Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

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

True to her word, Artoria didn't hold anything back. Once she heard Alexander's words of challenge, she used [Mana Burst] to close the distance in an instant. This caused Alexander's smile to grow a bit wider but, despite his attempts to deflect her strike; he ended up being sent crashing into the far wall in an instant.When it came to raw speed and power, Artoria was several orders of magnitude superior to the current Alexander. He could only compete with her Luck but, while this would give him a slight advantage against other opponents, it was virtually useless against others with high luck. This was the primary downside to being summoned as a Lily Class as, in exchange for increased potential, your parameters were considerably lower than your 'true' self.Despite this, Alexander erupted from his hole, lightning flickering across his body as he mused, "It's been a while since I've used this skill. Farewell, my good looks...[Zeus Thunder]...!"The moment Alexander shouted out, his height and muscle mass noticeably increased and, much to Vahn's chagrin, he suddenly seemed to age by several years in an instant. He went from a youth of around fifteen to a young man in his late teens, his body rippling with refined muscles. At the same time, however, his eyes seemed to grow further apart as his nose became larger and more rigid...Now, faster and stronger than before, Alexander bolted toward Artoria using raw speed and power to propel himself forward. His sword now seemed somewhat small in his hands, turning into more of a shortsword or a long dagger due to the spontaneous increase in size...In response to Alexander's charge, Artoria stepped forward with her foot, shifting her hips slightly as she side-stepped and began to sweep her sword in a batting motion. Using the flat of her blade, she smashed into the side of Alexander's shoulder. Due to her use of [Mana Burst], flesh and bone alike buckled under the blow, twisting Alexander's frame around the blade before sending him skipping across the ground to crash into a golden pillar.Despite having his left shoulder shattered beyond recognition, Alexander rose to his feet without any visible discomfort. Then, seeing his useless left arm, his brows raised slightly as he mused, "I see now where your confidence came from. I want to battle the others so I'm afraid I'll have to throw in the towel this time around. I look forward to our next battle, Empress Artoria."Hearing Alexander surrender, Artoria dropped her own stance, stating in a calm yet firm tone, "A day will come when we're able to fight on equal footing. I will await that moment in earnest."Though Alexander might never be able to defeat Artoria in a real battle, that didn't mean he couldn't become stronger and faster than her. Artoria had seen how powerful he was as an adult so she knew it was only a matter of time before she was forced to use her trump cards to secure victory. If he had been the same person she met in the past, she would be forced to use Avalon from the beginning...Since he didn't hear any falsehoods in her words, Alexander sheathed his sword with a smile on his face without further comment. Respect was one of the most important things between rulers so, with Artoria giving him a bit of respect; he would return the favor by holding back his usual blithe tongue.---As Alexander and Artoria returned to the Imperial Viewing Area, Vahn rose to his feet to congratulate the latter. Then, turning to Alexander, he had to force himself to keep a straight face as he asked, "Is that effect permanant...?"Hearing Vahn's question, Alexander released a hearty laugh as he only just now remembered one of the reasons for his summoning. It would certainly be difficult to lead the youth if he spontaneously became a middle-aged man after using his [Zeus Thunder] a few times.Fortunately, so long as he didn't use it several times in a row, the effects were temporary. After a few hours had passed, his [Divinity] would slowly reduce in Rank while his [Rose-Cheeked Adonis] Skill would eventually revert back to normal. The latter Skill was responsible for his youthful appearance and, so long as he didn't overuse [Zeus Thunder], he would maintain his appearance indefinitely.Knowing these things, Alexander waved away Vahn's concerns, a cheeky grin on his face as he said, "Hey now, don't judge people only looks alone. Even if I looked like an old man, it's not like my age would change, right? Hahahahahaha~"Since he could tell Alexander was just messing with him, Vahn largely ignored his remark. Instead, he placed his hand on Alexander's shattered shoulder, channeling Source Energy into the injured area. If he wanted to, it was possible to heal Alexander using actual techniques but, due to his nature as a Heroic Spirit; Alexander would make a full recovery with a bit of excess mana. As a result, his wound quickly mended itself and, after a few seconds had passed; he had recovered completely.After opening and closing his hand a few times, Alexander gave a curt nod to Vahn before saying, "I don't like to owe favors. Even then, I'm not the type that avoids expressing my gratitude. Thanks for healing my arm. Don't think I'll go easy on you during out battle, though."Hearing Alexander's remark, it was Vahn's turn to laugh. He actually preferred if people behaved like Alexander as it was a breath of fresh air compared to how most people acted around him. With the exception of Astolfo, most of his other male companions acted slightly distant due to the constant observation of his status. Even Siegfried was guilty of this so, having someone be straight with him was a welcome change...---With everyone else having fought a battle, only Ozymandias and Altera, the True Name of Attila, were left to contend against each other. The former didn't seem to particularly care about the battle but, with his own pride at stake, he wasn't going to hold anything back. As for Altera, she hadn't so much as spoken a single word unless it was absolutely necessary. She just observed everything in absolute silence, her wine-red eyes calmly analyzing everything around her; much like a machine.Seeing Altera's emotionless' gaze caused even Ozymandias to feel as if he wasn't facing off against a human opponent. Rather, she inspired the same instinctual reaction people would have when facing a natural disaster, something they had no hope of opposing. This made him treat her seriously from the very beginning, something he would almost never do with any other opponent...In recognition of the fact that Altera was a dangerous existence, Ozymandias was the one to start the match, taking to the sky as he chanted, "I shall give you a reward, lightless one. Look on my works, ye Mighty, and bow down! Give in to my infinite brilliance; The sun descends here! 'Ramesseum Tentyris: The Shining Great Temple Complex'...!!"Though it was usually impossible for two Reality Marbles to occupy the same space, Nero's theater was closer in nature to High-Thaumaturgy; one that rivaled True Magic. Her's projected on top of the current texture while, in most other cases, the Reality Marble was similar to the manifestation of a person's internal world. Thus, from the perspective of outsiders, a black sphere spread through the area to envelop Ozymandias and Altera; it's interior a seemingly infinite space in spite of the sphere's diameter being only 50m across.Vahn wasn't really surprised that Ozymandias activated his EX-Ranked Noble Phantasm from the very beginning as, based on Scáthach's evaluation of Altera, there was almost no way to defeat her. Since this came from Scáthach herself, Vahn didn't doubt Altera was a truly monstrous opponent as this assessment included both forms of Scáthach. Anyone that could fight on par and even defeat his monstrous Shishou was a true monster themselves...Fortunately, while it would generally be impossible to enter a Reality Marble from the outside, Vahn had several methods to achieve this feat; the easiest being to ask Arcueid for assistance. She was the absolute ruler of the space they currently inhabited so, after a few seconds of just staring at a black sphere, Vahn and the rest were transported inside. What they then witnessed was a scene generally reserved for an Apocalypse...The flow of time within a Reality Marble was often very different from the outside world so, despite only a few seconds having passed, the inside appeared to have suffered the onslaught of an entire army. There were hundreds of buildings, altars, and temples in ruins as Altera, moving through the area with the momentum of a hurricane, dodge the constant assault of a fleet of golden ships, more than a dozen Sphinxes, and a seemingly infinite torrent of green tendrils lashed out at her from every angle...Vahn was actually a little taken aback to see how devastatingly powerful Altera's onslaught was. Her basic movements alone were enough to tear through the durable body of a Sphinx, a creature that could rival a B-Rank Heroic Spirit. When she actually attacked, her tri-colored blade of light would generate a wave of flames that swept through the area, destroying everything within 50 meters so completely that they turned to dust...Ozymandias' only advantage seemed to be his ability to fly beyond Altera's basic attack range but, after a few seconds of slaughtering everything around her, it became clear even this wasn't truly an advantage. Altera's sword absorbed the mana from the surroundings, spinning with greater intensity with each passing moment. When a gap opened in the enemy's encirclement, she would point her sword toward one of Ozymandias' ships; the tri-colored beam extending at the speed of light to completely annihilate one of the resplendent golden vessels...Seeing this display, Alexander broke the stunned silence of everyone present, his tone carrying a bit of discomfort as he wryly mused, "It seems there is always a higher mountain...hahaha..."Since they were used to battling against Scáthach, Vahn and Artoria were a little better off than Nero and Alexander. Even they were a little taken aback, however, as Altera clearly didn't know how to hold back in the slightest. Vahn would need to reevaluate his decision to deploy her as her power seemed more likely to destroy the Supercolony than keep it safe. He couldn't help but wonder if this was the reason for her [Civilization Erosion: EX] Skill...Following Alexander's comment, Nero was the next to break the silence but, unlike the intense looks possessed by everyone else, she had her usual smile as she remarked, "I believe the purpose of this contest may become twisted at this rate. Umu, without rules and restrictions, the chance of killing one's own allies increases exponentially. That one seems to lack mercy. I would advise that you call her back, Master, lest our fellow Emperor loses his life."Vahn could feel the Laws of Destruction in the 'flames' produced by Altera so he had no doubts about the veracity of Nero's words. Ozymandias himself seemed to be aware of the danger posed by Altera as, every time she moved to destroy one of his ships, he would teleport far away in an instant. This was the reason so many buildings had been destroyed as, without putting something between himself and Altera, she would cut him down without any hesitation whatsoever.To prevent a tragedy from occurring, Vahn took Nero's advice, activating his Command Spells for only the second time, shouting, "Altera, pull back. Cease attacking Ozymandias this instant!"Though there was a fair amount of distance between them, Altera immediately reacted to Vahn's command. She stopped destroying everything in her surroundings and instead turned toward him, kicking off against the ground with tremendous force. It took less time than a blink for her to cover the fourteen-kilometer distance separating them, her face lacking any discernible emotion as she plainly asked, "Is there something you require of me, Master? My opponent has yet to be defeated."Hearing Altera's words, Vahn got the distinct impression she fully intended to destroy Ozymandias, rather than 'defeat' him. He couldn't help but shake his head slightly as he habitually reached out his hand, stroking the top of Altera's head as he explained, "This battle is over. It seems I was careless in deciding how these battles would take place..."Altera showed no visible reaction to having her head pat but, in response to her Master's words, she simply answered, "I see." before falling silent once again. This reminded Vahn a lot of how Scáthach and Okita had reacted to his actions in the past; making it very clear she had a fundamental lack of understanding regarding social etiquette. She was like a machine created expressly to carry out her directive; nothing more, nothing less...Knowing Vahn well at this point, Artoria couldn't help but release a subdued sigh as she recognized the characteristic glint in his eyes. It almost felt like his recent vow meant nothing but, despite this, she didn't really blame him. Vahn's nature compelled him to care for others, oftentimes more than he cared for himself. If he found encountered someone in need of his help, he oftentimes went out of his way to help them; especially if their lives had been plagued by tragedy.If she wanted to prevent Altera from getting caught up in Vahn's usual momentum, Artoria would need to find something to occupy the emotionless woman. It was obvious she needed meaningful interaction with others to become a more complete person so, before things got out of hand, she had to take matters into her own...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Zeus the kind of cuck that 'blesses' his children with power in exchange for their good looks','Poor Ozymandias xD...','Waifu-mode...ACTIVATE...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

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

Chapter 1358: Performance