Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With three days passing since Jack's return to the Capital, Vahn was beginning to wonder whether or not the man was going to seek him out. What he didn't know was, despite many people calling him an idiot, Jack was an exceptionally cautious man when it came to his missions. He balanced his thirst for battle with careful planning, taking measures to ensure innocents weren't harmed when he went all out. This was very important to him, as, despite his bravado and his general lack of respect for the Nobility, Jack genuinely cared about, not just the people of the Hellas Empire, but all those who just wanted to live their lives in peace.Unaware of the machinations of his future opponent, Vahn spent his days idling about inside of his room, consolidating his power and spending time with Medusa. He was also conducting experiments with the various Elementals that had gathered around him, taking advantage of his affinity to learn a few tricks Eva had mentioned in the past. As a result, he managed to unlock the [Elementalist] Skill in a relatively short period of time, becoming even more popular among the Elements as a result...---With Medusa lazily watching from the comfort of a hot bath, Vahn hovered a few centimeters above the surface of the bed, a pale-green aura shimmering around his body. The curious thing about this state, other than the fact he was floating in the lotus position, was that it was virtually impossible to actually sense his presence. He had veritably become one with nature, his aura permeating through his domain to the point it was less noticeable than a gentle breeze.Though it was impossible to sense him, looking directly at Vahn would have allowed you to see quite a number of peculiarities. His tanned-skin had become a healthy shade of brown, and, though it was less noticeable, his brown hair now had a slight tinge of green. What really stood out, however, were the pale green runes that seemed to grow across his body like vines, and, more than everything else, the two branch-like horns protruding near his temples. They vaguely resembled the horns of a Long-type Dragon, but, instead of ivory or gold, they were like two meticulously carved pieces of wood...Taking advantage of his affinity with the Elements, Vahn attempted to infuse natural energy directly into cells, much like how he would absorb magic during his [Magiea Erebea] transformations. He had been experimenting with absorbing and manipulating external energy even as early as the Record of Danmachi. This experience, combined with the fact he was simply loved by all manner of Spirits gave Vahn a unique advantage over others, as, even compared to a Druid that dedicated themselves to a forest or planet, Vahn affection for nature was unmatched...Without opening his eyes, Vahn slowly brought his hands together as if he were praying, causing the large gathering of Elemental Spirits to dance in response. Then, as Vahn slowly separated his hands, revealing a tiny seed-shaped mass of vital energy, the Elementals began to quickly gather into their respective groups. They had to freely fuse together, so, like a bunch of excited children, they began to dogpile on top of each other, forming larger masses that would eventually become high ranking Elemental Spirits.Seeing how excited the Elementals were, Vahn adopted an affectionate smile as he lightly muttered, "Now, now, there is no need to compete. You'll all a chance so don't force yourselves..."As if they were perfectly capable of understanding him, the Elementals quickly mellowed out, their actions less volatile than before. They lacked individual consciousness and Ego, but, so long as you knew how to communicate with them, the Elementals were surprisingly understanding. So long as you could communicate your intention to them, much like communicating with the world through Magic, they would happily lend you a hand. They seemed to be genuinely 'happy' to simply have people acknowledge their existence, and, under the right conditions, nascent Elemental Spirits would even gather together just to produce a form that made communication easier.Perhaps as a result of his affinity to fire, the first group of Elementals to finish their fusion were the nascent Fire Elemental Spirits. As a result, Vahn manipulated the tiny 'seed' toward the giant globule that almost looked like a ball formed from gelatine. It would be more accurate to say it looked like a Slime, but, for reasons Vahn could only attribute to the Record, it had a rather adorable expression that looked like a caricature of a cat. (A/N: 'O w O')Without waiting for the seed to reach it, the nebulous Fire Elemental bounced through the air like a cat pouncing on its prey. It managed to devour the seed in a single gulp, causing a 'wave' of energy to spread through its body as the mass of energy dissolved in an instant. Its semi-translucent body began to release an intense light, and, after a few seconds had passed, its body had shrunken from the size of a tub-sized basin to a far more compact and recognizable form...As Elementals were very sensitive to the perception of others, the final form adopted by the Lesser Fire Elemental was about what Vahn expected, a cat. In colloquial terms, it was a creature known as an Embercat within the Magical community. Curiously, it had a physical form that resembled a large housecat with a tiger-stripe pattern, blazing blue eyes, and an underbelly of soft white hair. If not for the ember burning on the edge of its tail, it would have looked indistinguishable from a very exotic-looking cat.Seeing his second successful attempt at producing a Lesser Elemental from scratch, a happy smile spread across Vahn's face. This seemed to please the Embercat, causing it to hop into his lap and nuzzle against his abdomen in an affectionate manner. In response, Vahn rewarded it with a few strokes along its surprisingly smooth and expectedly warm body before saying, "I still have a few more seeds to produce. We'll play later, so behave yourself..."Hearing Vahn's words, the Embercat turned its head up at him before tilted its head to the side with a 'mreow?' escaping its mouth. It had never had to think before so it didn't understand his intentions well, requiring Vahn to point at the figure sunbathing on the veranda. There, what appeared to be a diorama of a mountain could be seen, complete with tree-like moss and detailed rock formations. If you looked closely, however, you would notice it was actually a large turtle, a relatively rare creature known as an Aspidochelone. They started off pretty small, much like all Lesser Elemental Spirits, but, if allowed to reach maturity as a Greater Elemental Spirit, they would, quite literally, become the size of islands.Understanding what Vahn wanted from it, the Embercat jumped down from his lap before trotting over Aspidochelone. Then, after tentatively sniffing around the base of the peculiar turtle, it jumped onto its back before making itself comfortable. The Aspidochelone itself didn't seem to mind this at all, simply peeking out from its shell for a few seconds before returning to its dormant state. It was a type of Elemental that allowed all manner of creatures to live on its back, so, after confirming that it wasn't under attack, it simply acknowledged the Embercat as a new resident.Though it wasn't unexpected, as Elementals generally lived peacefully alongside each other, Vahn couldn't help but smile when he saw the Embercat curl up at the top of the Aspidochelone. It was like the proverbial tiger taking over a mountain, a rather amusing thought that made Vahn wonder whether or not the other Elementals would vaguely resemble the Divine Beasts...---After a very long period of reflective meditation and gathering natural energy, Vahn ended up with five Lesser Elemental Spirits and a handful of nascent Elementals who were unable to coalesce into a larger form.As could be expected, the five were formed from the primary Elements of Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, and, Wood. The rest, consisting of Light, Darkness, Ice, and Lightning were too small in number, so, unless he accumulated more, Vahn wouldn't be able to guide their evolution.Joining the Aspidochelone and Embercat, Vahn ended up with a Waterwyrm, a Wind Rabbit, and a Flower Sprite. As could be assumed from their names, these were Lesser Elemental Spirits of Water, Wind, and Wood, respectively.Waterwyrms were a type of Lesser Elemental Spirit that had some affinity with dragon-kind. They had vaguely serpentine bodies formed from watery-blue scales and heads that loosely resembled the fusion between a cat and a dragon. Vahn actually found it kind of cute, especially with its tiny limbs that didn't seem to have any purpose other than making it more adorable...Continuing the trend of adorable creatures, causing Vahn to think he might have a problem, the Wind Rabbit resembled the animal its namesake was derived from. The biggest difference was that it had a few patches of lime and emerald-green feathers sticking out nears its joints. Its ears were also much larger than a normal rabbit's, and, rather than serve the singular function of enhancing their hearing, the feathery appendages actually served as wings. It was a curious blend between avian and mammalian qualities, two things most people wouldn't imagine blending well...Not losing out in the cuteness department, the Flower Sprite had a vaguely feminine appearance that made it look like a fairy. Instead of human features, however, it had appendages that seemed to be formed from plants. Its winges were large leaves, and, as its name implied, it looked a lot like a flower with its petal-formed dress and the flower-like headdress atop its head. It also had compound eyes, much like an insect, and a tiny gemstone embedded in its forehead.Though the Flower Sprite was the smallest of the Lesser Elemental Spirits, allowing it to sit snugly in the palm of a person's hand, it was just as powerful as the rest. Its tiny figure belied a truly massive amount of magic power, and, during an emergency, it was able to bind enemies using deceptively powerful Wood Elemental Magic.On average, it took around one-thousand nascent Elemental Spirits to create a single Lesser variant, so, while the Aspidochelone seemed to be the strongest, they were all around 300BP. Though they would find it difficult to secure a victory, this actually made them stronger than all of the opponents Vahn had faced thus far, the strongest only having a BP of around 250. This put them on the same level as teachers in a Magic Academy, showing just why higher ranking Elementals were considered a threat to entire nations.It would take a while, but, with Elementals able to subsume natural energy from the environment, it was only a matter of time before the five Elementals he had summoned became much stronger. The best part, however, was the fact that they could regenerate from virtually any kind of wound, so long as there was mana in the environment. Since their presence naturally increased the concentration of mana, any place that housed multiple Spirits would, quite literally, become a Spiritual Land on the level of a Sacred Grounds.Vahn wasn't sure how long he would be in the Akamatsuverse, but, at the very least, he would reach Tier 5. Since he didn't want to become directly affiliated with any country, he decided to simply make a territory for himself, a place where Spirits and magical creatures could thrive. He felt a kinship with the Elemental Spirits, so, in lieu of expanding his Empire into the Magical World, he wanted to leave it in a better state than when he arrived. His actions were guaranteed to cause considerable damage to the environment, so, as penance for the mistakes his future self would make, Vahn was preparing to produce a few Greater Elemental Spirits to watch over the world when he finally departed.At present, there were a total of nine Greater Elementals inhabiting the various Sacred Lands of the Magical World. Assuming he didn't intervene, four of these were fated to lose their lives in the Great Magic War, leaving massive scars on the Magical World itself. The remaining five would slowly lose their power due to modernization, so, before that could happen, Vahn intended to provide a helping hand. He generally cared more about the worlds he visited than the people that inhabited them, so it made him feel somewhat melancholic just knowing the innocent Elementals would suffer as a result of conflicts that had nothing to do with them...As if they could sense his concerns, which very well might be the case, all but the Aspidochelone had congregated around Vahn. Even the nascent Elemental Spirits showed great concern for him, causing Vahn's heart to lighten as he affectionately caressed each of them in turn...---While Vahn was setting in motion events that would leave Magical Scholars slackjawed, Rakan had been idling within the Imperial Palace for the last three days. It had been a while since his last visit, so he was enjoying teasing any reasonably attractive female that worked in the Palace. He also spent a fair amount of time teasing the Magistrate, as her reactions were nearly as priceless as those of the Second Prince...Walking through the vast corridors with a fresh handprint on his face, Rakan followed a familiar path until he reached the first set of doors Vahn had passed through after his arrival in the Record. These obviously led to the Third Princess' room, and, after knocking loudly on the door, Jack couldn't help but smile widely as the slightly indented door slammed open. Immediately afterward, a dainty pair of feet slammed into his face, but, like an immovable mountain, he remained perfectly stationary as he said, "It is good to see you too, kiddo."After bounding off Rakan's face and nimbly landing on her feet like a gymnast, the Third Princess, Theodora Bashireia Herasu De Vesuperisujimia, affectionately known as Theo to her friends, matched his smile with one of her own as she remarked, "You big lug, how is it your head is even harder than a metal board? It's no wonder everyone calls you an idiot. How dense is that brain of yours~?"Rather than take offense to Theo's words, Rakan released a boisterous laugh that seemed to resound throughout the entire Palace. His voice was so loud that it forced Theo to cover her sensitive ears, a wry smile on her face as she exclaimed, "Are you trying to make me go deaf!?"Despite how loud his own voice was, Rakan could easily make at Theo's words, causing his laughter to stop as he plainly said, "I came to talk to the big lizard. Are you busy right now?"Shaking her head in a way that caused her long bangs to bob from side-to-side, Theo stated, "I have to take a bath pretty soon, but I can spare some time. We'll have to go to the courtyard though. Vrix is huge so I can't summon him in the Palace."Having fought against the Ancient Dragon previously, Rakan knew exactly how monstrous its size was. It might only be around 120m long, but, when it opened its wings, Vrixho seemed to cover the sky with his 250m wingspan. He was several times larger than the most advanced flagships, and, if you failed to make adequate preparations, dealing any damage to him at all was impossible. He was virtually immune to both physical and magical attacks, teaching Rakan an important lesson, there were always greater heights to aspire toward.Eager to see the only 'person' he had ever failed to damage, Rakan's smile widened into a battle-crazed expression as he said, "Well then, let's get going! Hahahahaha~!"---(A/N: It was alluded to previously, but Theo looks up to Jack quite a bit. She let her bangs grow out because Jack has unnaturally long bangs (Seriously, the boyo has Sephiroth syndrome). This is one of the many reasons people call her the Tomboy Princess. She does mature into quite the beauty when she is older, but the current Theo looks like a ten-year-old tomboy with short hair. She also likes to wear more manly clothes, much to the chagrin of the Governess assigned to take care of her xD...)(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'This might be the closest thing to a literal 'Sage Dragon' mode...','Vahn, Lord of the Elementals','Jack be swaggering around the Imperial Palace like he owns the place xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Ignoring the various complaints she received from her Governess and Maid escorts, Theo held onto Rakan's hair like reins as she directed him towards the largest courtyard. She ignored the fact that he was already well-acquainted with the Palace's layout, and, believing children should be more spirited, Rakan made no attempt to correct her behavior. Instead, he smiled somewhat viciously at the people who tried to force Theo to get down, intimidating them into silence.Theo noticed what Rakan was doing, but, as she always felt like the 'Queen of the World' while riding on his shoulders, she didn't mind. Instead, she actually felt somewhat envious of the fact he was able to basically do whatever he wanted. She had always dreamed of becoming strong enough to wander around as free as the wind, but, due to her status as the Crown Princess, this was wishful thinking. At best, she could become an Imperial Envoy or a General in the military, traveling abroad only when it suited the interests of her nation...Due to Rakan's rather monstrous gait, it didn't take long to reach one of the largest courtyards in the Imperial Palace, a place generally reserved for the Imperial Family to relax. There were various types of flora, fauna, and, to make it more aesthetically pleasing, intricately designed aqueducts and small ruin-like structures. If you knew where to look, there were even a few secret areas that connected to various passages or hidden chambers, many of which were only known to their respective owners to prevent a purge instigated by members of the Imperial Family.With several hundred meters of open area, Theo hopped off Rakan's back before glaring at him and saying, "You better not peek..."Hearing Theo's warning, Rakan burst into laughter, continuing until she 'lightly' punched him in his seemingly indestructible eight-pack. This caused her to wince in pain, bringing an end to Rakan's laughter as he ruffled her hair and said, "No worries, Princess. I ain't interested in brats."Though his words were said in a genial manner, a visible tick mark appeared on Theo's brow as she began pounding Rakan's chest, exclaiming, "I told you not to call me a brat you stupid monkey!"Rather than evade Theo's blows, Rank began to twist his body so that she was hitting his side, a sly smile on his face as he mused, "Your massage skills are improving. A little to the left..."With triple tick-marks on her head, Theo took a few steps back in order to get a running start. This caused the smile on Rakan's face to turn slightly wry, forcing him to evade the Princess' attempt to dropkick him 'below the belt'. Then, before she could recover, he waved over his shoulder, laughter resounding throughout the area as he walked behind a pillar.Seeing Rakan's walking away, Theo stuck out her tongue at him with a pretend-angry expression on her face. She was a little annoyed at Rakan's teasing, but she wasn't really that upset. She hated how stuffy most people were around her, and, though he might be a little lascivious in his words at times, she knew Rakan was a 'gentleman'. She trusted him more than the Maids assigned to help her bathe and dress, as, if it really came down to it, she knew Rakan would place his life on the line to keep her safe.After waiting for a few seconds, Theo looked around the area for a bit, her pointed ears waggling a bit as she lifted up the hem of her blouse. She had only recently entered puberty, and, though it was really beginning to show, she still opted not to wear a bra. She didn't like the way they felt, and, with the large crest on her chest, she felt it would only get in the way. Summoning Vrixho used the crest as a gateway, so, if it was covered, she would end up destroying her clothes...Ignoring the burning on her cheeks, Theo puffed out her chest as she shouted, "Come forth, Vrixho Nagasha! Your descendent, Teodora Bashireia Herasu De Vesuperisujimia, requires your aid!"Following Theo's call, light shot out from the crest on her chest like a projector that created three-dimensional images. It quickly coalesced into the form of a vaguely humanoid dragon with muscular arms, a tapered waist, powerful legs, an exceptionally long tail, and three pairs of blade-like wings. It had the ability to change size, but, by default, it was around 120m in length, two-thirds of which was its glaive-like tail. As for its wings, they were able to extend upwards of 250m, the bladed segments capable of cutting through Superdreadnaught-Class Air Whales as if they were made of styrofoam...Though Vrixho had been in the middle of reading at a local orphanage, he never hesitated to answer the call of his contractors. Even if Theo only ever called him to mess around, he still released an awe-inspiringly powerful aura as he looked around, his slender head and sword-like horns swiveling as he searched for potential enemies.Realizing what he had been summoned for, Vrixho snorted through his nose as he used his tail like a whip, smashing the collum Rakan was hiding behind. This sent the muscular man smashing through a few trees, laughing boisterously the entire way.Seeing Vrixho immediately attack Rakan, Theo showed a small amount of panic as she exclaimed, "I didn't call you here to battle! You're going to get me in trouble if you end up destroying things you damned lizard! That goes doubly for you, dumb gorilla! I know you can hear me...!!"Clicking his tongue, Rakan sneakily placed his massive greatsword back into the pocket dimension he kept with him. He knew the Emperor wouldn't care all that much, but, as others were bound to complain, Theo would probably get grounded for a few weeks. The spirited brat hated being locked up more than anything else, so, after making a mental note to smack the dragon a few times in the near future, he dusted off his shoulders before making his way over...With Rakan backing down, Vrixho gave the closest thing to a taunting sneer he could manage before his body was enveloped in light. He rapidly decreased in size, becoming an old man with long white hair, two dagger-like white horns, and a thick white tail protruding out of his long, flowing, robes. At a glance, he seemed to be little more than an elderly member of the Ancient Hellas race, albeit with an aura that greatly eclipsed even the Emperor's.Though he had acknowledged Rakan's strength, Vrixho wasn't fond of how the man would often greet him with a punch to the face. The man seemed absolutely determined to break through his defenses, an inevitable event that Vrixho wasn't particularly looking forward to...Ignoring the glowering expression of the old man, Rakan raised his hand in a gesture of greeting as he said, "Yo. How have you been, old lizard? Scare any children recently?"Choosing to ignore Rakan's question, Vrixho plainly stated, "I know what you want to ask. You want to inquire about that man, the Sage Dragon Emperor, right? I already told both Mike and Theo not to mess with that man. Even if you manage to defeat him, the consequences will be disastrous. Even the Lord of Spirits is not as loved by the World as that man. If you manage to kill him, I imagine our nation's death will not be far behind..."Though he had heard something similar from the Emperor, Rakan winced when he heard the words directly from Vrixho, asking, "Is it really that bad? How could someone like that just suddenly appear out of thin air? Did he come from the Spirit World?"Shaking his head, Vrixho explained, "There is a land called Avalon within the Land of Spirits, but there is no Empire there. It is the resting place of one of Mundus Ventus' Great Guardians, Draigo Flamma, the Welsh Dragon. Though some refer to him as the Red Dragon Emperor, that is a drastic difference from the title 'Sage Dragon Emperor'. As for that man's candidacy as an Ancient Dragon...my senses fail me. All I can say for certain is that his aura is like that of nature itself...it is unlike anything I have ever experienced."As Vrixho was one of the most powerful creatures in the entire world, Rakan couldn't take his word lightly. His smile faded away completely, replaced by a serious expression that belied the excitement in his heart. He was looking forward to being able to battle against such an enigmatic existence, but, before that, he asked, "So, you're saying it's fine as long as I don't kill him, right?"Hearing Jack's question, Vrixho snorted through his nose before saying, "With everything happening abroad, I am against antagonizing that...thing. We cannot afford to fight against Megalomesembria if we are simultaneously fighting against nature itself. Even without a contract, the Elements choose to protect that man. If you battle, there is no way of knowing how they will react. If famine and disaster strike the Empire, our people will suffer when the Megalomesembrian Shocktroopers sweep through our lands..."Though his fighting spirit hadn't been diminished in the slightest, Rakan's expression became even more serious as he stated, "You speak as though we should just ignore him. Even if he is only killing people he thinks are evil, the stability of the Empire will be threatened if he takes it too far. Change is something that must happen gradually. If you force it, the people may not be able to adapt in time. I don't like it any more than the next person, but there is a need for underground organizations. If not for the Black Market, most people would never have the change to obtain rare elixirs and armaments to protect themselves..."After experiencing life as a slum-dweller, Rakan was well aware of the disparity that existed between the Nobility and the average citizen. He was doing his best to change things by becoming a symbol for future generations to rally behind. Changing things forcefully would only result in even greater problems, as, despite their corrupt nature, the nobility was needed to ensure a power vacuum didn't form. While rebellion might make the people feel empowered, it did little to address the issues that immediately followed a successful coup. The collapse of the economy, alone, would result in millions of people dying from starvation, disease, and the criminal acts that resulted from desperate people simply trying to survive...Remembering the past, Rakan shook his head before adding, "Something must be done. If he can't be reasoned with, we would need to slay or destroy him. Even if the Spirits riot, we can request an envoy from Elfenhof to act as an intermediary. If necessary, I'm willing to conduct a pilgrimage to the Sacred Lands in order to request the aid of a Great Spirit..."Hearing the conviction in Rakan's tone, Vrixho couldn't help but release a sigh as he said, "If anyone else were to say such things, I would have called them a fool. You, however, I can trust to remain true to your word. So long as you have the proper conviction, I have nothing else to say on the matter. All I ask is that you attempt to reach an accord before resorting to more forceful methods. Though I fail to understand his purpose, that man seems to be testing this nation. I believe you and he have more in common than you think...so long as you possess righteous intentions, I do not believe he will try and kill you. The Spirits would never love someone with a malicious heart...if you can understand one another, I believe the Empire's victory in the coming war will be assured..."Understanding what Vrixho was trying to convey, Rakan nodded in a solemn manner, saying, "I'll be sure to keep that in mind. If what you say is true, it is inevitable that he and I exchange blows. In the end, I'll do what I believe is best for the Empire. Even if I make a mistake, I'll do my best to make sure it doesn't hurt the people."Without doubting Rakan's convictions, Vrixho gave a curt nod as an appreciative smile spread across his aged face. He often lamented the fact that Rakan hadn't been born into the Imperial Family. If the Empire had someone like him at the helm, they would undoubtedly prosper for hundreds of years. It was truly unfortunate that his lifespan was so limited, but, considering how most long-lived species viewed the world, it was perhaps for the best. Had Rakan been born as a full Hellesian man, his views would undoubtedly be very different than his present self...---Though he hadn't bee particularly paying attention to things taking place within the Imperial Palace, Vahn felt a subtle shift in the flow of fate. This caused him to put down the Embercat, his aquamarine irises shifting into the characteristic gold of his Huanglong form as a smile spread across his lips. He didn't know what had changed, but his instincts told him a powerful opponent had just shifted their focus toward him. This caused his draconic blood to boil, exciting the surrounding Elemental Spirits and causing them all to face the same direction...Sensing her Master's excitement, Medusa's own began to grow, albeit for very different reasons. She, much like Fenrir, had an inexplicable desire to see him reign over everything. Though she had greatly enjoyed their time together, seeing her Master laze about had been steadily increasing the anxiety in her heart. She could sense his desire to explore the world, so it left an itchy feeling in her heart that simply couldn't be scratched.Now that her Master was releasing his aura, Medusa could feel her anxiety begin to subside as a potent heat began spreading throughout her body. She felt as if 'something' inside her had just clicked into place, and, before she even realized it, she was using her hair as a support so that she could embrace her Master's shoulders from behind. It just seemed like the most natural thing to do, and, as if proving this was the case, her Master didn't even seem to notice it. Instead, his aura had only become more potent as golden scales began to slowly sprout across his body...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Mordred and Theo would get along','If Jack's bangs were reversed, he would basically be All Might xD...','The gentle embrace of a Gorgon...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the days stretching into weeks, Vahn split his time between familiarizing himself with the Akamatsuverse, making a name for himself in the Arena, helping people in need, and night lighting as Eva. All of these things sent waves throughout the Hellas Empire, but, as expected, the rumors of the 'Dark Evangel' appearing made other matters seem small in comparison. Most people had yet to see how powerful he was for themselves, so it would take some time before he became a household name. Eva, however, had been the nightmare of powerful Mages for hundreds of years, even serving as a 'Demon Queen' for a short period of time.Though Eva rarely appeared, there had never been any reports of her death, so, no matter how much time passed, people still continued to fear her. As a result, there were an increased number of guards patrolling the city, and, with a few exceptions, nearly every famous Mercenary group had been asked to return. To those within the Hellas Empire, this was a completely normal occurrence, but, from the perspective of other nations, it seemed like they were preparing for war.Tensions between the Hellas Empire and Megalomesembria had always been high, so it didn't come as a surprise to most that both sides were preparing for a conflict. Rather, the previous war had been nearly forty years prior, granting a period of peace longer than most people expected. This left many people on tenterhooks due to the fact that, when there were long periods of peace, it was often the calm before a much larger storm. The war forty years prior had actually been against Eva herself, so, in actuality, tensions had been building for a much longer period of time than normal.In preparation for the coming conflict, smaller nations had started to make their allegiances known by sending dignitaries and ambassadors to the larger nations. Very few countries had the option of sitting on the sidelines, and, if you had any resources that might be pertinent to the war effort, you left yourself open to being subsumed by both sides if you attempted to remain neutral. It was better to choose a side early on, as it was infinitely better to become the City-State of a larger nation rather than risk being consumed by them completely...---Though it was beginning to seem like each day brought worse news, there were still moments when people would gather in the streets to celebrate. One of these events revolved around the triumphant return of the King of Mercenaries, Jack Rakan. He had become the Hero of many people in the Hellas Empire, so, seeing the muscular man return with the skull of a sea monster that was nearly 10m long, even without the body, massive crowds had gathered to applaud his return.While common sense stated the monster skull would be pulled along by a wagon, the truth of the matter was that Jack was carrying it with one hand. He had traveled thousands of kilometers with the massive skull in tow, supporting it above his head with a perpetual smile affixed to his face. This was enough to make those with lesser sensibilities question reality while others, having been fans of Jack for some time, just toasted the man with phrases like, 'As expected of Jack!'.The tale of Jack Rakan was one of the most popular stories-turned-fables in the Hellas Empire. He was the child of a Hellasian father and a Human mother, an origin that caused him to be shunned and ultimately orphaned. Despite this, he never let anything set him back, vowing to become a true man without equal. Even when a gang had cut off his horns when he was a youth, his response was to put in more effort, growing even stronger. Then, instead of using his superior strength to kill the men and seek vengeance, he just beat them into a pulp without killing them, eventually becoming their leader. Afterward, he reformed them into one of the most successful bands of Mercenaries in the entire Empire, turning them from a group of rag-tag thugs to a respectable band with both fame and prestige to their name.What impressed most people, and ultimately changed their opinion of the half-blooded man, was how he kept his dignity no matter what setbacks he faced. Even when he was blamed for crimes he had never committed, resulting in him becoming a Gladiator in the Coliseum, he never harbored any hatred for the men who had framed him. Instead, he continued to grow exponentially stronger until he had ultimately won his freedom. This ultimately earned him the favor of the Imperial Family, and, as a result, he became a living legend at the young age of twenty-five...Despite being in hid mid-twenties, Jack was an exceptionally tall man that easily towered over most Hellasians and Humans at 240cm in height. He also had broad shoulders, a tapered waist, and some of the most immaculately sculpted muscles most people would ever witness. His golden eyes, spiky golden hair, and tanned skin only further increased his intimidation factor, and, if not for the smile that was almost always visible on his face, some would consider him 'fiercely intimidating' by default.With nothing but an open red vest, white pants, brown boots, and a red bandana wrapped around his head, it was easy to see Jack's intimidating physique in all its glory. He didn't even bother to wear formal attire when attending events as the Imperial Palace, earning him the praise of the masses and the scorn of most Aristocrats. Unfortunately for them, no matter what they tried, restraining Jack had become a virtually impossible feat. He not only had the acknowledgment of their Sacred Dragon, but he also enjoyed the favor of both the Emperor and the Third Princess. These things, combined with the fact that he simply 'wouldn't die' had slowly brought about change within the Empire, albeit at a very slow rate...---After arranging for a shipwright company to process his prize, Jack marched through the crowded streets with a smile on his face, greeting a surprising number of people by name. He was in a bit of a hurry, but, due to his inability to simply leave fans hanging, it took him more than three hours just to reach the nearest Fishport. There, a contingent of Imperial Guards headed by Magistrate Jagoda had been waiting to both update him on the situation and escort him to the Palace. This brought a smile to Jack's face, as he had always enjoyed teasing the woman who seemed to have a broom pole stuck up her ass.With a massive grin on his face, Jack approached Jagoda, bending over slightly so that he didn't tower over her too much as he said, "Now this is a rare treat. It must be pretty serious if they sent you out to retrieve me. Tell me, did someone actually try and bully that Tomboy Princess while I was away...?"Though Jack usually spoke in a very genial tone, allowing him to get along with virtually everyone he met, his aura sharply increased when he mentioned the Third Princess. He was quite fond of the little rascal, and, after she began calling him Big Brother, Jack promised the Emperor he would protect her with his life. He had even threatened the Second Prince directly, leading to the botched assassination attempt that ultimately resulted in the Second Prince laying low for nearly a year.Doing her best to prevent the twitching of her eye, Jagoda forced a smile on her face as she said, "It is improper for you to address the Crown Princess in such a manner. Now, to answer your question, it does not appear that the Third Princess was targetted. From what we have been able to deduce, it is highly likely this incident all started from a botched teleportation spell...we shouldn't discuss this outside. Come, I'll explain more on the way to the Palace."Hearing Jagoda's explanation, a thoughtful glimmer flashed across Jack's eyes as he craned his head in the direction of the Coliseum. This caused the Magistrate's complexion to pale slightly, earning an amused chuckle from Jack before he ultimately turned back and said, "Sure. Let's go to the Palace. I wouldn't be called the King of Mercenaries if I did free work, right?"Relieved by Jack's words, Jagoda allowed a rare sigh to escape her lips as she watched him board the Airfish. They still didn't know exactly how strong this mysterious Emperor was, but, after seeing what he had done to the Arena's barrier, they knew he wasn't to be trifled with. Pitting Jack against him in the center of the city could have disastrous consequences, both socially and economically...---Around the same time that Jack boarded the Airfish, Vahn opened his eyes back at the Coliseum with a slight smile on his face. He was honestly impressed by the man's presence, and, at his current level, Vahn was certain their battle would end in the Hero's favor. Though he could guarantee victory if he went all out, Jack's aura, without any enhancements, gave him a Base Power of around 6000. He was known to be a gifted Magic Knight who excelled in both close-quarters combat and the use of long-range armaments. This made Jack an exceptionally powerful combatant, but, what Vahn found most surprising was the fact that an aura similar to Magia Erebea could be felt hidden within his body...Though Jack clearly hadn't mastered it, Vahn would never mistake the identity of someone capable of using Magia Erebea. It was something he was intimately familiar with, so, even if he was good at hiding it, Vahn could still sense the tell-tale fluctuations of Eva's technique. This would explain why Jack was considered Immortal, but, considering how unstable the aura was, Vahn felt it wasn't too long ago that he learned it. Rather, based on the circumstances, Jack seemed to be the person who had awakened Eva's diorama...With a better understanding of how, exactly, he had ended up in the Hellas Empire, Vahn rolled to a seated position, displaying the veritable blanket of Elementals that had piled atop his body. There were now thousands of the little creatures in his room, turning the once-lavish chamber into a small greenhouse. At first, vines had started to grow from small cracks in the Coliseum's structure, but, as the days went by, various other types of flora and some small fauna had begun to inhabit his room.Truth be told, Vahn enjoyed the pleasant atmosphere that permeated the now-desolate region of the Coliseum. Very few people came to bother him unless it was to inform him of his coming match, so it had been relatively peaceful over the last few days, relative being the keyword. As for why, this could be attributed to the silver-haired beauty that was currently sunbathing out on the veranda...Sensing her Master's approach, Medusa's eyelids slowly peeled open, revealing golden pupils that glimmered with affection. Her tail, covered in golden scales, began to lazily snake around amidst her equally lively silver hair. Then, with a somewhat lascivious smile on her face, she asked, "Hoo~? You seem very excited~?"Before Vahn could answer the mischievous snake's words, her hair parted like the red sea, revealing her pert buttocks wrapped in skin-tight, dark-purple, fabric. Her golden tail then curled up gracefully like a cobra that was about to strike, but, instead of appearing intimidating, the end began to wiggle in a playful manner like someone gesturing with their finger...With a 'wolfish' grin spreading across his face, Vahn elicited a girlish 'kyaa~' from Medusa by using his telekinesis to lift her from the ground, pulling her into a princess carry. She took advantage of the close proximity to steal a kiss, her hair coiling around him as if to ensnare him completely. This was a habit she had never been able to break, as the 'snakes' in her hair were simply more honest than the petite Gorgon.After entangling their long and dexterous tongues for the better part of five minutes, Vahn began to feel his body heating up, compelling him to slowly untangle his tongue from hers. This earned him a look of blame from the smiling girl, but, in spite of her pouting, her tail managed to unclasp his belt buckle in a few deft movements. She had become very carnivorous since the time he had summoned her, a stark contrast to the 'patience' she had shown back in the Nasuverse...Vahn would normally be all-for another twelve-hour-long mating session with Medusa, but, with the arrival of Jack, things had gotten a little more complicated. Medusa wasn't like normal girls, so, when they had sex, it was a rather exhaustive process that left her unable to move after the fact. It was very pleasurable, but, due to being constricted for several hours at a time, Vahn had apprehensions about starting anything when there was a chance powerful enemies would come knocking.Though not as sensitive as Fenrir, Medusa was able to understand her Master's intentions, so, with a seductive look in her glimmering golden eyes, she traced her very long tongue along his neck before saying, "There are other ways to have fun without having sex~."Understanding what Medusa had in mind, Vahn's own eyes flickered gold for a brief moment as he carried her over to the bed. Fortunately, for reasons he was still looking into, the Elementals seemed to understand when not to play around. They quickly made a large space on the bed, retreating to the very edges before plopping down like a horde of little voyeurs.Ignoring the admittedly adorable blobs of energy, Vahn set Medusa onto the bed, and, after waiting for her to 'restrain' her hair, he also settled into a comfortable position. Almost immediately after his back hit the bedspread, Medusa's hair had practically 'stolen' his trousers in an instant. Then, while a barrage of tiny snake kisses assaulted most of his body, Medusa extremely long prehensile tongue wrapped around his exposed member like thread on a spool...---During the relatively short flight to the Palace, Jagoda updated Jack on everything they knew about the Sage Dragon Emperor. This included an analysis of his behavioral patterns and an explanation of his reactions to certain stimuli.Though there was an increasing number of incidents attributed to the Dark Evangel, Vahn's actions in the Coliseum hadn't gone unnoticed. There were records of all the Slaves he had freed, the people that had mysteriously disappeared, and the changes that had taken place in the vicinity of his room. There was even a dossier on Medusa, but, as they didn't know her identity, there was little more than a brief overview and a few telescopic images that showed her sunbathing on the veranda.After listening to Jagoda's explanation, Jack had a serious look in his eyes that did little to inhibit the smile on his face. Strong opponents were always welcome to him, but, hearing about Vahn's exploits, he couldn't help but mutter, "So, I'm basically dealing with a bratty lizard who has a Hero Complex..."Hearing Jack refer to Vahn as a 'bratty lizard', Jagoda's expression became a flawless deadpan as she sat silently for several moments before answering, "Basically..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Ultimate Hard Worker','Medusa taking advantage of the alone time with her Master (OwO)...','Bratty lizard xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1539: True Friend of the Elements