Though she was more than a little miffed, earning Vahn what could best be described as a vengeful glare, Yuri was eventually pacified after some careful coaxing and a promise to meet with her Great-Grandmother once he reached the 95th Floor. This was essentially the same as agreeing to wander into a minefield filled with anti-matter bombs and nuclear warheads, but, by the time he advanced that far, Vahn was confident he would be able to fend for himself.
After that extended discussion, the two girls finally returned to wearing their clothes properly. The only change was that Yuri had decided to go commando after 'graciously' allowing him to keep the thin black fabric that formerly obscured his vision. She had also given him permission to 'use' them if he was ever feeling lonely and thinking about her, earning another bout of raucous laughter from Ureko as Vahn promptly tossed them into an abandoned corner of his Inventory...
---
Seeing Yuri emerge with a slightly disgruntled expression on her face, Evan couldn't help but issue a profoundly relieved sigh as he said, "Thank the highest heavens...I was certain you would have done something foolish, Princess..."
Already annoyed from before, Yuri didn't hesitate to leap through the air with the grace of a gazelle as she planted her foot squarely in the center of Evan's face. This wasn't a Shinsu-empowered blow, but it still sent the diminutive Silver Dwarf reeling backward, blood trickling from his nostrils. Despite this, he still seemed to be greatly relieved as it was rumored that Jahad could sense when one of his Princesses had betrayed him.
Evan didn't want Yuri to become a fugitive before she could realize her dream, so, while he still had the impression that Vahn was a monster, Evan couldn't help but look towards the man with eyes of gratitude as he said, "Sorry for any inconveniences the Princess might have caused you..."
Offering a wry smile in response, Vahn wanted to tell the short man not to mind it, but, seeing the malicious red aura radiating from Yuri's body, he rightly chose to remain mum. Then, after she had finished beating the man like a worn-out sandbag, they gathered alongside several residents of the Little Garden to enjoy a meal. The only exception to this was Ureko, who, after promising she would be checking in on him after finishing her current Quest, promptly departed for the outside.
Following the blonde dragonette's departure, everyone appeared far more at ease than they had previously. She was a being that could effectively 'erase' everyone in her surroundings with a single sweep of her hand, so, while they weren't overtly fearful of her, it was impossible to fully relax when she was around. This was actually the true reason for Ureko's sudden departure, and, though it was only known to her closest confidants, one of her reasons for founding Wolhaiksong was to alleviate some of the loneliness buried deep within her heart...
---
After a rather lively meal that resulted in both Evan and Yuri praising the supplied food, Vahn asked the question Yuri had failed to answer multiple times, this time addressing Evan as he inquired, "So, what are the two of you planning to do after this? I have no problems playing host for a few days, but there are other matters requiring my attention. I'm currently aiming for the 30th Floor in order to participate in the Workshop Battle. Though I should be able to arrive nearly a month in advance, I'd rather depart sooner, rather than later."
Interrupting before Evan could answer, Yuri removed the silver spoon she had been using to eat ice cream from her mouth, asserting, "We'll meet you on the 30th Floor then. I might not interfere with your climb up the Tower, but it'll be boring to just sit around and wait for you to reach the top. My instincts are telling me that interesting things are bound to happen around you. I'm not going to let you hog all the fun for yourself."
Though he wasn't that surprised by the fact that Yuri would answer immediately after he asked the question to someone else, Vahn couldn't help but deadpan in response to her words. He knew she wasn't going to be deterred, regardless of what he said, so, much like Evan, he released a tired sigh before half-heartedly replying, "It's not like I can stop you...do whatever you want..."
With a radiant smile on her face, Yuri displayed double victory signs with her hands while snickering like a child who had successfully completed a prank. That made it appear as though she had been planning this from the start, but, thanks to the Law of Identity, Vahn knew she had literally come up with her 'brilliant' idea on the spot. Her Intellect wasn't the equivalent of a C-Rank Regular's without reason...
Comforting himself with the knowledge that he would be able to spend more time with a beautiful woman, Vahn's expression gradually eased into an empathetic smile as he looked toward Evan and said, "I guess we'll be seeing each other on the 30th Floor then. For now, you and your companions are considered my guests. If you have any questions, feel free to ask Ryun or the other residents for information. Yuri is now a member of my Familia, so, as her confidant and advisor, you are welcome to come and go as you please."
Though he had already asked Ryun many of the questions he desired immediate answers to, Evan still nodded his head in appreciation of Vahn's words. The fact Ryun had been willing to answer him at all was likely due to the man giving her permission to do so. This made him feel suspicious at the time, but, now that Yuri had emerged 'unscathed' from the Familia Induction Ceremony, most of his uncertainty had waned. He was starting to realize that Vahn was remarkably 'genuine' for someone who purported themselves to be an Emperor, so his impression of the man was gradually improving with the passage of time.
Deciding to take Vahn's words at face value, Evan decided it would save a lot of time if he asked the Little Garden's most preeminent resident for information, following the former's gesture of goodwill by asking, "There are actually a number of things I'm curious about...first and foremost, I wanted to inquire about the top of the Tower. More specifically, I want to know what will happen if a native of the Tower was to reach the top..."
Understanding Evan's concerns, Vahn nodded his head in affirmation before answering, "It is as you suspect. Under normal circumstances, it is impossible for those born within the Tower to advance to the Top Floor. Fortunately, there are a number of exceptions to this rule, Eurasia Enne Zahard being the best example and Yuri's Great Grand-Aunts being another. In fact, all of the children born from the union between two of the Great Leaders possess the qualifications to clear the Tower. The only reason they are not considered Irregulars is due to the 'curse' Jahad imposed upon the progeny of the Ten Great Families. Before they are even born, a powerful contract binds the developing fetus to the Tower, artificially stripping them of their status as Irregulars in order to prevent them from ever becoming a threat to Jahad..."
Hearing Vahn casually reveal one of the most carefully guarded secrets between Jahad and the Ten Great Families, Evan and Yuri found themselves at a complete loss for words. Then, with a blood-red aura emanating from her body like an intense flame, Yuri balled her hands into fists enough to draw blood as she cursed, "That bastard...!" in a wrathful tone.
Though Evan could empathize with Yuri's hatred, he noticed that Vahn was still sitting calmly on the other side of the table. Thus, before the Princess could blow her top, he furrowed his brows sternly as he firmly stated, "Princess Yuri! Calm down and pay attention! There is nothing we can about the current situation on our own! Listen to what Vahn has to say...!"
Raising his brows in response to Evan's sudden endorsement, Vahn's smile became slightly more prominent as he nodded his head and said, "Don't worry. I already told you, didn't I? My status as the God of Infinite Possibilities isn't something I fabricated out of thin air. Even at my current level of power, I'm more than capable of removing Jahad's curse. When it comes to mastery over magic and sorcery, there isn't a single person in this Tower than can hope to rival me."
Though she was still 'very' angry, Yuri was able to calm down remarkably quickly once she heard Vahn's words. She knew she wasn't even remotely strong enough to oppose Jahad and the Great Warriors who supported him; so, while a part of her wanted nothing more than to rush up to the 134th Floor in order to punch her 'father' square in his face, her instinctual fear of his tremendous power allowed her to think rationally for one of the few times in her life.
Remembering Vahn's claim about her still having unlimited potential for growth, Yuri adopted an uncharacteristically serious expression as she said, "Tell me what I need to do to become stronger. You must know of a method, right? You seem to know pretty much everything else."
Surprised by how calm Yuri appeared, Vahn adopted a more appreciative expression as he nodded his head and said, "I know countless methods to become stronger. The simplest involves changing your race and unsealing your bloodline. This will grant you tremendous power in the interim, but, if you want to become truly powerful, you'll need to use a method to increase your comprehension of the Laws. In your case, I would suggest mastering the Laws of War, Strength, and Fire. These are the three you have the highest affinity with."
Hearing Vahn mention something like 'comprehension', Yuri got the impression it would require a tremendous amount of study, effort, and meditation. She was rather famous for being terrible at all of these, so, without bothering to consider the consequences, she confidently answered, "I want to change my race and awaken my bloodline. Tell me what I need to do."
Though Vahn was rather amused by Yuri's 'resolve', Evan couldn't help but show a fretful expression as he shouted, "Princess! You can't just change your race without thinking! How do you think others would react if they saw you walking around with wolf ears and a tail!?"
Understanding he was talking about her, a frown immediately marred Ryun's countenance as she firmly asserted, "I am a Vanargandr, a descendent of the Heaven Devouring Wolf. Don't compare me to a simple wolf, you shitty dwarf..."
Not expecting such a reaction from Ryun, Evan found himself at a momentary loss for words. As a result, Yuri had more than enough time to state, "I've already made up my mind. What I do with my body is none of your concern, Evan. Besides, I think Hwa Ryun's ears and tail look cute. I can tell she takes really good care of them too. They look super soft and fluffy."
After spending months alongside Fenrir, Ryun had become rather prideful of her status as one of the few Vanargandr in existence. Thus, in response to Yuri's compliment, a smile naturally bloomed across her face as she answered, "It's all thanks to Master. The Little Garden is a paradise filled with boons that can't be found within the Tower. The environment ideal for things like training and self-study, but, most importantly, the food and baths are simply out of this world. Nothing in the Tower even comes close."
Though Ryun's words might sound a little boisterous, even Evan couldn't deny that the food served to them during lunch greatly exceeded the standard of the Royal Palace. There was even a moment where he thought the food had been laced with some kind of drug, but, after stealthily analyzing it, he found absolutely no traces of malicious or foreign substances. The food was simply prepared to a standard that didn't exist within the Tower, greatly exceeding any and all expectations.
Sharing similar sentiments, Yuri nodded her excitedly in response to Ryun's words. She was greatly looking forward to spending more time in the Little Garden, but, at least for now, she was far more interested in the discussion regarding her race. Before she could ask, however, Vahn beat her to the punch, smiling as he explained, "I understand that you're not the type to spend thousands of hours on things like cultivation and meditation...with that in mind, let me tell you about one of the most powerful warrior races, a legendary tribe known as the Saiyans..."
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'I bet he could sell those on the Black Market for a lot of Points...','Jahad has no chill...','The Birth of a Legend!? Find out on tomorrow's episode of...')
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Several days after his explanation of the biology of Saiyans and their potential to even surpass the Gods, Vahn found himself in the center of a massive crater. Above him, floating high in the sky, an inordinately beautiful woman with long black hair, a breathtaking figure, and a long, monkey-like tail, looked down on him with a massive grin on her face. This was none other than Yuri, who, after an arduous conversion process, now had the bloodline and physique of an Ancient Saiyan.
Pulling himself from the rubble, Vahn rose unsteadily to his feet, cradling his head with his left hand as he remarked, "You really don't pull your punches, do you...?"
Laughing in response to Vahn's words, Yuri dropped down to the center of the crater before saying, "I'm seldom able to go all out so this is a good opportunity for me to cut loose. Besides, aren't you getting stronger each time I knock you down? I'm not sure if it's my Saiyan instincts, but I get a very dangerous feeling from you every now and then. It gets my blood pumping and makes it difficult to hold back."
Having mostly recovered at this point, Vahn nodded his head in understanding before adopting a battle stance and saying, "Yeah, I get that, but the purpose of this training is for you to learn how to control yourself and manipulate your Ki. You're too reliant on Shinsu and keep suppressing your Ki whenever you get excited. So long as you continue relying on the former, you would never be able to defeat someone like Jahad and the Great Warriors."
Puffing out her cheeks somewhat adorably, Yuri intoned a pouty, "Muuu..." before following it up by saying, "You're too serious all the time. Aren't you the one who said it's important to work hard and play hard? Wouldn't it be a lot more fun to do both at the same time!?"
Offering a wry smile in response to the excitable woman's remark, Vahn gradually lowered his ready stance as she said, "Fine. Let's try something new...how about, for every half-hour of Ki training and guided meditation you manage to pull off, I will reward you with an hour-long massage?"
Though she was usually baited pretty easily with the promise of a massage, Yuri promptly crossed her arms under her breasts as she willfully answered, "I refuse! If I wanted to sit around on my butt all day, I wouldn't have agreed to become a Saiyan. If you think you can keep enticing me with 'just' a massage...you're seriously looking down on me!"
Shaking his head in response to Yuri's attempts to provoke him, Vahn calmly replied, "You already know we can't go all the way, Yuri. I'm not going to let my child be raised someplace I cannot see them. You also need to hold on to your status as a Princess of Jahad if you want to complete your current Quest; so, unless you're telling me you have given up on your dream and intend to spend the next few years in the Little Garden, it is impossible to..."
Even before the Law of Identity had unceremoniously revealed Yuri's plan to him, Vahn could tell she was up to something due to the massive grin that had spread across her face. This caused his words to gradually trail off, but, rather than give in to the temptation to release a sigh, he adopted a wry smile and said, "That should work...but there is also a chance-"
Before Vahn could even finish speaking, Yuri tossed him over her shoulder before taking off like a rocket towards the horizon. This left Vahn feeling a little helpless, but, knowing he would be the one to benefit the most from Yuri's plan, he decided to just go with the flow. They were supposed to be separating the following day so he could at least humor her for one more evening...
---
After passing through the teleportation gate connecting the Ninth Layer to the Eighth, Yuri carried Vahn all the way to the outskirts of the Emerald Grove before setting him down with a wry smile on her face. Before she could apologize, however, Vahn simply shook his head, an amused smile on his face as he said, "It's fine. I really don't have a problem with girls like you. Just remember to restrain yourself when we're outside...if this becomes a habit...well, we'll discuss that when the time comes..."
Though she got the impression Vahn was going to say something about 'punishing' her, Yuri wasn't particularly concerned. That was a matter for the far future. For now, she only had one, maybe two, things on her mind. As a result, she ultimately giggled in response to Vahn's words before grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the naturalistic abode that had been prepared for herself and Soo-Yun.
Unsurprisingly, for both Vahn and Yuri, they soon stumbled upon the sleeping figure of Soo-Yun cocooned in a thick blanket atop the living room sofa. She was a member of the Eurasia Family, so, while she was a little more active than most, she still spent the majority of her time sleeping.
Far more surprising than the fact she was asleep was the revelation that Soo-Yun wasn't actually alone. Instead, a certain fiery redhead could be seen dozing off at her side, a small amount of drool trickling from the corner of her mouth as Soo-Yun used her lap as a pillow. At first glance, this gave off the impression of a mother and daughter enjoying an afternoon nap, but, shattering the illusion completely, the red-haired woman, Kushina, was wearing a rather risque nightgown...
Before Vahn could find the words to describe his current sentiments, Yuri surprised him quite a bit by remarking, "Well, the more the merrier." in a somewhat playful tone. Then, without any regards for the peaceful scene before them, she walked over to the sofa before promptly picking up the end of Soo-Yun 'cacoon', dangling her upside down as she said, "Oi! Wake up you damn sloth~!"
Despite the fact she was been violently dangled upside down, Soo-Yun didn't immediately wake up. Instead, she just replied with a small yawn before retreating further into her cocoon and pulling the mouth shut. Kushina, however, awoke with quite a start, bounding from the sofa using a variation of the Body Flicker Technique with a panicked expression on her face until a familiar warmth embraced her from behind and said, "You shouldn't be pushing yourself..."
Calming down almost instantaneously, Kushina relaxed into Vahn's embrace, her hands covering his as the latter affectionately stroked her abdomen. Then, in a rather pitiable tone, she answered, "You worry too much...besides, you can't really injure me in a dreamscape. Soo-Yun said she can prevent Naruto's consciousness from being affected by her ability, so it's okay...right?"
Responding with an immediate kiss to the back of her head, Vahn began to rock Kushina in his arms as he answered, "Sure...if that's what you want. Just make sure you're taking it easy these next few months..."
Turning her head up to face Vahn, Kushina planted a kiss on Vahn's lips before pulling away with a radiant smile blossoming across her face. For a brief moment, it was like the two had entered their own little world. Unfortunately, with Yuri squeezing Soo-Yun out of her blanket like the final dab of toothpaste in a tube, the rosy-colored ambiance quickly yielded to a more comical atmosphere...
---
With their physical bodies all nestled together in the real world, Vahn, Kushina, and Yuri were able to enter into Soo-Yun's personal dreamscape using their spirit forms. There, they found themselves among rolling hills covered in a colorful collage of different types of flowers. There were also things like floating rocks and tiny pixies flying around, but, before he could admire it, Vahn found himself tackled by an ethereal-looking Yuri.
Though she had quite a bit of experience with dreamscapes, Yuri's spiritual avatar still possessed a few abstract qualities. She wasn't very good at holding a mental image of herself, so, depending on her level of focus, her body would experience rapid changes. The most notable of these, at least for the time being, were her black ponytail, appearing like a tendril of wispy black flame, and the way in which her proportions subtly changed depending on her awareness of them.
Fortunately, while she had an overwhelming advantage in the physical world, Vahn's experience in both spiritual planes and dreamscapes far exceeded Yuri's. As a result, he was able to make a large bed appear beneath him the moment she tackled him. Immediately thereafter, a veritable forest of trees spontaneously appeared in the surroundings, replacing the previous flowery landscape before a naturalistic castle formed from white wood and marble quickly enveloped them.
Awed by Vahn's ability to control her dreamscape, Soo-Yun, now appearing like a mature beauty with a physique that easily rivaled both Yuri and Kushina, remarked, "You're a real monster, aren't you? I've only ever seen this kind of control from my Great Great Grandmother. When the two of you meet, she is going to lose it..."
Though he was a little preoccupied with Yuri fumbling around with the buttons of his tunic, Vahn's awareness in the dreamscape rivaled Soo-Yun's. If he really wanted to, he could even peer into her deepest and most repressed memories without her being able to put up any resistance; but, having no need or desire to violate the sanctity of another person's mind, he just issued a light chuckle, not from his own throat, but from the version of himself that had materialized behind the pink-haired beauty.
Surprised by Vahn's ability to separate his consciousness into multiple parts, Soo-Yun was startled to the point that she nearly reverted back to her true form. She actually hadn't expected Vahn to be so 'direct', forgoing all questions about her ability and, instead, taking very proactive measures. This left her feeling a little disoriented, but, as if to indicate her current state, a fragrant pink mist rapidly spread through her mindscape as her body trembled in his embrace...
While his other selves were busy tending to Soo-Yun and Kushina, Vahn quickly turned the tables on Yuri, startling her quite a bit as he flipped her over onto her back. This caused her appearance to regress to a slightly younger version of herself, but, after quickly recovering her senses, she quickly regained her usual appearance. In fact, thanks to the energy flowing from Vahn's body and into her own, she was rapidly stabilizing. This would actually help to strengthen and refine her spirit quite a bit; so, while it was a little unorthodox, Vahn couldn't help but smile as he came to the realization that Yuri had unwittingly orchestrated a scenario where she could both train hard and play hard at the same time.
With that thought crossing his mind, Vahn began planting a trail of kissing from Yuri's lips, working his way down her body until he invariably found himself in front of a tightly closed slit. He found it a little amusing that Yuri didn't have any hair despite having very neatly trimmed pubes back in the real world, but, rather than focus on insignificant details, Vahn promptly pushed her legs up by the backs of her knees before demonstrating that prowess in battle wasn't the only representation of strength...
---
Having sensed Vahn's arrival in the Emerald Grove, it wasn't long before Yoruichi came following his smell. When she noticed him nestled between three heavily breathing girls with a tent pitched in his trousers, a mischievous glimmer instantly flashed across her yellow eyes. The fact they were having fun without her was more than enough reason to justify her getting even, so, after returning to her human form, she promptly cut a slit down Vahn's trousers to liberate the dragon sealed within. This caused his penis to smack Soo-Yun's butt, nestling between her cheeks and tempting Yoruichi to do something excessive. Fortunately, she generally knew where to draw the line, so, after taking a seat between Vahn's legs, she fearlessly took more than half his length into her mouth, giggling when all four of them trembled in response...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Yuri lives life at her own pace xD...','Even a home-field advantage can't help you against Vahn...','Seems like Yoruichi wants a spanking...')
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