Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With Yasratcha's energy signature vanishing from her perception, Pram, with blood dripping from her forehead, began to condense as many Baangs as she could in preparation for her next attack. This was a fight that prohibited the use of weapons, so, without her prized Needle, her strongest ability was the technique she had learned during her training with Fenrir. It allowed her to bolster her physical characteristics to extremes that simple Baangs couldn't achieve, and, more importantly, it stimulated her nervous system to provide a rather drastic increase in reaction and response time.Though raw speed was generally considered the most important factor when it came to fighting potential, it was useless without the reaction time to keep up with and guide your own attacks. It also provided little benefit when your opponent could simply shrug off your most powerful attacks, as, even if you could move near lightspeeds, that didn't mean you could strike at lightspeeds. After all, unless you had some kind of technique to redirect counter-forces away from your body, hitting a foe at the speed of light was the same as hitting yourself at the speed of light. This was the main reason people near the top still used weapons, as, more often than not, it was simply impossible to go all out with their actual bodies.Ignoring this logic entirely, Pram began to absorb a phenomenal amount of Shinsu into her body with complete and utter disregard for the consequences. Strangely enough, this didn't result in her body swelling due to the increased density of her muscles. Instead, her affinity with Yin Elemental Energy caused the energy within her body to enhance her feminine characteristics to a surprising extent. The most noticeable of these changes was her ashen-silver hair turning pitch black, but, as soon as you looked past this, your heart would seize up upon realizing how indescribably beautiful she had become.Not only had Pram's already striking features become even more outstanding, but, contrasting her relatively petite stature from before, her height had increased to approximately 180cm. Even more noticeable than this, however, was that her breasts and butt appeared as though they were trying to liberate themselves from the fabric containing them.While these were the features that stood out to virtually everyone watching the fight, Vahn's mind had stalled when he saw how much longer and fluffier Pram's tail had become. Previously, it had been around 120cm in length. Now that her body was saturated with Yin Elemental Energy, it was nearly twice as long, and, more importantly, thick enough that it looked like she could conceal her body within if she really wanted to.As thoughts of doing the same crossed his mind, Vahn's expression became inordinately serious as he noticed the major drawback of Pram's unexpected transformation. Though her fair skin made it difficult to discern, the very tips of her fingers and toes had started to freeze due to her inability to properly control and regulate the energy within her body. A similar phenomenon was occurring in the energy pathways of her body, so, while her power had increased rather drastically, it wouldn't be long before the chillingly cold energy completely froze and crippled her body.Even if she could hear Vahn's thoughts, Pram wouldn't have expressed any fear. She had already formed her resolve, so, even if she ended up completely ruining her body, she was willing to do so if it meant defeating her opponent. She also felt as though she had just broken through some kind of limiter, so, even if Vahn didn't step in to save her, she no longer had any regrets. This power was clearly something she had obtained as a result of the time she had spent at his side. Thus, even this battle ultimately resulted in her death, she was content knowing Iifa and Nio would one day surpass her...Believing wholeheartedly that Vahn would never allow the Snow Leopard Family to face extinction, a smile spread across Pram's face as she directed her ice-blue eyes towards an extremely faint energy signature. One of the major flaws in Yasratcha's ability was that, without a lighthouse or something similar, his senses were just as muted as his opponent. They might not be able to detect him, but, in that same vein, he could only detect energy within a few hundred meters whilst underground.Though she was actually aware of this flaw, the fact she could sense, not just Yasratcha's, but the life force of virtually everyone in the stands, filled Pram with the instinctual urge to 'erase' them all from existence. She could even make out a mysterious flame burning near the heart of virtually everyone present, the only exception being the chestnut-haired man sitting next to her father...Restraining the urge to go on a killing spree, Pram ordered her Family's Guardian Beast to return to its Bowl. To her surprise, it actually refused to come anywhere near her, fear visible in its pale-blue eyes as the hairs across its body stood on end. This left her feeling more than a little confused, as, despite having a limited number of techniques at their disposal, the Guardian Beasts of each branch family were exponentially stronger than the Elders they served. They could also reform their bodies so long as their Bowl remained intact, so, in the long history of the Lo Po Bia Family, it was unheard of for a Guardian Beast to fear the Anima controlling it...Feeling an emotion similar to disdain rising from the back of her mind, Pram's smile faded away as she ordered the inordinately large feline to flee to the periphery of the arena. This was an order the creature happily obliged, as, from the moment she had transformed, the central thought in its mind had been to get as far away from the abyssal-black-haired beauty as possible. Her presence felt like death itself, and, while it would readily sacrifice itself under normal circumstances, its instincts were practically screaming 'run away'.With her Guardian Beast seemingly fleeing for its life, Pram was marginally surprised to hear a snort escape her nose as she followed its departure with her eyes. She normally revered the creature that had protected her family for numerous generations, yet, here, at this moment, she felt as though it was beyond pathetic. Rather, with the exception of the three monstrous entities observing her with differing degrees of intrigue, she felt as though everyone else was simply taking up space they had no right to occupy...Doing her best to suppress these dark thoughts, Pram spread her arms with the intent to create as many Baangs as possible. To her surprise, the normally bluish-white swirls of energy had gained an unnerving black hue, and, for a brief moment, her own instincts kicked in, demanding she cease her current course of action. Instead, she focused on stabilizing two massive Baangs of Shinsu, a vicious smile appearing across her face even as visible cracks began appearing on her arms and legs.Though he had no idea what Pram was up to, alarm bells were sounding in Yasratcha's mind as he attempted to delve deeper into the ground. Unfortunately, the barrier surrounding the arena also extended below the surface, so, even if he wanted to descend much further, the maximum depth he could achieve was a mere three-kilometers. This might sound like a lot, but, considering there were High Rankers able to erase mountains with single Baangs of Shinsu, a cold sweat developed across Yasratcha's body as he instinctually hardened his surroundings...---With even Yuri having fallen silent, Vahn and his entourage's expressions mirrored those of the masses as they witnessed Pram emit a blast of energy that seemed to erase everything in its path. In actuality, the attack was actually decaying everything it impacted at an extreme rate. There was only one Law that came to mind when seeing this, but, before he could recover from his shock, it was Fenrir who muttered, "Death..." in a somber and serious tone.Without doing so consciously, Vahn nodded in response to Fenrir's utterance before opening his Unit Management to confirm Pram's status. Unsurprisingly, her Soul Tier had increased from three to four, and, though she lacked a Divinity, she wouldn't be lying if she began referring to herself as a Goddess of Death. After all, listed alongside her previous three, she now possessed a rather scary-sounding Innate called [She Who Is Death]. This was actually the Sanskrit translation ascribed to the Goddess Kali, so, while it didn't directly link her to the legendary Mahavidya, the fact it was listed as a Mind Innate indicated it wouldn't be long before Pram began to think and behave like a Goddess of Death and Destruction...Though it wasn't his first time witnessing someone awaken an Innate, Pram's breakthrough, while worrying, provided a considerable amount of insight. Her 'evolution', if it could be called that, was a combination of her past circumstances, the changes she had undergone whilst spending time with him, the burden placed upon her after the fact, and, most importantly, her resolve to both face and 'overcome' her impending end. He imagined his periodic 'infusions' of Source Energy also played a part in her awakening, but, in the end, it was Pram's heartfelt desire to 'move forward' that allowed her to bridge the seemingly insurmountable chasm between Tiers 3 and 4...---Ignoring the red crystals flaking away from the stumps where her hands used to be, the smile on Pram's face grew to a point that it began to detract from her world-shaking beauty. After all, not only had Yasratcha's energy signature completely vanished, a crater extending all the way to the barrier now dominated the barren and lifeless landscape. Before the fight had started, there had actually been a number of trees and shrubs decorating the landscape within the arena. Now, the only living being within the arena was herself, her family's Guardian Beast, and a number of eerie black plants that hadn't existed prior to her attack...With a full minute passing without any signs of Yasratcha appearing, a sudden and intense urge to laugh spread through Pram's body. Unfortunately, this was accompanied by a tremendous amount of pain, so, rather than the elegant laughter she was known for, pained cackles emanated from her throat as a black aura erupted from the cracks spreading across her body. Before she even realized what was happening, tears began to pour down her face, but, no matter how hard she tried to rein it in, the black aura continued to expand as her laughter caused the hearts and bodies of thousands to tense in fear...---Showing far greater concern than the duo at his side, a scholarly-looking man with sleek brown hair, sharp eyes, and a neatly trimmed beard turned towards his green-haired companion covered in pale-golden fur, asking, "Are we just going to sit here and watch? If the barrier fails to hold, your family will lose a lot more than two Elders..."Responding before the green-haired man could speak, a sharply-dressed man with chestnut-brown hair and similarly brown eyes remarked, "The Tu Perie Family is becoming bolder with each passing day..." before adjusting his silver-framed glasses and adding, "This barrier was painstakingly erected using techniques developed by my Research Association. Its durability is such that even the three of us would not be able to shatter it in a short period of time. Even if the Sage Dragon Emperor fails to make an appearance, that woman will destroy herself long before the barrier is compromised."Frowning in response to the man's words, the scholarly-looking individual's voice hardened as he countered, "I would have thought the man praised as the most intelligent within the Tower would be able to understand the repercussions of losing two branch leaders. If Lady Pram dies here, the conflict between the Snow Leopard and Forest Cat Families will-"Rather than waiting for his former colleague to finish, the sharply-dressed man, Po Bidau Gustang, adopted a glare of his own as he flatly replied, "I would advise you to learn how to think before you attempt to lecture others. Don't assume everyone is limited by your apparent inability to think, Lord Tu Perie. Unlike you, I have properly considered every outcome, inevitable or otherwise. Were there any doubt in my mind that the Sage Dragon Emperor would show up, do you think I would be here right now? Ah, my apologies. I already drew attention to your apparent inability to think, yet here I am assuming you are capable of more than simply spewing platitudes. Now, cease your blathering. If my calculations are correct, the Sage Dragon Emperor will be arriving any moment. Simply seeing him appear has more value than speaking with you for an entire year so stop wasting my time with your meaningless drivel."Finished with what he had to say, Gustang erected a sound dampening barrier between him and the glowering Tperie. This caused the latter's expression to darken, but, understanding the futility of trying to argue with Gustang, he quickly regained his calm before turning his attention to Lo Po Bia in an attempt to convince him to act. Instead, his words got caught in his throat as the fur-covered man excitedly muttered, "He's here...!"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'It's so fluffy that I just might die...','Embrace the darkness...','Apply cold water to burned area...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though the energy radiating from Pram's body was exceptionally dangerous, Vahn managed to appear less than three meters away from her without fear or trepidation. It had been quite some time since he feared his own death, and, while he wasn't inherently immune to the energy she was casting off, she was far from the level of being able to influence him with her powers.Not only had he been a God of Creation in various worlds, but, even as far back as Danmachi, it wasn't an exaggeration to say Vahn had been a 'Master' of death. His understanding of the Laws related to the concept wasn't all that far behind his mastery over creation. This could be attributed to his relationship with not one, but four Goddesses of Death. Melding with them had provided a tremendous amount of insight into the nigh-universally feared Law, but, even before that, Vahn had always been afraid of others dying more than experiencing it himself. After all, once he had received the path, death had just become another part of his journey...Paying no mind to the frigid black energy washing over the surface of his body, Vahn approached the now blind and bloodied Pram before wrapping his arms around her. This surprised the balding beauty quite a bit, but, the moment she felt his energy flowing into her body, profound relief could be seen in her face as she immediately lost consciousness. Then, to the surprise of everyone in the crowd, both she and Vahn appeared to 'flicker' in place as every injury on Pram's body miraculously vanished. In reality, he had stopped time to both treat her condition and have a conversation, but, from the perspective of the average onlooker, Pram's recovery had been instantaneous.Since she had asked to stick around until everything had dealt with, Vahn ruffled Pram's hair before asking her to join the rather sizeable group of beauties that had appeared out of thin air. Then, with a far more serious expression on his face, he completely ignored the crowd as he looked toward the trio seated in the VIP section, questioning, "How long do you intend to remain seated? You've spent the better part of a month preparing for my arrival. Are you expecting me to greet you first?"Though his words had earned him the ire of virtually everyone in the crowd, this quickly changed to respect when Lord Lo Po Bia rose to his feet, a warm smile forming upon his face as he performed a courteous bow and said, "We welcome the Sage Dragon Emperor to our home. It is one of our life's greatest honors to finally make your acquaintance..."Had Vahn not already defeated numerous Family Leaders, Lo Po Bia would have never lowered his head without a fight. The Family Leaders he happened to defeat were also among the strongest in the entire Tower, so, while this was a matter that could only be settled with a fight, he already knew where he stood compared to Vahn. Rather, if Eduan's words were to be believed, any one of Vahn's subordinates might be able to completely dominate a Great Family...With their Lord lowering his head, everyone in the crowd, including those who genuinely hated the Aldrnari Empire, immediately mirrored his action. They couldn't disrespect someone their Lord had paid obeisance to, so, even before the fight had begun, much of the hatred directed towards Vahn, at least from the lower-ranking members of the branch families, had already begun to fade away.Nodding his head in approval, Vahn briefly shifted his attention from the cat-like ears atop Lo Po Bia's head and instead focused on the pale-brown eyes of Gustang. This caused the man's focus to shift away from Blossom and Enne, his pupils contracting ever-so-slightly the moment his eyes met Vahn's. He could tell, even without a single exchange of words, that Vahn wasn't going to overlook his past and current actions.Instantaneously losing interest in the fight that was about to take place, Gustang rose from his seat, saying, "I have important matters to attend..." before promptly teleporting away. This left the last of the three men profoundly confused, but, having never gotten along with Gustang, not even in their younger days, he didn't particularly mind the man's absence. Instead, he rose to his feet, and, much like Lo Po Bia, bowed courteously as he said, "The Lord of the Tu Perie Family recognizes the Great Sun of the Aldnari Empire. We are honored by your presence."With the sudden departure of Gustang, Vahn's mood had improved quite a bit, so, in response to Tperie's greeting, he adopted a friendly smile and said, "There's no need for that. While we have yet to formalize the relationship, the Tu Perie and Aldrnari Families can be said to be on friendly terms."Punctuating his words, Vahn gestured with his right hand, and, as a result, a bespectacled brunette wearing clothes reminiscent of a mechanic manifested out of thin air. This surprised both Tperie and the woman in question, but, quickly realizing the situation, the intellectual beauty waved toward the former, smiling as she said, "Grandfather. Though unexpected, it is good to see you."As it had been more than a month since he had heard his Granddaughter's voice, visible relief could be seen in Tperie's expression until he noticed her state of dress. Her upper body was veiled in what appeared to be a pale-grey sports bra, and, while this wasn't exactly appropriate, what puzzled him was the distinct lack of 'something' his Granddaughter was relatively known for...With a very subtle blush coloring her cheeks, more from embarrassment than anything else, the woman, Yvonne, promptly tapped the bracelet on her wrist. This caused a pale-blue light to flash across her body, instantaneously changing her attire to something more suitable. At the same time, she unequipped the top Vahn had crafted for her, a rather unique garment that was enchanted with a function that allowed female wearers to effectively store their breasts in a sub-dimensional space. While this might seem like a useless function in the eyes of some, it was a godsend for women with large breasts who enjoyed manual labor and physical exertion. After all, unless you were performing a 'very specific' kind of exertion, large breasts, more often than not, just got in the way.Realizing he had been seen through, an awkward expression appeared on Tperie's face as he pulled out a cloth to habitually clean his square-rimmed glasses. Then, acting as if nothing had happened, he exhaled a bit of condensation onto the lenses before answering, "I am also pleased to see you in good health. If time permits, I would like to hear about what you and the Research Team have been up to these last few weeks. I would also be grateful for the opportunity to personally investigate the Little Garden, but, even if I am refused entry, I would understand and accept His Imperial Majesty's decision..."With his final few words directed towards Vahn, Tperie was hoping the former would help him to alleviate the awkward tensions he had unintentionally incited. Fortunately for him, Vahn found his reaction rather refreshing, as, unlike the other Family Leaders he had encountered, Tperie appeared relatively normal and down-to-earth. This was in spite of the fact his political power and authority being second only to Jahad's, a position that would have invariably corrupted the vast majority of people.Understanding that Tperie's interest in the Little Garden was the result of genuine intrigue and curiosity, Vahn decided to throw the man a bone, saying, "I would not turn away a friend if they came knocking at my door. Though I cannot promise you permanent residence, I would be more than happy to give you a tour of my home. I'm sure Yvonne would also enjoy the opportunity to present her findings rather than having to compile them into a report. Her efforts have not been without a few remarkable results."Though she was somewhat used to his flowery words, Yvonne still blushed upon hearing Vahn's praise. Truth be told, she felt like a child fumbling with blocks when comparing herself to members of the Aldrnari Empire's R&D Division, so, hearing Vahn speak her praises with a sincere smile on his face, it was impossible to prevent her heart from skipping a few beats. He was also the man she had dedicated the majority of her 'firsts' to, so, even if it was only lip service, receiving his praise in front of a crowd of thousands made her feel as though she had accomplished something worthwhile...Noticing Yvonne turn her pristine blue eyes up at him, an affectionate smile spread across Vahn's face as he instinctually extended his hand to caress her hair. This caused the blush on her face to intensify, but, understanding the social and political ramification of allowing Vahn to demonstrate his affection for her in public, Yvonne leaned into his palm with a bashful smile on her face and a calculating glimmer in her eyes. This was clearly observed by Vahn, but, rather than calling her out on it, he just chuckled before planting a kiss on her exposed forehead and returning her to the Little Garden. Then, with a markedly more serious expression on his face, he interrupted Tperie's attempt to speak by directing his gaze to Lo Po Bia and asking, "So, how are we going to do this?"Amused by Vahn's ability to shift the topic in an instant, a snaggle-toothed smile developed across Lo Po Bia's face as he explained, "Though it is ultimately your decision whether or not you want to acknowledge them, our traditions dictate that only those who have defeated more than half of the existing Elders possess the right to challenge the current Leader. This was the consensus reached by the founders of the Lo Po Bia Family in order to deter people from arbitrarily aiming for the position of Family Leader before they had earned the respect and support of at least half the family..."Though he had already been aware of this, Vahn nodded his head to express his understanding of Lo Po Bia's words. Then, in front of the confused eyes of tens-of-thousands of beast people, a mass of rainbow-hued energy appeared next to Vahn before taking the form of a muscular Japanese man with black hair and matching, albeit kind, eyes. What made this scene even stranger was the fact the man had appeared in little more than a wrestling singlet, animalistic three-toed boots reaching near his knees, black bands around his biceps, and a purple collar around his neck. He was also holding a strange mask in his right hand, but, with the exception of these peculiar features, his burly body was completely exposed.Gesturing towards the newly created Template with a smile, Vahn failed to conceal his amusement as he explained, "Though I will be the one to fight you, this man will act as my proxy to govern the Lo Po Bia Family. You are free to pit as many Elders as you please against him. However, be warned. His combat style might be distinctly different than mine but his power is such that even someone of Yurin's caliber might not be able to withstand more than a few blows."As if to emphasize Vahn's point, the muscular man, properly known as Genzo Shibata, donned the mask in his right hand. Immediately thereafter, a flaming red cape manifested into existence across his shoulders as an ornate golden belt appeared around his waist. Then, whilst flexing both arms, he released a powerful roar that not only caused the barrier enveloping the arena to tremble, but more than half the crowd to collapse. If a fan of One Piece had been present, they would have recognized this as Conqueror's Haki, a manifestation of willpower that was especially effective against creatures that obeyed their instincts and adhered to strict hierarchies...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Gustang be sweating...','That top is a dream-killing device...','RIP Lo Po Bia Family xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Having been keeping tabs on Pram ever since her departure, Vahn was well aware of the duel scheduled to take place between her and Yasratcha. He was also aware of what her family had been going through the last couple of weeks, but, considering how they had treated others over the last several thousand years, he wasn't in a hurry to bail them out. Instead, he used their predicament to observe how the other branches would react despite knowing his visit was inevitable.Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of the branch families had taken advantage of the Snow Leopard Family's fall from grace. This was relatively normal within the Lo Po Bia Family, but, due to the Snow Leopard Family's mismanagement of the Name Hunt Station, they had accumulated a considerable amount of resentment amongst the branches they had previously looked down upon.Simply put, Pram and the Snow Leopard Family were effectively reaping what they had sewn during the time they were in power. They had suppressed several weaker branches using their status, and, as could be seen in their treatment of the Grey Wolf Family, they weren't against annihilating other branches for personal gain. This was the consequence their past actions demanded, so, rather than immediately intervening in the fight, Vahn and his rather sizeable entourage were silently observing the proceedings from within a bubble completely isolated from the Primary Axis of Reality.Unaware of this, Pram began to tremble from embarrassment and fury as Yasratcha, now sporting a visage reminiscent of a hyena, continued to laugh at her expense. To make matters even worse, the crowd had started to join in, many laughing alongside Yasratcha while others began to jeer and cat-call the once-dominant Elder of the Snow Leopard.Unable to contain her anger, Pram's inordinately fluffy hair seemed to billow even more than usual as she raised her face to reveal moistened yet furious eyes. This caused an eerie silence to descend upon the crowd within her field of view, and, though he was sublimely confident in his power, even Yasratcha tensed up under the scorned beauty's gaze. After all, despite the rather drastic difference in their power, status, and authority, Pram's bloodline was actually of a higher quality than his own...With feelings of resentment and inferiority swelling from the deepest recesses of his subconscious mind, Yasratcha's muscles began to noticeably bulge as he leaned forward, claws and fangs bared as he exclaimed, "You dare look at me with such eyes!? What, you think you're better than me...!?"Without waiting for Pram's response, Yasratcha lunged forward with extreme momentum, the arena shuddering as he shouted, "You're nothing...!"Punctuating his words, Yasratcha swept forward with his right hand, massive blades erupting from his dagger-like nails. At the same time, the momentum of his charge caused a massive eruption of dust and debris to spread through the arena, heavily impacting the barrier that had been erected to protect the spectators.Despite several blades of energy tearing towards her, Pram surprised everyone by jumping forward to meet Yasratcha's assault. His attack had been meant to maim, not kill, so, having already formed her resolve, she dismissed any thoughts of protecting her body and instead focused exclusively on offense. This caused the hairs across Yasratcha's body to stand on end, as, despite being one of the most dominant figures within the Lo Po Bia Family, he was actually terrified of pain.Deciding he would rather not fight the crazed woman up close, Yasratcha immediately ditched his assault and instead leaped into the air while releasing several more blades of cobalt-blue Shinsu. If Pram wasn't going to try and defend herself, there was no reason to pressure her directly. He also specialized in long-range attacks, so, immediately following his retreat, he condensed the Shinu in the surroundings to form a physical wall resembling an ashen-grey cat's tail covered in razor-sharp spines...Gritting her teeth, Pram powered through Yasratcha's blades of energy without flinching. Her body had become remarkably durable over the course of her inordinately long life, and, thanks to the frosty white aura covering her body, most of the blades couldn't even penetrate her clothes, much less her flesh. Were it not for the shockwaves spreading through her body and violently shaking her organs, she might have been able to blitz Yasratcha before he realized what was happening.Seeing Pram approaching him like an icy missile, Yasratcha's pupils contracted into thin lines as he dodged to the side and shouted, "You've finally shown your true colors! Tell me, how many times did you need to open your legs before that dragon bastard rewarded you with such a technique!?"Ignoring Yasratcha's words, Pram kicked off the air as if it was solid ground, swiftly changing her direction before instantaneously accelerating to relativistic speeds. This was a little dangerous in a closed arena, but, having already forgone defense, she didn't care if she crashed into the barrier or pierced through the ceiling. So long as she could land a solid hit on Yasratcha's face, she would be more than content with any outcome.Trusting in his instincts, Yasratcha didn't even attempt to counter or block Pram's attack. Instead, he allowed the three-hundred-meter long 'tail' to thrash about at complete random as he backed into a spatial ripple that allowed him to instantaneously teleport away. This ended up being the correct decision, as, immediately thereafter, Pram ended up bursting through the tail like a bullet piercing a sheet of paper before smashing, hard, into the barrier protecting the ceiling...---Excited by the uncharacteristic manner in which Pram was battling, Yuri couldn't help pumping her fists in excitement as she shouted, "Yeah! You go girl! Punt that furry fucker in the balls...!"With Yuri shouting immediately next to his ear, Vahn was about to remind her that nobody outside could hear her when he noticed even Fenrir standing with her paws clenched into fists, fully focused on the fight. This came as a moderate surprise, as, even when Pram was effectively living with them, Fenrir had never demonstrated any fondness for the opportunistic woman. Rather, had he not been there to act as an intermediary, he could easily imagine Fenrir maiming, crippling, or outright killing Pram for ever thinking she could use the Empire for her own ends...Noticing her Master's gaze, Fenrir lowered her paws before casually informing him, "I can sense it. She still has a long way to go but Pram is no longer the bad girl she used to be. She doesn't defend herself because she sincerely believes you will step in to protect her when she needs you most."Though he was already aware of the reason for Pram's self-destructive behavior, hearing Fenrir say it caused Vahn's heart to briefly tense. Before he could even think about putting a stop to the fight, however, Fenrir went on to add, "She believes you are watching over her, so, even if it costs her life, she is willing to sacrifice everything in order to expose the flaws of her family for correcting..."Hearing what Fenrir said, Yuri shifted her attention away from the fight for a brief moment, brows raised as she asked, "Are you sure about that? It seems to me she's just lashing out because that cat bastard reminded everyone about the incident where she pissed herself."Furrowing her brows, Fenrir was about to say something in Pram's defense when Vahn, shaking his head, said, "There's no sense in arguing about the reason. Either way, Pram seems like she is willing to go all the way. For now, let's continue observ-"Before Vahn could even finish speaking, a Snow Leopard more than fifty meters in height and three times that in length erupted from the bell nestled above Pram's breasts as a feral roar escaped her throat. This was the Guardian Beast that had been gifted to the Snow Leopard Family by the Leader of the Lo Po Bia Family himself, so, while it was a little strange to consider it a Divine Fish, it was still one of the most powerful Shinheuh in the Tower...---Seeing the massive Snow Leopard descending towards him, Yasratcha cursed under his breath as he swept both hands forward to literally 'bend' the arena's floor around him. This might seem pointless considering his own charge was able to rend the terrain asunder, but, thanks to his inordinately rare Shinsu Quality, he could manipulate, strengthen, and even disassemble inorganic matter his field of control. The only downside was that conflicting fields of Shinsu directly interfered with his ability to control matter, so, even though he had invested decades of his childhood learning how to strangle people with their clothes, it was utterly useless against Wave Controllers and anyone even remotely close to his level.Fortunately, most Rankers were accustomed to fighting aerial battles, so, more often than not, they didn't even think to infuse their Shinsu into the surrounding terrain. This made it exceptionally easy to control, and, unless they possessed a specialized or A-Rank Lighthouse, he could easily escape a disadvantageous situation by creating an astonishingly durable dome and burrowing deep into the ground below. This was a domain few could freely trespass, so, even if they could detect him, most people could only bombard the ground with powerful attacks in a futile attempt to bury him.Unaware of this, as Yasratcha had effectively become inactive thousands of years ago, Pram ordered her Guardian Beast to direct its most powerful attack towards the spiraling mound generated by her opponent. This caused it to issue a high-pitched roar that shook the very foundations of the arena, yet, in spite of this, the peculiar mound seemed completely unfazed. Instead, its exterior darkened to resemble a deep earthy brown that glistened beneath the light emanating from the barrier...---Having never developed a real filter for her words, Yuri gave voice to the thought that had crossed nearly everyone's mind, asking, "Is it just me, or does that dirt barrier look like a pile of shit? I can't be the only one seeing this."Unable to contain herself, an impish giggle emanated from Blossom's throat before she nodded her head and mused, "It's very fitting, don't you think~?"Though Vahn was able to maintain a relatively straight expression in response to Yuri's remark, the corners of his mouth began to twitch when nearly everyone nodded their heads in concert. Most of the girls surrounding him had rather 'youthful' appearances, so, seeing them react in the same way was not only adorable but amusing.Noticing the change in Vahn's expression, a massive grin spread across Yuri's face as she asked, "If it was you, I bet you could literally assail your enemies with endless waves of shit, huh? Or, better ye-"While he wasn't exactly sure what she was going to suggest, Vahn gestured with his left hand, and, as a result, Yuri's mouth vanished from her face. This surprised even him as his original intent wasn't to erase her mouth from existence but to momentarily seal it. This demonstrated just how much the current battle had affected him, as, despite appearing relaxed on the surface, his mind was still in a state of disarray due to Fenrir's previous remarks.Instinctually reversing the flow of time for everyone except himself and Mikoto, Vahn's face paled imperceptibly as Yuri, grinning from ear to ear, went on to say, "If it was you, I bet you could literally assail your enemies with endless waves of shit, huh? Or, better yet, you could probably drown them in semen. That should keep most people from even thinking about opposing you. Heck, I bet most people wouldn't even admit to having fought you! Ahahahahahahaha~."Resisting the urge to rub his temples, Vahn forced a smile before shaking his head and turning his attention back to the fight. He really didn't know what to say in response to Yuri's words, and, due to his little 'accident', he was currently feeling a little sheepish. Fortunately, this feeling only lasted for a few seconds, not because the fight had suddenly become interesting, but because his [Will of the Emperor] had finally decided to kick in...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'If you ain't ready to do the time, don't commit the crime~!','Pram be like, "Abandon humanity, return to gato..."','I mean...it WOULD be pretty effective...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2005: She Who Is Death