Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After wrapping things up in the Town of the Wandering Minstrels, Vahn decided to decompress by returning to the Little Garden, feasting alongside the few residents that remained before spending a bit of time exploring Actualized Worlds. More specifically, he decided to visit the Tri-Ace Anthology, not to battle against the Ethereal Queen, but to act as an observer or a 'Guardian God' of sorts.Though he could easily manipulate the flow of fate to increase the likelihood of a certain outcome, one of the things Vahn had come to learn during his experimentation was that events, even without further interference on his behalf, could change drastically so long as time was allowed to flow. This was most obvious within the Actualized World of Naruto, as, despite having very little impact on the world after his initial spree, the events within the manga changed subtly every time he peeked in to see how everyone was doing.Simply put, unless he disconnected the Actualized Worlds from his Internalized Realm, they would experience constant changes. Said changes seemed to be directly related to his mental state, so, if he was happy, the flow of fate would typically allow for more positive outcomes within the worlds under his management. Inversely, whenever he was experiencing any form of negative emotion, the worlds within would gradually change to reflect these sentiments.Fortunately, so long as he had a presence within said worlds, the changes wouldn't be that extreme. It was generally events in the far future, specifically timelines he had yet to visit, that were the most affected by the changes he had made. Thus, by taking a more proactive role in the world's progress, even if he was simply observing it, he could drastically reduce the influence his mental state had on the events transpiring within. This was likely the reason why many Gods in fantasy novels kept silent vigil over their worlds, as, the moment they directly intervened or looked away, the influence of fate and karma all but guaranteed that something bad was going to happen.Though he couldn't even begin to comprehend the nature of a Tier 7 existence, the one thing Vahn was absolutely certain of was that it was a paradox in and of itself. He would have power on a level that simply couldn't be defined, but, unless he wished to invite destruction upon the 'everything' he represented, he would be forced to simply watch as events transpire. The only way he could interact with the world at large was to effectively seal himself away, relegating his true self to the position of linchpin as his manifestations and incarnations ventured through various worlds, potentially without any power to speak of...Shaking his head free of such thoughts, Vahn watched as a young woman with pink hair, pointed ears, and a furry pink tail ran down a cobbled road towards a cottage located near the center of a homely-looking village. Inside, a rather heroic-looking youth with pale-blue hair and a light-brown tail sat across from a similarly aged youth with blond hair and sly features, who, like virtually every other resident of the fantasy-esque world, possessed a cat-like tail covered in blond fur.With little more than a thought, Vahn was able to manifest inside of the cottage without either of the youths noticing his presence. More accurately, at least for the time being, he didn't exist in any form that the inhabitants of the Actualized World, Gods included, would be able to sense. This was one of the scarier aspects of his [Actualization] Innate, as, not only did it provide him with the ability to behave like an unrestrained voyeur, it allowed him to manipulate the fates of individuals without them having any idea of what he was doing.Fortunately for the inhabitants of the many worlds under his control, Vahn was beginning to realize that his interference wasn't necessarily warranted. It was entirely self-serving, and, though he didn't regret helping the people he had taken an interest in, he was slowly coming to understand that the 'best' Gods generally acted as silent observers. They rarely took action themselves, as, more often than not, even a middling effort on their part would simply be excessive. As a result, the balance of karma would be thrown completely out of whack, and, as a result of their direct intervention, there was a high probability that a zealous faith would be established in their name.Though he had little choice but to take proactive action in the Transcendental Path to Heaven, Vahn knew he couldn't keep resolving everything directly. He needed to open up to the idea that others would be carrying the burden of the future, and, while it was okay to offer them a helping hand in their time of need, it was equally important that they be able to spread their wings and soar beyond his control. This was actually a lesson he had learned during his time in Danmachi, but, as his power grew beyond the scope of normalcy, so too did his sense of responsibility and the concern he had for others.Now, much as he had watched over the members of his Familia, Vahn would be watching over the trio of Fellpool gathered before him. This was the start of their journey, and, though it could have just as easily been another chapter in his, there was no need for him to always play the hero. After all, if he could achieve a similar outcome by supporting from the shadows, what reason was there for him to take direct action? His harem had already grown beyond reason, and, while he couldn't deny that the women of this world were cute, the same could be said about virtually every member of his expansive entourage. Thus, while he might feel compelled to take direct action at some point, Vahn wanted to use this as an opportunity to practice observing...As that thought crossed his mind, a smile spread across Vahn's imaginary mouth as the pink-haired woman, a Fellpool named Millie Chliette, performed a spiraling uppercut to punish the older of her two childhood friends, a blond-haired Fellpool named Dorne Murtough. The latter had been trying to convince the leader of the trio, the Hero of this particular story, Roddick Farrence, that the former was a hot-headed and crazy woman. In reality, he had a deeply ingrained crush on the pink-haired maiden, but, as was often the case in such stories, Millie was 'secretly' in love with Roddick, the one person seemingly unaware of this truth.Unamused by her friend badmouthing her to the person she had a crush on, Millie's fluffy pink tail stood on end, rustling in a way that caused a curious glimmer to flash across Vahn's eyes. He had a rather 'extensive' knowledge of girls with animalistic features, yet, in nearly four-hundred-years, he had never seen one with the ability to vibrate the individual strands of their tail. It was a surprisingly adorable display of anger, and, though their story had just begun, he was already starting to regret his decision not to directly intervene in the events to come...---Following a series of events that took place, concurrently, over the course of an eight-month and three-hundred-year period, a version of Vahn possessing onyx-colored hair, pointed ears, and a cat-like tail could be seen smiling wryly as the party bid farewell to two of the most integral characters of the original plot, Captain Ronyx J. Kenny and his adjutant, Ilia Silvestri. As for the reason behind his wry smile, it was largely due to the petite girl with dark-pink hair, cat-like ears, and fur-covered limbs affectionately clinging to him while another beauty, possessing golden hair, silvery-gold eyes, and large angelic wings stood a little too close for comfort on the opposite side.Despite his best efforts to not get involved, Vahn had a nightmare of a time manipulating events so that everyone within the group of galactic heroes ended up happy. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that fate itself was getting in his way, as, in accordance with the setting of the game the world was based on, the maximum party size was only eight people. Recruiting one person closed the route to helping another, and, as the central protagonist of the world, Roddick's decisions and interpersonal relationships directly impacted whether or not his companions would have a 'happy ending'.Unable to simply stand on the sidelines as fate conspired to guarantee a 'bad end' for people who could have just as easily played a vital role in the progression of the plot, Vahn did the only thing he could think of to fundamentally alter fate: take matters into his own hands. This required him to join Roddick's party prior to the first divergence, and, after a planned falling out, he became something of a rival for the youth as their parties 'coincidentally' crossed paths at several key junctures.In the end, Vahn helped Roddick's team become far more powerful than they otherwise would have been. At the same time, he ended up becoming the emotional anchor and support, not just for the women in his group, but virtually everyone that would have been relegated to a bad ending should Roddick not choose them. This included clarifying things between the remarkably dense hero and his childhood friend, cementing the bonds between Ronyx and Ilia, helping Phia win the affections of Cyuss, and reuniting the bereaved Mavelle with her murdered lover.Unfortunately, thanks to time-travel shenanigans, there were two among the group of heroines that hailed from a time more than three-hundred-years prior to the story's inciting incident. Both would have originally imprinted on Roddick, but, thanks to his early encounter with Cyuss, Pericci, a lesser Fellpool who had been abused for much of her life, and Erys, the angelic beauty determined to bear the fate of the world on her shoulders, were fated to remain alone. Pericci, in particular, would have spent the remainder of her days avoiding slave traffickers, and, due to her connection with the Arch Fiend, Erys would have remained sealed within a prison of magical ice for thousands of years.Though he could have orchestrated events so that both women ended up happy, this would have actually been detrimental to the world's central axis of time. They both possessed powerful fates that were directly linked to important events in the world, so, for the sake of ensuring a positive outcome for the majority, they were meant to experience suffering and loneliness. Circumventing this was remarkably difficult, so, with fate and karma refusing to cooperate, what other choice did he have but intervening directly?Despite his confidence that he had done the 'right thing', Vahn couldn't help but offer an even wrier smile as the remarkably beautiful Ilia, possessing an athletic figure, golden hair, and matching eyes, asked, "Are you sure you about staying behind? Your talents are uniquely suited to the Pangalactic Federation. After this incident, there are an abundance of reasons to justify letting Planet Roak into our ranks. It would be an uphill battle, but, with someone like you serving as their representative, it is only a matter of time before Roak becomes a common name among Federation Officers."With a fifteen-year age difference between the twenty-three-year-old Ilia and Ronyx, the blonde bombshell was actually one of the primary heroines within the story. She and Roddick were fated to become 'very' close after a mishap with time travel, but, thanks to Vahn's intervention, Roddick and Millie ended up traveling together while Ronyx and Ilia found themselves stranded on the western continent of Van. It was at this point that Vahn took a more proactive role in the story, helping the duo find their footing, negotiating with the King of Van, and, most importantly, bridging the gap in their relationship.In the beginning, Ilia had actually taken quite the liking to him, and, had he not been aware of her importance to another story in the far future, Vahn might not have been able to resist her attempts to close the distance between them. She was a remarkably beautiful and intelligent woman, and, for the sake of 'blending in' with the people of Roak, she had opted to wear similar clothing to a female knight, specifically opting for a form-fitting outfit that displayed her athletic figure and exposed her tantalizingly toned thighs.Understanding that she hadn't quite given up on him just yet, Vahn forcibly suppressed an awkward laugh, ignoring Ronyx's slightly guarded look as he asked, "And what about Pericci and Erys? I can't very well leave them behind..."Answering before Ilia could offer a reply, Ioshua, Erys' teal-haired brother, immediately butted in, saying, "Preposterous! Though I am grateful for your efforts to save my sister, I will not allow her to simply run off with some strange man of dubious origin! Roak is our home. Would you deny her the opportunity to live a peaceful life for the sake of your ambition?"With her wings fidgeting in annoyance, Erys balled her hand into a tiny fist, her cheeks flushed with a red hue as she exclaimed, "That is enough, Ioshua! I understand your concerns, but I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions. Even if it is only for a short while, I wish to continue traveling alongside Vahn. Peace might be a wonderful thing, but peace alone does not make people happy. I once dedicated my everything to defeating the Arch Fiend. Now, I have found a new reason to keep moving forward. It is time you did the same. I am grateful for your concerns, but I am no longer the weak little girl that was stolen from you in our childhood...please, Ioshua, you must move on..."Seemingly intent on proving her point, Erys emulated Pericci's behavior by grabbing onto Vahn's arm, her face becoming noticeably redder in the process. This caused Ioshua to pale considerably, but, as this was far from the first time they had discussed the matter, he could only glare at Vahn with a hateful but accepting look in his eyes as he said, "You had better protect her...I've already traveled between worlds and through time. If you hurt her, I will track you down and make you pay..."Finding himself at a loss for words, Vahn simply stared back at Ioshua as several people in the surroundings laughed at both of their expense. It was only when Ronyx loudly cleared his throat, saying, "We must be going. The longer we remain here, the more difficult a situation we put the Admiral in. Any mistakes we make now will be used as evidence against us during our upcoming Court-Martial..."Piggybacking off her exasperated Commanding Officer's words, Ilia made one final attempt to convince Vahn, saying, "It will complicate things slightly, but, once you are confirmed as a delegate, claiming Pericci and Erys as part of your political entourage shouldn't be an issue. Your testimony would also go a long way to absolving the Captain and myself of any wrongdoings during our time on Roak..."Noticing the hopeful glimmer in the woman's golden eyes, even as he had two beauties clinging to him, Vahn fought hard to restrain a sigh as he ultimately answered, "So be it. I doubt things will end the way you're thinking, but there is no harm in seeing how things play out..."With her perpetual smile becoming even more prominent, Ilia appeared even more radiant than usual as she clapped her hands together and happily chimed, "Splendid! I can't wait to show you what life is like on Terra. Though it might not compare to Roak's natural beauty, there are many wondrous sights to view back on my home planet. Once this fiasco with the courts is resolved, it would be my honor to show the three of you around. I hope you'll look forward to it. If you'd like, I can even give you a tour of the entire galaxy. I'm sure you'll be surprised once you learn how vast the ocean of stars you see in the night sky truly is..."Resisting the urge to make a counter-comment about how limited her perspective of the world was, Vahn simply smiled in response to the woman's confident remark, answering, "I'm looking forward to it..." in an amused tone.(A/N: Surprise announcement coming soon (OwO)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

(A/N: Important announcement at the end of the chapter~.)Peeking a few years into the future, specifically around the time that a second story was intended to take place, Vahn was unsurprised to find that his Template had elected to take matters into his own hands. More specifically, he had used his status as one of the most powerful and influential voices within the Pangalactic Federation to make amendments to the Underdeveloped Planet Preservation Pact. This allowed him to establish an organization that specialized in the research and observation of so-called Underdeveloped Civilizations, and, whenever anomalies were discovered, his team was uniquely equipped to deal with threats to the universe.Though there was a significant amount of backlash in the early years, Vahn's Template, also known as Vahn, was eventually declared Hegemon of the Pangalactic Federation after establishing contact with one of the universe's oldest and most technologically overdeveloped civilizations, the Nedians. With their cooperation, he was able to, quite literally, prevent the destruction of the entire universe, and, as a result of his Guardianship over their final heiress, an adorable blue-haired girl named Rena Lanford, he was entrusted with nearly 700,000,000 years of data related to universe's development and every technological advancement the Nedians had ever made.Seeing how successful his alternate self had become, Vahn couldn't help feeling just a little envious. It wasn't that he was wanting for things like power and beautiful women at his side. It was more so that he was envious of the 'stability' of their existence. His own life seemed exceedingly random at times, and, though he had a general understanding of the direction he was moving in, the goal he was reaching for was something beyond comprehension. Inversely, the Template he had created as his proxy in the Tri-Ace Anthology had a perfect understanding of the direction his life was heading, and, through a concerted effort, he was able to overthrow a plot more than four-billion-years in the making before ushering in an era of peace and stability that spanned nearly 1300 years.While 1300 years might not seem like a long time, it was an astronomical amount considering he was the Hegemon of a Federation that spanned several galaxies and more than 60,000 'civilized' worlds. The longest era of peace prior to his reign was only eight years, as, whenever people made distinctions between 'civilized' and 'uncivilized', finding corruption was easier than finding grains of sand on a beach. It didn't help that there was no unified system of governance among the planets comprising the Pangalactic Federation, as, whenever someone tried to install such a government, they were bastardized as an autocrat or a tyrant by the powers pulling the strings from behind the scenes.In the end, it took demonic creatures invading from another dimension to shatter the peace that had been wrought through Fellpool Vahn's efforts. This, in turn, led to the discovery that the entire universe had simply been a simulation created by higher-dimensional beings as a way for them to pass the time. This revelation led to widespread chaos throughout the Universe before Vahn and his allies, once again, fought to restore peace and establish peaceful coexistence between the 'Eternal Sphere', the name of their universal simulation, and the Fourth-Dimensional beings responsible for its creation.Though he could have continued to rule as Hegemon, Fellpool Vahn took advantage of the fact that he had reached the end of his reality's established timeline to finally retire. In his place, he allowed the reality-spanning E.S.O.A.A, the system designed to monitor the Eternal Sphere, to manage, not just the Pangalactic Federation, but all civilizations within its sphere of influence. This led to quite a number of issues throughout the universe, but, with the threat of literal deletion hanging over their heads, most groups remained relatively reasonable in their opposition to Universal Governance. As for Vahn and his extended family, they became the bridge between the Eternal Sphere and Fourth-Dimensional Space, guaranteeing the preservation of the former while working with the people of the latter to uncover the truth of their own origin...---After what felt like an eternity, largely due to the fact he inherited the memories and experiences of his Templates, Vahn departed from his Internalized Realm to find himself relaxing comfortably in his own bed. This filled him with a momentary sense of incongruity, but, the moment he met the gazes of the noticeably fatigued Theo, Mira, and Lisanna, a natural smile spread across his face.Returning a smile of her own, Mira decided to ask what the other two were thinking, her voice filled with undertones of concern as she inquired, "How long were you gone?"Though it wouldn't be inaccurate to say he was gone for a much longer period of time, Vahn placed a kiss atop Mira's head before answering, "Eight months..." in a whispering tone.Meeting Vahn's gaze, Mira got the distinct impression he was hiding something, so, without beating around the bush, she asked, "How many?"Confused by the contextless question, Vahn tilted his head to the side, the gears of his mind turning until Sis took pity on him and explained, (*She is asking about the number of women you picked up despite stating you were simply going to observe.*)Since his Template had been created around the time of the first divergence of fate, Vahn wouldn't be lying if he said he hadn't picked up any new women during his time away. Unfortunately, as his Template had only developed a true Ego towards the end of the journey, it wasn't wrong to say he was the one in control. Thus, rather than avoid any responsibility in the matter, he answered, "Just one..." since, prior to his Template gaining independence, they had shared a number of experiences with the remarkably affectionate Pericci.Hearing Vahn's response, Mira, Theo, and Lisanna all showed genuine surprise on their faces as the eldest of the two Strauss sisters asked, "Only one? That is a surprising amount of restraint coming from you...can you show us what she looks like?"Though his smile became somewhat wry due to her rather biting remark, Vahn extended his palm to create a three-dimensional projection of Pericci prior to their separation. The moment the three girls saw her, a glimmer of enlightenment could be seen in their eyes as Lisanna casually remarked, "She looks a lot like Fenrir...albeit a lot more 'bubbly'..."Nodding their heads in agreement, Mira and Theo continued to observe the scale-model of Pericci, the latter tilting her head to examine the projection's backside, musing, "Oh my..." with an amused glimmer in her eyes.Shaking his head, Vahn's expression relaxed as he dissipated the projection and briefly recounted the events that had transpired within the Actualized World. This explanation was aided by the use of Memory Projection Spheres, and, though it took several hours, he could easily control the flow of time within the room to afford them ample opportunity to witness his exploits. This led to a number of questions regarding the relationship between his Template and several other female members of the verse, but, as he was no longer in control at that point, he couldn't be held accountable for his Fellpool counterpart's actions...---With most of his frustrations thoroughly vented, Vahn departed the Little Garden alongside Theo, Musashi, Scathach, and, of course, Index. His return brought back a few unpleasant memories, but, having gained an additional 1300 years of experience over the course of an eight-month period, he was no longer as affected by the tragedy that had resulted from Chung's depravity and boredom.After taking a few minutes to collect himself and organize his thoughts, Vahn decided it would be prudent of him to return to the Quarantine Area and liberate those within. He could always restore their data at a later date, but, rather than risk something happening in the future, it was best to take action in the present. He knew from the Law of Identity's acquisition of Data Eduan's memories that the latter possessed the means to effectively format the entire Hidden Floor, so, before karma and fate could reveal their hands, Vahn wanted to eliminate as many concerning variables as possible.To aid in this endeavor, Vahn had compiled the data pertaining to the Hidden Floor's residents into a Memory Fragment that was then uploaded to the Intelligence Nexus that had been jointly created by Urahara and Android 21 in accordance with Da Vinci's original design specifications for the Ark, Mother, and Shadow Systems. This allowed them to mass-produce Gigai, artificial bodies that were functionally identical to normal humans, that perfectly emulated the physical appearance and base specifications of everyone who had been adversely modified by Chung.Though it would normally take several hours to create a single Gigai, Vahn's ability to freely control the flow of time within the Little Garden reduced the time taken to a completely negligible amount. This was one of the most heinous exploits made possible through the combination of his status as a Tier 5 and the master of the Little Garden. Using it, he could even cultivate various medicinal plants and other cultivation resources that would typically take tens-of-thousands of years to mature. This, in turn, afforded him the opportunity to generate functionally unlimited OP, as, with the exception of goods purchased directly from the system shop, anything grown naturally could be traded in at roughly 1/10th its original value.While it wasn't the most cost-efficient way to generate Origin Points, primarily because he would never task anyone with watching over plants for tens of thousands of years at a time, the gardens of the Seventh Layer had become the primary source of Vahn's OP income. The only caveats were that many 'heavenly treasures', plants included, became sapient after a certain amount of time had passed. They also had a propensity for killing and consuming nearby treasures, so, without anyone to keep order, a number of magical beasts, some of which were farmed for OP, had taken residence within the Seventh Layer. This made it a pretty popular place for live combat training, as, thanks to the influence of the Law of Progress, the creatures within grew powerful at an exponential rate...---Though he was quite accustomed to waiting, Yu Hansung was beginning to feel a little impatient after coming to learn that an Irregular different from the one he had anticipated had arrived on the Hidden Floor. To make matters even worse, the Irregular had freely trespassed the Quarantine Area to seek him out; and, according to the residents of the Seed, he had even greater authority over the Hidden Floor's systems than the Big Breeders selected to manage it.Lamenting the lack of coffee within the Quarantine Area, Yu Hansung exhaled a troubled sigh as he vexatiously watched the bridge connecting the Seed to the larger structure of the Fruit of Good and Evil. He wanted to witness how the man named Vahn entered the area for himself, as, according to the reports of Batis and other trustworthy sources, the former had allegedly appeared out of thin air before disappearing in much the same manner. If this was true, it meant they could finally leave the Quarantine Area, as, according to the same sources, there had been several other people traveling alongside the presumed Irregular.As if machinated by fate, a strange ripple appeared the moment this thought crossed Yu Hansung's mind. From within, a handsome man with windswept brown hair, energetic green eyes, and tanned skin emerged alongside two uncannily similar individuals. At a glance, the trio could be mistaken for triplets, but, with a few small variations in their facial structure, hairstyles, and choice of clothing, it was hard to be certain. The only thing Yu Hansung knew with absolute certainty was that they had the exact same eye pigment, and, as far as he could tell, power levels that were completely off the charts...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'TFW your Template is more successful than yourself...','Mira low-key taking pot-shots at Vahn's ego xD...','Karma is a bitch (O w O)...')(A/N: It is no secret on the Discord server, but I've been severely ill for the past month or so. This has given me a lot of time to think about what I'm doing with both my life and the novel. As I have stated in the past, EPIC was always intended to be practice. To that end, I intend to continue writing until the story reaches a natural conclusion and all its central mechanics have been expanded upon. At the same time, however, I need to begin seriously considering my personal wellness and financial situation. I have neither a car nor health insurance, so, even when I could barely move around, I had little choice but to tough it out. Fortunately, writing doesn't require me to physically exert myself or leave my apartment. Had I been working full or part-time, I imagine I would have been in a similar situation as many of my fellow Americans. To that end, I am truly grateful for the support everyone has given me thus far. Unfortunately, this is also where a problem presents itself. Everyone is facing trying times these days, and, were it not for the benevolence of a few kind souls, I would probably be completely broke right now. Fortunately, someone was kind enough to contribute a $640 Path-level donation on my *******, but, as a result, several others also reduced their pledges. Now, I'm roughly $300-400 dollars beneath the level that was previously supporting me. If things continue at this rate, I might be forced to do other work just to be able to get by. This, however, would put EPIC at risk, so, despite some serious concerns from my parents and friends, I've decided to just say 'fuck it' and go all-in on writing. To that effect, I will be doing my best to release three chapters Sat-Thur. At the same time, I intend to start writing on an offshoot called 'EPIC Side Stories' that will only be made available on my *******. I don't have the heart to hold actual EPIC chapters hostage, so, in the hopes of improving my situation, I will be holding polls to allow the community to decide what the side stories pertain to. Examples include things like: the events that had taken place in the Tri-Ace Anthology, NSFW scenes between various characters, and anything else EPIC-related. If you are interested in being a part of the community and quite literally helping me survive, I will be making all side-stories available for a single dollar. For those who think this is unfair, know that I intend to make all side-stories public once EPIC has finished. I am forced into this situation by circumstance, and I hope this decision hasn't offended anyone. You all are what make EPIC possible, and, were it not for the support of many amazing individuals, I might not even be here right now. Thank you for your patience and understanding during these trying times...and, while it is hard to sound sincere in text, know that I am sorry things have come to this. You all deserve better than this...we all deserve better than this...)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though damage sustained by an Avatar wasn't supposed to affect the user, Chung lurched forward in his chair, blood pouring from his nose and mouth as a vicious bruise spread across his neck. The pain was unlike anything he had ever experienced before, and, were it not for the fact his true body was also comprised of data, he might have died right then and there. Instead, he managed to crawl his way over to a mini-fridge filled with a special form of vibrant blue energy drink that was more so a drug than a beverage.Choking down the carbonated, Shinsu-comprised liquid, the bruise on Chung's neck began to fade away as a sensation similar to a rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins permeated his body. This caused the pain to increase exponentially, but, similar to actual adrenaline, it prevented him from passing out as his body contorted and spasmed with increasing intensity. He even began to froth at the mouth after several seconds, blood mixing with saliva to form pinkish-red bubbles that stained the carpet and similar white walls.With his throat and larynx rapidly regenerating, an intensifying gurgle could be heard from Chung's throat. This sound gradually built into a whimpering groan until, several excruciating moments later, it exploded into a feral roar that encouraged him to thrash about and destroy everything within his grasp.Throughout his entire life, Chung had never felt this frustrated and indignant. To make matters even worse, there was nothing he could do to rectify his current crisis. His Avatar was exponentially more powerful than his actual self, yet, like a child popping the head off a doll, an enemy he hadn't even known existed managed to both defeat him and steal his authority. This practically guaranteed that he would be deleted, as, compared to his past transgressions, nothing even remotely compared to losing his Command Key.Unable to contain his emotions, sobbing tremors wracked Chung's body as snot and drool replaced the blood flowing from nose and mouth. At the same time, a steady stream of tears flowed from his eyes as he hammered the ground, whimpering, "It's not fair...I never did anything wrong...why am I always the one being punished? All I did was play around...everyone else gets to do whatever they want...why is it wrong when I do the same? Why!? Why!? Why is it always me!?"Since his cries weren't actually directed towards anyone, Chung's body turned statuesque when a deep yet velvety smooth voice calmly answered, "It's because you are weak. This is what happens every time someone tries to overextend themselves and play the part of someone they're not. The power you possess is something that has been bestowed upon you. Thus, without safeguarding it properly, it is only natural that it would, one day, be stripped away. You can cast blame on others, but, in the end, everything that has happened thus far is the direct consequences of your actions and negligence."Fearing that he would be erased the moment he turned to look at the speaker, Chung kept his head low to the ground, tears continuing to trickle from his eyes as he instinctually held his breath.Offering a thoughtful hum in response to Chung's reaction, the owner of the voice took a few steps forward before kneeling down and placing his hand on the man's shoulder, asserting, "Though I am unable to condone your behavior, I will not condemn you for it. Everyone needs a method to vent their frustrations, and, in the end, your crimes are, ultimately, without any victims to speak of. Thus, in recognition of your faithful service over the last six millennia, I will bequeath unto you a full and comprehensive pardon..."Not expecting such clemency after his many failings, Chung's tears began to flow in even greater volume as he sobbingly muttered, "T-T-Thank you..."Unfortunately, the moment Chung had finished uttering his words of gratitude, a pain so intense that his mind couldn't even process it instantaneously spread throughout his body. It was like every digitally constructed nerve in his body was on fire, and, though his mouth opened to scream, it was like all sounds emanating from him had been silenced. This allowed the person responsible for his current state, a young man with golden hair and a three-eyed crimson visor to say, "Do not fight it. This is the reward for your dutiful service. You are clearly ill-suited to a continuous existence within the Hidden Hidden Floor, so I will now free you from your suffering. Worry not. Even when you are gone, your memory will live on as a part of me."By the time the young man had finished speaking, Chung's body had disintegrated into a stream of data that quickly dispersed. Almost immediately thereafter, even Chung's apartment began to turn transparent, complex lines of code appearing across every surface before promptly dissolving away moments later. In the end, the only thing that remained was the building's foundation, a white pillar resembling marbled concrete that jutted out of an ocean filled with countless other towers.Seemingly immune to the effects of gravity, the golden-haired man continued to stand in the air for several seconds, red cape billowing behind him as he stared silently at the foundation below. It was only when a golden sphere approached him that he turned away, his veiled gaze landing directly on the shimmering object as he firmly ordered, "Capture, but do not harm, one of the groups that have recently entered the Hidden Floor. There is someone among them that is completely immune to my ability to view fate. I want to know everything about them and the reasons behind their visit."Since it did not possess a head to bow, the golden sphere appeared to tilt forward slightly as a soft and somewhat androgynous voice replied, "Understood. Thank you for entrusting me with such an important task, Lord Jahad..."Having said all he needed to say, the golden-haired youth just stared silently at something that only he could see. As for the golden sphere, it quickly departed, as, without a very good reason, staying anywhere even remotely close to the de facto ruler of both the Hidden and Hidden Hidden Floors was extremely dangerous. The Data of Jahad could be remarkably magnanimous and unbelievably cruel at the exact same time, so, more often than not, even those directly subordinate to him gave the self-proclaimed 'King of Adventurers' a very wide berth...Following the sphere's departure, Jahad shifted his gaze to its previous position, a snaggletoothed smile appearing across his face as he muttered, "It seems as though my counterpart in the outside was mistaken...I wonder if this is a scheme of Gustang? Things are finally starting to get interesting. Either way, it seems like this is the start of a new adventure..."With that said, Jahad shifted his attention towards the sky overhead, his smile fading away as he added, "I suppose I'll need to prepare a proper venue. As much as I despise this never-changing landscape, it is still the result of mine and my friends' hard work. I would hate to see it destroyed without reason...though, now that I'm saying it out loud, that might be for the best...one must be willing to leave behind the past if they wish to grasp the future..."Seemingly convinced by his own words, several solidified golden Baangs appeared around Jahad's body before erupting outward with horrifying force. He could have just as easily erased everything, but, as this would ultimately allow it to be backed up by the system, he decided to just destroy it himself. His authority over the Hidden Floor gave his Shinsu the properly of irreversibly damaging anything it came into contact with, the obvious exception being himself. This meant, even if a reset were to occur, anything destroyed by his attacks would remain as such; a testament to his decision that nobody, not even himself, could overwrite.Ignoring the slight feeling of regret welling up inside of him, Jahad continued to destroy everything he and his friends had created more than ten-thousand-years prior. He only stopped when even the ocean below had been completely dried up, a steamy wasteland appearing where a futuristic ghost city once stood. Then, as if to completely bury the past, he manifested a golden scepter decorated with red, blue, and yellow spheres as he began to construct a golden arena more than a thousand kilometers across...---Unaware of the events occurring in the Hidden Hidden Floor, Vahn spent hours working alongside Sis to remove all sequelae pertaining to Chung's past misdeeds. This required them to modify the data of nearly every female resident of the indescribably tragic city, erasing and reinstalling several key aspects of their appearance, personality, and voice data that had been modified in accordance with Chung's preferences.In the end, Vahn had Sis effectively format every resident who had yet to awaken an Ego, as, even if he did explain the situation to them, it would take reprogramming them entirely just to make them angry about what had happened. Though this seemed like the 'right' thing to do, it wasn't all that different from deciding for them how they should think and behave.Since the thought of deciding how people thought and felt didn't sit well with him, Vahn decided to allow the majority of the Data Humans to simply live on, completely unaware of the truth. As for the rest, they had the right to know what had occurred over the last sixteen-hundred-years, so, without concealing anything, he allowed them to view the data for themselves before giving them the right to decide the fate of the Hidden Floor.As could be expected, those with less developed Egos experienced existential breakdowns almost immediately after learning the truth. Even a normal person might have a breakdown upon learning that their entire reality had been bent and distorted to suit the vision of a single person, so, with the exception of a small handful of resolute individuals, the rest asked that their memories be erased so that they could continue living, ignorantly, among their people.Though he was somewhat disappointed by their decision, Vahn couldn't blame them for wanting to escape the truth of their former reality. Thanks to Chung's efforts to cover his crimes, many of them hadn't even been aware of their burgeoning sense of self. They just lived in accordance with their programming, and, though there times when they felt 'something' was off, they generally ignored it for fear of standing out and being ostracized. This was a surprisingly 'human' thing to do, and, even if it meant losing everything that made them unique, they were willing to sacrifice their individuality in order to blend in with the rest of society.Since it was ultimately their decision to make, Vahn abided by his end of the agreement and erased both the memories and Egos of everyone who couldn't accept the truth. This left only three people among the residents currently present, specifically Rose, Mi-eum, and the latter's younger brother, a youth named Kim who had awakened after witnessing Chung's brutality towards his sister over the course of several years.Fortunately, while there were only three among the present residents, there were several hundred among the Data Humans that had been sealed away and quarantined by Chung. The rules of the Hidden Floor prevented him from directly killing any of its residents, so, whenever someone broke free from his influence, he ultimately ended up sealing them away before erasing the memories of everyone who once knew them. Thus, over the course of sixteen-hundred-years, a large number of Data Humans had gathered within the Seed of Good and Evil, forced to experience death whenever Regulars ventured into the Hidden Floor and completed its Quests.Though five-hundred people wasn't much, it was more than enough to establish a village and start a burgeoning civilization among other groups of people. Thus, while it would take some time, Vahn intended to allow those who had chosen to move forward to migrate into the Second Layer of the Little Garden. There, they would be able to live out the rest of their days experiencing the wonders of actually living, and, once he had advanced to a higher realm, they, like any other creatures with a soul, would be able to experience the wonders of the countless worlds beyond the Tower...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Gamer(baby) rage...','(O o O)...','Someone pull out a torch. It's getting a little too dark in here...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1915: A Not-so-Brief Intermission