Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Opening his eyes, Vahn found himself surrounded by a familiar cumulonimbus, a taunting smile spreading across his face as he said, "Even if you go all-out, you won't be able to defeat me. If you don't want to endanger the sanctity of the Heavens, stop meddling in this world and abide by your own rules. Don't make-"Interrupting his warning, thick bands of golden lightning began targeting Vahn from virtually every direction. Their speed was much greater than normal lightning, so, even though his reaction speed would normally allow him to evade such attacks, nearly every band impacted his body directly. As a result, his body began to char from the inside, his flesh and organs carbonizing as his eyes glowed red-hot before subsequently melting away like liquid metal.Though not entirely unexpected, Vahn realized he had underestimated the so-called 'God's Divine Judgment'. His body had virtually no resistance against the 'Sacred Holy Lightning' created by a Tier 5 being, as, by design, it was meant to have no actual counter. The only way to even remotely resist it was to be comprised entirely of Holy Energy, but, even if he used Magia Erebea to assume such a form, the nature of the technique itself would ensure he took even greater damage.Fortunately, thanks to Karin, Vahn had a template within his mind that he could use even without the Magia Erebea. As a result, his body began to rapidly regenerate, his skin turning inordinately fair as his hair gained a silky-black sheen. Most notably, two sets of angelic wings sprung from his back, but, not satisfied with a half-measure, Vahn pushed his transformation a step further. Golden scales began to sprout across his body, and, though the form naturally resisted the changes he was forcing upon it, a set of draconic wings spread from his back as a very convenient halo manifested above his crown.Since 'damage' was likely too broad in this case, Vahn commanded the [Runed Halo] to protect him from purification. The thing that made Holy Elemental Energy so powerful wasn't its ability to deal damage to a target, rather, as a result of its nature, it wasn't capable of causing harm. What made it so powerful was the fact that it could expunge all impurities from a target, and, though this had the appearance of causing 'catastrophic' damage to said target, the thing that ultimately brought about their end was their 'lack of purity'.Though Vahn's Source Energy should allow him to resist such effects entirely, the fact he emulated the human body and adopted a physical form worked against him. The form, name, race, and even the fate of entities within the Records determined how the Laws affected them. This was especially true in Records governed by Magic, and, if you could somehow bind a God into the form of a much weaker creature, the most popular being humans or animals associated with them, they could even be killed by mortal men and women.Vahn was largely immune to the concept of 'true death' due to the indestructibility of his Ego and the inviolability of Source Energy. Though he would need to act before the Source Energy turned into other types of energy, he was effectively able to revive a countless number of times. The only limiting factor was his own intent, so, unless they could somehow break his spirit and force him to simply 'give up', he would keep coming back stronger, faster, and more resolute.Emphasizing this characteristic, a phenomenal aura radiated from Vahn's body, forcibly dissipating the billowing cloud coverage as a twenty-meter long spear of holy lightning appeared in his right hand. This wasn't condensed from his own energy, however, but the energies within the cloud. He was able to exercise control over all forms of energy within his own domain, and, though it would be difficult to perform such a feat if the entity guiding the energy was present, the fact they were an entire Realm away gave him the home-field advantage.With an uncharacteristically vicious smile on his face, Vahn continued to collect golden lightning into his spear as the surrounding bands impacted powerlessly against his body. Then, with his three pairs of wings spread wide, his aura multiplied as he extended his left hand and shouted, "Set alight the all-consuming flame, Laevateinn...!!"Like an explosion had been set off within their midst, the billowy white clouds swirling around Vahn were torn apart by an invisible shockwave. Then, before they could even hope to reform, he arched backward an irregular amount before contracting his body, throwing the fifty-meter long spear of lightning that had been gathering in his right hand. Its momentum was so extraordinary that, for a brief moment, it appeared as though an indivisible golden line had appeared between Vahn and an empty point several hundred meters away. Then, without a single sound emanating, the line simply vanished into thin air as the clouds began to disperse into particulates of white light...---An unquantifiable distance from the mortal world, separated by no less than eight dimensional planes, a seemingly endless ocean of clouds could be seen floating aimlessly through a pale-golden sky. At the very center of this expanse, a majestic structure formed from the most immaculate white marble and an extraordinary amount of gold stood proud and inviolable. It gave off the impression of the most majestic palace in existence, it's size alone eclipsing the combined surface area of both Mundus Vetus and Mundus Magicus.Located at the center of this cosmologically central palace, what appeared to be a mass of wings surrounded an indescribably vibrant source of light. These wings belonged to peculiar creatures without any discernible bodies, their only aspects being three pairs of resplendent golden wings that were attached to the visage of a lion, an ox, a human, and an eagle. They dutifully veiled the vibrant light contained within, but, every now and then, a small break would appear in the area covered by their wings, it's vibrance so great it illuminated the entirety of the endless expanse of Heaven.In total, there were six of the peculiar four-headed creatures, each radiating an aura so phenomenal that the average mortal's mind would simply collapse in its presence. Those unfortunate enough to lay their eyes directly upon the creatures would immediately turn to ash, and, should they somehow infringe upon the territory protected by the strange entities, they would experience a fate far worse than death. The floor, which seemed to be woven from the night sky, was actually another entity on par with the six creatures, and, though it could not kill people, it had the ability to seal them within a realm of eternal darkness; an inescapable plane where you would be forced to experience your worst nightmares for all eternity...Floating above this membrane representing the concept of eternity, an ever-changing number of beings reminiscent of giant flaming wheels could be seen slowly orbiting the six-winged entities in the center. Their surfaces were covered in countless eyes, each superimposed onto the outside of the rings, which, despite appearing to be made from gold, possessed a uniquely organic nature that allowed the eyes to periodically open and close. It was a rather eerie sight, but, should you ever find yourself in a situation to behold their form, you wouldn't even have time to blink before you found yourself viewing your entire life from an outsider's perspective as your body was slowly consumed by holy fire...Above even the wheel-like entities and the peculiar four-headed creatures, three entities, each possessing six wings formed from the elements, could be seen holding hands. Each was garbed in resplendent armor forged from glistening white plates and pale gold that seemed to radiate literal flames. Their heads were cloaked by hooded mantles, the interior of which obscured their features with a darkness that could even rival the abyss. Above their heads, three crown-liked halos formed from blue, green, and red energy matched the color of the eyes that burned like living flames within their hoods. These were the entities known as Rubrum, Caeruleum, and Viridis, the three Seraphim who ruled over the Heavens and governed the position of all celestial bodies within the cosmos.Due to humanity's inability to conceptualize the existence of an all-powerful God, the Throne of God had remained unoccupied ever since the inception of the Nine Heavens. Though the influence of God was still present within all the Realms, they had no physical form or will outside the structure of the Heavens themselves. Despite this, their influence was currently the greatest in the entirety of the Akamatsuverse, so, even in the absence of a true God, its influence could be felt throughout the entirety of the verse.In actuality, the closest thing to a True God was the Root of Creation itself, and, though it had a will of its own, entities within the verse were entirely unaware of its existence. They simply saw the Root of Creation as the 'Will of the Heavens', an abstract concept that allowed deities to wield the closest thing to absolute power within the verse.Without a God to rule, the governance of the Heavens was left in the hands of the three Seraphim, each possessing a fragment representing an aspect of the Holy Trinity, each bound by the Will of a God they had never met. The oldest among these was Caeruleum, representing the Father-Mother and the Spirit. The second oldest was Viridis, representing the Holy Ghost and the manifestation of Sapience, the Mind. As for the youngest, they were known as Rubrum, the greatest of the three and representing Man, the living Body, and the possibilities of the future.Due to the nature of belief, it was possible for even ancient history to be retroactively shaped by powerful entities in the present. Thus, despite having only come into existence several thousand years ago, the age of the Nine Heaven and the Seraphim eclipsed even the birth of the Universe. They had memories dating back billions of years, and, as their power grew, the beliefs that gave them form would superimpose themselves onto reality, altering history to reflect the 'truth' they represented.Since the formation of the Nine Heavens, the only entity that had ever trespassed the Throne of God was the manifestation of Rubrum in the mortal world. He had once discarded his power and authority to walk amongst the men and women he represented, living amongst them in the hopes of guiding them onto the correct path. In the end, he realized that humanity was beyond salvation, but, given their infinite potential, there was always hope for the future. Thus, in order to buy them as much time as they needed, he ended up sacrificing his mortal coil in order to absolve them of their sins and create a path by which the devout and the innocent could find salvation.Though he was forced to suffer great humiliation and anguish, Rubrum ended up becoming even more powerful as a result of his Martyrdom. His sacrifice also allowed the physical plane to become more stable, and, though there were still wayward sheep that meandered far from the path he had set for them, he never blamed them. He loved each and every human that had ever existed, and, if he had any regrets at all, it was that he had loved a particular human more than he ought to.Originally, there were seven Cherubim protecting the Throne of God, their combined wings more than enough to prevent the light from escaping. Due to his selfishness, however, Rubrum had asked one of the faithful creatures to become the vessel for a mortal woman, the person he had burdened with the sin of betraying him. It broke his heart when the woman killed herself, so, at the expense of a large portion of his power, he allowed her to seek the repentance she sought while also providing her with the opportunity to witness the future they had created with her own eyes.Unfortunately, due to the burden of having her soul transplanted into the body of a Cherubim, the woman ended up losing most of her memories. The only things she remembered clearly was her act of betrayal and her apparent failure to take her own life. From then on, he could do little more than watch over her in solemn vigil as she traveled the world in search of forgiveness, something she had already received before his original sacrifice.Had the woman kept along her original path, Rubrum was fully prepared to ask for her forgiveness, but, due to her unique form of amnesia, he could only suffer in silence as she deviated further from the path she had chosen for herself. In the end, she even imprinted onto one of the very beings she, as both a Saintess and a Cherubim, was meant to destroy. To make matters exponentially worse, she even made a vow to forever follow and support the vile creature, a promise she could never renege on due to her Cherubic nature.If not for the vile creature's persistence when it came to killing other vile and evil creatures, Rubrum might have been tempted to use what remained of his power to completely annihilate the creature. He could hardly bear to see the one person he had cherished more than any other be led astray by a creature of darkness, but, after watching her suffer through depression for nearly fifteen-hundred years, he was happy just to see her smiling again. Though he did make it impossible for her to form any other contracts, this was intended as a failsafe to prevent the power of the Cherubim from truly falling into the hands of the forces of darkness.Unfortunately, as if the Will of the Heavens was out to spite him, the protection he bestowed upon the woman only exacerbated her misunderstanding that she was cursed. Her faith gradually began to wane, and, though she recognized the existence of God as an absolute, her belief shifted toward the vile apostle of darkness. She even began to harbor obscene and lustful thoughts for the woman, a desire that only grew stronger after their long separation.Had things ended there, Rubrum would have still been able to accept the situation, wholeheartedly believing that the woman would find her way back to the path after the vile apostle inevitably met her end. It might take a few thousand years, but, compared to the billions she was capable of living, it was just a drop in the proverbial bucket. She would eventually outgrow her inclinations, and, due to the ever-strengthening power of belief, it was only a matter of time until she became one of the central pillars that supported their faith. At least, that was how things were 'supposed' to go...Seemingly out of nowhere, an anomalous existence known as the Sage Dragon Emperor emerged within one of the few places outside the dominion of Heaven. This greatly alarmed all three of the Seraphim, but, after witnessing his efforts to restore balance and purge corruption, they gradually came to see his existence as a positive influence on the world. He had even taken it upon himself to protect the Key of Twilight, one of the few entities they had absolutely no power over due to its intrinsic connection to the Root of Creation.Unfortunately, even the Sage Dragon Emperor fell to the trappings of the detestable entity known as the Dark Evangel. This caused Rubrum to feel the closest thing to anger that he was capable of expressing, but, due to God's Will preventing direct interference with the mortal world, there was very little he could do. Any action that went against God's Will required him to sacrifice a piece of himself, and, though his power and authority were still above both Caeruleum and Viridis, the gap had been steadily closing.Rubrum's connection to 'Man' made it difficult for him to accept any but the one true God above him, so, regardless of his growing desire to burn the hateful woman to ash, he continued to silently observe the situation from his position within the Heavens. It wasn't until the Sage Dragon Emperor began discussing methods to remove the 'curse' that Rubrum felt compelled to act. The thought of losing the one person he had harbored true affection for filled him with a sense of indignation that simply couldn't be put into words. This was exacerbated by the fact that the Sage Dragon Emperor seemed to be directly taunting him, so, against the counsel of his contemporaries, he mustered as much power as he could manifest within Mundus Magicus, determined to at least teach the Sage Dragon Emperor a hard lesson.Seeing the arrogant dragon charred to the point of becoming a carbonized skeleton, Rubrum was unable to prevent a small smile from spreading across his non-existent mouth. He had never taken pleasure in the suffering of others, but, after the dragon had so thoughtlessly antagonized them, he felt it was only right that the anomalous creature suffers Divine Retribution...With this thought prevailing in his mind, Rubrum was unable to even process what was happening when Vahn began to suddenly change into an amalgamation of a Cherubim and a True Dragon. It wasn't something that should even be remotely possible, so, for several pivotal moments, the only thing he could do was observe the situation. Then, just as his mind began to process what he was witnessing, a brilliant flash of golden light appeared within the sanctified chamber, erupting into a cataclysmic explosion of holy energy...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'This isn't even my final form...','Rubrum has a very peculiar way of expressing his love...','C-C-C-C-Counter')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After idling in the air for several minutes without any new gates forming, confirming his suspicion that Karin effectively acted as a waypoint for whatever entity was observing her, Vahn gradually eased out of his Cherubic-Dragon transformation. It was a very powerful form, but, perhaps as a result of using Karin's body as a template, he actually needed to focus just to prevent his body from transforming into that of a female.Vahn didn't particularly mind transforming into a woman for short periods of time, but, as his self-image was that of a reliable father, an emperor, and a man, he always felt uncomfortable in a woman's body. It also reminded him of the time he was essentially pushed down by Tiona, the experiments he conducted with Da Vinci, and, most notably, the thirteen-weeks he spent trying to familiarize himself with Yin Elemental Energy.For one reason or another, likely pertaining to the Laws, everything from natural affinity, race, and gender determined the efficacy of certain types of energy. Men were naturally better and shaping and controlling Yang Elemental Energy, and, though they were able to eventually master it, women had a far easier time mastering Yin Elemental Energy. There were various ways around this, but, in the end, it was always better to work alongside the Laws rather than work against them. Thus, in an effort to familiarize himself with various Laws, Vahn had changed his form from everything to a tiny pixie to a hill-sized dragon.With Karin's body as a template, it was only a matter of time until Vahn incorporated the unique structure of a Cherubim into a vessel that perfectly suited his personal use. This was nothing new, however, as, even as far back as the Record of Danmachi, Vahn had been experimenting with the form and function of his own body. He had originally used Riveria as a template to emulate a High Elf, and, though it was awkward in the beginning, he had even found a way to change his form into that of a male Amazoness. There were very few limits to his ability to manipulate his form, the only real restrictions being his inhibitions and his understanding of the race he was trying to emulate.---After assuming a far more comfortable form, Vahn decided to sit atop the island's estate as he waited for some kind of response from Heaven. He didn't actually know to what extent they were able to influence the physical plane, but, considering there were entities like Demon Gods, Vampire Nobles, and various other malicious creatures acting with impunity, he doubted their influence was able to reach beyond their established territories. They likely used Karin's body as a beacon of sorts, so, now that she was no longer in the Magical World, there was a chance they had lost the ability to directly influence Mundus Magicus.With more than an hour passing without incident, Vahn felt like his speculation hit the proverbial nail on the head. This was actually a little disappointing, but, as he had already decided to depart the Akamatsuverse, he didn't let it bother him. Instead, he pulled out two tarot-like cards from his Inventory, each showing distinctly different women with diverse shades of golden hair.Staring at the first card, a wry smile spread across Vahn's face as it depicted Theo in a rather risque outfit with several muscular arms hovering around what appeared to be a dharmic wheel. She had a massive grin on her face, and, though it was just a card, Vahn felt like he could feel her enthusiasm and her desire for battle radiating from the image. As for the latter card, it showed an inordinately beautiful woman with long golden hair reaching the small of her back, her expression appearing a little cold at first, but, if you looked closely, an undisguised warmth was visible within in her peculiar heterochromatic eyes...After staring into Arika's gem-like eyes for several seconds, Vahn brought her card to his forehead, closing his eyes as he attempted to established a telepathic link. It took her less than three seconds to accept his 'call', her voice sounding equal parts excited, confused, and worried as she asked, ("Is there something wrong? I never expected you to contact me during the day...")Though Vahn could simply teleport to the Empire and meet with both of the girls, doing so would be a greater hassle than summoning to his side with the Pactio. Before that, however, he wanted to give them a heads up, so, in response to Arika's question, he plainly stated, ("There is something I needed to discuss with both you and Theo in person. A few things have changed in the past couple of days. How quickly can you make preparations so I can teleport you-")Without affording him the time to finish his telepathic message, Arika answered, ("We can be ready in three minutes.") in a curt tone. This caught Vahn a little off-guard, but, considering who he was speaking to, it wasn't too surprising that she would immediately make time for him. This brought a natural smile to his face, and, after sending her an affirmative, he quickly teleported to the Palace of the Sun in order to include Anarchia and Vesperina in the discussion...---Immediately after her telepathic conversation with Vahn, Arika turned toward the bronze-skinned woman curled up at her side. Then, after several seconds of staring at the line of drool leaking from the woman's mouth, she raised her hand to give the scantily-clad woman a rather firm smack on her largely exposed rear-end. Rather than cry out in confusion, however, the woman immediately closed her mouth, a sonorous moan escaping her throat as she lazily opened her eyes.Resisting the urge to sigh in exasperation, Arika decided to get directly to the point, stating, "Vahn has called for us. It seems to be an urgent matter so you should prepare yourself accordingly."Hearing her kindred sister's words, Theo immediately sat up on the bed, her developing breasts bouncing spiritedly for a brief moment as she exclaimed, "Yosh! I hope those bastards hiding in the shadows have finally poked their heads out! I'm itching for a fight...!"As they had just finished training less than an hour ago, Arika couldn't help but roll her eyes ever so slightly as she explained, "If it was the enemy, Vahn would have come directly to us. It seems like he has something important to discuss so we will likely emerge within the Palace of the Sun. Though I have already told them about you...I would rather you avoid wearing anything inappropriate before my mother and aunt. It's not that I'm against your choice in garb, but, for a variety of reasons, it is best you adorn something more formal..."Imagining her mother walking around the palace in a skimpy dress or a modified wedding gown, a notable shiver passed through Arika's body. She knew her mother's character well, and, though she was a nigh-flawless Queen when it came to the execution of her duties, her insatiable curiosity and her penchant for trying new things had become increasingly problematic. The presence of Vahn had only exacerbated this, and, if not for Asuna and herself, Arika was certain that her mother would not have held back at all during her treatment.Remembering all of the 'advice' her mother had given her, Arika was unable to prevent a sigh from escaping her lips as she began to fix her hair and clothes. Fortunately, they were currently within a sub-space created by Qinglong, so, while she had told Vahn they would be ready in three minutes, they actually had closer to thirty before he summoned them. This gave her plenty of time to fix her appearance, a habit she had put increasingly more effort into even before her feelings for Vahn had fully blossomed...---With three minutes having elapsed, Vahn smiled at the two pajama-clad women seated across from him as he said, "I'll be summoning Arika and Theo now. I can also summon Asuna, but, for the sake of convenience, I might just take everyone to where she is located..."Without asking any questions, Anarchia and Vesperina just nodded in understanding before taking simultaneous sips of the hot cocoa he had prepared for them. This caused the smile on Vahn's face to twitch slightly, but, without commenting on their easy-going attitudes, he held up the two Pactio cards and exclaimed, "I Summon Forth, Attendants of Vahn, Arika Anarchia Entheofushia and Theodora Bashireia Herasu De Vesuperisujimia...!!"Following the incantation, two complex magical circles appeared on the ground as Anarchia, with a teasing smile on her face, mused, "Hear that, Vesperina? It seems my daughter, the future Queen of Vespertatia, has become the Sage Dragon Emperor's attendant. How scandalous~."Hearing the remark and subsequent laughter, Vahn's smile became even more strained, but, seeing Arika and Theo appear, he was able to recover almost instantaneously. His expression softened into an affectionate smile, but, before he was able to utter so much a single syllable, the latter of the two zeroed in on him, her eyes turning into predatory slits for as she pounced on him with the force of a freight train.Fortunately, Vahn was already accustomed to Theo's antics, so, before she was able to send them crashing through the palace walls, he created a spatial lock just to arrest her momentum. Then, with a mix of amusement and affection appearing on his face, he wrapped his arms around the excitable woman, the middle and ring fingers of his right hand pressing into the nerves above the base of her tail as he mused in a slightly commanding tone, "Behave yourself..."The moment she heard Vahn's words, all the power seemed to drain from Theo's body in an instant as she slumped against him. The only part of her that was still lively was her tail, but, due to Vahn's preemptive measures, it was only able to lightly waggle and twitch as she nestled her face into his chest, her voice hot and heavy as she mewled, "Master..."Hearing the familiar form of address, the smile on Vahn's face became more prominent as his hold on Theo's body became more firm. Before he could reward her obedience with a kiss, however, the mood was completely destroyed when Anarchia audibly muttered, "Oh my...this was not what I had in mind when the Sage Dragon Emperor requested our presence. I had originally thought we were underdressed for the occasion...now it's starting to seem like the opposite is true..."With her hearing becoming even more sensitive as of late, Theo didn't miss a single word that had escaped Anarchia's mouth. This caused her to feel more than a little embarrassed, but, even if they had tried to forcibly tear her away, she wasn't going to part from her Master so easily. Instead, she just buried her face in his chest, a thin membrane developing within her ears to block most external sounds as her olfactory receptors began to multiply, drastically increasing her sense of smell.Due to their close proximity, Vahn was even more aware of the changes occurring in Theo's body than she herself. This fascinated him greatly, but, knowing he would have plenty of time to observe her within the Little Garden, he temporarily suppressed his intrigue. Instead, he continued to hold Theo in his embrace, and, after offering an apologetic smile toward Arika, he went on to explain as many details regarding his intentions as possible. He explained it as placing the entire universe into stasis, and, after explaining his reasons for leaving and promising them he would finally be able to reveal the truth, he managed to convince, not just Arika and Theo, but Anarchia and Vesperina to accompany him...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn conducts a lot of experiments with Da Vinci (OwO)...','Anarchia never misses an opportunity~','The power of evolution combined with the Law of Progress o_o...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though there was no particular hurry, Vahn knew it was better to act in the moment rather than put something off until later. Thus, while his other vessels were busy with various things, he created yet another version of himself to confer with Eva. She was far more likely to accept his reasoning in the wake of Karin's liberation, and, after several days within the Little Garden, it wouldn't surprise him to learn she had been thinking about their shared future.After confirming there was nothing too risque going on, Vahn lightly rattled on the door leading to his miniature clinic. In response, he could feel the magical energy inside begin to shift, and, after a few seconds had passed, the barrier preventing sounds from leaking was deactivated as Eva called out, "Just come inside. I needed to talk with you anyways."Following Eva's words, Vahn could hear Karin fluster about, but, before she was able to make herself decent, he had already opened the door to find the woman glaring at him with her head resting on the former's thighs. She was still just as naked as he had left her, but, perhaps due to being caught off guard, she instinctually covered herself with her hands while tucking up her knees defensively.Vahn was tempted to roll his eyes in response to Karin's behavior, but, feeling this would only make things worse, he managed to restrain himself as he said, "I also had a few things to discuss. I'll listen to what you have to say first though. Who knows, maybe we're already on the same wavelength as husband and wife?"Unlike Vahn, Eva wasn't afraid to roll her eyes, doing so rather exaggeratedly as she continued to caress Karin's head. Then, without beating around the bush, she said, "I want you to build a larger residential space within the Little Garden, one big enough to house a hundred people without too much trouble. One of the dreams I had long ago was creating an organization that could take in all the immortal men, women, and children who were forced to bear the burden of eternity. I want it to function like a combined school and orphanage, a place where those without family are able to find peace among others with a similar fate..."Hearing Eva's heartfelt desire, Vahn felt like the smile on his face had completely solidified, his face becoming almost perfectly statuesque. This was, of course, noticed by Eva, her own showing a bit of panic as she lowered her head and sheepishly murmured, "If it's too much to ask...I..."Without waiting for her to finish her sentence, Vahn just issued a light chuckle in response to Eva's words, shaking his head in mild exasperation as he explained, "No, you're misunderstanding me. I'm not against the idea of supporting such an organization...rather, if the situation were any different, I wouldn't hesitate to agree...haaaa..."Unable to keep up his act due to the growing panic visible in Eva's countenance, Vahn exhaled a long sigh before clarifying his thoughts, his voice calm and steady as he said, "You know what my purpose is, Eva. I'm trying to become strong enough to reunite with the family I left behind in my original world. Though I'm capable of fixing all of the problems within Mundus Magicus, doing so would require an inordinate amount of effort and several decades. This might not be very long in the grand scheme of things, but, with potentially thousands of years remaining until I can reunite with my family, I don't want to get caught up in trying to 'fix' every world I trespass...if I put in the effort, I could even become the most powerful God in this world...there are just far more important things on my plate..."Seeing the conflict in Vahn's eyes as he struggled between wanting to comply with her request and pursuing the things most important to him, Eva couldn't help feeling a little guilty. She was perhaps the most aware of Vahn's primary objective, as, thanks to her Memory Fragment, she had more than a thousand years of memories related to his original world. She had also seen the longing visible in his eyes whenever he talked about the past, so, after a few seconds of silence, she asked, "You came here to talk about something...tell me...what did you decide?"Though he was still thinking about ways to compromise on Eva's dream, Vahn loaded that burden onto another version of himself as he honestly answered, "I can't reveal too many details right now, but, depending on your decision, I will be able to reveal everything in the near future. Truth be told, I have been considering subsuming the entirety of Mundus Magicus into my Realm ever since Theo asked me for a child..."---With Eva and even Karin closely listening to everything he had to say, Vahn went on to explain all of the thoughts he had kept bottled up over the last couple of 'years'. He also mentioned the various positives and negatives associated with subsuming Mundus Magicus, and, most importantly, he did his best to explain his plans moving forward. This included the after-care regarding Karin's current situation, methods by which they could lure out the members of Cosmo Entelecheia, and, though it was more than a little 'extreme', he even mentioned the possibility of completely halting the flow of time so they could review the situation and come back to it at their leisure...Though it was a very roundabout way of addressing the current situation, the most important thing was simply preventing Asuna from falling into the hands of Cosmo Entelecheia. Without the 'Key of Twilight', they were unable to move forward with their plans, so, just by keeping her within the Little Garden, they had already bought themselves hundreds of years. Stopping Ialda didn't actually serve a purpose outside of securing Eva's vengeance, as, despite her extreme nature, the true purpose of her organization was to create a literal paradise for every living creature.Compared to the existence of the Demon Nobles and the various corrupt organizations that readily manipulated both Mundus Magicus and Mundus Vetus behind the scenes, Cosmo Entelecheia was comparably righteous. Their methods left a lot to be desired, but, when it ultimately came down to it, this was a byproduct of the corruption that already existed. It was easier for them to manipulate already corrupt people using promises of power than it was to try and forcibly dominate the world, as, even with all their power, the power of Cosmo Entelecheia was inconsequential compared to the Demons and Vampire Nobles that had consolidated power for tens-of-thousands of years.Though Ialda might very well be the most powerful being within the physical plane of existence, it was clear from the way she did things that her capabilities were limited. There were undoubtedly a number of restrictions placed upon her, and, without Asuna to act as the Key of Twilight, there was a chance she might not be able to do 'anything' in her present state. She just sat around absorbing negative energy, waiting for her enemies to come directly to her doorstep before she exerted even a middling amount of effort to repel them.In other words, Ialda was 'harmless' in her current state. Rather, since she absorbed the negative energy that was present in the solar system, she actually reduced the overall amount. Though she had obviously performed various heinous deeds throughout history, it was impossible to make the argument that her existence, itself, was inherently detrimental to the world. In fact, from a number of different perspectives, Ialda was actually the 'good guy'. The only thing that firmly cemented her as an 'evil' entity was her complete disregard she had for non-humans, the inhumane experiments she had conducted in the past, and the fact that her plan would inevitably result in the extinction of all sapient life within the solar system...---After listening to Vahn make his case for the better part of an hour, Eva couldn't help but ask, "Are you certain you can completely halt the flow of time?" despite knowing Vahn had already done so for his original world. It was just such a ridiculous concept that, without direct confirmation, it was hard for her to wrap her head around.Understanding Eva's skepticism, Vahn didn't show any perturbation in response to her question, his voice calm, steady, and confident as he answered, "I am absolutely certain. In fact, you will come to learn that it takes no real effort on my part to achieve this. I can't explain the details right now, but, once everyone chooses to either accompany me or stay behind, I will reveal everything down to the true nature of reality itself. Until then, I cannot speak the truth as the world itself prevents me from doing so..."Though she had countless questions to ask, Eva knew Vahn wouldn't keep the truth from her if he was able to speak it. This caused her to fall silent for several minutes, a thoughtful look on her face as she continued to comb through Karin's hair. As for the latter, she had a distant look in her eyes that showed she had completely checked out from the current conversation, her mind unable to keep up with everything that had been stated and revealed. The only thing that really mattered to her was being able to follow her Master, so, regardless of what was decided, her path was already determined...After failing to organize her thoughts and extrapolate the truth from Vahn's words, Eva ultimately decided to stop thinking too much. He already said he would reveal everything the moment he was able to, so, rather than seek the truth and potentially endanger their lives, she raised her head and asked, "I assume we'll be moving into your Realm, correct?"Seeing Vahn nod his head in affirmation, Eva's mind wandered to all the memory fragments he had shared with her over the years. Entrance into the Realm meant she was bound to meet with the rest of his harem, and, though she had already accepted her place among them, she wasn't in a hurry to interact with them. She actually wanted to keep Vahn to herself for a little while longer, so, with the Little Garden serving as a convenient accommodation, various thoughts began to dance across her mind. After all, they could literally stay inside for an eternity without even a single second passing in the outside world, a notion that made a lot of things, including her own vengeance, seem a lot less important...As this thought crossed her mind, Eva turned her attention to Vahn, meeting his 'hopeful' gaze in the process. This caused a wry smile to develop across her face, as, ever since their reunion, he had been doing a lot, not just for her, but for Arika, Theo, Asuna, and the world itself. Vahn wasn't a very selfish person, and, even though he had nigh-unlimited power, he actually had an aversion to using it unless it was to help people.After thinking about it, the only two things he had ever truly requested of her was that she allow him to save her, and, despite her selfishness, her hand in marriage. Thus, after seeing the look in his eyes, Eva could only release a small sigh before adopting a gentle expression and saying, "I suppose it is only proper that a wife supports her husband...very well, we will do things your way. Before we depart this world, however, I intend to have you accompany for a few years in the periphery of this place...I'm not in a particular hurry to become a member of your expansive harem. At the very least, I want to enjoy a long honeymoon with just the three of us..."Hearing her Master's words, Karin's eyes came back into focus, a slight frown marring her face as she looked directly at Vahn. She wasn't particularly eager to service the man, but, if it was for her Master's sake, she was willing to tolerate his presence. At the very least, it was infinitely better to have a few years to adapt to his presence before she and her Master were thrust into a situation where countless other women vied for his affection. If she were to meet his other women right this instant, she couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be a conflict, so, at least for the time being, Karin was determined to buy as much time for her Master as possible...Though he noticed the look of 'conviction' in Karin's gaze, Vahn did his best not to let it bother him as he returned a radiant smile in response to Eva's words. She was inarguably the biggest hurdle to his departure from the Record, so, now that she had acquiesced, he needed only convince Arika and Theo. They would probably have some inhibitions, but, given Theo's character and how easily Arika was swayed by logic, Vahn was confident he could convince them without issue. After that, he just needed to wrap up a few loose ends, and, though it would practically bankrupt his OP reserve, Vahn actually found the thought of starting 'fresh' in a new Record rather tantalizing...With that thought dancing across his mind, Vahn's smile became even more prominent as he stared directly into Eva's sapphire blue eyes, his voice heavily saturated with his own excitement as he very seriously stated, "I can't even put into words how happy I am right now...all I know for certain is that I seriously fucking love you right now..."As Vahn very rarely cursed, Eva was more than a little surprised by his apparent giddiness and the context of his words. She felt like an entire flock of butterflies was wreaking havoc within her body, and, though she could normally meet his gaze without issue, she found herself looking away with a crimson hue coloring her cheeks as she meekly replied, "Show some restraint you dummy..." before adding a few more words under her breath...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn be like, "Please, spare me..."','TFW the bad guy is actually the good guy','Raid Boss down!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1678: Retribution