Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After placing Hana's unconscious body into stasis within the Ninth Layer, Vahn emerged from the Little Garden feeling more than a little melancholic. This was far from an 'ideal' solution, but, until he could find a timeline where Hana could truly be with the one she yearned for, she would have to settle with a false reality provided by the Phantasmagoria. Fortunately, while it was indisputably still an illusion, the events transpiring within the Phantasmagoria were so realistic that literal eons could pass without any of the entities within being aware of the truth. There was even a chance that some would develop a true ego, but, at least for the time being, Vahn could rest assured that Hana would have ample opportunity to experience being loved...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn looked around at the rather sizeable group of girls that had been accompanying him for the last three weeks. He could see trust reflected in each of their gazes, and, though they might not necessarily agree with the choices he made, they never doubted he was trying to do the right thing...With his gaze lingering on each girl, Vahn's mood began to steadily improve until Yuri, having never enjoyed awkward silences, spontaneously teased, "If you're going to keep gawking like a lovestruck fool, you better be prepared to take responsibility. I can feel the base of my tail beginning to itch..."Feeling the tensions immediately drain from his body, a lighthearted chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat as he waved his hand to produce a large portal. Then, adopting his characteristically relaxed smile, he replied, "Let's go home. I'm not really in the mood for anything too intense right now, but I can at least give everyone a massage..."As the word massage left Vahn's lips, the bodies of Fenrir, Yuri, Lotte, Mikoto, and even Enne visibly shuddered as a healthy red hue colored their cheeks. This earned them a few curious looks from the members of the Eurasia Family, who, despite having spent the better part of three weeks with Vahn, had yet to experience the skills that had initially earned him the title of Godhand...---Though they were unaware of the 'suffering' of the Eurasia Family, knowing smiles spread across the faces of two inordinately beautiful women, one with raven-black hair and the other possessing peculiar dark-purple locks. These were none other than Madara and Yoruichi, and, though they had long-since developed True Egos of their own, they could still sense when Vahn was in a heightened state of emotion. This applied to every Template he had created, but, having honed their perception and intuition to the extreme, the two voluptuous beauties could even sense when Vahn was feeling muddle-headed.With her smile gradually developing into a toothy grin, Yoruichi began to pop each of her knuckles as she remarked, "Whelp, looks like the bad guys on this Floor are fucked. Mind if Angri and I take point this time?"Hearing her name, fluffy auburn ears poked out of Yoruichi's shadow as Angri, adorned in an outfit reminiscent of the one worn by Soi Fon in the Actualized World of Bleach, asked, "Are we going on a mission?" in a forced monotone that failed to conceal her excitement.Pulling the olive-skinned Vanargandr onto her lap, an amused expression spread across Yoruichi's face as she tightly squeezed the struggling girl and answered, "That depends on whether or not a certain someone is going to stand in our way..."With Yoruichi's directing her golden gaze towards her, Madara's smile gradually faded away as she crossed her arms and said, "I refuse. Izuna needs opportunities like this to measure the results of his training. Do you think your protege is more important than my younger brother...?"Rolling her eyes in response to Madara's question, Yoruichi secured Angri with her left arm before holding out her right hand and drolling, "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, you bro-con. Let's just get this over with."Though she was unamused by Yoruichi referring to her as a bro-con, Madara ultimately just snorted before closing her eyes, extending her own right hand, and saying, "Proceed."Waiting until the final syllable had departed Madara's lips, bluish-white electricity began to radiate from Yoruichi's hand and forearm as she shouted, "Jan...ken...p-!"Snapping her eyes open, Madara revealed that she had activated her Rinnesharigan at the very last moment, her eyes transition from a deep crimson to a peculiar purple set with concentric rings and nine tomoe spinning around an abyssal black pupil. This enhanced her perception to the point that time seemed to stop, but, having anticipated this, the electricity emanating from Yoruichi's fist had already suffused through the rest of her body, its color shifting to a vibrant golden hue that caused her right arm, cat-like ears, and tail to shimmer with brilliant light.Noticing that Yoruichi's hand appeared to be throwing rock, paper, and scissors simultaneously, the pupil of Madara's right eye began to expand and contract in a mysterious rhythm as she attempted to draw the hateful cat woman into a powerful Genjutsu. Unfortunately, Yoruichi's Shunryū Kokubyō Senki, Flash God Black Cat Warrior Princess, made her virtually immune to illusions due to the sheer amount of Lightning Elemental Energy coursing through her mind and body. Thus, the moment she allowed the bronze-skinned beauty to transform, the majority of Madara's trump cards had already been sealed.Refusing to be outdone by a 'simple' elemental transformation, an evil smile began to spread across Madara's face in painstakingly slow motion. This caused Yoruichi's own expression to sour, but, long before either's facial muscles could react to their shift in mentality, the world around them began to dissolve away as Madara's voice, emanating from the void itself, echoed, "Infinite Tsukuyomi..."With her golden pupils immediately reflecting a crimson-hued version of Madara's Rinnesharingan, Yoruichi's mental processes completely ceased as the former countered her scissors with rock. This only lasted for a mere moment, but, with both of their speeds far exceeding the physical limitations of the world, it was more than enough for victory and defeat to be determined.Blinking her eyes, the reflection of Madara's Rinnesharingan was no longer visible across Yoruichi's vibrant golden irises as she exclaimed, "You bitch! Did you seriously just use the Infinite Tsukuyomi to win a game of rock, paper, scissors!?"Snorting in response to Yoruichi's words, Madara rose to her feet before countering, "You've quite the gall to accuse me of foul play when you're still in your transformed state. Don't be such a sore loser. It's unbecoming of you..."Without waiting for Yoruichi's retort, Madara's vanished into a spatial tear that had instantaneously appeared behind her. This left the former gnashing her teeth, but, as this was far from the first time something like this had happened, she ultimately just exhaled a tired sigh before snaking her hands around the uncharacteristically demure Angri's body and teasing, "It looks like we're all alone...shall we continue where we last left off~?"With a healthy shade of red coloring her cheeks, Angri ceased her struggles entirely, entrusting her body to the mischievous woman caressing her lower abdomen as she intoned a meek, "Nn..."---Though he wasn't oblivious to the fact his mood affected the behavior of his Templates, Vahn spent the better part of fifteen hours spoiling the girls currently accompanying him. He simply never got tired of experiencing the subtle differences between each of their reactions, so, even though he felt the usual discomfort when he was dealing with the more petite members of the Eurasia Family, that didn't stop him from giving each of them a 'very' thorough massage.When everything was said and done, Vahn, with a relaxed smile on his face, was silently listening to the strangely comforting sound of more than a dozen girls peacefully slumbering around him as he absentmindedly stroked the heads of Fenrir and Mikoto. They, along with Blossom, were still awake, so, with little else to do, they perused the anime linked with his Actualized World of One Piece. This was yet another boon of his [Actualization] Innate, and, thanks to the power she had inherited from him, they were able to witness Nami's meteoric rise to prominence as an undisputed Empress of the Sea.Though it was a little strange to see a character like Luffy relegated to a background role thanks to Nami solving most of the world's problems before they got out of hand Vahn couldn't help smiling whenever he saw flashbacks and scenes depicting her battles against legends such as Big Mom and Kaido. In the original story, Nami was simply the Navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates. She wasn't one of the 'big three', and, though she possessed a reasonable amount of combat potential, most of her opponents hardly qualified as legitimate threats. This was a stark contrast to the version of Nami he had created, a powerhouse that could even shatter Kaido's fist with a seemingly powerless punch...Understanding that the events on screen were actually taking place in another world, Blossom, who had nestled herself between Vahn's legs, asked, "How is it that these 'anime' of yours can have such diverse styles yet exist in the same world? Though the residents of the Tower are certainly diverse in both physique and appearance, some of the people in this world called One Piece have strange and outright outlandish proportions..."As this wasn't his first time being asked this particular question, Vahn's expression barely changed as he casually explained, "Though they might exist within the same metaversal structure, the Laws governing each world can manifest in a number of unique and interesting ways. Their appearances might seem strange when viewed from the outside, but, the moment you enter such a world, such incongruencies simply don't exist. Rather, without the ability to expand your perception beyond the restrictions of the Laws, you wouldn't even notice if your own appearance changed. We've taken to referring to this phenomenon as the 'Law of Normalcy', as, no matter how strange the world might appear from an outsider's perspective, it appears perfectly normal from within."Surprised by the existence of such a peculiar 'Law', Blossom fell silent for several seconds before leaning back, willfully nudging Vahn's sleeping dragon with the back of her head as she asked, "As the creator of these 'Actualized Worlds', do you see things similarly to the people within or from the same perspective as an observer? I'm not really sure how you could be attracted to anyone within if things appear as they do on screen..."Recalling his attraction to quite a number of 'fictional' characters in his youth, Vahn's smile became a little wry as he remarked, "I am able to view things both ways, but, even if that weren't the case, I would still be able to enjoy the beauty of the worlds in their original form. That is simply how I see the world, and, so long as they do not deviate down a sinister path, I would never besmirch another person for how they view and interact with the world around them. We each have our own unique perspective, and, no matter what anyone else says, everyone has the right to decide for themselves whether or not they enjoy something. In the end, we're all just looking for what makes us happy..."Though she was a little surprised by the sudden lecture, a teasing smile gradually developed across Blossom's face as she noticed the traces of embarrassment in Vahn's countenance. He clearly had a guilty conscience about something he had done in the past, but, rather than attempting to pressure him into revealing the truth, she simply giggled impishly before rolling onto her side and snuggling against the inseam of his trousers. This left Vahn feeling at a loss for words, as, shortly after getting comfortable, a faint sound began to emanate from Blossom's nose as she promptly entered into his dreamscape to mingle with her daughters...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'RIP Eurasia Family...','I'm not sure if this was an extremely epic or profoundly petty exchange...','Mischievous little imp...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the sky outside gradually brightening, Vahn, feeling a little impatient, began to lightly drum Blossom's small yet bubbly butt. She always found a way to invert herself whenever they were all sleeping together, so, more often than not, the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes in the morning was her pert posterior a few centimeters away from his face. Some might suspect this was an attempt to get him addicted to her inordinately potent pheromones, but, while this was certainly the case, it was more of an instinct possessed by pure-blooded Mares than actual malice.Feeling gentle yet stimulating ripples bounce around her body, Blossom's eyelids began to twitch, but, rather than opening her eyes, she softly groaned, "Just five more hours..." before attempting to wiggle away. Unfortunately for her, this actually made it significantly easier for Vahn to drum on her bottom, so, having already decided it was time to wake up, he thumbed the hem of her panties into her intergluteal cleft, fully exposing her fair white buttocks before thrumming the tune of one of his favorite anime.Though she was more than a little annoyed by Vahn's behavior, Blossom was unable to prevent a cute yet sonorous moan from escaping her throat. Even when he was spanking her bottom, Vahn's hands radiated pleasure and comfort instead of pain. Thus, rather than attempting to put a stop to his antics, she allowed the pleasure to build within her body before opening her eyes and nibbling at the zipper of his trousers with her teeth.Realizing what Blossom was trying to do, Vahn gave her bottom an audibly firmer smack, the sound echoing through the room and arousing even the deepest sleepers as he said, "We have a busy day ahead of us. If you want to continue sleeping, you'll have to stay behind."Shifting her focus away from the throbbing sensation coming from her right buttocks, Blossom rose to a seated position before half-turning to face Vahn as she asked, "What's the rush? It's not like the Lo Po Bia Family is going anywhere. Besides, we literally have all the time in the world. Don't tell me you can't spare a few minutes to make sure we're all energized and ready to go~?"Rather than immediately responding to Blossom's goading, Vahn briefly shifted his gaze to Fenrir and Mikoto. Noticing this, the former adopted a slightly serious expression to indicate that she was ready to take his side while the latter, seemingly imagining how things might play out, allowed a bit of red to bleed into her cheeks as she habitually averted her eyes.Though Mikoto's reaction tickled his fancy quite a bit, the tensions building in Vahn's body relaxed when a monstrous rumble emanated from Yuri's stomach. This earned her the attention of virtually everyone in the oversized bed, but, demonstrating a remarkable lack of concern, she proceeded to brazenly scratch near the base of her tail as she lazily inquired, "What's for breakfast...?"Smiling in response to the former Princess' words, Vahn used Telekinesis to gently lift Blossom from his body as he casually replied, "I was thinking ricotta hotcakes with aged maple dressing, self-serve omelets, and a variety of pastries. If you're craving something more substantial, I can cook up some rice, sausage, eggs, and-"With a bit of drool escaping the corner of her mouth, a voracious glimmer appeared in Yuri's deep crimson eyes as she interrupted him to demand, "I want dragon steak with biscuits and gravy...!"Understanding what she meant when she said 'dragon steak', Vahn's smile became somewhat wry as he shook his head and said, "Some other time, perhaps. I'm not really in the mood to cook up anything too complicated right now. Sorry."Though her expression briefly shifted into an exaggerated pout, it didn't take long for Yuri to adopt her usual smile and answer, "No biggie. You're the one doing all the work so who am I to complain? Cook what you want. So long as it's made by you, I'm sure it will be delicious~!"Punctuating her words with a surprisingly adorable 'guts pose', Yuri's aura immediately shifted to a bright and vibrant yellow to indicate that she wasn't just giving him lip service. She might prefer to eat specific types of food, but, until now, Vahn had yet to disappoint with any of the dishes he had prepared. Rather, eating his cooking filled her with a tremendous amount of energy, and, as strange as it might sound, she was reasonably certain that she could taste the feelings he infused into each and every meal.Suppressing his sudden urge to go ahead and prepare his trademark brand of dragon steak, Vahn's smile promptly returned as he advised, "I'm going to head down. You all should go ahead and take a bath. Last night was pretty intense, and, while I don't particularly mind the smell, it might cause a problem when we visit the Lo Po Bia Family."Though the reaction of most girls was to blush slightly, Yuri responded to Vahn's words by sniffing her armpits, scrunching up her nose, and saying, "That's probably a good call. I might not be able to control my anger if one of those arrogant clowns from the Mandrill or Lemuroidea Families chooses to comment on my smell..."With the various tribes of the Lo Po Bia Family focusing heavily on strength and bloodline, the fact Yuri now possessed a monkey-like tail was more than enough justification for the members of a few families to target her. It didn't matter that she was out of their reach, and, so long as there was even a chance they might be able to woo her, the various primate tribes would do everything within their power to either capture or ingratiate themselves to her. She could even take over the position of an Elder or a Matriarch if she really wanted to, but, having no such desires, Yuri was already thinking of ways to mask her scent before the impending encounter.Fortunately, there were a number of methods at her disposal, as, even as far back as the Record of Danmachi, Vahn had been forced to acquire techniques and shampoos to mask both his scent and the scent of others. He had even developed a version of his self-made 'cleaning magic' that would linger for several weeks, passively preventing the build-up of dirt and grime while simultaneously masking the recipient's natural aroma. If he was especially serious, he could even manipulate the Laws to completely 'erase' the concept of a person's aroma, but, as personal odor was surprisingly important for mental wellness, he had never needed to resort to such extremes...---While most of the girls were enjoying a relaxing in the hot springs-like bath, Vahn found himself unable to suppress a smile as he snuck glances at Mikoto humming at the side in a frilly pink apron. She enjoyed cooking nearly as much as he did, so, ever since she had returned from the exploration group, she had been helping to prepare meals.Though she could sense Vahn's gaze whenever he shifted his attention her way, Mikoto did her best to appear completely oblivious. If he were 'serious', he wouldn't even need to look her way to grasp even the individual molecules in her body, so, with Vahn behaving like a boy paired with his crush in a Home Economics class, Mikoto couldn't help humoring him. She was even tempted to tease him a bit, but, having stepped on that landmine more than a few times during their stay in the Actualized World of Toaru, she ultimately managed to restrain the urge.As thoughts of 'home' crossed her mind, Mikoto couldn't help thinking about what all of her friends and family were up to. She knew Vahn had effectively stopped time following their departure yet, as was often the case, the mind failed to think rationally when influenced by sentimentality. Thus, for a very brief moment, her hands slowed as memories of the past began to surge forth like a wave that had just breached a floodgate.Sensing the not-so-subtle change in Mikoto's aura, Vahn's own actions ceased as he instinctually wrapped his arms around her body, asking, "What's wrong?" in a concerned tone.Since her melancholy had lasted less than a single second, Mikoto found herself habitually rolling her eyes as she answered, "You're too sensitive..." before following it up with a demure, "I'm fine..."With familial longing having become a perpetual acquaintance of his, Vahn knew when others were experiencing something similar. Thus, even though they had previously promised to put off visiting until he had reached the Divine Realm, his tone became gentle yet resonating as he asked, "Do you want to return home for a short while? I'm sure you would feel much better..."Feeling Vahn's words spread through her body, Mikoto felt as though the marrow in her bones was vibrating as a pleasant warmth suffused her entire being. Despite this, she managed to set aside her kitchen knife before leaning into his embrace and softly replying, "Dummy...you shouldn't be using your Authority for something like this..."Resisting the urge to chuckle in response to the chastizing remark, Vahn kissed the top of Mikoto's head before proceeding to gently rock her body as he said, "I'd rather use it for things like this than to truly force someone's hand...if I can make things a little easier for the people I love, I don't mind being shameless..."Having experienced quite a bit of Vahn's shamelessness, an exasperated sigh parted Mikoto's lips as she overlapped her hands with his and muttered, "You can't make me say it..."Though he could easily do exactly that, Vahn nodded his head in affirmation before strengthening his hold on the bashful brunette and saying, "I'd like to visit the Toaruverse. Even if little to no time has passed from their perspective, I'm sure everyone will be happy to see us...I'm feeling excited just thinking about it..."Rolling her eyes in response to Vahn's words, Mikoto entrusted her full weight to his embrace as she half-heartedly retorted, "It sounds to me like you just want to have another orgy..."Unable to suppress his laughter, a jovial chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat, his voice taking on a teasing tone as he asked, "Remind me...who was it that proposed the idea of linking her senses with her 'sisters' in order to spur the development of their individuality...?"With her face turning redder than a tomato, sparks began to emanate from Mikoto's ahoge as she found herself at a complete loss for words. Vahn had actually done his best to behave as a unique aspect of her esper abilities during the early days of their time in the Toaruverse. In the end, it was she who asked him to take a more proactive role in things, as, despite possessing far greater power than even Aleister, she couldn't protect everything on her own. It was impossible to play the part of a normal middle-schooler while meddling in the affairs of global organizations, so, more often than not, it was Vahn working behind the scenes that allowed them to reach a 'happy end'.Remembering the time she had given Vahn the green light to sleep with her mother, an offer he had ultimately refused, Mikoto's face became a dangerous shade of crimson before she ultimately reverted to her Pikachu form in order to hide the evidence of her embarrassment. Then, despite his previous claims that there were more important matters to attend, time began to slow to a crawl as Vahn and Mikoto disappeared into thin air. This was immediately followed by them 'popping' back into existence, but, from the perspective of the duo, weeks had passed in less time than the blink of an eye...(A/N: Alternate Titles: '*Cowboy Bebop Theme Intensifies*','Never change, Yuri...','Mikoto is a closet pervert...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though he had made up his mind to accelerate his conquest of the Tower, Vahn spent the better part of three weeks idling about in order to gauge the residents' reactions. He also wanted to see what the Ten Great Families would do with the additional time, so, while much of his day was spent rather leisurely, he also dedicated a fair amount of time spying on various organizations throughout the Tower.As could be expected of the Families that had proactively supported peace and order, the Tu Perie and Ari Families made the most of the current situation by volunteering to assist in the auditing of the other Families. The Tu Perie Family, in particular, had been compiling records of every crime that had been perpetrated by various individuals for the better part of ten-thousand-years. This included records pertaining to members of their own family, so, by the time things had started to calm down, more than twenty percent of each major family had either been imprisoned or simply 'erased' from the Tower.While twenty percent might sound like a relatively small number, especially considering the amount of hatred directed towards the Ten Great Families, the truth of the matter was that only a handful of individuals were responsible for the majority of crimes that had taken place. More specifically, it was members of the branch families and weaker members of the main household that ultimately sought to alleviate their frustrations by suppressing others. The only real exceptions to this rule were the Lo Po Bia and Hendo Lok Families, but, with the former driven by instinct and the latter motivated by self-preservation, they were the outliers in the group.Fortunately, largely due to their limited lifespan and the fact Vahn had already been working with them in 'secret', the Hendo Lok Family were a lot more responsive to rapid change compared to the other Great Families. Their situation had forced them to continuously adapt just to survive, so, while there had been a significant amount of bloodshed relatively early on, the result of the Leader of the Family personally cleaning house, they were more united than ever. It would likely take decades for them to fully stabilize, but, now that they no longer had to perform forbidden rituals just to extend their lives, they no longer had to worry about being viewed as monsters by the rest of the Tower.Though Vahn had a few personal grievances to settle with Bloodmadder, principally related to the man's rather infamous libido, he had delayed dealing with him out of consideration for the rest of the Family. In the end, the man was most assuredly going to die, but, at least for the time being, he had managed to buy himself some time by doing his best to implement the reforms necessary for his Family's continued survival. This was something Vahn could appreciate, so, much like Lo Po Bia's sentence, Hendo Lok Bloodmadder's had been postponed until the fates decreed their paths would cross...---While doing his best to ignore the flotilla of pink-haired women who now followed him virtually everywhere he went, Vahn silently observed a majestic floating palace that even exceeded Ostia in scale and beauty. If not for the numerous fires that could be seen spreading uncontrolled through rampant through various sections of the palace's main compound, it could have easily competed for one of the most wondrous sights Vahn had ever seen. Instead, the innumerable pillars of black smoke made the scene better suited for a painting of an apocalypse rather than an idyllic eastern palace heavily influenced by Chinese mythos and architecture...Though she would normally remain silent whenever they were out and about, Blossom, dangling from Vahn's neck and peering over his shoulder, voiced the thoughts of nearly everyone present, muttering, "How tragic..." in a subdued tone. This caused Vahn's already conflicted expression to turn into a frown, as, unlike the other Great Families, the Yeon Family had effectively collapsed in the weeks following the battle on the 100th Floor. A few of the High Ranking Elders, enraged over the loss of Ilarde, had even attempted to perform a ritual to try and forcibly remove the Spirits of the Golden Crow and Divine Phoenix from Hana's body. Instead, they ended up being driven from the 'Palace of Flames', their lives spared only because of Hana's compassionate nature...Restraining a sigh, Vahn was about to say something when Blossom, seemingly sensing the change in his mental state, tightened her hold around his neck in order to nuzzle against his cheek and say, "Don't let it get to you. Due to Ilarde's influence, very few people within the Yeon Family truly cared for Hana. This is certainly a tragedy, but, so long as she can overcome her mental demons, Hana will be a lot happier without such toxic people in her life. We can help her with that...but..."Shaking his head, Vahn preempted the suggestion Blossom was about to make, saying, "I shouldn't be the one to help her. Even if I could heal her heart, there is no way to get around the fact that I'm one of the primary sources of her pain. Besides...her heart already belongs to another..."Understanding who Vahn was referring to, Blossom lightly hummed before muttering, "Viole..." in a voice that only he could hear.Nodding his head in response, Vahn began to descend towards the flaming palace, his voice calm and steady as he explained, "Some might consider me an irredeemable womanizer but I can safely state I have never stolen the heart of someone who has dedicated themselves to another. I've come pretty close on a number of occasions, but, during each of those instances, the person whose heart they had dedicated themselves to was already dead..."Though he would like to claim complete innocence, Vahn knew he had skirted several boundaries during his time in the Nasuverse. His mental state, combined with his lack of power, compelled him to commit to several courses of action he later realized were either unnecessary or rushed. While he had never regretted any of these choices, a bit of patience would have allowed him to resolve most situations without needing to become personally involved with every tragic beauty that crossed his path.Despite his cyclic nature compelling him to repeat many of his past mistakes, that didn't mean Vahn hadn't learned numerous lessons along the way. Thus, while he had grown remarkably confident in his ability to heal, win, or conquer the hearts of virtually any woman he happened to encounter, he had also come to understand that it wasn't 'necessary' for him to do so. This was a stark contrast to his younger self, who, regardless of the circumstances, always did his best to 'repay' every ounce of kindness bestowed upon him...Recalling his younger self, a naive boy who could shamelessly walk around town wearing little more than tattered rags and shrubbery, a reminiscent smile spread across Vahn's face as he reached up to pat Blossom's head, silencing her attempt to question him about Viole by musing, "Space and Time are truly remarkable things...so long as you have a sufficient enough understanding of both, there is very little you can't accomplish..."Without going into further details, Vahn retracted his hand from Blossom's head before turning his attention towards the bereaved-looking woman glaring at him from atop a ruined altar flanked by statues clearly designed to represent the Divine Phoenix and Three-Legged Golden Crow.As strange as it might seem, Vahn actually found the current Hana even more remarkable than the woman he had wronged weeks prior. Her tears did little to detract from her beauty, and, though he was able to maintain eye contact, the pure white lace visible between her legs as she tightly hugged her knees possessed an allure that compelled the eye to follow. This, combined with her remarkably sad and vulnerable aura, gave off the impression that she was literally waiting for someone to come and take away her pain...even if it meant being taken advantage of and lied to...Doing his best to maintain a casual and reminiscent smile, Vahn gestured for Blossom and the rest to give him a bit of space before making his way closer to the throne. In response, the temperature around Hana's body began to increase, yet, in spite of this, she made no attempt to actually prevent his approach. Instead, her aura began to shiver like a frightened child as she hugged her knees with greater strength and monotonously asked, "What are you doing here...? Have you come to laugh at me...?"Hearing the pain suppressed in Hana's tone, the charismatic glimmer frequently visible in Vahn's eyes diminished slightly as he extended his hands to remove the ornate crown from Hana's head. His initial touch caused her to flinch, but, even as he pulled several other ornaments from her hair, her only noteworthy reaction was to rest her head against her knees and allow him to do whatever he wanted. At the same time, her aura flame-like diminished to such an extent that, even if he were to push her down, Vahn doubted she would offer any significant resistance. She had basically given up on life, and, prior to his arrival, most of her time had been spent contemplating whether or not she should pass on the Divine Phoenix and Golden Crow before searching for a method to take her own life.As was often the case in such situations, Ancestral Spirits such as the Divine Phoenix and Three-Legged Golden Crow could only be passed on to direct descendants. This was the main reason that Hana had never confessed to Viole, as, despite loving the man with all her heart, his love of Arlene, combined with his innate characteristics, made him unsuitable to sire the next generation heiress of the Yeon Family. Now, however, she no longer cared about such things, so, even if it was the person she currently hated the most, the only thought in Hana's mind was 'getting things over with'...After removing all the ornaments from the woman's vermillion hair, Vahn resisted the urge to plant a kiss on the top of Hana's head. Instead, he gently caressed her inordinately silky lock as he quietly explained, "I am not called the God of Infinite Possibilities without reason...though you cannot deny your responsibility in the matter, Ilarde's actions were ultimately the result of her twisted nature and lust for power. You could have stopped her, but, given your situation, I can also understand why you might be reluctant to do so...for better or worse, even the greatest of Gods are capable of terrifying compromise when it comes to family..."Earning the vermillion-haired woman's attention, Vahn regained a bit of his smile as he framed the sides of her face with his hands and added, "You are a good person...you do not deserve to suffer in this manner. Since I am also to blame for your current predicament, I will offer you a choice. So long as your desire is sincere and devoid of malice, I will grant your wish. Now...tell me...Yeon Hana...what is it your heart desires...?"Though she couldn't shake the impression she was about to make a deal with a devil, Hana's eyes glazed over slightly as she whimpered, "I just want to be loved..." in one of the most pitiable voices Vahn had ever heard. She had spent her entire life living according to others' expectations, so, even if it was just for a single moment, she wanted to experience true love and affection. As for why she didn't ask to be reunited with Viole, it was because, in her mind, the man had passed long ago, and, more importantly, he had dedicated his heart to another...Feeling Hana's anguish and hope wash over him like frigid yet warm water, Vahn adopted the most assuring smile he could manage before nodding in affirmation and whispering, "Very well..." before bending down to plant a kiss on the flame-like seal on her forehead. In the moments that followed, the light within her fiery eyes gradually faded, unparalleled relaxation flowing through her body for the first time in millennia as Vahn pulled away to add, "Rest. When next you awake, all your dreams will have come true..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Three weeks to unfuck millennia of corruption...','Beauty within despair...','A promise of a better future...')(A/N: Power and water have finally been restored. I got to flush my toilet and take a nice hot bath for the first time in five days. Feels good man.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2001: Resonance