Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though it wasn't a series he was familiar with from his childhood, Vahn had stumbled across the existence of Pokemon back when he was trying to find something for Vana to read and enjoy. She wasn't very fond of normal books, so, with the hope of sharing one of his pastimes with her, Vahn had searched through countless manga and graphic novels until he discovered the wondrous world that was Pokemon.With literally thousands of different Pokemon to choose from, including multiple varieties between Records, Vahn felt it was a suitable source to draw inspiration. As for why he decided upon Latias as his first Pokemon, it was simply due to the fact that her design was one of the most adorable. There was something about a fluffy and affectionate 'jet plane' that he found rather novel, and, though it was a little concerning to know she had the Dragon and Psychic 'Types', he decided not to mind it.The most important takeaway from this incident, excluding the fact it had allowed him to increase the Rank of his [Univeral Mind], was that Vahn had confirmed a lot of things that were previously just speculation. He now knew for certain that, even without receiving a True Name, the Templates he created could inherit specific skills and abilities based on his intent. This had only been an inkling suspicion previously, as, due to the low rank of the Innate, combined with the fact he was reliant on [Keeper of the Akashic Tome], most of his Templates only 'emulated' the traits he expected them to have.Though Innates could be used to amplify each other, none were 'reliant' on the existence of other Innates just to be useful. The reason he hadn't been able to develop [Universal Mind] was that he hadn't actually been 'trying' to develop it. He used it a lot, sure, but he was basically just phoning it in by allowing his mind to auto-generate Templates and personalities based on his expectations. He had been treating it like a 'supplemental' Innate, relying on his cheat-like existence and [Keeper of the Akashic Tome] to fill in gaps that could have been addressed during the creation process.Simply put, by taking a more hands-on approach, similar to creating a character in a video game, Vahn could drastically strengthen the 'completeness' of his Templates. This made them much closer to the actual entities he was trying to emulate and, though he would only know for certain once he reached that point, his instincts told him they would be able to develop Egos even without [Keeper of the Akashic Tome]. He might still be limited in the number of Templates he could create at any one time, but, with great enough mastery, Vahn was certain that all limitations could be overcome...---With an amused smile on his face, Vahn watched with ever-increasing glee as Yoruichi, despite her greater Agility stat, was run circles around by Latios and Latias. The duo possessed an innate ability to fly and, thanks to their streamlined bodies, they could cut through dense fields of Shinsu without losing speed. Rather, the denser the Shinsu field, the faster they seemed to be able to move, a stark contrast to the struggles of Yoruichi.Noticing her Creator's amused smile, an inordinately buxom beauty with long blue hair, a matching long-sleeved dress, and black sclera encircling her peculiar yellow eyes, asked in a husky tone that seemed to resonate through the surrounding Shinsu, "Did Ms. Yoruichi do something to upset you? You seem to enjoy her misfortunes quite a bit...should I increase the density of Shinsu further?"Laughing awkwardly in response to the woman's inquiries, Vahn reached out his hand to caress the woman's somewhat slippery and moist hair, replying, "Don't misunderstand, Kyrie. It's not that I find Yoruichi's suffering amusing, I'm just enjoying her reactions. She would probably get a kick out of it if I was the one down there so don't be too eager to exacerbate the situation..."Though she didn't really understand, Kyrie, better known as Kyogre, nodded her head as if she did. She was the product of Vahn's attempts to create a Template without access to the vast archive of information within his mind. He wanted to see if this would allow them to develop an Ego faster, so, for the past couple of days, Kyrie had alternated between studying under Mira and shadowing him whenever he was inside the Little Garden. As for why he chose Kyogre, it was because she was one of the ridiculously powerful 'Legendary' Pokemon that existed within the Source Material. She had the ability to manipulate and expand the ocean, so, while there were countless options to choose from, Vahn felt her abilities would be particularly useful within the Tower.Noticing a vibrant flash of light in his periphery, Vahn shifted his attention back to the 'race' that was taking place below. Yoruichi had just activated her 'Thunder Beast Battle Princess Form', her clothes spontaneously evaporating as bands of lightning became the only thing protecting her dignity. Then, with even the surrounding Shinsu becoming electrified, the sound of a thunderclap could be heard as she instantly appeared across the finish line where Latias and Latios had been dancing about, 'taunting' her.Releasing a tired sigh, Vahn retracted his hand from Kyrie's head, rising from his seated position before saying, "Kyrie, stay with Hinata. Hinata, look after Kyrie for me." This elicited a small frown from the blue-haired beauty, but, rather than oppose his decision, she just nodded her head as Hinata happily chimed, "Leave it to me, Vahn."Smiling back at the duo, Vahn playfully waved one last time before vanishing into motes of golden light, teleporting to where Yoruichi was gloating before the teary-eyed twins. She was already pretty fickle in her default state, but, whenever she transformed, Yoruichi could quickly get out of hand. As a result, bands of golden electricity danced across Vahn's hand as he 'lightly' chopped the woman's head, saying, "You're an adult. Don't tease the children."With a visible bump appeared at the very top of her head, Yoruichi crouched down with tears in the corner of her eyes as she complained, "They're the same age as we are, you asshole..."Though Yoruichi's words were undeniably true, Vahn was about to point out that Latias and Latios were still very child-like in their thoughts and actions. Before he could, however, the lightning-clad beauty erupted like a compressed spring, her fist connecting with his bottom jaw before sending him skyrocketing more than a hundred meters into the air. Then, with his jaw and teeth still in the process of regenerating, she appeared above him in a flash of light, leg raised high like the blade of an executioner before impacting the top of his head with her heel.Finding himself in the middle of a large impact crater, a light chuckle escaped Vahn's throat as he coughed up a small amount of blood. Pain had very little effect on him ever since his training with Scathach, so, while it felt like his head had been skewered with a heated rod; he was still managed to laugh until Yoruichi knocked the breath out of him, landing on his stomach with her fleshy rump before grabbing the front of his shirt and musing, "I can be violent too..." with a predatory smile on her face.With most of his injuries healing having already healed, Vahn just smiled back at Yoruichi before calmly stating, "Save it for the bedroom." before pinching her right butt cheek with his left hand.Though she was in the mood 'right now', Yoruichi turned her attention towards the duo peeking down at them from the crater's edge. Latias and Latios were both very curious creatures, but, most importantly, Kyrie was watching over them alongside Hinata atop a blue Lighthouse. Vahn wanted the three of them to grow up without such influences, so, even though she had an itch only the boy beneath her could scratch, Yoruichi ultimately just clicked her tongue, lightning dissipating from her body as she transformed into a lazy-looking black cat and said, "Pet me." in a tone that left no room for argument.---With twenty-three days having passed since the start of the Survival Test, the members of Team Wolf Pack had largely adapted to the conditions of the 4th Floor. Even Nare stopped complaining after the sudden change in Endorsi's behavior several days prior, so, for the most part, things had become relatively peaceful as they passed each day in a rather mundane fashion...Showing signs of extreme boredom, Gandr released a loud yawn while lying in the grass next to Shibisu. It had been several days since another group of Regulars had even tried to approach the central supply station, so, with nothing to do and little food to eat, he spent the majority of his time just relaxing in order to prevent an emotional outburst.Though he was tempted to ask Gandr about the recent changes in Endorsi's behavior, Shibisu just smiled in response to the former's behavior, asking in a slightly concerned tone, "Are you going to be okay? What's the longest period of time you've gone without eating...?"Waving his hand in a dismissively, Gandr replied, "No need to worry. Even if I starved myself for a year, I wouldn't go berserk unless something serious happened. Besides, if I get really hungry, I can always start eating trees and rocks. My body can convert pretty much anything I eat into energy. I just prefer the taste of actual, delicious, food."Demonstrating his point, Gandr rolled to a seated position before picking up a palm-sized stone and tossing into his toothy maw. Most of his teeth had turned angular at this point, and, though he could forcibly revert them back to a more normal appearance, he saw no reason to. Instead, he let it serve as an indicator of his mood, embracing his identity as a Vanargandr rather than attempting to restrain it.Seeing Gandr grind down and swallow a large stone with considerable ease, Shibisu's smile became a little cramped as he imagined how easily the boy could chew through bone. This gave him a slight urge to ask if Gandr had ever eaten a person, but, fearing the answer might actually be yes, Shibisu managed to deflect by asking, "How's the taste? I have some salt in my Inventory if you need some seasoning."Finding the remark rather amusing, Gandr issued a light-hearted chuckle before sprawling out onto the grass again, hands behind his head as he closed his eyes and muttered, "I hope there aren't too many Tests like this one. I want to fight someone strong..."Since he had also been incredibly bored these past few days, Shibisu couldn't help but nod his head before lying back and replying, "I know there are at least two more Survival Tests, one on the 50th and another on the 100th Floor. The former is hosted by the Ranker Administration. They use it as a platform to promote famous Regulars and arrange various sponsorships. As for the 100th Floor, it is the place where Jahad and the Ten Great Warriors were said to have obtained their Immortality. The Floor is ruled by the Arie Family, and, if you're one of the Teams that make it through to the end of the Survival Test, you will be given a chance to undertake Arie Hon's Special Test. Though only three people have ever passed, it's rumored that he will grant you any request within his power, including an entire Floor of the Tower."With even Yuri possessing unfathomable might, despite only being within the top 500 of the Tower, it was hard to imagine how powerful the current Rank 5, Arie Hon, was. He was famous as the most powerful of the Ten Great Family Leaders, and, though there were a few other schools, his Arie-Style Swordsmanship was considered unparalleled within the Tower. This implied he was a powerhouse beyond comprehension, but, rather than show any signs of fear, a toothy grin spread across Gandr's face as he mused, "I guess we need to hurry up to the 100th Floor then..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Go figure, you have to use an Innate for it to develop...','The Tower is not ready for what Vahn is about to unleash...','(OwO)? What's this? *notices your swordsmanship*')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With a look of fascination on his face, Vahn, accompanied by Yoruichi and Hinata, watched as Kyrie danced atop the surface of an 'ocean' he had created in the Sixth Layer. She hadn't even received a True Name, yet, in spite of this, her elegant dance caused massive waterspouts and whirlpools that were more than a hundred meters across to wreak havoc in her surroundings.Saying what they were all thinking, Hinata muttered, "Beautiful..." in a hushed tone while clinging to Vahn's right arm. This was met with an affirmative nod by the latter while Yoruichi, sitting in Vahn's lap in her cat form, added, "It's like watching a natural disaster...you've created a real monster this time, Vahn..."Though he never liked the term 'monster' when describing one of his companions, Vahn wasn't able to refute Yoruichi's statement. Kyrie's ability to produce rain and manipulate water was on a level far beyond his own understanding. If he wanted to perform a similar feat, it would take a considerable amount of time, preparation, and energy. Kyrie, however, needed only dance near the surface of the water, the long sleeves of her outfit swaying with her movements as her siren-like song seemed to carry for dozens of kilometers, echoing within the tempestuous winds produced by the churning of the ocean.Unfortunately, no matter how horrifyingly sublime the scene of destruction was, Kyrie was far from being 'all-powerful'. Her abilities were only truly useful against static opponents and infrastructure. Anyone with sufficient speed or strength would be able to blitz her relatively easily; so, while Hinata and Yoruichi might not be able to perform a feat even remotely comparable to Kyrie's manipulation of an ocean, both could defeat her, and similar opponents, without too much trouble.The greatest benefit Kyrie had was that Shinsu could be manipulated using the same abilities that allowed her to control water. This gave her unparalleled potential as a Wave Controller, so much so that she could presumably humble anyone beneath the status of a High Ranker. The only downside was that her abilities weren't very friendly; so, when Kyrie went all-out, both enemies and allies were equally affected...Feeling that the demonstration had gone on long enough, Vahn pulled out a spherical device with a magenta covering set atop a white base. There were two pink vents located on the upper half of the sphere while, at the very front, a circular button could be seen beneath an engraved letter M. Vahn promptly pressed this button, producing a phenomenon similar to lightning, instantly traversing the distance between himself and Kyrie as he said, "That's enough, Kyrie. Return."Without causing her any injuries, the vibrant white lightning veiled Kyrie's entire body, seemingly breaking it down into motes of similar white light before vanishing less than a millisecond later. At the same time, the spherical device in Vahn's hand, better known as a Master Ball, began to release a gentle hum as the ball promptly shrunk to less than a quarter of its original, grapefruit, size. After that, Vahn revealed his personalized Arms Inventory, upon which sat a total of seven identical balls.Though there were more expensive versions that could undoubtedly capture any living creature, the Master Balls wielded by Vahn were specifically used to capture and house Pokemon. They were the highest tier of a device known simply as a Poke Ball, and, so long as the target was applicable, they could be housed inside the miniature world contained within. As for why he bothered to use Master Balls, it was because they were simply the most comfortable for the Pokemon. They also had a high degree of indestructibility, and, most importantly, allowed anything inside to recover from virtually any injury in a relatively short period of time.With Kyrie safely secured within her Pokeball, the ocean below began to gradually calm due to the lack of tidal forces present within the Little Garden. It would likely take several days for it to become completely calm, however; so, rather than stick around, Vahn teleported himself, alongside Yoruichi and Hinata, back to the Eighth Layer.In the past, the Eighth Layer had been little more than Vahn's 'love nest', a relatively empty space that contained a single, massive, mansion. Now, however, it looked more like a nature preserve, the mansion replaced by a series of homely dwellings that were built directly into hills and trees. All of this was set within a massive emerald grove with the canopy of a World Tree dominating the region for nearly three kilometers.Following the aroma of delicious food, Vahn soon found himself in a dining room that was directly linked with the kitchen. This allowed people to smoothly transition between the two, and, though it was never said aloud, everyone knew that Vahn simply enjoyed watching the women cook. Most of the appliances and stoves were located on the far wall, so, if he sat at his usual spot, he could watch the back figures of the girls as they happily prepared food for the ever-growing population of the Eighth Layer.Fortunately, everyone, including Yoruichi, genuinely enjoyed preparing meals. This was one of the traits each of Vahn's Templates had inherited, and, if not for the 'ban' preventing men from entering the kitchen, he would happily cook alongside them. Instead, he, alongside the other male residents, traditionally sat at the dining room table, observing the scene of meal preparation while discussing various topics, most related to training.Having already separated from Yoruichi and Hinata so the two could go wash off in the bath, Vahn was alone as he stepped into the extremely fragrant kitchen. There, he saw three women wearing casual clothes and aprons, each humming the same song while Madara, still in her female form, sat silently with an open bottle of sake at the dining table. She couldn't actually get drunk, but, perhaps as a result of the time Vahn had spent with Tsubaki, Kenshin, Nobunaga, Musashi, and several other 'eastern warriors', Madara had always had a fondness for alcohol.Though they all noticed his arrival around the same time, the first to speak to Vahn was the shorter of the two red-haired women cooking alongside Mira. She had just grabbed the food that had been prepared for Madara, so, while carrying it over to the table, a radiant smile spread across her face as she stopped near him and asked, "Are you here to eat or just watch?"Since his stomach was effectively a bottomless pit, a trait shared by all of his 'unnamed' Templates, an amused smile spread across Vahn's face as he answered, "Both." while reaching out his hand to stroke the petite woman's head.Nodding her head in understanding, the youthful-looking red-head turned toward the kitchen, and, though it wasn't really necessary, she chimed, "Mira-nee, Kushina-nee, dinner and a show for one more~."Responding to the girl's words, Mira just issued a light chuckle as the woman to her right pumped her fists and spiritedly replied, "Yosh! Leave it to me, Mor-chan! I'll cook up something delicious and spicy~!" before taking her kitchen knife to a set of ingredients with intense enthusiasm.Giggling in response to Kushina's remark, Mor-chan, better known as Morgiana Fanalis, looked back at Vahn and said, "Come. I'll prepare your usual spot."Nodding his head in affirmation, Vahn retracted his hand for Morgiana's head, once again finding it amusing that she was 2cm taller than Yoruichi despite the latter appearing more mature. This wasn't to say that Morgiana lacked feminine charm, but, when standing next to Mirajane and Kushina, 167 and 165cm, respectively, she did look a little childish. Of course, Vahn would never say this out loud, as, despite being a Template he had created, Morgiana could be pretty petty when you pointed out her height and figure; seemingly forgetting she could change both at will...After taking his seat next to Madara, Vahn watched as the barefoot woman scampered back to the kitchen, a contented smile on his face as he asked, "How was your day?" without looking directly at the person he was speaking to. In response, Madara picked up a piece of eel from her plate, deftly maneuvering it to her lips with chopsticks before plainly answering, "Calm..." in her characteristically soul-piercing tone of voice.Deciding against pressing her for a more detailed response, as Madara could be 'very' scary when she got mad, Vahn just nodded his head in understanding before replying, "That's good..." in a soft murmur. This caused a slight smile to spread across Madara's face, an amused glimmer in her onyx black eyes as she muttered, "Indeed..." in a curt tone...---With less than a day until the Survival Test was scheduled to end, the members of Team Wolf Pack had all gathered together near the large crystal that allowed them to summon items and supplies. It hadn't been all that useful to them over the last twenty-nine days, but, now that the test was all but completed, everyone pitched in to purchase a veritable feast.Originally, Khun had been prepared to sacrifice his own Points in order to boost everyone's morale and make sure they were prepared for the 5th Floor. This plan was promptly shot down by virtually every member of the Team, so, after a brief discussion, they decided to all pitch in a few thousand Points. The only person who hesitated was Nare, but, without needing anyone to convince her, she ultimately decided to go with the flow.After 'suffering' together for twenty-nine days, the sense of unity within Team Wolf Pack was at an all-time high. They had learned to set aside the self tendencies attributed to most Regulars, and, though it would likely take years for them to cement their bonds, they were already beginning to act like a proper Familia. This was largely thanks to Baam, his kindness having an infectious quality; but, more than anything else, it was their intrinsic desire to break free from the system that caused them so much torment that compelled everyone to work together.At this point, everyone was pretty much in agreement that the Tower needed to change, drastically. Fortunately, they had a literal God on their side, so, in preparation for the drastic changes that were bound to sweep through the Tower, they were determined to become the torchbearers that led the way towards a better future. This seemed to be the very thing Vahn was preparing them for, so, with a profound sense of purpose uniting them, Team Wolf Pack heralded the dawn of the thirtieth day with the light of conviction reflected in their eyes...---With subtle vibrations and heat spreading through his body, combined with the sound of purring tickling his ears, Vahn found himself in a situation where he simply didn't want to wake up or move around. He had decided to take a nap alongside Latias and Latios the previous evening, and, by the time he woke up, he had a black cat, a red lioness cub, and an exceptionally cute nine-tailed fox kit sharing his body as their bed.If not for the person incessantly poking him in the cheek with a stick, Vahn wasn't sure he would be able to separate from the veritable mountain of fluff he had awoken to find himself buried under. It was like his body was awash in an ocean of soft and pleasant warmth, a sentiment that was shared by the other residents of the pile due to their overlapping auras.Though he could perfectly fine without opening his eyes, Vahn adopted a half-lidded expression as he stared at the petite and delicate-looking woman poking him in the fact. She was extremely thin, appearing much like a doll, and, though she resembled a refined maiden with flowing blue hair and peculiar golden fringe, closer observation would reveal numerous peculiarities. This included a fluffy black tail, gold-adorned black leggings and gloves that were actually a part of her body, and, most notably, a jeweled crown that vaguely resembled antlers protruding from the top of her head. This last article made up nearly a quarter of her total height, and, though she had also had mesmerizing blue eyes, it was hard to take your eyes away from the massive crown...Seeing that Vahn had finally awoken, the exceptionally lithe girl adopted a gentle smile as she said, "Good morning, Master. It is time to wake up. If you don't prepare quickly, you will be unable to eat breakfast before returning to the Outside."Disturbing the trio that was pretending to still be asleep on his chest, Vahn stopped leaning against Latios' side, stretching his body and releasing an extended yawn before smiling back at the girl and replying, "Thanks for coming to get me, Nea. Don't worry, I'll still have plenty of time to brush your hair if we visit the outer rings."Smiling in response to Vahn's final remark, Nea, better known as Xerneas, performed a polite bow before promptly turning around and transforming into a remarkably elegant-looking deer. Vahn understood her intentions without her needing to directly convey them; so, even though it wasn't really necessary, he cradled Yoruichi, Kushina, and Morgiana in his arms, riding Xerneas back to the Emerald Grove as Latias and Latios happily dodged through the surrounding trees...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Sublime Terror','Familia','Fluff')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Deciding it would be best to just ask those who would be affected, Vahn interrupted the seemingly never-ending training of Roger, Ichigo, Madara, and Goku; gathering the four together in Madara's manor to ask their opinion.Without any hesitation whatsoever, Roger, seemingly offended by Vahn's words, crossed his arms and retorted, "You think too little of us. I won't speak for these three, but I don't need the mercy of having a wife created for me. Love is something that should blossom through effort, not something that should be 'forced' by circumstance!"Hearing Roger's response, Vahn found himself at a loss for words, allowing Madara to add in his deep and resonating tone, "You are misunderstanding something. We are not you. Our path might stem from yours, but it is ultimately ours to walk. When you create a Template that stems from your love, you are not forcing them to love you back. Though the seeds for affection may be sewn even before they are given flesh, it is your desire to love them, not force them, that guarantees them the right to happiness. By creating women with the intention of providing for us, you are removing that freedom of choice entirely...you are forcing the situation just to make things easier for yourself..."Since everything said in Madara's voice just sounded 'right', even when he said complete nonsense, Vahn found himself at even more of a loss, turning to Ichigo and Goku with a questioning gaze. In response, the former adopted a serious expression of his own as he stated, "I agree with Roger and Madara. Though I feel a strong compulsion to protect and cherish women like Orihime and Senna, I would never ask for either of them to be created for my personal convenience. Besides, even if they were to be brought into this world, I wouldn't actually be saving them...they would not be the same women buried within our memories..."With his hand clutching at his chest, Ichigo showed a pained expression on his face. Compared to Roger, whose spouse wasn't really a key figure, and Madara, who didn't marry in more than 90% of the source material that Vahn read, Ichigo had a number of potential, significant, love interests. The woman Senna was a good example of someone that Vahn would have done everything in his power to save, and, due to his influence on Ichigo's Template, the man clearly had a soft spot for the non-existent woman who suffered from a heartbreakingly tragic fate.Unable to read the mood, Goku didn't seem to notice Ichigo's plight in the slightest, smiling as he rubbed the back of his head and jokingly stated, "I don't think it would be a good idea to create a template of Chi-Chi. I just barely started my training so I'd like to avoid being nagged before I even get a chance to fight against someone strong!"Hearing Goku's words, the somewhat sullen atmosphere quickly lightened as everyone understood what the man was trying to convey. After all, they drew from Vahn's knowledge and experience, so, while Chi-Chi was undoubtedly an amazing woman in her own right, it was an inviolable truth that she was also the source of a lot of stress and drama. Her ludicrous desire to make Goku work like a normal person, despite him being one of the few surviving members of his race and one of the only people capable of protecting their universe, constantly put everyone's lives in danger. She was also a control freak who ruined the potentials of both her sons and daughter, the first of which, Gohan, was stated to have the greatest potential in their entire Record...Imagining how Chi-Chi would behave, especially if she acted in accordance with his perception of her, a shudder ran through Vahn's body as he issued an awkward chuckle of his own. Then, with a slightly troubled expression on his face, he asked, "So, what do you think I should do then? Don't get me wrong, I'm having a blast with Yoruichi, Hinata, and Mira, but I can't just create a bunch of women who are practically guaranteed to harbor some degree of affection towards me...it isn't an issue for now, but I feel like things will get out of hand pretty quickly if I don't come up with some kind of solution."As if he was a father listening to the complaints of his son, Madara responded to Vahn's concerns with a tired sigh, shaking his head in exasperation before saying, "It's best not to think about it. If you create them in a similar manner as us, the women will maintain their independence and seek out partners for themselves. The real problem here is that you have a possessive nature, so, even if you harbor no malicious intentions, it is easier for you to imagine being with them yourself rather than allowing them to wander in the same way as us. You have an instinctual desire to protect and cherish them personally, even though there are countless people outside of this place who would willingly die to protect some of the Templates you are capable of creating."For the third time in a few minutes, Vahn was completely taken aback, stunned by the implication contained within Madara's words. He suddenly felt like his skin had become clammy, and, though he didn't actually sweat, Vahn felt like a layer of filth had covered his body.Realizing that he did, indeed, have a double-standard regarding his Templates, Vahn habitually combed through his hair as he imagined one of the characters he was interested in roaming the Tower and falling in love with a man he had never met. The thought made him feel uncomfortable, yet, when he imagined his male Templates doing the exact same thing, he felt no apprehension at all.The problem wasn't simply that he was 'possessive', though that was obviously a major component, it was that he passively absorbed the knowledge and experiences of his Templates. Though it wasn't at the forefront of his thoughts, all of the information was stored within the vast archive of his mind. He could even 'recall' the experiences of his Templates, seeing and experiencing the world through their perspective with the same ease he would recall his own memories.Vahn had no trouble imagining himself with countless women, but, when the roles were reversed, he felt extremely uncomfortable imagining Templates derived from his Innate sleeping with other men. This was why he instinctually came up with the solution of 'pairing' his Templates with each other, as, within the deepest recesses of his mind, it was a lot easier to accept them being with the people he had 'chosen' rather than entrusting them to complete strangers. There was also a chance that one of his female Templates would encounter some extreme 'misfortune' at the hands of some vile and sadistic scumbag, a notion that filled Vahn with rage just imagining...Sensing the sudden change in atmosphere, Madara released another sigh while Roger, despite the perpetual grin on his face, adopted a serious expression as he said, "You are too focused on being in control. Bad things happen. Just accept it and move on with your life. Being afraid of things that have yet to transpire is ridiculous. Besides, even if something terrible were to happen, we can just draw and quarter the asshole. That's assuming the lass you created doesn't beat us to the punch! Guwahahahahahaha~!"Though he normally couldn't help but laugh along with Roger, the man's laughter was extremely infectious, the best Vahn could offer at the present moment was a wry smile. This smile promptly turned into a mask of incredulity, however, when Madara suddenly snorted, surprising everyone present as his body morphed into that of a woman. Then, in a deep yet feminine tone, she asked, "Are you going to start worrying about me now? Really, you can be such a fool at times. Even if we receive Names, we still retain our ability to change at will. If something 'were' to happen, why would one of your Templates just allow it? Stop worrying over nothing and allow your creations the same freedom you enjoy. After all, we are a part of you."Seemingly done with the conversation, Madara rose to 'her' feet, departing the room while yawning loudly. This left the trio sitting within the room rather speechless, Vahn, in particular, staring with his mouth hanging open as he internally remarked, ("I know I wanted my version of Madara to be more understanding and thoughtful of others, but this is a little ridiculous...")Even if he wasn't speaking directly to her, that didn't stop Sis from answering, (*You can't deny she makes a good point. Though you have stopped holding back quite a bit, there are a few things that you needlessly harp over. The situation with Naruto is just one example, as, regardless of your own views on the matter, you didn't steal Hinata away from him. Rather, the Template you created isn't the real Naruto, much like the Hinata sleeping in your bed. With your power, you could even make a female version of Naruto with Uchiha blood, vibrant crimson hair, and literally nine-tails. So long as you can imagine it, there is no limit to your ability to create a Template.*)With the ability to, quite literally, create perfect three-dimensional representations of people within his mind, Vahn couldn't help imagine the version of Naruto that Sis had just described. It almost felt wrong, but, after instinctively creating a spirited beauty with vulpine traits in his imagination, a wry smile spread across Vahn's face as he shook the image from his mind like an etch-and-sketch. Even if he were to make a composite Template, he wasn't going to start with someone like 'Naruko', so, after bidding farewell to Ichigo, Goku, and Roger, Vahn teleported back to the 8th Layer in order to conduct some 'research' alongside Mira, Yoruichi, and Hinata...---Proving why he should listen to Sis' advice, Vahn's [Universal Mind] ended up increasing to D-Rank after his successful attempt at creating a 'unique' Template; determining everything from the shape and personality of his creation within his mind. As a result, he was currently seated in front of two exceptionally adorable entities, both appearing near-identical except for their general color scheme.The first figure, smiling radiantly as she got her head caressed, had pure white hair that was tied up into adorable twin-tails. Her center-most bangs were a reddish-pink in color, contrasting the vibrant blue of her twin brother. She also had golden eyes that sparkled with innocence, and, though they appeared to be part of her Japanese-style garb, there were two winged appendages growing from her lower back, vaguely resembling the tails of a ribbon.Similar to his sister, the second figure was also enjoying having his head caressed. Unfortunately, though he didn't seem to mind in the slightest, he was the second Template created by Vahn, so, despite being male, he had very androgynous features. He even wore a long-sleeved kimono top, paired with a blue skirt and blue leggings that contrasted the reddish-pink of his sister. This gave him a very adorable appearance, but, unlike the uncorrupted innocence contained within his sister's golden eyes, the boy had a glimmer of confidence in his ruby-red irises, even as he enjoyed having his head caressed.Though he had the impression that he had just opened Pandora's Box, Vahn had an affectionate smile on his faces as he said, "You can return to your original forms now..."Following Vahn's orders, the duo was promptly surrounded by light as they transformed into two equally adorable creatures that vaguely resembled jet planes. The upper portion of their bodies was predominately white while the lower portion, differentiating between the male and female, was blue and red. The fronts of their faces, almost like they were wearing visors, were the same color as their lower bodies except for a small patch of white at the very front. As for their remaining features, they had pointed ears that were extremely soft to the touch, angular wings that resembled those of a jet fighter, two fin-like flaps for feet, and fluffy butts that served a similar function as tail feathers.Vahn felt that the duo was actually more adorable in these forms, but, rather than voice this aloud, he allowed the two to nuzzle against them, chuckling lightly as he stroked their impeccably soft fur and said, "I have high hopes for the two of you, Latias, Latios..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Double-Standards','Madara laying down the logic','Tapping into an Innate's true potential')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1777: Lull