Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

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 he was separate from the massive giantess by both Space and Time, Vahn could still feel the overwhelming pressure radiating from her body. It was like being pressed down, not by a mountain, but an entire planet. She was even looking directly at him, but, considering he always saw the visions from his point of view, this wasn't too surprising. What did surprise him, however, was that the giant woman vaguely resembled Altera, alluding to the fact they were intrinsically related to each other...Just as this thought crossed his mind, Vahn was broken from his reverie as Altera inquisitively asked, "Master...?". It was obvious she still expected an answer to her previous question, but, due to the size and presence of the peculiar giantess, Vahn's thought processes had temporarily stalled. He knew he would be encountering the actual giantess in the near future, but, for the moment, he had the duty of helping guide Altera onto a less destructive path.Understanding she was referring to herself when she asked if there was a purpose to a weapon that couldn't destroy, Vahn smiled sagely as he explained, "The purpose of a weapon depends primarily on two factors...the person wielding it and the will of the weapon itself. Weapons may be used to cause destruction, but, in the hands of those who desire to protect, it can be used to preserve, and, even create, life. In the hands of a true master, a sword can be used to sever sickness, destroy curses, or even alter the flow of fate. Destruction can be achieved through various means, often without the use of an actual weapon, so, in a way, it is the least unique way in which a weapon can be used..."To emphasize his point, Vahn removed his hand from Altera's head, waving it through the air around them to cause a ripple within the void. As a result, one of the large pillars developed massive cracks and, a moment later, it began to collapse under the strain of fragmented Space. Though it could be argued as weaponizing the Laws themselves, Altera would end up falling into his trap if she were to point it out. After all, while capable of immense destruction, the Laws existed to give structure and form to all things. It was up to the user to determine how they were used, but, no matter how great their mastery, the purpose of the Laws remained unchanged...and infinite.Though she didn't understand the meaning behind her Master's words, this was nothing new, so, after a brief moment of reflection, Altera asked, "What is my purpose...? My impulses tell me to destroy, but, everyone else tells me this is a bad thing. This makes me feel lost and confused...I don't understand why it is bad to destroy bad things? Tell me, Master, why do you get to destroy as you please? Why must I restrain my impulses when there are bad things happening and enemies waiting for a chance to destroy me? Wouldn't it be better to destroy civilization and be rid of everyone that can do us harm...?"Based on Altera's line of questioning, it was easy to see she had been putting a lot of thought into this, perhaps since the time of her summoning. Though he felt it was a little strange for her to ask him these questions just as he was about to head off to the Moon Cell, the flow of fate around her indicated it was instigated by something he had done. Unfortunately, he couldn't see into the past, nor could he know how other people influenced the world around them without direct intervention.Since Altera seemed to be basing her reasoning around his actions, Vahn spent a moment sorting his thoughts before answering, "There is no easy answer to your questions, Altera...objectively, the only thing that allows me to act with impunity is the power I wield. However, if I were to truly act without consideration for others, I would never be happy. I would find myself alone, as, even if I was able to make people fear and respect me, they would never open their hearts to me. Without these kinds of bonds, people begin to feel empty inside, and, after a while, everything else seems to simply lose its meaning...tell me, Altera, is there truly nothing you care about beyond destruction?"Hearing her Master's words, Altera only felt greater confusion, but, hearing his final question, she adopted a complicated expression before muttering, "I like having my head pat...I also like the taste of sweet foods...the apples grown in the hills are my favorite..."Though it was a little awkward to hear Altera prioritize head pats over other things, Vahn nodded his head in affirmation before asking, "These things, would they exist if they were destroyed...?"As she had never actually thought about it before, Altera couldn't help but frown when she heard her Master's words. If someone wanted to destroy the things she liked, she would destroy them first, so, with a resolute look on her face she said, "I see...you destroy things to protect other things and let them grow..."Vahn's smile turned slightly awry when he heard Altera's remark, his hand plopping on her head as he explained in an exasperated tone, "It is more important to create and build than it is to destroy. If people always resorting to destroying things, the orchards wouldn't even exist. Though other apple trees might be found elsewhere, they wouldn't have the same quality. The apples you enjoy are the result of several people spending countless hours cultivating and caring for them...while your desire to 'protect' them is not wrong, you wouldn't have anything to protect without building it up in the first place..."Hearing her Master's words, Altera fell into deep thought for several tense seconds before simply replying with her characteristic, "I see..." in her usual monotone.Despite her affirmation, Vahn had the distinct impression that Altera hadn't actually understood what he was trying to convey. She was the type that understood things better if they were shown directly, rather than explained. Thus, after sorting through his thoughts, Vahn said, "I will assign both of you a new mission..."The moment these words left his mouth, both Okita and Altera became more attentive, their gazes focused as they awaited his orders. This was a habit he wanted to break, but, as it was convenient at times like this, Vahn gave a small nod before explaining, "Once I return, I will teach you how to grow and care for various plants and animals. Your mission will be to work alongside each other to create a garden filled with life. When you are finished, it will become a private place where only the people you have chosen may enter...also, for every unique plant and animal you properly care for, I will give you a suitable reward...the more difficult the endeavor, the greater the reward I will bestow..."Though neither Altera nor Okita understood the real purpose behind their Master's words, it didn't actually matter. To them, his orders were absolute, so, while they had no particular interest in animal husbandry or gardening, they were determined to complete their mission. This was something that Vahn was very aware of, so, while it was a bit 'cheap' on his part, it was worth taking advantage of their nature if it meant they learned something important...---Since Okita's clothing had already repaired itself, Vahn decided it was best to let them get an early start, so, after exiting the [Training Orb], he took them to visit Iris. She was the best option when it came to teaching the taciturn duo, as, during Artoria's attempts to get Altera to fit in, the latter had spent a few months acting as Iris' escort and personal attendant. The hope was that Iris would be a good influence on her, but, in spite of her efforts, Altera remained largely unchanged.After entering the Library, where Iris still dutifully carried out her responsibilities, Vahn raised his hand in greeting as the woman in question brightened up at his arrival. When she saw who was with him, however, she adopted a false pout, muttering, "And here I was thinking you had stopped by to spend time with me...I'm going to tell Illya you're bullying me again..."Though he was used to Iris' teasing, the hair on the back of Vahn's neck stood on end, as, the last time Iris had 'complained' to Illya, he ended up getting crushed by the latter after she spontaneously increased her size to around sixteen meters. This wasn't an intolerable weight, but, considering she had been naked at the time, Vahn nearly suffered a trauma as a result of her body greedily seeking him out, even in her overgrown form. Even Illya had panicked at the time, so, while it wasn't exactly likely, Vahn couldn't help but feel a little unnerved by the possibility an 'accident' would occur...Since there were very few things that could make Vahn pale, Iris knew what he was thinking about. Her own smile became a little awkward before she made a point of loudly clearing her throat and asking, "What brings the three of you here? Did you need my advice on something...?"In response to Iris' question, Vahn gestured to Altera and Okita, explaining, "If possible, I would like you to teach these two how to properly care for plants and animals. I'll prepare a private [Sub-Space Orb] here in the Library so you shouldn't be inconvenienced too much...can you do this for me, Iris?"Hearing Vahn's request, Iris covered her mouth and issued a womanly giggle before answering, "But of course. In exchange, I expect you will build a small cottage or a villa within the orb, correct? Make sure there are at least five bedrooms, a large bath, and, as a precaution, a private area with adequate soundproofing~."Vahn didn't have to ask why they would need a soundproof room within the private orb, as, despite her motherly nature, Iris had a few hidden sides only he and Illya knew about. Thus, without having to really think about it, Vahn nodded his head and said, "That shouldn't be a problem. I'll also install a large lake to serve as both a water source and a pool. Other than that, is there anything else you'll need...?"Since it was hard not to get excited about a private residence, Iris spent several minutes throwing a bunch of random thoughts and ideas at Vahn. This caused him to sit across from her with a wry smile while, at his side, Altera and Okita just listened in silence. The only thing that mattered to them was the completion of their mission, but, with how excited Iris seemed to be, even Altera began to feel as though the garden they would be making was something 'special'. If not, it didn't make sense for Iris to be so excited about it, so, even if she didn't really understand the purpose of the mission she had been assigned, Altera began looking forward to it...just a little.---While his secondary vessel was dealing with the trio of white-haired women, Vahn's main vessel was holding counsel with Merlin, Artoria, Gray, Gawain, and, as she had been manifesting more often as of late, Alaya. They were discussing his upcoming assault on the moon, and, as it was an important topic for discussion, the giantess that had appeared when he tried to view his fate in relation to the flow around Altera.Though she was unaware of anything happening beyond the planet's atmosphere, Alaya was still aware of the identity of the 'White Titan', a being denoted as Velber: 02 when using the same system that designated him as Type: Omega.According to Alaya, Velber: 02 was an offshoot of an alien entity that appeared within the Sol System every 14,000 years. This being, a Rogue Star known as Velber, would station itself beyond the edge of the Oort Cloud, beyond the influence of Sol, and, after scanning the Surface of each planet, shed parts of itself with the intent to eliminate any and all life detected. It was for this reason that every planet, with the exception Gaia, appeared barren and lifeless.Nearly thirteen-thousand-years prior, Velber had shed off three fragments of itself and, as a result, most life within the Sol System had been destroyed. The only reason there were any survivors at all was due to the intervention of Sol itself. After seeing the havoc a foreign star was causing, it's own fragments, the entities immortalized as Gods of the Sun, took the battle directly to the invaders.Unfortunately, every planet beyond Gaia ended up becoming a victim in this relatively short war as, the further away from their parent star, the less power each God of the Sun possessed. It was for this reason that Velber positioned itself beyond the Oort Cloud, more than 15,000,000,000,000km away from Sol, well outside of its influence. There, it could freely harass the outer planets and, while it had ultimately been repelled, nearly all life within the Sol System had been lost in the process...In the end, Gaia herself remained relatively unscathed, but, by the end of the battle, most of the first generation Gods had been completely wiped out. Velber: 02 and single-handedly wiped out nearly every pantheon and, if not for the sacrifice of Mars, the principal God of War for which the Roman God was named after, all life would have been lost. Even then, however, Velber: 02 was not actually killed, only repelled.While all of this information was important, it was what Alaya explained next that really caught the attention of everyone in the room. According to the memories she had inherited from Gaia, the few remaining Gods gathered the blood and essence of Velber: 02, sealing it away within a human body in the hopes of using them as a weapon against subsequent invasions. Unfortunately, this would-be weapon was beyond their power to control, so, in their desperation, they ended up sealing her away, using an entire mountain range to keep her contained.Ultimately, due to the shifting of tectonic plates and various other factors, this humanoid weapon was eventually discovered by a nomadic tribe known as the Huns. From that moment on, the legend of Attila the Hun and Etzel were born, two legends representing a warrior known as the embodiment of destruction. She had inherited the sword used to repel her original self, [Photon Ray], and, with it, she knew no equal on the battlefield. As a result, her tribe conquered much of the known world, and, if not for the betrayal of her last wife, Kriemhild, Siegfried's vengeful widow, she likely would have conquered Rome and prevented the rise of modern civilization in its entirety. Instead, she ended up manipulated in another woman's scheme for revenge, and, instead of losing her life honorably on the battlefield, Attila ended up choking on her own blood after suffering a brain hemorrhage...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Those with innocent minds ask the hardest questions...','Illya and Iris are both scary...','

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

Chapter 1427: The Pursuit of Power