NOVEL NEXT Chapter 37: Pomp
"How...the hell...are you...still standing...?" asked Saji, panting heavily after using his life force to empower his Sacred Gear. He had hoped to at least knock Vahn unconscious, but not only had the latter weathered his attack, but his body was steaming as it rapidly regenerated.
Lowering his arms, Vahn, his hair temporarily slicked back, somewhat spiky, and burned at the edges, explained, "To be fair...you would have beaten me if not for my equipment. But since your Sacred Gear is also a type of equipment...you can't accuse me of cheating..."
Seeing Vahn get into a ready stance, signifying his intention to continue, Saji briefly clenched his teeth before issuing a loud war cry as he charged recklessly at the former and threw all his weight behind his right fist. Vahn still felt an intense, sun-burn-like pain across his body, but thanks to [Pain Tolerance] and [Battle Focus], it didn't show in his expression or inhibit his ability to respond, his left wrist deflecting Saji's fist at the exact moment it carried all the force of his body.
DING
With the activation of Vahn's bracelet's [Perfect Guard], Saji momentarily found himself stunned as all the force from his blow was redirected back at him as a paralyzing shockwave. In that window, Vahn landed a dozen exceptionally swift blows at the center of his chest, his form temporarily resembling that of a Wing Chun Master before he propelled Saji backward end over end, his body skipping no less than three times before sliding to a stop face-down.
"Get up...I know that isn't enough to defeat you..." said Vahn, panting slightly as he discreetly used [Wound Transfer] to transfer some of Saji's damage to his own body, causing a notable ache in his joints and pain in his chest but increasing his already superhuman regeneration.
"You're damned right it isn't..." responded Saji, forcing himself to his feet, unaware of what Vahn was doing. He believed he was able to rise due to the strength of his convictions, so after standing fully, he struck a power pose and issued a loud war cry, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he, once again, charged at Vahn. This time, however, he tried paying more attention to the latter's footwork and forms, realizing there was a disparity in their close-combat abilities and doing his best to decrease the distance over the course of their several-hour brawl...
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Seeing Vahn and Saji arrive at the Starting Zone without any noticeable injuries, Sona, having changed into a bunny costume along with the rest of her Peerage, briefly raised her brows before bowing, saying, "Welcome back, Goshujin-sama..." in reference to Vahn.
"I'm back," affirmed Vahn, supplying a curt nod as Saji, standing a short distance behind him, frowned and averted his eyes from the sight. He felt like he had dished out a lot more punishment than he had received, but he only needed to look at the scene before him to understand who the real winner between him and Vahn was.
Driving this point home, Sona adopted a faint but sensual smile, her gaze fixed solely on Vahn as she asked, "Will Goshujin-sama be taking his meal first, a bath, or perhaps...?"
Seeing Sona place her right hand on her lower abdomen, Vahn couldn't help feeling sorry for Saji. At the same time, however, Sona was his future wife, and he knew from his regular self-study that refusing when your wife propositioned you was a fast track to a failed marriage. He also knew that turning to apologize would just hurt Saji's pride even further, so instead of doing so, he extended his hand to caress Sona's head, stating, "We'll work backward from all three..."
"As Goshujin-sama wills," responded Sona, her smile broadening slightly before she looked over and gave a curt nod to Ruruko, the brown-haired, twin-tailed member of her Peerage with vibrant, somewhat droopy green eyes. In response, Ruruko approached Saji with Tomoe, the two of them handing him a towel and asking how things went as they shepherded him to the far side of the Starting Zone, well away from where Vahn and Sona would be making rather intense love...
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'At this rate...I might actually fall for him...' thought Sona, one of the few thoughts she could actually form as Vahn, after being shown around her villa and to her room, dutifully held her in a mating press and made love to her for hours upon hours without the need of rest. Rias had warned her in advance, but after permitting Vahn to take the lead, he was exponentially more thorough than she had imagined he would be...
Feeling Vahn's extraordinary life force and warmth fill her for the sixteenth time, inciting her three-hundred-and-forty-ninth orgasm, Sona shuddered violently, her violet eyes briefly looking in two different directions as she locked her legs around Vahn and clung to him as if her life depended on it. It felt far too good, and she was much too proud to ask him to stop, so all she could do was endure as his passion gradually permeated the entirety of her being, making her feel stupider but gratifyingly so...
'I suppose this is what it means to be fucked silly...' thought Sona, a soft, slightly hysterical laugh emanating from her throat as Vahn continued his intense and indefatigable ministrations until Tsubaki arrived to rescue—to help them prepare for their day...
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"I heard you did a number on Sona. I've never seen that girl so beside herself..." hummed Rias, observing Vahn with an amused smile as he sat on the club room's sofa, habitually caressing Koneko's bottom as she sat straddling him with her face buried in his chest.
"Did I do something wrong...?" asked Vahn, pointing out, "She asked that I make love to her the same way we make love, so that's what I did..."
"Oh, no, from what I hear, you performed outstandingly," assured Rias, grinning as she revealed, "She was just a little taken aback as she didn't expect you to be as enthusiastic as you were. I tried to warn her so she could better prepare herself mentally, but she must have assumed I was exaggerating."
"Nn...Master is the best..." appended Koneko, putting more strength into her legs as she twisted her hips in a very deliberate manner.
"It's because I'm surrounded by the cutest and most beautiful girls in all the realms..." contended Vahn, his expression gaining a hint of smoldering as Koneko raised her face to stare at him, all but mandating an exchange of saliva.
Waiting until the duo were finished kissing, Rias leaned onto the knuckles of her right hand, maintaining an affectionate smile as she slipped her left hand between her thighs. Speaking of his prowess and seeing Vahn make out with Koneko was beginning to make her excited, but before she could suggest a recess to her quarters, a crimson Magic Circle appeared a short distance away.
Blinking in surprise and removing her hand from between her thighs, Rias surprised Vahn but not Koneko as she abruptly rose to her feet. Moments later, a strikingly beautiful woman who appeared to be in her early-to-mid twenties materialized with her hands folded over her lap. Even compared to Rias and Akeno, her body was notably full-figured, adorned in a dark blue, classical maid attire with billowy shoulders, a frilly white apron, and white fabric that looked like it would explode open around her bust. As for her features, she had back-length silver hair fastened into two long braids at the back and two smaller braids at the front. Her eyes were as silver as her hair, and though she was dressed as a maid, she exuded tremendous elegance and refinement.
"Grayfia Lucifage greets the future Head of House Gremory. It's good to see you again, Lady Rias..." said the woman, offering a courteous bow as Rias stared back at her with a frown, crossing her arms.
"Why have you come here, Grayfia? I believe I made my intentions clear to both brother and father..." stated Rias.
"You did," affirmed Grayfia, raising her head before looking over at Vahn and Koneko, offering a slight smile as she remarked, "You must be Vahn Mason. You may have heard before, but I am Grayfia Lucifage, a servant of the Ducal House of Gremory and faithful attendant to the reigning Devil King, Sirzechs Lucifer. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
With Koneko promptly dismounting him the moment Grayfia arrived, Vahn was able to rise from the sofa, offering a smile of his own as he placed his right hand over his left breast, bowing in the manner Sona had taught him as he responded, "Vahn Mason. And I am similarly delighted to make your acquaintance, Lady Grayfia..."
Surprised by Vahn's appearance and demeanor, Grayfia's brows perked slightly as she remarked, "Lady Rias and Princess Sona have trained you well. That's certainly a point in your favor."
"Vahn isn't a pet," appended Rias, her expression glum as she demanded, "Now, tell me, why have you come?"
Meeting Rias's gaze, Grayfia calmly responded, "To confirm Vahn-sama's capabilities and to inform you that your former fiance has issued a formal complaint claiming you have besmirched the honor of House Phenex. That might not have been your intention, but as your engagement was common knowledge throughout the Underworld, annulling it to elope with a human boy is unquestionably a slight against them..."
"It was also well known that I had absolutely no intention of following through with our engagement..." retorted Rias, her expression and tone defiant as she asserted, "Not that it matters. Once you confirm Vahn's capabilities and relay what you've learned to my brother, he would be a fool to side with House Phenex on this matter."
"Then, shall we get on with it...?" asked Grayfia, turning to Vahn as she smiled and stated, "Vahn-sama, if you would, please allow me access to your Corridor of Intertwined Fates."
"If Rias is okay with it, I am..." responded Vahn, looking to Rias, who, in turn, nodded, her expression deathly serious as she replied, "Show her what you can do and don't hold anything back."
"Then, excuse me..." said Vahn, approaching and extending his hand to Grayfia as Rias, Kenko, and Akeno, who came at her Mistress's request, gathered around him.
"Hmmm...so physical contact of some kind of necessary..." muttered Grayfia, placing her hand into Vahn's and focusing on the flow of his somewhat...peculiar energy. It confusingly had the qualities of Mana, Aura, Touki, Demonic, Divine, and even Draconic Energy, but it was as calm as the surface of an underground lake, and she felt no fluctuations within it as she abruptly found herself in what looked like an abandoned temple with a makeshift office and a few other accommodations such as a bathing area and a portable kitchen.
"We've clearly moved, but there were no spatial fluctuations..." remarked Grayfia, prompting Rias to grin smugly as she contended, "As I explained to my brother, Vahn's capabilities are unlike anything we—or at least Sona and I, have ever seen. You are doubtlessly more knowledgeable than the two of us, so once you have gathered the necessary intel, I will hear your report before you return to my brother."
"As you will," responded Grayfia, offering Rias a brief but courteous bow before seeking Vahn's permission to move about the Corridor and search between Floors to ascertain how the space was linked. The fact she was unable to leave of her own accord implied it was disconnected from the Dimensional Gap that separated realms, which should be impossible, but she, like Rias, quickly learned that the word impossible was probably the most apt descriptive for Vahn's powers—nay, his very existence...
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"Satisfied...?" asked Rias, staring back at Grayfia from under her right arm with a deadpan expression as she seated herself snugly against Vahn, the silver-haired, silver-eyed maid sitting behind her in an immaculate seiza, staring unblinkingly at where they were connected to ensure they weren't faking it.
"Please continue," said Grayfia, her tone leaving little room for argument as she looked up at Rias, calmly asserting, "Insertion is not the objective of intercourse. I will watch until the end to confirm your and Vahn-sama's compatibility alongside the potency of his seed."
"So be it..." muttered Rias, turning to Vahn with an intense, determined look in her blue eyes as she asked, "I realize this must be awkward for you, but do you think you can do it like you normally do...?"
"I can..." affirmed Vahn, his expression matching Rias's determination as he grabbed her butt to support it. In response, she leaned forward, giving him the leeway to take the initiative and providing Grayfia an obstructed view of where they were connected. She had casually complimented his size and girth when he first stripped and allowed himself to become erect, but as minutes turned to hours, the silver-haired maid's expression slowly changed from relaxed stoicism to mild surprise and eventually awe as she scooped up a tiny amount of his seed with the tip of her right index finger and sampled it with her mouth and tongue...
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