Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Before escorting Tamamo and Kenshin to their encampment, Vahn joined the two girls in watching the destruction of Kotoamatsukami's planet.
As outlandish as it may sound, witnessing the destruction of a planet was a strangely grounding experience. It was something very few people were able to observe directly, so, whenever he got the opportunity, Vahn would find a nice vantage point to observe the planet's final moments. He was gradually becoming the type of person that found beauty in all things, even destruction...
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Before dealing with the planets belonging to the Akuma and Trāyastriṃśa Communities, Vahn decided to wrap things up with Karyou.
After suffering defeat at the hands, or, more accurately, the fur-covered paws of Usalia, Karyou had been brooding and recovering at the center of her planet. Her first action near the start of the Gift Game had been setting her planet ablaze and destroying each of the Teleportation Nexi. As a result, the only way for most people to reach her core was to bore through nearly 6000km of molten stone and metal.
Ignoring the wards Karyou had set to prevent it, Vahn teleported just outside of her throne room before adopting a wry smile as he stared up at the massive, superheated metal doors marking the entrance to a domain of destructive flames. Karyou's last line of defense had been to fill her control room with magmous flames running from floor to ceiling. Without a tremendous resistance against them, passing through the door was like trying to trespass the core of a star.
Likening Karyou to a pouting teen that had closed themselves off in their room, Vahn made his way up to the superheated door. Even temperatures exceeding tens of millions of degrees had very little effect on him. He had also become intimately familiar with the Law of Destruction during his time in the Actualized World of Dragon Ball, so, even when a sudden and intense wave of destructive intent washed over his body, he just smiled and said, "It's me, Vahn. I don't have to come inside if you-"
Before Vahn could finish speaking, the massive set of superheated doors spontaneously opened. A tidal surge of liquid flames poured from within, but, instead of attempting to sweep him away, they flowed around him to form a channel between Vahn and the delicate, raven-haired figure seated on the throne.
"Vahn Aldrnari Mason...what do you want?"
Though it was difficult to say they were on friendly terms, Karyou had always been the type to repay her debts. This included debts of charity and kindness, so, with Vahn coming to her aid and helping to preserve her dignity, Karyou felt she owed it to him to at least hear him out.
Crossing his hand over his heart, Vahn offered a polite bow before raising his head to answer, "The Gift Game will soon draw to its conclusion. I came to inform you that your elder brother and sister have already retired. I thought it would be rude of me to-"
"Kouryuu is one thing, but you mean to tell me that Wu has been defeated? Impossible. Even if that annoying Fox Goddess made use of her Authority, she wouldn't be able to beat Wu without paying a price. Tell me, what trickery did her opponent use?"
Understanding that it would probably harm Wu's reputation if he mentioned that her planet had been destroyed by complete accident, Vahn maintained a relaxed smile as he explained, "Wu was not defeated in a contest of speed, strength, or wit. Her planet was suddenly destroyed while she was protecting someone elsewhere."
Furrowing her brows, Karyou's crimson eyes appeared to be attempting to look through Vahn. He was remarkably proficient at fooling his enemies, but, whenever it came to people he trusted or felt sorry for, his expression and aura gave him away. Karyou couldn't tell he was lying, but, feeling that something was amiss, she stated, "You aren't telling the whole truth..."
Rather than trying to refute Karyou's claim, Vahn nodded his head and affirmed, "Your intuition is telling you the truth. However, I can say with certainty that I am not withholding information with the intent to deceive or exploit. I just reasoned that it would be more appropriate for you to learn the truth from your brother and sister directly."
Sensing no falsehoods within Vahn's words, Karyou fell silent for a moment as she considered her options. Wu was significantly more caring towards her than Kouryuu, so, unlike the latter, Karyou wasn't particularly concerned that she might receive a beating. She may even receive a 'reward' if she secured a lower-digit Gate and simply swapped places with Wu once it was over.
With that thought in mind, Karyou asked, "Which Communities still remain?"
Seeing through Karyou's intentions, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he answered, "The Akuma, Trāyastriṃśa, and Sage Dragon's Hearth Communities."
Furrowing her brows, Karyou gave up the notion of trying to secure a better position through her own efforts. Instead, she stared deep into Vahn's eyes as she asked, "Are you willfully choosing to place me beneath the Akuma Community? I was under the impression you were an ally to the Jade Palace..."
Shaking his head, Vahn adopted a more casual expression as he explained, "I am on friendly terms with the Jade Emperor, Erlang Shen, and a handful of others within the Jade Palace. However, as a Community that aspires to maintain neutrality, the Sage Dragon's Hearth does not forge alliances. We act in the interest of balance and ensuring the people of the Little Garden have the same rights as those who presume to rule over them. As fond as I am of the Jade Emperor and certain members of his court, the values of the Aldrnari Empire and the Heavenly Domain are drastically different. We have absolutely no obligation to act in their interest."
Though she kept her brows furrowed, Karyou didn't question Vahn's statement. In hindsight, she realized that the Jade Palace, or, more specifically, the members of the Jade Court would demand she hand over her lower-digit Gate. She could refuse, but, as a Community comprised of a single individual, she wouldn't be able to protect such a coveted Gate without the protection of a larger organization.
As that thought crossed Karyou's mind, so too did the words Wu had spoken to her in the weeks leading up to the Gift Game. Wu, between her ramblings, had implied that Vahn might be able to do something about her mother's injury and the corruption that was gradually spreading through her body. Karyou didn't take this seriously at the time, but, even if there was only a 0.000000001% chance that Vahn could help, it was infinitely better than nothing.
"You said I could make use of your Community's services without needing to pay, correct...?"
Recalling the conversation he and Karyou had the previous day, Vahn nodded his head. Before he could clarify, however, Karyou beat him to the punch, stating, "I need your help. Help me acquire a lower-digit Gate and I will join your Aldrnari Empire as a vassal. After that, so long as you can fulfill two of my requests...I will never refuse a single thing you ask of me..."
Though she disdained men to the very core of her being, Karyou trusted Wu's judgment. The latter never stopped talking about Vahn whenever they were together. She wasn't entirely sure what Wu saw in him, but, if Vahn really could help her mother, Karyou wouldn't mind becoming his servant...
Stopping time, Vahn took a moment to massage his temples and drag his hand along his face. Sis, viewing this as a perfect opportunity, chimed in to tease, (*Look on the bright side. As one of Wu's only friends, it was only a matter of time before you became entangled in Karyou's affairs. At least this way, you can secure the 1002nd and 1009th Gates at the same time.*)
Hearing Sis's words, Vahn's eyes widened as realization donned on him. His original intention had been to let Indra occupy the 1009th Gate. This would allow him to ease a lot of the fear and anxiety people held towards him and Aldrnari Empire as Indra was one of the original creators of the Little Garden. By demonstrating a willingness to cooperate with the existing powers, Vahn could ensure the establishment of his Empire was a lot smoother than it otherwise might be.
The caveat was that it was only a matter of time before Vahn instigated as Last Embryo scenario. In order to do so, he would need to occupy six of the Gates between the Digits of 1000 and 1010. The opportunity to seize two of these Gates in a single game wasn't something he should ignore...
"..."
(*...*)
Shaking his head, Vahn allowed the flow of time to resume as he calmly answered, "I am more than willing to help you even without such conditions. As much as I appreciate your intentions, I would much rather forge a contract that prohibits you from making such guarantees...no one should have to 'sacrifice' themselves just to help the people they love..."
Not expecting Vahn's response, Karyou found herself at a genuine loss for words. Anyone else in his position would have readily accepted such an offer. She may be on the shorter side but the number of people that had coveted her body could form a mountain linking the Heavens and Earth. Hearing Vahn deny her in such an earnest manner was touching, but, at the same time, Karyou couldn't help feeling mildly offended by how quickly he had refused...
Though they couldn't compare to Dragons and the Young Masters of insignificant clans, Phoenixes were among the most prideful creatures in the entire Heavenly Domain. Karyou's bloodline was far from pure, but, having never met her father, the only major influencers in her life were her mother, Wu, and her chosen siblings. Her mother was a remarkably kind person, but, as the manifestation of the Divine Phoenix, she wouldn't even look at or meet with people she considered beneath her.
Making no effort to conceal her displeasure, Karyou asked, "Is there something about me you find lacking...?"
Recalling that Vahn had seen her 'true' form, Karyou's eyes sharpened as the temperature of the surrounding flames began to increase. In response, Vahn's expression morphed into a deadpan as he telepathically replied, ("Are you seriously asking me a question like that despite knowing about my relationship with Wu?")
Blinking in surprise, a hint of confusion briefly appeared in Karyou's expression before realization donned upon her. She and Wu had remarkably similar proportions. If anything, she was actually a little more developed in certain regions, so, upon comprehending Vahn's words, the faintest hint of a blush colored Karyou's cheeks as she appended, "Forgive me...I may have spoken out of turn..."
Exhaling a sigh, Vahn shook his head in mild exasperation before saying, "Don't worry about it. Just make sure to stop by the Sage Dragon's Hearth when you get the opportunity. Any friend of Wu's is a friend of mine."
Nodding her head in affirmation, Karyou decided to save a bit of face by promptly announcing her intention to withdraw. When her body vanished, so too did the flames filling the throne room. The temperature was still unbearable for most people, but, from the perspective of someone like Vahn, it was actually a little chilly...
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In the midst of Vahn's conversation with Karyou, a figure resembling a zombie with black and white hair appeared on the planet belonging to the Sage Dragon's Hearth.
Unperturbed by the figure's ghastly appearance, an abnormally petite girl with coordinating hair color and an outfit reminiscent of a grinning cat made her way over, saying, "You don't have to look so dispirited, Ryouma. Even if the Captain refuses to give you the time of day, you still have us."
Exhaling a depressive sigh, Ryouma looked down at the petite girl with dead fish eyes as he said, "In the end, I had to promise not to ask her out for thirteen years. I appreciate your concern, Cheshire. I really do. It's just difficult to be happy when the person you like doesn't like you back..."
Resisting the urge to smack Ryouma with her oversized, paw-shaped hammer, Cheshire forced a smile as she said, "As I said before, you still have us. I understand that you really like the Captain but you're going to make everyone sad if you stay like this. Come on. Let's go ahead and prepare for our raid. Who knows? If we do well, the Captain may even change her mind..."
Though the first half of Cheshire's statement did little to improve his mood, the final part was like fuel on the cinders of Ryouma's motivation. Infernos appeared within the depths of his obsidian-black eyes, and, along with them, a powerful aura burst out from his body as he pumped his fist and shouted, "You're right! Alright, everyone! Let's do this...!"
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'I imagine Vahn sitting in the middle of a burning room and being like, "This is fine."','What are Vahn's preferences, you ask? The easy answer is, "Yes." The best answer is, "Booty."')

"Though your enthusiasm is laudable, I'm afraid our planet is no longer accepting guests. Please leave."
Hearing a voice echo in his ears, Ryouma practically leaped out of his skin, shouting, "Eros's perky tits!" in a surprisingly shrill voice.&nbsp;
A stark contrast to Ryouma, Cheshire immediately manifested her paw-shaped hammer out of thin air, yelling, "Battle formations!" as she attempted to strike one of the blue-skinned women that had appeared a few meters away.
"My, my, how violent~."
Tapping her Angel's Attendant Staff against the air, Marcarita created a column of gravity so intense it may as well have been a physical mass impacting Cheshire's body. The diminutive Dwarfette did her best to endure but the only thing she managed to accomplish was getting hammered, feet first, into the ground.
"Cheshire...!"
Reacting even before Ryouma, another exceptionally petite girl, this one possessing fox-like ears and four tails that were split between black and white, charged forward with a pair of bladed fans. At the same time, an eyepatch-wearing girl with inordinately long pigtails and a gothic lolita dress pulled out a massive, mana-powered Gatling Gun, shouting, "Heavy Rain...!"
Instead of firing at the trio of Marcarita, Vados, and Kusu, the petite lolita pointed her gun skyward. When the projectiles reached a few hundred meters above the ground, they exploded into a series of pitch-black magic circles. From within, equally black rain began to pour in a heavy deluge as the vulpine loli from before attempted to slice Marcarita to ribbons with an endless combo of vacuum blades.
Though she could feel her body getting heavier with each raindrop that hit her body, Marcarita just smiled as she effortlessly dodged each of the girl's attacks. As an Angel, her strength was very near infinite. Even if her weight increased a million times over, it wouldn't have much of an impact on her mobility.
As that thought crossed her mind, one of the few women Marcarita was genuinely concerned about raised her right hand. She had untamed black and white hair that extended well past her waist but the traits that earned Marcarita's attention were her curved horns, pointed ears, red eyes, and pale, ashen-purple skin. Simply put, the woman was a Demon.
From a cut in the demonic woman's index finger, a single drop of violet blood flowed against the direction of gravity. After moving ten centimeters, a tremendous amount of pure, dark elemental energy began to surge forward from the void before condensing around the drop of blood to form a grapefruit-sized ball of pulsating, purple-black energy.
With a voice as emotionless as her expression, the demonic beauty met Marcarita's gaze, muttering, "Darkness Hydra..." in a cold monotone.
Clearly responding to the woman's words, the sphere of pulsating darkness split into eight distinct beams of homing energy. Instead of curving towards their opponent, however, they could change direction at angles in excess of 90 degrees. Four would target and pursue the enemy directly while the other four attempted to cut off their path of retreat. Against a normal opponent, such an attack was basically a death sentence, but, against someone like Marcarita, even the pitch black rain wasn't particularly difficult to dodge. It was simply unnecessary.
Waving her Angel's Attendant Staff, Marcarita shattered the four beams attempting to pierce her shoulders and the upper part of her thighs, musing, "You're a lot weaker than the Demons back in my world. I'm honestly a little disappointed."
Furrowing her brows, the dichromatic demoness spread her arms with the intent to produce ten more spheres of darkness. Before she could, however, Ryouma finally came back to his senses, shouting, "C-Chotto matteeeee! Stop fighting-!"
Though the demoness ceased her attack due to the slave crest that compelled her obedience, the fox girl with the fans was too focused on avenging her friend to listen to reason. She had retreated when the Darkness Hydra was launched, but, the moment it was broken, she immediately charged forward with the intent of bifurcating Marcarita at the waist.
"Mana-chan!? St-"
Before Ryouma could call out a second time, Marcarita used her staff to smack the petite fox girl on top of her head, saying, "Bad girl." in a disapproving tone. There was absolutely no force behind the blow, but, thanks to her exceptional control, Marcarita was able to directly affect the part of Mana's brain that allowed her to remain conscious. It was a little trick she had picked up from Vahn and it was incredibly useful.
Demonstrating that he wasn't completely incompetent, Ryouma vaulted forward before Mana could collapse face-first against the ground. Upon confirming that she was simply unconscious, a sigh of considerable relief escaped his throat. Immediately thereafter, however, he glared toward Marcarita with an indignant expression on his face, asking, "Was that really necessary? I had already called to stop the fight. With your power, you could have easily evaded until I stepped in to intervene."
Raising her left brow, a hint of incredulity blended into Marcarita's amused expression as she asked, "Are you an idiot? All of my attacks were reactionary. Rather than blaming the victim, shouldn't you be apologizing? Not that I particularly care."
Pretending to ignore Marcarita's remark, Ryouma lifted Mana's body before carrying her over to one of the more mature members of his party, a remarkably buxom woman wearing attire that blended elements of the clergy with an incredibly inappropriate wedding gown.&nbsp;
"Take care of her for me, okay? I'll take care of the rest on my own..."
Nodding her head in affirmation, the sisterly woman accepted Mana in her arms before the entire group, sans Cheshire, retreated a considerable distance. As for the latter, she may look like a mascot but she was also Ryouma's strongest companion. If he told her to retreat, she would pout for weeks on end about him thinking she was useless. Ryouma didn't particularly mind putting in the effort to cheer her up but he would be lying if he said it wasn't extremely tiresome.
Adjusting the band on his left ring finger, Ryouma's wedding ring rapidly cycled through more than a hundred different designs before settling on one that vaguely resembled a cat. &nbsp;Shortly thereafter, Cheshire appeared at his side with a hateful pout on her face. Her oversized helmet and the massive bells she usually wore in her hair were nowhere to be seen. Being smashed hundreds of meters into the ground by a gravitational hammer hadn't been a pleasant experience.
"You okay, kitten...?"
Nodding her head, Cheshire re-manifested her paw-like hammer before answering, "I'll feel better after I smash that bitch's face in..."
Laughing dryly in response to his diminutive companion's words, Ryouma promptly reconsidered trying to convince the trio of blue-skinned beauties to go on a date with him. His Ero God System had evaluated each of them as Ultimate Rarity Heroines. If he could add even a single one of them to his harem, he would gain 30% of their total parameters. He didn't know exactly how strong they were but they had to be powerful to smash Hellabelle's Darkness Hydra...
Shaking his head, Ryouma was about to abandon his usual approach when a dark blue flash of light appeared nearby. He recognized this as some kind of teleportation magic, but, instead of focusing on the peculiars of how she had arrived, Ryouma's mouth immediately became agape when he saw the feral-looking beauty that had emerged from within. She had wild and untamed hair reminiscent of the night sky, a pair of ruby-like eyes, an incredibly soft-looking tail, and, most importantly, a pair of large, wolf-like ears.
Forgetting the situation, Ryouma practically teleported over to the new arrival before falling to one knee and stating, "You are one of the most beautiful women I have ever laid eyes on. Will you marry me and become my Mofu-Mofu Goddess? I-"
Dodging the claw swipe directed at his head, Ryouma briefly admired the woman's furry paws and the bright pink pads present on their underside. The hair on the back of his neck was standing on end, but, ignoring the danger completely, he teleported behind the woman and said, "At least tell me your name..." as he attempted to fondle her tail.
Seeing the woman tense up before spontaneously relaxing, a smile developed across Ryouma's face before he noticed a hand grasping his wrist. By following the attached arm, he was able to discover a man beaming at him with a smile that didn't quite reach his vibrant golden eyes.
"Uh...I'm guessing you're Vahn? Ni-"
Faster than he could blink, Ryouma's eyes widened as he found himself barreling through space at several times the speed of light. Far more terrifying was the fact he couldn't arrest his momentum or use any of his skills. An invisible force had clamped around his body like a vice, and, though it prevented the surrounding vacuum from affecting him, it also prevented him from escaping as he drew progressively closer towards the star located at the center of the Game Board...
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Though some people might call Vahn a hypocrite for reacting in such a way when he was known to casually pet women he had just met, they would immediately side with him upon learning the truth.
Part of Ryouma's Ero God System included a function that allowed him to tame monsters and other kinds of magical creatures. The world he had reincarnated into had a large variety of monster girls that appeared as common enemies. It was the type of world where the monsters drained humans of their life force as opposed to killing them.
As the Hero, Ryouma's 'essence' was even coveted by the Four Heavenly Generals that commanded the Demon Lord's Army. It was necessary for their evolution, so, after suffering numerous defeats at the hands of various monster girls, Ryouma had developed some rather...exotic tastes. This included a borderline obsession with women who possessed animal ears, fluffy tails, and, more importantly, feral natures.
During one of Ryouma's 'playthroughs', he ended up being captured by a tribe of warrior women with wolf-like traits. He panicked near the beginning, but, after being designated as the Chieftain's mate, his status within the tribe increased from a captive to a king. He could basically walk around and have sex whenever he wanted since his scent alone was enough to send the overly affectionate women into heat.
Though he had originally intended to conquer the Elven Queendom during that particular route, Ryouma ended up spending several years living among the tribe of wolfish women. In the process, he sired more than a hundred children, and, thanks to his 'essence' helping the girls increase their strength and evolve, it wasn't long before he had built an army that could blitz through the Demon Lord's Army with extreme ease.
When Ryouma laid eyes on Fenrir, he immediately activated the Max Level [Taming] skill. There was no chance of it working, but, just knowing the man was trying to claim Fenrir as his 'pet', Vahn had no choice but to step in. There were two reasons for this. First and foremost, he wanted to teach the man a lesson. This may sound like the most important reason but the truth of the matter was that Vahn had actually done Ryouma a favor. Had he grasped Fenrir's tail and attempted to tame her, he would have been lucky to respawn outside the Game Board with his head intact, much less either of his hands...
Simply put, if Vahn hadn't gotten rid of Ryouma, Fenrir would have permanently crippled or killed him. In that regard, Ryouma's quick yet fiery end was a mercy...a mercy that Vahn would not afford him a second time...
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Aggroli Squad...','Angels OP...',I've never seen such an advanced display of death seeking o_o...')

Cradling the unconscious Sarina in his arms, Vahn's expression became incomparably gentle as he picked a few stray hairs from her face and said, "I'm so proud of you. From this moment onwards, the entire Little Garden shall know the name Sarina Stone..."(A/N: Herm(es) means Heap of Stones. Sarina and Vahn never married.)
Punctuating his words, Vahn planted a kiss on Sarina's forehead before informing the ever-present Central Network that she would be retiring. She wasn't injured, but, after overtaxing her mental and spiritual energies, she had fallen into a deep state of unconsciousness. By the time she woke up, the Gift Game would be long over.
"Right...two more stops to go..."
Following his utterance, Vahn appeared at the center of the planet belonging to Kotoamatsukami. There, he found Tamamo in the midst of her battle against Kagutsuchi, an aspect of the very same God that had previously extended him an invitation to study Blacksmithing as his apprentice.
While most Gods manifested in a single form in order to consolidate their power and Divinity, Kagutsuchi was an exception. His origin myth attributed him with the tragedy of accidentally burning his mother, the Primordial Deity Izanami, during childbirth. She eventually succumbed to her wounds, and, as a result, Izanagi separated Kagutsuchi's body into eight pieces to serve as the foundation for some of the largest volcanoes in Japan.
Though he wasn't aware of the events that had occurred during the war, Vahn knew that five of Kagutsuchi's manifestations had lost their lives. The three that remained went on to become the Gods of Destructive Flames, Forging, and Ceramic Workers.&nbsp;
Even at a glance, it was pretty easy to deduce which version of Kagutsuchi they were dealing with. The oni-like entity was clearly the God of Destructive Flames, but, rather than immediately crushing him, Vahn appeared between the enraged God and Tamamo, declaring, "This battle has ended. You fought well, but your General has already fallen. Accept your defeat with the dignity expected of a God representing the Kotoamatsukami."
Exhaling a plume of scalding hot steam between the slits of his mask, the flames in Kagutsuchi's eyes wavered for a brief moment as he recognized Vahn as the man who had defeated Amaterasu. This effectively brought an end to his efforts to stall for time, as, even in his prime, Kagutsuchi was no match for his elder sister. With 5/8ths of his Divinity lost, he wouldn't even last a single exchange with someone on the level of a Pure Blooded Dragon.
Despite knowing how futile his actions were, Kagutsuchi stabbed into his heart with his right hand before pulling out a demonic-looking katana wreathed in flames. His coal-like eyes burned brighter than ever before as he said, "I, Kagutsuchi, challenge you, Vahn Aldrnari Mason, to a Trial by Fire. It is rumored that your skill with the sword has reached a transcendent level. Allow me to bear witness to the truth for myself."
Before Vahn could answer, Tamamo's ears and tail twitched in frustration as she stamped her feet and shouted, "Who do you think you are!? You can't even defeat me and you think you're qualified to challenge my Beloved Husband!? Absolutely shameless...!"
Ignoring Tamamo's remark, Kagutsuchi's fiery eyes remained fixed on Vahn. In response, the latter adopted a relaxed smile before gesturing to Tamamo, saying, "I'll allow it...please take a step back. It would break my heart if so much as a single hair on your head or tails were harmed..."
Perking up the moment Vahn addressed her, a lovestruck expression blossomed across Tamamo's face as she happily exclaimed, "Hai hai, Darling~!" before scampering over to where Kenshin had been observing the battle. The latter immediately got up from the throne to allow Tamamo to take a seat while Vahn, adopting a marginally more serious expression, manifested the claymore version of Laev-tan in his right hand.
"A claymore...?"
With many of Vahn's companions wielding katanas and dressing in traditional Japanese clothing, Kagutsuchi expected him to manifest one of his own. After all, Vahn was presently wearing a stylish, dark-grey yukata with a white, hearth-like emblem embroidered on his back. A crimson sash was tied around his waist, and, were it not for the fact he was wearing form-fitting gauntlets and a pair of matching greaves, he could have easily passed as a foreign Samurai. Seeing him wield a claymore just felt wrong...
Unfortunately for Kagutsuchi, Vahn wasn't particularly concerned with how the God viewed him. He had already decided to end things quickly, so, the moment Laev-tan appeared in his hand, her edge emitted a crimson red glow as he swept her in what appeared to be a slow and relaxed arc. In spite of this, Kagutsuchi wasn't even able to react as his body, the wall behind him, and half of the planet were sliced in two.
By the time Kagutsuchi realized what had happened, a second line running from his crown to his crotch appeared. This was more than enough to be fatal, but, as Vahn had also decided to show off a bit, his third strike produced a line that cut through the walls, floor, and ceiling in a perpendicular arc. Then, with a push of Vahn's left hand, the side of the planet Kagutsuchi was standing on began to float away before splitting off into four, perfectly segmented slices.
"Good fight..."
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"Did you seriously recall us just to have us sit and wait patiently for our deaths!? What happened to securing victory and gaining a foothold to enter into the 3-Digit Gates? What about our friends, the people who have given their lives to ensure we made it this far? I demand an explanation...!"
Believing their planet had been in danger, Ryouma, accompanied by his plethora of wives, gave up his subjugation of an offensive satellite in order to rush back and provide support. When he learned that Shion was considering withdrawing from the competition, he couldn't believe it. She wasn't the type of woman that just gave up halfway. If she had been, he wouldn't have spent the last eighteen years occupying the Rank 2 position in an effort to impress and make her his woman.
Having regained her stoic look following her encounter with Vahn, a cold shimmer flashed across Shion's luminescent blue eyes as she repeated, "Vahn, the Sage Dragon Emperor, is far beyond our present level. Even my [Abysswalker] transformation was completely ineffective against him. If we're serious about breaching the 1-3-Digit Gates, we'll need to reconsider our approach. Those nearest the pinnacle of the Divine Realm are far more powerful than we anticipated."
Smashing his fist against empty air, shimmering white cracks spread from the point of contact as Ryouma shouted, "That isn't a good enough reason! We're Heroes, Shion! We don't give up just because the enemy is more powerful than us! We keep pushing and doing our best until our foes submit or we no longer have the strength to continue! If we lose, we pick ourselves back up, gather our allies, and try again! We never, ever surrender...!"
With a fierce and heroic expression on his face, Ryouma looked like he was mere moments away from charging out of the throne room to assail the Sage Dragon's Hearth on his own. He didn't care how powerful Vahn was supposed to be. Until he had given his all and pushed beyond his limits, he would never accept defeat.
Anticipating this type of reaction from Ryouma, Shion exhaled an inaudible sigh through her nose before adopting a marginally more serious expression and stating, "Very well, Ryouma. If you insist on opposing the Sage Dragon's Hearth, I will not stop you. Just don't go seeking trouble with Vahn once he wipes the floor with you..."
Thumbing his nose, a warm yet calculating smile developed across Ryouma's face as he asked, "If you're that confident in my defeat, how about a friendly wager? If I win, you'll have to accompany me on three separate dates. With the promise of a date on the line, I bet I can draw out even more power than usual."
With an expression remarkably similar to the woman standing behind Ryouma, Shion made a show of rolling her eyes before leaning to the side and answering, "I will accept if you agree to have your Gifts related to pleasure amplification and quantifying a person's affection values sealed. If you lose, you will be prohibited from making use of them for a full year. Agreed?"
Though he managed to maintain his confident smile, a bead of sweat appeared on Ryouma's left cheek as he imagined managing his harem for a full year without 'cheats'. He believed he could pull it off, but, at the same time, he was worried that the more opportunistic and predatory members of his Community would seize the opportunity to poach the more susceptible members of his harem while he could no longer view their affection values of his harem. He was far from the only male in the Akuma Community with a Charisma parameter and the ability to amplify pleasure through skills or magic...
"That...isn't that a little unreasonable...?"
Without having to consider her response, Shion immediately replied, "Not nearly as unreasonable as expecting someone to willfully entangle themselves in your System with the excuse of a 'friendly wager'. I've told you before but I have absolutely no intention of becoming one of the Heroines in your little Dating Sim. The next time you attempt to bait me like this, expect a much steeper price."
Feeling Shion's bloodlust, a dry laugh emanated from Ryouma's throat as he scratched the back of his head and did his best to maintain a smile. He often disregarded just how much Shion resented the System he had received from his Patron Goddess, Eros. It allowed him to determine whether or not members of the opposite sex had an interest in him. So long as he could get a heart to appear over their head, he needed only fill it up before even the iciest of beauties were willing to sleep with him.&nbsp;
Simply put, Ryouma was no mere harem protagonist. He was a Hero straight out of an eroge. The world he had reincarnated into was that of his favorite adult visual novel. It was famous for having more than 300 unique Heroines to collect across three different routes. As his System allowed him to reset and receive bonuses after completing one of the main routes, Ryouma had collected each and every single one of the Heroines across eleven playthroughs.
Upon completing the character catalog, Ryouma had even managed to sleep with the Goddess that had gifted him the aptly named Ero God System. Getting her to climax a thousand times was one of the requirements to unlocking Multiversal Travel. After that, Ryouma traversed a total of twenty-six different worlds before finding himself summoned to the Little Garden by Pearl Foam Community, a group comprised entirely of boyish and muscular men meant to service the Greek Goddess of Love and Lust, Aphrodite.
Though he had 'suffered' quite a bit during his stay in the Pearl Foam Community, Ryouma never blamed the Ero God System. Instead, it became his crutch once Aphrodite had gotten bored and discarded him. The notion of having it sealed even for a short while made him uncomfortable, so, while there were few things he wanted more than adding Shion to his harem, Ryouna ultimately ceased scratching the back of his head, sighing as he said, "I understand. I can't guarantee I won't try again, but I can at least assure you I won't try for the next three years. That should suffice as an apology, right?"
Staring at Ryouma as if he were a helpless idiot, Shion was about to agree when the dichromatic 'youth' exhaled a second sigh and appended, "Fine, fine, I get it. I crossed a line, okay? At least let me off with five years. Any longer than that and I would be too depressed to even raise my sword..."
"..."
"Okay, okay! Si-no-seven years! That's the best I can do...!"
"..."
"Ten...?"
...
..
.
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Izanagi is kind of a cunt...','Never look down on Laev-tan...','Someone get this kid some Omega-3s. His brain is beginning to fail...')

Chapter 2243: Motivation