Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Expecting it to take several weeks, if not months, Vahn was more than a little surprised when Shiroyasha arrived at the Sage Dragon's Hearth less than forty-eight hours after his encounter with Kurma. She also had Indra with her, so Vahn didn't need to ask in order to understand why they were there.
After being guided to one of the many meeting rooms Vahn had set up, Indra wore a forced smile as he remarked, "Your actions the other day have caused quite a stir in the Inner Gates."
Nodding her head in affirmation, Shiroyasha added, "He's right. Because of what's at stake, there's even a push to have you 'sealed' away to use as a power source for the Little Garden. Those fools never learn."
Raising his brows, Vahn asked, "A power source? And who, exactly, came up with that idea...?"
Understanding why Vahn would ask such a question, Shiroyasha adopted a serious expression as she replied, "There were quite a few that readily agreed with her, but the person who proposed it is a Poet-turned-Divine Spirit known as Truth. Considering you've 'conquered' her pet, Leviathan, you should know exactly who I'm referring to."
Contrasting the severity on Shiroyasha's face, Vahn exhaled a tired sigh. He knew a few Gods had it out for him, but knowing they were pushing to have him turned into a battery left him feeling exasperated. It reminded him of the scientists that had experimented on him, and while he had long grown past that moment in his life, Vahn couldn't help feeling upset by the sheer lack of 'humanity' that prompted such judgments.
Shaking his head, Vahn muttered, "Whatever...they want to make me into a battery? They're welcome to try..."
Sensing the aura around Vahn changing, goosebumps spread across the bodies of Shiroyasha and Indra. He wasn't actually discharging anything, but they could sense pure 'potential' condensing within his body, almost like an entire macrocosm was about to be birthed into existence.
Demonstrating this wasn't far off, Vahn condensed the rainbow-hued crystal from before, manifesting it in the palm of his right hand as he said, "I imagine the two of you, Laplace, and the beings currently trying to spy on us would like to know the origin of this crystal, yes?"
As the closest person to Vahn, at least within the room, Shiroyasha took it upon herself to nod, replying, "Indeed. Though I already have a few ideas about its origin, it would be nice to know for certain."
With Indra nodding to indicate he would also like to know the truth, Vahn adopted a faint smile before abruptly crushing the crystal in his palm. An extraordinary surge of energy attempted to erupt from within, but he was able to contain the destruction to a softball-sized sphere as he revealed, "Laplace was fairly accurate when she designated me as the Demon Lord of Excess and Stagnation. After all, unlike the majority of Gods, who must sacrifice something in order to create objects such as this, I can create as many as I please..."
Repurposing the energy contained within the sphere, Vahn condensed it into a crystal, holding it up for Shiroyasha and Indra to see before waving his hand like a magician fanning a deck of cards. As he did so, dozens of identical crystals manifested into existence, each containing within them enough energy to support the current Little Garden for tens of thousands of years.
Amused by the expressions of disbelief on Shiroyasha's and Indra's faces, Vahn manipulated a few crystals to float toward them as he explained, "As Shiroyasha has surmised, I am essentially a source for all forms of energy, Creation included. Even if I were to produce a trillion of these crystals, my aggregate energy wouldn't decrease in the slightest."
With a crystal in each hand, a somber look appeared on Indra's face, his voice low and audibly shaky as he inquired, "So it's true then...you really are the 'New Dawn,' the Origin of Creation itself...?"
Instead of answering Indra's question directly, Vahn just smiled and let the bronze-skinned God derive his own conclusions. He knew Source was something that transcended even the concept of Origin, but there was no need to try and explain that right now. All Records existed within Tiers 1-7, so the existence of Tiers 8 and 9, also known as Concept and Origin, were a moot point of discussion.
Feeling unnerved by Vahn's smile, Indra resisted the urge to ask if he could keep the crystals in hand. Instead, he set them down as gently as possible before swallowing the knot in his throat and asking, "Are you still willing to go through with the Gift Game? With your power, I'm not entirely sure why you would bother..."
Raising his brows, Vahn found himself retorting, "Why do you? Better yet, why does anyone...?"
Before Indra could ask what Vahn was talking about, the latter adopted a severe expression and added, "Since my actions apparently haven't made it clear enough, I'm someone who cherishes life. Could I leave behind the current Little Garden and create my own? I already have. However, while I could focus wholly on my creations, it isn't within my nature to turn a blind eye to those in need. I might not go out of my way to search for them, but the moment my path overlapped with the people of this reality, I became obligated to at least try and help. That's just the type of person I am, the God I choose to be."
As Vahn had offered them a Reality Axis, regardless of the outcome of the Gift Game, Indra didn't doubt his words in the slightest. Instead, after a moment of pause, he bent his body forward and lowered his head as a sign of respect, saying, "Thank you..." with as much sincerity as he could manage. Only the future was privy to its secrets, but he believed that the Little Garden would be in safe hands with someone like Vahn at the helm.
Seeing Vahn's brows twitch when Indra bowed his head, a soft chuckle emanated from Shiroyasha's throat. She was significantly less surprised by Vahn's 'revelations' as they had already had numerous conversations regarding the nature of his existence. It was one of the reasons she had chosen him as her lover, so, after laughing quite a bit at Indra's expense, she whipped out her fan, covering the lower half of her face as she said, "As fascinating as this discussion has become, it's not the reason for our visit. Pull yourself together, Indra."
"Right..."
Raising his head, Indra forced a smile and scratched the back of his head. As he did so, Shiroyasha took the initiative to say, "I'm sure you've already looked into it, but, just in case, allow me to clarify that Truth's proposal to have you stake your freedom was summarily shot down by two of the 'Big Three.' As for the actual rules and restrictions of the Gift Game...well, take a look..."
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&lt;Gift Game: Rite of the Emperor - Pandemonium&gt;
[Win Condition]
1: Be the last one standing.
[Hidden Conditions]
1: ????
2: ????
[Rules]
1: Every Community between Gates 10-9,999,999 are Participants.
2: Each Community must designate a single Player as its Representative.
3: Representatives of Communities with a 1-3-Digit Designation can only participate as an Avatara.
4: Representative will engage in a Battle Royale to determine the victor.
[Restrictions]
1: All Authorities are prohibited.
2: Gifts and Abilities that allow a Representative to duplicate, clone, or copy themselves are prohibited.
3: Gifts and Abilities that result in True Death, the destruction of the Soul, or permanant injury are prohibited.
4: Players designated as Representatives cannot be the Leaders of their respective Communities, past or present.
[Rewards]
1: Gate #999
2: The right to move freely between the Inner and Outer Gates.
3: The right to interface with the Central Network.
4: The right to challenge Fulcrum, Gatekeeper of the Little Garden.
[Penalty]
1: Any Community that willfully violates the Rules and Restrictions set forth above forfeits all Gates and Gifts in their possession.
2: Representatives that willfully manipulate others to violate the Rules will have their existence erased.
[Time Limit]
None
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Though he was tempted to whistle while reading the Rewards, the Rules and Restrictions left Vahn with a frown. He could easily create a Template to act as his Representative, but the fact remained that he had essentially been barred from participating.
"I know I said I would agree to just about any conditions, but preventing me from participating? Is this supposed to be a joke...?"
Smiling wryly, Indra was about to explain their reason but lost the chance when Shiroyasha plainly stated, "You're the one that mandated the Rules and Restrictions be fair. Allowing you to participate, regardless of whether or not the odds are stacked against you, leaves no chance of victory for other participants. It's as simple as that."
Unable to refute Shiroyasha's words, Vahn found himself at a loss for how to respond. After all, the reason he left the conditions for them to decide was because he had supreme confidence in his ability to come out on top. In other words, just as Shiroyasha suggested, there was no chance of him losing so long as he was the one to compete.
Adopting a wry smile of his own, Vahn muttered, "I shot myself in the foot on this one, didn't I...?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Shiroyasha replied, "It's not really that big a deal. So long as you don't violate the Rules and Restrictions, there aren't any significant downsides to losing. At this point, the 'powers that be' are pretty wary of doing anything overt to offend you."
Since there was merit to what Shiroyasha was saying, Vahn gave a curt nod, countless thoughts racing across his mind as he inquired, "When is the game scheduled to take place?"
Answering in Shiroyasha's stead, Indra explained, "There was a push to have the game initiate the moment you read the Geass Roll, but we were able to arrange a twenty-four-hour preparation period. Once we conclude this meeting, similar Geass Rolls will appear throughout the Little Garden. As for the venue where the Gift Game will take place, we will be utilizing the remnants of the original Little Garden as a battleground..."
Raising his brows, Vahn asked, "The original? Wasn't it destroyed due to the Demon Dragon God's actions...?"
Nodding his head, Indra replied, "Indeed. However, thanks to the efforts of an old friend of mine, a version of it still exists in the present. It might be just a memory, but it's as real as any other Gameboard."
With Loi-chan revealing the identity of Indra's 'old friend,' Canaria, Vahn instantly understood how the original Little Garden could still exist. The mysterious woman was able to use her Authority as Host Master and one of the most influential Poets to orchestrate a unique Gift Game known as 'Reflection.' She could force people to relieve their past or extend a single moment into thousands of years. These Reflections were similar in nature to the Divination Scroll gift to Vahn by Ouranos, so, for the duration of the Gift Game, they were 'actuality' for the target.
"I see...it seems, even after everything I've done, Canaria's influence can still be felt..."
Surprised by Vahn's words, Indra looked to Shiroyasha and asked, "You told him about Canaria? What else does he know...?"
Rolling her eyes, Shiroyasha lazily retorted, "What doesn't he know? I'm not familiar with the specifics, but Vahn has an association with Identity itself. So long as it is known or recorded, he can know just about anything. Given your presumption of his standing as the 'New Dawn,' is that really a surprise...?"
Though he opened his mouth to respond, Indra found himself at a loss for words. He understood what Shiroyasha was getting at, but the realization that Vahn was even more 'broken' than he already suspected was difficult to rationalize...
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Truth about to get a backhand...','All's fair in love and war...except when Vahn is involved xD...','I can imagine Indra going into retirement after all of this is over...')

Though he only had twenty-four hours to make a decision, Vahn was in no hurry to do so. Said twenty-four hours was referring to the amount of time that passed 'outside,' so he could mull over his decision for days, months, or even years, thanks to his ability to manipulate time.
With this in mind, Vahn decided to consult with Sis, the Council of Wives, and just about everyone who had branched out to assemble a Community of their own. The Win Condition of the Gift Game may have specified that only a single person could triumph, but there were no rules or restrictions prohibiting Representatives from working together.
After hearing what Vahn had to say, Eva was among the first to offer her input, asking, "Why not just implant one of your Templates into each of our affiliates? So long as they weren't the Leader of a Community, there are no Restrictions stating transfers are prohibited."
Shaking his head, Vahn replied, "While that's a good idea, I'm not going to deprive others of the opportunity to participate. There is also the issue of Authority. Without the benefits it provides, most of my Templates wouldn't even be able to harm the Avataras hailing from the Inner Gates."
Unable to restrain herself, Wu chimed in to complain, "This Gift Game is a load of bullshit. They claim that the Rules and Restrictions are intended to make things fair, but they're just an excuse to stack the deck in their favor. Even if I sent forth my most powerful subordinate, they wouldn't be able to do jack shit against those monsters from the Inner Gates."
Though he was of a similar mindset, Vahn could understand why entities such as himself and Wu were prohibited from participating. The latter was regarded as the most indestructible entity in all of Creation, so unless she surrendered, she basically couldn't lose.
"I understand where you're coming from, I really do. However, the Game's conditions have already been determined. Participation is also mandatory, so all we can do at this point is play by the rules or surrender out of spite."
Clicking her tongue, Wu bounced to her feet and said, "I need to blow off some steam." before promptly departing the meeting room. The look she gave Vahn made it clear she expected him to accompany her, so, while his original self remained seated, another manifested in the hallway, ready to receive her.
Choosing to insert herself into the conversation, Da Vinci asked, "Would you like me to run some simulations to determine which of our available members can best cooperate? I can also participate as a Representative, but I'd rather not get involved in such a public contest."
As the Leader of her Community was actually Luvia, Da Vinci was one of the people Vahn was considering as the Aldrnari Empire's Representative. She didn't like to stand out, but her raw power and ingenuity gave her an advantage over just about anyone, Authority excluded.
Interrupting before Vahn could respond, Ureko elected to follow in Wu's footsteps, complaining, "Man, if I had known an event like this was going to occur, I would have put Yuri in charge..."
Prompted by the remark, Yuri burst out laughing, much to the chagrin of Ureko and just about everyone else in a similar position. Those that had set out to establish Communities of their own did so because they either enjoyed fighting or wanted to help Vahn, so they were more than a little annoyed by the notion they were being forced to sit out.
Drawing the gazes of everyone giving Yuri a stink eye, Vahn exhaled a sigh and muttered, "I know how you feel...everything I did these past few days was with the belief I would be settling things personally. Now, even though I'm just two steps away from completing my goal, I have to rely on others at one of the most critical junctures..."
Realizing how his words could be misconstrued, Vahn's smile became wry as he scratched the back of his head and asserted, "Not that I don't trust each of you..."
With his comment eliciting a series of sighs, giggles, and eye rolls, Vahn was moments away from apologizing when Artoria chimed in to question, "Would the most appropriate choice not be Sis? I can't imagine her losing, not when she shares your power."
Having anticipated such a question, Sis took it upon herself to respond, "I am directly linked to Vahn, so the Central Network views us as two halves of the same entity. I prefer things staying that way, so I'll have to ask that you forgive me. I can provide support, but I can't participate directly."
Instead of questioning Sis's claim, Artoria supplied an understanding nod, adding, "My power is also reliant on Vahn, so I would be a poor choice as a Representative. What about you, Eva? With your understanding of Magic and Martial Arts, you should be able to perform well."
Without any hesitation whatsoever, Eva shook her head and stated, "I'll participate if Vahn asks me to, but I've already retired. Besides, if those are the only conditions, Asuna would be a more suitable candidate."
Pointing toward herself, Asuna expressed a hint of shock as she asked, "Me? You can't be serious, right? While I'm confident in my strength, I'm nowhere near the strongest person present. If the rules don't prevent aggregate entities from participating, Kefla would be a better choice. I mean, I've never blown up a planet before."
Excited by the notion, Caulifla promptly stood up, smacking the table in the process as she exclaimed, "Heck yeah, that's what I'm talking about! Count me in...!"
Though she was weaker than Broly in his Sage Mode, Caulifla was fairly confident in her fusion with Kale. The thought of engaging millions in a contest of strength also left her feeling hot and bothered, so much so that her golden fur immediately transitioned into a shade of pink.
With Caulifla eying him like a piece of meat, the smile on Vahn's face became wrier as he replied, "I don't mind letting you participate as the representative of the Sage Dragon's Hearth. However, as powerful as you are in your fused state, I can't imagine you and Kale emerging as the final victor. If you lose your cool, you might even harm your allies..."
Furrowing her brows, Caulifla wanted to retort Vahn's words but remained silent. She knew better than anyone how 'unstable' she and Kale could be in their fused state, so she ultimately returned to her seat and crossed her arms with a defiant huff.
While making a mental note to 'apologize' to the two Saiyanesses once the meeting had concluded, Vahn surprised nearly everyone present by directing his gaze to Seraphina, asking, "How about it, Sera? There are no Rules or Restrictions against summoning, so your ability would prove fairly useful in a situation such as this."
Equally as surprised as everyone else, Seraphina stared at Vahn as if he were an idiot, silence overwhelming the atmosphere for several awkward moments before she eventually retorted, "Did you replace your brain with a lump of iron? My ability might be helpful against the plebian fodder, but I can't even defeat Usalia. Besides, without my 'Authority,' there's a good chance my subordinates would turn against me if I summoned someone too powerful. Use your head, Vahn."
Realizing his mistake, Vahn exhaled an awkward chuckle before coughing to cover his embarrassment. In truth, he was just giving Seraphina a bit of face. He never anticipated that she would 'rebuke' him so harshly, at least not in front of so many people...
With the gazes and glares of nearly everyone present veering toward her, Seraphina shuddered involuntarily. Fenrir's gaze, in particular, caused her skin to crawl, so, even though she wasn't ordinarily the type of person to apologize, she hugged herself, forced an awkward smile, and said, "I may have been a bit harsh...sorry..."
Shaking his head, Vahn exuded a calming aura as he assured, "No need to apologize. I should have put more consideration into my words. I'm just at a loss after this unexpected development..."
Deciding to help Vahn transition back to the matter at hand, Da Vinci gave one of her mesmerizing smiles, proposing, "Why not make use of that little trinket you've been holding onto all these years? At least by defeating her, you'll feel like you've contributed directly to our victory."
Though he was momentarily confused by Da Vinci's words, the realization of who she was referring to hit him like a ton of bricks. He almost couldn't believe she was the one making such a proposal, as, viewed objectively, it was like manifesting a literal sun to light a candle.
As it was pretty rare to see Vahn stupefied, Da Vinci covered her mouth to suppress a throaty chuckle before lowering her hand, narrowing her eyes, and stating, "You already feel as though you're powerful enough to defeat the current rulers of the Little Garden. This is an opportunity to prove it to yourself. Afterward, what could possibly stand in your way...?"
Confused by Da Vinci's unnecessarily roundabout way of speaking, Fenrir gave voice to the majority's confusion, questioning, "What are you talking about? There isn't anyone Master can't defeat."
Instead of refuting Fenrir's words, Da Vinci's smile broadened as she said, "I agree, completely. If I didn't, I wouldn't have made such a suggestion."
As Da Vinci's words didn't really explain anything, Vahn assuaged Fenrir's growing frustrations by revealing, "She is suggesting I utilize the Ethereal Queen's Grace, summoning her into this world. It's just...even after all this time, I'm not confident in my ability to succeed. I've fought the version in my Actualized Worlds more than a thousand times and never come out on top..."
Though many of the people present knew about Vahn's occasional bouts against the Ethereal Queen, it was difficult for them to imagine him losing more than a thousand times. Vahn wasn't the type of person to stay down in a fight, even if he was utterly obliterated, so they couldn't imagine a set of circumstances where he would suffer a legitimate defeat.
Feeling a little embarrassed, Vahn forced a smile and scratched the back of his head a second time, admitting, "Well, I could probably win if I went 'all out.' When I'm in the Actualized Worlds, I tend to play by their rules. If I ignored them entirely, I can't imagine myself losing..."
Causing Vahn to feel even more embarrassed, a chorus of relieved sighs emanated from nearly everyone present. In their minds, he represented a pinnacle that couldn't be overcome, so it was difficult for them to accept him struggling against even the most powerful and ludicrous opponents. After all, this was Vahn they were talking about...even Da Vinci couldn't imagine a more irrationally overpowered existence...
With the matter all but decided, Vahn, assuming he would emerge as the victor, agreed that the Ethereal Queen would serve as the Representative of the Aldrnari Empire. Given what she represented, the odds of anyone, even the Big Three, defeating her were so infinitesimal they might as well be zero. Thus, the only things left to determine were the Representatives of every other Community affiliated with the Aldrnari Empire, starting with Kefla representing the Sage Dragon Hearth...
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As she hadn't been invited to participate in the discussion between Vahn and his bevy of beauties, Shiroyasha had been peeking in on them from the comfort of her private quarters. She had already designated Algol as her Representative, so she was just passing the time while others scurried about making preparations.
"So he actually went with the Ethereal Queen...It seems my worries were unfounded..."
Though she had never met the Ethereal Queen in person, Shiroyasha had seen several of Vahn's attempts to overcome her. She had been given an identical setup to Sandora, so whenever she was bored, she would flip on her television and see what Vahn's Templates were up to in his Actualized Worlds. They were some of the only worlds where her omnipotence didn't apply, so she had quickly gotten addicted to their content.
With nothing better to do, Shiroyasha laid on her side before manifesting a bag of rice crackers and switching on her TV to a scene of Vahn 'spying' on Mikoto during her early days in the Toaruverse. Mikoto was one of the people most likely to be designated as the Representative for the Aldrnari Empire, so Shiroyasha had been shoring up her knowledge of the peculiar Electromaster. Not because she wanted to plan around Vahn, but because she had been appointed as the Host of the impending Gift Game...
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Wu be like, "Fuck this shit, I'm out..."','Seraphina is playing with fire...','Da Vinci doing her thing, as usual xD...')

As one of the Gods holding the Little Garden together, Indra could not separate himself from the Principal Axes of Space, Time, and Reality like Vahn. Because of this, any sufficiently powerful being could spy on what he was doing, even when the flow of time had stagnated to the point of appearing frozen.
"Vahn Aldrnari Mason. We have heard your proposition and accept it at the behest of our Venerable Father, Vishnu."
Immediately following the authoritative voice, a woman with features remarkably similar to Shiroyasha appeared, complete with silvery-white hair and pointed ears. She also had horns growing from her head, but, unlike Shiroyasha, hers more closely resembled the antlers of an Eastern Dragon.
Making the woman's identity known, Indra adopted a wry smile as he said, "It's been a while, Lord Kurma. I never expected someone of your caliber to appear outside the Inner Gates."
Crossing her arms under her fairly modest breasts, hidden beneath a fur-lined, predominately golden coat, Kurma replied, "You're one to talk, Lord Indra. I can't even recall the last time you made an appearance at one of the Inner Community's social gatherings."
Borrowing a page out of Vahn's book, Indra shrugged his shoulders, his expression bordering on a deadpan as he remarked, "The residents of the Inner Gates are too uptight. I came up with the idea of the Little Garden to make things interesting. I see no reason in gathering just to praise and celebrate people who refuse to change."
Snorting through her nose, Kurma uttered, "How foolish..." before turning her attention to Vahn, amethyst eyes glistening as she questioned, "Can that fragment of yours truly serve as a Principal Axis?"
Nodding his head, Vahn replied, "Indeed. Ever since Shiroyasha warned me of the possibility that the rulers of the Little Garden could flee, I have been researching methods to create my own. Since then, I have created a number of self-contained realities with structures comparable to the Little Garden. The fragment I exhibited previously has been stress-tested with a metaversal structure comprising a googol of multiversal realities, several of which containing beings that could give your Venerable Father a run for his money."
Though she was a little irked by Vahn's comparison, Kurma didn't doubt his words. There were already rumors circulating among the Inner Gated Communities about Vahn being the New Dawn. If that were even remotely true, it suggested he was on par with the 'Big Three' that presided over all of Creation. As powerful as her father was, he would toil in vain to defeat Indra, much less one of those three 'monsters.'
Returning a nod of her own, Kurma decreed, "Then we shall accept your conditions. I can't say with certainty when the Gift Game will occur, but we will do our best to organize it as soon as possible. Until then, we will place a hold on your status as a Last Embryo."
While he didn't exactly have an attachment to his status as a Last Embryo, a frown marred Vahn's face as he stated, "That is somewhat inconvenient, given the present situation."
Waving her hand in an informal, dismissive manner, Kurma replied, "Such matters are a trifle. We can place a gag on the information and make it so that the incident with Zeus, as far as the residents of the Outer Gates are concerned, never happened. It's a bit unorthodox, but you have exhibited more than enough power to receive preferential treatment. The conditions specified by Laplace during your designation as a Last Embryo have made that very clear."
As if the matter was already decided, Kurma pulled up what appeared to be a digital display before pressing a runic icon. At that exact moment, the venue prepared by Katana, Dagger, and their staff abruptly flickered out of existence like some sort of graphical glitch. All of the people that had been gathered to listen to Vahn's statement were returned to their original positions as time within the Little Garden had effectively been 'reset' a full twenty-four hours.
Seemingly oblivious to Vahn's chagrin, Kurma adopted a radiant smile as she playfully mused, "And that's that. There will be some anomalies, such as Zeus disappearing, but this wouldn't be the first time he unexpectedly vanished. Hera will likely kick up a storm, but the details of the Gift Game will be decided long before she completely loses her temper."
Though he wasn't nearly as annoyed as Vahn, Indra made his disproval known with an exasperated sigh, roughly massaging his forehead as he said, "This is the problem with people from the Inner Gates. They barely even consider those 'outside' as people..."
Furrowing her brows, Kurma crossed her arms in defiance as she asked, "Do you not approve of my actions, Lord Indra? Given what's at stake, I would have assumed you would be lobbying to ensure the Sage Dragon Emperor receives special treatment. I doubt I need to explain to you the significance of acquiring a second Axis of Reality."
Interrupting before Indra could reply, Vahn pointed out, "You do realize that if I'm allowed to enter the Inner Gates, there's a good chance I will take over the entire Little Garden, right? I don't 'need' special treatment, not from you or anyone else."
Unbothered by Vahn's words, Kurma just shrugged her shoulders and stated, "Even if we don't give it to you, your very existence affords you certain privileges. If you're that bothered by my actions, feel free to pop over to Mt. Olympus and give those spoiled brats another thrashing. It's not like anyone could stop you. Rather, so long as Creation continues to endure, it doesn't matter if you conquer the Little Garden or not. The form or reality is significantly less important than the fact it continues to exist."
In an attempt to allay Vahn's frustrations, Indra chimed in to explain, "I'm sure you're aware, but this one's true identity is the World Dragon, Kurma Vaishnava. Her Origin is that of the Turtle that supports the world itself, so she only cares that life endures, unconcerned with the form it takes."
Nodding her head in affirmation, Kurma replied, "That's correct. I am one of the beings that represent the foundation of reality. You're free to hate or resent me, but I do what I must to ensure life endures into perpetuity."
"You're a brat, that's what."
Startled by the familiar yet unexpected voice, Kurma spun around to find the mature form of Shiroyasha standing behind her. She would usually be excited by the latter's appearance, but the disproving expression on the infamous Demon Lord's face caused numerous beads of sweat to form on the slightly shorter woman's face.
Inching away ever so slightly, Kurma's smile twitched at the edges as she stammered, "W-Well, if it isn't my ane-san. How have you been these past three hundred years? I see your seal has been removed...?"
Balling her hand into a fist, Shiroyasha gave Kurma a weak-looking knock to the head. Instead of lightly flinching, however, Kurma was planted into the ground, steam rising from Shiroyasha's fist as she revealed, "Actually, my seal is still firmly in place. My not-so-little lover here just happened to provide me with enough Spiritual Energy to offset what I lost."
Turning her attention to Vahn and Indra, Shiroyasha's cat-like eyes briefly met with the latter before focusing squarely on the former as she adopted an apologetic smile and revealed, "Sorry, I never expected that Kuu-chan would show up and cause problems. However, you're also at fault for not telling me about that little Reality Axis you're carrying around. You know I can't keep track of what you do in your Actualized Worlds, right?"
Adopting an apologetic smile of his own, Vahn habitually replied, "You're right. I should have informed you of my intentions. I just wasn't sure how things would develop, so I kept it as one of my many trump cards."
As she didn't really blame Vahn for not telling her 'everything,' Shiroyasha just nodded her head and replied, "Well, everything worked out in the end. I'll coordinate with the Inner Gates to ensure they don't try anything sneaky during the Garden-wide Gift Game. For now, why don't you return to your family and continue celebrating? Kuu-chan may have turned back the Little Garden's clock twenty-four hours, but she had enough sense to leave the Sage Dragon's Hearth untouched."
Shaking his head, Vahn looked down at the unconscious Avatara's body and remarked, "More like she couldn't influence it if she tried..."
Spreading her hands in a gesture of helplessness, Shiroyasha replied, "Either way, the end result is pretty much the same. I can also say with certainty that there's no way to return things to the way they were, so there's no sense in harping over events that have effectively been erased from history. Just do what you always do and relish the present."
With Shiroyasha essentially using his own words against him, Vahn found himself unable to retort. He was the one consistently advising people to continue moving forward, so while his Draconic nature compelled him to 'punish' Kurma for her brazen disregard, he promptly suppressed the urge and replied, "Very well. It's a little inconvenient, but anything worth doing once is worth doing twice. I'm sure Merry, at the very least, wouldn't mind repeating the day a few times..."
Finished with what he had to say, Vahn was about to dematerialize when Shiroyasha abruptly pointed out, "You know, there are at least nine others who could have delivered this message to you. Kuu-chan being the one to descend carries with it a number of implications..."
Though he understood what Shiroyasha was trying to say, Vahn shook his head and answered, "I may have considered it if this was her true self. I'm not so desperate that I need to vent on a casually crafted Avatara..."
Looking down at Kurma, Vahn took note of the fact that her intent was still lingering despite her apparent unconsciousness. She was listening closely to everything they were discussing, so he made it clear he had no interest in simply sating her curiosity.
Understanding Vahn's nature, Shiroyasha didn't attempt to press the matter further. She was somewhat indebted to Kurma, but not to the point she would go out of her way to arrange things. If Kurma really wanted to see what all the fuss surrounding Vahn was, she would need to muster up the courage to approach him directly. Borrowing her appearance gave her an advantage over others, but it didn't matter unless she could exhibit at least a hint of 'sincerity.'
With nothing else to discuss, Vahn disappeared from the frozen reality, leaving behind Indra, Shiroyasha, and the abruptly conscious Kurma. The latter rose with a somewhat pouty expression on her face, but Shiroyasha had no compassion for her self-proclaimed imouto, stating, "Just consider yourself lucky he didn't give you a spanking..."
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As his other selves set about repeating several of his actions from the previous day, Vahn 'prime' sought shelter and comfort in the nursery of the Sage Dragon's Hearth. He was somewhat relieved by the notion that people wouldn't randomly bombard him if he decided to walk around the Little Garden, but he was simultaneously overwhelmed by the reality he would soon be squaring off against powerhouses in the Inner Gates.
Though he was long past the point of worrying about how he measured up against the entities ruling the Little Garden, Vahn felt a strange mixture of anxiety and excitement knowing it wouldn't be much longer before he reached the pinnacle of the current Record. He was so close to reuniting with his original 'family' that, even surrounded by his children, he felt an overwhelming, indescribable sense of longing...
"It won't be much longer now...just stay focused...there's nothing that can get in our way...only ourselves..."
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'What's with this sassy lost child...?','Happy birthday to the ground...!','Ain't no stoppin' us now~!')

Chapter 2329: Turnaround