Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though tensions between the Empire and Confederation hadn't waned in the slightest, both sides understood there was no merit in waging a war under the scrutiny of the Sage Dragon Emperor. His power greatly exceeded their ability to comprehend, and, as had been demonstrated by his actions in the Senate, he would not hesitate to hold the ruling class accountable for their actions.Needless to say, many were dissatisfied by Vahn's actions, but, without the power to openly oppose him, they could only submit for fear of losing their lives. Even banding together with other countries to form a unified front served no purpose, as, with overwhelming firepower and the apparent ability to teleport virtually anywhere, it was all but guaranteed he would target the leaders directly. He also had advanced knowledge of the inner workings of both superpowers, so, while it would normally be possible to develop contingencies behind the scenes, leaving any traces was tantamount to signing your own death warrant.Choosing to preserve what power they could hold onto, many within the Confederation and Empire began baring their fangs toward each other. There were generally multiple factions maintaining the balance within a country, so, before the ink on the peace treaty could even dry, several families and organizations began making plays for power. This included several notable groups recognized by the public as being good or righteous, as, even if he didn't represent them, they were empowered by the fact that the Sage Dragon Emperor had taken a hard stance against corruption.Generally speaking, the most successful families backing a superpower were the most corrupt, so, with a massive power vacuum being created in the wake of Vahn's actions, there were many groups fighting for control. The Confederation, in particular, was on the verge of a Civil War, while, back in the Empire, the faction supporting the Crown Princess had been gaining momentum at a terrifying rate. There were even rumors circulating that the Emperor was preparing to step down, presumably to make way for the new generation in what some were already calling the 'Era of the Sage Dragon Emperor'.Vahn's popularity had grown explosively among the various Demihuman tribes, and, though he was significantly less popular with humans, there was a growing faction of sympathizes that had already secured a foothold within the Capital of Megalomesembria. This was largely the result of Lady Xuan carefully manipulating a number of Senators, but, more than anything else, it was Vahn's actions in the Senate and his liberation of countless slaves that inspired people to action.With several media stations being destroyed in the wake of Vahn's ultimatum to the Senate, there was a significant decline in the amount of propaganda circulating within the Confederation. There were still a few active groups on the Magical World's version of the internet, referred to by many as 'MAHO.NET', but, with many of the groups' leaders going missing or turning up dead, fewer people were willing to openly discuss their prejudices outside the relative privacy of their homes.Without the Media constantly enforcing various agendas and ideologies, many of the groups that had been too afraid to speak out in the past became 'very' vocal. There were actually a considerable number of people within the Confederation who didn't believe in the ideologies purported by their government, so, now that the higher-ups had fallen silent, they were finally allowed to give a voice to their indignation. This led to a sharp increase in the number of crimes reported between citizens, but, with the violent members representing both sides going missing, the numbers were gradually on the decline. (A/N: Good people, once empowered, can be even worse than bigots and racists. Be good to each other.)---Though he was well-aware of the events transpiring around the world, Vahn didn't have much time to focus on them. Asuna's growing boldness was one of the reasons, but, even more troubling than the love-struck prodigy was the youth who would periodically 'invade' the island. Nagi didn't know how to accept a loss, and, though Vahn had tried lecturing him on numerous occasions, everything seemed to go in one ear and out the other.At first, Vahn tried simply ignoring the brat, but, as if 'demanding' their attention, Nagi would begin using power magic out at sea. This wasn't that annoying, as Vahn could easily just create a barrier to block both the sound and shockwaves, but, after a few days, several mercenary groups and bounty hunters began appearing in the area, likely to investigate the wanton misuse of magic. This resulted in the island becoming well-known in the underground community, and, though Vahn had always expected their location to be exposed, the fact Nagi's tantrum was the reason caused him to, quite literally, capture and spank the spirit out of the youth.Currently, Nagi was 'grounded' within the Sub-Space Orb Vahn had originally prepared to help the youth in his training. As for the other members of Ala Rubra, Vahn used Nagi's mistake as an excuse to beat some sense into both Eishun and Filius. He would have done the same to Albireo, but, ever since the man had been wantonly teleported, he never directly appeared within the domain. When asked about his location, Filius explained that he was investigating something in secret, so, at least for the time being, the man had been able to avoid Vahn's wrath.Thanks to Nagi, the island had been getting a lot of 'visitors', but, thanks to the Elementals, very few were able to approach the island directly. Those who tried to approach from the air would find their Airfish unresponsive while the few that approached from the sea would find their path blocked by a series of large whirlpools. If that wasn't enough to deter them, they would find themselves besieged by countless Elementals, and, should they somehow managed to break through even that, they only had themselves to blame for what happened after...---Wearing a similar bikini to the one she had worn previously, albeit covered by a shawl, Asuna gazed out over the horizon with a less-than-enthused expression on her face. There was less than a month until she came of age, but, enjoying Vahn's reactions, she was determined to try and break down his defenses before the date in question. She didn't really see eye-to-eye with him concerning her age, and, during their most recent visit to the Sun Palace, her mother had backed her up, literally gifting Vahn a pair of edible panties and advising him to be more decisive.Unfortunately, the panties melted into a rather sticky mess before they could serve their purpose, and, after the fact, Asuna had to hand-wash the sheets as a punishment. Fortunately, she actually enjoyed chores quite a bit as they always made her feel like a young housewife. In fact, one of her favorite pastimes was cooking alongside Vahn, and, though it resulted in her getting kicked out of the kitchen, remembering his reaction when she showed up wearing nothing but an apron always brought a smile to her face.Prior to her arrival on the cliffs surrounding the south-eastern section of the island, Asuna had been trying to tempt Vahn into applying sunscreen on the front side of her body. She was usually able to convince him to handle her backside without too much fuss, but, ever since her breasts had grown to a size she was honestly a little proud of, Vahn had firmly kept his gaze focused on her eyes. This was something Asuna found very amusing, as, even if he wasn't looking directly at them, she knew his perception was properly recording their shape, size, and texture.Though the odds were generally against her, Asuna had noticed that Vahn was in a good mood today, likely having spent some time within his Realm. This gave her the confidence to try a little harder than usual, as, depending on how long he had been inside, he could be 'very' receptive to her advances. The last time he was in such a good mood, she had convinced him to give her one of his indescribably pleasant massages, and, though he ultimately refused to massage her breasts, she at least got to feel his hands on her butt and thighs.Even if she wasn't able to convince Vahn to apply sunscreen to her breasts, Asuna was confident she could convince him to apply it to her abdomen. This would give her the chance to stare directly into his face as he touched her body, and, though that would probably be the end of things, there were few things Asuna enjoyed more than observing Vahn's reactions.Though he attempted to mask his emotions behind a calm and casual demeanor, Vahn's thoughts and feelings were always easy to intuit. He simply couldn't deceive those who were close to him, so, despite his attempts to appear composed, Asuna knew her charms weren't useless against him. She could tell there were moments when he seriously considered her words, and, though he had always refused her in the end, just knowing he had considered it filled Asuna with a sense of excitement.Asuna had been looking forward to witnessing another one of Vahn's internal struggles against her charms, so, when he informed her that a group of people was attempting to sneak into the island, her mood had diminished greatly. While Fenrir was occupied with her training, Asuna was tasked with defeating any enemies who managed to slip through the island's perimeter defenses. This was a compromise she had made with the ever-serious Vanargandr, as, unlike Vahn, Fenrir hadn't been so keen on forgiving her.Having known Fenrir much of her life, Asuna had a great deal of respect and appreciation for the woman who had always dutifully served as her caretaker, mentor, and rival. She was the one who taught all of them how to circumvent Vahn's defenses, and, though Asuna had yet to receive the same benefits as everyone else, it would have taken a lot longer to figure Vahn out without Fenrir's guidance.Being called a 'bad girl' by the woman she had looked up to for several years had been significantly more painful than Asuna had expected. It wasn't really comparable to how she had felt when Vahn admonished her, but, as Fenrir had even influenced her style, Asuna felt a combination of guilt and shame under the Vanargandr's disapproving gaze. She had even started to tear up a bit, but, unlike when she was with Vahn, she managed to hold them back long enough to have a surprisingly long conversation about how she could become a 'good girl'...Since Fenrir was constantly training her body and mind in order to stand at her Master's side, Asuna had agreed to fulfill her responsibilities in the outside world. This had been a pleasant arrangement in the beginning, as she had convinced Vahn to increase the frequency and intimacy of her rewards, but, ever since Nagi exposed their hideout, Asuna felt like she was constantly being interrupted. She even suspected that Vahn 'let' some people pass through every now and then just to undermine her efforts to seduce him, a speculation that was all but proven by his reaction when she brought it up.Asuna knew her behavior was sometimes troubling to Vahn, but, rather than resort to methods like this, she would much rather he just tell her he wasn't in the mood. She didn't want to upset him, so, whenever he was firm with her, she did her best to comply. In fact, she actually preferred it when he was a little firm with her as it made it a lot easier to truly understand what he was thinking. She felt a strong compulsion to know and understand everything about Vahn, so, once they finally became a couple, Asuna was determined to peel back his layers until she discovered the very essence of his being. Then, like a seed that would eventually grow into a tree that spanned the heaven, she would plant her love there and nourish it until her existence had spread throughout and become one with his...Imagining herself sitting alongside Vahn as they reshaped the heavens together, a smile gradually spread across Asuna's face, replacing her dour expression. Then, after using the [REquip] system to don her combat attire, she leaped from the edge of the cliff with a determined glint in her eye. The only way to realize her dream was to grow stronger than everyone but Vahn himself, so, while they were unlikely to pose even a minor threat to her, Asuna knew there was always something more to learn in the midst of combat...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The power of a deterrent','Someone strangle this kid (O n O)...','Asuna has a little bit of yandere in her it seems...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After throwing Nagi into the Sub-Space Training Orb for a few days, Vahn decided it was finally time to check up on the brat. He doubted the youth had completely calmed down, but, without knowing the password, the only methods he had to leave the orb were breaking the interior space or asking permission to leave.Vahn wasn't particularly fond of holding people against their will, but, after Nagi's previous tantrum, he had made an exception in order to teach the boy a lesson. Besides, it wasn't as if he had thrown the boy into a prison. The interior of the orb had a fully furnished residence, an onsen-like bath with medicinal properties, vast stretches of forested terrain, and, if you wandered far enough, there were even mountains, swamps, and a faux-sea.At this point, Vahn was confident there were very few people who could compare to him when it came to the creation of Sub-Space Orbs and Dioramas. He could gradually convert the interior into a miniature Realm with enough time, so, while Nagi was certainly thrown inside against his will, he had plenty of things to keep him occupied. There was even a library filled with books related to the use of ki and magical energy, so, if he was smart, he could always hole himself up inside to increase his knowledge...---Demonstrating just how 'adaptable' he was, Vahn found the Nagi relaxing in the onsen with a towel covering his eyes. He didn't seem any worse for wear after spending more than a week inside the training orb, so, while the boy finished with his bath, Vahn entered the residence to investigate its condition.Unsurprisingly, the interior of the residence looked like a hurricane had passed through it. There was even a large hole leading from the first floor into the basement, seemingly the result of Nagi feeling there was 'something' beneath the residence before he found the actual entrance. Vahn would make the boy repair the hole by hand later, but, for the time being, he entered the kitchen to make a light lunch.Though almost everything about Nagi grated at the mind, making him exceptionally irksome to be around, Vahn was trying hard not to let it get to him. He could tell the boy was damaged, and, while it wasn't his responsibility to fix the youth's problems, that didn't mean he had to treat him badly. In fact, the best way to break down someone like Nagi was to acknowledge them and treat them, not with deferential respect, but 'understanding'.At this point, Vahn was seriously considering treating Nagi the same way he had treated Eva in the original history. The boy would benefit greatly from attending a 'normal' school and socializing with people his own age. He was pretty handsome, and, though his personality needed a lot of work, the hearts of young girls rarely cared about such things.Ideally, Nagi would be removed from any involvement with Mundus Magicus and its conflicts, but, knowing the youth, it would probably be better to send him to Ariadne. Even after the changes he had introduced, there were still a number of proud and borderline arrogant children attending the various academies within the city. Nagi would be able to thrive in such an environment, and, since there were always families looking to tie powerful people to them through marriage, he was bound to become involved with the daughters of various Nobles. After all, while not as potent as Asuna, he still had the 'aura of a protagonist', so, regardless of where he ended up, Nagi would always be the main character of his story.While thinking about methods to seal Nagi's power without harming his potential, Vahn skillfully prepared more than a dozen types of sashimi. He was quite fond of fresh fish, and, thanks to the system shop, he was never left wanting for high-quality ingredients.Sensing someone trying to sneak up behind him, Vahn didn't bother to look behind him as he very plainly stated, "The kitchen is not the type of battleground you are prepared for. If you try anything while I'm preparing lunch, I'll replace everything in the pantry with plain rice."Hearing Vahn's words, Nagi could be heard audibly clicking his tongue before turning around and leaving the kitchen. His previous series of defeats taught him there was a vast difference in power between himself and the lightly humming dragon. This normally wouldn't be enough to deter him, as there was nothing he enjoyed more than battling powerful opponents. Vahn, however, had never actually fought him. Instead, it was always an extremely one-sided affair, often ending without Vahn drawing his sword or bothering to use even the most basic martial arts technique.Nagi hated being treated like a kid, but, after several tongue lashings from Asuna, combined with the fact his 'tantrum' had exposed the location of Vahn's base, he couldn't help but reflect, even if it was just a little. His brief period of isolation had given him time to organize his thoughts, and, after imagining their positions reversed, Nagi realized he would probably be super pissed off if he was in Vahn's shoes.Though he now realized just how childish he had been, Nagi didn't really know how to apologize for his actions. The only things he was good at were fighting and pulling pranks, neither of which seemed suitable for dealing with the current situation. This realization resulted in him feeling even more introspective, as, rather than becoming the hero he aspired to be, Nagi realized he was just a brat who used his power to inconvenience others at his leisure, often relying on his Master to save him when he got in over his head...---After finishing with the lunch preparations, Vahn found Nagi sitting silently at the dining table, his expression fixed in a serious countenance that didn't really suit a child.Seeing the youth contemplating various things, Vahn just shook his head, a wry smile on his face as he waved his hand, filling the table with dishes. This broke Nagi from his self-absorption, surprising him quite a bit if his instinctual activation of Ki was anything to go by.Retraining his urge to laugh, Vahn sat on the opposite side of the table, picking up his chopsticks before meeting Nagi's gaze and saying, "Eat. We will talk afterward."With that said, Vahn didn't wait for Nagi's response, deftly picking up a piece of sashimi with his chopsticks before lightly dipping it into an off-colored soy sauce. It was fermented from a type of soybean purchased from the system shop, and, though it was simply called a soybean, the face it was several hundred times more expensive indicated it was anything but normal.Though he often bought items and foodstuffs directly from the system shop, Vahn had learned the joy of creating condiments from scratch during his lessons with Benienma, Circe, and Medea. They benefitted from the same boosts that applied to all his cooking, so, compared to the condiments he purchased from the system shop, the ones produced by hand tasted much better.Seeing Vahn eat with a somewhat 'stupid' smile on his face, Nagi couldn't help but stare at him for several seconds before turning his attention to the simply cut sashimi. It didn't seem to be anything special, but, watching Vahn, it was like there was nothing in the world more flavorful than raw fish neatly arranged on a plate...Recalling that Vahn was, in fact, a Dragon, Nagi decided to just be grateful the former didn't try to feed him a whole goat or something. With that in mind, he used his own chopsticks to pick up a piece of sashimi before bringing it to his mouth without any garnishments. He actually wasn't all that fond of things like soy sauce, much to the chagrin of his sword instructor, Eishun Konoe.Chomping down on the piece of sashimi without any real expectations, Nagi was surprised to find that it was filled with flavor. It was also paradoxically crisp yet springy, feeling soft on the palate but surprisingly easy to chew. Stranger still, the juices from the fish were like a rich and flavorful umami that soaked into the tastebuds, lingering for several seconds without even a hint of a fading into an unpleasant aftertaste.Eyes widening, Nagi stared back at Vahn with a rather incredulous expression on his face, earning an amused smile from the latter as he said, "True mastery is the mastery of the self. It requires you to put the maximum amount of effort into everything you do, constantly striving to improve, not as a martial artist or a mage, but as a person. Now, eat. We have much to discuss and you have a big decision to make once we're finished..."Though he couldn't help but furrow his brows slightly when he heard Vahn's words, Nagi wasn't going to pass on the opportunity to eat delicious food. He had never eaten something as flavorful as the simply cut sashimi before him, a rather ridiculous notion considering he had eaten dragon steak and filleted sea serpent. Both were considered supreme delicacies in Mundus Magicus, and, unless you had the strength to hunt them yourself, you would end up paying tens of thousands of Drachma just to sample the notoriously difficult to prepare meat...After picking up another piece of sashimi, Nagi couldn't help but swallow a knot in his throat as he turned his attention towards the pale-pink liquid that vaguely resembled soy sauce. Then, changing the way he viewed all condiments from that moment onward, Nagi dipped the end of his sashimi into the saucer before experiencing an 'explosion' of flavor before the sashimi even hit his tongue...---While Nagi was busy engorging himself like a Saiyan who had just finished fasting for a year, a very different kind of scene was playing out outside of the Sub-Space Orb. Both scenes brought a smile to Vahn's face, but, while the former was somewhat amusing, the latter made him feel a bit helpless, as, after knocking out the mercenaries attempting to sneak onto the island, Asuna returned to the beach with a 'vengeance'.Since it had been around lunchtime before her departure, Vahn decided to use the momentary lull to pull out a grill and barbeque a few items. He greatly enjoyed the sweet and smokey smell that pervaded the area whenever he barbequed, so, whenever they were spending the day at the beach, he often pulled out the grill to have some fun. Cooking was something he enjoyed quite a bit, and, after spending a few weeks inside his Realm, he was in the mood to prepare all kinds of dishes.Without thinking anything of it, Vahn ended up grilling a few sausages, hamburgers, chicken, and a mix of vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, and mushrooms. They weren't exactly the best items to throw onto a grill, but, regardless of the situation, Vahn always did his best to prepare a balanced meal while providing multiple options. He even brought out a salad he had prepared earlier, and, as always, a large pot of perfectly cooked rice accompanied every meal he ate.Originally, Vahn had intended to reward Asuna by sitting together on the beach and hand-feeding her a few of the items he had prepared. This was exceptionally well-received by the young woman in question, but, never missing the opportunity to escalate things, Vahn couldn't help but adopt a wry smile when he saw the glimmer in Asuna's eyes as she stared at the sausage he had proferred forth. Then, after licking her lips suggestively, she pulled her hair back, quickly fastening it into a loose ponytail before slowly lowering her face toward the sausage.Though she did eventually eat the offered meat, it wasn't before she had 'fully sampled' its flavors with her mouth and tongue, periodically turning her eyes up at Vahn to giggle in response to his facial expressions...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Nagi is going to need to update his tag from 'shonen' to 'romcom'','EPIC isn't a cooking novel','I imagine Vahn's eye twitching the moment she finally bit down...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the help of the World Tree's network, it didn't take long for Vahn to locate Asuna, and, after making the necessary preparations, he promptly teleported to her location. There, a woman that wouldn't lose out to even the most mature women in his harem could be seen suspended silently within the air. Her orange hair extended well beyond her pert buttocks, but, more noticeable than anything else, her breasts stood out like two mountains beneath the loose fabric of her gi...Earning the woman's attention, Vahn made no effort to hide his exasperation, exhaling a profound sigh that caused the grass below to rustle slightly. Immediately afterward, the woman descended to the ground like a goddess, a demure and apologetic smile on her face as she crossed her right arm beneath her breasts, holding her left arm in a self-comforting manner. She had the kind of look that made others feel guilty just looking at her, but, well aware of who was at fault here, Vahn just shook his head and said, "You really did it this time...Asuna..."Showing an even more apologetic expression on her face, Asuna hugged herself tightly, almost as if she was trying to attract focus to her breasts as she avoided his gaze and muttered, "I'm sorry...I just wanted you to start viewing me as a woman...please don't be too mad..."Even if he wasn't staring directly at them, Vahn could see Asuna's breasts on the verge of exploding from her gi. She wasn't wearing a bra, likely due to the fact she simply didn't have one big enough, so there was very little left to the imagination as her arm further accented their volume. Given who he was dealing with, it was highly like that she was intentionally trying to draw his attention, almost as if to say, 'Look how much I've grown up.'Restraining an urge to sigh, Vahn slowly ran his hand through his hair, turning his eyes to the World Tree's canopy as he answered, "What's done is done...just know that I'm a little disappointed in you. I can understand your reasoning, but this kind of behavior isn't something I can condone..."Displaying a visibly hurt expression, Asuna began to tear up, her lower lip quivering notably as she fought back the urge to cry. She had already expected Vahn to reprimand her, but, after such a long time apart, hearing his words hurt a lot more than she imagined. It had only been a year, but it was a year she had spent alone, separated from the person she cared about more than anything else in the world...Though Asuna was adept at controlling her emotions, she was never the type of person that used her tears as a weapon. Vahn could tell she was experiencing genuine remorse, so, while he still had a lot to say regarding her recent behavior, he simply didn't have the heart to stay mad at her. Her long isolation couldn't have been easy, so, in a way, she had effectively punished herself using a far more severe punishment than anything he could have come up with...Seeing a few tears liberate themselves from Asuna's eyes, cascading down the contours of her face on a tragic journey, Vahn found himself inhaling a slow and steady breath through his nose. There were few things more effective against him than the tears of someone he cared about, so, after his lungs had filled completely, he released another profound sigh, discarding his anger entirely as he wrapped the whimpering girl in his arms, ignoring the soft feeling pressing against him as he gently caressed her back.Feeling the familiar warmth wrap around her, Asuna was unable to stymy her tears, opening the proverbial floodgates as she lowered her head and sobbingly whimpered, "I'm sorry..." over and over again. At the same time, demonstrating that her year of isolation hadn't been unproductive, Vahn felt his bones creak under the strain of Asuna's embrace, the air being forced from his lungs for a brief moment before he quickly adapted...---Taking advantage of the drastic time dilation of the exterior ring, Vahn helped Asuna to calm down before allowing her to nestle against him as they sat against the trunk of the World Tree. He wanted to know her reasoning for taking such extreme action, his heart breaking a little when she demurely explained, "I was never meant to have a normal childhood...you already gave me more chances than I was originally afforded...if you hadn't come to this world and given me the opportunity to seize my own destiny, I would have continued being used by various people for more than a hundred years. I would have been separated from my family, friends, and, at the end of it all, I would have been used as a lynchpin to protect a world where everyone I cared about was already dead..."Though he was well aware of Asuna's future in the original timeline, hearing her describe it in such a somber tone destroyed what little anger remained in Vahn's heart. Her original self was one of the most pitiable people he had ever met, and, though he had prevented most of the tragedies meant to befall her, the fact Asuna knew about them had likely strengthened her convictions. She was the type that based her decisions on cold hard truths, and, though she was guided by her emotions at times, Asuna was extremely pragmatic...Recalling the first time he had met Asuna, Vahn realized it was probably at that exact moment that she had decided to follow him. This decision was undoubtedly influenced by her powerful fate, but, if he looked back into his memories, the image of the little girl staring blankly back at him was still present. If he changed perspectives, he could see his own expression, and, though it wasn't obvious to most people, Vahn suspected that both Asuna and Vesperina had been able to see the familiarity, pity, and resolution visible in his gaze.Despite having never met before, Vesperina had entrusted her daughter to him before they had so much as exchanged three sentences. As for Asuna, she followed him around with the persistence of a duckling, constantly observing his every action with her discerning eyes and analytical mind. After a few days had passed, she began clinging to him excessively, and, though she never asked why he was so worried about her, that didn't stop her from inquiring about various other topics, seemingly eager to learn everything there was to know about him.In hindsight, Vahn realized that Vesperina, Anarchia, and even Asuna had been 'conspiring' against him from the very beginning. They treated him as if he was someone special, and, though he was certainly the benefactor of the Ostian Royal Family, the fact they had systematically normalized so many intimate interactions was abnormal. They gradually lowered his defenses, and, when the time was ripe, the two mothers had basically pawned their daughters onto him, entrusting someone they barely knew with the fate of the entire kingdom...As that thought crossed his mind, so too did the smiling faces of Anarchia and Vesperina. They were both exceptionally intelligent and perceptive so they had likely decided very early on that they were going to entrust their daughters to him. He couldn't see it when he looked at himself, but Vahn was apparently 'very' easy to read whenever it concerned people he wanted to protect. He used to think this was a property of his [Will of the Emperor], but, after asking nearly every member of his harem, the majority stated they could understand his thoughts and emotions just by looking at his face...As if to emphasize this fact, a smile spread across Asuna's face as she nestled a little closer to him and said, "Thank you..." in a demure tone. He didn't have to ask what she was thanking him for, as, even if it was somewhat sudden, Vahn could intuit she had sensed his anger fading away, effectively declaring he had already forgiven her.Unable to form a response at the moment, Vahn just lightly shook his head, a wry smile on his face as he gently squeezed Asuna's shoulder to indicate a silent affirmation. This caused her to release a sonorous giggle, her voice having deepened considerably due to her rapid development. She really had grown considerably, and, though there was a chance she would grow further, Vahn presumed this form represented her 'prime'.Going by appearance alone, Asuna looked like she was in her early twenties, and, if not for the fact he could see her Status, even Vahn could have been convinced this was the case. He could generally tell how old someone was by the maturation of their aura and the structure of their bones. This was no longer the case with Asuna, as, due to the effects of the Little Garden and her unique Cultivation methods, each of her features had been refined to their biological prime. In fact, she even gave off the impression of someone far older, as, due to her nature as a Tier 5, Asuna's appearance and aura elevated her beyond most Gods...------------------------------------------------[Status]Name: [Asuna Vesperina Theotanasia Entheofushia]Age: 13Race: High HumanOffense: 1943Defense: 1701Mobility: 3,590Base Power: 7,234Soul Tier: 5 (Realm Soul)Skills: [Child of Destiny(Non-Standard): SSS], [Key of Twilight(Manipulation): SSS], [Magic Cancel(Mitigation): SS], [White of Mars(Creation): SS], [Black of Venus(Absorption): SS], [Master Swordsman: A], [Grandmaster Ki User: E], [Heavenly Sword of Division(Spirit Cultivation): S], [Sage's Path of Enlightenment(Mind Cultivation): S], [Primoridial Goddess' Divine Body(Body Cultivation): S], [Expert Cooking: D], [Master Seamstress: C], [Great Divide: SS], [Hands of Nirvana: D]Magic: [Shundo:SS], [Koku Shundo:S], [Cantus Bellax: SSS], [Mellodia Bellax: SSS], [Vis Maxima: SSS]------------------------------------------------Though her parameters hadn't increased that much, Vahn suspected the main reason for this was because Asuna had been trying to lay low. Even then, the increase was still impressive, as, the more powerful you became, the harder it was to increase your base parameters. The only reason she had grown so much over the year was that she had been focused on her Cultivation methods and trying to refine her State of Nothingness. This had likely helped her pass the time, and, as a result, she had effectively mastered her Spirit, Mind, and Body techniques.The [Heavenly Sword Division] was a method that helped a practitioner to both increase and refine their sword intent. As for her [Sage's Path of Enlightenment] and [Primordial Goddess' Divine Body], the former greatly aided in the comprehension of virtually all Laws while the latter was used by the vast majority of his harem to strengthen their body and enhance their beauty. There were no upper limits to how powerful they could become, and, unless there was something interfering, it basically allowed them to grow and develop into what they believed to be a 'perfect' body.With S-Rank mastery in all of her Cultivation techniques, Asuna was already at a level people several times her age had struggled to reach. It was hard to believe she was only thirteen years old, as, with her appearance, aura, knowledge, and skill, the only part of her that even remotely matched her age was the 'hopeful adulation' visible in her gaze as she looked upward at him. Young girls in love were notoriously oblivious to anything that didn't validate their views, often ignoring common sense and committing to rather 'drastic' actions to earn the affection of the person they liked...Proving his point, Asuna seemed to forget that she had been sobbingly apologizing less than half an hour ago. A loving and expectant smile had spread across her face, and, though now was neither the time nor the place for such things, she hugged his arm tightly while pressing her breasts against him. To further exacerbate matters, a blush had started to spread across her face, though she didn't say anything, the expectant and eager look in her eyes revealed her thoughts.Feeling like Asuna had loosened the chains on Pandora's Box and was hoping he would open it, a wry smile spread across Vahn's face as he lightly pinched her nose. This was how he would normally let her know she was getting out of hand, so, with an expression of supreme disappointment, Asuna deflated like a balloon. She instantly understood the meaning behind his action, her mind racing to think of methods to make the next few months fly by. At the same time, however, her hand slipped down his chest, and, though it didn't come into contact with anything 'problematic', the way Asuna leaned into him made it very clear she hadn't given up on tempting him...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The most potent weapon...','Vahn never stood a chance','Eva needs to give this girl a firm spanking...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1667: Exposed