Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos
chapter-1540

Ignoring the various complaints she received from her Governess and Maid escorts, Theo held onto Rakan's hair like reins as she directed him towards the largest courtyard. She ignored the fact that he was already well-acquainted with the Palace's layout, and, believing children should be more spirited, Rakan made no attempt to correct her behavior. Instead, he smiled somewhat viciously at the people who tried to force Theo to get down, intimidating them into silence.

Theo noticed what Rakan was doing, but, as she always felt like the 'Queen of the World' while riding on his shoulders, she didn't mind. Instead, she actually felt somewhat envious of the fact he was able to basically do whatever he wanted. She had always dreamed of becoming strong enough to wander around as free as the wind, but, due to her status as the Crown Princess, this was wishful thinking. At best, she could become an Imperial Envoy or a General in the military, traveling abroad only when it suited the interests of her nation...

Due to Rakan's rather monstrous gait, it didn't take long to reach one of the largest courtyards in the Imperial Palace, a place generally reserved for the Imperial Family to relax. There were various types of flora, fauna, and, to make it more aesthetically pleasing, intricately designed aqueducts and small ruin-like structures. If you knew where to look, there were even a few secret areas that connected to various passages or hidden chambers, many of which were only known to their respective owners to prevent a purge instigated by members of the Imperial Family.

With several hundred meters of open area, Theo hopped off Rakan's back before glaring at him and saying, "You better not peek..."

Hearing Theo's warning, Rakan burst into laughter, continuing until she 'lightly' punched him in his seemingly indestructible eight-pack. This caused her to wince in pain, bringing an end to Rakan's laughter as he ruffled her hair and said, "No worries, Princess. I ain't interested in brats."

Though his words were said in a genial manner, a visible tick mark appeared on Theo's brow as she began pounding Rakan's chest, exclaiming, "I told you not to call me a brat you stupid monkey!"

Rather than evade Theo's blows, Rank began to twist his body so that she was hitting his side, a sly smile on his face as he mused, "Your massage skills are improving. A little to the left..."

With triple tick-marks on her head, Theo took a few steps back in order to get a running start. This caused the smile on Rakan's face to turn slightly wry, forcing him to evade the Princess' attempt to dropkick him 'below the belt'. Then, before she could recover, he waved over his shoulder, laughter resounding throughout the area as he walked behind a pillar.

Seeing Rakan's walking away, Theo stuck out her tongue at him with a pretend-angry expression on her face. She was a little annoyed at Rakan's teasing, but she wasn't really that upset. She hated how stuffy most people were around her, and, though he might be a little lascivious in his words at times, she knew Rakan was a 'gentleman'. She trusted him more than the Maids assigned to help her bathe and dress, as, if it really came down to it, she knew Rakan would place his life on the line to keep her safe.

After waiting for a few seconds, Theo looked around the area for a bit, her pointed ears waggling a bit as she lifted up the hem of her blouse. She had only recently entered puberty, and, though it was really beginning to show, she still opted not to wear a bra. She didn't like the way they felt, and, with the large crest on her chest, she felt it would only get in the way. Summoning Vrixho used the crest as a gateway, so, if it was covered, she would end up destroying her clothes...

Ignoring the burning on her cheeks, Theo puffed out her chest as she shouted, "Come forth, Vrixho Nagasha! Your descendent, Teodora Bashireia Herasu De Vesuperisujimia, requires your aid!"

Following Theo's call, light shot out from the crest on her chest like a projector that created three-dimensional images. It quickly coalesced into the form of a vaguely humanoid dragon with muscular arms, a tapered waist, powerful legs, an exceptionally long tail, and three pairs of blade-like wings. It had the ability to change size, but, by default, it was around 120m in length, two-thirds of which was its glaive-like tail. As for its wings, they were able to extend upwards of 250m, the bladed segments capable of cutting through Superdreadnaught-Class Air Whales as if they were made of styrofoam...

Though Vrixho had been in the middle of reading at a local orphanage, he never hesitated to answer the call of his contractors. Even if Theo only ever called him to mess around, he still released an awe-inspiringly powerful aura as he looked around, his slender head and sword-like horns swiveling as he searched for potential enemies.

Realizing what he had been summoned for, Vrixho snorted through his nose as he used his tail like a whip, smashing the collum Rakan was hiding behind. This sent the muscular man smashing through a few trees, laughing boisterously the entire way.

Seeing Vrixho immediately attack Rakan, Theo showed a small amount of panic as she exclaimed, "I didn't call you here to battle! You're going to get me in trouble if you end up destroying things you damned lizard! That goes doubly for you, dumb gorilla! I know you can hear me...!!"

Clicking his tongue, Rakan sneakily placed his massive greatsword back into the pocket dimension he kept with him. He knew the Emperor wouldn't care all that much, but, as others were bound to complain, Theo would probably get grounded for a few weeks. The spirited brat hated being locked up more than anything else, so, after making a mental note to smack the dragon a few times in the near future, he dusted off his shoulders before making his way over...

With Rakan backing down, Vrixho gave the closest thing to a taunting sneer he could manage before his body was enveloped in light. He rapidly decreased in size, becoming an old man with long white hair, two dagger-like white horns, and a thick white tail protruding out of his long, flowing, robes. At a glance, he seemed to be little more than an elderly member of the Ancient Hellas race, albeit with an aura that greatly eclipsed even the Emperor's.

Though he had acknowledged Rakan's strength, Vrixho wasn't fond of how the man would often greet him with a punch to the face. The man seemed absolutely determined to break through his defenses, an inevitable event that Vrixho wasn't particularly looking forward to...

Ignoring the glowering expression of the old man, Rakan raised his hand in a gesture of greeting as he said, "Yo. How have you been, old lizard? Scare any children recently?"

Choosing to ignore Rakan's question, Vrixho plainly stated, "I know what you want to ask. You want to inquire about that man, the Sage Dragon Emperor, right? I already told both Mike and Theo not to mess with that man. Even if you manage to defeat him, the consequences will be disastrous. Even the Lord of Spirits is not as loved by the World as that man. If you manage to kill him, I imagine our nation's death will not be far behind..."

Though he had heard something similar from the Emperor, Rakan winced when he heard the words directly from Vrixho, asking, "Is it really that bad? How could someone like that just suddenly appear out of thin air? Did he come from the Spirit World?"

Shaking his head, Vrixho explained, "There is a land called Avalon within the Land of Spirits, but there is no Empire there. It is the resting place of one of Mundus Ventus' Great Guardians, Draigo Flamma, the Welsh Dragon. Though some refer to him as the Red Dragon Emperor, that is a drastic difference from the title 'Sage Dragon Emperor'. As for that man's candidacy as an Ancient Dragon...my senses fail me. All I can say for certain is that his aura is like that of nature itself...it is unlike anything I have ever experienced."

As Vrixho was one of the most powerful creatures in the entire world, Rakan couldn't take his word lightly. His smile faded away completely, replaced by a serious expression that belied the excitement in his heart. He was looking forward to being able to battle against such an enigmatic existence, but, before that, he asked, "So, you're saying it's fine as long as I don't kill him, right?"

Hearing Jack's question, Vrixho snorted through his nose before saying, "With everything happening abroad, I am against antagonizing that...thing. We cannot afford to fight against Megalomesembria if we are simultaneously fighting against nature itself. Even without a contract, the Elements choose to protect that man. If you battle, there is no way of knowing how they will react. If famine and disaster strike the Empire, our people will suffer when the Megalomesembrian Shocktroopers sweep through our lands..."

Though his fighting spirit hadn't been diminished in the slightest, Rakan's expression became even more serious as he stated, "You speak as though we should just ignore him. Even if he is only killing people he thinks are evil, the stability of the Empire will be threatened if he takes it too far. Change is something that must happen gradually. If you force it, the people may not be able to adapt in time. I don't like it any more than the next person, but there is a need for underground organizations. If not for the Black Market, most people would never have the change to obtain rare elixirs and armaments to protect themselves..."

After experiencing life as a slum-dweller, Rakan was well aware of the disparity that existed between the Nobility and the average citizen. He was doing his best to change things by becoming a symbol for future generations to rally behind. Changing things forcefully would only result in even greater problems, as, despite their corrupt nature, the nobility was needed to ensure a power vacuum didn't form. While rebellion might make the people feel empowered, it did little to address the issues that immediately followed a successful coup. The collapse of the economy, alone, would result in millions of people dying from starvation, disease, and the criminal acts that resulted from desperate people simply trying to survive...

Remembering the past, Rakan shook his head before adding, "Something must be done. If he can't be reasoned with, we would need to slay or destroy him. Even if the Spirits riot, we can request an envoy from Elfenhof to act as an intermediary. If necessary, I'm willing to conduct a pilgrimage to the Sacred Lands in order to request the aid of a Great Spirit..."

Hearing the conviction in Rakan's tone, Vrixho couldn't help but release a sigh as he said, "If anyone else were to say such things, I would have called them a fool. You, however, I can trust to remain true to your word. So long as you have the proper conviction, I have nothing else to say on the matter. All I ask is that you attempt to reach an accord before resorting to more forceful methods. Though I fail to understand his purpose, that man seems to be testing this nation. I believe you and he have more in common than you think...so long as you possess righteous intentions, I do not believe he will try and kill you. The Spirits would never love someone with a malicious heart...if you can understand one another, I believe the Empire's victory in the coming war will be assured..."

Understanding what Vrixho was trying to convey, Rakan nodded in a solemn manner, saying, "I'll be sure to keep that in mind. If what you say is true, it is inevitable that he and I exchange blows. In the end, I'll do what I believe is best for the Empire. Even if I make a mistake, I'll do my best to make sure it doesn't hurt the people."

Without doubting Rakan's convictions, Vrixho gave a curt nod as an appreciative smile spread across his aged face. He often lamented the fact that Rakan hadn't been born into the Imperial Family. If the Empire had someone like him at the helm, they would undoubtedly prosper for hundreds of years. It was truly unfortunate that his lifespan was so limited, but, considering how most long-lived species viewed the world, it was perhaps for the best. Had Rakan been born as a full Hellesian man, his views would undoubtedly be very different than his present self...

Though he hadn't bee particularly paying attention to things taking place within the Imperial Palace, Vahn felt a subtle shift in the flow of fate. This caused him to put down the Embercat, his aquamarine irises shifting into the characteristic gold of his Huanglong form as a smile spread across his lips. He didn't know what had changed, but his instincts told him a powerful opponent had just shifted their focus toward him. This caused his draconic blood to boil, exciting the surrounding Elemental Spirits and causing them all to face the same direction...

Sensing her Master's excitement, Medusa's own began to grow, albeit for very different reasons. She, much like Fenrir, had an inexplicable desire to see him reign over everything. Though she had greatly enjoyed their time together, seeing her Master laze about had been steadily increasing the anxiety in her heart. She could sense his desire to explore the world, so it left an itchy feeling in her heart that simply couldn't be scratched.

Now that her Master was releasing his aura, Medusa could feel her anxiety begin to subside as a potent heat began spreading throughout her body. She felt as if 'something' inside her had just clicked into place, and, before she even realized it, she was using her hair as a support so that she could embrace her Master's shoulders from behind. It just seemed like the most natural thing to do, and, as if proving this was the case, her Master didn't even seem to notice it. Instead, his aura had only become more potent as golden scales began to slowly sprout across his body...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Mordred and Theo would get along','If Jack's bangs were reversed, he would basically be All Might xD...','The gentle embrace of a Gorgon...')