Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though it would have been easier to charge directly into the Palace of Swords, Vahn's first course of action was to meet with the Corps Commander of the 2nd Army Corps, Ari Senna. The heads of the Arie and Ari Families were cousins, so, as the daughter of the Ari Family Leader, Senna was also the first-cousin, once-removed, of Arie Hon. She had also been working hard to coordinate with him on various matters, so, while it was all but guaranteed that he would cross swords with the Arie Family Leader, Vahn felt compelled to keep her in the loop...Having grown somewhat accustomed to dealing with Vahn, Senna had learned that, more often than not, he emulated the behavior of whoever he was interacting with. So long as you behaved casually around him, he would afford you the same courtesy, and, most importantly, he could be remarkably cooperative so long as you weren't going out of your way to try and deceive him. Thus, the moment he explained his intentions, an exasperated sigh escaped her throat as she rubbed her temples and asked, "Are you serious?"Nodding his head, Vahn explained, "The Empire and the Great Families might not be the origin, but they have become the publically recognized root of corruption within the Tower. If real change is to be introduced, they need to be held accountable for their actions. I cannot turn a blind eye to what they have become, so, even if it jeopardizes our cooperation, I will continue to push forward for the sake of the Tower, the residents therein, and the countless children who will be born in the future."Understanding how obstinate Vahn could be whenever he had made up his mind, Senna made no effort to try and convince him to commit to a different course of action. Instead, she pulled up her Lighthouse before going on to state, "Lord Arie has always been a rational man. So long as you can overcome his Test, he should be willing to implement the reforms you have in mind..."Though he had no problem accepting Arie Hon's challenge, Vahn ultimately shook his head, saying, "The problems with the Great Families transcend their individual Leaders. Even if they could remove the more toxic elements from their family, it doesn't change the fact they allowed things to develop to that point in the first place. I'm willing to afford them the opportunity to redeem themselves, but, no matter how things end up, they cannot be allowed to continue governing their families."Understanding the consequences of Vahn's actions far greater than the person himself, a dry knot began to form in Senna's throat as she said, "I understand what you're trying to say...but have you truly considered the consequences of such a drastic change in the Tower's structure? I won't argue that the Great Families are without their flaws. The main reason we split from the Arie Family, in the first place, was because of a difference in ideologies. Still, compared to how things were during the Age of Ascension, things are infinitely more peaceful now than how they used to be..."Rather than refuting this, Vahn decided to use Senna's own words against her, saying, "You're right. The Tower was filled with chaos and disorder, so, as a result, Jahad and the Great Warriors did their best to change things for the better. They bared their fangs at those in power, eliminating everyone who stood in their way before ultimately seizing power for themselves. Now, they have become the disease rotting the Tower from the inside, so, before the infection spreads even further, I will cut out the dead tissue at the source. If they are serious about performing their original duty, the Leaders of the Great Families will step down and allow the next generation to take charge. If they were actually concerned with maintaining the peace within the Tower, they never would have allowed corruption to take root within their own families..."Though he understood that corruption was bound to take root in even the noblest of families and organizations, those who claimed to be in charge were ultimately accountable for every misuse of their power and authority. If they were unwilling to accept such a responsibility, they had no right to proclaim themselves as rulers. Thus, knowing that most of them had simply grown bored of life within the Tower, Vahn had no qualms about forcing the current generation of leaders to abdicate. They already had the chance to rule and decided not to. Now, it was someone else's turn to, at the very least, try.Seeing the tell-tale look in Vahn's eyes, Senna knew he wasn't going to be dissuaded. He could be very reasonable most of the time, but, once he made up his mind on something, there didn't seem to be anything capable of changing it. Even worse was the fact that, more often than not, his words struck at the very heart of a matter, so, even if she wanted to come up with a counterargument, he had ten-thousand-years of evidence attesting to their mismanagement...Suppressing a sigh, Senna combed aside her bangs, a difficult expression appearing on her face as she said, "If you go through with this...the Empire might not be able to remain silent. Even if I don't disagree with you, my duty is to the Empire and its people. I will do my best to prevent things from getting out of control, but there is a very high probability that war will break out between the Jahad and Aldrnari Empires..."Though his expression softened for a brief moment, Vahn ultimately shook his head, saying, "That's impossible. Even if the Jahad Empire were to declare war, the Aldrnari Empire is under no obligation to accept. If a war were to be fought, it would be a purely civil matter. The people of the Tower have grown weary of the current status quo, and, unlike a conventional war, there is nothing like territory for your side to claim. All battles would have to take place in regions governed by the Jahad Empire, and, as a result, dissent against the current regime would increase exponentially. You would end up destroying yourselves from the inside, all while I continue pushing forward without any meaningful opposition..."Frowning in response to Vahn's words, Senna's voice became audibly strained as she asked, "What about all the people you've helped during your climb? Don't tell me you were just trying to sow the seeds of future dissent? If you commit to this course of action, they, as well as millions of others, are bound to die. Please, reconsider..."Adopting a slightly serious expression, Vahn met Senna's uncertain gaze, his voice firm as he plainly stated, "Such statements are filled to the brim with contradiction. I help people to help people, not to make use of them. If the vile and despicable would use that as a justification to punish them, that has nothing to do with me. If the righteous were cowed by the intimidations of those with malicious intent, there would be nothing to oppose the spread of evil."Furrowing her brows even further, Senna's tone became marginally more resolute as she said, "Even if it wasn't your intent, the fact remains-"Without waiting for the resolute redhead to finish, a powerful aura began to leak from Vahn's body as he affirmed, "People raise the banner of revolution when those above them have failed to govern properly, not because someone extended a hand to them in their time of need. Don't make excuses when the crux of the matter is that the Empire has become overrun with corrupt, opportunistic, and outright evil individuals. If you seriously intend to argue that the victims are to blame, I fear this will be the last time we are able to speak cordially..."With that said, Vahn promptly teleported away before Senna had the chance to defend her point or apologize. One of his pet peeves had always been good people attempting to shift the blame onto other good people despite ignoring the misdeeds of those truly at fault. Sure, Senna wasn't really in a position to hold the other families accountable, but, regardless of her personal circumstances, she had even less of a right to hold others accountable for their actions. If someone decided to murder every single person he had saved, that had absolutely nothing to do with him.Even as far back as Danmachi, Vahn had never been willing to compromise with those who tried to use his family, friends, and loved ones against him. It didn't matter how much pain and suffering he would have to bear. If his enemies tormented others as a result of his actions, they would be hunted without mercy. Compromising with the type of people who would use others as leverage only made the situation worse, so, even if his enemies were to threaten him with a knife at one of his children's throats, the only thing they would accomplish is ensuring their own, painful, end...Not expecting Vahn to simply teleport away after he was finished speaking, Senna found herself at a complete and utter loss for words. She felt as though she had just made a grave mistake, but, as there were more pressing matters to attend, she ultimately just exhaled a sigh before manifesting a keyboard. She needed to report this matter up the chain of command, but, even after a full minute had passed, she wasn't sure how to phrase it. Painting Vahn as a villain didn't seem appropriate, as, on the most basic level, his words weren't wrong. They were simply 'inconvenient' for the Empire, a notion that only served to further validate the points he had made...As that thought crossed her mind, Senna shifted her attention to the adorable creature nervously watching her from the side. She could see genuine concern in its glossy black eyes, and, though a few people had suggested that it was there to keep tabs on her, Senna knew better than most that Vahn didn't need others to spy for him. Thus, after several seconds of tense silence, yet another sigh escaped her throat as she bent down and said, "It's okay...come on..."Though it hesitated for a brief moment, it didn't take long for Teddiursa to waddle over to Senna's side, its three-clawed paws wrapping around her body as it cocked its head to the side and chimed a concerned, "Urrr..."Picking up the adorable Pokemon, Senna nestled her face into its soft fur for a brief moment before whispering, "Don't worry...I'm sure everything will work out. I just need to put in a bit more effort..."With that said, Senna activated her Pocket's visible mode, delaying her official report in order to call her father. This was a severe dereliction of duty, but, considering the consequences of organizing a military response, now wasn't the time to follow protocol. She could infer from Vahn's behavior that he was absolutely confident in his ability to come out ahead in the coming battle. This meant, at the very least, he was more powerful than the current Rank 5 in the entire Tower. Assuming this was the case, he wasn't a foe they could defeat with simple numbers, so, rather than ordering her people to their death, Senna had decided it was worth facing a Court Martial if she could resolve the situation diplomatically. Thus, the moment the call went through, she adopted an ingratiating and somewhat childish tone as she said, "Papa...I really need your help right now..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn treats people the way they treat others...just better...','There is a time for a compromise and a time for action (O ^ O)...!','The shit is about to hit the proverbial fan...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Having received the report related to the incident at the Gateport, Arie Hon, accompanied by two of his Family's three Sword Saints, casually made his way to the most important destination in the entire Arie Family, the Sword Altar. There, floating in the sky above a multi-tiered palatial construct, a pale-blue sword constructed of pure Sword Intent, more than a kilometer in length, could be seen quivering in expectation as thousands of smaller swords danced around it.Noticing this, the older of the two Sword Saints, Ari Wan, imperceptibly raised his brows, as, despite the perenially calm appearance of his elder brother, the state of the massive sword revealed his true feelings. It was directly linked to his ability to gather the Sword Intent of others, so, by scrutinizing the sword, it was possible to directly ascertain Hon's mental state.Adopting the slightest of smiles, Wan earned a curious glance from the bandage-covered giant at his side, the youngest of the three Sword Saints, as he remarked, "It's rare to see you so excited. Is this 'Sage Dragon Emperor' really as skilled as they attest?"Though he would normally never entertain such idle discussion, Hon's pace gradually slowed until he finally turned around, his expression a perfect mask of apathy as he answered, "Indeed..." before surprising both men as he added, "This is meant to be kept a secret, but, according to the King, the Sage Dragon Emperor is currently the most powerful creature in the entire Tower...how can I not be, at least a little, excited?"As one of the most loyal followers of Jahad, neither of the Sword Saints expected their elder brother to reveal such a controversial secret without regard for propriety or consequence. It was completely out of character, as, even more than Jahad himself, Hon had always placed a tremendous amount of importance on preserving the honor and integrity of the Empire.With Wan unsure of how to respond, it was left to the inordinately tall man wrapped in bandages, Arie Kudo, to ask, "Why are you-"Before he could even finish speaking, an indescribable pain transmitted through Kudo's entire body, radiating from his head to his groin. At the exact same moment, Wan leaped backward, but, despite his nigh-instantaneous response, his point of view never changed. Instead, his head remained at the same spot, resting on the flat of Hon's immaculate white sword...Without so much as a twitched of the brows, Hon continued balancing his younger brother's head on the tip of his sword as he calmly revealed, "I have turned a blind eye to your actions these past ten thousand years out of consideration for our parents. Now, judgment has come for all who call the Tower home. Don't worry. You can contribute more to our family with your death than you ever contributed with your life..."Finished speaking, a pale-blue aura flowed from Wan's resent-filled eyes, flowing into Hon's pristine white sword. Then, without sparing his brothers a second glance, Hon shifted his gaze to a shivering servant woman, his expression as placid as a subterranean lake as he said, "Gather the remains and have them cremated..." before continuing on the path towards the Sword Altar...---Hearing the sound of footfalls, Vahn shifted his attention away from the surprisingly complex magic circle to the entrance of the massive, circular, chamber. There, an inordinately handsome man with pristine white hair, silvery-white eyes, and predominately white clothing could be seen staring back at him. He also had two swords fastened to his hip, but, compared to the man himself, they gave off a purely decorative feeling.Raising his brows ever-so-slightly, Vahn couldn't help remarking, "Not half bad..." before following it with a frown and adding, "Unfortunately, the method you used to obtain such intent leaves a lot to be desired...how can you expect to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship with power borrowed from others?"Closing his eyes in response to Vahn's words, Hon appeared absolutely calm as he answered, "My method is certainly more direct, but, in the grand scheme of things, mastery and enlightenment are things we obtain from observing, interacting with, and stealing from others. My method is just...less wasteful. Had I not absorbed their power and potential, do you have any idea how many techniques would have been lost to time? Now, their combined abilities have come together to form one of the most comprehensive sword legacies that have ever existed. Would you rather they fade into history, completely forgotten?"Deciding it was a waste of time to argue semantics with someone who literally created a family with the end goal of harvesting their potential, Vahn shook his head, saying, "I didn't come here to listen to your excuses. At this point, you have two options to choose from. You can willingly abdicate from your position as Leader of the Arie Family or you can resist and be unceremoniously deposed. Either way, your family will need to undergo an audit to determine who should be held answerable for the countless crimes that have been committed these past ten-thousand-years."Rather than making any effort to challenge Vahn's words, Hon simply nodded his head, answering, "Very well. I do not wish to see my family annihilated, so, if it will pacify your anger, I am willing to abdicate from my position as Leader of the Arie Family. Before that, however, I would be honored if you would afford me the privilege of facing you in battle. You are undoubtedly aware of this, but, at the beginning of our journey, my only goal was to pit my skills against the Gods rumored to exist at the top of the Tower. Thus, even if it ultimately leads to my demise, I would willingly embrace death if it meant ascertaining just how close I came to reaching the level of you and your kin..."Since he would have been severely disappointed if Hon had peacefully acquiesced to his demands, Vahn didn't hesitate to nod in the affirmative, saying, "So be it. I will afford you twenty-four hours to make the necessary preparations. So long as it isn't something completely asinine, I am prepared to accept any and all challenges. You can even petition the other Family Leaders to provide support. In the end, no matter what you decide, I will emerge victoriously..."With that said, Vahn lifted his right hand, smiling as he pressed his middle finger and thumb against each other as a prelude to a snap. This caused Hon's pupils to dilate ever-so-slightly, but, before he could protest, a sound akin to glass shattering echoed through the Palace of Swords, as, high in the sky above the Sword Altar, the sword they had supplied for generations shattered into innumerable pieces...---Though Hon had ordered the members of his family to keep quiet regarding the matters, it didn't take long for rumors regarding the deaths of two Sword Saints, the destruction of the Aire Family's ancestral sword, and the imminent battle between two of the greatest swordsmen to circulate. This caused tensions on the 100th Floor to increase to levels that had never been observed at any point in the Tower's history, and, as a result, millions were fleeing from the Floor as quickly as they could.Fortunately, while the various Gateports were experiencing a tremendous amount of traffic, it didn't affect the Jahad Army's ability to mobilize their forces. As a result, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Army Corps had been mobilized alongside numerous High and Advanced Rankers belonging to the Jahad, Arie, Ari, Khun, and Yeon Families. This included a number of Blue Holes, powerful High Rankers who had basically gone into retirement, but, compared to the trio they were accompanying, they may as well have been part of the background...The first to arrive, largely due to his daughter's request, was a youthful-looking man with golden-blond hair fashioned into a loose ponytail. At a glance, he appeared no older than sixteen years of age, but, the moment most people met his gentle green eyes, they would find themselves in awe of the wisdom contained within. This actually distracted most people from the two rapier-like Needles at his waist, remarkable weapons that were graded among the hundred most powerful in the entire Tower.In spite of his youthful appearance, this golden-haired individual was none other than Ari Han, the Leader of the Ari Family. His appearance was one of the many reasons for the separation between the Arie and Ari Families, and, while it wasn't particularly well known, it was also the reason why Ha Yurin had taken an interest in him. She, like Yuri, had always had a soft spot for youthful-looking yet powerful individuals, so, from the moment Han's boyish appearance became perpetual, she wasted no effort in laying her claim.Fortunately, Yurin wasn't one of the Family Leaders who had descended to the 100th Floor, so, at least for the time being, Han could breathe easily. Had she been present, he wouldn't have been able to make an appearance, as, despite their breakup, there was always a tremendous amount of sexual tension between him and the raven-haired beauty. It wasn't without reason that she was the mother of each of his children, and, were it not for her sadistic tendencies, the Ha and Ari Families might have merged long ago...Appearing markedly older than his contemporary, an inordinately tall man with pale-blue hair and electric-blue eyes was the second to arrive on the 100th Floor. Accompanying him was a veritable horde of remarkably similar women, but, despite being surrounded by numerous beauties, the look on the man's face demonstrated an apathy that even members of the Arie Family would struggle to emulate. There was a completely unfocused look in his half-lidded eyes, and, were it not for the two women guiding him forward, it wasn't difficult to imagine him simply standing in place.With an appearance that could humble all but a few of the Tower's residents, women included, it was impossible to mistake the man as anyone other than Khun Eduan. Compared to his Data self, however, there was a certain 'tiredness' that radiated from every fiber of his being. He had the look of a man who had experienced everything the world had to offer, yet, once everything was said and done, it hadn't even come close to filling the hole produced as a result of his abandoned ambition.Unfortunately for the women around him, Eduan had ignored their attempts to dissuade him from descending to the 100th Floor. There was a part of him, locked deep within his subconscious mind, that made it impossible for him to completely abandon hope. Thus, whenever he heard something interesting, he invariably found himself drawn to it. This was a problem for both his harem and the Khun Family, as, if it came down to it, Eduan wouldn't hesitate to abandon both if it meant he could experience the stimulus his soul so desperately craved...Rounding out the trio of Family Leaders, standing out even amongst an assembly of remarkable beauties, was a woman, who, unlike everyone surrounding her, possessed red, rather than raven-black, hair. This, combined with her incomparable beauty, allowed her to stand out like a refined ruby among crudely polished onyx, and, though she currently had a wrathful glower on her face, it didn't detract from her appearance in the slightest. Rather, the moment he laid eyes on her, a slight glimmer returned to Eduan's eyes as he remarked, "Hana...it is good to see you..."Though his appearance could easily touch the heart of other women, members of the Yeon Family included, Hana simply harumphed in response to Eduan's remark. She had made a contract with a Guardian to suppress feelings of love towards the opposite sex, so, ever since the Age of Ascension, she had transitioned from being the kindest among the Great Warriors to a woman who could only show affection to members of her family. For their sake, she was even willing to raze an entire Floor, so, after Ilarde informed her that Vahn wreaking havoc on the Arie Family, she immediately donned her long-retired battle raiment with the intent of settling their grievances once and for all...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Arie Family Rule #1: Swords do not require emotions...','Vahn channeling his inner Thanos...','This is not your average shit...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With nothing of interest happening on the 98th and 99th Floors, sans news regarding Ureko's rampage on the 97th, Vahn finally reached one of the most famous Floors in the entire Tower, the 100th. Here was where, prior to the Age of Genesis, Jahad and the Great Warriors overcame their most difficult trial, and, as a result, were granted immortality for their efforts. It could be argued that, with the exception of Revolution Road, this was one of the most symbolic places in the entire Tower, as, from the moment he became immortal, nothing could stand in the way of Jahad and his rise to prominence.Looking around, Vahn was unsurprised to find a vast cityscape that seemed to extend outward far beyond the horizon. The 100th Floor also served as the boundary separating the Lower, Middle, and Higher Floors. It was also the seat of power for the Arie Family, and, most importantly, the first Floor wholly dedicated to the Empire. Thus, compared to the Floors preceding it, the population was vast, and, more importantly, powerful. It was almost like stepping into another world, and, based on what he could sense, the density of Shinsu was several times higher than even the 99th Floor.Vocalizing the thoughts of nearly everyone present, Mikoto stared wide-eyed at the inordinately tall and ivory white buildings that dominated their surroundings, whispering, "It's beautiful..." in a voice filled with awe. In response to this, Vahn nodded his head, memories of Ostia briefly surfacing in his mind as he said, "It's no wonder people at the bottom believe 'anything' can be found at the top of the Tower. This place is heaven compared to some of the Floors below..."With countless automatons flying around to clean buildings, picking up trash, and run errands, the setting of the 100th Floor gave newcomers the impression they had stepped hundreds of years into the future. Even the various types of flora were all neatly trimmed, and, high in the sky, a seemingly endless stream of silvery-white Suspend Ships, reminiscent of a school of fish, could be seen flying in neat lanes as they transported their passengers to their destination.Shifting his attention from the sky, Vahn looked at the relatively small crowd gathered around. The 100th Floor, and beyond, was nothing like the preceding Floors, so, while there were still a number of people seeking treatment, everything was far more organized. He also noticed that, while there were still members of the 2nd Army Corps present, public order was actually being kept by a group of people with varying shades of white hair and neat outfits, clearly members of the Arie Family.As this thought crossed his mind, Vahn shifted his gaze towards the horizon, smiling as he mused, "Long time no see." in a carefree tone. In response, the woman standing in the distance promptly snorted, and, though there were more than ten kilometers separating them, Vahn could understand her when she stated, "My father wishes to meet with you. When you are finished with your business, head towards the Palace of Swords..."Having conveyed her message, the woman, none other than Arie Hagipherione Jahad, immediately vanished. This gave Vahn the urge to chuckle, but, having noticed the ashen-haired swordswoman's presence, Yuri interrupted, asking, "Was that the grey-haired hag?" before immediately following it with stating, "Collecting her won't be easy. Though it's mostly just speculation, she is pretty famous for her father complex. I don't think she would appreciate it if you beat her daddy."Sending a glance towards Yuri, Vahn immediately noticed the woman's mischievous grin, rolling his eyes as he flatly replied, "I don't regard women as collector's items..."Mirroring Vahn's actions, Yuri made a show of rolling her own eyes, arms crossed as she mused, "If you say so~" in a sing-song tone. Then, without waiting for his reply, she pulled Lotte's arm, adding, "We're gonna go shopping. The 100th Floor has some pretty interesting stores. Call me if anything interesting happens. Okay?"Though he shooed her away with a casual gesture, Vahn also nodded his head in response to Yuri's words, saying, "Yeah, yeah, I know. Stay out of trouble." while stepping towards the group of white-haired people who were clearly waiting to receive them.Shifting his attention from the departing duo to the approaching trio, the leader of the group, an inordinately handsome man dressed in predominately white clothing reminiscent of attire found in the far east, offered a courteous bow as he said, "We welcome the Sage Dragon Emperor to the City of White Lilies. My name is Arie Hien, son of Arie Hon and leader of the Civil Defense Corps. It is an honor to receive you."Passing his gaze over the youthful-looking man with short white hair and pale golden eyes, a smile spread across Vahn's face as he explained, "No matter how hard you strain your senses, you will not be able to detect my sword intent. Yours is certainly remarkable, but, compared to my own, it is the difference between a small bonfire and a star on the verge of a supernova."Though he didn't consider himself a braggart, Vahn rarely shied away from the opportunity to talk down to people who thought too highly of themselves. Hien might be able to hide it from others, but, even without the Law of Identity, Vahn could sense the threads of disdain and self-confidence mixed within the man's sword intent. His apathetic expression also did little to conceal the glimmer of pride contained within his eyes, each radiating a subtle light that greatly emphasized his slit-like pupils.Demonstrating just how confident he was in his abilities, Hien's response was to offer another bow, a nascent smile developing across his inordinately handsome face as she answered, "If fate allows, I would relish the opportunity to exchange pointers with His Imperial Majesty. Before that, however, I have other duties to attend. First and foremost, we would be honored if you would allow us to host you and your companions for the duration of your stay. We have prepared one of our most famous private residences, the Snow Apple Pavilion, to accommodate you."Without needing to consider his response, Vahn shook his head, saying, "Now that I've reached the 100th Floor, it's time for a change in pace. I mentioned, long ago, that I wouldn't be turning a blind eye to the tragedies wrought by the Great Families. To that end, I intend to investigate the Palace of Swords, and, if necessary, I will be passing judgment on your father, your elders, and everyone else who can be held accountable for your family's crimes. Now, unless you're eager to receive your own punishment, I would advise you to run along. I'm not here to play games."Squinting his eyes, Hien motioned to rest his hand on the hilt of his katana-like sword, but, before the muscles in his arms could respond to the input from his brain, Vahn's index finger had already come to rest on his forehead. This caused Hien's eyes to instantaneously widen, not because Vahn had closed the distance between them in an instant, but because he felt an indescribably powerful sword intent radiating from the tip of his finger.Shaking his head, Vahn retracted his finger from the youthful-looking man's head, saying, "You're still green..." before walking past him with Fenrir and Mikoto following close behind. This caused the other members of the Arie Family to tense up, but, the moment they got into their stances, it was as if time around them had come to a stop. The only thing distinguishing them from a group of statues were the beads of sweat appearing across their body, and, if you looked closely, the thin red lines covering their faces, necks, and wrists...---Unaware of the incident that had occurred immediately following her departure, Yuri dragged Lotte to a relatively famous clothing store before explaining, "We need to get you some new threads. The options in the [REquip] system aren't bad, but they lack the oomph needed to really capture Vahn's attention."Though she understood what Yuri was trying to say, Lotte immediately averted her eyes to the side, a ruddy glow spreading through her cheeks as she meekly replied, "I don't think that's appropriate. Vahn-sama has already done so much for me and my family. I have no right to demand even more from him..."Balling her hand into a fist, Yuri flashed behind Lotte, punching the latter in the back of her head with enough force to produce a small burst of steam. This alerted the store owner, but, recognizing the identity of the two women, he ultimately gestured for his security to stand down before pulling out a handkerchief and wiping a bit of nervous sweat from his brow.Shaking her wrist, Yuri adopted an uncharacteristically grave expression as she said, "How is your Intelligence supposed to be higher than mine? I swear, the only thing in that skull of yours is a lump of metal..."Suppressing her almost instinctual urge to smile, Lotte rubbed the knot on the back of her head, an awkward expression on her face as she asked, "What are you talking about? What does that have to do with anything...?"Exhaling an exasperated sigh, Yuri began to pull random outfits from the neatly arranged clothing racks, tossing them to Lotte as she explained, "He might be one of the smartest people you'll ever meet, but, when it comes down to it, Vahn is both a man and an idiot. Do you really think he would let you share a bath and a bed with him if he didn't have some form of affection for you? If I had to guess, the only reason he hasn't made a move on you is because of your uncertainty. All you really need to do is show him how serious you are and there is no way he'll refuse. Now, try those on. I'm not really sure how they would look on someone of your 'stature', but, considering you walk around in nothing but a halter-top and a thong, anything you wear is bound to catch his attention."Furrowing her brows in response to Yuri's words, Lotte remarked, "Everything you've picked thus far is either a dress or something that covers up a lot of skin...isn't that a little counter-intuitive? I'm not a child, Yuri. I know men like it more when women wear more revealing clothing."Rather than refuting Lotte's words, Yuri responded with an affirmative nod. Immediately after that, however, she went on to explain, "For most women, that is, indeed, the case. The problem, at least in your case, is that you are always wearing skimpy clothing. Once you get to know him a bit better, you'll realize that Vahn actually has something of a fashion fetish. I mean, the guy has literally hand-crafted panties, stockings, and other garments. If you really want to appeal to him, you'll need to do more than just expose your body. Here, try this on. It might just be a sweater, but the exposed back and high-cut hem would allow you to walk around without panties on. Combine that with stockings and you'll have created an outfit that would turn most men, even dragons, into wolves."Though she wasn't particularly known for her imagination, seeing Yuri hold the sweater up to her body allowed Lotte to envision what she might look like wearing something similar. Truth be told, she had actually been feeling a little self-conscious as of late, so, while she didn't want to endanger her relationship with Vahn by putting pressure on him after his refusal, she couldn't help but believe Yuri's words. More importantly, she had something similar from Mash in the past, so, remembering all the times Vahn had treated her tenderly, she ultimately accepted the sweater, forcing a smile as she muttered, "We'll need to find a bigger size..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The disparity between the elite and the mundane...','Hien be like, "I can slice a mountain in two with a single cut...!". Vahn be like, "I can slice through a trichiliocosm without even needing to draw..."','Preparing for a climactic battle (O w O)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1986: Obligation