Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With the loss of his Sex Divinity, Vahn felt as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He hadn't lost any of his 'prowess', but, compared to before, he now had to put more effort and focus into his partner's needs. Fortunately, he knew most of their bodies even better than they did, so, while he lost the ability to instinctively sense when they were in the mood, satisfying them wasn't a difficult matter. Rather, things had become even more intimate than before, as, rather than letting his Divinity help guide his actions, he had to default to closely observing them.Prior to obtaining his Divinity, Vahn had always closely monitored the state of his partner, using his wealth of experience to determine the best course of action. He couldn't always know exactly how they wanted to be treated, but, in a way, making mistakes and learning made the experience far more interesting. Things became more experimental, fresh, and, as a result, his partners had also become a lot more 'honest'. They now directly conveyed what they wanted, sometimes far more vocally than he would have expected...A stark contrast to her usual 'motherly' appearance, the current Iris was wearing an extremely skimpy outfit form from a malleable material that easily clung to the skin. With a set of golden horns on her head and a whip-like tail that came to an end in a heart shape, she matched what many believed a Succubus should look like. She even had the physique to match, complete with large breasts, a pliable butt, thick thighs, and a thin layer of subcutaneous fat that made her entire body soft and slightly squishy.Though she was normally a very reserved woman, with a slight propensity for teasing others, the current Iris was skillfully dancing atop Vahn's waist, a lascivious look in her ruby-red eyes as she sonorously intoned, "Ah...that's good~! Hit that spot again...! Nnn...I can feel you stretching out my insides...ufufufu, you're going to ruin my body at this rate~."Despite her words, Iris was happily bouncing her hips with enough force to cause loud smacking sounds to echo throughout the room. This was one of the few times she had ever gotten Vahn to herself, so, compared to her usual self, she was a little 'too eager'. As for where she got the outfit, it was, of course, one of Da Vinci's inventions. She had modified a few of the [REquip] systems to function similarly to faux Divine Raiments, allowing a host of unique outfits to be produced based almost entirely on a person's thoughts and feelings.Manifesting even a 'false' Divine Raiment required a significant amount of Mana, but, with a body produced by Vahn and the ability to harness functionally infinite energy from the planet itself, Iris had little trouble maintaining a host of 'interesting' outfits. In the past, she had even produced a version that allowed her to emulate some of Illya's bestial traits, creating a dangerous 'gap' that left a very deep impression in Vahn's memory. He could still remember the scene of her pinning down Illya as she waggled her butt towards him, an eager and inviting look in her eyes that left no room for discussion...With his fingers sinking into her fleshy butt, Vahn bucked Iris with enough force to send a visible ripple through her body. This also propelled her forward, causing her voluminous breasts to press into him as she intoned an amused, "Oh my~." before extending her tongue to greet his. Then, as their tongues continued to intertwine, Vahn continued for rhythmically 'pound' from below, using the durable springs of the mattress to maintain a steady pace while using his hands to prevent her hips from bouncing too far.In the end, Iris' toes began to curl as she tightly hugged his neck and whispered heatedly in his ear, "You can feel it, right~? My womb has descended, begging for your seed. Fill me up until I'm bursting, ufufufu~."Though she couldn't get pregnant unless they both wanted a child, Iris had become somewhat addicted to 'creampies'. Rather, all of the women who had the ability to absorb and convert mana were rather fond of feeling their insides stretch due to his voluminous release. It not only brought them to a peak of pleasure most couldn't even fathom, but it also provided a marginal increase to their power while helping to restore their stamina.As he had developed the habit of almost always cumming inside, Vahn didn't hesitate at all when he heard Iris's words, grunting as he said, "Take it...!"Immediately following his words, Iris arched her back into a seated position, eyes squinted shut as she shouted, "Aaaaahn, I can feel it! It's erupting inside me~!" at the top of her lungs. Her change in position also caused her to be seated flush against his lap, 'sealing' his semen inside of her and causing her lower abdomen to bloat slightly. When the pressure finally reached beyond a certain threshold, a 'pa' sound could be heard, followed by a considerable amount of heat and moisture covering Vahn's inner thighs...With a distant look in her eyes, Iris continued to sit on his lap for more than a minute, her mouth slightly agape as a small amount of drool flowed from the side. She had a similar appearance to someone who had a little too much to drink, her face suffused with a ruddy hue and an apparent lack of awareness as a powerful tremor ran through her body. Then, just as the echoes began to fade away, she looked down at Vahn was heavily glazed eyes, smiling seductively as she said, "It's a shame I can't keep you to myself..."Though he knew she was just playing around, Vahn lightly smacked Iris' butt, causing a girlish moan to emit from her throat. Then, before she could convince him to continue, Vahn couldn't help but grin as he remarked, "Rather than becoming more honest, I'd say you're becoming more greedy. That Succubus outfit suits you a little too well...it's a shame, really, but we'll have to wrap things up here. It's already been close to eleven hours. We're supposed to be leaving today, so we'll have to continue where we left off at a later date."After finishing his statement, Vahn gave Iris' butt another firm smack, causing another sonorous moan to escape her throat before musing, "You're a big, mean, bully...". Immediately afterward, however, she leaned down, tightly hugging his neck and giving him a long and passionate kiss. Then, before separating, she licked the tip of his nose, adding, "I still love you though~."Finding her words satisfying, Vahn couldn't help but release a somewhat boisterous laugh before 'surprising' Iris as he raised his body so that they were seated hugging each other. Then, despite his earlier words, he decided to take her for another round, this time taking it nice and slow as the two kissed each other passionately for an additional half-hour...---While four of his bodies were making the most of the remaining time in the Marble Phantasm, the 'prime' Vahn was walking backward, holding Gaia's hands as she took faltering steps forward. She could already walk unaided, but, if she tried to move too quickly, her feet would get wrapped up in themselves. This became even more prominent when he separated from her, causing her to fall over almost immediately, but that wasn't entirely unexpected.Gaia had spent several millennia as little more than an incorporeal Spirit, and, even now, she had a fair amount of inhibitions toward maintaining a physical form. She saw herself as vulnerable and exceptionally weak, so, despite having an indestructible body with limitless physical potential, her countenance and physique matched her self-perception. It was so bad that, if someone else tried to help her walk, she wouldn't even be able to stand, much less move forward...The most paradoxical thing about Gaia's state was that, if she really wanted to, ignoring things like gravity was well within her power. She should be able to fly around freely, phase through objects, and even manifest her body wherever she wanted. These were things she was well aware of, but, due to her mental blocks, simply maintaining a physical body was already pushing her limits.Optimistically speaking, it would take several months for Gaia to complete the first phase of her physical rehabilitation. As for her mental rehab, that would undoubtedly take several years, if not considerably longer. Fortunately, time was something they had plenty of, so, while it would be a mild inconvenience, Vahn was willing to stay by her side until she was ready to walk on her own. It was, truthfully, the least he could do for someone who would remain at his side for millions, if not billions, of years...After a few minutes of sustained walking, Gaia's face had formed into a strained pout, her fair complexion turning slightly pale as she struggled to keep pace with his greater gait. She was not able to experience fatigue in the same way as normal people, but, just as he was able to overtax his mind and spirit, so too was Gaia. Thus, despite having the physical strength to continue, Gaia ended up tripping forward, falling into Vahn's waiting arms with tears building up in the corners of her eyes as she muttered, "I'm sorry..."Shaking his head, Vahn performed the usual ritual of combing his fingers through Gaia's hair as he whispered, "Shhhh...You're doing fine. That was thirteen more steps than your previous record. We have plenty of time for your rehabilitation so keep your head up high and continue trying your best. You are a lot cuter when you smile..."Though it wasn't immediate, Gaia forced a smile on her face, but, if you looked into her gem-like eyes, it was possible to see the sadness contained within. She was actually pushing herself quite a bit, but, no matter how much hard she tried, her body just ignored her. The only time it seemed to completely obey her was when she was doing 'naughty' things with her Master. His presence had a calming effect on her body, so, when they were closer together, she felt safe, secure, and, to a greater extent, 'whole'.After resting in her Master's arms for a few minutes, Gaia felt like strength had slowly returned to her body. She could feel his mysterious energy spread through her vessel like a nourishing wave, qualitatively increasing the purity of her own. This was something that excited her quite a bit, and, even without 'orders' to collect it, she would have happily done so. If she wasn't afraid it would be an inconvenience to him, she would have liked to emulate her 'sister', latching onto his body and just suckling his nourishing energy until the last stars burned out in the night sky...Feeling Gaia spontaneously bite his tunic, gently sucking the piece of fabric with her eyes closed, Vahn had to forcibly restrain himself. She had developed a suckling habit over the last thirty days, and, at times, got a little carried away due to her curiosity. He found this incredibly adorable and highly endearing, but, as it could quickly become a problem in her 'adult' form, he lightly tapped her back, breaking her out of the momentary reverie she had fallen into.Realizing what she had been doing, evidenced by a small stain on her Master's tunic, Gaia's face became slightly red as she fumbled for words. Before she was able to, however, he lightly tickled the underside of her chin, smiling as he said, "If you can make it to a thousand steps, I'll allow you to ride on my shoulder, at least for a short while."Hearing her Master's words, Gaia's body spontaneously shrunk until she was roughly 40cm tall. At the same time, her features became closer to those of a Companion, albeit one with several fluffy, three pronounced ahoge, and large, ruby-red, eyes. She had 'learned' this from observing Alaya, and, while she was still unable to walk around on her own, she was able to easily cling to his body like a powerful magnet whenever she transformed...Seeing Gaia shrink down, Vahn wasn't actually all that surprised. She had very little control over her body, so, when she got excited, her form changed to reflect her desires. This had caused her a considerable amount of embarrassment, as, even when she tried to control herself, her clothes would become increasingly transparent, eventually 'fading' from existence. She would also grow the features of her sisters whenever they were being stimulated, a trait that was as adorable as it was 'tantalizing'.Rather than force her to change back, Vahn unequipped his tunic, hugging Gaia to his body as he said, "You can have a little. Afterward, you'll 'have' to get one-thousand steps, though. If not, we'll be soaking in the bath while everyone else is having fun. Rewards are supposed to follow success, so you'll have to work extra hard during your next attempt. Okay?"As it was hard to calm down when her Master's exposed shoulder was right in front of her face, Gaia obediently listened to his words before readily nodding her head. Then, without a word, she opened her mouth to reveal rows of pearl-white teeth and a ruby-red tongue. They were normal at first, but, as she moved her mouth close to his neck, they immediately transitioned into sharper canines, sinking into his flesh without any resistance before forming a seal and sucking his blood rather greedily...---Immediately after her 'sister' began sucking their Master's blood, Alaya's expression formed into a small frown. She then began eyeing him like a predator eying its prey, earning a light chuckle from Vahn and a confused tilt of the head from Tiamat. At the same time, Arcueid and Fenrir gave him curious glances, leading Vahn to explain, "I'm giving Gaia a small incentive, " before turning his attention back to Alaya and adding, "Don't be jealous. You have received a number of benefits due to Gaia's influence. There will be plenty of time for you to drain my energy in the future."Though she wanted to refute on principle, Alaya knew there was undeniable truth within her Master's words. The last thirty days had greatly exceeded preliminary expectations, so much so that it made her second-guess her past behavior. Now, she was even seated around a circular table, listening attentively as her Master conversed with others. Every now and then, she would even chime in of her own volition, something she never would have even considered in the past...Understanding what Alaya must be thinking, Vahn gave a small nod, further stating, "We'll be leaving pretty soon to allow others to rotate in. There will be plenty of time for you to reap even greater rewards. For now, let us enjoy these last few moments. Is it such a bad thing, enjoying tea with your companions...?"Alaya couldn't help but frown in response to her Master's words, but, rather than try to argue, she turned her attention to the contents of her cup. She, like everyone else at the table, was provided with a very special type of tea, sweetened with cubes crystallized from her Master's blood. It was significantly less satisfying than consuming his blood directly, but, prior to her sister being given the opportunity, Alaya had actually thought she was quite fortunate...After considering her response for several moments in real-time, Alaya looked between Fenrir, Arcueid, and Tiamat before staring back at her Master and answering, "Master is correct...forgive me. I did not mean to cause a commotion..."As the past Alaya would never compromise, much less apologize, Vahn smiled widely in response to her uncharacteristic words. She had made considerable progress over the last thirty days, and, though there was often a lack of sincerity behind her words, it was much better than before. There was even a chance, that, by the time Gaia's rehabilitation was over, Alaya would have, at the very least, started to break out of her shell. Thus, with a satisfied smile on his face, he playfully winked at her, saying, "Good girl..." in a teasing, yet affectionate, tone.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Iris is a carnivorous woman o_o...','Must be hard to rehab when you 'don't even want to exist'...','Meanwhile, Tiamat is sitting at the side, eating the entire cup...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

In the end, it took an additional six full months for Gaia to reach a level where she was able to walk without the direct support of another person. During this rehabilitation period, nearly every resident of the Inner Sanctum had been given the opportunity to enjoy a much-needed vacation, including Vahn's 'students'. This had included Mordred, Mash, Sakura, Zoë, Astrid, and Scáthach. As for Ciel, she had departed for Japan nearly two months prior.Vahn was aware that Shiki had started to develop a faction of his own, led by none other than his younger sister, the current head of the Tohno family, Akiha Tohno. The latter was a brilliant, decisive, and decidedly 'ruthless' woman, who, post-Fall, quickly rose to prominence after allying with a few older families and crushing various yakuza groups. Upon her reunion with Shiki, she had even gone as far as to divorce her husband, who, days later, vanished from the face of the earth.When Vahn first met Akiha, a cool beauty with long black hair and deep-blue eyes, she had given him a very similar impression to Loki. She was an extremely calculating woman, but, if he was asked to define her most noteworthy trait, it was a borderline obsession with her brother. At some point in the past, she had sacrificed half her life to preserve Shiki's, and, from that moment on, she had been a doting, yet possessive, younger sister. She constantly worried about him since their youth, feelings that eventually became a deep and passionate love once they matured.If not for the fact Shiki had died at a very young age, there was very little doubt that he and Akiha would have become husband and wife. This was largely due to the fact that they weren't related by blood, causing Akiha's inhibitions to vanish in their entirety. The only thing that had prevented them from being together was the resistance of her family, but, after becoming the Family Head and ruling with a decidedly heavy hand, there were none to oppose her decisions.A few years after Shiki's death, Akiha had ended up marrying a man from another orthodox family of demon hunters. This was a purely political marriage, and, even after several years of marriage, Akiha had never so much as allowed her husband to touch her. When it came time to produce an heir, they even used a surrogate mother, as, in Akiha's heart, the only man 'worthy' of her was the one she had given half her life and all of her heart to.Needless to say, Vahn had a few inhibitions regarding Akiha's ruthless behavior, but, considering the sincerity she showed towards the Empire, he decided to ignore it. She was extremely thankful for the fact that he had returned Shiki to her, and, from the moment of their first meeting, she had dutifully followed the Common Law. Her only real complaint seemed to be that her brother had, very quickly, gathered many of his former lovers. In the end, however, she tolerated their presence, as, with how drastically the world was changing, having powerful and loyal allies was a must.If the Tohno family was ever to oppose the Empire in the future, it would undoubtedly be the result of Shiki's 'heroic' ideals. Even then, however, he would have to somehow convince Akiha, but, after losing him the first time, there was little chance she would allow him to do something so dangerous. She was an exceptionally intelligent woman, so, while Shiki seemed incapable of understanding the consequences of his actions, she was smart enough to prevent him from doing anything that would endanger all of their lives.In exchange for Akiha's 'loyalty', Vahn had privately used Nirvana Rebirth on her, as, after giving up half her life to Shiki, she would be nearing the end her own by the time she turned forty. This was a secret he had promised to keep, and, though it wasn't intended to be used as leverage against her, Akiha seemed to interpret it as such. Thus, unless something extreme happened, she would keep a close watch on Shiki, forcing him to focus on 'protecting their home', rather than 'fighting a foreign Empire'. She also had the support of many of Shiki's former lovers, as, much like Akiha, they were not in a hurry to see the resurrected Hero suicide against a seemingly unstoppable force...---After emerging from Arcueid's Marble Phantasm for the seventh time, Vahn had a reminiscent smile on his face as he looked around at the familiar Ivory Castle. He had been missing his children quite a bit, as, from his perspective, it had been a little more than seven months since he saw them last. This wasn't a particularly long period of time, but, after experiencing a few drastic changes, reestablishing a baseline would be necessary...As this thought crossed his mind, Vahn turned to the six young women, passing his gaze over each of them with a few complex emotions in his heart. A lot of things could change in a month, and, due to various circumstances, he was now a little 'too close' to some of the girls. Mash had even used the opportunity to confess her feelings a few days after entering the Marble Phantasm, resulting in a few unexpected developments, the majority of which were 'machinated' by Mordred.With the exception of Astrid and Sakura, most of Vahn's students had developed a strong crush on him. This had originally started off as gratitude and respect, but, due to the progress of their training and the 'massage treatments' they had received, their emotions had blossomed into something that couldn't simply be explained away as puppy love. Rather, Mash seemed wholly intent on joining his personal entourage int he future, her Loyalty having already exceeded five digits in value.For a time, Vahn had hoped Mash might develop a crush for her Heroic Spirit, Richard, but, despite openly admitting he was very handsome, she never developed any affections for him. Rather, it was very difficult to 'like' someone who, due to their carelessness, often caused you considerable harm. His 'training' often resulted in several broken bones, and, if not for the existence of several powerful healers within the Empire, Mash had little doubt his actions would have resulted in her becoming a cripple.At this point, Mash was a young woman of nineteen, and, though she didn't believe she was 'worthy' of her Master's affection, she still mustered up the courage to confess. This was largely compelled by Mordred, who, taking advantage of the fact they would be 'alone' for an entire month, pressured the other girls into doing things they otherwise wouldn't have even considered.Mash's confession near the very beginning was only the very tip of the iceberg, and, though things never developed to the point of no return, even Vahn was surprised by how dangerous Mordred's [Charisma] could be when she was left to her own devices. It wasn't for no reason that she had been able to become the leader of a rebellion despite having no particular interest in leading a coup. Her words, actions, and 'confidence' compelled people to get pulled along by her whims, and, due to a surprising understanding of Vahn's character, many of her plans ended in 'minor victories'.By the time three days had passed in the Marble Phantasm, it became 'normal' for a version of Vahn to sleep in the same room as the girls, each wearing animal pajamas. This led to small events such as pillow fights and such occurring, but, after a few more days had passed, things escalated to the point of playful wrestling and 'excessive' cuddling. From there, Mordred managed to convince the others, even Scáthach, to try and pressure him into playing games like 'Truth or Dare'.At first, Vahn had prevented things from getting out of hand by directly expressing his views on how they should behave as young women, but, before he realized it, even Sakura was on Mordred's side, convincing him it wasn't a bid deal. Rather, there had been a time when it made her sad that he was unwilling to take a bath with him, back when he had first been identified as her father. She had been fond of the small amounts of intimacy and kinship she had been able to experience in the past. Now, she had someone she liked, so, with Mash being her best friend, Sakura wanted to support her.With even the 'voice of reason' within the group corrupted by Mordred, Vahn's only hope was to use Arcueid as a replacement. Unfortunately, she instantly 'betrayed' him the moment he invited her to stay in the same room with the girls. She enjoyed the sleepover structure they had been using since a few days prior, and, though her time with Vahn was always worthwhile, Arcueid was weak when it came to experiencing new things. She had always wanted to attend a slumber party, and, though she had the appearance of a very mature woman, that didn't stop her from wearing a set of adult-sized koala pajamas and allying with the other girls...Vahn managed to last a few more days against the combined assault of Mordred's faction. In the end, however, he was left without a path of retreat, as, due to his insistence, the mood within the Marble Phantasm had been gradually decreasing. Mash even thought she was to blame for ruining everyone else's fun, leading to an awkward scene where she apologized with her forehead touching the ground. That had been the straw that broke the came's back, as, more than anything else, Vahn was weak against sincerity and misplaced blame...After a long heart-to-heart with Mash, and a light spanking for Mordred, Vahn ended up giving in to the groups 'demands'. As a result, he learned just how dangerous the curiosity of adolescents could be. With the exception of Sakura, who was only around fourteen, everyone else was either 'ageless' or between the ages of seventeen and nineteen. Though their appearances didn't exactly reflect this, largely due to the 'treatments' they had received, they were still young women who, as a result of their circumstances, had a lot of pent up 'curiosities'. Even Astrid wasn't an exception to this, despite having a 'very' strong preference for members of the same sex.Though things had been relatively 'tame' at first, involving the confession of various personal secrets, such as who liked who, things quickly devolved when Sakura, of all people, 'dared' Zoë and Astrid to kiss. This started off as little more than a light peck on the lips, but, after a series of teasing remarks, courtesy of Mordred, the two ended up making out for nearly a full minute. Vahn realized he should have stopped things then and there, but, due to the recent memory of Mash's apology, he ended up falling into the pace of people much younger than him.Things became more troublesome when, immediately after the first serious dare, Astrid eyed Arcueid with glimmering eyes, daring her to leave the buttons of her pajamas undone for the remainder of the game. It was the kind that buttoned up from the front, so, after Arcueid unhesitantly complied, it was possible to see her white-lace bra and the fair skin of her abdomen. This elicited an audible gulp from Astrid, causing nearly everyone present, included Arcueid, to laugh.With Arcueid behaving as if everything was normal, Vahn had missed another opportunity to bring the game to an end. As a result, the buxom Divine Spirit immediately zeroed in on him, her sapphire blue eyes glimmering with eagerness and expectation as she dared him to kiss her. Unfortunately for them both, Mordred instantly pointed out that the person issuing the dare couldn't make others do anything directly to them. This resulted in Arcueid pouting for a brief moment as her eyes wandered around the group before stopping on Mash...Arcueid was aware of the fact Mash had confessed to their Master, so, with the intention of helping out her junior, she happily gave up the opportunity to the bashful, lavender-haired, beauty. This was where things began to truly spiral out of control, as, after kissing Mash, Vahn had set a 'precedent' that allowed for further escalation.After a relatively tame kiss, Mash's eyes had glazed over slightly, causing Vahn's heart to palpitate a few times due to her fiercely blushing face. She was already a very beautiful young woman so it had left a deep impression on his heart after seeing how happy she was with a simple, three-second kiss. Her eyes contained an uncommon amount of devotion, and, for a brief moment, Vahn found himself drawn toward her dampened lips like a magnet. The only thing that stopped him from doing so was how silent the surroundings had become, as, due to how intensely he and Mash were staring at each other, everyone present was holding their breaths in anticipation...When Mash noticed where her Master was looking, confusion flashed across her eyes as if she had only just then remembered where they were. Immediately afterward, she retreated back to her seat, covering her crimson face by pulling down the hood of her dog-pajamas. She had never been more embarrassed in her entire life, but, if you were to look closely, it was easy to see she was very happy as her mouth curled into a natural smile despite her perturbance.With the ball in his court, Vahn proposed the idea of bringing the game to an end, earning a series of mild complaints from everyone except Scáthach and Mash. Thus, in a last-ditch effort to break the downward spiral, he asked Astrid what her dream was. In the past, she had only wanted to surround herself with animals so he was genuinely curious whether or not her goals had changed over the last few years.What Vahn never expected was for Astrid to rather boldly state, "If possible, I would like to become an attendant in Master's harem. There are so many beauties within the Inner Sanctum, I don't think I would be happy anywhere else. If it's Master...I wouldn't mind doing naughty things..."When he had first heard Astrid's response, Vahn felt as though he had stepped on a landmine that exceeded an A-Rank Noble Phantasm. He had somewhat expected Astrid to get involved with one of her classmates, specifically Rani or a young red-head named Martha. They had all gotten along 'very' well with each other, so, hearing her spontaneously admit to wanting to join his harem, specifically so she could spend time with his women, his mind completely blanked out...Without waiting for her Master to recover, Astrid completely undermined his vain attempt to try and deescalate things, targetting Arcueid a second time, albeit with the intention to 'help'. She dared the over-eager golden-haired beauty to give Vahn a passionate kiss, causing Arcueid to happily 'pounce' on him. Then, like a group of eager students, all of the girls within the circle fell silent, observing with unblinking eyes as Arcueid greedily kissed their Master without inhibitions. The kiss lasted for several minutes, and, by the end of the unexpectedly intense display, nearly everyone was sitting with their legs tightly closed...In hindsight, Vahn realized it had been a mistake to include Arcueid without explaining his intentions clearly. She had a cheerful and easy-going personality, so, if given the opportunity to do something fun and exciting, she was quick to get carried away. She had spent a considerable amount of time in self-imposed isolation, binding her own body with chains to restrain her destructive impulses. Now, she was free to live the life she had always imagined, free from all of the things that had forced her to live a cursed existence.When Arcueid finally pulled her lips away from Vahn's, there was a thin line of saliva still linking them for a brief moment. She quickly got rid of this by licking her lips in an inadvertently alluring manner, and, before the tensions could fade, she continued to stare directly into his eyes, saying, "I dare you to kiss Mash in the same manner..."In the days following the first game of Truth or Dare, the atmosphere within the Marble Phantasm had become tense with excitement and skewed expectations. Vahn had severely underestimated the curious nature of adolescents that had aligned with each other towards a common goal. As a result, skinship became completely 'normal' within the group, their animal pajamas becoming something akin to 'sexy' Halloween costumes. As for his relationship with Mash, things developed a lot faster than he expected, culminating in her proactively entering the bath with little more than a washcloth to cover her voluminous breasts, leaving her lower half completely exposed...Had Mash not come to some kind of 'secret' agreement with Mordred, Vahn knew he would have undoubtedly emerged from the Marble Phantasm with another lover. Mash had a natural charm, a caring personality, and a hard-working nature. What made matters even 'worse' was that, prior to the events within the Marble Phantasm, most of the women within the Inner Sanctum had already come to expect that she would eventually join his harem. This made it difficult, if not impossible, to refuse her sincerity, as, compared to some of his 'wayward' lovers, Mash was a very loyal and earnest young woman...Fortunately, Mash seemed intent on increasing her strength by a considerable amount before she acted on her emotions. It wasn't exactly necessary, as Vahn, very rarely, had any kind of expectations or requirements for his women. It actually bothered him how some of them 'needed' to feel worthy of his affection, even though they were already amazing women. Though he understood where they were coming from, it still made him feel a considerable amount of guilt when he saw someone push themselves for approval he would readily grant them. Still, he would never 'force' them to give up on the path they had decided for themselves, so, if Mash was serious about increasing her strength, he would support her until she believed herself qualified for his affections...(A/N: This is a bit of a strange chapter. People kept mentioning Shiki, and, due to a past donation, I had already promised to try and include Mash into the harem. The Nasuverse arc is coming to an end relatively soon, so, while it isn't a pressing matter, I felt this was an opportunity to extrapolate on a few things. I am aware of how awkward the chapter is, but, unless you had a relatively 'tame' youth, I don't believe it is necessary to explain how 'dangerous' young adults can be if they believe they can get away with it. Besides, I had already established that Vahn had been nourishing the bodies of his students. This requires them to, at the very least, expose their bare backs to him. After this happens a few hundred times, it would be strange if nascent feelings didn't develop.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though they were impossible to distinguish from reality, at a glance, every Marble Phantasm had a few unique qualities depending on the user. In Arceuid's case, her Marble Phantasm made it so that it was always the night of a full moon. As for Artoria's, hers was almost the complete opposite as it was always a comfortable spring day, a world filled with lush greenery and blooming flowers.There were other reasons, but the primary cause for anomalies within a Marble Phantasm was that their users typically had a loose understanding of the Laws. Though they were able to functionally manipulate reality on a whim, the 'structure' of this reality was entirely dependent on their grasp of the changes introduced. This was why, in Vahn's case, he could create a nascent Universe, but, while it appeared much like any other Universe at a glance, the 'scale' was askew. Not only were the planets and stars much smaller than they should be, but, no matter how much time you spent searching, you would never find natural flora and fauna.Due to these traits, Vahn, or, more specifically, Da Vinci, had been able to glean various insights into the true nature of Reality. This included the nature of Divinity itself, which, on the most basic level, served as a means of stabilizing Laws within a given area. For this reason, rather than saying Divinity gave you mastery over the Laws, it was more accurate to say you gained a small amount of Authority over how those Laws functioned within your world.The best method to create a stable Reality, was, in essence, creating or recruiting entities capable of expressing and governing specific Laws. This was the primary purpose of Gods, and, much like he had experienced in Danmachi, it was also the reason for the 'restrictions' placed upon them. If a God didn't serve their 'purpose' adequately, the Laws they governed would become unstable, and, if their Authority had been high enough, they could severely alter, or even destroy, the fabric of Reality itself.To prevent this kind of arbitrary destruction, the most powerful forces within a Record seemed to function more as a 'control' than anything else. They consolidated the greatest amount of power for themselves, and, in order to prevent things from going haywire, they limited how much power the Gods within their World could possess. This was the presumed reason behind the separation of Heaven, Hell, and the Mortal Realm back in Danmachi. As for the Nasuverse, due to its higher tier, the primary regulatory body was the Root System. Beneath that, the very stars and planets in the night sky all represented their own Realms, each possessing Tier 5 Primordial Deities that had the ability to assign, strengthen, and weaken the Divine Authority of entities within their Realm.In the end, Divine Authority basically amounted to 'giving permission' for those within your Realm to make use of specific Laws. This required no comprehension of said Laws, as, regardless of how the Record manifested, the Laws, themselves, were a 'constant'. How they manifested might vary, but, on the most fundamental level, even the strongest beings in the Record were unable to alter the structure of the Laws.When it ultimately came down to it, the most important aspect of governing a Realm was having greater Willpower and focused Intent. You didn't even need a stronger Soul Tier than the beings you ruled over, as, without your 'permission', most of what made a person powerful simply didn't apply with a Realm you had created. After all, a God of Fire would find it very difficult to fight in a world where they no longer governed fire. If their opponent could, literally, turn the world into an ocean around them, that just further complicated things.If he wanted to ensure the success of his plan, Vahn would need several powerful beings at Tiers 4 and 5 under his control. Their presence would serve to stabilize his Realm and ensure it wasn't arbitrarily torn apart by other powerful entities with similar Soul Tiers. Without them, he risked the entire Realm's collapse as forces that opposed his rule, possessing incredible Willpower, refused to be restrained. This would be a very serious issue he would have to face, and, in the end, Vahn knew he would even need to 'tolerate' powerful forces of opposition just to ensure the balance of his Realm was maintained. It seemed a little ridiculous, as he would be the most powerful being in his Realm, but, due to the nature of Reality itself, it was impossible to excise absolute control in a world with free will...In the midst of these thoughts, Vahn was absentmindedly stroking the 'naked' figure of a delicate woman with fair skin, free-flowing white hair, and gem-like eyes. She was languidly sprawled over his body, her back resting against his chest as he caressed up and down her abdomen. She, like Alaya and Tiamat, didn't actually have 'defined' sexual organs. This gave her a somewhat doll-like appearance, but, in spite of this, she, like her sisters, was able to react just like any other woman...As further proof of this peculiarity, Vahn's fingered lightly traced over what would have been the mons pubis of a normal woman, causing a tremble to run through Gaia's body as a small amount of moisture began to flow from between her thighs. There was nothing for it to flow from, but, like a saturated sponge, a fragrant, sweet-smelling, slightly-viscous liquid would ceaselessly flow from between her thighs whenever she was excited.Though she didn't actually require sleep, Gaia's eyelids slowly peeled open as if she was waking from a peaceful slumber. Then, grabbing his hand, still dripping with her sweet nectar, she lazily guided his fingers to her lips, suckling on them without any hesitation. At the same time, from the surroundings, more movement occurred as four more versions of Vahn, each adorned with up to two naked beauties, began waking everyone from their peaceful slumber.While his other bodies were attending to others, Vahn lightly kissed Gaia's shoulder, while, curled up between his thighs, another petite woman with white hair lifted her head before stretching her body rather adorably. This was none other than Illya, and, for reasons only she was fully aware of, she had slept with her face nestled against his sleeping dragon. Her hot breaths had tickled him all evening, and, at one point, she had partially awoken and, much like a sleep-walker, began to dutifully lick and suckle his member as if it was muscle memory...As this memory played across his mind, Vahn and Gaia watched as Illya's eyes darted to his lower body, a slightly predatory look in her eyes before they moved slightly, this time staring between Gaia's thighs with mild temptation visible. Immediately after that, however, she noticed she was being stared at, causing her body to tense up as a heavy flush spread across her face. She hadn't fully awoken, and, while she would adamantly deny it if pressed by others, the truth of the matter was that Illya had always been a closet pervert, even after her fusion with Cath Palug.Moving to a seated position, allowing Gaia's pert and smooth butt to fall into his lap, Vahn carried out the usual ritual of calming Illya down, petting her head and ears until she became docile. This was made considerably easier with the presence of Gaia, as, due to her calming aura, even anger and hatred would fade away, much less embarrassment. The previous night had proved just how 'dangerous' this trait could be, but, despite none of them actually requiring sleep, it also helped everyone to relax and calm down after the 'fun' had come to an end.With drooping ears, closed eyes, and a contented expression on her face, Illya issued a gleeful 'ehehehe~' while enjoying, not just Vahn's caresses, but Gaia's as well. She had fully embraced her identity as a 'Beast of Gaia' at this point, her nature reminiscent of Fenrir whenever she was with her respective Masters. This made Illya seem even cuter than normal, but, due to 'wanting' to appear that way, her size had actually shrunken down slightly. She no longer had the appearance of a woman in her late teens or early twenties. Instead, she had shrunk down to around 153cm, and, though her breasts had completely reverted, they were now 'palm-sized', making her easier to pet and cuddle...While one of his bodies was dealing with Gaia and Illya, another version of Vahn was tending toArtoria alone. Since he had five bodies, three versions of himself had paired off with two people while two versions, by lottery, had tended to just a single person. The fortunate victors had been Artoria and Nero, but, considering they had A+ and EX-Rank Luck, this wasn't too surprising an outcome. As for why there were two versions of himself freed up for a single person, this was due to the fact that Fenrir had spent the night with Spenta, as, regardless of her age, there as no way he would allow the exceptionally innocent Conceptual Entity to participate in such an event...Seeing the rather licentious sight of a full room of naked people, including five versions of her husband, Artoria was in a slight daze as Vahn untangled and fixed her hair. The previous night had been unlike anything she, or any of them, had ever experienced before, so, in stark contrast to her usual vigor, she was completely out of it. This was a combination of her contented feelings and the calming effect Gaia had on everyone in the room, making her feel warm and 'fluffy' on the inside.After sorting her thoughts, Artoria turned to face Vahn, not even bothered to conceal her flawless figure as she softly stated, "This shouldn't repeat too often...if this became the norm, I fear those with weaker wills would become prone to depression. That kind of euphoria is dangerous, even if there are no adverse effects on the body..."Understanding Artoria's concerns, Vahn gave a small nod, answering just as quietly, "I had similar thoughts. Though it would be quite the sight to behold, I understand the dangers of a complete lack of inhibition. We'll only ever do this kind of thing within the confines of the Marble Phantasm, and, even then, in moderation. If there are ever any 'innocents' nearby, it should be avoided at all costs. I feel guilty for Fenrir, but, it terrifies me to imagine what would have happened if someone like Spenta wandered in...haaaa..."Due to the nature of his Divinity and the 'enhancement' provided by Gaia, the sealed chamber had become an area with few, if any, inhibitions. Vahn had been able to maintain a modicum of control, largely in part due to his [Will of the Emperor], but the effects it had on others was 'very' dangerous. Even Artoria had become exceptionally compliant, but, infinitely more troublesome, Vahn had felt very little resistance to 'anything'. He barely avoided having sex with Tiamat, Alaya, and Gaia, and, at one point, Iris had easily convinced him to alter his appearance to the point of being 'dangerously' youthful...When the minds of sapient creatures were in an incredibly relaxed state, they were susceptible to suggestion and manipulation. Though it was possible to resist with adequate Willpower, the effect Gaia had was almost 'inviolable' under the right conditions. As a result, everyone had discarded even the pretense of inhibitions, and, under the influence of his Sex Divinity, the sealed chamber had become a 'Realm' of pure debauchery. If not for Sis and his [Will of the Emperor], there would have been nothing to stop him from ravishing Alaya, Tiamat, and even Gaia.Fortunately, Gaia seemed to respect his intentions, so, when things got especially dangerous, her aura was ultimately what allowed everyone to calm down. She had been unaffected by the state she had helped to induce, allowing her to serve as the 'voice of reason' when everyone else was almost wholly focused on experiencing new pleasures. Had this not been the case, things would have gotten even further out of hand, potentially endangering all of Vahn's plans, forcing him to remain in the Nasuverse much longer than intended...After looking around the room, making eye contact with his other selves, Vahn took advantage of the fact Artoria was still facing him, stealing a relatively tame kiss before saying, "We should take a bath. It feels like my body is covered in something and I don't even sweat..."Though he didn't intend to make her embarrassed, Artoria lightly blushed in response to Vahn's words. She knew exactly why he was 'dirty', and, remembering the previous night, it caused her face to quickly transition through various shades of red before she ultimately nodded and said, "I agree. I'll have everyone use the bathhouse on the western side. You should go to the east before checking on Fenrir and Spenta. Even though Arcueid sealed off this space, I can't help but feel a little worried about them."Had he not already confirmed they were unaffected by the previous incident, Vahn would have shared Artoria's concerns. Still, he knew it was important to check on them personally, and, out of consideration for the fact she had missed out on a rather significant event, Vahn was intending to pamper Fenrir all day. He would acquiesce to all of her demands, but, knowing her, this meant he would probably spend the entire day just lounging about in his Vanargandr form.Fenrir was extremely sensitive to his mental state so she would be able to sense how overtaxed his mind and spirit were from the previous evening. Though it was somewhat shameful for him to admit, Vahn needed the unique peace of mind she brought in order to recover. It would be very dangerous if he became accustomed to the level of pleasure he experienced the previous night, both for himself and others.Vahn primarily focused on the emotional connection that was formed whenever he had sex with others, but, due to a complete lack of inhibitions, he ended up 'enjoying' the pleasurable aspect a lot more than was healthy. He already had more sex than most people could even comprehend so it would be disastrous if he became 'addicted'. It was important to have some kind of restraint, as, without them, there were no limits to how base and animalistic people could become. Carnal pleasures were a dangerous thing, and, if Arcueid hadn't properly sealed the chamber, even the innocent Spenta might not have been spared his greedy claws...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn affirmed his belief that everything should be done with proper respect for moderation. Spenta might 'technically' be safe, but, after crossing that line, his self-respect would be lost. From there, very few things would be 'off-limits', and, if this became a common event, there was even a chance his own children and students could get wrapped up in the event. Everything would rapidly spiral out of control, and, by the time he met up with Eva and began trying to link the Records, he would have become unrecognizable from his past self...the man who had won the respect, admiration, and love of countless people...Imagining a version of himself with a seemingly limitless harem that had no boundaries, Vahn felt a shudder run through his body. For a brief moment, the version of Lenneth from the Divination appeared within his mind, her eyes turned up at him as she eagerly attempted to satisfy both of their sexual urges. This had terrified him in the past, rightfully so, and, while he was willing to make exceptions for those like Mordred, Vahn would be a complete failure as a parent if he had no inhibitions toward his own children.With his mind made up, Vahn didn't even need to explain his intentions as Sis dutifully answered, (*It is done.*) in a calming voice. Immediately afterward, he felt his senses dull slightly as his aura and domain became marginally weaker. This caused everyone in the room to shift their gazes to him, but it was Gaia who asked, "Why...?"Understanding her confusion, Vahn lightly pats Gaia's hair, flattening her myriad of ahoge as he explained, "There is no use in having a power that endangers the people I care about. It was very useful, but I'm more than capable of taking care of my women without such a crutch. There is far greater meaning in spending time learning about your partner, growing alongside one another as your love blossoms into something greater. You may struggle to understand it right now, but I will help you to understand the meaning behind these words in the future..."Towards the end of his words, Vahn firmly embraced Gaia's body, understanding why she would be a little upset. After all, he had just discarded the Divine Authority she had bestowed upon him without any forewarning. This was similar to throwing away the gift of someone who, very rarely, handed out presents. She had every right to be a little upset, but, if it meant he could protect the things he cared about, there was no part of himself that Vahn wasn't willing to throw away...even his Divinity.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Balance in all things','Debauchery Tea Party','Sacrificing everything for power is a sign of weakness. Sacrificing power for everything else is a sign of strength. Power can be easily quantified and expressed. Character Growth, however, is EX-Rank by default')(A/N: Update. Still feeling sick, but much better than yesterday.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1499: Small Steps