Kapitel 921: Valkyries
Leading the group of three Valkyrie that had lined up to receive Vahn was the same Brynhildr that Vahn had met previously. The other two were Valkyrie he had never seen as they hadn't been present when he took down the larger 'flock' after arriving at the City of Heroes. Though not nearly as strong as Brynhildr, both had the strength of a Level 7 with the same dark-grey wings as other Valkyries. What set them apart was that, unlike the onyx-grey hair and stark blue eyes of their sister, the taller of the two Valkyries had light-grey hair and pale purple eyes. As for the smaller of the two, though she was still around 170cm tall, she had dark green hair and orange eyes, a rather strange combination that made her stand out with her fierce expression and well defined facial features...
Almost as soon as Vahn had landed near them, all three Valkyrie spontaneously kneeled, allowing their wings to perk up at their backs so they wouldn't drape on the ground. Brynhildr then took the initiative to say, "Vahn Mason, the Allfather had placed his trust in you before his untimely demise at the hand of the treacherous Heracles. As the person who had fought against our enemy and allowed our vengeance to be met out, we pledge our service to your cause. Be it our blades or bodies, you may use us as you will..." As the Valkyrie had been created for the sole purpose of serving Heroes, even in the capacity of lovers and companions, Brynhildr was absolutely serious when she mentioned Vahn doing whatever he'd like with them...
Seeing the three prompts, labeling the other two Valkyries as Sigrun and Hrist, Vahn gave a small nod as he accepted the three as Subordinates. He already knew about the Valkyrie after talking with Jeanne and Helen, including 'why' they had been created, and how they had been mistreated by Zeus for nearly a thousand years. Vahn had initially thought the loss of Odin was somewhat regretful but, after knowing the 'purpose' he had given his own daughters, part of him wished it had been his own blade to claim the god's life. Now, however, Vahn was content with providing a safe haven for the Valkyrie while removing them from Odin's influence. It would take a bit of time, but Vahn was confident he could help them find some semblance of happiness after coming to understand their nature and characteristics better...
Understanding his own 'role' in the situation, Vahn kept a stoic disposition as he said, "Rise..." in a commanding tone. Even more than the members of the Southern Tribe, the Valkyrie strictly followed a hierarchy and it was easier for them if he was decisive and firm. In response to his words, the three immediately rose to their feet and, instead of the 'fierce' looks from before, Vahn could see a bit of relief in their gazes as Sigrun and Hrist gave polite salutes, introducing themselves and their roles within the Valkyrie's ranks. Like Brynhildr, they were Captains, representing the leadership of the Valkyries while, beneath them, there were six Lieutenants, twenty Adjutants, and sixty Sergeants and two-hundred 'normal' Valkyrie. The remaining fourteen were the Support Unit of the Valkyries, possessing the ability to heal wounds and use 'rare skills' that could boost the strength of allies.
Vahn patiently listened to Brynhildr explain the composition of their small army, waiting until she was completely finished before saying, "Very good. Thank you for the explanation, Brynhildr..." As he spoke, Vahn performed an act that had shocked the three proud Valkyrie to the core, even though it was a very natural and casual reaction on his part. He had reached out his hand, gently stroking the top of Brynhildr's head as he sent calming energy into her mind and allowed his [Grooming] to take effect. Since rebuffing him went against every instinct Brynhildr had cultivated over the last 937 years, she just stood their blankly while 'obediently' receiving head pats from her Master...
Though she didn't show much outwardly, Vahn noticed that Brynhildr's Loyalty had increased slightly after he praised her, bringing a small smile to his face as he said, "Take me to meet with the others. I will explain what you'll be doing from this point onward." For a brief moment, Brynhildr had a slight pause before giving a proper salute, answering, "Understood! Sigrun, Hrist, let us alight." Her two fellow Valkyrie had also experienced a momentary pause after seeing Vahn casually stroke their elder sister's head. When she called out to them, they gave a loud, "Ha...!" while placing their fists over their heart in a curt salute before all three of them flew off towards the central region of Freya's Manor. They hadn't been allowed to stay inside and had instead made camp in the inner courtyard while Brynhildr, Sigrun, and Hrist had been waiting for more than seven days straight for Vahn's arrival...
To give them time to prepare, Vahn enjoyed a casual stroll with Jeanne and Fenrir, giving them a brief tour of Freya's Manor. She normally didn't allow outsiders into the premise, other than to clean and maintain specific areas, but Vahn was allowed to bring whoever he wanted along with him. Freya made quite a few 'exceptions' when it came to Vahn, a behavior that he found increasingly adorable with the passage of time. Though she still wasn't allowed to enter the Hearth Manor, much of the antagonistic feelings towards Freya had diminished somewhat. She often worked alongside Loki and, though it was still relatively uncommon, the other goddesses in the Manor would sometimes meet up with Freya for tea and play dates with the other children.
After their brief tour had come to an end, Vahn, Jeanne, and Fenrir made their way to the inner courtyard where the Valkyrie had already formed up into three different groups. Each was fully adorned in their battle attire as they stood in perfectly spaced columns, standing at attention as they awaited his arrival. Because he was used to dealing with the HDF, Vahn wasn't caught off guard by their display of military bearing. He unhesitantly made his way to the front of the three formations, prompting Brynhildr, Sigrun, and Hrist to all salute simultaneously. Following them, like a thunderous chorus, the other Valkyrie all gave their own salutes, allowing their metallic gauntlets to strike their breastplates. This created such a loud sound that it echoed through the relatively spacious inner courtyard as Vahn gave a small nod and said, "At ease."
Vahn had only intended to have them relax and adopt a more casual stance so he was surprised when the Valkyrie, as one cohesive unit, widened their stance and placed their hands behind their backs, wings unfurled slightly. Fortunately, with both of his 'split' ego within one body, Vahn was able to remain entirely unperturbed on the outside as his secondary thought process was thinking about what to say. He had already decided what he wanted the Valkyrie to do in the future but, depending on their own desires, things could change drastically in the very near future...
Deciding to put their 'conviction' to the test, Vahn cast his gaze over the three-hundred additional Valkyrie, saying, "This will be the one time I will afford you the opportunity to leave freely and pursue your own happiness. If you do not wish to serve me, and the ideals I represent, then please excuse yourself now, knowing that those who remain will not be allowed to treat you in contempt. It is the right of every sentient creature to seek their own happiness and, so long as it does not infringe upon the right of others, I will not restrict you from doing the same...if you choose to stay, you must be willing to work for the shared happiness of others. We will work together to build a better world where all peoples have basic inalienable rights and freedoms, allowing the generations that follow to reach greater heights than their predecessors. If you can support this ideal of mine, I welcome you to stand at my side and, in exchange, I will bestow upon you even greater power than you currently possess...!"
Almost as soon as he finished his words, Vahn was barraged by a total of three-hundred system notifications simultaneously. With the nature of the Valkyrie, he wasn't remotely surprised that they had all chosen to follow him. As he was speaking, there were almost no fluctuations in their auras whatsoever, each showing resolute and stoic expressions. Having lived as long as they had, every Valkyrie had tempered themselves to the point that most of their basic emotions had been buried deep within their hearts and minds. One day, Vahn knew he would be able to help them open up once again but, for the time being, just having their support for the future was enough. Now that they were all his Subordinates, their perception would slowly change based on the actions he took. So long as he desired their happiness, the Valkyrie would almost instinctually seek out the same thing for themselves, all out of the feelings of Loyalty they possessed toward him...
With the inclusion of so many powerful individuals amongst the ranks of his subordinates, Vahn noticed that his domain had spread considerably, reaching 3,204 meters. Though he rarely let it grow to that extent, it was still very useful to have the option of thinning out his domain for ease of use with his other skills and abilities. One such example of this functionality was like now, as he extended his hand slightly and sent petting and invigorating energy through his domain as he adopted a pride-filled smile and said, "From this moment onward, we share the same dream, the same future. I swear, I will do my best to make sure each of you is able to obtain the happiness you deserve. You may have already been sisters before, but now you are my family as well...as strange as it may seem to you, my first order is also my most sincere desire. I want each of you to reflect on your own futures and think of what you need to become happy. When you find the answer, share it with me and, so long as I am able to help, I will spare no effort in doing so. If I can't even guarantee the happiness of those that follow me, how can I expect to create a world where everyone is able to seek happiness for themselves...?"
While his main body was speaking, Vahn's sub-process was watching the values of each Valkyrie in his Unit Management. He saw some of the numbers fluctuate downward but the vast majority had small positive increases. Fortunately, even for those who had lost some Loyalty, it was only a few points and wouldn't make a great difference. The fact it was such a small amount showed that they would undoubtedly follow his order and, with the passage of time, their Loyalty would continue to increase while they slowly opened up to him. He was serious about helping them seek happiness as, if those closest to the core of the Empire he was going to build weren't happy, then he was nothing more than a hypocrite spewing platitudes. This would also allow him to wrest away the influence Odin had over them as, after learning what kind of life he had prepared for his own children, Vahn felt both disdain and spite towards the onyx-haired god...
With various thoughts running through his sub-process mind, Vahn had continued addressing the Valkyries, saying, "For the time being, you will be training under the guidance of Jeanne on how to perform your duties as Knights in the future. Though there will be individuals that may exceed you in strength, I will help the Valkyrie become known throughout the entire world as the most powerful and noble force. You will become one of the central strengths of the Alliance and, in the future, serve as my Imperial Guard. There will be other duties expected of you, but that will wait until I am able to assess your strength and capabilities..." For better or worse, the Valkyrie were exceptionally skilled 'servants' and it was likely that they would become the standard for the Battle Maids that already resided in the Manor.
Before he knew about the existence of Valkyries in the record, Vahn had been helping Maemi and Emiru cultivate a similar mentality to what many of the actual Valkyrie already possessed. They were currently influencing the members of the Artemis Familia and the five Maids that had been provided by Freya. Though they currently called themselves the Battle Maid Squadron, most of the battle dress designs and weaponry that was being produced for their use was similar to the Valkyrie's own armaments. To avoid conflict in the future, the two groups would likely merge at some point and, when he had created his Empire, the Valkyrie would likely become synonymous with powerful Battle Maids that also served the role of Imperial Knights. Their numbers would expand to include races other than Valkyrie though, depending on the circumstances, Vahn also had the option of providing race changes and modifications to make every member match the descriptor...
Vahn spent the rest of the morning registering the Valkyrie with the various protective formations surrounding the Hearth Manor and other important structures. He also got to familiarize himself with some of their more prominent members, though anyone below the rank of a Lieutenant didn't seem to even think about approaching him on their own. During this time, many of the more friendly residents used the opportunity to interact with the Valkyries as well, including the majority of Vahn's children. As Knights, the main responsibility of the Valkyrie would be protecting the territory of the Alliance and, more importantly, the weaker residents of the Hearth Manor. So that they knew who they were protecting, Brynhildr had every Valkyrie memorize the name of each of Vahn's children before grilling them on the characteristics of each for the entire afternoon...
In the very near future, the Valkyrie would become the most publically identifiable symbol of power within the Alliance, the core members such as Vahn and other combatants excluded. Previously, the Valkyrie had been existences that were spoken of in rumors, many regarding them as possessing skill in battle that was only rivaled by their beauty. Since each Valkyrie was exceptionally beautiful, the common consensus was that they were also exceptionally strong, something which was proven very quickly when some of the 'bolder' men in the City tried to make advances against them. With even reputable First-Class Adventurers being quickly bested by the beautiful warriors, their reputation within the City spread 'extremely' quickly. At the same time, so too did another wave of rumors regarding Vahn's 'prowess' and his insatiable appetite for beauties, even though he hadn't actually made any moves against them. This was because the Valkyrie, when rebuffing their would-be suitors, always mentioned things along the lines of, 'I am only faithful to my Lord' and 'You cannot even compare to my Master'...
(A/N: Freya's Southern Manor is linked with the Hearth Manor through underground tunnels, so it isn't difficult for the goddesses to move the Vanir relatively safely. At this point, Terra's dominion has stretched to the five surrounding Manors, giving her the ability to watch over them and provide assistance during emergencies.)
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Valkyrie are extremely dutiful','Vahn is slowly consolidating even greater strength','Vahn Mason, the Enemy(Envy) of all Men...')
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Kapitel 922: Break : Breakthrough
A few days after his awakening, Vahn found himself enjoying a lap pillow while the small figure of an infant girl slept on his chest. This was none other than his newest daughter Natalie, now looking far healthier than when she had been born. Vahn was lightly stroking her back, sending thin strands of Source Energy into her body as he made sure she was sleeping peacefully. The exceptionally soft thighs he was using as a pillow belonged to Syr, Natalie's mother, who was currently tracing her fingers through his brown hair with a loving smile on her face. She seemed a little absentminded but Vahn knew she was probably just lost in the bonding moment and not really concerned about anything...
Ultimately, Vahn had decided that, instead of destroying the Captial City, Valua, it would become a territory under the management of the Alliance. The previous Royal Family had been publically executed while those under the age of adulthood had to renounce their claims and would be under observation for the time being. Vahn had entrusted Chloe and her Shadow Corps to slowly clean out the criminal elements of the Kingdom while 2,000 members of the HDF had been mobilized for the sake of public order during the transition. Since Lunoire had refused his 'jest' to become Queen, Vahn had conferred with the Civilian Legislative Branch to have them restructure the Kingdom's Laws and regulate internal affairs. Instead of a King, the former Rakia Kingdom would become a province that was governed by Governor and a series of Magistrates who would be elected and sworn in under the authority of the Alliance.
Though there were a lot of things he had to take care of, there were certain benefits to having more than two-hundred gods within the Alliance. Loki, Hephaestus, and Freya had convened a gathering with seventy suitable gods, determining the best course of action and then running it by Vahn for approval after the fact. As a result, other than asking Chloe to take action, and negotiating with the Civilian Legislative Branch, Vahn just had to fill out a bit of paperwork before things were set in motion. Now, there would be a total of twenty-eight Familia migrating to the former Rakia Kingdom, mostly specializing in construction and mercantilism. They would work to build up the infrastructure of the province while revitalizing the collapsed economy.
Amongst this number, there were also two gods who had relatively large Farming Familia in the Plains region. Though much of the former Rakia Kingdom's territory was like a wasteland, there were several thousand acres of fertile land around the Capital City, Valua. Vahn had decided to plant one of Yggy's hearts in the area while the three Farming Familia would slowly begin to build up their influence in the restructured province. In the future, they would be providing food to the citizens that remained in the now defunct Kingdom, working to eliminate the famine and starvation that had been 'common' in the past. Now, the biggest problem was changing the perception of the citizenry, mostly by eliminating the dissidents that were trying to preserve power and take advantage of the situation.
Now, after taking care of a few other matters, Vahn had been spending his days relaxing in the Manor and enjoying a much needed 'vacation'. Though he would need to create another avatar at some point, Vahn had been confronted during an impromptu 'Vahnatus', which essentially served as an intervention by the girls to get him to take a break. Since he didn't want to worry them too much, Vahn had accepted their terms and, unless it was something very important, most matters were dealt with without Vahn even learning about them. Instead, he spent nearly the whole day just lounging about, spending time with the girls, or simply reading in his private study. Vahn felt strangely 'itchy' at the start, but he had quickly fallen into a pleasant groove after enjoying a few naps under Yggy's canopy while her Spirit Avatar played a small silver flute that Hephaestus had made for her...
While enjoying the peace and quiet of his current lifestyle, Vahn ended up humming one of the tunes that Yggy would play for him. He wondered if, like Tiona, Natalie would be comforted by this tune in the future, even though she was currently sleeping peacefully on his chest. Even her snake, the Silvervine Python, was coiled around his free hand as it flicked out its dark blue tongue flickering out happily. Vahn felt that moments like this were what made life worth living, regardless of how difficult it could be at times. The children of many races were exceptionally fragile in their infancy and Vahn felt saddened just thinking about those who were born into environments that either couldn't provide for them, or into families that didn't care for them. He wished that, just as he could spend time with his children like this, every family was able to do the same...
Around the time when the residents of the Manor would normally eat lunch together, Vahn felt a familiar sensation in his mind before Nanu's excited voice stated, ("Master, I did it~!"). Even without her explaining in greater detail, Vahn had some expectation about what Nanu was talking about. Nearly six months had passed in the real world since she began her serious efforts to reach [Master Smith]. Within the Sub-Space orb, this was nearly three full year's worth of time where Nanu had been making steady strides under his guidance, the tutelage of Tsubaki, and the constant evaluations of Hephaestus. With functionally limitless resources, Nanu prodigiousness as a [Blacksmith] had been allowed to shine forth and now, at the startlingly young age of eighteen, Nanu had managed to become a [Master Smith].
Nanu had been so excited by her achievement that she ended up immediately exiting the Sub-Space orb and running through the Manor wearing nothing but a pair of small black shorts and a black chest wrap. Her olive-brown skin had become a little darker from constant exposure to the heat of her forge while her present appearance was covered in sweat and soot. When Vahn had returned Natalie to Syr to meet up with Nanu, she practically pounced on him even with several others present. Since she was usually a little more reserved, it was easy to see that Nanu was happier than she had ever been before, her tail wagging furiously as she nuzzled into her Master's chest...
The truth of the matter was that, after seeing the sorry state of Vahn after his confrontation with Heracles, Nanu's heart had been greatly stirred. In her mind, Vahn was an unbeatable existence that shone even brighter than the sun. Seeing him in that state had shaken Nanu to the core and, afraid of being unable to be with the man she had dedicated herself to, she experienced a drastic shift in mentality. She was no longer content simply 'waiting' for her skills to develop to the point that she could finally be with her Master and, after his awakening, Nanu had put in more effort than ever before into her work. It was to the point that she only stopped to eat and sleep, never leaving her Workshop until the moment when she had finally achieved her goal...
Because of her actions over the last few days within the Sub-Space orb, Nanu actually had a very pungent animalistic musk that filled up the entire room and tickled people's noses. Vahn didn't particularly mind it but, seeing the reactions of other people, he sent a quick message to Emiru and Maemi before carrying the tired Nanu to one of the closer baths. At this point, she was already running on fumes and, after Vahn's petting, Nanu had quickly fallen asleep as he carried her in a bridal carry, removed the rather dirty clothes from her body, and carefully wiped her down with a warm cloth before soaking her in the water. Nanu woke up as she was being submerged but, realizing the situation she was in, her only reaction was to hang her head slightly with a heavy blush visible on her face...
Having been smothered by her previously, Vahn decided to use the opportunity to bathe himself, entering into the small bath alongside Nanu as he pulled out an exquisitely designed collar. Nanu had been carrying this with her when she pounced on him and, seeing it in his hands, Vahn could feel the water moving around as a result of her tail beating furiously beneath its surface. With an expression of immense pride, as he truly was proud of what Nanu had accomplished, Vahn opened the clasp of Nanu's previous collar before replacing it with the S-Rank collar she had produced as her first masterpiece. After tightening the collar to a comfortable level, Vahn fastened the intricate golden clasp before leaning down and kissing the fumbling Nanu's lips...
She had been giddy since the moment he entered the bath and, understanding this hard-working apprentice of his, Vahn decided to reward her plentily. Her nervousness quickly faded away as she somewhat aggressively reciprocated his kiss, at least until Vahn got a little serious. In the end, Nanu leaned backward a bit by instinct as Vahn leaned over her and continued entwining his tongue with her's for the better part of ten minutes. During that time, he had been tracing his hand along her exposed abdomen as Nanu's legs writhed about, disturbing the water as she balled her fists up and trembled under his touch...
When their lips finally separated, Nanu was breathing heavily and had a dazed look in her eyes as her tongue flicked against the air a few times. She had even 'chased' after his lips when he pulled away, causing Vahn to smile as he stroked her pointy black ears and said, "You're so adorable, Nanu. In all the world, there are none as fortunate as I, having such a capable apprentice that is as adorable as she is skilled..." These words brought a bit of light back to Nanu's eyes as she quaveringly intoned, "Mashta...awuuu..." while her tail curled up between her thighs. Her reaction caused Vahn's smile to stretch as he leaned in and licked her neck around the collar, trailing kisses up to the side of her head before saying, "My Nanu..."
Compared to when they first met, when Nanu was a thin and frail girl that was only 130cm tall, she had now grown up considerably since that time. Previously, she hadn't even started to develop her secondary sexual characteristics but now, after years of training, plenty of nutritious food, and earnest efforts to increase her 'appeal', Nanu was 159cm tall with a very healthy and sensual figure. Though she had visible and developed muscles, Nanu's breasts had grown to a healthy B-Cup while her hips and thighs had developed 'exceptionally' well. She had the appeal of a mature woman and, being eighteen, Vahn felt no inhibitions at all when he nibbled on her ear and said, "My beloved mate..."
Nanu's teeth began clattering as an adorably awkward smile appeared on her face before she answered, "Alwaysh...Nanu alwaysh belong to Mashta..." She was still slurring her words a bit but, at the same time, Nanu's Love parameter was rapidly increasing. Though she was also his Subordinate, Vahn was able to see the (Love) of those he had seen and fulfilled the [Hearts Desire]s of. Nanu's Love was markedly lower than her Loyalty, the former being 37,229 compared to the latter at 408,711. Seeing the number rapidly climb, even though it wasn't as quickly as her Loyalty, Vahn felt somewhat amused as he gave her another very long kiss, this time moving her to his lap so he could hold her more easily...
Though it wasn't really the best time for such activities, as everyone else was back in the dining room eating lunch, Vahn couldn't leave the excited Nanu alone to 'suffer'. Her body had been in a heated state since before they even entered the bath so, after 'pampering' her for nearly half an hour, she wasn't even able to support her own weight anymore. She had become so red and swollen down below while a sincere plea existed within her rose-colored eyes. Vahn felt like he would have failed her if he made her wait any longer so, after shifting her over to the side of the tub, Vahn placed the tip of his glans at Nanu's fiery entrance and the two became one after having her wait nearly six years...
Being a Chienthrope, Nanu's insides were incredibly stimulating as her body tried to adapt to the foreign body that invaded its depths. Her clamping had been even more prominent than Naaza as a result of her excessive training and tireless endeavors in her Workshop. Nanu's core muscles, legs, and thighs had been developed over a concerted effort of several years, causing Vahn's hands to sink into her muscular yet tender flesh. She had a very malleable body that was also incredibly refined, causing her appearance from behind to be incredibly tantalizing. Vahn had been greatly enjoying the experience, at least until Nanu arched her back, looking over her shoulder as she said, "Mashtaaa...."
Vahn was confused for a brief moment but, after Nanu nearly slipped trying to grab her collar, he understood what she wanted. Being a member of the Southern Tribe, Nanu's preferences had been molded as a result of her cultures 'quirks'. As much as she enjoyed simply being together, she had a strong desire to be dominated forcibly instead of just having normal sexual intercourse. Traditionally, the first mating session between an Alpha and his mate was a rough and bloody experience that, strangely, became a matter of pride for women to talk about later. Some females, in order to be able to 'brag' about how seriously their bodies were sought after, would even self-inflict bruises and scratches to show off to the other women within the tribe...
As much as Nanu had changed and adapted to the differences in culture, her base preferences had never changed because of how she self-identifies. Vahn had briefly overlooked this but, now that Nanu was essentially pleading him to do 'more', he ran two fingers through her collar and pulled it back slightly. She had been struggling to even support herself previously so this action caused her to feel a choking sensation that made her insides tighten up even more. Vahn had to clench his teeth as the stimulation coming from her body greatly increased as she cried out, "Mashtaaa..." with her tongue stretched out. Vahn resisted the urge to release a sigh as he resolved himself to meet Nanu's expectations and began treating her a little roughly, all while his sub-process mind was thinking about the collar Nanu had produced to become a [Master Smith]...
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[Collar of Ownership]
Rank: S (Magic)
Slots: 1
P.Def: 890
M.Def: 1220
Abilities: Submissive Pride(S), Durandal(A), Restraining(B), Self-Repairing(C)
A collar produced by a peculiar Blacksmith who had wanted to dedicate her everything to the person most precious to her. Her feelings of gratitude and love were imbued into the collar during the forging process along with her desires and hope for the future. Has the ability to forcibly control the sensitivity of the wearer based on the will of the person recognized as its 'Master'.
Current Master: Vahn Mason
Soulbound: Nanu Mason
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Quality time...','RIP Rakia Kingdom','Nanu has really grown a lot (X w X);;;')
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