Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though he would have liked to explain it was just a simple misunderstanding, trying to convince a group of armed guards he had no intention of harming their beloved princess, despite 'sneaking' into her room wasn't exactly easy. Fortunately, instead of trying to outright kill him, the armor-clad soldiers pinned him to the ground with halberds infused with paralysis magic. They weren't able to actually paralyze him, but, at least for the time being, Vahn decided to play along as they dragged his limp body through the corridors of a massive palace.With the ability to spread out his domain in a 4.5km radius, Vahn was learning much about the world he had found himself in. Based on the concentration of mana in the environment, combined with the fact there were various different species present, it was safe to say he was in the magical world, more specifically, the Hellas Empire. This was one of the benefits of knowing the Record prior to entry, as, during his training with Eva, Vahn had read thousands of books related to the history, geography, and even the laws of the Magical World, Mundus Magicus.Seeing the emblem embossed on the knights' armors, combined with the fact there were hundreds of banners hanging in the palace, Vahn knew he had been transported into the heart of the Hellas Empire, the Southern Capital, Alpheus. Many residents referred to this particular city as Shangri-La due to the prevalence of mercenaries, gambling, and the world-famous Coliseum, but, in reality, it was also a hotbed for human slavery. Hellas was home to nearly half the population of Demihumans within Mundus Magicus, numbering roughly 340 of the 700 million non-human species. This made them one of the most powerful factions in the entire Magical World, as, overall, there were roughly 500 million total humans split between four continents and various countries.Though he could change into something other than a human, Vahn was curious about how he would be treated. Racism was actually outlawed in the Hellas Empire, and, though there millions of human slaves, most were former slave traders or criminals who had been captured by the Empire. They likely assumed he was either an assassin or a slave trader, the penalty for both being a life in the Coliseum. There, if he could win one-hundred consecutive victories, Vahn would be able to reclaim his rights as a free citizen, and, depending on the situation, request a reward from the Emperor, Michael Bashireia Herasu De Vesuperisujimia.As could be expected, the heavily armored Imperial Knights roughly dragged his body to a holding cell within the dungeon located beneath the palace. Here, criminals suspected of treason and other political crimes were kept imprisoned until the Emperor or one of his Magistrates was able to decide on a suitable punishment. Fortunately, unless he had actually killed a member of the Royal Family, it was all but guaranteed he would be sentenced to fight in the Coliseum, a place that gathered more than 500,000 visitors on a daily basis.After being dragged to an empty cell, Vahn was thrown in rather unceremoniously by the larger of the two Imperial Guards. He was a bronze-skinned man with vibrant golden pupils and pale blond hair that was visible beneath the cracks of his spartan-style helmet, so, as could be expected, he was not all that enthused by the fact a human man had snuck into the princess' chambers. He had a very fierce glint in his eyes, and, seemingly dissatisfied with leaving matters lay, he handed his halberd to his companion and said, "Let me teach this piece of shit a lesson..."Vahn was many things, but a punching bag was not one of them. He could make exceptions during training, but, as he hadn't actually done anything deserving of a beating, he escaped his bindings in an instant, flipping to his feet. This was more than enough to surprise the two guards, allowing him to close the distance in a split second, a smile on his face as he said, "Sorry, but you kind of asked for this..."Without giving either of the men a chance to react, Vahn swiftly jammed his fingers into the opening between their helmets and breastplates. His overall power had been drastically reduced, but, due to the nature of the dungeon, the Imperial Guards were unable to use magic. Their halberds and armor were still enchanted in such a way that allowed them to be used, but, without physical enhancement, it was impossible for them to keep up with his speed and precision.Like marionettes with their strings cut, both guards collapsed to the dungeon floor, creating quite a bit of noise in the process. This earned him jeering and demands from the few prisoners locked away in the dungeon, but, with more important matters to attend, Vahn ignored them. Instead, he focused on the group of guardsmen charging toward him and the barricade that was being erected near the entrance of the dungeon.With a wry smile on his face, Vahn couldn't help but internally remark, ("How is it that I'm already in a position to become a criminal the moment I enter this world? I wonder if this is to make it easier for me to track down Eva...")Since Eva was one of the most infamous criminals in the entire magical society, to the point of being used in children's bedtime stories, becoming infamous himself would draw the attention of the same forces hunting her down. This served the dual purpose of allowing him to simultaneously eliminate the people chasing her while also obtaining information on her location. If he used his Magia Erebea, there was even a chance Eva herself would come seeking him out...With various thoughts running through his mind, Vahn casually deflected the halberds being jabbed toward him. The halberds were actually able to fire magical arrows, but, perhaps as a result of being in the Imperial Palace, they were holding back. This allowed him to exploit the small gaps in each of their attacks, surprising the entire platoon of jailers as his strikes easily penetrated their magical and shock-resistant armor, causing them to collapse in a single blow.Ninety-five years of fighting against Grandmaster and Master Class warriors had tempered Vahn's skill to an extreme level, so, even without a weapon, he could fight enemies much stronger than him. This wasn't even the tip of the iceberg when it came to his overall capabilities, but, unless he decided to go all-out, revealing his hand too early would draw unnecessary attention. There were a number of enemies who could even give Eva a run for her money, so, at least for the next few months, Vahn wanted to focus on increasing his strength.Before he realized it, seventeen armored guards were littering the ground around him, earning Vahn a few hateful glares from the palisade of guards who had completely sealed the entrance using large magical shields that linked together. They had also closed the three reinforced gates that separated the dungeon from the Imperial Palace, each formed from a special compound that made them close to indestructible, at least using magic.As could be expected from a place called the Magical World, Magic was a 'supreme' existence within the Akamatsuverse. Though there were also Knights and Magi-Knights, some of which used internal Ki to power their abilities, the most powerful people in the world were still Magi. This resulted in the advancement of technology that both made use of and directly countered Magic. There were even a few special alloys that completely sealed magical power, much like the kairoseki was so popular in the Record of One Piece.Seeing the blockage, Vahn adopted a wry smile as he said, "You know, I really didn't do anything to earn such hateful glares. All of these men are simply knocked out. After a few hours, they will wake up and be ready to beat up defenseless prisoners with gusto. As for the matter with your Princess, I don't even know how I ended up in that room. I had no intention of harming anyone, and, if I hadn't been caught, I would have left the palace without a fuss."Being professionally trained guardsmen, none of the men responded to Vahn's words. Instead, they gripped their shields more firmly, leveling their halberds toward him until a robust man wearing less armor than the rest said, "Even if that were the truth, we can't let you walk out of her so easily. You are guilty of trespassing the Imperial Palace, breaking free from your prison, and injuring members of the Imperial Guard. The Magistrate will hear your plea when the time comes. For now, return to your cell and behave. If this is truly a misunderstanding, prove it through your actions!"Vahn was actually rather surprised by the reasonable argument of the Hellas man he assumed to be the Warden. He was also looking forward to honing his skill in the Coliseum, so, surprising the entire group of guards, he nodded his head and said, "Sure. If that man hadn't violated the law by trying to beat a prisoner who had yet to be sentenced, none of this would have happened. I was being pretty cooperative until unnecessary violence was involved."As if it was a small matter, Vahn gestured in a 'what can you do' manner before turning around and entering his still-open cell. Then, to further cement his point, he closed the doors, allowing them to lock in place. This would have been enough to completely seal the magical power of other people, but, due to the nature of his Source Energy, he only experienced a mild discomfort. It was like trying to breathe in a pressurized environment, causing a heavy feeling in his chest and a small buzzing in the back of his mind.Not expecting their quarry to simply lock himself inside a cell, the groups of guardsmen remained in formation for several minutes until the Warden finally sent a team to confirm whether or not the bars were secure. Afterward, they began to check the bodies of their fellow guards, confirming they were, in fact, unconscious. Most didn't even have visible injuries, a state which was confirmed when one of their healers checked their condition.Seeing the armored men and women busying themselves on the other side of the bars, Vahn gave a curt nod of approval before smiling toward the Warden and closing his eyes. This earned him a hard look from the burly individual, who, sensing their captive was an exceptionally dangerous individual, sent a team to gather members of the Sealing and Magus Corps. Afterward, he walked over to the cell, asking, "What is your name?" in a stern tone.Hearing someone address him, Vahn peeled open one of his eyes, plainly answering, "Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor."Though he didn't have an Empire in the Akamatsuverse, Vahn took pride in the status he had built up over more than two-hundred-years. It didn't matter what titles and monikers others might give him in the future; he was, and would forever be, the Sage Dragon Emperor. The only person who could change this was himself, so, while he certainly intended to be a Vagrant Hero, that didn't mean he would lower his head and play the part of a fool...The moment he heard Vahn's introduction, the Warden felt as though his legs had become rubbery, requiring him to grab the bars of the cell to remain standing. He could feel an overwhelming aura of dignity radiating from Vahn when he called himself the Sage Dragon Emperor, and, for a very brief moment, it almost seemed like his eyes had flashed with a golden light.Doing his best to ignore the subtle trembling of his body, the Warden focused his own golden eyes on Vahn, stating, "You can call me Warden Pelias. I'll be in charge of your-"Before Pelias could continue, Vahn's smiled faded away as he stated, "If you intend to insult me by calling my title into question, do not blame me for being rude. You are not my subject, and I have never been fond of formalities. However, if you think I will tolerate slights to my honor and dignity, you are gravely mistaken. I sit in this cell by choice, not because you have imprisoned me. Should a time come when you and your men forget yourselves, well, let's hope it doesn't come to that..."Even if his power was nowhere near what it had been at during his peak, Vahn's Innates were still functioning in all their glory. By activating his [Will of the Emperor] and infusing a bit of his intent into his domain, anyone with weaker willpower would feel a spiritual suppression. If he condensed his aura to the limits, he could even kill people with a weaker Soul Tier. As for those near his level, he could still stun them for a brief moment, regardless of how powerful they might be.Though he was able to remain standing, Pelias noticed that the majority of his soldiers collapsed in an instant when Vahn was making his 'threat'. It wasn't just them, either, as the prisoners within the Dungeon also collapsed, some clutching at their chest due to the fact they had blacked auras. As for those further away, Vahn didn't want to cause 'too big' a scene, so, with the exception of a few of the more sensitive individuals, everyone outside the dungeon hadn't even noticed what he had done.Struggling to prevent himself from blacking out, Pelias stared back at Vahn with a visible amount of horror in his eyes as he muttered, "I'll...make sure...my men...follow procedure..."Satisfied by the man's response, Vahn gave a curt nod of approval, his aura vanishing in an instant as he said, "As one would expect from a member of the prestigious Imperial Guard. If you were unable to follow your own laws, where would you get off expecting others to obey them? Now, you have a job to do, Warden Pelias. See that I am not kept waiting too long."As if he had just received an order from his own Emperor, Pelias nearly saluted on impulse before catching himself in the act. This caused his eyes to visibly widen, and, after swallowing the knot in his throat, he sheepishly answered, "I will personally inform the Magistrate of your situation...I know not when she will be free to see you, but I'm certain it will be at the earliest possible moment..."With nothing else to say to the man, Vahn gave a small nod of acknowledgment of before, once again, closing his eyes. He was trying to organize his thoughts and make sense of his current powers and abilities, so, rather than focus on the group of shellshocked soldiers, he turned his attention to the various screens in his mind...-----------------------------------------------------------------[Status]Name: [Vahn Aldrnari Mason]Age: 250 (Ageless)Race: Ancient Dragon, *sealed*Parameter: [Akamatsuverse: 2-5]Offense: 252Defense: 398Mobility: 303Base Power: 953Soul Tier: 4 (Divine Soul)[Karma]: 108[OP]: 22,001,843,221Skills: [Will of the Emperor:SSS], [Rakshasa Body:S], [Keeper of the Akashic Tome:B], [Eyes of Truth:A], [Chainbreaker:S], [Veil of the Traveler:SSS], [Hands of Nirvana:SSS], [Divine Artisan:C], [Grandmaster Swordsman:E], [Archmage:S], [Expert Cooking:B], [Hand of God:S], [True Friend of the Elements:S]Magic: [Magia Erebea:SSS], [Pactio:SSS], [Shundo:SSS], [Koku Shundo:SS], [Cantus Bellax:SSS], [Mellodia Bellax:SS], [Vis Maxima:SS], [Sagitta Magicka:S], [Reflexio:S][Divine Artisan]Rank: CDenotes the wielder as a master who has reached the level of the Gods. Be it magical or mundane, there are no limits to their capabilities as a craftsman. Even the elements themselves can be shaped by a Divine Artisan.[Grandmaster Swordsman]Rank: EDenotes the wielder as a swordsman who has pursued the pinnacle, reaching a level most mortals cannot even fathom, much less reach. It is said that, in the hands of a Grandmaster Swordsman, even a blade of grass can be used as a deadly weapon.[Archmage]Rank: SDenotes the wielder as a Magus who has mastered all manner of magical skills and abilities. When an Archmage first ascends, it is said that every other Archmage in existence would feel a tremble in their Soul.[Hand of God]Rank: SDenotes the wielder as a Physician who has mastered both life and death. According to legends, this skill has only ever manifested in True Gods specializing in Medicine and Alchemy. With a single turn of their hand, they are able to decide whether someone lives or dies.[True Friend of the Elements]Rank: SDenotes the wielder as someone who is beloved by the Spirits. So long as the Rank of this skill is higher than another, the Spirits within an area will always side with the wielder. Due to the nature of this skill, it makes the wielder virtually immune to Spirit-based Magics.-----------------------------------------------------------------(A/N: Alternate Titles: "Awww, shit. Here we go again...','95 years as an Emperor doesn't just fade away xD...','I thought he was supposed to be nerfed o_o...')(A/N: For those curious, Negi, the MC of Negima, has a Base Power of around 500. As for Eva, due to her body never aging/change, her Base Power is only 300. A Magic School Graduate would have, on average, 100BP, whereas gifted teacher would clock in at around 300-500. Base Power is, obviously, not a determination for a person's overall strength. This will be explained in more detail later on. As an example, however, know that Eva would clock in at around 15000, when she is serious, placing her even higher than Demon Gods and Manifested Gods, averaging between 6500~9000 depending on their number of believers.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Seeing his current Status, Vahn couldn't help smile due to the excitement that was welling up inside his chest. He had always assumed that his training with Eva would pay off when he finally visited her Record, but, seeing it for himself, he couldn't help feeling vindicated. With these Skills and Magic, it wouldn't really matter too much if he was weaker than others in his base state, as, when he powered up and transformed, there would be very few people that could match him.Upon first awakening in the Akamatsuverse, Vahn had been surprised to sense so many people with a stronger aura than him, but, now that he knew where he was at, it wasn't too shocking. The Hellas people had powerful bodies and strong magical power by default. They also had an average lifespan between 300~500, depending on their mastery and control over Magic. Unfortunately, despite a very high Base Power, their aptitude for external magic, much like his own, was exceptionally limited. This forced them to rely on Magic that enhanced their body, but, more than anything else, they relied on various technological advancements to rival their foes.If it came down to a fight using raw physical prowess and martial techniques, Vahn had an absolute advantage against most people. He might have lost his ridiculously overpowered [Laplace's Key], but it wasn't as if all his knowledge and experience faded away. He had accumulated so much experience fighting against true masters in their fields of expertise, elevating him to a level where his skill, alone, would allow him to fight much stronger opponents. When you included things like his Source Energy and [Magia Erebea], one of the most powerful abilities in the entire Akamatsuverse, it wasn't much of an exaggeration to say he was already S-Rank.Now that he had gotten his bearings, Vahn's excitement for the Akamatsuverse had increased quite a bit. With a few months of training, he would be able to move around with impunity, as, despite the presence of a few truly monstrous individuals, the average power level for 'skilled' foes shouldn't be more than 500. This could be modified with various spells, but, considering his own were S-Rank or higher, that wouldn't matter too much. He was also one of only seven Archmages that should exist in the current Timeline, meaning only people on the level of Eva, Jack Rakan, and Filius Zect should be a match for him...Considering his current location, Vahn was anticipating his meeting with the man who even Eva had called 'a living cheat character'. He likely wasn't nearly as strong now as he would be after the Great War, but, based on what Eva had said, Jack was a monster that could improve exponentially when he encountered strong opponents. He was known by titles such as the Ultimate Hard Worker, and, after earning his freedom in the Coliseum, he even became the undisputed King of Mercenaries, Jack of the Thousand Blades.At this point in time, Jack would have already claimed his most noteworthy titles, and, though Vahn wasn't able to sense him, he knew the man had close ties to the Imperial Family. He was one of the few people who had ever won his freedom through the hundred-bout gambit, and, for a variety of reasons, was popular with the First and Third Imperial Princesses. The Third even looked up to him as an older brother, so, after arriving in the former's room, Vahn was expecting Jack to pay him a visit at some point...Feeling his draconic blood boil in excitement, Vahn had to forcibly calm himself down as the ground around him had started to tremble. He didn't have perfect control over this new body of his, so, for the time being, he needed to remain calm and focus. There was also a matter of extreme importance that required his attention, so, after regulating his breathing, aided by the Mantra of Eternity, he let his consciousness slowly sink into his 'Soul Realm'. This was a similar process to sinking his mind into a [Space-Time Orb], but, instead of a physical object, he was attempting to enter his own Realm...---Before he even realized it had happened, Vahn found himself in an endless expanse of space. Unlike normal space, however, the sky was infused with an omnipresent rainbow hue, something that would only be discernible to him. This was a 'very' good sign, but, before he could even get his bearings to try and find Gaia, a massive 'meteor' came hurtling toward him. By instinct, he nearly 'obliterated' it from existence, but, after seeing what the object was, his mind drew a blank, allowing two fiery feet to smash into his face, accompanied by a raspy yet high-pitched, "Baaaaaakaaaaaaaa~!"Though it did absolutely no damage, the figure continued to bicycle kick Vahn's face over and over as he just stood there trying to make sense of the current situation. He didn't know where this little girl had come from, but, seeing her scale-covered legs, her long, whip-like tail, and the two curved horns poking out from the sides of her head, he almost assumed she was his daughter. She even had aquamarine eyes and pointed ears, and, though her feet, tail, and horns were red hot with flames, it was very apparent this was 'normal' for her...Seeing that her attacks were having no effect, even after a three-thousand hit combo, the petite girl seemed highly dissatisfied. Her tomboyish face formed into an expressive pout, tears building in the corner of her eyes as she asked, "Why did you leave me...? You said...we would always be together..."Though he had made similar promises with quite a few people, Vahn was pretty sure he had figured out the girl's identity after analyzing the structure of her flames. This didn't really make much sense, however, causing him to tentatively asked, "Laevateinn...?"As if her previous expression had been a facade, the petite girl absolutely beamed when she heard Vahn's words. Then, with a startling amount of strength, she pounced on him, squeezing his body hard enough that, if he had breakable bones, they undoubtedly would have shattered. Her horn was also stabbing him in the chest due to her height only being around 118cm, but, as she seemed to be genuinely happy, Vahn didn't mind it. Instead, he briefly flicked his eyes to his Inventory, confirming all twenty-four of his Laevateinn series blades were still inside...By process of elimination, Vahn could only draw the conclusion that the petite girl, appearing to be around ten years old, was his Zanpakutou Spirit. He had been unable to communicate with her in the past, but, now that they were 'inside' of his Soul, it wasn't too surprising that she could manifest as a physical spirit. Rather, he felt like an idiot for not trying this method in the past, causing a dry laugh to escape his throat as he gently stroked the girl's dark-brown hair...---After coaxing 'Laev-tan' into calming down, Vahn was able to confirm that she was, indeed, his Zanpakuto Spirit. Due to her unique connection to his Soul, she was able to move around inside his Soul Realm, even when Time had yet to flow. This was due to her consciousness experiencing things like Time at the same rate as his conscious mind, basically making her an existence outside of Time within his Realm...Though existence outside of time was typically attributed to beings at Tier 5, or higher, Vahn wasn't too surprised by Laev-tan's capabilities. Within his own Realm, he could even spontaneously create dead planets and play with them like marbles if he really wanted to. Until he wanted it to exist, even things like Time would not have any effect inside his own Realm. Thus, as an extension of himself, it was only natural that Laev-tan was able to move around with impunity. The real question was, how did his Zanpakutou turn into a 'Loli Dragon' that seemed to have stolen the name of his most prized sword collection?Since there was no harm in asking directly, Vahn went ahead and did so, earning a mischievous grin from Laev-tan as she answered, "Though you couldn't hear me, I was always watching~! I know you created a bunch of brothers and sisters before forging me! I also knew that you were sad about not being able to use them anymore, so I became like this~!!"At the end of her exclamation, Laev-tan turned into a plume of brackish-crimson flames, her body transforming from that of a petite young dragonling to a claymore that was nearly 2m in length. It had a scorched blade forged from a blackened metal that was filled with cracks, much like his very first Laevateinn. The biggest difference was, instead of a draconic visage that created a cross-guard, Laev-tan's guard had two curved horns, and, though others might not see it that way, the draconic visage seemed somewhat 'cute' in comparison to his previous creations...Before he even realized what he was doing, Vahn grabbed Laev-tan's handle, earning a surprisingly girlish squeal in response. Her normal voice was somewhat husky, almost like she was pretending to be a boy, but her voice while transformed was almost sonorous. It reminded him of the pleasant hum she would emit whenever he was polishing her blade, an action that, in hindsight, now seemed a little awkward...Ignoring the peculiar feeling in his gut, Vahn reminded himself that Laev-tan was just a sword, one that required careful and continued maintenance. He couldn't just stop taking care of her now that she had finally awakened, so, rather than let it bother him, he just began swinging her around with a smile on his face. She also seemed to be enjoying it quite a bit, releasing a gleeful laugh as massive plumes of crimson flames were released from her blade's edge.Though it was hard to be certain, as he had nigh-absolute power within his Realm, Vahn noticed that Laev-tan gave him monstrous control over a unique kind of flame. It wasn't actually that hot, burning around 1600 degrees, but, unlike normal flames, it had a 'solid' quality similar to magma. It also had a brackish quality to it, and, after creating a pillar of Adamantine, Vahn confirmed his suspicions as he watched Laev-tan's flames rapidly eat through the dense metal.Similar to the original Laevateinn, Laev-tan seemed to have flames that burned persistently, even in a vacuum. They also possessed a rather ridiculous corrosive property, eating through virtually any kind of material relatively quickly. It seemed to make use of an amalgamation of Destruction, and, of all things, Space Laws. He was able to sense the viscous flames collapsing the space around the point of contact, forcibly separating the bonds between molecules so that they were easier to 'digest' for the Destruction energy...Unable to contain his excitement, Vahn joined Laev-tan in her laughter, swinging her through empty space and causing a veritable nebula to form from all the brackish flames she had produced. Since her flames were infused with Space Laws, they could even burn space itself, and, most importantly, tunnel 'through' space. Vahn had always been able to attack virtually anywhere in his domain, so, as a result, Laev-tan seemed to have 'copied' this ability. Now, he could direct her flames through his domain, manipulating them to appear virtually anywhere within his field of control. It was one of the most broken abilities he had ever possessed, bringing a massive grin to his face as he created giant swirls and vortexes of brackish flames...Vahn had always assumed his Zanpakuto would be powerful, especially under the influence of his Source Energy, but he had never expected Lave-tan to be so 'amazing'. In many ways, she was his ideal weapon, allowing him to completely dominate the area within his own domain. Fire had been one of his principal affinities ever since his time in Danmachi, so, more than any other element, Vahn felt comfortable around flames. There had even been a time when he imagined conquering multiple Records with his original Laevateinn, and, while it wasn't exactly the same, Laev-tan seemed to have inherited that legacy...---After several 'hours' of brandishing his new Zanpakuto, Vahn was finally able to calm down, albeit with a massive grin on his face. Then, seemingly forgetting that Laev-tan was a 'Loli Dragon Spirit', he began to trace his fingers along her blade, an appreciative gleam in his eyes. It wasn't until he heard a peal of ticklish laughter that he came back to his senses, feeling slightly flustered despite his advanced age.Turning Laev-tan upside down, Vahn gingerly released her handle, allowing her to revert back to her half-dragon form. Much to his surprise, she was breathing a little heavily. There was also a thin layer of sweat covering her body, almost as if she had just completed an intense workout.Seeing how tired Laev-tan appeared, Vahn realized that, for one reason or another, she seemed to have stamina. This wasn't 'normal' for a Zanpakuto, so he had her turn around, displaying her back so that he could place his palm between her shoulders. She was wearing an outfit that consisted of a sporty black top, a pair of black panties, black leggings, black wristguards, and a black bodysuit that covered her exposed abdomen and thighs. It wasn't exactly the most appropriate attire for someone with her appearance, but, considering she was nearly forty, even if Zanpakuto didn't age, Vahn didn't let it bother him. Instead, he focused on the interior of her body, finding it was surprisingly close to an actual True Dragon's...Since it was a good opportunity, Vahn asked, "What made you choose this form, Laev-tan?"With the haughtiness you would expect from a True Dragon child, Laev-tan puffed out her virtually non-existent chest, proudly declaring, "Master has always treated girls with cute appearances very well. I wanted to be pampered lots and lots, so I became like this before I even noticed, ahahaha~!"Hearing the rather spirited response, Vahn released a light chuckle before ruffling Laev-tan's boyish hairstyle. Her hair didn't even extend past her shoulders, and, due to the structure of her eyebrows and how her bangs parted in the front, she could probably give Astolfo a run for his money when it came to crossdressing. Rather, for reasons he couldn't fathom, Vahn could imagine Laev-tan trying to emulate his style of dress, appearing as a rather heroic youth who swung around a giant sword...Shaking his head, Vahn cleared his thoughts before giving Laev-tan one final pat on the head and saying, "We should go to the others. Now that you have a form like this, I'd like it if you were able to become friends with everyone else. When I return to the outside, I may not be able to carry you with me at all times. I should be able to create a permanent link so you can see what I'm doing though."Laev-tan seemed upset when he mentioned not being able to carry her around, but, after hearing the latter half of his words, a toothy grin returned to her face. She had the characteristic sharp teeth of most True Dragons, so, when she smiled, it was a combination attack of adorable and terrifying at the same time...---Though he mentioned having to 'find' the others, Vahn was able to locate Gaia instantaneously with little more than a thought. This allowed him to find the surprisingly radiant blue orb that represented the heart of his Empire. It was simply floating in the middle of an endless expanse of space, but, due to the fact time was 'frozen', there was still light illuminating more than half of it. Vahn was unable to understand how he could 'see' the planet, as there shouldn't be any light refracting off of it, but, as that wasn't really important, he dutifully descended into the isolated world with a curious glimmer in his eyes...If a physical being were to move through stalled Time, the amount of destruction simple movements would cause couldn't even be fathomed. Even the act of 'breathing' would be like setting off infinite nuclear warheads once Time began to flow. Fortunately, it was possible to remove yourself from the Time Axis completely, allowing you to freely move through Space without affecting the world around you. This required mastery of both Space and Time, but, here in his own Realm, Vahn could basically ignore such requirements.Confirming his suspicions, Vahn returned to where he had embraced Gaia, Alaya, and Tiamat, finding all three girls just as frozen as the rest of the world. This was a very peculiar thing to witness, and, for a brief moment, Vahn began to feel a little mischievous. It was a shame he couldn't actually interact with anything, but, if he really wanted to, Vahn could pull quite a number of pranks with this kind of ability. If he were more childish, he could look up the skirts or dresses of his lovers, but, considering he could just as easily ask them to remove them, such antics were ultimately pointless...After burying his more childish urges in the deepest recesses of his mind, Vahn spent a few minutes thinking before tentatively saying, "I grant the three of you similar Authority to what you possessed in your original Record. You are allowed to move outside the Time Axis, though never with the intent to cause harm to others..."Since he was basically the 'Administrator' or 'Overseer' of his own Realm, Vahn tried shaping reality according to his intent. Even if he couldn't properly imagine what he wanted, it should be possible to actualize his intentions by simply 'communicating' with the Realm itself. He could even stop and start the flow of time with a thought, so, using words, he should, theoretically, be able to do anything.Proving his conjecture, Gaia, Alaya, and Tiamat burst into life, all three falling forward due to the fact they had been leaning into his chest moments prior. This had brought a small smile to Vahn's face, at least until all three of them began to phase through physical objects with distant looks in their eyes. They were propelled forward due to their previous moment, their bodies limp, seemingly lifeless...Feeling a panic well up from within his heart, Vahn quickly recovered the trio with a wave of his hand, bringing them to his side and placing his hands against the chests of Gaia and Alaya. He lacked the ability to comprehend their structure in the Nasuverse, but, now that he was the Overseer, Vahn was hoping he could understand what was wrong with them. Fortunately, before he could even send a single thread into their chests, Alaya's eyelashes flickered almost imperceptibly as her lips began to twitch...Realizing what was going on, Vahn released a sigh of relief as he continued to hold all three girls in his embrace. From their perspective, they had basically awakened to find themselves without any of the restrictions that previously influenced their actions. With the exception of Tiamat, the true forms weren't the vessels he was holding onto, but the planet itself and the consciousness of humanity. In the simplest terms, they would need to relearn how to control their vessels from scratch...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'It's almost like restarting a game you already mastered xD...','The eternal curse is going strong~!','I kinda feel bad for the sisters. Imagine having the same restrictions for billions of years, only to be forced to play by different rules in a single instant xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Leaving Vahn slackjawed, Sis went on to explain that the primary use of Karma, outside of simply acting as a balancing factor, was to determine whether or not the Soul would receive any benefits during their reincarnation. This ranged from relatively simple things, such as being born into wealth and status, to more complex things, such as receiving actual wishes. She even revealed that, under certain conditions, the value of a person's Karma could qualify them to receive a system not all that dissimilar to The Path.Though The Path was a one-of-a-kind artifact that transcended the Tier System completely, it was far from the only system in existence. The only truly unique aspect of The Path was that it provided the user access to Source Energy, and, under the right conditions, could freely evolve. Depending on the desires of its user, it could even unlock the functions of other systems, or, more shockingly, alter the nature of a Record.As Vahn had already learned, every Record had its unique qualities, be it the Falna from Danmachi or the Prana from the Nasuverse. Though they used the same set of Laws as a foundation, the way said Laws manifested within the Record was in accordance with the restrictions placed upon it. In a way, it was almost like the Laws were the Source Code of all realities, but, depending on the whims of their Creators, the Records could take various shapes.With enough Karma, it was possible to alter the restrictions of a Record, basically forcing it to obey a certain system. This basically meant, so long as you had enough Karma, you could superimpose new restrictions onto an existing Record. In the most extreme cases, you could even turn a Record with a complex set of rules into a 'game' where you were the only player. It was even possible to implement things like Leveling in a world where such concepts never existed, quantifying reality itself to make it easier for the user to grow stronger...Vahn wasn't quite sure what to think when he heard this, but, seemingly unconcerned about the fact she had already blown his mind, Sis went on to add, (*Three of the most powerful uses for Karma, at least at your current Soul Tier, include subsuming the fate of others, altering causality to prevent any Overseer-Class entities from detecting you, and, perhaps most powerful of all, deciding the 'reason' behind your entry into the Record. This is basically choosing a Main Quest from the start, one which will irreversibly alter the Flow of Fate within a Record. In your case, it can be something as simple as finding Eva, or, if you really want to push your limits, you can even choose something along the lines of 'saving the world'.*)Hearing Sis' explanation, Vahn couldn't help but smile wryly as he asked, "Is that why so many stories about transmigration include the Protagonist being summoned as a Hero to defeat something like a Demon King?"Though she didn't have a body, Vahn could imagine Sis shrugging her shoulders as she answered, (*I cannot say for certain, but I believe that to be the case. Technically speaking, all Records have a fixed Fate, a predetermined route from the moment of their creation to the inevitable cessation of Time. If not for the existence of The Path, you would also be bound by this same restriction, living countless lives, many without ever knowing the purpose your existence serves...*)Not expecting Sis to say something so 'serious', Vahn was mildly surprised, but, after thinking about it, he just shook his head and sighed. Truthfully, he didn't like the 'structure' of reality, especially after being a singularity among an infinite number of Records. Because of his perspective, he knew there was no such thing as good and evil, only the transient state of being a Soul experienced at a specific point in Space and Time. In essence, the cruelest and most irredeemable murderer could, depending on the circumstances, reincarnate into an actual Saint in another life. Since Time didn't actually exist, they could be on their trillionth reincarnation, never knowing the stimulus their Soul had experience in the vast stream of Eternity...Worried that Vahn might be entering a depressive state, Sis tried to cheer him up, saying, (*Even if that is the case, there is intrinsic value in existence itself. The Soul cannot be blamed for wanting to experience new stimuli, as, without this most basic desire, reality itself would cease to be. Instead of worrying about such things, you should focus on your goals. I need not remind you of the purpose you have found in your own existence, do I...?*)Understanding Sis was worried about him, Vahn issued a lighthearted laugh while looking at the tiny blue sphere orbiting around him. Her words were right, of course, and, no matter what the true form of reality was, he had plenty of reason to continue forward. He was determined to save Eva, increase his Soul Tier, link the Records, and, one day, reunite with his mother. If it was possible, he would also like to thank Klyscha, and, though it might not really matter, understand the truth of his origin...Feeling more motivating, Vahn asked, "I understand the part about choosing a Main Quest, but how exactly does subsuming someone else's Fate work? Do I become them, or does my existent prevent them from being born? I'm not sure I would be comfortable with stealing someone else's identity..."Vahn had no problem with living his own life and shaping the world around him in accordance with his actions, but, if it really came down to it, he wouldn't take over as the main character of a Record. He would rather live alongside them and lend a hand, even if it meant becoming responsible for the Fate of the Record itself, much like in Danmachi.Fortunately, Sis readily explained, (*As you have seen for yourself, there are certain entities within a Record that are directly tied to its Fate. Under normal circumstances, the Record will attempt to try and maintain its structure by manipulating events to ensure a certain outcome. If you subsume the Fate of another, you would inherit their significance to the Record, not their identity. In other words, depending on their circumstances, they may live a completely normal life or suffer a tragic fate. It all depends on the time period in which you enter the Record and the actions you take throughout your life.*)Though it wasn't the most straightforward explanation, Vahn could somewhat understand what Sis was trying to convey. Put simply, he could subsume the fate of a Record's protagonist, meaning he would have an ability similar to the [Child of Destiny] Innate. This would essentially grant him the protection of Fate itself, likely issuing him Quests in accordance with his 'destiny'. It was somewhat similar to choosing a Main Quest directly, but, instead of knowing his final objective, he would be susceptible to the whims of Fate to ensure the Record's stability.Vahn wasn't exactly fond of the idea of basically following a script, so, at least for the time being, he had absolutely no interest in subsuming someone else's fate. The protection of the Record would be like receiving the designation of Type Omega all over again, ultimately restricting his growth to what the Record decided. The only real benefit seemed to be entering a Record where the Protagonist was fated to obtain some incomprehensibly powerful treasure...Like a sudden epiphany, Vahn imagined entering a Tier 7 Record where the Protagonist was fated to go from a relatively weak mortal to the absolute pinnacle of their respective Omniverse. This would all but guarantee he reached Tier 7, but, in exchange, he would be walking someone else's path, one with untold difficulties that were bound to arise as a result of the decisions he made.Shaking his head, Vahn decided it was better to walk his own path, living the life he had chosen, not someone else's. After all, he was the manifestation of The Path itself, a singularity that embodied the infinite possibilities inherent in reality itself. There were no shortcuts to true power, and, if he started now, he might become something unrecognizable from the man he aspired to be.Though he had already made up his mind, Vahn decided to ask, "What happens if I decide not to use my Karma at all? With The Path, there are already no limits to my growth. While it would certainly be interesting to superimpose game mechanics onto a fantasy world, there are downsides to being able to quantify power. Besides, I've always been able to hit above my weight class...not knowing where I stand in relation to others seems interesting..."After experiencing two complex systems, Vahn was starting to feel as though simple systems, such as those that appear in One Piece and Dragon Ball, were infinitely better. He would rather see his Power Level than be able to measure all of his parameters and attributes individually. It was also somewhat stressful to systematically raise things like Skills, Magic, and Development Abilities. Having them at a low rank just felt 'wrong', compelling him to try and increase each of them. This wasn't a problem at lower levels, but, as his strength increased, there were hundreds of different things that required his focus.Understanding his thoughts, Sis' laughter echoed in Vahn's mind before she explained, (*This was actually your saving grace in the Nasuverse. It was because you didn't use your Karma that you came into contact with Akasha and were designated as Type Omega. This seems to be a failsafe of sorts to account for benevolent individuals who have no wishes they want granting. In essence, it guarantees you experience fortunate encounters that ensure you are able to live a relatively peaceful life.*)Hearing Sis' words, the smile on Vahn's face completely froze as what she had just explained settled in his mind. He had always felt things had gone 'too smoothly' from the moment he first entered the Nasuverse. Though it had been very stressful, he ended up encountering a powerful entity who not only provided him with a slue of powerful abilities but, during a time when he was confused, he had even been given an objective to focus on. Now, he learned this was the direct result of his careless action, a failsafe to prevent him from getting eliminated in an instant.After releasing the most profound sigh he had ever mustered, Vahn fell back onto the stone dais, his eyes reflecting the infinite nothingness above as he muttered, "Now I feel like a complete idiot...I was so worried over the last ninety-five years, even though I was basically living life on easy mode..."Seemingly to alleviate his self-admonishment, Sis interrupted Vahn's thoughts, stating, (*The Path is always taking your desires into consideration. Even if you are uncertain, it will help you find a way to obtain what your heart truly desires. In the case of the Nasuverse, you were lonely after separating from your family so you ended up in a situation where the hole in your heart could be filled. You also wanted to prove yourself as an Emperor, so, through your own actions, you managed to eventually dominate an entire planet. Towards the very end, you even extended your reach beyond the bounds of the Sol System...don't discredit your own accomplishments, Vahn. You might have been given an exceptionally powerful designation, but, compared to how 'easy' things could have been, you chose an incomprehensibly more difficult path...*)With the smile returning to his face, Vahn rolled to a seated position, saying, "You're right. Even in the end, I never really followed the path Akasha wanted for me. I even ignored a Zennith-level Main Quest, choosing my own way forward. Now, even though I'm still Tier 4, I even have a nascent Realm inside of my Soul, one capable of sealing even powerful Tier 5 beings...hahahahaha~"Realizing how 'broken' he had become as a result of his paranoia, Vahn couldn't help but laugh out loud. As Sis had sated, he could have taken advantage of his designation as Type Omega, becoming a powerhouse that commanded the very planets and stars. Instead, he set his sights on shaping the world in accordance with his vision, an endeavor that had taken years of concerted effort. He might not have been able to reach Tier 5, but he was now 95 years wiser and infinitely more experienced.In the grand scheme of things, knowledge, experience, and comprehension of the Laws were the most important factors behind a person's strength. Soul Tier was more of a classification of their potential than anything else. It effectively determined the pinnacle a person could reach, not how strong they were. Because of this, Fenrir was able to fight against some Tier 4 entities when she had barely reached Tier 3. Now, even though he would have to remake his body and train from scratch, it wouldn't take him long at all to reach even greater heights...Feeling excitement begin to well up inside of his chest, a massive grin spread across Vahn's face as he said, "Use some of my Karma to prevent whatever Overseer that governs Eva's Record from being able to see me. As for the rest, we'll let Fate decide! I intend to live without inhibitions in Eva's world, so I can't wait to see what kind of things Fate throws my way!"Even if it seemed wasteful, Vahn felt it was better to unlock system functions through his own efforts. He already had some functions he rarely used, so, rather than get some arbitrary function that might influence his decisions, he would rather keep what he already had. He also had no desire to choose a path prior to entering the Record, even if it would make finding Eva a lot easier. The Quest function might very well be one of his most powerful assets, but, when it came to living 'freely', it was one of the things that restricted him the most.Though she was tempted to make some suggestions, Sis could feel how excited Vahn was to simply 'go with the flow'. His bad habits would undoubtedly act up, compelling him to intervene in things he really shouldn't, but, at least for now, he was excited about living a free and unfettered life. She was interested to see how far he could take things, so, knowing his Karma would guarantee his life wasn't too stressful, she dutifully obeyed his instructions before asking, (*Is there anything else you would like to do? You still have six hours and forty-three minutes left before you are forced to leave this place.*)Eager to enter a new Record, Vahn shook his head in response to Sis' inquiry. He had a bad habit of overthinking things, so, rather than let himself get distracted, he would rather follow through on his convictions. The less he knew about the options available, the more interesting life would be once he finally entered a new Record. Besides, he had already trained in accordance with the magic system of Eva's Record, so, in a way, he already had a supreme advantage. After all, she was one the strongest beings in her Record, being one of the few S-Rank threats in existence. This put her on the level of an Ancient True Dragon, an existence that could support an Empire for thousands of years due to its monstrous might.Sensing his thoughts, Sis decided not to keep Vahn waiting in suspense. She was the most aware of his bad habits, so, before he could change his mind, she used Eva's memory fragment as a 'beacon' to locate her original Record. This reflected as the [Akamatsuverse: 2-5] in Vahn's view, placing it at around the same level as the Nasuverse. Then, after one final confirmation, darkness replaced their shared perspectives, followed by a familiar passing through various viscous membranes...---Though it was his third time experiencing it, Vahn felt like he was going to throw up when he felt his non-existent gut being violently tugged in various directions. His momentum continued to increase until it felt like he was moving much faster than the speed of light, and, though he didn't have eyes to see, he could 'feel' various colors pervading his existence. He was starting to believe these were the Laws themselves, as, the more he passed through, the more 'real' he felt. Towards the very end, it even felt like he could reach out and 'grasp' the colors directly, but, before he could extend his non-existent hand, he found himself laying on what appeared to be a marbled floor.Vahn had no idea when and where he would be entering the Akamatsuverse. The only thing he knew was that it should be around the time when Eva's memory fragment was made. He remembered her saying it was around the time of the Great Magic War, so, if his memory served him, which it always did, it should be around 1982 in the Record. As for whether or not he would end up on Earth or the Magical World, Vahn would only know that once he got his bearings.Spreading his domain, Vahn resisted the urge to groan as it had shrunken from around 38km to an almost pitiful 9km. This was still better than when he first entered the Nasuverse, but, after growing strong enough to shatter mountains and cause small earthquakes, Vahn couldn't help but feel as if he had become even weaker than a normal person. His senses even indicated this was the case, as, within 9km from his position, he could sense tens of thousands of people with more powerful auras than him...As Vahn was trying to make sense of his current situation, he sensed an anomaly in his domain. It was almost like a 'lack' of presence, similar to when Freya had used her cloak in the past. This sent off alarm bells in his mind as his immediate surroundings looked identical to a bedroom. He also noticed a diorama of sorts sitting on a shelf that looked eerily similar to the orb that had originally contained Eva's memory fragment. This confirmed he had entered around the time of its forging, but, much to his chagrin, his arrival seemed to be in timing with its activation, not its production...Feeling his body tense up, Vahn turned toward the direction of a rather ornate set of doors, a wry smile on his face as a petite young girl with golden hair and beautiful blue eyes entered the room. At a glance, this might have led some to believe the girl was Eva, but, instead of fair white skin and a perpetually angry expression, the girl that entered the room had bronzed skin, curved horns, and a pair of fur-covered ears sticking out from the sides of her head. Her expression had also been fixed into a mischievous smile, much like a child who had successfully completed a prank, but, once she saw someone was in her room, caution and fear immediately replaced her smile as she shouted, "Guards! Someone! There is an intruder in my room...!!"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Karma basically lets you buy cheats xD...','Subsuming Fate is a 'very' powerful ability...','He has nobody to blame by himself (UmU)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1529: Reason