章節 1874: Habit
Emerging from his Internal World, Vahn 'awoke' to find himself lounging lazily on the incline of a grass-covered hill. The first thing he noticed was the 'sun' shining brightly overhead, its gentle rays warming his bodies along with the numerous figures that surrounded him.
Though he was somewhat reluctant to do so, Vahn ceased reclining against Fenrir's perpetually cool and comfortable fur, inhaling a deep breath that ultimately transitioned into a yawn. This resulted in a number of other yawns emanating from his surroundings, the result of everyone gradually waking up in response to his stirring.
Amused by the chain-reaction, a lazy smile spread across Vahn's face as he hugged the half-asleep beauty in his arms, surprising her as he whispered, "Your drowsy expression is adorable..." before stealing her lips. This caused the woman, Atalanta, to startle awake, eyes widening as she moved to push powerlessly against his shoulders. At the same time, she also attempted to lean away from his lips, but, due to his paradoxically gentle yet unbreakable hold, she didn't get very far.
Realizing there was no escape, Atalanta did her best to bury her embarrassment, reciprocating his kiss despite her face turning red as an apple. Her tail also began to twitch slightly, but, knowing he shouldn't push her too far, Vahn ran his hand down the line of her back, relaxing her tensions with a single caress before retracting his lips and adding, "Sorry if I embarrassed you..." in a soothing tone.
Recovering from her momentary daze, Atalanta adopted a slight pout, puffing out her cheeks for a brief moment before concealing her face against his chest. She had never become accustomed to public displays of affection, so, with so many people present, it wasn't too surprising that she would feel a little embarrassed. Vahn was well aware of this, but, hearing her issue an adorable 'funyaaaa~' while 'pawing' at her fringe with the back of her hand, he simply couldn't help himself...
---
After an impromptu petting party, Vahn, accompanied by a veritable army of 'fluff', made his way over to the canteen to enjoy a meal. There, more than half of the Emerald Grove's residents were idling about, smiles on their faces as they enjoyed delicious food and good company. At a glance, the interior resembled a lively tavern, or, more specifically, the interior of a Magic Guild commonly found in Fairy Tail.
Completing the 'illusion', Lisanna, wearing a filly outfit reminiscent of a waitress, quickly intercepted the newly arrived group, an impish smile developing across her face as she asked, "Would you like to order something? Just so you know, today's 'special' is Dragon Tail Steak~."
With Lisanna tacking a wink on to the end of her statement, Vahn could easily guess what made the Dragon Tail Steak special. This caused a dry laugh to emanate from his throat as several of the girls around him, unable to restrain themselves, swallowed hungrily...
Electing to have his meal decided for him, Vahn left the girls to their own orders as he made his way over to a table occupied by Mavis, Index, and Mikoto. His approach caused smiles to spread across the faces of the first two girls, an amusing sight considering both had 'chipmunk cheeks' filled with food. As for Mikoto, her face became noticeably red, and, though they had never done anything to be embarrassed about, she couldn't help but avert her eyes as she shrank further into her seat.
Feeling a little awkward, Vahn fought the urge to rub the back of his head as he sat down next to Mavis, the furthest seat from Mikoto. Based on the way she was acting, he could assume she had recently done something perverted. This was actually pretty common when it came to the bashful Electromaster, so, whenever she became like this, Vahn did his best to give her space without overly avoiding her...
As that thought crossed his mind, realization donned upon Vahn as he saw what, exactly, Mikoto was eating. She noticed this subtle change in his expression, and, as could be expected, her face became even redder as she hung her head and mumbled, "I was curious..." in a meek tone.
Though the ingredients produced from his body weren't particularly different from the minerals and ore he used to generate, only the boldest among the Emerald Grove's residents would eat the food cooked using ingredients harvested from his body. Generally speaking, the primary culprits were his wives, the more instinct-driven women among his harem, and, to a lesser extent, those who wanted to experience the 'intimacy' of consuming a dish that, quite literally, contained a piece of him...
Unsure of what to say, Vahn defaulted to a relaxed smile, trusting that someone else would speak up before things became too awkward. Fortunately, Mavis was 'extremely' perceptive when it came to things like reading people and understanding social cues. As a result, she quickly gulped down a mouthful of food before chasing it with strong and fragrant grape wine. Then, with a radiant smile on her face, she happily chimed, "You have nothing to feel ashamed of, Mikoto-chan! I won't argue that it isn't a little strange, but Vahn is super delicious, you know? Besides, I can't imagine you ever leaving the Emerald Grove to wander around without Vahn. Why not just embrace your identity as a Pokemon and enjoy the unique opportunities available to you?"
Seemingly inspired by her own advice, Mavis scooched over, a contented smile on her face as she sat in Vahn's lap and added, "Pamper me~." in a lackadaisical tone. This left the latter feeling a little helpless, but, rather than ask her to sit in her own seat, Vahn just lightly chuckled before moving his hands up to massage Mavis' head and shoulders. In response, the wing-like ornaments on the sides of her head began to gleefully waggle, her exposed feet dangling playfully beneath the table as she resumed eating.
Though her face was still noticeably red, Mikoto's embarrassed expression gradually morphed into an accusatory deadpan as she witnessed Mavis' shamelessness. At the same time, however, she also seriously considered the mischievous Fairy's words, wondering if she should just 'give up' on trying to live a 'normal' life. She was, after all, a god-tier Pokemon, and, if she pushed herself, reaching Tier 5 should only take a few years within the Little Garden...
Imagining herself as a Tier 5 Pikachu, Mikoto couldn't help but lament Vahn's decision to assign her the identity of an electrical mouse. She understood he had done so because he thought it was cute, but, unless she went out of her way to change, she was now stuck looking like an adorable mouse with a heart-shaped tail for the rest of her life. The problem with this was that she actually felt most comfortable as her Pikachu self, and, though she would never admit it, being small was surprisingly convenient...
Before she realized it, Mikoto's eyes were fixed on Vahn's hands, her brows furrowing slightly as a few vibrant blue sparks of electricity emanated from the ahoge atop her head. This drew the eyes of everyone at the table, instantaneously returning the blush to her cheeks. To make matters infinitely worse, her stomach released a not-so-subtle grumble due to the heavenly aroma of food wafting from the table in front of her...
Just as Mikoto felt like her brain was going to short circuit, a jolt ran through her body as Vahn, having returned Mavis to her seat before vacating his own, sat down next to her. Then, before she could find the words to explain herself, her mind blanked as Vahn deftly cut a piece of the Dragon Tail Steak and raised it to her partially opened mouth, smiling as he said, "Eat..." in a calming tone.
Though he hadn't made use of the Law of Authority, Mikoto's body moved, seemingly by instinct, to taste the unbelievably fragrant morsel that had been proferred to her lips. The taste caused a powerful shiver to run through her body, and, if not for Vahn erecting a soundproof barrier, the entire hall would have been able to hear the sonorous, high-pitched, sound emanating from her throat and nose.
As the intoxicating juices spread across her tongue, Mikoto felt as though the inside of her brain and body were beginning to melt, waves of flavor and pleasure gently washing over her like the continuous caress of the sea against a pristine white beach in Summer. She could feel a warmth pervade her entire body, and, for a brief moment, she was gripped by the illusion that she was at the beach, preparing to sunbathe as Vahn applied a generous layer of sunscreen over the entirety of her naked body...
Back in 'reality', a dazed expression had replaced the usual clarity in Mikoto's eyes as she leaned against Vahn's body for support. This earned her a few curious gazes from other diners, but, as it was actually quite common for such scenes to occur when trying one of Rindo's new dishes, most just giggled to themselves while others lightly chided Vahn, warning him not to take things too far.
Since he was just feeding her, Vahn made a show of dramatically rolling his eyes in response to the teasing remarks as he picked up another piece of meat and held it near Mikoto's lips. This had an effect similar to smelling salts, clarity returning to her eyes as she stared somewhat trepidatiously at the proferred piece of meat. Then, with a blush extending into her ears, she leaned a little closer to Vahn, meekly accepting the offering as the ahoge atop her head twitched vigorously...
---
Though it felt like a considerable amount of time had passed, less than six hours had passed by the time Vahn and Co emerged from the Little Garden. This was a little jarring for the former members of Team Fug, but, like most Regulars, they quickly adapted, accepting the reality without bothering to question the mechanics behind the time dilation.
With everyone waiting for him to speak up, Vahn adopted his usual smile as he said, "Just as before, Ryun will act as a Guide while Yura coordinates everyone through her Lighthouse. Since Vicente and David have fused together, there aren't really any changes to consider. Just follow orders and fulfill the responsibilities expected of your Position. So long as everyone works together, we'll be able to track down Albelda within ten days. After that, you'll be free to relax until we reach the next station. From there, you can pretty much do whatever you want. I'm not going to tell you how to live your lives, and, so long as you don't default into becoming monsters, you'll never have to worry about me tracking you down..."
Noticing Daniel raise his hand, Vahn's smile took on an undertone of amusement as he allowed his words to trail for a brief moment before adding, "I have already promised your former companions that I would resurrect Ms. Yuia. If you would like to accompany us until then, you are welcome to do so. That applies to you as well, Ms. Yura. I understand you have some business on the Hidden Floor. So long as you don't try anything 'shady', you are welcome to accompany us until we reach the End Station."
Though they couldn't help but pale slightly, neither Daniel nor Yura was surprised by Vahn's ability to ascertain their intentions. The latter even suspected he knew exactly why she 'needed' to venture to the Hidden Floor, and, depending on how she played her cards until then, there was a chance he might even help her. She had gradually come to recognize that Vahn's group were the 'good guys', so, with his purported power to resurrect the dead, there was a chance he might be able to save her twin brother as well. This was something she was willing to gamble her life on, so, in response to his words, she forced herself to swallow dryly before muttering, "Thank you..." in a sincere yet uncertain tone...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn is a bully (O w O)...','Om nom nom~','Do your best and trust in the Sage Dragon Emperor! So long as you work hard, all your dreams are certain to come true! -excerpt from Fenrir's 'How to be a Good Girl' handbook.')
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章節 1875: Product
With David's power allowing him to amplify another's, Vicente's instantaneous counter range had increased to more than 150m. This might not be that impressive compared to the heaven-shaking feats Vahn was used to, but it was rather impressive considering they were, technically, just D-Rank Regulars.
Though there were a few hidden enemies that greatly exceeded the strength of most D-Ranks, the God of Guardians being the best example, the Hell Express was a Special Testing Grounds intended for fledgling Regulars. This made it a playground for the 'former' members of the Arie Family, and, though they still had a long way to go in their training as both a Light Bearer and Scout, even Yura and Daniel had the approximate strength of a B-Rank Regular.
Simply put, the Hell Express wasn't a challenge for people whose strength exceeded the threshold of D-Rank. This was one of the reasons Vahn didn't like people 'doubling back' to board the express multiple times. Those who had completed the journey would have already earned the qualifications for C-Rank, so, no matter how you looked at it, it simply wasn't fair to allow them to board a Special Test meant for D-Ranks.
With the exception of a Special Test known as the Stairway to Heaven, the Hell Express was the only Test that could be participated in and completed numerous times. This had led to numerous issues throughout the years, and, if not for the restrictions placed on members of the Ten Great Families, it would have undoubtedly become a 'boosting grounds' for their progeny.
In the absence of a 'ruling class', otherwise normal Regulars took it upon themselves to exploit the Hell Express to an almost perverse degree. Some of this could be attributed to FUG, especially after the White incident; but, considering Sachi, Daniel, Boro, Aka, and Roen had been taking advantage of the Special Testing Ground for years prior to that event, laying blame on the odious organization wouldn't be fair.
By clearing the Hell Express multiple times, Regulars were able to drastically increase their strength while accumulating a variety of unique and powerful items by clearing hidden chambers or simply purchasing them from the shops located in the residential cars. This wouldn't be a problem if they used said items to continue advancing up the Tower, but, rather than be satisfied with the benefits they had already received, countless Regulars shamelessly took advantage of the Hell Express' rules to suppress others for their own, personal, gain.
One of the things that 'exhausted' Vahn the most when it came to sapient creatures is how they could resent others for suppressing them, but, the moment they were given an opportunity to reap benefits, they would unhesitantly rob others of the same opportunity. There were even people who justified their actions by shifting the blame to the Ten Great Families, arguing that they 'needed' to behave in such a way just to even the playing field. To make matters even worse, the more 'zealous' among them would even argue that the people who died due to their suppression were actually at fault for 'overestimating themselves' by 'daring to compete against the strong'...
Fortunately, the issues perpetuated by the lax restrictions of the Hell Express wouldn't be a problem for much longer. Vahn already had several ideas for how to circumvent its exploitation, and, should these prove ineffective, he could always just 'steal' the entire locomotive. There was plenty of space for it inside the Little Garden, and, though his domain might not be large enough to seize the entire thing at once, detaching the cars wasn't particularly difficult...
---
Though David had made an effort to convince Vicente and Anna to sabotage Vahn's attempts to track down their last remaining sibling, neither was willing to go along with his plans. This caused the 'youth' a considerable amount of frustration in the beginning, but, after eating a few delicious meals and witnessing the strength of Vahn's team first-hand, it wasn't long before he had 'wisened' up and changed his tone. Rather, despite the quality being far below Rindo's standard, Yura, Daniel, Vicente, Anna, and David were all 'exceptionally' fond of Vahn's cooking.
With David abandoning his thoughts of rebellion pretty early on, the ten-day journey to track down Albelda was beginning to seem like it would end without incident. Anna even managed to one-shot the Guardian posted outside her chamber, destroying its head using a massive Baang resembling a White Dwarf Star. In fact, that was the name she had assigned to the skill, specifically calling it 'Anna Style Shinsu Control Skill: White Dwarf Star'.
It was at the moment when Anna's skill began to fade away that Vahn's instincts triggered, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end as Eva, Artoria, Fenrir, and Asuna spontaneously moved to protect the members of 'Team Yura'. At nearly the exact same moment, the vault-like door leading to Albelda's chamber began emanating a vibrant light as several white-hot lines appeared across its surface. Almost immediately thereafter, the entire vault was blown away in a massive explosion that spread throughout the exterior chamber, slamming into the barrier Eva had erected like a tidal wave crashing into a sea break.
Before things could get too far out of hand, Vahn promptly manifested the Little Garden in his right hand, unceremoniously drawing the shellshocked Regulars inside. At the same time, his expression hardened as a pulse of intent radiated from his body, emulating an advanced form of Conqueror's Haki as it shattered Eva's barrier like glass before forcing back the ghostly white tide with surprising ease.
Feeling a backlash due to Vahn shattering her barrier, Eva sent an accusatory glare his way, nearly breaking his concentration due to the shivers it sent through his body. Fortunately, while he wasn't without his flaws, Vahn was never the type to drop his guard when enemies were present. Instead, his mind overcompensated by becoming even more focused, his surroundings gradually darkening as the flow of time slowed to a crawl.
With a hazy green aura glistening across his body, Vahn was largely immune to the effects caused by the stagnation of time. His domain also allowed him to sense everything in his surroundings, so, rather than become blinded by his own enhanced perception, the world around him seem far more vibrant than normal. It was like he could sense the entire electromagnetic spectrum, and, if he really focused, even the structure of solid objects and living organisms became 'gaseous' due to his ability to see the constituent particles comprising their body...
Turning his head, Vahn wasn't surprised to notice that Eva, Asuna, and Artoria seemed to be 'aware' of his actions. They even seemed to be adapting, the energy in their cells gradually becoming more active with each passing nanosecond. Their status as Tier 5 beings wasn't for naught, and, should he afford them the opportunity, it was only a matter of 'time' before they shifted into the unique 'Axis of Time' he had created.
Though he could lend them a hand, Vahn knew it would be more meaningful if the girls overcame their limits without his assistance. Thus, for the time being, he simply smiled towards them before turning his head to face the enemy who had smashed through the sealed vault. This caused him to raise his brows slightly, not because he was awed by the white-haired figure's beauty, but because she was actually moving towards him, albeit 'very' slowly.
Recalling that the Arie Family's techniques specifically revolved around the manipulation of Space, a glimmer of understanding flashed across Vahn's eyes as he considered the best course of action. He didn't actually sense any animosity from the young woman. Instead, she seemed to be exceptionally excited, her aura comprised of a mixture of vibrant blues, resplendent golds, and pure white lights...
Recognizing the excited glimmer in the ruby-eyed woman's eyes, a wry smile spread across Vahn's face as he quickly intuited that she must be a battle junkie. She had most likely sensed the danger contained in the technique Anna had derived from Eva's teaching regarding the Shinsu Black Hole Sphere. It might not be that powerful in its present state, but, so long as she could catch them by surprise, even Rankers might sustain serious injuries from Anna's 'White Dwarf Star'.
Understanding what kind of foe he was up against, Vahn's eyes briefly focused on the tiny silver crown attached to her silver tiara. Though her hair was moderately more free-flowing, giving it a natural curl, the woman greatly resembled the androgynous Hoaqin. The only major differences were their eye colors, their choice of garb, and, as could be expected, their actual gender.
Hoaqin had silvery-white eyes, much like every other member of the Arie Family. The ghostly white woman in front of him, however, had red eyes that glistened like blood-colored gemstones. As for her attire, she wore a frilly black dress adorned with white pleat and two crimson ribbons, one tied around her waist and the other fastened around her collar, similar to a sailor uniform. She also wore a black half-vest beneath her dress, seemingly as a substitute for a bra, and, though her long white legs made it appear as though she was wearing hose, the reality was that she simply had an ashen white complexion that amplified her ethereal appearance.
Though the same could be said about most members of the Arie Family, Vahn had to admit that the woman before him was quite the beauty. Far more important than this, however, was the question of whether or not she was already under Hoaqin's influence. The crown atop her head was similar to the profane artifact worn by the original, and, though there were some slight differences, her sword was a near-perfect replica of the former's...
Fortunately, Vahn had an exceptionally simple way to ascertain a person's thoughts, so, with a smile on his face, he turned towards the redheaded beauty floating at his side, remarking, "I'm surprised. Don't you normally get a kick out of revealing a person's innermost secrets...?"
Without refuting his words, the Law of Identity nodded her head as if to say, 'certainly', but, rather than transforming into the white-haired woman, she remained in her base form. Vahn found this a little strange, but, before he could ask, the Law of Identity preempted his inquiry by revealing, "This person doesn't exist..." before adopting a slight pout.
Raising his brows in response to the sudden revelation, Vahn returned his gaze to the white-haired woman, his pupils contracting to points as they released a bluish-white light. Then, faster than any human could ever hope to blink, he appeared right in front of the ghostly figure, his hand coming to rest on her head as he analyzed the structure of her body in greater detail. This caused a thread of Sword Intent to course through his body, but, much like any other invasive energy, it was soon diffused due to the peculiarities of his constitution.
Spreading his senses through the woman's body, Vahn's expression morphed into one of absolute incredulity as he realized what, exactly, the woman was. At the same time, a wave of overwhelming nausea welled up inside of his body, but, unlike before, he was able to keep it under control as he retracted his hand and frowned deeply.
Though she looked like a relatively normal person at first glance, the white-haired beauty slowly turning her blood-red eyes towards him was actually an amalgamation of countless fragmented egos. It was like someone had siphoned the energy from billions of individual egos, fusing them together and having them devour each other until only a single dominant personality remained.
Realizing that the woman was effectively the 'power' that White had lost after separating his body into five, Vahn's brain began to buzz as he fought the urge to extend his hand forward and 'erase' the white-haired woman from existence. The only thing stopping him was the notion that, despite the circumstances resulting in her 'birth', the woman was, inherently, without sin. There was a truly ridiculous amount of negative energy contained within her Ego, yet, in spite of this, she appeared remarkably pure, innocent, and, after realizing the difference between them, afraid...
Breaking eye contact with the woman, Vahn stared at the palm of his right hand, slowly forming his hand into a fist as he wondered what the 'right' thing to do in this situation was. The woman was, in many ways, an existence that 'profaned' the Order of Creation. Despite this, she was, at least for the time being, completely devoid of sin...
As this thought crossed his mind, so too did the image of Xysteria, his beloved daughter who, due to the circumstances of her birth, possessed an unrivaled potential for destruction. Despite this, she was a curious, caring, and affectionate girl who did her best to avoid hurting others. She possessed an ability that others would unhesitantly label as evil, yet, in spite of this, she was one of the purest and most adorable beings Vahn had the fortune of fathering...
Shaking his head, Vahn removed the silver tiara from the woman's head before extending his hand to lightly caress her velvety white hair. Shortly thereafter, the fearful light in her eyes began to fade away as the flow of time gradually returned to normal. By then, the woman had lost consciousness, falling into Vahn's waiting arms as the momentum from her hypersonic movements was completely absorbed into his body...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: '*Vahn be like the dad who takes a toy away from two arguing children...','This is only the tip of the iceberg...','Xysteria must be protected at all costs...!')
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