Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though he had made up his mind to accelerate his conquest of the Tower, Vahn spent the better part of three weeks idling about in order to gauge the residents' reactions. He also wanted to see what the Ten Great Families would do with the additional time, so, while much of his day was spent rather leisurely, he also dedicated a fair amount of time spying on various organizations throughout the Tower.As could be expected of the Families that had proactively supported peace and order, the Tu Perie and Ari Families made the most of the current situation by volunteering to assist in the auditing of the other Families. The Tu Perie Family, in particular, had been compiling records of every crime that had been perpetrated by various individuals for the better part of ten-thousand-years. This included records pertaining to members of their own family, so, by the time things had started to calm down, more than twenty percent of each major family had either been imprisoned or simply 'erased' from the Tower.While twenty percent might sound like a relatively small number, especially considering the amount of hatred directed towards the Ten Great Families, the truth of the matter was that only a handful of individuals were responsible for the majority of crimes that had taken place. More specifically, it was members of the branch families and weaker members of the main household that ultimately sought to alleviate their frustrations by suppressing others. The only real exceptions to this rule were the Lo Po Bia and Hendo Lok Families, but, with the former driven by instinct and the latter motivated by self-preservation, they were the outliers in the group.Fortunately, largely due to their limited lifespan and the fact Vahn had already been working with them in 'secret', the Hendo Lok Family were a lot more responsive to rapid change compared to the other Great Families. Their situation had forced them to continuously adapt just to survive, so, while there had been a significant amount of bloodshed relatively early on, the result of the Leader of the Family personally cleaning house, they were more united than ever. It would likely take decades for them to fully stabilize, but, now that they no longer had to perform forbidden rituals just to extend their lives, they no longer had to worry about being viewed as monsters by the rest of the Tower.Though Vahn had a few personal grievances to settle with Bloodmadder, principally related to the man's rather infamous libido, he had delayed dealing with him out of consideration for the rest of the Family. In the end, the man was most assuredly going to die, but, at least for the time being, he had managed to buy himself some time by doing his best to implement the reforms necessary for his Family's continued survival. This was something Vahn could appreciate, so, much like Lo Po Bia's sentence, Hendo Lok Bloodmadder's had been postponed until the fates decreed their paths would cross...---While doing his best to ignore the flotilla of pink-haired women who now followed him virtually everywhere he went, Vahn silently observed a majestic floating palace that even exceeded Ostia in scale and beauty. If not for the numerous fires that could be seen spreading uncontrolled through rampant through various sections of the palace's main compound, it could have easily competed for one of the most wondrous sights Vahn had ever seen. Instead, the innumerable pillars of black smoke made the scene better suited for a painting of an apocalypse rather than an idyllic eastern palace heavily influenced by Chinese mythos and architecture...Though she would normally remain silent whenever they were out and about, Blossom, dangling from Vahn's neck and peering over his shoulder, voiced the thoughts of nearly everyone present, muttering, "How tragic..." in a subdued tone. This caused Vahn's already conflicted expression to turn into a frown, as, unlike the other Great Families, the Yeon Family had effectively collapsed in the weeks following the battle on the 100th Floor. A few of the High Ranking Elders, enraged over the loss of Ilarde, had even attempted to perform a ritual to try and forcibly remove the Spirits of the Golden Crow and Divine Phoenix from Hana's body. Instead, they ended up being driven from the 'Palace of Flames', their lives spared only because of Hana's compassionate nature...Restraining a sigh, Vahn was about to say something when Blossom, seemingly sensing the change in his mental state, tightened her hold around his neck in order to nuzzle against his cheek and say, "Don't let it get to you. Due to Ilarde's influence, very few people within the Yeon Family truly cared for Hana. This is certainly a tragedy, but, so long as she can overcome her mental demons, Hana will be a lot happier without such toxic people in her life. We can help her with that...but..."Shaking his head, Vahn preempted the suggestion Blossom was about to make, saying, "I shouldn't be the one to help her. Even if I could heal her heart, there is no way to get around the fact that I'm one of the primary sources of her pain. Besides...her heart already belongs to another..."Understanding who Vahn was referring to, Blossom lightly hummed before muttering, "Viole..." in a voice that only he could hear.Nodding his head in response, Vahn began to descend towards the flaming palace, his voice calm and steady as he explained, "Some might consider me an irredeemable womanizer but I can safely state I have never stolen the heart of someone who has dedicated themselves to another. I've come pretty close on a number of occasions, but, during each of those instances, the person whose heart they had dedicated themselves to was already dead..."Though he would like to claim complete innocence, Vahn knew he had skirted several boundaries during his time in the Nasuverse. His mental state, combined with his lack of power, compelled him to commit to several courses of action he later realized were either unnecessary or rushed. While he had never regretted any of these choices, a bit of patience would have allowed him to resolve most situations without needing to become personally involved with every tragic beauty that crossed his path.Despite his cyclic nature compelling him to repeat many of his past mistakes, that didn't mean Vahn hadn't learned numerous lessons along the way. Thus, while he had grown remarkably confident in his ability to heal, win, or conquer the hearts of virtually any woman he happened to encounter, he had also come to understand that it wasn't 'necessary' for him to do so. This was a stark contrast to his younger self, who, regardless of the circumstances, always did his best to 'repay' every ounce of kindness bestowed upon him...Recalling his younger self, a naive boy who could shamelessly walk around town wearing little more than tattered rags and shrubbery, a reminiscent smile spread across Vahn's face as he reached up to pat Blossom's head, silencing her attempt to question him about Viole by musing, "Space and Time are truly remarkable things...so long as you have a sufficient enough understanding of both, there is very little you can't accomplish..."Without going into further details, Vahn retracted his hand from Blossom's head before turning his attention towards the bereaved-looking woman glaring at him from atop a ruined altar flanked by statues clearly designed to represent the Divine Phoenix and Three-Legged Golden Crow.As strange as it might seem, Vahn actually found the current Hana even more remarkable than the woman he had wronged weeks prior. Her tears did little to detract from her beauty, and, though he was able to maintain eye contact, the pure white lace visible between her legs as she tightly hugged her knees possessed an allure that compelled the eye to follow. This, combined with her remarkably sad and vulnerable aura, gave off the impression that she was literally waiting for someone to come and take away her pain...even if it meant being taken advantage of and lied to...Doing his best to maintain a casual and reminiscent smile, Vahn gestured for Blossom and the rest to give him a bit of space before making his way closer to the throne. In response, the temperature around Hana's body began to increase, yet, in spite of this, she made no attempt to actually prevent his approach. Instead, her aura began to shiver like a frightened child as she hugged her knees with greater strength and monotonously asked, "What are you doing here...? Have you come to laugh at me...?"Hearing the pain suppressed in Hana's tone, the charismatic glimmer frequently visible in Vahn's eyes diminished slightly as he extended his hands to remove the ornate crown from Hana's head. His initial touch caused her to flinch, but, even as he pulled several other ornaments from her hair, her only noteworthy reaction was to rest her head against her knees and allow him to do whatever he wanted. At the same time, her aura flame-like diminished to such an extent that, even if he were to push her down, Vahn doubted she would offer any significant resistance. She had basically given up on life, and, prior to his arrival, most of her time had been spent contemplating whether or not she should pass on the Divine Phoenix and Golden Crow before searching for a method to take her own life.As was often the case in such situations, Ancestral Spirits such as the Divine Phoenix and Three-Legged Golden Crow could only be passed on to direct descendants. This was the main reason that Hana had never confessed to Viole, as, despite loving the man with all her heart, his love of Arlene, combined with his innate characteristics, made him unsuitable to sire the next generation heiress of the Yeon Family. Now, however, she no longer cared about such things, so, even if it was the person she currently hated the most, the only thought in Hana's mind was 'getting things over with'...After removing all the ornaments from the woman's vermillion hair, Vahn resisted the urge to plant a kiss on the top of Hana's head. Instead, he gently caressed her inordinately silky lock as he quietly explained, "I am not called the God of Infinite Possibilities without reason...though you cannot deny your responsibility in the matter, Ilarde's actions were ultimately the result of her twisted nature and lust for power. You could have stopped her, but, given your situation, I can also understand why you might be reluctant to do so...for better or worse, even the greatest of Gods are capable of terrifying compromise when it comes to family..."Earning the vermillion-haired woman's attention, Vahn regained a bit of his smile as he framed the sides of her face with his hands and added, "You are a good person...you do not deserve to suffer in this manner. Since I am also to blame for your current predicament, I will offer you a choice. So long as your desire is sincere and devoid of malice, I will grant your wish. Now...tell me...Yeon Hana...what is it your heart desires...?"Though she couldn't shake the impression she was about to make a deal with a devil, Hana's eyes glazed over slightly as she whimpered, "I just want to be loved..." in one of the most pitiable voices Vahn had ever heard. She had spent her entire life living according to others' expectations, so, even if it was just for a single moment, she wanted to experience true love and affection. As for why she didn't ask to be reunited with Viole, it was because, in her mind, the man had passed long ago, and, more importantly, he had dedicated his heart to another...Feeling Hana's anguish and hope wash over him like frigid yet warm water, Vahn adopted the most assuring smile he could manage before nodding in affirmation and whispering, "Very well..." before bending down to plant a kiss on the flame-like seal on her forehead. In the moments that followed, the light within her fiery eyes gradually faded, unparalleled relaxation flowing through her body for the first time in millennia as Vahn pulled away to add, "Rest. When next you awake, all your dreams will have come true..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Three weeks to unfuck millennia of corruption...','Beauty within despair...','A promise of a better future...')(A/N: Power and water have finally been restored. I got to flush my toilet and take a nice hot bath for the first time in five days. Feels good man.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After placing Hana's unconscious body into stasis within the Ninth Layer, Vahn emerged from the Little Garden feeling more than a little melancholic. This was far from an 'ideal' solution, but, until he could find a timeline where Hana could truly be with the one she yearned for, she would have to settle with a false reality provided by the Phantasmagoria. Fortunately, while it was indisputably still an illusion, the events transpiring within the Phantasmagoria were so realistic that literal eons could pass without any of the entities within being aware of the truth. There was even a chance that some would develop a true ego, but, at least for the time being, Vahn could rest assured that Hana would have ample opportunity to experience being loved...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn looked around at the rather sizeable group of girls that had been accompanying him for the last three weeks. He could see trust reflected in each of their gazes, and, though they might not necessarily agree with the choices he made, they never doubted he was trying to do the right thing...With his gaze lingering on each girl, Vahn's mood began to steadily improve until Yuri, having never enjoyed awkward silences, spontaneously teased, "If you're going to keep gawking like a lovestruck fool, you better be prepared to take responsibility. I can feel the base of my tail beginning to itch..."Feeling the tensions immediately drain from his body, a lighthearted chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat as he waved his hand to produce a large portal. Then, adopting his characteristically relaxed smile, he replied, "Let's go home. I'm not really in the mood for anything too intense right now, but I can at least give everyone a massage..."As the word massage left Vahn's lips, the bodies of Fenrir, Yuri, Lotte, Mikoto, and even Enne visibly shuddered as a healthy red hue colored their cheeks. This earned them a few curious looks from the members of the Eurasia Family, who, despite having spent the better part of three weeks with Vahn, had yet to experience the skills that had initially earned him the title of Godhand...---Though they were unaware of the 'suffering' of the Eurasia Family, knowing smiles spread across the faces of two inordinately beautiful women, one with raven-black hair and the other possessing peculiar dark-purple locks. These were none other than Madara and Yoruichi, and, though they had long-since developed True Egos of their own, they could still sense when Vahn was in a heightened state of emotion. This applied to every Template he had created, but, having honed their perception and intuition to the extreme, the two voluptuous beauties could even sense when Vahn was feeling muddle-headed.With her smile gradually developing into a toothy grin, Yoruichi began to pop each of her knuckles as she remarked, "Whelp, looks like the bad guys on this Floor are fucked. Mind if Angri and I take point this time?"Hearing her name, fluffy auburn ears poked out of Yoruichi's shadow as Angri, adorned in an outfit reminiscent of the one worn by Soi Fon in the Actualized World of Bleach, asked, "Are we going on a mission?" in a forced monotone that failed to conceal her excitement.Pulling the olive-skinned Vanargandr onto her lap, an amused expression spread across Yoruichi's face as she tightly squeezed the struggling girl and answered, "That depends on whether or not a certain someone is going to stand in our way..."With Yoruichi's directing her golden gaze towards her, Madara's smile gradually faded away as she crossed her arms and said, "I refuse. Izuna needs opportunities like this to measure the results of his training. Do you think your protege is more important than my younger brother...?"Rolling her eyes in response to Madara's question, Yoruichi secured Angri with her left arm before holding out her right hand and drolling, "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, you bro-con. Let's just get this over with."Though she was unamused by Yoruichi referring to her as a bro-con, Madara ultimately just snorted before closing her eyes, extending her own right hand, and saying, "Proceed."Waiting until the final syllable had departed Madara's lips, bluish-white electricity began to radiate from Yoruichi's hand and forearm as she shouted, "Jan...ken...p-!"Snapping her eyes open, Madara revealed that she had activated her Rinnesharigan at the very last moment, her eyes transition from a deep crimson to a peculiar purple set with concentric rings and nine tomoe spinning around an abyssal black pupil. This enhanced her perception to the point that time seemed to stop, but, having anticipated this, the electricity emanating from Yoruichi's fist had already suffused through the rest of her body, its color shifting to a vibrant golden hue that caused her right arm, cat-like ears, and tail to shimmer with brilliant light.Noticing that Yoruichi's hand appeared to be throwing rock, paper, and scissors simultaneously, the pupil of Madara's right eye began to expand and contract in a mysterious rhythm as she attempted to draw the hateful cat woman into a powerful Genjutsu. Unfortunately, Yoruichi's Shunryū Kokubyō Senki, Flash God Black Cat Warrior Princess, made her virtually immune to illusions due to the sheer amount of Lightning Elemental Energy coursing through her mind and body. Thus, the moment she allowed the bronze-skinned beauty to transform, the majority of Madara's trump cards had already been sealed.Refusing to be outdone by a 'simple' elemental transformation, an evil smile began to spread across Madara's face in painstakingly slow motion. This caused Yoruichi's own expression to sour, but, long before either's facial muscles could react to their shift in mentality, the world around them began to dissolve away as Madara's voice, emanating from the void itself, echoed, "Infinite Tsukuyomi..."With her golden pupils immediately reflecting a crimson-hued version of Madara's Rinnesharingan, Yoruichi's mental processes completely ceased as the former countered her scissors with rock. This only lasted for a mere moment, but, with both of their speeds far exceeding the physical limitations of the world, it was more than enough for victory and defeat to be determined.Blinking her eyes, the reflection of Madara's Rinnesharingan was no longer visible across Yoruichi's vibrant golden irises as she exclaimed, "You bitch! Did you seriously just use the Infinite Tsukuyomi to win a game of rock, paper, scissors!?"Snorting in response to Yoruichi's words, Madara rose to her feet before countering, "You've quite the gall to accuse me of foul play when you're still in your transformed state. Don't be such a sore loser. It's unbecoming of you..."Without waiting for Yoruichi's retort, Madara's vanished into a spatial tear that had instantaneously appeared behind her. This left the former gnashing her teeth, but, as this was far from the first time something like this had happened, she ultimately just exhaled a tired sigh before snaking her hands around the uncharacteristically demure Angri's body and teasing, "It looks like we're all alone...shall we continue where we last left off~?"With a healthy shade of red coloring her cheeks, Angri ceased her struggles entirely, entrusting her body to the mischievous woman caressing her lower abdomen as she intoned a meek, "Nn..."---Though he wasn't oblivious to the fact his mood affected the behavior of his Templates, Vahn spent the better part of fifteen hours spoiling the girls currently accompanying him. He simply never got tired of experiencing the subtle differences between each of their reactions, so, even though he felt the usual discomfort when he was dealing with the more petite members of the Eurasia Family, that didn't stop him from giving each of them a 'very' thorough massage.When everything was said and done, Vahn, with a relaxed smile on his face, was silently listening to the strangely comforting sound of more than a dozen girls peacefully slumbering around him as he absentmindedly stroked the heads of Fenrir and Mikoto. They, along with Blossom, were still awake, so, with little else to do, they perused the anime linked with his Actualized World of One Piece. This was yet another boon of his [Actualization] Innate, and, thanks to the power she had inherited from him, they were able to witness Nami's meteoric rise to prominence as an undisputed Empress of the Sea.Though it was a little strange to see a character like Luffy relegated to a background role thanks to Nami solving most of the world's problems before they got out of hand Vahn couldn't help smiling whenever he saw flashbacks and scenes depicting her battles against legends such as Big Mom and Kaido. In the original story, Nami was simply the Navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates. She wasn't one of the 'big three', and, though she possessed a reasonable amount of combat potential, most of her opponents hardly qualified as legitimate threats. This was a stark contrast to the version of Nami he had created, a powerhouse that could even shatter Kaido's fist with a seemingly powerless punch...Understanding that the events on screen were actually taking place in another world, Blossom, who had nestled herself between Vahn's legs, asked, "How is it that these 'anime' of yours can have such diverse styles yet exist in the same world? Though the residents of the Tower are certainly diverse in both physique and appearance, some of the people in this world called One Piece have strange and outright outlandish proportions..."As this wasn't his first time being asked this particular question, Vahn's expression barely changed as he casually explained, "Though they might exist within the same metaversal structure, the Laws governing each world can manifest in a number of unique and interesting ways. Their appearances might seem strange when viewed from the outside, but, the moment you enter such a world, such incongruencies simply don't exist. Rather, without the ability to expand your perception beyond the restrictions of the Laws, you wouldn't even notice if your own appearance changed. We've taken to referring to this phenomenon as the 'Law of Normalcy', as, no matter how strange the world might appear from an outsider's perspective, it appears perfectly normal from within."Surprised by the existence of such a peculiar 'Law', Blossom fell silent for several seconds before leaning back, willfully nudging Vahn's sleeping dragon with the back of her head as she asked, "As the creator of these 'Actualized Worlds', do you see things similarly to the people within or from the same perspective as an observer? I'm not really sure how you could be attracted to anyone within if things appear as they do on screen..."Recalling his attraction to quite a number of 'fictional' characters in his youth, Vahn's smile became a little wry as he remarked, "I am able to view things both ways, but, even if that weren't the case, I would still be able to enjoy the beauty of the worlds in their original form. That is simply how I see the world, and, so long as they do not deviate down a sinister path, I would never besmirch another person for how they view and interact with the world around them. We each have our own unique perspective, and, no matter what anyone else says, everyone has the right to decide for themselves whether or not they enjoy something. In the end, we're all just looking for what makes us happy..."Though she was a little surprised by the sudden lecture, a teasing smile gradually developed across Blossom's face as she noticed the traces of embarrassment in Vahn's countenance. He clearly had a guilty conscience about something he had done in the past, but, rather than attempting to pressure him into revealing the truth, she simply giggled impishly before rolling onto her side and snuggling against the inseam of his trousers. This left Vahn feeling at a loss for words, as, shortly after getting comfortable, a faint sound began to emanate from Blossom's nose as she promptly entered into his dreamscape to mingle with her daughters...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'RIP Eurasia Family...','I'm not sure if this was an extremely epic or profoundly petty exchange...','Mischievous little imp...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With his bedroom looking more like a crime scene than a lover's nest, Vahn, wearing little more than form-fitting Aegis briefs, emerged from the inordinately fragrant chamber with the intent to prepare a meal. Before that, however, he reached into the space between spaces, startling the trio of girls within by grabbing the end of Yuri's tail and asking, "Did you enjoy the show?"Smiling in response, Yuri's tail twitched in a vain attempt to extricate itself as the person in question answered, "You really are a beast. It was like watching a big bad wolf prey on seven little lambs and two sheep. Did you eat your fill~?"Sensing the trio's state, Vahn understood the not-so-hidden invitation within Yuri's words, a chuckle emanating from his throat as he teasingly replied, "That'll have to wait till later. For now, let's fill our bellies with something a little more substantial. Come, I'll cook you something."Though her initial response was to feign a pout, Yuri's expression blossomed into a smile at the mention of food. The meals he prepared might be incomparable to Rindo's when it came to flavor and effect, but, regardless of how simple the meal, eating Vahn's food made you feel happy. It was almost like his love had been infused into even the smallest grain of rice, so, while the flavor might be a little lacking, it had a unique quality reminiscent of 'home cooking'.Making her thoughts known to all, Yuri's stomach released a growl reminiscent of a voracious beast as she pounced on Vahn, forcibly pressing his face to her chest as she exclaimed, "Great! Let's go~!" in an excited tone of voice. Her exaggerated response left Fenrir and Mikoto shaking their heads in mild exasperation, but, almost immediately thereafter, a potent blush colored the latter's face when her stomach opted to announce its presence...---Expecting the nonad to gradually trickle down after recovering from their lethargy, Vahn prepared enough food to seat more than twenty people before taking his own and saying, "Though it might sound a little strange given the current circumstances, recent events have forced me to do a bit of thinking..."Despite having just bitten into a comically oversized chicken leg, Yuri, mouth filled with food, was the first to remark, "Oh? Don't tell me that little foray in the bedroom has 'awoken' something? I'd rather not have to become a 'loli' in order to-"Taking into consideration Yuri's durability, Vahn flicked a pea towards the center of her forehead at about thirty-percent the speed of light. Under normal circumstances, this would have generated a massive shockwave, but, thanks to his comprehension of the Laws, he was fully capable of deciding when and how friction affected the objects influenced by his power.With her head snapping back like someone who had just been sniped, a teasing smile developed across Yuri's face as she corrected her posture, musing, "So violent~." before tearing away a large piece of chicken with her pronounced canines.Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Vahn lightly shook his head before explaining, "Once this matter with the Lo Po Bia Family has been resolved, I'm thinking about dealing with Jahad directly. I don't mind sticking around for a few years in order to make sure everything is running smoothly, but, as it stands, my power drastically exceeds the standard of the Tower. I've never been fond of bullying the weak, so, before things get too far out of hand, I intend to cement my place at the pinnacle so I can finish grooming the members of Team Wolf Pack into the next generation of leaders."Hearing the name 'Team Wolf Pack', Yuri's eyes began shimmering with excitement, but, before she could open her mouth to speak, Mikoto preempted her, calmly inquiring, "What are you intending to do about the Khun Family? After our battle, that blue-haired idiot actually attempted to force his family's problems onto me. Now that the Great Families are supposed to be cleaning house, there's a good chance the Khun Family will tear itself apart due to infighting."Remembering the conversation he had with Eduan following the press briefing, a tired sich escaped Vahn's throat as he picked up his coffee mug, savoring the contents for several long seconds before finally answering, "Even if I were to defeat Eduan and personally take charge of the Khun Family, the outcome wouldn't be pretty. At present, there are a total of 138 competing factions within the Khun Family, each belonging to one of Eduan's contracted wives. This is where the issues begin, as, prior to wedding them, Eduan had each of his fiancees sign a contract with the Guardians that effectively forces them to obey. To make matters even worse, the contract includes a provision that allows him to transfer ownership of said contract to whoever replaces him as Leader of the Khun Family; so, the moment anyone accepts his position, they will end up with hundreds of contract-bound wives and tens-of- thousands of resentful and opportunistic children..."Though Mikoto and Fenrir seemed to understand the underlying issue, Yuri demonstrated why her intelligence was her lowest parameter, thoughtlessly remarking, "I don't see the problem. With that kind of contract in effect, won't it be easy to resolve things? I mean, you can literally just order them to unfuck themselves and they should carry it out without question, right?"Smiling wryly in response to Yuri's relatively innocent question, Vahn was about to explain the crux of the problem before Fenrir beat him to the punch, pointedly stating, "Master doesn't like making people do things against their will. Though some might accuse him of using force to compel people to obey, he is still giving them a choice. They can either learn from their mistakes and move forward with their lives or they can suffer the consequences of the lives they had lived till then. It might be a choice between life and death but it is still their decision to make."Were she sitting next to him, Vahn would have reached out to caress Fenrir's head and ears. Instead, his expression relaxed into a casual smile as he explained, "Though I am known to make and uphold contracts, it is always the decision of the recipient whether or not they wish to receive my blessing. I disdain contracts that compel obedience, so, the moment I took control of the Khun Family, the first thing I would do is absolve each and every contract. I can pretty much guarantee that none of those women ever considered, not even for a moment, that Eduan would actually be defeated. Thus, even if it might prevent a lot of problems, it simply isn't within my nature to take advantage of a situation and force people to obey me against their will..."With Mikoto and Fenrir nodding with 'as could be expected' kind of expressions on their faces, Yuri adopted a somewhat perplexed expression as she asked, "So? What are you going to do then? You might not want to force them to obey, but you're also the type of person that blames himself every time something bad happens. Whenever a transition of power occurs, it is always the innocent who suffer the most. There's no way you'll just sit back and watch as the weaker factions get wiped out by those opportunistic whackjobs in the 'main' family."Though he nodded his head in affirmation, Vahn took the opportunity to empty the contents of his cup before explaining, "That's one of the reasons I wish to hurry and cement myself as the pinnacle of power within the Tower. The sooner I take control, the quicker I will be able to enact my reforms. As for the matter of the Khun Family, I intend to have Eduan continue behaving as a lynchpin until a suitable replacement can be found. A number of changes need to be made before the way forward can be open, so, if he wishes to continue his climb, he will first need to redeem himself by resolving some of the larger issues within his family. I would never let him move on while others are forced to stay behind and clean up after him. If he can't do that, he simply has no right to reincarnate with his memories intact."While it was far from an 'ideal' solution, Vahn's decision to spare the Great Warriors was predicated on the fact that they would be doing everything within their capacity to fix the issues plaguing their respective families. If any of them thought they could get around this and simply move on, they had another thing coming...Approving of Vahn's decision, Yuri made a thumbs-up gesture while shoveling two-thirds of a rice ball into her mouth. She wasn't particularly fond of how passive the plan was, but, understanding Vahn cared more about the process than most, she wasn't going to complain. Rather, this outcome meant he wouldn't be wasting time by intervening in the Khun Family's affairs, and, as a result, they would have more time to spend together. This was an ideal outcome, as, ever since he became the Patron God of the Ha Family, every influential member of the family had been pressuring her to seal the deal by bearing his child. Just the thought of this caused her body to warm up like a furnace, so, the moment they settled down, she was intending to pop out as many babies as Vahn would allow...With Yuri looking at him with a predatory stare, complete with glowing red eyes, Vahn didn't need the Law of Identity to tell him what she was thinking. In fact, her body was producing so much heat and pheromones that Mikoto and Fenrir immediately took notice, the former developing a healthy blush while the latter simply nodded her head in an 'approving' manner. Then, as if decreed by fate, the sound of paradoxically heavy yet light steps could be heard as Blossom trudged into the dining room with little more than a sheet to cover her naked body.Under normal circumstances, Blossom wore rather flamboyant clothes, and, despite finding it more than a little troublesome, she had a habit of tying up her hair in heart-shaped buns. This was a stark contrast to her current appearance, a lethargic-looking girl with messy pink hair extending past her butt and an expression reminiscent of a researcher who had been awake for days on end.Seemingly unaware of the awkward atmosphere she had both walked in on and directly contributed to, Blossom allowed the sheet to fall from her shoulder as she raised her left hand, pointing to Vahn with moisture in her eyes as she said, "You...!"Surprised by the emotion contained within the petite woman's voice, Vahn rose to his feet with the intention to approach her and ask what was wrong when Blossom beat him to the punch, inflating her cheeks after accusing, "You did something to prevent us from becoming pregnant, didn't you!? You...you big stupid head...!"Finding himself at a loss for words, Vahn paused for the better part of ten seconds before regaining his composure and explaining, "You're mistaken. It's not that I took action to prevent you and your daughters from becoming pregnant. Rather, unless I intend to impregnate someone, it is impossible for them to become pregnant. Though this might change in the future, I currently have no intention of arbitrarily impregnating anyone. Please, calm yourself."Expecting her to tear up and continue pouting, Vahn was genuinely surprised when Blossom stuck out her tongue before smiling as she said, "You're too easy. Consider this payback for bullying me. Seriously, you need to learn some restraint. I might have been the one to goad you on, but holding me upside down until my nose started bleeding was a bit excessive, don't you think?"Feeling the energy draining from his body, Vahn fell heavily against his chair before leaning forward to rub his temples with his left hand. This caused Blossom to giggle like a mischievous imp, vibrant pink clothing manifesting to cover her body as she flitted over to an empty chair and added, "Don't worry. Despite my size, I'm quite accustomed to being bullied. So long as you continue treating my daughters well, I'm more than willing to accept a bit of abuse. Ufufufufufu~."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'FBI be like: *heavy breathing*','Eduan isn't getting off scot-free...','That's a lot of damage...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2000: Waning Flame