Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though he wasn't surprised to see her, Vahn issued a light hum of acknowledgment when he saw Hwa Ryun leaning against the exterior wall of his room.Smiling in response to her God's presence, Hwa Ryun didn't beat around the bush, asking, "There is a matter I wished to discuss. Is now an acceptable time?"Since he could already guess what she wanted to discuss, Vahn opened the door to his room while answering, "If it is regarding the matter of Baam and Rachel, I will handle it in my own way. For the time being, you should continue performing your original duties. When the time comes, I will either discover the truth on my own or see their destiny play out with my own two eyes."As she had actually stopped by to discuss the matter of Baam and Rachel, Hwa Ryun's visible eye widened, a zealous gleam flashing across its surface. Then, unable to contain her curiosity even a moment longer, she asked, "Does my God truly possess the sight? How much do you see?"Though he was tempted to just enter his room and close the door behind him, Vahn stopped in his tracks, back facing Hwa Ryun as he plainly stated, "I do not see the future, Hwa Ryun...I shape it in the present. I am an existence that represents infinite possibilities, someone who shapes the past, present, and future through my actions. No manner of clairvoyance or future sight will ever be able to predict my path or the ones I set others upon....when the time comes, I will teach you the greater meaning contained within the words..."Feeling he had been adequately mysterious, Vahn allowed the door to close with a mechanical hiss, separating him from the wide-eyed Guide. He got the feeling she already found her own meaning within his words, but, for the sake of his future plans, Vahn was willing to overlook her actions until the Position Exam had come to an end.It was exceptionally obvious that some greater scheme was afoot, so, while he had the option of stirring things up, he wanted to see how far the Administrators were willing to game their own system. He also knew Princess Yuri was on her way to retrieve the Black March that was currently in his possession, so, based on his knowledge of millions of fictional worlds, Vahn could assume an enemy that required her intervention was bound to appear.Unless he had seriously misread the situation, Anak was the most likely target for whatever enemy appeared in the near-future. Her existence as a False Princess of Jahad, combined with the fact she was in possession of one of the Thirteen Month Series, all but assured someone would be sent to both kill her and retrieve the symbolic weapon belonging to the Jahad Empire. This was one of the reasons Vahn had approached the girl, and, though it was a little manipulative on his part, his desire to protect her, at the very least, was genuine...---Though classes started at 7 AM, Phae, as could be expected of someone with her bearing, arrived a little more than half-an-hour early. Despite this, there were already two people within the class, her expression showing visible amusement as she made her way over and said, "Oh my, is this beautiful young lady your wife? Administrator Lero-Ro is a lucky man..."Hearing Phae's remark, Lero-Ro returned a good-natured laugh before remarking, "It would seem Ms. Phae has quite the sense of humor. No, this young lady is not my wife. Rather, shouldn't you be the most aware of her identity...?"Despite the truth contained within the man's words, Phae just giggled in response before combing back her bangs and saying, "Why, Administrator, whatever do you mean? I believe this is the first time I've ever met this beautiful young lady~?"As most women were weak to compliments, especially those prone to extreme vanity and envy, the beautiful young lady in question, Rachel, developed the closest thing approximating a bashful blush she could manage before sheepishly muttering, "Ms. Phae, it's me, Rachel..."Showing an expression of pseudo-genuine shock, Phae momentarily covered her mouth in surprise before offering a radiant smile as she said, "My goodness, You clean up well, don't you~?"Though her basic features were still the same, the current Rachel looked like a completely different person compared to her previous self. Her complexion had pristine and fair, free from all blemishes, whilst her previously blonde hair and pale-yellow eyes now had a subtle golden hue to them. Most notably, however, was the fact she had become slightly taller, and, though her physical proportions hadn't changed that much, her drastically improved posture made her breasts and bottom far more conspicuous, giving her a healthy and balanced look.If Rachel's original appearance could be graded as a 2-3 on a scale ranging to 10, her features after consuming the [Flawless Jade Pill] placed her squarely around a 7. If she changed her attire, started exercising, and improved her general disposition, she could easily eclipse an 8 or 9, potentially even pushing a ten if she made a genuine effort. After all, the [Flawless Jade Pill] didn't have the effect of simply removing a person's impurities overnight. It continued working for years, helping to refine a person's beauty by regularly expelling anything detrimental to their body...Since she was genuinely happy about the changes to her body, Rachel didn't have to pretend when responding to Phae's question, smiling as she answered, "It is all thanks to Ms. Phae's 'advice'. I was awake all night thinking about what you said, and, though I'm not sure how long it will take, I want to change. Please continue to advise me into the future..."Following her 'heartfelt' words, Rachel performed an even more graceful bow than she had the day before. Previously, she lacked the posture and presence to execute to properly sell the act, but, now that her appearance had improved qualitatively, Rachel gave off the impression of a dignified and refined young lady...Though Rachel's act was even better than before, it was, in the end, still an act. Phae could tell she was enthused by the change in her appearance, but, based on the fact she had arrived early just to make an impression on the Administrator, it was easy to intuit she was still the petty young woman from before. The moment she noticed Phae's arrival in the classroom, Rachel's aura had fluctuated slightly, so, even if she wore an even more convincing mask, she was still far from being able to fool those experienced at seeing through such things.Offering a practiced smile of her own, Phae giggled in amusement at Rachel's words before saying, "That depends on you, young lady. I have already given you all the 'advice' I think you need. If you want more, you'll need to demonstrate your sincerity through results. The Tower isn't a place that rewards those who simply 'want' or 'expect' things to go their way...if you aren't willing to make an effort, don't expect others to do so on your behalf..."Though she clenched her teeth slightly in response to Phae's words, Rachel was able to maintain a radiant smile on her face as Administrator Lero-Ro offered an approving nod and added, "Well said, Ms. Phae. If the Tower rewarded everyone who 'wanted' to climb, it would be nothing more than a convenient wish-granting device. If you aren't willing to put in the effort to achieve your dreams, it is only natural that you fail whilst those with stronger will succeed. Though luck and destiny play a part, both can be overcome with enough effort and an adequate level of strength, intellect, or sheer force of will. I have great expectations for the both of you, but, in the end, it will be your efforts that decide how far you go..."As if they were mirror images of each other, Phae and Rachel offered very similar smiles in response to Lero-Ro's words. This caused the Administrator to feel slightly taken aback, but, as someone who had lived for hundreds of years, he was also rather adept at maintaining a mask...---While the other classes were still learning the basics indoors, the Scout and Spear Bearer candidates had been transported to specialized testing grounds located far from Evankhell's Resort. Thirty days wasn't enough to teach advanced tracking skills and other techniques that took years, on average, to master. Thus, after learning the basics of forming a contract with the Guardians and using Shinsu to enhance your physique, they transitioned to purely practical lessons.With all eyes focused on him, Quant smiled rather viciously as he shouted, "Okay, maggots, listen up! Now that I know where each of you stands physically, I'll be checking to see how capable you are at actually navigating terrain and locating a target. See this forest behind me? We Admins all affectionately refer to it as the forest of death. Other than Gandr, none of you weaklings is strong enough to venture into the center so make sure you stick along the periphery, you hear me?"Hearing Quant's remark, many within the Scout class showed annoyed expression. In the end, however, none of them tried to refute his words. Gandr really was much stronger and faster than them. In fact, he was so fast that the majority of the Scouts couldn't even follow his movements with their eyes, causing many to doubt if they were actually qualified to climb the Tower...Though he was amused by his students' reactions, Quant's expression became severe the moment he saw them expressing doubt. His aura surged outward like a tidal wave, enveloping each of them in a fiery Shinsu that made the surroundings suddenly spike to a temperature hotter than an oven as he shouted, "Even if you're maggots, show some damn backbone! Don't forget the desperation you experienced prior to being chosen to climb the Tower! Use those emotions to fuel you forward! We are Scouts! Where others fear to tread, we move forward without hesitation! I don't care if you have doubts, you better damn well act like you're confident during my instruction! If you can't even do that much, pack your bags and get the hell out of the Tower! You won't be missed."Despite feeling even more indignant after hearing Quant's words, each of the Regulars that had been previously shown doubt now had a flame of passion in their eyes. Few people enjoyed being talked down to, so, while their skills were still lacking, that wouldn't prevent them from delivering their all if it meant putting the short man in his place. After all, they were each 'Headon's Chosen', the lucky few who had been given a chance to climb the Tower and make all their dreams come true. Their's was an opportunity people would literally kill for and risk their lives to obtain, so, even if they were annoyed by the man's words, they couldn't refute them.Seeing the passion return to his 'precious' students' eyes, Quant returned to his vicious smile as he mused, "That's more like it. Now, listen closely. There are eight marked locations hidden within this forest. Each possesses hints that will guide you towards the other locations. Your objective is to find one of the locations, and, using the hints provided, seek out as many others before the day ends. If you don't have any questions, the time has already started so move your asses."Following Quant's instructions, many of the Regulars immediately broke off into a sprint, eager to be the first to find a point and complete the task. The only people to remain behind were Shibisu, Hatsu, Nare, and, of course, Gandr.Though he showed a visibly annoyed expression at first, Quant smiled once the other Regulars were out of view, stating, "Good. When you are given the opportunity, always seek more knowledge and information. It's the job of Fishermen to run in like idiots. As Scouts, our duty is to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date information possible, feeding it to our team members in order to prevent any mishaps from occurring. Regardless of your actual reason for staying, you all get 100 points for successfully ignoring my provocation and choosing to stay behind. Now, since I already know what you want to ask, let me tell you about the optional objectives..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn's Chuuni Ascension Plan is well underway...','A pretty face can't hide a repugnant soul...','Jebaited')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the corpses of several Six-Petaled Flower Mantids littering his surroundings, Gandr casually leaped to the largest of more than a hundred giant lilypads. Though it had the same structure as a normal lilypad, it was more than thirty meters across, more than big enough to support the weight of a person.Of the optional objectives listed by Quant, Gandr had, as could be expected, chosen to complete the most difficult among them. This included going to the very center of the Forest of Death, the location of a lake spanning more than three kilometers across. There, a small black pylon could be seen at the very center of the largest of several lilypads, each representing the territory of six-meter long insectoid Shinheuh called Six-Petaled Flower Mantids.Though they had rather beautiful and ornate bodies, appearing similar to blooming lotus flowers while stationary, the average Six-Petaled Flower Mantid could easily cut kill most budding Regulars in a single blow. This was largely due to their two large forelimbs, each appearing like exceptionally durable pink scythes. If that wasn't enough, they were also exceptionally quick, capable of blitzing inexperienced Regulars before many could even react.Unfortunately for the mantid colony, Gandr wasn't the average Regular, nor did he lack experience in dealing with large, fast-moving, monsters. As a result, it only took him eight minutes to kill all of the Six-Petaled Flower Mantids, his sword tracing graceful arcs through their steel-like carapaces without any discernible difficulty.Placing his Pocket in the center of the pylon, a smile spread across Gandr's face as his point value increased from 1,948 to 2,948 in an instant. A thousand points was an incredible boon, and, though he didn't really need them, it was less suspicious to buy a mountain on food from the commissary than it was to continually pull out large quantities from his Inventory.With his objective completed, Gandr did an about-face before skipping across the surface of the Shinsu-infused water as if it were flat ground. In the end, it only took him a few seconds to move from the very center of the lake to the distant shore, a cheeky smile on his face as he saw the trio who were taking a rest after barely killing a single Six-Petaled Flower Mantid Scout, the smaller variant that patrolled the Forest of Death.Seeing Gandr return so quickly, Shibisu had an incredulous expression on his face as he asked, "Did you already finish? Seriously, man, you're a monster...I'm glad we're on the same side."Though she was largely just tagging along with the group, firmly believing it was smarter to stay at the side of the strong, Nare nodded in agreement, adding, "It's a shame you're not really my type. I would have liked to climb the Tower with someone as strong as you protecting me. My Knight isn't weak, but I can't even imagine him catching up to you, Gan-chan."(A/N: I have decided to use a few honorifics since it feels more natural in the dialogue.)Hearing Nare's pet name for him, Gandr scrunched up his nose a bit before smiling mischievously and stating, "No worries. I don't really have a thing for chibis anyways."Reinforcing her childish image even further, Nare puffed her cheeks in response to Gandr's words. She knew he was just teasing her, but that didn't stop her from retorting, "Hmph! What does a brat like you know? I bet you've never even kissed a girl before, right? I'm warning you, Gan-chan, if you don't learn to treat women more delicately, you won't be popular once you grow up!"Rolling his eyes in response to the girl's outburst, Gandr resisted the urge to tell her he had done a lot more than simply kiss a girl. Unfortunately, those were the escapades of a much older version of himself. The most he had done in his current form was bathe with Fenrir and act as the body pillow for various women in the Inner Sanctum.Thinking Gandr was annoyed by Nare's words, Shibisu decided to give his youthful companion a hand. More specifically, he made a thumbs-up gesture, smiling as he said, "Just ignore her words, Gandr. Most guys can't even approach a Princess of Jahad, much less get close to two. Even if the Tower prohibits it, you have my support if you want to elope with Endorsi. If you use your ears and tail as collateral, I think she could be convinced to run away with you~."Though he knew Shibisu was joking, Gandr deadpanned directly at the man before saying, "If you want to reach the center lilypad, you'll have to swim..."Originally, Gandr had agreed to help everyone across, as, even with his speed, Shibisu was unable to run across water. The most he could make it was a hundred meters before he plopped into the crystal-clear, ice-cold, water below. Because of this, Shibisu's expression immediately turned into a stressed smile as he awkwardly laughed and said, "Come on...you know I was just messing with you. Please don't make me swim across..."Rather than respond directly to the man's plea, Gandr just snorted before walking over and picking up the incredibly light Nare. This caused the young woman in question to blush slightly, but, having been carried during the journey over, she managed to avoid flustering. Instead, she adopted a small smile as she appended, "Well, you have some redeeming qualities..."Ignoring the little girl's remark, Gandr immediately changed her impression of him as he tucked in her head, not to display affection, but to prevent her neck from straining due to his spontaneous acceleration...With the sound of Nare's scream echoing in the distance, Shibisu released an exasperated sigh as he stared at the crystal clear water below. As for Hatsu, he removed his top, wrapping it around his katana before placing it near the base of a rock. Then, without any hesitation at all, he jumped from the small cliff, diving into the water so he could swim across using his own power...---With the rest of his morning passing uneventfully, Vahn released a long yawn as he pulled himself from the bed and prepared to make his way to the commissary. He wasn't quite sure of the reason, but he had been feeling a peculiar form of exhaustion ever since first arriving in the Tower. His first hypothesis was that this had something to do with the Shinsu exerting a constant form of pressure on, not just his body, but his mind and spirit as well. Now, however, he was beginning to feel like it was something different, almost like he was on the verge of some kind of breakthrough...Rather than mull over the strange feeling, Vahn decided it was best to simply ignore it. There were times when your pursuit of something either led you astray or prevented you from obtaining. Thus, with other thoughts occupying his mind, Vahn decided not to let an inexplicable sensation interfere with his short-term plans. Instead, he made his way over to the commissary, finding his fellow Wave Controller classmates, Baam included, waiting for him to arrive.Though it was completely unnecessary, Hwa Ryun, and, as a result, Hoh, Rozeal, Grey, and Baam all rose to greet him. The only one who stayed in his seat was Laure, but, perhaps due to an instinctual desire to conform, he respectfully nodded before saying, "You're right on time. We were just giving Baam a breakdown of everything we discussed yesterday. Since the Instructor is bound to cover the basics on the first day of class, I'm sure everyone here would be grateful if you explained the things you hinted at yesterday."Resisting the urge to chuckle in response to Laure's leading statement, Vahn took his place at the circular table before explaining, "The Laws aren't something that can be understood from a simple discussion. All you really need to know about them is that they are the rules that dictate everything from the structure of fundamental particles to the complexities of energy systems like Shinsu. With adequate comprehension of the Laws, you can even bend or outright break these rules, snubbing the restrictions that act upon everything, and everyone, else."Seeing that everyone was listening attentively to his words, Vahn offered an approving nod as he went on to explain, "Some of the basic yet most important Laws are those governing the Elemental Forces. These are the easiest to glean insight into, as, with very few exceptions, everything has some kind of Elemental Affinity. In Shinsu terms, this is what many refer to as a Quality. There is a general misunderstanding that only a select few people are able to manifest a Shinsu Quality, but, the truth of the matter is that a person's Elemental Affinity ultimately determines how easily that can emulate specific forms of phenomena..."Though words could help people understand a concept, visuals were tantamount to 'proving' what you said was true. Thus, out of consideration for the people who couldn't understand what he was trying to say, Vahn created a Baang at the very center of the table, rapidly changing its Quality from the basic water to things like Lightning, Darkness, Fire, Light, and even Earth. This caused everyone at the table to stare in awe, but, as the person most experienced with Shinsu, Laure's couldn't help but pale at the masterful demonstration...Amused by the man's expression, Vahn's smile became slightly more prominent as he explained, "I will now inform each of you what your Elemental Affinities are. Keep in mind that, while it is rare for a person to have more than one affinity, possessing multiple isn't an indicator of talent. Rather, due to the limitations of a person's lifespan, it is often better to master a singular affinity than it is to try and unilaterally increase your proficiency in every element."This time around, Vahn punctuated his statement by performing a simple hand gesture, producing several small squares of paper in front of each candidate. These were actually the test strips used in the Record of Naruto to determine a person's Chakra Nature, but, as most energy systems used a person's Elemental Affinity as a basis, they worked just as well when determining a person's Shinsu Quality.Since everyone present was a Wave Controller candidate, they had at least some talent regarding the manipulation of Shinsu so Vahn didn't waste too much time explaining. Instead, he held up his own piece of paper and said, "Rather than manipulate the Shinsu in the surroundings, imagine a similar flow present within your body. Guide that flow into this piece of paper. Depending on how it reacts, you can accurately determine what kind of Elemental Affinity you possess."Serving as a demonstration, Vahn inserted a thread of Source Energy from his body into the piece of paper, converting it into Shinsu in the process. He had a much easier time managing this kind of conversion than emulating mana, so, even if he was currently weakened by the Record's Laws, Vahn was quickly increasing his proficiency in the foreign energy system. As a result, the paper began to glow with a resplendent golden hue, the type of glow that inspired awe in everyone who laid eyes upon it.Understanding the question in everyone's mind, Vahn preempted any interruptions by saying, "My Shinsu Quality is Divine. It is a Quality that specializes in dominating other Qualities; enhancing my power with simultaneously decreasing my opponent's. It is the Quality of an Emperor, and, if used properly, it can completely inhibit or seal another person's ability to use Shinsu."Hearing Vahn's explanation, everyone at the table, sans Baam, showed a slightly terrified expression. They got the impression that the Divine Quality was probably the most powerful, a notion that even Laure couldn't refute. Fortunately, their eagerness to discover their own Quality helped to ease the tensions in the room, albeit only after the golden light had faded.Following Vahn's directions, everyone at the table began trying to infuse their internalized Shinsu into the piece of paper. This was very difficult for most of them, as they were still struggling with the concept of manipulating the natural Shinsu in the surroundings, but Baam and Laure were able to succeed almost instantly. This broke the concentration of everyone else, as, though not as bright as Vahn's, Baam's piece of paper had started to release a bluish-white glow. As for Laure's, his piece of paper became exceptionally rigid, similar to metal, before splitting smoothly down the center.Having purchased a book regarding Shinsu Qualities after discovering his own, an approving look appeared in Vahn's eyes as he habitually stroked his beard and explained, "It seems our little friend has a natural affinity with Shinsu itself. You will have a much easier time than most learning how to use Shinsu, and, though it will require considerable effort to master, you will be capable of using all variations of Shinsu. As for you, Mr. Phonsekal, you have an affinity with barriers, reinforcement, and a Shinsu Quality related to Wind. You have great potential for both offense and defense. Better yet, you will have a much easier time mastering flight compared to normal people..."Though everyone was initially envious of Baam's Shinsu Quality, Vahn's explanation of Laure's made it seem far more useful. After all, Baam's seemed to require an extreme amount of effort to master while Laure's seemed to be useful both immediately and in the far future. With Vahn's guidance, he was even able to create a swirling green Baang in the amount of time it took for the next person to discover their Shinsu Quality...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'You don't even know how fast I am...!','RIP Nare...','Laure is well on his way to becoming a Metapod...)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With a quiet 'pitta-pon' echoing through his room, Vahn slowly peeled his eyes open, his domain extending outward as he moved to a seated position. Then, rather than use his remote to open the door, he made his way directly over; surprising the blue-haired young man on the opposite side by its sudden opening.Before Khun could offer any words in greeting, Vahn preempted him by plainly stating, "Let's go." in a firm tone. This left Khun feeling slightly annoyed, but, rather than argue, he just nodded his head and asked, "Did Ms. Phae contact you through the Pocket?"Offering a curt nod in response, a small smile developed across Vahn's face as he said, "It seems my young protege ended up causing a bit of mischief. I suppose I'll need to have a discussion with him later in the day."Originally, Vahn was going to treat Baam's condition the previous afternoon, but, due to the matter regarding Anak, he temporarily shelved everything else. Thus, in order to alleviate Khun's growing concerns, Vahn had Phae stall Anak in the commissary until other Regulars began pouring in. Khun was among the first to arrive, and, as could be expected, he was eager to ask about when Baam's treatment could be performed.Despite having known Baam for only a few days, it was pretty clear from Khun's behavior that he already treated the boy as an existence akin to a 'best friend'. It was more than a little strange, but, as someone who had sought friendships for quite some time, Vahn could readily empathize with the young man. Thus, after entering the medical ward containing Baam's room, Vahn made his way inside before promptly making his way over to the boy's bedside.After observing Phae's capabilities during class and later learning about Gandr's ability to compete against a Ranker in speed, Khun's expectations for the Emperor had increased quite a bit since the previous day. The man's vassals were constantly inflating his image by making statements that, to most, sounded like pure hyperbole. Despite this, they seemed to be completely serious, so, after his investigation turned up no information on the mysterious trio, Khun couldn't deny he was curious about the man's capabilities.Seeing Vahn begin removing the bandages from Baam's head, Khun's expression suddenly turned serious as he asked, "Are you sure you should be removing those? The Doctors said to keep them on until he had already awoken..."Stopping his actions, Vahn turned to look back at the young man standing behind him, smiling as he saw the concern visible in Khun's vibrant blue eyes. Then, in a voice that radiated an irrefutable level of confidence, he plainly remarked, "If there is a better Doctor than me in this entire Tower, I would cut off both my hands and feet. I didn't earn my Title as Sage without a very good reason, scion of the Khun Family."With his words finished, Vahn completed the act of removing Baam's bandages before placing his hand directly on the boy's head. Almost immediately thereafter, Baam's eyes shot open as if he had been electrocuted, his body jerking to a seated position as he took a few hurried breaths.Not expecting his friend to wake up 'instantly', Khan was at a complete loss for words as he stared blankly at the scene playing out before him. Then, just as he was about to rush forward, the door to the room was kicked open as a towering figure rushed in, roaring, "The Black Turtle has awakened! As expected of my prey!"Confused by everything that was happening around him, Baam stared blankly at his surroundings, asking, "Where am I?" before immediately following it up with, "Where's Rachel...?"Though Khun was about to answer Baam's inquiry, Rak preempted his attempts by shouting, "You are in the hospital! Now, come, we must feast! Eating will make you strong, strong enough for me to hunt!"Frustrated by Rak's interruption, Khun kicked the three-meter tall crocodilian in the back of his trunk-like leg before shouting, "Go wait in the hall! I get that you're happy to see him awaken, but you're in the way!"Seemingly offended by Khun's words, Rak thumped his chest before rebutting, "I was not worried at all! I am Rak Wraithraiser, you silly Blue Turtle!"Emboldened by his self-assertion, Rak managed the closest thing approximating a smile his species could manage as he shifted his attention back to Baam and Vahn. It was only then that he seemed to acknowledge the latter's existence, crossing his arms and saying, "You did well, Bearded Turtle. I will remember this when I hunt you down. I don't normally give my prey a head start, but, for you, I will make an exception."Understanding this was probably the closest thing to a compliment he could expect from the large crocodilian, Vahn offered an amused smile in response before saying, "When that time comes, you should take caution. Depending on the circumstances, the hunter can quickly become the hunted."Squinting his eyes in response to Vahn's words, a glimmer of expectation could be seen in Rak's gaze as he replied, "You are different from the other turtles. What is your name?"Maintaining the same smile as before, Vahn began to release a bit of his aura as he answered, "I am Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor. I look forward to our future battle."Though it was a bit unorthodox, Vahn extended his hand towards the giant humanoid crocodile. In response, Rak didn't hesitate to return the gesture, the muscles in his arm straining at max capacity as he attempted to assert his dominance...While Vahn and Rak were having some kind of showdown of wills, Khun released a tired sigh as he sat down next to Baam's bed and explained, "You've been asleep for four days. How does your head feel?"Surprised by the revelation, Baam's eyes widened as he parroted, "Four days!? What about the Test? What happened with Rachel!?"Gesturing for the boy to calm down, Khun closed his eyes for a brief moment before answering, "It isn't an issue. Your instructor has yet to arrive so you have free time until then. As for that woman...I don't mean to upset you, but her name is Michelle Light. Sorry, Baam, but I don't think she's the girl you were looking for. I asked her after the Crown Game and she said she's never seen you before..."Hearing Khun's answer, a look of disbelief immediately flashed across Baam's eyes as he gripped the hospital blanket tightly and muttered, "That can't be..."Seeing how sullen his friend was, Khun was about to try and cheer him up when a firm and resolute voice emanated from behind him, asserting, "You should not lie to your friend, Khun Aguero Agnis. Your personal circumstances cannot be superimposed onto every situation. You accomplish nothing by attempting to lie on that woman's behalf. After all, there are more than thirty days left before the Final Exam. Unless you proactively kept them apart from one another, Baam was bound to learn the truth at some point. Let them work things out, even if it means causing a bit of drama."In response to Vahn's words, Khun and Baam had very different reactions. The former looked like he wanted to punch the Emperor directly in the face, hands forming into fists while the latter produced a smile so radiant it seemed to visibly brighten the surroundings. Even Khun was a little taken aback by Baam's smile, his glowering expression rapidly melting away into a wry smile as he shook his head in an admission of defeat.Finding both boys' reactions rather novel, Vahn lightly chuckled before adding, "Just remember, not all paths run parallel to each other. Even if it turns out her reasons were completely selfish, you have to respect the choices of other people, Baam. Sometimes, the hardest part about loving someone is watching them leave to find happiness elsewhere. If Rachel chooses to keep the truth from you, the best way you can prove your love is by letting her go. If she believed she needed you in order to be happy, she would not have ascended the Tower without you..."Though Baam visibly deflated when he heard Vahn's words, Khun's expression brightened quite a bit. His impression of Rachel was that she was extremely manipulative and selfish, but, unlike Vahn, he couldn't find the words to express this in a way that Baam would understand. The latter was his friend, and, though Khun's instincts told him not to trust the mysterious woman, he was prepared to climb the tower alongside her if it would make Baam happy.With a smile spreading across his face, Khun watched Vahn's retreating figure until the door closed behind him. Immediately after that, he shifted his attention to Baam, his expression turning wry as he lightly placed his hand upon the former's shoulder and said, "Cheer up, Baam. You have plenty of time to try and convince her before the Final Exam. Besides, even if she doesn't choose to climb the Tower with us, there is nothing preventing you from climbing ahead and clearing the path. If we manage to reach the top of the Tower, it would be a simple matter to help her see the stars."Finding a few grains of truth in Khun's words, Baam's brightened as he said, "You're right, Mr. Khun. I didn't even think about that option. Still, I hope Rachel agrees to climb with us. I'm not sure I can go up the Tower if I know she is struggling with the Floors below..."Though Khun found it rather amusing that Baam spoke in a way that made the Tower seem easy to climb, he did his best to restrain himself as he said, "That might not be a bad thing. The Tower is a very dangerous place, Baam. As you move higher up, the challenges steadily increase to the point that it becomes extremely common for people to die. If Rachel struggles with the lower floors, that means she lacked the strength to actually reach the top of the Tower. By moving ahead of her, you can remove most of the dangers before she ever has a chance to be affected by them. That will also make it easier for others to climb, making you a Hero to the people who have struggled for years to reach the top. How about it?"Listening to Khun's words, Baam began to feel like some kind of resolution was spreading within him. He couldn't even imagine living without Rachel, but, if she really wanted to climb the Tower without him, he would try to respect her decision. Vahn's words had deeply resonated with him, and, though Rachel had abandoned him, Baam's love for her had never waned. If he could make her happy by staying away from her and forging a path up the Tower, he was willing to put his life on the line to achieve her dream. Thus, in response to Khun's words, Baam showed a surprisingly resolute expression as he said, "I'll do it, Mr. Khun. I'll climb to the top of the Tower! For Rachel...!"---Unaware of what was going on in the hospital ward following his departure, Vahn slowly made his way back to his quarters. He had agreed to meet with the other Wave Controller candidates in the afternoon, so, with nothing better to do, he felt it was best for him to just stay out of sight, out of mind. There would be plenty of time for him to interact with other people once he began his actual ascent up the Tower, so, for the time being, he intended to strengthen Phae's and Gandr's position within the group.In order to make things easier for himself moving forward, Vahn was intending to use Phae and Gandr as his proxies, only stepping in when absolutely necessary. They would have an easier time interacting with the group without making things too awkward due to his status. Then, when the time came, he would begin mentoring the group and helping them grow exponentially stronger. This was the most effective way to bring about lasting change within the Tower, as, by empowering the residents, Vahn would be able to move on without having to worry about things going south immediately following his departure.Though it might seem a little haphazard compared to his past behavior, Vahn had never forgotten the lesson Da Vinci had taught him all those years ago. Since this was the Record he intended to use as the foundation for his own, there would inevitably come a time when he had absolute power over the very structure of Space-Time. Because of this, even if he made mistakes along the way, he would always have the opportunity to repair them in the future.After feeling suffocated within the Akamatsuverse, Vahn was even more resolute in his desire to be more of a deterrent force than an actual Emperor. He also found the concept of the Vagrant Hero rather interesting, so, unless the situation required him to take action, he intended to keep shaping events through others.Vahn had all the tools necessary to expand his influence extremely quickly, so, when the time came, he intended to bestow his Blessing upon each of the Regulars within his party. This would not only allow them to benefit from the Quest Function, but, most importantly, it would enable him to keep track of them using his Unit Management. This would allow him to teleport people between Floors, and, though it would be some time before he bestowed them such powerful weapons, Vahn was even willing to have Phae forge Zanpakutos for those he had deemed worthy. Regardless, when all was said and done, the Tower was bound to tremble in the wake of his faction's meteoric rise...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn playing 4D Chess...','Sometimes you gotta let a thot choose her own path...','RIP Tower-chan')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1713: Beneath the Surface