Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though he was trying to limit his number of manifestations, Vahn created a fifth to pay a visit to Draco Greif, apprising him of the situation with Sala. He also gave the retiring Griffin a warning about Yvonne but promised the Empire wouldn't just stand by if she attempted to conquer the South using more 'forceful' methods.
After hearing Vahn's account till the end, Draco Greif understood that the former was aware of the meeting between himself and the Leaders of the Draco Greif Alliance. However, instead of expressing offense at the notion that Vahn was spying on them, Draco Greif remained calm and composed as he replied, "Then it appears that Laulau Pantera, Leader of Five-Claws, will be the next Floor Master. Does the Aldrnari Empire have any counsel they wish to provide on this matter...?"
Shaking his head, Vahn answered, "The internal affairs of the Draco Greif Alliance are their own to manage. I've already inconvenienced you greatly by intervening in the matter between Sala and her sister. Instead of telling you what to do, I'm more inclined to ask if there's anything the Empire can do to help ease the transition."
"Hmmm..."
Understanding that Vahn wasn't simply being polite, Draco Greif closed his eyes and carefully considered his response. Vahn was known to make the impossible a reality, and there seemed to be no limits to the Empire's resources and capabilities. Thus, the next few words that came out of his mouth could genuinely shape the future of the Draco Greif Alliance.
Not wanting to disturb Draco Greif's thoughts, Vahn manifested an ornate jade teapot and served himself a cup of aromatic jasmine tea. This version of himself existed for the singular purpose of this discussion, so he wasn't in any particular hurry.
After deliberating for several minutes, Draco Greif adopted a noticeably wry smile and asked, "Do you mind if I call for the Leader of Five-Claws? As the next Floor Master and Leader of the Draco Greif Alliance, I believe she should be present."
Though Draco Greif's words raised a number of flags, Vahn didn't hesitate to respond, "Sure, I don't see why not? If the Draco Greif Alliance and the Aldrnari Empire are going to be allies in the future, it's only natural that we meet at some point."
Nodding his head, Draco Greif responded with a curt, "Indeed," before using his Authority as Floor Master to send a telepathic communique to Laulau. She was busy dealing with a few drunken brawls that had broken out during the impromptu celebration but immediately dropped what she was doing when she heard the reason for her summoning...
Bursting into the conference room a few minutes later, Laulau's luminous golden eyes briefly focused on Vahn before she turned to Draco Greif, cupping her hands and bowing as a sign of respect as she said, "Laulau Pantera, reporting as ordered..."
Getting straight to the point, Draco Greif revealed, "Due to circumstances related to her family, Sala Doldrake's candidacy for Floor Master has been revoked. As such, you, Laulau Pantera, have been designated as the sole nominee for the positions of Floor Master and future Leader of the Draco Greif Alliance. I trust you have no objections?"
Cupping her hands together a second time, this time with enough force to generate a small shockwave, Laulau's fur-covered ears twitched excitedly as she loudly exclaimed, "It would be my honor!"
Though he nodded his head in approval, Draco Greif took a bit of the wind out of Laulau's sails, adding, "I'm confident you'll lead the Alliance into an era of prosperity. To that end, I have invited you here to participate in the discussion related to our...'cooperation' with the Aldrnari Empire..."
Furrowing her brows, Laulau directed a sidelong gaze toward Vahn as she asked, "Has the Aldrnari Empire requested something of us...?"
Catching the spirited warrior princess somewhat off guard, Draco Greif replied, "Quite the opposite. However, as I do not wish to put words into his mouth, the Sage Dragon Emperor can speak for himself."
Setting aside his cup of tea, Vahn offered a cordial smile as he explained, "As compensation for the troubles my actions have wrought, I was asking your Leader if there is anything I, or the Aldrnari Empire, could do to make the forthcoming transition smoother. I have technically robbed you of one of your most powerful allies, so it's only natural that I compensate you for the loss."
Understanding that Vahn was referring to Sala, Laulau crossed her arms in defiance, retorting, "Sala might have been strong, but the Alliance existed before and will endure after her. Do not look down on us. We are not some helpless throng that needs your guidance and protection..."
"Laulau..."
Though he had somewhat anticipated Laulau's brazenness, Draco Greif couldn't help covering his face with his taloned hand. He knew she didn't trust Vahn, but her words undermined both the long and short-term future of the Alliance. If Vahn was half as bad as she believed him to be, such an overt slight could have resulted in their complete and total destruction...
Fortunately for the many inhabitants of Under and Overwood, Vahn just smiled in response to Laulau's words, responding, "If that's the way you feel, I have nothing more to say on the matter. Just know that the Aldrnari Empire does not turn its back on its allies. If there comes a time when the Draco Greif Alliance is in need, do not hesitate to seek us out. Pride at the expense of your peoples' lives is hubris."
Finished with what he had to say, Vahn rose to his feet, dusted himself off, and offered a curt nod toward Draco Greif as he said, "If you need to contact me during the festival, a version of me can be found at the side of One-Horn's Leader, Merry. After that, the best way to contact me would presumably be through the Leader of Six-Scars, Garol Gundark."
Having risen at the same time as Vahn, Draco Greif offered a respectful nod of his own as he replied, "I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Farewell, Vahn Aldrnari Mason."
As the corners of his smile curled upward, Vahn faded from existence like grains of sand being blown by the wind. The moment he had disappeared completely, the atmosphere within the room became oppressive as Draco Greif directed a fierce glare at Laulau, stating, "Though I have no intention of retracting your nomination, know I am disappointed with your handling of this matter. Had he the mind to, the Sage Dragon Emperor could stamp out our entire Alliance on a whim. We are beyond fortunate he didn't take your careless words to heart..."
Cowed by the oppressive aura exuding from Draco Greif like a powerful gravitational force, Laulau appeared to shrink into herself, timidly pressing the tips of her index fingers together as she meekly replied, "I didn't want to appear weak in front of the Leader of a foreign Community..."
Exhaling a profound and exasperated sigh, Draco Greif retracted his aura and plopped down into a seated position. He empathized with Laulau's need to appear strong, but there was a time and a place for everything. The resources of the Aldrnari Empire could bolster their entire Alliance to new heights, but Laulau had effectively set fire to the bridge without even thinking about the consequences. Had Vahn been less magnanimous, her actions may have burned it down entirely.
Shaking his head, Draco Greif forced himself to regain his calm, advising, "I won't tell you to apologize. However, it would be wise of you to make a concerted effort to befriend the Leaders of One-Horn and Six-Claws. You are entitled to govern the Alliance as you see fit, but a representative who ignores the will of the people will invariably become a tyrant..."
Hanging her head, Laulau silently reflected on Draco Greif's words and her actions. With the benefit of hindsight, she realized that rejecting Vahn's offer outright probably wasn't the smartest thing she could have done. After all, it wasn't like he was asking anything of them. Rather, he effectively gave them a blank check and invited them to fill in the blanks. She could have asked for all kinds of resources, yet she just ripped it up on principle...
Realizing her mistake, Laulau abruptly took a knee, her right fist touching the ground as she lowered her head and stated, "I'm not sure how, but I'll make this right. You have my word."
Exhaling a slightly softer sigh, Draco Greif adopted an uncannily human smile as he replied, "It's okay to make mistakes, Laulau. So long as you learn from them, you will continue to move forward as both a person and a leader. Now, away with you. I'm certain there are better ways you could be spending your time. Leave me to my rest."
Without another word, Laulau promptly cupped her hands together before backing out of the chamber and rushing to Underwood. She was tempted to track down Vahn and apologize for her carelessness but didn't want to intrude upon his and Merry's time together. Instead, she locked onto the scent of Garol Gundark, leaping from the boughs of the Great Water Tree with the resolve to become a proper leader for her people...
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"Oh no...it's spilling out..."
Though Vahn had insisted they take several breaks, Merry had thoroughly demonstrated that it wasn't just her language lacking in decency. She was a veritable nymphomaniac, and due to her inordinately prolonged chastity, there were countless things she was eager to try.
Watching the petite beauty scoop up his semen and try to force it back inside her, Vahn couldn't help smiling wryly as he said, "I can always fill you up later. For now, we should get ourselves cleaned up and grab a bite to eat outside. Festivals shouldn't be spent idling about indoors."
Adopting a pouty expression, Merry attempted to guilt Vahn into staying inside by tearing up and asking, "Do we have to? The outside world sucks, and I don't like being around other people. They all stare at me with lewd gazes like they want to tear off my dress and **** me in the middle of the street..."
A stark contrast to the teary-eyed expression she had at the start of her argument, a ruddy hue spread through Merry's cheeks as she imagined Vahn being the one to push her down. The thought, alone, was enough to make her feel embarrassed, but she would be lying if she said it wasn't as exciting...
Overwhelmed by her overactive imagination, Merry stared into space for a few moments until a thin line of silvery blood trickled from her left nostril. Merry immediately noticed this, quickly wiping away the evidence before adopting an innocent smile as she looked at Vahn and asked, "What were we talking about?"
With Loi-chan enthusiastically narrating Merry's libidinous thoughts, Vahn made a mental note not to inform her of his ability to separate from the Axes of Time, Space, and Reality. He didn't mind doing it in public, but he didn't want to encourage her 'bad' behavior. Merry was clearly a little unstable, so he offered a smoldering smile and replied, "We were talking about going out on a date. I want everyone in Underwood to know we're together, so I was hoping to show you off while you show me around. If you would prefer to keep our relationship a secret, however, I don't mind staying inside..."
Though she was more than a little tempted by Vahn's final few words, the chance to display her relationship in public was enough to convince Merry to go out. Thus, with a rather substantial volume of semen dripping down her legs and thighs, she hopped out of bed and ran to the bath, shouting, "Hurry along, darling~! We musn't keep the peasantry waiting~" in a sing-song tone.
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn has all the time in the world...','More muscle than brain...','Someone bonk this damned Unicorn...')

Seeing Vahn and Merry emerge from the One-Horn Community's headquarters, a seemingly voluptuous woman with maroon hair and olive, slightly reddish skin narrowed her eyes. Her features and physique could be described as flawless from a distance, but closer inspection revealed that her entire body was purely mechanical in nature.
Though androids, gynoids, and other artificial lifeforms could be found in many places throughout the Little Garden, they were especially rare in the South and East Sides. However, while her mechanical form and golden, camera-like irises stood out, the features most people would notice when viewing the peculiar woman were her garments.
Instead of 'conventional' clothing or a form of attire that would help her blend in with her surroundings, the maroon-haired woman was garbed in a pristine white toga and various red and gold ornaments. Most prominent among these was a golden pauldron fashioned in the visage of a deer, an armored arm bearing a durable-looking buckler, banded, fur-lined sandals that covered much of her calves, a crown-like diadem affixed with antlers, and a girdle with runic symbols depicting a mountain and lightning bolts.
"So, that's the Sage Dragon Emperor...he's a lot less imposing in real life..."
Following the woman's remark, an even more conspicuous figure replied, "Perhaps. That doesn't change the fact he was able to defeat Amaterasu and Indra in single combat. It would be pretty rash to underestimate him."
Despite possessing a purely mechanical head resembling a helmet with a visor, the fashionably dressed, relatively modern-attired man brought up a cigarette to his non-existent lips and inhaled. As he did so, fiery crystals protruding from his helmet and the backs of his silvery, metallic boots lit up in a manner resembling luminous golden flames.
After inhaling a considerable amount of smoke, the man exhaled in a clearly exasperated manner, the smoke emanating from the sides of his helmet rather than the approximate location of his 'mouth.'
Without taking her eyes off Vahn, the maroon-haired woman adopted a scowl as she remarked, "Such thinking is the reason Olympus is gradually losing its power and authority. Even if it means our destruction, we should face the Sage Dragon Emperor with conviction. The Poets and Bards have already begun to sing songs of our 'cowardice.' If we try to ignore them as we did during Avalon's ascent, Olympus may never rise again."
Exhaling another tired sigh, the helmeted man remarked, "We're relics of a bygone era, Artemis. Our efforts to modernize and compete with the Nine Realms have long since undermined the history and traditions upon which we derive our power. At this point, there are 'Heroes' in the West that have nearly as much power and influence as we Olympians..."
Clenching her teeth, the maroon-haired woman, better known as Artemis of the Olympians, raised her fist as if she were about to strike her helmet-headed companion. She was one of the more popular Olympians, but that was a double-edged sword. As the influence of other Artemis grew in the West, her form became more mechanical to match the many markswomen and gunslingers that relied upon cybernetic enhancements and advanced weaponry to emulate her power. That's one of the many reasons she was so eager to return to the battlefield; she wanted to restore her image and regain her 'purity.'
Though he clearly suffered from an even worse 'affliction,' the helmeted man, Hermes, had long embraced his form and the influence it had on his lifestyle. He was part of the progressive faction of Olympians, so even if he became completely robotic in the future, he didn't care so long as their Community continued to prosper.
Unfortunately, while Hermes stood in opposition to Zeus, the &nbsp;Chief God of the Olympians and de facto leader of the conservative faction, he still had to follow the tyrannical Gods' orders. Zeus was infamous as one of, if not the most vengeful Gods in the entire Little Garden. He permitted the existence of the progressive and neutral faction, but he would often show up to 'clean house' whenever he was in a bad mood.
Recalling Zeus's past actions, Hermes caressed a vicious burn mark that covered the entirety of his left arm and much of his body. Conspiratory thoughts ran rampant within his mind, but they were promptly suppressed by a sub-routine he had created to store away and prevent such thoughts from being read by others. Unless accessed directly, even he would not be aware of the true extent of his hatred and subterfuge.
After calming himself sufficiently, Hermes flicked aside his extinguished cigarette and said, "Let's go. And remember, we're only here to deliver a message. If you pick a fight, don't expect me to bail you out."
Snorting through her nose, Artemis retorted, "Coward..." before jumping from her perch and bounding through the air with the grace of a gazelle. Golden ripples appeared each time her feet impacted the air, effectively allowing her to stride across the sky.
As this was far from the first time he had been called a coward, Hermes just shook his head and placed his hands into his pockets. The crystals protruding from his helmet and greaves briefly illuminated, but only the most discerning would have been able to recognize it as he immediately vanished...
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Though he had been keeping tabs on Artemis and Hermes, Vahn couldn't help muttering, "Really? You're going to interrupt my date...?" just as twin streaks of flame bypassed him and Merry, culminating in the appearance of Olympus's God of Trade, Wealth, Luck, and Travel.
Despite the helmet covering his head, Hermes raised his hand to scratch the back of it as he answered, "Yeah, sorry about that. You're not exactly easy to pin down. I recommended we send an official missive to the Sage Dragon's Hearth, but the big man up top isn't exactly known for listening to the counsel of others."
Recognizing who Hermes was, Merry's body became tense, a fierce look marring her previously smiling face as she clung to Vahn's right arm and growled, "You shouldn't be here. Underwood may welcome outsiders and tourists, but that courtesy doesn't extend to the hounds of Zeus..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Hermes elected to ignore Merry's remark as he made 'eye contact' with Vahn and revealed, "Anyways...we came here to deliver a message."
Following Hermes's remark, Artemis touched down a few meters away from Vahn and Merry, a proud and detached glower on her face as she added, "Zeus awaits you at the peak of Mt. Olympus. If you accept, we are to escort you there immediately."
Waving her hand, Artemis created a golden vortex to her right. From the interior emerged a mechanical Ibex, its height exceeding three meters as it stood proudly next to its master.
In an attempt to prevent an altercation, Hermes raised his hands in a gesture of mock surrender, his tone chipper and upbeat as he clarified, "What my sister neglected to mention is that we've prepared a banquet and various forms of entertainment to welcome you. We also know about your ability to split yourself into multiple forms, so it's not like we're asking you to abandon your date with little miss unicorn here."
"Hmmm..."
Directing his gaze to Artemis, Vahn narrowed his eyes, his voice taking on a playful undertone as he asked, "And if I refuse...?"
Narrowing her eyes in turn, Artemis crossed her arms under her shapely, ostensibly artificial breasts as she replied, "Then Zeus was right about you. You're a coward that has conspired with the declining rulers of the Little Garden to reinforce their standing and undermine the influence of any God that might oppose them."
Though Artemis's words were clearly vitriol intended to anger him, Vahn exhaled a light chuckle. He hadn't conspired with anyone, but the optional objectives listed in his Quest made it clear he wasn't opposed to the idea of undermining certain Gods. Among those, Zeus was near the top of the list, second only to a certain 'God of Truth.'
Annoyed by Vahn's laughter, Artemis manifested what appeared to be an inordinately long-barreled revolver. It resembled a rifle, but the stock was curved, clearly intended to be wielded with a single hand.
As her golden eyes emitted an ever-growing radiance, Artemis's naturally husky tone sounded audibly strained as she put pressure on the gun's trigger and bellowed, "Why are you laughing!? Do you think we Olympians are some kind of joke...!?"
"Artemis...!"
Vanishing from his initial position, Hermes appeared in front of Artemis in an instant, his arms spread in a defensive posture. He understood full well that Vahn didn't need his protection, but initiating a conflict in the territory of a Floor Master was asking for trouble. Draco Greif's reputation couldn't compare to even the least famous Olympian, but he still had the authority of a Host Master. If they acted out and received the label of Demon Lord, their reputations would never recover.
Clicking her tongue, Artemis shouldered her ornate, oversized revolver and asked, "Why are you getting anxious? It's not like I had any intention of firing. I just wanted the Sage Dragon Emperor to take our conversation more seriously. Is that a crime?"
"..."
Understanding the futility of trying to argue with a Goddess as proud as Artemis, Hermes took a moment to adjust his collar before looking back at Vahn and Merry, his voice audibly apologetic as he stated, "It would mean a lot to a lot of people if you were to accept our invitation..."
Catching the two Gods off guard, Vahn showed no discernible hesitation as he replied, "Sure. I originally planned to stop by once the festival was drawing to an end. Showing up a few days earlier doesn't change much."
Punctuating his words, Vahn's body appeared to vibrate and become illusory as he split into three identical versions of himself. He only needed two, but Hermes's revelation that he could split himself had caused Merry to bore holes into him with her passionate, ruddy-faced gaze.
Understanding the implication behind Vahn's actions, Artemis's already frigid expression became exceptionally icy while Hermes just exhaled a synthetic-sounding chuckle. However, as Vahn was pretty famous for his 'womanizing,' neither was particularly surprised by his actions.
Not wanting to stick around any longer than was absolutely necessary, Artemis climbed onto the back of her artificial Ibex and suggested, "We depart immediately." in a commanding tone. She wasn't the type to offer courtesy to anyone, not even Zeus, so she couldn't care less if her words and actions offended Vahn.
Borrowing a page from Hermes's book, Vahn ignored the maroon-haired Goddess, his gentle green eyes fixating on her markedly more mechanical half-sibling as he asked, "Are you truly okay with that form? I could easily restore you to your 'original' appearance."
Though he didn't have a mouth or the musculature to smile with, Hermes gave off the impression he was doing precisely that as he replied, "Nah. It was a little jarring in the beginning, but I've grown somewhat fond of this form. I do appreciate the offer, though. Thanks."
Nodding his head in approval, Vahn briefly shifted his gaze to Artemis, a natural smile developing across his face as he noticed the sudden conflict within her distinctly mechanical eyes. Both he and Hermes knew the true reason for his proposition. The only question was whether or not Artemis had the intestinal fortitude to swallow her pride, apologize, and appeal to his good nature. Unfortunately, while he had absolutely no qualms about restoring her original appearance, Artemis ultimately clenched her teeth and tightened the reins of her Ibex, growling, "Don't fall behind..." before giving them a flick and taking off at hypersonic speeds...
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Jiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-','Hermes seems like a bro...','Let's just hope she doesn't shit the bed if Vahn allows her to lie in it...')

"It's pretty rare for you to come to me first. Are you feeling guilty about what happened with Sala?"
Adopting a faint smile, Vahn replied, "Something like that..." as he reached up to caress Shiroyasha's neck and chin. She gave him a slight prick with her horns, but that didn't discourage him from tracing the line of her neck and collarbone as he added, "Though the situation has changed since our last meeting, I've more or less concluded my business with the North and South Sides. All that remains is collecting Sun Authorities, supplanting a few discordant deities, and ensuring our allies are well-protected during my ascension..."
As the current Laws of the Little Garden prohibited residents of the 1-3-Digit Gates from interacting 'directly' with people outside, Vahn needed to ensure his enemies wouldn't be able to strike in the brief period where he was pushing for the peak of the Little Garden. He could leave an 'Avatara' behind in the form of a Template, but, as Wu and others had shown, they didn't inherit the 'tenacity' afforded to him by his unique constitution and Innates. He could grant them power 'identical' to his own, but they would still lose against the more famous/infamous Gods.
Understanding Vahn's concerns, Shiroyasha exhaled a sigh before softly muttering, "I suppose it's about time I introduce you to an old...'friend' of mine. You know the one..."
As there were actually a few people that came to mind, Vahn muttered, "I'm assuming you're referring to Queen Halloween, but I'm unsure as the two of you aren't exactly friends..."
Rolling her eyes, Shiroyasha replied, "She has in her possession the Aries, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Capricorn Authorities. If you can 'convince' her to join us, we will have eighteen of the twenty-five Sun Authorities. Nineteen if you decide to stop dallying and obtain the Ophiuchus Authority..."
"Right..."
Though he hadn't forgotten about his promise to Leticia, Vahn had placed her 'liberation' on hold at her request. She was currently in the process of gaining the power to free her sister while simultaneously helping care for the various children residing in the Sage Dragon's Hearth.
"If I took action directly, everything could be resolved in one fell swoop. However, Leticia, her sister, and the vampire race would become indebted to me in a way I'm not entirely comfortable with..."
Exhaling a slightly exasperated sigh, Shiroyasha adopted a mock deadpan as she remarked, "This would be a lot easier if you weren't so sentimental. I understand your desire to have people choose their own paths, but that doesn't mean you have to course-correct to give them time..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Vahn replied, "I still have 722 days to complete my current objectives. Besides, if you and Queen Halloween agree to work together, we don't even need the Ophiuchus Authority. Setting it aside, for the time being, hurts no one."
Feeling a little annoyed, Shiroyasha poked Vahn with the tip of her horns as she grumbled, "You're being unreasonable...while I do trust you, asking me to lend you multiple Sun Authorities places me in a difficult situation..."
Squeezing the pouty Sun Goddess's body, Vahn casually replied, "Then let's not worry about it. I told you before, but obtaining a majority of Sun Authorities is optional. I trust you not to betray me and side with the other Gods once I start taking action, so not having them doesn't really change anything."
Since he only needed a majority of Sun Authorities to prevent the Gods from abandoning the current Little Garden and creating a new one, Vahn didn't actually require them. Shiroyasha currently possessed fourteen, so unless she suddenly decided to betray him, he didn't have to worry about the Big Three attempting to flee once he began aiming for their thrones.
Instead of feeling relieved by Vahn's words, Shiroyasha's brows furrowed as she gave him another firm prick with her horns. She didn't like that he was basically saying he didn't need her help to achieve his goal, so, after jabbing him hard enough to draw blood, she turned around and straddled his lap before leaning forward to lap up the crimson liquid.
Realizing he had inadvertently upset her, Vahn allowed Shiroyasha to do as she pleased while habitually massaging her butt. He was tempted to point out that making concessions for her was functionally the same as making 'detours' for others but promptly decided against it. Instead, he waited until she was finished drawing his blood before muttering, "Tell me what you want, and I'll do my best to make it a reality..."
Licking the blood from her lips, Shiroyasha took a moment to look Vahn in the eyes before narrowing her own and answering, "You know damn well what I want. An enormous harem, revenge against those who harmed my friends, and changes to the current system. Beyond that..."
Linking her hands around Vahn's neck and shoulders, Shiroyasha licked her lips a second time before playfully appending, "Unequip your pants, and I might just scream the rest..."
Punctuating her words, Shiroyasha silenced any potential responses with a kiss. She was feeling a little frustrated after Vahn's earlier remarks, so she intended to have him relieve her stress before they returned to their original conversation. As for Queen Halloween, Indra, and everyone else she needed to arrange meetings with, they could wait. After all, it wasn't like Vahn 'needed' their cooperation...
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After pacifying Xysteria with a significant amount of belly rubs, Vahn had her explain 'exactly' what she had in mind for her colonists.
Contrasting Vahn's initial expectations, the 'insects' Xysteria had in mind weren't actual insects. Xysteria simply hadn't known the appropriate word for what she was attempting to describe: automatons.
Not wanting them to succumb to thirst, starvation, and the influence of her power, Xysteria intended to populate both the interior and the area around her 'nest' with purely mechanical lifeforms. Those inhabiting the interior would be known as Guardians, beings tasked with observing and cataloging the various creatures produced by her power. Those occupying the surface would be known as Keepers, predominately humanoid robots that would tend to the surrounding forests and establish infrastructure to accommodate people from the outside.
Using a bit of clay, Xysteria was able to give Vahn a pretty good idea of what she had in mind for both groups. The Guardians would be outfitted with enhanced sensors, borderline indestructible armor, various types of excavation equipment, and armaments capable of incinerating just about any form of biological life. They needed to be able to deal with outbreaks such as the mushrooms that had nearly overtaken one of Gaia's textures, so their incinerators weren't mere lasers; they were molecular disruption devices that forcefully separated electrons, converting virtually all other molecules into an inert form of atomized ash.
Contrasting the rather fierce-looking Guardians, the Keepers were made to be a lot more unassuming. The 'males' of the species had tanned skin and dark hair that vaguely resembled younger, child-like versions of Vahn. As for their female counterparts, they unsurprisingly ended up resembling Xysteria. However, instead of four arms, white fur, and multiple tails, they only possessed two arms and a single tail, ensuring they would always be 'lesser' in terms of adorableness and appeal.
Understanding there was a chance that creatures could escape her nest and run rampant on the surface, Xysteria decided to outfit male Keepers with a lesser variant of the 'Incinerator,' one that specialized in eliminating single targets. As for the females, they were to be blessed with enhanced senses, incredible strength, and the ability to discern creatures adversely affected by Xysteria's power.
Though he didn't mind the existence of a race of child-like automatons that vaguely resembled him, Vahn made a few tweaks before finalizing Xysteria's first experimental population. He gave the males pointed ears and bestowed both Guardians and Keepers with the ability to 'hibernate' for extended periods. It could be anywhere between a few hundred to a few thousand years before outsiders showed up on their island, so being able to 'sleep' for years would be a boon in their exceptionally long lives. After all, unless they were damaged beyond repair, they were effectively immortal.
With the designs largely finalized, Vahn acquiesced to Xysteria's demand to give the males an 'affinity with all things fluffy' before creating a total of twenty males and females to populate the surface. Xysteria was still in the process of excavating her nest, so he didn't want to overburden her with having to look after hundreds of people when she still depended on others to care for herself.
As each Keeper was given form through a combination of her and Vahn's power, Xysteria became increasingly excited. If Vahn hadn't warned her about inadvertently destroying them, she would have pounced upon and cuddled each and every one of them. Instead, she waited until all twenty had been formed before tentatively approaching and examining them up close.
Though she was a little bothered by their blank, ostensibly emotionless expressions, Xysteria took the time to nuzzle and mark each of the male Keepers. She eventually did the same with the females, but only after a lengthy explanation on imprinting and a bit of 'encouragement' from Vahn. When she was finished, they worked together to come up with names for each of them before commencing the long process of 'programming' them via demonstration and verbal instruction.
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Seeing Xysteria's reaction to her 'children' from the perspective of his other self, Vahn couldn't help smiling. This was immediately noticed by Black Rabbit, who, after breastfeeding their six children, was enjoying some much-deserved cuddles.
Narrowing her eyes into an affectionate smile, Black Rabbit playfully inquired, "What's got you in such a good mood~?"
Returning an affectionate smile of his own, Vahn replied, "I'm watching Xysteria take her first significant steps toward maturing as a Primordial Deity. She now has a small population to supervise, one that isn't entirely comprised of other versions of herself."
Though she had only met and interacted with Xysteria a few times, Black Rabbit couldn't help feeling happy for the inordinately cute yet aggressive ball of fluff, responding, "Wow, that really is a major step forward for her. I hope everything turns out well."
Nodding his head, Vahn, somewhat shamelessly, replied, "I'll make sure it does. I've been anticipating this kind of development for a long time, so I won't let things fall through before Xysteria learns a lesson or two..."
"Mmm...how reassuring..."
Since she didn't want her cuddle session to become a discussion about Xysteria and her development, Black Rabbit ended the conversation by resting her head against Vahn's chest and nuzzling against him. His scent caused her body to feel hot, but it was nowhere near as 'agonizing' as it was before her pregnancy.
Understanding Black Rabbit's intentions, Vahn promptly left the matter of Xysteria to his other self, planting a kiss on the pink-haired beauty's head before squeezing her tightly. It was only a matter of time before someone came along to 'interrupt' them, so he didn't mind spending the moment in peaceful serenity. Things were going to get pretty busy in the weeks and months to come, so it was important to savor each and every moment he had with his loved ones...
Feeling Vahn's warmth fill her body, suppressing the heat radiating from her abdomen, an exceptionally contented smile developed across Black Rabbit's face. She wouldn't mind if he wanted to have sex, far from it, but, after becoming a mother to six seemingly insatiable kittens, she had come to realize just how precious moments of peace and quiet could be...
...
..
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Shiroyasha showing her Tsundere side...','Akihito Tsukushi would like to know my location...','Every mother in the multiverse just nodded their heads in agreement xD...')

Chapter 2319: Slight