Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though their consent was never something he required, Vahn was satisfied by the fact that Zelretch, Solon, and Aoko all agreed to his vision of the future, albeit with varying levels of reluctance. Their only other option was to fight and, considering what they would be fighting for, it was hard to get motivated. After all, putting your life on the line to protect a corrupt system and a society that was, quite literally, killing the planet wasn't something anyone sensible would do.When it came down to it, even Aoko had only ever cared about living freely and protecting the people she felt obligated to protect. She had a 'hero of justice' mentality but, when you looked at the very crux of the current issue, it was inarguable that the justice she sought wasn't that could be obtained by hiding away and ignoring it.Fortunately, Vahn's protection of children and the wish he had made using the [Grace of the Root] both aligned with Aoko's moral compass so, while she felt more than a little helpless, she couldn't deny that he had taken steps to prevent an even greater loss of life. Considering he could have used the wish to give himself and the Empire even more power and control, his current course could be considered relatively selfless when she thought of how others might have used it...Now, after having been 'convinced', Aoko was in a difficult situation as her power wasn't something that could be ignored. She didn't necessarily have to serve the Empire but hiding away in Japan was not something that could be allowed. Inaction at this point would only endanger her family and, in the coming storm, there would be a number of people coveting the Spiritual Lands she protected. It was one of the only places in the world where Magic could be used without restriction so, as people became more sensitive to the existence of mana and other magical phenomena, they would begin to flock to her estate like moths to a flame.No matter what she chose to do, life would be made more complicated as she simply wielded too much power. In the world Vahn wanted to create, the land that had been her family's for generations would no longer be her own. At best, she would be allowed to govern the territory but, considering she would have to begin building a force to police the region and fight off monsters, Aoko wasn't looking forward to having such responsibilities shoved into her lap.Ultimately, the best course of action was to join hands with the Empire and secure a place for her family among the central figures of the burgeoning world power. The matter of governing her old territory, or even Japan itself, could be led to someone with greater ambition and stronger mental fortitude as just the thought of managing a few hundred people was a nightmare. Even if Vahn's words were true, meaning all of the regulations would be implemented by the systems Da Vinci had designed, she would still need to police the area and make sure things didn't get out of hand.Understanding this, Aoko wanted to distance herself from such responsibilities sooner, rather than later. She was better at tackling issues head-on so all of the political stuff could be handled by other people as she focused on what was most important to her. Fortunately, she had more than enough power to throw her weight around so, when Vahn invited them to enjoy a light meal, she decided to accept while Zelretch and Solon returned to their own matters. The former still needed to meet with various people while Solon, in preparation for the inevitable fallout, needed to gather together all of the remaining influencers within the Clock Tower to prevent even greater internal strife.This left Aoko alone with Vahn, something neither of them had expected as the latter had only given the offer as a general courtesy. He didn't actually require sustenance himself and, as far as he knew, Zelretch, Solon, and even Aoko were in the same situation. Still, he wasn't going to commit such a brazen faux pas so, after Aoko accepted, he had no choice but to entertain her. This was primarily due to the fact that he didn't like going back on his words while but, more so than that, he could already guess why she had decided to remain.Now, Aoko sat across from Vahn at a table for two, an awkward atmosphere permeating between them as the former didn't know what to say while the latter had other things on his mind. He could try to guide the situation in a favorable direction but, considering Aoko's personality, it was better to let her broach the subject herself. She lived by the principle of never regretting her decisions so, if she decided on her own volition to throw her lot in with the Empire, convincing her to help out in a more proactive manner would be a lot easier.Aoko had never been known for her patience so she was the first to break the silence, albeit in a rather mundane way as she commented, "This food is delicious..."Though he didn't need to eat, Vahn had always been rather fond of food due to his not so secret love for cooking. In fact, it was one of his true regrets in life that, back when he was just starting out in Danmachi, he didn't pursue it further. He could still remember tasting solid food for the first time and, back before all of his troubles began, his earnest desire to purchase a cooking manual so that he could make the people he cared about smile more often...Vahn had already been smiling but, recalling the now-distant memory, his expression softened as he said, "I'm glad you like it. The ingredients have a marginal amount of mana contained within so their flavor is enhanced. It also had the property of speeding up mana recovery and enhancing the body's natural regeneration."Noticing how Vahn's mood had changed, Aoko was marginally surprised. Her perception of him was that he was the calculating and idealistic type, not someone who would get excited over something as trivial as food. She had only mentioned it in order to ease the tensions but, now that he seemed so happy, Aoko began to feel even more awkward.Understanding what she was thinking, Vahn lightly chuckled before playing his tableware down and explaining, "In the future, I'd like everyone to have the chance to enjoy such delicacies. This type of meal would cost several hundred pounds for a single serving in the current economic climate. It is something only the wealthy, so-called, Elite would ever have the chance to partake of. Now, once the dust settles, everyone that is willing to put in the effort will be able to obtain this kind of food. They will no longer be forced to settle for sub-standard products that are mass-produced to feed an ever-increasing, ever-wasteful society. Famine and disease will no longer exist, mental health will be one of the highest priorities, and illness resulting from ignorance and lack of self-awareness will become a thing of the past..."If she were being honest, everything Vahn said about his vision of the future sounded perfect but, as was the case with all ideologies that sought to better mankind, it came at a heavy cost. She wasn't aware of the numbers like Vahn but she could imagine economies crashing, supplies dwindling, and wide-spread chaos world-wide. People couldn't adapt to such changes quickly and, no matter how powerful the Empire was, providing for so many people would be impossible. Billions would have to be sacrificed for the future of the species and the preservation of the planet, something that couldn't be glossed over with idealistic platitudes.Still, Aoko knew Vahn wasn't entirely responsible for the chaos that would ensue as a result of his takeover. Rather, if those in power had worked to make a society that cared for and respected each other, this entire fiasco could have been avoided. Instead, from the moment the Gods betrayed Gaia and claimed the planet for themselves, humanity had become willing pawns, first to the gods, then to each other. Those with power lorded it over others and, if you didn't step in line, you were either killed, exiled, or enslaved.The entire history of humanity, even extending into the modern era, was an endlessly repeating cycle of exploitation, conquest, and suppression. Even as she sat here in front of Vahn, Aoko knew that her country was experiencing declining birth rates while, just across the sea, millions were trafficked and enslaved by various state-sanctioned organizations. In some regions, child prostitution and arranged marriages, where the only other alternative was death, still existed. For those born into that situation, it was a nightmare that the so-called civilized world readily ignored as it didn't directly impact them...Noticing Aoko's mood diminishing, Vahn released a tired sigh as he looked off into the distance and, against his better judgment, stated, "When you stop thinking about humanity alone, the decision will become a lot easier. Come, I want to show you something..."As forcibly teleporting Aoko was impossible due to her functionally limitless Od, Vahn needed her to willingly accompany him if he wanted to take her anywhere. Fortunately, she had been fishing for an excuse to break away from the awkward dinner so, trusting that Vahn had no reason to try and lure her into a trap, Aoko accepted his hand. In the next moment, she found herself floating in the skies above Avalon, a peaceful and serene atmosphere shrouding the entire island.Vahn had originally intended to let Aoko make her own decision but, after seeing her begin to spiral in a cyclone of negativity, he decided to give her a push. Thus, while his second body teleported to the Hanging Gardens, his main body escorted her around the island. He introduced her to the Fae tribes, each living peaceful lives without any negative influence from humanity. They were happier in their small communities than they had been back in their respective Kingdoms, something they were very vocal about once understand the purpose behind Aoko's visit.Even as early as meeting the Undine, it was very obvious that Aoko had already been convinced but, by the time she met the Dwarves and Vulcanae, all her doubts had been cleared. She could see how happy every resident of the Empire was and, while it was a peculiar sight to behold, how much the flame spirits adored Vahn. Aeterna, in particular, happily circled around him, keeping her subjects at bay to monopolize him for herself. She even playfully singed parts of his clothes but, rather than any sign of annoyance, Vahn had a happy and contented smile as he allowed her antics.Hearing about how good something will be and seeing it for yourself were two entirely different things so, after touring Avalon for the better part of two hours, Aoko joined Vahn in sitting on a small rocky outcrop as they viewed Heracles and his family living quiet lives as fishermen. When she first heard that the legendary Greek hero was present, Aoko's lust for battle had been stirred up a bit but, upon seeing the brutish man sitting on a massive rocking chair, his wife cuddled up in his arms, she couldn't bring herself to request a duel.At this point, the only place Aoko had yet to visit was the castle itself but, considering how happy the residents were, it was easy to imagine that the internal affairs of the Empire were in order. She also knew that, at this point in time, they must be very busy with preparations so, at least for the time being, Aoko was content with what she had seen. There would be plenty of time to explore the castle in the future as, depending on her decision, she may very well become one of its residents in the near future.This thought caused an imperceptible blush to color Aoko's ears but, with her vibrant red hair, which seemed to glow subtly in the moonlight, it was impossible to notice. If not for his Divinity, even Vahn would have missed it as, prior to escorting her around Avalon, he had turned off his View Affection. It could get somewhat unbearable to be around Alaya with the function active so, unless he was in a high stakes situation, he typically left it off out of convenience.Still, Vahn's Divinity gave away the red-haired beauty's wayward thoughts but, as it was only a mild reaction, he knew she didn't actually have any feelings for him. Rather, much like Mash, she just got caught up in the moment and, due to being alone together, it was easy to let your mind wander if you got wrapped up in thinking about the future. After all, his harem was no secret and, while Aoko didn't know the full scale of his accompaniment, nor his Divinity, it wasn't difficult to imagine being a part of the ever-expanding flower garden.Fortunately, Aoko was able to distract herself from her wayward thoughts as, if she kept thinking about it, he would begin to be pulled along by the atmosphere as well. It really would simply a lot of things but, out of respect for Aoko and consideration for his existing harem, Vahn wouldn't just add a new member haphazardly. She would need to find a place for herself in the group's synergy and, ideally, fall for someone like Gawain or Siegfried instead of leaping head-first into something she likely wasn't prepared for...As Vahn's own mind began to wander a bit, Aoko seemed to have made up her's as, after lightly slapping her cheeks with both hands, she turned toward him and said, "I want to join the Empire! There are a lot of things I want to protect and I won't be able to act freely if I don't make a choice now. You won't regret allowing me to join...! I'm super strong, you know...!?"Aoko began to fumble a bit towards the end of her statement as her anxiety in the face of Vahn's casual smile continued to build. She felt like her heart was going to explode for a brief moment but, before it reached a critical level, Vahn gave a curt nod and answered, "I would be honored to have you join us, Aoko. Your power will make the transition a lot smoother so I would be foolish to refuse your intentions. Rather, I should be thanking you for coming to this conclusion. This burden isn't a light one so it helps to have more people to share it with..."Though she didn't really expect Vahn to refuse her, Aoko was at a loss for words after he so readily accepted. Her anxiety now seemed somewhat childish but, as she was never the type to harp over the past, she quickly regained her usual smile before crossing her arms and confidently declaring, "Right, you can rely on me. I'll do what I can to help everyone in the Empire grow stronger so please do everything you can to preserve as many lives as possible. I want to see the world become a place like Avalon so let's do our best...!"Hearing Aoko's spirited response, Vahn's smile curled up at the edges and, despite his body tingling a bit as a result, he gave a small bow and said, "I'll be in your care then...", gratitude discernible in his voice.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'I kind of feel bad for Aoko...?','Aeterna is a bully!?','RIP little lamb')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Around the same time that Vahn was giving Aoko a tour of Avalon, he also teleported to the holding cell where Scáthach had been storing her captives. At this point, she had crippled most of the Nobles associated with the summoning and, using the Strings of Fate, tracked down the designated heirs of each family. This included the heirs of the families that had surrendered to Kenshin's forces as, while Vahn wasn't necessarily fond of hostages, it was a lot easier to pressure people that prioritized their heritage over everything else by seizing their legacy.The primary reason behind their capture, however, was so that Jeanne could determine whether or not the Magic Crests contained Demons. It quickly came to light that most of the older families had Demons sealed away in their Magic Crests as their Ancestors had contracted with them in the distant past, obtaining knowledge and power as everyone else grew progressively weaker.Vahn knew that, with his ever-increasing karma, it was only a matter of time before some great evil appeared in response to his actions. This didn't mean he couldn't do everything within his power to prevent it, however, so he had already brought the matter to light with Solon and Zelretch. They had agreed to help him track down the 72 original Magus lineages, dating back to the Era of the Great King, Solomon the Wise.It hadn't taken much time do discover the true nature of the Demons hidden in the Magic Crests as the crests themselves were something created by Solomon. The complexity of each crest made them virtually impossible to produce in modern times so, unless your Ancestors had received one around twenty-nine-hundred-years ago, the most you could do was create an imperfect replica. Still, the lure of passing on knowledge through a Magic Crest meant that every competent Magus family had one while, over the course of history, some had been lost to time.Fortunately, Da Vinci had been able to analyze the structure of several Magic Crests at this point so Vahn wouldn't be required to completely destroy the legacy of each family. Though he did forcibly acquire the Magic Crests from the families that had conspired to effectively destroy the world, those that surrendered were given more lenient sentences. After all, he wouldn't charge children for the sins of their parents as, more often than not, they didn't really have a choice in the type of people they grew up to become. Expectations were a heavy burden and, with corruption rotting the very foundation of your family, they either complied or suffered tragic fates.Understanding this, Vahn had the families that surrendered sign a binding contract, guaranteeing their lineage would not be destroyed in exchange for them accepting accountability for their past actions. This would ultimately result in their deaths, as Vahn wasn't fond of the idea of imprisonment, but it was a far better outcome than what awaited the more treacherous families. They too would be held accountable but, rather than be put to death outright, they would be tried by Azathoth, their minds splintered and egos shattered completely.Vahn knew that, the darker a person's heart, the greater Azathoth's influence over them. They would be forced to spend the final few moments of their life experiencing unimaginable horrors as, despite granting most people the mercy of death, their crimes were simply too great. Vahn knew there was a good chance he would generate some negative karma as a result of forcing such an end upon them but, over the course of their centuries of existence, thousands of people, if not more, had suffered at the hands of these despotic individuals...---Currently, Vahn found himself face-to-face with a young boy of ten-years-old while a bound and gagged man kneeled at this side. If the female students of the Clock Tower were present, they would have been horrified to no end as the man bound was one of the top three most handsome men in the Clock Tower, the current Head of the Sophia-Ri Family, Bram Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri. His Great Grandfather had been one of the hooded Magi that participated in the summoning of Tiamat and, while not directly involved, the current Lord Sophia-Ri had been aware of the plot.As one of the most influential families in the Noble Factions, the Sophia-Ri had been central figures in various schemes over the years. This legacy had been carried on by Bram himself and, like many of the other corrupt families, he had already passed on his Magic Crest to the young boy before hiding him away in a small village in northern Germany. Unfortunately for them, Scáthach had easily found the boy so the Sophia-Ri family now faced its reckoning. They would be tried later but, for the time being, Vahn had the young boy, Lord Sophia-Ri's nephew, in a daze as he extracted the Magic Crest from his forehead.A stark contrast to his usual composed self, Lord Sophia-Ri was hunched forward as he jerked his body against the chains bind him. His eyes were bloodshot and, if not for the gag in his mouth, he would have been screaming at the top of his lungs. He couldn't accept that the family would end in his hands as, at least in his mind, he hadn't done anything to deserve this. Rather, he suffered various slights against his pride over the years, including having his fiancee stolen. Now, he could only watch as his favorite nephew's eyes glazed over as thousands of years of heritage was stripped away from him...By the time the process had been completed, Vahn had a small oval gemstone in his hand. It glowed with the Magic Crest of the Sophia-Ri family and, as a result of the Demon sealed within, he was not able to place it into his Inventory. Instead, he placed it into a black box before passing it to Gareth and having her take it to Da Vinci's Workshop. At the same time, he put the red-haired youth into a very deep slumber before turning to the almost feral-looking 'Lord' Sophia-Ri as he asked, "I wonder if you are beginning to reflect on your actions...?"In response to what he believed to be taunting words, Bram jerked at the chains as if there was any point to breaking free. If he somehow did manage to extricate himself from the bindings, the only fate that awaited him was pain as, despite being a Lord, he wasn't even remotely a match for anyone in the room. While he might indeed be very powerful amongst his peers, the difference between a modern Magus and a Heroic Spirit was simply too vast, especially when the slowest person in the room could accelerate to mach two in an instant.Vahn could only shake his head after seeing the man's response, a scornful look on his face as he said, "I wouldn't have believed you anyway...you are an opportunistic man who places himself high above others. Whenever you face a setback, you pretend that it is the fault of other people, even if it was a direct result of the choices you made. You simply can't accept responsibility for your actions as your pride won't allow you to admit you were wrong. Now, you kneel before me, a mortal man with no status or authority to back you up...tell me, do you still feel superior to others?"As Vahn asked his question, he forcibly ripped the gag from Bram's mouth, curious as to how the man would respond. He wasn't at all surprised when the latter tried to spit in his face, allowing him to easily stop the projectile mid-flight before rebounding it back into the feral man's face. Bram was so slow that he appeared to be moving in slow motion from Vahn's perspective so there really wasn't anything he could do to surprise him.With his own spittle hitting him in the face, Bram looked like he completely lost his mind. He howled in rage as he exerted his meager strength against the chains but, no matter how hard he pulled, they hardly budged. The only thing he accomplished was tiring himself out as Vahn stood just outside of his reach, staring down at him with an unflinching expression of absolute scorn. It was obvious that the man had suffered a mental breakdown as, rather than try to plead or negotiate, he grunted and thrashed about like a child throwing a tantrum.Deciding his time was better spent on other matters, Vahn raised his index finger slightly, drawing the attention of the crazed Magus for a brief moment. Then, with a simple flick towards the ground, the red-haired man was pressed to the floor as if he had a mountain dropped on him. He croaked like a frog as his ribs fractured from the strain, the air in his lungs being forced out in an instant. If his presence wasn't necessary during the upcoming trials, Vahn would have simply killed him then and there.Now that the screaming had stopped, silence dominated the partitioned room until Vahn stated in a calm tone, "Take this fool back to his cell. As for the child, have Merlin probe his mind for any hidden information that could endanger himself and others. He is young so there is still hope that he will be able to redeem his family in the future."No matter how much scorn Vahn held toward any particular person or family, he would never force the sins of one onto another. Only tyrants and cowards purged entire family lines as, when it came down to it, there was no reason to eliminate an entire family unless you were afraid of them. They were just normal people and, while they may have limitless potential, the same could be said for the rest of humanity.If he started purging families just to prevent future enemies, he would drastically reduce the prestige of the Empire and, as was often the case in fiction, someone would slip through the cracks to rise up against him. This was part of the Karmic cycle so, knowing his enemies ahead of time was better than creating unseen enemies as a result of wanton slaughter. He wasn't some evil tyrant that suppressed others, not was he fearful of an uncertain future...As Bram and his nephew were the last family to be dealt with, at least for the time being, Vahn had Alaya teleport him back to the Hanging Gardens. Dawn was fast approaching and Ark had already been sending data packages through every major network in preparation for Vahn's speech. Soon, his image would be broadcast on virtually every television, computer, and phone. At the same time, the transmissions and recordings of various schemes would be made public while a massive volume of information pertaining to Magecraft, provided courtesy of the Atlas Temple, had been uploaded to every interconnected device.One of the first phases of Vahn's takeover was the complete shutdown of non-vital communications and, as the internet had long outlived its purpose, the coming dawn meant the end of what could effectively be called the 'Misinformation Era'. He would no longer allow news broadcasters to lie and manipulate the public with false information. Now, they would only be able to use their computers to access a massive library of information and, unless they were directly linked on the same network, it would no longer be possible to communicate with others on the internet.Vahn knew that there would be a major outcry once the global network was crippled but, as it had not been serving its purpose for decades, he didn't see the point in keeping it around. The supposed intent behind its creation was to connect people all over the globe, allowing them to freely exchange information and knowledge. Instead, it became a marketing platform focused almost exclusively on monetizing its users and spreading misinformation. Most of the information shared by its users was pornography and other forms of entertainment while, behind the scenes, criminal organizations used it to distribute their 'products' globally while monstrous individuals treat it as a playground where they can freely take advantage of others.As there was no sense in fixing something that was broken on a fundamental level, Vahn would rather be rid of it entirely. He would still allow people to use their computers to obtain information but now, unless they did a direct link or data transfer, 'sharing' anything would be impossible. The coming transition would already be chaotic enough so Vahn would rather have people focus on their survival than wasting their time being fed lies on the internet...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The echoes of Solomon','RIP Bram, you were a cunt, but not the worst cunt','I don't know how I feel about this...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With their penultimate scheme failing, the corrupt Nobles within the Mage's Association began a very rapid dispersion of forces. At this point, they realized contending directly against the Empire was a death wish so, while they couldn't confront Vahn openly, they could still bide time and take by hiding amongst the very same commoners they had always looked down on.While this mass exodus was occurring behind the scenes, the various Lords and family Heads had gathered together their forces within their Manors, some willing to face the consequences of their actions while others intended to go out fighting. Those in the latter category believed that, if they could at least deal a small blow to the Empire, those that remained would be able to band together to usurp the 'tyrannical' Emperor that was systematically seizing power.When it came to dealing with these families, Vahn sent the trio of Kenshin, Jeanne, and Okita to deal with the weaker families. Kenshin had her forces surround the estates while she and Okita ventured inside to issue Vahn's ultimatum, 'accept responsibility or be forced to'. Those that surrendered and were willing to be judged would ultimately receive lighter sentences while those who resisted until the bitter end would have their legacy seized and sealed away to prevent the Demons sealed within the oldest Magic Crests from escaping.Jeanne's purpose in the group was to serve as a guardian protector for the Homunculi while, at the same time, using her [Pure Eyes] to determine whether or not the target was 'evil'. Those that had committed heinous deeds throughout their life would be given no quarter as, in the end, only one member of each family needed to represent them before the Tribunal consisting of Vahn, Scáthach, and Paracelsus. The ultimate decision would always fall to Vahn while Scáthach and Paracelsus were there to provide 'truth' and 'compassion' respectively...While Kenshin, Okita, and Jeanne were executing his will, Vahn was back within the Hanging Gardens except, now, he had Solon, Zelretch, Merlin and, of all people, Aoko Aozaki present. The latter had seen the news feed on television so, believing something serious had happened, she rushed over to provide assistance. It was fortunate that Merlin had intercepted her as Aoko had intended to invade the Hanging Gardens forcibly prior to understanding the situation.Now, Vahn was seated around a circular table with two True Mages, the inheritor of Yggdrasil, and one of the most powerful and infamous Wizards in history. Despite this assortment of living legends, the one with the greatest presence in the room was still Vahn as, while they would normally be kept secret, Alaya, ORT, and Tiamat were all currently manifested in some form around him.Alaya had her usual form, appearing as a diminutive Companion with blue skin, dark blue hair, violet eyes, cat-like ears, and a tail. As for ORT, it took on the form of a tarantula-sized spider while Tiamat, bound to her current form, looked like a tiny doll as she floated silently behind Vahn's right shoulder.A stark contrast to her usual vibrant and confident self, Aoko currently had a complicated expression on her face as she just learned about the current situation. She empathized with Vahn's plight, as any decent parent would be incensed if their children were in danger, but she still felt that he was going too far, too quickly. The world was not ready to know about the existence of Magic and, if he made it public knowledge, absolute chaos would become the norm.Before she was able to spew platitudes to try and convince him of a different course, however, Vahn had preempted her attempt, stating in a firm tone, "I am well aware of the consequences my actions have on the world, Aoko. Measures have already been taken to protect as many people as possible. Also, if not for the complacency and corruption of those in power, my hand would not be forced like this. You can't expect me to sit idle as people continually conspire to break my bottom line, all while the planet continues to suffer at the hands of ignorant and wasteful humans. Tiamat's emergence is the final straw in the matter and, for the survival of all species, not just humans, the Empire will seize control of the entire world."Normally, Aoko would refute such claims on principle alone but, with the presence of Alaya, Tiamat, and ORT, even she was cowed. Vahn's words also contributed to her loss for words as, while extreme, there was an inherent truth and an undeniable logic behind them. The current world wasn't the most pleasant place to live as, if you weren't born into power, you were fated to struggle within a system that, by design, prevented any kind of success without acquiescence to a higher power. She had also seen how wasteful and destructive humanity could be so, while a large part of her wanted to argue against Vahn's words, Aoko ultimately remained silent.With even the hot-blooded red-head given pause, Zelretch and Solon didn't have much room to make any counterarguments of their own. They both understood Vahn's reasoning and, at least in Solon's case, the latter didn't particularly mind a world with a greater influx of mana and a system that promoted the advancement of all species. This wasn't something they would openly admit but, after 'giving up' on trying to resist the Empire, they had a lot of time to think about the future Vahn sought...Seeing that trio remain silent, Vahn gave a small nod before relaxing back into his chair, eyes closed as he began explaining his wish and how the Empire would function in the future. Ultimately, ruling over humanity wasn't even in his top ten list of priorities so it didn't matter if, in the interim, existing governments kept some semblance of power.When everything was said and done, the Empire would have centralized strongholds on all seven continents, each governed by a capable Heroic Spirit that had been summoned through the Throne of Heroes. They would serve as the executors of his will within their respective regions and, while it would take a considerable amount of time to lay the foundation for future infrastructure, such was always the case.In the future, humanity would not be the so-called masters of the planet as, rather than be at the top of the food chain, they weren't even in the middle. Their only advantages were their intelligence and their willingness to go to any extreme to seize what was never theirs, by right, to claim. This type of behavior would spell, not just their end, but the end of all life on the planet, the planet itself, and any world that was unfortunate to be claimed in their pursuit of immortality as a species.Vahn had history books from various timelines and, while there were periods of peace and moments of species-wide reflection, nearly every tale of humanity ended the same way. They would spread out like locusts throughout the galaxy, harvesting planets of their resources while engaging in an endless cycle of war. Then, as their Civilization continued to spread, the systems designed to keep them from spreading throughout the entire Universe would step in, annihilating entire worlds to purge the last remnants of humanity from the galaxy.In order to avoid this outcome, Vahn would change, not just humanity, but every species of Gaia at their very foundation. He would change the perception humans had of other races and, rather than take over planets and continue feeding a self-destructive cycle, he would negotiate with the planets themselves to create environments suitable for life. They were living creatures so they deserved to be treated with due respect. If humanity couldn't sustain itself without the endless slaughter of other sapient species, then they were the problem, not the crises they created for themselves.Famine, disease, water shortages, energy requirements, global warming, pollution, and war, were all constructs created by humans as part of a grand scheme to elevate a few individuals at the expense of everyone else. They were a few egotistical humans vain attempts to play the part of gods among members of their own species as, from the very beginning, the only thing separating them from their kin were the conditions they were born into.Had those in power sought to elevate their entire species, not just themselves, all of the crises that had plagued humanity for millennia would have been dealt with early on. The existence of mana and the knowledge of how to use it made the production of food relatively simple. Clean water was so easily obtained that, merely using the proper sequences of runes, you could enchant virtually any container to produce a functionally infinite supply of the 'precious' resource. As for disease, even the current governments had cures for nearly everything but, for the sake of profit, they pretended the research was ongoing while silencing those like Paracelsus who wanted to treat everyone, not just those who could pay exorbitant fees.In the end, humanity was the root cause for all their problems and, now that Vahn was aware of the greater truths of the world, he would not allow their ignorance to serve as an excuse. Now, humanity as a whole would be held accountable for their own existence and, if they could not survive without harming themselves and other species, they could only resist until the bitter end as, with the Surface and Reverse Side moving ever closer to a transition period, they were all but fated to die.---After hearing Vahn's long diatribe about humanity, Zelretch and Aoko were both a little taken aback but, considering his wish, they knew he wasn't as heartless as his words made him sound. Rather, the biggest weakness of Vahn seemed to be that he cared too much about things, especially if they were an exploited party. What humanity had done to Gaia was a sin all humans had inherited since a time long before recorded history. Until they began making proactive changes to protect the planet and improve their civilization for the better, even a newborn infant carried the sins of the past due to the rampant fundamentalism that restrained their path and kept them obedient to the system.In Vahn's vision of the future, wealth was based entirely on merit and everyone, regardless of where they were born, had the same opportunities for success. So long as you worked hard, becoming the Captain of an interstellar ship was a feat anyone could achieve. The only limiting factor was the effort people wanted to put into their future as, without inherited wealth, status, and authority, rising to the top without being qualified for the position was impossible.The biggest selling point of Vahn's argument was the fact that the Empire would not directly rule over the people. Vahn fundamentally believed that people were incapable of ruling over others so, in order to avoid becoming the very thing he hated, creating the closest thing to an objective system of government was necessary. This was where the trinity of Da Vinci's systems came into play as, with Ark, Mother, and Shadow working in conjunction with each other, they could observe, analyze, and regulate all of humanity simultaneously.Some people would argue that this was an invasion of their privacy but, when broken down at its most basic level, the very concept of privacy was something that had never really existed. It was a notion derived from an instinctual desire to protect secrets and prevent people that coveted what you had from taking advantage of you.Realizing this, those that sought to elevate themselves above others did everything they could to convince 'laymen' that the illusion of privacy was a real thing. They did everything in their power to monitor the people through one form of another. Now, in the modern era, only those born with an extreme amount of wealth and power had any real privacy as, with innovations in telecommunication technology, satellites, the internet, and a comprehensive network of hidden surveillance cameras, it was virtually impossible to avoid detection. It didn't matter if you were a hermit living in the woods or a homeless person living under a bridge as, by the mere act of living, you were under constant surveillance, be it your parent government or Alaya herself.Ultimately, Vahn's vision of the future was simply more transparent as, no matter who was in charge, those in power kept tabs on those they were charged to rule over. If they didn't know what was going on with their people, they wouldn't exactly be capable leaders. Thus, Vahn would introduce an objective system, preventing most crimes from occurring and promoting a social structure with no upper limits to a person's growth. It would even be possible to become immortal, obtain godhood, or, if such pursuits were not to your liking, you could exist within a virtual world as an avatar in any fictional world you found interesting. There were no limits, so long as your aspiration wasn't to be the world's greatest serial murderer or terrorist...(A/N: I managed to write this one without much of a cliff so I'm releasing it early. Also, I know some people don't like hearing these negative sentiments mentioned so much so rest easy knowing that it won't be long before the story shifts to an entirely new focus. I trust that, if you read until this point, you know that Vahn has a preference for non-human/exotic species as, despite having overcome his past trauma, humans were still the ones who contributed to his own suffering. Just remember how he treated the Dwarves and Elves, however, and you'll notice he isn't specifically targetting humans. Rather, he dislikes anyone that tries to exploit others all so that they can elevate themselves for one arbitrary reason or another.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1311: Glimpse of the Future