Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though Soo-Yun and Tarou had attempted to convince him to depart sooner, Vahn ultimately chose to remain on the 76th Floor for the entire 72 hours. He knew that, soon enough, his time within the Tower would come to an end. Thus, while he was looking forward to his reunion with Ureko and Yuri, he was also feeling slightly apprehensive due to the significance of such an event.Even with countless contracts to protect them, Jahad and the Great Warriors were only around the pinnacle of Tier 4. If she really wanted to, Ureko would be able to defeat most of them without any issues. The only reason she elected not to was that, despite her character, she had a pretty strong sense of responsibility. She had no desire to rule over the Tower, so, on the premise that they left her alone, she generally did her best not to intervene with the Empire and its affairs.Though there would undoubtedly be a period where she went hunting for panties, Vahn was well aware of the fact that Ureko wouldn't simply sit still after their reunion. Dragons were immensely prideful creatures, so, the moment he defeated her, or vice-versa, their fates would be intertwined. She would not just sit back as he ascended the Tower and opened the way forward for everyone in the Tower. Rather, if he tried to convince her to travel independently of each other, there was a very real possibility that she would ascend the Tower ahead of him and simply clear out all the obstacles in his path.Simply put, the moment he reunited with Ureko and Yuri, Vahn's already ridiculous progress would become even faster. There was simply no reason to delay things, and, no matter how anyone tried to spin it, the current situation would only benefit from some expediting. There were still countless people suffering, and, while some were beginning to implement changes, the majority of people in power were simply biding their time and lying low. Such individuals couldn't simply be ignored, so, while the aftermath could always be left to a Template to resolve, Vahn felt obligated to handle the more troublesome matters personally.With such thoughts on his mind, Vahn, appearing as a taller-than-average male Dwelfling, stared up at the ceiling of his abode with an absentminded look on his face. To his right, face still rosy after a fair amount of exertion, Marble could be seen sleeping peacefully, a contented smile on her face as she tightly clung to his arm. This was unbelievably adorable, but, as was often the case whenever he slept with inordinately petite women, Vahn couldn't help using the subsequent moment of clarity to reflect...Fortunately, just as his thoughts had started to wander to Lili, Kali, and even Amaterasu, Vahn was interrupted by the voice of Soo-Yun remarking, "You look like a death row inmate who just finished his final meal. Do you not like the taste of Marble Cake and Strawberry Ice Cream~?"Amused by Soo-Yun's reference to Marble's name and her own alias, a light chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat as pulled her a little closer and whispered, "Nonsense. I'm just feeling a little nostalgic. Pretty soon, my time in the Tower will come to an end. The thought of 'moving on' reminds me of a mistake I made in the distant past, but, no matter what, I must continue pressing forward...there are a lot of people relying on me..."Seeing the sad yet resolute glimmer in Vahn's eyes, Soo-Yun resisted the urge to ask if he wanted to talk about it. Instead, she planted a kiss on his cheek before snuggling a little closer to him, face nestling in the nook of his neck as she whispered, "You're strong..." before promptly returning to his dreamscape. This caused Vahn's smile to soften considerably, and, though he couldn't help feeling a little awkward being sandwiched between two inordinately petite women, that didn't stop him from planting kisses on their foreheads before joining them in his unconscious mind...---With only a few minutes remaining until their scheduled departure, Vahn began recalling everyone using his Unit Management. This time, however, he recalled them to the Little Garden, as, unlike the previous Floors, the 77th was a single, massive, forest. There wasn't really anything to explore, so, as a precaution against Ureko attacking him the moment they arrived, Vahn decided it would be safer if everyone returned to the Emerald Grove to begin making preparations for a grand banquet. The only exception to this was Artoria, who, as a result of her draconic lineage and status as a Tier 5, felt compelled to challenge Ureko herself.Though he would have liked to settle things peacefully, Vahn had come to accept that the hierarchy between True Dragons wasn't so easily circumvented. There were undoubtedly Records where such instincts didn't exist, but, more often than not, the need for True Dragons to determine who among them was the strongest simply couldn't be suppressed. This even applied to siblings from the same brood, so, while he would prefer it if they could simply talk things out, Vahn knew that the only way forward was to make Ureko submit to him or accept a station beneath her.With his own instincts preventing him from submitting to another, for a variety of reasons, the only outcome Vahn could accept was an absolute victory. He would do his best to avoid 'cheating', but, if it came down to it, he wasn't against taking advantage of his Actualization Innate to accumulate strength and experience in other worlds.Letting Ureko win would threaten everything he had built, and, depending on the circumstances, she might not approve of certain members of his harem. This would introduce all kinds of needless drama, so, even if it was a little underhanded, Vahn intended to use everything in his arsenal to secure victory. He was also willing to help Artoria, but, knowing her, she would most likely accept defeat before doing everything in her power to surpass Ureko on her own terms.Indicative of this, Artoria, now in her fully matured form, stood patiently at Vahn's side in full, ivory-white, armor. She, like most of the girls who had opted to become True Dragons, had the ability to freely adjust her size and shape to conserve energy. This allowed her to appear young and adorable at normal times, but, when the time for battle came, her body would automatically adjust to a form better suited for combat. Most opponents didn't merit such measures, but, out of consideration for Ureko's strength, Artoria was prepared to go all out from the very start.Fortunately, even in her fully matured form, Artoria was only 171cm tall, so, despite appearing regal and untouchable, Vahn could still freely caress her head. This would generally result in her staring at him with an apathetic, 'can't this wait?', kind of look on her face, but, no matter how much she tried to suppress it, she couldn't prevent the tip of her tail from wiggling in response to his touch.Taking advantage of this, Vahn caressed the space between and around Artoria's pure white horns until the exact moment when they were scheduled to depart. This might seem 'pointless' to some, but, as a result of a now deeply-ingrained instinct, Artoria's body began to release pheromones as a matter of course. Ureko was bound to be able to detect this, so, while it was a little underhanded of him, Vahn was intending to create a gap in her mental state by forcing her to redirect a bit of focus to Artoria. If he could get her to pick a fight with Artoria before engaging him, there was a chance that everything could be resolved without him needing to lift a finger. If Artoria was actually able to win, this would drastically strengthen her position, and, most importantly, it would allow him to get a better grasp of Ureko's strength so he could end the fight as quickly and safely as possible.Fully aware of this, Artoria allowed Vahn to continue petting her head even as an uncomfortable itch spread through her abdomen and near the base of her tail. This caused her to feel more than a little frustrated, but, understanding how important it was for Ureko to be the one to challenge her, she tolerated it with a calm and proud expression on her face. It was only when Soo-Yun said, "I'm pretty sure that's 72 hours." that she pulled her head away from his palm, tail smacking him in the process of turning around to enter the gate.Despite his general imperviousness, Artoria's 'attack' resulted in a sharp pain radiating from Vahn's knee and throughout the rest of his leg. At their level, nature and affinity went a 'very' long way, so, as a Holy Elemental True Dragon with an Anti-Dragon attribute, Artoria effectively dealt unmitigable damage to him. Her [Phoenix Dragon Empress] Innate also provided her comparable authority and status to his own, so, even if he were exponentially more powerful than her, Artoria was one of the only people who could consistently defeat him if they both went all out.Fortunately, while her abilities were most useful against him, Artoria's advantage against other True Dragon's bordered on the absolute. Had Ureko been a pure-blooded True Dragon, a battle between the two wouldn't even be a contest. Luckily, at least for the half-blooded princess, the other half of her lineage came from the Lunarian people, a species colloquially known as the Moon Rabbit Tribe. Since her father was a Heavenly Star Dragon, Yin and Yang had perfectly melded within her body to give her an unbelievably powerful constitution, and, most importantly, resistance to both Holy and Darkness Elemental Energies.Simply put, while Artoria's attacks would normally be 'super-effective' against someone like Ureko, the latter's constitution provided her a form of immunity against them. She also possessed no less than three SSS-Ranked Innates, so, without a miracle occurring, the actual odds of Artoria's victory were only around 1.336% in a direct contest and 7.291% if Ureko wasn't treating the fight seriously. If Ureko decided to use the 'Light of Origin', however, the odds shifted in such an extreme manner that it was impossible to quantify Artoria's chances of victory. Rather, unless she held back, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that the entire Tower might be destroyed, as, according to the Sacred Tome, the Light of Origin, at its absolute weakest, was about as powerful as the energy released during the creation of a Universe.Vahn doubted Ureko would be brazen enough to employ such a powerful artifact, but, at times like this, it was better to be safe than sorry. Thus, in preparation for this event, he had previously helped Artoria transplant the entirety of Avalon into her body, or, more specifically, her Soul. It now existed as her own Internalized Realm, much like Ilya's 'Slaughter Dimension', so, unless they had the ability to annihilate a Realm where their power had very little influence, she was immune to most forms of damage. The only downside was, due to the nature of Avalon, she couldn't really invite anyone into its interior. It now served as the foundation for her Soul Realm, so, unless they were a 'very' specific type of entity, Vahn being the obvious exception, only her Zanpakuto Spirit and exceptionally pure creatures could reside there.For most Tier 5's, trapping a target within their personal Realm was a victory condition, as, bar a few exceptions, their opponent would, effectively, be powerless. This was especially true for people who were entirely reliant on a specific form of energy, as, depending on the circumstances, the energy they use might not even exist in the Realm of their opponent. Even if it did, they might not have the authority to wield it, so, while it all but guaranteed her impregnability, Artoria was at a disadvantage compared to most Tier 5s. On the plus side, she had multiple sources of functionally infinite energy within her own body, so, even if another Tier 5 was able to trap her, they wouldn't be able to restrict her power. Thus, so long as Ureko didn't become impatient, there was always a chance that Artoria would come out ahead...albeit a very small one...(A/N: As people on Discord were made aware, I ended up getting sick due to a cold snap hitting my hometown. It got down to 11 degrees in my apartment and turning on the heater just made the fire alarm go off. Fortunately, I'm already recovering so I'll be doing my best to increase the number of chapters. At the very least, there will be three chapters released tomorrow, potentially concurrently. I know how much you all hate cliffs so I'll try and spare you the suspense of having to wait an entire day just to see the continuation of a single battle xD...)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Stepping out onto the 77th Floor proper, Vahn was unsurprised to find a vast, seemingly endless, forest. What did surprise him was the fact that, despite being a forest filled with countless different life forms, an unusual aura emanated from the soil beneath their feet. It was almost like the forest was a single superorganism, and, no matter how far he spread his senses, the same aura could be felt emanating from every plant and animal within his domain...Though she was unable to sense the same things as Vahn, Artoria could still feel the overwhelming vitality emanating from their surroundings. In many ways, it reminded her of the network of World Trees located in the First Layer, but, rather than inspiring peaceful serenity, the seemingly endless forest was rife with an atmosphere of wild, unfettered, excitement.Passing her gaze over the surroundings, Artoria's expression remained an irreproachable mask of stoicism as she remarked, "It seems Ureko is not the only danger present within this Floor. There is an unbelievably powerful presence emanating from all around us. Though there are a few distinct differences, this place reminds me of Madara's Ode to an Endless World of Trees."Though she had no idea who Madara was, Soo-Yun chimed in, saying, "You're probably sensing our Lord, Baek Ryun. It is rumored that he became one with the forest in his youth. He also managed to teach himself how to manipulate Shinsu prior to becoming a Regular, and, according to legend, he is even able to do so without permission from the Guardians. Because of that, some have ascribed the status of 'Irregular Regular', and, based on several reliable sources, it was actually Headon who first approached him about climbing the Tower. In other words, he entered the Tower without any ambition, and, as a result, is not subject to the same restrictions as everyone else."Resisting the urge to laugh, Vahn earned the attention of everyone present as a wide smile spread across his face. In response, Soo-Yun adopted a pretend pout, but, before she could even ask what he found so funny, Vahn explained, "Your Lord seems to be unaware, but that title is actually quite accurate. According to my knowledge, he is the abandoned child of two Irregulars, each a member of the group that supported Jahad and the Great Warriors during the Age of Climbing."Surprised by the sudden revelation, Soo-Yun, Tarou, and Marble each found themselves at a loss for words. With the obvious exception of Yeon Ilarde, Yeon Hana's aunt, it was a closely guarded secret that Jahad and the Great Warriors had ascended the Tower alongside a number of friends and close family members. Some of these people ended up dying during the ascent, but, unbeknownst to the general residents of the Tower, the vast majority had been hunted down during The Great War. The Empire had hunted them down without mercy, not because they had sided with Arlen and V, but to limit the number of Irregular bloodlines in the Tower.While the Wolhaiksong trio was in the midst of processing his words, Vahn and Artoria shifted their attention to a nearby tree. Immediately thereafter, a young man with inordinately pale skin, tinged with a green hue, emerged from the trunk like an immaterial phantom. At a glance, he was no older than 14-15-years-old, but, much like the vast majority of Rankers in the Tower, his aura gave off the impression of someone much older. As for his features, he had leaf-green hair stopping just before his shoulders, pupilless green eyes, and, while it wasn't noticeable at first glance, it was possible to make out a pattern reminiscent of tree grain covering much of his robe-veiled body.Giving voice to the notion that had just crossed Vahn's mind, Artoria tilted her head indiscernible to the side as she inquired, "Solon?"Though the youth had initially directed his gaze to Vahn, the confusion in Artoria's tone caused him to shift his gaze to her, mirroring her head tilt to an almost comical extent as he said, "You seem to have confused me with someone else. My name is Baek Ryun. As friends of Ureko, you are welcome to refer to me as Little Bae or Greenie. It is a pleasure to make the acquaintance of the Sage Dragon Emperor and the Phoenix Dragon Empress."Following his words, Baek lowered his head as a sign of respect, but, as was often the case when a person's power had exceeded a certain point, there was a certain whimsy to each of his movements. He even had an expectant smile on his face, and, were it not for the undisturbed nature of his aura, some might even misconstrue his demeanor as an indication of an unbridled fascination bordering on obsession. This was emphasized by his lack of pupils, a trait that, more often than not, bestowed its possessor an inherent 'creepy' factor.Habitually gesturing for Baek to raise his head, Vahn maintained a relaxed smile as he asked, "I'm guessing you want to know more about your parents?"Unsurprisingly, Baek immediately nodded in response to Vahn's words, his smile becoming even more prominent until the latter added, "I don't mind humoring you, but, after thousands of years, are you sure you want to know the truth of your origins? I can empathize with your desire to know more about your family, but, trust me when I say the truth isn't always pleasant to hear..."Understanding the implication in Vahn's words, Baek adopted a solemn expression that didn't quite suit his appearance, asking, "Are they alive?" before following it up with, "Were they murdered?" in a hardened, direct, tone.Since Baek had every right to know the truth, Vahn decided not to beat around the bush, nodding his head before saying, "They were killed by members of the Royal Enforcement Division. Afterward, their bodies were confiscated by the Po Bidau Family's Research Association. Though I will tell you if you insist, it's better you didn't know what happened after that..."Unable to suppress his rage, Baek's irises began to release a murderous gleam as the forest around them seemed to come to life, violently oscillating as the grass beneath their feet writhed about in a manner reminiscent of countless tentacles.Suppressing a sigh, Vahn lightly shook his head in response to Baek's reaction. He could certainly empathize with the youthful-looking man, but, knowing the thoughts going through his mind, he couldn't approve. The man was thinking about annihilating the Po Bidau Family down to its roots, sparing absolutely no-one, not even the innocent and the children.Fortunately, Baek was bound to the forest around him, so, even if he wanted to seek vengeance, his options were extremely limited. The only way he could wipe out the Po Bidau Family was if each of their members entered the 77th Floor at the same time. His only other option was having someone act at his behest, but, with the exception of Ureko, someone who would beat him the moment he mentioned wiping out an entire family, there wasn't anyone in Wolhaiksong even remotely capable of taking on a Family Leader.Deciding to offer the man some solace, Vahn ignored the now waist-high grass, stepping forward to pat Baek's head as he said, "Calm down. Hatred and animosity should never be directed towards an entire group of people. If you followed through on the thoughts currently clouding your mind, you would become an even greater monster than the people who wronged you. Rather than waste time on something like revenge, you should focus on living your life to the fullest. Obtaining happiness is the only way to overcome past grievances and prevent the perpetuation of even greater misfortune. Besides, you still have family in the Tower. In fact, one of your relatives has been near you quite a bit as of late."Though he was more than a little confused by Vahn's casual caressing of his head, Baek perked up quite a bit in response to the mention of his family. This caused the forest and the surroundings to gradually settle, and, as a result, Vahn dutifully revealed, "Your parents were distantly related to the Tu Perie Family. The Spirit of the Green April is actually your mother's second cousin, once removed. It isn't happenstance that her ignition resembles a collection of grassy vines erupting outward to try and crush her opponents."Having never seen the Spirit of the Green April or its ignition, Baek was more than a little surprised to learn that he was related to one of the most famous weapons in the Tower. As for his relation to the Tu Perie Family, he didn't particularly care. It had been a pretty popular rumor during his ascent, and, at several points during his journey, the Tu Perie Family had even sent delegations to try and recruit him into the main family. This had been a big deal at the time, but, due to his earnest desire to return to his home forest, Baek ended up refusing every invitation before ultimately slaughtering everyone who attempted to bar his passage through the higher floors.Eager to meet and converse with his not-so-distant relative, Baek swatted Vahn's hand away before saying, "Come. Ureko has been waiting for you for quite some time. At this rate, I fear she may very well destroy my forest. I'd rather avoid such an outcome, so, while it might be a mild inconvenience, please hurry along. If you fly above the trees, the path to my core will be made clear. I look forward to seeing you near the base of the winged tree."Finished with what he had to say, dashed head-first into a nearby tree, but, rather than smashing into it, his body phased through the incredibly dense trunk as if it was a projection. Then, as if to indicate the direction they should go, the branches of every tree, shrub, and even the blades of grass in the surroundings all pointed in a single direction. This was quite the sight to behold, but, having interacted with Gods who clothed themselves with the fabric of reality, Vahn simply smiled before passing his gaze over the four girls encircling him, asking, "Shall we?" in an amused tone.While Soo-Yun, Tarou, and Marble were still recovering from their shock, three pairs of silvery-white wings sprouted from Artoria's back as she dutifully replied, "Where you lead, I will follow." in a curt yet respectful tone. This immediately drew the attention of the other three, who, despite thousands of years of experience, had never seen anything quite as beautiful as Artoria's wings. She suddenly seemed even more majestic, and, though they had never actually intended to compete against her, the notion that they could now seemed like a distant dream.With the edges of his smile curling up into an appreciative grin, Vahn returned a nod before several pairs of wings emerged from his back. These were completely unnecessary, but, feeling inspired by his inordinately beautiful Empress, he ended up sprouting six distinct wings, each representative of a different element. At the same time, pitch-black horns protruded from his head as a rather thick dragon tail emerged from his backside. This might have seemed contradictory to his status as the 'Golden Dragon', but, immediately following their emergence, blazing golden runes began to shine across both as vibrant golden scales emerged across his shoulders, arms, and legs.Having never seen Vahn in his half-dragon transformation, Soo-Yun, Tarou, and Marble were more than a little surprised. As for Artoria, her pupils immediately contracted, and, though it didn't show on her expression, her aura had become chaotic and agitated. This, in turn, caused Vahn's blood to boil, but, understanding there were other matters to attend, the duo of Dragons simply exchanged a silent promise between them before promptly taking to the sky...(A/N: I woke up with a mild earache so I decided to publish this chapter as filler. Baek is actually a pretty important character in ToG, Ranked 9 in the entire Tower, so I figured I might as well take the opportunity to introduce him. After this, I'll probably write another chapter but don't expect it to be published today. I want to release the actual fight chapters within an hour of each other so they will all come out around the reset tomorrow. Sorry for the delay.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Emerging onto the 76th Floor, Vahn was unsurprised to find a large crowd of people waiting for them. This time, however, it wasn't simply paparazzi, agents of the Ten Great Families, and members of the Royal Enforcement Division awaiting their arrival. Instead, there was a large group of cloaked individuals wearings similar outfits, several of which Vahn could identify at a glance.Though things were made a little awkward due to the presence of more than twenty women in his surroundings, Vahn immediately adopted a smile as he said, "Tarou, Soo-Yun, Marble. It's good to see you again. I see you've each become even more charming since our previous parting."Not expecting Vahn to call out to her, Marble, the Dwelfling that had assisted Team Wolf Pack on the 3rd Floor of the Tower, spontaneously turned bright red. As for Tarou, the Administrator Vahn had met on the 11th Floor, and Soo-Yun, the Scout of Yuri's party, the former simply adopted a gratified smile while the latter remarked, "You're playing with fire, dragon boy. If you don't pick up the pace, Ureko really might kill you."Despite understanding the seriousness of her words, Vahn couldn't help chuckling in response to Soo-Yun's remark. Almost immediately thereafter, however, he nearly ended up choking due to Mordred quietly noting, "Wow. Did Chichiue really do it with someone so tiny? That girl with the hooves can't be more than 120cm tall. How brave..."Resisting the urge to smack the golden-haired girl on the back of her head, Vahn sent a warning look towards Mordred before turning to face the beet-red Marble. He wanted to clear things up, but, before a single syllable could escape his lips, the Law of Identity whispered, "She has actually been looking forward to it..." directly into his ear...Seeing Vahn at a loss for words, Artoria promptly decided to lend her support, stepping forward to state, "We should move this discussion elsewhere." before shifting her gaze towards the exploration group and adding, "Same as usual. You have seventy-two-hours to explore. Don't wander too far. If something happens, don't hesitate to send a report."Though some wanted to stick around and witness the drama, most of the exploration group quickly dispersed. This left Artoria, Gray, Mordred, and Fenrir to accompany Vahn, who, taking advantage of the sudden shift, elected to simply disregard Mordred's remark and the fact that the Law of Identity was hanging from his shoulders while borrowing Marble's form...---With Wolhaiksong's main base located just a single Floor higher, the peace and stability of the 76th Floor were exceptional compared to the many Floors preceding it. They even had numerous bases and military outposts disseminated throughout the Floor, so, while it was formally governed by the Po Bidau Family, many considered the 76th Floor to be under the control of Wolhaiksong.At the direction of Soo-Yun, Vahn and Co were led to a surprisingly homely-looking inn that served, primarily, as a tavern. Wolhaiksong was vehemently against the notions of wealth and excess, so, as a matter of course, most of their facilities were designed with simplicity in mind. Many, in fact, were shaped from natural materials, and, more often than not, were built in the middle of forests, within mountain ranges, or deep beneath the ground. This had led to many decrying them as savages and backwater hicks, but, as time passed, a greater number of people had been flocking to Wolhaiksong in the search of a simpler, more honest, way of living.Rather than showing even a hint of discomfort, Vahn couldn't help smiling when he was introduced to the rather roughshod abode. Others might find the scent of wood and moist soil offensive, but, as someone whose first home had been nothing more than a cave in the middle of the woods, Vahn had always preferred such aromas over the repugnance present within most cities. It wasn't without reason that the Emerald Grove had been built into the hills of the Eighth Layer, so, even before they had been checked into their room, his mood had already improved drastically.Seeing Vahn react according to expectations, an amused smile developed across Soo-Yun's face as she took the initiative to straddle his lap the moment he sat down. This caused the atmosphere to immediately become awkward, but, without minding it in the slightest, she buried her face into his chest, saying, "First things first..." before promptly dozing off.With Mordred remarking, "Are all the chibis within the Tower this bold?", Vahn couldn't help issuing an awkward chuckle even as he habitually wrapped his arms around Soo-Yun's body. Then, as if his lap wasn't occupied by a loli wearing nothing more than a bright-red zentai suit, he shifted his gaze to Tarou, asking, "How have you been? It feels like years have passed since the last time we met. I'm glad you decided to come out and meet me like this."After an awkward chuckle of her own, Tarou picked a few strands of silver-grey hair from her face as she explained, "The higher-ups have been recalling everyone, even those who were on missions and conducting secret operations. Rumor has it, a certain Sage Dragon Emperor possesses the ability to realize our long-held dream. As for why I was elected to come and greet you like this...well, let's just say my position has improved quite a bit these last few months..."Emphasizing her point, Tarou produced a twelve-winged badge from a secret pocket hidden in her vest. She was nowhere near the level required to possess such a coveted symbol, but, after learning of her brief liaison with Vahn, Ureko had forced the badge upon her. She had also been elevated to the status of Sister within the upper echelons of Wolhaiksong, an honorary position that effectively implied that Ureko would personally deal with anyone senseless enough to injure, offend, or harass her.Recognizing the badge, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he softly issued, "Sorry. I didn't really have a grasp of Ureko's character at the time. I hope she hasn't pestered you too much..."Waving her hands in a 'what the hell are you trying to say!?' kind of gesture, Tarou promptly replied, "It's not a problem! Hell, if anything, I should be thanking my lucky stars. I mean, it hasn't even been a year since I mistook you for nothing but a cheeky Regular with a hyperinflated ego and a big dick. I just wanted to scratch an itch and ended up sleeping with the literal God who intends to make our dreams a reality. If that isn't winning the lottery, I don't know what is."Though he appreciated her words, Vahn couldn't help feeling a little taken aback by Tarou's casual mention of his penis. She didn't even seem to realize what she had said, a radiant smile dominating her face as she excitedly pumped her fists...Deciding to change the topic before things developed in a strange direction, Vahn forced a sincere smile, saying, "Thanks..." before directing his gaze to the red-faced Marble with the intent of asking how she had been these past few months. Unfortunately, the moment his eyes met with her amber gaze, she released a startled, "Fwah...!?" sound before promptly pulling down her bandana to cover her face. Then, to add insult to injury, Soo-Yun, despite the fact she was still asleep, whispered, "This is what you get for playing with the hearts of so many women~." in an amused tone...---Receiving Soo-Yun's report later that same day, Yuri, wearing nothing but an Aegis top and bottom, raised her head slightly before using it to nudge the side of the topless woman she was using as a pillow, stating, "You owe me an hour of your time. I told you Vahn wouldn't deviate from his routine that easily. At least now you have a good reason to beat him up once he finally arrives~."Grumbling in response to Yuri's words, the topless woman, Ureko, promptly rolled onto her back in order to catch the former in a headlock before saying, "You're becoming cheekier by the day. Don't think I won't grind your head until your hair falls out!"Despite the drastic increase in her strength, Yuri had learned first-hand that Ureko wasn't someone she could defeat with raw power. She was a being on the same level as Vahn, so, even if she could, somehow, secure an advantage, it was impossible to actually come out on top. Ureko's power was simply limitless, and, no matter what kind of injuries she sustained, it didn't even take a full second for her to regenerate completely. To make matters even worse, her strength seemed to be whatever she needed it to be, so, no matter how much she powered up, Yuri had come to accept that Ureko would always be stronger.Pulling at the overpowered blonde's arm to prevent her circulation from being cut off, Yuri adopted a teasing tone as she exclaimed, "Go ahead and try, you tyrannical bimbo! I'll just get Vahn to grow it back and pamper me even more...!"Twisting to wrap her legs around Yuri's torso, Ureko put a bit more strength into her arms, easily overpowering her raven-haired companion before warning, "Don't push your luck, brat. You might be one of my favorite people in this hellhole of a Tower, but that doesn't mean I won't beat the shit out of you. Do I need to remind you which one of us is the 'big sister'...?"With her face instantaneously turning purple, the only words Yuri could offer in response to Ureko's threat were croaking sounds. Fortunately, just as she was about to power up to her maximum, the irritable blonde released her neck before plopping back with her arms sprawled out and muttering, "If that bastard is even a minute late, I'm going to tear off his tail and shove it so far up his ass that the tip protrudes from his mouth..."Though she was 'very' tempted to retaliate, Yuri ultimately just rubbed her neck while continuing to lay back against the sprawled out Ureko. They had actually become a lot closer after their previous battle, so, while there were moments when Ureko's 'instincts' caused her to behave in an oppressive manner, Yuri did her best not to take it to heart. Rather, if their positions were reversed, she would, most likely, treat Ureko in a comparable manner. They were both the type to communicate affection and express emotion through physical contact, so, while there times when things got out of hand, it never reached the point where genuine animosity would build between them...Demonstrating this sentiment to the fullest, it wasn't long before Ureko wrapped her arms around Yuri's body, gently embracing her as she whispered, "Sorry..." in an apologetic tone. Then, with her face nestled into the nook between Yuri's head and shoulder, she began to affectionately nuzzle the black-haired beauty before planting a few kisses against the nape of her neck. This elicited a ticklish giggle from Yuri, who, in response to Ureko fondling her breasts, promptly twisted around to gently bite the latter's exposed nipple. She knew how much the half-dragon had been 'suffering' these last few months, so, whenever the opportunity presented itself, she didn't mind offering her 'assistance'. After all, despite her various flaws, Ureko was still her best friend, and, most importantly, they were each the person the other most empathized with throughout the entire Tower...---Unaware of the storm brewing on the 77th Floor, Vahn coordinated with Soo-Yun to transplant the official members of Wolhaiksong into the Little Garden. This was something he had discussed with Ureko long ago, so, while it was undoubtedly a little 'unfair' to others, he was intending to help the entire organization transfer to a higher realm without the need to transmigrate. Not everyone was eager to die in order for a chance to experience a new life, so, out of consideration for the group's ideologies, Vahn was going to help them bypass the reincarnation process so they could remain a 'family'. He knew how painful it was to be separated from one's family, so, even if it earned him the censure of his detractors, he didn't particularly care. The most important thing was that it 'felt' like the right thing to do. Thus, for the duration of his stay on the 76th Floor, Vahn transplanted more than sixteen-hundred people into an unclaimed area within the Second Layer...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Is this what they call Karma...!?','Not your average 'sisterly' bond...','Calm before the storm...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1973: Before the Dawn