Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though it was nearing the middle of the night, Vahn exited the orb and spread his perception to see if any of the goddesses were awake. Since a lot had been going on from the moment the expedition set out, he wasn't surprised to find that Loki, Hephaestus, and Eirene were all awake, gathered together in Loki's room alongside Syr, Riveria, and Tsubaki. Erika had already moved into her own room and Vahn could see that she was also awake, huddled up at a desk with a lamp while continuing her studies late into the evening. He wasn't going to hold it against her for working hard but made a mental note to make sure she is resting properly later on.Since he knew she would want to be involved in the conversation, Vahn let his 'intentions' reach Hestia, stirring the goddess awake in an instant as she sat up in her bed in a daze before preparing to come down to Loki's room. Vahn also 'ordered' Anubis and Terra to come over while pulling out Freya's communication scroll and giving her a quick update on the situation. He informed her that he would meet her after the discussion began and told her to stand by for the time being, as she had wanted to come to his side the moment he mentioned it. Since Loki was also paying attention to her larger network, this alerted her to the fact he was inbound and Vahn could sense them moving around to prepare for his arrival.Upon entering into the room, Vahn smiled towards the gathered girls and plainly stated, "I have come to realize many things and need to make my intentions clear so that everyone understands my future actions better." To this, many of the girls showed slightly startled expressions while Loki asked, "Did something happen? Your presence... it's very 'different' than normal..." Vahn nodded his head, not denying her observation at all and instead explained, "Though I will not claim to have a proper grasp on the situation, this farce with Enyo, no, the entire world has gone on long enough. If the Alliance is going to be shaping the world in the future, we need to take more proactive measures to bring about the changes we desire. I have decided to take the initiative to prevent our enemies from simply doing whatever they want...I'm tired of people getting hurt just because a bunch of fools believe that we will simply stand at the side and bide our time..."This statement seemed to have a big impact on Eirene who immediately asked, "Vahn, what are you trying to do...?" There was a bit of hesitation in her voice and it was easy to see that she was shaken by the sudden change in his behavior. Seeing this, Vahn smiled gently to her and said, "Don't worry, Eirene, it isn't as though I'm planning on becoming some generic tyrant that just does whatever he wants. The change I intend to bring about is something that will require the concerted efforts of the entire Alliance. However, I will be taking personal action to deal with enemies that would have required us to react after they caused a great deal of harm to people. I know that everyone here is aware of the dangers presented by Enyo and, with her current behaviors, I refuse to just stand by and wait until she releases some great plague or chemical attack upon the City. Since her forces are currently located within the Dungeon, I plan to keep them there and systematically eliminate them. I'm done waiting for people to suffer before I'm able to take actions I have already known would be necessary from the start."Though she had shown a bit of hesitation at first, Eirene seemed to get fired up by the righteous fervor in Vahn's voice. She had even risen to her feet, a resolute look in her eyes as she asked, "What do you need me to do? How can I help?" Since the first time they had become one, Eirene had already resolved to stand at Vahn's side until the end. His sudden change had caused her to feel a slight amount of concern but, hearing the conviction in his words, she couldn't help but feel as though he had become even more heroic than before.Vahn reached out his hand, stroking Eirene's blue hair as he softly stated, "Thank you for your support, Eirene...for now, just wait until everyone else has shown up. We all need to be on the same page for what I have planned, so please just be patient for the time being..." As he knew it was a very effective method, and because he wanted to do so, Vahn gave Eirene a kiss to break her tension and placate her for a moment. He then gently pushed against her shoulder and guided her to the bed as a rosy blush touched her cheeks. At the same time, he made eye contact with Loki and Syr, seeing a calculating look in both girls' eyes as they processed his words. In a way, they had been two of his greatest supporters and Vahn knew their assistance would be instrumental to the success of his future plans.It didn't take long for the majority of the Manor's residents to gather in Loki's room, a first, considering they would typically gather within the dining room. Ultimately, it didn't really matter, however, so Vahn pulled out a few pieces of furniture for them to sit on as he stood tall and explained, "To explain this as simply as possible...I have decided to treat my convictions of the pass with the severity and dedication they deserve. In order to create a better future for our family, I will work to bring about the necessary change to shape this world into a place where the potential of people is not simply cut off by the decisions of a greedy few. The existing system is fundamentally flawed and since our Alliance has the power to bring about the necessary change, I will not sit on my hands and just sit idly by as people work to circumvent our efforts..."Taking a deep breath, Vahn then continued, "I'll be honest with you all...I have become extremely spoiled by the support I've received from everyone and, as a result of restrictions I have placed upon myself, it has made my choices much more difficult. This has caused my resolve to waver and, so as not to appear unreliable and fragile before my children, I have decided to become a more stable existence. As a result, I understand that I may make many decisions in the future that would have required much greater consideration than I will likely put into it. In order to prevent myself from straying onto a path none of us wish to see, I will be relying on each and every one of you to be forthright with me..."Vahn closed his eyes, waiting for his words to settle for a short while before adding, "I cannot say how I know these things, as it is something simply beyond my own comprehension to even grasp at, at least for the time being. However, I can say with absolute certainty that I am not a demi-god, nor have I ever had any pseudo-divinity to speak of...my existence itself is something that I may never be able to wrap my head around, but it is fundamentally different than anything that has ever existed before...I'm sure, in your own way, many of you have already understood this..."This last remark was targetted towards the gathered goddesses but Vahn noticed that Syr, Riveria, and Tsubaki also understood the truth of his words. Since they were all waiting for him to continue, he took another deep breath and said, "I have a unique power, something that is fundamentally impossible for me to ever explain to another person. As my understanding of this power has increased, I've been able to glean insight into many things and it has constantly been evolving. At the same time, I have been able to garner insights into the very nature of the world itself, including things like fate, creation, space, time, and concepts related to the very Laws that govern everything..."Seeing the confusion on the faces of most of the girls, goddesses included, Vahn clarified, "My power seems to be related to my own perception of the world, and my interactions with other people. The more I desire strength, the more power I am able to gather in a short period of time...it is this desire that had given birth to things like Eva's orb, allows me to bestow names upon other people and now, even allows me to modify and change the very existence of those that have dedicated themselves to me..." As he spoke, Vahn had already gotten permission from Fenrir and changed her hair color into a pure red while making her eyes radiate with three different colors.Before anyone could ask questions, Vahn had already continued, saying, "I now have the power to modify any person that had subordinated themselves to me, become one of my devoted followers, or pledged genuine allegiance to me. If the bond we share is strong enough, I can even modify everything from their race, their gender, and even their elemental affinities. This is only the tip of the iceberg and, I'm certain that many more powers I'm unaware of will make themselves known in the future. As we've all seen with the Vanir, my existence within this world has fundamentally changed the very nature of reality and, in order to prevent myself from deviating onto a dangerous path, I will need the council of each and every one of you..."Vahn said these last words with a gentle smile but it quickly morphed into a slightly apologetic look as he added, "However, at the same time, I've chosen to embrace my existence and stop holding myself back without any justifiable reason to do so. Even right now, at this very instant, there are undoubtedly hundreds of thousands of people suffering all over the world. Though my life already has meaning, which is the love I share with each of you, the bonds we've formed together, and the proof of our unity through our children...I know I can do much more. In order to make the world I have envisioned a reality, I will stop holding back completely..."Taking yet another deep breath, Vahn's smile softened as he stated, "You can call it an ability to understand the machinations of fate if you wish but, much like how I 'need' to have various gods make eternal vows to me, there are now other things I must accomplish. From this point onward, I will make an earnest effort to unify the entire Continent. At the same time, the primary objective of the Alliance will be the establishment of Haven, confronting Enyo's forces, and the complete subjugation of the Dungeon. We will guide this Continent towards a better future and, to facilitate this, I plan to form a Council of Gods, comprised of every major Divinity. For now, we will settle with trying to achieve influence through the Denatus but we will slowly try and create a system that benefits both gods and mortals without either party exploiting the other..."At this point, Loki stepped into the conversation, asking, "What do you plan to do about gods that resist the changes you're trying to introduce? You should know it very well, Vahn, that some gods simply can't resist the compulsion of their Divinities. Taking a hard stance..." As he already knew exactly what Loki wanted to say, Vahn raised his hand and interrupted her for what felt like the first time in years. This caused her eyes to part slightly as he explained, "There are no absolutes in this world Loki and, though Divinity is a serious issue that needs to be taken into consideration, we can't simply watch as some gods only take action to exploit others. If that is their nature, at least for the time being, they shouldn't be in the mortal world from the start. Nothing I'm trying to do is in opposition of the regulations imposed by the Guild currently, nor should it be in violation of the vows gods make before descending. What I'm proposing is simply removing the loopholes that have allowed gods to exploit people for nearly a thousand years. I know this isn't the best solution, which is why I will construct a Divine Council to serve as the governing body that acts as an intermediary between gods and mortals. At the same time, I will never give up trying to come up with a solution to the Divinity that I know plagues many gods...one day, even if it takes a few decades, I will liberate all gods from the compulsion of Divinity. At the same time, I will pave the way forward for even mortals to rise to godhood...the world cannot continue along its current path...there has to be a better way. If not, I will 'make' a better way..."Though it wasn't his intention, Vahn's [Will of the Emperor] had been in full effect while he was speaking. However, instead of putting a tyrannical pressure on others, the nature of the ability seemed to have changed slightly. Vahn could feel the 'intent' coming from everyone before him and was able to feel their emotions rising alongside their resolve. He didn't know why, but his intuition was telling him that the 'Will' of an Emperor wasn't simply a means to pressure others with power. Instead, the 'true' power of an Emperor's 'Will' was to inspire like-minded people to strive towards a unified greatness that singular entities would never be able to achieve...Riding on the momentum, Vahn could feel himself getting riled up as he said, "I swear an eternal vow with my very existence at stake...I will never stop trying to create a better world for everyone, not just mortals, but all sentient creatures that exist within all worlds. If gods are suffering from their Divinity, I will become strong enough to alter the fundamental nature of Divinity itself...I will not stand idly by and watch the world stagnate for the benefit of a greedy few that have selfishly seized power for themselves. Though I may not always walk a straight path, I will never stop moving forward, even unto the ends of eternity itself...!"With Vahn's words, large golden chains came out of the void and coiled around him but, surprising everyone present, Vahn 'shattered' them in an instant, saying, "I do not need the world to recognize my resolve. This is a decision I have made and the only thing that can bind me is the convictions I've set for myself...!" This time, the chains coiled around Vahn and seemed to be posing to 'strike' in an effort to bind him once again. However, after a few seconds had passed, the chains began to retract themselves into the void, completely shocking all of the goddesses. Even they couldn't resist the Laws of the World, especially those pertaining to something like an Eternal Vow. Seeing Vahn, a mortal boy, simply 'shrug' them off...it was something completely impossible with their previous understanding of the world.Seeing the chains retreat, Vahn's eyes shone with a powerful light as he looked towards everyone that had gathered, confidently stating, "I would not be the person I am today if not for the support each of you has given me. I will never be able to make you understand the overwhelming gratitude I have towards you...so I will show it with my actions. Know that, just like in the past, I will always respect the decisions made by those gathered within the Manor. At the same time, however, I need to be able to have confidence in the actions I take on the outside. I will do my best to never bring discourse into our home but I will also rely on the unity you girls possess to keep order...this is probably my biggest weakness, so please forgive me for the man I have become..."Though it felt like all of his nerves were going to tear apart when he tried to initiate the action, Vahn lowered his head to the girls, even as blood began to emerge from his seven orifices. The [Will of the Emperor] was such that it adamantly refused to lower its head to others but Vahn confidently stated within his own mind, ("There is no shame in lowering my head to people that deserve my respect! I will never bow at the behest of another but that doesn't mean I cannot revere the women who have helped to give my life meaning!") With these words, the pain wracking his body faded away in an instant, replaced by the calm that had been present before...Many of the girls panicked when they saw Vahn suddenly bleeding out of his head but it was Hestia who eventually spoke out, saying, "No matter what, I will continue to protect this home we have created together...I believe in you, Vahn. Even if you travel far away, conquering lands I have never even heard of...I will always be here to welcome you home. Never forget that this is the place where your family is always waiting for you..." Though she couldn't understand why, Hestia's intuition told her that Vahn may go very far away one day. The way he was speaking caused something inside of her to 'know' this was the reality of the situation and, believing he needed her to help protect the sanctity of their home, Hestia wanted to show her resolution.With Hestia as the first to open her mouth, Anubis quickly added, "Ever since I first saw your soul, I knew you were an existence far beyond even the comprehension of gods. I believe in the future you will make, Master, and will always follow at your side." Even if Vahn became a monster in the eyes of others, Anubis had seen the resplendence of his soul. She didn't believe for a moment that he was the type that would selfishly exploit others and, more so than any other hero in history, Anubis believed Vahn would truly save this world.Loki was a little annoyed that she missed the chance to speak up herself so she took the opportunity to speak up right after Anubis' words fell, saying, "As I said in the past, I would have followed you even if you chose to become the Emperor of the entire world. Don't worry about straying from the path you want to walk, Vahn, as you can be confident we'll whip you into shape if you take things too far~." In truth, Loki had been feeling an extreme level of excitement ever since Vahn had interrupted her earlier. The only 'fault' she had ever truly found in Vahn was that he lacked decisiveness and was too easily influenced by other people. Seeing him standing firmly, even against the very Laws of the World itself, made it exceedingly difficult to restrain herself...Following Loki's words, Hephaestus simply stated, "There is a reason I swore an Eternal Vow to never love another man...I believe in you wholeheartedly, Vahn. Just as Loki stated, if you get out of control, I will help reign you in...ufufufu~." These words caused the eternal flame in Vahn's chest to happily dance around as a great deal of warmth spread through his body. Vahn returned a smile in response and, following behind Hephaestus, the rest of the girls made their resolutions known. It was the support he received from these girls that gave Vahn the confidence to move forward so, once everything was said and done, he began explaining the course of action he had decided upon...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Decisiveness','Vahn shoulda set up a podium for this shit xD...','Don't enable Chuunibyous, even if they have real power (UwU)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

After the tensions had eased a bit, Vahn began detailing his plan of action, primarily focused on his countermeasures to deal with Enyo. Since she would need to reach the surface in order to deal any meaningful damage, Vahn wanted to observe both the Dungeon and the Artificial Dungeon. At the same time, he would fly around the City with Terra and see if there are any abnormalities already present since she would be able to detect anything hiding underground, especially if it was plant life. As for the actions he would take inside the Dungeon itself, Vahn would continue pressing into the Dungeon in order to establish Haven.The moment they were able to get a foothold on the 50th Floor, Vahn would head into the deeper floors with the girls and focus on rooting out Enyo from the source. Though she could still go through with plans to try and entrap them, Vahn knew there were numerous ways for him to exit the Dungeon in an emergency, even if it meant cutting a path through all the Floors himself.Ultimately, the moment Enyo actually moved forward with her plans, Vahn would begin pressuring her directly. Even if she had some means of creating monsters, there had to be a limit to their production or she wouldn't have waited this long before taking action. Since destroying her forces would only increase his own resources, Vahn was absolutely confident in winning a war of attrition.At the same time that the expedition was expanding Haven, the Alliance would be taking proactive measures to prevent Enyo from accomplishing anything on the surface. If they rooted out any forces she had already planted, all while preventing anything from escaping the Dungeon without their notice, there was very little she could accomplish. Since the Alliance was already in the City, it would be much easier than when they had maintained a blockade along the borders of the Western Forest. Though it might cause some tension, especially amongst the Nobles, Vahn didn't give a damn about them at all...After laying out the basic structure of his plan, Vahn decided to be forthright and, even though he had explained the details about girls like Lulune, Shakti, Rufina, and Alicia, Vahn now extrapolated on it a great deal. Though he knew there would undoubtedly be some girls that diverged from the path he was walking, especially if he lived forever, Vahn couldn't let himself be swayed by such things. He clearly and confidently explained, "In order to best make use of my new power, as it serves the dual purpose of increasing my own strength while increasing the strength of others, I will endeavor to increase the number of followers I have to ten-thousand people. Given the nature of my character, the types of skills I possess, and the current state of the world...I am fully aware that many of this number would be made up of women..."Though he had an urge to sigh, Vahn instead just inhaled through his nose before saying, "You may think lesser of me for it, but I can't continue to invest the same amount of focus on restraining myself as in the past. Though I will always take precautions to prevent things from getting out of hand, I will be relying on everyone in the Manor to keep anyone from outside from trying to weasel their way in. However, I also want to set a better example for my children so I will endeavor to avoid being outright licentious in my behavior...at the same time, please let me know if you think any of my actions are causing problems...I would never want to compromise the happiness of the people I care about just because I am over-empathetic..."In response to this, Loki and Syr made eye contact with each other before the latter said, "We understand, Vahn, even if it is a very unique situation. Because of your nature, things have already gotten a little out of hand...ufufufu..." Syr couldn't stop herself from laughing a little before she coughed and continued, "It is your nature to empathize with people, for better or worse. Since there are undoubtedly some girls that would be drawn to you that may cause problems, please leave it to us to vet them. Just like Mona, it isn't impossible for us to support each other and push the girls towards a future separate from the Manor..."Though she remained quiet while Syr was speaking, Hestia immediately spoke up afterward, saying, "We can't just accept everyone that falls in love with Vahn into the Manor or else we'd have to keep adding rooms until the Manor was the size of the City...! From now on, unless its someone that Vahn develops genuine affection for, we shouldn't let them stay here. It's one thing if they decide to become maids or servants, but we can't just let girls infiltrate the Manor and take up Vahn's time. It'll also cause problems with his children if there is that much chaos introduced in an uncontrolled manner..."Syr nodded in understanding and, while he watched on with a calm expression on his face, a conversation about the 'hierarchy' of the Manor took place right then and there. Ultimately, the only girls that would be 'accepted' in the Manor would be those that have become subordinates or retainers that were loyal to Vahn. As for those that genuinely 'loved' him, they would be vetted by the girls and, such as in the case of girls like Asfi and Sylfia, they would likely come to be permanent residents in the future. The girls also crowded around Vahn and 'lectured' him about getting carried away and misleading girls to become completely enamored with him...Loki even brought up the idea of 'teaching' Vahn how to handle women in a manner that clearly communicated to them that he didn't want a permanent relationship. There would undoubtedly be an endless number of women who would simply be satisfied with experiencing a single night with Vahn and, as long as he made his intentions clear from the start, that would pacify the majority of them. This led the conversation in the direction of the Amazoness country, Telskyura, as Vahn would likely have to 'pacify' a large number of people when he finally took action there.In a similar manner to what he had accomplished in the Elven Kingdom, the 'best' method Vahn could use to bring about change in such a country was to become a focus of reverence to their people. This could be accomplished by either 'conquering' a large number of Amazons, winning the heart of their Queen, or coming to an 'agreement' with Kali. Simply using overwhelming power wasn't a solution as this would effectively 'trigger' their entire race to crusade until they either killed or captured him...When the conversation progressed to this point, Vahn released a slight chuckle and gestured in a placating manner to bring a lull to the discussion as he said, "This is the exact type of thing I know is necessary, but it is also the primary reason behind much of the stress I feel at times. I carry these discussions with me and, in the moments I should be relaxing, they always plague my mind greatly. Though it may be irresponsible of me, I'd rather leave it to you girls to discuss amongst yourselves and, when it is finally time for me to take action, I will come to you for advice. I believe the best course of action is for me to trust my instincts and just go with the flow, at least during the times when I am in control of the situation..."This remark caused Loki to begin cackling loudly as she remarked, "How irresponsible~! Given how much thought you put into your past actions, this new mentality is both exciting and terrifying at the same time...kukukukuku~." Contrary to what she might have expected, Vahn nodded his head in agreement and said, "I have read a lot of books about what it means to be a good leader and, as I've never been the type to inspire people directly, I've decided to instead trust in those that support me. By assigning the best people to any given position, I believe things will progress in a smoother and more controlled fashion...the biggest problem I've constantly been making is trying to take care of everything myself. From now on, I'll be more openly reliant on each of you...I have always relied on your support before, this is just a more direct means of doing so..."As he was speaking, Vahn showed a very thoughtful expression on his face and began looking around at each of the girls present. It was clear many of them were also reflecting on how things had changed but Vahn was also feeling a small urge to take action and gave into it. Extending his hand, Vahn began diffusing petting energy through his domain and started 'petting' everyone in the room all at once. This caused some of the girls to become dazed momentarily before Hephaestus hugged her body, releasing a hot sigh as she asked, "What are you thinking about doing...Vahn?" Though she asked this, the connection they shared had already made her very aware of his intent.Vahn smiled, an excited glimmer in his eye as he said, "I will never force any of you to do anything you are unwilling to do...however, after everything that has happened tonight, I feel like I 'need' to do something to show you how happy I am. For those that don't want to participate, I would encourage you to get some rest and I promise to tend to you later...for now, however, I'm not sure I can keep holding myself back..."Other than petting energy, Vahn had started to infuse his [Hands of Nirvana] into his domain as well, causing stimulating energy to disperse through the bodies of everyone present, himself included. This caused Eirene to slouch over slightly before she eventually managed to extricate herself from the room, though not before sharing a long embrace with Vahn. Not entirely surprising, everyone else ended up staying in the room and, though he was greatly outnumbered, Vahn proceeded onto the bed without any hesitation. It didn't matter if there were nine of them, and only one of himself, Vahn felt completely unstoppable at this time...Back in the Dungeon, Vahn had already woken up and stared absentmindedly up at the roof of the tent as he focused on what was going on back at the Manor. If not for the presence of Tina and Alexa, Vahn might not have been able to hold himself back from cutting loose here in the tent as well. Though he didn't have any inhibitions about Tina now, and intended to 'tend' to her in the near future, Vahn had solidified his resolve in regards to Alexa. He knew she would continue to struggle with her instincts for a long time and, depending on her choices, Vahn would have her become his subordinate or retainer before changing her race completely if it was necessary.Even if they didn't have any blood relation to each other, this was actually true for all of his children since he actually had no genetic information to even provide towards the process. His body was entirely comprised of source energy and simply 'emulated' things like blood and semen for the purpose of facilitating his intentions. This meant he had no blood relationship with any of his children, including Alexa herself. However, this wasn't a reason for him to act without restraint and Vahn adamantly refused to allow things to progress in that manner.Because of the nature of his existence, he was too well equipped to earn the affections of others, including his own children. Since he would never allow himself to become the type of monster that lusted after the result of his bond with the women he loved, Vahn would have to completely shut down Alexa's budding desires before things got out of hand. He had already checked to see how much OP it required to convert someone like Terra into one of the relatively common races in the record and, though it would reduce her potential somewhat, Vahn would make Alexa into something other than a True Dragon if she couldn't restrain her instincts. Since he didn't place any true value on race, Vahn would still help her become strong without relying on her bloodline and, considering the wisdom she was capable of, Vahn believed she would understand...As if she was aware of the fact he was thinking about her, Alexa put a bit of strength into her wings that were blanketing his body. Vahn didn't mind this part of her, as he was actually very fond of spending time with all of his children, but he knew there was a deeper meaning behind her clinginess that made Alexa a ticking time bomb. Still, at least for the time being, she actually served as a means of restraining his own actions as, without her presence, Vahn wouldn't have minded dragging Shakti and Rufina into the fun he had nearly initiated within the tent. Though he knew it was because of the girls that they had decided to sleep in the same futon, Vahn knew they had long made the 'resolution' to pursue him. There was even a chance he could genuinely come to love them in the future but, at least for the moment, Vahn was more interested in more 'direct' actions...Eventually, Vahn managed to emerge victorious from his battle with the girls in Loki's room and, after cleaning up a bit, headed out to meet up with Freya. She had been patiently waiting for his arrival and, much like he had explained things to the girls at the Manor, Vahn would clarify some things for her. At the same time, he would conduct a personal inspection of the area before returning to the sub-space orb to take care of some of the other things he had planned. He had already arranged to have Terra do a thorough sweep of the entire City and, to make sure there was nothing serious going on within the Artificial Dungeon, Vahn had given Fafnir the mission of observing things within the shadows and keep track of who was coming and going from the interior.Around the same time that he was having a very long 'meeting' with Freya, it was time for everyone in the expedition to begin waking and Vahn needed to finish his investigation. Even though he had decided to be more direct in how he dealt with Enyo, Vahn wasn't going to put a great deal of pressure on the expedition without any explanation. For the time being, he would continue with the plan he had come up with alongside Finn and Gareth, keeping the expedition within Lil Geirr as they traded out personnel. If Enyo did anything during that period of time, they would repel her and, if there were any leads to exploit, Vahn would take advantage of them. Depending on how things played out, Vahn would determine how he would allocate his forces and potentially move a detachment to the 18th Floor to protect Rivira. From this point onward, Vahn wasn't simply playing games with Enyo...he had instead declared all-out war against her forces...(A/N: Not every girl was present for the meeting, even important girls like Eina. Don't fret, however, as you can be sure that Vahn would be very forward with them, even though they would easily find out through the Network. It isn't easy to gather 'everyone' into the same room in the middle of the night, so cut Vahn a little slack :P...)(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Enyo better be a QT if she wants to have any hope (.__.)','Numbers do not matter before the prowess of the Godhand','*Vahn spreads his arms wide* "If you're gonna take the shot, you better not fucking miss...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

While his main body slept, causing a 'shroud' to cover his perception, Vahn was using his avatar within the sub-space orb to think of solutions and methods to circumvent Enyo's plans. Drinking with Gareth and Finn hadn't exactly provided him with any concrete ideas so he now found himself reclining in a plush spherical chair that allowed a person's body to sink into it. Curled up on his lap, Vahn had both Fenrir and Nanu keeping him company as he absentmindedly stroked their hair. Since girls with fluffy ears and tails had something of a therapeutic effect on him, Vahn had somewhat selfishly asked them to accompany him for a few hours...Since there were so many things that were taking place in the 'future', Vahn couldn't help thinking about it and how all the pieces fit together, comprising his jumbled existence. One thing he was considering was how to best use his Unit Management in the future, as it was one of his most powerful functions within the system at present. At the same time, though he had tried to 'accept' the idea that whatever happened between him and other girls didn't matter, part of him was still resistant to the idea. Since 'opening' his heart and mind to the idea might exponentially increase the number of women around him, Vahn was considering tempering his mind to both refuse women, without letting their sadness weigh on his heart...The problem with this was that it made him feel somewhat like Finn, who he had been frustrated with in the past because of the matter with Tione. If girls genuinely fell in love with him, which seemed to be the trend, but he still closed his heart to them...it would be very similar to how Finn had closed his heart to Tione. If there were girls like Sylfia, who showed they were willing to wait several years for him to eventually open his heart...Vahn felt like he had already taken a step down a path filled with endless troubles...Vahn was genuinely afraid that he simply didn't have what it took to 'refuse' a woman in any meaningful way, especially if she was beautiful or had a nature he could appreciate. Though he had resolved himself to have little to no relationships in future records, well...it was easy to say such things. The question he had to ask himself is if he found some girl with a tragic past, helped her out, and then she fell in love with him...could he actually refuse her? If he became the 'anchor' for their existence, much like Chloe had for him in the past, could he simply burden them after potentially becoming their 'reason' for living...?There had been a time when Vahn 'refused' such girls, such as when he first met Lili, Haruhime, Preasia, Maemi, and Emiru...but that wall had been broken down a long time ago. In fact, because he had 'made' them wait, Vahn had felt very guilty by the time he finally accepted the girls into his heart. It had been very 'unfair' to them when he forced them to work hard, essentially making them earn the right to be with him. Now, with things like that as a precedent, Vahn found himself severely lacking 'reasons' to refuse women, even though the only one he actually needed was a general unwillingness...he...just...wasn't...unwilling...!Feeling a strong urge to break something, Vahn kept his calm by stroking the fluffy ears of the two girls, both of which had already noticed his state and were trying to comfort him. This was another thing he had become very aware of, the fact that he was 'extremely' reliant on the girls around him just to maintain his mental stability. There were just so many things going on at any given time that it was almost 'maddening' when things were happening outside of his control. All of these events with Enyo were wearing at his patience and Vahn felt himself deviating ever closer to the existence he had embodied as the 'Emperor'.Vahn kept telling himself that, even if he walked down that path, he wouldn't end up the same way...after all, he had so many people supporting him. But, remembering the things he had seen in the Divination, how the girls kept chasing after him tirelessly, Vahn knew he had a great deal of support then as well...even when he had become a terrible person, there were likely hundreds of people propping him up and enabling him to keep moving forward...It was a strange thought to consider, but Vahn now realized there were actually a lot of problems with having 'too much' support. He lived a truly blessed existence, surrounded people that loved and supported all of his decisions. At the same time, this enabled him to do almost anything he wanted to and, with The Path as his biggest support, there were fundamentally no limits placed on him. This had horribly warped his personality into something that was 'beyond' the comprehension of other people and, as much as he might try to deny the reality, Vahn knew he was 'exceptionally' spoiled...Realizing this, Vahn began laughing out loud, even as tears poured down his face. He felt such an amazing amount of incredulity and confusion that it felt like something had broken inside of him but, even as this happened, the pieces of his mind were stitched together by all the people he loved, with his children being what kept his mentality firmly rooted in place. Vahn realized the answer had been in front of him the entire time, as it was something that had become his 'reason' for existence ever since he first laid eyes on his children. Since he wanted to live by example, Vahn knew he needed to be 'better' than he was now...he needed to become a rock that they could always rely upon, not something loose and unstable that would cause them to lose their own footing on the path of life...In an instant, the cold energy that had permeated through his mind expanded through his body and mingled with the warmth rising from his heart. Vahn felt the two energies blend together, seemingly neutralizing each other while simultaneously filling him with incredible calm, almost like he was floating in a perfectly placid ocean. At the same time, Vahn felt that this 'ocean' was a seemingly endless amount of power that he had access to with but a thought...however, at the same time, Vahn knew that, if he tried to tap into it, the calm would be disrupted and turmoil would be introduced to this extremely peaceful state of mind...He couldn't see it himself, but Vahn's black pupils now radiated with a gentle blue light and, much like they had in the past, there was an 'illusion' of a tall figure holding a sword. The difference was, instead of raising it high and appearing extremely tyrannical, the figure had the blade of his sword firmly rooted in the ground as he crossed his hands over the pommel, completely calm, almost as if it were waiting for something. Behind the figure, what appeared to be an endless ocean of people all stood solemn and patient, not even a single movement discernable to be seen amongst them...By the time Vahn realized the changes, his domain had expanded from 781m and continued to increase until it had extended a thousand meters, omnidirectionally, from Vahn. The same calm persisted in his mind and it almost felt like every action he took was through a 'filter' of sorts, even though his senses seemed sharper than ever. It was in this calm state that Vahn made a firm and inviolable resolution that would define his character from that moment forward. He would not be bound by a future that had no relevance on the present other than what little value he afforded it. His love would not be bound by paltry sensibilities that had been concocted by people in a society that was fundamentally flawed from the start. The feelings other people had toward him should never sway his decisions unless they were people he had decided to open his heart to. He would not allow himself to be exploited, nor would he serve as the anchor for someone else's reality. From this moment onwards, he was Vahn Mason, not the possessor of The Path, but The Path itself. His existence was something inviolable that transcended the very tier system of reality itself. He was never 'normal', even when he had been born back on Earth long ago. The life he had lived in Danmachi had been nothing short of exceptional and, the only limitations he had ever possessed were those he placed upon himself. From this point onwards, compassion, love, mercy, these were things he would give at his leisure and, as long as he did not choose to walk the path of a cruel and merciless Emperor, there had never been a danger of that being a reality from the start...--------------------------------------------------------------//Main Quest Chain Triggered//[Quest: The Path of an Emperor Begins With the First Step]Rank: ZenithObjective: Unify the Continent of Eden:(2/9), Conquer the Living Dungeon, Tartarus(0/1), Form a Divine Council with a God of every Major Divinity(5/30)Optional Objectives: [Curiosity] Form a Harem with at least one member of every race:(22/59), [Inspiration] Acquire 10,000 Followers, Subordinates, or Retainers(9/10,000), [Might] Overcome the restriction of Level 10:(6/10), [Virility] Sire 100 Children(18/100)Rewards: 10,000,000,000OP, Quest System Upgraded, 1x[Innate Awakening Pill], 1x[Page of the Akashic Tome]Failure Conditions: Forfeiture of Main Quest ChainPenalty: Record Backlash, Divine Law Cataclysm Initiated--------------------------------------------------------------Even as the notification appeared within his mind, Vahn's only reaction was a small smile as he began to ruminate over his decisions. He found that it was much easier to 'act' than it was to just wait for things to happen. With that in mind, he tilted Nanu's head and looked into her slightly confused face as he asked, "Nanu, though I will never stop loving you, will you become my subordinate or retainer? I want to help you grow stronger and it will bring us much closer together. I swear that I will never exploit your status for my own benefit." Though he wasn't really surprised, Vahn's smile widened slightly when he saw Nanu's tail begin to wag quickly as she very earnestly said, "Yes, please! Master~!"Following her acceptance, the notification about Nanu wanting to become his subordinate appeared within Vahn's mind once again. This time, instead of trying to push Nanu away and have her adhere to his intentions without him taking responsibility, Vahn quickly accepted the request. He wasn't even remotely surprised when he saw that her Loyalty towards him was already at 43,391 and continually increasing every few seconds. He then selected the [Rename] option within the interface and added the last name 'Mason' at the end, willing her into direct association with him and desiring that it give her greater power.Nanu's eyes widened suddenly and formless energy that only Vahn could see began to flow around her body, very similar to Bell's except for the fact Vahn 'knew' he could influence it, instead of the other way around. Following this intuition, Vahn moved his fingers through it and could actually 'feel' it against his skin as Nanu's body trembled slightly. Pushing this even further, Vahn stated very seriously, "Nanu, without pushing yourself to a breaking point, I want you to earnestly continue trying to reach the pinnacle of forging. I believe that you have the potential of even reaching the level of the gods...never doubt yourself, as you now carry the surname Mason..." As if sealing a pact, Vahn tilted Nanu's head up and kissed her lips, feeling and guiding her reaction much like how he did when he first shared kisses with the girls.When he pulled away, Nanu's face was flushed and Vahn was very aware of the state of her body, smiling with a somewhat teasing expression as he said, "I have some things to take care of right now. I'll stop by your workshop when I'm finished and take care of you properly..." While speaking, Vahn pulled Nanu towards him by lifting her butt, kissing her on the collarbone for a few seconds before lightly spanking her and saying, "Go, but make sure to rest properly and not distance yourself from the others."Nanu, still breathing heavily, nodded her head like a chicken pecking at feed and said, "Leave it to me, Master! I won't let you down~!" With her tail spinning like a propeller, Nanu then ran off at her fastest speed, completely determined to break through to [Master Smith] as soon as possible. Previously, [Master Smith] had been a goal she aspired towards in order to be with her Master. Now, however, she sought something far greater and, having her Master bestow his family name upon her, Nanu felt like her heart was going to explode out of her chest. If she didn't begin forging something soon, it would be impossible for her to hold back from 'attacking' her beloved Master...!Vahn had already risen to his feet, having Fenrir hop out of his lap and stand next to him as he said, "Things are going to be changing very quickly in the near future, Fenrir. I'm tired of waiting around to see what our enemies are going to do. Though it may be stressful for you, I'll need your help in dealing with a few problems that I can't tend to personally..." At the same time that he was speaking, Vahn ran his fingers through Fenrir's midnight blue hair and kept eye contact, marveling at this woman who he had a hand in creating. He never thought about it in such a direct manner before, but Vahn now realized that this adorable little Vanargandr in front of him really was the embodiment of what he considered as 'cute'. Since that had been his intent when naming her, she had become an existence that could easily weasel her way into his heart, something Vahn found humorous in retrospect.Similar to Nanu, Fenrir also seemed to be getting very excited, nodding her head as she said, "If it is what you want me to do, I will do it without question. Please, don't hold back, Master...your trust is what gives my life meaning...I want to be needed by you, more than anything else...!" To this, Vahn's smile widened greatly and he made no effort to restrain himself as he sealed her lips with his own. Though he made certain to keep his tongue on the outside of her 'inviolable' devouring domain, this didn't mean Vahn couldn't share a passionate kiss with this lovable little subordinate of his. He even took it a step further, lifting her off the ground so that her paws dangled for nearly five whole minutes before letting her go. When he was done, he heavily patted her head and said, "Come, we have much to do..."(A/N: "There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man." -Patrick Rothfuss)(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Breaking Point','Vahn is done playing games','With but a single resolute step of the Emperor, the entire world shall tremble')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 813: For The Future