Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Seeing Theo waving excitedly in response to the thunderously applauding crowd, a smile spread across Vahn's face as he extended his hand towards Asuna and said, "Let's go. It seems like Theo is doing just fine on her own. We'll come back once things settle down."Hearing Vahn's words, the fiery light in Asuna's eyes quickly diminished as she adopted a radiant smile, grasping the former's hand as she answered, "It was an amazing fight. That man, Jack Rakan, is just too strong. I can see why you acknowledged him."Nodding his head, Vahn explained, "Though not as incredible as you, his talent and comprehension are phenomenal. If he continues to battle against strong opponents, he will continue to grow much stronger. There is a reason he was a mainstay in Nagi's party in the original timeline..."Noticing a subtle shift in the flow of fate, Vahn allowed his words to trail off, restraining a wry smile as he turned to Qinglong and said, "Continue to watch over her for me. It seems to be a temporary transformation but I want you to keep an eye out for any sequelae. If she shows signs of duress, let me know immediately."Having received his Master's orders, Qinglong didn't hesitate to bow low as he firmly stated, "This lowly Qing will see to it without fail. Even if it requires that I lay down my life, I would not hesitate to protect Lady Theodora. Please, be at ease, Supreme One."Though he was used to Qinglong's highly reverential speaking habit, Vahn couldn't help but issue a dry laugh before pulling Asuna along and saying, "I have absolute confidence in your capabilities. It isn't without reason that I designated you as the leader of the Four, Qinglong. Farewell."With nothing else to say, Vahn gave a curt nod to the fiery-eyed Qinglong before stepping into a surprisingly stable spatial rift. At the same time, Asuna waved spiritedly towards the reverent True Dragon, exclaiming, "See you later, Grandpa Qing~!" just as the rift snapped shut.Follow the disappearance of his Master and Young Mistress, Qinglong cracked a rare smile as he lifted his head and turned his attention back to the arena. The trust his Master had placed in him was his greatest treasure, and, as all dragons were ought to, he would do everything in his power to protect both his pride and his treasures...---Emerging from the spatial rift, Vahn found himself onboard the Custos Rosea. The automated lights came to life in response to his presence, but, even with their illumination, the interior of the Airfish felt somewhat cold and lifeless.Breathing a bit of life into the chilled atmosphere, Asuna released his hand before trotting off, her twin-tails bobbing behind her as she said, "I'm going to make tea! You should go and grab Euryale so we can go exploring afterward~!"Seeing how bubbly Asuna was being, Vahn chuckled lightly in response before taking a seat in the common area. At the same time, within the Sub-Space Orb where he had been sunbathing with Eva, Medusa, Euryale, and Stheno, he lightly tapped the side of the former, saying, "I just got back with Asuna. It seems like everything is going just fine in the Empire. Theo is still growing stronger and it seems like the Emperor has already realized the reality of the situation and decided to support her."Hearing Vahn's statement, Eva stretched her body like a lithe cat before laying against his chest and saying, "I told you that girl could take care of herself. Now, tell me, did you propose to her as well?"Shaking his head, Vahn explained, "It didn't seem like a good time. I realize I jumped the gun a bit when it came to Arika. Theo might be a little upset that I delayed things, but, knowing her, she will bounce back quickly with a sincere apology and a bit of pampering..."Finding Vahn's words amusing, Eva lightly chuckled before rising to a seated position and saying, "It would make things a lot easier if you had that same level of confidence when it came to allowing us to pursue our own goals. I'll be leaving in a few days and I don't want to catch you sneaking around in the shadows. There are some things I don't want you prying into even after we depart from this world...in exchange, I'll try not to get too upset when you inevitably add more women to your ever-growing harem..."Though part of him was tempted to say that his harem would grow no further, Vahn knew himself better than that. The most he could do was limit its growth, and, after experiencing the efficacy of proper restraint in the Akamatsuverse, he was confident things wouldn't get too out of hand in the future. There wasn't much he could do regarding Arika, Theo, and even Asuna, but, at the very least, he could avoid adding any other women to his harem before departing the Record.At this point, Vahn had come to expect that women with powerful fates and higher tier Souls were bound to be inordinately beautiful. This made it hard not to take notice of them, and, if they just so happened to have a tragic past, his mind was primed to try and help them. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but, as he had learned time and again, the way he handled them and the restrictions he imposed upon himself were both very important.Vahn knew the only thing he really needed to do in order to deter most potential love interests was to modify his physical appearance or increase his apparent age. Though there was a niche group of women who preferred older men, appearing middle-aged, or even older, would allow him to easily interact with younger individuals without fear of them imprinting upon him. This would also make it easier for them to separate in the future, as, rather than worrying about them chasing after him, he could give them a small push towards a more 'suitable' partner for themselves.With just a few small adjustments to his appearance, Vahn was confident he could pull off the role of a kindly grandfather or a wise mentor. He had actually been fond of mentor characters such as Jiraiya from Naruto and Makarov from Fairy Tail. They were a little perverted at times, but, due to their age and position, most feelings directed towards them were those of respect, adulation, and trust. This put them in a rather enviable position where they were allowed to act with impunity, as, unlike how people reacted towards 'children', the elderly could easily inspire fear and respect in a world where most died young...Though Vahn didn't want to look like an old man, imagining himself as a middle-aged man with long greying hair, a full beard, and blazing golden eyes actually made him a little excited. He felt it would be pretty 'badass' to appear like a weak and whimsical old man in one moment just to turn around and release a soul-crushing amount of pressure in the next. It would also allow him to get away with messing around and even teasing people without causing misunderstandings, so, with the next Record potentially serving as the foundation for his own, Vahn was tempted to make the most of it before he inevitably reached the top...Seeing the somewhat silly smile on Vahn's face, Eva rolled her eyes before jabbing him with the tip of her nail and saying, "Sometimes, I just want to crack open that head of yours to see what you're thinking about..."Ignoring the thin trail of blood left in the wake of Eva's poke, Vahn just lightly chuckled, grabbing her hand to prevent successive pokes as he said, "It shouldn't be that long before I'm able to show you directly. For now, let's get out of here. Asuna is making tea and wants to go exploring. Do you want to come with?"As her wanderlust had faded hundreds of years ago, Eva wasn't particularly interested in exploring the uninhabited island where Vahn had moored the Custos Rosea. She had already looked around for a bit after they first arrived, so, while she did rise from the lounge, she ended up trying her hair into a loose bun as she said, "I feel like going swimming. I'm certain that little brat would be happy to have one of you to herself so how about we sneak off and explore an undersea cave?"Since they had been sunbathing previously, Eva was already wearing a white bikini that left very little to the imagination. She had matured quite a bit over the last four years, and, though she still had a ways to go before reaching the level of her 'adult' form, her figure had already started to blossom in all the right places. This was something Eva was very aware of, so, while she had never been particularly shy, she enjoyed wearing clothes that displayed her developing figure...Rarely one to refuse the invitation of a beautiful girl, especially when they were his fiancee, Vahn 'dutifully' admired Eva's figure before meeting her gaze and answering, "I'd be a fool to refuse. Let me just ask Stheno and Euryale if they want to go exploring. Afterward, I'll keep you company for as long as you'd like."Punctuating his statement with a playful wink, Vahn earned a less-than-subtle roll of the eyes from Eva as she crossed her arms and said, "Hurry along. If you leave me waiting, I'll go without you. The Gods know I'm more than capable of tending to my own needs..."Understanding what Eva was referring to, Vahn briefly paused to imagine the sight of Eva trying to comfort herself. It was something he had witnessed numerous times in the past, but-Interrupting Vahn's thoughts, Eva tossed a condensed ball of water toward his face, exploding on contact. A bit of red had started to creep into her ears, as, even if she was the one to start it, seeing the stupid look on Vahn's face was embarrassing. She had always been the type that was weaker to words and thought than actual action, so, before Vahn could make an excuse, she shouted, "Don't just stand there like an idiot! Hurry it up or I really will leave without you...!"With his face and hair still dripping with ice-cold water, Vahn lightly chuckled in response to Eva's embarrassing state before using Shundo to evade a secondary ball of water. He knew she wouldn't actually leave without him, as, even if her words were true, she much preferred having his assistance rather than tending to her needs alone...---After enjoying some tea and pastries, Vahn emerged the Custos Rosea with Chachazero riding his head and Euryale held in his left arm. Stheno had refused to come along so it was just him, Asuna, Euryale, and, seemingly to keep an eye on him, the miniature Chachazero.Though it wasn't even remotely necessary, Asuna and Chachazero had both changed into tan safari outfits, complete with a traditional pith helmet and goggles. As for Euryale, she wasn't particularly interested in dressing up, so, as was often the case, she wore a simple maroon smock overtop pure white pumpkin pants. She couldn't wear normal panties due to her rather large tail, and, while the shop provided many solutions, she actually enjoyed wearing the rather adorable undergarment as restrictive clothing made her feel uncomfortable.Vahn actually felt pumpkin panties were the most ideal undergarments for girls under a certain age range so he had no problems with Euryale's choice in garments. It was infinitely better than Stheno, who, much like her mother, disliked wearing panties entirely. She would rather go commando while wearing spats or leggings, and, while Vahn wasn't exactly okay with this, it was exponentially better than her attempts to wear a cocktail dress with a low neckline, a short skirt, and no panties...---With Chachazero holding two tufts of his hair like the reins of a horse, Vahn, Asuna, and Euryale explored every centimeter of the island inhabited only by nascent elementals and a few relatively weak monsters. These were easily dispatched by Asuna without any real difficulty, and, though he only allowed her to fight the absolute weakest of the bunch, even Euryale managed to defeat two monsters that looked like overgrown ostriches with bulbous eyes, bald heads, and green plumage.Asuna had taken it upon herself to help Euryale control her strength, so, while she was still very young, she didn't have too much trouble against weak opponents. It was actually rather cute, as, at the present moment, Euryale was only 123cm tall. Seeing her swing around a sword nearly as long as she was tall reminded him of a scene straight out of an anime, and, based on her appearance, it wasn't difficult to imagine her being the main character or a heroine. Rather, due to the nature of the Records, it was virtually guaranteed that countless versions of her existed for that very purpose.Though it was a rather incredulous thought, Vahn knew it was possible for him to encounter people who looked identical to others he had met in completely different Records. He should even be able to find the Record where Fenrir's likeness originated, a thought that was simultaneously as exciting as it was terrifying. He wasn't entirely sure how he would react in such a situation, as, for a number of reasons, 'his' Fenrir had become an intrinsic part of who he was. Encountering another version of her just seemed 'wrong', so, while he was actually very interested in the Record her appearance and character originate from, he would do his best to simply avoid it...---Sensing that her Master was thinking about her, Fenrir's eyes snapped open, her irises displaying an uncharacteristic icy-blue that quickly reverted back to her usual scarlet. She had been meditating in the heart of an icy cavern located within the Garden of Avalon. Here, Elemental Spirits representing Ice and Darkness intermingled amongst each other, and, though it was a rather mysterious sight to behold, there was even a tiny blue moon radiating Yin Elemental Energy hovering in the very center of the chamber.With her ears perked up, Fenrir seemed to be 'listening' for something that no-one else could hear. She even craned her head rather adorably, elevating one of her fluffy ears over the other as if she was straining to hear something very distant...Failing to sense anything, Fenrir's ears slackened as she rose to her feet, causing various Elementals to go tumbling in the process. She didn't have the [True Friend of the Spirits] perk like her Master, but, as someone who shared the same aura, Fenrir was a magnet for Elemental Spirits of Darkness, Ice, and Water. Since their presence greatly increased the efficacy of her training, Fenrir developed a habit of allowing them to crowd around her, but, unlike her Master, she didn't have the patience to remove each of them individually.Noticing their de facto leader departing, a giant wolf that was a perfect split between black and white peeled open its sapphire blue eyes to ask, "Are you returning to Father?"Momentarily pausing, Fenrir turned to face the giant wolf, a smile spreading across her face as she explained, "I could sense Master's thoughts. He doesn't seem to need me right now, but I feel like I should go to him. Take care of this place while I'm gone, Libra."With her words finished, Fenrir rapidly departed the Diorama. As for the wolf named Libra, it just issued an extended yawn before crossing its paws and laying back down. There weren't actually any dangers within the Garden of Avalon, as, even with the presence of monsters, the sheer volume of Elemental Spirits prevented any from running wild. Thus, while it was prepared to stake its life to protect the miniature moon floating above, it wasn't particularly worried about anything happening while Fenrir was away...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn so sneaky','Old Man Mason','Lazy Wolf')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After arriving at the northern-most end of their little private island, Asuna and Euryale were happy to discover a small cove with a small beach and a rocky region filled with tidal pools. This stirred the curiosity of the young Asuna, and, though she wasn't that interested in the micro-ecosystems within the tide pools, Euryale still followed along with Chachazero in her arms.Knowing the duo would be getting hungry relatively soon, Vahn allowed the girls to enjoy exploring as he pulled out a few beach chairs, a large parasol, and a grill. Then, without even needing to jump into the water, he waved his hand and used Telekinesis to extract a variety of different fish from the nearby sea. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy fishing the normal way, but, as Asuna could eat several kgs of food in a single sitting, Vahn didn't want to keep the young glutton waiting too long.It was around the time he was preparing to skin and clean the fish that Vahn sensed the approach of a familiar presence. A natural smile spread across his face, and, though she had yet to appear, he still happily mused, "It seems I'll need to prepare a bigger lunch~."Appearing almost immediately after her Master's musings, Fenrir's ears seemed to droop slightly before immediately perking back up when she saw the former's smile. Then, despite there being no real need, she explained, "I sensed you were thinking about me and decided to come over. Should I go and catch something from the ocean...?"Before answering, Vahn made a come-hither gesture with his hand, affectionately stroking Fenrir's head the moment she got into range. He was always happy to see her, and, if he hadn't known she was in the middle of cultivation, he would have invited her to come along. Thus, rather than put her to task, he scratched the sweet spot near the base of her ears as he said, "Leave lunch to me. Take a break, watch over the girls, or go swimming. I already set out some beach chairs so you can also try sunbathing. Even if you can't tan, it can be pretty enjoyable to nap under the sun."Though she heard her Master's words, Fenrir didn't immediately reply. Her head was all fuzzy from the pleasant sensation spreading through her head, and, for a brief moment, it almost seemed like her foot was going to start tapping as she squinted her eyes contentedly.As tempting as it was to keep petting his adorable companion, Vahn brought Fenrir back to reality by framing her face with his hands and giving her a small peck on the lips. She immediately blinked back to awareness, and, seemingly having considered each of the options, answered, "I'm gonna go swimming. I'll make sure there aren't any hidden hazards in the water so that Asuna and Euryale can go swimming later on."With her mind made up, Fenrir pounced on her Master, tightly squeezing his body and nuzzling against his chest for a few seconds before releasing him and using magic to change into a dark-blue bikini. She had never particularly lacked confidence in her figure, but, after several stages of maturation, Fenrir had come to embrace her wild femininity. She would never show off in front of other people, but, when it was just her Master around, she enjoyed being seen.Understanding his responsibility, Vahn shamelessly admired Fenrir's figure, his eyes lingering on her bushy tail and the almost imperceptibly lighter areas around the edges of the swimsuit. She might not be able to tan, but, whenever she was stripped naked, 'certain' areas of Fenrir were slightly paler than the rest of her body. Vahn always found this slight contrast extremely tantalizing, and, though nakedness was certainly beautiful, the allure created by barely concealing such areas was even more potent than a Siren's call.Satisfied by her Master's response, Fenrir playfully waggled her tail a bit before taking a few steps and leaping high into the air, producing a flawless arc that allowed her to dive in the exact center of the cove. It was a lot deeper than a traditional, seemingly formed from a massive impact, so, even though she leaped high into the air and produced a membrane of ki to reduce friction and protect her swimsuit, there was no risk of accidentally hitting the bottom.Vahn had little resistance to Fenrir's temptations at the best of times, so, with one version of himself engaged in some rather deviant acts with Eva, he actually needed to run his fingers through his hair a few times, benefitting from the use of his own Petting Laws. It was challenging not to get riled up when a version of himself was already doing something best left for the evening hours. Fortunately, Asuna and Euryale were distracted by Chachazero wearing a creature that resembled a hermit crab on her head, so, at the very least, he didn't have to worry about the former giving him one of her characteristic 'knowing' looks...---Having stumbled across the Great Spirit of Wood while she was bathing in a spring, Nagi and the rest of Ala Rubra had been forced to beat a speedy retreat when Tamaki Damu, backed by more than a hundred Priestesses, transformed into a horde of Wood Dragons in an attempt to capture them.Fortunately, despite appearing like a piece of junk on the outside, the Airfish employed by Ala Rubra had been modified and enchanted to the extreme. It could easily outpace a normal Airfish, and, though it wasn't fast enough to outrun a horde of angry Dragons, Nagi and Zect had been able to deter a prolonged pursuit by paralyzing nearly thirty percent of the horde using lightning magic. This wasn't really the preferred method of dealing with a problem they had created, but, as it didn't seem like Tamaki was willing to forgive them, they were left with little choice in the matter.Now, after arriving on the outskirts of Al Jamila, Nagi had a depressive atmosphere about him as he had just learned about Vahn's departure nearly two days prior. This made it impossible to track him using his Master's artifact, and, to make matters even worse, there were no information brokers in Al Jamila to lend any insight into Vahn's potential destination. All they knew was that he had gone East, and, after traveling several hundred kilometers, his vessel had simply 'vanished' from the view of those attempting to keep tabs on him.Causing even greater confusion, they had received information that the Princess of Vespertatia had reappeared in Ostia. This all but verified the rumors that Vahn had the ability to freely teleport vast distances, as, if the information was accurate, the Custos Rosea had been more than six-thousand kilometers from Ostia at the time of its disappearance. There was a chance they had doubled back after evading their pursuers, but, as that seemed like a completely unnecessary waste of time, it was far more likely that Vahn had teleported the Princess back to her homeland while the Custos Rosea continued heading eastward.Needless to say, Nagi was extremely frustrated by the fact he had missed his opportunity to battle against the increasingly infamous Sage Dragon Emperor. As a result, he was wearing nothing but swimming trunks as he lay languidly atop his staff as if it were flat ground. Beneath him, the bodies of several large sea monsters would periodically flicker with electrical currents, as, in an attempt to cool his head, he had gone a little wild...While the red-haired youth was seemingly lost in thought, a silhouette nearly three times the size of a blue whale's appeared beneath the surface of the water. It's size and outline rapidly became more pronounced as a spiral horn pierced the water's surface, followed by a monstrous entity that looked like a narwhal covered in a layer of bony spines and protrusions. It attempted to devour Nagi in an instant, but, at the exact moment its massive maw emerged from the water, the former appeared to flicker out of existence.Carried by its phenomenal momentum, the narwhal-like creature emerged nearly thirty meters from the water before crashing back down with tremendous force. Its overall length easily exceeded one-hundred meters, so, while it hadn't fully emerged from the water's surface, it generated a miniature tidal wave of seawater and froth as its colossal figure crashed back into the sea. Then, in an attempt to either flee or line up a second sneak attack, the massive creature angled its body downward and began to dive, its four-pronged tail breaking the sea's surface for a brief moment.Denying the creature any further opportunities, Nagi appeared at the exact moment it was about to begin its descent. He grabbed its tail with a single hand, and, against all conceivable laws of physics, pulled the colossal beast out of the water, grinning confidently as he shouted, "Hey now, what's the rush? I went through all that effort to give you a chance to ambush me. The least you can do is stick around for a few minutes...!"Unable to understand human speech, the narwhal-like creature just floundered helplessly in the air as its body crashed towards the sea's surface. Before it could hit, however, Nagi appeared beneath it, striking upward in an action pose as a massive shockwave emanated from his palm. This not only bounded the 500,000kg creature back into the air, but it also caused a large indentation in its side that subsequently collapsed into a geyser of blood and gore.Clicking his tongue, Nagi used a chantless short-range teleport spell to evade the shower of gore, reappearing several meters away as he complained, "How can something so massive be so fragile? Did you really have to die after a single hit!?"Though it wasn't actually dead yet, the narwhal-like creature had a hole in its side large enough for a small Airfish to pass through. Its blood caused the already tumultuous surface of the sea to turn a deep shade of crimson, and, for the umpteenth time that day, surrounding shoals of fish were given the opportunity to engorge themselves upon prey that usually made a light snack out of them...Seeing the scene of carnage, Nagi, who was standing on the air as if it were flat ground, shook his head in exasperation before turning to the figure that had appeared like a phantom nearby, asking, "Weren't magical creatures supposed to be scary powerful? Everything I've faced so far is just super weak. When am I going to get to fight something strong, Master?"Despite appearing like a ten-year-old youth, Zect stroked his chin in a sagely manner before saying, "It isn't that they are weak, you are just too strong. Don't worry. Soon enough, you'll have plenty of powerful opponents to test your skills against. You just need to increase your reputation and show some results in the coming war. As your fame and notoriety increase, the number of people trying to prove themselves by defeating you will gradually increase. For now, you should remain patient and continue to hone your skills further. You are already very powerful, but, due to your age, there are quite a number of individuals who could wipe the floor with you."Rather than take offense to his Master's words, Nagi displayed an excited smile at the prospect of facing powerful opponents. He knew there were actually a number of Demons more powerful than himself, as, like his Master, they had thousands of years to improve their strength. There were also beings like the Great Spirits, Ancient Dragons, and even Manifested Gods, so, while the majority of magical creatures didn't pose a threat to him, there were a number of 'true monsters' just waiting for him to defeat them...Feeling more motivated, the staff floating behind Nagi began to spin rapidly, lightning flashing across its wooden exterior as his aura spread caused a massive depression in the sea's surface. At the same time, Zect released an exasperated sigh before raising his hand and saying, "Come with the intent to kill."Immediately after he heard his Master's words, Nagi surged forward so quickly that it appeared as if he had teleported. Then, causing the sea to turn concave for more than a hundred meters, his fist impacted his Master's palm with enough force to create a visible vacuum, repelling the surrounding atmosphere and causing lightning to dance across the periphery...---Though they could feel the effects of the battle all the way from the mainland, the Al Jamilans were instructed by Eulimene Ea not to send anyone to investigate. She had already been approached by Albireo Imma after the arrival of Ala Rubra, and, though she would normally never acquiesce to the demands of a stranger, the man gave her the impression of an unfathomably deep abyss. Thus, on the grounds they would not harm the people of Al Jamila, she agreed to ignore their actions out at sea.Fortunately, Albireo didn't seem to mind when she lied and told him that Vahn was never even in Al Jamila. Instead, he just smiled before pulling out a book that gave her a dangerous feeling, asking a number of seemingly random questions before snapping it shut and departing like a phantom. This had given Eulimene Ea a strong urge to smash his face in, but, trusting her instincts, she decided to let him depart without obstruction. The sooner his group left, the sooner peace would return to Al Jamila, and, though it probably wasn't necessary, their departure would allow her to try and contact Vahn in the hopes of passing on a warning...(A/N: Alternate Titles: '(O w O)~!','RIP Narwhal-san...','A group of true monsters...')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

Chapter 1623: Overwatch