Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

As it would be problematic if he spent all his time within the Little Garden, Vahn would invariably emerge to check on things in the outside world. There, he would either idle about for a few hours or go and explore the facilities of the Last Station. This made it seem as though he only spent a few minutes within the Little Garden at any given time, when, in reality, several days might pass before his return. It all depended on which Layer he was in, and, most importantly, whether or not he was doing anything to further interfere with the flow of time.Releasing a long yawn, Vahn was largely unresponsive even after the Law of Identity snuck up and pounced on him from behind in the form of Pram. She was one of the people who Vahn had been keeping tabs on, not because he was particularly fond of her, but because she was beginning to try his patience.Despite her external fluffiness, Pram's character was pretty close to the opposite of what Fenrir and her pack would refer to as a 'good girl'. This partially the result of her predatory instincts, but, more so than anything else, her pride was the problem. She had taken exception to the fact that he had embarrassed her in public, but, rather than harboring any resentment towards him, the target of her ire was everyone else who had been present at the time. As for how she viewed him...well, there was a reason some referred to him as both the Godhand and the God of Petting. He was also extremely powerful, so, from the perspective of a species that revered personal strength, he was what many in the Lo Po Bia Family would consider an 'ideal mate'.Taking these things into consideration, the question then became whether or not Vahn was willing to overlook Pram's unrepentant nature and past actions in an effort to deter her from committing future atrocities. He was supremely confident in his ability to 'tame' her, but, in doing so, he would further strengthen the ties between himself and the Lo Po Bia Family. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but, considering they were the Family that required the most reform, long-term exposure to them all but necessitated the shedding of blood...Finished with her report regarding the thoughts and activities of Pram, the Law of Identity's height increased by nearly thirty centimeters, pale blue hair flowing from her scalp as she whispered into his ear, "It seems this one is beginning to grow a little frustrated by the fact you are continuing to ignore her..."Turning around, Vahn was nearly eye-level with the Law of Identity, as, along with possessing an hourglass figure, Maschenny was also 184cm tall. This placed her among the tallest of the current Princesses of Jahad, her only rivals being Yuri, 180cm, Hendo Lok Gladmerry Jahad, 182cm, and the tallest among all Princesses, a woman by the name of Hendo Lok Lotte, who, thanks to her rather unique heritage, stood a startling 200cm tall. As for the rest, they averaged between 169-174cm, the only notable exceptions being Repellista at 155cm, and, though she wasn't an official Princess, the adorable Anak at 154cm.Seeing the Law of Identity transform into each of the people he was thinking about, Vahn extended his hand to caress Anak's head as he asked, "How are the members of Team Wolf Pack these days?"A stark contrast to the actual Anak, the Law of Identity appeared extremely vivacious, her lizard-like tail wagging happily as she replied, "Things are going great~! They recently reached the 20th Floor and are currently taking a break in order to recuperate, resupply, and gather information. Though it seems this one is starting to feel envious of the relationship between Gandr and the other girls, she is actually pretty happy since her breasts and butt have started developing quite a bit as of late."With the Law of Identity doing her best to emulate Anak's expression, Vahn couldn't help issuing a light chuckle as he allowed his connection with Gandr to momentarily strengthen. This allowed him to recall the youthful-looking Vanargandr's experiences as if they were his own, and, though it was a little invasive, a first-hand account from one of his Templates was infinitely more reliable than the information provided by the Law of Identity...Obtaining a considerable number of memories pertaining to increasingly intimate massages, a second chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat as he withdrew his hand from the Law of Identity's head and had her turn back into Maschenny. Things seemed to be going remarkably well for the members of Team Wolf Pack, so, at least for the time being, he didn't need to worry about them.Understanding what Vahn was expecting from her, the Law of Identity wrapped her arms around his neck, an inherently seductive smile appearing on her face as she explained, "Right now, she has her people monitoring the members of the Snow Leopard Family. Though she is doing her best to keep her bad habits in check, she intends to put some pressure on the woman named Pram if you don't act before the end of the week. She is going to pretend to blackmail the fluffy one using a video of the previous incident on the platform. Her true intentions, however, are to bait the members of the Snow Leopard Family into attacking the members of her delegation. She is hoping you'll step in, but wouldn't mind if you decided not to..."With the Law of Identity's face drawing close enough that there was less than a centimeter between their lips, Vahn's expression became grim until she promptly transformed into Altria, her expression reminiscent of a smiling cat as she licked his lips and issued an adorable, "Nyaa~?"Since the actual Altria was a very taciturn and reserved woman, so much so that she rarely showed a change in expression, Vahn was momentarily caught off guard by the Law of Identity's actions. This seemed to be her intent, as, the moment his lips parted, she extended her tongue to intertwine with his. Had anyone been present to observe, this would have been a rather peculiar sight, as, not only was Vahn pushed back by an unseen force, most of his clothes had begun to peel away of their own accord...---With her frustrations growing by the day, Maschenny had been spending most of her time locked within her room. If she were to meet with people in her current state, there was a chance she might attack at the slightest provocation. To prevent this, she had been sleeping upwards of sixteen hours a day. This was the only way she could keep herself in check, as, whenever she was awake, thoughts of the progress others were making while she was largely neglected gave her an almost irresistible urge to cause trouble...Fortunately, just as Maschenny had begun absentmindedly plucking the feathers from her pillow, a subtle fluctuation in the surrounding space caught her attention. This caused her to feel a moment of panic, not because she was in her negligee, but because she had just been insulting Vahn rather profusely within her mind. The thought of him hearing these accusations was rather embarrassing, so, in an effort to divert his attention away from her secret slights, she filled her head with quite a number of rather lewd and licentious thoughts...Since he couldn't actually read her mind, Vahn was largely unaware of Maschenny's thoughts as he appeared a few meters from her bedside, grinning as he remarked, "Not bad. You're quite fond of the color blue, aren't you?"Following Vahn's gaze, a naturally seductive smile crept onto Maschenny's face as she pulled at the front of her negligee, exposing more of her cleavage as she replied, "You're not so bad yourself. Tell me, what thoughts crossed your mind when you decided to enter my chambers without requesting a formal meeting? I don't particularly mind, but it could cause quite a bit of trouble for both of us if you were discovered..."Ignoring the rather tantalizing sight, Vahn manifested a chair before taking a seat near the edge of the bed and stating, "I am aware of your efforts, but your nature makes it difficult for me to willfully associate with you. However, in the interest of preventing you from doing something irredeemably foolish, I've come here with the intent to compromise."Thinking Vahn was here to discuss the matter with Pram, Maschenny was about to assure him that she was primarily just playing around when he held up his hand, interrupting her and adding, "The conflict between you and the Lo Po Bia Family isn't my concern. I'm here to prevent you from going to the 20th Floor and causing trouble for the Regulars I had previously helped. I might have cut ties with them, but I would take it personally if you messed with them just to satisfy your intrigue and frustrations. To that end, I am here to tell you directly. If you mess with them, even through indirect means, I will kill you. There is no alternative outcome."With her smile fading away in an instant, an electrifying aura began to emanate from Maschenny's body. Before she could completely lose her cool, however, Vahn began releasing his own, his voice heavy yet calm as he said, "I won't tell you to calm down, but I would advise against lashing out. As I stated previously, I came here with the intent to compromise. Though I am more than capable of carrying out my promises, I am not here to force your compliance with threats..."Though it wasn't easy, Maschenny forced herself to gradually relax as she recalled that Vahn had, in fact, declared his intent to compromise. Since he should be well aware of her wants and desires, this suggested he had come with the aim of answering her questions, and, at least in part, providing her access to some of the things she had taken an interest in...Waiting until Maschenny had completely retracted her aura, Vahn allowed his own to dissipate as he produced a bottle of wine and two glasses. Eduan wasn't the only member of the Khun Family with a fondness for the liquid, so, before continuing, he filled glasses for himself and Maschenny before explaining, "Though it is possible, there is no merit in willfully removing the curse since the Empire has already issued a non-interference policy. I have no interest in starting a war. Instead, I will meet with Jahad once I have completed my ascent."Noticing the severe disappointment in Maschenny's expression and gaze, Vahn resisted the urge to shake his head in admonition, adding, "Worry not. Though it is impossible to incite me into causing the chaos you so desperately crave, I am more than capable of providing you with a suitable stage to perform. There are numerous people within the Aldrnari Empire capable of matching you, and, most importantly, there are a functionally infinite number of battlefields in the worlds 'beyond' the Tower awaiting your presence."Having dreamed of exploring the worlds beyond the Tower, a common trait among those near the pinnacle of existing hierarchies, Maschenny's intrigue was sufficiently agitated by Vahn's words. His mention of people capable of matching her was always rather noteworthy, but, more than anything else, she just wanted to be able to fight without the need for pretenses or restraint. Simply put, she was an incorrigible battle junkie, so, as long as someone could provide her with worthy opponents, Maschenny would willfully allow herself to be manipulated.Taking advantage of this, Vahn went on to provide a brief overview of his power and the benefits of receiving his blessing. The latter was something Maschenny was already familiar aware of thanks to the information provided by Repellista, so, with the research team also having been exposed, there was no real merit in keeping it a secret. Rather, by talking about the Quest System and his ability to make modifications to a person's body, race, and even inborn talents, he could pretty much ensure that Maschenny would want to experience it for herself. After all, she had already seen how strong Yuri had become after sprouting a tail, so, while she wasn't particularly interested in having one of her own, there was very little she wouldn't do in exchange for power and the chance to use it...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Law of Identity is rather feisty (O w O)...','This is an extreme degree of boredom...','Hook, line, and sinker xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the conversation starting with her wearing little more than a blue negligee and matching thong, it wasn't long before Vahn had Maschenny lying on her stomach wearing nothing but the latter. This provided him a view that some in the Tower would have literally killed for, but, as it was something he had experienced numerous times due to the Law of Identity antics, Vahn was largely unfazed by the blue-haired beauty's lean yet shapely figure.Not content with simply remaining silent throughout the process, Maschenny, using her crossed arms as a pillow, decided to take advantage of the situation by making idle conversation, playfully kicking her legs as she asking things like, "So, have you and Yuri already had sex? I always imagined that girl going crazy and kidnapping a few young boys, but I guess her instincts as a member of the Ha Family won out."Without pausing his hands, Vahn's tone remained unperturbed as he relaxedly replied, "That mouth of yours is going to get you in a lot of trouble. There is a difference between being direct and being uncouth."Humming in response to Vahn's words, Maschenny seemed to consider them for a brief moment before ultimately shaking her head and saying, "If I thought it would help my chances, I wouldn't mind behaving like a proper Princess. Fortunately, you're the type of man who can enter a maiden's bedchamber without batting an eye. You also chose to compromise when you really didn't have to, so I'm pretty confident you won't harm me just because I said something that upset you."Considering Maschenny's reputation, Vahn wasn't too surprised by the boldness of her words. She was known to be quite clever when she needed to be, so, while her base nature was that of a battle maniac, she wasn't an idiot. This was one of the reasons he had avoided her prior to this, as, despite a number of noteworthy differences, she was a lot like Loki. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but, left unattended, it was only a matter of time before her nature incited chaos...Demonstrating this capacity, Maschenny turned her head slightly, a mischievous look in her electric blue eyes as she mused, "Given your attempt to divert the conversation, I take it the two of you did, actually, fuck? That brat really has all the luck. What is she, like, six-hundred-years-old? If the others find out, they're going to be super pissed. Do you have any idea how tough it is to be a Princess of Jahad when you can't even masturbate without having to worry about your adoptive father peeking in on you? It's even worse when we're prevented from fighting as we please. I mean, seriously, what point is there in becoming a Princess when everything you do is stringently scrutinized? Yuri has no idea how lucky she is to be a member of the Ha Family. Though, I guess I'm pretty fortunate myself considering my own father probably would have knocked me if I hadn't become a Princess~"Deadpanning in response to Maschenny's words, Vahn was seriously considering leaving the Familia Induction Ceremony half-finished. He had known for a while that she had no filter unless she was in a situation where she 'needed' to behave, but, with her chibi self being relatively quiet, Vahn hadn't expected the original to be so...chatty...Annoyed by Vahn's silence, Maschenny lightly furrowed her brows and scrunched her nose as she added, "Oh come on. Can't you take a joke? What happened to that intense and confident version of you from earlier? Don't suddenly turn into a herbivore on me. I'm still expecting you to eat me up at some point. I would be severely disappointed if you turned out to be the type of man who half-asses things."Raising his brow, Vahn was about to ask what made her think he was going to 'eat her up' when Maschenny adopted a predatory smile and asked, "What? You're not going to try and collect all the Princesses for yourself? I'm absolutely certain you're responsible for that blonde bimbo going crazy and stealing our panties. If I had to guess, it must be related to that Quest System you were talking about earlier, right? Why else would she do something so inexplicable after staying relatively silent all these years?"Though he had always known that Ureko's Quest would bring him future troubles, Vahn couldn't help releasing a sigh in response to Maschenny's words. Her statements, combined with the fact that Ureko had gifted him the panties with similar intentions, made it pretty clear that the general consensus among those in the know was that he was the 'mastermind' behind the entire fiasco. His most recent actions regarding the research team had likely reinforced this point of view, so, while it wasn't actually his intention, Vahn had a difficult time outright refuting such accusations. There was also the fact that, if it would help him prevent a tragedy and limit the amount of bloodshed, he was more than willing to employ such a method...Noticing the slight glimmer in Vahn's eyes, despite his pensive look, a taunting smile developed across Maschenny's face as she flexed her rather pert posterior and said, "I can't speak for all of us, but most of us wouldn't mind, you know? I mean, there are Princesses that have been around for more than six-thousand-years at this point. Do you have any idea how maddening it can be to be denied something that even the most base of peasants have relatively easy access to? Some might consider it an honor to be chosen as a bride candidate for the King, but we both know my adoptive father has never had the intention of marrying a single one of us..."With Maschenny wearing nothing but an electric-blue thong, flexing the muscles of her butt made it remarkably difficult to maintain focus on anything else. It didn't help that her aura had turned an almost sickly shade of pink, not because she had spontaneously fallen in love with him, but because her desire to have sex was almost overwhelming. It was akin to Eve's desire to sample the forbidden fruit of knowledge, an instinctual urge to experience something that had been denied to her for no better reason than someone else forbidding it...Finished with the application of his Familia Crest, Vahn retracted his hand from Maschenny exposed back, his expression a mask of calm as he explained, "I'm afraid you are mistaken. Though I possess the means, my relationship with Yuri hasn't developed to the point you are imagining. I didn't want her becoming overly attached to me, and, prior to our encounter on the 40th Floor, developing our relationship in any meaningful way would have unnecessarily complicated things during my ascent. I imagine our relationship will move forward by leaps and bounds in the near future, but, until then, I have no particular interest in developing my relationship with more problematic Princesses..."Having been at odds with Yuri for quite some time, Maschenny was genuinely surprised by Vahn's admission of innocence. If he had demonstrated even a fraction of the power he had displayed on the 40th Floor, it was difficult to imagine someone like Yuri simply letting him walk free. She might be a Princess of Jahad, but, unlike the majority of Princesses, she had never really taken her duties seriously. She also had the support of her Great-Great-Grandmother, the Leader of the Ha Family, so, hearing that nothing had happened between them, Maschenny couldn't help feeling genuinely astonished. Almost immediately thereafter, however, a competitive flame was lit in her heart as she instinctually licked her lips and replied, "I see..." in a contemplative tone.Even without the Law of Identity's narration, Vahn could easily imagine the thoughts dancing across Maschenny's mind. She was the type of woman that enjoyed standing above others and lording her accomplishments over those she didn't like. This just so happened to be anyone who was stronger or even marginally more 'fortunate' than her, so, with Yuri being one of the most fortunate among the Princesses, Maschenny had an almost instinctual desire to claim ground where her counterpart had 'failed'.Unfortunately, just as she was about to try her luck, Vahn threw a rather sizeable wrench into her plans by plainly stating, "Unlike you, my words are not spoken carelessly. I have no intention of becoming involved with any Princesses prior to fulfilling my promise with Yuri and reaching an accord with the Ha Family. Besides, while you might have sufficient reason to be confident in your appearance, your character leaves a lot to be desired. If you are to have any hope of fulfilling your ambitions, you will behave yourself until I have completed my objectives..."Having witnessed his power during their encounter on the 40th Floor, Maschenny knew it wouldn't be the wisest decision to overly antagonize Vahn. He had already demonstrated an inclination to act with prejudice whenever he was triggered, so, with his crest now inscribed on her back, she did her best to maintain her composure as she answered, "I understand. So long as you don't beat around the bush when the time comes, I'll do my best to 'behave' until then. Of course, a bit of an incentive would go a long way towards ensuring I'm on my best behavior..."Though he was tempted to point out that the Quest System should be more than enough incentive, Vahn understood that women weren't always rational creatures. The same argument could be made for men, but, due to his considerable exposure to the fairer sex, Vahn understood there were times when they needed something more 'meaningful' to help them stay the course. Some might mistake this as a matter related to emotions, but, from personal experience, Vahn had come to realize it was more so a matter of 'sincerity' and 'willful acquiescence' than anything else. This was especially true of prideful women, so, after a moment of consideration, Vahn nodded his head before rising to his feet and saying, "Very well then..."---Using a clean white towel to wipe away the excess oil from his hands, Vahn turned his back to the red-faced beauty, ignoring her unfocused gaze as he said, "Though it isn't all that important, try to keep matters related to the Quest System a secret. I don't really care if the Tower comes to know of my status as a God, but it will make things unnecessarily complicated if they start trying to impose their ideals and expectations on me. I have enough trouble with FUG, as is. I don't need a bunch of opportunistic assholes using my name and status as a justification to stir up trouble."Unable to respond in a more meaningful way, Maschenny just issued a nasally "Nn..." in response to Vahn's words before trying and failing to roll onto her back. Her muscles simply refused to obey her command, and, as a result of the echoing waves of pleasure, a soft moan emanated from her throat every time she tried to move. Fortunately, rather than simply ignoring her plight, Vahn at least had the decency to turn around and help her to roll over. This made it easier to breathe, and, though it exposed her breasts in their entirety, she actually considered this a win since Vahn's eyes had very briefly lingered on her pert, pale-pink, rosebuds...Managing a smile, Maschenny attempted to communicate with Vahn via her thoughts, but, with the Law of Identity traditionally disappearing whenever his attention was focused on other matters, her thoughts went entirely unheard. This left her feeling slightly pouty, as, immediately after helping her to roll over, Vahn covered her breasts with his towel and said, "I'll see you around. Try and stay out of trouble, okay?"With that said, Vahn placed a tea set and a few snacks on the nearby nightstand before promptly disappearing from Maschenny's room. This would have normally left the Princess feeling resentful, but, with persistent waves of pleasure washing over her body, it was difficult to stay mad. Instead, she began uncharacteristically lonely, her thoughts wandering far more than usual as the silence of the room gradually descended upon her...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Someone needs to wash this girl's mouth out with soap...','Get this woman a glass of water...!','Ah, yes, the existentialism that follows a first, second, and virtually all encounters with the Godhand...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though he could have immediately departed the 44th Floor, Vahn decided to stick around for a while in order to make good on his promise with Roen's fan club. He also needed to find a place to deposit people like Eduan, who, since his arrival in the Little Garden, had been having a time and a half growing stronger in the Seventh Layer.Since it was impossible to conceal his involvement in the man's sudden appearance, the simplest solution seemed to be coordinating with Leticia to put Eduan in contact with the Khun Family. The non-interference policy of the Empire and the efforts of the Tu Perie Family seemed to be guiding things in the direction of mutual cooperation, so, while there were bound to be conflicts, Vahn now had the option of handling things in a more 'above-board' manner if he really wanted to.With this in mind, Vahn split his time between the Eighth, First, Second, and Seventh Layers, in that order. His time in the Eighth was obviously him just relaxing and spending time with his extended family. As for the other Layers, it was mainly just him observing various peoples and checking in on the research team. This was made easier by the fact he could adjust the flow of time within each of the Layers individually, so, while it might seem like he was spreading himself a little thin, he actually had ample time to invest in each Layer without interfering with the happenings in others.Though he sometimes felt as though he was leading multiple lives simultaneously, the time Vahn had spent in Actualized Worlds, combined with the memories and experiences he received from his Templates, made him surprisingly suited to such a lifestyle. Of course, the most important thing was that the time he invested in other projects and interests didn't detract from the time he was able to spend with his family, friends, and loved ones. It was almost like every world he partook in revolved around him, and, while this might sound a little egotistical, his escalating power, combined with his ability to alter the fate of an entire Record just by entering it, seemed to support this sentiment...---As it hadn't taken long for information related to his blessing to spread, Vahn found himself in the rather envious position of supporting the taciturn Sona's legs, her back pressed against a wall as he slowly and gently probed her depths. There was a misunderstanding going around that having sex with him was a requirement to receive his blessing, and, while he could have easily corrected it, the truth of the matter was that most of the women present within the First Layer were fully aware that this wasn't the case. It was simply a convenient excuse to make progress towards the completion of their individual objectives, and, most importantly, it was a method for them to become stronger.With the social hierarchy of the Tower, individual might was only outvalued by political power when said individuals lacked the power to force the change they desired. To this end, the procurement of power was the highest priority for many residents of the Tower. Most dedicated their entire lives, a period often exceeding several thousand years, in its pursuit. Thus, after learning they could grow stronger by simply sleeping with someone they were already assigned to sleep with, it became the highest priority among some members of the so-called research team. This wasn't solely due to the existence of the Quest System. Rather, as Yvonne had experienced, receiving his seed was the same as having your body tempered and refined. The sudden release of energy provided a rather drastic increase in strength immediately after the fact, and, though the effects would wane with time, their total reserves would have increased marginally with each successive session.Simply put, having sex with Vahn was essentially a form of 'dual cultivation', not simply because he was comprised of Source Energy, but because his Soul was far stronger than the vast majority of his partners. As a result, bathing his aura provided substantial benefits to a person's growth, and, given enough time, it was possible to experience an increase in Soul Tier simply through exposure.Though they were unaware of the existence of Soul Tiers, the allure of being able to increase their strength while simultaneously experiencing pleasure beyond their wildest expectations was difficult for even the most reserved of maidens to resist. Sona was no exception to this, so, after challenging him to a duel and suffering a rather one-sided defeat, she voluntarily entrusted her body, mind, and training to him. This placed Vahn in an awkward position, but, considering the number of positions he had put the taciturn beauty in, offering her a bit of advice wasn't much trouble...Feeling a startlingly hot sensation spread through her body, Sona tightened her legs around Vahn's waist while simultaneously squeezing his shoulders and burying her face into the nape of his neck. Fortunately, Vahn had agreed to use a silencing spell on her beforehand, as, more so than anything else, Sona hated the sounds her own voice made whilst having sex. They were embarrassing to the point of being intolerable, and, were it not for his strange ability to completely muffle her cries, her pride would make it difficult to approach him of her own accord.What Sona didn't know was that, despite her silence, Vahn was perfectly capable of hearing her voice. His ability to resonate with his partners had increased exponentially since his experimental days in Danmachi, so, even without initiating the melding process, he could empathically link with the person he was making love to. If he really wanted to, he could even establish a direct link using Unit Management, but, as that had gone awry a number of times in the past, he tended to avoid that particular functionality during love-making...After supporting her body for a few minutes longer, Vahn allowed Sona to stand on her own two feet before extricating his member from her convulsing folds and covering her somewhat swollen slit with a paper tag. The girls seemed to believe that the increase in strength was proportional to the quantity and amount of time they were exposed to his seed, so, while it was a little strange, he acquiesced to helping them ensure it stayed inside their bodies as long as possible.With her voice restored, a contented sigh escaped Sona's lips as she caressed her own stomach in a daze. It was only when Vahn used cleaning magic on her that she returned to her senses, a subdued yet adorable yelp emanating from her throat as her silvery eyes focused to meet his. This caused an awkward silence to persist between them for a brief moment, but, shortly thereafter, Sona managed to meekly utter, "Thank you..." before averting her eyes and ultimately departing in a hurry.Rather than feeling offended, Vahn just smiled as he watched Sona's retreating figure pass through the temporal barrier he had generated before effectively stopping in place. They had actually been having sex in the middle of the hallway, and, though it was indecent of him, Vahn had orchestrated the encounter in order to indulge the silver-haired beauty's exposure fantasies. This wasn't the first time they had 'randomly' encountered each other throughout various parts of the estate, and, with each passing day, Sona was becoming increasingly bold, albeit only internally...Restoring the flow of time to normal, Vahn watched until Sona had disappeared around the corner before walking in the opposite direction with a smile on his face. It was moments like this that made him feel like the master of all things, and, while this might not be the case outside, it was refreshing to be able to act without inhibitions in the Little Garden, his Realm, and the dozen or so Actualized Worlds he had manifested.With such thoughts playing across his mind, Vahn reached his original destination to find Yvonne in her private workshop wearing an Aegis top reminiscent of a black sports bra and a pair of coveralls tied around her waist. There was also a thin layer of sweat covering her olive-toned body, and, due to the efforts that had allowed her to become an Advanced Ranker, her partially figure was rather alluring in the low-light of the room.Despite noticing Vahn's presence long before he had arrived, Yvonne waited until he had entered her workshop proper before wiping away the sweat from her brow and tossing aside an oversized wrench. Then, using gravity to her advantage, she slid from the top of the manta-like craft she had been working on, remarking, "Someone's in a good mood." as she walked over and linked her arms around his waist.Ever-amused by how Yvonne's casual act, Vahn returned her embrace with a smile before planting a kiss atop her head and asking, "How's it going? You've already been at it for the better of five days. Have you made any progress?"Rolling her eyes, Yvonne remarked, "Your habit of asking questions you already know the answer to feels like bullying at times. You knew when you gave it to me that it would take far more than a few days to analyze and disassemble something like an Ancient Lighthouse. My father might be the one credited with the creation of Lighthouses, but there were similar objects in circulation long before the rise of the Great Warriors. This particular Lighthouse predates modern iterations by thousands of years so it's going to take some time before I'm able to deconstruct and reproduce it. I mean, it is an A-Rank Quest..."Chuckling in response to Yvonne's slightly pouty expression, Vahn allowed his hands to slide down her back, the tips of his fingers tracing the boundary between flesh and fabric in a way that caused her expression to brighten despite her wry smile. Then, in a slightly chiding tone, she leaned against him, eyes upturned as she mused, "You mentioned how long I've been working...aren't you the least bit concerned that I might be fatigued?"With a somewhat wolfish grin developing across his face, Vahn leaned a little closer to Yvonne as he said, "If an Advanced Ranker got tired after a mere five days, their status and power wouldn't be so coveted within the Tower..."Smiling in response to Vahn's words, Yvonne closed the remaining distance between their faces by standing on her toes, their lips briefly overlapping before she extricated herself from his embrace and stated, "It might not bother you, but I'd like to take a bath first. You're more than welcome to join me, of course, but I'd rather not have to deal with the friction of making love in the bath. You are certainly gifted when it comes to lovemaking, but my body can only produce so much fluid at a time. Certainly not enough to contend with an entire bath of scalding hot mineral water..."Though he was capable of producing an oil-based lubricant capable of combating that particular issue, Vahn had already decided not to disclose information about his constitution to the research team. This had little to do with keeping secrets, however. Instead, it was predominately because he found Yvonne's efforts to research him rather interesting. She was remarkably sincere when it came to the subject of understanding him, so, while he could make her job easier by explaining a few key points, allowing her to make discoveries of her own was, ultimately, more fulfilling for them both.With this in mind, Vahn had been spending more and more time with Yvonne, and, though most of this was invested in licentious acts, there was also a fair amount of discussion between them. There was an infinite number of topics they could talk about that had absolutely nothing to do with him, so, whenever they were basking in the afterglow of an intimate rendezvous, talking is exactly what they would do. This had drastically increased the value of Yvonne's Affection, and, though she was far from being infatuated with him, Da Vinci had taught him that there wasn't much of a difference between scholarly obsession and love...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Is it considered a God Complex if the person is an actual God...?','Yet another quiet one xD...','Vahn be living the dream...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1946: Baiting the Hook