Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Not expecting Vahn's sudden proposal, the members of the Megalomesembrian delegation found themselves at a loss for words. Some of them had long discarded the possibility of ever escaping their situation, so, even if they had heard rumor of Vahn's exploits, years of conditioning prevented them from answering expediently.Vahn understood he had put the eleven Demihumans on the spot, but, unless they had the resolve to reach out and take control of their fates, there was little he could do for them. Thus, after waiting several seconds for their response, he lightly shook his head, saying, "I pray you will not regret your decision to remain silent...remember, you were given a choice..."Without waiting for the group to respond, Vahn began to walk past them as Fenrir, having received his mental command, released a soul-shaking howl. The temperature in the surroundings began to rapidly decrease, and, though it was drastically weakened by Asuna's presence, she was still able to freeze her surroundings due to the Source Energy present within each of her abilities.Though Fenrir's wolf form was terrifying in its own right, the combination of [Apex Predator: SS] and [Freezing Roar: SS] came together to produce a virtually unblockable crowd control effect. Everyone who heard it experienced a momentary paralysis, and, much like someone unleashing Conqueror's Haki, the aftermath of her roar was marked by the collapse of thousands. At the same time, several Airfish began to veer from their initial positions, crashing into each other after their pilots collapsed at the helm...Surprisingly, the Megalomesembrian Militia still refused to attack even after Fenrir issued her howl, so, with a deadpan expression on his face, Vahn pulled out Lave-tan in her sealed state. At the same time, much like how Tiamat had forcibly teleported him against his will, he began moving everyone who had lost consciousness from one side of his domain to the other. He could teleport them much further away, but, by limiting the transfer to within his domain, he could effectively mitigate the cost in its entirety.As the group nearest to him, Vahn moved the eleven ambassadors to an isolated area. He wanted to give them a second chance to take control of their destiny, so, after dropping them off, he set a small bag of Drachma and some simple weapons nearby. What they chose to do after waking was ultimately up to them. He couldn't be held personally responsible for each person he saved, so, with his eyes focused on the front, Vahn began his march towards Megalomesmbria without sparing the eleven an additional thought...---Hearing the reports coming in through his earpiece, Dictator Primulus had a dour expression on his face as he muttered, "Humans are always so incompetent..."Following his utterance, Dictator Primulus swiped in the air, dispersing several futuristic displays of pale-blue light, many of which showed the data regarding the ambassadors sent to greet the Sage Dragon Emperor. Then, with another tap of his fingers, a high-quality display appeared out of thin air before breaking into twenty-three smaller panels, each showing someone in full military dress.Surprising each of the senior officers present, Dictator Primulus had a resolute expression on his face as he reiterated, "Do not engage. Shift to disaster relief protocols and allow the Sage Dragon Emperor to pass freely. Trying to fight him will only result in greater casualties. Anyone found guilty of ignoring this order will be tried with high-treason against the Confederation."Though there were a considerable number of people who didn't agree with the Dictator, the simple fact of the matter was that Primulus had uncontested authority when it came to military affairs. His orders were absolute, so, unless they wanted to be publically executed and burden their family with accusations of rearing dissidents, they had no choice but to obey...Removing any possibility of counterarguments, Dictator Primulus immediately dismissed each of the displays after relaying his order. Then, with his hands behind his back and a mildly disgusted glower on his face, he looked towards the expanding ice flower in the distance, muttering, "These people are helpless...now, let's see how much you are able to uncover you golden-scaled bastard..."---Seeing the remaining fleet and militia parting to allow his passage, Vahn's expression became even dourer. Though it was inarguably better for there to be no conflict, it was indescribably annoying to prepare yourself for a battle that never came.With everyone refusing to attack, Vahn was put in an awkward situation that made him seem like a villain. Some people even threw down their arms the moment he turned his attention toward them, and, though there were many who radiated auras of hostility, even those with brackish auras raised their hands in spite of their indignity.Feeling his brow begin to twitch, Vahn decided to up the ante by setting his sights upon one of the tallest buildings in Megalomesembria, the location of the Megalomesembrian Senate. It stood out like a palace amongst the surrounding buildings, and, even though it currently exceeded the reach of his domain, Vahn could sense numerous powerful individuals holed up inside. A few even made his draconic blood boil, tiny golden scales spreading across his arms, hidden beneath his clothing.Vahn knew 'someone' was messing with him, so, curious to see how far they were willing to go, he extended his hand towards the gloomy skies above.Though there was very little elemental energy present within Megalomesembria, a complete lack of the life-giving energy would make the region completely inhospitable. Vahn could sense a number of nascent Air, Water, and Earth Elementals present, and, though it rapidly depleted his reserves, he could use his Creation Divinity to produce even more.In accordance with Vahn's intent, intimidating black clouds began to form in the skies above the Confederation's capital. These were far larger than normal storm clouds, and, after several minutes had passed, peculiar pulses of gold and purple began to illuminate their interiors as a phenomenal amount of Lighting and a marginal amount of Space Elemental Energy began to gather within their billowy depths.Finished with his preparations, Vahn inhaled deeply through his nose before allowing the air escape his lips. Manipulating the weather to cover a metropolis wasn't easy, and, though most of the work was done by the Elementals themselves, creating them took a considerable amount of energy...With an unnaturally heavy downpour descending upon the largely evacuated city, Vahn, untouched by the rain, casually approached the distant meeting place of the Megalomesembrian Senate. Most of his frustration had faded away during the formation of the rain clouds, so, rather than hasten his steps, he walked with his eyes closed, his intent sweeping through the area.Though there were bound to be a few who would choose to return, Vahn systematically destroyed the collars of every slave he sensed within his domain. Then, with a 'thought', he transported them from the underground bunkers that currently housed much of the city's population. He couldn't do much for them, but, with food, money, and a few other essential supplies, they at least had a chance to secure their freedom.Further increasing the chances for a successful escape from the capital, the clouds above the city began to release several pulses of electromagnetic energy. At the same time, thick bands of golden lightning began to strike any weapons platform that shifted its focus towards any of the groups on the periphery.Vahn was trying to create ideal conditions to allow a mass exodus from Megalomesembria. Being removed from their shelter would make the groups feel exposed, and, with a torrential downpour, combined with the terrifying aura emanating from his body, only those with very strong ties to the city would dare venture back into its interior...---With his leisurely pace, combined with the fact he had stopped a number of times along the way, it took nearly two hours for Vahn to reach the entrance to the Megalomesembrian Senate Building. It was an impressive building, spanning more than a kilometer across and six tall. However, compared to the Babel Tower from the Record of Danmachi, constructed by the Gods, it almost seemed like a testament to human greed and hubris more than anything else...After restraining the urge to simply destroy the ridiculously large building, Vahn ascended nearly a thousand steps in silence before stopping a few dozen meters away from a wall formed from more than a hundred magically armored Knights. Their base appearance was similar to the designs used by the Ariadne Magic Knights, but, rather than pristine white or pale pink, every Knight across from him was attired in an onyx-black armor that was almost twice the size of a conventional model.Standing at the front of the group of armored Knights, seemingly without any regard for the rain soaking through his expensive garments, a man with a peculiar hairstyle and eyes that glowed with a glimmering golden light smiled viciously as he stated, "You've made quite the entrance, haven't you? Tell me, how should I address you? I'm Senator Ricardos, by the way."After staring at the man's horn-like hairstyle for several seconds, Vahn shifted his gaze to meet the man's, answering, "How you address me matters very little. Your people have a habit of assigning titles and designations for things without regard for propriety. I already know the Senate does not respect me so there is no need for pretense. Now, I assume you have come to act as an escort...?"Despite feeling as though he was staring into the open maw of a massive dragon, which wasn't too far from the truth, Senator Ricardos was able to stand firm, his eyes reflecting a fierce resolution as he answered, "Indeed. I've made a few enemies as of late so I'm the lucky bastard who got picked to ascertain your intentions and then escort you to the destination of your choosing...so, what will it be? I can show you to the Senate Chamber or escort you to the Consulate. Either way, I'd appreciate it if you made your decision quickly so we can get out of this damned rain..."Though the man wasn't exactly polite, Vahn didn't particularly care. He knew the man was actually one of Fairy Xuan's contacts, and, though he was a Senator, he was a member of the minority party that had been pushing for more progressive reforms. He had even joined the Auditing Committee, earning numerous enemies due to his snooping around and attempting to 'fix' the problems of the Confederation from the inside.Deciding not to make too much trouble for the man, Vahn shifted his gaze upwards, staring directly at the silvery-haired man who had been watching him for quite some time, saying, "It doesn't really matter where you take me. You can lead me to your Senate Chamber or lead me directly into a trap. The only thing that will change is the order and sequence of events. The end result, however, will be the same. I will break the will of your Senators, address the most problematic sources of corruption in your country, and when everything is said and done, you will be given the opportunity for a slow and gradual recovery. Now, please, lead the way Senator Ricardos. I'm anxious to see what path the leaders of this nation have chosen..."Hearing Vahn's reply, Senator Ricardos' expression became even more serious than before. As for the armored knights behind him, several gripped their magical halberds tighter, ready and willing to lay down their lives for the Confederation at a moment's notice. They didn't care how powerful their foe was, as, from the time they were adolescents, they had been specially conditioned and modified to serve as the sword and shield of the Senate...Sensing the increasing tensions, Vahn's calm expression gradually morphed into a far more serious countenance. Then, similar to the ambassadors that had previously barred his passage, he repeated a simple ultimatum, stating, "Make your choice...Senator..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'YEET~!','Vahn be like, "Run." -bass drops-','Just fight already')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Following a tense standoff that lasted several minutes, Vahn found himself being escorted through the excessively large Senate building by a stone-faced Senator Ricardos. There were also a number of armored magical knights in the surrounding, but, as if they had the presence of air, Vahn ignored them completely as he probed the more secure regions of the building with his intent.During his stroll through the city, Vahn noticed there was a complex underground network beneath the surface of the city. This was rather common even back on Earth, but, with magical materials and advanced building techniques, several hundred years ahead of 'modern' standards, the complexity of Megalomesembria's underground was simply ridiculous.Generally speaking, even a simple skyscraper would require an exceptionally stable foundation. This was especially true for buildings over a certain height, and, depending on the conditions of the soil and sub-surface material, some foundations could be nearly half as deep as the buildings were tall.As an example, the foundation for the Megalomesembrian Senate Building extended nearly three-kilometers deep, but, rather than use a stable raft or solid supports, it was structured to be part of the vast underground network that seemed to span the entire city. This network extended nearly thirteen kilometers beneath the surface in some regions, and, from what Vahn could sense, most of the subsurface city was actually ancient ruins.It wasn't difficult to imagine a country like Megalomesembria establishing itself atop the ruins of an ancient civilization, but, even after purchasing thousands of historical records related to the Magical World, Vahn had never heard of the ruins located beneath the city. Even Fairy Xuan hadn't informed him of their existence, almost as if they were completely separate from the rest of the world despite the fact he could clearly sense them...Deciding he would investigate the subterranean ruins later, Vahn entrusted the matter of analyzing the ruins to Sis. He had other matters to focus on right now, but, due to the nature of his domain, it would be easy to go back and 'explore' the ruins from memory alone. There was no need to explore them directly unless they found something of potential import or intrigue...---While Vahn had been deliberately making his way through the city, Asuna and Fenrir had remained in their original position. In their surroundings, a palatial structure spanning several hundred meters had gradually taken shape, its structure formed from pure ice elemental energy.One of the things that distinguished a competent Mage from the general rabble was their ability to affect their surroundings and modify the environment to guarantee themselves greater advantages. This had been true even in the Record of Danmachi, but, after training for nearly a hundred years in the Nasuverse, Fenrir reached a point where her [Aterna Clacies] and [Nihil] were capable of rivaling an EX-Rank [Territory Creation] skill.Though it took a considerable amount of energy, Fenrir was able to create elaborate architectural structures formed from little more than Ice, Water, Darkness, and Yin Elemental Energies. This was where her sobriquet 'Queen of the Frozen Abyss' came from, as, for a variety of reasons, Fenrir had focused her efforts on developing massive palatial structures. She even had a personal Sub-Space Orb that was filled with more than a thousand different castles, some of which could even rival the Ivory Castle in both scale and beauty.---Though she hadn't dropped her guard, Fenrir decided to conserve her energy by laying down in the center of her newly constructed castle. She kept a larger version of the [Pristine Jade Ice Bed] in her collar-turned-interspatial-artifact, so, whenever she had the opportunity, Fenrir would pull it out for the purpose of replenishing her reserves and helping to calm her mind.If a 'normal' person were to come into contact with the [Pristine Jade Ice Bed], they would instantly freeze as yin-ice toxins invaded their body. Fenrir, however, was completely immune to this effect, and, even if her core temperature inverted, falling into the negatives, she was able to move around without any discomfort.Asuna lacked Fenrir's constitution, but, with a thin membrane of invisible Ki covering her body, she was able to lay within Fenrir's thick coat of fur, completely disregarding the sub-zero temperatures. Instead, she was focused on the inordinately beautiful gemstone in her hands with a curious and slightly mischievous glimmer in her eyes.Though he had explained it to her several times, Asuna was very curious regarding Vahn's ability to change form. She had yet to grasp the true nature of the Ego and Intent, so, when Vahn turned into something like 'pure water', Asuna couldn't help but wonder how he was able to move and perceive his surroundings without something physical to process the information. He could even 'feel' things without any nerves whatsoever, a mysterious phenomenon that caused various thoughts to dance across Asuna's mind as she fiddled with the rainbow-hued gemstone...Unfortunately, with Vahn currently occupied with more important matters, Asuna couldn't conduct any of the experiments that tempted her reasoning. She didn't want to make things too difficult for Vahn, so, even though her mind had been wandering with increasing frequency ever since everyone else left, Asuna was always in control of her actions.After considering her options for several minutes, Asuna brought the rainbow-hued gemstone to her lips, whispering, "Good luck..." before planting a small kiss on the flattest surface. In response, the gemstone began releasing a gentle pulse, and, though it obviously lacked hands, both Asuna and Fenrir could feel a familiar and comfortable warmth begin to spread through their bodies...---With Asuna's words coming just as he was about to enter the Senate Chamber, Vahn couldn't help but issue a wry smile before quickly adopting a more serious expression as Senator Ricardos turned to explain, "You would normally have to relinquish your weapons and have your magic sealed prior to entering this chamber..."Completely ignoring Senator Ricardos' words, Vahn made his way past the man, blasting apart the ornate wooden doors with a burst of Ki before saying, "You're free to try whatever you like. I have no obligation to play along, however..."Without waiting for the man's response, Vahn walked into the circular chamber filled with nothing but projections. None of the Senators had deigned to show up personally, for obvious reasons, so he had no interest in playing games. Instead, he sauntered into the room with a somewhat bored look on his face as he lazily inspected the complex magical formations hidden within the chamber.As a measure to prevent people from misusing their magical power within the Senate Chamber, a modified Inverse Sealing Formation covered the entire room. Any attempt to cast external magic would trigger the formation, and, unless you were able to complete the spell instantly, your magic power would be 'forced' back into your body, seriously injuring or even crippling you.Vahn was actually a little impressed by the magic formation, but, as he would have been able to create something similar nearly two-hundred years prior, it didn't hold his interest for long. After memorizing its structure, he turned his attention to the large podium that overlooked the rest of the Senate Chamber. There, a projection of the same man who had been observing him could be seen, his expression a perfect mask of calm as he looked down with peculiar purple eyes...Ignoring the outbursts of and remarks from several Senators, Vahn smiled up at the man, eyes blazing with a golden light as he plainly stated, "Judgement has come to Megalomesembria. If you want to avoid a catastrophe, you will begin making the necessary changes to fix this broken nation. Here, let me point you in the right direction..."Without waiting for anyone to argue against him, Vahn raised his left hand, and, without taking his eyes away from the Dictator and the Consuls surrounding him, snapped his fingers. In response to this simple gesture, nearly a third of the Senators present collapsed, their projections blinking out of existence. At the same time, two of the Consuls seated in their throne-like chairs showed pained expressions, and, much like their Senatorial counterparts, they too collapsed in their seats, this time without flickering out.Witnessing the rather incredulous sight, even the Dictator was unable to conceal his shock. As for the rest of the assembly, complete chaos erupted within the chamber as the surviving Consuls rose to their feet, shouting various expletives as armored knights and spider-like tanks appeared from a series of transport magic circles that had appeared out of thin air.Feeling his blood beginning to boil, a battle-hungry look flashed across Vahn's eyes as he pulled out the sealed version of Laev-tan and shouted, "Come! Let me show you the cost of corruption and the interest your actions have accrued...!"Following his outburst, Vahn's aura surged outward like an explosion, repelling the knights who had attempted to surround him. In the next moment, before even a single one of them could crash into the surrounding walls, Space within the chamber rapidly condensed. Empty air gained a consistency similar to water, greatly reducing the speed of everyone sent flying as Vahn, seemingly immune to the effects, created hundreds of afterimages as his sword glided seamlessly through the reinforced armored plating of the surrounding knights.Though people within the affected area could have counted several seconds, the actual passage of time, at least from the outside, was only a fraction of a second. Vahn was a God of Space, Time, and Creation, so, while it was a bit cost-intensive, he could freely manipulate Space and Time within his domain. He could even create a 'reference point' to freely reverse Time, and, so long as their Egos hadn't been fractured, he could effectively 'resurrect' the dead by reversing the order of entropy.The most useful aspect of this 'time-reversal' was the fact that it affected Vahn himself, so, even if he was on the verge of losing, he could basically 'reset' the battle at will. This wouldn't remove any of the mental fatigue, but, unless they had the means to do spiritual damage, he would be able to repeat the battle as many times as it took to ensure the most optimal outcome.Confident in his abilities, Vahn was unable to hide the excitement in his eyes as Senator Ricardos, unable to just stand idle, attacked from behind. His body was shrouded in a lightning-like aura that caused the robes covering his body to evaporate, revealing an exceptionally toned physique marred with various wounds.Though not quite the speed of lightning, Senator Ricardos was able to enhance both his speed and reaction time by saturating his cells with lightning elemental energy. This was eerily similar to how the Magia Erebea worked, but, considering the man had Demonic Blood flowing through his veins, Vahn wasn't too surprised.Demonstrating the vast disparity between their speeds, Vahn was able to deflect or dodge most of Senator Ricardos' attacks with minimal movements as he explained, "That technique is going to ruin your body. Even if your regeneration is better than a normal human, lightning elemental energy has an inherent purification effect. The deterioration of your cells will increase exponentially the longer you keep this ability active..."As he was well aware of his own weakness, Senator Ricardos didn't show any surprise in response to Vahn's words. Instead, his expression became even more serious as he jumped back and attempted to increase the output of his technique, a dauntless expression on his face as he said, "You're no-"Without affording the man the opportunity to power up, Vahn's figure seemed to 'glitch' for a brief moment. The surroundings seemed to dim considerably, and, for an almost imperceptible moment, it appeared as though he had eight right arms, each swinging his sword at a different angle without him having to move from his starting position.Before Senator Ricardos could fully process what had just transpired, an overwhelmingly nauseous feeling spread through his body. Then, preceding complete darkness, his vision began to gradually split, the focal point of his eyes shifting away from each other as his body was split into a series of small chunks.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Mundus Magicus has many secrets...','Fenrir takes after Eva; very artistic','One does not become a deterrent through passive action')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though he was the youngest person present, none of the other officials dared speak out against the decision made by the silver-haired man, Lars Laetorius Primulus. The majority had been hand-picked for their positions following the former's rise as Dictator, so, rather than speak against him, they patiently waiting for an explanation.Satisfied with the room's response, Dictator Primulus gave a small nod before gesturing towards the man seated to his right. This caused all eyes to shift towards the elderly individual, who, despite his age, radiated a considerable amount of power. He had short grey hair that was combed back in a heroic manner, and, though he wore the traditional robes of a high-ranking Mage, it was possible to make out the powerful body concealed beneath.With all eyes focused on him, the man, Magister Militum Arkan Vale Primulus, Director Primulus' Uncle and former Consul of the Megalomesembrian Senate, gave a small nod of acknowledgment before adopting a hawk-like countenance as he explained, "We cannot afford to overly antagonize the Sage Dragon Emperor. He might not be as dangerous as someone like the Dark Evangel, but his capabilities make him no less a threat. Unless we can lure him into a trap and seal him, there is little we can do against an opponent who has demonstrated the ability to freely teleport without the use of a magic circle..."Nodding in approval of his Uncle's words, Dictator Primulus added, "Until we have collected more information regarding his characteristics and weaknesses, attacking the Sage Dragon Emperor is a waste of resources. Our priority should be seeking a compromise in an effort to lull him into a false sense of security. If we meet with him openly, we can reduce the amount of collateral damage while also limiting the number of people he will inevitably assassinate. The Sage Dragon Emperor seems to act according to a code, so, as long as we show a willingness to compromise, he will be limited in the actions he can take against us."Though it wasn't the 'ideal' solution to their problems, none of the men present could argue against the statements made by their Dictator. The Sage Dragon Emperor had exhibited a number of truly troublesome capabilities, and, unless they could find a way to ensnare him, defeating him in a direct engagement would be extremely difficult. He managed to repel the Leviathan, destroy several War-God Soldiers, and ground two separate fleets without any discernible difficulty. None of these feats could be ignored, so, unless they were willing to sacrifice a considerable number of assets, trying to openly oppose him was the same as shooting themselves in the foot.With similar thoughts running through their minds, nearly every official present decided to support their Dictator's decision. The only person against the idea was the man seated to the Dictator's left, an exceptionally wrinkled old-man with unnatural black sclera and golden irises.Unlike the traditional black robes worn by most senior Mages, the elderly individual wore a blood-red variant that loosely hung from his languid and seemingly frail figure. He wore a peculiar golden apparatus inscribed with a series of complex runes around his neck, and, rather than sit in a normal chair, he was floating several centimeters from the ground in a throne reminiscent of a silver egg.With all eyes focused on him, the elderly man opened his eyes a little wider than normal, his voice sounding like an echo from the depths of Hell as he warned, "We will not tolerate having our plans interrupted. If Megalomesembria cannot deal with a single Ancient Dragon, we will not hesitate to wipe you out ourselves. Everything that has been given to you can be taken away. Never forget that simple truth."Finished with his words, the elderly man gripped the staff in his right hand. It had the appearance of a two branches that had been twisted together to appear as malevolent as possible. At the very top, where most catalysts could be found, a blackened heart could be seen pulsating with a mysterious purple light. A constant trickle of brackish-purple blood flowed from its valves, staining the wooden components of the staff and causing a perpetual hissing sound to resonate throughout the room...After a series of simple taps against empty air, a complex magic formation appeared beneath the man's throne-like chair. In the next moment, a vibrant purple light enveloped his figure before the man, along with his chair, vanished completely. This left everyone in the room completely silent for several seconds until the Dictator, seemingly unperturbed by the man's warning, plainly stated, "We will continue with my plan. Any questions?"Though some present were tempted to ask if it was wise to disregard the warning of the Supreme Consul, none were bold enough to speak out against their calmly smiling Dictator. He radiated an aura of absolute confidence, and, considering their own careers were riding on his success, nobody wanted to risk earning his ire by opposing his decision.Satisfied with the silence following his question, a hint of a smile spread across Dictator Primulus' face as he nodded his head and stated, "Very well. We will send an emissary to intercept the Sage Dragon Emperor and his entourage. While they are buying time with pleasantries, I suggest each of you attempt to secure your assets and conceal your secrets. If you somehow manage to earn the ire of the Sage Dragon Emperor, the Confederation will not protect you."With his words finished, Dictator Primulus rose to his feet, dismissing the group of officials before turning to his Uncle and stating, "I will leave you here for the time being. Establish contact with the facilities researching more...contentious subjects. They have less than an hour to relocate all of the more pertinent data and assets to a secure site. We should assume the Sage Dragon Emperor has the ability to sense everything within fifty kilometers. Unless it is secured safely within a sub-space, I want everything moved as quickly as possible."Though the man before him was his much-younger nephew, the Magister Militum did not hesitate to bow low, answering, "I will see to it without fail!"Nodding his head in approval, Dictator Primulus pat the shoulder of his Uncle in passing, his voice changing completely as he mused, "Remember, you are protecting your future assets. Do your best, dear Uncle..."---Though the presence of the military continued to grow, Vahn had a slight frown on his face after realizing they weren't going to attack. He hadn't expected them to respond in such a 'reasonable' manner, forcing him to either continue his casual act or shift to a more 'proactive' approach.Sensing the civilian population was still relocating to secure bunkers located beneath the city's vast skyscrapers, Vahn decided to momentarily delay any destructive actions. Instead, he closed his eyes and began shifting his intent around, observing and analyzing various people, places, and things.It didn't take a genius to realize that Megalomesembria would probably try to lure him into a trap, as, a few hundred years prior, they had attempted the same thing against Eva. She had decided to compromise with the nefarious superpower after a long drawn out battle that had gradually worn away at both sides. In response, Megalomesembria had attempted to trap her in a barrier infused with Chronoton. If she hadn't seen through their obvious attempt, circumventing their effort with a doll that perfectly emulated her appearance and magical signature, Megalomesembria would have conquered Earth long ago.Imagining Megalomesembria trying to seal him away, Vahn felt both amused and incensed. A rather vicious glimmer flashed across his eyes, and, for a fleeting moment, he actually considered allowing them to succeed. He was largely immune to the effects of Chronoton as a God of Space, and, even if they could somehow seal a part of him, he could either use [Chainbreaker] to break free or simply sever his connection with the vessel, dispersing it and effectively liberating himself in an instant.Vahn never kept all of his vessels in one place, so, unless they could discover the Garden of Avalon and locate the position of his hidden gemstone, located within the void, it was simply impossible to seal him away. As for killing him, that was even more difficult, as, without the ability to affect Source Energy in the slightest, he would perpetually revive, stronger, faster, and more resolute.Though it might seem a little unfair, the truth of the matter was that any reasonably powerful Tier 5 entity was able to revive countless times. It took destroying their ego or erasing the concepts they represented to truly kill an entity above Tier 5. He also didn't particularly care about whether or not his resurrection was fair against his foes, as, more often than not, he was pitted against some of the vilest and most appalling people within the Record. They rarely showed mercy and fairness towards their victims, so, unless there were some extenuating circumstances, Vahn didn't mind turning the tables and allowing them to experience something similar.As that thought cross his mind, Vahn set his sights on the group of people that had separated from the massive wall of troops that blockaded the entrance of Megalomesembria. He found it amusing that Megalomesembria would dare to send a Demihuman ambassador to meet with him, seemingly with the intent to demonstrate that 'not all' Demihumans within their country were slaves.Unfortunately for whoever had made the decision, Vahn was not so easily fooled. He could sense a number of lingering injuries in each member of the approaching group, and, though she appeared calm and stoic on the outside, Vahn noticed that the female Ambassador actually had a number of piercings and a literal brand on her body...Before Vahn realized it, the smile on his face had become slightly dangerous, prompting Asuna to lightly grip his hand and whisper, "Vahn..." in a concerned tone.Looking down at the concerned young girl, Vahn's expression instantly softened as he used his free hand to caress her head, his tone gentle as he said, "Thanks for your concern, kiddo. Don't worry, I won't let this place corrupt me. Now, stay with Fenrir while I go see what these people want to talk about. I'm trusting the two of you to keep each other safe."To punctuate his words, Vahn lifted up Asuna's bangs to plant a simple kiss on her forehead, a calm smile on his face as he turned away and used shundo to appear in front of the approaching group...---Seeing a figure suddenly appear in front of them, the group of emissaries tensed up quite a bit as their leader, a woman with droopy dog ears and a tail that curled like a shiba-inu bowed her head and said, "Welcome to Megalomesembria, Sage Dragon Emperor. It is our greatest honor to stand before such a legendary figure..."Leaving the woman at a loss, Vahn didn't immediately reply to her words. Instead, he scanned his eyes over each of them, his irises blazing with a golden light that caused a layer of sweat to spread across their bodies.After scanning each member of the group with his View Affection toggled on, Vahn was pretty sure these people were former slaves who had been specially trained to act as emissaries in Demihuman countries. They put on a strong front, as could be expected from people in their positions, but, with even a cursory look beyond the surface, it was easy to see they were all suffering.Without beating around the bush, Vahn surprised the group of eleven by extending his hand and crushing the devices used to record their conversation. At the same time, the bracelets and anklets which served as replacements for slave collars flickered with golden light before crumbling to dust as he said, "I offer you freedom. If there is something or someone that binds you to this place, I will guarantee their freedom as well. I can't be held responsible for how you will live from now on, but I can send you to a place free from Megalomesembria's influence. Now, make your choice..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Let's not piss off the dragon that can teleport around and throw miniature suns...','Vahn doesn't play fair','Well, that escalated quickly...')(2/4)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1640: Storm