Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

While the Empire had been repelling enemy forces, the Imperial Gala had continued without interruption. Rather, from the moment of the initial explosion, Luvia had taken control of the crowd, a confident smile on her face as she assured everyone this was part of the evening's festivities. Then, once she had received the signal that everything had been prepared, several large panels appeared throughout the ballroom, just in time to view the scene of Vahn sending Caenis flying with a single kick.Though it may not be the wisest decision to allow others to view how Vahn fought, as it might allow some of their enemies to come up with countermeasures, the person in question wasn't particularly worried about such things. People already treated him as a monster and, no matter what measures they came up with, he was confident in being able to come out ahead. This was emphasized by the fact that, no matter how much damage Musashi did to him, he kept coming back with even greater momentum than before.While the battle between Vahn and Musashi had been the primary focus of everyone in the crowd, especially when he suddenly took on the form of Musashi, it wasn't the only one on display. They also had the opportunity to witness the Phoenix Empress battle against a muted doppelganger of herself while, on other monitors, the one-sided suppression of Caenis could be seen. This was the battle that actually drew the most attention as, compared to the flashy battles involving Vahn and Artoria, it was the only one the vast majority of them could follow...Kenshin had built quite a reputation for herself as a Commander of the Empire's Response Forces so it was a welcome opportunity to witness her prowess for themselves. They also couldn't help wonder about the origin of the unforgiving beams of red energy that would periodically strike Caenis, usually targetting her knee joints or the exposed areas of her abdomen. Some of these beams of light would cut cleanly through her body before devastating the buildings and streets in the surroundings.Of course, with the wide-spread destructive visible on the screens, combined with the audible sound of distant explosions, many of the more astute Magi realized something was 'wrong' with the scenes on display. Eventually, it was Goldolf Musik, whose family had been doing exceptionally well due to his early association with the Empire and Luvia's Alliance, to ask the question everyone had wanted to know the answer to, chiefly, "Where are all the civilians?"Goldolf had never been an official member of the alliance but, with the death of Lorelei and the purging of many of the oldest Magus families, he had risen to the position of Department Head of the Faculty of Policies. As a result, he was in a position that allowed him to support the changes Vahn had been introducing within the Clock Tower, becoming one of the principal forces helping to keep order, both within the Mage's Association and the now-defunct Noble Faction.Hearing Goldolf's question, Luvia had her usual smile as she answered, "It would be quicker to give a demonstration." in a voice that easily reached everyone in the hall. Then, to the shock and awe of the entire assembly, Luvia waved over personal attendant, Sophia Mayweather. She was visibly pale but, as this was a duty that had been entrusted to her, Sophia pulled out an ornate golden revolver and, without much hesitation, placed it against Luvia's temple before pulling the trigger.Needless to say, Luvia's display had a considerable impact on the crowd, briefly pulling everyone's attention away from the monitors. After all, it wasn't often they saw a profligate on the level of Luvia suddenly have her brain matter spread out across the crowd. It didn't seem to be an illusion either as, immediately after the thunderous roar of the enchanted pistol, Luvia's body fell limp against the stage, crimson blood flowing from the gaping wound in her head...Just as tensions reached a critical level, Luvia's body began to flake away into motes of bluish-white light. This was a considerable relief to most people, as they assumed it was just an illusion, but, the more astute among the crowd quickly realized the truth of the matter. Their speculation was proven correct when, moments later, Luvia 'flickered' back into existence, her hand cradling the side of her head as she forced a smile and explained, "In preparation for an enemy attack, the Empire used the technology produced from its Magi-Science department to pull everyone, enemies and allies alike, into a Virtual Battlefield."Hearing Luvia's explanation, more than half the crowd felt shaken as, even now, they were unable to distinguish between reality and a virtual representation of it. One person even cut their palm with a small dagger, watching in shock as their blood flowed naturally. Even the pain was indistinguishable from an actual wound, causing them to nearly have a panic attack as a strong desire to flee welled up inside them.Unfortunately, Luvia nipped any thoughts of departing the gala early in the bud, adding, "Though the primary purpose of this gala was to foster positive relations between the Empire and the Magus Community, there were several other goals in mind. The Empire has already come to an agreement with the Mage's Association and, in an effort to ensure every student is able to benefit from a similar quality of education, the Virtual World, a topic many of you were undoubtedly interested in, will now be implemented within the entire Clock Tower. This demonstration was to show the level of realism that can be attained within the Virtual World..."Though many were still shaken by the fact they had been trapped in a simulation without realizing it, a number of people within the crowd couldn't help but feel excited. These were the various Faculty members and researchers who had been wanting to gain access to the Virtual World. While it was a little concerning to know that there were no discernible differences between the virtual world and reality, this was actually a good thing for them as, with the variables being functionally identical, they could conduct experiments using rare materials without having to waste them.As could be expected, a number of people wanted to ask questions about the Virtual World but, as she didn't want to draw too much attention away from the ongoing battles, Luvia simply stated, "The Virtual World is one of the Empire's proprietary secrets. Even I don't know much about it, only that it can emulate reality up to 99.937%. Also, though the actual ratio will be discussed at a later date, it is possible to control the flow of time within the Virtual World, allowing users to experience up to ten hours for every hour that passes in reality. More details will be made public in the near future so, for the time being, enjoy watching the battles on the monitors, ohohoho~."Luvia's brief explanation created more questions than answers but, knowing the futility of trying to squeeze information out of her, many followed her advice. The only people bold enough to try and approach her for more details were the official members of the Alliance, so, unless they intended to throw their lot in with the Alliance, taking a wait-and-see approach was the best course of action. A number of Family Heads had been intending to join the Empire to gain access to its resources but, if things developed in the direction Luvia seemed to imply, they may not have to lower themselves so readily...---What Luvia hadn't told the crowd, for obvious reasons, was that they hadn't actually been pulled into the Virtual World. Rather, the current space was the culmination of Da Vinci's research into methods to prevent collateral damage, Arcueid's Marble Phantasm, and Merlin's ability to invade the minds of every attendee of the Imperial Gala. The latter had been proactively preventing people from realizing the true nature of the world around them, so, with the exceptions of people like Solon, Zelretch, and Director Atlasia, they were all easily convinced by Luvia's words.To further enhance the effectiveness of the suggestion, even Spenta's services had been called upon. Her natural calming aura pervaded throughout the entire Edelfelt Mansion back in the real world, so, while their minds and spirits were transplanted into the Spiritual Projection, their actual bodies were kept calm and relaxed state, laying in beanbag like cushions that had been prepared by the Edelfelt Security Forces that remained in the outside.Rather than a gathering of high society, the resplendent ballroom had become something akin to a massive slumber party from the moment Vahn's procession had arrived. In fact, it was the dimming of the lights, the focus of the crowd, and the incredulous statements made by Mordred and Sakura that contributed to the transition taking place without a hitch. When people experienced anger or surprise, they often prioritized those feelings over other incongruous emotions, especially during tense moments.The most difficult part of the entire process had been luring their enemies into the trap but, by disguising Arcueid's Marble Phantasm as a normal Bounded Field, something their enemies would have expected to encounter, it had been easier than expected. As a result, they found Musashi, Caenis, and the unnamed Saber Class Heroic Spirit standing near the periphery of Arcueid's Marble Phantasm. They appeared to be in a trance-like state and, by making sure no animosity had been directed toward them, they didn't even react as their weapons were taken away and their bodies were bound.Had it not been for the existence of the man they could only assume to be an Assassin Class Heroic Spirit, everything would have gone as planned. While they had actually accounted for the enemy having an Assassin on their side, they couldn't have accounted for the fact he either had EX-Rank [Presence Concealment] or an Innate related to masking his presence. Even Alaya, Arcueid, and Merlin hadn't been able to determine his actual location, despite knowing he had also been trapped in their barrier.As existences that drew power from the Root, in one way or another, Alaya, Arcueid, Merlin, and any entity with a connection to Administrative Functions, was bound by certain rules and restrictions. As a result, Skills like [Presence Concealment] actually worked surprisingly well against them as, if it was beyond a certain level, no level of [Clairvoyance] or pseud-omniscience would reveal the location of their target. Alaya could literally be sitting right next to the Assassin, staring directly at him, but her mind would simply 'block' his existence from her perception, much like Aqua.Fortunately, [Presence Concealment] had the specific weakness of being unable to conceal killing intent. Thus, from the moment an Assassin targetted you, anyone with reasonably high perception would be able to react. This made Rulers, Casters, Lancers, Archers, and Saber Class Heroic Spirits especially effective against Assassins while, on the opposite end of the spectrum, Riders, Avengers, Berserkers, and even Beasts, were weak against them.Though it was easy to assume that Beasts would be super-effective against Assassins, as they had senses that far eclipsed even the most astute Caster. However, due to the fact that nearly every Beast could be classified as either a Tier 5 entity or a Greater Divine Spirit, [Presence Concealment] had the same efficacy against them as entities like Alaya and Merlin. This was a 'failsafe' created by the Root itself as, without Skills like [Presence Concealment], there would be few actual counters against those qualifying for the Avenger or Beast classification.As a result of the enemy's unexpectedly high [Presence Concealment], their Spiritual form was able to penetrate the Edelfelt Mansion while Vahn and the rest were 'distracted'. He managed to reach as far as the room where the children had been kept safe but, due to the complexity of the barrier set up in the area, he had ultimately failed to enter inside. After all, Vahn had left Aura inside and, while she couldn't be compelled to fight, protecting the Spenta and the rest of the children was something she did willingly.In the end, it wouldn't have mattered if the man had been able to kidnap any of the children as, with their actual bodies being safe in the real world, the plan was doomed to fail from the start. All they managed to accomplish was revealing their intentions, exposing their hypocrisy, and earning Vahn's ire. Afterward, the man managed to escape pursuit and, soon after that, Arcuied felt as if 'something' had left her Marble Phantasm. Since the unnamed Saber disappeared shortly thereafter, it was safe to assume he managed to flee through unknown means.Needless to say, Vahn wasn't at all enthused by the fact his enemies had proactively tried to take hostages. He was even less pleased by the fact they had someone that could evade almost all forms of detection, implying they had been using this Assassin to gather information. Even this wasn't a certainty, however, as it didn't make a lot of sense for the Assassin to idle for nearly three months without taking more proactive action. This implied the Assassin was a recent addition to the enemy's roster or, at the very least, they had been keeping him concealed to take advantage of a blind spot within the Empire's observation network...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Better than a blockbuster movie','I feel bad for Sophia xD...','Yu Ilhan, is that you!?')(A/N: While it may seem a little ridiculous, [Presence Concealment] actually works similar to how I explained it. Assassins are actually meant to be a natural counterbalance within the World, a means to restore order. Many of the most powerful Assassins have a connection to the Counter Force and, the main reason they are unknown is that their existence is essentially erased after they become a Counter Guardian. Though anyone can commit murder, Assassination is actually something that fundamentally carries greater meaning, at least in the Nasuverse.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Unless he entered a dreamscape or proactively chose to dream, Vahn rarely experienced a dream outside of his control. Rather, the only times he truly fell unconscious was when he had suffered a serious injury or made a major breakthrough. Other times, he was always, at the very least, vaguely aware of everything in his surroundings. He could turn off his domain and take proactive measures to try and close off his perception, but, even if he was in a deep meditative state, he was never truly unaware of the world around him.Vahn wasn't even sure if he could actually dream normally anymore as, the few times when he was certain he had lost consciousness, he always ended up in the same place. There seemed to be a vast and endless expanse of nothingness sealed away inside of him but, at the center of everything, four of his closest companions patiently waited, each awaiting the moment he would call upon their aid. These were Báihǔ, Xuánwǔ, Zhūquè, and Qīnglóng, the Four Sacred Beasts that represented the four cardinal directions and the myriad of elemental Laws that governed all of creation.With the passage of time, the emptiness within Vahn had gradually given way to an expanse that, in many ways, represented his domain. Though it took on a form similar to a star if viewed from the outside, the inside was filled with a gentle warmth that brought Vahn feelings of both serenity and an overwhelming, seemingly absolute, power. This was reflected in how the four majestic creatures, each possessing incomprehensible power, readily bowed their heads.Compared to his past visits, Vahn now found his little realm to be filled with resplendent golden light and, while the massive trigram still existed, it was now set in highly polished black stone. Seeing the trigram glowing with golden light wasn't what stood out the most, however, as, spreading out into the distance, a vast meadow of emerald-green grass now dominated the previously empty space. At the same time, Báihǔ, Xuánwǔ, Zhūquè, and Qīnglóng seemed exponentially smaller, to the point he could now see over their heads as he looked around and silently observed the changes to his inner world.Even without being told what had changed, Vahn had already formed an understanding of how his [Rakshasa Body] had been developing. Having his own version of the Four Sacred Beasts had made it pretty obvious and, though there were undoubtedly variations, it was pretty clear he represented the 'center' since the start. This implied that his fifth transformation was actually a physical manifestation of the power and authority he wielded as Huánglóng, the Dragon God of the Center.Huánglóng was, in many Records, a primordial deity that represented the birth of creation and the changing of the seasons. Its domains were those of Space, Time, and Creation, things he had always been drawn to, almost instinctually. Even his Zenith Rank Quest, [Genesis Path: Dawn of Creation], required him to obtain mastery in these three Laws, almost as if The Path had granted him the Quest in order to foster the development of his [Rakshasa Body].Vahn knew he didn't put as much effort into mastering his Innates as he ought to, but, with so many things he cared about vying for his attention, this was the price of happiness. If he turned his back to everything else and pursued power, there was no doubt in his mind that he would be able to obtain a monstrous amount of power in a very short period of time. After all, he had anticipated having to stay in the Nasuverse for more than a hundred years to reach Tier 5 yet, after a little more than three years, he was already beginning to feel like it was within his grasp...While the Gods and Deities within Records were stuck at their level for an eternity, he was able to grow without limit, facing no bottlenecks along the way. He was, quite literally, The Path itself and, as a result of his will, Vahn realized he had slowly come to represent 'change' itself. His existence within a Record allowed for infinite possibilities within previously stagnant worlds, places where the past, present, and future had already been determined. He was the only person within an infinite number of Records that could bring about real change, as, while it was possible to rewrite a story to have a different ending, that would simply produce another Record, one of countless like it...From the moment he entered a Record, it's fate had been irreversibly changed and, while there were a myriad of potential futures, they would all inevitably fall in line, becoming a singular path that was entirely decided by him. Even if he did nothing, his existence itself funneled countless timelines into a singular flow, bringing order to chaos. He was an 'absolute truth' within the Record from the time he decided to enter and, as his comprehension increased, the Laws themselves, much like the Four Sacred Beasts, would bow to him...By the time Vahn's small bout of enlightenment came to an end, he realized that Báihǔ, Xuánwǔ, Zhūquè, and Qīnglóng no longer even reached his knees. They now looked small and, at least in his eyes, somewhat cute. Then, as if in observance of this 'truth', they actually became more adorable, looking much like the baby versions of the animals they represented. This brought a smile to Vahn's face and, after taking a seat, he allowed Báihǔ to sit in his lap while the other three coiled around or nestled up against his body...---When Vahn opened his eyes, he noticed that the world now seemed more vibrant than before he had fallen unconscious. He had always been able to perceive elemental energy and, if he focused, he could use his [Eyes of Truth] to decipher the secrets of some Laws. Now, however, it felt like he could see much more and, while it had always been visible around people like Artoria, he now saw the flow of fate, not just for people, but for everything. The only exception to this was himself but, with every single breath he drew, every flicker of his eyelashes, and every beating of his heart, the flow of fate in the surroundings was altered.Though his power in his base form didn't seem to change all that much, Vahn felt his previous power was inconsequential in the face of his shift in perspective. People rarely thought about their influence on the world around them, but, after his battle with Musashi, Vahn felt it wasn't him reacting to the changes in the world. Rather, the world itself was being shaped by his every action, no matter how big or small.With this in mind, Vahn combed through the hair of the girl pretending to sleep at his side, watching as the flow of fate, previously imperceptible, changed with each caress. At the same time, Fenrir's tail began to lightly tap against the top of the bed and, while not nearly as much as his own, Vahn could see her influence on fate. Her fate seemed intrinsically tied to him, something he had always known, but, now, Vahn could feel the changes inside of her with each action he took...After a few minutes of enjoying her Master's caress, Fenrir grabbed his hand, hugging it to her chest as she asked, "Are you feeling better? Nobody will blame you if you decide to sleep longer..."Vahn couldn't help but smile in response to Fenrir's words, but, as he prepared his reply, the words got stuck in his throat as something incredulous happened. He could feel the flow of fate around them begin to shift, becoming various different 'currents'. If he focused on any individual current, it would slowly become more prominent and, after a few seconds passed, at least from his perspective, he could even see images of what he could only assume to be the future...Feeling something wrong with her Master, Fenrir showed a worried expression before forcing him to lay back as she said, "Please, rest...you have been through a lot. You don't have to push yourself all the time, Master..."Following Fenrir's words, Vahn noticed that most of the currents vanished, giving way for an entirely new set. At the very center of these, like the main flow of a river, he saw a vision of himself and Fenrir just relaxing in his chambers for several hours. If he followed this flow long enough, however, it, too, began to split, some scenes showing him and Fenrir having sex while others showed different people showing up to check in on him.Realizing he hadn't simply gained the ability to see the flow of fate, Vahn felt both worried and, as could be expected, excited. He knew it would take a considerable amount of time to understand how to best use this power, but, for the time being, the concerns of his ever-faithful subordinate were far more important. If he were being honest, Vahn didn't want to know the consequences of his future actions as, if he began focusing on the future more than the present, he would be contradicting the very principals he stood for.Though it was safe to assume that his version of foresight was more accurate than others, as it was based directly on his choices, Vahn ultimately decided it was better to just live in the moment. While the ability would undoubtedly prove useful in the future, especially when it came to tracking down his hidden enemies, that was a matter for then, not now. Thus, in an effort to allay Fenrir's concerns, Vahn hugged her body tightly, rubbing his cheek against the top of her head. Words were almost unnecessary between them so, even without him explaining his intentions, Fenrir released a sigh of relief before reciprocating his affectionate nuzzling...---Even before Vahn had awakened, his slumber had been closely observed by a number of different people. First and foremost among this group was Alaya, but, after sheepishly trying, and failing, to probe his mind, she ultimately retreated a fair distance. Even the brief contact she made with his subconscious mind gave off a dangerous feeling so, in the hopes of avoiding Vahn's ire, Alaya made the decision to give him privacy. She also began preparing her first sincere apology as, when Vahn recovered, there was no way he wouldn't bring up the fact she tried to pry into his mind...Having witnessed Alaya's failed attempt, Merlin knew better than to make one of his own as, even if Vahn was in a deep state of unconsciousness, he knew there was 'something' protecting him. Thus, while Vahn slept, Merlin observed the strange flow of energy around him. It was unlike anything he had ever seen, almost like a whirlpool that sucked in everything around it yet, in spite of this quality, it didn't actually alter anything in the surroundings. Fenrir was even able to lay at Vahn's side for the entire fifteen hours he was unconscious, completely unaffected by this strange phenomenon.All Merlin could be certain of was the fact that, while he slept, Vahn, despite appearing in a tangible form that could be interacted with, temporarily ceased to exist. Though he still had a physical form, it was like an infinitely more advanced version of the technique Merlin himself used to manifest on the Surface. It was like Vahn had become completely separate from the rest of the World and, if not for this paradoxical state, the strange whirlpool would have undoubtedly destroyed everything around him.Though he didn't actually exist on the Surface, Merlin couldn't shake the thought that even he would be consumed if he ventured too close to the phenomenon generated by Vahn. It was for this reason he had everyone but Fenrir stay away as, much like Medusa, she seemed to be an extension of Vahn himself. Merlin wasn't entirely sure how this worked but, despite the fact they appeared to be unique and individual existences, Fenrir and Medusa gave off the same 'feeling' as Vahn. Not only was the energy in their body identical, but, on a fundamental level, they seemed to originate from the same source...Vahn himself...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'God of the Center','Vahn can now, quite literally, see the paths available to him...','Fenrir and Master are one, always and forever (O,....,O)!!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though Vahn's presence was overwhelming, Musashi wouldn't be considered one of the greatest swordsmen in history if she was helpless in the face of her opponent. In fact, she held a secret close to her heart, one unbeknownst to any of her allies, Archimedes included. Thus, in response to Vahn's words, she forced a smile, her lips curling against his palm as her aura erupted outward, bringing an absolute and inviolable void of darkness along with it.With renewed vigor, Musashi kicked against Vahn's chest, not to do any damage but to use it as a substitute for solid ground. The aura radiating from his body gave her a feeling of weightlessness so, after using his vice-like grip as leverage, Musashi drew her Wakizashi, holding it in a reverse grip to cut through his arm. The collision between her blade and his golden scales caused a high-pitched whine, accompanied by a shower of sparks, but, as had been the case throughout her life, Musashi was ultimately able to cut through it.Using Vahn's chest as a pivot, Musashi kicked away from him, but, in spite of her best efforts, his hand continued to grip around her face. More surprising was the fact that, instead of regenerating his arm, the larger section of Vahn's body disappeared into golden particles before he regenerated at the end of his severed arm...Musashi's ability to cut off his arm didn't actually surprise Vahn. Rather, his recognition of her Skill seemed to be what allowed her to harm him. His instincts told him that, if he didn't acknowledge her power, it would be absolutely useless against him. At the same time, however, he felt compelled to acknowledge her skill as, while they didn't see eye-to-eye, Musashi was a commendable swordsman. If he denied her accomplishments for wholly selfish reasons, Vahn felt he would lose something very precious...something he would never be able to regain once discarded...After tightening his grip enough to cause Musashi to release a muffled groan, Vahn balled his right hand into a fist, forcibly repelling away the void she was desperately trying to expand. It was like she was trying to overwrite the concept of 'Infinite Possibility', replacing it with the concept of 'Oblivion' and 'Nothingness'. However, as he had explained previously, existence itself was something sought after by forces far beyond both of them. If given a choice between existing and returning to oblivion, all things, including the Laws themselves, would choose to exist. Unless Musashi was to comprehend the erasure of her own existence, the concept of Nothingness she embodied would never reach its full potential...With his own influence growing stronger with each moment, Vahn was able to impose his own rule over the strange realm they had found themselves in. Much like how Musashi had been able to rob him of the ability to move, as space and time themselves had lost their meaning, his movements had become increasingly smooth. At the same time, Musashi seemed to be slowing down and, though it was still impossible to trace the trajectory and motion of her blade, Vahn felt he was on the cusp of being able to see it.Since there was little she could do to loosen his grip, Vahn eventually reached a point where his control over the concepts around them reached the point where he was finally able to act. This was proven when, in the next moment, his fist had already struck Musashi's abdomen. Though she didn't seem to take much damage, a golden shockwave erupted out from her back, destroying a large part of the concept of Nothingness surrounding her body.Though she hadn't given up, Musashi's movements had slowed to the point that, even after Vahn pulled back his hand, her body remained in the position it had been when he struck. The blade of her katana, which had previously been invisible to him, now appeared to be moving in slow motion. Curiously, he was still unable to dodge the strike but this was primarily due to the fact that his own movements were still stagnant. The fact remained that, unlike before, he could now see her attacks, something that brought a slight smile to his face.Knowing she would be able to hear his words, as 'intent' seemed to be perfectly conveyed within the realm they inhabited, Vahn loosened his grip on Musashi's face, saying, "You genuinely believe what I am doing is wrong. Even I cannot profess that my decision was the correct choice, so, from the very beginning, I accepted others would see me as a villain. However, there are many who also see me as a hero, one paving the way toward a better future, not specifically for humans, but all races. I want to save everyone but, no matter how much power I possess, it will never be enough in the face of fate and free will. The best I can do is bear the burden of my sins in the hope that, one day, things will be better than they are now. Though I may be severing countless futures, I am also building a stronger foundation, one that quantitatively increases the chance for success and happiness, not just for the citizens of the Empire, but, everyone that will be born in the future...!"Borrowing a page out of Musashi's book, Vahn ended his statement by grabbing her outstretched leg and, despite the lack of solid ground beneath them, he easily hefted her body with one hand before slamming it down. The predominately gold realm around them immediately collapsed as a result and, in the next moment, time had began to flow normally as Musashi lay beaten and broken within a large crater.Feeling a phenomenal amount of fatigue, Vahn was momentarily tempted to just leave Musashi to someone else but, before he could even consider who was most suitable, his world spontaneously split in two. This caused his mind to dull slightly and, as his transformation had already been on its last vestiges, a plume of golden light erupted from Vahn's body as the scales covering him vanished. He couldn't help but internally curse Musashi's resilience but, at the same time, Vahn found himself respecting her tenacity quite a bit...Though most of her bones were broken, her consciousness long gone, Musashi was still able to rise to her feet, blood dripping from various wounds. Her beauty hadn't faded in the slightest, but, due to her injuries, she almost looked like a living corpse. The most troubling part was, while she didn't seem capable of walking more than a few steps, Musashi's sword strikes were just as swift as before. She also stopped holding back so, even though he had already been cut into several hundred pieces, Vahn wasn't even given time to reform as her swords moved like a tempest, cutting him into smaller and smaller pieces...Feeling as if resistance was futile at this point, Vahn just went with the flow of her attacks, focusing his mind on preserving his Ego while sending a mental command to Da Vinci and, in turn, Arcueid. In the next moment, Musashi's attacks suddenly came to a stop and, much like Olivia, her body began to flake away into motes of bluish-white light. This left only a cloud of reddish-black mist within the massive crater that had been formed from her collision with Vahn...With the humanoid blender gone, the mist began to slowly coalesce into a humanoid figure, taking nearly twenty minutes before it became solid. By the time Vahn managed to reform his body, Artoria and the rest had gathered around him, each having won their own battles without too much trouble.Even after becoming solid once again, Vahn could hardly move even a single finger as, if he stopped focusing on keeping himself together, he would quickly 'melt' into a gooey black mess. Despite this, Vahn forced a smile onto his face as, in more ways than one, this had been their complete victory. It didn't matter how much damage Musashi had done to his spirit as, during their battle, his [Rakshasa Body] had made a remarkable breakthrough, reaching S-Rank. If anything, he actually 'needed' to fall asleep as, only after he lost consciousness would he be able to receive the full benefits of this pivotal breakthrough.Unfortunately, there were still matters to attend so, while it took a considerable amount of effort, he began to telepathically question Artoria about the details of their operation. They had invested a lot of time and effort into baiting this trap, so, if Musashi and the others ended up being fake, just like Betty, Vahn wouldn't be able to rest until he personally checked every single Bounded Field on the Surface...Fortunately, in response to his inquiry, Artoria smiled as she explained, "Lady Arcueid's efforts hadn't been for naught. Due to her influence, only one of the enemies seemed to realize they had entered into a Spiritual Projection. He managed to escape before we could track down his real body but the recovery of Musashi and Caenis proceeded without issue. As for the 'other' woman, we believe she was reverse-summoned through the use of a Command Spell."Hearing Artoria's response, Vahn felt considerable relief but, at the same time, he couldn't help but feel confused. This seemed to be visible on his face as, following her explanation, Artoria added, "Da Vinci said she will need some time to collect more data but, from what she can tell, Musashi and the Greecian woman named Caenis aren't Heroic Spirits. Instead, they seem to be closer to Divine Spirits that have fused together with Heroic Spirits."Though it was difficult to believe, Vahn didn't question Artoria's words as, with the prognosis coming from Da Vinci, it was likely very close to the truth. This also explained why Musashi ended up being a female, in spite of the fact that both Merlin and Alaya had claimed her to be male. He had confirmed this through the Throne of Heroes as well so, while the Musashi he had fought was undoubtedly the real deal, there was obviously something 'different' about her...---While Vahn was taking a considerable amount of time to recover, the woman in question opened her eyes back in the real world. She felt incredibly fatigued and, due to the strain on her Spirit, it felt like her brain was going to split open. As a result, Musashi tried to rub her temples but, before she could even move a single millimeter, an inviolable pressure prevented her from moving...Before Musashi could make sense of her situation, a woman with maroon-brown hair and the most perfect facial features she had ever seen entered her vision. This had been necessary as, due to the force restraining her body, Musashi couldn't even turn her head. Even flexing her jaw was difficult as any muscle movement at all caused an oppressive pressure to resist the action.It was only after a few seconds passed that Musashi realized she was suspended in clear fluid as, with an apologetic smile on her face, the beauty before her placed her palm against the virtually invisible glass pane separating them, explaining, "My name is Leonardo Da Vinci. You are currently suspended in a chamber that fixes your Spiritron makeup to a specific rhythm. It perfectly simulates any and all bodily functions so, while it may seem like you are breathing, it is actually the simulation driving your lungs to intake and expel the neutral ether solution surrounding you. Unless it is simulated, you will find it all but impossible to take any action, even blinking your eyes..."Musashi couldn't help but feel shaken by Da Vinci's words but, as it wasn't stimulated by the system, her expression was completely neutral. Despite this, Da Vinci could ascertain her stressed state due to the implants showing the electrical signals firing within Musashi's brain. Her true nature might be that of a Divine Spirit, but, much like a Daemon, Musashi was bound by the vessel she had chosen to emulate.In an effort to allay Musashi's concerns, Da Vinci adopted a comforting smile as she explained, "Do not worry. We have no intention of keeping you imprisoned here. Vahn isn't very fond of restraining people against their will so, once he had awakened, you will be liberated from this chamber. I believe you are the most aware of how dangerous you can be, so, at least for the time being, please remain calm and, as much as possible, try to relax. While you may not be able to move of your own accord, this solution is providing nourishment for your body while also helping to replenish your mental and spiritual energy. If you'd like, I can help you relax, but, you'll have to trust that I'm not trying to harm you..."Though there were few things more terrifying than being a prisoner in your own body, Musashi felt no animosity from Da Vinci. Thus, despite not trusting her in the slightest, Musashi forced herself to remain calm. Everything from her breathing to the twitching of her fingers and toes was outside of her control so, rather than stress out over something she could do very little about, she decided to take Da Vinci's advice and just relax....at least until the situation changed...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Possibility vs. Nothingness','The combination of Arcueid, Da Vinci, and Merlin has culminated into something terrifying...','I would not be able to remain calm in this situation...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1416: Revelations