Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

"Are you just about done?" asked Vahn. "Even you must have a limit to your arrogance."
As he had been expecting a rebuttal of some sort, Zeus did his best not to lash out in response to Vahn's remarks. Instead, he paused for a moment, the cores of his azure blue eyes crackling with lightning.
After collecting himself, Zeus questioned, "What part of my proposal do you find disagreeable? The number of individuals that desire to be waited upon by Athena rivals the total number of men in the Little Garden. Of course-"
Though he was nowhere near the limit of his patience, Vahn interrupted Zeus's rant, asking, "Would you just shut up already? I didn't come here to hear you blather on and stroke your ego. Do you sincerely believe you have the leeway to talk down to and try to make decisions for me? Rather than shameless, you're outright delusional."
Resisting the urge to rise up and unleash his divine fury upon Vahn, Zeus balled his hands into fists and adopted a vicious grin. Vahn's reaction was 'confirmation' of his suspicions, so he firmly stated, "Then leave the South and never return. I extended you an olive branch, and you refused. If you continue to support our enemies and intervene in our affairs, I will ensure you experience regret beyond fathom."
Shaking his head, Vahn had to resist the urge to roll his eyes as he flatly stated, "No, you won't. Your little plan may have worked against virtually anyone else, but there isn't an action that you can take to circumvent my awareness. The moment you try, you're as good as dead."
Hearing Vahn threaten him, lightning surged from Zeus's body, shattering the throne beneath him. He didn't attack, but his fury was approaching its limits as he growled, "Bold words, boy. However, unless you intend to take on the mantle of Demon Lord, there isn't a damn thing you can do against me. I will never agree to a Gift Game where you're a player, so all you can do is watch as I take out my fury on those the Empire purports to protect. Let's see-"
Before Zeus could finish speaking, everyone in the chamber was stunned to see a peculiar, ashen grey spear sticking out of his chest. The moment it pierced him, his voice spontaneously cut off, his previously luminous body gaining the same hue as the spear as Vahn asked, "What compelled you to believe I feared the title of Demon Lord...?"
Unable to perceive that a question had been asked, much less respond to it, Zeus just continued to stare at Vahn, his expression perpetually fixed in mid-bellow. The spear was the result of Vahn's insight into the Law of Stagnation, so while it appeared Zeus had been frozen in time, the truth was far more terrifying. He had effectively endured an eternity in a single moment, the energy within his body seeping into the Void as even his Ego crumbled to nothingness.
Absorbing the spear back into himself, Vahn looked around at the various Gods gathered within the hall, each frozen like a deer in headlight as the body of Zeus crumbled to dust behind him. Hera was the first to try and retaliate, but the moment she rose from her throne, a pressure akin to the gravitational force of a neutron star caused her to stumble face-first into the ground, unable to rise.
Though he felt a little guilty seeing Hera faceplant into the ground, Vahn knew she was nearly as complicit as Zeus in his crimes. She was the one who had talked Zeus into avoiding a direct confrontation, one of the most foolish suggestions she could have possibly made. After all, had Zeus just targeted him, Vahn would have readily accepted his challenge. Attempting to target everyone but him was a mistake beyond compare.
Shifting his gaze to Athena, Vahn was about to make it transparently clear what his desires were when a sound akin to a bullhorn echoed throughout the Little Garden. Ebony black scrolls unfurled next to the Leader of every Community, but, unlike a 'traditional' Demon Lord's Geass Roll, the letters embossed upon its surface glistened with a prominent golden hue.
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&lt;Last Embryo: Advent of the Demon Lord of Abundance and Stagnation&gt;
[Win Condition]
1: Follow the Rules.
[Hidden Conditions]
1: ????
2: ????
3: ????
[Rules]
1: Everyone in the Little Garden is a Participant.
2: Vahn Aldrnari Mason is the Demon Lord of Abundance and Stagnation.
3: The Game ends when the Demon Lord of Abundance and Stagnation has fulfilled his objective or been defeated.
[Restrictions]
1: Targetting anyone affiliated with the Aldrnari Empire outside of the Demon Lord of Abundance and Stagnation.
2: Expatriation from the Little Garden.
3: Establishment of a new Little Garden.
[Rewards]
1: ????
[Penalty]
1: ????
[Time Limit]
None
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Finished reading the scroll, Vahn couldn't help smiling as he mused, "Demon Lord of Abundance and Stagnation? I suppose that's better than the Demon Lord of Petting and Punishment..."
Shifting his attention to Athena, Vahn's smile curled up at the edges as he asked, "What do you think?"
As the Leader of a Community, one of many affiliated with Mt. Olympus, Athena had received a black scroll alongside nearly everyone else in the banquet hall. The moment she read its contents, a cold chill permeated her entire body. Not because Vahn had been declared a Demon Lord but because the Central Network had deemed it appropriate to pit everyone in the Little Garden against him. While that meant they were free to take action against him, it also implied that Vahn had the impunity to act freely within the territory of other Communities...
Seeing Athena's expression pale, Vahn rolled his eyes and said, "Relax. If I were the type to go around killing arbitrarily, there would be a lot fewer evil entities within the Little Garden. Zeus brought this upon himself, so-"
Interrupting Vahn's words, Apollo shouted, "Murderer...!" as he impacted the former within a sphere resembling the Sun. Apollo understood that his father was far from perfect, but Zeus was still his father. If he didn't try to avenge him, his spirit would never rest in peace.
Stopping Apollo's charge with his bare hand, a frown marred Vahn's face as the flesh of his palm sizzled and dissolved away. Apollo's outrage was entirely justified. Thus, while Vahn would ordinarily be immune to even the most extreme temperatures, the enraged Sun God's attacks were, at least for the time being, effective against him.
To counter Apollo's attack, Vahn channeled his self-created Sun Authority while sprouting golden scales from his hand and arm. The sun-like sphere surrounding Apollo's body then vanished, absorbed by Vahn as he calmly asserted, "During my battle with Amaterasu, I declared to the entire Little Garden that those who willfully endanger children or attempt to leverage the lives of the innocent against their opponents have absolutely no right to clemency. Your father believed he could 'punish' me by targetting those very groups. This is the natural consequence of his actions."
Punctuating his words, Vahn planted Apollo into the ground with enough force to shake the very foundations of Mt. Olympus. However, due to his extreme respect for those bearing the name and title of Hephaestus, the actual structure remained undamaged. Instead, it was Apollo's face that gave way, his nose shattering into countless pieces as silvery-gold blood spurted from his ears.
Exhaling a sigh, Vahn suppressed his feelings of guilt as he looked to the rest of the hall and asked, "Anyone else?"
As Zeus and Apollo were among the most powerful Gods affiliated with Mt. Olympus, every God gazed upon by Vahn immediately averted their eyes. Poseidon and Hades might have stood up to him, but they tended to avoid social gatherings that included Zeus. As for Ares, the version Vahn encountered previously was just a projection created by Morpheus, so the only Gods present that could oppose him were Hera, Athena, and Hermes. Artemis might have been tempted to try, but she had elected to return to her tower, annoyed by Vahn and Hermes leaving her behind.
With Hera currently pinned to the ground, Vahn briefly exchanged glances with Hermes before directing his attention to Athena, asking, "You asked if this is what I desire? The simple answer is no. While I do tolerate it, there are few beings in all of Creation that abhor slavery and servitude as much as I do. You also said this was the least you could do to make amends? I wholeheartedly beg to differ. The least you could do is acknowledge you made a mistake and try to learn from it. Stop shifting the blame to others and accept responsibility for your actions. Beyond that, I have absolutely no other expectations of you."
To demonstrate his point, Vahn promptly turned away from Athena and began to make his way out of the hall. He could have simply teleported away or ceased to exist, but he wanted to give the Gods present a chance to argue or attack him.
Just as Vahn reached the halfway point between Zeus's destroyed throne and the exit, a heroic-looking Goddess with braided brown hair and azure blood eyes suddenly manifested a war banner and shouted, "The sanctity of Mt. Olympus has been befouled! We cannot permit this Demon to do as he pleases! Brothers! Sisters! Let us fell this fiend for all those who inhabit the Little Garden...!"
Though they would ordinarily want nothing to do with someone like Vahn, the various Gods and Goddesses present began to exude a divine light in response to their dark-haired counterpart's cry. Her identity was Alke, the personification of battle-strength, prowess, and courage, so her battelcry was enough to compel even the most cowardly Gods present to action.
Joining in with their sister was the fiery-haired Eris, the purple-haired Phobos, and the crimson-haired Ioke. They were members of Zeus's Elite Guard, the Aegis, so it was their duty to protect him and fell his enemies. Zeus's death had actually left them feeling more relief than fury, but, as Goddesses of the Greek Pantheon, their pride didn't allow them to simply let the matter lie.
As the four Goddesses led the charge, the other deities present began to manifest their battle raiments. Those closest to Alke immediately joined in the fray, but not even those on the periphery were spared as Vahn's body became a blur, appearing next to each of them with a resolute expression on his face...
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..
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Reading the Geass Roll that had unfurled next to her, Shiroyasha took a long drag from her pipe before exhaling a thin stream of smoke. She knew it was only a matter of time before Vahn was burdened with the title of a Demon Lord, but she never expected him to be elevated to the status of a Last Embryo at the same time...
*tok* *tok* *tok*
Directing her cat-like eyes to the sliding door on the opposite side of the room, Shiroyasha deadpanned as she inquired, "Since when were you the type to knock...?"
Instead of the person Shiroyasha was 'expecting,' the door slid open to reveal a beautiful, heroic-looking woman with long purple hair, teal eyes, and an attire matching that of a butler. At that exact moment, she felt a stirring beneath her clothes as a soft pair of hands cupped her breasts, followed by a sensual voice whispering into her ear.
"You've been naughty, Shiro-chan..."
Furrowing her brows, Shiroyasha exhaled two plumes of smoke from her nose before grumbling, "You're trying my patience, Queen. Now is neither the time nor the place for your foolishness..."
Undaunted by Shiroyasha's words, Queen Halloween fully manifested behind her, an alluring smile on her face as she continued to grope her former rival.
"You should have informed me that the Sage Dragon Emperor was about to take action. While I have long abdicated my position, the South is still my domain. If your little pet were going to go around killing Chief Gods, a heads up would have been nice..."
Frowning even further, Shiroyasha was about to retort when she, Queen Halloween, and Scathach all sensed a distortion in the surrounding space. Then, as if he had been listening in on them, Vahn manifested out of thin air, a narrow-eyed smile on his face as he stared into Queen Halloween's eyes and remarked, "I believe she told you to stop..."
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Oh, how the turn-tables...','The Advent of Chad Mason...','Queen Halloween be like, "Haha, I'm in danger."')

Without removing her hands from Shiroyasha's breasts, Queen Halloween asked, "Ara? Why so hostile? We're all friends here, right~?"
Instead of answering Queen's words, Vahn looked to Shiroyasha to see what she had to say on the matter. In response, she just exhaled a tired sigh, explaining, "Technically speaking, she has the right to touch and caress me, so long as it's in private. I'd rather not get into the specifics..."
Amused by Shiroyasha's response, Queen gave her a firm hug and mused, "Is there any reason to keep it a secret? With his power, the Sage Dragon Emperor can surely uncover the truth, no~?"
Shaking her head, Shiroyasha stared directly at Vahn as she said, "No, he isn't the type to probe into a woman's past. Not without a good reason, at least..."
"Hmmm..."
Moving her hands from Shiroyasha's breasts to her belly, Queen directed her heterochromatic green and blue eyes at Vahn, remarking, "That would explain his actions since arriving in the Little Garden. It doesn't, however, explain your reasons for summoning him. The plan Canaria drafted wasn't without flaws, but it's the closest thing we had to a guaranteed resolution. Placing your trust in someone else after everything we've sacrificed...just what were you thinking?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Shiroyasha replied, "There's no such thing as a guaranteed resolution. As for what I was thinking? Well, I saw the power Vahn possessed and determined he would be able to achieve comparable results without the need for so many sacrifices. Looking at the conditions specified by the Central Network in his Last Embryo setting, it's apparent I'm not the only one that came to that conclusion."
Understanding who Shiroyasha was alluding to, Queen softly muttered, "Laplace..." before blinking back to awareness, meeting Vahn's gaze, and asking, "How long do you intend to continue standing there? Please, take a seat."
"..."
Though he was tempted to retort, Vahn ultimately sat across from Queen and Shiroyasha after exchanging glances with Scathach. She smiled back at him, but he could tell she was prepared to leap into action the moment things escalated. Not that it would make much of a difference...
After taking his seat, Vahn attempted to justify Shiroyasha's actions, stating, "Even if Shiroyasha hadn't summoned me, I would have found my way into the Little Garden. Seizing the initiative to invite me was probably the best decision she could have made."
Instead of refuting Vahn's words, Queen replied, "I agree. Had you been allowed to act and roam freely, I imagine many more Communities would have fallen before you reached this point."
Squeezing Shiroyasha's body, Queen's eyes glistened with a mischievous light as she appended, "What bothers me is that I wasn't consulted on the matter. Though I can't imagine my chagrin in anywhere near as developed as Indra's, having someone I treasure taken away from me is more than a little...shall we say, vexing?"
In an effort to prevent misunderstandings, Shiroyasha followed Queen's words by declaring, "This she-devil has always had an obsession with the Sun. Back when I first entered the Little Garden, she used to stal-"
Narrowing her eyes, Queen brought her lips to Shiroyasha's pointed ear and whispered, "Now, now, Shiroyasha. We're not here to talk about the past, are we? If so, I have quite a few stories to share..."
After an involuntary shudder, Shiroyasha promptly decided to change topics, asking, "So, what now? I know it's only been a few hours since our last discussion, but I imagine things have changed rather drastically since your designation as a Last Embryo."
Shaking his head, Vahn answered, "Not really. If anything, this just makes things more clear-cut. Previously, I had to put on airs and worry about the people around me being targeted. Now, until I'm dealt with, my would-be enemies have no choice but to focus their efforts on me."
Inserting herself into the conversation, Queen remarked, "That's one of the things that surprised me. While it is common for the Central Network to pit the entire Little Garden against a Last Embryo, this is the first time Laplace has shown such...favoritism. If I didn't know better, I would say she is conspiring with you to ensure everyone becomes an affiliate of the Aldrnari Empire. I can easily imagine weaker Communities flocking to join you en masse, either for protection or to avoid the conflict entirely."
Piggybacking off Queen's words, Shiroyasha asked, "Speaking of which, you should probably prepare a battlefield of some sort. The Restrictions state that those affiliated with you can't be targeted, but there is such a thing as collateral damage. So long as they can confirm you're inside, an assailant could, theoretically, drop a bomb on the Sage Dragon's Hearth without violating the restrictions."
Furrowing his brows, Vahn noted, "That's a pretty massive loophole..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Shiroyasha replied, "Well, you have just been designated as a Last Embryo. From the perspective of those who don't know you well, you are a threat to all of Creation. With stakes like that, a lot of people are going to be aiming for your head."
Nodding her head in approval, Queen added, "There is another matter you must consider. The Restrictions make no mention of infighting. You'll need to be cautious of people infiltrating the Communities that wish to join the Empire. A number of Demon Lords possess Gifts that let them inhabit the hearts and minds of others. Many others can circumvent the Restrictions of the Game by instigating their own. That is one of the principal benefits of becoming a Demon Lord."
Realizing things weren't nearly as clear cut as he initially believed, Vahn slumped his shoulders and exhaled a sigh. Shiroyash and Queen hadn't really gone into it, but he also realized that his enemies could target him 'indirectly' by attacking Communities that had yet to join the Empire. He could easily deal with those responsible, but there was little he could do about the victims that would pile up out of spite...
Unable to contain herself, an amused smile blossomed across Queen's face as she mused, "My, did Shiro-chan really place her faith in such a wretched man~? You're the Sage Dragon Emperor, a being that garners fear and respect from even the greatest Gods. This outcome is the direct consequence of your actions. Don't expect us to console you when you're the one that set himself upon this path."
Raising his brows, Vahn gave Queen a somewhat incredulous look as he remarked, "I know you're a sadist, but give me a break...I never asked for any of this. I'm just doing what I can to reunite with my family..."
Adopting a slightly grim expression, Queen looked down at Shiroyasha and asked, "What's going on here? Has the Sage Dragon Emperor always been such a...despicable lot?"
Though she felt a little sorry for Vahn, Shiroyasha adopted a wry smile as she replied, "I know what you mean. Even I don't fully understand the reason behind his sentiments at times. Still, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's proof that, despite all his power, he's still 'human' at the core of his being."
"Ah..."
Redirecting her gaze to Vahn, Queen did her best to view him through the lens of 'humanity.' In that regard, Vahn was actually rather commendable, as, more often than not, humans with power readily exploited it. Vahn was guilty of much the same, but he was at least aware of his position and the consequences of his actions.
Regaining her smile, Queen mused, "Now I understand. You're aiming for the top, not to rule, but to 'escape' the rule of others. You desire freedom but possess sufficient empathy to afford others the same right. In other words, letting you conquer the Little Garden is the same as freeing it from the control of machine-like beings who only care about Creation itself, not the form in which it takes. How utterly irresponsible~."
Imagining the conflict that would arise when Vahn invariably abdicated his position and abolished the current system, Queen Halloween couldn't help feeling excited. She absolutely abhorred war and slaughter, but the change such conflicts brought about was necessary for the development and survival of humanity. In other words, Vahn wasn't a true Last Embryo. If anything, his existence would allow them to transition into a new Order without needing to bring a finite end to the present reality...
Clapping her hands together, much to Shiroyasha's chagrin as they were right in front of her face, Queen added, "Very well, then~! I'm still a little annoyed that you derailed so many of my plans, but I accept Shiroyasha's decision to entrust the fate of the Little Garden to you. Feel free to make a mess of things. Ufufufufufufu~."
Before Vahn could respond, Shiroyasha interrupted, asking, "And what are you going to do? As someone possessing numerous Sun Authorities, your 'assistance' is necessary to achieve Vahn's goal."
"Hmmmm~?"
Tilting her head to the side, Queen stared at Vahn with a mischievous smile on her face, almost as if she were daring him to affirm Shiroyasha's words. When he didn't do so immediately, she questioned, "Is that really the case? So long as I don't conspire with others to rob you of your Sun Authorities, I doubt anyone will be able to stop him before he reaches the Gatekeeper. If he can't overcome that particular nuisance, I don't see any reason to join forces and risk jeopardizing my 'integrity' as a woman. Make no mistake; I am 'very' interested in the man who managed to conquer my Shiroyasha. However, it's not to the extent I'm willing to subject myself to his whims and desires."
As someone with a strict preference for women, Queen would never admit it, but she was actually afraid of Vahn. When Shiroyasha initially appeared in the Little Garden, she invested considerable time, effort, and resources into ensuring they had similar preferences. Queen couldn't have imagined Shiroyasha with a man before Vahn's arrival, so being in the same room as he made her more than a little nervous.
Without missing a beat, Vahn responded, "That's fine by me. It's not like I go out of my way to 'collect' women. I also don't really need your help, so I suppose this is the end of our discussion? You three have fun..."
Rising to his feet, Vahn was prepared to leave but found his path blocked by Scathach. She knew she had no hope of stopping him if push came to shove, but that didn't prevent her from adopting a professional smile as she placed her hand over her heart and said, "Please remain seated until my Mistress has finished speaking."
Raising his brows, Vahn was tempted to ask Scathach who she thought she, or, more specifically, her Mistress, was but promptly decided against it. He knew she wasn't intentionally trying to offend him, so he returned a smile and replied, "That depends." before turning around and asking, "Was there anything else...?"
Though she was a little annoyed by Vahn's sudden effort to leave, Queen maintained a calm and composed demeanor as she replied, "I would have liked to continue conversing for a while longer. However, if you have other places you need to be, I'll not keep you."
Understanding exactly why Vahn was in a hurry, Shiroyasha added, "Stop by once things have calmed down. As Floor Master, people will expect me to address the matter of your designation as a Last Embryo. We'll discuss the specifics when you return."
Nodding his head, Vahn offered a curt "Thanks." before turning around to face Scathach. Then, as a rather sizeable crowd had begun to gather near his palace, he adopted a squinty-eyed smile and disappeared into thin air.
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'That privilege...','Few things are rarely as simple as they first appear...','Queen is afraid that her 10,000+ years of lesbianism is at risk xD...','

With Apollo leading the way and Hermes following close behind, Vahn was led into a large, open, lounge-like chamber carved from marble and accented with gold. Square pillars supported the interior structure while traditional, rounded columns lined the exterior patios.
Noticing the peculiar sheen of the intricate golden patterns, a faint smile adorned Vahn's face as he inquired, "Was this entire palace constructed by Hephaestus? There isn't a single flaw to be observed and the number of enchantments borders on the excessive..."
As they were just one room away from where the banquet was being held, Apollo's smile cramped when he heard Vahn's query. He would rather not keep his father waiting, but he also felt obligated to answer as Vahn was a very, very important guest.
Seizing the initiative, Hermes made things easier for Apollo by casually revealing, "You hit the nail on the head. Before they fell out, Hephaestus constructed this place in honor of our father's status. Now, even though he-"
"Brother...I do not believe our family's personal affairs are an appropriate subject to delve into with guests..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Hermes retorted, "Literally everyone in the Little Garden is aware of the quarrel between our father and half-brother. If you have an issue, take it up with Homer and the other Poets."
Narrowing his eyes, Apollo looked like he was about to say something but was interrupted when a pair of massive marble doors opened up at the far end of the chamber. From within, a fiery-haired man that reminded Vahn a lot of Pantheon, one of the Gods he had encountered during his ventures in Runeterra, emerged in an ostensibly battle-ready state. His remarkably muscular body was dyed red with dried blood, spiked pauldrons adorned his shoulders, and he wielded a bloody, three-pronged spear in his right hand. The rest of his attire resembled a far more brutal version of ancient Spartans, but the things that stood out the most were his featureless face and the fiery heart visibly pulsating within his muscular, severely scarred chest.
A stark contrast to his exceptionally vicious appearance, the fiery-haired man exuded no hostility. His eyes were red hot, almost like liquid metal, but a peculiar sense of calm exuded from their depths as he passed his gaze over Apollo, Hermes, and ultimately Vahn.
Feeling a faint yet incredibly sharp intent attempting to probe his mind, the corners of Vahn's smile curled upward as he said, "I'm afraid those types of abilities don't work on me."
Without expressing any kind of shock or anger, the fiery-haired man, Ares, replied, "So it would seem..." before standing to the side and providing a better view of the interior. A room similar to the one they were in awaited them on the other side, populated by a large assembly of entities whose skin and clothing emitted various colors.
Though he took in the entire room and its occupants concurrently, Vahn focused on the rather sizeable duo seated at the far end of the chamber. They were nearly twice the size of everyone else present, and both were perched atop ornate, silvery-gold thrones. However, while the inordinately beautiful woman on the right stood out quite a bit, the golden-maned man seated next to her gave off the impression he was the center of the entire universe, not just the banquet.
"Hmmm...?"
Looking around himself, Vahn feigned surprise as he took in the endless sea of clouds and sky that surrounded him. A distant sound of lightning gave the impression that a storm was beginning to build, but he wasn't even remotely intimidated as he shifted his gaze to the muscular man hovering in the air a few meters away from him, body shrouded in golden armor.
As a ring of runic lightning formed behind his back, causing his golden hair and beard to jut out even further, the increasingly fierce-looking man boomed, "So, we finally meet, Vahn Aldrnari Mason. Even if it wasn't your intention, you've given me many headaches these past few months..."
Extending his right hand, a bluish-white lightning bolt formed within the man's hand as he asked, "Tell me, how should we settle the grievances between us?"
Without waiting for Vahn's response, the man's body flashed, his form briefly resembling that of a javelin thrower before he threw forth the bolt of lightning within his hand. The surrounding space fractured like glass due to the force of the blow, but Vahn didn't even bat an eye as the bolt struck him in the center of his chest, sky-blue lightning erupting from the point of impact and consuming his entire body.
Looking down at the lightning bolt sticking out of his chest, the smile on Vahn's face grew more prominent. Illusions that could affect reality were fairly rare, so while he didn't appreciate people trying to use him, he was still a little impressed.
Ignoring the figure making a speech and congealing another bolt of lightning, Vahn turned to his left and remarked, "You do realize that I intend to teach Zeus a lesson even without such tricks, right? I would advise you to stop fooling around before I take this personally."
"You dare ignore the Mighty Zeus...!?"
As if to punish Vahn for his disrespect, the golden-haired man, Zeus, appeared next to him with a veritable spear of lightning in hand. The energy within was enough to level a planet ten thousand times over, but Vahn just waved it away with a sweep of his right hand, eradicating both the spear and the false God wielding it. Then, before the illusion could collapse, he reached out with his left hand, materializing the figure of an old, silvery-haired, azure-eyed man veiled in robes formed from silvery, star-like sand.
Feeling his control over the surrounding area wrested away from him, the azure-eyed man raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, fumbling as he said, "P-Please have mercy...!"
Rolling his eyes, Vahn released the elderly figure with a shove as he said, "You must be Morpheus, the God of Dreams. Tell me, did Hermes put you up to this, or are you acting at the behest of someone else?"
Though he already knew the answer, Vahn wanted to see if the elderly God would try to hoodwink him. Fortunately, Morpheus seemed to have wisened up considerably in the past couple of seconds, slipping his hands into his sleeves and bowing as he replied, "This was an act I carried out at my discretion. The number of people who dream of a world without Zeus's tyranny rivals the stars in the night sky. Zeus is scheming to force you into a difficult situation. I thought I might be able to-"
Raising his hand in a silencing gesture, Vahn revealed, "I am well aware of what Zeus is plotting. Your concerns are unwarranted. Now, go. Return to your people and inform them to remain patient. No matter what Zeus tries, he will only be digging himself further into a hole."
After having his domain wrested from him with such ease, Morpheus had no intention of questioning Vahn's decision. He considered himself lucky to be alive, so the moment Vahn waved him off, he immediately vanished in a puff of smoke resembling a nebula in the night sky.
Sensing Morpheus's presence disappear, Vahn exhaled a faint sigh before closing his eyes and shaking his head in mild exasperation. The next time he opened them, he was back in his original position, staring at the actual Zeus with a relaxed smile.
Though he waited for an exceptionally beautiful and androgynous boy to fill his goblet, Zeus rose to his feet alongside the pink-haired Goddess at his side, bellowing, "Mt. Olympus welcomes the Sage Dragon Emperor...!" in a booming voice comparable to a thunderclap.
Responding to Zeus's outburst, the hundred or so Gods gathered for the banquet raised goblets of their own, shouting various greetings. Not all of them did so, but it was enough to generate a festive cacophony within the chamber. Vahn was easily one of the most famous people within the Little Garden as of late, so many within Mt. Olympus were genuinely excited to meet and converse with him.
Adopting a friendly smile, Vahn made his way into the chamber, politely greeting and exchanging nods with various Gods and Goddesses. There was actually an equal distribution of both, so, contrasting Apollo's earlier allusions, Vahn didn't have to worry about being surrounded by muscular, half-naked men for the duration of his visit.
Reaching the 'well' at the base of Zeus's and Hera's thrones, Vahn looked up at the unnecessarily tall couple and mused, "This is quite the welcome you've prepared. I'm 'almost' honored..."
Narrowing his eyes, Zeus passed off his goblet to the androgynous youth that had filled it before expressing, "I understand that the Sage Dragon's Hearth has had a number of...'disagreements' with several Communities affiliated with Mt. Olympus. It is my hope that this banquet will serve as the first step toward mending our fractured relationship. Further conflict will benefit neither of our Communities..."
Following his words, Zeus shifted his gaze to a pair of servant-class Gods waiting near a set of marbled doors. The moment he did so, the duo gave respectful bows before pulling open the doors to reveal a heroic-looking beauty garbed in what was colloquially known as an exomis, a white tunic that left the shoulders exposed.
As the garment was typically associated with enslaved individuals, nearly everyone gathered for the banquet gasped or began to gossip excitedly. After all, it wasn't every day they got to see a fellow God, much less one of the Twelve Olympians, dressed as a member of the lowest caste.
Despite her attire, complete with manacles around her wrists and ankles, the golden-haired woman made her way into the hall without lowering her head or compromising her posture. She exuded dignity from every pore of her being, even as she stopped a few meters away from Vahn, narrowed her eyes, and asked, "Is this what you desire...?"
Before Vahn could reply, Zeus's tone became firm and authoritative as he said, "Show some respect to our guest, Athena. Though you may not have taken direct action, you cannot deny your culpability in the events leading to the current tensions between Mt. Olympus and the Aldrnari Empire..."
Shifting his gaze to Vahn, Zeus's tone softened ever so slightly as he added, "As compensation for her slights against you, Athena will attend you for the duration of your stay in Mt. Olympus. You are free to refuse, of course, but I will interpret that as you accepting that the matter between our Communities has been resolved."
As if the matter was already decided, Zeus raised his gaze to the rest of the hall, bellowing, "And now, we feast! To the Sage Dragon Emperor! To the glory of Mt. Olympus...!"
Though they couldn't believe Zeus had effectively 'sacrificed' one of the Olympians, nearly every God within the hall responded with a loud cheer. They doubted the matter was settled completely, but there was a reason ancient Greece and Rome were known for their debauchery and splendor. The Gods never passed on an opportunity to feast, drink, and fornicate to their hearts' content.
As everyone began to get in the mood for a party, Zeus made a circle with his left index finger, creating a soundproof barrier around the area before plopping onto his throne and making eye contact with Vahn. He still gave off an intense aura, but his voice was much quieter as he said, "I know you are probably very busy, but I encourage you to enjoy yourself these next twenty-four hours. Once the festivities have died down, we will talk again."
Shifting his attention to Athena, sparks began to exude from the depths of Zeus's eyes as he added, "I will entrust the Sage Dragon Emperor to you. If you have any sense at all, you will not damage the relationship between our Communities further..."
Though her seething expression made it clear she wasn't even remotely satisfied with Zeus's decision, Athena replied, "I understand..." in a cold, icy tone. She then directed that same gaze toward Vahn, a hint of conflict within her bluish-purple eyes as she growled, "This is the least I can do to make amends..."
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Poets OP...','Morpheus should rename himself to Prometheus...','What kind of cake is this...?')

Chapter 2323: Repercussions