Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Teleporting from the barren trial chamber, Vahn found himself in a circular room connecting a total of sixteen different corridors. He noticed roman numerals above some of them while others showed various different symbols that denoted things such as anvils, shields, needles, apples, or beds.Understanding the symbols to denote the types of facilities found within each corridor, Vahn briefly considered his options before calling out Ryun from the Little Garden. She immediately greeted him with a smile, but, sensing something was wrong, her expression shifted to a concerned countenance as she asked, "Did something happen? Are you okay...?"Extending both hands, Vahn began to fluff up Ryun's hair and ears, an affectionate smile gradually spreading across his face as he answered, "My mood has been soured by a certain revelation. Don't worry, it will improve with the passage of time. For now, let's find a place to rest."Though she couldn't hide the concern visible in her ruby-red eyes, Ryun still nodded in response to her Master's words before pointing towards one of the corridors identified by a bed, saying, "If you seek the members of Team John, they can be found towards the end of this corridor. The others are currently empty."Smiling in response to Ryun's words, Vahn cupped the sides of her face, restoring her smile with a gentle peck on the lips. Then, with Fenrir tucked away inside of his shirt, he walked hand-in-hand with the redheaded Vanargandr until they reached one of the individual residences located near the very end of the corridor. There, he prevented her from transforming into her puppy form so that he could hug her from behind, enjoying the calming fragrance emanating from the base of her ears as she cradled Fenrir in her arms. This made it a little difficult for her to remain calm, but, after an hour or so, she invariably joining Fenrir in the land of dreams as Vahn continued to hug them both, eyes still exuding a fading golden luminosity...---Opening his eyes, Vahn was surprised to find himself in the middle of a seemingly endless plane of slaughter. There were countless weapons stabbed into the ground and littered about among a sea of corpses that stretched far beyond the horizon. Above, where one would expect to find a brilliant sky or a sea of stars, the debris of countless worlds could be seen crashing together in a cataclysmic fashion as creatures comparable to the planets themselves exchanged blows that could be felt even at his current location.Noticing a twelve-winged golden dragon among the group of monstrous combatants, Vahn's eyes opened even wider as he felt a certain familiarity with the massive creature. Immediately thereafter, he found himself staring at the world from the dragon's perspective, his senses expanding to cover a region larger than a solar system. This allowed him to perceive the vastness of his prior battlefield, his pupils shrinking to find points as he noticed that it had been taking place on a single scale of an incomprehensibly large serpent.Just as Vahn felt a tugging in his mind, drawing him towards the colossal serpent, an indescribable pain radiated from his back as a monstrous white tiger tore away one of his wings. This brought his attention back to the dragon's previous engagement, but, before he could punish the hateful beast for daring to sneak attack him, his mind blanked as he realized the winged white tiger looked 'very' similar to Baihu. To further exacerbate matters, he noticed that, among the innumerable corpses of planet-sized creatures, a fiery bird resembling Zhuque could be seen hugging a miniature star in an attempt to regenerate a severed wing...Before he could look around to identify any of the other combatants, an unbridled feeling of rage spread through Vahn's mind as he felt another sharp pain, this time from his side. The Baihu-like winged tiger had just buried its teeth into his flank, seemingly intent on exploiting his momentary distraction. This caused a sun-like luminance to erupt from his body as a voice not his own echoed through the surrounding void, stating, "Submit...!" in a tone that resonated so powerfully that many nearby planets fragmented into dust.Feeling a sensation similar to a nosebleed, only from his mind, Vahn felt his consciousness rapidly receding until an icy chill spread through his mind, followed by a second, infinitely more powerful voice, replying, "Even the Greatest Gods in Heaven gaze outwards towards the Abyss..."Following this simple attestation of the truth, Vahn felt his perception erupt outward, far beyond anything he had ever experienced before. Even the 'incomprehensibly large' serpent from before, its length great enough to span the distance between galaxies, suddenly seemed insignificant against the vastness of the universe beyond. In fact, from an 'outside' perspective, even the grand conflicts between god-like beings seemed completely meanings, their very existence holding less value than the constituent particles of the universe...As that thought crossed his 'mind', Vahn found himself staring dazedly at what appeared to be a single speck of dust among countless others floating about against an unfathomable expanse of nothingness. His awareness of the other specks caused his perception to grow even further, and, in the next moment, he found himself staring at a singular mote of light as an indefinable chill spread through his 'body'. He felt as though it pierced every part of him, but, rather than coldness, it was a sensation of 'nothingness' that completely transcended his previous perception of the Law...---Though he awoke with a start, Vahn was horrified to realize that he couldn't feel or move a single part of his body. It was like he was having an out of body experience, and, much like when he was guiding his intent around, he could move about freely, change his orientation, pass through walls, and even transition to different points in space in an instant. This was something he was intimately familiar with, but, compared to his previous usages of the ability, it was like the difference between viewing a world through a screen and entering said world directly.Looking down on his own body, seemingly frozen in time, Vahn suddenly felt a disconcerting sense of 'unfamiliarity' with himself. It was like he was looking at a complete stranger, and, for a very brief moment, he even felt a small amount of 'resentment' towards the figure embracing two of his loved ones. This notion filled him with an indescribable sense of incongruity, and, shortly thereafter, it was like the entire world had begun spinning rapidly as a 'tugging' sensation reminiscent of his entrance into the Record gave him an irresistible urge to vomit.Opening his eyes wide, Vahn released his hold on Ryun, blinking to the side of the best in an instant to eject a large volume of viscous black liquid onto the floor. This caused both girls to startle awake, and, as could be expected, they both rushed to his side; concern and confusion visible in their gazes as they watched him retching 'air'. Neither could see the substance expelled from his body, but, due to their overwhelmingly strong bond, Fenrir knew he was spitting up something. As a result, she did her best to comfort him, patting his back as she looked to Ryun and said, "Stay off of the floor. We can't see it, but there is something there...something dangerous..."Realizing she might be in the way, Ryun nodded in response to Fenrir's words before retreating to her previous position. She could also sense something dangerous, but, unlike Fenrir, her feeling of dread was derived from the connection she shared with the Tower. This usually allowed her to see the myriad paths of fate, but, for the time being, the only thing her senses as a Guide could detect was 'absolute nothingness'. It was like the entirety of fate had been subsumed, and, at least for the time being, she couldn't see so much as a single second into the future...Fortunately, it only took a few minutes for Vahn to recover, the contents of his 'stomach' completely emptied. By that point, the entire floor had been covered in several centimeters of the viscous black substance, it's surface glistening with a peculiar rainbow hue. This had caught Vahn's attention, but, the moment he actually tried to observe it, the entirety of the black substance had vanished without a trace. This left him feeling strangely 'empty', but, considering he had just discharged more than a thousand gallons of anomalous black liquid from his stomach, feeling 'empty' was pretty normal.Wiping away traces of 'nothing' from his mouth, Vahn turned to the worried Fenrir with a wry smile on his face as he mused, "Well...that was unexpected..." in a somewhat hoarse tone. This resulted in Fenrir pouncing on him, tears building at the corners of her eyes as she squeezed him hard enough to force the air from his lungs as she sobbingly replied, "I was so worried...please don't leave me..."Though he was a little confused by Fenrir's words, awareness hit Vahn like a ton of bricks when Sis directed his attention to his Status. This caused his eyes to widen to an almost comical extent, but, with a crying girl in his arms, he had other matters to attend. That didn't stop him from sneaking a few peeks, however, a cold sweat breaking out across his body as he contemplated the implications of such a status...-----------------------------------------------[Status]Name: [Error], Sobriquet: [Error]Age: [Error]Race: [Error], *sealed*Parameters: [Transcendental Path to Heaven: 1-6]Position(s): [Error]Strength: [Error]Toughness: [Error]Intellect: [Error]Agility: [Error]Control: [Error]Shinsu Resistance: [Error]Shinsu: [Error]Soul Tier: 5 (Realm Soul)Karma: [Error]Origin Points: 69,772,031Innates: [Will of the Emperor: SSS], [Rakshasa Body: SS], [Keeper of the Akashic Tome: B], [Eyes of Truth: A], [Universal Mind: C], [Actualization: (-)]Skills: [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error], [Error]...[Actualization]Rank: Innate (-) *Innate Skills cannot be identified. Attempts to do so will result in a backlash*[Passive]: An ability attributed to the one who walks freely through all planes of existence. When viewed from the outside, all things become fiction. When viewed from within, perception gives rise to actuality. When not viewed, all things cease to be. Reality is shaped by perception. Perception is shaped by Comprehension. Comprehension is shaped by Will. Will is shaped by Intent.[Active]: [Internal Reality]: Allows the user to link fictional worlds to their own Internalized Realm. Linked worlds exist within the same Metaversal Plane.[Active]: [Metaversal Crossroads]: Allows the user to enter a fictional world at any point within Time and Space.[Active]: [Causality Manipulation]: Allows the user to shape events within a fictional world through their intentions.[Active]: [Subjective Manifestation]: Allows the user to freely assume the identity of anyone prior to entering a fictional world.[Active]: [Existence Erasure]: Allows the user to erase all evidence related to their existence from a fictional world.-----------------------------------------------(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Healing with fluff...','Some say that, when you gaze into the Abyss, it gazes back. In reality, however, the Abyss has always been watching (OwO)...'I think Vahn just broke...?')(A/N: It took a lot longer than I expected to write this chapter. Reading up on abstract concepts and trying to find a way to incorporate them into a narrative is harder than you'd think. This is the first time I actually had trouble getting to 2,000 words in a single chapter. Heck, without this little note, I would have only been around 1900. My shamelessness has evolved to a new level (OwO)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Located deep within a forested region, set against the backdrop of a cliff adorned with numerous faces, a large village sat isolated and hidden away from the rest of the world.Though it had been more than a year since the end of the war, a tense atmosphere could be felt throughout the entire village. Nobody knew why, but, on this particular night, even the light from the various businesses and streetlamps seemed uncharacteristically diminished. This allowed the light from the full moon to stand out even more so than usual, it's glow reminiscent of the sun at midday despite the world below being shrouded in an umbral abyss.Noticing this peculiar incongruency, a man with spiky blond hair, gentle blue eyes, and handsome features couldn't help feeling nervous. He had tried to convince himself that this was the result of his own nerves, understandable considering his wife was about to have her labor induced; but, no matter how many times he repeated the words in his mind, he couldn't suppress the sentiment that 'something' was wrong with the current situation.Just as the man was about to strengthen the barriers surrounding the secret chamber, two women wearing full-length robes appeared behind him, the most senior among them saying, "Lord Fourth, the time has come. Lady Uzumaki is requesting your presence at her side."Though his instincts were telling him to strengthen the security, the man's desire to be at his wife's side during the birth of their child was too compelling. He also knew this was a matter requiring the utmost secrecy, so, while he wanted nothing more than to station the entirety of his village's armed forces around the perimeter, doing so would compromise his already unstable political position. He had earned quite a number of enemies by becoming a Hokage at such a young age, and, though it couldn't be denied that his actions were instrumental in ending the previous war, that did very little to increase his political power among the Noble Clans and Village Elders.Suppressing a sigh, the man surprised both of the female attendants by flickering out of existence in a flash of golden light. In the next moment, he was already at the side of a beautiful woman with vibrant red hair, vigorous blue eyes, and an understandably anxious expression. There were also a number of other women present, including a team of nurses and an experienced midwife who had been entrusted the task of delivering every primary descendent of the Noble Clans for nearly thirty years.Despite knowing the pain it would cause him, the man unhesitantly grabbed the hand of his wife, forcing a smile even as her vice-like grip caused his bones to cry out in distress. It wasn't something he was proud to admit, but she had always been 'a lot' stronger than him. Rather, due to her unique heritage and the beast sealed inside of her, she was significantly stronger than most people...Before the duo could so much as exchange words of comfort, the aged woman quickly interposed, her voice cold and professional as she stated, "You must remain absolutely focused at all times. No matter how painful the labor becomes, you cannot afford to let your mind slip for even a moment. For the sake of yourself, your child, and the village, you must remain resolute until the very end. As for you, Lord Fourth, I will entrust the task of sustaining the seal to you. Your desire to support your wife during her labor is commendable, but you will have your entire lives to strengthen your bonds. Do not let your emotions distract you, even at the time of birth...the moment we fail to perform our duty, the entire village will suffer the consequences..."Though he wanted to make a counterargument, the man simply nodded in response to the elderly woman's words before planting a kiss on his wife's forehead and whispering, "I believe in you...stay strong, Kushina..."---Witnessing the scene play out before him, Vahn couldn't help but frown slightly. He wasn't upset by the fact that Minato had planted a kiss on the head of his own wife, but by the words and actions of the woman performing the delivery. She was certainly very experienced, but, using the excuse that Kushina needed to be fully cognizant throughout the procedure, no effort was made to alleviate her pain. This was in spite of the fact that it was possible to use the Healing Palm to significantly reduce sensations of pain without compromising the mental integrity of the patient...Though he didn't have a voice with which to speak, Vahn shifted his attention to the Law of Identity, who, understanding his thoughts, transformed into the woman before revealing, "She harbors no resentment towards Kushina. She is acting in accordance with the orders of a man named Shimura Danzo."Upon mention of Danzo, the Law of Identity instantly transformed into the man, adding, "He made an agreement with someone claiming to be Madara Uchiha. He intends to use this incident in order to weaken public opinion towards the current Hokage and gain control of the Nine-Tails. They have an orphaned member of the Uzumaki Family on standby in order to seal it away once it goes out of control and destroys part of the village."As Danzo was often depicted as a primary antagonist in various Naruto stories, Vahn wasn't even remotely surprised by the Law of Identity's words. Unfortunately, he already had a specific intention for this particular visit so Danzo's punishment would have to wait until later. It would come, almost assuredly, but the most important thing, at least for the time being, was comprehending the extent and limitations of his new power.With this in mind, Vahn closely monitored the surrounding space for several kilometers, his domain providing a limited form of omniscience that allowed him to sense even the subtlest changes in the surrounding environment. This allowed him to easily detect the entity phasing through the ground, and, moments later, it allowed him to sense the exact moment when a masked man appeared from within a sub-dimensional void.Before the man could so much as take a single step forward, Vahn manifested, soundlessly, without so much as a single spatial fluctuation. Despite this, the man was somehow able to react, his body twisting in an inhuman display of athletism as he attempted to kick the former with his open-toed sandals. Unfortunately, while his reaction speed was commendable, there was an unreachable gulf between himself and the current Vahn.Though his movements appeared to be in slow motion, Vahn was able to casually extend his hand to grab the masked man's ankle. This caused the latter to attempt to become immaterial, but, with his mastery over space and time greatly exceeding anything the man could hope to comprehend, it had absolutely no effect. The only thing he accomplished was surprising himself, but, compared to what came next, his initial shock was just the tip of a very large iceberg.Fully aware of the man's past, Vahn decided he wouldn't be 'too' heavy-handed with the masked man, better known as Obito Uchiha. He was someone who had been manipulated most of his life, and, once he had learned the truth, he became one of the most instrumental figures in saving the world. This demonstrated that he was more than capable of redeeming himself, so, while it would have been a simple matter to just kill him, Vahn's first action was to strike the man's cross-guard with an open palm.Feeling as though he had been hit by a train, Obito's left arm erupted, propelling a goopy white substance all over the battlefield as he was sent crashing through several trees. He reacted to this by trying to activate his Mangekyou Sharingan ability, pulling himself into his own sub-dimension. To his surprise, however, the ability activated just fine, but, no matter how much chakra he pumped into it, the 'gate' simply wouldn't open. It was like the surrounding space was actively resisting his attempts to bend it, almost like it had become completely solid...Realizing he was up against a monstrous opponent he knew absolutely nothing about, Obito tried to perform a Half Ram seal with his remaining right hand. He wanted to use the Shunshin-no-Jutsu to try and flee, but, before his chakra could fully circulate, greatly increasing his speed, the fingers of his right hand were ensnared by the vice-like grip of his opponent. This caused his Mangekyou Sharingan, resembling a pinwheel, to spin counter-clockwise as he mentally cried out, ("Sharingan Jutsu...!").Smirking in response to Obito's actions, Vahn used his free hand to 'poke' the center of the man's mask, splitting it in two. This revealed the terrified yet resolute face of a young man, the right side of which was inordinately pale and warped. At nearly the exact same moment, several other masked individuals appeared in the surroundings, each attired in a grey vest set atop pitch-black clothing that seemed to absorb light rather than diffuse it.Though the masked individuals looked like they wanted to attack, none dared move as, at the front of the formation, a man with blue eyes and spiky blond hair signaled for them to stand down as he hesitantly intoned, "Obito...is that really you?"Scowling in response to the man's address, Obito was preparing to part with his fingers, but, just as he had done in every previous instance, Vahn reacted much faster. His movements were so quick, in fact, that even Minato's pupils contracted to fine points as he couldn't even see the start-up motion for Vahn's attack. By the time he realized what was happening, Obito was already hunched over, his legs giving out due to the spontaneous strike to his abdominal line.Allowing Obito the opportunity to catch his breath, Vahn turned around to face Minato, an action that caused the surrounding ANBU to tense up despite the young Hokage gesturing for them to stand down. This demonstrated just how little authority Minato had within his own village as the ANBU were supposed to be 'unquestionably loyal' to the current Hokage. Instead, they were more like Minato's escort, men and women tasked by the previous Hokage to look after his successor...Shaking his head, Vahn preempted the anticipated interrogation by firmly stating, "My identity is not important. Just know that I am a friend, someone who has come here to prevent a tragedy and expose truths veiled within the darkness. I am not here to answer your questions, nor do I intend to stick around and pander to the fools who undermine the integrity of your authority. The only thing you need to know, at least for the time being, as that this young man, Obito Uchiha, is being lied to and manipulated by Madara Uchiha. He has conspired with Danzo to undermine your authority as Hokage by unleashing the Nine-Tails against the Leaf Village. His organization, ROOT, has collected numerous orphans from the previously destroyed Uzushiogakure, experimenting on his own allies rather than protecting them. How you deal with these matters is ultimately up to you. I have done my part in revealing part of the truth...now..."Punctuating his words, and causing even Minato to pull out a three-pronged kunai, Vahn made a grabbing gesture towards the air. This caused the surrounding space to twist, and, from within, an inordinately pale man with one half of his body shrouded in shadows found himself within Vahn's grasp. Then, without further explanation, he generated crimson flames, burning the man to a crisp before shifting his attention back to Minato and saying, "Your duty might tie you to the village, but a father who can't even protect his own son has no right to make such claims. Now, go. Kushina is about to give birth. You will regret it for your entire life if you aren't there to witness it..."With that said, Vahn performed a perfunctory gesture of farewell before vanishing like a phantom, soundlessly and without even a hint of flare. This caused Minato quite a bit of confusion, but, after seeing Obito attempt to perform a hand seal, he quickly came to his senses, flashing next to the injured man and slapping a seal on his forehead. This caused the one-eyed youth to immediately fall unconscious, his depleted reserves making it impossible for him to turn immaterial and avoid his capture...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'OwO? What's this~?','Well, that was certainly one-sided o_o...','Vahn can be such a Chuuni at times xD...')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

Chapter 1856: Perception