Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Having already made his decision to transition into the next Record, Vahn spent his final few hours accompanying Artoria and Eva for tea while Karin and Grey, both wearing the attire of the Imperial Maid Battalion, stood off to the side.Despite feeling a little listless about the future, Vahn had a relaxed smile on his face as he simply listened to two of the most important women in his life converse. They got along exceptionally well with each other due to the fact that Eva had grown up listening to tales of King Arthur in her youth. She was very interested in everything Artoria had to say, so, while the latter had never been one for discussing her escapades, she answered most of Eva's questions with a kind smile.Noticing the look on their husband's face, the expressions of the two women softened as Eva asked, "Is it time?"Nodding his head, Vahn softly replied, "Indeed...the longer I stay here, the less motivated I feel to do anything outside. Don't worry, from the perspective of everyone within the Realm, I will only be gone for a few hours at a time..."Understanding it would be impossible to keep the truth hidden, Vahn ultimately informed his wives about his decision to effectively reverse the usual time dilation. This had made more than a few them uncomfortable, but, after hearing his reasons, they gradually came to support his decision. In exchange, he revealed to them his prototype Noble Phantasm, a skill that effectively superimposed his Realm onto the outside world.Knowing they would be able to battle alongside him in the future helped to put a lot of people's hearts and minds at ease. Many even started training again, forming small groups that helped to polish each others' skills in preparation for future battles. Their devotion, quite literally, gave Vahn strength, so, while he couldn't help but feel worried about the future, he still looked forward to the day where he could overwhelm his enemies with the people he cared about fighting alongside him.Not missing the glimmer in Vahn's eye, Artoria and Eva sent a glance toward each other, knowing smiles appearing on their faces for a brief moment before the former said, "Then we shall see you in a few hours. Now, go...and never forget, our hearts are always with you..."Though he was intending to stick around for a few minutes longer, Vahn felt it was best to leave on a high note. In response to Artoria's words, he issued a light chuckle, downing the final few drops of tea before rising to his feet and saying, "I'll be back by dinner time..."---Opening his eyes, Vahn found himself in a familiar-yet-strange space, the stone dais that effectively served as his 'origin'.Looking around the area, Vahn noticed it hadn't changed all that much since his last visitation, but, if he focused his mind, both Gaia and Silva came into view. In fact, he could view everything within his realm while atop the dais, something that brought a gentle smile to Vahn's face.Finished with his admiration of the two sapphire blue planets, Vahn attempted a few experiments that Da Vinci had asked him to perform. Unfortunately, despite feeling more power atop the stone dais than anywhere else, Vahn wasn't able to do much. The dais was a place transcending the scope of the Laws, so, other than simply 'exist', it didn't seem like much else was possible.Deciding not to dally for too long, Vahn ultimately ceased his efforts to comprehend the nature of the dais. The next time he returned, he would be a Tier 7 entity, so, while he might not be able to understand its nature in the present, the future held infinite possibilities. To that end, Vahn fell back onto the stone dais, his arms and legs sprawled out as he gazed up in the infinite emptiness above and said, "I'll leave the destination to The Path...transfer me when you're ready..."Though she had yet to manifest externally, Sis nodded her head within the observation room of Vahn's mind before typing in a few variables into a light-formed terminal. Then, without taking a look at the constrained search results, she pressed a small button that, due to Vahn's desires, had the ability to randomly select a Record among the list. After that, the observation room went dark for a very brief moment before gradually lighting up as Vahn opened his eyes in another world...---Before Vahn could even open his eyes to gather his bearings, he was surprised by a voice asking, "Who...no...what are you?"Staring at the entity who had just addressed him, a peculiar white humanoid that resembled some kind of rabbit, Vahn answered, "I am Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor..."Scanning the peculiar rabbit earing a purple suit adorned with gemstones in the form of a cross, Vahn was surprised to find he couldn't sense 'anything' from the man. His entire presence seemed to come from the staff in his hands, a golden staff adorned with two watery spheres on either end.Shifting his gaze away from the rabbit for a brief moment, Vahn inspected the other people present within the large chamber, an inordinately beautiful woman with a long ponytail, a short man with peculiar silver hair that glistened similarly to metal, and, most notably, a young boy holding a thin black sword that gave off a similar impression to the rabbit-like entity's staff.Though Vahn had just given her a simple glance, the woman felt like her entire existence had just been seen through by him, the pupils in her red eyes contracting slightly as she asked, "Don't tell me...are you also an Irregular?"Unsure of what an Irregular was supposed to be, Vahn just offered a smile in response, his voice deep and resonating as he answered, "Such terms are foreign to me. Now, mind telling me what's going on here...?"As Vahn asked his question, he turned his attention to a metal gate that, against all logic, seemed to prevent a large body of water from escaping between its bars. Within that water, which shone with a mystical blue light, a massive eel-like creature was staring at everyone gathered within the room, a fair amount of drool pooling within its bottom jaw despite the fact it was surrounded by a liquid...In response to his question, it was the rabbit-like entity who stroked his non-existent chin before answering, "Allow me to introduce myself, Vahn Aldrnari Mason. I am Headon, Guardian of the 1st Floor, and Administrator in charge of selecting candidates to climb the Tower. The woman next to me is known as Ha Yuri Jahad, Princess of the Jahad Empire, and one of the few High Rankers that exist within the Tower."Taking advantage of the fact that she had already been introduced, Yuri sized up the man standing before her. He had short brown hair that was neatly combed backward, and, though he had a bit of peppering in his sideburns and beard, he radiated the aura filled with vitality. If she were to try and describe him to someone else, she would readily call him 'handsome', but, despite age having very little relevance within the Tower, Yuri had always preferred younger boys with pretty faces.Shifting her gaze away from the self-proclaimed Emperor, Yuri looked at the other Irregular who had appeared, a young boy named The 25th Baam. Unlike Vahn, he gave off a fragile and innocent vibe, someone who had never harmed a single person in their entire life. He was nothing like all of the other Irregulars who had entered the Tower, monsters who brought about great changes in the wake of their meteoric rise.Scrunching up her nose slightly, Yuri placed her hands on her hips as she looked to the silver-haired man standing at her right, asking, "Evan, what do you...see?"Yuri had been curious about Vahn's power and potential, but, seeing the abject terror visible on her Guide's face, she immediately shifted her focus back to the smiling man.Ignoring the woman's guarded posture, Vahn gave a polite nod, saying, "It is a pleasure to make the acquaintance of another Empire's Princess. If time allows, I would be honored if you would join me for a cup of tea. There are many questions I'd like to have answered...chief among them being the one I previously asked..."Noticing the impatience of the boy holding the black sword, Vahn couldn't help but frown as he saw the youth eyeing the twenty-meter long monster floating within the peculiar water. It seemed like he was on the verge of charging directly into the cage, but, based on the presence he gave off, it was hard to imagine him defeating the creature. The sword in his hand seemed very powerful, but it was currently in a sealed state. Given the power of everyone else present, it was pretty obvious he had stepped into an event related to the original timeline, and, based on the insurmountable odds before him, Vahn could guess the frail-looking youth was the protagonist of this Record.Understanding most protagonists were forced to experience great hardships, Vahn had to resist the urge to frown as he interrupted any potential responses, stating, "Boy...explain to me what is going on here. If these people are putting you in danger, I will do my best to help you."Hearing the intimidating man suddenly address him, the short-haired youth nearly dropped the sword in his hands, his golden eyes wavering as he tightened his grip on its hilt and answered, "It isn't like that...Mr. Headon gave me a Test and Ms. Yuri decided to help me. It was my decision to go up the Tower...there...there is someone important I must follow after...!"Though he appeared to be surprised by the boy's outburst, the thing that caused Vahn's brows to raise was the fact that the 'fate' around the youth seemed to spontaneously grow stronger. Then, as if to prove his conviction, he spun around on his heels, running into the cage containing a creature he virtually no hope of defeating.Noticing Baam's actions, Yuri couldn't help but cry out, "Wait a second you dumbass! There are still a lot of important things we need to discuss...!"For a brief moment, it seemed like Yuri was about to snatch up the boy named Baam by the back of his neck, but, before she was able to, a powerful force spread from Headon as he plainly stated, "If you interfere with a Test, the boy will be disqualified and ejected from the Tower. Since you allowed him to borrow the Black March, have faith in the boy..."Though she wanted to argue against Headon's words, Yuri knew better than most that the peculiar rabbit wasn't someone just anyone could mess with. He was the oldest Guardian in the Tower, and, though he might not be the most powerful, he had the authority to remove all the blessings people had received from the other Guardians. This would leave most people powerless, a fate worse than death for those who called the Tower home.Helping to calm the woman's frustrations, the inordinately short silver-haired man seemed to come to his senses as he noticed the scene playing out within the cage. A peculiar light flashed across his silver eyes, something Vahn was keenly aware of due to the fact that he could see an illusory flow of fate shift around the man like a series of meandering paths. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before, as, prior to entering this Record, Vahn had only ever seen static flows, the single exception being when he influenced events...Following the eyes of everyone else present, Vahn watched as the boy named Baam dropped his guard, seemingly accepting death. This immediately brought a frown to his face, but, noticing the fate 'solidify' around the youth, he decided not to intervene. Instead, he focused on extending his domain, surprised by the 'resistance' present within the surrounding Space. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced, but, while it seemed to limit the spread of his domain, Vahn was hardly able to contain a smile as he felt the power and potential contained within the mysterious energy...---Determined to follow after the person that meant more to him than his own life, Baam closed his eyes and allowed the monster known as a White Steel Eel to devour him. By offering no resistance, the creature had completely lowered its guard, so, once he was inside its massive and unbelievably foul-smelling mouth, he didn't hesitate to use the 'needle' in hand to stab both its tongue and the roof of its mouth over and over again.Feeling a sensation akin to electricity running through its body, followed by intense pain, the White Steel Eel couldn't even cry out as it fell to the ground, mouth dangling open as a massive amount of blood flowed from within. At the same time, Baam emerged from the interior, his face and body covered in blood that wasn't his. Then, with a loud cry intended to muster up all his strength, he charged towards a transparent black ball located at the back of the cage.In order to climb the Tower, Baam had been tasked with popping the black ball using the sword he had borrowed from Yuri. It was a legendary weapon known as the Black March, one of the Thirteen Month Series that was generally restricted to only Princesses of Zahard. There were few weapons in the entire Tower that could match its penetrative power and might, yet, in spite of this, Baam felt a sharp pain in his hands as he attempted to pop the thin black membrane of the ball.Though he noticed his palms were bleeding, Baam didn't stop to despair for a single moment, even as he heard Yuri shouting something from behind. Instead, he pulled out the knife he had brought with him while following after Rachel, a small cleaver-like weapon with a dull edge. Despite this, it had a bit of heft to it, so, with all the power he could muster, Baam began hammering at the handle of the Black March, forcing the tip further into the interior but ultimately failing to pop it.With sweat pouring down his face and the White Steel Eel slowly recovering from its paralysis, Baam abruptly considered the possibility that he had been set up by the Guardian of the First Floor. For a very brief moment, he nearly surrendered to the urge to collapse, but, from behind, a sudden voice cried out, "Hey, kid! Ask the Black March to help you! If you can get her to ignite, there is a chance you can still complete the Test!"Hearing the voice of the man who had introduced himself as Evan Edrok, Baam took a few deep breaths, hands on his knees as he asked, "What do you mean? How do I talk to the Black March?"Skipping a detailed explanation, Evan nearly ran to the edge of the cage as he shouted, "Just do it! If you keep thinking and hesitating, you're going to die! Grab the Black March and focus your mind on the blade! It's your only chance!"Though he was more than a little confused, Baam still managed to muster the strength to grip the handle of the Black March, his head lowering almost as if he was in prayer. This was an intriguing turn of events from Vahn's perspective, as, without a tremendous amount of practice, it was often very difficult for people to infuse their intent into a blade. Despite this, he could sense a shift in the boy's aura as the weapon known as the Black March began to emanate an aura powerful enough to distort the surrounding space.With golden electricity dancing across the surface of the blade and diffusing into the surroundings with destructive force, Baam inevitably succeeded in destroying the ball. To the surprise of everyone but Vahn and Headon, however, the ball quickly expanded to create a peculiar spacial membrane, a liquid mass that seemed to possess the ability to transport and protect entities moving through the void.Moments before Baam vanished from view, a petite woman with golden hair, golden eyes, and a red dress had appeared. She gave off a 'very' similar impression to a Zanpakuto Spirit, so, while her presence seemed to surprise Yuri quite a bit, Vahn had an intrigued smile on his face as he briefly made eye contact with the entity embracing Baam's body. She seemed slightly surprised when their eyes overlapped, but, with the black ball consuming both her and Baam, there was no time for small talk. Baam ended up completely enveloped by the black sphere, and, like a black hole collapsing in on itself, the peculiar black substance vanished from view in an instant...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Everywhere I go, I carry my Empire within my heart...','A Record where Fate is constantly shifting about like waves in a tumultuous sea...','Om nom nom nom')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Seeing Baam vanish into thin air, Yuri spun around to face Headon, her red eyes releasing a crimson light as her aura began to swell. Before she could explode, however, Vahn interrupted, stating in the same calm tone as before, "The boy is fine. Now, I would appreciate it if someone finally answered my question. I'm still calm at the moment, but I'm not particularly known for my patience..."Snapping her head in Vahn's direction, Yuri's aura began to swell up even further, stopping only when her companion, Evan, stood in front of her and shouted, "You mustn't! We're already taking a risk just by being on the Floor of Tests! Let's just leave and recover the Black March! That boy must have been sent to Evankhell's Hell. If we move quickly, we might be able to catch up to him before he finishes the Position Test!"Though Yuri didn't particularly agree with Evan's words, she was far more interested in the boy who had gone up than the self-professed Emperor staring back at her. Unfortunately, her duty required her to seek out an Irregular, so, after calming herself, she adopted a serious expression and asked, "Hey, Vahn, was it? Why did you come to the Tower? Where were you before?"Annoyed by the fact that his question had yet to be answered, Vahn's smile faded away in response to Yuri's curt tone. Rather than exhibit anger, however, he appeared more indifferent than anything else, plainly stating, "I'm not in the habit of answering people who ignore my questions due to their perception of self-worth. I have tried to be polite, restating my question three times. In spite of this, you believe yourself entitled to answers, even going so far as to interrogate me? I've lost interest in this conversation."Despite having gone to great lengths to calm herself, Yuri's eyes began releasing a fierce red light as the aura around her surged forth like a gravitational well, sinking the floor due to the pressure she was releasing. This came as quite a surprise to Vahn, but, even if she was far more powerful than his present self, he wouldn't back down. Instead, his own aura began to surge, surprising even himself as the blue water within the cage took on a golden hue in response...Before things could get further out of hand, Headon also stepped in between Vahn and Yuri, his staff twirling in the air as silver eyes appeared within the black slit that seemed to function as both a mouth and an eye socket. His aura easily eclipsed both of their's as he plainly stated, "This is not some battleground where you can do as you please. Princess Yuri, you should not even be here. As for you, Vahn Aldrnari Mason...I'm not sure how you managed to enter the Tower. Despite this, I will welcome you as an Irregular, and, should you seek something atop the Tower, I will afford you the opportunity to climb. As for your questions, they will all be answered as you move further up the Tower. After all, be it fame, power, fortune, authority, immortality, or even godhood...all can be found at the top of the Tower..."Assuming The Path had placed him at this point in time for a specific reason, Vahn began to slowly retract his aura as he stated, "Very well. Let's see what this Tower of yours can afford me. At the very least, it should be an interesting distraction."With two rows of razor-sharp teeth appearing within Headon's slit-like mouth, Vahn got the distinct impression he was being looked at like prey. Despite this, the self-proclaimed Guardian of the First Floor showed no overt hostility, even offering a polite bow before grabbing his staff and explaining, "It is a bit unorthodox, but, for the sake of fairness, I will allow you to take the same Test as the boy preceding you. So long as you are able to destroy the ball or kill the creature contained within, you will have successfully passed the Test. What say you, Sage Dragon Emperor?"Though the monster within the cage was certainly very powerful, Vahn didn't think it was suitable to test his capabilities. Despite this, he wasn't going to make things arbitrarily more difficult, as, based on Headon's words, it was safe to assume there were far more powerful being awaiting him in the Tower. With that in mind, he simply nodded in response before walking towards the cage, raising his left hand in the process. He wasn't fond of the idea of killing the creature when it couldn't even protect itself, so, rather than crush it using his Telekinesis, Vahn entered the cage without any sign of fear or hesitation.Interested to see the power of another Irregular, Yuri and Evan both turned their attention to the cage containing the White Steel Eel, their eyes intently focused on Vahn's movements. The latter gave off the impression of a 'real' Irregular, and, though he shouldn't be stronger than any of the people present, his aura was nothing to scoff at. This implied he had a monstrous potential, one that might shake the very foundations of the Tower in the not-so-distant future.Without minding the gazes boring into the back of his skull, Vahn slowly closed his hand, locking the White Steel Eel into place. He might not be a God of Space, Time, and Creation in this peculiar Record, but, even with his power significantly restricted, there were few people with an equivalent level of mastery over Space and Time. As a result, he easily suspended the giant eel in place before walking over to the black sphere that had manifested at the opposite end of the cage.Though he was curious about his ability to 'breathe' the surrounding water, Vahn decided to follow Headon's advice and seek answers within the Tower. He actually felt more content 'not' knowing what to expect as it meant there was that much more for him to discover on his own. Thus, without sparing the trio a second glance, he placed his palm upon the black sphere, shattering it without any discernible effort...---Seeing Vahn enveloped by the same black mass that had consumed Baam, Yuri was momentarily at a loss as to how she should respond. She had expected something far more 'flashy', but, rather than feel disappointed, the casual display of the Emperor had left quite an impression.Turning her head to face Headon, Yuri couldn't help but frown slightly as she asked, "Was that ball the same kind you had used with Baam? How was he able to break it so easily when even the Black March had trouble?"Though he didn't have a discernible nose, Headon snorted in response to Yuri's words, turning his back to her as he answered, "That ball was at least ten times as strong as the one I used to test the previous Irregular. His ability to shatter the ball with such ease is a testament to his capabilities. It's no wonder he calls himself an Emp...no, a 'Sage Dragon Emperor'. How curious..."Remembering Vahn's introduction, a rather eerie smile spread across Headon's face as he recalled the race of creatures that had gone extinct thousands of years prior. If Vahn was truly a Dragon, his power would make a lot of sense, as, prior to the rise of Jahad and his Great Warriors, Dragons had ruled alongside other Native Ones as the most powerful creatures within the Tower.Noticing the smile on Headon's face, Yuri's expression became even more serious as she turned on her heels and exclaimed, "Follow me you chibi! We need to hurry if we want to intercept those two before the Position Test!"Without waiting for Evan's response, Yuri grabbed the strap of his hiking bag, pulling him forcibly towards a nearby staircase. This would have normally compelled Evan to protest, but, with his mind focused on other matters, he took advantage of the free ride for as long as possible...---Using the pseudo-omniscience provided to him as one fo the Tower's Administrators, Headon kept track of Yuri and Evan with his mind. He waited until they were far beyond the perception of even a High Rankers senses before lowering his head, the black void on his face appearing to resemble a massive grin as he turned towards the shadows and asked, "Did you see? Though there were a few unexpected guests, the boy still went up. Now, what will you do...faker?"In response to Headon's words, part of the adjacent stone wall seemed to melt away, revealing a young woman with plain features, blonde hair, and light freckles...---After what felt like several minutes of traveling through a much denser void than anything he had ever experienced, Vahn 'awoke' to find himself surrounded by tall, wheat-like, grass. He immediately became aware of several other presences nearby, but, rather than pay them any particular mind, he raised his head towards the sky, a curious glimmer in his eyes upon seeing a peculiar resort floating freely in the sky.Just as Vahn was considering flying up to the building to take a closer look, a light whirring could be heard echoing through the vast expanse of grasslands. At the same time, a number of golden cubes seemed to appear out of thin air, each suspended motionless within the sky. They seemed to be using the energy within the atmosphere itself to remain afloat, but, to his surprise, Vahn also felt a separate space contained within each of the cubes.Fortunately, before Vahn could give in to his urge to 'acquire' one of the cubes, the whirring sound gradually faded away as two values appeared on the cube's faces. The characters were somewhat abstract, but Vahn was able to interpret them as '200' and '30:00' respectively, implying the first was accounting for a number of something while the latter likely related to an amount of time.Proving his analysis correct, a voice emanated from each of the cubes in a perfect chorus, a cheerful and spirited voice exclaiming, "Mic test! Mic Test! One, two, three! I hope everyone awoke without any issues! If not, well, you only have yourselves to blame! Now, as I don't really enjoy wasting time, let me explain the rules of this test. You'll need to find a team of three people and kill as many other contestants as possible before thirty minutes have passed. If you can't find a team before the thirty minutes have passed, well, too bad! This place isn't known as Evankhell's Hell for nothing! Now, prove you're qualified to become Regulars or die like the countless billions who have come before!"Hearing the explanation, a dissatisfied frown spread across Vahn's face. He wasn't fond of the idea of a Deathmatch, nor did he have any particular interest in scouting two additional team members. Fortunately, he had already come up with a number of solutions with Da Vinci prior to his entry into the Record. This included methods to prevent people from viewing him as a romantic interest, but, most importantly, it afforded him the opportunity to cut loose in a way he usually wouldn't be able to.With that in mind, Vahn caused a glitch in the cube-like displays as two distinctly different entities appeared next to him. The first was a relatively tall woman with chestnut brown hair, a confident expression, and a rather shapely figure. She was attired in such a way that even a normal person would be able to tell she was a blacksmith, complete with a leather apron, a tool belt, several large pockets, and a large hammer that glowed like heated metal. As for the second figure, he was much shorter, appearing to be around 8-10 years old with a perpetually mischievous look on his face.Though the youth stood out quite a bit due to his 'punkish' outfit, consisting of a large fur-lined parka, baggy shorts, and sneakers, the thing that stood out most about him was his large, wolf-like, ears and the fluffy tail protruding from his lower back. He also had sharper than average teeth, but, considering he was meant to be a young Vanargandr, this wasn't too surprising.In order to prevent young women from approaching him, Vahn had artificially aged himself to the point he was outside 'most' young girls' strike zone. As for the rest, that was what the woman next to him was for, a female version of himself that would act as both his guardian and his 'voice'. She be the vessel through which he did most of his forging, but, most importantly, she would allow him to speak his heart and mind freely. As for his Vanargandr self, Vahn had developed a seal to inhibit most of his power, so, while his Emperor self would continue to grow at an alarming rate, the young Vanargandr would be forced to rely on raw power and speed to overwhelm his foes.Fortunately, while his Vanargandr self would be limited at normal times, he was also the version of Vahn that wielded Laev-tan. This would allow him to sweep through most foes without issue, but, most importantly, it guaranteed he would be able to enjoy the thrill of combat once again. To that end, Vahn had spent years practicing his act, refining it to the point that he could easily pretend to be three different people without an issue.In the end, Vahn's Emperor self would become something of a leader and mentor to others while his so-called 'MILF' self would serve as a counselor and guardian for those he picked up along the way. As for his Vanargandr self, Vahn was intending to cut loose quite a bit, eager to experience the childhood he had missed out on while doing his best to make friends along the way. He based his personality on a mix between Nagi and Asuna, so, while he was bound to appear abrasive and childish to some, Vahn hoped that he would be able to genuinely grow alongside others...Having already formed a 'three-person' team, Vahn decided to familiarize himself with the strange energy in his surroundings, manipulating it to form a transparent golden dome around him before pulling out a table and a few chairs. He wasn't particularly interested in the Deathmatch, so, at least for the time being, he intended to completely ignore the battles taking place outside as his female version, aptly named Phae, short for Phaestus, poured him some tea. While this was going on, his Vanargandr self, named Gandr for the sake of simplicity, skulked around the periphery of the barrier with a battle-hungry expression visible on his face...(A/N: Alternate Titles: '*Gentle Touch*','Lurking within the shadows...','This is some fine ass tea...')(A/N: Simply put, Vahn and Phae protect each other by virtue of their status and opposing genders. As for Gandr, we all know who is going to be protecting him (UwU)...)

Though it was certainly a peculiar sight to behold, Vahn had a natural smile on his face as an adorable creature with dark skin and white fur clung to his back with two of its four arms. With the other two, it was curiously combed through his hair with blood-red talons, its golden eyes glowing slightly as it meticulously surveyed his scalp.Failing to find any goodies, the vaguely humanoid female creature began poking Vahn's cheek with her claws, her voice husky and somewhat grating as she asked, "Papa, no bugs?"Before answering, Vahn held up his left hand, encouraging the curious creature to climb over his shoulder and nestled into his embrace. Then, with a relaxed smile on his face, Vahn lightly mused, "Sorry, Xys, but I always make sure to properly clean and groom my fur."Hearing her Papa's response, Xysteria adopted a slightly incredulous expression that didn't suit her before curling up into an egg-shaped ball. Her five fluffy tails, which usually fanned out behind her, were capable of becoming a singular mass, and, though her eyes remained visible, the rest of her body was covered in dense white fur that was surprisingly soft despite being harder than virtually any naturally occurring substance.As he was quite used to Xysteria's pouting, Vahn just cradled the fluffy egg in his arm as he pulled out an amethyst-colored cicada that was slightly larger than his palm. This caused a few seams to appear in the egg-shaped ball, a small gap opening to allow a single three-clawed hand to emerge and snatch the wriggling insectoid from his hand. After that, Xysteria happily munched on the still-living insect, her inordinately sharp teeth tearing through its steel-like carapace with the ease of a normal person eating potato chips.Though he had tried getting her to eat normal food, Xysteria was pretty adamant about consuming raw minerals and living prey. Her body had the ability to analyze the structure of the things she had eaten, and, after a few hours had passed, a version of herself that roughly resembled the things she had consumed would manifest within a few kilometers from her position. It was a rather terrifying ability, but, despite pouting when she didn't get her way, Xysteria was usually very affectionate and docile.After enjoying her snack, Xysteria uncurled from her defensive state, smiling wide enough to display her two rows of sharp teeth before saying, "Papa, good. Delicious, koku." After that, she climbed to the top of his head, her body shrinking rapidly until she was small enough to easily curl up and take an impromptu nap.Ordinarily, Vahn would allow Xysteria to do as she pleased, but, as he had other matters to address, he picked her up by the scruff before placing her into his breast pocket. She was currently around the size of a baby squirrel, so, while it was a little unorthodox, she could easily fit into a pocket or a small container.Though she didn't like being moved after getting comfortable, Xysteria just released an adorable yawn before nestling in his pocket without a fuss. Around the same time, Vahn turned his attention towards the endless expanse of space just beyond the membrane of light protecting everyone who had decided to attend the event. This included most of the Inner Sanctum's residents, and, as was often the case, Da Vinci and her various 'assistants', Companions who had evolved into humanoid forms.After spending an additional eight years in his Realm, Vahn had just recently turned 304 years old. This, however, was nothing compared to the entity that was slowly emerging from a massive spatial vortex in the sky, the planetary form of Silva. She was currently around seventeen-million-years-old, and, though she had yet to develop life of her own, she was reaching the point of habitability. As a result, Vahn felt it was time to move her into the system orbiting Amaterasu, the official name of the star orbited by Gaia.Though there were other candidates for the position, Vahn had given Amaterasu full authority over the Sun. This made her one of the most powerful entities within the Realm, second only to the trio of Vahn, Artoria, and Da Vinci, the latter two sharing the former's authority.With the assistance of Amaterasu, it was a simple matter of placing Silva into a relatively safe orbit, matching pace with her mother so they could remain close. After that, Xysteria would be given free rein across Silva's surface, releasing her from the sub-texture she had spent most of her life in. This was something Silva herself desired, so, while there were bound to be complications in the future, it would only be a problem if Xysteria felt endangered or ignored.Despite being one of the most powerful entities within the Realm, Xysteria had always been skittish. There were even times when she would curl up into a defensive ball over something as trivial as a grasshopper jumping. This was extremely adorable to witness, but, considering the majority of her dangerous creations came about as a result of negative emotions, Xysteria spent most of her time in an extremely safe and serene sanctuary. The only time she left was when she accompanied Vahn, one of the few people she felt absolutely safe around...With Amaterasu reporting that Silva had entered a stable orbit, Vahn lightly pat his chest to awaken the slumbering Xysteria. This caused her to poke her head out of his pocket, a confused expression on her face as she asked, "Papa?". In response, Vahn held up his right hand so she could climb into his palm as he explained, "Your brother and sister are waiting. Let's go explore your new home..."---While most people were gathered to witness Silva's emergence as a proper planet, another version of Vahn was sitting atop the head of a mountain-sized dragon. At his side, leaning against him with a smile on her face, Artoria could be seen lightly tapping her tail against the dragon's head. Rather than complain about this, however, the massive dragon had the closest thing approximating a smile on its face as it observed the same scene as the duo sitting atop its head.Though it had taken an inordinately long period of time, Artoria had finally given birth following the subsuming of the Little Garden into his Realm. As for their child, Arthur Aldrnari Pendragon, he was born with peculiar pink scales covering his arms, legs, and tail. He also had a pair of angelic wings covered in pale-pink feathers that, according to Da Vinci's analysis, were around six-hundred times harder than steel despite being just as light as normal feathers.At present, Arthur was learning swordsmanship from none other than Merlin as Vahn, Artoria, and the Welsh Dragon watched on with pride visible in their countenances. The latter had actually been named the Godfather of Arthur, much to Merlin's chagrin, so, whenever Artoria needed a babysitter, she would take their son to visit the mountain-sized dragon who spent most of its time peacefully slumbering within Avalon.As could be expected from the child of two Dragon Gods, Arthur was immensely powerful despite appearing to be little more than two-years-old. He also lacked the temperament of a True Dragon, but, considering neither Vahn nor Artoria wanted him to be bound by such instincts, this wasn't too surprising. Instead, he was a very kind and caring boy, rarely showing hostility to others and always keep to learn new things.Had the Empire been 'normal', it wasn't difficult to imagine Arthur growing up to be an incredible Emperor in Vahn's stead. Even Mordred seemed to acknowledge this fact, never missing a chance to fawn over the young prince; similar to how she used to behave around Kamiya. This made Mordred one of Arthur's favorite people, but, more than anyone else, the young True Dragon was most fond of Yggdrillia. She had been present during his birth, and, though he imagined she wouldn't hesitate to join the Menagerie, Vahn had decided to wait a few years to see if anything developed between his youngest son and the nature dragon.Though there was a drastic difference in age between Yggdrillia and Arthur, Vahn didn't consider it much of a problem. He had wives who were, quite literally, millions of years older than him, so, with Artoria and even Yggdrillia in support of the idea, Arthur spent an increasing amount of time within the Garden of Avalon...While watching their son trade blows with Merlin, Artoria lightly caressed Vahn's hand as she asked, "How soon will you be leaving? Now that you've transplanted Silva, I can't imagine you idling within the Realm much longer..."Returning her caress with his own, Vahn nodded his head, admitting, "I have been working with Da Vinci to finalize my plans and intend to depart in the next few days...as tempting as it is to just stay in here for all eternity, I cannot abandon my family. Don't worry, it won't be much longer before we finish developing a method to allow those within the Realm to manifest externally. When that time comes, I will be relying on you once again..."Hearing Vahn's words, Artoria's smile became more prominent as she leaned against his shoulder and muttered, "I'm looking forward to that day...though these tranquil times fill my heart with calm serenity, my place will always be at your side. It pains me to know you are experiencing hardship in a world beyond my reach..."Understanding that Artoria's sentiments were shared by many within the Realm, Vahn adopted a solemn and determined expression as he pulled her closer to him and said, "I promise...it won't be much longer..."To punctuate his words, Vahn planted a kiss on Artoria's lips. At the same time, however, he felt a pang of guilt, as, despite the honesty of his claim, there were a few key details he was leaving out. This included the fact that he intended to slow the flow of time within the Realm upon arriving in the next Record. He was currently too reliant on it, and, considering how much time it would take him to climb up the Tiers, Vahn didn't want his family and friends within the Realm to be waiting on him for hundreds, or even thousands, of years.After his various discussions with Da Vinci, Vahn had actually been considering stopping the flow of time within his Realm. His experience in the Akamatsuverse how demonstrated just how much of a crutch it was, and, while he didn't regret any of the time he spent inside, Vahn couldn't help but feel that everything 'outside' was simply irrelevant. This was exacerbated by the fact he spent more than ninety percent of his time within various sub-spaces, separate from any real danger or tension.When Vahn originally entered the Akamatsuverse, he had just turned two-hundred-years-old. Now, he was already over three-hundred, and, while this was still remarkably young for both a God and a True Dragon, the fact of the matter was that he had been in the Akamatsuverse proper for just over thirteen months. Most of his time was spent within the Realm, training, and preparing for various events that ultimately never even took place. This left him feeling more than a little suffocated, and, if not for Eva acquiescing to his desire to leave, Vahn knew he would have spent decades longer just cleaning up various messes...Ever since he first arrived in the Nasuverse many years ago, Vahn felt he had always spent too much time simply preparing. As a result, he always ended up training to a point where there was no actual danger, transcending most threats in a very short period of time due to his unrestricted growth and the fact most influential entities had a finite or 'predestined' amount of power. This was a common trait within the Records, as, without such a power dynamic, it would be impossible for heroes and protagonists to overcome entities who had lived for millions, if not billions, of years.Though he was able to increase his power without any real limits, Vahn knew it took more than raw power to raise your Soul Tier. This was demonstrable by the fact that, even at Tier 1, Fenrir had the potential to devour reality itself. In much the same way, it was possible for him to eventually reach a point where he could kill even Tier 6 beings without exceeding Tier 4. This would be difficult under normal circumstances, but, with the endless boons provided by Source Energy, Vahn knew he would be able to pull it off if he spent a few decades within a sub-space orb.Since there was no sense in arbitrarily inflating his power to defeat all foes that barred his passage, Vahn was prepared to experience a bit of suffering in the coming Record. Because of this, he didn't actually want anyone else to accompany him, as, so long as there was something for him to protect, Vahn felt compelled to grow stronger at an exponential rate. The only reason he was going to take Fenrir with him was that, regardless of the circumstances, there would always be 'something' in the Records that he wanted to protect. This was unavoidable, so, rather than force himself to be alone, Vahn intended to venture through the next Record with nothing but himself and his ever-reliable companion at his side. As for his promise with Artoria...truth be told, he already had a method to allow them to manifest externally. It just required 'very' specific conditions to execute...While thinking of the future, Vahn continued to hold Artoria close as they continued to look down on their son. This was probably the greatest reason behind Vahn's desire to slow down the flow of time within the Realm, as, rather than spend a bunch of time inside, he intended to do the opposite in order to reduce the strain he placed upon his family, friends, and loved ones...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Koku, koku, where are the bugs~?','Arthur would get along with Natsu','Vahn has a lot of burdens. Stay strong, 'young' Emperor...')(A/N: This is the end of the Akamatsuverse Arc.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1690: Peculiarities