EPIC: Path of Demons and Dragons

"So there are two full tiers of keys higher than the ones you gave me and Robin...?" asked Nami, frowning as she and Robin sat flanking Vahn atop a comfortable red leather sofa in the palace's ninth-floor lounge.

Nodding, Vahn explained, "Platinum keys are given to executive members of the recently created Dragon's Pavilion. Above that are special crystal keys denoting my wives, future wives, and those with special permissions. Gold is the highest a provisional resident or dependent of the palace can acquire, so it's not like I'm holding out on you...it simply indicates that you have stronger ties to the world you originate than the palace, which isn't a bad thing..."

"In other words, to obtain higher tiers of keys, we either need to become agents of the palace or dedicate ourselves to you..." concluded Robin, her expression and tone calm as a thoughtful glimmer flashed across her blue eyes. She had previously reincarnated as a Devil after a lengthy chat with Venelana, so while she intended to remain with the Straw Hats to the end of their journey, she felt that becoming the Pavilion's representative in her world wasn't out of the question.

"What does the Dragon's Pavilion even do...?" asked Nami, filling Vahn's sake cup as he presented it. She wasn't particularly fond of the idea of becoming a Maid, but to thank him for coming to their aid and allowing the other Straw Hats to hide out within the palace, she and Robin were wearing loose kimonos and attending him as he awaited his meeting with Ravel.

"We're still hammering out the details, but our primary focus is facilitating trade and cultural exchanges between worlds..." answered Vahn, taking a sip from his sake cup before revealing, "After the next cycle, the first three floors of the palace will become a hub all Ascendees can access to spend or earn Tower Points outside of the Tower. The first floor will be dedicated to shopping and leisure, the second will focus on material processing and item production, and the third will have training and spa facilities similar to the 0th Floor of the Tower."

"It sounds like the palace will become very busy in the future..." remarked Robin, resting her head on Vahn's right shoulder, tracing her right index finger around the rim of his sake cup, and staring at the shimmering clear liquid thoughtfully.

"And what about the remaining floors...?" asked Nami, her curiosity piqued and treasure sense tingling. It didn't take a genius to understand that the changes to the palace were to ensure Vahn and the Dragon's Pavilion had a steady supply of Tower Points, so if she could secure herself a piece of the pie, she could potentially become stronger without needing to venture into Dungeons or fight monsters.

"Floors four through six will be residences for the palace's personnel and staff..." explained Vahn. "As for seven through nine, they are the personal domain of me, my women, and the highest-ranking members of the Maid Batallion...put simply, they're where me and the people I care about can relax, network, and indulge ourselves..."

"How many people is that...?" asked Nami, curious to know the number of women Vahn was involved with and where she ranked among them.

"Let's see..." muttered Vahn, leaning his head back slightly as he recalled, "Including the two of you, there are six holders of gold keys, four holders of platinum keys, and ten holders of crystal keys..."

"Isn't that just a tad excessive...?" asked Nami, her smile cramping as she imagined Vahn surrounded by twenty faceless women with her and Robin near the group's edge.

"Mmn...I used to think so as well..." affirmed Vahn, closing his eyes as he added, "But since I can spend years with someone if they're feeling lonely or neglected, most of those with crystal keys are driven by their interests or a desire to see our faction grow...they didn't require constant attention, because they understand that my companionship is theirs whenever they desire it..."

"It sounds a little lonely...not for them, but you..." muttered Robin, using a second right hand to caress Vahn's thigh.

"That might be true if I simply waited to be called upon, but I have a fairly packed schedule, including tending to a farm, managing my interpersonal network, and checking in on those I've formed contracts with..." revealed Vahn. "My typical day spans a week's worth of time, and throughout much of that, I am accompanied by or tended to by two of the most exceptional women in all worlds..."

"So each day that passes for you is a full week for everyone else?" asked Nami, taken aback. She was aware that Vahn had the means to compress and distort time, but she never imagined he did so outside the Tower.

"That's a typical day..." reiterated Vahn, revealing, "Today, for example, has lasted nearly ten days. Even now, I've reduced the flow of time to a crawl so that the three of us can chat and spend time together without your absence weighing too heavily on your crewmates. Sanji, in particular, won't be able to rest easy while the two of you are here...not just because he begrudges me, but because he genuinely cares about you as members of the same crew..."

"Yeah..." muttered Nami, exhaling faintly from her nose as she also felt sorry for Sanji. She never had even a passing interest in dating him, but since he often came to her rescue and helped her out, she cared for him as a crewmate.

"In other words, we can remain here as long as we like, and it will be as if we only just left our crew a short while ago..." hummed Robin, slipping her hand into the soft fabric of Vahn's yukata, freeing his not-so-little-brother, and then using a mouth produced from her palm to lick and suckle it.

"That about sums it up..." confirmed Vahn, marveling at the versatility of Robin's Devil Fruit powers. Meanwhile, Nami got up to prepare herself a drink, entrusting him to her raven-haired companion before returning with a light buzz and seizing the initiative to straddle and make out with him as a precursor to a lengthy session of lovemaking...

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"Excuse me..." said a pleasant, slightly raspy voice, accompanied by a petite but remarkably well-endowed girl entering Vahn's study, a cozy room with numerous bookshelves and a large hearth. Vahn wasn't sure why, but he found watching flames and listening to their periodic crackle very calming.

"That's quite the outfit..." remarked Vahn, rising from the three-person sofa he was lying atop to face the golden, drill-haired, blue-eyed beauty that had entered the study, Ravel Phenex. She usually wore custom pink or purple dresses that reinforced the impression she was an Ojou-sama. At that moment, she was braless, wearing a shiny, pale pink silk top with string-like straps and a frilly hem. Below were matching silk short-shorts, and to complete the outfit, she wore a loose silk robe that dangled off her shoulders as she entered the study, sporting a calm smile and holding her arms.

"Do you like it?" asked Ravel, approaching without fear as she remarked, "I was advised to wear something easy to remove..." with upturned eyes and a sly, seductive smile.

"I imagine there aren't many outfits that don't suit you..." affirmed Vahn, nodding slowly and raising his right brow slightly as Ravel moved around to the front of the sofa, positioning herself between him and the rainbow-hued hearth before placing her hands on his chest and pushing him to sit down. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she climbed onto his lap, staring into his eyes with a broad smile as she asked, "Shall we get straight to the reason for my visit?"

"Let's hear it," responded Vahn, slipping his hands into the gaps of Ravel's loose shorts to caress her pantiless bottom as he allowed his little brother to rouse. A faint blush tinted Ravel's cheeks in response, but she retained her confident demeanor and revealed, "I would like you to accept me as a member of your harem and allow me to join the Dragon's Pavilion as Chief Strategy Officer or Chief of Staff. I still have much to learn, but I will work hard to meet your expectations and help the Dragon's Pavilion grow into a top faction."

"Mmn...sounds good..." affirmed Vahn, leaving Ravel at a brief loss as she had prepared an entire presentation to convince him.

"And what do you personally hope to achieve once you're in one of those positions...?" asked Vahn, contending, "Because I doubt it's your dream to work for or straddle the lap of someone you hardly know..."

Adopting a slight pout, Ravel gave the impression she wanted to argue against Vahn's assertion but decided against it. Instead, she closed her eyes and shook her head before opening them to meet his gaze with a serious, determined expression as she asserted, "I want to increase my family's prestige, but, even more than that, I want to prove myself. For as long as I can recall, people have been touting me as a genius and a once-in-a-generation prodigy, but they would also say things like 'as expected of a daughter of House Phenex,' despite my brothers and even my father being varying degrees of incompetent..."

Exhaling from her nose, Ravel appended, "Simply put, I wish to escape my family's shadow and distinguish myself by aiding in the Dragon's Pavilion's meteoric rise. I understand that someone as exceptional as you might not need my help to achieve greatness, but I'm an excellent manager and can help ensure the palace's smooth operation."

"I have no doubts about your capabilities..." affirmed Vahn, adopting a playful smile as he revealed, "Rias, Sona, Venelana, and Grayfia all speak highly of you, so if this path you've chosen for yourself, I have no reason to refuse you or your assistance. Welcome aboard the Vahndwagon..."

"I'm just glad I hopped aboard before things really took off..." hummed Ravel, running her hands up her abdomen and gradually raising her top to reveal her large, immaculately shaped breasts. From there, nature took its course, and thanks to Vahn's influence over time, they had plenty to catch up and get to know one another...

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[September 6th DxD/April 26th DBT]

After one of the longest days he had in a while, Vahn was lying in bed with Koneko and Asia curled up next to him in the early morning, silently observing events playing out in the world of One Piece while chatting with eight different people, including Minato. The Third Shinobi World War was reaching a critical point, but he had managed to get permission to send a delegation to the palace and survey the land delegated for their outpost. Fortunately, despite his insistence, the almost universally despised Danzo was denied the opportunity to lead the group. Instead, Jiraiya had chosen to carry out the duty.

'I bet he and Azazel would get along...' thought Vahn, recalling he had a meeting with the former Governor General of Grigori arranged for the 9th. The black and gold-haired Fallen had retired from his post to become one of the first permanent inhabitants of his realm, and since he was in charge of one of the largest settlements that had been erected, arranging for him and Jiraiya to meet could spare him from having to entertain them both...

With such thoughts in mind, Vahn informed Minato that he would appear at the entrance of his village in three days. From there, he would set up the gate that would permit individuals who had signed the contract they agreed upon to travel between their worlds, albeit at a cost. A similar tax had been proposed by Rias, Sona, and Ravel to prevent arbitrary usage of the mass-produced Transdimensional Keys, but since the amount had yet to be determined, the delegation from the world of Naruto would have the fee waved for their inaugural visit...

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(A/N: If you're enjoying the story, you can read up to thirty chapters ahead by becoming a patron at patreon.com/eins_left_foot. We're currently on chapter 188, so there's quite a bit to read and you would be doing me a tremendous service.)