Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After giving the girls plenty of time to rest, they set out towards the 40th Floor to begin searching for the Unicorn. Since it was just an optional Quest, Vahn wasn't too worried about completing it and, if they were unable to find it after searching around for a few hours, he intended to return to the surface. As interesting as a Variant Unicorn was, the Quest didn't seem to be a matter of great importance and Vahn would rather return home earlier to spend time with his daughters instead of wasting it away chasing after a phantom...The 40th Floor, continuing down to the 43rd Floor, were another one of the 'dead zones' in the Dungeon, meaning there weren't many monsters that spawned. Other than the occasional monster party, or the roaming variant, there weren't too many things to bar the passage of normal parties. As for Vahn's, with his domain allowing him to easily sense monsters, Fenrir's nose being able to pick up almost any scent, and Mikoto's search magic, they were able to progress forward at a very quick pace. However, this was only until Vahn sensed a very fast moving object in his domain, not coming from the Floor they were on, but from the Floor above.Looking up, Vahn calmly pulled Haruhime and Mikoto back as Fenrir leaped towards the roof to intercept the approaching creature. Around the same time as a massive blue-skin snake pierced through the Dungeon ceiling, Fenrir tore through its face with her claws. Without even having time to issue a cry, the notorious creature, known amongst Adventurers as a Lambton, also called a Worm Well, fell to the Dungeon Floor as its body continued to twitch around for a few seconds before dissipating into dust. Vahn shook his head, disappointed in how weak the Lambton had been though, after remembering how strong Fenrir was, he decided to extend a small amount of condolences towards the now deceased monster.Fenrir ran over, carrying a large magic core that was nearly as large as her torso, happily passing it over to Vahn in exchange for some headpats. There were also a few Drop Items littering the ground but Vahn had already stowed them away in his Inventory, allowing the system to analyze them before breaking the materials down into OP. Vahn had the habit of converting non-essential items into OP these days, only choosing to keep rare materials and herbs that could be used by the others in their [Mixing]. After all, though the conversion wasn't great, Vahn could often earn more OP than he spent on materials if he took the time to forge them into high-quality goods. Thus, he didn't mind purchasing materials directly from the system shop instead of relying on hunting them down in the Dungeon.With the Lambton dead, the group picked up their previous pace as they continued making their way towards the area where the Unicorn was said to have appeared. Though the 44th Floor became covered in a black bedrock with fiery cracks running through it, the 43rd Floor still had sparse areas of grass and water that could be found periodically throughout its rooms. The Unicorn had initially been seen near a small pond within a large chamber near the entrance of the 44th Floor. It took a bit of searching, but Vahn believed they had found the area since there was a subtle fluctuation in the mana, making it feel refreshing and pure compared to the stagnant energy within the Dungeon. Unfortunately, though the trail seemed very strong in the room, Vahn didn't notice it leading through any of the passageways, almost as if it vanished into thin air...Fenrir sniffed around the area while Mikoto and Haruhime also looked around for a bit, each searching for any signs that the Unicorn had been present. As for Vahn, he decided to look in the pond itself, using his domain and [Eyes of Truth] to peer into the pristine blue pool of water. There were numerous crystals inside, causing the water to be illuminated by making it difficult to peer into the deeper regions since everything blurred together. Vahn, however, was able to look into the depths unobstructed, finding a few rare medicinal herbs but no signs of the Variant Unicorn.Haruhime, seemingly remembering something from the past, brought her finger to her chin as she said, "Legends say that Unicorns only appear before pure maidens...Vahn, did you ask Finn about the Adventurers that discovered the Unicorn previously?" Shaking his head, Vahn realized he probably should have followed up on the information a little better, especially since part of the Quest was to investigate the rumors. Since the Adventurers in question had likely been at Lil Geirr, he could have gotten a lot more information if he learned about them. Of course, with Haruhime's reminder, Vahn scanned through the information in his own mind and found out a lot of details regarding Unicorns, including the claim that they only appeared before Pure Maidens.After looking through the details a bit, Vahn turned to Mikoto and Fenrir, saying, "There is a chance that the Unicorn has some form of detection that allows it to evade notice. Since there is still the presence of calm energy in this room, it may mean the Unicorn had somehow hidden within the void, or potentially teleported to another part of the Dungeon. We can try leaving the two of you here to draw it out..." Since Mikoto would be able to telepathically communicate with them in the event of an emergency, Vahn wasn't too worried that something would happen to them. After all, there were few things that would actually pose a threat to Fenrir and they both had an [Effigy of the Hero] on their bodies.However, shortly after speaking the words, Vahn changed his mind and said, "Actually, if it isn't too much trouble, I'd like for you to stay here alone, Mikoto. There shouldn't be any real danger and, if something shows up, I can always summon you through your [Pactio] card." Vahn, though confident nothing would happen, still felt a little worried. If Mikoto was alone, he could easily teleport her through a single Floor, but that would have left Fenrir to fight on her own. She would likely be able to hold out well, but Vahn didn't really want to expose them just to complete a Quest...Fenrir nodded her head, showing a slightly relieved expression on her face since she never liked being too far away from her Master. As for Mikoto, she too nodded, saying, "Leave it to me, Vahn. I'm not sure if I qualify as 'pure', as I have taken lives before, but I am still a maiden..." Mikoto blushed slightly at the end of her words, sending Vahn a glance that caused her ruddy complexion to become more pronounced. Vahn smiled in response, feeling a little awkward but appreciating Mikoto's unique reaction and the slightly 'expectant' glint in her eye before she turned away. Then, with Fenrir and Haruhime in tow, they left the area while Mikoto sat atop a smooth white stone and began meditating.Assuming that the Unicorn had some way to know if it had been detected, Vahn made his way through the Dungeon until he was unable to sense Mikoto's location within his domain. They then continued walking around, updating his map of the area while waiting for Mikoto's telepathic message. If she didn't send them anything within an hour, Vahn planned to double back and discuss their next course of action, which would likely be to return to the surface. Fortunately, around forty minutes later, Mikoto voice appeared in his mind along with a gentle ping, ("Vahn, the Unicorn appeared. What should I do?")After collecting his thoughts, Vahn focused his mind and said, ("If possible, try talking to it to see if it is sentient. Unicorns are known for their intelligence and gentle nature so it should listen if you stay calm. If it is receptive to your words, try inquiring about its origins and see if it is willing to accompany us to the surface.") Mikoto sent back a quick affirmation but, before he was even able to explain what was going on, Fenrir suddenly squinted her eyes and said, "Master, enemies..." in a cold voice. Vahn had been focusing more on his communication with Mikoto so he had temporarily lost his focus, now feeling the presence of several people passing through one of the passages they hadn't been through yet. Judging by their auras, they seemed to be a team of Adventurers around Level 3-4 in strength. As for why Fenrir referred to them as enemies, it was because they had a 'murderous' aura around them and, even though their auras weren't completely black, they didn't seem like good people.Since he didn't know the best path to connect to the adjacent passage, Vahn decided to 'make' one. A golden aura surrounded his body as he pushed forward with raw speed, seemingly blinking the short distance to the wall as he transformed into his Xuánwǔ form and compressed the shockwave to create a tunnel. Traditionally, a shockwave would disperse through a medium, much like a wave that spread out evenly. With his ability to control shockwaves, however, Vahn forced the shockwave to continue forward in a 3m radius, carrying the terrifying energy of his blow along with it. Thus, instead of creating a crater that spread out for several meters, Vahn shattered the wall in an almost perfect circle that extended the 13m distance that connected to the next passage.When he appeared inside the same tunnel as the 'enemies', Vahn was immediately attacked by a bolt of electricity that smashed into his chest and made it feel like a path of destruction had been carved through his body. The bolt exited out through his foot, grounding into the Dungeon floor below while Vahn continued to stand, ignoring the smoke rising from his body as he glared towards the five people and said, "I understand why you might attack someone that appeared out of nowhere, but you should still try to get a better understanding of the situation before you actually engage the enemy. Now, I'm more than a little annoyed and feel less inclined to talk..." Though he was actually speaking much more than normal, this was a result of his inhibitions about taking lives after wiping out the fortress the previous day. These people also didn't have completely black auras so, until he learned about their purpose, Vahn decided not to outright kill them.Uncharacteristically, all five Adventurers present were women, each possessing rather attractive faces and shapely figures. The oldest among them, who happened to be the mage that attacked him, only appeared to be in her late twenties. As for the youngest, though it was hard to tell since she was a Pallum, Vahn guessed she was around eighteen years old. Their party composition seemed to be two scouts, two vanguard units, and a single Mage, easily identifiable as the leader of the group with how the others looked towards her periodically.Surprised that her attack didn't seem to actually harm Vahn, the Mage swallowed nervously and said, "Sorry about that...my name is Amalia, and this is my party, Rose Quintet." Though she was still nervous, especially after failing her surprise attack, Amalia noticed that the boy before them was very handsome. He also didn't really seem like a bad guy so she decided that it would be better to make use of their appearances to earn some leniency. Though they were all still virgins, as was necessary for their trade, each member of her group was very confident in their physical appearance.Vahn raised his left brow, giving Amalia a curious look as he asked, "Are you Freelance Adventurers? It's rare to see a group of four Level 3's and a Level 4 that don't belong to a Familia..." The members of Rose Quintet tensed up when Vahn accurately mentioned their Levels before they had even started fighting. Their instincts were telling them that there was no way they would be able to fight against him. Amalia herself, having thrown out the large bolt of thunder magic, began to feel even more nervous as she explained, "We used to belong to a Familia, but our Goddess returned back to Heaven after accruing a large debt. To avoid getting saddled with the debt, we became Freeland Adventurers and perform missions to get by..."Even if a god was 'forced' back to Heaven, it didn't mean the Falna they bestowed upon others would fade away. However, most people that had belonged to a Familia, especially if there were already decently Leveled, would have gone to a different Familia. Vahn suspected that the girls may have had something to do with their goddess' debt. It was either that or they had a different reason for deciding against joining another Familia, likely related to the missions they were taking. None of them seemed like 'bad' people yet, seeing their 'tainted' auras, Vahn knew they didn't live as honestly as they could have.After listening to Amalia's words, Vahn calmly asked, "Are you here to try and hunt down the Unicorn?" The moment he mentioned the Unicorn, Vahn saw the girls tense up while Amalia's fingers produced a small amount of electricity. This caught his attention and, with his [Eyes of Truth] active, Vahn noticed that Amalia had an off-blue aura that seemed to radiate with electrical energy. She seemed to have a pure lightning affinity, something that was exceptionally rare since it was a relatively high-tier element. However, knowing they hunted Unicorns, Vahn felt a bitterness on the tip of his tongue and said, "This Unicorn is a bit unique, so I'll have to ask you to give up. I'm not going to berate you for doing what you have to in order to get by, but hunting gentle creatures isn't any way to make a living..." Shaking his head, Vahn turned away and decided to let the five girls go free. After all, there wasn't really anything wrong with hunting animals and monsters, at least not to the extent that they deserved to die for it.Amalia felt very offended by Vahn's words, especially when he turned away from them as if there were nothing more than air. However, her instincts were screaming at her to remain quiet and, after seeing a pair of scarlet eyes peer at them through the hole that Vahn had created, she decided to let the matter lay. It was obvious that the man before them was far stronger than they were and, even if a Unicorn's horn and blood were worth a great deal of Valis, it wasn't worth their lives trying to obtain. Gesturing to her allies, Amalia said in a quiet and shaky voice, "Let's go back. We'll try to find a new mark..." Her companions all nodded, having the same sense of impending doom as their leader and not wanting to try their luck. They quickly fell into formation and began making their way back, not even sparing a glance towards Vahn after deciding to retreat.Vahn continued to follow them with his intent for a bit, nodding slightly before searching through the system shop and purchasing a Unicorn horn and marrow. The combined cost was only 17,000OP so Vahn didn't feel it was too much as compensation. He set the items in the girls' path, including a note telling them to treat their lifestyle choices with the same severity they placed on their own lives. If they had decided to force the issue, attacking him without regards to the difference in power, they would have all been severely injured, if not killed. The horn and marrow were their rewards for making the 'correct' decision, causing the girls to feel a bit of confusion before they increased the speed of their retreat.Haruhime giggled after seeing Vahn nod slightly, musing, "You're very soft on women, Vahn. If you didn't have [Magia Erebea], that thunder magic might have crippled and severely injured you. I can't imagine you were the first person they had ever attacked for standing in their way..." Without belonging to an active Familia, the Rose Quintet was able to attack other Adventurers without obtaining a curse. However, they also had the detriment of being unable to update their parameters, meaning they would continue to be stuck at their Level unless they joined another Familia. They had likely been exploiting this loophole since many Adventurers wouldn't expect a sudden attack during normal circumstances.Releasing a small sigh, Vahn turned to Haruhime and said, "I can tell that those girls aren't beyond salvation so I wanted to give them a chance. Don't worry, though, as I intend to follow up on the matter with the Guild later on." It wasn't illegal to hunt Unicorns, but it is very frowned upon since they often help guide lost and injured Adventurers to safety. However, as the materials that could be obtained from a Unicorn were used in powerful salves and Elixirs, even the Guild sometimes put in requests. These were all documented though, with all the materials being used as efficiently as possible while an Elf usually performed burial rites out of respect for the fallen Unicorn. If it was known that a Freelance group was proactively hunting Unicorns, the Guild would take action and impose heavy fees upon the Rose Quintet if they continued trying.After dealing with the unexpected arrival of the Rose Quintet, Vahn sent a message to Mikoto, asking how things had been going. There was a slight delay, causing Vahn to squint his eyes before Mikoto's voice sounded in his head, ("...it seems to be called Fatina. I got permission for you to come by, but only after taking a vow swearing that we would not cause it harm.") Vahn was somewhat surprised to learn that Mikoto had taken such a vow but, after considering the type of person she was, he didn't find it too odd. Nodding his head, Vahn explained the details to Haruhime and Fenrir before they all made there way over to meet what Vahn assumed was a Unicorn Xenos named Fatina...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'RIP Lambton-chan...','Survival Instincts','Encounter with a Xenos?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

It didn't take long for them to reach the room where Mikoto had been conversing with Fatina. Vahn was somewhat surprised to find that Mikoto was using a brush to comb through Fatina's hair as it stood majestically within the peculiar lighting of the cave. As was described by Finn, Fatina was obviously not a normal Unicorn and, instead of the pristine white fur, golden mane, and golden hair, it had a silvery sheen to its coat, pale blue hair, and a crystalline horn affixed to its head. The eyes, which were usually blue, had an amethyst hue to them that radiated with the light of intelligence.Unfortunately, as soon as it turned to look at Vahn, Fatina seemed to 'huff' as a soft male voice resonated through the room, seemingly filled with contempt and frustration as it said, "So, this is the boy you have taken a liking to? Hmph...someone with as gentle a soul as you shouldn't allow yourself to be tainted by this impure child..." Vahn felt his brow twitch slightly while Mikoto flustered a bit, stopping her brushing as she said, "Vahn isn't impure! He puts in more effort than anyone else to make everyone happy. You can't just say such inconsiderate things...!"Vahn, Haruhime, and even Fenrir, were all surprised by Mikoto's sudden outburst but Fatina didn't seem to care as it just snorted toward Vahn before looking over the other two girls at his side. Sensing the 'presence' of Vahn within Haruhime, Fatina didn't spare her more than a glance before turning to Fenrir, feeling a shudder run along its body when meeting her cold scarlet eyes. Fatina could strangely feel the presence of Vahn coming from Fenrir as well yet, unlike Haruhime, she also radiated an aura of purity. Though there was a feeling of danger radiating off of her body, Fatina felt that, amongst the three girls present, Fenrir was the most 'pure' of them all...Since Mikoto had stopped brushing it, Fatina walked over towards Fenrir, doing its best not to mind her cold glare as it said, "You, pure one. I will allow you to touch me..." Fenrir just furrowed her brows in response, stepping off to the side and grabbing her Master's arm. Feeling calmed by his presence, Fenrir spoke in an icy tone, saying, "Fenrir doesn't want to touch you, not at all. Also, you shouldn't say bad things about Master or Fenrir will have to punish you..." Holding up her left paw, Fenrir let her claws grow slightly, causing Fatina to feel a great amount of pressure. However, it just snorted before making its way back over to Mikoto, saying, "Continue brushing me or I will leave this area. You..." Fatina looked toward Vahn, obviously intending for the later to introduce himself.Vahn didn't have the best impression of Fatina but, considering the Quest had a few benefits, decided to not mind its rude behavior as he nodded slightly and said, "Greetings, my name is Vahn Mason. You've already met Mikoto and these two are Haruhime and Fenrir." Fatina blinked in a somewhat lazy manner before lightly nodding its head and saying, "Very well, Vahn Mason. I promised this one that I would meet with you for a short while so tell me your reasons for seeking me out." Using his Quest to guide his line of questioning, Vahn smiled and explained, "There are two matters that I wanted to discuss with you. First of all, I'm simply interested to know your origin and if you are a Xenos. Secondly, if you are a Xenos that seeks the surface, I wanted to give the opportunity to increase your strength and roam about the surface without people going out of their way to try and kill you."Fatina stared directly toward Vahn as he spoke, finding no dishonesty in the boy's words, effectively increasing his opinion of Vahn in the process. Deciding there was no downside to answering the first question, Fatina explained, "I know not what a Xenos is, but my origin is something I can recall. I was once a Unicorn wandering about the Western Forests, tended to by Elven Maidens through the years. However, after taking a meal and retiring to my grotto, I suddenly awoke to find myself in this dismal place. No matter how much I roam, I cannot seem to venture beyond a certain point, finding myself wandering in circles and evading those that seek out my horn and blood..."From Fatina's explanation, Vahn could determine it was indeed a Xenos, especially since it was currently genderless, even though its voice sounded masculine. Monsters reborn in the Dungeon, including Xenos like Terra, didn't possess the same sexual characteristics as their previous existences. Though some of them had humanoid appearances, they weren't truly separated from their identities as monsters while still being bound to the Dungeon. Prolonged separation from the energy contained within the Dungeon would eventually cause them to experience weakness and all kinds of other issues, which was the main reason why the Xenos remained within the Dungeon. Other reasons included the fact that they would be killed almost immediately after emerging and, unless they were bound by slave contracts or covered in powerful sealing formations, they could never leave for long periods of time.Deciding to clear up a few things, Vahn explained, "This place is the Dungeon, located in Orario, the City at the very center of the continent of Eden. If you lived amongst Elves, you likely resided in the Western Forests while you were alive. I'm uncertain how you died, but you were reborn into the Dungeon and have now become a Xenos. I'm certain you've noticed that your form has changed slightly and, though you likely possessed intelligence as a Unicorn, you are undoubtedly more intelligent now." Fatina blinked slowly once again, seemingly contemplating Vahn's words before nodding its head and saying, "What you say is true, Vahn Mason. I am much more powerful than I had been previously, though it doesn't please me to know I had died to obtain my current status..." Fatina released another snort but, different from the previous ones, this one sounded almost like a sigh.Since it didn't have any knowledge about the Xenos, Vahn explained, "The Xenos are monsters that have gained sentience, sometimes rivaling, or even exceeding, the various surface races. However, they are also hunted down by some groups since many people still consider them monsters. The Alliance, the organization I'm a part of, has been advocating for Xenos to be granted the right to live without persecution. If you believe you can trust me, I'd like to help you leave this place and, if you have nowhere else to go, I can grant you greater strength and a form of eternal life. Though you will become my subordinate, I am willing to take a vow that I will never force you to fight on my behalf, nor will I ever make you do something against your will. However, there is someone I wish for you to act as a mount for, a goddess by the name of Eirene..."Vahn knew Eirene wasn't a virgin but, as a goddess, Fatina shouldn't be able to consider her as 'impure' since, by virtue of their existence, gods were unblemished entities that were irrefutably pure, regardless of the characteristics and personalities. Fatina, showing a very human expression of surprise, seemed to consider the offer for a few minutes since it didn't sense any dishonesty in Vahn's words. Though it would have outright refused the offer to serve as a mount to almost anyone else, Fatina didn't think a goddess was beneath it. In fact, few Unicorns ever had the opportunity to stand at the side of goddesses since their kind would often be hunted down if they left the safety of the forest. If it could truly become stronger under the protection of Vahn, Fatina didn't think it was a bad idea, especially if it could escape this dismal Dungeon and return to the surface.After several minutes of silence, Fatina looked into Vahn's eyes and said, "I do not wish to spend the rest of my days locked up within this Dungeon, awaiting the moment when some wayward Adventurer manages to claim my head. If your words are true, show me your conviction and make a vow that you will guarantee my safety in exchange for my trust. However, if the person you introduce me to, goddess or not, isn't to my taste, I ask that you allow me to freely roam the world once again." Vahn, without even considering it in detail nodded his head with a smile, raising his hand and saying, "I swear, by title as the Sage Adrnari and Captain of the Hestia Familia, I, Vahn Mason, will guarantee your protection and, should you one day seek it from me, your freedom. I will not force you into anything against your will, nor will I bind you to service for selfish ends."Seeing the light of a vow emerge and fuse into Vahn's chest, Fatina nodded with a contented expression on its face as it said, "Very well, Vahn Mason. From this point onwards, I will follow you in exchange for power and freedom." At the same time as Fatina spoke, Vahn got the notification through his system that his Quest had been completed and that Fatina wished to become his subordinate. Vahn was somewhat curious if he would actually be able to name Fatina but, considering it had been reborn through the Dungeon, it shouldn't be an issue. In fact, when he read the notification clearly, Vahn knew it simply referred to itself as Fatina while actually being a [Nameless] entity. Presumably, it had been called Fatina in the past but, after being reborn, this no longer had any relevance.----------------------------------------------------------------------[Quest: Secret of the Silver Unicorn]Rank: SCompletion Grade: BObjective: Investigate the rumors of the Variant Unicorn seen between the 40th and 43rd Floors (Incomplete). Find the Variant Unicorn and discover the secret of its origin, capturing or killing it in the process (1/1).Rewards: Unit Management Function Upgraded, 100,000 OP.Grade Rewards: 1x[Unicorn Bridle]//[Nameless] Wishes To Become Your Subordinate. (Y/N?)//[Nameless]Age: 63 DaysRace: Silver UnicornLevel: 4Loyalty: 53Soul Strength: Tier 0 (Mana Construct)Karma: -State: [Active]----------------------------------------------------------------------Vahn was a little bothered that his completion grade had been so low but, considering he managed to recruit a Unicorn, especially a Variant species that was also a Xenos, it didn't really matter much. Having an upgrade to his 'Unit Management Function' was already a great reward and, unlike before when he could only summon them from a short range, Vahn could now call his Subordinates to his side in exchange for some OP. Unlike other forms of 'teleportation', Sis informed him that using the functionality of the system couldn't be interfered with by the laws and restrictions of the world. Though it only seemed to apply to the subordinates he had named, as they were comprised of source energy, it was still a very useful upgrade.Now that Fatina had joined them, Vahn smiled and explained, "From now on, we're linked together until you decide to separate and go your own way. I'll keep you safely away within my storage dimension for the time being and, once the cooldown on my unique ability is up, I will bestow upon you a name that will grant you unlimited potential and a fair amount of power." Fatina could also sense the bond it now shared with Vahn, suddenly finding him less 'appalling' than before. It gave a light snort and said, "I can sense there is something different about you. This is the first time I have placed my trust in a human...do not let me down..." With its words finished, Fatina slumped forward and dispersed into blue and purple dust that receded into a relatively large and beautiful monster core.After safely keeping Fatina's monster core in his Inventory, Vahn turned to the other three girls before focusing his gaze on Mikoto and smiling. She returned his smile and bowed her head slightly while Haruhime came near her side and whispered, "You did well, Mikoto. You can use this as an opportunity to get closer to Vahn..." The latter half of her words had been very quiet but, judging by how red Mikoto's face became, Vahn had some idea of what she might have said. Chuckling lightly, Vahn gestured to the girls and said, "This didn't take as long as I expected. If we hurry, we can easily return to the surface and then spend tomorrow just relaxing. As Haruhime said, you did very well this time, Mikoto. If there is anything you'd like, please just let me know and I'll do my best to grant your request." Vahn sent Mikoto a playful wink, nearly bursting into laughter when it looked like Mikoto was going to begin producing steam from her head...Though they made a quick stop at Lil Geirr, informing Finn about the success of the mission and leaving behind a reward for the people who had originally spotted the Unicorn, the group managed to reach the surface in around fourteen hours. In total, they had spent slightly more than an entire day within the Dungeon but, even considering they had only rested for a few hours, Haruhime and Mikoto were both in high spirits when they reached the surface. When they were in their [Pactio] forms, it was very easy to send them energy since there was already a 'link' established between his own source energy and their transformations. This meant Vahn could passively strengthen the girls and, though he still used his [Grooming] to pamper them a bit, it wasn't entirely necessary. Of course, he would never tell them this since he was personally fond of petting the girls...Terra showed up almost immediately after they exited Babel Tower, displaying a lovely smile on her face as she said, "Welcome back, Master." Without warning, Terra wrapped her arms and wings around Vahn, surprising him a little bit until she said, "I finished the orb...whenever you're ready, please help me hatch 'our' egg..." Vahn felt a little giddy at Terra's words, completely caught off guard by the sudden revelation as she laughed lightly and kissed his cheek. Gesturing to the other girls to stand close, Terra created a ward on the ground that surprised the onlookers as the entire group disappeared from sight, moved to the Manor through Terra's use of [Void Transference]. They ultimately ended up in the training area, Terra giving Vahn a questioning look as she twisted her waist in a somewhat sensual manner while walking towards the illusory forest.Vahn watched her for a few seconds before releasing a small sigh and saying, "Make sure to get some rest. I'll accompany Terra for the time being so, if anyone asks, tell them..." Unable to come up with a way to talk around the issue, Vahn just shook his head and honestly stated, "There is a good chance I'm going to help her hatch the egg. I'm not sure what that will entail so it may take a few hours until I have any free time. Inform everyone what is going on so there aren't any disturbances..." Haruhime giggled slightly, sending an amorous look towards Vahn before grabbing Mikoto's sleeve and saying, "Come, Mikoto, let's go spread the good news to everyone~." Mikoto flustered a bit, producing an awkward 'N-nn' as Haruhime dragged her away by the sleeve of her kimono.Fenrir continued to watch her Master's back all the way until he vanished into the illusory woods, watching as his figure was obscured by the invisible barrier before he completely disappeared. She then looked around the area, sensing all the smells from the girls' earlier training, which had already ended for the day, before jumping up onto the roof. Knowing that Terra was able to give their Master a child made Fenrir more than a little uncomfortable, not because she truly wanted a child of her own, but because she had seen how happy her Master was to have children. If she could, Fenrir would give her Master as many babies as it took to keep him happy since, more than anything else in the entire world, Fenrir didn't like seeing her Master sad...With nothing else to do at the moment, Fenrir looked at her paws as a magical light flowed over her fur and caused them to compress, elongating her fingers and making them more humanoid. She wiggled them around, testing their dexterity while feeling slightly uncomfortable at the unfamiliar movements. For the time being, as there were no practical solutions that would allow an Ageless body to bear children, Fenrir decided to focus on the next best thing. She would continue working on her transformation magic until she could safely interact with, not just her Master, but her Master's current children. Fenrir figured that, if she couldn't give her Master children of her own, she could at least protect and take care of what he already had...it was her duty, and Fenrir refused to let her Master down...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Fatina is a wee bit cuntish','Terra Makes Her Move (UwU)~!','Fenrir really is the goodest girl...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 679: Encounter?