Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though he was tempted to return home and just relax, Vahn could sense that Laev-tan wished to stay in the Shukai state for a while longer. He also wanted to give Fenrir a chance to absorb some of the energy from the ongoing storm, so, taking advantage of his domain's extended range, Vahn guided as much of the energy as he could towards her location.Ever since Pram had attained Tier 4, Fenrir had been feeling increased pressure to breakthrough herself. Consuming the energy of the 134th Floor wouldn't really help with this, but, so long as her opponent lacked a comprehensive understanding of the Laws, she could easily battle against Gods with limited or constrained Authority.When everything was said and done, a wry smile had developed across Vahn's face as he caressed Fenrir's somewhat bulbous belly. She could consume billions of calories without putting on a single gram of weight, but, when it came to consuming tremendous volumes of energy, it took her body a while to process it. During those moments, the energy in her body would disperse into her fur, and, as a result, she would glow a different color depending on the purity, element, and composition of the energy she had absorbed.At the present moment, Fenrir's fur had become a fiery white with a hint of gold. This was the result of a tremendous amount of Yang Elemental Energy, one of the few types Fenrir genuinely struggled with processing. Thus, while he could have used the magic circle on her body, Vahn decided to help her digest by caressing her belly and uttering a few teasing remarks..."I know I've been wanting you to put on weight ever since we were living in the Hearth Manor, but this is a little ridiculous..."As she was lying on her back, Fenrir twisted her entire body, emulating a head-tilt as she released a canine-esque whine. She was perfectly capable of speaking in her wolf transformation, but, knowing how weak he was to her puppy-like appearance, she didn't hesitate to full advantage of her species' inherent cuteness."You clever little minx..."Punctuating his words, Vahn fell face-first into Fenrir's belly, disappearing into her inordinately thick underfur. It was still possible to see him if you were standing nearby or behind, but, from any other point of view, he had basically vanished into the tall grass that was Fenrir's exceptionally warm belly fur, nuzzling and tickling without mercy.........Since it would take her a while to process an entire Floor's worth of energy, Vahn helped Fenrir to compress it into a semi-solid mass reminiscent of a monster core. This would allow her to absorb it at her leisure, and, so long as it persisted within her body, she wouldn't have to worry about feeling hungry.Though she had effectively gained full control over her hunger pangs and urges, Fenrir's [Insatiable Hunger] wasn't considered an 'unrestricted' Innate without reason. It had no Grade to speak of, so, if her emotional state became even slightly chaotic, her hunger would return with a vengeance. The only actual change between now and her more youthful counterpart was that she could ignore and outright suppress the hunger using sheer force of will.If she were willing, Vahn could have Fenrir ingest a crystalized version of him, and, much like how he had once powered Scathach, she would benefit from the excess energy that naturally radiated from his body. The only reason he didn't do this was that Fenrir, in adherence with his teachings, wanted to master herself and her Innates without assistance. She had taken every lesson he ever taught her to heart, and, while it sometimes concerned him, Fenrir's heartfelt desire to remain a 'good girl' was one of the things that gave Vahn strength...As that thought crossed his mind, an affectionate smile developed across Vahn's face as he stared down at the inordinately beautiful woman curled up in his arms. She had come a long way from the emaciated young woman who made him apprehensive at the mere thought of starting an intimate relationship. Now, even if she were to stand next to a Goddess such as Ishtar, she wouldn't lose out in charm. This might be conjecture based on pure bias, but, when it came to love, even Gods could be blind...Undoubtedly sensing his thoughts, Fenrir opened her eyes to reveal glacial-blue irises that starkly contracted her usual crimson reds. Then, with an uncharacteristically cheeky smile on her face, she teased, "No matter how much you love me, I'll always love you more~""Ahahahahaha..."Amused by the rather bold proclamation, Vahn allowed a light-hearted laugh to emanate from his throat before hugging the lovable girl a little tighter and saying, "Challenge accepted..."---Several days after the 'climactic' battle between Vahn and Jahad, the seal preventing access to the 134th Floor naturally faded away. Shortly thereafter, members of the 1st Army Corps, commanded by Adori Jahad, ventured into the scene. When they first saw the devastation wrought by the battle, shock and awe overwhelmed even the strongest of Rankers within the group.Everything the group had come to associate with the Empire's eternal reign had been erased. It wasn't just buildings like the Imperial Palace either. Even natural landmarks and monuments had been wiped from existence. They would later come to learn that the elevation of the entire Floor had descended by more than 3km in some places.When the common residents of the Tower heard about these things, the most common reaction among them was utter disbelief. They didn't doubt that the fight between Jahad had shaken the very foundation of the 134th Floor, but it was impossible for them to imagine everything above a 3km depth simply being erased. It was a level of destruction beyond human comprehension, and, even with images showing the devastation first-hand, their minds simply refused to process it as anything more than fantasy.No group was affected more by this sentiment than the loyalists of the Jahad Empire. In their mind, it was simply impossible that their King could be defeated. The absence of a body caused the more desperate among them to claim he was still alive, recovering, or even trapped by Vahn. This led to a substantial group of people demanding that the Imperial Army conduct rescue operations, but, due to the measures Jahad had taken place prior to his death, they were unable to gain any momentum.It was a secret to most but Jahad had been meeting with his most trusted Ministers and Advisors in the months leading up to his demise. He had also reached out to each of his former comrades, not just the Leaders of the Ten Great Families, but all of the people who had accompanied them during their ascent up the Tower. This had caught many of them by surprise, as, ever since the Great War, a considerable number of Jahad's former allies had gone into hiding. The fact he could contact them showed that he had been keeping tabs on them for thousands of years, so, while a handful refused to even hear him out, others seriously considered their former friend's words.Though a transcript of the discussion wouldn't become public until several years later, the contents included, first and foremost, an apology. While he hadn't regretted his decision to become King, it would be an understatement to claim that Jahad hadn't felt remorse over the events leading up to, and following, The Great War. He had originally wanted to create a utopian Kingdom where he and his friends could rule together. He had never imagined things would develop to the point where he would need to order the execution of people who had served alongside him for thousands of years.Simply put, Jahad's only regret was that he hadn't been able to share his wealth and power with the people he cared about. This was the true reason he had never started a family, as, prior to The Great War, he had genuinely considered his friends to be his family. When they betrayed him, he felt such an overwhelming sense of shame that he even formed a contract with Headon to prevent him from producing a genuine heir. It wasn't that his blood was too powerful to be passed down to others. If that were the case, the Princess of Jahad would have never existed. No. The truth of the matter was that he had cursed himself to remain alone, a solitary King bearing a burden he had hoped to share with others.While these revelations only served to incense the majority of people who felt betrayed by Jahad, a handful felt genuine empathy and remorse. After all, they had originally followed Jahad, not out of respect for his overwhelming power, but his character. His charisma had been so infectious that he had been able to convert countless enemies, people who had once wanted nothing more than to see his head on a pike, into allies. Even the Leader of the Arie Family, Arie Hon, was no exception to this, as, prior to his ten consecutive defeats, he and Jahad had been mortal enemies.Recalling the man Jahad was, not the King he had come to be, several legendary figures made the decision to come out of hiding. A few of them harbored thoughts of revenge against the Ten Great Families. As for the rest, they had chosen to either honor Jahad's request or, in response to the final part of his message...'The way forward should have never been closed. It is the right of every resident within the Tower to aim for its summit. On the eve of my death, the way forward will be open. For many of you, it might be too late to say this, but, for those with the resolve to face the future with their heads held high, I pray that you find glory, prosperity, and excitement in the adventure to come. Go forth and witness a world I could only imagine in my dreams...' -Excerpt from 'A Prideful King's Confession'.---Understanding that things would only become increasingly complex if he were to appear too soon, Vahn decided to wait until some semblance of peace and stability had been restored. He knew that people like Tu Perie Tperie, Ha Yurin, and even Adori Jahad were attempting to contact him, but, for the time being, Vahn was content with letting speculation regarding his own fate run rampant.The conclusion Vahn had reached after his most recent awakening was that, despite his apparent disregard, he had placed too much emphasis on the Tower and its affairs. When he first started out, he had every intention of just going with the flow and orchestrating a situation where the peoples of the Tower could solve their own problems. He wanted to empower people like Baam, Khun, and other members of Team Wolf Pack so that they could eventually overcome the existing system and introduce change in a gradual, more natural, manner.With Baam's inordinately powerful fate, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that he would eventually come out on top. There was no way of knowing what kind of person he would become, but, after observing the developments within his Actualized Worlds, Vahn could certain that he would remain a force for 'good' until the very end. The [Child of Destiny] Innate might apply to heroes and villains in equal measure, but, so long as someone like Jahad bore the antagonistic variant, Baam was fated to develop in a manner that either reflected or foiled the former King's.Explained simply, Vahn didn't actually have to interfere with the 'stories' he found himself a part of. He could sit still, literally doing nothing, and, at least from the perspective of the 'world', he would still be the single most important existence in the entire Record. He was a variable that allowed for dynamic change in a world that, prior to his arrival, had a fixed past, present, and future. Thus, while he was free to take any action he so desires, there was nothing necessitating he be the one to solve everything. Rather, so long as he communicated his intentions with the world, it would readily make changes at his behest..."It looks like Headon is going to be receiving an early present..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'There is always time for *mofu* *mofu* (UwU)...','Picture billions of surprised Pikachu faces...(O o O)...','Immeasurable power and authority...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though things hadn't quite turned out the way she anticipated, Jaina had been enjoying herself quite a bit ever since Vahn picked her up from the 123rd Floor. The number of things she had to see and explore using the Opera had increased exponentially, and, whenever she was bored, there were countless games, anime, and manga she could use to distract herself.With people like Yuri, X, Altria, and even Enne to keep her company, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that Jaina was happier now than she had ever been previously. She was no longer alone, and, thanks to the Opera, many of the 199th Floor's residents would seek her advice before venturing out to complete Quests. This drastically improved her self-esteem, and, more importantly, allowed her to feel as though she belonged among the impossibly beautiful and incomprehensible women who had gathered around Vahn.If there was anything Jaina had to complain about, it was the fact that Vahn, even after she asked him to change her race to a Wererabbit, hadn't laid a hand on her. She had thought that becoming a rabbit, a species famous for its sex drive, would make it pretty obvious what she had in mind. He also possessed the capacity to read a person's thoughts, so, with months passing without incident, Jaina had been feeling increasingly listless."Maybe he just doesn't like girls with small breasts...no, that can't be it...he wouldn't have a harem of Eurasia Family members if he cared about things like that..."Hearing Jaina's mutterings, a tick mark appeared near X's temple as she shouted, "Aaaah! At least pay attention when you're kicking my butt...!"With her Team, consisting of Altria, Mavis, and, most importantly, Rindo on standby, X had been spending a lot of time in Jaina's room. She had become a pretty hardcore gamer during the time she lived with Tomoe, so, after hearing about their resident hikikomori, she and Altria had naturally gravitated towards the petite pinkette. This caused the room to turn into a veritable sty, but, every now and then, someone like Mira would come by to help them clean up.Instead of responding directly to X's words, Jaina, much to the former's dismay, finished her off with a machine-precise combo. This caused a gloomy aura to exude from X's body, the light fading from her ordinarily vibrant eyes as the ahoge atop her head dangled pitifully..."Weak..."As if her previous state had been nothing but an illusion, X immediately became more energetic as she glared towards the near-identical girl sitting at her side, exclaiming, "I'm not weak! Jaina is just too strong...!"Without so much as flinching in the face of X's outburst, the room's third nad final occupant, Altria, maintained an impassive expression as she flatly rebutted, "You don't hear the strong complaining about people being too strong..."With a red face, twitching brow, and slightly watery eyes, X appeared as if she was mere moments away from challenging Altria to a life and death match. She honestly didn't know why she spent so much time with the cold and robotic woman, as, even before joining the Aldrnari Empire, they had never gotten along. Literal decades had passed since then, yet, every time she made even a minor mistake, Altria wouldn't hesitate to let her know how much of a failure she was...Though her expression didn't change much, a soft sigh parted Altria's pale peach lips as she averted her amber eyes and emotionlessly asserted, "There's nothing wrong with being weak. It just means we have room for improvement..."Zeroing in the fact that Altria had said 'we', the majority of X's frustrations faded away, replaced by a somewhat naive smile as she rubbed the back of her head and happily declared, "That's right, isn't it? I almost forgot we were training to defeat Tomoe the next time we meet. Thanks for reminding me. Ehehehehe~."Exhaling a second sigh, Altria shifted her attention to Jaina before saying, "You should also try and cheer up. If you were more confident and assertive, you wouldn't have any trouble getting Vahn to sleep with you. He is weak to women who disregard common sense and set aside their inhibitions. It took longer than expected but I managed to seduce him by behaving like a spoiled kitten. If that doesn't work, you can just follow this idiot's example by lumping yourself together with a few other girls..."Demonstrating how quickly she could transition between emotions, X immediately bounced to her feet when Altria called her an idiot, shouting, "That's it! Today's the day we settle things...!"Without taking her eyes away from Jaina, Altria just flatly replied, "Don't wanna..." before popping open a bag of chips and adding, "If you bully me...I'll tell Vahn..."Understanding that it wasn't just an idle threat, X quickly deflated like a balloon before adopting a defeated expression on her face. At the same time, however, a fair amount of red had bled into her cheeks as memories of her previous 'punishment' surfaced within her mind."Pervert..."Body trembling, right hand clenched into a fist, X looked towards Altria with a pouty glare as she stammered, "I-I-I'm not a pervert! You! You're the pervert! Y-Y-You horny cat...!"Adding to X's frustration and embarrassment, Altria tilted her head to the side, the cat-like ears atop her head twitching as she pointed to herself and intoned a 'befuddled', "Nyaa...?"Though she had elected to retain her 'humanity', Altria had developed the habit of wearing a head ornament and detachable tail that realistically emulated the appendages of a cat. Unlike X, however, she was both confident and comfortable with her sexuality. She enjoyed feeling good, and, as far as she knew, there was no one better at making women feel pleasure than Vahn. He also provided her with delicious food, so, even if there were someone who could make her feel better, Altria was more than happy being doted upon by her favorite fool.........While absentmindedly observing the usual interplay between X and Altria, Jaina was also seriously considering the latter's words. She realized that she had never actually told Vahn what he wanted her to do. Heck, she hadn't even confessed to him. Instead, she had been waiting for him to make the first move, disregarding the fact that there were numerous other options available to him if he was actually in the mood.As that thought crossed her mind, Jaina's eyes ran up and down the figures of the near-identical yet polar opposite girls wrestling a few meters away from her. Both wore relatively casual, loose-fitting t-shirts, relatively plain bras, and hoodies. This was pretty normal for people who lounged about all day. What truly stood out was the fact that they almost always wore form-fitting shorts, spats, and other garments that left very little to the imagination..."Could it be...?"After muttering that question to herself, the images of every woman associated with Vahn flashed across Jaina's mind. Though there were a few notable exceptions, she realized that most of the girls around him wore tight or formfitting bottoms. Very few actually wore skirts, and, though there were a few who wore trousers, the materials they were constructed from were thin and elastic.Feeling excitement beginning to swell from the pit of her stomach, tickling her troubled heart, Jaina surprised the polarizing duo, eagerly asking, "Could it be that Vahn likes girls with big butts...!?"With their wrestling match momentarily coming to a stop, Altria, seemingly unperturbed by the fact she was being pinned beneath X, flatly replied, "That isn't entirely accurate. While you aren't wrong, it would be more accurate to say he likes girls with a firm, well-shaped, bottom. He likes being able to play with them or give them a squeeze so it doesn't suffice to simply have a big butt. You have to work hard to ensure the shape and feel are adequate. While it doesn't actually matter all that much when it comes to being 'chosen', most of us still put in the effort since we know he'll be looking. Isn't that right, X?"Punctuating her words, Altria gave X's butt a firm squeeze, pale white fingers sinking into the dark-colored mesh of her spats. This caused the already red face of X to turn deep crimson, but, before she could lash out, Jaina surprised them a second time by forming her fists into a 'guts pose' and shouting, "I understand!" before following it up with a marginally more nervous, "Can I ask the two of you to help me with something...?"Though X adopted a somewhat confused expression on her face, a rare and somewhat mischievous smile developed across Altria's as she mused, "Of course...that's what friends are for..."......While it wasn't particularly uncommon for people to come looking for him, both Vahn and Hinata were surprised to hear a knock on the door. They had been cuddling together on a plush sofa, and, while his hands had wandered here and there, they were primarily just watching anime.What made this situation truly peculiar was the fact that they were currently in one of the miniature theaters that existed in the basement of the main residential compound. These were constructed to allow for a more 'cinematic' viewing experience, but, more importantly, they weren't restricted areas that required permission to enter. Anyone could enter and leave at their leisure so it was more than a little strange to hear someone actually knocking beforehand...Though he had already sensed who was waiting outside, Vahn still answered, "Uh...it's open...?" in a confused tone. He had instructed the Law of Identity not to arbitrarily reveal the thoughts of people living within the 199th Floor and Little Garden, so, while he had his suspicions, he could only guess what the trio was thinking.With Hinata having already separated from him, primarily to fix her clothes, Vahn half-turned to see a nervous-looking X shielding Jaina as Altria ushered both from behind. This was unusual in and of itself, but, increasing his suspicions, Vahn couldn't help raising his brows as he observed the blanket Jaina was using to veil her body...Having come to the same conclusion as Vahn, a wry smile developed across Hinata's face as she gave him a gentle pat on the leg and said, "I'll go check on Hana. We'll continue where we left off later this evening."Punctuating her words, Hinata planted a kiss on Vahn's cheek before promptly rising to depart the darkened chamber. On her way, she took the opportunity to squeeze Jaina's shoulder, whispering, "Good luck." with a supportive smile on her face. This actually made Jaina feel even more nervous, but, having already formed her resolve, she managed a sheepish, "Nn..." before following Hinata's departure with her eyes.Taking advantage of Jaina's momentary stupor, Altria waited until the door had just closed behind Hinata before tearing away the blanket veiling the former's body. This startled the petite pinkette more than a little, and, as a result, she ended up instinctually squatting as a girlish, "Kyaaaaaaaa...!" emanated from her throat.........With nothing but silence to greet her outburst, Jaina gradually opened her eyes before awkwardly observing her surroundings. The looks she was receiving from Altria and X were tolerable, but, the moment she locked eyes with Vahn, a dangerous shade of red crawled up her neck, instantaneously spreading through her face and ears. Before she could internally question what the heck was wrong with her, however, Altria promptly picked her up by the armpits, plainly stating, "We brought you a present." before attempting to carry her towards Vahn."W-W-W-W-Wait! P-Put me down! I-I-I-I can do it on my own...!"Ignoring Jaina's protests, Altria continued to carry her like an actual rabbit until they were standing right in front of Vahn. Throughout this entire process, he had just been watching them with a mix of amusement, mild intrigue, and moderate concern. He had his suspicions the moment they showed up, but, seeing Jaina wearing what some referred to as a 'reverse bunny' costume, he would have to be incredibly dense not to realize what they had in mind.Since Jaina had tucked in her legs, effectively curling up into a ball, Altria continued to hold her out, an impassive expression on her face as she said, "One horny rabbit. Express shipping. Please sign on the dotted line."Noticing Altria's amber gaze penetrating through the darkness, X quickly came back to her senses before rushing over and presenting a pen, piece of paper, and clipboard. This caused a wry smile to develop across the face of Vahn, but, rather than refusing to sign the blank document, he produced his Imperial Seal before teasingly remarking, "I don't remember ordering anything but I'm certainly not going to complain..."Waiting until Vahn had finished stamping the piece of paper, Altria dropped the panicking Jaina on his lap before asking, "Are you satisfied with your order or would you like to apply for our premium package? If you sign up now, you can obtain a kitten and a perverted monkey without accruing any additional costs."Though he was slightly concerned about the trembling rabbit seated atop his lap, Vahn managed a light-hearted chuckle as he answered, "I might as well. With service like this, I imagine I'll be making use of it quite often in the near future..."Nodding her head, Altria motioned for X to pass over the clipboard a second time before unzipping her jacket to reveal she had been completely naked underneath.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Like oil and gasoline xD...','Oh my (O w O)...','I wish I had this kind of service instead of amazon prime...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With red-horned tendrils erupting from various parts of his body, Jahad lay at the bottom of an abyssal pit with a contemplative and slightly incredulous look on his face. He had come into this fight with the intent of going all out for the first time in millennia. It wasn't an exaggeration to say he had even been looking forward to it, as, for the first time since he had become King, someone with the power to oppose him had finally appeared.Until this very moment, Jahad had expected things to be relatively close between him and Vahn. He knew the latter possessed tremendous might but it shouldn't be to the point he was invincible. The universe had a way of balancing things out, so, even if Vahn's power was beyond comprehension, it had to have some kind of weakness. So long as he discovered what it was, Jahad was confident that he could, at the very least, force an internecine outcome.It wasn't like he had come into the fight without any information whatsoever. Rather, thanks to the seals worn by his daughters, combined with the Opera he had appropriated from the Tperie Family, Jahad been watching Vahn during all the key moments of his climb up the Tower. He had observed every major battle Vahn had taken part in, and, more importantly, documented each of the actions that led to the former's growth. It was fair to say that his information regarding Vahn was the most comprehensive within the entire Tower, but, as if none of that mattered at all, Jahad found himself seriously considering whether or not he could harm a single hair on the former's head..."Kyeukyeukyeukyeukyeuk! This is what you get for not listening to me when I offered to grant you even greater power! Luckily for you, it's not too late! So long as you accept my power, there will no longer be anything in this Tower that can stand in our way! Sage Dragon Emperor? Ureko Mazino? Phantaminum? They will either kneel or die...!"Without waiting for Jahad's consent, the demon sealed within his body, Pride, attempted to extend his tendrils into the former's mind. This caused the eye-like chains on Jahad's forehead to glow with a vibrant, bloody, light. As for the man himself, his expression had hardened into a severe glower as he plainly stated, "What a farce. You're simply a pawn of the Workshop. Had I never listened to your temptations, my friends and I might have already conquered the Tower by now. Because of you, I let my heart become corrupted and ended up driving away everyone I ever cared about. If you think I'll spend the last moments of my life clinging to someone else's power, you've severely misjudged me. I am Jahad! Before becoming known as the King of the Tower, I was first called King of Adventurers! I have never needed your power...!"Though he could not completely inhibit the encroachment of Pride, Jahad punctuated his statement by ripping away the tendrils sticking out of his right arm. Then, with a majestic golden aura erupting from his body, he ascended towards the sky with such extreme speed that he practically teleported."Vahn Aldrnari Mason! Consider this my last request! This next attack is the most powerful attack in my original arsenal! Grant me the privilege of measuring the distance between your most powerful attack and my own...!"Following these words, Jahad extended his left hand to form a claw. Immediately thereafter, a series of cracks appeared at the center of his palm, almost as if something was trying to break free."It's been a long time old friend...let's go out with a bang...""Jahad Style Transcendent Skill - Gae Bolg...!"......In the brief interval between Jahad's request and the moment his attack was released, a conflicted look had appeared on Vahn's face. Much less Jahad, the Tower itself might not be able to withstand his strongest attack. Thus, while he wanted to honor the man's last request, the simple truth of the matter was that the situation didn't merit such a response..."Well, it's not like he'll be able to tell the difference between this and my strongest attack..."Having made his decision, Vahn, once again, manifested Laev-tan. Then, as time began its slow yet gradual crawl forward, he held her in a manner reminiscent of a sword prayer and whispered, "The path of the sword has no endings, only new beginnings. Every moment flows into the next, and, no matter how far you walk, the road only grows longer. Fortunately, it is not a path walked alone. No. It is an opportunity to grow closer with the companions we encounter along the way. Wouldn't you agree, my precious little Laev-tan?"Throughout the chant-like payer, the fiery cracks covering Laev-tan's length had increased in size and intensity. It appeared as though she would explode into countless fragments at any moment, yet, in spite of this, an exceptionally excited, ("Nn!") resonated from within the fiery blade.Feeling Laev-tan's excitement spread throughout his body, a smile developed across Vahn's face as he promptly pointed her tip towards his chest and shouted, "Even the all-consuming flames cannot burn without limit! Destruction and Creation are two sides of the same coin! The time has come! Set alight the divine forge! Awaken! Nidavellir...!"Without a single moment's hesitation, Vahn thrust Laev-tan's blade into the very center of his being. At the exact same moment, the cracks adorning her length spontaneously exploded, mystical white light reminiscent of starlight emerging from within. Said light formed a cacoon around Vahn's body, but, if you were to look closely, it was possible to make out her blade retracting into his chest and back before the light enveloping them formed into a crystallized egg.From the perspective of Jahad, a blindingly white light had emitted from Vahn's the moment he shouted the name of his own attack. Rather than focusing on this, however, he channeled every ounce of his energy into the golden spear protruding from his palm. At a glance, it looked like the golden needle he had been famous for since a time long before his ascent up the Tower. In reality, much like the lightning bolt that had been sealed within Eduan's arm, it was a legendary weapon that had been recovered from a mysterious island back on his homeworld. According to scholars, it could even lay low the Gods, and, so long as it recognized the user, it was capable of producing an attack that simply couldn't be blocked, avoided, or mitigated. (A/N: Scathach would like to know your location...)It was the existence of Gae Bolg that gave Jahad the confidence to force an internecine outcome. It was his ultimate trump card, and, during his battle against the King of Killer Whales, Levithan, it was instrumental in allowing him to defeat the beast with power comparable to a Guardian...Placing even his faith in the attack, Jahad observed with rapt attention as the spear turned into a flash of golden lightning that instantaneously branched into countless faster-than-light beams of energy. Several of these impacted the egg-like shell surrounding Vahn, but, instead of piercing the relatively thin-looking membrane, every single beam immediately reflected away from the surface. This wasn't enough to dissipate them, but, the moment he saw the highly penetrative beams simply bounce off of Vahn's protective barrier, the color drained away from Jahad's face.Fortunately, he wasn't afforded the time to even consider giving in to despair, as, shortly after the first beams of light struck, a crack appeared on the 'egg'. From the perspective of Jahad, said crack slowly expanded from its starting point, but, in reality, less than a picosecond had transpired by the time Vahn erupted from the egg and stabbed him in the chest. As for the movements leading up to this development, Jahad hadn't been able to perceive them in the slightest."You're the first person to witness this technique in an actual combat situation. Satisfied...?"Though he had managed to process Vahn's words, Jahad was more distracted by the fact that the beams of light produced by his Gae Bold had arced back in an attempt to pierce the former from behind. The moment they came into contact with the angelic white wings that now protruded from his back, however, they simply shattered like glass without so much as singing so much as a single one of his feathers.Despite offering a casual smile, Vahn didn't wait for Jahad to recover from his stunned silence. The red tendrils in and around his body had started to gain ground as a result of his distracted mind, so, before the King could become little more than a puppet, he appended, "You'll have to be..."Punctuating this statement, the feather-like scales covering Vahn's forearm and fusing his right hand together with his silver-white sword began to turn crimson red. At the same time, originating from the point where his sword had pierced Jahad's chest, a strange distortion occurred as Jahad, the tentacles protruding from his body, and even the fate attached to him began to dissolve away.Borrowing a page from the residents of the Tower, Vahn's expression became inordinately serious as he exclaimed, "Sage Dragon Emperor's Secret Technique - Fate Severing...!"The moment Vahn's words fell, the crimson red tentacles protruding from Jahad's body became little more than a red mist before promptly disappearing into thin air. A similar phenomenon was occurring to the rest of his body, but, thanks to a thin veil of Source Energy, he was able to persist long enough to smile and reply, "The distance was much further than I expected. It's a shame we didn't meet sooner. I would have liked to...experience...an adventure...with you..."Though his smile had persisted until the very end, a tremendous amount of regret could be seen in Jahad's eyes as his body and spirit dissipated into the void. Not even his Ego had been spared from Vahn's attack, so, despite possessing tremendous willpower and an extraordinary amount of Karma, his next life would be a fresh start. As for Vahn, his Karma suddenly increased by several billion, but, in spite of this, his Status continued to display nothing but question marks for the actual value."I wonder if this means I'm no longer influenced by things like fate and karma..."Shaking his head, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he realized this was, at best, wishful thinking. He might not possess a fate of his own, but, so long as there were beings more powerful than himself, Karma would continue to be an influence in his life. There was even a chance one of the Deities within the Divine Realm would send something to 'test' him the moment he leaves the Tower, so, until he reached Tier 7, it was best to respect Karma and her influence on the Record.Having formed that resolution, Vahn shifted his attention to the silvery-white sword protruding from his hand, musing, "I wonder if this is how the original Ichigo felt like when he activated the Final Getsuga Tensho? The power of Shukai...even I can't help feeling this is a little excessive..."Though it didn't appear in every iteration of Bleach, Shukai, meaning Mastered Release, was the third and final transformation a Zanpakuto and its user could achieve. It was the state where the user and their Zanpakuto fused to become a singular entity, and, as a result, they had received a shared name. This was even updated in his status, so, for the time being, Vahn was no longer Vahn Aldrnari Mason. Instead, he had become Nidavellir, a name originating from the Dwarven Realm of Norse Mythology.Nidavellir was the place where countless legendary weapons had been forged. Laev-tan's desire to allow him to wield multiple weapons, combined with his skills as a Divine Smith, had culminated in a form that embodied one of the most legendary homes of craftsman across all Records. It allowed him to create powerful weapons and defensive armaments with a mere thought, but, as powerful as this was, the thing that terrified Vahn the most was how his domain had spread to encompass the entirety of the 134th Floor's Middle Tower...a region roughly the size of North and South America combined...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Plagiarism...!','That's one way to save OP...','I can't even imagine how happy Laev-tan is right now (&gt;,...,&lt;)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2026: Disbelief, Incredulity, and Stupefaction