Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

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

While he wasn't 'the' Genzo Shibata, Hero of a Record known as Kemono Michi, the Template Vahn had created possessed a near-identical personality and appearance. The reason for this was rather simple. Genzo loved animals to such extremes that even the mention of harming one was likely to get you suplexed into the ground.Though his fondness for Beast People and Demi-Humans was heavily influenced by their overall 'fluffiness', Genzo possessed a righteous and incorruptible character that was perfectly suited for settling disputes. He was also what some referred to as a "true champion of gender equality", so, regardless of whether they were man, woman, or something else entirely, he would love and punish everyone without bias. This, combined with a competing degree of charisma and 'density' allowed him to be an extremely likable, albeit strange, protagonist.As the concept of anime wasn't really a thing in the Tower, the members of the Lo Po Bia obviously had no idea who Genzo Shibata was. All anyone knew for certain was that he radiated the aura of a 'Beast King', and, despite a powerful barrier existing to protect them, those who managed to retain their consciousness didn't feel safe. Some, particularly those with inordinate amounts of fluff, even broke out into a cold sweat, as, even without him looking in their direction, they could feel Genzo's intent linger over them like a predator that had been starved for weeks...Noticing a small amount of drool flowing from Genzo's mouth, Vahn felt an overwhelming urge to smack the man in the back of his head. As a result, the mask-wearing man was sent tearing through the landscape, his burly body smashing into the barrier surrounding the area with a loud thud. This was purely instinctual on Vahn's part, but, from the perspective of the people in the crowd, it was a demonstration of the fact he was exponentially stronger than the muscular man they were quickly learning to fear.Further emphasizing this notion, Genzo casually pushed aside a few large boulders before rubbing the back of his head and saying, "Sorry. I guess got a little excited..." while lowering his head in an ingratiating manner.Though he was the one who decided to keep the original Genzo's personality, Vahn couldn't help shaking his head in mild exasperation before shifting his attention to Lo Po Bia and stating, "Your move. You can send one at a time or all of them at once. It won't really make a difference."Hearing Vahn's words, Lo Po Bia tore his eyes away from Genzo, brows furrowed as he answered, "It will take an hour or two to gather the Elders and decide the fighting order. While it is true we spent the last few weeks preparing for your arrival, only a few of our fighters have gathered to witness the battle between the Elders of the Snow Leopard and Forest Cat Families. For the time being, it would be my honor to play host to the Sage Dragon Emperor and his entourage..."As he had spent a fair amount of time analyzing the structure of the 'fleet' outside, Vahn was well aware of the fact that the Lo Po Bia Family wasn't prepared to receive him. Unfortunately, Lo Po Bia had made the mistake of listening to Gustang's advice, and, as a result, tensions between the Snow Leopard and Forest Cat Families had been inflated unnecessarily. They had effectively forced him to come out, so, while he would normally have no problem with a brief intermission, Vahn's expression hardened as he answered, "Your Elders will have as much time as you can buy them..."Without bothering to explain, Vahn's figure disappeared from within the arena before reappearing in front of Lo Po Bia in an instant. Then, before the man could so much as widen his eyes in shock, he found the collar of his leaf-green kimono being drawn with overwhelming force before his body crashed, hard, into the arena's floor. Immediately thereafter, the section of the barrier between the VIP viewing stands and the arena shattered like glass, silencing the audience and stunning Tu Perie Tperie.Ignoring the tense atmosphere he had created, Vahn landed on the outskirts of the massive crater formed by Lo Po Bia's union with the earth. The man had never been known for his power, so, while he was ultimately unscathed by the sudden assault, he had a difficult time climbing to his feet due to the overwhelming aura pressing down on his body. He was far more susceptible to such pressure than most people, so, with Vahn's existence qualifying him among the highest classifications of True Dragons, Lo Po Bia felt like a field mouse that had been encircled by a seemingly infinite number of voracious predators...To the surprise of everyone, Vahn included, a figure appeared in front of the downed Lo Po Bia with arms spread wide. This was none other than Genzo, and, though he had been the one to create the man, Vahn's serious expression turned into a wry smile as he remarked, "You can't be serious..."With an expression that demonstrated just how serious he was being, Genzo crossed his arms in a defiant manner, explaining, "Attacking someone after they have sincerely extended their hospitality is behavior unbecoming of an Emperor. If you are going to judge people based on their capacity as a leader, you need to be willing to set the best possible example. Dismissing propriety just because you are in the dominant position is the act of a tyrant. If you insist on throwing away your-"Before Genzo could finish speaking, Vahn, having adopted a deadpan expression, pointed towards the man's lips and said, "Don't lecture me whilst petting someone and drooling..."Blinking in surprise, Genzo looked down to notice he was no longer standing in a defiant position. Instead, he had knelt down next to Lo Po Bia, and, due to the man offering no resistance, he had begun to caress and stroke the former's mane-like green hair. This realization would have caused most people to feel embarrassed, but, demonstrating why Vahn had chosen him as a proxy, Genzo's expression became resolute as he shouted, "Fluff is justice...!"Feeling more exasperated at this moment than he had in several months, Vahn pinched the bridge of his nose, brows furrowed in consternation before replying, "Fine. Even if you were just talking out of your ass, there is still a fair amount of truth in your words. I'll use this time to show Tperie around the Little Garden. Once four hours have passed, we will reconvene here and settle things...once and for all..."Though he was trying to be serious, Vahn's words began to trail off when Genzo began rubbing his face against the fur-covered cheeks of the very confused Lo Po Bia. This caused him to feel a small amount of regret, but, having long ago decided to live without such sentiments, he ultimately just shook his head before gesturing to the girls and returning to the VIP stands to collect the relieved-looking Tperie...---While Vahn was busy dealing with the consequences of his actions, Gustang found himself standing before a massive crystalline structure surrounded by advanced machinery. This particular crystal was the repository of all the knowledge the Po Bidau Family had accumulated since the establishment of the Empire, and, for the first time in his life, Gustang was considering destroying it all.Though he couldn't be certain of Vahn's intentions, Gustang's intuition told him that Vahn wouldn't allow him to hold on to knowledge and information he had acquired at the expense of others. This just so happened to be the bulk of the information they had acquired over the years, as, more often than not, the use of force and other extreme measures was the best way to acquire new, interesting, and, most importantly, useful information. This was especially true in an environment where people competed for dominance even at the expense of their own life and limb.Unfortunately, while he could justify nearly every action he had ever taken, that didn't absolve him of guilt. Rather, it implied he carefully considered each of his actions, and, despite knowing he was going to ruin the lives of countless people, he had moved forward with numerous projects. Most of these experiments were carried out for the benefit of 'all' peoples within the Tower, but, as he had demonstrated time and again, Vahn didn't care about such things. He would zero in on all the times people in his family had acted out of curiosity, intrigue, or other selfish desires, and, regardless of the good they had done, he would still hold them accountable.Thanks to the countermeasures he had developed to prevent Vahn from reading his mind, Gustang wasn't sure if he had done anything to earn the ire of the seemingly unstoppable dragon. It was this uncertainty that caused him to consider whether or not he should just destroy everything and move on. He had never been particularly fond of the Tower, so, as long as he made an effort to 'fix' things, there was no reason Vahn shouldn't extend him the same offer as everyone else. Rather, depending on how he played his cards, there was a chance he might even be able to join the Aldrnari Empire's R&D Division...As that thought crossed his mind, a resolute light appeared in the depths of Gustang's ordinarily impassive eyes. If he were being honest, it had been a long time since he felt truly passionate about anything. He couldn't remember what had transpired, but he knew it had something to do with the burgundy-haired woman standing next to Blossom, the only woman he had ever truly loved.Seeing Blossom among Vahn's entourage had caused an indescribable discomfort to spread within Gustang's chest. It had been thousands of years since they were married, but, even now, when most of his memories were sealed away, his yearning for her overwhelmed the loathing he frequently felt towards members of the opposite sex. They were an unwelcome distraction from his research, and, more often than not, conversing with them was like trying to have a serious talk with a farm animal. This had caused him to feel disgusted by most females, but, for reasons he had never been able to truly quantify, Blossom had never given off this impression. Rather, even without his memories, just seeing her made him feel uncharacteristically nostalgic and relaxed...Shaking his head, an expression of self-admonition appeared on Gustang's face as he pulled out a key and said, "As frustrating as it is to follow that woman's example...perhaps it is time I also move on..."As those words left his mouth, Gustang turned the key, and, as a result, the gargantuan crystal in front of him immediately shifted from a pale-blue to a frightful red that screamed 'danger'. At the same time, a countdown appeared on every screen in the facility, but, after inputting a few lines of code into the command terminal at his front, Gustang quickly overwrote it before closing his eyes and adopting a rare smile...---Though he had been in the middle of showing Tperie around the various communities located on the Second Layer, Vahn's body tensed up as he received feedback from one of his Templates. More specifically, the albino Wailord he had entrusted to Whitebeard had just informed him that a large explosion had just occurred on the 129th Floor, the highest Floor managed by the Po Bidau Family.Confused by the turn of events, Vahn habitually froze time around him, ignoring Tperie's statuesque expression of surprise as he turned to the Law of Identity and said, "Tell me what Gustang is up to..."Under normal circumstances, the Law of Identity would have happily obliged Vahn's request, but, even after several seconds had passed, her form remained unchanged. As for the reason, it was due to the fact that the Gustang she had habitually emulated over the last few years simply didn't exist...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Fluff is Justice...!','Turn back the pendulum...','O_O...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

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

Chapter 2006: Friendship : Proxy