Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

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

Due to his Realm existing in a completely separate Temporal Axis than the standard Time Axis of the Akamatsuverse, Vahn didn't have to worry about anything happening to his body on the outside. In fact, even if he idled in his Realm for eons, no time would pass in 'reality'. If not for the fact they were influenced by two entirely separate sets of Laws, it might have even been possible for him to train in the comfort of his Realm, growing exponentially stronger in the 'real' world. For now, however, that would have to wait until he was at a high enough Soul Tier to rectify the differences in Laws between Records.Fortunately, even if he couldn't grow stronger, that didn't mean he was unable to accumulate more experience. If his comprehension was high enough, there was nothing stopping him from using the things he learned inside his Realm in the outside world. This made it a perfect training ground to test certain theories, and, with enough time and effort, it was only a matter of time before he could move things from one Record into the world of another. Even if he couldn't find a way on his own, Da Vinci would undoubtedly figure something out. He could now tell her all about The Path and the Records, so, with her unwavering determination, she might even find a solution in a relatively short period of time...---With thoughts of how he would explain things to everyone back in Avalon occupying his mind, Vahn spent the better part of seven weeks just helping Gaia, Alaya, and Tiamat familiarize themselves with their vessels. It actually only took Tiamat around five days before she was bouncing around excitedly, but, due to the nature of their existence, it took Gaia and Alaya much longer.Perhaps as a result of her relatively recent rehabilitation, Gaia managed to move around without too much trouble after around 655 hours. In actuality, no time had passed at all, but, due to his ability to perceive its concept, Vahn could still keep track of the recovery process. Because of this, he knew it had taken Alaya around 1156 hours, even if she 'should' have been able to recover much sooner.It could be due to the fact they were no longer under the influence of the Root System, but Gaia and Alaya both experienced subtle shifts in their personality. Gaia became even more bubbly than she had been in the past, becoming quick friends with Laev-tan. As for Alaya, she was still an intellectual tsundere, but, compared to her past self, she seemed far more bashful. She even took advantage of the fact he was taking care of her, greatly extending her recovery time just so he would pamper her a little more. It wasn't until Tiamat outright asked if they were allowed to have sex that Alaya made a very sudden and 'miraculous' recovery...Since his main concern had already been dealt with, Vahn surprised all 'four' girls by answering, "Yes. Now that you are free from the constraints of the Root System, there is no danger in having sex. You can even get pregnant and have a baby, though I would ask that you limit yourselves to just one for the time being."Like a trio of True Dragons, the pupils of Gaia, Alaya, and Tiamat all became fine lines as the eyed him like a juicy piece of meat. As for Laev-tan, she didn't even seem to think about trying to include herself, seemingly 'knowing' the answer. In fact, she was likely the most 'attuned' person to him right now, her Ego functioning as a second imprint upon his Soul. They were basically a singular entity, so, while she certainly enjoyed being pampered, the thought of having sex or rearing children had never crossed her mind...---After removing the 'restriction' on the three carnivorous sisters, Vahn learned just how scary women could be when they were starved for affection. This was true for all three of them, as, despite being the mothers of various Gods and Phantasmal Species, Gaia and Tiamat had never actually had sex. It wasn't something that was really 'necessary' for Tier 5 entities. As a result, they became a little crazy due to their draconic heritage. It wasn't as bad as when Artoria first became a Dragon, but, for nearly as long as it took them to recover, Vahn wasn't 'allowed' to leave the trio unattended.Surprisingly, the most demure of the three ended up being Alaya. Gaia and Tiamat were relatively honest with their feelings, allowing them to very clearly state what they wanted. Alaya, however, had spent so much time distancing herself from everything, solely focused on her duties, that she wasn't able to properly convey her wants and needs. It almost felt like she was getting revenge for making her wait so long, forcing him to seek her own and behaving much like a disinterested cat until he got her in the mood...Fortunately, no matter how carnivorous the trio was, Vahn's prowess within his Realm could never be matched. He never tired, and, no matter how powerful they were, it was virtually impossible for them to get any real advantages against him. Even when it felt like Tiamat was going to 'break' him due to her excitement, his body held firm, ensuring his victory in more than a hundred bouts. By the end of their typical sessions, there were times when she struggled to even maintain her form, turning into a semi-transparent mass of primordial ooze with a rather silly smile on her face...Of the three, Gaia was the most 'reserved', even if she was also equally as honest as Tiamat. She was very eager to try new things, but, rather than go to 'extremes', she seemed to enjoy the emotional connection more than anything. There were times when they just stayed locked together for several hours at a time, embracing each other as her wings coiled around him like a cacoon. Vahn found this to be very relaxing, and, as it was a stark contrast to his usual intercourse, he quickly became fond of the very long and slow sessions of love-making...If there was anything to 'complain' about, it was the somewhat voyeuristic nature of Laev-tan. She was a very curious creature, and, though she never asked to try things herself, there were a number of instances where she would be attentively observing, her eyes glimmering with a curious light as she hovered a few centimeters away from where the 'fun' was taking place. To make matter worse, she would spontaneously ask questions or try to give 'advice' on what she thought would be more fun. Once, leading Vahn to sit her down for a long talk, she even tried poking him in the butt after commenting how 'cute' it was...Fortunately, after a stern talking to, Laev-tan became surprisingly obedient, watching things play out with an ever-intrigued smile on her face. She seemed to be happy when he was happy, and, though it was a little unnerving at times, her innocence was rather endearing. It helped that, instead of trying to insist he pamper her humanoid form, Laev-tan enjoyed being polished and caressed as a Shikai. In her mind, her Shikai was her true form, and, if not for her desire to appear cute and fit in with others, she might not even have a humanoid form.Since it had become something of an unbreakable habit, Vahn dutifully polished Laev-tan around five times a day. He would also practice with her for a few hours every day, allowing her to release her tensions. She had a very tomboyish nature, and, if she sat around for too long, she would begin to grow restless. This was directly translated to Vahn through their mutual connection, so, whenever he could free up some time from the trio of True Dragons, he would teleport an incomprehensible distance away so they could both cut loose.---Before he had realized it, even though he had been keeping track of every single day, nearly four months had passed since Vahn entered his Realm. He was starting to feel as though he had been inside for too long, so, after discussing it with the three sisters, he decided it was about time for him to return to the 'real' world. They would remain inside the Realm to stabilize the Laws, but, until he was confident there wouldn't be any issues, everything else would remain frozen.As he had yet to reach Tier 5, there was a non-negligible chance things would simply 'break' if he were to start Time before stabilizing the Laws. There wasn't even a sun to illuminate the planet, so, if he didn't awaken Amaterasu and help her create a proper 'true body', Gaia would lose its luster and become a world devoid of natural light.Though it was possible to create planets and stars out of thin air, this only functioned due to the fact that things like gravity and other natural laws were currently under his complete control. This would not be the case when he turned his attention away from the Realm, however, meaning star basically explode the moment he turned away. Even worse, the bonds between atoms might not even hold up properly, meaning everything would simply turn to cosmic dust. This wouldn't actually kill anyone, as even the Law of Death didn't exist in his Realm, but it would become a big issue if he had to basically reform the bodies of nearly a trillion people...In order to get his Realm up and running, Vahn was intending to do things in phases, starting with the assignment of Authority to Tier 5 beings. They would serve as the foundation that ensured the stability of the Record, basically serving as his pantheon of Primordial Gods. Then, once everything was in order, Time and Space could become more defined, rather than existing as little more than 'potential'. From there, he could begin awakening Tier 4 entities, assigning them weaker, more niche Authorities that would ensure balance within the confines of the Planetary Bounded Field.With a full pantheon of Primordial and Planetary Gods, Vahn was confident his Realm would be able to remain stable, even when he was focused on other things. For now, it would have to remain in a state of suspension. Fortunately, due to the quirks of The Path, he could still convert entities such as Fenrir and Medusa into their core forms. They were the only people he was 'guaranteed' to be able to take outside, so, once he had enough power to do so, he would eventually summon them.Though he couldn't be certain, Vahn had started to suspect that the reason why Medusa chose to stunt her growth was so that she would have an advantage when he moved to a new Record. At his current level, it would likely take months, at the very least, before he had enough power to summon Fenrir. As for the adorably sly snake, it probably wouldn't take more than a month before he had the ability to summon her. She was 'much' weaker than Fenrir, so, for a while, she may be his only 'real' companion in the outside world.Since he wouldn't get any answers by stalling, Vahn spent one last night of passion with all three sisters, promising to return often. He had left all three of them with an 'egg', so, even if they were lonely, their instincts would keep them preoccupied. As for how long it took for the eggs to hatch, that was ultimately up to him. At the very least, he wanted them to wait until he had jumpstarted the Realm, but, depending on the circumstances, it could be much sooner. After all, he was 'very' curious about how powerful his children would be when their mothers were things like 'an actual planet' and 'the manifestation of humanity's will to survive'. There was even a chance they could fill the roles of some much-needed Primordial Gods, further stabilizing the Realm...---Opening his eyes, Vahn noticed that the Imperial Guard who had been yawning prior to his entry into the Realm was still stuck mid-yawn. This confirmed that no time had passed while he was inside the Realm, bringing a satisfied smile to his face. Then, startling the guards who had been eyeing him from a distance, he extended his hand and said, "Set alight the all-consuming flame, Laevateinn...!!"Without needing to manifest his Asauchi, a plume of brackish-crimson flames erupted from Vahn's right hand. When it faded away, a 185cm long claymore with a smoldering blade had manifested, its presence alone enough to cause people to collapse to the ground. This was quite a surprise, even to Vahn, but, remembering how Captain-Class Shinigami were able to achieve the same effect, it wasn't too unexpected. Rather, even in the [Asauchi-Production Manual], it mentioned that the awakening of a Zanpakutou Spirit could place a heavy strain on the physical world, potentially endangering the lives of 'normal' people.Understanding that Laev-tan was basically just trying to show off, Vahn lightly tapped the draconic visage on the guard, saying, "Restrain your aura. We're not fighting anyone."Though it wasn't immediately, Laev-tan ultimately retracted her aura, releasing an annoyed hum that caused crackling sounds to emanate from her blade. She couldn't speak in this form, but, after being together for several decades, Vahn could still understand her. As a result, he just shook his head with a wry smile, promising, "We'll have plenty of enemies to fight against. For now, I'm just happy to see you in the real world like this..."Understanding the 'anatomy' of Laev-tan's sword form, Vahn gently caressed the area of the blade that was her 'back' when she was in human form. At the same time, he somewhat roughly scratched the area that represented the top of her head, earning a pleasant hum in response. Though she had a tomboyish personality, she was exceptionally weak to being pampered. After all, he had carried her with him for nearly forty years, spoiling her quite a bit in the process...---Despite seeing their 'prisoner' pull a sword out of thin air, none of the Imperial Guardsman made any attempt to confiscate it. Some even pretended not to have noticed while others, after processing the scene before them, went to report to the Warden. They needed to report that their prisoner was able to use Magic within an area where orthodox forms of Magic would be useless. This was an important discovery, as, with the exception of Royal Magic, only Ancient and Spiritual Magic could be used so freely.Vahn was perfectly aware of the fact he was 'showing off', but, after realizing the power currently in his possession, most thoughts of laying low had faded away. While he couldn't directly compare his capabilities to his Master, it was a simple truth that her magical power was actually very low. She was unable to become stronger due to the nature of her body, requiring her to supplement her power by sucking blood. The thing that made her so powerful was her absolute mastery over certain Elements and Laws, elevating her from around 300 Base Power to levels he couldn't comprehend. All he knew for certain was that, in her prime, Eva was even able to kill Demon Gods in a single blow.At the present moment, Vahn's power was a little unstable due to his recent arrival in the Record. By the time he fully acclimated, he should be able to increase his Power Level to around 8100. This was without the use of Magia Erebea, so, if he really pushed himself, even exceeding 20,000 wouldn't be a stretch. It all depended on whether or not his power level would plateau beyond a certain point...Vahn wouldn't know for certain where he stood in relation to others until he fought against powerful foes. Theoretical strength meant nothing when fists and magic started flying, so, unless they tried to use underhanded means, Vahn was still considering 'accepting' his punishment. He wouldn't allow them to put a slave collar around his neck, but, if it was just fighting in the Coliseum, he was actually looking forward to it. For now, however, he just pulled out a fresh cloth from his Inventory, ignoring the stares from the Imperial Guards as he began to polish Laev-tan...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Seven weeks...','Laev-tan is very curious (UwU)~!','I kind of feel bad for these Imperial Guards...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

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

Chapter 1530: Surprises Abound