Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

On an artificial island constructed entirely of ice, five figures were seated within the void. These were Vahn, Eva, Fenrir, Theo, and, as she often tagged along with her Mistress, Chachazero. They had gathered to witness the climactic battle between Arika and Asuna. This was meant to be the latter's 'graduation', and, despite only being around eleven-years-old, Asuna was actually the one pressuring Arika...After fighting for more than twenty minutes, the enchanted pink gown that made Arika look both graceful and elegant had become tattered in several places. Despite this, she actually looked even more beautiful, not just because of the smile on her face, but because her garb now complemented the rather peculiar weapon she swung around gracefully with both hands.Though she had deadpanned the first time she called upon it, Arika had grown increasingly fond of her Zanpakuto ever since she awakened it. It had the appearance of a shattered two-handed sword, but, instead of a normal handle, it had integrated a magical staff that greatly enhanced her magical capabilities. The only reason she had disliked it was due to its appearance, but, much like the old adage, looks could be 'very' deceiving.Once she learned how powerful it was, Arika's became very fond of the fragmented blade, and over the last few months, even the way she carried herself had gradually begun to change. She had been mellowing out for quite a while, but, ever since she learned the name of her Zankapkuto, 'Kossetsu-shi-ta-Hokori', literally translating to 'Fractured Pride', she seemed to take it as a wake-up call. As a result, she had been treating people better, and, though she wasn't exactly outgoing, she wasn't the same cold beauty she forced herself to be in front of others...Showing off one of the more unique aspects of her Zanpakuto, Arika infused a phenomenal amount of magic power into the fractured blade. As a result, a blade of purified elemental erupted from the broken blade, extending to more than a hundred meters as she swept it toward the equally fierce as she was petite, Asuna.The blade looked like it could sever the horizon, splitting Heaven from Earth, but, without paying it much mind, Asuna released an invisible pulse of energy that caused the blade of light to simply 'dissipate' the moment it came near her.Though she knew of her cousin's ability to negate magic, as the latter continually made use of the ability, Arika couldn't help but click her tongue slightly as she attempted to block Asuna's charge...Despite her own Zanpakuto appearing as a tiny black Tanto, the force behind Asuna's blows was terrifying, to say the least. Not only did she completely shattered Arika's barriers just by being near her, but, despite the fact she was only 125cm tall, weighing less than 25kg, Asuna's blow sent Arika smashing into the icy plateau below with meteoric force.Taking advantage of the brief moment when Arika was embedded in the ice, Asuna shouted in a high-pitched, excited, tone, "Do it now, guys~!"In response to Asuna's outburst, a 'platoon' of blue, white, and black globules of elemental energy gave cutesy salutes. Immediately thereafter, the ice and snow began to swirl like a tempest around the location of Arika's impact. It took less than three seconds for a massive tornado that was more than a hundred meters across to form, the interior temperature rapidly decreasing to around -200 degrees Celsius.Though Asuna had gradually lost the ability to use external magic, she had never lost the ability to see Nascent Elementals. Rather, her affinity with the Spirits had increased by association with Vahn, so, as part of her training, Asuna had learned how to directly communicate with them, ignoring the need for a contract. This was a truly enviable ability, and, other than higher-tiered Spirits, Vahn and Asuna were two of the only people capable of achieving such a feat.At this point, Asuna was the closest thing to a true protege Vahn had ever had, as, despite being a Master, an Advisor, and a Teacher, he generally observed and guided his students' growth without interfering too much. Asuna, however, had earnestly wanted to learn his techniques, and, due to her prodigious nature, he ended up teaching her a lot more than he originally intended...After a few minutes had passed, the tornado gradually faded away to reveal a twisted-column of vibrant bluish-white ice. At the very center, as if she had been frozen in both space and time, Arika could be seen mid-charge, her expression clear and calm as she seemed to gaze directly at Asuna floating above.Seeing the fighting spirit in her cousin's eyes, Asuna inhaled deeply before kicking up a large cloud of condensation as she exhaled. The smile on her face gradually faded away, replaced by a dull and distant look in her eyes as she raised Kyo high in the sky. Before she could strike down, however, a series of magic circles seemed to blossom from the void, surprising her slightly as, instead of trying to affect her directly, they began to form a vacuum.Instinctually choosing to conserve her magical and spiritual energy, a hazy white mist began to rise from Asuna's body as a thin trickle of blood flowed from her nose. She wasn't completely immune to the rapid decrease in pressure, but, despite feeling slightly dizzy, her mind was calm and focused as she deftly cut through the surrounding magic circles. This caused a powerful implosion, but, long before it could affect her, Asuna dropped towards the pillar of ice like a bolt of lightning, landing on the periphery with her sword angled in the motion of a slash...After taking a few breaths to steady herself, Asuna did her best to stand, but, having lost all feeling in them, her legs were completely unresponsive. This was a little unfortunate, as she had wanted to strike a cool pose after finishing her technique. Instead, she was stuck kneeling on the ground, lines of blood trickling from her eyes, ears, and nose as a thunderous cracking sound resonated through the icy plateau.Though she still had a long way to go, Asuna was already at the Master level in swordsmanship, so, in response to her grazing blow, the entire pillar of ice was ultimately bisected. The ambient sword energy prevented the two halves from sticking together, so, after the initial cracking sound, the two pieces began to fall away from each other. At the same time, a line gradually appeared on Arika's shoulder, and, as if she had several times more blood than a normal human, a massive red crescent was formed as blood erupted from the wound.Despite having a wound that would cause a normal person to 'split' apart, Arika was able to remain standing, her magical energy forming threads that bound her flesh together as she used powerful healing magic to mend it. This left Asuna with a wry smile on her face, especially when she saw the massive grin on her older cousin's...Using all the strength the could muster, Asuna managed to rise to an awkward squatting position, but, before she could take a step forward, Arika used an unnamed magic spell to manipulate the surrounding ice and snow directly. Since it wasn't a magical attack, Asuna's [Magic Cancel] did little to protect her. As a result, she ended up buried under a few meters of ice and snow as Arika, feeling anemic, collapsed backward with a satisfied smile on her face...---From within the comfort of Vahn's comfortable lap and warm embrace, Eva gave an approving nod, stating, "The only thing Asuna is lacking at this point is experience and resolve. If she had properly followed instructions, she would have been able to defeat Arika with that final blow. She held back and ended up paying the price for underestimating her foe..it seems you have been too soft on her, Vahn."With his arms loosely wrapped around Eva's waist, Vahn casually shook his head, nearly dislodging Chachazero from her favorite perch. Then, with an appreciative smile on his face, Vahn firmly stated, "Asuna is a kind-hearted girl. If she never has to kill, I would feel greatly vindicated as her Master. It takes very little effort to reap the life of another...having the power to take a life, and choosing not to, is a lot harder..."Hearing Vahn's words, Eva couldn't help but roll her eyes before leaning back against his chest and saying, "Sparing an enemy is the same as inviting misfortune upon yourself and the people you care about..."Rather than refute her words, Vahn gave a slow nod before saying, "You're not wrong...however, my words still ring true. The only way to sever the cycle of hatred in the world is to display compassion and understanding to allies and enemies alike. Even if you possess overwhelming power, people will always oppose your rule if you use force...peace is derived from the willingness of those in power to compromise with their enemies. If you make an effort to understand the wants, needs, and desires of your people, you can prevent most conflicts..."Though she could understand the grains of truth contained within Vahn's words, Eva still shook her head, quietly muttering, "There will always be outliers who revel in the pain and suffering of others. Even if you could provide people with limitless resources, they would never be completely satisfied. So long as things like Greed, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth, Envy, Wrath, Pride, and Apathy exist, the conflicts will never cease..."Hearing the melancholy in Eva's words, Vahn held her slender figure a little tighter as he said, "True enough...however, so long as there is an intrinsic desire within all people to find happiness, the path we walk remains the correct one. The moment people like us lose faith, even greater tragedies will be wrought in the wake of our 'apathy'...imagine a world where good people just gave up the fight for a better future...the innocent will suffer the most..."Feeling Vahn's warmth flowing into her body, Eva released an slightly exasperated sigh, but, as she was preparing her response, Theo was the one to ask, "How long are we going to keep sitting here? Asuna is still buried in the snow and I'm a little worried that Arika has lost too much blood. Magic doesn't treat anemia, you know...!?"Giving Theo a look as if she was a complete idiot, Eva pointedly stated, "Who taught you something like that? Light Magic might only mend wounds but true Healing Magic repairs damaged tissue by drastically increasing the rate of cell division. This incites the replenishment of red and white blood cells, so, as long as she has magic power, Arika can easily heal the majority of wounds and ailments. Have you somehow become dumber over the last four years...?"In response to Eva's relatively harsh words, Theo just rubbed the back of her head, a wide smile on her face as she released a cutesy 'tehehehe~'. This caused Eva's eye to twitch quite a bit, but, before she was able to exacerbate the situation, Vahn interjected, firmly stating, "Eva."Though she wasn't completely cowed, Eva deflated slightly in response to Vahn's words, her head lowering almost instinctually as she shrunk in his arms. A lot could change in four years, and, after spending night after night perusing through Vahn's memories and having dozens of heart-to-heart conversations, it was pretty easy to incite her guilt. She had been making a sincere effort to try and be nicer to people, but, whenever she got frustrated, she was still prone to saying things she would later regret...---After retrieving Asuna from the snow and checking Arika's shoulder, the entire group, including Eva and Xiao Bai, were relaxing together in the hazy green waters of the onsen. The latter had a childish personality, so, after spending enough time around him, even Eva had dropped her guard around him. Though she insisted he transform into his tiger cub form, he didn't particularly mind since he enjoyed swimming around in the murky water with a contented smile on his face.Over the last few months, it had become common for everyone to take a bath together. The only exceptions to this rule were Zhuque and Qinglong, the former of which had an aversion to water while the latter had been guarding the diorama after a would-be assassin managed to breach the perimeter and sneak into Theo's room. It was fortunate that the diorama had basically become a world at this point, so, despite their efforts to try and break it from the outside, the only thing the assassin managed to do was alert Vahn to their presence.As a Mage capable of producing a Phantasmagoria, a world based on memories, Eva was adept at peering into the minds of others to obtain information. They quickly discovered who had sent the assassin, but, despite his willingness to deal with the problem, Theo insisted that the matter be left to her. She might have given into her deviancy in private, but, when it came to her official duties as an Ambassador and future Empress, she became exceptionally serious.Though the assassin had seemingly been sent by her older brother, Theo was confident that he was being used by their Great Uncle, the Grand Duke. She wouldn't forgive either of them, but she knew her Great Uncle was the principal corrupting force on her brother. He had even tried to meddle with her in the past, so, now that she had become one of the strongest people in the entire world, Theo was determined to handle the affairs of her family personally...Since the time of their separation was fast approaching, Eva, Arika, Fenrir, and even Asuna allowed Vahn to pamper Theo quite a bit. Though they could meet whenever they wanted, as Vahn could literally move Theo to his side using Unit Management, her randomly disappearing in the middle of the night would cause quite a number of problems. Thus, unless it was an emergency, Theo would be handling matters within her own country until Cosmo Entelecheia had been exposed. With that in mind, Theo, sanctioned by even Eva, had been behaving as spoiled as she possibly could, at least when she wasn't training.Currently, wearing nothing but a black collar around her neck, Theo was enjoying having her body and hair washed by Vahn. Unfortunately, due to the presence of Asuna, she couldn't have him wash her directly, but, as Vahn was able to manipulate the water to swirl around her body in an incredibly comfortable manner, Theo was enjoying herself quite a bit. It wasn't comparable to his direct touch, but, knowing there was plenty of time for them to 'play' around later that evening, Theo decided to just focus on enjoying the moment. The only time her voice escaped was when Vahn scrubbed the interior ridges of her horns, an especially sensitive area that caused her lower body to twinge quite a bit ever time he ran his fingers across their surface...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Asuna is quite the bully xD...','The truest tragedy is when good people stand by and do nothing...','Theo is a good girl (UwU)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though it was nice to just sit back and relax at times, Vahn rarely actually slept. Even if he stayed in bed at night, emulating sleep, his mind was always constantly active. Using multiple vessels took a fair amount of focus, so, in many ways, it was the only time of day where he could just stop, think, and reflect on his actions.Ever since arriving in the Akamatsuverse, Vahn's evenings had been 'relatively' peaceful. He had the privilege of sneaking off to spend time with Fenrir and Medusa while he sat in his office back at the Academy, and, if he was really stressed out, he could always retreat into his Realm, spending literal years inside if necessary.Though this could be blamed for his 'oversight' regarding Arika and Theo, as he would downplay their actions after spending weeks, or even months, back in his Realm, but, overall, it allowed him ample time to contemplate his decisions. This gave him the appearance of a very resolute, focused, and stable person back in the Akamatsuverse, but, despite all his experiences, there were still times when Vahn could get flustered.Unlike most nights, where he would share one bed with Eva, another with Fenrir and Asuna, and the final with Arika and Theo, Vahn found himself in the precarious position of sharing a room with just Theo. Arika had come to sleep in the room he shared with Fenrir and Asuna, and, somewhat against expectations, Eva had given him permission to do whatever he wanted. Normally, this was her way of telling him she wanted to do something intimate, but, this time around, she wasn't talking about herself...Opening the door to the room he generally shared with Arika and Theo, Vahn found quite the sight waiting for him. The latter, a stark contrast to her usual nakedness, was wearing pure white lingerie that perfectly complimented her healthy brown skin. To further exacerbate matters, the design was of the intricate lace variety, and, having memorized his 'preferences', she even wore matching lace stockings with a garter belt...After running his eyes up Theo's healthy body, admiring her taut and athletic figure, Vahn saw the only contrasting garment on her entire body. Everything else was completely white, but, around her neck, a stylish black collar with his initials embossed on the inside stood out quite a bit. It was a gift he had given her for her twenty-second birthday after, once again, asking if there was anything she wished for. Now, she was a little over twenty-five years old, and, after more than five years together, their relationship had evolved in a number of ways...Seeing Vahn's gaze settle on her collar, a beaming smile spread across Theo's face as she politely folded her hands, lowering her forehead to the bed from a kneeling position as she said, "Welcome back, Master."Hearing Theo's greeting, a moderately wry smile spread across Vahn's face as he closed, and locked, the door behind him. It was unlikely things would develop to the point of them having sex, for quite a number of reasons, that didn't mean things wouldn't get intense. Theo might not be comparable to someone like Anubis, but, considering the latter was hundreds-of-millions of years old, it wasn't really a fair comparison to make...Without answering Theo's greeting, Vahn made his way over to the edge of the bed before gently raising her face with his right hand. He could see the expectation and 'trust' contained within her sapphire blue eyes, softening Vahn's expression as he began to affectionately caress her cheek. In response to this, Theo dutifully rubbed against his palm, behaving much like a cat as she mewled in a sensuous tone, "Master's hand is so warm~."---As she had been restraining herself ever since the revelation of Eva's true form, Theo had a lot of pent of frustrations and desires that needed releasing. She had developed a bit of a service-minded mentality, but, more than anything else, she enjoyed obedience and discipline plays. Though it was a strange sight to behold, Vahn had watched her evolve from a tomboyish princess to a burgeoning woman who, at times, would eagerly emulate various animals. She also enjoyed being teased quite a bit, so, after a session of 'very' heavy petting, things rapidly developed in the most rewarding way for someone like Theo.Now bereft of her bra, allowing her rather shapely and beautiful breasts to hang freely, Theo found herself bound to the headboard with a blindfold covering her eyes. The most compromising part of her current position, however, was the fact that her ankles were bound to the same headboard. She was quite flexible, allowing her to maintain the posture without too much discomfort, but it was still an 'extremely' compromising position for a future Empress to be in. Despite this, she was breathing rather heavily, and, if not for the porous gag in her mouth, she wouldn't have been able to hide the smile on her face.Though he wasn't really a sadist, Vahn had never been shy when it came to fulfilling the desires of the people he cared about. Theo had endeared herself to him quite a bit, so, even if it caused him a bit of discomfort, he had come to enjoy the sonorous cries and moans during their little plays. Thus, rather than display any kind of aversion, he had a fascinated smile as he used a silvery-white feather to tickle her abdomen and the exposed section between her panties and stockings.Rather than use a normal feather, the object in Vahn's hand was actually a Unique rank item called a [Tantalizing Pinion]. It had the function of drastically increasing sensitivity, and, while not as potent as his [Hands of Nirvana], the effect was virtually irresistible. He had even gotten yelps out of Arika and Eva in the past, and, though it had earned him panda eyes, Vahn didn't regret his actions.The 'scariest' thing about the [Tantalizing Pinion], as its name implied, was that it 'tormented and teased a target without ever giving them release'. In other words, even if he used the tip to tease Theo's nipples, abdomen, or clitoris, she would never be able to climax from it. Instead, she would only grow increasingly sensitive, her legs trembling madly as she began to pull at her bindings in a vain attempt to find release.Fortunately, Vahn wasn't actually a sadist, so, the moment he noticed Theo's excitement begin to transition into genuine frustration, he dutifully rewarded her patience. This was the reason behind the trust in her eyes, as, even if she allowed herself to fall further into her deviancy, Theo knew she would always be safe in his care. He was very attentive to her wants and needs, and, whenever she felt like things were becoming unbearable, the amount of pleasure and relief that followed was well worth the wait.Noticing Theo was approaching her limit, causing the exceptionally durable bed to creak under the strain of her brute force, Vahn set aside the [Tantalizing Pinion] before gingerly placing his palm on her abdomen. This caused her to turn statuesque in an instant, her agonized moans ceasing as she released labored breaths through her nose, her blindfolded eyes 'staring' towards where his hand had made contact.Due to her own insistence, Vahn, as the 'Master', had trained Theo's body to the point that, without his permission, it was very difficult for her to climax. Inversely, the moment he gave her 'permission', her body would eagerly respond, so, after waiting for her to regulate her breathing, Vahn stated in a firm tone, "Hold it..."Following his command, Vahn put a bit of pressure into his middle finger and ring fingers, pressing into the lower part of Theo's abdomen. Rather than stimulate a traditional pressure point, however, he was massaging the muscle and tissue above her womb. Though he would never use it against a 'normal' person, Vahn had further researched the phenomenon of 'lockpicking' alongside Luvia and Da Vinci. As a result, he had learned how to 'train' the uterus to be more sensitive without needing to use Nirvana Rebirth to restructure it completely.Further increasing Theo's sensitivity, the latter, after finding out about the benefits of becoming his subordinate, requested that he use his Unit Modification to alter some of her preferences. He would normally refuse such a request, but, after talking about it a number of times and giving her a whole year to think about it, Theo still wanted to experience it. She had come up with a rather profound excuse, saying, "It is the privilege of the Submissive to be changed and sculpted by their Master..."In the end, Vahn only acquiesced to Theo's plea after discussing the matter with Eva and taking a long break inside of his Realm. This gave him plenty of time to think about the peculiarities of his relationship with Theo, ultimately accepting his 'responsibility' as her Master. She had already had her collar for nearly two years by then, so, even if he wanted to try and deescalate things, it was a little too late. There was also the fact that Theo, according to Eva, was a 'hopeless idiot who knew what she wanted better than most'...With the indirect stimulation to her uterus, Theo's jaw began to quiver madly as she did her best to repress her urge to climax. At this point, she had reached a state where it felt like she was 'stuck' in a perpetual yet unsatisfying climax, a frustrating sensation similar to a leaky catheter. Despite this, she dutifully persisted, her face flushing madly as Vahn's fingers slowly crawled down her abdomen, tracing the line of her panties. Then, as if finding a breach in her defenses, his startlingly hot fingers began to slowly descend, her breathing ceasing entirely as her toes curled in anticipation...After slowly tracing his hand across Theo's smooth and unbelievably moist slit, Vahn gently probed her labium with his middle finger, stopping at the first joint. They had never advanced to the point of intravaginal play, deciding to wait until they became an official couple before crossing that line. This was for the best, as, when he got serious, Vahn's foreplay, alone, could leave a woman feeling impassioned for hours. It wouldn't matter how many times he made them climax, as, after having sex for the first time, they would rarely be satisfied until he had released himself inside them a few times.Though he didn't probe very deeply, it was more than enough to reach the most sensitive part of Theo's entire body, the tiny veiled bead hiding near the top. Before contacting it, however, he used his thumb to press into the pressure point between her abdomen and mons pubis. Then, in a firm yet guiding tone, he commanded, "Cum."The moment she heard his words, Theo's back attempted to arch, but, due to her wrists and ankles being bound to the headboard, she didn't get very far. It was more than enough for his finger to come into direct with her clitoris, however, so, before the first wave even hit her, a powerful surge of 'electricity' ran through her body as a tremendous volume of intravaginal fluid 'erupted' from her inflamed mound. It had enough force to cause a small spritz through her stained white panties, and, though it wasn't his first time seeing her 'squirt', Vahn was still mildly surprised by the intensity...Waiting until Theo's mad twitching turned into a rhythmic undulation, Vahn unfastened the clasp that kept her gag in place, allowing her to sonorously cry, "Maahshtaaa~" as a fair amount of drool ran down the corner of her lips. She instinctually extended her tongue out, probing at empty air as her body continued to drown in a seemingly endless surge of pleasure. Her training ensured that she would continue climaxing for several minutes, only stopping after she had lost consciousness or when he had given his permission.Rather than fishing for a kiss, Theo was actually looking for 'proof' that she had done well, so, with a calm smile on his face, Vahn inserted the index and middle fingers of his right hand into her mouth. His hand was completely soaked with her love juices, and, in response to their taste, Theo began to eagerly lap them up, licking every nook and cranny of his right hand as he used his left to caress her head.Though some women chose to enjoy the reverberations of their climax for as long as possible, Theo had a service-oriented mentality. She was only allowed to stop climaxing after she finished cleaning his fingers, so, fearing she would lose consciousness before she was able to service her Master, she eagerly sought an end to her own pleasure. If he tried to move his fingers away from her, she would even strain her neck in an attempt to follow them, dutifully licking from the tips of his fingers to his wrist. Then, when she was confident she had finished her duty, she would begin to lightly suckle on the very tip of his index and middle fingers...Despite a feeling of incongruity, Vahn couldn't help but admire the beautiful bronze-skinned beauty with the tips of his fingers in her mouth. Though her nature didn't exactly align with most people's concept of normalcy, he found her honesty rather endearing. He actually felt they were very similar people, but, due to the differences in their origin and upbringing, their inclinations were almost the exact opposite of each other.Theo demonstrated her tremendous trust by allowing him to have full control over her body, but, rather than relinquish control, she was actually liberating herself without fear of censure. This was something he could never do, so, for a number of reasons, Vahn had a great deal of respect for the future Empress, regardless of how compromising her position seemed. Rather, no matter what kind of position she was in, Vahn felt like Theo only became more beautiful with each passing moment...Deciding not to keep her waiting, Vahn extricated his fingers free of Theo's mouth, an affectionate smile on his face as he softly said, "You can stop cumming now..."Like a marionette with its strings cut, all the tensions drained from Theo's body as a profound sigh escaped her lips. Then, still blindfolded, she looked directly at him, a radiant smile on her face as stated with full sincerity, "Thank you, Master...it was even more amazing than usual..."Though it was a peculiar sight to see a blindfolded woman show a sincere smile, especially with her wrists and ankles bound in an awkward position, Vahn had grown accustomed to it. Rather, it made his heart itch quite a bit when he saw her like this, so, before he unfastened the clasps keeping her ankles and wrists bound, he leaned over her contorted body, removing the blindfold and rewarded her with a very deep, passionate, kiss...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Clothes can be more erotic than nudity (U w U)...','Bruh, this ain't just 'playing' any longer...','Theo has been training hard o3o...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Having obtained Divinities related to Space and Creation, Vahn was only a few Objectives away from completing the Zenith Quest, [Genesis Path: Dawn of Creation]. He had completed all but one of the Optional Objectives, but, if he really wanted to, it was surprisingly easy to create a few unique lifeforms, especially with his [Keeper of the Akashic Tome]. The only real 'downside', if it could even be called that, was that he would end up with a few more exceptionally loyal subordinates...One of the most important aspects when obtaining a Divinity related to Creation, even though it seemed rather contrary, was understanding that you should never arbitrarily create anything. As he had learned through his used of the [Keeper of the Akashic Tome], the things you create and name became an intrinsic part of your own existence, so, if you misused the ability to Create, it would be 'very' difficult to obtain a Divinity related to it.Fortunately, though it had caused him innumerable problems, Vahn had always been an empath, so, even before he meandered down the path of Creation, he never wandered far. He couldn't help but care deeply about the things he created, his instincts compelling him care for, spend time with, and love them. This was what truly separated Creators from those who used their mastery over the Laws to artificially create life, and, as a result of the love he felt toward his own creations, Vahn, rightfully, took exception to those who treated their creations as tools...---Though comprehending the Laws of Time were exceptionally difficult, especially with his existence representing a singularity within the Time Axis, Vahn had been on the cusp of a breakthrough for a considerable amount of time. Fortunately, he had Da Vinci's brilliant mind to aid him, and, though they might not seem like the best reference to draw from, Vahn could find inspiration in fiction. He knew all fictional worlds, including those based on real-world events, had the capacity to become a Record of their own, so, while some authors took 'extreme' liberties with concepts such as Time, the Laws were so mysterious and abstract that they had no trouble manifesting in virtually any form...If Vahn really wanted to, he could create a story where fire 'naturally' flowed like water, and, rather than oxygen and nitrogen, the people of that world could breathe the void itself. He could make up a completely ridiculous story, and, so long as it became relatively popular, a Record would be born from it. Thus, even if it seemed like a waste of time from a scientific point of view, he had purchased millions of fictional novels, storing them as information within his mind. Then, largely thanks to Sis, he was able to sort through the information, filtering and constraining it into a digestible form that, to an extent, reflected the true nature of the Laws.Ironically, the only thing preventing Vahn from obtaining a Divinity related to Time was himself. He had known it was possible to reverse the flow of time even back in Danmachi, demonstrating the process for Riveria quite a number of times, but, ever since learning he was a singularity within the Time Axis, Vahn had convinced himself it was impossible to travel back in time. Though this was still true, Vahn had ignored one fundamental flaw in his logic; while it may not be possible to travel to a point in time prior to his entry into the Record, there was nothing preventing him from inverting the flow of causality and entropy, effectively 'reversing' Time...When Vahn realized his mistake, he quickly retreated into his own Realm to put the theory to the test, and, as a result, he watched in awe as everyone, including Tier 5 beings like Alaya, Gaia, and Tiamat, moved backward through Time. Though they were still able to perceive that 'something' had happened, they were unable to understand the cause of the incongruity, interpreting it as a feeling of Deja Vu more than anything else.Upon realizing the power he held in his hands, Vahn was like a child with a new toy, as, within his Realm, he didn't have to worry about running out of energy. He could even reverse the flow of Time for the entire Realm all at once, but, much to his surprise, Vahn learned that the flow of Time within other Realms was unaffected by his changes. It could be due to the fact he wasn't a true Tier 5, but, during his experimentation, Vahn ended up causing Azathoth and Da Vinci quite a bit of confusion...After a series of long lectures, Vahn spent a few months learning how to properly manipulate the flow and direction of Time within a controlled environment. This, once again, reminded him of how truly brilliant Da Vinci was, as, after granting her the authority to govern Time, she became the one teaching him. Because of her, he came to realize that Time, as Sis had always told him, simply didn't exist. It was just another aspect of Space, a conditional function specifically tasked with observing the direction of entropy and record the location of individual particles along the Time Axis.Though it could be 'very' difficult to comprehend, the easiest experiment to show the relationship between Space and Time involved created an isolated temporal field, similar to a Sub-Space Orb. If you then destroyed an object within the field, taking special care not to use literal Destruction Laws, its constituent particles would basically be spread all over the place. No part of it would actually be destroyed, only converted into a different state.Most people would mistakenly believe that, if you reverse the flow of entropy around the object, it would simply revert back to its original state, but that wasn't the case. Depending on how long you waited, the individual particles ejected from the object might have moved outside your domain of control, so, unless your domain was the universe itself, reverting something to its original state was virtually impossible. In fact, if you constrained the temporal field to the dimensions of the original object, reversing entropy might not even leave you with ten percent of the original object...Fortunately, Da Vinci was never constrained by setbacks, and, having pioneered some of the most advanced quantum and spiritron computers in existence, it didn't take long for her to come up with a solution to this problem. She referred to this as creating a 'Save State', borrowing the term from a concept that existed within video games.Since Time didn't actually exist, you could effectively 'trick' distant particles into returning to their original position so long as you established a domain of control before the object was destroyed. In other words, you created a 'Checkpoint' to serve as a quantum reference point, and, so long as your domain of control was never destroyed, you could effectively create an entropic loop. If you created a trigger that activated upon death, it was possible to have the person infinitely revert back to that same point in Space-Time, and, so long as it remained, they were, effectively, immortal.Though the results could have been skewed by the fact they did their research within his Realm, it was possible to find countless examples of video-game mechanics within fictional universes. This meant there were an infinite number of Records where the world was structured like a game, and, if he thought back to Sis explanation prior to entering the Akamatsuverse, it was very possible that all Records met this criterion. If he had used his Karma more proactively, he could even turn a Record like Naruto or One Piece into a world with a Leveling System and other RPG elements...---Following his emergence from within his Realm, Vahn wasn't surprised when he felt his 'existence' surge outward. Since this wasn't the first time he had obtained a Divinity, however, there were no major, 'heaven-shaking', phenomena created by his ascension. Instead, it was a perfectly natural transition, his Time Divinity forming a pale-grey fragment that seamlessly fused with the golden Creation and bluish-black Space Divinities. They came together to form a tri-colored gemstone that, very slowly, siphoned away a bit of the Source Energy produced by his Soul Realm.Seeing the indescribably beautiful gemstone lazily floating within him, a calm smile spread across Vahn's face as he cupped his hands together like someone about to draw water from a river. Near the very center, tiny flakes of green energy began to manifest from the void, coalescing into a tiny green lotus that seemed to be formed from pure, unblemished, crystal. Then, while releasing a very pleasant hum, it began to slowly blossom into life...Whenever Vahn thought about creating life, his thoughts always took him back to the time he had created Jade, his first true creation. It always made him feel a little sad whenever he recalled the tiny white lotus formed from Pure Fire Elemental Energy, but, knowing they would meet again, he never allowed his melancholy to negatively influence him. Instead, it was one of the catalysts that allowed him to be a Creator, his memories of that time serving as a constant reminder of both his successes and failures...With the tiny green lotus floating in his right palm, Vahn manifested an equally beautiful blue lotus in his left hand, smiling affectionately as he said, "Celeste...meet Norn..."Responding to his words, the sapphire blue lotus released a mystical blue light as a resonant chime echoed through the surrounding space. This caused the light emanating from the emerald-green lotus to dim slightly, but, after a few seconds had passed, it gradually recovered before releasing a gentle hum. The two sounds blended together almost perfectly, and, without him directing them to do so, the two loti came closer before seamlessly fusing into a vibrant aquamarine green lotus.Vahn hadn't expected the two loti to suddenly fuse, but, considering the intrinsic relation between Space and Time, he wasn't too surprised. Instead, he tenderly caressed the petals of the combined lotus, eliciting an indescribably pleasant sound for the duo. It was impossible to describe, but, upon hearing it, Vahn felt as if he was becoming closer to the origin of all things. It even reminded him of the Mantra of Eternity, and, though he was capable of experiencing it, his mind couldn't process the 'truth' contained within the mysterious sound...After admiring the fused duo for several hours, Vahn coaxed them apart before having them both return to their dormant state. He had a very specific purpose in mind for the Elemental Loti he had created, and, until he linked the Records together, he wanted to keep them safe within the storage dimension of his Unit Management Function. They were the purest form of Elemental Energy, and, as a result, they were 'extremely' susceptible to all forms of corruption. If they somehow fell into the wrong hands or developed destructive tendencies, the amount of devastation they could cause was simply unimaginable.The last thing Vahn needed was for Fate to see the Elemental Loti, and, discovering they had no fate of their own, using them as it pleased. He knew best how inconvenient Fate could be to those who had none, so, until he bestowed them their True Names, Vahn wanted to keep them safe. They had the potential to become the principal representatives of the Laws within his unified Record, so, until he linked Danmachi and reunited them with their big sister, he wanted to avoid assigning them True Names and exposing them to the whims of Fate and Karma...---Before emerging from his seclusion, Vahn created enough vessels to attend to his numerous duties before turning his attention to the system interface and staring at his Zenith Quest. He now had the option to complete it whenever he wanted, but, if he wanted to obtain the greatest rewards, he still needed to complete the [Divine Father] Option Objective. This required him to create a total of ten unique lifeforms, but, despite being over 273 years old, Vahn had only completed five out of ten.Fortunately, four of the five had actually been created after he entered the Akamatsuverse, as, for a number of reasons, Zanpakuto were all considered unique existences. With the three Elemental Loti, Lave-tan, and Kyo, Vahn had already completed half of the objective. If he waited for everyone else to awaken their Zanpakutos, he would naturally complete the final objective, so, rather than stress over creating more life, Vahn just decided to wait. At the very least, Musashi and Eva should be able to awaken their Zanpakuto in a relatively short period of time, and, even if it took a few years, Arika, Theo, and Fenrir should be able to figure it out. The only real variable in the equation was Xiao Bai, as, despite having his own Ego and personality, he was still just an extension of an Innate. He might never be able to awaken his own Zanpakuto, as, on the most fundamental level, even his form and personality were completely dictated by Vahn's perception...Shaking his head, Vahn smiled calmly as he mused, "So long as I continue to believe he can awaken his Zanpakuto, there is no reason he won't be able to..."As Innates had no limits whatsoever, there was nothing dictating that they were unable to produce life. Rather, there were Innates that specifically related to the creation of life, so, with enough time, Vahn was certain the Divine Beasts would become truly unique existences.Confident in his conjecture, Vahn casually stepped through Space and Time, instantly appearing at the beach house without requiring any energy whatsoever. At this point, Theo's Resort Diorama had basically become a Sub-Realm of his, so, within its confines, he had an almost inexhaustible amount of energy. In fact, if Eva's words were to be believed, the number of nascent Elementals within the diorama had reached the point of being able to directly contend against the Magical World itself...It only took a few hundred nascent Elementals to ensure the health and prosperity of a large city, and, in the entirety of Mundus Magicus, there were only a few million of the intangible creatures. Whenever their population within a given area grew beyond a certain point, they would naturally fuse together, so, generally speaking, the actual population of Nascent Elemental Spirits depended wholly on the amount, and composition, of mana within the environment.As an endless factory producing Source Energy, Vahn's influence on his surroundings was, as Eva put it, 'absolutely terrifying'. His presence, alone, could slowly convert an illusory or spiritual space into a physical world, and, when he stayed in one area for an extended period of time, the number of Elementals would increase at a phenomenal rate. His influence was so extreme that, if you were to walk around the constantly expanding island, encountering Lesser Elemental Spirits wasn't even uncommon. If you ventured to the areas where the concentration of elemental energy was higher, you would even find Intermediate Spirits with enough sapience to converse.Though there weren't any Greater Elemental Spirits just yet, it was only a matter of time before one finally appeared. The Aspidochelone, in particular, had already grown to the size of a small island, and, if you sat on the beach long enough, you would eventually see it lazily circling the main island at around 2km/h. If you were especially lucky, you might even see it lift its massive head out of the water for a few minutes, its wrinkled face forming a vaguely human smile as it peered 'through' you with seemingly blind eyes...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The burden of a Creator's love...','Da Vinci, the ultimate cheat function','Vahn the type of guy that puts on a VR headset and slowly transform it into a real world...')(A/N: This chapter, despite its length, took over six hours to write xD...)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1588: Time Flows Like an Endless River