Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

"It's done."
Though he still needed to supply the Nine Realms with the Gifts he had promised, Vahn promptly informed Vor and her sisters of his successful trial. A few of them had been lounging about in his room, not having sex or trying to service him, but watching animated movies together.
Hearing Vahn's statement, a faint but genuine smile developed across Vor's face as she softly remarked, "You would be the one to complete an impossible series of Trials in mere hours...now I feel like a fool for failing to entreat you sooner..."
Chiming in from her position at Vahn's side, Fenrir appended, "Everyone who opposes Master is a fool. It's good that you realized your mistake..."
Instead of taking offense to Fenrir's words, a rare chuckle emanated from Vor's throat. She could still vividly recall the incident that had taken place during Zao Shen's Immortal Banquet. Back then, she genuinely believed she could at least injure Vahn. With the benefit of hindsight, she couldn't deny she had been incredibly foolish.
After ruffling Fenrir's hair and whispering for her not to bully others, Vahn asked the question at the forefront of his mind, specifically, "What will you and your sisters do now? I imagine quite a few of you will join the Aldrnari Empire, even if I insist it isn't necessary..."
Nodding her head in affirmation, Vor stated, "I can't speak for the others, but I intend to pledge myself to you and the Aldrnari Empire. As base as this may sound, I consider myself one of the more fortunate women in the Little Garden to be able to share your bed. I'll not give up such a coveted position willfully..."
Exhaling a soft chuckle, Vahn did his best to ignore the looks the other Valkyries were giving him as he replied, "If that's what you want, you're free to stay as long as you'd like. Just keep in mind the Aldrnari Empire doesn't need servants or soldiers. If service or combat is what they seek, tell your sisters they are free to determine their own path from now on. If that happens to be a life outside of the Little Garden, I have the power to send them to virtually any world, even the ones we've spent the last day or so binging."
Hearing Vahn's remark, one of the twin scouts, G&ouml;ll, perked up to ask, "Is that true?" in an audibly excited tone. They had been binge-watching an anime related to the Nasuverse known as Poetic Edda, a three-part series where the main character had allowed his Servant, the Rider Class Sigrun, to wish upon the Holy Grail. As a result, Yggdrasil, located on the Reverse Side, had been linked to the Surface. What followed was a destructive but visually stunning tale that pit Servants and Gods from across time against the seemingly unstoppable forces of the Nine Realms.
Seeing through G&ouml;ll's intentions, the corners of Vahn's smile curled up as he nodded his head and replied, "Of course. I'm not exactly known for lies and deceit. Why? Is there a world you would like to visit...?"
Pointing toward the theater-sized display, G&ouml;ll adopted an expression that was equal parts pouty and adorable as she insisted, "I want to go and teach those despicable mages a lesson! How dare they attempt to set fire to the World Tree...!"
"..."
Resisting the urge to point out that the Mages, at least those aiding the MC, were technically the good guys, Vahn just nodded his head and said, "I don't mind sending you over. However, it goes against my principles to allow people to run rampant without regard for the sanctity of life. If I do send you over, you would have an obligation to preserve and protect, not cause wanton destruction."
"Eeeeh..."
As she had been imagining herself blowing up places like London and the Clock Tower, G&ouml;ll's face scrunched up when she heard Vahn's words. She understood why Vahn would have such policies, but many of the Mages who appeared in the series were both despicable and cowardly. Instead of fighting honorably, they enslaved Heroes and Gods to do their bidding. To make matters worse, they even employed blood magic to sacrifice the entire population of Nothern Europe in an attempt to burn down Yggdrasil, all while they actively avoided the frontlines.
Adopting a wry smile, Vahn supplanted, "I didn't say you couldn't kill, just not wantonly. If you want to intervene in the efforts of the Clock Tower or try to talk some sense into the rulers of Asgard, I don't mind sending you over. You just need to keep in mind that there are good and bad people on both sides."
"Mou..."
Unable to refute Vahn's words, G&ouml;ll began drawing circles on the ground while her twin sister, Geir&ouml;lul, pat her shoulder. The latter also wanted to punish the Mages of the Clock Tower, but she also understood that there wouldn't be a conflict if Sigrun hadn't wished for it. After being trapped on the Reverse Side for so long, there was no way the Nine Realms would sit on their hands and try to negotiate with the Surface...
Deciding to offer the girls some advice, Vahn suggested, "If you value my opinion, you should descend into a peaceful world without conflict. There is no shame in living a mundane life. It's remarkably therapeutic and helps you better understand the values of ordinary people."
Nodding her head in affirmation, Sis, while happily snuggling up against Vahn, appended, "Vahn's right. If you've never even tried to understand how ordinary people live, you've no right to pass judgment on them. You girls were born with remarkable power and a sense of purpose from the start. You could benefit greatly from starting over and living a life where you seek purpose rather than being given it. That's what allows humans and other 'lesser' creatures to readily change and adapt, a characteristic even the Gods envy."
Supplying a nod of his own, Vahn all but cemented the decision of a few Valkyries as he added, "I can make it so that your 'true' body remains in the Divine Realm. That way, you can reincarnate or transmigrate without having to feel as though you're trapped in a specific setting. Inversely, I can inhibit your memories and allow you to live completely ordinary lives. That would be the best way to get an unbiased perspective on what it's like to live amongst humans, beast people, or whatever race you choose to become. Now that you're free, the possibilities are endless, the paths available to you infinite. You just need to be brave enough to take the first step."
With a hint of authority naturally suffusing his words, Vahn sounded pretty convincing to the group of Valkyries that had spent their entire lives in the service of others. Many of them had been planning to relocate to the East and join the Aldrnari Empire, not because they felt obliged to repay Vahn's favor, but because they didn't know what else to do. Before today, notions such as what they would do if given the freedom to determine their future were little more than a passing fancy. Now, after thousands of years in the service of others, they were finally free to serve themselves...
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While the 'prime' version of himself was lazing about with Sis, Fenrir, and a handful of Valkyries, another version of Vahn had been demonstrating his craftsmanship in front of Odin, Muninn, and a small village's worth of Dwarven Forgemasters. He didn't want to reveal that he could essentially just snap his fingers to create high-ranking Gifts, so he was forging a few directly.
Seeing Vahn's skill with a hammer, a few of the Dwarves inexplicably had tears in their eyes. The Norse Pantheon was one of the few without a God of Forging/Crafting. Instead, it was the Dwarves of Nidavellir who forged their weapons and armaments, their skills so legendary that they were the reason so many fantasy settings had Dwarves among their core races.
Ignoring the 'passionate' gazes of several Elder Dwarves, Vahn continued hammering away while casually manipulating multiple Laws to ensure the quality and condition of the materials he was forging. At his current level, he didn't even need to swing a hammer as he could freely manipulate the internal structure of anything he touched. He simply enjoyed the feedback of striking metal to form virtually anything he could imagine.
Using a pair of tongs that glistened like the surface of the sun, Vahn held up what appeared to be a dark-purple crystal. In reality, he had spent the last hour or so condensing Space Laws into a physical stone. Odin already had a few powerful armaments he was accustomed to using, so many of the Gifts he had requested for himself were catalysts that would empower his present abilities.
Sensing the immense power contained within the stone, Vahn activated his Oblivion and began inscribing an intricate latticework of runes within its core. His actions drastically decreased the output of the stone, but it also made it much, much easier to control.
"And that makes five..."
Dipping the unimaginably hot stone into a quenching liquid comprised of Pure Yin Elemental Energy, a glistening layer resembling ice formed over the stone. The energy it produced gave it a surface temperature nearing infinity, so he utilized Pure Yin Elemental Energy as a stabilizing element. After that, it was a simple matter of naming the stone.
Holding up the 100 carat stone between his thumb and index finger, Vahn looked to Odin as he questioned, "What do you want to call this one? The Space Stone...?"
As the other four stones he had produced were called the Time, Fire, and Water Stones, Vahn wasn't too surprised when Odin nodded his head and said, "Space Stone will suffice."
Nodding his head, Vahn channeled his authority and intent as he held the stone in his palm and declared, "Henceforward, you shall be known as the Space Stone..."
Reacting to Vahn's words, a layer blacker than the void formed across the stone as a massive surge of energy attempted to explode outward. Due to the presence of Vahn, however, the stone simply appeared to shimmer for a moment as the layer, despite appearing paper-thin from the perspective of an observer, had a volume comparable to a solar system.
Sensing that the energy within the stone had stabilized, Vahn took a moment to confirm it was 'only' S-Rank before manipulating it to drift over to Odin as he explained, "Like the other stones, it's Soulbound, so, unless you willfully transfer ownership to another, the only person that can make use of its power is you. As for its abilities, it's virtually indestructible and allows you to produce a domain in which you have near-absolute control over the Space within. Beyond that, you can use it to manipulate gravity and, more notably, the space between atoms. I imagine you already have the power to change size, but the Space Stone will allow you to alter the size and mass of anything it touches."
Grabbing the Space Stone, Odin could sense the power contained within even through his gauntleted hand. When he heard Vahn's explanation, his singular eye glistened as he muttered, "Extraordinary..." in genuine marvel. Gifts related to Space and Time were among the rarest and most powerful in existence. Now that he had Gifts related to both, he could theoretically manipulate Space and Time within the territory of other Communities, not just the Nine Realms and Asgard...
Shaking his head, Odin summarily suppressed his notions of domination and conquest. So long as Vahn and the Aldrnari Empire were around, he would have to measure his actions and 'play fair.' After all, no matter how powerful Gifts like the Space and Time Stone were, they might as well be trinkets in front of the being that had casually created them...
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn is Rank 1 speedrunner xD...','He said the thing...!','Casually creating Infinity Stones...')
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After one final night in Asgard, Vahn left Muninn and Vor to deal with any fallout from freeing the Valkyries while he, Fenrir, and Sis made their way further South to the headquarters of the Draco Grief Alliance, a huge city built beneath a Giant Water Tree.
Though the size of the Giant Water Tree couldn't compare to Yggdrasil, Vahn was still impressed by its beauty. The emerald canopy of the tree spanned several tens of kilometers while the root system branched out toward the horizon. Betwixt this root system, hundreds, if not thousands of canals had been constructed, their interiors reinforced with shimmering green crystals that helped to redirect the water from the Great Water Tree into several large rivers. It was quite the sight to behold, but the reason most people venture to the Giant Water Tree was for what lay beneath, a massive, endlessly expanding depression where the Underground City of Underwood had been constructed.
With more than 90% of Underwood's residents being eudemons, beast people, or some form of magical creature, no one even batted an eye as Vahn, Sis, and Fenrir ventured through the carved wooden streets. From the perspective of the underground city's residents, a 'human' like Vahn stood out more than the two girls, so, shortly after landing, he made his ears pointy, sprouted a pair of curved black horns, and a thick dragon tail tinged with a golden hue.
Though Sis kept periodically poking his tail, Vahn didn't particularly mind it as the three of them made their way down one of the helical paths that lined the interior of the Great Water Tree. Countless shops and entire city districts extended away from the central helix, disappearing into a maze-like structure that spanned hundreds of kilometers. It was pretty easy to get lost if you didn't have a cheat-like mapping ability, but that was a non-issue as Vahn, Sis, and Fenrir had no reason to stray from the city center, the convergence point of the six Communities comprising the Draco Grief Alliance: One Horn, Two Wings, Three Tails, Four Feet, Five Claws, and Six Scars.
Bypassing the headquarters of the other five Communities, Vahn and co continued until they reached the deepest level of Underwood's spiraling path, the location of a vast system of underground tunnels and the One Horn Community Headquarters. Vahn found it a little odd that a Griffin, a creature known for its flying prowess, would establish a Community deep underground, but, seeing how vast some of the surrounding tunnels were, it wasn't difficult to imagine entire squads of Griffins flying through them.
Making their way to a building constructed in and around one of the Great Water Tree's larger root systems, Vahn, Sis, and Fenrir were forced to stop outside a heavily fortified gate by guardsmen and women from more than a dozen different races.
Representing the group was a tall, heavily-armored man with the head of a wolf, shouting, "Halt! You are attempting to enter the Headquarters of One Horn and the Draco Grief Alliance! Unless you have an invitation or an escort, you'll need to be processed before you're allowed entry...!"
Though he was unsurprised by the man's words, an 'are you serious' kind of face developed across Vahn's as he saw the wolf-headed man staring intently at Fenrir. The man had a no-nonsense expression on his face, but the not-so-subtle wagging of his tail made it clear he was excited.
Narrowing her eyes at the wolf-headed man, Fenrir threatened, "I will tear your throat out if you keep looking at me like that..."
Instead of being offended or deterred by Fenrir's words, a literal wolfish-grin developed across the man's face as he brandished his spear and was about to give the order to arrest the three intruders. The moment he even thought about it, however, he abruptly collapsed to the ground like a sack of potatoes, eyes rolled back and frothing at the mouth as Vahn exuded a fraction of his aura and stated, "Inform your leadership that Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor, has come to pay a visit."
Upon seeing their companion fall to the ground, many of the guardsmen and women were prepared to detain Vahn and company at all cost. When they heard his introduction, however, they abruptly froze in place as those with the ability felt a cold sweat break out across their bodies.
Just as Vahn was about to retract his aura, a deep and womanly voice called out, "Stand down...!" as a beautiful young woman with bronze skin and vermillion hair leaped through the sky to land between Vahn and the collection of guards. Her pointy ears and horns revealed her heritage as a Dragon's descendent, but the feature most people would notice about her appearance was the scant, dancer-like outfit that did little to conceal her lithe and athletic frame.
Having exposed herself to Vahn's aura, a noticeable shudder shook the body of the bronze-skinned woman before she managed a determined expression and started to ask, "What business&mdash;hold on a minute! Aren't you the Sage Dragon Emperor...!?"
Though she very rarely paid attention to events taking place beyond the South, the bronze-skinned woman, better known as Sala Doldrake, could never mistake the identity of the man who had married her younger sister. His pointed ears, sharper features, horns, and tail had momentarily thrown her off, but the aura he exuded was unmistakably that of a Pure-Blooded Dragon.
Not sure if she should bow or cower, Sala's knees began to shake even as Vahn adopted a casual smile and said, "It's good to finally meet you, Sala. Though you parted ways when she was still an infant, your sister has told me quite a lot about you."
Hearing Vahn mention her abandonment of Sandora, Sala's expression paled as she balled her hands into fists. She doubted Vahn had come all this way to take her back to the North, but the thought of being forced to reconcile with her family terrified her to the core.
Mustering what little willpower she could, Sala sheepishly inquired, "Why have you come here...?"
Not used to seeing their War Leader behaving in such a way, the group of guardsmen and women appeared even more nervous than Sala. Vahn felt a little sorry for them, but he did his best not to mind it as he replied, "We were invited here some time ago by Draco Grief himself. I happened to be in the area after visiting the Nine Realms, so I figured I might as well stop by."
Furrowing her brows, a bit of vigor returned to Sala as she parroted, "The Nine Realms? What business could you possibly have with such a vicious and bloodthirsty lot? Don't tell me..."
Waving his hand in a dismissive manner, Vahn said, "Relax. I'm not trying to destabilize or conquer the South. At the very least, I have no intention of starting a war. If anything, I'm taking measures to prevent one."
"I see..."
Though she didn't fully trust Vahn's words, Sala knew the Aldrnari Empire had more than enough power to conquer the South. If the rumors were to be believed, he was already at a level where he could contend against the ancient beings inhabiting the 1-3-Digit Gates. Even if he wasn't, the Draco Grief Alliance was comprised of six 5-Digit Communities. If not for the fall of Avalon and the constant fighting between the 4-Digit Communities that populated the South, the Draco Grief Alliance would never be able to hold on to the position of Floor Master.
Imagining Vahn's dragon form erasing Underwood with a single sweep of his hand, another powerful shiver wracked Sala's frame. She wasn't cold, but she found herself hugging her body in a vain attempt to suppress her instincts. Her subordinates interpreted her behavior as fear, but Vahn and Sala knew the actual reason for her trembling...
Smiling wryly, Vahn suppressed his draconic aura as much as possible as he said, "Please tell Draco Grief I have come to meet him. The medicine I sent over previously should have healed him fully, but I'd like to check on him at least once."
Recalling that Vahn had, in fact, treated their Leader's illness, Sala felt a sudden urge to apologize on behalf of the entire Draco Grief Alliance. If she lowered her head in her current state, however, she might not be able to raise it without Vahn's permission. The latter's bloodline and aura were so pure that Sala's body, quite literally, craved to submit to him...
Gritting her sharpening teeth, Sala muttered, "Dammit..." under her breath. Then, as if he had been standing right in front of her, Vahn's hand came to rest on her head, an overwhelming calm and cooling energy pervading her body before she even had time to blink. The heat that had been agonizing her disappeared in an instant, replaced by a sense of peaceful serenity as Vahn retracted his hand and revealed, "I sealed your bloodline, albeit only temporarily. You can break it by mustering your power, but I would advise you to keep it in place until my departure. If you want a more permanant solution, I can change your race into something else entirely..."
Though she felt a mixture of frustration and confusion at the first part of Vahn's words, Sala blinked in surprise when he mentioned being able to change her race. One of the reasons she had fled the North was because her father had forced her to consume a special aphrodisiac mixed with his blood. It was supposed to make her more 'compliant.' Instead, it triggered a violent awakening of her draconic heritage, compelling her to attack her father before fleeing in a frenzy. When she finally returned to her senses, most of her power had been lost, and she now felt agitated whenever she was in the presence of other dragons, particularly males.
After briefly considering Vahn's proposal, Sala's pride as a Salamander eventually won out, her expression turning severe as she shook her head and replied, "While I appreciate your concern, this is a matter I must deal with personally. If I can't do this much, I'll never be able to face those my actions have harmed..."
"You're an idiot."
"Wha-"
Without giving Sala a chance to question him, Vahn shook his head and said, "While I understand your reasons, we both know you're just making excuses. The truth of the matter is that your brother and sister have been eagerly awaiting your return. Now that your father is dead, the only thing preventing you from returning home is your selfishness. I'm half-tempted to teleport you over to the North and force you to reconcile...In fact..."
Before Sala could even think to evade or argue, Vahn extended his hand to flick her forehead. The moment his middle finger made contact with the golden band holding up her bangs, the befuddled beauty dispersed into motes of golden light.
Seeing their War Leader suddenly disappear, the guardsmen and women that had been standing around like a bunch of statues immediately came back to life. Those closest attempted to charge at Vahn, but he countered their efforts by casually teleporting them to the surface of Underwood as he, Sis, and Fenrir advanced into the interior. A large gate and an invisible barrier barred their passage, but both warped and distorted to allow the trio passage before repairing themselves the moment they were inside...
Spreading his senses through the compound, a frown marred Vahn's face as he realized there were no Griffins inside. Instead, there was a veritable army of beast people loitering about and a girl with lavender hair sitting in what he had presumed to be Draco's office. She had a tiny, spiral-shaped horn growing from the center of her forehead, and, based on the structure of her aura, Vahn correctly assumed she was a Unicorn...
"That explains the name..."
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'He's just lucky Vahn knocked him out before Fenrir could teach him a lesson...','RIP Sala-chan xD...','Who could have imagined the Leader of One-Horn being a Unicorn (O o O)...?')

Making his way toward the monochromatic figure, Vahn's expression became somber as he tried to speak, but no sound came out. There was no air to carry his voice, and while he could muster his intent without issue, it effectively dissipated the moment it left him. As a result, he couldn't even use telepathy to try and communicate with the ancient figure.
("How troublesome...")
Stopping less than a meter and a half from the motionless man, Vahn half-expected him to raise his head or at least try to communicate. Instead, he remained as motionless as the world around him, a milky grey glow emanating from the depths of his eyes as he stared into nothingness.
Though he was unable to sense the man, that didn't stop Vahn from kneeling down in front of him to get a better look at his face. It appeared human at a glance, but his flesh was knarled and twisted like a petrified tree. Deep scars covered his body, and several large chunks of his flesh appeared to have been gouged away by rune-covered stakes. A spear covered in similar runes had been stabbed through the gap between his left shoulder and collarbone, a non-fatal wound designed to prolong the victim's suffering for as long as possible.
("I guess I'm not the only one to have made it this far? How peculiar...")
As the man before him was one of the most ancient and powerful beings in all of Creation, the Demon Lord of Stagnation, Vahn found it a little odd that others had managed to approach him. He was one of the few entities that Shiroyasha had expressly cautioned him to be wary of, a Last Embryo whose domain would inevitably spread to consume all realities...
("Hmmm...")
Unsure of what, exactly, he was supposed to do, Vahn decided to confer with Loi-chan. He might not be able to form a link with the Demon Lord of Stagnation, but his connection with Loi-chan should give him some insight into what to do.
Appearing the moment Vahn thought about her, Loi-chan's face crinkled into a rare frown as she took a moment to view her surroundings.
"I don't like this place..."
Since she didn't actually communicate with sound, Vahn was able to hear Loi-chan's words without issue. In response, he adopted a wry smile and replied, ("I'll take you someplace fun once we return home. For now, can you tell me what, if anything, this man is thinking? If that doesn't work, try transforming into Laplace. If this is someone's attempt to try and 'seal' me away...well, some punishments will need to be meted out...")
Though there was visible reluctance in Loi-chan's expression, she didn't hesitate to nod and transform into the Demon Lord of Stagnation. As she did, even Vahn felt an unusual sense of 'dullness' in the back of his mind, almost like he was spacing out.
After a tense period of complete silence, Loi-chan eventually reverted to her original form, an apologetic expression on her face as she shook her head and revealed, "The only thing in this guy's head is a strange sound. It's kind of like the dial tone of a phone, but it reverberates around in your head and prevents you from thinking."
Extending his hand, Vahn ruffled Loi-chan's vermillion-red hair as he said, ("No worries. At least you tried.")
Feeling a lot better after Vahn's caress, Loi-chan's smile returned as she changed into the form of a remarkably voluptuous woman with purple hair that extended well past her feet. She bore an uncanny resemblance to the Medusa from the Nasuverse, but she was nearly two meters tall and 'a lot' more developed...
Aware of Vahn's thoughts, a teasing smile developed across Loi-chan's face as she put her hands on her hips and shamelessly wagged her butt. Her white and gold outfit left 'very' little to the imagination, large sections of her skin left entirely exposed while the rest was veiled in a paper-thin fabric that looked like it would become completely transparent when wet.
("Loi-chan...")
As much as he appreciated the sight of Laplace's ostensibly flawless body, Vahn didn't want to tarry in the Demon Lord of Stagnation's domain. He might be immune to most of its effects, but if his connection with the outside was somehow severed, the Little Garden might not even exist by the time he emerged. The likelihood of that happening was infinitesimally small, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Sensing Vahn's concerns, Loi-chan offered a curt nod before closing her eyes and focusing. Laplace possessed one of the most all-encompassing forms of omniscience within the Transcendental Path to Heaven. She was given the purpose of observing and cataloging all things within the Order of Creation, so, in many ways, she could be considered the younger sister of Loi-chan. Others would be completely overwhelmed by the vastness of Laplace's awareness, but Loi-chan felt a peculiar sense of comfort as she casually sifted through an infinite number of conscious threads.
"Found it~."
Opening her amethyst-purple eyes, a playful smile developed across Loi-chan's face as she revealed, "It was Laplace herself that intervened. She is concerned you're ruining the plan her friend sacrificed herself to set in motion, so she wanted to keep you here until things concluded. As for the clear condition of the game, you simply need to touch the Demon Lord of Stagnation's body."
("Ah...")
Understanding what Loi-chan was referring to, Vahn couldn't help feeling a twinge of guilt. Unfortunately, while he didn't mind letting Izayoi and the Problem Children play heroes, he wasn't going to let trillions of people die in the wake of the Demon Dragon God's release. Canaria, Izaoi's adoptive mother, was an extraordinary woman, but the plan she formulated was no longer the only way to ensure the Little Garden's survival.
Extending his hand, Vahn gave the transformed Loi-chan another pat on the head as he said, ("Try to convey to her that the legacy of Canaria was never her plan, but the future that lies beyond it. So long as even a single additional person is saved, I doubt Canaria would mind events playing out a little differently...")
Nodding her head in understanding, Loi-chan closed her eyes and tried to convey Vahn's intentions to Laplace. She had no direct influence over the people whose identities she assumed, but Laplace was methodical to the point she would notice even subtle changes in her thoughts or intentions. Thus, from the moment Loi-chan assumed her identity, Laplace had been analyzing each of her threads of consciousness in search of the 'anomaly' that existed within.
While Loi-chan was busy doing her thing, Vahn floated over and placed his hand on the Demon Lord of Stagnation's shoulder. The moment he did so, the world around him began to dissolve away as the Laws of the world gradually came into effect. What was far more surprising, at least to Vahn, was the fact that the Demon Lord of Stagnation abruptly raised his head, a twisted smile adorning his face before his body dissolved away with the world around him...
Though he sensed no malice from the man, Vahn couldn't help thinking, ("Well, that was ominous...") as a destructive force collapsed in on him from all sides. The Demon Lord's domain had created a void within space and time itself, so the pressure differential between the interior and the outside was enough to generate a compressive force rivaling a singularity as the atmosphere attempted to achieve equilibrium.
Unaffected by the destruction, Vahn took a moment to assist with the stabilization process before turning to meet the stunned gazes of Ur&eth;r, Ver&eth;andi, and even Skuld. When he did, illusory hearts seemed to appear within pastel blue eyes before she abruptly teleported over to him, arms wrapping around his head as she forced his face into her bosom and exclaimed, "That's my darling~! Not even one of the Three Great Demon Lords is enough to stop you~!"
Seeing how shameless her elder sister was being, a faintly exasperated sigh emanated from Ver&eth;andi's throat. Immediately afterward, however, a smile developed across her face as she and Skuld floated over. Vahn still needed to complete the Ninth Trial, but that was more of a formality than anything else. By becoming the Master of the Past and Present, he could 'grasp' the Future whenever he pleased.
With Ur&eth;r releasing him after a gentle smack to the bottom, Vahn met the gaze of Ver&eth;andi as he mused, "That was quite the Eighth Trial..."
Smiling wryly, Ver&eth;andi attempted to defend herself by saying, "I have no control over who or what appears in my Trials. If I did, I would have never allowed that...thing to enter this place..."
Since there were no known means to stop the spread of the Demon Lord of Stagnation's influence, only slow it down, it wasn't an exaggeration to say his appearance had jeopardized the World Tree and the Nine Realms as a whole. Thus, even though she was still a little frustrated by Vahn's previous words and actions, Ver&eth;andi's most prominent sentiments right now were anxiety, gratitude, and a hint of expectation...
Though he felt it was wrong for Ver&eth;andi to refer to the Demon Lord of Stagnation as a thing, Vahn alleviated most of her concerns by nodding his head and stating, "No worries." before shifting his attention to Skuld and asking, "What now...?"
Averting her eyes, Skuled used her three pairs of wings to conceal her body as she meekly replied, "Now you just need to claim your prize...by becoming the Master of the Past and Present, you've gained the right to shape the Future as you please..."
Punctuating her words, Skuld slowly opened her wings to reveal she was nearly naked. A complex runic pattern covered much of her torso, almost like a corset, but the thing that stood out more than anything else was her ornate silver chastity belt. There was also a key attached to a silver chain around her neck, but Skuld promptly pulled it off and presented it to Vahn as she said, "The Future is yours..." in a solemn tone tinged with devotion.
Though he accepted the key, Vahn didn't actually need it if he wanted to remove Skuld's chastity belt. Thus, after a moment of deliberation, he left the blue-haired beauty at a momentary loss for words as he tossed it over his shoulder. Then, before she could misconstrue his intentions, he moved close enough to slip his thumbs under the metallic band of her belt as if it were comprised of ordinary fabric. Her body briefly tensed, leading to her closing her wings around him, but Vahn just smiled as he leaned closer in an attempt to kiss Skuld's lips...
*Ahem*
After loudly clearing her throat, a tinge of red bled into Ver&eth;andi's cheeks as she hugged her body remarked, "There is an order to everything...you can't become the Master of the Future without first claiming the Past and Present..."
Understanding what Ver&eth;andi was trying to say, a low chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat as two more versions of himself manifested out of thin air. He had already crossed the line Ur&eth;r, so while he still believed the trio would be happier if they found someone else to dedicate their hearts and bodies to, he had no intention of leaving things half-finished...
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Distracting her from her search for Loi-chan, the eyes of the original Laplace widened as she 'witnessed' Vahn overcoming what should have been an impossible trial. Ever since the destruction of the original Little Garden and the advent of Gift Games, no one has managed to approach the Demon Lord of Stagnation. His power had increased drastically since then, so she couldn't fathom had Vahn had managed to break free, much less in such a short period.
Shifting her focus to Vahn, something she had rarely done throughout her entire existence, Laplace was unsurprised to find him having sex. She had witnessed such scenes countless times before, so she didn't so much as flinch upon seeing it. She did, however, pay attention...something she had never done before...
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Chapter 2307: Freedom