Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

"I refuse.""You can't be serious..."Surprising Asuka, Yo, and even Black Rabbit herself, Vahn immediately shot down their request to participate in the coming Gift Game. This earned him a glare from the former heiress, but, as he had already made up his mind, he just shrugged his shoulders, explaining, "My Community has declared itself a neutral organization. If I made an exception and allowed the No Names to participate, every Community I refused will cry foul play. Since they won't be able to take out their anger on me, who do you think they will target...?"With an expression similar to someone that had just swallowed a bug, Asuka remained completely silent in the face of Vahn's reasoning. Yo, however, appeared completely calm as she said, "That's a shame..." before following it up by asking, "Is Fenrir here...?"Since she didn't want to implicate the children as a result of her selfishness, Yo quickly accepted the reality of the situation. She also knew they would have plenty of opportunities to fight in the future, so, rather than insisting Vahn make an exception, she immediately shifted her attention to far more important matters.Amused by the animal-loving girl's eagerness, a chuckle escaped Vahn's throat as he said, "Thanks for reminding me. I actually have a present for the two of you."Snapping his fingers, Vahn caused two Companions to manifest out of thin air. One resembled a Maneki-neko with calico fur along its backside and crimson red fur lining its stomach. The thing that separated it from a normal Beckoning Cat was the fact it was wearing a cat mask and had two tufts of crimson flame for ears. As for the second Companion, it resembled a cartoonish jackal, but, instead of a normal jackal, its body was covered in sleek obsidian fur with accents of pure gold and ghostly blue. It also had long ears, and, much like the Maneki-neko, its face was covered in a mask.Though Yo's eyes had lit up as if she had just been proposed to by her crush, Asuka adopted a far more cautious demeanor as she asked, "What are these...creatures? Why do their faces look like masks?"Answering in Vahn's stead, Black Rabbit explained, "These are called Companions. They are basically artificially produced Guardian Beasts. Vahn has been developing them to look after members of the Burgeoning Communities Accord."Understanding what Asuka was about to say, Vahn raised his hand to silence her, explaining, "I am well aware of the fact your Community does not belong to the BCA. Also, while it is true these two adorable little fellows are Companions, they are among the first of their kind..."Before explaining what a Companion was, Vahn grabbed the ceramic mask covering the Maneki-neko's face. To the surprise of everyone present, its body spontaneously vanished into strangely cool crimson flames as he positioned the mask over his own face.Similar to when he entered one of his Elemental Emperor forms, Vahn's body released a burst of crimson flames as his clothes instantaneously changed to resemble a stylish crimson yukata with a calico-themed haori. Then, as he raised his hand to produce ghostly crimson flames, he explained, "Normal Companions are life-long partners that protect their user autonomously. This is a variant I developed after drawing inspiration from a special weapon known as a Zanpakuto. Unlike the usual variety, this particular variant shares its strength with its partner and helps to promote their spiritual development. I noticed your Gifts are heavily reliant on the amount of spiritual energy you have so I developed these two with that in mind. Of course, whether or not they accept you as their partners depends entirely on you..."Removing the mask, Vahn used telekinesis to direct it to Yo as the jackal-like Companion walked gracefully to Asuka. It didn't actually have a gender, but, based on its inordinate beauty and the natural grace in which it moved, most people would assume it was female."You're just giving these to us...?"Though she had no idea what a Zanpakuto was, Asuka understood enough to know that these Companions would shake the very foundation of Little Garden society. Even humans relied on the development of spiritual energy to transcend their limits. If people learned Vahn had developed a means to naturally promote that growth, they would spare no effort to obtain it for themselves.Shaking his head, Vahn's expression became stern as he said, "Companions are not objects. They are sapient creatures with thoughts and feelings. If you regard them as pets or convenient tools to increase your power, they will promptly abandon you."While there were still a number of questions she wanted to ask, Asuka was silenced as Yo, without a moment's hesitation, placed the mask on her face. The Vanargandr-themed onesie she was wearing immediately burst into flames. In its wake, an outfit similar to the one Vahn was wearing manifested to cover her body. Instead of a Yukata, however, she was wearing a calico-themed kimono wrapped in a crimson obi. As for her haori, it was pure white on the outside, crimson on the inside, and lined with golden trim. Last but not least, she had a bright red collar around her neck with a large golden bell resting between her collarbones."Whoa..."Feeling a surge of power spread through her body, Yo couldn't help issuing a soft exclamation. She didn't know how to describe it but it was like her perception had expanded beyond the confines of her body. More importantly, she could still feel a connection to the power she had borrowed from Fenrir.Trusting her instincts, Yo manifested a peculiar magenta flame in her hand. At the same time, a chill began to spread through the room, as, unlike a normal flame, the pretty purple fire was powered by pure Yin Elemental Energy.Seeing Yo produce flames in both hands as if it was the simplest thing in the world, most of Asuka's inhibitions faded away. She was actually the weakest among her, Yo, and Izayoi, so, after a moment of deliberation, she gazed into the ghostly blue eyes of the jackal and asked, "Will you lend me your strength...?"As it had been specifically attuned to Asuka's aura, the jackal Companion merely nodded its head before presenting it to her. In response, Asuka grabbed the edge of its mask and pulled, confusion marring her expression as she felt absolutely no resistance. In fact, as far as she could tell, the mask didn't even have a mass. She could feel it in her hands but the sensation was similar to placing your hand over the vent of an AC on the lowest setting.Shaking away her fears, a resolute light flashed across Asuka's eyes as she placed the mask over her face. Her red and white dress immediately burst into ghostly blue flames. Appearing in its place was a form-fitting outfit comprised of an obsidian-blue material accented with gold and blue. It left very little to the imagination, and, to make matters even worse, at least in Asuka's opinion, she now had a long and slender tail protruding from her backside.If it was just the tail, Asuka wouldn't have minded. In fact, she actually thought it looked kind of cool. The problem was that her outfit was basically a futuristic plugsuit. It hugged her body like a leotard and allowed everyone and their mother to view its contours at their leisure.Covering her modest yet developing breasts, Asuka glared at Vahn as if he were her mortal enemy, shouting, "I should have known you would pull something like this! You...you damned perverted lizard...!"Were it not for the mask covering her face, everyone present would have been able to see Asuka's beet-red face. She even had tears pooling in the corners of her eyes as she had never in her entire life felt this level of embarrassment.Reacting to Asuka's surging emotions, ghostly blue flames began to manifest around her body as space within the room began to billow outward, distorting the shape of the room.Ignoring Asuka's remarks regarding his perversion, Vahn nodded his head, muttering, "Not bad..." in an audibly impressed tone. Asuka may have had no idea what she was doing but it was still quite a feat to distort the remarkably stable space within the Sage Dragon's Hearth.Thinking he was commenting on her figure, Asuka's face became even redder as she extended her hand to produce a torrent of blue flames. Unfortunately, the flames immediately dissipated as Vahn said, "Calm down. If you confer with your Companion, you'll learn that your appearance has nothing to do with me. Rather, I'm guessing they just prefer sleek and slender designs. If you ask nicely, they should also be able to make adjustments. You really need to stop lashing out at every opportunity."Though she was anything but calm, Asuka did her best to suppress her turbulent emotions as she attempted to communicate with her Companion. To her considerable relief, she was immediately greeted by a soft and velvety voice that had no qualms with making adjustments to her outfit so long as it didn't feel restrictive or interfere with their movements.While it wasn't much better, Asuka felt considerably less embarrassed when an Egyptian gown manifested to cover her body. The skirt was a little on the shorter side, barely covering half her thighs, but it was infinitely better than walking around in a skin-tight bodysuit. She already had to tolerate the leers of countless men. The last thing she needed was them staring at the contours of her breasts and butt with only a thin piece of cloth concealing them."Now that our resident Ojou-sama has calmed down, how about a short recess? I'm not going to change my mind regarding your participation in the coming Gift Game but I can at least fill your bellies before sending you on your way."Though his words weren't intended to be an innuendo, Vahn noticed the auras of all three girls fluctuate to varying degrees. The roots of Black Rabbit's hair had even started to turn pink as she had been thinking about pregnancy with increasing frequency over the past couple of months.Restraining a wry smile, Vahn took the initiative to rise first, saying, "I'll be in the kitchen preparing the food. If you don't want to wait, feel free to look around. Fenrir is in the nursery and the onsen is always available if you want to take a bath. Food should be ready in about twenty minutes."On that note, Vahn departed from the room in a flash of pale-blue light. In his wake, Black Rabbit, now sporting pink hair, looked towards Asuka and Yo, saying, "I knew Vahn was incredibly generous but I never expected him to simply give away something so incredible. If converted into Gifts, those Companions might be graded as high as S-Rank. I'm not sure the two of you realize just how lucky you are to have received such an amazing gift..."Snorting through her nose, Asuka was briefly tempted to refute Black Rabbit's words but ultimately decided against it. She wasn't a fool. Rather, back in her world, she regarded as a prodigy in terms of business acumen. Sure, her Authority helped but it wasn't like she had been mind-controlling the entire world. If she made bad decisions, they would have come back to bite her.Simply put, Asuka understood when she was getting an incredible deal and when she should hold her tongue. She could also tell Black Rabbit was head over heels for the perverted dragon, so, while she still suspected Vahn had an ulterior motive, she wasn't going to badmouth him right in front of his lover.While that, and many other complicated thoughts were running through Asuka's mind, Yo had a much simpler view of things. Her mask concealed it but a happy smile had developed across her face as she pressed the tips of her fingers together and mused, "I can't wait to show this form to Calico Cat. He is going to be so happy now that we match..."......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Rohan be like...','Casually creating world-breaking creatures...','Yo is precious (U w U)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After serving up a light lunch and sending the girls off to share the bad news, Vahn returned to what he was doing prior to their arrival.Though they wouldn't discover it until their spiritual power had accumulated beyond a certain point, the Companions Vahn had gifted to Asuka and Yo were far more special than he let on. They were effectively Pure-Blooded Dragons that had been attuned to very specific Laws, and, once they matured to the point of being able to sustain their transformed state, their power would serve as a foundation for change within the Little Garden.Simply put, the current form of the Companions was their Shikai state. Once the girls were strong enough to enter Bankai, their true power as Pure Blooded Dragons would be released. Yo's had the power to manipulate flames in all forms. As for Asuka, her Companion was even more unique as it derived its power from the transitory phase between Life and Death.While it wouldn't be as powerful as the Companion he created to govern the 'Boundaries', Asuka's Abyssinian, the true name of the inordinately regal creature, could trespass barriers, teleport, bend space, and, once she had mastered its power, resurrect the dead.Though these abilities sounded unbelievably powerful on paper, they were difficult to master and required a specific mentality to even be able to pull off. As for Yo's Agnyon, it was simpler to use, but, depending on the comprehension and authority of its user, mastery over flames meant mastery over creation and destruction. A Phoenix's flames could heal injuries and resurrect the dead while the flames of a Pure-Blooded Fire Dragon could break down and destroy matter in its most basic form.When it came down to it, the Companions Vahn had created had no limits to speak of. Even the Law of Death was capable of creating life, and, under the right conditions, fire and ice could manipulate space and time at their leisure. After all, time didn't truly exist. It was simply a convenient construct to recognize the changes in matter and energy from one state to another until harmony had been achieved. Time moving forward was an observation of chaos and entropy. Time moving backward was a reflection of order and negentropy.With all Laws sharing the same Origin, mastery over the Laws meant approaching the Origin of all things. The closer you got to this point, the more abstract the Laws became. Eventually, you would reach a point where there was no difference between even the most polarizing of concepts. If you were able to reach the Origin itself, you could even rewrite the Laws of reality at your leisure.In the end, Vahn was intended to produce a total of 81 Elementary Spirit Companions. These were creatures that would rule over the elemental forces and various lesser concepts. The Companions gifted to Asuka and Yo were of this variety.Ruling over these 81, at least from a conceptual standpoint, would be 18 Companions representing Balance. They represented various polarizing concepts such as Yin-Yang, Life-Death, Order-Entropy, and Creation-Destruction. On the most fundamental level, these were basically the same thing, but, from the perspective of beings attempting to master them, they were drastically different.The thing that truly distinguished the 18 from the other 81 was the fact that they were Star-Grade by default. In other words, if Vahn were to gift them to Asuka and Yo, they would be able to battle against Demons and Gods on the level of Algol and the Olympians without the need for training. With basic mastery, they could even reach the level of the Northern, Western, and Southern Floor Masters.Vahn was still against the idea of granting people power, so, as an added precaution of sorts, he made it so that the 18 polarizing Companions could only manifest their full power in conjunction with their polar opposite. Lyfa(Life) would need to team up with Nyxxs(Death), Racana(Creation) would need to ally with Tabahi(Destruction), and so on and so forth.At the present moment, Vahn wasn't entirely sure who to entrust the 18 polarizing Companions to. He was just preparing them in advance so he would be able to give them to people he believed to be worthy of them. More specifically, he was intending to entrust them to people who already had extremely powerful bonds. This could be a familial bond or a bond between lovers. The only thing that mattered was that they were willing to fight alongside and support one another no matter the odds.Though he would never force them, Vahn was currently considered Jin and Lily as the candidates for Yin and Yang. He believed they would make a good couple if Jin could only muster up the courage to surmount the barrier between childhood friends and lovers. If he didn't, there was a good chance that Lily would always see him as a child she needed to protect. In the absolute worst-case scenario, she would end up falling in love with whoever facilitated this almost instinctual need.Previously, Vahn was worried that Lily would imprint on him due to the care and concern he had shown towards the No Names. Fortunately, most of the sentiments she directed towards him were respect and adulation, not love.Now that Izayoi had been introduced into the picture, there was a very high probability that Lily would imprint on him. Girls, especially young girls with kind natures and well-developed maternal instincts, had a penchant for crushing on "bad boys". One reason for this was their innate desire to try and change the object of their affection into a better person. Even more than that, however, was their attraction to the polarizing nature of a bad boy's character. They could see through the facade of confidence and find the vulnerable boy hidden within.Though he felt sorry for Jin, Vahn knew there was a very high chance that Lily would eventually fall for Izayoi. Tsunderes were prime targets for girls with pronounced maternal instincts so there was no way Lily would be able to ignore him. If it wasn't for the seal on her body preventing her from evolving to her next stage, Izayoi probably wouldn't be able to ignore her either. After all, while he would never admit it, Izayoi had a soft spot for motherly women. He even had a crush on his foster mother. So much so that every aspect of his life revolved around becoming the person she believed he could become.........Staring at the Axolotl-like creature levitating in front of him, a glimmer of intrigue radiated from the very depths of Vahn's eyes as he remarked, "Fascinating. Every time I create one of you, I can't help being awed by the variability of your nature and appearance. Truly breathtaking..."Though its mouth and eyes didn't move in the slightest, the vaguely feminine Axolotl telepathically replied, "Thank you. It pleases me to know my Creator has such a fascination with the myriad forms of life. I'm not sure what I would have done if you thought I was ugly..."Chuckling in response to the peculiar pink Dragon's remark, Vahn resisted the urge to complement its beauty as he produced a spherical assortment of runes and sent it flying into the newly created Companion's chest. This caused its form to immediately shrink until it resembled a large chibiesque Axolotl with four arms, large eyes, and a serpentine tail.Picking up the cat-sized creature, Vahn allowed it to perch on his shoulders before explaining its purpose. He made sure to infuse his intent in the Companions prior to their creation but it never hurt to explain things in greater detail. This was also his way of bonding with the creatures, as, in more ways than one, they were effectively his children. The more innocent ones even referred to him as their Father rather than their Creator. Thus, while their paths were fated to diverge from his own, Vahn wanted to be there for each of the unsurprisingly adorable creatures.........With less than a day remaining until he was supposed to Host the Gift Game, Vahn had to meet with a bunch of organizers who had been trying to get in contact with him ever since news of the event went public. He had intended to leave the arrangements to the Thousand Eyes Community, but, as the official Host of the event, there were a number of formalities that required his personal attention.One such formality was participating in an interview that would invariably be broadcast throughout the entirety of the Little Garden. Fame and popularity were two of the most significant aspects of life within the Divine Realm, so, as could be expected, the Little Garden had its own version of the news media. There were even Communities that specialized in organizing and broadcasting events as documenting the rise of an up-and-coming legend was one of the most direct methods to earn the designation of a Poet."Thank you for agreeing to meet with us. Our Leader, the Chief Editor of our News Community, was starting to worry."Staring at the petite woman seated across from him, an amused smile developed across Vahn's face as he shook his head and said, "It's a small matter. However, I would prefer to get this over with. I'm a lot busier than most people seem to believe."Pushing up her square, red-rimmed glasses, a mischievous smiled developed across the bob-haired woman's face as she asked, "Is that so? Perhaps you'd like to shed some light on the inner workings of the Sage Dragon's Hearth? People are also curious to know, what does a Pure-Blooded Dragon such as yourself get up to when nobody is looking~?"Restraining a chuckle, Vahn's eyes briefly shifted to the woman's recently tinted hair, musing, "I'm sure you've already reached a conclusion in that regard. Unfortunately, I won't be able to provide the exclusive you're looking for. Others might consider me licentious but the truth of the matter is I have a soft spot for certain kinds of women. I'm afraid you'll have to settle with a normal interview."Punctuating his statement with a wink, Vahn nearly chuckled when the woman shrugged helplessly and said, "That's a shame. It took a long time to dye my hair like this. I was really looking forward to the opportunity to get to know you. After all, it's not every day a girl gets to interview a Dragon."Supplying a wink of her own, the rather hip-looking journalist, full name Kanade Katana, pretended to turn on her already running recorder as she asked, "So, what can you tell me about your reasons for hosting such a high-brow Gift Game? Rumors regarding your spat with the Perseus Community have already started to spread. Is this intended as a slight against the Olympic Gods?"Shrugging his shoulders, Vahn casually replied, "I don't particularly care what the Olympians think. If they're offended by my actions, that's on them. My reason for hosting this Gift Game has nothing to do with them. Rather, I just wanted to give people the opportunity to experience a competition that celebrates the founding principles of the Little Garden rather than punishing all but the strongest."With visible stars in her shimmering grey eyes, Katana leaned forward in a manner that accentuated her rather large bust as she asked, "Oh? It's rare for a Pure-Blooded Dragon to be so magnanimous. In fact, as far as I know, you're the first authentic Dragon to promote such a philanthropic ideology. The only other group that comes to mind is the Salamandra Royal Family but it's been generations since they could call themselves genuine Dragons."Though he wasn't too surprised, Vahn still raised his brows at the mention of Salamandra. He didn't expect them to come up so quickly, but, considering her first comment involved an organization in the South, it wasn't too surprising that she would mention an organization in the North. Still, just to be sure, Vahn had Loi-chan manifest to make sure Katana wasn't a plant by Shiroyasha just to mess with him.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Sekirei vibes...','Axolotls are cute (O w O)...','Journalists are scary...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though they had already stopped accepting applications for participation, that didn't stop people from flocking to the Sage Dragon's Hearth in droves. Rather, once it became common knowledge that Vahn had the means to hand out hundreds of personalized Gifts without batting an eye, even famous Communities were extending invitations to cooperate. Unfortunately, this wasn't necessarily a good thing..."Your Community has made quite the name for itself these past couple of months. However, if you truly wish to ascend to the top, you'll need the backing of powerful allies. If you agree to become a part of our Alliance, we will do everything in our power to help you reach your full potential."As this was not his first time receiving such an offer, Vahn simply smiled at the handsome, silver-haired man seated across from him. He had sharp, intelligent features, lilac-colored eyes, and an outfit reminiscent of a Shinigami Captain. This included a sleek black kimono fastened by a grey sash, short black socks, black gloves that failed to cover his entire palms, and a dual-colored haori that was white on the outside and royal blue within."I'm afraid your journey has been for naught, Souta-dono. My Community does not require the assistance of others to reach its full potential. If you've nothing else to discuss, please finish your tea and be on your way."Though his expression didn't change, Vahn could tell Souta was bothered by how his previously placid aura began to fluctuate like a flame disturbed by a strong wind. The man was the second son of the Japanese God of Wind, Fuujin. He was also here at the behest of Kotoamatsukami, one of the top three factions within the East Side, so he didn't take kindly to being dismissed in such a succinct manner."Vahn-dono...I implore you to reconsider. As a Pure-Blooded Dragon, you have every right to be confident in your strength. However, raw power becomes meaningless once you transition to the lower-digit Gates. You see, here in the Divine Realm, true power comes from three things: a being's origin, how clearly defined their existence is, and their authority. I believe you've heard about the existence of Poets, yes...?"Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Vahn gestured for Souta to continue. He really didn't care what the man had to say, but, who knows? He might be able to provide an iota of insight into the inner workings of the Divine Realm."You see, Poets have the power to influence concepts and alter the perception of others. To prevent this, denizens of the Divine Realm work tirelessly to cement their 'image' in the hearts and minds of others. The stronger this image is, the more stable their existence becomes. In rare instances, those with clearly defined existence can even develop something known as a Fragment of Origin. Without one, a Poet can redefine who you are on a whim. If they spread a rumor stating you were actually a woman, you would become one. If they said you were as powerless as an ant, you would be..."Unable to restrain the urge, an exasperated sigh escaped Vahn's mouth as he shook his head and asked, "Do you take me for a fool? I am well aware of the existence of Poets. Though their power is as you've professed, the conditions to activate it are extremely strict. If you've got a point to make, get to it. I have better things to do than sit here and listen to you try and scare me into joining the Kotoamatsukami."Suppressing his growing fury, Souta did his best to appear calm as he squinted his lilac eyes and answered, "Our Alliance is backed by three of the most famous Poets in the East Side. Kagutsuchi-sama has also taken an interest in your abilities as a craftsman. So long as you agree to our terms, he is prepared to accept you as his official disciple..."Noticing the 'mockery' in Vahn's eyes, Souta's words gradually trailed off his expression morphed into an unamused glower. He could tell the former wasn't taking him seriously. More importantly, his behavior was a direct insult to Kagutsuchi, the God of Fire and the Patron God of Blacksmiths.Had Vahn been anyone else, Souta would have cut him down on the spot. Unfortunately, even his father, one of the eldest and most powerful Shinto Gods, was cautious of the Dragon seated across from him. After all, Vahn's power was a complete anomaly. They had originally thought he might be a descendant of Meng Zhang, the Azure Dragon. Unfortunately, this was quickly refuted by the Jade Palace, who, much like them, had taken an interest in the anomalous Dragon.After taking a deep breath to calm his fury, Souta's expression gradually relaxed as he said, "I had high hopes prior to this visit. I can't express how disappointed I am that things ended up this way..."Shrugging dismissively, Vahn gestured toward the door as he said, "They didn't have to. You could have left when I gave you permission. Instead, you attempt to threaten me and even had the gall to insult me by offering me a position as someone else's disciple. Next time, bring your daddy. Better yet, bring Amaterasu. At least then your threats might have some weight behind them.""How da-"Finished with the conversation, Vahn snapped his fingers and promptly ejected Souta from the Sage Dragon's Hearth. To add insult to injury, he teleported each member of the man's entourage in the air above him. This caused a bit of a scene, but, having already dismissed the arrogant envoy from his mind, Vahn just popped his back before sprawling out and whining, "Lap pillow, lap pillow~" in a mock-spoiled tone.Exhaling a soft, inaudible sigh, Leticia made her way over, monotonously muttering, "Yes, Master..." in a soothing tone as she sat down and guiding Vahn's head to her lap. Then, as her fingers combed through his hair, she asked, "Are you sure about this? While Kotoamatsukami's power might not be a threat to you, their influence among the 4-Digit Communities will make becoming one that much harder...""Mmm...you're not wrong...Confused by Vahn's nonchalance, a very slight frown marred Leticia's doll-like features as she softly inquired, "Then why...?"Since it wasn't really a secret, Vahn just chuckled before explaining, "I have a bit of history with the Shinto Gods. I won't go into too many details but it might amuse you to learn I have, not one, but two Amaterasu(s) in my harem. If you count Tamamo, it's more like 2.5..."Deadpanning in response to Vahn's words, Leticia gave him a light poke as she pointedly asked, "You really do have a thing for women with fluffy ears and tails, don't you...?""Mmm...you're not wrong..."......While Leticia was busy pulling his cheeks in the other room, another version of Vahn was cuddled up in the nursery with Fenrir, Usalia, and several of his children. As for the rest, they were running around and playing with Companions roughly the same size as themselves."This is a lot easier when they have someone else to pester, plip...""Hey now..."Though he didn't mind if she complained when they were alone, Vahn didn't want their children to hear Usalia's grumbling.Realizing what she had said, Usalia's expression paled, ears drooping as she muttered, "Sorry..." in a sincerely apologetic tone. Vahn worked a lot harder than she did when it came to looking after and their children so she couldn't help feeling guilty when she heard the tone he was using.Shaking his head, Vahn's expression softened as he bent down to plant a kiss atop Usalia's. This caused the tensions in her body to relax, but, as was often the case when it came to parenting, that was the exact moment Luna decided to wake up and start crying.Extending his hand, Vahn made a motion as if he was turning down the volume on an analog TV. As a result, Luna's crying quickly became a distant murmur as he retrieved her from Usalia's hands and said, "The two of you can keep relaxing and watching over the children. I'll take care of this."As he spoke, an apparatus resembling false breasts appeared around Vahn's chest. Feeding a dozen ravenous bunnies had left Usalia's breasts feeling pretty tender, so, while he would never transform into her, he didn't mind helping out using artificial mammaries filled with her breast milk.........With the East Side abuzz with conversations regarding the upcoming Gift Game hosted by Vahn and the Sage Dragon's Hearth, it was only natural that Izayoi, Asuka, and Yo had heard the news. Rather, thanks to Black Rabbit, they had learned about the specifics even before the members of Vahn's Community."So, we doing this or what...?"Nodding her head in affirmation, Asuka answered, "Of course. Registration may have already come to an end but there's no way that perverted lizard will be able to refuse a request from Black Rabbit. We just need to convince Jin."Smirking in response to Asuka's words, Izayoi was about to comment when Yo, still garbed in her vanargandr-themes onesie, said, "Asuka...you shouldn't speak badly about Vahn. I know his actions upset you but he was just trying to help...I'm sure of it..."Exhaling a sigh, Asuka cradled her head as she complained, "I really don't understand what you see in that man, Yo. Anyone who surrounds themselves with that many women can't be a good person."Adopting a slight pout, Yo wanted to refute Asuka's words but couldn't. She hadn't really interacted with any boys prior to coming to the Divine Realm but she knew enough to be wary of ruffians and womanizers. She didn't believe Vahn was either, but, knowing he was in a relationship with at least five women made it difficult to argue in his favor..."Hey, don't say that. Having a harem is the dream of men and boys alike. Liking beautiful women doesn't make us bad people. Besides, as far as I can tell, that perverted lizard you mentioned keeps the women around him happy. I might not like the guy but he's clearly doing something right."Snorting through her nose, Asuka elected to simply ignore Izayoi's remark as she said, "Anyways, we still need to convince Jin. After that, we just need to talk to Black Rabbit and decide which of the 43 events we want to participate in. I was considering Horse Racing.""I'll take care of the great runt. As for my event...I was thinking about participating in the Boxing competition. Since we can't use our Gifts, I'm hoping at least one person will be able to withstand my punches."Shaking her head, Asuka muttered, "Men..." in an exasperated whisper before directing her gaze to Yo and asked, "What about you, Yo? I remember you being pretty light on your feet when we first arrived."With a fiery light in her eyes, Yo balled her hands into fists as she said, "I'm going to participate in the Pankration. I'm not sure I can win without my Gift but I'm confident I can secure a medal.""The Pankration? Isn't that the event that combines boxing with wrestling? Are you sure you want to participate in such a violent competition...?"Worried that Yo might be getting in over her head, Asuka was already thinking of ways to try and dissuade her. Unfortunately, her words appeared to have the opposite effect as Yo seemed even more determined, answering, "I want to fight...!" like a typical battle junky. This left Asuka feeling more than a little exasperated, but, not wanting to take the wind out of her friend's sails, she just smiled and said, "Very well, then. Now, let's hurry. If we wait much longer, we might not even be able to participate..."Nodding her head in understanding, Yo bade farewell to Izayoi before accompanying Asuka to track down Black Rabbit. They were confident in Izayoi's ability to convince Jin so they were intending to meet up with their Community's mascot before paying a visit to Vahn at the Sage Dragon's Hearth. Fortunately, Yo had found a pretty nice brush when she and Asuka went shopping so she was a lot more prepared than she was the last time.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Souta be like, "My Father will hear of this...!"','Imagine Vahn forgetting to take those off due to a surprise attack...','Ha! Jokes on you. Fenrir has her own brush (O w O)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2122: Gift