Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Seeing how powerful his daughter had become, Han couldn't help feeling an iota of pride. At the same time, however, her similarities with Yurin, combined with the strange state she had entered, left him feeling helpless. It was like she was a Goddess of War fused with some kind of feral beast, and, though he found her golden hair rather beautiful, the vicious look in her eyes left him feeling concerned, not for his safety, but for her future.Evading an explosive thrust that caused a massive channel to form in the ruined remains of the Palace of Swords, Han attempted to stab his Needle into the connecting point between Yuri's left shoulder and arm. In response, she, once again, attempted to grasp his Needle with her bare hand, but, despite her ever-increasing speed, it was far from enough to pressure him. He wasn't known as the 'God of Wind' without reason, and, ever since becoming a Ranker, people within the Tower had taken to calling him 'Twin-Nosed Sailfish', a sobriquet derived from the fastest of all Shinheuh.Annoyed by the fact that Han had evaded yet another one of her attacks, the bloody red ki around Yuri's body became even more violent as she shouted, "You slippery little pipsqueak! Fine! Let's see you evade this...!"Punctuating her words, Yuri aimed the Black March towards Han before extending her blade nearly a kilometer in an instant. This was easily avoided by the youthful-looking man, but, before he could say anything to try and subdue Yuri's anger, the muscles of her right arm flexed with such intensity that the sleeve of her blouse violently erupted. Then, without bothering to retract the Black March's blade, she began a flurry of slashes that forcibly sliced everything in its wake, ground included.Though some might believe it would be easier to evade from a distance, Han knew that the tip of the Black March was actually moving much faster than the length near its hilt. He could even sense a number of massive explosions occurring in the distance, the result of the Black March moving at faster than light speeds through dense Shinsu.Worried that Yuri might ruin her body in an attempt to secure a pyrrhic victory, Han rushed forward with such speed that he appeared to teleport behind her. His intent was to stab through both of her rotator cuffs, but, as if to remind him of its existence, he was sent spinning as Yuri's tail greeted him with a smack to the face.Taking advantage of the moment when her opponent was stunned, Yuri strained the muscles of her back and arm in order to twist around with extreme speed. This caused the Spirit of the Black March to cry out, "You fucking bitch...!", but, without paying her any mind, Yuri's attack caused a black void to appear between the ground and sky. The speed of her rotation had been very near the speed of light, so, with the Black March being completely rigid, her tip was moving several times faster.With a force exceeding two-billion-kilotons, Yuri's attack generated an explosion so immense that the entirety of the 100th Floor seemed to tremble in response. This was further exacerbated by the Shinsu in the atmosphere, and, were it not for the fact they had formed their encirclement several thousand kilometers away, most of the vessels belonging to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th Army Corps would have disabled or destroyed with a single attack.Unfortunately, despite appearing relatively unscathed, the slight bend in the Black March showed that Yuri had pushed the sapient Needle far beyond its limits. As a result, the black aura emanating from the blade immediately fizzled out as the Spirit's voice, sounding somewhat teary, stated, "I'm never igniting for you again, you stupid, smelly, monkey...!"Smiling wryly in response, Yuri was about to apologize, but, due to the spatial rupturing generated by her own attack, her organs were in a mess. The moment she tried to open her mouth to speak, a large volume of blood surged from her throat, and, despite her best efforts to keep it down, a scary amount ended up erupting from her mouth and nose.Appearing immediately after this, Han, without a scratch on him, worriedly stated, "If you don't stop this soon, you're going to destroy your body. The Sage Dragon Emperor might be able to heal you, but-"Without waiting for him to finish, Yuri surprised Han by opening her mouth and generating a laser-like beam of energy more than five meters across. When it faded away, Han, shrouded in an aura of pale green energy, asked, "Do you resent the Ari Family to this extent? I understand your childhood wasn't the most pleasant. However, that was the direct result of you choosing to become a Princess of Jahad. Are you going to allow the behavior of a jealous few to dictate the rest of your life...?"Furrowing her brows in response to Han's words, Yuri took the time to return the Green April and Black March to her Reel Inventory before answering, "You talk too much, chibi. I'm not doing this to prove anything. At the very least, I'm not trying to prove anything to you. I just want to fight strong opponents. Now, hold still so I can punch that pretty little face of yours."Charging forward the moment she finished speaking, a reddish-black aura appeared around Yuri's fist as she shouted, "Ha Yuri Style Special Skill - Abyss Sphere...!"Making use of her inordinately rare Shinsu Quality, Yuri instinctually melded both Shinsu and Ki to produce a bubble filled with a mysterious substance infused with the laws of space and destruction. This caused the hairs on the back of Han's neck to stand on end, instantly suppressing his desire to let her land, at the very least, one solid punch against him. Instead, he evaded seriously for the first time since the battle began, a cold sweat breaking out across his body as he observed the scene in front of him.Clicking her tongue, Yuri, now appearing with vibrant red hair and a blood-red aura, looked toward Han and said, "First Ureko, and now you...how annoying..."Coming to his senses in response to Yuri's grumbling, Han shifted his gaze from her spiky red hair to the visible coat covering her neck, arms, and legs. He also noticed that her tail had become much longer, but, more than anything else, it was her aura that stood out most of all. She had become an entire order of magnitude stronger, and, though she wasn't doing anything to control it, the Shinsu in the sky had turned crimson.Noticing Han's gaze, a glower developed across Yuri's face as she raised her left hand and growled, "Sorry, buddy, but I'm already taken."Without affording Han the opportunity to correct the misunderstanding, a crimson blast of energy erupted from Yuri's palm. It was only around the speed of light, but, due to the highly compressed energy contained within, it generated a gravitational pull similar to a small planet. While this might not sound like a lot, a distant satellite such as the Moon was able to influence the tidal forces of the entire Earth. Thus, the moment Yuri released her attack, the surroundings began to violently rupture as mountain-sized pieces of debris attempted to achieve equilibrium between the two gravitational forces.Though he was able to evade each of the monstrous beams of energy with room to spare, Han's expression paled as he witnessed the devastation caused by his daughter's attacks. He disdained violence and destruction to such an extent that he had split off from his original Family in order to produce one that did everything in its power to prevent it. Thus, even though Yuri was his daughter, he couldn't help feeling distressed by the fact she was releasing her energy without any regard for the people who called the 100th Floor home.Gritting his teeth, a resolute gleam appeared in Han's eyes as the fairy-like wings on his back split to form six distinct pairs. At the same time, tiny antlers erupted from his forehead as his larger than average ears suddenly extended to form points.Noticing Han's change, Yuri's scowl immediately turned into an excited smile. Unfortunately, before she could comment on the man's rather girlish appearance, a sudden and intense pressure crushed her body from all directions. It was like all the Shinsu of the Floor had come to bear on her, forcing her into a fetal position as Han charged forward to reluctantly exclaim, "Han Style Secret Technique - Sidhe's Judgment...!" (A/N: Sidhe are the name of Fairy Folk, children of the Goddess Danu, in Irish Lore. They are closely associated with the Sylph, Spirits of Wind.)Though he would have rather ended things without severely injuring his own child, Han understood that Yuri, much like her mother, would never simply stand down. Thus, with an extremely apologetic expression on his face, he buried both of his Needles into her body, skillfully avoiding her organs in order to flood her body with Shinsu. This would allow him to expel the Ki from her body, but, more importantly, it would force her into a deep slumber that could only be broken once he, or someone else, ousted his Shinsu from her body.Unfortunately, while he had taken into consideration Yuri's durability, Han had no way of knowing what kind of artifacts and equipment Vahn had gifted her. The moment he attempted to spread his Shinsu through her body, it was like the entire world had frozen over as a phenomenon functionally identical to Reverse Flow Control prevented him from so much as blinking. This caused the pressure on Yuri's to immediately dissipate, and, though she still had two Needles sticking out from her ribs, that didn't stop her from smashing her fist into his face with enough force to vaporize a mountain...With their Immortality Contract providing a form of 'permanence', effectively preventing their state from changing, Han should have been able to tank Yuri's attack without any serious trouble. To his surprise, however, a phenomenal amount of pain radiating from his cheek, neck, and several other regions of his body as he impacted the ground like a meteor. He couldn't quite discern what it was, but, for a brief moment, it was like his contract had been negated by a mysterious, extremely pure, form of energy. As a result, one of his molars had been knocked loose, and, though he wasn't too worse for wear, a massive bruise had appeared on his left cheek by the time he emerged from the crater caused by his sudden and instantaneous introduction to the ground...Surprised by the efficacy of her own attack, a bewildered expression appeared on Yuri's face as she gawked at her bloodied fist. It had been centuries since she last injured her fist with a punch, but, what made this situation even stranger was the fact she hadn't actually gathered that much Ki into the attack. Her intention was to force Han away in order to remove his Needles from her body, but, in spite of this, her attack had resulted in both of them sustaining injuries...---Understanding what had happened, Vahn's expression turned awkward as he desperately resisted the urge to smack his own forehead. The truth of the matter was that his Source Energy, which had accumulated during their previous foray in the bedroom, was still coursing through Yuri's body. She wasn't even able to sense this on her own, but, thanks to his desire to see her successfully slug Han in the face, the remnant energy had reacted to support her. This was beyond even his expectations, as, prior to this moment, he had never witnessed one of his lovers going all out in a fight preceded by a passionate session of lovemaking...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Yuri would fit well into JoJo's Bizarre Adventure...','Sneaky Super Saiyan 4','I believe this is what some might refer to as a 'pro-gamer' move xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though she didn't understand what had happened, the notion she could deal damage to a Family Leader caused a massive grin to develop across Yuri's face. Her natural regeneration also helped to deal with the injury sustained by her fist, so, after lingering in the air for a short while, she grabbed the hilts of the two Needles sticking out of her body, saying, "You're so fucked." with fiery red eyes.Having seen similar looks on the face of Yuri's mother, Han couldn't help developing a wry smile as he said, "Sorry, but this is the end..."Glowering in response to the youthful-looking man's words, Yuri adopted a defensive stance, but, rather than attack, Han surprised her by adopting a strangely proud look as he stated, "I surrender. This is your victory."While others might have been happy to hear such a thing, a visible tick mark appeared near Yuri's temple, her aura surging outward as she exclaimed, "Bullshit! You can't just surrender after a single punch! I-"Before she could finish speaking, Han interrupted Yuri's outburst by calmly declaring, "I can. You're free to continue attacking, but, from this moment onward, I will no longer fight back. If you wish to strike someone who has already given up, be my guest. So long as you stop wreaking havoc on the rest of the Floor, I will tolerate your rage until you have settled."Though she wouldn't have attacked any other opponent who had yielded, Yuri responded to Han's words by raising both hands and generating a massive, blood-red, sphere. This caused the ground to tremble violently, and, for a brief moment, it seemed like she was prepared to destroy the entire Floor just to force Han to defend himself.Fortunately, this was never meant to be, as, the moment her 'primal rage' began to take over, Vahn appeared right in front of Yuri, gently embracing her body. His initial appearance nearly caused her to attack, but, feeling his familiar warmth, she quickly came back to her senses, whispering, "Sorry..." in an uncharacteristically meek tone.Shaking his head, Vahn briefly strengthened his hold on Yuri's body, answering, "It's fine. You'll get used to it..." before loosening his hold and caressing her face. This returned the smile to Yuri's face, but, at the same time, it also lit a fire in her body that made it hard to resist pouncing on Vahn then and there.Sensing the not-so-subtle shift in Yuri's temperament, Vahn fought hard against the urge to adopt a wry smile as he said, "Cancel your transformation. I'm going to send you back..."Amused by Vahn's reaction, Yuri's expression became teasingly seductive, but, before she could say anything, he promptly teleported her to his proxy on the 199th Floor.Though he wasn't particularly bothered by Yuri's behavior, even Vahn wasn't shameless enough to flirt with someone's daughter right in front of them. He wouldn't appreciate it if the partners of his daughters behaved in such a way, so, feeling Han's gaze on him, Vahn forcibly restrained his natural urges in favor of decorum.With this same sentiment in mind, Vahn snapped his fingers, instantaneously erasing Yuri's lingering ball of Ki before looking towards Han and saying, "Sorry about that. She is still growing accustomed to her new race. Don't worry. Once she's out of range of any sufficiently powerful opponent, she will quickly return to normal."Furrowing his brows in response to Vahn's words, Han adopted the kind of look reserved for young men meeting their partner's father for the first time, saying, "Normal...is it? Will she ever truly return to being a normal young woman after what you did to her? Unlike you, I don't know everything. Tell me, why did you turn my daughter into a beast?"Adopting a deadpan expression, Vahn teleported in front of Han before answering, "I'm not fond of mistreating the family and friends of my lovers. You're also one of the few legitimately good people in the Empire, so, for both our sakes, I would suggest you never again refer to Yuri as a beast. She is a proud Saiyan warrior, an elite among elites whose potential surpasses the Gods. If you insult her a second time, don't blame me for a lack of courtesy."Feeling the aura radiating from Vahn's body, a cold sweat developed across Han's as a phenomenal amount of spiritual pressure rooted him to the spot. It wasn't the first time he had experienced such an attack, but, when compared to Vahn's, every other person's spiritual pressure was like comparing a tiny candle to the sky being set aflame. It left people feeling small and inconsequential, and, for a brief moment, Han was seized by the impression he was an insignificant bug that had wandered far too close to an open flame...Snorting through his nose, Vahn began to forcibly suppress his aura, adding, "I won't deny the role you played in Yuri's birth. However, unless she is willing to accept you, you have no right to refer to yourself as her father. A father is someone who watches over and protects their children from harm, regardless of the burden it places upon them. Instead, you shifted the burden to Yuri, forcing her to experience difficulties as compensation for your inadequacies as a parent. You can fool yourself into believing you were only trying to protect her, but, no matter how you spin it, the truth of the matter is that you failed all three of your daughters..."Though others might have been tempted to try and refute Vahn's words, the subject was something Han had been brooding over for, quite literally, thousands of years. He had always regretted letting Yurin dictate how their twins were raised, so, following Yuri's birth, he pressured his ex-fiancee into concealing her identity and allowing her to experience life amidst both families. His intent was to let Yuri choose for herself what kind of life she wanted to live, but, as a result of her fiery temperament and prodigious talent, she ended up being ostracized and bullied by both families. To make matters even worse, she ended up being the target of numerous assassination attempts commanded by her elder sisters, the very people he intended to protect her from...With the Law of Identity narrating the man's thoughts, much of Vahn's anger began to diminish. It was clear that Han deeply regretted his mistakes, so, while it did nothing to change the past, there was still hope for the future. A lot of people clung to the excuses they had constructed even when their lives were on the line so it was always refreshing to see someone willing to accept their faults without losing their cool or lashing out at their accusor.Deciding to throw the man a bone, Vahn pat the youthful-looking leader's shoulder, saying, "Relax. So long as there is a future, there is hope. My presence in the Tower is an opportunity for all of you to improve. Rather than beating yourself up over things you can't change, start thinking about what you can do to make things better. Is that not the purpose of your Ari Family?"Surprised by Vahn's attempt to console him, a moderately bewildered expression developed across Han's face. Unfortunately, due to his transformation into some kind of Fae-hybrid, Vahn's instinctual urge to tease people with pointed ears had been triggered. As a result, without even thinking about it, he ended up saying, "You should start by working things out with Yurin. If you don't act quickly, it might be too late..."Realizing what he was saying, Vahn's words naturally trailed off as he awkwardly retracted his hand from Han's shoulder. To his surprise, this actually elicited an amused chuckle from Han, who, against expectations, answered, "Even when we were together, Yurin and I maintained an open relationship. I'm not sure how old you are, but she and I are approaching 24,000-years-of-age. That's a long time from the perspective of mortals, so, for our own mental wellness, we never forbade each other from trying out new things. We're also no longer together, so, even if you did manage to win her heart, it is no longer my place to intervene..."Though Han's words actually aligned with his personal views, Vahn couldn't help staring at the man as if he had lost his mind. He knew Han cared deeply about Yurin, and, despite her amazoness-like nature, the latter was also deeply infatuated with him. Yurin had even made a commitment to never bear the child of another, so, even though they were currently separated, it was strangely annoying to hear Han say something so insensitive.Before he even realized what he was doing, Vahn chopped Han's head with enough force to send radial cracks throughout the massive crater they were currently standing in. His Source Energy had also allowed him to overwrite the man's permanence, so, despite appearing relatively unharmed, a painful-looking bump had appeared on Han's head, his eyes turning noticeably moist as he asked, "What the hell?"Blinking in surprise, Vahn looked between his hand and the knot on Han's head before adopting a stern look and saying, "That half-hearted way of doing things is the exact reason for your regrets. If you're going to separate with Yurin, make it clear. Running away and leaving things ambiguous isn't something a man should do. Seriously, you have three children together. Your eldest are more than twenty-thousand-years-old. At this point, they even have great-great-great-grandchildren. It's time for you to stop pussy-footing around and accept responsibility for the line you have created."Remembering the reports filed by the Research Team, specifically those pertaining to Vahn's views about family and kinship, Han realized he had made a mistake in trying to trivialize his relationship with Yurin. He had also forgotten to consider that Vahn seemingly knew everything, so, while others might have been convinced by his statement, the draconic god before him was not so easily fooled. He also seemed to interpret everything seriously, as, rather than speaking with the intent of giving Vahn permission to act, Han's words had been intended to alleviate the tensions resulting from the former's verbal gaff...Realizing this, Vahn promptly shifted his attention away from Han, his expression a hardened mask of solemnity as he added, "You should go. If you continue delaying things, someone else will report what has happened here. The one-sided defeat of four Great Warriors is bound to cause destructive ripples if spun in a negative light. Tell Adori and Senna I am willing to issue a statement disavowing rebellious actions so long as the Empire and the Ten are willing to announce their cooperation with the Aldrnari Empire. It is no longer a question of whether or not the Tower will experience a reform. The only question you need to be asking yourselves is: How many people are we willing to sacrifice in order to oppose the inevitable?"Understanding the severity of the situation, Han did his best to ignore the throbbing sensation atop his head, answering, "Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Though I have a lot to say about how things have transpired, I also understand the meaning of displaying one's power. I just wish you had given us more than twenty-four-hours to prepare..."Shaking his head, Vahn did his best to conceal his sudden melancholy, calmly stating, "Benevolence is one of the most valuable traits a leader can possess. Unfortunately, too much benevolence invites opportunists to take advantage of the situation. Others misunderstand it as a form of weakness that encourages them to do foolish things such as taking hostages and lashing out at others in the hope of 'teaching' someone a lesson. Truth be told, I've grown weary of such things. Had Gustang moved forward with his plan of trying to capture one of my loved ones during this competition, the Empire, the Workshop, the Ten Great Families, and everyone else who dares to oppose me would have been wiped out. Rather than complaining about the twenty-four-hours, you should be thanking whatever god you believe in for the innumerable chances I have afforded you since arriving in the Tower..."Finished with what he had to say, Vahn turned away from the contemplative-looking Han, his eyes firmly fixed on the inordinately handsome man patiently observing him from a few kilometers away. Then, with Laev-tan appearing in his right hand, he muttered, "Bankai..." in a grim tone that caused the space for hundreds of kilometers to tremble...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Yuri nearly went full Frieza o_o...','Vahn's Greatest Weaknesses #03: Pointed Ears','Shit just went from 0 to ∞ in an instant...')(A/N: Sorry about yesterday. One of my friends is very ill at the moment. I will be posting another chapter before the reset and an additional chapter in the next block.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Shifting her gaze from the large mushroom cloud looming in the distance, Mikoto, appearing as a Pikachu, looked towards the remnants of a destroyed mountain. There, lying amongst the rubble, vibrant blue electricity dancing across his body, Eduan could be seen looking up at the sky with a vacant look on his face.Though the attack hadn't inflicted any meaningful damage to him, Eduan was bewildered by the realization that he had been unable to perceive Vahn's initial movement. Even more surprising was that his intuition was informing him that the only reason he had been able to react to Vahn's punch was that the latter had allowed it...Raising his right hand, Eduan appeared as though he was attempting to grasp the sky, the glove on his right hand releasing a low hum as the embossed pattern on its surface glowed with a faint blue light. Immediately thereafter, massive storm clouds began to billow in the sky as a vivacious purple hue rapidly spread through his electric blue eyes.Observing the phenomenon with a calculating look in her eyes, Mikoto briefly considered whether or not she should even allow Eduan the opportunity to fight back. There didn't seem to be any real benefits to facing him 'fairly', and, while he was certainly very powerful, watching him gather energy was like observing a child taking their first steps into the domain of the strong. This might seem like an exaggeration, but, compared to Magic Gods and Archangels who could destroy infinite universes with a single spell, watching someone manipulate the weather was almost boring...Shaking her head, Mikoto decided she would settle things by teaching Eduan a lesson. The entity known as The Beginning had bequeathed her the title of Magic God of Lightning and Tribulations, so, after a brief period of consideration, the runes across her body began to light up as she began bobbing her tail in a strange rhythm. In response, a massive golden spell circle appeared in the sky, intercepting a few bolts of purple lightning that had started to gather above the stunned Eduan.Though a part of her felt obligated to explain what she was about to do, Mikoto, knowing some of the crimes Eduan was guilty of, ultimately just dropped to a quadrupedal stance, the yellow hairs on her back standing on end as she raised her tail like the blade of an executioner. Then, before Eduan could even consider evading, a black trail appeared as she dropped her tail in a single swift motion. At the same time, thin bolts of lightning, their breadth no more than 35mm, began to stream down at a speed far greater than traditional lightning.Under normal circumstances, Eduan wasn't simply immune to Lightning Elemental Energy, he could absorb it without limit. Unfortunately, despite Ki and Mana being relatively common concepts back on his homeworld, something like a Heavenly Tribulation was only observable in fiction, not the real world. Thus, without considering for a moment that he would be unable to absorb the thin bands of lightning, Eduan attempted to gather it towards his palm with a completely apathetic expression.Realizing his mistake far too late, Eduan's pupils shrank to the size of pinholes as pain immediately spread through his body, visible cracks appearing across its surface. He responded to this by trying to flee, but, the moment he tried to leap away, the gravitational force acting upon his body seemed to increase by thousands of folds.With his body forced to prostrate, the apathetic expression on Eduan's face immediately gave way for a far more serious, enthusiastic, and slightly fearful look. Then, as golden lightning continued to smash into his back, forcibly refining each cell in his body, an extraordinary aura began to emanate from his very soul as he released a feral cry that seemed to echo through the heavens.Though he had willingly followed Jahad, Eduan refused to bow to anyone or anything, the singular exception being the mother who had painstakingly raised him to be the hero of their ruined world. Thus, the moment he was forced to prostrate, his power began to increase exponentially as a desire to raise his head and overcome the golden lightning swelled within his heart.To his credit, Eduan was able to force himself to his hands and knees, but, the moment he tried to get his feet under him, several bands of lightning flashed across the surface of the strange magical circle looming overhead. Immediately after that, a bolt of lightning thicker than a wrist impacted his back, instantaneously incinerating his tattered black cloak and causing the cracked skin beneath to become charred black.With golden lightning venting from his mouth and eyes, Eduan immediately lost consciousness, but, in spite of this, he managed to remain on his hands and knees. Shortly after that, the magic circle in the sky began to dissipate, and, as a result, the purple lightning previously kept at bay began to rain down along with a veritable deluge of Shinsu.Feeling the cooling sensation on his back, a bit of light returned to Eduan's faded eyes as a sudden and overwhelming urge to vomit rose from the pit of his stomach. Unable to suppress this, a large volume of abyssal black blood was expelled from his mouth, staining the ground below and causing an unnatural hissing sound to enter his ears. Looking closely, he noticed that the blood was actually eating into the ground below, almost as if it was a highly corrosive acid...As thoughts of what the substance could be crossed his mind, Eduan's gaze was drawn to a bright yellow figure appearing in the periphery of his vision. There, untouched by both rain and lightning, a mouse-like creature with yellow fur and a tail reminiscent of a lightning bolt was staring back at him with hazel-brown eyes. It also had strange patterns covering its body, but, the moment he tried to focus his eyes, the pattern appeared to shift as a sensation similar to vertigo attacked his mind...Shaking her head, Mikoto adopted a somewhat pitying expression as she said, "You're lucky to have survived. Under normal circumstances, failing to overcome a lightning tribulation results in death. It would appear your fate is quite powerful..."Though he was marginally surprised that the peculiar mouse could speak, it didn't take Eduan long to realize that the strange creature was something created by Vahn. This caused a self-deprecating smile to develop across his face as he ignored the agonizing pain emanating from his body, rolling onto his back before stating, "To think...I endured these last ten-thousand-years only to be defeated by someone's pet...I don't know whether I should laugh or cry..."Frowning in response to Eduan's words, Mikoto immediately chimed in to say, "I'm not a pet! I'm a Pokemon! There's a massive difference...!"Without showing any indication that he had heard Mikoto's outburst, Eduan just continued to stare up at the sky until his smile gradually relaxed into his usual, apathetic, expression. Then, in a somber tone that didn't quite suit someone with an appearance bordering on the ethereal, he asked, "Can I ask you something...?"As there was no particular reason for her to refuse, Mikoto cocked her head to the side for a brief moment before answering, "Sure. As long as it isn't anything too personal, I don't mind answering your questions."With the edges of his lips curling up almost imperceptibly, Eduan muttered a soft, "Thanks..." before falling silent for several seconds. This left Mikoto feeling somewhat uncomfortable, but, fortunately, he didn't keep her waiting for too long, asking, "Are there Gods even more powerful than the Sage Dragon Emperor in the worlds beyond the Tower? Is it possible to reach that level through training and effort...?"Seeing no harm in answering the two questions, Mikoto didn't hesitate to nod her head, answering, "Vahn is certainly very powerful, but, compared to the beings at the absolute pinnacle, he still has a long way to go. Fortunately, he isn't known as the God of Infinite Possibilities for nothing. Unless he gives up, it is only a matter of time until he reaches the top. This applies to everyone, so, to answer your second question; yes, it is possible to reach such a level through training. It's just that, without fate to guide them, most people lack the willpower and resolution necessary to do so."Detecting no falsehoods in Mikoto's statement, a thoughtful glimmer flashed through Eduan's eyes as he forced himself to a seated position. Then, despite understanding it was futile, he extended his right hand toward Mikoto, palm facing upward as if he were trying to tempt a tiny creature to come closer. Instead, the latter just scowled at him, golden electricity flashing across her body as she said, "You really are broken..."Rather than taking offense to the accusation, Eduan just issued a slight chuckle before retracting his hand and saying, "You can't blame me for trying. I may not have the same kind of disposition as Lo Po Bia or Gustang but I can still appreciate strange and fascinating creatures. I also recall your form from earlier...you're a bit on the youthful side, but your beauty can't be refused. Were I allowed your favor, even for a moment, I believe I would be able to die with a smile on my face..."Though she wasn't even remotely swayed by Eduan's words, Mikoto could feel her heart skip a beat when she saw him flash a sincere yet possessive smile. It was the kind of look that could cause even the most frigid of women to melt, but, understanding the type of man Eduan was, Mikoto furrowed her brows, stating, "You are unworthy." in a firm, threatening, tone.Without losing his smile, Eduan shifted his gaze away from Mikoto, the horizon reflected in his eyes as he softly mused, "I wonder if this is what heartbreak feels like..."---Though he was constantly linking his senses with other people, it didn't take long for Vahn to detect Mikoto's victory. This drastically decreased his expectations for the other Great Warriors, as, despite being remarkably rusty, Eduan was still Ranked 6 within the Tower. The fact he couldn't even defend himself against Mikoto said a lot about the difference in their power, so, knowing he was quite a bit stronger than the adorable Electromaster, most of Vahn's tensions simply faded away...Sensing the sudden change, Hon instinctually tightened the grip he had on his sword, but, before he could even think to attack, his body tensed up as a runic blade covered in fiery cracks appeared at his neck. Then, in a tone that left no room for discussion, Vahn stated, "Don't even think about it. Our fight will come. Of that, you can be certain. For now, however, I would rather observe the battle taking place below. If you find this disagreeable, please, feel free to voice your opinion..."Feeling the heat radiating from Vahn's blade, seemingly ignoring the aura covering his body, Hon felt an almost irresistible urge to swallow. Instead, he floated back slightly, distancing himself from the paradoxically plain yet extravagant-looking blade as he answered, "I am also interested in the outcome of this battle..."Nodding his head, Vahn allowed Laev-tan to dissipate before folding his arms and returning his gaze to the now-devastated Sword Altar. Yuri had a habit of generating massive shockwaves with each of her attacks, so, despite being constructed from remarkably durable material, the Palace of Swords now resembled ancient ruins. Despite this, she had yet to inflict any meaningful damage on Han, who, from the moment his initial attack had proven ineffective, shifted entirely to defense. This was causing Yuri quite a bit of stress, as, even after going Super Saiyan, Han's speed allowed him to stay just beyond her reach...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Mikoto be like, "Is this even worth my time...?"','To be honest, even though Eduan is a massive cuck, I can't really blame him for being envious of Vahn...','I kind of feel bad for Han xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1994: Passion