Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though there had been a marginal amount of pushback from some factions within the Hendo Lok Family, Vahn's journey through the Tower had become remarkably unimpeded. All he needed to do was treat the people who came to him. The rest of his time was spent rather leisurely, not because he had nothing to do, but because he needed to keep an eye on everyone in the exploration group.Despite a concerted effort by several families to begin restructuring, there was still a phenomenal amount of corruption within the Tower. Many attempted to conceal this by lying low while Vahn's group was exploring the Floor, but, more often than not, the residents of the Floor were more than willing to reveal the truth of the matter. This led to a series of one-sided conflicts, as, even on the low end, each resident of the Emerald Grove was more than a match for the average High Ranker.The only saving grace for the factions that had drawn the attention of Vahn and his entourage was the fact they only spent three days on each Floor. This disappointed many of the opportunists who wanted the Empire to resolve all their problems, but, possessing no desire to become involved with the politics of the Tower, Vahn didn't particularly mind how people viewed him and his group. They helped who they wanted, and, once everything was resolved, it was up to the people left behind to choose how they would move forward from there. This might come across as irresponsible, but, just as the people were not beholden to the Empire, Vahn and his compatriots had no obligation to take care of and provide for them.By not expecting anything in return, be it status, power, or resources, the Aldrnari Empire was in a rather unique position. Its members could act with impunity, and, most importantly, they could not be bribed, swayed, or corrupted. They were like a fiery wave of justice that swept across everything, and, the moment anyone tried to oppose them, they would be annihilated without the opportunity for recourse. This included branches of the Ten Great Families, so, by the time Vahn had reached the 70th Floor, the territories around the Gateports had become progressively more deserted. Inversely, the presence of the Royal Enforcement Division and Imperial Army had increased, not to get in the way, but to try and resolve things in a 'less destructive' manner.Heading this effort were the Corps Commanders of the 2nd and 4th Army Corps, specifically High Rankers by the name Ari Senna and Kallavan. They had been given the task of mediating between the exploration group and the various factions related to the Jahad Empire. This generally involved arresting and imprisoning certain persons of interest, but, every now and then, it meant small fights would break out between the 4th Army Corps and the exploration group.The Corps Commander of the 4th Army Corps, Kallavan, was a remarkably powerful individual with an unyielding sense of justice and a penchant for 'collecting' people he found interesting. His entire Corps was comprised of 'Servants' he had collected over the years, and, depending on their power and contributions, they were further broken down into various Tiers.Though 'collecting' people sounded wrong, the truth of the matter was that Kallavan allowed the people he had defeated to redeem themselves through service. Had they refused, he would have been forced to kill them in the fulfillment of his duties, so, in more ways than one, he had afforded them a second chance at life. This, combined with Kallavan's nature and power, led to many within the 4th Army Corps dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to the blonde-haired, blue-eyed, man. In their minds, he was the greatest hero in the entire Tower, and, should he ask it of them, they would not hesitate to lay down their lives to fulfill his aspirations.Unfortunately, as was often the case when the leader of an organization was considered righteous and heroic, the people beneath them were quick to act if it meant preserving these ideals. In simple terms, the members of the 4th Army Corps were zealots who genuinely believed that Kallavan was the hero who would unify the various peoples of the Tower. In their minds, he was the only person qualified to achieve this completely arbitrary dream, so, with many in the exploration group being rather zealous themselves, it was only natural that the two sides would have disagreements...---Having been keeping a close eye on things, Vahn promptly teleported to the scene just as Mordred released her Dragon's Breath towards a Needle-wielding woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, white military-style garb, and a red cape. This was a recurring theme as of late, so, with Mordred's breath diverted towards the heavens, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he stated, "I don't mean to be rude, but I'm beginning to see a bit of irony in your parents naming you Bright..."Unamused by Vahn's words, the woman, Ari Bright Sharon, adopted a potent frown as she forced herself to say, "Thank you for your assistance..." through gritted teeth. At the same time, she made sure to back up out of arm's reach, an action that elicited a light chuckle from Vahn's throat.Shifting his attention away from the petite blonde, Vahn directed his gaze towards a mechanically modified woman with porcelain-white skin, red eyes, and a sky-blue gemstone embedded in her forehead. This was one of the only First Tier Servants among Kallavan's forces, and, as her red eyes and phenomenal aura indicated, she was a member of the Ha Family. Unfortunately, she had given up the blessings associated with her Family in exchange for an advanced prosthesis that drastically improved her ability to manipulate Shinsu. As a result, she looked more machine than human, and, though she wasn't exactly 'ugly', Vahn couldn't help feeling a marginal amount of disappointment whenever he laid eyes on her...Recognizing the look in Vahn's eyes, the inordinately pale woman, Ha Cheonhee, resisted the urge to ball her hands into fists as she explained, "We have taken control of the situation and intend to conduct a thorough investigation into the Aris Family's offenses. Please withdraw your forces. There is no need to exacerbate matters any further."Choosing to disregard the woman's remark, Vahn shifted his attention to Mordred, who, since his arrival, had been doing her best to calm down. In response to his gaze, however, a fiery aura began to erupt from her body as she heatedly explained, "These assholes are trying to protect a bunch of pedos involved in human trafficking! Those bastards don't deserve a trial...!"Understanding how disadvantageous things could get if Vahn was triggered, Cheonhee did her best to clarify things, immediately adding, "Blaming the entire family for the actions of a few isn't justice! You have every right to be angry, but there is a process to deal with-"Interrupting Cheonhee's remarks, Vahn's aura descended upon the entire compound as he said, "I'll resolve this matter personally. Move."With the final word carrying the Power of Authority, Cheonhee, Sharon, and several other members of the 4th Army Corps experienced the horror of having their bodies move against their will. At the same time, all the Shinsu in the surroundings began to dissipate as the compound housing the Aris Family began to fragment into its constituent parts...---Observing the incident up until the point that the connection with her Lighthouse was interrupted, a tired sigh escaped Ari Senna's throat as she looked at the muscular man seated across from her and said, "This is the seventh incident. I'm afraid I have no choice but to consult the Commander-in-Chief and have her select a replacement. Please recall your forces and have them begin making preparations for your departure."Without so much as a single change in his expression, Kallavan, appearing as steady as a mountain, stared directly into Senna's eyes as he firmly declared, "We will not withdraw without a direct order from the King. The acquiescence of the Empire's forces threatens to propel the Tower into a state of disarray and unbridled chaos. If our intelligence is accurate, he will become an even greater threat if he is allowed to enter the 77th Floor and ally with Wokhaiksong. Before then, I will do everything in my power to hinder that man's progress...even if it means going rogue..."Frowning in response to Kallavan's words, Senna was tempted to chide him, but, understanding the futility of such actions, she simply released a sigh before saying, "I'll have to record your dissidence in my report. If you're going to take action, you have until Headquarters sends its response to carry it out. After that, I will have no choice but to mobilize my forces against yours. At that time, the 4th Army Corps will be formally acknowledged as traitors to the Empire. If you are prepared to take that risk, it is beyond my powers to arrest you. I can only pray that you take the lives of your people into consideration before deciding on any drastic course of action..."Nodding his head in understanding, Kallavan reached up to his collar to remove his rank insignia before rising to his feet and flatly saying, "It has been an honor to serve alongside you. When the time comes, I will order my people not to resist. Please take that into consideration when you're deciding on their sentence."Finished with what he needed to say, Kallavan performed a courteous bow in lieu of a salute before unhesitantly turning around and departing the command room. This left Senna feeling more than a little exasperated, as, despite the many scandals and complaints associated with the 4th Army Corp, they were, inarguably, one of the Empire's most loyal forces. This incident was bound to be used as a justification for their disassembly, and, as a result, the Empire would lose its most dependable and inclusive unit...Exhaling a tired sigh, Senna combed her fingers through her maroon-red hair before staring up at the ceiling with her faded, leaf-green, eyes. This incident made her painstakingly aware of her age, and, though she had no intention of stepping down any time soon, ten-thousand-years was a long time to hold a single position. It was more than enough time to seed the notion that she had been doing this for too long, and, while his beliefs were certainly contentious, it was difficult to shake the feeling that people like Kallavan were what the Tower needed most...---Though he did not slaughter them all, Vahn ended up executing most of the Aris Family. They might have been working on the orders of their Elder and several criminal members of the Workshop, but, regardless of the circumstances, they had been profiting off the illegal trafficking and 'harvesting' of infants and children in the Middle Tower. Such actions were simply unforgivable, so, after compiling a list of every researcher and affiliate related to the incident, he ended up reducing more than 70% of the Aris Family to ash. The only people who were spared were those who had attempted to help the children in secret and those too young to fully understand the horrors perpetrated as a result of their family's greed...It was around the time when Vahn was restoring the Aris Family's compound to its original structure that a large, seemingly infinite, aura descended upon him. This immediately drew his attention, but, rather than showing even a hint of concern, disdain was the only emotion visible in his countenance as he asked, "Is this really the hill you want to die on? Defending pedophiles and monsters engaged in human trafficking?"Without so much as a single change in his expression, a subtle yet remarkably powerful blue aura began to exude from Kallavan's body as he replied, "As people with the power to force our version of justice unto others, it is even more important that we adhere to the laws implemented by those responsible for regulating society. We cannot expect those beneath us to obey the law if we choose to disregard it at our leisure. As reprehensible as their actions may have been, it was not your place to play the part of judge, jury, and executioner. Even if you are a God, there should be limits to what you can and can't get away with. The Tower is not your playground."Frowning in response to the resolute man's words, Vahn was prepared to point out the hypocrisy in his claims and ask who afforded him the right to pass judgment, but, before he could utter so much as a single syllable, violent plumes of gold and blue Shinsu erupted around him. This was the result of an artifact known as the 'Essence of Bravery,' a sacred treasure that, in the distant past, Kallavan had stolen from his own people for no better reason than to alleviate his boredom and obtain even greater strength. It was rumored to be infinitely close to S-Rank in Grade, and, as a basic function, it provided a functionally unlimited amount of Shinsu to its user.With the Essence of Bravery in hand, quite literally, Kallavan had risen from the status of a relatively unknown Ranker to one of the most powerful High Rankers in the entire Tower. This was in spite of the fact he was only Ranked 117th on the official Rankings, not for a lack of power, but for a lack of ambition. If the Rankings were actually based on power, he would easily be in the top 50, and, if he managed to catch them in a region of unstable Shinsu, even those in the top 20 would have a hard time defeating him. As for the reason, it was due to the Essence of Bravery's most potent effect, an ability that granted its user a form of Invulnerability so long as they genuinely believed in what they were fighting for...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'No room for discussion','Senna be like, "I'm too old for this shit..."','Imagine stealing the treasure your clan has protected for countless generations only to walk around with a justice boner for more than three-thousand-years...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

As the energy from Kallavan's attack washed harmlessly across his body, Vahn stood in silent contemplation with his eyes closed and arms slightly spread. His impermeability had reached such extremes that, even if he were to be tossed into a dwarf star, the gravity, pressure, and heat would have no effect on his body. Rather, unless their comprehension of the laws had exceeded a certain threshold, dealing damage to him was akin to a normal human attempting to pluck a star from the sky...Exhaling a sigh, a green aura erupted from Vahn's body that caused the Aris Family compound to rapidly repair itself. At the same time, the people killed by Kallavan's indiscriminate attack found their bodies made whole again as Vahn shaped the explosive Shinsu from his attack into a highly compressed Baang. Then, just as Kallavan was preparing to speak, Vahn opened his eyes to reveal shimmering golden pupils as he remarked, "Pure, unadulterated, ego..."Without affording the man the opportunity to respond, Vahn grabbed the Baang with his bare hand before slamming it against the surrounding void. This caused space-time within the proximity of his domain to fracture like a broken mirror, but, due to the ongoing reversal of entropy, the destructive process was unable to wreak the havoc commonly associated with such an event.With Kallavan lacking the ability to control his association with the Standard Axis of Time, Vahn was able to appear right in front of the man as he repeated the same seventeen-microsecond cycle over and over again. He was effectively trapped in a time loop, but, due to the blessings provided by the Essence of Bravery, he was still cognizant of everything around him. This would be a boon against a normal opponent, but, against someone like Vahn, it was no different than being a prisoner within your own body and mind.Staring into the glaring man's fiery-blue eyes, Vahn's expression remained a mask of apathy as he stated, "You are a good man, Kallavan. Unfortunately, much like Adori, you are blinded by your own sense of justice. You are so convinced that you are doing the right thing, that, even when you make mistakes, you simply press forward, propelled by your sense of duty. I wonder...how many lives have you taken in these three-thousand-years just because they were opposed to accepting the 'second chance' you offered them? Did it bring you a sense of comfort when you excused your actions with self-assurances and telling yourself they were better off dead than living in opposition to Jahad...?"Unable to respond, Kallavan continued trying to surge forward, but, no matter how much power he attempted to muster, it would immediately return to his body due to the irresistible looping of time. This, alone, would have been unbelievably frustrating, but, with the addition of Vahn's words, it was almost like being trapped in hell. To make matters worse, Vahn appeared completely unfazed by his own exertion, almost as if it took no effort whatsoever...Sensing Kallavan's murderous intent increasing exponentially in relation to his fear, Vahn couldn't help shaking his head as he softly muttered, "Yet another example of a good man corrupted by a power he didn't earn...haaaaa..."Though he knew Kallavan would eventually come around if he was given time to reflect, Vahn knew the only way to get him to empathize with others was to put him on the same level. The Essence of Bravery had influenced his perspective in an extreme way, and, though he had tried to use its power for good, such sentiments were meaningless if you didn't have to struggle.Having made up his mind, Vahn lifted his hand towards the heavens as Laev-tan manifested within his grasp. This allowed the flow of time to return to normal, but, before Kallavan could so much as widen his eyes, his entire body was bisected from crown to crotch by the eerie black haze left in the wake of Vahn's instantaneous, imperceptible, slash. Immediately thereafter, every trace of energy within his body spontaneously ceased to exist, as, deep within the container of his Soul, a large blue crystal split cleanly in two before subsequently vanishing alongside a smiling man with ashen-grey skin and blood-red eyes...With the black haze fading from the man's body, Vahn extended his hand to grab Kallavan's collar so that he wouldn't fall from the sky and injure himself. He still had the physique of a High Ranker, but, due to the complete lack of Shinsu in his body, every cell in his body was screaming out as his nerves lit up like the night sky following a festival. This caused his body to seize and spasm, and, as a result of the phenomenal pain he was experiencing, even someone of Kallavan's character was left unconscious, froth forming at his mouth as his eyes rolled backward.Deciding to save the man a bit of face, Vahn unceremoniously tossed Kallavan into the Little Garden before shifting his gaze towards the fleet of Suspend Ships looming in the distance. More precisely, his gaze focused on the centermost ship within the fleet, a massive craft reminiscent of a city-sized centipede. This was Kallavan's flagship, and, though they understood the futility of trying to attack a High Ranker with conventional weaponry, that didn't stop Cheonhee from giving the order to open fire.Though he could have simply ignored the wall-like barrage of cannons, Vahn responded by raising his hand and instantaneously erecting magic circles equal in number to the beams of Shinsu firing toward him. As a result, every single beam of Shinsu was absorbed, greatly empowering the magic circles. Then, much to the horror of the 4th Army Corp, the magic circles began to rapidly divide as the center of each emanated a light similar to a Shinsu cannon preparing to fire.Had they simply stayed in a wall-like formation, the 4th Army Corp might have been able to react to Vahn's counter using powerful barriers and Lighthouses. Unfortunately, just as the Vice-Commander of the 4th Army Corp gave the order to prepare the defenses, the tens of thousands of magic circles in the distance disappeared before subsequently reappearing in a hemispherical formation beneath the fleet. Then, like a rain rising from the ground and piercing the heavens, innumerable weakened beams of Shinsu began to pepper the fleet, completely overwhelming all but the flagship's shields.Noticing this, Vahn teleported directly above the flagship, ignoring the astonished gaze of the Vice-Commander, an inordinately tall man with broad horns and a body fashioned from a blue and white exoskeleton. Then, with what appeared to be a simple, slow-motion, punch, he struck the hull with enough force to create a tunnel-like cavity in the ground below, a distance more than 13,000m. As a result, the flagship ended up dropping hundreds of meters in an instant as a hole more than 10m across penetrated the entirety of the city-sized ship.Shifting his attention away from the flagship, Vahn directed his gaze towards the Vice-Commander, calmly questioning, "Are we done here, or do you intend to continue trying my patience? Be sure to choose your next words wisely, Vice-Commander Elpathion."Though he hadn't completely recovered his senses, Elpathion managed to ask, "Is the Commander still alive?" before promptly following it with, "We surrender." in response to Vahn's affirmative nod. Kallavan was more important to them than their own lives, so, as long as he was still alive, there was always room for negotiations...---Having witnessed the battle from start to finish, Senna was forced to consume a medicine produced by her family just to calm her nerves. Vahn's power wasn't unprecedented within the long history of the Tower, but, seeing the ease in which he performed feats of extraordinary skill and power, it was easy to surmise that he was holding back. This made it difficult to grasp his actual power, and, more importantly, whether or not he had any actual limits...Shaking her head, Senna comforted herself with the notion that, even if he was a God, there 'had' to be a limit to Vahn's strength. At the very least, there had to be some sort of 'logic' that both defined and subsequently limited its use. There was no such thing as absolute omnipotence, so, while Vahn was unquestionably powerful, there had to be some kind of restrictions preventing him from using it however he pleased...Nodding in approval of her own assertation, Senna manifested her Lighthouse's console in order to file an updated report. It was her duty to update Headquarters on all matters pertaining to the Sage Dragon Emperor, and, most importantly, offer suggestions regarding how they should both handle and approach him. In this regard, her authority was second only to Adori, as, prior to the legendary Princess' rise, she had served nearly three-thousand-years as Commander-in-Chief of the Empire's forces.In Senna's opinion, Vahn's existence was an opportunity to introduce some much-needed reform to the Empire. Ten-thousand-years of peace had resulted in the stagnation and corruption of the Great Families, and, as a result, the Empire as a whole. If left to fester unattended, it was only a matter of time before the Empire collapsed from the inside, so, while Vahn's existence was a clear and present threat, it also provided much-needed relief to generations of societal decay.Conveying this within her report, Senna hoped those at the top took her advice to heart and made a concerted effort to improve things before Vahn's arrival. Opposing him directly would only result in even greater destruction to the Empire, so, for everyone's sake, she was hoping they did the right thing. At the very least, they need to discover Vahn's weakness before making a stand, as, based on the information they had obtained thus far, there were no known methods to decisively defeat him. Adori had purportedly annihilated his body without a trace, yet, as if it didn't matter in the slightest, Vahn had simply recreated himself from nothingness.Though the current theory was that Vahn transplanted a version of himself from a parallel timeline into the present, the notion that he possessed such a capability was more than enough reason not to antagonize him. The Workshop had published studies attesting to the existence of a functionally infinite number of alternate and derivative timelines, so, if Vahn truly possessed the ability to draw power from alternate versions of himself, what could they, beings trapped in a single timeline, hope to do against him...?As that thought crossed her mind, Senna leaned back in her chair and quietly enjoyed the calm and serene atmosphere that always preceded periods of unbridled chaos. Any moment now, hundreds of reports would come filing in from various sources, so, even if it was just for a few seconds longer, she wanted to enjoy the relaxed state of her body, a side-effect of the medicine she had previously ingested...---With a pained groan escaping from his throat, the result of simply breathing, Kallavan opened his eyes to find himself lying beneath an inordinately large and beautiful tree. Rather than appreciating its beauty, however, he immediately forced himself to a seated position, ignoring the pain even as a thick layer of sweat spread across his entire body.Noticing several other inordinately large trees in the distance, reports related to the 'Little Garden' immediately appeared within Kallavan's mind. Before he could make any decisions about what he wanted to do, however, a gentle voice echoed from behind him, saying, "You shouldn't be moving around just yet. Were it not for the unique nature of this place, you might have already died from the strain on your body."Though it caused every nerve in his body to cry out in pain, Kallavan forced himself to spin around in an instant, Shinsu gathering around his arms as he launched himself toward the voice's owner, a young girl with dark-skin, leaf-green hair, and clothes comprised entirely of leaves and flowers.Frowning in response to Kallavan's actions, the drill-haired girl swiped her hand through the air in a slapping gesture. Under normal circumstances, Kallavan could have easily evaded such a blow, but, at that exact moment, all the Shinsu he had gathered spontaneously dispersed. He had completely lost the rights to manipulate it within the First Layer, and, as a result, the girl's deceptively simple slap ended up connecting directly with his left cheek, consequently sending him flying hundreds of meters...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'O_O...','Treating poison with poison','Kallavan be like, "Why you bully me...?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With more than seventy hours having passed since their arrival on the 60th Floor, Vahn began to send out telepathic messages before subsequently recalling everyone who had ventured beyond the borders of the Gateport. At the same time, having accepted his invitation to reside in the Little Garden, Lotte was communicating with her family to explain the situation and convey Vahn's terms.Though he would have liked to heal everyone, Vahn couldn't simply ignore the depravity of many members of the Hendo Lok Family. Many of their members pursued forbidden methods to increase their lifespans, and, more often than not, they ended up willfully sacrificing countless lives with the goal of extending their own.While this behavior was almost entirely the result of the circumstances of their birth, Vahn refused to extend the lives of people who would simply go on to torment others for an even longer period of time. Thus, in order to receive treatment, members of the Hendo Lok Family would need to pass a similar evaluation to the one imposed upon Regulars on the lower floors.Fortunately, just as he had taken into consideration the 'nature' of the Lo Po Bia Family members, Vahn viewed the descendants of the Hendo Lok Family in a similar light. He couldn't blame them for circumstances beyond their control, so, as long as they were willing to sign a contract, he would still treat them. As for the terms, that would depend entirely on the severity of their transgressions, and, most importantly, whether or not children were among their victims. This precluded most of the so-called Elders from receiving treatment, but, as they were supposed to live for the sake of the Family, those with more sense would ultimately accept this and begin preparing their replacements. As for the rest...well, they would be forced to face the consequences of their actions...Finished with her report, Lotte emerged from the relative privacy of the suite's master bedroom, her expression one of considerable surprise as she observed the twenty-three exceptional beauties that had appeared during the short period she was away. This included a surprising number of uncannily similar women, who, at a glance, could easily be mistaken for septuplets.Noticing the scantily-clad woman emerging from Vahn's room, nearly every woman present turned towards Lotte as Nero, standing out even among the 'septuplets', remarked, "Oh? I don't recognize you. Since my memory is perfect, that must mean you are a new addition to the harem. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask. As your senior, I will do my best to guide you properly. Umu!"Following up on Nero's words and interrupting Lotte's attempt to correct the misunderstanding, it was Theo who said, "Wow. You're pretty big..." before directing her gaze to the former's chest and thighs, adding, "In a lot of ways..."Though her height was certainly a factor, Lotte's proportions were, by and large, 'fuller' than every other woman present. Her bust, alone, was close to 100cm, and, though she looked somewhat thin and muscular from a distance, her individual thighs were more than 70cm in circumference. Simply put, she was 'massive' compared to the average woman, and, even if stood next to Vahn, she would be nearly a full head taller.Blushing in response to Theo's remark, Lotte raised her hand in a bashful manner while averting her eyes to the side. This cause the fabric of her halter-top to strain to an incredible extent, and, though it was unintentional, she ended up accenting her bust even more due to her arm pressing between the two melon-like mounds of flesh...Noticing a few tell-tale indicators in Lotte's reaction, a knowing smile flashed across Theo's face as she attempted to approach the girl and confirm her theory. Before she could, however, Vahn lightly clapped his hands, drawing the eyes of everyone present as he said, "The future remains to be seen, but, for the time being, Lotte is not a member of my harem. You're jumping to conclusions."Since a firm denial would end up hurting her feelings, Vahn decided to leave things ambiguous by speaking in a way that implied he wasn't against the idea. He had actually grown rather fond of the inordinately tall woman during her sojourn in the Little Garden, and, though he had no intention of forcing the matter, he couldn't deny certain thoughts had crossed his mind. Her outfit was, after all, more than a little eye-catching...Understanding the implication contained within Vahn's words, literal steam began to emanate from Lotte's body as she covered her beet-red face with both hands. This exceptionally innocent reaction earned her quite a bit of favor among the veritable garden of girls present, but, most notably, it was Mash who seemed the happiest about this particular development. She and Lotte had spent a lot of time together over the last week, and, though the latter was significantly older, she always felt like the bigger sister whenever they bonded...Though various thoughts had emerged within the minds of those present, it was Nero who opted to nod her head, arms crossed beneath her ample bosom as she remarked, "It seems I was off by a day or two. Umu! Either way, my offer still stands. If you ever need advice, counseling, or just want to talk, you need only say the word. We are a sisterhood that supports each other no matter what. Umu! Umu~!"Hearing Nero's words, Lotte peeked through her fingers to find that most of the people present were looking at her with approving, or, at the very least, helpless smiles. The most important thing was that there was no resentment or malice visible in the eyes of anyone present, something that was impossible to imagine regarding the expansive harems associated with the Ten Great Families. Even her own mother had fought tooth and nail for political power prior to being poisoned, so, for a variety of reasons, Lotte couldn't quite believe her eyes. Despite this, an awkward smile developed across her face as she meekly responded with a bashful, "Nn...".---Following Vahn's departure from the 60th Floor, Maschenny, who had been keeping a close eye on the situation, couldn't help adopting a somewhat cold look as she heard the report attesting to the fact that Lotte had not appeared after initially entering the frozen pavilion serving as his temporary residence. This implied that she was still inside of Vahn's miniature world, a place rumored to be rife with treasures capable of increasing a person's strength, exponentially, in a short period of time...Though she had already made the decision to pursue a different path, that didn't mean Maschenny had given up on receiving benefits from Vahn. The more she could learn about the structure of the worlds beyond the Tower, the better prepared she would be. She also wanted to increase her power as much as possible prior to her transmigration, not because she had any grand ambitions to fulfill, but because she wanted to, at the very least, experience what it was like to stand near the pinnacle...Having already made up her mind, Maschenny turned towards Lucian, the Silver Dwarf who served as her personal Guide, Light Bearer, and Butler, ordering, "We're returning to the 123rd Floor. Have everyone prepared and ready to move within the hour. Also, contact those rascals and tell them to hurry up and ascend the Tower. If they can't reach the 100th Floor within a year, there might not be a place for them to return to."Suppressing a sigh, Lucian removed his silver-rimmed spectacles in order to clean the lenses as he remarked, "Even Ureko took fifty years to ascend the Tower. She might have taken her time, but she is still the current record holder. Unless you provide them with a Guide and the necessary resources, even a team with multiple Princess of Jahad wouldn't be able to reach the 100th Floor within a year. They might be able to manage if they work together, but, even then, the odds are slim..."As her own climb had taken approximately a hundred years, Maschenny was well aware of the truth contained within Lucian's words. In her case, however, her pride had compelled her to take on all of the Tower's most infamous challenges on her own. If all the Regular Princesses were to team up and work together, setting aside their pride and differences, their ascent would be meteoric. With this in mind, she manifested both her Arms and regular Inventory, emptying both except for a few choice items such as the Yellow May and her favorite artifacts. Then, with a severe yet excited undertone to her voice, she said, "I don't care what it takes. Empty out the treasury if you have to. Either way, they only have a year or so before they miss this opportunity in its entirety. Unless they want to fade into obscurity, tell them to light a fire under their asses and hurry the hell up."Seeing Maschenny toss out her treasures with complete disregard, Lucian couldn't help feeling a little perturbed. She had inherited her father's trait as a collector, so, unless the situation forced her hand, she would never part with her treasures. A few months ago, she had even been coordinating with groups in the lower floors to capture and imprison Khun Aguero Agnis, as, prior to becoming a Regular, the youth had stolen their father's entire collection. Now, however, she was throwing away painstakingly acquired treasures without batting an eyelash...Amused by Lucian's reaction, Maschenny crossed her arms with a haughty smile on her face as she mused, "Oh? Do you mean to tell me that you didn't see this coming? It seems actions inspired by the Sage Dragon Emperor's influence are beyond even the abilities of an A-Rank Guide to foresee. How interesting..."As he hadn't been proactively using his power, Lucian couldn't help furrowing his brows in response to Maschenny's teasing remark. Then, with his eyes releasing an illusory silver glow, he peered into the predatory Princess' future before paling as images of her lifeless yet smiling body infiltrated his mind. This gave him the urge to refuse her order, but, as a Guide, it wasn't his place to decide what path others walked, only to advise them when they felt lost. Maschenny had clearly resolved herself to this particular path, so, even if he wanted to advise her to choose a different route, he could only clench his teeth and stay the course she had decided upon...such was the responsibility and curse of a Silver Dwarf...---Though she understood it would take approximately 51 days for him to reach her Floor, a certain tomboyish blonde could already be seen waiting expectantly in the canopy of a massive tree that, from a distance, resembled an amalgamation of glowing white wings. This was none other than the Wing-Tree, and, as could be expected, the only person with enough insolence to casually relax in its branches was none other than Ureko.After hearing reports regarding Yuri's spontaneous increase in strength, something she was looking forward to experiencing directly, Ureko was convinced that Vahn had surpassed her expectations by a considerable amount. This made it difficult for her to remain calm, so, after stealing another seven pairs of panties, she promptly decided to return to the 77th Floor. There, a considerable number of Wolhaiksong members, several of which Vahn would have immediately recognized, had gathered in anticipation of his arrival. They were all looking forward to meeting the person rumored to possess the ability to make their collective dream come true, so, along with Ureko, a veritable horde of High and Advanced Rankers were 'patiently' awaiting the appearance of both Yuri and the Sage Dragon Emperor...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'One of us. One of us. One of us~','Maschenny employing those late-game speedrun strats...','Prepare the boss music track o_o...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1969: Principles