Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After teaching the Third Princess how to properly use the bracelet, Vahn spent a bit of time just answering her questions and teaching her about Magic. The diorama had a time dilation of 24:1, so, even if he stayed inside for a few hours, it wouldn't make too much of a difference.Vahn knew the majority of Mages in the Akamatsuverse required a catalyst such as a wand or a staff to properly cast Magic. They were often formed of a magically conductive material and could be further engraved to enhance certain elemental affinities. This allowed specialists to greatly increase their power, but, as a result of using tools their entire lives, most Mages were helpless once they were disarmed.As a member of the Imperial Family, Theo had been drilled on manipulating magical energy without a catalyst from a very young age. This was to ensure she could always defend herself in an emergency, but, due to her nature, she actually had more talent for reinforcement type spells than her actual elements, Light and Lightning. She was the type that would rather beat someone with her own hands and feet, but, due to the education imposed upon her, she was not able to truly shine.Though there was nothing wrong with becoming a Magic-Knight, developing both Magical Power and Ki alongside each other, the Hellas Empire still had dated views on how males and females who behave as members of the Aristocracy. The boys were often given an education related to military strategy, commanding troops, and wielding armaments. The girls, however, were taught to focus on etiquette, diplomacy, and long-range support spells. This might seem like a rather misogynistic system, but the primary purpose was to prevent female Aristocrats from falling into the hands of enemy nations.If a Prince were captured, they would generally be ransomed for a handsome reward before ultimately being returned to their home country. Princesses, however, often experienced far more tragic ends, often becoming mere prizes that were used to flaunt the status of the ones who had been able to capture them. Their treatment was often far worse, as, even if they had a high amount of political value, that only further incentivized enemies to hold onto them in order to pressure and shame the country they had been stolen from.Sadly, much like every Record he had visited thus far, there seemed to be a disparity in the treatment between men and women within the Akamatsuverse. Vahn knew the reasons for this, but that didn't make it any easier to swallow. As a result, he didn't mind teaching Theo a few tricks that just might save her life in the future. He also encouraged her to learn from Jack himself, but, much to his surprise, she rebutted him.According to Theo, Jack was a 'perverted idiot who doesn't know how to explain things in a way other people can understand'. It seemed that she had tried to learn from him a few times, but, in the end, most of his lessons devolved into little more than repetitive exercises and live combat practice. Both of these things were very important for anyone who wanted to become strong, but, due to the vast power disparity, Jack wasn't really qualified to teach others. Most of his training methods also involved forming an armor-like layer of red muscle to protect the body, so, after developing abs and biceps in a very short period of time, Theo decided Jack's training methods simply weren't for her.Despite her tomboyish nature, Theo had been educated as a 'young lady' since birth so she still cared about her appearance. Just the thought of turning into a 'muscled gorilla' like Jack had nearly deterred her from trying to become a Magic Knight, but, after learning about the existence of female Ki Masters, wielding monstrous power despite their petite and flexible frames, she became more motivated.Unfortunately, finding a Ki Master within the Hellas Empire was very difficult as it was infinitely easier to comprehend the mysterious internal energy in areas with limited mana. This meant the most proficient Ki Users typically came from Earth, remaining there until they had finished building their foundation. It was only after they reached the bottleneck faced by nearly every Ki User that they began their pilgrimage to the Magical World.Since it was virtually impossible to find an unaffiliated Master who was also willing to teach their secret techniques to outsiders, learning how to manipulated Ki was no simple feat. It was even harder for someone like Theo, who, as a result of her Hellasian heritage, already had a massive amount of magical power inside her body. This was true for all Hellasians, but, as a member of the Imperial Family, Theo's path was like the proverbial carp attempting to climb a waterfall in order to become a dragon.Fortunately, when it came to internal control, meditation, and even Ki techniques, there were very few people more knowledgeable than Vahn. He had, quite literally, millions of texts that directly related to the topics, and, after a cursory analysis of Theo's constitution and affinities, it was a relatively simple matter to set her on a relatively smooth path. He just needed to give her suitable cultivation, meditation, and breathing techniques. After that, he helped guide the energy in her body so that she could familiarize herself with properly circulating Ki. Everything else would rely on her own efforts, but, with a 24:1 diorama, her potential would undoubtedly blossom in a very short period of time...---After refusing Theo's attempts to get him to remain for a few days, Vahn returned to where he and Medusa were waiting before canceling his manifestation and setting out under the cover of darkness. He had likely changed the fate of the Hellas Empire quite a bit just by cleaning up the Coliseum, boosting Jack's reputation, and teaching Theo how to grow stronger. He would probably need to lend them a hand in the future, but, for the time being, he had set his sights on the most famous location of Mundus Magius: Ostia, Capital of the Vespertatia Kingdom.Though it would probably throw a massive wrench in the canon history, Vahn had never cared about sticking to conventions. He knew the country was ill-fated, having less than three years until its destruction, so there was little sense in just waiting around. It might be better to focus on increasing his strength until the Great Magic War began, but, in that time period, millions of people might die. While this had very little to do with him, Vahn wasn't the type of person that would just sit on the sidelines and allow the innocent to suffer for the sake of some 'plot'.After reaching the fabled kingdom, Vahn intended to look around for a bit to see if he could uncover any of Cosmo Entelecheia's henchmen. There was even a chance he would find their actual base of operations, and, though it would likely be very difficult to just storm the place, it was an absolute advantage knowing where it was. If the members of Ala Rubra had been able to storm the place, the likelihood of them being able to stop him from teleporting around was slim. If he managed to create a spatial anchor to pinpoint the location, there was a fair chance he might even be able to simply 'nuke' the location from hundreds of thousands of kilometers away using his Lightning or Light Emperor raiments.Imagining the looks on his enemies' faces as he bombarded them from a distance they likely had no means to cover, a smile spread across Vahn's face. He rarely 'played fair' when it came to villains, especially those who arbitrarily perpetuated things like slavery and the suppression of species. They likely had some grand ambition or some higher cause, but, regardless of the merit behind their argument, their methods had earned his ire. He might not completely wipe them out, but, if they refused to pursue a less destructive path, Vahn would allow them to feel the helplessness of their victims...---With the Magical World only being around a third the size of Earth, it only took a few hours to fly between the Hellas Empire and the Kingdom of Vespertatia. He could have completed the trip even faster, but, just like back in the Nasuverse, Vahn generally enjoyed flying around. He enjoyed the feeling of the wind passing through his hair, and, with various creatures such as giant birds and even dragons flying around, Mundus Magicus was truly a sight to behold from above.After passing a few places he was interested in touring at some point, such as Elfenhof and Al Jamira, Vahn finally reached the pale-blue shores that denoted the beginning of Vespertatian territory. Here, the concentration of mana was higher than virtually any other region found in the Magical World, and, as a result, Vahn could see countless Elementals frolicking amongst the dense, ruin-pocked, forests. Though there was also the occasional scene of some massive creatures fighting over territory, Vespertatia gave off the impression of a land untouched by the corruptive influence of civilization...Ignoring his urge to just touch down and explore the forest for a couple of days, Vahn set his sights on a rather fantastic sight, even in a place called the Magical World: a series of massive islands floating in the sky. This was the Capital of the Vespertatian Kingdom, an archipelago of floating islands that were collectively known as Ostia, home to millions. It was one of the few places where you could find humans and demihumans coexisting without any racial tensions, as, due to the limited living space, Ostia was very selective about who could reside there.Vahn found the idea of separating civilization and nature in this manner to be a rather novel idea. Not only was it an awe-inspiring sight to behold, but, perhaps due to the limitations that came with governing such a nation, the islands were exceptionally peaceful. Though they had a military, the main focus of Vespertatia was on magical research, academics, and reclaiming lost arts through archeological surveys and the analysis of ancient relics...---After passing largely undetected through the various barriers that surrounded the series of floating islands, Vahn found a relatively discreet location to touch down. Flight magic wasn't particularly rare in Mundus Magicus, but, unless you had something like a broom or a unique artifact, you would stand out quite a bit. Since Ostia was a relatively restricted area, they had very strict policies regarding who entered and exited the city. Customs officials in the form of Valkyrie-like Knights were constantly on patrol for any suspicious individuals, walking around with rather futuristic devices that could identify a person from their magic signature. This was a countermeasure against Transformation, Disguise, and other forms of Magic that were well-suited to things like espionage.Though their policies seemed unnecessarily strict, it wasn't difficult to understand the reason behind their caution when you imagined the aftermath of massive islands falling from the sky. Ostia was effectively a collection of giant meteors that made the one that killed the Dinosaurs seem small in comparison. They may only float around 5km above the surface, but that was more than enough to trigger a devastating mass-extinction event. This was one of the reasons that Ostia was able to act as a mediator in several conflicts, as, not only did they possess some of the strongest magic users in the world, but, even if you could fight them, the consequences were, potentially, 'very' devastating.Seeing the islands for himself, Vahn could easily understand why Arika, the future Queen of Vespertatia, had chosen to crash land Ostia into the continental shelf. Though this earned her the title of 'Queen of Calamity', it prevented Cosmo Entelecheia from completing their main objective while also ensuring that Ostia could never be used as a weapon. It was something very few would be able to pull off in her position, and, if not for the fact she had effectively turned her entire population into slaves, Vahn would have had a great deal of respect for the woman who was undoubtedly one of the Record's heroines...---As Medusa stood out quite a bit, Vahn had split into two forms, one idling about in the forests of Vespertatia as his main body explored the magical city. He noticed that people used Magic for virtually everything in Ostia, be it lighting, climate control, and waste management. There was even a network of interconnected formations that spanned the entirety of the city, making it impossible to enter certain places unless you had permission to. This made it even harder to infiltrate without first passing through Customs, but, after changing his appearance to one of the sleeping residents, Vahn was able to trespass freely. He didn't know what would happen if the formations detected the same person in two separate locations, but, regardless of what happened, he would be able to escape.Using his borrowed form, Vahn walked through the neatly maintained streets that were lined with large buildings, some more than twenty-stories tall. Space was limited on Ostia so most buildings, including the monstrous palace complex located on its own personal island, were built to occupy more space vertically than horizontally. They were constructed from a type of white stone that appeared to be some kind of magically reinforced concrete. This would have given the city a very 'samey' appearance, so, to offset this, various types of plants were grown in, on, and around each structure.Seeing how neatly maintained everything was, combined with how polite and respectful the citizens were in passing, Vahn's first impressions of Ostia were quite high. It might feel a little bit stuffy, especially with vigilant patrols constantly gliding between the buildings, but the vast majority of residents seemed truly happy. He hadn't seen a single instance of a stable human and demihuman family in the Hellas Empire, but, here in Ostia, it seemed common. This was likely due to many couples migrating to Ostia after falling in love, turning the city into a haven for those who were unfairly ostracized by their home countries.Though Ostia undoubtedly had its fair share of problems, population and resources being the two most notable, it was easily the most progressive nation prior to the Great Magic War. This made it worth protecting, so, after spending more than an hour just watching people happily go about their lives, Vahn began making his way toward the larger of the Palaces located near the westernmost region of Ostia. There were more than a dozen total palatial structures, but, as was often the case, Vahn assumed the largest belonged to the reigning Queen, Anarchia Entheofushia, the sickly mother of the future queen, Arika Anarchia Entheofushia.The Ostian Royal Family was a matriarchal lineage that had developed the habit of naming their Descendents in accordance with their ancestral Matriarchs. This meant that, as the future Queen of Vespertatia, Arika inherited the name of her mother and grandmother. Her firstborn daughter would then inherit her name, and, until the line of succession branched, this would continue regardless of how many names a person inherited. Vahn found this to be more than a little 'excessive', but, as his own Empire had quite a few unique traditions, he decided not to judge...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Theo about to become the new protagonist','Vahn actually managed to avoid stopping over at a country of Elves!?','Imagine a ninth-generation Queen ('o .o)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Seeing a reddish-black inferno sweeping through the Arena was enough to leave even the most die-hard fans of the Coliseum in stunned silence. To many, it was like witnessing the end of the world, and, if not for the hundreds of Mages reinforcing the barrier, those closest would have been feeling more than just an oppressive aura.From within one of the highly protected viewing booths that were reserved for members of the Imperial Family, one member of the audience was fretting more than the rest. More than almost anyone else in the Empire, she believed in Rakan's strength, so, seeing the massive vortex of flames, a layer of moisture had covered her eyes as she turned to the old man next to her and said, "You have to help him! Please...!"Hearing the earnest plea of the young girl, the old man stopped stroking his chin, turning to her with a gentle smile as he said, "That man will not die so easily, Princess. Have a little bit of faith. You know he would tease you if he saw you with tears in your eyes..."Despite his words, the old man, Vrixho Nagasha, felt that things weren't looking too good for Rakan. The flames swirling in the arena were unlike anything he had ever seen before, dealing magical, physical, and, most frighteningly of all, spiritual damage. Those who had suffered an attack on their spirit had a much harder time recovering than normal, and, in many cases, they could outright lose the will to live. It was one of the most painful experiences imaginable, not something you would ever expect to see from someone loved by the Spirits...Though her worries weren't abated, Theo used the back of her sleeve to wipe away the tears and snot from her face as she complained, "I'm not crying...that idiot doesn't even know the meaning of death...I would never worry about him..."As if in response to her words, the flames within the Arena rapidly contracted like an inverted explosion. Then, after converging for a few seconds, creating a fiery tornado that extended to the clouds above, they spontaneously dissipated. What she saw when the fire cleared left the deepest possible impression in Theo's, the audience's, and even Vrixho's hearts, as, near the very center of the Arena, Rakan, body still smoldering, could be seen holding up his fist with a smile on his face...---Seeing the charred-black man clinging to life with the fervor of an Asura, one member of the audience, accompanied by a woman with exceptionally long hair, couldn't help but smile as he mused, "The combination of Willpower and Fate is terrifying..."Though his appearance had changed quite drastically, with rathe a rather wild hairstyle, two pointed ears, and a bushy tail, the man was none other than Vahn. He hadn't actually left the Coliseum after his final attack as there were still a few things he intended to accomplish in the Capital. He was also genuinely curious about whether or not Rakan could survive, so, after a quick change of both appearance and aura, he doubled back to pick up Medusa and witness the man's moment of triumph directly.Having heard her Master's words, Medusa nodded her head in agreement, the venomous look in her eyes fading slightly as she remarked, "He has a long way to go before reaching Master's level, but he is closer than most. He will be useful in the future..."Finding his companion's words rather curious, Vahn raised his brow before giving her an inquisitive look out of the corner of his eye. She had become increasingly more calculating since her time in the Nasuverse, and, based on her words, it wasn't difficult to imagine she would gladly try and manipulate others on his behalf. This wasn't really necessary, of course, but it was something to keep in mind since it seemed like her personality was taking a slightly dangerous turn...Taking advantage of the fact most people had gone completely ballistic with their cheering, Vahn, closely accompanied by Medusa, alighted from the Coliseum. He had sensed both the Third Princess and her escort, so, while Jack was virtually on death's door, Vahn didn't have to worry about him. The Magical World even had a few methods to revive the recently deceased so there was little chance the indomitable man, wielder of a powerful fate, would succumb to the machinations of some corrupt Prince...Confident in his assessment, Vahn, disguised as a Vanargandr, made his way to one of the few places that had garnered his interest over the last few weeks: the Warrior's Theater. He didn't particularly care about signing up to become an Adventurer or a Mercenary, but, considering it was one of the best places to obtain information, stopping by was only sensible.Though he had a considerable amount of knowledge pertaining to the history of the Magical World, there were some things that were simply never mentioned in historical texts. It was all but impossible to find any accurate accounts regarding Cosmos Entelecheia and the Mage of the Beginning. His presence also irreversibly altered the flow of fate, so, even if he decided to simply watch things play out, there were absolutely no guarantees things would adhere to the original timeline.Even toward the end of his battle against Jack, Vahn could sense the man's strength gradually increasing. This battle would undoubtedly lead to him becoming demonstrably stronger than he should have been in the canon timeline so there was no way of knowing what he would be able to accomplish. He might even rise up to become Emperor in the future, though, based on what Vahn could tell, the man seemed to have more of a Martyr's mentality than that of an Emperor...---Passing through the doors of a building with a strangely bulbous structure, Vahn ignored the glances of the various Mercenaries and Adventurers within. The way he carried himself was more than enough to deter the majority from trying seeking trouble, and, despite her rather adorable appearance, Medusa's aura gave people the impression of staring into the maw of a snake that was about to sink its fangs into your neck.Seeing the two new faces, a man who looked like a bipedal bull wearing a bartending outfit craned his head to the side and asked, "Come to register or issue a bounty?"Drawing a considerable amount of attention to himself, Vahn dropped an open pouch onto the counter. It was filled to the brim with silver and platinum coins known as Drachma, one of the primary currencies within Mundus Magicus. The values fluctuated quite a bit, especially in the period of time preceding and following a war, but the basic value ranged from 1~10,000, increasing in increments of 10 from bronze, iron, silver, gold, and platinum.Seeing the shimmering pile of coins, the bull-faced man hardened his expression as he glared toward the greedier people in the bar before turning his gaze to Vahn and saying, "There is a fine line between boldness and stupidity...Even if you're confident in your strength, you would be remiss to underestimate the greed of the desperate. Now, out with it. Don't tell me you just came here to show off in front of your girl...?"Ignoring the man's comment about boldness and stupidity, Vahn plainly stated, "Give me all the information you have pertaining to the Dark Evangel and any A-Rank threats both local and abroad. I also want everything you have related to dungeons and ruins, specifically those that are more than a five-hundred-years old."Hearing the man ask about the Dark Evangel, the broker decided that Vahn was just another fool who would find an early death in their search for fame. These types appeared every now and again, but, as it had nothing to do with him, the broker deftly scooped up the coin purse and said, "Give me a few minutes. We'll have everything out to you after confirming whether or not this currency is legitimate."Towards the end of his words, the broker poured two shots of an expensive bourbon before leaving the bottle on the table, adding, "Special service." as he disappeared into the back of the establishment.Not worried about the drink being poisoned, Vahn threw back the shot in a single motion. As for Medusa, she tentatively smelled the aroma coming from the shot glass before poking her tongue out and almost immediately retracting it. As a Gorgon, she had an especially sensitive tongue so she had never been fond of alcohol, much less the poor-quality bourbon that had been brought out as a 'special service'.Finding Medusa's reaction adorable, Vahn smiled as he lightly ruffled her hair. Then, before the men walking up behind him could speak, he said, "Go easy on them..." in a tone that was audible to the entire room.From beneath the mantle concealing Medusa's hair and body, more than a dozen silvery-white snakes stuck out like bolts of lightning, striking the three ruffians before they could utter a single syllable. Their bodies were immediately paralyzed, dropping to the ground like sacks of potatoes. One was even unfortunate enough to land face-first, completely shattering his nose as blood began to pool beneath him.Though the three men weren't exactly the strongest among them, even the most powerful Mercenaries in the bar could barely see the afterimages of Medusa's attack. Some couldn't even tell what kind of attack she used, instantly quelling any desire they had to try their own luck.After scanning the bodies of the men and confirming their lives weren't in jeopardy, Vahn gave an approving nod before saying, "Well done. If possible, try and avoid killing unless you feel as though your life is in danger. I'd rather dirty my hands than see yours stained with the blood of fools..."Enjoying the caress of her Master, a happy smile spread across Medusa's face as she rubbed her head against his palm. She would have actually preferred to inflict the men with one of her more potent poisons, but, knowing her Master disliked 'unnecessary' cruelty, she did her best to restrain the urge. As for his comment about not killing unless her life was in danger, it wasn't something she would take to heart. If there was an enemy that deserved killing, such as those who insulted her Master, she would not hesitate to give them a miserable end...---With three paralyzed bodies serving as a deterrent, things were relatively peaceful until the bull-faced man returned. When he saw the trio collapsed on the ground, his face formed into a frown, but, instead of commenting on it, he just handed over a literal crate full of journals, scrolls, and a special kind of crystal that stored information of various bounties.Picking up the crystal, Vahn infused a thread of energy into it, smiling as he saw various three-dimensional monsters projected into thin air. It was a curious fusion of magic and technology, but, compared to the terminals developed by Da Vinci, it was a little lackluster. Still, it had all the information pertaining to the monster's ecology, known habitat, and, most importantly for aspiring Mercenaries, their bounties.After tossing the crystal into his Inventory, earning an inquisitive look from the broker, Vahn asked, "What about the information on the Dark Evangel? I heard she has been seen in this area?"Hearing Vahn's words, the bull-faced man dug into the crate full of documents, pulling out a dossier that was thicker than an encyclopedia as he explained, "This is everything pertaining to the Dark Evangel that has been collected over the last fifty years. You probably won't listen to my advice, but you shouldn't set your sights so high. Read through this information very carefully before you try and track down that monster. Thousands have walked this path before you, none accomplishing anything more than increasing the body count..."Vahn didn't appreciate the man referring to Eva as a monster, but, as that was generally how most people thought of her, he suppressed his animosity. Though the man had a muted grey aura, he gave off the impression of someone who hated seeing people waste their lives. Since his current appearance made him look relatively young, mostly to match Medusa, the broker's intentions could be considered benevolent.Forcing a smile, Vahn gave a polite nod to the broker before stowing the entire crate into his Inventory and saying, "I'll keep your words in mind. Don't worry, while the Dark Evangel is my penultimate goal, I don't imagine our paths would cross too soon. Thanks for the information. You can keep the change as my gratitude for the special service."Without waiting for the man's response, Vahn turned on his heels and casually made his way outside. He had completed his objective, so, after one last stop, he would depart the Capital and be on his way. Mundus Magicus might only be around a third the size of the Earth, but it was still a vast land with large regions of unexplored territory. If the opportunity presented, he would venture into some of the ancient ruins that dotted the landscape. Some of these places contained powerful relics, and, though they were likely worse than anything he could forge, it would still be useful to collect them.At this point in his ventures, Vahn's primary goal would be to increase his prestige and create a name for himself within the international community. There were quite a number of people who would be willing to grant him a favor if he handed over some lost relics from the ancient civilizations that had fallen into obscurity. Eva, in particular, liked to collect such things, so, at the very least, Vahn could begin preparing his apology in advance.Though he would like to assume everything will go smoothly, Vahn knew how prideful and cautious Eva could be. It took literal decades for her Memory Fragment to truly open up to him, and that was only after a few drastic actions on his part. The 'real' Eva was bound to be even more closed off than her counterpart in the orb, so, even with [Magia Erebea], she might not open up to him. Rather, there was a fair chance their first encounter would involve a great deal of bloodshed, even if he didn't put up any resistance at all.Shaking his head, Vahn decided there was no sense in worrying about his reunion with Eva until it had come to pass. Even if he had to suffer a bit, it was inconsequential compared to the thousands of years she had tolerated him. There was even a chance he could avoid a fight by simply allowing her to view his memories. Once he could convince her of his sincerity, it was only a matter of time before her icy facade began to melt away, revealing the lonely girl that desperately sought the companionship of others...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Birth of the God of Perseverance','When a currency has no meaning to you xD...','Eva is going to thrash this boy into next century')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1544: Fate, Empathy, or...?