Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

The longer Vahn and Artoria followed the path set for them, the more the scenery seemed to change around them. At first, there were only floating lanterns, but, after a few minutes passed, will-o'wisps, known as hitodama in Japan, could be seen manifesting in and out of existence through the breaks in between trees. Their appearance was accompanied by the sounds of bells or the echoing laughter of children, two relatively innocent sounds that inspired trepidation when heard under the veil of night.Though she wasn't actually afraid, Artoria clung a little bit closer to Vahn, finding herself enjoying the moment more than expected. It had become a little chilly in the surroundings, but, at Vahn's side, a gentle warmth permeated from his body, keeping the cold at bay. This encouraged her to rest her head against his shoulder, his casual and calm demeanor allowing her to drop her guard, albeit just a little.Eventually, Vahn and Artoria came to a crossroads, a split in the path that was marked by what appeared to be a dog-headed monk statue. It held prayer beads in its left hand, pointing to the left path with its right. The curious part was, even with his domain, Vahn's perception was blocked the moment he reached the crossroads, causing him to lightly muse, "It seems they're taking the theme of Yokai to the extreme..."Hearing Vahn's utterance, Artoria stared at him in confusion, imploring him to add, "Yokai are a type of Spirit that exists in the 'in-between' spaces, exploiting the gaps in human perception to exist 'beneath' human society. They can exist alongside humans without drawing attention, only standing out when you lose your path or are led astray. Due to modernization, the vast majority of Yokai are extinct so I had been thinking about offering those that remain Sanctuary..."Though many Yokai were dangerous existences, they were relatively harmless if you knew how to behave around them. There were some obvious exceptions but the majority of Yokai were more mischievous than harmful. They generally fed off things like fear, bemusement, intoxication, and pleasure, meaning they rarely ever killed their 'victims'. Unfortunately, like other Spirits, they were prone to human corruption, so, depending on the circumstances, it was possible for a Yokai to be led astray, becoming horrifying monsters as a result.Using his ability to read the Flow of Fate, Vahn could glean some insight into his opponents by observing their appearance and abilities. This didn't directly reveal their identities, but, when it came to certain historical figures, you only need a few clues to ascertain the True Name. While this required a comprehensive understanding of various legends, Vahn's mind functioned similarly to a library, housing a wealth of information that he, and, more importantly, Sis, could access at their leisure.After taking a sneak peek at what was to come, Vahn furrowed his brows slightly before resuming a neutral expression as he explained, "The way this is set up, either path would lead us to the exit of this territory. Since the world of Yokai exists between the boundaries of reality, the gateway can only be found within the mind...feel like getting lost with me?"Though she was curious about the reason behind Vahn's momentary frown, Artoria decided not to ask, instead, answering, "I've told you before, have I not? I will follow you anywhere, no matter where we end up."Hearing Artoria's response, Vahn's expression became tinged with affection, followed by her face becoming red as he leaned down to give her a kiss. She wanted to retort that this was neither the time nor the place, but, due to her past experiences with Vahn, her body reacted on instinct, lips parting slightly as her eyes closed.When trespassing the domain of Yokai, feelings of companionship could keep you from being led astray by their various tricks. Feelings of love were infinitely more powerful, however, allowing you to break free from powerful illusions and even counter the effects of some Yokai. He knew this was necessary to prevent Artoria from getting befuddled once they were inside, as, even if they didn't have malicious intentions, Yokai simply couldn't help but act as their nature dictates.By the time Vahn's lips parted from Artoria's, their surroundings had changed once again, this time to a well-lit district of traditional Japanese houses. The streets were lined with orange and red paper lanterns, but, most notably, a number of strangely shaped creatures, each attired in yukatas, kimonos, or other traditional Japanese grabs, could be seen walking around, seemingly without noticing the armor-clad duo in the center of the street.Artoria immediately became alert once she noticed the various 'monsters' in the surroundings, but, before she could do anything regretful, Vahn turned her gaze back to him, whispering, "The majority of these Yokai are just Programs created by the Moon Cell. They are like Artificial Yokai, each programmed to perform a very specific sequence of events. Unless you interact with them, they will continue to carry out their programming without taking notice of your existence."Hearing Vahn's explanation, Artoria nodded her head in understanding before taking in their surroundings once again, this time with a curious, yet cautious, glint in her eyes. She saw many street vendors in the area, giving the street a similar vibe to a Japanese festival, but, instead of normal food, there were things like live octopus tentacles, eyeballs, and bat wings lining the stalls. She even saw a Yokai that was shaped like a giant eyeball wearing samurai armor, eating a bowl of ramen that tired to proactively squirm away from its chopsticks...Before Artoria could begin asking questions, Vahn pulled out a few sticks of dango, a Japanese sweet made from mochiko, the dumpling form of mochi. She had a petite figure, but, in spite of this, Artoria was actually quite the glutton. Since her first exposure to modern cuisine had been Japanese food, she had become rather fond of rice-based dishes and Japanese sweets. He knew her appetite would be stirred by the presence of food, so, before she gave in to her curiosity and tried to purchase something from the stall, he provided something to temporarily satiate her.After Artoria thanked him and began snacking on the multi-colored dango, Vahn explained, "If you are ever offered 'free' food within a Yokai society, always refuse. The taste might be out of this world, but, depending on the nature of the Yokai, you could end up transforming into an animal, forgetting you were ever human. They have a fondness for gold and barter, however, so you'll be fine as long as you pay in advance."Hearing Vahn's words, Artoria swallowed a mouthful of dango, her expression paling slightly as she made a mental note not to stray far from Vahn's side. He seemed to understand the nature of the world they had wandered into, so, while it was tempting to follow the sound of festivities and the aroma of fragrant food, she focused her mind, remembering the reason they had come here in the first place...---While it not exactly necessary, Vahn and Artoria ended up changing into clothing that was more suitable to their surroundings. He had always been rather fond of Japanese-style clothing, and, as Artoria was exceptionally beautiful in a kimono, Vahn was enjoying himself quite a bit. He liked to observe non-human cultures, finding their way of life far more interesting and 'honest' than the vast majority of human societies. There was something calming about seeing a myriad of unique creatures interacting peacefully, as, in human society, people seemed to squabble over even the most arbitrary differences...Though the Yokai around him weren't real, Vahn knew they were programmed to emulate their original counterparts, thus, while he was in a bit of a hurry, he still enjoyed observing them for a short while. He was immune to the perception-altering effects of the district, so, while it could be dangerous for others to wander around, he could do so with impunity. Artoria was slightly more susceptible to the effects of the Reality Marble, but, so long as she was at his side, there was little chance of anything adverse happening...Eventually, Vahn and Artoria found themselves near a large wooden bridge spanning a ghostly green river. It was structured like a traditional Japanese bridge, possessing a graceful arc, a red coat of paint, and ornate handrails that appeared similar to elongated Torii gates. There were a large number of Yokai crossing the bridge, but, upon reaching the opposite shore, they would stall for a brief moment before turning away, their programming seemingly preventing them from traveling any further.Before crossing the bridge, Vahn lightly tapped Artoria's arm, saying, "Don't look into the water. If you stare too long, your position will be reversed. Even if you can't drown, being pulled under by a Kappa isn't a pleasant experience..."As this was just one of many warnings Vahn had given her, Artoria nodded her head before tightly gripping his arm in response. At the same time, she couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed, as, unless he had 'seen' something, Vahn wouldn't have bothered to warn her. This implied that each time he cautioned her about something, it was because a 'future' version of herself had fallen into that very same trap, despite her increased caution. While this wasn't guaranteed, the fact she had been thinking about looking into the water moments prior indicated this was the truth...With Artoria sticking closely to him, Vahn led her across the bridge, a casual smile on his face as he looked forward with an unwavering gaze. Other than a disciplined monk, he doubted anyone would be able to trespass the territory of a Yokai with as much impunity as he could. This allowed him to relax his mind, even if he was also focused on perusing the Flow of Fate to prevent Artoria from doing anything remiss...Even before crossing the bridge, Vahn and Artoria could see a large ryokan, blocking the stone pathway that led deeper into the mountain. There were also several shrines located beyond, but, to reach them, you would have to either pass through, over, or around the traditional Japanese Inn.After staring at the somewhat cartoonish sign depicting sparrows and phrases such as 'Welcome to the Enma-tei!' and 'Weary travelers stay for free!", Vahn lightly chuckled before pulling Artoria inside. He knew Shirou's group could be found within, so, after crossing over the threshold of the ryokan, he looked towards a fat sparrow that looked more like a toy than an actual bird, saying, "I have come to meet with the Proprietress. Please inform her of my arrival."As he spoke, Vahn extended his hand, producing a golden Ryō, one of the various currencies used in Japan during the Japanese Rennaissance, the period known as the 'golden age' for the Japanese Yokai.Without answering, the fat sparrow extended its beak, taking the Ryō before fluttering off in a very unnatural manner. This caused Artoria to stare aghast in the creature's direction, as, prior to Vahn paying it, she couldn't even sense the peculiar Yokai. Previously, it had given off the impression of a lifeless doll, reinforcing the fact she was in a mysterious land where common sense didn't seem to apply.While waiting for the proprietress arrival, Vahn and Artoria stood within the genkan, a region with smooth stone tiles that was slightly lower than the wooden section representing the housing area of the ryokan. There, several pairs of slippers could be found, encouraging guests to remove their outside shoes so they could walk around without scuffing the floor.Traditionally, there would always be staff waiting to greet guests as first impressions, reception, and courteous service were the selling points of most ryokans. Had he arrived a little earlier, Vahn would have been able to enjoy this kind of hospitality, but, knowing this was part of the trap that ensnared guests, he led Artoria around for a bit before arriving. Now, they would receive Gomen-Nasai service, a form of apology that prevented the ryokan's staff from trying to deceive them.Shortly after the sparrow yokai's departure, a pitter-patter of footsteps could be heard, followed by a child-like girl bursting into the foyer with an expression of duress on her face. Then, without stopping, she leaped through the air, performing the motion for a dogeza before sliding across the wooden floor, stopping right in front of them as she exclaimed, "Please, forgive this lowly one for failing to greet you properly! My Enma-tei prides itself on courteous service so I vow to make it up to you, no matter your demands! Allow Benienma to show you the spirit expected of an Enma-tei!!!"Since he had already seen this scene play out before, Vahn just lightly nodded his head, while, at his side, Artoria had an incredulous look on her face. This was to be expected as, despite the fact Benienma was a rather famous Yokai, her appearance was that of a young girl around 10-12 years old. Seeing such a person perform a mid-air dogeza was quite a surprise, but, due to how casual Vahn was reacting, she forced herself to adopt a similar expression...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'You find yourself at a crossroads...what path do you take?','Artoria is too innocent to interact with Yokai xD...','Vahn is bullying Benienma-chan (ಠ_ಠ)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After refusing Benienma's offer to stay in her premium suite, several times, Vahn eventually managed to convince the 'young' Proprietress to show them to Shirou. She had tried insisting that her guests not be disturbed, but, after asking how long Shirou had checked in for, she 'begrudgingly' led the way.Though Benienma wouldn't make her guests leave, she couldn't force them to stay longer than they had checked in for. The hard part was 'remembering' how long you had been inside, as, despite only a few hours passing from your perspective, days, weeks, or even months could pass in the outside world. There had even been instances where humans wandered into a Yokai district for what felt like a few days, only to discover decades had passed since they were 'spirited away'.All the while Benienma was leading the way, Vahn was having a staring contest with the spherical sparrow that was sitting atop her head. It was a curious yokai that seemed to possess an amorphous body, allowing it to freely pivot its 'face' without having to move around. This was enough to creep out Artoria, but, as he 'technically' possessed an amorphous form, Vahn was just stared back at the tiny 'sparrow' with a casual smile on his face...Following Benienma's lead, the group arrived outside one of the premium suites, which, until they were standing outside, completely blocked even Vahn's perception. Privacy, or, more accurately, isolation, seemed to be one of the key selling points of the Enma-tei. Until the door was opened, it was almost like the interior was in a completely isolated world, a feature Vahn was intending to learn more about when time allowed. For now, he just stared pointedly at Musashi and Shirou, the latter showing an expression of surprise while the former was half-naked, nursing a large gourd of sake in her embrace...Though he had already seen this scene, Vahn still ran his hand through his hair, taking a deep breath to keep calm before saying, "You know, I promised you wouldn't like it if I was required to 'convince' your group. Should I consider your inability to complete a simple task a declaration of war...?"Hearing Vahn's words, Shirou's wry smile turned into a serious expression, his face paling slightly as he answered, "It doesn't have to come to that. I expected something like this might happen so I met with most of our group prior to my stay here. Most of us are in agreement...as for the rest, we will try to deal with them on our own."As he had spent the previous two days gleaning insights into the future, Vahn couldn't simply take Shirou's words at face value. Thus, rather than beat around the bush, he simply asked, "Who is the man with golden hair and the woman protecting him? If I'm not wrong, they should be Jason and the Goddess Chang'e..."Even without Shirou answering, Vahn knew he had hit the nail on the head based solely on the man's complexion. With this knowledge at his disposal, he raised his hand to silence Shirou, a cold glint in his eyes as he said, "I have already made my decision regarding that man's fate. You needn't concern yourself with him any longer. As for Chang'e...she was never going to be a combatant on your side. I will provide you with a supplemental Heroic Spirit to replace Jason, someone that should be able to pacify that Goddess' wrath."Vahn didn't know why Chang'e was so fond of Jason, but, if he had to guess, it was solely due to the fact he had tried to court her. She seemed to be the kind of person that dedicated herself wholly to the person that tried to win her favor, albeit with the unfortunate side-effect of isolating them from everyone else. It could have been virtually anyone, and, until Jason was dealt with, she would use all of her power to support him. This would have made him a surprisingly dangerous opponent three years ago, but, at his current level, Vahn was confident in dealing with Jason in an instant.After hearing Vahn mention 'dealing' with Jason, Musashi's eyes rolled forward, her drunken state rapidly fading away as she stated, "You should leave Jason to us. There is a lot of resentment in our group regarding him, so, as strange as it might seem, dealing with him will be the glue that binds us all together."While she had been speaking, Musashi casually fixed her disheveled yukata, not minding the fact that Vahn, Artoria, and a silent Benienma were watching. She was many things, but a shy person was not one of them. If she was bothered by such things, she would wear a sarashi to bind her chest and an outfit that covered more skin, rather than a modified kimono that exposed her back and showed off a large portion of her thighs...In response to Musashi's statement, Vahn met her gaze, a stern look visible in his eyes as he stated, "I don't remember leaving it open for discussion. We have had two negotiations prior to this, both ending in my opinion of your group lowering slightly. I have already decided to deal with this matter, making it a personal affair of the Empire. If you want to bond over something, travel around helping people or try to come up with a scheme to get back at me. Even if Jason is disgusting, he is still your former ally. If you try to unify everyone else against him, you'll be planting the seed of doubt in the minds of your other companions..."Musashi was annoyed at the first half of Vahn's words, but, hearing the reasoning in the latter half, the words that had been forming on the tip of her tongue ended up being swallowed. Vahn was the type that went at his own pace but, based on his words and actions, he was also the type that put a significant amount of thought into everything he did. He seemed to be in control of everything, even trespassing Yokai territory without any discernible difficulty...While Musashi still seemed to be at a loss as to how she should respond, Vahn turned his attention to Benienma, causing the petite Yokai to perk up as she asked, "Is there something, Kyaku-sama? If I can be of service, please, leave it to me-dechi...!"As this was his first time hearing Benienma's verbal tick, Vahn blinked in surprise, a smile spreading across his face as he resisted the urge to pat her head and answered, "Please inform the Master of the mountain we will be along shortly. Also, so you don't end up harming yourself, my official title is Sage Dragon Emperor. You may simply refer to me as Ten'nō-sama."Since 'identity' was a very important commodity within Yokai society, Benienma's improper method of addressing him could actually be used against her. Considering the presumed status of the other Yokai inside, leaving her uninformed would be unnecessary cruelty, one that could result in her own identity being 'stolen' as a result. The master of the mountain seemed to be strong enough to keep everyone in line, but, seeing how Shirou and Musashi had been ensnared, it was pretty obvious she didn't completely inhibit their mischief.Hearing Vahn's words, Benienma's eyes became round as saucers, but, more noticeably, the beak on her forehead had opened slightly. This peculiarity piqued Vahn's curiosity, his instincts as a master of the [Hands of Nirvana] compelling him to learn the secrets of a Yokai's body. Now was neither the time nor the place, however, so he just offered a polite smile while waiting for the petite sparrow to recover her senses.After several long seconds, Benienma seemed to process his words, resulting in her bowing nearly ninety degrees as she exclaimed, "Forgive me, Ten'nō-sama! I have been rude to you-dechi...!!"Seeing how Benienma reacted, Vahn was tempted to inform her that Artoria was also an Empress, but, as it seemed like she might genuinely collapse, he elected to stop teasing her. Instead, he shook his head slightly, saying, "You needn't worry about such things. Now, please convey my message to your Master. I'm certain she is already expecting us..."Hearing Vahn's reminder, Benienma showed an exaggerated expression of surprise and, after a series of deep bows, she frantically stammered, "T-t-thank you for your clemency, Ten'nō-sama! Leave it to Benienma-dechi! I will inform Raikou-sama of your arrival this instant-dechi...!!"After another deep bow, this time exceeding ninety degrees, Benienma quickly spun around on her geta before scampering off down the impossibly long corridor. It took her less than a second before she was no longer in view, leaving nothing but a few scattered feathers to indicate her departure. It was a rather amusing sight, forcing Vahn to restrain a laugh as Artoria muttered, "She is an excitable child, isn't she...?"Answering Artoria's question, Musashi took it upon herself to explain, "Don't let her appearance fool you. The form Yokai take is used to deceive humans, not represent things like age. Beni-chan might look like an adorable little girl but she is actually around130-300 years old, if I remember correctly?"Since she had looked toward him for confirmation, Shirou nodded her head, adding, "The tale of the Tongue Cut Sparrow was originally published in 1885, but it was derived from an old wives tale that originated in the early seventeen-hundreds. Like Musashi said, you shouldn't let the appearance of a Yokai fool you. A number end up taking the form of children or young women to exploit the gaps in a person's mentality. This gives them a few weaknesses associated with normal humans, but, if you can't see through their true nature, even damaging a Yokai is difficult...well, that last part probably doesn't apply to either of you."Due to the nature of Yokai, they were exceptionally weak to things like the Holy Element and Sealing, effectively making Artoria a hard-counter to even the most powerful of their kind. Rather, due to her existence as one of the pillars that supported the Surface world, there weren't many foes that could even hope to damage her. As for Vahn...well, his existence itself was an anomaly, his capabilities hard to even conceptualize, let alone comprehend...Unaware of what Shirou was thinking, Vahn still had a casual smile on his face as he asked, "Will the two of you be joining us? It doesn't really matter, either way, but your presence could make things go a little smoother. If not, you should patiently wait outside this territory. I'm not weak enough to get ensnared by the tricks of a few Yokai so you shouldn't be kept waiting too long."Since things quickly became troublesome whenever he had to deal with Yokai, Shirou refused Vahn's offer to attend what he imagined to be an 'eventful' banquet. As for Musashi, she was actually very tempted to join, but, knowing Shirou would be left to wait alone, potentially for hours, it was difficult for her to decide. They were supposed to be on the same side, so, if she abandoned him in order to enjoy a few more drinks, it would be a 'little' difficult to face him later...Instead of waiting for the duo to make their decision, Vahn lightly shook his head, saying, "If you get stuck in here, that is your own problem." before turning away, Artoria following close behind.With Vahn's reminder, Shirou and Musashi quickly alighted from the room, choosing to follow him to the entrance. The Enma-tei's interior could become an inescapable maze if you let your mind wander so, while Musashi wouldn't have any trouble escaping, 'remembering' to escape could be an issue if they were left alone. Fortunately, as a Divine and Heroic Spirit, they could easily manifest clothing to replace their yukatas without having to wait for Benienma to return their original attire.*After exiting through the ryokan's back entrance, a small pavilion that connected to the path leading up the mountain, Vahn gave a curt nod to Musashi and Shirou, saying, "We're going." before linking his arm with Artoria's. This action wasn't missed by Shirou, causing him to observe their departure in silence while Musashi, having made up her mind, eventually said, "I'll follow them. At least one of us should keep an eye on them, especially when they are dealing with the more troublesome members of our group. What will you do...?"Hearing Musashi's statement, Shirou inhaled through his nose, his expression returning to normal as he answered, "I'll wait outside. You know I can't deal with Raikou, Shuten, and Kiyohime. Besides, my instincts are telling me to stay far away from that banquet..."Recalling how Raikou had 'persistently' tried to get him to address her as Mother, with a crazed look in her eyes, a shiver passed through Shirou's body. She gave off a more dangerous impression than everyone else in her group, so, while she was actually a very kind and caring person, on the surface, it wasn't a good idea to get involved with her.With his mind made up, Shirou gave a curt nod toward Musashi before vanishing into thin air, his presence disappearing along with him. This caused Musashi to issue a light chuckle, amused by how quickly he fled. She understood his concerns, as Raikou even scared her a little, but such tension was the 'spice of life'. There were few things as exhilarating as trying to keep your calm while surrounded by some of the most terrifying monsters in Japanese folklore, so, while she anticipated things going south, there was no way Musashi would miss the show.Without putting further thought into it, Musashi quickly caught up to location of Vahn and Artoria, following a few paces behind them so as not to interrupt the 'rosy atmosphere' that had surrounded them...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Benienma invites you to stay as her guest...forever (◠﹏◠)...','The burden of memories inherited from another...','Musashi, fearless...or foolish?')*(A/N: Due to the 'etiquette' of a ryokan, guests are encouraged to wear yukatas -informal kimonos- to emphasize the fact they are there to relax.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After Aife's attack, things became relatively peaceful within the faux Ivory Castle produced by the Moon Cell. Though a number of Attack Programs could be seen wandering in the distance, they didn't seem willing, or able, to enter within established territories. Thus, while waiting for Shirou and Musashi to return, Vahn spent much of his time idling about with Artoria, listening to reports from his Commanders, and aiding Da Vinci in her research.During this interval, the situation within the Moon Cell had been conveyed to everyone back in Avalon, including the fact that a version of Shirou had been summoned. This had come as quite a surprise to Rin and Luvia but, far more than either of them, Illya wanted to meet with her 'brother' once again.Prior to her death, Illya had been preparing to forge an alliance with Shirou and Rin, setting aside her past struggles in the hopes of spending her final days amongst her family. She knew the Holy Grail would eventually claim her life, as she had been its vessel, so it was a great tragedy that, just when she thought happiness was within her grasp, it was taken from her. Gilgamesh had slain her Servant before ultimately murdering her, all while Rin and the original Shirou were powerless to do anything but watch...Vahn promised Illya that she would be able to meet with Shirou, but, due to her nature as a Beast of Gaia, leaving the planet was out of the question. Cath Palug's existence was tied to the planet itself, so, even if Illya tried to leave, the Bounded Field surrounding the planet would prevent her from doing so. Even if she could break through it, her power would quickly fade away, much like the Gods who borrowed their 'Divine Authority' from Gaia. This was a failsafe to prevent planets from warring against each other, imposed upon them by the Root System, expressed through the various Gods of the Sun.Though he didn't completely agree with the structure of the Root System, Vahn had slowly come to understand its significance. It was difficult to create a system that allowed people to advance without limits, especially while placing restrictions on how they were allowed to act. He struggled with exercising authority over a single planet, much less an entire multiverse. As a result, he was, slowly but surely, beginning to understand why entities like Akasha and her Superiors behaved the way they did...Ultimately, just like what he was trying to do with his Empire, Vahn would have to delegate various responsibilities to other people. He would one day possess the power to govern all things, but, in exchange, he would have to sacrifice many of the things that made him happy. He imagined this was the reason why powerful Gods often created lesser Gods to govern in their stead, freeing up time for them to pursue the things that interested them. It was an exceptionally selfish thing to do, but, when you were looking at things through the lens of eternity, even billions of years of wanton philandering seemed inconsequential...As this thought crossed his mind, Vahn eyed the sleeping Artoria laying against his chest, her golden hair slightly messy as it clung to her smiling face. They hadn't had sex, as doing so inside the Moon Cell seemed rather senseless, but it didn't stop them from cuddling with each other.Seeing the smile on Artoria's face, Vahn couldn't help but produce one of his own, promising he would do everything within his power to protect, not just her smile, but everyone's. It wouldn't be easy, but, eventually, they would find the correct answer together. The Path always created a way forward, so, as the physical manifestation of the incomprehensibly powerful artifact, there were no limits to what he could accomplish...---Though not entirely unexpected, Vahn was surprised when nearly forty-eight hours had passed, yet, in spite of this, Shirou and Musashi had yet to arrive. As a result, he found himself sitting on the edge of the bulwark, Artoria at his side as they both looked out over the horizon for any sign of the group's arrival.With less than five minutes left, Vahn, with his arms crossed, began to lightly tap his bicep with his index finger. His ability to read the Flow of Fate allowed him to ascertain whether or not they were actually going to show up, but, in spite of this, Vahn continued waiting. He knew for a fact that the duo had taken his words seriously, so, based on their failure to appear, it was pretty obvious that something had happened.Once the countdown in his mind reached zero, Vahn released a small sigh before saying, "It looks like we'll have to handle this matter personally. I can't say I'm surprised...things never seem to go as smoothly as I'd like."Hearing Vahn's words, Artoria released a sigh of her own before dutifully manifesting her armor and asking, "Are we going?" in an inquisitive, yet resolute, tone.Nodding his head, Vahn answered, "I'm interested in the Moon Cell but I have no intention of just idling around here for days on end without accomplishing anything. There are many things that require my attention back on Gaia so let's wrap this up as quickly as possible."Following his words, Vahn began to levitate from the bulwark, accompanied closely by Artoria as they alighted into the sky. They had already conveyed their intentions to Gawain and Kenshin, so, even though it seemed like they had spontaneously left, the Ivory Castle was already in a state of high alert. There was even a powerful, dome-like, barrier that now protected the entire structure, courtesy of Da Vinci, so, even without their protection, the Ivory Castle wouldn't fall so easily...After ascending a few hundred meters into the air, Vahn gazed out over the 'horizon', viewing the various paths that had come into existence over the last two days. He could see a veritable ocean of Attack Programs littering the area, including many airborne enemies, so, rather than fly to their destination, he turned his eyes skyward and said, "Transfer me to the nearest foreign territory."Immediately after his words fell, Vahn found himself at the base of what appeared to be a large mountain, courtesy of the Control Program. His authority as the Chief Administrator allowed him to move freely within the Photonic Abyss, and, though he might not be able to teleport directly into someone else's territory, teleporting nearby wasn't an issue.Seeing the rather sizeable mountain, Vahn assumed the enemy was moderately powerful, but, even after expanding his domain to try and sense them, nothing appeared within his perception. This indicated they could either hide from his senses or, far more likely, they simply weren't home. As a result, Vahn teleported to the only 'interesting' location within the mountain, the mouth of a large cave that was structured similarly to the entrance of a temple.Unlike the mountain, which was covered in a layer of ice and snow, the interior was exceptionally hot, almost like standing at the mouth of a volcano. Vahn could also sense that, the deeper you went, the hotter things became, eventually reaching upwards of 15,000 degrees after reaching the heart of the mountain. Since this temperature was achieved through magical means, even the majority of Heroic Spirits wouldn't be able to tolerate the heat. Vahn, however, could even bathe in the flames of Zhūquè without being burned, so, while Artoria had started to sweat a little, he was entirely unaffected.After confirming that the mountain was, indeed, empty, Vahn scanned it with his domain one last time before saying, "It seems we missed whoever owns this place. Since there aren't even Attack Programs here, I doubt they would appreciate us snooping around too much. Let's go to the next location before returning here later on."Since she was already feeling uncomfortable near the mouth of the cave, Artoria had no qualms about leaving the strange temple behind. As a result, they took to the sky once again, moving to an area beyond the scope of the mountain territory before having the Control Program transport them to the next location.To the surprise of both Vahn and Artoria, their next destination was also a series of mountains, albeit much smaller than the 13,000m tall mountain from before. It also lacked icy peaks, instead, possessing a verdant forest of blooming cherry blossom trees, each glowing slightly. There also appeared to be a small village, reminiscent of one of the rural Japanese villages that could be found in the far north of Japan, places that still focused heavily on tradition.Since he was quite fond of cherry blossoms, Vahn found this particular territory rather appealing, but, before he could appreciate it fully, a 'pulse' of sorts emanated from the large temple located within the valley between two mountains. When this pulse struck them, Vahn found his telekinesis canceled, forcing him to fall a few meters before he was able to create a foothold within the void itself. Even this only lasted for a short period of time, however, causing him to eventually just drop to the ground alongside Artoria.With a thoughtful expression on his face, Vahn looked around the area, muttering, "This place is even closer to a Reality Marble than the false Ivory Castle. There is some kind of 'authority' that influences everyone that enters within, much like Ozymandias' and Nero's Real Marbles..."Though she had already reached a similar conclusion, Artoria nodded in affirmation, sword at the ready as she asked, "Do you think they are hostile?"Since he had already spread his domain, easily covering more than a third of the massive territory, Vahn quickly shook his head, explaining, "I'm certain the owner of this territory has already sensed us, so, based on the fact we're not already under attack, I don't think they are hostile. Rather, I get the impression we are being invited inside...?"Following Vahn's words, the trees in the surroundings seemed to shift, creating a path that was lit with tiny paper lanterns. It was actually kind of creepy, but, as it was also rather scenic, Vahn lightly hummed before extending his arm to Artoria, asking, "Shall we?"Not expecting Vahn's sudden offer, Artoria was momentarily at a loss, nearly linking her arm with his while still holding [Excalibur]. This caused Vahn's smile to widen, earning him a pointed glare from Artoria, who, despite herself, still linked arms with his. Then, even though they were clearly being baited into a trap of some sort, they enjoyed the rather pleasant scenery of the glowing cherry blossoms, complete with a large moon floating overhead in the spontaneous night sky...---While Vahn and Artoria were enjoying their moonlit stroll, a tall and curvaceous woman leaned over a reflecting pool, observing them with a thoughtful smile on her face. She was attired in what appeared to be a purple latex bodysuit, clinging to her figure and leaving little to the imagination. To conceal at least a little bit of her dignity, she had an insignia-clad cloth covering her chest, tied to her body with a rope that extended around her neck and flanks. She also had a similar cloth to cover her front and backside, but, due to the volume of her hips and thighs, this did very little to prevent the majority of people, men and women alike, from gawking.To complete her outfit, the woman wore form-fitting leather gauntlets and greaves, elevating her to the status of 'femme fatale' with the large katana dangling loosely at her hips. It, much like the woman herself, stood out quite a bit, as, instead of a normal sheath, it was largely covered in the fur of a tiger, appearing much like a tail. If not for the woman's long purple hair, tied loosely near her ankles, it would have been her third most distinguishing feature...With violet eyes that glowed within the low light of the room, the woman traced her index finger across the surface of the reflecting pool, disturbing the image as she muttered, "This must be the Sage Dragon Emperor mentioned by Shirou-chan...he certainly gives up quite the presence. And that woman at his side...she is also a Dragon? How peculiar..."For a brief moment, the woman considered whether or not she should pass judgment on the duo that had trespassed her territory, but, seeing them enjoying their moonlit stroll, she felt it would be wrong to interfere. Instead, she disturbed the surface of the reflecting pool, returning it to a neutral state as she called out, "Ibaraki-chan, we're going to have guests soon. Tell Kiyo-chan to prepare a banquet before informing the others to be on their best behavior~."In response to the woman's words, a petite figure with pale-blonde hair released a groan as she removed the large black stone slabs that had been pressing on her legs. She had been forced to sit in seiza with weights on her lap after previously upsetting the purple-clad woman. Now that she had been freed, she wasted no time in bolting from the room, answering, "L-leave it to me...!" without looking back. This caused the purple-clad woman to giggle elegantly, but, for a very brief moment, a glint flashed across her eyes as she looked toward the weight that had left a small hole in the floor...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Fine...I'll do it myself...','Into the Demon's den...','That glint though...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1447: Impunity