章節 955: Comfort
Though Kali fought hard to resist the changes in her body, there was little she could do after being stripped of her Divinity. It was the first time in her long existence that she had been truly vulnerable and, even though she shared the same racial traits as an Amazoness, Kali had never experienced the full effect of their body's natural response. In many ways, it was almost as if she were feeling their influence for the first time and, after only a few minutes had passed, Kali's breathing had become somewhat ragged as she glared back at Vahn. All the while this was going on, Vahn remained silent, staring down at the small figure of Kali with a stern expression as he ignored her barbs and insults...
Feeling as if her insides were itching, but unable to do anything about it, Kali's anger was quickly turning into a profound frustration, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. She was unable to even rub her thighs together to relieve a bit of the discomfort since there were links of [Enkidu] wrapped around her legs that kept her immobile. Other than her head and neck, the rest of her body felt completely powerless, yet another thing she had never experienced before. As a result, Kali was beginning to feel extremely anxious and was focusing less on Vahn and more on trying to proactively resist the rising tensions in her body.
Once things reached a critical level, Vahn squinted his eyes and said, "There are Amazonesses who live their entire lives having to deal with the influence of their instincts and the hormonal imbalances in their bodies. You, as a goddess, haven't even been able to last twenty minutes before you look like you're about to give up...it seems your understanding of what it means to truly be an Amazoness is lacking, Kali. But, you never really tried to truly understand them, did you? Though you may have led them on a path that allowed them to deal with their urges, most of your decisions were simply so you could be entertained and pampered without having to make much of an effort on your own part..."
Vahn knew that, though Telskyura was one of the more balanced and 'fair' societies he had ever seen, there were still a plethora of issues. However, as a result of the culture they had established, there were no proactive measures being made to address them. Instead, their focus was almost entirely on keeping things the same, vehemently resisting most changes. Since they were entirely reliant on other communities to even reproduce, Vahn knew this lifestyle would be an extreme detriment in the future he wanted to create. He needed to start laying a foundation for a new path, one where all Amazonesses could continue to thrive, both without being exploited and allowing them to reach their full potential.
With that in mind, Vahn lifted Kali's chin again, staring into her slightly glazed eyes as he said, "I will not allow you to keep steering the Amazonesses onto a path that restricts their growth, all while purporting that it is for their own good. I'm certain that I could create a community of Amazonesses that, within two generations, would completely overwhelm this entire society. You talk about Amazonesses constantly seeking power and doing their best to improve but, in all the thousands of years of their culture, have there been more than a handful of Level 7s? Have there been any Level 8s? The current methods keep them pacified and serve as a limiter, allowing only a few of the truly exceptional to shine as a result of the brutal methods that currently exist..."
Though he didn't have the full picture just yet, Vahn had noticed that the Amazonesses with the highest potential generally died earlier than those with less. This was because they were generally the 'unique' Amazonesses that possessed much higher mana reserves and special abilities. As a result, they were put through more rigorous training and, even though their society didn't really put a heavy focus on treating any individual special, it was easy to see that older Amazonesses had unfair expectations for these unique individuals. Without proper care, both physical and mental, these young girls would eventually break down, many times with their minds breaking long before their bodies...
As much as she wanted to refute what Vahn was saying, Kali wasn't in the state to talk back and, combined with her own observations, she had no means to contradict his claims. Her biggest concern at the moment was resisting the urge to beg for leniency, something her pride would never allow, even while her body and mind both desperately sought it. Vahn seemed to key in on this and, just as it felt like the fires were going to completely consume her, he did something that made Kali nearly tear up as she clenched her teeth in resentment...
Vahn noticed the sharp drop in Kali's Affection, causing his brows to twitch slightly. He still chose to ignore it, however, as he reached out his hand and began to stroke Kali's head. Though he had the option to take her by force, Vahn refused to become the type of person that would take someone against their will, even if he 'forced' them into a situation where they wanted it. Even if Kali came to hate him because of his supposed indecisiveness, Vahn would tolerate her hatred since he knew she would eventually come around. This memory would become something deeply embedded in her mind and, even if Kali never openly admitted it, Vahn knew she would never be able to escape from the memory and the subtle influence of her own instincts...
It didn't take long for Kali, fully restrained by [Enkidu], to begin to calm down and relax under the influence of Vahn's [Hands of Nirvana: SSS] and [Grooming: A]. She was completely helpless and, even though Tiona and Tione would show a fair amount of resistance if he tried to forcibly relax their bodies, Kali was simply denied the opportunity. Vahn very rarely went all out against the girls that resided in the Manor since it could potentially traumatize or even cause them to develop a dependence on his touch. Kali wasn't afforded this luxury and, with Vahn's understanding of the physiology of Amazonesses, it didn't take him too much effort to slow the release of chemicals in her body while simultaneously causing her extreme comfort.
After a few minutes had passed, Kali's body had become completely limp and, without the support of [Enkidu], she would have fallen to the ground. She didn't even have enough strength to raise her head and continue glaring at Vahn, resulting in the once proud goddess to hang her head as a slight dribble of saliva would periodically find its way to the floor. With her in this state, Vahn gently supported Kali's head, still lightly caressing her neck and cheeks as he stared into her dazed eyes and said, "Stop trying to antagonize me. We can both see how much pain it causes you so just stop it. What is the point of having so much pride when you know it will cause you to experience regrets...?"
Kali didn't have an answer to Vahn's question but, in her current state of mind, she was extremely receptive to his words. Her body felt so 'fluffy' and warm that it was almost as if she were stuck in an endless dream that brought a profound level of comfort. Vahn's voice seemed to promise even more comfort, causing Kali to listen closely to everything he was saying. She immediately recalled all of the times when she had tried to 'get even' with Vahn, often pushing his limits in a petty and unreasonable fashion. In truth, she actually wanted him to stop letting her get away with such things and had hoped he would 'snap' at some point before directly challenging her to a duel. This would have settled things from the very beginning and, even if she lost, Kali wouldn't have minded too much since she would still receive plenty of benefits...
From the look in Kali's eyes, combined with her drooping blue aura, Vahn knew she was experiencing sadness and remorse. This whole event was to give Kali a deep mental impression, but it was also to allow her to reflect without the influence of her Divinity. She already proactively sought him out for comfort before this so Vahn knew she wouldn't be able to take action that would endanger her chances of receiving it again. Since this was also a way in which he had defeated her, Kali would have plenty of 'excuses' to change her behavior and, in time, it was possible that the two would have a positive and healthy relationship in the future. Now, however, Vahn simply couldn't treat Kali as his equal since she simply didn't care enough before...
After nearly two hours had passed, Vahn began to loosen [Enkidu] before picking up Kali's limp body into his arms. He sat on the undestroyed cushion where she had been curled up before settling her into his lap, allowing the small goddess to straddle his hips. She didn't wear anything to cover her bottom so this would usually be a precarious position to be in but Vahn ignored it for the time being and just hugged her body tightly. Like this, he let Kali continue to experience comfort, now under the influence of her Divinity. A bit of her awareness had come back but, instead of lashing out at him, Kali simply wrapped her arms around Vahn's body and buried her face into his chest without looking up at him...
Throughout the entire evening, Vahn continued to embrace Kali while gently running his fingers through her long hair and along her back. He didn't allow her 'instincts' to trigger at all, keeping her pacified on his lap instead of allowing the tensions in her body to increase. By the time morning had come, signifying that he would have to duel with Hippolyta, Kali's Affection had increased back to 95 from the startlingly low 41 it had dropped to. It would take her some time to adapt to the change in their relationship but, without proactively defeating him, something Vahn would never allow, Kali wouldn't easily be able to go against his words. He was the only person in the world that could allow her to experience the liberating feeling of being free from her Divinity while also providing her a level of comfort that was simply impossible by any normal means.
Since they both needed to make a few preparations for what was to come, Vahn put less strength into his embrace before gently pulling Kali away from him. Her arms had resisted for a brief moment, clearly wanting to stay together, but she quickly relented when Vahn put even a small amount of strength into his actions. She was still sitting on his lap but, now that there was a bit of distance between their faces, Vahn could easily see Kali's expression. There was the shadow of a pout on her face as her eyes were averted to the side, avoiding looking directly at him. Vahn's own expression softened a bit when he saw this, causing Kali to give him a quick glance before her mouth formed a tiny frown.
Knowing what was on her mind, Vahn brought his hands up, framing Kali's face and turning her to look directly at him as he said, "When we are alone like this, you are mine. I don't mind if you act a little brazenly on the outside, so long as you are proactively helping to fulfill my dream. From now on, we will work together to create a better future for all Amazonesses, even if it takes several long years to do so. You might not have had much of a vested interest in them before, but I'll have you take responsibility for the respect and adulation they have shown you. In exchange, I will still do my best to learn to love you until, one day, we can truly be equals. For now, you will have to be satisfied with the small comforts I can bring you...at least until you are ready for something more."
Vahn knew that there was a fair chance that his 'melding' with Kali could have fixed everything from the very beginning, but it could have also had disastrous consequences. With Kali's previous behavior, Vahn didn't really want to understand her perspective completely and, as powerful as Death and Time were, he didn't particularly need her help to develop them. With his Qinglong transformation, he was already beginning to understand the Laws of Space and Time while the concept of Death wasn't exactly difficult to comprehend. He wanted to avoid experiencing them from Kali's perspective for a short while, at least until she was a more stable existence that actually cared about what was taking place in the mortal world...
Upon hearing Vahn's words, Kali had felt a longing in her heart but it was overwhelmed by the sense of comfort that she had experienced over the last few hours. It almost felt like an extremely short period of time and, from a certain perspective, it truly was. That 'brief' moment still left a deep impression on her, however, so Kali nodded her head in response to Vahn's words before saying, "Fine...I have already lived for a very long time. Since I can experience so many new things through you, I will try to be more thoughtful in the future. You can't abandon me though...and even if I make mistakes, you have to help me..."
With a natural smile, Vahn gently stroked Kali's cheek with his thumbs before saying, "I already told you before, Kali, you're already mine...unless you give me a reason to, I will never abandon you. You were already on thin ice before but I believe everyone has the potential for change, even the gods who have become stagnant and complacent. Time is constantly moving forward and, as long as we never give up trying, it is possible to create a better future for everyone. There are other ways to keep the balance of the world without simply allowing tragedies to continue when we have the power to prevent it..."
There was a lot more Vahn could say but he allowed his words to trail off since he knew Kali still wasn't at the point where such things would matter to her. She might nod her head in agreement with him but it would only be because she didn't want to upset him. The only thing that really mattered to her was the fact that he said he would never abandon her, so long as she didn't do anything that would justify him doing so. This clearly established their relationship as being one where Kali was a dependent that was being 'kept' by Vahn, meaning they were no longer on equal footing. If he took advantage of the situation, it wouldn't be that difficult to even turn Kali completely submissive, though Vahn didn't really need another goddess with such character traits under his umbrella. He already had Anubis and, to a lesser extent, Nanu, Naaza, and even Lefiya...
Instead of continuing his unnecessary speech, Vahn leaned forward and stunned Kali by giving her a brief kiss on the lips before smiling as he said, "Today is the first day of our new lives. Come, Kali, let's go create a new path for our people to walk..." Though it wasn't accurate to call them 'his' people, Vahn was already accepting responsibility for the future of all Amazonesses. After his battle with Hippolyta, the nation of Telskyura would fall under his influence and, with things like sports and other cultural phenomena, Vahn knew he could bring about real and lasting change. He would also come up with a more humane method to help the Amazonesses reach their full potential without having them undergo such brutal training from such a young age...
Putting significantly less thought into things, compared to Vahn, Kali gave an almost demure smile in response before nodding her head and saying, "I'll do my best...make sure to treat me well in the future." This response was something that Vahn hadn't fully prepared himself for, as it was a stark contrast to Kali's behavior over the last three months. He experienced a sense of incongruity that caused his smile to turn awkward before he lightly stroked the confused Kali's head and explained, "You don't have to restrain yourself that much. I know you have a certain amount of intellect and wisdom so find a common ground between the goddess you were, and the goddess you will become. Even if you make a few mistakes, I can be pretty patient...so long as you never even get near my bottom line again..."
With these words, Kali showed visible relief before releasing a long and heavy sigh. She had been worried about doing something to offend Vahn but, hearing his reassurance, Kali suddenly felt like a heavy weight had been removed from her heart and mind. Then, for the first time since they had started to interact with each other, Kali raised her head and showed a genuine smile as she exclaimed, "Make sure you teach that brat a lesson. I'll support you to the best of my ability, but I'm not really suited for such delicate things. The other goddesses in the Alliance can worry about such things while you can leave the establishment of the Amazoness settlement to me. If you want to try and bring change without conflict, the best way would be to show the other Amazonesses proof of a path that is better than their current way of life. Creating a community where they can thrive and grow beyond the restrictions of their current culture will be the best path forward."
Vahn was genuinely taken aback by Kali's words, as they were in line with the very things he had discussed with Loki previously. She seemed to key in on the fact he was 'shocked', causing a small frown to appear on her face as she muttered, "Don't think you can get away with bullying me too easily...I'll really try my best, so you have to treat me well from now on..." There was a mixture of anger and anxiety in Kali's words as she looked towards Vahn with a plea in her eyes. In truth, she didn't know how to comprise well so this was all relatively new to her. Vahn was well aware of this, causing him to give a comforting and supportive smile before gently embracing Kali as he said, "Don't worry, Kali, I will also do my best...we'll slowly figure this out, together..."
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Commence the Petting into Oblivion strat...!','The Embrace of Death...','Plz, no bulli (T^T)...!')
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章節 956: Whim
The battle between Vahn and Hippolyta was scheduled for early in the morning, but there were still a few hours left before the fight would officially begin. Vahn spent much of the remaining time gently embracing Kali after she had changed into more appropriate clothing. Most of her outfits had been destroyed during her earlier tantrum so Vahn purchased an earth-green smock for her to wear for the time being. She would need a bit of time to adapt her mentality and return to normal before the fight would begin but, at least for the time being, reaffirming their current relationship wasn't a bad way to spend time.
With less than an hour before the duel was supposed to begin, Vahn gave Kali one last firm hug before separating from her and saying, "We should get ready. I probably won't stay in Telskyura for long after the battle ends but I'll leave you a means to contact me if there are any issues, or even if you're just feeling lonely. We've already started expanding the area where many of the other Amazonesses had already taken up residence so things should be ready by the time Spring returns. I'll be waiting for you back in Orario..." Though he had the option to stay even longer, Vahn was beginning to grow restless with all of the new information he had been receiving through the Haven Defense Force.
Over the last fourteen weeks, the HDF had still been gathering information as they went around the fringe territories to trade supplies and help smaller communities survive through the Winter season. The number of 'slaves' that had been brought back numbered over six-thousand people, many belonging to various Beast-Human tribes, while more than thirteen-thousand children were also escorted back. Many of these children were disseminated into the various Familia of the Alliance while those that were especially young would begin filling in the available student slots at the Sage Aldrnari School. There were already expansion efforts to increase the capacity of the School and its dorms, but it would take a long time to complete the expansion, hire appropriate teachers, and reform the curriculum slightly to allow for a large influx of newer students.
The most important information that the HDF had brought back, however, was information about the various tribes, clans, factions, provinces, and kingdoms. Though Vahn had sent teams of Valkyries out to deliver his 'invitation' to the leaders of the split nations, having more information about the policies and practices of merchants, nobles, and royals within their respective countries was very important. He didn't have enough time to go around and see for himself how every society lived but, just knowing they had established things like a market, capital, and political status was enough to make a basic determination of the type of nation they were.
Unsurprisingly, many of the nations that weren't already involved in proactive trading relations with Orario or, more specifically, the Alliance, were in desperate need of reforms. The so-called Nobles of various countries were simply merchants that had accumulated enough wealth to break away from traditional markets and establish their own. With a few exceptions, most of these individuals were Humans who, at one point in their lineage, had truly capable people paving the way for the establishment of their nation. The adversities they had overcome weren't inherited by those born after them, however, making each successive generation more despotic than the last since every Noble was almost wholly focused on keeping their own power while reducing the power of others...
Vahn knew things were going to get a bit hectic for a while, likely taking up several years of his time and focus, but it was necessary for the future he sought for all peoples. Kali's presence, and the presence of every god that would make up the Divine Council, would smoothen things over a great deal. He was even tempted to fill out the positions in the Divine Council before his meeting with the leaders of other nations since Loki had explained it was the best platform to declare himself as an Emperor. It was still far too early from Vahn's perspective but Loki had explained that, with such a massive influx of people in Orario that supported him, it was best to capitalize on things before the people became complacent with the passage of time. The longer they had to 'adapt' to the current way things were, the less open they would be when it came to drastic changes in the short-term.
With many other goddesses sharing Loki's sentiment, knowing well the 'folly' of civilization and its constituent races, Vahn inevitably agreed to their decision. There were still a few key gods Vahn would need to scout personally, but things were quickly progressing towards a future where he would rule over Eden as it's Emperor. This would bring in a veritable wave of change as each country would begin to integrate into the larger structure of the Empire but it was better to get things started earlier since there was the lingering 'danger' of his high karma. It was constantly increasing and, so long as he was taking an active role in the world's fate, Vahn knew there would inevitably be obstacles that could potentially even force him from the world. There were already 'Natural Disaster' class monsters like Charybdis in the world and, even though Vahn was confident he could kill the creature, there were still many unknown threats in this world that even the gods were not aware of...
---
Vahn had been sitting at the highest area within the Coliseum, overlooking the chaotic arena below with Tiona at his side. He had previously separated with Kali and could now see her back in her risque divine raiment as she conversed with a fierce-looking woman. The latter was standing below Kali's platform, clearly showing the difference in their status even though the Amazoness adorned in ceremonial battle attire was none other than the Queen of Telskyura, Hippolyta. She was currently in her mid-thirties but still had an awe-inspiring aura that caused many of the other Amazonesses to look toward her with reverence and genuine admiration. Even Tiona's brows had perked up a bit when she saw Hippolyta, absentmindedly muttering, "She is strong..."
Hippolyta was one of the few Level 7s that existed within Telskyura, with the proud warrior standing to her right, Myrina, being the only other Amazoness that even came close to her strength. Though Tiona would likely be able to defeat both of them, this didn't mean that Hippolyta and Myrina were weak. Without Vahn's influence, Tiona would have very likely been around the age of both girls by the time she had the same amount of strength. This showed their monstrous potential which, when compared to others, elevated them to a status most couldn't even hope to achieve through normal means...
Vahn had noticed the arrival of Hippolyta and Myrina long before they came to stand before Kali, allowing him to peruse the two before their official meeting. After seeing them, Vahn had fallen silent for a short while and, even after hearing Tiona's comment, his gaze was fixed on the two powerful warriors. The reason for this wasn't because they were inordinately more beautiful than other Amazonesses but because, though nobody had mentioned it, there was a clear similarity between Hippolyta, Tiona, and Tione. Their facial structure was nearly identical and, even though Hippolyta was clearly more endowed and had matured in a different direction, even the 'feeling' of her aura was similar. Though Tiona didn't have a 'color' to her mana, Tione's was a rich earthen-gold with hints of vibrant green and gentle blues. This was almost identical to Hippolyta, making it very difficult for Vahn not to make a connection between the three of them...
Having noticed Vahn's abnormal behavior, Tiona had cocked her head to the side, concernedly asking, "Is something wrong, Vahn...?" In response, Vahn lightly shook his head and calmly muttered, "I'll confirm it later, but I suppose it doesn't matter that much..." As these words left his mouth, Vahn couldn't help wonder if this was some kind of fated event or revelation that would have been made in the original manga at some point. Though Tiona and Tione may not be the actual children of Hippolyta, there was clearly a familial relationship between the three of them. At the very least, they shared a very recent ancestor and shouldn't be more than a single tangential generation distant from each other...
Resisting the urge to outwardly comment on the whims of fate, Vahn waited for the conversation between Hippolyta and Kali to finish before deciding it was time for his own appearance. Both he and Tiona leaned forward, planting their feet against the side of the wall they had been sitting on before disappearing in an instant. They reappeared a short distance away from Kali, earning a sidelong glance from the blood-eyed goddess while Hippolyta and Myrina both drew their weapons. The former had a golden sword that had strange runes carved into it that Vahn had never seen before. With his ability to translate pretty much any language, however, Vahn could guess their purpose since the 'literal' meaning behind the runes was 'pierce all, sever all, resist all'. As for Myrina, she had what appeared to be a large cudgel that was almost entirely carved from the thigh-bone of a Dragon. It also had runes adorning its surface, translating in Vahn's eyes to mean 'destroy all, small all, and cripple'.
With tensions immediately reaching a critical point, Kali released her Divinity and allowed her oppressive aura to spread through the Coliseum in an instant. She wasn't holding back this time, causing those around Level 2 and 3 to hold their breathes while even Amazonesses as strong as Hippolyta and Myra became slightly pale. The only people unaffected by the deathly aura were Vahn, Tiona, and, having joined them shortly after their appearance, Tione. This was something noted by many of the more perceptive Amazonesses, Hippolyta and Myrina included. Before they were able to make sense of the situation, however, Vahn released his own aura outward, causing an even greater pressure than Kali's to descend...
Seizing the initiative, Vahn made direct eye contact with Hippolyta as he proclaimed, "I am Vahn Mason, Sage Aldrnari, Supreme Commander of the Alliance, and Captain of the Hestia Familia. I come offering a better future for all Amazonesses, promising they will be able to grow far beyond their current limits. Since you stand in the way of that goal, Hippolyta, Queen of Telskyura, I will defeat you in honorable combat before showing everyone here that my way is the only means by which the Amazonesses will continue to prosper...!" With each syllable Vahn spoke, the pressure weighing down on everyone present, Hippolyta and Myrina in particular, became increasingly heavy...
Hippolyta was glaring at Vahn but he hadn't missed when her eyes quickly passed over Tiona and Tione before she venomously stated, "Less talking, boy, it's time to fight...!" She had been waiting a long time to fight against Vahn so even though her instincts warned her against it, Hippolyta still pressed forward. For a brief moment, she even ignored any sense of propriety and attempted to step onto the elevated platform where Kali was seated. The moment she did so, however, long before Vahn took action, Kali had appeared right in front of Hippolyta before kicking her square in the abdomen, sending her flying towards the center of the arena.
Though Hippolyta was physically as strong as Kali, there was a marked difference in their speed and, even without her Arcanum, Kali's attacks still carried a hint of the Laws of Death. Hippolyta managed to twist in the air and land on her feet but she bent over moments later, vomiting onto the ground with a pained expression as Kali's glimmering, blood-red, eyes reflected her sorry state. While Hippolyta was still trying to recover, Kali's icy voice rang out, resonating in the ears of every Amazoness, "I have already recognized Vahn Mason and those closely associated with him. They are able to stand on my 'altar' because I have allowed it...I don't remember ever affording you that right, Hippolyta. Tell me, are you trying to oppose me, here, in my own Coliseum...?"
After having cleared the contents of her stomach, Hippolyta rose to her feet with the slightest semblance of fear in her eyes as she bowed politely and said, "I would never oppose Kali-sama..." Though this wasn't the entire truth of the matter, Hippolyta knew the futility of actually trying to kill Kali. Not only would this ensure her own death but, after a few years passed, Kali would return to Telskyura and take her place as their idol once again. Her rebellion would ultimately accomplish nothing and, having been part of the Kali Familia herself in the past, the power of her goddess was deeply ingrained in the heart, mind, and body of Hippolyta. She wouldn't even be the Queen without Kali's support as it was ultimately up to the later to determine who was best suited for the position...
Kali snorted through her nose before turning her back to Hippolyta and sending a small smile towards Vahn, her eyes practically screaming 'praise me later'. Vahn's expression hadn't changed throughout the incident but he was sweating on the inside as Kali's behavior was beyond any expectations he had. Now, even if he won, he would 'share' part of the victory with her and it was clear to even the rather 'simple' Amazonesses that Kali was elevating him above even the Queen. Instead of causing confusion, however, this only increased the fervor in the gazes of many Amazonesses within the crowd as they looked toward Vahn with hungry eyes...
Tiona and Tione had both noticed how odd Kali was behaving but, knowing how 'capable' Vahn was, neither was really that surprised. Instead, Tiona had an easygoing and excited smile on her face while Tione simply shook her head with a small smile adorning hers. At the same time, she was looking toward Hippolyta with a complex expression as, unlike Tiona, she was very aware that there was a connection between them and their country's Queen. Most Amazonesses never knew their mothers and the members of their extended family but that didn't mean it was impossible to find out if you were related to another Amazoness. Tione had used her time after first entering Telskyura to confirm a few things on her own, mainly by tracking down others with the Hiryute name to learn how she was related to Hippolyta...
Though it was taboo to talk about the life of a Hippolyta before they became Queen, that didn't mean everyone strictly adhered to tradition. It didn't take Tione long to find out that her family was originally part of the Fishing Tribe and that Hippolyta's mother had been a relatively weak Amazoness who had vanished at sea nearly forty years prior. This would usually imply that the Amazoness had died but, after more than a month had passed, Hippolyta's mother ended up returning, much stronger than when she had left. She was also with child and, eight months after her return, Hippolyta, then known as Toofan Hiryute, was born into the world.
Much of Toofan's early life was undocumented and, other than Kali showing an interest in her and the fact that she was eventually apprenticed to the previous generation Hippolyta, there was almost no information at all. One of the few things that Tione was able to uncover was that, nearly nineteen years ago, Toofan had left Telskyura to broaden her horizons. Nothing about her return was mentioned, nor what she accomplished on her journey, but it was a fact that she had grown much stronger than before. She managed to defeat Argana and Bache, the two other prodigies that had Kali had taken an interest in, before finally taking down the Captain of the Kali Familia, Myrina. Since the later was several years older and had already made a name for herself, this cemented Toofan's candidacy as the future Queen, at the relatively young age of fourteen...
With how things lined up, Tione was almost positive that Toofan, before she became Hippolyta, had been their mother. The fact that she and Tiona had always been highly capable in the water, even compared to normal Amazonesses, meant they had to have inherited the capability. Since there were clear similarities between Hippolyta and themselves, almost as if they were looking into a mirror that reflected their future selves, any other possibility seemed unlikely. This didn't bother Tione that much, as she had already put the past behind her, but seeing the woman that had essentially allowed them to be born into their cruel situation caused her to feel slightly conflicted. Though she knew that her mentality was different than a normal Amazoness', Tione couldn't imagine abandoning her child, especially after seeing how happy a child could be when their parents loved them...
Amidst her confusion, Tione suddenly felt a comfortable warmth embrace her body and, even though Vahn hadn't turned to look at her, she knew it was coming from him. This caused the small smile she had been wearing as a mask to become genuine as the conflict in her eyes faded away. After the battle ended, there was plenty of time to learn the truth as she could always get Vahn to question Kali directly. There was even a chance that Hippolyta herself would openly admit to being their mother, at least in private. It was far too late for them to have a normal relationship, but Tione felt like it would be nice to at least be on amicable terms with the person that had given birth to her...
Seeing the light returning to Tione's eyes, Vahn's own worries were alleviated as he stepped forward before jumping into the arena. Myrina had gone to Hippolyta's side and, even though she didn't take any action to 'help' her Queen recover, it was obvious that she took her duty as the Captain of the Royal Guard very seriously. She had adopted a low squatting position with her cudgel resting on her shoulder, clearly prepared to attack Vahn if he tried to take advantage of Hippolyta's momentary weakness. He had every right to begin the fight on his own terms, as it was the fault of Hippolyta for breaking decorum, but he wasn't particularly in a hurry.
Ignoring the icy glares from both Myrina and the quickly recovering Hippolyta, Vahn slowly raised his arms to the side as a confident glimmer shimmered in his eyes. His domain was no longer spread out to its maximum and was instead confined to the arena, causing the air to feel heavy as thin strands of visible mana could be seen building up like a fog. As flashy and awe-inspiring as [Magia Erebea] was, Vahn didn't want any question to remain in the minds of any spectators that it was his own capabilities that allowed him to achieve victory. His body became even more lean than normal as dense white hair slowly began to spread along his hands, feet, forearms, and calves. A complex taiji diagram appeared on his exposed back as his hair, previously dark brown, became a mix of white and black. Two rounded ears emerged from the top of his head as a long white tail covered in black stripes snaked out from an area above his backside...
When Vahn opened his eyes, his previously aquamarine-green irises had turned stark blue as he got down into a unique stance that had never made an appearance outside of the Sub-Space orb and his own mind. With his slit-like irises contracting, Vahn's confidence seemed to transition into pure ferocity as the surrounding mana began to coil around his arms. As if to explain to Hippolyta, and the rest of the crowd, Vahn's voice resonated through space as he said, "Let me show you the power of my evolved Baihu form...it's time to let the world experience the might of the Sacred White Tiger's Heavenly Fist...!"
(A/N: Though I wanted to write two this morning, I ended up having to deal with another work-related issue and didn't have much time. I tried to make this one a bit longer and included some background details to expand upon the story. Don't worry though, as the chapter count won't be influenced by the time the weekly reset comes around.)
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Emperor Riseth...','Princess Tiona and Tione...?','Meow...!')
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