Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With twelve face cards in a deck of fifty-two, the odds of choosing one at random were around twenty-three percent. Unfortunately, such probabilities didn't matter in the slightest when the rules of a Gift Game were left vague. Black Rabbit had made the mistake of keeping the rules a little too simple.The only conditions were that players could only choose once and that each player could only select a single card. How they went about selecting a card and how they chose to interact with the Game Board weren't mentioned at all. Thus, if they really wanted to, Izayoi and the other could have literally flipped over the Game Board. Instead, Izayoi simply slapped his hand on the table, an act of choosing his card that simultaneously sent the others flying into the air.Thanks to her connection to the Little Garden's Central Network, Black Rabbit was able to ascertain whether or not Players had cheated. Thus, even though she was more than a little annoyed by the outcome, there wasn't anything she could do to protest."See what I mean? Not exactly the most heart-pounding game you could have come up with."Waving around his King of Clubs, Izayoi had a sly and teasing grin on his face as he stared down the exasperated Black Rabbit. Fortunately for the latter, Vahn had shot her down when she attempted to follow his example by promising to let each of them make a request of her should they win. They weren't actually betting anything, so, from the perspective of the Little Garden's Central Network, it wasn't even remotely fair to afford them such a right.Exhaling a sigh, Black Rabbit visibly deflated as she answered, "I just wanted to show you how we do things here in the Little Garden. Unless I'm mistaken, the three of you came from were relatively normal worlds, correct? I figured it would be pretty exciting to see magic and manifestation right in front of your eyes."Flicking his card onto the table, Izayoi adopted a confident grin as he shifted his attention to Vahn and said, "Yeah, I get that. However, if this world really is as amazing as the invitation letter made it out to be, something a little flashier would have been nice. I don't know what it said on the letters of the little missies, but mine promised I would be able to have fun, meet powerful foes, and all that jazz. I didn't exactly come here to play card games."Nodding her head in assent, Asuka said, "Scary face here is correct. While it wouldn't be inaccurate to say I've come here to play around, my main goal is to reach the top. I abandoned everything. My fame, fortune, and even my family to come here. Something as simple as a game of cards isn't even a challenge."Though she was far more polite than the other two, Yo followed Asuka's words with a curt nod of her own. She had actually come here to make friends, but, at the same time, she wanted to prove that she was no longer the same weak and sickly girl she once was.Since the trio had shifted their gazes to Vahn, Black Rabbit couldn't help looking towards him with a wry smile on her face. In response, he issued a light chuckle before adopting a paradoxically serious yet casual expression as he said, "The Divine Realm serves as something like a point of reference for everything in the lower worlds. There is nothing you can't find here. You're currently very weak, but, with a bit of effort, it won't be long before you rival the Gods themselves. Heck, if you really wanted to, becoming a God yourself is a relatively simple task. It all depends on you.""So all I need to do is make an effort and I'll be able to knock you off your high horse? I'm looking forward to it."Shaking his head in response to Izayoi's taunting remark, Vahn adopted a challenging smile of his own as he said, "I'm not like other Gods, brat. They might be content with just sitting around, but I'm constantly growing stronger. It takes a lot more than teen angst to defeat someone like me."As he was used to people calling him edgy, Izayoi simply laughed in response to Vahn's words. He was confident that, so long as he was able to grow stronger, it was only a matter of time before he overcame the man standing before him. It didn't matter how long it took. He wouldn't give up until he had, at the very least, given the former a good punch in the face.Restraining a laugh of his own, Vahn uncrossed his arms, saying, "You should hurry back and meet with Jin. This is the first time anyone in the No Names has left the Community ground in the last six months. People will have noticed."Though he could always keep an eye on Jin from the shadows, Vahn's contract with the No Names had, technically, already expired. He wasn't going to keep babysitting them, so, unless they made an official request for assistance, he would be observing how things play out alongside Shiroyasha. After all, he still had a Community of his own to look after.Clapping her hands together, Black Rabbit adopted a smile as she said, "Vahn's right. Master Jin is already waiting for us near the outer gate. Once the three of you have registered as Players, we'll have lunch at a cozy little Cafe called La Solei. After that, we'll introduce the three of you to the rest of the Community. Everyone has been looking forward to meeting you~!""Question."Blinking in surprise, Black Rabbit tilted her head adorably to the side as she replied, "Yes, Asuka...?"Pointing towards Vahn, Asuka asked, "Is that man a member of your Community?"Answering in Black Rabbit's stead, Vahn pointed to the hearth-like badge on his chest, saying, "I'm the Leader of a Community known as Sage Dragon's Hearth. We're a neutral organization affiliated with the Eastern Floor Master. We help to keep the peace but our main services include protection, healing, Gift rentals, equipment production, construction, and upgrades. If you'd like to learn more, we have a branch operating within the Community you'll be joining.""I see. And what if we don't want to join Black Rabbit's Community? What then?"Since she was used to being the one in charge, Asuka wasn't particularly enthused by the notion of following someone else's orders. She didn't know what joining a Community entailed, but, knowing this was a mysterious land with magic, Gods, and even Demons, she suspected there were powerful and binding contracts involved. The Geass Roll was a perfect example of this.Plopping his hand atop the slightly nervous Black Rabbit's head, Vahn gently caressed the space between her ears as he said, "You're free to do whatever you want. However, if you refuse to join the No Names, you're certain to regret it. They invested a lot of resources into your summoning and have spent the last three years anticipating your arrival. Once you learn about their situation, you're pretty much guaranteed to feel like an ass if you refuse to help. Those two, especially."Though Yo seemed unconcerned, Izayoi furrowed his brows as he asked, "What do you mean? Also, three years? Exactly how long have you been keeping an eye on us?"Having already discussed the matter with Shiroyasha, Vahn ultimately shook his head in response to Izayoi's words, stating, "It isn't my place to reveal such details. It will be more meaningful if you find out the answers on your own. Besides, you came to this world looking for fun, entertainment, and, most importantly, a challenge. Do you want me to hold your hand and narrate things for you as you go along?"Clicking his tongue, Izayoi put his hands in his pockets as he said, "Whatever. Let's just get on with it." before walking in the direction of the Little Garden's Outer Gates. He had already made a simple map of his surroundings during his brief freefall so he wouldn't get lost unless some kind of trickery was at play.Seeing Izayoi walk off on his own, an exasperated sigh escaped Black Rabbit's throat as she shook her head and said, "He really is a problem child..."Though he felt Izayoi's behavior was pretty normal, Vahn still nodded his head as he retracted his hand from Black Rabbit's and said, "I'll see you back at the estate."Surprising Asuka, Yo, and even Black Rabbit herself, Vahn attempted to cheer the latter up with a relatively tame kiss. This caused the roots of her hair to turn pink, but, before she could 'explode' fully, Vahn released her with a smile before promptly disappearing into thin air."That explains a lot..."As if she had suddenly gained some kind of insight, Asuka continued to observe the statuesque Black Rabbit for several seconds before turning to Yo and asking, "What are you intending to do, Kasukabe-san?"Without any meaningful changes in her expression, Yo turned to meet Asuka's gaze as she said, "He mentioned something about Black Rabbit's Community needing our help. If that's true, I want to try and help them. What about you, Kudou-san?"Adopting a smile, Asuka said, "Please, call me Asuka. As for what I intend to do...well, I was thinking of forming a Community of my own. For now, however, I don't mind lending a hand. It all depends on what the members of Black Rabbit's Community expect of us."Returning a slight smile, Yo said, "You can call me Yo." before holding up the Calico cat in her arms and saying, "This little one is called Calico Cat. We came here together to make friends."Blinking in surprise, Asuka asked, "Friends? Really...?"Nodding her head in affirmation, Yo allowed Calico Cat to dangle from her shoulder as she said, "I used to be very sick. Now that I can move around on my own, I want to see and do all the things I couldn't do before. That includes making friends."Though it didn't show on her face, Asuka felt a strange sense of guilt when she heard Yo's words. A part of her wanted to ask what was wrong with her, but, feeling that would be a little too personal, she just said, "I'll be your friend, Yo. There's a good chance we'll be working alongside one another for the foreseeable future. Besides, you know what they say. Us girls need to stick together."While she had never heard the phrase in question, Yo's smile became noticeably more radiant as she linked her hands together like a prayer and said, "Thank you, Asuka. Now I can brag to all the animals that I finally have a human friend."With the smile on her face freezing, Asuka asked, "Does that mean I'm your first real friend...?"Shaking her head, Yo's expression became strangely serious as she said, "I have lots of real friends. Calico Cat is one of them. There is also Shiro-san, Beryl-chan, Kokoroko-sama, Machio-kun..."Hearing Yo list off the names of her animal companions, Asuka began to feel that the girl in front of her must have lived a very lonely existence. At the same time, she got the impression that Yo was an extremely kind, innocent, and, most troubling of all, naive young girl."For the time being, the two of us should stick together as much as possible. Okay?"Though she noticed the shift in Asuka's tone, Yo simply tilted her head to the side for a brief moment before nodding her head and answering, "Okay."Exhaling a sigh of relief, the smile returned to Asuka's face as she looked towards the patiently waiting Black Rabbit and said, "Lead the way, bunny girl."......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Izayoi be like, "Resist authority...!"','Asuka playing with fire...','Yo is a good girl...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After arriving at the Workshop, Vahn was unsurprised to find Leticia waiting in the foyer for him. It was quite common for her to greet him upon his return. This time, however, she wasn't wearing her maid outfit. Instead, her body was garbed in a long-sleeved, blood-red overcoat, a black blouse, a short white skirt, grey and black stockings, red leather boots, and a grey tie. There were also a series of belts dangling her blouse which served as fasteners for a piece of white fabric that converted her skirt into a dress."Worried...?"Since the outfit was basically Leticia's combat attire, Vahn could guess what she was thinking even without the aid of Loi-chan.Raising her head, Leticia revealed a marginally concerned expression as she said, "Since I have never met them, I can't help feeling nervous about entrusting my former Community to them. Please give me permission to test them..."Drawing closer to the anxious Vampire Princess, Vahn cradled the sides of Leticia's fair white face with his hands, a gentle look in his eyes as he said, "You don't need my permission for things like this. Just try not to get caught. That blond-haired boy, Izayoi, has supernatural sensory abilities. If you get too close, he would notice you without fail."Punctuating his words, Vahn ran his thumbs along the upper ridge of Leticia's ears, a mixture of calming energies and source flowing into her body as he leaned in to give her a prolonged yet relatively tame kiss. She didn't really show it due to an Innate that basically gave her a calm and clear mind at all times, but she was the type to get riled up by even minor displays of affection."Vahn..."With a slight pout on her face, Leticia stared up at Vahn, her carmine eyes glistening slightly as she habitually gripped his tunic. In response, Vahn just issued a light chuckle before gently grabbing her wrists and asking, "Didn't you have someplace to be...?"Adopting a remarkably cute frown, Leticia released Vahn's tunic before sprouting a pair of shadowy wings with a red tint and saying, "I'll be back soon...". Then, without waiting for a response, she fell into her own shadow before vanishing in an instant.Though most Vampires lacked a shadow, Leticia had earned hers after reaching the System Tree that served as the Nexus of the Little Garden's Central Network. It was basically a World Tree that served as a dimensional anchor for the Divine Realm, but, unlike the Yggdrasil located in the South, the System Tree resembled a giant crystal that glowed with countless circuit-like lines.Very few people were given the opportunity to interact with the System Tree, but, due to the efforts of her people, Leticia had been elevated to the status of a Dragon Knight after reaching its base and placing her palm upon its trunk. That same event earned the Vampires the designation as the Little Garden's protectors, but, due to the failures of the Divine Army, the once-noble race was eventually wiped out due to greed.Leticia was one of only three Vampires that still possessed a shadow in the present day. Rather than a normal shadow, however, Leticia could manipulate hers to produce shadowy constructs that could rival Divine Armaments at her peak. She was far from that level now, but, thanks to Vahn, it wouldn't be long before she managed to both regain and exceed her previous level of strength.With such thoughts on his mind, Vahn transitioned to the kitchen where Shirayukihime, Sarina, and Nono were working on a massive pot of curry. Usalia was also present, but, instead of helping out, she was sitting face-down at the dining room table with several of their children playing around on and around her body.Noticing Vahn's presence before anyone else, Usalia raised her head, tears in her eyes as she said, "Save me, plip..."Chuckling in amusement, Vahn split himself into three to deal with the rambunctious bunnies and assist in the cooking. It didn't really bother him that Usalia struggled as a parent. Rather, he was a little happy she was having a few difficulties as it effectively nipped the idea of producing millions of babies in the bud. She relied on him to deal with the vast majority of the children, and, though he had never breastfed them, there were times when he even pretended to be Usalia so that their children wouldn't feel like she was avoiding them........."You're telling me those brats got baited into a Gift Game less than an hour after they registered as Players? How?"Shrugging her shoulders in false helplessness, Shiroyasha maintained her usual smile as she said, "It has nothing to do with me. If anything, it was your overprotectiveness that led to this development. Ever since you erected that barrier, numerous groups have been keeping tabs on the No Names. It's only natural that something would happen when their Leader reveals himself for the first time in six months."Exhaling a sigh, Vahn resisted the urge to ask about the specifics regarding the Community that had targetted the No Names. Jin might be lacking in quite a number of categories, but he was confident in the progress his young apprentice had made. There shouldn't be any Communities in the six and seven-digit Gates capable of defeating him in a 'fair' battle. He was also quite intelligent, so, even if they pulled a fast one on him, he should be fine. The real question was whether or not the Problem Children would listen to him...Since he had already done quite a bit for the recovering Community, Vahn just shook his head. They had their own path to walk. They were also guided by a powerful fate, so, unless they requested his assistance, he should let them live and act as they pleased. If anything, he would just pop over in his non-existent state to check things out.With that in mind, Vahn met Shiroyasha's gaze and said, "Your friends in the South have been pretty quiet ever since they sent that missive expressing their gratitude. Anything interesting happen since then?"Exhaling a sigh of her own, Shiroyasha manifested the television remote before pointing it towards the TV. Once it had turned on, the screen reflected an army facing off against what appeared to be a monster horde as she explained, "Avalon had done a lot to allow Lesser Dragons and other types of mythical beasts to prosper in the lands surrounding the South's Outer Gates. Ever since their fall, the brood of various powerful creatures have been assaulting the South Side in an effort to weaken the Draco Grief Alliance and cause as much devastation as possible. It's quite the predicament."Raising his brow, Vahn asked, "How hasn't news of this spread to the rest of the Little Garden? What is the Divine Army doing?"Snorting through her nose, Shiroyasha stated, "The Gods in control of the Divine Realm are basically just a bunch bureaucrats. Unless an official request is filed and processed, they won't even consider mobilizing the Divine Army. The only two groups that had the authority to file such a request were the Knights and Aristocrats of the Little Garden. In other words, only Leticia and Black Rabbit could ever hope to make such a request. Even then, the odds of the big wigs taking action are pretty slim. Ever since the last battle against the Demon Dragon God, the Divine Army lost more than 90% of its members. They aren't exactly eager to fight another large-scale battle.""So you're telling me a monster horde is allowed to freely attack the South Side without any form of repercussions? So much for everything being decided with Gift Games..."Giggling in response to Vahn's remark, Shiroyasha surprised him by saying, "This is actually a Gift Game that has been going on for a very long time. The various Pantheons in the South have always been warmongers and battle-crazed idiots. Most of the people that live there are warriors of some kind. In other words, fighting is one of the things that gives their life purpose. As troublesome as the monster horde is, most of the people living in the South enjoy being able to cut loose without the stipulation of rules."Recalling that the South was filled with people descended from the Norse, Greek, Roman, Woden, and Mesopotamian Gods, Vahn wasn't too surprised by Shiroyasha's statement. He just found the notion of an endless war somewhat mundane. He also knew that not everyone in the South would appreciate the never-ending slaughter. Rather, he had already met numerous individuals who had migrated from the South after getting fed up with their original Communities...Shaking his head, Vahn said, "Whatever." before rising to his feet. This earned him a slight frown from Shiroyasha, who, over the last six months, had come to look forward to their various 'plays'.Understanding the pale-haired imp's thoughts, Vahn said, "I promised Seraphina I would take her on a date once our contract with the No Names had expired. She may not have worked hard these past six months, but she did her best to avoid causing trouble. I should be back later this evening."Though she was tempted to ask him to leave a version of himself behind, Shiroyasha was aware of the promise Vahn had made with Seraphina. He promised she would have him all to herself for an entire evening, so, unless something drastic happened, there was nothing that could get Vahn to go back on his words."At least give me a kiss before you leave..."As he had been delaying his departure for that exact reason, a teasing smile developed across Vahn's face as he supported Shiroyasha by her butt and gave her a long and passionate kiss. There wasn't much to hold onto, but, ever since he had sprouted a tail for her, she never asked him to get rid of it. As a result, her tail flickered about in a manner reminiscent of a true Cat Person as he held her close for the better part of ten minutes........."After hearing that tale of tragedy, I expected this place to look a little more...desolate..."Having followed Jin and Black Rabbit to the Land of the No Names, Izayoi was surprised to find grassy plains, a verdant forest, and vast fields of glistening golden wheat. There was also a rather sizeable village looming in the distance, and, most notably, a massive fortress-like castle with ivory walls and vibrant blue rooftops. Rather than the territory of a struggling Community, it looked like the kind of idyllic Castle Town you'd find in a fantasy novel.Offering a friendly smile in response to Izayoi's words, Jin explained, "We have Vahn to thank for the quick recovery of the land. If you had arrived approximately six or seven months ago, much of what you see now would have been a wasteland. We didn't even have a Water Tree so the children would have to venture outside to collect water. Now that we no longer have his protection, we'll be relying on the three of you to prevent opportunistic Communities from targeting us."Snorting through his nose, Izayoi made his way further into the territory as Asuka asked, "That man, Vahn. Just how powerful is he...?"Shaking his head, Jin replied, "No one really knows. There are many mysteries surrounding the Sage Dragon Emperor and his Community. All anyone knows for certain is that he managed to defeat a 5-Digit Community without any effort whatsoever. Based on the rumors that have been circulating, many presume him to possess the strength of a God around the 3-Digit Gates. Given his status as a Pure-Blood Dragon, however, there is a very real chance he is much stronger than that..."Though Asuka seemed somewhat taken aback by Jin's words, Yo perked up the moment she heard Vahn was a Dragon. She had always been fascinated by the various creatures found in myths and fantasy, so, while others might have been intimidated by such knowledge, she couldn't help but ask, "If I asked nicely, do you think he would become my friend?"......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Save me, plip...','Shiroyasha is slowly becoming a good kitty (UwU)...','Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes...!&lt;---Is this a mother-f**kin' Jojo's reference!?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

"You scoundrel! What do you think you're doing!? Release me this instant...!"Unable or perhaps unwilling to believe what had just happened, Asuka attempted to jump to her feet only to find her legs unresponsive. As a result, she could only glare towards Vahn with a slightly vexed yet threatening look on her face as she demanded to be let go.Rolling his eyes, Vahn was about to let Asuka stand when Izayoi suddenly stepped up, hands in his pockets as he asserted, "Not cool, man. Going around bullying little girls? You should find yourself a better hobby."Exhaling through his nose, Vahn elected to ignore Izayoi's remark as he released Asuka from his compulsion. He wasn't against teaching them a lesson, but he wasn't going to pick a fight with a bunch of kids.Not expecting Vahn to simply 'back down', Izayoi felt as if he had just tried to punch a large cotton pillow. Most of the 'arrogant' individuals he had encountered would either get offended or speak highly of themselves whenever someone acted casually or failed to show them respect. Thus, for a very brief moment, he wasn't sure how to proceed until Yo helped Asuka up, saying, "We shouldn't be fighting. Now's the time to gather information." (A/N: I'm just going to call her Yo since Yō/You doesn't read well in English text.)"Cat girl's right. Mind telling us why you brought us to this world, long legs?"Since it had been mentioned several times that Vahn was simply an observer, Izayoi shifted his attention to the befuddled-looking Black Rabbit. She had been floundering around at the side, but, in response to his words, she quickly regained her senses, a serious expression on her face as she said, "My name isn't long legs! It's Black Rabbit! As for why I invited you here...*ahem*...!"Clearing her throat, Black Rabbit performed a cutesy spin before spreading her arms and saying, "Welcome, everyone, to the Little Garden~! We are willing to give the three of you a chance to participate in the fabulous Gift Games! Isn't that exciting~!?"Though Izayoi looked like he was prepared to ask what Gift Games were, the words got caught in his throat as Yo attempted to sneak up behind Black Rabbit and grab her ears. The moment she extended her hand, however, her wrist was suddenly caught by Vahn, who, from the perspective of everyone paying attention to him, seemed to teleport."That isn't very polite, young lady...""Vahn!?"Not expecting Vahn to appear behind her, Black Rabbit ended up shouting his name as Yo, showing a genuinely apologetic expression on her face, meekly replied, "Sorry. I was just curious. I've never seen anyone with rabbit ears before."Releasing the young girl's hand, Vahn adopted a genial smile as he said, "There are many different races living within the Little Garden. It's fine to be curious but you can't go around touching people without their permission. Black Rabbit's ears are especially sensitive so it would have caused her a great deal of pain if you were to grab them without proper care.""Ah..."Feeling even more apologetic, Yo crossed her hands over her lap before bowing at a steep angle and saying, "Sorry. I'll be sure to keep that in mind."Nodding his head in approval, Vahn stepped off to the side so that Black Rabbit could recover and continue her explanation. He noticed that Izayoi and Asuka were both staring at him with serious expressions on their faces, but, rather than pay them any mind, he just yawned before manifesting a pocket watch out of thin air to check the time..."This guy isn't simple...""I'm well aware of that..."Responding to Izayoi's remark, Asuka's expression was far more severe than the blond-haired youth's. Her clothes were still wet after falling into the lake so her bottom was now covered in a layer of fresh dirt. She may have come to the Little Garden seeking to change her ways, but, after a lifetime of having everyone follow her will, she resented the fact there was a person with a similar yet more powerful ability than her own...As various thoughts waged war within Asuka's mind, Black Rabbit reached the part of her speech where she wanted to challenge the trio to a Gift Game. To that end, she pulled out a deck of cards, saying, "Since a single explanation might not suffice, how about we all play a simple Gift Game right now~?"Since he had half-expected a fight to break out, Izayoi's brows furrowed slightly the moment he saw the deck of cards, asking, "For real...?" in an audibly annoyed tone.Without losing her stride, Black Rabbit returned an excited smile as she said, "Of course! You see, there are all kinds of Communities within the Little Garden. It isn't strictly required but all residents of this world typically belong to various small, medium, and large-scale organizations. Rather, with few exceptions, it would be difficult for most people to survive without joining a Community."Snapping her fingers, Black Rabbit caused a rather luxurious dealer's table to appear out of thin air as she added, "Now then, I wouldn't mind letting the three of you join the Community Black Rabbit is a part of. However, if you can't even win a simple Gift Game, it will cause serious problems for us. You'd be in the way and a real drain on resources. Basically, the three of you would be nothing but trouble and we can't have that now can we~?"Despite her nervousness, Black Rabbit managed a smug smile that caused the faces of Izayoi and Asuka to scrunch up slightly. As for Yo, she just played with the paws of her cat with a blank look on her face. She was paying attention, but, unlike the other two, she wasn't bothered by Black Rabbit's taunting words."Now wait just a minute! We haven't even accepted!"Never one to allow others to dictate the flow, Asuka took a stand with the intention of gaining a bit of leverage in the conversation. In response, Black Rabbit just crossed her arms with an ostensibly helpless expression on her face before cupping her cheek and remarking, "If you're afraid, we can just send you back. However, if you turn back now, you'll never have a chance to experience what lays beyond your original worlds. Would you really be satisfied with that~?"Clicking her tongue, Asuka approached the table with a serious expression on her face as she said, "I'm not afraid of anything. Now, tell me, what are the rules?"Though she was tempted to command Black Rabbit to explain the rules, Asuka held back when she noticed Vahn squint his eyes. She didn't know the full extent of his power at the moment, so, until the Gift Game officially began, she couldn't use her Gift wantonly."It's simple, really~!"After spreading the cards out in a flawless, evenly spaced arc, Black Rabbit spread her hands happily as she explained, "You just need to pick a face card from among these fifty-two face down cards on the table. However, you only get one chance and each person only gets to draw a single card."Adopting a contemplative expression, Asuka was about to ask whether or not they could use any method to inspect the cards when Izayoi suddenly chimed in to say, "Boring. You clearly brought us here for something more important than this. How 'bout we skip the small stuff and move on to the big boy problems? At the very least, you could have come up with something more interesting than a simple card game."Not expecting such an interjection, the smile on Black Rabbit's face froze as the ears atop her head twitched in frustration. She had worked really hard to come up with a simple game to serve as the trio's introduction to Gift Games as a whole. It was also intended to serve as a segue into a number of other topics so she wasn't quite sure how to proceed now that someone had interrupted...Surprised by Black Rabbit's remarkably 'innocent' reaction, an inaudible sigh escaped Izayoi's throat as he combed back his hair and said, "At least spice things up a little. How about a rule stating you tell us which face cards to draw. We can also make things more interesting by placing something of substantial value on the line. If you really want us to spook us, you should have made the stakes as high as possible from the start. A regular card game just seems pointless. Wouldn't you agree, big guy?"Raising his brows, Vahn replied, "I'm not a part of this. If I got involved, the only way you could win is with a handicap. Besides, there isn't really anything you could offer me. Even if your Gifts evolved to become the most powerful in the Divine Realm, they would just be another random card among the functionally infinite number I already possess. I don't mind humoring you, but I'm more than a little out of your league at the present moment."Raising his hand, Vahn produced a metal cube approximately 1km in diameter from his Inventory. It didn't exactly blot out the sky, but, having lived in modern settings where most other people didn't possess any form of superpower, the trio's eyes widened in shock as it began its descent."How about this for a Gift Game. Stop the fall of this cube. You can use any means necessary so long as you stop it before it hits the ground. If you win, you can make any single request from me. If you don't ask for my help, you die. If you do ask for my help, you lose and have to join Black Rabbit's Community. High enough stakes for you, brat...?"With a Geass Roll manifesting out of thin air, Vahn made it clear he wasn't playing around. At the same time, the cube of steel, weighing nearly eight billion tons, continued falling towards them as a massive amount of wind pressured began to press down on the surrounding forest.Staring up at the apocalyptic sight, an amused smile spread across Izayoi's face as he shrugged his shoulders and remarked, "Okay, old man. You called my bluff. Call off your meteor. I'll be a good sport and participate in Black Rabbit's little card game..."Though he returned a smile, Vahn didn't place the cube back into his Inventory. Instead, he began to close his hand, his fingers trembling as he attempted to force it into a fist. At the same time, the massive metal cube began to release a monstrously loud sound as its perfect corners and flat faces began to deform into the shape of a sphere. It took a lot more effort than he expected, but, once everything was said and done, Vahn managed to compress the sphere to the size of a softball-sized white orb that released a tremendous amount of heat and energy.Catching the orb with his transformed arms, Vahn adopted a serious expression as he met the gazes of the trio and explained, "This is the Divine Realm. This is the home of the most powerful being in all realities. The three of you may have unlimited potential but you'll need to work hard if you want to stand at the top. For now, try and get to the point where you can casually shatter a planet with a punch. That wouldn't be enough for me to take you seriously, but it's a step in the right direction."Having drained all the energy from the glowing white ball, a shimmering black lump appeared in Vahn's hand. Under normal circumstances, its mass would have produced a localized gravitational field. Instead, Vahn placed a magical seal on its surface so that its weight would only affect people willfully trying to pick it up. After that, he placed it on the ground for some random person or God to find later on.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Bad touch...!','Asuka is a very prideful young lady...','*Heavy sweating*...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2096: Expectations vs Reality