Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though he was aware of the decision made by the Empire, Vahn was a little surprised by the fact they didn't even try to send anyone to reclaim the Hell Express. They had concluded that it would be a lot safer to send their people in during the six month period where the train docked at the Last Station. This, combined with the fact they had 79 of the 100 total Express Tickets allowed Vahn and his growing retinue of Regulars to freely explore, collect treasures, and train.With the addition of Elaine and Alphine, there were now ten inordinately powerful Regulars in Vahn's charge. This included Yura, David, Anna, Vicente, Daniel, and, to a lesser extent, Weiss, Arryn, and Arusha. As for Angel, she had already found someone to settle down with among the residents of the Second Layer, and, though she was still determined to obtain her revenge, it was far from her primary focus.Since even the weaker members of the group were capable of clearing the challenges of the Hell Express, Vahn had given everyone permission to wander about individually but encouraged them to travel in small groups. Instead, everyone decided to travel in one large group. More specifically, they wanted to follow along with him, as, compared to traveling alone, it was always better to be close to the person with a portable 'resort' and a seemingly endless supply of delicious food.Though he would rather they become independent, much like Team Wolf Pack, Vahn knew the situation of people like Weiss, Elaine, Alphine, Arryn, and Arusha didn't exactly allow it. The same could also be said for the Arie siblings, so, while it was a little inconvenient, he decided to watch over them until he could find a place to safely deposit them. Given the circumstances, this would most likely result in them becoming members of Wolhaiksong. The organization was well known for taking in exiled members of the Ten Great Families, so, with few other options available, Vahn was willing to indebt himself to Ureko if it meant he could ensure their safety while subsequently removing them from his responsibility...---With the door to the Hidden Floor firmly sealed until the Hell Express had cleared the 43rd Floor, Vahn decided to focus on the promise he had made with Daniel, Po, and everyone else related to Roen. Unfortunately, this had become considerably more difficult due to the fact that much of her Ego had been absorbed and subsequently destroyed following her self-sacrifice to seal Hoaqin.Simply put, it was possible to revive Roen, but, due to her Ego having become a part of the billions of fragments that comprised Weiss, she would effectively be a different person. She would have no memories of her previous existence, and, depending on the circumstances, even her Innates would have changed drastically.Fortunately, while it was impossible to openly discuss, there was still hope. Roen had completed the Hell Express numerous times in the past, so, while it wouldn't truly restore her original self, it was possible to acquire the 'data' of Roen from the Hidden Floor. Said data could then be infused into the resurrected Roen, and, though she would technically be a different person, her soul and memories would be the same as the original.Since it would require Roen entering the Hidden Floor for the procedure to be conducted, Vahn spent the three-month period between the 40th and 43rd Floors searching for the Hell Express' core and recovering her spirit. The hardest part of this process was purifying the negative energy and filtering through the countless spirits that had died onboard the Hell Express. He also needed to come up with an alternative power source, as, without the negative energy generated by the spirits, the hellish locomotive would be stranded within the 'Dimensional Gap' separating Floors.In the end, the vast majority of Vahn's time was spent creating a modified 'Spirit Gathering Array' alongside Eva. Despite its name, this particular formation had nothing to do with gathering spirits. Instead, it drew power from the functionally infinite Shinsu provided by the Elemental Pylons used to draw inert energy from the void and convert it into the standard form of energy existing within the Records. This was actually one of the first formations Vahn had ever mastered, but, compared to the version he had installed to power various barriers and wards back in Danmachi, the current iteration made his past attempts seem rudimentary in comparison.With the Hell Express no longer relying on the negative energy generated by the deceased, Vahn performed a Grand Purification Ritual, penultimately exorcising all the spirits gathered within the Core. Part of him had been tempted to return them to life, but, unlike Roen, he had no particular reason to do so. In fact, were it not for the promise he had made with Aka, Sachi, Boro, Daniel, and Po, Vahn would have simply allowed Roen's soul to move on to the next life.Fortunately for the bereaved quintet, Vahn was a man of principle who firmly believed in the value and importance of keeping his promises. Thus, while it might have been better to just let her soul move on to its next incarnation, Vahn's final act prior to disembarking on the Floor of Death was to create a Soul Binding Formation to resurrect Roen's spirit into a body functionally identical to her original. This time, however, the body was provided courtesy of Urahara and the Research Division rather than produced from his own flesh and blood...---Using his ability to view and know everything occurring within the Little Garden, Vahn watched with a thoughtful smile on his face as Daniel tended to the largely unresponsive Roen. She was basically an infantile amnesiac at this point, but, much to his surprise, she had actually reacted positively to Daniel's presence following her revival. This was a positive sign as it demonstrated that, while her Ego was almost wholly erased, a few of the most intrinsic parts of her character had been preserved.Though it was a little awkward entrusting a 700+-year-old man to take care of an infantile woman, feeding, cleaning up after, and even bathing her, Vahn knew that Daniel's affection towards Roen was sincere. The man had been willing to give up everything just for a chance at restoring her to life, so, while these moments were bound to become awkward memories, he allowed the former FUG member to look after the surprisingly Nami-esque woman in the hopes that it would help to stabilize her Ego in preparation for the transplantation of her Data's memories.Seeing Daniel patiently feeding the perpetually smiling Roen with a plastic spoon, Vahn couldn't help nodding his head in approval before promptly departing the Little Garden. There, he found Fenrir and Ryun waiting for him, both standing near the open exit of the Hell Express.Walking over to join the duo, Vahn habitually stroked their heads as he gazed down at the vast sea of blood below. He found it strangely discomforting to consider that several thousand kilometers of the 43rd Floor were dominated by the corpse of a single monstrous entity, the Floor Guardian killed by Enryu nearly ten-thousand-years ago. Despite this inordinately long period of time, there was still a veritable ocean of blood covering much of the Floor, and, according to Ryun, there was an entire civilization living 'within' the Guardian's corpse...Seemingly sensing his thoughts, Ryun joined him in looking down at the sea of blood, saying, "We will need to jump from here. Though the Guardian has been dead for millennia, its cardiovascular system and several of its organs are still functional to this day. The only way to reach the true Floor of Death is by riding the currents contained within the Sea of Blood. Don't worry. Despite its name, the Sea of Blood is actually comprised entirely of Shinsu. Even if we get stuck in current for several hours, we won't have to worry about suffocating or anything like that..."Though the idea of breathing in the Guardian's 'blood' was a little disconcerting, Vahn just nodded his head in response to Ryun's words before stepping out of the Hell Express and diving head-first towards the vast sea of energy below. Fenrir and Ryun immediately followed suit, bodies shrouded in vibrant blue and scarlet auras that allowed them to descend into the blood-colored sea without producing a splash.As Ryun had stated, the interior of the Sea of Blood wasn't simply breathable, it was almost like an oxygen-rich environment. Those entering within would feel extremely invigorated, and, so long as they could resist the powerful current and ever-increasing pressure, it was possible to strengthen both your body and reserves simply by staying immersed.Unfortunately, unless they were an Irregular or possessed a special ignition weapon, specifically the Thorn, even the most powerful High Rankers wouldn't be able to stay within the Sea of Blood for long. The peculiar red Shinsu was actually the internal reserves of the Guardian, so, unless they had the ability to manipulate the internal energy of a continental sized creature, using any Shinsu-related abilities within the Sea of Blood was simply impossible. Even Vahn was no exception to this, but, unlike the vast majority of people, he had a functionally unlimited amount of energy to make use of within his body.Thanks to their internal reserves, Vahn, Fenrir, and even Ryun could move about freely within the Sea of Blood. They were not wholly dependent on the Shinsu within the Tower, and, had she been present, even Yuri would have been able to fly around thanks to her elementary mastery of Ki. This was the true benefit of being an Irregular, as, unlike the residents of the Tower, those born outside were aware of the existence of various other forms of energy. Thus, even without Shinsu, they were able to continue fighting, and, in some situations, there were some who became far more powerful in its absence...---With Ryun guiding the way, Vahn and Co were able to avoid most of the hazards that generally prevented outsiders from entering the Floor of Death. This included many parasitic organisms, Gatekeepers, and a number of other strange, often immortal, creatures that called the Guardian's corpse their home.Though it wasn't particularly well-known, largely due to the fact that even those aware of the truth were unable to disclose it, the Elder of the Red Witches had contracted with Enryu to ensure that the prophecy regarding Jahad's death was brought to fruition. Because of this, the 43rd Floor had become an important pilgrimage site for the Red Witches, and, thanks to Enryu's influence, it was one of the few places in the Tower where even Jahad dared not venture. After all, the contract that guaranteed the immortality of Jahad and the Ten Great Warriors was just that, a contract. With the death of the Floor Guardian, the 43rd Floor was one of the few regions in the Tower where Jahad's Immortality simply didn't function.As one of the daughters of the Red Witch Elder, effectively making her a Princess of the Red Witch Tribe, Ryun was one of the few people that knew about the contract with Enryu. He had promised to free them from the Tower and create an endless number of new and interesting paths for them to view. Thus, for the last several millennia, the Red Witches had worked closely with FUG and it's constituents, patiently awaiting the day when the 'way forward' would be opened.Were it not for Vahn's unexpected arrival, Ryun would have given up everything, including her own life, in order to allow Baam to kill Jahad. Fortunately, this was no longer necessary, as, even without defeating Jahad, the way forward would be open. It was for this reason that she worshiped Vahn to such extremes, as, rather than devoting herself a prophecy that required countless sacrifices, it was a lot more assuring to follow a God that took matters into his own, inordinately pleasant, hands...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn be like, "Stay with Aunty Ureko. I'm gonna go out for a smoke..."','The Guardians are some big bois...','Ah, yes, the most pleasant of hands (O w O)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Following Ryun's lead, it wasn't long before Vahn and Co reached the outskirts of a rather pungent region known as Gallstone Village.As the name made readily apparent, Gallstone Village was just that, a village located inside of a large, mountain-sized, gallstone. It was half-embedded in a ceiling formed from the flesh of the Guardian, and, though most of the region had dried up by now, there were still areas of moisture and an incredibly foul-smelling aroma permeating the atmosphere.Pausing at the base of a snaking set of stairs, formed from a series of stones that had been piled up to facilitate access to Gallstone Village, Ryun pressed a small indentation, saying, "Though it should be impossible for an outsider to reach this location without the support of a Guide, we have taken a number of precautions to ensure the secrets of the Red Witches remain as such. If you attempted to ascend the stairs without pressing these indentations in a specific pattern, the entire stairway would collapse. In the worst-case scenario, the village itself can be dropped on foes, crushing them before penultimately exploding."Imagining the massive gallstone dropping on his head, a wry smile spread across Vahn's face as he considered whether or not he would be able to lift the entire thing. He knew it should be possible, but, even to this day, he didn't really have any feats to demonstrate his lifting strength. All he knew for certain was that he could lift several million kilograms even before his ascent to Tier 5. Now, so long as he 'needed' to, he should be able to lift any amount of weight so long as he was given the time to adjust his mental state...Noticing the thoughtful glimmer in her Master's eyes, Ryun fell silent as she stood next to Fenrir at the base of the stairs. They had become accustomed to their Master's introspective nature, so, with 'knowing' smiles on their faces, they patiently awaited his return to reality with their tails wagging rhythmically behind them.Sensing the sudden emergence of an unfamiliar presence, Vahn immediately snapped out of his reverie while performing a grabbing motion at the air. This was followed by a girlish exclamation as a rather petite yet well-endowed redhead, garbed in a black vest, grey undershirt, dark-grey skirt, and black jackboots appeared out of thin air.Recognizing the obvious similarities between the woman and Ryun, Vahn allowed her to stand of her own volition as his own redheaded companion asked, "What are you doing here, Ai? Where is Soo Min?"Hearing the familiar voice, Ai, who had promptly plopped to the ground following Vahn's release, jumped up with a start as she excitedly exclaimed, "Hwa Ryun? Is that really you!?"With the petite Ai approaching like a starstruck fan preparing to tackle their idol, Ryun returned the woman to her senses with a crisp smack to the face, stunning everyone present as she said, "I asked you a question. Explain the situation."Though she had briefly fallen into a stupor, mouth agape with her hand tentatively touching the area where Ryun had smacked her, Ai recovered shortly thereafter, revealing in a melancholic tone, "Soo Min has been killed..."Frowning deeply in response to the sudden revelation, Ryun's ears flattened aggressively atop her head as she grabbed Ai's shoulders and said, "Tell me everything." in a threatening tone.Though she wanted to inquire about the fluffy ears atop her senior's head, Ai nodded furiously in response to Ryun's threatening tone, explaining, "She was caught and tortured to death by a man named Hell Joe. He wanted to use her to locate the fragments of the Thorn. He refused to believe that her powers didn't function on the Floor of Death so she ended up dying before her time..."With each word spoken, Ryun's expression became progressively darker as the atmosphere around her become agitated. The thought of someone torturing her kin to death was already bad enough, but, far worse than that, Soo Min wasn't meant to die on the Floor of Death. This implied that Hell Joe was acting in defiance of fate, and, while this wasn't necessarily a bad thing, the actions he had taken were unacceptable. Most Red Witches lived their entire lives knowing when, where, and how they were going to die so it was impossible to imagine how terrified Soo Min must have been upon realizing that her path had been severed...Liberating Ryun from her downward spiral, Vahn placed his hand atop her head, gently caressing her silky-smooth hair as he promised, "We will make him pay."Following an affirmative nod, Ryun threw her arms around Vahn's body, face buried in his chest as she allowed him to hold and console her. This surprised Ai quite a bit, but, rather than remark on the peculiarities of the situation, she awkwardly inched closer to Fenrir to ask a few questions...---Though he had already made up his mind on the matter, Vahn's anger towards Hell Joe increased to an extreme when he saw the state of Soo Min's body. Ryun had asked him to take a look at the woman, and, if possible, she wanted him to revive her. Unfortunately, Soo Min's spirit had already departed her body. Hell Joe had consumed the energy comprising her Ego, and, to make matters even worse, her vitality had been depleted to the point that her scar-covered body was in a state bordering on mummification, her expression perpetually fixed in a mask of horror...In the end, the most Vahn could do for Ryun and Ai was restore the condition of Soo Min's body so that those performing future pilgrimages wouldn't have to witness the travesty wrought by Hell Joe's depravity. Any further treatment would depend on whether or not they were able to acquire Soo Min's Ego, but, considering the circumstances, the most likely outcome was that Hell Joe had assimilated it into himself in much the same way as White. Still, he wasn't just going to give up, so, following the treatment, Vahn learned more about the situation from Ai before the four of them made their way to a region in the Floor of Death known as South City.Contrary to the name, South City was more of a wasteland than anything else. The few residents that were present resembled emaciated corpses with sunken features, ghostly complexions, and soulless eyes. This wasn't a complete exaggeration either, as, in exchange for eternal life, nearly every resident of the Floor of Death had their 'Souls' removed by an Artifact known as the Soul-Stirring Ladle.As the name implied, the Soul-Stirring Ladle was, quite literally, a spoon with the power to scoop up a person's 'soul'. More specifically, it was enchanted with a powerful spell that allowed it to separate a person's spiritual body from their physical form.Under normal circumstances, the Ego would generally accompany the spiritual body as the two were intrinsically related to each other. Here on the Floor of Death, however, there seemed to be a spell in place that bound the Ego to the physical body, effectively making its residents immortal so long as they never left.Though some might consider eternal life a boon, only an absolute fool would consider separating the spiritual body from the physical form to be a viable solution to finality. The spiritual body was the very foundation upon which the Ego was built. Though it was possible to infuse the energy of a person's Ego into a physical object, it would quickly lose its stability unless the material used was spiritual in nature.Even under the most ideal of circumstances, it was only a matter of time before the Ego began to fracture and dissipate due to the lack of a spiritual body to serve as a proper container. This might not result in death, but, in a way, it was far worse as you would gradually lose all emotions before penultimately losing your sense of self. In the end, the best-case scenario was becoming a husk of your former self that clung to life without a sense of purpose. The more likely outcome, however, was becoming an entity that consumed the vital energies and essence of other living creatures in a vain attempt to compensate for what you had lost...Seemingly understanding this flaw, the rulers of the Floor of Death had implemented policies that prevented residents from leaving. Anyone entering would also be required to give up their 'souls', not just for the sake of leverage, but to prevent the residents within from attacking.Though the average resident of the Floor of Death was rather weak, their immortality made them extremely difficult to deal with. They also possessed a unique sensitivity to any living creature with a spiritual body, so, unless you were outrageously powerful, it was only a matter of time before the residents within swarmed you like an undead horde. This would gradually result in the degradation of their mental states, so, with very few exceptions, nothing with a 'soul' was allowed to enter the Floor of Death.Not caring about this restriction in the slightest, Vahn walked through South City with a bundle of Talismans known as Bujeok in his hand. They were derived from a unique branch of mysticism that allowed monks to seal, and, under certain circumstances, control the dead. Since the residents of South City were effectively 'undead', the peculiar paper talismans could be used to completely seal their movements by simply attaching them to the forehead. Even the most powerful among them were not spared this fate, as, rather than simple ink, each of the Bujeok wielded by Vahn had been inscribed using his blood as a catalyst.Long before he had reached Tier 5, Vahn already had a unique constitution. Even Da Vinci, despite hundreds of years and countless hours of research, had failed to make any substantial progress in understanding the peculiarities of his blood. Instead, it became progressively more mysterious the more she researched it. As a result, even the most simple Talismans inscribed using his blood were graded as B-Rank items, and, depending on the amount of effort put into them, they were capable of reaching much higher ranks.Though it was a little overkill, each of the Bujeok in Vahn's hand were, on average, A-Rank Sealing Talismans. They could, quite literally, be used to seal away lesser Tier 4 beings, so, while there were a number of strong residents among the undead of South City, each was immobilized the moment his Talismans came into contact with their foreheads. To make the situation even more one-sided, Vahn could manipulate said Talismans at relativistic speeds and teleport them directly through his domain. Thus, rather than inviting a horde to pester them, the group of four moved freely through South City until they reached a massive tower known as the Red Fortress...Not expecting Vahn to be so 'tyrannical', Ai found herself at a complete loss as she witnessed him deal with Hell Joe's supposedly powerful guards with a simple flick of his wrist. Earlier on, she had tried to give him advice on avoiding a direct confrontation, as, from her perspective, Hell Joe was not a foe just anyone could defeat. Now, she felt like a fool who had tried to caution a God against stepping on an ant nest. To make matters even worse, Ryun and Fenrir would send overtly teasing and borderline haughty looks her way, neither showing any signs of perturbation as they followed obediently behind the ridiculously 'efficient' Irregular.Fortunately, while his expression remained absolutely calm, Vahn had never been lacking in regard to sensory capabilities. As a result, they stopped just short of entering the Red Fortress, his voice a calm and steady baritone as he said, "This foe is a little on the dangerous side. His aura is the same as the presence lingering within the corpse of the Guardian. For now, it would put my mind at ease if the three of you retired to the Little Garden. Don't worry. I'm not going to kill him before you've had a chance to ask your questions."With the final few words directed toward her, Ryun nodded her head in understanding before planting a surprise kiss on his cheek and whispering, "Thank you..." in a sincere yet slightly heated tone. She was happy just being able to follow the same path as him, so, with Vahn often going out of his way to help resolve personal problems, Ryun couldn't help but grow increasingly infatuated with him. He also treated her with far more care and affection than she ever expected, so, while it earned her an incredulous look from Ai, she wasn't shy when it came to nuzzling against his chest with a smile on her face.Chuckling in response to Ryun's affectionate display, Vahn habitually wrapped his hand around her waist before planting a kiss atop her head and lightly musing, "There is no need to thank me. After all, you've been a very good girl as of late..."Recognizing the familiar term, an amused chuckle emanated from Ryun's throat as Fenrir, keying in on the phrase, nodded her head in affirmation before crossing her arms and saying, "See? What did I tell you? So long as you're a good girl, Master will always treat you well~!"Though it earned them all an increasingly incredulous look from Ai, both Vahn and Ryun couldn't help but laugh in response to Fenrir's proud statement. This was joined by the latter, and, for the better part of a full minute, the three of them laughed heartily in spite of the dismal atmosphere and the presence of several sealed undead twitching about in the surroundings...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Ryun can be surprisingly harsh...','Talismans inscribed with the blood of a Tier 5 being are OP (O ^ O)...!','I kind of feel bad for Ai xD...https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Having expected matters to escalate from the start, Vahn left his 'main' body safely stowed away aboard the Hell Express. More specifically, a version of himself had been lying beneath the canopy of the World Tree with Mordred nestled next to him. She was still resting after their earlier exertions, a contented smile on her face as the tip of her rather plump tail rhythmically tapped against the ground.Seeing the sleeping face of the rather rambunctious tomboy, the majority of Vahn's frustrations immediately melted away. At the same time, seemingly sensing his return, Mordred's eyelids began to flitter, aquamarine eyes not all that dissimilar to his own coming into view before a natural smile spread across her face as she asked, "Did you kick their asses?"Chuckling in response to the rather brash inquiry, Vahn pulled Modred a little closer to him, hand snaking around her waist as he answered, "Though I'm not too surprised, it seems the Empire has some good people serving as its pillars. I met a woman who is equally as obstinate as you and your mother. She was willing to sacrifice everything just to sow doubts in my heart so I couldn't bring myself to kill her...are you disappointed?"Though she couldn't help but adopt a look of consternation, Mordred ultimately shook her head in response to his question, saying, "No. That sounds exactly like something you would do. You've never been the type to simply 'settle' things using your power. Besides, if she is anything like me, I doubt she would consider this a victory. If it were me, I would spare no efforts to track you down and settle things once and for all..."Understanding the truth contained within Mordred's words, a wry smile spread across Vahn's face as he restrained the urge to sigh. Instead, he reclined his head back against the ground, marveling at the canopy of the World Tree until Mordred mounted his lower abdomen, adding, "Unless you intend to take over, you shouldn't concern yourself with the politics of the Tower. Even our Empire isn't perfect, so you should just keep doing whatever you want. You're already fixing some of their problems. You don't need to fix them all..."Punctuating her words, Mordred grabbed the sides of Vahn's face with her surprisingly smooth, scale-backed hands. She had a habit of letting her Dragonic traits run rampant whenever she was excited. As a result, vibrant red scales sprouted across several parts of her body as the interior of her chest, similar to a forge, began to glow with an intense red light that pulsated with the beating of her heart.Realizing he had more pressing matters to attend, a light chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat as he shelved any thoughts related to Adori and her convictions. He had already promised to dote on Mordred for the better part of three months, so, rather than distract himself with things that were largely unrelated to him, pampering his Princess took precedence...---Several days after her battle with Vahn, Adori, now outfitted a mechanical left arm that served as a permanent reminder of her failure, stood before a number of kneeling individuals with animalistic features. These were the Rankers formerly responsible for the Name Hunt Station, so, as could be expected, the majority had greyish-white hair while some, specifically those with more dominant bloodlines, possessed rounded ears and spotted, bushy, tails.Had he been present, Vahn would have recognized the woman kneeling at the front of the group as the beauty he had eyed prior to his battle with Adori, Hagipherione, and Maschenny. Unlike the rest of her kin, she gave off a gentle and approachable aura, but, were to look into her eyes for an extended period of time, those with weaker wills would be overcome by the impression they were a tiny mouse in front of a cat.Wearing a perpetual smile on her face, the woman, representing the Snow Leopard Family as one of its Elders, calmly asserted, "Our actions within the Name Hunt Station were authorized by Lord Lo Po Bia and sanctioned by the Jahad Empire. We also coordinated with the Ten Families to reach an accord regarding how the station should be managed. Though I cannot deny there were some mishaps over the years, the actions of the Sage Dragon Emperor were clearly an act of aggression against the Lo Po Bia Family. We did nothing to overtly ant-"Interrupting before the woman could finish speaking, Adori manifested a large light display, her voice cold and unamused as she said, "These are Pocket logs provided by a reliable source. They have also been cross-referenced and verified by the Workshop. According to these records, your people ordered the then-ruler of the Name Hunt Station, Lo Po Bia Elaine, to attack and capture the Sage Dragon Emperor. You even requested the support of two Princesses of Jahad, effectively treating the 'Swords of the Empire' as tools for your own convenience. Afterward, you attempted to illegally commandeer the Hell Express, disregarding the laws we have protected for more than ten-thousand-years. To make matters even worse, you filed a false report in an attempt to avoid fault and shift the blame elsewhere. As a result, the Empire might have gained an enemy on the level of Ureko, endangering countless lives. What say you in your defense?"Though her expression didn't change in the slightest, the woman, better known as Lo Po Bia Pram, shifted her gaze to a masked man with the characteristic grey hair of the Snow Leopard Family but ears reminiscent of a human's. He, Lo Po Bia Porp, was the representative she had left in charge of the Name Hunt Station, and, were it not for the current situation, she would have killed him on the spot for inviting this calamity upon them.Returning her gaze to Adori, Pram adopted an uncharacteristically serious tone as she said, "There are none among the Ten Great Families who are as loyal to the Empire as the Lo Po Bia Family. We of the Snow Leopard Family have dedicated more than sixty percent of our Rankers to the service of the Empire. I will not deny our fault in this matter. I ask only that you take into consideration our many years of loyal service..."Furrowing her brows almost imperceptibly in response to Pram's words, Adori remained silent for several seconds before saying, "Those directly responsible for this matter will not be able to avoid punishment. The Snow Leopard Family as a whole, however, will not be held accountable. Lord Lo Po Bia has already been informed of this matter and interceded on your behalf. You, High Ranker Pram, have been appointed the task of locating the Sage Dragon Emperor and making amends for this situation. As for you, Ranker Porp, you will be made to answer for the various crimes you have perpetrated over the last eight-hundred-years. If you attempt to avoid punishment by taking your own life, your wives, sons, and daughters will be held accountable on your behalf..."Though he was already kneeling low, Porp nearly collapsed when he heard Adori's judgment. In the end, however, he managed to hold himself steady, his voice quivering ever-so-slightly as he lowered his head even further and said, "I understand and accept full responsibility for my crimes. No matter what punishment awaits, I will meet it with the dignity expected from a member of the Ten Great Families..."With no other options, Porp knew the best course of action was simply to embrace everything that was thrown at him. Any form of resistance promised unimaginable suffering, so, in the pursuit of a quick death, acceptance was the only path available to him. He was also hoping to relieve some of the Elder's anger, as, better than most, he knew how terrifying she could be. If he made a scene or showed even a trace of hesitation, it would be a mercy if his wives and children fell into the hands of the Empire...Nodding her head approvingly in response to Porp's acquiescence, Pram motioned for the rest of her people to rise before meeting Adori's gaze and asking, "What is the Empire's official stance on the Sage Dragon Emperor? It would also help to know where he is headed. Since you have been in contact with the Workshop, I imagine you have some idea of his destination."Since Pram's mission was a matter related to the Lo Po Bia Family, not the Empire, Adori refused to comment on what they had learned of Vahn's intentions. She did, however, explain, "My father has issued a gag order encompassing all things related to the Sage Dragon Emperor. Unless the latter goes out of his way to antagonize the Empire, our official stance is that he simply doesn't exist. All matters between the Ten Great Families and the Sage Dragon Emperor will be regarded as private affairs from this moment onward. If your Family continues to antagonize him over matters related to your own internal corruption, don't expect the Empire to bail you out..."Losing her smile for the first time since her arrival, Pram demonstrated her considerable shock by widening her eyes, mouth agape for several seconds before she asked, "Are you saying that man is as already viewed in the same light as Ureko? I know he is very powerful, but he seemed to be at a distinct disadvantage during your previous encounter..."With Pram's eyes momentarily shifting to her prosthetic arm, Adori's expression clouded as she balled her hand into a fist and asserted, "That man is far more dangerous than Ureko. He is only a Regular yet he is already capable of fending off the attacks of a Top 10 High Ranker. By the time he reaches the top of the Tower, his power will have grown to such extreme that only my Father and the Ten Great Warriors could reasonably stand against him. To that end, it has been decided that the best course of action is peaceful coexistence. So long as the Sage Dragon Emperor does not openly side with our enemies, our public stance is that all rumors concerning his existence are exaggerated propaganda..."Hardly able to believe what she was hearing, Pram fell silent for several seconds following Adori's explanation. Then, as if a switch had been flipped in the most primal region of her mind, a potent heat spread through her body as she recalled Vahn glancing her way prior to his battle against the three Princesses. She hadn't thought much of it at the time, but, in retrospect, she was pretty sure he had been eyeing her ears and tail...Realizing why she had been given the task of seeking out and making amends with Vahn, the smile returned to Pram's face as she offered a courteous bow, softly musing, "Thank you for the detailed explanation, Princess. It has been very...enlightening..."Noticing the males around Pram beginning to fidget nervously, a cold glint flashed across Adori's eyes as she said, "You and your people are dismissed. Leave."Giggling despite Adori's rather terse dismissal, Pram smoothly spun around on her heels, her thick tail following after her, snaking in a naturally seductive manner. This caused many of the people in her entourage to swallow audibly, but, with her sights set on a far greater prize, Pram completely ignored them as her pace steadily increased.Following the group's departure with her eyes, Adori's brows noticeably furrowed as she realized that even Porp, despite the fact he was still kneeling on the ground, had twisted his neck to follow Pram's departure. She could even hear the sound of his labored breathing, and, though it was very subtle, an unpleasant musk had started to permeate through the command room.Snorting through her nose, Adori gestured to her Royal Guards with her mechanical arm, ordering, "Place this man in a holding cell. Once we have returned to Base, make sure he is escorted to the Torture and Intelligence Division without delay. He is meant to suffer for his crimes. I want to know the full breadth of his transgressions against the Empire."Hearing Adori's words, Porp's expression, hidden behind his mask, became one of stupefaction as two members of the Royal Guards promptly seized him by the arms. He didn't know what he had done to offend the Princess, but, based on the cold gleam in her eyes, she clearly viewed him in an antagonistic light. This realization caused him to briefly shift his gaze to her mechanical arm, a cold shiver running through his body as he realized that death was something he could only pray for at this point...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Pampering a Princess (O w O)...','The Empire be like, "Don't go digging your own grave and expecting us to lower a ladder..."','Pram on the prowl...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1895: Matters of Life and Death