Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though it didn't strictly follow his training with his Shishou, Vahn was doing his best to help each of the children slowly break through their limits. As a result, part of his evening schedule, the part that had been dedicated to completing Scáthach's challenges, had now been dedicated to spending time with, and training, Mordred, Sakura, Zoë, Astrid, Gareth, Scáthach, and, due to the circumstances of the former, Ciel.Now that he was in charge of training, Vahn's sessions often brought a lot of curious observers and a few temporary students, but, as he took his duties very seriously, most only lingered for a short while before wandering off to deal with other matters. They didn't want to get in the way of children's time with Vahn, and, though Ciel, Gareth, and even Scáthach didn't qualify as children, their circumstances made them exceptions.Currently, Vahn was watching attentively as each of his students, their power restricted by a series of magical or physical seals, pulled statues depicting themselves in triumphant poses. These were much lighter than the variant he had used during his training, but, taking their age and current physical development into account, it would be unrealistic to expect them to pull upwards of 2,000,000kg as children.Ultimately, it was the Parameters of each person that decided how much weight they were intended to pull, as, while it varied based on factors like Race, Skill, and Innates, each Parameter provided a quantifiable increase in attribute they modified. Thus, if two humans had 20D Strength, they would be able to lift and move the exact same amount of weight if all other factors were equal. If there was any difference at all, this could be attributed to their Skills, Innates, or pure, undiluted, Willpower...With her Strength being the highest, at 39B+, Mordred's statue, showing her posing with her sword planted in the ground and a confident smile on her face, was nearly twice as heavy as everyone else in her group. Despite this, she had a resolute grin as her muscles strained enough to be outlined in her form-fitting attire, showing off both her desire to become stronger and her athletic figure. She had pulled out several meters ahead of the rest of the pack, and, with the passage of time, each of the seals designed to weaken her became less effective.The penultimate point of this kind of training wasn't to help the children increase their Strength, but, ultimately, it taught them that limitations, both mental and physical, could be overcome. Mordred's experience with the [Ouroborous Seal] gave her a fair amount of resistance to magical restraints, so, as could be expected, she was able to distinguish herself from her peers. Her only real competition was Scáthach and Gareth, but, for a variety of reasons, it wasn't actually fair to compare them.Scáthach actually needed to be sealed by an Artifact on the level of [Enkidu] just to be restrained like the rest, and, while her Parameters hadn't increased much since her summoning, Gareth had an edge against everyone else since she had been apprenticed to him for a longer period of time. Her mind had basically been 'reprogrammed' to ignore the existence of limits entirely, so, at times, she could even outshine Mordred when it wasn't a direct contest of strength.Fortunately, while the former Heroic Spirits certainly set themselves apart from the crowd, it wasn't as if the other children were falling far behind. Sakura and Mash, in particular, had been breaking through their limits with each passing day, setting an example for the other children to follow. This was important, as, while it was inarguably better to break through your limits without having others to compare yourself to, having rivals made the process infinitely more enjoyable...After pulling her statue the requisite 500m, Mordred wasted no time in abandoning her post, making a beeline directly toward Vahn. She still had several seals restricting her joint movement and magical energy, but, as if they meant nothing to her, she leaped through the air, covering nearly a hundred meters as she shouted, "Chichiue, I'm finished~!" in a happy tone of voice.Vahn was already used to Mordred's antics, but, as it would set dangerous precedence if he just let her do whatever she pleased, he extended his hand, locking her into place using his domain. Despite this, Mordred just snickered in her characteristic 'shishishi' manner before creating a foothold in the air and attempting to cover the remaining distance. This had become something of a 'game', not just between him and Mordred, but all of the children. If they were able to reach him directly, he would provide an ample reward, and, so long as it was 'tame', he would even acquiesce to a single request.Despite the promise of greater rewards, none of the children, including Mordred and Scáthach, had been able to approach without his permission. Though they would be able to reach him pretty easily if their restraints were removed, Vahn had become increasingly proficient in controlling both Space and Time after his awakening. He had even made a startling amount of progress toward achieving a Divinity in both, reaching 93% in Space and 87% in Time after three weeks in the Projection, and, in preparation for what was to come, a few months within Azathoth's dimension.The only thing Vahn was mildly annoyed with was that his progress in Creation fluctuated between 98 and 99%, despite the fact he had even attempted to replicate the creation process of Jade, the tiny white lotus he had developed back in the Record of Danmachi. He could recall the process with absolute clarity, yet, in spite of spending a considerable amount of time attempting to create a new form of life, it didn't give the same 'feeling' as when he produced Jade...Though Vahn's mind had wandered slightly, Mordred was unable to penetrate within a meter of his body. It was almost like an invisible wall blocked her passage as, after getting this far, she could even press against empty Space, similar to someone pressing their face and body against a window. This continued for several minutes straight before she ultimately gave up, allowing the invisible force to repel her backward a few meters, a smile on her face as she mused, "I'll be able to reach you one of these days, just you wait...!"Hearing his tomboyish daughter's remark, Vahn lightly chuckled before reversing the direction of energy within his domain, pulling her closer to him. He then planted his hand on her head, ruffling her golden hair as he retorted, "I have no doubt about that at all, Mordred. For now, however, I'll be forging the path ahead...hahaha-oof...!"Though he had 'seen' it coming, Vahn still ended up getting the wind forced out of his lungs when Mordred suddenly gave him a tight bear hug, whispering, "Just don't go somewhere I can't reach..." in an uncharacteristically solemn tone. In response to this, he just silently hugged her head to his chest, stroking her hair in a calming gesture. He knew she was worried about the recent changes in his behavior, much like every resident within Avalon, but, as he had already decided not to run away anymore, Vahn wouldn't be abandoning her, or anyone else, ever again.Unfortunately, as his plan couldn't be exposed to Akasha and her superiors, he was unable to convey things in a way that put the girls at ease. From their perspective, his rapid increase in power and the subtle shift in his behavior were red flags, but, when it came down to it, he hadn't really changed all that much. Though he could now see the Flow of Fate and had a much better understanding of his influence on the world around him, it didn't change the person he was, He was just behaving in a more responsible manner now, a stark contrast to the whimsy and worry he was known for in the past...To ease Mordred's concerns, Vahn allowed her to sit in his lap, leaning against her back as they watched everyone else finish up their training. She was the type that enjoyed physical contact and the feeling of security it brought, so, if he could serve as a shelter for her heart and spirit, Vahn didn't mind playing the part he had been given. Mordred was working hard to reach godhood through her own efforts so she deserved a reward every now and then. Though this didn't last too long, as it only took a few minutes for Scáthach and Gareth to finish their sets, it was enough to keep her motivated for more strenuous training.With Mordred vacating his lap, Vahn rose to his feet and, while it always filled him with a sense of incongruity, he dutifully pat both Gareth's and Scáthach's heads after the two young women tried, and failed, to penetrate the solidified Space around him. Then, after removing the golden bindings that had been retraining Scáthach's power, Vahn watched as she and Mordred began their usual sparring session while Gareth happily sat at his side.Though a considerable amount of time had passed, at least from his perspective, Vahn still felt it would take a long time before he was used to the new Scáthach. The way she eagerly tried to fit in with the others, combined with the fact she was often smiling, were things he should be grateful for. Despite this, he was always filled with a sense of melancholy, and, understanding this was derived from his selfishness, an even stronger feeling of guilt.Since there was little he could do to affect Scáthach's original decision, Vahn knew he should be doing everything in his power to make her current self happy. She worked really hard to listen to his commands, and, despite everyone behaving awkwardly around her, she did her best not to let it get to her. Though she would occasionally spend some time with Spenta, further strengthening the guilt in his heart, the current Scáthach was doing her best to live her life to the fullest.Vahn kept telling himself to move on, but, no matter how often he repeated the words, the feelings he had bottled up would sneak up on him every time he remembered his failure to save his Shishou. Even if she didn't blame him, he couldn't help but feel there was more he could have done. He also remembered the overwhelming aura of sadness present around her Memory Fragment and the fact he had readily turned his back on her. In hindsight, this had been a rather heartless thing to do, and, if he had the opportunity, Vahn would have liked to apologize to her...While these thoughts plagued his mind, Vahn watched the sparring session between Mordred and Scáthach with a casual smile on his face. It was obvious from the smiles on their faces that they both enjoyed the thrill of battle, and, though Mordred would grimace every time she was sent tumbling backward, she never gave up, bounding back with progressively greater force. As for Scáthach, she had a look of excitement on her face, but, every now and then, she would look over, locking eyes with him a look that sought praise and approval.Even if he wasn't quite at the point where he truly meant it, Vahn would always smile and nod a little whenever their gazes crossed. This caused Scáthach's expression and aura to both brighten, but, with Mordred perfectly aware of what was going on, stirring her jealously slightly, the two would soon be locked in an intense battle, each trying to show off. Vahn didn't entirely approve of this, but, so long as they showed proper sportsmanship after the fact, he didn't mind if they got a little out of hand in their efforts to earn his praise. Both girls had unreasonably high expectations for him, in their own unique ways, so this was just another one of his responsibilities...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Breaking through the limit','Mental Bottleneck','The future comes, whether or not you are ready to accept it')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Though helping the children become stronger was important, Vahn invested an equal amount of time towards increasing his own strength. A time would come when he allowed the under his charge to move and act freely, but, until such peaceful times were upon them, he needed to take it upon himself to act as the vanguard against their enemies. This was one of his most important duties, and, while there were various operations going on without any involvement on his part, that didn't mean he could afford to become complacent.With less than four hours left before the deadline he had decided for the Heroes, Vahn was doing his best to push his power and comprehension to greater heights. Fortunately, there were still a number of people within the Empire who, to an extent, were stronger than him. Though he would be able to defeat most of them, assuming he went all out, their base strength and capabilities far exceeded his own, often to a ridiculous extent.Vahn's greatest strength, other than the fact he was the living manifestation of The Path, was that he rapidly improved in the middle of combat, and, to some extent, he had virtually limitless options for both attack and defense. Most entities, including Tier 5s, specialized in very specific abilities, so, with a concerted effort, it was possible to control, seal, or even kill them. Even Gaia, the planet itself, had been defeated by her own creations, entities that were, in some regards, infinitely weaker than her.The Tier System was not an absolute representation of power, but, depending on the circumstances, it was more of a metric that denoted a person's potential. While there would certain times within a Records history where a Tier 5 could be without equal, they weren't guaranteed to be the strongest from the start. The various Protagonists within a Record were the perfect example of this, as, despite being relatively weak at the beginning of their respective plots, they could even rise above the Gods if their Fate allowed.Vahn intended to learn more about Fate in the future, as he seemed to have a certain affinity for it, but, for the time being, his personal power took precedence. To this end, he found his gaze locked with a pair of wine-red eyes with uncharacteristically white pupils. This was none other than Altera, but, instead of wielding her devastatingly powerful [Photon Ray], the tri-colored sword of light that freely controlled the elements of water, fire, and wind, she was wielding a scarlet-red claymore that was covered in various runes.Though Altera's [Photon Ray] wasn't enough to take him out of commission, it caused indiscriminate damage to her surroundings, and, at times like this, her allies. Thus, for the purpose of their training, Altera was given a replacement armament, while, circling behind him, Okita wielded her [Purgatory] as the two worked together to subdue him.With the loss of his Shishou, Vahn had few suitable training partners, so, in an attempt to shatter his limits, while simultaneously teaching Altera to control his power, he ended up facing against the two pale-haired, dark-skinned, borderline emotionless women. They were the only ones who could easily emulate the ruthlessness of real enemies, and, while he couldn't go all-out against them, Vahn felt as if his combat prowess greatly increased during their exchanges...Without any discernible hesitation in her eyes, Altera waved around the massive claymore in her hand as if it was lighter than a feather. Though there was no actual wind present within the field they were fighting in, her hair gracefully flowed in a way that never obstructed her movements. This gave her an ethereal quality, but, if you let yourself be distracted by her veil-like hair, it wouldn't even take seconds before you found yourself on the receiving end of her blade...The moment Vahn believed Altera was about to charge him, he felt a small ripple within the void, not in the present, but within the various currents flowing around him. As a result, he was able to use his [Laevateinn] to deflect Okita's flanking blow. Then, before he could even motion for a counter, Altera had already reached him, her blade aiming for the center of his chest.With his arm spontaneously erupting in a shower of golden light and scales, Vahn managed to grasp the blade with his bare hand. At the same time, he kicked out with his left foot, sinking it into Altera's lithe frame and causing her to bow backward before being launched like a cannonball into the thick stone pillars decorating the training field. Then, before Okita could bisect him with her sword, Vahn's body flickered for a brief moment, a golden pillar of light shooting out from his back as a large wing bat Okita away before instantaneously disappearing.Though he still had a long way to go, Vahn had been working on seamlessly transitioning between his base and Huánglóng state. He had lost the ability to use his other forms ever since gaining this penultimate transformation, so, while it was taxing on his reserves, he was doing everything in his power to try and master it. Fortunately, it had the versatility of his other four forms combined, so, while it would take some time, Vahn knew it wouldn't be long before people began referring to him as the Golden Dragon Emperor in the future...From within the rubble created by their respective crashes, both Altera and Okita appeared without any visible injuries on their bodies. Though Okita wasn't particularly tough, possessing only C-Rank Endurance, her affinity with Light and her connection to the Counter Force allowed her to mitigate and recover from most damage in a short period of time. As for Altera...she was a bit of a monster, in more ways than one, so, unless her body was completely annihilated, an impossible feat due to the indestructibility of her core, she would quickly revert to her natural state.It was their ability to recover, combined with their S-Tier capabilities, that gave Vahn the confidence to train with Altera and Okita. The only others who could reasonably trade blows with him were Illya, Arcueid, and Artoria, but, for various reasons, Vahn tried to avoid seriously battling against them. He made an exception for Artoria, as she would often come to him for her own training, but, no matter how much he forced himself, striking Arcueid and Illya just made him feel uncomfortable...Despite his apparent distraction, Vahn was able to flicker away from a massive wave of destructive energy, provided courtesy of Altera, without any discernible difficulty. Then, with two [Lævateinn]s in hand, he received the blows of both women as they appeared like phantoms at his flanks. His feet sunk into the ground, causing large spiderweb cracks to radiate outward, but, without showing any discomfort on his face, Vahn parried the two blows before stowing away his battle-hungry swords.One of Vahn's major advantages against the two girls was that, in spite of their skill with the sword, they only had B-Rank Strength. His own had broken through quantifiable limits during his training, so, with EX-Rank Strength at his disposal, Vahn was able to deflect their blows in spite of the ocean of magical energy they forced into their blades. Though his body was still burdened by the chaotic energy swirling that attempted to tear him asunder, courtesy of Altera, this was nothing compared to the destructive capabilities of his own attacks, something his body could shoulder without much difficulty.With his palms facing outward, Vahn sent a wave of energy crashing into the two girls, this time with enough force to send them flying several hundred meters in an instant. Then, before they could get too worked up, he shook his hands a few times to rid them of the numbness still present within as he said, "That's enough for today. Thank you both for your assistance..."Almost immediately after Vahn's words fell, Altera and Okita appeared at his side, the latter looking a bit worse for wear, but, after a few seconds, only her clothes showed any signs of the damage she had accrued during their battle. Fortunately, Da Vinci had made considerable breakthroughs in her [REquip] system, so, combined with the fact his Memory Fragment further enchanted each of their outfits, it wouldn't take long for even Okita's appearance to return to normal. This was important for women like Okita, as, due to her nature, she had a tendency to care very little about the state of her clothes, especially in a battle.Though he was largely immune to such things, Vahn still had to suppress a sigh when he saw Okita's left breast exposed, her expression showing complete disregard for things like shame and propriety. Several people had tried to teach her these things in the past, but, despite their efforts, Okita would generally follow their explanations by simply asking why it mattered. She didn't care if she was seen naked, and, since she was only ever exposed around people she had seen naked countless times, she didn't understand their discomfort.In a last-ditch attempt to address Okita's lack of sensibilities, the girls ended up asking her rhetorical questions about how she would feel if men other than Vahn saw her nude figure. This hadn't ended well, however, as Okita took their words a little too seriously, to the point of even drawing her sword when Galahad greeted her in passing. If not for the fact she had been with Jeanne and Gareth at the time, things likely wouldn't have gone well for the unsuspecting Knight, despite the fact he hadn't actually done anything wrong...Since it would take a few minutes for Okita's clothes to repair themselves, Vahn ultimately decided not to mind the matter. Instead, he extended his hands and began to stroke the heads of both girls, asking, "How is it, fighting without activating your Noble Phantasms? Do you feel as though you're making any progress...?"As neither girl seemed to understand the concept of being roundabout or dishonest, both readily explained their feelings about the training, starting with Okita stating, "It makes me uncomfortable, pointing my blade at you. I try to ignore my apprehensions, but, at the moment when I'm going to strike, I feel hesitant..."Despite the fact she didn't show any discernible hesitation during their sparring session, Vahn wasn't surprised by Okita's words. She was fiercely loyal, to the point of being directly comparable to girls like Fenrir, Jeanne, and Gray. From the moment he had summoned her, she had assigned him as the central aspect of her own existence, so, despite agreeing to become his training partner, Okita would always have some apprehension about actually harming him.Having slowly come to accept the way Okita viewed him, Vahn could understand her difficulties, so, in order to allay her concerns, he transitioned his hand from the top of her head to her cheek, gently caressing her soft brown skin as he said, "You're one of the few I can rely on for this, Okita. I know it is difficult for you, but, in much the same way, I find it difficult to strike you. The thing that allows me to do so is the knowledge that, through our efforts, we will both become much stronger..."Though she still lacked the ability to properly express herself, Okita leaned into his palm, her eyes closed with to reflect that she enjoyed his caress. Then, in response to his words, she muttered, "I will continue doing my best..." before opening her silvery eyes and staring up at him silently. This caused Vahn's heart to palpitate a few times, not solely due to Okita's beauty but the knowledge that, with a few words, the woman before him would do anything for him.'Fortunately', Altera was in attendance, so, before Vahn could get swept away by the peculiar current, her monotone voice brought him to his senses as she plainly stated, "I do not like this sword. It feels like it will break every time I swing it around. Next time, I want to use one of Master's swords..."Following her statement, Altera swung the scarlet-red claymore with a bit of force, hitting against the void as if it was a solid object. As a result, the blade fractured into tiny pieces, leaving only the handle and guard for her to hold up as if to say, 'You see?', with an accusatory glimmer in her eyes.Vahn knew Altera had sneakily mixed her Destruction Laws into the blade as she smashed it into the void, but, as it was only during moments like this when she expressed herself. Thus, with his hand still resting on her head, Vahn lightly chuckled before saying, "You'll have to ask for their permission first. If they allow you to wield them, I don't have any problem lending one of my [Lævateinn]s to you. Before that, however, you have to prove to me that you are capable of holding back properly. I know you may not see the point, but, I'd like for you to be able to spar against someone other than Artoria and myself..."As this wasn't the first time she had heard her Master repeat such words, Altera just replied with a curt, "I see..." before falling silent once again. She truly didn't understand her Master's desire to have her get along with others, but, seeing how he cared for his other weapons, Altera acknowledged that his intentions were sincere. It wasn't just him, either, as, from the moment she was summoned, many had been trying to teach her what it means to use her power in non-destructive ways, despite the fact she was still used to annihilate their enemies...With this thought running through her mind, Altera tilted her head to the side, surprising Vahn by asking, "Is there a point to a weapon that cannot destroy...? Will there come a time when my power is no longer necessary...?"Since Altera very rarely asked questions unless it was in response to an order she didn't understand, Vahn was momentarily taken aback. At the same time, however, he could feel the flow of fate around him increase in strength, almost like he would be swept up in the current. This made it seem like his next words would have a massive impact on the future, and, considering both the power and nature of the woman before him, this wasn't an exaggeration.Without sending his energy into her body for an extended period of time, Vahn was unable to see the path Altera would take, but, as he could still see his impact on the future, he had the option of following the currents and looking for a future where she seemed happiest. This ended up being a mistake, however, as, after latching onto one particular stream, Vahn found himself staring up at a giant humanoid with bluish-white skin, impossibly large hands, and eyes that blazed like the sun...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn has become OP...','Okita is a good girl','The future is full of surprises, and, in Vahn's case...spoilers...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Though she would normally embellish her tales quite a bit, Musashi knew it was neither the time nor the place to mess around. Thus, in order to avoid upsetting Alice, she gave a relatively brief summary of events before ending things by saying, "We underestimated the Emperor too much. Though I hate to admit it, I'm certain he held back during our fight. Though he doesn't seem to be the strongest in the Empire, he gives off the impression of someone without any limits. In our fight alone, I could tell he became much stronger...even the air around him had undergone a qualitative change..."Hearing Musashi's recounting, and subsequent opinion, Shirou couldn't help but release a tired sigh as he ran his hand through his pale-white hair and muttered, "I wonder what excuse Archimedes will give this time around...we never should have followed that man's plans. The moment we stop caring about the methods used, we lose the right to call ourselves Heroes...what a drag..."While he had ultimately been convinced callous and logical leader of their resistance, Shirou, and many others within the group, hadn't been comfortable with the methods he had proposed. In fact, the original plan involved more than half of them working in coordination with each other, but, as it became readily apparent this wouldn't work, Shirou had volunteered to get his hands dirty in lieu of his companions. Not only did he have the means to infiltrate undetected, but, in the grand scheme of things, he was more of an Anti-Hero than the True Hero he had strived to be in life, thus making him the most 'suitable' for the responsibility of bearing their group's sins...Seeing the dull look in Shirou's eyes, Musashi released a sigh of her own before crossing her arms and adding, "After this mission, I'm not even certain if what we're doing is the right thing any longer. While I don't believe his words outright, I get the feeling the Emperor's words weren't meant to be misleading. Based on how he has acted thus far, it is safe to say he is the type that faces challenges head-on...I'm not suggesting we just expose ourselves to him, but, if we continue to do things using Archimedes' methods...I don't think our group will last very long..."Though he had yet to meet with Vahn directly, Shirou trusted Musashi's judgment, so, while he had some personal grievances against the man, he nodded in understanding before stating, "A lot of us haven't been seeing eye-to-eye with Archimedes for some time. If not for his Authority, I imagine he would have already been killed off by a number of our would-be allies...unfortunately, we still need him...without his power, this fight would be impossible to win."Musashi didn't completely agree with Shirou, but, as she wasn't actually a Heroic Spirit, she didn't have the same 'programming' as the fourteen who had been summoned by Archimedes. She, like Caenis and a few others, had shifted backward in time alongside Archimedes while Shirou, and the rest of the actual Heroic Spirits, had only been summoned after reaching the current point in the Time Axis. Thus, she had a bit more freedom when it came to her way of thinking, but, unfortunately, the contract she had made prevented her from doing much about it.In response to Shirou's words, Musashi just shrugged her shoulders before looking into the distance where Berserker and Caenis had appeared. Her Empyrean Eyes reflected a peculiar glow even as the day gradually gave way to the veil of night, bringing with it an uncommon chill that normally came only later in the year. This was an ominous sign, and, despite feeling as though Vahn was no longer observing her, Musashi found this 'disinterest' even more terrifying. It was almost as if he didn't care what they did, almost as if he had seen through everything with his blazing golden eyes...With the arrival of Berserker and Caenis, the latter of which had a dour expression on her face when she saw Shirou, it was nearing time for their departure. Alice had already returned to the group after ringing the Shrine's bell, so, while waiting for the mass transportation spell to activate, Musashi gave the entire group a look before locking eyes with Shirou and saying, "I have a bad feeling...almost like something terrible is going to happen..."As Musashi's intuition was rarely, if ever, wrong, Shirou adopted a serious expression in response to her words, asking, "Do you think it has anything to do with the Empire tracking the two of you? Even if they have the means to fool our senses and scanners, the quarantine measures back at HQ should prevent all forms of tracing. Once we return, we should be able to lay low for a while before coming up with a method to deal a blow to the Empire..."Hearing Shirou's words, Musashi immediately shook her head, her own expression becoming more serious as she said, "We shouldn't keep targetting the Empire. Even if he is our enemy, I don't think the Emperor's words should be taken lightly. Our future plans should target him directly...this is what my intuition is telling me. The fact they aren't even trying to track us makes it seem as though Vahn already knows the location of our base...it's like he is testing us..."Musashi generally wasn't afraid of anything, but, as they were preparing for their return, she began to feel something akin to existential dread. It wasn't fear for her own life, but, after becoming rather close to many of her current comrades, she didn't want to see them slaughtered by the unforgiving Emperor. His warnings echoed in her mind, and, though there were no guarantees he would have actually spared any of them in the long run, Musashi felt 'certain' that he would slaughter them all if she didn't take his words seriously...Sensing the tension radiating from Musashi, everyone around her began to feel uncomfortable. Alice even hid behind Shirou's back, clinging tightly to his hoodie as she whimpered, "I'm scared...big sis is scaring me..."Since Musashi generally gave off a confident and easy-going vibe, even Shirou began to feel a little nervous, but, knowing it only took a bit of courage to keep hope alive, he forced a calming smile as he picked up Alice, hugging her close as he looked around at his allies and said, "No matter what the future may bring, we will face it together. The Emperor may be a terrifying opponent, but, so long as we stand united, there will always be hope. Come, let us return and discuss this with everyone else. If we put our heads together, we'll be able to come up with a solution...I'm certain of it."If Vahn had been present, he would have noticed the flow of fate around Shirou shift, wrapping up everyone else in its slow yet steady current. As a result, even Musashi began to feel more confident, the smile returning to her face as she answered, "That's right, isn't it? This has always been a war that put our lives on the line so it is senseless to start worrying about it now. I still feel it's best to face the Emperor directly, but, as long as I have reliable allies on my side, I guess it doesn't make much of a difference."Musashi's words weren't exactly inspiring, but, immediately following her musing, Caenis adopted an eager expression on her face as she loudly exclaimed, "You're lacking the spirit of a warrior, Musashi! if the Empire comes knocking at the gates, my spear will be the first thing to greet them! If I don't at least give that bastard a good kick, I won't be able to die with dignity...!"Even if it wasn't Caenis' intention to be funny, Musashi nearly burst into laughter when she heard the former's last few words. She just now remembered witnessing Caenis get kicked by Vahn during their previous encounter, and, while this wasn't exactly funny, the fact Caenis never seemed to learn from her failures was strangely endearing. She was the type that could get beaten a dozen times, yet, even if her opponent was several times more skilled and powerful, she would unhesitantly throw herself at them, time and time again...Seeing Musashi covering her mouth, Caenis' expression turned dour, but, due to the presence of Alice, she decided to restrain her urge to lash out. Alice was the glue that unified many within their group, so, while she had never been especially fond of children, Caenis didn't want to upset her. The doll-like girl could be especially troublesome when she was upset, and, despite a strong desire for battle, Caenis also wanted to just relax once they returned home. This would be difficult if Alice was upset with her, so, for the time being, she bottled up her frustration, deciding to expend it the next time she encountered the 'cowardly' Emperor...After waiting for several minutes, a massive magic circle, this one possessing a uniquely mechanical composition, appeared beneath the group. A few moments later, everyone within the confines of the magic circle began to glow with a pale-blue light as a mechanical voice echoed, "Scan complete. No anomalous readings detected."Before the spell could complete, Shirou interrupted the process, stating, "Transfer us to the near-side Quarantine Bay. Have a team on standby for a comprehensive analysis of personnel and make sure to sever any connections between HQ and Gaia for the next couple of hours. Also, inform the Chief Administrator that there is a reasonably high chance the position of HQ has already been exposed..."In response to Shirou's words, the composition of the magic circle began to shift slightly, it's gear-like components moving like the cog within a clock to change to facilitate their new destination. At the same time, the mechanical voice from before answered, "Acknowledged. Activating Quarantine procedures and informing pertinent personnel..."Once the voice's words began to trail, the light around everyone's bodies began to rapidly increase in intensity before, in an instant, they all vanished like collapsing stars. It was a rather strange sight to behold from the outside, as, for the brief moment before the transfer was completed, it was like they had imploded inward on themselves, being sucked into a singularity of bluish-white light that rippled outward once they vanished...For those experiencing the transfer, there was a feeling of mild nausea, but, after a few seconds had passed, these symptoms faded in their entirety. This left the group standing idle in a futuristic room that was covered in smooth metallic walls adorned with bands of light that periodically flickered on their surface. There was no furniture at all within the space they had been isolated, but, after a few minutes had passed, mechanical automatons began to carry in anything they would need to relax as the Quarantine procedures were carried out.Shirou left Alice in the care of Berserker, earning a mildly annoyed expression from the latter and an aggrieved pout from the former. As he had to discuss things with Archimedes, however, Shirou spent a bit of time coaxing Alice before entering one of the adjoining rooms alongside Musashi. She would need to give another first-hand account of everything that had happened, and, while the likelihood of Archimedes following their suggestions was slim, at best, it wasn't completely hopeless. He was a man of logic and reasoning, so, as long as you made a convincing argument, backed up by facts, he would take your opinion into consideration when he adapted his future plans...What awaited Shirou and Musashi after they entered the isolated room was a barren chamber with a false-mirror on one side, much like an interrogation room. The mechanism that allowed both sides to see each other had already been activated, and, despite the fact he had been in the middle of an important project, Archimedes wasted no time in heading over after hearing the message issued by the SE.RA.PH system.Before so much as a greeting could be exchanged between them, Archimedes leaned into the thin microphone situated on the control panel hidden beneath the mirror, asking, "How certain are you that we have been exposed? I want to know everything that happened in the sixty-three hours that have passed since the failure of the previous mission...!"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Dirtying one's hands...','Women's intuition...','The advent of the protagonist aura...!?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 1426: Small Ripples Build Into Mighty Waves