Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After more than an hour of awkward greetings, Vahn was finally guided to the base of Yggdrillia by all seven of the High Elves that governed Elfenhof. They weren't necessarily the most senior of their species, but, as even the weakest among them was contracted to a High Elemental Spirit, they were, by a wide margin, the most powerful members of their race.Though it was possible for more to exist, most High Elves were recognized as such after successfully contracting a High Spirit. Since it was almost impossible for two High Elemental Spirits of the same Element to occupy the same region, the maximum number of High Elves that existed within a given territory rarely exceeded nine. As for why there were only seven, this was due to the fact that two of the High Spirits that were traditionally passed down through successive generations had been killed during the previous war. It was very difficult to cultivate a new High Spirit, and, with only older Elves ever leaving Elfenhof, it could take several hundred years to nourish an Intermediate Spirit into their far-more-powerful High variant...After guiding Vahn's party to the base of the massive 343m tall tree that represented the true body of Yggdrillia, the leader of the procession, a High Elf named Ruvyn, turned to the group and politely inclined his head before saying, "Welcome to our most sacred grounds, the base of the World Tree's descendent, our Ancestral Mother, Asha Yggdrillia..."Though there was a lot more he wanted to say, Ruvyn's words gradually trailed off when a rather petite figure, standing only 154cm tall, dropped right in front of Vahn. It was a seemingly naked woman with healthy brown skin, long brown hair, pale-blue eyes, and pointed ears. What stood out the most, however, were the glowing runes that covered much of her body. They didn't appear to have much meaning at first glance, but, with his ability to interpret the structure and meaning of anything that could be converted into language, Vahn instantly knew the woman looking up at him with a mixture of incredulity and curiosity was none other than Yggdrillia herself...With upturned eyes and slightly raised brows, Yggdrillia stared directly into Vahn's eyes for several seconds before slowly extending her rune-covered hand to touch his face. This was rather awkward, but, knowing the traditions of the Elves, Vahn managed to avoid smiling wryly as her surprisingly warm hand caressed his cheek. He couldn't completely conceal his thoughts, however, so, almost immediately after she made contact, Yggdrillia showed an apologetic expression as she withdrew her hand and muttered, "I'm sorry...I..."Shaking his head, Vahn earned a pointed look from Eva, Arika, and even Asuna as he caught the demure young woman's wrist. This amount of contact was more than enough to establish a stable connection, but, following the initial flow of events, he returned her hand to his cheek and allowed her to peer into his mind. Things would go a lot smoother once she understood his intentions, and, as time was rather limited, he wanted to use the most direct means to achieve his goal.Rather than appear startled, Yggdrillia showed more anxiousness than anything else in response to Vahn grabbing her wrist. She could sense a phenomenal aura lingering within his body, and, though it seemed impossible, she couldn't shake the impression that his energy was even purer than the original Yggdrasil she was modeled after. It had an almost irresistible pull to it, and, after her hand came into contact with his face, Yggdrillia felt as though her mind had been broadened to concepts far beyond the original scope of her abilities...Since there was a fair chance Yggdrillia and her children would be accompanying him even after he departed the Record, Vahn decided to let her see and experience far more than what he had shown the rest of the Elves. He didn't reveal anything he shouldn't, but, at the very least, he implanted the methods to greatly improve the strength of the Elves in her mind. Even if he didn't take them with him, the methods he had provided would allow future generations of Elves to greatly exceed the average strength of their contemporaries...Without realizing it, Yggdrillia had placed her remaining hand over Vahn's heart, her eyes seeming to stare off into eternity as vital energy leaked from her body. This caused various different types of flora to spontaneously erupt into existence, but, with Vahn regulating most of it back into the base of the mighty tree, nothing too drastic had occurred by the time he peeled Yggdrillia's hands away from him.Feeling her connection 'severed', a rather pitiable expression spread across Yggdrillia's face as she turned her pale blue eyes up at Vahn. Though she didn't say anything, it was clear that she wanted to continue touching him. Rather, had he not taken the necessary measures to seal off his draconic aura, there was a fair chance she would want to do a lot more than just touch his face...Offering an apologetic smile, Vahn brought Yggdrillia's hands together before releasing them as he said, "Though I find your form of communication novel and straightforward, there are many things I cannot afford to reveal. Be content with what I have provided..."Following his words, Vahn ruffled Yggrillia's dark brown hair. It was incredibly smooth to the touch, and, as was often the case when it came to such beings, it cascaded down to her ankles. This greatly enhanced her charm, and, if he wasn't already involved with so many women, Vahn had the distinct impression she would have smitten him with her cute and vulnerable appearance. Everything about her screamed, 'please help me', and, if not for the vast ocean of energy surging through her body, it would be easy to mistake her as a completely helpless maiden...Though he wasn't exactly complaining, far from it, Vahn had a number of draconic women in his harem. Even Fenrir had reawakened a mysterious draconic bloodline, so, if at all possible, he wanted to avoid adding too many from the outside. Theo was already a ticking time bomb, and, though Eva had been opening up to the idea of him having multiple lovers, he didn't want to arbitrarily increase the number by adding every powerful and exotic female he met into the mix...With this in mind, Vahn resisted his almost instinctual urge to tease the pouting Yggdrillia. Instead, he gently caressed her head, skipping all other formalities by asking, "So, what is your decision? The war between Megalomesembria and Hellas draws nearer with each passing day. Moving everyone is a simple matter, but, if you want to transplant the entire forest, it will take a few days."Recalling the expansive paradise Vahn had created for them, including images of what seemed to be an actual World Tree, Yggdrillia didn't have to think about her decision. She had virtually given up all hope that her children would be able to avoid destruction, yet, just when things had started to turn grim, Vahn showed up out of thin air. There was still a chance he was trying to deceive them, but, believing it was impossible for someone with malicious intentions to have such a pure aura, she readily chose to believe in him.The only thing Yggdrillia was confused about was 'why' Vahn had chosen to help them. Thus, before agreeing to move the entire population of Elfenhof, she asked, "Why do you want from us? There is nothing we can give someone with so much to give others..."Shaking his head, Vahn adopted the sincerest smile he could manage as he said, "The only thing I want from you and your people is for you to be happy. What you have been forced to experience simply isn't right. Since the world has failed you, I will create a world where you can live without the fear of being hunted down for the sake of profit and politics. If you want to repay me, work hard to prevent Elves from following in the same path as the other races. I will be sending other victims to reside in that world, so, when the time comes, I hope your people will be able to guide them to live a better life than the one that had been decided for them here..."Though she had doubts about other races cohabitating with Elves, Yggdrillia didn't think it would be a problem so long as Vahn continued to watch over them. At the very least, she could groom a few powerful children to become the protectors and guardians of the Elven people so that a repeat incident will never occur. She would never allow her children to suffer again, so, while she would do her best to adhere to Vahn's request, her foremost priority would always be the Elven people.After forming her resolution, Yggdrillia gave an understanding nod before adopting a demure smile as she said, "My children have always pursued peace and coexistence. So long as they are willing to peacefully cohabitate with us, we will never be the first to draw blood. I will treat all the children of your Realm as my own...so long as they never forget the reason why they were allowed there in the first place..."Sensing the resentment contained within Yggdrillia's words, Vahn couldn't help but release a small sigh. He couldn't actually blame her for harboring a bit of negativity towards the people that had persecuted her children for thousands of years. Mothers could be extremely overprotective, and, if he had been forced into a similar situation, Vahn knew he would have gone on a rampage if his own children had suffered a similar fate. Thus, rather than offer words of reproach to try and 'correct' her point of view, he expressed understanding as he said, "I will never allow what you are worried about to happen."Since she could sense his intentions through the palm of his hand, Yggdrillia knew Vahn wasn't just offering false promises. He might not be able to truly guarantee nothing would happen, but, for the time being, he was serious about preventing a repeat of the same tragedy. This was more than she could have ever hoped for just hours prior, so, in a heart-wrenchingly adorable manner, Yggdrillia demurely peered up at Vahn as she said, "Thank you...I choose to believe in your words. Please, call me Asha from now on. You will be the Guardian God of the Elven people from now on...though you seem to have some inhibitions towards me, it would put my heart at ease if you permitted me to serve you..."Hearing a familiar ping in his mind, Vahn did his best to maintain a sincere smile as he said, "Very well. Henceforth, you will bear the title of Dragon Priestess. It might be redundant considering you are an Ancient Dragon but that is the title traditionally bequeathed to my most fervent believers..."Though it was indeed a little redundant, Asha didn't mind being labeled as Vahn's Dragon Priestess. It was a common term that had existed since the Age of the Gods, and, though she had abandoned the practice a few hundred years ago, there had been a time when the title of Dragon Priestess had been passed down just like the title of High Elves. They had always been the spiritual leader of the Elven people, and, much like how Theo was able to summon Vrixho, her Priestess had been able to freely manifest both her physical form and power...With a bit of hope visible in her pale blue eyes, Asha nervously combed through her bangs as she asked, "Does that mean you will be marking me...?"Understanding what Asha was talking about, Vahn lightly chuckled before nodding his head and saying, "Sure. After we transplant your True Body into the World Tree, I will place my mark upon your back. For now, it is more important for us to gather your people and transport them into the world I have prepared. I don't doubt there are many eyes and ears keeping tabs on Elfenhof, so, before anyone can react to what we are doing, I want to complete transferring everyone over."Though she felt a surprising amount of disappointment, Asha decided to abide by Vahn's words. Her people were far more important than the fulfillment of her desires, so, rather than insist he inscribe his mark upon her, she was willing to wait. She wasn't quite sure what compelled her to desire his mark so badly, but, the longer she spent around him, the more Asha felt like it was her place to remain at Vahn's side...Doing her best to prevent a pout from showing on her face, Asha nodded her head in agreement before turning to Ruvyn, wordlessly extending her hand. He understood her intentions perfectly, so, with as much reverence as he could muster, Ruvyn approached Asha and allowed her to place her hand upon his face. Immediately after that, he shared what he had learned with everyone else, and, like a ripple spreading through a pond, each of the Elves began touching each other to convey the intentions of both their Ancestral Mother and Guardian God...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Other races: Spend hundreds of years to produce a High Spirit. Vahn: Exist for a few years, casually producing several...','Asha be like, "Well hello there..."','Vahn's has a lot of 'luck' when it comes to Dragon xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With permission from Asha, Vahn escorted Arika back to the Custos Rosea so that she could bring it closer to the base of Yggdrillia. Then, over the course of three days, they transplanted nearly three-hundred thousand trees into the Diorama before Vahn burned down the rest of the forest. This had drawn the attention of numerous third parties, but, after chasing away a few 'envoys', the move was completed without any major incidents.When everything was said and done, Vahn helped tether Asha to the World Tree he planted within the aptly named 'Garden of Avalon'. This resulted in the death of her True Body, and, as a result, the tree at the center of Elfenhof rapidly decayed. Fortunately, so long as she had enough energy, Asha would have very little difficulty creating a new body for herself. This was due to the fact that Ancient Dragons were basically just an evolved form of Great Spirit, a unique variant that was directly linked with Mundus Magicus itself.So long as the Magical World existed, the Four Sacred Dragons would continue to be reborn from the ambient energy within the planet itself. They would retain all their memories, and, as an added perk of being the world's protectors, they would gain resistance to whatever had killed them. The only thing that prevented this from being exploited was the fact that it would generally take around a hundred years for their body to reform anew.Now that she had been transplanted into the World Tree, effectively becoming its Guardian Spirit, Asha was no longer tethered to Mundus Magicus. This was bound to cause a magical imbalance in the outside, but, as the effects could be mitigated completely by the existence of Elementals, Vahn had decades to correct the imbalance. Besides, it wasn't like anyone could really complain when a place like Megalomesembria had been allowed to wreak havoc on the environment with impunity for nearly two-thousand years...---Abiding by his original promise, Vahn wrapped up the transplantation of the Elves by engraving his Familia Crest onto Asha's back. She had been rather eager to receive it, so, almost immediately after the final tree had been moved into the Diorama, she wasted no time in petitioning him to engrave it upon her body. Her zeal had been annoying both Eva and Arika, so, before things could become even more awkward, Vahn decided to just get the ritual over and done with.Vahn had already carved his crest upon the backs of Arika, Theo, and Asuna, but, due to the runic symbols carved into Asha's body, it took a lot longer than normal. She had a complex engraving of the original Yggdrasil carved onto her back so it took several hours for him to restructure it in a way that allowed her to continue using her druidic and plant-based abilities. Symbology was one of the most important aspects to using nature-related magic and spells, so, while they weren't completely necessary, Asha's power would decrease exponentially without the runes covering her body.Fortunately, though he might not be able to call himself a Grandmaster, Vahn had yet to meet a single person more adept than himself when it came to laying formations and modifying the core structure of runes. He had the ability to 'interpret' the meaning of runes on an instinctual level, so, while he might be limited by his Soul Tier at times, his comprehension allowed him to modify the existing structure of runes without much trouble. This would generally be considered impossible under normal circumstances, but, much like how a street artist could twist words and letters into a more artistic form, Vahn was able to perform modifications without altering the original meaning of the runes.After nearly five hours, Vahn had reshaped the glowing white runes on Asha's back to make a shape similar to a wreath. Then, within the gap formed from healthy brown skin, he engraved a marginally smaller version of his Familia Crest. This allowed him to discern Asha's parameters, skills, and magic, but, as such things had lost their meaning with the passage of time, Vahn only briefly scanned them before saying, "It's done. Put on some clothes."Hearing Vahn's words, Asha slowly peeled open her eyes before lazily raising her body and issuing an admittedly adorable yawn. The process had taken much longer than expected. It was also very comfortable, so, after the first half-hour had passed, she gradually began to doze off. She had been a little worried about offending Vahn, but, as she never sensed any anger or frustration from him, it was safe to say he didn't particularly mind if she slept on the comfortable table he had prepared.While rubbing away the moisture from her eyes, Asha peered over at Vahn with one eye, asking, "Is that an order? I don't particularly like wearing clothes. I feel closer to nature when I'm naked."As Asha was 'very' similar to Terra, sans draconic features, Vahn was well aware of her preference for being naked. This was exacerbated by the fact that nakedness didn't seem to be that big a deal in the Akamatsuverse, but, as it would set a bad example if she was always naked, Vahn adopted a wry smile as he said, "I won't force you, but, when you are around other people, I would appreciate it if you wear clothes. Did you not like the dress I gifted you...?"Hearing Vahn's final remark, Asha awoke with a start, both hands waving from side to side as she hastily answered, "No! It's great! I love it!"Remembering the unique dress that Vahn had given her, a flowery garment that literally changed forms with the seasons, Asha suddenly felt extremely guilty. She actually liked the dress quite a bit, but, as she had lived the majority of her life without clothes, it felt weird to suddenly start wearing them...Though he wasn't proactively trying to tease her, Vahn found all of Asha's reactions rather amusing. She was an inordinately adorable woman, and, with pointed ears and healthy brown skin, she had a unique charm compared to other Elves. Unfortunately, as he could be rather obstinate after making up his mind, Vahn had already developed a fair amount of resistance to her charms. The fact he had Eva watching over him like a hawk also prevented him from misbehaving more than he should...With a light chuckle, Vahn resisted the urge to pet Asha's head as he said, "I'm glad. Now, run along and get changed. The banquet has already started and I'm sure your children will feel more at ease after you arrive. My other self is already there so you don't have to worry about whether or not I will be in attendance."As he had already answered her question, Asha's words got stuck in her throat as her expression morphed into one of demure embarrassment. Then, after casting a quick glance toward Eva, she quickly alighted from the small chamber, three pairs of pixie-like wings sprouting from her back as she ascended towards the massive World Tree towering in the distance.Immediately following Asha's departure, Eva released an exasperated sigh before remarking, "You really have a way with women, don't you? Is this really how all-female dragons behave around you? That last look of her's was like a puppy that had been beaten and abandoned by its mother...haaa..."With a helpless smile on his face, Vahn lightly shrugged his shoulders before answering, "I'm pretty sure it has more to do with the purity of my energy than anything else. I've temporarily sealed my draconic aura so that shouldn't be the reason. Rather, I've always been rather popular with Spirits, especially those related to nature. Being a God of Creation doesn't exactly help...hahaha..."Remembering that Vahn was, indeed, a God of Creation, Eva couldn't help but roll her eyes as she made her way over to his side. She knew Asha's behavior wasn't actually his fault, as he had been taking proactive measures to avoid exacerbating the situation, so, rather than blame him, he linked her arms around his neck and said, "Even if you did the right thing, this incident is going to draw a lot of negative attention. The Elves have always been a valuable commodity in Mundus Magicus so there is no way those old snakes will just let their precious resource be taken from them."As if a switch had been flipped within his mind, Vahn began releasing a subtle yet oppressive aura from his body as he wrapped his hands around Eva's waist and answered, "Let them come. So long as I have something to protect, my power is infinite. I have been pretty lenient thus far, but, if they think I'll just stand by as they slander my name and conspire against me, I will be forced to remind them of their mortality..."Hearing the conviction in Vahn's voice, Eva could feel a heat gradually spreading through her body. She still had a bit of a sadistic side, so, whenever she heard him talk about punishing the same fools who had made her life a living hell, she couldn't help but get a little excited. The fact they would be parting relatively soon also filled her with more trepidation than she had anticipated, and, if not for the promise they had made, she wasn't sure she could be able to restrain herself.Further complicating matters, Vahn began to gently massage the area just above Eva's butt. She could feel the heat in her body increase, and, as she hadn't done anything to stop him, he slowly snaked his hands down until he was directly massaging both her cheeks. He put enough force into his hands to lift her body from the ground, and, as was often the case in recent days, it wasn't long before they were passionately entangled atop the nearby massage table...---With the Custos Rosea having long departed in its stealth mode, several ships from surrounding countries had started to comb the desolated land that was once Elfenhof. The majority of these ships belonged to the nearby countries of Moeris and Antigone, but, as could be expected, there were a number of military vessels belonging to both the Hellas Empire and Megalomesembrian Confederacy nearby. The Elves had always been an important asset to them, so, with reports saying the country had spontaneously erupted into flames, they couldn't ignore it.What Vahn couldn't have anticipated was that among the fleet of whale-like vessels belonging to Megalomesembria a much smaller Airfish could be seen flitting about without any consideration for standard military protocol. There was nothing particularly noteworthy about this Airfish, as it was a relatively standard model, but, standing atop its outer hull, a youth with two shades of dark red hair could be seen lackadaisically holding a wooden staff whose end roughly resembled a lightning bolt.Behind the youth, an even younger-looking youth with white hair, silvery eyes, and perpetual blush marks on his face had an amused smile on his face as he answered his protege's previous question, explaining, "Contrary to the reports, it doesn't seem as though a battle took place here. Though the forest was certainly set aflame, there is no notable damage to the terrain. The interior forest is also completely missing, so, rather than a battle, it seems like someone actually dug up the entire forest and moved it elsewhere..."Hearing his Master's explanation, the red-haired youth nodded his head, an expectant smile on his face as she said, "Well, regardless of what really happened, I still want to track them down. There's no way I can ignore a chance to fight against something like an Ancient Dragon. I can already feel my blood boiling in expectation!"Understanding his protege's character well, the white-haired youth issued an amused laugh before pulling out an ornate telescopic device. It was an extremely valuable Artifact known as the Hermes' Looking Glass, and, if used properly, it had the ability to track a target by allowing its user to view a vision of past events. Though a skilled opponent could evade its scope, trying to hide the removal of an entire forest would be a difficult feat, to say the least.By adjusting the focus of the telescopic lens, the white-haired youth was able to catch a glimpse of Arika, Asuna, Eva, and Fenrir transporting trees into a large crystalline diorama. The presence of Eva startled him quite a bit, but, curiously, no matter where he looked, he could not find a single trace of the man known as the Sage Dragon Emperor. It was almost like he didn't exist, but, if you looked closely, it was possible to discern the after-effects of someone very powerful using various skills and abilities...After forwarding and rewinding time numerous times, the man closed the telescopic lens and said, "They headed South. Based on their departure vector, I would assume they are headed for either Vairocana or Al Jamila. There are Great Spirits in both locations so it is likely they will appear in both destinations at some point. If I were them, I would probably head to Vairocana first. Though, given the actions of the Sage Dragon Emperor thus far, I don't imagine he will try to lay low...how curious. I can't help but wonder about the origins of this mysterious Ancient Dragon..."Nodding his head in agreement, the red-haired youth pointed his staff towards the South, an eager smile on his face as he said, "Then what are we waiting for!? Let's give chase! They can't have gone that far in just a few hours! I can't wait to see the strength of an Ancient Dragon for myself!"Understanding the futility of trying to dissuade his young protege, the white-haired youth issued a small nod before also turning his gaze toward the South and muttering, "It seems fate has diverged ever since your arrival...I truly hope you aren't our enemy, Vahn Aldrnari Mason..."After seeing his Master nod, the red-haired youth was no longer paying any attention to what the former was saying. Instead, he popped open a small hatch that led to the interior of the Airfish, an excited smile on his face as he yelled at a distinctly Japanese-looking man, exclaiming, "Ala Rubra is going rogue! Tell that quintuple-horned bastard that he can shove his regulations up his ass! We're going dragon hunting...!"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Scholars hate him!','Seems like Eva has replaced her thirst for blood with a new kind...','Vahn be like, "Hold my Realm...I'm 'bout to end this man's whole career..."')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

As it was exceptionally rare to have visitors within Elfenhof, the presence of Vahn's group stood out like an artificial sun shining in the evening sky. It was a fearful and confusing event that caused the older Elves to quickly secure the younger generation in a complex network of underground tunnels while the few warriors and mages among their population quickly congregated around the peculiar procession.Though the reaction of the Elves seemed excessively cautious and hostile, Vahn knew they had a very good reason for behaving as such. Their total population had been reduced to fewer than six-thousand, and, without the protection of Yggdrillia, they would have been wiped out long ago. This made them extremely cautious of outsiders, as, throughout history, there were numerous examples of former allies turning into just another group trying to exploit them.Fortunately, as a race that could read memories, intentions, and emotions through touch, there was no need for any complex explanation. It only took the members of the escort party making physical contact with their kin to convey everything that needed to be 'said'. This was an extremely coveted ability, as, not only did it allow them to pass knowledge from one generation to another, it virtually invalidated the need for a complex political system. There was no need for falsehoods, and, as they had always lived in close-knit communities, finding an Elf selfishly pursuing their own interests was 'exceptionally' rare...---While the Elves were busy exchanging information through touch, Vahn had a curious glimmer in his glowing blue eyes. He was trying to identify what made the Elves of the Akamatsuverse different than their counterparts in other Records, but, other than a few subtle differences, there was nothing that particularly stood out. Their ability to read and exchange memories actually seemed to parallel his ability to meld with other people. This actually made it seem even more intimate, but, unless he was overlooking something, it didn't actually seem to be the result of an Innate...Unaware of what was going through Vahn's mind, Eva and Arika had awkward expressions on their faces as they watched the Elves silently communicate with each other. It was very strange to see so many people holding hands, touching each others' faces, and placing their foreheads against each other. This incongruity was exacerbated by the fact that most of the Elves remained silent in spite of the clear excitement that was visible on their faces. It looked like they would happily cry out at any moment, but, rather than do so, they would just smile radiantly while happily embracing their fellow Elves...A stark contrast to Eva and Arika, Asuna and Fenrir had relatively plain expressions. The former had a curious glimmer in her eyes, and, after watching the scene play out for several minutes, she didn't hesitate to approach Vahn and grab his hand. To his surprise, he could feel something similar to her intent invade his body, probing around like an inquisitive traveler who had just entered a city for the first time.Fortunately, Sis was always paying very close attention, so, rather than forcibly repel and potentially injure the mischievous young genius, she allowed Asuna to access the memories directly pertaining to her. At the same time, Vahn recovered from his incredulity, a wry smile on his face as he said, "It isn't polite to peek into someone's memories without permission, Asuna. Everyone has their secrets, and, if you aren't careful, you can experience a terrifying backlash if your target made preparations beforehand..."As it was surprisingly difficult to speak while your intent was perusing something else, Asuna had a dull expression on her face as she nodded mechanically in response. She was doing her best to try and retract her intent, but, as if it was some kind of exceptionally comfortable labyrinth, she found herself lost within the complex network of Vahn's Spiritual Body. Part of her even considered never returning to her body, but, as this wasn't exactly an option, she didn't resist when Vahn's intent, like a reliable adult finding a lost child, guided her return.Seeing the clarity return to Asuna's eyes, Vahn lightly pinched her nose before saying, "Promise me you won't use that ability on anyone that doesn't properly understand it. In the worst-case scenario, you might not even be able to return to your own body. Not everyone has the ability to control and guide their intent, and, more often than not, the mind reacts violently to external probing. We'll add this ability to your future training. Until you have proper control, I don't want you to use it when I'm not around."Feeling uncharacteristically fatigued, Asuna issued a rather adorable yawn before rubbing her right eye and answering, "I promise. I just wanted to try it out and you seemed like the best choice. I'm sorry if I troubled you..."Knowing Asuna didn't have any malicious intent, just childish curiosity, Vahn adopted a gentle look in his eyes as he affectionately rubbed her head. He also had a bad habit of trying out new abilities without properly considering the consequences, so, rather than rebuke her, he promptly decided he would help her master the ability. It would further enhance her already ridiculous capabilities, and, if used without malicious intent, it was one of the most 'honest' forms of communication imaginable.With the combination of her mental exhaustion and Vahn's petting, it didn't take long for Asuna to succumb to the Sandman's call. Fortunately, she was still very petite, and, though the black mesh on her body increased her weight by 300kg, Vahn had no trouble holding her in a koala-carry. She had matured to the point where she didn't like being carried like a 'child', but, as she couldn't complain while asleep, Vahn defaulted to the most convenient hold.Having witnessed the incident from start to finish, Eva couldn't help but remark, "That brat can be pretty terrifying at times..."Hearing the remark, Vahn issued a light chuckle, gently patting Asuna's back as he answered, "The capabilities of a person should not determine how they are treated. There is nothing even remotely terrifying about such an adorable little creature...please remember that."As children could be extremely perceptive of how others viewed them, Vahn couldn't help but feel a little worried about Asuna's future. She had an outgoing personality, but, as a result of her peerless capabilities, others were bound to feel suppressed by her existence. He knew this quite well, as, due to his own capabilities, it was almost impossible for him to have any close male friends. The best he could hope for was a master-protege relationship, as, even if he went to a place like Naruto or One Piece, it would be impossible for him to go at the pace of the main characters he once admired...Though it would undoubtedly be enjoyable to just go with the flow, Vahn's character and mentality made it impossible for him to ignore wrongdoings taking place right in front of him. He would not be able to ignore the actions of the Celestial Dragons, and, if he went to a place like Naruto, there was even a chance he would outright 'adopt' the titular main character. He would then spend years bringing reform to the ninja world, removing elements like Danzo and Orochimaru long before they reached the pinnacle of their power. This would change the story on a fundamental level, and, while not exactly a 'bad' thing, Vahn's thoughts on the Records had changed quite a bit since his journey began...When he first set out in the Western Forest nearly 260 years prior, Vahn had aspirations of visiting countless Records. He had always dreamed of being a character within the various stories he had read, and, though it was a little selfish, he wanted to use his knowledge of said stories to improve upon the plot. He wanted to save various characters, grow stronger, and, as he didn't understand the complexities of an actual relationship, there were even a number of female characters he had been crushing on. He even thought about using his knowledge to make them like him, ignoring the fact he would essentially be grooming them by directly manipulating their circumstances and taking advantage of their vulnerabilities.Now that he had matured a bit, Vahn knew it was actually very selfish of him to enter into a Record. As a result, he had an obligation to either make the world a better place or empower those with the ability to do so. His power was quickly reaching a point where he was more involved with the forces keeping the Record together than the characters involved in the actual plot. Though this could be circumvented by entering a version of the Record with a higher tier, this would either fundamentally change the plot and its characters, or, far more likely, result in a world where the original plot took place in just one small part of a much larger multiverse.After having ample time to prepare for the Akamatsuverse, Vahn had started to realize that it would become progressively harder to increase his Soul Tier if he knew what to expect from a Record. He needed to get out of his comfort zone, and, though it would undoubtedly cause him to experience a few hardships, he needed to contend against unknown danger rather than arbitrarily plan around variables he was already aware of.Though it was currently a matter for the far future, Vahn had already decided that his next Record would be a variable world ranging between Tiers 1-6. Sis had informed him of the impossibility of overcoming a Tier 7 entity, as they could literally 'imagine' your existence away, so, in order to reach Tier 7 himself, he would need to overcome beings at the peak of Tier 6. This would require those at Tier 6 to be 'evil' entities, so, rather than enter a more structured world, he would have to enter one where even a normal person could conceivably rise to the pinnacle.The downside to entering a Record where everyone had the potential of reaching the peak was that they were usually founded on a hierarchal structure. Though there would be 'infinite' exceptions to this rule, these would typically be governed by 'good' T6 entities, so, for his purposes, Vahn needed to choose a Record that was 'fundamentally' flawed. This virtually guaranteed the existence of a strength-based social hierarchy, and, as was often the case in such scenarios, it meant there would be a considerable number of people suffering from tyranny and corruption.Vahn knew he grew the fastest when there were powerful enemies using their power to suppress others. Thus, if he entered a Record where even the Gods proactively suppressed people, his growth would be truly monstrous. He would fight his way all the way to the top of the Record, and, though it would be impossible to completely eliminate 'evil', reaching T7 should allow him to, quite literally, alter the Laws of the omniverse. He could create a system that rewarded the virtuous more than the wicked, and, though this was bound to have problems of its own, he would have a literal eternity to address them...---Seeing Vahn fall into one of his characteristic ruminations, Eva couldn't help but roll her eyes before looking between Arika and Fenrir. She didn't bother to comment on Vahn's remark about how she should treat Asuna, as, even without him telling her, she had no intention of treating the young girl poorly. Rather, she was quite fond of the twin-tailed 'monster', and, though there were times when she was annoyed by Asuna's behavior, she generally just used it as an opportunity to tease Vahn.Noticing Eva's gaze, Arika offered an uncharacteristically wry smile before crossing her arms and lightly shrugging. They were both aware of the fact that Vahn had ambitions far beyond their world, but, at least for the time being, he couldn't tell them about it. Despite this, they placed a great deal of trust in him, as, even without an explanation, they knew he would always do his best to make the world a better place and help as many people as possible. This was a sentiment they all shared, so, even if Vahn could be a bit awkward at times, neither of the golden-haired beauties faulted him for it...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Touching intensifies...','Asuna would make a great Uchiha...','Vahn about to show some cultivators the breadth of the Heavens...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1611: Empathy