Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Even as the battle was ongoing, Vahn had been part of an ongoing war council back at Avalon. He was seated at the head of a massive three-dimensional diorama in his official regalia, Artoria at his side and every ranking military official gathered around them.Though it wasn't nearly as capable as CHALDEAS, the satellites produced by Da Vinci to enhance the SHEBA network allowed them to view a detailed representation of real-world locations. It was still in its nascent state, making it roughly as useful as previous GPS satellites but, soon enough, they would have the means to observe even the density and composition of mana all throughout the world.Currently, Vahn was discussing the feasibility of investigating, securing, and destroying most of the world's Bounded Fields. This would have long-standing effects on the planet as, while most existed solely to benefit the Magus families that had developed them, many prevented excess mana from the Reverse Side from leaking into the world. They also prevented monsters and other Phantasmal Species from freely roaming the countryside so, if they truly destroyed them, the Empire would have yet another problem to deal with.As the ranking military official, behind only Vahn and Artoria, Gawain was the one to offer a solution, saluting as he boldly exclaimed, "Your Majesty, though I am remiss to use them in such a way, would the simplest solution not be to send the Companions to investigate? Splitting our forces any further than we already have will only cause gaps within our existing security network. We cannot abandon our efforts to maintain order around the various food distribution sites so I do not see any solution outside of producing more Companions, Golems, or Homunculi..."Hearing Gawain's suggestion, Vahn had to take a deep breath through his nose to remain calm. He actually hated the idea of mass-producing weapons and, as a result of his views on the responsibility of a creator, Vahn couldn't easily accept Gawain's proposal. While it may, indeed, be one of the 'best' solutions, they would be required to cross a moral boundary he wasn't comfortable even skirting.After ruminating over the matter for nearly a minute, Vahn ultimately shook his head, stating, "I will not pervert the Companions further. I was convinced to allow them to accompany the Empire's and Atlas Temple's Response Forces but only as support units. Changing tune and converting them into weapons, merely for the sake of convenience, isn't something I'm willing to do..."As the words left his lips, Vahn couldn't help but briefly pass his gaze over everyone present within the room, each someone who, from a certain point of view, he had exploited. The primary difference between them and the Companions, however, was that they had at least some choice in the matter. There had yet to be a single Companion to develop a true Ego just yet and, though outlier like Skoll and a few of Astrid's pack were pretty close, they were also fiercely loyal.Every Companion already had the ability to make individual choices but, as a result of how they were programmed, combined with their original function, there was little they wouldn't do to help. If they knew their deaths would benefit those around them, nearly every Companion would willingly march to their demise, most without hesitating in the slightest.Vahn didn't mind being seen as an Evil Tyrant who would do whatever it took, so long as it met his end goal, but that mainly applied to him, not the people around him. If he could, he would take care of everything himself, leaving his loved ones to live peaceful lives without any worries. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he twisted the Companions, creatures who were meant to provide love and support, into weapons of war and slaughter.Though it would put more strain on them in the interim, Vahn formulated a plan within his mind as, rather than simply refute Gawain's words, he needed to come up with a solution. Thus, following his refusal of Gawain's proposal, he added, "What the Empire lacks is personnel. Though it is earlier than our initial projections, we will advance our plans of converting our allies and affiliates into citizens of the Empire. Our partnership with the Atlas Temple has set a precedence so it is time for us to extend an olive branch to those who have been wanting to join us."Hearing Vahn's words, there were mixed reactions amongst his concil but, as it was one of the better alternatives, none argued against it. Luvia, in particular, was in complete agreement so, after gaining permission to speak, she stated, "My family has been making preparations for some time now. After the collapse of the Three Monarchal Lords, our Alliance has become the most powerful faction within the Mage's Association. Various family Heads have been pressuring us to join the Empire so this is a good opportunity to put them to work, ohohohoho~."Vahn nodded his head in agreement but, seeing Aoko smiling wryly at the side, he asked, "Is there something that troubles you, Aoko?"Being put on the spot all of a sudden, Aoko laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head before answering, "It's just that...well, the Mage's Association has always been a pretty messed up place. It hasn't been all that long since they were brought to their knees so I can't help but worry about the future of the Empire if we directly mingle with them. Magi are nothing if not crafty and longsighted."Understanding Aoko's concerns, Vahn gave another curt nod in response but, as it actually invited even more trouble trying to weed out dissidents completely, he allayed her concerns, explaining, "I believe the vast majority here understand the truth behind your words. This is the reason behind the establishment of the Common Law and the proliferation of the Companions. There is nothing we can do to completely root out things like evil and corruption as, given enough time, it will come from within our own ranks. The most we can do is take preventative measures and do our best to unify under a solitary idealogy, one that believes everyone has an inherent right to happiness. We cannot be afraid of dissidence as the desire to break free from the constraints of an established system is an intrinsic part of, not just humans, but the vast majority of sapient species..."Though it wasn't the first time she had heard Vahn say similar words, Aoko offered another wry smile in response before muttering, "I guess this is what makes you an Emperor, huh...?" Then, as if fired up by her own words, she adopted a more confident smile and exclaimed, "Alright! I'm in! That's how it should be, right? Living without any regrets!"As the mood had been growing increasingly tense, Vahn took the opportunity provided by Aoko to laugh in a lighthearted manner. Truthfully, her words struck very close to home and, while it would indeed be stressful, everything they were doing was for a better future. So long as he never made compromises, such as perverting the function of the Companions, the world would, one day, match his vision of the future.Since he had already hogged the glory of taking down an enemy stronghold, Vahn quickly recovered from his bout of laughter, stating, "Luvia, I will leave the matter of gathering prospective allies to the Edelfelt family. I imagine it has been a while since anything festive happened so feel free to organize a ball or something. Even if nothing comes of it, I'm certain the current family heads will jump at the opportunity to mingle with members of the Imperial Family."Though she had intended to hold a private banquet to negotiate with the members of the Alliance, Luvia found Vahn's proposition far more interesting. Truthfully, she had never particularly cared about such things but, as it would be an event hosted by her family, there were ample opportunities to turn the affair into something far more interesting. This event would establish a precedent for how all other social gatherings between profligate families would go as, with the fall of the previous nobility, the Empire was set to redefine even the basics of etiquette.With her mind racing with the possibilities, Luvia had a radiant smile on her face as she confidently exclaimed, "You can rest assured, Your Majesty, I will make this an event to be talked about for years to come! I will need a few days to make the arrangements but I can have the guest list completed by the end of the day. Would you like me to forward it to you~?"Seeing how happy Luvia was, Vahn couldn't help but adopt a gentler expression as he nodded his head and answered, "Yes, I would appreciate it. Please include a copy for Bedivere as well. He will be in charge of preparing the attendees from our side so it is important he knows who you have chosen to attend. This is an opportunity to officially debut Mordred and Sakura as First and Second Imperial Princesses so I would appreciate if you kept that in mind."Hearing her Chichue's words, Mordred, who had been looking pretty bored at the side, suddenly sat up straight, blurting out, "Eh? Do I really have to do..."Before Mordred could even finish her words, both Vahn and Artoria turned their eyes toward her. As a result, her words trailed off, turning into a dry laugh. If possible, she would like to continue keeping her status a secret as, while she was proud to be Vahn's and Artoria's daughter, Mordred didn't want it to be what defined her. The moment it was made public, she would 'always' be treated as the First Imperial Princess, something she would, honestly, rather avoid...Vahn could see the momentary struggle in Mordred's eyes but, before he could say anything to allay her concerns, she recovered with a smile and said, "I'll make you proud, Chichiue, Hahaue. Just leave it to me."Despite her misgivings about bearing the title of Imperial Princess in an official capacity, it wasn't in Mordred's nature to disregard her duties. She respected her parents too much and, though it would place a burden on her, it was nothing compared to what they had to bear on a daily basis. With this in mind, Mordred tried to bury the part of herself that harbored unspeakable delusions, adopting the best smile she could manage to avoid worrying them.Vahn and Artoria could easily tell that Mordred was forcing herself but, knowing she would now insist on attending, it was too late to address it at the table. They would have to discuss the matter in private as now was neither the time or place to have such a conversation. However, as he didn't want her to assume he was shelving the issue, Vahn picked up his seal from the table, saying, "As there is little else to discuss, we will adjourn here and reconvene tomorrow at 10 AM. I will be returning from my excursion shortly so, if there is anything, please wait until then."Though there was actually quite a bit left to discuss, there was no need to have the entire emergency council gathered. Gawain could be trusted to organize everything and, by the time he held Court the following day, most of the less pertinent issues would be resolved.It didn't take a genius to understand that Vahn had brought the meeting to an end on her behalf so, while she did her best to adopt a remorseful expression, Mordred couldn't hide the small twinkle of happiness in her eyes. She felt guilty about worrying him but, knowing he cared for her to such an extent always made her feel happy. He often spoke about being a Father before an Emperor so, at times like this, she always felt gratified to be his daughter, even if it also left a bittersweet taste in her mouth...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Do not corrupt the cute...!','Luvia about to plan a wrestling event instead of a ball...','Sweet Summer child...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Shortly after calling the emergency council to a close, Vahn found himself back in his chambers with only Artoria and Mordred at his side. Even Gray had taken upon herself to step out for a moment as, while her status allowed her to be present for such things, she rarely stuck around for family matters.Even without asking, Vahn already had an idea about what was troubling Mordred. It was something he and Artoria had talked about at length in the past so, after taking a seat, Vahn asked, "Tell me, do you regret becoming my daughter?"Without any delay in her response, Mordred adopted a serious expression on her face as she stated, "There is no way that could ever be the case! Chichiue is an excellent father, someone I respect with all my heart...!!"Hearing Mordred's instant reply, Vahn couldn't help but smile appreciatively but, taking advantage of her word choice, he added, "Not all your heart, I fear...there is a part that views me in a different light, is there not?"Though she already expected this line of questioning, Mordred paled slightly, her head hanging low as her bangs covered her eyes. At the same time, she balled her hands into fists, words escaping her as she didn't know the 'correct' way to respond to such a question.Just as Mordred's eyes began to swim around for an excuse, she was liberated from her stupefied trance by a soft and warm hand being placed on her shoulder. When she looked up, she found her Hahaue smiling gently toward her and, though there was a complicated look visible in her eyes, she still whispered, "Calm down, Mordred. You should know better than most...your father isn't someone you should fear."Artoria wanted to say something to support her daughter but, understanding exactly what it was the latter wanted, she, too, was at a loss for words. After all, depending on how things went, there was a very good chance she would be losing her daughter in the near future.If she were forced to admit her innermost thoughts, Artoria wouldn't be able to deny that the last few years, while filled with various troubles but, had been incredibly fulfilling. She had learned from her failings as a Father and King and, though she believed she still had a long way to go, she liked to think she had become a capable Mother and Empress. Now, however, even though she had seen this coming for a long time, she couldn't help but feel a small amount of anguish as, in a way, she had, once again, failed Mordred...Seeing the struggle in her Hahaue's eyes, Mordred's feelings of guilt began to increase exponentially but, before she could say anything, a firm yet guiding voice reached her ears, calling her name and drawing her attention. Though she had known where the voice originated from, Mordred was still at a loss as, rather than conflict and struggle, her Chichiue had a calm and accepting look on his face. His smile didn't seem forced and, rather than judgment or disappointment in his eyes, he looked at her the same way he always had, like a father trying to guide his daughter through her struggles...Though she would normally feel better just having her Chichiue smile at her, Mordred's feelings of guilt made it hard to even look at him, much less smile in turn. She hated that she couldn't control her own emotions properly and, as a result, she was on the verge of destroying everything that had made her happy in life. She felt lower than the greedy and depraved men and women that made up the vast majority of the human race as, even after obtaining happiness, she couldn't help but want even more...just like the people she hated most.Sensing a palpable increase in Mordred's negative emotions, Vahn's smile faded slightly as he firmly said, "Mordred, raise your head.", drawing her eyes back to him. Then, before she could sink further into an ocean of negativity, he explained, "You have made a lot of progress over these last few years. Even if I locked myself away into a [Space-Time Orb], no amount of time would be adequate to put into words how grateful I feel towards you. Being a father is the greatest purpose I have ever found and, seeing how much you have grown over the last three years, it fills me with hope and gives me the confidence to walk my own path..."Hearing her Chichiue's words, Mordred's emotions began waging a war within her mind but, on the surface, she did her best to appear calm and attentive. She would normally be beside herself with glee to hear him say such things but, due to the circumstances, it felt like metal stakes were being driven into her heart. Though she had a few expectations about how things were meant to go, no amount of mental imaging could have prepared her for this increasingly tense conversation. It was comparable to the feelings she had felt while facing her Hahaue down in her past life, something she never wanted to experience a second time.As he had been closely gauging Mordred's reaction, Vahn fought to prevent his smile from turning awry. He knew Mordred had never been the type to indulge flowery words and long explanations so, in the hopes her downward spiral would cease, he released a tired sigh within his mind while raising three fingers, explaining, "There are three choices available to you. Though these are not the only three, they are what your mother and I came up with after a number of long discussions...I hope you will properly consider your choices before making a decision."Seeing that her now had Mordred's undivided attention, Vahn gave an appreciative node before holding up one finger and explaining, "Your first option is to change your status from First Imperial Princess to First Imperial Prince. Before my meddling, you always identified as a man and I've seen how you interact with Fenrir, Mash, and Astrid. If you pursue this path, you will live the rest of your life as a man and, when the time comes, I will directly prepare you to rule in my stead."Though she expected any number of things, Mordred hadn't even considered the possibility she would be offered the chance to become a man. For a brief moment, her mind drew a complete blank as, in more ways than one, it was something she had always desired. Prior to being 'reborn', she had even considered the fact she had been born a female as a kind of curse. Though it helped that her 'father' had also been female, making her feel a lot closer to the person she had most respected, she still had the mentality than men were, in many ways, superior.While Mordred's mind was still drawing a blank, Vahn held up a second finger, pulling her back to reality as he explained, "Your second option is to continue fulfilling your duties as Imperial Princess, increasing your status and prestige through your own efforts. This is similar to your current path but, towards the end, I can promise you something beyond your current ambitions. Rather than be the Emperor of one world, I will nurture you to become a being above even the Gods. If you choose this path...becoming a Goddess, you will be able to stay at my side for eternity, helping me to shape, not just one world, but countless worlds. Also, as the standards for Gods are completely different than those of mortals, I will...take you as one of my wives..."Hearing her Chichue's final words, Mordred's breathing became audible and, though she managed to retain her composure, it was easy to see how much they had affected her. She was the type that always sought to rise above, gaining even greater power and authority. Being told she would be able to become a literal Goddess, ruling over countless worlds, there was no way she could ignore such an opportunity. Though it was true that she could have always followed this route, the same could be said for becoming a male as, so long as she earnestly desired something, her Chichiue would not deny her...As this thought crossed her mind, so too did Mordred's awareness of her current situation. From the very beginning, her Chichiue had only been listing out options that had always been available to her, not special deals that would come and go if she refused them. If she really wanted, creating a fourth, fifth, or even a hundredth option was possible. The only thing he really cared about was that she was happy and, so long as it didn't interfere with the happiness of others, she was free to choose at her leisure.In timing with this conclusion, Vahn held up his third finder, adopting a somewhat wry smile as he added, "The third option is the easiest, really...you give up your status as Imperial Princess, denounce our parent-child relationship, and follow a path similar to Illya. Truthfully, there is very little difference between your situation and hers. I would be a hypocrite if I refused you for no better reason than my ongoing relationship with your mother. In a way, your situation is even less complicated as, in much the same way as Gray, you were born into...unique circumstances."Hearing the third option provided, Mordred fought hard to prevent herself from laughing out loud, even as tears began to build in her eyes. It was both funny yet surprisingly painful to be reminded of the fact that she could always just throw away her status. Though her Chichiue treated her with the care and concern of an actual parent, they weren't truly related and, if she chose to be selfish and pursue her desires, the seemingly unbreakable bond they had forged as parent and child would be shattered in an instant. This thought was liberating but, at the same time, Mordred couldn't help feeling indescribable anguish...Seeing Mordred fighting back tears with an awkward smile on her face, Vahn's own heart felt pained so, instead of discussing the matter further, he patted his right thigh and said, "Come, sit.", in a soft and gentle tone. As a result, he found himself practically tackled by the still armor-clad Mordred as, for reasons she couldn't put into words, she began crying her heart out. Shortly after, Artoria came to sit at her side and, for the better part of twenty minutes, they comforted the crying Mordred as a Mother and Father should...---Though she hated crying, Mordred couldn't deny that she always felt much better afterward. Her body felt lighter and, as she almost exclusively cried around her parents, there was always a soothing warmth that came along with it. She would never admit it but she enjoyed being pampered as, prior to her 'rebirth', Mordred had never been able to experience anything like the care and concern of a parent...After calming down enough to organize her thoughts, Mordred broke the silence by sitting straight and declaring, "I refuse to give up my status as your daughter. I thought I would be happy being one of your women but I won't abandon everything I have worked for just to become one of many. I will become much stronger, strong enough to lay even Gods low in a single blow. Then, no matter how much time passes, we will always be together...as family...and much more..."Mordred's words were directed to both of her parents but, as she was sitting on her Chichiue's lap, it was hard not to stare directly into his eyes. They held a force that seemed to draw others in and, at times, Mordred had wanted to swim within their depths. With this in mind, she decided to just throw propriety aside for a brief moment and, knowing it would probably be the last time for many years, she wrapped her arms around her Chichiue's neck and claimed his lips as compensation for, well, a lot of things...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Not your average family tensions...','The choice is yours...','Prelude to the Dragon's rise (UwU)...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Like a dam breaking, unleashing a wave of destruction, Altera swept through the crowd of automatons with unstoppable force. She was like a living tempest as, even without sweeping her sword through enemies, her movements alone were enough to tear them asunder. There was little the unfortunate magical constructs could do, much like sailors swept up in a typhoon or a young child caught in a rip current, swept out into the unforgiving sea without a means to free themselves from the tragedy they had wrought.Vahn couldn't help but stall for a moment as he watched Altera in action, much like a pedestrian who had just witnessed a car crash. Part of him even felt guilty that his enemies sent out automatons in a vain attempt to stall for time as, in more ways than one, it showed a general disregard for their own creations. Since he had always been the type that appreciated everything he created, paving the way forward for it to develop an Ego, Vahn simply couldn't agree with methods like this.In order to bring this battle to an end as soon as possible, Vahn and Arcueid made their way to the mountain peak in an instant. As it had been pulled inside of her Marble Phantasm, Arcueid had near-absolute control over the surrounding space so, even though the entrance had been concealed by several meters of magically reinforced stone, she was able to simply create a new entrance with the sweep of her hand. Reality Manipulation was a very powerful ability and, if she used it maliciously, Arcueid could likely kill everyone hiding inside without getting anywhere near them.With the combination of their abilities, Vahn and Arcueid were able to analyze the structure of the entire mountain in a very short period of time. As a result, they ended up in a vast chamber near the heart of the mountain, home to a large crystalline tree that was more than 50m in height. It glistened with green and gold light and, if not for the various monitors and machines burrowed into its trunk, it would have been quite the sight to behold.Since they had taken a more 'direct' route, Vahn and Arcueid landed silently a few meters away from the tree's base, circumventing all of the security measures that had been put in place. This caused the man standing over the terminals to release a tired sigh as he lazily looked back and stated, "You really do things your own way, don't you? Seriously, no regard for other people's efforts at all..."After nodding in response to the man's complaint, Vahn casually extended his hand, manifesting [Enkidu] in their surroundings to seal off the surrounding space. Though Arcueid could achieve a similar effect using her own power, Vahn didn't want to leave everything to her. He was already here so, if there was something he could do to remove their enemy's advantages, he would do so without hesitation.Seeing the resplendent golden chains now swirling around the room, the man released a tired sigh before plopping down in his chair and saying, "Tell me...what exactly are you? I've spent more than two months trying to understand this world you've created. If I were allowed to be honest, I don't actually disagree with your methods. What I can't understand is what you are, where you came from, and how you came to possess this power..."As he spoke, the man briefly eyed Arcueid, fully aware of her identity and the power she had at her disposal. What didn't make sense was Vahn as, prior to setting his plans in motion, nothing like Vahn had ever existed. This frustrated him to no end as, unless he was able to completely split his timeline from Vahn's, all of time was fated to converge at the point of Vahn's present. This meant all of his efforts and hard work would be for naught as, depending on how things developed, his own timeline would never even be set into motion. In a way, it proved that free will had never existed in the first place as, with a single person's existence, the variability of the future was completely removed...Vahn hadn't arrived with the intent to make casual conversation so, rather than answer the man's question, he vanished from where he had been standing. This caused the man to tense in his seat while simultaneously trigger a device in his left hand. A complex barrier formed from hexagonal panels immediately shielded his body, repelling Vahn's strike with enough force to rupture the sleeve of his right arm. Even his muscle had ruptured slightly but, with his regeneration, he healed almost instantly as he continued pressing his palm against the barrier's surface.With a paling expression on his face, the lazy-looking man on the inside managed a wry smile as he remarked, "This shield can even block a Heroic Spirit's Noble Phantasm...man, I really hate your type. I wasn't showing any kind of hostility yet you went out of your way to attack me. I guess this is why you are able to do something as messed up as throwing the entire world into chaos for the sake of your ambitions?"Hearing the man's words, Vahn squinted his eyes slightly, his pupils turning pale-gold as his right hand morphed into a claw covered in azure scales. At the same time, individuals segments of the hexagonal grid began to crack, causing the man inside to pale even more. It was only at this point that Vahn decided to answer, stating in a firm and decisive tone, "You've had more than two months to try and initiate a dialogue. You've injured the people I've cared about, plotted against my Empire, and took proactive measures to undermine the peaceful world I'm trying to create. The time for talk is long behind us..."The moment his words trailed off, Vahn's claw tore through the last vestiges of the barrier, piercing into the man's chest. This wasn't meant to be a lethal blow but, after everything the man had set in motion, Vahn wasn't going to let him off easily. These types always knew a considerable amount of information so, while it would be simple to just finish him off, the absence of other enemies made killing him unwise.Frustratingly, Vahn realized the truth of the matter as soon as his hand entered the man's chest. This caused his eyes to blaze like suns, his claw clenching with tremendous force as he ripped out a flurry of mechanical parts and wires. At the same time, the shaggy-haired man seated within the shattered barrier offered a sly smile before mockingly stating, "Did you really think I would use my real body to send signals into Empire-controlled territory? As I said, Vahn Aldrnari Mason, I've been watching and researching you for a while now. Though the loss of Cú is regrettable, don't think we're going to be defeated so easily...!"Likely emulating Vahn, the man waited until he had finished his exclamation before pressing another device hidden away in his sleeve. Unfortunately, due to the presence of [Enkidu], sending signals was all but impossible so, with an annoyed grimace on his face, the man simply self-destructed instead of collapsing the entire mountain range. His core was nearly as powerful as the one used by the current Rani IV so, while it wasn't enough to kill Vahn or Arcueid, it was more than enough to annihilate the crystalline tree and his duplicate body.Following a pulse of magical energy, a brilliant white light erupted from the shaggy-haired man's body. Immediately afterward, Vahn was propelled backward with tremendous force, slamming into the spatial lock formed by [Enkidu]. It felt like he was being crushed by an entire planet but, just as he was able to teleport out, Arcueid appeared to embrace his body. This caused all the pressure to disappear in an instant, the explosion flowing away from them due to Arcueid's influence. Even the sounds of the explosion were unable to reach him so, with a tired sigh, Vahn pressed his forehead to Arcueid's and complained, "I'm really starting to hate these people..."Though it wasn't all that dissimilar to what he, Da Vinci, or Touko would do, the fact his enemies went to such extreme length to hide was remarkably frustrating. Cú may very well have been his only chance to obtain information about their overarching plans as, with his nature, it probably wouldn't have taken too much effort to convince him they weren't the bad guys. Now, Vahn had to settle for having obtained the identity of the shaggy-haired man and securing the strange black box that had been planted in the Supercolony.There was a chance he had chosen his form to mislead them but, based on the information provided by Alaya, the shaggy-haired automaton had the same presence and appearance as one of history's most famous mathematicians and inventors, Archimedes. This guaranteed the man had either found a way to transmigrate or, much like Cú, he was a Heroic Spirit. As for the black box, his Inventory had yet to identify its function but, with enough time, all of its secrets would become known to him.Since the trip hadn't been a complete waste of time, Vahn enjoyed his embrace with Arcueid for a bit longer than necessary. The explosion had already faded away and, as a result of [Enkidu], most of the chamber had been left undamaged. This allowed a greater volume of mana to flow from the Artificial Leyline below but, given enough time, it would eventually return to normal.Now that things had reached this point, Vahn realized they needed to investigate and, if necessary, destroy all foreign Bounded Fields. They may even need to investigate other Subtextures as Avalon and the Wandering Sea were not the only ones in existence.Given how crafty Archimedes and his allies had proven to be, it wouldn't come as a surprise to learn they had even ventured to the Reverse Side of the World. He would need to confer with Sherlock as, if it turned out they were forging alliances with the very Gods he was making plans again, there was a very real chance a war between the Surface and Reverse Sides would become necessary. He could only hope that, if they truly considered themselves 'heroes' in the battle against evil, they wouldn't resort to such blatantly destructive methods.As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Vahn was overtaken by a powerful compulsion to sigh as, with his Karmic Value, combined with various other factors, there were likely very few lengths his enemies wouldn't go to. They could come up with some contrived logic that it was better to entrust the world to a select group of Gods, rather than leave it in the hands of an 'Evil Emperor'. Heroes weren't exactly known for thinking things through so, as long as they were able to achieve the end they sought, the means used and the repercussions they faced rarely mattered...Though he didn't say it out loud, Vahn internally remarked that being the villain sucked even more than being the 'hero'. Unless he really threw himself into the role that had been assigned him, doing all kinds of terrible acts, he would continue to be pressured from both sides of the spectrum. Ideally, he would be able to reach some kind of compromise with the enemy group but, given their actions thus far, they were wholly dedicated to undermining his efforts...After shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Vahn planted a kiss on the concerned-looking Arcueid, returning the smile to her face. Afterward, they looked around the area for a short while but, due to the powerful explosion, all traces of the system that had existed previously had been erased. This left the larger facility to explore but, as there were no signs of life anywhere within, it was best to leave it to the Atlas Temple's clean-up crew to investigate.Having made up his mind on the matter, Vahn exited the facility alongside Arcueid. There, amidst a sea of automaton corpses, Altera stood atop the shattered torso of a larger specimen, her veil-like hair tossed gently by the frigid mountain wind. Though her figure gave her a somewhat emaciated appearance, she gave off the impression of both a Goddess of War and a flower that only bloomed amidst countless corpses. It was a strangely beautiful yet morbid sight, especially with the terrifying ORT hovering nearby, it's blade-like appendages waiting to slaughter anything still living amongst the tens of thousands of automatons...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Altera, human-shaped natural disaster','Archimedes trying to be sneaky. Guess he didn't account for Alaya being able to identify him in an instant o3o...','There are Heroes on both sides of a conflict')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1396: Council