Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though he could have resolved everything himself, Vahn knew the girls would be disappointed if he didn't give them the opportunity to act. Thus, rather than accepting Asensio's assistance as a guide, his counterpart back at the Town of the Wandering Minstrel gave Scathach's butt a light smack as he said, "We should regroup with the others. After a bit of rest, we'll be heading out."Exhaling a hot and contented sigh, Scathach accepted Vahn's assistance in sitting up, her naked body glistening with a combination of sweat and massage oil as she softly replied, "Thank you...it was very pleasant..."Noticing the expectant glimmer in the buxom beauty's ruby red eyes, a smile spread across Vahn's face as he affectionately caressed Scathach's. In response, she leaned into his touch, her lips parting ever so slightly to allow his tongue easy access. This was an invitation he simply couldn't refuse, so, rather than immediately departing the fragrant room, Vahn elected to punctuate Scathach's reward on a positive, sonorous, note...---With the dawn of a new day, Vahn gathered alongside Theo, Musashi, Scathach, and Index to enjoy a rather extravagant breakfast alongside their would-be guide, Mi-eum. This resulted in him getting a little messy, entirely the result of Index choosing to sit in his lap, but it was still a refreshing way to start the day. He especially enjoyed how bashful Scathach was in the face of Musashi's teasing, and, though she didn't actually need to eat, Mi-eum's reaction every time she tasted a new dish caused quite a number of laughs.Unfortunately for the native Data Human, her day was about to get infinitely more hectic as Vahn wrapped up breakfast by saying, "Our first destination is the Fruit of Good and Evil. It serves as a Quarantine Area for corrupted and otherwise problematic data. Though I doubt they will provide much of a challenge, the interior should be filled to the brim with Hidden Floor Soldiers and Data Constructs. There is also a chance your Sworn Enemies will make an appearance so stay on your toes."Hearing Vahn's final remark, Theo and Musashi perked up quite a bit, excitement visible in their gazes even as Mi-eum nervously remarked, "Um...I'm not sure where you heard such a thing, but the Fruit of Good and Evil isn't anything like a Quarantine Area. I would suggest accepting one of the D or C-Rank Quests so we can move on to the next stage. Even approaching the statue is highly dangerous, so I must insist you rethink the decision to investigate..."Though he was a little worried about leaving her behind, Vahn had Sis modify the line of code that compelled Mi-eum to follow after them, saying, "You are free to remain here until we return. As for the Quests, we have no particular interest in such things. We entered the Hidden Floor for entirely personal reasons. Sorry, but your services are no longer required. It was a short journey, but thank you for your assistance thus far."Demonstrating a remarkable amount of confusion, Mi-eum found herself stuck in a feedback loop of sorts as part of her felt as though she 'should' follow after them while another part of her feared the consequences of doing so. This latter half was something she had never experienced before, so, while she wanted to say something she ended up freezing in place for several minutes as Vahn and Co departed the restaurant...---With the interior of the Fruit of Good and Evil effectively existing as an isolated sub-dimensional plane, entering and exiting weren't a matter of simply cutting through the walls and boring your way inside. Fortunately, there was a single entrance serving as a bridge between the Quarantine Area and the Hidden Floor proper, one Sis had no difficulties locating and opening.Though the exterior sphere was only a few hundred meters across, the interior was, as could be expected, exponentially larger. It was also structured similarly to a maze, one that was constantly changing shape to make life more difficult for the Data trapped within.Having been designated the leader in Vahn's stead, a wide smile spread across Theo's face as she marveled at the dungeon-like surroundings and said, "I'll protect Master and provide support from the rear. Musashi will take point. Be on the lookout for any traps. As for you, Scathach...well, I don't think you need to be told what to do. Just don't disappear without telling me."While Scathach simply nodded in response, Musashi adopted a notably sly smile as she asked, "So, you think I need to be babysat? I'll have you know I've explored countless Layers and used to jump through time more than some people change clothes. Don't make me educate you in your Master's stead..."Though she couldn't prevent her tail from twitching slightly, Theo managed to appear calm in the face of Musashi's threat, her smile persisting as she said, "Stumbling through time like a homeless vagrant doesn't equate to experience conquering dungeons. Since I have been placed in charge, I will be expecting you to follow my orders. If you are going to cause problems, please return to the village or wait inside the Little Garden."Seemingly amused by Theo's bravado, a lighthearted laugh escaped Musashi's throat as she eyed up the once and future Empress. Before she could say anything to further tease her, however, Vahn sent a telepathic message into her mind, saying, ("Don't make me confiscate your private stash.")Like a career soldier, Musashi left Theo feeling at a loss when she suddenly saluted, her expression a mask of seriousness as she exclaimed, "Understood! It is my privilege to serve!"Realizing what must have happened, Theo sent an accusatory look towards Vahn, who, like a tourist visiting a landmark, pretended to gawk at the surroundings while Index, sitting in the carrier on his back, tilted her head to the side to ask, "What are you looking at? These chips are mine..."With a light chuckle escaping her lips, Theo shook her head in mock exasperation before returning her gaze to Scathach and Musashi, saying, "Let's not dawdle. There is only one entrance to each of the floors, so keep your eyes peeled. This place seems to be shaped like a multi-layered sphere, so I imagine it will be on the ceiling. Still, there is no way to be certain. There could be something like a teleportation ward located in a hidden area."Dismissing with her soldier play, Musashi adopted a relaxed stance before unsheathing the shorter of her two swords, a Wakizashi with a sakura-patterned guard known as Mugen-no-Hana. It was the lesser of her twin Zanpakuto, and, much like Asuna's, it was always in an awakened state. As for why she had chosen to draw it, there were actually quite a number of reasons, the most important being that her senses were infinitely sharper due to Hana's peculiar 'Domain of Flowers'.Though she couldn't control and manipulate them like Byakuya from the Record of Bleach, vibrant pink sakura petals danced through the area in response to Hana being unsheathed. This might not seem particularly useful, but, due to their sensitivity to all forms of energy, the light-formed petals naturally gravitated towards hidden traps, mechanisms, and, as could be expected, everyone in the vicinity. This included Vahn, who, despite being fully visible, had erased his presence to prevent any enemies from targeting him and Index.With the feedback provided by the petals, Musashi could confidently say, "Wow. There are a ton of traps and hidden enemies. Want me to take them out, oh fearless leader?"Rolling her eyes in response to Musashi's words, Theo raised her hand to produce a golden magic circle that quickly expanded to more than 300m in diameter. This caused some of the hidden foes, many resembling toy soldiers, to emerge from the ground and walls. Unfortunately, before any of them could even begin their charge, laser-like beams of golden light rained down from the magic circle, ruthlessly piercing through their heads and bodies.Since she had even worse compatibility than Vahn when it came to magic, Musashi emulated Theo's action of rolling her eyes before teasingly remarking, "Not bad. I bet you would make a great bug zapper. Remind me to invite you the next time I go camping."Resisting the urge to send a few beams Musashi's way, Theo allowed her magic circle to dissipate before saying, "We advance. Please inform me if either of you notices any irregularities. For foes of this caliber, feel free to take action as you see fit."Understanding that Theo was no longer interested in playing around, Musashi took advantage of the opportunity to extend her tongue before waving towards Vahn and giggling in amusement. This left the latter feeling somewhat exasperated, not because he was particularly troubled by Musashi's behavior, but because the 'aftercare' was going to be a pain. Theo's draconic nature made her easily frustrated, and, though she would become stoic and taciturn in an effort to compensate, she would effectively become an untamed beast the moment they were alone together...---Prior to Vahn's group leaving to explore the Quarantine Area, several other groups had already set out to explore other regions of the Hidden Floor. Most of these groups had been given free rein to explore at their leisure, but, with several objectives left to complete before their departure from the Hidden Floor, others had been tasked with locating specific individuals and gathering information.Though it didn't help much in this specific instance, Fenrir's group consisted of the best trackers in all the Empire. This included herself, Atalanta, Illya, and, though their Guide ability didn't function properly inside of the Hidden Floor, Ryun, and Ai.Having already completed a number of Quests, Fenrir's group found themselves standing atop a massive cliff that overlooked a vast, seemingly boundless, plain. It was almost like they were looking down on an ocean of green, and, were it not for the presence of several colossal Shinheuh, it would have been easy to mistake the endless plains as some kind of graphical error.Misunderstanding the group's silence as confusion, the Wandering Minstrel standing at the rear, a young woman with four distinct pigtails, explained in a sing-song manner, "Though daunting it may seem, do not let the scene before you hinder your journey~. This verdant plains is known as the Sea of Peace~. While many a Shinheuh wanders the boundless pastures below, only the ruthless Scarlet King is hostile to outsiders~."Largely ignoring the Minstrel's singing, Fenrir turned her attention to Illya, the decision-maker for the group despite, technically, being the second-in-command. In response, without even needing to be asked, Illy calmly outlined a plan of action, explaining, "It seems most conventional forms of flight are restricted in this area. You should make an ice platform to carry us across while the rest of us look for the Scarlet King below. If we can't find him before lunch, we'll use the other Shinheuh as bait to lure it out. Either way, there is no sense in just standing here."Nodding her head in approval, Fenrir turned to Atalanta, Ryun, and Ai, her voice calm, resolute, and commanding as she said, "We will go with Illya's plan. Atalanta, you will stand at the front. You have the best eyesight among us so I'm expecting you to locate the Scarlet King. Everyone else will watch the flanks while keeping a close on their Good and Evil Monitor's. This is enemy territory. We should expect something to go wrong. Laziness will not be tolerated."Thanks to her [Queen of the Pack] Innate, Fenrir's words resonated deeply within the hearts and minds of everyone present. Even Ilya wasn't unaffected, as, despite being in a 'higher' position, she was actually one of the first to join Fenrir's pack during her fusion with Cath Palug. This provided them with a number of boons, but, most notably, it drastically improved their sense of solidarity by effectively linking their primary senses.Seeing the resolute light in each of the girls' eyes, Fenrir responded with another curt nod before creating a platform of ice more than ten meters across. Conventional methods of flight might be restricted in several areas of the Hidden Floor, but they had already confirmed that 'attacks' were exempted from this. Thus, with the ability to freely manipulate ice and create countless constructs, Fenrir shaped the platform to resemble an eight-pointed Chinese gazebo before sitting down in the center and controlling it to float across the verdant plains below...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Simply irresistible...','Musashi is a troll xD...','Mobilize the Good Girls...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the average 'Toy Soldier' possessing the strength of a middling D-Rank Regular, the most difficult aspect of traversing the Quarantine Area was avoiding traps and other environmental hazards.Fortunately, even without Vahn's assistance, the girls could deal with most traps with an almost comical degree of ease. Musashi could detect most of them without any effort whatsoever, and, even when they had gotten themselves trapped in a chamber intended to be flooded with acid, Theo simply erected barriers to cover each spout while Scathach proceeded to create a massive hole leading to the next chamber.Though the interior and exterior spaces were almost entirely separate from each other, the same couldn't be said for the individual layers within the Quarantine Area. Thus, while it might have been difficult for others, Musashi and Scathach both possessed the ability to simply cut through or pierce the material separating the layers. This drastically reduced the amount of time it took them to head inward, but, in exchange, the black bars of their Good and Evil Monitors filled at an alarming rate as larger and far more durable Toy Soldiers sought them out.If he were being honest with himself, Vahn wasn't particularly excited about the prospect of seeing other versions of himself. The Hidden Floor obviously couldn't replicate him, so, while he had yet to encounter a single instance of a Sworn Enemy, it was safe to assume they were originated from the knowledge and experience contained within the minds of those responsible for their origin. Thus, in a way, he would be seeing caricatures of himself based on how the person in question viewed him...Assuming this was the case, Vahn couldn't help but feel some trepidation regarding the version of himself manifested by Theo. The Sworn Enemies generated by Musashi and Scathach were bound to be fierce and somewhat lackadaisical warriors who defied common sense. Theo's, however, was guaranteed to possess a substantial number of 'quirks', and, depending on how the Mirror of the Past interpreted her memories, there was a fair chance he might be dedicated as a bit of a pervert...Fortunately, while their Good and Evil Monitors had almost completely filled with a black bar, their journey towards the center of the Quarantine Area remained relatively unimpeded. The Toy Soldiers couldn't withstand so much as a single blow from any of the trio, and, as they moved closer to the center, an increasing number of traps had already been set off or disarmed entirely. This indicated that there were people inside proactively exploring the region, and, by the time they reached the centermost antechamber, even the Toy Soldiers had stopped spawning.Though some might question the purpose of a 'safe zone' inside of a Quarantine Area, Vahn knew its primary purpose was to give the residents false hope while serving as their prison. The proof for this was in the coding itself, as, with the alteration of a single boolean value, the 'safe zone' function could simply be toggled off. This meant, at any point in time, Big Breeders like Chung could input a single command, and, in response, an infinite number of Toy Soldiers would swarm the region until everything inside was killed.Shaking his head in mild exasperation, Vahn shifted his gaze away from the tower-like structure that represented the 'Seed' of the Fruit of Good and Evil. There were already a number of armed guards gathering to form a defensive line at the opposite end of a long bridge, so, in the hopes of avoiding an altercation, Vahn passed his gaze of the three girls, saying, "Remember, most of these people are victims. They might be a little hostile, but we should avoid injuring them as much as possible. If they insist on attacking us, focus on disarming rather than disabling them..."Having already determined there were no worthy opponents among the gathering at the end of the bridge, even Musashi nodded her head in affirmation before saying, "If you provide me with snacks and something to drink, I can stand guard over the bridge. This area might be inaccessible to those little toys, but I doubt any Sworn Enemies based on you would suffer from such limitations. If we're to assume there are three of you running around, leaving our backs exposed is the same as inviting destruction upon everyone here. You can be pretty ruthless when it concerns your enemies..."With a wry grimace spreading across his face, Vahn wanted to refute Musashi's words, but, unable to lie, the words never reached his lips. After all, he had literally targetted the Floating Castle of the Yeon Family, undoubtedly injuring a number of innocents just to teach his foes a lesson. He had also completely obliterated a base belonging to FUG, a facility that doubtlessly contained a number of resolute and determined individuals whose only desire was to liberate the Tower from the control of ruthless tyrants...Restraining a sigh, Vahn manifested a gourd with the kanji for fire on the side, tossing it to Musashi as he said, "I would ask that you try to avoid a fight, but I'll leave it to your discretion. Remember, if they possess even a semblance of my actual power, they should possess the ability to masquerade as pretty much anyone. They could even appear as multiple people to try and deceive you...stay on your toes..."Thinking about the potential capabilities of Sworn Enemies based on himself, Vahn couldn't help feeling a little helpless. Musashi, however, seemed rather excited at the prospect, playfully clasping the bicep of her right arm, flexing as she said, "No worries! I'm not going to let a single person get past me. If you're that worried, you can just leave more booze. I doubt any of the data here has a tolerance even remotely comparable to your own. You're also pretty shitty at acting, so it should be pretty easy to sniff out any imposters~!"Though he knew her primary purpose was to secure some additional alcohols to add to her private collection, Vahn couldn't argue with Musashi's surprisingly sound logic. They had already confirmed that Data Humans could get drunk, so, while it might cost him quite a bit of OP, it would be worth it if they could sus out even a single version of himself. The longer they were allowed the roam freely, the more complicated things would become, as, if they were anything like him, time was something they could exploit to a truly ludicrous extent...---With Musashi and Scathach both watching over the bridge, Vahn was able to breathe easily even with more than twenty rifle-like devices pointed his way. The presence of Theo also helped in this regard, and, to a lesser extent, so too did the incessant sound of chewing emanating from his back.Since it wasn't that uncommon for other quarantined entities to find their way to the safe area, the group of riflemen and women didn't immediately attack. Instead, they trained the majority of their rifles on Vahn, laser sights dancing across his chest and body as a scarred man wearing a peculiar metal helmet, facemask, and black body armor made his way forward.Though his voice sounded surprisingly soft and delicate, the gruff-looking man earned a frown from Vahn as he stammered, "W-W-W-Who are you? H-H-How d-did y-you find this p-p-place?"Before answering the man's question, Vahn had Sis analyze his data to ascertain the cause of his vocal tic. He didn't have anything against people with a stutter, but, considering the man greatly resembled the Wandering Minstrels native to the Hidden Floor, there had to be a reason behind his peculiar manner of speaking.Unsurprisingly, Sis found that the man's mouth had been torn open, and, due to a specific line of code, the injury was prevented from healing even after a reset. This was obviously Chung's hand at work, so, without pausing to consider the consequences, he had Sis remove the line of code as he answered, "My name is Vahn Aldrnari Mason. This beautiful woman at my side is my wife, Theodora Bashireia Herasu De Vesuperisujimia Mason. We have come here in search of a Data Human named Yu Hansung. I imagine you are well acquainted?"Frowning in response to Vahn's words, the man was about to answer when he felt an unbearably itchy sensation around his mouth. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced, and, due to the metal facemask he wore to cover the horrendous injury beneath, he couldn't do anything to readily alleviate the sensation. This caused the defensive line to nearly open fire, but, before they were able to, Theo drew a red seal within the air, incanting, "Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini!! Look upon yourself with horror and then claw out your own throat! Bakudo #9! Geki...!"In response to Theo's nigh-instantaneous incantation, a red aura spread across the entire group of defensive soldiers, completely paralyzing them. At nearly the exact same time, the masked man was able to momentarily ignore the itchy sensation beneath his mask, adrenaline pumping through his non-existent veins as he leaped back and fired two dart-like projectiles towards Vahn's and Theo's necks.With the darts barely exceeding 1300m/s, Vahn was able to catch both using his Telekinesis and a simple wave of his hand. At the same time, he caught the masked man in the air, simultaneously pulling the rifle from his hands as he said, "Relax. The sensation you're feeling is the wound on your face being healed. We're not your enemies."To emphasize his point, Vahn pulled out a hand mirror while manipulating the metal bands around the man's face and head, prying them away in an instant to reveal the rapidly regenerating wound beneath. Then, after telekinetically wresting the weapons from everyone present, he sent a curt nod towards Theo, subsequently restoring their mobility.Seeing his own reflection, the formerly masked man, better known as Batis, showed an expression of disbelief as he tentatively touched his increasingly healthy-looking flesh. Chung had vengefully modified their appearance data to give them ghastly appearances compared to other residents of the Hidden Floor, so, for the last several hundred years, his face and complexion had looked more monster than man.Though his first instinct was to ask how Vahn had managed to heal his wound, Batis managed to suppress his curiosity, stating, "Yu Hansung is not here. He generally spends most of his time near the data destruction and recycling center. You should have met him shortly after your arrival...?"Hearing the sound of his restored voice, Batis allowed his words to trail off as an irrepressible smile developed across his face. He had once been the Chief of the Village of Wandering Minstrels, and, though he had always been most fond of his wife's objectively poor singing, everyone had always considered him the greatest vocalist and songwriter in the land. Regaining his voice made him feel incomparably hopeful and nostalgic, a thin layer of moisture developing across his silvery-grey eyes until he promptly wiped it away.Feeling an extreme amount of empathy for the man, Vahn couldn't help adopting a smile of his own as he said, "Don't worry. Now that I'm here, it is only a matter of time before Chung and the other Big Breeders are dealt with. For now, you should send someone to retrieve Yu Hansung or guide me to his location. I can track him down myself, but I imagine things would progress a lot smoother if there was a familiar face to explain the situation."Nodding his head in understanding, Batis was about to give the order when a young girl with steel-grey hair, matching eyes, and a giant red 'x' over her mouth came running over, shouting, "Baba...!"With Sis providing data related to everyone he encountered in the Hidden Floor, a frown appeared across Vahn's face as Batis, with an affectionate smile, bent down to pick up the smock-wearing girl who kept repeating the same phrase over and over. She seemed incapable of vocalizing any actual words, but, far more troubling than that was the fact that her primary function was to serve as both a location tracker and surveillance system for residents within the Seed...Seemingly ignorant of this, Batis held the girl in one arm, smiling as he said, "This is my daughter, Medley. She was cursed by the Big Breeder so that she could never learn how to speak. Though it might be asking too much, I would be grateful if you could somehow remove her curse..."Since he had actually been looking for a way to draw Chung's attention, Vahn resisted the urge to reveal the truth as he suppressed a sigh and asked Sis to modify Medley's code. He also had her remove Chung's ability to make further changes, an action that served to alert and simultaneously provoke the horrendously profane individual who periodically used the poor girl as a tool to enact his petty revenge...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The fastest way through a labyrinth is to break down the walls...!','Musashi is an incorrigible drunkard xD...','Chung is in for a bad time...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Following a lengthy discussion regarding the nature of the Tower and Vahn's plans for the duration of his stay, Eduan ended up falling silent for several minutes. During this period, he emptied nearly half the contents of a 40oz wine vase as his children, specifically Maschenny, Asensio, and a peculiar individual named Icardi, sat silently around a banquet table.After finally organizing his thoughts, an uncharacteristically tired sigh escaped Eduan's throat as he muttered, "Who could have imagined that the Tower meant to choose a God was actually just a trial for reincarnation? Headon...that bunny-eared bastard lied to us..."Though Eduan's words weren't intended for anyone, in particular, Vahn decided to chime in, saying, "That isn't exactly true. As counterintuitive as it might seem, reincarnation into a higher dimensional plane with your memories intact is one of the most expedient methods to becoming what you refer to as a 'True God'. Trying to obtain that level of power in a lower Realm is borderline impossible, as, without stabilizing and strengthening the plane you inhabit, you risk destroying everything in your pursuit of power. Don't get me wrong. I'm not exactly a fan of the current system. However, without it, the path towards godhood, and even higher realms of power, would be closed off to anyone who wasn't 'chosen'..."Nodding his head lazily in response, Eduan emptied another glass of wine before setting the vase aside and asking, "How do you know of all this? Have you ever actually been to these higher realms you speak of?"Shaking his head, Vahn adopted a slightly serious expression as he said, "I'm not obligated to reveal the source of my knowledge. The only reason I revealed these truths to you is to better prepare you for the future. The Tower is bound to be in an uproar the moment you appear outside. At least now you have an idea of what it is you're fighting for."Raising his cup as if to issue a toast, Eduan adopted a somewhat sardonic expression on his face as he said, "Indeed. The question then becomes...what are you fighting for? Don't tell me you're doing all of this in the spirit of selfless magnanimity. I might not be the most learned person in the world, but the one unquestionable truth I have ascertained over the years is that those who play at being selfless and righteous are often the most selfish of us all..."Adopting an amused smile, Vahn elected to raise his own glass, his eyes glowing in the low light of the room as he said, "I fight because I choose to. I don't pretend to be selfless, nor do I care about becoming a hero. The only things I care about are protecting my family and doing what I believe to be right. If there is one truth I have learned throughout my years...it would be that those who 'need' a reason to act are often looking to avoid some form of responsibility. I no longer have any interest in such things. The only people who can hold me accountable are those I have given that right. I am free."Surprised by the resolve contained within Vahn's declaration, Eduan found himself at a momentary loss for words. In the end, however, he couldn't help but shake his head, a satiric smile developing across his face as he lowered his glass and remarked, "How irresponsible...though, I do suppose that is how it has always been, hasn't it? The truly powerful can only be held accountable by themselves and the people they have given power over them...ahahahahaha~"Seeing their father enter a laughing fit, Asensio and the masked Icardi couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable. Maschenny, however, had been listening closely since the start of the conversation, her eyes radiating a shimmering blue glow as she quietly repeated, "The truly powerful can only be held accountable by themselves..."Not missing Maschenny's musings, Eduan's laughter promptly ceased as both he and Vahn shifted their attention to the pale-haired Princess. This would have caused the average person to avert their eyes, but, demonstrating she was anything but, Maschenny adopted a resolute look of her own as she said, "I wish to leave this place, conquer the Tower, and venture to the realms beyond. Even if it means selling my soul to a demon, I will see for myself what lies beyond. Tell me. What do I need to do in order to receive your power?"With Maschenny directing her gaze towards him, Vahn couldn't help but frown as he asserted, "I'm not a demon..."Furrowing her brows, Maschenny crossed her arms somewhat defiantly as she asked, "Does it really matter? Based on the differences in mine and Asensio's treatment, you clearly have some kind of intentions towards me. Either that or you're the kind of pretentious pig who can't bring themselves to hit a girl. Since you claim to have fought against my true self, however, I doubt that. That means you sought us out for a specific reason, and, based on your behavior during our fight, that reason is clearly related to me. You either intended to use me against myself or as a way to slap Jahad in the face. Regardless, I'm all in. Tell me what I need to do."Though her words weren't entirely on the mark, Vahn found himself unable to refute Maschenny's claims. This caused the surprisingly sharp Princess to adopt a victorious smile as Eduan, seemingly entertained, began to laugh in an annoyingly boisterous and uninhibited manner.Resisting the urge to throw his half-emptied cup into Eduan's face, Vahn set it off to the side as he met Maschenny's gaze and explained, "I did intend to train you, not specifically to defeat your real self, but to demonstrate how powerful she could have become with proper guidance. What I didn't account for was the fact that your personality was already twisted before you even started climbing the Tower. I'm guessing being born into the Khun Family and being chosen as a Princess of Jahad at such an early age didn't really help..."Seemingly dissatisfied by these words, Maschenny snorted loudly before asking, "So what? It's not like I could have done anything about the circumstances of my birth. Are you going to fault me for making the most of my situation? If I hadn't done my best, those envious of my talent would have readily killed me in order to clear a path for themselves. Don't tell me you're going to change your mind. What, are you afraid that I might stab you in the back or something? I didn't take you for a coward."Understanding that Maschenny was trying to rile him up in an effort to force his hand, a dry laugh emanated from Vahn's throat as he shifted his attention to Eduan and remarked, "See what I mean? This is what happens when you arbitrarily sire children without creating an environment to nourish them. When you get outside, I expect you to set a better example. If you end up walking the same path as your predecessor...well, let's just say I would take it personally..."Since he had personally sired a total of zero children, Eduan couldn't help but roll his eyes as he nonchalantly replied, "Yeah, whatever. It's not like I actually intended to have children. I've had more than enough problems dealing with the brats who came here seeking to prove themselves. Besides, why worry about starting a family of my own when the penultimate goal is reincarnation? I'll worry about shit like that when I get to a higher realm."Detecting no falsehoods in Eduan's words, Vahn nodded his head in approval before returning his attention to the moderately annoyed Maschenny and saying, "What you choose to do after leaving the Hidden Floor is ultimately up to you. If you wish to become stronger, I can certainly provide you with the means to drastically increase your power. However, it will depend almost entirely on your effort and the willingness of others to teach you. If you think power will just be handed to you, you are sorely mistaken..."Tilting her head forward and turning her eyes up in an expression of mild contempt, Maschenny asked, "When did I ever simply ask for power? I'm well aware that there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. I've said since the beginning that I'm willing to do whatever it takes, so you just need to tell me what it is you want. So long as you are more powerful than me, you won't have to worry about me ever betraying you."Hearing Maschenny's words, Vahn was starting to understand how the 'real' her managed to claw her way up to her current position. The only things she genuinely cared about were proving herself and fighting against powerful foes, so, even if it resulted in her inevitable end, she was willing to do whatever it took to ensure there was conflict. She was the type of person who constantly aspired to reach the top, not because she cared about being number one, but because it virtually guaranteed there would always be people looking to dethrone her...Deciding to see for himself how far she was willing to go, Vahn adopted a mask of seriousness as he somberly replied, "Very well then...since you appear to be confident in yourself, I'll make things easy for you. In exchange for the opportunity to become infinitely more powerful, I expect you to behave both adorably and sincere. The more convincing your act and the more sincere your sentiments, the more opportunities I will provide you."Having expected Vahn to force her to become his wife, concubine, or sex slave, Maschenny believed she had already prepared herself for the worst. When she heard his conditions, however, her mental faculties promptly slowed to a crawl as she mechanically inquired, "You expect me...to act cute?"Amused by Maschenny's reaction, a teasing smile developed across Vahn's face as he asked, "What? You can sell your soul to a demon, but acting cute is too difficult? It's no wonder your real self walks around wearing a t-back. You're surprisingly stuck up, aren't you?"Rebooting in response to Vahn's teasing remark, Maschenny adopted a disconcerted glower as she asked, "What's wrong with wearing a t-back? I have sensitive skin and other garments cause chafing when I move around quickly. I tried wearing shorts and knickers, but idiots wouldn't shut up about them. Besides, what does that have to do with being stuck up? Don't you think you're being a little unfair by comparing me to someone I haven't even met for nearly a millennia?"Ignoring the implication that the current Maschenny was wearing a t-back, Vahn decided to deflect back to the original topic, remarking, "It seems you'll be experiencing an uphill battle if you want to become stronger than your original self..."Clicking her tongue in response to Vahn's words, Maschenny seemed to enter a state of deep and highly frustrated thought as she leaned back in her chair, arms crossed in a huff. This earned her an amused chuckle from Eduan, who, understanding the conversation was nearing its end, turned his attention to Vahn, saying, "Since you're giving out bodies like candy, there is someone I believe you might be interested in. He is someone who seems to know the true history of the Tower. You might not care, but his knowledge will be useful for those following after you. I'll have Asensio guide you to his location. Once you meet him, you can make your own decision."With the data of Khun Eduan having long gained an Ego of his own, the Law of Identity was able to reveal that the person he was referring to was none other than Yu Hansung, the Test Director of the Floor of Tests. This came as a moderate surprise, but, having already learned of the truths contained within the actual Hansung's mind, Vahn wasn't particularly interested in dealing with another.Recognizing the look in Vahn's eyes, another laugh emanated from Eduan's throat as he remarked, "It seems like there is some bad blood between you and the original. Still, you should at least meet with him. People can change a lot in a single year, much less several hundred. I doubt he has done anything worse than me and my brats. You should give him a chance. Besides, there should be a lot of other data imprisoned in that quarantine area. Who knows, you might even come across the data of a few interesting Regulars? Though I only allow these three to stay here, there should be around twenty or so other members of my family running around. I imagine most of them would be willing to sell their souls if it meant escaping the Hidden Floor. This place gets pretty boring after the first couple of years."Since there was no actual harm in meeting with Yu Hansung and traveling to the quarantine area, Vahn ultimately nodded in response to Eduan's words. At the very least, it was a better plan than simply 'full-clearing' the Hidden Floor in search of the Hidden Hidden Floor's entrance. There was no way someone like Yu Hansung wouldn't know the shortest route to reaching Jahad, as, similar to Rachel, he was someone well acquainted with the history of Arlen, V, and the Tower as a whole.With this in mind, Vahn was prepared to leave when Maschenny suddenly slammed her fists on the table, crocodile tears in her eyes as she exclaimed, "How am I supposed to act cute!? Isn't that kind of thing entirely subjective!? If you want to caress my head that badly, there are more direct ways to go about it...!"Understanding this was Maschenny's attempt to appear both cute yet confrontational, a dry laugh emanated from Vahn's throat as he finished rising to his feet, saying, "I'm sure you'll figure it out. If becoming a God was easy, everyone would be able to do it. If you're legitimately asking for advice, you could practice smiling without appearing like a predator. There is nothing wrong with having a few sadistic inclinations. Displaying them wantonly and letting them dictate your behavior is what causes problems."Clicking her tongue for the umpteenth time, Maschenny fell back into her chair, arms crossed as she, once again, entered a state of thoughtful consideration. This left nearly everyone present with visibly wry smiles on their faces, the only exception being Icardi, who, for a number of reasons, hid his face away behind a mask...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Eduan be like, "Okay then, keep your secrets..."','With great power comes limited accountability...','Imagine Maschenny's reaction to her younger self behaving cutely xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1911: Exploration