At the Origin Ocean.
A sharp crack tore open the void, and Lex stepped out. He surveyed the boundless expanse of the Origin Ocean, which remained unchanged and eternal. Without hesitation, he teleported to its center.
After arriving, he flicked his index finger.
Rumble!!
The ocean trembled as if it were being shaken by a colossal earthquake. The shimmering waters split apart, revealing a landmass rising from the depths of the Origin Ocean.
Though not vast by cosmic standards, its surface area rivaled that of Earth. Steadily, it emerged where the waters had parted.
At its center stood a sleek, modern, two-story structure. Its smooth lines and clean surfaces stood in stark contrast to the raw, chaotic energies churning around it, as though it didn't belong to this world.
A lush garden sprawled behind the modern building, vibrant with cosmic herbs and rare plants. Some of these plants were impossible to find outside of this environment; they didn't even exist in other parts of the universe because of their specific growth requirements.
Each plant thrived, its colors shifting subtly under the starry light of the Origin Ocean.
Lex slowly descended onto the island, and as he did, his body transformed. He turned back to his previous human appearance, but his temperament changed drastically compared to how it had been in his former life.
His physique was plain and unassuming. He was an ordinary man in his early thirties, not too tall or short, not too strong or weak.
Yet subtle changes set him apart. Though his skin was plain, it seemed to radiate a faint, nearly imperceptible glow, as if the stars themselves whispered beneath its surface.
His eyes, once merely curious, now glowed with infinite depth. They appeared to contain swirling galaxies, revealing the vastness of his knowledge and authority.
With a calm and grounded posture, he exuded an aura of unshakable authority, devoid of arrogance. It was as if he embodied the universe, and he in fact did.
Even his roughened hands, bearing the memory of mortal labor, held a quiet strength capable of shaping reality with a simple motion.
While his form echoed the simplicity of his past life, it now seemed too small a vessel for his immense power.
He stepped into the building, his steps slow. Faint traces of nostalgia flickered across his face. Memories of his mortal past brushed against his consciousness. But just as quickly as the emotion appeared, it vanished, buried beneath the vastness of his being as though it had never existed.
He moved through the building's sleek, modern halls, his fingers grazing the smooth surfaces
The building's simple structure reminded him of a time when life was unburdened by universal responsibility.
He walked into the garden, where the vibrant cosmic herbs and rare plants swayed faintly as if greeting him. Lex knelt and studied a flower whose colors were still shifting gently under the starry light.
His movements were slow and methodical, resembling those of a mortal deeply immersed in life's small joys.
After exploring every corner of the island, Lex stood in the center of the garden, his gaze thoughtful. He extended his hand and whispered a silent order, the air rippling around him. The island's laws flared to life and instantly bent to his will.
A ripple of unseen energy spread outward, altering the very fabric of the surrounding space.
From now on, anyone who sets foot on the island would lose their powers and become as weak as mortal. This was not a punishment, but a purpose.
He had decided that this place would be a sanctuary of humility.
No matter how great their strength, they would experience the fragility of existence as he once had.
Satisfied, he turned back to the building as the ripple of laws faded into the tranquil hum of the Origin Ocean.
Lex's peaceful resolve was reflected on the island, which was shrouded in an invisible aura of serenity and vulnerability.
••••
At the same time, in the Divine realm.
A humanoid figure sat cross-legged in front of a towering monolith. Its surface reflected faint, shifting patterns of space laws.
His expression shifted between deep contemplation, fleeting frustration, and moments of quiet satisfaction. Occasionally, he rose and took measured steps toward the monolith.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't take a step forward. From an outside observer's perspective, he seemed rooted to the spot, but he could sense the space around him stretching infinitely.
This figure was Vastoth, the primordial and the embodiment of spatial laws, he was immersed in a challenge he had embarked on for thousands of years.
For these thousands of years, Vastoth had been comprehending the monolith's mysteries, steadily closing the gap between himself and ultimate mastery.
Now, only fifty meters remained—a seemingly short distance—yet it was a chasm that could only be crossed with the final piece of spatial understanding.
The closer he came, however, the more the space around him shifted, twisted, and resisted his progress as if guarding the monolith's secrets with unwavering determination.
Sweat formed on his brow as he hesitated, his hands clenched at his sides. He was so close; the ultimate truths of Space Law were within his reach.
The energy around him shimmered and the space itself buzzed, waiting for his next move.
••••
Meanwhile, Vyrinox soared through dense, shifting clouds, his serpentine form easily cutting through them. His body bore deep scars from a recent battle that glowed faintly as his natural energy worked to heal them.
He clenched his scaled fists, his eyes glaring with anger as he muttered, "Damn!! Timorath… next time! Next time will be different."
The memory of their clash over the so-called "Blessed Land," a rare location where the Laws could be felt and comprehended with exceptional clarity, still burned in his mind.
Frustration churned through Vyrinox's thoughts as he flew, replaying the lost battle in his mind over and over again.
"None of this would have happened before the Celestial Mandate," he thought bitterly. "Damn the Celestial Mandate!"
Before the Mandate's existence, understanding the laws came as naturally to them as breathing; it was effortless and instinctive. Now, however, the Mandate had imposed restrictions, slowing their ability to master the laws.
While they could still comprehend them, it took much longer and required effort unlike anything they had experienced before.
This made places like the "Blessed Land" invaluable. In such locations, the laws were so abundant and clear that comprehension became faster than even the time before the Mandate.
However, these lands were extraordinarily rare, scattered across the Divine Realm. Their rarity had turned them into coveted prizes, igniting fierce competition among the primordials.
Battles for control of these lands were now a common occurrence, leaving even powerful beings like Vyrinox with battle scars and simmering grudges.
His frustration deepened as he contemplated the vastness of the Divine Realm itself. The realm was so expansive that traversing it was a monumental challenge even for someone of his power.
The restrictions imposed by the Celestial Mandate only worsened the situation. Tearing through space within the Divine Realm was almost impossible now without an extraordinary mastery of spatial laws or immense strength.
And to gain that strength, one needed time, effort, and mastery over laws, a cruel paradox that left many of the primordials seething.
His thoughts turned darker as he pondered on the origins of the Celestial Mandate. Many primordials resented the Mandate, their frustrations growing with every perceived limitation they stumbled upon.
However, Vyrinox felt his resentment went further. Buried deep within his heart, beneath layers of pride and fear, was a bitterness directed not only at the Mandate, but also at Lex himself.
Though he would never dare voice it, the resentment lingered and festered. "Why would the Creator limit His first creation like this?" That was his thought about Lex.
Vyrinox flew forward in an unknown direction. His scars ached, and his mind was restless. He resolved to return to the Blessed Land.
"Next time, things will be different," he thought.Next time, he would claim it, no matter the cost—unless the cost was death; he was not foolish enough to actively seek death.
As Vyrinox muttered curses under his breath, he suddenly felt the unmistakable twisting and bending of space around him.
He froze mid-flight, his serpentine form shimmering as he transformed instinctively into his humanoid shape.
His serpentine eyes glimmered as he focused on the distorted space and perceived the phenomenon with startling clarity.
His mind raced as he pieced the clues together. "Blessed land..." he muttered, a grin spreading across his face. "An undiscovered blessed land."
Excitement lit up his face as realization took hold. The resentment he had felt moments ago was replaced with a surge of expectation.
Without hesitation, he moved toward the towering mountain where space phenomena swirled chaotically.
With each step, he felt both thrilled and cautious. If this was truly a blessed land, it could mean unimaginable opportunity...or fierce competition, which he was ready for.