Chapter 4
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[Inside the dome]
Adam fell to the ground and found himself in a black as night space which had blue and purple flashes spread throughout the space which gave the light he needed to see. Turning he found an unconscious Yin. Rushing up to her he felt her neck and her breath to make sure she was alive.
Yin looked different than she used to. Now she had a black streak running from her eyes to her forelegs and from the tip of her tail to her hind legs. She also had a light streak of gold running by her side.
Adam shook her trying to wake her but failed. She felt oddly cold to the touch. He didn't give up but kept shaking her .seeing her still unresponsive, he picked her up and looked around him.
He saw the dark space. There didn't seem to be an end to it and the lightning arcs seemed illusory. Walking forward in a direction, he felt a tingling painful sensation on his skin. He tried to cry out in shock as that was the first time he had ever felt this kind of feeling. But, when he opened his mouth, no sound came out. He tried to say something but found out that he couldn't.
Adam started to feel fear for the first time. He had never been afraid of the dark or being alone. He never feared any beasts but was curious. He didn't fear anyone either. His father Gron had told him that his grandfather would kill him if he had proof of his existence but Adam never feared death either. But for the first time he felt the primordial emotion found in all life which he thought he lacked. It turns out that he never feared because instinctively thought that he could not be hurt.
Now when Adam felt pain for the first time which wasn't caused by his own actions, his previous mentality collapsed and he panicked. Not daring to move again for fear of that new unknown sensation.
Slowly took a deep breath and calmed down. He tried to find the tugging feeling he always felt from deep within himself. It was that feeling which granted him the power of lightning. But to his dismay he couldn't feel anything. He began to panic again. Not knowing what to do was a first for him too. Usually he could think very fast and was thought to be genius by his tutor. His memory was also great and he'd memorized everything that was told to him from the moment he was conscious. But now his head felt blank.
He once again managed to calm down and gathered his thoughts "Okay, let me see. First I was bestowing Yin's name to her and nothing happened…No, that's not right, the reaction was delayed and it wasn't some simple reaction like a new mark appearing on us or a warmth. Instead it was this." Looking at Yin in his arms, Adam thought, "What are you? I know that the more potential a beast has, the greater the worldly reaction, BUT THIS IS RIDICULUS! Besides, aren't you supposed to be a wolf? Even a Fenrir would stop at a light hail and a small burst of wind!"
Adam then thought about his surroundings, "We're inside a dark area. But most likely, we're still in the same field and the darkness in messing with my senses. The charred ground must be from the lightning discharged and since I can't find my source, which means that all these flashes of light are my lightning. But where did the darkness come from? It doesn't feel malevolent but peaceful." He glanced at the ball of fur in his arms and shook his head. "Nah, can't be her. Though her naming ritual seemed to cause this but I don't believe so. More likely that it was mere catalyst and the black energy used her as a trigger to activate." Remembering something Adam brought out the necklace that hung on his neck.
The small disk had surprisingly changed quite a bit. The black fish that used to occupy half the disk was nowhere to be found and the red tint that lightly rimmed the hole in the center of the disk had become a darker tinge and slightly spread. It was clear that the area covered by the red color would increase in the future.
"Although I don't know what this red thing which I assume is called chaos is, I'm assuming I don't really want to find out. Since it's sealed, there must be a good reason for that."
"I need to find a way to get out of here. But if this place is inside the Yin fish, I should first find the white eye. Why there is a white eye in the black fish and a black eye in the white fish is something I'll think on later. Now, the lightning charging the air is I am assuming, my lightning source. If it is so I should be able to manipulate it and take it within me again"
Adam sat down cross-legged and put the wolf by his side. He proceeded to close his eyes and spread out his senses trying to feel the power and communicate with it. After a while, "No, this is not working. I feel as if there is a black light blocking me from contacting it. Must be the Yin energy. How powerful must this yin thing be to cut off communication between me and my energy! Moreover, lightning is the primordial source of energy and life. There shouldn't be anything powerful enough to restrict lightning. I should be more careful. Sigh can't find anything. I think I have to try it in the eye." Saying so Adam got up with the wolf again in his arms.
"The painful force that I felt earlier should be spread on the entirety of the region with the force stronger at the head and weaker at the tail. So, to find the eye I have to find the place with the strongest force and move towards it."
Adam took one step in every direction but couldn't feel a difference. "Could I be wrong and this is not in the shape if the fish? But my conjecture supports this theory perfectly. I mean, when the yin was on the disk it was in the shape of…wait, the yin was in the shape of a fish and the yang is also in the shape of a fish…no now the shape of the yang distorted slightly as if it wanted to consume the entire disk. But there is also that growing red colored chaos. Before the yin got out, it balanced with the yang. That's why it was in the shape of a fish. You can't mix two equal opposites on a circle!"
As if struck by an epiphany Adam continued, "It's like mixing water and oil. You can make them occupy equal amounts of space on a flat circular surface. But that won't be mixing. But the swirling design produced by the yin-yang disk perfectly encompasses both qualities equally. The yin and yang don't mix but they also aren't separate."
"In that case solitary yin does not need to continuously try to mix with the yang and also doesn't need to maintain its shape as a fish. Thus it should be in the simplest shape. That is a sphere. Or on this case a dome since it's on land. The drop of yang which I called the eye should be in the center of the circle. That should have been this place but seems like while initially changing shape, the position of the yang shifted. But it should be easier to find a place devoid of yin in this place."
Adam closed his eyes and walked to the place where he felt was slightly different from his surroundings. Ignoring the painful shocks, he continued on.
****
[Outside]
Archus Leroy Salamander gazed at the huge black structure in the valley which used to be an ordinary farming field from the back of his steed. A fierce beast on the level of a dire wolf called a Nightmare. These savage carnivorous horses only appear jet black in color. They are capable of flight by stepping on moonlight and negative emotions like fear. Their height and length increase with age indefinitely while the steed Archus rode on was 3meters tall.
"Your Majesty, we have confirmed that the child said to be inside the dome is indeed the prince. The rate of growth of the structure has slowed down to 9cm/min. The structure presently has a radius of 148 meters. It is expected that the final radius will be 486meters at the current rate if not stopped. The surrounding energy is being depleted proportional to the structures growth. But the free energy in the atmosphere will be completely consumed by the time the radius increases to 207 meters. Afterwards we theorize that the structure will start consuming the surrounding matter to convert it into energy for expansion. It is impossible to know what will happen if that should pass."
"How long do we have for any changes to occur?"
"Two days, Your Majesty"
Listening to His minister's report the Emperor only had this to say, "So Cornelius, basically, the bastard is inside that thing and most likely going to be the cause of death for all life in the Empire if he isn't killed soon?"
"I..It isn't necessary to kill him Your Majesty, only finding the cause of expansion of the structure and reversing the process would do…h..he's only three, it would reflect poorly on your grace if you were to sentence him to death."
Hearing his trusted minister saying so, The Emperor Archus grinned. Seeing this the trembling man visibly relaxed only for his head to suddenly fall off his shoulders and a burning smell to waft out of his cauterized neck. Archus had pulled out the blade from his sheath and neatly sliced off the head of the minister while he was speaking and returned it to its sheath without anyone noticing. The cut so swift and sharp that the surrounding men had only noticed that he had died after the wound had cauterized a few seconds later.
"Anyone else wish to advise your emperor?"
The soldiers and ministers looked down avoiding the emperor's gaze.
"No?" Archus looked a bit disappointed. Sighing he turned around and muttered to himself, "Should have killed him slower and given time for the others to come forward".
The pale commoners gathered behind whispered to each other.
"That's why he's called the ruthless ruler"
"I heard the child he's talking about killing is his own grandson"
"Did you see that blade? Lord Minister was beheaded while he was talking but didn't die"
"He died only after he finished talking. I'm a swordsman so I get that if your sword is sharp and fast enough, the victim won't die until their head and body separate but how can you cause a wound to burn so long after cutting it?"
"He is from the royal line of The Salamanders. They are innately attuned to the element of fire"
"But only His Majesty and His Highness have been said to be able to control fire to such an extent."
"He sure deserves the nickname Hell Inferno"
"I heard that His Highness Gron was even more skilled and had a nickname Ifrit before he left."
"I think he was ordered to be imprisoned and tortured hourly because of his secret marriage with Lady Aeli."
"Shhh…you want to get us all killed!? He might hear you!"
In truth Archus didn't care about the commoners. To him they were all cattle to be reared.
Suddenly the sky brightened and a yellow ray of light could be seen charging from the northern sky and Archus muttered, "About time he came. I was getting bored"
The ray of light stopped and a young man of about 19 years on a golden horse burning horse could be seen.
This particular species of fierce beast is called Voreia tou Iliou also known as the steed of the sun or simply ilios(sun). Normally one wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an ordinary farm horse and an ilios. Only when they charge could one identify an ilios as they would emit a bright gold and yellow light from their entirety. By stepping on the rays of the sun they are able to achieve flight in which case they burst into flames which they can control to be either harmless or harmful to others. Illioi can consume and harness the energy of the sun to breath flames and have an endless stamina as long as exposed to sunlight. Illioi can change the size of their body at will and the limit increases indefinitely with age.
"WHERE IS ADAM? WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM? TELL ME, FATHER!" shouted the youth as he landed in front of Archus.
"So his name was Adam, huh? So young…", calmly replied Archus.
"WHERE IS HE!?" demanded Gron whose spear suddenly appeared and pointed at Archus.
Archus asked coldly, "Is this how you speak to your father after not meeting him for four years? Gron Luis Salamander, I thought I raised you better."
Calming down, Gron said, "You never raised me, father. Now tell me, Your Majesty Archus Leroy Salamander, where is my son?"
Pointing at the giant dome, "Oh him? The bastard is in there. Feel free to look for him."
"DO NOT CALL HIM A BASTARD! He isn't even my own flesh and I didn't let him inherit the salamander name. He doesn't even know that he is an adopted prince. Can't you just let him go? He won't vie for your throne. So for once! Just please show mercy."
"Hahahahaha, you think that's the reason for me trying to kill him? I've known a long time ago that Adam was from the outside." Gron's heart chilled when he heard that. "Since young, your wish for the outside has been known to me. I had not used any force since I knew it would be impossible for you to leave. But, the brat represents your dreams and may very well be the key to fulfilling it. Why would I let such a fatal problem remain alive?"
Horror struck Gron as he listened to his father's confession of his knowledge of Adam's origin.
At this time the dome suddenly started to show erratic ripples on its surface and the lightning surges which could be seen in it started to recede.
Alerted to the changes, the Emperor muttered, "Something's wrong. Cornelius said that it would only expand and that it would take two days for any change to occur."
"ADAM!" screamed Gron.
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[Inside the dome]
Adam fell to the ground and found himself in a black as night space which had blue and purple flashes spread throughout the space which gave the light he needed to see. Turning he found an unconscious Yin. Rushing up to her he felt her neck and her breath to make sure she was alive.
Yin looked different than she used to. Now she had a black streak running from her eyes to her forelegs and from the tip of her tail to her hind legs. She also had a light streak of gold running by her side.
Adam shook her trying to wake her but failed. She felt oddly cold to the touch. He didn't give up but kept shaking her .seeing her still unresponsive, he picked her up and looked around him.
He saw the dark space. There didn't seem to be an end to it and the lightning arcs seemed illusory. Walking forward in a direction, he felt a tingling painful sensation on his skin. He tried to cry out in shock as that was the first time he had ever felt this kind of feeling. But, when he opened his mouth, no sound came out. He tried to say something but found out that he couldn't.
Adam started to feel fear for the first time. He had never been afraid of the dark or being alone. He never feared any beasts but was curious. He didn't fear anyone either. His father Gron had told him that his grandfather would kill him if he had proof of his existence but Adam never feared death either. But for the first time he felt the primordial emotion found in all life which he thought he lacked. It turns out that he never feared because instinctively thought that he could not be hurt.
Now when Adam felt pain for the first time which wasn't caused by his own actions, his previous mentality collapsed and he panicked. Not daring to move again for fear of that new unknown sensation.
Slowly took a deep breath and calmed down. He tried to find the tugging feeling he always felt from deep within himself. It was that feeling which granted him the power of lightning. But to his dismay he couldn't feel anything. He began to panic again. Not knowing what to do was a first for him too. Usually he could think very fast and was thought to be genius by his tutor. His memory was also great and he'd memorized everything that was told to him from the moment he was conscious. But now his head felt blank.
He once again managed to calm down and gathered his thoughts "Okay, let me see. First I was bestowing Yin's name to her and nothing happened…No, that's not right, the reaction was delayed and it wasn't some simple reaction like a new mark appearing on us or a warmth. Instead it was this." Looking at Yin in his arms, Adam thought, "What are you? I know that the more potential a beast has, the greater the worldly reaction, BUT THIS IS RIDICULUS! Besides, aren't you supposed to be a wolf? Even a Fenrir would stop at a light hail and a small burst of wind!"
Adam then thought about his surroundings, "We're inside a dark area. But most likely, we're still in the same field and the darkness in messing with my senses. The charred ground must be from the lightning discharged and since I can't find my source, which means that all these flashes of light are my lightning. But where did the darkness come from? It doesn't feel malevolent but peaceful." He glanced at the ball of fur in his arms and shook his head. "Nah, can't be her. Though her naming ritual seemed to cause this but I don't believe so. More likely that it was mere catalyst and the black energy used her as a trigger to activate." Remembering something Adam brought out the necklace that hung on his neck.
The small disk had surprisingly changed quite a bit. The black fish that used to occupy half the disk was nowhere to be found and the red tint that lightly rimmed the hole in the center of the disk had become a darker tinge and slightly spread. It was clear that the area covered by the red color would increase in the future.
"Although I don't know what this red thing which I assume is called chaos is, I'm assuming I don't really want to find out. Since it's sealed, there must be a good reason for that."
"I need to find a way to get out of here. But if this place is inside the Yin fish, I should first find the white eye. Why there is a white eye in the black fish and a black eye in the white fish is something I'll think on later. Now, the lightning charging the air is I am assuming, my lightning source. If it is so I should be able to manipulate it and take it within me again"
Adam sat down cross-legged and put the wolf by his side. He proceeded to close his eyes and spread out his senses trying to feel the power and communicate with it. After a while, "No, this is not working. I feel as if there is a black light blocking me from contacting it. Must be the Yin energy. How powerful must this yin thing be to cut off communication between me and my energy! Moreover, lightning is the primordial source of energy and life. There shouldn't be anything powerful enough to restrict lightning. I should be more careful. Sigh can't find anything. I think I have to try it in the eye." Saying so Adam got up with the wolf again in his arms.
"The painful force that I felt earlier should be spread on the entirety of the region with the force stronger at the head and weaker at the tail. So, to find the eye I have to find the place with the strongest force and move towards it."
Adam took one step in every direction but couldn't feel a difference. "Could I be wrong and this is not in the shape if the fish? But my conjecture supports this theory perfectly. I mean, when the yin was on the disk it was in the shape of…wait, the yin was in the shape of a fish and the yang is also in the shape of a fish…no now the shape of the yang distorted slightly as if it wanted to consume the entire disk. But there is also that growing red colored chaos. Before the yin got out, it balanced with the yang. That's why it was in the shape of a fish. You can't mix two equal opposites on a circle!"
As if struck by an epiphany Adam continued, "It's like mixing water and oil. You can make them occupy equal amounts of space on a flat circular surface. But that won't be mixing. But the swirling design produced by the yin-yang disk perfectly encompasses both qualities equally. The yin and yang don't mix but they also aren't separate."
"In that case solitary yin does not need to continuously try to mix with the yang and also doesn't need to maintain its shape as a fish. Thus it should be in the simplest shape. That is a sphere. Or on this case a dome since it's on land. The drop of yang which I called the eye should be in the center of the circle. That should have been this place but seems like while initially changing shape, the position of the yang shifted. But it should be easier to find a place devoid of yin in this place."
Adam closed his eyes and walked to the place where he felt was slightly different from his surroundings. Ignoring the painful shocks, he continued on.
****
[Outside]
Archus Leroy Salamander gazed at the huge black structure in the valley which used to be an ordinary farming field from the back of his steed. A fierce beast on the level of a dire wolf called a Nightmare. These savage carnivorous horses only appear jet black in color. They are capable of flight by stepping on moonlight and negative emotions like fear. Their height and length increase with age indefinitely while the steed Archus rode on was 3meters tall.
"Your Majesty, we have confirmed that the child said to be inside the dome is indeed the prince. The rate of growth of the structure has slowed down to 9cm/min. The structure presently has a radius of 148 meters. It is expected that the final radius will be 486meters at the current rate if not stopped. The surrounding energy is being depleted proportional to the structures growth. But the free energy in the atmosphere will be completely consumed by the time the radius increases to 207 meters. Afterwards we theorize that the structure will start consuming the surrounding matter to convert it into energy for expansion. It is impossible to know what will happen if that should pass."
"How long do we have for any changes to occur?"
"Two days, Your Majesty"
Listening to His minister's report the Emperor only had this to say, "So Cornelius, basically, the bastard is inside that thing and most likely going to be the cause of death for all life in the Empire if he isn't killed soon?"
"I..It isn't necessary to kill him Your Majesty, only finding the cause of expansion of the structure and reversing the process would do…h..he's only three, it would reflect poorly on your grace if you were to sentence him to death."
Hearing his trusted minister saying so, The Emperor Archus grinned. Seeing this the trembling man visibly relaxed only for his head to suddenly fall off his shoulders and a burning smell to waft out of his cauterized neck. Archus had pulled out the blade from his sheath and neatly sliced off the head of the minister while he was speaking and returned it to its sheath without anyone noticing. The cut so swift and sharp that the surrounding men had only noticed that he had died after the wound had cauterized a few seconds later.
"Anyone else wish to advise your emperor?"
The soldiers and ministers looked down avoiding the emperor's gaze.
"No?" Archus looked a bit disappointed. Sighing he turned around and muttered to himself, "Should have killed him slower and given time for the others to come forward".
The pale commoners gathered behind whispered to each other.
"That's why he's called the ruthless ruler"
"I heard the child he's talking about killing is his own grandson"
"Did you see that blade? Lord Minister was beheaded while he was talking but didn't die"
"He died only after he finished talking. I'm a swordsman so I get that if your sword is sharp and fast enough, the victim won't die until their head and body separate but how can you cause a wound to burn so long after cutting it?"
"He is from the royal line of The Salamanders. They are innately attuned to the element of fire"
"But only His Majesty and His Highness have been said to be able to control fire to such an extent."
"He sure deserves the nickname Hell Inferno"
"I heard that His Highness Gron was even more skilled and had a nickname Ifrit before he left."
"I think he was ordered to be imprisoned and tortured hourly because of his secret marriage with Lady Aeli."
"Shhh…you want to get us all killed!? He might hear you!"
In truth Archus didn't care about the commoners. To him they were all cattle to be reared.
Suddenly the sky brightened and a yellow ray of light could be seen charging from the northern sky and Archus muttered, "About time he came. I was getting bored"
The ray of light stopped and a young man of about 19 years on a golden horse burning horse could be seen.
This particular species of fierce beast is called Voreia tou Iliou also known as the steed of the sun or simply ilios(sun). Normally one wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an ordinary farm horse and an ilios. Only when they charge could one identify an ilios as they would emit a bright gold and yellow light from their entirety. By stepping on the rays of the sun they are able to achieve flight in which case they burst into flames which they can control to be either harmless or harmful to others. Illioi can consume and harness the energy of the sun to breath flames and have an endless stamina as long as exposed to sunlight. Illioi can change the size of their body at will and the limit increases indefinitely with age.
"WHERE IS ADAM? WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM? TELL ME, FATHER!" shouted the youth as he landed in front of Archus.
"So his name was Adam, huh? So young…", calmly replied Archus.
"WHERE IS HE!?" demanded Gron whose spear suddenly appeared and pointed at Archus.
Archus asked coldly, "Is this how you speak to your father after not meeting him for four years? Gron Luis Salamander, I thought I raised you better."
Calming down, Gron said, "You never raised me, father. Now tell me, Your Majesty Archus Leroy Salamander, where is my son?"
Pointing at the giant dome, "Oh him? The bastard is in there. Feel free to look for him."
"DO NOT CALL HIM A BASTARD! He isn't even my own flesh and I didn't let him inherit the salamander name. He doesn't even know that he is an adopted prince. Can't you just let him go? He won't vie for your throne. So for once! Just please show mercy."
"Hahahahaha, you think that's the reason for me trying to kill him? I've known a long time ago that Adam was from the outside." Gron's heart chilled when he heard that. "Since young, your wish for the outside has been known to me. I had not used any force since I knew it would be impossible for you to leave. But, the brat represents your dreams and may very well be the key to fulfilling it. Why would I let such a fatal problem remain alive?"
Horror struck Gron as he listened to his father's confession of his knowledge of Adam's origin.
At this time the dome suddenly started to show erratic ripples on its surface and the lightning surges which could be seen in it started to recede.
Alerted to the changes, the Emperor muttered, "Something's wrong. Cornelius said that it would only expand and that it would take two days for any change to occur."
"ADAM!" screamed Gron.
Inside the domeAdam fell to the ground and found himself in a black as night space which had blue and purple flashes spread throughout the space which gave the light he needed to see. Turning he found an unconscious Yin. Rushing up to her he felt her neck and her breath to make sure she was alive.Yin looked different than she used to. Now she had a black streak running from her eyes to her forelegs and from the tip of her tail to her hind legs. She also had a light streak of gold running by her side.Adam shook her trying to wake her but failed. She felt oddly cold to the touch. He didn't give up but kept shaking her .seeing her still unresponsive, he picked her up and looked around him.He saw the dark space. There didn't seem to be an end to it and the lightning arcs seemed illusory. Walking forward in a direction, he felt a tingling painful sensation on his skin. He tried to cry out in shock as that was the first time he had ever felt this kind of feeling. But, when he opened his mouth, no sound came out. He tried to say something but found out that he couldn't.Adam started to feel fear for the first time. He had never been afraid of the dark or being alone. He never feared any beasts but was curious. He didn't fear anyone either. His father Gron had told him that his grandfather would kill him if he had proof of his existence but Adam never feared death either. But for the first time he felt the primordial emotion found in all life which he thought he lacked. It turns out that he never feared because instinctively thought that he could not be hurt.Now when Adam felt pain for the first time which wasn't caused by his own actions, his previous mentality collapsed and he panicked. Not daring to move again for fear of that new unknown sensation.Slowly took a deep breath and calmed down. He tried to find the tugging feeling he always felt from deep within himself. It was that feeling which granted him the power of lightning. But to his dismay he couldn't feel anything. He began to panic again. Not knowing what to do was a first for him too. Usually he could think very fast and was thought to be genius by his tutor. His memory was also great and he'd memorized everything that was told to him from the moment he was conscious. But now his head felt blank.He once again managed to calm down and gathered his thoughts "Okay, let me see. First I was bestowing Yin's name to her and nothing happenedNo, that's not right, the reaction was delayed and it wasn't some simple reaction like a new mark appearing on us or a warmth. Instead it was this." Looking at Yin in his arms, Adam thought, "What are you? I know that the more potential a beast has, the greater the worldly reaction, BUT THIS IS RIDICULUS! Besides, aren't you supposed to be a wolf? Even a Fenrir would stop at a light hail and a small burst of wind!"Adam then thought about his surroundings, "We're inside a dark area. But most likely, we're still in the same field and the darkness in messing with my senses. The charred ground must be from the lightning discharged and since I can't find my source, which means that all these flashes of light are my lightning. But where did the darkness come from? It doesn't feel malevolent but peaceful." He glanced at the ball of fur in his arms and shook his head. "Nah, can't be her. Though her naming ritual seemed to cause this but I don't believe so. More likely that it was mere catalyst and the black energy used her as a trigger to activate." Remembering something Adam brought out the necklace that hung on his neck.The small disk had surprisingly changed quite a bit. The black fish that used to occupy half the disk was nowhere to be found and the red tint that lightly rimmed the hole in the center of the disk had become a darker tinge and slightly spread. It was clear that the area covered by the red color would increase in the future."Although I don't know what this red thing which I assume is called chaos is, I'm assuming I don't really want to find out. Since it's sealed, there must be a good reason for that.""I need to find a way to get out of here. But if this place is inside the Yin fish, I should first find the white eye. Why there is a white eye in the black fish and a black eye in the white fish is something I'll think on later. Now, the lightning charging the air is I am assuming, my lightning source. If it is so I should be able to manipulate it and take it within me again"Adam sat down cross-legged and put the wolf by his side. He proceeded to close his eyes and spread out his senses trying to feel the power and communicate with it. After a while, "No, this is not working. I feel as if there is a black light blocking me from contacting it. Must be the Yin energy. How powerful must this yin thing be to cut off communication between me and my energy! Moreover, lightning is the primordial source of energy and life. There shouldn't be anything powerful enough to restrict lightning. I should be more careful. Sigh can't find anything. I think I have to try it in the eye." Saying so Adam got up with the wolf again in his arms."The painful force that I felt earlier should be spread on the entirety of the region with the force stronger at the head and weaker at the tail. So, to find the eye I have to find the place with the strongest force and move towards it."Adam took one step in every direction but couldn't feel a difference. "Could I be wrong and this is not in the shape if the fish? But my conjecture supports this theory perfectly. I mean, when the yin was on the disk it was in the shape ofwait, the yin was in the shape of a fish and the yang is also in the shape of a fishno now the shape of the yang distorted slightly as if it wanted to consume the entire disk. But there is also that growing red colored chaos. Before the yin got out, it balanced with the yang. That's why it was in the shape of a fish. You can't mix two equal opposites on a circle!"As if struck by an epiphany Adam continued, "It's like mixing water and oil. You can make them occupy equal amounts of space on a flat circular surface. But that won't be mixing. But the swirling design produced by the yin-yang disk perfectly encompasses both qualities equally. The yin and yang don't mix but they also aren't separate.""In that case solitary yin does not need to continuously try to mix with the yang and also doesn't need to maintain its shape as a fish. Thus it should be in the simplest shape. That is a sphere. Or on this case a dome since it's on land. The drop of yang which I called the eye should be in the center of the circle. That should have been this place but seems like while initially changing shape, the position of the yang shifted. But it should be easier to find a place devoid of yin in this place."Adam closed his eyes and walked to the place where he felt was slightly different from his surroundings. Ignoring the painful shocks, he continued on.****OutsideArchus Leroy Salamander gazed at the huge black structure in the valley which used to be an ordinary farming field from the back of his steed. A fierce beast on the level of a dire wolf called a Nightmare. These savage carnivorous horses only appear jet black in color. They are capable of flight by stepping on moonlight and negative emotions like fear. Their height and length increase with age indefinitely while the steed Archus rode on was 3meters tall."Your Majesty, we have confirmed that the child said to be inside the dome is indeed the prince. The rate of growth of the structure has slowed down to 9cm/min. The structure presently has a radius of 148 meters. It is expected that the final radius will be 486meters at the current rate if not stopped. The surrounding energy is being depleted proportional to the structures growth. But the free energy in the atmosphere will be completely consumed by the time the radius increases to 207 meters. Afterwards we theorize that the structure will start consuming the surrounding matter to convert it into energy for expansion. It is impossible to know what will happen if that should pass.""How long do we have for any changes to occur?""Two days, Your Majesty"Listening to His minister's report the Emperor only had this to say, "So Cornelius, basically, the bastard is inside that thing and most likely going to be the cause of death for all life in the Empire if he isn't killed soon?""I..It isn't necessary to kill him Your Majesty, only finding the cause of expansion of the structure and reversing the process would doh..he's only three, it would reflect poorly on your grace if you were to sentence him to death."Hearing his trusted minister saying so, The Emperor Archus grinned. Seeing this the trembling man visibly relaxed only for his head to suddenly fall off his shoulders and a burning smell to waft out of his cauterized neck. Archus had pulled out the blade from his sheath and neatly sliced off the head of the minister while he was speaking and returned it to its sheath without anyone noticing. The cut so swift and sharp that the surrounding men had only noticed that he had died after the wound had cauterized a few seconds later."Anyone else wish to advise your emperor?"The soldiers and ministers looked down avoiding the emperor's gaze."No?" Archus looked a bit disappointed. Sighing he turned around and muttered to himself, "Should have killed him slower and given time for the others to come forward".The pale commoners gathered behind whispered to each other."That's why he's called the ruthless ruler""I heard the child he's talking about killing is his own grandson""Did you see that blade? Lord Minister was beheaded while he was talking but didn't die""He died only after he finished talking. I'm a swordsman so I get that if your sword is sharp and fast enough, the victim won't die until their head and body separate but how can you cause a wound to burn so long after cutting it?""He is from the royal line of The Salamanders. They are innately attuned to the element of fire""But only His Majesty and His Highness have been said to be able to control fire to such an extent.""He sure deserves the nickname Hell Inferno""I heard that His Highness Gron was even more skilled and had a nickname Ifrit before he left.""I think he was ordered to be imprisoned and tortured hourly because of his secret marriage with Lady Aeli.""Shhhyou want to get us all killed!? He might hear you!"In truth Archus didn't care about the commoners. To him they were all cattle to be reared.Suddenly the sky brightened and a yellow ray of light could be seen charging from the northern sky and Archus muttered, "About time he came. I was getting bored"The ray of light stopped and a young man of about 19 years on a golden horse burning horse could be seen.This particular species of fierce beast is called Voreia tou Iliou also known as the steed of the sun or simply iliossun. Normally one wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an ordinary farm horse and an ilios. Only when they charge could one identify an ilios as they would emit a bright gold and yellow light from their entirety. By stepping on the rays of the sun they are able to achieve flight in which case they burst into flames which they can control to be either harmless or harmful to others. Illioi can consume and harness the energy of the sun to breath flames and have an endless stamina as long as exposed to sunlight. Illioi can change the size of their body at will and the limit increases indefinitely with age."WHERE IS ADAM? WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM? TELL ME, FATHER!" shouted the youth as he landed in front of Archus."So his name was Adam, huh? So young", calmly replied Archus."WHERE IS HE!?" demanded Gron whose spear suddenly appeared and pointed at Archus.Archus asked coldly, "Is this how you speak to your father after not meeting him for four years? Gron Luis Salamander, I thought I raised you better."Calming down, Gron said, "You never raised me, father. Now tell me, Your Majesty Archus Leroy Salamander, where is my son?"Pointing at the giant dome, "Oh him? The bastard is in there. Feel free to look for him.""DO NOT CALL HIM A BASTARD! He isn't even my own flesh and I didn't let him inherit the salamander name. He doesn't even know that he is an adopted prince. Can't you just let him go? He won't vie for your throne. So for once! Just please show mercy.""Hahahahaha, you think that's the reason for me trying to kill him? I've known a long time ago that Adam was from the outside." Gron's heart chilled when he heard that. "Since young, your wish for the outside has been known to me. I had not used any force since I knew it would be impossible for you to leave. But, the brat represents your dreams and may very well be the key to fulfilling it. Why would I let such a fatal problem remain alive?"Horror struck Gron as he listened to his father's confession of his knowledge of Adam's origin.At this time the dome suddenly started to show erratic ripples on its surface and the lightning surges which could be seen in it started to recede.Alerted to the changes, the Emperor muttered, "Something's wrong. Cornelius said that it would only expand and that it would take two days for any change to occur.""ADAM!" screamed Gron.
