Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Expecting at least one of the four to get ejected before the time limit, Vahn was quite surprised when the entire two hours passed. Immediately after that, four flashes of light emerged from the planar diorama as far more mature versions of Izayoi, Asuka, Yo, and Jin appeared."Yo, long time no see."Seizing the opportunity to break the awkward tensions that had built between him and Lily, Vahn rose to his feet and greeted the group. It took them a while, but, after several seconds of stunned silence, Asuka was the one to answer, "Indeed...it really has been..."Though she had started out by speaking towards Vahn, Asuka's gaze shifted to Izayoi toward the latter half of her words. Then, with an indignant pout on her markedly more mature face, she asked, "And where, might I ask, have you been? We really could have used your help during the war. Some hero you turned out to be."Without missing a beat, Izayoi, hand on his hip, retorted, "Jeez. Just bite my head off, why don'tcha? What, did you miss me?"Surprising the blond-haired young man quite a bit, Asuka's pout became more pronounced as she asked, "Is that such a bad thing? We were the only real people in that world. We should have stuck together. Why did you have to run off and play hero somewhere we couldn't follow?"While she was far from tears, a thin layer of moisture began to spread across Asuka's aqua blue eyes. The last two and a half years within the Game Board had been especially difficult for her, as, despite knowing the people inside didn't exist, she couldn't just ignore them. Thus, she had spent nearly half the duration of her stay trying to guarantee the rights of the Xenos while simultaneously brokering peace between Orario and the surrounding countries. It hadn't been easy. Not at all.Not expecting the mature Japanese beauty to suddenly tear up, Iazyoi's smile promptly faded away as he scratched the back of his head. In truth, he felt she was being unreasonable. After all, it's not like he had just disappeared without an explanation. He told her exactly what he was up to and that he might not be able to return before their expulsion from the Game Board. It wasn't exactly fair for her to try and pin blame, but, rather than point that out, he just shook his head, exhaled a sigh, and muttered, "Sorry..." in an apologetic tone.Biting back her tears with a sniffle, Asuka was about to lay into the blond-haired youth even further when Vahn interjected, suggesting, "Let's shift this discussion to the dining room. I've prepared a feast to welcome you back. I'm sure you'll feel better once you've filled your bellies with delicious food."Though everyone else appeared relatively unaffected by their time within the Game Board, Vahn made sure to address the entire group as he was speaking. Asuka, despite her numerous character flaws, had a very strong sense of responsibility. Even in her previous life, she had primarily used her powers to help people. Thus, even without inquiring into the specifics, Vahn knew she had probably worked herself to the bone trying to 'fix' the underlying issues of Orario...Hearing mention of food, the stomaches of everyone present felt empty while Yo's outright growled its response. This caused the youthful-looking brunette to blush, but, instead of remaining silent or averting her eyes, a voracious smile developed across her face as she wiped away a bit of drool and said, "Finally...I've been dreaming of this day for the past six years...!"Seemingly unsurprised by Yo's reaction, Asuka, Jin, and even Izayoi exhaled moderately exasperated sighs as the source of their exasperation pumped her fists in excitement. Yo had matured quite a bit in the physical department, but, due to possessing a strong desire to befriend others, her previously taciturn nature had given way for a far more outgoing and bubbly personality. She had even cut her hair in a manner reminiscent of Tiona, so, even without asking, Vahn could surmise the two had met and gotten along very well...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn briefly shifted his attention to Jin, who, since the moment of his return, had been staring at Lily. The once-girlish youth had matured quite a bit, and, though he still possessed a few androgynous features, his perpetually concerned expression had given way for a remarkably calm and calculating look. This, combined with the fact their hairstyles were virtually identical, reminded Vahn of when Merlin was serious...Noticing Vahn's gaze, Jin briefly shifted his own to match. A slight smile then developed across his face as he said, "It's good to see you again, Vahn..."Nodding his head in affirmation, Vahn was about to return the young mage's greeting when Jin's smile promptly faded away, followed by an accusatory, "I really wish you would have mentioned Hestia-sama's quirks in advance..."Restraining the urge to burst out laughing, Vahn just issued a light chuckle before asking, "Why? Do you regret joining her Familia?"Without a moment's hesitation, Jin immediately shook his head, stating, "No. I'm just a little jaded, that's all. Given how highly you spoke of her, my expectations during our first encounter may have been a little too high. At first, I couldn't help wondering why you sent me to her. It was only during the events of the second year that I began to understand. Hestia-sama's regard for the people she considers her family is beyond praiseworthy. She never stopped supporting us, and, no matter how difficult things became, she was always there to pick us up and give us the push we needed to keep fighting. If I possessed even a fraction of the trust Hestia-sama demonstrated toward the people in her Familia, I have no doubt I would have been a much better Community Leader..."Feeling gratified by Jin's words, an appreciative smile developed across Vahn's face. When the boy was finished speaking, he was half tempted to just walk over and give him a pat on the head. Before he could, however, Jin shifted his attention back to Lily, a resolute glimmer flashing across his eyes as he added, "I promised myself that, upon my return, I would no longer hesitate..."As Asuka and Yo became visibly excited, Jin walked over to the increasingly befuddled-looking Lily before bending down and taking a knee. Even Vahn was surprised by this development, but, thanks to his inhuman speed, he was able to give the two childhood friends an adequate amount of space as Jin grasped Lily's hand and said, "Lily...even if you never regard me in a similar light, I want you to know how I feel...how I've always felt..."Though she appeared slightly troubled by Jin's words and actions, Lily would be lying if she said her heart wasn't racing. She had actually been expecting Jin to confess for quite some time, but, due to his lack of self-confidence, he never got past telling her there was something he wanted to say. This was a marked improvement, but, after indirectly confessing to Vahn and spending the better part of two hours flirting, it also felt extremely awkward...After taking a deep breath to steady his heart and mind, Jin stared directly into Lily's emerald green eyes as he said, "I...I...I think you should be the Leader of the No Names...!"While everyone else looked like they wanted to slap their foreheads, Lily just tilted her head to the side in response to Jin's unexpected 'confession'. The smile on her face didn't fade in the slightest, but, after getting all worked up, a part of her wanted to ask if there was something wrong with his head. If he had been more direct, she might have given him a chance. After all, she did love him. It was more of a motherly type of love, but, with time, she was certain it could grow into something more substantial. Now, she wasn't so sure.........In an effort to salvage some of Jin's dignity, Vahn ended up interrupting the youth's explanation by reminding everyone about the feast he had prepared. This left the young magus feeling a little taken aback, but, with everyone else eager to eat, he reluctantly agreed to the change of location. Before they could reach it, however, Vahn pulled him off to the side, asking, "What's this all about, kiddo?"Though he was briefly confused by Vahn's words, a look of understanding flashed across Jin's face as he lowered his head and answered, "After spending so much time in the Hestia Familia, I've come to realize that the best person to lead isn't necessarily the strongest or the smartest. Lily has always been there for everyone, myself included. Most importantly, no matter how difficult things became, she never stopped smiling...""Kid...you know that isn't what I'm asking about..."With a self-deprecating smile spreading across his face, Jin nodded his head in affirmation, adding, "I know...if I'm being completely honest, I fell in love with Lily a long time ago. The problem is...I'm not the only one. Most of the boys around our age feel the exact same way. After all, Lily has been our emotional and spiritual anchor for the past three years. Every single member of the Community looks up to her and she has acted as a surrogate mother of sorts for all of us. Even if she was willing to give me a chance, Lily's smile belongs to everyone...I have no right to monopolize it...""Kid..."Placing his right hand on Jin's shoulder, Vahn prevented him from moving as his left hand formed into a fist. Then, far faster than Jin could react, he gave the seventeen-year-old youth a firm smack on the head, asking, "Are you an idiot!?" in an incredulous tone.Though it had been six years, Jin immediately recalled all the times Vahn had knocked him on the head. This caused tears to build in the corners of his eyes as he rubbed the knot atop his head and asked, "Why did you hit me!?" like a wronged child.Resisting the urge to give the teal-haired youth another smack, Vahn inhaled a deep breath through his nose before gesturing to the large red sofa he had manifested out of thin air. This earned him a severe pout from the young magus, but, understanding he didn't really have a choice, it wasn't long before Jin sat down with a defiant look on his face.Feeling slightly exasperated, Vahn shook his head before sitting next to the youth and placing his hand on Jin's shoulder. Then, like a father talking to his son, he adopted a stern yet gentle tone as he began to explain his personal thoughts on the matter.In hindsight, Vahn realized that the thing Jin truly lacked was parental insight from a father figure. Hestia had helped him to build the confidence necessary to pursue his dreams, but, as a maternal figure, she couldn't really guide him through the process of transitioning from a young boy to a young man. Jin needed a father figure to teach him how to be selfish or else he would spend his entire life serving the interests of others. This was a flaw Vahn was intimately familiar with, so, with the hope of correcting some of the youth's misunderstandings, he spent the better part of six-and-a-half hours explaining to him the intricacies of a woman's heart and mind.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Asuka is a very responsible young woman...','There isn't an OOF setting high enough for this level of cringe...','There is still hope, Jin! Listen to the wisdom of the Sage Dragon Emperor...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Thanks to handy-dandy time shenanigans, very little time had passed by the time Vahn emerged with Jin in tow. In fact, the others had yet to even sit down when he teleported them just outside the dining room, saying, "It's okay to make mistakes. You'll regret it a lot more if you never even try."With a resolute expression on his face, Jin looked like he was about to say something when Vahn gave him a gentle yet firm smack on the back. As a result, he was sent stumbling into the dining room as Vahn emerged behind him with a massive grin spread across his face.After quickly recovering his balance, Jin sent a pouty look in Vahn's direction before ultimately shaking his head and approaching Lily. The latter appeared a little confused by his actions, but, as usual, she had the same considerate smile on her face."Lily...can we talk somewhere private...?"Though there was a hint of helplessness contained within, Lily's smile became even more radiant than usual as she answered, "Of course, Jin." Then, under the watchful eyes of everyone present, the duo departed the dining room for one of the many empty rooms within the Sage Dragon's Hearth.Waiting until the duo had disappeared completely, a smile developed across Izayoi's face as he said, "Let's hope he doesn't mess this one up. That last "confession" of his dealt collateral damage to my soul."Shrugging his shoulders in mock helplessness, Vahn replied, "I did everything I could. Fortunately, Lily is too kind to outright reject him. She'll most likely give him a chance. Whether or not they stay together is up to him."Since he didn't want to spend too much time talking about Jin's love life, Vahn punctuated his words with a casual wave of his hand. This caused various food items to populate the table as he sat down and stated, "I'm more interested in what the three of you were up to during your stay in the Game Board. Even without relying on my Gifts, I can tell you've grown quite a bit...some more than others..."Though Vahn's final words were intended for Izayoi, it was Yo who reacted with a rather potent blush. This caused the gazes of everyone present to shift to her as she cupped her fiery cheeks and explained, "I don't know what happened. I tried dieting, but, no matter how much I starved myself, it was like everything I ate went straight to my thighs...""..."Taken aback by the sudden shift in topic, Vahn found himself at a loss for words as Izayoi burst out laughing. This earned him a glare from Asuka, but, before she could say anything to rein the young hero in, Yo exacerbated the situation by asking, "Vahn, you do tailoring work, right?"Blinking back to awareness, Vahn's gaze shifted to the golden bracelet on Yo's wrist as he answered, "Indeed. However, I believe your [REquip] system renders such services obsolete. There is also the matter of your Companion. They should be able to transform into virtually any outfit you can think of."Though she nodded her head to show she understood, Yo left Asuka massaging her temples as she explained, "I am well aware of that. It's just that, even with the [REquip] system, my pants and shorts always feel tight around the inseam. It wasn't an issue when I still had my Aegis but they ended up dissolving away when I encountered a Black Slime. Speaking of which...you really could have warned us about those, you know?"As it had literally been hundreds of years since he last encountered a slime, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he resisted the temptation to say he had simply forgotten. After all, he was the one who created the Game Board, and, as a byproduct, every single monster within. In other words, he was the one who had bestowed the Black Slime with the ability to melt clothing and armaments."Sorry about that. Truth be told, I never expected anyone venturing into the Game Board to get that far. Those with the ability to descend that deep generally wouldn't be inhibited by such an effect so I never thought to remove it..."Though she didn't snort and cross her arms like she used to, Asuka responded to Vahn's apology with a pointed look as she retorted, "Oh, really? Are you sure you didn't just want to see us naked? Why else would such a monster exist?"Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Vahn adopted a deadpan expression as he flatly replied, "Every monster within the Dungeon is something I encountered during my own journey. Also, has your time in the Game Board dulled your memory? So long as you're within range of my perception, I can sense the very molecules that comprise your body. You could layer yourself in thousands upon thousands of layers of clothing and it wouldn't make a difference. From my perspective, you may as well be walking around in your birthday suit."Blushing furiously in response to Vahn's words, Asuka looked like she was a hairpin trigger away from exploding. As for Yo, she simply averted her eyes with a bashful smile on her face. She had already been blushing even before his comment. Now, the crimson glow was gradually spreading to her ears, but, unlike Asuka, she didn't seem particularly bothered by revelation. Instead, she just picked up a simmering leg of lamb before using her inordinately large canines to tear away a rather sizeable chunk of the perfectly braised meat...Amused by Yo's reaction, Vahn's smile promptly returned. This seemed to be the proverbial straw the broke the camel's back, as, from Asuka's perspective, Yo was someone she needed to protect.Slamming the table as she bounced to her feet, Asuka's expression turned fierce as she exclaimed, "That's it! I challenge you to a Gift Game...!"Raising his brows, Vahn's smile turned wry as he asked, "Have you lost your mind? It would seem I was a little too hopeful when I thought you would mature during your stay in the Game Board..."Gritting her teeth, Asuka attempted to remove one of her white gloves until Vahn released a bit of his aura and said, "Don't do something you'll regret...I have been tolerant of your behavior thus far. Do not mistake my clemency for weakness and timidity. If you continue down this path, there is no turning back. I will have no choice but to teach you a lesson..."Recalling the previous times Vahn had embarrassed her, Asuka's body became rigid and tense. She tried to tell herself not to be afraid, but, seeing the solemn look on Vahn's face as his eyes pierced straight through her, she would be a fool not to feel even a hint of trepidation."Sounds fun. Count me in."After sitting in silence for several minutes, Izayoi decided to toss Asuka a metaphorical life preserver by chiming in. Sure, she could be pretty annoying at times but Asuka was still his friend. He wasn't just going to let her face off against Vahn on her own, so, with the intention of easing tensions and having a bit of fun, he began popping his knuckles with a cheeky smile on his face.Feeling the tensions drain from her body, a faint smile developed across Asuka's face as she sent the blond-haired hero a sidelong glance. She felt a lot more confident having his support, so, while the serious expression on Vahn's face was no less intimidating, she managed to adopt a challenging smile as she said, "I may have spoken out of turn earlier. For that, I apologize. However, since I have already issued a challenge, it would be cowardly of me to retract my statement. I'm also interested in learning just how far I am from the top. I didn't spend the last six years training just to back down in the face of a challenge."Though he maintained the serious look on his face, most of Vahn's anger had already disappeared. Asuka was far too weak to truly rile him up, so, even if she did remove her glove and challenge him to a duel, he would have just allowed her to tire herself out before giving her a spanking."Very well, then. I accept your challenge. I've been meaning to teach you a lesson and this is a good opportunity to see how far you've grown."Without waiting for the trio to respond, Vahn sent a telepathic message to Will that resulted in their surroundings spontaneously disappearing. This caused the smile to fade from Yo's face, but, before she could pout, he tossed her a peculiar fruit called a Meat Apple before explaining, "Now that you have accumulated experience in a fantasy setting, I imagine you'll be a lot more active in the Divine Realm. Before that, there are a couple of things you'll need to be made aware of..."Raising his hand, Vahn waited for the tensions to increase before snapping his fingers to produce a literal big bang. Were it not for the nigh-indestructible shields he had erected around their bodies, Izayoi, Asuka, and Yo would have immediately been reduced to dust as an explosion far beyond the comprehension of mortals spread through the surrounding void."First of all...so long as their actions do not adversely affect their surroundings, conflicts between Communities need not revolve around Gift Games. In other words, if you had truly antagonized me, I could kill, imprison, torture, or even erase you from existence without so much as a warning from the Central Network. Keep that in mind if you ever visit the territory of an unaffiliated organization or alliance..."With the surrounding space rapidly stabilizing under his influence, Vahn manipulated a tremendous volume of space dust and debris to form a barren and lifeless planet. Then, with a wave of his hand, a planet-wide barrier manifested high above its surface before a tempestuous wind spread from his body. Soon after that, a breathable atmosphere had manifested as he dismissed the glowing green barriers protecting the trio's body, explaining, "Secondly...this is no illusion. What you see around you is an authentic universe. Were it not for those barriers separating you from the Standard Axis of Time, you would have witnessed its formation and the billions of years it took to reach this stage of development. In other words, were it not for the barriers I provided, your bodies would have aged to the point of being cosmic dust in less time than it took to blink..."Spreading his arms, Vahn's clothes began to dissolve away as ivory white and resplendent golden scales began to manifest across his body. At the same time, a dharmic wheel appeared behind his body as six sets of wings unfurled from his back. Most of this was simple theatrics, but, as a literal God of Creation, they were as functional as he intended them to be."Lastly...as powerful as you have become, you are ultimately inconsequential when compared to the beings at the absolute pinnacle of creation. All it would take to defeat you at this point is to simply fly away. At your current level, there is absolutely nothing you could do. As for me, I could wave my hand and erase every star from the sky. I could grasp this very planet in my palm and crush it into dust while the three of you watch on in horror. That is the kind of power I possess, and, should you continue down this path, it is the power your enemies will invariably possess..."With a muscular figure, arms in powerful draconic claws, twelve angelic wings, and a long, whip-like tail, Vahn truly resembled a God. His aura was so powerful and majestic that even Izayoi was forced to bend a knee while Asuka and Yo could barely even raise their heads from the pillowy cushions he had thoughtfully laid out for them..."Now...since you foolishly decided to challenge me...show me what you've got. You have five hours to either destroy this planet or force me to move. After that...it's my turn..."Punctuating his words, Vahn raised his hand towards the sky. This caused a fiery red magic circle to cover the sky. In reality, the spell circle was actually tens of thousands of kilometers away. It was just so large that it seemed to encompass the heavens. As for its purpose? That was a bit of a surprise.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Yo is primed and ready to save lives...!','Young Mistress Asuka...!','Vahn, this isn't even my final form, Mason...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Since things were bound to get chaotic with the introduction of three Problem Children, Vahn decided to take a few extra precautions.First and foremost, he gave the trio the option of temporarily sealing away their powers. They would still be able to activate them whenever they wanted, but, shortly thereafter, they would find themselves ejected from the Game Board.Though they had never revealed it to him, Vahn was aware of each of the Problem Children's motivations for entering the Divine Realm. Izayoi was eager to become the hero his adoptive mother had always wanted him to be, Yo wanted to make friends, and Asuka had grown tired of living in a world where everyone obeyed her every command.By limiting their capabilities in the beginning, Vahn was hoping to give the trio the chance to adapt to the world rather than immediately flipping it on its head. They would need to Level up if they wanted unrestricted access to their powers. As for Jin, well, Vahn had a number of plans for the young magus.Unlike the original Danmachi, the world within the Game Board was entirely under Vahn's control. This had allowed him to make quite a number of changes, the vast majority of which revolved around the fates of his family, friends, and loved ones.Even if they were ultimately just illusions, Vahn would never turn a blind eye to the suffering of his loved ones.One example of the changes Vahn had introduced included Lily being adopted by the flower store owners at a very young age. Another saw Haruhime being picked up by Syr shortly after being imported to the mainland.Simply put, Vahn had effectively plotted out every major event that would take place over a six-year cycle within the Game Board. This included shamelessly making the girls he was in a relationship with wholly uninterested in romance. They might be illusions, but, with a fidelity rate of 99.99963%, very few people would be able to tell the difference between the world within the Game Board and reality.Vahn had no desire to see his wives, lovers, and the mothers of his children in a relationship with other people so even Freya was remarkably chaste within the Game Board. She was still one of the central antagonists, but, depending on the Players' choices, she would either end up allying with Loki or being forced to return to Heaven.This time around, Vahn had taken it upon himself to alter fate even further. He made it so that, shortly after Izayoi reached Level 5, Legend would take an interest in him. This included Helen, who, even now, existed as a source of exasperation within Vahn's mind.Though she wouldn't really be a problem by the time he has ascended to the pinnacle of Tier 7, Vahn had never been particularly fond of Helen. He was interested to see how Izayoi would deal with her, so, while it was a little underhanded of him, Vahn made doubly sure their paths would cross within the first three years.If left to his own devices, Izayoi would quickly conquer the dungeon and trigger the ejection of everyone within the Game Board. There was even a chance he would steal Bell's spotlight and save the world on his own terms, so, prior to the group's entrance into the Game Board, Vahn made sure they were aware of the ongoing tensions between Orario and pretty much every other country. This included discussing the Ares Familia's Caste System, the corruption of the Elves, the greed of the Dwarves, and, most importantly, the enslavement of the Pallum.Izayoi, despite his protests, was both a busybody and a tsundere. If he knew there was an entire race of people that were being pressed, he was bound to do something about it. The best method would be to team up with Finn, but, given Loki's nature, Izayoi wouldn't be able to trust her. In other words, he was bound to venture out and try to resolve things on his own terms.By keeping Izayoi busy with international affairs, the others would have ample time to make progress of their own. Sure, they might not be able to conquer the dungeon but they could still participate in the war that generally took place near the end of the third year. That would be an invaluable learning experience for them. After all, if Shiroyasha's words were anything to go by, war wasn't far off in the Little Garden's future. In fact, it was the reason the Problem Children had been summoned.........Since it was a mild inconvenience to make constant changes to the flow of time within the Game Board, Vahn hadn't adjusted it since the showdown with Perseus Community. In other words, he had about two hours to kill before everyone was unceremoniously ejected from the interior.Though he had invited her to accompany him, Lily ultimately refused Jin's invitation on the grounds that he needed to stop relying on her. Entering the Game Board was a decision he had made, and, while she supported it, she refused to be apart from her friends and family in the pursuit of power. Thus, after seeing the group off with a smile, she plopped down next to Vahn with the intention of awaiting their return.Understanding why she had chosen to sit next to him, Vahn habitually caressed Lily's head as he said, "Don't worry. Jin is a good kid. The people I sent him to are also amazing, so, even if he has to experience a few difficulties, he'll be fine."Adopting a somewhat melancholic, Lily tilted her head so that it was easier for Vahn to access the space between her ears as she replied, "I'm not worried. I've always trusted Jin and Izayoi, Asuka, and Yo are all amazing people. I just wish they didn't push themselves so hard...Jin used to be so confident and full of energy. Even if it was just a mask, he brought us all together and became our Leader...it breaks my heart to see him so full of doubt...""Mmm...the burden of leadership is heavy. Even with a tremendous amount of support, there were times when I nearly collapsed under its strain. Considering he was only eight when he accepted the burden of leadership, Jin has performed spectacularly..."Nodding her head in approval, Lily's smile visibly brightened as she nestled a little closer to Vahn's shoulder. This caused the latter's smile to cramp. Fortunately, Lily didn't seem to have any wayward thoughts toward him. Her aura was primarily composed of sunny yellows, soft blues, and a hint of purple. Threads of pink would periodically appear, but, for the most part, they would only persist for a brief moment before promptly fading away...As if to spite him, Vahn noticed the center of Lily's aura shift from a sunny yellow to a pale shade of pink as she muttered, "Now that I think about it, I never did thank you..."Restraining a dry chuckle, Vahn retracted his hand from Lily's head as he said, "That isn't necessary. As I said previously, I didn't help the No Names because I was expecting gratitude. I helped because it was the right thing to do and-"Interrupting Vahn's speech with an amused giggle, Lily leaned her head against his shoulder before saying, "I wasn't talking about that. While I am grateful for everything you've done for us, that isn't what I wanted to thank you for. Rather, even if I dedicated my life to trying to repay you, I feel that my debts would only increase...no...the thing I wanted to thank you for is your comment during the party..."Despite having a mind that could grasp the structure of an entire world, it still took a few moments for Vahn to understand what Lily was referring to. This was immediately followed by a sudden and intense urge to smack himself in the forehead..."Do you really think I'm as beautiful as Black Rabbit...?"In a manner eerily reminiscent of Haruhime, one of Lily's tails naturally coiled around Vahn's waist as she craned her head to gauge his reaction. When she saw the stoic yet statuesque expression on his face, she couldn't help but giggle. He was normally very calm and relaxed so it was refreshing to see him with such a silly expression on his face.Feeling emboldened, Lily entrusted more of her weight to Vahn's shoulder as she softly muttered, "I don't mind..." with upturned eyes.Resisting the urge to ask what, exactly, she didn't mind, Vahn startled Lily by pinching her nose and saying, "Cut it out. I'd rather not have Jin resent me the moment he emerges from the Game Board. Besides, even if you look like this, you're still only ten years old. You might be very mature for your age but you have a long way to go before I consider you an adult."Though she was briefly confused by Vahn's words, it didn't take long for Lily to understand the greater meaning behind them. This caused her own expression to turn statuesque, a prominent shade of crimson rising from her neck and spreading through her cheeks as her brain temporarily overloaded.While she had, in fact, been trying to flirt with him, Lily had never considered taking things so far. The most she expected was having her head caressed or her tails fondled. A bit of light touching was also acceptable, but, beyond that, the most intimate thing she had envisioned was the two of them holding hands...Cupping her reddened cheeks, Lily's ears and tails twitched violently as she looked away from Vahn and cutely exclaimed, "How scandalous~!" in an adorably high-pitched tone. This left Vahn at a loss for words, not because he had misunderstood Lily's intentions, but because she was clearly pleased by the misunderstanding.........Wiping away a trace of blood from his lips, a somewhat insolent smile spread across the face of a heroic-looking youth in his early twenties. His blond hair was a bit of a mess, but, with eyes that gleamed like crystal-clear amethysts and a dilapidated pair of headphones hanging loosely around his neck, even people who had never met him would recognize the man as the legendary Sakamaki Izayoi."You're one tough bastard, you know that...?"Hoving in the air a few hundred meters from Izayoi's position was a golden-haired man wearing resplendent golden armor. In response to Izayoi's words, he just snorted before rolling his crimson eyes and remarking, "You're just weak. It's pathetic, really. Even after receiving that whore's power, all you can do is skitter around like an insect. I can't help but wonder what kind of subterfuge you used to defeat that muscle-headed fool and his brother..."Laughing in spite of his injuries, Izayoi forced himself to stand before tearing away the remnants of the dark-purple tunic covering his body. This revealed a muscular frame covered in injuries, as, even after five years, ten months, and seventeen days, he had never once used his power. He had clawed his way to the top through his own efforts, and, after defeating countless foes, the only person that posed any threat to him was the man standing in the air: Gilgamesh, the God-Emperor."Not everyone has to rely on deceit and subterfuge to defeat their enemies. Just because you got your ass kicked doesn't mean everyone else has to get their asses kicked. Now, stop talking. This is supposed to be a battle. I'm not your therapist."Snorting a second time, Gilgamesh, inspired by the version from the Nasuverse, spread his arms to create countless golden portals. This caused the smile on Izayoi's face to become more prominent, as, despite feeling as though Gilgamesh's ability was complete bullshit, he was confident he could come out ahead..."Let's dance, Goldilocks...!"......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn be like, "Covet my women? I don't fucking think so..."','TFW you step on a landmine while trying to avoid shooting yourself in the foot...','Protagonist vibes xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2136: Insight : Advice