Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though it hadn't been long since Wolhaiksong's transition into the Little Garden, it wasn't exactly the type of incident that would simply pass under the radar. A lot of people kept a close watch on the organization and its activities, so, shortly following the disappearance of the floor-sized forest, senior officials from the Ministries of Wisdom, Defense, Finance, and Faith had gathered to discuss the fate of the Empire.Gathered alongside the officials, massive humanoid heads that defied the laws of gravity, were the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th Commanders of the Jahad Army. This included Adori, acting as Commander-in-Chief, Senna, her Chief Advisor, Arie Andrika, Commander of the 'Dauntless Assault Force', and, most notably, a youthful-looking girl named Eurasia Lem, Commander of the 'Emergency Support Division'.As was often the case in such situations, a man consisting of nothing but a giant head, pointed ears, and detached hands was the first to speak, bellowing, "This is clearly the prelude to a rebellion! We should have eliminated that man the moment he appeared! Who is going to take responsibility for this!?"With a size exceeding 10m, a horned golden helm reminiscent of a Chinese general, and white eyes surrounded by blood-red sclera, the 'man', Ke-sa the Furious, created quite the imposing figure. He was also the Minister of National Defense, so, while everyone else was relatively calm, recent events in the Tower had resulted in him becoming increasingly stressed.Answering Ke-sa's outburst, another giant head, this one appearing as a green-skinned man with four detached hands, large ears, and a monkey-like tail protruding from where his neck should be, plainly remarked, "Standing before you is your Commander in Chief and the most senior member of the Jahad Princesses. If you cannot manage your temper, I will have to ask that you remove yourself from this chamber."Using one of his detached hands to push up his rather archaic-looking bifocals, the green-skinned man, better known as Arvin Lou, Chairperson of the Office of Wisdom, made it very clear he would not tolerate such behavior. This earned him a fierce glare from the grey-skinned Ke-Sa, who, under normal circumstances, wouldn't hesitate to give Arvin Lou a piece of his mind. Adori was his direct superior, however, so, as the official representing military law and order, he couldn't simply ignore it in her presence.Observing the interaction between the two, Adori had to briefly close her eyes, suppressing a sigh as she attempted to organize her thoughts. Fortunately, even without her needing to inquire, Senna took the initiative to say, "I don't believe this is a bad thing."Opening her eyes, Adori shifted her gaze to Senna, silently prompting the woman to explain, "Vahn, the Sage Dragon Emperor, has demonstrated a penchant for personally resolving matters beyond a certain threshold of importance. Though he has allowed some of his family members to explore the Tower, they generally operate under a very strict set of guidelines. I don't believe, not for a moment, that he would mobilize the forces of Wolhaiksong against the Empire. Rather, given his behavior till now, it is safe to assume that Wolhaiksong is now out of the picture. Their principal goal had always been 'leaving' the Tower, not conquering it. I imagine the leadership of Wolhaiksong petitioned him for assistance, so, unless something unexpected occurs, they will likely remain there until Vahn has departed the Tower."Having witnessed Vahn's 'wrath' after her forces had unnecessarily eliminated a group of Regulars, Adori had little trouble believing in Senna's words. Vahn was capable of incredible destruction, yes, but, unless he had chanced upon circumstances he vehemently disagreed with, he generally did his best to avoid injuring innocents and causing collateral damage.Nodding her head, Adori passed her gaze over everyone present before saying, "Unless my father issues an Imperial Mandate, we will continue to act as we have been. Though they are undoubtedly troublesome, the Aldrnari Empire is not a direct threat to the Jahad Empire. So long as we continue working on reforms, there is a very real chance that the Sage Dragon Emperor will simply ignore us on his way to the top. Everything that has occurred thus far can be said to be a direct consequence of our mismanagement..."Though she didn't appreciate how Vahn had brought chaos to the Empire, she knew he couldn't be held solely accountable. Everything he had done thus far was in direct response to deeply rooted issues that had plagued the Empire for generations. Had he been a part of the Jahad Family or the Royal Enforcement Division, most of his actions would actually merit some kind of reward. The only reason his behavior was even considered a 'problem' was because it was a direct slap in the face to the Jahad Empire, the Ten Great Families, and the parties responsible for the Tower's administration.Suppressing another sigh, Adori was about to dismiss everyone when the only 'female' among the giant heads, a pink-skinned entity named Valua Gale, stated, "The disappearance of Wolhaiksong is bound to shake the people's faith. Even if the Sage Dragon Emperor isn't likely to employ them, the fact he has accepted them is a problem in and of itself. It artificially inflates him to a position above the Ranking members of Wolhaiksong, and, most importantly, diminishes the influence of the King. If rumors regarding his ability to depart the Tower begin to circulate, millions, if not more, will begin flocking to him. Even if he doesn't lead an open revolution, the integrity-"Unable to suppress it any longer, an exasperated sigh escaped Adori's throat, disrupting the long-winded Valua before she could offer any substantive advice. Then, in a tone that caused even Lem to open her eyes, she plainly stated, "Let them go. The Empire was founded with the intention of preserving peace within the Tower. We have never told the people in the Outer Tower how to live, and, so long as they didn't violate the law, we have always supported the independence of people living within the Inner and Middle Towers. Even if hundreds-of-billions of people left, there would still be hundreds-of-billions more remaining in the Tower. Rather than worrying about those that wish to depart, our priority should be ensuring peace and stability for those who remain."Taken aback by Adori's words, Valua wanted to gently chastise the Princess, but, before she could speak, Senna chimed in to say, "The Princess is correct. The Wall of Peaceful Coexistence is the best example of this sentiment. Just because it has degraded over the years, that isn't a reason to throw away our ideals. Rather, it's decline should offend us. They were intended to serve as monuments to the Empire's foundational principles, yet, as if to reflect the actual state of our administration, they have fallen into ruin. Speaking of conservative values and faith when we have failed to pay homage to the very beliefs upon which our nation was founded is rather short-sighted, don't you think?"Glaring back at Senna, the pitch of Valua's voice increased drastically as she shouted, "Lady Senna! Such words border on sacrilegious! Administration of the Walls of Peaceful Coexistence was left to the families of the Kingdoms spared as a result of our King's mercy! We cannot be held responsible for their failures! In fact, they should be punished for failing to appreciate the King's magnanimity!"Staring at Valua as if she was the dumbest person she had ever met, Senna's expression bordered on a deadpan as she stated, "The first walls to fall were those under the direct management of the Empire. You're also arguing that we can't be held responsible for the actions of others while trying to make a point about how the Empire should prevent people from disassociating themselves with our policies. We either have a responsibility to govern and preserve our ideals or we don't. You can't hold others accountable while denying personal responsibility in regard to your own policies. Those at the highest level of government are supposed to be the 'most' accountable for their actions..."With the color of her skin transitioning from pale-pink to a deep shade of red, Valua looked like she wanted nothing more than to devour Senna on the spot. Unfortunately, the latter was exponentially more powerful than she was, and, despite her status within the Ministry of Faith, her authority was a far cry from Senna's. Not only was she the direct descendant of Ari Han, the most politically inclined of the Great Warriors, she was also the most beloved sister of Ari Chun, one of the Three Lords who ruled the Tower in Jahad's stead...Furrowing her brows ever so slightly in response to Valua's behavior, Adori made a mental note to file an official complaint as she outwardly expressed, "We will discuss this matter in greater detail at the upcoming Ruler's Conference. In accordance with my father's previous decree, our official policy regarding the Sage Dragon Emperor is non-interference. If you are discovered violating this decree, I will have no choice but to act in my capacity as the Sword of the Empire. Understood?"Though Senna was a monster in her own right, the power possessed by Adori was, simply put, in a league of its own. As a result, Valua couldn't help paling in response to Adori's words, a fresh layer of sweat covering her inordinately large head as she nervously replied, "I...I understand. I will store the Princesses' words in my heart and do everything in my power to guarantee the integrity of the King's decree..."Offering a curt nod in response, Adori promptly turned on her heels, habitually flaring her cape as she added, "We are finished here. Convey my words to the Floor Rulers and make sure everyone is continuing to audit their respective departments. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, the Imperial Army will not come to the aid of anyone who has provoked the anger of the Sage Dragon Emperor. If they are smart, they will turn themselves in and make an earnest effort to repent. If such recourse is beyond them, they only have themselves to blame for what is to come..."Without looking back to confirm that her words were regarded with the severity they warranted, Adori promptly departed with Senna, Andrika, and Lem following close behind. This left only the four giant heads remaining in the inordinately large judicial chamber, two appearing weary, one a caricature of fury, and the other appearing just as pale as she had under Adori's steely gaze...---Shortly following Adori's departure, details pertaining to the relatively brief discussion were quickly spread through various information channels. This included networks directly affiliated with each of the Great Families, and, as a result, it wasn't long before Yeon Ilarde, self-proclaimed Godmother of the Yeon Family, received the news. Immediately thereafter, a vase worth more than a floating castle was sent hurtling across the room, violently smashing against a wall comprised almost entirely of an inordinately rare red marble, highly polished gold, and various other valuable materials.Seeing their Godmother behave in such a way, the group responsible for reporting to her couldn't help freezing up. Fortunately, almost immediately after smashing the vase, Ilarde, a breathtakingly beautiful woman with raven-black hair, fair skin, and ruby-red eyes appeared to regain her senses. There was even a hint of red in her cheeks as she turned to the group of doll-like women observing her from the side, saying, "I have shamed myself in front of you. Please, do not speak of this in front of your sisters..."Without any hesitation whatsoever, each of the girls standing across from Ilarde bowed their heads, haughty yet reverential looks on their faces as the most senior among them chimed, "The greatness of the Godmother cannot be tarnished so easily. Regardless, it is our greatest honor to help protect the dignity of the Yeon Family and its most illustrious member."Hearing her daughter's words, Ilarde used a phoenix-inspired fan to veil the smile that had spread across her face. The only thing she enjoyed more than hearing praise regarding her greatness was tormenting the vile and despicable men who thought themselves worthy of her favor. Thus, while it was difficult to suppress her anger, she eventually managed to compose a mask of indifference as she said, "That woman's incompetence knows no limits. I can't even begin to fathom what our King was thinking when he put her in charge of the military..."Though her words might have caused a scene elsewhere, Ilarde was able to speak freely in front of the members of her own family. Rather, whenever they heard her speaking casually about Jahad, the respect and adulation of those closest to her only seemed to increase. They genuinely believed she was the contemporary of Jahad and the Great Warriors, and, were it not for a promise she had made with her sister, Hana's mother, she would have been much more than the de facto leader of the Yeon Family.Noticing the looks she was receiving, Ilarde fought hard against the urge to smile, forcing herself to appear cold and detached as she ordered, "Send a message to Hana. I have other matters to attend at the present moment, but, once I'm finished, I will be heading there to meet her. Have her washed and ready within the hour. And don't forget to treat her with the utmost respect. If I find out any of you have said or done anything hurtful to my beloved niece, expect a severe punishment..."Bowing even lower than before, Ilarde's daughters responded in the affirmative before half of them promptly broke off to carry out her orders. As for the rest, they followed after their mother, eager to make themselves available if she required their assistance. Filial piety was one of the basic principles of the Yeon Family, so, no matter what demands their mother asked of them, it was their 'honor' to oblige...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'TL:DR: Don't fuck with Vahn','Valua just got gaslit xD...','Ah, the wonders of fundamentalism~')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With Ureko suggesting they shelve their 'battle' until after he had resolved the deeper issues with his harem, Vahn had everyone, including those who had been away in Actualized Worlds, gather in the Emerald Grove.Though he had a functionally infinite amount of time to make a decision, Vahn wanted to hear what everyone else had to say before making his final judgment. Their happiness had always been one of his highest priorities, so, even if it meant letting them go, he was prepared to do whatever it took to ensure they were the happiest they could possibly be...---Doing everything in his power to suppress a tired sigh, Vahn forced himself to appear calm as he reiterated, "To summarize, there are three opportunities awaiting everyone once I reach the top of the Tower. The most notable of these is reincarnation into a higher realm with all of your memories, innates, and soulbound items intact. You will undoubtedly face many hardships along the way, but this is the route that will allow you to reach the pinnacle through your own efforts. Once I reach the Divine Realm, I will be able to look back on the path you have walked until its penultimate end, and, depending on the circumstances, I can either recall you to my side, pick you up before your journey even began, or allow you to live happily in the new life you have built for yourself..."Being one of the more intellectual among the group, Android 21, appearing just as disgruntled as a number of other people present, pointedly remarked, "I get what you're trying to say, but you seem to be skirting around a pretty serious problem. For those of us who choose to remain faithful, there is a very real chance we would have to spend an 'eternity' alone. You might be able to undo that by picking us up at an earlier point in time, but, statistically speaking, everyone here would eventually have a breakdown that compels them to seek companionship elsewhere. We might even be forced to endure millions of years of loneliness before finally seeking out and obtaining happiness...if that happens, will your guilt allow you to recall us to your side...?"As similar questions had come up during the initial group discussion, Vahn was beginning to feel a considerable amount of mental fatigue. Despite this, he managed to appear relatively calm on the surface, explaining, "There are rituals that can bind people together. If necessary, I am prepared to make a Template to accompany each and every one of you. For those of you who wish to face fate directly, however, know that I will only view your lives for a period of time equivalent to the amount it takes me to reach the Divine Realm. In other words, if it takes me ten-thousand-years to reach the Divine Realm, I will only view your reincarnation for the first ten-thousand-years of its existence. My decision to recall you will depend entirely on your actions and experiences in that span of time..."Though not everyone understood the implications of his words, the more 'resolute' among Vahn's women immediately perked up. One of the things that had always troubled them was the fact that he had a lot more time than them to become stronger. This made it impossible to match his pace, and, while this would always be an issue, they were confident they could reduce the distance with a comparable amount of time.Deciding to continue while the mood had marginally improved, Vahn went on to add, "The second option is to continue living within the Emerald Grove. Given enough time, I'm confident that I could connect both my Realm and the Actualized Worlds to the Little Garden. That will allow everyone the opportunity to freely explore, but, as a result of my nature, it is impossible for me to guarantee your independence. I can't help my overprotective nature. I've tried numerous compromises, but, so long as you are within my sphere of influence, I will do everything in my power to protect you...no matter what..."Hearing Vahn's words, helpless smiles appeared on the faces of virtually everyone present as Fenrir remarked, "Master has done nothing wrong. Though we come together, everyone here is ultimately responsible for their own happiness. Those who cannot find a pursuit worthy of their focus will only become a burden to everyone else. It is fine to desire a leisurely life where Master showers you with affection, but, if that is your only aspiration, you have no right to lament when he is busy with other things. You cannot wholly entrust your happiness to another. If you are unwilling to accept personal responsibility for your own life, you are poorly equipped to deal with eternity. Master exists to make everyone happy. He does not exist to make 'you' happy."Though her words were more than a little 'biting', most of Fenrir's pack immediately nodded their heads in affirmation. They had learned the importance of self-improvement, and, while they would do everything in their power to support their Master, their primary focus was mastering themselves. It was impossible to know what the future held, so, more than anything else, they did everything in their power to enjoy life while subsequently preparing for anything it might throw their way...With Fenrir sitting to his left, Vahn couldn't restrain the urge to extend his hand, roughly caressing her head as he said, "Thanks, but, even if I'm doing everything I can, it's still my fault when people aren't happy. If I didn't have my fair share of flaws, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. With that in mind, allow me to surmise the third option. Keep in mind that there are actually a functionally infinite number of alternative choices you can make, but, for the sake of simplicity, this is the baseline everyone has to choose from..."Inhaling a deep breath, Vahn briefly closed his eyes, his perception momentarily lingering on the auras of everyone present before explaining, "The third option is personal resolution. I will seal the Little Garden and begin treating the 'outside' in a manner similar to an Actualized World. I will focus all of my efforts on attaining Tier 7, and, as much as possible, I will avoid entering sub-dimensional realms without a specific goal in mind. Simply put, I will put everything in stasis until these types of issues are no longer a problem..."Though the first two options were far from ideal, the one Vahn feared most was the third option. In many ways, it was a direct parallel to what he considered to be his life's greatest mistake. The only difference was, if he really needed to, he could effectively end the stasis whenever he wanted. Either way, it was an extremely selfish decision to make, as, regardless of his level of conviction, he would eventually encounter something or 'someone' that slowed his progress. He would basically be living the life of a 'main character', and, as a result of his nature, he was bound to meet countless beauties on his way to becoming a Tier 7 entity...Even if he became liberal with his Templates, Vahn knew it was impossible for him to ignore people with powerful fates. He was also exceptionally weak against women with tragic backgrounds, so, as his power and karma increased, fate would invariably draw tragic heroines his way. Even the Divine Realm wasn't free from tragedy, so, until he reached Tier 7, his harem would likely continue growing without limit...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn passed his gaze over everyone present, guilt swelling within his heart until he noticed Nobunaga rolling her crimson eyes. Then, drawing everyone's attention to herself, she rose to her feet and declared, "This forum is pointless. We followed you here in order to help you, not hold you back. Stop using us as an excuse to delay your progress. You're the only one with the ability to elevate yourself to Tier 7. If we're in your way, send us back to the Realm or order us to reincarnate. There is no need for you to be pussyfooting around like this. If we can't tolerate a few thousand years in another world, how can we expect to live for eternity in another?"To punctuate her words, Nobunaga made of show of stretching her body and releasing a prolonged yawn before turning towards the exit and adding, "Well, let me know when you make a decision. I'm gonna grab something to drink. Feel free to join me once you're finished here."With that said, Nobunaga departed the room without looking back. She had never been the type to care about the complexities of a situation. If Vahn didn't need her help, she wasn't going to impose upon him. She was pretty content with drinking alcohol, bonding with other members of the harem, and exploring the ever-changing Layers of the Little Garden, so, while she had noticed a number of issues as of late, they didn't really bother her. Rather, much like Ureko, she was more frustrated with the girls whose 'weakness' distracted Vahn and introduced pointless drama into an otherwise idyllic situation.Though he wasn't particularly surprised by Nobunaga's departure, Vahn couldn't help adopting a wry smile as he watched more than half the congregation follow suit. In the end, the only people remaining were those with positions of authority, and, as could be expected, those who had only recently joined his harem. They were the ones with the most concerns about the future, as, unlike the girls who had originated from his Realm, they still had uncertainties regarding his status, and, more importantly, their 'place' in everything...Passing his gaze over everyone that remained, including girls like Ureko and Yuri, Vahn regained a serious disposition as he advised, "There is no need to feel pressured. As I stated previously, there are actually countless options available to you. Regardless of what you choose, know that I will do my best to support you. Also, no matter what...please, never consider yourself a burden...that kind of mentality, more than anything else, is the greatest source of my stress. There has never been, nor will there ever be, a need for you to prove yourselves worthy of my love and affection..."Though his words were intended for everyone, Vahn spoke the final few while looking directly at Ureko. He knew she wanted to say something now that the more resolute women had departed, so, before she could say anything hurtful, he wanted to put his foot down.Snorting in response to Vahn's pointed look, Ureko ultimately just shrugged her shoulders before spontaneously leaning back and pretending to take a nap. This garnered her a considerable amount of attention, but, before anyone could comment on her behavior, Vahn guided the conversation in the direction of addressing everyone's concerns. He knew they had a lot of questions, so, now that he had put everything on the table, he wanted to do everything in his power to allay their concerns. The decision they made now would shape how they spent the next several thousand years, so, while it ultimately extended the conversation by seventeen hours, he believed it was important they had a proper understanding of what they might be getting themselves into...---(A/N: Though I'm still intending to have a climactic battle between Vahn/Ureko/Artoria/etc, the last few days have given me a considerable amount of time to think about how the novel has evolved over the years. We've come a long way, but, at the same time, some of the best parts of EPIC have been lost along the way. To that end, I've decided to breathe some life into the story by defaulting to one of the things I believe allowed EPIC to stand out in its inception. I want the readers to have more of a say in the story, so, with that in mind, the options presented in this chapter are, not just the characters', but your's to consider. Let me know what you think in the comments section. I will literally be reading every comment from now until we are preparing to exit the Tower~)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Waiting until Vahn had fully regenerated, clothes and all, Ureko, now appearing much like a Super Saiyan due to her golden hair and aura, asked, "Tell me...do you know why I'm so angry?"Restraining the urge to adopt his characteristically wry smile, Vahn maintained a solemn expression as he answered, "I didn't lie to you...I just...changed..."Furrowing her brows, Ureko surged forward to grab Vahn by the collar, a wrathful expression on her face as she shouted, "And that's the problem! It hasn't even been that long since our first meeting! I believed you when you said you wanted to grow stronger without pressure! You pretended like you wanted a challenge, yet, whenever a real threat appears, you simply overcome it on a fucking whim! You made me wait for you, and for what!? If you wanted, you could have conquered the Tower back when you first entered! Instead, you're taking your sweet time, needlessly complicating the lives of people you supposedly care about just because you want to experience a challenge? Well? Where's the challenge!? Are you having fun!?"Recalling his past experiences with Ureko, an apologetic expression developed across Vahn's face as he averted his eyes and uttered, "The situation has changed since then...I..."With her grip on his collar tightening, Ureko interrupted Vahn's words, her tone venomous as she growled, "You name yourself the God of Infinite Possibilities and think you can get away with using 'change' as an excuse? Of course the situation has changed! Decades have passed since then! Time is constantly moving forward! The problem, Vahn Aldrnari Mason, is that you're moving forward on your own! Stop pretending to stand with the people around you when you're the only one allowed to do whatever the fuck you want! Either give them legitimate hope or man the fuck up and handle your shit before it becomes a problem for the people around you! You need to make a-"Before Ureko could continue any further, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as a hand came to rest on her shoulder. At the same time, an expression of abject shock appeared on Vahn's face, his mouth opening but unable to offer any words as the figure standing behind Ureko said, "I thank you for attempting to educate my younger brother, but you're overlooking too many things and using violence to try and prove a point. There are women far more qualified than you to lecture him. With that in mind...please, shut the fuck up."Feeling a cold chill pass through her body, Ureko spontaneously 'blinked' away, brows furrowed as she stared at what appeared to be a feline woman with bronzed skin, yellow-green eyes, and large breasts. Under normal circumstances, she would have found the woman fairly attractive, but, seeing the unconcealed 'contempt' in the woman's gaze, Ureko's frown deepened as she asked, "Who the hell are you supposed to be?"Ignoring Ureko completely, the cat-eared woman immediately turned to Vahn, her voice steady and gentle as she said, "I won't say you haven't done anything wrong. What you need to keep in mind is that you moved forward with the knowledge that you 'would' make mistakes. Never let anyone guilt you into second-guessing the path you have chosen. Just make better decisions moving forward."With that said, the olive-skinned woman extended her hand to gently ruffle Vahn's hair as her body vanished from the feet up. Then, moments before she disappeared completely, she looked over at Ureko and added, "Nobody is forcing you to get with Vahn..." with a noticeably hostile look in her eyes.Feeling another shudder run through her body, Ureko's anger mounted as she shouted, "Where the hell are you running off to, you damn cat!? If you have something to say, I'm all ears! Don't tell me you're going to run off after talking all that good shit...!?"Shifting his gaze towards Ureko, Vahn was surprised to see the tell-tale signs of fear within her aura. This was a surprisingly common response among women with heightened instincts, not because Sis was particularly dangerous, but because an aura of 'absolute certainty' seemed to linger around her whenever she emerged. It was almost like she was an immutable existence, an intrinsic truth, that, if challenged, would completely undermine everything you thought you knew about yourself and the world around you.Extending his hand towards the topless woman, a relaxed smile developed across Vahn's face as he asked, "Can we talk? Preferably without fighting..."Frowning in response to Vahn's words, Ureko's first instinct was to refuse, but, seeing the apologetic look in his eyes, a weary sigh escaped her throat as she crossed her arms and said, "If you give me a massage and explain who the hell that woman was, I might consider hearing you out..."Though he couldn't help developing a wry smile, that didn't stop Vahn from manifesting a massage table and answering, "It's a long story..."Nodding her head, Ureko practically teleported atop the massage table, a serious glimmer in her ruby-red eyes as she said, "Good. That gives you plenty of time to deal with the tensions in my back and shoulders. For some strange reason, I've been under a lot of stress as of late..."Choosing to withhold comment, a dry laugh escaped Vahn's throat as he deftly flexed his fingers in a manner reminiscent of a pianist. Then, for the better part of three hours, his fingers danced across Ureko's body as he recounted his past, and, most importantly, his aspirations for the future...---With her muscles relaxed to the point that she could hardly even move a finger of her own accord, Ureko allowed Vahn to hold her in his warm embrace, back pressed against his chest as she stared off into the distance with unfocused eyes. There, under the influence of Vahn's power, a projection of his battle against a being known simply as 'The End' was playing out over a distance of several hundred kilometers.As the strongest being in the Toaruverse, The End stood very near the pinnacle of Tier 5. It was so powerful, in fact, that Vahn had needed the assistance of several Magic Gods and an entity known as 'The Beginning' just to be able to seal it. This was really the only thing they could do, as, so long as the concept of an 'ending' existence, so too did 'The End'.Seeing the cataclysmic battle play out, Ureko couldn't help feeling a little envious. She had always wanted to stand at the pinnacle, not because she wanted to look down upon others, but because she wanted to face others capable of contending for the title. Unfortunately, the existence of Axis Users had made this impossible in her own world, and, now that she was seeing what a true battle at the pinnacle was like, Ureko was starting to realize she had been a little short-sighted.Though her power was beyond the comprehension of most people, Ureko hadn't even been in the running for 'the strongest' of her own Universe. Even her father, considered by many to be one of the most powerful, couldn't afford to offend the true powerhouses of the Universe. There was even a time, back when she was just a young girl, that she found her father lowering his head to such an extent that the person he was talking to was able to step on the back of his head.Back then, Ureko had been what many would refer to as a 'sheltered princess'. Many even likened her to a delicate flower on the precipice of a harrowing cliff, something meant to be observed from a distance and never disturbed. Her only purpose in life had been to study and refine her bloodline until her parents had decided upon her spouse. After that, her most important duty was protecting her children and nourishing the next generation, never questioning her place in the 'grand scheme' of things.Had she never seen her father being trampled underfoot, Ureko would have happily followed the path her parents and clan had laid out before her. She had been led to believe that it was a great honor to dedicate her life to the clan, and, more than anything else, she enjoyed receiving praise from her mother and the Elders responsible for her education. They had treated her as if she was the most important person in the entire world, and, no matter how busy he was, her father would often drop whatever he was working on if she wanted to play with him. He had treasured her more than anyone else, so, after seeing him being trampled upon, Ureko couldn't resist the urge to try and help him.Unfortunately, this ended up being a mistake, as, the moment she stepped out, her father lashed out at her, shouting and screaming despite the fact his head was still had his head pressed to the ground. Though she would later come to understand his reasons, this event had greatly scarred the young Ureko. For a time, she even resented her father, and, no matter how much her mother tried to convince her, she simply couldn't understand why someone as noble and powerful as her father could lower his head and lash out at his only daughter.Following this incident, Ureko developed the mentality that the only person she could rely on was herself. She completely lost interest in her education, and, despite the efforts of numerous Elders, she ignored all their advice and became obsessed with gaining strength. She had convinced herself that her father was spineless, so, for the sake of her clan, she wanted to become strong enough to protect everyone and reclaim their shattered pride.For a while, Ureko believed her decision had been correct, as, shortly after she began training in earnest, even those several-hundred-years her senior had trouble keeping up with her. By the time she had reached adulthood, she could smoothly defeat most of the Elders, and, if they were to fight seriously, she had convinced herself she could even defeat her father. The only thing that prevented her from trying were the feelings of respect, adulation, and love she still felt towards her father. She didn't want to embarrass him, so, despite the efforts of numerous people to try and convince her to take over, most of her effort went toward tracking down the man responsible for humiliating him in the first place...Witnessing the incomprehensible battle between Vahn and the anomalous entity known as The End, Ureko couldn't help being reminded of her past. She had grossly overestimated her power, and, as a result of the zealotry she had inspired in her followers, more than seventy percent of her clan had been wiped out as a result of their arrogance. They had offended someone counted among the Top 5 of their Universe, and, rather than backing down when he gave them the opportunity, her people made the mistake of overtly offending and even threatening one of the most powerful Axis Users in existence, Phantaminum.Recalling her powerlessness in the face of Phantaminum's power, a complicated expression spread across Ureko's face until Vahn suddenly held her a little closer. Immediately thereafter, a warm and comfortable sensation spread through her body, instantaneously suppressing any anxiety she might have been feeling as he gently inquired, "Should we change venues? The Little Garden has changed quite a bit since your last visit. I can show-"Though her body felt unbelievably heavy due to her relaxed muscles, Ureko still managed to elbow Vahn's ribs with enough force to send a ripple through his body as she warned, "Don't remind me...I still haven't forgiven you for effectively treating me as an afterthought. Once we settle things, we're going to have to sit down and have a very long discussion. It might not be my place to tell you how to live your life, but you can't deny things have gotten out of hand. If you're serious about returning to your family, it's only a matter of time before you have to blaze ahead on your own. If your words are true, we can't be there for you when you cross that final threshold, so, rather than holding all of us back, yourself included, you should push ahead without hesitation. If you genuinely believe that everything will be resolved once you reach the pinnacle, why the hell are dawdling here?"Adopting a somber expression in response to Ureko's words, several answers crossed Vahn's mind, but, no matter how he viewed them, they seemed more like excuses than anything else. All he really wanted was to make the people around him happy, but, the more effort he put into achieving this, the greater the burden he placed on everyone. This was especially true for the 'arbitrary' additions to his harem, as, not only were they comparatively weak, most of them had no real direction in life other than simply being with him. His efforts to make them happy even forced some to develop a dependency on him, and, as time passed, they became progressively less certain about whether or not their life had any actual purpose...Exhaling a profoundly exasperated sigh, Vahn allowed his chin to rest against the top of Ureko's head, his arms closing around her waist as he said, "It seems we're going to need to have a long discussion...all of us..."Though part of her was tempted to bump Vahn's chin with her head, Ureko ultimately managed to resist the urge, lightly nodding as she intoned a curt, "Nn..." in response to his words...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Onee-san don't play...','Guren Lagan vibes...','Nn...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1978: Accountability