Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Seeing the sleeping Tamamo, curled up atop her cushioned throne with a contented smile on her face, Vahn turned to Artoria, earning a small sigh from her when he remarked, "She is pretty cute, isn't she?"Though she knew Vahn was only speaking his mind, Artoria gave him a slightly pointed look as she answered, "You really have a thing for women who possess animalistic features, don't you? You'll be wanting her to stay in the Menagerie, then?"While the thought was somewhat tempting, Vahn shook his head in response to Artoria's question, saying, "As I told Amaterasu, that would be setting a dangerous precedent. I can empathize with her tragic past, sure, but-:Before Vahn was able to finish, Artoria released another sig, saying, "You don't need to try and come up with an excuse. I can't speak for all of us, but we understand your nature and the unique form of your love. We understand our responsibility regarding that Divinity of yours, so, as long as you never lose sight of what is important, I don't think any of us mind if you have other lovers. Rather, it seems like a lot of trouble could be avoided if we just allowed you to love freely..."Vahn found himself at a complete loss for words in response to Artoria's. His first instinct was to feel guilty, blaming himself for his licentious ways, but, preempting his guilt, Artoria added, "There is no need to feel guilty. You are not simply an Emperor, but a Dragon God whose influence will only grow with the passage of time. We understand the nature of Dragons, so, if it will help you grow stronger, we all decided to support you. You'll never be able to relax until you possess enough power to rule over everything so we will continue to push your forward until you achieve your goals."Though he still felt a tinge of guilt, Vahn couldn't help but laugh in response to Artoria's words, his jubilation impossible to contain. Truthfully, he felt it was impossible to pass through the Nasuverse without expanding his harem further. It might have been possible if he restrained himself more early on, but, now that he was trying to conquer the world and pave a way forward for every race, a lot of things would be simplified if he could act freely.While it might be considered egotistical by some, Vahn was certain he could satisfy virtually every woman, regardless of their origin and tier. It was something he had become unnaturally good at, so, with the Nasuverse having an inordinate number of powerful female figures, forging bonds to lay a stronger foundation would make things much easier in the future. He hadn't verbalized it to anyone, but he fully intended to subsume the entire World in the future, taking it with him when he travels to other Records.Azathoth was capable of sustaining a Universe inside itself and, after observing and interacting with it for a long period of time, Vahn had garnered some insights into how he could achieve something similar. In the end, it came down to the fact that the Soul was vast and infinite, completely without limits or boundaries. Manifesting a Realm seemed to involve extending a piece of your Soul into an object or a location, allowing the world within to reflect a fraction of the endless space that existed within the Soul.Vahn was still far from reaching Tier 5, but, more so than anything else, he was confident in the durability of his Soul. He had become one with The Path, the source of all energy within the Tier System. In a way, this meant that everything in existence was already a part of him, but, the most important takeaway, at least for the time being, was that sealing things within his Soul wasn't even a difficult feat to achieve. He had already sealed Eva's Memory Fragment, so, while it would put a bit of strain on him, Vahn was certain he could one day seal a planet. The fact Azathoth could contain an entire Universe also indicated that, in the distant future, he would be able to do the same...As this thought crossed his mind, followed by a powerful conviction to never leave behind any of the people he cared about, Vahn caressed the side of Artoria's face. This caused her to swallow adorably before closing her eyes and slightly parting her lips, an open invitation that caused Vahn's heart to palpitate just as madly now as it had during their first kiss...---After waiting for nearly an hour, Tamamo began to stretch her body in a manner reminiscent of a cat before finally raising her head to meet the gazes of Vahn and Artoria. Her vulpine ears twitched, and, seemingly confused, she tilted her head to the side, asking, "Are you my Husband...?"Unlike before, the current Tamamo only had a single, somewhat stubby, vulpine tail. The nine flame-like tails from before had been the result of Amaterasu manifesting herself through Tamamo's body, greatly increasing her power in exchange for overtaxing her magic circuits.Though he would have denied her claim an hour prior, Vahn smiled in response to Tamamo's inquiry, answering, "That is up to you, Tamamo. Do you wish to become my bride?"Seemingly confused by his words, Tamamo's ears twitched adorably as she said, "I had a long dream. I don't remember everything that happened, but it was a terribly sad dream. It became happy toward the end, though. I dreamt that a bright like broke through the darkness, bringing warmth to my cold and tired body. It told me that, when I awoke, I would find the man that would become my Husband. Is that not you...?"Going by Tamamo's words, Vahn was certain that Amaterasu had done something to her memories. He would have Merlin look into it later, but, for the time being, he adopted a gentle smile, extending his hand to stroke Tamamo's head and ears as he explained, "My name is Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor of the Aldrnari Empire. Though you are not my first bride, I would be happy to have you, Tamamo-no-Mae."Though she still seemed a little confused, Tamamo giggled happily in response to his caress. Then, surprising him somewhat, she pounced on him from her seated position, hugging his body tightly as she chimed, "My husband is an Emperor, how lucky...! Make sure you pamper me lots, okay, Ten'nō-sama~! I may be quite beautiful, but I require a lot of upkeep, ufufufu~."Vahn was a little taken aback by Tamamo's words, but, rather than rebuke her, he just laughed in a light-hearted manner before extricating himself from her grasp and saying, "There are many things you will have to learn about the Empire. For now, the most important thing to keep in mind is that I seek harmony amongst my various lovers. This beautiful young woman here is my Empress, Artoria Aldrnar Pendragon. She, and many others, will help teach you everything you need to know..."As if only just now noticing Artoria's presence, Tamamo cocked her head to the side, causing her ears to flop somewhat adorably as she lightly issued a light 'hmm'. Then, seemingly having made a decision, she nodded her head a few times before saying, "Since you arrived before me, I will not hold a grudge against you. Please, teach me well. I want to become a proper bride so that I can make my husband happy~."Artoria hadn't missed the fact that Tamamo said the words 'my husband', so, while she had a smile on her face, she made a mental note to discuss the vulpine woman's behavior with Fenrir, Rin, and Luvia. Though it was only a matter of time before Tamamo realized the futility of trying to become something like Vahn's favorite, it was best they curb any problematic habits she might have early on.In response to Tamamo's words, Artoria gave a curt nod, saying, "Much has changed since the time you originally manifested. I, along with many others, will help to guide you properly. In the end, your own efforts will determine your position within the Inner Sanctum. Vahn doesn't go out of his way to play favorites so believe me when I say you should avoid causing trouble."Though she listened attentively, Tamamo didn't really take Artoria's words to heart. She didn't mind if her husband had multiple wives, as this was only natural. The only thing that mattered to her was being the closest person to him, not out of a desire for greater power, but as a matter of personal pride. Thus, while she didn't intend to cause any trouble, there was nothing Artoria could do to stop her from trying to make Vahn love her even more.Seeing through Tamamo's intentions, Artoria just took a slightly deeper breath through her nose before looking toward Vahn and asking, "Will we be returning to the Ivory Castle or moving to deal with Jason?"Understanding why Artoria mentioned returning to the castle, Vahn eyed the predominately white wedding Kimono that Tamamo was wearing. Amaterasu had likely been anticipating his arrival after the previous visit by Shirou, dressing her Bunrei up in preparation for this particular development. It would also make things a lot easier in the future if he 'dealt' with Tamamo before she had the chance to cause any trouble. He knew the effect he had on women, so, while her true nature wouldn't really change, she would measure her future actions with more consideration.Since moments like this were the most suitable for using his ability to read the Flow of Fate, Vahn fell into deep thought for a moment before answering, "The longer we ignore Jason, the more harm he will cause to his surroundings. Even if he is harming people that don't really exist, it's not something I can ignore. We will deal with him before returning to the Ivory Castle. Afterward, I will meet with the remaining Heroes to discuss their replacement members before we return to Avalon. Though this has taken less time than originally anticipated, I've grown somewhat weary of this virtual space."Though she had actually enjoyed being able to spend a considerable amount of alone time with Vahn, Artoria was also in agreement with his words. They both had a lot going on back in Avalon, so, while the last few days had been rather pleasant, it was time for them to return to their other duties. Thus, despite wanting to accompany him everywhere he went, she said, "I will accompany Tamamo to the Ivory Castle. While you deal with Jason, I will educate her on the unwritten rules of the Inner Sanctum. When you are finished, we will be awaiting your arrival..."Vahn was somewhat surprised by Artoria's words, his brows perking up slightly as he asked, "Are you certain?"Without showing any visible hesitation, Artoria nodded her head, explaining, "I'm aware of Jason's history with the original Medea. That makes him your personal enemy, not the enemy of the Empire. I intend to remain at your side into perpetuity, but that does not mean I will interfere with personal matters. You will be able to act with fewer inhibitions if I am not around...from what I know of that man's history, he deserves everything coming to him."Hearing Artoria's words, Vahn was tempted to laugh, but, as it was a matter concerning life and death, it didn't really seem appropriate. Rather, while Jason certainly deserved punishment, it wasn't necessarily his right to met it out. If he took things too far, he would end up accumulating negative karma on behalf of someone who, in the end, wasn't even worth the effort to torment. He couldn't let Medea get involved with this matter, so, unless something unexpected occurred, Vahn intended to deal with Jason swiftly, and, even if he didn't deserve it, cleanly.Though plans rarely survived contact with the enemy, Vahn gave a small nod, both in response to his thoughts and Artoria's intentions. Then, after removing his hand from Tamamo's head, much to the lamentation of the happy fox, he said, "I'll escort the two of you back. Those shadows outside won't be happy that Tamamo is leaving so we'll have to cut a path through. I can break the barrier outside without too much trouble, but I feel it would be a waste to destroy this place completely..."Artoria was slightly surprised by Vahn's words, but, being the entity sealed within, Tamamo balled her hands into fists, excited exclaiming, "Alright! I'm totally gonna cut loose and teach those meanies a lesson!"This time, Vahn didn't try to stop his laughter, ruffling Tamamo's hair as he said, "Sure, feel free to go wild. Just try to avoid damaging the surroundings and dirtying your kimono. It would be a shame to ruin your wedding dress before it can fulfill its purpose..."Hearing Vahn's words, realization donned upon Tamamo's face, followed by a somewhat silly smile as she mused, "Right, right~? Don't worry, Ten'nō-sama, I'll make sure my dress remains pristine and untouched until you get the chance to mess it up, ufufufu~."With her words finished, Tamamo manifested a large mirror from thin air, its edges adorned with eight circular rings while its interior, rather than reflecting a clear image, displayed a scene shrouded in mist, similar to water vapor rising from ice. The surrounding temperature even dropped several degrees, a rather curious phenomenon considering Tamamo was the Bunrei of a Sun Goddess...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn's infinite blessings...','Kimono-waifu secured?','Jason is fucked')(A/N: I'll be out for much of the morning so there may not be another chapter until late in the afternoon. Make sure you're all properly taking care of yourself during these trying times. I know it isn't easy, but I believe we can all make it through this if we stay vigilant...!)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Situated a considerable distance from the other territories, to the point of being virtually inaccessible to anyone but Heroic Spirits, a large Japanese palace could be found. It was structured similarly to an ancient castle, complete with a tiered structure, tiled roofs, tall walls, and a variety of ornate statues, each a work of art in and of themselves.After teleporting nearby, Vahn couldn't help but marvel at the large palatial structure, finding it quite beautiful under the golden rays of sunshine that cascaded down from the faux star above. It, and the city surrounding it, gave off the impression of a capital city filled with wealth and vitality, a veritable utopia, at least from above.Though he didn't bother to venture into the streets below, Vahn could see various humanoid figures walking about, each wearing clothing that didn't suit the time period. Instead of informal wear, such as a yukata or a tunic, they were wearing long hooded cloaks, seemingly made from some type of stained black leather. To make them even more creepy, each person, be they adult or child, wore the visage of an animal to cover their face. These masks were formed from a base of glazed porcelain, painted with accents of bright red, gold, and black.While the presence of thousands of masked people was perturbing in its own right, the fact none of the entities below had feet was more troubling. Instead, they had wispy appendages that seemed to be formed from shadows, leaving a trail of blackened footprints behind them wherever they went. It made the otherwise vibrant capital feel 'polluted' in a way...full of life on the surface, but, if you took a closer look, you would find a group of veiled shadows that hid away from the resplendent golden light from above...Since he already knew what would happen if they ventured into the city, Vahn elected to ignore the surrounding capital, setting his sights on the palace in the center. There, if you had eyes that could see such things, a spherical barrier that roughly resembled a chubby fox could be seen. It reminded him of the sparrows that followed Benienma around, but, instead of an amorphous bird, it was a cute fox with an intricate pattern depicting nine tails along its surface.Deciding to transition to where the 'head' of the barrier was located, coinciding with the location of the castle gate, Vahn found himself face-to-face with even more masked figures. Unlike the shadowy citizens populating the capital, however, these ones were rather tall, each adorned in the traditional robes of an onmyoji, complete with ringed staffs and conical hats. They also had masks to cover their faces, and, though it wasn't meant to be amusing, Vahn found it interesting how their porcelain fox ears protruded through their hats...Though the 'men' seemed to serve as palace guards, they remained completely silent even as Vahn led Artoria through the front gate. Other than following with their eyes, they made no effort to try and bar Vahn's passage, simply watching as he made his way further into the compound. This was more than a little creepy, but, knowing there weren't any guards inside the palace itself, Vahn didn't mind their gazes, passing the hundred or so masked figures with impunity.Upon reaching the second set of gates that connected to the palace itself, Vahn turned to Artoria, a serious expression on his face as he said, "The entity beyond these gates wields immense power. If it comes down to a fight, I fear even Avalon might not be able to protect you completely. While I won't ask you to stay behind, promise me you will focus on preserving your life if things go south...I would never forgive myself if something happened to you."Hearing Vahn's words, Artoria's expression became even more serious than before, clear conviction visible in her gaze as she answered, "I will not fall. It was only moments ago that I promised to stay at your side, forever. That included facing your enemies, even if it means exposing myself to danger. Even if the opponent is far beyond me, I will simply push through my limits until I'm able to secure a victory. I trust in you, Vahn. Please, trust in me as well...now, let us be on our way."Without waiting for his response, Artoria pulled Vahn's hand while pushing open the heavy wooden doors as if they were made from styrofoam. This returned the smile to Vahn's face, as, for once, he was pulled along by one of his women, rather than them following behind and basing their reactions on the things he did. It reminded him of how Loki, Hephaestus, and Fortuna would do things, never questing whether or not he trusted them. They always took the action they thought necessary, their status as Goddesses giving them the confidence to push through any obstacle barring their passage.---After trespassing silent halls for several minutes, Vahn and Artoria found themselves near the center of the palace, a massive pavilion that didn't quite match the external decor. Though it clearly had similar Japanese accents, the floor had transitioned from ornate carpets and neatly organized tatami to thick marble slabs. More startling was the fact that, despite being inside of the palace, the interior pavilion seemed much larger than the structure appeared from the outside. It was an impossibly vast area that seemed to stretch upwards into eternity, its walls appearing similar to fragmented data that and fused together with stone blocks...What made the pavilion even stranger were the various statues that occupied the surroundings, each depicting soldiers with horrified looks that had been perpetually frozen in time. Some were oriented in the opposite direction, as if they were trying to flee, but the vast majority were facing inward, their weapons drawn as they appeared to be charging towards the figure lounging upon the throne at the far end of the room...Following their combined line of sight, Vahn could see a young, exceptionally beautiful, woman. She had uncommon pink hair, set into two lively pigtails that jut out from the sides of a massive ribbon that was situated behind two vulpine ears, each possessing a reddish-orange color, similar to a fox's fur. As for her attire, she wore a loose kimono that, even to those unfamiliar with Japanese traditions, resembled a white bridal gown, complete with red accents and an ornate obi. This greatly enhanced her already beautiful appearance, but, what stood out more than anything were the nine wispy tails that danced about lazily behind her body, each reminiscent of flames...Despite several hundred meters separating them, the vulpine women could feel Vahn's gaze, even if his eyes didn't so much as move a single micrometer. This caused her previously neutral expression to shift into the characteristic smile only vulpine woman would manage. She squinted her eyes in an inherently seductive manner, the red mascara surrounding them making her gaze seem passionate, yet predatory. At the same time, her lips curled up slightly at the side, extending a little further than was natural, yet, in spite of this incongruity, it had a way of captivating men's hearts.Vahn could feel a powerful charm try to affect his mind, but, even if he hadn't already anticipated it, such tactics were virtually useless against him. Thus, with the same slight smile on his face, he walked forward with Artoria, stating in a calm tone of voice, "You must be Tamamo-no-Mae-."Interrupting Vahn's words, Tamamo mused, "And you are Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the infamous Sage Dragon Emperor that has thrown the world into turmoil..." while playing with her long, fringe, bangs, At the same time, her tails became more vibrant, spreading a significant amount of heat through the room that seemed to say, 'come no closer'.Rather than deny Tamamo's words, Vahn answered with a curt nod before saying, "Things are never quite that simple, but that is the short of it. I will not deny my crimes, however, this will not stop me from trying to make the world a better place. I have come here-."Without letting him finish, Tamamo once again interrupted Vahn's words, stating, "You come seeking an accord with this vulpine beauty. Yet, despite everything you have to offer, you cannot give me the thing which I seek. Do not feign ignorance with me, boy. We both know I am a Bunrei, a fragment of something far more powerful...something you wish to tame, yet lack the means to do so. After what you have done, you'll be lucky to leave this place alive, much less convince me to obey your will~."As Tamamo spoke, Vahn could feel the Flow of Fate around him become tumultuous and disorderly. It was like a series of intertwined rivers had suddenly converged together, forming a vast ocean that threatened to drown anyone reckless enough to venture into its currents. This was something he had yet to experience, causing his brain to stall for a brief moment as Tamamo's eyes shifted from a pale yellow to a resplendent gold, eclipsing even the sun in their vibrance.After moving from her lounging position to a seated one, Tamamo stated plainly, "Archimedes may have been a scoundrel, but he was also the man I had contracted to. He had promised to grant my penultimate wish, something your existence would deny me. Therefore, you only have two options, child of a foreign star...you will become my betrothed, dedicating your everything to me. Otherwise, you, that woman beside you, and everything you have endeavored to build...I will destroy it all. I will allow you to experience the same helplessness you have bestowed upon others...what say you?"Prior to this encounter, Vahn hadn't realized how much he had been relying on reading the Flow of Fate when it came to making decisions. He was suddenly at a loss as to how to respond, despite the obvious answer being to outright refuse Tamamo's proposition. While making her his bride was not completely out of the question, this would set a dangerous precedent. More importantly, her words made it very clear he would become 'hers', rather than the other way around. She would likely force him into a powerful contract, fully intent on keeping him locked away under the threat of destroying everything he held dear...Needless to say, Vahn wouldn't allow someone to arbitrarily endanger his loved ones, so, even if this was just a test, his aura exploded outward as he glared at Tamamo and said, "I'll make a third option, choosing my own path...!"Though his aura was typically more than enough to overwhelm his foes, Vahn was slightly shaken when, after releasing his full might, it seemed to be forced back into him. His domain, which had previously spread for nearly a dozen kilometers, was restricted to less than a single meter. At the same time, Tamamo's smiled had become similar to a demon's, the corners of her mouth nearly reaching her slit-like eyes as two sun-like irises stared back at him in amusement...In the brief moment where Vahn was considering whether or not to attack, an intense surge of heat slammed into both him and Artoria. Their surroundings also changed in an instant, changing from a battlefield filled with stone soldiers to an indescribably large temple. It was almost like he had been shrunken down to the size of a mouse, as, laying before him, a woman that was more than thirty meters tall lay lazily on her side, an amused expression on her vulpine face.Compared to Tamamo, the woman before him was even more beautiful, and, though they shared many similarities with each other, their differences were like comparing a golden chalice to a rusted bronze cup. Even Vahn, who had seen numerous indescribable beauties, was at a complete loss as he stared blankly at the magnificent giantess lounging before him, helpless as her aura threatened to consume him...Vahn couldn't help but overlap the woman before him with the Tiamat he had encountered back in the Record of Danmachi. She was simply so far beyond his current level that, even if he fought, there seemed to be little hope in victory. He had told himself that he would never run away again, but, in the face of nine-tailed Goddess, all of his instincts were screaming at him to flee. Fighting would only amount to becoming her plaything, freely toyed with at her leisure until she either got bored with or outright erased him...Overwhelmed by the woman's aura, Vahn's fight or flight response resounded a unanimous 'flight', so, without further hesitation, he turned toward Artoria, exclaiming, "We need...to..." before paling.Instead of the stalwart woman who had promised to remain at his side for all eternity, Vahn saw a red-hot [Excalibur], straining under the intense heat radiating from the Goddess before him. Nothing else remained, not even her armor that had been enchanted to the point of being able to resist even an A-Rank Noble Phantasm. There weren't even ashes, just a slowly melting sword...Awaking him from his stupor, a melodious voice echoed through the vast, impossibly large chamber, stating, "You made the wrong choice...now, you have one last chance. You took something precious from me so I expect compensation. Offer yourself to me or despair like everyone else in the world you have created...these are you only two options, ufufufufu~."---Title: April Fools Day is Malicious(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Shadows beneath the light of the Sun','Venturing forth without fear','Feelings of absolute despair...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1454: Alternative Path