Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

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

Gros' 'evolution' had caused waves within the small Xenos community as, even though Vahn was already quite popular within the close-knit community, having the 'leader' of the faction that believed Xenos couldn't live amicably amongst surface dwellers was a great boon. Though there were a few skeptics, their minds were changed rather quickly after a private discussion with Gros. Since they were able to determine that he was in full control of his actions and still possessed all of his memories, all while possessing much greater strength, it was hard not to 'believe' in the future that Vahn had promised.As a result of these developments, Vahn ended up at the center of a communal gathering as he tried to lay out his plan for allowing the Xenos to live on the surface. He had Lyd, Ray, Gros, Rayne, Naho, Terror, Xude, Marie, and Gryuu behind him as he looked out at the hopeful Xenos and said, "I do not want to mislead anyone here...know that, even amongst different communities of surface dwellers, there are ongoing conflicts that are slowly being resolved. The integration of Xenos into society would be an endeavor that we would have to spend several years working on. However, I can promise you wholeheartedly that the Alliance, the organization I represent, will continue to make efforts to ensure the Xenos are able to live with the same liberties afforded all surface dwellers..."Vahn noticed that, though the gathered Xenos had intelligence, many weren't really following what he was trying to say. There was a lot of confusion on their faces so he adopted a kindly smile as he explained, "For the time being, the Xenos will be given land within the territory of the Alliance to build their homes. You will have my personal support and the support of those that follow me...even though it may take several years for the public opinion of people to change, I promise you will still be able to live on the surface. I will never force you to do anything you don't want to do and, as long as you don't endanger the lives of others, you will be protected under the banner of the Alliance. To that end, you will have to receive an education so you know how to interact with other surface dwellers, but that is something that can be managed by your current leadership. I will work with Ray, Lyd, and Gros to help them understand how you can incorporate yourselves into society, so you will just have to listen to them. As long as you do not break any laws, commit heinous crimes, or bring harm unto others, the Alliance will never turn its back on you...!"Though Vahn could sense the excitement building, his words didn't seem as impactful as he expected, causing Lyd to step forward and point his scimitar towards the ceiling as he shouted, "Vahn is another part of our family! He deserves our trust and will take us out of this prison so that we can live on the surface! It won't be easy, but we can work together to make it easier! Now give Vahn a loud hurrah to show him that the Xenos can't be underestimated!" With the rise of Lyd's scimitar, the gathered Xenos all began to shout and cheer, many calling out Vahn's name while others began to happily talk about living on the surface...Vahn had a humbled smile on his face as Lyd gently elbowed him and said, "Big words are nice 'n all, but you gotta be direct. Just like you were staying to Gros earlier, show the Xenos with your actions, not your words. Don't worry, we know how to keep each other in line to avoid trouble. Ray's group might cause a few problems, but it shouldn't be that difficult to keep them distracted...hahahaha~!" In response to this, Ray produced a wry smile, knowing that she actually didn't have much ground to stand on if she wanted to argue against it. Though they would 'get better' as they became more human, it was an established fact that Bird-Type Xenos didn't have the same intellectual growth as some of the other species...From amongst the crowd of Xenos, one of the Goblin-Xenos, wearing a red-brimmed hat, raised their hand and stepped forward, drawing attention to itself as a 'she' asked, "Mister Vahn, is it possible for all of us to become powerful like Mister Gros? I know that many Adventurers would mock and look down upon us Goblin-Xenos and, if possible, would like to become stronger in order to protect myself..." This was a very important question on the minds of many Xenos, especially since the majority were only Level 1, being comprised of Goblins, Kobolds, Imps, and Almiraj. They had been fodder in their previous lives and, even though they had comparable intelligence to some surface dwellers, their weakness was still a predominant issue...Hearing the apparently female Goblin's question, though she looked like any normal Goblin, Vahn smiled and asked, "Tell me, little one, what is your name...?" With a courteous bow, catching Vahn off guard, the Goblin-Xenos introduced herself, stating in a polite tone, "My name is Laura, a Goblin-Xenos. Thank you for asking for this little one's name, Mister Vahn..." With 'her' words finished, Laura raised her head, patiently awaiting an answer to her earlier inquiry. Vahn was a little taken aback by her behavior and lightly reprimanded himself for making 'assumptions' about any Xenos as a result of their 'heritage'...After collecting his thoughts, Vahn gestured Fenrir to his side and began patting her head as he smiled and explained, "As long as you have the desire to grow stronger, there is no limit to how far your strength can develop. This here is Fenrir, my most adorable and trusted companion...though it may be difficult to believe, she actually used to be a normal Kobold. Now, after working harder than most people, she has become one of the most powerful existences in the entire world...I am very proud of her..." As he praised her, Fenrir puffed out her chest and should a prideful expression on her face, following up his words by adding, "As long as you desire power for the right reasons, anyone can become strong. Though my Master can help you become strong much faster, this is only possible if you are a 'good' person. Don't expect Master to help you become strong just so you can use your power to harm others...strength is meant to protect the things you care about..."Since Kobolds weren't that different than Goblins, Laura produced a crooked smile and was satisfied with the answer she had received. However, seeing how physically appealing Fenrir was, Laura couldn't help but ask, "Is it possible for even a Goblin like myself to become an 'adorable' existence like Miss Fenrir...?" To this question, Vahn couldn't help but chuckle lightly as he said, "I plan to work with Ray to help pave a way forward for all Xenos to become more human. But, the easy answer to your question is, yes, it is possible. I can help you evolve like Gros or, if your allegiance towards me is high enough, I can help you change your race completely. If you wanted, I could even help you become a real and true human..."This revelation caused a bit of a stir amongst the gathered Xenos with Ray taking the initiative to ask, "You can really change Xenos into humans...? Is that really true, Vahn...?" Understanding where this conversation was headed, Vahn nodded his head and explained, "Not just human, but almost any conceivable race so long as your desire and allegiance are high enough. I could even make a Goblin-Xenos like Laura into a True Dragon like Fafnir, though it would take a very long period of time. For some relatively simple like a Human, it would only take a few weeks of time...?" Since he couldn't just spend all of his OP without consideration, Vahn knew he would have to request resources from those he helped transform. Though some exceptions could be made, as demonstrations would serve as a powerful motivator for others, that was an 'investment' towards the future that would likely pay dividends with time...Since he expected it might be another question that popped up, Vahn decided to elaborate, saying, "It isn't just race, either, as I can help you change your size, shape, appearance, and even gender. However, there is something I need to clarify from the start so that there are fewer 'complications' in the future. You will all be able to see this in greater detail when we return to the surface, but I already have a very large family and several lovers that I care for deeply. I know there are some amongst you who have started to harbor hopes and expectations about how I may interact with you in the future...though it isn't beyond the realm of possibility, I would rather you focus your affections towards others. This has nothing to do with the fact that I may prefer any particular species of Xenos over any others, so don't jump to conclusions, please..."Though he was more than a little interested in the exotic nature of some of the Xenos, Vahn had experienced another 'shift' in his mentality as of late. The moment he had stopped worrying about his relationships with women outside of the Manor, Vahn noticed that the number of women approaching him in a meaningful way had drastically increased. It was almost as if they were 'aware' that he was more receptive to their approach and, as it was never his intention to greatly increase the number of women around him, Vahn needed to begin directly shutting down the advances of some. If things continued as they were, Vahn had a sinking suspicion that almost every female Xenos would take up residence around the Manor in the future...The moment his words had fallen upon their various different types of ears, several of the Xenos began stirring, talking amongst themselves while some cast glances at him. Vahn noticed this was primarily the group of Bird-Type Xenos, those that had experienced his [Grooming] for extended periods of times, and those like Marie, Naho, and even Rayne. Though he hadn't interacted with Marie much, as she couldn't easily move around as a Mermaid-Xenos, she had a very positive impression of him from the very beginning. As for Naho and Rayne, Vahn noticed that they were somewhat isolated from many of the other Xenos and it was likely he was one of the closest people to them, even after a very short period of time...As if she were the representative of the female Xenos, Ray stepped forward and clapped her hands together to make everyone quiet down. When she had their attention, Ray smiled radiantly before saying, "Girls, everyone has the choice to love who they want to love. However, note that Vahn didn't say there wasn't a chance...work hard, ufufufu~." Since she had already been behind Vahn, Ray was now right next to him so, when she finished her words, Vahn found himself being hugged by a pair of golden wings was a pair of soft mounds pressed into his back. Ray began to giggle and it was apparent her words had resonated with the other Xenos as many of the girls who harbored 'expectations' towards Vahn began to cheer and celebrate...---The gathering had quickly turned into another celebration as everyone began talking about what it would be like to live on the surface after thinking about it for such a long period of time. Some also discussed what race and gender would be the best to live as while others, never knowing anything other than their original race, simply wanted to evolve further. Vahn answered a lot of questions about his powers and even pointed out some of those among the Xenos that were the closest to being able to activate his powers. Since many of these were girls like Naho, Mlem, Rayne, Ray, Marie, Terror, Fear, and even Jude, it got some of the other female Xenos riled up, causing Lyd and Gros to designate an area around Vahn as a no-entry zone...Fortunately, though the topic was never truly dropped, Vahn managed to have a more guided conversation with Lyd, Gros, and Ray. Though the latter seemed to be 'targetting' him, she was a lot easier to deal with than the other Xenos who had no understanding of personal space whatsoever. Fenrir also acted as a 'barrier' to keep others away while they talked about the necessary steps to facilitate the transition of Xenos from the Dungeon onto the surface. Vahn was currently back at the Manor trying to get things prepared, mainly by having Terra agree to allow the Xenos to reside in the Illusory Forest. Though she showed a bit of hesitation at first, especially knowing that there would be many 'competing' females within the group of Xenos, Vahn managed to 'convince' her after a few hours of 'coaxing'...Vahn's current plan was to have the majority of the Xenos begin migrating to the surface and slowly introduce them to the general populous through various events that would be coordinated with the Ganesha Familia. Before that, they would be kept safe within the small illusory forest at the center of the Hearth Manor. At the same time, Terra was going to be creating caverns underground if space started to become an issue that needed to be addressed. Though it would be a relatively simple solution to let the Xenos stay within a Sub-Space orb that had been catered to their needs, this wasn't exactly conducive to their desire to live on the surface. They would just be trading one scenic prison for another, never truly incorporating themselves into society. Though they would certainly have a Sub-Space orb to make use of, if not using the 'main' one directly, that was a secondary focus for the time being, not a priority...At the same time that the Xenos would be moving to the surface, they would also be organized into teams that would patrol and investigate the Dungeon. They were able to locate and navigate the secret areas of the Dungeon with relative ease and would be moving between the various Hidden Villages to recruit any new kin that came into existence. The Xenos had always proactively searched for more of their kind and offered protection and companionship to their newly formed kin. It was this spirit of cooperation that had allowed them to survive for hundreds of years and, even though they lost their some of their companions in the process, they never gave up on their own people...it was truly an admirable trait that Vahn felt all sentient species could learn from.Though there would be several teams formed, the members would be comprised of the stronger Xenos in the group, specifically those that had become his subordinates and retainers. They not only had the highest chance of survival but could also train to overcome their limits with greater ease than those bound by the pseudo-restrictions of their base species. For the time being, Gros would become the leader of the search team and, once Vahn's cooldown was up, Lyd would become the second team leader. They would operate with impunity, under the guidance of supervision of other Xenos, reporting only to Vahn himself. Vahn wanted to strengthen their community so that, even if it took decades for the general populace to accept the Xenos, they would still be able to get a foothold for themselves within the Alliance...The final phase of the Xenos' migration, even though it would be an ongoing process from the very start that would likely continue indefinitely, was the 'research' component of things. Vahn knew there was a lot to be learned through observing the Xenos, as their existence itself touched upon the secrets of the soul itself. Since monsters were simple mana constructs, the fact they could obtain souls was a phenomenon that deserved the highest priority of attention. After all, even the gods had spent hundreds of millions of years proactively trying to create souls, only for the first batch of 'truly sentient' beings to come into existence at random. The fact that the Xenos existed at all, even though the Dungeon wasn't that old, was one of the most significant discoveries that deserved proper study and research. It was even possible that one day in the distant future, any monster could be groomed into a Xenos, fundamentally changing the very nature of the record...Since it wasn't exactly 'proper' for him to conduct the research on the Xenos without any oversight, Vahn decided it was best to simply focus on educating the Xenos to coexist with society. As their intelligence continued to develop, Xenos like Ray could become the frontrunners in Xenos research, working tirelessly to understand and promote her species so that true understanding could be reached. Since this research had the chance of exponentially increasing their numbers, Ray was very excited to get started, though she emphasized that Vahn had to be involved directly. She wasn't entirely in agreement with the fact that Vahn wanted to let the Xenos head the research as it seemed 'unnecessary' from her perspective.Ray argued that many Xenos would willingly allow someone like Vahn, who they had placed their trust in, to conduct research on them. She pointed out that, as he had no intention to exploit and use them for his own selfishness, it would be better for their entire species if he took charge of things. Since he was already helping them evolve and change, it wouldn't make sense for him to take a backseat on the research that would better the lives of every Xenos in the future. As there wasn't any real argument he could come up with to refute Ray's words, which was surprising in itself, Vahn ended up agreeing with her. Though he knew Ray had more than a few 'intentions' of her own, Vahn agreed that he was inarguably the most capable in conducting research into almost any field...(A/N: Just a reminder that Sunday is supposed to be my 'rest' day. The number of chapters could vary greatly and you shouldn't expect them to release at a 'normal' time xD. There will probably be another chapter of EPIC today, but it is more likely that I'll release a few FJ and just spend some time playing games or reading other novels for inspiration. I'm going to start trying to release between 4-6 chapters a day (based on length) since the pacing of the novel has been accelerating a great deal. I'm trying to bring the events of Danmachi to a head around chapter 1000 and, though it won't be the end of Vahn's time in Danmachi (as he will return later), it will be time for him to enter the next record around that time. Stay beautiful, all of you EPIC readers :P...)(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Intelligence is relative xD...','Ray's Conspiracy...!?','It is weird how Vahn essentially became a researcher himself, even though he hated them in the past o3o...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

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

Chapter 829: Resolve...?