Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With absolutely silent steps, Vahn proceeded into the room where the Dwarves were gathering the slaves, many of which were forcibly clumped together by the stressed soldiers. This was a good opportunity for him to take action so, without playing the 'game' of negotiating with fools, Vahn focused his intent to the extreme. As a result, everyone within his domain, with the exception of himself, became statuesque in their former positions. Then, as it was also considered a 'ranged' attack, Vahn's eyes were able to easily trace the proper vector as he sent out [Enkidu] to skewer the surviving Dwarves. He had given mercy to those who had no idea they had died but these people, who were intending to take hostages to use as shields, were undeserving of that basic courtesy.By the time his [Enkidu] had illuminated the dark cavern, lit only by a few Glowstones, 211 of the 212 surviving Dwarves were now skewered through the heart. Though [Enkidu]'s attack power was rather low, critical hits were able to completely ignore most forms of defense. With his [Call of the Reaper] and [Archery Goddess' Blessing], his attack had been a guaranteed crit on their vitals, stringing together the Dwarves before Vahn tossed their corpses into his Inventory. After completing this action, Vahn removed the [Shadow Visor Mk.2], revealing himself to the sole surviving Dwarf and the six-hundred-forty-two slaves.To the Dwarven Commander, who Vahn heard called Geof, his appearance was like death itself, an inevitability he could never hope to escape. As for the slaves, who had no idea who the stoic man before them was, they could only lament their fortune as they too awaited death. Understanding this, Vahn gave out a gentle smile and said, "Please, stay calm. Other than that fellow there, I am not going to harm a single one of you. After this event has concluded, you will all be freed from these fools' tyranny..." While speaking, Vahn waved his hand across the void, sending calming energy through his domain while using his [Grooming] to comfort these unfortunate souls.As warm and comforting energy washed over them, the more emotionally unstable slaves began to weep in each other's arms, freed from the suppression of Vahn's domain. The Dwarven Commander received no such reprieve, however, as Vahn levitated the stone-faced man over to his side. From the moment he entered into close proximity with Vahn, Geof tried to spit out a wad of spit, which Vahn quickly sent back with a flick of his index finger. Then, before Geo could say anything, Vahn had already grasped the man by his dense and bristly beard, using it as leverage to slam him into the hard stone walls of the mine. This caused loose stones to fall from the ceiling as the entire cavern trembled but, with the sturdiness of the mine's supports, it wasn't in danger of collapsing any time soon.Vahn was slightly surprised by how durable the man's beard was, as only a few hairs were plucked even though he weighed more than 200kg in full armor. Less surprising was how he immediately bounded to his feet, using a stray stone as a weapon to try and bash Vahn's head. In response to this, Vahn tilted his chin up slightly as dense black scales covered in green runes appeared on his body. The stone struck against Vahn's temple but, instead of smashing from the forces involved, the only thing that was destroyed was Geof's hand. He had used his full Power in the blow, the entirety of which was redirected directly back into his hand.Releasing a guttural cry, Geof then tried to ram his steel-like forehead into Vahn's diaphragm, this time to less effect than his barbaric stone attack. Vahn's Agility, unmodified, was over 6000, making him several times faster than Geof could possibly move. With his enhanced perception, the man was essentially moving in slow motion as Vahn took a half step before slamming his palm into Geof's chest. As if gravity no longer existed, Geof traced a perfectly straight line towards the cavern's wall, moving so fast that his body had blurred with an afterimage. To prevent a cave-in, Vahn squeezed his palm closed in an instant, anchoring Geof's body in the air and giving the man a serious case of whiplash. Even this wasn't enough to kill him, however, as Geof was around the peak of Level 4 and had incredible Endurance...Once again, Vahn levitated the now limp Dwarf to his side, casually remarking, "I didn't think the prideful and arrogant Dwarves were the type to play possum. To think, you look down on other races and treat them as slaves but, the moment you meet a powerful enemy, you play dead...?" As many Dwarves were indeed very prideful, Geof tried to grab one of the loose plates of his armor so that he could throw it at Vahn. Vahn 'allowed' this attack, keeping a completely calm expression as the plate impacted against him without any discernable effect before falling to the ground. Though his [Rakshasa Body] hadn't increased in rank, Vahn's control over the ability had increased greatly in the last few months. Ever since the change to his Zhuque form, giving him an edge against Enyo, Vahn had pursued greater mastery of his Innates in preparation for the future.Pulling out a non-descript black blade, Vahn decided to set the stage for his future display, remarking, "If you answer my questions honestly, I will make a vow to bury your comrades with the proper honors. I am aware of the customs of the Dwarves and, even though I loathe what you have done here, I am not above giving funeral rites to the deceased. I wonder which is more important to you, Geof...your personal pride, or the honor you owe your kin...?" Though many Dwarves were greedy and fought amongst themselves, it was distinctly different within the warriors of their tribe. Those that fought alongside each other truly considered themselves closer than brothers, as it wasn't uncommon for actual brothers to backstab each other over business deals...Geof gnashed his teeth, seething in rage but unable to find words for several seconds before saying in a voice so deep it seemed to resonate from the very earth below, "Yer a bastard, Vahn Mason, but I know you aren't the type to desecrate the dead. Do with me what you will...I'll not betray my duty to the Iron Hills and give you any information...!" At the end of his words, Geof actually bit through his tongue before smiling like a madman with bloodstained teeth. Vahn's brows raised slightly when he saw this, feeling a modicum of respect for the man, even as he used [Wounds Transfer] to invalidate the action. It would have been possible to simply heal Geof with a spell but that would have repaired the damage to other parts of his body, instead of the specific area Vahn had targetted.Feeling his tongue against the roof of his mouth, Geof showed a face of incredulity as Vahn smiled apologetically and said, "When I go to the Iron Hills, I will tell them of the action you took here. However, before I allow you to die, there isn't a force in the world that could claim your life..." Before Geof could respond, Vahn placed his palm against the man's sweaty brow, sending in waves of petting energy until the man was in an absentminded state. Since his confrontation with Enyo, Vahn felt even more uncomfortable about using means like this but, considering that the order to assault the Manor had likely come from this man, Vahn forgave himself...After a few minutes had passed, during which time the slaves watched on in silence, Vahn extracted a great deal of information from Geof. He learned that they had a second fortress located further south, acting as a stopover for supply ships making the long journey from the Iron Hills. This fortress was located very close to the Serpent's Pass, the sole point of entry to the Serpent Sea that acted as the primary port for shipping goods in and out of Orario. The Dwarves had been acting as pirates, periodically plundering merchant vessels that were not allied with the Iron Hills. It was a much older fortress as well, having existed for nearly fifty years without drawing any attention to itself.The most surprising revelation, however, was that the Dwarves had also created three fortresses within the Beol Mountains to the north of Orario. This was an area few ever ventured as, in the distant past, a large number of monsters that had escaped the Dungeon had made these mountains their home. It was so dangerous, with its steep inclines, loose gravel roads, and constant monster attacks, that the few merchants that dared venture through the only mountain pass called it the 'Trail of Blood', 'Evil Mountain', and 'The Dragon's Maw'. The fact the Dwarves had claimed part of the mountain without anyone noticing was difficult to believe, as it meant they had long-since surrounded Orario with their hidden forces. They were actually the reason for many merchant convoys going missing, just as they had been plundering merchant vessels in the Serpent's Pass...Learning that the Dwarves thought so little of the other races that they had been indiscriminately building in the territories of other countries was eye-opening. Just the fact this information had been kept a secret for so long was something very difficult to believe but, considering how willing Geof had been to kill himself, Vahn understood that those who knew of these fortresses were very loyal. If not for his ability to easily follow the Drakes to infiltrate their base, it was unlikely they would have ever been discovered before a full-scale invasion had been initiated.In that regard, there was indeed an invasion planned, though it was scheduled to take place nearly three months from now. The plan had been to conduct aerial raids from several different directions, causing collateral damage to Orario and splitting the focus of its forces away from the main invasion force. Previously, most of Orario's 'eyes' had been focused to the West, not even considering that attacks would come from the North, East, and, with the Rakia Kingdom's forces taking a route through the Southern Sands, the South as well. These air raids would have split their focus even more, leaving their backs unprepared as Rakia tried to cut a path into the weakened City...Upon hearing this plan, Vahn couldn't help but shake his head at the foolishness of it all, as even this wouldn't have been near enough to destabilize Orario. As powerful as the Rakia Kingdom's forces were, there was absolutely nothing they could do in a direct engagement against the Adventurers of Orario. Though the City would have undoubtedly sustained damaged from the first few air raids, it would have only served to rile up the Adventurers even more by the time the battle came. With a few Elites leading the charge, Rakia's forces would be devastated while their extended supply line was destroyed.Thus far, Rakia had tried to invade five times, each invasion ending in their retreat without Orario even needing to mount a dedicated defense. Even with explosives and siege weaponry provided by the Iron Hills, this wouldn't change the ultimate outcome even a little, regardless of if Vahn had been in the record. This was because, among their forces, even Generals within the Rakia Kingdom were only at the peak of Tier 3. The number of Level 4s were limited to people leading small factions and criminal organizations within Rakia's borders. Though things were a little better for the Dwarves, as there were some Level 5-6 individuals leading some of the more powerful families, they were unable to mount an invasion.Dwarves specialized in building fortifications, mining, and defensive warfare, not conducting large scale invasions. Their actual numbers weren't that great, with only around 300,000 people, with those dedicating themselves to the life of a soldier making up around 1/8th their population. It was much more profitable to be a merchant, slave owner, blacksmith, or other trade that focused on acquiring revenue and prestige. As a result, nearly 70% of the Iron Hills' population was comprised of slaves, who would undoubtedly revolt very quickly if the soldiery was sent to invade foreign nations. This was why they needed to rely on a country like Rakia to act as the Vanguard while they focused on destabilizing Orario a direct confrontation...Once he had learned everything he needed to know, Vahn used [Mercy] to claim Geof's life before stowing him away with the rest. Then, after dispelling this soundproof barrier that had been erected, Vahn turned to the patiently waiting slaves. Even though they could have run away while he was dealing with Geof, not a single slave had tried to escape during the fifteen minutes of long silence. To some, the thought of escaping didn't even exist in their mind, having grown up under the iron thumb of the Dwarves. Since they were operating within a secret fortress, the only fate that awaited them was death due to overwork or mine collapse...escape was entirely impossible with the ever vigilant Dwarven loyalists watching over them.Understanding that they may not even know who he is, Vahn held out his hand in a placating manner, a gentle smile on his face as he said, "My name is Vahn Mason, Sage Aldrnari, Commander in Chief of the Alliance, and Captain of the Hestia Familia..." As he spoke, Vahn performed the same action he had used when dealing with the scared Elves in the past. He pulled out warm blankets, set out delicious food, and set out several kegs filled with purified water and honey mead. Though they had already been paying attention to him, the appearance of these goods had caused thousands of subtly glowing eyes to shift in an instant, primarily towards the steaming piles of food...Vahn noted that it was surprisingly eerie to see so many reflective eyes in the dark but he didn't let it show on his face as he said, "If you have any sick or injured, regardless of how minor the wound, please bring it to my attention. Know that there is plenty of food for everyone so don't think you will miss out on eating if you want treatment. Also, as difficult as it may be for you to believe, from this day onward, you will be free from a life of slavery. It will be a long journey, but I will give you plenty of supplies to journey to Orario to seek refuge with the Alliance..." As his words trailed, Vahn then bowed low, a sincere expression on his face as he said, "Thank you for surviving...I promise, from now on, nobody will ever treat you like slaves. Every single one of you is an amazing person that has survived a difficult trial...my only regret is that I was unable to save you earlier..."Seeing this unbelievably powerful man, who could reap their lives without any effort at all, thanking them for their survival, most of the slaves couldn't quite believe their eyes and ears. Apologizing was one thing, even though he owed them nothing, but he had even thanked them for their efforts while promising them a better life. With the ridiculously fragrant food and the comfortable atmosphere, some of the slaves were entirely incapable of standing. Even those with stronger mentalities couldn't help but embracing each other in tears as one brave former slave amongst them, a small Pallum boy that was only 73cm tall, hesitantly walked forward to grab some food. Seeing Vahn ruffle the boy's hair, instead of striking him down, the reality of the situation slowly set in...just as Vahn had stated, against all hope, they had 'survived'...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Having a weapon that can pierce anything, combined with an effect that ignores defense...SUPER OP','When you have forfeited all hope, then you have my permission to die','So long as life remains, so too does the promise of a better future')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

At the same as Vahn had been liberating the slaves within the Dwarves' hidden fortress, his avatar was back at the Hearth Manor with the 'War Council'. He had become very familiar with this group of goddesses over the last few months, as it constantly felt like they were meeting to discuss various matters. This time, the agenda was obviously related to the necessary military response to resolve this matter. With Vahn updating them about the information obtained from Geof, Minerva and Alala had been bouncing ideas back and forth while Vahn tried to think about the logistics of everything. Ultimately, the decision to deploy troops fell on him, courtesy of being the Supreme Commander of the Alliance forces, so he had to seriously consider the best method to proceed.The 'simplest' solution was to take action himself, bringing a decisive end to things, but that wasn't necessarily the best method for ensuring society, in general, was able to progress in the proper direction. If he resolved everyone situation on his own, it would undoubtedly increase his own prestige but, at the same time, it made his actions seem almost 'too fantastical'. Though the general public credited him as being the strongest, very few people could actually give a cohesive answer if asked 'why' he was the strongest. After all, even if someone said, "Well, he defeated Ottar.", that would only truly hold relevance to those who knew of Ottar's strength...Vahn realized that his route had undoubtedly entered the path of an Emperor, even if the end result was drastically different than the Divination. The Alliance was growing too fast to simply be an Alliance for much longer, as there was a real need for a more cohesive command structure to be in place. Though the Divine Council would undoubtedly serve this purpose, it would fall on Vahn to act as an overseer, as sitting on the sidelines simply wasn't an option. This would actually give him 'less' responsibility in the end, as his input would only be required to make overarching decisions that influenced the entire Alliance, similar to an actual Emperor who entrusted administrative tasks to his Ministers...No matter how he spun things, the moment Vahn set out to unify the entire Continent, he would become responsible for maintaining peace and order in all countries. Without a clearly defined role, such as that of an Emperor, there would always be contention in smaller countries and Kingdoms. He would need to form a Mortal Council as well, requiring Kings and Queens to attend to express his authority and pass down Imperial Decrees. The only other 'solution' was to place people he trusted in positions of power within those countries, but that was functionally the same thing. For better or worse, the only way to maintain control, in the long run, is if people, both mortal and god, respect the decisions he made based on the authority he possessed...In an effort to ensure corruption and the concept of Nobility wasn't able to become the seed of future discourse, Vahn intended to create an oversight council, though that may have to wait until he linked the records in the future. Essentially, he wanted to make it a requirement for anyone that wanted to hold a position of power, regardless of their presumed 'birthright', to graduate from both the School and the Academy. Then, only by earning proper merits, would they have the right to claim any title of Nobility. The former systems, that promoted meritless individuals, purporting them as something 'special' by virtue of nothing more than birth, was simply ridiculous to him. If a person didn't even have the basic capabilities to govern and manage a territory, they simply didn't deserve to inherit a position they didn't make any effort to obtain.As a result, Vahn intended to make the Academy one of the most powerful forces in the entire Continent, serving as a furnace of sorts that tempered individuals to pave the way toward a better future, both for themselves and others. This would make the Guild, the Academy, and Vahn's own 'Empire' as the three main powers in the world, reinforcing each other while establishing a basic system for checks and balances. Vahn intended to allow the Guild to remain autonomous because, as much as he didn't believe in what Ouranos did, there was undoubtedly a need for an objective and neutral party for proper mediation.The Divine Council would represent the 'wisdom' of the gods, setting forth laws and regulations that would govern the mortal world for generations. However, the final decision would always fall to Vahn and, if they were in agreement, it was possible to implement the change. At the same time, the Divine Council could oppose decisions he made and, if Vahn insisted his decision was correct, it would then fall to Ouranos to make the final say. As a god who had lived for nearly a billion years, all while observing the 'natural' flow of the world, his counsel was something that couldn't really be called into question. Though, considering there would be thirty primary gods within the Divine Council, it wasn't likely that Vahn would disagree with any decisions they made together...It was with this understanding, knowing he would have to rise up and 'claim' the title of Emperor in the future, Vahn held up his hand to bring the discussion to a stop. The fact that three goddesses immediately turned their attention to him, ceasing their cross-talk in an instant, was a credit to the authority he already possessed. This brought a small smile to Vahn's face as he said, "Rakia's forces are moving through the Southern Sands to stage their invasion. With the heat and unstable terrain, their pace will be heavily influenced by any changes in environmental factors. I will have Terra delay their advance without causing them too much damage...I want them to get closer to Orario..."Though he had the option of simply wiping out the entire army, Vahn knew it would be far more effective to make a show of things for the future. He would let Rakia Kingdom's forces make their way to Orario but, unlike the past, where they were allowed to retreat, this would be their final invasion. He would deal with Ares himself while the entire army would be routed by members of the Haven Defense Force alone. So long as he was in the area, Vahn would be able to use [Wounds Transfer] to protect their lives while a group that may very well consist of 'just' Pallums completely devastated the enemy forces.Finding the thought a little humorous, Vahn internally reprimanded himself before saying, "The more important thing is to intercept, or outright prevent, any communication between Rakia and the Iron Hills. I will be dealing with the matter of the Iron Hills personally while the Alliance will move forces to secure each of the fortresses that have been secretly constructed by the Dwarves. In the future, those mines will serve as an area where tradesmen and laborers within the Alliance will be able to venture in order to collect resources. Those in the Alv Mountains, included the hidden port near the Serpent's Pass, will fall under the direct control of the Hephaestus and Fortuna Familias while the three located in the Beol Mountains will be shared ownership of the entire Alliance. We will set up a system to manage the flow of ore and resources while ensuring the infrastructure of the mines is not compromised. So long as a person has the proper rank and contribution points, they will only have to pay a tax on their harvest before carrying it away or having it processed on site..."Vahn knew that controlling the port would be a huge boon for the Alliance in general, especially since the Alv Mountains had several mineral-rich veins. Vahn had detected them through his [Metalurgy] Development Ability when he searched the area with his domain. So long as he mapped out the subsurface, the mining team would be able to obtain a bountiful harvest from the mountain. He couldn't supplement all the resources of the entire Alliance using the system shop, even though it was very 'convenient' for others if he did so. As the number of moving parts within the Alliance increased, their requirements for goods would drastically increase as well. Vahn would never be able to keep up with the supply and demand of millions of people, not if he wanted to have any time with his family in the future...With his decision and reasoning laid out before them, the goddesses began to talk about the various pros and cons of his choice. Vahn listened patiently, taking note of key details like establishing proper infrastructure to make moving supplies and resources easier. It would be beneficial to build small villages and settlements in close proximity to the fortresses, allowing those traveling to and from the location to rest. So long as there were riches and resources available, there would always be people willing to move into inhospitable environments to settle. If the Alliance provided them with building materials and food, those seeking a more rustic and peaceful life would undoubtedly answer the call...Once he heard all their counterarguments and counsel, Vahn ruminated for a bit before saying, "It may be better to entrust the management of these areas to the very slaves that were forced to construct them. This would give them a sense of empowerment while also serving as a powerful motivator to successfully settle the area. At the same time, I'll force the Iron Hills to compromise, providing the building materials necessary at no cost to the Alliance. Though they will enter a long period of restructuring once I'm done with them, the Dwarves will undoubtedly become a powerful industrial machine in the future. However, their national isolationism and racist social structure will be shattered like the very mountain they believe protects them..."There were motivators more powerful than rising above those that had pressed you down, especially if it was at the expense of the oppressors. Since it was unlikely most of the slaves would adapt well to the rapid changes within Orario, Vahn believed it would be a better option for them to settle the land they were forced to toil over. It would ultimately be up to them but, having already discussed it with some of the older slaves back in the Alv Mountain Fortress, Vahn knew many amongst them would jump at the opportunity. As a result, Vahn gave them the necessary supplies and rations while promising that the Alliance would bring forces to protect them from bandits and Dwarven patrols that may try to reclaim the mines. Then, for the first time, they were able to make a genuine decision for themselves, voting on a Village Chief to represent their budding community...While discussing the building plans with the aptly named 'Survivor Village', Vahn was also pouring over maps back at the Manor while discussing the best method to prevent future attacks again Orario. With its size, it wasn't practical to provide [Palings] to protect the entire City, so the 'solution' would be to protect important structures while building a more comprehensive defense network. It was fortunate that Orario had been divided into eight sections as, even though it would take several months of effort, it was possible to establish a ritual defensive ward that could protect the entire City. Though they would need to build eight rather large towers, it was an easily justifiable expense if it meant the entire City would be protected from aerial attacks in the future. The 'problem' was that the estimated cost in Valis was approximated to be 89,000,000,000,000V while purchasing the materials through the system shop would cost close to 3,000,000,000OP.Since this was a sum that even the entire Alliance wouldn't be able to shoulder easily, it would delay the construction to the point it would take several years to complete. Even with this being the case, there was no resistance to the plan and, with careful management of funds, it wasn't impossible to finish the city-wide magic ward without overtaxing the Alliance's funds. This was accounting for economic growth and the availability of resources in the 'Frontier Floors' of the Dungeon, but even Sis was able to calculate a very high chance of success. Just selling spatial artifacts and introducing new products into the market would be able to keep them afloat without too many issues. Since it was meant to protect the entire City, it was even possible to work alongside the Civilian Legislative Branch to issue bonds or increase taxes.This method was an avenue Vahn didn't want to pursue, however, as he knew having the public's support would be important if he truly intended to be an Emperor in the future. If he pressured the CLB to increase taxes before he held that level of authority, there would be greater opposition to any future plans he wants to implement. By showing a willingness to protect the City, even without pressuring its citizenship, Vahn was essentially claiming ownership of Orario while taking a public stance as its protector. In time, this would become common knowledge to the general public and, by the time he made the move to become an Emperor, many would feel as if it was 'expected', instead of something they should oppose. When he increased taxes, the general consensus would be along the line of, 'well, he protected us at his own expense back then, it is only natural we pay him back'...With thoughts like this on his mind, Vahn laid out his plans for the future before his War Council, each a goddess he genuinely trusted. Even Eirene wasn't opposed to the idea as, from her point of view, Vahn was constantly making sacrifices for the benefit of everyone. Since he was even allowing the Guild and something like the Divine Council to exist in order to establish a system to prevent corruption, she wholly supported his vision of the future. As for goddesses like Loki, Freya, and Fortuna, they had somewhat scary smiles as their eyes reflected genuine intrigue. The rest also expressed their support while only goddesses like Hestia showed no concern about such things, simply stating she would always protect the Hearth Manor so that Vahn had a place to rest when he was weary of the outside world and its complex politics...Thus, without any opposition, Vahn cemented his resolve to begin unifying the Continent and, when the timing was appropriate, rise up to become a true Emperor. Though his conquest had actually started long ago, almost as far back as the first steps he had taken out of the Western Forest, Vahn's next stepping stone towards the future was the Iron Hills. There were some loose ends, like helping Elily with her revenge and tracking down Tsubaki's father, his treatment of the Iron Hills would be relatively straight forward. From the moment they targetted his family directly, Vahn had decided to return the favor in a drastic way. He and Terra would literally 'split' their 'mother mountain' in two, connecting the Iron Hills to the rest of the world, before forcing them to acquiesce by tearing apart the very foundation of their society, starting from its roots...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The mentality of an Emperor','Laying a Stable Foundation for the Future...','By tearing away the rotten foundation at the roots...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Being one of the backers for the Alliance Faire, Vahn was expected to make an appearance on each day of the event. He had noticed that, as his prestige and authority rose, the number of things he was 'expected' to do had increased. Though it was a little troublesome, there were now more than 600,000 'moving parts' making up the complex structure that was the Alliance. Responsibilities needed to be delegated to the appropriate people and, being the Supreme Commander and Head of the Alliance, Vahn knew his place involved public representation. His presence alone could increase the tension in the entire Coliseum and, when he clapped or gave out commendations, the reaction of the public and participants was, for lack of a better word, 'extreme'.The unfortunate downside to things was that it gave Vahn a 'predictable' nature, as it was very easy to know where and when he would be located in specific places. This made it possible to set traps in preparation of his arrival or, in the more troublesome cases, his enemies had the option of attacking his location or prioritizing targets away from his location. In this instance, as Vahn firmly seated the rambunctious Meinya in his lap, it seemed they had decided to take the bold approach.Though they were far outside of his detection range, Vahn had seen the small beyond the dense cumulonimbus clouds overhead. His eyesight, though not as extreme as Naaza'z [Eagle Eye], allowed him to spot small targets at an extreme range of over 10km with clarity. Because of this, and the fact the skies were supposed to be 'cleared' during events, Vahn had immediately taken notice of the more than two-hundred Drakes flying high above the Coliseum. Though it was difficult to make out what they were dropping, Vahn quickly deduced that the riders had decided to drop explosive ordinance over the Coliseum, indiscriminately...Given the height they were dropping the bombs, Vahn knew they were intending to release their payload and simply try to fly away before anyone knew what was happening. It would take several minutes for the bombs to impact the City, during which time they would have covered a great distance. At the same time, it was nearly impossible to counterattack because they were simply too far away for even skilled Adventurers to attack. Vahn found this display to be extremely cowardly but, at the same time, he understood that the people riding the Drakes simply wanted to preserve their lives. It was similar to how he would have Fafnir attack from outside the range of enemies, the key difference being that he didn't just attack innocents and 'flee'...Interrupting the battle taking place in the Coliseum, Vahn rose to his feet and began exerting pressure through his domain, his voice silencing the entire crowd as he kept his focus on the sky and said, "The Iron Hills is attacking the City. The Coliseum is a safe area where you can seek shelter. All members of the Alliance, report to your respective Familia and do your duty..." Though his voice was calm, the void around Vahn trembled slightly as everyone listened in absolute silence. He had used his domain to amplify the sound of his voice so that it reached everyone without him having to scream out like Ganesha.There was a stir in the crowded Coliseum but the calm in Vahn's voice, combined with the subtle pressure they were feeling, kept people from panicking. Those belonging to the Alliance moved in an orderly fashion while Vahn passed Meinya over to Maemi, saying, "Be a good girl and go with Maemi back to the Manor for me, okay...?" She was a troublemaker in most instances but, when her Papa got 'serious', Meinya knew when to be a good girl. Without arguing, she nodded her head and hugged Maemi close as the latter sprouted wings and immediately took towards the sky. Emiru took along Anise, who was almost inseparable from Meinya, while Vahn turned to Hephaestus, the only goddess to come with him on the third day, asking, "Do you want me to send you back with Fafnir? I need to deal with the bombs..."Hephaestus shook her head casually, a smile affixed to her face as she confidently said, "I'll wait here to help pacify the crowd if things become chaotic." Vahn returned a smile to Hephaestus before turning his eyes skyward and 'vanishing' from the viewing platform. He had still called Fafnir to Hephaestus' side, as there was always a chance she could be one of their targets, while sending telepathic messages to the girls back at the Manor to alert them. It could be that the Iron Hills was simply attacking the Coliseum to disrupt the Alliance Faire, likely to hurt their prestige among the public, but there was a good chance they had targetted other areas as well.If Vahn later found that they had dropped bombs on the Hearth Manor...well, they had already sealed their fates with this attack. That would just speed up their demise as the Hearth Manor and its residents were well-known to be something of a 'reverse-scale' for Vahn. You could antagonize him directly without too many issues but, the moment you targetted the people he cared about, it was the same as throwing any chance for reconciliation out the window...Much faster than the bombs were falling, Vahn ascended into the sky with a monstrous momentum. The moment he detected the bombs within his domain, Vahn condensed a dense membrane of air that smashed into the bombs and caused them to explode far above their intended targets. Then, amidst a veritable cloud of explosions, Vahn burst through as the plumes of flame coiled around his body. He was using Fire Elemental manipulation to prevent the flames from dispersing, feeing them with excess oxygen through his domain. This caused the cloud of Drakes to disperse outward but they were nowhere near as fast as Vahn himself was. He sent waves of flames barreling towards the larger clumps while pulling out his [Khryselakatos] and accurately sniping the Drake-riders without harming their mounts.Vahn wanted to avoid having the bodies of Drakes smashing down on buildings and pedestrians so he was primarily targetting their riders. They were strapped onto the Drakes and, because of their homing instinct, Vahn would be able to follow them back to wherever they had taken off from. This became even more important as, during the time he was picking off the riders, Vahn got a telepathic message from Syr, stating, ("Vahn, some explosive rained down against Terra's barrier. Everyone is safe; Fafnir and Khaos have given chase.") Now, after a momentary pause, Vahn attacks had become even more fierce as he began loosing arrows with enough force to 'evaporate' his targets, destroying both the rider and the Drake.Since it was possible that they were just trying to pull him away from the City, Vahn left the 60th Floor by teleporting to Spero, the destination point for the 60th Floor's ward. He immediately noticed a thin membrane above the village where small fragments of metal were bouncing against the barrier. They were dancing around against the magical membrane like grease on a hotplate as the Xenos sought shelter within their abodes. The village now extended several hundred meters below the surface so there were plenty of places of them to retreat to during this kind of attack. Even so, Ray and the other bird-type Xenos were flying around to make sure nothing was amiss after the bombs had been dropped.They had noticed him very quickly but, after Vahn shook his head slightly, none of them came down to greet him. Moments later, as if he had been an illusion, Vahn was already outside the perimeter of the Xenos' territory, arriving at the Hearth Manor in less than ten seconds. At the same time, he was giving chase to the few remaining Drakes after dawning a [Shadow Visor Mk. 2], the more advanced model that Asfi had recently developed. Its function was the same as the original but the materials comprising it were both lighter and more durable, being almost entirely comprised of Mithril. Vahn's stock of the rare metal had reached an almost ridiculous amount of the last two months, to the point that Ina was using it as template material in her prototypes...Vahn followed the retreating Drakes as they slowly began to converge together into a flock, even with their riders dead. He noticed that some maimed strays had come in from other areas and had to send Fafnir and Khaos away since they would massacre the flock in an instant if he left them to their own devices. Instead, the two flew high into the sky, far outside the perception of any detection magic or ocular device, as Vahn continued to give chase. He was a little surprised that they had flown for nearly an hour before descending towards the 'shadow' between two of the large pillar mountains making up the Alv Mountain Range to the East of Orario...The Iron Hills were located far to the North-West of Orario so it was a little unexpected for the Drakes to have fled to the East. Vahn realized the Iron Hills had probably made bases in the surrounding mountains for an inevitable war with Orario, as it would take years to build fortifications without the Guild taking notice of the site. From this, Vahn knew that the Iron Hills had likely been planning to seize control of Orario for much longer than he had been in the record. This wasn't too surprising though, considering that almost every country that surrounded Orario had been eyeing its resources for nearly a thousand years.Because of the [Shadow Visor Mk. 2], not even a single Sentry sounded the alarm as Vahn landed in the staging area where several stout men, adorned in Damascus Steel armor, came out to wrangle the Drakes. Their average height was around 145-160cm tall, but their muscle density was more than triple that of a normal human being. Each looked like a part of the mountains they resided in, possessing sturdy and defined bodies, hardened facial expressions, and ornately braided beards. Some of these beards extended halfway down the torso of these men who, without exception, belonged to the Dwarven people of the Iron Hills...One of the Dwarves that was wrangling the Drakes, noticing every rider was dead, showed a grim expression as he shouted to the others, "Move yer asses and get some more hands out here to deal with these overgrown lizards!" He then pointed towards one of the younger looking Dwarves, shouting, "You! Go tell the Medics to get out here and do their damn jobs...!" The 'boy', who looked like a middle-aged man with a full beard, gave a quick salute by pounding against his metallic breastplate before running down a set of hard stone stairs.Vahn, choosing to investigate the interior without drawing attention to himself, followed soundlessly from behind. Even without the [Shadow Visor Mk. 2], his [Stealth] as SS-Rank while he could even completely conceal his presence from most detection formations and magic barriers. So long as there wasn't someone with an Innate that was suited for detection, Vahn could stand between two people who were conversing without drawing the attention of either. He had tested this by getting 'revenge' against Tiona for all of her pranks using the [Helm of Darkness] in the past...As Vahn was thinking about the best course of action to take, he noticed a large number of presences located deeper within the hidden fortress. Using his [Eyes of Truth], Vahn saw that the vast majority of these auras belonged to Pallum and Cat People slaves, two races with great vision in the low light of places like mines. The Dwarves were excavating the mountain for minerals to shore up their defenses and manufacture siege weapons that were hidden within the mountain. Based on how much progress they had made in their mining operation, Vahn estimated that this particular fortress had been in operation for around 6-8 years. It took a long time to reinforce the structure of the mountain as mines were dug and, the deeper you went, the harder the stones and minerals became as a result of exposure to Earth Elemental energy.Though he hadn't intended to really spare these Dwarves, who were illegally occupying territory outside of their borders, seeing hundreds of malnourished and emaciated slaves only served to cement their fate. As a result, Vahn moved into an unoccupied area of the fortress and began to locate and mentally 'mark' each of the enemies within the range of his minimap. Though physical barriers could influence his domain a bit, Vahn could 'tune' it to match the composition of his surroundings and slowly probe nearly 2km into the earth below. Over the last two months, his domain's radius had reached 1,982 meters, nearly twice what it had been only a year ago...Once he had identified all of the enemies, Vahn took a deep breath before pulling out a nondescript black dagger that he had named [Mercy]. Though it wasn't named through the [Keeper of the Akashic Tome], it was still an S-Rank weapon with a very unique effect. Using it, Vahn was able to inflict wounds that didn't leave an injury, targetting the Mana and Spirit Bodies of the target instead of their physical body. If he moved undetected, the enemy wouldn't even know how they died before their body was able to hit the ground. It was originally made to cut the mana circuits of his target but, after considering other uses for the weapon, Vahn named it [Mercy] for purposes like this...Starting from one of the rooms further down the adjoining corridor, Vahn walked forward with absolute silence before slicing [Mercy] across the neck of a sleeping Dwarf. With the flow of mana completely severed, the stout soldier drifted into darkness without even waking from his slumber. Vahn performed the same deed on the others present in the room before throwing their bodies into his Inventory. Vahn intended to give them a proper burial later as the Slaves they had tormented watched. Though he could let the Slaves deal with the corpses, Vahn wasn't fond of the idea of mutilating the dead and, years from now, anyone he allowed to participate in such acts would likely regret it dearly...Because there were no signs of struggle at all, Vahn had killed nearly half the Dwarves occupying the fortress, nearly two-hundred people, before anyone realized the abnormality. Alarms began to ring, resonating through the stone caverns with a very high pitched chime. These were similar tools to the bells used by the Freya Familia and were very common when operating in mines and other underground structures. Vahn followed the flow of Dwarves as they were assembling, taking out the stragglers along the way as they began to congregate in a large chamber that served as an assembly and sleeping area for the slaves.Vahn would never know why so many cruel-hearted individuals thought it was a viable option to take hostages in such circumstances. Though he would certainly do what he could to help them, it wasn't as if he would allow the Dwarves to kill him in exchange for some arbitrary promise. Other than earning his ire, such actions served absolutely no purpose, as there was no logic involved with the idea...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn is slowly becoming a true Emperor...','You done fucked up now~!','If you want these slaves you've never met to live, you'll kill yourself without fighting back~! We promise, like for-realsies, we won't go back on our word...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 892: Control