothing is impossible."Opening his eyes marginally wider, the God of Guardians seemed to be contemplating his words for another extended period of time before answering, "I see...that must be how you entered the Tower without opening the gate and why my eyes aren't able to discern anything about you. You aren't something that is 'supposed' to exist in this place. You are someone that has chosen to be here in defiance of fate...that means you are either an Axis...or a God..."Rather than answer directly, Vahn just smiled in response to the man's words before asking, "Should I interpret your current inaction as an indicator that your test has concluded? With the spell binding you to this place broken, you should be able to bring your full power to bear without consequence. I won't force you to battle, but I am curious to see how strong one of the 'Artificial Gods' produced by the Workshop is..."Adopting a serious and stern expression, the God of Guardians rose to his full height of fifty meters before saying, "Though you have broken the enchantment binding me to this place, I will continue to carry out the duties assigned to me by my creator. It is my duty to guide those who have opened the door through a process known as 'Revolution'. It is this purpose that gives my life meaning so it is impossible for me to fight against someone for the sake of personal enjoyment. If you truly wish to battle against me, you must first undergo Revolution and prove to me that you have the right to be here. Afterward, even at the cost of my life, I will do my best to help you train and draw out as much of your hidden potential as possible..."Hearing the man mention his 'hidden potential', Vahn couldn't help but raise his left brow with an intrigued yet doubtful look on his face. As the living embodiment of The Path, there shouldn't be a being in existence capable of drawing out his 'hidden potential'. After all, he already had an infinite potential for growth, and, so long as he stopped holding himself back, most enemies wouldn't last more than a few exchanges against him. The notion that the man before him could unlock a part of himself that he was unaware of seemed ridiculous, but, at the same time, he couldn't help feeling a little curious...Before he could agree to the man's proposition, Vahn's words got caught in his throat when Sis suddenly interjected, saying, (*Your power is already developing faster than ever before. Are you certain you want to 'unlock' even more? Even if he allows you to gain access to power you already possess, are you going to be satisfied with growth that wasn't obtained through your own efforts? If you insist on wanting to go through with this, I'm not going to stop you. I just want to make sure you are properly considering your options before making a decision...*)As it was pretty rare for Sis to interject during such moments, Vahn immediately fell into a state of silent contemplation as he considered her words. He couldn't deny that she had hit the nail on the head, as was often the case, but a part of him felt like he 'should' undergo Revolution. It was almost like there was a silent voice calling out to him from the deepest recesses of his mind, its words even less audible than the mysterious hum of the Mantra of Eternity...---Seeing the mysterious individual fall into stunned silence, the God of Guardians, known as Donar to his creators, waited patiently for his answer. This was something he was 'very' used to, so, even after several hours had passed, he didn't find it strange that Vahn hadn't even blinked since the moment he fell silent. It wasn't until a peculiar 'pulse' began to emanate from the statuesque man, much like the distant beating of a heart, that Donar began to realize that something was amiss...Feeling a paradoxical sense of awe and dread, Donar's expression morphed into a stern grimace as he interrupted the silence, asking, "What are you doing? Did something happen...?"Blinking in response to the God of Guardian's question, Vahn turned his head up to face the giant individual as he answered, "I was just lost in thought. Tell me, what does this 'Revolution' of yours involve?"Though he felt there was something 'off' about the man standing before him, Donar's countenance relaxed into a more neutral expression as he explained, "That container behind you is known as the Rice Pot. It is enchanted with a powerful spell that allows those within to tap into the most primal aspects of their character. It allows them to experience a version of themselves that is completely removed from the false notions and pretenses that typically compel people to specific courses of action. In essence, it is a method that allows you to discover your true self, and, in the process, tap into the potential locked within the deepest recesses of a person's soul..."Nodding his head in response to the God of Guardians' explanation, Vahn surprised the former by manifesting the Little Garden in his right hand. Almost immediately thereafter, a flash of blue light illuminated the relatively dark room as Fenrir, frowning in response to the giant man towering over them, shifted her attention to her Master and asked, "What do I need to do?"Rather than immediately answering her question, Vahn affectionately ruffled the thick yet silky-smooth fur atop Fenrir's head before explaining, "Similar to Aoko, this man is going to help you unlock your potential through a process known as Revolution. I could present the opportunity to someone else, but I know how hard you work compared to the others. How about it? Do you want to give it a try or do you wish to continue training using your current methods...?"Having followed her Master for such a long period of time, the notion of 'receiving' power made Fenrir feel more than a little uncomfortable. When she learned the process was meant to unlock power she already possessed, however, she quickly opened up to the idea. After all, if there was anything hidden deep within her soul, it was something she had received from her Master. There was no reason to fear something her Master had bestowed, so, following the God of Guardian's explanation, she fearlessly entered the Rice Pot, eager to meet her so-called 'true self' and unlock the potential contained within her name...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Those are some big rocks...','Something about this doesn't feel right...','Fenrir is the goodest girl...but why do these last two paragraphs feel 'wrong'...?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though the interior of the Rice Pot hadn't seemed like anything special, Fenrir soon found herself 'sinking' into a seemingly infinite abyss. It was a sensation similar to sinking into an ocean trench, and, as if to demonstrate this was the case, the surrounding Shinsu grew progressively denser until it had a similar viscosity to water.Fortunately, though it seemed like it might never end, Fenrir managed to reach the bottom of the Rice Pot after descending for nearly three days. There, an endless plane of cogs opened up before her, and, though there weren't any light sources, she was somehow able to see the distant horizon, a region dominated by a pitch-black sky.Though she felt as though she were drawn to the 'nothingness' visible over the horizon, Fenrir's first action was to take in her surroundings. Then, finding nothing of interest, she sat down in the center of a stationary cog, legs crossed as she adopted a lotus position. She had learned that, during times of uncertainty, it was best to calm down and meditate before making any significant decisions.With nothing to interrupt, Fenrir spent the better part of five hours meditating before opening her eyes to confirm, once again, that there was nothing in her surroundings. This had initially filled her with a sense of disappointment, as she expected some kind of 'secret' power to be hidden inside of her, but, after clearing her thoughts, she realized it didn't really matter. So long as she continued to follow her Master, there were no limits to what she was able to accomplish.Confident in this notion, Fenrir set her sights on the endless nothingness that existed beyond the horizon. Though there was nothing there, her instincts were compelling her to pursue it, so, with nothing better to do, she transformed into a massive, awe-inspiring, wolf with dark blue fur and a pure white underbelly. She could now grow upwards of twenty meters tall, and, though they were generally only visible when she activated her power, a series of icy-blue runes pulsed silently at the center of her forehead.Finished with her preparations, a bluish-black aura outlined with an icy-white glow began to rise from Fenrir's body as she bolted towards the horizon like a comet streaking through the night sky. She wasn't sure of the reason, but her compulsion to chase after the 'nothingness' over the horizon grew progressively stronger the longer she observed it. Thus, despite the impression it was getting further away the longer she ran, her speed continued to gradually increase until the only thought in her mind was reaching the endless black abyss that seemed all-encompassing yet infinitely distant from everything...---Though he couldn't see what those undergoing 'Revolution' were experiencing, Donar was able to sense how effective the process was thanks to his unique perception and his aptly named 'Eyes of God'. Because of this, he couldn't help but feel at a complete loss, as, even when he allowed Jahad and the Great Warriors to enter the Rice Pot, it only took them a few hours to reach the depths of their potential. The woman summoned by Vahn, however, had taken nearly seventy hours to reach the bottom, and, since then, her power had been steadily increasing as the temperature inside the Rice Pot decreased to such an extent that even the exterior was covered in a layer of bluish-black ice...Noticing the same phenomenon as the God of Guardians, Vahn strengthened the link between himself and Fenrir in the hopes of understanding what she was experiencing. To his surprise, he found her repeating 'faster...faster...I have to go faster...' within her mind as she continued pushing her body beyond its limits. This caused him to frown slightly, as, even with their shared senses, he couldn't understand what was compelling her to run forward. All he saw was an empty sky, yet, as if it was the most important thing in the world, Fenrir was running towards it without a single thought for rest...Allowing the link to gradually weaken, Vahn shifted his attention to the God of Guardians, asking, "How long is this process going to take? Can it be interrupted from the outside...?"Without removing his eyes from the Rice Pot, Donar's expression turned into a slight frown as he answered, "Though it can be interrupted, Revolution normally ends once a person finds what they are looking for within themselves. Your companion...her potential is far beyond my comprehension. Despite this, she seems to have no ambitions, no desires, nothing...in fact, the only thing she seems to care about is pursuing this sense of 'nothingness'...I have no words to describe it..."With the Law of Identity verifying the God of Guardians' words, Vahn was able to breathe a sigh of relief as he rose to his feet and said, "It seems this 'Revolution' isn't particularly useful to someone like me. Though her potential is unlimited, mine isn't something that can't even be comprehended within the scope of reality. I might bring a few others here in the future, but it seems like I have no real use for this place."Though he wasn't fond of the dismissive tone Vahn was using, Donar made no attempt to argue with him. He understood that the former, much like the monstrous Ureko, was a being far beyond his comprehension. Since it would jeopardize both his life and purpose if he managed to offend the anomalous man, it was best to send him on his way without fuss. After all, his responsibilities were to train Irregulars and help them experience Revolution; not pander to monsters he had no hope of understanding...---Feeling a familiar warmth spread through her body, a natural smile spread across Fenrir's face as she opened her eyes to find her Master smiling back at her. Then, knowing what he was thinking, she nestled a little closer to him before explaining, "I felt like there was something very important waiting for me beyond the horizon...there was a moment when it felt like I could just reach out and touch it...but...almost immediately after, it felt even more distant than ever before..."Hearing Fenrir's words, Vahn felt a strange sense of melancholy as he instinctually correlated the 'nothingness' she had pursued with himself. If that were the case, it implied that Fenrir's existence, on the most fundamental level, revolved around her tireless pursuit of him. This inspired feelings of guilt to well up inside of him, but, before they could take root and sprout into negative sentiments, Fenrir squeezed him even tighter as she whispered, "Master is right here..."Though he was momentarily confused by Fenrir's words, it didn't take long for Vahn to realize that she had seen through his thoughts. This made him feel a different type of guilt, but, rather than pay it any mind, he just held her closer as he whispered their timeless promise, "That's right...always and forever..."Nodding her head in affirmation, Fenrir repeated, "Always and forever..." in a somewhat tired voice before gradually descending into the abyss of unconsciousness. She had overtaxed her mind, body, and spirit during the process of 'Revolution'. This allowed her reserves to increase from just under 300,000 to more than 740,000, so, as could be expected, she was 'very' tired. It was for this reason that he had used the Law of Petting to lull her into a peaceful slumber, as, even if he sent her back to the Little Garden, there was no guarantee she would take a break...With Fenrir gradually shrinking into her puppy form under the influence of his energy, Vahn tucked her into his shirt before looking up at the silent God of Guardians and saying, "Though I understand your reasons, it's a shame we never got a chance to fight. By the time we meet again, my power will be so far beyond yours that there would be no meaning in the engagement...it really is a shame..."Feeling as though Vahn was just a few words from abruptly attacking him, Donar felt a cold sweat spread across his body for the first time since his encounter with Ureko. The latter had beaten him so badly that the program designed to make him into a battle junkie had reconfigured itself into a potent sense of self-preservation. Thus, in the hopes of redirecting Vahn's battle lust, he averted his eyes for several seconds before suggesting, "If it is a battle you seek, there is another onboard the Hell Express who might meet your expectations..."Raising his brows in response to the God of Guardians' words, Vahn was about to ask who he was talking about when the Law of Identity happily chimed, "He wants to use you to eliminate someone named White, one of FUG's previous Slayers. They seem to be trying to devour the souls that have accumulated onboard the Hell Express in order to return to their original strength and become even stronger. Since the train uses the energy produced by these souls as fuel, giant boy over here wants you to get rid of them~."Though he wasn't that surprised, as even Realms like Heaven used the energy contained within a dead person's Ego to sustain themselves, Vahn couldn't help but frown in response to the Law of Identity's explanation. The Hell Train had nothing to pacify or nourish the souls it kept within so it was effectively using the negative energy derived from the suffering of the deceased in order to fuel itself. This was completely unacceptable, so, in response to the God of Guardians' words, his own became deep and heavy as he said, "Tell me where this 'White' is located..."Having yet to mention the name of the person he wanted Vahn to eliminate, Donar's eyes widened in a momentary expression of shock. He was suddenly seized by the impression that the former was able to see through his thoughts, and, as if to confirm this was the case, Vahn extended his hand and said, "I have no interest in meaningless contracts. So long as you hand me the ring, I will spare the Hell Express from complete destruction. This is the furthest I am willing to compromise...it is not up for discussion..."Sensing the Shinsu in the surroundings quickly side with Vahn, gaining a golden luminance in the process, Donar realized he had stepped on the tail of a beast. Now, the best he could hope for was ensuring the survival of the Hell Express until the Workshop returned to repair it. Fortunately, it had become a pretty important existence within the Tower, so, even if Vahn took away its fuel source, it wouldn't be long before the infamous train was up and running again. This was a small consolation, but, considering the alternative was the complete destruction of the Hell Express, it was better than nothing...---With the God of Guardians' chamber representing one of the numerous dead-ends aboard the Hell Train, Vahn needed to return to the area with the three teleportals before he could continue forward to the residential area. Fortunately, the route he picked seemed to be different than the one chosen by Team John as there were still Shinheuh swimming about. He needed to vent a little after learning what the Workshop had done in order to ensure the Hell Express continued operating 'indefinitely'.Though there was nothing assigned to directly torment them, the spirits onboard the Hell Express had effectively been trapped there for no better reason than to use their negative energy as a fuel source. This effectively guaranteed it would continue operating, but, in exchange, the designers had effectively condemned millions, if not billions, to suffer indefinitely. This was a maddening thought, and, though it didn't really surprise him, Vahn couldn't help but feel incensed at the 'injustice' of it all.Imagining what it would be like to be trapped for ten-thousand-years without a body, doomed to suffer just because someone wanted to produce a fuel-efficient vehicle, a potent feeling of nausea began to well up from Vahn's stomach. This was a sensation he hadn't felt in a very long time, and, for a brief moment, he felt like the walls, floor, and ceiling were beginning to close in around him. If he still had his [Chainbreaker], he imagined it would have activated then and there. Instead, the icy chill that had permeated his body and mind seemed to bleed into his domain, freezing everything in his surroundings as he said, "Disappear..." in a tone that seemed to penetrate the very existence of the Shinheuh observing him...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Run...','Ureko the type of girl to smack a computer and change its operating system...','Meanwhile, Fenrir is just sleeping snugly within her Master's embrace...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Thirty minutes before the Hell Express was scheduled to depart, stairs, seemingly materializing out of thin air, began to appear from one of the many doors lining the monstrous locomotive. It was a rather magical sight, but, as he could see the flow of Shinsu around the Hell Express shifting, Vahn was able to understand the mechanism at a glance. The stairs were actually stored inside the train, and, like removing objects from interdimensional storage, they could manifest anywhere within the locomotives 'domain' of Shinsu.With his own domain and inventory functioning in a very similar way, Vahn couldn't help but crack a smile. He always found it strangely refreshing whenever he encountered phenomena that emulated the functions of The Path. It made him feel like he was getting steadily closer to his destination, and, the more commonplace such things became, the easier it was to infer that he was in a higher plane of existence.As there were multiple sets of stairs leading up to the Hell Train, effectively allowing different teams to enter separate 'paths', Vahn left FUG to their own devices as he ascended alongside 'Team John'. He wasn't actually intending to explore alongside them, as they had their own path to walk, but he could at least look after them during the first leg of their journey. He was also a little curious to see what allowed John to become a prospective member of Wolhaiksong, so, after boarding, he turned to the man and asked, "So, what are you planning to do from here onward?"Having half-expected Vahn to just 'disappear' the moment they boarded the Hell Express, John was at a momentary loss for words in response to his question. His allies were in a similar boat, as, from the time they had met, up until the present moment, Vahn hadn't actually explained his identity to them. They just thought he was an 'unreasonably' powerful Regular, one who had seemingly taken interest in them out of nowhere.Laughing in response to the group of five's reactions, Vahn gave John's shoulder a friendly pat as he said, "Relax. I won't bore you with the details, but I'm basically an ally of Wolhaiksong. I also owe Ureko a favor so I thought I'd keep an eye on you until you passed the first trial. Don't worry, even if it's hard to believe, I'm not plotting to use your team for some nefarious purposes. I just feel a small amount of responsibility towards you after supplying your tickets. If it turns out you lack the ability to advance on your own, I'm afraid you'll have to disembark once we reach the 36th Floor."Though he doubted the veracity of Vahn's words, John's expression paled considerably when the former produced a Fourteen-Wing Badge, something that only Baek Ryun and Ureko Mazino, the two leaders of Wolhaiksong, should possess. His own was a mere One-Wing Sapling, a badge that appeared like a miniature wing with roots. It was meant to represent his status as a potentiate, and, the moment Vahn produced his own, John could feel his badge resonating with the former.Understanding the youth's thoughts, Vahn adopted a slightly teasing look as he mused, "Not just anyone can owe Ureko a favor. Don't worry, even if you ultimately have to disembark at the next station, your status as a potentiate won't be affected. Just do your best without putting your allies in danger. More than anything else, members of Wolhaiksong take care of their friends."Punctuating his words by ruffling the youth's hair, Vahn turned to John's team, consisting of three men and one woman, with a smile on his face. They were all looking at him like he was some kind of monster, and, considering what they had learned about Wolhaiksong from John, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him one. As a result, even the tallest of their group, a 225cm tall man with a build similar to an Adonis, forced a smile as he nervously gripped his vermillion-red spear...---Though information pertaining to the Hell Express was very limited, most Regulars were aware of the fact that it emulated a day-night cycle. The most basic challenge for those aboard the Express was to survive for a period of ten days as they wandered the labyrinthian paths present within the train's interior. This was relatively easy during the day, as there were very few enemies littering the complex halls and perpetually-shifting corridors. During the evening, however, a seemingly endless tide of monstrous Shinheuh and powerful automatons would appear.So long as you persisted for ten days, clearing a requisite number of sections each day, you would invariably find yourself at a chamber filled with teleportation devices. These rooms were generally known as the 'crossroads of fate', as, depending on your luck, you could experience tremendous fortune or encounter a seemingly insurmountable foe.Fortunately, even after teleporting and seeing what was on the other side, you still had the option of turning away and choosing a different route. It was for this reason that people boarded the Hell Express numerous times, and, by accumulating both information and experience, it was possible to determine which rooms were 'safe' before you even passed through their antechambers.The only real restriction on exploration was that you needed to complete at least one trial during the thirty-day interval between each station. This was a requirement for advancing to higher floors, so, if you were unable to find a clearable route in the allocated time, you would have no choice but to disembark the moment the train reached the next station. If you attempted to stay, both you and your team would be forcibly, and violently, ejected from the train. Since it often moored itself 'very' high in the sky, this was a potential death sentence to weaker Regulars so it was highly advised that anyone failing to qualify be ready and waiting near one of the exists prior to reaching the station...---Though he could have called out Ryun to act as their Guide, Vahn found it rather amusing watching Team John fumble through the corridors of the Hell Express. The interior of each car was like a small world, and, due to its ever-changing structure, there were a seemingly infinite number of obstacles, and, every now and again, 'unsurpassable' terrain. This included a literal cliff that descended more than three-hundred meters into a channel of magma-like acid. The only way to cross was to either have the physical strength to leap the 80m gap or the intestinal fortitude to try and walk the three-centimeter wide 'bridge' linking the two sides.Eighty meters might not seem like a lot, but it was a lot further than most Regulars could leap in a single bound. The strange acid also interfered with the surrounding Shinsu, so, unless your control was exceptional, Lighthouses would wobble uncontrollably and even body reinforcement became difficult. This made it nearly impossible to transport people across using a Lighthouse, and, while it might be possible for some members to easily leap across, few teams were comprised of Regulars who could 'all' cover such distances.Fortunately for Team John, their leader hadn't been chosen as a potential member of Wolhaiksong for nothing. Not only was he exceptionally brave, walking across the abnormally thin bridge without even a moment of hesitation, he was also resourceful. It hadn't even taken him more than a minute to come up with a plan for crossing the gap, a plan that involved tying a safety line around his waist before carrying across two ropes to fasten as guidelines. This allowed his team to cross with relative ease, and, after the fact, he even went back to unfasten the rope in order to make use of it later.While the feat wasn't particularly impressive, John's bravery, combined with the fact that his team didn't even hesitate to place their trust in him, was worthy of praise. It was rare to see a group of Regulars with such strong bonds, and, though they were individually weak, he could envision them overcoming far more powerful teams thanks to their excellent teamwork and even more remarkable bonds. The only thing they really lacked was power, but, so long as they continued to push forward, it was only a matter of time before they became truly strong.In the hopes of seeing the group succeed, Vahn began teaching the group numerous survival skills whenever they had time to rest. He also taught their Spear Bearer, a man who introduced himself as Jameson, son of James, how to prepare a number of different dishes that could revitalize his team's spirits during meals. Food was one of the foundational pillars for mental health, so, if you wanted to stave off the onset of things like depression while simultaneously improving morale, it was best to prepare delicious meals that were properly balanced for each individual's needs.Though he had originally thought to teach the female member of the team how to cook, the faces of the other four revealed that this might not be the best idea. The woman in question, Rose, was also against the idea, so, in the end, he ended up teaching Jameson some of Rindo's easier recipes. He had already been the group's defacto chef for more than a decade so his skills, while not up to Vahn's standard, weren't bad. Rather, he showed a considerable amount of passion for cooking, so, alongside the other items he was preparing as the group's parting gift, he also included a book of recipes, a set of C-Rank Chef's knives, and a virtually indestructible cutting board...---After ten days and nights of clearing relatively weak yet persistent Shinheuh, Team John finally reached their destination, a room with three pylons, each decorated with a blue, green, and red crystal. The actual teleportation mechanism was the invisible ward inscribed on the ground, but, so long as you placed your hand on one of the crystals, it would teleport you to the antechamber on the other side.Seeing the varying crystals, John's expression turned reflective for a brief moment before he turned toward his team and said, "I'll scout ahead and see what each route holds. Jameson, I'll leave meal prep to you and Thomas. Rose, Chris, I want the two of you to prepare camp. Though we might be able to push through and enjoy a much-deserved rest in the residences prepared on the other side, I want us all properly rested before we attempt the challenge. At the very least, we'll recuperate for around five hours or so before pushing forward."Without bothering to argue, Jameson, Thomas, and Chris quickly set out to perform their tasks as Rose, causing Vahn to feel a strange feeling of dread, said, "Be safe out there...if something happens to you, I'll...I'll beat up your ghost...!"If it was just Rose's comment, Vahn wouldn't have thought much of it, but, immediately thereafter, John adopted an affectionate smile, his voice gaining a gentle overtone as he said, "You're always worrying for nothing...didn't we all promise that we'll climb the Tower together? I would never break a promise I made to my friends. Besides, even a group like Wolhaiksong has taken an interest in me. Do you really think I'll die in a place like the Hell Train?"As if to affirm that the flag was properly affixed, John lightly ruffled Rose's auburn hair, the edges of his smile curling up for a brief moment as he retracted his hand and added, "See you soon..." in an overly casual tone. Before he could take more than a few steps, however, Vahn appeared at his side, hand on the young man's shoulder as he said, "I'll come with you...I'm actually pretty curious about what's on the other side..."Though he was a little surprised by the 'grim' look on Vahn's face, John still managed an awkward smile as he said, "I can send images back using my-"Shaking his head, Vahn tightened his grip on John's shoulder, his expression becoming a 'smile-that-was-not-a-smile' as he insisted, "No. I'm coming with you..." in a tone that left no room for argument.Though they had become somewhat 'chummy' over the last ten days, John was still utterly terrified of Vahn. Thus, with the latter 'insisting' he comes along, there was little the man could do but smile even more wryly as he answered, "Okay...let's get going..." in an awkward tone.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'I feel bad for any actual members of Wolhaiksong who see Vahn whip out his badge xD...','Even 'average' can be 'exceptional' when you combine bravery with teamwork~!','Vahn be like, "Not today..."')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1854: Pause