Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Due to his usual combat style, Vahn rarely went out of his way to wear anything like armor. At his level, there were very few instances where armor actually served any purpose, but, in order to show solidarity between himself and his forces, Vahn donned the same outfit that he had worn during the duel between Artoria and Lorelei.Though it didn't match his usual style, which typically combined muted colors like black and grey, Vahn found the style adapted from Artoria's era rather suitable for 'war'. He was especially fond of the furred cloak, as he thought it look cool, but, more than anything else, Vahn just liked matching Artoria. She gave off a regal and dignified appearance when she donned her armor, so, despite the fact it was somewhat uncomfortable, Vahn was inspired by her example. (A/N: [Charisma] OP)With his preparations ready, Vahn thanked Gray and Gareth for their assistance, rubbing both girls' heads before teleporting everyone to the staging area, the large courtyard that served as an area to rally troops and conduct parade. There, more than fifteen hundred people had gathered, each with similar armor that denoted their rank and occupation within the Imperial Militia, the majority being Shieldmaidens and Pikewomen.Since there was little they could do against actual Heroic Spirits, the combat forces comprised of the Einzbern Homunculi had been taught to maintain a defensive line. The Shieldmaidens were outfitted with shields that, alone, would struggle to block B-Rank spells. Together, however, they could form a massive defensive wall that, according to Da Vinci's calculations, could block an A-Rank, Anti-Island Noble Phantasm. This was due to the fact that the shields, while wielded by individuals, were all part of a unified 'Set'.Vahn had painstakingly forged each of the shields by hand, imbuing them with an ability known as [Unbreakable Phalanx]. This ability amplified the Physical and Magical Defense of every shield used to form a defensive wall, so, while the Homunculi might not be able to match against the average Heroic Spirit, only the most powerful had any hopes of breaking their defensive line.To support the Shieldmaidens, the vast majority of Homunculi were outfitted with long pikes, each upwards of six meters in length. What made these pikes special wasn't simply their sharpness and durability, which would allow them to easily penetrate magically reinforced metals with ease. What really made them exceptional was the fact that, despite their appearance, they were actually A-Rank magical staves.By channeling their magical energy into their pikes, the Homunculi could shoot out piercing beams of elemental energy. The element could be adjusted to deal with enemies, but, no matter which was used, they were capable of dealing heavy damage to both physical and magical barriers. They could even be charged for upwards of three minutes, greatly amplifying the amount of damage they were capable of outputting by converting the focused beams into condensed energy that, on contact with a target, would explode to cause massive area of effect damage.Though there were actually a number of different roles each member of the militia could fill, such as Shock Troopers and Combat Healers, these positions were entirely dependent on the situation. As a result, the only group that really stood out amongst the assembly of nearly identical women were the troops led by Kenshin. They were each outfitted in armor that gave off a distinctly Japanese feel, looking more like Samurai than Knights.Seeing all of the units gathered together, Vahn couldn't help but be overcome by a sense of awe, as, despite their relatively small numbers, their momentum filled him with power. He could feel the eyes of nearly everyone shift to him the moment he appeared and, though it was always a little awkward to have thousands of ruby-red eyes staring fervently toward him, Vahn still managed an appreciative smile as the entire assembly saluted him due to Gawain's outburst...---After putting the 'soldiers' at ease, Vahn stood in a loose circle with his usual War Council, listening as Gawain reported, "Your Majesty, we have completed equipment checks and have ample supplies to form and maintain a defensive line for upwards of six months. Troop morale is at an exceptional level with each and every member of the Imperial Militia fully committed and capable of fulfilling the duties they have been assigned. We are ready to move on your orders."Following Gawain's report, Kenshin nodded her head in affirmation, adding, "This is something we've been looking forward to for nearly three years. These girls have dedicated themselves wholly to the Empire's goals, but, more importantly, they all believe in Your Majesty's dreams. If ever a time comes when you feel any kind of doubt, recall this scene. Notice there is no fear or hesitation in any of their eyes, only resolution and the sincere belief that they are contributing to a noble cause."Even without Kenshin's reminder, Vahn was well aware of the status he held in the hearts of nearly every Einzbern Homunculi. All of them treated him as their Savior, but, due to his actual status as a God, many had come to proactively pray to and worship him. This had been the case even before he had summoned Jeanne, but, after being exposed to the highly devout woman, seventy-three percent of Homunculi had transitioned from being Subordinates to True Believers. As a result, Jeanne's status had changed from True Believer to Apostle, a title she shared with Kenshin, Lakshmibai, and, as could be expected, Fenrir.If he ordered them to, Vahn had no doubts in his mind that every Homunculus would willingly lay down their lives for his cause. This awareness placed a heavy burden on his shoulders, but, as a result of his [Will of the Emperor], it also filled him with immense power and confidence.After letting Gawain's and Kenshin's words sink in for a moment, Vahn gave an understanding nod before stating, "While they are willing to lay down their lives for the Empire, it is our duty to ensure this is never required. I have high expectations for each and every one of you. Show me the results of your efforts..."Immediately following Vahn's words, everyone gathered in their circle performed a full salute, Artoria included. Then, in preparation for the coming occupation, the various Commanders returned to their individual units while Vahn, accompanied by Artoria, Gray, and Gareth, returned to the interior of the Ivory Castle. There, they found nearly every resident of the Inner Sanctum waiting to send them off, the children included.Though he wasn't going to be away for a terribly long period of time, Vahn was still heading off for what could, technically, be considered a war. Even if he would be leaving one of his bodies behind to protect Avalon, it would be stuck in focused meditation in order to supplement his rather ridiculous energy expenditures. Thus, if the battle turned into a prolonged engagement, it could take several weeks, projection-time, before he saw any of his children again.For many of the children, this was their first time seeing their 'Papa' wearing his armor, but, after the momentary awe wore off, they adopted the same expressions as their mothers, being concern and, in their own way, support. The only real exceptions to this were those like Mordred and Isanna, the former showing a slightly annoyed expression while the latter had a mischievous glint in her eyes.Vahn had already talked to Merlin and Ishtar about keeping an eye on Isanna, as her pseudo-divinity related to War could cause some problems. This was especially true for the Vanir, as, unlike normal Gods and Demigods, their Divinity wasn't tied to the planet's authority. As a result, they could freely use their power even on other planets while Goddesses like Ishtar and Ereshkigal would quickly lose their power as they moved further away from the planet.With Merlin and Ishtar watching her every move, Vahn wasn't too worried about Isanna successfully sneaking out, so, after exchanging words with most of the other children, he caressed the pouting Mordred's head and reminded, "You still have a responsibility to fulfill within the Clock Tower. This isn't a battle for things like status or glory so don't let it get you...you don't see Fenrir trying to force me to bring her along, do you...?"Hearing her name uttered, Fenrir's ears twitched slightly while, with a defeated look on her face, the pouting Mordred released a sigh before saying, "At this rate, there won't be any battles left for me to fight..."Though he had been putting a lot of effort into cultivating a calm and collected demeanor at times like this, Vahn's brows perked up in response to Mordred's words. This brought a lot of attention to him, resulting in Mordred looking around confusedly before staring up at him with a similar look. As a result, Vahn released a dry laugh before ruffling her hair and saying, "It would be nice if that were the case. Unfortunately, even if there are periods of peace, the path I walk passes through countless battlefields. Trust me, Mordred, you will have your fair share of battles...for now, please just focus on becoming stronger..."Hearing her Chichiue's words, Mordred felt a twinge of guilt, as, toward the very end, she could hear the concern in his voice. This wasn't the same as the concern a parent would have for their children, rather, it sounded a lot like the tone used when you knew the other party was going off on a suicide mission. Since she had led Shock Troopers in her past life, Mordred knew this tone better than most, so, even without him elaborating further, she was reminded of her current aspirations. If she became a God, it was to be expected that, in the future, other Gods would be her opponents...Realizing the future battlefields were on a much grander scale, Mordred felt like her motivation had been rekindled, changing from a bonfire into a raging inferno. She was still a little disappointed that she couldn't accompany her Chichiue in the present, but, as this was primarily due to her weakness, the only person she had to blame was herself. Thus, with a resolute look on her face, she nodded her head in understanding, firmly stating, "I will become much stronger...I swear to you...to myself..."Though he had already 'seen' this scene, Vahn felt vindicated hearing Mordred's response so, after planting a kiss on her forehead, he ruffled her hair again and said, "I believe in you, Mordred. You fill me with pride each and every day so I have no doubts you will greatly exceed my expectations..."If her motivation could be compared to an inferno, before, Mordred felt like the fire inside of her was akin to a solar flare after hearing her Chichue's words. She could feel her body, literally, begin to heat up and, though it earned her an exasperated look from her Hahaue, her face had become visibly red as a wide smile spread across her face...---With Mordred temporarily pacified, Vahn was forced to give most of his daughters a goodbye kiss, either on their cheek or forehead, before departing alongside Artoria. When they were alone, making their final preparations for the assault on the Moon Cell, she released a tired sigh before saying, "As a mother, I can't help but be worried about that girl. Tell me, Vahn, will things become easier once I ascend to godhood...?"Though Artoria had already accepted Mordred's affections for Vahn, understanding how she must feel, that didn't make it any easier. Even if Mordred really was just a clone of her, she had come to truly accept the troublesome girl as her daughter. Mordred's accomplishments filled her with pride and, in many ways, it was her desire to ensure the former's happiness that led to Artoria accepting her feelings toward Vahn.Truthfully, Vahn didn't really know how to answer Artoria's concerns despite having an inordinate amount of experience with similar circumstances. Thus, in response to her question, he released a sigh before saying, "Honestly...it is up to you. I have come to learn many things about Divinity, but, in the end, the way it manifests is up to the weilder. Even then, however, I believe the most important thing is staying true to yourself. It is fine to be uncomfortable with something, Artoria, so I hope you never have to force yourself to think or believe something that contradicts your character..."Vahn's words weren't exactly what she wanted to hear, but, knowing things like this were never easy, Artoria nodded her head in understanding. She had already made her decision, discussed it at great length with various people, and, most recently, even began helping Mordred in her pursuit of even greater strength. Thus, while it filled her heart with a moderate amount of discomfort, Artoria fully intended to support her daughter. She just liked to vent her frustrations to Vahn, as, while she would never admit it, his efforts to calm her always made her happy...Even without Artoria vocalizing her feelings, Vahn had come to understand almost everything about her character over the last few years. Her resolute nature was one of the key elements that gave him the confidence to carry out his own duties as an Emperor. This was something he had conveyed to her several times in the past, so, during moments like this, he dutifully fulfilled the role she required of him. As for her discussion about godhood, that had never really mattered...rather, if anything was going to influence Artoria's mentality, it would be her draconic heritage.The fact Artoria had been the one to spearhead the situation that led to the development of his Sex Divinity showed just how much her bloodline influenced her decision making. While it was still in its nascent stages, Vahn's experience with Terra and Alexa allowed him to see the signs of Artoria's slow, but inevitable, awakening. The more they fought alongside each other, and the more he showed off his own draconic forms, the more prominent the changes in her behavior became. Thus, every time a battle approached, Vahn couldn't help but offer a silent prayer, hoping Artoria remained the same woman he had come to love, no matter how much she changed...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Waifu squad, assemble...!','The battles have only begun','I wonder how long it will be before Artoria's transitions from 'Phoenix Empress' to 'Dragon God Empress'...?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

After listening to Musashi recount the events of the preceding days, Archimedes had a grim expression on his face. He didn't consider himself an emotional person, often finding it one of the principal weaknesses of the human race, but, at this moment, he couldn't help but feel indignant. If Musashi's words were true, it meant they had very little time to act, even though time was one of the things they should have had a surplus of...While Archimedes was still hanging his head, an expression of deep thought visible on his face, Shirou took the liberty to interrupt, saying, "If the Emperor really does know the location of our Headquarters, we should take his previous warnings into consideration. The amount of power he has at his disposal makes it difficult to fight defensively. Most of us lack the means to fight in a vacuum so we need to begin making preparations to take the fight to him."Immediately following Shirou's words, Musashi nodded her head, adding, "Going by his words, it seems like the Emperor has been tolerating our group specifically because we're 'Heroes'. Now, it feels like he is testing us...if we fail to meet his expectations, I get the feeling things won't end well for our group..."Hearing the two's remarks, Archimedes showed a dull expression before shaking his head and saying, "This is likely just an effort on their part to get us to expose ourselves. The fact they were led around by Lovecraft is evidence enough to discredit the possibility the Emperor is aware of our location. Even if he does arrive, I have already prepared countermeasures against anything they can throw at us. Unless he intends to destroy the entire moon, we'll be able to trap both him and allies without difficulty..."Having been the one to fight against Vahn, Musashi didn't take kindly to the fact Archimedes so easily dismissed her warning. She showed a rare frown, her tone harsh as she stated, "Listen here you arrogant asshole! If you keep underestimating that man, we're all going to get killed! None of our plans have accomplished anything beyond pissing him off. If your next plan fails, how many of us will lose their lives as a result of your negligence!?"The entire time Musashi was shouting, Archimedes just stared back at her with the same dull look on his face. This was one of the things he hated the most about people, and, though Musashi was not a 'human', the fact she emulated their emotions made her weak, at least mentally. Even if he used logic and reasoning to try and convince her, she wouldn't actually listen as, much like other humans that acted based on their emotions, she had already convinced herself that she was right.Instead of arguing, Archimedes just typed a few commands into the terminal before him. At the same time, the mirror-like partition separating them turned into a display, allowing Musashi and Shirou to read the information presented. It was only when they started reading that Archimedes explained, "Based on the information you provided, we were able to gain some insight into the true identity of the entity calling himself Vahn Mason..."Seeing the data on display, Shirou's face formed into a frown as he muttered, "Yellow Emperor Huangdi...so he is some kind of Dragon God?"In response to Shirou's question, Archimedes stated, "The Moon Cell has existed for more than 4.6 billion years. It has observed the Earth since it was nothing more than a cloud of space debris. In its records, the entirety of human history, including the feats of every Hero that has ever existed, can be found. In all of these records, the existence of Vahn Aldrnari Mason cannot be found...it is as if he appeared, quite literally, out of nowhere."Hearing Archimedes' explanation, Musashi showed a troubled expression, asking, "Does that mean he is like me...?" At the same time, she recalled the fact that Vahn had openly admitted to being from a different world, something she had also conveyed to Archimedes while explaining what had transpired since the battle.Archimedes just shrugged in response to Musashi's question, answering, "I can't know for certain without analyzing the person in question. What I can say with some certainty, however, is that his existence has fundamentally changed since the time he first emerged in Fuyuki City, Japan. Since then, he went from being a marginally powerful person to a literal God over the course of a short few months. Even more nonsensical is the fact that the Moon Cell only has limited information on the Emperor and the Empire he has founded...almost as if there is something directly interfering."Following his words, Archimedes changed the display to show a view of Avalon from a bird's eye view. Then, after typing in a few commands, several filters overlapped the image until, much to the surprise of Shirou and Musashi, a massive serpentine creature appeared above the island.Anticipating their questions, Archimedes continued to type away on his terminal while explaining, "This creature is another anomaly within the current time axis. There is no mention of its existence in any of the Moon Cell's records and, if not for the interference it causes in scans, discovering it would have been impossible. The truly troubling thing is, even though I am able to identify its size and proportions, there is no method to determine exactly what it is... almost like it doesn't exist..."Though he had never underestimated the Empire, Shirou paled slightly after seeing the creature of impossible proportions. Before he could ask any questions, however, Archimedes went on to add, "From what I have been able to determine, there is a high probability that the Emperor used the Greater Grail to cement himself as something akin to a lynchpin of reality. It was only after the conclusion of the Holy Grail War that his power began to increase beyond comprehension. Worse still is the fact that, by unknown means, he seems to have gained access to the Throne of Heroes, potentially using a route linked to the Root itself..."The more Archimedes explained, the louder the alarm bells in Shirou's and Musashi's minds. They had already known the Emperor acted a Temporal Singularity, but, seeing how quickly his power and influence had spread, courtesy of the graphics provided by Archimedes, it felt like the time to act had already come and gone. Despite this, neither gave up; instead, their convictions had only strengthened, resulting in Shirou stating, "He must be stopped. Treating the world like it is some kind of sandbox is inexcusable."Though he didn't share Shirou's bravado, Archimedes nodded his head in approval, saying, "That is the entire reason you were summoned. Even if our methods aren't the kindest, they are nothing compared to the damage caused by the Emperor. We may have to get our hands dirty, but, if left to his own devices, the Emperor will continue to act with impunity, ruining billions of lives without remorse. Tell me, Musashi, do you really think we can trust the word of someone like that...?"Hearing Archimedes' question, Musashi's resolute looked dissolved into a conflicted expression as, despite how 'extreme' his actions were, she didn't get the impression Vahn was evil. Even if his words had been an attempt to deceive them, his actions hadn't exactly been roundabout. He was the type that seemed to throw himself into conflict, facing enemies directly rather than relying on subterfuge and deceit. He also seemed to genuinely care about the people he wanted to protect, rather than treating them like tools to further his agenda...Seeing Musashi's conflicted look, Archimedes had to fight hard to prevent a sigh from escaping his lips. Part of him even wanted to shout at her for being so emotional, but, recognizing this was a contradiction of everything he stood for, he forced himself to remain calm.Instead of focusing on Musashi, Archimedes turned his attention to Shirou, who, despite giving off an aura of skepticism, seemed convinced. This made things a lot easier, as, for reasons that defied common sense, Shirou had become one of the central figures in their resistance. He had a way of drawing people to him, and, though he was remiss to admit it, Archimedes needed the idealistic man to control some of the more troublesome members of their group.Without waiting for Musashi to respond to his previous question, Archimedes decided to issue a small compromise, saying, "I will take the information you provided into consideration. There is a small probability that the Emperor was telling the truth, so, in an effort to ascertain the veracity of his words, we will establish contact. Based on your account, he won't take drastic action against us until we do something he considers 'underhanded'. Thus, we will reach out to the Empire and, so long as they do not demand we expose ourselves, I see no reason not to take advantage of his proposal..."As Archimedes rarely changed his mind, Musashi and Shirou were left momentarily at a loss for words. This caused the shaggy-haired inventor to roll his eyes before rising to his feet, releasing a long yawn, and saying, "I'll entrust the matter of sending a message to you, Assassin Shirou. As for you, Musashi...return to control center forty-seven when you get out of Quarantine. If the Emperor does know the location of the Moon Cell, we'll need to take appropriate measures. I'm sure you'd like the chance to get your revenge so I'll need your assis-"Before Archimedes could finish his words, a small tremor could be felt by everyone present. In the next moment, the fluorescent lighting transitioned from a vibrant white to a cautionary red . At the same time, the walls began displaying red, blue, and green arrows. These, in order, indicated the location of enemy forces, injured allies, and medical stations, respectively.Though not 'entirely' unexpected, Archimedes' expression hardened as he muttered, "It would seem we have company..." before turning around and addressing the air on his way out of the room, saying, "SE.RA.PH., cancel override quarantine protocols and direct all pertinent personnel to control center forty-seven. Begin preparations for the activation of Automaton on my order..."---Unaware of what was going on inside, Vahn was floating above the surface of the Moon with a slight frown on his face. Though he had the ability to locate Musashi and Caenis using the Strings of Fate, the Moon was still massive. It had a diameter exceeding 3,400km, and, while only a fourth the size of Gaia, it wasn't something he could explore in a short period of time. This left him with the option of burrowing into the Moon directly, or, as he was currently doing, striking the surface with enough force to alert those hiding within to his presence...After waiting for a full minute, Vahn pulled out three golf-ball-sized Elemental Stars, releasing them toward the surface of the Moon. This caused Artoria, who had been floating next to him, her face masked by a rather ornate helmet, to say, "Perhaps they wish to feign ignorance...cowards..." in a rather icy tone.Though Artoria couldn't breathe in space, she would still be able to survive indefinitely due to her unique constitution and infinite mana reserves. Her main reason for wearing a helmet was due to the pressure differential, and, while it might not lead to death, suffocating wasn't exactly pleasant. It also allowed her to communicate directly with Vahn, so, contrary to her belief that a true warrior always showed their face, Artoria, temporarily, had her's concealed.In response to his Empress' words, Vahn just shrugged dismissively as the Elemental Stars, having reached critical mass, erupted in massive plumes of destructive energy. He intended to gradually increase his output with each round, starting from one and stopping only when someone came to stop him. If they wanted to pretend they weren't inside, he could continue making a larger hole in the Moon, drilling through to the core if necessary...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Moon Cell is worse than Big Brother','Archimedes' glib tongue','Hello? House Keeping~!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

While the flood of information pertaining to Altera's and the Sol System's past was pretty interesting, Vahn earned incredulous looks from nearly everyone as he stated, "Well...unless I am mistaken, this White Titan, Velber: 02, should still be within my authority to control. Unless you're trying to allude to the fact that Archimedes' group has something to do with the Velber Star, it doesn't really matter what happened in the past. We'll deal with any enemy standing in our way, regardless of whether or not they are alien, God, Hero, or human."Though there were no guarantees that Velber: 02 would obey him, Vahn could be certain that Velber itself would fall under his authority as Type: Omega. As for the White Titan herself, she seemed to be sealed inside of the Moon Cell, so, even if he didn't have authority over her, he had Administrative Authority over the Moon Cell itself. He could also request assistance from Crimson Moon, but, as the group of so-called Heroes were inarguably more dangerous than Altrouge's faction, at least for the time being, it would have to wait until later.In response to Vahn's confidence, Merlin showed a slightly troubled smile as he advised, "You should remain cautious, Your Majesty. As you are so fond of stating, there are no absolutes. I believe you are well acquainted with how quickly things can spiral out of control when you assume nothing can go wrong..."Hearing Merlin's advice, Vahn was reminded of the incident where he fled his previous world, and, as could be expected, the most recent events involving Scáthach. This caused him to frown slightly, his eyes passing over everyone else in the room before he ultimately nodded his head and said, "You're right...which is why I'll be going to the Moon Cell alone. I can't go all-out with allies present, so, until I have a better grasp of the situation, I will be resolving it on my own."Though it wasn't outside their expectations, nearly everyone present had expressions revealing their dissatisfaction and worry. Even Artoria adopted a deep frown, wasting no time in saying, "You can't just do everyone on your own, Vahn! You promised that you would trust us more! Even if we're not as strong as you are, none of us here fear death! I'm not going to let you go alone, not this time...!"Ever since the incident with Scáthach, everyone within the Inner Sanctum could see how heavily it weighed on Vahn's heart and mind. His most recent awakening only exacerbated the concerns they had been feeling, so, to hear him advocate going off on his own once again, Artoria was unwilling to remain silent. She trained hard every day to be useful to the Empire so she couldn't help but feel a considerable amount of frustration every time she was left behind while Vahn ran off to fight against their enemies.As it was pretty rare for Artoria to have an outburst, especially with others present, Vahn was at a loss for words. He knew she was right, and, at several points in the past, he had made promises to trust, not just her, but all of them. Instead, he usually only brought the most powerful people in the Empire along with him, often serving as backup forces as he personally dealt with their enemies. This was the 'safest' and 'most efficient' option, and, though he knew it also caused the girls left behind a great deal of frustration, he couldn't help but want to protect them.Though it didn't actually need to be said, as everyone present knew how he felt, Vahn adopted an apologetic expression as he muttered, "I just don't want to lose any of you..." in a somber tone. Since the loss of Scáthach was still fresh on his mind, it was easy to hear the pain in his voice. Despite this, Artoria balled her hands into fists, her eyes moistening as she shouted, "We don't want to lose you, either! More than physical pain, mental anguish, or even the fear of death, the thing I'm most afraid of is you spontaneously disappearing. I won't allow you to leave me behind...I refuse...!"Hearing an equivalent amount of pain in Artoria's words, Vahn felt like his heart had been tightly gripped by the golden-haired beauty. This caused him to release an audibly tired sigh, exasperation clear to see in his expression as he smiled wryly and said, "I'm not going anywhere...even if I were, I promise I will take everyone with me. This is a battlefield though...if something happened to any of you, I wouldn't be able to live with the regret..."Even if his words were out of concern, Artoria's expression hardened when she heard Vahn's words. This caused him to avert his eyes slightly, as, even without anyone saying anything, it was easy to see they didn't take kindly to his words. After all, they hadn't been inscribed on the Throne of Heroes as a result of their cowardice. Even if they had to face insurmountable odds, they wouldn't hesitate if it meant they could fulfill their duty, protecting their honor and dignity in the process...Realizing he was out of line, even if they were his honest feelings on the matter, Vahn took a deep breath before meeting Artoria's gaze and saying, "I understand. It was wrong of me to try and take care of everything on my own. You aren't flowers that need to be locked away within a garden...nor are you so fragile that you require my constant care and concern. You're all amazing, and, together, there is little we can't accomplish..."Though his words were lacking in spirit, Vahn tried to be sincere when he was speaking. He actually did trust in everyone that had been gathered under his banner, but, knowing just how strong some enemies were, his first instinct was always to protect. He couldn't help but blame himself whenever something bad happened, so, whenever things became especially dangerous, he would rather deal with it on his own than expose anyone else to danger.Unfortunately, even the best of intentions became overbearing restraints in the minds of the ones being 'protected'. Vahn knew how hard everyone worked and, if he really thought about it, even he wouldn't have been able to take such a refusal laying down. Even when he was weak, he would do everything he could to help out those that were stronger than him. Thus, even though it was never easy, he, for what felt like the hundredth time, told himself to believe in the people around him...---Once things had settled down a bit, everyone began formulating a multi-phase plan that included establishing contact, ascertaining the enemy's intentions, and, if necessary, invading and conquering the Moon Cell. As for the participants, the first phase would include Vahn, Artoria, and Da Vinci. They would try and come to an accord with the 'Hero' group, but, if negotiations broke down, the Imperial Knights would then move in, led by Gawain, Kenshin, and Lancelot.There was no way of knowing exactly how big the Moon Cell was, so, after establishing a foothold, the Imperial Knights would establish a Forward Operations Base. From there, they would determine exactly how many troops and resources would need to be allocated to the occupation of the Moon Cell, determined by Gawain and verified by Da Vinci. She was the most qualified to understand the situation within the Moon Cell, so, while Gawain secured the area with the Empire's forces, most of the logistical matters would be dealt with by her.If possible, Vahn would like to avoid an actual invasion, as it contradicted previous statements he had made, but, if the Heroes intended to continue skulking around like snakes, he wouldn't hesitate to squash them.At this point, it was all but certain that Archimedes had some scheme related to Velber: 02, so, even if the Heroes were willing to compromise, they would still be expelled from the Moon Cell. There was no way Vahn was just going to let the errant inventor do whatever he wanted using technology that was designed to monitor and record things, not cause chaos and destruction.If negotiations broke down, the capture or elimination of Archimedes was their highest priority. He was the apparent ringleader behind everything so removing him from the equation seemed to be the most effective means of reaching an accord. Though it was possible someone else was pulling the strings, this would be brought to light after they managed to track down the original and expose his plans.There was still a chance that Archimedes was an actual Hero, but, as a result of his character, it was impossible to leave him to his own devices. People that were willing to use any means to achieve their goals were dangerous, especially when they could order their subordinates to target children. This, combined with the fact he had been able to produce an army of nearly 50,000 automatons in a relatively short period of time, made Archimedes one of the most dangerous elements amongst the group of would-be Heroes.The problem was, the 'real' Archimedes was undoubtedly protected by their group's most powerful forces. Musashi was likely one of their strongest cards, but, considering who they were dealing with, Vahn wouldn't have believed her if she stated she was their most powerful. She might have the most individual strength, but, when it came to Heroic Spirits, the most powerful often had Reality Marbles that effectively functioned as entire armies.Vahn could still remember how powerful he felt while using Gilgamesh's [Gate of Babylon] so, with the Throne of Heroes classifying it as an E~A++ Rank Noble Phantasm, the odds of more powerful abilities existing was high. Both Artoria's [Avalon] and Nobunaga's [Three-Thousand Worlds] were qualified as EX-Rank Noble Phantasms, so, in the grand scheme of things, it seemed impossible that Archimedes didn't have a few equivalent trump cards.Until they were able to force the enemy to reveal their hand, most of the direct engagements against enemy Heroic Spirits would be handled by Vahn and Artoria. Though exceptions would be made if it was an emergency situation, only Gawain, Lancelot, and Kenshin were authorized to meet the enemy Heroes head-on. Everyone else was required to form teams with at least one A-Rank Heroic Spirit, and, unless it was mandated by the situation, their objective was to secure the Forward Operations Base, not chase after enemies.Fortunately, Gawain had performed excellently as Commander of the Imperial Knights and, after the summoning of the former Knights of the Round Table, the Empire's forces had qualitatively improved in regards to individual prowess. Nearly every Homunculus had received some form of military-style training at this point, completely of their own volition, so there were now more than seven-thousand active and reserve members of the Imperial Militia. As for those that had gone on to become actual Knights, they numbered 735, each nominated by their respective instructors and knighted by Vahn himself.The seamless coordination between Einzbern Homunculi made them an awe-inspiring force on the battlefield, so, while Vahn couldn't help but worry about the albino troupe, their results as part of the Imperial Response Force spoke for themselves. Everyone who was given the opportunity to lead one of their teams spoke highly of them, to the point that Gawain had even taken on three Homunculi as his personal Esquires, personally teaching them the skills necessary to rise to the position of Knight Commanders themselves in the future.This would be the first major military operation conducted by Imperial Forces so, in a way, this was a litmus test to determine whether or not they would be useful in future campaigns. The fact each of the knighted members qualified as D+ or even C-Rank Heroes inspired a bit of confidence, but, the true test would be whether or not they can actually do anything to more powerful Heroic Spirits. If it was Vahn, he would be able to sweep through the Imperial Militia with impunity, so, while he didn't look down on them, he hoped the armaments he and Da Vinci had produced would be enough to sustain them against anything the enemy might throw their way...(A/N: I'm going to be busy for the next two days so, unless I can free up some time, there will only be one chapter of EPIC and one chapter of Babel per day. Sunday, however, I'm intending to publish an updated release schedule (in calendar format), so, for those of you who like structured releases, that is something to look forward to. The schedule will be posted on both my ******* and Discord so feel free to stop by and say hi on the server if you haven't done so (^ _ ^)~!)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 1430: Conviction