Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

For the rest of the day, and accompanying evening, Vahn spent most of his time recuperating from his mental fatigue. This was often where his children came into play so, as the sun crested over the horizon, Vahn had gone to pick up Mordred, Sakura, Mash, Zoë, and Astrid up from the Clock Tower. Afterward, all of the children were gathered together for a massive slumber party within the eastern section of the Inner Sanctum; the place serving as both a playroom and daycare.Vahn worked alongside his children to construct a rather massive fort using furniture, cushions, and a few supplies obtained through the system shop. Sophia was the one to design the layout and, with most of his children being remarkably talented, it didn't take long for them to come up with a faux-fortress that could even accommodate adults. Then, after a series of games, everyone slept inside of the fortress' main chamber; each of Vahn's children, without exception, wearing some form of animal pajamas...With the night's in Avalon lasting upwards of three full days, it was almost like an extended camping trip where they all role-played together. Though there were a few hiccups along the way, it was yet another pleasant memory that Vahn safely locked away amongst those most precious to him. He felt blessed by the fact that his children loved spending time with him, often setting aside their personal differences for the time they were together.Were it up to him, the day where his children's path diverged from his own would never come but, in order to allow them to spread their wings and follow their own path; Vahn cherished these moments, knowing he couldn't make them last forever. It was a little sad to think about but, imagining the lives his children would go on to live, the grandchildren they would bring back, and the mark they would leave on history; it filled him with a swelling sense of pride...Still, even if his children chose to never grow up; deciding, instead, to stay within the comfort of the Inner Sanctum; he would support their decision. It didn't matter if his children were three or three-thousand, they would always be his darling little angels. He was over one-hundred-and-fifty years, a God, and an Emperor. In spite of these things, he could unabashedly wear animal pajamas alongside his children; expressing a degree of self-assurance he would like his children to have in the future...Unfortunately, Vahn was, once again, reminded that happiness had a propensity to be fleeting. If he wasn't sensitive to such things, Vahn could easily be convinced that a person's happiness caused the flow of time, imperceptibly, to accelerate. Happy moments seemed to come and go like the tides, taking with it: hours, days, and even years with each transition. Still, just like watching a sunset on a beach, feeling the waves flow past your feet, Vahn was learning to enjoy every moment; the natural beauty of life leaving such a deep impression on him that it made even the heaviest o burdens feel inconsequential...---After having been pestered ceaselessly the previous night, Vahn decided to allow the children a day off from their studies in order to watch the aptly named 'Contest of Emperors'. They would normally have to show up for class around 0700 but, in order to give them time to enjoy themselves, Da Vinci canceled all morning lectures. Though they would still need to return after lunch, this relatively short period of time translated to thirty-five hours within the Projection; effectively making it an extra day off.Unlike the previous tournament, this event would be an in-house competition and, as an Emperor himself, Vahn would be participating alongside Artoria, Nero, Ozymandias, Alexander, and, though she was historically recognized as a King, Attila. After all, she was the most famous ruler of what had become known as the Hunnic Empire so, even if it was posthumously; she was more than qualified to display her prowess within the coming competition.Though the main reason for Attila's participation was to ascertain just how strong she was, this didn't particularly matter to the other contestants. Rather, Alexander and Nero would jump at the chance to prove themselves against just about everyone in the Empire; a testament to their fearlessness and, in many ways, their hubris...When it finally came time for the event to begin, everyone gathered together in the center of a vast expanse of grassy plains; courtesy of Arcueid. She was more than willing to help out, providing both the venue and the means for others to witness the coming battle.Upon seeing the lack of theatrics, Nero was the first to issue a mild complaint, her arms akimbo as she stated, "For a battle between emperor-grade existences, this is turning out to be a rather plain affair. Umu, this is unacceptable. Allow me to infuse some artistry, after all, we have an audience to entertain~"Without waiting for anything like permission, Nero followed her words by spreading her arms wide, a brilliant smile on her face as she exclaimed, "Behold, my fellows of Imperial descent! Bear witness to the manifestation of my greatness; a beauty and extravagance beyond compare! Come forth, my magnificent theater! Let us dance upon the grandest of stages~!!"Accompanying Nero's 'chant', a rippled flowed out through her feet; spreading through the vast plain with tremendous speed. Rose petals danced around them, propelled by an invisible force that also caused everyone's clothes and hair to gracefully flow. At the same time, a massive structure of gold had encompassed the entire area; its appearance similar to both a coliseum and a theater. Even the floor was covered in marble that seemed to be infused with gold-dust; adorned with lavish red carpets trimmed with golden fibers.Upon first seeing the multi-tiered theater, set with viewing stands that could easily accommodate a crowd of several thousand, Alexander couldn't help but laugh out loud before exclaiming, "Though it lacks the charm of a real battlefield, I can't wait to lay waste to this excessively extravagant place~!"Seemingly unperturbed by Alexander's words, Nero crossed her arms proudly, nodding her head in agreement as she said, "An Emperor must embody the absolute ideals of their people. Others seek extravagance so an Emperor must be the most extravagant of all! Umu, feel free to destroy this place as you please. After all, that, too, is an Emperor's privilege...!"Alexander seemed to find everything Nero said amusing so, in the same way as before, he began to laugh enthusiastically in response to her words. As for everyone else, they were busy looking around at their new stage; Vahn included. He could easily imagine Luvia fainting upon witnessing an entire theater constructed from purified, magically enchanted, gold. He could even imagine her asking him to build something similar in the future; a surprisingly simple feat with the combination of Maxwell and [Das Rheingold]...Before Alexander could wander off to literally start breaking things, Vahn took the initiative to state the rules of their competition, explaining, "I don't doubt everyone here enjoys a good battle but, in order to make things more interesting; we'll be playing with stakes involved. Each of you has things you desire: be it freedom, power, authority, etcetera. With that in mind, the victor of this competition of ours will be allowed something their heart desires; so long as it does not directly conflict with the interests of the Empire. Do any of you have issues with this arrangement?"Hearing Vahn's explanation, Alexander wasted no time in answering, "I have no problems with that. The real question is, what do you expect to receive upon winning? We've all seen your memories at this point; you're a real monster, aren't you? Is this how you intend to keep us in line, using our pride to force our acquiescence after stealing victory for yourself...?"Rather than outright refute Alexander's accusation, Vahn returned a smile as he explained, "There is only one thing I truly desire; something obtainable only through personal effort. I am participating in this competition for personal reasons. If you come to respect me by the time things come to an end, that is a decision you would have made for yourself..."Seemingly unable to help himself, Alexander began laughing in response to Vahn's words. As for the others present: Nero bobbed her head with an 'umu', Ozymandias crossed his arms, Attila stared off into space, and Artoria smiled approvingly.With no one else having anything to ask, the event, rather unceremoniously, proceeded to the next stage: battle. They would be doing a round-robin style competition as, with only six people, brackets would be pointless. This event was basically just an opportunity for each of them to show off so, with that in mind, Vahn took the initiative to secure his participation in the first bout, opening the floor to all challengers.Without missing a beat, Nero was the first to react to Vahn's words, her mouth forming an excited smile as she instantly exclaimed, "I will have the honor of issuing the first challenge! Umu, prepare yourself, my Master, as I will not hold back. Rather than a bunch of random memories, I wish to see for myself how powerful you are!"In timing with Nero's outburst, Vahn felt the energy in the surroundings shift slightly and, while it was almost impossible to notice, even the fluttering of the rose petals became more chaotic. This theater was similar to a Reality Marble but, instead of overwriting the texture of the world with a new one; Nero's ability seemed to build upon the existing world. Even if she stopped powering it with her energy, Vahn was certain the theater would continue standing; must like the Hanging Gardens.Though he was slightly curious about the nature of Nero's A-Rank Noble Phantasm, Vahn knew he would soon find out about its abilities first hand. Even if it had the ability to seal away opponents, he was confident in being able to come out ahead; securing victory and elevating his status in the eyes of his fellow Emperors and Empresses...With this in mind, Vahn adopted a similar smile to Nero's, one that showed off his excitement as he unhesitantly replied, "It is our honor to accept your challenge, Nero...shall we dance?"Laughing in response to Vahn's question, Nero gestured for everyone else to clear out as she said, "If this was a competition of the arts, I fear this wouldn't be a competition at all. Umu, it is fortunate for everyone else that this is merely a contest of strength and skill; a brutish but effective way to display our individual prowess~"Since Nero had regaled him with tales of her various talents the previous day, Vahn knew that she genuinely considered herself peerless in the arts. It didn't matter if it was painting, song, dance, or even displays of martial prowess; Nero considered herself more skilled than Apollo, more beautiful than Venus, and a greater charioteer than Sol; something the latter would vehemently disagree with if not for the face she had been summoned as a Shielder.Without minding Nero's taunting in the slightest, Vahn leaped back so that he was about halfway from the center point of the theater. This action was mirrored by Nero and, for a brief moment, they just observed each other as the others found seats in the Imperial Seating Area. Since there was only one Throne present, the atmosphere above became somewhat tense until everyone ultimately came to a silent agreement; deciding to observe the battle while standing...There were no official rules for the contest so Vahn had also forgone the selection of a referee. This left things somewhat ambiguous, leaving it to the contenders to decide when to start. As a result, Vahn and Nero continued to stare at each other for nearly a full minute before a single rose petal, which had been dancing near the center of the arena, settled on the ground. The moment it touched down, Vahn's and Nero's figures both disappeared; their battle officially having started...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'What truly matters most...','Vahn's heart has only ever desired one thing...','The opening act is preempted by the prelude~')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Two things happened immediately after the start of Vahn's battle with Nero. The first was, from the moment the rose petal touched the ground, it felt as if all of his parameters had been spontaneously reduced. Even his mental perception seemed to be minutely affected; forcing a small delay between the signals from his brain and the actions of his body. Secondly, Nero's figure completely vanished from his field of view and, by the time he sensed her new location, she had risen to the edge of the highest viewing platform...As Vahn turned his gaze to focus on Nero's figure, he was momentarily dazzled by the sight of rose petals dancing around her as light, seemingly cast from the void, illuminated her from behind. Then, with the flair of a grandiose songstress, Nero held one hand to her heart while extending the other outward in a smooth arc; a sonorous melody escaping her lips...Vahn felt a powerful suppressive force attempt to further inhibit his capabilities but, rather than just stand around listening to Nero's performance; he vanished once again, this time tearing through the fabric of Space to appear right next to her. Golden horns now protruded from his temples as what appeared to be electricity danced across his azure-gold pattern of scales.Without sparring Vahn a single glance, Nero continued her song as if nothing in the world could stop her from revealing her soul to all willing to listen. Even as his claws barreled toward the small of her back, intent on rending flesh and bone alike, Nero gave him no heed. This nearly caused Vahn to retract his attack but, with Nero's song sending shivers through his body; he had no choice but to bring it to an end.What surprised him was the fact that, until the very end, Nero made no attempt to defend herself. His claws tore through her body, bisecting top from bottom but; instead of blood and viscera, an eruption of rose petals emerged from the wound; spreading to encompass the entirety of Nero's body before disappearing in the next moment. Throughout this process, Nero's song continued to echo through the surroundings with building intensity while, on the opposite side of the theater, a new version of the singing Empress had formed...It didn't take a genius to realize he had been trapped in some kind of illusion but, with the singing Nero possessing a physical body and an aura to match, Vahn was unable to understand exactly how she had circumvented his [Will of the Emperor] and [Eyes of Truth]. It wasn't the first time the latter had failed him but, from the moment he had awakened it, Vahn had never encountered a moment where his [Will of the Emperor] had been fooled. He could even sense that the current Merlin was an illusion so it didn't make much sense that Nero could trick his senses.Though nothing was impossible, Vahn elected to believe that he was actually seeing the real Nero, not an illusion. If this was true, it meant her Noble Phantasm allowed her to manipulate reality within the confines of her grand theater. Since this was actually a famous part of Nero's legend, as she was known to act with absolute impunity within, Vahn assumed he wasn't far from the truth.With this in mind, Vahn focused his domain, constraining it to only a few meters around him before exploding it outward with tremendous force. This caused Artoria and the others to take cover, with Ozymandias even going so far as to take flight in order to move to a more suitable location. When he tried to exit through the gap in the roof, however, he suddenly found himself back in the viewing stands with everyone else...Vahn hadn't been focusing on the viewing stands too much but he had obviously taken note of the actions of Ozymandias. To test his theory, however, he barreled toward the now-dancing Nero as she sang her heart out, completely ignoring the surroundings. Vahn could actually hear applause begin to build in his surroundings; his senses warning him of the encroaching danger.Since she made no effort to evade, it took no effort for Vahn to vanquish the second of Nero's rose-filled forms. Then, without arresting his momentum at all, he slammed into the side of the theater with tremendous force, rending reinforced golden pillars and walls like paper mache. Despite tearing through several tens of meters of the durable metal, however, Vahn never reached the outside of the theater. Instead, when he finally did break through, he had emerged on the opposite side, almost as if he had been breaking in; instead of trying to break out...Instead of being bothered by these happenings, Vahn couldn't help but laugh out loud in response to Nero's rather interesting Noble Phantasm. He had been wondering from the start how she would do battle, as she lacked both armor and offensive weapons, so this was a rather interesting turn of events. Thus, in order to express his thoughts on the matter, Vahn joined the invisible crowd for a brief moment, applauding Nero who, now, danced along a handrail; her form and grace far beyond the most skilled of ballerinas.As if she only just now noticed his presence, Nero turned her attention toward Vahn, a smile on her face as suddenly spun with her back facing the interior of the theater, falling to the ground without any fear. When her body struck the floor, more than 50m below, it vanished into a rippling flow of rose petals, this time spreading to cover the entire floor. Then, from the very center of the arena, a small erupted occurred; revealing the dancing Nero; now clad in a rose-red gown that matched the seemingly infinite stream of petals now following her movements...If he were asked, Vahn would unhesitantly admit that Nero's Noble Phantasm was one the most beautiful he had ever witnessed. Unfortunately, this was a battle and, as much as he wanted to just sit back and enjoy the performance; he couldn't just forfeit the match. Thus, as the rose petals began to form a slowly revolving cyclone, Vahn ascending alongside them; azure lightning dancing across his body in an ever-increasing flow.As Nero's song began to reach its crescendo, Vahn extended his hand toward the opening in the ceiling, his pupils contracting to small slits as he began forcibly compress Space and Time; forming a small ball of immense gravitational force in the air. This was similar to a [Space-Time Elemental Star] but, instead of using his Oblivion, Vahn was condensing it from his own understanding of the two fundamental forces. He hadn't been slacking during the times he trained so, while it was significantly weaker than the one he threw at Solon; it was still terrifyingly powerful.Unable to resist what was effectively a 'controlled' black hole, the rose petals that had been building in volume began to get sucked into the slowly expanding void. At the same time, the fabric of space itself began to twist and fracture as azure-black lightning periodically tore through the surrounding theater. Though it had instantly restored itself when he tore through the walls previously, Vahn now watched with intense focus as the building was steadily torn apart; this time without reverting back to its original appearance.Eventually, Nero was finally forced to stop her performance as her body was lifted from the rapidly disintegrating foundation. She tried to control her ascent, spinning gracefully through the air a few times; but it was an ultimately futile action. Even with her A-Rank [Magic Resistance], there was no way to defend against Vahn's attack as it relied on the manipulation of Laws, not magical energy.Just as it appeared as though she was going to get sucked into the gravitational abyss, Vahn's eyes began to slowly dilate as he cut his hand down; much like striking with a hammer. Instead of having the orb continue to pull things toward it, Vahn reversed the flow in an instant, emulating Mikoto's use of [Futsunomitama]; greatly increasing the amount of gravity within the center of the theater.Though she was suddenly hurled toward the ground like a falling meteor, Nero was surprisingly able to right herself in mid-air. She even landed 'gracefully' on her feet, dispersing the force of her impact into the surroundings as a massive volume of golden debris and rose petals crashed around her. It was a chaotic sight to behold but, as if she was completely untouchable, Nero stood proudly in the center as everything landed outside of a 5m area around her body...Seeing this, Vahn issued a light chuckle as he descended to the ground and asked, "Are we going to consider this my victory? Or, would you rather continue...?"As Vahn asked his questions, he watched as the flow of time within the theater seemed to reverse, all of the damage from his attack being rapidly undone. At the same time, Nero issued her usual 'Umu' as she nodded her head and stated, "You have done well, my Master. Even if I went all-out, I fear my attacks would have no lasting effect. I had thought to secure victory by suppressing your power but, as we have all witnessed, that is easier said than done."By the time she was finished speaking, Nero's theater had been restored in all its glory. The only sign of change was that her outfit was still the same rose-red dress she had spontaneously changed into partway through her performance. It was actually a little tamer than her usual outfit but, in much the same manner; the front part of the dress was completely missing to reveal Nero's panties for all eyes to behold. Since they were formed from an intricate lace pattern, complete with rose adornments, it inspired feelings of debauchery just by witnessing them...Being even more perceptive of a person's wayward thoughts than most Magi, Nero's smile reached her eyes for a brief moment before she suddenly performed a graceful pirouette and said, "Umu, if you prefer this dress, I will wear it from now on. It stirs the flames of passion within our heart to have the appreciation of one such as thou. Umu, please, do not shy away from admiring us at your leisure, Master..."Hearing Nero suddenly call him 'Master', instead of using the more possessive 'my Master', Vahn couldn't help but blink in mild surprise. Before he could say anything in response, however, Nero vanished into a plume of rose petals. When she next appeared, she was standing in the Imperial Seating Area; standing next to ornate Throne instead of sitting upon it. This conveyed her intent even more than her words as, being an Emperor; giving up one's throne to another was something incomprehensible in most situations.Though he could try and make a point by choosing to stand with everyone else, Vahn ultimately decided to take the seat for himself. He knew there was a high chance that Nero would try to sit in his lap but he couldn't simply pass on such an opportunity. This whole event was essentially a way for them all to show off and basically affirm the current hierarchy so, for the time being, Vahn chose to play along by taking a seat on the surprisingly comfortable, albeit ridiculously ornate, throne.Seeing Vahn sit upon the throne that everyone else had silently agreed to leave empty, Alexander couldn't help but issue his characteristic laugh. He believed that Emperors must be overbearing and dominant so, while it certainly annoyed him; he couldn't really complain after seeing Vahn's display of raw power. If it was him battling against Nero, the chances of victory were, admittedly, slim. He didn't even know exactly what had happened; only that it was impossible to leave the theater even with things like flight and teleportation...Fortunately, Nero and Vahn were momentarily out of the way so, seizing the initiative, Alexander leaped into the center of the theater before exclaiming, "How about it, Empress Artoria, will you do me the honor of accepting my challenge!?"Since he still remembered Artoria's words from the day of his summoning, Alexander felt she was the most suitable candidate for his first battle. It was unfortunate but, as Vahn hadn't summoned his adult self, Alexander's options were pretty limited. Though the thought of being able to grow even stronger than his past self was exciting; that would take several years to achieve. Despite knowing this was the case, he would never simply lower his head to another and; even if he ended up losing against everyone present, his pride would walk away unscathed.Hearing Alexander issue his challenge, Artoria became even more serious than usual as she jumped down to meet him; sword in hand as she answered, "It is my honor to accept your challenge. Out of respect for your bravery, I will hold nothing back."With an appreciative nod, Alexander followed Artoria's suggestion without delay; pulling his sword free from the scabbard at his waist. They were actually pretty similar to each other with their youthful appearances but, compared to the phenomenal aura radiating from Artoria; Alexander's seemed like a small, yet vibrant, flame. Still, with a confident smile on his face, he pointed the tip of his sword at Artoria and calmly stated, "Show me what you've got..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Can't touch this~','Vahn be like, "Bet."','An Emperor does not fear losing against their enemies; they fear losing against themselves')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Contrasting her earlier bravado, it didn't take long before Aoko was shaking her own hips; her cries a mix of frustration tinged with impassioned moans. She didn't know how to properly find the release she instinctually craved so, with Vahn's energy wreaking havoc throughout her body, it took most of her willpower just to avoid imploring him to move. To make matters worse, Vahn would periodically guide her hips with his hands, much to Aoko's chagrin. During those moments, she felt closer to the release her body sought but, before she was able to obtain it; Vahn 'tormented' her by relinquishing control back to Aoko...Eventually, Aoko was filled with a very strong desire to just punch Vahn but, instead, she slowed her movements; biting her bottom lip before complaining, "It isn't fair...you must be cheating. How am I supposed to be able to win against this...?"Accompanying her words, tears of bitterness began to build in Aoko's eyes as she sincerely didn't want to lose herself to pleasure. She wanted to be in control but, the more she moved around, the weaker her body felt. Her tensions seemed to increase without limit but, no matter how close she got to the release her body craved, the further the goal felt. It was frustrating because she wanted to be seen as a strong woman, not a pervert that begged and pleaded for release...Just as it felt like the tears were going to escape her eyes, Vahn reached up to gently wipe them away. He was considerably calmer than Aoko; another fact that frustrated her; so he had enough wherewithal to comfort her, saying in a soft voice, "Having sex isn't about obtaining victory against the other person, Aoko. It is a method of displaying affection, bringing together difficult to explain emotions and expressing them in a physical display of intimacy. Though it can be fun to make a game out of it every now and then, the whole purpose is to prove how much we love each other..."After dealing with a few proud women in the past, Vahn knew it meant a lot to some females that they were able to take control in the bedroom. This was especially true for those that had directly competed against men throughout their life, comparing their accomplishments in an ongoing effort to prove themselves more capable than their counterparts. Even he, long ago, felt the need to prove himself to his partners so Vahn could empathize with Aoko, even if he could never fully understand what she had gone through...Using the moment when Aoko didn't quite know how to respond, Vahn placed his hands on her waist, his voice taking on a hazy quality as he said, "I want to see it...your feelings. You should watch me closely as well...my eyes hide no falsehoods, Aoko. Here, in this moment, they reflect only you, a beautiful woman I am absolutely smitten with..."Though there was a chance he would upset Arcueid with his choice of words, Vahn didn't think she would be particularly bothered. Soon enough, he would shower her with the same level of affection, slowly reducing the distance between all three of them. For now, he couldn't allow Aoko to feel as if her value was somehow reduced due to her inability to take charge. He needed to change how she viewed sex as, once she built up some confidence and gained a bit of experience, they would be able to have a lot of fun together.With Vahn slowly rocking her hips, Aoko couldn't help but bite her lip once again, her brows creased as she fought to keep her eyes focused on him. Her instinct was to close her eyes and give in to the building pleasure but, seeing the intensity in Vahn's gaze, she couldn't take her eyes off him. He had always felt somewhat distant and uninterested in the past but, now, at this moment; Aoko could see the passion in his eyes; her image reflected in his gaze.For a brief moment, Aoko felt as if she had stepped back in time to the night before the world was forced to change. She remembered Vahn escorting her around, how happy all the Spirits were, and, most importantly, how beautiful that moonlit night where they stood on the hill together had been. She realized after the fact that she had made a small misunderstanding but, instead of pushing her away, Vahn accepted her feelings; all while choosing not to exploit them. Rather, he tried to prevent her from rushing into things, giving her ample opportunity to interact with the others before making her final decision...Remembering the various ways he had cared for her, the distant image of Vahn that had started to seed itself in her mind slowly faded away. Instead, she saw an impassioned youth, his eyes blazing with desire as he sincerely tried to convey his emotions, not through words, but action. This small change in perspective caused Aoko's body to rapidly heat up and, before she even realized what she was doing; Aoko pinned Vahn to the bed, pressing his hands down with her own as she stole his lips.Though he could never be truly comfortable being pushed down, Vahn didn't mind Aoko's fervor as it was infinitely better than her morose streak from before. The way she greedily sought his lips, all while leaving the movement of her lower body to him, caused his own tensions to steadily build. He had been reserving himself before but, now that her switch had been flipped, Vahn let his fingers dig into Aoko a bit as he began moving his hips to strike her weak spots.Surprised by the sudden change, Aoko had to separate from Vahn's lips to released a gasp of sheer incredulity as it felt like electricity had struck her body. Then, with another rhythmic thrust, the same sensation passed through her body; compelling her to scrunch up in a vain attempt to restrain his movements. At the same time, she closed her thighs with a bit of force; straddling Vahn's hips even tighter as she buried her face into the nape of his neck...Vahn enjoyed the way Aoko's bright-red hair cascaded from her head and shoulders, trembling just a little with each of his movements. There was something about red hair that fired him up so, in order to capitalize on the moment before Aoko stopped restraining herself, Vahn pressed his thumbs into the pressure points near Aoko's pelvis, reducing the strength she put into her powerful thighs to make it easier to move.Once Aoko let herself go completely, her power as a Tier 5 entity would surge forth, potentially even turning the tides. Since it never occurred to most people to use their full power during sex, she had actually been holding herself back considerably in order to make things 'normal'. This wasn't really a bad thing, as most people wanted their first time to be normal, but; when it came down to it, Aoko was anything but normal. Just going by the fact that her first partner was a literal God of Sex made this readily apparent but, even without that, her status as a Tier 5 Magician already elevated her to a level even Vahn couldn't reach...Now, Aoko's hair had started to glow slightly and, despite his efforts to relax her muscles, the energy within her body quickly returned function to the numbed nerve clusters. Vahn was skilled enough to easily override these resistances but, until Aoko had let herself go, he had to be patient. This didn't mean he had to be passive, however, so; with a better angle to work with, Vahn quickly brought the red-haired beauty to the release her body craved; coinciding with his own voluminous release...Feeling something hot spontaneously fill her insides, Aoko's first instinct was to lambast Vahn for cumming without letting her know. Before any words could leave her mouth, however, Aoko felt a surge of pleasure rob the ability to speak from her, the waves of her own climax tossing her about without mercy. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before so, for a time, the only thing she could do was cling to Vahn as her spirit seemed to momentarily leave her body in a desperate attempt to escape the tumultuous sea of pleasure...Vahn used the time when Aoko lost her faculties to move into a seated position, hugging her body tightly while taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down. Aoko's body actually siphoned off his energy when he released himself inside of her, nourishing her own body while leaving him drained.Fortunately, Vahn had expected something like this to happen as Aoko's body was suffused with a considerable amount of Yang Elemental energy; a rare quality for a woman to possess. She lacked the 'virgin yin seed' that most women possessed, likely as a result of her body absorbing it when her power was maturing. He speculated this had something to do with her use of the Fifth Magic but, as even Aoko failed to understand all of its complexities, it was impossible to be certain.All Vahn really knew was that Aoko's body was exceptionally 'greedy', even if her nature was that of an earnest and caring person. He had more than enough energy to spare but, to prevent Aoko from falling into an endless abyss of pleasure, Vahn had to forcibly sever the flow of energy, something that made Aoko released a frustrated moan as she put more strength into her arms. She didn't know what had changed but, with the sudden severance of energy, it was like falling from Heaven down to Earth in an instant.As if she had a bucket of cold water poured over her, Aoko immediately regained her senses. Her body was still awash in the echoes of her earlier climax but, remembering what Vahn had done, she gave him a pointed look and complained, "You came inside me..." Though it didn't really bother her all that much, the fact Vahn did so without asking permission or warning her made Aoko feel a little annoyed.Instead of denying the obvious, Vahn simply smiled in response to Aoko, admitting, "I did. Can you blame me...?"Hearing the unexpected question, Aoko was momentarily at a loss. Then, after quickly reaching her own conclusions, a small blush spread across her cheeks as she murmured, "If you're going to be so careless, you had better be prepared to take responsibility."It was now Vahn's turn to be at a loss but, realizing Aoko was essentially giving him permission to freely impregnate her, a glimmer flashed across his eyes. At the same time, his dragon, enjoying the warmth of its current home, twitched in response. This caused the blush on Aoko's face to become more prominent before; causing Vahn to nearly burst out laughing; she clenched her insides as if to answer in kind...---With the 'formalities' out of the way, Vahn enjoyed making love to both Aoko and Arcueid, their escapades lasting for nearly an entire day. This was possible due to Arcueid's ability to control the flow of time within her Marble Phantasm. Aoko also had the ability to alter, reverse, accelerate, or even freeze the state of her body. She used this to perform feats like preventing her own climax, extending the duration of especially pleasant orgasms, and supplying herself with an inexhaustible amount of stamina.The most surprising use of her abilities, however, was when Aoko overlapped a thousand versions of herself onto the same axis of reality. This placed her in a state of pseudo-incorporeality, a form that generally made her immune to any kind of damage. Now, she used it to experience something even Da Vinci was unable to comprehend; first by overpowering Vahn, secondly by experiencing what it was like to climax as a thousand people simultaneously...Fortunately, even though she had effectively overloaded her senses beyond conceivable realms of pleasure, Aoko recovered almost immediately as a quirk of the ability. There was always at least one version of herself that served as a 'baseline', a form she could instantly revert back to if her enemies somehow found a way to inflict her with something like a potent curse. Then, in what appeared to be an instant to other people, the afflicted versions of herself ceased to be; replaced by new versions of herself that were completely unaffected.Using this ability, Aoko could effectively guarantee her 'victory' but, as could be expected, using such an ability for a long period of time came with a cost. Though she was effectively invincible during the ability's activation, Aoko's body would rapidly heat up as a quirk of overlapping thousands of Magic Circuits into a focal point of Space and Time. She managed to siphon away the vast majority of this heat by constantly replacing different versions of herself but; after a few minutes had passed, in real-time, Aoko would have to deactivate the ability to prevent her brain from being damaged by the strain and heat.Despite this apparent weakness, Aoko was actually able to revert her 'real' body back to a point where it was unaffected by the overload but, for a very brief moment, she could be killed by a truly capable enemy.The fact she was willing to reveal these things to him left a deep impression on Vahn's heart but, given that she only did so after effectively 'taking' him; he couldn't help but feel a little bittersweet about the whole ordeal. Since that minor victory essentially allowed him to do whatever he wanted after the fact, however; Vahn quickly got over it...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'A pride not easily relinquished...','Vahn and his talk-no-jutsu...','The Fifth Magic is quite OP o3o...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1357: Stage