Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

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

After dispelling his Reality Marble, Ozymandias had a clearly somber expression on his face as he descended to rejoin the others. Altera was a monster beyond anything he could have imagined. She had even been able to cut down the Cosmos Sphinx, Wehem-Mesut; a being capable of reforming itself indefinitely; in a single blow. Since it had taken a blow in his stead, Ozymandias knew he had nearly lost his life at the hands of Altera; despite having taken her serious from the onset of battle...What Ozymandias had no way of knowing was that Altera was an entity that, on a fundamental level, transcended traditional Heroic Spirits. She was a completely alien existence and, though the Throne of Heroes was able to call upon her Spirit; it also possessed the capabilities to call upon other Alien Heroes, Conceptual Entities, and even Outer Gods. She also possessed the titles of 'King of Combat' and the 'Great King of Destruction', legacies that granted her actual power through the Throne of Heroes.Ozymandias also possessed two titles: 'King of Kings' and 'King of Construction' but, as a 'Great King of Destruction', Altera was basically a perfect counter to him. He could not create faster than she was able to destroy; even with a veritable ocean of magical power at his disposal.From the very beginning, there had only ever been two outcomes to their battle: the first ending in Ozymandias' death and the second relying on Vahn's intervention. Now, the legendary King of Kings tasted his second defeat; this time learning the vastness of the heavens and the depths of history. He hadn't even been unrivaled during his lifetime so, while his pride would not allow him to easily lower his head to others; he understood there was a vast gulf between him and Altera...Seeing the nightmarish woman passively receive Vahn's caress, Ozymandias was reminded of the fact that the latter wasn't a being to be trifled with. Altera wasn't even the strongest being under his authority so, while he had never harbored thoughts of rebellion; Ozymandias decided he would be an ardent supporter of the Empire. His time to rule had ended more than a millennium prior so now, fate willing, he would enjoy life alongside his beloved once again. This time, he would not allow his pride to invite tragedy into their lives...---With Ozymandias having joined them, Vahn stopped patting Altera's head to say, "I've decided to end our competition here. It was an error in my judgment to abstain from making a clear set of rules for everyone to follow. I wanted us to be able to go all out so that we might better understand each other moving forward. Ultimately, the victor of this event would have always been Artoria as, even if I went all out from the start; there is no real way to defeat her. If any of you would like to try, feel free to challenge her at your behest. For now, I officially declare this competition concluded."Hearing Vahn claim that Artoria was the strongest among them, Nero couldn't help but give her doppelganger an intrigued look, musing, "Umu, I would like to challenge you. Forgive me if my words offend you but I can't begin to fathom how you could be stronger than me. I still wish to prove myself so I am unable to let things end like this."Since she had been anticipating Nero's challenge from the start, Artoria was fully prepared to accept. She gave Vahn a look, asking with her eyes whether or not she could accept. As an Empress, she had a considerable amount of authority but; as Vahn had just announced the conclusion of the series of battles, she needed to confer with him. He may recognize her status as equal to her own but Artoria would not pass on an opportunity to elevate his status in the eyes of others.Vahn would have preferred to end things there and then but, as a battle between Artoria and Nero could help to ease tensions; he ultimately decided to allow it. He was also curious about what would happen when Nero's performance came to an end so, without too much deliberation, he nodded his head and stated, "This will be the last battle of the day, then. Take care not to take things too far. If I feel things are getting out of hand, I will intervene without hesitation."With Vahn's acquiescence, Nero gave her characteristic 'umu' while Artoria replied with a proper bow. Afterward, they both moved to their starting positions as Vahn, Ozymandias, Alexander, and Altera moved to the Imperial Viewing Area.Once Vahn took his seat upon the Throne, he noticed that Altera was still holding her tri-colored blade in hand as she watched the battlefield with emotionless, calculating, eyes. He doubted she would jump into the battle without being told to but, just in case, he spoke in a faint tone, saying, "Altera, put away your weapon. There are no more battles for you to fight today. Relax and observe the battle..."Hearing her Master's command, Altera turned to look back at him, answering, "I see..." in a soft monotone before placing her sword back into her chest. Then, with no other words necessary, she turned to observe the battle with an unwavering gaze.Vahn had the distinct impression that Altera knew little other than battle so, while others may think it was a picturesque scene; with her delicate frame and veil-like hair flowing gently amidst a flurry of rose petals, he couldn't shake the feeling he was witnessing something somber and melancholic. He needed to learn more about her past before it caught up to all of them so, after the battle between Artoria and Nero; he needed to discuss the matter with Alaya, Merlin, Scáthach, and, Altera herself...---When the final battle between Nero and Artoria began, Vahn was slightly surprised when the former, instead of beginning her performance; charged toward Artoria with incredible speed. Her figure was momentarily shrouded amidst flames which, in the next moment, gave way to reveal a reddish-black sword without a guard. At the same time, her outfit had once again changed, this time into a brilliant red battle-dress accented with whites and gold. She also had a pauldron on her right shoulder, her dominant arm, and two form-fitting greaves that had prominent heels.With a sudden and intense burst of speed, Nero closed the distance between herself and Artoria in an instant; the latter waiting to meet her blow head-on. Vahn was able to see exactly how broken the [Imperial Privilege: EX] was in this moment as, after having her somewhat clumsy blow deflected by Artoria, Nero's movements instantly became more graceful as she twirled around on her heel and began a flurry of blows; each faster and sharper than the last.Artoria never looked down on her opponents so, even when Nero's movements became an almost perfect emulation of her own abilities; she hadn't been caught off guard. Instead, she decided to use it as an opportunity to push her own swordsmanship further, knowing full well there were heights far beyond her current level of skill. Thus, to the awe of everyone except Altera, the two near-identical girls began a hypersonic dance of death; the trajectory of their attacks nearly impossible to read as a gradually increasing number of rose petals danced around them...Though he knew Nero hadn't gone 'easy' on him, Vahn could tell she had been keeping some of her skills a secret in order to display her full might against Artoria. The main purpose of her participation in today's challenge was to basically gain access to the Inner Sanctum so; from the beginning, Nero had set her sights on Artoria. In a way, she 'needed' to prove herself superior to the latter as, in her mind, it was simply unacceptable that someone borrowing her appearance was able to eclipse her in any category; even battle.Unfortunately, even if she could display all of Artoria's skills with mastery, grace, and elegance, there was a gap in their parameters, overall battle experience, and ability to focus. Though she now had the earrings Vahn had given her, Nero still had trouble focusing her mind; even against an opponent right in front of her. Her nature made it nearly impossible for her to take a battle seriously as, due to her skewed view of what it meant to be an Emperor; she couldn't recognize that her opponent was a serious threat.A stark contrast to Nero, Artoria entered into a state of absolute focus while in battle, her adherence to the chivalric code making it impossible for her to look down on opponents. She saw battles like this as an opportunity to improve herself, refine her skills, and breakthrough her limits. As for Nero, she saw battle as nothing more than a performance, a display of artistry, beauty, and elegance. Thus, as the battle progressed, Artoria was able to take advantage of the gaps in Nero's mentality; her holy sword periodically finding purchase to send out plumes of rose petals instead of blood...During one particularly fierce exchange, Nero ended up getting cut from hip to chest in one clean swipe of Artoria's [Excalibur]. A massive plume of rose petals escaped from the wound and, as if she had only just realized she was in battle, momentary focus flashed across Nero's emerald-green eyes. In the next moment, she attempted to parry Artoria's follow-up strike but, with the latter putting a considerable amount of strength into the blow; Nero's sword was sent careening through the air as a second blow, running perpendicular to the former, crossed her body.Despite these two blows, Nero's smile never waned in the slightest. She used her momentary focus to stare back at Artoria, finding the latter with an intense and dauntless expression. This seemed to be amusing to her as, with her body dissipating into thousands of rose petals; Nero smiled with even greater brilliance than normal as she mused, "Umu, truly a woman worthy of our Master. You do our appearance justice, Empress Artoria...now, allow me to answer your resolution in kind..."With Nero's figure disappearing from view, Artoria turned her attention to the surroundings, looking for any sign of the former's figure. She noticed there was an incredible volume of rose petals flowing counterclockwise throughout the entire theater but, after seeing Vahn destroy the attack previously, she was confident in being able to do the same.Just as during her battle with Vahn, Nero's body reformed almost immediately after her previous figure vanished. This time, she appeared next to where her sword had been lodged into a wall, one of the places Artoria had been paying attention to from the start. Thus, following the sound of a loud explosion, the two golden-haired beauties began another round of exchanges; this time with Nero's sword blazing with vermillion flames that intermixed with the mana shrouding Artoria's body in a beautiful, albeit explosive, manner.Though the infusion of flames into her attacks might have pressured other opponents, Artoria had fought against Karna on several occasions. She was also adept at using [Cantus Bellax] to create a permanant shroud of mana around her body so, while the flames were intense enough to gradually melt the magically enchanted gold in their surroundings, it wasn't enough to singe a single hair on Artoria's head. Instead, her own attacks became more intense as she began to infuse a considerable amount of mana into each blow, pushing herself and Nero beyond their natural limits.It was in the midst of these exchanges that Nero began to notice with increasing excitement that her usual headaches were nowhere to be seen. Even though she had started to focus on the battle, there was a gentle flow of energy in her mind that allowed her to remain calm; something that, if not for her status as an Emperor; would have brought a tear to her eye. Now, it brought an excited smile to her face as, with ever-increasing intensity, she began to meet Artoria's blows; her jubilation fueling her to continue.As the intensity of the battle increased, so too did the volume of rose petals within the theater. There was also an audible sound of applause resonating throughout the grand hall, its volume tied to the intensity of the duo's 'performance'. Vahn had speculated this was the case during his battle against Nero so it was interesting to confirm it from the perspective of a spectator. From here, he could get a much better grasp on the nature of Nero's Noble Phantasm; using it as inspiration to empower his own Reality Marble in the future...Eventually, the sound of applause reached a crescendo and, after one particularly intense exchange with Artoria, Nero allowed her sword to be knocked aside freely. Then, spreading her arms wide, she fell towards the ground with an almost amorous look on her face as she allowed herself to crash into the floor below.Since she had already seen Nero perform this same technique previously, Artoria wasted no time in pulling out and activating her [Avalon]. Then, as Nero appeared in the center, how having reverted back to her rose-red dress, Artoria, surprisingly, stored away [Excalibur]. Instead, she pulled out one of the most powerful, and awe-inspiringly beautiful, armaments in the entire world: [Rhongomyniad], the Lance that Shines to the Ends of the World.Even Nero was captivated by the beauty of Artoria's spear, stopping her dance mid-step as she could tell there was no point in continuing. Then, for the second time in a single day, albeit with a smile on her face, she watched as her most powerful attack was destroyed. Artoria needed only raise her holy spear towards the sky to cause a majestic pillar of light to shatter, not just her theater, but Arcueid's Marble Phantasm. Fortunately, in preparation for these exact circumstances, the original location of the battle had taken place high above Avalon; even further up than where Leviathan usually idled...When [Rhongomyniad]'s light finally faded away, 80% of Nero's theater, with the exception of the Imperial Viewing Area and the first floor, had been completely annihilated. To further emphasize her complete victory, Artoria didn't even seem winded by the attack as she stood proud; her aura both majestic and inviolable. In this form, she was virtually immune to any kind of damage, even that from True Magic and High Thaumaturgy. At the same time, she had one of the most powerful weapons in the entire Record in hand, it's full power able to deal lasting damage to even Tier 5 entities.With all of these things in her favor, even Altera wouldn't be able to contend against Artoria as, even with her monstrous power, she would be unable to 'reach' the latter. It was for this reason that Vahn had stated that Artoria was certain to be the winner as, even if he went all out, the best he could do is leave her with light wounds as they fought a literally endless battle. Though he would undoubtedly find some way to bypass her defenses, likely by entering Avalon himself, this wasn't something that others could hope to achieve without the all-powerful cheat that was Source Energy...Thus, without any further suspense, the battle between Artoria and Nero was brought to an end as the latter gave a curt nod and muttered, "You performed exceptionally. Umu, this is my utter defeat." Then, having overtaxed her body far beyond its limits, Nero fell backward with her arms spread wide, a bed of rose petals spontaneously manifesting to cushion her fall...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

Chapter 1359: Destruction