Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though it wasn't exactly difficult, heading to Megalomesembria early was the same as inviting a considerable amount of trouble for themselves. The Megalomesembrian Senate wasn't known for being reasonable, so, unless they intended to get wrapped up in politics and bureaucracy, there was no particular reason to rush over. At best, they would be able to get in contact with Ala Rubra, but, at this point in time, convincing them without revealing the truth would be difficult.As Arika had pointed out numerous times, it was very likely that the people supporting Ala Rubra were either directly related to Cosmo Entelecheia or the Mage of the Beginning personally. At this point, she was thoroughly convinced they were the ones who had motivated her to basically turn her son into a weapon. After all, people like Nagi didn't just spontaneously appear out of nowhere. Megalomesembria had a nigh-absolute monopoly on the rearing of young mages back on Mundus Ventus; yet, despite Nagi having attended one of their schools, they were unaware of his monstrous talent?Reaching the pinnacle through one's own efforts wasn't impossible, but, far more often than not, it required you to have capable teachers. More importantly, you needed a strong network of support to prevent your talent from being quashed early on. Even Vahn hadn't been able to get around this, and, without people like Tsubaki, Hephaestus, and Scathach, it would have taken him a considerable amount of time to reach his current level.The only way to reasonably increase your strength over a short period of time without support was if you were simply 'fated' to become that strong. Even then, you would need to either be a machine or a literal sociopath, as, unless you had the mentality that sacrificed everything for power, even the most talented individuals would be limited by their connections and bonds. These very same things were the key to obtaining 'true' power, but, until you had experienced hardship and overcome your natural limits, most bonds were a burden to progress.For someone like Nagi, who had literally dropped out of school due to his airheaded nature and apparent 'lack' of talent, the only way he could have become so powerful while remaining hidden was if monstrously powerful individuals protected and guided him. He would have needed a place to train in absolute secrecy, as, with his type of character, it was impossible for him not to stand out. Not only was he supposed to be relatively handsome, but, rather than hold himself back in at all, he was known to, quite literally, do whatever he wanted...The penultimate reasons behind Vahn's decision not to approach Megalomesembria, other than his own self-awareness, was due to the fact that Eva actually knew Albireo Imma. Though they had very few interactions in the past, he had apparently been around for thousands of years as a few of Eva's associates were also familiar with the mysterious mage. This made him even older than the Mage of the Beginning, as, according to Eva's oldest associate, a Vampire Noble who had lived for more than twelve-thousand-years, Albireo Imma had been present prior to the collapse of the Venus' ancient civilization, a time when mankind had still been living in caves back on Earth.Vahn wasn't particularly worried about the true power of Albireo Imma, as he had ultimately failed to defeat the Mage of the Beginning, but, as he had learned several times in the past, it was better to overestimate people, rather than underestimate them. Thus, during the discussion regarding their next course of action, he agreed to go with their original plan of visiting the various sacred lands. Before that, however, he wanted to visit Elfenhof, as, during the early stages of the war, they were one of the first places that had been razed to the ground.Though the Elves were protected by one of the four Sacred Dragons, a Wood-Elemental Dragon named Yggdrillia, they were constantly victimized by other nations. The reason for this was rather simple, as, despite all of her power, Yggdrillia was largely immobile. She was similar to Terra in that regard, so, if you targetted the periphery of her territory and ravaged the land, her only real option was to shore up her defenses and protect those closest to her.Despite being four of the most powerful beings in Mundus Magicus, the Sacred Dragons suffered from a pretty major weakness. Not only were they relatively slow, but, the moment they moved to the frontlines, they would leave their territory completely exposed. They were also relatively massive creatures in their true forms, so, even if their resistances made them immune to most physical and magical attacks, they could still be overwhelmed and temporarily pinned down. During the previous war, Vrixho had even been sealed away for nearly six months, forcing Hellas into a defensive battle until they were finally able to free him...Vahn had already decided to protect the Elves, so, before they could become victims in the early stages of the war, he intended to move them into the Diorama. This would undoubtedly garner a great amount of attention, but, when it ultimately came down to it, Vahn didn't particularly care. He still intended to become a deterrent, so, rather than hide away, he would continue to act in an open and above-board manner. The conspiracies of his enemies didn't matter in the slightest. Rather, the moment they tried to slander him or place a bounty on his head, Vahn wouldn't hesitate to expose, punish, or outright eliminate them...---Though it would have been possible for the Custos Rosea to fly directly to Elfenhof from Ariadne, it was better to keep the capabilities of Arika's modified Airfish a secret. Thus, rather than fly through Empire controlled airspace, they decided to head North towards Zephyria, a nation that served as a central trading hub between the Empire, Ariadne, Sirenum, and Granicus. It was strategically located in a region that served as a land bridge between the continents of Elysium and Noachis Terra, two of the four major continents of Mundus Magicus.While not nearly as famous as Granicus to the North, Zephyria's location made it a gathering place for Merchants, Scholars, and Mercenaries. It was considered the third wealthiest nation in the entire world, and, as the name 'Zephyria' implied, it was also one of the nine sacred grounds. As for how it was able to maintain its sovereignty in such close proximity to Hellas, this was largely attributed to the Great Spirit of Wind, the self-proclaimed 'Great Spirit of Freedom', Brave Enlil.As the most whimsical and 'vindictive' of the Great Spirits, very few people were willing to make an enemy out of Brave Enlil. He had even flown all the way to Megalomesembria before, teaming up with the Great Spirit of Water to create a series of massive hurricanes that devasted the continent of Tempe Terra. If not for the intervention of the other Great Spirits, primarily the Great Spirits of Light and Fire, the nations surrounding Megalomesembria might have been completely wiped out in the wake of Brave Enlil's vengeance.Though Megalomesembria had prepared several countermeasures to deal with Great Spirits since then, the event served as an effective deterrence against all nations. This was one of the reasons so many people gathered in Zephyria, but, perhaps even more important than Brave Enlil's presence, it was the unique geography and the mentality of the people that kept them there.While it wasn't nearly as impressive as Ostia, a nation that floated gracefully through the sky, the 'Free-Nation' of Zephyria was located high atop a unique mountain range. It was a region heavily populated with 'finger mountains', and, while thousands of bridges had been created to connect the unique structures, the most popular methods to get around included Airfish, Air Bikes, and, as could be expected, Magical Brooms. It was the only nation built in the center of an Air Stream, and, as a result, it was possible to fly around with considerable ease.Over time, Zephyria had literally become known as the 'City of Freedom', and, as a result of nearly every resident having the means to fly around, it had become the central gathering hub for those aspiring to become Sky Pirates or Skyfarers. It was also the birthplace of competitive Airfish racing, so, if you wandered to the edge of one of the finger mountains, it was all but guaranteed that you would find a race in progress. There were even night races, and, though crashes were common, it didn't deter hundreds-of-thousands of adrenaline junkies from flocking to the legendary city above the clouds...---Though she did her best to conceal it, everyone aboard the Custos Rosea could tell that Arika was excited to visit Zephyria. It was one of the places she wanted to visit the most prior to starting her journey, and, while it wasn't at the top spot, it was still her number two. The only place she wanted to visit even more was the Noctis Labyrinthus, as, despite people exploring it for hundreds of years, there were always new Artifacts emerging from within its depths. Some of these items even seemed to originate from other worlds, or, at the very least, originated from civilizations that predated the creation of Mundus Magicus.Even though her family had records that dated back to the origin of Mundus Magicus, there were absolutely no records related to the origins of the Noctis Labyrinthus. It was simply discovered at some point, and, since then, those aspiring to make a name for themselves and test their fortunes had probed its seemingly boundless depths.What made the Noctis Labyrinthus truly mysterious was the fact that it seemed to be 'growing' at a slow but perceptible rate. This made some people believe it was alive, but, after tens-of-thousands of expeditions and hundreds of years of exploration, this had largely been proven false. Rather, by some unknown means, the Noctis Labyrinthus seemed to subsume the ruins of various civilizations all over Mundus Magicus. It seemed like the expansion of the mysterious region was the same as the natural encroachment of nature, and, after an uncertain amount of time had passed, ruins that had vanished from the surface would simply reappear inside or around the Noctis Labyrinthus...Arika was eager to explore the Noctis Labyrinthus, but, knowing there were more important things to attend, she wasn't in a particular hurry to probe its depths. She was more concerned about the state of Mundus Magicus and its peoples, so, unless it somehow became necessary to explore the Labyrinth, the odds she would ever enter it were slim. There were a number of better places to train, and, with Vahn able to produce and create virtually any kind of Artifact, the strange region lost a lot of its appeal...---As the Custos Rosea drew ever-closer to Zephyria, the number of Airfish traversing the Air Stream gradually increased. This marked a notable increase in the number of Sky Pirates targetting them, but, even without support, Arika was more than capable of outmaneuvering even the most skilled pilots. Her strength and focus had increased by a rather ridiculous amount of the last four years, so, even without Fenrir manning the weapons terminal, she was able to eliminate entire squadrons of Sky Pirates without any assistance whatsoever.While Arika was enjoying the thrill of piloting the Custos Rosea, Vahn was reclining against the base of its dorsal fin with Eva nestled next to him. A few meters ahead of them, Asuna, who seemed to be searching for her 'identity' these days, was now wearing a grey tunic with a dark-blue haori. It was a rather casual look that loosely resembled the clothes Vahn wore, and, if not for her decision to wear beige hot pants, she would have given off the impression of a rather adorable swordsman from the Orient.Despite her age, Asuna was able to stand atop the Custos Rosea without being affected by the wind pressure in the slightest. Even when Arika performed ridiculous maneuvers like barrel rolls or flying upside down, she was able to remain stable without any discernible difficulty. Rather, as a result of her aura and burgeoning mastery over the state of Nothingness, Asuna could outright 'ignore' the effects of the tempestuous wind. Though her hair was still buffetted, it flowed gracefully at its own pace, and, though her clothes weren't particularly thick, they only lightly rustled as she wielded the pitch-black Kyo, cutting down enemies hundreds of meters away without moving from her starting position.Asuna wasn't able to freely use her Zanpakuto's ability just yet, but, if it was within three-hundred meters, she could create pressure waves and sword beams capable of slicing through reinforced magical metals. She had already reached the rank of Swordmaster, and, though she had a long way to go before reaching Grandmaster, the only thing holding her back was a lack of opponents. She was unable to go all-out against the people she cared about, so, despite being surrounded by some of the strongest people in the Record, Asuna had reached a slight bottleneck.As part of her current training, Asuna was tasked with disabling any enemy ships that managed to approach within her effective range. She was prohibited from killing anyone directly, but, if the Sky Pirates ended up crashing after losing control over their Airfish, that was their own fault. It was their own bad Karma that pitted them against one of the Record's Protagonists, but, unless it was a 'real' threat, Vahn didn't want Asuna killing anyone directly. Instead, she was tasked with cutting specific cables or disabling the Airfish by severing one of its wings. This left the destiny of the pilots in their own hands, and, unless they made a serious of grievous mistakes, even a novice would be able to guide a partially disabled craft into a safe landing...With her degree of skill, Asuna had no problem accurately hitting her targets. Thus, to kick things up a notch, Vahn had asked Arika to disable the Custos Rosea's shields. This meant any stray attack could cause serious damage to the hull, but, despite some of the attacks moving close to the speed of lightning, Asuna was able to accurately predict them. Her spatial awareness was amazing, so, the moment she noticed an enemy Airfish lining up to try and fire its weapons, Asuna's [Shunpo] would leave behind a perfect after-image as she appeared within the attack vector. This was generally all it took to prevent the attack, as, even without proactively deflecting it, her [Magic-Cancel] was able to harmlessly disperse the magical energy just by being in proximity to the attack.Without needing to block the attack, Asuna focused on her counter, her pitch-black Tanto cutting through the void to disable the enemy vessel as pillars of lightning harmlessly smashed into the invisible membrane that surrounded her body. Then, before her afterimage began to disperse, she would reappear in her original location with a neutral expression on her face. Despite this, Vahn and Eva could both tell that Asuna was trying to show off, knowing smiles appearing on their faces as they continued to leisurely observe the aerial battle until its conclusion...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Colonel Sanders is a sneaky old fart (UwU)...','Don't fuck with the Great Spirit of Wind xD...','Asuna takes after her Master (o 3 o)...')(A/N: Airfish don't rely on lift and drag forces to fly through the air. It would be more accurate to say they 'float', so, even if they lose an engine, they would gradually list through the air like a boat that lost its propulsion.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

As a nation without any official Administration of governance, order within Zephyria was largely maintained by the various Merchants Groups, Mercenary Troupes, and, most notably, the Skyfarers Association. The latter was not only responsible for the various different types of races that were so popular within the country, but, as their name implied, they managed everything from distribution to the policing of Airfish and other vessels.Prior to the existence of the Skyfarers Association, the most powerful force in the region had been a notorious fleet of Sky Pirates known as the Scarlet Armada. It wasn't until their leader formed a pact with Brave Enlil that Zephyria transitioned from a lawless land of brigands to a nation where various peoples gathered in the hopes of seeking wealth, fame, and, most importantly, freedom. There were still numerous bands of Sky Pirates that called the nation home, but, so long as they were inside its borders, even the most notorious bands followed the 'Sky Pirate Code' that had been written by the first Queen of the Skies, the Founder of the Skyfarers Association, the Legendary 'Crimson Scarlet'.The Crimson Scarlet had been so famous and revered during her era, that, when you first entered the borders of Zephyria, you would pass one of the thousands of statues depicting the legendary Sky Pirate. Each was approximately twenty meters in height, and, though it was strange to imagine, her statues formed a perfect circle that denoted the borders of Zephyria.Seeing the woman who looked eerily similar to Francis Drake, albeit with a loose braid that flowed from her wild hair, Vahn couldn't help but wonder what kind of person the Crimson Scarlet must have been. She must have been quite something to form a pact with a Great Spirit, and, if rumors were to be believed, it was the destruction of one of her statues that prompted the temperamental spirit to devastate the western coast of Tempe Terra...As she often accompanied Vahn throughout the entire day, Eva hadn't missed the admiration that briefly flashed across his eyes. She had also seen the statue, so, with an accusatory look and a sly smile on her face, she asked, "Oh? Are even statues in your strike zone now~?"Hearing Eva's remark, Vahn just laughed in a lighthearted manner before explaining the similarities between the Crimson Scarlet and Francis Drake. He also made sure to clarify that Drake wasn't part of his harem, as, despite admiring her quite a bit, there was no way they could be together.Drake was a libertine who wholly dedicated themselves to hedonistic pursuits; someone who saw little to no difference between a paragon of virtue and a rogue scoundrel. She wasn't a bad person, not in the slightest, she simply believed people should be honest with themselves, and, rather than show restraint and pursue longevity, they should make the most of their transient existence to live as free and unfettered as possible. Though she disdained the vile and wicked, especially those that suppressed and tried to control others, she would rarely go out of her way to save others, claiming, "If people were not so attached to their fleeting little lives, it would be impossible for them to be suppressed by others."In Drake's mind, people allowed themselves to be held back by their attachments. She genuinely believed that if the underprivileged began to commit suicide in mass, those who hoarded wealth and elevated themselves above others would be forced to change. After all, wealth and status only mattered when you had people to lord it over, so, if commoners simply stopped caring about the restrictions placed upon them, such things would lose all meaning. She believed that people should be able to love freely, drink merrily, and if there was something they were interested in, they should be able to pursue it without fear of censure.Though Drake's mentality was 'very' dangerous, it actually coincided with many of Vahn's personal beliefs, so, rather than create conflict between them, they had mutual respect for each other. Drake appreciated the merit-based societal structure he had made, and, though she didn't agree with him on quite a number of things, she wasn't the type to proactively oppose anything. The only thing she really cared about was her own pleasures and pursuits, so, as long as she was allowed to sail, even under the banner of the Empire, she was happy.Fortunately, though she had solicited him hundreds of times, nearly every time they drank together, Drake was the type that understood that 'no meant no'. Though she would tease him about being a 'hard-ass' and a 'tease', she would never pressure or force anyone into having sex with her. Instead, she would simply laugh off their rejection before finding someone else to keep her bed and body warm for the evening. Then, with the dawn of a new day, she would try again, always accepting no for an answer but never giving up on the things she wanted to obtain...Not expecting Vahn to suddenly sing the praises of a woman she had never met, Eva just rolled her eyes at him before remarking, "It's hard to tell which of you is the bigger idiot..."Hearing Eva's remark, Vahn smiled affectionately as he wrapped his hands around her waist, holding her loosely in his embrace as he teasing mused, "I'm willing to be the biggest idiot in the Universe if it means you'll continue to love me..."Towards the end of his words, Vahn's voice became progressively more heated as he brought his face closer to Eva's. Her ears quickly turned red, and, by the time their lips were close enough to brush against each other, a ruddy hue had bled into her cheeks. The fact Vahn had stopped short allowed her to discern his intentions, but, rather than reward him with a kiss, she snapped her teeth in a biting motion before extricating herself from his embrace and saying, "We'll be docking soon. I need to get changed..."Though Vahn didn't prevent Eva from walking away, he wasn't going to let her go that easily. Their relationship had developed to the point that they often teased each other, so, just as she began to descend belowdecks, he reached out with his hand, lighting pinching the air. He was able to ignore most magical barriers, so, at the exact same moment, Eva's body flinched quite a bit as she covered her butt with both hands. Then, after glaring at him with rosy cheeks, she fled into the depths of the ship, hands still covering her butt...---Unlike other countries, which had a limited number of places to dock, Zephyria had thousands of small ports. Since Airfish were the common mode of transportation, nearly every finger mountain had a number of piers that protruded out from the rocky structure, many with dozens of large and medium-sized vessels moored around them. Most of these were located above a certain height, as, once you descended below the markers that were painted across every single mountain, you would officially enter the 'Cloud Sea' where tens-of-thousands of Airfish flew about with little to no actual order or guidance...Though most pilots entering Zephyria for the first time would be intimidated by the disorderly sight of thousands of Airfish flying about, Arika's expression displayed a look of absolute tranquility. Even when foreign Airfish came within a few meters of their craft, she skillfully made adjustments to their course, deftly evading even the fastest-moving crafts. This drew a considerable amount of attention from a number of curious individuals, as, not only did Arika's Airfish stand out quite a bit, her skills as a pilot were as clear as the endless blue skies above the Cloud Sea...After skillfully navigating towards the heart of Zephyria, a massive structure that linked together a total of thirteen mountains came into view. This was the headquarters of the Skyfarers Association, the safest region within Zephyria, and the location of several globally famous Merchant Groups and Mercenary Troupes. They formed a perimeter around the Skyfarers Association, and, though there were a number of different factions competing against each other, most came together for mutual protection and profit.Since she had no intention of hiding her status during her journey, Arika communicated her identity and intentions to the Skyfarers Association. The Communications Officer who answered the call was more than a little surprised that the Princess of Vespertatia had visited, but, after a few minutes had passed, they were given permission to moor their vessel within the Association's primary dock. This was typically reserved for the most prestigious Skyfarer crews, but, given Arika's status, the ranking members of the Association were more than willing to make an exception.After following a small escort vessel, Arika effortlessly piloted the Custos Rosea into the hanger as Vahn, accompanied by Eva, Fenrir, and Asuna stood on the deck. A large crowd had already started to form, as, despite being a private dock, there were more than six-thousand vessels moored inside, many belonging to large crews of Skyfarers. Since the average crew of Skyfarers consisted of more than forty people, including engineers, doctors, and various other support personnel, there were a considerable number of people present within the lively hangar. There were even various open bars and market stalls present, much like an actual seaside port...Due to how quickly rumors and information could travel in port, a considerable number of people had gathered for the sole purpose of seeing a Princess for the first time. This included a number of burly and uruly-looking figures, many choosing to forgo any type of garments to cover their upper bodies. Most were extremely tanned and muscular individuals, and, the moment they saw beauties like Eva and Fenrir, they showed absolutely no sense for propriety as they began to catcall, whistle, and holler out to them...Under normal circumstances, Vahn would quickly teach the unruly bunch a lesson, but, given the identities of the two women they dared call out to, he just smiled slightly as the two released an oppressive, chilling, aura. The surroundings had, quite literally, dropped by several degrees in an instant, and, after a few seconds had passed, ice began to spread across metallic surfaces as Eva and Fenrir coldly stared at the few people who hadn't been cowed by the initial release of their aura.Seeing even scar-covered men avert their eyes from the two beauties, Vahn couldn't help but laugh out loud. Even the port officials who had come out to welcome them had become statuesque, and, if not for their pride and responsibilities, they might have dispersed with the weaker willed amongst the crowd.By the time Arika had emerged on the deck, less than a tenth of the original crowd remained. These were generally the Captains and Officers of various Skyfarer crews, people that wouldn't easily back down even in the face of impending destruction. They would have never earned the recognition of the Skyfarer Association if they lacked courage, so, while they promptly ceased their catcalling, their pride prevented them from dispersing with the rest...Arika wasn't particularly surprised by the tense and chilly atmosphere that had descended upon the docks. Instead, she showed the same calm and dignified countenance she displayed every time she acted in an official capacity. To onlookers, she gave off the impression of a Goddess that descended upon the mortal world, as, after four years of arduous training and hundreds of massages, Arika had greatly exceeded conventional standards of beauty. Though the same could be said for Fenrir, Eva, and even Asuna, they weren't trying to radiate a regal aura, so, for the moment, Arika stood out far more than anyone else on the deck...After passing her gaze slowly over the crowd, Arika gracefully alighted from the deck, her pale-pink dress following her movements as if she was submerged in water. This gave her an ethereal quality, and, after landing, the officials sent to greet her were so stunned by her presence that their mental faculties seemed to have ceased entirely. As a result, they stared back at her with black expressions of adulation, their mouths slightly agape as they stood statuesque before her.Realizing the other party was unfamiliar with general practices and courtesies, Arika took the liberty of breaking the silence, calmly stating, "We intend to stay in Zephyria for a number of days. It would be convenient if the Skyfarers Association is able to accommodate us. Finances are not an issue, so, if you could make the necessary arrangements, we would be grateful."Hearing Arika's words, the port official regained his senses, standing ramrod straight as he stated a little too loudly, "U-Understood! I will make sure to pass your request to my superiors!" Then, as if only then realizing their original duty, they added in a meek tone of voice, "I have been tasked with escorting your party to meet with the Admiral. She had wanted to come personally, but, due to the unexpected nature of your visit, she was unable to break her prior arrangements..."Showing no sign of perturbation, Arika gave a small nod towards the port official before leniently stating, "That is perfectly understandable. Please, lead the way."Feeling as though he had received a great mercy, the port official exhaled a profound sigh of relief before turning to his companions and saying, "Prepare the transport and send someone to pass on the Princess' message. It's not every day we get to show a Princess our hospitality so look sharp!"Though it was a little foolish to say such things in front of the person they wanted to impress, the number of foreign dignitaries that frequented Zephyria could be counted on one hand. Since it was a relatively lawless land, especially beyond the borders, most Aristocrats and Nobles gave the area a very wide berth. Even a Super Dreadnaught might not be able to trespass Zephyrian airspace safely, so, prior to Arika's arrival, they had never entertained Royalty.Without minding the impropriety displayed by the port official, Arika turned toward Vahn, her eyes silently asking whether or not he would be accompanying her. This matter, technically, had nothing to do with him, but, after spending so much time together, she felt more comfortable when he was around. Vahn was very aware of this fact, so, without footing around the issue, he surprised quite a number of onlookers by manifesting a second version of himself. Then, alongside Fenrir, he flanked Arika while his main body, accompanied by Eva and Asuna, vanished into thin air...---Shortly after the Custos Rosea docked within the Skyfarers Association, rumors of Arika's arrival had already circulated through most official and back channels. This garnered a considerable amount of intrigue amongst the general populace, but, compared to the stir it caused within the underground community, this was negligible. Her arrival was completely unprecedented, but, rather than see it as an opportunity to make a name for themselves, many promptly decided to lay low for a while.Only the truly foolish would dare target a Princess of Vespertatia, as, even if you did manage to pull it off, you could never claim credit for it. Announcing the truth was the same as inviting death upon yourself, and, in the most extreme circumstances, it might even result in the destruction of Zephyria itself.Ostia might be a neutral country, but, without an exceptionally powerful military, maintaining that neutrality would have been impossible. Their fleet was capable of linking together to perform Grand Ritual Magic without having to go through the usual process of preparing the land and mobilizing thousands of Mages. Under the most extreme circumstances, they had more than enough power to, quite literally, erase a country off the map. This had happened a number of times through Mundus Magicus' history, and, though it was typically used as a last resort to protect the Magical World, the memory of such events didn't fade with the passage of time...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Drake be like, "YOLO~!"','Frogs coveting the meat of swans','Only the truly foolish would dare target a Princess of Vespertatia (O w O)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Shortly after Vahn's departure from Ariadne, located deep within the most secretive region of the entirety of Mundus Magicus, a group of people dressed in flowing black robes had gathered near the base of an empty throne. Each had their expressions shrouded by habit-like hoods, and, further increasing their resemblance to members of the clergy, every member wore a crimson-red chasuble with gold trim. The front of the garment roughly formed the shape of a keyhole near the bottom, while, flowing behind them, the garment split into four distinct blade-like points.Near the center of the group of seven, standing less than two-thirds the height of every other member, a child-like woman with golden eyes that shone through the shadows cast over her face turned to the tallest member of the group, a dark-skinned man with similar golden eyes, asking, "Were you able to ascertain where the irregularity is heading? Our Revered Mother is eager to reclaim the Key of Twilight. If we miss this opportunity, it will take hundreds of years to create another Key. Failure is not an option."Meeting the gaze of the child-like woman, the inordinately tall man had a fierce yet stoic expression on his face as he answered, "That monster possesses the Power of the Gods and never rests. He has never once taken his eyes off the Key. Unless we reveal ourselves and seize the key by force, there is no practical way to recover it. To further complicate matters, he possesses the ability to manifest in multiple locations, and, from what my shadows have been able to discover, he can freely change his appearance and magical signature. His transformation is no simple illusion, either. Even with the Eye of Veritas, it was impossible to see through his disguise..."Rather than show any sign of perturbation, the child-like woman raised her head in response to the man's words, an intrigued smile on her face as she mused, "It seems Our Revered Mother is correct in her assessment. This irregularity seems to have crossed through the Abyss. Based on his actions thus far, it seems he has some knowledge of future events. How curious..."Hearing the musings of the young girl, every other member present showed expressions ranging from consternation to vehement disdain. They had been pursuing 'world peace' for hundreds of years, but, the moment they were on the brink of achieving their objective, several anomalies had emerged. Not only had one of their most senior members defected, rearing a humanoid weapon that threatened to undermine all their plans, but, to make matters even worse, an Ancient Dragon, apparently from the Abyss itself, had emerged out of thin air...Unable to restrain his anger any longer, a burly man with heterochromatic eyes, one green, and one blue, shouted, "This is ridiculous! Let me deal with that bastard! I'd like to see how that damn lizard is able to survive my Rupturing Fist...!"Losing her intrigued smile, the young girl glared back at the man, her eyes blazing like suns within the shadow of her hood as she plainly stated, "For that man to have passed through the Abyss, he must have come into contact with the Witch of the Abyss. Since the time of his arrival, however, the Abyss has become nigh-impossible to access. We can still send things through it, but trying to store and retrieve objects has become impossible. If that man has enough power to seal the Abyss, he is not an opponent we can afford to underestimate. Would you undermine twenty-six-hundred-years of effort and planning for the sake of your pride alone...?"Though the girl held the greatest status amongst them, the burly man didn't seem to particularly care as he immediately exclaimed, "It's a hell of a lot better than just standing around! Are we just going to keep waiting for our enemies to grow stronger and stronger!? They're already calling that brat created by the traitor 'invincible'. If he is that strong as a snot-nosed brat, how powerful do you think he'll be by the time he matures!?"Undaunted by the man's shouting, the young girl continued glaring at him, a sly smile spreading across her face as she mused, "Hooo~? Is Archon of Might, Adonaios, afraid a snot-nosed brat will surpass him in power? Are you sure you aren't just eager for a rematch against Iao?"Hearing the name of the traitor casually uttered by the young girl, everyone, including Adonaios, had dour expressions. Then, discarding propriety completely, Adonaios' massive fist smashed into the young girl's head. This caused the upper half of her body to dissolve into pale-pink mist, but, as if she had suffered no damage whatsoever, the girl reappeared a few meters away, a dull expression on her face as she ordered, "If you wish to compromise everything Our Revered Mother has tried to accomplish, then go. Know, however, that you will also be considered a traitor the moment you act as you please..."Following the eruption of a golden aura, the burly man's robes disintegrated into nothingness. His expression was filled with vengeful fury, but, without the covering of the robe, his peerless physique came into view. It was like every muscle on his body was sculpted to perfection, while, flowing from his head, a wild mane of reddish-brown hair began to writhe about against the pull of gravity as his phenomenal magic power surged through the vast stone chamber...Before Adonaios could take action, the dark-skinned man pulled apart the sleeves of his robe to reveal unnaturally large, clawed, hands. At the same time, his figure seemed to melt into the void before reappearing between Adonaios, his robes swirling around his feet as if they had merged with the shadows. His magic power couldn't compete against the burly adonis, but, as one of the Shadow Apostles of the Mage of the Beginning, his power could tear through virtually any kind of barrier at near-light speeds.Rather than immediately attack, Adonaios slowly walked until he was standing right in front of the dark-skinned man. His height increased from 193cm to 250cm over the course of his relatively short journey, and, rather than plateau, his power continued to increase with each passing moment as he stared down at the undaunted man and said, "Get out of my way, Dynamis. Do you think a puppet has any right to block the passage of an Archon? If our Master won't discipline her brat, I'll have to do it for her..."Hearing Adonaios' words, two of the remaining four hooded members flickered next to Dynamis, their expressions severe as the shorter one, a man with spikey white hair, red eyes, and silvery-white gauntlets said, "You're going too far, Adonaios. Master placed Amateru in charge while she is away. If you continue like this, you really will become a traitor..."Without backing down, Adonaios snorted through his nose, his magic power continuing to surge as he said, "It's not like that brat can die. I'm just going to teach her a lesson. If she thinks she can just insult me as she pleases, she is in desperate need of a reality check. Now, get out of my way before I teach you a lesson as well..."With Adonaios refusing to back down, the trio guarding Amateru continued to release their auras, their power creating glass-like fractures within the void. Though these healed in an instant, Space was gradually beginning to destabilize around them. Despite this, none of the men backed down until a figure, occupying the once-empty throne, stated in a ghostly voice, "Enough..."Even before the single word had fallen, nearly all of the magical energy within the room vanished in an instant. The only exception to this was the man named Dynamis, but, immediately after hearing the voice, he quickly retracted his magic power as he kneeled reverently towards the figure seated on the throne.With the exception of Amateru, who now appeared similar to a mature woman in her early thirties, every other member present within the stone chamber emulated Dynamis' actions. This included Adonaios, who, after calming down, began to realize just how much he had erred. He considered himself one of the most devoted followers of their Master, but, after hearing Amateru compare him to the traitor, he had completely forgotten him...Without looking, Adonaios could feel the gaze of his Master linger on him for several seconds. He could feel a pressure akin to a mountain pressing down on him, but, rather than offer any kind of resistance, he kept his head lowered in subservience. Even if he wanted to, there was absolutely no way he could stand against his Master, as, if she wanted to, she could strip away his power or even erase his existence itself with a singular thought...Fortunately, after several seconds of tense silence, the cloaked figure, which seemed to be formed from the same shadowy fabric as Dynamis' cloak, turned to the woman named Amateru, its ghostly voice carrying a gentle undertone as it said, "It has been some time, Amateru...are you well?"Unlike everyone else present, acting as if their lives were on the line, Amateru continued acting in a casual manner, a natural smile spreading across her beautiful face as she answered, "My days have been relatively peaceful since my appointment as the Master of the Gravekeeper's Palace. Though it seems like things are beginning to develop in an interesting direction, I am perfectly content. Thank you for your consideration, Mother..."Waiting until her daughter raised her head, the cloaked figure, known to many as the Lifemaker or the Mage of the Beginning, gave a curt nod before saying, "I have failed to make contact with the Root of Apocrypha. Ever since that man's arrival, the past, present, and future have shifted in ways even I cannot see. I do not know the full extent of the shift, but, as more time passes, I can feel the tapestry of fate slowly coalescing into a single stable thread..."While others might not be able to notice it, the Mage of the Beginning, Ialda Baoth, had become increasingly aware of Vahn's influence. She was not able to influence the past, but she had always been able to peer into it. Ever since Vahn's arrival, however, this ability had become more restricted, and, much to her surprise, several events that were supposed to have taken place had now ceased to be. It was like history was rewriting itself to allow for the man's existence in the present, almost as if he had become the lynchpin of reality...Though it was an admittedly terrifying thought to imagine an existence that could 'rewrite' reality just by virtue of its existence, Ialda was not particularly concerned. Rather, while it did not rekindle her faith in man, knowing there were truths yet unrevealed gave her hope. She had even sensed the World Soul shift in response to Vahn, elevating him to Apotheosis and allowing him to overwrite the Master Program without the Code of the Lifemaker. This was something incomprehensible since the time of the Great Severance, the Absolution of Man, and the end of the Age of Gods.From the moment of the Great Severance, it became impossible for Gods to manifest for any great length of time. It took a considerable amount of Belief, numerous sacrifices, and a Grand Ritual just to create an Altar upon which they could use their power. Even then, there were various restrictions in place, restrictions, which, if violated, would result in the True Death of the Manifested God. It was for this reason the Code of the Lifemaker had been created, and, without it, it shouldn't be possible to exercise the Authority of the Gods within Mundus Magicus.Ialda was extremely interested in Vahn's existence, not just because of its anomalous qualities, but because it represented the removal of the restrictions that had directly contributed to the downfall of Man. Ever since the Great Severance, an event that was supposed to absolve Man of all sin, past, present, and future, the balance of World had been destroyed in favor of stabilizing the other eight Realms. As a result, the World became a breeding ground for Sin, a playground for the corrupt who believed all their actions, no matter how heinous, were already forgiven.Following the Great Severance, Ialda had led countless innocents who became victims in the World that had been forsaken by the Gods. She had tried to create a paradise for them by converting the entirety of Inverse Mars, the Reverse Side of Mars, into one massive Altar. This allowed her to have unlimited Authority within Mundus Magicus, and, over time, she used that power to ensure peace and prosperity by creating a Phantasmagoria that overlapped reality. This power had given form to all the various magical and demihuman creatures that populated Mundus Magicus, creatures who, originally, were meant to dutifully serve Man.Unfortunately, the plague of Sin gradually spread from Mundus Ventus, the Old World, to Mundus Magicus, the New World she had created. Even in a 'perfect' world, where they wanted for nothing, Man had been led astray by their errant wants and desires. Some began to see the creatures meant to serve them as equals, and, over time, this gave rise to rebellious thoughts. People quickly forgot the truth, and, in pursuit of their own interests, ideologies, and greed, they began warring amongst themselves, avariciously seeking 'more'.In hindsight, Ialda realized she had been deluded to 'believe' in a version of Man that had already been forsaken by the Gods. She had felt guilty about 'suppressing' them with her absolute power, so, after providing them everything they needed to prosper, she placed a seal upon the Code of the Lifemaker. This effectively sealed her own power, and, seemingly out of spite for trying to succeed where it had failed, the Root of Creation cursed her with an ability only it was supposed to possess, The Resonance.The Resonance allows and forces its wielded to feel the emotions of everyone and everything within the physical World. As a result, she was burdened with infinite empathy, a state which quickly drove her to madness. It was such a heavy burden on her mind that her physical body had been destroyed in its entirety, and, if not for the spiritual immortality she had obtained after combining the White of Mars and the Black of Venus, she would have been erased after being forced to experience the pain, suffering, and death of everything in an instant.Despite experiencing incomprehensible suffering, Ialda had felt vindicated by the Root of Creation's attempt to punish her transgression into its domain. This allowed her to gradually recover her sense of self, and, though it was impossible to stave off the insanity that perpetually encroached upon her mind, it became the fuel that allowed her to endure into the present. The experience had also given her several ideas regarding 'permanant solutions', and, until she could bring all suffering to an end, Ialda was wholly committed to her cause.Now that Vahn had appeared, Ialda couldn't help but take an interest in his anomalous power. His ability to wield the Authority of the Gods with apparent impunity was reason enough to secure and study him, but, more than anything else, it was his ability to alter reality without directly influencing the past that drew her attention. If she could understand the principle behind his power, she might even be able to completely erase the memory of the past. This would allow her to complete most of her objectives with relative ease, as, if they didn't remember why they were fighting, most people would accept the paradise she offered without resistance...As that thought crossed her mind, a crazed smile spread across Ialda's face as she raised her head, her ghostly voice akin to the whispers of Death itself as she said, "The time for war has come..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'It's rarely a good thing when people are dressed like priests in a fantasy novel...','Plato be like, *heavy breathing*','Ialda is actually a very tragic existence...kinda similar to Olga from Fate Grand Order...')(A/N: There are A LOT of similarities between the Akamtsuverse and Nasuverse when you research them o_o...)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1597: Onward