Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Descending to the center of a vast crater filled with fragmented data and error messages, Vahn found a one-armed, severely injured, Eduan staring up at the sky with a wry smile on his face. He looked like he had experienced an apocalypse on his body, and, though he was still alive, he was almost unrecognizable from his former, inordinately handsome, self.Noticing Vahn's presence, Eduan somehow managed to sit up even as parts of his data-comprised flesh flaked away. Then, in a raspy voice tinged with amusement, he asked, "Are you satisfied now?"Shrugging his shoulders halfheartedly, Vahn decided to return Eduan's question, asking, "Are you?"With a pained laugh escaping his throat, Eduan, somewhat surprisingly, shook his head, saying, "If you think this is a beating, you should try teasing Yura during her period. That woman makes your little posse of monsters seem tame in comparison..."Though he was unamused by Eduan referring to his Zanpakuto as monsters, Vahn couldn't exactly blame him for the label. If he had been beaten down by a small army of excessively violent children, he would probably disdain and loathe whoever had given the order. Eduan, however, didn't seem to particularly care, his expression showing more curiosity than anything else as he experimented with puppeteering his severely charred left arm.Restraining a sigh, Vahn had Sis initiate an isolated version of the reconstruction program that was typically reserved for after visitors had departed. As a result, Eduan's body was fully restored in an instant, brows raising as he asked, "How are you able to access the Hidden Floor's functions? Even Jahad and I don't have this level of control and we're basically system administrators...who, exactly, are you?"Noticing the build-up of electricity around Eduan's body, Vahn couldn't help but adopt a deadpan as he asked, "Seriously? I get that you're a battle junky, but come on..."Smiling in response to Vahn's words, Eduan balled the hand of his now-restored right arm into a fist as he said, "I've never been the type to concern myself with things like the past and future. Besides, you weren't the one to defeat me. Don't tell me you intend to steal credit just because you created them? Even I'm not 'that' brazen..."Understanding that Eduan's behavior was derived from an incomprehensible feeling of boredom, Vahn resisted the urge to bury his fist into the man's face as he said, "If you're willing to abide a few ground rules, I can free you from this place. I imagine the thought of fighting and defeating the real you is pretty tantalizing."Though lightning continued to build around him, Eduan adopted an uncharacteristically serious expression as he scrutinized Vahn's face for falsehoods. Truth be told, the only thing preventing him from offing himself thousands of years ago was his desire to undermine whatever schemes the real Jahad had cooked up. He disdained what Jahad had become on the outside, and, though they had always been at odds with each other, he still considered the man a friend...one who had deviated far from the path they had once walked together...With the lightning around his body gradually weakening, a tired sigh escaped Eduan's throat as he crossed his arms and asked, "What are these 'conditions' you speak of? How do I know I won't just become your puppet after accepting your terms?"Emulating Eduan's action of crossing his arms, Vahn adopted a taunting smile as he noted, "You ask a lot of questions for someone who doesn't concern themself with things like the past and future..."Clicking his tongue, the amount of lightning flickering across Eduan's body began to increase as he said, "You're right. Guess that means I have no choice but to refuse your offer. It's a shame, really. I was honestly looking forward to seeing what lays in the higher floors with my own eyes..."Understanding that Eduan wasn't putting on airs, an exasperated sigh escaped Vahn's throat as he shook his head and said, "I see now why you've managed to persist this long. You are unbelievably obstinate..."Rather than refute the claim, a smile spread across Eduan's face as he nodded and said, "It really is one of my better traits. Besides, based on your behavior thus far, it's pretty obvious you're more of a hardass than I am. I'd wager my existence that you don't have many friends. Instead, you probably surround yourself with women. We're a lot alike in that regard."Frowning in response to Eduan's words, Vahn nearly fell into his habit of reflecting upon everything people said about him. Fortunately, before he was able to, Sis adopted a gentle chiding tone as she said, (*Even when there are parallels between people, the motivations behind their actions and their personal thoughts on any given matter can be radically different. Everyone walks their own path.*)Agreeing with this sentiment, Vahn's expression gradually relaxed as he met Eduan's gaze and said, "It is foolish to make such comparisons. Regardless of the number of parallels between two people, there would be a functionally infinite number of differences between them. The only person we can ever truly know is ourselves. Now, before you make the mistake of burning the final bridge between us, I'll give you one last chance to consider my proposal. Just know that, in the end, you're choosing between suffering one final defeat and the chance to battle against countless powerful foes..."Though he wasn't quite sure what had changed, Eduan found the current Vahn even more annoying than before. He had always hated people with aloof personalities, as, even if it wasn't their aim, they gave off the impression of arrogant and entitled assholes who looked down on everything. To make matters even worse, he had nothing to leverage against the current circumstances. His only options were to either accept or refuse, as, based on Vahn's actions thus far, he hadn't come here with the intention of winning any favors...With a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Eduan couldn't resist the urge to say, "I really hate you right now..."Shrugging in response to the comment, a relaxed smile spread across Vahn's face as he asked, "So? You aren't the first and you sure as hell won't be the last. Now, stop beating around the bush. You might have gotten used to lazing about for centuries at a time, but I have better things to do than idle around here."Clicking his tongue for the second time, Eduan threw his hands up in an exasperated manner as he exclaimed, "As if I have a choice! Jeez, you're even more annoying than that bastard, Gustang! Why can't we just fight a few rounds before talking about all this complicated shit!? I swear! You're going to give me a fucking aneurysm!"Rolling his eyes in response to Eduan's complaints, the version of himself idling about in the Little Garden passed on a message to Urahara as his external counterpart replied, "At least you'll have a body to accommodate you. For now, let us return to your abode. There are a few things we need to discuss and I imagine your son and daughter have already awoken."With his brow twitching angrily, Eduan fought hard against the urge to give Vahn the middle finger and telling him to fuck off. There were few things he hated more than being told what to do, so, if Vahn expected him to become a lackey, there was no way their 'partnership' could continue.Recognizing the look in Eduan's eyes, Vahn adopted a somewhat amused smile as he said, "Though there are a few provisions I expect you to follow, you don't have to worry about serving under me. I might be fond of snakes, but that doesn't mean I would invite an untamed viper to live in my home. Once we get out of here, you'll be free to move about the Tower at your leisure. What you do from then onwards is entirely up to you."Though he found it difficult to accept Vahn's words at face value, Eduan ultimately waved his hand through the air to manifest the portal-like mirror that allowed him to move about freely within the Hidden Floor. Before either of them could step through, however, two figures emerged from within, one beelining towards Vahn while the other gawked at the surrounding devastation.With a wry smile returning to his face, Vahn grabbed the tip of Maschenny's lance-like spear with his left hand while performing a chopping motion with his right. This caused her body to tense up, not because she was afraid, but because her past experiences had taught her it was impossible to evade. Fortunately, what awaited her wasn't a painful chop. Instead, Vahn plopped his hand rather unceremoniously atop her head, roughly ruffling her hair as he mused, "I'm a little above your pay grade, kiddo. Sorry."Confused by the comforting sensation washing over her, Maschenny lifted her head to stare directly at Vahn before saying, "Are you a lolicon...?"Momentarily freezing in place, Vahn's smile became notably cramped as he retracted his hand from Maschenny's head and remarked, "If your attacks were half as sharp as your tongue, you might be able to deal some actual damage..."Despite being 162cm tall, Maschenny managed to give off the impression of an excessively spoiled middle-schooler as her expression morphed into an indignant and somewhat adorable pout. Before she could lash out, however, a stern voice emanated from behind, saying, "Oi, chibi. Save it for later. That man and I have things to discuss. Don't make me ground you."Hearing the words of her father, Maschenny clicked her tongue before yanking her sword free from Vahn's grasp and saying, "This is far from over. I don't care how powerful you are. Unless you kill me or run away, it is your destiny to die at my hand. If not me, personally, my counterpart outside will finish you off. You will learn why I was the second-youngest person to ever be chosen as a Princess of Jahad...!"Resisting the urge to ruffle the impetuous Princess' hair a second time, Vahn offered a wry smile in response to her threat against his life, revealing, "I've already fought against your counterpart. She was certainly very powerful, but, compared to Adori and Hagipherione, she still has a very long way to go..."Not expecting to hear such a statement, a look of confusion appeared on Maschenny's face as she instinctually replied, "You're lying. My counterpart outside should be one of the most powerful High Rankers in the Tower. There's no way she would be defeated by someone like you. Do you think I'm an idiot?"Rather than Vahn answering, it was Eduan who said, "You are an idiot if you think being a Princess of Jahad guarantees you will become strong. Though he might have used an indirect method, this asshole was able to defeat me without having to move from his starting position. I don't know how powerful Rankers and High Rankers are supposed to be, but I can guarantee they wouldn't be able to pull off a similar feat. There is a difference between pride and petulance, Chenny. Looking like a brat doesn't give you the right to act like one."Hearing her father's admonishing words, both Maschenny and her brother Asensio, known best as the Spear Master, found themselves at a complete loss for words. They had never once considered that their father had lost the fight, as, despite being incomparably weaker than his true self, he was still a transcendental existence. They couldn't imagine him losing to anyone other than himself and the other Family Leaders, so, hearing him nonchalantly admit Vahn had won the fight left them both feeling as though they had stumbled into an alternate reality.Annoyed by the duo's gawking, Eduan snorted loudly before half-stepping through his mirror and remarking, "You're both grounded..." as his figure disappeared into the reflective surface...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Eduan and Vahn are both pretty petulant...','I can imagine a -1 appearing above Vahn's head in response to Maschenny's words xD...','RIP')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Following a lengthy discussion regarding the nature of the Tower and Vahn's plans for the duration of his stay, Eduan ended up falling silent for several minutes. During this period, he emptied nearly half the contents of a 40oz wine vase as his children, specifically Maschenny, Asensio, and a peculiar individual named Icardi, sat silently around a banquet table.After finally organizing his thoughts, an uncharacteristically tired sigh escaped Eduan's throat as he muttered, "Who could have imagined that the Tower meant to choose a God was actually just a trial for reincarnation? Headon...that bunny-eared bastard lied to us..."Though Eduan's words weren't intended for anyone, in particular, Vahn decided to chime in, saying, "That isn't exactly true. As counterintuitive as it might seem, reincarnation into a higher dimensional plane with your memories intact is one of the most expedient methods to becoming what you refer to as a 'True God'. Trying to obtain that level of power in a lower Realm is borderline impossible, as, without stabilizing and strengthening the plane you inhabit, you risk destroying everything in your pursuit of power. Don't get me wrong. I'm not exactly a fan of the current system. However, without it, the path towards godhood, and even higher realms of power, would be closed off to anyone who wasn't 'chosen'..."Nodding his head lazily in response, Eduan emptied another glass of wine before setting the vase aside and asking, "How do you know of all this? Have you ever actually been to these higher realms you speak of?"Shaking his head, Vahn adopted a slightly serious expression as he said, "I'm not obligated to reveal the source of my knowledge. The only reason I revealed these truths to you is to better prepare you for the future. The Tower is bound to be in an uproar the moment you appear outside. At least now you have an idea of what it is you're fighting for."Raising his cup as if to issue a toast, Eduan adopted a somewhat sardonic expression on his face as he said, "Indeed. The question then becomes...what are you fighting for? Don't tell me you're doing all of this in the spirit of selfless magnanimity. I might not be the most learned person in the world, but the one unquestionable truth I have ascertained over the years is that those who play at being selfless and righteous are often the most selfish of us all..."Adopting an amused smile, Vahn elected to raise his own glass, his eyes glowing in the low light of the room as he said, "I fight because I choose to. I don't pretend to be selfless, nor do I care about becoming a hero. The only things I care about are protecting my family and doing what I believe to be right. If there is one truth I have learned throughout my years...it would be that those who 'need' a reason to act are often looking to avoid some form of responsibility. I no longer have any interest in such things. The only people who can hold me accountable are those I have given that right. I am free."Surprised by the resolve contained within Vahn's declaration, Eduan found himself at a momentary loss for words. In the end, however, he couldn't help but shake his head, a satiric smile developing across his face as he lowered his glass and remarked, "How irresponsible...though, I do suppose that is how it has always been, hasn't it? The truly powerful can only be held accountable by themselves and the people they have given power over them...ahahahahaha~"Seeing their father enter a laughing fit, Asensio and the masked Icardi couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable. Maschenny, however, had been listening closely since the start of the conversation, her eyes radiating a shimmering blue glow as she quietly repeated, "The truly powerful can only be held accountable by themselves..."Not missing Maschenny's musings, Eduan's laughter promptly ceased as both he and Vahn shifted their attention to the pale-haired Princess. This would have caused the average person to avert their eyes, but, demonstrating she was anything but, Maschenny adopted a resolute look of her own as she said, "I wish to leave this place, conquer the Tower, and venture to the realms beyond. Even if it means selling my soul to a demon, I will see for myself what lies beyond. Tell me. What do I need to do in order to receive your power?"With Maschenny directing her gaze towards him, Vahn couldn't help but frown as he asserted, "I'm not a demon..."Furrowing her brows, Maschenny crossed her arms somewhat defiantly as she asked, "Does it really matter? Based on the differences in mine and Asensio's treatment, you clearly have some kind of intentions towards me. Either that or you're the kind of pretentious pig who can't bring themselves to hit a girl. Since you claim to have fought against my true self, however, I doubt that. That means you sought us out for a specific reason, and, based on your behavior during our fight, that reason is clearly related to me. You either intended to use me against myself or as a way to slap Jahad in the face. Regardless, I'm all in. Tell me what I need to do."Though her words weren't entirely on the mark, Vahn found himself unable to refute Maschenny's claims. This caused the surprisingly sharp Princess to adopt a victorious smile as Eduan, seemingly entertained, began to laugh in an annoyingly boisterous and uninhibited manner.Resisting the urge to throw his half-emptied cup into Eduan's face, Vahn set it off to the side as he met Maschenny's gaze and explained, "I did intend to train you, not specifically to defeat your real self, but to demonstrate how powerful she could have become with proper guidance. What I didn't account for was the fact that your personality was already twisted before you even started climbing the Tower. I'm guessing being born into the Khun Family and being chosen as a Princess of Jahad at such an early age didn't really help..."Seemingly dissatisfied by these words, Maschenny snorted loudly before asking, "So what? It's not like I could have done anything about the circumstances of my birth. Are you going to fault me for making the most of my situation? If I hadn't done my best, those envious of my talent would have readily killed me in order to clear a path for themselves. Don't tell me you're going to change your mind. What, are you afraid that I might stab you in the back or something? I didn't take you for a coward."Understanding that Maschenny was trying to rile him up in an effort to force his hand, a dry laugh emanated from Vahn's throat as he shifted his attention to Eduan and remarked, "See what I mean? This is what happens when you arbitrarily sire children without creating an environment to nourish them. When you get outside, I expect you to set a better example. If you end up walking the same path as your predecessor...well, let's just say I would take it personally..."Since he had personally sired a total of zero children, Eduan couldn't help but roll his eyes as he nonchalantly replied, "Yeah, whatever. It's not like I actually intended to have children. I've had more than enough problems dealing with the brats who came here seeking to prove themselves. Besides, why worry about starting a family of my own when the penultimate goal is reincarnation? I'll worry about shit like that when I get to a higher realm."Detecting no falsehoods in Eduan's words, Vahn nodded his head in approval before returning his attention to the moderately annoyed Maschenny and saying, "What you choose to do after leaving the Hidden Floor is ultimately up to you. If you wish to become stronger, I can certainly provide you with the means to drastically increase your power. However, it will depend almost entirely on your effort and the willingness of others to teach you. If you think power will just be handed to you, you are sorely mistaken..."Tilting her head forward and turning her eyes up in an expression of mild contempt, Maschenny asked, "When did I ever simply ask for power? I'm well aware that there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. I've said since the beginning that I'm willing to do whatever it takes, so you just need to tell me what it is you want. So long as you are more powerful than me, you won't have to worry about me ever betraying you."Hearing Maschenny's words, Vahn was starting to understand how the 'real' her managed to claw her way up to her current position. The only things she genuinely cared about were proving herself and fighting against powerful foes, so, even if it resulted in her inevitable end, she was willing to do whatever it took to ensure there was conflict. She was the type of person who constantly aspired to reach the top, not because she cared about being number one, but because it virtually guaranteed there would always be people looking to dethrone her...Deciding to see for himself how far she was willing to go, Vahn adopted a mask of seriousness as he somberly replied, "Very well then...since you appear to be confident in yourself, I'll make things easy for you. In exchange for the opportunity to become infinitely more powerful, I expect you to behave both adorably and sincere. The more convincing your act and the more sincere your sentiments, the more opportunities I will provide you."Having expected Vahn to force her to become his wife, concubine, or sex slave, Maschenny believed she had already prepared herself for the worst. When she heard his conditions, however, her mental faculties promptly slowed to a crawl as she mechanically inquired, "You expect me...to act cute?"Amused by Maschenny's reaction, a teasing smile developed across Vahn's face as he asked, "What? You can sell your soul to a demon, but acting cute is too difficult? It's no wonder your real self walks around wearing a t-back. You're surprisingly stuck up, aren't you?"Rebooting in response to Vahn's teasing remark, Maschenny adopted a disconcerted glower as she asked, "What's wrong with wearing a t-back? I have sensitive skin and other garments cause chafing when I move around quickly. I tried wearing shorts and knickers, but idiots wouldn't shut up about them. Besides, what does that have to do with being stuck up? Don't you think you're being a little unfair by comparing me to someone I haven't even met for nearly a millennia?"Ignoring the implication that the current Maschenny was wearing a t-back, Vahn decided to deflect back to the original topic, remarking, "It seems you'll be experiencing an uphill battle if you want to become stronger than your original self..."Clicking her tongue in response to Vahn's words, Maschenny seemed to enter a state of deep and highly frustrated thought as she leaned back in her chair, arms crossed in a huff. This earned her an amused chuckle from Eduan, who, understanding the conversation was nearing its end, turned his attention to Vahn, saying, "Since you're giving out bodies like candy, there is someone I believe you might be interested in. He is someone who seems to know the true history of the Tower. You might not care, but his knowledge will be useful for those following after you. I'll have Asensio guide you to his location. Once you meet him, you can make your own decision."With the data of Khun Eduan having long gained an Ego of his own, the Law of Identity was able to reveal that the person he was referring to was none other than Yu Hansung, the Test Director of the Floor of Tests. This came as a moderate surprise, but, having already learned of the truths contained within the actual Hansung's mind, Vahn wasn't particularly interested in dealing with another.Recognizing the look in Vahn's eyes, another laugh emanated from Eduan's throat as he remarked, "It seems like there is some bad blood between you and the original. Still, you should at least meet with him. People can change a lot in a single year, much less several hundred. I doubt he has done anything worse than me and my brats. You should give him a chance. Besides, there should be a lot of other data imprisoned in that quarantine area. Who knows, you might even come across the data of a few interesting Regulars? Though I only allow these three to stay here, there should be around twenty or so other members of my family running around. I imagine most of them would be willing to sell their souls if it meant escaping the Hidden Floor. This place gets pretty boring after the first couple of years."Since there was no actual harm in meeting with Yu Hansung and traveling to the quarantine area, Vahn ultimately nodded in response to Eduan's words. At the very least, it was a better plan than simply 'full-clearing' the Hidden Floor in search of the Hidden Hidden Floor's entrance. There was no way someone like Yu Hansung wouldn't know the shortest route to reaching Jahad, as, similar to Rachel, he was someone well acquainted with the history of Arlen, V, and the Tower as a whole.With this in mind, Vahn was prepared to leave when Maschenny suddenly slammed her fists on the table, crocodile tears in her eyes as she exclaimed, "How am I supposed to act cute!? Isn't that kind of thing entirely subjective!? If you want to caress my head that badly, there are more direct ways to go about it...!"Understanding this was Maschenny's attempt to appear both cute yet confrontational, a dry laugh emanated from Vahn's throat as he finished rising to his feet, saying, "I'm sure you'll figure it out. If becoming a God was easy, everyone would be able to do it. If you're legitimately asking for advice, you could practice smiling without appearing like a predator. There is nothing wrong with having a few sadistic inclinations. Displaying them wantonly and letting them dictate your behavior is what causes problems."Clicking her tongue for the umpteenth time, Maschenny fell back into her chair, arms crossed as she, once again, entered a state of thoughtful consideration. This left nearly everyone present with visibly wry smiles on their faces, the only exception being Icardi, who, for a number of reasons, hid his face away behind a mask...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Eduan be like, "Okay then, keep your secrets..."','With great power comes limited accountability...','Imagine Maschenny's reaction to her younger self behaving cutely xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Demonstrating that he wasn't known as one of the Great Warriors without reason, Eduan had little difficulty evading Alpha, the oldest of Laev-tan's sister swords. Unfortunately, he made the mistake of trying to attack Vahn directly, and, though he had taken measures to both protect and enhance his body with Shinsu, contact with the obsidian plates caused the lightning around his fist to fizzle out as the flesh coating his knuckles quickly dissolved.Understanding that any assistance would further incense Eduan, a condescending mask developed across Vahn's face as he explained, "This armor is forged from the Laws of Destruction, Space, and Fire. Without a proper understanding of the Laws at play, your only hope is to use elemental energy that counteracts my armor's properties."Gritting his teeth in response to Vahn's words, Eduan's figure practically vanished in an instant as he stepped backward at the speed of lightning. This allowed him to create a distance of nearly 100km in an instant, his expression showing severity and excitement as he ignored the pain from his hand and began gathering a monumental amount of Shinsu. He was a little concerned about the fact that his hand wasn't healing, but, regardless of the outcome of the battle, he intended to enjoy it to the fullest.Believing that Vahn could easily see him, largely due to the fact that a vibrant beam of red light was already zeroing in on him, Eduan cracked a smile as he said, "Let's see how tough you really are!" as a physical spear of lightning more than 30m in length formed in his left hand. This was an advanced form of Shinsu Control that allowed the user to actualize their Quality, something even the average High Ranker would struggle with. Considering this version of Khun Eduan was technically a D-Rank Regular, it was a demonstration that would have shaken the Tower if he was born in the current era.Flourishing the spear, known throughout the Tower as the 'spear higher than the tallest mountain', Eduan easily deflected the approaching Alpha with little effort. This motion caused the atmosphere for hundreds of meters to instantaneously ionize, and, as a result, massive storm clouds began to gather in the area as tempestuous winds began to devastate the land below.With his body now completely shrouded in lightning, Eduan's electric-blue irises began shifting to an eerie purple hue as he took aim with his spear and monotonously incanted, "Khun Eduan Style Javelin-Throw Skill - Spear Higher Than The Tallest Mountain: Montana Azul...!"As if empowered by his voice, the inordinately long spear began to generate massive bands of blue lightning, almost like a reverse lightning rod. At the same time, the distance between him and Vahn seemed to shrink as Space distorted in a manner that resembled a 'zooming' effect. Then, traveling at a speed that made light seem stagnant, the spear created a rippling black vortex in its wake as it instantaneously impacted Vahn's chest.Though it wasn't the result he desired, Eduan managed to surprise Vahn quite a bit by successfully cracking his breastplate. He had underestimated Eduan's title as the 'God of Spears', and, though it shouldn't have mattered much due to the difference in their understanding, the former's lightning was actually one of the few counters to Laev-tan's effects.Tracing his fingers over the quickly receding cracks, Vahn's mind began to clear up as he recalled that, despite his appearance, this version of Eduan should have been hundreds of years old by the time his data was created. Since then, more than ten-thousand-years had passed, so, while it was impossible for Data Humans to increase their parameters, it provided him with ample opportunity to advance his understanding of various Laws.With all signs of damage having vanished in under three seconds, Vahn lightly pat the area over his heart, not to express relief, but to comfort Laev-tan. She was upset by the fact she had allowed the energy from Eduan's attack to penetrate his body, and, as a result, several sections of her armor had started to glow as her anger continued to rise. This was one of the greatest limitations of his Bankai, as, rather than cutting loose, Vahn had to remain calm and in control just to prevent Laev-tan and her siblings from rampaging...Fortunately, while it placed an absurd burden on his mental and spiritual energies, the volume of Vahn's functionally limitless reserves had effectively increased by more than a hundred times. As a result, his domain expanded to cover more than a hundred kilometers as the potency of his aura increased to the point that most lower-tiered beings couldn't even perceive it. This included Eduan, and, as could be expected, the Hidden Floor itself.Ignoring the sudden error messages that were beginning to appear in the vicinity, Vahn decided to amp things up a bit by extending his right hand. In response, the remaining twenty-three Laevatein-like blades surged forward, each resembling homing missiles as they created long red trails on their path towards the smiling Eduan.Believing he had successfully angered Vahn, Eduan began to dance around the flaming swords with remarkable finesse as dozens of Baangs began to form around him. These ultimately became laser-like beams of lightning-infused Shinsu, each formed with the intent to either destroy or disable one of the Laevatein siblings. Unfortunately for him, they were a little more difficult to deal with than a stationary target, and, though their individual mastery was far from Vahn's, each of the Laevatein's possessed a limited mastery over Sword Laws.Seeing his attacks cut through and deflected, Eduan's smile became noticeably cramped as one of the Laevateinn's, Rho, burned a part of his inordinately long ponytail. He had always taken pride in the appearance and texture of his hair, so, while it wasn't enough to make him completely lose his cool, the spear-like tattoo on his arm emitted a phenomenal amount of lightning as he attempted to grasp Rho's hilt.Though it wasn't one of his better-known traits, Eduan possessed the ability to dominate anything his right hand touched. He rarely made use of it, but, whenever there was something he wanted to possess, be it legendary weapons, artifacts, or even women, there were few things that could stop him from forcibly seizing it. This was largely due to the fact that his right arm was host to one of the most powerful weapons from his former world, a legendary spear said to have once belonged to a tyrannical King of Gods, the 'Origin of Lightning'.Grasping Rho's hilt, Eduan wanted nothing more than to use the blade to pierce Vahn's chest and demonstrate why he should never underestimate his foes. Unfortunately, this was never meant to be, as, the moment he attempted to forcibly seize Rho, a massive rupture appeared along his arm as his meridians literally exploded. This made his arm resemble gristle, and, though it was only a copy of the original, the Origin of Lightning within caused the wound to quickly cauterize as thick bands of uncontrollable lightning devasted both his body and the surroundings.Seeing Eduan effectively self-destruct, Vahn couldn't help but exhale a tired sigh as he shook his head and remarked, "Trying to steal a Zanpakuto produced by the Bankai of a Tier 5...I can't even imagine something more foolish..."Though he hadn't heard Vahn's remark, Eduan wasn't going to simply stand by and let himself be destroyed by his own attack. Instead, he ripped off his own arm without hesitation before surging forward with explosive velocity, effectively teleporting in front of Vahn to use the dismembered and highly destructive limb like a club.Frowning in response to Eduan's frenzied assault, Vahn anchored himself using the surrounding space as the lightning from the former's detached limb danced across his body. This caused the glossy black surface of Laev-tan to rapidly heat up, the exterior turning white-hot as cracks began to form across the thinner plates.Clicking his tongue, Vahn decided this wasn't the time to be obstinate. He was determined to stay in place, but, rather than simply taking a beating, he released an unstoppable pulse of energy from his body, arms spread wide as he called out, "Mjol-chan! Raiko...!"In response to Vahn's call, two hammers, one resembling a comically oversized runestone while the other was indistinguishable from a giant drum, spun rather excitedly towards him. These were his attempts at reproducing the legendary hammer of Thor and the Storm Drums of Raijin, two of the most powerful Gods of Thunder and Lightning to ever exist.Bringing the two together, effectively slamming Mjol-chan into the drumhead of Raiko, Vahn was able to disperse the entirety of Eduan's rampant lightning. Then, as his pride prevented him from moving from his current position, he hurled the 3,000,000kg stone hammer towards Eduan like a meteor before releasing Raiko's white-hot handle and saying, "Seal his lightning." in a decisive yet slightly apologetic tone.As Mjol-chan impacted the ground with enough force to send a shockwave rippling for dozens of kilometers, lightning emanating from Raiko's body quickly took the shape of a young girl with pale blonde hair, elf-like ears, and radiant golden irises. As for her clothes, her outfit consisted of an off-white dress, knee-length purple boots, a red sash that defied gravity, and, as could be expected, a ring adorned with lightning-formed drums. If not for the fact she resembled an eight-year-old, she could have been mistaken for a younger version of Ureko, complete with a vibrant yet excessively violent personality...Grabbing the giant hammer that was her true body, Raiko began to smack it against the air as if the latter had a physical form. Each blow caused the sound reminiscent of a drum infused with thunder to echo for several hundreds of kilometers as the rampant lightning produced by Eduan began to vanish without a trace. Instead, the drums behind Raiko began to glow with an increasingly vibrant light as she absorbed all the lightning elemental energy from the surroundings into herself.Understanding that the others would be upset if he didn't give them the chance to run wild, Vahn allowed his reserves of mental and spiritual energy to drain, a wry smile developing across his face as he said, "Don't kill him. If any of you decide to ignore my warning, expect no maintenance for the next three weeks..."In response to Vahn's words of warning, each of the 138 weapons comprising his Bankai promptly manifested spiritual forms perfectly capable of wielding themselves. Unfortunately, for reasons he simply couldn't fathom, the oldest among them resembled a young girl of around fourteen. As for the rest, they looked like a bunch of elementary and middle-schoolers wielding comically oversized weapons. This was the final and most prominent reason behind his reluctance to use Bankai, as, not only did Laev-tan make him resemble an Evil God, but his ultimate attack was effectively an army of rampaging children...Fortunately, only a small handful of the Little Garden's residents knew the truth, and, while it might cause a few problems in the near future, Vahn didn't care whether or not Eduan's data knew of his secret. This was a good opportunity to let his little rascals run wild, and, in a way, it allowed him to practice observing others and intervening when he considered it necessary. These might not seem like important skills to master, but, if he wished to let others fight alongside him, these two abilities were of paramount importance.Unfortunately for Eduan, he was the first true opponent of the discordant group of 'lolis', so, while they did their best to hold back, their combined assault was comparable to a group of High Rankers toying with their foe. Eduan did his best to fight back, but, with each of the lively spirits possessing immaterial bodies, the majority of his attacks were completely useless. This, combined with the fact that his abilities were effectively sealed by the combined effects of numerous Zanpakutos relegated him to the role of a punching bag for the better part of three hours...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Never look down on a skilled opponent that has lived for tens of thousands of years...','Eduan is pretty feisty...','This might just be the most 'bruh' of moments...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1909: Obstinate