Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After three weeks of meandering through the Middle Tower, Vahn, accompanied by a large group of inordinately beautiful women, arrived on the 60th Floor. This instantly drew the attention of their surroundings, but, after a small incident on the 56th Floor, none of them were foolish enough to try and directly approach Vahn and his entourage.Having committed the names of faces of each person to memory, paparazzi included, Vahn nodded in the direction of his group, saying, "Same as usual. Stay within 10,000km and make sure to report within fifteen minutes of every hour."With most of the group nodding in affirmation, Vahn offered a smile before fixing his gaze on the nervous-looking Mordred and adding, "If you break this one, you're grounded until the 77th Floor. Fenrir, keep an eye on her for me."Though she would have liked to explore the snow-covered Floor alongside her Master, Fenrir didn't hesitate to thump her chest, stating, "Leave it to me!" in a spirited tone. As for Mordred, she ended up releasing an exasperated sigh, not because she was especially embarrassed about breaking her previous two Avatars, but because Fenrir was bound to report her the moment she broke the rules...To counter the growing unrest among residents of the Emerald Grove, Vahn, alongside members of the R&D Division, had been working on a number of projects. The largest of these involved creating a Floating Fortress to serve as a Teleportation Hub with infinite range, but, without ownership of the affected space, this was easier said than done. Fortunately, Urahara had made a substantial number of breakthroughs in the production of Gigais. This, combined with an absurdly complex possession spell, allowed the residents of the Little Garden to pilot faux bodies without placing their true selves at risk.The only downside was that the aforementioned process required Vahn to act as an antenna, and, the moment anyone ventured beyond his broadcast range, their extremely difficult to manufacture Avatars would immediately implode before dissolving into nothingness. This function was intended as a failsafe in the event an enemy tried to capture them; but, due to her penchant for sneaking into restricted areas, Mordred ended up losing both of her previous Avatars. Such places were generally isolated from the surrounding space via special formations or barriers, so, the moment she stepped inside, both had been instantaneously destroyed...Ruffling the two girls' hair, Vahn wished them well before seeing off the rest of the 'explorer group'. Then, with Artoria and Gray following close behind, both attired in regal-looking mantles lined with fluffy white fur, he proceeded to explore the Gateport in search of a temporary residence. Everyone had agreed upon a seventy-two-hour exploration period, so, while it wasn't absolutely necessary, it was his habit to choose a destination to serve as a primary hub of sorts. It also provided him with a place to meet with people who were trying to contact him, so, for the better part of three hours, he simply wandered around with Artoria and Gray as his company.In the end, it was Gray who chose a rather unique pavilion comprised almost entirely of ice as their temporary residence. From the outside, it looked like the type of castle you would find in a fantasy Record related to an Ice Witch or a Snow Queen. As for the inside, there were beautiful statues and even furniture carved from crystal-clear ice, each perennially preserved due to rune-like inscriptions carved into their surface. Similar runes helped to insulate the interior, so, despite being comprised almost entirely of ice, their room ended up being quite warm.Fortunately, as novel as the premise of an all-ice pavilion was, the furniture intended for guests was comprised of more conventional materials. Few people enjoyed sleeping on frigid slabs of ice, so, as could be expected, the bed, bath, and toilet were all relatively normal.Finished with his exploration of their penthouse suite, Vahn rejoined Artoria and Gray in the living room before asking, "So? What do you think of the Floor thus far?"Without sugarcoating things in the slightest, Artoria immediately answered, "It feels like a powder keg. I'm not sure if it is due to our presence, but the tensions of the citizenry are inordinately high. I also noticed a number of people keeping tabs on us when we were shopping. Judging by their hair and eye color, I would assume they are members of the Khun Family."Having already confirmed a few things with the Law of Identity, Vahn ultimately nodded his head in response, explaining, "Though he has yet to complete the Position Exam, news of the second Eduan has already reached the Khun Family. The original Eduan doesn't seem all that concerned. Quite the contrary. Instead, these tensions are the result of friction between the major, minor, and illegitimate factions comprising the Khun Family."Lowering her head slightly, a pensive look developed across Artoria's face as she contemplated the broader implications and ramifications of Vahn's words. She knew he wasn't really testing her, but, at times like this, she felt compelled to choose her words carefully. There were times when he relied on her counsel more than his own intuition, so, while it might not make much of a difference in the long run, she wanted to provide proper feedback and advice.Understanding Artoria's thoughts, even without the Law of Identity, Vahn enjoyed the tea offered to him by Gray in silence. If he were being honest, the politics and power struggles of the Khun Family didn't interest him in the slightest. Such things were better left to people like Aguero and Eduan 2.0 to deal with. He had no intention of siding with any particular faction, so, if he were to intervene, his only reason for doing so would be to protect minors. Even this wasn't ideal, however, as, regardless of how they were being treated, most children wouldn't want to be separated from their parents...Finished with organizing her thoughts, Artoria adopted a serious expression as she asked, "Is that woman, Maschenny, not around?"Nodding his head, Vahn explained, "She is, indeed, nearby. Her presence is one of the underlying reasons for the current tensions between the various factions. It is also the reason why nobody has tried to approach us just yet. There are a lot of rumors regarding my relationship with Maschenny, so, until they can confirm her stance, approaching us is exceptionally risky."Though a contemptuous glimmer flashed across her eyes at the mention of the word 'relationship', Artoria ultimately just nodded her head before suggesting, "It seems the time has come for you to force that woman's hand. She is bound to cause trouble if you just leave her be. Putting her on the spot and having her prove herself by resolving the matters of her family might be the ideal solution to the current situation..."Despite the suggestion coming from her own mouth, Artoria didn't seem particularly convinced by her words. More specifically, she felt that the actual 'ideal' solution was to defeat Eduan and simply install someone new to govern the Khun Family. Any meaningful involvement with them was bound to bring trouble, not because Vahn was incapable of settling things, but because thousands of years of corruption wouldn't simply vanish because someone put their foot down.Having noticed the contempt and uncertainty in Artoria's gaze, Vahn adopted a stern expression of his own, ordering, "Speak truthfully. What are you thinking?" in a firm tone.Responding with a serious and dutiful expression, Artoria was one-step shy of a full salute as she promptly replied, "Now that you have made the decision to accelerate your progress through the Tower, I believe it is counter-intuitive to involve yourself with the affairs of the Great Families and their dissidents. I'm not saying you should ignore them completely. Rather, I'm suggesting you cut the head of the snake rather than trying to strangle its tail..."Nodding his head in approval, Vahn extended his hand to caress Artoria's as he said, "I was thinking the same thing. I'm not particularly fond of the current Maschenny, and, while that might change at some point in the future, I have no intention of going out of my way to provide her opportunities. If she truly wished to obtain my favor, she would take the initiative to resolve things like this. Thus, for the time being, I have no intention of approaching her. If she can't figure that out before I deal with Eduan directly...well, it's not like there isn't another Maschenny..."Though the last part was intended as a joke, Vahn earned himself an accusatory stare from Artoria even as she nestled a little closer to him. She wasn't particularly bothered by the rapid expansion of his harem, but, if possible, she would prefer it if he didn't arbitrarily include every beautiful or tragic woman he met as a candidate...---Sneezing despite the fact it was a summerlike 33 degrees, Maschenny took a moment to cautiously inspect her surroundings before continuing to grill a massive slab of meat harvested from a magical beast the size of a Rhinocerous. Unfortunately, despite investing a considerable amount of Variable Experience into the associated skill, everything she cooked tasted absolutely terrible...Recalling the taste of the meals periodically provided to her by Vahn, a loud grumbling emanated from Maschenny's stomach as a tired sigh escaped her throat. Immediately thereafter, an intense killing intent descended upon her, but, rather than taking evasive action, she grumbled, "Go ahead. Even if you kill me, it's not like it's permanent."Appearing from within a bloody-red vortex, Scathach unhesitantly pierced Maschenny's shoulder with her spear, but, in spite of this, the latter simply grimaced while continuing to grill her meat. Her pain tolerance had increased to a ridiculous extent over the past few months, so, even if it felt like her entire body was being gnawed on by voracious ants, she managed to appear relatively unfazed.Realizing Maschenny was in one of her obstinate moods, Scathach unceremoniously extricated her spear from the girl's shoulder before shaking her head and admonishing, "Even if you know you will not die, casting aside your fear of death is rarely a good thing. With this kind of uncaring mentality, you will never be able to surpass your other self..."Rolling her eyes in response to Scathach's words, Maschenny tore away a piece of charred meat with her bare hands, tossing it into her mouth before replying, "That isn't for you to decide. So long as I continue moving forward, it is only a matter of time before I surpass my original. The only thing that can interfere with this inevitability is Vahn himself. Even then, so long as he doesn't give her the same opportunities, I'm confident that I'll be able to defeat her. You might act like a robot, but your skill with the spear is the real deal. Once I master your teachings, even my father might not be able to stand against me."Despite Maschenny sugarcoating her words with a compliment, Scathach's expression remained unchanged as she dispersed her spear and sat down on one of the felled logs serving as the only furniture in the former's make-shift shelter. Then, earning a predatory glare from the pale-haired Princess, she pulled out a series of dragon skewers hand-grilled by Rindo. This caused a salivating aroma to spread throughout the relatively small cave, and, as a result, Maschenny actually felt a little sick as the comparably disgusting meat she had just swallowed settled in her stomach. Then, after a prolonged back and forth, following by a period of negotiation, her training, once again, resumed...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'F in the chat for all the disappointed asphyxiation fetishists?','Speedrunner Vahn ain't got time for no side quests...!','Taming: 94% Complete')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Having been keeping a close watch, not just on Vahn's, but of Yuri's progress, Maschenny was well aware of the seventy-two-hour time period he had allotted for each Floor. She also knew he had a way to drastically increase a person's power in a remarkably short period of time, so, with the hours counting down towards his inevitable departure, she was beginning to feel a little anxious.After hearing about Yuri's exploits, Maschenny was absolutely certain that she and Vahn had finally done the deed. She even suspected that he had visited Yuri immediately followed their encounter, as, shortly thereafter, the latter departed the 50th Floor. This notion made her feel more than a little annoyed, but, thinking this was a 'test' of sorts, she decided not to pursue the matter. Instead, she immediately moved to her current location on the 60th Floor, fully expecting Vahn to seek her out.Unfortunately, even after the passage of sixty-five-hours, Vahn had made no efforts to contact her. This was unbelievably frustrating, not because she feared another Princess might get ahead of her, but because she had been ignoring most of her actual duties in order to make herself available to Vahn. There was even growing dissent among the Princesses that had previously joined her faction, so, if she didn't make headway soon, conflict was bound to break out amidst the members of their respective groups...Staring at her naked figure, reflected in the faces of an ornate tri-fold mirror, Maschenny couldn't help but frown as traced the lines of her own body and remarked, "I don't understand...if not for my status as a Princess, the number of people aspiring to become my lover might equal the number of men in the Tower. What does he see in someone like Yuri that he doesn't see in me? That bimbo is always causing trouble without thinking about the consequences...I just don't get it..."Despite Vahn's actual explanation and words of warning, Maschenny didn't believe he actually held her nature against her. If that were the case, he wouldn't associate with her, and, more importantly, he never would have accepted someone like Pram. That woman had a kill-count in the seven digits, so, if murderous tendencies were a factor, Vahn would have done away with them both. Instead, he demonstrated an open appreciation for her beauty, and, were it not for her status, Maschenny was certain he would have ravished her without hesitation...With her eyes wandering to the simple yet indescribably complex seal on her back, a sigh escaped Maschenny's mouth as she muttered, "Maybe he is expecting me to give up my status as a Princess and set aside my ambitions? I suppose that would make sense if his assertions regarding the worlds beyond the Tower are genuine...that would also explain how he won over characters like Ureko and Yuri with such ease. The only thing those airheads care about is their own freedom..."Imagining the scene of Yuri and Ureko flaunting their power and battlefields far beyond the Tower, a slight bitterness replaced the listlessness in Maschenny's expression. The only thing she genuinely cared about was having a battlefield of her own to fight on. She wanted to cut loose without regard for the consequences, and, even if it cost her the very head on her shoulders, she would die happily so long as she got to enjoy herself in the moments prior...Remembering Vahn's promise regarding countless powerful opponents, a sudden desire to cut ties with everyone in the Tower abruptly crossed Maschenny's mind. She had never been fond of things like politics, and, though she had taken an interest in various people, there were none she wouldn't sacrifice in her attempts to instigate war and incite chaos. Even her 'precious' younger brother was no exception to this, and, if it meant being able to cut loose as much as she wanted, treason against the Empire wasn't off the table...Startling her back to awareness, the mirrors encircling Maschenny promptly shattered as a result of her aura leaking out. A few of the fragments ended up striking her body, but, due to her monstrous endurance and equally terrifying durability, even the largest pieces bounced from her body without marring her inordinately fair skin.With bands of blue electricity dancing across her body, a smile developed across Maschenny's face as an eagerness she had long-suppressed began to well up inside her. As far as she was concerned, there were only two options available to her in the present moment. She could lower her head and commit to convincing Vahn to accept her, or, more interestingly, she could skip all the complicated matters and begin making arrangements to explore foreign worlds. There was nothing requiring her to capitulate to Vahn, and, so long as he wasn't lying, the way forward would soon be open to all. It might require her to be reborn if she wanted to move ahead without him, but, so long as she wasn't born into a shitty situation from the start, that could be pretty interesting in its own way.Weighing the two options, Maschenny realized that the decision before her was basically choosing between following Vahn and blazing her own trail. The former all but guaranteed she would be able to encounter monstrously powerful opponents, but the latter guaranteed that she would be able to remain independent, potentially through multiple incarnations. In the simplest possible terms, what she was choosing between was a 'fast track' that guaranteed success and a completely random set of circumstances that might prevent her from ever reaching the top.Though others might be terrified of the latter, an excited smile appeared on Maschenny's face as she observed her reflection in the shattered mirror. Sure, she might be forced to experience some setbacks, and, depending on her circumstances, she might even be raped and murdered before she ever got a chance to grow. Still, so long as she had her memories, drive, and willpower, it was only a matter of time before she eventually clawed her way to the top. Setbacks? Who gave a damn about such things. She had already experienced one life on easy mode, so, while she had yet to give up on Vahn, the notion of following obediently in his wake no longer existed within her mind...---With the Law of Identity loitering about in the form of Maschenny, Vahn was immediately informed of her decision the moment she had made it. This surprised him quite a bit, but, rather than feeling upset, he was actually happy for her. The trait he admired most in women was their independence, so, while he had never expected her to simply fall in line, it was a relief to know she wasn't placing her entire future on his shoulders.Sensing her Master's thoughts, Fenrir, who had been lying with her head in his lap, lifted her head to ask, "Did something good happen?"Without going into the specifics, Vahn nodded in response to Fenrir's inquiry, a persistent smile on his face as he mused, "It's always refreshing to see someone setting out on a new path...I'll have to think of a proper reward to send them off..."Though she could guess what he was thinking, Fenrir willfully allowed her train of thought to slip away as she cocked her head adorably to the side. This caused the smile on Vahn's face to become more prominent, and, as anticipated, he immediately began to fluff up her hair and ears...---Having failed to block Yuri's path on the 62nd Floor, Hendo Lok Lotte Jahad, accompanied by her team, ultimately decided to continue along their journey. This invariably brought them to the 60th Floor's 'City of Eternal Ice, Ancewell', and, though he had always been her objective, Lotte was now looking forward to meeting with Vahn more than ever before.Though it had been kept under wraps, Vahn's act of saving the youth belonging to the Hendo Lok Family had not gone unreported. What made this incident worth keeping under wraps was the fact that, prior to his release, the youth had received a treatment that both restored his vitality as well as increased his strength. This was a truly extraordinary development, and, despite being selfish to the point of cursing his entire family just to extend his life, the Leader of the Hendo Lok Family, Hendo Lok Bloodmadder, had never given up searching for a solution to the curse he had wrought upon his descendants.Originally, Bloodmadder had been intending to reach out to Vahn at the same time as the other Family Leaders, but, due to a lack of presence in the lower Floors, he had been unable to send a suitable representative. Most of his children had rather grotesque physical flaws due to the curse, so, even if he wanted to send someone sooner, he was afraid Vahn might turn them away without a second thought.Fortunately, the man was rather notorious for his appreciation of beautiful women, so, even if she was a little late, Bloodmadder was confident that his daughter would be able to 'convince' the man to aid them. Her status as a Princess might complicate matters, but, with her entire team consisting of rather remarkable beauties, several of which Bloodmadder had personally considered bedding, it was his best option. As for why he wanted to keep the matter under wraps, it was largely due to his desire for revenge against the families who had ostracized and treated his own as less than human...Drawing the eyes of virtually every permanent and temporary residence of Ancewell, Lotte walked through the city streets wearing an outfit identical to the one she had worn during her battle with Yuri. In other words, while everyone else was wearing winter clothing, she was walking around in an outfit some might not even consider appropriate as underwear. Despite this, none of the observing pedestrians were foolish enough to approach her, as, embroidered on her shoulders and back were a familiar three-eyed symbol. This was none other than the Symbol of the King, so, even if she was a fake, nobody wanted to risk antagonizing someone bold enough to posture as a Princess of Jahad.Paying no heed to her surroundings, Lotte continued forward at the direction of her Guide, a Silver Dwarf named Tully. Like most Silver Dwarves, she had silver hair and matching eyes, but, rather than appearing as a child, she was actually 154cm tall. This had, ironically, resulted in her being teased as a child, so, when it came time for Lotte to receive a Guide, Tully volunteered to join the inordinately tall woman without hesitation. Since then, they had gotten along very well, as, unlike the majority of Jahad's Princesses, Lotte was relatively docile until someone riled her up...As that thought crossed her mind, Tully's brows furrowed as her instincts as a Guide spontaneously activated. At nearly that exact same moment, a child-like woman wearing black and red attire that seemed out of place anywhere in the Tower stepped out of a shop. Immediately thereafter, her red eyes darted towards their group, a taunting smile developing across her face as she remarked, "Oh? I never expected to encounter a giantess with exhibitionist tendencies. The diversity of the Tower is truly remarkable."Though she would have normally ignored such a remark, the feeling Lotte was receiving from the petite woman was remarkably similar to her kin. They were a family that specialized in forbidden techniques related to blood and slaughter, so, even when they weren't in an active state, there was always an atmosphere of foreboding surrounding them. This sentiment became stronger the more bloodshed they had experienced, so, more often than not, you could determine the strength of a member of the Hendo Lok Family based on the bloody aura lingering around their body.Sensing an aura reminiscent of her father emanating from the youthful-looking girl, Lotte's body became tense as she forced herself to the front of her party and asked, "Who are you? Based on your previous remark, you shouldn't be a resident of the Tower. Are you one of the Sage Dragon Emperor's companions?"Smiling in response to Lotte's defensive actions, the petite woman removed the military-style cap mounted atop her raven-black hair before placing it over her chest and performing a slight bow as she mused, "Forgive my manners. My name is Nobunaga. Oda Nobunaga. Judging by that symbol on your shoulders, I can assume you are a Princess of Jahad, right? Tell me, what business does an exhibitionist Princess have with that philandering husband of mine? I'm really quite curious~"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The original title is a reference to a Silver Dwarf's ability to see the crossroads of fate','Fenrir cares not for the thot. Pet is love. Master is life.','Is this one of those legendary 'fated encounters'!?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Despite the gag order issued by the Empire, news and speculation pertaining to Vahn were among the hottest topics of the Tower. Every faction was keeping a close eye on his every move, and, as a result of his actions on the lower floors, there were even a number of groups forming beneath the banner of the Aldrnari Empire. Many had been waiting for someone with the power to oppose the Empire to appear, so, even if it was another Emperor, a growing number of people within the Tower were beginning to speak of 'revolution' and 'justice'.Unfortunately, for each rumor pertaining to Vahn's inevitable conquest of the Tower, there were ten related to his 'cooperation' with the Empire and the Ten Great Families. The Great Families hadn't exactly been secretive about their efforts to win Vahn's favor, so, even if his figure never appeared in any of the recordings, there was a substantial amount of evidence to suggest he had been won over by the beauties imposed upon him by various factions. There was even a rumor claiming that Princess Maschenny was among the women sent to seduce Vahn, seemingly on the orders of Jahad himself. Few people actually believed this, but, as was often the case, the more contentious a topic, the faster it spread among the general populace...Reading the latest news related to Vahn, an article explaining how he had freed the Heroes sealed within the Walls of Peaceful Coexistence, an amused smile spread across Yuri's face as she scrolled through the text. This greatly amplified her beauty, but, due to everyone in her surroundings having been beaten unconscious, the only person able to appreciate it was the wryly smiling Evan.Since it would cause a number of problems if someone were to capture the current scene on their Lighthouse, Evan did his best to suppress his exasperation as he said, "Though conflict among the Princesses is perfectly normal, I don't think Vahn would approve of such 'extreme' measures..."Furrowing her brows in response to Evan's remark, Yuri sent a sidelong glower towards the petite silver-haired man as she huffily replied, "You're too uptight. It's not like I killed any of them. I just gave this arrogant brat a light punishment. We both know she deserved it."Punctuating her words, Yuri lightly smacked the exposed and noticeably bruised backside of the unconscious woman she had been sitting on. This further exacerbated the feeling of exasperation that was plaguing Evan, as, rather than groaning in pain, a discernibly pleasurable moan emanated from the unconscious woman's throat in response to being hit.Shaking her head in spite of the amused smile dominating her face, Yuri resisted the urge to tug at the woman's rather skimpy black panties as she said, "This is why people feel uncomfortable around the Hendo Lok Family. Everyone in their family is either a psychopath, a berserker, or a self-harming masochist..."Exhaling a sigh, Evan was preparing to make another attempt to persuade Yuri, but, ever since her drastic increase in power, convincing her had become a lot harder. She was now strong enough to one-sidedly thrash a Princess infamous for her Shinsu Resistance and durability. This was in spite of the fact that the latter had her entire team fighting alongside her, each ranking within the top 500 of their respective Positions.Unfortunately, just as Evan was about to speak, the woman serving as Yuri's seat cushion promptly opened her eyes, seemingly stirred awake by the previous strike. This was quickly noticed by Yuri, who, with a somewhat predatory smile on her face, gave the woman's bottom another light smack as she asked, "Learned your lesson?"With a heated sigh forced from her throat, the hazel-eyed woman seemed to consider her options for a few moments before 'indignantly' asserting, "I'll never admit defeat...e-even if you tie me up and t-t-torture me...I'll never take back my words...!"Noticing the expectant look in the woman's eyes, combined with the ruddy blush covering her face, Yuri couldn't help but sigh before rising to her feet and saying, "Whatever. I've already gotten my revenge. See you later, Lotte."With a panicked look on her face, Lotte, better known as Princess Hendo Lok Lotte Jahad, promptly sprang to her feet, obstructing Yuri's passage as she exclaimed, "Where do you think you're going!? You're the one who picked a fight! Did you think you could just leave before we've settled this...!?"Seeing Lotte's massive chest bounce in response to her sudden movement, a subtle glow emanated from Yuri's ruby eyes as she crossed her arms in a passive effort to emphasize her own. Then, with a grim look on her face, she stated, "I'm sure you have plenty of people more than willing to help you get off. We're done here. Move."Despite a visible bead of sweat forming on her face and rolling down her cheek, Lotte maintained her position, arms spread wide to block Yuri's departure. Had Vahn been present, he wouldn't have been able to avoid admiring this particular pose, as, due to the innate resistance of her body, Lotte wore 'very' little in the way of clothing. The twin-tailed girl's entire outfit consisted of a black, long-sleeved halter top, bottoms reminiscent of a black bikini, and thigh-high beige leggings that left her heel and toes exposed. This put her remarkably overdeveloped body on full display, and, due to her heritage as a member of the Hendo Lok Family, she towered over the respectably tall Yuri by nearly twenty centimeters. She was a 'mountain' of a woman, yet, despite her size, the only noticeable fat on her body seemed to be consolidated in her breasts, thighs, and bottom.Though she was ultimately playing into the masochistic woman's hand, Yuri was too annoyed by Lotte's behavior to simply ignore her. As a result, a bloody-red aura began to surge from her body as she extended her hand in an instant, middle-finger looped with her thumb as the prelude to a cataclysmic flick. In response, an excited smile spread across Lotte's face as her thick bangs were forced aside from the wind-pressure. This revealed a wine-red blemish covering her left eye, and, though she had already seen it previously, Yuri couldn't help thinking about what Vahn would do even as her finger made contact with Lotte's forehead...In a manner remarkably reminiscent of Mash's Innate, a visible ripple passed through Lotte's body in response to Yuri's attack. Immediately thereafter, her body began to vibrate noticeably as hazy white steam began to rise from her exposed flesh. This was the true reason she forsook armor, as, without being able to 'breathe', her body would rapidly overheat without the aid of Shinsu from the surroundings.Though others would have been sent flying from such an attack, Lotte was only forced back a few meters before exhaling a large cloud of steam from her throat. When she raised her face again, an intoxicated look had replaced her former anxiety, unnerving even Yuri as she heatedly inquired, "Is that the best you can do?" before charging forward with the momentum of a freight train fired from a railgun.Resisting the urge to uppercut the charging beauty, Yuri took advantage of the drastic difference in their respective speeds to snort through her nose and produce a number of springy, vibrant-green, bubbles. A few of these formed directly between her and Lotte, forcibly teleporting the woman the moment she came into contact with them. This left the latter more than a little confused, as, for the most part, Yuri had never revealed her Shinsu Quality. She was the type that liked to resolve things with her fists, so, despite the remarkable utility provided by her inordinately rare Quality, she rarely made use of it.Unfortunately for Lotte, Yuri had decided to make an exception this time around. She wasn't in the mood to be used as a masturbation aide by a masochistic giantess, so, having already achieved her original objective, retreat seemed like the most sensible option. This resulted in Lotte being trapped in a veritable asteroid field of vibrant green bubbles, each capable of randomly teleporting whoever touched them to the location of another bubble. Due to their close proximity, touching one meant being caught in a teleportation loop, one of the most disorienting experiences imaginable...---Using the same bubbles to teleport far away from the site of her battle with Lotte, Yuri couldn't help exhaling an exasperated sigh before grumbling, "I don't know how Vahn does it. All the girls I know are nutjobs, psychos, or closet perverts. Just dealing with a single can be unbelievably troublesome. How does he manage more than a hundred?"Deadpanning in response to Yuri's remark, Evan resisted the urge to point out that her name would be near the top if someone were to compile a list of troublesome women. Instead, he straightened out his oversized backpack, asking, "So? What now? Don't tell me you're actually intending to fight all of the other Princesses? At this rate, you're bound to irreversibly offend someone..."As tempting as the idea was, Yuri promptly shook her head, smiling as she replied, "Who has that kind of time? I'm just settling some past grievances while testing out my new power. I'll probably stop after defeating Adori, Hagipherione, Heice, An, Maschenny, and maybe Garam."Hearing Yuri casually mention defeating six of the most powerful Princesses of Jahad, Evan couldn't suppress a wry smile as he advised, "Confidence isn't a bad thing. Too much confidence, however, is poison for the mind. Please don't do anything too drastic, Princess. At the very least, please consult with your mother before antagonizing anyone directly affiliated with the Imperial Army..."Surprising the diminutive dwarf quite a bit, Yuri actually nodded her head in response to his words, saying, "Well, duh. Even I'm not dumb enough to attack the army. Despite your height, you seem to enjoy looking down on me, don't you?"Punctuating her statement by roughly ruffling Evan's hair, Yuri nearly forced the former to his knees with her extraordinary strength before retracting her hand and adding, "Let's get out of here. Just the thought of that perverted giantess catching up to us makes my skin crawl. We should head to the next Floor before she sends someone to block the Gateport."Without waiting for a response, a red aura suddenly erupted from Yuri's body as she took to the sky like a meteor traveling in reverse. This left Evan feeling more than a little helpless, not because he couldn't keep up with her neutral pace, but because Yuri's aura was so extreme that even Regulars would be able to sense her from thousands of kilometers away. She had never been good at hiding her strength, so, now that her power had increased exponentially, even something a simple as flying through the sky had become unnecessarily high-profile...Shaking his head, Evan released the sigh he had been restraining before grabbing the straps of his backpack and leaping into the air and doing his best to catch up with the distant red dot streaking across the sky. Fortunately, Yuri's navigational capabilities were notoriously defective, so, after flying the wrong way for several minutes, she eventually doubled back to ask which direction the Gateport was located...---Sensing Yuri's aura, Lotte, who had previously been helping her team receive medical aid, promptly directed her gaze towards the horizon. Rather than giving chase, however, she ultimately just shook her head before picking up a warhammer that was even larger than she was. Then, with the muscles of her right arm flexing enough to tear the fabric of her top, she threw it with as much might as she could muster before turning around to continue providing first aid to her unconscious companions. Several minutes later, thousands of kilometers away, an area the size of a small island ended being devastated when said hammer ended up embedding itself in the side of the installation responsible for facilitating transfers to the 61st and 63rd Floors...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Fake News','Darkness, is that you?','High Rankers are scary...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1965: Suffocation