Chapter 1582: Groundwork
Once everyone had returned from their baths, Vahn introduced Baihu and Xuanwu to the girls, explaining their origins and briefly mentioning Zhuque and Qinglong. He would eventually manifest all four of the Divine Beasts, so, before any blame could be assigned, Vahn went on a tangent trying to explain Innates and the myriad ways in which they could manifest. This left the girls with all kinds of questions, but, promising to explain more about the nature of Innates in the future, Vahn guided the conversation back on track once everyone had filled their bellies.
As even Asuna knew quite a bit about future events at this point, Vahn didn't beat around the bush when giving his opinion on using Theo's diorama. He had slowly strengthened it by reinforcing the interior space and introducing thousands of Elemental Spirits inside, so, in many ways, it was one of their most powerful assets. It had become a highly resilient world where they could rapidly increase their power in a comparably short period of time. This would allow them to be adequately prepared for all future battles, but, in exchange, they would slowly burn away their youth.
Originally, Vahn had been intending to deal with most of Cosmos Entelecheia himself, but, now that things had reached this point, he knew Arika, Theo, and even Asuna would want to fight. They knew the roles they were originally intended to play, but, rather than shy away and leave their fates in the hands of others, they had been proactively working to change them. Arika was determined to make the world a better place, and, though she was still somewhat bratty and tomboyish, Theo had been spending as much time studying as she had been pushing her limits. As for Asuna, she had a rather scary amount of talent, and, though Vahn was certain he would always have the edge, it wasn't too difficult to imagine her reaching a point where she could contend directly against him...
By the end of the discussion, it was decided that they would remain in Ariadne until the end of the current school year. This was a period approximating 139 days, and, if 'exploited' fully, it equated to around five years in Mundus Magicus or nine years in Mundus Ventus. By then, there was a chance that even Asuna would have become a world-class powerhouse, as, in the original timeline, Negi had been around the same age when he helped to save the world. As for why they had decided to wait, this was largely due to the fact that Theo likely wouldn't be able to accompany them on their journey.
Due to her status as the 'Princess' of Vespertatia, Arika could travel virtually unobstructed within the Magical World. Theo, however, was the Crown Princess of the Hellas Empire, one of the two primary factions responsible for perpetuating the coming conflict. Though history lay the blame on Cosmo Entelecheia, they wouldn't have been able to trigger a war if the Empire and the Confederacy hadn't been making preparations for the last forty years. In the end, they just used Cosmo Entelecheia as a convenient excuse to justify their warmongering, and, if not for the actions of Ala Rubra, the Great Magic War would have likely continued for years.
Since it would only cause problems if she traveled abroad, Theo was intending to either remain in Ariadne or return to the Capital. If she was confident in her strength, she wanted to try and root out some of the corruption that had encroached upon her homeland, and, if possible, prevent the onset of war. She didn't want to see her people dying as the result of some scheme, so, even if she had to make herself a target, Theo was willing to oppose the warmongering faction directly. She might not have much political power, but, as the future Empress, she was already popular with the people. She could rapidly expand her influence with a few achievements under her belt, and, with the support of Vrixho, Jack, and her father, she already had a sturdy foundation for her platform...
---
As there wasn't much sense in discussing matters for the far future, as everything was subject to change, the last topic of conversation regarded the daily schedule and general living arrangements. To everyone's surprise, Eva decided not to introduce too many changes, stating, "The damage has already been done." She did, however, warn that it was a privilege that could be taken away if she believed Arika and Theo were slacking off. To that end, she would be taking charge of their training in the near future, as, despite Vahn's power and comprehension, his sensibilities made him ill-suited to training girls who were targetting him.
Since Eva had been the one to teach Vahn and Fenrir, not just Magic, but the use of internal energy, neither Arika nor Theo opposed having her become their teacher. Rather, they seemed determined to show her how 'serious' they were, so, when prompted, they readily agreed. As for Baihu, who had nearly dozed off several times during the discussion, he would also be learning from Eva while also serving as a sparring partner and secondary teacher for everyone, Vahn included.
Though Eva would likely win in a serious fight, Xiao Bai's understanding of martial arts and internal energy was leaps and bounds ahead of hers. It might take him a while to reconcile the differences between internal energy manipulation and the Akamatsuverse's concepts of Ki, but, once he figured it out, he would be a true nightmare for Mage purists. He was already a Grandmaster in more than a dozen different martial arts, and, when it came to his own 'Heavenly White Tiger' form, the feats he was capable of outright defied logic.
With the combination of Eva's and Xiao Bai's teachings, anyone would be able to reach the pinnacle if they were willing to put in the effort. Since they also had virtually unrestricted access to resources, it was only a matter of time before Arika and Theo became world-class powerhouses. As for Asuna, she would primarily learn from Vahn, as, unlike Arika and Theo, she had already become his official apprentice.
Asuna had a remarkable talent for swordsmanship, reinforcement magic, and ki manipulation. What ultimately led to her becoming his apprentice, however, was the fact that she couldn't properly use magic outside of her body. She could emulate virtually any spell she had seen, but, as a result of her unique constitution, it became increasingly difficult for her to externalize her magical power due to the Innate magic canceling ability she seemed to possess. This effect had only grown stronger with the passage of time, so, by the time she reached maturity, there was a fair chance that Asuna might not be able to use external magic at all.
Recognizing this wasn't exactly a bad thing, as Asuna would become a literal nightmare for even the most powerful Mage, Vahn began teaching her swordsmanship directly. He also helped Arika and Theo polish their skills, but, as they had other things they specialized in, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for them to reach the stage of Grandmaster swordsmanship. Instead, they would reach the pinnacle of their own paths, Arika becoming an Archmage, and, if she continued refining her skills, Theo would undoubtedly become a Grandmaster Martial Artist.
Ultimately, it was very difficult to reach the pinnacle of any given path, so, unless you focused on one, you might find yourself unable to master any. This was a mistake Vahn had made himself, and, if not for the guidance of Scathach and Musashi, combined with his forging of the Asauchi, the path towards Grandmaster might have remained closed to him. Instead, he focused his mind on a single path for nearly forty years, and, as a result, reached a stage where he could directly contend against the 'greatest' swordsman who had ever lived.
Vahn didn't want Arika and Theo to make the same mistakes as he had, so, rather than make them his official apprentices, he had helped them along their own paths. He still intended to forge them Asauchis of their own, but, as the base state could even be a simple brick, this wouldn't shoehorn them into the path of swordsmanship. Rather, he was intending to make Arika a bladed staff, and, though it would take an excruciating amount of effort, Vahn intended to forge Theo a simple pair of gauntlets.
Though he could save time by forging her some trench knives or knuckledusters, Theo's style made heavy use of grapples and throws. Vahn wanted their Asauchi's to further complement their fighting style, so, rather than inhibit Theo's ability to grab things, he intended to enhance it. The feelings of the wielder greatly influenced the form and personality of the Zanpakuto Spirit so Vahn wanted her to genuinely appreciate the gauntlets he had forged her, not feel inconvenienced by them.
If everything went as planned, everyone within his group would be equipped with a Zanpakuto. This would greatly amplify their capabilities, and, due to having nothing to do with Magic, it would allow them to continue fighting even if they entered an area where Magic was restricted. This made them far more versatile than Pactio Artifacts, though, when the time came, Vahn intended to make use of both.
Due to the nature of a Pactio, Vahn wanted the girls to properly establish their foundation before proposing the unique contract, as, unlike a Zanpakuto, it relied more on his reserves than their own power. He didn't want them to become reliant on borrowed power, as, not only would this restrict their growth, but, the moment the connection was severed, they would basically become crippled without the Artifact they had come to rely upon. This could lead to several worst-case scenarios and bad ends, so, rather than have them become reliant on a borrowed power, Vahn wanted to help the girls establish a stable foundation that allowed them to pursue any paths that interested them...
---
By the time the discussion had come to an end, it was already past the time when everyone would normally rest in preparation for the next day's training. Xiao Bai and Asuna had already passed out, so, in accordance with the arrangements that had been made, Vahn carried the sleeping princess to the room she would share with Fenrir and himself. As for Arika and Theo, they benefitted quite a bit from Eva's arrangements, as, unlike before, they would be sharing a bed with just Vahn. This meant they could both sleep beside him, and, without having to worry about Asuna, they were free to take even bolder action in the future.
Eva had already warned the two not to get any 'strange' ideas before they completed their training, but, knowing where the real problem lay, she told Vahn not to do anything 'stupid' before retiring to her own room with another. As for Xiao Bai and Fairy Xuan, the former reverted to his cub form in order to sleep in the same bed as Vahn, Fenrir, and Asuna. The latter, however, hastily departed the diorama, eager to get a jump start on the important mission her Master had assigned her. She could travel several times the speed of sound within her watery sub-dimension so it wouldn't even take her an hour to reach Megalomesembria. Then, using her unique set of skills, she would quickly cement her place as an information broker before slowly expanding her influence throughout the entire Confederacy.
Vahn had a lot of trust in each of the Divine Beasts, so, even if Fairy Xuan used a few underhanded methods, he knew she would never do anything that would touch his bottom line. Rather, he could easily imagine her freeing a bunch of slaves, and, as a result, he would likely gain quite a number of followers. They were nearly as fervent as Fenrir when it came to their loyalty towards him, so, even if he tried to rein them in, they would preach their dogma as if it was perfectly natural...
---
After retiring to a room with Eva, the latter released an exasperated sigh almost immediately after the soundproofing barriers had been erected. Then, with a slightly troubled expression on her face, she looked toward him and asked, "There are a lot of things you can't tell me, aren't there...?"
Understanding what she was alluded to, Vahn nodded his head, explaining, "Trust me when I say I'm not trying to keep secrets from you, Eva. There are just some truths that cannot be explained unless certain conditions have been met. I can't even explain these conditions or the consequences, as, the moment I do, terrible things will begin to happen..."
Seeing the conflict in Vahn's eyes, Eva just shook her head, stating, "You're too big of an idiot to try and deceive the people you care about. I know you will eventually tell me everything, but, until that time comes, I want to know everything else. You said more than a hundred years have passed since you parted ways with my Memory Fragment. Since you've already seen my memories, it is only fair that I get to see yours...I want to see what you experienced to become the man you are today..."
Before Eva had finished speaking, her body began to rapidly shrink, her clothes becoming loose as her mature figure gave way to a petite and delicate frame. In the end, the only thing she was left wearing was an oversized dress shirt, as, even with her belt, the pencil skirt she had been wearing slipped to the ground. This gave her a rather 'dangerous' appearance, but, as Vahn had already grown fond of every version of Eva, he just smiled in appreciation before making his way over to her side...
---
While his main body was snuggling up with Eva on a comfortable sofa, the version of Vahn that was left at the mercy of Arika and Theo currently had a wry smile on his face. Arike had taken a page out of Theo's book, and, other than a pair of black lace panties, she was completely naked. She had also taken things a few steps further than normal, choosing to lay as close to him as humanly possible, her face only a few centimeters away from his own as she used his shoulder as a pillow...
Though Arika's expression had become a mask of neutrality, she couldn't hide the flush that had slowly crept down from her face, tinging her blossoming body with a sensuous red glow. To further exacerbate matters, she had started to heat up noticeably, and, despite the room being rather cool, a thin layer of sweat had spread across her body. She wasn't overtly trying to seduce him, but, after the previous encounter with Eva, she was pushing herself a bit further than her rational mind would normally allow...
A stark contrast to Arika, Theo was behaving as if everything was perfectly natural, and, based on her appearance, 'natural' was the best way to describe the current situation. She had only ever worn panties in the past, so, with only one 'logical' development remaining, she completely discarded the tiny fabric, curling up next to him as naked as the day she was born. Despite this, she showed none of the 'discomfort' visible in Arika's countenance, a satisfied smile on her face as she lay next to him and unashamedly nestled her leg between his. She was actually the cause behind Arika's decision to discard her usual top, as, the moment they entered the room, Theo rapidly undressed before, quite literally, jumping into the bed...
Now, with an impassioned girl on his right and a 'naturalist' on his left, Vahn could only do his best to remain calm as he shifted his focus to other things. Fortunately, Arika was gradually able to calm down after around two hours had passed, her body temperature returning to normal as most of her biological processes slowed to a crawl. She actually became rather cool to the touch, and, though it was a little strange to have someone cling to you 'unmovingly', Vahn was able to relax knowing she would be out of it for at least five hours...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Diorama supremacy','You get a Zanpakuto! You get a Zanpakuto! Everyone gets a Zanpakuto~!','Eva basically threw a lump of meat to a group of hungry lionesses...')
https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu <-(p.atreon link)
paypal.me/Einlion
Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh
Chapter 1583: Slow and Steady
With Eva and Baihu taking charge of Arika's and Theo's training, Vahn had a lot more free time than before. Asuna was still a little too young to do any arduous training, so, when they weren't working on her foundation, he spent his time teaching her how to focus her mind and relax. She had quickly mastered the basics of a meditation technique known as the [Observation of Heaven and Earth], so, while she sat in her adorable little gi with a sword across her lap, Vahn focused on strengthening his bond with Laev-tan.
It had only been a little over six years since he awakened his Zanpakuto, but, due to how close they were, Vahn was certain he would be able to obtain his Bankai with a little more effort. The only real requirement was being able to manifest your Zanpakuto Spirit in the real world, and, thanks to the experience he had accumulated in his Realm, he already had a head start on most people. Laev-tan was also quite eager to manifest in the 'real' world, so, with the two of them working together, Vahn was confident the adorable little dragonling would be running around in the near future...
Without actually breaking her meditative state, Asuna opened her green eye, sneaking a peek the rather incredible sight across from her. Despite having no presence at all, to the point she couldn't sense him with her eyes closed, Asuna could see a projection of a relatively adorable dragon laying with its head next to him. She knew it wasn't just an illusion, either, as, every now and then, it would peel open one of its softball-sized aquamarine eyes to stare back at her. Then, with a calm smile on his face, Vahn would say, "Focus and relax..." in a soothing tone of voice.
This time around, Asuna noticed that the dragon seemed to be sleeping, so, while maintaining her meditative state, she passed the hour absentmindedly staring at Vahn's face. She liked to see how long she could go before he noticed she was staring, concealing her intent so flawlessly that even Vahn's attuned senses couldn't detect her gaze. He had been teaching her how to sense the intent of others, but, even more importantly, he had also been teaching her how to conceal her intent by maintaining a calm and serene state of mind. If she formed no thoughts, people could not predict her actions, and, once her skills had reached a certain level, she would naturally transition into the state of 'Nothingness'.
Asuna couldn't help but feel that Vahn's swordsmanship had reached a point beyond even the most powerful Ancient Magic. It was also one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen, as, when he got 'serious', Asuna felt as if Vahn became one with 'everything'. His form, while casual, gave off the impression that there was 'nothing' he couldn't cut. Rather, she felt as if the flash of light across his blade contained the entire Universe, its edge the dividing line between the concepts of creation and destruction. She had even seen him perform ridiculous feats like cutting off his own arm, but, rather than bleed, the blood in his veins continued to flow unobstructed, seemingly leaping through space and time without realizing it had been cut...
Without the ability to form thoughts, Asuna didn't realize the eyes of the dragon had opened until she saw the smile on Vahn's face. Instead of telling her to continue, however, he slowly opened his eyes, their color transitioning from a resplendent gold to a gentle greenish-blue as he asked, "Shall we grab some lunch?"
As if responding for her, Asuna's stomach released an adorable growl that caused a subtle blush to spread across her cheeks as her thoughts returned. She hadn't noticed it while meditating, but, now that Vahn had mentioned it, Asuna realized she was extremely hungry. Thus, after attempting to rub away the blush on her cheeks, she nodded her head and answered, "I want something sweet..."
Knowing Asuna would pout if he pointed out how adorable her actions were, Vahn just nodded his head before sheathing Laev-tan and saying, "I'll let you have a slice of cake after you finish eating a proper meal. Come, I'll make you some chicken, rice, and sweet potatoes."
Hearing Vahn's words, Asuna scrunched up her nose slightly, plainly stating, "I don't like the texture of sweet potatoes. They make my stomach feel weird..."
Remembering the expression on Asuna's face the last time he made sweet potatoes, Vahn knew she wasn't just being picky. Thus, after a brief moment of consideration, he said, "I'll make some sweet-deviled eggs then. I recall you enjoying them quite a bit."
Even before Vahn had finished speaking, a smile had spread across Asuna's face as she hopped to her feet and exclaimed, "Yes! I love them~." in a happy tone of voice. Then, after tying her Asauchi to her back, she quickly ran over, grabbing Vahn's hand and pulling him towards the kitchen...
---
Immediately after Vahn left the 'meditation chamber', a rather adorable doll with mint green hair and eyes followed his retreat with her eyes. She had mannequin-like limbs with visible ball-joints, two large ears that served as sensors, and was attired in a dark-blue dress with a white mantle and light green tie. Overall, she had the appearance of a maid, but, with two bat-like wings and a lifeless expression in her eyes, she also gave off the impression of a 'Killer Doll', something straight out of a horror movie.
Following Vahn's departure, the doll leaned backward, her body sinking into its own shadow before reappearing several kilometers away. Then, earning herself a light punch from the woman who was supposed to be her Master, she raised her hand and plainly stated, "Your boy toy has just started on lunch. If you hurry, you might be able to cook alongside him, Mistress."
With a deadpan expression on her face, Eva glared at the tiny doll, saying, "I thought I told you to stop saying things like that, Chachazero..."
As she couldn't feel pain at all, Chachazero just allowed her head to remain tilted from Eva's punch, a deadpan expression of her own as she retorted, "Why are you upset, Mistress? I wonder who was the one chugging coffee this morning after staying up all night playing around...?"
With a visible tick mark on her head, Eva threatened, "Don't make me reverse the position of your arms and legs you damn walnut head..."
Undaunted by her Master's threats, Chachazero puffed out her non-existent chest, stating, "I'm not afraid of you, Mistress. I'll just get Vahn to fix me and then have him scold you for being a bully. Do you dare~?"
Though she now had a glowing expression on her face, Eva decided to ignore the troublesome doll as she turned her attention to her two 'students'. Theo was currently doing upside-down push-ups while supporting a massive boulder with her feet. As for Arika, she had a grimace on her face as she attempted to emulate the kata performed by Xiao Bai. The boyish tiger was impossibly flexible, and, though his movements weren't impossible to emulate, Arika generally carried herself in an elegant and 'rigid' manner. She lacked the inherent flexibility of Theo, so, over the last few months, she had been struggling to increase her body's natural range of motion.
Seeing the two girls struggling, Eva couldn't help but smile in a slightly sadistic manner, causing the lime-haired Chachazero to pointedly mention, "Mistress, your evil is starting to leak. Are you feeling constipated? Maybe you can get Vahn to rub your belly if you dress up like a puppy?"
Grabbing the top of Chachazero's head in a vice-like grip, Eva pivoted like a major league baseball pitcher as she tossed the brusque doll with enough force to create multiple shockwaves...
After seeing Chachazero turn into a sparkling light that disappeared in the distance, Eva released a small snort before teleporting next to Theo and saying, "Wrap it up, brat. It's almost time for lunch so go wash up."
Earning a disapproving snort from Eva, Theo tensed up when the former appeared next to her. As a result, the boulder she had been balancing on her feet fragmented into multiple pieces as a result of her energy going out of control. She ended up buried under a small pile of rubble, an awkward laugh escaping her mouth as she extricated herself, uninjured, from the remains.
With her arms crossed, Eva warned, "The point of your training is to allow you to focus and remain calm at all times. If you don't perform better in the afternoon, you'll lose bathing privileges for the rest of the week."
Understanding that Eva's threat was more of a promise than anything else, Theo quickly ceased her laughter, answering, "Right. I'll try harder."
Though she still had her arms crossed, Eva gave an approving nod after seeing the resolute light in Theo's eyes. She knew the young Hellasian wasn't actually slacking off, but, without a small push every now and then, she would gradually grow complacent. Training could be extremely boring and monotonous at times so it was important to remind yourself why you were going through so much trouble.
Feelings like love and affection could be powerful motivators, so, whenever Arika and Theo started to lose focus, Eva would threaten to remove their 'Vahn privileges'. Since she also balanced this out by giving Vahn permission to pamper them, it kept the duo working hard. They still had a long way to go before they reached the pinnacle, and, with her own strength gradually increasing with each passing day, Eva was slowly increasing the bar so that they might even surpass her past self...
Without sparing Theo any additional words, Eva appeared before Arika the moment the latter had thrown a punch. Unlike Theo, she wasn't even remotely surprised by the sudden appearance of her would-be Master. Instead, her eyes become sharper as she rotated the energy into her body, subtly shifting her weight so that all of how power was contained in the relatively simple-looking strike.
Noticing the subtle shift, a smile spread across Eva's face as she performed a counter-motion with her wrist, catching Arika's fist in her palm and causing a twisting 'ripple' to run through the latter's arm. This caused Arika to grimace in pain, but, as this wasn't the first time she and Eva had this kind of interaction, she was able to guide the energy in a less-destructive fashion through her body. As a result, a large shockwave erupted from her shoulder, but, other than a light bruise, she managed to avoid any serious injuries.
Nodding her head in approval, Eva stroked her chin, saying, "Seems like you're making a little bit of progress. It's a shame most of your opponents won't appear right in front of you. This afternoon, I'll show you a few yoga poses that are pretty popular back on Mundus Ventus. If you think Xiao Bai is flexible, you'll cry yourself to sleep after seeing Vahn sit on his own head~."
Imagining a decapitated Vahn sitting on his head, a small grimace appeared on Arika's face as she wiped away her sweat and said, "I'm working on it...I can already hold a side-split without straining my joints and tendons..."
Crossing her arms, Eva retorted, "A lot of girls can do a side-split without any practice whatsoever. I bet Asuna could even arch her body enough to put her feet on her head. You have a long way to go before you can be proud of your accomplishments."
Hearing Eva's remark, Xiao Bai seemed to become excited, asking, "Like this!?" as he created a near-perfect circle by arching his back and leg. This was even more advanced than what Eva had in mind, as, rather than lying on his stomach, he balanced himself perfectly on one leg.
Seeing Xiao Bai's display, Eva was at a momentary loss for words before ultimately nodding her head and saying, "Very impressive. I would expect nothing less from one of the Four Divine Beasts created by Vahn..."
Always happy to be praised, Xiao Bai's smile become even more pronounced as he began to laugh in a light-hearted manner. As for Arika, she had paled slightly after imagining how painful it would be to stretch your body in such a manner. At the same time, she also imagined Asuna easily pulling it off, as, when it came to her younger cousin, it was easier to imagine her doing something difficult than finding something she couldn't do...
Though she cared for Asuna dearly, Arika always felt slightly envious of her younger cousin, not just because of her talent, but because she got to spend the most time with Vahn. If she and Asuna had been the same age, Arika knew she wouldn't have been able to compete with her. Fortunately, even if things weren't progressing as quickly as she would have liked, she still had an absolute advantage over Asuna due to the difference in their age. Though it might be a little petty, Arika was absolutely determined to experience a number of things before her younger cousin matured enough to steal the limelight...
Feeling determination spreading through her body like a tiny flame, a look of conviction appeared in Arika's eyes as she said, "I'll be able to do something like that in the future. I won't give up until I am limber enough to rival a circus performer."
Resisting the urge to call Arika a clown, Eva just gave a small nod before saying, "Vahn has already started preparing lunch. Go wash and get changed. Theo was slacking off a bit so I'm giving you the first block this afternoon. Make sure you use your time properly."
Hearing Eva's words, a natural smile spread across Arika's face as her pupils dilated slightly. Eva had come up with a system to allow them to spend some alone time with Vahn. Though the purpose of this time together was to allow Vahn to refine the energy in their bodies, Arika, Theo, and even Eva had become 'very' fond of the process.
Though it generally involved Vahn placing his palm against their exposed abdomens, things would sometimes escalate to the point of a full-body massage. It was difficult to describe how pleasant his massages were, but, after the fact, you would feel as though all the tensions in your body had been released. This made it easier to manipulate both Ki and Magical Power, so, in the days that followed a massage, their training would become incomparably smooth...
Since it had been a few days since her last massage, Arika knew there was a good chance that Vahn would offer his services. This caused her body to heat up slightly, and, though she tried not to smile too much, Arika couldn't hide her excitement as she alighted toward the bath, determined to give her body a detailed cleaning...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Is this Ultra Instinct!?','RIP Chachazero...','The legacy of the Godhand xD...')
https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu <-(p.atreon link)
paypal.me/Einlion
Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
39 Power
stone 
Paragraph comment