Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Against even the wildest of expectations, the bout between Theo and Jack was neither one-sided nor the pretentious exhibition many had expected it to be. Instead, it was an intense battle where, against all odds, the comparably petite Theo was able to go blow-for-blow against a man known to shatter mountains with his bare fists. Even more ridiculous was the fact that, while she was pushed back a number of times, the person sent crashing into the walls of the arena, time and again, was actually Jack.Though he wasn't really sustaining any serious injuries, Jack was unable to exercise the full extent of his power for fear of critically injuring, or even killing, Theo. As a result, he had been unable to find the sweet spot between Theo's defenses and her actual durability. Even breaking through her aura took an extraordinary amount of effort, and, though he hadn't noticed it at first, subsequent strikes had revealed there was a thin mesh covering her entire body. This paper-thin membrane, against all expectations, was actually harder than most metals he had struck, and, due to its flexibility, the vast majority of his attacks were completely mitigated...In an effort to confirm his suspicions, Jack took advantage of the moment when Theo had leaped into the air to generate a massive shockwave with his aura. As a result, she was blasted high into the sky, but, once again demonstrating a surprising degree of combat proficiency, Theo actually 'bounced' off of thin air before flickering through the void like a phantom. He recognized this as the advanced movement technique, Koku Shundo, but, as it often took years just to master the basics, it was quite a surprise to see Theo bounding around freely.Sensing an impending attack, Jack crossed his arms as an appreciative smile spread across his face. This looked like a defensive posture to most, but, just as Theo's figure appeared in front of him, his own vanished. In the next instant, his hand had been spread wide, and, like a top suspended in the air, Theo was left rotating rapidly before her body inevitably crashed into the ground, hard.Jack realized it would be impossible to end the fight without injuring Theo, so, in an effort to try and end things before they got too far out of hand, he resolved himself and decided to apologize after the fact...Though she hadn't sustained any actual damage, Theo felt the wind forced from her lungs by the unexpected impact. Despite this, she was able to recover almost instantly, an excited smile on her face as she attempted to sweep Jack's legs out from under him. To her surprise, however, a wispy golden aura pulsed from his body just as her foot was about to make contact with his tree-like legs. The pulse acted as a cushion of sorts that perfectly dissipated the force of her own blow. As a result, there was a brief moment where her movement had ceased completely, and, in that exact moment, Jack's fist, which was larger than her entire head, smashed into her impromptu guard.For the first time since the start of the match, Theo experienced what it was like to be bounced across the arena's floor like a rock skipping across a lake. At the end of her relatively short journey, her body crashed into the incredibly durable barrier surrounding the arena. She learned that it was actually much harder than the floor itself, but, before she could even lament this fact, Theo opened her eyes to see another fist barreling directly toward her face...With very little time to dodge, Theo attempted to raise her guard as she craned her flexible body to the right. In the same motion, she kicked outward with her left leg, but, from just the air pressure of Jack's fist alone, she was sent smashing back into the barrier as his fast made direct contact with her arm. She felt her own first smack into her face as an overwhelming force surged into her body, pain emitting from the bones of her left arm as it seemed to conform to the shape of Jack's fist.Surprising them both, Theo's arm didn't actually break from the impact, and, though it felt like she had momentarily blacked out when her head slammed into the arena's barrier, she hadn't sustained any visible injuries. A ki-infused shockwave had clearly passed through her body, but, as if she was completely immune to damage, it dissipated almost instantly. In its wake, replacing the momentary pain, a feeling of exhilaration swelled up inside Theo that made it impossible to restrain the smile spreading across her face...Jack sensed there was something very wrong with the current situation, but, even faster than his superhuman reactions, Theo managed to grip the thumb of his right hand. He was suddenly seized by the feeling his digit had been trapped in an unbreakable vice. By pure instinct, he succeeded in pulling away his hand and creating some distance between himself and Theo, but, in the process, all the flesh from his thumb had been less-than-cleanly removed...Even Theo was surprised by her own strength, but, rather than show any perturbation, she crushed the surprisingly 'grilled' piece of flesh in her hand. Then, kicking the ground with enough force to cause a literal eruption, Theo turned into an extended blur as she attempted to capitalize on her advantage. She knew Jack could regenerate from such wounds without too much difficulty, and, if her Master's words were to be believed, which they always were, it might not even be possible for him to die. Thus, without questioning why the ground around her had started to turn into magma, Theo continued to rain down meteoric blows on an uncharacteristically serious and focused Jack...Though Theo seemed completely oblivious to the fact, Jack, and everyone else observing the fight, had mixed reactions to the changes occurring in the arena. To their amazement, confusion, and a wide range of other emotions, Theo's horns had actually started to branch. At the same time, three more horns had sprouted from her head, two above the original pair and one from her crown. They had the same ivory white color as usual, but, instead of a gentle curve, they became more angular, and, even from a distance, the crowd could tell they were inordinately sharp.It if had just been her horns, the crowd wouldn't have been too surprised, but, from the small of her back, just above her butt, a rather thick white tail had sprung from Theo's body. Her hands and feet had also visibly transformed, and, though her clothes and mesh kept most of the changes hidden, a peculiar pattern that glowed like a yellowish flame began to spread from her hands and feet, slowly snaking its way up her arms and legs...Perhaps the most notable change, at least from the perspective of Jack, was that the once-white sclera of Theo's eyes had turned completely black. As for her eyes, they had lost their pristine blue color, shifting into a glistening amber that, like the smile on her face, exhibited an incredible thirst for battle. She seemed to be completely enthralled by the battle, but, rather than appear drunk on power, Jack was surprised to find clarity within Theo's draconic visage...Hoping to confirm his suspicions, Jack stepped backward slightly faster than Theo had delivered her blow. At the same time, he did something he would undoubtedly receive several complaints about later, grabbing Theo's horns and pulling her off balance. To some, this was akin to hitting below the belt or targetting the butt or bosom of a woman, as, even more so than other parts of their bodies, the horns of a Hellasian could be very sensitive.Even Theo hadn't expected Jack to sudden yank her by the horns, so, without any suspense, she ended up slamming face-first into the ground with enough force to create a small crater. Despite this, she was more distracted by the painful throbbing emanating from her horns, and, though she was actually fond of small amounts of pain, Theo couldn't help but tear up slightly as she held her head and sobbingly muttered, "You asshole...I hate you..."Jack obviously felt guilty for what he had done, but, as he 'needed' to confirm Theo's state of mind, it was one of the best methods available. She didn't seem like she was going to stop attacking him any time soon, so, in an effort to buy some time, he had to resort to the rather shameless method just to calm her down. This earned him a shower of booing from the crowd, but, without worrying about them, Jack adopted an apologetic smile as he said, "Sorry, kid. I needed to confirm you were still with us. Have you noticed the state of your body?"Hearing Jack's words, Theo inspected her own body, but, unlike the crowd, she didn't show any particular surprise. Instead, she adopted a glowering look as she said, "You pulled on my horns for such a stupid reason? You really are a dumb gorilla...don't expect me to forgive you..."Though she was actually very surprised by the changes to her body, Theo didn't think it merited having her horns pulled on. She suspected there was a different reason behind Jack's actions, but, regardless of what he might say, she wouldn't be content until she had gotten even. Thus, before he could say anything further, she formed her hands into claws as a pair of stylish black gauntlets formed around them...Feeling a shudder run through his body like a bolt of electricity, Jack's figure became illusory as a gauntleted fist pierced through the area where his groin had been moments prior. He could feel a cold sweat begin to develop across his body, as, after failing her attack, Theo glared at him with the characteristic look of a woman scorned. Though her slightly puffed cheeks made her appear rather adorable, the determined vindication visible in her eyes promised 'extreme' pain the moment she managed to get her hands on him. To further exacerbate matters, she had the absolute support of the crowd, who, despite their curiosity regarding Theo's changes, felt Jack deserved a beating...---While his daughter was chasing Jack around the arena like a cat trying to crush a grasshopper, the Emperor, Michael, had a serious expression on his face as he briefly turned to Vrixho and asked, "Do you know what happened to my daughter?"With a serious expression of his own, Vrixho, appearing like a kindly elder, lightly shook his head before saying, "I cannot be certain, but it would seem that Theo has awakened the bloodline of the Ancient Hellasian people. Were that the case, however, I should have been able to sense it. Instead, it seems like there is a foreign power stimulating the blood in her body. It is even suppressing the connection between myself and Theo, though, from what I can ascertain, this doesn't seem to be intentional. It is more like Theo, herself, is subconsciously suppressing the power I have bestowed her..."Though their words weren't spoken very loudly, Vrixho's explanation was heard by everyone in the private booth reserved for the Imperial Family. This included the First Prince and Princess, the latter of which, without minding the fact she was talking over her father, asked, "Are you saying that Theo is resisting the contract with her own power? Does that not imply that power is nearing your own, Great Ancestor...?"Nodding his head, Vrixho adopted an uncharacteristically solemn expression as he explained, "At her current rate of growth, I imagine Theo will surpass me within the next three years. She still has a long way to go, but, at her current level, she would be able to overwhelm most Great Spirits without assistance. It's like there is an infinite mass of energy contained within her body, and, over time, her capacity to wield it seems to be growing alongside her own reserves..."Hearing Vrixho's statement, all three of the Imperials were surprised, as, based on his testimony, it implied that Theo didn't simply have the potential to surpass an Ancient Dragon, it was virtually a guarantee. If the energy within her body was truly infinite, that meant the only limit to her growth was the passage of time. This had numerous implications, but, most importantly, it guaranteed that the Empire would be entering a new era, one built upon the foundation of Theo's power...Turning her attention back to the battlefield, an appreciative smile spread across the First Princess' face. She was considered one of the most powerful people in the entire Empire, but, compared to Jack and her much younger sister, there was a vast gulf. Despite this, she didn't consider it a bad thing, as, unlike the Second Prince, she had always been in the faction that heavily doted upon her beloved younger sister. Theo was the treasure of the Imperial Family, and, as if fate was rewarding their adulation, she ended up being the greatest of them all...As this thought crossed her mind, the First Princess, Malin Bashireia Herasu De Vesuperisujimia, was surprised to hear her father groan, "It seems the fate of the Empire is already in the grip of the Sage Dragon Emperor..."Though Malina was aware of Theo's appointment as Imperial Ambassador, she had been busy commanding the Southern Fleet along the Argyrian border. The impending war had occupied all of her focus so, despite hearing various rumors regarding the Sage Dragon Emperor, she was taken aback by her father's utterance, worriedly asking, "Father...?"As his eldest two children were part of his circle of trust and two of his most competent military commanders, Michael decided to be forthright with them, pointing out, "Have you noticed the choker around Theo's neck? I had Henryk attempt to analyze it but the only thing he was able to determine it had a concealment function. Despite that, Theo doesn't even try to conceal it...I trust you understand my meaning?"Remembering the purpose of this event was to complete Theo's Rite of Challenge, both Malina and Casimir, the First Prince, frowned. They both cared deeply for their younger sister, so, understanding their father's implication, neither was all that enthused about it. Her age was one reason, but, more than that, it was the fact that she was displaying a choker. This implied that she was in a submissive relationship, and, while that wasn't necessarily a bad thing, it became a major issue when the other party was a contentious element or a foreign power.Though he empathized with the thoughts of his children, Michael surprised them by shaking his head and saying, "You are not to intervene in this matter. Not only has Theo made her choice, but the power she received is undoubtedly due to the Sage Dragon Emperor. Even Vrixho isn't certain of victory, so, for the time being, it is best to allow Theo to be willful. She has already demonstrated an uncharacteristic amount of maturity for her age, and, though it remains to be seen just how far his influence reaches, it is likely that the Sage Dragon Emperor has already extended his influence into the affairs of both Ariadne and Ostia. He has also transported the Elves somewhere beyond our ability to detect, so, for the time being, there are no benefits in prying into his private affairs."Despite feeling as though he had aged several years during a single explanation, Michael, like many long-lived Hellasians, had a habit of trusting his gut. It had gotten him through numerous battles in the past, and, though he had never fought on the frontlines, he had famously commanded both the Northern and Southern Fleets through several successful campaigns. Thus, even if it made his blood boil quite a bit, Michael decided it was best to simply support his daughter. Her actions might result in a complete shift in the social and political dynamic of the Empire, but, at the very least, she would have more than enough power to reign supreme...Almost as soon as that thought crossed his mind, Michael witnessed his daughter dropkick Jack in the face, and, though it didn't do much damage, it sent him tumbling backward with two trails of blood flowing from his nose...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Theo is a tough cookie','Booooooo...!','Michael is surprisingly wise for an idiot who lets his son do whatever he wants...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After a cat and mouse game lasting several minutes, with Jack almost wholly on the defensive, it was beginning to seem like Theo would actually come out on top. Her strength had already made a deep impression on every member of the audience, and, though none of her moves were flashy or over the top, the entire arena had been turned into a field of fiery brimstone by the mere act of her jumping around. This made it a lot harder to see what was actually going on, but, whenever she and Jack would trade blows with each other, visible shockwaves would slam into the arena's barrier and cause the surrounding temperature to increase slightly.As the person on the receiving end of Theo's onslaught, Jack knew better than anyone else just how powerful she had become. He had even sustained a number of internal injuries from the blows that had managed to slip through his guard, and, if he lost focus for even a moment, it felt like his body would be fragmented and burned by what he had dubbed 'Earth-Fire Ki'.Though infusing elemental energy into Ki wasn't particularly rare, it typically required a combination of hand seals, talismans, and special techniques to manifest it externally. During this process, the Ki would be converted into the elemental energy, and, though it was still considered a Ki-based attack, it would be more accurate to call it Ki-fueled. Keeping Ki infused in the attack would generally cause it to dissipate, so, unless you were already at the level of a Master, externalizing an attack that used both Ki and elemental energy was exceptionally difficult.Theo had obviously reached a level that qualified her as a Master, but, while her attacks and combat style were highly refined, Jack was able to sense that she wasn't proactively fusing elemental energy into her Ki. Instead, her Ki seemed to inherently possess both Fire and Earth Elemental Energy. This was surprising on its own, but, even more so was the fact that the energies didn't conflict with or try to devour each other. The two worked in perfect concert with each other, and, as a result, Theo was able to both 'petrify' and 'burn' targets using otherwise normal attacks.While her attacks were troublesome in their own right, the most troubling aspect of Theo's Ki was the influence it had on her surroundings. The ground where she walked would dry up in an instant, and, if she stood in one area for an extended period of time, it would even begin to crack apart and produce strange yellow flames. These flames not only caused the temperature to skyrocket but, as their name, Earth-Fire, implied, they had the ability to dry out and ultimately petrify even the water molecules within the air. This caused a phenomenon similar to 'ashing', and, though his own aura was able to stave off the effects, even Jack's skin had become rough and coarse due to prolonged exposure.Needless to say, Theo had become terrifyingly strong in an inordinately short period of time. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, as she was clearly in control of her actions, but, depending on how it was used, such extreme levels of power could easily become a corrupting force. This was especially true when the weilder was still young, so, while he felt proud of Theo's growth, he couldn't help but curse Vahn for bestowing so much power on an innocent and outgoing young girl...Blocking another one of Theo's strikes, resulting in his palm nearly turning to stone, Jack released a paradoxically appreciative yet tired sigh. His serious look rapidly relaxed into a magnetic smile, and, though his eyes continued to blaze like tiny suns within the shadow of his seemingly indestructible bandana, their light appeared more caring than fierce. This caused Theo to lose the momentum she had been building, but, instead of dropping her guard, she used Shundo to open up a gap before asking, "What's gotten into you?"Before answering Theo's question, Jack stared at the cracked skin of his palm before gently shaking his head and saying, "It's nothing. Just know that I'm proud of how strong you've become. It would have been better if you obtained this power when you were older but I guess we don't always get a choice in the direction of our growth..."Hearing Jack's rather melancholic remark, Theo scrunched up her face slightly as she said, "You're acting weird, Jack. This was the path I chose by myself, for myself. I'm not sure what you're thinking, but I can't help feeling as though you have misunderstood something. Though I absolutely received a number of blessings during my training, I'm here today because of my own efforts. I trained hard every single day to exceed my limits, and, no matter how far I lagged behind everyone else, I never gave up pushing myself in order to reach my goal. It made me happy to hear you say you're proud of me, Jack, but, as this is a power I obtained through tireless effort, it's painful to hear you speak as if I didn't earn it..."Seeing the dispirited look on Theo's face, Jack's smile became a little awkward as he found himself at a loss for words. Her mention of lagging behind others rung a lot of alarm bells in the back of his mind, but, knowing he had wronged her, there were more important things to worry about. Thus, in an effort to make it up to her, he adopted an actual stance for the first time, a battle-hungry grin on his face as he said, "Sorry about that, kid. I'm just being a little sentimental. You've really grown a lot since the last time I saw you...now, show me the limits of your power!"Immediately following his outburst, a massive crimson aura erupted from Jack's body like a raging inferno. All the blood that had caked his body seemed to evaporate in an instant, and, though his natural regeneration had always been high, even his thumb began to heal at a noticeable rate. At the same time, his spiky hair became even more pronounced as the long bangs that usually framed his face began to flare upward against the pull of gravity.Theo knew Jack had been holding back since the beginning of the battle, but, feeling his aura up close, most of her fighting spirit dried up in an instant. His figure seemed to rapidly increase in size, and, before she realized it, he seemed to be towering over her like a mountain. This nearly triggered her fight-or-flight response, but, after facing even greater auras during her training, she was able to remain relatively calm as she roared, "Sound the Call for Battle! War Goddess' Herald, grant me the Greatest Output! Vis Maxima~!"Though it didn't stand out quite as much as Jack's, Theo's aura made it appear as though her entire body was wreathed in peculiar yellow flames. Fortunately, elevating her presence even above that of the Legendary Hero, the smoldering fires throughout the arena seemed to awaken in response to her call. Several pillars of Earth-Fire spontaneously erupted into existence, and, though it wasn't obvious to the average onlooker, the more perceptive members of the audience noticed an earthen layer slowly creeping across the surface of the magical barrier...Being the most perceptive in the entire Coliseum, Jack quickly realized the problem of a prolonged engagement, so, before the barrier could be compromised his aura surged even more as his figure vanished from view. At the same time, seemingly echoing through the void itself, his voice could be heard uttering, "Rakan Impact!" as he reappeared behind Theo. A combination of magic and ki had been forcibly amalgamated into a rudimentary sphere in his right hand, and, though it wasn't a true fusion of the two energies, the destructive potential contained within was monstrous.Surprised by Rakan's imperceptibly fast Shundo, Theo barely even had the time to widen her eyes as a feeling of weightlessness preceded an excruciating amount of pain. It felt like all the nerves in her body were screaming out in protest, and, following the massive explosion generated by Rakan's trademark ability, Theo found herself buried beneath several tons of rubble that had been formed from the 300m long trench carved by her body.Rakan wasn't sure about the threshold of Theo's defensive abilities, but, based on his prior analysis, she was at least durable enough to tank the main cannon of an Air Whale. This was comparable to the output of his Rakan Impact, so, while she was bound to suffer a few light injuries, it shouldn't be enough to take her out of the fight. Thus, before she could emerge from the trench, he leaped high into the air, demonstrating remarkable flexibility as he arched backward and roared, "Rakan for the Hell of it Right Hand Punch...!"Following the rather comical outburst, Rakan threw what appeared to be a normal punch toward the ground. In response, a pillar of dirt more than 100m tall erupted from the ground as both the barrier and the Coliseum itself visibly shuddered. When the dust began to settle, the outline of a fist could be seen imprinted into the arena floor, extending nearly ten meters into the durable surface material. At the very center, Theo could be seen holding up her arms in a crossguard, and, much to the surprise of everyone present, she appeared to be virtually uninjured.Having felt the feedback of his attack, Jack knew Theo hadn't come out unscathed. He wasn't sure why she appeared uninjured, but, having felt her bones strain under the force of his blow, he knew she wasn't indestructible. Instead, she seemed to possess an ability that provided both durability and near-instantaneous regeneration.Deciding to put his theory to the test, Jack bolted forward the moment Theo rolled to her feet and attempted to create some distance between them. She actually managed to react to his speed this time, releasing an explosive burst of Ki from her palm, but, like an emboldened youth spitting into the winds of a hurricane, her attack shattered instantly as a bit of the explosion rebounded and hit her. At the same time, Jack grabbed her outstretched wrist, his eyes seeming to turn into brilliant stars as he shouted, "Rakan Mega Wild Throw...!"Like a dreidle released from its string, Jack spun around at several rotations per second, creating a literal vortex among the dirt and debris in the surrounding. Then, at the exact moment Theo's body slackened from the centrifugal force, the momentum of his spin was converted into pure downward force as he slammed her body into the arena hard enough to send a visible ripple through the floor. As a result, the entire arena seemed to descend a few centimeters as Theo, displaying the blacks of her eyes, lay embedded surprisingly shallow in its surface...Though it seemed like he had won, Jack didn't lower his guard for even a moment. This ended up being the correct choice, as, in the blink of an eye, Theo regained consciousness, her dislocated shoulder instantly setting itself as she attempted to grab his wrist.Realizing the only way to end the fight was to either capture or completely overwhelm her, Jack evaded Theo's attack by leaping upward once again. Then, accounting for the fact she would try to avoid, a serious glimmer flashed across his eyes as he shouted, "Rakan Ten Thousand Simultaneous Strikes...!"While far from ten-thousand blows, Rakan released a series of punches so swift that his upper body seemed to twist and distort due to the warping of Space and Time. At the same time, similar to his previous 'Rakan for the Hell of it Right Hand Punch', pillars of dirt and debris seemed to erupt from the arena floor. Instead of one, however, the entire arena seemed to ascend as literally hundreds of pillars were created in the exact same moment. There wasn't a single gap within the attack, and, in the aftermath, roughshod buildings located kilometers from the Coliseum began to collapse from the tremors generated.As he was beginning to become familiar with the threshold of Theo's durability, Jack knew his rather showy attack wouldn't be able to defeat her. He just wanted to pin her down in preparation for his next attack, as, unlike his Ki-based abilities, his Magic took a considerable amount of prep time.Though few people associated him with anything even remotely resembling a Mage, Jack had been recognized as one of the Top Ten Mages in the entire world by the Imperial Court Mage. This wasn't due to proficiency with magic, however, but the result of his truly monstrous reserves and his ability to seemingly analyze the structure of virtually any spell. This had allowed him to defeat several opponents using their own magic against them, and, though he might not be as proficient as the original, he could make up for it through sheer volume of magical power.Accounting for the Earth-Fire that would emit from Theo's body the moment her aura recovered, Jack began performing a series of poses in mid-air as he chanted, "Yo, wake up you lazy Undine. I need your help in dealing with a troublesome opponent. If you don't come out, I'm going to give you a spanking the next time we meet! Rakan Style Water Binding...!"As the intent and structure of a spell were often more important than the chant itself, Jack liked to add a bit of flair to the spells he had copied. He always enjoyed seeing the vexed and vengeance-filled expressions of the arrogant Mages whose spells he had bastardized as, not only did it reduce their focus, it was a rather vicious blow against their ego. Too many Mages enjoyed flaunting their abilities over 'normal' people, so, whenever he got the opportunity, Jack liked to take them down a few pegs...Following Jack's chant, a phenomenal amount of water seemed to appear out of thin air, swirling in the center of the arena. It eventually formed a bubble more than twenty meters across, but, despite being nigh-incompressible in its normal state, Jack was able to forcibly shrink the size of the sphere by cupping his hands together in a crushing motion. When everything was said and done, the size of the sphere had reduced to around twelve meters, forcing the trapped Theo into a fetal position as runes began to emerge across the surface of the water.Though it was still in a liquid state, the runes surrounding the sphere caused it to behave similarly to a solid. They had the effect of literally stagnating time within the sphere, so, from the perspective of onlookers, it appeared as if the interior was moving in slow motion. This had effectively brought an end to the battle, as, even if Theo had the strength to break out, it could be argued that Jack had ample time to simply 'kill' her if he really wanted. This was one of the advantages of using sealing magic in the Coliseum, as, the moment you effectively trapped your opponent, it was considered a victory by default.With that being the case, Jack quickly dispelled the sphere to reduce the risk of Theo suffering any ill effects. Magical energy and Ki could mitigate even the pressure differential in outer space for a time, but, depending on the circumstances, people could still be affected by chemical imbalances and the internal conversion of both gases and liquids. There had been numerous cases where the target of a sealing spell ended up dying from decompression sickness hours after the battle had come to an end. This was another reason why sealing magic was recognized as a victory condition, as, on occasion, it was effectively a death sentence...---Understanding the rules of the Coliseum better than most, Theo couldn't help but release a slightly disappointed sigh once the sphere of water dispersed. She never expected to win against Jack, but, from the moment he stopped holding back, she couldn't even defend herself. He was considerably faster than she expected, and, though she had seen his attacks from the perspective of an onlooker, experiencing them directly completely shattered her expectations. It was almost like being hit with a literal mountain, and, even if she wanted to dodge, the pressure released by the attack made it feel like she was training in the special chambers created by Vahn. There, the density of Space could be adjusted to suit the needs of the user, and, though it didn't exactly affect gravity, it made even the most basic movements feel as though you were moving through a pool of mercury...Remembering how easily both Vahn and Asuna could move within the super-dense Space, Theo quickly recovered from her brief melancholy. One of the first things her Master had taught her was that there were no actual limits to a person's growth. There were various things that could prevent them from reaching the pinnacle of their potential, but, so long as she never recognized setbacks as an excuse to justify slacking off, she would continue to grow exponentially stronger. Her four years of hard training had proven this, and, though she had a lot of help in overcoming her bottlenecks, it was still her own willpower and resolve that allowed her to reach her current level.With this in mind, Theo surprised Jack quite a bit by spontaneously pointing her finger towards him and boldly declaring, "You won this round, Jack! Next time, you might not be so lucky! The moment you start slacking off, I'll leave you in my dust! Consider that a promise from the future Empress of the Hellas Empire~!"Having noticed Theo's depressive state, Jack had been intending to try and console her. As a result, he was slightly taken aback by how quickly she bounced back her to usual self. Even her horns had started to gradually retract, and, as if she hadn't been fighting like a demon mere minutes ago, she had a smile that perfectly encapsulated the tomboyish princess beloved by the Empire. This caused the crowd to explode into a truly thunderous applause while Jack, the target of Theo's bold words, just smiled as he said, "Guess I'll need to work harder..." before adding, "It seems the future of the Empire is in good hands..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'When burning just isn't enough','Serious series...','Defeat is just another step on the path towards true strength')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With Arika managing to bar her mother from the room, Vahn was able to enjoy a relatively relaxing evening in the former's bed-chamber. As for Asuna, she decided to spend the rest of the night with her mother. This allowed him and Arika to enjoy some alone time, but, undoubtedly as a result of her promise with Theo, the golden-haired beauty elected to wear a proper nightgown for the first time in quite a while.Vahn was somewhat infamous for pushing his lovers to their natural limits, but, regardless of how much time came to pass, he would never force them into a compromising position. He knew Arika would give in pretty quickly if he was more insistent, so, rather than test her resolution; he spent the entire evening just hugging her tightly from behind. This allowed Arika to gradually unwind, and, though it took much longer than usual, she eventually managed to fall asleep in his arms...---Due to how early they had slept the previous evening, there were still several hours until sunrise at the time of Vahn brushing Arika's hair and helping her prepare for the day. They would be parting shortly after breakfast, and, though it took minimal effort for them to reunite, their next meeting was bound to be in a few weeks. She would be spending a lot of time away from Ostia, and, though he had offered to accompany her in his transformed state, she had surprisingly refused because she didn't want to rely on him in the execution of her duties.Even if he didn't do anything, Vahn's presence implied, not that he 'might' do something, but that he 'would' take action when presented with a scenario he didn't agree with. This wasn't inherently a bad thing, but, from a political perspective, it was akin to carrying around a nuclear warhead set to explode at a moment's notice. Arika wanted to settle things using her own power, so, while it would have set her heart at ease to have him accompany her, such complacency wasn't necessarily a good thing when mediating between warring nations.Though he didn't disagree with her, Vahn wasn't oblivious of the peculiar flow of fate that had been lingering around, not just Arika, but virtually everyone he had encountered as of late. Even Eva had not been spared, and, ever since his arrival within Ostia, an almost tangible flow had been present around both Ana and Vesperina. This was unquestionably the result of Asuna's drastic influence on fate, but, while it was somewhat concerning, it all-but-guaranteed the safety of everyone under its influence.Vahn actually encouraged his women to be more independent, so, while it wasn't easy for him, he had no intention of interfering in the decisions of Theo, Arika, and even Eva. They all had the means to protect themselves, and, though they had their pride to uphold, he knew they would not hesitate to call upon him if they encountered a serious threat. Thus, rather than insist that she allow him to accompany her, Vahn just returned an affectionate smile as he loosely braided her hair and said, "I believed in you even before our engagement. Now, I am absolutely certain you will be able to reach your goals..."Hearing Vahn's remark, a small but lovely smile spread across Arika's face as she stared back at him through the mirror and muttered, "My husband is a Dragon God of Time, Space, and Creation...this will be a simple matter to attend. Then, when everything is said and done, I will have you reward me plentily..."Though she had a serious glimmer in her eyes, Vahn noticed a considerable amount of expectation within Arika's Blue-Green irises. This caused an itchy feeling in his heart, as, despite being far more reserved than someone like Theo, Arika didn't particularly lack boldness. Rather, drawing even more comparisons between her an Ais, she was inordinately curious and highly receptive. She was already the type of woman that wanted to try new things, so, once they finally crossed that line, it was easy to imagine Arika 'blossoming' in the bedroom...Imagining the taciturn beauty in her experimental phase, Vahn couldn't help but swallow slightly, an action that was noticed by the woman in question. Her smile curled up a little more than usual, and, for a brief moment, an amorous light flashed across her eyes as she teasingly affirmed, "I'm looking forward to it..."---With her excitement reaching palpable levels, Theo found it impossible to get even a wink of sleep the night before her battle against Jack. She had eventually noticed the less-than-subtle changes to her body, but, feeling as though they granted her even greater power, Theo didn't particularly mind them. Rather, she felt the mysterious runes actually accentuated her beauty, and, though she wasn't able to interpret their meaning, Theo noticed they would glow like flames whenever she channeled her magical power through her body.While admiring the glowing runes covering her naked body, Theo sensed the presence of a group of people approaching her room. She quickly shimmied into the mesh her Master had gifted her, completely concealing the flaming runes, and, with a simple touch of a gemstone, a unique combat outfit manifested to cover her body. The outfit consisted of a black sports-bra, a matching martial arts hakama, thin leather bracers, and footwraps similar in style to the type used by kickboxers.Even prior to emulating her Master, Theo had always been fond of the color black, so, with the exception of the golden trim and sash, her entire outfit was black. She felt it complimented her skin tone quite a bit, and, based on the reaction of her Master, he was in agreement. Now, she had the appearance of a skilled martial artist, and, though the outfit left her abdomen, back, and shoulders completely exposed, Theo wasn't even remotely ashamed to display the body she had sculpted for both her and her Master's sake...Ignoring the preliminary knocking on her door, Theo struck a few poses in the mirror, admiring her own form with an admittedly silly smile on her face. One of her only regrets over the four years was that she hadn't matured nearly as much as she would have liked. She knew her age was the primary reason for the inhibitions her Master had shown her, and, though he had largely gotten over them, it seeded a desire in her heart to become a mature beauty.Undoubtedly as a result of the Tri-Force of Power, Theo noticed that she had experienced a bit of a growth spurt during the tumultuous hours when she had been denied sleep. She had grown from around 155cm to 161cm in a single evening, and, though they weren't that big, it seemed like her breasts had become even more shapely than before. She still had a fair amount of growth ahead of her, but, compared to her previous appearance, she had matured substantially. Her only moderate concern was that her ears had become slightly longer, and, though it wasn't particularly rare among the Hellasians, she noticed the fur covering them had become slightly denser than normal...While she was pinching the tufts of fur growing from the very ends of her ears, Theo heard a much louder knock on the door. This actually startled her a bit, as, for a brief moment, she had completely forgotten the people waiting outside to escort her. She had been too busy thinking about how her Master would react to the changes to her body, but, knowing him, he would be satisfied so long as she was happy. This thought caused Theo's ears to waggle happily, but, with yet another knock on her door, her mood did a complete one-eighty as she shundo'd next to the door and flung it open with a bit more force than was absolutely necessary...---Similar to when Vahn had battled against Jack, the Coliseum was filled beyond its natural capacity. It was exceptionally rare to see a member of the Imperial Family battle in the arena, much less one as young as Theo, so, despite most people saving up in preparation for the war, even the more miserly individuals ended up forking over their Drachma in order to try and secure a seat. There were some rumors circulating about the exhibition being a ploy to arbitrarily inflate the perceived power of the Imperial Family, but, regardless of the actual circumstances, bouts that involved Jack were always a sight to behold.Fortunately, though it had placed a heavy strain on the organizers, the event was scheduled to take place pretty early in the morning. This was a blessing for those who had been waiting ever since the previous day's announcement. They had been packed into the stands like sardines, and, though this was par for the course during major events, finding an opportunity to rest or relieve yourself was all but impossible. The moment you vacated your spot, someone would unhesitantly fill it in, so, after securing a place for themselves, most people refused to even make room for the few people trying to leave.To prevent tensions from boiling over and potentially causing a riot, the Emperor, who had decided to attend the event alongside his eldest son and daughter, gave permission to proceed earlier than was originally scheduled. The Coliseum was already packed beyond capacity, so, with Theo and Jack waiting in the wings, he felt it was appropriate to begin sooner, rather than later. It also helped that he was just as eager as the rest of the crowd to see Theo's performance, so, after a quick broadcast to inform everyone of the change, met with uproarious applause, things were finally set to begin...---Though she was a little surprised by the sudden change in schedule, causing her to pause mid-warmup, Theo wasn't even remotely disappointed. Instead, she lightly pushed against the ground, transitioning from the tips of her fingers to her feet, smiling radiantly at the Coliseum staff sent to inform her of the changes. This brought a light blush to the person in question, as, despite being a female, Theo's presence was infectious to the point of being indiscriminate. This was another small benefit of possessing the Tri-Force of Power, as, rather than a raw increase in power, it provided the user with 'True Power'.Depending on the person you asked, the answer would change, but, in essence, the highest form of power was always Authority. As a result, the wielder of the Tri-Force of Power emanated what could best be described as a 'tyrannical yet reliable' aura. It allowed them to inspire allies and terrify foes, and, so long as they possessed an adequate amount of ambition, its wielder would gradually rise to prominence, regardless of the political climate. This was the main reason Vahn had given Theo the Tri-Force of Power, as, compared to Arika and Asuna, she would benefit the most from its use as she slowly cemented her position within the Empire.Due to the presence emanated by Theo, the Coliseum personnel remained statuesque even after the former had departed the waiting room. Her face had become beet red, and, though she had never harbored an inclination towards the fairer sex, she noticed her heart was racing as a number of rather 'untoward' thoughts raced across her mind. This filled her with conflict, but, more than anything else, a desire to see Theo emerge victoriously had been seeded within her heart...---Unaware of the influence she had on other people, Theo waited for the announcer to introduce her before entering into the arena. The crowd practically exploded in response to her emergence, and, though there were a few uncomfortable gazes mixed into the bunch, Theo could feel her blood boil in excitement as the respect and adulation of the crowd washed over her. She had always dreamed of standing in the arena someday, but, never in her wildest fantasies did she imagine that her first opponent would be none other than the person regarded as the 'strongest'.Seeing Jack standing on the opposite side of the arena, his figure cloaked in a ceremonial purple cape that draped all the way to the ground, Theo could hardly contain herself. This was obviously noted by the man in question, but, while he was just as eager to begin, a look of surprise flashed across his eyes as he noticed the subtle changes occurring to her body. He could feel her power surging outward, and, though it seemed like she was still in control, Jack got the impression she was on the verge of going berserk at a moment's notice.Having watched Theo grow up since she was a toddler, an uncharacteristic frown appeared on Jack's face as he muttered, "Not good...it seems like that damned lizard gave her something she wasn't ready to control..."As this thought crossed his mind, Jack briefly considered canceling the match, but, knowing the crowd might literally erupt if he tried, his next thought was to end the fight as quickly as possible. He didn't know what kind of power Theo was using but his gut told him things would become a lot more troublesome if he didn't end it quickly. This was bound to cause some dissatisfaction among the crowd, but, as there were far more important things in life than popularity, he was willing to put his reputation on the line to protect his little sis...With his mind made up, Jack's expression became uncharacteristically serious as tiny bands of gold electricity began to surge across his body. The ceremonial cape covering his muscular body ended up disintegrating in an instant, and, immediately following the announcer's declaration, his figure completely vanished from view. In the very next instant, three explosions sounded out in the arena, one from Jack's starting point, another from Theo's, and the final resulting from a collision with the barrier protecting the crowd from harm...Stupefying both the onlookers and the person in question, Jack's body was the one sent flying, as, at her starting point, Theo stood squat with a gauntleted fist extended. A web of cracks had spread nearly twenty meters from where her feet had embedded into the ground, but, other than sinking slightly, she hadn't moved from her initial position. This surprised even Theo quite a bit, but, rather than demonstrate any kind of complacency, she released a loud battle cry as she charged to meet the uninjured Jack head-on...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Oh my...','Theo is quite feisty~','Bruh O_O...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1621: Impact (2/?)