Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Vahn wasn't foolish enough to trust Merlin completely, but, when it regarded things like Artoria's happiness, the flowery magus could be pretty reliable. Thus, knowing Artoria's 'true form' would be a reflection of her ideal self, it didn't matter what she ended up looking like. So long as she was happy, there was no reason for him not to be.Originally, Artoria was fated to wait within the confines of Avalon for tens-of-thousands of years, her body remaining unchanged due to the few emotions she was able to cling to during her isolation. It was rather tragic, really, but, now that he had changed her fate so completely, such concerns would never be required. Now, they walked a parallel path, and, no matter what difficulties they faced, they would be able to meet them together...After verbalizing these thoughts and explaining the process to Artoria, Vahn watched as his beloved Empress nervously activated her [Avalon]. He and Gray had also been affected by her tensions, but, as they had similar ideas of showing support, they managed to maintain comforting smiles as a veil of light shrouded Artoria's body.Vahn could feel his heart begin to race madly as butterflies began to flutter around in his stomach, a combination that, despite his age, made him feel giddy. Then, with widening eyes, he watched as the proud and noble swordmaiden he had come to love began to shrink at a startling rate. Merlin's smile suddenly flickered across his thoughts, causing his hands to ball into loose fists as the light began to fade away, revealing a version of Artoria even more petite than Circe...Unamused by the trickery, Vahn turned his attention towards the ceiling, stating, "If you don't break this illusion, so help me..."Following Vahn's words, a laugh could be heard echoing in the surroundings as a hazy figure came into existence a few meters away. This was, of course, Merlin, who, upon seeing the look on Vahn's face, ceased laughing. Then, after lightly coughing a few times, he said, "You'll have to forgive me, Your Majesty. If I were to pass on such an opportunity, I would regret it for my entire life..."As even Artoria was glaring at him with a rather vicious gaze, Merlin waved his hand through the air with an apologetic smile on his face, erasing the illusion he had cast over her body. Truthfully, he was just a little upset by the fact Vahn hadn't thought to inform him of his intentions. This was his way of getting even with him, as, while it may be a much more important even for the three of them, it was still a moment he had wanted to bear witness to...With Merlin's illusion broken, Vahn couldn't help but gawk, his mouth hanging open rather sillily as even Gray's eyes became as round as saucers. As for Artoria herself, she hadn't been able to see all of the changes to her body, but, seeing the two large mounds that threatened to burst through her dress, a large grin had spread across her face. It was only when she looked up with an expression of pride that she realized just how much she had changed, as, compared to before, where she had to crane her neck just to look up at Vahn, she was now only a few centimeters shorter than him...Vahn realized he had slightly underestimated Artoria's complex about her femininity, as, now that she was in her 'true' form, it was impossible to even compare her to her past self. She had become a startlingly beautiful woman, possessing mature features that greatly exceeded his expectations. Even Boudica would be hard-pressed to compare herself to Artoria, as, while she had shapely and natural-looking breasts, Artoria's seemed 'flawless', holding their shape perfectly despite their size...While the changes to her bust were the most notable, Artoria's figure as a whole now possessed an indescribable quality to it. Though it was possible to use words to convey her beauty, any attempt to do so just seemed 'wrong', almost as if it was a libelous remark that blemished her otherwise perfect existence. The only way to describe her changes without it sounding like an insult would be to using the words 'mature beauty', as even describing her as 'godly' seemed inadequate...Seeing Vahn's unbroken stupor, Artoria could feel a swell of emotions from deep within. Though he had always looked at her with love and affection, one of Artoria's secret desires had always been to take Vahn's breath away with her feminine charm. She had wanted to become a woman that could stand at his side, nay, a proud Empress that could match his stature.Though it didn't seem to bother Vahn, it had always made Artoria feel self-conscious whenever she imagined how others perceived them when they were seen together. After all, Vahn was a tall and handsome man who could change the atmosphere of an entire room just by entering it. Inversely, while she also garnered a great deal of attention, the fact she looked even younger than some of his children was a great blemish on her pride. Now, she was confident she could stand at his side with pride, rather than forcing herself to radiate dignity she didn't believe she possessed...Unaware of Artoria's true thoughts, Vahn slowly regained his senses, but, even after several minutes had passed, he couldn't find words to speak. This caused the smile on Artoria's face to grow, and, though it might be awkward to some, she didn't mind allowing Vahn to gawk until he was satisfied. His gaze made her feel beautiful, and, if not for the presence of Merlin, she might have given in to the urge to pose for him.As Artoria's own excitement grew, nearly every set of eyes in the room looked downward, confusing her slightly. It wasn't until she followed their gaze that she realized the reason behind their peculiar line of sight, as, snaking around happily behind her body, a silvery-white tail had made its presence known. This was enough to cause Artoria herself to gawk, her stupor turning into abject shock as she reached out, confirming it was attached to her body...Seeing Artoria's shocked expression, Vahn was finally able to recover completely, an amused smile replacing his previous, stupefied, expression. Then, before Artoria could embarrass herself, he gave a pointed look toward Merlin, stating, "I believe you have seen enough, yes?"Hearing Vahn's words, Merlin awkwardly rubbed the back of his head, saying, "Well, I suppose you are right. Before I go, just let me say a few words, okay?"Without waiting for Vahn's permission, Merlin made his way over to Artoria's side, surprising her, once again, due to how much her height had increased. Previously, she had been stuck at 154cm, but, after the changes to her body, she was now a startling 173cm tall. As Merlin was only 178cm in height, Artoria was able to easily maintain eye contact with him, a fact that caused a small smile to return to her face.The moment he reached Artoria's side, Merlin surprised everyone present by reaching out his hand, stroking the top of her head as he said, "You've grown..." in an affectionate tone. This wasn't meant to be a sarcastic remark, rather, based on the sincerity visible in Merlin's countenance, it was like a father praising his daughter.Artoria's expression immediately turned complicated upon hearing Merlin's words, her nose turning slightly sour. Truthfully, she had always considered Merlin a surrogate father to her, as, while he may have had the same expectations as everyone else, he always stood by her. He was the one who cared for her as a child, taught her how to use her sword, and, most importantly, comforted her whenever she was feeling doubtful or lonely...Though she didn't cry, Artoria was very clearly on the verge of doing so as she closed her eyes and muttered, "Thank you..." in a low voice. At the very end, however, she added on one final word that only Merlin, who had been staring directly at her had been able to discern, 'father'. This caused his own eyes to moisten, but, not wanting to make this moment about him, he issued a soft laugh as his body faded away, leaving the trio to their own devices...With Merlin's disappearance, Artoria felt a strange feeling of loneliness, but, with Vahn and Gray still present, a feeling of fullness spread through her body as she returned their smiles with her own. As a result, her silvery-white tail began rhythmically tap the floor, causing a slight blush to develop across her cheeks due to the awkwardness of having an appendage she couldn't control...---Though it had been obvious due to her physical transformation, Artoria's True Dragon blood was no longer sealed. Fortunately, most likely as a result of her own views on the matter, her transformation was only a partial one. With a bit of effort, it wouldn't be long before she was able to conceal her draconic features completely. Vahn, however, encouraged the opposite, as, rather than suppress her bloodline, it would be a lot 'healthier' for her to master it.Artoria was troubled by the fact she now had a rather thick tail protruding from her backside, but, as she could also feel a phenomenal amount of power within her body, her jubilation greatly exceeded any of her concerns. She also knew that Vahn had a thing for women with exotic features, so, while it was undoubtedly the result of her dragon blood, Artoria silently speculated the 'true' reason behind the sudden emergence of her tail...Vahn would probably reprimand her slightly if he knew her thoughts, but, Artoria was much happier with her current form than her previous self. Part of her had always felt strangely possessive of him, so, to have him look at her with such intrigue and 'want', it made her feel greatly vindicated. Though she would never even think of forcing him to give up other women, she had grown to feel prideful of the fact that, while he may be surrounded by beauties, she had been the one chosen as his Empress.Now that she had become her 'true' self, Artoria was feeling more confident than ever before. It was like all of her repressed emotions were beginning to break free from their bindings, allowing her to feel truly liberated for the first time in her life. She could vividly imagine the reactions of every other woman in the Inner Sanctum, and, though she felt slightly apologetic towards them, Artoria felt as though she had completely eclipsed her 'other' selves...After admiring the changes to her body in a standing mirror for nearly twenty minutes, Artoria met Vahn's gaze through the reflection, her eyes becoming slightly sharper as a smile spread across her face. He had been watching her with an amused yet possessive look on her face, while, at his side, Gray had a visibly envious look.While she would never openly state it, Gray's envy made Artoria feel even more vindicated, her pale white pupils contracting slightly to form slits. This gave her a slightly predatory look, especially with her silver eyes glimmering slightly in amusement. She had the appearance of a cat who had found a mouse to play with, but, rather than act on this emotion, Artoria turned to face them, her expression softening slightly as she muttered, "It seems your surprise not only met my expectations but greatly exceeded them...I suppose I should thank you, shouldn't I~?"Though Artoria could pull off being playfully seductive before, her current form radiated a mature aura that nearly caused Vahn to swallow, hard, upon hearing her husky voice. It had deepened a lot compared to before, now possessing a quality that could make a person's skin turn to goosebumps the moment they heard it. This wasn't due to disgust, however, but due to how sensual her neutral tone had become.Without waiting for Vahn's response, Artoria's clothes began to dissolve into motes of silvery-white light, not to reveal her naked body, but to change into something completely new. Even she didn't know what form it would take, however, as she was merely following her instincts, activating one of the powers she 'knew' slumbered inside her body. All she knew was, based on her intuition, Vahn would greatly appreciate it, so, regardless of what form it took, she would make full use of it.To Vahn's surprise, two silvery-white horns protruded from Artoria's head, appearing reminiscent of rabbit ears. More surprisingly, however, was how her bun partially loosened, allowing her beautiful golden hair to flow freely, while, in lieu of the form-fitting blue dress from before, Artoria was now wearing what appeared to be a white bunny suit. It was a highly revealing outfit, leaving very little to the imagination due to the various sections of exposed skin.Though staring at any part of Artoria's body would be worthwhile, Vahn found his eyes drawn to her long, slender, legs. They were now covered in a pale blue mesh that, at a glance, appeared to be fish next hose. If you were to look closely, however, you would notice that the individual segments were actually thin blue scales, each glistening like the smooth underbelly of a snake. It was, honestly, one of the most beautiful and tantalizing things he had ever seen, causing Vahn's own draconic instincts to act up as a strong desire to 'conquer' his beloved Empress welled up inside him...Artoria could feel a startling heat pass through her body upon seeing Vahn's gaze, but, feeling an equal desire to tease him, she chose to remain where she was, smiling seductively as she said, "This seems to be my Divine Raiment...hmm, I suppose it is true that rabbits often represent good fortune. I wonder if this form increases my own...shall we put it to the test~?"Hearing Artoria's words, Vahn was able to ascertain several things, but, while he was certainly curious about her Divinity, that quickly fell to the wayside when his own words echoed through his mind. He knew what Artoria was referencing when she mentioned putting her fortune to the test. This caused his aura to begin swelling against his will, his eyes shifting from aquamarine to glimmering gold. In turn, Artoria's silver irises also began to glow, her pupils expanding and contracting slightly as their emotions caused an infinite loop of increasing tensions...Though he actually had a lot of other important things going on, Vahn still found himself saying, "It is too dangerous to do it here...we'll end up destroying a part of the castle..."Rather than answer his words, Artoria's eyes squinted slightly as a phenomenal, seemingly infinite, amount of energy emanated from her body. In an instant, their surroundings had changed from their shared chambers to an endless field of blooming flowers. Then, in a surprising act of aggression, she stepped forward, smiling greedily as she said, "I've waited long enough..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn's curse','I may not be your father, but I am your daddy','The Goddess of Fortune places her bet...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Sensing Artoria's momentum building, Vahn got the impression that, even if he wanted to refuse her, she wouldn't be willing to take no for an answer. Her behavior reminded him of how Terra behaved whenever she got excited, but, rather than a gentle and serene aura, Artoria's was like a tsunami that threatened to overwhelm anything in its path. Even the various currents that represented the Flow of Fate seemed to be pulled along by her momentum, significantly reducing the number of potential outcomes...Vahn could feel his own aura surging in response to Artoria's, tiny golden scales emerging along his arms and legs as a result. She was a full Tier stronger than him, but, perhaps as a result of his lineage being much stronger, his significantly weaker aura was actually able to contend against, overwhelm, and even suppress her surging power...After approaching within thirty centimeters of Vahn's body, Artoria's movements came to a stop, her glimmering silver eyes staring back at him with intense passion visible within. Then, surprising the already slack-jawed Gray, who was beginning to feel out of her depths, Artoria slowly turned around, facing away from Vahn. This wasn't the most surprising part, however, as, immediately after turning away, Artoria began to slowly bend forward, using her tail as a counterbalance as it snaked up Vahn's leg, abdomen, and chest before nearly flicking him in the nose...As he was insatiably curious to see what Artoria would do, Vahn had a large grin on his face as he allowed her to do as she pleased. When her tail finally passed the bridge of his nose, it didn't stop, rather, much like Artoria, it continued to move forward, creating a near-circular arc as it extended nearly to her head. What made this truly eye-opening wasn't the beauty of her tail, however, but the flawless butt and tantalizing mound that came into view. Then, as if to drive him beyond the point of reason, she let herself fall back slightly, pressing up against his lower body while staring back at him with a taunting smile on her face...At this point, even Vahn's horns had started to grow out, his expression becoming even greedier than the one she had earlier as he tightly gripped her thin waist with his partially transformed claws. His pupils contracted to the point of being thin lines, but, before abandoning his reason completely, he managed to say, "Gray...stand back...I need to teach this Dragon temptress a lesson..."Though Artoria was clearly submitting to him, Vahn knew he still needed to 'prove' himself to her, as, due to the fact she was currently much stronger than him, her own instincts were slowly beginning to cloud her reason. Fortunately, power wasn't the ultimate deciding factor between Dragons, as, just like how Fafnir had been obedient to Alexa, blood purity and the hierarchal nature of Dragons could supersede everything else.Obeying her Master's orders, Grey manifested a pair of bat-like wings, her figure vanishing like a phantom as she began to fly away at hypersonic speeds. Her own instincts had been warning of the intense danger she had been in, but, as this threat came from her Master and Lady, she obviously couldn't run away of her own volition. Thus, Vahn's words had freed her from a heavy burden, even if a large part of her still wanted to remain at their side, despite the danger...The moment Gray moved beyond his perception, a few bands of golden lightning began to flicker across Vahn's body. Then, using his paradoxically fearsome yet beautiful claws, he tore away at the surprisingly durable fabric of Artoria's raiment, revealing the maddeningly hot flesh beneath. He had been able to feel it through the fabric of their clothes, but, the moment she was completely exposed, Vahn felt a literally wave of heat and pheromones wash over him, causing his own body temperature to rapidly increase.Though he was slightly awed by the neatly trimmed arrangement of golden hairs that, quite literally, glimmered in the sunlight, Vahn was more focused on the steaming hot cavern that seemed to taunt his sensibilities with each small palpitation. He wasn't able to hold himself back at all, allowing his aura to violently tear apart his clothes rather than unequipping them. Then, with a borderline crazed look in his eyes, he positioned his almost painful erection at Artoria's entrance, her Holy elemental energy causing a sizzling sound to spread through the surroundings before he buried his full length deep inside her body...Accompanying a pained gasp, a pair of beautiful white wings erupted from Artoria's back, appearing much like angel wings, but, rather than soft and delicate, they shimmered with a metallic quality. For a brief moment, Vahn felt like he was going to be repelled by the Holy aura pulsing with each beat of her heart, but, as he had already tightly gripped her, his claws deformed her tender yet durable flesh, refusing to let go...Artoria's instincts were screaming at her to resist, not because she was afraid, but because part of her refused to be dominated by Vahn. A larger part of her, however, wanted nothing more than to be conquered by him, so, ignoring the conflict in her heart, her wings began to beat slightly, her aura pulsing madly as Vahn pressed into her from behind. He even ended up pushing her to the ground, causing the landscape around them to begin tearing apart due to the chaotic energy created due to their conflicting auras.Even he didn't understand what was compelling him, but Vahn ended up forcibly pinning Artoria, compressing the Space around them as he bit into the tender underside of her tail. This caused her to release a pained yet sonorous moan, her voice loud enough to cause the void to tremble as nearly a kilometer of the flowery field, in the direction she was facing, was obliterated by her 'roar'. Despite this, Vahn continued to cling tightly to her, refusing to let the energy that was literally tearing apart his body repel him from her...Though she was being pressed down with enough force to flatten a mountain, Artoria's wings were still able to thrash about with impunity. Her feathers cut deeply into Vahn's flesh, and, if he hadn't been forcibly keeping her tail under control, she wouldn't be able to resist trying to fling him from her body. She was currently still 'winning' the battle within her mind, but, due to how new everything was for her, Artoria couldn't completely control her own body. This was something Vahn instinctually understood, so, while he generally tried to avoid being rough, the scene playing out within the now-destroyed flower field didn't even remotely resemble consensual love-making.To resist the energy radiating from Artoria's body, Vahn had already completed his own humanoid dragon transformation. His own scaled golden wings fought vainly to try and suppress Artoria's far more beautiful, angelic, wings. A momentary break in his concentration all but guaranteed he would be thrown away, fundamentally changing the nature of his and Artoria's relationship. Though they would still end up having sex, their positions would be reversed, and, while this had its own charm, Vahn had never liked being on the 'receiving' end...Eventually, despite the guilt it seeded within his heart, Vahn had little choice but to grab Artoria by the neck, forcibly changing positions so that he was on his back, supporting her body. Then, using his wings, he tightly embraced her from behind, squashing her tail between them and sinking his teeth into her shoulder. This caused Artoria to respond with another loud roar, but, as it was aimed toward the sky, the surroundings weren't nearly as damaged. It also managed to tear apart a large section of his wings, but his regeneration was more than adequate to prevent her from 'escaping'...Though he had rarely ever taken advantage of the fact, Vahn's [Magia Erebia] constitution effectively made him a Shinso Vampire. As a result, he was able to absorb a person's life force and energy by forcibly draining their blood, something he had only ever experimented with, never used proactively. Artoria, however, was simply too strong after her transformation, so, if he didn't weaken her, there was little chance he would be able to maintain his diminishing lead.While trying to ignore how delicious Artoria's blood tasted, Vahn continued to tighten his hold on her body, his own strength rapidly increasing as his bloodline gradually suppressed hers. Eventually, after nearly twenty minutes, he could finally feel her strength begin to decrease. This gave him the leniency to begin grinding against her from below, her insides clamping around him madly as if to deny his conquest. Fortunately, after another half-hour, they reached a state of equilibrium, turning into an absolute advantage for him from then onwards...After a tiresome 'battle', Artoria had largely fallen silent, her breaths long and deep, tinged with a sonorous growl that could be heard emanating from her throat. To Vahn, it sounded a lot like she was purring, stirring him onward as he continued to cradle her body in his arms, probing against her deepest parts with impunity. Her body would tremble and vibrate with each of his thrusts, sending a small pulse of energy that, despite her weakened state, attempted to repel him. It was as if her body adamantly refused to submit to him, but, with an unbreakable grip that could conceivably shape coal into diamond, Vahn wasn't going anywhere...Eventually, Vahn's wings embraced Artoria even tighter, anticipating her reaction as he released a heavy flow of semen directly into her depths. This caused a literal eruption of energy, similar in scale to a nuclear explosion to erupt from her body. Vahn had prepared himself, but his wings still ended up being destroyed, leaving him to keep Artoria suppressed using his arms and teeth.Fortunately, despite the explosion of energy, Artoria didn't try to run away. Rather, as her energy began to rapidly replenish using the phenomenal amount contained within his semen, the tensions of her body began to melt away. Then, after releasing a contented sigh, she lay limp against him, a dazed smile on her face as her pupils began to dilate due to intense euphoria.Realizing her body was no longer resisting him, Vahn was able to release a sigh of relief, his grip loosening without actually letting her go. He began to kiss her neck, still feeling apologetic despite the fact it had already healed completely. This elicited an amused giggle from Artoria, who, in spite of her dazed state, managed to turn her head and muse, "I'll have to get even with you for biting my tail...the shoulder wasn't that bad, but I felt like my brain was going to explode when you bit my tail. I've been stabbed through the heart and it wasn't even comparable to the amount of pain I felt when you bit me..."Vahn felt incredibly guilty hearing Artoria's words, causing him to lightly kiss the tip of her tail. This elicited another peal of laughter from the beautiful draconic Goddess, who, having already started to recover her faculties, used her tail to lightly flick his nose as she said, "You can stop squeezing me so tightly now...my body has already submitted, just like my heart and mind. It seems I really was lucky today, umu~."Hearing Artoria emulate Nero's characteristic phrase, Vahn was slightly stupefied. Still, he obediently released his grip on her body, allowing her to sit up, and, with his penis still inside her, turn around so that they were facing each other. Since he had been holding her from behind from the beginning, Vahn had actually 'forgotten' just how large Artoria's breasts had grown. Now, as her raiment had all but been destroyed, he could witness their perfection directly, compelling him to stare in awe...Satisfied by Vahn's reaction, Artoria had a seductive smile on her face as she began to trace gingerly trace his muscles with her index finger. Then, while rhythmically tightening her abdominal muscles, she stated in a soul-trembling voice, "You have worked hard, my Emperor...now, allow this Empress to service you as a wife should...we have all the time in the world. Relax your body and allow me to show you the depths of my love..."Without waiting for his response, Artoria capitalized on her seductive appearance, biting her lower lip as she began to gently move her hips in a circular motion. This elicited a long sigh from Vahn, his lower body awash in indescribable pleasure, even if it also felt like he was being 'purified'. He had yet to ascertain exactly what Divinities she possessed, but Artoria's [Divnity: EX] was the highest he had ever seen. This gave an unquantifiably Divine quality to her previous Holy energy, meaning there was a very real chance his body would be destroyed completely if he lost focus. Thus, while he wanted to take her advice and just relax, doing so would come at a considerable cost. Fortunately, with such an awe-inspiring beauty bouncing around on his hips, Vahn would be the greatest fool in the world if he allowed himself to lose focus...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'How to tame your Dragon Goddess','Vahn got that gewd succ','Artoria has always been rather gluttonous :3...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Around the same time that he was discussing the summoning of Heroes, Vahn had freed up a bit of time, seeking out Artoria. He didn't want to surprise her by summoning a 'doppelganger' of herself without any forewarning, but, more importantly, he wanted to resolve the matter of her 'surprise'. It wasn't something that needed to be taken care of immediately, but, once she learned the specifics, there was a fair chance she might blame him for not bringing it up sooner.Though Vahn could take a sneak peek into what the future held, doing so would spoil the surprise for both of them. He was very curious about the result, but, in order to share the moment with his beloved Empress, he diligently went in blind. After all, regardless of how things ended up, Vahn was certain Artoria would appreciate it quite a bit.Carrying this conviction with him, Vahn sought out Artoria, finding her lounging in their room. This wasn't all that surprising, but, perhaps as a result of the stress she had accumulated throughout the day, Vahn was amused to find her wearing nothing but a blouse and panties as Gray straddled her back, massaging Artoria's shoulders. It was a rather 'intimate' scene, quickly turning comical when he startled them both by suddenly opening the door.While Gray showed an expression of mild shock, Artoria nearly knocked her out of the bed when she suddenly flipped over and tried to cover herself. She looked like she had just had a heart attack, her face paling as a cold sweat quickly developed across her body. When she saw who had entered the room, however, her face became beet red as she exclaimed, "You...can't you knock or something!?"Electing not to tease her too much, Vahn simply smiled, muttering, "Sorry, I'll keep that in mind..." as he walked over to the bed. He knew she would quickly realize how foolish it would be to require him to knock on his own bedroom. She was simply surprised, as, whenever he made time for his children, Vahn would stay with them for upwards of a day, on the low end...While Artoria was recovering, Gray managed a slight smile, bowing as she politely stated, "Good evening, Master." The fact she was in her lingerie made this quite the appealing sight, earning an appreciative nod from Vahn as he answered, "Sorry to interrupt." in an amused tone.Hearing her Master's words, Gray's smile only widened as she resisted the temptation to laugh, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she stated, "We were just getting to the good part too..."The moment Gray finished her words, a white blur slammed into her head, knocking her off balance as Artoria, with a crimson complexion, readied another pillow and exclaimed, "Traitor...!"---After waiting for both Artoria and Gray to change into more suitable attire, Vahn preempted their questions, explaining, "I wanted to give you an update on the events taking place in the Moon Cell. Before I end up summoning anyone else, I also wanted to give you the surprise I promised. Though it could wait until later...well, let's just say this will make things slightly easier for me? Hahahaha~."Now that she was fully clothed, Artoria had regained her calm demeanor, her expression forming a slight deadpan as she plainly stated, "You intend to summon another person that looks like us, don't you?"Hearing Artoria's words, Vahn turned statuesque, earning a pointed look from his beloved Empress, who, with her arms crossed, added, "Your surprise better be good. I'm already expecting that glutton and battle junky to begin clinging to you in the future. You summoning more doesn't even come as a surprise at this point..."Contrary to how she behaved when others were present, Artoria could be exceptionally shrewd when they were 'alone'. Though she was also prone to bouts of embarrassment, she became a force to be reckoned with whenever she regained her momentum.Despite the slight pressure he experienced under Artoria's silvery gaze, Vahn felt as though he had an absolute advantage this time around. She seemed to notice this as well, her 'anger' beginning to subside even before he answered.So as not to lose the momentum, Vahn took a deep breath, adopting a serious expression as he said, "After what happened with Scáthach...I invested a lot of time trying to comprehend everything that had happened. I've also been speaking with both Alaya and Merlin about concerns I have had for a long time, trying to grasp concepts regarding Space and Time. I'm so close to obtaining a Divinity in both, so a lot of my self-study relates to both subjects..."Artoria didn't know what Vahn was getting at, but she began to feel more than a little nervous. Even Gray was showing an exceptionally serious expression, feeling as though she was bearing witness to an important, historic, moment.With the attention of both women fixated on him, Vahn allowed himself to smile slightly, adding, "I promised to continue looking for ways to treat your current condition. I had discovered the solution some time ago, but, as I had many concerns, I never mentioned it. These last few days have changed my perspective a considerable amount, so, now that I have had time to consider it properly, I think it is time to come forward with my findings..."Even without asking, Artoria knew what Vahn meant when he was referring to her 'condition'. She could feel her jaw begin to tremble slightly as she balled her hands into fists, doing her best to try and stay calm as he explained, "Your Chrono Displasia, it is not the result of you freeing Caliburn from the stone. Rather, from that moment in time, it was your inability to move forward that caused your body to cease developing. You were too focused on being the King others had always expected you to become, following the path they had set without deviating. By the time you pulled the sword from the stone, you had become that King, never changing from that moment onwards..."Hearing Vahn's words, Artoria lowered her eyes slightly, memories of her past welling up, including many things she had come to regret. Though she had started letting these things go, there were still a few things that haunted her, even to this day.Before Artoria could begin wallowing in the memories of her past, Vahn extended his hand, gently lifting her chin so that they were staring directly at each other. Then, before continuing where he left off, he softly stated, "You have come a long way, Artoria...you are no longer that young woman who was forced to bear a burden others thrust upon you. Raise your head, smile, and feel prideful of the progress you have made...the people you have touched..."Placing her hand overtop Vahn's, Artoria was able to calm down considerably, a smile replacing the conflicted expression on her face as she answered, "You're right...the person I have become can't be compared to my past self. Sometimes, I forget...thanks for reminding me...Vahn..."As it was virtually impossible to resist, Vahn reduced the already shrinking distance between them, kissing Artoria's lips in a delicate manner. He was tempted to go further, but, as he was starting to get a little excited for what was to come, he tempered his resolve, pulling away after a few seconds had passed.Now looking like a demure maiden, Artoria had a slight flush on her face as she awkwardly combed her fingers through her hair. In truth, she was also tempted to continue, but, far more than Vahn, she was eager to experience what his words seemed to promise.Contrary to her expectations, albeit only slightly, Vahn went on to explain, "That is the primary cause behind your body's physical development. The real problem, however, is the contract you attempted to establish with Alaya. Even though we have largely treated your trauma, your Soul is still linked to your original body. Time is an illusory concept, having no bearing on the Soul itself. Thus, while your original body remains removed from the Time Axis, your current vessel will default back to that state, even if someone like Aoko were to accelerate you time by millions of years..."As Artoria had started to deflate slightly, Vahn began to lightly caress her cheek, a smile on his face as he asked, "Do you think I would tell you these things arbitrarily? Calm yourself. Take deep breaths and relax..."Following Vahn's guiding words, Artoria took several deep breaths, leaning into his palm slightly with her cheek. Once she had calmed down an adequate amount, he went on to explain, "I spent a lot of time looking into the methods employed by Scáthach to link the Land of Shadows with the current Time Axis. I also discussed your original fate with Merlin, learning the conditions required for your return as the King of Utopian Avalon..."Once he reached the part concerning Artoria's fate, Vahn felt a little awkward, but, knowing she would want to know the full details, he continued, adding, "One of the requirements was for your contract with Alaya to be annulled. This would have resulted in the death of your original body, but, due to the nature of your existence of the 'pillar' of the world, your physical body is simply a vessel. Your Soul, in the form of a Greater Divine Spirit, would have been transferred to Avalon, awaiting the world's destruction before allowing you to return, this time in your 'true' form..."Though she knew Vahn would go on to explain, Artoria couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly, asking, "So, I have to die...no, you have to destroy my original body...?"As she had hit the nail on the head, Vahn felt even more awkward, his smile turning wry as he said, "I can retrieve your original body from the severed Time Axis using the Throne of Heroes. Since you are currently inhabiting this vessel, this would cause your original body to break down into dust, ceasing to exist. The death of your physical body serves the purpose of creating a permanent gateway with True Avalon, one only you can open. From that moment onward, you would be able to summon True Avalon at will, but, most importantly, it will remove your Chrono Displasia entirely. Your true nature is that of a Greater Divine Spirit, one with Draconic heritage...once you are willing to accept that, there will be no limits to your future..."Even before he had finished his explanation, Vahn could see hesitation budding within Artoria's silver eyes. Her aura had also become slightly chaotic, so, while it was somewhat unfair to her, he leaned in close, bringing his mouth near her ear as he whispered, "You will also be able to bear children..."The moment her brain processed what Vahn had just said, which took a surprisingly long period of time, Artoria felt a resolution bubble up inside of her as she firmly stated, "I'm ready. I hadn't even thought about my original body in the last few years, so there is no sense in fretting over it at this point. Let us be done with this. Do it. Quickly."Vahn wasn't too surprised by Artoria's fervor, as he knew she had been thinking about having an actual child even before the recent matter with Mordred. Becoming the latter's mother had been one of the most pivotal moments in her entire life, but, while she cared about Mordred deeply, it was impossible for her to quell the desire to bear one of her own. She had envied the fact that others were able to get pregnant, seeding thoughts of inferiority and causing her to, at times, question her value as a woman...---With Artoria having made up her mind, another version of Vahn, who had been waiting patiently in the Welsh Dragon's Chamber, opened his eyes. In the next moment, he found himself in the familiar black space, standing a few meters short of the Throne's terminal.Though Artoria's name was actually greyed out, as she was already 'summoned', Vahn had already performed an experiment to ascertain whether or not his method world work. In the end, all he had to do was select the [Transmigration] option, and, though there was a fair chance her Ego would be transplanted into the new body, the end result would be the same. All that really mattered was that her physical vessel was destroyed, allowing the gateway to True Avalon to be established. If he had to transfer her soul into another vessel for a few minutes, it wouldn't make much of a difference...Fortunately, Vahn was spared the additional effort as, after confirming his selection, he watched as the familiar bluish-white particles came together before ultimately dispersing. Her body didn't even manifest completely, but, within the Unit Management list, Vahn was able to confirm that her Chrono Displasia had disappeared. The only step remaining was for her to activate [Avalon], then, alongside Artoria herself, he would learn exactly why Merlin kept telling him he was in for a pleasant surprise...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Mmm, Artoria showing why she is the top waifu in the Nasuverse...','It's easy, really, we just have to kill you~!','I'm getting vertigo up here...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1469: (Surprise 2/2)