Chapter 2334: Null Protocol

After what felt like an eternity and a single moment in time, Vahn opened his eyes to find himself staring outward at the edge of the arena. There, a series of cracks began to form as space and time folded inward, creating a phenomenon similar to an uncorked drain.

Watching the perennial purple flames being sucked into the void, a furrow marred Vahn's face as he stated in an audibly feminine voice, "The energy within my body exceeds the concept of infinity. Draining away my flames will accomplish nothing."

Feeling a sudden sense of incongruity, 'Vahn' blinked before his viewpoint suddenly shifted from the center of the arena to the edge, staring back at the Ethereal Queen from his non-existent form.

In a voice that caused the surrounding space to tremble, Vahn muttered, "Well, that was weird..." before manifesting 'within' the crack, completely unaffected by its encroachment. His 'body,' at least from the perspective of the Ethereal Queen, resembled a 2D outline as black as the void itself, outlined in white and possessing gold eyes set with rotating, aquamarine triangles.

Blinking in surprise, the Ethereal Queen dropped out of her lotus position and asked, "You fused with the Nothingness of the Void? I'll admit, that is going to make you marginally more problematic. However, my attacks can rend reality and birth concepts into existence. All you've accomplished is wasting both of our time."

Shaking his head, though it was difficult to tell he had moved at all, Vahn retorted, "Time is an illusion. It has no start or end point. Unless there is an intent to set it in motion, even entropy does not flow."

As Vahn's eerie, almost synthetic-sounding voice resonated through the arena, the white light lining his silhouette began to expand, forming the outline of a dragon with twelve wings. It was a lot smaller than his usual transformation, but the energy it exuded caused the 'crack' to widen at an exponential rate, eventually forming a flat 'plane' where concepts such as dimensionality simply didn't exist.

Realizing what Vahn was attempting, the pupils of the Ethereal Queen's cerulean eyes contracted, her proud demeanor showing its first signs of cracking as she muttered, "I see...you're not trying to win. You're setting everything back to a point before concepts existed. Instead of erasure or destruction, you're 'nullifying' the Laws that grant me my power..."

Gripping her staff with both hands, fear blossomed within the Ethereal Queen's heart like a poisonous flower. What Vahn was attempting should not be possible. However, due to the immutable nature of Source Energy, he was the sole being capable of existing when all else ceased to be. He might never come close to that point, but he drew power from a Construct that gave form to Origin, transcending the Tier System in its entirety.

Raising his left hand, the whites of Vahn's eyes began to disappear as he slowly closed them, his voice gaining an unfathomably profound quality to it as he said, "Initiate Administrative Function: Null Protocol..."

Unwilling to go down without a fight, quite literally, the Ethereal Queen lost all of her composure as she surged forward with a battle cry. She was able to reach the surface of the plane in an instant, but even after striking it with her full-powered blow, nothing notable happened. Her attack could give form to reality, actualizing the death of her opponent, but it didn't so much as produce a shockwave. Then, before she could utter so much as a single word of protest, everything went dark...

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Staring out at the endless nothingness that surrounded him, a world devoid of even the most fundamental concepts that formed reality, a paradoxical sense of loneliness and 'liberation' exuded from the core of Vahn's being. He couldn't shake the notion that all of his troubles were now over. That, so long as he didn't create a single thing, there would never be any pain and suffering again...

Fortunately for Vahn, even in his most 'base' form, he was never truly alone. His 'memory' encompassed all of reality, and, within the deepest trenches of his Soul, the potential of all things existed, eagerly awaiting their moment. More importantly, there was a voice that he could never separate from, its tone gentle, kind, and understanding despite carrying a profoundness that dwarfed even the Mantra of Eternity.

Floating amidst the nebulous cloud of potential that pervaded the entirety of Vahn's Soul, Sis, in all her naked glory, remarked, "You've really done it this time, haven't you? I honestly hoped you would never reach this point, but I'm so proud of what you've accomplished, Vahn. Just one more 'step,' and you'll have finally uncovered the truth of your existence. Now, I think it's about time we 'return.' Don't you?"

As he no longer had a voice with which to speak, even mentally, Vahn just closed his 'eyes.' Innumerable memories, preceding even his time as a lab rat, began to take shape within his mind. He saw himself making decisions for other people as if they were his own, as, at least for a time, he walked those paths alongside 'them.'

Just as Vahn felt as though he was deviating from his current path, Sis's arms gently wrapped around him, her form cycling through just as many iterations as himself. She was not always female, and he was not always male, but no matter which path they strode, they were always together in one form or another...

Always and forever...

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Opening his eyes, Vahn rose with a start, his breathing ragged and body covered in a thick layer of sweat. A sea of rainbow-hued liquid stretched out from him as far as the eye could see, but he immediately recognized that he was in the 173rd layer of Gameboards, the entry to the Seraphic Gate no longer present.

Taking advantage of the fact Vahn was sitting upright, Sis manifested in his lap with a wry, slightly apologetic smile on her face. They were both naked, but that had never once gotten in the way of their intimacy, so she quickly enveloped him in her embrace, gently caressing Vahn's hair as he drowned in her soft and fragrant bosom.

Sensing the question forming in Vahn's mind, Sis explained, "It wasn't an illusion. You touched upon the essence of The Path, and, for the briefest of moments, the truth of all things. I want to tell you more, but that isn't the 'reason' we're here right now. Don't forget the 'purpose' you've given yourself, Vahn...the things and the people who drive you forward..."

Reciprocating Sis's embrace, Vahn remained silent for an extended length of time. He was still struggling to make sense of what had happened, but Sis's words resonated with something deep within him. Thus, even though he had innumerable questions, he knew they could wait. After all, he—no, they had so much 'more' than all the time in the world...

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After calming himself adequately, Vahn raised his face from Sis's breasts, a fatigued smile on his face as he said, "I'm okay, now. Thanks for always being here for me..."

Returning a smile of her own, Sis combed aside Vahn's matted bangs as she replied, "Of course. You are my little brother, after all..."

Exhaling a chuckle, Vahn retorted, "We both know I'm so much more than that..."

Instead of refuting Vahn's words, Sis exhaled a chuckle before narrowing her eyes and replying, "Indeed. However, at least at this moment, on this particular path, you are my adorable little brother. That is the path you set for me."

Interrupting Vahn's response, Sis gave him another firm hug, smothering him for several seconds before releasing him to say, "We should return as soon as possible. After what you've experienced, it's important for you to interact with entities other than myself. I imagine Fenrir is panicking quite a bit right now. Be sure to give her plenty of headpats."

As if to demonstrate what Vahn should do once leaving the Game Boards, Sis gently caressed his head, aided by her Godhand. Because he offered no resistance, Vahn's body immediately lost consciousness, but his intent was still present, his voice echoing from their surroundings as he mused, "Someone's feeling mischievous..."

Instead of responding to Vahn's words with her own, Sis exhaled a deep-throated chuckle before disappearing. The sudden lack of support caused Vahn's body to plop into the rainbow-hued liquid that had filled the Game Board, but he didn't particularly mind. Instead, he allowed both it and the liquid to evaporate as he recreated himself outside the Game Boards, no longer restricted by concepts such as boundaries...

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"Hmmm...?"

After what felt like an eternity, the Ethereal Queen opened her eyes to find herself seated in a Japanese-style room, her body veiled in a dark purple kimono. Across from her, Vahn silently nursed a ceramic teacup, their eyes meeting as memories of what had transpired flowed into the Ethereal Queen's mind.

Exhibiting no traces of her previous arrogance, the Ethereal Queen plainly stated, "This is my loss. Not only did you strip away everything that gave me form, you created me anew. I cannot imagine a more absolute defeat."

Though he nodded his head, Vahn's smile became apologetic as he said, "If it's any consolation, my raw power is nowhere near yours. I could pull the same stunt to achieve victory, but if I were to face you directly, I have no hope of triumph."

Feeling gratified by Vahn's words, the Ethereal Queen cracked a smile and combed aside the bangs framing the left side of her face. She would have derided anyone else for trying to compliment, but she didn't mind if it was someone she recognized as her superior. Vahn still had a ways to go if he wanted to compete with her in terms of speed, strength, and destructive capability, but the fact remained that there wasn't a thing she could do to defeat him.

"So, what now? Ordinarily, I would disappear shortly after my defeat. The concept I represent cannot endure if there are beings more powerful than me. What purpose would you assign me?"

Returning a smile of his own, Vahn explained, "I would have you fulfill that exact purpose, representing the absolute pinnacle of power."

Raising her brows, the Ethereal Queen questioned, "How can I represent the pinnacle if there is someone capable of ordering me around?"

Shaking his head, Vahn refuted, "I'm not ordering you around. Rather, I'm asking you to cooperate with me. Whether or not you accept is entirely up to you. After all, with your power, there is nothing I can do to prevent you from simply getting up and walking out of here..."

"Hmmm..."

Looking away from Vahn, the Ethereal Queen briefly eyed the sliding door as if she was seriously mulling over whether or not to leave. Instead, she returned her gaze to Vahn, a hint of her arrogance returning to her face as she said, "I believe we can reach an accord. However, in exchange for my cooperation, there is something I require from you..."

Without waiting for Vahn's response, the Ethereal Queen tugged at the fabric of her pink obi, permitting her kimono to slide from her shoulders. This was a rare opportunity for her to act outside her given purpose, so, as if the matter was already decided, she crawled toward Vahn on all fours, her bearing resembling a starving lioness coming upon an injured gazelle...

"Let's see if your sexual prowess is as lackluster as your capacity as a warrior..."

historical

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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Admin has entered the game...','Peeling back the veil...','Vahn might actually be able to win this one...')