Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With so much chaos occurring around them, it didn't take long for Yuri and Lotte to hear about what had taken place following their departure. They had even received a notification to report to the 1st Army Corps' flagship, but, rather than obeying the emergency summons, Yuri immediately contacted Vahn to have him teleport them to his side. This led to a great deal of complaining from the raven-haired beauty, but, after explaining the situation, the conversation quickly shifted to her begging him to let her participate in the coming battle.Though it would be a lot easier to fight on his own, Vahn ultimately agreed to Yuri's request on the premise that she only fights when he isn't preoccupied with an opponent of his own. The last thing he needed was her becoming a hostage while he was distracted fighting numerous Family Leaders, so, unless the enemy came up with a format that allowed for multiple 'matches', he was determined to settle things with his own strength.Yuri wasn't particularly enthused by the insinuation that she was in the way, but, understanding he was just worried about her, she ultimately agreed. At the same time, however, she promised herself that, if she were given the opportunity to fight, she would do everything in her power to prove she wasn't a liability. She might not be the strongest, but, even if she had to put her life on the line, she would prove she wasn't someone who needed protecting...---Though a part of him had been tempted to rest in the middle of the city, effectively demonstrating just how unconcerned he was by their movements, a larger part of Vahn didn't feel like dealing with the hassle of numerous people interrupting his rest and relaxation. Now that he was doing his best to avoid relying on the Little Garden, his recreational time had become especially precious, so, after stirring up the proverbial hornet's nest, he asked Gluttony to teleport them all the way to the 199th Floor, far beyond the reach of anyone in the Jahad Empire.Like most Floors beyond the 134th, the 199th was a world of perpetual darkness. Despite this, it was actually quite beautiful, as, dotting the sky, countless bioluminescent Shinheuh could be seen flying high above the untamed wildness that dominated much of the Floor. From a distance, it was almost like seeing a time-lapse of the universe's development, and, so long as you didn't venture too close, it was easily one of the most visually impressive sights in the entire Tower...Under normal circumstances, trespassing one of the 'Frontier Floors' of the Tower was tantamount to committing suicide. The countless Shinheuh that called the Floor home were drawn to powerful energy signatures, so, the moment an outsider appeared, they would cease in their consumption of one another in order to be the first to devour said prey. The only relatively safe area for newcomers were the complex pathways found in what many referred to as the Middle Tower. This was the route created by the Tower to test Irregulars, and, prior to the 'Age of the First Men', an era predating the Jahad Empire by millions of years, it was virtually impossible to venture into the wilds beyond.Fortunately, not that it would have mattered in the grand scheme of things, Vahn's contract with gluttony allowed him to freely trespass Floors without needing to worry about being swarmed by functionally endless waves of Shinheuh. He could even camp out in the middle of a Shinheuh Nest, and, so long as he didn't go out of his way to antagonize them, most Shinheuh would simply stare at him with curiosity before returning to their business.With his contract extending to everyone bearing his Familia Crest, Vahn was able to place down a small cottage without having to worry about a mountain-sized fish harassing them. This gave the 199th Floor a certain charm, and, so long as you didn't mind the occasional drizzle of multi-colored Shinsu, the result of Shinheuh dying overhead, it was actually quite peaceful...---Though there were still fifteen or so hours remaining until his battle with Hon, Vahn was keeping a close eye on the developments taking place on the 100th Floor. He wasn't particularly worried that they might develop a strategy capable of defeating him, but, retaining the lessons of Tsubaki, Loki, Eva, and Scathatch, Vahn knew it was never wise to underestimate his opponents. People, especially those who were desperate, were capable of virtually anything. He had even seen a relatively normal person shatter a god-like being's teeth with a single punch, so, at the very least, he wanted to make sure his adversaries weren't conspiring against the exploration group in a desperate attempt to gain leverage against him.Fortunately, even though their most recent meeting had ended on a fairly awkward note, Senna was working with Adori to prevent things from escalating to an all-out war. They were determined to do everything in their power to prevent a civil war from breaking out, so, rather than manipulating the flow of information to present him as a dissident against the Empire, they were framing the current incident as a personal matter between himself and the Great Family. The last thing they needed was millions of people rallying to a call that had never been given, so, as much as possible, they wanted to downplay the situation so that it couldn't be used as an excuse to incite a rebellion...With thoughts of the future plaguing his mind, Vahn was genuinely surprised to hear a knock at his door. His room wasn't exactly a restricted area, so, more often than not, people could come and go at their leisure.As that thought crossed his mind, a light chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat, as, without waiting for his response, the door promptly opened to reveal a smiling Yuri and a cowering Lotte. This was especially amusing, as, despite being much larger, Lotte was doing her best to try and hide behind her comparably petite counterpart.Adopting a knowing smile, Vahn gently poked the 'slumbering' Fenrir, compelling her to sit up from his lap as he remarked, "I was wondering what the two of you were up to. I guess this explains why Mikoto decided to hole herself up in my study..."Though his words caused Lotte to flinch, Yuri managed to suppress any feelings of awkwardness by laughing light-heartedly and saying, "To be fair, we had intended to act before you went off to pick a fight. How were we supposed to know you would use the opportunity when we were away to do just that? Now, be honest and tell Lotte how she looks. Don't sugarcoat your words. Keep it simple."Following her statement, Yuri dragged Lotte through the door before promptly positioning her to stand near the exact center of the room. Then, before stepping away, she whispered something into the demure giantess' ear before punctuating her words with a rather crisp smack to the behind. This caused Lotte to stand at attention, hands pinned to her sides as she raised her bright red face for all to see.Though he felt this wasn't the most suitable timing for such an event, Vahn maintained a smile as he looked Lotte up and down. She was currently wearing a rather thick grey sweater, but, unlike a conventional garment intended to protect against the cold, her exposed shoulders indicated that her back was equally as exposed. His nose could also detect traces of a 'womanly' aroma, so, even without taking a peek to confirm, he could guess that Lotte was currently going commando.Before vocalizing his thoughts, Vahn met Lotte's gaze, the edges of his smile curling up noticeably as he asked, "Can you turn around for a moment?"Despite her face becoming dangerously red, so much so that a small amount of steam began to rise from her body, Lotte ultimately complied with Vahn's request. This caused the latter's eyes to widen quite a bit, and, almost immediately thereafter, he found himself swallowing as a result of a sudden tightness in his throat.As he had suspected, Lotte's sweater had a very low cut. What he hadn't expected was that the cut went so low that it actually exposed her venus dimples and a tantalizing glimpse of her intergluteal cleft. If someone were to tug the form-fitting fabric, just a little, her rather ample bottom would be completely exposed, so, despite being more clothed than usual, Lotte's current attire was infinitely more appealing than normal.Though some might be put off by Lotte's 202cm height, Vahn was someone who had deviated so far on the 'opposite' end of the spectrum that the thought of bedding an inordinately tall woman was actually a refreshing concept. He could also freely modify his shape and size to accommodate his partner, so, after staring directly at Lotte's bottom for the better part of a full minute, he raised his gaze to meet the bashful beauty's hazel-brown eyes, admitting, "You look amazing." in the most sincere tone he could manage.With even more steam rising from her body, Lotte buried her face into her hands, the tips of her ears turning crimson as she meekly replied, "Thank you..."Finding the twin-tailed beauty's reaction rather adorable, an affectionate yet amused smile spread across Vahn's face. Before he could say anything further, however, Yuri, who had been standing by, promptly pulled at the fabric clinging to Lotte's bottom. This revealed a bright red handprint on her left butt cheek, but, even more noticeable than that were the words 'do' and 'me' scrawled atop the two pliant mounds...Though Vahn was at a complete loss, Lotte seemed to have spent part of the past couple of hours rehearsing, as, immediately following Yuri's actions, she bent forward slightly, arching her back with both hands on her rump. This placed her secret garden on full display, but, as if that wasn't enough to emphasize her intentions, she took things a step further by pulling at her own flesh with enough force to separate her glistening, noticeably steamy, folds. Then, in a voice suffused with equal parts passion and nervousness, she openly stated, "I want it...please, make me your woman..."Under normal circumstances, Vahn would have questioned Lotte regarding her uncertainty about leaving the Tower, but, now that she had made her intentions 'transparently' clear, he would have to be an 'ass' to question her conviction in the present moment. Thus, after a moment of hesitation so slight that it couldn't be quantified using conventional means, Vahn's figure vanished from atop his bed, reappearing behind Lotte in an instant. This caused Yuri to burst out laughing, but, seeing him rapidly grow to more than 210cm in height, it didn't take long for her to fall silent, swallowing hard before nervously remarking, "Don't go overboard..."Understanding the thoughts going through the raven-haired beauty's mind, Vahn sent her a playful wink before returning his attention to the visibly befuddled Lotte. She had seen him transform quite a number of times, but, for reasons she couldn't fully understand, she had never considered that he might transform in order to 'accommodate' her physique. This made her feel strangely moved, but, having seen him naked quite a number of times, she was also a little fearful that he would tear her apart. He wasn't exactly small in his default form, so, seeing him suddenly grow in size, she couldn't help feeling nervous...Fortunately for Lotte, Vahn's understanding of the female form could be said to be near-perfect. He was more aware of her limits than she was, so, despite growing to a size where he could easily hold her in his arms, his not-so-little brother had defaulted to a form perfectly suited to ensuring her the greatest amount of pleasure. This was a little larger than what she could actually tolerate, but, given her masochistic tendencies, he knew she would enjoy it more if she felt like her insides were being pried open. With that in mind, he skipped the usual foreplay, his glans prying open her surprisingly tight entrance as he wrapped his trunk-like arms around her body, his right hand roughly gripping her left breast as he craned her head back to seal her lips...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The real question is...Yuri vs Adori or Yuri vs Han...?','Only Vahn would treat the Frontier Floors as a place to relax xD...','Lotte be like, "Read between the lines..."')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With Lotte's body producing a tremendous amount of steam, Vahn's room had become a veritable sauna by the time Sis chimed in to remind him of his previous engagement. Fortunately, even with less than an hour remaining until his scheduled duel, Vahn could produce as much additional time as 'necessary'. It was important to him that his partners' first experiences were both memorable and satisfying, so, once everything was said and done, Vahn had dedicated the better part of seven days tending to the trio of Lotte, Yuri, and Fenrir.Though seven days might seem like a lot, the final forty or so hours were spent almost entirely on relaxation and recovery. Vahn didn't want his relationship with Lotte to develop in the direction of a traditional 'Master' and 'Sub', so, in the wake of the rather climactic battle, he took the opportunity to acquaint her with anime, manga, and video games. He might have grown accustomed to women with masochistic inclinations, but, rather than produce another Theo or Lisanna, Vahn would rather see Lotte develop in a manner similar to Tomoe.She might not be the most beautiful or powerful woman in his harem, but, compared to virtually every other member, Tomoe was one of the most content. She was the type of woman who went with the flow of things, and, though she had numerous regrets about her past, she never allowed them to interfere with her enjoyment of the present. Instead, she proactively sought out new and interesting things to experience, never doubting the path she had chosen for herself.If Tomoe had any faults, it would be her obsessive yet slothful nature. She was the type of woman who would immerse herself in her interests, so much so that, without someone to pull her away, she would neglect everything else, personal hygiene included. Fortunately, this was overpowered by her desire to care for others, so, rather than allowing herself to waste away in the single-minded pursuit of whatever had garnered her interest, she made sure to set a proper example for X, Altria, and Tamamo to follow.Vahn's only regret regarding Tomoe was the fact that she had ultimately chosen to remain in his Realm. She had taken his words at face value when he expressed that his only desire was that she be happy and healthy, so, unless he 'needed' her at his side, she was content with staying in the Yokai District in order to watch over Tamamo and Suzuka. The thought of leaving them alone, even in a world with stagnant time, made her feel uneasy, so, unless he changed tunes and told her that he needed her, she would rather remain in the place that had become her home.Though too much contentedness could be a bad thing, Vahn felt that Tomoe had reached an ideal balance between productivity and leisure time. She was also 'extremely' faithful, so, even if he was gone for days, months, or even years at a time, he doubted she would mind. Instead, she would just greet him with a demure smile upon his return, and, unless he wanted to talk about it, she wouldn't even ask what he had been doing. This had always reminded Vahn of how the girls would greet him whenever he returned to the Hearth Manor, so, at times, he had found himself thinking that Tomoe was inordinately close to what he would consider an 'ideal' woman.As much as he enjoyed traveling with his family, friends, and loved ones, Vahn was well aware of the fact that his progress was greatly inhibited by their presence. The only thing more deleterious to his progress was himself, so, while he would never go out of his way to force the people around him to change, Vahn would rather have more Tomoe-like women in his life than Mordred's, Theo's, or even Asuna's. He had nothing against their heartfelt desire to travel alongside and support him, but, time and again, he had demonstrated that this was simply 'impractical'. His progress was simply too fast, so, as much as he enjoyed their company, Vahn would rather they devote themselves to something more than just the fulfillment of his ambitions...Fortunately, despite having very little exposure to such things, Lotte was quite taken with watching anime and snuggling up with him on a comfortable sofa. It helped that he could rather easily prove that, despite the many fantastical elements present within, each of the fictional worlds they viewed were places that could, in one form or another, be visited. This made the viewing experience all the more exciting, as, rather than simply observing the lives of fictional characters, you were essentially spying on the lives of very real people. This viewpoint allowed the viewer to become infinitely more invested in the lives of the people on screen, so much so that Vahn had seen some of the girls get genuinely upset whenever something ill-fated happened to characters they had taken an interest in.To that end, Vahn introduced Lotte to the concept of Actualization by delving into an anime called 'Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o!'. Her nature had reminded him of one of the title's primary Heroines, a masochistic knight named Dustiness Ford Lalatina, so, after binge-watching the first 10 episodes, they rewatched the first season, this time with one of his Templates arbitrarily introduced to the story.As much as he enjoyed influencing the story directly, Vahn had come to realize that it was infinitely more interesting to create Templates and allow them to act independently. This allowed him to view the changes they had made to the world retroactively, and, so long as he didn't tap into it, he could seal the knowledge and experiences of his Templates to avoid 'spoilers'.Though the first viewing had been pretty entertaining, it was difficult to compete with a version that had been modified by one of his Templates. Not only had the tone of the story changed drastically, but, thanks to his Template's guidance, the main character transitioned from being a perverted idiot to a fairly dependable hero. This surprised even Vahn, as, more often than not, his Templates quickly supplanted the main character of a story, drastically altering the course of history as a result of their incontestible might.Attributing the development to the main character's, Kazuma's, luck, Vahn watched as his Template became something of a mentor for the party of would-be heroes. He only appeared briefly in a few episodes, and, after applying some 'spartan training' to the main protagonist, he promptly departed the starting city of Axel after deposing its Governor. His next appearance was at the very end of the first season when Kazuma's party, shortly after their defeat of a mechanical behemoth known as the Mobile Fortress: Destroyer, heard rumors regarding the King of Belzerg being forced to abdicate his throne. The scene that followed showed Vahn's Template smiling in the background as a young girl with golden hair sat issuing orders to various nobles from atop an inordinately lavish throne...Due to the way the episode was structured, casual viewers would be led to believe that Vahn's Template was some villainous mastermind plotting the events of the second season from behind the scenes. In actuality, he had spent his off-screen time traveling around and eliminating many of the more corrupt politicians, and, after refusing the offer of his daughter's hand in marriage, Vahn's Template agreed to serve as her Chamberlain on the grounds that the King accede his position and authority. There were numerous reasons for the King to agree to this proposal, but, more important than any other was the fact that Vahn's Template had won over the entirety of the Crimson Demon Clan due to his extensive knowledge and his ability to casually vaporize a mountain using Explosion Magic.In essence, Vahn's Template had secured an absolute position of power and authority in the span of a single, ten-episode, season of anime. Infinitely more surprising was the fact that he hadn't built a harem in that same amount of time. Instead, he ended up taking a liking to a raven-haired woman named Sena, a Royal Prosecutor he had encountered shortly after his arrival in Belzerg. What made this even stranger was the fact that the woman was both an 'ice queen' and what some might refer to as a 'BL Aficionado'. His Template seemed to find these traits rather amusing, so, over the course of several months, he ended up whittling down the delusional woman's defenses until she stopped picturing him with various men and started imagining herself as a participant in her fantasies.Though none of this was displayed on-screen, Vahn had unlimited access to all the knowledge and experiences of his Templates. As a result, he knew that his Template had actually considered inciting relationships with quite a few members of the Crimson Demon Clan, but, after failing to teach them even a marginal amount of common sense, he ultimately abandoned the idea. This caused a few of the senior members of the clan to come up with the title 'Platonic Great Sage', but, understanding they didn't mean it as an insult, he just went with the flow in order to prevent them from coming up with an even stranger title. This ended up being the correct choice, as, around that same time, the youngest member of the clan, an adorable little girl named Komekko, had taken to referring to him as the 'Super Cuddly Demon of Infinite Warmth and Headpats'...---As much as he enjoyed watching anime alongside various beauties, Vahn decided to wrap things up when Yuri began pestering him about creating a Template to reside within a manga where the main character was a young boy forced to endure the teasing of a number of 'onee-sans'. She seemed to enjoy this particular theme quite a bit, but, out of consideration for the mental states of himself and his Template, Vahn tended to avoid actualizing any worlds where he was bound to suffer some form of mental damage.Fortunately, so long as he allowed her to periodically cuddle a younger version of himself, Yuri was relatively easy to manage. Thus, after an awkward yet admittedly enjoyable bath, he had everyone gather in the kitchen to enjoy a meal and discuss their plan of action moving forward. He was well aware of the events that had transpired over the last twenty-four hours, so, to that end, he started off by saying, "It seems like you lucked out, Yuri. At present, our foes are considering a competition of sorts between the Aldrnari and Jahad Empires. So long as you're okay with being labeled a traitor by the common denizens of the Tower, you're more than welcome to participate as a representative of my delegation."Though she was excited by the prospect of being able to participate in the coming battle, Yuri did her best to appear serious as she asked, "Is there actually a need to accept their terms? What if they try something sneaky in the middle of the competition? I don't want you to put everyone at risk just to provide me a chance to cut loose."Waving his hand in a dismissive manner, Vahn attempted to allay Yuri's concerns, saying, "I'm a man of my word, sure, but that doesn't mean I'll sit idly by as my enemies attempt to play me. Even if it's someone like Gustang, they won't be able to take action without me taking notice. After that, there isn't a force in this Tower that can prevent me from seeking recompense. In fact, depending on how egregious their plot, today might very well conclude with the fall of the Jahad Empire. It wouldn't be the first time I destroyed a system of government...I don't take kindly to people targeting my family, friends, and loved ones..."Though he felt a considerable amount of guilt regarding his haste in the Nasuverse, Vahn had never once regretted his decision to effectively conquer the world. This, combined with the notion that he could always fix things once he ascended to the Divine Realm, allowed him to move forward in spite of his fears and apprehensions. This was simply another step in his journey, so, even if he fumbled a bit here and there, he wouldn't let it prevent him from moving forward. He also didn't want to keep holding the people around him back, so, even if it ultimately forced him to deal with pain and loss, he was willing to bear anything so long as it helped to ensure the happiness of the people he cared about...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Have I mentioned that Tomoe is one of my favorite characters in FGO?','The banes and boons of being able to produce Templates...','This is a dangerous way of thinking...unless, of course, you truly possess the ability to reach the pinnacle...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Having received the report related to the incident at the Gateport, Arie Hon, accompanied by two of his Family's three Sword Saints, casually made his way to the most important destination in the entire Arie Family, the Sword Altar. There, floating in the sky above a multi-tiered palatial construct, a pale-blue sword constructed of pure Sword Intent, more than a kilometer in length, could be seen quivering in expectation as thousands of smaller swords danced around it.Noticing this, the older of the two Sword Saints, Ari Wan, imperceptibly raised his brows, as, despite the perenially calm appearance of his elder brother, the state of the massive sword revealed his true feelings. It was directly linked to his ability to gather the Sword Intent of others, so, by scrutinizing the sword, it was possible to directly ascertain Hon's mental state.Adopting the slightest of smiles, Wan earned a curious glance from the bandage-covered giant at his side, the youngest of the three Sword Saints, as he remarked, "It's rare to see you so excited. Is this 'Sage Dragon Emperor' really as skilled as they attest?"Though he would normally never entertain such idle discussion, Hon's pace gradually slowed until he finally turned around, his expression a perfect mask of apathy as he answered, "Indeed..." before surprising both men as he added, "This is meant to be kept a secret, but, according to the King, the Sage Dragon Emperor is currently the most powerful creature in the entire Tower...how can I not be, at least a little, excited?"As one of the most loyal followers of Jahad, neither of the Sword Saints expected their elder brother to reveal such a controversial secret without regard for propriety or consequence. It was completely out of character, as, even more than Jahad himself, Hon had always placed a tremendous amount of importance on preserving the honor and integrity of the Empire.With Wan unsure of how to respond, it was left to the inordinately tall man wrapped in bandages, Arie Kudo, to ask, "Why are you-"Before he could even finish speaking, an indescribable pain transmitted through Kudo's entire body, radiating from his head to his groin. At the exact same moment, Wan leaped backward, but, despite his nigh-instantaneous response, his point of view never changed. Instead, his head remained at the same spot, resting on the flat of Hon's immaculate white sword...Without so much as a twitched of the brows, Hon continued balancing his younger brother's head on the tip of his sword as he calmly revealed, "I have turned a blind eye to your actions these past ten thousand years out of consideration for our parents. Now, judgment has come for all who call the Tower home. Don't worry. You can contribute more to our family with your death than you ever contributed with your life..."Finished speaking, a pale-blue aura flowed from Wan's resent-filled eyes, flowing into Hon's pristine white sword. Then, without sparing his brothers a second glance, Hon shifted his gaze to a shivering servant woman, his expression as placid as a subterranean lake as he said, "Gather the remains and have them cremated..." before continuing on the path towards the Sword Altar...---Hearing the sound of footfalls, Vahn shifted his attention away from the surprisingly complex magic circle to the entrance of the massive, circular, chamber. There, an inordinately handsome man with pristine white hair, silvery-white eyes, and predominately white clothing could be seen staring back at him. He also had two swords fastened to his hip, but, compared to the man himself, they gave off a purely decorative feeling.Raising his brows ever-so-slightly, Vahn couldn't help remarking, "Not half bad..." before following it with a frown and adding, "Unfortunately, the method you used to obtain such intent leaves a lot to be desired...how can you expect to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship with power borrowed from others?"Closing his eyes in response to Vahn's words, Hon appeared absolutely calm as he answered, "My method is certainly more direct, but, in the grand scheme of things, mastery and enlightenment are things we obtain from observing, interacting with, and stealing from others. My method is just...less wasteful. Had I not absorbed their power and potential, do you have any idea how many techniques would have been lost to time? Now, their combined abilities have come together to form one of the most comprehensive sword legacies that have ever existed. Would you rather they fade into history, completely forgotten?"Deciding it was a waste of time to argue semantics with someone who literally created a family with the end goal of harvesting their potential, Vahn shook his head, saying, "I didn't come here to listen to your excuses. At this point, you have two options to choose from. You can willingly abdicate from your position as Leader of the Arie Family or you can resist and be unceremoniously deposed. Either way, your family will need to undergo an audit to determine who should be held answerable for the countless crimes that have been committed these past ten-thousand-years."Rather than making any effort to challenge Vahn's words, Hon simply nodded his head, answering, "Very well. I do not wish to see my family annihilated, so, if it will pacify your anger, I am willing to abdicate from my position as Leader of the Arie Family. Before that, however, I would be honored if you would afford me the privilege of facing you in battle. You are undoubtedly aware of this, but, at the beginning of our journey, my only goal was to pit my skills against the Gods rumored to exist at the top of the Tower. Thus, even if it ultimately leads to my demise, I would willingly embrace death if it meant ascertaining just how close I came to reaching the level of you and your kin..."Since he would have been severely disappointed if Hon had peacefully acquiesced to his demands, Vahn didn't hesitate to nod in the affirmative, saying, "So be it. I will afford you twenty-four hours to make the necessary preparations. So long as it isn't something completely asinine, I am prepared to accept any and all challenges. You can even petition the other Family Leaders to provide support. In the end, no matter what you decide, I will emerge victoriously..."With that said, Vahn lifted his right hand, smiling as he pressed his middle finger and thumb against each other as a prelude to a snap. This caused Hon's pupils to dilate ever-so-slightly, but, before he could protest, a sound akin to glass shattering echoed through the Palace of Swords, as, high in the sky above the Sword Altar, the sword they had supplied for generations shattered into innumerable pieces...---Though Hon had ordered the members of his family to keep quiet regarding the matters, it didn't take long for rumors regarding the deaths of two Sword Saints, the destruction of the Aire Family's ancestral sword, and the imminent battle between two of the greatest swordsmen to circulate. This caused tensions on the 100th Floor to increase to levels that had never been observed at any point in the Tower's history, and, as a result, millions were fleeing from the Floor as quickly as they could.Fortunately, while the various Gateports were experiencing a tremendous amount of traffic, it didn't affect the Jahad Army's ability to mobilize their forces. As a result, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Army Corps had been mobilized alongside numerous High and Advanced Rankers belonging to the Jahad, Arie, Ari, Khun, and Yeon Families. This included a number of Blue Holes, powerful High Rankers who had basically gone into retirement, but, compared to the trio they were accompanying, they may as well have been part of the background...The first to arrive, largely due to his daughter's request, was a youthful-looking man with golden-blond hair fashioned into a loose ponytail. At a glance, he appeared no older than sixteen years of age, but, the moment most people met his gentle green eyes, they would find themselves in awe of the wisdom contained within. This actually distracted most people from the two rapier-like Needles at his waist, remarkable weapons that were graded among the hundred most powerful in the entire Tower.In spite of his youthful appearance, this golden-haired individual was none other than Ari Han, the Leader of the Ari Family. His appearance was one of the many reasons for the separation between the Arie and Ari Families, and, while it wasn't particularly well known, it was also the reason why Ha Yurin had taken an interest in him. She, like Yuri, had always had a soft spot for youthful-looking yet powerful individuals, so, from the moment Han's boyish appearance became perpetual, she wasted no effort in laying her claim.Fortunately, Yurin wasn't one of the Family Leaders who had descended to the 100th Floor, so, at least for the time being, Han could breathe easily. Had she been present, he wouldn't have been able to make an appearance, as, despite their breakup, there was always a tremendous amount of sexual tension between him and the raven-haired beauty. It wasn't without reason that she was the mother of each of his children, and, were it not for her sadistic tendencies, the Ha and Ari Families might have merged long ago...Appearing markedly older than his contemporary, an inordinately tall man with pale-blue hair and electric-blue eyes was the second to arrive on the 100th Floor. Accompanying him was a veritable horde of remarkably similar women, but, despite being surrounded by numerous beauties, the look on the man's face demonstrated an apathy that even members of the Arie Family would struggle to emulate. There was a completely unfocused look in his half-lidded eyes, and, were it not for the two women guiding him forward, it wasn't difficult to imagine him simply standing in place.With an appearance that could humble all but a few of the Tower's residents, women included, it was impossible to mistake the man as anyone other than Khun Eduan. Compared to his Data self, however, there was a certain 'tiredness' that radiated from every fiber of his being. He had the look of a man who had experienced everything the world had to offer, yet, once everything was said and done, it hadn't even come close to filling the hole produced as a result of his abandoned ambition.Unfortunately for the women around him, Eduan had ignored their attempts to dissuade him from descending to the 100th Floor. There was a part of him, locked deep within his subconscious mind, that made it impossible for him to completely abandon hope. Thus, whenever he heard something interesting, he invariably found himself drawn to it. This was a problem for both his harem and the Khun Family, as, if it came down to it, Eduan wouldn't hesitate to abandon both if it meant he could experience the stimulus his soul so desperately craved...Rounding out the trio of Family Leaders, standing out even amongst an assembly of remarkable beauties, was a woman, who, unlike everyone surrounding her, possessed red, rather than raven-black, hair. This, combined with her incomparable beauty, allowed her to stand out like a refined ruby among crudely polished onyx, and, though she currently had a wrathful glower on her face, it didn't detract from her appearance in the slightest. Rather, the moment he laid eyes on her, a slight glimmer returned to Eduan's eyes as he remarked, "Hana...it is good to see you..."Though his appearance could easily touch the heart of other women, members of the Yeon Family included, Hana simply harumphed in response to Eduan's remark. She had made a contract with a Guardian to suppress feelings of love towards the opposite sex, so, ever since the Age of Ascension, she had transitioned from being the kindest among the Great Warriors to a woman who could only show affection to members of her family. For their sake, she was even willing to raze an entire Floor, so, after Ilarde informed her that Vahn wreaking havoc on the Arie Family, she immediately donned her long-retired battle raiment with the intent of settling their grievances once and for all...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Arie Family Rule #1: Swords do not require emotions...','Vahn channeling his inner Thanos...','This is not your average shit...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1988: Diligence