Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

(A/N: Voting is finally enabled. The problem was apparently related to the fact Zoe's name uses a special character, even though it has been that way for months. Let's show the ranking we're not playing around &gt;:D!!)As time continued its perpetual march forward, Vahn's time was split between research, helping to babysit Ren, and, every now and then, going on small Adventures. There were quite a number of Textures with everything from floating islands to rivers that flowed and spiraled through the air. These were mystical lands filled with Phantasmal Species and all manner of unique races that had diverged from humanity millennia ago. This added a sense of wonderment that couldn't be found in something like the Virtual World, so, after dealing with the various 'rulers' of these Textures, the amount of traffic between them and the Surface world was gradually increasing.Previously, there were a number of powerful entities that had eagerly sought to return to the Surface. Even if they had massive Realm-like Textures to rule over, they didn't like that they were basically imprisoned on the Reverse Side. Thus, in an effort to convince the more apprehensive Gods and Goddesses, Vahn had allowed many of them to explore the Surface world for a short period of time. He also promised to create pathways between the Surface and the Reverse Side, removing the need for a chaotic merger between the myriad Textures.It would take a considerable amount of time to create a comprehensive network, but, so long as you had access to the transportation nexus, it was possible to traverse more than three-hundred different Textures. This number was gradually increasing at a rate of one gate every 2-3 days, so, by the end of the year, an additional 120 Textures would have been added, effectively converting Gaia into a pocket universe.Knowing how amazing Gaia was, Vahn would still get a little upset when he heard reports about a community violating the Common Law by trying to dump their waste into rivers or oceans. There were still a number of people who didn't think the Empire would enforce the more 'inconvenient' aspects of the Common Law, so, despite countless instances of people being punished, others, as if it was some inherent instinct, would readily pollute the environment.Fortunately, even with millions of people committing minor offenses, it was nothing compared to the amount of waste produced in the 'Modern Era'. Now, things like industrial factories no longer existed. Chemical and Nuclear plants had been effectively 'erased', and, with most vehicles being banned, the volume of emissions had decreased to a negligible amount. These factors, combined with the fact that Gaia had been receiving an ample amount of 'nourishment', all but guaranteed she would live on into perpetuity...---With a characteristically casual smile on his face, Vahn was enjoying the gentle rays of the sun as he absentmindedly observed a pleasant scene.A few meters away from his position, playing in the shallows of a pristine blue lake, Gaia, Spenta, Tiamat, and another white-haired beauty were all happily playing together. If former members of the Holy Church were to witness this scene, they would be unable to hide the shock on their face, not just because of the white-haired woman's identity, but because she was wearing a pure white one-piece swimsuit while happily playing with others...As if reacting to some unspoken cue, the young girl who had been sitting at his side, possessing similar features to the much older white-haired woman, mused, "You never cease to amaze me...I never would have thought that child would be able to find happiness. To see her happily playing with others... it's almost enough to make me think you had no ulterior motives..."Hearing the voice of the young girl, Aura, Vahn turned to meet her seemingly blind eyes, smiling as he said, "Everything people do for others is done with ulterior motives. Even if it is just to make someone else happy, there is always an underlying reason driving us to act. It doesn't matter what my original intentions were...Mavis is much happier apprenticing under Vivian than she ever was as the Supreme Pontiff of the Holy Church."Rather than refute Vahn's statement, Aura gave a small nod before returning a smile of her own and saying, "I suppose that is all that really matters. I have yet to see you try and exploit her gifts, so there isn't much I can say on the matter. I only hope that things can remain like this for a very long time...peace is often too fleeting..."Vahn was well aware of how quickly things could transition from peace to absolute chaos, so he couldn't help but nod in response to Aura's words. At the same time, however, he was gingerly poking Alaya's feline abdomen, earning a stink eye from her before she rolled over to protect her belly. This allowed him free access to her back, so, without any hesitation, Vahn began to caress her soft fur while staring at the invisible screen within his mind...-----------------------------------------------------------------[Quest: World Power]Rank: SSSCompletion Grade: SSObjective(s): Defeat a total of ten Dead Apostle Ancestors designated by the Holy Church:(13/10), Slay or subordinate Solon Yggdrasil, Director of the Mage's Association(1/1), Slay or subordinate Mavis Maxwell, Pontiff of the Holy Church(1/1), Slay or subordinate any weilder of True Magic:(1/1)Optional Objective(s): Purify the Crimson Moon Curse from Arcueid Brunestud:(1/1), Destroy the Enforcement Division of the Mage's Association:(8/8), Destroy the Burial Agency of the Holy Church:(5/8), Slay or subordinate one of the three Monarchal Lords associated with the Mage's Association:(1/1)Reward(s): 8,000,000,000OP, 1x[Heaven's Mandate], 1x[Seal of Heaven], 1x[Imperial Regalia], 1x[Crimson Moon Tiara], 3x[Anti-Origin Dagger], 1x[Sword of the Lord][Heaven's Mandate]Rank: UniqueUse: Upon activation, allows the user to make a contract with the current Ruler or Guardian of the world. If they are successful, all life within a specified dominion will become aware of their status as the designated Ruler of the World, granting them nigh-absolute Authority within the dominion they have been assigned.Restriction: Vahn Aldrnari Mason[Seal of Heaven]Rank: UniqueUse: Allows for a singular decree to be acknowledged by the World. This decree will become an absolute law within the dominion assigned to the user. Violation of said decree will result in the offender being punished by the World.Restriction: Heaven's Mandate must be in effect.[Imperial Regalia]Rank: UniqueUse: Allows the transfer of Authority granted by [Heaven's Mandate]. The wielder of this dagger is recognized as the designated Ruler of the World.Restriction(s): Heaven's Mandate must be in effect. This item can only be transferred willingly.[Crimson Moon Tiara]Rank: SSP.Def: 0M.Def: 2300Abilities: Blessing of the Crimson Moon(SS), Mind Enhancement(S), Mind Resistance(S), Indestructible(S)A beautiful silver tiara rumored to be cast from the light of the full moon. Greatly increases the wearer's mental clarity while providing an equal increase in mental resistances. When worn by its rightful owner, it increases all parameters by an amount corresponding to phases of the moon. It is most powerful on the night of the Full Moon, temporarily doubling the wearer's parameters for a brief period of time.Restriction(s): Arcueid Brunestud, Anyone with Yin-Elemental Affinity[Anti-Origin Dagger]Rank: UniqueUse: So long as the user knows the Origin of the target, this weapon has a high chance of causing instant death.[Sword of the Lord]Rank: UniqueUse: A ceremonial item used in succession rituals. After being soaked in a person's blood, the blade of this sword will glow with a mystical blue light. This effect can be triggered by all direct descendants, making it a viable method to determine familial ties during succession disputes.-----------------------------------------------------------------With Phase Four looming on the horizon, Vahn had been forced to decide whether or not he wanted to complete certain Quests. He obviously didn't care much about the one assigned to him by Akasha, but, when it came to Quests like [World Power], the benefits were too good to simply ignore. Unique items such as [Heaven's Mandate] were phenomenal unlocks, and, with a constantly fluctuating pool of OP, it was always better to have more.Though it would be difficult to achieve, Vahn wanted to stockpile around twenty-billion OP before leaving the Nasuverse. This could be achieved instantly if he completed his Main Quest: [Genesis Path: Dawn of Creation], but, as it felt like a waste to obtain a Divinity just as he was preparing to leave a Record, Vahn decided against it. He also wanted to try and complete each of the Optional Objectives, so, for the time being, he really only had [Gaia's Champion] and [Ruler of a Thousand Realms] for substantial OP gain.Since [Gaia's Champion] would be completed the moment he exited the Record, the only Quest Vahn could focus on was [Ruler of a Thousand Realms]. Even this didn't require him to do much, however, as the Main Objective was simply establishing a transportation network between the Surface World and the myriad Textures on the Reverse Side. It was only a matter of time until he completed it, rewarding him a substantial, yet deceptively small, 1,000,000,000OP. With [Gaia's Champion], this would only bring him to around fifteen-billion, so, if he wanted to meet his goal, Vahn still needed to earn five-billion Origin Points prior to his departure...Truthfully, five-billion OP wasn't actually that much in the grand scheme of things. He passively earned nearly a billion OP every year, so, if he decided to live frugally, Vahn would be able to stockpile plenty. He also had the option of simply grinding out a few Quests, allowing him to spend time with his children while exploring various worlds. There were no limits to the number of options available to him, leaving Vahn spoiled for choice.The only thing that dishearted him was the fact that, with the passage of time and the introduction of things like the Virtual World, Vahn had grown weary of Quests. While they were immeasurably useful, allowing him to grow exponentially stronger in the pursuit of his objectives, Vahn felt like they removed a bit of his individuality. He didn't like the feeling of acting according to Objectives as it almost made him feel like a machine.Shaking his head, Vahn decided to stop worrying about things he had full control over. He wasn't forced to accept Quests, and, if he really wanted to, he could completely ignore them. There was no sense in complaining about extra benefits, so, rather than create an issue out of nothing, Vahn decided to do something more productive...Ignoring the curious gaze from Aura, Vahn cradled Alaya in his arms as he rose to his feet. At the same time, he unequipped most of his clothing, leaving only a pair of shorts. This was enough to alert Alaya, her violet eyes 'glaring' at him accusingly as he returned a mischievous smile and lept through the air, shouting, "Cannonball~!" before splashing into the refreshingly cold water...---While one version of himself was off 'bullying' Alaya, Vahn's main body was seated on his Throne, patiently listening to reports about the various affairs of the Empire. This was the most boring part of his day, and, though he had gotten used to it, Vahn still felt it was somewhat tedious. If not for the fact there were more than a hundred people present, each following decorum to perfection, he might not be able to resist slouching while listening to Gawain drone on for more than half an hour. Fortunately, towards the end of his report, Gawain wrapped things up by saying, "We have received a missive from Admiral Drake. Her fleet encountered an ambush from a foreign Empire in the Blue Sky Texture. There were no casualties on our side, but Princess Mordred crashed her ship into one of the enemy airships..."As Vahn had just been thinking about joining Mordred and Nobunaga on their excursion into the Blue Sky Texture, he was pleasantly surprised to hear Gawain mention them. This brought a small smile to his face as he muttered, "That doesn't surprise me...Mordred has always been the type to fight her battles using more 'direct' methods..."Hearing their Emperor's words, the assembly, now consisting of a large number of Gods, Spirits, and Fae, dutifully laughed in response. They all knew how 'spirited' Mordred could be and this wasn't the first time reports of her exploits had reached the assembly.Since it was a good opportunity, Vahn gestured for silence before asking, "So, did Admiral Drake request for reinforcements? If so, I may intervene personally..."Shaking his head, Gawain adopted a slightly wry smile as he explained, "I'm afraid the second part of the missive includes a request that Your Imperial Majesty 'not' intervene. Admiral Drake, Vice-Amidral Nobunaga, and Princess Modred have expressed an interest in handling this matter themselves..."If not for the audience, Vahn felt as though he would have deflated like a balloon immediately after hearing Gawain's words. This was another reason why he harbored the desire to just travel freely in future Records, as, in the Nasuverse, his movements had become restricted. If he wanted to force the matter, he could do pretty much whatever he wanted, but, due to their desire to grow strong and support the Empire, he had to give everyone else a chance to spread their wings...Restraining a sigh, Vahn gave a curt nod before dismissing Gawain and asking, "Are there any other matters that require our attention? If not, we will move to the next phase of proceedings..."---While Vahn was tied down by his responsibilities as an Emperor, Nobunaga was at the helm of a massive airship that was more than three-hundred meters in length. It was a beautiful craft that borrowed various Japanese aesthetics in its design, including a tiered bridge that looked like a five-story Pagoda. As for the rest of the ship, the hull was predominately black while the railings and support structures were painted a rich crimson hue. The only other dominant color was gold, but this was primarily used to adorn the massive cannons that lined the port and starboard sides of the ship.Though it defied conventional laws of physics, Nobunaga's ship, the 'Sixth Heaven', was able to glide through the air with surprising grace. It required neither sails nor thrusters to keep it alight. Instead, it used an advanced system of gravitational anchors and graviton tethers to allow it to maneuver just as easily in the atmosphere as it could outside of it.Currently, Nobunaga had split off from the main fleet, taking advantage of the Sixth Heaven's size to draw the attention of their enemy, the Melchiore Empire. They were a rather tyrannical bunch that had conquered hundreds of floating islands within the Blue Sky Texture. This made them one of the most powerful forces in the unique Texture, as, unlike others, it lacked a pantheon of Gods to maintain order. Instead, it had a few powerful Divine and Elemental Spirits that were commonly worshipped as local deities. Some of these qualified as Tier 4 entities, but, due to a lack of Divine Authority, they were little more than pseudo-immortal beings with limited mastery over various Laws.After cresting around a mountain that was more than 8km tall and 23km wide, a vicious smile spread across Nobunaga's face as she pulled out a small gemstone and shouted, "Battle stations, on the double! I don't want to see a single person lazing about! If I find out anyone was slacking off, I'll plant a bullet so far up your colon you'll be tasting iron for the next six months...!"Following the rather crude command, hundreds of crew members, each wearing matching uniforms and accompanied by Companions, began their battle stations. There were a number of anti-air cannons and defensive batteries on the deck of the Sixth Heaven, so, even if they weren't operating one of the 128 main cannons, everyone had something to do. The only exception to this was the specialized boarding crew, the only group wearing armor amongst the entire crew.Leading the boarding crew, wearing a rather futuristic red mechanical suit that was designed to look like a sleek dragon, was none other than Mordred. After crashing her ship into one of the enemy vessels, both ships ended up 'sinking' into the endless abyss of clouds below. Fortunately, their uniforms were equipped with tracking beacons that allowed the crew to be teleported in the event of an emergency. She had been able to relocate her entire crew to the nearby Golden Hind before personally piloting her relatively small ship into the belly of her enemy. Since then, she had her Captain's license temporarily revoked, but, as it was infinitely more fun to lead the boarding party, Mordred didn't particularly mind...With the Sixth Heaven rapidly approaching a small fleet of enemy vessels, Mordred donned her helmet, completing her draconic look as she activated her comms and shouted, "Let's show these bastards who the skies really belong to! Onwards! For the glory of the Empire...!!"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Heaven's Mandate OP','Vahn is beginning to develop Saitama syndrome','I kind of feel bad for the people who have to follow Mordred xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With one of the prerequisites of Phase Four requiring the awakening of his Zanpakutou Spirit, Vahn found himself riding on the back of Zhuque in her Vermillion Bird transformation. Thirty-seven years was a long time, even for a normal person, so Vahn had made startling progress in his mastery over [Rakshasa Body] since his evolution. In the past, he had always relied on linking the reserves of every single one of his vessels, putting a heavy strain on his body whenever he wanted to manifest one of the Divine Beasts. After discussing the matter with Da Vinci, however, Vahn pioneered a method of basically turning his vessels into storage containers, rather than batteries and receivers.Borrowing a page from Naruto, Vahn created a literal well of Souce Energy within his dantian, the core of his 'Mana Body'. Once he had mastered this process, he could completely isolate this energy from the rest of his network, allowing it to work as a reserve battery in the even his normal reserves were depleted. This was important as the more vessels he had the more batteries available in the event of an emergency.By using the energy sealed away in his dantian, Vahn was able to summon the Four Divine Beasts without taxing his primary reserves in the slightest. This provided him a monstrous increase in his overall capabilities, as, on their own, the Divine Beasts could be equated to weaker Tier 5 beings. He could also feed more energy into them, and, during an emergency, they could infuse their own into his body to greatly empower him for a short period of time.Though it wasn't anything new, Vahn's progress in his Innates reinforced the idea they were his most powerful assets. Now, he could relax as Zhuque accelerated to near-light speeds, her majestic wings, spanning more than 300m across, leaving vermillion streaks that lingered in the void, causing it to tremble in her wake. It was a truly breathtaking sight, but, when compared to the gentle warmth and indescribable beauty of her feathers themselves, it was marginally less impressive...After a little more than 150 hours of travel, Vahn could sense the 'edge' of Sol's dominion, the outer edge of what Pre-Fall Astronomers called the Heliopause. Here, rather than get colder, space rapidly heated to near 31,000 degrees Celsius, the result of superheated particulates of matter being caught in the relatively thin membrane that separated Sol's dominion from Interstellar Space.In the past, Vahn had spent a short time traversing Interstellar Space, but, other than a few moon-sized asteroids and nigh-invisible gas giants, he didn't find anything interesting. It did help him to confirm that not all planets were alive, but, considering he was soon to depart the Nasuverse, such knowledge wasn't pertinent to his situation. He had come to the very edge of the Sol System for a singular purpose, so, after directing Zhuque to land on a planetoid 1/6th the size of Gaia, Vahn drew the Asauchi as he stood in the middle of a pitch-black world illuminated by little more than Zhuque's flames.While doing a few warm-up stretches, Vahn turned toward the massive Vermillion Sparrow, sending a quick telepathic message. In response, she gave a simple nod before her body turned into a large plume of vermillion flames. This served two purposes, alerting the beasts that called the dark world home while also allowing Zhuque to adopt her human form.Once the flames finished condensing, an eastern beauty that could easily rival Chang'e in beauty had appeared. She was wearing a vermillion palatial gown that cascaded from her body, flowing past her feet before ending in wisps of flame. Her hair was a rich brown, bordering on black, that was styled into a loose bun that allowed most of her hair to gracefully fall around her shoulders. She had skin as fair as white jade, a figure that was poorly concealed by her loose garments, and a countenance that would cause people to instinctually lower their heads in reverence.As the surprisingly tall woman gracefully approached him, Vahn couldn't help but admire Zhuque's celestial beauty. The way her hips swayed was as natural as the reeds of a weeping willow gracefully flowing in the breeze. He found everything about her aesthetically pleasing, from the way her sleeves emulated the wings of her true form to the small flame-like mark that was situated between her two sword-like brows. Her emerald-green eyes radiated both intelligence and sensuality and her lips had an almost magnetic quality, drawing the eyes of anyone in close proximity...With an expression that was simultaneously bashful yet proud, Zhuque combed her delicate fingers through her hair, her voice as sonorous as a perfectly tuned musical instrument as she asked, "Was the journey pleasant for you, my Lord? I hope you found my backside to your liking..."Restraining a laugh, Vahn smiled widely before adopting a contemplative look, rubbing his chin as he mused, "It was a very pleasant experience...for a while, I even though about burying myself into your feathers. They always look so comfortable..."Hearing her Master's response, Zhuque's pretense of a graceful and sultry woman shattered in an instant, a 'too-eager' look on her face as she cupped her cheeks, writhing about as she said, "I-If that is what m-m-my Lord desires, I, no, this lowly one would be more than willing~!"No longer able to restrain his laughter, Vahn's voice echoed through the thin atmosphere of the dark planet, shaking the void and startling both Zhuque and the creatures skulking in the shadows.Before she could begin to pout or apologize, Vahn extended his hand, gently caressing Zhuque's soft and unsurprisingly hot cheek as he said, "It is still a little too soon. You four are as precious to me as my own children...there will come a time when we can be together, but, for now, I can only ask for your patience..."Punctuating his words, Vahn gave Zhuque a small peck on the lips before running his thumb across them with a smile on his face. This was enough to return the smile to Zhuque's face, her expression turning into that of a demure maiden as she turned her eyes up at him and answered, "We will be together forever...I can wait..."Truthfully, the only thing keeping Vahn from laying a hand on Zhuque was the knowledge that she was a part of him. She was a manifestation derived from his Innate, so, for reasons he couldn't fully understand, Vahn felt a considerable amount of trepidation towards advancing their relationship. It was like an instinct in the back of his mind, warning him that, if he were to have sex with Zhuque, the nature of his Innate would change.With his departure from the Record fast approaching, Vahn didn't want to compromise his plans just to increase the size of his harem. The Four Divine Beasts were an intrinsic part of his power, and, no matter how much time passed, Zhuque would always be a part of him. He had a functionally infinite amount of time to make it up to her, so, for the time being, he decided to play it safe...Tearing his eyes away from Zhuque's affectionate gaze, Vahn swung down with the Asauchi, slicing through the hill-sized monster that had come barreling toward them. Its body seemed to be formed from the same black rock as the planetoid itself. This gave it the appearance of a massive golem, but, rather than being powered by a core, the creatures had multiple hearts pumping luminescent green blood through their bodies.Undaunted by the fact it had been sliced in half, the creature discarded its rocky shell, both halves quickly regenerating to create two smaller creatures. Their blood, which had flowed like a small lake, quickly corroded away the glassy black rock that marred the surface of the barren planetoid. It had such a low pH value, that, in its active state, it rated between -38 and -43, making it one of the most acidic compounds that occurred 'naturally' in the Sol System.Seeing the true form of the monsters, vaguely reptilian creatures with multiple protrusions that allowed them to 'wear' the environment like a hermit crab, Vahn couldn't help but smile tauntingly as he said, "Well, you're some ugly bastards, aren't ya~?"Though sound didn't exactly travel well in a virtually non-existent atmosphere, it didn't stop the monsters from releasing an extremely high-pitched frequency as they attempted to rip Vahn and Zhuque apart with their taloned limbs. The former dealt with this by simply side-stepping into the monster's blind spot, casually tracing the Asauchi through its body to strike at one of the massive hearts hidden within the reptilian creature's body. As for Zhuque, she didn't bother to dodge at all, allowing the monster's talons to phase through her body like a child quickly swiping their fingers through a flame.Unlike a mischievous child, the reptile that had attacked Zhuque released an even shriller noise than before as every part of its body that came into contact with the unassuming beauty had been turned to ash in an instant. It might be able to survive in an environment exceeding forty-thousand degrees, but, with Zhuque's 'core' averaging around three-million, very few things could attempt to harm her without suffering the consequences.Seeing Zhuque emulate a Logia Fruit user from One Piece, Vahn couldn't help but feel a tiny amount of envy. He had tried fully elementalizing his body with [Magia Erebea], but, no matter how much he tried, his body still remained relatively 'solid'. His limbs could still be sliced, and, though they would heal in an instant, it was a stark contrast to how Zhuque could simply 'ignore' attacks. She also made it seem so effortless, a stark contrast to the concerted effort required to maintain one of his various Elemental Emperor forms...Knowing her Master was thinking about her, Zhuque gazed toward him with a happy smile on her face as the fiery sash that usually wrapped her body made short work of her attacker. This, too, was done without any effort on her part, almost as if she was simply 'above' having to exert herself...While returning a smile of his own, Vahn used [Shundo] to evade the glaive-like tail that had tried to bisect him, appearing at the monster's back like a phantom. His Asauchi cut through its exceptionally hard carapace without leaving a single mark, striking directly at the Spiritual Body of the creature in an effort to preserve the integrity of its internal organs. Da Vinci had asked him to bring back various samples so he needed to at least collect a few corpses intact.With its last remaining heart 'cut', the massive reptilian creature crashed to the ground with enough force to create a tremor. Its overall length was close to sixty meters, one-third of which was just its tail. More surprisingly, however, was the fact that this was only a baby. Despite this, it could easily rival a C-Rank Heroic Spirit, making them rather popular opponents within the simulations back on Avalon.After collecting the body, Vahn shouldered the Asauchi before turning to Zhuque and asking, "Will you join me for an evening stroll~?"Like a child who had just been bribed with candy, a bubbly atmosphere surrounded Zhuque as she happily approached his left side. She always enjoyed walking with her Master, and, though the Dark World wasn't exactly the most scenic place to explore, she had come to appreciate it quite a bit. This was the fifth time they had visited this particular planetoid, so it had started to grow on her...---While his main body was off exploring the cosmos, another version of Vahn was within a quarantined area of his and Da Vinci's Workshop. His Inventory was linked between all of his vessels so he could instantaneously transport foreign materials and samples for processing. This was greatly appreciated by Da Vinci, so, whenever she needed to move a large number of materials, she unashamedly called upon his services.Vahn always enjoyed spending time with his most brilliant lover, so, whenever she needed his help, he was quick to acquiesce. She had basically conditioned this kind of response from him, but, as the reward always brought a smile to his face, Vahn didn't particularly mind. Rather, just seeing Da Vinci walking around in nothing but a bra, panties, and lab coat always stirred something deep within him, demanding he takes action...Despite being separated by several physical and magical barriers, Vahn was still able to smell the tantalizing aroma that always lingered around Da Vinci's body. He could even feel her gaze casually tracing the contours of his body, causing a small tingling sensation everywhere her pastel-blue eyes lingered.After organizing the samples so they could be processed more easily, Vahn turned his attention to the maroon-haired woman who always seemed to have a smile on her face. She was watching him with a playful glimmer in her eyes, leaning forward against the console in a way that showed off her voluminous chest.Feeling a familiar buzzing in his mind, a wolfish grin spread along Vahn's lips as he mused, "It seems someone is in a good mood..."With her smile becoming even more prominent, Da Vinci pressed a button on her console, activating the speakers within the sealed chamber. Then, much to Vahn's wonderment, she stated, "Sophia told me there is a boy she likes~."Of all the nonsensical and abstract things Da Vinci had ever told him, Vahn found her current words the most unbelievable. His mouth began to hang open in sheer incredulity as every part of his brain that was able to form words simply shut down.Finding her lover's reaction amusing, Da Vinci input a command to save a screenshot of his current expression. She enjoyed his surprised reactions more than any other as it made him seem cute and flawed, a stark contrast to how many saw him. It was also her way of getting revenge against him for all the 'surprises' he gave her, some of which still kept her awake for days on end.Knowing he would want more details, Da Vinci explained, "It is a handsome young man named Ethan Thompkins. He is the Rank 13 player in the Adventure World. She seems to have been smitten by his wanderlust and naive personality...honestly, I was quite surprised. If you'd like, you can take a look at his files later on. I had Ark and Mother compile a dossier...he seems to be a good boy, even if he is a little daft..."Though he was interested in the man his brilliant daughter had apparently fallen for, Vahn shook his head in response to Da Vinci's offer to review his file. Sophia was an unbelievably intelligent woman, perfectly capable of making her own decisions, so he didn't have much to say on the matter. Instead, he gave Da Vinci's scantily clad figure a curious look, asking, "Why are you telling me this now...?"Seeing the look in Vahn's eyes, Da Vinci couldn't help but smile even wider. She appreciated that he was always quick on the uptake, even if he sometimes asked pointless questions. Her only answer to his question was to slip out of her lab coat, revealing her immaculate body. She had never stopped improving upon the form and function of her vessel so she had only become even more beautiful with the passage of time. It was to the point she had to wear powerful artifacts just to prevent the other members of the Inner Sanctum from questioning the value of their own appearance...As was often the case when Da Vinci 'revealed' herself, Vahn couldn't resist the instinctual urge to swallow. His throat suddenly felt exceptionally dry as a powerful thirst began to well up from deep within his psyche. If there weren't several layers of protection between him and Da Vinci, he might not be able to resist the urge to push her down then and there...Feeling Vahn's eagerness permeating through her very existence, Da Vinci's body began to rapidly heat up. Though she enjoyed seeing his surprised expression more than any other, it was the hunger in his eyes that made her feel the greatest amount of vindication. Her beauty was something she had dedicated exclusively to him, so, if he didn't appreciate her properly, she would find a way to punish him. For now, however, his reaction was enough to set her body alight with a passionate flame, so, after squinting seductively, she turned her back to reveal a tail not all that dissimilar to Artoria's as she exited through the door and said, "I'll be waiting, my Master~."Seeing Da Vinci's tail, Vahn understood why his instincts were acting up even more than normal. This caused a somewhat predatory grin to spread across his face, his eyes transitioning to a vibrant gold as small scales began to protrude along his arms and legs...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'SPAAAAAAAAAAAAACE-','Zhuque would make Akainu sweat','Avalon is slowly becoming a land of Dragons xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though it hadn't been his original intention, none of the Inner Sanctum's residents were surprised when Vahn expressed his desire to restructure Olympus. Rather, they seemed to have anticipated it, Da Vinci even going so far as to prepare an administrative system to help govern in his stead. There had never been a doubt in her mind that his busy-body nature wouldn't come into play. Thus, with a vested interest in the technology of Olympus, she had prepared numerous measures to ensure order and stability returned to the devastated region.In the end, Vahn became the new ruler of Mount Olympus, even if it was in name and title alone. The actual governance was left to the system designed by Da Vinci, leaving the Gods acting as little more than guarantors. This left Goddesses like Athena relatively bitter, but, after losing against every main combatant within the Empire, Vahn included, she stopped causing trouble. As for Hestia and Hecate, the former turned out to be more eccentric than expected while the latter, after a reunion with Circe and Medea, became surprisingly agreeable. She still pestered him like an In-Law, but it was nothing compared to the expectations he had built up after their first meeting...With Olympus serving as the prime example, Vahn's intentions shifted from arbitrarily killing Gods to negotiating with them. He was already well aware of the fact that most Gods weren't actually evil, so, with the exception of Gods who were known to mistreat other races, Vahn wasn't unwilling to reach a compromise. Most Gods would give way to a higher authority, and, with Gaia, Alaya, Tiamat, and Amaterasu on his side, it didn't take much to 'convince' them to either obey or stay within their own Textures.Regardless of whether or not they chose to obey the Common Law or remain in their own Textures, Vahn forced every God to sign a binding contract, not with him, but with Gaia. Their Divine Authority was 'borrowed' from her, so, if they ever went against the terms they had agreed upon, their powers would be stripped from them. As for the few Solar Deities that remained, they were either freed from their prison, subsumed by Amaterasu, or sealed away with the Textures they had become fond of...When everything was said and done, more than three years had passed on the Surface, equating to more than twenty within the Projection. A lot had changed in this period of time, including most of Vahn's children growing into teens that spent most of their time outside the Projection. The only real exception to this was Sophia, as, after attending school for a single day, she completely lost interest in even trying to associate with her 'peers'. As a result, she had grown into a beautiful young woman who could give Da Vinci, Isanna, and Naavi a run for their money.In this same time period, a number of changes in the interpersonal relationships between the Inner Sanctum's residents had occurred. The most noteworthy change was brought about by the maturity and subsequent 'graduation' of the Designer Babies. Vahn had even officially knighted Sakura, Mash, Astrid, and Zoe once they graduated from the Clock Tower and passed their Knight Selection Trial. As for Alex, he decided to follow in Siegfried's footsteps, becoming a wanderer who helped everyone he came across. This resulted in him gradually becoming the youngest member of the Designer Babies, allowing even Juliet, a proud Maid of the Inner Sanctum, to surpass him.As could be expected, the Knighting of Sakura and Mash had some rather immediate consequences. This included accepting Mash's feelings, and, after several hours of tense silence, granting Galahad permission to marry Sakura. With this, the former happily became a permanent member of the Inner Sanctum whilst Sakura, as if to drive a stake into Vahn's bleeding heart, ended up getting pregnant less than two months after her honeymoon.Though he was well over two-hundred years old at the time, Vahn felt more nervous about being a grandfather than being a father. There was something about seeing his daughter going through the stages of pregnancy that worried him to no end. As a result, he took his frustrations out on Galahad, forcing the reserved Knight to tolerate his grievances until Sakura intervened, lecturing him quite a bit in the process. After that, Vahn could only complain to Rin, who, unlike him, seemed to take the matter in stride...Despite his misgivings, Vahn dutifully delivered his grandson once Sakura was ready to give birth. It was a relatively awkward affair, but, with Sakura herself asking that he perform the procedure, it was impossible for him to refuse. Afterward, though he never actually hated Galahad, Vahn suddenly felt like the man had become a part of his family. Seeing him on the verge of tears as he and Sakura held their firstborn son made it impossible to have any hard feelings toward him. Rather, if it came down to it, Vahn had no doubt in his mind that Galahad would sacrifice everything to protect his daughter, making him more than worthy as both a husband and father...Following the birth of his grandson, Ren Aldrnari Mason, meaning 'lotus', only Artoria remained with child. This concerned many of the Inner Sanctum's residents, but, knowing it wasn't even considered 'long' from the perspective of a True Dragon, Vahn wasn't too worried. The only thing preventing the little hatchling from being born was the fact that Artoria enjoyed being pregnant. She felt no need to force the matter, either, so, whenever someone brought it up, she would simply laugh it off.Using his ability to read the Flow of Fate, Vahn knew that Artoria's pregnancy, on average, would last around one-hundred years. He could, of course, speed up the process considerably, but, after seeing Artoria lying lazily on the sofa, affectionately stroking her belly, any desire he had to force the matter had evaporated. Instead, he would often join her, gently embracing her from behind as the lay lazily on the sofa for hours at a time...---With a stern expression on his face, Vahn stared back at the woman, who, at this point, had become a carbon-copy of his Shishou. The only difference was, instead of wearing a purple bodysuit, she was attired in the regulation armor of the Imperial Knights. This always created a sense of incongruity in Vahn's heart, but, in spite of this, he wielded the yet-unnamed Asauchi in his hand, adopting a loose stance as he muttered, "Your move..."Without any visible hesitation, Scáthach's body became a blur of white, gold, and dark purple as she turned into a veritable tempest. Her spear, colored in a characteristic blood-red, created vibrant trails of light that cut off all paths of retreat. Some of the trails even altered causality, bending cause and effect to ensure the attack couldn't be dodged.Seeing the torrent of blows targetting each of his vital points, Vahn's pupils transitioned from their usual aquamarine to a vibrant gold for a brief moment. Time seemed to stagnate in response to this change, allowing him to see the always-interesting sight of Scáthach, her body twisted in multiple forms that were all melded together into a singular whole. Though she only wielded a single spear, her movements split into seven unique trajectories, each as real as the others...After admiring Scáthach's ever-impressive display of skill, Vahn's body began to move without him needing to direct it. In the time it took for his fist to make contact with her abdomen, he could have counted to more than a hundred, but, in actuality, not even a millisecond had passed. It was like the world had been frozen around him, allowing only his painfully slow movements to proceed without pause...Immediately after his fist made contact, Vahn felt as if time had sped up thousands of times in an instant. Most of Scáthach's attacks spontaneously ceased to exist, leaving only a single trail to swipe harmlessly next to his face as the woman in question was sent flying like a cannonball. This wasn't even remotely enough to take her out of the fight, however, leaving the hair on Vahn's neck tingling as a spatial tear appeared right behind him.With a quick twist of his head, Vahn managed to evade the sudden sneak attack, the edge of the spear nearly cresting the tip of his nose. At the exact same moment, Scáthach created a foothold in mid-air, using [Koku Shundo] to immediately close the distance as her previous spear erupted in an explosion of scarlet energy. She ignored the shockwave that impacted her body, attempting to plant her own palm against her Master's chest, but, like a mantis catching a cicada, Vahn's hand instantly moved to grasp her wrist.Once the fiery plume of energy faded away, Vahn was revealed to have an amused smile on his face. His hair was forced to the side in a rather comical fashion, but, as if it remembered the shape it was supposed to be in, it quickly fixed itself as he said, "You never cease to amaze me. Tell me, how have your matches with Mordred been going...?"After staring at where her Master was holding her wrist, a very light flush colored Scáthach's cheeks as she answered, "She has improved a lot, but I'm still leading with 2473 victories and zero losses..."Hearing Scáthach's answer, Vahn felt like he could hear Mordred crying out for justice in the back of his mind. He knew they had a bit of a one-sided rivalry between them, but, with Scáthach improving at a monstrous rate, it was very difficult to surpass her. Even without the [Wisdom of the Haunted Ground], she subconsciously remembered all of her skills and abilities. The only thing that prevented her from winning against him was the vast, almost insurmountable, difference in Parameters.Releasing Scáthach's wrist from his grasp, Vahn nearly chuckled when he saw her how disheartened her expression became. She had become rather fond of him over the years, and, though there was always a bit of distance between them, Vahn appreciated her quite a bit. At this point, the only thing preventing them from moving forward with their relationship was the inhibitions he had developed after the death of her 'original'. Even then, it would only take her expressing her intentions for him to finally relent...Though she was unaware of her Master's thoughts, Scáthach seemed to be building up her courage as she absentmindedly stared at his lips. She had received a lot of advice lately, but, knowing of the trouble her original self had caused, she was afraid he would ultimately refuse her. After that, there would be no way to heal their relationship, so, despite the assurance of others, she was afraid to give voice to her feelings...Due to the 'support' of others within the Inner Sanctum, Vahn and Scáthach often found themselves alone together during normal training hours. He had also been lectured quite a bit about pressuring the heart of a maiden, so, after seeing Scáthach gradually lower her eyes, Vahn released an internal sigh before asking, "How do you feel about me, Scáthach? And no, I don't mean as your Lord and Master...tell me truthfully how you feel..."To give her a little courage, Vahn gingerly traced his finger along Scáthach's chin, compelling her to look up at him as their faces became marginally closer together. This caused her eyes to gradually widen, and, after swallowing audibly, she answered, "I don't...know...all I know is that my heart hurts when we are apart...I want to be at your side...I want to be wanted..."While not exactly the words he was looking for, Vahn internally remarked ("Close enough...") as he slowly closed the remaining distance between their lips. It probably wasn't fair to think she actually knew what love was, as, even after thousands of years, her original wasn't able to figure it out. All she really knew was an instinctual desire to break free from the loneliness locked away deep within her subconscious. This was something he could grant her, so, without further ado, he decided to teach her what love was using his own methods...After a long, passionate, and surprisingly tame kiss, Vahn separated his lips from Scáthach, who, from the very beginning, had practically frozen in place as she instinctually reciprocated his kiss. He could tell she was forcibly restraining her own desires, allowing him to do everything in spite of the fact her body 'wanted' to respond more fervently.Understanding his responsibility, Vahn eyed the Asauchi in his right hand before splitting his body in two. This caused Scáthach's eyes to open even wider than before, her face turning completely scarlet as wayward thoughts began racing through her mind.Seeing his former Master-turned-Apprentice's reaction, Vahn struggled to restrain his laughter as he lightly pat himself on the shoulder and exited the training orb. He still had numerous uncertainties regarding the Asauchi, especially with nearly thirty-seven years passing, so Vahn was unwilling to let it separate from his 'main' body. As a result, he could only leave himself to deal with Scáthach, taking the Asauchi to play elsewhere...---After finding a place atop one of the Ivory Castle's Wizard Towers, Vahn gazed out over Avalon with a contented smile on his face. It was still the same peaceful and pristine land as before, but, with the passage of time, the overall population had eclipsed ten million. If you looked towards the direction of the port, it was now possible to find tens-of-thousands of aesthetically pleasing buildings, many combining the sensibilities of Japanese architecture with more futuristic designs.With his domain now stretching more than eighteen kilometers, Vahn could 'see' the myriad peoples of Avalon going about their daily lives with smiles on their faces. Humans weren't even the dominant population so it was possible to see Companions, Fae, and even Yokai walking around. They all lived in relative harmony with each other, rarely requiring direct intervention. Even then, it was usually just to settle a drunken dispute after a few colleagues had too much to drink.At this point, the first three phases of Vahn's plan were nearing, or at, completion. The only thing he was waiting for was the construction of the Supercolonies, but, with steadily rising support and rapid technological advancements, it wouldn't be long before they were completed. He had even used the Holy Grail created by Illya to deal with some growing issues, primarily things like disease and famine, so things were going exceptionally well, all things considered...With his smile gradually increasing, Vahn turned to the Asauchi laying across his lap, musing, "Now, if only I could get you to wake up...seriously, how long are you going to keep sleeping? Am I doing something wrong...?"Originally, six years was supposed to be the average for awakening a Zanpakutou Spirit, but, due to his usage of Marble Phantasms and Spirit Time Orbs, Vahn's age was nearing 250 years old. Now, it felt like a literal lifetime had passed since he forged the Asauchi, but, other than the occasional hum, it showed no signs of awakening. It was a truly troublesome matter, especially with a certain sakura-haired sword otaku constantly pestering him about forging another...In response to Vahn's musings, the Asauchi released a pleasant hum, which, in his ears, sounded like it was saying, "Don't rush me. I'll wake up when I'm good and ready!".Shaking his head, Vahn issued a dry laugh before pulling out an oil rag and meticulously polishing the Asauchi's blade. This caused it to release a steady and persistent hum, seemingly satisfied by the fact he was spoiling it.Though he would never vocalize it, Vahn was pretty sure his Zanpakutou had already awoken, but, as it was very spoiled, it pretended to remain asleep. He had no way to confirm this, however, so, rather than make a big deal out of it, he patiently awaited the day when its voice resonated in his ears. This process could probably be sped up if he faced a powerful opponent, but, with few enemies posing a legitimate threat to him, this was largely just speculation...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Poor Galahad xD...','I feel a great disturbance...almost as if thousands of voices cried out, demanding justice...','TFW you spoil your Zanpakutou to the point it refuses to wake up...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1524: Horizons