章節 1417: Flow
Unless he entered a dreamscape or proactively chose to dream, Vahn rarely experienced a dream outside of his control. Rather, the only times he truly fell unconscious was when he had suffered a serious injury or made a major breakthrough. Other times, he was always, at the very least, vaguely aware of everything in his surroundings. He could turn off his domain and take proactive measures to try and close off his perception, but, even if he was in a deep meditative state, he was never truly unaware of the world around him.
Vahn wasn't even sure if he could actually dream normally anymore as, the few times when he was certain he had lost consciousness, he always ended up in the same place. There seemed to be a vast and endless expanse of nothingness sealed away inside of him but, at the center of everything, four of his closest companions patiently waited, each awaiting the moment he would call upon their aid. These were Báihǔ, Xuánwǔ, Zhūquè, and Qīnglóng, the Four Sacred Beasts that represented the four cardinal directions and the myriad of elemental Laws that governed all of creation.
With the passage of time, the emptiness within Vahn had gradually given way to an expanse that, in many ways, represented his domain. Though it took on a form similar to a star if viewed from the outside, the inside was filled with a gentle warmth that brought Vahn feelings of both serenity and an overwhelming, seemingly absolute, power. This was reflected in how the four majestic creatures, each possessing incomprehensible power, readily bowed their heads.
Compared to his past visits, Vahn now found his little realm to be filled with resplendent golden light and, while the massive trigram still existed, it was now set in highly polished black stone. Seeing the trigram glowing with golden light wasn't what stood out the most, however, as, spreading out into the distance, a vast meadow of emerald-green grass now dominated the previously empty space. At the same time, Báihǔ, Xuánwǔ, Zhūquè, and Qīnglóng seemed exponentially smaller, to the point he could now see over their heads as he looked around and silently observed the changes to his inner world.
Even without being told what had changed, Vahn had already formed an understanding of how his [Rakshasa Body] had been developing. Having his own version of the Four Sacred Beasts had made it pretty obvious and, though there were undoubtedly variations, it was pretty clear he represented the 'center' since the start. This implied that his fifth transformation was actually a physical manifestation of the power and authority he wielded as Huánglóng, the Dragon God of the Center.
Huánglóng was, in many Records, a primordial deity that represented the birth of creation and the changing of the seasons. Its domains were those of Space, Time, and Creation, things he had always been drawn to, almost instinctually. Even his Zenith Rank Quest, [Genesis Path: Dawn of Creation], required him to obtain mastery in these three Laws, almost as if The Path had granted him the Quest in order to foster the development of his [Rakshasa Body].
Vahn knew he didn't put as much effort into mastering his Innates as he ought to, but, with so many things he cared about vying for his attention, this was the price of happiness. If he turned his back to everything else and pursued power, there was no doubt in his mind that he would be able to obtain a monstrous amount of power in a very short period of time. After all, he had anticipated having to stay in the Nasuverse for more than a hundred years to reach Tier 5 yet, after a little more than three years, he was already beginning to feel like it was within his grasp...
While the Gods and Deities within Records were stuck at their level for an eternity, he was able to grow without limit, facing no bottlenecks along the way. He was, quite literally, The Path itself and, as a result of his will, Vahn realized he had slowly come to represent 'change' itself. His existence within a Record allowed for infinite possibilities within previously stagnant worlds, places where the past, present, and future had already been determined. He was the only person within an infinite number of Records that could bring about real change, as, while it was possible to rewrite a story to have a different ending, that would simply produce another Record, one of countless like it...
From the moment he entered a Record, it's fate had been irreversibly changed and, while there were a myriad of potential futures, they would all inevitably fall in line, becoming a singular path that was entirely decided by him. Even if he did nothing, his existence itself funneled countless timelines into a singular flow, bringing order to chaos. He was an 'absolute truth' within the Record from the time he decided to enter and, as his comprehension increased, the Laws themselves, much like the Four Sacred Beasts, would bow to him...
By the time Vahn's small bout of enlightenment came to an end, he realized that Báihǔ, Xuánwǔ, Zhūquè, and Qīnglóng no longer even reached his knees. They now looked small and, at least in his eyes, somewhat cute. Then, as if in observance of this 'truth', they actually became more adorable, looking much like the baby versions of the animals they represented. This brought a smile to Vahn's face and, after taking a seat, he allowed Báihǔ to sit in his lap while the other three coiled around or nestled up against his body...
---
When Vahn opened his eyes, he noticed that the world now seemed more vibrant than before he had fallen unconscious. He had always been able to perceive elemental energy and, if he focused, he could use his [Eyes of Truth] to decipher the secrets of some Laws. Now, however, it felt like he could see much more and, while it had always been visible around people like Artoria, he now saw the flow of fate, not just for people, but for everything. The only exception to this was himself but, with every single breath he drew, every flicker of his eyelashes, and every beating of his heart, the flow of fate in the surroundings was altered.
Though his power in his base form didn't seem to change all that much, Vahn felt his previous power was inconsequential in the face of his shift in perspective. People rarely thought about their influence on the world around them, but, after his battle with Musashi, Vahn felt it wasn't him reacting to the changes in the world. Rather, the world itself was being shaped by his every action, no matter how big or small.
With this in mind, Vahn combed through the hair of the girl pretending to sleep at his side, watching as the flow of fate, previously imperceptible, changed with each caress. At the same time, Fenrir's tail began to lightly tap against the top of the bed and, while not nearly as much as his own, Vahn could see her influence on fate. Her fate seemed intrinsically tied to him, something he had always known, but, now, Vahn could feel the changes inside of her with each action he took...
After a few minutes of enjoying her Master's caress, Fenrir grabbed his hand, hugging it to her chest as she asked, "Are you feeling better? Nobody will blame you if you decide to sleep longer..."
Vahn couldn't help but smile in response to Fenrir's words, but, as he prepared his reply, the words got stuck in his throat as something incredulous happened. He could feel the flow of fate around them begin to shift, becoming various different 'currents'. If he focused on any individual current, it would slowly become more prominent and, after a few seconds passed, at least from his perspective, he could even see images of what he could only assume to be the future...
Feeling something wrong with her Master, Fenrir showed a worried expression before forcing him to lay back as she said, "Please, rest...you have been through a lot. You don't have to push yourself all the time, Master..."
Following Fenrir's words, Vahn noticed that most of the currents vanished, giving way for an entirely new set. At the very center of these, like the main flow of a river, he saw a vision of himself and Fenrir just relaxing in his chambers for several hours. If he followed this flow long enough, however, it, too, began to split, some scenes showing him and Fenrir having sex while others showed different people showing up to check in on him.
Realizing he hadn't simply gained the ability to see the flow of fate, Vahn felt both worried and, as could be expected, excited. He knew it would take a considerable amount of time to understand how to best use this power, but, for the time being, the concerns of his ever-faithful subordinate were far more important. If he were being honest, Vahn didn't want to know the consequences of his future actions as, if he began focusing on the future more than the present, he would be contradicting the very principals he stood for.
Though it was safe to assume that his version of foresight was more accurate than others, as it was based directly on his choices, Vahn ultimately decided it was better to just live in the moment. While the ability would undoubtedly prove useful in the future, especially when it came to tracking down his hidden enemies, that was a matter for then, not now. Thus, in an effort to allay Fenrir's concerns, Vahn hugged her body tightly, rubbing his cheek against the top of her head. Words were almost unnecessary between them so, even without him explaining his intentions, Fenrir released a sigh of relief before reciprocating his affectionate nuzzling...
---
Even before Vahn had awakened, his slumber had been closely observed by a number of different people. First and foremost among this group was Alaya, but, after sheepishly trying, and failing, to probe his mind, she ultimately retreated a fair distance. Even the brief contact she made with his subconscious mind gave off a dangerous feeling so, in the hopes of avoiding Vahn's ire, Alaya made the decision to give him privacy. She also began preparing her first sincere apology as, when Vahn recovered, there was no way he wouldn't bring up the fact she tried to pry into his mind...
Having witnessed Alaya's failed attempt, Merlin knew better than to make one of his own as, even if Vahn was in a deep state of unconsciousness, he knew there was 'something' protecting him. Thus, while Vahn slept, Merlin observed the strange flow of energy around him. It was unlike anything he had ever seen, almost like a whirlpool that sucked in everything around it yet, in spite of this quality, it didn't actually alter anything in the surroundings. Fenrir was even able to lay at Vahn's side for the entire fifteen hours he was unconscious, completely unaffected by this strange phenomenon.
All Merlin could be certain of was the fact that, while he slept, Vahn, despite appearing in a tangible form that could be interacted with, temporarily ceased to exist. Though he still had a physical form, it was like an infinitely more advanced version of the technique Merlin himself used to manifest on the Surface. It was like Vahn had become completely separate from the rest of the World and, if not for this paradoxical state, the strange whirlpool would have undoubtedly destroyed everything around him.
Though he didn't actually exist on the Surface, Merlin couldn't shake the thought that even he would be consumed if he ventured too close to the phenomenon generated by Vahn. It was for this reason he had everyone but Fenrir stay away as, much like Medusa, she seemed to be an extension of Vahn himself. Merlin wasn't entirely sure how this worked but, despite the fact they appeared to be unique and individual existences, Fenrir and Medusa gave off the same 'feeling' as Vahn. Not only was the energy in their body identical, but, on a fundamental level, they seemed to originate from the same source...Vahn himself...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'God of the Center','Vahn can now, quite literally, see the paths available to him...','Fenrir and Master are one, always and forever (O,....,O)!!')
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章節 1418: Pacify
Though lazing about in bed all day seemed like a pleasant idea, especially with good company at his side, Vahn knew he had other duties to attend. If he delayed dealing with Musashi and Caenis for too long, there was a good chance they would harden their hearts to resist him to their deaths. This was a less-than-ideal outcome as, if possible, Vahn wanted to reach an accord with the group, bringing an end to their current conflict.
While it may be true that Musashi's group saw him as a villain, that didn't mean they were incapable of seeing reason. If he could convince them that the actions he was taking now were steps to ensure everyone could live a peaceful and happy life, there was a chance the conflict between their groups could be brought to an end. He would give them the opportunity to freely observe the changes his actions brought about and, deciding for themselves whether or not he was 'truly' evil.
If Musashi's group insisted on fighting, even after his attempts to reason with them, Vahn would cut them down without mercy. He would not tolerate their hypocrisy, allowing them to throw the world into further disorder for their own selfishness. It may be true they wanted to protect the future, but, if it was at the expense of the past, they were, in many ways, worse than him. Unless their future was some comprehensive utopia, it would be easy to tear apart all of their arguments as, in the end, he had Alaya's and, by proxy, the World's interests at heart...
After massaging the inside of Fenrir's ears with his thumbs, earning a contented cooing from the loveable Vanargandr, Vahn motioned to steal a kiss before smiling as he said, "Come, we shouldn't lounge around for too long. I can feel the others worrying so, even if I wanted to, sleeping would be impossible."
Though she wanted her Master to rest longer, Fenrir wasn't going to argue against his decision. She gave him one last affectionate nuzzle, deeply inhaling his fragrance, before extricating herself from his body. Then, after a light tap of the gemstone on her collar, her lingerie-clad figure was covered in form-fitting white shorts, a grey undershirt, and a long-sleeved fur-trimmed jacket with the emblem of the Empire on the shoulders. On the back, a much larger emblem, depicting a wolf's head, served as Fenrir's own symbol, one which had been adopted by Hati as well.
Before Fenrir could make way for him to go about his own business, Vahn pulled out the same brush he had gifted to her long ago, a nostalgic artifact that reminded them both of the home waiting for their return. This brought a smile to Fenrir's face and, even without having to convey his intentions, she happily sat in his lap and allowed him to brush her hair and fur...
---
Even without having to call anyone to alert them of his awakening, Vahn was greeted by a whole host of women when he finally emerged from his room. Leading the pack was, as could be expected, Artoria, but, with the exception of those participating in active operations, nearly everyone else was also present.
Vahn ended up nearly being tackled to the ground by Illya but, as he had 'felt' her intentions before she even started to move, he was only pushed back a few steps as she complained, "I hate you..." in a tiny voice.
Though he found her words somewhat amusing, Vahn resisted the urge to release a chuckle as he held her firmly in his embrace and countered, saying, "I love you..." in response. This caused her to adopt a look of blame before she ultimately buried her face into his chest and answered, "I love you more..." in an even quieter voice than before...
After pacifying Illya for a short while, Vahn went through the entire crowd of women, understanding he had worried them quite a bit. After all, it was exceptionally rare for him to actually be taken out of commission, so, after being told by Merlin to stay away from him, they couldn't help but worry. Thus, before he moved on to more official duties, Vahn had the important responsibility of doing his best to allay the concerns of his myriad of lovers, all while marveling at the flow of fate surrounding each and every one of them.
When things finally began to calm down, Vahn invited most of the girls to accompany him to the dining hall. He had already produced a second body prior to exiting his chambers so, after the larger part of the procession followed his main body outside of the Inner Sanctum, Vahn met with Artoria and Gray to discuss what had happened while he was asleep. Though he didn't actually need to ask, as it would have been pretty obvious if something unexpected happened, he knew it was important to Artoria that they had such moments together.
As she had held herself back in the presence of everyone else, Artoria took the opportunity to sit at Vahn's side when they were 'alone' together. Though Gray sat on the other side of him, she had long grown accustomed to the presence of her distant descendant, coming to see her as an extension of herself, in many ways. Thus, Vahn found himself sandwiched by the near-identical woman, enjoying the softness of their bodies as Artoria explained, "Musashi is currently being held in the undersea isolation facility prepared by the Atlas Temple. Per her request, all other personnel evacuated the facility, leaving only Da Vinci to monitor her status. As for Caenis, she was moved to the Greenland Research Facility, imprisoned in their lowest level with chains and magical seals."
Vahn wasn't fond of imprisoning people, but, as he needed information from the two, he wasn't left with much of a choice. He had grown weary of this battle between their two forces so, if possible, he would like to bring the conflict to a swift end. Searching the World's Bounded Fields would require a significant amount of time and effort as, unless they arbitrarily decided to destroy them, an in-depth investigation would be required before deciding on the Bounded Field's fate.
There was also the fact that, while they had taken various precautions, Archimedes seemed to be the type that meticulously planned everything. It was for this reason that Musashi and Caenis had been moved to locations far from the heart of the Empire as there was a very real chance the capture of the two was a part of his plan. Their nature as Divine Spirits couldn't be ignored and, even if his tech was significantly less advanced than Da Vinci's, it was already proven they had the ability to traverse Imaginary Number Space.
To circumvent whatever Archimedes had planned, Vahn couldn't afford to sit idle for too long as, with each passing moment, the shaggy-haired inventor was undoubtedly forwarding his schemes. This made him, in many ways, the most dangerous opponent among the enemy forces as, from what they had been able to deduce, he was the mastermind behind everything. If they could take him out or reason with him, a lot of future troubles could be avoided.
Archimedes had to know by now that, no matter what kind of scheme he came up with, opposing the Empire was all but impossible. His only real option was to discard his so-called heroic visage and aim for mutually assured destruction but, even then, his efforts would be in vain. At best, he would be able to cause mass destruction among the civilian population, laying the blame on the Empire in a last-ditch effort to drag their reputation further through the mud. Even this would ultimately prove futile, however, as, even if humans were pushed to near-extinction, he would just have to help them rebuild after dealing with Angra Mainyu.
Alaya carried the genetic sequence of every human, animal, and plant that had ever existed on the Surface World so, even if everything but Avalon was destroyed, they would eventually rebuild. Vahn had an infinite amount of time at his disposal so, even if he had to rebuild civilization from scratch, it was only a matter of time. There was no path to victory for Archimedes and his forces, so, if he could make them realize this, Vahn was hoping they would either return to the distant future or, at the very least, stop causing him so much stress...
After listening to Artoria's explanation, Vahn nodded his head in understanding before hugging both her and Gray close to him. He knew meeting with Musashi and Caenis was an urgent matter but, just as before, Vahn prioritized the things most important to him. Artoria and Gray both had unshakeable convictions toward him, but, after seeing the state he had been forced into, they would obviously be affected. Thus, before setting out to deal with their captives, Vahn spent a fair amount of time trying to ease the uneasy feelings lingering in their hearts and minds...
---
Though nearly twenty hours had passed within the Projection, less than three had come and gone in the outside world. During that period of time, Da Vinci had continued to silently watch Musashi, her eyes rarely even blinking as she monitored the woman's vitals and physical makeup.
Divine Spirits were exceptionally rare, so, while she resisted the urge to perform experiments on the rather buxom samurai, Da Vinci still wanted to collect as much data as possible. There were so many secrets locked away within Musashi's body, but, knowing Vahn would never forgive her, combined with her own inhibitions towards experimenting on unwilling participants, Da Vinci could only watch the monitors vigilantly.
Contrary to how most people would act in the same situation, Musashi was surprisingly calm, much calmer than expected. Da Vinci knew that Caenis had been a lot more 'difficult' to deal with, so, she couldn't help but wonder what allowed Musashi to remain calm. The electrical activity in her brain was reminiscent of REM Sleep but, based on how other areas illuminated, it was obvious Musashi was completely aware of her surroundings. This made her state appear similar to deep meditation, but, as there were many incongruities, Da Vinci couldn't be certain.
Unfortunately, in Musashi's current state, conversing in any meaningful way was all but impossible. Even if Da Vinci wanted to question her, it was simply too dangerous to do so, as, despite her own power being beyond comprehension, intuition told her that Musashi would be able to cut her down. This feeling hadn't faded away even after Musashi's weapons had been sealed away so, fearing what would happen if she panicked, Da Vinci had ordered the evacuation of the entire facility. Most of the unnecessary equipment had also been stripped away and, if it came down to it, the entire facility was set to implode as a final failsafe. Since they were more than 4500m under the sea, even the majority of S-Rank Heroic Spirits wouldn't be able to survive...
Despite all these preparations, including making a faux-body using techniques similar to Touko's, Da Vinci had a distinct impression that Musashi couldn't be held. If she truly intended to escape, it was likely only Vahn, Arcueid, and Merlin could keep her at bay, as, since the time of her summoning, Da Vinci had only met a few existences that made her feel as if her knowledge amounted to nothing by comparison. These were the various Tier 5 entities Vahn had identified and, while Musashi gave off a subtly different impression, Da Vinci could tell she was hiding something unbelievably powerful...
Fortunately, Da Vinci had already been alerted to the fact that Vahn had awakened, so, with any luck, he would arrive before Musashi lost her patience. She didn't seem to be in a particular rush, but, if her intuition proved correct, which was almost always the case, this was primarily due to the fact that Musashi was trying to ascertain whether or not this was 'reality'. After being captured the first time, it would have been pretty obvious that the Empire had the means to trick a person's senses, so, until she was certain the world around her wasn't an illusion, Musashi seemed to be practicing patience...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Taking care of what is important','Archimedes becomes more and more like a villain with each passing day...','Da Vinci's intuition o_o...')
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