Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After a lengthy exchange of information, Amaterasu was up to speed on everything pertinent to his background. She was expectedly surprised to learn he came from 'Outside', giving her a new perspective, one which made him 'infinitely' more tantalizing a prize than before. Fortunately, she seemed somewhat spooked by the existence of Alaya, Gaia, and Tiamat, so, even if she became a little more aggressive, Vahn didn't have to worry about her trying to reverse their status. Instead, it seemed like she was happier than before, almost as if the revelation of his origin had removed a great burden on her heart.During the conversation, Vahn also learned the method for contracting Sol. It required a certain ritual to be performed during a total solar eclipse, as, even with her Divine Authority derived from the sun itself, Amaterasu had no way to actually approach it. Even the most powerful Gods of the Sun were just fragments cast off by Sol in the distant past, small pieces of its Divine Authority that were given form after establishing a contract with the planets they were meant to govern.In exchange for the right to govern all life on the planet's surface, Gods of the Sun were tasked with protecting the planet from external threats. Unfortunately, at least in Amaterasu's case, the 'corruption of humanity' was a factor that couldn't be accounted for. Unlike other species, which were generally very subservient to their creator's, humanity had been an outlier species since the very beginning.According to Amaterasu, she had once been nothing more than a miniature sun, lacking even a name, much less a physical appearance. Then, one day, much to her surprise, she suddenly found herself enshrined within a temple that was meant to worship her. From that moment onwards, the nature of her existence began to slowly change. She was no longer simply worshipped as the Sun itself, but, due to the opportunistic nature of humanity, she became bound to the original lineage of Japanese Emperors. Her power had been so weakened at the time that she was forced to bear the child of her would-be High Priest, a greedy and licentious man who used their offspring as a political tool to conquer all of Japan.Needless to say, Amaterasu quickly grew tired of the way humanity mistreated her. Even her form had been grossly influenced by their desires, changing her from a woman with elegant features to one more befitting of a 'pet'. This gradually increased her hatred for humanity, but, with no way to resist their corrupt beliefs, she had little choice but to become an 'obedient' pet. It was only after Velber's attack that she was given the opportunity to break free, but, as a result of her attempt to 'abandon' the planet, she was punished by being sealed inside of it, forced to share Gaia's fate...After hearing Amaterasu's account of events, verified by both Alaya and Gaia, Vahn couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Though he understood the need for a system of control, he felt it was a little ridiculous for beings like Gaia, Tiamat, and Amaterasu to be subjected to suffering at the hands of much weaker entities. They were basically forced to serve their purpose, and, no matter how that purpose was perverted by others, they had no means to resist it. Amaterasu was even imprisoned outside of the Time Axis just because she wanted to break free, forcibly labeled as one of the Evils of Man, accused of being a representation of the very greed that had bound the Goddess against her will...As she could somewhat understand the thoughts going through Vahn's mind, Amaterasu couldn't help but smile seeing the concern visible in his eyes. It made her feel greatly vindicated, both as a result of kindness and the fact that he wasn't from their world. Him being from the Outside was far beyond expectation, making her feel as though she had won some kind of lottery even before he explained his designation as Type Omega. When she learned that he even had Authority over Sol itself, Amaterasu had to restrain her urge to just push him down then and there, her tails flickering like flames due to her excitement.Vahn wasn't unaware of Amaterasu's impassioned state. Rather, he would need to be incredibly dense not to understand her intentions when she was leaning forward with a hungry look in her eyes. If not for the 'protection 'provided by Alaya, Gaia, and Tiamat, he had very little doubt she would have already pounced on him. Her nature had been twisted by humanity to such an extent that she had very little control over her actions. This made her a living embodiment of greed, and, if not for the restrictions placed upon her, there was little that could stop her from 'taking' what she wanted.Truthfully, Vahn felt a considerable amount of empathy towards Amaterasu's plight, so, while he had a fair amount of resistance to involving himself with Goddesses that shared similar origins to his existing wives, he was already considering making an exception. He could easily imagine 'his' Amaterasu rebuking him if he shunned the vulpine Goddess' affections, so, with the Nasuverse's Amaterasu being intrinsic to his plans, Vahn had very little resistance against her.After forming his resolve on the matter, Vahn surprised Amaterasu quite a bit by stating, "You may find it hard to believe, but I fully intend to free you from the burdens and restrictions that currently bind your actions. When the time comes, should you still desire a union, I will not refuse you. Until then, I must ask for your patience. My empathy makes me susceptible to the wants and desires of others, but my guilt makes it difficult for me to accept those who cannot refuse me. Though it may not be much of a consolation, know that these three are in a similar situation..."Following Vahn's gaze, Amaterasu saw the three relatively adorable creatures snuggling together in his lap. She felt a strong urge to retort his statement, but, before the words could reach her lips, various other thoughts forming in her mind. There were a number of ways to gradually lower his defenses, so, while she felt relieved by his promise of 'freedom', Amaterasu felt like it would be a fun challenge to try and win his affections before then. She would have to be a little sneaky about it, but, with her Bunrei already in Vahn's favor, the most difficult step had already been taken care of...Vahn didn't miss the mischievous glimmer in Amaterasu's eye, but, feeling she deserved to be a little selfish, he opted to ignore it. He had already made up his mind on the matter, so, regardless of what happened, the only real outcome would be an acceleration of his plans. Once Phase Four had been completed, the restrictions binding beings like her, Alaya, and Gaia would be removed, so, in the grand scheme of things, her mischief would just fuel him to work harder...---At the exact same moment as Amaterasu's transfer to the Surface, Tamamo's ears perked up as her tails became ramrod straight. She had been in the middle of a match to determine who was going to sit in Vahn's lap for the next ten minutes, so, with her body tensing up, Altria mercilessly cut her character down. It was only after the victory screen came up that Tamamo came back to her senses, her eyes widening as she shouted, "Ah! No fair! I want a rematch...!"Before Tamamo had even finished her outburst, Altria had 'pounced' onto Vahn's lap, her back leaning against his chest as she shot a victory sign towards the disgruntled kitsune. This caused Tamamo to tear up slightly, but, without her needing to protest further, Vahn brought a smile to her face as he said, "Altria, go ahead and give her a rematch. She froze up because of something I did so it really isn't fair to decide things like this."Hearing Vahn's words, Altria issued a light 'hmm', seemingly considering his words. At the same time, however, she imperceptibly wiggled her hips, her soft butt grinding against him, almost as if to convince him to take her side.Feeling the soft sensation pressing against his lower body, Vahn felt somewhat helpless. He knew Altria spent 99% of her time cooped up inside so he didn't know where she was learning how to tempt him like this. He imagined she had picked up a few things while diving in the Virtual World, but, as she only ever entered with other people, it didn't seem likely. The only reasonable answer was that she was learning it from either Tamamo or Suzuka. However, considering the nature of both women, this was equally hard to believe...As Altria's actions became increasingly more obvious, realization donned upon Vahn as he saw the expressions of Tamamo, Tomoe, and X. He could also feel Altria becoming emboldened, so, without having to consider it further, Vahn realized that the primary 'culprit' was himself. She had learned from observing his interactions with others, and, due to his 'tolerance', her curiosity was all she needed to justify her actions.Before things could develop any further, Vahn, somewhat shamelessly, offered, "How about this. Altria can sit in my lap while the two of you have a rematch. If she wins, she will get to stay for the remainder of her time. If she loses, Tamamo will get to sit on my lap for half an hour...sound fair?"Instantly realizing things were less favorable for herself, Altria furrowed her brows slightly, stating, "Unfair. Favoritism. Shameless."Though there was certainly some truth to Altria's complaints, Vahn reminded, "Tamamo is one of my wives. Technically speaking, she is the only one in the room that has the right to sit in my lap..."As if she only just remember her marriage to Vahn, Tamamo immediately puffed out her chest in pride, a cheeky grin on her face as she exclaimed, "That's right! That's right~! I'm nice enough to let you sit on my husband's lap, the least you can do is accept a fair match! If not, I might just keep him for myself in the future~?"Compared to how elegant and respectful she was in the past, the current Tamamo had become a little 'uninhibited'. While this wasn't necessarily a bad thing, as she was clearly happier sharing a room with the three girls, it was still a startling contrast from her courtly behavior in the past...Seemingly fired up by Tamamo's words, Altria showed an uncharacteristically serious expression as she stated, "I will not lose..." before picking up her controller. This caused the 'fire' in Tamamo's eyes to blaze in equal measure, so, after a brief setup period, their rematch began in earnest.Generally speaking, Altria made a concerted effort to move as little as possible throughout the day. She was, inarguably, one of the laziest people in the entirety of Avalon, at times spending the entire day just laying in bed watching anime. It took a concerted effort to get her to do anything, often involving the promise of food and sweets just to earn her attention.Now, as if her past self was just a facade, Altria was leaning forward slightly, placing her full weight on Vahn's lap as she aggressively controlled her on-screen character. This was her aptly-named 'serious mode', something she typically reserved for life and death battles or contests involving her favorite foods. She didn't even seem to notice that she was grinding against a very sensitive part of his body, and, if not for Vahn's control, a 'catastrophe' might have occurred...Needless to say, Altria ended up securing victory, showing an uncharacteristic amount of hubris as she boldly stated, "If I get serious, you aren't my opponent."Hearing Altria's remark, Tamamo ground her teeth in frustration, her expression one of textbook vexation. Then, like a gambler on a losing streak, she shouted, "You hateful vixen! I want another rematch! Best-of-three! Winner takes all!"As if tonight was the night she decided to practice her expressions, Altria adopted a look that could only be described as haughty, saying, "Don't say things you'll end up regretting. If you lose, you'll have to grind your teeth all evening. I'm afraid you'll be nothing but gums by the time Vahn has to return..."Tamamo, as could be expected, took exception to Altria's remark. Before she could actually do something she might regret, however, Vahn interceded, saying, "Don't try to bait her into a trap, Altria. As for you, Tamamo, don't let your pride and vanity blind you. I don't mind humoring these little games, but I'm not a prize to be won and exchanged freely. I visit your room to relax and cut loose, not watch the two of you gamble away your friendship."Like a deflated balloon, Tamamo's body slouched slightly, her tails and ears drooping somewhat pathetically as she muttered, "I'm sorry...". As for Altria, she seemed to realize she had gone too far, adding, "I am also in the wrong..." before rising from Vahn's lap. This would have been a fine way to end things, but, seemingly without any common sense, Altria than pat-down Vahn's lap for a few seconds before offering it for Tamamo's use...---With their evening exploration complete, the children had returned to the Enma-tei, finding the peculiar ryokan just as interesting as the outside world. The girls, in particular, enjoyed the open-air onsen while the boys, the sounds of their playing echoing through the night as Vahn, flanked by his two sons, enjoyed the crisp evening air. They had the men's bath completely to themselves, so, after teaching them the proper etiquette, all three were relaxing in the emerald-green water with cool towels on their heads.Since it was a good opportunity, Vahn decided to ask Daiki how the evening with his sisters had gone. In response, his son, very politely, recounted everything from the moment they entered the Yokai District to the moment they arrived at the Enma-tei. His tone made it seem like he wasn't interested in anything that happened, but, despite this, Vahn could tell he enjoyed exploring the lantern-lit district. He just forced himself to behave in a mature manner due to the fact his sisters appeared so much older than him.Vahn often felt guilty about Daiki's 'predicament', but, as his son also seemed genuinely happy to be doted on, he allowed matters to take their course. Even Rin had slowly come to terms with the fact that Daiki would likely end up with Isanna and Naavi, so, at this point, the best Vahn could do was properly educate them, expressing tolerance while encouraging restraint. He knew it would cause even more problems if he tried to drive them apart, so, rather than drive a wedge between them, he would support their choice. They might have shared the same womb, but, as Da Vinci's test had proven, they weren't actually related by blood. Rather, Isanna and Naavi, as Vanir, had no genetic material whatsoever...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'TFW humans are so egotistical they label a Goddess as an 'Evil of Man'','X is just watching from the side with a deadpan expression...','Poor Daiki xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the children's excursion completing without incident, their long isolation within the Ivory Castle had come to an end. From then on, they were allowed to roam the island, visit the Castle Town, and explore the Yokai District. Though they required at least two escorts, not including Companions and Guardians, it was a considerable amount of freedom compared to before. As for the reasons behind this, it was to ensure they developed independence and knew how to interact with people outside of the Castle. They would be starting school pretty soon, so, to avoid any catastrophic developments, it was best they learned how to interact with other children.While his whelps were beginning to spread their wings for the first time, 'Papa Dragon' was hard at work eliminating future threats. To this end, he met with his War Council and the active combatants within the Inner Sanctum. Their goal was relatively straight forward, involving the formation of Elite Task Forces that had the sole responsibility of tracking down hidden enemies on the Surface. As for enemies 'hidden' in other Textures, Vahn would personally lead their forces. If it was an enemy that could be defeated by others, he would allow them to push their limits.With the exceptions of entities such as the Olympians, there weren't too many enemies that could pose a genuine threat to the most powerful forces within the Empire. Artoria would be able to take on most foes, and, if it came down to it, Illya, Arcuied, Aoki, and even Amaterasu were willing to step in. They were each capable of rivaling some of the most powerful entities in the world on their own, so, with a host of Anti-Divine armaments at their disposal, the majority of errant Gods could only grit their teeth in frustration.Further increasing the incredulity of his foes, Vahn could freely spy on them with his intent, collecting information on their strengths, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities. He could even expand his domain in the area for a brief moment, releasing Elemental Stars from within his Inventory to severely injure or even kill them. This had completely incensed some of his opponents, as, due to various restrictions, it was impossible for them to do anything about it.Even if a target had the means to backtrace his intent, they lacked the means to breach through to the Surface. It was possible for them to manifest for short periods of time, but this required a specific set of circumstances, often involving a large scale ritual, to achieve. Even if they still had followers on the Surface, however, CHALDEAS would quickly discover such a large-scale event. Thus, while some had tried, every effort had been quickly undermined by a quick response from the Empire's Special Task Force, often headed by Kenshin.Ultimately, if he really wanted to, Vahn could sit on his Throne and simply 'nuke' his enemies without ever having to lift a finger. He had stockpiled more than a hundred-thousand Elemental Stars over the years, some possessing the destructive potential to completely annihilate small countries. This was more than enough to deal with the vast majority of enemies, but, in the hopes of allowing his companions to grow, Vahn only used this method when he wanted to irritate particularly annoying foes.Though he had a long list of targets to badger, the three at the very top were none other than Zeus, Hera, and, for a variety of different reasons, Aphrodite. He had even invited Heracles to watch as he pestered Zeus for nearly six hours, enraging the unnaturally pale God to the point he began laying waste to his own Temple. This had been quite therapeutic for the normally taciturn Demigod, putting a smile on his face that had lasted for several days following the event.Unfortunately, even if he released the majority of his Elemental Stars simultaneously, the chances of killing Zeus were very slim. He, and the other Olympians, were Tier 5 beings who, according to Gaia, came to her world from beyond the Sol System. They had arrived in the wake of their counterpart's, the Roman Pantheon of Gods', deaths. This was just after Velber 02 wiped out other Gods, allowing the Olympians to rule over a desecrated Surface world. As for why the Roman Gods were credited as being modeled after their Greek counterparts, this was largely a manipulation of the facts due to the vanity of the Olympians. They would never admit to stealing the Divine Authority of others, so, with none to contest the facts, history was altered for no better reason than to pad the Ego of Alien Gods.Vahn wasn't actually surprised to learn that the Olympians were Aliens, as, compared to the majority of other Gods, their 'common sense' was simply nonexistent. With the exception of Hestia, they were some of the most prolific troublemakers in history, constantly interfering in the affairs of mortals just because they were bored. It was impossible to even fathom the number of tragedies their selfishness had wrought. They were also responsible for the majority of Demigods, with Zeus, alone, siring more than a thousand. History only recorded a total of 54, but, with Hera killing the vast majority, it wasn't surprising that the rest faded into obscurity.From what Vahn had seen, Zeus had never learned his lesson, so, even after being forced to the Reverse Side, an advanced Greek civilization formed almost entirely of Demigods now existed. It was a rather startling discovery, but, in the grand scheme of things, it didn't change what had to be done. Zeus, and nearly every other Olympian, would need to be destroyed. Their nature made it impossible for them to coexist with others, so, from the moment of the convergence, they would not hesitate to wreak havoc in order to reclaim the world...---Though the main focus of the Empire had shifted to eliminating its enemies, that didn't mean it was their only focus. Rather, due to Vahn's ability to locate virtually any enemy, there wasn't much suspense when it came to tracking down and eliminating individual targets. Arcueid had quickly dealt with most of the Dead Apostle Ancestors, and, after learning of Vahn's ability, Merlin had teamed up with Vivian to confront Morgan. She had been hiding away in a sub-texture that was actually connected to Avalon, essentially 'hiding in plain sight'.Vahn wasn't privy to how things had gone down, as it was a rather private matter, but he knew Morgan was still alive after the encounter. She seemed to have reached some kind of agreement with Merlin and Vivian, so, for the time being, she, nor anyone for that matter, wasn't much of a concern for the Empire. Instead, Vahn felt like he spent 90% of his time just lounging about inside of Marble Phantasms, improving his relationships and reducing the tensions between each of the 'sub-sections' of his harem.Though his harem was basically self-managing, Vahn knew there were various 'factions' that had come into existence. The most obvious group was the Menagerie, consisting of women with more animalistic traits and rather straightforward desires. The most influential, however, was the group formed around Artoria, including most of what X referred to as 'saber-faces'. This was the faction that basically ran the day-to-day operations of the Empire, elevating their status and giving them a lot of power during court proceedings.Other than the Menagerie and 'Imperial' Factions, the most noteworthy were the Yokai, Japanese, and, due to her individual influence, the Da Vinci Faction. The latter, with the exception of outliers such as Artoria and Fenrir, had the most influence in the entire Empire. Nearly every major project and endeavor was headed by Da Vinci and her expansive network, cementing her position as the most intrinsic existence to the Empire's success. As for the other two factions, the Yokai could be considered an isolated subgroup while the Japanese Faction largely existed as a byproduct of Vahn's fondness for the culture.Though the Empire drew from a significant amount of European influence, Vahn had always felt more comfortable in traditional Japanese architecture. This was due to the fact that his first 'real' home had been Tsubaki's, a traditional Manor that allowed him peace of mind and reminded him of his roots. As a result, Avalon had slowly become a region that blended two distinct cultures into one cohesive structure. The existence of the Yokai District further aided in this cultural blurring, to the point you could sometimes find people, including Vahn and members of the Imperial Family, walking around in traditional yukatas and kimonos.---True to his word, Vahn had kept his promises to people like Shuten, periodically spending months at a time tending to her selfishness. As a result, she had actually started to mellow out a bit, albeit only after a considerable amount of 'coaxing'. The hardest part of the process had been 'taming' Ibaraki, but, after learning about her weakness to sweets, particularly macaroons and mochi, she, too, had mellowed out quite a bit. Now, all he had to do in order to pacify her was produce a bag of macaroons, earning a few remarks about 'offerings' and 'what it means to be an oni' before she ultimately snatched them away.Fortunately, though Shuten had been rather aggressive in her pursuits, Ibaraki showed no interest in the opposite sex whatsoever. She seemed to consider the act a form of submission, so, at least for the time being, only Shuten could push her down. This saved Vahn a lot of stress, as, unlike the lascivious Shuten, Ibaraki was unable to alter her appearance. As a result, her figure was much like Kali's, reminiscent of an emaciated, yet exceptionally powerful, young girl.Not having to worry about Ibaraki had removed a great burden from Vahn's heart, allowing him to more easily tolerate the rather dangerous affection of Shuten and Kiyohime. The former could get out of hand very quickly if you allowed her to. As for the latter, she had little to no control over her draconic heritage, so, when it finally came time for them to have sex, it became another contest to determine dominance. She had even transformed into a half-serpentine dragon, the lower half of her body, starting from the waist, becoming similar to a snake.When Vahn first saw Kiyohime's transformation, it had actually been a little mortifying as her body had extended for nearly twenty-three meters. Fortunately, this state didn't last too long, and, after breaking free from her attempts to bind and ensnare him, her body ultimately returned to normal. Then, in order to ease her heat-like symptoms, he tended to her for nearly three hours before she was, temporarily, satisfied. Afterward, she had become nearly as clingy as Medusa, but, after a few small incidents, she began to calm down, 'begrudgingly' sharing him with the others.Needless to say, Yokai could be moderately terrifying when they were impassioned, but, once you adapted to the intensity, they had their charms. This was especially so for Shuten, as, much like Da Vinci, her ability to alter her appearance, combined with the natural fragrances produced by her body, made her as tantalizing as a forbidden fruit. He even got to sample her 'naturally produced' wakame sake, learning that her love juices put the vast majority of alcohols to shame.In the end, it was his acceptance of Shuten's wakame sake that caused the greatest change in her behavior. From that moment on, she mellowed considerably, and, when asked, it was apparently related to the fact that, under normal circumstances, her 'sake' was basically a death sentence for anyone 'fortunate' enough to savor it. The fact that he had survived was proof, at least for her, that they were 'fated' to be together. Thus, following the penultimate moment where he was lapping sake from between her thighs, she became considerably less aggressive. The following day, she had even started to wear her kimono properly, surprising virtually everyone by how 'demure' she had become...---While the developments with Shuten and Kiyohime were noteworthy, the changes Vahn had least expected came from other sources. This included Musashi officially joining the Empire, apparently after a drunken confrontation with Wukong, and, more surprisingly, a rapid escalation of tensions within Tamamo's palatial shrine. The former had been somewhat expected, as Musashi had been complaining about the Heroes Faction during each of their rendezvous. The latter, however, came as a complete surprise, leaving Vahn completely gobsmacked.During one of his usual visits to Tamamo's shrine, Vahn had immediately noticed a not-so-subtle shift in the atmosphere. When he actually met up with the girls in their room, it had been cleaned from floor to ceiling, and, though they didn't openly make their intentions clear, everyone in the room had done away with their more casual clothing, donning loose-fitting kimonos. This, alone, was enough to indicate something was going on, but, with a fresh scent of citrus and lavender in the air, it didn't take the deductive reasoning of Sherlock to determine they had bathed before his arrival.There was a time in his life when Vahn had been particularly dense, but, ever since arriving in the Nasuverse, he had proactively sought to change that part of his character. As a result, he was able to understand their intentions immediately, but, rather than overtly call them out on it, he decided to play along.In the end, it was brought to Vahn's attention that, ever since Altria had started showing a greater interest in him, she and X had gotten into a number of arguments. It apparently bothered X quite a bit that Altria, someone who basically shared her appearance, behaved like a stray cat whenever she was around him. This led to Altria pointing out the number of saber-faces that already existed in his harem, something that X had been doing her best to simply ignore.Ultimately, after a considerable amount of mediation from Tamamo, things somehow progressed in the direction of using the Virtual World to experience some of Vahn's more popular memories. He had allowed Da Vinci to compile everything he was willing to share, and, though it still had a long way to go, Ark and Mother had been able to construct a detailed simulation of the Danmachi Record. This was currently only accessible to members of the Inner Sanctum, but, in the future, it was scheduled to become the eighth thematic world once balancing had been completed.After spending what amounted to months just sorting through Vahn's most precious memories, X had effectively been 'brainwashed' by Tamamo and Altria. As for Tomoe, her emotions were very complex, but, in the end, she ended up getting pulled along by the momentum of her three best friends. It was hard for her to even imagine life outside of their cozy little bedroom, so, after a very long period of discussion, they had 'unanimously' decided to forgo common sense, going so far as to make a pact of sisterhood and vowing to support each other...Vahn didn't really know what to say in response to the sudden revelations by the shut-in group, but, as Altria's behavior had become increasingly risque, he wasn't too surprised. Rather, if not for the inclusion of Tomoe, he wouldn't have even required an explanation. X had always shown a fair amount of interest in his displays of affection, so, despite her protests, Altria's accusations of her being a closet pervert were spot on. Tomoe, however, was generally a very sensible woman, and, though she would sometimes address herself in the third person when she was flustered, making her seem pretty cute at times, Vahn hadn't expected her to acquiesce so easily.Regardless of their reasons, Vahn could tell the girls were sincere, so, with four beauties wearing nothing but loose kimonos staring expectantly toward him, it was virtually impossible for him to refuse. Thus, much to the chagrin of Suzuka, he spent the evening enjoying the various different ways in which X could express her embarrassment while Tamamo and Tomoe helped assuage the ever-growing curiosity of Altria. This had gone on for nearly half a day, and, by the end of it, Altria wasn't the only one behaving like a spoiled kitten demanding treats...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn, God of Griefing','TFW you learn Shuten's 'sake' can even liquefy the bones of an average human...','Nyaa~')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

While his other four bodies were enjoying their time within the Yokai District, Vahn's 'original' self was high above the clouds, seated atop the massive Leviathan. He had the chibi-esque vessels of Gaia, Alaya, and Tiamat all snuggling up together within his lap, each looking simply adorable as they contentedly enjoyed his petting.Though he could have done it anywhere, Vahn felt as though his mind was always clearer when he sat atop the Leviathan. There was something about the 'impossibly' large creature, combined with the overview of the world below, that allowed him to better reflect on his actions. Here, he felt as if, for a brief moment, he was detached from the rest of the world, much like a god looking down on a world of their own creation.In truth, there were a number of reasons behind Vahn's decision to sit atop the Levithan. The main one, however, was simply to experience a shift in perspective. As for why he felt this was necessary, it was due to the sapphire blue orb that existed only in his perception. This was the form his Map had taken after subordinating Gaia, the grossest representation of his current authority.Vahn's Map Function not only allowed him to map the surrounding terrain, but, if it was a territory owned by himself or his subordinates, he could mark and track enemies, teleport allies, and, most importantly, 'search' for anything within the boundaries of his dominion. So long as it was within the bounds of his dominion, he could find any person, animal, plant, or mineral with a simple thought. It was an inviolable power, which, when combined with his ability to freely move his intent, provided a level of clairvoyance that even Tier 5 beings like Alaya couldn't match.The best thing about the current situation was that, as the planet itself, Gaia's subordination allowed him to view, not just the Surface, but the Reverse Side as well. In fact, he could view all Textures, not just those people were familiar with. This not only included secret locations, such as the Wandering Sea, but, far more importantly, it even displayed completely isolated regions, most notably Avalon and the 'Heart of the World'.In total, there were more than a hundred sub-textures, some of which had greater dimensions than the entire surface area of the planet. This fact wasn't too surprising, as Vahn had already known this to be the case; however, there was a drastic difference between imagining something and seeing it for yourself. There was even a world where every piece of land floated high atop the clouds, and, no matter how far he sent his intent, Vahn never found anything 'below' them. It was like an endless and eternal sky, a world where people relied on majestic airships and flying mounts to move between sky islands, some the size of continents...Unfortunately, despite a keen interest in each of these unique Textures and Realms, trying to search through them manually would take, quite literally, thousands of years. The 'interior' of Gaia was like a small universe, something very few people could even imagine. However, with dozens of [Spirit-Time Orb]s, [Time-Space Orb]s, and Da Vinci's many creations, Vahn wasn't all that surprised. There didn't seem to be an upper limit to the number of Dimensions and Sub-Dimensions that could occupy a single point in Space and Time. The Projection of Avalon was a good example of this, but, compared to the Root System, which denoted entire universes as 'single' points, even it paled in comparison.Though he intended to explore quite a bit in the future, Vahn's current objectives included marking known threats, such as the surviving Dead Apostle Ancestors, and any potentially dangerous entities, chiefly the various Gods that were expected to cause trouble in the future.Using the search function, Vahn was able to identify the location of his targets no matter how distant or isolated they were. He could even spy on them directly, allowing him to store their appearances in his memory, compiling a profile for each of his future opponents.Ultimately, phase two of Vahn's plan included eliminating threats before the convergence could take place. Before that, however, phase one included recruiting various allies, not as Heroic Spirits, but by visiting them in person. He would reason with those who were willing to listen, liberating them from the prisons they had been trapped in for eons. As for those who wished to contend against him, they would suffer a tragic fate in order to ensure the success of phases three and four...With this in mind, Vahn finished marking a few thousand different threats before using the search function, this time to locate Amaterasu. He had a preexisting agreement with her, and, now that her Bunrei had been able to experience the true nature of the Empire, he was hoping she would be one of his first allies. He was even prepared to negotiate directly with Type: Sol, arranging for Amaterasu to become a 'True God' by strengthening her Divine Authority...Immediately after confirming Amaterasu as his search, Vahn saw his map update, zooming in on a massive temple that was completely isolated from other Sub-Textures. It was a place that existed outside of Time and Space, but, due to the fact it still resided on the 'Reverse Side', Vahn was able to pinpoint the location without incident. Then, by guiding his intent, he was able to probe the interior of the temple, finding the familiar figure of Amaterasu in a statuesque state.Seemingly in response to his intent, Amaterasu's eyes began to blaze like small suns as time around her quickly adapted to the rate at which Vahn's flowed. Then, as if she could 'see' him, she turned her attention towards the point in space where his intent was located, her eyes squinting in amusement as she muttered, "My, aren't you full of surprises...?"Though he was not physically within Amaterasu's isolated Sub-Texture, Vahn had learned how to speak through his intent even back in Danmachi. Thus, without having to teleport into her dominion, he answered, "If it is something I have set my mind to, there is nothing that can prevent me from fulfilling a promise. The last time we met, I promised to liberate you from this prison, allowing you to return to the Surface. All I require in exchange is your word as a Goddess. So long as you obey the Common Law, you will be free to live as you please."Hearing Vahn's words, Amaterasu squinted her eyes even further, her nine, fiery, tails gently swaying behind her as she seemed to contemplate his offer. As a Goddess of the Sun, her dignity demanded that she repay favors and debts without fail. Being indebted to another was the same as lowering her status, so, even if Vahn didn't demand payment, she 'had' to give him something. The problem was, he was granting her freedom from an eternal prison, forcing an unpayable debt unto her shoulders...While she couldn't see his face, Amaterasu knew Vahn wasn't proactively trying to take advantage of the laws and restrictions imposed upon Gods. This was even more troublesome, however, as sincerity was like compounding interest when it came to the repayment of debts. If she accepted his offer, she would be compelled to repay her debt, trapped within an endless cycle by her own pride. In a way, it was like replacing one prison with another, exchanging walls for chains formed from obligation...After a relatively short period of time, Amaterasu nodded her head slightly, stating, "We will obey the conditions you have set. In exchange, you must erect a shrine for us within your home. Gods require the acknowledgment of sapient organisms as a form of sustenance. Oftentimes, quality is far greater than quantity. If you will not allow us to govern your world, you must enshrine as the Guardian Deity of your House. In exchange for offerings from your descendants, we will protect your Empire and its people until the final setting of the sun..."Though Amaterasu's remark matched his expectations, Vahn couldn't help but internalize a sigh. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty, as, from the very beginning, he 'knew' things would proceed in a similar manner. This didn't diminish the sincerity in his words, however, as he had every intention of allowing her to live freely. Unfortunately, much like Alaya and Gaia, she would bound by certain laws and restrictions, compelling her to think and act in a certain way. In the future, he would liberate her from this compulsion, but, for the time being, the best thing he could do for all of them was rely on her power.Without having to put too much thought into it, Vahn expanded his domain using his 'intent' as the origin point. He had already prepared for Amaterasu's response, filling a massive sakazuki cup with the same 'sake' he had provided her last time. It was a potent elixir that had a sizeable quantity of his blood mixed into it, enhancing the flavor and potency to a level that would cause even the greatest God of Wine to experience an existential crisis.Seeing the familiar rainbow-hued liquid, Amaterasu made no attempt to hide her appreciation for the offering, gulping audibly as she fixed her posture. She had been laying down all the other times he saw her, so, seeing Amaterasu sitting properly, Vahn felt exceptionally small in comparison. Her standing height was close to 50m, bringing her pretty close to 28m when sitting in seiza. This gave her an equivalent stature to a nine-story building, an overwhelming sight that was greatly amplified by Amaterasu's flawless features...For a brief moment, Vahn felt like he had been caught watching the sunrise, only coming to his senses when Amaterasu brought cup to her lips and slowly savored its contents. At the same time, he heard a notification sound within his mind, indicating her intent to become his Subordinate. This was a little awkward, but, as it also coincided with expectations, Vahn accepted it without hesitation.It would be very difficult, if not impossible, for him to free her without subordinating her first. Now, however, he could teleport her directly to the Surface using his Map Function and Unit Management. It was an unbelievably powerful combination of system functions, and, in the future, it is what would allow him, and others, to freely trespass other Textures. This was a grand irony, in a way, as so many people were quick to claim ownership of land and territory, ignoring the simple fact that the planet had been around for billions of years before their selfishness determined such a thing.Vahn would never understand what compelled people to believe they 'owned' anything they didn't build themselves. Even the concept of most governments didn't make sense to him, as, in the grand scheme of things, it was 'ridiculous' to claim sovereignty over anything but yourself. Nobody had an 'inherent' right to anything they did not expressly obtain through their own efforts. If people could accept this, respecting the worlds which granted them life, things like corruption, pollution, and war would cease to be. Instead, they pursue personal interests, consolidate wealth, and suppress others for entirely contrived reasons; actions which ultimately result in the collapse of entire civilizations.In the end, Vahn wasn't conceited enough to believe that his method was the 'best' solution. Rather, he fully expected to make mistakes along his path towards the brink of Eternity. However, no matter how far he strayed from his original intentions, there were certain things he refused to compromise on. He would never ignore the suppression of people for arbitrary reasons such as race and gender. He would also do everything in his power to ensure all people, regardless of their origin, were given the right to succeed. Everyone deserved happiness, and, no matter the circumstances of their birth, children had an intrinsic right to be protected. It didn't matter what their parents or family had done, he would never allow a child to suffer for the sins of their ancestors. Even the concept of 'inherited' sin made him sick to his stomach...Finished with her sake, Amaterasu released a hot breath before remarking, "How peculiar...to think this sake can even burn my, a Goddess of the Sun's, throat...fuuuu...."Awakened from his train of thought, Vahn 'looked' up at Amaterasu, explaining, "Since you enjoy it so much, I'll make sure you have an ample supply once your shrine is completed. Now, I'm going to transfer you to the Surface. Before that, you need to adjust your size. Your current form is certainly majestic, but it will cause a few problems if you want to roam freely..."Hearing Vahn's words, Amaterasu smiled teasingly before saying, "A simple matter," as her body began to rapidly shrink. However, this was 'only' her body, so, after a few awkward seconds, a much smaller Amaterasu emerged from her discarded clothes, her 'full glory' on display. Then, despite it being little more than an excuse, her smile became even wider as she explained, "We can sense it, the change in status between us. From now on, you have the responsibility of our Master, even if you refuse the title. You will need to provide for us, and, in exchange, we will give all of ourselves to you."While others might be awed by the sight before them, Vahn wasn't exactly surprised. He expected something like this to happen from the moment he first met Amaterasu when she was in possession of Tamamo. The Bunrei of a Goddess would have inherited many of its traits, including a baseline for their personality. Since Kitsunes were rather famous in Japan for ingratiating themselves to others, often serving as guardians, friends, lovers, and wives, Amaterasu wasn't an exception. Rather, as the nature of a God could be shaped by the beliefs of their followers, Amaterasu's nature as a vulpine woman as an order of magnitude greater than that of Tamamo and Suzuka. She had even tried to 'force' him to marry her Bunrei the moment they met, and, during their encounter, every single one of her actions possessed a certain seductive quality...After briefly admiring the sight before him, Vahn surprised Amaterasu quite a bit when he suddenly transferred her to the top of the Leviathan. She obviously hadn't expected such an 'instantaneous' transfer, but, as could be expected from a Tier 5 entity, she quickly recovered, her smile becoming even more seductive when she saw Vahn's actual body. However, immediately after that, her eyes landed on Gaia, Alaya, and Tiamat, freezing her in place before she could take a single step.Though Amaterasu was a Goddess of the Sun, she, like other Gods of her nature, was contracted to the planet she resided on. Thus, Gaia's and Alaya's authority, at least within the Planetary Bounded Field, was higher than her own. The fact they were both curled up in the lap of the man she had just pledged herself to caused her heart to begin beating rapidly, her thoughts racing to make sense of the current situation.Understanding Amaterasu's confusion, Vahn offered a polite smile before pulling out a high-quality kimono for her to wear. He knew she had the ability to manifest a raiment, but, at least for the time being, he intended to humor her. Though he would eventually have to inform her of the fact he was already married to a different Amaterasu, giving him strong apprehensions about accepting her as a lover, that could wait until later. For now, he intended to get her up to speed on everything that had happened during his stay within the Nasuverse. From there, they would discuss his future plans, and, once everything was said and done, his plan would officially be set in motion...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn be like, "Welcome to 'my' world..."','Baited and outsmarted','Imagine Amaterasu's face when she sees her loli counterpart xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1509: Acceptance