Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though she wasn't the last to finish up her fight, Fenrir's battle lasted a great deal longer than most. As a result, nearly everyone had gathered above the Town of the Wandering Minstrels, not because they didn't want to help, but because it was simply unnecessary.With the average strength of their combatants being near the peak of Tier 4, the absolute pinnacle for the Tower itself, it was nigh-impossible for the Hidden Floor to produce Sworn Enemies capable of contending against imperial forces. The most they could hope to do was draw out the battle, but, with weapons capable of corrupting data, even this was exceedingly difficult. After all, while each of the S.E. Vahn(s) were capable of producing clones of themself, said clones were fundamentally part of the same program. As a result, damaging one did irreversible damage to the program itself, and, after a while, most of the abilities attributed to the Sworn Enemies simply wouldn't function.Noticing the looks of everyone present, Vahn adopted a wry smile as he pushed the auburn-haired girl hiding behind him forward, saying, "Her official naming ceremony will be held a little later, but I'd like everyone to meet Angri(Ahn-gree). She will be joining us as a member of the Emerald Grove in the near future. Though she might be a little unstable in the beginning, it shouldn't take long for her to adapt so long as everyone supports her."Despite standing 7cm shorter than Fenrir, Angri actually stood out quite a bit due to her bright hair color, bronzed skin, and vibrant copper eyes. She had also substituted her risque schoolgirl uniform for a pure white, slightly translucent, sundress. This drew a lot of attention in and of itself, as, due to her skin tone, it was possible to vaguely discern her body through the unblemished fabric.Speaking out before anyone else could find the opportunity, Yoruichi adopted a rather mischievous smile as she asked, "She seems like a little troublemaker. Did you name her after Angrboda? I guess we know who to blame when she causes trouble in the near future."Upset by Yoruichi's words, even if there was a fair amount of truth to them, Angri glared back at the smiling cat woman before issuing a low growl that displayed a rather vicious-looking set of teeth.Undaunted, Yoruichi shifted her attention from Angri to Vahn as she asked, "Want me to look after her? If you leave her in the care of Fenrir, she'll become just another overzealous follower seeking affirmation and praise. I've been thinking about starting my own Corps, so I wouldn't mind taking her in as my protege. You could also make a Template of Soi Fon, but I'd rather not have to deal with a subordinate that has a higher Soul Tier than me."Displeased with the notion that she would be separated from her Master, Angri was about to say something in protest when Yoruichi sent a wink in her direction, adding, "Don't refuse so quickly. I don't know which memories you inherited from fuzzy britches over there, but I take pride in being one of Vahn's first crushes and one of his most beloved pets. Finish my training and you'll get to be as lazy and spoiled as you please. I can also teach you a few tricks that are guaranteed to get him in the mood...what do you say~?"Having already come to terms with the fact she couldn't keep her Master to herself, Angri couldn't deny the temptation contained in Yoruichi's words. She also wanted to get out of Fenrir's shadow as quickly as possible, so, after hearing the mischievous cat's final promise, she circumvented Vahn's attempts to intercede, saying, "I'll do it. It's better than getting brainwashed by this smelly bimbo."Snorting in response to Angri's words, Fenrir suppressed the urge to comment on her own body odor. Instead, she met Yoruichi's gaze, saying, "Don't go easy on her. If she is to receive Master's praise, she must work for it. If I don't like the way you are raising her, I will be forced to step in..."Finding Fenrir's words rather amusing, Yoruichi was about to teasingly refer to her as 'mom', but, feeling a sudden chill descend upon the surroundings, she promptly changed her mind. Fenrir had lost a lot of her playfulness due to her perennial cultivation of the Yin Element, so, while she could be exceptionally lovey-dovey when it concerned her Master, she could be surprisingly cold at other times.Stepping in to alleviate the tensions, Vahn plopped his hand atop Fenrir's head, casually stroking the area between her ears as he gazed into the distance and said, "It seems like Mordred is done playing around. We should return to the resort. Once everyone has gathered, I'll deal with Angri's body creation and naming ceremony while everyone else retires to the Little Garden. We'll discuss the specifics of the conflict once everyone has had an opportunity to rest."Though she was a little resentful of the fact that her original was getting headpats, Angri cheered up considerably when she heard her Master mention creating her body and assigning her name. It made her feel bubbly knowing that he prioritized those two things over everything else, and, while it might not have been his intention, the truth rarely mattered in such situations.Noticing Angri's rather 'hungry' gaze, Vahn did his best to maintain a relaxed smile as he created a hole in the barrier for everyone to pass through. He had a feeling that she was going to go through something of a 'clingy' phase, but, so long as it led to her developing in a positive light, he didn't particularly mind tending to her needs. The modifications Fenrir had made to her appearance made her especially cute, and, though he would forever prefer the original, having a little nymphette of a Vanargandr wasn't a bad thing...---Though the majority of residents within the Tower had no notion of the Hidden Floor's existence, largely due to the fact that openly discussing it would erase your memories of the interior, there were quite a number of people that were intimately aware of the events taking place inside. This included the 'Great Father' of the Workshop, the people directly responsible for the Hidden Floor's existence, and, as could be expected, Jahad himself.Located within a secretive chamber that fewer than a hundred people had ever had access to, Jahad could be found standing in the center of a mysterious formation comprised entirely of shimmering, rune-covered, bones. This was one of the most secluded regions in the entire Tower, not because it possessed inherent significance, but because it had great symbolic meaning to Jahad himself. It was here that he had first realized the truth, and, shortly thereafter, it was at this exact location that he had resolved himself to become King of the Tower.With a pensive look that would shock anyone that believed they knew him well, Jahad spent several minutes simply staring into nothingness before muttering to himself, "Even after reaching the point where I can observe fate from the perspective of a God, I still couldn't predict an outcome such as this...it would seem fate is even crueler than I realized..."Despite addressing an empty room, Jahad's words weren't greeted with silence. Instead, a cold and raspy voice immediately replied, "You simply need more strength. Absolute power and violence are the solutions to all things. If you ever find yourself in a situation where they aren't, you simply aren't using enough. This outcome is the direct result of your weakness. You made the mistake of showing your enemies kindness despite proclaiming yourself a God. If you were a True God, you never would have let your emotions dictate your actions. Now, your inability to relinquish your humanity has put everything you sought to obtain at risk. Were all those sacrifices completely meaningless!?"Choosing not to answer the voice's admonishment, Jahad continued to stare into empty space for several long minutes before muttering, "If that man wishes to destroy me, I will neither run nor hide. I have spent the last ten-thousand-years accumulating power. If it is my destiny to fall at his hands, I will not spend my final years desperately seeking to obtain more. When the time comes, I will bring to bear all my strengths, ideals, and convictions. If that is not enough, it does not mean I was weak. It simply means he was stronger..."Angered by Jahad's words, several crimson tendrils emerged from the right arm he kept concealed beneath his cloak. At the same time, his right eye released an eerie crimson glow as his own mouth moved to say, "You are the same coward now as you were back then! If you had just killed everyone instead of trying to play God, nobody would dare challenge you! What was the point of gaining all this power if you aren't going to use it!?"Once again choosing to remain silent, Jahad forcibly suppressed the crimson tendrils before fixing his cloak and turning to depart the chamber. Even taking a few minutes to gather his thoughts was far too long for someone in his position, so, now that he had a moment to reflect on why his Data self might have betrayed him, it was time to return to his duties as King. As for what the demon in his right arm had to say, he had never particularly cared about its opinion. A true King was not so easily controlled, so, while his younger self might have been swayed by its promises, the millennia thereafter had wisened him up to its schemes. Now that someone like Vahn had appeared, it was time to set in motion events thousands of years in the making.With that thought in mind, Jahad's steps briefly slowed as he directed his gaze towards the void. If one were to look closely, they would be able to see the image of a young woman with golden eyes, black hair, and pointed ears reflected within his irises. This caused his expression to turn noticeably melancholic, but, moments later, a nascent smile briefly appeared on his face as the giant of a man shook his head and stepped into the void...---After an uncharacteristically racy Familia Induction Ceremony, Vahn returned to the Emerald Grove alongside a practically glowing Angri. Fortunately, she was also rather fatigued after the experience, so, rather than suffering the awkwardness of having her appear before others, Vahn was able to lay her to rest within Yoruichi's largely unused room before reuniting with everyone in the tavern-like dining hall.Ignoring the knowing looks he received from quite a number of people, Vahn opted to occupy the empty seat between Artoria and Eva before saying, "I defeated one of the Sworn Enemies based on King Jahad. He seemed to possess a level of authority that greatly eclipsed that of the Big Breeders. As a result, he was able to effectively alter the prime directive of the other Sworn Enemies. I can't be certain this is the last we'll see of them, but I've reason to believe this might be the end."Though she hadn't participated in the fighting, Android 21, along with the rest of the R&D Division, had decided to attend the post-battle banquet. As a result, she took it upon herself to be the first to challenge Vahn's assertion, saying, "That is a bold claim. Did something happen?"Meeting the woman's steely blue gaze, Vahn adopted his characteristically easygoing smile as he explained, "I encountered what could best be described as parasitic Ignition Weapon. From what I could tell, it wasn't comprised of data like the majority of the Hidden Floor. Instead, it seemed to be an actual physical object. Though most of the information pertaining to its purpose was protected, I was able to ascertain that it was a product of the Workshop. It tried to spin a story about me having the qualities of a King and attempted to offer me something arbitrary like 'great power'. Now, it has become dust..."Frowning in response to Vahn's words, Android 21 wanted to chide him for destroying what could have proven to be a valuable find, but, knowing he wouldn't simply invite an unknown variable into the Little Garden, she ultimately restrained herself. Still, that didn't mean she had to be happy about it, so, to make her disdain known, she made a show of pushing up her black-rimmed glasses before crossing her arms disapprovingly.Resisting the urge to comment on Android 21's behavior, Vahn wisely decided to change topics, asking, "So? Does anyone feel like sharing their exploits? I don't mind going first, but I think you'll be disappointed. My opponent ended up jumping to conclusions and performing a suicide move pretty early on, so things ended rather anticlimactically."Waiting until the exact moment when Vahn had finished speaking, Mordred spontaneously rose from her seat while slamming her hands on the table, excitedly proclaiming, "I'll go first!" with such fervor that it was easy to imagine stars in her eyes. Then, much to his chagrin, Vahn found himself in the rather peculiar position of watching several versions of himself get beaten with varying degrees of passion and enthusiasm...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The best(worst) teacher for the job~','*brooding intensifies*','That's a mega oof...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

In an attempt to make up for his mistake of destroying the Crimson Needle, a version of Vahn ended up joining Android 21, Kisuke, Arryn, and Mikoto during their return to the R&D Division. There, he attempted to replicate both the structure and aura of the Crimson Needle using his effectively perfect memory. This allowed him to construct a rather faithful reproduction of the peculiar weapon, and, as a result, Android 21 and Kisuke were able to, at the very least, gather enough information to extrapolate and replicate its effects.Had any of the people from the Workshop been present, they would have been 'extremely' envious of Vahn's ability to reproduce all manner of mystical phenomena from his own body. He could even transform into other people for the purpose of collecting samples, so, without exception, it wasn't an exaggeration to say he was the most precious research specimen within the Records. This notion might have made him uncomfortable in the past, but, thanks to the efforts of Da Vinci, Android 21, and, to a much lesser extent, Mikoto, Vahn had learned to enjoy assisting in their research.Using his left hand to prevent her tail from choking him, Vahn continued to rhythmically pound the rosy-hued flesh of Android 21 as she used the reinforced structure of her private room for support. This resulted in numerous tracks being formed from her fingernails, but, thanks to its self-repairing function, the room was able to maintain its integrity even if things ended up getting a little violent.Though she was enjoying the sensation quite a bit, so much so that tiny sparks would periodically appear within her vision, Android 21 had never enjoyed being purely on the receiving end. Thus, as her body reddened, creating a stark contrast to her paling hair, an entirely different personality was awakened within her usually calm and intelligent mind. This was originally intended to represent her desire to battle powerful opponents, but, after transforming into it during her previous attempts to 'reward' Vahn, it was only ever a matter of time before her rising passions caused her to slip into the far more 'primal' personality.While Vahn continued to send visible ripples through her body, a second Android 21 emerged from the exposed back of the original. This would have been a rather jarring sight for a less experienced man. Vahn, however, simply adopted a wolfish grin, his hands pinning hers to the wall as he sealed her lips with his own. At the same time, the structure of his body shifted to produce a second set of arms. These were used to firmly secure Android 21's shapely hips in place, and, though it created a fairly awkward sight to behold, it was safe to say that neither of them particularly cared about what others might consider normal...---Though he was pretty close to mastering the art of piloting multiple bodies at a time, Vahn was still 'very' aware of what his other self was doing. This placed him in a rather awkward situation, as, prior to the two's private liaison, he had agreed to have a few drinks with Madara. She was the only one who had refused the share her memories during the banquet, so, now that they were alone, the two of them had been watching the fairly uneventful fight while warming their bellies with an extremely potent sake.As one of the few people whose intentions he couldn't clearly decipher, Vahn had come to feel a little uncomfortable whenever he was alone with Madara. This, combined with the fact she could be scarily perceptive, resulted in the atmosphere between them becoming extremely awkward in a very short period of time. This was largely the fault of Vahn, but, as the 'host', it ultimately fell to Madara to give him leeway to depart. If he attempted to depart beforehand, it would just make things even more awkward, so, with the former casually enjoying her sake with an amused smile on her face, Vahn was beginning to feel ensnared by his own observation of etiquette.Rather than affording him any form of clemency, Madara took advantage of the fact that nothing was happening to remark, "Though we share an origin, I don't think I'll ever be able to understand you. Unless I'm mistaken, you don't view me as a potential partner. With that in mind, why is it you sometimes behave like an adolescent entering his crush's room for the first time? It's not like you're going to accidentally stumble over and land penis-first in my vagina."Stupefied by Madara's words, Vahn's lips parted slightly, but, with his mental faculties slowing to a crawl, words momentarily escaped him. This caused an amused smile to develop across Madara's face, and, though she was mainly just joking around, Vahn was left even more speechless when she casually loosened the obi wrapped around her waist. This caused the collar of her yukata to loosen, and, though he had seen her naked a number of times, Vahn couldn't resist the instinctual urge to swallow at the partial reveal of Madara's admittedly ample bosom.With her Sharingan activating of its own accord, it would have been difficult for Madara to argue that she wasn't feeling a little excited. She had spent decades as a female at this point, and, though it hadn't influenced her much in the beginning, there were times when she had experimented with the pleasures associated with the fairer sex. She wasn't quite at the point where she would willingly accept a male partner, but, thanks to her tolerance gradually waning, the influence of alcohol within her system was making her more daring than she otherwise would have been.Feeling uncertain for the first time in a long while, Vahn wasn't quite sure how he should respond to Madara's clear 'provocation'. He couldn't deny the thought had crossed his mind, and, thanks to his relationship with Da Vinci, he was a lot more accepting of the situation than a normal person might have been. The problem was that Madara was clearly under the influence, and, though she was still capable of making rational decisions, Vahn never felt comfortable with exploiting the vulnerabilities of potential partners. Madara was also one of his preferred drinking partners, so, the moment they crossed that line, he would lose one of the few people he could traditionally relax around. He didn't exactly practice restraint when it came to tending to the needs of himself and his partners, so things were bound to exacerbate quickly the moment he set aside his inhibitions...Noticing the considerable amount of apprehension in Vahn's gaze, Madara wasn't quite sure how to explain her current state of emotions. She didn't actually want him to do anything, but, seeing him hesitate to such an extent, a rather extreme feeling of disappointment washed over her as the beating of her heart gradually slowed. She hadn't even noticed it was beating quickly beforehand, so, without overthinking it, she instinctually placed her right hand over her heart before adopting a fairly pensive expression. This caused Vahn to blink in surprise, not because she had inadvertently exposed more of her breasts, but because he hadn't expected Madara, of all people, to have such a 'maidenly' reaction...Feeling the usual sense of guilt wash over him, Vahn was tempted to ignore his apprehensions and just go with the flow, but, understanding Madara's character, she wouldn't take kindly to someone taking 'pity' on her. He had already missed the opportunity to take more decisive action, so, rather than make things worse by trying to backpedal, he ended up producing a party-sized bottle of sake and asking, "Can I pour you another drink...?"Though she couldn't resist shaking her head, the smile returned to Madara's face as she extended her cup towards Vahn and replied, "I'll have you accompany me until the morning. The next time...I might not be so forgiving..."Resisting the urge to ask the onyx-eyed woman to clarify the meaning contained within her words, Vahn dutifully refilled her cup while habitually adjusting the flow of time within the room. Had he done the same with Android 21, he might have been able to avoid this situation entirely, but, due to the former's exceptionally precise internal clock, she had a habit of griping whenever he tweaked the flow of time without her consent. She was the type that would reshuffle her schedule in real-time, so, if things didn't match up with her expectations, she would be in a foul mood until she had reorganized and personally accounted for everything. This came off as a little obsessive-compulsive, but, considering she was effectively a living supercomputer, it wasn't particularly surprising that she would take exception to anything that conflicted with data she had already accounted for.Fortunately, this particular quirk disappeared entirely whenever she entered her far more excitable 'Majin' state, so, while he would ultimately be forced to listen to her complain about the destruction to her personal quarters, Vahn had become rather fond of her so-called rewards. In reality, she was usually the one getting off, but, as this was par for the course whenever he attended to his women, Vahn didn't particularly mind. Rather, he had come to enjoy pushing his partners to their limits and allowing them to experience even greater pleasure, so, whenever he was entangled with a woman who had very few inhibitions, he tended to enjoy himself quite a bit...---With Android 21 practically melting at his side, a feat made possible due to the amorphous nature of her body, Vahn decided to take a moment to organize his thoughts. He was currently in what his lovers referred to as an 'active' period, so, with a functionally infinite amount of time on his hands, a part of him was tempted to go on a marathon. His wanton manipulation of time meant that months might pass between his interactions with certain women, and, though this might only be a day from their perspective, Vahn couldn't help but miss spending with them.Taking advantage of his increasingly exploited ability to connect his senses with those listed in his Unit Management, Vahn began to systematically organize the residents of the Emerald Grove based on their interests and availability. This caused him to recall the system that had been implemented during his time in Danmachi, and, though he had no intention of installing something similar, Vahn couldn't help but admire the foresight of the Goddesses who initially comprised his harem...After wallowing in his nostalgia for a bit, Vahn's mood had considerably waned, but, having already made up his mind, he briefly shifted his attention to the group consisting of Jeanne, Mash, and their students. This originally comprised the trio of Elaine, Alphine, and Arusha, but, after witnessing the growth of the Arie siblings, Ha Yura had also ended up asking for assistance in becoming stronger. Life within the Little Garden afforded people ample opportunity to reflect upon their past decisions and hopes for the future, so, while she had yet to give up on her vengeance, associating with kind and powerful individuals had drastically changed her perception of right and wrong.Though he couldn't imagine her refusing his offer, Vahn promptly moved Yura to the end of the list. He had yet to find any clues pertaining to her mother, but, considering Madara had encountered a Big Breeder that was unquestionably related to her brother, odds favored something happening to them both. This was something he had yet to reveal to the hopeful blunette, so, before he revealed the truth, it was impossible for him to consider the former idol a possible partner.With this in mind, Vahn briefly shifted his attention to Elaine and Alphine, a rather troublesome duo that had been putting in an exceptional amount of effort into earning a place for themselves within the Little Garden. As for why he considered them troublesome, it was primarily due to the fact that Elaine qualified as what Vahn referred to as a 'completely delusional woman'. She worked hard, yes, but, much like Helen, the only reason she did so was because she had certain expectations for what would happen once she had proven herself. She viewed him as more of a means to an end than an actual partner, and, though she would undoubtedly remain loyal, her resilient disconnect with both reality and her emotions made it difficult to fully appreciate her beauty and efforts.To her credit, Elaine had been seeking advice from others in an attempt to remedy these aspects of her character, so, while her very existence made him feel uncomfortable, Vahn didn't immediately preclude her from the list. She and Alphine had even gone as far as fusing with their Spirits in order to appeal to him with their furry ears and tail, so, after a brief consideration, Vahn ultimately placed them around the middle of the list. It was only a matter of time before he came to a head with the Leader of the Lo Po Bia Family, so, before then, it wouldn't hurt to strengthen their determination and strengthen their loyalty. He also had a number of misgivings regarding his inability to resolve things with Helen so this was a good opportunity to see how things might have been different had he taken a more proactive approach to reconciling her rather severe character flaws. Besides, Elaine and Alphine were both remarkably beautiful women so it would be a travesty if he simply neglected them...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'My, what an unexpected development (O w O)...','Make sure you're always drinking in moderation~','When Vahn is on the prowl, no one is safe...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the environment having been subsequently restored by Sis, Vahn took a moment to enjoy the silence of the serene forest before directing his gaze to the peculiar red Needle presently bound by Enkidu's chains. It was extremely short for a Needle-type weapon, and, rather than appear sleek, the majority of its red frame was covered in ringlets. Most notably, however, was the eye-like gemstone that dominated the center, it's interior reminiscent of a crimson star flanked by six golden claws.Seeing the peculiar weapon, Vahn was finally beginning to understand what must have transpired to transform Jahad from an outgoing 'King of Adventurers' to a despotic and lonely individual who supposed himself a God. He, similar to a protagonist from a shonen anime, had been manipulated by those with a far greater understanding of the world, and, due to his unshakeable ideals, he had gradually been turned into a monster by the very people who set him upon his journey in the first place...Shaking his head, Vahn walked over to the peculiar weapon and grasped its hilt. In response, the claret sun in the center began to pulsate as an abrasive and synthetic-sounding voice uttered, "I didn't notice it before, but I can sense it clearly now. Though it is not of this world, you also possess the Seed of a King, don't you?"Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Vahn held up the Needle so that the 'eye' in the center was level with his face, apathetically inquiring, "You can sense it clearly but still need to ask? How curious..."Though it did not answer immediately, the voice within the Needle could be heard chuckling for a brief moment before replying, "Caution is a fine trait to possess for those with the qualifications to be King. However, with a bit of trust, your rise to the top will become a lot smoother. If you'll accept it, I can grant you power even greater than the current King's. What say you?"Feeling a foreign intent attempt to invade both his mind and body, Vahn manipulated his own to effectively strangle the comparably weak force as he plainly stated, "Though blame ultimately lies with your creator, this is the end of the line. I'm not sure who it is you were waiting for, but I'll not let another be corrupted for the sake of an experiment. Begone."With his final word causing a visible ripple in the surrounding space, the crimson sun sealed within the Needle promptly extinguished. Immediately thereafter, the interior of the orb grew foggy as the crimson hue drained away from the body of the Needle, its surface turning ashen before ultimately fragmenting into pieces reminiscent of spent charcoal.Exhaling a tired sigh, Vahn shook his head a second time before directing his gaze towards nothing in particular and muttering, "All this suffering over something as meaningless as the truth...at least now I can understand why the Workshop provided so much support for Jahad and his companions during their ascent..."Thanks to the Law of Identity being unable to violate the contracts of the people whose identity she had assumed, Vahn had been unable to peer into the truth behind the organization. All he knew for certain was that they sincerely pursued the 'origin of all things'. There was nothing inherently wrong with this sentiment, but, much like how there were a few startling differences between Da Vinci and Gustang, the pursuit of knowledge without restraint had a habit of leading to irredeemable tragedy and destruction...Thinking of his starry-eyed lover, Vahn was briefly tempted to convince the woman to reincarnate into the Tower. So long as he provided her with adequate resources, it would only take her a few years, if that, to completely dominate the Tower. In the process, she would either absorb or destroy the Workshop, and, in the end, she might very well become his most prominent pillar of support.Unfortunately, as he had learned during his time in the Nasu and Akamatsuverses, knowledge, while immensely powerful, was a limiting factor when aiming towards something that couldn't be defined through conventional reasoning. The more you know about something, the more consideration you would put into your decision-making, and, as a result, you ultimately ended up denying yourself the freedom to simply act as you please. This was surprisingly important when trying to comprehend the Laws and gain greater authority, and, while it was sad to think about, it was one of the reasons so many despicable or selfish individuals managed to climb their way up to monstrous heights.Though it wasn't the first thing that came to mind when people thought of the word Hero, Vahn had come to accept that heroes were some of the most selfish people in existence. The only real difference between them and something like a Demon King was the perception of the people. In a disheartening number of Records, this sentiment resulted in many former heroes later becoming known as villains simply due to public perception and politics. Thus, while he was tempted to make things easier for himself by inviting Da Vinci to solve his problems, Vahn understood that the path towards the pinnacle was never intended to be easy. He needed to be able to clear the way forward himself, and, though he was bound to make mistakes along the way, such instances were arguably even more important than his triumphs.Having successfully convinced himself, at least for the moment, Vahn swept aside the ashes of the crimson Needle before shifting his gaze in the direction of several ongoing battles. His domain was unable to cover such a massive distance, yet, in spite of this, he could still sense what was going on through the connection he shared with both his Templates and lovers. Because of this, an amused smile naturally developed across his face, as, more so than any other, he was able to ascertain what Fenrir had in mind whilst dealing with the Sworn Enemy version of herself...---Having witnessed Vahn's battle from start to finish, a slight smile spread across the face of young Jahad as he muttered, "It seems Eduan was mistaken. This man is nothing like me. He managed to see through what I could not and didn't hesitate for a moment to destroy the power offered to him. I wonder...if I had that same level of resolve, would things have turned out differently...?"Shaking his head in response to his own words, Jahad removed the three-eyed mask that covered the curse mark extending across his forehead and covering his right eye. This was a burden he had carried with him even before his ascent up the Tower, and, though he couldn't remember where it had come from, he knew it was called the 'Chains of Fate'. It was his desire to liberate himself from these chains that led to him becoming an Adventurer, and, though his journey ended the moment he cleared the Hell Train, he had taken notice of the fact that even his future self used red bindings to cover his forehead...With what could best be described as a pensive and melancholic smile, Jahad used his left hand to crush the three-eyed visor before muttering, "I've let you borrow my eyes long enough. From this moment onward, you will need to use your own to ascertain the truth..."Though it wasn't visible to others, Jahad could see a wisp of crimson energy flow from the visor the moment he shattered it. This was a nascent thread of his genuine self's intent, and, due to a special ritual, the three-eyed symbol allowed the real Jahad to know everything within his iconic marking's field of view. It didn't matter if it was scrawled onto a piece of paper or carved into stone. So long as the 'Symbol of the King' was present, it would become another source of information promoting the King's 'omniscience'.Now that he had effectively betrayed his future self, Jahad didn't hesitate to produce a small silver wristband from his pocket, a thoughtful glimmer flashing across his eyes as he proceeded to smash it into pieces. After Vahn's refusal to accept power, it was difficult to imagine the so-called Emperor swallowing his pride to accept something like a handout. Thus, rather than embarrassing them both by offering it as a convenient tool to defeat his true self, Jahad decided to follow Vahn's example by destroying it completely.Feeling as if a heavy burden had been removed from his shoulders, a smile returned to Jahad's face as he looked around at the encircling arena and mused, "It really is a shame...I was actually looking forward to experiencing my first real fight in the last six-thousand-years. It seems that is yet another thing my true self will get to experience that I missed out on..."Seemingly amused by his words, a light chuckle emanated from Jahad's throat as several golden Baangs, each reminiscent of liquid gold, formed around him...---After one-sidedly pummeling the Sworn Enemy version of herself for several minutes, Fenrir had the former's paws bound using Gleipnir's chains as she bent the teary-eyed Vanargander over her knee and firmly smacked her exposed backside. This was the result of her Sworn Enemy self transforming into an eldritch-looking version of her wolf form, a transformation the actual Fenrir had been trying to keep hidden ever since she accidentally uncovered its existence.Unable to break free from chains specifically designed to seal her, tears continued to pour from S.E. Fenrir's eyes as she shouted, "I said I was sorry! I won't do it again! Please stop spanking me...!"Despite her words, S.E. Fenrir continued to struggle in a desperate attempt to break free, her false Chainbreaker kicking into overdrive to aid in her efforts. Unfortunately, she was a version of Fenrir that had very little control over her own energy and emotions, so, every time the former smacked her backside, the energy within her body would be completely disrupted. This prevented her from mustering any meaningful resistance, and, due to the chains holding her firmly in place, it left her backside completely exposed to the seemingly endless series of painful strikes.Snorting through her nose, Fenrir gave her counterpart's bottom another firm smack before saying, "If you want me to stop, you need to stop struggling. You might not be the real me, but you should still have some of my memories. If you were a good girl, I wouldn't need to punish you like this. Do you think I enjoy speaking your backside?"Gritting her teeth in response to Fenrir's words, S.E. Fenrir made yet another attempt to break free before ultimately giving up following another crisp slapping sound. Then, while cursing the system for designing them to feel pain, she allowed her body to go limp as she begrudgingly muttered, "I give up...please stop spanking me..."Rather than taking the woman's words seriously, Fenrir allowed her hand rest on her Sworn Enemy's backside as she said, "I will have you sign a contract and swear it on our Master's name. I don't wish to kill you, but if you endanger the lives of the people around Master, you must be removed. Even if your head is filled with stone, you should understand the reason for this, yes?"Though she couldn't help but grit her teeth in frustration, S.E. Fenrir ultimately nodded her head in response to Fenrir's words, saying, "I understand...even if we want to be the only one Master needs, his existence is far too big for us to contain..."Frowning in response to her counterpart's words, Fenrir chose not to comment as she pulled out an extremely ornate scroll. This was something she had drafted with the assistance of Eva, and, though it didn't actually affect the Soul, it contained a Tier 5 spell known as a 'Soul Binding Contract'. In the Akamatsuverse, this spell was strong enough to bind Vampire Nobles and Demon Kings, so, while it functioned a little differently in the Transcendental Path to Heaven, using it to bind an artificial Tier 3 was relatively simple.Though she was tempted to try and appeal to their Master, S.E. Fenrir knew it would be impossible to convince him to abandon everyone and become her's. The only routes available to her, at least if she wanted to avoid deletion, was spending the next couple of years in isolation or working hard to fit in. There was also a very real chance that her Ego might be erased to free her from the burden of her own programming, so, before she lost the chance to make decisions regarding her own life, she bit her tongue to allow blood to drip onto the scroll.Unfortunately, not that she could have read it, S.E. Fenrir hadn't accounted for the fact that her true self had included certain provisions and stipulations into the contract. As a result, a crimson sheen flashed across her midnight blue fur, and, as a result, her hair became a healthy auburn color. At the same time, her crimson eyes became reminiscent of radiant copper as the tone of her skin changed from a pale and pristine white to a sunkissed golden brown.Confused by the sudden changes, S.E. Fenrir gazed absentmindedly at her paws before Fenrir took it upon herself to explain, "Others might possess a similar name, but there can only ever be one of me. This contract strips away all titles and designations you might have possessed. When you meet with Master later, ask him kindly to bestow a name upon you. From then onward, you will be both my little sister and your own person. I'm already walking my path. If you want to become someone Master can rely on, you'll need to make your own efforts."With that said, Fenrir allowed her Zanpakuto to return to its base state as she extended her hand to caress the still-glaring redhead. Then, just as the latter began emitting a low growl, Vahn appeared out of thin air, surprising the two girls as he said, "I'm glad the two of you were able to work things out. It seems like everyone else is just about finished up as well. Shall we return to the Town of the Wandering Minstrels and have a nice long chat...?"Without waiting for either girl to respond, Vahn extended his hands to caress both of their heads, his smile widening as noticed their respective ears twitch. Fenrir's, in particular, caught his eye, as, for reasons he still couldn't ascertain, he had always had a thing for girls with elven ears...Understanding her Master's thoughts, Fenrir allowed a blush to spread through her cheeks and into her ears as she habitually nestled closer to his body. This left her redheaded counterpart with a look of envy on her face, but, before she could say anything, Vahn tenderly pinched her nose as he softly alleged, "Red is a good color on you..."Though instinct was to bite anything even remotely close to her mouth, the former Fenrir managed to hold herself back thanks to the contract. The urge was still there, however, so, in the end, she did the next best thing, preventing Vahn from retracting his hand so she could gently nibble and suckle on his fingers. At the same time, she took advantage of her somewhat petite frame to turn her eyes up at him, their depths glistening with a copper hue as she traced her crimson tongue between his index and middle fingers...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The plot thickens...?','Data Jahad isn't as bad as he seems...','A new challenger has arrived (O w O)...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1930: Conclusion?