Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Following the attack on Lil Geirr, the momentum of the expedition to the 50th Floor had taken a serious hit. The visual impact of watching Vahn freeze over the entire floor, wiping out tens of thousands of monsters in an instant, was enough to give everyone that witnessed the feat a serious boost in morale. However, the subsequent collapse of the lighting crystals, the lack of which made the Floor now seem dark and dreary, the follow-up attack by the monstrous Juggernaut, and the surprise attack by Olivas Act, each of these events had been a significant blow to everyone's spirits. Though this was offset by Vahn healing the survivors of the sneak attack, the loss of lives had weighed heavily on the forces who were set to proceed even further into the Dungeon...To prevent things from breaking apart completely, Vahn had given a speech, addressing the entire encampment and making Enyo's presence known. Though it could be considered fear-mongering, Vahn knew he had to get the people angry and impassioned if they were going to risk their lives for a cause greater than themselves. This incident actually 'proved' the need for the existence of Lil Geirr and, though it hadn't been 'named' yet, Haven.Without forces keeping the monsters within the Dungeon in check, they would continue to build up until they reached critical mass, overflowing to the surface. If that happened, it would be significantly more difficult to preserve the lives of the innocent and the damage to the City's infrastructure would be monstrous. Since the 'purpose' behind the expedition was to prevent these types of attacks from impacting the lives of those without the means to protect themselves, Vahn tasked everyone present to remember the righteousness of their cause.Though there were a number of people who didn't outright agree with Vahn's words, the strength he had displayed, the prowess of the girls, and the 'inspiring aura' resonating from Vahn had been enough to rile up the crowd. Once enough people began cheering and showing their support, it began to spread like an infection that eventually caused the entire group of nearly five-thousand people to cry out in unison, calling for the blood of those that would seek to destroy what their ancestors had endeavored over the last thousand years to build.Even if it wasn't the parents of those present who built Orario, it was a fact that the City represented the 'hope' of most people on the Continent. Many of these Adventurers present actually migrated into the City in the past, seeking a better future for themselves in this land where success and glory could be earned through hard work and individual effort. If Orario was truly overrun by monsters, all of their dreams would die with the City and, without a force working together to stymy to flow of monsters that would expand and wipe out all life on the Continent, there wouldn't even be a place to flee to...Following the successful rally, a restructuring of the forces of Lil Geirr was set into motion as the Floor slowly repaired itself. Vahn returned to the surface to deposit Alexa with her mother, updating everyone at the Manor about what was going on while Finn took care of the administrative work. The girls remained in the Dungeon, providing defense for any waves that may occur but, after the death of Olivas, it seemed like things had calmed down for the moment. Even so, their presence alone was enough to bolster the morale of the defensive troops manning the wall, memories of the girls' battle prowess still fresh on everyone's minds...At the same time that he was dealing with the matters of Lil Geirr and the continued expedition to Haven, Vahn was also back in the Xenos' Hidden Village. He had been there for two days and had been constantly building rapport with their tribe, becoming a little 'too popular' with the females of their species. His [Charm] didn't seem to care if the other party was a different race than his own, garnering Vahn a great deal of attention from each group of Xenos. After the first night, where Vahn had spent a relatively peaceful night with Rayne, Naho, and Fenrir, the following night had been far more chaotic. Not only was he dealing with the aftermath of the attack, but Vahn had been whisked away by Ray, Terror, and Fear, spending the evening in the 'nest' of the Bird-Type Xenos.Vahn quickly learned that Harpy and Siren Xenos didn't put a lot of thought into their actions and, though Ray was able to reign them in a bit, he still got 'flocked' by them after they managed to get him into the nest. Though it ended with him 'pacifying' the group with his [Hands of Nirvana] and [Grooming], Vahn had most of his clothing torn to shred by their talons and claws. He also managed to get them into some 'proper' clothing, even though it ended up being based on the Amazoness style. They didn't like anything that was restrictive and, with Ray setting the 'example', each girl wanted rather skimpy clothing to wear instead of anything more practical. After that, Vahn was surrounded by surprisingly warm feathers and managed to get a 'relatively' peaceful sleep...'Relative' was the key word in this situation as Vahn would be stirred awake periodically by one of the girls trying to 'sneakily' remove his trousers. They were somewhat promiscuous by nature and had an insatiable curiosity that made it so that, even with him rebuffing their advances, they never seemed to take it to heart. It could be that they simply 'forgot' he had declined their offer but, considering he had treated them very 'well', the girls could have just been getting carried away. This speculation was drawn from the fact that they seemed to remember what Ray told them to do, even though words Vahn spoke to them moments before seemingly slipped in one ear and out the other...The following morning, Vahn's clothing and hair was covered in small feathers and he smelled like he had slept in a barn, causing Fenrir to actually avoid him for the first time. Fortunately, he was able to clean himself rather easily, earning him some 'leniency' from the standoffish Vanargandr as she quickly leaped into his arms after the fact. This caused many of the surrounding Xenos to laugh, with Ray showing an amused expression as she said, "The two of you are so close...I'm honestly a little jealous~. Well, if you ever want to sleep in our nest again, Vahn, just let any of us know. We'll always welcome you~." Adding to this, Fear raised up her dark-red wing and said, "Ray is right. Your hands are very comfortable and I don't mind if you want to help groom my feathers, you know...?"Though she worded it like a question, Vahn felt like Fear was 'telling' him to groom her feathers later, causing him to laugh lightly before saying, "I'm sure I can make time for that kind of thing later. For now, there are a few things I need to discuss with the three leaders..." Even as Vahn as speaking, it felt like he was being surrounded by a flock of predatory birds as each of the Harpy-Xenos gathered around him, each offering to 'allow' him to groom their feathers. One of the more promiscuous among them, even though she had one of the less humanoid appearances, even offered to 'groom' him in return...After finally escaping the 'flock', Vahn ended up in a small circular room at the very back of the Xenos Hidden Village, a room used for important discussions by the decision makers of the Xenos. Vahn wasn't surprised by the presence of Lyd, Ray, and even Gros, but the inclusion of Rayne, Naho, and Xude caught him a little off guard. This was especially the case for Naho as, the moment her five eyes 'locked' onto him, Vahn got to experience the mildly terrifying sight of an Arachne-Xenos, even one as cute as Naho, jumping towards him. He barely managed to raise his arms by the time her body collided with his, three sets of legs and a pair of arms wrapping around his body.Lyd, seeing this, began laughing out loud before commenting, "Seems you're becoming more popular every day, Vahn. I wouldn't be surprised if 'some' of our members might stalk you back to the surface when you try to leave...!" Vahn, after returning Naho's 'hug' for a few seconds, gently removed her from his body, even though her legs tried to continue holding onto him. He set her down on the ground and pat her head, saying, "There are important things I need to discuss with the others. Be a good girl and behave, okay~?" Though she had a pouting expression on her face, Naho still nodded before scampering over to Rayne and climbing onto the latter's body.After being on the receiving end quite a lot, Vahn had already realized that Naho had the type of nature that desired contact with others. If she wasn't clinging to him, she was clinging to Rayne and, on one occasion, Vahn saw her riding around on Terror like a large backpack as the frazzled Harpy-Xenos tried to fly around. It had been a very humorous sight, at least until Terror dive-bombed him, delivering Naho from her body and depositing the spiderling onto Vahn's. Now, Vahn had to be careful of both jumping spiders and spiders delivered via Harpy-Xenos care package...Vahn pulled out a cushion to sit down on while Fenrir turned into her hybrid-Almiraj form and hopped into his lap. She seemed to like this form since it allowed him to pet more surface area at once and, as it was quite fluffy, Vahn found himself absentmindedly petting her into oblivion. This was the state he referred to when the girls would become almost catatonic from the overwhelming feeling of relaxation and bliss that resulted in over-exposure to his [Grooming]. Though it could be expected that the girls would build up a resistance to this after a while, the truth of the matter was quite the opposite. Anyone that had fallen under the influence of Vahn's 'godhand', be they mortal or god, was almost powerless against it after the fact. If he got 'serious', Vahn could get Aki and Chloe to purr after just a single touch, even if he caressed the 'danger zone' of their bellies...While habitually stroking Fenrir's fluffy pelt, Vahn looked into Lyd's eyes and explained, "There was an attack by a man named Olivas Act, representing a goddess by the name of Enyo...have you heard either of these names...?" Though he already had his answer based on the indignant expressions of almost every Xenos present, Vahn still waited for Lyd to nod his head and explain, "Olivas Act is one of the people who has been capturing and slaughtering our people. Those that get taken away come back 'changed', continuing the cycle over the last two years...now, we're less than half of what we used to be...if you're going to fight against that man, please exercise caution, Vahn..."Though it was a little awkward, Vahn showed a casual smile and said, "Olivas Act is dead. Though he staged a large attack on the settlement on the 39th Floor, it was successfully repelled by the forces of the Alliance. I personally witnessed his death with my own eyes, so you don't have to worry about him any longer..." Seeing the reactions on each of their faces, Vahn's smile turned into a more natural expression as he added, "You shouldn't underestimate me, my companions, or the Alliance in general. Olivas Act had actually been defeated by my daughter without even being able to fight back..."Gros, stone-faced as ever, suddenly placed his hand heavily against the ground as he exclaimed, "Is that the truth!? How do we know you aren't lying to try and trick us...!?" Though Vahn knew Gros' impression of him wasn't actually that bad, it was still annoying to be called into question time and again. Producing a stone-faced expression of his own, Vahn plainly stated, "Gros, no matter how you look at it, I've only been an ally to the Xenos thus far. Yes, I offer your people power, but the only thing I require in exchange is companionship and understanding. I want to make the dream of the Xenos a reality, creating a place for your entire race on the surface! What do I have to do to get this simple fact through the thick skull of yours!?"As if he had been waiting for Vahn to ask this question, Gros immediately responded in a serious tone, "Swear on your life that you have no-" Though he still felt relatively calm, Vahn's brain buzzed when Gros brought up the idea of him making a vow. He didn't mind making vows, having already made a few, but Vahn was starting to get annoyed that it seemed to be the only way anyone would ever trust others. Relationships founded on vows almost felt like 'exchanges', not something that was founded on mutual respect and understanding. As a result, he glared towards Gros and interrupted the stout Gargoyle-Xenos, saying, "I help the Xenos because I have chosen to do so, not because I have to do it. If it takes such a vow for you to trust me, then you simply aren't worthy of my trust from the start. Just sit there and watch as I create a better world for the Xenos, regardless of what you think about the matter..."Though Gros was around the strength of a veteran Level 5 Adventurer, he couldn't even move a muscle after Vahn had 'locked' him down with his domain. For the duration of Vahn's speech, it was as if he had truly turned into a statue as a primal fear welled up in the back of his mind. This was an instinct that all creatures had when they encountered a species of a higher tier. It was similar to how Gryuu felt when it first saw Fafnir, quickly lowering its head to the latter and subordinating itself without any resistance whatsoever. Now, Fafnir was off teaching Gryuu how to be a 'proper' Dragon, with the latter following Fafnir's words like they were divinely inspired...Gros resisted the instinctual urge to bow his head but it didn't stop him from slouching over further as a wave of uncertainty washed over him. With a slight quiver in his voice, Gros asked, "You...are you really a human...?" He suddenly recalled the strange form Vahn had taken to stop his attack previously, black scales and strange markings covering his body. In response to this question, Vahn raised his brows slightly and surprised everyone by shaking his head, explaining, "It isn't wrong to call me Human...but I'm also everything else...? To be more specific, I'm currently a Progenitor, but I can also be any other race that I have a proper understanding of..."To emphasize his words, Vahn looked towards the 'safe' option, making eye contact with Lyd before using his hybrid transformation magic, with [Thria*Mimos] as a base, to assume an almost identical appearance as Lyd, being a red-scaled Lizardman. It felt strange to have his body temperature lower instantly, but it wasn't nearly as peculiar as the surprising clarity his eyes possessed. At the same time, the strength of every smell in the vicinity increased, Ray's aura practically 'smacking' him in the face. She had a mixed scent of a woman and a wild animal, confusing Vahn's senses while also exciting him slightly...at least until it was completely repressed moments later when he cut off his sense of smell entirely.Though the expression of shock on Lyd's face was interesting, Vahn noticed that Fenrir didn't seem to enjoy his scaly hands so he quickly changed back, now turning his attention back to Gros as he said, "My race doesn't matter...just as none of your races matter...my dream is to make a better world for everyone, regardless of their origins. As long as your people do not commit crimes and try to harm others, I will guarantee the safety of every Xenos. It doesn't matter to me how society views you right now...if we work together, we can change that perception and, one day, the existence of Xenos as a sentient species deserving of respect will simply be 'common sense'...if you have a problem with that, I can't help but wonder why you even dreamed of the surface in the first place..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Crowd Mentality OP','Thirsty ass birbs (UwU)...','Square up, Gros-boi~!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Though Vahn had his focus on Gros, it was Lyd who spoke out first, exclaiming, "Whoa, did you really just turn into a Lizardman? Are you actually a Xenos, Vahn!?" This outburst caused Vahn's brow to twitch slightly as he gazed into Lyd's orange reptilian eyes and said, "I just explained it, Lyd, I'm a Progenitor and I can change my race at will. Besides, Xenos is just a generic term used to define your people, not what you actually are...the only thing that matters is that you have souls, possess sentience, and aspire for a better life. This gives you the same rights as everyone else and, as long as you don't live by exploiting others, I will always be an ally to each of you..."As serious as his words were, it didn't seem to matter as everyone in the room was simply too excited after witnessing Vahn transform. Naho had actually tried to jump from Rayne's back, arms and legs spread like a grappling claw before Rayne snatched her back with a lasso of silk. Naho wriggled around in her arms, failing to break free so she instead asked, "Can you turn into an Arachne!? Show me, show me~!" Rayne hugged her close, covering Naho's mouth as she said, "Hush, Naho, you're being silly..." However, even as she said this, Vahn could see a bit of expectation and curiosity, not just in her eyes, but everyones.Releasing a silent sigh, Vahn produced a wry smile and said, "If I practiced, I could probably turn into an Arachne. However, I'm not going to practice it, as the form is simply too complex and I have no desire to become a female...sorry, Naho." As he had tried and failed to even turn into a True Dragon in the past, at least one with wings like Terra, Fafnir, Khaos, and Alexa, Vahn wasn't even going to try and become an Arachne. Without the 'instincts' associated with the race, he wouldn't even know how to begin moving around on six legs...Naho deflated like a balloon when she heard this, asking in a pitiable tone, "Do you hate Arachne...?" Fortunately, Rayne began patting her head, explaining, "Don't be silly, Naho. Your Big Brother would never hate Arachne...besides, if he turned into a girl..." The last part of Rayne's words was said very quietly and Vahn felt his body become tense when both girls looked at him with their compound red eyes. He already knew that Naho was actually 'older' than Rayne and, even after several years pass, she wouldn't change at all. This was one of the 'troublesome' aspects of a Xenos, as their age didn't always match their appearance, nor would it change over time. In fact, unless they are outright killed, it could be said that most Xenos had biological immortality, even if it wasn't quite at the level of possessing an 'Ageless' constitution like Fenrir.Changing the topic, Vahn turned his attention back to Lyd and said, "I wanted to discuss the terms of our cooperation in the future and also had some questions I wanted to ask..." Lyd was still a bit riled up from watching Vahn transform into a Lizardman but he managed to calm down enough to ask, "What did you want to know? Go ahead and ask away, Vahn." Not missing the opportunity to successfully change the topic, Vahn nodded his head before asking, "How exactly do the Xenos become more humanoid? I thought it was based on intelligence and strength, but I can tell you are the strongest in the camp, even though you still have the form of a Lizardman Chieftain...?"Instead of Lyd, it was Ray who answered, explaining clearly, "This has been something discussed among the Xenos ever since the first of our kin stepped foot in the Dungeon. From what we have been able to gather over several generations of knowledge, passed down from one leader to the next, is that the Xenos' appearance is highly dependent on if they 'want' to be human. Those of us who have the strongest ties to humans, after enough time has passed, typically become more humanoid in appearance. Those that prioritize their strength, their dreams, and the basic desire to see the surface...their appearance doesn't change much. From this, we have determined that the appearance, or perhaps the existence of the Xenos itself, is entirely dependent on our desires...our hopes and dreams for a better future..."As poetic as the words sounded, Vahn actually wasn't that surprised by the revelations given by Ray. One of the things he had learned ever since entering this record, which was a predominant lesson he was constantly being reminded of, was that 'intent' was one of the most important factors behind progress. If you could focus your intent, believing in the thing you desired while constantly working towards it, there were 'literally' no limits. Even those that had become common knowledge, passed down for thousands of years as something 'impossible' to achieve, could be broken with just a simple change of perspective. Thus, the fact that Xenos might exist solely because they 'wanted' to exist...Vahn found this very easy to believe...after all, this entire record came into existence because enough people 'wanted' this world to be real...Since Ray seemed like a relatively intelligent woman, Vahn smiled and said, "As it may not be appropriate for me to conduct all of the research myself, I'd like your help in studying the Xenos in greater detail in the future. I can already help those who desire strength and change to evolve into an entirely new form, but I'd also like to document the development of those that simply want to live freely. When we return to the surface, the Xenos will probably have to live in a closed-community until the perception of society can be changed in our favor. Don't worry, with the influence of the Alliance, it shouldn't take more than a generation for people's views of the Xenos to change completely."When he finished speaking, the corner of Vahn's eyes twitched slightly before he turned his gaze upon Gros with a slight 'warning' contained within his aquamarine irises. He noticed that the Gargoyle-Xenos wanted to say something and, given the latter's track record, Vahn's goodwill towards him was fading. This time, however, Gros lowered his head slightly and said, "Though you may not trust me, know that I have only ever considered what is best for my kin. If what you say is true, please allow me to be the first volunteer to experience this 'evolution' you mention...I do not care how you change me, so long as my mind and memories remain unaffected..."This had surprised Vahn a little but, given how Gros had presented himself thus far, it wasn't that difficult to believe the 'man' was willing to 'sacrifice' himself. The diminishing goodwill Vahn had towards Gros began a slow climb once again as he smiled and said, "There are three different methods that would allow me to help a Xenos evolve. Also, as I stated previously, there is a long period of time where I wouldn't be able to use the ability. Once I help you change, you also won't be able to return to your original appearance any longer...are you certain?" In response to this, Gros just nodded his head without saying a single word, no hesitation visible on his generally expressionless face.Vahn smiled when he saw how resolute Gros was and, though he wasn't really the first choice he had in mind, Vahn still explained, "There are two designations for people that choose to follow me, being 'subordinates' and 'retainers'. The difference between the two is that the first requires you to either willingly subordinate yourself to me, or that your 'loyalty' reached a certain threshold. As for the latter, it would depend on the bond we share and if your feelings lean more towards 'allegiance' and 'fealty' than true 'loyalty'. Keep in mind that, if you become my subordinate, I would actually be able to order you through mental commands. Though you aren't forced to follow my orders, the amount of loyalty you have towards me can heavily influence your decision making..."This time, Gros' expression changed slightly, appearing to 'soften' before he said, "My allegiance will always lay with my people so, as long as your dream of creating a better future for the Xenos exists, I will give you my loyalty, Vahn Mason, no, my Master..." At the same time that these words left Gros' mouth, Vahn got the notification through the system and accepted it immediately. He had already confirmed during their first 'encounter' that Gros, like every other Xenos, was actually (Nameless). This meant he could give Gros any kind of name and, considering that he was already rather humanoid, the potential options were almost limitless...Thinking this would be a good chance to make an impression on, not only Gros, but everyone present, Vahn asked, "Tell me, other than the desire to protect your people and live on the surface, is there anything else that drives you? Like, have you ever envied another creature, wanted a specific kind of power, or desired any particular trait?" In response to this, Gros remained quiet for nearly an entire minute before saying, "As I said, Master, I will leave my fate in your hands. However, if I am allowed freedom of choice, I would like to no longer be made of stone...it makes it...difficult to comfort others..."Vahn was a little surprised by Gros' words but a smile quickly spread across his face moments later as he said, "Very well then...I will give you an appearance that is suitable for comforting others. I'll also try to imbue you with a name that increases your potential further...even if you don't desire power, I'm sure you can understand its usefulness after being a leader for so many years..." Gros nodded his head, understanding that power was always necessary if he truly wanted to protect the things he cared about. Though he had failed many of his kin, it never stopped him from trying to use his 'meager' strength to keep his people safe...After sorting through various texts in his mind, with a lot of help from Sis, Vahn decided on a suitable name and then formed both an image and 'intent' within his mind, both instrumental if he wanted to ensure Gros' form was 'suitable'. Vahn had a fair amount of experience with naming at this point and had even created Fenrir just by wanting her to be 'cute' when naming her. Thus, for Gros, Vahn imagined a stalwart guardian who protected his people, defended their homes, and brought comfort to all that resided within. Then, with these feelings filling his heart, Vahn smiled and spoke in a voice that shook the hearts of every Xenos present, "From this point forward, you shall be known as Gros Terminus, Guardian of the Xenos..."With Vahn's words still resonating through the room, Gros' body became enshrouded by a powerful sphere of bluish energy with a rainbow hue suffused over the surface. Everyone that was nearby had to back away, causing Vahn to realize he should have taken the location into consideration. He had gotten a little wrapped up in how 'motivated' Gros was and now had to stand with a stoic and casual expression on his face as the surrounding residence shook and started to fall apart. Fortunately, this only persisted for a few minutes before the energy began to compress, taking on the shape of a rather tall and muscular man who was, not too unexpectedly, completely naked...----------------------------------------------------------------------(Gros Terminus)Age: 139Race: TitanLevel: 5Loyalty: 83Soul Strength: Tier 2 (Named Familiar)Karma: -State: [Active]Skills: [Terminus:Innate:B], [Titan's Physique:Innate:D], [Malleable Muscles:B], [Vigilance:C], [Harden:C], [Sacrifice:A][Terminus]Rank: Innate(B) *Innate skills cannot be identified. Attempts to do so will result in a backlash.*Passive: Greatly enhances capabilities within a designated area.Active: Allows the user to place four immovable and indestructible pillars, designating the space without as their dominion unless removed by the user.[Titan's Physique]Rank: Innate(D) *Innate skills cannot be identified. Attempts to do so will result in a backlash.*Passive: Growth of all physical parameters is greatly enhanced. Use of external magic becomes impossible.Active: Use internal energy to further strengthen physical parameters without any upper limit. Energy is expended after executing an attack or performing a block.[Malleable Muscles]Rank: BUse: Allows the user's body to absorb physical blows and shockwaves.[Vigilance]Rank: CUse: While active, the user does not feel fatigued for the duration of skill usage. When deactivated, all of the stress and fatigue experienced during use immediately take effect. This skill has been known to lead its user to self-destruction.[Harden]Rank: CUse: Greatly enhanced Endurance in exchange for a sharp decrease in Agility.[Sacrifice]Rank: AUse: Designate a target and absorb any wounds that would have been inflicted upon them. This skill takes into account the defenses of the target, not the defenses of the user.----------------------------------------------------------------------Gros' new appearance was that of a 220cm tall man with light blue skin stretched tight over muscles that would make an Adonis blush. He had pointed ears, appearing similar to an Elf, with long black hair that hung loosely around his 'chiseled' face. His eyes had strange white irises without any discernable pupils and, much like Fafnir's and Khaos' wings, Gros had two light blue reptilian wings folded behind his back. Vahn also saw that there was a whip-like tail snaking around behind his back, coming to a spear-like point at the end. Lastly, at the very center of his chest, Gros had a large red crystal that pulsed like a beating heart, something Vahn hadn't really expected, nor imagined...Looking at his new figure, and feeling the power contained within his body, Gros couldn't help but squeeze his fists tight and flex his muscles a bit. Vahn stepped forward at this point, holding out some clothes for the naked 'Titan' as he asked, "So, how do you feel, Gros Terminus...?" Hearing his new name spoken by his Master, Gros inhaled deeply, puffing out his chest in pride as he said, "I feel like I could break apart the entire Dungeon with just my bare hands...thank you, Master...I never expected things to end up like this...simply incredible..." Though his Level hadn't actually changed, Gros now had Source Energy comprising his body and it wasn't an exaggeration to say that he was several orders of magnitude stronger than before.Vahn had Gros wear some proper clothing, not really giving him the option to remain naked since he had been very 'thoughtful' towards his newest subordinate. Though it probably wouldn't help, Vahn wanted some of the Xenos to potentially focus their 'intentions' towards Gros in the future, as it would save him quite a few hassles from some of the more promiscuous women. To aid in this endeavor, must like Gros had asked for, Vahn made sure that his muscles, though looking stout and indomitable, were actually very soft and pliant to the touch. Though they would actually become harder than his previous stone skin when he got serious, their default state was like a tender marshmallow that was smooth as polished marble...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Will it, want it, do it (&gt;,...,&lt;)~!','Gros over here taking advantage of the situation...shameless!','How does Vahn know how smooth Gros' muscles are...?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

After leaving Alexa with the three girls outside, Vahn made his way into the room to meet the man that had made his way to the very top of Vahn's 'list'. Even if he had just targetted Rufina, Vahn wouldn't have been able to forgive the assailant, especially after so many people died. However, the fact that Alexa had also fallen into the scope of his plot had caused the 'calm' ocean within Vahn's body to begin boiling. His expression showed little emotion but there was a fierce light glowing within his pupils that even gods would shy away from...Upon seeing a middle-aged man with white hair, forced to kneel on the ground with his joints bound by Chloe's shadow, Vahn took a deep breath through his nose and asked, "Who are you...?" His rationale told him that this man was another victim, just like Rufina, but Ryuu completely dashed this thought from his mind when she said in an icy tone, "Olivas Act, a former member of the Rudra Familia, one of the core Familia of the organization Evilus...he was supposed to have died nearly six years ago..." Being the person that 'wiped out' the Rudra Familia, Ryuu was very knowledgeable of all members, including those that had fled her net back when she purged them from Daedelus Street...Olivas raised his head, showing a tired and crazed expression with his animalistic green eyes, similar to Rufina's from the past. After Vahn had turned her into a 'normal' human, Rufina's eyes had changed back into rounded pupils, a far cry from the snake-like eyes possessed by the cruel looking man kneeling before him. With Ryuu's words, however, Vahn was actually grateful that Olivas wasn't a 'true' victim and likely even followed Enyo of his own free will. This made what he intended to do weigh far less heavily on his mind as, without restraining himself much, Vahn punched Olivas in his smug face, nearly forcing him to swallow the gag in his mouth.Chloe had already released her shadow restraints as Vahn lifted Olivas by his neck and slammed him into the reinforced wall of the room, cracking it in the process as the barrier protecting it shattered. At the same time, Vahn jammed his index and middle finger into Olivas diaphragm, chanting, "Spirits of Lightning, bring the retribution of Heaven upon my enemies~!" This was an unnamed spell that Vahn had created on the spot, sending millions of volts of electricity through Olivas' body, with a relatively low current. This caused the chaotic energy inside of his body to writhe about, trying to escape from his pores as the man seized and twitched about like a rat struck by lightning.By the time Vahn had 'purged' all the malevolent energy within Olivas' body, the man's eyes had boiled over and melted while a large amount of steam emanated from his charred body. Vahn kept the smell from reaching the rest of the room by isolating it with his domain while communicating to the girls that they should leave if they didn't wish to see what was going to happen. Chloe and Arnya had already snatched up Shizune and Tina, removing them from the room, but everyone else stayed behind as a show of support. They knew Vahn wasn't 'normally' a cruel person and this was simply the result of Olivas' evil acts coming to a head...it was retribution.Though his body was horribly mangled, Olivas still managed a smile as broken words tried to escape his lips, muttering, "You...will never...win...you...will all...die...! Go ahead...kill me...hahaha...hahahaha!" Vahn's response was to let Olivas drop to the ground, not worried that the man would try to attack since most of his nerves had been fried. Without any energy in his body, he was weaker than a normal Level 1 civilian, even if he wasn't severely injured. The only thing even keeping him alive right now was Vahn's understanding of Olivas' body and the resilience of a Creature...Since Olivas had information that he needed, Vahn set up incense and manipulated the air currents to consolidate the potent aroma around Olivas' body. At the same time, even though he harbored no intention to alleviate the man's suffering, Vahn reached out his hand and placed it on Olivas' head. He began to lightly stroke, sending waves of petting energy directly into Olivas' mind as he tried to struggle and resist. Unfortunately for the sadistic and cruel man, there was nothing that could have possibly prepared him for the existence of 'petting energy', which could even tame gods, much less a Creature-Human hybrid...After a few minutes, Olivas had become stock still, a confused and complacent expression on his face as Vahn asked, "What is your name...?" There was a slight delay but Olivas eventually said, "Olivas Act..." in a dull and lazy tone of voice. Vahn gave a small nod out of habit before asking, "Who sent you here...? What is your purpose...?" Though he already knew the partial answer to these questions, Vahn needed to 'verify' his assumptions. Fortunately, there were no real surprises as Olivas muttered, "I was sent by my goddess, Enyo-sama...my task was to remove the cancer on the 39th Floor...recover the apostate, Revis...and capture one of the companions of Vahn Mason..."This was the first 'official' reveal of Enyo's name, turning this war into one where they now had an 'official' target, not just a name to go by. Vahn felt like the pieces were coming together and, very soon, he swore to make Enyo pay for the things she had done. Even if it was the compulsion of her Divinity, there were some things that simply couldn't be allowed to continue. Still, there were more things he wanted to know so he asked, "Where is Enyo...? What is her plan...? How many of you are there...?"Olivas' body began to twitch slightly but Vahn sent another wave of energy through his mind before inserting a threat of Source Energy to create a protective membrane around the core in his chest. There were fluctuations present that caught Vahn's attention, almost like a signal was being sent to the core, likely as a means to force Olivas to silence. Though the 'signal' had already been sent, Vahn could stabilize the core for a short while, allowing Olivas to answer, "My goddess waits upon her altar...awaiting the day when she can return the world back to its true state...she will bring divine judgment upon those fools that have made this world their playground..."Vahn squinted his eyes when he heard this, uncertain if Olivas was talking about gods or mortals, as she shouldn't have even been able to come to this world before the 'bridge' was created. This meant that her target shouldn't be the gods themselves, but the people that already resided in this world before her descent. Even that was something Vahn had many questions about, however, as Enyo was a goddess that none of the gods in the Alliance knew of. Though Vahn had found several records that should have connected Enyo to the gods of the northern pantheon, it was almost like her existence had been 'erased' from the minds of everyone...after all, gods that had lived for hundreds of millions of years would know every other god, especially those that descended to the mortal world...After another long pause, Olivas continued, answering Vahn's other questions, "We are limitless...a legion that will wash over the world and return it back to its primal state...you fools have no idea what kind of monsters have been sleeping beneath your feet...!" Though he was still in a sedated state, Olivas managed to crack a crazed smile, an eerie laugh escaping his throat before he practically shouted, "You don't even know the enemies in your midst...! Hahahahahahahaha~!"Suddenly, Olivas' hollowed eyes glowed like flaming embers as his skin began to crack and fracture, wispy flames emerging from within. Vahn's brows furrowed and he fully converged his domain, keeping the energy within Olivas' body at bay as he asked, "What Floor is Enyo on!? Who are the ones supporting your goddess!? Tell me there names...!" Instead of Olivas answering, his head twisted nearly 180 degrees in an instant, strange eyes peering up at Vahn's face as a very different voice escaped through his lips, "Vahn Mason...so this is what you look like...ufufufu~."The core inside of Olivas' chest began to radiate with a powerful energy that crashed against the source energy membrane and caused what appeared to be a divine power to shroud his body. Even so, Vahn continued to repress this energy with his own domain, causing the person controlling Olivas to laugh in a deranged manner before 'she' shouted, "Ah, you're so perfect...! I can't wait to make you mine~! Come to me, Vahn Mason, I'm waiting for you on the 60th Floor! Ahahahahaha~!" As 'she' spoke, the person who Vahn suspected to be Enyo extended Olivas' hand towards Ais and said, "My darling Aria...you should come along as well...I can't wait to meet you both~."Though she said this, a black blade appeared out of Olivas' palm and tried to shoot forward but Vahn had already pinned it to the ground, crushing Olivas' arm in the process. This caused the ghostly green eyes to turn back to him, a smile spreading further across the possessed Olivas' face before the core in his chest shattered completely. Moments later, his body turned into yellow, black, and purple dust before the divine energy dissipated into nothingness. The only remnants showing that Olivas had ever existed was a tribal outfit that was comprised of the hides and bones of monsters...For several seconds, Vahn processed what had just happened before turning his attention back to Ais, seeing the conflict and confusion on her face as she said, "I thought Enyo had something to do with my mother...why does she think I'm her...?" To this, nobody had an answer but it didn't stop Vahn from walking over and giving Ais a warm hug as he said, "We will find the answers together..." He was very annoyed that his 'interrogation' had only created more questions, providing no real answers, even though Olivas should have been in a very receptive and mentally lax state. Vahn had seriously underestimated the man's madness and hadn't expected Enyo to have a remote means of controlling people...At the very least, Vahn was able to learn that the strange yellow monster cores were directly related to Enyo and seemed to be a forced evolution using her own Divinity as a source. Since Enyo should just be a goddess with a Divinity related to War, Vahn knew there was something very wrong with the current situation. Just the fact that most of the mutated monsters were plant-based showed that there was more to things than meets the eye, especially with Olivas mentioning 'enemies in their midst'. Though it wasn't surprising to know that Enyo's forces had infiltrated part of the Alliance, Vahn felt like Olivas was implying that there was an enemy much closer to him than he realized.Given how 'mad' Olivas seemed, Vahn assumed the man was just trying to sow doubt within the minds of those that were present, especially since he hadn't answered any of the questions asked of him in a direct manner. Vahn knew it was impossible for Enyo's forces to truly be 'infinite' and, even though he had asked about Enyo's location, Olivas had managed to keep it secret, merely describing the location without giving any actual details. It seemed that, even though he was in a mental state where he shouldn't have been able to lie, Olivas' 'beliefs' had caused him to protect the important information about his goddess and their purpose...Shaking his head to clear stray thoughts, Vahn gave Ais one more strong hug before releasing her body so he could address the others. Even so, he stayed at her side and held hands with the slightly shaken girl as he said, "The only information we should consider is that Enyo may be located on the 60th Floor. Everything else should be treated as information that was meant to deceive and sow doubt within the minds of everyone present. Unfortunately for them, our unity is not something that can be shaken by such devious methods...hmph...!" Enyo had no way of knowing that the girls had already spent years with each other, with some of their relationships lasting well over a decade. If she thinks such insignificant revelations would have any meaningful effect, she was as crazy as Olivas seemed to be...Ais squeezed Vahn's hand when she heard this, a small smile spreading across her face as the light that had started to fade from her eyes now doubled in intensity. She had even prepared herself for the fact that her mother may have been 'consumed' by the Dungeon, one of the nightmarish rumors that were often spread amongst female Adventurers, so this revelation was far less difficult to deal with. Unless Enyo was just trying to deceive her, it meant that her mother may not be associated with the Dungeon and could even still be alive somewhere. She was determined to seek out the truth with Vahn, defeat the One-Eyed Black Dragon's avatar, and one day conquer the entire Dungeon if it was necessary. After that, she would have a happy family with the boy she loved, irrespective of what had happened in the past that was no longer within her control...Vahn was surprised by the fact that Ais' (Love) had jumped up several thousand points in an instant but his expression remained calm as each of the girls also made their resolutions known. Tiona and Tione showed direct support for Ais, being the two that had known her the longest, while Ryuu swore that she was root out all of Enyo's forces, especially since she seemed to have an association with Evilus. Arnya and Chloe supported Ryuu's conviction and promised to help her seek justice for all the innocents who had died as a result of Enyo's, and Evilus' schemes. This left Mikoto standing somewhat awkwardly at the side and, perhaps embarrassed to see how fired up everyone else was getting, she also 'pledged' her blade to the elimination of Enyo's forces and the remnant of Evilus...Following the first round of everyone bolstering each others motivation, showing the exact unity that made them strong, the girls waiting in the hall were brought into the strange atmosphere as Lefiya, Lili, Maemi, and Emiru came in a few minutes later. Now, compared to how tense things had been before, the mood had become much more vibrant as everyone showed support for each other. Even Rufina and Shakti were included in the group's unification speech, to the point that they had nearly been dragged into the 'nightly activities' by Haruhime and Tiona. Fortunately, Vahn had caught them in the act and managed to gently chide the two, having them watch over Alexa and Tina alongside Shakti and Rufina. Vahn did, however, promise to spend some time with all five girls later, just not while Alexa was present within the group...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Shocking~!','Shit went from 0 to 100 real fast (o____o)...','And back down to a moderate 10 a few moments later...RIP Haruhime and Tiona xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 828: Rally