Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

"I suppose it's a bit late to be asking...but I assume this means you've made up your mind...?"Staring down at what could best be described as a teenage version of Shiroyasha, Vahn couldn't help adopting a wry smile as he marveled at her semen-covered frame. He had released his seed inside of her the first time, but, as could be expected, his source energy had been a little too potent. It had taken her several minutes just to regain her senses, and, after the fact, she made sure he shot it out on her body until it had practically caked her from head to toe.Though she could hear Vahn's words, Shiroyasha didn't immediately respond to his inquiry. Instead, she just continued to stare up at the ceiling with a glazed look in her eyes and a rather silly smile on her face as her modest chest heaved up and down.Watching as Shiroyasha absentmindedly smeared the semen on her body like someone drawing art in shaving cream, Vahn's smile became progressively wrier until he ultimately extended his hand to cast cleaning magic. This caused Shiroyasha to issue an adorably girly yelp, but, upon realizing that she was no longer covered in his energy-dense seed, her expression immediately soured as she sat up and exclaimed, "Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing!?"Rolling his eyes, Vahn used telekinesis to draw the rapidly de-aging demoness closer as he said, "I'll give you more later. For now, be a good girl and tell me what you're thinking..."Though she didn't resist Vahn's embrace, Shiroyasha snorted at the phrase 'good girl'. Then, using her much longer, blade-like horns, she sliced a thin line beneath his chin as she teased, "I'm many things, Vahn Aldrnari Mason. But a good girl? Not even in your dreams..."Licking the blood flowing from Vahn's chin, Shiroyasha's de-aging process promptly slowed before her body began to rapidly increase in size. She had already known he was incomprehensibly special before summoning him but it was observing Leticia sucking his blood that alerted her to how truly special he was.To inhibit her more demonic aspects, Leticia typically wore a black and gold ribbon in her hair to suppress her power. It was the reason for her child-like appearance, and, more importantly, the reason she was allowed to wander around the Little Garden freely. She could remove it for a short period of time to regain her true form and drastically increase her strength, but, should her power remain unsealed, she would eventually rampage just as she had three years prior.For the most part, the only person that could remove Leticia's seal was herself. Certain conditions also needed to be met, so, despite being formerly one of the most powerful people in the entire Little Garden, she was currently much weaker than her original self. This was a punishment that had been forced upon her by the Central Network, so, without the aid of Divinity or a very powerful Gift, it should be impossible to circumvent.Demonstrating how common sense simply didn't apply to him, Vahn had given Leticia permission to suck his blood even without the latter asking. There was nothing particularly strange about this, but, moments after the rather intimate session had begun, Leticia's body had rapidly developed to resemble her true self despite the fact her ribbon was still fastened to her hair.The most important takeaway from this event was the fact that the Central Network hadn't flagged Leticia for violating the numerous contracts that bound her. The Administrative Program seemed to have determined that this was the natural result of sucking Vahn's blood, so, after a considerable period of deliberation, Shiroyasha decided to bite the bullet, or, more specifically, Vahn's earlobe.In other words, while Shiroyasha had found a convenient way to circumvent the restrictions that had been placed on her, it wasn't accurate to say she had made up her mind. There were still a few things she needed her position as Floor Master to accomplish, so, after shamelessly lapping up the blood trickling from Vahn's chin, she licked her lips before musing, "Now, to answer your previous question. Let's just say you're well on the way to convincing me..."Punctuating her words, Shiroyasha traced one of her inordinately sharp nails along the length of Vahn's shaft, but, unlike his chin, the flesh comprising his most important body part didn't give. It deformed in response to her touch, but, even if she were to channel an attack that could sever the void itself, there was a good chance it would emerge unscathed.Understanding that Shiroyasha was still on the fence, a teasing smile developed across Vahn's face as he gave her pale pink, visibly tense nipple a flick. This caused her to flinch, but, instead of losing her smile or admonishing him, Shiroyasha's golden eyes gleamed with a seductive light, her hand tightening around his shaft as she sonorously purred, "Naughty boy..."......After dropping off Jin, Asuka, and Yo, Vahn returned to the Sage Dragon's Hearth with Black Rabbit in tow. There, he carried the befuddled bunny to the bath in order to wash her body and comb out the fritz from her hair. As adorable as her little "explosion" had been, a frilly pink afro didn't exactly suit her.While that was going on, another version of Vahn retired to the massive Library that existed within. This was Leticia's favorite place in the estate. She didn't need to eat or sleep, so, unless he told her to get some rest, Leticia spent most of her time reading in the library or wandering the estate in a vain attempt to find something to clean. This might sound sad and somewhat lonely when viewed subjectively, but, in actuality, Leticia simply enjoyed being a Maid.Demonstrating this, the first thing Leticia did upon returning to the estate was retrieving one of her favorite outfits, a Maid uniform inspired by the titular Alice in Wonderland. She had apparently read the story when she was very young, and, despite living in the highest realm in existence, the idea of entering a mysterious and magical world had always fascinated her.Fortunately for Vahn, Leticia was the naughty variety of Maid, so, after retrieving her outfit, she gave him quite the show by stripping down and casually donning each piece of clothing as he observed her silently from a chaise lounge. There was something truly magical about witnessing a petite girl with golden blonde hair don a pair of pristine white panties and matching hose, so, even if he knew she wouldn't be wearing them for long, Vahn continued to observe her without even trying to mask his wolfish grin.Well aware of the way that Vahn was looking at her, Leticia pretended to be bashful by turning her back to him as she changed. In truth, she was just giving him a view of her backside. It was a rather immoral sight to behold due to her slender build, but, every time she would bend over to pick up a piece of fabric, Vahn's pupils would briefly contract before dilating in awe.After a solid twenty minutes, Leticia, now fully dressed, quickly fixed her hair before making her way over to where Vahn was observing her in abject fascination. In response, he dutifully sat up straight, as, whenever they were alone, Leticia liked to straddle him. It made sucking his blood easier, but, far more important than that was the fact it allowed him to hug her more easily. She, like many taciturn girls, enjoyed being held more than anything else. She had even informed him at one point that she was genuinely glad to have a small chest as it allowed her to feel even closer to him whenever they hugged.Though he had initially thought that was Leticia's attempt at a joke, Vahn quickly realized she was being completely serious. That day, he ended up holding her for the better part of ten hours, and, ever since, it had become routine for them to simply embrace one another whenever they wanted to talk.To this end, Leticia shamelessly climbed atop Vahn's lap, casually straddling his hips as she linked her arms around his body and rested her head against his chest. In response, Vahn unhesitantly wrapped his muscular arms around her tiny frame, gently caressing her back for the better part of ten minutes as they both calmed down."I'm sorry..."Breaking the silence, the first thing Leticia did was apologize. She hadn't even thought about it at the time, but, the moment Vahn arrived, Leticia realized how monstrous her actions had been. Her first instinct had been to try and conceal the truth, but, having never spoken a single falsehood in her entire life, she simply didn't know how to begin..."I know..."Despite his words, warm energy began to flow from Vahn's hands as he cradled Leticia even more gingerly in his arms. His intentions were to help her calm down, but, seemingly having the opposite effect, Leticia's body tensed as she whispered, "I want you to punish me..."Without demonstrating even a hint of shock, Vahn continued to embrace Leticia's body as he softly muttered, "There is no punishment I can mete out that will weigh more heavily on your conscience than the guilt you're currently feeling...""But..."Weakening his hold on Leticia's body, Vahn stared directly into the petite Vampire Princess's eyes as he said, "Enough. You know full well what you did was wrong. Rather than asking me to punish you, you should be thinking about how you can make amends through your actions. You may have been tainted by darkness, but, deep down, you're an exceptionally kind and caring woman. From now on, focus on what you can do to help people. That is how you will find absolution. Besides...this isn't my first rodeo. Even if I did punish you, it wouldn't really feel like a punishment..."Though she was a little confused by the spontaneously wry smile that had developed across Vahn's face, it didn't take long for Leticia to realize what he was trying to say. This caused a subtle blush to spread across her face, but, rather than shy away, she placed her right hand over his heart and said, "If it's you...I wouldn't mind..."("Yeah, I have no doubts about that...")(*Ufufufufufu~*)Keeping such thoughts to himself, Vahn responded to Leticia's remark with a relatively tame kiss before pulling away with a smile and saying, "You've been through so much, Leticia. It would break my heart to treat you in such a manner. If you feel that way after our children have fully grown, I'll consider it. For now, just allow me to pamper and love you at my leisure...okay...?"Though her expression didn't change much, Leticia blushed a deep shade of crimson in response to Vahn's words. He could even feel her body gradually heating up, but, after several seconds of tense silence, her heart began to gradually calm as she returned a rare smile and said, "If that is your wish, it's only natural that I oblige..."......Had he been aware of the enviable position Vahn was in, the hateful scowl upon Laius's face would have been exponentially more extreme. He had spent the last ten hours trying to remedy the bald spot on his head, but, no matter what he tried, the hair simply wouldn't grow back. When he asked a specialist to take a closer look, he learned that the roots had been completely destroyed. To make matters exponentially worse, even the pores in which that sat in were effectively erased, a thin layer of scar tissue almost indistinguishable from normal skin covering the entire bald spot."That bastard! Just you wait, Vahn Aldrnari Mason! When I'm through with you, you'll be begging for death...!"......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Sauce Energy op...','DJ Snake ft. Justin Bieber - Let me Love You...','This idiot has no idea how in over his head he is xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After adjusting the dial next to the entrance of his reception room, Vahn, alongside Black Rabbit, stepped out of the Sage Dragon's Hearth and into the territory of the No Names. He had promised to stop by and prepare breakfast for everyone and that was exactly what he intended to do.Unsurprisingly, Lily, Jin, and a couple of other members from the Senior Group were already there waiting. It wasn't really necessary, but, as the group responsible for looking after and caring for the younger members of the No Names, it had become common for the children who had received his blessing to help out with meal prep and clean up."Good morning, Vahn, Black Rabbit~!"With her three tails swaying happily behind her, Lily was the first to approach with her usual kind and caring smile. She had become quite fond of receiving head pats, so, the moment she stepped into his range, Vahn extended his hand to gently caress the space between her ears, replying, "It's good to see you, Lily."Giggling in amusement, the tips of Lily's ears twitched playfully as she mused, "You speak as though it's been a long time since our last meeting. I just saw you two days ago."Though it had actually been much longer than two days from his perspective, Vahn just chuckled in response to the petite kitsune's remark before retracting his hand, shifting his attention to Jin, and asking, "Anything interesting happen since last night? I half expected those brats to come out and meet us."With an increasingly common and wry smile developing across his face, Jin explained, "The last I saw him, Izayoi-san had holed himself up in the Library. As for Kasukabe-san and Kudou-san..."Perking up the moment Jin directed his gaze towards her, Lily happily chimed, "They both stayed up late to help me put all the other children to bed. I told them they could sleep in but Asuka-san said it would be improper for the future Leader of the No Names to laze about while everyone else was working hard. I last saw her dragging off a very sleepy-looking Yo-chan to the bath~."Replying with a soft hum, Vahn startled Black Rabbit by giving her a little nudge and saying, "Why don't you go and check up on them? Leave breakfast to us."Though she seemed a little reluctant at first, it never took long for Black Rabbit to bounce back, a smile blossoming across her face as she replied, "Okay, Vahn. Just leave it to me~." before flexing her remarkably thick yet pliant thighs and bounding high into the sky. If she exerted herself, it was possible for her to leap several tens of kilometers in a single bound, so, shortly after she departed, Black Rabbit was already disappearing into the Manor of the No Names. As for Vahn and the rest, they immediately set about preparing breakfast for more than a hundred voracious little children.........While his main body was having fun preparing breakfast for the No Names, several other versions of Vahn were taking care of things back at the Sage Dragon's Hearth. His morning routine consisted of helping Sarina and Nono complete theirs, preparing breakfast, and, most importantly, helping his adorably little Wererabbit take care of their kids.Fortunately, as per usual, Vahn had all the time in the world to take care of the things he wanted to take care of. This kind of made it seem pointless to block off his access to the Little Garden, but, as there was always at least one version of himself adhering to the Principle Axis of Time, Vahn liked to think he had found a loophole in his own restrictions. Besides, it was good practice.Taking advantage of this, one of Vahn's parallel selves had spent the entire night with Shiroyasha until she was practically purring like a kitten in his arms. At the same time, yet another version of himself had been lounging about in the Library with Leticia using his body as a pillow.Though he didn't really need to do research, Vahn had spent a bit of time casually researching the history of the Perseus Community and its exploits ever since Laius had taken ownership.Unsurprisingly, the Perseus Community had basically become a shadow of its former self under the leadership of Laius. Prior to his ascent as Leader, it had been a famous Community that hosted a number of high-brow Gift Games that were celebrated throughout the Little Garden. Now, however, it was basically just a tool to support Laius's hedonistic values.The original Perseus Community had been a noble organization that proactively protected weaker Communities from Demon Lords. Since Laius had taken over, it had become a bastardized version of a Trade Community that specialized in the auction of Slaves. He had literally converted the group from a Community that protects others to a group that exploits those very same people.Simply put, Laius was even worse than most Demon Lords. They at least owned up to the fact they were basically evil, or, at the very least, exceptionally selfish individuals who only pursued their very specific interests. Laius's very existence was self-serving, yet, as if his father's accomplishments were his own, he continued to swagger about as if the Perseus Community could do no wrong.Fortunately, Laius was just as big a fool as his actions suggested. He was so confident in the legacy his father had left behind that he hadn't bothered to change anything even after the conditions of his Community's Game of Challenge had been made public. This allowed anyone with even half a brain to strategize against him while the members of Perseus would have no choice but to gather information or go in blind.Against a weaker Community, Perseus would generally have no problems gathering information prior to a Rite of Challenge. They were equipped with a number of powerful artifact-type Gifts that were effectively lesser copies of legendary armaments. This included the Boots of Hermes, the Helm of Hades, and, most notably, the Head of the Gorgon.Though they were a far cry from the Talaria actually worn by Hermes, the Boots of Hermes granted the wielder drastically increased speed, the ability of flight, and the power to trespass weak barriers without being detected. As for the Helm of Hades, it was templated from the legendary helmet that provided the titular God of Death the ability to move about completely undetected. In the hands of mortals, it granted the power of Invisibility, and, at higher grades, the ability to move through solid matter as if it didn't exist.With the Boots of Hermes and the Helm of Hades, the members of Perseus were basically masters of infiltration. Laius also had the original artifacts that the emulated Gifts were templated from, so, while he was too much of a coward to invade an enemy base himself, it wasn't difficult to imagine him using his Gifts to take advantage of others.Having produced items with similar effects, Vahn wasn't even remotely worried that the members of Perseus would be able to infiltrate the Sage Dragon's Hearth. They would require the originals to have any hope of infiltrating his workshop, and, the moment they got caught, the Laws of the Little Garden stipulated that he could basically deal with them however he pleased. Invading the territory of another Community was an act of war, so, even if Vahn disassembled them into their constituent molecules, the Central Network wouldn't flag him for violating any Laws.Though he intended to spare Laius at the behest of Shiroyasha, the arrogant heir's fate ultimately depended on his choices moving forward. If Laius sent members of his Community to infiltrate his home with the intent to petrify and kidnap Sarina and Nono, he would only have himself to blame for what happened after.Vahn had never been fond of people who rely on underhanded tactics to achieve their goals. His ledger wasn't exactly clean, but, no matter what happened, he always blazed forward like a steam train rather than a coward skulking in the shadows. The only times he even bothered to be low-key was when he had people infiltrating criminal organizations to try and gather information. Even then, however, he never targetted their families or friends to try and pressure people into doing what he wanted.Unsurprisingly, Laius had no qualms about using underhanded methods to try and get his way. He had even used the original Helm of Hades to infiltrate a number of Communities containing women he had taken a liking to. He would then pressure them into having sex with him under the threat of having their entire Community wiped out if they refused.The number of women Laius had victimized since his arrival in the East Side had easily exceeded one hundred. Despite this, he enjoyed a relatively positive reputation since anyone who even dared to speak out against him would simply 'disappear' in the weeks to follow.Vahn had gotten out of the habit of taking vengeance on behalf of others. He also wasn't going to run around punishing everyone who had a checkered past since he understood, better than most, how futile such an endeavor would be. All he would end up doing is accumulating positive karma, and, as a result of the imbalance he had caused, progressively more powerful "villains" would begin to appear. He was already expected to handle a number of Demon Gods in the near future, so, from a big picture perspective, Laius was barely even qualified to be a footnote in the legends that would invariably be written about the Sage Dragon's Hearth.The greatest threat to Laius's continued existence was sheer arrogance. So long as he played by the rules, the only thing he needed to worry about is getting thrashed and spending the next decade or two completely bald. Shiroyasha wanted to spare him and that was the only reason Vahn needed to let the arrogant second-generation wastrel limp away with his tail between his legs.Unfortunately, Laius hadn't ruined the reputation of Perseus by being a clear-headed and forward-thinking individual. He was also extremely petty, so, shortly after noon, the barrier around the Sage Dragon's Hearth began to pulse as a red light covered most of the windows. It wasn't able to break in, but, by the time the light had faded away, a thin layer of shiny grey stone had spread across the outside of his estate."What the hell? Were this guy's brain cells located in his hair...?"While his other selves were assuring Sarina and Nono that everything was okay, Vahn manifested in the reception hall of the Sage Dragon's Hearth before opening the petrified front doors and taking a step outside. When he looked back, he saw that the entire exterior of his shop had been turned to stone. The dimensional membrane separating the inside from the exterior prevented the effect from breaching even the thin glass comprising his window panes but it transparently clear that the group dressed like ancient Greek warriors had attempted to petrify the entire premises."Listen here, swain. We come bearing an important message from the Great Lord, Laius Perseus. In precisely seven days, the Perseus Community will be disp-"Grabbing the face of the man that was speaking, Vahn crushed his helmet just enough to make it impossible to remove without actually killing him. Then, before the rest of the group could even think to react, several indecipherably complex magic circles appeared around him as spears from his Inventory loosed towards them at hypersonic speeds.In less time than it took the spectators to inhale sharp breaths, more than a dozen members of the Perseus Community, several of which had been hiding in the wings using Helms of Hades, dropped to the ground. They weren't dead, but, without prompt medical treatment, there was a chance they would bleed out within the next three to five minutes.Stepping on the petrified head resembling the legendary Medusa, Vahn crushed the duplicated Gift beneath his foot as he stared down at the man who had been speaking and said, "You really fucked up this time..."......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Papa Vahn is on the job...!','Practice makes perfect~','Arrogance without true power is hubris...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With a thunderous explosion to guide them, it wasn't long before Asuka, Yo, Jin, and Black Rabbit reached the clearing containing the ruins of the Fores Garo estate."Jeez, talk about excessive. Hasn't that idiot ever heard the term moderation?"Interjecting before Asuka could voice too many complaints, Jin adopted what he intended to be an authoritative tone as he said, "In situations like this, it is better to assume there was a need for such force. Please stay on your guard, Asuka-san."Turning to meet Jin's serious gaze, Asuka brought her gloved hand to her chin before issuing a soft and contemplative hum. She wasn't particularly fond of being told what to do by a boy who hadn't even started puberty, but, understanding there was a considerable amount of truth contained in his words, she didn't really have a platform to stand on if she wanted to argue."Very well, Jin. I'll withhold judgment until this matter has been settled. Now, shall we-"Before Asuka could finish speaking, blue light emanated from Yo's body as she charged forward to intercept the transformed Galdo. He might be mindless in his current state, but, as a tiger through and through, he still had remarkable instincts. He had been prowling around under the cover of the debris field, and, the moment Asuka turned towards Jin, he used that as an opportunity to pounce.Reacting nigh-instantaneously, Jin swept the curved wooden staff in his hand, shouting, "Lord of Wind, heed my call and grant my ally the speed and strength of a tempest! Focalor's Blessing...!"Appearing in response to Jin's incantation, a feminine figure resembling a bard with predominately green clothes, hawk-like wings, lime-green hair, golden eyes, and an androgynous face manifested behind him with a lyre in hand. Then, with a simple strum of her instrument, a green aura wrapped around Yo's body, drastically increasing her already swift speed.Though she was surprised by the supernatural acceleration of her body, Yo's instincts were far more attuned than a normal person's. As a result, she managed to avoid losing her balance and crashing into Galdo. Instead, she slipped past his extended claws and under his maw in order to land a heavy blow against his surprisingly soft underbelly.Unfortunately, Yo experienced a very similar phenomenon to Izayoi. The winds surrounding her body allowed her to push Galdo's massive frame back but the only thing she accomplished was making him even angrier."My attacks...they do no damage...!"As if responding to Yo's outburst, Galdo released a feral roar as he leaped toward her with the intent to sink his sabertooth-like fangs into her petite frame. This time, however, Asuka was the one to act, shouting, "Freeze in place you foul beast...!"Though he was still in mid-pounce, a nigh-indiscernible red glow encompassed Galdo's body. As a result, his form became locked in the air, wholly unable to move as beads of sweat began to appear on Asuka's forehead. She could feel him trying to resist the influence of her Gift, but, after meeting Vahn and witnessing how powerful beings in this world could become, she refused to lose a battle of wills against a mindless beast.Taking advantage of the opportunity Asuka had created, Jin's mana exploded outward as he held his staff with both hands and chanted, "Lord of the Abyssal Trench! Heed...my call...and bind mine enemies! Gaap's Prison...!"Similar to when he had summoned the bard-like individual, Jin's incantation caused a muscular man with blue skin, fin-like ears, and seaweed-like hair to manifest behind him. He also wielded a trident in hand, but, instead of attacking with it, he lazily flicked his middle finger to send an icy blue beam of energy into Galdo's forehead. The moment it made contact, a torrent of water exploded outward before immediately freezing over and leaving Jin breathing even heavier than Asuka.Fortunately, while Galdo was functionally immune to damage, there were no rules preventing him from being bound. The ice wasn't doing any damage and he couldn't suffocate, but, without the strength to break free, all he could do was glare at everyone from within his frozen prison.Forcing a smile, Jin wiped the sweat from his brow as he proudly stated, "This is the first time I've managed to summon two Greater Djinn back to back. Vahn wasn't lying when he mentioned it was possible to draw out additional strength under duress..."Using a handkerchief to wipe away her own sweat, a slight smile developed across Asuka's face as she said, "Not bad. It's no wonder you're the Leader of the No Names. Your power is impressive for an eleven-year-old.""Not bad!? Are you kidding me!? That was amazing, Master Jin~!"Unable to contain her jubilation, Black Rabbit happily embraced Jin with a massive grin on her face. This caused the teal-haired youth to fluster quite a bit as Black Rabbit had effectively forced his face into her chest as she danced around with him in the highest of spirits...While everyone else had apparently dropped their guard, Yo continued staring directly at Galdo's blazing red eyes. He was still radiating a tremendous amount of bloodlust, so, while it didn't appear he would be able to break free, she couldn't relax. Fortunately, she didn't have to remain tense for too long, as, shortly after Black Rabbit had released Jin from her embrace, a dull impact sounded off to the side as Izayoi emerged from a rather sizeable cloud of dust.Noticing the sword in Izayoi's hand, Asuka's expression turned soured as she placed her hands on her hips and exclaimed, "And where did you run off to!?"Waving his hand to clear away the cloud of debris, Izayoi maintained his characteristically arrogant smile as he playfully rebutted, "What? Did you miss me...?"Crossing her arms beneath her modest yet well-developing breasts, Asuka snorted in response to Izayoi's remark, saying, "You wish." before following it up by adding, "Just hurry and get this over with. Didn't you say something about returning quickly so the children could rest properly? Stop dallying."Rolling his eyes, Izayoi just flung the cross-piece sword towards Galdo without hesitation. It looked like a casual fling, but, as if propelled by some unseen force, it was somehow able to speed up as it spun in a gravity-defying arc to cut through both the ice and the steel-like muscles of Galdo's neck.With nothing to live for if he lost the Gift Game, Galdo had wagered his very life in order to secure the condition that he could only be defeated by a specific weapon. As a result, his entire body was enveloped in pitch-black flames the moment the sword sliced off his head. It didn't even have time to reach the ground before both it and his body had completely vanished into thin air, almost as if he had been erased from existence. Immediately after, the sky transitioned from a moonlit night to a setting twilight, as, rather than taking place in the middle of the night, the Gift Game had actually started around 7 PM."Well, that takes care of that. I think it's about time you stop spying on us, don't you...?"Though Jin, Asuka, and even Yo were confused by Izayoi's words, Black Rabbit's ears perked up as she sensed the familiar presence of Vahn and Leticia an instant before they appeared. The former had an amused smile on his face while the latter, despite feeling an extreme amount of guilt, had reverted back to her usual, ostensibly emotionless expression."Vahn! Leticia-sama~!"As she was already in a fantastic mood after seeing how well Jin and the others had performed, Black Rabbit practically pounced the moment she saw the duo. They were inarguably two of the most important in her life, so, while she was bound to feel embarrassed after that fact, that didn't stop her from rushing over to give them both a big hug.Chuckling in response to the adorable bunny's antics, Vahn happily reciprocated Black Rabbit's affections as Leticia awkwardly distanced herself in order to stare down Izayoi and say, "You did well. Better than I expected."Without beating around the bush, Izayoi's expression became serious as he asked, "Were you the one who gave that jerk a power boost?"Nodding her head, Leticia was about to explain her reasoning and apologize when Izayoi charged forward like a loosed spring. He had already decided to slug the one responsible for the slaughter he had witnessed, so, even if he ended up pissing a few people off, that wasn't going to stop him from following through on the promise he had made to himself.To virtually everyone's surprise, Leticia didn't even attempt to dodge Izayoi's punch. Instead, she just closed her eyes, seemingly accepting the punishment he was intending to mete out. As a result, Izayoi's fist stopped less than a centimeter away from her cheek, an annoyed expression on his face as he clicked his tongue and slowly retracted his fist."Izayoi!? What do you think-"Before Black Rabbit could lash out at the blond-haired youth, Vahn covered her mouth with his palm as Leticia tilted her head to the side and asked, "Why did you stop?" in her usual monotone.Clicking his tongue a second time, Izayoi just placed his hands in his pockets without bothering to answer Leticia's question. It was one thing if she resisted, got offended, and tried to protect herself. He might be an advocate of gender equality but even he wasn't brazen enough to strike a girl who wasn't even trying to defend herself. Instead, he just turned around and said, "Whatever. I'm going home..." while putting on his headphones...Voicing the thought that had just crossed Vahn's mind, Asuka muttered, "What a tsundere..." in a voice that only he and Black Rabbit could hear. This caused him to chuckle as Black Rabbit, a little miffed that he had prevented her from speaking, adopting a pouty expression and complained, "I can't believe Izayoi tried to strike Leticia-sama! What was he thinking!?"Patting the frustrated bunny's head in an attempt to calm her down, Vahn remained silent so that Leticia could explain, "He has his reasons. Try not to be too mad at him, okay? After all, it was my selfishness and desire to ascertain the strength of these three that led to the present situation. It is only natural that he would be upset..."Hearing that Leticia had basically violated the Laws of the Little Garden, Black Rabbit's hair erupted into a violent shade of pink that exploded outward with similarly colored energy. It didn't cause any harm, but, by the time the smoke cleared away, Black Rabbit had collapsed into Vahn's arms with an afro-style hairdo as her eyes swirled around in their sockets..."...""...""...""..."Understanding this was what Black Rabbit meant when she said Moon Rabbits would explode if they learned about blatant rule-breaking, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he picked her up in a princess carry. He had initially wanted to talk about everyone's individual performances, but, understanding this could always wait till later, he said, "I'll come by tomorrow to prepare breakfast as compensation for Leticia's interference. We can talk once everyone has eaten their fill."Though it looked like Asuka was about to answer, Jin quickly interjected, saying, "Understood. I'm sure the children will be happy. They have been a little melancholic ever since our contract with the Sage Dragon's Hearth expired."After issuing a light chuckle, both as a result of Asuka's pouting expression and Jin's words, Vahn half-turned before asking, "Would you like me to teleport you back, or are you fine with walking?"Since the battle was already over, Jin immediately shifted his attention to Asuka and Yo, saying, "I'll leave the decision to the two of you. It would be a little anticlimactic to simply teleport back but it does have the benefit of allowing us to arrive before Izayoi."At first, Asuka was perfectly fine with walking back. She enjoyed the various sights and sounds of the Little Garden as everything was new and exciting to her. This was secondary to the thought of 'beating' Izayoi, however, so, without even needing to consider her response, she adopted a rather cheeky smile and said, "Teleport us back this instant~!" in an audibly excited tone. She couldn't wait to see the look on Izayoi's face when he was the last to arrive.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Yo protec...!','Jin really is the descendent of King Solomon o_o...','Asuka is so petty xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2108: Decision