Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

A stark contrast to the North and East, which were relatively modern and filled with people, the South Side was dominated by massive forests, vast plains, and mountain ranges. There were a few large settlements here and there, but most of the South Side's residents made their homes within the trees or under the ground.
"Now that I see it for myself, I'm surprised you didn't choose to settle in the South. The naturalistic environment and distinct lack of humans give it a more...accomodating feeling."
Sitting astride Vahn as the two of them rode on the transformed Fenrir's back, Sis couldn't help remarking on their surroundings. There were a few Viking-like individuals wandering around in groups, but most of the people they had encountered upon reaching the South Side were 'fantasy' races such as Elves, Dwarves, Beast People, and various Eudemons.
Shrugging his shoulders, Vahn maintained a relaxed smile as he said, "It's not like I hate people..."
Giggling in response to Vahn's words, Sis squeezed him a little tighter as she said, "I never implied you did. You simply have a preference for races that attempt to live in harmony with the environment rather than wantonly destroying it..."
"Hmm...can't argue with that..."
Looking up at the intricate web of treehouses overhead, Vahn would be lying if he said he didn't find it fascinating. Since the Draco Grief Alliance came into power, the South had become progressively more peaceful. It was still bound by a series of Gift Games that promoted endless conflict, but things had calmed down considerably since the fall of Avalon and the weakening of the Norse and Greek Factions.
Thinking of the Draco Grief Alliance, Vahn noted, "I should take Sandora to meet with her sister and tie up loose ends with Leticia..."
Nodding her head in approval, Sis replied, "That would probably be for the best. With so many others getting pregnant and having children, I imagine Leticia has been feeling restless."
Shifting his intent to Leticia, Vahn found the vampire in question taking a nap in the nursery. Ever since Black Rabbit had given birth, she had been spending most of her time helping look after the children.
"It shouldn't take more than a few days to wrap up everything with the Norse and Greek Factions. After that, we'll rendezvous with Ureko before heading to Underwood to meet with Draco Grief and his allies."
"Nn...sounds like a plan..."
Not having much else to say on the matter, Sis allowed her cat-like eyes to wander to their surroundings. There were a growing number of people paying attention to them, so it was only a matter of time before someone either called out to or tried to stop them. After all, even in a place like the Divine Realm, it wasn't exactly common to see a 10m tall wolf wandering around in broad daylight.
Though he could have teleported to his destination, Vahn often went out of his way to make use of more conventional methods of transport. It was an opportunity to see how his enemies would react and, more importantly, a chance to let Fenrir serve as his mount. She genuinely enjoyed carrying him around, so Vahn didn't mind creating opportunities for her to do so.
Much like Sis, Fenrir was also paying close attention to the people in their surroundings. Everyone was giving her a wide berth, but she knew better than to lower her guard in 'enemy' territory. When a bearded, red-haired man riding a giant, moss-covered stag appeared to bar her passage, she immediately bared her massive fangs until Vahn patted her back and said, "He is here to deliver a message."
Immediately following Vahn's attempt to calm Fenrir, the bearded deer rider declared, "Vahn Aldrnari Mason, Sage Dragon Emperor of the East! My name is Herm&oacute;&eth;r! The Allfather has bid me come and escort you to Asgard!"
With an amused smile on his face, Vahn retorted, "I'll get there when I get there. Besides, isn't it the duty of Valkyries to escort people to the halls of Valhalla?"
Furrowing his brows, Herm&oacute;&eth;r wanted to chastise Vahn for his disrespect but promptly decided against it. His father, Odin, had warned them not to make an enemy out of the Sage Dragon Emperor. Thor had even been put on house arrest to prevent a confrontation, so, while he did not fear Vahn, Herm&oacute;&eth;r knew better than to offend him.
"Very well. I shall relay your words to the Allfather. However, know that a great many people are awaiting your arrival. For their sake, I implore you to make haste..."
Finished with what he had to convey, Herm&oacute;&eth;r tugged at the reins of his mount. In response, it leaped high into the sky, its hooves impacting the air as it vaulted high above the trees.
Following Herm&oacute;&eth;r with his eyes, Vahn was briefly tempted to return to the Sage Dragon's Hearth and relax. He had never been fond of grand processions and ceremonies, so it was a very tempting thought.
Shaking such thoughts from his mind, Vahn gave Fenrir a firm pat on the back, proposing, "Let's take the scenic route." as Sis giggled from behind him.
Understanding her Master's intentions, Fenrir took a moment to sniff the air before heading in the direction of a river. She didn't really care about reaching Asgard, so she didn't mind taking a few detours along the way.
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Hearing the report from his son, Odin dismissed the redheaded God before exhaling a sigh. When Muninn informed him that Vahn would be arriving, he immediately ordered everyone in the Nine Realms Alliance to prepare. He had intended to give Vahn the most incredible welcome the latter had ever received, but it seemed he had no interest in such things.
Seeing her husband sigh, Frigg, a remarkably beautiful woman with olive-brown skin, wheat-colored hair, alluring blue eyes, and a winged helmet forged from shimmering gold, remarked, "Worry not, my love. I'm certain the Sage Dragon Emperor meant no offense with his actions."
Shaking his head, Odin replied, "That was never a concern. What worries me is the possibility that the Aldrnari Empire will not support our claim to the position of Floor Master. With the fall of Avalon, I had hoped to secure our place as the rightful rulers of the South..."
Since numerous individuals within the Aldrnari Empire had unmistakable ties to Norse Mythology, Odin had wanted to entreat Vahn for his support. With the backing of the Aldrnari Empire, it wouldn't even take a decade to regain most of their strength.
Understanding her husband's concerns, Frigg stated, "We simply need to take action once he weakens the Greek Faction. With Zeus and Avalon out of the way, there is little to prevent us from reclaiming the South."
Though Frigg would be correct under normal circumstances, Odin knew things wouldn't be that simple. The Draco Grief Alliance may not have any genuine powerhouses within their ranks, but that didn't matter so long as they possessed the Authority of the Host Master. Anyone that challenged them would be subject to their terms, so it was nearly impossible to beat them without some form of leverage.
Before Vahn provided a cure, Odin intended to use Draco Grief's sickness to pressure the Alliance. Now, even if he sent them a message, they were more likely to burn it than read it...
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After meandering about for several hours, Vahn, Sis, and Fenrir eventually found themselves at the entrance of a walled-off city built adjacent to the sea and into a mountain. Tens of thousands of longhouses could be seen dotting the landscape while bands of Vikings roamed around in little more than leather and fur hides.
Anticipating the arrival of Vahn's group, the remarkably tall and muscular men guarding the gate did not attempt to bar his passage. Instead, they began clearing the path, shouting for people to make way as Fenrir made her way through the densely populated streets.
Giving voice to Vahn's thoughts, Sis remarked, "Unsurprisingly, there are no demihumans or beast people around here..."
Though it was unnecessary, Vahn nodded his head and explained, "The Communities making up the Nine Realms Alliance are segregated by race. Humans are the only ones who actively worship the &AElig;sir, so the only way to access Asgard is to pass over the Bifrost located near the heart of the Midgard Community."
Amused by Vahn's commentary, Sis restrained a giggle as she playfully mused, "My, my, how knowledgeable my little brother has become~."
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Vahn shifted his attention to a group of ax-wielding men and women adorned with ceremonial wolf headdresses and war paint. The person Vahn assumed to be their leader was a fierce-looking woman with one eye and platinum blonde hair affixed into braids. Runes glistened along her exposed arms, but the thing that stood out the most was the large, rune-covered wolf she was using as a mount. It may as well have been a puppy compared to Fenrir, but it was still quite large.
Noticing Vahn's glance, the platinum-haired woman snorted through her nose before commanding her group to follow after her. However, instead of approaching and attempting to seek trouble, she ushered her group in the complete opposite direction.
Once again giving voice to Vahn's thoughts, Sis remarked, "She reminds me of Sejuani and the Winter's Claw. Perhaps you should consider letting them run rampant in Midgard?"
As tempting as the thought was, Vahn didn't hesitate to reply, "I may have considered it if I wasn't working with a deadline. At this point, it would be better to just support Sandora's sister and let Ureko do her thing. With her power, the only thing preventing her from subjugating the South is a lack of Authority..."
While conversing with Sis, Vahn was also using Loi-chan to ascertain the identity of the woman riding a wolf. He half-expected her to be someone plotting against him, but it turned out she was just envious of Fenrir's size and coat.
Dismissing the woman from his thoughts, Vahn shifted his attention to the gigantic archway that had been carved into the mountain. It was over two kilometers in height, several hundred meters wide, and flanked by statues depicting Heimdallr and Thor in full battle regalia.
With the sky overhead giving way to twilight and a stunning aurora, Vahn figured he had delayed his arrival for long enough. It also didn't seem like anyone was going to seek trouble with him, so he gave Fenrir a firm pat as he mused, "Let's hurry along. We don't want to keep our guests waiting."
Rolling her eyes, Fenrir put a bit of strength into her legs, leaping high in the sky before ultimately landing at the base of the mountain. There, more than a thousand stone sentries, each adorned with silvery gold armor and outfitted with massive halberds, immediately came to life in preparation to repel any would-be attackers.
Fortunately for the statues, they were not the only ones on the platform leading into the Bifrost. Muninn was also there, accompanied by Vor, ten astonishingly beautiful women, and two little girls.
Before the stone sentries could charge to their deaths, Muninn shouted, "Stand down! This man is Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor and a respected guest of the Allfather!"
In response to Muninn's command, the giant stone soldiers immediately stopped before standing at attention and performing a warrior's salute. At the same time, Vor and the girls Vahn presumed to be her younger sisters each took a knee, declaring, "It is our honor to welcome the Sage Dragon Emperor and his guests." in unison.
Sliding off of Fenrir's body, Vahn helped Sis down before turning to face Muninn and the thirteen Valkyries kneeling behind her. When he did, the former immediately returned a smile and a polite curtsy as she said, "You certainly took your time..."
Though Muninn's words could be considered a faux pas, Vahn adopted a faint smile as he replied, "It's my first time visiting the South Side. A bit of sightseeing is to be expected."
Nodding her head as if to approve of Vahn's response, Muninn gestured for Vor and the rest to rise before asking, "Will you allow us to escort you to Valhalla?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Vahn linked his arms with Sis and Fenrir before musing, "Better you than some old guy with a beard."
Understanding that Vahn was talking about Herm&oacute;&eth;r, Muninn giggled at the latter's expense before leading the way to the city of silver and gold that existed on the horizon.
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Though Asgard appeared relatively close, that was due to its enormous size. The length of the Bifrost was the same as the distance between the Earth and Sun, so, under normal circumstances, those attempting to cross the rainbow-hued bridge would need to span 150,000,000km to reach the planet-sized city on the opposite end.
Fortunately, not that it would have mattered for Vahn and Co, the Bifrost functioned similarly to an autowalk for those that had permission to use it. The moment they stepped onto its surface, the crystalline bridge beneath their feet glowed with a brilliant rainbow hue before moving them forward at the speed of light.
Breaking the silence, Muninn stated, "It will take approximately eight and a half minutes to reach Asgard via the Bifrost Bridge. Shall we fill the time with introductions~?"
Though he was tempted to refuse, Vahn eventually nodded his head in response to Muninn's proposal. He already knew the names of each of the Valkyries, but he didn't want to appear unnecessarily rude or standoffish.
With a gratified smile on her face, Muninn gestured to Vor, stating, "As you are well aware, this is Vor Odinsdottir, the Herald of Spears."
With her futuristic dress blossoming outward, Vor accompanied Muninn's introduction with a courteous bow, appended, "It is a pleasure to behold Your Imperial Majesty's esteemed countenance..."
Scrunching his brows and nose, Vahn retorted, "Seriously? You can forgo the unnecessary pleasantries. This isn't an audience chamber."
Rising to her full height, Vor adopted a faint but discernible smile as she cooly replied, "My apologies. I just thought I'd set a good example for my sisters to follow."
"Right..."
Restraining a sigh, Vahn shifted his attention to the two Valkyries standing to Vor's left, a diminutive duo with nearly identical appearances. They were a lot smaller than the other Valkyries present, but their most notable traits were their dark hair, clearly mechanical legs, and metallic antennae.
With completely disinterested looks on their faces, the two Valkyries cast a glance towards Muninn before staring back at Vahn and declaring, "We are G&ouml;ll and Geir&ouml;lul, Outriders of the White Raven."
Following the duo's synchronous introduction, Muninn explained, "Their physical bodies are located back at Headquarters. What you see before you are mechanical avatars used for scouting purposes."
Before Muninn had finished her explanation, Vahn had already shifted his intent to the location of &nbsp;G&ouml;ll's and Geir&ouml;lul's actual bodies. When he did, a frown immediately marred his expression as they were little more than heads and torsos integrated into a machine resembling a tree.
Noticing the not-so-subtle change in Vahn's expression, Muninn quickly appended, "So long as the core of a Valkyrie remains intact, their spirits can be transplanted into another container. The Valkyries making up our internal network-"
Shaking his head, Vahn said, "Enough. I know you aren't 'forcing' them to serve as Operators. I don't need to hear your excuses..."
Though the White Raven Community's method appeared significantly more morbid, Vahn was also guilty of creating beings whose sole purpose was overseeing or comprising a network. Will, Ark, Shadow, Mother, and the Companions were good examples, so it would be hypocritical of him to condemn Muninn for doing something similar.
"When you return to the R&amp;D Department, you should speak with Da Vinci about overhauling and upgrading your current network. At the very least, she can help you implement a less...macabre method."
Following a sigh of relief, Muninn regained her smile as she said, "I will do as you say. I appreciate your understanding."
Shaking his head a second time, Vahn cut the exchange short by shifting his attention to the next Valkyrie, a slender woman with pale-blonde hair, synthetic blue eyes, and an outfit reminiscent of a Maid. However, unlike a typical Maid, there were two futuristic-looking cannons flanking her and a number of secondary weapons hidden beneath her skirt.
With Vahn directing his attention to her, the Maid-like Valkyrie performed a curtsy that revealed she also had stylish yet mechanical legs. However, unlike G&ouml;ll and Geir&ouml;lul, hers were clearly intended for offense rather than agility.
"It is a pleasure to make Your Majesty's acquaintance. My name is Herja Odinsdottir, though I am better known as The Valkyrie of Devastation. If there is anything I can do to be of service, please do not hesitate to ask."
"Noted."
Though he was tempted to ask why Herja was dressed as a Maid, Vahn didn't actually care. He was more focused on getting the introductions over with, so he immediately shifted his attention to the next Valkyrie, a strangely plain-looking girl with short brown hair and a glum expression on her face. Unlike the other Valkyries present, the somber-looking girl appeared to blend into the background despite adorning silvery-white armor and wielding a massive claymore.
Answering in the slender Valkyrie's stead, Muninn explained, "This is Pawn, The Valkyrie of Silence. Contrary to her name and title, her voice is so mighty that it can shake the Heavens and rend the earth asunder. As a result, she is unable to speak under ordinary circumstances."
Rolling his eyes, Vahn manifested a tiny rune at the tip of his index finger before flicking it at Pawn's throat. She hardly reacted at first, only staring back at him with a confused expression as he said, "Speak." in a calm yet authoritative tone.
With Muninn nodding her head in approval, Pawn only hesitated for a brief moment before saying, "Yes...?" in a soft, incredibly meek tone of voice. It had a mysterious, resonating quality, but it was nothing like the booming voice everyone except Vahn, Sis, and Fenrir anticipated.
Nodding his head in approval, Vahn shifted his attention to Muninn as he questioned, "You're telling me that Odin couldn't fix such a simple issue?"
Adopting a fairly severe expression, Muninn answered, "In our culture, it is believed that the responsibility of mastering inborn Gifts and abilities falls to those they are born to. We do not live with the expectation that others will appear to solve all of our problems..."
Realizing the flaw in her argument, Muninn's words gradually trailed off towards the end. After all, Vahn had literally come to the Nine Realms to solve a problem they were unable to remedy themselves...
Fortunately for Muninn, Vahn was well acquainted with the hypocrisy of the strong. He did his best never to go back on his word, but there were times when his actions, especially when he was upset, went against his better judgment. Thus, rather than calling her out, he turned his gaze to Pawn, asking, "Should I undo the enchantment, or will you accept it as a gift...?"
Without having to consider her response, Pawn performed a knightly bow as she softly replied, "It is an honor to receive the Sage Dragon Emperor's blessing..."
After nodding his head in approval, Vahn passed his gaze over the rest of the Valkyries present, stating, "I suppose I owe the rest of you a gift...as you introduce yourself, tell me if there is something you desire."
As Vahn's eyes came to rest on a Valkyrie whose appearance strongly resembled the Medusa from the Nasuverse, the spear-wielding woman returned a fairly predatory smile as she declared, "My name is Randgrid Odinsdottir, the Shieldbreaker. If we're able to request anything, I would be remiss not to ask for Your Majesty's favor."
"..."
Following a somewhat uncomfortable silence, the world atop the Bifrost seemed to 'jolt' for a brief moment before Randgrid appeared sprawled out on the ground. Her clothes didn't appear out of place, but her eyes were utterly unfocused as she stared up at the sky with an enraptured expression on her face.
"Oh my..."
Though she wasn't even remotely surprised, Sis covered her mouth as if she were shocked by the sudden change in Randgrid's state. This was a stark contrast to Fenrir, who couldn't help remarking, "Dumb bird..." under her breath.
Seeing their sister sprawled out on the ground, the other Valkyries came to the realization that Vahn would meet just about any of their demands. Fortunately, none of them were as 'brazen' as Randgrid, who, in the end, only tempted Vahn due to her eternal rivalry with Vor...
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Observing the events occurring on the Bifrost, Odin couldn't help issuing a light chuckle. There were moments when Vahn reminded him a lot of his younger self, long before he became known as the Allfather.
"Disgusting."
Hearing the ghostly yet familiar voice, the smile on Odin's wrinkled face faded, replaced by a grave expression as he commanded, "Show yourself, Loki."
In response to Odin's command, an androgynous figure Vahn would have compared to Merlin manifested from within a spatial tear. At a glance, it was impossible to determine whether or not they were male or female, as not only were their features fair, but their outfit consisted of ornate robes, a skirt, checkered leggings, and a shawl.
With hair that flickered like ghostly blue flames, cat-like eyes, and a smile that revealed rows of razor-sharp teeth, Loki approached their father with teetering, almost zombie-like steps as they said, "Long time no see, pops. Did you miss me~?"
While Odin maintained a fierce expression, Frigg adopted a sad smile as she softly muttered, "Loki..." in the kind of longing tone that only mothers could manage. However, before she could speak further, Odin interrupted, asking, "When did you revive, and what is your aim?"
Tilting their entire body to the side, defying physics as they never lost their balance, Loki sullenly replied, "What? No warm words of welcome for your beloved child? And to think, we used to be so close in the past..."
Using their unnaturally long tongue, Loki licked their lips as they placed their hand over their abdomen. In response, Odin erupted from his throne, a three-pronged golden spear manifesting in his right hand as he shouted, "You have no place here! Begone...!"
Instead of trying to dodge, Loki adopted an ostensibly lazy expression of disgust as Odin's spear pierced through their illusory heart. Even though they were an illusion, they could still feel a phantom pain permeating their body as it was Odin's spear, Gungnir, that ended their previous life.
"Seriously, pa? For someone famous for their wisdom, you do some pretty foolish things..."
With his singular eye blazing with a fierce blue light, Odin brandished his spear and said, "Do not tempt me, Loki..."
Despite shivering violently, Loki managed a mischievous smile as they hugged their body and retorted, "You've already pierced me with both of your spears. What more can you do to me~?"
Inhaling deeply, Odin was about to send his spear flying to Loki's actual location before Frigg stepped in, asking, "Why have you come here, Loki? You're not the type to imperil your life like this..."
Adopting a sharp-toothed smile, Loki cast a glance toward their adoptive mother, answering, "I came to warn you. The Community I belong to does not want to see the Sage Dragon Emperor accumulate even greater power and authority. If he extends an offer for you to join him, please refuse...as much as I hate every fiber of your being, you're still my parents. If anyone is going to destroy you, it should be me..."
Furrowing his brows, Odin firmly declared, "Asgard will never bend the knee to another." before asking, "You said you belong to a Community? Which one?"
Holding their index finger up to their lips, Loki replied, "Come now, father. Have you gone senile with your old age? You know I can't answer such a quest-"
Before Loki could finish speaking, Odin slashed his Gungnir through the former's illusion, dissipating it. Then, with his senses spread through all of Asgard, he exhaled an exasperated sigh and grumbled, "That fool..." as he witnessed his eldest son charging towards the Bifrost.
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Before heading to the South to meet with Odin, Vahn took a moment to visit Xysteria, Silva, Krona, and the new inhabitants of their Realm.
Back in the Actualized World of Runeterra, the Vastaya had been among the first species to walk the physical plane. They could thrive in virtually any environment, so, after consulting with Silva and Krona, Vahn allowed them to move into the relatively safe and burgeoning reality. With Xysteria occupying a separate texture, the only threats they had to worry about moving forward were themselves...
Teleporting to the heart of the newly created Vastayan settlement, a burgeoning forested city known as Omikayalan, Vahn found the deer-like Lillia tending to a large, flowering tree that exuded pink and blue mist.
Sensing Vahn's presence, Lillia's oversized ears twitched as she looked back, a bashful smile developing across her face as she said, "Welcome back, Vahn. Leilani is out exploring right now..."
Adopting a smile of his own, Vahn sauntered over to Lillia's side as he said, "I came to confer with the Elders. I just sensed you were feeling a little lonesome, so I decided to stop by."
"Oh..."
With Vahn wrapping his hands around her Cervitaurian waist, a potent blush spread through Lillia's face. Even after several years had passed, she still wasn't accustomed to intimacy. Fortunately, at least for the time being, it was just her and Vahn present.
Resting her forehead against Vahn's, Lillia explained, "The Vastaya don't dream the same way as humans. It's just a little quiet, that's all..."
As the Daughter of the Dreaming Tree, Lillia spent most of her time within a veritable dreamscape comprised of countless peoples' dreams. With the population of Omikayalan a mere 2,581 Vastaya and Yordles, the ordinarily boundless dreamscape felt small and restrictive.
"Mmm...if you'd like, I can talk with Silva about increasing the number of Spirits present in the world. Now that the Vastaya have made themselves home, it's a good time to start promoting the growth of other lifeforms."
Shaking her head, Lillia replied, "No, it's better if things develop naturally. Besides, I'm never truly alone. I have Leilani and lots of people I can call my friends..."
Upon mention of her rather adventurous daughter, the faint melancholy in Lillia's eyes faded away. Before meeting Vahn, she had been the first and only member of her species, the Dream Fawn. With his help, the Dreaming Tree was able to produce seventeen other blossoms, each becoming one of Lillia's sisters. As for Leilani, she was the first natural-born Dream Fawn in existence, an impossibility made flesh thanks to Vahn's 'efforts.'
"Well, as long as you're happy..."
Punctuating his words, Vahn planted a kiss on Lillia's forehead. She was one of the few women he associated with that didn't like kissing. Instead, they rested their foreheads against one another or touched noses...
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After parting with Lillia, Vahn checked in on Leilani to find her exploring one of the unmapped regions of Silva's surface with several others. He didn't want to interrupt their adventure, so he only spent a few minutes observing them before teleporting to his next destination, a misty forest perpetually shrouded in gloom.
"Hmm...?"
Though he could have easily evaded, Vahn remained stationary as several arrows formed from ethereal blue energy impacted his body. At that exact moment, a massive, pitch-black shadow emerged from the mist, charging toward him as a ghostly blue, wolfish maw formed beneath a bone-white, vaguely sheep-like mask.
Extending his hand, Vahn said, "Sit." in a firm, authoritative tone. When he did, the shadowy creature, resembling a massive wolf's head without any limbs, promptly ceased its charge. Immediately after, a somewhat goofy expression developed across the creature's face as it cocked its head to the side and asked, "Father? What are you doing here...?" in a curious yet bone-chilling tone of voice.
Answering in Vahn's stead, a cold and feminine voice, seemingly echoing from every direction at once, declared, "He has no doubt come to visit us, dear Wolf."
Accompanying the echoing voice, a petite, 122cm tall, vaguely female figure covered in bluish-white fur emerged from the dense mist. Her face was covered by an obsidian black mask reminiscent of a wolf's visage, but her body was distinctly that of a faun, complete with drooping, sheep-like ears and bluish-black, hoofed feet.
Sending shivers through Vahn's body and causing a wry smile to develop across his face, the bow-wielding Aspect removed her mask to reveal a vaguely humanoid face that quickly became more feminine as she asked, "Have you come to breed me, Father...?"
Though he understood why many of the Aspects referred to him as their father, Vahn maintained a wry smile as he answered, "Lamb...I see you're still as candid as always..."
Evidently anticipating an affirmative response, Lamb's body transformed from a vaguely feminine figure to a comparably voluptuous frame as she replied, "Many days have passed since our last union. Our body yearns for your essence..."
Placing her hand on Vahn's chest, Lamb's mesmeric, bluish-purple eyes exuded a fierce, predatory hunger as she sensed the tremendous vitality coursing through him. She was one half of the Aspect of Death, so there was nothing more alluring to her than the inextinguishable life force held within Vahn's body. She craved it with every fiber of her being.
Unsurprised by Lamb's behavior, Vahn manifested a ghostly white rabbit that immediately caught the attention of Wolf, the amorphous black wolf that made up the second half of the entity known as Kindred.
Compelled by his instincts, Wolf immediately pursued the phantom rabbit as Vahn reached up to cup Lamb's modest yet remarkably soft left breast. Her fur was uncannily cold to the touch, giving off the impression of death itself, but Vahn had come to appreciate it quite a bit. After all, many of his most cherished and beloved companions had an affinity related to death, ice, or yin elemental energy...
"Turn around..."
Understanding that Lamb didn't care for foreplay one bit, Vahn compelled her to turn around. When she did, she immediately leaned forward slightly before reaching back to spread her perky, white, fur-covered cheeks. This caused her goat-like tail to curl upward, revealing the rather peculiar sight of her glowing, bluish-purple anus and labia.
Replacing Lamb's left hand with his own, Vahn spread her open with his thumb as he inserted his glans against her frigid, neon purple entrance. A foreboding chill promptly pervaded his lower body, but it was immediately overcome by the intense heat exuding from the very core of his being.
More so as a response to the heat pervading her body than the fact she was being pried open by a large and invasive object, a loud and sonorous moan escaped Lamb's lips. At the same time, the runic patterns covering her outer thighs and ears lit up as Vahn unhesitantly filled her insides full of his 'vital essence.' He was far from finished with her, but he knew Lamb was more interested in accepting his seed than having sex.
Presenting her hands so that Vahn could grasp her wrists, unrestrained gasps of pleasure emanated from Lamb's throat every time the former's hips impacted her rump. She really enjoyed this position as it allowed her to entrust everything to Vahn without having to worry about maintaining her facial transformation or covering him with her drool.
Fortunately for Lamb, Vahn was also rather fond of the position as he had always enjoyed the sight of a woman's backside. It was even better when said woman had a tail, so while Wolf was busy chasing down a rabbit that was nearly twice as fast as he was, Vahn continuously pumped Lamb full of his vital essence. Afterward, the two of them cuddled for a while at the base of a gnarled tree, silently enjoying the eerie yet relaxing ambiance of the mist-filled forest...
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Though there were still quite a few people he felt like spending time with, Vahn promptly departed the Realm of his children after his encounter with Lamb. The timer for his Quest counted down regardless of whether or not he was in an alternate reality or an Actualized World, so he couldn't afford to 'play around' as much as he used to.
Manifesting in response to Vahn's introspection, Sis, appearing in her more feline form, said, "You shouldn't force yourself, Vahn. I understand your desire to wrap things up and return home, but you may end up hitting a wall if you try too hard and fail to achieve your objective."
Before answering Sis's words, Vahn embraced her in his arms and planted a lasting kiss on her lips. When they separated, nearly nine had passed as he answered, "Perhaps. However, what's the point of having all the time in the world if I can't spend it with the people I care about most? I'm tired of not being able to see my children, Sis..."
Though he had plenty of children at this point, knowing there were those he couldn't interact with left Vahn feeling bitter and melancholic. He now possessed more than enough power to protect the things he cared about, so he wanted to reunite his family before completely caving to his whims.
Understanding Vahn's thoughts, a caring yet exasperated sigh escaped from Sis's throat as she tenderly caressed his face. His happiness was the only thing she cared about, so she was more than willing to do everything in her power to make his dreams a reality.
"Before we head out, we should retrieve Fenrir. Depending on how things develop, she may be able to acquire the Origin of Fenrir. It would also be advantageous to inform the Templated Olympians to be on standby since there is a reasonably high probability that Mount Olympus will antagonize you during your stay."
"Hmm..."
While cradling Sis in his embrace, Vahn's thoughts wandered to the South Side. Zeus and Mount Olympus might not have taken action directly, but they had allowed Jason and the Argonaut Community to target the Sage Dragon's Hearth during his promotional Gift Game. That was tantamount to targetting his family and loved ones, so Vahn couldn't just let them off.
"Very well. I'll have everyone on standby so that we'll be ready to respond the moment something happens. But who knows? At this point, I may end up ripping Zeus limb from limb using my bare hands..."
Since Loi-chan had revealed Zeus's intentions, any goodwill the God may have had with Vahn was gone. The errant fool wanted to forge an alliance by marrying off their children. While such arrangements were relatively common, the thing that annoyed Vahn was that Zeus intended for them to be the suitors. In other words, the lecherous God wanted to get his hands on one of Vahn's daughters, something the latter would never, ever allow.
At this point, the only thing stopping Vahn from storming Mount Olympus was the fact he didn't feel like it. He would rather spend time with his kids or one of his many lovers than engage in acts of violence and brutality. In other words, it was simply inconvenient. Now that he would be visiting the South, however, Vahn no longer had a reason to delay the arrogant God's lesson...
...
..
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Chapter 2296: Meandering