Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

As his consciousness slowly returned, Vahn found himself enveloped in an extremely comfortable sensation. It was pleasant to the point of inspiring lethargy, so, even though he knew he shouldn't continue sleeping, Vahn nestled closer to the aromatic warmth, hugging it tightly as he tried to go back to sleep.It wasn't until he heard an affectionate giggle that Vahn's awareness fully returned, his mind kicking into high gear as his eye snapped open. Then, even though he felt a strong inclination to continue nestling into them, Vahn extracted his face from Sis' paradoxically smooth yet firm breasts to make eye contact with the cat woman staring at him with a loving smile.Taking advantage of the fact Vahn had turned his face toward her, Sis planted a tender kiss on his forehead before combing back his messy hair and saying, "If you're still not ready, we can stay here for as long as you need. You've earned the right to be pampered...at least a little..."With Sis stroking his head, Vahn felt a calming energy wash over his body as her warmth continued to spread through him. It gave him a strong urge to let go of his worries and continue sleeping, but, understanding there were more important things that required his attention, he managed to resist the temptation, a cool sensation washing over his mind as he stated, "Thank you...but I have already slept long enough..."Humming in response to Vahn's words, Sis continued to comb through his hair for several seconds, this time without using [Hands of Nirvana]. It was only after she had fixed most of his bed hair that she replied, "Perhaps...I still think you could sleep a little longer, but, if this is your decision, it is my duty to support it. It's a shame, though...I really enjoyed seeing your sleeping face..."Though her facial features gave her a mischievous appearance, similar to Chloe, Vahn couldn't help feeling awed by the overwhelming love visible in Sis's gaze. He didn't even care that she had lightly pinched his cheek, the corners of her smile curling upward slightly as she mused, "Well, your awake face isn't so bad either. It's no wonder all the girls fall for you...you're a handsome little devil, aren't you~?"Feeling uncharacteristically embarrassed by Sis' words, Vahn managed to extricate himself from her embrace, his eyes sweeping over their surroundings for a brief moment before instinctually opening the system interface. There, he received confirmation of his suspicions, a smile spreading across his face as he read the effects of his new Innate: [Universal Mind].----------------------------------------------[Universal Mind]Rank: Innate (E) *Innate Skills cannot be identified. Attempts to do so will result in a backlash.*[Passive]: All things in the Order of Creation are One. Absorbs the knowledge and experience of all beings created through the user.[Active]: [Template]: Allows the user to develop nascent Egos in accordance with their will.[Active]: [Partition]: The user is able to separate Secondary and Tertiary Egos from their Principal Axis of Consciousness.[Active]: [Unification]: The user is able to link Secondary and Tertiary Egos to their Principal Axis of Consciousness.----------------------------------------------Though he had always expected his Mind Innate to be very powerful, Vahn couldn't help but feel that his [Universal Mind] was inordinately powerful. It might not be very useful to a 'normal' person, but, as someone who could freely create bodies, Vahn could theoretically populate an entire world with different versions of himself. There were bound to be numerous restrictions, especially with it being E-Rank, but, so long as he continued trying to improve, there were no limits to what he could accomplish with such an Innate.As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn noticed that he was actually missing a Skill, one that had been with since the very start of his journey. In response to this, Sis, seemingly just as aware of his thoughts as usual, explained, "[Chainbreaker] has always been the template for your Mind Innate. Now that you have awakened something like [Universal Mind], combined with the fact you can no longer die, the only thing limiting you is your own perception and comprehension. Even this isn't a true limitation, however...after all, you now have the ability to create versions of yourself that are wholly dedicated to a specific task. If you wanted to, you could just sit back and allow all of your creations to do the heavy lifting while you focus on the things that really matter to you..."Hearing Sis' explanation, Vahn could actually imagine himself relaxing in Avalon, spending time with his family, and generally enjoying life while countless versions of himself worked hard to achieve his goals. It was a very tempting notion, but, even if they were actually just extensions of himself, Vahn had never been the type to just sit back while others worked hard. If he had such a nature, he would have relied on Shadow Clones a long time ago, so, after silently contemplating his future decisions, Vahn matched Sis' gaze, returning her smile as he asked, "Where's the fun in that...?"Though he was bound to benefit greatly from the creation of several different Egos, Vahn was more than satisfied with just Phae, Gandr, and Sis. He might make other versions of himself in the future, but, rather than put them to task while he sat in the back, he would work alongside them to reach their unified goals. After all, if he wanted to just create extremely obedient yet capable servants, he had always been able to do so.Fortunately, even without him having to ask, Sis responded with a curt nod, explaining, "Even if it is not originally your Innate, the [Keeper of the Akashic Tome] is currently a part of you. Since entities such as Phae and Gandr do not have fates, there is nothing preventing you from naming them. You can even recreate some of your favorite characters from the Records you were unable to visit. There are no limitations, only your personal inhibitions."Hearing Sis' response, Vahn briefly imagined populating a world with all of his favorite characters, separating their Egos from himself and allowing them to roam freely within his Realm. There were actually a number of characters he had always wanted to meet and interact with, chief among them being people like Naruto, Luffy, and Ichigo. He had also had a bit of a crush on characters such as Hinata, Nami, and Yoruichi, the first due to her kindness, the second due to the empathy he felt regarding her plight, and the third because she was beautiful, confident, and had the ability to turn into a cat...Almost as soon as that thought had crossed his mind, Vahn's eyes rounded his view suddenly split into four. Three of these views were focused on his shocked expression, but, from the perspective of his original self, Vahn was thoroughly at a loss for words as he stared at the three realistic versions of the characters he was just thinking about. This included a young and absurdly adorable Hinata, a curvaceous and beautiful Nami, and an extremely lithe yet toned Yoruichi.Though he was surprised by the sudden appearance of the three girls, Vahn couldn't help but tilt his head to the side as he noticed that Yoruichi was only a few centimeters taller than the twelve-year-old Hinata. He always imagined her being a tall and confident woman, towering over other females in the series with her shapely yet athletic figure. Instead, she was only 156cm tall, and, though she radiated a mature and subtly seductive aura, especially in form-fitting clothing, she barely came up to his chest. (A/N: Vahn is 185cm tall.)Further increasing Vahn's incredulity, Yoruichi crossed her arms, an accusatory look in her golden eyes as she remarked, "I'll have you know that I'm above-average for a Japanese woman. You're just too tall."Almost immediately after Yoruichi had spoken, Vahn was no longer able to see the world from her perspective. His instincts told him that he could reestablish the link whenever he wanted, but, for the time being, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that Yoruichi had become a separate entity from him. This, in turn, caused Nami and Hinata to blink into awareness, the former adopting a slightly annoyed look while the latter seemed to shrink into her own clothing.Before things could get further out of hand, Vahn raised his left hand, saying, "Give me a moment." while using his right hand to massage his temples. Too many things were occurring simultaneously, and, though he had just awakened his Mind Innate, it didn't seem to have any effect on his ability to process information.Fortunately, the Yoruichi, Nami, and Hinata standing before him were 'only' nascent Egos. They did not truly exist, and, unless he named them, they were just versions of himself that had been made to look like the characters he was familiar with. They had none of the knowledge and experience of the originals, and, though they were capable of emulating the behavior he was familiar with, it was, in the end, just an act.Feeling his link with the three immediately reestablish itself, Vahn's own Ego became the dominant presence within the girls' minds. He could move around and control them at his will, and, though their 'base' appearance was that of the three characters he was familiar with, he could even change their shape and form if he really wanted to. The moment he did so, however, he felt a potent feeling of anxiety well up inside of him, almost like the nascent Ego he had produced feared for its life...Before he willed it, Vahn's connection with the trio was promptly severed, his perspective returning to a single point of view as he stared back at the silent trio. They were compelled to obey his orders due to being extensions of himself, and, unless he gave them free will and a name, this would never change. This made him feel a little guilty, but, before he could fall into his usual pattern, Sis crossed her arms and said, "Stop worrying so much. This is your power, Vahn, not something you should be afraid of. Just as you have told so many others, you should embrace this power and do your best to try and master it. If you continue holding yourself back every time you obtain greater power, you'll only increase the amount of time it takes to reach Tier 7."Understanding the truth contained within Sis' words, Vahn ran his fingers through his hair in a self-calming gesture before looking directly at the trio and asking, "What do you want to do? Though it might sound ridiculous considering the current circumstances, I will give you the option to choose your own path..."Since they were no longer compelled to remain silent, Nami was the first to answer, her tone rather harsh yet spirited as she exclaimed, "Are you an idiot!? Our only real options are to either continue living or have our existence erased! Though I'm seriously pissed off about this situation, it's not like it can just be reversed! Instead of asking if I would rather die, you should be trying to convince me to live!"Though she was acting the way he expected her to act, Vahn couldn't help but feel taken aback by Nami's fiery temperament. Fortunately, before she could continue screaming like a furious banshee, Yoruichi added her own two cents, an amused smile on her face as she crossed her arms and asked, "So, you have a crush on me, huh? I must admit, I never expected my existence to be predicated on the fact that a boy I never met wanted to keep me as a pet...well, so long as you keep me well fed and pamper me, I don't particularly mind. Just don't go overboard or I might have to turn that little dragon of yours into a scratch post."Hearing Yoruichi mention the fact he had a crush on her, combined with her reference to his 'little' dragon, a very subtle shade of red crept into Vahn's cheeks. It had been quite some time since he felt embarrassed, but, perhaps as a result of his actual crush on the woman, Yoruichi's teasing was surprisingly effective. Her amused smile actually made him feel a little giddy, and, though he was able to avoid averting his eyes, he had a very strong inclination to look away...Understanding Vahn's thoughts, Yoruichi's smile became progressively more playful, but, before she could act on her 'instincts', everyone shifted their attention to the quiet girl poking her index fingers together as she muttered, "Umm...I think...I think...I..."Though Vahn could deal with Nami and Yoruichi, Hinata's existence was one that inspired quite a bit of guilt. She was actually one of his first crushes, someone he had always found both adorable yet extremely pitiful. The way she was discarded from her family made him hate the Hyuuga quite a bit, but, while he had always liked her, Vahn had always done so while imagining himself as Naruto. He believed the two made a perfect couple, and, though he never finished the series from his original world, most of the versions Vahn purchased from the system shop had Hinata end up with Naruto.Since they could all understand Vahn's thoughts, Hinata began to feel extremely flustered, waving her hands from side-to-side as she exclaimed, "No, no, no, no! Um...please don't think like that...! I don't want you to make a Naruto-kun just for my sake! B-b-b-b-besides! He wouldn't be the real Naruto-kun! I am h-h-happy just to be given a chance to live in such a fantastical world...I mean...I..."Seeing the way Hinata was behaving, Vahn remembered that their behavior was entirely dependent on how he 'believed' they should act. This was a version of Hinata who was well aware of the fact he had a crush on her, so, while she might not feel the same, her kind and gentle nature compelled her to be considerate towards him. She also had his knowledge, including memories related to his past, so it was simply impossible for her to make demands of him. Rather, even if she didn't like him right now, the seeds of affection had been sewn the moment she manifested before him...Confirming his suspicions, even Nami ended up releasing an exasperated sigh in response to Yoruichi's and Hinata's responses. Then, after crossing her arms under her extremely voluptuous chest, she firmly asserted, "I want a planet, one filled with treasure. I also want to visit my world at least once after you gain the ability to link Records. I want to save Bellmere...even if it is for the sake of another me..."Though it wasn't necessary to make such guarantees, as Nami's desires actually reflected his own, Vahn still nodded his head, promising, "I was already intending to visit One Piece in the future. The very concept of the Celestial Dragons has always bothered me so I wanted to try crushing them at least once. There's no way I would ignore the injustices that happened in Cocoyasi Village and the Gray Terminal. Even if I end up interfering with Luffy's path to becoming the King of Pirates, I'll still protect the people I want to protect."Since they were all aware of Vahn's nature, Nami didn't doubt the veracity of Vahn's claim. Instead, she snorted through her nose before asking the most important question, "So, which one of us are you going to name first...?"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'We're in the End Game now boys...','Someone stab this man...I don't care if it doesn't actually do anything (T ^ T)...','The future might be filled with endless possibilities, but, no matter what happens, you can be sure that Vahn is going to fuck up some corrupt assholes xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though he should have expected it, Vahn found himself unable to answer Nami's question. This was a situation he had never even anticipated, so, for several seconds, he just stared back at the woman with a blank look on his face.Fortunately, now that she could do more than just speak within his mind, Sis promptly came to his aid, stating, "Don't put so much pressure on him. A True Name isn't necessary unless you intend to leave the Realm. Vahn still needs to assign True Names to Phae and Gandr, so be patient until your time has come. Besides, other than Hinata, neither of you really 'need' a True Name. Even that isn't entirely necessary, however, as Vahn could always purchase a Byakugan for her through the system shop."Similar to how Vahn was influenced, Nami, Yoruichi, and Hinata all listened patiently while Sis was speaking. They were still extensions of the former, so, while their nascent Egos allowed them to give off the impression of 'real' people, they were still just 'Templates'.Understanding what Sis was trying to convey, Nami released an exasperated sigh before remarking, "I guess you're right. I'm more interested in exploring and mapping Gaia's Textures than venturing out into that hell hole of a Tower. Unless it's absolutely necessary, I would rather avoid combat and just focus on honing my navigation skills. Though, now that I say that, it could be pretty interesting to become a Guide..."Piggybacking off Nami's words, Yoruichi decided to make her own intentions known, smiling with a battle-hungry expression as she said, "I want to go outside. There's no way I'm going to miss out on the opportunity to thrash some corrupt assholes. You can just throw me into the Little Garden until the cooldown of Akasha wears off. I'm already looking forward to beating those brats into shape!"Since they were extensions of Vahn, similar to Fenrir and Medusa, there was nothing preventing the trio from manifesting outside his Realm. They even had all of his Innates and abilities while the link was still active, so, despite her disdain for combat, even Nami would be a powerhouse the moment she entered the Tower. As for Hinata, Vahn was quite surprised to see her ball her hands into fists, a determined expression on her face as she said, "I will also fight...!"Imagining Hinata using a modified form of the Gentle Fist to manipulate the flow of Shinsu within the Tower like a swirling vortex, an amused smile naturally made its way to his face. This caused the girl in question to immediately avert her eyes, covering her face with both hands as the tips of her ears turned a vibrant shade of crimson...Ruining Vahn's good moon in an instant, Nami clicked her tongue at the side, arms crossed as she muttered, "Lolicon..." in an accusatory tone. This resulted in Hinata's face turning even redder, but, thanks to her constitution, it was pretty much impossible for her to faint. As for Yoruichi, she began cackling like a hyena, seemingly finding the label extremely hilarious.Before things could get further out of hand, Sis drew everyone's attention by clapping her hands hard enough to generate a shockwave. Her expression was enough to instantaneously cow both Nami and Yoruichi, the former, in particular, feeling extremely nervous as Sis stared at her with a smile that wasn't quite a smile. Then, with a tone that left no room for argument, she said, "Even if you are an extension of Vahn, I won't allow you to badmouth him. He works too hard to have such accusations forced upon him. Besides, regardless of appearances, you all share the same age. Now, shall we move this conversation along? If we're going to keep idling about, I would rather Vahn use this time to relax, not generate undue stress."Though Sis' tone was a little harsh, none of the people present could really argue with her. After all, her words hit the nail on the head, and, if they really wanted to, each of the three girls could change their appearance, apparent age, and even gender. Even their race could be changed with a thought, and, no matter how much time passed, they would never truly age. This applied to Phae, Gandr, and even Sis, so, while it was undeniable that Hinata currently looked 'very young', physical appearance was the least important factor when discussing Ageless beings with an infinite capacity for change.Feeling unnerved by Sis' gaze, Nami quickly adopted an apologetic expression as she remarked, "It was just a joke! I'm sorry, okay!? Stop staring at me with that creepy smile...!"Amused by Nami's words, Sis squinted her eyes slightly, giggling in a surprisingly terrifying manner before musing, "Please be more thoughtful from now on. I'm not fond of people who say rude and abrasive things about my little brother. There are enough foul-mouthed and wicked people in these worlds. I don't want to hear such remarks from the people who should understand him best..."Noticing the dangerous light in Sis' eyes, Nami couldn't help but swallow the knot building in her throat. Fortunately, Vahn promptly came to her aid, stepping between them with a wry smile on his face as he said, "Please don't fight..."Shifting her attention to Vahn, Sis' expression immediately softened into an affectionate smile as she said, "I understand. I know she wasn't trying to be hurtful; it just upsets me to hear people say such thoughtless things. Don't worry, I am only being strict because she is a part of you. With that in mind, please prepare yourself for a lot of lecturing when you make mistakes in the future. I won't manifest very often, but, when I do, I'll make sure to pamper and lecture you until you're satisfied."Seemingly finished with what she had to say, Sis placed her hand against Vahn's chest, punctuating her words with a radiant smile as she vanished into motes of bluish-green light. Moments later, her voice could be heard echoing within his mind, saying, (*I am happiest being a part of you. Though I will manifest when you need me to, please never forget that simple truth. My sincerest desire, even after obtaining my own Ego, is remaining your reliable big sister until the end of all time. No matter what other things might change, that is the one thing I pray remains eternal...*)Feeling a comfortable warmth spread through his body, almost like Sis was embracing him, Vahn couldn't help but nod his head, smiling as he answered, ("Of course. We already promised to stay together forever. Though my track record isn't perfect, I'm not the type that would go back on a promise once given. I'm just glad we were able to meet like this...you're very beautiful, you know that?")Amused by Vahn's words, Sis' laughter could be echoing within his mind, followed by her voice taking on a teasing undertone as she remarked, (*Don't go falling for your own sister. There is no relationship more intimate than the one we currently possess. Though I'm not unwilling, I would rather pamper you than tarnish our relationship with carnal desires. Besides, I experience everything you experience...including the more 'passionate' moments of your life...ufufufufu~*)Though he already knew Sis shared his senses, as she was literally a part of him, Vahn couldn't help but blush in response to her words. He suddenly had the mental image of Sis embracing him from behind whenever he was making love to one of his women, a mischievous smile on her face as she whispered encouraging words into his ear...---After spending a few days taking care of Nami's living arrangements and explaining the situation to his ever-expanding group of lovers, Vahn finally departed his Realm. To his relief, the transition was already a lot easier thanks to the strengthening of his Soul, and, though it was a little disconcerting to have only one perspective active, a smile spread across his face the moment his connection with Phae and Gandr was reestablished.As could be expected, the duo was more than a little confused by what had happened, but, even without needing to explain things, they were instantly brought up to speed due to the connection itself. This caused Phae's laughter to echo within his mind, but, perhaps understanding what was to come, Gandr couldn't help but complain, ("I don't know how I feel about building my own harem...I kind of want to just settle down with one woman...")Amused by his youthful counterpart's lamentations, Vahn placed his hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling as he remarked, ("It was only ever a matter of time before your Ego separated from my own. This will prevent things from becoming even more complicated in the future...besides, you don't actually have to build a harem. Even if you've inherited my empathetic nature, you can always put your foot down or outright refuse a relationship...")Without delaying for a single moment, Gandr immediately replied, ("That's a load of crap, and you know it! How am I supposed to say no when a girl comes crying to me when even you can't!? You didn't give me that kind of character, you damn Master...!")Though he was a little surprised by Gandr's outburst, Vahn was actually a little relieved to hear the boy being so expressive. It showed that his Ego had grown and developed quite a bit following the awakening of [Universal Mind]. Unfortunately, without introducing a catalyst for change, he couldn't overwrite Gandr's nature to make him less 'vulnerable' against women. As a result, he could only try to pacify the youth, reminding, ("Well, you can always have Fenrir intervene. She will probably treat you differently once you receive a proper name, but you are still her little brother.")Hearing Vahn's reminder, Gandr's mind immediately blanked, silence dominating their telepathic network until he remarked, ("It's going to take a lot of getting used to...not seeing everyone as my lover. Damn...I suddenly feel like a massive hole just opened up in my chest...")Understanding what Gandr was trying to convey, Vahn's mood also became a little somber, but, as there was no way he would 'share' his Harem with others, the only consolation he could offer was saying, ("No matter what, they are still your family. Besides, we never relied on things like sex to feel close to the people we loved. If you are that eager for a physical connection, I'm certain Endorsi or Yuri would be willing...")Speaking the words Vahn wasn't willing to say, Phae quickly added, ("You should make sure to take care of Anak as well. That girl still hasn't been able to open her heart to others. I'm not going to tell you to push her down, but I think she will be happier if you treat her as a woman. She seems to be oblivious to it, but everyone else is able to see that she seeks your acknowledgment. Remaining as rivals are fine for now, but don't ignore the fact she is a young woman...we all want to be treated as if we're dainty flowers by the people we care about...")Much like Gandr, Phae's Ego had also blossomed quite a bit following the awakening of [Universal Mind], so, even more than before, she was prone to giving helpful and motherly advice. Even her tone through telepathy gave off the impression of someone who truly cared about the people she was speaking about.Since Phae was originally meant to have an ambiguous relationship with him, Phae wasn't entirely sure how he should treat her following their separation. Fortunately, they could each understand the others' intents while the connection was maintained, so, almost immediately after this thought crossed his mind, Phae dropped a bombshell on both of them, stating, ("If anything, I'm going to be a lesbian. The thought of having a man gouge out my insides makes me feel queasy, so, while I am a little curious about the relationships between men and women, it will be quite some time before I am willing to consider such things.")Though she had developed her own Ego, Phae was different from Nami, Hinata, and Yoruichi. They all made use of templates pertaining to their original characters. Her's, however, was fundamentally just Vahn putting on an act. Though the aspects he wanted to cultivate were currently embodied by her Ego, she shared his aversion towards having sex with a man. Even having sex with a woman was pretty scary, but, as she already had a bit of experience in that regard, it was a lot easier to accept than falling in love with a man; Vahn included.Understanding Phae's train of thought, Vahn didn't question her decision in the slightest. Rather, as much as he appreciated Phae's carefully crafted beauty, he had never considered her as a potential love interest. If anything, she was like a sister to him, one whose beauty he could readily appreciate without developing the desire to sample. He could also benefit from some female companionship that didn't revolve around sex or love, so, with a contented smile on his face, Vahn replied, ("Good luck....") before following it up by saying, ("We'll deal with the naming tomorrow. For now, I'll cut the connection so that you can adapt to your new Egos. Get some rest.")With both Phae and Gandr answering in the affirmative, Vahn quickly severed the connection, his perception shifting so that he viewed the world through a single perspective. It was a very strange yet calming sensation, one he had forgotten after spending hundreds of years controlling multiple bodies at a time. This caused the smile on his face to become more prominent, his consciousness slowly fading away as a buxom cat girl appeared next to him, tightly hugging his body as he slept...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Sis don't play (O,...,O)...!','RIP Gandr','After nearly three hundred years...Vahn has finally learned how to sleep peacefully...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After what felt like an exceptionally long day, the members of the Hunting Party were the last to return to the Inn. Shortly after that, everyone gathered together within Vahn's room to eat dinner together, a mandate he had passed down as the God of the Familia.Vahn believed people became closer during meals, especially when good food was involved, so he insisted that everyone share at least one meal together. This would help strengthen their sense of unity as members of the same Familia, and, most importantly, it would prevent anyone from feeling excluded. After all, when you combined delicious food with potent liquor and healthy competition, it was only a matter of time before the walls around the heart were breached.The only troublesome part about having everyone eat within his room, excluding the cleanup, was that Vahn became a lot more approachable after a few drinks. The presence of Phae actually served to deter the men from approaching him more than the women, so, by the end of the evening, Vahn had Anak napping in Phae's lap to his right while Hwa Ryun continued pouring drinks to his left. As for Endorsi, she became emboldened by the presence of alcohol, so, for the last hour or so, she had been lingering around Gandr like a vengeful spirit waiting to possess an unsuspecting victim.Though Vahn found Gandr's suffering rather amusing from an outside perspective, the fact he also experienced the suffering directly left him feeling slightly exasperated. It didn't help that she was a confident and beautiful woman who was more than three-hundred-years-old. This, combined with the fact he could read her body language and intentions like an open book, gave Gandr a not-so-subtle urge to simply 'educate' the inexperienced woman every time she attempted to seduce him.Shaking his head, Vahn gathered everyone's attention by nodding towards Phae, prompting her to loudly clap her hands and say, "Everyone! My Lord wishes to say a few words! Please listen closely!"With Anak and Laure also peeling open their eyes to listen to what he had to say, Vahn adopted a firm yet guiding tone as he said, "It is nearing 10 PM. Everyone will be expected to gather by 5 AM for training so I would encourage you to get plenty of rest. This training will be mandatory until you reach the 20th Floor, so make sure you are mentally and physically prepared. If you fail to make the necessary preparations, you are guaranteed to experience some suffering..."Though there were mixed reactions to his words, the one thing everyone present understood was that they were getting kicked out of Vahn's room. Fortunately, the other two rooms were flanking Vahn's, so, even if they were a little intoxicated or tired, they could make it back without issue. The only person who was unable to return on their own was Anak, but, thanks to Phae carrying her, she made it back to her room without issue.With even Hwa Ryun leaving thanks to Phae's insistence, Vahn was finally able to kick off his shoes and relax. There were still conversations taking place in both rooms, primarily related to tomorrow's training, but those had very little to do with him. This was a strange thought to have, considering he was both Phae and Gandr, but Vahn didn't pay it any mind as he slowly slipped off into the endless abyss of unconsciousness for the first time in a very long time...---Opening his eyes, Vahn found himself in a familiar setting, one that had long since lost any meaning to him. Instead of being the one strapped to a table, however, he found himself staring down at his own emaciated body, feelings of guilt welling within his chest as the voice of a woman coldly stated over the intercom, "Dr. Andrews. You are authorized to proceed with the extraction of the subject's forelimbs. Remember, the fate of your wife and your daughter are on the line here...if you want their disease to be cured, you will complete the operation without incident. Your Hippocratic Oath has no value within this place."Though the surgery had yet to begin, Dr. Andrews relied on the attending Nurses to wipe the sweat from his brow as he shakily replied, "I understand, Dr. Keenly. I knew what I was getting myself into when I signed up for this procedure. So long as my wife and daughter are cured, I am willing to do whatever it takes..."Despite the boldness of his words, Dr. Andrews couldn't help feeling a little sick to his stomach as he stared down at the emaciated boy on the operating table. He had never seen someone so pitiful, yet, instead of helping the boy, he was about to take away even more from him. This caused him to doubt every decision he had ever made in his life, the single exception being his decision to use the boy's blood to cure his wife and daughter. They were the two most important things in the world to him, so, even if he had to sell his soul to the Devil himself, he would do everything within his power to make them well again.Resolving himself to retire the moment his wife and daughter were treated, Dr. Andrews picked up the bone saw glistening on the table to his right. Then, for the first time since his arrival, he locked eyes with the boy, a shiver running through his body when he saw the fear and desperation within the youth's glowing green eyes. This made him feel borderline suicidal, but, having already made his decision, Dr. Andrews swallowed hard, saw in hand as he lightly muttered, "God forgive me..."---Replacing the unbelievable nausea feeling of nausea that had permeated his entire existence, Vahn soon found himself laying in an extremely comfortable hospital bed. This caused him quite a bit of confusion since he had never seen such a room in his entire life. It was almost like a hospital room had been combined with a suite, and, though his entire body ached, there was a powerful cocktail of drugs flowing into his body through an intravenous drip.Before Vahn could make sense of his situation, a woman wearing a wig walked into the room, her face gaunt and visible tears within her sunken eyes. She looked like someone in the later stages of cancer treatment, yet, in spite of the suffering she was clearly going through, a fierce determination was visible in her loving gaze. This caused Vahn's nose to feel sour, and, before he realized it, tears were welling within his eyes as he called out in the voice of a young girl, "Mommy..."Though 'her' body ached beyond belief, Vahn, or, more specifically, Chelsea Thomas, forced herself to reach out towards her mother. In response, the woman, Ariel Thomas, promptly moved from the entrance of the room to her daughter's beside. There, the two held hands as Ariel sat down, forcing a smile onto her face as she said, "Don't worry, sweetie. The Doctors in this hospital are the best in the world. They have a treatment that is guaranteed to cure our illness. You just need to hold on a little longer...you're my little warrior, aren't you...?"Ignoring the pain the action caused, Chelsea nodded her head in response to her mother's words, answering in a sobbing tone, "We promised...to fight...together..."Nodding her head, Ariel brought her daughter's hand to her mouth, kissing the emaciated fingers as tears began trickling from her eyes. This caused Chelsea to feel like her heart was breaking, but, at the same time, a desire to survive welled up inside of her. She didn't want to make her mommy and daddy sad, so, no matter how much pain she had to experience, she would continue to fight until she could fight no longer...---Feeling a sensation similar to whiplash, Vahn suddenly found himself on-stage at a large convention center. His hands were tightly holding onto the sides of an elegant wooden podium adorned with a variety of different microphones. Opposite from him, separated by what appeared to be a panel of bullet-proof glass, thousands of people had gathered together to hear him speak on foreign policy and the rising tensions in the Middle East...---With the caffeine provided by half-a-dozen energy drinks fueling him, Vahn found himself furiously clicking his right mouse button as his left hand danced across various hotkeys on his led-lit gaming keyboard. Though he was wearing soundproof headphones, he could still feel the vibrations of the crowd as they demanded victory from him. Fortunately, after his most recent stay in the ICU, he was back and better than ever, more than prepared to defend his title as the greatest Starcraft 2 player in the entire world...---After experiencing precisely 1,317,042 different viewpoints, Vahn found himself suspended within a seemingly infinite expanse. He wasn't alone, however, as the silhouettes of countless people could be seen staring back at him from within the darkness, their eyes reflecting the only source of light in the entire area, his body.At first, Vahn felt naked and vulnerable under the unwavering eyes of so many people. He felt like a tiny rabbit that had been surrounded by a pack of wolves, each appearing hungrier than the next. It was an extremely unnerving feeling, one that caused him to instinctually suppress his light until the only thing visible within the void was his emaciated body.Fortunately, almost immediately after he had curled up into a fetal position, Vahn found himself staring at a pair of feet that were only a few centimeters from his face. This horrified him at first, but, as he looked up to see who the dainty white feel belonged to, he saw someone he had never expected to see...the face of a young woman with green eyes...Without him willing it, the light emanating from Vahn's body expanded exponentially, exposing all of the people who stood in his surroundings. If he were to look closely, he would see that most of them were smiling back at him, expression of pure gratitude visible on their faces. Unfortunately, he was completely unaware of this as the only thing on his mind was the woman smiling down at him with love and compassion exuding from her entire being...---Waking with a start, Vahn sat up to find himself in the middle of a heavily destroyed landscape, a thick layer of sweat covering most of his body. He instantly recognized this as a place that existed within his Realm, but, rather than focusing on this aspect, he shifted his attention toward the figure who had been allowing him to use her lap as a pillow.Seemingly amused by his stupefaction, the woman, a buxom Cat Person with short, two-tone, black hair and peculiar yellow-green eyes issued a light chuckle. Then, before he could make any sense of the current situation, she grabbed his head rather forcibly, somehow overpowering him despite the fact he had infinite strength within his Realm. As a result, Vahn found his face buried in the woman's chest, a calming aura and an extremely nostalgic scent pervading his entire existence as she stroked the back of his head and explained in a familiar tone, "You really know how to make a girl worry...if I didn't pull you back into your Realm, you might have destroyed the entire Inn..."Though he had been mortified by the fact that he was powerless within his own Realm, Vahn's body immediately relaxed when he realized the woman's identity. At the same time, his hands naturally made their way around her willowy yet impeccably soft waist, embracing her by pure instinct. This elicited another light chuckle from the woman, who, instead of pushing him away, exuded a wispy rainbow hue from her palm as she continued to stroke his head. Then, as he quickly descended into another deep state of unconsciousness, Vahn heard the woman whisper, "Sleep...let your Big Sister watch over you for a little while longer...in this place, we have all the time we need..."Punctuating her words, the woman, Sis, planted a delicate kiss on the top of Vahn's head before falling to the side while still embracing him. Almost immediately thereafter, Vahn's body defaulted to his fourteen-year-old form, the version of himself that had appeared at the very beginning of his journey through the Records. Then, over the duration of several months, he gradually transitioned through each of the forms he had assumed during his journey, reliving everything as Sis continued to firmly embrace him...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Endorsi skirting around landmines xD...','Wat...?','(OwO)...!!!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1760: Waning Restraints